Summer Brings Plenty to Do in the DMV
Summer has finally arrived in the DMV, and it looks like it brought friends: great music, cold beer, golf, movies and plenty of food. And the weekend’s weather looks perfect. So here are this weekend’s best bets.
Metro is in the middle of the second surge of its SafeTrack maintenance program with Potomac Avenue and Stadium-Armory stations closed and shuttle buses replacing trains between Eastern Market and Benning Road on the Silver Line and Eastern Market and Minnesota Avenue on the Orange Line. Orange Line trains will run every 15 minutes between Vienna and Eastern Market and Minnesota Avenue and New Carrollton. Silver Line trains will run every 15 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Eastern Market and Benning Road and Largo Town Center. On the Silver Line, the Greenboro station will be closed until 2 p.m. Sunday for a safety exercise. Blue Line trains will run every 12-15 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Arlington Cememtery between 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and every 20 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and the Pentagon from 10 p.m.-midnight. Yellow Line trains will operate very 12-15 minutes between Huntington and Fort Totten between 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and every 20 minutes after 10 p.m. The Red and Green Lines will operate on regular weekend schedules.
The AFI Docs film festival wraps up this weekend. (Photo: AFI Docs)
AFI Docs Film Festival
The annual AFI Docs film festival continues through the weekend, showing 94 films from 30 countries, including three world previews. Highlights include Gleason, the story of New Orleans Saints start player Steve Gleason before being diagnosed with a rapidly progressive form of ALS at age 34. The film documents his struggle as he makes a video diary for his son at 6:15 p.m. Friday at E Street Cinema; a shorts program titled “Points of Departure” at 2 p.m. Saturday at AFI; and closing feature Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Newseum, which chronicles the life and work of Lear, a TV icon known for his keen writing and producing talents that include All in the Family, The Jeffersons and Maude. Lear will be present for a Q&A after.
Through June 26 at E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW, the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, and AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $10-$12 online or at the door. The entire schedule is online.
Quicken Loans National
Troy Merritt is the defending champion at the Quicken Loans National. (Photo: Associated Press)
The Quicken Loans National wraps up this weekend. As for the golfers, you won’t see Tiger Woods teeing up at his tournament, but you will get to watch Rickie Fowler, the sixth-ranked player in the world, along with other familiar names.
Through June 26 with gates opening at 7 a.m. at Congressional Country Club, 7312 Persimmon Tree Road, Bethesda. Daily passes are $40 for adults, $10 for children ages 13-17 and free for kids 12 and younger.
One Life: Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth and other Red Sox pitchers. (Photo: Underwood & Underwood/National Portrait Gallery)
Babe Ruth, who died nearly 70 years ago, remains one of the most memorable and important athletes of all time. One Life: Babe Ruth examines Ruth as a baseball legend and the marketing frenzy his name and image fueled before the commercialization of sports superstars became routine. The exhibit puts more than 40 of his artifacts on display, including photographs and memorabilia, along with items related to the men who pursued his records, such as Hank Aaron and Roger Maris.
Through May 21, 2017, at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
The National Postal Museum becomes Bikini Bottom for its family day on Saturday. (Image: Nickelodeon)
National Postal Museum Family Day
Join in the Bikini Bottom fun at the National Postal Museum Family Day with SpongeBob SquarePants. Meet SpongeBob, take park in nautical-themed games and activities like sandcastle building, write a postcard at the SpongeBob postcard writing station, watch a never-before-seen episode, pose for pictures in a Bikini Bottom-themed photo booth and more.
June 25 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Admission is FREE!
National Capital Barbecue Battle
Barbecue will fill Pennsylvania Avenue during the National Capital Barbecue Battle this weekend. (Photo: National Capital Barbecue Battle)
The 24th annual National Capital Barbecue Battle returns to Pennsylvania Avenue NW this weekend, with a full lineup of 30 bands including Sugar Bear, Trouble Funk, I&I Riddim, Tweed Funk, Be’la Dona, Bad Influence and more on three stages, exhibitions and demonstrations and, of course, meat of many varieties that has been smoked, chopped or pulled. The battle itself takes place on Saturday on the big stage.
June 25 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and June 26 from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. along Pennsylvania Avenue NW between Ninth and 14th Streets. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the gate.
The Wine on the Waterfront food and wine fest is at Oronoco Bay Park this Saturday. (Illustration: Vine on the Waterfront)
Vine on the Waterfront
Vine on the Waterfront, formerly the Alexandria Food & Wine Festival, livens up Old Town Alexandria’s scenic waterside park, with family-friendly entertainment paired with food from local restaurants and wineries. Expect booths from Alexandria Cupcake, Carluccio’s, Mum Mum Thai, Fiona’s, Railstop Gastropub and others, as well as wine from nearby Potomac Point and La Grange and a few more from Central Virginia. Bands include Justin Trawick and the Common Grounds and the Allan Scott Band. There is also a children’s corner with a moon bounce and crafts.
June 25 from noon-6 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., Alexandria. Admission is FREE! Food tickets are $20 for 8 and wine tasting tickets are also $20. extra.
Capital Fringe Music Festival
Shark Week performs Saturday at the Capital Fringe Music Festival. (Photo: Shark Week/Facebook)
The first-ever Capital Fringe Music Festival, a two-day outdoor music festival, features 14 bands on one stage. The two days of local and live music include bands ranging from Shark Week and 178 Product to Zongo Junction. There will also be a beer tent and food trucks.
June 25 and 26 from noon-9 p.m. at Old City Farm & Guild, 925 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Adission is FREE!
Shinola Block Party
Greensky Bluegrass plays at the Shinola Block Party on Saturday. (Photo: Maha Hakki)
Greensky Bluegrass regularly sells out the 9:30 Club. On Saturday, you’ll get to see the band for free, as it plays at the Shinola Block Party in Logan Circle. The Detroit-based Shinola is bringing in one of its own in Michigan’s Greensky Bluegrass, and the Howard Gospel Choir and DJ Ben Chang also will perform. There will be food from area food trucks and drinks, including beer, to purchase as well and bocce and corn hole.
June 25 from 3-8 p.m. on R Street NW and the Whitman Walker Health parking lot at R and 14th Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
PupusaFest
The Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Columbia Heights holds its second PupusaFest on Sunday. (Photo: PupusaFest)
Last June, the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Columbia Heights sold nearly 10,000 pupusas in a single “day of the pupusa,” and it wasn’t enough. This year at its second annual PupusaFest parishioners plan on selling more of the traditional Salvadoran dish made from masa and filled with pork, chicken or beans and cheese and topped with curtido, a fermented cabbage slaw made with red chili peppers, vinegar and carrots. Proceeds will support the church’s dinner program, hypothermia shelter, alcoholism program and other ministries. There will also be a health fair with blood pressure screening and insurance information, children’s games and music.
June 26 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at Shrine of the Sacred Heart, 3211 Sacred Heart Way near the intersection of 16th Street and Park Road NW. Get three pupusas for $5. Cash only.
Taste on Wheels
Sunday’s Taste on Wheels is a food truck brunch. (Photo: Taste on Wheels)
What’s brunch in the DMV without mimosas? Taste on Wheels is D.C.’s largest outdoor brunch with more than 20 food trucks, each with a signature “taste item” for $3 or less. Food trucks include Arepa Zone with an arepa stuffed with scrambled eggs, onions, bell peppers and tomato sofrito; Captain Cookie & the Milk Man with its breakfast of champions – a maple bacon cookie with toffee ice cream – CarolinaQ with scrambled eggs with peppers, onions and chest topped with BBQ pork, chicken or brisket; Federal City Brothers with a mini sausage quiche; D.C.Taco Truck with a breakfast taco; D.C. Slices with a breakfast pizza topped with country gravy, bacon, eggs and cheddar cheese; and Urban Bumpkin BBQ with an Alaskan-style doughnut topped with smoked BBQ chicken, chili garlic coleslaw, pico de gallo, cilantro and scrambled eggs sprinkled with lime Siracha mayo among others.There will also be artisan vendors, exhibitors, and more than 20 varieties of beer and wine along with live music and games all day.
June 26 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at The Yards parking lot, 1300 First St. SE. Admission with one free drink is $5 or $19 with bottomless drinks.
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.
