Fabulous musical . Phenomenal cast. The Kennedy Center never disappoints. Our front row box seats…read morehad a great views. In a crazy world to enjoy the Arts and Sing out loud made my heart smile. Thank you to my husband for the BEAUTIFUL surprise

A great evening out at the Kennedy Center, enjoying the music of the fabulous Carole King. The…read moreplay tells the story of Carole's life, with the first half devoted to her marriage, her entering the music business as a composer, and the string of amazing hits that you had absolutely no idea Carole had written but that will bring back great memories for any of you who grew up in the 60s and 70s, including, in no particular order: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles), One Fine Day (The Chiffons), You've Got a Friend (James Taylor), Up On the Roof (The Drifters), You Make Me Feel (Aretha!), Another Pleasant Valley Sunday (The Monkees), and The Loco-Motion (Little Eva) ... all of that (and more) before she started her own vocal career in earnest, culminating in the Tapestry album we all know and love. The play reminded me of Jersey Boys in how it told the story of Carole's life and the forces that shaped her music, but the story line is definitely secondary to the music, and it's worth going for the music alone. Abby Mueller knocks it out as Carole, and Liam Tobin (who plays her husband, Gerry) has a great voice as well, complementing Abby perfectly. The actors playing the musical team of Weil and Mann added a great extra dimension to the story, featuring some more classic period music, including On Broadway by the Drifters. Even though the Kennedy Center's a bit tough to get to (especially mid-week), make the effort to check out some great singing that will bring back some great memories - and you'll even get some dancing-at-your seat in during the encore number, with the entire audience on its feet! (No, I'm not telling which song - go find out for yourselves!)

Very fun venue. It is a good place to go for a show and to socialize. It is BYOB and snacks so…read moreattendees are welcome to pitch in. You are likely to leave with better awareness of the local arts community. Events cater to many types of art enjoyers so anything from jazz to punk to just visual art can be found. Go check it out!

Rhizome DC is one of the most unique things in all of Washington, DC. It's an arts community/space…read morein a stand alone family home in Takoma. On the first floor in the living room is where musicians perform their art. My wife, baby, and friend attended a 24-hour music concert where anyone could bring an instrument and join in. When we entered, there was a $10 suggested donation box. In the back was an artists painting to the music with books scattered on the floor. No one acknowledged us at all, which was odd. The upstairs is a public art gallery with art on the walls for sale. One room allows you to add to the art by using a sharpie to write anything on the walls from a drawing to poerty. If you want a creative experience in DC, come here. It proves DC is more than politics.

I can best describe Flashpoint as a cultural complex. Part theater, part art gallery and part dance…read moretheatre. The theater, called Mead Theatre Lab gives the space, lights and sound to the performers for free- it is all funded by the DC theater community at large. The theater is on the small side. It seats maybe 70 people. The art gallery here will be hosting a really interesting exhibition called "Consume." One of my friends is an artist and he gave me a sneak peak of what he will be showing. This particular exhibit starts on Nov 30th. The paintings that will be on display explore how, why and what we eat, drink and buy

I know I shouldn't judge a gallery by a show opening, especially one as popular as DCist's…read more"Exposed" photography show, but there were a few things that disappointed me about my experience this past Friday night. To start with, I understand that friends of the staff get an automatic "in". Heck, I used to pretend I knew the bartenders or DJs because I hate waiting in line. However, when there is a line halfway down G Street, on a night when it's 20 degrees (not including windchill), and most everyone has been waiting patiently in line for well over 45 minutes to get to the front door - don't just wave your friends in through the door when they show up "to say 'hi'". It's rude and disrespectful to everyone that has been waiting all this time. If you must let your friends in, show them the service entrance around back, so you don't cause a riot in the lines. Seriously. Secondly, although it is probably 5 below out, when you have 100+ people packed into a gallery the size of my condo it gets very warm, very quickly. Turn down the heat and crank up the air. Yes, it's cold out...however it's very warm inside! Especially as there is nowhere to hang coats - and everyone is having a drink or two. Although we left after 15 minutes, I had already gotten a couple whiffs of BO. Not pretty. I could only imagine how much worse it got as the evening went on. Finally, have more then one bartender at the bar. Yes, the bar is tiny (the bar I have at home was bigger), but again, when it's a show as popular as DCist, one bartender isn't going to be enough. Especially as tightly packed as that room is, by not having enough bar staff, it just causes further bottlenecking at the front door. All in all - the Flashpoint seemed like a decent gallery. Small, but located between Metro Center and the Chinatown metro stop, it's easy to get to, and there are tons of dining options around. I will probably come back for shows in the future - but probably not for anything as popular as the DCist.

I bet you are one of those people who is always looking for something new to try---either a new…read morerestaurant, new museum, new park.....Why not try something completely new?? Why not try the DC Shorts Film Festival next year???? My boyfriend Matt J and I were bored one day while I was visiting DC and we just decided to go out on a whim and try this festival out this past fall. It was $12 to see a little more than an hour's worth of a series of short film contestants and this outing definitely was different and I would definitely go again next year!! I love movies anyway, and this was played in one of the nice old style movie theaters so it just made the outing that much better. Granted not all of the movies were amazing, and a few were literally a minute long with absolutely no plot but hey, you wanted to try something new and fun and this is a great choice!! One of my favorite movies here was about a bunny that overeats and just grows and grows and grows because he has an overeating disorder all while this poor guy was pet sitting! The bunny became this evil eating bunny and I will never forget that image of the fattest, largest bunny I have ever seen ha ha This viewing doesn't seem to have a real order or anything like that and the movies jump from one genre to the next which seemed a little unnatural....but at least it kept us on our toes! Then there were the movies here that are about more serious topics like death, war, immigration problems....Some of these were simply beautiful pieces of art and the fact that I got to see some of these short films made me think about so many different things within my own life. That is what outings should do for anyone--add to your life somehow, make you reflect, make you learn, make you laugh, make you want to even cry maybe....and the DC Shorts Festival, at least the one segment I went to provided me all of that.

The DC Shorts Film Festival is one of my favorite things in DC. When I first moved here, a friend…read moreclued me in to the awesome that is DCS by bringing me to one of the 'Best Of' Festival showcases. I was immediately sold, and I have attended every year since for at least the 'Best Of' show in either September and/or February when they replay this showcase. For the past 2 years, I have also volunteered to help out with the festival, getting to see it in a new light, and realizing how much work goes on behind the scenes to put on a great festival each time. Every year I think I have found my favorite short film... but then I attend the next year only to pick a new favorite. With a broad range of topics--from comedy to horror, drama to musical--there is always something for everyone to enjoy. I'm looking forward to going again next year, both as a volunteer and an audience member!

I came here for a concert. Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena is UMBC's basketball and volleyball…read morevenue. For events, there's paid premium parking (closest to the venue), but there's also plenty of free parking in other lots around campus. We were able to park in Lot 1 which was directly across from the venue. They had parking attendants to direct the flow of traffic going in and out. There was a good flow of traffic arriving at the event. Leaving the event was a little more backlogged (which is to be expected when thousands of people leave at the same time), but the parking attendants did their best to make exiting as painless as possible. Security was quick and easy. We walked through their security scanners without a fuss. This venue also allows bags. Our tickets were scanned at the door, and we were inside in no time. This is as intimate as arenas come ~ no screens necessary! Signage was posted all around the arena to guide you to where you needed to go, and the usher gave specific directions to find our seats. We had floor seats towards the middle (not up at the front), and for short people, the sight lines were excellent - best floor seats I've ever had! The rows of chairs on the floor were neatly arranged, and each row and seat were clearly labeled with hanging signs and numbers chalked on the ground. I also liked how the floor wasn't overcrowded with seats - there was enough space to walk around freely. Once the show started, ushers also escorted guests to their seats with a flashlight. The smaller venue size allows for a more personal approach. Sound quality was good but not great, but it did the job and certainly filled the space. I'd come here again for an event.

We did everything right. Bought parking in advance. Arrived over an hour early. None of it…read moremattered. The car line alone was 30 minutes just to reach the lots. It was obvious the parking operation was in chaos, with attendants scrambling to redirect cars because paid and unpaid vehicles were apparently mixed together. Our ticket listed a lettered lot. The attendant told us that was a system error and lots are actually numbered. So the ticket we paid for in advance directed us to a lot that didn't exist as described. Great start. Once we finally parked, we found two lines stretching at least an eighth of a mile each. We picked the shorter one and stood in the rain for 45 minutes. When we finally reached the door, the event staff greeted us with visible irritation. We had been standing outside getting soaked for the better part of an hour and were met with attitude. The only reason we stayed was because of what we paid for the tickets. Inside, electronics go into pouches, which is fine. Except the pouches have no straps and no unique identifiers. Set yours down for a second in the bathroom and good luck sorting it out from everyone else's. A small but telling detail about how much thought went into the logistics. We left early to beat the exit crush and it still wasn't pretty. I don't care who performs here. We will not be back.

For over two decades, the Institute of Musical Traditions has been presenting wonderful concerts in…read morethe DC area. Nowadays the concerts take place at St Mark's Presbyterian Church in Rockville (on Old Georgetown Rd, right off the freeway) and at Takoma Park Community Center. Tickets are reasonably priced (the concert I most recently attended was $15 if purchased in advance). Check out videos of recent concerts and a calender of upcoming events on http://www.imtfolk.org/index.shtml.

We attended a recent Friday evening dance performance at the Columbia Heights Education Campus. One…read moreconcern was there is no parking lot. However to my surprise, when checking Spot Hero I discovered there is a shopping area very close to the auditorium with multiple garages. We were able to make a parking reservation for five dollars, but as it turned out you can park on the street after 6:30 p.m. and we were lucky enough to get a spot right in front of the building. The auditorium is large and the seats are comfortable and spaced well. There is plenty of leg room, which is always a plus since my husband is tall. The rest rooms are conveniently located just down the hall from the auditorium. My minor complaints may be that because it was a dance recital, and the performers needed the whole stage, there were some distractions. A curtain at the back of the stage was held together with a large clothes pin-type thing. Also there was a visible door. The acoustics are good, so much so that the music was painfully loud. That was more likely the fault of the stage crew and not the venue itself.

For a school auditorium it was really nice. Complete with a gorgeous red velvet stage curtain. Can…read moreeasily seat at least ~200 people. There's even a partition that can divide the full host of auditorium seats. Chairs have comfortable back and seat cushions. The acoustics are spot on. There are at least three emergency exits. The District Church utilizes the auditorium on Sundays.

I had the opportunity to attend their open house earlier today entitled Seasons of Celebration…read more They have been honoring African exhibits for 40 years! This non-profit museum is one of few specifically representing African Art. Mrs. Doris Ligon is the founder and director. She is extremely knowledgeable of the pieces and her compassion shows. They are responsible for the inclusion of an African Unit for Howard County elementary schools. Third graders learn about Kenya and sixth graders, Ghana. They are planning to go back to South Africa in 2021 for 14 days with an opportunity to go to Dubai or Egypt for three days pre or post trip. They were authors present of the books Children Are Gifts, Thank You God series, and The Gift of Criticism and others. Soon they will host a Bishop from the Largest African church of Angola and a jazz event soon! I was so inspired, I became a member and volunteer!

This is a small museum in Columbia, Maryland, devoted to art from all parts of Africa. The founder,…read moreMs. Ligon, who is now 90, gave us a tour. Everything is squeezed into three rooms, so you could easily see it all in 15 minutes, but Ligon is talkative (in a charming way), so we were there for about an hour. I wouldn't go to Columbia just to see it, but if you're there, it's worth a visit.