Coming Soon: U2 360º Tour September 29th to FedExField

Tickets are $30 to $250 HERE.

On My Radar: Olazzo in downtown Silver Spring

Last night we ducked into Olazzo in Silver Spring, right next to my beloved Nicaro (which just re-opened under new management with new chef this week). We started off our meal with fresh calamari and the Dolium Riserva Malbec from Argentina. And to my delight, all their wines are a $1 off as part of their happy hour specials.

We also tried the Lasagna and Pasta Primavera with fresh tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, onions, mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes sautéed with basil, garlic and olive oil. The vegetables were perfect and we both had half our meals left over so that will make for a nice treat tonight.

Stop by Olazzo in Silver Spring or their location in Bethesda. Their digs remind you of being in an cozy authentic Italian restaurant (but with modern flair like the flat screens with a toasty fire) and the servers are excellent. It's perfect for a glass of wine after work or a nice dinner with friends or family. I officially have a new favorite restaurant in Silver Spring.

8235 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301.588.2540

Virginia Sales Tax Holiday this Weekend

During this three-day period, purchases of certain school supplies, clothing and footwear will be exempt from the Virginia sales tax. Each eligible school supply item must be priced at $20 or less, and each eligible article of clothing and footwear must be priced at $100 or less. For more info CLICK HERE.

Friday @ Policy Steve Starks and Nacey on the turntables.

Get on the guestlist HERE.

This Saturday MSTRKRFT/THE CRYSTAL METHOD/WILL EASTMAN @ FUR

Join Homebody this Saturday to celebrate their new look

Join Homebody this Saturday in Eastern Market for their Second Saturday affair from 6 to 9 p.m. Snack, shop, ship and socialize with friends to celebrate the store's new facelift.

715 8th St SE # A
Washington, DC 20003-2936
(202) 544-8445

DC Charity Spotlight: Heads Up

WISH LIST $100: snacks for 100 kindergartners for 1 day; $500: 1 year's transportation costs for a college student tutor traveling to metro-inaccessible sites; $1000: tuition for 1 student in the 6-week summer program

Heads Up provides after-school and summer academic programs to disadvantaged youth attending some of the most underserved schools in the country. Almost half of the children live in poverty, and most live in single parent families plagued by other risk factors as well. The goal is to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by promoting a new cycle ... of learning and leadership. Every day, for three-and-a-half hours a day, and then six hours a day for six weeks in the summer, Heads Up tutors - local college students who are trained and supervised by the staff - guide their charges through reading, homework assistance, and writing activities. In the summer there are also community-based projects and trips. It's an intense commitment that really pays off. Reading proficiency improves dramatically, youngsters develop a love of learning and get tuned in, and turned on, to college though early exposure to college students. This year, free of charge, Heads Up will serve 700 students with the help of 200 undergraduate tutors. They will grow together in extraordinary ways.

Robin Minter,

Executive Director 25 E Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20001 202-544-4468

DC This Week has a few Surprises in Store for You

Wine festival and polo season are upon us! Join DC This Week in September at the 24th Annual Commonwealth Cup of Polo and The Wine Festival (6 lucky readers will win FREE tickets in the coming weeks) and in October for Ride to Thrive Benefiting the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program.


Also, DC This Week readers now receive 10% off their Vastu purchases (excludes Knoll and EcoSmart Fire) at the store. Stop in at their 14th and T location to preview their newest designs this weekend.

Mention promo code VDC10 when making your in-store purchase. Last week, VASTU welcomed a few lucky DCers and I for their Dog Days of Summer Party with treats from Georgetown Cupcake and bubbly from CORK Wine Bar.

I sniffed their new Vastu soy candles and can't wait to light up my digs with fresh scents this Spring.

Available in a number of different fragrances - including Vanilla Chai Tea, Tropical Rain, Litsea & Basil, Lavender Basil, Floral Garden and many more...

WOODSTOCK Hits the National Mall August 15th.

The Paul Green School of Rock Music presents an 8 hour concert at the Sylvan Amphitheater at the base of the Washington Monument on August 15, 2009, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The free all day event will feature the music of Jimmy Hendrix, the Who, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the Grateful Dead, Santana and more.

Brew at the Zoo is August 20th

On August 20th join more than 2,000 young professionals from the D.C. area and enjoy handcrafted beers brewed by more than 20 local and European breweries, as well as live music and hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are $35 to $50. Admission includes live music, all beer samples and a commemorative mug. CLICK HERE for TICKETS.

Stussy DC x REAS Print Release Party this Saturday

U.S. Air Guitar National Finals are at 9:30 Club this Friday

Washington Project for the Arts Presents UNBORN Friday night

Got Kids? If Not, Borrow One and Head Over to Fontaine Caffe & Crêperie

The Parisian-inspired Fontaine Caffe & Crêperie is taking crepes to kids next Wednesday with a summer cooking class series. Flour, powdered sugar, chocolate… a kids cooking delight!

Chef and Owner Kyong Yi invites kids between the ages of six and ten to join her ‘in the kitchen’ learning the craft of crepe making in a series of fun, intimate classes. It’s a great way to introduce children to cooking and healthy eating. On Wednesday, August 12, children are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and learn how to create these delicate treats, all the while learning about the history and art of crêpes.

Each class will last for 60 minutes, running from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in which students will master the traditional wooden tools to create the crêpe pancake, be able to pick the fillings for their own personal crêpe and enjoy a delicious, healthy lunch! To make every étudiant feel like a professional crepe chef, the class includes Fontaine apron and authentic red chef’s cap and certificate for each child to don not only during class, but take home for their future culinary endeavors!

This class is $35 per child and will be held Wednesday, August 12^th. Fontaine Caffe & Crêperie invites your youngster (OR BORROW someone's) to experience the pleasures of French cuisine. Bon Appétit!

For additional information and reservations for the cooking class, please contact Fontaine Caffe & Crêperie at 703-535-8151 or info@fontainecaffe.com. Located at 119 S. Royal Street; Alexandria, Virginia.

Erykah Badu • Raphael Saadiq • Mike Epps • Chrisette Michele • Chuck Brown • The Foreign Exchange coming to Merriweather this Saturday!

Tickets $42 to $100 HERE.

Get your shop on and support Rachael's Women's Center @ the District Sample Sale. VIP tickets are on sale now

The Fall 2009 District Sample Sale event will take place on Wednesday, September 16th at 3336 M Street, NW Georgetown, DC.

• VIP, Benefactress and Corporate Benefactress tickets on sale NOW.
• Regular Admission tickets on sale Thursday, August 6th, 10 a.m.
• Rachael's Women's Center is the Fall 2009 beneficiary!

Create Public Art DC with Albus Cavus on August 15th

You are invited to come out and watch the District's largest public mural take shape. The Edgewood mural project team has started painting the 275-foot long wall that's two-stories high. Over the next 10 days, artists and DC youth will cover a wall space that is larger than a football field with a public art piece called "From Edgewood to the Edge of the World." The project and the resulting art seeks to reflect its home community of Edgewood and be a window into the souls of the artists.

The Edgewood mural project is sponsored by the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities and the DC Mayor Office's Summer Youth Employment Program, and directed by public arts non-profit Albus Cavus. Check out their BLOG HERE. The mural wall is located along the new Metropolitan Branch Trail for cyclists and walkers and visible from the WMATA Rhode Island metro stop. What was a grey retainer wall will be transformed into a beautiful creation.

Come to the mural site and be a part of the action.

The new Metropolitan Branch Trail will connect all parts of DC from Union Station to Silver Spring, Maryland. The trail will bring visitors, residents, and commuters together, serving as a recreational opportunity and an alternative transportation route. Weaving through parks, major roadways and revitalized urban zones, the new trail will take visitors past major landmarks and a significant piece of public art. "The Edgewood mural will not only be a beautiful aesthetic addition to the trail, but it will draw people to the trail to look at the mural," says Heather Deutsch, Bicycle Program Specialist/Trail Planner, Transportation, Policy and Planning Administration, District Department of Transportation.

On August 15, the public is invited to participate in and view a mural jam for local artists to contribute their work and extend the mural down the sprawling wall to the street. The event invites the community to learn and appreciate the artwork and will feature live music, deejays, giveaways and an artist market. MORE DETAILS HERE.

Asia After Dark @ Freer Gallery of Art is coming. Tickets will sell out

Sponsored by the Pink Line Project. Indulge your senses in Asia and join us for an evening of art, dance, and creative fun in the Freer Gallery of Art. Tickets are $18. More details HERE.

Endless Summer @ L2 Thursday benefitting Luke's Wings

The Washington Post's Going Out Guru's has the skinny on Luke's Wings fundraiser at L2 this Thursday.

"August has barely begun and we're already wondering where the summer went -- and whether we'll be able to get to get away to a sunny beach while it's still warm enough to enjoy it. Seems like the perfect time for a surfing-themed party, doesn't it? That's the plan at L2 Lounge's "Endless Summer" party, where swimsuits and flipflops are de rigeur, a surfing simulator will test your board skills, a contest will reward the best outfit and everyone enjoys drink specials. But what's even better, in our opinion, is that it's a fundraiser for Luke's Wings, a local charity that supports wounded soldiers at Walter Reed by paying for their families to fly to Washington and visit them. The first 150 people to donate $10 to Luke's Wings get in free; admission will be $15-$20 at the door, and all proceeds go to Luke's Wings."

My Weekend in D.C.

I frequently have house guests and September is no exception. So I've pretty much developed an agenda for my house guests for Thursday - Sunday that keeps them busy, fed and entertained. I suggest everyone come up with a sample agenda for house guests. It avoids you needing to plan at the last minute and opentable.com makes my reservations so easy. So here are some ideas to keep your guests happy!

Thursday
7 p.m. Oya for dinner. They will love the scene and it's in Chinatown so you can go for a stroll aftewards or a drink at the bar at Zaytinya.

Fly in and relax. And always have wine stocked for your visitors with some cheese and spread :) And clean sheets and towels ready to go.

Friday
12:30 p.m. Hudson for lunch on the patio or any good restaurant near your work
7 p.m. Marvin for dinner and drinks on the deck afterwards

Your guests can go to White House during the day and check out U Street/14th Street Corridor and Adam's Morgan to keep them busy while you are work. Give them a small map of the city and write down numbers for where they should stop/shop/eat/see. Include, art galleries on 14th and parks for good people watching.
Saturday
1 p.m. Mie N Yu for lunch
7:30 p.m. Co. Co. Sala for dinner and then a little nightlife afterwards

During the day your house guests can shop in Georgetown, eat a Georgetown Cupcake, go to the waterfront and people watch, check out some Embassies up Mass. Ave. and stroll through Dupont. Also, I always try to take my house guests to the National Cathedral. It's massive and beautiful and the parks are serene.

Sunday
1 p.m. 1905 for brunch.

This is always there last day in the city and they should be exhausted by now. Take them to brunch, fill them with champagne and then maybe stroll along the monuments if you have time before they head out.

Wednesday is the final “Canines and Corks” @ the Park Hyatt

On Wednesday, August 5, Park Hyatt Washington, the city’s most sophisticated pet-friendly hotel, will host a third, and final, “Canines and Corks” happy hour of the summer, benefiting the Washington Humane Society. From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, area residents and guests are invited to bring their four-legged friends to meet and mingle on the hotel’s outdoor grounds, adjacent to the lobby.

The Washington Humane Society Mobile Adoption Unit will be on site for guests to meet adoptable animals from their shelters and perhaps find them a new home. The cost of the event is $10, which includes two drink tickets for beer and wine. Complimentary dog treats and water bowls will be provided. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to the Washington Humane Society.

DC Charity Spotlight: Northeast Performing Arts Group

WISH LIST $100: educational software for the Before & After School Homework Assistance program; $500: after-school snacks for 100 children for 1 month; $1000: show costumes for youth who have no means to purchase them

In 1979, dedicated youth activist Rita Jackson established NEPAG to provide performing and visual arts opportunities to youngsters living East of the River. Soon it became clear that escalating neighborhood violence and drug use meant that kids needed more: discipline, commitment, academic support. So NEPAG became a safe haven where kids could prepare for life while exploring the arts and enriching their academic skills. Now, 6 days a week during the school year, and in a 9-week arts camp, youngsters ages 3-18 receive instruction in dance, voice, drama, percussion, and painting, woven together with literacy and computation skills. To help them cope with daily challenges, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills are part of the mix. 250 performances and 2 major shows a year engage a cast of 75 young people and make cultural events available to a community that would otherwise have little access to them. When you contribute to NEPAG, you give the kids of Ward 7 a chance to succeed at life ... and prove that art can heal.

Rita Jackson,

President & Executive Director 3431 Benning Road NE Washington, DC 20019 202-388-1274