Look Both Ways: Street Art Across America

The "LOOK OUT! Lunchtime Invasion" at Eastern Market

Monday – Look out for a Lunchtime Invasion of “pop-up” performances at Woodrow Wilson Plaza (1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW) from 11:30am – 1:30pm. Part of Look Both Ways: Street Art Across America, the Kennedy Center’s week-long series of free performances and events around DC, the spectacle will feature a comedian, a magician, a vaudeville actor, and a juggler (see the schedule for more performances this week). If you can’t make the daytime show, catch it on the Millennium Stage at 6pm.

Tuesday – Enjoy Prehistoric Adventures, this week’s Toddler Tuesdays theme at the National Children’s Museum Launch Zone. Drop in from 10:30am – 2:30pm to explore the world of dinosaurs. The program, designed especially for ages 2 – 4, may include stories, games, art and movement for adults and children to explore together.

Wednesday – Bounce, climb, swing, tumble, and slide at the PG Sports & Learning Complex Gymnastics Center. The hour-long open play session begins at 11:30am, and admission is $6/child. Read all about the what you can expect there in this post.

Thursday – Head to the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital for a free Family Story Time. DC Public Library staff will read books and lead songs for children ages birth to 5 years old.

Friday – Go for a spin on the antique carousel and/or take a train ride through the woods at Watkins Regional Park. Both just opened for the season with limited hours in the spring (Thursdays and Fridays 10am – 3pm, Saturdays and Sundays 1-5pm, starting Memorial Day weekend hours will be extended). Get more background on Watkins in this post from awhile back.

Bring me to my (cheer)leader!

I knew it was going to be happening. I’d read (and posted) about Look Both Ways: Street Art Across America, a week-long series of free pop-up performances and events taking place around DC today through next weekend. I just didn’t know exactly what to expect.

And it was probably better that way. Because the mini-extravaganza that we caught at Eastern Market earlier today was one of the wackiest, most wonderful things I have ever seen in the many, many years I’ve been going there.

It was a performance by Mucca Pazza, described as “a collection of shameless band nerds wielding instruments of incongruous traditions, sometimes in competition, often in cooperation.” (You really have to see it to understand it.) The show they put on right out on the sidewalk in front of Port City Java was fantastic — eccentric, energetic, and downright hilarious. The crowd, young and old, was captivated. And when I looked around, every face held some kind of amused expression, from tickled surprise to full-on laughter.

Mucca Pazza, the circus-punk marching band

It’s like the geek version of “Fame”!

This show was just one of a few roaming spectacles at the Market today as part of LOOK OUT! Lunchtime Invasion, the bigger series’ daily showcase of street performances. They will be taking place in a couple of locations around the city this week, so check the schedule to see where you can catch one, and I strongly recommend you do. Besides the acts being entertaining and unique, their seeming spontaneous emergence in everyday situations makes viewing one feel auspicious, like you were in just the right place at the right time to be part of the impromptu party.

A really high-five

Along with the Lunchtime Invasions, there will be “Street to Stage” performances every evening at 6pm on the Millennium Stage (including tonight), LOOK UP! Night Street Fair on Friday from 8-10pm, and “Street Arts in the Park” on Saturday from 12-6pm.

We may just go for an encore tonight.