Becca Mancari and Joy Oladokun at the Howard Theatre yesterday. Becca resplendent in performance garb (look at those shoes!) Both in fine voice and fettle, Joy had to stop and cry for a minute but it was all in love and community. Both of their records out this year are terrific. #dcmusic #joyoladokun #beccamancari #indiepop #queermusic #howardtheatre

Ok it's a small thing given that the world is on fire and the entire future of the US as a constitutional democracy is at stake, but still, NYT Spelling Bee, these are not words.

What's blooming in the yard now in Northern VA -- Veronicastrum virginicum (culver's root), Scutellaria incana (skullcap, this one not really native on this side of the Appalachians but it's happy enough here), Helianthus divaricatus and H. microcephalus (both called woodland sunflower but different plants), Lobelia cardinalis, Pycnanthemum incanum (silver leaf mountain mint) and P. teunifolium (narrow leaf mountain mint), Rudbeckia hirta, and ahead of season, Eurybia macrophylla (large leaf aster). https://photos.app.goo.gl/WAWxqs8vxqgxpigw5 #nativeplants #noLawn #gardening #midatlantic #flowers

Hello Mary is a noisy guitar trio from NYC currently on tour opening for Blondshell and they just blew the doors off of DC9. Like the first time hearing Julien Baker or Soccer Mommy. Just crushing it, and their new record is equally ferocious and wonderful. #dc9 #indierock #HelloMaryBand

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage has interesting programming, sometimes a little random, but so happy to catch Overcoats here in an acoustic setting, new songs and old faves, the gorgeous harmonies on spotlight! #kencen #overcoats #indiepop #indierock

So I've been reworking the front yard as a (mostly) native plant garden intended to mimic local open woodlands. Northern Virginia. It's a process. Teucrium canadense (American germander) is a fast spreading pest most places but I'm hoping it will colonize the hillside and eventually get shaded out by pawpaws. All under a tall black oak. Wood asters are spreading by seed and popping up everywhere. & first blooms of woodland sunflower (I think, Helianthus divaricatus). #nativeplants #nativeplantgardening #nolawns #midatlantic

Sky Ferreira performing in a club for the first time in eight years, and headlining in the DC area in, ever? At Fillmore Silver Spring Thursday night. A little nervous in-between songs but the punk swagger kicks when the beat drops. Someday that second album will appear -- til then we have the songs we know and love so well. A terrific night of bangers and a little redemption. #indiepop #skyferreira #freeskyferreira

A few shots of Adeem the Artist and The Mountain Goats from a field trip to Carrboro NC and the fabulous Cat's Cradle music establishment. Adeem is hilarious and talented and not to be missed.

Happy Jólabókaflóð! Books and chocolate on Christmas Eve in our house. With a cup of glogg.