Culture Club, a Crisply Crafted 'Cove' and More Events

If you're looking for a group to do some cultural events with try the Meetup Culture Club. Upcoming they have jazz at the Smithsonian American Art Museum this Thursday in the great Kogod Courtyard, an Indian Summer Showcase concert this Saturday at 5pm, and the free Shakespeare Taming of the Shrew on Friday Aug. 28. It's a wonderful way to meet people with similar interests and to see cool events.

It just so happens that Cinthia, the main orgainzer of the Culture Club, changed her eating habits after seeing The Cove (nnn/) and I can now see why. It is a powerful documentary about the slaughtering of dolphins in an incredibly beautiful area of Japan (talk about a juxtaposition). The star of the film is Ric O'Barry, the guy from the old television series Flipper. Apparently, have dolphins to save and O'Barry will be there, even at whatever age he must be now (70+?). The movie unfolds like an undercover spy operation as a team of do-gooders must infiltrate this well-guarded cove to get the footage they need to expose the bad guys. I was engaged but not enthralled; it just didn't have the payoff that say the Enron movie did a couple years ago. But at some point (hopefully between meals), you should see it.

Here are some events for this week. Once we hit Labor Day, everyone will be back in business.

Monday: author Michael Rosen talks about his interesting new book, What Else But Home at Politics & Prose bookstore.
Tuesday: Bike & Brunch, the premier social cycling group in the area, hosts their annual Movie Night at Strathmore. Come out for munchies, prizes and socializing at Singing in the Rain. It is a classic and for good reason.
Wednesday: I would recommend Wolf Trap's last big bargain of the season, $10 lawn seats for Face of America: Glacier National Park Trey McIntyre Project. I've attended these Face of America performances the last few years and they have all been interesting.
Thursday: Join the aforementioned Culture Club at the Smithsonian American Art Museum for their monthly jazz concert. Can there be any better place to be on a hot Washington day than the Kogod Atrium?
Friday: Head down to Georgetown for a pre-dinner wine at the Parish Gallery's summer show. This won't be as active this area gets next month, but in the August dog days we'll take what we can get.