Vegans vs. Bacon This Weekend in the DMV
This weekend’s forecast is great with the vegans set to take on bacon in the DMV. (The D.C. VegFest is Saturday at The Yards while 500 feet away the Capitol Bacon Festival is on at the Half Street Fairgronds). There will be plenty of drinking to go along with Talk Like a Pirate Day, Oktoberfest at Heurich House and a local beerfest and concert at the Fillmore. Saturday is also the D.C. State Fair, the Bluebirds Blues Festival in Largo, The Big Build at the National Building Museum and comedian Wanda Sykes at Strathmore.
Silver and Yellow line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals, with Yellow Line trains running between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square only. Green Line trains will run every 20 minutes, and Orange and Blue line trains will run every 24 minutes. Red Line trains will operate every 15 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont and every 8-10 minutes between Grosvenor and NoMa-Gallaudet from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Yearbook won outstanding animated short this year at the D.C. Shorts Film Festival. (Photo: The Borscht Corp.)
D.C. Shorts Film Festival
If you missed the first week of the annual D.C. Shorts Film Festival, don’t fret: The final weekend brings out the Best of DC Shorts. Host venues the U.S. Navy Memorial theater and the Angelika Film Center will each screen two different 90-minute showcases of the festival’s award winners and audience favorites, including outstanding animated short Yearbook, about a man tasked with writing the final pages of human history before the world ends.
Through Sept. 21 at the U.S. Navy Memorial theater, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW and Angelika Film Center, 2911 District Ave., Fairfax, Va. at various times. Tickets are $12 online or $15 at the door.
Talk Like a Pirate Day in Arrrrrlington
It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day in Arrrlington. (Graphic: Wikipedia)
In celebration of Talk Like a Pirate Day the Arlington outpost of Baltimore brewery Heavy Seas Ale will offer pirate-themed specials and swag leading up to its taking part in breaking the Guinness Book of World Records’ record for largest number of casks tapped at the same time. Heavy Seas and the other participating alehouses will tap Loose Cannon IPA, a first time release cask ale with grapefruit zest at 6 p.m. sharp. Diners get $1 off the Arrrrrlington Burger and can enjoy pirate-inspired menu items such as giant turkey legs.
Sept. 19 beginning at 11 a.m. at Heave Seas Alehouse, 1501 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Admission is FREE!
Local Brews, Local Grooves
Local beers and bands are on tap at the Fillmore. (Graphic: Fillmore)
This first-of-its-kind festival celebrated the best of D.C., Maryland and Virginia with its finest breweries, hottest bands and tastiest food. Sample 20 craft beers from nine area breweries including Brewer’s Art, D.C. Brau, Devil’s Backbone and Dominion at Local Brews, Local Grooves, while rocking out to six local bands including Pasadena, Md.’s aptly named Pasadena, Bumpin’ Uglies, Billy Lyve, Mr. Mighty!, Knolly Moles and more.
Sept.19 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Fillmore, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Admission is $19 for admission only or $38 for admission and beer sampling online or at the door.
The Big Build
Kids can be a build at the National Building Museum’s Big Build. (Photo: Roarbots)
Be a builder for a day at The Build Build. Amateur builders young and old can discover what it’s like to build a brick wall, carve stone, hammer nails and much more as they work side by side with designers, builders and artisans demonstrating their skills. Meet plumbers, electricians, ironworkers, landscape architects, woodworkers and experts in many other fields to learn about their professions and hobbies. Help construct the World’s Tallest Toy out of Superstructs in the Great Hall and visit the truck “petting zoo” with a firetruck, garbage/recycling truck, cement mixer, cranes and more!
Sept. 20 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Arlington Festival of the Arts
The 2nd annual Arlington Festival of the Arts returns to Clarendon. (Photo: Howard Alan Events/Facebook)
The 2nd annual Arlington Festival of the Arts returns to Clarendon. Enjoy a weekend of true visual inspiration, as over 100 artists showcase their works including glass, mixed media, paintings, jewelry and pottery; providing all sorts of opportunities to appreciate – and purchase- art. The show is located on North Highland Street, which runs over Clarendon Blvd & Wilson Blvd.
Sept. 20 and 21 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. along North Highland Street, which runs over Clarendon and Wilson Boulevards, in Clarendon. Admission is FREE!
D.C. VegFest at The Yards include animal-free cooking demonstrations. (Photo: Compassion Over Killing)
D.C. VegFest
Vegetarians and vegans rejoice – there’s a festival just for you. With free admission and free samples of local vegetarian and vegan food, D.C. VegFest is for those interested in eliminating animals from their diet. The first 1,000 attendees receive a free tote bag full of samples and coupons. There will be more than 100 vendors, a beer garden, live music, cooking demonstrations, presentations from authors and celebrities including Robin Quivers, Howard Stern’s smart and sassy sidekick, and a kids’ activity area.
Sept. 20 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Yards Park, N and First Streets SE. Admission is FREE!
D.C. State Fair
The D.C. State Fair features fruits and vegetables among other contests. (Photo: D.C. State Fair)
Who says you need to be a state to have a state fair? Not the organizers of the D.C. State Fair, which is entering its fifth year. Expect all the staples you’d expect at a fair, but with a D.C. spin. Contests include photography, kids’ art, honey, pie, ice cream, mason jar flower arrangements, funkiest –looking vegetable, longest vegetable, heaviest vegetable, heaviest fruit, pickled fruits, jam & jelly and ferment vegetable. There will also be a bevy of District-based baker, crafters and more. For the first time, there will be a biergarten at the fairgrounds from 3-7 p.m.selling D.C. Brau beer as well as Bourbon & Byrd, bourbon mixed with Runningbyrd Tea crafted at Union Kitchen, and other specialty cocktails/mocktails.
Sept. 20 from noon-7 p.m. at Old City Farm and Guild, 925 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
The 22nd annual Bluebird Blues Festival returns to Prince George’s Community College. (Graphic: Prince George’s Community College)
Bluebird Blues Festival
The 22nd annual Bluebird Blues Festival is back featuring Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark and his Allstars, Fast Eddie and the Slowpokes, Hardway Connection, The Holms Brothers, The Jewels, Mahajibee Blue, Nadine Rae and the Allstars, Jeff Scott and Jesi Terrell performing on two stages. Children can participate in face painting, roving artists, tattoo art and many other events in Hallam Theatre. Food and craft vendors offer an array of unique items and cultural delicacies from around the world. Take your chairs and celebrate the blues!
Sept. 20 from noon-6 p.m. at Prince Georges’s Community College, 301 Largo Road, Largo Md. Admission is FREE!
Capitol Bacon Festival
The Capitol Bacon Festival features over 40,000 bacon dishes. (Graphic: Capitol Bacon Festival/Facebook)
OK, so you like meat. In a twist of irony, you can walk a half block from D.C. VegFest and end up at the Capitol Bacon Festival, where vegetables are those wrapped in bacon or dipped in bacon grease. Dozens of the area’s top restaurants, food trucks and specialty vendors will be on hand featuring bacon sampling and full sized bacon cuisine, bacon confectionary delights, bacon eating contests, bacon cooking demonstrations, live music from some of the area’s top bands (who also love bacon), bacon cooking competitions, full service bars with beer, wine and liquor, a vendor village featuring various non-food bacon themed vendors and much more.
Sept. 20 from 1-7 p.m. at the Half Street Fairgrounds, 1299 Half St. SE. General admission tickets with three bacon sample tickets are $25 and VIP tickets, which include 10 bacon samples, early access, a VIP tent and VIP bar, official T-shirt and poster, are $65 online.
The D.C. Brewer’s Guild celebrates Oktoberfest at Heurich House on Saturday. (Photo: Infobus)
Oktoberfest at Heurich House
Celebrate Oktoberfest with the D.C. Brewer’s Guild – a total of eight District breweries – at this authentic party in the historic Heurich House. Entry includes unlimited Oktoberfest-inspired beer from guild members in a souvenir mug, soft pretzels, German sausages and traditional Oktoberfest from Die Zwei.
Sept. 20 from 1-4 p.m. at Heurich House, 1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW. Admission is $60.
Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash
Dachshunds prepare to race at the 2013 Wiener 500. (Photo: ontaponline)
it’s time for the 3rd annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash to benefit the Washington Humane Society. Germany’s short legged canine ambassadors will help kick off Oktoberfest at the annual fundraiser. Over $500 in cash and prizes will be awarded. In addition to the races, there will be beer and bratwursts, music and contests for all breeds for best trick and best costume.
Sept. 20 from 1-4 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center’s Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes brings her comedy to Strathmore. (Photo: Strathmore)
Comedian Wanda Sykes brings her stand-routine to Bethesda. Sykes began her stand-up career at a talent showcase in 1987 in the District. Since then, she went on to appear on popular shows Curb Your Enthusiasm and The New Adventures of Old Christine and two HBO stand-up specials. Sykes has also starred in her own television shows Wanda at Large and Wanda Does It as well as appearing in films such as Evan Almighty.
Sept. 20 starting at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda. Tickets range from $49-$129.
The Festicle
The Festicle is a testicle carnival. (Photo: travel.uk)
Come one, come all – step right up and have a ball (literally). Ladies and gentlemen, spectators of all drinking ages … behold the Festicle. Presented by Spike Mendelsohn’s new Spike’d Events. Mendelshon will be competing against Maple Ave’s Tim Ma and Toki Underground’s Erik Bruner-Yang in a testicle cook off. Live music will be provided by White Ford Bronco, Black Masala, Supreme Commander and Tennis System. Carnival fun includes micro (midget) wrestling, fire dancers, aerial acrobats and more.
Sept. 21 from 1-9 p.m. at The Bullpen, 20 M St. SE. Tickets are $17 online and $25 at the gate.
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.
