Spring Weather and Fun Fills the Weekend
This weekend’s forecast calls for cloudy skies with highs around 75 degrees on Saturday and 60 degrees Sunday with little chance of rain after Friday. There are plenty of events that allow you to get outside and enjoy the spring weather in the DMV this weekend.
No matter where you are headed this weekend, if you are taking Metro there will be work and delays on every line. Red Line trains single track between Farragut North and Union Station with trains running every 28 minutes. Orange and Blue Lines single track between Eastern Market and Stadium Armory with trains every 24 minutes. Because of that work, Silver Line trains will run every 24 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston ONLY. For no apparent reason, Yellow Line trains will operate every 15 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square ONLY. And Green Line trains will single track between Southern Avenue and Naylor Road with trains every 15 minutes.
Georgetown French Market
For the 15th year, Georgetown’s Book Hill neighborhood turns into a Perisian-inspired open air market. The Georgetown French Market features more than 35 locally owned merchants, restaurants, galleries and salons selling designer goods, art, home furnishings, French fare and more. Expect discounted items and rare finds. There will also be facepainting, a caricature artist, roaming street performers, a photo booth and live French and gypsy jazz on Saturday and Sunday. The D.C. Circulator bus will offer free rides from K Street up Wisconsin Avenue to Book Hill.
Apr. 27 and 28 from10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Apr. 29 from noon-5 p.m. along Wisconsin Avenue NW from O Street to Reservoir Road. Admission is FREE!
Smithsonian Craft Show
Crafters across the country descend on the National Building Museum for the 36th annual Smithsonian Craft Show, which benefits the Smithsonian Institution. This year’s show highlights Asian cultural influence on American crafts. A four-day craft arts extravaganza, attendees can expect to see a full spectrum of works from 120 juried craft artists, including basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, paper, wearable art and wood.
Apr. 27 and 28 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Apr. 29 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $20 or $30 for a two-day pass at the door.
Jazz Appreciation Month
To close out Jazz Appreciation Month, local high school and collegiate jazz bands will perform at the National Museum of American History this weekend. Sunday’s special guests include the Louie Cruz Beltran Latin Jazz Band and the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra. On Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the museum hosts the finals of the annual Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Competition. Competitors will perform songs written by Antonio Carlos Jobim — as featured on the 1981 album Ella Sings Jobim — for a panel of judges that includes renowned guitarist John Pizzarelli. Local finalists include Dalia Lily Nasr, a freshman at George Mason University and Sarah Moyers, a senior at GMU.
Apr. 27 and 28 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Apr. 29 from noon-4 p.m. at the National Museum of American History, Constitution Avenue between 12th and 14th Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Filmfest DC
The 32nd annual Filmfest DC, D.C.’s international film festival, wraps up this weekend, showcasing 80 independent and foreign films from 45 countries over 11 days. The lineup features comedies, dramas, thrillers, shorts and documentaries. This year’s festival includes film categories such as international; thrillers; music and dance; social justice; local, international and women-produced shorts; and Cine Latino featuring films from Chile, Brazil, Cuba, Spain, Argentina and Paraguay. This weekend’s highlights includes American Animals about four students at Transylvania University in Kentucky who watch heist movies to learn how to pull off a robbery of rare books woth more than $5 million at 6 p.m. on Friday and The Bold, the Corrupt and the Beautiful, a riff on ganger melodrama with a tale of power, corruption and lies pivoting on a ruthless matriarch and her daughters whom she is ostensibley gaining all her wealth. The closing night film, Just to Be Sure is about a widower of 45 making a living clearing buried mines left over from WWII. While undergoing genetic testing with his single, pregnant daughter, he discovers he has not genetic connection to his own father, who is also a widower. A private detective helps his track down his biological father who is ailing as he ages. The French comedy will be shown at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Embassy of France, 401 Reservoir Road NW and includes a reception. Tickets must be purchased in advance due to security at the embassy. See the full schedule online.
Through Apr. 29 at various times at AMC Mazza Gallerie, 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW and E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Most tickets are $14 and $10 for students with ID. The closing film is $25.
Vietgone
Qui Nguyen is quickly emerging as a powerful new voice in American theater and you can find out why by checking out Vietgone, in which he recreates his parents’ 1997 refugee camp romance. Fresh from Saigon, they meet in an Arkansas camp. With pop culture, a live band and plenty of funk-rock-punk-n-roll, the play follows these new Americans through a bewildering land. It is a story of lust and heartache, cowboys and motorcycles from a screenwriter from Marvel Studios.
Through May 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (except Apr. 28) at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20-$76.
D.C. Chocolate Festival
Indulge in a full day of chocolate-related experiences at the D.C. Chocolate Festival, an annual convention of chocoholics: Sample from more than 40 vendors and chocolatiers, take classes in the art of making it “from bean to bar,” learn about the environmental effects of harvesting cacao and take a seminar on the secrets of pairing chocolate and whiskey. The first session, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., includes special workshops for children and families; the second session, which begins at 3 p.m., is focused on adults.
Apr. 28 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Marriott Wardman Park, 2660 Woodley Road NW. Tickets are $30 per session, $40 for an all-day pass, $10 children ages 6-12 and free for children younger than 6 online or at the door.
Draft Fest
Watch the fourth and fifth round draft picks for the Washington Redskins be announced live from FedEx Field during the Draft Fest. Actor Laz Alonso will announce the fourth round pick live and one lucky fan will be selected to make the fifth round pick with a Redskins alum live from the field stage. Current players will be on hand along with alumni as well as the 2018 early round picks. Other activities include the debut of the 2018 cheerleaders who will sign autographs, a performance by the drumline, access to the locker room, photo opportunities with the Super Bowl trophies and discounts at the retail store. Concessions will be open and there will also be kid-friendly activities such as testing your passing and field goal kicking skills, a photo booth, “Dress Like a Redskins Player” and more. There will also be live country music performances by The Goldbergs’ Hayley Orrantia and The Voice semil-finalist Brennley Brown.
Apr. 28 from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at FedEx Field, 1600 FedEx Way, Landover, Md.. Admission is FREE, but pre-registration is required. Park in Lot A and enter through Gate H.
Art Hop
Back for its 10th year, the Art Hop is a weekend long-festival featuring live performances and a range of artwork including painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media, jewelry, pottery, mosaic and more. Work by more than 75 artists will be shown and available for sale throughout businesses in Takoma and Takoma Park. There will also be live music and dance at the gazebo and events such as yoga, a pottery throwing demonstration, community drum circle, a bounce house for kids and more. Maps are available at the gazebo and participating businesses.
Apr. 28 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Apr. 29 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. throughout Takoma and Takoma Park and at the gazebo, 7035 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park. Admission is FREE!
Carousel Day
Have some old-fashioned fun at Carousel Day. The day-long event features family-friendly activities including live music, dance performances, face painting, storytelling, a roving magician, carousel-themed crafts and, of course, rides on Glen Echo Park’s restored historic Dentzel carousel that opens for its 98th season.
Apr. 28 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Md.. Admission is FREE, but carousel rides are $1.25.
National Park Rx Day
The National Park Service’s National Park Rx Day encourages Americans to go outside, get fresh air and exercise in local parks. Rock Creek Park wraps up National Parks Week with this festival, which features rangers teaching about D.C. wildlife, urban gardening and composting. Physical activities include a Washington Area Bicycling Association ride from Anacostia Park to the festivities; an easy 1-mile hike with guided tours of Civil War fortifications to Fort Totten; a nature challenge to identify local wildlife; a climbing wall for children; and pickup soccer, Frisbee and football games. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Apr. 28 from noon-4 p.m. at Fort Circle Parks, 5161 South Dakota Ave. NE. Admission is FREE! Pets are welcome on leashes.
National Wine & Food Festival
The scenic National Harbor hosts the 10th annual National Wine & Food Festival. Hang out on the waterfront and indulge in cuisine from world-renowned chefs and culinary creatives, in addition to more than 150 international and local wines, beers and spirits. You can even take home a bottle or case of your favorites. There will also be free cooking demonstrations from local chefs including Chiko chef Scott Drewno, Centrolina chef Amy Brandwein and Taco Bamba chef Victor Albisu on Saturday and Lucky Buns chef Alex McCoy and chef Rock Harper on Sunday, as well a food trucks to grab a snack. VIPs can visit the pier to try wine and food pairings from local restaurants from noon-3 p.m.
Apr. 28 and 29 from 1-6 p.m. (VIPs noon-6 p.m.) at National Harbor, 165 Waterfront St., Oxen Hill, Md. Tickets are $39 for general admission and $69 for VIP tickets in advance or at the gate.
Taste of 8th
Sample food from more then 20 Barracks Row restaurants, which will serve appetizer-sized samples of the best-known or newest dishes at Taste of 8th. Each taste is a small small sample size similar to a tapas portion. Participating restaurants include Ambar, Balga Cafe, Betsy, ChiKo, District Doughnut, EatBar, Finn McCool’s, Lavagna, Lola’s, Matchbox, Medium Rare, Nooshi, Ophelia’s, Souk, Sushi Hachi, Sushi Torai, Sweet Lobby, Ted’s Bulletin, The Brig, Trattoria Alberto and others. Tasting tickets are five for $20 in advance or five for $25 at the event. Each taste is one ticket.
Apr. 28 from 1-4 p.m. along Eight Street between G and I Streets SE. Admission is FREE!
The Barber of Seville
One of the opera’s all-time classics, the Washington National Opera will stage The Barber of Seville for the first time since 2009. A cut, a shave, a scheme, a prank…all in a day’s work for the witty barber, who is asked by Count Almaviva to woo the beautiful Rosina, even though a bumbling, older doctor has claimed her first. All kinds of chicanery ensues, including disguises, distractions, bribery and unforgettable songs and vocal turns.
Apr. 28 and May 7 and 19 at 7 p.m., May 2, 4, 11 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. and May 13 at 2p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $45-$150.
A Night at the Market
Eastern Market’s Market Week — a week celebrating eateries, merchants and community organizations around the Capitol Hill neighborhood — kicks off with A Night at the Market, a party in the historic market’s North Hall. Tickets include unlimited snacks from nearby restaurants, including Hank’s Oyster Bar, Joselito, District Taco and Acqua Al 2; beers from D.C.’s Atlas Brew Works and Right Proper Brewing; and dancing to the Kiss & Ride blues band.
Apr. 29 from 6-9 p.m. at Eastern Market’s North Hall, 225 Seventh St. SE. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
Ongoing Events
1968: Civil Rights at 50 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 2 at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is $21.21 for adults, $16.96 for seniors 65 and older, and $12.71 for children ages 7-18 in advance or $24.95, $19.95 and $14.95, respectively, at the door.
Alexander Hamilton’s American Revolution from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday through May 16 at Anderson House, 2119 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Americans from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through 2022 at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
The Artistic Table from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday through June 10 at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for college students, $5 for children 6-18 and free for children younger than 6. Adults and seniors get $3 off weekdays and $1 on weekend if purchased online.
Beautiful Blooms: Flowering Plants on Stamps from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through July 14 at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Admission is FREE!
Brand New: Art and Commodity in the 1980s from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through May 13 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue and Seventh Street SW. Admission is FREE!
Cézanne Portraits from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through July 1 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Community Policing in the Nation’s Capital from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 15 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors 60 and older, students with valid ID and youth ages 3-17 Children are FREE!
Diane Arbus: A Box of Ten Photographs from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Jan. 21 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Do Ho Suh: Almost Home from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. through Aug 5 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Drawn to Purpose: American Women Illustrators and Cartoonists from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Oct. 20 at the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Encountering the Buddha: Art and Practice across Asia from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 29, 2020 at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
LAST CHANCE! The First Lady of Song: Ella Fitzgerald at 100 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Evicted from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through May 19, 2019 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Heavenly Earth: Images of Saint Francis at La Verna from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through July 8 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Hung Liu in Print from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through July 8 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and older or students and free for children 18 and younger.
In Her Words: Women’s Duty and Service in World War I from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through May 8 at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Admission is FREE!
Making Room: Housing for a Changing American from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 16 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors 60 or older, students, and children ages 3-17.
The Marines and Tet: The Battle That Changed the Vietnam War from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through July 8 at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is $21.21 for adults, $16.96 for seniors 65 and older, and $12.71 for children ages 7-18 in advance or $24.95, $19.95 and $14.95, respectively, at the door.
Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 12 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Michel Sittow: Estonian Painter at the Courts of Renaissance Europe from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays through May 13 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Mural from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 11 a.m-6 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 28 at the National Gallery of Art East Building, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 21 at the Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW. Admission is FREE!
Outliers and American Vanguard Art from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays through May 13 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Pictures of the Year: 75 Years of the World’s Best Photography from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 20 at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $24.95 for adults, $19.95 for seniors 65 and older, $14.95 for your 7-18 and free for children 6 and younger.
Portraits of the World: Switzerland from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Nov. 12 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
The Prince and the Shah: Royal Portraits from Qajar Iran from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Aug. 5 at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Recent Acquisitions from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Nov. 4 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Remembering Vietnam from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 6, at the National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Sakura Yume/Cherry Blossom Dream from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. (21+) through May 6 at Artechouse, 1238 Maryland Ave. SW. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older or military, and $8 for children 8 and younger.
Sally Mann: A Thousand tg ybbygby` `Crossings from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through May 28 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!!
Secrets of the Lacquer Buddha from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through June 10 at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Sharing Images: Renaissance Prints Into Maiolica and Bronze from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Aug. 5 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Snow Child at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday through May 20 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets are $41-$120.
LAST CHANCE! Sonic Blossom from noon-4 p.m. Friday through Sunday at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Subodh Gupta: Terminal from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through 2020 at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
The Sweat of Their Face: Portraying American Workers from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Sept. 3 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Ten Americans: After Paul Klee from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-6:30 p.m. Sundays through May 6 at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and visitors 62 and older and children 18 and younger are FREE!
To Dye For: Ikats from Central Asia from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through July 29 at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Tomb of Christ from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Aug. 15 at the National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors/students/military and $10 for children 5-12.
Tony Lewis: Anthology 2014-2016 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through May 28 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue and Seventh Street SW. Admission is FREE!
Two Trains Running at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 7:30 pm. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday through May 6 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets are $50-$111.
LAST CHANCE! Underground Railroad Game at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D St. NW. Tickets are $20-$84.
UnSeen: Our Past in a New Light, Ken Gonzales-Day and Titus Kaphar from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Jan. 6 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Waiting for Godot at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday through May 20 at Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. Tickets are $38-$118.
What Absence Is Made Of from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through the summer of 2019 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
The Wiz at 7:30 p.m. most nights with noon matinees on Friday and 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday through May 12 at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. Tickets are $27-$71.
Women House from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through May 28 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and older and students and free for children 18 and younger.
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.