In no particular order:
1. Cuba Libre in Penn Quarter. Yes, it's coming to D.C., and I may have just run out of reasons to go to Philly. I'm a big fan: Dancing, great drinks, fabulous brunch. Please export them all here. The opening date keeps getting pushed back, but it may open next week. Stay tuned.
2. Esperanza Spalding at Lincoln Theatre - Oct. 3. Love her and her amazing 'fro. She is reinventing jazz, and has some excellent samba and bossa nova-influenced numbers.
3. Alice Walker at Busboys (14th and V NW) - Oct. 2. Although I won't be there--it will cost you a pretty penny just to be in the room--I definitely had to give it a mention.
4. Boris Kodjoe on "Undercovers," NBC, Wednesday. I don't even have to explain, because you know.
5. Vanessa Williams on "Desperate Housewives." I haven't actively watched this show since the tornado. Or was it the plane crash? Whatever. It really doesn't matter. They may win me back if Ms. Williams brings some much-needed flavor to Wisteria Lane.
6. DC Fashion Week, Sept. 20-26. Various locations. Support local artistes.
http://www.dcfashionweek.org/dc/
7. Soul Train Happy Hour at U St. Music Hall, this Fri., 5 PM. I don't even know what to expect, but since it's at USMH, I bet it will be a stone gas, honey. (snort, snort) Don't make me unleash my 'fro.
8. (sorta-kinda) The Roots' new collabo with John Legend. Can't say that I'm a fan of John Legend (Howzabout Anthony Hamilton? Or D.C.'s own Raheem DeVaughn? Why not dig up crazy-a$$ D'Angelo? Or crazy-a$$ to the extreme K-Ci? Call me a traitor to the race, but I would even rather see Robin Thicke cut this CD. ANYBODY BUT John Legend...), but their take on a number of soul classics should be interesting.
That's it for now. I'll do my best to post something of real substance tomorrow.
