Youssou N'Dour was in Washington, DC, last Friday for a meeting at the White House with President Bush in honor of Malaria Awareness Day. Reuters reports that the two discussed the recent rise in the cost of food around the world and the resulting political instability, both of which have made the world's poorest all the more susceptible to malaria-causing conditions. Youssou is working to raise both awareness and the funds to eradicate the disease in part through such simple, cheap, and highly effective means as mosquito netting. Following his meetings in Washington during the day, Youssou made his way to New York City for an intimate benefit concert at Joe's Pub Friday night. 

This past weekend, Chicago Opera Theater began India Blooms in Chicago, its monthlong festival of Indian culture in preparation for the May 14 Midwest premiere of John Adams's latest opera, A Flowering Tree. The work features a libretto by Adams and his longtime collaborator Peter Sellars, adapted from an ancient southern Indian folktale and poetry translated by the late A. K. Ramanujan, a scholar at the University of Chicago. The composer will conduct the May 14 Chicago premiere and the succeeding performance, on May 17; three more performances will follow; all will take place at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.

Don't forget to stop by your local independently owned record store tomorrow to check out all that's going on for Record Store Day. The Black Keys, fresh off last night's spot on the Late Show with David Letterman, will be DJing at New York City's Other Music. Also spinning during the day will be Tapes 'N' Tapes, Dead Meadow, Grizzly Bear, Deerhunter, and Interpol.

Tune in to the Late Show with David Letterman tomorrow night to catch The Black Keys perform a song off their new album, Attack & Release. The band will be at NYC's Other Music Saturday to spin an hourlong guest-DJ set in store as part of Record Store Day. There will also be all sorts of prizes and special deals throughout the day.

Two of the most memorable stars of the HBO series The Wire will be in Durham, North Carolina, this Friday to show their support and raise funds for the John Avery Boys & Girls Club there, reports the News & Observer. Andre Royo, who played Bubbles on the show, and Michael K. Williams, who played Omar Little, will discuss the important role the Club plays in the lives of so many young people.