Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Link roundup

Bacon Concentrate really loves Ethiopic (401 H St).

Frozen Tropics notes that Toyland (421 H St) is starting to roll out their full menu of food options.

Metro Mutts (508 H St) reminds you that they are opening this Saturday and lets you know that if you come in, you should save your receipt and head to Toyland for $1 off your first drink and $5 Metro Muttinis all night.

The Star and the Shamrock (1341 H St) said they are getting close and hoping to open in April (DC government permitting).

ReadySetDC visits Liberty Tree (1016 H St) and has some great photos of lots of their the delicious offerings.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Latest projected opening from Dangerous Pies

Is now Friday, April 2. Whenever they open they will offer Sweet Pies or Quiche for $28 a pie with slices available for $6 and savory pies at $32 a pie (slices for $7.50). Their product is great, even if their back and forth with DCRA has been less than great.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

More critical acclaim for H Street Establishments

Lots of love for H Street from serious critics at the Washington Post, foodie board DonRockwell.com, and a well-respected member of the DC Council this week, following a week of high praise for H Street from the City Paper.

The Washington Post favorably reviews the current exhibition at Industry Gallery (1358 Florida Ave, 2nd Floor)

The Washington Post favorably reviews the current exhibition at G Fine Art (1350 Florida Ave).

Washington Post dining critic Tom Sietsema declares Toyland his favorite new bar. Saying "I dig the 60s vibe, mixed crowd, GREAT drinks." Toyland is in the process of rolling out their full dining menu. In the meantime, they are your go-to spot for a pre or post-dinner drink after a meal at Ethiopic (401 H St), which is the next spot to watch for critical acclaim.

Recently opened restaurants, Liberty Tree (1016 H St) and Ethiopic (401 H St) now have their own DonRockwell.com threads (Liberty Tree) and (Ethiopic) are receiving high marks from the extremely selective foodies over there. Foodie Extraordinaire Don Rockwell has them rated at the top of his area dining guide (subscription required), above all other prior H Street establishments.

Finally, Councilmember Tommy Wells kicked off his re-election campaign to a packed house at Sova on Saturday night. Wells touted his support for the coming-soon streetcars and other livable, walkable community efforts to a warm reception.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Taylor Rolls Out New Pork Sandwiches Next Week



Love Taylor's Pattison Ave with its delicious slow roast Niman Ranch pork? Of course you do. It has to be in the running for the tastiest thing on H Street.

City Paper's Tim Carman reports that there's more reason to be excited: Taylor Rolls Out New Pork Sandwiches Next Week. Now you can try the same roast pork without broccoli rabe or aged provolone in a few newly created sandwiches.

Check them out this weekend when Taylor's "Spring Garden" -- broccoli rabe with aged, sharp provolone -- which won Washington City Paper's Best Vegetarian Sandwich is available half off the six inch version in celebration of the award.

DCmud: H Street Connection Redevelopment moves ahead


DCmud has this piece on the great plans for the redevelopment of H Street Connection (the south side of H Street between 8th and 10th Sts) moving ahead. Congratulations to ANC6A Economic Development and Zoning Chair Drew Ronneberg and everyone involved in producing what is going to be a beautiful and significant redevelopment.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

H Street neighborhood officially declared DC's "best up and coming neighborhood"

By popular vote in the City Paper. Columbia Heights and Petworth were runners up.

H Street establishments were similarly well-receieved in the Best of DC edition:

Sticky Rice (1224 H St) took home best tater tots, and was a runner-up in best sushi, and best karaoke.

Granville Moore's (1238 H St) won for best mussles.

Taylor Gourmet (1116 H St) has the best vegetarian sandwich.

The Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St) was a runner up for best performance art venue.

Joy of Motion (1333 H St) was named DC' best dance company.

Hat tip to H Street's best twitterer, Margaret Holwill who is doing an amazing job over at the recently-launched http://twitter.com/hstreetdc

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Tommy Wells launches reelection campaign this weekend

Ward Six Councilmember Tommy Wells launches his reelection campaign this Friday evening at 6:30 pm at Eastern Market's North Hall.

On Saturday at 6:30 pm, Wells will be at Sova (1359 H St) to hold an H Street Campaign Kickoff. Suggested donation for the H Street event is $25.

Interested in talking with Councilmember Wells about something of concern around H Street? He holds regular office hours on H Street every month and will be at Sova (1359 H St) tomorrow morning, March 25, from 8:00-9:30 am.

The Queen Vic (1206 H St)

The Queen Vic is the next and newest venture getting ready to launch on H Street. Located at 1206 H Street (between Philadelphia Water Ice and Souk), The Queen Vic comes to you from Ryan Gordon and will be H Street's first British pub with great food. Currently shooting to open in June, the owners appeared before the ANC6A Alcohol and Beverage Licensing Committee for support for its liquor license last week (as first noted by Frozen Tropics).

Now the City Paper has followed up with this great piece with lots more details on this coming British gastropub.

So for those of you who are keeping score, it's Dangerously Delicious Pies (any day now), Biergarten Haus (next month), Star and the Shamrock (soon thereafter), and now Queen Vic (early summer). It's going to be a great Spring and Summer on H Street!

Dangerously Delicious Pies now shooting to open Friday, March 26 at 1339 H St

The wait for Dangerously Delicious Pies (1339 H St) official opening has been long and repeatedly delayed. It's been frustrating to watch and it's been a big challenge for them as they try to navigate the District's bureaucracy and deal with the lack of revenue.

They are not yet open despite various reports that they would open each of the past couple Fridays or today, but they are now shooting to open to the public on ....... Friday, March 26!

They will start taking orders online and over the phone for pickup at the store with at least 24 hrs notice prior to pickup going ahead and once open will welcome walkins during the following hours:

Mon-Wed 8am-12am
Thurs-Sat 8am-3am
Sunday 8am-10pm

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

CM Wells chairs hearing on child protection & safety bills, seeks movement on bill pending before CM Mendelson's Public Safety Commitee

On Friday, Councilmember Tommy Wells chaired hearings on two important bills he introduced to improve child safety and early family-based intervention. The hearing addressed the “Safe Children and Safe Neighborhood Educational Neglect Mandatory Reporting Amendment Act of 2010” (B18-529), which restores the number of unexcused absences that an elementary school age child can accumulate before the child is referred to the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) from 20 to 10. Councilmember Wells said, “None of us will ever forget the tragedy of the Jacks-Fogle children, murdered by their mother. Three of those children were in elementary school and all had missed over a month of school." The bill would reinstitute a policy that Wells championed when he served on the School Board. The administration reversed the policy last year, but announced at the hearing that they support Wells's efforts to restore the lower threshold. According to Wells, when the initiative was first put in place, elementary school attendance rates increased 50%. Wells added, “When young children miss school, it’s typically not the result of indiviual choice, as it may be for teens. Absenteeism at this age typically results from a breakdown in family responsibility and intervention must be swift and family-focused to be effective.”

The hearing also addressed the “Families Together Amendment Act of 2010” (B18-667). This legislation complements the truancy proposal to allow CFSA to respond to reports of educational neglect with prompt supports and services to the family, and creates a critical opportunity to support parents early. This bill seeks to enable the Child and Family Services Agency to create a differential response or alternative pathway to engage families known to the child welfare system and connect them to a full range of services without requiring a determination of maltreatment.

Another Wells legislative initiative, his “information sharing” bill regarding juvenile confidentiality laws, which he has referred to as the “lifting the veil” bill, (B18-344) is currently sitting in Councilmember Mendelson’s Public Safety and the Judiciary Committee. Mendelson held a hearing on the bill several months ago, but has not moved it forward for a vote. Wells staff recently met with Councilmember Mendelson's staff and has offered to help draft revisions and the committee report to get it going. Wells remains hopeful that the bill will get moving quickly and is talking with CM Mendelson directly to try and make that happen. The bill has several cosponsors.

Link roundup

Liberty Tree (1016 H St) continues to receive rave reviews for their pizza and seafood alike.

Thrillist seems excited about the now officially open Ethiopic (401 H St) and has a copy of the menu.

The City Paper follows up with more details on the planned merging of the Red and the Black with the Palace of Wonders as the Red and Black Palace with a new and improved performance staging area on the second floor.

WAMU and WP's Going out Gurus have details and pictures of Biergarten Haus (1355 H St) which is slated to open in April. They have done a great job remaking that building and putting together a huge and impressive outdoor garden space.

(1238 H St).

The Hill is Home's Jen DeMayo reports on the latest streetcar developments, which DDOT is saying will be running up and down H Street to Union Station by 2012.

Frozen Tropics has this piece on the H Street shuttle, which runs from Chinatown (7th & H NW) to the Atlas District and back.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Metro Mutts (508 H St) to open April 3

Metro Mutts, a locally-owned pet supply store, will open at 508 H Street on April 3.

For more information on this new shop, check out their facebook page or this Frozen Tropics post .

Metro Mutts will be the latest in a string of openings on the western end of the H Street corridor in recent months. Other recent additions include Capitol Fine Wine and Spirit (415 H St), Toyland Restaurant and Bar (421 H St), and Ethiopic Restaurant (401 H St). These new venues join other recently opened businesses including Sidamo (417 H St), Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill (410 H St), Fitness Together and Studio H (408 H St), and Nouveau Fleur (500 H St) to form a stronger western end of H Street on the 400 and 500 blocks to complement the already strong and always growing eastern end of H Street's Atlas Arts and Entertainment District.

This Week on H Street

Today, is the first offering Liberty Tree's (1016 H St) lunch service, which will be available seven days a week starting at 11:30 a.m.

Tomorrow, Ethiopic (401 H St) officially opens. Reservations are no longer required, though still welcomed. If they are packed when you arrive, you can grab a drink a few doors down at Toyland (421 H St).

Wednesday is $1 tacos with two drink purchase at the H Street Country Club (1335 H St), which has some other new specials as well. Tonight is two for one entrees upstairs. Tuesday is free round of golf with an entree purchase. Fridays and Saturdays are still 10% off with your Atlas Theater ticket stubs.

Thursday is now Family-Style Fried Chicken Night at the The Argonaut (1433 H St), which has always had some of the best specials on H, but has revamped their listing somewhat. Three pieces are $6, 6 are $10, 9 are $15, 12 are $20. The Argonaut is also doing discounts in conjunction with the Opera in Cinema at the Atlas screenings on Wednesday nights and weekend afternoons.

Friday night, Councilmember Tommy Wells kicks off his re-election campaign at Eastern Market's North Hall.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Ethiopic opens Tuesday

Ethiopic (401 H St) has been open for the past week on a reservation only soft opening basis. You've seen pictures here previously, and based on our preview meal, the food is very good, and service friendly. Ethiopic is now ready to open to the public on Tuesday, March 23. Reservations are no longer required, but are recommended.

Ethiopic Restaurant
401 H Street
(202) 675-2066.
info@ethiopicrestaurant.com

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Biergarten Haus (1355 H St) coming in April

Biergarten Haus (1355 H Street) is getting closer to opening. Expect that to happen in April, probably less than a month from now.

WAMU has a great piece on them with Fritz Hahn of the Washington Post that ran yesterday. Among the highlights are the fact that the outdoor garden can seat over 300 people, the brats and krauts will be traditional German-style, and that there will be live music. There's also a great quote from Hahn about the success of the greater H Street neighborhood:

"This neighborhood is pretty much unstoppable at this point."

Thursday, March 18, 2010

G Fine Art opens at 1350 Florida Ave Saturday at 6:30

G Fine Art is opening in its new H Street Corridor location (1350 Florida Ave) and launching "Naked" an exhibition of works by A.B. Miner as the first show in its new space on Saturday from 6:30 - 8:30 pm. The exhibition will run from March 20 - May 1 and the gallery's regular hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 12-6 pm.

G Fine Art's reopening coincides with the opening of "Hands On" at Industry Gallery (1358 Florida Ave) from 6-8pm and Conner Contemporary's (1358 Florida Ave) launching of Maria Friberg's "Transmission" and Dean Kessmann's "Art as Paper as Potential", also from 6-8 pm.

As if you didn't have enough reasons to attend, Curbside Cupcakes will be there for the opening as well.

With the recent opening of City Gallery (804 H St), the coming Arts District is now in full swing.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Red and Black Palace

The Red and the Black (1212 H St) and the Palace of Wonders (1210 H St) will soon become the Red and Black Palace after knocking out the walls between them on the second floor. The new venue will add a real kitchen and serve an American menu featuring gourmet burgers. The combined second floor stage will allow for performances from bigger, national bands, which should up the quality and appeal of the acts obtained. The Palace of Wonders acts will have a couple of nights a week, and the Red and the Black acts will utilize the others, according to the proposal that owner and H Street impresario Joe Englert submitted to the ANC6A ABL Committee Tuesday.

Link roundup

The Hill is Home tried Liberty Tree and liked it and they didn't even try the pizzas or lobster roll, which are both great.

Prince of Petworth has a few pictures from inside Liberty Tree.

Frozen Tropics has a picture of a new retail outlet, The C.A.T. Walk Boutique on the 1400 block of H.

UrbanDaddy reports on these fancy, new, creative Chaz Powers' Salsas available at the Pug.

ANC6A backed the redevelopment of the H Street Connection as a mixed use residential and retail building between 8th and 10th Sts, weighed in with Tommy Wells and others on the DC Council regarding vacant property legislation, and discouraged the proposed razing of a historic building in disrepair at 1381 H St.

Industry Gallery Exhibit Opening Saturday

"Hands On" will open at Industry Gallery (1358 Florida Ave) this Saturday, March 20 from 6-8. It will be the first solo exhibition for designers Tejo Remy and Rene Veenhuizen. The exhibition will run through May 8 and is available for viewing during the gallery's regular hours (Wednesday-Saturday 11am-5pm) and by appointment.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Ethiopic (401 H St) opening very soon

Our neighbors on the south side of H Street are ready to open Ethiopic within days and recently gave us a sneak peek of the entirely renovated interior. The decor features exposed brick, new hardwood flooring, and lighting columns decorated with Ge'ez (Ethiopic) script. The tables are sheek and the setting is spacious and comfortable. Finally, you wont have to trek to Adams Morgan or U Street to get your Ethiopian fix. Check out these pictures of interior below and get ready to enjoy Ethiopian cuisine on H St soon!





Update: Frozen Tropics reports that tonight's reservation-only soft opening is now open to the public so long as you make a reservation.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

WP: Blossoming H Street

The front page of the Metro section in Sunday's Washington Post has this nice piece on the ongoing construction and the bright future for H Street as Capitol Hill continues to spread to the north. DDOT says they are pushing to complete construction this year. Great pull quote from Sidamo's Kenfe Bellamy:

The neighborhood is so good. It is like you live in a small town.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Link roundup

Roll Call covers the opening of City Gallery (804 H St).

THIH reports that over 700 people attended it.

The Washington Post reports on Ward 6 parents organizing on Capitol Hill to improve the middle school options available to local children.

NBC4 features Taylor Gourmet (1116 H St) noting what a good spot it will be to enjoy a nice Spring afternoon.

The Argonaut (1433 H St) launched a neat new pro-customer policy where they'll pour you a 5 oz beer if they don't have a table available for you when you arrive.

H St Country Club (1335 H St) announced the Spring Skeeball league forming with games in April on Sunday or Tuesday nights, and that Wednesdays are now Taco night with $1 tacos from 5-10pm at the first floor bar.

Grocery stores coming on and around H Street

Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells recently obtained a tax credit to help ease the completion of negotations with a full service grocer for the Steuart Development coming to the 300 block of H St. The credit is to help seal the deal there and ensure that the deal can be completed and will include adequate parking for the store. While the store itself remains unidentified while negotations are being finalized, its size is expected to be around 35,000 sq ft, so it will be quite large, will require substantial parking, and these spaces will help seal the deal as well as help keep customers from parking on the residential sidestreets to the new development's north and south.

Councilmember Wells also announced yesterday the news that an ALDI store would be opening east of H Street at the Hechinger Mall on Benning Road. Wells did not recruit that store to this location, which is not located inside Wells's Ward 6, but in Harry Thomas's Ward 5, and was just passing along this new information. Wells is confident that the ALDI's arrival will not negatively impact the full service grocery coming to the Steuart Development on the 300 block of H St in any way, shape, or form. The ALDI store is not replacing the nearby Safeway, but is instead just another option for shoppers near the Starburst Intersection at the eastern end of the H Street Corridor where Wards Five and Six meet.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Link roundup

The Hill is Home's Jen DeMayo has the details of the new HD movie screen that was recently installed at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. The Opera and Ballet in Cinema Series debuts tomorrow evening at 7pm with Verdi’s La Traviata performed by Milan’s legendary Teatro alla Scala with a repeat performance Saturday at 2pm. The offerings will change weekly with one performance of each show every Wednesday night and a follow-up matinee that weekend.

The Washington Post and WeLoveDC both sing praises for Some Girl(s), which is being performed at the H Street Playhouse (1365 H St) Thursday through Sunday each of the next two weekends.

DCMud noted that the owner of 1381 H Street is seeking permission to raze the building on that property. The owner told them that he wants a new mixed-use building, which would likely composed of ground floor retail with office space above, but acknowledged that he lacked development plans at this time and had been hit with the vacant property tax rate in recent years.

Councilmember Tommy Wells announced that his re-election campaign to represent Ward 6 on the City Council will launch on March 26 at the Eastern Market North Hall.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Exciting week on H St starts with Liberty Tree's opening tonight

Liberty Tree (1016 H St) officially opens tonight. If you haven't been, you should check it out soon because you are going to like it. Good food, good prices, nice atmosphere... there's a lot to like here.

Dangerously Delicious (1339 H St) opens next Friday after a soft opening and the Pie-n-Rock n Roll kick off event with founder Rodney Henry. They'll offer both sweet and savory pies, as well as quiche, for sit down dining or taking home.

Stay tuned for details on the opening of Ethiopic (401 H St). They've done a lovely job with the interior renovations and have passed all their inspections, so it's just a matter of days now.
The Capital City Symphony presents Symphony Lounge
a special collaboration with Charlie Barnett and Chaise Lounge

It's jazz! It's classical! It's SYMPHONY LOUNGE – a unique joint venture of the Capital City Symphony and Charlie Barnett's Chaise Lounge.
Sunday, March 21, 5:00pm
Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St)
Tickets $16-$25. Ages 16 and under FREE (ticket required). 202-399-7993 or capitalcitysymphony.tix.com.
As a film composer, Mr. Barnett’s scores have appeared in more than four hundred television and theatrical films. His concert music career includes worldwide performances of his orchestral and chamber works. He has also arranged and produced pop and jazz records for countless artists; and he continues to proudly play with the eclectic lounge band, Chaise Lounge, whose second album was released in early 2009. Mr. Barnett can also be heard as an occasional commentator on NPR.

Chaise Lounge performs a blend of music that sounds like it was recorded at Capitol Recording Studios in 1962 and somehow found its way to today’s pop charts. You might call it “Early Stereo.” Or perhaps Lounge with a capital “L.” Or maybe just plain enjoyable. It is the combination of five of the Washington area’s top jazz musicians playing sparkling arrangements of standards and original tunes and featuring the soft, luminous vocals of Marilyn Older. Her voice is truly an American Original. An evening spent with her is an evening spent in the warm, inviting glow of the one of the wonderful voices singing in America right now.

Now in its 42nd season, the Capital City Symphony, one of the original Arts Partners at the Atlas, makes music approachable by presenting affordable concerts to the public, performing creative programs in a relaxed concert format, and providing appealing performance opportunities for talented amateur as well as professional players.

CCS and Charlie Barnett collaborated several years ago on Mr. Barnett's symphony “The Blue Chevrolet.” Ever since then, Mr. Barnett and CCS Artistic Director Victoria Gau have been exploring the possibility of a larger collaboration. Mr. Barnett proposed two halves to the program. First, a world premier of his new orchestral work “The Tarot.” Second, full orchestrations of his jazz arrangements for Chaise Lounge and the full Capital City Symphony.

SYMPHONY LOUNGE
Capital City Symphony with Charlie Barnett and Chaise Lounge
Sunday, March 21st at 5:00pm
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC.
Tickets $16-$25. Ages 16 and under FREE (ticket required).
202-399-7993 or capitalcitysymphony.tix.com.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

This weekend

The third and final weekend of the Intersections Festival at the Atlas Performing Arts Center is this weekend. Some details on discounted tickets to shows are available below.

Also, this weekend is the Saturday evening opening reception for our newest gallery City Gallery (804 H St), which could be a great pre or post-show option.

Get your Intersections tickets now!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Liberty Tree (1016 H St) opens to the public Monday!


If everything goes according to plan, Liberty Tree will open its doors to the public at 1016 H Street on Monday evening after a brief period of testing out the menu and service with family and friends.

Liberty Tree is the New England seafood and brick oven pizza restaurant conceived by Scott Hamilton with the kitchen will be manned by Chef Graig Glufling. Glufling is best known for launching the original Matchbox with its famous brick oven pizza and miniburgers in Chinatown, but has also previously toiled under some of Washington's top chefs including Vidalia's Jeffrey Buben, Morou, and David Craig.

From the look of things, this is going to be a very welcome, higher end addition to H Street. In addition to strong beer and wine lists, the restaurant will feature white table clothes and servers who wear ties, along with delicious seafood, pizza, and other offerings in an entirely redone and very attractive space. Give them the time they want to test things out on their family and friends this week, but look forward to something very exciting opening to all early next week. Don't be surprised if Liberty Tree raises the bar or signals the beginning of a new era of nicer atmosphere restaurant offerings on H Street.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Local News Update

Lots of local news relevant to the greater H Street neighborhood area today...

Councilmember Tommy Wells introduced legislation to allow H Street small businesses to defer their spring property tax bills until the fall and the bill was passed unanimously. The bill is designed to help offset the challenges posed to area merchants by the ongoing streetscape project. Wells achieved similar results for H Street and Eastern Market vendors to address construction issues last Spring.

DC Council also voted unanimously to censure Marion Barry after receiving a report that he engaged in unethical conduct by funneling a city contract to a girlfriend and taking a cut of the contract and steering $54,000 in earmarked contracts to another confidant among other issues. Barry was striped of his committee chairmanship and the public corruption allegations were referred to the U.S. Attorney's office for possible criminal charges.

The Department of Public Works (DPW) announced that street cleaning would resume Monday, March 22.

Councilmember Wells also introduced legislation to address "dangerous animals" and their negligent owners today.

Link roundup

Frozen Tropics reports that H Street will soon have the rumored Pet Store in the 500 block with Metro Mutts opening at 508 H St after completing renovations of the space below British Ink.

Prince of Petworth reports with confidence the rumored sale of the recently closed H Street Martini Lounge. An early version of this rumor first circulated on Frozen Tropics and was said to be to the owners of Wisdom, but was later deemed false after going unconfirmed. PoP now reports what that he believes the sale will happen, but that next door neighbor Dr. Granville Moore's will expand into the space as well. Frozen Tropics now says she too thinks this will happen. Our sources also indicate that an expansion of the extremely popular Dr. Granville Moore's into this space is indeed in the works.

DCMud reports on an interview with DDOT Director Gabe Klein in which he shares details about progress getting streetcars running within the next two years.

DC UrbanTurf highlights a beautifully renovated 3 bedroom/3.5 bath along the southeast end of H Street as its "Deal of the Week." The deal is located at 1525 Gales (think the 1500 blk of G St NE) and is listed at only $449,900.

Stay tuned for lots more exciting developments on H Street in the near future, including news on Liberty Tree's opening within days. This should be a big deal despite the restaurant's relatively small size. If all goes well, Ethiopic will follow them within a couple weeks. More on that coming soon...

Monday, March 1, 2010

Intersections roars through second weekend, final weekend approaches

The second weekend of Intersections was a great success with lots more people new to the Atlas making their inaugural visits to our great, local theater. Both Speakeasy performances were sold out.

For next weekend -- the final weekend of the festival -- Kathlen Gonzalez has added two more performances of Bridge of Bodies on Saturday night and Sunday evening.

Actor Joe Morton will be reading from a Percival Everett story for a recording of the NPR show Selected Shorts. He was in Terminator 2 and featured in television shows, including The Good Wife.

There will be late night dance parties, Friday with hip hop troupe DCypher, and Saturday with Grammy-nominated Christylez Bacon.

Folk singer Tom Chapin perfoms Sunday at 7:30 with St Augustine's gospel choir and children from the local Two Rivers Public Charter School.

Get your tickets now!

A preview of next weekend from Jane Lang, Chair of the Atlas Board of Directors, is reproduced below:
Friday Night, March 5: At 5 pm, see the movie The Prep School Negro On the Atlas's BEAUTIFUL NEW MOVIE SCREEN! and participate in the discussion that follows. ($20 adults, $5 students). There's a cafe concert (free) with a wonderful jazz singer, Lulu Falls at 6:30. Then choose hip-hop artist Christylez Bacon (a Strathmore artist in residence) or the Savoyards' performance of Scott Joplin's opera Treemonisha (The music is beautiful).($35/40) Still time to check out DCypher Dance, a hip hop dance band at 9:30 pm.($15)

Saturday, March 6: At 2 pm, the Children's Chorus of Washington performs with the Chinese-American Glorystar Children's Chorus -- both are about to go on tour! ($10) When you emerge, watch artist Kevin Reese create a mobile for INTERSECTIONS in the lobby. (Free) At 5 pm, Broadway and TV star Joe Morton will be there from NY with Isaiah Sheffer to read Selected Shorts (broadcast nationwide on NPR stations) -- the selected stories are very funny. Tickets are $18. Then you can choose between Imani at 7:30 -- a singer dubbed "the answer to jazz fans' prayers" ($15) and Treemonisha at 8 pm ($35/40).

Sunday, March 7: At 2:30 pm, Arena Stage's Voices of Now Mentor Ensemble presents a very moving, well-directed piece developed by these 12 teens who have participated in the Arena program for years.($5) At 3:30, a string ensemble from The President's Own US Marine Chamber Orchestra performs -- and at 6 pm there's a free blue grass concert. Then, at 7:30 pm, a hard choice between legendary folksinger Tom Chapin (joined by the gospel choir from St. Augustine's) performing songs of the civil rights movement ($20) and Act One of a new musical by David Toney and Chris Youstra (playwright and music director of the opening show of the Atlas, Coming Home) that resets King Lear in the deep south. This is a work in progress that will be very exciting. ($10). And the closing party (including hors d'oeuvres and one free drink -- you can buy more!) features Sidwell Friends Upper School Jazz Ensemble, starting at 8:30 pm ($20).

Kathleen Gonzalez is also extending her one-woman show, The Bridge of Bodies -- her moving story as a Haitian immigrant -- check on the times. Tickets are $15, with proceeds going to Haitian earthquake victim relief.

Also, while there, see the exhibit of the paintings of Jose Allen, a Salvadoran painter in the naive style (prints and originals for sale, with a commission to the Atlas!), and the exhibit of works by art students at Cardozo HS and Sidwell Friends US.

Please go on line at www.Atlasarts.org and order your tickets today -- or call the box office at 202 399 7993 ext.2.