Mother’s Day Weekend Events in the DMV
Here’s hoping that Friday’s rain goes away for a weekend filled with fun things to do outside and a sunny Mother’s Day. But if it doesn’t, there are plenty of movies — both festivals and big-screen blockbusters with the opening of Captain America: Civil War — and museums to keep you busy and dry.
Work continues on five of the six Metrorail lines this weekend. The Minnesota Avenue and Deanwood stations will be closed, with free shuttle buses replacing trains between Stadium-Armory and Minnesota Avenue on the Orange Line and between Stadium-Armory and Benning Road on the Blue Line. Orange and Blue line trains will operate every 15 minutes with some adjustment to the last train of the night. Silver Line trains will run every 10 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston ONLY. Red Line trains will single track between Medical Center and Friendship Heights with trains running every 18 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont and every 10 minutes between Farragut North and Silver Spring from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Trains will single track between Georgia Avenue and Prince George’s Plaza on the Green Line wit trainings running every 24 minutes. Because of that work, Yellow Line trains will run every 15 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square ONLY. Also, Metro will open at 5 a.m. on Satuday for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
Wonder
If you haven’t visited the Wonder exhibit at the Renwick Gallery yet, you are running out of time to see all of it. Sunday is the last day four of the installations will be on view: John Grade’s “Middle Fork,” Maya Lin’s “Folding the Chesapeake,” Jennifer Angus’ “In the Midnight Garden” (that’s the pink room with the bugs) and Chakaia Bookers “Anonymous Donor.” Most of the others will close July 10, except Janet Echelman’s “1.8” in the Grand Salon, which will remain indefinitely, and Leo Villareal’s “Volume” light display over the stairs that the museum has acquired.
Through May 8 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Renwick Gallery, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
The Maryland Film Festival
The Maryland Film Festival in Baltimore runs through the weekend with more than 200 screenings of 133 films. A few highlights: On Friday, Baltimore’s own eccentric John Waters is hosting a screening of Terence Davies’ The Deep Blue Sea, starring Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston, at the MICA Brown Center; and on Sunday, also at the MICA, the closing night feature is Hunter Gatherer, starring Andre Royo — a.k.a. Bubbles from The Wire.
Through May 8 at seven venues throughout Baltimore’s Station North Arts District including the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Walter Museum. Tickets range from $12-$15 for general admission to $50 for the closing film.
Flower Mart
The Flower Mart at the Washington National Cathedral, which benefits the cathedral’s grounds and gardens, offers the obvious chance to purchase flowers and plants, but also has fun family activities, entertainment including dancers and singers, puppet shows, antique wooden carousel rides and children’s rides and games, food and more. Tower Climbs up 333 steps to the bell-ring chamber of the Central Tower are offered for $10 per person and Gargoyle Tours are $20 per person. There will also be an international floral display with arrangements from several embassies and one representing the U.S.
May 6 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and May 7 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
National Public Gardens Day
Enjoy the historic, 5 1/2-acre garden with a mix of open lawns, garden structure and historic garden places with stone paths dotted with nook and fountains at Tudor Place at no charge (admission to the house is regular price) in honor of National Public Gardens Day. Stroll among spring blooms at leisure or join free guided tours at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Don’t miss the garden sale just in time for Mother’s Day featuring gifts, seed and live plants cultivated from heirloom specimens on the estate.
May 6 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Tudor Place, 1644 31st St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Green Festival
Back for its 12 year, the Green Festival returns to the convention center this weekend promoting environmentally-friendly lifestyles and green products. The festival will screen two documentaries: Cowspiracy – The Sustainability Secret raises awareness of the harmful effects of animal agriculture, and Love They Name, produced by Leonardo DiCaprio and narrated by Liam Neeson, about how a renewed connection with nature is key not only to well being, but also solving the environmental crisis. Three stages features hands-on cooking demos, educational activities, free sessions on yoga, boxing, jujitsu, African dancing and hoola hooping, and speakers.
May 6 from noon-6 p.m., May 7 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and May 8 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Square. Admission is $16.82 for one day, $27.37 for the weekend and $37.92 for all three days. Mothers and children 16 and younger are FREE!
Day of the Dog
Day of the Dog at Congressional Cemetery is a chance for everyone to walk man’s best friend through the scenic grounds without paying the K-9 Corps membership fee. Activities include a 5K, which costs $40, and a kids fun run both starting at 9:30 a.m., tours, a raffle, a sock relay challenge, bobbing for hot dogs, face and paw painting, photos, ping pong ball toss, lawn Twister, an agility course and more. There will be food trucks from the Big Cheese, Doug the Food Dude and Dangerously Delicious Pies and beer from Port City Brewing and Atlas Brew Works on premises to keep everyone feed and watered. Dog rescue organizations will also be on hand.
May 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Around the World Embassy Tour
More than 40 non-European embassies from countries spanning the globe – from Afghanistan to Argentina to Uganda and Uruguay – open their doors to visitors for the Around the World Embassy Tour. (The European Union’s Shortcut to Europe event is May 14.) Activities vary: Argentina, for instance, will have a group of dancers demonstrating tango while offering tours of the 110-year-old building; Indonesia will open the doors of the Walsh Mansion for a bazaar, cooking demonstrations and children’s activities. But be warned, this is popular and the lines are long, so plan your stops in advance and head to your favorites first.
May 7 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at non-European embassies in Northwest D.C., mostly on Embassy Row and International Drive. Admission is FREE, though some may require government ID.
Funk Parade
The Funk Parade on U Street has evolved into an all-day celebration of music, art, food and culture with the parade itself – starting on T Street NW, zagging onto Vermont Avenue then zigging back to U Street – only taking up about an hour of the day. Meanwhile, there will be DJ parties at Amsterdam Lounge, Nellies and Velvet Lounge starting at noon and a music festival at venues throughout the U Street corridor running from 7-10 p.m. The Harrison Rec Center field will feature a family area with crafts, games, painting, beat production classes, chess and story time and the basketball court will be transformed into a public disco skate park.
May 7 from noon-10 p.m. on the U Street corridor with the parade beginning at 4 p.m. Admission is FREE!
Taste of 8th
More than 25 Barracks Row restaurant will serve appetizer-sized samples of their best-know or newest dishes during Taste of 8th. Participants include Sweet Lobby, Souk, Sapore, Pineapple and Pearls, Nooshi Sushi, Medium Rare, Matchbox, Lavagna, District Doughnut, DCanter, Chat’s Liquors, Capital Teas, Banana Café, Bayou Bakery, Belga Café, Ambar and more.
May 7 from 1-4 p.m.on Barracks Row, Eighth Street SW. Tickets are $5 for a single taste or $20 for five.
Running of the Chihuahuas
The fifth annual Running of the Chihuahuas returns to the southwest waterfront this weekend with 96 Chihuahuas racing in groups of eight on a 60 foot race track for $500 in cash and prizes, food trucks from Sol Mexican, Red Hook Lobster Truck and Captain Cookie, beer stands, all-breed dog contests for best dressed dog and best trick and live music from Sly 45. The cost to enter a dog in the races is $25 per dog. Proceeds benefit Rural Dog Rescue.
May 7 from 1-4 p.m. at The Wharf, 600 Water St. SW. Admission is FREE!
VinoFest
VinoFest returns with everything you’d expect: more than 20 wineries and food from Milk Bar, Maketto, Dirty South Deli, Timber Pizza, Slate Wine Bar and Buredo, among others. But the music gets equal billing this year, as Jon Batiste and Stay Human – the band from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert — take the stage, in addition to Trouble Funk, Paperhaus and the Original Wailers.
May 7 from 3-10 p.m. at Yards Park, 1300 First St. SE. General admission tickets with eight 2-ounce wine tastings are $55, VIP tickets with private VIP bar access with premium open bar from 3-8 p.m. are $99.
Adams Morgan Summer Concert Series
The Adams Morgan Summer Concert Series kicks off this weekend with Boat Burning. Sponsored by the Adams Morgan Partnership BID, the free concerts happen every Saturday during May and June except Memorial Day weekend. There will be hoola hoops for adults and children to play with and bubbles for the kids. The series continues next Saturday with Hollertown followed by the Oxymorons on May 21, Jelly Roll Mortals on June 4, Goin’ Goin’ Gone on June 11 and finishes with Dave Ihmels & Friends on June 25.
May 7 from 5-7 p.m. in front of BB&T Bank at the corner of 18th Street and Columbia Road NW. Admission is FREE!
Carmina 35
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington is celebrating 35 years in song with Carmina 35. The show includes the classic choral piece Carmina Burana, which celebrates springtime, love, lust and fortune. The special concert features the Kennedy Center debut of Gallim Dance, featuring all new choreography by Andrea Miller, with a gender-bending piece specially commissioned by the chorus. Also joining the chorus will be member of the New York City Master Chorale, soprano Paige Cutrona, tenor Robert Baker and baritone Young Kwang Yoo.
May 8 at 8 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $25-$81.
Mother’s Day
Don’t forget to wish Mom a happy Mother’s Day. If you are taking her out for brunch, check out our Mother’s Day dining guide.
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.