WEDNESDAY: David Sedaris became legendary for perfectly told, mostly true stories of his tumultuous family life and early adulthood. Now he finds himself in a classic comedian dilemma: When you've settled down happily with your partner in the South of France, can you still be funny?
See for yourself if misery is essential to Sedaris' signature storytelling style when he reads his work at Lisner Auditorium tonight.
» Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW; Wed., Oct. 7, 8 p.m., $40-$45; 301-808-6900. (Foggy Bottom)
Photo by Ricardo DeAratanha/Los Angeles Times
WEDNESDAY: This year, the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth, is worth celebrating — and no one does that with more joy and more internal rhyme than Richard Milner.
His one-man show, "Charles Darwin: Live at the Smithsonian," brings the hero behind modern thought to singing, dancing life. Milner, a latter-day Tom Lehrer, certainly puts the fun in "fundamental theories of science."
» National Museum of Natural History, Baird Auditorium, 10th & Constitution Ave. NW; Wed., Oct. 7, 7 p.m., $23; 202-633-3030, Residentassociates.org. (Smithsonian)
Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
THURSDAY: The situation in Congo is dire and terrible enough to give even the staunchest anti-interventionist pause. Thursday night, the Enough Project will host a fundraising happy hour for the nation's victims.
The event offers free food, a free drink and a raffle whose prizes include a stay at the W Hotel - but we hope knowing you're helping out people who desperately need it is the draw here.
» Stir Lounge, 705 G St. NW; Thu., Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m., $20; 202-481-8158. (Gallery Place)
Photo by Eileen Read/Enough Project
THIS WEEK: We'll never be able to balance, as a species, the art that illuminates life's truth and the art that obscures it. "Paradox Now!," an exhibit at Arlington Arts Center, attempts to at least ask questions about this central dilemma using high-concept performance- and video-based art.
It doesn't answer those questions, of course, but that was probably too much to ask from one art show anyway.
» Arlington Arts Center, 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; through Aug. 22, free; 703-248-6800. (Virginia Square)
Photo courtesy Arlington Arts Center
ONGOING: Just a reminder: if you haven't taken trapeze classes at D.C.'s relatively new trapeze school, you should probably get on that. Afterwards, you'll be sore for days — and worse, tempted to empty your bank account to take more classes — but the flying is eminently worth it. Wear tights or leggings and go prepared to fall, because, well, you might. But that's why they invented the net.
» 9th St. and H St. NW; for class times check Washingtondc.trapezeschool.com, $45-$55; 410-459-6839. (Gallery Place)
Photo by Helayne Seidman for The Washington Post
THIS WEEK: Instead of the usual album-cover-as-art-exhibit, Flashpoint's new show, "M3: MCs, Mics and Metaphors," is a collection of visual art inspired by hip-hop luminaries and lyrics. The works are as variable as the artists that gave rise to them: You'll see photographs, paintings, videos, animations, fashion and the always-intimidating "mixed media."
» Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW; through Aug. 29, free; 202-315-1305. (Gallery Place)
Photo by Jati Lindsay
FOR THOSE OF you who bemoan the loss of art in American life, check out "Constructed Color," an exhibit at the Textile Museum that focuses on the Amish tradition of quilting. Hey guys, you know there was a time when every woman in America could quilt like this? Then they invented the electric lightbulb and the cell phone and plastic buttons and everything went downhill. That's how that happened.
» Textile Museum, 2320 S St. NW; through Sept. 6, free; 202-667-0441. (Dupont Circle)
Photo courtesy Textile Museum
WEDNESDAY: New Yorker lit critic James Wood has quite a following in the world of people who follow specific book critics. His new book, "How Fiction Works," is a collection of essays about the essential elements that make a well-told, well-formed story. Normally we wouldn't stand for anyone making sweeping judgements on something as broad as "fiction," but we trust James Wood. See him speak tonight at Politics & Prose.
» Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW; Wed., Aug. 19, 7 p.m., free; 202-364-1919. (Van Ness)
TUESDAY: Blah blah outdoor film festival blah blah bring a blanket and your family.
It's August. You know how this works by now.
The Comcast Outdoor Film Festival lasts through Aug. 21, and we like tonight's screening of "Singin' in the Rain," maybe the best movie musical ever made, in which a silent film star struggles to adapt to talkies. But they'll be showing "Twilight" tomorrow if that's more your thing.
» Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda; Tues., Aug. 18, 8:15 p.m., free; 301-816-6958. (Grosvenor)
Photo courtesy Warner Home Video
WHETHER FOR HEALTHY, social status or just sheer taste, D.C. loves its veggies. The love may be there, but finding a new place to satisfy that herbivorous urge isn't always easy.
Katt Hull has been a vegetarian on and off for about five years; her teetering is because of "the lack of good food options." But she has taken a liking to Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant, which she first visited before going meatless.
"The menu is unbelievable," said Hull. "If you close your eyes you'd think [General Tso's Surprise] is the real thing. It's the most unique vegetarian restaurant."
Marissa Valeria of Rockville is also on the Chinese bandwagon because "they make it so easy." Valeria frequents the Vegetable Garden for its carved and curled shiitake mushrooms with asparagus. But according to Valeria, the "best vegetarian food in the universe is El Tamarindo." Growing up in Wheaton, Valeria became accustomed to eating pupusas and finds its bean-and-cheese version the best in the area.
Continue Reading "Still Searching for a Vegetarian Heaven: Go Veg in D.C." »
Addison Road