11 Things to Do This Weekend in the DMV
March roared in like a lion on Wednesday. In fact, it has been such a warm winter that the National Park Service has bumped peak bloom of the cherry blossoms up to between March 14-17 – possibly setting a record early peak bloom (the earliest peak bloom to date is March 15. To accommodate the early dates, the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival’s start date will move up to March 15 from March 20. While we wait for those pink and white blooms, here are some events to fill your weekend.
Metro’s SafeTrack Surge 13 begins Saturday with continuous single tracking between Braddock Road and Van Dorn Street stations. Also, trains will not run between Smithsonian and Federal Center SW this weekend. As a result, blue line trains will rung every 24 minutes between Franconian-Springfield and Smithsonian stations and every 15 minutes between Federal Center SW and Largo Town Center. Orange Line trains will run every 24 minutes between Vienna and Smithsonian and every 15 minutes between Federal Center SW and New Carrollton. Free shuttle buses will run between Smithsonian and Federal Center SW with a stop at L’Enfant Plaza. Silver Line trains will run every 24 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston ONLY. Yellow Line trains will operate every 24 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square ONLY through Apr. 9 and there will be not Yellow Rush+ service. Buses will replace trains between Forest Glen and Silver Spring on the Red Line with trains running every 15 minutes between Forest Glen and Glenmont and every 10 minutes between Shady Grove and Silver Spring. Green Line trains will operate on a normal weekend schedule.
Atlas Intersections Festival
The Atlas Intersections Festival wraps up this weekend, bringing the best of D.C. arts and artists to the stage and H Street with performances, experiences and happenings that combine theatre, dance, music, vocal, choral, opera, visual arts, video, film, writing, sculpture, photography, circus, spoken word, public art, community art and art space activation of all kinds. Discover how art, culture and connection happen on H Street. This weekend’s activities include a free Family Fun Day from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday with youth-oriented performances and activities that will fill the lobby with music, balloons, clowns, storytelling and songs from the Culture Queen, a tightrope and circus play area from Zip Zap Circus, and more. Also, Clown Cabaret’s The Heist, a physical comedy in which three of the worst robbers ever try to rip off a piggy bank (10:45 a.m. Saturday) and Zip Zap Circus’ Rise!, which features arerial and acrobatic performers (1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday).
Through March 5 at various times at The Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $10-$25.
Fearless Project
Jeff Sheng’s Fearless Project features photos of more than 200 LGBTQ student athletes in the United States and Canada and some of their stories. It has drawn great acclaim, and many of the images have been featured in the New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine and Newsweek. Since 2003, Sheng has photographed more than 200 “out” athletes, and he has spoken about and exhibited the Fearless Project at more than 70 different venues, including dozens of college campuses as well as the headquarters of ESPN, Nike and the NCAA.
Through March 19 from 10 a.m.-closing in the Hall of Nations at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Cherry Blossom PUB
From the people who brought you Miracle on 7th Street, the Cherry Blossom PUB (pop up bar) has taken over Southern Derek Brown’s Southern Efficiency and Mockingbird Hill spaces in Shaw. The bars are decked out with cherry blossom and Japanese-themed décor and drinks. Mockingbird Hill sports an origami crane chandelier, waving cats and a blossom backdrop, while Southern Efficiency goes Super Mario with a Mario Kart contest and a staff rocking red caps and overalls. The flavors of Japan will be evident throughout drink and food offerings at both locations. Drinks include the Neko Colada with miso-infused rum and coconut, the Press Start + A with Japanese whiskey, amaro and Cynar artichoke liqueur, and the amaro-spiked It’s A Me, Amario.The pop-up bar will draw quite the crowd, so be prepared for lines to get in.
Through April 15 from 5 p.m.-midnight Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday at Southern Efficiency, 1841 Seventh St. NW, and Mockingbirg Hill, 1843 Seventh St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Capital Irish Film Festival
It is not quite St. Patrick’s Day, but sometimes it is nice to pay attention to the parts of Irish culture we didn’t totally make up as an excuse to drink more beer than is intelligent. The Capital Irish Film Festival runs through Sunday and includes a range of films as well as Q&As with writers, producers and actors. On Saturday evening at 7:45 p.m., stop by AFI Silver for War on Everyone, a black comedy starring Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Peña as two corrupt cops who set out to blackmail and frame every criminal unfortunate to cross their path. Events, however, are complicated by the arrival of someone who appears to be even more complicated than they are.
March 2-5 at various times at the AFI Silver, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $9.50-$13.
As You Like It
Shakespeare didn’t only dabble in tragedy. You can experience one of his greatest romantic comedies, As You Like It, at Folger Theatre this weekend. Filled with humor, beauty and romance, the play follows Rosalind, who is banished from her home and ends up in the Forest of Arden, disguised as a man. However, as the tale unfurls, Rosalind discovers young love and its complexities. This is the play’s last weekend.
March 3 at 8 p.m., March 4 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and March 5 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $35-$75.
Sounds of the City
D.C. Music Download highlights the city’s music scene with Sounds of the City, a weekend-long festival that incorporates numerous D.C. artists, venues and organizations. Friday night features a kickoff showcase at Tropicalia beginning at 8 p.m. with performances by Ace Cosgrove, BobMoeKill, Ciscero and DJ Ayes Cold for $12. Saturday includes a D.C. record label exchange bringin together D.C.’s record labels for a chance to meet, discover and buy records from the city’s independent labels featuring live music, open mic and guest DJs all free at Songbyrd Music House and Record Café from noon-4 p.m. and a showcase on Black Cat’s mainstage at 8 p.m. featuring Den-Mate, Nag Campa, Fellow Creatures and Stronger Sex for $12. Sunday includes a free panel discussion at the Smithsonian American Art Museum from 1:30-3 p.m. on how to promote your band.
March 3-5 at various times at Tropicalia, 2001 14th St. NW; Songbyrd Music House and Record Café, 2477 18th St. NW; Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW; and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is free-$12. See the full schedule and get tickets online.
Vinyasa Yoga Class
Take a free all-levels vinyasa yoga class every other Saturday during the spring and summer in the grand foyer of the Kennedy Center as part of its Sound Health program connecting the performing arts to mind-body wellness. An instructor from a different local yoga studio will lead each session. Take your own yoga mat and towel.
March 4 from 10:15-11:15 a.m. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Admission is FREE, but you must complete a sign up form and liability waiver for each session.
Practice With Love Pop-Up Yoga
If stretching among the plants is more your style, join With Love D.C. for a free weekly pop-up yoga session at the U.S. Botanic Garden’s Conservatory West Gallery. Take a mat, towel and water bottle. Doors open at 10 a.m.
March 4 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. Admission is FREE on a first come-first serve basis.
D.C. United Home Opener
D.C. United begins its final season at the historic RFK Stadium with a matchup against Sporting Kansas City before moving to Audi Field in Southwest next year. Both teams participated in the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs and each has championship aspirations this year. United will be led by forwards Lamar Neagle and Patrick Mullins, as well as renowned goaltender Bill Hamid.
March 4 at 7 p.m. at RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $20-$200.
In the Tower: Theaster Gates
The National Gallery of Art’s East Building presents In the Tower: Theaster Gates, a new, dynamic exhibit inside its Tower 3 galleries. American artist Theaster Gates will reveal a new body of work entitled The Minor Arts, with pieces that show how everyday objects can be turned into powerful art. In these elaborate creations, Gates incorporated the floor of a Chicago high school gym, the slate roof and marble floor from a Chicago church and the archives of Ebony magazine, among other objects.
March 5-Sept. 4 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth and Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Nowruz: A Persian New Year Celebration
The Sackler Gallery’s ninth annual Nowruz celebration of the Persian New Year offers many family-friendly activities, including concerts, screenings of the animated film Window Horses and traditional Persian tales by storyteller Xanthe Gresham (the 2 p.m. performance has ASL interpretation). Kids can also make puppets and collages and learn calligraphy and backgammon.
March 6 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1950 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is 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.