Hey all, sorry about the lateness of this week's This Weekend - I've been a bit consumed with all the crazy drama that's been going down on the House floor.  It's been some great entertainment, especially the bit where the voting machine malfunctioned and there was a forty minute floor fight about how to handle it.  As one staffer in my office put it, "I'm just waiting for Mr. Drier to say that the voting machine is a series of tubes."

 This weekend, however, there are a few interesting things to do.  Washington is getting a little sleepy now that we're in recess month, but I recommend:

 Sorted, tonight at the Black Cat.  It's $5 and they're spinning britpop and indie dance, perhaps the perfect combination.

 Labyrinth, playing at various times for the next week at the E Street Cinema.  Normal absurd movie rates apply.  See the David Bowie Muppet freakout musical, preferably under the influence of...something.

If you're a Hill intern, you know that this is a big week - although most of you still have a week's worth of work left (I'm here till the end of the month, natch), your bosses will all be disapparating to their districts to do that constituent "service" thing.  That means that this week, they have to finish up everything they've been putting out all summer, which means Whip Dinners every night (kabobs tonight?  too bad it's members only) and crazy hearings and procedural votes every day.  Here are the highlights:

 Donald Rumsfeld @ Oversight and Government Reform: Wednesday, 10am, 2154 Rayburn.  The topic is whether Pat Tillman was caught in the crossfire or just plain murdered.

 Library of Congress Ice Cream Social: Wednesday, 6pm, LOC Thomas Jefferson Building.  Members, staff, and press...and free ice cream.

 US Attorneys Investigation: Thursday, 10am, 226 Dirksen.  Karl Rove and his deputy Scott Jennings have been subpoenaed to testify, which has as great a likelihood of happening as Cindy Sheehan becoming the next Representative from San Francisco.  It should still be entertaining to see all the Senators' righteous anger at being snubbed.

This weekend, I really have to recommend that you check out BLISS - not nearly enough people showed up last month for JDH and Dave P., who spun some amazing music, and it should be great again this time.   It's Saturday night at the Black Cat (which means you don't have to be 21 to get in), and as far as I can tell, there's no cover.  If you want an idea of the music they play, go here.  And if you're in the mood for a little absurdity, check out the video up top.  Yes, it's a club night with a promotional YouTube video.

 In other news this week, you can now stream the new album from Travis Morrison (and the) Hellfighters, All Y'All, off of their website.  Who is Travis Morrison, you ask?  Shame on you!

Travis Morrison is an amazing musician (excepting the travesty that was Travistan) who loves D.C. like it's his job.  The former frontman of The Dismemberment Plan, Morrison writes lyrics that are possibly the most intelligent I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.  If you've never heard The Dismemberment Plan, it's because they sadly broke up in '01, but they recently got back together for two sold-out-in-seconds benefit shows at the Cat.  Start with Emergency & I and then listen to their other albums, because gems like "The Ice of Boston" are what makes life worth living.

I would be remiss as a Brunonian if I didn't make this next recommendation.  Tonight (I am posting this after midnight), at the Rock and Roll Hotel, you have the opportunity to listen to Get Him Eat Him, which is the biggest band to come out of Brown University since U2 (!?).

Composed of five + one guys, at least one of which I will personally vouch for as very hot.  Their music is best described as "indie," "Brown," or "strange," but I quite like it and whatever it is, it's catchy.   I had the pleasure of seeing them a couple years ago on campus, and although the sound in Alumnae Hall is universally considered to be terrible, their enthusiasm and clear love of performing won over the crowd.

The details?  Tonight (that's Thursday night), 8pm, at the Rock and Roll Hotel.   Cost?  $10 in advance, $12 at the door..  Samples of their music?  Right here, of course.  Oh, it's 21+, sorry guys.

Sick of Apex, Cobalt, Halo, BeBar, and JR's?  Good, I am too.  As much as our tried and true gay venues serve us well all year long, sometimes there needs to be something a little bit different.  This is where Guerilla Queer Bar comes in.

Started in San Francisco (where else?), Guerilla Queer Bar chapters around the country regularly find a fun straight bar and take it over, completely unannounced.   This has the effect of not only going to a new venue, but also of putting people in interesting situations in which they end up being more...social.

Like an worthwhile city, the District has its very own Guerilla Queer Bar chapter, and this month's outing is tomorrow night.  Here's the details:

Guerilla Queer Bar DC @ Rocket Bar, 714 7th Street, NW in Chinatown Friday, July 20, 2007 9pm, 21 and Over, No Cover www.rocketbardc.com

It's actually somewhat important to show up on time to these things, in case the bar is hostile and the crowd decides to pick up and move to another location.  The night should, however, be quite excellent, and will at the very least be a break from what you're used to. 

I know you're all sick of hearing about food and probably wish I was doing my usual post about some crazy party, but I can't really give up this particular event:

Tomorrow (which is probably today by the time you read this, and in any case to clear up confusion I mean Wednesday, by which I mean July 18, 2007.  A.D.) is the American Meat Institute's (!?) famous annual Hot Dog Lunch.  Located in the Rayburn Courtyard with the grills firing up at 11:30, the day promises to be memorable for the sheer amounts of beef...or pork...well, it's some kind of meat that we'll be eating.  In various forms, too: last year featured hot dogs, of course, but also corn dogs and other forms of dog that can only be dreamed of.  And it's free, because hot dogs cost less than $8 and thus don't violate the gift ban, thank god.

But wait, it gets better.  Last year, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), in their slight insanity, hired two Playboy Playmates to hand out veggie dogs and convince people to become vegans.

Yes, this is the one event not to miss this summer, the one that makes all those ridiculous unpaid hours worthwhile.   So go forth, eat hot dogs, and then post comments with pictures or something (Can you even do that?  Let's find out.).

We may be in America's capital, but that's no reason not to celebrate another independence day - especially when it comes from a country know for its attractive, sexually permissive citizens and delicious food and alcoholic beverages.  That's right, tomorrow is Bastille Day, and in the grand tradition of all things French, it is our duty to get sloppy and dance to Europop.

  I have it on excellent authority that the place to be tomorrow night is Bistrot Du Coin, which is also excellent for "late night wine-soaked dinners."  The line there should be momentous, however, so either get there early, make a dinner reservation, or check out one of the other spots compiled by the Washington Post's Going Out Guru.

This week on the Hill:

 Congressional Food Stamps Fair: The Food Research and Action Center and Hatcher Group Faces of Food Stamps bring us this event, listed in CongressDaily under "Social Issues," in HC-5 right now.  Is there free food?  Probably, but I bet it's awkward.

 Judiciary Hearing on Presidential Clemency Power: 2141 Rayburn, noon.  Come to hear Joe Wilson on how someone can ruin your career, break the law, and get off scot free.

 HELP Hearing on Dr. James Holsinger's Nomination to be Surgeon General: 430 Dirksen, 10am.  Is it OK for the Surgeon General to think gay people are inherently immoral?  Probably not.

 Hearing of the Week - Harriet Miers on the U.S. Attorneys Scandal: 2141 Rayburn, 10am.  Harriet Miers returns to the Hill after her disastrous Supreme Court nomination, this time to defend the political firings of United States Attorneys!  Sure to be hilarious if you're into that kind of thing, or find amnesia funny.

It's been a while since I've made a post on the gay scene around here, and I have to admit, that's because not much has been happening in terms of special events.  All the normal nights are in effect, however, and I forget that all the readers of this blog don't necessarily know where's where and what's what in the District.  That in mind...

  Cobalt, on the corner of 17th St. and R St. NW, is the 21-and up counterpart to 18-and up institution Apex.  This means that the crowd's a bit older, but it also means that you don't have to deal with high school seniors (unless that's your thing).

  Downstairs at Cobalt is set up like a lounge, with a couple couches and a bar.  It's a good place to get a drink and chat with a group of friends, but if you want to get your dance on,  you have to head upstairs where the sometimes overfull dancefloor awaits.  There's another convenient bar upstairs, and depending on the night, different kinds of music.  If you have any means of getting past the doorman, I highly recommend it.

 Click past the jump for a rundown of the weekly schedule.

Do you miss your Pavement and Dismemberment Plan just a little bit too much?  Well, you're in luck, because the next best thing is playing at the 9:30 Club this weekend, and you'd better get your tickets in advance, because Built to Spill is going to be a hot show.

 These indie kings from Idaho have put together some incredible records over the years, and although their best records were at the end of the '90s (Keep it Like a Secret and Perfect From Now On), they're still going strong.

  You can check out some of their songs on their MySpace page, but I recommend hunting down their tracks "Carry the Zero" and my favorite, "Out of Sight."

One of my favorite DJ duos is New York's JDH & Dave P, who host the hottest indie dance party in the City, Fixed, whenever it suits them.  I've been listening to their mixes for the better part of a year, having never been able to make it down for their truly legendary parties, so you can imagine how excited I was when I found out that they'd be gracing our fair District on this Saturday.

DJ Will Eastman's monthly hipster danceathon, Bliss, will play host to the two talented turntablists, as well as Brooklyn band The Boggs at 1am.  The party starts at 9pm at the Black Cat, and I have to say, the only downside is that it costs $10 to get in.  10 worthy dollars.

 PS, it's 18+, so be there.

As you might have guessed from the title, last night was Roll Call's 46th annual Congressional Baseball Game, starring the only two teams of baseball players whose names I'm able to recognize.  This is, as you might expect, quite the event on the Hill, attended by interns and staff from all over.  My own office really got into the spirit, and we ended up creating this amazing sign:

That's me, by the way.  What's so amazing about it, you ask?  Well, do you see the "C." in "C. Murph (CT-05)?"  That's a trap door, and if you open it up, it reveals a "P.," allowing us to cover two of our favorite freshmen with one sign.  Everyone from my office was a little bit too excited when P Murph (PA-08) took over running for C Murph, forever cementing the fact that they're actually twins.

 Despite the fact that my favorite team lost, I had a great time: where else would I have gotten to see Linda Sanchez have the best hit of the night, yell "We love you Sheriff!" at Brad Ellsworth (IN-08), and gaze longingly at Bruce Braley (IA-01)?

More photos below, and in this album I set up on flickr.

Ice cream festival, starting right now, Upper Senate Park (Delaware and Constitution).  Need you know more?

Tonight at the Hirshorn Museum (the hipster of DC's curatorial life) is a free BYO BBQ screening of B movie Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.  This is the second in a three part series of woman-centric B movies this month at the Hirshorn, with the final being next week's not-to-miss showing of Barbarella (more on that in a week).  If the free bad movie goodness doesn't sound like a fun idea for your Thursday night yet, I present to you the film's tagline: "See a female colossus... her mountainous torso, skyscraper limbs, giant desires!"

 Giant...desires?  Show time is 8pm in the Ring Auditorium.

 On the Congressional calendar, I have to say that next Monday's event  is one of the biggest of the summer: the annual Dems vs. Reps Congressional Baseball Game at RFK Stadium.

Republicans have won the last six years, so the Dems are going to be looking for the upset this year and will be relying on freshman members such as former Washington Redskins quarterback Heath Shuler to show them the way.  Due to new gift restrictions, tickets are free this year (with a suggested donation to charity), and the weather for the game looks perfect.

First pitch is at 7:30pm; to get tickets, head on over to Democratic Manager Mike Doyle's office in Cannon 405, or call ahead (extension 52135) for more info.

Democrats beat Republicans 5-4 in the 1976 game.

While I'm a little wary of actually calling her a celebrity, she is at the very least a former celebrity, and thus worthy of mention when she visits the Hill.  Who am I talking about?  Why, Jewel, of course!

You may remember her from her hit 1995 album Pieces of You, or the last one that anyone listened to, Spirit, but Jewel is back even released an album as recently as last year (!?).  Her latest single, "Quest For Love," can be found on the soundtrack for the multi-trillion dollar blockbuster film Arthur and The Invisibles (PS, why is the neutrality of the Wikipedia article on that film disputed?).

Today, however, Jewel can be seen live at 3pm on the terrace (second floor outside, just off the Rotunda) of the Cannon House Office Building, better known as approximately twenty feet from where I work.  She'll be discussing "Social Issues," by which I hope she means singing songs from 1995, following her "testimony to the House Ways and Means Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee hearing on youth homelessness."

Well dear interns, we have survived another week. I don’t know about you, but what started out with a bang ended with a fizzle as the Republican pseudo-filibuster shut down the floor of the House, leaving me with nothing but the New York Times to read and eight consecutive hours of CSPAN (could Marsha Blackburn possibly get any more floor time?). Luckily for those of us that need to recharge with a bit of fun, I’m here to tell you about a great weekend event, as well as an immensely talented recording artist friend of mine who happens to be a native of the District (Sidwell Friends School, anyone?) to shamelessly promote.

The event is Garutachi, a bi-weekly Saturday dance party at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Going on four years, Garutachi is thrown by “biserious” hot chicks Coby and Ca$$isdy, and features Ris Richards recently of D.C. legends Q and Not U as a resident DJ.

Who cares about the resident DJ, however, when you realize that the guest DJ this weekend is none other than VHS or Beta. Past guests include !!!, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ladytron, Le Tigre, INTERPOL, and Peaches.

And once again, the best part: before 10pm, both cover and beer know only one price, and that price is free. Also, something about free Onitsuka shoes.  Also, it's 18+, so there are really no excuses.

The second thing I have to mention this week is my absurdly talented friend Andy Suzuki, originally from our favorite ultra-liberal D.C. Metro suburb, Montgomery County. Andy’s attending college with me at Brown nowadays, and let me tell you, when he performs he really brings the house down. Or brings the house down as much as one can when you’re singing ballads and playing piano with nothing but a djembe to back you up.

Andy’s got it all, voice, piano skills, looks, voice, looks…did I mention looks? Alas, sorry ladies, he’s taken. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go check out his music right now. While you’re at it, send him a message on MySpace and tell him that the District wants him to come perform this summer.

I hope all you SoCap readers enjoyed Pride – there really is nothing quite like a procession of leather daddies followed by PFLAG followed by Results Gym and their construction-themed float.  Not to mention the plethora of scantily-clad cowboys.

This week I have two events for you before the weekend nights even start.  The first is Voxtrot tomorrow night at the Black Cat.  Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster, and unless you’ve managed to get some tickets to the sold out Feist show, Voxtrot is not one to miss.  I’ve been following them since their first EP, and they’ve only gotten better with time.  Your Biggest Fan features three songs that can all be hits, and their new album keeps it going without falling back on any material from the EPs.  Take a listen here, and then get yourselves over to the Black Cat tomorrow night and show this great band some support.

 Voxtrot...asleep? 

The second event isn’t exactly a special event, although it does have its own special qualities.  For those gay interns who are new to the city, you may not yet have heard about Thursday nights at Apex, which is both a rite of passage as well as a good time.  Especially if you’re from a smaller town and have never before been to a big city club, going to Apex for the first time will make you think that you’ve walked into good old Babylon from Queer As Folk (RIP).  The main dancefloor plays a genre best recognized as “gay,” and the video bar in the back is exactly what it sounds like: good music with the videos available for your viewing (at least that way you can pretend not to be checking out the guy across the room).

The best part?  It’s free as long as you remember to bring along your college ID.  That’s right, free.  And 18+, in case you were wondering.

 A dancefloor at Apex that I don't recognize.  Usually full of shirtless men.

Hello District – my name is Brad and I’m very happy to be writing for SoCap this summer, mostly because it makes me feel like one of the cool kids, but also because when I tell people about cool events and parties, they’re much less likely to suck due to poor attendance.  I’m going to cover mostly events on the Hill, great music, and LGBT nightlife, which brings me to the point of this post…

(P.S., did you notice that all the pictures on our “Bios” page are totally sporting the angles?  Gotta love anonymity.)

This week is Pride here in the nation’s capital, the one magical week of the year when we celebrate the singing drag queens swinging  parking meters that rioted for our rights in June of 1969 and pretend that we’re as gay as New York.  As you would expect, there are a number of events this weekend (and some that sadly passed before SoCap’s launch).

I’ve identified three and a half that are actually worth attending.  They are (below the jump):