May the Fourth Be with You This Weekend
May the Fourth be with you this weekend as you celebrate Cinco de Mayo and partake in other activities around the DMV. (Look here for a listing of bar and restaurant celebrations.) Temperatures are forecast for the low-70s to low-80s although there is a 40 percent chance of rain on Saturday evening and 70 percent chance of showers on Sunday. There are many outdoor activities this weekend, like the National Wine & Food Festival, Flower Mart, Around the World Embassy Tour, the Running of the Chihuahuas and the Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival. If you are headed outdoors, take an umbrella.
The Franconia-Springfield, Van Dorn Street King Street-Old Town, Braddock Road, Huntington and Eisenhower Avenue Metro stations are closed this weekend. On the Blue Line, buses replace trains between Franconia-Springfield and National Airport. The shuttle will not stop at Braddock Road. Riders to/from Braddock Road must use the Yellow Line shuttle. Blue Line trains operate on a regular schedule between National Airport and Largo Town Center ONLY. Likewise, buses replace trains on the Yellow Line between Huntington and Crystal City, skipping National Airport. Riders going to National Airport should use a Blue Line shuttle. Yellow Line trains operate on a regular schedule from opening Saturday until 11:15 a.m. and 2- p.m. between National Airport and Mount Vernon Square ONLY. Sunday trains operate between National Airport and Fort Totten. Red Line trains single track between Medical Center and Grosvenor with trains running every 18 minutes between Glenmont and Shady Grove and every 9 minutes between Silver Spring and Friendship Heights from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Orange, Silver and Green Line trains operate on regular weekend schedules.
Around the World Embassy Tour
You can visit any of more than 40 non-European Union embassies (EU embassies’ open houses are May 11) , including Australia, Brazil, China, India, Iraq, Korea, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, during Cultural Tourism D.C.’s annual Around the World Embassy Tour. Travel the world and experience the food, art, dance, fashion and music of different countries. Embassies that span five continents will open their doors, with programming and activities for visitors on-site. Check out the participating embassies on the website and plan your multicultural excursion through the streets of D.C.! (This is popular and there will be long lines. Arrive early and plan to visit five embassies at most.) There will be information booths at Dupont Circle and Van Ness.
May 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at more than 50 embassies in the District. Admission is FREE!
Flower Mart
Calling all garden enthusiasts! This Friday and Saturday enjoy one of spring’s most impressive showcases of colorful perennials, cutting-edge landscape exhibits and extraordinary floral arrangements produced by international floral designers at Flower Mart. Purchase spring plants for your garden, find treasures in the white elephant tent and shop for a wide array of merchandise at more than 70 boutique booths. Plants include herbs, bonsai, orchids, floral arrangements and cut blooms. There are also family-friendly activities including entertainment, garden tours, games, carnival rides, a puppet show and an antique carousel. All kinds of food from barbecue and smoothies to funnel cakes and lobster rolls will be for sale, and you can climb the more than 300 steps from the Cathedral’s crypt to the top of the tower for $25 and see the gargoyles up-close.
May 3 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and May 4 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
In the Library: Frederick Douglass Family Materials
The National Gallery of Art displays artifacts from the life of Frederick Douglass in In the Library: Frederick Douglass Family Materials from the Walter O. Evans Collection. Douglass was a 19th century slave who went on to be one of the most outspoken and influential abolitionists, and collector Walter O. Evans has shared the statesman’s printed speeches, letters, manuscripts, scrapbooks and photos with the Gallery, many of which are personal in nature. The exhibit will also showcase rare 19th century African American newspapers that highlighted Douglass, illuminating the historical figure in new ways.
Through June 14 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sunday) at the National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
More is More: Multiples
Art and commerce are married in this new exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. More is More: Multiples will show how important and empowering messages can be delivered through art even when it is mass-produced. The objects showcased, which include totes, toys, dinner plates, sunglasses and more, were designed by artists such as Barbara Kruger, Jiha Moon and Cindy Sherman, often in partnership with a design firm, charity or foundation. Visitors will see how these “multiples” can still be viable works of art filled with insight, commentary and humor.
May 3 through Sept. 22 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for people 65 and older and students, and children 18 and younger are FREE!
In Mid-Sentence
Photographs that depict moments of communication make up this new display from the National Portrait Gallery, which opens Friday. In Mid-Sentence presents a selection of photographs from the museum’s collection that depict moments of communication: intimate confessions, public speeches, exchanged jokes, political confrontations, lectures and more. Pivotal moments in history are showcased throughout, from JFK’s speech at the 1960 Democratic National Convention to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech to Walter Cronkite’s meeting with Daniel Ellsberg as the “Pentagon Papers” were published.
May 3 through Mar 8 from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!,
The Children
In The Children, a long-married couple of retired nuclear physicists have taken to a quiet life on the British coast after surviving a natural disaster. The duo’s peaceful routines of energy rationing, gardening and yoga are upended by the arrival of their former colleague, Rose, whom they have not seen for 38 years. Decisions made decades before now upend Hazel and Robin’s lives as Rose unveils a stunning proposal that threatens more than their marriage. This is a thriller about responsibility and reparation – what one generation owes the next.
Through June 2 at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. and Sunday (except May 4) and 7 p.m. Sunday (except May 5) at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW.Tickets are $20-$97.
Love’s Labor’s Lost
In Love’s Labor’s Lost, A young king and his three friends renounce the company of women for three years, in favor of scholarly pursuits. Their pact is immediately jeopardized, however, when the Princess of France and her three companions arrive for an unexpected visit. Will the men stand resolute and keep their monastic vows — or surrender to the beauty and charms of the opposite sex. Shakespeare’s comedy is full of foolish lovers and clowns, disguise and the follies of love.
Through June 9 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 (except May 8) at the Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $42-$85.
Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival
The annual Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, features local vendors and good vibes on the gorgeous Kingman Island in northeast D.C. Leading contemporary artists within the bluegrass and folk genres will perform on four stages, including Dustbowl Revival, The Ballroom Thieves, Hackensaw Boys and Che Apalache. The festival is all about community and sustainability (proceeds go towards the Living Classrooms Foundation), so grab a drink and some food, enjoy the weather and scenery and celebrate with friends. Check out the lineup. A free shuttle will run from the Stadium-Armory Metro station from 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Food trucks will be available to purchase food.
May 4 from noon-8 p.m. on Kingman Island, 575 Oklahoma Ave. NE. Entrance to the park is at the back of RFK Stadium Park Lot 6. Admission is $45-$125.
National Wine & Food Festival
Scenic National Harbor hosts the 11th annual National Wine & Food Festival that foodies will not want to miss. Hang out on the waterfront and indulge in cuisine from chefs and culinary creatives, in addition to more than 150 different international and local wines, beers and spirits at this all-you-care-to-taste event. A rosé garden, a champagne lounge, a margarita bar, a Stella Artois Craft Beer Experience and Smooth Ambler Whiskey Wagon are all on the docket. Food trucks will be available to purchase food. Sunday features a new gospel brunch buffet with music from Mutual Agreement and bottomless mimosas and bloody marys.
May 4 from noon-6 p.m. and May 5 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at National Harbor, 165 Waterfront St., Oxen Hill. Tickets are $40 in advance for general admission, $90 for Saturday VIP and $70 for Sunday VIP admission with an extra hour to sampling plus free food in the VIP area, and $130 for Sunday’s gospel brunch and VIP admission.
Running of the Chihuahuas
The Wharf celebrates Cinco de Mayo with the Running of the Chihuahuas, now in its eighth year. Watch the 128 little pups run their way to glory. You will also be able to enjoy a beer garden and music throughout the afternoon. Cost to register a half mix or full mix chihuahua is $30. The event benefits Rural Dog Rescue, a non-profit dedicated to saving dogs in shelters who are often overlooked for adoption or rescue. There is also a free costume contest for all dogs.
May 4 from 1-5 p.m. at The Wharf, 600 Water St. SW. Admission is FREE!
God of Carnage
Winner of a 2019 Tony Award, God of Carnage pits two sets of Brooklyn parents against each other in a conflict that slowly dissolves into all-out war. When two 11-year-old boys have a playground altercation, their parents decide to meet to resolve the matter. Initially, the couples remain cordial, but once alcohol is consumed, tempers flare and principles are shattered.
May 4-25 at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are $20-$50.
Sundress Fest
What could bring hundreds of sundress-wearing women and men to Columbia Heights on a Sunday morning? No, it is better than brunch — it is the Wonderland Ballroom’s Sundress Fest with all-day happy hour prices for anyone in a sundress. For 15 years, the neighborhood bar has been asking everyone to dress up and raise money for charity. This year’s anniversary party shuts down Kenyon Street to make room for three bands, DJ Keenan Orr, “four swimming pools of beer” (per organizers) and the annual runway show. Proceeds from the day — including the sales of sundresses to guys who need a last-minute outfit — benefit D.C. Central Kitchen.
May 5 from 11 a.m.-midnight at the Wonderland Ballroom 11101 Kenyon St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Ongoing events
All Work, No Pay from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through February 2020 at the National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Animals, Collected from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.6 p.m. Sunday through Spring 2020 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $7-$10.
Annie Jump & the Library of Heaven at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday through May 19 and 3 p.m. Sunday at Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NW. Tickets are $29.99 for adults and 19.99 for children and seniors.
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!
Artists Respond: American Art and the Vietnam War, 1965-1975 from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Aug. 18 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Baseball Americana from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday through July 27 at the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Celebrating New American Gardens from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Oct. 15 at the U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. Admission is 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! Disrupting Craft from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through May 5 at the Renwick Gallery, 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 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!
Enrico David: Gradations of Slow Release from 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 2 at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue SW and Seventh Street 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!
Eye to I: Self-Portraits from 1900 to Today from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Aug. 18 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Flickering Treasures from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 14 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors ages 60 and older, youth ages 3-17 and students. Children 2 and younger are FREE!
Game Change: Elephants from Prey to Preservation from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Feb. 1, at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
A Glimpse of Ancient Yemen from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Aug. 18 at the Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Good as Gold: Fashioning Senegalese Women from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 29 at the National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Hoops from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 5 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for youth ages 3-17, students with ID and seniors ages 60 and older.
Into the Woods at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday through May 22 at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. Tickets are $27-$81.
It’s Hip to Be Square: The Mint Family from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Nov. 31 at the U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Nature’s Best Photography from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through September at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue 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!
Perfume & Seduction from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday through June 9 at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for college students, $5 for children 6-18 and children younger than 6 are FREE!
Portraits of the World: Korea from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Nov. 17 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!
Queens of Egypt from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Sept. 2 at the National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, students and military, $10 for children 5-12 and children younger than 5 are FREE!
Recent Acquisitions from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Nov. 3 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
LAST CHANCE! Represent: Hip-Hop Photography from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through May 5 at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE. Timed tickets are required on weekends and for groups of 10 or more.
Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 31 at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $12.71-$21.21 online or $14.95-$24.95 at the door.
Striking Iron: The Art of African Blacksmiths from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Oct. 20 at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Tiffany Chung: Vietnam, Past Is Prologue from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Sept. 2 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Sea Monsters Unearthed, Life in Angola’s Ancient Seas from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through 2020 at the National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Section 14: The Other Palm Springs, California from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through January at the National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Shaping Clay in Ancient Iran from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through September at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. 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!
Superheroes from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Sept. 2 at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Watching Oprah: The Oprah Winfrey Show and American Culture from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through June at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE, but timed passes are required.
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!
Zilia Sánchez: Soy Isla (I Am an Island) from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday and noon-6:30 p.m. Sunday through May 9 at the Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students and senior citizens 62 and older, and children 18 and younger are 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.