What to do, what to do?

January 26, 2012 2 Comments

Another week has flown by.  Here are some things to check out this weekend and beyond…

*hat tip to I’m Not The Nanny

THE SNOWY DAY (a musical play) January 20 – February 12, 2012 , various times

Adventure Theatre, Glen Echo Park • 7300 MacArthur Blvd. • Glen Echo, MD

Based on the Caldecott Award Winning book by Ezra Jack Keats. Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the first American picture book that featured an African-American child as the main character. The simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night is brought to life in the magical world premiere. Peter celebrates the snow-draped inner city with a day of adventures-experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day. For tickets: http://adventuretheatre.org/08nowshowing/nowshowing.html

 

 

Josephine Tonight: A Musical Biography of Josephine Baker

January 26 – March 18, 2012 , various times

MetroStage, 1201 North Royal Street Alexandria, VA

Directed and choreographed by Maurice Hines, this ambitious and exciting new musical is inspired by the early life of singer and actress Josephine Baker, following her path from dancing in the streets of East St. Louis to the nightclub stages of Paris. The remarkable journey of a stunning talent who embraced life to the fullest, Miss Baker overcame the many challenges of the period becoming the iconic, ground-breaking performer of an era. The course of her vibrant life is charted in this glorious stage production at Alexandria’s MetroStage. Tickets on sale via Goldstar: http://www.goldstar.com/events/alexandria-va/josephine-tonight

Saturday, January 28th

Charlotte’s Web: E.B. White’s Beloved Story Comes to Life On Stage

Prince George’s Publick Playhouse for the Performing Arts

5445 Landover Road Cheverly, MD

11:00 am

TheatreWorks USA presents Charlotte’s Web, Joseph Robinette’s musical adaptation of the beloved children’s novel by E. B. White. It’s the story of the unlikely friendship that develops between a lovable pig named Wilbur and a wise barn spider named Charlotte. Will Charlotte’s efforts be enough to save Wilbur from becoming someone’s dinner? Other madcap and endearing farm animals populate this charming tale of bravery, selfless love and the true meaning of friendship. Goldstar has tickets for free: http://www.goldstar.com/events/cheverly-md/charlottes-web.html

Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol — The IMAX Experience

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC

8:40pm

Join Professionals in the City for a showing of this No. 1 box-office hit starring Tom Cruise — which includes a special six-minute preview of the highly anticipated Dark Knight Rises. Then after the film, enjoy a reception at a nearby venue with complimentary appetizers, while they last. The well-reviewed Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol is an action-packed thriller that follows Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF cohorts on a quest to clear their names after they’re accused of bombing the Kremlin. Goldstar has tickets for $12.50: https://www.goldstar.com/shows/525906/checkout/new

Thursday, February 2nd

The Prep School Negro Documentary Screening

University of Maryland, SMC CC Ballroom A – 621 W. Lombard Street

6pm – 8pm

Join filmmaker, Andre Robert Lee, as he takes a journey back in time to revisit the events of his adolescence while also spending time with current day prep school students of color and their classmates to see how much has really changed inside the ivory tower. What he discovers along the way is the poignant and unapologetic truth about who really pays the consequences for yesterday’s accelerated desegregation and today’s racial naivete. Refreshments will be served.Register here: http://cf.umaryland.edu/wellness/calendar/eventinfo.cfm?eventid=373

*Please forgive the funky formatting but feel free to blame Word Press…sigh.

What are you getting into this weekend?  Leave your sunshine below.

Filed Under: Events, Theatre, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Couch Potato: Touch

January 26, 2012 10 Comments

Admittedly, I am a TV fanatic. Enter yet another new show added to my TIVO Season Pass. TOUCH, starring Kiefer Sutherland (from my old fav, 24), Danny Glover (mad props!) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (of short-lived Undercovers fame) premiered last night on FOX.

From the show’s website:

We are all interconnected. Our lives are invisibly tied to those whose destinies touch ours.

Blending science, spirituality and emotion, the series will follow seemingly unrelated people all over the world whose lives affect each other in ways seen and unseen, known and unknown. At the story’s center is Martin Bohm, a widower and single father, haunted by an inability to connect to his emotionally challenged 11-year-old son, Jake. Caring, intelligent and thoughtful, Martin has tried everything to reach his son. But Jake never speaks, shows little emotion, and never allows himself to be touched by anyone, including Martin. Jake is obsessed with numbers—writing long strings of them in his ever-present notebooks—and with discarded cell phones.

Social worker Clea Hopkins believes that Jake’s needs are too serious for Martin to handle. She sees a man whose life has become dominated by a child he can no longer control. She believes that it’s time for the state to intervene. So Jake is placed in foster care, despite Martin’s desperate objections.

But everything changes after Martin meets Arthur Teller, a professor and an expert on children who possess special gifts when it comes to numbers. Martin learns that Jake possesses an extraordinary gift—the ability to perceive the seemingly hidden patterns that connect every life on the planet. While Martin wants nothing more than to communicate directly with his son, Jake connects to his father through numbers, not words. Martin realizes that it’s his job to decipher these numbers and recognize their meaning. As he puts the pieces together, he will help people across the world connect as their lives intersect according to the patterns Jake has foreseen.

Martin’s quest to connect with his son will shape humanity’s destiny.

All who know me, know that the mere description of the show was enough to get me to watch. Add to that my passion for autism awareness and advocacy, my belief in the interconnectedness of humankind and the three starring actors, I was all in!  So much so that I actually watched the premiere live, meaning I didn’t wait to watch it later on my TIVO. If I had to describe what the show is most like, I would say it’s a little bit of Touched by an Angel meets Numb3rs. I have to admit that I was a little wary because shows with similar premises oftentimes come off as hokie or too fantasyesque (yep I made it up, shoot me). Score one for Fox because this was not the case with TOUCH!

Watch the trailer for TOUCH here:

I’m looking forward to seeing how the storyline regarding the social worker and Jake’s involvement with the foster care system plays out.  It will also be interesting to learn more about Danny Glover’s character and his experience with children similar to Jake. You can check out new episodes of TOUCH on Wednesday nights at 9pm Eastern/8pm Central.

Did you watch TOUCH? What did you think? Is it trite to add ”esque” to words? Leave your sunshine below.

Filed Under: Television, Touch, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Tag, I’m It?

January 25, 2012 14 Comments

Hey there Sunflowers!

So….I’ve received my first tag in Blogland. GP over at Gorgeous Puddin’s Ponderings awarded me the Blog on Fire Award and tagged me – thanks lady! Here’s how it works (I think…LOL)

Rules for Tagged:

  1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
  2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.
  3. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
  4. Go to their blog and tell them that you’ve tagged them.

Rules for Blog on Fire:

Reveal 7 things about yourself. Pass the award onto 10 other deserving bloggers.

My reveal/random combo:

  1. I don’t like chocolate.
  2. Should I ever find myself in the position to not have to support myself with a reasonable wage, I will blissfully return to being a preschool teacher :D
  3. My fiance and I are so very different, yet he is so very perfect for me ♥
  4. I have very high professional email standards; email etiquette anyone?
  5. I am the world’s greatest plus-size swimmer…..no really.
  6. Recent epiphany: growing up all I wanted to do was be “famous”,  instead God surrounded me just enough famous folks to show me that fame is not for me :)
  7. I have an extremely irrational fear of ——————————–>mice and rats, so much so that I almost had to get someone else to type this *shudders*.
  8. I am seriously contemplating auditioning for The Amazing Race (given #5, I’m a shoe-in right?).
  9. I have several close friends that I met online  – love y’all.

GP’s Questions:

1. Are you currently doing what you want to do in life? Professionally, not really but best believe I’m making moves. Personally, yes!

2. What is your absolute favorite way to have fun? Spending time with family and friends.

3. How many siblings do you have and what birth order are you? I have two sisters, I am in the middle.

4. What’s your fantasy car? I’m driving it….BMW fo’ life!

5. Where is the last place you vacationed? Atlanta for a family reunion in Aug 2010 (so sad, but I’ll be making up for that this year).

6. Do you wear jewelry and do you prefer gold or silver? Yep, silver all day, every day.

7. What’s the best thing you’ve ever eaten? Cannelloni de Langosta, “7 Portes” at Columbia Restaurant in Tampa, FL. ” Tender cannelloni pasta filled with Maine lobster meat, shrimp, pan-seared scallops and sautéed shallots blended with a lobster sherry cream reduction, smothered with a lobster sherry, Mornay cheese sauce and pieces of lobster.” O.M.G.

8. What colors is your bathroom decorated with? Chocolate and turquoise

9. How often do you exercise? Not nearly as much as I should :-/

10. Do you want children? If you have children do you want more? Yes, I want children. None yet.

11. What is your least favorite food? If you had to eat it for 1 month for a million dollars could you? Chocolate, yes.

Whew….that was a lot. Now, it’s my turn to tag.

Tag, you’re it:

Here are my questions:

  1. What is your dream job?
  2. Why do you blog?
  3. Are you most like Pooh, Tigger or Piglet?
  4. What would you tell your 18 yo self?
  5. What vacation destination are you most looking forward to?
  6. How often do you wear make-up?
  7. At what time of the day were you born?
  8. Do you commute to work? If so, do you carpool, drive, walk or use transit?
  9. Would you rather be hot or cold?
  10. How do you feel about being “tagged”?

Have you ever been tagged?  Did you read all of this? Leave your sunshine below.

Filed Under: Blogging, Random, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

What to do, what to do?

January 19, 2012 10 Comments

Happy Thursday Sunflowers! I have a music post brewing that I can’t wait to share with you but until then here are some “to-do’s” for this weekend and beyond :)

Friday, January 20th

Dark Girls Screening

Warner Theatre

513 13th Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

8:00pm

The documentary Dark Girls explores the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color—particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black American culture. The film presentation will include a brief Q & A session immediately following the screening with Directors Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry, an opportunity for the attendees to ask questions creating dialogue. Buy tickets here.

Red Tails Movie Opens in Theaters

A crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard. For the trailer and more info, visit the official movie website here: http://www.redtails2012.com/ Also be sure to check your local listings for theaters, dates and times.

Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage

2nd floor South, American Art Museum, 8th and F Streets, N.W.
January 20, 2012 – May 20, 2012

Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage charts a new direction for one of America’s best-known living photographers. Unlike her staged and carefully lit portraits made on assignment for magazines and advertising clients, the photographs in this exhibition were taken simply because Leibovitz was moved by the subject. The images speak in a commonplace language to the photographer’s curiosity about the world she inherited, spanning landscapes both dramatic and quiet, interiors of living rooms and bedrooms, and objects that are talismans of past lives. The exhibition includes 64 photographs taken between April 2009 and May 2011. For hours and more information, click here

Saturday, January 21st

Lunar New Year celebrations:

Hat tip I’m Not The Nanny

Join Port Discovery in Baltimore for their Chinese New Year Celebration. In addition to their exhibits, there will be crafts, food tastings, storytelling and of course, lion dances. All these activities are included with your admission ticket. Tickets are $13.95 for everyone ages 2 and up. Those 2 and under are free.

Rockville Town Square’s Lunar New Year Celebration starts off with a parade. From 11AM-4PM. Head to Rockville for an Asian street market, VisArts exhibitions, street performances, and plenty of children’s activities. Event is free.

Get a close up view during the Chinese Lion Dance performance by Washington Chinese Youth Club at Montgomery County’s Aspen Hill Library. Show up before the show starts at 3PM to grab a good seat.

Saturday, January 21st and Sunday, January 22nd

Boordy Vineyards

Chili Winter Days, 1pm-5pm - $15 Adults, $10 Teens (13-20 yrs), $5 Children (2-12yrs)

Sample hearty chilis paired with our red wines.  Chase away the chill with hot Wassail and take a tour of the winery; listen to live music in the upper barn or keep warm at our toasty outdoor fire.  Small bowls of each chili, six wine samples and an engraved Boordy wineglass are included in your admission. No alcohol other than Boordy wine is allowed on the premises. For tickets and more info visit: http://www.boordy.com/events/events-at-boordy

Monday, January 23rd

Happy Black Woman Happy Hour

5:00-8:00pm,

La Tasca (downstairs bar)

722 7th St. NW

Washington, DC 20001

Join me at the third Happy Black Woman Happy Hour in DC! I have followed the Happy Black Woman blog for some time so I am looking forward to attending my first HBW Happy Hour J Meet other HBW readers in the area for great conversation, mutual support and positive connections. This will be a great opportunity to mix, mingle and make new friends with like-minded, positive, supportive ladies. Make sure you RSVP over on the HBW blog: http://happyblackwoman.com/january-23-happy-hour-dc/

Thursday, January 26th

FELA! Returns to D.C. for ONE WEEK ONLY!

Warner Theatre

513 13th Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

FELA! is the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation. Inspired by his mother, a civil rights champion, he defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity. FELA! is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Fela Kuti’s captivating music. Directed & Choreographed by Bill T. Jones and produced by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, this play DOES NOT DISAPPOINT! I saw it during its first run in DC and enjoyed it thoroughly! Buy tickets here.   Use code FREEDOM to receive 35% off!

Words Liive

6—9 pm

Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE Washington, DC

Words Liive is an innovative literary arts fusion program that aims to elevate the lyrical genius of hip-hop artists by presenting their literary work alongside classical poets. The event features a networking happy hour in partnership with the Black Philanthropic Alliance (BPA) with music by D.J. Smooth. Words Liive creator and established D.C. poet/hip-hop artist Sage Salvo will present an intriguing Liive Talk mini-lecture on the literary device onomatopoeia and how it is used in classical poetry and hip-hop. Wisdom Speeks band is providing the sounds of global soul during the show and Liive Talk mini-lecture. Performances include works from Maimouna Yousef (a Baltimore native who has worked with major artists such as Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli) and Sage Salvo (a Washington, DC native, featured poet/hip-hop artist, and creator of Words Liive). He was selected to perform for the D.C. Annual Poetry Festival at the Carter Barron. Drink specials and catered appetizers from Shawafel Restaurant will also be available. Tickets for Words Liive are only $10. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://atlasarts.org/events/2011/07/words-liive/.

Necessary Sacrifices
Ford’s Theatre, 511 Tenth St, NW, Washington, DC
January 26-February 18, 2012 (various times)

In his fourth commission for Ford’s Theatre, playwright Richard Hellesen explores the two documented encounters between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln during a period of national crisis. During the summers of 1863 and 1864, Douglass challenges Lincoln to use his power as president to bring truth to America’s founding ideal that “all men are created equal.” UNDER 35 DISCOUNT: A limited number of discount tickets are set aside for patrons younger than 35 for select performances (see schedule here). Tickets are $15 for Necessary Sacrifices. These tickets may be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 982-2787 or by clicking here. Use promo code UNDER35. You must show ID at the Box Office once arriving at the theatre. Limit of six per person. For more info about the play, please visit the website here: http://www.fords.org/event/necessary-sacrifices .

What are you getting into this weekend? Leave your sunshine below.

Filed Under: Events, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Pin Me on Pinterest!

January 17, 2012 9 Comments

Happy Tuesday Sunflowers!

Behold my new social media obsession: Pinterest! Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can create multiple pinboards for various. For example, below is my Living Life pinboard (click on the image to zoom) – just a little something to remind me of how I choose to live my life :)

This is just one of the many pinboards that I have created thus far.  My others include:

Going to the Chapel -  ideas and thoughts regarding my pending nuptials

Get in My Belly – all of the fabulous recipes that I hope to try

Beautiful – random things, people and images that I find beautiful

Entertaining and Party Ideas – Pinterest is full of creative ideas for hosting

Yes We Did…..and will continue in 2012 – my homage to our President

I <3 Music – a celebration of one of the great loves of my life

Diversity is NOT a Bad Word  – various expressions of diversity

Pay It Forward - charities that I support

Travel Mag – a visual of places both that I have been and plan to see

All of these are still works in progress as I’ve only been on Pinterest for a few days but in case you can’t tell, it is pretty addicting =D The cool thing about Pinterest is that in addition to pinning your own images, you can “re-pin” others’ and comment all while giving credit to the original ”pinner”.  You can also do group pinboards with multiple contributors. There is a “Pin-It” button that you can install in Internet Explorer so that you can pin while you browse as well as a Pinterest iPhone app <——–sadly the reviews for this aren’t too glowing however I am confident that once the developers work out the kinks, this will be one of my go-to apps.

Are you on Pinterest? How are you using it? What are some of your favorite pinboards? Leave your sunshine below.

Filed Under: Social Media, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,
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