Say Goodbye to Summer This Weekend
Summer is coming to an end, as are the weekly Jazz in the Garden and the Friday night concert series at Yards Park. But back-to-school and the arrival of fall also means the return of the Maryland Renaissance Festival, which begins on Saturday. One good thing this weekend, weather forecasts are calling for no rain and temperatures of 84 on Saturday and 90 on Sunday so you can get in some pool time in as we begin the final countdown to Labor Day next 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 Farragut West, McPherson Square and lower level of Metro Center stations are also closed with buses replacing trains between Foggy Bottom and Federal Triangle. Orange Line trains operate between Vienna and Foggy Bottom and between New Carrollton and Federal Triangle on a regular weekend schedule. Silver Line trains will run between Wiehle-Reston East and Foggy Bottom and Largo Town Center and Federal Triangle on a regular weekend schedule. Blue Line trains will not come into the District, running between Springfield-Franconia and Arlington National Cemetery ONLY. Yellow Line trains will operate every 15 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square ONLY. Green Line trains single track between L’Enfant Plaza and Navy Yard every 15 minutes.
Maryland Renaissance Festival
The Maryland Renaissance Festival opens its 42nd season at Revel Grove on Saturday. Travel back to 1529 as King Henry VIII visits the village as the wants his marriage to Cathrine of Aragon annulled so he can wed the bewitching Anne Boleyn, who is traveling with the king. Check out this unique festival that takes place every year outside Annapolis, roughly 50 minutes from downtown D.C. Take along the entire family and celebrate olde times with more than 140 Renaissance-themed artisans, dazzling performances, including dancers and musicians, and plenty of plate-filling food, like giant turkey legs. You can also dress up in your own costume, if ye so wish, or rent one there.
Weekends and Labor Day through Oct. 21 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis. Tickets are $19 for adults, $17 for seniors 62 and older and $8 for children ages 7-15 through Sept. 9 and $26, $22 and $11, respectively, beginning Sept. 15. Children 6 and younger are FREE!
D.C. Bachata Congress
The four-day D.C. Bachata Congress, touted as the “world’s largest bachata festival,” is packed with workshops, panel discussions, concerts and performances by some of the best Latin dancers in the world. Although the focus is on bachata dance, which originated in the Dominican Republic, the event also will showcase salsa, zouk and samba. Most of the daytime events are targeted toward professional dancers, but the nights will be filled with fashion, mixers and performances by Dominican singer Kewin Cosmos and Eddie Torres and His Mambo Kings Orchestra, among others, for anyone eager to get up and move. Check the schedule the full listing of events and times.
Aug 24-26 from 9 a.m. until the wee hours of the morning at the Renaissance Hotel, 999 Ninth St. NW. Tickets are $30-$299.
Jazz in the Garden
This is the last Friday to enjoy Jazz in the Garden after work for another year. Kick back and groove to the music with sangria in hand amid the art in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. The group, Speakers of the House, which plays funk and boogaloo, will 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. 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.
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!
Friday Night Concert Series
Tonight is also the last night for the Friday Night Concert Series at Yards Park. Take in river views, food and brews while you listen to the country/bluegrass tunes of NAVY Band on the Capitol Riverfront. Take a blanket or chairs and summer the summertime vibes one last time as you stretch our in plenty of green space.
Aug. 24 from 7-9 p.m. at Yards Park, 355 Water St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Comcast Xfinity Outdoor Film Festival
The Comcast Xfinity Outdoor Film Festival, which raises money for the NIH Children’s Charities, is one of the DMV’s biggest outdoor movie series with a screen that is nine stories high and 52 feet wide. The scenic Strathmore campus is a fantastic place to enjoy an evening outdoors, so bring along the crew, blankets or low-rise chairs to catch Black Panther on Friday, The Lion King on Saturday or Wonder Woman on Sunday. You can also take a small cooler and a picnic or purchase food from Ridgewell’s and ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s, that benefit the charities.
Aug. 23-26 with pre-show activities beginning at 7:30 p.m. and screenings at dusk at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Admission is FREE!
Fairfax Comic Con
The inaugural Fairfax Comic Con takes place this weekend at the Dulles Expo Center. The convention will feature guests from the world of comics, including artist/writer John Cassaday (Planetary, Astonishing X-Men, Captain America and Star Wars) and artist Jim Cheung (New Avengers: Illuminati and Young Avengers); the weekend will also have several actors such as Greg Grunberg(Heroes, Alias) and voice actor Greg Cipes (Beast Boy from Teen Titans Go! ). In addition to the trivia challenges, Q&As and cosplay events on the schedule, there will be a long list of exhibitors.
Aug. 25 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Aug. 26 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly. Tickets are $20 for a single-day pass or $30 for a weekend pass. Children 10 and younger are FREE!
Community Day at Arena Stage
Arena Stage’s Community Day is a public festival that is more about being a good neighbor than pushing tickets for its upcoming season. The six-hour-long party at the Southwest theater includes music from jazz, Americana and children’s performers; aerialists and acrobats; dance ensembles; storytellers; a “Taste of Southwest” with local restaurants; and pony-rides and face-painting for kids.
Aug. 25 from noon-6 p.m. at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Admission is FREE!
17th Street Festival
Seventeenth Street has so much to see and do, it needs its own day-long festival for you to take in all its wonder. Live entertainment will be present throughout the ninth annual 17th Street Festival including Deon Clean Cutt, lion dancers, the Riverside Carnival Band, Flamenco con Magdalena, Mariachi Ay-Ay-Ay and Brooklyn Heights, providing a soundtrack as you browse through roughly 100 vendors, including 60 artists displaying fine art, crafts and jewelry. There is even a kid’s zone, where the little ones can enjoy a moon bounce, a ball crawl, face painting and games.
Aug. 25 from noon-7 p.m. along 17th Street from P to R Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
A Soulful Summer
Part of the Fort Dupont Park 2018 Event Series, A Soulful Summer is a concert by the platinum award-winning R&B group, After 7, featuring the Samuel Prather Groove Orchestra. On Sept. 1 there will be a Tribute to D.C. Muisc featuring the Bela’Dona Band and D.C’s own national recording artist YahZarah. And on Sept. 8 will feature Let’s Funk with platinum and gold award-winning R&B group, Cameo featuring Afi Soul & The Experience Band. Parking is limited, so take the southbound U2 or V7 bus from the Minnesota Avenue Metro station to F Street SE, just outside the park.
Aug. 25 from 6-9 p.m. at the Fort Dupont Park Amphitheatre, 3600 F ST. SE. Admission is FREE!
Taco Mile
Taco Mile put on by D.C. Parks and Recreation and the November Project D.C. alongside local businesses Pacers Running and District Taco — and the less local Shake Shack — pushes people of all ages and running abilities to cover one mile (four laps around the track) and eat four tacos. There is also a Fun Taco Mile with four laps and one taco and a Family Taco Mile with four laps and one taco for those who prefer to walk to have kids, strollers, etc. There will be vegetarian and gluten-free tacos available.
Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center track, 4300 Anacostia Ave. NE. Admission is FREE, but registration is required.
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.
LAST CHANCE! 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!
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.
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!
LAST CHANCE! 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!
Passion at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday through Sept. 23 at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $40-$104.
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!
Welcome to the New World from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Spring 2019 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!.
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.