10 Things to Do This Weekend in the DMV
It appears we’re past the worst of the summer heat here in the DMV, which is good news if you want to get outside this weekend. If you’re feeling sporty, both summer teams are home this weekend, with the Nationals hosting the Giants Friday through Sunday and United hosting the Philadelphia Union on Saturday. And, with the end of summer approaching, you can get a little back-to-school shopping done this weekend with tax-free weekend in Virginia from Friday through Sunday. If you spend $150 or more at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City and take your receipts to guest services, you will get a FREE backpack. You can also drop off back-to-school supplies there for needy students in Arlington and D.C. through CORE Innovations.
Good news this weekend too if you will be taking Metro’s Orange or Green Lines anywhere – both will be operating on a regular weekend schedule. Because of SafeTrack Surge 6, Red Line trains will single track between Takoma and Silver Spring, running every 15 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont and every 8-10 minutes between Shady Grove and NoMa-Gallaudet from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Silver and Blue Line trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road, operating every 24 minutes. And Yellow Line trains will run every 12-15 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square ONLY.
Rotary Crab Feast
The 71st annual Rotary Club of Annapolis Crab Feast claims to be the world’s largest crab feast, and who can argue with these numbers: 350 bushels of No. 1 steamed male crabs, 100 gallons of Maryland crab soup, 3,400 ears of corn, 1,800 hot dogs, 150 pounds of beef barbecue, watermelon, beer and soft drinks. If you still have room, there will be a bake sale and cake raffle. You won’t go home hungry since it is all-you-can eat and drink, and you’ll be filling up for a good cause, as all proceeds go to charities in the Annapolis area.
Aug. 5 from 5-8 p.m. at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, 550 Taylor Ave., Annapolis. Advanced tickets are $65 for adults and $25 for children ages 3-12 until noon Friday. Adult tickets are $75 and children 3-12 are $25 at the door.
Union Market Drive-In
The Union Market Drive-In returns this weekend with a kid flick, Disney’s Ratatouille, getting screened on the big white wall outside the market. Remaining movies include Grease on Sept. 2 and the original Ghostbusters on Oct. 7. Take some chairs and a picnic or grab some dinner from the stands inside the market and enjoy the show.
Aug. 5 at 8 p.m. (gates open at 6:30 p.m.) at Union Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE. Admission is $10 per car or free for people who walk or bike.
Jelly’s Last Jam
Local musician Mark G. Meadows makes his acting debut in the DMV premier of the Tony Award-winning musical Jelly’s Last Jam. The show chronicles the life of Jelly Roll Morton, the pianist credited for helping birth jazz. Told from the perspective of its recently deceased, suck-in-limbo title character, the musical extends past the ups and downs of Morton’s life, simultaneously delving into issues of history and race and how jazz came to be.
Through Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. on Sundays at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Shrilington. Tickets are $40-$89.
MidCity Dog Days
For the MidCity Dog Days sidewalk sale, now in its 17th year, more than 70 restaurants and shops – including 2 Birds 1 Stone, Bazaar Spices, Bonobos, Bucketfeet, Cork Market, Estadio, Glen’s Garden Market, Home Rule, Lettie Gooch, Maki Shop, Miss Pixie’s and Room & Board – are participating in one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Many businesses will have deals on items like ice cream, coffee, clothes and cocktails. Check out the Facebook page for all the participants and deals.
Aug. 6 and 7 during regular business hours at stores along the 14 and U Street NW corridors. Admission is FREE!
Will and Jane
If you love William Shakespeare and Jane Austen, the Folger Library has an exhibit for you. As part of the ongoing Wonder of Will 400th anniversary celebration of the Bards Death, Will and Jane: Shakespeare, Austen and the Cult of Celebrity examines the influence pop culture had on the afterlives of the two authors. The works of both writers have proved ripe for adaptation, parody and merchandising. For example, both have inspired zombie-based parodies: Shakespeare Undead and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Exhibit highlight include rubbings from the authors’ gravestones, branded merchandise, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet salt-and-pepper shakers and even a Shakespeare bobblehead.
Aug. 6-Nov. 6 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Biscuit Jam
Local artists, musicians and chef are coming together in honor of biscuits, sort of. Biscuit Jam, organized by Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. to mark the company’s second anniversary is a celebration of the creative spirit found in D.C.’s Ivy City neighborhood, which Mason Dixie calls home. The festival will have live music from local acts, including the Bumper Jacksons, Jonny Grave and the Tombstones and Justin Trawick and the Common Good; food vendors from all over D.C. including Arepa Zone, Black Pearl Tarts, BBQ Bus, The Big Cheese Truck, Capital Candy Jar, Confluence Coffee, D.C. Brau, Ivy City Smokehouse, Krave Jerky, Red Hook Lobster Pound, The Ugly Mug and others; and more than 150 artists showcasing their wares. General admission tickets include one beer or glass of wine.
Aug. 6 from noon-10:30 p.m. at Industrious Warehouse, 1900 Kendall St. NE. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $125 for VIP admission with and open bar.
Chicken and Mumbo Sauce Party
The District is known for its Mumbo sauce, the best topping for chicken and fries found in Chinese carryouts. Not only has the city made its claim to fame with the popular chicken and Mumbo Sauce combo, but the city singlehandedly curated the existence of go-go music. Now you can experience the two D.C. originals at the Chicken and Mumbo Sauce Party, with a day party that promises to have revelers eating well and moving right. Kitchen Cray will cater the event with — you guessed it — fried chicken, fries and mumbo sauce, and the New Impressionz Band will perform, in addition to DJs Breemz, Dylan the Gypsy, T2, Anthony Somebody and Mane Squeeze. There is an open bar from 4-5 p.m. and free chicken and mumbo sauce until 6 p.m.
Aug. 6 from 4-10 p.m. at Blind Whino, 700 Delaware Ave. SW. Tickets are $20.
Seth MacFarlane & the NSO
Grammy-nominated funnyman Seth MacFarlane, best known as the creator of Family Guy and Ted, shows off his impressive musical abilities by singing pop standards with the National Symphony Orchestra. He has traveled the world to sing with renowned orchestras, such as the BBC Proms and the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonic, lending his baritone voice to the hidden gems of the ‘40s and ‘50s swing era. He has released two albums and his third debuted at number 1 on the iTunes jazz charts last October.
Aug. 6 at 8:15 p.m. at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25-$65.
Wonderland Ballroom 12th Anniversary
The Wonderland Ballroom was the coolest hangout in Columbia Heights before 11th Street NW was a thing, back when the neighborhood was still full of affordable group houses. Now, it is celebrating 12 years of dancing and Delirium Tremens with a pig roast, live music and drink specials. The invitation for the event also promises “general mayhem.”
Aug. 7 starting at 4 p.m. at The Wonderland Ballroom, 1101 Kenyon St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Tom Goss and The Mavins
Prodigal son and singer Tom Goss has returned from Los Angeles for a one night stand in the DMV before heading to New York. He’ll be performing songs from his newest album What Doesn’t Break, which was released on Tuesday. Local band, The Mavins, will join him.
Aug. 7 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. at Iota Club & Café, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Tickets are $12.
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.