DC’s top blog for live concert reviews
Iggy Pop at the Old Waldorf, San Francisco, 1977, by Chester Simpson (also found on Page 79 of Smithsonian Rock and Roll: Live and Unseen).
On Oct. 24, Smithsonian Books published a vivid collection of rock photos titled Smithsonian Rock and Roll: Live and Unseen by Bill Bentley. Bill may have written the book, but it pools photographs from many sources, including our own Chester Simpson, who contributed seven of the 350 pictures to the project.
Kick the Food History Festival off right with “Cookies and Kindness with Dorie Greenspan” (Photo Credit: thethrillstheyyield)
The Smithsonian hosts its annual Food History Festival on Saturday, October 29th at the National Museum of American History, while also offering other pre-events to get you in the mood. Plus an after hours beer event on ‘The Great History of American Brewing’.
Thursday, October 27th
The Food History Gala: A seated dinner and fundraiser.
Friday, October 28th
Roundtables: A day of moderated discussions on the ‘politics’ of food and health.
Dine Out: Afterwards, almost 30 restaurants in DC and VA will offer a special dish inspired by American food history. Learn more here.
Saturday, October 29th
Food History Festival: Live demonstrations, talks, book signings and other ways to learn about food and its history in our country. Find the full schedule of the Food History Festival here.
The Great History of American Brewing ($40): Taste beers, try food and learn a bit of history over four historical tales. Breweries include Alewerks, Heavy Seas and Bluejacket, along with New Columbia Distillers. Get tickets here.
Smithsonian Food History Weekend
Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History
Thursday-Saturday, October 27-29, 2016
Festival: October 29 (10am-5:30pm)
Free (The Great History of American Brewing and the Gala require tickets)
All ages
Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2016
Come down to the National Mall this weekend and next, and experience the annual Folklife Festival.
This year’s themes are Basque culture (regions in Spain and France) and the Sounds of California (celebrating the rich diversity of cultures in the state).
I always enjoy the Folklife Festival for the ethnic food options each year. Sometimes from places I have yet to visit, or sometimes from countries where I love the food I’ve tried, but it’s a regional variation or area of that country I haven’t been to.
Basque cuisine is something I’ve yet to try, so looking at the menu offerings, it looks pretty good. The Talo con Chistorra (paprika pork sausages in tortillas), Sukalki (beef short rib stew) and the Pantxineta (Almond custard-filled puff pastry) are definitely going in my belly.
The California food options are tacos and Thai food. Alright!
There will be performances of Basque music and dance, as well as a variety of performers from cultures in California.
Each evening there is a concert at 6:30pm at the Ralph Rinzler Concert Stage.
Evening Concert Schedule
Find the full schedule of events and activities here.
Folklife Festival 2016
The National Mall
June 29-July 4 and July 7-10
11am-5pm (Special events at 6:30pm)
Free entry (Pay for food and drink)
All ages
While you’re pondering what to have for lunch, remember that Saturday, October 24th, The Smithsonian will host a Food History Festival at The National Museum of American History.
What is a Food History Festival?
Well, expect lots of live cooking demonstrations (innovating salsas and guacamole or Oaxacan cooking, anyone?), book signings from authors of a culinary persuasion, agricultural displays, hands-on activities at the Spark!Lab and the Victory Garden, and a few film screenings and discussions. The documentary film, Farmland, following six young American farmers looks to be interesting.
Check out the full schedule.
Even if you don’t like food (please, you love it), this still affords you the excuse to visit The National Museum of American History once again!
The Smithsonian Food History Festival
The National Museum of American History
Saturday, October 24
10:00am-5:30pm
Free
All ages
Do you like spicy food?
One thing we can all agree on. We have to eat. We like to eat. Whether it’s on the cheap, or healthy, or five star spicy, or an indulgently expensive tasting menu, we like our food. We all have our favorites.
But what do we really know about the food we consume? Why do we eat this and not that?
What do you know about the history of food?
Both National Geographic and the Smithsonian are doubling down that you care to discover the answers, through a range of classes, exhibits and a TV Show.
Here’s a taste:
Food: Our Global Kitchen (Exhibition)
National Geographic Museum
Through February 22, 2015
Open Daily, 10am – 6pm
Included with Museum admission ($11)
All ages
This exhibition illuminates how our world eats and the future of food. There are sections about growing, transporting, cooking, eating and tasting. There is also opportunities to taste seasonal treats in the working kitchen, cook a virtual meal, see rare artifacts and peek into the dining rooms of famous figures throughout history.
The Test Kitchen is open 11am – 4pm, with the upcoming themes:
January 19-February 1: Soups and Stews
February 2-15: Chocolate
February 16-22: Spice of Life
Eat: The Story of Food (TV Show)
National Geographic Channel
Nat Geo has also produced a six-part mini-series, showing us how food has driven nearly everything we’ve ever done as a species.
Two episodes air tonight, 1/14, at 9pm on the National Geographic Channel.
Food: American History After Hours (Series of courses)
Presented by the National Museum of American History
Warner Brothers Theater at National Museum of American History
12-part Monthly series
6 – 8:30pm
$40
Evenings of food, drinks and conversation that connect with the past to make sense of the present and shape the future of food.
January 23: Brewing Up History
Join for a beer talk and tasting featuring Bluejacket brewery’s Greg Engert and beer historian Mike Stein as they discuss the art and science of brewing. Enjoy food and beer samples, book signings, and rarely exhibited brewing history collections objects out-of-storage.
Tickets for January.
February 26: The Craft Distilling (Re)Revolution
Join author James Rodewald, author of American Spirit: An Exploration of the Craft Distilling Revolution, in discussion with DC’s own Derek Brown and Michael Lowe of Green Hat Gin as they explore the current and historic revolutions in American distilling. Enjoy food, cocktails, and book signings and see rarely exhibited cocktail history collections objects.
Tickets for February.
See full schedule of the American History After Hours series.
Are you hungry yet?
