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Thelonious Monk Gala

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Washington Life Magazine

QUEEN OF SOUL: Aretha Franklin revisited her first love--jazz-in a surprise performance for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz's All-Star 25th Anniversary Benefit, held during the annual International Jazz Competition. Former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell presented Franklin with the Maria Fisher Founder's Award for her contributions to Monk Institute.
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NOW at the Corcoran

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, DC Modern Luxury Magazine

DC Magazine at the Corcoran celebrated the launch of NOW at the Corcoran with a cocktail reception at the museum. NOW at the Corcoran is a program of unique exhibitions of new work by emerging and mid-career artists.

Location: 500 17th St NW, Washington DC

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Baptism at St. Stephen Martyr Church

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores,www.alfredoflores.net

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Enrique Iglesias' Euphoria Tour at the Patriot Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

While there may not be any NBA basketball in the foreseeable future, there was plenty of Miami heat at the Patriot Center as two of The Magic City’s biggest Latin music stars took the stage at the sold out show! Joining heartthrob Enrique Iglesias was fellow Miami-native Pitbull, who got the late-arriving crowd pumped by doing renditions of club hits such as LMFAO's “Party Rock.” The crowd surely needed a bolt of energy as many arrived well past the 7 p.m. start time due to traffic, forcing the show to be delayed some 40 minutes. Nevertheless, star-in-the-making Prince Royce got the show started by crooning the predominant female crowd with soft jams such as his Spanish version of “Stand By Me.” Pitbull then took the energy level even further by tirelessly working the crowd, jumping, fist-pumping, pointing, posing, and then displaying the rapid-fire rhymes and sick hooks from his new album “Planet Pit,” featuring the club hit “Give Me Everything.” Fully engaged, the crowd went into absolute pandemonium the second Enrique Iglesias took the stage. His show did not disappoint as he showed off his charm- giving his adoring fans hugs and handshakes- and displaying his soulful vocals that went well with the driving dance and pop beats from his “Euphoria” album.

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Andy Warhol: Shadows Opening Party‏ at the Hirshhorn Museum

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden hosted the grand opening party for Andy Warhol: Shadows art exhibit, kicking off an entire season of Warhol in D.C. The soirée included a reception flowing inside the museum lobby, out on to the plaza and a very special transformation of the Hirshhorn’s Lerner Room into an artist’s lounge. Influenced by Warhol’s favorite colors: “aubergine, chartreuse, carmine red, yellow, midnight blue … and white,” the funky chic lounge inspired a "Warholian" outlook on the present day. Andy Warhol: Shadows will run from September 25th to January 15, 2012.

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U2 360° Tour at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

Just like the rough and physical play of the hometown Baltimore Ravens, the action inside their home stadium got started just minutes prior to U2’s set when a massive fight broke out, leaving several fans with bloody lips and police escorting the perpetrators out of M&T Bank Stadium. And then, as almost on cue, Bono emerges from the smoky backdrop of the band’s alien spaceship-like ginormous stage, and helps bring the peace with the southing “Even Better Than The Real Thing." Over the course of several hours over 80,000 U2 fanatics got to enjoy the band's first show in Baltimore since their 2001 stop at 1st Mariner Arena. While pyrotechnics and visuals had their limitations a decade ago, there was nothing holding U2 back from showing off their multi-million dollar stage that featured giant video panels, lighting sources form all of the ships 'tentacles' and offered the entire arena—even people sitting in the nosebleeds—a chance to see U2, as several band members ran around the two inner circles that surround their stage.

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KE$HA "Get $leazy" Tour 2011 at Patriot Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

Glitter, glitter everywhere. It's how best to describe not only the glitter-soaked fans (and the girls who wore sparkly dresses), but also the music lineup at the Ke$ha concert on Sunday August 21st, as the pop starlet shone in her first big arena tour in the D.C. area. The "Tik Tok" hitmaker began her show with an industrial metal stage backdrop and Kanye West-like glow-in-the-dark glasses. She then turned to her two male backup dancers and proceeded to dominate them in to doing her bidding. It set the stage for a thoroughly entertaining night. Not to be outdone, LMFAO provided a fun vibe with their outrageous neon colored tops and matching zebra striped pants and crazy party rap tracks.

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Chris Brown's "The F.A.M.E." Tour at Verizon Center featuring T-Pain

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

Chris Brown is one heck of a performer. Brown dazzled and wowed the crowd with his impressive vocals, and his outstanding dance routines and flips. Many times he reveled his chiseled abs to the delight of the predominately female audience at the Verizon Center, and after tirelessly running and jumping throughout his 90-minute set, it's easy to see how he stays in shape. Out of all his impressive dance numbers, it was the show's closer "Beautiful People" --where Brown and his dancers all wore LED jumpsuits-- that stole the show. During this dance routine, dancers in the top row would blink first, and then that light source would cascade down the brightly lit stairwell to the dancers below before they all danced in unison. Verizon Center wasn't quite full, but Brown's talent level is without question, and it's only a matter of time before his F.A.ME. will be able to fill up every arena he steps into.

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Mary J. Blige at The Fillmore Silver Spring Grand Opening

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

It’s not too often that the Queen of hip-hop soul gets upstaged at her own show, but it’s also not every day that a sparkly new 2,000-seat ode to great concert venues of past, present and future make their debut. This was the impression that the brand new Fillmore in downtown Silver Spring left the gasping audience waiting for Mary J. Blige to take the stage for the venue’s first ever concert. Many in attendance were in sheer awe of the venue’s lighting, visuals, amenities, arts on display, and state-of-the-art sound system that is among the best in the D.C. area. It was ten years in the making, and after overcoming a slew of red tape, project delays, and funding issues, the venue made a great first impression. Throughout the halls were odes to the rich history of the Fillmore’s past in San Francisco, New York and other cities with concert flyers of epic performances from those legendary venues. Perhaps one day Mary J. herself will be among those to grace the venue’s walls! And with her stirring performance Thursday night, she made a great case for herself to be inducted to music wall of fame.

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Evening of Exploration at National Geographic Society featuring James Cameron and Chevy Chase

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Washington Life Magazine

SPLASHING DOWN: Numerous delighted gasps were heard as guests entered the National Geographic's cafeteria magically transformed into an undersea wonderland with "seaweed" floating down from above and luminescent "fish scales" in the form of CD's covering the walls. A video of underwater life played throughout the room, giving the impression of dining in long lost Atlantis (On Philippe Starck-designed chairs no less). EXPLORERS: Film director James Cameron was named as an Explorer in Residence, prompting an uncharacteristic "I'm not worthy!" reply.

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Manu Chao La Ventura Tour at Terminal 5 New York City

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Kesta NYC

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Lil Wayne's "Im Still Music Tour 2011" ft. Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross & Travis Barker

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

Lil Wayne brought his "I Am Music Tour 2011" with Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and Travis Barker with Mixmaster Mike to the Verizon Center on Sunday. The D.C. stop on his 25-city tour featured hits from his latest release “I Am Not a Human Being.” Nicki Minaj also put on a great show as she sung some of her hits in outlandish and crazy costumes only Nicki herself can pull off. In addition, Rick Ross and Travis Barker more than held their own onstage and proved to be great supporting acts to the Young Money headliners.

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Britney Spears' Femme Fatale Tour at Verizon Center featuring Nicki Minaj

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

Pure pop pleasure. There's not much more to say about Britney Spears' latest return to yet another sold-out show at the Verizon Center featuring special guest Nicki Minaj. The concert featured many of the same bells and whistles that have been used by pop starlets of her caliber. Britney rode fancy motorcycles a la Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas. She pranced around in a golden bikini much like Lady Gaga did in her recent tour. She even flew on angel wings while bombs filled with glitter exploded all around her making the shiny stuff rain on the crowd, which has been done by Pink and several others.

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Opera Ultra Lounge Grand Opening Party

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

DC's newest lounge made its grand debut in dramatic style on Thursday August 25th. Its design, atmosphere and elegant sophistication is worthy of one name -- Opera (1400 I Street N.W.). When the venue opens to the public on September 8th, guests are in for a treat -- as Opera brings the best features found in some of the world's finest posh nightclubs to D.C. With their sights on industry leading talent, celebrities and guests, Opera combines a one-of-a-kind venue exquisitly designed by renowned nightlife designer Francois Frossard, a state-of-the-art Funktion One sound system from BAHA Design Group, and lighting by acclaimed designer Michael Meacham of iDesign. The venue will host both DJ-driven events and live music performances for an experience D.C. has yet to see or feel.e venue is brought together by managing partners John Alexiades, Mood Bacho, Alex Haje and Walid Zeytoun, a dream team of people behind some of the top nightclubs in New York and Miami, and now bring that expertise to D.C. with Opera.

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Keith Urban's "Get Closer" Tour at Verizon Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

You can easily tell that Keith Urban is a good ol’ country boy. Extremely affable, kind, and engaging with his fans, Urban went out of his way to make sure that everyone in the audience got a chance to get an up an close and personal experience at Verizon Center. While many arena shows feature a brief acoustic song or two for the audience in the back of the venue, Urban spent nearly a third of his two-hour-plus show from a special rotating stage in the back of the arena much to the delight of the fans in that section. That stage also rose up so that even those in the nosebleeds got a solid view of the Nashville crooner and hubby to actress Nicole Kidman. Urban made the intimate evening even more special for a select few in the audience who were lucky enough to perform “Kiss A Girl” with the multi-Grammy award winner on center stage.

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Maná "Drama Y Luz" World Tour 2011 at the Patriot Center

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

While many in the District were celebrating Bastille Day, there was a different kind of rocking party altogether in Fairfax as the three-time Grammy winning Mana brought their record setting arena tour to the sold-out Patriot Center. Widely regarded as the most sought after ticket in all of Latin music, and recently coming off of four-straight sold out shows at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, the concert lived up to its billing as one of the must-see shows of 2011, regardless of language. The show was in support of Maná’s new album “Drama y Luz” (Drama & Light)—and the band thrilled the crowd with its powerful ballads and beautifully backlit stage. The stunning stage set the mood for each of their performances such as their current No. 1 hit “Lluvia al Corazón” (images of hearts beating and rain falling as the colors in the backdrop changed after each stanza). A truly epic performance that left the crowd enthralled well after the 2.5 hour set.

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A Night of Tennis with Serena Williams featuring Michelle Obama

Photo Credit:Alfredo Flores, Special to Metromix

At the brand new Kastles Stadium at the Wharf on the waterfront, guests got to see the first lady of tennis, superstar Serena Williams, as well as First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama as Williams played her first match back in the U.S. since 2009. A capacity crowd of 2,600 were in attendance with some of the proceeds going to Fashion for Paws benefiting the Washington Humane Society (WHS). The WHS cares for nearly 30,000 animals a year in DC through its broad range of programs and services, taking in an average of 33 animals a day in need of help. Fashion for Paws is a high caliber marketing and fundraising program of the WHS that infuses the nation’s capital with cutting-edge high fashion and luxury lifestyle brand events, drawing an extraordinary crowd of VIP’s, fashion and animal lovers alike.