Sexpionage at The International Spy Museum

July 29, 2009; 6:30 p.m.; International Spy Museum; 800 F St. N.W.; Admission: $20; 18 and up!

According to The International Spy Museum (and every James Bond film), sexpionage is not only one of the oldest tricks in the book, it is also one of the chief components for producing the best/fastest results. Museum Board Member H. Keith Melton reveals ancient and current schemes used as tools to “attract and manipulate assets, to coerce and compromise targets, and to control spies in both reality and fiction.”

Obama Birthday Bash at Z-Burger

August 4; 11a.m.-2p.m.; Z-Burger; 4321 Wisconsin Ave. N.W.; Free; http://www.zburger.com/

As President Barack Obama is turning 48 on August 4th, Z-Burger is commemorating the occasion with the best present ever, free food. In his honor, the burger joint is providing its first 48 customers with 48 tokens valid for a free burgers and milkshakes. In addition, they will be offering free birthday cake and burgers from 11a.m.-2p.m. to all of its customers and revealing the new “Obama Burger”.

Miss Black USA 2009

08/03/2009; University of the District of Columbia Auditorium; 4200 Connecticut Ave NW

The 2009 Miss Black USA Pageant will take place this Monday, August 3rd in the University of the District of Colombia’s auditorium and features celebrity guest judges like Dr. Ian Smith, April Woodard, and Terri Stevens. Visit www.missblackusa.org for more information.

Bethesda-Chevy Chase Restaurant Week

(July 27- August 2, 2009)
Get ready for an entire week of delicious first class food at a price that’s easy on your wallet. This year's Restaurant Week includes 31 participating restaurants in Bethesda and Chevy Chase that are offering a prix fixe two-course lunch for $12-$15 or a three-course dinner for $25-$30. Make early reservations and enjoy the discounts!

Alfios La Trattoria
4515 Willard Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD
(301) 657-9133
www.alfios.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $28 Green Papaya

4922 Elm Street
Bethesda, MD
(301) 654-8986
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30 Oakville Grille & Wine Bar
10257 Old Georgetown Road
North Bethesda, MD
(301) 897-9100
www.oakvillewinebar.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $30

Assagi Mozzarella Bar
4838 Bethesda Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 951-1988
www.assaggirestaurant.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30 Jaleo - Bethesda
7271 Woodmont Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 913-0003
www.jaleo.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $30 Old Angler's Inn

10801 MacArthur Boulevard
Potomac, MD
(301) 365-2425
www.oldanglersinn.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $30
Bacchus of Lebanon
7945 Norfolk Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 657-1722
www.bacchusoflebanon.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $25

La Ferme
7101 Brookville Road
Chevy Chase, MD
(301) 986-5255
www.lafermerestaurant.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $30 Passage to India
4931 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 656-3373
www.passagetoindia.info
Dinner $30

Brasserie Monte Carlo
7929 Norfolk Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 656-9225
www.brasseriemontecarlo.com
Lunch $15, Dinner $30 Lebanese Taverna - Bethesda
7141 Arlington Road
Bethesda, MD
(301) 951-8681
www.lebanesetaverna.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30

Raku Asian Diner
7240 Woodmont Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 718-8680
Dinner $30
Clyde's of Chevy Chase
5441 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD
(301) 951-9600
www.clydes.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30

Le Vieux Logis
7925 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD
(301) 652-6816
www.levieuxlogisrestaurant.com
Dinner $29 Redwood Restaurant
7121 Bethesda Lane
Bethesda, MD
(301) 656-5155
www.redwoodbethesda.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $30

Divino Lounge & Restaurant
7345-B Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(240) 497-0300
www.divinolounge.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30 Lia's
4435 Willard Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD
(240) 223-5427
www.liasrestaurant.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $30

Rock Creek Bethesda
4917 Elm Street
Bethesda, MD
(301) 907-7625
www.rockcreekrestaurant.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30
Faryab Restaurant
4917 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 951-3484
Dinner $30

Louisiana Kitchen & Bayou Bar
4907 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 652-6945
www.louisianabethesda.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30 Tako Grill
7756 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 652-7030
www.takogrill.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30

Gaffney's Restaurant
7141 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 907-7500
www.gaffneys-restaurant.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $30 McCormick & Schmick's
Seafood Restaurant
7401 Woodmont Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 961-2626
www.mccormickandschmicks.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $30

Tavira
8401 Connecticut Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD
(301) 652-8684
www.tavirarestaurant.com
Lunch $15 & Dinner $30
Geppetto Restaurant
10257 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD
(301) 493-9230
www.geppettorestaurant.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30

Mon Ami Gabi
7239 Woodmont Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 654-1234
www.monamigabi.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30 Tragara Ristorante
4935 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 951-4935
www.tragara.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30

Grapeseed
4865 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 986-9592
www.grapeseedbistro.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30 Nest Cafe
4921 Bethesda Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 718-6378
www.nestwinebarcafe.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30 Trattoria Sorrento
4935 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 718-0344
www.trattoriasorrento.com
Dinner $30

Visions Restaurant
4926 St. Elmo Avenue
Bethesda, MD
(301) 654-3737
www.visionsbethesda.com
Lunch $12 & Dinner $30

Southern Hospitality at Art and Soul

(Daily 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (ends July 31); $39; 202-393-7777
Art and Soul; 415 New Jersey Ave. NW; http://www.artandsouldc.com/)

Restaurant Art and Soul owner Chef Art Smith will be serving a one of a kind dinner in celebration of his nomination to compete in Top Chef Masters by offering a delicious Southern style meal consisting of his classic recipes like deviled eggs with pickled vegetables, pecan crusted chicken and fried peach pie. A portion of the $39 ticket will be donated to Smith’s charity of choice Common Threads which helps engage and educate children through gastronomy.

6th Annual Asian Festival

Lake Newport Tennis Park, Reston, VA; 08/01- 08/02; http://www.asianfestivaldc.com/index.php; Free

The 6th Annual Asian Festival is a plethora of events that celebrate the beautiful traditions, talents and cultures from Asia. Each of the participating countries will be hosting events that display the cultural fare, fashion, dance and products from their homeland. This is a must see event which includes exciting performances and fun for the whole family!

Color & Design Workshop- "Exploring Design and Color"

(08/01/2009; Corcoran Gallery of Art; 500 17th St. NW, Washington, D.C.; 10a.m.-12 p.m.)

The Corcoran Gallery of Art presents a color and design workshop that explores abstract paintings, a gallery tour that includes permanent and special exhibits, a gallery talk by Ivan Witenstein and a silkscreen project for participating visitors.
-Docent Tour of Gallery Highlights; 12p.m. and 3p.m.
-"A Contemporary Artist's Approach to Viewing 19th Century Painting"
Gallery talk; 3p.m.; Ivan Witenstein (Artist and Corcoran Faculty)

Broadway Performances

(08/01/2009; The Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts; 1551 Trap Rd.; Tickets: $20-$48)

Performances by the National Symphony Orchestra include classic musicals from the likes of Hairspray, Jekyll and Hyde, Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom of the Opera, Lion King, Rent, Tommy and many, many more. The City Choir of Washington will also be part of the performances. Tickets prices start at just $20.

Free Admission into National Parks

Although entrance into all D.C. National Parks is always free, on July 18-19 and August 15-16, a total of 391 national parks will be offering completely free admission also. Below is a list of parks in Maryland and Virginia. Enjoy!

Maryland
Antietam National Battlefield
Assateague Island National Seashore
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Fort McHenry NM and Historic Shrine National Monument
Fort Washington Park
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Virginia
Appomattox Court House
Arlington House
Assateague Island National Seashore
Colonial National Historical Park
Great Falls Park
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Petersburg National Battlefield
Prince William Forest Park
Shenandoah National Park

Celebrating Bastille Day

(July 14, 2009; Whitemore House, 1526 New Hampshire Ave.)

In celebration of the Bastille Day Rosé Festival, the GiraMondo Wine Team is offering a 6:30p.m. class which helps visitors explore rose wines, their origin and how they were made. Participants will taste over 15 delicious Rosé wines, 7 Rosés are from France (Tavel, Cotes de Provence, Bandol, Cotes du Rhone, Bordeaux, Loire Valley, Costieres de Nimes) and 8 Rosés conjured from all over the world (Napa, Sonoma, Italy, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, Spain, Austria). Happy Bastille Day!

Artscape

July 17- July 19; Maryland Institute College of Art Mount Vernon; 1300 Mount Royal Ave.; Baltimore, MD 21217; http://www.artscape.org/

Swing by the Maryland Institute College of Art for one of Baltimore’s largest and finest free art festivals. This year visitors can expect arts and crafts, live musical performances and visual arts events. The Charles Theatre will also be showing free short performances and the Baltimore bus shuttle is offering their services free of charge as well. And they say nothing in life is free…

Free Theatre Performances

(The Kennedy Center; 2700 F. St. N.W.; Monday-Friday; 6 p.m.)

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is staging free daily performances on the Millennium Stage which will feature a various collection of artists and groups from all over the country. The center hopes to introduce some of its fantastic programs to a wider audience through the free or low cost. Half priced food and drinks only add to a perfect performance.

Girls Night Out Presented By Metromix

Shopping, cocktails, sushi and…did we mention shopping? Join D.C.’s Metromix on Wednesday, July 15th for an evening of fun for the girls at the Lotus Lounge. A number of vendors will be displaying merchandise at discounted prices while you peruse and sip on those half priced specialty cocktails including $4 beer and glasses of wine, $5 champagne and $5 sushi rolls. Don’t worry about a pricy admission fee since it happens to be completely free!