It Is a Food and Music Lovers Weekend
It is a foodie weekend in the DMV with Truckeroo near Nationals Stadium on Friday, Columbia Heights Day on 11th Street on Saturday, the Around the World Cultural Food Festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument on Saturday and Sunday, and the Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival at RFK Stadium on Sunday. There also a lot for music lovers with D.C. Jazz Fest at Yards Park all weekend and the Silver Spring Blues Festival at Downtown Silver Spring on Saturday as well as with the Sound of Music and Hedwig and the Angry Inch playing at the Kennedy Center.
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel with Metro’s SafeTrack Surge 16 – the last one – staring on Saturday. The Shady Grove and Rockville stations on the Red Line will be closed through June 25. Buses will replace trains between Twinbrook and Shady Grove. Otherwise Red Line trains will operate on a normal weekend schedule with trains every 12-15 minutes. Blue and Yellow Line trains will single track between National Airport and Braddock Road with trains every 20 minutes. Yellow Line trains will run between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square ONLY. Orange, Silver and Green Line trains will run on regular weekend schedules.
Awesome Con
Stars of screens big and small, popular comic book creators and thousands upon thousands of their fans will descend upon Awesome Con, a weekend-long, comic book and sci-fi convention of epic proportions. Prepare for an atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else in D.C. this summer (think cosplay, or lots and lots of costume-clad fans). There will be comic books, collectibles, toys, games, original artwork and more on sale along with discussion panels, costume contests, trivia contests, gaming tournament and activities for kids. Special guests include David Tennant, Stan Lee, John Barrowman, Felicia Day and many more.
June 16 from noon-8 p.m., June 17 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and June 18 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW. Admission is $40 Friday and Sunday, $50 on Saturday and $10 for children 10 and younger. There are additional charges for autographs and photographs, which may be purchased on-site.
Truckeroo
Truckeroo brings local food trucks to The Bullpen near Yards Park in the bustling Capitol Riverfront neighborhood once a month to dole out everything from cookies and milk to Vietnamese sandwiches. About a dozen wheeled food sellers show up, and there are picnic tables and shade to keep things cool. This month’s tucks include Bonmi, Surfside, Feelin’ Crabby, Big Cheese, BBQ Bus, Goodies Frozen Custard and more. There will also be games, cold beverages and live music to create the full-on summer experience.
June 16 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. at The Bullpen, 1299 Half St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Marlene Dietrich: Dressed for the Image
The National Portrait Gallery examines one of Hollywood’s earliest and most formidable stars in the must-see summer exhibit Marlene Dietrich: Dressed for the Image. Dietrich came to fame when talking pictures were just gaining prominence, becoming a fashion icon who challenged notions of femininity and patriarchy. She challenged the strictly limited notions of femininity at the time through her lifestyle and fashion. Relying on her good looks, striking voice, sense of humor and no-nonsense personality, Dietrich achieved international fame during her long career. The German-born star remains a symbol of anti-Nazism, a fashion icon and an influential figure of the LGBTQ community. View photos, film clips and letters from this gender-bending, earth-shaking actress who remains an influential figure to this day.
Daily from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. through Apr. 15, 2017, at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
AFI Docs
AFI Docs, the American Film Institute’s international film festival, screens diverse documentaries ranging in topics from national politics, education and health to music, sports and culture. Considered one of the leading documentary festivals in the country, it is an annual summer commemoration of the power of storytelling in film. The closing night film is Year of the Scab, directed by Emmy winner John Dorsey, which chronicles the 1987 NFL strike and the Washington Redskins’ team of substitute players who overcame the odds to defeat the best teams in the NFL. It will be shown at the Newseum beginning at 7 p.m. followed by a Q&A with Dorsey.
Through June 19 at various times at the AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesvlle Road, Silver Spring; Landmark E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW; and the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $15.
D.C. Jazz Festival
Now in its 12th year, the D.C. Jazz Festival brings national and local musicians to large venues, as well as intimate jazz clubs all over the city with its Jazz in the ‘Hoods series. The festival brings more than 125 performances to 40 venues in the city – both emerging and renowned musicians. A total of 90 bands and 300 artists will strut their stuff on stage. Lineup highlights include Pat Metheny, Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper Experiment, Lalah Hathaway, the Kenny Garrett Quintet, Roy Haynes, Ron Carter and Jacob Collier. This weekend features the D.C. Jazz Fest at the Yards with Lori Williams and Ola Onabulé performing free on Friday night beginning at 5 p.m.; the Robert Glasper Experiment, Kenny Garrett, Kandace Springs and other on Saturday from 2-10 p.m. and Gregory Porter, Black Violin, the New Century Jazz Quintet and Youngjoo Song from 2-9:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $49.
June 9-18 at various times and locations around the city including the Kennedy Center and Yards Park, 355 Water St. SE. Some concerts are free; most are ticketed.
Source Festival
The 10th annual Source Festival showcases new theater works centered around the “covert catalyst” theme, many by local artists through July 2. The main play is Perfect Arrangement by Topher Payne set in a 1950s Georgetown duplex. Bob and Millie live next door to Norma and Jim, in what appears to be a perfect arrangement. The twist is that all four are gay and have cultivated fake identities outside of their homes in order to live truthfully inside. The cultural shift of the 1950s brings about a moment of change when their carefully crafted falsehood is thrown into chaos. There are also three full-length play readings. Other offerings include six 10-minute play competitions that highlight super short (and often super funny) works, six returning 10-minute plays and two artistic blind dates, which see very different artists — a cellist and an actor, for example — collaborating on genre-bending performances
Through July 2 at various times at the Source Theater, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $32 for VIP. A five-play pass is $75 and VIP five-play pass is $150.
The Sound of Music
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music has been dazzling audiences from both the stage and the screen for more than 50 years, and you can catch a stirring production of the play this June in the DMV. The story of Maria and the von Trapp family is directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien. Hear (and sing along) to renditions of classics such as Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain and the title song.
Through July 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $49-$169.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
One of the most acclaimed plays of the last 25 years comes to the Kennedy Center. Hedwig and the Angry Inch won four Tony Awards, and this staging is helmed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer and stars Tony Award-nominee Euan Morton. A rock and roll score soundtracks this gender- and genre-bending story that weaves an inspiring tale about finding your identity, featuring an unforgettable main character.
Through July 2 at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Eisenhower Theater, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $59-$159.
Silver Spring Blues Festival
The ninth annual Silver Spring Blues Festival is this Saturday, bringing back a beloved all-day block party. The day starts with sets on the acoustic stage at the Silver Spring Library from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., then you will hear live performances by the Reggie Wayne Morris Band, Moxie Blues Band and Deb Callahan on the main stage at the fountain on Ellsworth Drive from 3-9:30 p.m. The night ends with the Silver Spring Blues All-Stars Jam.
June 17 from 10 a.m-9:30 p.m. at Downtown Silver Spring, 920 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring. Admission is FREE!
Summer of Yoko Ono
In honor of the 10th anniversary of Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree for Washington, D.C. coming to the Hirshhorn, the museum presents the Summer of Yoko Ono featuring the artist’s most iconic and emotionally charged installations and performances. Visitors can attach handwritten wishes to Wish Tree per usual (nearly 80,000 wishes have been collected over the years), as well as attach a photograph or note to My Mommy Is Beautiful, an installation that will stretch the entirety of the museum’s lobby. Ono’s Sky TV for Washington, D.C. will also be on view on the third level, a constant live-feed of the sky above. The exhibit concludes with a day-long concert in September that will celebrate Ono’s unique performances.
June 17-Sept. 17 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Columbia Heights Day
The 12th annual Columbia Heights Day street party takes place Saturday on 11th Street NW from Park Road to Irving Street. There will be three stages with live music, dance and fitness classes, plus a beer garden and local vendors and businesses. The event is all-ages with plenty of family-friendly options; kids can play at the carnival on the Harriet Tubman Elementary School Field.
June 17 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. along 11th Street NW from Park Road to Irving Street and on the Harriet Tubman Elementary School athletic field. Admission is FREE!
Around the World Cultural Food Festival
The Around the World Cultural Food Festival returns to the grounds of the Washington Monument this Saturday and Sunday. Purchase plates of delicacies from more than 30 countries and see performances of traditional dance and music, too. Each country is represented by only one restaurant, so there will be a diverse and selective offering for your globe-trotting tummy. There will also be a cultural fashion show that visitors can participate in.
June 17 and 18 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Washington Monument, 15th and Independence Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Night Nation Run
Billed as the nation’s first running music festival, Night Nation Run comes to RFK Stadium to liven up your Saturday night. Run, walk, skip or dance from station to station on a lit-up racecourse, featuring DJ stages, dancers, light-shows, selfie-stations and glow gear giveaways along the way. The night culminates with a main stage after party with EDM DJs and special guest performers. Registration includes a t-shirt, a glow necklace, free giveaways and more.
July 17 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol St. SE. Admission is $29.99-$49.99 before midnight Saturday and $60-$80 after.
Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival
The Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival is a Caribbean culinary festival that will serve up jerk chicken, pork, fish, shrimp, lobster and even jerk ice cream. In addition to vendors serving jerk foods, there will be a cook-off competition and culinary demonstrations from Chopped winner Andre Fowles and from Chef Irie, host of PBS’ Taste of the Islands. Dance to Jamaican reggae, Trinidadian soca, and classic hits with performances by Tarrus Riley, Romain Virgo, Queen Ifrica, Bunji Garlin and Fay Ann Lyons on the main stage or listen to folk and oral presentations on the cultural stage. A kids’ zone will offer games and other activities including a bounce house, rides, slides and rock clibming.
June 18 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at RFK Stadium Lot 6, 2400 East Capital St. SE. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $125 for VIP admission. Parking is $15.
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.
Down These Mean Streets: Community and Place in Urban Photography from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. through Aug. 6 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Fancy Animal Carnival daily through Oct. 15 at CityCenterDC, 825 10th St. NW; Chinatown Park, Sixth Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW; and Herald Square, 13th Street and New York Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
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!
HIR at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday through June 18 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D St. NW. Tickets are $20-$74.
Jazz in the Garden from 5-8:30 p.m. on Fridays through Aug. 25 at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Jesus Christ Superstar 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 through July 2 at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $40-$89.
Nicholas Party: Sunrise, Sunset daily from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Oct. 1 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Sharks daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 15 at the National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military and $10 for children ages 5-12.
Trolley Car Mail from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Sept. 10 at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Wright on the Walls from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 4 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. https://secure2.convio.net/nbm/site/Ecommerce?store_id=2041 Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, students with ID and youth ages 3-17.
XYZT: Abstract Landscapes hands-on interactive experience from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m. daily through Sept. 3 at Artechouse, 1238 Maryland Ave. SW. Daytime admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children, students and seniors and evening admission (21+) is $25.
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.