Treat Mom to Some Fun This Weekend
The weekend will start out a bit chilly with temperatures in the upper 50s Friday and Saturday but finish in the low 70s on Sunday. The forecasts also calls for rain Friday night and Saturday morning, but a mostly sunny Sunday, just in time for Mothers’ Day.
SafeTrack Surge 14 continues through Sunday with the Greenbelt Station closed. Free shuttle buses will replace trains between Greenbelt and College Park stations. The Farragut West, McPherson Square and lower level of Metro Center stations will also be closed, with buses replacing Blue and Orange Line trains between Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle. Orange Line trains will run every 20 minutes between Vienaa and Foggy Bottom and every 15 minutes between New Carrollton and Federal Triangle. Blue Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Franconia-Springfield and Foggy Bottom and every 15 minutes between Federal Triangle and Largo Town Center. Silver Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston ONLY. Yellow Line trains will single track between National Airport and Braddock Road and run every 20 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square ONLY. Green Line trains will run every 20 minutes between Branch Avenue and College Park. Red Line trains will single track between Dupont Circle and Van Ness/UDC on Saturday from 8 p.m. to closing, but operate on a regular weekend schedule.
Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors
This is your final weekend to see Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors, one of the most highly anticipated D.C. experiences of the year. Kusama is one of the world’s greatest artists, a Japanese woman who specializes in immersive art. Her mirror rooms, large-scale paintings and child-like installations are on display in an exhibit that has drawn large crowds and lots of Instagram posts. You must have a timed pass to enter the exhibit, which closes on Sunday. Some same-day walk-up timed passes are available at the museum every morning, but go fast.
May 12 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., May 13 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and May 14 from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE, but timed passes are required.
World Bonsai Day Festival
This weekend, marvel at tiny trees. at the World Bonsai Day Festival. Visit the newly reopened National Bonsai & Penjing Museum to learn about these living works of art. Vendors will be on site, should you decide to try your hand at growing the fancy shrubs. There is also a Potomac Bonsai Association show and exhibit, exhibits and demonstrations, study groups, a help tent and food vendors. There will also be beginner workshops, which cost $55.
May 12 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., may 13 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and May 14 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE. Admission is FREE!
Down These Mean Streets
Down These Mean Streets: Community and Place in Urban Photography focuses on 10 essential photographers in this in-depth exhibit that highlights the changes that urban communities underwent in the 1950s. From New York to Los Angeles, photographers captured the reshaping of these neighborhoods, from communal efforts to establish identity to the decay caused by neglect. The work of documenters such as Manuel Acevedo, Oscar Castillo, Hiram Maristany and Frank Espada, among others, are displayed.
Through Aug. 6 from 11:30 a.m-7 p.m. at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Nearly Lear
Shakespeare performed by one woman? In Nearly Lear, Susanna Hamnett plays the Fool, telling the story of King Lear as his closest companion. Hamnett takes on the role of every character in the play, using the Bard’s language to tell strikingly poignant stories. The 1:30 p.m. show on Saturday is sensory friendly.
May 12 at 7 p.m., May 13 at 1:30 and 7 p.m. and May 14 at 1:30 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St, NW. Tickets are $20.
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar, one of the most famous plays of the last fifty years, gets a modern remake. The legendary music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice narrates the story of Jesus Christ, which inherently touches upon celebrity, faith, passion and betrayal. Expect classic songs such as the title track, I Don’t Know How to Love Him, Everything’s Alright and many more.
Through July 2 at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 p.m. Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $40-$89.
From the Canyons to the Stars
Lovers of music and National Parks will enjoy this concert that pairs nature photography with an orchestral performance. The U.S. Air Force Band performs the East Coast premiere of Olivier Messiaen’s From the Canyons to the Stars. As the band plays on, attendees will see stunning landscape photography shot by Deborah O’Grady in Southwest Utah. It is a perfect visual complement to this 12-movement composition, which was inspired by Messiaen’s trip to Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park.
May 12 at 8 p.m. at DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. Tickets are FREE online!
Timon of Athens
Shakespeare’s satirical side comes to the Folger Theatre with Timon of Athens. Timon is a wealthy and well-liked aristocrat who loves to spend money on parties, gifts and charity. However, the pratfalls of celebrity and wealth bring Timon down, leading to a swift change in lifestyle and attitude. Helen Hayes Award-winner Ian Merrill Peakes stars in this hilarious cautionary tale.
Through June 11 at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $35-$75.
Shortcut to Europe
Passport D.C. continues with Shortcut to Europe: European Union Embassies’ Open House, a second straight weekend event highlighted by 28 European Union member embassies and the EU Delegation to the United States opening their doors free of charge. You will be able to experience authentic culture, food, dance film and art from a host of European nations, including Germany, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain and many others. The lines are long, so you won’t be able to visit every embassy, so check out each embassy’s http://www.euopenhouse.org/plan-your-trip/ program to plan your visits or download the http://www.euopenhouse.org/latest_news/app/ app and get live updates on the lines. Make sure to take a government-issued ID.
May 12 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the EU Delegation and 28 member embassies in Dupont and Upper Northwest D.C. Admission is FREE!
Space Day
It is Space Day at the National Air and Space Museum. Find out about the exploration and utilization of space: past, present and future. You can also learn about August’s total solar eclipse, explore the planets with pictures, 3D images and tactiles, learn about how often you use space-developed or space-based technology in your daily life, enjoy story times, hands on activities, enjoy a dress-up photo opportunity and more.
May 13 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the National Air and Space Museum, Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Georgetown Garden Tour
Now in its 89th year, the annual Georgetown Garden Tour takes you through the 200-year-old gardens of Tudor Place and eight nearby private gardens in the historical D.C. neighborhood. One of the estates was recently featured in the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens. Refreshments including baked goods and cold beverages from 2-4 p.m. at Christ Church are included.
May 13 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. starting at Christ Church, 3115 O St. NW. Tickets are $40 online or at the door.
Green Festival Expo
The Green Festival Expo, the country’s largest and longest-running green living event, embarks on its 13th edition this weekend, holding a large marketplace at the D Hall inside the convention center. The two-day festival will feature more than 200 exhibitors, over 50 inspirational speakers, including Green Party presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein from 2:30-3 p.m. Sunday, and plenty of tasty vegan and vegetarian eats.
May 13 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and May 14 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW. Tickets are $12 for one day or $22 for both days. DC on Heels readers get a 20 percent discount with the code GF17X22P online. Kids 16 and under enter for free, and in honor of Mother’s Day, moms get 50 percent off admission at the door!
Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival
The Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival, an annual salute to bluegrass, folk and Americana music, features local vendors and good vibes on gorgeous Kingman Island in northeast D.C. Leading contemporary artists within the bluegrass and folk genres will perform on five stages, including Town Mountain, The Woodshedders, Dom Flemons and Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen. There is also a kids’ zone with a magic show at 5 p.m. along with games, treats, giveaways, face painting and other activities. The festival is all about community and sustainability (proceeds go towards the Living Classrooms Foundation), so grab a drink and some food from Rocklands BBQ, Urban Poutine, Borinquen Lunch Box, Ada’s Kitchen on Wheels, Goodie’s Frozen Custard & Treats, Capital Crab Company and more, enjoy the weather and scenery and celebrate with friends.
May 13 from noon-9 p.m. at Kingman Island, 575 Oklahoma Ave. NE. Tickets are $30 for general admission, which includes entry and a reusable cup, and $125 for VIP admission, which includes unlimited beer and drinks and a viewing area next to the main stage. A free shuttle will run from the Stadium-Armory station from 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Visitors can also take the free D.C. Streetcar to the Oklahoma & Benning Road stop.
D.C. Bike Ride
Join the area’s bike-riding community during D.C. Bike ride, the only closed-road, car-free bike ride in the nation’s capital. The 20-mile course will show off D.C.’s beautiful spring sights and provide plenty of time for you to chat with and get to know fellow lovers of the bike ride. It begins in West Potomac Park, 121 W. Basin Drive SW, and ends at Pennsylvania Avenue and Third Street NW. All proceeds go to the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, which works to deliver street safety. The event concludes with the Finish Festival, which will feature live music, including DJ Smudge, Jeff from Accounting and DJ Biz Markie, entertainment, carnival games, face painting, balloon artist, juggler, cotton candy, a post-ride yoga session and food trucks, including Captain Cookie and the Milkman, Carolina Q, Chix N Stix, Crepes Parfait, D.C. Slices, Halal Kitchen, Honey’s Empanadas and more.
May 14 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Packets must be picked up from 3-7 p.m. Friday or from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Wunder Garten, 1101 First St. NE. You may also register at the packet pickup for $70. Registration is not available at the ride. Children 3-7 are FREE!
On-Going Events
Architecture of an Asylum: St. Elizabeths 1852-2017 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 15, 2018 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and children.
The First Lady of Song: Ella Fitzgerald at 100 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through April 2, 2018 at the National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
The Faces of Battle: Americans at War, 9/11 to Now from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Jan. 28, 2018 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Frédéric Bazille and the Birth of Impressionism from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through July 19 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
In the Heights at 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays through May 21 at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. Tickets are $60 for adults and $40 for seniors 65 and older, students and members of the military.
Macbeth at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through May 28 at Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. Tickets are $44-$118.
Smart People through May 21 at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon on Wednesdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets are $40-$91.
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.