DIY Henry Rollins

Make your own Henry Rollins! From artist Brandon Bird, check out his site for more awesome activities and pop culture paintings and illustrations:

Brandon Bird: An Activity to Color

DC: Inaugural Zinefest this Saturday!

I took a bloggie break, needed more outdoors and real life interactions with this beautiful but oppressively hot summer we're having. But I'm back! Expect periodic updates and such, however I'm realizing the time consuming nature of the internets, and like to find a healthy balance.

That being said, if you're craving non-electronic, real live human interactions, and should probably get the fuck away from a computer for a couple hours, please come out this Saturday to the DC Zinefest!!!

(c) DC Zinefest

I've never done a zine, but I know people that do. And 10 out of 10 agree that it's awesome, cathartic, expressive, enforces DIY culture, and creates community. I'm all for that, and I enjoy reading them!

So come by St. Stephen's Church from 11AM-5PM and pick up some zines, talk with the writers and artists, take a zine-making, art, or bike maintenance workshop and share some skills.

Best of all, it's totally FREE!

Also- word is there will be delicious vegan treats for purchase by the talented and adorable Shannon from the DC CLITFest crew!
One word: VEGANCHOCOLATEDONUTS.

Peep the workshops available!

Check out the full list of zines and distros tabling!

DC: Get Off Your Ass Weekend

There's tons of awesome events and activities this weekend, so don't stay in bed all day or you will have regrets! Here's just a few of my favorites:

Alexis Rockman: A Fable for Tomorrow
This weekend is the last chance for the Alexis Rockman exhibit at The American Art Museum. This is by far one of my favorite contemporary artists and a DO NOT MISS!

Alexis Rockman blends fantasy and dark humor with scientific discovery and conservation, depicting a visual story with a very polished, classical style of painting to create often macabre biological futures within these photo realistic works. All on gigantic, physically imposing canvases and boards.

Biosphere: Hydrographer's Canyon

Take an hour and see this exhibit before May 8th!  

American Art Museum
8th and F Streets, N.W.
11:30am-7pm
FREE!

Friday May 6

Black Cat

1811 14th St NW

Think of England: A Modern Ladies Happy Hour
Red Room
7-9pm
FREE!



Hume, Dope Body, Ed Schrader's Music Beat, and Matt Northrup
La Molienda 
3568 14th St NW
8pm-11pm
$7


Saturday May 7

Mt. Pleasant Farmer's Market-
The first Farmer's Market of the season!
Lamont Park
@ Lamont and Mt. Pleasant Sts
9am-1pm
FREE Bike Clinic and music



Punk Rock Flea Market II: Spring Cleaning and Skill Sharing Edition- A flea market, with music, and now skill shares! Attend the Knitting and Hooking skill share with the Warm + Fuzzies and yours truly!
St. Stephens Church
1525 Newton Street NW
12:30pm-5pm
$3




European Union Annual Open House-
Have a worldly experience without the TSA hassle! DC embassies are open to the public for tours, meet and greets, art, films, free food and drinks. Learn about all that each embassy and their country has to offer.
City-wide event. Check the brochure for participating embassies and their locations.
10am-4pm
FREE!


Sunday May 8

Mother's Day
Do something nice for your mom! No matter what, you came from her uterus (or were raised as if you were!) And it hurt. Say sorry, and say thank you! Flowers, brunch, well wishes, an engaging phone call, shopping, crafts, doesn't have to be a huge production, but take a moment to be appreciative. Too often the ability to take a step bake and actively appreciate a loved one goes undone all year. Also- good thoughts and hugs to those who have a hard time on this day. I'm going to reflect on the recent passing of my grandmother, who raised three sons in the 60s (unholy hell!) and helped with three grand kids. She was a gentle, loving, compassionate, and inspirational woman. The only time she ever used foul language was about Republicans, who can't love that?  




Bike Maintenance Workshop- A free workshop led by an experienced cyclist and former bike messenger to get your bicycle geared up (get it??) for this season's rides. She'll discuss basic maintenance and cleaning and point you in the right direction if you have more in depth questions. Not for bike overhauls or replacing parts. Bring your bike and a few old tees or rags to Malcolm X Park and listen to the drum circle while you re-lube and tune up.


Please bring old t-shirts or rags, toothbrushes or other such brushes that you don't mind getting trashed. Buckets are helpful too!

Malcolm X Park (upper park near drum circle)
3pm-6pm

DC: Magical Perfect Sunday

image cred: Jennifer Parks

Prelude to summa summa summatime:

Woke up early for a Sunday and found a new cat friend on the block that tried to make our house his new house, named him Bob, an ado male tabby that loves our front porch. I will try to get a picture if he comes a calling again. 

A lazy brunch at Sticky Fingers. French Toast hell yes! The grits, not so much.

Bike ride on Beach Drive in Rock Creek Park, almost 10 miles round trip! Portions of Beach Dr. are closed to cars on the weekends, so take advantage of only having to dodge pedestrians, strollers, and other cyclists. And it's one of the best (and free) things to do in DC!

Dinner consisted of ginger-soy marinated tofu with beets, orange chunks, over romaine and spinach. I can't wait until the 2011 Mt. Pleasant Farmer's Market season begins and I can score better food!

Ginger-Soy Marinade:
2T fresh grated or powdered ginger
2T soy sauce
equal parts rice/balsamic vinegar and olive oil
toasted sesame oil (sparingly)
spoonful of Dijon mustard
squirt of agave nectar
oregano, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder to taste

Directions:
Whisk all ingredients together. Taste. Add flavors as needed. Submerge food of choice in marinade and refrigerate for minimum 20 minutes. Enjoy!

DC: Last Chance for the Crochet Coral Reef Exhibit

Go see the Community Coral Reef at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum! Last chance to view this amazing community craft collaboration is Sunday, April 24th. You can even peep my name on the contributor plaque, I submitted a few crochet coral pieces last year along with the Warm and Fuzzies! 

The Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef Project intersects a traditionally feminine craft with mathematics and conservationism, exhibiting globally to demonstrate the impact climate change has on our oceans. Founded by two kiwi sisters, here's Margaret Wertheim giving an amazing TED talk on their conservation/art work and the geometry behind it.   

photo cred: goshdarnknit