Photo by eschweik
FRIDAY:
STORIES: Story League is combines storytelling and music at Story League Sings at the Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW), with storytellers, comedians and other performers offering anecdotes about bad romances. To be followed, as appropriate for sharing such memories, with live karaoke. 9 p.m. Tickets $15.
THE LAW: U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor said earlier this week that she moved to the U Street corridor because it reminds her of Manhattan’s East Village, even though D.C.’s takeout food scene sucks. That’s cool, we guess. Sotomayor also has a new memoir, My Beloved World (Knopf; $28), which she reads from at Lisner Auditorium (730 21st Street NW) at 7 p.m.
FESTIVAL: The Smithsonian Institution’s “Out of Many: A Multicultural Festival of Music, Dance, and Story” runs today through Sunday at the National Museum of the American Indian (Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW), with exhibits and performances representing the many American tribes the museum studies, as well as indigenous cultures around the world. Free. Full schedule here.
MUSIC: Bad news: Tonight’s show by Blonde Redhead and Exitmusic at U Street Music Hall (1115A U Street NW) is way sold out. But the DJ lineup right after the show still has tickets to spare. Blond:ish, Chris Nitti and aLamont will be spinning. 10 p.m. Tickets $10
SATURDAY
INAUGURATION, FOR MILLENNIALS: President Obama had a lot more official inaugural balls the first time he was sworn in, including one for “the youths.” (Kanye West was the entertainment, unfortunately, so were Kid Rock and Fall Out Boy.) There’s no official Youth Ball this year, so the aural homers at Listen Local First hope to plug the void with The Millennial Ball at M Central (700 H Street NE.) Performers include Oddisee, The Funk Ark and Brass Connection. 8 p.m. Tickets $75, more importantly, admission includes the open bar.
INAUGURATION, FOR FITNESS TYPES: Out of admiration—or possibly envy—toward Michelle Obama, the Ritz-Carlton’s Sports Club/LA is hosts an inauguration weekend fitness dance party, complete with healthy snacks, fancy cocktails, lasers and a Lululemon Athletica fashion display. At 1170 22nd Street NW. 8:30 p.m. Tickets $50.
INAUGURATION, FOR SHITKICKERS: Everyone’s getting so damn fancy this weekend. Well, what about an inauguration party for people who just want to get dirty and not care about the consequences? Looking Glass Lounge (3634 Georgia Ave NW) plays host to the Shitkickers’ Ball. But for whom, exactly is this party for? “Shitkicking is about standing up for the people that nobody gives a fuck about in this town,” its organizers write. “It’s about staying in the kitchen because you love the goddamn heat. As Omar put it in The Wire, ‘How you expect to run with the wolves come night when you spend all day sparring with the puppies?’ ” At 9 p.m.
SUNDAY
MUSIC: The Kennedy Center (2700 F Street NW) and Georgetown University celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a free musical tribute in the concert hall. The program features Smokey Robinson and the Let Freedom Ring Choir led by Music Director Rev. Nolan Williams Jr. Free tickets are required, distributed beginning 5 p.m.
INAUGURATION, FOR HIP-HOP: Celebrating the role that hip-hop artists played as surrogates for President Obama’s re-election last year, the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball takes over the Harman Center (610 F Street NW) with a black-tie gala sponsored by Russell Simmons. Among the other boldface names are John Legend, 2 Chainz, Eva Longoria, Rosario Dawson, Charles S. Dutton and Raheem DeVaughn. 8 p.m. Tickets $500.
INAUGURATION, FOR H STREET: In another Listen Local First production, a couple of D.C. bands and a few out-of-towners head to M Central (700 H Street NE) for a pre-inauguration bash. Local rockers Shark Week and U.S. Royalty, along with The Dig and Low Cut Connie are scheduled to play. Tickets $20.
MONDAY
INAUGURATION, FOR POOL PARTIERS: Like most people, you probably got shut out of the official inaugural ball after Ticketmaster botched the operation. Oh, well. Did you really want to queue outside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to go through airport-style security and body frisks just so you could squirm through an overcrowded ballroom waiting for a glimpse of the president and vice president? Anyway, there’s always the Brightest Young Things inaugural party, which is not yet sold out and far more accessible at its venue of Bohemian Caverns and Tap & Parlour (2001 11th St NW). Karaoke, DJ sets by local music bookers, people with neon streaks and glitter splotches—that kind of stuff, all damn day long—seriously. Begins 10:30 a.m, ends whenever Svetlana says so. Tickets $20.
