4PM - 5:30 pm (Langston Rm., Busboys and Poets) Author Event: Mike Farrell will sign and discuss “Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist” Mike Farrell’s new memoir reveals the distinctive voice of a man for whom life is an ongoing odyssey of self-discovery, personal commitment, and uncompromising social engagement. The world-renowned actor offers inspirational and often humorous reflections on his path to fame and progressive activism in this book Best known for his eight years on M*A*S*H and five seasons on Providence, Mike Farrell is also a writer, director, and producer. Farrell has served on human rights and peace delegations to many countries around the world. As president of Death Penalty Focus, he speaks, writes, and coordinates efforts to stop executions. Free and open to all

Have an opinion or interest in education and charter schools?  You may want to check out this Busboys and Poets event.

6:30pm – 8:30pm, Busboys and Poets, Langston Rm.

An evening of readings, performance and discussion for action on the state of education in DC and the Nation., featuring: * Authors Lee Glazer and Zein El-Amine will discuss and sign their recently released book “Keeping the Promise? The Debate Over Charter Schools.” With a chapter on the DC experience. * Activists Amina Althea and Amber Wood, will stage a multimedia performance piece based on their recently released Audio Documentary “I Want To Do This All Day.” Dancers and visual artists weave excerpts from the documentary with dance, song, and projections to bring to life the stories of young people making their own paths in learning and life. Visit http://dothisallday.org/ for documentary project background, links and tour itinerary. Visit http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/promise/promise.shtml for book information

An independent film by filmmaker and DC native, Laurence Hewitt, will debut at the Lincoln Theatre on Sat., May 24 at 6 pm. Cost is $20. See the trailer and description below.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gufp_TLb2Eg&feature=related]

It takes hard work to make your dreams come true. In “My Brother…My Keeper,” a star basketball player’s dreams are blindsided by a freak car accident that leaves him deaf. As he works through daily struggles, he battles to keep his dreams afloat.

Opening performance by comedian, Carlos Jordan, and R&B recording artist, T-West

The film will be closed captioned.

The American Dream and the Racial Divide of the 1920s and Today

Wednesday May 21, 2008 7:00PM

Location: Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St NW

Hurston/Wright and the IKG Cultural Resource Center host a solution discussion led by Black historians, authors and cultural activists to review and compare Black literature and the social conditions of Black people during the roaring twenties and today. For information, call Ph. 301-683-2134.

The Big Read - D.C. is presented by the Humanities Council of Washington, DC and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Visit www.wdchumanities.or/bigread or call 202-387-8391.

It’s that time of year again for the Shakespeare Theatre’s free Shakespeare for All performances at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park. You get to see “Hamlet” (click here to read the synopsis just in case you weren’t paying attention in 12th grade) this time. The free event runs from May 22 - June 1, excluding May 26. Tickets can be picked up on the day of the performance at the Washington Post, Shakepeare Theatre Company, or the Carter Barron Amphitheatre box office.

FREE FOR ALL 2008

Hamlet by William Shakespeare, directed by Alexander Burns, original direction by Michael Kahn

May 22 - June 1, 2008

No performance Monday, May 26
Carter Barron Amphitheatre
16th St. and Colorado Ave. NW

Read below for more information (more…)

When: Every Saturday at 10:30 am, beginning April 1 through October 31, 2007
Meet: U Street/Cardozo Metro station (Green line, 13th Street exit)
Cost: Cash only! $10
Children 3 and under free
For more information: www.washingtonwalks.com
Phone: 202-484-1565
Email: info@washingtonwalks.com

Take a walk along Washington’s “Black Broadway,” where Duke Ellington grew up and was inspired, where musical greats such as Cab Calloway and Dizzy Gillespie played local clubs into the wee hours of the morning, and where movie palaces mingled with pool halls, restaurants and barber shops.

Here in the shadow of Howard University, African Americans created a strong community that produced leaders for the city and the nation. You’ll see the Lincoln Theatre, a 1922 movie palace, restored to its gilded glory; the Thurgood Marshall Center, a grand historic building that once housed the first full-service African American YMCA; and The African American Civil War Memorial, the only national monument to Black Civil War soldiers.

What you need to know:

• No reservations necessary for regularly scheduled walks.  Large groups should notify Washington Walks in advance.
• Tickets are cash only!
• Your guide will be wearing a Washington Walks badge. Judith, Phyllis, or Sandra lead this tour.
• Each walks lasts approximately two hours.
• Walks are given rain or shine.

For all of you gardeners out there:

Saturday, May 17, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Creating and Maintaining a Beautiful Sustainable Garden, presented by D.C. Urban Gardeners and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

Master Gardener and local gardening coach Susan Harris shows how to create a beautiful garden scheme�naturally–by choosing plants that require no pesticides, very little supplemental water and less work. Using stunning visuals, Harris demonstrates ways to incorporate shrubs, trees and perennials into a beautiful, low-maintenance outdoor space that uplifts the spirit and protects the environment.  You’ll also learn how to have a great lawn without toxic herbicides and artificial fertilizers.

LOCATION: Historical Society of Washington, D.C., at Mt. Vernon Square, 801 K St. NW. Accessible from Chinatown and Convention Center Metro stations.

Reservations (not required, just appreciated) call 202-383-1828.

DJ I-Wah’s Sacred Art Saturday event at the Tabaq Bistro on U Street will honor the birthday of Malcolm X.  Jali D (from Busboys and Poets house band) will join Hueman Prophets for some live sets.  The second floor will be turned into a gallery and performance space.  I-Wah, Lance Reynolds, ESCO International, ReWinD and the Ankhitek will handle the sounds, while Adrian Loving of Dissident Display, Charles Jean-Pierre, Monk and Tim Slayton create visuals on site. Entry is free with RSVP to soulcialscience@gmail.com by 3 p.m. Saturday. (WaPo)

(photo from levantineculturalcenter.org)

6PM - 7:30 PM (Langston Room, Busboys and Poets) - Tom Hayden will discuss and sign his book “Writings for a Democratic Society: The Tom Hayden Reader” (recently released in paperback) Writings for a Democratic Society is the only book that encapsulates Tom Hayden’s writings over fifty years, a time in which he has been a reflective eyewitness to American history in the making. The book is composed on sections about the new Left of the 1960s, the Chicago 8, Vietnam, electoral politics, gang violence, Ireland, the environment, global justice, and US foreign policy today.

Contrary to popular thought, everyday, law-abiding citizens aren’t EVER snitches. Snitches are actually criminals who rat out fellow criminals in exchange for a lesser sentence or simply just to be a snitch. I attended the Peaceoholics second annual “What’s Snitching, What’s Not?” Forum this evening at the Lincoln Center, which is a lovely edifice. Now for whatever reason, the forum started pretty late (seemed like an hour late), but after the forum’s host, WPGC’s Rane, finally got things started. There were a lot of interesting people present, including Peaceoholics founders Ronald Moten and Jauhar Abraham, Assistant Police Chief Diane Groomes (a.k.a. “Officer Blondie”–seriously!), The Wire’s Anwan Glover (a.k.a. “Big G,” “Slim Charles”), U.S. Attorney Albert Herring, original Crips member Rock Johnson, former Delta Squad detective Lowell Duckett, and some 18-year old boy (I’m sorry, “man”) who is a Peaceoholics member.

It was an interactive forum, with audience members encouraged to ask questions at two microphones at the front. Valencia Mohammed, the mother of a slain man, spoke first thanking the Peaceoholics, police, and prosecutors for finally getting her son’s assailant brought to justice. It was kind of surreal because I remember reading her story in the Post when I first arrived in DC. She felt it important to attend because it took on of the witnesses to the murder of her son Imtiaz Mohammed to speak up in order for the murderer to be arrested.

I was very impressed with the Concerned Parents of Petworth. There were at least two men (talk about role models!) who spoke passionately about their love for the youth in their neighborhood and that they are willing to speak out about criminal behavior, no matter the risk. There were representatives of other groups in DC that work with young people. These people spoke about the importance of family and community in a very powerful way.

It was interesting to listen to the panelists. I take my hat (gotta put one on first) off to Ronald Moten and the Peaceoholics who really do waaaayyyy more than I realized. These guys are no joke. When they aren’t doing mediations between rival groups, they are speaking with criminals and high-level police and prosecutors. These guys do important work, and I am planning on donating to them so they can keep doing great things. I was initally scared to be in the same building as former Crips member Rock Johnson, just in case some revenge gunfire from former gang members or the Bloods broke out, but apparently, I’m just paranoid and have watched too much television. It was interesting to see “Officer Blondie,” as Assistant Police Chief Diane Groomes is actually known by in law enforcement circles. And, who could forget The Wire’s Anwan Glover a.k.a. “Big G” a.k.a. “Slim Charles.” Once this guy got started, he kept talking! But, he echoed the sentiments of everyone on the panel, encouraging everyone to do the right thing and speak up.

Good stuff. I hope all the teens in the audience, as well as the grown people, take everything to heart, and see how we all have a stake in making DC a safer place for everyone.