Borderstan Weekend October 10/11

Here are my picks for things to do during the weekend in Borderstan, really close by or in the city… restaurants, galleries and theater.

Thaiphoon, located at 2011 S Street, NW. Thai food is always a good choice (Matty likes it) with good service. They have an extensive menu to please everyone. Their closeness to the Dupont Circle Red Line Metro station offers easy access to anyone in the city. Be advised: Thaiphoon can get crowded.

Etete at 1942 9th Street NW has become a must-go-to among people who like Ethiopian Cuisine. In an area with plenty of choices when it comes to Ethiopian food, people seem to agree that the food served here is the best around “Little Ethiopia” on 9th Street NW, although they will not say the same about service; some reviews say it is slow and that the decor is bland.

Bar Pilar located at 1833 14th Street, NW is a favorite of mine, and it has definitely become the neighborhood bar around the area. Friendly bartenders, patrons who know each other make it a great place to have some tapas or a comfort-food meal–a good stop for dinner and brunch on Sundays, too.

Claudia Vess is showing at Gallery 10, 1519 Connecticut Avenue NW: “Claudia Vess’s art is a cocktail of HIGH AND LOW, drawing attention to the vitality of it all. The stuff of daily life is reassembled into artwork somewhere between sculpture and painting. Each work has a temporal presence, of strength, and fragility, that tells us something about contemporary life.”

“This is not that CAFÉ” project is at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW: “Set in the museum’s café, this is not that CAFÉ pays homage to the idea of the traditional café as a place for social interaction and vanguard thinking. The project is the work of dBfoundation, a group of artists dedicated to creating temporary, ephemeral, and inhabitable art. Related, themed events, such as Poet Night and Game Night, take place during Phillips after 5, on the first Thursday evening of every month.”

Judith Thompson is at the Long View Gallery, 1302 9th Street NW: “Her work reflects her desire for a new beauty, one of intelligence, passion, uniqueness, and mostly – Art.” The Long View Gallery in the City has a superb collection of contemporary artist; it is worth the visit.

“Patrick Wilson: Slow Food,” is at Curator’s Office, 1515 14th Street NW, Suite 201: “A sophisticated colorist, Wilson displays mastery in creating rectilinear layered spaces through line, layers, pigment densities, variegated light, and textures. Drawing on a modernist lineage, the artist manages to push abstraction’s formalist language into realms of surprising intellectual complexity and visual gratification. Wilson’s dedication to his craft and his pursuit of meaningful beauty are refreshingly unapologetic.”

“Decoy, Memento Mori” is at The Fridge, Rear Alley, 516 8th Street SE: “Exploring the religious imagery that has been a lifelong obesession for the artist, the all-new work in DECOY’s premiere solo show reminds us all to make the most of the one life we are each given. The artists’ ability to tap into and interpret the fears, desires, and love we all experience is clearly expressed in this group of large-scale paintings. Unique interactive experiences related to the show, a new limited-edition book of DECOY’s well-known street art, as well as numbered prints and show-related clothing are all exclusively available at The Fridge DC.”

“Anne Truitt: Perception and Reflection” is at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue  & 7th Street SW. Opening night is October 8. Says the museum: “On the opening night of ‘Anne Truitt: Perception and Reflection,’ there would be a discussion moderated by Tim Gunn, chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne and former student of Truitt’s. Artist Martin Puryear, filmmaker Jem Cohen, photographer John Gossage, and associate curator Kristen Hileman sharing their unique perspectives on Truitt’s career as artist, professor, and author. These friends and colleagues of the artist reflect upon her important contributions to 20th-century abstraction and the Washington, D.C. arts community. The exhibition will remain open until the panel discussion begins. Admission is free. Tickets for the talk will be distributed on a first-come basis starting at 5:45 p.m. in the lobby.”

“A Flea in Her Ear” is playing at the Source Theater, 1835 14th Street NW: “A pair of missing suspenders is the catalyst for a wild trip to the Frisky Puss Hotel where Raymonde Chandebise has set a trap to catch her husband Victor with a lover. Fourteen hilarious characters share an ardent appetite for affection. The spinning vortex of comedy fuels a delicious romp around a revolving bed and the ultimate chase sequence. This brilliant French farce is enlivened by the clever wit of comic playwright David Ives.”

“Daniel Burkholder/The Playground” is at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland in College Park: “Drawing on the traditions of African and Indian dance and music, incorporating aerial feats and wrapped within a contemporary dance vocabulary, Ocean draws us to the edge of the river and asks us to reflect on what we see there. Four of our region’s most inventive dance companies collaborate to present this multi-faceted exploration of water and our relationship to it.” We have attended performances at the Smith Center and it is a wonderful venue.

Mike Birbiglia from Comedy Central Live is performing, “I’m in the Future Also,” at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street NW.

“Polar Obsession: Photography by Paul Nicklen” is at National Geographic, 1145 17th Street NW: “To approach animals in their most natural, native settings, I have to understand the mysteries of their behavior. With careful preparation, I can show the animal in its best light, demonstrating its beauty, strength, and intelligence.” – Paul Nicklen

Taste of Georgetown is Saturday the 10th, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wisconsin Avenue & M Street NW: “The annual Taste of Georgetown showcases the spectacular cuisine of thirty of Washington, D.C.’s finest restaurants, highlighting Georgetown’s culinary personalities and featuring nearly sixty delectable dishes to sample, as well as wine pairings and the jazz talents of Blues Alley.”

Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Co. are at the Dance Place, 3225 8th Street NE: “Experience the premiere of Island the latest work by acclaimed Asian American choreographer, Dana Tai Soon Burgess, that tells the story of Asian immigrants trying to enter America through Angel Island, California, in the early 20th century. This groundbreaking contemporary dance continues Burgess’ examination of identity, loss, cultural acceptance and relationships between Americans of various backgrounds and ethnicities.”