Decision Time: Parade or Pillow Fight?
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It's pretty much now or never: Today is pegged as the last day to take in cherry trees at peak bloom around the Tidal Basin. Oh, and it's also the only day you can see the annual parade, then slip off for some sake tasting and sumo watching at the Sakura Matsuri street festival.
Highlights from cherry-related events:
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade begins at 10 a.m. today with an eclectic bunch of paraders -- everyone from "Sesame Street" characters (including a giant Elmo) to the famed Ballou High School Marching Knights to neighborhood toughs the D.C. Rollergirls. And "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek is grand marshal (later, he'll hold tryouts for the game show at Montgomery College's Germantown campus, 20200 Observation Dr., from 2 to 4 p.m.).
Free. 10 a.m.-noon. Constitution Avenue NW from Seventh to 17th streets. (Metro: Navy Memorial on the Yellow/Green lines or Federal Triangle on the Blue/Orange lines.) For details: http:/
Adults who aren't interested in floats but are curious about J-pop might find the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival more to their taste. The event, which commences immediately after the parade, features a sake-tasting area and Japanese food and beer, as well as children's activities, shopping and, yes, performances of that quirky music known as J-pop.
Free. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 12th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Visit http:/
If it's silliness you're looking for, be sure to saunter by the Smithsonian Castle at 2 p.m. Word is that D.C. Defenestrators are organizing a local brawl in connection with International Pillow Fight Day. They'll fight the good fight, for all the cherry blossom crowds to see, then take their battle to Dupont Circle at 3 p.m. Visit http:/
Finally, rest your dogs at U Street's beloved jazz hole, Bohemian Caverns, where MN8 hosts the annual Cherry Blossom Jam, with Japanese American acid-jazz singer Michiru.
$22.50 in advance; $25 at the door. 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. today. 2001 11th St. NW. For tickets, http:/
Maryland
Concert A Sonic Circuits Freakout
The experimental music festival's ongoing series at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center continues with a freestyle "freakout" -- an improvisational concert that pairs electronic and experimental musicians, among them guitarist Michelle Webb; Janel & Anthony & Violet, a trio of pedal tweakers; Vector Trio; and Michael Thomas Jackson and Layne Garrett, who will mix the sounds made by found objects and analog synthesizers, live onstage. $7. 8:30 p.m. Pyramid Atlantic, 8230 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. 301-608-9101 or for details, http:/
The District
For Families Fabergé Egg Family Festival
Hillwood Museum and Gardens gets started on Easter festivities a week early with the popular annual bash inspired by its collection of dazzling Fabergé eggs. Because jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé was Russian, so is the theme of the family festival: Expect performances by Samovar Russian Folk Music Ensemble, folk games, and talks about Russian Easter customs. And of course, it wouldn't be Easter without an opportunity for families to decorate Fabergé-inspired eggs. $12; ages 6-18, $7; ages 5 and younger, free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today; 1-5 p.m. tomorrow. Hillwood Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. 202-686-5807 or http:/
Maryland
Sports So You Want to Be a Redskins Cheerleader?
For a week now, the Washington Redskins cheerleaders have been auditioning, and cutting, women who hope to make it on the squad for the 2009 season. Tomorrow, 50 hopefuls will have one last, anxiety-filled tryout -- a final audition that is open for the public to come watch (and of course, try to guess who'll make it and who won't). The process will be more like a beauty pageant than what you'd expect, since the ladies will be in swimwear, cocktail dresses and the cheerleader uniforms -- and, of course, showing off their dancing talent. At the end of the night, the audience will get to hear who made the squad. Tickets are $15-$25. 8-10 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door only beginning at 7 p.m. Bethesda Theatre, 7719 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. http:/
