Monday, March 22
Poet Sonia Sanchez, who has received praise from writers such as Maya Angelou and Isabel Allende, reads from her newest book, Morning Haiku, at Busboys and Poets at DC’s14th and V streets, Northwest. Her haiku celebrate African-American figures and mourn ones who have passed away, such as jazz musician Max Roach. The event starts at 6
Tuesday, March 23
For newbie art collectors, the Pink Line Project and the DC Forum for Emerging Arts Professionals have teamed up to present a seminar on collecting art on a budget. Allison Marvin from the art-consulting firm Sightline will speak and give advice on how to start and sustain an art collection and how to become connected with local galleries. There’ll be light hors d’oeuvres and drinks from Eatonville restaurant. RSVP to saloncontra@pinklineporject.com to find out the location. 7 to 9. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, March 24
It’s the 20th anniversary of Tim O’Brien’s iconic collection of short stories about the Vietnam War, The Things They Carried. To celebrate, Politics and Prose is hosting a signing, reading, and Q&A session with O’Brien, and you can purchase the newest edition of the book. While the event starts at 7, make sure to get there early—the store is predicting a huge turnout. For more details, click here.
Thursday, March 25
The writer and poet Gertrude Stein, who was a friend of painters such as Picasso and Matisse, contributed to the modern-art movement by promoting artists and collecting their work. In “Gertrude Stein: Face-to-Face Portrait Talk,” National Portrait Gallery curator Wendy Wick Reaves discusses the artist. 6 to 6:30. For more information, click here.
Friday, March 26
Rough week at work? Mosh all your stress out at the Black Cat’s No Control Punk Rock Slam Dance Party. DJs Steve EP and Denman promise to play bands such as DC-based Minor Threat and New York’s thrash-metal group Leeway. The event, in the club’s backstage area, starts at 9:30.
Saturday, March 27
We hope you found some spare time to make a kite this week, because it’s the 44th Annual Kite Festival. Meet at the Washington Monument with your best designs—registration is at 10 AM. There’ll be a handmade-kite competition, a tricks showdown, and a Rokkaku competition, in which teams compete to cut down opponents’ kites (click here for the rules). There’ll also be a display of handmade kites from around the world, kids’ lessons from the National Cherry Blossom Festival calligraphers, and a chance to make stingray-shaped kites with the National Aquarium. 10 to 4.
Sunday, March 28
St. Patrick’s Day is over, but you can go green at the National Museum of Natural History, where there are screenings of two selections from the Environmental Film Festival. Catch a double helping of Poisoned Waters films, directed by Rick Young and written by Young and Hendrick Smith. The first explores water case studies in Puget Sound, while the second discusses what the US Geological Survey has discovered in the Chesapeake Bay. You can ask Smith questions during a discussion after the film. The event is at 3:30 in the museum’s Baird Auditorium. Click here for more details.
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