Photo by María Helena Carey
There is something just a little awkward about a weekend that is preceded by a Federal holiday in the middle of the week: you resent very much having to go back to work for just one day, only to turn back around and get into your weekend mode once again. Having said that, please go hug a Veteran and appreciate your civil freedoms whilst having fun around the Hill this weekend!
I’m sure you will be getting your grilling on (this is why parkas were invented) and your holiday plans/emergency babysitting underway on Thursday –although maybe you want to grab dinner at The Argonaut, since it’s neighborhood night and your 20002 zip code gets you 10% off your bill (NB: What, we in the ‘03 are not neighbors?). Then you could keep it mellow and close by and go listen to some Old Timey Bluegrass pickin’ at SOVA that night. See? Always looking out for you, here at The Hill is Home.
On Friday, November 12, you will most likely be hungry, right? So why not get some good food and show the Capital City Diner some love while you’re at it? If you stop by on Friday night starting at 8 pm, $10 will get you two drinks and music by DJs Dillinger and Alex S; the money collected this evening will help Wade — the waiter who was robbed and assaulted earlier this week — pay for his medical bills and other incident-related expenses. For more details, check the Facebook event page. The Capital City Diner is located at 1050 Bladensburg Road, NE. And since you’re already in the vicinity of the Atlas District, why not give Capitol Hill’s own Laura Tsaggaris a warm welcome home after her tour? She will be playing backed by her band at Rock n’ Roll Hotel and the show starts at 9:30 pm. You can buy tickets in advance through Rock n’ Roll Hotel’s website. They are located at 1353 H Street, NE.
If you would rather do something more highbrow, catch the opening night of “Julius Caesar,” put on by the Capital City Players of DC at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th Street, SE. Tickets are $18, or $15 for seniors and students. The show starts at 7:30 pm and the play runs through December.
Saturday, November 13 awakens, filling you with that false sense of security that the weekend is endless and glorious. What to do to fill these hours of leisure, that does not involve rereading your copy of “The Stranger” and contemplating the futility of the mundane? Ahem, well: maybe you just need to step away from the Camus and get new books! Luckily for you, the Southeast Branch Public Library is having a book sale, from 10 am to 3 pm. If they are selling a French-English dictionary, grab it! At 11:00 am, the Atlas Performing Arts Center is holding a family performance called, “La Muse de L’Opéra” and it’s free!
Maybe instead of being cooped up indoors — even if listening to beautiful music — you would rather take a walk and take in some history? Then meet folks from the Capitol Hill Restoration Society at 1 pm at the northwestern corner of 14th and E Streets, SE (this would be the corner closest to Safeway) and explore the history behind alleys such as Fitzhugh Court and 15th 1/2 Street.
On Sunday, November 14, go get some cool stuff at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar’s Garage Sale! If you’ve ever dreamed of feathering your nest in such a way that it looks just like a Cajun-themed bar, this is your chance! Or maybe you just want some cool show posters, a lamp, or an old cash register — come down and see the offerings for yourself. There will be barbecue and (naturally) booze, as well, starting at 1:00 pm. Little Miss Whiskey’s is located at 1104 H Street, SE. Then afterward, go get coffee! Sidamo holds a traditional coffee ceremony this and every Sunday, at 417 H Street, NE. If you are in a family way or, frankly, beyond, maybe the Capital City Symphony’s Family Concert is the gig for you– not just because it’s FREE and it sounds really nice, but because there is a petting zoo right before each performance (awww!).
Okay, that’s it. Your weekend will now be so awesome, I’m tired just thinking about it. I need a coffee ceremony of my own — happening in 3-2-1…