Correction Appended

Residents can come and celebrate tonight in Eastern Market’s North Hall, which was minimally damaged by the fire that charred most of the building early Monday morning, said John Harrod, executive director of Market 5 Gallery.

Before the fire, the gallery used the North Hall to hold shows, exhibit artwork and sell wares. Harrod said he hopes to have it open for this weekend’s outdoor market, and he said residents are invited to dance and socialize in the building tonight at 9 p.m.

The market’s South Hall suffered the brunt of Monday’s fire, which blazed for almost three hours. But the North Hall fared well, Harrod said, with only the pottery studio getting some smoke damage. Even so, he said he is hopeful the studio will offer classes again soon.

Lantos Heads to Archives for a ‘Conversation’

An introspective “American Conversation” is taking place June 28 at the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building between Allen Weinstein, archivist of the United States, and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.). The discussion begins at 7 p.m. and is described as a view on global affairs from the Congressional majority.

The conversation will focus on the Representative’s achievements, including time spent as a professor of economics, an international affairs analyst for public television and a business consultant. Currently chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Lantos is serving his 14th term in office. A native of Budapest, Hungary, the Representative is the only Holocaust survivor ever to serve in Congress.

The discussion marks the second program in the “American Conversations” series, part of the National Archives’ public programs that focus on American history and identity. The program is free and open to the public with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information call 202-357-5000 or e-mail public.program@nara.gov.

H Street Farmers Market Opens Saturday

The FRESHFARM Market on H Street Northeast will open for the season on Saturday. The seasonal market features everything from fruits and vegetables to eggs and cheese.

Opening day will feature Chef-At-Market demos with free samples at 11 a.m. The markets are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The H Street market will join already open FRESHFARM locations in Foggy Bottom (Wednesdays), Penn Quarter (Thursdays), Dupont Circle (Sundays) and St. Michaels, Md., (Saturdays). The FRESHFARM Market in Silver Spring, Md., also is opening Saturday.

The H Street market is in the parking lot at 625 H St. NE.

More information is available at www.freshfarmmarkets.org.

— Emily Yehle, Andrea Kemp and Daniel Heim

Correction: May 3, 2007

The “American Conversation” event with Rep. Tom Lantos has been rescheduled to June 28.