Thursday, May 19
Yes, Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat almost single-handedly undressed the Wizards; yet we can say without a shade of sarcasm that it's nothing to be ashamed of. In most major NBA markets, making it to the first round of the playoffs is yawn-worthy, but here in Washington the little things mean a lot. You can celebrate with R&B star (and Maryland native) Mya tonight at Fur as she joins Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Larry Hughes and the rest of the Wizards for a season-closing party. (They might want to pour out a little cognac for their homie Kwame Brown.) Doors open at 8 and the open bar lasts until 9. Hit eVIPlist.com for the discount passes.
So, you think you have a knack for playing the ponies? (You had "a hunch" about the Derby, but didn't have a chance to wager on the $864,000 superfecta, right? Suuuuuure.) You can prove your prowess (and warm up for the Preakness) tonight while raising money for charity at the Clarendon Grill. A Night at the Races allows you to bet "funny money" on taped footage on horse races from around the country -- a guide to the participating horses will be provided -- and correct bets can help you win prizes. Betting begins at 7. Admission is $20 ($15 in advance) and all proceeds go to the Abigail Alliance for Better Access to Developmental Drugs, which works to increase cancer patients' access to developmental treatments. See www.abigail-alliance.org for more information.
Local guitarist Michael Harris can cover a lot of ground, and that's what keeps him a fixture in Washington's music scene. From jazz to funk to experimental electronica, it's often hard to keep track of the varying ensembles Harris puts together to pursue the whims of his muse. His current group Bang Bang Bang is good, crankin' garage rock. While he hasn't forsaken his chops, this project clearly favors amplitude over subtleties. They'll be wilding out at Wonderland tonight, and any dough you might pull out will be for beers, because there's no cover. Rocking commences around 8.
Friday, May 20
The Embassy Series can be filed under "only in Washington" -- where else will you find concerts and receptions at dozens of embassies or diplomatic residences? A program earlier this season featured a concert of traditional Chinese music at the Chinese Embassy, hosted by the ambassador, followed by a catered "meet the artists" event with Peking duck and Tsingtao beer. Such concerts are a great chance to dress up, have an out-of-the-ordinary date, and take advantage of the rich culture this city offers. Embassy events often sell out well in advance, but we've gotten word that tickets still remain for this weekend's "Operetta Evenings" at the Embassy of Austria. Hungarian soprano Krisztina Dávid and Austrian tenor Marko Kathol perform a program heavy on works by Strauss, but also including Lehár, Kálmán and Zeller. Tickets are $35 for the Friday concert and $40 for Saturday; both concerts begin at 8, and you should allow 20 to 30 minutes to get through security.
Non-mainstream hip-hop choices continue to prove elusive. You may have missed the monthly party put on at the Blue Room by the constantly touring beatmeister Sharkey, one of the rare local hip-hop practitioners who has gotten some national success under his belt. Tonight is the one-year anniversary of this event, and they're packing heat with Johnny "Juice" Rosado in the mix. Rosado is one of those artists who never got their just due until years after the fact. While Terminator X was the onstage DJ for Public Enemy, Rosado did all the turntable work on their landmark early material, leaving few of us the wiser. P-nyce, Orbit122, Two Teks and Sharkey himself round out turntablist duties for the evening, with special guests Priest da Nomad and Asheru on the mike.
A couple of years ago, Panic was one of the Big Three alternative dance events, bringing indie rock, '80s new wave, Britpop and goth tunes to the Metro Cafe every Friday night. Then it dissolved -- DJ Pogo left WHFS and took a job at a radio station in Chicago; DJ Jim Noble cut back on DJing, and DJ/lighting coordinator Olli moved to Berlin, where he opened a bar called 8mm. Olli's back in town for a brief visit, and he's spinning head-to-head with Bliss DJ Will Eastman on the Black Cat's main stage. Doors open at 9:30, and admission is $8.
The two of us checked out Cloud when it opened in Dupont Circle in February, replacing the rather staid Savino's Cafe. We liked the tapas and drinks; thought the all-white decor was interesting; and decided service could have been a little better. Hopefully all the kinks have been worked out, because Cloud is hosting a grand opening party for the restaurant, lounge and outdoor dining area tonight from 9 to 3. The cover ($10 in advance from y3h.org, $15 at the door) includes free appetizers from 9 to 11 and drink specials ($4 beers, $5 martinis) until 10:30. Dress fashionably.
Saturday, May 21
This weekend is shaping up to be rain-free for a change, so you may want to consider celebrating by taking in some dancing (and classical music) outdoors. NSOvation -- the young-members arm of the National Symphony Orchestra -- hosts an evening of food, cocktails and dancing to a quartet on the Kennedy Center's roof terrace. Tickets are $55 in advance ($45 for members) and the music runs from 6 to 8. More information is available from kennedy-center.org.
The Black Cat gets into the whirl of benefit events with a show featuring Velvet, Monopoli and Gist. Proceeds go to Street Sense, a newspaper by and for Washington's homeless population.
Mass Transit, the monthly house/drum 'n' bass/rave event at Fairfax's Bridges Bar and Grill, started last year "to bring a taste of downtown nightlife to the suburbs," hosting DJs like Cubik's Scott Henry in a very intimate (read: small) setting. The setting, however, belies a decent-size dance floor and top-notch sound. This month, the night's resident DJs (Ramiro, Empath, Flint, Virtue and LXG) hold it down from 9 to 3, and the $2 cover includes a two-CD mix of the DJs' favorite club tracks.
Rappers jumping ship from Roc-A-Fella Records seems to be the new fad these days. If you're a fan of Jay-Z underling Memphis Bleek and the Young Gunz, you might want to catch them at Republic Gardens tonight before they end up on one of those all too prevalent hip-hop milk cartons. It's one of those "hosting" situations, so don't expect a live performance -- although you may well get one. Caveat emptor.
Cafe Mawanaj has always had potential. It's a great student hang-out spot due to its proximity to Howard University, the owners made the space available for community events and great soul food came out of the kitchen. Tonight, Mawanaj hosts a big fundraiser for the Foundation for Sustainable Development, focusing on the work the organization is doing in East Africa and South America. From 7 into the wee hours, African and Latin food and music are the order of the evening along with a silent auction.
When we go out to bars, we prefer a bartender who asks "What're ya drinkin'" instead of "Hail, good sir, may I give thou a tankard of ale?" Naturally, we usually give a wide berth to Gadsby's Tavern, the historic Alexandria restaurant that brings a lil' bit of costumed Colonial Williamsburg cheesiness to Old Town. Tonight, though, we're considering a stop for the Great Rum Punch Challenge. Rum punch was popular 200 years ago, but you may be surprised by what you find; Martha Washington's recipe for rum punch sounds like something from a Trader Vic's cookbook, utilizing white rum, dark rum, orange Curacao, orange juice, lemons and simple syrup. From 7 to 9:30, Alexandria restaurants and caterers will present their own version of the beverage, and attendees can vote on their favorite recipe. The $50 admission includes food and drink.
Sunday, May 22
You don't have to go to George Washington University or even be a recent college graduate to enjoy tonight's 2005 Graduation Party at the 51st State Tavern in Foggy Bottom -- you just have to be smart enough to look for specials like $2.25 Budweiser beers, $3 rail drinks and Yuengling and $20 bottles of champagne. Everything kicks off at 4; arrive early if you want a chance of a seat on the patio.
