Perfect Fall Weather for Weekend Events
It feels like fall out there, and you will find plenty of ways to make the most of the weather this weekend with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. Plus, you get an extra hour to enjoy it — just remember to turn your clocks back an hour when you go to bed Saturday night.
SafeTrack Surge 10 continues shutting down the Red Line between NoMa-Gallaudet and Fort Totten including the Brookland and Rhode Island Avenue stations with buses replacing trains. Trains will run ever 12-15 minutes between Shady Grove and NoMa-Gallaudet and every 15 minutes between Fort Totten and Glenmont. Orange and Blue Line trains will single track between McPherson Square and the Smithsonian stations with trains operating every 20 minutes. Silver Line trains will run every 20 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston ONLY. Yellow and Green Line trains will single track between Mt. Vernon Square and U Street with trains every 20 minutes. The Yellow Line will operate between Huntington and Greenbelt. On Sunday until about 2 p.m., Green Line trains will operate in two segments for an emergency response drill with trains running between Greenbelt and Congress Height and other trains running between Congress Heights and Branch Avenue.
Artists finish hanging their work for this year’s Artomatic in Potomac. (Photo: Artomatic)
Artomatic
This week, Artomatic returns and this year it is in Potomac Md. This huge, unjuried, volunteer-run art festival lands each fall in a massive, empty building — all the better to fill with works from creative people from the region. This year, more than 350 artists will have their work on display and for sale including visual arts, music, performance and more. Find something you like — for yourself or someone else — and enjoy snacks and drinks while you browse, in addition to catching scheduled performances, hands-on activities, workshops, tours, seminars and more.
Thursday from noon-10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon-midnight and Sundays from noon-6 p.m. through Dec. 9 at Park Potomac, 12435 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac, Md. Admission is FREE! A free shuttle bus will take visitors from the north side of the White Flint Metro station to Park Potomac from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
Luce Unplugged
Luce Unplugged at the Smithsonian American Art Museum is back from 6-8 p.m. Friday. (Photo: Smithsonian American Art Museum)
For its monthly concert Luce Unplugged, the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Luce Foundation Center is hosting two District performers: Hand Grenade Job, featuring the light strumming and low-key harmonies of Beck Levy and Erin McCarley; And KAG, the solo moniker of Priests singer Katie Alice Greer. The Friday showcase also will feature a cash bar and free tastings from Bold Rock Hard Cider.
Nov. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Luce Foundation Center, third floor, Eighth and G Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Hillary vs Trump Cartoon Debate
Art Soiree’s Hillary vs Trump Cartoon Debate is at the Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown from 8 p.m.-midnight Friday.
(Cartoon: Matt Wuerker/Politico)
Get the latest overview of the presidential candidates and insight into the hottest debate topics through the artistic commentary by editorial cartoonists from Politico, The Economist, The Washington Post and other publications at Art Soiree’s Hillary vs Trump Cartoon Debate. For more than 500 years, the art of political cartoons have been used to convey social and political messages. Explore the cartoons, meet some of the artists and purchase signed prints of the panels, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Cartoonists Rights Network International. The cartoons may not change your mind or help you decide on whom to vote for, but they will definitely make you laugh.
Nov. 4 from 8 p.m.-midnight at the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, 3100 South St. NW. Tickets are $20 in advance.
Novemberfest
Rustico’s Novemberfest features more than 70 Virginia craft beers and ciders. (Photo: Rustico)
Novemberfest is like Oktoberfest, only in November. This beer festival from Greg Engert of Neighborhood Restaurant Group pulls together more than 70 beers and ciders from Virginia craft brewers. The outdoor block party features 28 Virginia breweries and four cideries including Commonwealth, Pen Druid and the Veil making their Northern Virginia debuts, with others, such as Triple Crossing, Strangeways, the Answer and Ardent bringing beers that will be making their first appearance. There will also be wine from Barboursville, music from local bluegrass bands and game and activities for the whole family. Rustico Restaurant and Bar will be roasting a whole pig and serve sausages, BBQ pork sandwiches, fried chicken and more.
Nov. 5 from noon-5 p.m. at Rustico Restaurant and Bar, 827 Slaters Lane, Alexandria. Tickets are $25 in advance and include 20 food and drink tickets or $10 at the door with food and drink tickets sold separately for $1 each. Full-size beers will cost five to eight tickets.
North Capitol Main Street Chili Challenge
The North Capitol Main Street organization sponsors a chili cookoff Saturday. (Photo: McCormick)
The fall weather makes it the perfect time to dig into a steaming bowl of chili — or five bowls of chili, if you prefer. The first North Capitol Main Street Chili Challenge pits five neighborhood restaurants against each other in a battle for spicy supremacy as well as neighborhood bragging rights. Sample entries from Boundary Stone, Crisp, DCity Smokehouse, the Pub and the People, and El Camino, have a drink in the D.C. Brau beer garden or try warm apple cider, let the kids play games or on the moonbounce, and, if you can handle the heat, enter the hot pepper eating contest.
Nov. 5 from 1-4 p.m. at North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the gate. Proceeds benefit North Capitol Main Street.
Christmas Markets
The Slovak and Czech Republic embassies are both hosting Christmas Markets with handmade ornaments.
(Photo: Embassy of the Slovak Republic)
Looking for an early taste of the holidays and a chance to purchase unique gifts? You have two options this weekend: The Slovak Christmas Market at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic will be selling handmade glass ornaments from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, as well as jewelry and other items, accompanied by Christmas carols, traditional Christmas soup and mulled wine. Meanwhile, nearby, the Czech Christmas Market at the Embassy of the Czech Republic will feature more hand blown glass ornaments, jewelry, Christmas cookies and more mulled wine.
Nov. 5 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Embassy of the Slovak Republic, 3523 International Court NW and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, 3900 Spring of Freedom St. NW. Admission to both is FREE!
Community Celebration
One of Alexander Calder’s untitled mobiles.
(Photo: National Gallery of Art)
For the National Gallery of Art’s Community Celebration, you are invited to sketch your way through the renovated and reopened East Building, where old favorites and recent acquisitions fill fresh spaces and places. There will be plenty of other activities too: face painting, a photo booth, concerts and other performances, tours and a photo booth. There’s even a one-man play from Kevin Reese: A Perfect Balance is inspired by Alexander Calder’s mobiles.
Nov. 5 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Nov. 6 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Singular Extreme Actions
Modern dance company STREB performs at the Kennedy Center on Saturday. (Photo: STREB)
A thrill-a-minute presentation by modern dance company, STREB, is led by MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Elizabeth Streb, whose life work is defying gravity through graceful athleticism. Singular Extreeme Actions is a mix of dance, athletics, boxing, circus, rodeo and stunt work, as daring performers interact with hardware and mechanics designed specifically for this performance. The show also features an interactive soundtrack component, as audience members can contribute to the playlist. You’ll hold your breath as you witness incredible feats.
Nov. 5 at 2 and 8 p.m. at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Eisenhower Theater, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $25-$79.
Side Yards
Side Yards at Yards Park on Saturday features circus side show acts. (Photo: Yards Park)
Get your freak on at Side Yards, a sideshow of sorts on the Capitol Riverfront with multiple stages of entertainment featuring snake handlers, contortionists, jugglers, sword swallowers, escape artists, magicians, fire breathers and more. There also will be a beer garden with cocktails from Due South, as well as food from other neighborhood restaurants, music by Sun Club, a photo booth, a live sketch artist and screen printing.
Nov. 5 from 6-10 p.m. at Yards Park, 355 Water St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Italian Film Screening
The National Gallery of Art will screen For Florence on Sunday. (Photo: Franco Zeffireelli)
On the 50th anniversary of the devastating November 1966 flood in Florence, Italy, the National Gallery of Art will host a rare screening of Franco Zeffirelli’s For Florence (Per Firenze, the famed director’s sole documentary, which shows the only know footage of the catastrophe and its immediate aftermath. Voiceover commentary is by actor Richard Burton.
Nov. 6 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art East Building Auditorium, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
