We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
The nephew-in-law of Donald Byrd (founder of D.C. group The Blackbyrds) posted on Facebook that the jazz trumpeter died in Delaware on Monday, and blogs immediately began circulating his post as breaking news. But no media outlets have been able to confirm it with the musician’s immediate family. Regardless, the Guardian ran an obit, acknowledging, basically, that he might not really be dead. Slow clap. [Guardian]
Know what else might not be dead? Poetry, says D.C. playwright Gwydion Suilebhan, after his “poetry is dead” tweet went viral thanks to Alexandra Petri‘s widely mocked story about the art form’s decline. He reconsiders, saying poetry has probably just been held captive, then goes on to say theater, too, needs a revolution to stay relevant to people’s lives. [Gwydion Suilebhan]
Fairfax parent wants Toni Morrison‘s Beloved banned from schools [Post]
Art space Pleasant Plains Workshop expands into the now-closed Soul Vegetarian restaurant [Post]
How Arena Stage built an onstage pool for Metamorphoses [Post]
Can Olney’s new artistic director, Jason Loewith, turn around the unadventurous theater company? [Post]
Something to consider before you name your play Motherfucking Fuckers Fucking Fuckadoo: Your promotional emails might land in people’s spam folders [Post]
The people need community radio stations like WPFW, writes Sriram Gopal [Capital Bop]
The District wants public art for the Kenilworth-Parkside neighborhood [Art 202]
Ian Svenonius: “I feel that there’s a danger of rock ‘n’ roll becoming even more of a bundle of misguided clichés.” [Pitchfork]
More photos from the final Sockets Records showcase last weekend [D.C. Music Download]
John Anderson explores uses of technology in the Smithsonian’s ongoing Nam June Paik exhibit [Art in America]
Lovitt Records will release an Office of Future Plans split 7-inch with Daria [Dischord]
Watch (while baked): Aurora Halal‘s official video for Maxmillion Dunbar‘s “Loving the Drift” [YouTube]