Shakespeare's Birthday at the Folger Library

The Shakespeare Folger Library celebrated Shakespeare's birthday on Sunday. These poor people looked fabulous, but they must have been dying in the 90 degree heat.

Activities included face painting, a Renaissance fashion show, a plant sale and juggling class. Small people could make their own brooches or garlands, write with quills, and participate in a scavenger hunt. There was also a huge birthday cake for all the guests.

The library turned out to be an amazing building. I'll have to go back when I can take more pictures for you all. The place was packed on Sunday.

We managed to catch a performance by the Classical WETA players. They were good. Here's a little taste:

Bank Protests in Dupont Circle

This was the scene in Dupont Circle on Sunday. If you didn't know, this weekend was the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF.

Its been a couple years since people paid any attention to the banks. Seattle was a bazillion years ago. But now that so much bailout money is going to the IMF, people are paying attention again.

What I liked about these guys was how ascetically appealing they were. In addition to the way-better-than-average- protest signs, they had adorable fliers. They definitely have some artists in their midst.

It's hard to say how many people actually showed up for the protest. Dupont Circle is pretty packed on a sunny Sunday and people tend to stop for a minute. If they had 50 or sixty protesters, it was a lot. (I'm not including cops.) They did; however, have camera crews. That's a coup, especially if they got coverage.

Idle Time Books in Washington, DC

Idle Time is a used and rare bookstore in Adams Morgan. It's smaller and slightly pricier than Second Story Books in Dupont, but it has a decent selection and great staff.

It has some nice hidden corners upstairs to chill out and a decent selection of books in Spanish. They also sell cards and mags.

If you're in the neighborhood, you should definitely stop by.

Idle Time Books, 2467 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC

Coming This Week

Coming this week:

• American University has a free comedy show Friday night
  

• 8th Street restaurants are having Taste of 8th on Saturday
  

• Joe's Hoop Jam is Saturday
  

• French Market at Patisserie Poupon is Saturday as well
  

• Craft Week displays are up in the National Building Museum
  

• Shakespeare's birthday is celebrated at the Folger Shakespeare Library on Sunday
  

• DC Film Festival is still going strong
  

• And there are still lots of plays I want to see - The Faithkiller, True History of Coca Cola, and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant

Review of The Diner

Every town needs that go to place at whatever hour you need to eat and the Diner in Adams Morgan is it for DC.

It is open 24 hours. They serve everything from Philly omelets (a personal favorite) to grilled salmon with mango salsa. The food is all surprisingly tasty and it's nice to have choices from heart stopping to healthy.

It's a bit upscale from your standard route 66 kind of diner, but the prices are DC reasonable. The crowd changes a bit depending on the hour, but it's usually an eclectic mix.

The service has always been pretty good and the staff seems to get along. All in all, this is a good place to go anytime. It's a particularly good choice for late breakfast or post partying sustenance.

The Diner, 2453 18th St NW, Washington, DC

Tulip Explosion in Washington, DC

Washington DC is full of tulips right now. Apparently, this is a yearly thing. According to the National Park Service, hundreds of thousands of tulips are planted around town.

They aren't quite as impressive as all those cherry blossoms, but they're gorgeous all the same.

Earth Day in Washington, DC

We stopped by the earth day celebration on the National Mall this Sunday. It was a cross between a science fair and a shopping mall.

Everyone was walking around carrying these NASA shopping bags. Long lines lead to any booths giving away free crap.

Lots of marketers were there. Fedex had a booth, as did Timberland. There was a whole section of hybrid cars. It was one big consumer fest.

A dark tent full of scientists (many from government agencies) showed off their wares. And the concert stage had a stream of local environmental groups and politicians giving speeches.

Chevy Case was there introducing everyone. He was old. It was old.

Poetry Marathon at Teatro de la Luna

This is the Teatro de la Luna (Theater of the Moon). It is a teeny, tiny hole in the wall near the Georgia Avenue metro station. They put on Spanish language plays.

Friday and Saturday they had a poetry marathon. We only managed to catch the last hour and a half or so. They had award-winning poets from all over the Spanish speaking world.

• Jose Acosta, Dominican Republic
• Roberto Arizmendi, Mexico
• Sergio Badilla Castillo, Chile
• Leon Felix Batista, Dominican Republic
• Noni Benegas, Argentina
• Iliana Godoy, Mexico
• Eduardo Mosches, Argentia
• Maria Angeles Perez Lopez, Spain

They also had open mike parts where audience members got up and read. Of course, the audience was mostly made up of people involved in the theater. It was a big, jovial family. Next year I'll be going and dragging some more people along with me.

Coming This Week

There is so much going on in DC right now, my day job is really getting in the way. This coming week's festivities include:

• DC Film Festival
  

• Plays galore - including The Faithkiller, True History of Coca Cola, and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant
  

• Earth day Concert on the National Mall with the Flaming Lips
  

• The Bethesda Literary Festival
  

• Spanish Poetry Marathon at Casa de la Luna
  

• Thai Restaurant Week
  

• Community Potluck and Recycling at Joe's
  

• Picnicking in Rock Creek Park
  

• Flamenca Show at the National Theater
  

• Ra Ra Rasputin post punk concert at the Black Cat

I'm tired just thinking about it. We'll see how much I can actually pack in.

Rodman's Discount Food & Drug

This is Rodman's. It doesn't look like much from the outside I know. The inside isn't exactly spectacular either, but it has its charms.

Aside from an assortment of gourmet, "ethnic", and regular foods, Rodman's has an enormous wine and beer section. And they actually have people working in it. And they actually seem to know what they are talking about.

Even more importantly, they sometimes offer samples. Last time we were there, they were sampling several different kinds of beer. Needless to say, the boyfriend loitered around the sample guy while I perused the store.

If you're in the Friendship Heights neighborhood have a look.

Rodman's Discount Food & Drug, 5100 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC

Pillow Fight in Dupont Circle

Chris was wandering around town the other day and came across a bunch of people in Dupont Circle having a pillow fight. These two were getting ready for a showdown.

I finally got around to finding out what this was all about. Turns out that April 4th is world pilllow fight day. Who knew?

I just added my name to their mailing list so I'll know for next year.

Review of Ben's Chili Bowl

We finally made it to Ben's Chili Bowl this weekend. I can't believe we waited this long. It was goooooood.

Ben's has been around since 1958. It has survived eleven presidents, the DC riots, economic blight, and the building of a metro station across the street that killed business for five years.

Ben's managed to survive with the help of some very high profile plugs from Bill Cosby. Cosby gets to eat free at Ben's. He used to be the only one.

Now the sign says that Cosby and the Obama family eat free. Except, since Barack paid, someone wrote at the bottom of the sign "but he paid." I came so close to going to Ben's the day that Obama showed up. I can't imagine the energy in that place.

The energy was pretty good on a random Saturday night when we went. It was packed, as always. They were blasting Motown and old 80s r&b on the radio. A million employees were squeezed behind the narrow counter. Happy people gorged on chili covered half smokes, burgers, chili fries, and thick chocolate shakes.

If you think Ben's has gotten to the point where it relies on its notoriety and constant appearance on travel shows, forget about it. The place is still filled with locals. The food is great (if possibly heart attack inducing). It's a must stop in DC.

Ben's Chili Bowl, 1213 U Street NW, Washington, DC

Bajofondo Comes to Washington, DC

If you don't know Bajofondo, they are an Argentinian/Uruguayan band that plays (what I like to call) techno-tango. You can hear them on their MySpace page.

They played at the 9:30 Club. It's a good space, but the trick is to get there early and stake out a spot on the balcony. We got held up at Ben's and arrived late, hence the picture from afar.

They were good, a little too good even. Being electronic, they sample a lot of stuff. It felt like the instrumental equivalent of lip synching. Still, they were worth seeing, even if I spent the whole time wishing I hadn't quit doing drugs.

The crowd was waaaaaay yuppie (picture striped button down shirts under cable knit sweaters). Also, who knew there were so many Argentinians here in DC?

Free Hugs in Washington DC

You may remember my post about the kite festival a couple weekends ago. What I didn't mention was this couple giving out free hugs by the National Monument.

If you watch Oprah, you may know about the guy who started the free hugs campaign. I'm not an Oprah watcher, so I just discovered this when I googled free hugs.

Apparently, it is something of a phenomenon and there are photos of people giving free hugs all over the world.

It's amazing how many people stopped to get hugs from these two. Even the people who didn't stop got a kick out of it. Am I sick for thinking that kid just wants to feel her up?

Sculpture Garden in Washington DC

The sculpture garden isn't just a place for winter ice skating escapades. It's a perfect hangout in good weather too.

The park is next to and part of the National Gallery of Art. It's paths take you past all kinds of crazy sculptures - a thoughtful rabbit, freeform chairs, something that looks like you could rebirth out of it.

The picture shows the giant typewriter eraser. For those youngsters who are saying "what the hell is a typewriter eraser," I hate you. Go look it up.

The garden has an overpriced, but fairly decent cafe where you can get sandwiches and drinks (alcoholic included). Grab a glass of wine, snag an outdoor table, and soak up the sun.

Whitehouse Hippy Protest

I believe I have mentioned in past posts that protesters often gather in Lafayette Park behind the Whitehouse.

Sometimes people camp out, sometimes they just walk around with sandwich boards and a megaphone. Code Pink likes to get creative - shoe throwing, animal outfits...

A couple weeks ago, Chris and I were walking through Lafayette on our way somewhere and ran into these two (pretty awful) musicians who were giving a concert straight out of 1969.

They had all of about four people grooving to the music and another twenty or so tourists taking snaps and moving on. The sign says "Wanted Wisdom & Honesty Peace Park." Peace Park is a 24 hour a day vigil that has been going on in Lafayette Park since 1981. Not sure how camping in the park is supposed to bring peace, but I guess it can't hurt.

Now if they started a little Lafayette Park agriculture project, that might spread some peace.

First Friday Gallery Walk in Dupont Circle

This past Friday was the first Friday of the month. That meant Dupont galleries were open late. More importantly, it meant free booze.

From 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. every first Friday, Dupont galleries serve snacks and wine. Hoards of art lovers and poor/cheap people descend into the streets. The former can also enjoy some interesting pieces and possibly meet the artists.

At the Washington Printmakers Gallery, I met Fleming Jeffries and spent some time talking to her about a book she made. Her work is colorful, organic, and feels a little eastern.

My favorite work by far was by Steve Lapin. He makes crazy works in ceramics. One piece was a circular on the wall with a car bursting forth through a brick wall. The car popped out at you. The bricks flew out at you. The pieces were fun, colorful, whimsical, and amusing. Then, when you got closer, they were incredibly detailed and beautiful. Photos don't do them justice, but here are a few anyway.

Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin

The cherry blossoms were out in force yesterday, as were the tourists. This is the spot Chris and I picked for our afternoon nap.

Looks peaceful doesn't it. It would have been except for the helicopters regularly passing overhead and the occasional screaming child.

It says something about how beautiful the trees are that I'm willing to deal with the crowds and the screaming kids and the people who bring their bikes and HUGE strollers on the narrow tidal basin path.

Next year I'm going to cut out of work one day and rent a paddle boat so I can avoid the crowds.

Review of Chinatown Express

Chinatown Express is a a little dive in - surprise, surprise - Chinatown.

The front window gives passers by a view of the chefs making noodles in the window. That's about as atmospheric as the place gets. It's a bit shabby. Service is perfunctory, but fine.

The fresh noodles are definitely the way to go. I like the super dense won tons in the won ton soup. The lo mein is a bit on the greasy side, but the portions are huge.

Although the prices aren't dirt cheap, two people can easily eat here for under $20. Lunch is even better. You can get their lunch special for like $6. All in all, not a bad option if you're in Chinatown, slightly broke, and very hungry.

Chinatown Express, 746 6th St NW Washington, DC

Coming Soon

The weather people insist that it is going to be in the sixties and sunny this weekend. Gorgeous. Aside from sitting outside and soaking it all in:

• Thursday night we'll be hitting the Wizards v. Cavaliers game, probably the last one of the season


• Friday afternoon I have a conference at the Cato institute on drug decriminalization in Portugal


• Friday night is open gallery night in Dupont Circle


• It'll be hard to drag myself to yoga and an Artomatic meeting on Saturday, but it should leave me enough time for wandering through the cherry blossoms.


• No plans on Sunday and I plan to keep it that way (oh wait, I guess that's a plan)


• And to cap it off, Walter Mosley will be at Politics and Prose on Monday night

Goethe-Institute Human Rights Films

The Goethe-Institute is a German cultural center with locations all over the world, including in DC. They have exhibit space, a theater, events spaces, and classrooms where you can learn German.

This past weekend they were showing films from a human rights film festival based out of the Czech Republic. Chris and I saw two of them.

The Reckoning was about the International Criminal Court (ICC). It gave an overview of international justice, starting with an interview of the attorney who prosecuted the Nazis at Nuremberg. Then is followed the ICC through its formation and its first few cases - Uganda, Sudan, Colombia. It was sad and fascinating and made me want to punch John Bolton in the face.

The second film we watched was called Life After the Fall. A documentary filmmaker who had been living in London and working for the BBC for decades returned to his home country of Iraq after the fall of Saddam. The film follows his family for four years, watching them grow increasingly frustrated, disillusioned, and dejected. It's a long film, Lord of the Rings long, but it's worth it.

Best of all, most of the events at Goethe are free.