Friday:
>> ‘Browncoats’ and other, less nerdy fans of Joss Whedon’s ill-fated Firefly series should get to Arlington Cinema n’ Drafthouse tonight (or Saturday) for a showing of the big screen follow-up, Serenity. Your $8 ticket price benefits a slew of charities, plus you’re in for door prizes, raffles, costume contests and more. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m. Saturday.
>> The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival kicked-off yesterday on the National Mall. This year, the “living cultural heritages” being celebrated are Asia Pacific, México, and, well, the “Smithsonian Inside Out” program with “challenges” in science, history and culture from the various museums. Experience dances, food, storytelling, and history from each section. Admission to the festival is free, with some food and goods for sale. Festival continues through Monday, then picks up again July 1-5. See the full schedule of activities here.
>> Jeffrey Cudlin‘s tongue-in-cheek By Request opens at Flashpoint on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. Cudlin surveyed seven of D.C.’s best-known patrons — including Martin Irvine, Henry Thaggert and Philippa Hughes — to find out their artistic preferences, and then selected seven area artists (Cory Oberndorfer, Trevor Young, and Jason Horowitz among them) to create work according to the survey results. Here’s the catch: Cudlin himself must be depicted in each work of art.
>> Jazz Night in Southwest features one of D.C.’s greats. Bassist Steve Novosel accompanied many a jazz great as they would roll through town, and was a long time member of Shirley Horn‘s band. He’ll lead a group from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday for $5.
>> With Tinariwen’s popularity finally growing Stateside, the backstory of the Malian “desert blues” band risks overwhelming the real story: their funky, ethereal, liberating music. Group founder Ibrahim Ag Alhabib had joined a group of Tuareg rebels funded by Libyan “Brother Leader” Muammar al Gaddafi and trained to be part of his new Tuareg army of the Sahara. There Alhabib met his future bandmates and began recording songs dealing with the plight of the Tuareg people and their way of life in the Sahara desert. Thirty years later, they’ve conquered the world music scene by blending traditional West African with North African music with a tinny, almost psychedelic guitar sound like no other. They finally make it to D.C. on Friday night when they hit the 9:30 Club. Geologist opens with a DJ set at 8 pm, followed by Miles Seaton of Akron/Family. Tickets $30.
>> This is going to be a pretty great dance party for Shock Diamond’s DC Re:MIXtape record release party, featuring an all D.C. music DJ night with sets by Hugh McElroy, Gideon Forman, Aaron Leitko, True Womanhood, Hume, Noon:30, Buildings, Laughing Man, Shock Diamond, and more. $5 Black Cat Backstage.
Saturday:
>> The DC Caribbean Parade (warning: music) rolls down Georgia Avenue NW starting at Missouri Avenue NW at 11 a.m. and finishing at the Banneker Recreation Park. This event is one of the best in the city for parade-viewers, featuring colorful costumes, tons of music and often some very large snakes. The Caribbean Carnival actually starts Friday with music and parties all over.
>> Bring your empty stomach to the National Capital Barbecue Festival this Saturday and Sunday on Pennsylvania Ave between 9th and 14th Streets NW. All the local and some national spots will have their grills set up so you can sample the wide-range of barbecue styles, or rest for a minute and watch one of the cooking demonstrations. $10 adults, $5 kids 5-12, under 5 are free.
