PAST: JAZZ: Weekly: The Final "Jazz in theGarden" of the Summer will feature Afro Bop at the National Gallery ofArt Sculpture Garden on FRI, August 28 from 5:00pm - 8:30pm, Live Jazzevery Friday through FRI, August 28

Jazz in the Garden during the Summer every Friday night in the NGA Sculpture Garden
Friday, May 22 - Friday, August 28

5:00pm - 8:30pm

Free, weather permitting
Please see @ngadc on twitter for show updates related to weather

The free series features an array of jazz artists performing a range of styles--including salsa, blusion, vibraphone, and Afrofunk--every Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, rain or shine. Food and drinks are available for purchase at the cafe. Coolers and alcohol are not allowed. You can purchase some alcoholic beverages, such as pitchers of sangria, at the cafe. Best to bring a blanket along if you want to sit on the grass.

Final Jazz in the Garden of the Summer! Friday, August 28
Afro Bop Alliance plays Afro-Cuban Jazz

National Gallery of Art - Sculpture Garden
between 7th & 9th St, NW- Constitution Ave & Madison Dr, NW (see map)
Metro: Archives - Navy Memorial or take the S2 bus that runs along 16th St to the final stop, walk to Constitution Ave and turn left, walk a block or so, park is on the right side.

PAST: ROCK OPERA: The Premiere Performance of "99 A Rock Opera" will take place at the Black Cat on FRI, August 14 at 9:00pm, $10

99 A Rock Opera live at the Black Cat
Friday, August 14

9:00pm

$10, get tickets online here

Created by DC area artists and composed by Mark Baughman, 99 A Rock Opera tells of a protest story. Using dramatic lyrics, heavy rock-n-roll, dancing and multi-media, in the tradition of  “Tommy” by The Who. Taking it’s inspiration straight from the headlines, the rock opera asks: Can well-meaning people work out their differences, or even coexist? Are they are compelled to join one side or another and fight for people and institutions that are barely know? 

Get a sense of what you're in store for at the premiere event by watching and listening to some of the pieces that will be featured in the performance here! The show will ultimately be a full blown staged musical (a la Tommy and Rent) but now it's the concert version in which we're experimenting with slides, video, narration and dance.

Short Synopsis: A middle aged engineer working for the Department of Environment in Cleveland, Ohio, tasked with managing a group of protesters (who are the “99ers”) discovers that the leader of the 99ers is his college flame. Thrilled to see her after all these years, he is crushed by her rebuke that he is a sell-out. Other characters add more complexities to this story, including others who are at the protest and the wife of the engineer who has been hiding her illness, and those who are part of the opposition.

DC Dogs is a performing arts troupe featuring vocal performances from male and female voices.  This performance was composted by Mark Baughman, who is also featured on guitar and vocals. He is joined by Dave Benson on bass and vocals, George Cranford on drums and Sue Sedmak featuring on vocals, guitar, and keyboards. Additional credits: Jonathan Zack, Director, Producer and vocals. Betsy Muller, designer and vocals.

Black Cat 

1811 14th St NW

Metro: U St, walk to the left one block on U St to 14th St and turn left on 14th and walk about one and a half blocks, keep on the left side of the street. You can also take the Circulator bus to 14th & U.

PAST: OUTDOOR FILM: The Final "Screen on the Green" will feature the classic "Back to the Future" on MON, August 10, film screens at dusk, around 8:30pm, on The National Mall, Free

Final "Screen on the Green"

Monday, August 10

"Back to the Future"

at dusk, around 8:30pm 

Free

Bring a blanket to the National Mall on a warm night and watch a classic film on a gigantic movie screen for the final "Screen on the Green." Though films aren't screened til dark, people often congregate earlier to claim their spot on the law.  Movies play except in extreme weather and there are no rain days. The film film will be the classic with Michael J. Fox, "Back to the Future" (1985) – Rated PG. A young man is sent back 30 years into the past and must make sure his high school aged parents meet in order to save his own existence.

The National Mall

between 4th and 7th St, NW 

Note: New location this year, due to construction on the Mall.

Metro: Archives - Navy Memorial or Judiciary Sq

PAST: HIGHLIGHTS: Free events from CultureCapital.com SUN,August 9

Here are some great free arts and culture events from CultureCapital.com! This site is a fantastic resource for free and ticketed events presented by nearly 300 Metro DC Arts Presenters. For quick way to find even more free arts and culture events try our "Free in DC" Inside Out feature, curated by the staff of CultureCapital.com.

TICKETPLACE.org is another great program where you can find discount tickets to performances throughout metro DC @TICKETPLACEDC on twitter and at TICKETPLACE.org.

Sunday, August 9 

Afternoon - Author Talk at the Smithsonian Anacostia - Anacostia
Author Talk: Music Along the Rapidan
2:00pm
Please RSVP here
James Davis, State University of New York, Fredonia will talk about his book Music Along the Rapidan, which centers on how civil war soldiers used music as a form of emotional comfort against the cacophony and brutal backdrop of war. The talk includes musical clips of popular period styles and songs. Davis is a professor of musicology at SUNY, Fredonia. Limited copies of his book will be available for purchase.
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
1901 Fort Place, SE
Metro: Anacostia, see metro trip-planner for bus options from metro

Afternoon - Poetry Reading at The Writer's Center - Bethesda, MD

Mariposa Reading
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Join Maritza Rivera and poets who have read at Mariposa or in the Mariposa writers retreats. The reading will be followed by a reception and signing.The Writer's Center
4508 Walsh St - Bethesda, MD
Metro: Bethesda, elevator exit is closest, be sure to cross Wisconsin when you exit as Walsh is only accessible from the northbound side of the street.

See the "Free in DC" Inside Out page on CultureCapital.com for more free events and exhibits on view and visit TICKETPLACE for half-price tickets to performances in the DC metro area! You can also Follow CultureCapital.com on facebook and @TICKETPLACEDC on twitter.

PAST: MUSIC: "Luce Unplugged" features local indie-rock band Fellow Creatures on FRI, August 6 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm at the Luce Foundation Center on the third floor of the American Art Museum in Chinatown, All ages, Free

Luce Unplugged features local indie-rock band Fellow Creatures at the American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center

Thursday, August 6
5:30pm - 7:00pm
All ages, Free, cash bar with snacks and drinks for those 21+

Come on out for an evening of music and drinks in unique environment! Luce Unplugged brings DC's best bands to play in the American Art's Luce Foundation Center of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Sam McCormally, formerly of Ugly Purple Sweater, returns to Luce Unplugged to perform with his new indie-rock band Fellow Creatures. The band, named one of six local artists to watch by D.C. Music Download, has been busy this year—they headlined a show at the venue the Black Cat and released a danceable electronic rock single, “Shuka Shuka.” See them perform following an art talk on a work they picked out from the collection. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase from a cash bar.

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor

museum is between 7th & 9th, F & G St, NW

Metro: Gallery Pl - Chinatown

PAST: HIGHLIGHTS: More Free events to choose from on THURS, August 6

Thursday, August 6 

‎Shaw Rooftop Shindig with live music from Flo Anito at the Cambria Suites Rooftop

6:00pm - 9:00pm

Free, 21+
Celebrate summer with a rooftop party in Shaw featuring music from local singer/songwriter Flo Anito. Hosted by Runin Out.

Cambria Suites, Convention Center

899 O St NW

Metro: Mt Vernon Sq - Converntion Center

Art Opening Reception for Kunj: vis·i·bil·i·ty 

in the E12: Social Practice exhibit series at Transformer on P St  

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Free
On view August 5 - August 15, 2015

Transformer is proud to announce the launch of the second of four individual exhibitions within our E12: Social Practice Lab series with E12 artist Kunj’s "vis·i·bil·i·ty." Engaging with audiences through a series of public actions, events and performances, Kunj will explore the topic of visibility, invisibility and hypervisibility, while questioning the necessity of community-created “safe-space.”At the Opening Kuny will explore “Your Birthday” examining hyper-visibility and birthday rituals.  Kunj is a DC-based interdisciplinary artist, whose work focuses on hetero-normative dissuasion questioning and rebelling institutional ideas of race, gender, and queerness. Often times creating work is that is impermanent, Kunj uses ritual performance and structure to explore the notion of no-identity versus new-identity. He received his BA in Anthropology and Studio Art from the University of Maryland, with emphasis on physical culture, identity, and printmaking, and has performed at Grace Exhibition Space (NY), EMP Collective (MD), and The National Portrait Gallery (DC). 

Transformer

1404 P St NW 

Metro: Dupont and walk or you can walk or take the Circulator bus closer. Catch it on 14th St from McPherson Sq or U St and get off at RI Ave or P St.   

Earth Healing at the Washington Monument

7:00pm - 9:00pm 

All ages, Free

"We are creating a Team of inspired integrity based Healers, Shaman, Energy and Sound Agents of Love. To co-create a field of healing, clearing and transformation for the city, land, water, spirit, and all people that walk this land. Join us at the Washington Monument Thursday August 6th at 7pm and we will create The Field for this event and see how we can be of Service to The People and The Bigger picture. Feel free to bring instruments, singing Bowls, and tools of trade... Let's Co-create something amazing! This is a free event, although donations are welcome to support Sion's work and earth healing around the globe." 

The event will be facilitated by Richard Sion Windelov (New Zealand). "Sion has been a practicing Shaman for many years, teaching around the world the arts of Healing, Transformation, Tantra, Ceremonial Theatre, Music and Shamanic Practice. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, humour and practical down-to-earth know-how about living a Spirit Based Life in Human form." 

The Washington Monument
near Independence Ave & Raoul Wallenberg Pl, SW (map)
Metro: Smithsonian, also accessible from Federal Triangle

PAST: Living Colour at Afropunk DC at a secret location in DC this THURS, August 6 from 8:00pm - 1:00am, Free, RSVP Required

Living Colour at Afropunk DC 
Thursday, August 6
8:00pm - 1:00am
Free, RSVP Required
Secret Location in DC - Sent after you RSVP

Fresh off of a highly successful Afropunk Chicago featuring performances by Danny Brown and Hannibal Buress, Afropunk DC will host performances by Living Colour, Thundercat and DC natives Black Alley. Redd's Wicked Apple is continuing its partnership with cultural collective group, Afropunk, to curate the events that merge the multi-dimensional worlds of urban alternative music, art, food and technology. Afropunk will be creating content specifically for DC, as they do for all their events, called Born To Be Different. The DC stop, hosted by Rosemary Fiki will feature acclaimed DC visual artist Cita Sadeli Chelove and the great Chef KPE.

Secret Location in DC
Sent after you RSVP

Metro: See metro trip-planner for best bus or metro access