Photo uploaded to Flickr by Brandi666
So here we are, truly in the dog days of summer. The city’s pace has come to a crawl, and those of us who aren’t on vacation are blessed with bountiful parking spaces and open tables. (If you haven’t already, book a table to take advantage of Restaurant Week and/or H Street Eats. Both run through August 22.) With the waning crowds of tourists and abundant air conditioning, I’ve decided August is a great time to reacquaint myself with the gallery scene. I’ve made plans to head down to the NGA to take in exhibits of work by Allen Ginsberg and Edvuard Munch. That’s a happy pair, eh? Well, the gelato bar in the cafeteria will be my reward for such intellectual pursuits.
But there’s no need to leave the Hill to get a dose of the arts. Start by taking a few moments of your very productive and quiet workday today or tomorrow and register for a fall class at CHAW, and you’ll save 10%. The adult schedule features popular favorites including Watercolor, Intro To Drawing, Photography, Ceramics, Tap, Ballroom Dancing, and Pilates. New for the schedule are DC Sketchers, The Art of Singing 101 and Blues Jam. Kids classes include the ever-poplar Music Together, pre-ballet and Yoga Play for Children.
To really be an art scene hipster, you have to be able to say, “Oh, I went to an opening this weekend.” CHAW can also set you up with that — on Saturday night, no less. The Capitol Hill institution opens the exhibit Samples 2003 by Roberto Bocci from 5-7 p.m. The Italian artist’s multimedia electronic exhibit features a series of photographs and an installation that investigates the human body as a site of artistic and formal exploration. Admission is free for the opening reception and the exhibit, which closes on August 31.
On Friday and Saturday nights, head over to The Fridge to take in Gaia, a performance art event ($10) that showcases a spectrum of cultures, spiritual traditions, and ethnicities. There’s a poet, percussionist, a didgeridoo and body painting and body art “on demand” for Friday night. That combo is enough to tempt me away from the AC for some action in the alley.
I’ve heard all the buzz about The Temporium, and this is the last weekend to explore the wares at the temporary popup retail emporium at 1300 H Street. Hugh & Crye will launch their fall collection of tailored shirts this weekend, and visitors can shop to music curated by Bluebrain on Thursday and Friday, 6 to 10 p.m., Saturday from 2 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m.
While on H Street, stop by the CITY Gallery for their First Annual Regional Juried Exhibition at the CITY Gallery at 804 H ST NE, second Floor. Regular hours are Fridays and Saturdays 1-5 PM.
The Atlas continues its summer movie series this weekend, with Suddenly, Last Summer tonight, and Tom Sawyer and Nine on Saturday.
What else is on your radar for this sleepy summer weekend?