Asleep at the Wheel
DC's most famous arts venue, the Kennedy Center, also offers one of the city's most under-used tourist attractions - The Millennium Stage. Millennium Stage is really nothing more than two giant stages set up at either end of the large atrium/hall way facing the Potomac. The reason it should be a top tourist destination - every night at 6 they offer a free performance. This is a very low cost opportunity to stroll around a famous DC landmark and check out some tunes.
I would also argue that it's appropriately used by DC residents. This would typically imply that it's a favorite destination for swells of Washingtonians, but instead I mean that people rarely go... and for good reason. Millennium Stage's typical offerings are less than appealing to most non-stuck-up-artsy-fartsy-folks. Here's a selection of descriptions pulled from actual upcoming shows "The influential 6- and 11-string guitarist" and "creating a hybrid of Cajun, country, stringband, and swing" or how about "salsa band combines native African and Cuban rhythms with Afro-American funk, jazz, soul". I think you catch my drift.
There are few exceptions though, and these shows are totally under-used. This week we went to check out one of my favorite Western Swing bands, Asleep at the Wheel. They were very entertaining, packing the crowded temporary dance floor set up for the occasion. If you're interested in checking out the show, it's available on the Kennedy Center's website here: http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M4841&type=A
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