On the Red Line

So, this event is a bit off the Red Line–but it caught my eye, so I’m posting about it anyway.  Apparently July 23d was National Veggie Hot Dog Day. To celebrate, the Sticky Fingers Bakery is hosting D.C.’s first ever veggie hot dog eating contest.

The event starts at 6 pm on Saturday July 26th. If you want to participate, you’ll need to register by July 24th. Prizes will be awarded to the 3 people who cram down the most Tofurky franks in 10 minutes.

My favorite thing about this contest is the “waiver” you have to sign off on before participating. It includes the following text:

I agree to provide the contest organizers with my “Tofurky Frank Eating Name.” I realize that should I fail to provide such name, one shall be provided to me by the contest officials, which may not be as flattering as one I would have given myself… I assume all risks associated with eating in this type of event including, but not limited to, indigestion, that stuffed feeling and a general dislike for veggie hot dogs post-contest.

The Sticky Fingers Bakery is located at 1310 Park Rd, NW– which is one block north of the Columbia Heights Metro stop.

Related posts:

1. May 17: Strut Your Mutt

Tags: contests, dc, events, free, humor, oddities, vegetarian // 2 Comments »

Next Wednesday, July 30th, Nancy Pelosi will be lecturing to support her new book at the Sixth and I Synagogue. “Know Your Power: A Message to America’s Daughters” is described by the publisher as a “thought-provoking collection of wise words—her own and those of the important people who played pivotal roles in her journey.”

Admission to this event is $23.95–which includes the book and two tickets to the lecture. You can purchase this package at Politics and Prose, the co-sponsor of this event. The lecture starts at 7 pm and your nearest Metro stop will be the Chinatown exit at Gallery Place.

Related posts:

1. June 30: Salman Rushdie
2. March 15th: Performance Artist Laurie Anderson
3. July 3: Carnaval de Corazon
4. May 22: John Updike Lecture
5. May 22: The Art of the Lost and Found

Tags: chinatown, dc, free, gallery place, literature // 1 Comment »

The time has come for the summer round of “restaurant weeks”. First up is the Bethesda and Chevy Chase area.

Starting next week, 33 restaurants in the Bethesda and Chevy Chase area will offer a two course lunch for $12-15 dollars and/or a three course dinner for $30.

There’s several old favorites on the list of participating restaurants, including Mon Ami Gabi and Faryab. I also spot a few restaurants that are relatively new, at least to me: Assaggi Mozzarella Bar and a sushi spot called Doraku, for example.

Related posts:

1. Bethesda Art Week and Restaurant Week(s)
2. More on Bethesda Restaurant week (Part II)
3. Faryab: Afghan food in Bethesda
4. Mon Ami Gabi: French food in Bethesda
5. More on Bethesda Restaurant week (Part III)

Tags: bethesda, chevy chase, maryland, restaurants // 4 Comments »

There’s a very interesting pairing this week at the Strathmore’s free outdoor concert series. First up, is guitarist and hip hop musician Christylez Bacon. He’ll be joined on stage by pop-and-lock dancers. You can listen to a bit of Bacon’s music at this link.

That will be followed by Strange Fruit–an Australian dance group, of sorts. They sway and dance atop 12 foot tall flexible poles.  Wondering what that looks like? Check out this video of them performing in Romania:

The show starts at 7 pm and is free, as always. The closest Metro stop is Grosvenor-Strathmore.

Related posts:

1. Feb. 17: Discover Strathmore
2. March 7 and 8: Dance Bethesda
3. July 2: Jonathan Batiste, free at the Strathmore
4. July 16: The Grandsons
5. April 11: Geisha Dance and Japanese Hospitality

Tags: bethesda, events, free, music, north bethesda, strathmore // Add Comment »

The Seattle-based Cardboard Tube Fighting League will be hosting a tournament on July 26th in D.C. And yes…cardboard tubes. Like this:

The battleplan? Show up at 3 pm on July 26th at the National Mall, between the the Smithsonian Institute Building & National Museum of History. Bring water and a camera. Dress-up is encouraged–in particular, business suits or cardboard costumes. The rest of it…well, you’ll figure it out when you get there.

You can learn more about the Cardboard Tube Fighting League here.

Related posts:

1. July 1-3: Free Yoga in Rockville
2. Water Problems Continue
3. July 9 and 16: What sort of bacteria is in your home?

Tags: dc, events, free, oddities // 2 Comments »

Starting this Friday, the District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC) will divide their gallery walls into 1460 squares that measure 2 by 2 feet. For a short time, anyone of any age can display their art on the DCAC walls. Each square rents for $15 and your lease permits you to hang your wall-mountable art within the boundaries. DCAC will take also take a 30% commission from any pieces you sell. There will be a $100 prize for the best use of a space, also.

If you are a member of the DCAC, you can get a discount on spaces–and there is a free space deal for brand-new members. Check out the DCAC site for more information.

You can visit the DCAC gallery at 2438 18th Street, which is a ten minutes walk from the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan Metro stop.

Related posts:

1. Free Yoga During DC Yoga Week
2. May 10: Learn-A-Palooza
3. July 24-August 3: Book Sale
4. I Believe in Harvey Dent
5. Local News Roundup: 2/25/08

Tags: adams morgan, art, dc, dupont circle, woodley park // Add Comment »

The free outdoor concert series continues this Wednesday at the Strathmore. This week it is The Grandsons–a sound that the Strathmore site describes as “New Orleans street parades, high-haired rockabillies, low down blues shouters, uptown swing, downtown jazz and honky-tonk country.” Now if that doesn’t sound like a good time, then you may want to check your pulse. You can check to see if you’re still alive by listening to soundclips of The Grandsons on their website.

The show starts at 7 PM in the gazebo.  Your nearest Metro station is, of course, the Grosvenor-Strathmore stop.

Related posts:

1. Feb. 17: Discover Strathmore
2. July 2: Jonathan Batiste, free at the Strathmore
3. July 23: Christylez Bacon and Australia’s Strange Fruit
4. Feb. 29: Symphony With A Twist
5. 2008 Congress of Jugglers

Tags: free, maryland, music, north bethesda, strathmore // Add Comment »

So, who knew that Eddie Vedder was touring solo this summer? Not me. But he is–and he’ll be putting on a relatively expensive show at the Warner Theater.  All seats are $77, plus a $3 fee from the Warner Theater Box Office.

It will be a small venue for a show like this–so that should compensate, in part, for the pricey entrance fee. A quick scan at Ticketmaster and LiveNation for both dates didn’t turn up any pairs of tickets–so you might want to check the second-hand market on Craigslist.

Apparently, the opening act will be New Zealand musician Liam Finn. He happens to be he son and nephew of members of the band Split Enz and Crowded House. I’m a NZ fan, so…there you go. An added bonus. I’m still to cheap to pop out $77 a ticket, though.

If you manage to get tickets, the show starts at 7:30 pm both nights. And your nearest Metro stop will be Metro Center.

Related posts:

1. May 3: Kids in the Hall
2. July 12: “Weird Al” Yankovic
3. May 22: John Updike Lecture
4. June 6: Bob Saget
5. April 4: Hirschhorn After Hours

Tags: dc, music // Add Comment »

With the recent announcements of Olsson’s Books and Records closing multiple stores and filing for Chapter 11, there’s never been a better time to pitch in and support the few remaining independently owned book stores in the area. Starting July 24th, the used bookstore Books for America will be holding their massive biannual sale.

From July 24th through the 29th, all books are 25% off. Then, until the end of the sale on August 3rd, all books are 50% off. If that isn’t enough to get you motivated, keep in mind that the profits from Books for America goes to support  libraries in DC’s schools, shelters and hospitals.

You’ll find Books for America at 1417 22nd Street near the Dupont Metro station. The store’s hours are available on the web site.

(Photo by chotda)

Related posts:

1. June 10: Just How Stupid Are We?
2. Meeting Stephen Colbert
3. July 30: Nancy Pelosi Lecture
4. June 28: DC Scavenger Hunt

Tags: charity, dc, dupont circle, literature // Add Comment »

Are you looking for something new to be paranoid about? Now, you can learn how to collect and grow the bacteria living in your home.

Keith Lampel of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the Food and Drug Administration will be teaching two sessions at the Marian Koshland Science Museum. In the first class on July 9th, he’ll teach you the basic techniques you need to know and send you home with the appropriate equipment.  During the second session on July 16, you discuss the results of your at-home experiments.

The class costs $15 for both sessions and reservations are not required. The nearest Red Line Metro stop is Judiciary Square.

(Photo by extraspecial)

Related posts:

1. Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing Workshop
2. “Your Brain on Music”

Tags: dc, judiciary square, science // Add Comment »