When Harlem Came to Paris

This theatrical event is back, the first one was such a hit Lil So So decided to do it again!
Click on the picture for ticket prices/ info.

Exit The Apple.

Jamyla and Pierre of Exit The Apple are opening up a store that will feature independent media, arts and Oyin Handmade Hair and Body Products. The grand opening is Saturday, Feb. 7th and they will be open every Saturday thereafter. I love to see creative couples doing their thing! Congratulations to them both on the store opening.

Exit The Apple
2103 N.Charles Street (ground Floor)
Open to the publis 12-7PM
(410)343-7020

The New Classics Tour

Parties at sneaker shops are always hot (in a low key, high fashion, hipster sorta way) and DJ 2 Tone Jones will be spinning, so the music will definitely be on point.
Click on the flyer for more info.

Interesting exhibit/opening

If you must go out for the Inauguration...

I totally support Obama, but I am not leaving my house when the those massive crowds come to DC, it's just not worth it for me. That being said, this event seems pretty cool. So, if you are going to be out partying check this out!

For more info and/or to buy tickets just click on the flyer.

Just got this in an email...

The Mothertongue community calls upon women poets, writers, and creative voices to come together and REFLECT upon our past and look to the future with a one-day series of writing workshops, including a reflection on the life and loss of local activist Cheryl Ann Spector (1958-2007). We will use our collective voices to form a series of poetry broadsides to be displayed throughout DC. Workshops will be lead by, J. Scales, Ken Vegas, Natalie Illum and Bonnie Morris

The Mother Tongue Writing Workshops will be held on January 24 from 11:30 am-4:30pm
@ Flashpoint (916 G St. NW)

To register or for more info email: dmevennou@gmail.com

This morning...

Like many other Washingtonians, I ride the Metro to work in the morning. My commute generally goes something like this; get on the train, put in my ear phones and tune out to my itunes. Pretty basic. Well this morning, my listening to Rick James was interrupted by a most interesting man, who did something so shocking and profound that it caused a stir amongst the other Metro passengers...he started a conversation with myself and another woman that was sitting near him. Yes, he went there and spoke to, get this, complete strangers.
Honestly, I was glad he verbally reached out to me, kind of shook my morning up a bit. We talked about sports in school, the Redskins and the ungodly cold temperatures. Clearly the woman sitting to my right was not feeling him. Not only was she rolling her eyes the whole time this gentleman was speaking she even went as far as to tell him to be quiet. I couldn't phatom the nerve of that bitch. The man was speaking at an appropriate noise level, conversing about sports and the weather and from what I could see was fairly sane.

Not to mention that we were on public transportation.

I mean really folks, when did talking become offensive? When did simply reaching out and saying, "Good morning, hope you enjoy your day" become a personal attack?
As the new year approaches I hope that we can all loosen up and learn to be more inviting to each other.

Sunday Kind Of Love - Poetry Reading/Open mic

People either love or hate poetry readings. For some they conjur up images of smoky coffee shop filled with artsy fartsy people snapping and sub par poets going on and on about love and "the struggle". Luckily, this reading won't be like that. Well, not really it is technically at a coffee shop, but there will be no snapping and the poets are some of the best in the DC area. The open mic will be hosted by Katy Richey and Melissa Tuckey. Poets include Derrick Weston Brown and Dan Vera. If you have no idea who these people are, just click on their names, but trust me they are good!

Sunday Kind of Love will be at Bus Boys and Poets (2021 14th St NW).
On Sunday December 21 from 4-6PM

Beat Grinders

This is the 6th anniversary of the Beat Grinder competitions and this time around they are paying homage to Gil Scott Heron. Wondering what the hell a Beat Grinder Competition is, well it's a Washington DC beat making competition where ten producers will battle for the very coveted Beat Grinder Crown. It is said to be the "only beat making competition that matters for DC" I don't know about that, but it is the only one I've ever heard about. The event is hosted by Grap Luva and DJ's Underdog and Damu the Fudgemunk will be spinning. Info: Wed. December 17, 2008. Beat Grinders starts at 9PM and goes until 2AM. @ Liv (2001 11th Street NW above Bohemian Caverns)

For more info email underdog@majordc.com

Strange Bodies: Figurative Works from the Hirshhorn Collection

Remember the big naked guy on the bottom floor of the Hirshhorn? He's back! Along with a slew of other sculptures, paintings, and mixed media pieces representing the human form. The bulk of the pieces were donated by John Hirshhorn. The collection includes pieces by Ron Mueck, William De Kooning, and Julian Schnabel.

Strange Bodies runs December 11, 2008 to early 2010
For more information visit the Hirshhorn Museum