If you still aren’t quite sure how a bill–regulating things such as, say, healthcare–goes from a little sparkle in a Congressman’s eye to a new law, you should check this out. Or, if you have an afternoon off and haven’t yet checked out the National Archives, this is a great excuse. My favorite part of the museum is listening in on recorded conversations of past presidents. Nothing like some good eavesdropping.

Here are the event details:

Friday, August 21, 2009
12:00 noon
Location: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

The 75th Anniversary National Archives Expert Series features staff experts who will focus on archival treasures discovered among the holdings of the National Archives.

Today, Michael White, managing editor, Federal Register, discusses How a Bill Becomes a Public Law.

Event InformationLocation: Jefferson Room
Admission: Free
Reservations: Not required

General Information

National Archives and Records Administration
Hours: Daily 10 am - 5:30 pm
Hours are subject to change. Please visit www.archives.gov for the most up-to-date information on museum, exhibit, and event hours.
Admission: Free and open to the public
Address: On Constitution Avenue, NW between 7th and 9th streets
Metro: Archives-Navy Memorial (Yellow or Green line)
Phone: 202-501-5000
Email: reservations.nwe@nara.gov

Washington’s Anacostia Historic District, stretching west to east from Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. to Fendall Street, is full of old stories. Captain John Smith is said to have sailed by in 1608 when the area was settled by Native Americans. While the area is now predominantly African-American, in 1854 it was prohibited to sell, rent or lease to blacks or anyone from African or Irish descent.

Washington’s very first suburb now has some of the city’s most striking historic architecture, but also reflects the area’s poverty and social problems. It seems appropriate that the Honfleur Gallery would choose the theme of “Beauty and the Beast” for their third annual East of the River Group Exhibit, showing works of artists from Wards 7 and 8. The exhibit opens this Saturday, August 1 (running through September 26) with a free reception at 7 p.m.

If you feel like heading over in the afternoon, before the reception, you can explore the wonders of Anacostia and its Community Museum on the free weekend shuttle offered by the Smithsonian, with pickups every hour from 10 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. at the Smithsonian Castle (1000 Jefferson Drive, SW).

Or, just jump on the Green Line to the Anacostia stop.

I received this information from La Maison Française and thought I would share:

French organist Sister Anne Laurent will perform a rare all-French program at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in DC, on Saturday, July 25 at 3:30 p.m.
PROGRAM
Louis-Nicolas CLÉRAMBAULT / Suite du deuxieme ton: selections
François COUPERIN / Messe pour les couvents: selections
Eugène GIGOUT / Toccata in C Minor
Léon BOËLLMANN / Suite gothique
Jehan ALAIN / Liturgies
WHAT: All-French organ concert with Sister Anne Laurent - details below
WHEN: Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Franciscan Monastery, 1400 Quincy St., N.E. (Parking available; Metro: Red Line to Brookland-Dua)
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFORMATION: www.myfrranciscan.org

Sister Anne was born in Nantes, Brittany (France). She is a religious sister of the Congregation of the Beatitudes. She has studied music since the age of 8 and received her certificate in organ and organ composition from the A. Pedrollo Conservatory in Vicenza, Italy. Sister Anne has taught music theory at the Magnificat Institute in Jerusalem since 2003 and is currently Assistant Organist at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

One of Urbana Chef Alex Bollinger's creations

Happy Birthday Urbana!

The Dupont Circle wine bar and lounge will be celebrating its birthday tonite, with drink specials and a dj spinning tunes. This is a hotspot in town. Reese Witherspoon was spotted there, long before she started hanging out with Jake in Georgetown.

Here are the details:

We’ll start the week off with a bubbly party and DJ in the lounge (Monday July 20th). Sparkling wine specials include $3 Prosecco, Cava, Chenin Blanc and Brut Rosé. DJ Remix will keep it festive with an eclectic mix of Top40, house, hip hop and dance music. Urbana’s birthday party happy hour starts at 4:00 and the DJ will kick-off at 6:30 p.m.

If you can’t make it on Monday night, we’ll be doing $3 happy hour throughout the week. From 4-7 every night and 10-11 Monday to Thursday enjoy $3 Peroni, Estrella Galicia, Prosecco and house red and white wine along with $3 half-portion pizzas. Chef Alex Bollinger will offer $3 small plate items at the bar. Items will change daily, starting with three bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with Laura Chanal goat cheese on Monday. Check our status for daily updates on Alex’s $3 small plate of the day.

If you’re hungry for dinner, Chef will offer a $30 3-course tasting menu available between 5 and 7. All our tasting menu guests will enjoy the latest from Alex’s new summer menu AND get a glass of prosecco and cupcake to celebrate.

The Newseum is not free, but they do have a discount running through the month of July. Admission to the museum is only $17.76 (get it?), down from the regular price or $20. Current exhibits include the Berlin Wall Gallery, G-Men and Journalists, and a gallery of pictures from 9/11.

Plus, the price of admission can get you into the theatre to see guest lecturers. Upcoming:

Date: Saturday, July 25, 2009
Location: Knight TV Studio, Level 3, 2:30 p.m.
Inside Media with J. Scott Applewhite, senior photographer with the Associated Press who has covered the presidencies of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Swing by a Best Cellars basically any evening except Sunday (they’re closed unfortunately) and you can probably get a few sips of free wine. But on “Tasty Tuesdays” the store’s Dupont Circle location holds themed tastings. While the events cost $10, tasters are usually given generous pours to savor that make the admission price well worth it. Drink, be merry and learn a little bit along the way. Who knows, you might find your next calling.

On July 21, there will be a beginner-friendly tasting focusing on New World wines showcasing reds, whites, and rosés from the U.S., South Africa, Argentina and Australia (all among the world’s top ten producers and exporters of the good stuff). But just because you’ve expanded your wine knowledge a bit, please don’t become that annoying snob at the dinner party. 

Note: Reservations are required. 
 
What:       A one hour class with a sampling of NINE different wines
When:        Tuesday, July 21st
                   8:30-9:30pm
Where:    Best Cellars – Dupont Circle
                   1643 Connecticut Ave NW (R Street)
                   202-387-3146