FRIDAY:
>> While Argentinian actress and singer-songwriter Juana Molina put out her first album in 1996, most of us in the U.S. probably didn’t get hooked on her until 2004, when her sophomore effort, Segundo, was finally released. Despite such a long lag time between her debut and follow-up, since then she’s been recording like a woman on fire — this tour is support of a fourth outing, Son. She’ll be bringing her unique Latin/French/Electronica/Folk blend to Black Cat tonight, with José González and Psapp at 9:30 p.m, $15.
>> The excellent U.S. Army Band’s free summer concert series kicks off this week. Tonight the U.S. Army Jazz Orchestra plays on the west steps of the Capitol Building at 8 p.m.
SATURDAY:
>> When the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery closed in 2000, it was hard to imagine how they would survive in the public consciousness. Closed for renovations for six years and being a long seven block haul from the Smithsonian’s core on the mall, it played an odd second fiddle for a museum that promotes American talent in its own capital city. The museum finally opens anew Saturday to impress tourists and artistas alike — from the broad contemporary Lincoln Gallery to a foundation center with 3,300 works in visible storage. DCist will be there enjoying the celebration and live blogging next to the Eye Level bloggers in their war room, so come join the festivities and check back with DCist tomorrow for our take on the new digs. 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Adrian Parsons)
>> Robert Altman is well-known for making sprawling, lyrical, hard-edged films with unusual story structures — Short Cuts and A Wedding are good examples. Without a doubt the best of these stylistic wonders is Nashville, which achieved the seemingly impossible: somehow weaving together 24 different characters’ stories around a single political rally/concert with semi-improvised dialog, and at the same time be cited by the formulaic screenwriting guru Syd Field as being the embodiment of perfect story structure. Find out how Altman did it at the AFI Silver Theatre, 8:30 p.m.
SUNDAY:
>> We’re not going to lie. The idea of being anywhere near the National Mall on 4th of July weekend sends a cold, dark shiver up the entire length of our collective spines. It will be hot, it will be smelly, it will jam-packed madness. But we also can’t pretend that the Smithsonian Folklife Festival isn’t kind of a lot of fun. Where else can you salsa dance while learning important ecological lessons and enjoying exotic cuisine? This year’s program features dancers, musicians and food from Oman, a showcase of the occupational traditions of the USDA Forest Service (we have no idea what that means, either), the now-traditional Nuestra Música stages, and a pavillion dedicated to the “American food revolution.” We hope that last one includes deep-fried Snickers bars. Those things are truly revolutionary. Looks like we were looking at last year’s web site. Actual events planned for this year will highlight Canada’s heartland province, Alberta, basket-weaving, African-American musical traditions from New Orleans, and of course, Nuestra Música. Sorry for any confusion.
>> Shakespeare Theatre’s latest production of Love’s Labor’s Lost is getting great reviews, including from our own intrepid critic: “It can be debated whether Love’s Labor’s Lost is an underappreciated gem of the Bard’s or whether this production just shows off its every asset. But either way, this lively, free-spirited look take makes the text worth another look, baby.” 2 p.m.
