Redskins Training Camp Opens
There’s something for everyone to do this weekend in the DMV. The Loudon County Fair wraps up, while Redskins training camp begins. The Capital Fringe Festival is also wrapping up with extra performances of audience favorites.
This weekend, Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Orange, Silver, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate every 24 minutes. Red Line trains will operate every 16 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont with trains running every 8-10 minutes between Dupont Circle and Rhode Island Avenue between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Fans get players’ signatures from RGIII on the first day of Redskins training camp in Richmond. (Photo: Washington Redskins)
Washington Redskins Training Camp
The Washington Redskins fire up training camp this weekend in Richmond, with open practices on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Redskins fans can get up-close look at quarterback Robert Griffin III’s progress, new players on the offensive line and the overhauled defense. Savor this moment, Redskins fans: Every NFL team is tied for first in the standings, nearly every football player is healthy and in great shape, and unbridled optimism is the dominant emotion.
Through Aug. 16 with walkthrough at 10:35 a.m. and practice at 3 p.m. with the Bon Secours Training Center, 2401 W. Leigh St., Richmond, open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is FREE with online registration, but parking is $10, cash only, throughout the city.
Loudon County Fair
The carnival at the Loudon County Fair opens at 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. (Photo: Loudon County Fair/Facebook)
The Loudon County Fair continues at the fairgrounds in Leesburg. On Friday, see an acrobatics show, tinsmithing, a livestock auction and a watermelon eating contest; on Saturday, the professional bull riding and rodeo and the Kiss-A-Pig contest both start at 7:30 p.m., followed by open mike karaoke. The carnival, meanwhile, starts at 1 p.m. each day.
July 31 and Aug. 1 from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. at the Loudon County Fairgrounds, 17558 Dry Mill Road, Leesburg. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children. Carnival rides and games are additional.
Capital Fringe Festival
A scene from St. Jimmy Celebrates The Food at Our Feet at the Capital Fringe Festival. (Photo: Capital Fringe Festival)
The expanded Capital Fringe Festival, one of the largest fringe festivals in the country, wraps up this weekend with shows through Sunday. Still going: St. Jimmy Celebrates The Food at Our Feet,” about a spiritual voyager who interacts with celebrity chefs from television — all played by Jimmy Grzelak; and #sexts, a one-act play by Ande De that gets all up into our relationships and technology.
July 31-Aug. 2 at various times at the Logan Fringe Arts Space, 1358 Florida Ave. NE. Tickets to individual shows are $17; all Fringe-goers age 13 and older must make a one-time purchase of a Fringe button for $7. Tickets are available at the box office from 5-10:30 p.m. Friday and noon-10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Nationals at 10: Baseball Makes News
An exhibit celebrating a decade of the Nationals in D.C. opens this weekend at the Newseum. (Photo: Newseum)
A decade after the Montreal Expos relocated and the Washington Nationals became this city’s boys of summer, a new exhibit, Nationals at 10: Baseball Makes News opens at the Newseum. The exhibit examines the media coverage of the team during those 10 years and displays significant items, such as the ball Ryan Zimmerman poked over the fence in the first game at Nationals Park and Bryce Harper’s “Clown question, bro” T-shirt. On Saturday, there are special activities to mark the opening of the exhibit. Activities include indoor batting practice from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., gallery talks at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., decorate baseball keepsakes including visors and foam mitts at noon and 4 p.m., race across a giant gameboard as you identify elements of a front page using sports milestones at 1 and 3:30 p.m., and take a look back at the team’s 10-year history with sports writer James Wagner at 2:30 p.m.
Aug. 1 and 2 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission on Saturday and Sunday is just $10 for adults and seniors — the Nats are out of town. The exhibit runs through Nov. 27 — but otherwise admission is $22.95. Up to four youths are free with each paid adult or senior admission.
Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale
Shop Old Town and Del Ray this weekend for bargains up to 80 percent off during Summer Sidewalk Days. (Photo: Visit Alexandria)
Grab bargain basement seasonal deals at stores in Old Town and Del Ray this weekend at the sixth annual Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale. More than 50 boutiques will offer deeply-discounted summer merchandise up to 80 percent off. Find incredible bargains and unique reassures from Alexandria’s small business boutiques selling fashion to jewelry to home décor, culinary, seasonal and gift items.
Aug. 1 and 2 in Old Town and Del Ray sections of Alexandria. Hours vary by merchant. Admission and parking at city meters are FREE!
Visit Gateway DC’s Summer Spalsh party at St. Elizabeth’s for fun and health screenings. (Photo: Gateway DC)
Summer Splash Party
Gateway Park and Pavilion continues its Gateway to Health summer series with a summer splash party with live music and a health fair. The family-friendly event features the Rob Flowers Jazz Quartet and DJ Redds, moon bounce and water games, free rapid health screenings, free $20 grocery vouchers to individuals who get tested, BBQ food vendors, a farmers market, art and jewelry vendors, face painting and more.
Aug. 1 from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at Gateway DC, 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. Admission is FREE!
Maysles Films Inc.: Performing Vérité
The National Gallery of Art East Building’s auditorium reopens this weekend with free movies. (Photo: National Gallery of Art)
The East Building of the National Gallery of Art has been closed for renovations for more than a year. But patrons who have missed visiting architect I.M. Pei’s modern building can catch a glimpse this weekend when the 500-seat auditorium reopens for film screenings. This weekend’s films are a tribute to Albert Maysles, who died in March. On Saturday, Grey Gardens will be shown at 1 p.m. and Salesman at 3 p.m. Sunday’s film is the Rolling Stones concert documentary from 1970, Gimme Shelter at 4 p.m.
Aug. 1 at 1 and 3 p.m. and Aug. 2 at 4 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art’s East Building Large Auditorium, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is free, but seating is first come, first served.
Star Trek at Wolf Trap
Wolf Trap will show Star Trek with score by the National Symphony Orchestra on Saturday. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)
Watch Star Trek at Wolf Trap — it could be the perfect environment in which to watch director J.J. Abrams’s 2009 reboot. The movie will be shown in HD on a big screen while the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Emil de Cou performs Michael Giacchino’s score live.
Aug. 1 beginning at 8:30 p.m. at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $30-$58 online or at the gate.
Signature Theatre Open House
The Signature Theatre in Shirlington will hold an open house on Sunday. (Photo: Ecragg/Wikipedia)
The Signature Theatre Open House packs a lot into one day, with singers, bands and choruses performing on the Plaza Stage and a Signature Voice competition in the Max Theatre, in which the winner gets to join the Broadway on the Plaza Grand Finale performance. Thre will be performances every 15 minutes, master classes and cabarets. In addition, there will be activities and games for families, free snacks and opportunities to purchase discounted tickets to shows from the upcoming season. A complete schedule is available online.
Aug. 2 from noon-8:30 p.m. at the Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arington. 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.
