Dog Daze

It's hot. Hot. Hot. Hot. Hot. Hot. Hot.  It's hot at 8 a.m. It's hot at 9:30 p.m. It's hot in the car. It's So Hot I. Can't. Think. Can you?

It's July in D.C. -historically our hottest month and living up to its reputation. Go hide in the Smithsonian. (Or the dairy aisle depending on your ambition and energy level.)  If outside,  I recommend a personal atomizer filled with water as a constant companion and new best friend.

But kudos to WAMU for bringing us a little good news on the weather front. It may be hotter than ever, but despite the increasing density of Washington's population and the in pouring of cars, our skies are cleaner than they used to be. Blue Skies are in. Smog is out. (And as I write, so is Sean Spicer.)

This Saturday Catfish Hodge is in at JV's.  Col Josh is out at Hank Dietle's for those of you looking for something to do. Cold beer can beat the heat- especially if you don't forget to bring your new best friend.

Unconventional Takoma Park

Free Your Mind at Rhizome

Takoma Park is fairly exploding with new things.  New restaurants. New apartments.  New bars. All are fairly cool places, but nothing really extraordinary except perhaps for RhizomeDC, a performance space and experimental arts center located in a somewhat ordinary looking house on Maple Avenue.  (Just over the D.C. line)  I've been driving to Takoma Park a lot lately, and the view from near the railroad bridge on Aspen  made me wonder...what the heck goes on in there? So I looked it up. Concerts, workshops,  a record fair, performances, book discussions, a film screening... whatever the heck artistic type individuals can dream up could possibly find a home here. And great things can happen in small spaces. A friend of mine told me he was wowed by the last concert he saw at Rhizome which would have been in what used to be an ordinary living room. Hit the link above for upcoming events to find out more.

Rhizome: Where It's At

Meanwhile on the other side of Takoma there's another atypical space - this one is not new but was reinvented by the commander of the Takoma VFW a.k.a. Hell's Bottom. Musical events have helped save this outpost from extinction, and patrons save big on their bar tab. This Friday the truly unorthodox Yachstmen and 7 Door Sedan will hold forth. (Please note this show starts promptly at 8 p. m.) Saturday look for Colonel Josh and friends to carry on into the night.

Rock On Campers

Good Morning Campers. Today I am happy to report that the Fort Reno Concerts are still alive and kicking off tomorrow with Weird Babies, TK Echo and Mock Identity.  Thanks to the tireless efforts of Amanda MacKaye and her crew of volunteers, this series gives new and mostly young bands a chance to strut their stuff.

Free concerts happen at 7 p.m. every Monday and Thursday throughout July, weather permitting, and, if the gods are smiling, the ice cream truck will arrive, there'll be a decent breeze and an admirable sunset thrown in to boot. A very cool and unique venue for punk rockers of all ages

Hot Diggity Dog Ziggity Boom

The United States was built on a big idea of liberty, but we sure have had a hard time figuring out what that actually means and who exactly is entitled to its benefits. It seems to be an ongoing struggle- especially in the name of fear. Here in my town, Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street are closed near "the People's House." We can't wander in and out of public buildings or eat lunch in the various department cafeterias anymore unless we have government business to conduct and run the gamut of security checks.  (Remember when the National Aquarium was holed up in the Department of Commerce? ) I haven't gone downtown for the July 4th holiday since the snow fence corrals went up.

But out here in the sticks, near the Potomac River, the District of Columbia runs a hometown parade that is free for anyone to watch or march in. It's an equal opportunity situation for firetrucks, horses and Radio Flyer wagons. Prizes are given with creativity preferred over politics athough we get a lot of both.

The parade starts near the Safeway on MacArthur at 11 a.m. and winds down the Boulevard to Edmunds Place before dumping into Palisades Park for the prize giving announcements and a party featuring free libations and frivolity. Be on the lookout for lemonade, watermelon, and hotdogs with mustard,  justice and liberty for all.