Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

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were people dancing? it sounds like a good space if a little small (meaning i would prefer 250 people, not 500). how is the list of EDM events coming? ;-)

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 1 March 2004 23:32 (twenty-two years ago)

There were only a few people dancing, but I left pretty early. The flow of the space is a little screwy, so I can imagine it not working too well when packed. Then again, few places do.

List of EDM events is not so good. Seems like no place is doing well with regular nights and lineups are changing like crazy. And Cubik is filling the main room at Nation with the level of talent that would have played the front room at Buzz.

― Brian Miller, Tuesday, 2 March 2004 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

ugh. i feel like there needs to be a fucking organization or something. can we negotiate a lease for a K St office for the new headquarters of Futurists Against Crappy Techno?

how long have you been in DC? what is the reason for the instability?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 03:47 (twenty-two years ago)

WPFW djs and others formed a group that brings avante-jazz and other improv music to town, so Aaron you'll have to put together a group to do the same for techno and other electronic-based sounds!

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

How come the Ottobar in Baltimore books more hiphop than DC clubs?

Is the below show which is at the Ottobar coming to DC?

Thursday March 25th
DEFINITIVE JUX PRESENTS:
Murs
The Perceptionists
(Feat. Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, DJ Fakts One)
RJD2, C Rayz Walz
Hangar 18, SA Smash and more
Doorsat 8pm/ Show at 9pm- ALL AGES

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 15:43 (twenty-two years ago)

One more thing. Last summer the DC govt Commission on the Arts sponsored an event called Fete del la musique in which they had free music all over town. The selection of genres involved wasn't wide enough. I want to try to find out how to widen the selection for this summer.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 15:46 (twenty-two years ago)

get a new Commission? ;-) Steve is the WPFW crew = Transparent productions? I would love to promote again. I did it in college. I need to get to know all the venues around town first though. Its going to take a long time. In about 3 years, start looking for flyers with Kevin Saunderson's name on them.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Transparent Productions is the improv crew. Not all of 'em are WPFW djs though some are--Bobby Hill and Larry Appelbaum, others?...

3 years! I want stuff NOW ;)

I've been complaining to friends for 2 or so years that I wish someone would book all of the Afropop and Latin acts that play for free in Central Park in NY each summer, in DC... So I'll have to form my own group to do this...

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 2 March 2004 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I asked excellent local DJ Milo (Filler, Matter) about nights, and he said the DJ at the Mantis basement on Wednesdays plays tech house, but that's about the closest - no BANGIN TECHNO nights.

There's the once.twice festival coming up in Baltimore next month-

April 15th - 17th, 2004
Baltimore's 4th Annual
once.twice:festival of sound and video art feat.
AKUFEN . DIMBIMAN . AGF . CHRISTOPHER WILLITS .
DABRYE . SUE COSTABILE . MATTHEW DEAR .
GHISLAIN POIRIER. NAUTICAL ALMANAC.JIMMY EDGAR
MYLENA BERGERON . CAROLINE HAYEUR .
SCOTT PAGANO + more TBA

once.twice also runs the occasional Treatment night at Sonar, the last one in November featured Magda and Sammy Dee.

― Brian Miller, Wednesday, 3 March 2004 20:22 (twenty-two years ago)

milo is nice. i have talked to him a couple of times. that fest sounds fun. why does baltimore seem to have a better scene than DC?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 4 March 2004 04:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Baltimore: city in decay + large warehouse/manufacturing base = cheap venues. Cheap venues + art students + laissez faire police/health/fire department = good scene.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 4 March 2004 06:53 (twenty-two years ago)

So is Nation (Buzz people) afraid to book some of those folks coming to Baltimore, and is 5 too small, and is the 930 too booked up with bands to consider those artists (and also unwilling to face police/fire dept. scrutiny)?

On a different note, any musicians (d.j.'s?) who wanna perform for free outdoors or maybe at Carter Barron or other locations during the June 18-21st 2nd annual Fete de la Musique DC should call 202-724-5614 or e-mail jose.dominguez@dc.gov . There will also be meetings at the DC Arts Commission, 410 8th St. NW , 5th Fl. on Mon. 3-15 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 and on Thurs. 3-18 from noon to 1.

I'm trying to encourage them to expand the musical horizons of this event...

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 4 March 2004 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Nation needs to take in a huge amount of money at the door just to break even for a night, so they don't have a lot of incentive to book artists that won't appeal to their existing crowd. There would have been a better shot there in the Buzz days when they would let a different promoter/collective take over the patio, but now they're really only booking the main room.

Five is a great venue, nearly perfect, but the different promoters that do nights there only really book house, d+b, and reggae. There was the electroclash/breaks night there, too, but that's over and has turned into a retro night.

9:30 Club, as you mentioned, is a live music venue. They'll have the occasional DJ, but it always comes off as a bit out of place.

It costs a lot of money to run a club in DC due to the scarcity of suitable spaces. In a town with 8-foot ceilings in 95% of all buildings, there’s going to be a lot of competition for the remaining few with large open spaces. Permitting, safety codes, and accessibility standards are pretty tightly enforced, which means you have to sink a lot of money into a space before you can do anything with it. This goes for bars, dance clubs, live music clubs, and pretty much everything. And don't even get me started on ANC's and "voluntary agreements".

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 4 March 2004 18:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Ghostly International showcase at Warehouse Next Door, April 1. Not sure who's playing.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Friday, 5 March 2004 00:56 (twenty-two years ago)

The indie-rock stores keep dropping one by one. What's left? The below is from an e-mail from Now...

"After over 4 years in business, the owners of Now! Music and Fashion
have decided to close permanently, so we can move on and pursue
other opportunities. We've had a blast talking to you about music,
putting on instore performances, and participating in the local
community. But the best thing about running a record store has been
the opportunity to meet you. Many thanks to our loyal customers and
friends we've made along the way.

We will be having a going-out-of-business sale beginning this
weekend. All clothing and music (except consignments and bargain bin
stuff) will be on sale for 30% off the regular price."

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 05:45 (twenty-two years ago)

CD Warehouse in Georgetown (M and 30th), despite its location and hideous clientele, is really outstanding. This weekend I picked up Books' Lemon of Pink, Ghost's Hypnotic Underworld, Arthur Russell's Calling Out of Context, and M83's Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts.

So I don't think DC's gone utterly down the pan. Close, but not gone yet.

― paul c (paul c), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 15:42 (twenty-two years ago)

You found those "used" or "new" in Georgetown? The one time I was there I didn't see much in there. Wow, that's quite a haul. I'm actually as guilty as anybody in buying stuff online rather then local stores. The last time I tried to go to Now (in early january), it was closed despite its hours being listed as open.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

They were new. But not outrageously priced. Between 14.99-18.99 (Ghost - M83).

They're also stocking the Ellen Allien album and remixes, Coloma's Finery. I think I even saw that Damon Album demo double 10" there, too!

― paul c (paul c), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 17:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey, I was the one that got Coloma and Ellen Allien in there! I walk by it on my way home from work, so I stop in every couple of days. They're stupendously nice and will go as far as setting up new accounts with distributors to get special orders. I email them a list of upcoming releases I want and they'll have them for me the day they're released. They can be a little slow on imports, but they usually track them down.

Melody on Conn. Ave. is very underrated - I always thought they were better than DCCD for keeping up with current releases and pointing customers in the right direction. Good international and classical sections, too.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Can I plug my band here or is that gauche? We are the Vowels from New York/New Jersey, it's our first time playing in DC. We're playing next Saturday, March 13th at Velvet Lounge with Detachment Kit and Apollo Sunshine (spinART). OK I am done. Sorry.

― scott m (mcd), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Agreed about CD Warehouse. And thanks for being the instigator of Coloma and Allien! I did ask John there to get in Silverware, Coloma's debut. I'll be asking them for Junior Boys nearer the release date.

I also have given them a list of stuff I'd like. They have an account with Forced Exposure, so I'll soon have the Lawrence album I've been gasping to hear for ages.

Re: Melody: While they're matchless on international, classical and jazz, their electronic section is showing conspicuous gaps since Joel, who used to buy for the electronic section left for Baltimore at the end of last year. CD Warehouse deserve to clean up!

― paul c (paul c), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

part of the problem is that NOW moved to Old Town. why did they do that? I might be the only person in the city who knows who David Ware is.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

After they lost their lease in the pricier part of Arlington(Clarendon near a metro), they moved to an out-of-the way Arlington location practically in Falls Church. I guess they then assumed that an Old Town Alexandria location would be more accessible. But it really wasn't.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

no not at all, and the stock was always the same. i am going to go to the sale this weekend and buy the same stuff i have been eyeing for over a year.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I've got The Delgados and Malcolm Middleton of Arab Strap coming to DJ at Saint-Ex after their show at the Black Cat Tuesday, March 30th.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Tuesday, 9 March 2004 21:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Cool. So I tried to buy stuff at NOW on Saturday. Got there at 12:10 and the store was closed. By 12:50 there were about 15 people waiting and the damn place hadn't opened. Their e-mail said they'd open at noon. I had other things to do so I left. No wonder they went out of business. This happened to me once before trying to go there.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 15 March 2004 01:25 (twenty-two years ago)

We need good local bands and djs to get involved in the below:

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities invites musicians to participate in the 2nd Annual Fête de la Musique DC. The Fête is an internationally recognized music festival that marks the first days of summer. Festival dates are June 18-21, 2004 with performances throughout the afternoon and evening. The Arts Commission is sponsoring special workshops for area musicians interested in participating in the Fete and conducting live auditions for “acoustic” and “acapella” musicians and performers.

All types of musicians and bands interested in learning more can attend one of two special festival workshops. The workshops will provide valuable information on how musicians can participate and receive promotional assistance from the Arts Commission. The workshop dates are:

Dates and Times: Monday, March 15, 2004 at 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Thursday, March 18, 2004 at 12 Noon – 1 PM

P Place: DC Arts Commission, 410 8th Street NW, 5th floor

Please call (202) 724-5614 or send an email to jose.dominguez@dc.gov with any questions that you may have.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 15 March 2004 01:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Is the Ghostly thing still on at the Warehouse Next Door on April 1st? I thought I saw something else listed there for that night in their City Paper ad. I e-mailed the label and they didn't respond back.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Monday, 15 March 2004 01:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't have the ad in front of me, but I know at least one of the acts listed, Output Message, is on Ghostly.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Monday, 15 March 2004 05:10 (twenty-two years ago)

finally checked out cafe st ex tonight. i went downstairs and had a few chimays on draft. not bad. my improv group might be playing the electric maid in takoma this weekend.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 15 March 2004 05:29 (twenty-two years ago)

oh also does anyone have the kind of connections that would help a hardworking bartender get a job in DC?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 15 March 2004 05:30 (twenty-two years ago)

cafe st ex has draft now? excellent

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Monday, 15 March 2004 06:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Aaron, I know the Kimpton Group properties are hiring - Topaz, Rouge, Helix.

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Monday, 15 March 2004 15:34 (twenty-two years ago)

already went to all of those places :-( i always have a hard time getting new jobs, but when i do get them, i become one of the best employees within a few months. its a frustrating process.

st ex has chimay, stella and delerium and a few more that i cant remember on draft. really nice people there. the barback, by mistake, bussed my last cigarette and matches when i went up to the bar to get another beer. when i mentioned this to the bartender, he gave me matches, a regular hooked me up with a cigarette, and a woman who was with the DJ said she was going out a cigarette run, and asked me what i wanted. i was actually confused by kindess.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 15 March 2004 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

hello all. my band Indent will be playing tomorrow (sat) night at the electric maid in takoma park at 236 carroll, right near the metro. sets are at 7pm and 10pm, $7. i am the drummer. come have a smoke break with me between sets and introduce yrselves. oh we are a free improv band.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:44 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

No Ellen Allien DC dates for her US tour, but Ghostly e-mailed me that Mathew Dear may be coming here in the summer.

My attempts to get the DC Arts Commisssion to add more indie-rock, Latin, African, go-go and hiphop to the upcoming June 20th Free Music Fete seem to have run into bureacratical walls and lack of money. Oh well, I tried.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 8 April 2004 16:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Yea, yea I know DC has a lack of cheap rent warehouses and is stuck with a not exactly helpful government bureacracy. But I'm still counting on Aaron with his bartending profits or someone else to create events I want to see!!!

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Thursday, 8 April 2004 17:28 (twenty-two years ago)

i still need a good bartending job for bartending profits. and then there is the matter of a good venue... every time i go out in dc, i feel like there is a lot of great talent, and no place to collect it all. Tom and I went to the first floor bar of Reef last week for the open turntable night. we both DJed for a while, and had fun, but the guys who played after us were tremendous, and as far as i can tell, they usually play in their bedrooms.
i played (this is not 100% correct in order, but generally in order):
convextion "convextion" (matrix 1)
Schatrax "?" (Schatrax)
Paul Kalkbrenner (can't remember)
R is R "Nude Photo" (transmat)
K. Alexi "All for Lee-sah" (transmat)
Pierre's Phantasy Club "Fantasy Girl" (Trax)
Sleezy D "I've Lost Control" (Trax)
Jaime Principle "Baby Wants to Ride" (Trax)
Suzy Q "Two of Hearts"
Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam "I Wonder if I Take You Home"

didnt mix, just having some fun. am going to see Ken Mcintyre of AACM fame tonight I think.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 8 April 2004 19:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Andreas Tilliander and Normal Music are on tomorrow night (4/9) at DC9.

6/11 is Richie Hawtin and Magda at Cubik

here's the day-by-day linup for the once.twice festival in Baltimore...

>>>>>>>>>

avant hip-hop + twisted rhythms
THURSDAY APRIL 15TH
2549 N Howard Street
www.theottobar.com
All ages / Doors open @ 9pm / ADMISSION $10

DABRYE [ DETROIT - Ghostly International ]
GHISLAIN POIRIER [ MONTREAL - 12k / Chocolate Industries ]
JIMMY EDGAR [ DETROIT - Warp / M3rck / Audio.NL ]
NAUTICAL ALMANAC [ BALTIMORE - Heresee ]
MARC LUSSIER [ BALTIMORE ]

>>>>>>>>>

PERLON LABEL FOCUS
FRIDAY APRIL 16th
THE SUPREME IMPERIAL
223 Pearl STREET
http://www.thehush.net/supreme.htm
All ages / Doors open @ 9pm / ADMISSION $10

AKUFEN [ MONTREAL - Perlon / Force-Inc / Musique Risquee ]
DIMBIMAN aka ZIP [ BERLIN - Perlon ]
MATTHEW DEAR aka JABBERJAW [ DETROIT - Perlon / Plus8 / Ghostly ]
SOMEONE ELSE [ PHILADELPHIA - Foundsound / Musik Krause ]
BEN PARRIS dj set [ Baltimore - Once.Twice / Foundsound ]
MISKATE dj set [ PHILADELPHIA - Foundsound ]

>>>>>>>

SATURDAY APRIL 17th JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
MATTIN CENTER ROSS JONES BUILDING, SDS ROOM
3400 N CHARLES ST,BALTIMORE MD
All ages / Doors open @ 8pm / ADMISSION $10

AGF [ BERLIN - Orthlorng Musork / Kitty Yo ]
+ SUE.C [ SAN FRANCISCO - Orthlorng Musork ]
CHRISTOHPER WILLITS [ SAN FRANCISCO - 12k / Fallt ]
+SCOTT PAGANO [ SAN FRANCISCO - Reline ]
MYLENA BERGERON [ MONTREAL - Oral ]
+ CAROLINE HAYEUR [ MONTREAL ]
LOADBANG [ BALTIMORE ]

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Thursday, 8 April 2004 20:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm looking forward to this. I was at the once.twice exhibition a few years ago with Moonstealingproject/Richard Chartier/Taylor Deupree/Mokira, and it was a really nice (though obv. subdued) time. Definitely making the drive up on Friday, and possibly Saturday as well.

I've been really pleased with the ridiculous amount of good music available to us in the last month or so. Bummed about missing TV on the Radio, but Xiu Xiu were great, and the prospect of seeing Sunburned Hand of the Man + Four Tet (again, in Baltimore, Tuesday the 20th) = more excitement. Add CocoRosie on to that, and I'll be near broke.

― Dare, Thursday, 8 April 2004 21:45 (twenty-two years ago)

i really really want to go to friday night's performance with dimbiman, akufen, dear, tc, but i have no ride. is anyone going?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 16 April 2004 05:11 (twenty-two years ago)

four weeks pass...

RICH
tech house & techno

resident DJ's Milo & Daedau

every Friday starting tonight

at Saveur
2218 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Glover Park, DC
10ish-2ish
NO COVER CHARGE

― Brian Miller (Brian Miller), Friday, 14 May 2004 19:08 (twenty-two years ago)

nice. i need to take a night off and check it out.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Sunday, 16 May 2004 18:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Revive.

What's happening this summer? I don't think the Fort Reno schedule has been announced yet. I'm excited about the D.C. Caribbean Carnival and the related shows happening in a few weeks. Also, the Smithsonian Folklife Fest is gonna be featuring Latin and Haitian music. Anything new folks to tell me about dancehall, electronica, hiphop and go-go wise?

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 03:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Sorry I didn't catch your April 16th post, Aaron. If I'd noticed, I would have offered you a ride.

I'm excited about a few DC-area shows coming up in the month of June. MF Doom w/Talib Kweli at the 9:30 Club, Sunday June 13. Madvillain has finally clicked for me, you have to listen to it as a series of vignettes ... looking forward to the show. I've seen Decembrists and Neko Case before, so I'll probably skip their shows the next two nights in order to check out Acid Mothers Temple at the Ottobar in Baltimore, Thursday the 17th. Two good acoustic shows at Iota in Virginia the next week: Iron & Wine, Tuesday the 22nd, and Devendra Banhart Thursday the 24th. I'm from Florida orig., and really looking forward to hearing Sam Beam(Iron & Wine)'s voice live.

― Dare, Monday, 7 June 2004 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

schedule is much tighter now as i work monday, tuesday, thursday, friday and saturday but i would love to go to some shows with more advance notice. and thanks for the retroactive ride offer :-)

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 7 June 2004 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Are there any new go-go bands that anyone likes? Are go-go bands just doing covers of rap hits mostly these days?

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 03:48 (twenty-two years ago)

No Fort Reno free indie rock shows schedule posted the last time I looked.

― Steve Kiviat (Steve K), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:00 (twenty-two years ago)

the fake accents are playing the black cat backstage tonight. we... i mean... THEY... are a pretty awesome fun indie rock quartet. some of their stuff sounds like one or more of the following:

the fall
early superchunk
unrest
the wedding present (fast strummy guitar)
pavement
the strokes

and theyre all TOTALLY nice awesome kids. and this hardcore band, kudzu wish is opening.

ALL FOR $5!!!

so, if you wanna party like its 1995, come to the black cat backstage tonight.

― peter smith (plsmith), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

hey so coming up in the next couple of months...
scissor sisters, faint w/ tv on the radio, mouse on mars w/ junior boys. i am going to try to attend most or all of the above.
also, my band might be playing with avant-hop groop Dalek sometime in September, i will give heads up when date is confirmed.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Monday, 30 August 2004 09:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 5552 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Chuck Brown family has issued a statement criticizing DC Recreation Department handling of Chuck Brown Day that is Sat Aug 22 at Fort DuPont Park. They say dc gov is not complying with a contract but don’t offer specifics. I did see that bands weren’t announced until August 8 . Not sure what else they are unhappy with

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 August 2026 18:03 (two weeks ago)

Ok Fortas Chamber Series also has a season, if you call three performances a season.

I can’t go because it conflicts with the Sugar concert at the 9:30 Club but Davoné Tines is doing his “Mass No. 1” which is a mass that incorporates works Julius Eastman, Caroline Shaw, and Tyshawn Sorey among others.

Tines’ concert at the Sixth and I synagogue last January was a stunning performance of works from all periods of American history in a thought-provoking performance of who is and who is not judged to be “American” and was my gig of the year so far.

― Oaf To Joy (Boring, Maryland), Thursday, 20 August 2026 20:50 (two weeks ago)

Oh thanks for that . Didn’t know about that but seeing names Eastman and Sorey has me curious. Plus I see a November gig will have a group playing both Henry Threadgill and Janet Jackson!

Oh, I think the Sugar gig is at Anthem

https://www.fortaschambermusic.org/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAT1ek5wZG9mAmZkaWQWUM683L4i1IrOt7b8i4XI4BTqdytui2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp8rEebb96BIpuvKt04PNgN2in0ACSrGgxGbOxc1vo779wp4CPZ1aiA5iHpWO_aem_FU9bUYAYdeWxxCA8VhWbQg#concerts

― curmudgeon, Friday, 21 August 2026 18:40 (two weeks ago)

NY Times is reporting that Trump lawyers for the Kennedy Center have alleged in documents that the buidling will have to be demolished if Trump's renovation plan (with planned marble floors and his name on the plaza and the walls) is not accepted.

Washington Post is reporting that they got access to documents showing that after Trump instituted changes at Kennedy Center that ticket sales and other donations and funding dried up, and that Trump administration allegations that his supporters made massive donations is not true

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 25 August 2026 22:12 (one week ago)

This is my shocked face.

― leprechaundriac (Ye Mad Puffin), Tuesday, 25 August 2026 22:13 (one week ago)

yeah well the board chairman Trump fired was one of the top donors to the institution. and obviously Trump has not ponied up any of his now-billions

― Oaf To Joy (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 25 August 2026 22:35 (one week ago)

as I said before I don’t give s shit about the building, but the National Symphony absolutely needs to disengage itself from the Center and become independent.

― Oaf To Joy (Boring, Maryland), Tuesday, 25 August 2026 22:37 (one week ago)

You may only care about the classical music orchestra but I care about the building because of all the great events in multiple genres I have seen in the concert halls there, the Millenium Stage, outdoors there, at the reach etc. Artists in multiple genres got paid well performing there, and the place attracted big crowds of people who won't go to Rhizome or to the Go-go Museum in SE.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 August 2026 06:21 (one week ago)

I am fine with the building sitting empty to the end of Trump's term although I do feel bad for the union employees who haven't been fired yet. Yasmin Williams thinks people should go to see acts for free at the Millennium Stage at the Reach as a way to not give up the place to Trump and Maga, but I'm not so sure that can or will happen.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 August 2026 06:24 (one week ago)

yeah in the past there were some great Millennium Stage performances: I’ve seen Moor Mother with Roscoe Mitchell, Suzanne Ciani, and Tanya Tagaq to name a few.

― Oaf To Joy (Boring, Maryland), Wednesday, 26 August 2026 07:24 (one week ago)

There was an emergency court hearing today regarding the Kennedy Center. The Judge is taking the issues discussed under advisement and will then rule. The Justice Department insists that the Kennedy Center Trump board wants work to start September 8 installing marble floors and doing other renovations as well inscribing his name on the venue’s facade “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump.” If the Trump Kennedy Center Fund reached $100 million, another inscription would be added reading: “Endowed by the Trump Kennedy Center Fund.”

― curmudgeon, Friday, 28 August 2026 00:54 (one week ago)

The DOJ, in an official brief on why they can rename the plaza after Trump: "Nobody had any idea what the [REACH site name at the Kennedy Center] even meant."

The Kennedy Center, to news organizations, when REACH was being built: "The name has been explained as Renew, Experience, Activate, Create and Honor the legacy of Kennedy."

from an Aaron Reichlin-Melnick bluesky post.

Didn't know this honestly, but of course the DOJ lawyers never bothered to google the history of the name either

― curmudgeon, Friday, 28 August 2026 22:14 (one week ago)

Trumpy Justice Department now saying they'll wait a month till October 9th before starting on their idiotic plans for Kennedy Center. Hopefully Judge will rule against them before then

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 29 August 2026 01:38 (one week ago)

The Smithsonian had been seeking to build a Latino Museum somewhere near the mall but with Trump and Republicans in charge they can’t get approval, so they’re going to put it in the mostly empty Arts & Industries building that the Smithsonian already controls. I saw in an article on some arts website a link to a right wing Washington Examiner op Ed about it. The right winger was mad about this loophole and contending that of course there was no need for a Latino museum. He did express relief that at least a Mexican brutalist museum wasn’t being built! Lol

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 1 September 2026 23:08 (four days ago)

My September Steve K blogspot concert calendar is posted

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 September 2026 06:12 (three days ago)

https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/791043/fort-dupont-park-concert-series-wont-happen-in-2026/

My article which also mentions other NPS parks in dc

― curmudgeon, Friday, 4 September 2026 16:40 (yesterday)

NPS money is being used for Trump's gross projects but there's nothing left to do a concert series at Fort Dupont Park (whose series started in 1972)

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 5 September 2026 04:00 (one hour ago)

Sept. 4th & 5th at 7pm at Mount Vernon Place
United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20001

MASS. Struggle. Beauty. Rebellion.
Leonard Bernstein crafted MASS as the inaugural performance of the Kennedy Center on September 8, 1971. It reflects the authentic struggle and beauty of the human soul, screaming and singing for its liberation.

This production is a response to the defunding of the National Endowment of the Arts, and the overhaul of the Kennedy Center. We have come together to stand in affirmation of the spirit that gave life to the Kennedy Center.

As allies in the arts, we are excited to announce this collaborative staging, honoring the anniversary of its premier and affirming our commitment to making the music that inspires us.

This Shall Be Our Reply.

https://www.mass2026.com/

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 5 September 2026 04:03 (one hour ago)

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