Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society appears at the Atlas Saturday night.
It looks like it is going to be a beautiful weekend, and I know I am ready to finally put away the winter coat for good. In addition to switching out our wardrobes what else are we going to do?
You know when I think about Romania all that comes to mind is gymnasts and Ceaușescu’s grisly end. I should be ashamed. There must be something else right? Tonight you can get deep into all things Romanian at the Hill Center. Former Ambassador to Romania Mark Gitenstein will give a lecture from 7 p.m. -9 p.m. The event is free. You can learn more about Ambassador Gitenstein and register for the event here.
Friday night, the New Music Ensemble in residence at the Atlas, the Great Noise Ensemble, holds it’s final concert of the season. Entitled Revolution the performance is about changes, human urges and the dreams for peace of mind and stability which we all share. Featuring members of hexaCollective in Shawn Jaeger’s (Poor and Wretched), Sean Doyle’s (Letters From Zelda) and Daniel Felsenfeld’s (Revolutions of Ruin). Tickets are $24/$15 student and are available here.
I know I’m not the only former 1970s kid who absolutely assumed we’d be living the Jetsonian dream by 2013. Flying cars and robot maids would totally improve my life. Well we kind of have the robot-maids but the flying car has been a giant disappointment. So it’s good to know that people are still working on this troublesome issue. On Friday, the Hill Center screens Smithsonian Channel’s Flying Cars as part of the Friday night documentary series. Apparently, some versions of these cars have made it off the ground. The event is from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. and includes a talk back with the film’s producer Pip Gilmore. The screening is free but you can register here.
Saturday is Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School’s Spring Arts Festival & Carnival which runs from from 2 p.m. -6 p.m. The festival will feature a “no junk” community yard sale, a petting zoo and pony rides, a moon bounce, arts and crafts, face painting and, back by popular demand, the school’s autism program is bringing back its critically acclaimed lemonade. I have not tried this lemonade but I will try to fit in a tasting. Admission is $10 per adult, three children admitted free with each adult.
Hipster musical genius Darcy James Argue brings his steampunk big band, Secret Society, back to the Atlas. The band’s new release Brooklyn Babylon is being widely praised by critics, calling it “one for the ages.” The album was conceived with Croatian-born visual artist Danijel Zezelj and is an inspired mash-up of musical styles: progressive jazz, early-American popular styles, Balkan folk musics, and the sounds of Brooklyn’s diverse contemporary music scene. Tickets are $30/$15 students and available here.
The Fridge and DC Zinefest pair up for for a screening of From the Back of the Room, an acclaimed documentary produced by local director Amy Oden. The film takes a thorough and critical look at women’s involvement in punk from 1981 through today. It chronicles the past 30 years of female involvement in DIY punk and has interviews with over 30 women from across the country, ages 17 to 40. Tickets at the door, sliding scale $5 – $10. This is a benefit for the 2013 D.C. Zinefest.
Sunday is the 34th Annual Capitol Hill Classic, the only road race that’s run exclusively on the streets of Capitol Hill, and all proceeds benefit the Capitol Hill Cluster School. Runners of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate. There are three races: a 10K, 3K and kids’ fun run. Everything starts and finishes at Stanton Park in front of Peabody Elementary School; the 10K race course passes the Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, Folger Library, Lincoln Park and RFK Stadium. Registration is still open, so there is still time to get in on the fun. Of course, not everyone is a runner {raises hand} and the race needs folks like help on runners, which adds to the festivities.