EVEN IF YOU have a man, you might want to ditch him the day before Valentine's Day for the "Single Ladies" workshop at Joy of Motion Atlas. The two-hour class this Saturday will teach choreography inspired by Beyonce's hit song.
Leave the rings at home, although you might want to bring a pair of high heels -- they're recommended, but not mandatory.
» Joy of Motion Atlas, 1333 H St. NE; Sat., Jan. 13, 6 p.m., $25 in advance, $30 at the door; 202-399-6763.
POLITICIANS HAVE A tendency to get caught with their pants down, so the venue for the first-ever Cupid's Undie Run was a no-brainer. The two-mile dash to benefit the Children's Tumor Foundation this Saturday will loop around the Capitol Building — and then back down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Pour House.
To convince folks that mid-February, just a week after the Snowpocalypse, is a good time to wear so little may require alcohol. That's why organizer Brendan Hanrahan is kicking off the event at the bar two hours before the run. "We're going to warm people up from the inside," he says.
It turns out stripping and sprinting is a more popular concept than the 25-year-old University of Maryland Ph.D. student ever imagined. Hanrahan didn't get a permit because you don't need them for groups of less than 50. Now, with at least 300 expected to participate, the plan calls to head out in waves. Also to comply with the law, Hanrahan is asking folks to keep their attire revealing but not risque: "We're still running for the children.„
And though wearing it for the race would sort of defeat the purpose, the $30 sign-up fee also includes a T-shirt.
WASHINGTON LOOKS LIKE a winter wonderland, but we're still a continent away from the Winter Olympics. You might forget that, though, if you take a seat at "Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic" ($15-75), which will be skating its way through children's movie classics at the Verizon Center Wednesday through Monday. That fancy footwork isn't merely entertainment; it's a sports spectacle.
Just ask Mulan. The heroine is played by Natasha Kuchiki, who placed sixth in pairs figure skating at the 1992 Olympics. She's not going for the gold for Team USA anymore, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to wow the crowds. "There's still pressure because people save up to come and bring their families. If you don't have butterflies and adrenaline, something's wrong," she says.
The practice schedule isn't quite as grueling as when she was competing — back then she had to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to balance school and twice-daily workouts. Now she doesn't need to do much more than perform, although with two to three shows a day, that's not so easy either. Plus, with age comes the need for extra stretching and longer warm-ups.
The daughter of an Ice Capades couple, who had skates on before she could walk, says the work is worth it to keep rocking the rink — and to know that she's inspiring the next generation of Olympians.
Photo courtesy Feld Entertainment
FORGET PERFUME AND cologne for Valentine's Day. The sexiest scent of all is sweat (it's those pheromones!), so celebrate the holiday as a dynamic duo with one of these fitness activities.
TAKES TWO
Instead of going to a restaurant thinking about what to eat, at Meze (2437 18th St. NW; 202-797-0017) you have to think about what to do with your feet — at the $10 tango classes offered every Monday night. Beginners can show up at 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. for an hour-long intro to the footwork, holds and turns. And although it's a notoriously difficult dance to master, native Argentinean instructor Pablo Fontana assures that the teaching technique makes it accessible to anyone. "These are not just memorized steps, so little by little the body will remember how to move without any effort," he says. More seasoned students show off what they can do during the advanced class at 9 p.m. The dance floor opens to all for a candlelight milonga at 10 p.m.
LOVE MATCH
You're guaranteed to get hit on at the East Potomac Tennis Center (1090 Ohio Drive SW; 202-554-5567). The indoor facilities at Hains Point are open to the public. Call up to a week in advance to reserve a court ($28.50-$38 per hour), or press your luck and just show up. Don't have a racquet? They sell them on-site, along with balls, strings and other accessories. To serve up an even more romantic day, warm up by taking a stroll around the monuments and Tidal Basin on your way from the Smithsonian Metro stop.
Continue Reading "Get Some Action: Exercise Date Ideas For Valentine's Day" »
WHEN AUSTEN BLAKE switched from hockey to figure skating at the age of 7 to fulfill his father's wish that he master the technical skills associated with the sport, he never thought he'd be wary of going back to the puck-and-stick world.
But after only a few months of nailing jumps and bettering his technique, Blake was hooked.
"I just never ended up going back," Blake said. "I love jumping and spinning; it's one of those sports where you feel like you can actually fly."
And years later, the 19-year-old Blake is putting those skills to work as a skater with Disney on Ice's "100 Years of Magic" production, which comes to the Verizon Center on Wednesday, Feb. 10. Though Blake, who grew up in Knoxville, Tenn., was accepted into a couple of different universities in Washington, D.C., he's putting college on hold to keep touring with the production, which also includes his older brother, Adam — one of his biggest inspirations when it comes to skating, Blake said.
Continue Reading "Wish Upon a Star: Disney on Ice, '100 Years of Magic'" »
WEDNESDAY: You could always Netflix that foreign film you missed — but let's be honest, you've got all the "Star Trek" movies in your queue and it might take a while. So check out the French Embassy's screening of "Je l'aimais," in which an elderly man tells his jilted daughter-in-law about the passionate, illicit love affair that changed his life.
And yes, there are English subtitles.
» Maison Francaise, 4101 Reservoir Road NW; Wed., Feb. 10, 7 p.m., $8 or $5 for students and seniors; 202-944-6090.
WEDNESDAY: "Mortified" is well-named. The ever-changing show consists of people reading excerpts from their adolescent diaries. They'll be embarrassed, you'll be embarrassed for them, people walking near the theater will be embarrassed and not know why. That's how powerful shame is. Good thing the show is also hysterically funny.
» Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th St. NW; Wed., Feb. 10, 8 p.m., $10 in advance or $15 at the door; 202-234-8696. (Shaw)
Photo by Juana Arias/The Washington Post
MONDAY: The Passenger's usual Monday happy hour will benefit FreshFarm Markets, a non-profit that sets up local farmer's markets, tonight.
Since you haven't actually made it to a farmer's market since it got really cold, you can assuage your buy-local guilt with $5 beer, wine and punch — 10 percent of it goes to FreshFarm.
» The Passenger, 1021 7th St. NW; Mon., Feb. 8, 5 p.m.-8p.m., free; 202-393-0220. (Mt. Vernon Square)
Photo by Bonnie Benwick/The Washington Post
Updated Feb. 8, 1 p.m., via Sonic Circuits, the promoter for the concert: "Sorry folks, due to the current travel conditions & limited metro service tonight's show has been canceled. We'll try to reschedule Mountains in the near future."
IT STARTS WITH a low, quiet drone. Soon, a gentle guitar arpeggio starts to sing, followed by a whoosh of synths and the most subtle percussive ticks tip-toeing through the tulips of sound.
A flowery mood has been set, a deep sonic meditation has started and ... then a guy yells, "Dude, gimme another PBR."
And just like that the ambiance is bulldozed, and the momentary attention paid to the band on stage is quickly diverted to texting, babbling and the arhythmic clicking of beer bottles.
These are just some of the issues that musicians playing ambient/instrumental/experimental music face on a nightly basis, especially when playing rock clubs instead of, say, art galleries, where decorum demands a certain amount of respectful silence.
New York City's Mountains and Stockholm, Sweden's Tape are going through the ups and downs of presenting their wordless soundscapes in live settings with a short American tour that stops at Bossa in D.C. on Feb. 8.
But even though the two bands share similar musical roots, the way they attack concerts is entirely different.
Continue Reading "Noisy Ambiance: Mountains & Tape at Bossa in D.C." »
WE'VE DEALT WITH Snowmageddon Saturday and we slogged through Cleanup Sunday. Now, we're stumbling through Cabin Fever Crazy Monday, with many employees, federal and otherwise, sheltering in place. But if you want to get out, here are some of the places in town ready to receive you.
And if reports that a storm starting tomorrow could give us another 5-10 or, gulp, 10-20 inches of snow are to be believed, you might want to get out of the house while you can.
This list is a tip sheet; venues may chance their event statuses without notice. Our advice: Before heading out to any event, check with the venue first.
Venues: Want to get on this list? E-mail us at inbox@readexpress.com or tweet us @expressnightout.
Updated: 2/8/10 @ 4:36 p.m.
TRANSIT
No above-ground Metrorail service; limited Metrobus service; limited free D.C. Circulator service.
REPORTEDLY STILL OPEN/HAPPENING
» 9:30 Club: http://twitpic.com/123bn4 - Sidewalks are clear and the show will go on! Galactic tonight-@930ClubDC-7p Doors-http://bit.ly/bgYKCv [via Twitter]
» AgainnDC: We'll be open during #snomageddon so come warm up with a Cheval Noir--AGAINN's version of a hot toddie [via Twitter]
» Black Cat: Tonight, free mockumentary double feature. Gist/Kodiak moved to MON MAR 1. [via Twitter]
» Busboys and Poets: Open, but 14V - "Live! from Busboys" Talent Showcase/Open Mic has been rescheduled for FEBRUARY 19th due to Snowpacalypse! [via Twitter]
» DC9: Open tonight. [via Web]
» The Diner: Open. [via e-mail; Twitter]
» International Spy Museum: We're open for the snow day! [via Twitter]
» Kennedy Center: Beginning tonite for 6 nites, life is a cabaret on the Millennium Stage! Get a peek at Broadway of tomorrow @kencen. http://ow.ly/155me [via Web]
» Open City: Open. [via e-mail]
» Propper Topper: We're ALL about keeping you warm! Come see us today for some head-to-toe warmth, and we'll send you off with $5 cash to treat yourself to a hot beverage of choice. (With $25 purchase.) Then, hurry home, throw a log on the fire (or imagine you have a fireplace!), and try this tasty recipe for Dulce de Leche Coffee. Yum. [via Facebook/Twitter]
» The Red and the Black: Open Monday night. [via Web]
» Rock and Roll Hotel: ROCK AND ROLL PING PONG tonight! $3 Bud Light, Good Food, Good Music, Good Fun. www.rockandrollhoteldc.com [via Twitter]
» Tryst: Open. [via e-mail]
» Woolly Mammoth: Added show tonight of "The Last Cargo Cult" for the canceled shows this past weekend, then a break-neck changeover for Second City and #BSTWOR PWYC 8pm Wed. [via Twitter]
REPORTED CLOSINGS/CANCELLATIONS/POSTPONEMENTS
» Arena Stage: Administrative offices closed. [via Web]
» Black Cat: Tonight, free mockumentary double feature. Gist/Kodiak moved to MON MAR 1. [via Twitter]
» Busboys and Poets: 14V - "Live! from Busboys" Talent Showcase/Open Mic has been rescheduled for FEBRUARY 19th due to Snowpacalypse! [via Twitter]
» Folger Library: Closed Monday. [via Web/Twitter]
Continue Reading "Snowpocalypse '10: Who's Open, Who's Closed in D.C." »
Addison Road