Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
Thursday, March 8: Food and Friends’ Dining Out for Life event rests on the idea that you should eat well so that the organization can help get food to the ill and disadvantaged. More than 150 area restaurants will donate at least 25 percent of their sales for this evening to Food and Friends, an organization that delivers meals and groceries to hundreds in the area living with life-challenging illnesses; some restaurants will donate 100 percent of their proceeds. A list of participating restaurants can be found here. Read more about it on our excellent Best Bites blog.
You know what’s music to my ears? “Her shoes feature extra padding in the ball of the foot and sexy yet manageable heel heights.” Comfortable but fashionable shoes—I didn’t know such creations existed. But, praise be, they do. Tonight at the Unsung Designers’ space in Adams Morgan (2412 18th St., NW, in the alley), Gigi Favela will unveil just such shoes at her line debut and trunk show. In addition to the opportunity to shop for that perfect pair of new spring shoes—personally, I’m lusting over these leopard-print beauties—there’ll be music, cocktails, and plenty of mingling. 5–9 pm.
Friday, March 9: Art made accessible—that’s what the DCist Exposed photo show, opening tonight at the Warehouse Arts Complex (1017 Seventh Street NW), is all about. DCist.com, a city-based blog, has created and encouraged a thriving community of Flickr photographers who excel at capturing the moods, locations, and people of the metropolitan area. With the DCist Exposed show, the site is bringing together works of more than 35 local photogs. Besides browsing the photos, meeting the Flickrites who shot them, and having the chance to win prizes, you can buy prints. My favorites? The Metro/iPod print from Techne, and this wondrous, moody setting at the National Gallery of Art. The reception starts at 6:30 pm.
“Lypsinka: The Passion of the Crawford,” the deliciously bizarre play featuring John Epperson lip-synching the words of screen-queen Joan Crawford, closes this Sunday. Why not catch it at the Studio Theatre tonight? Our reviewer says "it brilliantly intuits the almost embarrassing neediness of an aged star of Crawford’s magnitude…and milks that quality to hilarious and sometimes poignant effect.” “Lypsinka” plays tonight at 7:30 pm. $34-$42. Buy tickets here.
How could we not love an event that shares a name with one of our own blogs? This Friday’s After Hours at the Hirshhorn sounds like loads of fun, and it means you get to hang out in the museum long after normal closing hours. The event features the opening of Directions by artists Virgil Marti and Pae White, a new site-specific installation that transforms the Hirshhorn lobby with chandeliers and sculptures. On the second floor, there will be Lite-Brite kits that you can play with. Best of all, local musical legend Ian Svenonius of The Make-Up will be DJing. 8 pm.-midnight. $12; $10 in advance. Call (202) 633-4629 for more information and advance tickets.
Saturday, March 10: The Mid-Atlantic Shamrock Festival brings together the elements of a good Irish celebration—music and lots of beer—in a bigger space at RFK Stadium (the festival was held previously near Ballston Commons Mall). Bands such as Flogging Molly, Emmet Swimming, and Jimmie’s Chicken Shack will be playing various stages, and beer and food tents as well as games, dancing, and crafts will be scattered throughout the festival. It starts at noon and tickets cost $20 (you can purchase them here).
Growing up in Vienna, Virginia, I always looked forward to warm weather and the guarantee that I could start attending events at Wolf Trap. But the center’s wonderful programs don’t happen by magic—they take effort and money. So tonight, Wolf Trap hosts “Art Uncorked,” a fundraiser offering a silent art auction and wine tasting. Guests can sample and purchase wines at discounted prices, and there will be food and champagne. 6:30 – 10 pm. Tickets are $100 per person, and proceeds go to Wolf Trap’s education programs.
Sunday, March 11: Wine, gourmet food, famous chefs—oh my! That’s what you’ll get, and much more, at the Washington, DC International Wine & Food Festival, taking place at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center throughout the weekend. Sample your heart out on hundreds of wines and foods. On Sunday, show hours are 2-6 pm. A single-day pass costs $80—and tickets still are available to Sunday’s Grand Tasting, an event where you can sip on a variety of wines.
As we reported in our blog, Kiefer Sutherland, butt-kicking star of 24, will be closing out the DC Independent Film Festival’s run with a showing of his rockumentary, “I Trust You to Kill Me,” and a Q&A session. If you’ve ever wanted to interrogate Jack Bauer, now’s your chance. 6 pm. $25. Purchase tickets here.
