By Lavanya Ramanathan
Friday, August 15, 2008
An Eritrean restaurant doesn't seem an ideal place for an indie rock band to play. Or for a dance party. Or an art exhibition.
But Washington lacks the warehouse spaces, hospitable neighbors and dicey parking lots needed to throw events as offbeat as, say, those in Baltimore. And so Dahlak it is.
Dahlak is that smallish restaurant at the corner of 18th and U streets that opened in 2006 and has, over the past six months, become the spot to DJ or play a show. How this has happened exactly, we can only guess: It seemed to take off when a popular local blog, Brightest Young Things, began posting word about the events at the space, with not much mention of what Dahlak is exactly. The mystery, apparently, translated into interest.
Dave Mann has been booking bands at Dahlak since April, when the restaurant's owner, Daniel Mesifeni, approached him to help lure new crowds to the restaurant. Mann has gotten photographers to show work there, complete with opening parties. (This month, the inaugural exhibit is photos from Steve Strawn's surreal studio portrait series, "Robots and Dolls." Beginning Sept. 3 is a show of photos by Lexie Moreland.)
In reality, it's hard to see how a dance party, rock show or art opening could work in the long, narrow space decorated with Ikea paper lanterns. There is no place for bands to keep instruments, so the musicians wait outside with their drum kits. Patrons continue eating their injera long after the shows start. Musicians were at first lax about telling their friends. "No one's going to show up at your shows if you're not promoting it," Mann says of those early days.
But that intrigue thing. People do come for the concerts and DJs, and now bands contact Mann to get booked. The diners seem to like it. (Mesifeni says one of his hopes was that the shows would expose area Eritreans to different forms of entertainment than they're used to.)
The shows, a mix of Brit-pop, indie rock, folk and Americana, are free. Add art on the walls, and something does indeed seem to be happening at Dahlak.
Tomorrow, the showcase includes resident Dahlak performer Kalem of the East (no, really -- he's on practically every night there are shows), local folkie act the Able Birds and the interesting lo-fi act Ash Lovely. Scheduled down the road are James Apollo on Sept. 14, and local act the Jet Age (whose album "What Did You Do During the War, Daddy?" got a more than respectable 8.0 from Pitchfork) plays Sept. 27.
Still, Mann concedes, even the bands remain confused about what to make of Dahlak: "There have definitely been inquiries," says Mann. " 'Hey, wait. Is this a restaurant or a venue?' "
Concerts and art exhibitions at Dahlak are free. Tomorrow night at 10; open-mike nights are Thursdays. 1771 U St. NW. For a details about other upcoming shows, visit http://www.dahlakdc.blogspot.com.
The District
Today
FILM: Made in Hong Kong: "As Tears Go By" Wong Kar-Wai is a director beloved for his lovely, ambiguous films, such as "In the Mood for Love" (noted as the inspiration for "Lost in Translation") and, yes, even "2046" (which had good points, notably Zhang Ziyi). Tonight at the Freer Gallery, the Made in Hong Kong Film Festival screens the 1988 film that put the filmmaker in business, the gangster flick "As Tears Go By." Free. Tonight at 7 and Sunday at 2 p.m. (tickets handed out an hour in advance). Meyer Auditorium, Freer Gallery, Jefferson Drive and 12th Street SW. 202-633-1000.
TomorrowEXHIBIT: "Facets" This exhibition at the Organization of American States' Art Museum of the Americas features more than 50 works representing the museum's vast collection of art from Latin America and the Caribbean; among the works are a Candido Portinari piece that was the first artwork in the collection and a Joaquin Torres Garcia painting that was a gift from Nelson Rockefeller. The show has been extended to Aug. 22. Free. Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Art Museum of the Americas, 201 18th St. NW. 202-458-6016.
SundayTHE SCENE: Have a Picasso Moment: Women, Drinking and Drawing! Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School returns to the Palace of Wonders on Sunday night for a show/art class that starts with you drawing burlesque performers (if all else fails, try to draw a Coke bottle with legs). After a pause for a drinking/pencil-sharpening session, it returns for more live, half-dressed ladies and drawing. The show is BYOS (bring your own sketchpad). $5 at the door. 7 p.m. Palace of Wonders, 1210 H St. NE. 202-398-7469.
MarylandToday
FOR FAMILIES: Rock-n-Romp as Outdoor Concert The kiddie rock series closes downtown Silver Spring's Friday Night Spotlight concerts at Silver Plaza tonight, bringing in generally louder bands the City Veins and Friends of the Library to rock out for the diapered set. Face-painting and a fountain round out the evening. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. Free. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Silver Plaza, Ellsworth Drive between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street, Silver Spring. For a schedule, visit http://www.downtownsilverspring.com.
FILM: "Flashdance" The hit 1983 movie with the most famous dance-shower sequence of all time got some unexpected cred when it actually spawned a nationwide break-dancing craze. If you haven't seen it, or just are obsessed with the completely outlandish welder-turned-dancer story line, it's screening at the AFI this week as part of the Totally Awesome series of '80s films. Tonight at 9:30, next Thursday 9:15 p.m. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. 301-495-6720 or get tickets at http://www.afi.com/silver.
TomorrowTHE SCENE: The Bit Gen Gamer Fest: Nintendo Anyone? At Baltimore's Creative Alliance at the Patterson comes this fest of bands influenced by the video game years (um, is this an all-'80s weekend or what?). On the bill: the Protomen, Year 200X, the Megas, Ultraball, Entertainment System and others. Also at the show: an exhibit of video-game-related art and a selection of the best in old-skool games and gaming systems, from Atari 2600 to Xbox 360. $15; members and students, $12. Doors at 5 p.m., show at 6. Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. 410-276-1651.
CONCERT: The Legends of Hip-Hop If Rock the Bells at Merriweather Post recently was a tribute to the 1990s, this festival at Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore features a roundup that harks back to the 1980s: MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, "La Di Da Di" hero Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Kool Moe Dee and Rob Base. $26.40-$86.90. 7 p.m. tomorrow. Pier Six Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave., Baltimore. 202-397-7328 or visit http://www.piersixpavilion.com.
Northern VirginiaToday
CONCERT: Angie Aparo Aparo is a country-tinged Atlanta folk rocker who, despite the name, is actually a dude -- a dude who got a big shout-out from Faith Hill as the songwriter of her hit "Cry." The two even performed the song together in a performance in which Hill seemed cowed to meet Aparo. If you're curious about the man Hill was "so honored" to meet, he's at Iota tonight. $13. 9:30 p.m. 21 and older. Iota Club & Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-522-8340.
ON STAGE: "Stones in His Pockets" This production, about a rural Irish community that gets wrapped up playing extras in a Hollywood production that is filming in town, is the latest play staged by Keegan Theatre in its New Island Project. $20; seniors and students, $15. 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, through Aug. 23. Theatre on the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Dr., Arlington. 703-243-6366 or http://www.keegantheatre.com.
Save the Date
ON STAGE: Cheech & Chong Light Up America More than 40 years after the Summer of Love and despite ubiquitous calls to "Just Say No," "Up In Smoke" co-stars and general partners in crime (no, really) Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong are still puffing away. And this summer and fall, they are out on the road for their first tour in more than 25 years. The tour stops at the Warner Theatre on Sept. 13 for two shows; tickets, we just want to note, went on sale last week at 4:20 p.m. Chong's wife, Shelby Chong, is the opening act. Do you get the feeling the tour bus going to be, like, a moving target for police? $39.50-$59.50. 7 and 10 p.m. Warner Theatre, 13th and E streets NW. 202-397-7328 or 202-783-4000.
ON STAGE: Jamie Kennedy The latest national-name comic to visit the Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse is Kennedy, who really broke out with a sketch-comedy show on the WB called the "Jamie Kennedy Experiment," then worked his way up to starring in serious recent films such as "Kickin' It Old Skool" and, of course, "Son of the Mask." This fall he'll join the show "Ghost Whisperer," but first he has a few stand-up gigs, including two shows here on Aug. 30. $25. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. 703-486-2345.
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