Film Screenings Dominate Weekend Events
This is the weekend of films in the DMV. Divas Outdoors is back at Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens while the Made in Hong Kong film series contuse at the Freer Galley of Art. Bethesda, Farragut Square, National Harbor, the National Mall and Rosslyn will all show outdoor movies. Of course, there’s plenty of other things to fill your weekend too.
This weekend, Yellow Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals except Saturday at Suitland and Branch Avenue where trains will run every 24 minutes. Orange, Silver and Blue line trains will operate every 24 minutes. Red Line trains will operate every 16 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont with additional trains running every 8-10 minutes between Friendship Heights and Rhode Island Avenue between 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Divas Outdoors
Divas Outdoors presents John Water’s cult classic Hairspray, for a truly Divine summer evening sipping a special signature champagne cocktail, beer or wine. Arrive early and set out your elaborate picnic spread. Prizes will be given for the best theme picnic spread. You’ll get bonus points if you dance The Bug, The Bird or The Maddison. Winners receive an autographed Very Crudely Yours, a John Waters box set with Hairspray, Pink Flamingons, Female Troble, Desperate Living, Polyester, Pecker and A Dirty Shame alonge with a John Waters DVD scrapbook. No outside alcohol is permitted.
July 24 from 7-10:30 p.m. at Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Tickets are $20 online or at the door and include admission to the mansion.
Jazz in the Garden
There’s nothing better than free outdoor music on a warm summer night. Pack a picnic and enjoy the music at Jazz in the Garden. A different jazz artist will be featured each Friday during the summer. You can bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages, but beer, wine, sangria and mixed drinks must be purchased from the Pavilion Café. A special menu of appetizers, entrees and salads is also available at the café, while an outdoor grill will serve barbecue pork sandwiches, beef and chicken kabobs and chicken sausages. A gelato cart will also be available. Sin Miedo, a salsa band, performs this week, followed by Incendio, an acoustic Latin guitar world fusion jazz trio, next week.
Every Friday through Aug. 28 from 5-8:30 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Made in Hong Kong Film Festival
The annual Made in Hong Kong Film Festival celebrates 20 years of Hong Kong movies at the Freer/Sackler with screening and special events, including guest appearances, new hit films and rare classics. Friday’s film From Vegas to Macau stars Chow Yun-fat and Nicholas Tse, Chow plays the suave gambler “Magic Hands” Ken, who teams up with his protégés to take down an international crime ring. Sunday’s film is Martial Club is followed by a Chinese Lion Dance performed by the Wong People Kung Fu Association and a demonstration and discussion with martial arts masters Dennis Brown, Oso Tayari Casel, Vincent Lyn, Bobby Samuels and Ron Wheeler moderated by producer and martial artist Bey Logan. The film is about a rivalry between two kung fu schools. The film’s fight scenes, with their fidelity to classic martial arts technique and etiquette, make it the perfect lead-in to a cross-cultural discussion of movies and martial arts. Both films have English subtitles.
July 24 at 7 p.m. and July 26 at 2 p.m. at The Freer Gallery of Art’s Meyer Gallery, Jefferson Drive at 12th St. SW. Admission is FREE!
Reggae Night
Monsoon and S.T.O.R.M. Reggae Band featuring a Jamaica born singer and DJ Denton “Monsoon” Bedward will headline Reggae Night, the second concert of the season in Rock Creek Park. Also performing will be Puma Ptah and Ras Biruk & Ras Band.
July 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Carter Barron Amphitheatre, 4850 Colorado Ave. NW at 16th Street and Colorado Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Golden Cinema Series
The Golden Cinema Series will show Italian Job, starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Donald Sutherland and Edward Norton this week. Led by John Bridger (Sutherland) and Charlie Croker (Wahlberg) a team is assembled for one last heist to steal $35 million in gold bars from a heavily guarded safe in Venice, Italy. After successfully pulling off the heist, a team member, Steve (Norton), driven by greed and jealousy, arranges to take the gold for himself and eliminate the remaining members of the group. Thinking the team dead, he returns to L.A. with the gold. Charlie and the survivors of this betrayal follow Steve to exact revenge against the traitor. Charlie enlists the help Stella (Charlize Theron), a professional safe cracker, to get revenge.
July 24 starting at 7:30 p.m. at Farragut Square, Connecticut Avenue and K Street NW. Admission is FREE!
Rosslyn Outdoor Film Fest
This year’s Rosslyn Outdoor Film Fest features movies with memorable quotes. Friday’s screening is Clueless. Take blankets, low chairs and a picnic or enjoy dinner and drinks at one on the nearby restaurants. Arrive early for the best seats. There will be pre-show games and prizes. There will also be a scavenger hunt for VIP seating and snacks.
July 24 at sunset in Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway. Admission is FREE! Parking is $3 after 6 p.m. at Atlantic Parking Garage on Moore Street.
Bethesda Outdoor Movies
The Bethesda Outdoor Movies wraps this weekend with Mrs. Doubtfire on Friday and Imitation Game on Saturday. A limited number of chairs are available, so moviegoers are encouraged to take their own lawn chairs.
July 24 and 25 starting at 9 p.m. at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues. Admission is FREE!
Montgomery County Farm Tour & Harvest Sale
Head to Montgomery County this weekend to celebrate its agricultural heritage, promote local farms and indulge in seasonally fresh food during 26th annual Montgomery County Farm Tour & Harvest Sale. Nineteen farms will open to the public on Saturday and 14 will reopen on Sunday. Activities vary – some farms will offer hayrides, pick-your-own options and chances to pet animals – but nearly all of them will have fresh products for sale.
July 25 and 26 at various farms throughout Montgomery County. For a list of farms, addresses, hours and events, click here.
Guys & Dolls Vintage Clothing and Accessory Pop-Up
Etsy shop Instant Vintage 78 is bringing retro-threads to D.C. for its Guys & Dolls Vintage Clothing and Accessory Pop-Up. Vendors from the DMV and as far away as Philadelphia and North Carolina will set up shop so you can browse their wares while sipping cocktails and listening to throwback jams from DJ Amen Ra. There will be a best outfit contest, drink specials, prizes and giveaways.
July 25 from noon-4 p.m. at Penn Social, 801 E St. NW. Admission is FREE, but and RSVP is required!
National Dance Day
You’ll have the chance to dance at the Kennedy Center during National Dance Day. The free celebration of movement begins in the Grand Foyer, with performances by tap dancer Baakari Wilder, deaf African American choreographer Antoine Hunter, one-legged tap dancer Evan Ruggiero and D.C.-based hip-hop crew Culture Shock. Then, the crowd gets is turn, with lessons from Cyrus “Glitch” Spencer, the Season 9 runner up on So You Think You Can Dance; AXIS Dance Co., one of the world’s most acclaimed physically integrated companies; ClancyWorks Dance Company, a D.C.-based contemporary group; and D.C. Bhangra Crew, traditional Indian dancers; as well as Move This World, a global non-profit using creative expression to fight violence and bullying. Participants are encouraged to arrive early and wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
July 25 from 4:30-7 p.m. at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Artists & Artisans Summer Jam
Join 3 Stars Brewing Co. for its third annual Artists & Artisans Summer Jam. 3 Stars turns the brewery into a “locavore” market packed with local food trucks, chefs, artists, musicians, distillers and designers who have set up shop to show off their products. The vendors for this year’s party are a who’s who of local craft including Rappahannock River Oysters, Swizzler Food Truck, Dirty South Deli, Greenhat Distiling, Leopold Brothers Spirits, Sloppy Mama’s BBQ, Jerkface Artisan Jerky, Chup’s Fruit Ketchup, Buttercream Bakeshop, Crushing Apparel and many more. In addition to DJs spinning classic hits there will also be a live performances by Spirit Animal, J and the 9s and World of Light.
July 26 from 2-6 p.m. at 3 Stars Brewery, 6400 Chillum Place NW. Tickets are $15 and include a custom goblet and first beer.
Movies on the Potomac
National Harbor presents Movies on the Potomac. This week, The Flintstones will be shown on the big screen on The Plaza. So pack your blankets, grab food to go from one of the many restaurants and watch a free movie with a view of the Potomac.
July 26 starting at 6 p.m. on The Plaza across from Peeps & Co., 150 National Plaza, Oxen Hill. Admission is FREE, but parking is $3 for the first hour, $5 for 1-2 hours and $10 for 2-4 hours.
Screen on the Green
Sure, a number of free outdoor movie series began in June, or even earlier. But they’re all dwarfed by Screen on the Green, which drops a 40-foot movie screen on the National Mall near the Air and Space Museum. The four-week series continues with The Poseidon Adventure . Films start at sunset, which is usually about 8 p.m., but veterans know to arrive much earlier with blankets and picnic in tow.
July 27 and every Monday through Aug. 10 staring at sunset on the National Mall between fourth and Seventh Streets. 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.