June 29 ~ Ice cream social and screening/discussion of Chocolate City, a film about gentrification in DC. Pay what you can and support ONE DC's organizing for an equitable city. Time and location TBA: call 202-232-2915 for details.


July 11 ~ 7:00-10:30pm. Enjoy the talents of Christon "Christylez" Bacon and The Road (formerly the Pleasant Mountain Boys) and support equity in the District at the same time. Join us at the Potter's House, a smoke-free restaurant / bookstore / art gallery, at 1658 Columbia Rd NW. $20 suggested donation.

 


Christon "Christylez" Bacon hails from Southeast DC. Although he is known mostly for his live musical performances, Christon studied as a technically-inclined visual artist, graduating from Duke Ellington School of the Arts and majoring in graphic design in college. Christon is also the subject of the multi-award winning documentary, Blue Line: Destination Christylez. As a musician, Christylez multi-tasks between various instruments such as the West African Djembe drum, acoustic guitar, and the syncopated oral percussions of the human beat-box, all while performing written material.

As a performer, Christylez has been featured at many venues commonly unassocated with hip hop--including the National Cathedral, Kennedy Center, and the Mansion at Strathmore. In March 2008, Christylez became the first hip hop artist to receive an artist-in-residence position at Strathmore Hall. He quickly became the first artists to sell out both public performances during his month of residency. With versatility, clever songwriting, and pure talent, Christylez will continue to paint his dynamic perspective of hip hop into the minds of many.

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Formed in 2004, The Road is a roots-rock jam band of four DC/NoVA dads – John Leary on guitar and vocals, Chuck Caspari on lead guitar, Tom Phillips on bass and vocals, and Mark Sherman on drums and vocals – that pays tribute to the classics: The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Wilson Pickett to name just a few, with some newer artists' work thrown in for good measure. The music ranges from languid and atmospheric to explosive. The members of The Road have been playing music for a combined total of about 100 years in venues ranging from East Coast clubs to festivals and fundraisers.