Jazzed About Summer

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Friday, June 20, 2008; C11

Today marks the official start of summer, and with such pleasant weather, it seems the only way to truly observe the occasion is actually act like it's summer and soak up the evening. Ways to kiss the rainy spring goodbye:

Tonight, WPFW's Robyn Holden and Carol Tyson, co-hosts of "Robyn's Place," bring jazz under the stars at this concert, which this year opens the season of shows at Lubber Run. Performers include singer Chad Carter, the smooth-jazz Michael Thomas Quintet and singer Julie Hall. The concert will be simulcast on 89.3 FM; if you can't make it, "Robyn's Place" returns twice more through the course of the summer on Saturday evenings (July 12 and Aug. 9). Free. 7-9 p.m. Lubber Run Amphitheatre, North Columbus and Second streets, Arlington. 703-228-1850. Families can catch the Movies Under the Moon screenings as they continue out at Fairfax's Van Dyck Park. Tonight, the series, which raises money for Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children (the money is collected through donations and concession sales), screens "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. " Free. Field opens at 6:30 p.m., movie starts at 8:30. Through 3730 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax. For a full schedule, visit http://www.cox.com/fairfax/moviesunderthemoon/schedule.htm.

Also tonight, in the District, you can find young professionals chilling outdoors in the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden, taking in the weekly jazz concerts (they run from May into early October). Tonight, it's our favorite -- Brazilian jazz -- with local band Origem, which performs everything from the samba and bossa nova to forro and maracatu styles. Free. 5-8:30 p.m. (The garden closes at 9:30.) Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-289-3360.

The District

Today

ON STAGE: "Waiting for Godot" We hate , hate, hate looking at the schedule at the old Warehouse space and finding it nearly blank. Before becoming the limited-use shell it is today, the Warehouse was where we waited only two hours on the street to get into that Beirut show, where we saw that exhibit with the slowly molding onion, where we once almost threw up during a Fringe Festival play because it was so hot. It is special to us. All that's left to see now is in the theater, where Sam Beckett's play is being produced by Scena Theatre through June 29 as part of its "Nouvelle Vague Season," in which the company has been exploring the theater of the absurd. After the run ends, Fringe returns. $30; students and seniors, $25. Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3. Get tickets in advance at http://www.scenatheatre.org.

Tomorrow

ON STAGE: BosmaDance Travels the World The contemporary dance troupe premieres two works this weekend at Dance Place: One, "Gokyo," is a video dance filmed during a trek this year through Nepal's Himalayan region to Mount Everest; the dance (which will be projected, not actually danced) is set to Nepali folk music. Also on the bill: The new "Every Man Is an Island" (danced by four women, if you're curious), a work inspired by mystic George Ivanovich Gurdjieff. $17-$22; ages 2-17, $8. Tomorrow at 8 p.m. Sunday at 7 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. 202-269-1600.

Tuesday

ON STAGE: "Mamma Mia!" Here's a chance to brush up on your Abba lyrics before the Meryl Streep version of "Mamma Mia!" hits movie theaters this summer. The musical, which turns Abba songs into a story about a mother-daughter relationship and a wedding, starts a three-week run at the National Theatre on Tuesday. $46.50-$151.50. 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 800-447-7400. (For the full story on the production's star and her local connection as a Catholic U. grad, see today's Weekend section.)

Maryland

Today

FILM: "What's Happening! The Beatles in the U.S.A." Every year you can count on Silverdocs to screen one free outdoor movie (usually a concert film). Tonight's is sure to be swamped: This one is the documentary by Albert and David Maysles (who, by the way, are like the Beatles of the doc world -- legends), who capture that moment in which the Fab Four first landed in America. The filmmakers followed the fellas for four days, right up to the famed "Ed Sullivan Show" outing and beyond. Free. 9 p.m. Ellsworth Drive, between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street, Silver Spring. For details and synopsis, visit http://www.silverdocs.com/festival/films/2008/whats-happening-beatles-us/.

CLOSING: "World of Jewtopia" Bryan Fogel and Sam Wolfson's touring show, based on their popular indie play "Jewtopia," and spun this time with a stand-up comedy edge, dissects the stereotypes of Jewish culture. After a run this month at Bethesda Theatre, the show is set to close Sunday. $45-$75. Today at 8 p.m., tomorrow at 5 and 9 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Bethesda Theatre, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 301-657-7827.

Tomorrow

CONCERT: Getting Amped for the D.C. Caribbean Carnival This annual bash and parade down Georgia Avenue isn't till next week, but this weekend in Prince George's County, organizers are warming up with two days of concerts at Crossroads. The first is the "Pan Jam Festival" tomorrow featuring steel band after steel band playing all afternoon. (The show is from 2 to 8 p.m.) Then, Sunday, it's Dimanche Gras, a competition for best carnival costumes (anyone who has seen the parade knows how elaborate they can get). The Image Band performs, and DJs will spin. (2 p.m.) Admission for each show, $10 (both are all-ages). 4103 Baltimore Ave., Bladensburg. http://www.dccaribbeancarnival.org.

Northern Virginia

Today

THE SCENE: Brew Pops Are Back Last year, the great beer-on-a-stick experiment of Rustico's executive chef, Frank Morales, and beer director, Greg Engert, went awry -- when they announced they'd be serving the suckers, which included flavors such as "Raspbeer-y." The issue: Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control found that serving frozen beer isn't compliant with its rules. After a few quick changes in the recipes and the laws, the brew pops were permitted to stay. Beginning today, they'll return to the menu, just in time for the start of summer at the restaurant. Flavors include "Chocolate Stout" and "St. Louis Kriek." $5. Rustico, 827 Slaters Lane, Alexandria. 703-224-5051.

Tomorrow

FESTIVALS: Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest Northern Virginia is known around here for its vineyards, its "wine country." But beer is big here, too (See: the above item about brew pops). Tomorrow marks the return of the Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest. This year at "A Celebration of American Beer," which is packed with reps from 40 breweries, the emphasis is on the micro (we checked out the list, and if you missed the Savor event recently, many of the same microbreweries will be there). $25 at the gate (includes four beer-tasting tickets; additional tickets, $1); for designated drivers, $20. Advance tickets, $20 and $15. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. tomorrow, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Morven Park, 41793 Tutt Lane, Leesburg. Visit http://www.novabrewfest.com or call 888-695-0888.

Sunday

ON STAGE: "Dial 'P' for Pasties" Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey are local faves in the burlesque scene, but have been somewhat MIA, spending nine months at circus school and a month in England learning and practicing their fabulous new skills. Sunday at the Birchmere, the pinup and the primate will perform their latest show, "Dial 'P,' " a film-noir-inspired work that includes acrobatics and the all-important striptease, as well, gasp, plot. $20. 8 p.m. 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. 202-397-7328.

Save the Date

FESTIVALS: D.C. Comedyfest Washington is many things: a political town, a nature lover's town and -- this one is frequently overlooked -- it is definitely a comedy town. Why else would comics such as Dave Chappelle, Bill Maher and Chris Rock come back again and again, often for multi-night stints? The three-year-old D.C. Comedyfest, which returns Aug. 7-9, capitalizes on Washingtonians' appreciation for a good laugh. This year, the shows are broken down by niche, so there's "4 Shades of Black: 'Obama Edition' " if you want to catch African American comics doing their thing; "Laughing Liberally" if you can't stand the idea of laughing alongside a neocon; "The Weird Show"; and so on. For us, a highlight will be the "Ruckus" showcase featuring headliner J.B. Smoove (a former "SNL" writer who was brilliant as Leon Black, Larry David's Hurricane Katrina adoptee-cum-BFF on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm"). Tickets for the festival -- which is set for eight area venues, including the DC Improv, the Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse and even the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue -- go on sale today. $5-$25 (the J.B. show is $25); passes also available. For tickets and details, visit http://www.dccomedyfest.com.

ON STAGE: "Kooza" Cirque du Soleil's "Corteo" might have had a strong run in the "Grand Chapiteau" (we think this means "tent") at City Center in downtown Washington in 2006, but on its next visit this fall, Cirque will set up on the edge of the Potomac at National Harbor, relieving Marylanders of any need to drive into the city. "Kooza" is a clown story; it follows "the Innocent" as he travels in search of identity and meaning . . . and finds circus acts instead. The acts include balancing on a 23-foot tower of chairs, clowning contortionists and, wait for it -- the 1,600-pound Wheel of Death, a two-artist display of balance. The show begins Oct. 30. $55-$125; ages 2-12, $38.50-$87.50; students and seniors, $49.50-$112.50. Oct. 30-Nov. 16. The Plateau at National Harbor, Prince George's County. 800-678-5440.