Off the Beaten Path is your weekly source for the most interesting things to do and places to go in the DC, MD, and VA area. From festivals to pillow fights, Off the Beaten Path provides a weekly list of worthwhile adventures. Published every Sunday by MetroMontage.com.
Welcome to Issue #3 of Off the Beaten Path. This weeks issue includes roller girls, stepping, scholars, a planetarium, and storytelling. Feel free to share this issue with family, friends, or co-workers by using the “Share/Save” button at the bottom of this page.
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The Rock Creek Park Planetarium, built in 1960, is the only planetarium in the entire national park system. The planetarium is open for visitors to use as an astronomy laboratory to study the sky under ideal conditions. The planetarium uses a Spitz projector and is able to duplicate how the night sky appears in the District and surrounding areas as well as how the sky appears from any point on Earth.
Three different programs are offered at the planetarium for people of different ages. “Young Planetarium”, an after school show, takes place every Wednesday at 4pm; “The Night Sky”, a show for children five and older, takes place every Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm; The Advanced Planetarium Show, for teenagers and adults, takes place every Saturday and Sunday at 4 pm. Programs run 45 – 60 minutes in length.
Before you go, make sure you check the planetariums online schedule for any changes or updates. All shows are free, but you must pick up a ticket at the information desk at the Nature Center in Rock Creek Park.
Rock Creek Park has a lot to offer in addition to the planetarium. Check out their “Things To Do” list and add some other activities to your list of things to do while you’re at Rock Creek Park.
When: Wednesday at 4pm, Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm & 4 pm
Where: 5200 Glover Road NW, Washington, DC 20015
Website: www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/planetarium.htm
Cost: Free
Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black Colleges is an exhibition that is currently on display at The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture until September 26, 2010. The exhibition looks at the bond between Jewish professors who fled Nazi Germany and African American students at historically black colleges where the professors taught. The exhibition includes video interviews, artifacts, and artwork.
The museum also has a number of lectures and workshops scheduled from now until September 12, 2010 dealing with the relationship between African Americans and members of the Jewish community. In addition, starting on Sunday, July 4, 2010 the museum will start its Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: Sundays @ 2 Film Series. The films being presented will explore the unique relationship between the two communities.
When: Various events up until September 26, 2010
Where: 830 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
Website: www.africanamericanculture.org/
Cost: $8.00 for general admission, Children 6 and under- free, Youth 7 to 17- $6, Senior Citizen 65 +- $6.00
SpeakeasyDC is a non-profit based in Washington, DC that is dedicated to the art of oral storytelling. The organization helps to cultivate the talent of emerging and seasoned storytellers by offering performance and learning opportunities for individuals who wish to learn, practice, and experience the art of turning a personal narrative into compelling and entertaining performances and communications.
The 2nd Tuesday of every month, SpeakeasyDC has an open mic night that features 8-10 true stories on a given theme. Upcoming themes are listed on their website, and those who would like to participate must sign-up in advance to participate using their website. All participants will be contacted 3 – 4 weeks before the night of the show to arrange for a free, and mandatory, coaching session with the organizations Education Director, Stephanie Garibaldi.
Even if you do not have a story you would like to tell, the open mic storytelling series is open to the public. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show goes from 8 – 10 pm. The cost of admission is $10.00.
When: 2nd Tuesday of every month.
Where: 2009 8th St., NW (at the corner of U street), Washington, DC 20001
Website: www.speakeasydc.com/performances/monthly-open-mic-series/
Cost: $10.00
Based in Washington, DC, the critically acclaimed Step Afrika! is the first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping. Stepping was birthed by African American fraternities and it is based in African Traditions. Combine body percussion, sung and spoken word, elaborate kicks and stomps and you have the art form known as stepping.
Step Afrika does an annual 50-city tour to colleges and universities across the country. During their tours, they show how important teamwork, academic achievement and cross-cultural understanding is when it comes to stepping. In addition, Step Afrika offers workshops and master classes, and interactive educational performances for grades K – 12.
Starting on Wednesday, June 16, Step Afrika will be doing a five show home performance series at the Lansburgh Theatre located in Sidney Harman Hall in Washington, D.C. The series will also feature community outreach activities, and a Gala performance. Tickets for the performance can be purchased via the Shakespeare Theatre Website.
When: Wednesday, June 16, 8 p.m., Friday, June 18, 8 p.m., Saturday, June 19, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sunday, June 20, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St., NW, Washington, DC 20004
Website: www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/details.aspx?id=252&source=l
Cost: $29.50 – $39.50
The Charm City Roller Girls, LLC, currently in its 5th year, is made up of four intraleague teams that compete throughout the season – The Mobtown Mods, The Junkyard Dolls, The Night Terrors, and Speed Regime. The league also has two interleague teams, The Charm City All Stars and Female Trouble. All of the women in the league were chosen via try outs. During try outs, potential roller girls must exhibit basic skating skills, endurance skills, and basic derby skills. Even after passing try outs, roller girls are not immediately put on a team. Those who pass tryouts enter the the league as “fresh meat skaters” and are put through an assessment system so coaches can tailor drills and practices to particular skill levels and to keep all players safe.
The Charm City Roller Girls two intraleague teams will be in action on Saturday, June 19. The CCRG All Stars will take on the Kansas City Roller Warriors and Female Trouble will battle it out against the Texas Rollergirls Hotrod Honeys.
There is not a bad seat in the house at DuBurns Arena. If you decide to go watch the Charm City Roller Girls in action, prepare yourself for a fast, physical and fun evening.
When: Saturday, June 19, 2010
Where: DuBurns Arena, 1301 South Ellwood Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224
Website: www.charmcityrollergirls.com
Cost: $5 (Kids 12 & Under), $10 General Admission, $20 VIP Admission
Off the Beaten Path is published every Sunday by MetroMontage.com, a photography site that features the most intriguing events, people, and places in the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area, and on rare occasions other metro areas. Presented by freelance photographer Anthony Washington. Want to know more about MetroMontage.com? Visit www.metromontage.com/about.
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