Whoa, summer is here

OK, technically not yet, but all the free art, music, and walking tours have, so it's basically the same. There's too much to write posts for everything, but here's the beginning (with credit to Cultural Tourism DC for compiling some it for me). Comment if you know of more!

Artomatic 2009
Friday, May 29 - Sunday, July 05
Location: 55 M Street, SE
Artomatic is a month-long art festival with nine floors of visual and installation art, theater performances, dance and comedy, three music stages, and much more! More importantly, Veronica and Chirlin's Peeps diorama will be displayed.

BikingTown and Walking Town, DC Spring Edition 2009
Saturday, May 30 - Sunday, May 31
Location: Across the City
These events feature free walking or biking tours all over DC. Get out and explore a new neighborhood or learn more about your own!

Sounds in the Square
Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
June 4, 11, 18, 25 and July 2, 9, 16, 23 (raindates 7/30 and 8/6)
Location: Farragut Square Park, Connecticut Avenue & K Street, NW
Sponsored by the Golden Triangle BID, this concert series features a variety of artists and give-aways from local businesses each week.

Jazz in the Garden
Fridays, 5 - 8:30 PM
May 22nd - September 11th
The Pavilion Café at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 7th and Constitution NW
I can't believe I missed the first jazz night! Bring a picnic, a blanket, and someone to cuddle with and enjoy the free music. Don't expect to get a spot where you can actually see the band; it gets crowded quickly. I'll have to go on June 12th just to find out what "bluesion" is.

Shakespeare Free-For-All...

...has moved! Sadly, FFA is now going to be downtown at the Company's Harman Hall (the new theater they built on F and 6th Streets). It will now be metro-accessible and, to make up for the lack of green space, I believe the National Building Museum will allow people to picnic on their grounds. Just to further confuse things, they also changed the dates to August 27th to Sept 12.

Backyard Gourmet

Summer in the City is all about the food, the shirtless runners, and the sundresses for me. The extensive network of farms in this region does nothing short of rock my socks. I've met some farmers here: they are innovative, progressive, fun-loving and very attractive. Now it seems like the farming frenzy has hit the city and everyone wants a piece of the action.

Check out Liz and Susan's 7th Street Garden down in the Shaw neighborhood.
They are always having workshops, volunteer days, and events all over the city. Everyone has a right to delicious, nutritious, and locally grown food, right? Yeah, I thought so. and have you seen their sexy Metro-Tees?

Tomorrow night you might want to wash the dirt off your hands and put on your seer-sucker for the Garden Party at Poste Moderne Brasserie courtyard. The event will feature food grown on-site and prepared by Executive Chef Robert Weland. The coolest part about this is that the $10 cover gets you two cocktails, nibbles, and benefits the Trust for Public Land .

Do you guys love DC? I do and I'm hungry.

What Do Bhutan, Texas, and NASA Have In Common?

Nothing really, except that they are all at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival this summer. There are festivities until June 29th and then July 2-9.

Check out some of the related concerts happening on Millenium Stage in Kennedy Center too: Who knew there were so many NASA garage bands!

I haven't been to this yet, so will you guys please post comments and tell me which tents have the best Bhutanese samples?

DC's Secret Gardens

I love all things green and I'm secretly a die-hard romantic. I believe people should stroll around these places holding hands, marvelling at the natural world, and stop only to smell the waterlilies and kiss in the shade...And yes, I'm single.

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Quarles and Douglas Sts., on Anacostia Ave
Believe it or not, some parts of the Anacostia river are beautiful. If you show up when they open at 7am, you can watch the lilies unfold.

US Botanic Garden
Just below the capitol building. It's big and glass, you can't miss it!
Visit habitats the world over and learn all about medicinal and perfumery plants...or just chill out by the fountain under the banana trees.



National Arboretum
Enter at 3501 New York Ave NE or 24th & R Streets NE
Stroll about the extensive grounds and check out the eerie old Capitol collonade or some equally creepy bonzai.

Tulip Library
Near the Tidal Basin where Maine and Independence Avenues meet
In the fall it's a physical catalog of tulips, but in the other seasons the National Park services puts in random plantings and provides a little pamphlet. Stop and smell the flowers on the way to pick-up or kick ball.

Enid A. Haupt Garden
Tucked behind the Smithsonian Castle
This is the loveliest place to sit in the shade, read a book, or people watch. Nooks abound.

The Summer House
Just to the left of the front lawn of the Capitol Building.
This anachronistic, hexagonal, hut of water fountains feels straight out of the Secret Garden. Stop by and bathe with the birds.

Weekday Pleasures

Shitty day at your underpaid job? Do you just want to get out and enjoy your Wednesday evening? Try these free weekday pleasures:

Bond Film Festival
Outdoor James Bond Movies every week at sunset
New York and Florida NE on Thursdays
Crystal City on Mondays
Rosslyn on Fridays (see comment from Res below)

Art-o-matic
Wednesday thru Sunday until June 15th
11 floors of local artists

Sounds in the Square
Local bands you already love play in Farragut Square
Random Thursdays at 5pm through September
Think they'll give us anything for wearing our MetroTees?

Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
Friday evenings starting May 23
Bring a picnic and a concealed nalgene of wine

Portrait Gallery,
Open until 7pm everyday
Hip-hop and vintage poster exhibits