Musical 'Chess' Masters Tonight in Arlington, Food Glorious Food

Just a quick one today to put in a plug for a couple events. Tonight at Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse, there's a special tribute to Chess Records featuring some wonderful area musicians. First at 7:30 they will show the movie Cadillac Records, a very underrated film from last year starring Adrian Brody, Jeffrey Wright and Beyonce (this is where she first sang At Last). Then will come the all-star musical tribute.

Also tonight don't forget about the FRESHFARM MARKETS' 2nd Annual Local Foods Movie Night at Letelier Theater in Georgetown.

A Couple Shout-Outs and Drop-Ins; Wednesday Happy Hour, Friday Singles Artwalk, Sunday bbq

Wow, anyone who followed us to the Istituto of Italian Culture for last night's EuroAsia Shorts Finale was rewarded with interesting films and a cool reception. If you missed it, stay tuned in the coming months for more recommendations. I would say put down Thursday, Sept. 10 on your calendar for the opening night of the DC Shorts Festival. Last year's rooftop opening reception was one of best events of the year.

Remember, we're doing the Single Volunteer Artwalk this Friday in Bethesda. Should be awesome with three or four nice galleries, good Thai food, the music of the Brian Gross trio and 30 of your new closest friends. E-mail me if you want to join us. My social bike bike club, Bike & Brunch, is having a Happy Hour at Sequoias on Wednesday (6pm on - free appetizers) and the big annual Fletchers Boat House Picnic next Sunday the 14th. Everyone's invited.

On the culture front, I can recommend two new ventures. The film Easy Virtue takes the standard British country estate affair and has some fun with it - with two of the best actors working today: Colin Firth and Kristin Scott Thomas. (See my interview earlier this year with Scott Thomas on the DC Film Society Web site.) Jessica Biel (from 7th Heaven days) takes on key role of the "American wife" and does okay with it.

An actress who does more than okay with her role is Valerie Harper in the new Arena Stage production of Looped at the majestic Lincoln Theatre. The play focuses on legendary actress Talullah Bankhead at a latter point in her career. Harper, of Rhoda fame, makes a grand entrance and just gets grander from there. This is the definition of a star turn, the play being a fun vehicle for a wonderful actress. The crowd gave her a standing ovation on Friday night.

One of my favorite galleries is Printmakers on Connecticut Ave. I stopped in on Friday to see the new monotype prints show from Marian Osher called Eyetinerary. The prints happily transport you into mid-summer at the beach, with pastel colors and inviting scenes. Gallery Director Karisa Senavitis, a fellow Jersey Shore native, also told me about next month's exciting show called Meet Your Printmaker (opening July 3), where you'll be able to see a selection of 40 print/printmaking studios from around the world.

Lastly, let me give an incredibly nice shout-out to Barbara, whose home/gallery at 2015 Q St. #2, NW, has been entertaining First Friday patrons for a couple years now. Friday she had some new interesting work up from resident artist (and also nice) Rafael Gallardo. Barbara defines what community is all about. She is there to welcome everyone with a smile, offer food and drink, and make you feel incredibly comfortable. It's always very hard to leave and return to the Art Walk. Thanks Barbara!

Hendrix-inspired French Art, Varda Rocks and Bike and Brunch Rolls

Looking at his abstract works of startling colors, Thierry Guillemin waxes rhapsodically about Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis and other music luminaries. It's the music that inspires the Toulouse, France-born artist who has a current show at Studio Gallery in Dupont Circle. He even named one of the paintings Voodoo Chile, in honor of the Hendrix song he recalls listening to at the time. His new show, Aparte (Stage Whisper) - "like when an actor turns to the audience to say something" he whispers - will brighten Studio's downstairs until June 20, including another "opening" this Friday during Dupont's monthly First Friday. Check it out, after mingling with the throngs at nearby Hillyer's Post Secret show. (The man behind the mega-concept, Frank Warren, made an appearance at the surprisingly low-key Artomatic on Friday and was easily the most popular guy in the room.)

"I am alive, and I remember." These are the closing words of Agnes Varda in her remarkable new film, The Beaches of Agnes, that had its DC premier yesterday afternoon at the National Gallery. It was a mesmerizing two hours, as the four-score Varda takes us through her incredible film-making career and her loving marriage to film genius Jacques Demy. Funny that French Embassy cutural attache Roland Celette was in the packed (truly) art house, because I'm sure he would love to show this film at the Embassy. If any film ever begged for a follow-up wine reception, this one did. Varda portrays her life with incredible creativity, starting with mirrors on the beach, moving ahead to a Cinema Paradiso-type segment of two middle-age sons watching footage of their father for the first time - footage shot by Varda - on a moving cart through town! We see early film roles for Gerard Depardieu, Phillipe Noiret (speaking of CP) and... Harrison Ford; leading actors like Jane Birkin standing in for Varda to air her thoughts; snippets of her masterly films that I wish AFI would do a retropsective of (see if you can rent a copy of Lions Love - it looks like a wild romp and stars "Hair" composers Ragni and Rado, Warhol girl Viva, Jim Morrison, who Varda used to have dinner with, and director Peter Bogdonavich). Yes, she is 80, but there is nothing old or plodding about this film. It's one of the most exciting that I've ever seen. I will let you know when it plays again.

On the June radar, look for a couple big Bike & Brunch events - a Happy Hour Wednesday, June 10 at Sequoias in Georgetown and Sunday, June 14 the annual Fletcher's Boathouse Barbecue. The 5th Anniversary Duke Ellington Jazz Festival runs from June 5-15. I'll try to look it over and post some of the free highlights. There's a Pay-What-You-Can on June 17 and 18 of Theatre J's last production of the year, Seagull on 16th Street. (I'll try to go on the 18th - Nordic Jazz Festival is on 16th and 17th.) Their last three productions have been fantastic - Dai, The Accident, and Rise and Fall of Annie Hall.

Hot Shorts, Cool Jazz, an 'August' Revival, Art for 'Singles' Hitters and 'Sugar' Is Sweet

I saw Radio Golf last night at Studio Theatre. It's wonderful theater in an incredibly thriving neighborhood. August Wilson's plays are such a delight to listen to, especially in an intimate setting like Studio. Frederick Strother, who my friend Rob served a cup of coffee to before the play, gives what probably will be a Helen Hayes-nominated performance in a lead role. If you're going to see a couple shows in the next few weeks, make it Radio Golf and Arcadia at the Folger. We ushered for both; Sarah (at the Folger) and Andrew (at Studio) both run great volunteer usher programs or keep an eye on Ticketplace and goldstar (which is worth signing up for) for half-price tickets.

All next week is a festival called EuroAsia Shorts 2009. The venues are incredible, like the Indian Embassy and the Instituto Italiano di Cultura, and the films look interesting. While "tickets" are gone, waiting lines will form each night and my bet is that many people will get in because reservations were free, meaning folks won't all show. I know that Wednesday and Sunday will feature small receptions after. I'm not sure about the other nights.

On Friday evening June 12, I'm leading a Single Volunteers Artwalk to the galleries in Bethesda. We'll visit three or four galleries - including the very cool Washington School of Photography where we met Ann Curry of the Today Show last month. Then we'll head to Sala Thai, where Friend of Ronndezvous (FOR) Brian Gross and his blues trio will perform while we dine. We've had groups of 30 the last two times we've done this. Sign up at http://svdc.org/socials.php.

One of my favorite events of the year is coming up: The Nordic Jazz Week, June 14-19. This features jazz concerts at the gorgeous Finnish Embassy and then two nights on the rooftop of the House of Sweden on the Georgetown Waterfront. This one costs some money - $25 a night or $50 for all three nights. But there is not a prettier place in town than that rooftop on a nice June night. And last year's bands, though unknown, were excellent. So I expect the same this year. Maybe we can get a group together to enjoy it.

Lastly, I want to recommend some films that maybe aren't grabbing headlines. Sugar is still at Bethesda Row and Shirlington; it's a beautiful story about a minor league baseball player from the Dominican Republic. Summer Hours is a lovely French film about a family in a dreamy rural setting (and featuring actual items from Paris's Museum D'Orsay); it's also at Bethesda Row. At E Street, Revanche, an Austrian film nominated for an Academy Award last year, starts out like a whole bunch of other films, but stay with it and you will be rewarded with an original and feel-good twist. Sunshine Cleaning is still around; this was not a great film, but you'll come out with a smile.

And finally, on the museum circuit, this Sunday May 31 the National Gallery East premieres Agnes Varda's new film, The Beaches of Agnes, at 4:30 pm in their wonderful theatre. It's free. At 80, she's one of the greatest living directors. Rent her documentary The Gleaners and I if you ever get a chance. I did know that she was married to Jacque Demy, director of the classic The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, but I did not know that she wrote some of the dialogue for Last Tango in Paris. Whew!