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WEDNESDAY: Today is Saint Patrick's Day, in case you forgot, and its status as a Wednesday prevents you from celebrating. Probably. Hey, who knows where you work.
Anyway, you can honor the Irish more soberly with Irish Book Day, wherein volunteers stand at your Metro stop and hand you copies of Irish literature for free. For a list of the stops they'll be at, visit Solasnua.org.
TUESDAY: The Library of Congress is getting in on the Valentine's Day action this afternoon with a reading of some love poems and a screening of the film "Bright Star," which is about how John Keats was so romantic that he died of terminal romanticism. Also of historical accuracy.
» Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. SE; Tue., Feb. 9, noon, free; 202-707-8000. (Capitol South)
Photo courtesy Apparition Films
MONDAY: Authors Susan Orlean and George Saunders will read from their respective works tonight at the Folger Theatre. Orlean is most famous for "The Orchid Thief," which became the film "Adaptation." Otherwise they're both famous mostly because they write for the New Yorker, which is nothing to sneeze at.
» Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE; Mon., Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m., $15; 202-544-4600. (Capitol South)
Photo from Folger.edu
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE to let things go. One time, I went to Current (1215 Connecticut Ave. NW) in Dupont Circle for a purported open bar. I left very quickly after discovering that the bathroom stalls had glass doors. Later I found out that the doors frost over when locked, but the damage was done and I held a grudge for weeks, nay, months.
Continue Reading "A Current Event: Current Sushi and Capitol Lounge" »
MONDAY: It's always nice to see a significant poet in action. Poets Kim Addonizio and Kyle Dargan will join up tonight at the Folger to do readings and talk about the role of poetry in America.
Addonizio's work is sardonic and passionate, exposing deeper truths about modern femininity and existential anguish.
» Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE; Mon., Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m., $12; 202-544-4600. (Capitol South)
Photo from Folger.edu
ONGOING: Here's another exhibit that you should catch before it goes: For "Imagining China," the Folger has broken out works in its collection that illuminate the early modern European view of the Eastern empire. Early maps, illustrations and Chinese imports show the odd relationship 13th-century Europe had with the mysterious Orient and how they formed their impressions of a culture that differed wildly from what they knew.
» Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE; through Jan. 9, free; 202-544-4600. (Capitol South)
Photo from Folger.edu
ONGOING: The National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse gets all the attention, but that hubcap-plated, light-netted attention queen is just a flashy, empty mannequin covered in fragrant pine needles.
Meanwhile, Cinderella — aka the Capitol Christmas Tree — is scrubbing floors in the corner and looking fabulous. Visit this modestly scaled blue spruce for an instant shot of patriotic holiday cheer.
» West Lawn of the U. S. Capitol between Constitution & Independence avenues.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
MONDAY: Every year, the Folger Shakespeare Library branches out along the poetry spectrum to celebrate the birthday of Emily Dickinson. There will be cake, along with a reading by Lucie Brock-Broido from her new book about Dickinson, "The Master Letters."
If you can't make it, pay homage to the reclusive poet by baking the cake yourself (the Folger Web site provides Dickinson's recipe and — using a lot of oddly placed — dashes in — your correspondence.
» Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE; Mon., Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., $12; 202-544-4600. (Capitol South)
Image from "The World of Emily Dickinson"
MONDAY: Motown isn't just a style of music. It's the name of a record company — though everyone who likes Motown already knows that, we suppose.
The Library of Congress has decided to honor the company's 50th anniversary with a series of Monday night films. Catch the Dec. 7 screening of "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever," a filmed concert from another big anniversary year (the 25th), which features a moon-walking Michel Jackson and a reunion performance of the Supremes.
» Mary Pickford Theater, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. SE; Mondays through Dec. 14, free; 202-707-5677. (Capitol South)
Photo from The Washington Post
LET IT ALL OUT
With Thanksgiving looming, we all try to get along with our loved ones. It's best not to reveal that Cousin Joe likes to wear ladies' dainties, or to greet the mother in law by swinging an ax at her door and bellowing, "I'm home!" So AFI Silver offers the family-frustrated a chance for a little catharsis this season. Special engagements of Billy Wilder's comedy classic "Some Like It Hot" (screening all weekend, as well as Tuesday) and Stanley Kubrick's indelible domestic horror tale "The Shining" (showing through Saturday; also Monday and Tuesday) let you enjoy chaos, then return to your previously scheduled holiday with a casserole in your hands and a smile on your face.
» AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring; 301-495-6700, Afi.com/silver. (Silver Spring)
Addison Road