Hey Good People,

I missed you guys while I was out on my mini-vacation.  However, I am back and I have a full line-up of weekend events! I hope this will make up for my time away. 😉

The DC Caribbean Carnival Festival is already in full swing.  Today (6/24), two events to check out are Hookie Day Fete and Pool Party at the Capitol Skyline Hotel (10 I St SW) starting at noon and a free Reggae Night at the Carter Barron featuring Archives (with Lenny Kurlou), Passion Reggae Band and Carl Malcolm & Positive Vibrations Band.

On Saturday, the Caribbean Parade begins on  at Kansas Avenue at 11:00 a.m. and ends at the international marketplace at “DE SAVANNAH” – Howard Center Lot (Georgia Avenue & Bryant Street). “DE SAVANNAH ”  will be from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m featuring food, craft and local and international entertainment.  Click here for the full schedule. Ya’ll I still have to do the mud truck one year! 🙂

The weekend closes out with Earth, Wind and Fire at Wolf Trap and Mike Philips at Blues Alley.

Get out the house and have some fun. Peace!

LivSuite Presents…Summer Soul Session Vol. 2 is kicking off the summer featuring Ife’ along with Lauren White and Chris Turner!

Friday, June 24

Twelve Restaurant & Lounge

1123 H St NE

Doors open at 6:30PM

Performances begin at 7:00PM

In advance: 20 bucks

At door: 25 bucks

Get tickets here

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 This week The Park Unplugged welcomes two Georgia natives to the Park Unplugged stage. Getting his start in the music industry with a little help from a special friend India Arie, R&B sensation Anthony David has continued to impress the world with his combination of R&B and neo-soul music. Partnering with songstress, Algebra, their recent single ‘4Evermore” helped David achieve his goal of a top 20 R&B hit.

Friday, June 24

The Park

920 14th St NW

RSVP (list closes at 3pm Fri June 24th)

To RSVP, click here
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Local DJs continue to keep MJJ’s memory and music alive the Friday night. Expect rare cuts, remixes and party jams courtesy of Jerome Baker III, James Nasty, Mr. Bonkerzzz and the Simple Things team of Wally Jojo and the Space Agent.

Friday, June 24

U Street Music Hall

1115 U St NW

6:30PM

Free

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Closing out this weekend, Step Afrika! and The Phillips Collection have come together mixing mediums of untapped artistry, to birth a new universe of creativity; personifying The Migration Series, an iconic body of work painted by legendary artist Jacob Lawrence.

June 15- 26

Atlas Performing arts Center

1333 H St NE

Get schedule and tickets here or at the box office

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The weekend  is the National Capital Barbecue Battle, an annual competition between top BBQ restaurants from the Washington, DC area and around the country. There will be food samples, cooking demonstrations, interactive displays and children’s activities at this sizzling summer festival. The nation’s best barbecue teams cook-off for over $40,000 in cash and prizes in two major contests.
The Barbecue Battle features live entertainment including 30 rock, R&B, jazz, and blues bands.

June 25-26

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 9th & 14th Sts.

Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
 

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2011 Praise in the Park: A premier Gospel Explosion event, featuring Grammy and Stellar Award winning recording artist – Marvin Sapp!

Saturday, June 25

Six Flags America

13710 Central Avenue,
Largo, MD 20774

3:30PM

Get tickets here

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Artificial Afrika— A live multi-media exploration of western mythological notions and conceptions of Africa. We welcome Legendary Musician and Visual Artist.  Vernon Reid (Living Colour, Black Rock Coalition)presents an up-tempo blend of live guitar and electronic sounds which complement digitally manipulated projected images.

Saturday, June 25

 National Portrait Gallery

750 9th St., N.W.

6:30-8PM

RSVP at libmail@si.edu

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Axel #6 is here. There will be body rolls! There will be lasers! And because it is the 25th of June, the day the world lost the greatest artist of our lifetimes, Axel F will be paying special homage to brother Michael Jackson.

Saturday, June 25

LIV

2001 11th St NW

11PM-3AM

5 bucks after midnight

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Join us for a very special evening with one of the preeminent political journalists of the twentieth century, Helen Thomas. Born to Lebanese immigrant parents, Thomas grew up in Detroit and joined the United Press International (UPI) news agency in Washington, D.C., in 1943. A pioneer in overcoming the limitations on women in the news media, she became known for her bold and tireless pursuit of information. Thomas has written six books; her latest, with co-author Craig Crawford, is Listen Up, Mr. President: Everything You Always Wanted Your President to Know and Do.  An in-depth interview by Anas “Andy” Shallal with Helen Thomas will be followed by an audience Q&A.

 Sunday, June 26

Busboys and Poets

5th & VK St NW

5-7PM

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Sunday will be the first ever Georgetown Water Balloon Battle, inviting attendees to toss hundreds of pre-filled water balloons and compete to win prizes.  The competition will begin with a Boardwalk Water Balloon Toss, where teams of contenders will try their hardest to pass balloons back and forth without letting them burst on the ground. The festivities will culminate with a Water Balloon Battle. Washington Harbour restaurants will be grilling burgers and fresh seafood.  A live steel drum band will perform from 12 – 3 p.m. There will be a special children’s area with balloon sculptors, face painting and more where kids can play and join in on the festivities.

Sunday, June 26

Noon to 3PM

Balloon Fight at 2PM

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East of the River Jazz  presents Carl Grubbs Ensemble.   Voted “2009 Best Musician – Jazz” in Baltimore magazine, Carl Grubbs performs on alto, soprano and tenor saxophones. He is also a composer, educator and recording artist. A native of Philadelphia, he received early extensive training from John Coltrane.

Sunday, June 26

Anacostia Art Gallery

2806 Bruce Ave SE

4PM

20 bucks in advance or 25 bucks at door

Get tickets here

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On Sunday, i;Wah & DJ Underdog return to PattyBOOMBoom for a special Carnival edition of Community Service: the AfroFuturistic House Party.

Sunday, June 26

Patty Boom Boom

14th & U Sts NW

8pm-2am

Free

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Up Close & Personal Concert Series featuring Kindred The Family Soul, Noel Gourdin, and Black Alley. Kindred the Family Soul is a vocal duo from Philadelphia consisting of husband and wife Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon. They began performing at the Black Lily club, where they caught the attention of Jill Scott, who took them to her label, Hidden Beach Recordings. They were signed and spent the next two years working on their debut album, Surrender to Love, which was released in February 2003.

Sunday, June 26

930 Club

815 V St NW

7PM

Get tickets here

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Enjoy the weekend! 🙂