Out and About: Weekend Picks

Photo by dr kim veis ["o]

FRIDAY

ART: Tomorrow is the start of the FotoWeek DC festival, a must-attend six-day photography extravangza. Consult the Arts Agenda for more details on our picks for the fest. Tonight, check out the opening reception at FotoWeek Central in Georgetown (on M Street between 33rd and 34th Streets NW), starting at 6:30 p.m. for $20 at the door, or $15 in advance.

MUSIC: We highlighted Falls Church native Thao Nguyen today, and recommend seeing her tonight with her band, the Get Down Stay Down, along with tourmates the Portland Cello Project at the Black Cat at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15. David Shultz also opens.

Rock bands taking over Eastern Market? And it's for the benefit of Girls Rock! DC and Guitars Not Guns? Where do we sign? Join Tennis System, Shapiro, Memphis 59 and Spring Tigers this Friday at Eastern Market's North Hall from 7 p.m. to midnight to support "the positive impact music education can have on young girls and boys throughout the District area." Tickets are $20 in advance (available here), and includes snacks. There will be a cash bar and a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

Also tonight, D.C.-based duo Fly Gypsy takes their hip-hop to Liv, where they'll perform new tracks from their soon-to-be released album, Change For A Dollar. $10, 8 p.m.

MOVIES: National Geographic Live! is screening The Music Lesson, a film about ten classically music trained students from Boston who travel with a group of students from Laikipia, Kenya, to share in their own centuries-old tradition of music. The film starts at 7 p.m. and costs $10.

Or head to the Freer Gallery to see Dam Street, part of the Bringing the World Home: The Global Film Initiative series. The film tells the story of an ostracized woman who finds companionship in a fiercely affectionate boy, but is conflicted with her unresolved past when a marriage proposal comes. Starting at 7 p.m., the film is free on a first-come-first-serve basis.

SATURDAY

MOVIES: Lots of film festivals happening this weekend, as we mentioned in our regular Popcorn and Candy feature. The South Asian Literary and Theater Arts Festival and the Found Footage Film Fest both start Saturday, and the 2009 AFI European Union Showacase kicked off last night.

PARKS: The Shaw Dog Park is celebrating its first anniversary with a free party (donations welcome) from 12- 2 p.m. At the party, you'll find treats for yourself and your pet, dog agility demonstrations, and raffled prizes from local vendors. Show your neighborhood pride by buying a new Shaw Dog long sleeve shirt at the party.

DANCE: The Dhoonya Dance Performance Company is one of several area ensembles that creates a colorful blend of South Asian and Western influences. They also recently performed on the Oprah Winfrey Show in an appearance with Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai. Saturday night, they will present the second iteration of Bollyb!end, their annual music and dance extravaganza. The performance takes place at Montgomery College's Takoma Park/Silver Spring Performing Arts Center. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.

JAZZ: Twenty seven-year-old pianist Dan Tepfer, who has already already played with cool jazz icon Lee Konitz and drummer Paul Motian, will be backed up by Three Stars alum Brad Linde's quartet at Twins Jazz in 9 and 11 p.m. sets for $15. Read more about our jazz picks for the weekend here.

ART: DCist's own Heather Goss is the brains behind Fixation, a big FotoWeek DC event at the new Industry Gallery on Florida Avenue. Ten Miles Square and the Pink Line Project are teaming up for the second annual event, which will present the work of nine local photographers whose works "create a narrative with a short series of images, differentiating the stereotypical image of our Nation's Capital from the people actually living inside it." Music starts at 6 p.m. with Yoko K, and continues with ayyoko confidential at 7:30 p.m., and Suspicious Package at 9 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Though not part of FotoWeek, Conner Contemporary will also have an opening downstairs with Koen Vanmechelen: Cosmopolitan Chicken Project (DC) (featuring, yes, live chickens).

MUSIC: Tickets are still available for Peter Bjorn & John and El Perro del Mar at the 9:30 Club. 8 p.m., $25.

Local indie stars Le Loup are back home with a new album, Family, tracks from which they'll be performing tonight at the Black Cat. Former Le Louper May Tabol's current project, Pree, will be opening the show. 9 p.m., $12

SUNDAY

MOVIE: Head up to the AFI Silver to catch a screening of Lukas Moodysson's Mammoth, he acclaimed Swedish director's first English language film starring Gael García Bernal and Michelle Williams. The film is part of the AFI's European Union Showcase which started last night and runs through November 24. Mammoth screens at 5 p.m. for $12.

MUSEUMS: Twenty years ago from Sunday, the Berlin Wall came down. The Newseum is celebrating the anniversary with Berlin Wall Family Day, where you can hear how graffiti has been a form of protest, then try it out for yourself on the Newseum's re-created wall, search for clues in a scavenger hunt, and play quiz games from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. for the standard admission price.

MUSIC: Head to the Black Cat to support Virginia Beach natives Mae, who had their van and all their instruments and equipment stolen the other night in Philly, but will still perform with guitarist Jenny Owen Youngs tonight. $13 in advance, $15 at the door, 8 p.m.