It used to be that the summer was the time to rest for culturing. No longer. Wow, lots of good stuff. Here we go!

1. The EuroAsia Shorts 2016 takes place this week throughout the city. It’s free so tickets go fast but I think most days are still available – Thursday and Friday. Friday (at Italian Embassy) also has the post party. June 9 at Korean Embassy is available at this the link. And June 10 at this link. Others might be worth checking for a no-show policy. And tomorrow at this link.

2. Good theater. I strongly recommend The Who & The What at Round House Theater – I’ve seen $20 tickets available on Goldstar – well worth it. Another Way Home at Theater J looks like it will be good. There’s a Pay What You Can on June 22 and 26 – we may go on the 26th. District Merchants has started at Folger with the prolific and locally loved Aaron Posner as the writer. It’s a new take on Merchant of Venice and should be quite inventive.

3. Films in a Garden. We visited Dumbarton House yesterday – congrats to Robert for so ably leading about 100 people across Dupont including a stop at the Obamas’ new digs. Dumbarton House will host a Jane Austen film festival in their backyard this summer. First up is the beautiful Sense and Sensibility on June 29. Emma follows July 13 and Pride and Prejudice July 27. $6 for each or $15 for 3. Maybe we’ll do a meetup. Here’s link.

4. The Jewish Music Festival is on now and goes until June 15. Highlights include the Hadar Noiberg trio at 5 pm today, Zion80 on Thursday, a special late show next Saturday, and a closing night of Artolerance June 15. Here’s the link.

5. Gallery receptions. Lots of them. Cubaahora at Art Museum of the Americas Thursday night. Love their backyard. RSVP here. Leica off of 7th St. has an opening at 7 the same night. Katzen Center has their summer opening on June 18 – Louise will host for us this time. Watergate has an opening next Saturday from 5-7. Longview has its opening this Tuesday, Zenith has an opening this Tuesday at its cool lobby at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue. And Studio is open today from 4-6 with an artists reception.

6. More films. My favorite film out now is Sing Street – highly recommended. Great soundtrack, winning performances – you’ll walk out feeling good. Also really liked Love & Friendship. Why hasn’t Kate Beckinsale done more serious acting? Eye in the Sky is still out – that was well-done. A Bigger Splash is a bit splashy, but Ralph Fiennes goes all out in his crazy role. He’s now doing Richard III in London. Maggie’s Plan has received good reviews and I'm anxious to see.

7. The AFI Docs Film Festival starts June 22. Opening night is at the Newseum and should be glitzy. There’s a lot to choose from and I haven’t gone thru it yet. If anyone has recommendations, let me know. There’s a Werner Herzog symposium on June 24 and the closing night is about famed TV creator Norman Lear who I saw spoke a couple months at the Kennedy Center. He’s about 93 I think and still quite amazing. There’s also a film about the Newtown tragedy. Here’s the link.

8. Goethe Institut has moved to midtown but they’re still hosting some cool stuff. Media’s contemporary visual language and the ancient craft of lace production tell this powerful narrative in a transatlantic collaboration between artist Martin Keil and his mother Rotraut Keil, a German textile designer. Opening reception and panel discussion between Martin Keil and Salameh Nematt (XOL Gallery) Thursday, June 16, 6 - 8 pm. Co-promoted by the Middle East Institute's Arts and Culture Program. Register here. June 15 features winners from the Prix Europa 2015. here's info. 

9. The Kennedy Center’s terrific Irish Festival finishes today with all kinds of cool stuff. If you haven’t seen the hug Earth Harp, there will be a concert for it tonight at 7:30. There are $15 tickets still available. You can check out the Guinness truck before. On June 21, Jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire performs with vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant – one of the best jazz vocalists in the world - in the world premiere of a Kennedy Center–commissioned work centered on the theme of "family." Tickets are $30. There’s also a comedy festival there from June 22-26.

10. On Friday the ultra-cool IDB Concert hall presents Banda Magda. Moving effortlessly between samba, French chanson, Colombian cumbia and Afro-Peruvian lando the band's brilliantly colored performances are mesmerizing to witness. It’s at 6:30, it’s free and sign up here.

Happy culturing!
Ronn