Treat Dad to Some Fun This Weekend
It looks like it is going to be a great weekend for Father’s Day in the DMV. If you can keep Dad off the golf course, there is plenty to do around the DMV including community festivals, jazz on the Capitol Riverfront, movies in a cemetery and lots of food.
Phase 2 of Metro’s SafeTrack maintenance program begins Saturday, with the Potomac Avenue and Stadium-Armory stations on the Orange, Blue and Silver lines closed through July 3. Shuttle buses will be provided between Eastern Market and Minnesota Avenue and Eastern Market and Benning Road with stops at Potomac Avenue and Stadium-Armory. Orange and Silver Line trains will run every 10 minutes outside the work zone. Yellow Line trains will operate on a Rush+ schedule all day and Blue Line trains will run every 12 minutes between Franconia and Arlington Cemetery ONLY during cemetery hours. This weekend, Red, Yellow and Green line trains will operate on a regular schedule. Orange and Silver Line trains will run every 15 minutes outside the construction areas. Blue Line trains will operate every 12-15 minutes between Franconia and Arlington Cemetery between 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and every 20 minutes between Franconia and the Pentagon after 10 p.m.
D.C. Jazz Fest at the Yards
The three-day finale to the 12th annual D.C. Jazz Festival, D.C. Jazz Fest at the Yards on the Capitol Riverfront includes Grrls Rule on Friday, a free concert with Akua Allrich & The Tribe, Cissa Paz and Sharel Cassity & Elektra. Saturday’s schedule includes singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, the Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Septet, the Chuck Brown Band and the DCJazzPrix finalists; while Sunday includes Kamasi Washington, trumpeter Igmar Thomas and the Revive Big Band with rapper Taib Kweli, singer Bilal and Ravi Coltrane, E.J. Strickland and Transient Beings, and Fred Foss’ homage to NEA Jazz Master Jackie McLean. Other D.C. Jazz Festival events this weekend include saxaphone legend Maceo Parker at the Hamilton at 7:30 and 10 p.m. on Friday ($19-$42).
June 17 from 5-10 p.m. and June 18 and 19 from 2-10 p.m. at Yards Park, 355 Water St. SE. Admission is FREE! on Friday. Saturday and Sunday admission is $45 for general admission, $85 for premium unreserved seats or $150 for premium seats plus a VIP lounge. Children 12 and younger are FREE!
Taste of Reston
Produced by the Reston Chamber of Commerce, the Taste of Reston features live entertainment on three stages, a family fun zone and a wine ‘n dine area with cooking demonstrations and informational sessions. Participating restaurants include American Tap Room, Big Bowl, Buffalo Wing Factory, Delsur Baked Goods, GreenFare Café, Gregorio’s Trattoria, M&S Grill, McCormick and Schmick’s, Mon Ami Gabi, Nomini Bay Oyster Ranch, Not Your Average Joes, Neyla Mediterranean Bistro, Obi Sushi, Paradise Catering, Pitango Gelato, Robecks, Tavern 64 Regional Kitchen, The Melting Pot, Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro and Udon Food.
June 17 from 3-11 p.m. and June 18 from noon-11 p.m. at Reston Town Center, 11900 Market St., Reston. Admission is FREE! Tickets are $1 each or $20 for 24 and may be used to purchase of food beer and wine. Food tastes range from 1-5 tickets, beer is 5 tickets for a 16-ounce cup or 6 tickets for craft beer, and wine is 6 tickets for a 5-ounce pour.
Truckeroo
The Truckeroo food truck festival is back for its monthly visit outside Nationals Park with more than 25 food trucks, in addition to live music and a number of beverage options. Participating trucks include Arepa Zone, BBQ Bus, Captain Cookie, Crepe Love, Due South, Feelin’ Crabby, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Surfside, That Cheesecake Truck, The Big Cheese, Captain Crab, Miso Honey, Urban Poutine, Pittsburgh Rick’s and many others. Note that expected rain and thunderstorms have delayed the scheduled opening.
June 17 from 4-11 p.m. at the Fairgrounds outside Nationals Park, 1201 Half St. SE. Admission is FREE! Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Cinematery
One of the unique outdoor movie options around the District is Cinematery at Congressional Cemetery in Southeast Washington. Watch movies on a big screen while gathering among the gravestones. Take your own food, drinks, chairs and blankets for the screening of All About Eve, a 1950 classic starring Bette Davis and Anne Baxter, both of whom were nominated for best actress. Other screenings will be held July 22 and Sept. 16.
June 17 with gates opening at 7 p.m. with the movie at 8 p.m. at Congressional Cemetery.1801 E St. SE There’s a $10 suggested cash donation at the gate.
Columbia Heights Day Festival
The Columbia Heights Day Festival kicks off summer this year instead of ending it. The family-friendly party stretches along the busy two block stretch of 11th Street and includes a beer garden, food, vendors, live music on two stages, artisans, a dunk tank and carnival activities for kids at Tubman Elementary School.
June 18 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. along 11th Street NW from Park Road to Kenyon Street and at Harriet Tubman Elementary School. Admission is FREE!
Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest
The Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest features 50 regional microbreweries, including a number of breweries that don’t often make it to the District such as Norfolk’s Smartmouth, Winchester’s Escutcheon and Fredericksburg’s Spencer Devon and Adventure, just to name a few. Bands will perform ncluding Rew Smith, Ken Fischer and the Lloyd Braun Band on Saturday and I & I Riddim Reggae Band, Lato and the Lloyd Dobler Effect on Sunday, and there will be a cornhole tournament each day as well. There will also be information sessions and kids entertaining include a moon bounce, face painting and balloon twisting. Vendors will be selling food and arts and crafts and exhibitors will have displays.
June 18 from noon-7p.m. and June 19 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Dr., Centreville. Admission is $30 online and includes a commemorative glass and six sampling tickets.
Petworth Park Summer Jam
The first Petworth Park Summer Jam on the green of the Petworth Recreation Center is billed as a big, family-friendly dance party, featuring house and techno DJs and electronic musicians. Baltimore singer Ultra Nate is headlining, along with Lisa Moody, event founder Chris Burns, DJ Lisa Frank and Trev-ski. Other Summer Jams will be held July 16 with Sam Burns, the Sol Power All-Stars, the Sol Power Band, Juan Zapata and Chris Nitti; and Aug. 20 with Beautiful Swimmers and DJs from 1432 R records.
June 18 from 5-9:30 p.m. at the Petworth Recreation Center, 801 Taylor St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival
The Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival is part of Caribbean-American Heritage Month Feast on a number of jerk dishes, such as chicken, pork, lobster and even ice cream, and check out chefs competing in the Jerk Cook-Off. There also will be including traditional Jamaican folk and reggae music throughout the day by Freddie McGregor, Christopher Martin, Edwin Yearwood, Ikaya, Nomaddz, the Image Band, DJ G-Nice. Comedian Michael Campbell is the emcee.
June 19 from noon-9 p.m. along Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 12th and 14th Streets. Tickets are $20 with children 12 and younger 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.