>> One of the funniest comedic performers out there today, Amy Sedaris is at the Historic Sixth and I Synagogue tonight to promote her recent book, I Like You, at 8 p.m. Advance tickets are no longer available, but a few seats can apparently still be had at the door for $25 — a small price to pay to be entertained by the woman who brought us the wonder that is Jerri Blank. >>…

DCist’s highly subjective and hardly comprehensive guide to the most interesting movies playing around town in the coming week. Foreign: 2007 Washington Jewish Film Festival The Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center’s annual film festival has become one of the largest and longest running of the local festivals. This year’s program encompasses over 40 films, from 11 countries. Nearly half of the selections are films from Israel, in recognition of the nation’s 60th year. The event…

Marc Fisher lets us know that longtime D.C. radio fixture Red Shipley, the host of WAMU’s Stained Glass Bluegrass program for 25 years, died over the weekend from cancer in Charlottesville. Shipley introduced two generations of Washington area music fans to legendary and contemporary bluegrass music, up until last month, when WAMU took all of its bluegrass programming off the air and put it on HD Radio. “Radio lost one of its own legends last…

For all the gentle bitching and tempered moaning we do about certain aspects of our local music venues, on the whole, they’re nothing to sneeze at. Sometimes amidst endless debates about sound quality and beer prices, we forget that we’re rather lucky to have so many high quality venues in the area. Luckily, the fine folks at Pollstar haven’t forgotten. Wolf Trap’s Filene Center, Merriweather Post Pavillion, The Birchmere and the 9:30 Club have all…

This is a good week for hearing 20th-century symphonic repertoire, even though the National Symphony Orchestra is on another break. As we approach the first major event of the NSO’s season, the two-week Shostakovich festival in November, we will have the chance Since the NSO Shostakovich festival in November has been cancelled (due to Mstislav Rostropovich’s health problems), this week is our only chance to celebrate the Dmitri Shostakovich centenary some more. MODERN: >> On…

The Year of the Dog kicked off with a bang yesterday, as revelers celebrated the traditional Chinese New Year’s festivities by eating, eating, and eating some more, writes the Examiner. Residents and visitors alike packed Chinatown’s many eateries for chicken, dumplings, and mandarin oranges as a parade proceeded down H Street. Chinatown is home to a number of traditional Chinese restaurants, including China Doll, Chinatown Garden, Tai Shan, Li Ho, Chipotle, Hooters, Potbelly, and…

This weekend is not only the last of January, but the last of the Chinese calendar year. We had some lewd jokes about fireworks and “The Year of the Rooster” prepared, but given that our last attempt at ethnic humor almost ended with us being chased out of D.C., we’ll play it safe this time and simply wish you all a Happy Lunar New Year. FRIDAY >>The key to a vibrant local music scene is…