Throughout the week of November 15-22, 2008, Washington, DC will celebrate the art of photography, with a gathering of the best in the DC photographic community, with series of exhibits, lectures, competitions, and celebration of all things photographic.

FotoWeek DC brings together photographic talent and a collection of images ranging from artistic to business, political to editorial. Events include:

• Exhibitions at over 60 galleries and public spaces around DC
• Juried exhibitions of some of Washington, DC’s most gifted photographers
• Lectures and book signings by well-known photographers
• Talks from representatives who manage institutional and museum photo collections 
• Workshops and lectures for both the new and expert photographer
• Personal portfolio reviews by professional photographers

One highlight will be the world premiere giant outdoor high-definition (HD) digital image slide show, presented in a large multi-story format, of selected photos from some of Washington DC’s most popular institutions, including the Newseum, American Art Museum, National Museum of American History, Corcoran Gallery of Art and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The slide presentation will run at the following locations (all between 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. unless noted):

• National Museum of the American Indian — 10/13-15
• FotoWeek DC Central – 3337 M Street, NW –10/14-15
• Smithsonian Photography Initiative – 3333 M Street, NW – 10/14–22
• Newseum – 10/14/16
• U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum – 10/14-16
• Corcoran Gallery of Art – 10/14-15
• American Art Museum – Kogod Courtyard 10/18-19 (5-7 p.m.), 10/20 (5-8 p.m.)
• Museum of American History – 10/20-22

FotoWeek DC
Various locations around Washington, DC

Dates and Times – November 10-22, 2008. Check the events calendar for events and details.

Admission – Registration is required for all free events. Register online or at the site. Some events, workshops require paid tickets.

Images – all public domain – D-Day, Hindenburg, Aldrin on the Moon _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Here’s a list of the festival’s films by country:

• Austria – 42 PLUS
• Belgium – MOSCOW, BELGIUM and ELDORADO
• Czech Republic – THE COUNTRY TEACHER
• Denmark – JUST ANOTHER LOVE STORY
• Estonia – I WAS HERE
• Finland – THE HOME OF DARK BUTTERFLIES
• France – I’VE LOVED YOU SO LONG, A CHRISTMAS TALE, ON WAR, and ACTRESSES
• Germany TRIP TO ASIA: THE QUEST FOR HARMONY, THE BAADER and MEINHOF COMPLEX
• Greece EL GRECO and CORRECTION
• Hungary – DELTA
• Ireland – KISSES, EDEN and HOW ABOUT YOU
• Italy – GOMORRAH
• Latvia – DEFENDERS OF RIGA
• Lithuania – LOSS
• Luxembourg – ARABIAN NIGHTS
• Netherlands – DUNYA & DESIE
• Poland – KATYN
• Portugal – DOT.COM
• Romania – BOOGIE
• Slovakia -BATHORY
• Slovenia – ROOSTER’S BREAKFAST
• Spain – UNDER THE STARS, BIRDSONG
• Sweden – LET THE RIGHT ONE IN, WOLF
• United Kingdom – NIGHTWATCHING

Click here for a detailed program.

AFI European Union Film Showcase
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center
8633 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 (map it)

Dates and Times – November 6-25, 2008 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Tickets – Are available online. Adults – $10.00, Seniors – $9.00, AFI Members – $8.50, kids under 13 – $6.00 and weekday matinees (before 6:00 p.m., holidays excluded) – $6.50.  Tickets are per film.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Silber Spring – Red line, then a 2-block walk.

Parking – Use the Wayne Ave. garage, free on weekends and after 6:00 pm. weekdays.

Image – Flickr – seats _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

The 102 short films presented at the 5^th annual DC Shorts Festival in Washington, DC run from just one minute to over 20 minutes, and include a wide ranges of genres – dramas and documentaries, comedies and science-fiction, animation and creative, and of course, a few experimental shorts. Six screenplays will also be performed live.

Besides the films, there will be two free seminars for budding filmmakers on Friday, September 12^th at Flashpoint (916 G Street, NW, Washington, DC). At 1:00 p.m., join the Making the Extremely Low Budget Feature workshop. Guerilla Marketing and Self Distribution will be held at 3:00 p.m.

There are also several FREE screening, many during the lunch hour, as well as a family night, and the Best of the Fest showcase on Thursday, Sept. 18^th at noon, 4:00, 7:00 and 9:30 p.m.

So check the schedule and pick the theme of shorts or night of screenings that you might enjoy.

Voting for your favorite is by text messaging done in the theater, after each screening, by text messaging your vote from your cell phone.

DC Shorts Festival 
Landmark’s E Street Cinema
555 11th Street, NW
Washington, DC  (map it)

Dates and Times – September 11-18, 2008. Screening times vary

Tickets – $12.00 per screening (plus $1.00 surcharge) and are available online or at the box office of each theater.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Metro Center – Blue, Orange and Red lines, then a 1-block walk.

Parking – Metered street and reduced rate garage parking (with validation) is available adjacent to the theater, Monday-Friday after 6:00 p.m. and all day on weekends.

Image – Flickr ___________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

All the the annual Maryland Renaissance Festival just out side of Annapolis, Maryland.  

Enjoy over 35 groups of musicians and dancers, or cheer for your favorite mounted knight during the exciting jousting match.  But don’t miss some of the faire’s classic Renaissance food – like the hot apple dumplings, steak-on-a-stake or a classic smoked turkey leg, fit for a king.

Rent a costume or come dressed as your favorite knight, friar, wench or lady in waiting for even more fun. 

Maryland Renaissance Festival  
1820 Crownsville Road
Crownsville, MD, just outside of Annapolis, MD (map it)

Dates and Times – Saturdays and Sundays, through October 19, 2008. 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $18.00, Seniors – $15.00, kids 7-15 – $8.00, under 7 are free.  Two-day pass $28.00.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – New Carrollton – Orange line, then a 30 minute cab ride.

Parking – Free

Images – dandy, knight, jester, 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

If so, then the Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest in Leesburg, Virginia is for you. 

And with beer being the world’s oldest alcoholic beverage, and possibly, the most popular, in parts of the world it was drank more often than fresh water, back when water supplies were not all that safe.

But don’t expect polka music and waitresses carrying 15 huge mugs of beer at once at the festival.  Just enjoy the outdoor booths and sample up to 40 different U.S. microbrewers.  With your admission,  you’ll receive a commemorative 6.75 oz. sampling glass and 4 beer tickets (good for 2-4 beer samples). Additional sampling tickets are $1.00 each. 

Enjoy live music from a half a dozen bands, a marketplace featuring vendors and artisans showcasing their products, and a climbing wall.

Plus the children will enjoy the family fun area with moonbounces, face-painters, air-brush tattoos, and other activities. 

For a local bar over 900 types of beer on their menu, check out the  Brickskeller in Dupont Circle.

And if you love beer, check out the b5 beer blog, Brew Ha-Ha. 

Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest
Morven Park
41793 Tutt Lane
Leesburg, VA, 20176  (map it)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22, 2008.  Hours – Sat. 11-9, Sun. 11-7.

Tickets – Advanced tickets are available online.  Adults – $20.00, Designated Drivers $15.00, $5.00 more at the door. Children under 16 are FREE. No outside food or beverages. Food is available for $4-$8.

Parking – Free parking is included.

Images – server, mug

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Post from: The DC Traveler