Friday, November 16, 2007

Ice Skating

Free hot chocolate at the National Gallery’s Ice Skating Rink tomorrow starting at 10am for anyone who buys ice time or rents skates (or a locker). Two hours will cost ya $7 and $3 for skates.

It will probably be crowded.

Wine and Movies

Every Friday evening at the Arlington Draft House, there’s a wine tasting hosted by the Washington Wine Academy before the evening show. Tonight it’s wine before 3:10 to Yuma. Doors open at 6:15 and wine costs $2 for 2oz toasting tickets. Tickets to the movie for $5.50 which starts at 7:15. I’d say this is a quality first date option.

Ha.

Go see Ani Difranco at 9:30 tonight. JUST KIDDING, it’s sold out.

FRIDAYYYYYYYYYY. For real.

HIPS (Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive) is having their fundraiser at Palace of Wonders again this year. And if it’s ANYTHING like last year’s, it’ll be awesome. A great crowd and great shows.

$15 cover
8pm
1210 H St. NE

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Books!

There are some good book discussions tonight.

EDWARD BALL- The Genetic Strand: Exploring a Family History Through DNA.
Thu., 11/15, at 7 p.m., Free.
Olsson's Books & Records,
418 7th St. NW., (202) 638-7610.

TOM PERROTTA- The Abstinence Teacher.
Thu., 11/15, at 7 p.m., Free.
Politics and Prose,
5015 Connecticut Ave. NW., (202) 364-1919.

ROBERT A. SCHULLER- Walking In Your Own Shoes.
Thu., 11/15, at 7 p.m., Free.
Barnes & Noble,
12089 Rockville Pike, Rockville., (301) 881-0237.

CAROLINE WEBER- Queen of Fashion.
Thu., 11/15, at 6 p.m., $15.
Hillwood Museum and Gardens,
4155 Linnean Ave. NW., For reservations call (202) 686-5807.

Unsung Designers

The Adams Morgan alley boutique Unsung Designers are hightailing outta here to NYC. Tonight they are hosting a going away party and 40% off SALE. The jewelry is fabulous and at 40% off, really fabulous. If you spend over $500 (which I would if I could, but I can’t), you get will receive a special gift from Verrieres & Sako.

They are located half way up the alley across the street from the Caribou Coffee
2412 18th Street, NW

Artful Evening

The Phillips stays open late tonight (as it does every Thursday) for their Artful Evening program. Chief Curator Eliza Rathbone will discuss “origins of beach scenes in France and discuss how the impressionists used novel techniques to capture the effects of weather and light on the coastline.” The gallery talks are at 6pm and 7pm and The Collection will be open until 8:30pm.

1600 21st Street, NW

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

One Laptop Per Child

I caught a 60 Minutes story recently on the organization One Laptop Per Child which works “to provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment and express themselves” through developing a laptop computer that is durable and cheap. The computers shown on 60 Minutes were very impressive with a long use battery and high security protections. Tonight at RFD you can play with one of the laptops with the OLPC News Washington DC Meetup.

RFD
810 7th St NW
6pm

margaritas

Rosa Mexicano margaritas are good- especially the pomegranate margarita. You can get free margaritas tonight and get a cute outfit because it’ll be 15% off at Wink in Georgetown.

5:30-8pm
3109 M St.

chop't

I got my free lunch at Chop’t. Did you? Free salad or sandwich (really a wrap) and fountain drink (they have Boylan on tap!) until 2pm.

Warning- Line is long.

730 7th St. NW

Beaujolais Nouveau

Fritz at the Washington Post has a VERY VERY extensive list of Beaujolais Nouveau parties. Go here to see them all: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgurus/2007/11/beaujolais_nouveau_update.html.

I put my top picks from his list below.

Worth trying to get into to:

Bistrot du Coin's Beaujolais Nouveau Party
When: Wednesday night, 11 p.m.
The Scene: This is usually the wildest and most crowded of the area's Beaujolais Nouveau events. As midnight draws closer, tables are cleared to make room for a dance floor, and by the end of the night, women are boogieing on zinc-topped bar.
Who Goes: French ex-pats and Francophiles, from 20-somethings to 70-somethings.
Free Wine? Yes. Two varieties will be given away, beginning at midnight, and you can drink as much as you like.
Entertainment: DJ Herve, who spins house, electro and French pop music at many of the Alliance Francaise's parties, will start after 10.
Getting In: This is the tricky part. Dinner reservations, which guarantee you a spot at the party, are long gone. If the restaurant is under its legal capacity by the time the party kicks into gear (usually around 11), people waiting outside will be allowed into the bar area on a first-come, first-served basis.

Les Halles's Beaujolais Nouveau Party
When: Wednesday night, 9 p.m.
The Scene: Les Halles's annual celebration is less crazy that Bistrot du Coin's, but still a good time. It draws a good mix of wine lovers, from 20-somethings on up, many of whom have dinner first.
Who Goes: Francophiles and oenophiles.
Free Wine? Yes. Several varieties are generally available for sampling. Don't miss the free tripe, too, which is apparently traditional in southern France.
Entertainment: A DJ spins French tunes and pop music, beginning at 9.
Getting In: This party is generally easier to get into than Bistrot du Coin's, though early arrival is suggested, and reservations (made through Open Table) can't hurt.

The French Wine Society's Beaujolais Nouveau Time
When: Friday Thursday night, 8:30 p.m. - 3 a.m.
The Scene: The French Wine Society is taking over the stylish new Park at 14th restaurant and lounge for its tasting party, which features French DJs and a fashion show organized by Barney's Co-Op.
Who Goes: The society's parties -- generally held at tony places like the French Embassy or the National Press Club, draw a European crowd that's firmly in the 30s-and-40s demographic, dressed in cocktail outfits (lots of jackets and ties, fellas).
Free Wine? Until 10 p.m., so get there early.
Entertainment: Expect French electronic dance music and lounge tunes.
Getting In: It's open to everyone. Advance tickets are $20 ($15 for French Wine Society members) from frenchwinesociety.org.

Top Ranking Beaujolais Nouveau Party at Napoleon
When: Thursday night, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.
The Scene: DJ Meistro's weekly mix of Afropop, Latin funk, Brazilian beats and crazy breaks regularly draws cool crowds to Napoleon's chic basement champagne lounge. This week, they add wine specials to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau.
Who Goes: Anyone who loves funky music and a good party, from hipsters to Europhiles.
Free Wine? No. $5 a glass. But at least there's no cover charge.
Entertainment: DJ Meistro. See above.
Getting In: No cover, no dress code, no problem. Just be ready to dance and enjoy yourself.


Alliance Francaise Wine and Cheese Party
When: Friday night, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
The Scene: The French government's cultural representatives to Washington have been getting younger and hipper this year, thanks to events like the Soiree Carte Blanche happy hour series. This annual wine-and-cheese affair draws a good mix of people to the group's headquarters in a converted Kalorama rowhouse -- between sipping wine in the library and a DJ in the living room, it feels like a catered French house party.
Who Goes: A Francophone mix of ex-pats, students from the Alliance's language classes and Americans who studied in Paris in college.
Free Wine? Included in the cost of the ticket, along with French snacks.
Entertainment: Singer Simone Marchand performs favorite songs by the legendary vocalist Edith Piaf, and DJ Stylus spins a soundtrack of French and European pop, hip-hop, soul and Afrobeat tunes.
Getting In: Open to all, tickets cost $33 for the general public, $26 for Alliance Francaise members and $21 for students in the Alliance's language classes. Reservations must be made in advance through the Alliance Francaise Web site -- there are no sales at the door.

Amy!

Super excited about this…
Amy Sedaris
Thursday, November 29
8:00 p.m.
Tickets $15 in advance through Ticketmaster, $25 at door
Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I Street, NW

"If you see someone boring someone else, just be grateful it's not you. If you see someone hogging the conversation, create an opening and try to include someone else. Have something ready in your apron pocket to talk about. My line is, 'Yes, paella is very traditional to the Spaniards.' Or 'Wasn't that British territory?' If you see a shy person, ask them some questions like, 'Why are you so shy? Tell everyone, we're all listening.'"