In my top 10 list of unique summertime activities in the city, MoMA PS1’s Warm Up 2012 is definitely up there. It’s an outdoor live music series held every Saturday during the summer at the MoMA PS1. Lest you become confused like I did, this is NOT the MoMa (Museum of Metropolitan Art) in Manhattan but the one in Long Island City. But don’t let that deter you – it’s just a quick subway ride to get to this museum in Queens. Upon arriving, you’re led into the courtyard of the museum where there’s a giant urban installation called Wendy. Beyond the installation, there’s a DJ playing what is called “experimental music”, a cryptic name for what is basically not mainstream music. Self-described as ethereal-lounge-eclectic, if that makes any sense. Regardless, the whole laidback vibe and relaxing music was refreshingly un-New York (I was almost reminded of my days in hippy Austin!).

Hey everyone! With Memorial Day passing this last weekend, it is now officially summer! Woohoo! Summer is my favorite season…the sun is out and the days are longer, giving you more time to do fun activities! As usual, there are a hundred things I would like to do this summer, so I thought I’d organize them into my DC Summer Bucket List! Some of these activities are big and require planning, while others are smaller things I’ve always wanted to do when the weather got nice but never got around to. So here it is, my DC Summer Bucket List!

1) Tubing: Nothing screams summer like hours spent floating down a river under the hot sun! I haven’t had a chance to go tubing in the past, but with summer tubing deals coming out and the Potomac nearby, this is a summer activity I don’t plan to miss out on!

2) Grilling: With great weather outside, people turn to this favorite all-American activity as a way to relax and enjoy some succulent meat! I like Whole Foods’ pre-marinated meats which are ideal for grilling. Try their salmon and spinach burgers with feta cheese, they’re delish!

3) Jazz in the garden: The National Gallery of Art offers this free concert series every Friday throughout the summer. People can enjoy a cocktail outdoors while listening to live jazz music, dipping their feet in the fountain, and engaging in some political talk. How quintessential DC!

Enjoying sangria at Jazz in the Garden

4) Dining at outdoor patios: With DC teeming with outdoor seating venues, getting dinner and drinks at an outdoor patio is just one of the things I equate with summer! Some of my go-to’s are Lauriol Plaza, Eighteenth Street Lounge, and Marvin…but I hope to explore a few other places this summer!

5) Attending a concert: Summer is the time for concert tours and music festivals, like Lollapalooza and Firefly. I just bought tickets to the LMFAO concert at the end of June in Philly, so I’ll be looking forward to some Party Rocking!

6) Picnicking at the National Mall: Bake some treats, buy some white wine, grab a book, and you’re good to go. Sleeping on the grass while reading the book is optional.

7) Beach time: You can’t say beach without summer. I can’t wait to lounge around at the beach, do some water activities, and work on my tan (oh, who am I kidding? I’m Indian! We don’t like tanning!)

Soo ready for some beach time!

8) Enjoy snow cones: While stores that sell these are hard to come by, I know of vendors who set up camp in Bethesda. If you’re looking for snow cones in New York, look no further than La New Yorkina with flavors like mango chile, cucumber lime, horchata, and fresh coconut. Yum!

These are just some activities that are at the top of my wish list this summer. What activities are big in your town and what are you looking forward to?

Thanks to free tickets that I was lucky enough to get, I had the chance to see Rihanna perform live at a benefit concert this past Monday. Talk about a great way to start off the week! 

First about the benefit: Have you heard of the Robin Hood Foundation? It’s an organization aimed at fighting poverty in New York City. According to the Executive Director of Robin Hood, “New York is arguably the richest city in the world, and yet we still have over 1.8 million New Yorkers living in poverty.” That’s a hard-hitting fact when you stop to think about it. With a distinguished board of directors (with big names like actress Gwyneth Paltrow and TV anchor Brian Williams), Robin Hood raises over $100 million every year to fund programs that battle issues related to poverty. The gala on Monday was help to raise money for Robin Hood’s initiatives. 

The evening capped off with a performance by Rihanna. On a stage designed to resemble ancient Egypt, RiRi made her grand entrance in a Cleopatra-style outfit with a gold headband, a gold bustier and mini-skirt, sky-high boots, and some fierce make-up. Singing famous hits like Umbrella, Disturbia, S&M, and of course the currently popular We Fell in Love, she rocked the show! Sure, there was a fair amount of lip-synching going on, but I guess you can’t blame her. With all the dancing she was doing on stage, she probably would have sounded awful and out-of-breath with her real singing. But because of the intimate setting, I was able to see her up close, literally 5 feet away from the stage. Exuding confidence and sex appeal, the guys at the show were literally clamoring for her. I’m still laughing at the random dude next to me who kept screaming, “Rihaaana! Rihaaana!” and then singing off-key to Only Girl in the World. Overall, RiRi did good and it was a great night. And I have the fuzzy pictures to prove it…

On-screen close up

An "artistic" shot of the show's finale