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What's cool this week in DC (and what's coming up)

6/24/2014

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It's good to be back in DC after 2 weeks away - though we found Portland OR fantastic! Not only did we hike, bike, and beer-taste our way around the city, we went to three different and brilliant storytelling nights: The Moth (where I told a story and won the Moth StorySLAM!), Russian Roulette by Back Fence PDX (where storytellers are given a random topic and 5 minutes in which to prepare a story on that topic to perform), and Ira Glass and Two Dancers, a strange and beautiful story/dance mashup. A fine story tour trio! Shocked to find Ira Glass was in DC in February with this show and we had no idea: MUST keep better track of events at the Lisner Auditorium!

So what of things I've been up to here in Washington? I went to see The Totalitarians at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and it was the best thing I've seen there in ages (since the North Korea play, which I loved, through my tears). The Totalitarians is sharp, funny, incisive, wry, interesting, and a little surreal. The performances are very strong. The set is cool. The premise (a charming but incompetent woman running for office in Nevada) is engaging. It finishes on 29th June, so if you're going, go now!

I also went to see Capital City Showcase doing their monthly free 'Roast' at the Brixton, ie all the comedians focus their set on berating a specific subject in an amusing way, in this month's case, tourists. Now it might just be that I enjoy ranting about stuff, but I prefer to think that the reason this is my favorite comedy night in town is because the comedians can't just fall back on penis jokes like my experience at so many other stand up shows in DC at the moment - instead they come up with consistently witty ripostes on a focused, fun subject. The next one's on July 1st. I'm hoping to make it.

And then yesterday I started a sculpture class at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. Ever since I moved here, I've lamented my inability to find a nice local neighborhood arts centre where I can take relaxed art classes suitable for art hobbyists rather than specifically for proper artists, children, or pensioners. Hooray: I think I've found it! I don't want to speak too soon, but 'CHAW' is great - little music rooms, art rooms, and a cool sculpture class where we get to play with different materials every week and make potentially rubbish art for fun. I created random sculptures from cardboard and wire last night, and had a lovely time! Here's the list of the classes they offer. 

Finally, it's all systems go for our four shows in July! It is great fun being part of the Capital Fringe Festival - we are busy rehearsing all our hand-picked, super-talented suspects, and remember, every show will have completely different stories, with prizes. Try our 'spot the discrepancies in this story challenge' to test your shrewdness now, and BUY TICKETS HERE. 


What's cool in the coming week

Tue 24th June - Are you as enchanted by the little DC Shorts opening song as I am? It's by The Sweater Set and they're playing at Gypsy Sally's tonight, with the Dustbowl Revival. (it's my dream for the Sweater Set to do a song for Perfect Liars Club!) Or pop over to Adams Morgan to watch an outdoor screening of Rushmore. 

Wed 25th June - There are still tickets left for Nordic Jazz atop the Swedish Embassy roof! Or head to Hogo at 5-8pm if you fancy volunteering for Capital Fringe Festival - a nice way to be part of the fun next month, and score free tickets to Perfect Liars Club! Or else up to Politics and Prose to hear Lynn Sher on her new book about Sally Ride, America's first woman in space.

Thu 26th June - Check out the free comedy by Michael Che on the Millennium Stage at the at the Kennedy Center!

Fri 27th June -  I'm going to the fun-sounding Mingle at the Museum to drink cocktails and play with genes... but I'm sad that means I can't make - Story League's All Star Story Tournament - rumor has it Perfect Liars Club's beloved Pierce McManus, is in the championship, so if you're not mingling with DNA, go cheer him on. 

Fri 27th and Sat 28th June - It's Speakeasy DC's Story Showdown! After all the cool twists on storytelling I enjoyed in Portland last week, I can't wait for this story gameshow. They have three shows and we'll be at the early Saturday one - see you there, perhaps?

Sat 28th June - In the mood for a bit of Saturday afternoon Washington history? Politics and Prose has just the panel for you! Oh, and later that evening they're doing their first wine tasting.

Monday 30th June - The cool folk at CPNAS in collaboration with the Shakespeare Theatre Company bring you a free staged reading of everyone's favorite robot play, R.U.R. 

And did I mention: buy your tickets NOW for Perfect Liars Club at the Capital Fringe Festival in July!
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The coolest things to do in DC in June - Brit About Town Blog

6/3/2014

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I'm going to be out of town for most of June. But I've been looking out for all the coolest things to entertain you while I'm gone. So sit back and prepare yourself for the glory that is June in DC! And check back - if I find more particularly cool things to do, I'll add them!

Tuesday June 3rd - Capital City Showcase bring you their free Tuesday comedy at the Brixton where the comedians all mock a particular subject. Tonight, that subject is The DMV Roast of Tourists! Starts at 8, should be funny!

Wednesday June 4th - SpeakeasyDC are doing a special LGBT-themed show in honor of Pride week, at the HRC, Born This Way. Or would you rather celebrate Pride on a bike? There's a bike party waiting for you!

Thursday June 5th - Shake Shack at the Phillips Collection? Yup, it's their 1950s-themed Phillips After 5 event.

Friday June 6th - It's an outdoor screening of The Devil Wears Prada in Rosslyn! How can you resist? I recommend a pre-film stroll round Roosevelt Island and a post-film pingpong in The Continental. Or if you're in the mood for something more hardcore, there's a big pre-parade Pride party! Friday is also the kick off for the Source Festival - if you like innovative new theatre, check it out: it's on all month! And if you want to see a lesbian-themed musical, Reel Affirmations has you covered with Girl Trash!

Saturday June 7th - Get up early and learn how to 3D print at 10am. Then it's a Capital Pride extravaganza today! Our picks: the pre-parade garden party hosted by the Washington City Paper, the LGBT history walking tour, the Pride parade (4:30-7 - and be sure to wave to your lovely Perfect Liars Club hosts aboard the British Embassy float!) and then, having got in the Brit About Town mood, head to The Brixton where you're invited to a free Pride party/reception hosted by the British Embassy, 7-9pm! See you there, old chap!

Sunday June 8th - If you missed it on Wednesday and want to journey to Reston, SpeakeasyDC are putting on Born This Way again - a nice way to finish Pride week!

Monday June 9th - David Sedaris is speaking at Politics and Prose! Plus, this marks the start of Georgetown Library's marathon reading of Ulysses, which goes all the way through to Monday June 16th (Bloomsday)!

Wednesday June 11th - John Waters is speaking at Sixth and I, courtesy of Politics and Prose. 

Friday June 13th - Everything's on today - I can't believe I'm out of town! Brightest Young Things bring you their After Hours party at the National Geographic - this was one of my favorite events last year! Or else you could go hear Hillary Rodham Clinton speak at the Lisner Auditorium. Or you can go watch a glorious combination of funny short films and stand up comedy at DC Shorts Laughs.

Saturday June 14th -  Don't miss another glorious combination of funny short films and stand up comedy at DC Shorts Laughs. Or head up to Strathmore to watch Casablanca accompanied by a live soundtrack from Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Monday June 16th - This is Bloomsday, the celebration of James Joyce. If you've been at Georgetown Library for the reading of the whole of Ulysses, it concludes today. If you're feeling less hardcore, you can get a shorter celebration over at Politics and Prose.

Tuesday June 17th - Want to watch baseball with a lot of gay people
? This is your chance to do so at Night OUT at the game!


Wednesday June 18th - I love a bit of travel writing and like any self-respecting explorer, have Patricia Schultz's '1,000 Places to See Before You Die' book on my shelf. She's speaking at the Ripley Center. Sold out, but there's a waitlist.


Wednesday June 18th - 22nd - It's time for the 5-day international documentary festival, AFI DOCs. Or head to the NorthEast Library for a free author talk on how Hollywood portrays DC!

Thursday June 19th - Our new favorite arts and science mashup, DASER, brings us a lovely free program on robots and theatre. Nerdy delight. Oh, and tickets for July's amazing Capital Fringe go on sale today! Mark your calendar! Especially with Perfect Liars Club dates!

Tuesday June 24th - A stroll with a celebrity taxidermist, you say? And why not. 

Wednesday June 25th - It's the Nordic Jazz Festival and what could be a cooler way to enjoy it than at a rooftop concert hosted by the Swedish Ambassador at the Embassy of Sweden, overlooking the Potomac. 

Thursday June 26th - There's some high quality-sounding free comedy by Michael Che at the Kennedy Center!

Friday June 27th - Mingle at the Museum is always fun - aka learn about genetics while playing with stuff, drinking cocktails and enjoying jazz. Or check out Story League's All Star Story Tournament!

Monday June 30th - The cool folk at CPNAS in collaboration with the Shakespeare Theatre Company bring you a free staged reading of everyone's favorite robot play, R.U.R. 


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What's cool this week in DC - Brit About Town blog

6/3/2014

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This week's reviews and mentions: Ordinary Days at Roundhouse Theatre, Golden Cinema Series, Knowledge Commons, Duke's, Hank's Oyster Bar, After Peacock Room, SpeakeasyDC


As you know, I always find it delightful to combine a pleasant outdoorsy activity with an arty destination (eg last month's Glover Archbold trail hike to the Kreeger Museum!). This week's version was cycling the 7 mile Capital Crescent Trail from Georgetown to Bethesda, to finally visit the Roundhouse Theatre. When we were at the Helen Hayes awards last month, we couldn't help but notice half the prizes seemed to be going to plays we hadn't seen... because they had been at the Roundhouse Theatre.  There are in fact two Roundhouse Theatres - the other is in Silver Spring. But I'd been deterred from either due to the out-of-DC location (okay, so it's a hop, skip and a jump from the Bethesda metro). However, this weekend, my lovely wife and I hopped on our bicycles and pedaled serenely through the shady, pretty woodland path that is the Capital Crescent trail, practically to the door of the theatre. A recommended way of getting about. We were there for the matinee of Ordinary Days, a musical about finding yourself in New York City. Am I the only one who's noticing that there seems to be nothing but musicals about finding oneself in New York City? This is at least the fifth I've seen on the subject in the last year alone! (Avenue Q, One Night in New York!, Love/NY, If/Then). Clearly it's a popular subject, since I bought tickets for all of these... And while One Night in New York! has a special place in my heart, I thought Ordinary Days was one of the best of the genre. Very strong performances all round. Great set. Nice direction. Good music, courtesy of a hardworking pianist. Nice messages. But by this stage, I fear I've heard everything about going to New York to find yourself that I ever need to hear. It would be hard for this production to say something new, and I don't think it did, really. But I really enjoyed it and would recommend it, especially if this isn't your fifth of this specific genre in a year!



I also enjoyed experiencing a new outdoor screen this year: the Golden Cinema series on Fridays in Farragut Square. The range of movies they're showing is eclectic but how could we resist Mr Smith Goes to Washington? It's a funny space for a screening, with sirens wailing and the park's usual evening residents jostling for space, but overall, I really liked watching a movie in this spot, and watching Mr Smith Goes to Washington while a hop, skip and a jump from the White House felt apt and special.


I took another class with Knowledge Commons this week, to learn about 3D printing. Did you know you can have your stuff 3D printed at the library? The class was really interesting and informative, and I now have several items awaiting printing. I am very excited about how easy and futuristic this is! I'm also quite excited about how many cool free classes you can do in digital stuff at the library!


I really enjoyed a drink and crisps on the patio at Duke's on 17th Street, and the mac and cheese at Hank's Oyster Bar thereafter... but the prize for top dish of the week goes to After Peacock Room. We decided to try out lunch at this little north Georgetown eatery, and found that they are a real hidden gem. I had a beautiful quiche with a delicious little side salad. My lovely wife had a black rice and argula salad. Both were excellent. But paled in comparison to what, ladies and gentlemen, I'm officially designating the fourth member of my 'Top DC Dishes of All Time' list of delight. To refresh your memory: palak chaat at Rasika, avocado bruschetta at Cork, artichoke brushchetta at Grape and Bean... and now... our first dessert entry on the list... s'mores at After Peacock Room! You have to try it. Trust me. (we also heard them talking about opening their patio...).


We enjoyed a slightly off the beaten track SpeakeasyDC event at SAIS, with people who work in global health - and a free cake buffet! You can imagine my joy (and greed). But of course the story event of the week (not that I'm biased), was Perfect Liars Club last night! From being trapped in a burning coffin to happening on a white supremacist rally, from consorting with criminals to meeting a Petworth shaman, the stories were amazing, and the lie was watertight. Much fun was had. And now we're preparing for our big Capital Fringe Festival extravaganza in July!


As for what's coming up that's cool... I'm going to be out of town for most of June. But I've been looking out for all the coolest things to entertain you while I'm gone. So sit back and prepare yourself for the glory that is June in DC, with a whole new post - coming up!
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    What is this blog?

    Every Friday, Perfect Liars Club MC Layla laboriously curates a list of all the coolest English-accessible things happening in Tokyo for the next week for your delight and entertainment. If you live in Tokyo and like attending great events, you had better sign up.

    How to suggest an event to be included

    Tweet @perfectliarstky or email Layla with details and a link.

    What sort of events does this listings guide include?

    ​Recommendations are biased towards things Layla personally enjoys, like theatre, cinema, sciencey talks, book things, storytelling, comedy, art and random quirky activities.

    Come to my event, Layla!

    You can email Layla to invite her to something cool.

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