Events on Tap for Everyone This Weekend
Saturday’s forecast may be hot and humid, but there’s plenty of events going on inside, especially if it rains. But if you like the heat, there’s several events going on outside too. From plays and the second biannual Chinese Film Festival to a cat show, museum sidewalk sale and a food truck cookoff to an oyster fest and a brewery’s birthday bash, there’s something for everyone this first weekend of September.
Blue and Yellow line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Yellow Line trains will run between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square only. Green Line trains will operate every 16 minutes and Orange and Silver line trains will operate every 15 minutes. Red Line trains will run every 15 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmon, and every 8-10 minutes between NoMa-Gallaudet between 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
The Shoplifters
Tony Award-nominated Broadway actress Jayne Houdyshell plays an unapologetic pilferer in the world premiere of Morris Panych’s The Shoplifters, at Arena Stage. Houdyshell plays Alma, a woman who prefers the five-finger discount over the senior one. Eventually, she’s caught by a rooking security guard who thinks he’s Eliot Ness and an older one who just wants to go home.
Tuesday-Sunday now through Oct. 19 at various times at Arena Stage’s Kreeger Theater, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets cost $45-$90.
D.C. Chinese Film Festival
The biennial D.C. Chinese Film Festival is back this weekend with 69 films, four panels and 31 screenings and events. The festival includes screenings at E Street Cinema, the U. S. Navy Memorial Heritage Center, the Wilson Center, the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery, the Goethe-Institut, American University Malsi Doyle and Michael Forman Theater, Busboys and Poets on Fifth Street NW and Silo. The films come from eight countries and include five documentary features, nine documentary shorts, nine experimental shorts, animation shorts, four narrative features, and 18 narrative shorts. Free spotlight screenings include The Silk Road of Pop, Cop Shop II, I’m Here, New Beijing, New Marriage, Stray Dogs, Rock Me to the Moon and Old Dog.
Through Sept. 7 at various times and locations (see above) around D.C. Seven spotlight screenings are FREE! Individual tickets are $10, opening film tickets are $15 and closing film tickets are $20 and include a cocktail party. An all access Festival Express Pass is $66, a Friday pass for all Friday screenings is $15, Saturday and Sunday passes are $25. Passes are available online or at the venue box offices.
National Capital Cat Show
Cat lovers will be purring over the chance to see up to 450 cats compete in championship, premiership, kittens and household pet classes at the National Capital Cat Show. This year’s show will feature the Havana Brown and the Korat. Watch cats run the agility course, jumping over hurdles, through tunnels and around the ring in timed trials. There will also be vendors selling all kinds of cat supplies and cat rescue leagues so you can adopt a cat.
Sept. 6 from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sept. 7 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, Va. Admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children under 6 and seniors 60 or older and $30 for a family of five at the door.
Museum Sidewalk Sale
Start your holiday shopping early at the Museum Sidewalk Sale. The Kennedy Center is hosting a number of museums including Dumbarton House, International Spy Museum, Navy Museum Store, President Lincoln’s Cottage and Tudor Place Historic House and Garden for a special shopping event featuring gifts, books, textiles, prints, jewelry and more.
Sept. 6 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Atrium at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. Admission is FREE along with two hours of parking!
Curbside Cookoff
The DMV Food Truck Association hosts the Curbside Cookoff, a food truck festival featuring 20 food trucks, awards, culinary battles and lots of food. Participating food trucks include lunchtime staples Arepa Zone, Feelin’ Crabby, Fire & Rice, Phowheels and That Cheesecake Truck. Purchase tickets in advance and you’re automatically entered to win a spot on the judges’ panel for the chef battles. Prizes will be awarded for eight categories including Food Truck of the Year, Chef of the Year and Breakthrough Dish.
Sept. 6 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at First and M Streets NE. Tickets cost $5 online or at the gate, children 12 and under are free.
D.C. Oyster Fest
For the first D.C. Oyster Fest, Rappahannock Oyster Bar serves up a bevy of oysters along with a selection of other local foods, craft beers and wines. Admission grants you six oysters and a glass of booze. You can also test your stamina and your stomach during an oyster-eating contest. There will also be a shucking contest. It will feature some of the best food, beer and wine producers in the DMV, including D.C. Brau, 3 Stars Brewing Company, Red Apron, Gordy’s Pickles, Early Mountain Vineyard, DCity Smokehouse, James River Distillery, Catoctin Creek Distillery, Timber Pizza, Flying Dog Brewery and more. In between sampling all of the food and drink options, listen to live bluegrass music, take the kids to the oyster arts and craft tent and make some oyster trinkets.
Sept. 6 from noon-6 p.m. at Union Market’s Dock 5, 1309 Fifth St. NE. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for children.
Harry Potter and the Art of Spying
Is Severus Snape the best double agent ever? Join International Spy Museum executive director Peter Earnest and spy novelist Lynn Boughey as they reveal the spycraft contained in the Harry Potter series. Be part of the kick-off celebration of their new book, Harry Potter and the Art of Spying. Using his experience as a real spy, former CIA clandestine operations officer Earnest and co-author Boughey discuss Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, disclosing all the wizardly spy craft employed by our Potter friends and their enemies as they form a subversive organization and learn spycraft and magic by themselves. Then delve into specific spy topics — using the Potter series as examples — such as types of spies and recruiting, codebreaking, the art of intelligence gathering, practicing deception and intelligence analysis. Come as your favorite Potter character and you could win a prize. There will also be giveaways and demos.
Sept. 6 from 1-3 p.m. at the International Spy Museum, 800 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Atlas Brew Works first anniversary
Atlas Brew Works is celebrating its one-year anniversary. For one day only, it will open the brewery doors, take over the street and throw one heck of a party. Atlas will be pouring their finest brews, D.C.’s best food trucks will be serving up their specialties and three area bands will take the stage. Food trucks include D.C. Sliders, Cap Mac, Woodland’s Vegan Bistro and Goodie’s Frozen Custard. Additional beer will be available for purchase from the bar inside the brewery. Bumper Jacksons, Unstable Heights and Sunwolf will provide live music.
Sept. 6 from 1-5 p.m. at Atlas Brew Work’s brewery, 2052 West Virginia Ave. NE. Tickets cost $10. You must be 21 or older to attend. Tickets include admission, one beer and a donation to the Washington Humane Society.
24th annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival
The Rosslyn Business Improvement District hosts the 24th annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival. Performers include Rebirth Brass Band, New Orleans Grammy-winners who uphold the tradition of brass bands while bringing in funk ad hip-hop rhythms; Red Baraat, an eight-piece band from Brooklyn that merges North Indian bhangra rhythms with elements of jazz, go-go, brass funk and hip-hop; Ghost Train Orchestra, founded by composer/arranger Brian Carpenter, a critically-acclaimed ensemble whose bold, energetic performances reimagine jazz from the 20s and 30s; and the Corey Wallace DUBtet, a five-piece band led by Baltimore trombonist Corey Wallace, who’s been called the area’s “best and most consistently exploratory musicians.” Local food trucks including La Tingeria, Baba’s Big bite, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Kafta Mania, Lemongrass Truck, Willie’s Po’ Boy, Wanna Shawarma and The Big Cheese will be there as will fashion trucks The Thread Truck and Street Boutique. Beer and wine will be for sale. Streets around the park will be closed on Saturday from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Festival parking is available in the parking garage at 191 Fort Myer Drive (enter on North Moore Street). Bring blankets or low chairs.
Sept. 6 from 1-7 p.m. at Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway, Rosslyn. Admission is FREE!
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.