Summer Activities Are Winding Down
Summer is winding down. Many schools open next week. And the Montgomery County Agricultural and Prince William County fairs wrap up this weekend after a week-long run. Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art’s sculputure garden only has two more weeks. If you haven’t gotten your fill of summer activies, you better hurry.
Like the movie Groundhog Day, last weekend’s Metro headaches repeat this weekend. The Red Line shutdown continues between NoMa-Gallaudet University and Fort Totten this weekend with buses replacing trains at the closed Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood and Brookland stations. Trains will run every 8 minutes between Shady Grove and NoMa-Gallaudet and every 10 minutes between Fort Totten and Glenmont between 9 a.m.-9 p.m. All Red Line trains will run every 15 minutes after 9 p.m. Also, the last inbound train from Glenmont to Fort Totten will depart 30 minutes earlier than usual. The major trackwork also continues on Orange and Silver Lines with trains single tracking between McPherson Square and Smithsonian with trains running every 20 minutes. Blue Line trains will not come into the District, running between Springfield-Franconia and Arlington National Cemetery ONLY. Green and Yellow Line trains will operate on regular weekend schedules.
Jazz in the Garden
August is here, college students are returning to town and that means you only have two more weeks to enjoy Jazz in the Garden after work on Fridays. Kick back and groove to the music with sangria in hand amid the art in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. An eclectic mix of DMV jazz musicians lend a soundtrack to one of the city’s most idyllic scenes set around the sculpture garden’s central fountain, wrapping up its 18th season. This week’s concert features 3Divas, a swing piano trio, and next week’s final concert features Speakers of the House playing funk and boogaloo. Take your own picnic or purchase food from the museum’s Pavilion Café, which will offer a special menu of lemongrass chicken soft tacos, Argentinian sausage and southwest black bean barbecue burger on and outdoor grill, or order a horseradish roast beef sandwich, pizza, edamame noodle bowl, citrus quinoa salad or something else from the Pavilion Café’s indoor menu. Wine, sangria and beer are also available.
Friday nights through Aug. 24 from 5-8:30 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Montgomery County Agricultural Fair
Rides, games, animal exhibits and more are back for the annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, a fixture in the county since 1949. This year’s fair includes pig races, animal competitions and demonstrations, a hypnotist performance, demolition derbies on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (adults $15 online or $17 at the gate additional; children $10 and $15, respectively), chain-saw carving, acrobatic shows and baby animals born just this week. Of course what would any fair be without pit beef sandwiches, BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, fresh-squeezed lemonade, ice cream, funnel cakes or fried Oreos?
Aug. 17 and 18 from 10 a.m.-midnight at the Montgomery County Agricultural Center, 501 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg. Carnival hours are noon-midnight Saturday-Saturday. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate. Children 11 and younger are FREE!. Onsite parking is $10 cash per car or free at Lakeforest Mall with free shuttles to the fairgrounds.
Prince William County Fair
The Prince William County Fair has much of the same and wraps up Saturday, too. In addition to the livestock and home arts exhibits, this year’s grandstand shows include a monster truck show on Friday and Saturday. There is also a circus in the kids’ zone, music nightly, camel and pony rides, mechanical bull rides, carnival rides, funnel cakes and hot sausage sandwiches.
Aug. 17 and 18 from 5 p.m.-midnight on Friday and 2 p.m.-midnight Saturday at the Prince William County Fairgrounds, 10624 Dumfries Rd., Manassas. Admission at the gate is $10, children 5-13 and seniors 60 or older are $6. Children 4 and younger and active military are FREE! Price includes parking.
Welcome to the New World
Writer Jake Halpern and illustrator Michael Sloan teamed together to create Welcome to the New World, a 20-part editorial cartoon series run by The New York Times that followed two families who fled Syria to come to the United States, facing heartbreak, racism and fear along the way. After spending four years as refugees in Jordan, the families arrived in the United States on Election Day 2016. Halpern and Sloan chronicled their story as they endured death threats, fears of being deported under President Donald J. Trump’s immigration policies and everyday adjustments to life and work in America. It marked the first Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning won by the Times. The panels on display are the final chapter in the series, when the family discovers their home in Syria has been destroyed. Welcome to the New World will be expanded into a book.
Through Spring 2018 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $24.95 for adults, $19.95 for seniors 65 years and older, $14.95 for youth from 7-18 at the door with a 15 percent discount when purchased online. Children 6 and younger are FREE!.
D.C. Black Film Festival
The D.C. Black Film Festival highlights films and television shows created by and about people of African descent. This year, the schedule is categorized. Friday film blocks includes history and hidden figures at 9 a.m., love and heartbreak at 12:30 p.m., social issues at 4:15 p.m. Friday and making black lives matter at 7:30 p.m. with a screening of United Skates. Saturday’s themes include girl power at 9 a.m., friendship at 11:20 a.m., a conversation with comic book artist Sandford Green at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and superheroes and more with Green at 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 17-18 at various times at the Miracle Theatre, 535 Eighth St. SE. Tickets are $15-$20 or an all-access pass is $125.
Passion
Passion is a Tony Award-winning musical from Stephen Sondheim is set in 1860s Italy. An army captain is transferred to a remote military post where he begins a torrid love affair with his superior’s cousin, Fosca. Their infatuation threatens to ruin the soldier’s career while also untangling a powerful love triangle. This new staging will bring its vibrant songs to life like never before.
Aug. 14 to Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday (except Aug. 18) and Sunday, 7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $40-$104.
Around the World Cultural Food Festival
The Washington area’s mix of international cultures is one of the city’s strongest selling points, as the annual Around the World Cultural Food Festival. Where else can you snack on Nigerian and Guamanian food, watch Honduran and Egyptian dance troupes and browse African fashions and South American jewelry? There will be food vendors from 18 countries including Argentina, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Serbia and Yemen offering more than 200 traditional dishes. Cooking demonstrations, a dozen performers and booths sponsored by embassies sweeten the experience at the festival, which is moving to Freedom Plaza after two years on the Washington Monument grounds.
Aug. 18 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at Freedom Plaza, Pennsylvania Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets NW. Admission is FREE, food and drinks priced are individually.
Chuck Brown Day
The fourth-annual community celebration of the Godfather of Go-Go returns to Chuck Brown Park in Langdon. The Chuck Brown Band headlines the show at Chuck Brown Day, and musical guests include the legendary Trouble Funk, the Crank Crusaders, singers Big G of the Backyard Band and Michelle Blackwell, and DJ Kool. Take a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy the music. Beyond the beats, the day includes a family activity area and food trucks.
Aug. 18 from 3-7 p.m. at Chuck Brown Memorial Park, 2901 20th St NE. Admission is FREE!
Community Day
The National Museum of African Art’s annual https://africa.si.edu/event/smithsonians-national-museum-of-african-art-opens-its-doors-for-community-day-on-aug-18/ Community Day is in celebration of the World on the Horizon: Swahili Arts Across the Indian Ocean exhibition currently on display. Visitors of all ages may experience special performances and events intended to inspire. Learn more about the people and cultures of Africa and its diaspora through fashion, crafts, song, dance, comedy, art, exhibition tours, and more. Sample Swahili culinary delights, take part in hands-on family craft activities, visit the Hadithi story corner, see Swahili harusi fashion show, get a henna tattoo, and see stilt walkers, dancers and musicians.
Aug. 18 from 4-10 p.m. at the National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Ave. SW. Admissions is FREE!
D.C. World Reggae Festival
The reggae performances start midday and run late at the D.C. World Reggae Festival, which grew from four year of Caribbean Lie at the Howard Theatre will bring the sounds of roots reggae, dub, ska, soca, calypso, kompa and more to RFK Stadium. Toots and the Maytals, Chronixx and Shabba Ranks are among the performers on the bill, and the inaugural event is going to be a scene: Besides the music, you can snack on jerk chicken and other Caribbean food, or head to the “Chill Zone” where concertgoers can hang out.
Aug. 19 from noon-11 p.m. at RFK Stadium, 2400 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $69.99 in advance or $99.99 at the door on Sunday. VIP tickets are $175 and $200.
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: Soldier, Secretary, Icon from 10a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through March 3 at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Admission is FREE!
The American Revolution: A World War from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through July 9 at the National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution 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!
Baseball Americana from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday through June at the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Baselitz: Six Decades from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 16 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue and Seventh Street SW. Admission is FREE!
Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. through Mar. 10 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Breaking News: Alexander Hamilton from 11-5 p.m. Monday and Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 9 at the George Washington University Museum, 701 21st St. NW. Suggested donation is $8 for non-members.
The Bridges of Madison County at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through Sept. 3 at The Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are $59 for adults, $54 for seniors 62 and older and $49 for those 25 and younger.
Botanical Art Worldwide: America’s Flora from 10 a.m-5 p.m. daily through Oct. 15 at the U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Bound to Amaze: Inside a Book-Colleting Career from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 25 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 youth 18 and younger.
The Color Purple at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 2p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 26 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $79-$149.
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!
Daguerreotypes: Five Decades of Collecting from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through June 2 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
LAST CHANCE! Dave at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday through Aug. 19 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets are $76-$125.
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!
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!
Evicted from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through May 19 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Fabergé Rediscovered from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday through Jan. 13 at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for college student, $5 for children 6-18 and FREE for children younger than 6. Adults and seniors get $3 off weekdays and $1 off on weekends when purchased online.
Friday Night Concert Series from 7-9 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 24 at Yards Park, 355 Water St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Fridays at the Fountain from 5-9 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 19 at the Crystal City Water Park, 1601 Crystal Drive, Arlington. Admission is FREE!
Fun House from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Labor Day at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $16 for adults, $13 for youth 3-17, students with ID and seniors, and $10 for Blue Star military families.
Hamilton at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Sept. 16 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $99-$625. There is a limit of four tickets per household.
Heavy Metal – Women to Watch 2018 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Sept.16 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors 65+ and students older than 18. Youth 18 and younger are FREE!
In the Library: The Richer Archive at 75 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and closed weekends through Aug. 24 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth and Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Investigating Where We Live from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through mid-January 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 at the door. Children are FREE!
Let’s Get It Right: Work Incentive Posters from the 1920s from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Jan. 6 at the National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Loop continuously through Sept. 16 at the Park at CityCenterDC, 10th and I Streets Nw. 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.
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!
Marking the Infinite from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sturday, 10 a.m. -8:30 p.m. Thursday and noon-6:30 p.m. on Sunday through Sept. 9 at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors 62 and older, and FREE for visitors 18 and younger.
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!
One Year: 1968, An America Odyssey from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. through May 19 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Outbreak from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through 2021 at the National Museum of Natural History, 10th 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.
Playball and the National Pastime from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday through Apr. 30 at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Building 76, 736 Sicard St. SE. Admission is FREE!
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!
Postmen of the Skies: Celebrating 100 Years of Airmail Service from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through May 27 at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 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!
Secret Cities from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Mar. 3 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors 60 or older, students with ID and children 3-17. Children younger than 3 are FREE!
Sense of Humor from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 6 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue 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!
Trevor Paglen: Sites Unseen from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Jan. 6 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
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!
War on Our Doorsteps from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday through Nov. 3 at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum, 437 Seventh St. NW. Tickets are $9.50 for adults, $8.50 for seniors 60 and older and military, and $7 for students.
Watching Oprah: The Oprah Winfrey Show and American Culture from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through June 2019 at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE, but timed passes are required. Timed passes will not be required weekdays in September.
Water, Wind and Waves: Marine Painting from the Dutch Golden Age from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 25 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
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!
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.