Hello Summer! Memorial Day weekend is here and with it the arrival of summer, girls who sport flip flops to work and the unrelenting freeze of office air conditioning.
How to celebrate the kick off of Summer 2013?
Tonight? Well there’s this. “Incest, alcoholism, robbery, gunfire, murder, sensational court trials…” This from a New York Times review of She Left Me the Gun: My Mother’s Life Before Me Emily Brocke’s memoir of growing up in London with her mother Paula, a South African emigre. After her mother’s death Brocke went to South Africa and discovered her mother’s past, a true -story that sounds like fiction. She will be discussing the book with NPR’s Michel Martin at the Hill Center. The event begins at 7pm and is free but register here to hold your place.
This weekend the Nationals play the Phillies beginning on Friday night. Tickets are still available as of this writing but this I 95 rivalry always brings out..well if not the well-behaved at least the most entertaining fans in sports.
The Friday night concert Series has begun again at Yards Park. This week the performers are Justin Trawick Group which specializes in Folk/Rock.
Saturday morning Payne Elementary (1445 C Street SE) is hosting a flea market as a fundraiser for its Early Childhood Program. The flea market runs from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm . The school is renting out 10’x10′ spaces for anyone to come and set up and sell their treasures. The cost is $20 if you have your own table or $25 if you want to use one of ours. The day of the flea market rental prices will increase to $30 with your own table or $35 if you want to use one of theirs. For more information, please call 202-698-3262.
Sunday evening is the National Memorial Day Concert live from the West Lawn of the Capitol from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. This year the concert is hosted by actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise and will pay special tribute to our fallen heroes, veterans, current service members, and their families. Performers include the National Symphony Orchestra and the latest American Idol winner Candice Glover.
To avoid the crowds you can always stay home and watch it on PBS or go is to the dress rehearsal Saturday night which takes place at the same time and place. Pack a picnic and enjoy one of the many the perks of being a local.