Dear weather. I'm so over it. Over the rain, over the constant predictable oh-it's-11:00am-time-to-get-overcast-until-midnight mode we're in. Oh New York, why have you stolen all of June from me and instead given me humid cloud-purgatory!? Please, July, bring BBQ-ing capacity, stat.

In other news, we spent the weekend in Toronto with new friends, capped off by a great show at NXNE! Thank you to all who came out, despite some understandable fear of clowns. On our way in, we stopped at Niagara Falls to greet Canada and Shabbos and were naturally beelining for one thing and one thing only: soft serve. We found it in the awesomeness of Reg's Candy Kitchen, where we were treated by Reg to stories *and* about two tons of free peanut brittle. And despite there being some dispute about the best way to have fudge (pure and unadulterated versus adorned with things such as nuts and peanut butter) we were totally taken by the falls. It was a great trip.

Anyway, in the interest of Keeping Spirits Up despite Less Than Ideal weather, I want to remind you about *shows*!

First, we play DC this Sunday night! So I have questions for you:

1. Do you live in DC?
2. Do you live near DC?
3. Have you ever considered a rash, spontaneous Saturday night road trip to DC?
4. Are you now, or have you ever been able to teleport to DC?

If the answer to any of the above is "yes," I look forward to seeing you this Sunday night at the Black Cat! It's going to be an awesome show with new songs *and* giveaways. Giveaways: We are currently collecting mini-stories that respond to the prompt 'how do you get through heartbreak?' and we want yours. You can follow us on twitter and submit one there or find us at show and write one out the olde-fashioned way! In any case, the first three people to hand one it at Sunday's show get a free (yes, free!) Shondes t-shirt. And the first 10 get a free Shondes poster. Need I say more? Extra points if you're wearing a great hat. And see you there!

The Shondes at The Black Cat - backstage
1811 14th Street, NW - DC
Sunday, June 28
9:00 pm
$10
with The Bitter Tears
For more info: www.blackcatdc.com

FURTHERMORE:

1. Do you live in New York?
2. Do you prefer free, all-ages shows to expensive 21+ shows?
3. Are you, well, fabulous?

If you answered yes to questions 1-3, find yourself July 4th at:

The Shondes at Target First Saturdays at The Brooklyn Museum
Saturday, July 4
All-ages & free!

Featuring in order of appearance starting at 5 pm:

Alex Battles and the Whiskey Rebellion
The Mandingo Ambassadors
Samba Nation
The Shondes

Followed by a dance party from 9:00-11:00 with DJ Cosmo Baker of The Rub.

For more information:
http://www.myspace.com/theshondes
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org