In the immortal words of Homer Simpson: “Doughnuts. Is there anything they can’t do?”

On a trip to Virginia Beach last weekend, I discovered Duck Donuts. Only a fool wouldn’t want one of these heavenly-holed pastries.

Doughnuts at Duck Donuts are made fresh to order and given to the customer still warm. (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

I spent a long weekend in a rented house on Sandbridge Beach in Virginia Beach, enjoying four days without email, a cellphone or much else. Just friends, a pool, a hot tub, the beach and great weather. On Sunday night, we drove 15 miles north to the resort section of the city where the boardwalk is located. Although the boardwalk, which is lined with hotels and fancy restaurants instead of Thrasher’s Fries, Kohr Bros., Fisher’s caramel corn or Candy Kitchen like Ocean City, Md.’s boardwalk, was disappointing at best. But on our drive, we passed a Duck Donuts. And although it was closed, a friend raved about them and encouraged a stop on the way home to get some.

Duck Donuts is a small chain of stores founded in Duck, N.C. by Robin Griffith and Russell DiGilio in 2006. There are now 15 stores in Delaware, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia, with another four scheduled to open.

When we stopped, it looked like any doughnut shop with a few seats at a counter, a cashier and a few clerks. But one nibble on a sugar-cinnamon sample, and we were hooked. They were warm, light, slightly crispy and not greasy, unlike the cake donuts we are accustomed to in the DMV. Duck Donuts offers custom doughnuts with homemade icings, unusual toppings and atypical flavor combinations, setting them apart from their doughnut-selling competition.

An automated machine drops rings of cake batter into the hot oil each time a customer places and order. (Photo: NC Triangle Dining)

The cashier explained that each doughnut is made to order, starting with a freshly fried yellow cake doughnut. In the fall, they add a pumpkin doughnut. An automated machine drops rings of cake batter into the hot oil. The doughnuts float along cooking before landing in a large bowl. They sit for a moment cooling and waiting to be decorated by an employee.

Then you can choose your coating – bare, cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, glazed, vanilla icing, chocolate icing, lemon icing, peanut butter icing, maple icing or strawberry icing. You also choose toppings such as shredded coconut, chocolate sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles, chopped peanuts or bacon (the most popular). There are also daily specials like the Reese Cup with peanut butter icing and a chocolate drizzle, the orange creamsicle with orange icing and a vanilla drizzle, the Almond Joy with chocolate icing topped with coconut and peanuts, the Beach with vanilla icing, cinnamon and sugar, and French toast with maple icing, cinnamon and powdered sugar.

“Toppers” top the custom made doughnuts. (Photo: Ryan Dunn/Herndon Connection)

Although they are tasty cold, the best way to eat them is as soon as you get them when the doughnuts are hot and the icing is gooey. My favorite was the doughnut with maple icing and bacon – a lot of real, fried bacon.

I was delighted to find two new locations that opened in the DMV this year with another scheduled to open. There is one located at 10694 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax, and another in the BB&T Center, 300A Eldon St., Herndon. Both are open from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. A third is set to open in the Lee Harrison Shopping Center, 211 N. Harrison St., Arlington, later this year.

The maple bacon doughnut s to die for.. (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

Doughnuts are $1.20 each, $6.75 for a half dozen, $11.95 for a dozen or $16.50 for a bucket of 18. The stores also sell coffee, hot chocolate, iced tea, lemonade, fruit smoothies, orange juice, sodas, milk and other drinks, muffins, yogurt and fresh fruit.

D.C.’s first branch of Bonchon, the Korean fried chicken restaurant, opened at 1015 Half St. SE at the end of March.

Bonchon opened it first D.C. location near National’s Park at the end of March. (Photo: JDLand)

The chain, which opened in South Korea in 2002 and came to the U.S. in 2006. In the DMV, it started in Annandale, but has now expanded to 10 area locations including Arlington, Centerville, Fairfax, Herndon and Woodbridge in Virginia, and Ellicott City, Hyattsville and Rockville in Maryland with another slated to open in Germantown.

The 5,300 square foot restaurant has seating for 200 in a large dining area and lounge. And outdoor patio will eventually seat another 60-80 diners. The modern interior, designed by GrizForm Design Architects, is red and black with wood and concrete. There are several televisions in the bar and with high top tables in addition to stools around the double-sided bar with 30 bottled Asian and American craft beers and another 16 on tap such as Kirin and Sapporo alongside Port City and Bold Rock Cider. Wines and spirts include sakes and sojus as well as Western liquors.

Bonchon in Navy Yard seats about 200 in the lounge and dining room. (Photo: Jeff Elkins)

The Navy Yard location, just three blocks from Nationals Park, is owned by Thomas An and Paul Choi, who also operate the Arlington and Centerville restaurants. The menu is similar to Arlington’s with new Korean-fusion dishes, such as a bulgogi marinated steak and cheese wrap and bulgogi sliders stacked on brioche buns with homemade kimchi slaw. More traditional additions include japchae, cold glass noodles sautéed with vegetables and beef, and a Japanese-inspired crab rice ball wrapped in seared salmon.

One standard at every Bonchon is the double-fried chicken wings, drumsticks and strips. Unlike KFC or Popeyes, which are battered, Bonchon’s chicken is brushed with either a spicy glaze made with red chili peppers or a soy garlic glaze. You can also order your chicken half and half, but only the strips can be ordered bare. The double-frying makes the wings and legs crispy on the outside, but tender and juicy inside.

A small combo with wings and drumsticks will set you back $13 with another $3 for the coleslaw. (Photo: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

The chicken is very tasty, although our server warned that the spicy was very hot. The soy garlic is a mild choice and could use some kick. But be warned, Bonchon is pricey. And according to online menus, D.C. prices can be up to $2 more than Hyattsville’s, which is located at 6507 America Blvd. beside the Mall at Prince George’s.

At Navy Yard, 10 wings or strips are $12 ($10.95 in Hyattsville), 20 are $21 and 30 are $29. Drumsticks – which were no bigger than the drumettes from the wings – are $12 for 5 ($10.95 in Hyattsville), $21 for 10 and $29 for $15. A combo of six wings and three drumsticks is $13 ($11.95 in Hyattsville), 10 wings and five drums are $22 and 15 wings and eight drums are $30. A small bowl of pickled daikon radish is included with every chicken order. Other sides includes French fries ($4, $2.95 in Hyattsville), steamed rice or coleslaw ($3) and kimchi or kimchi coleslaw ($3).

Ten chicken strips with soy garlic say is $12 at Navy Yard. (Photo: Nick Bullock/DC on Heels)

A lunch special is available from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday with eight wings or strips, four drumsticks or a four wing and two drumstick combo and one side for $9. They also have a lunch rice bowl for $9 or $10 if you want bulgogi, spicy chicken or salmon teriyaki on top.

This is a sit-down restaurant, which was unexpected. I was expecting something similar to other fried chicken places where you order at a counter with speedy service. Although they have take-out, dining in was slow. We were on our way to a National’s game and ended up missing the opening pitch. If you plan on eating there before a game, add extra time. Also, our meals arrived at different times instead of together.

Bonchon Navy Yard is open 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Pumpkin Festival, Zombie Walk on Tap

Fall is in the DMV in full force with leaves turning yellows and orange, and starting to fill our yards. With only a week until Halloween, there’s plenty of holiday events from a Pumpkin Festival at Butler’s Orchards in Germantown and a Zombie Walk in Silver Spring, to a harvest festival at National Geographic to the annual High Heel Race on 17th Street NW. And of course, many bars will be celebrating with parties and crawls. There’s plenty other events on tap to fill your weekend too.

This weekend, Orange, Silver, Blue, Yellow and Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals, except at Greenbelt, Landover and New Carollton stations. The Greenbelt station will be closed, and buses will replace trains between Greenbelt and College Park. Travelers should allow an extra 15 minutes. At Landover and New Carrollton stations, trains will arrive and depart every 20-25 minutes between 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Red Line trains will operate every 24 minutes with additional trains running about every 12 minutes between Medical Center and NoMa-Gallaudet from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. On Sunday, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. for the Marine Corps Marathon.

Visitors to Butler’s Orchard’s Pumpkin Festival can ride in a pumpkin carriage. (Photo: Alex Gladshtein/Flickr)

Pumpkin Festival

It’s time for Butler’s Orchard’s 34th annual Pumpkin Festival. Admission includes free hayrides, a twisted pumpkin corn maze, straw maze, a pumpkin coach ride (pictured above), pedal tractors, barnyard animals, giant slides, a corn home, a corn box, a spider web and admission to Pumpkinland along with live music. There is also a pumpkin cannon, pony rides, face painting and kids crafts for additional fees. Food for sale includes pit beet, cider, caramel apples, apple cider donuts and more.

Oct 25 and 26 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Butler’s Orchard, 222000 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, Md. Admission is $11. Children under 2 are free.

Craft 2 Wear

Alexandria artist Susan Sanders will be selling her bracelets at the Smithsonian’s Crafts 2 Wear. (Photo: Susan Sanders)

Craft 2 Wear is a show and sale of wearable art. Jewelry, clothing and accessories from over 50 craft artists, who have all be juried into past Smithsonian craft shows will be selling their wares.

Oct. 24 from 5:30-9 p.m., Oct. 25 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Oct. 26 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Admission is $65 for the advance chance party includes wine and a light buffet on Friday and $8 cash at the door Saturday and Sunday.
 
 

Walk to End HIV

Walks at the Start of last year’s AIDS Walk, now Walk to End HIV. (Photo: World on a Ping)

Formerly Aids Walk Washington, the Walk to End HIV is a fundraiser for Whitman-Walker Health. This year’s event includes both a 5K walk and run, traveling the same 5 kilometer route along sections of Pennsylvania Avenue NW and around part of the National Mall along Independence Avenue SW. The walk and run begin and end at Freedom Plaza. Same-day registration and other activities, including an “uplifting program of music, speakers and warm-up exercises,” precede the walk at Freedom Plaza at 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. A post-walk celebration, including performances and awards, is scheduled to begin in Freedom Plaza at 10 a.m. Entertainment includes performances by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, Shi-Queeta Lee and Drag City, and Kaution Dance Kru.

Oct. 25 with registration, speakers and warm-up start at 7. a.m., the run starts at 9:15 a.m. and the walk steps off at 9:20 a.m. Walk registration is $25. Run registration is full. Admission is FREE!

Harvest Festival

A free Harvest Festival will be held at the National Geographic Museum. Admission to the Food exhibit is NOT included. (Photo: National Geographic Museum)

In conjunction with National Geographic’s exhibit “Food: Our Global Kitchen,” the museum will hold a daylong Harvest Festival that includes composting and pickling classes, cooking demonstrations and, of course, delicious food including samples from Sweetgreen, apple varieties from Arcadia, induldge in Nicecream Factory’s liquid nitrogen ice cream. You can make a smoothie using a bike-powered blender, help DC Central Kitchen make a garden in the bed of a pick-up truck and play food-related games.

Oct. 25 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. Admission is FREE!

Fall Frolic

Kids can decorate pumpkins Saturday at Glen Echo Park’s Fall Frolic. (Photo: Glen Echo Park)

Glen Echo Park Partnership hosts its annual Halloween-themed Fall Frolic. Visitors of all ages are invited to the park to explore the arts through hands-on crafts, Halloween activities, trick-or-treating and visiting open studios. It’s a safe and fun Halloween event with something for everyone! For the kids, there will be pumpkin decorating and face painting ($1 fee for pumpkin; $1 and $2 for face painting). All other craft activities and trick-or-treating are FREE! The Halloween celebration will conclude with a costume parade through the park at 3:30 p.m. (weather-permitting).

Oct. 25 from 1-4 p.m. at Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Md. Admission is FREE!

Silver Spring Zombie Walk

Silver Spring’s Zombie Walk and dance will happen Saturday night. (Photo: The Spider Hill/Flickr)

It’s the night of the walking dead as zombies invade Silver Spring during the Silver Spring Zombie Walk. The walk starts at Sligo Avenue and Georgia Avenue. After winding it way through downtown, the walk ends at the AFI Silver Theatre, which will show the 1985 classic Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead at 10:30 p.m. There will be a free Zombie Dance Party at Downtown Silver Spring at 8 p.m.

Oct. 25 starting at 9 p.m. at Sligo and Georgia Avenues. The walk and dance are free, movie admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7 for children online or at the box office.

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight performs at the Howard Theatre. (Photo: Gladys Knight)

The Empress of Soul returns to Washington on the heels of her new gospel album, Where My Heart Belongs. And even though she’s touring without the Pips, it doesn’t mean you won’t hear hits like Midnight Train to Georgia and I Heard It Through the Grapevine.

Oct 25 starting at 8 p.m. at Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW. Tickets are $102.50.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Marine Corps Marathon

The Marine Corps Marathon is Sunday starting on Route 110 between the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. (Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP)

The Marine Corps Marathon is back this weekend taking participants on a 26.2 mile journey through Rosslyn, Georgetown, The Kennedy Center, The National Mall, West Potomac Park, Tidal Basin, Crystal City, the Pentagon, past Arlington National Cemetery to the finish line near the Marine Corps War Memorial. The Arlington Cemetery Metro Station will be closed until 8:30 a.m. Many streets will be closed also, some as early as Saturday. You can see the full list of street closures here.

Oct. 26 starting between the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery on Route 110. Wheelchair and hand cycle participants will begin at 7:40 a.m. followed by runners at 7:55 a.m. Viewing is FREE!

Fashion Yards

Fashion Yards at Yards Park is back on Sunday with more vendors. (Photo: Gilt City)

After a successful summer edition, Fashion Yards returns for another gathering of fashion trucks and pop-up vendors. Organizers promise more menswear, shoes and unique accessories this go-ground. Fashion trucks include Pichardo Boutique, Tin Lizzy, Urban Pearl, Strut DC, Street Boutique, The Thread Truck and Craft Commons. Pop-up vendors include Bespoke Not Broke, The Pink Armoire, Duo DC, Evo Furniture Gallery, Bull and Moose, Stubble and Stache, Hippgyps, Carnelian Boutique, Handmade Habitat, Lettie Gooch, Reddz Trading, ADMK Jewelry, Saadia Arts, Typecase Industries, Rosies and Rockers, DeNada, The Vintageista and Dawn Price Baby.

Oct. 26 from 1-5 p.m. a the Yards Park, 300 Tingey St. SE. Admission is FREE!

High Heel Race

Drag queens will return to 17th Street NW on Tuesday for the annual High Heel Race. (Photo: Metro Weekly)

The 28th annual 17th Street High Heel Race brings together drag queens to run in high heels on 17th street between P and S streets NW near Dupont Circle. This tradition has occurred every year since 1986.

Oct. 28 with the parade starting and 7 p.m. and the race taking place at 9 p.m. Racers should sign in at Cobalt, 1639 R St. NW, and bring high heeled shoes that are at least two inches tall. Admission and registration are FREE!

Jason Derulo

Jason Derulo bring his Talk Dirty tour to the Fillmore on Tuesday. (Photo: Jason Derulo)

Jason Derulo is known for two things: emphatically singing his name during songs and emphatically singing about butts. But according to a recent Rolling Stone interview, the Wiggle and Talk Dirty singer isn’t going to do either for much longer. So if those are the things you love about the rising R&B star, you might want to catch him when he performs in Silver Spring on Tuesday.

Oct. 28 starting at 8 p.m. at the Fillmore, 8656 Colesville Road, Silverspring. Tickets are $43.

Shake Shack will open its first Virginia restaurant and fifth location in the DMV at 11 a.m. Monday in The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center.

Shake Shack will open Monday at the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center. (Photo: Burger Days)

Like its D.C. predecessors on F Street, in Dupont Circle, in Union Station and at Nationals Park, the Tysons Corner Shake Shack’s menu has all the classics, from 100 percent all-natural Angus beef burgers and griddled-crisp flat-top dogs to its Brooklyn Brewery ShackMeister Ale. The Shack will also have a location-specific frozen custard concrete: Tysons Treat made with vanilla custard, banana, chocolate sprinkles and chocolate graham crackers from local bakery Pollystyle. Five percent of the sales of the Tysons Treat will be donated to Potomac Conservancy, which fights to ensure the Potomac River boasts clean drinking water, healthy lands and connected communities. The D.C. locations’ Busy Bee concrete made with vanilla custard, strawberry purée and a Baked & Wired Bee Sting bar with sliced almonds and honey and the Washington Monu-Mint with chocolate custard, minted marshmallow sauce and chocolate truffle cookie dough will also be available at Tysons Corner.

Shake Shack Tysons Corner is a stand-alone restaurant built on an elevated plaza with lush green spaces and gardens, situated adjacent to Tysons Corner Center. It is within walking distance of Metro’s new Tysons Silver Line station.

The restaurant features walls clad in regional reclaimed barn board and is constructed with recycled and sustainable materials and features energy-efficient kitchen equipment and lighting. Chairs and booths are made from lumber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, and tabletops are made from reclaimed bowling alley lanes by Brooklyn-based CounterEvolution. It also has free wi-fi.

Restaurants offer gourmet grilled cheese specials during August

Throughout August, restaurateur Med Lahlou is offering gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches paired with cold summer soups at three of his neighborhood restaurants: Station 4, Lupo Verde and Ulah Bistro.

Ulah Bistro on U Street. (Photo: Zagat)

Station 4, 1101 4th St. SW is serving a taleggio and broccoli rabe grilled cheese made with peach jam served on brioche paired with a cool watermelon gazpacho during brunch, lunch, and dinner service for $12.99.

Ulah Bistro, 1214 U St. NW, is serving a grilled cheese made with grilled Texas bread, caramelized onions, onion marmalade, grilled goat cheese, melted butter and four-hour braised short-ribs that have been cooked with red wine, carrots, celery, onions, rosemary, thyme and black pepper in a salt and beef base. It will be available during lunch and dinner and serviced with chilled cucumber and yogurt soup made with Greek yogurt and topped with paprika oil, parsley, cumin, basil oil and micro greens. The soup and grilled cheese pairing is priced at $14.

Lupo Verde, 1401 T St. NW, is serving focaccia al parmigiano with culatello di zibello D.O.P, rucola pesto, grilled eggplant with scamorza cheese, gorgonzola cream, melted teleggio cheese with a side of butter roasted potatoes, and salsa rosa, a creamy Italian sauce served with celery soup and bresaola strings with blueberry vinaigrette. The combination is priced at $15 during dinner.

National Rum Day returns to D.C.

National Rum Day is Aug. 16 and was established for the education, development and promotion of rum within the spirits industry. Rum Day D.C. highlights rum’s great history and brings awareness to its diversity.

Rum Day events will be held Aug 14-16. (Photo: Rum Day D.C.)

Festivities kick off Thursday at The Graham hotel’s panoramic rooftop in Georgetown with a rooftop rum and smoke soirée from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy the best flights of premium aged rum from Barbados, St. Lucia, Cuba, Dominican Republic and more, and tasty hors d’oeuvres including beef sliders, curry chicken, veggie samosas and mini crab cakes. All guests will receive a complimentary cigar courtesy of Georgetown Tobacco. Tickets are $45.

On Friday, the Rum Runner Party Bus will embark on a bar crawl through some of D.C.’s trendiest stops from 5:30-10:30 p.m. The evening includes gift card raffles, prizes, swag and more. Each of the four stops – the Flats at Atlas Event Space, Farmers Fishers Bakers, Lincoln and Smith Public Trust will serve hors d’oeuvres and premium rum drinks and rum punch will be served on the bus. The bus leaves from Farmers Fishers Bakers! Tickets are $45.

Finally, the fourth annual Rum-B-Que will close out the celebration from 1-5 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Jack Rose Dining Saloon’s rooftop terrace. Chef Russell Jones will be serving up barbecue from the wood-fired grill including pulled pork sliders, skewers, grilled chicken and more. Party highlights include education and rum tasting areas, six signature punch stations featuring premium rums and rum-inspired desserts to satisfy any sweet tooth. Tickets are $65.

Individual tickets along with an all-access pass for all three events ($125) are available here.

B Too launches chef’s counter

Chef Bart Vandaele has launched a weekly chef’s counter tasting menu at B Too, 1324 14th St. NW. At 7 p.m. every Wednesday, eight guests can grab front row seats to experience Vandaele and his team in action as they prepare a curated six-course menu.

B Too restaurant on 14th Street NW is offer a six-course Chef’s Counter meal each Wednesday at 7 p.m. (Photo: Popville)

The chef’s counter will feature a new tasting menu each week for $45 with an optional beverage pairing. Guests can also book the chef’s counter for a private tasting any day of the week for a minimum of eight people with two weeks advance notice.

“The chef’s counter at B Too is a playground for me, and unlike anything I have ever done before,” Vandaele said in a press release. “This tasting menu is an opportunity to have fun while also showing people that there is more to Belgian cuisine, and my style of cooking, than mussels and waffles.”

The tasting menu features items such as red beet sorbet with smoked oyster vodka, parmesan cheese crackers with Hoegaarden jello and a waffle square followed by kelp marinated scallops with American sturgeon caviar, green apple & green pea mouse, crème fraiche with bronze fennel and Nasturtium flowers; Josper Hay-smoked lobster tail with Ardbeg whiskey perfume, lemon, coffee roasted heirloom carrots and black garlic crème; grilled rack of lamb with rosemary, purple artichoke, watercress, open ravioli, smoked mayonnaise and pickled Girolles mushroom; warm tomato and goat cheese tart with purple basil syrup, green tomato, basil crystals and extra virgin olive oil; and sweet avocado soufflé with kiwi, elderflower, Belgian bitter chocolate and coconips.

Zaika adds lunchbox delivery in Clarendon

Zaika, a modern Indian restaurant located at 2800 Clarendon Blvd., Alexandria, is offering a new “Tiffin” lunchbox menu, which must be ordered for six or more people. Delivery is available for $3 for addresses within a five-mile radius of the restaurant.

Zaika is now offering tiffin lunchbox delivery. (Photo: Zaika)

Each tiffin lunch order is individually packaged and diners can specify the level of spice of their savory or curry tiffin meal. Savory tiffin lunchboxes are $10.99 each and curry tiffin lunches are $12.99. Soda or water can be added for $1.50 or a glass of mango lassi for $3.

Savory tiffins include a choice of chicken, lamb, salmon or soya bean accompanied with jeera basmati rice, chana masala (a chickpea dish), raita (a yogurt relish with fresh herbs) and a kachumber salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, broccoli and chickpeas with a lemon herb dressing. Choices include the tandoori tiffin with chicken tikka and mint chutney, the hara tiffin with a boti lamb kabob and tamarind chutney, the sagar tiffin with salmon and tamarind chutney, the murgh tiffin with chicken, fenegreek leaves and mint chutney, the vegetarian vanaspati tiffin with soya bean and mint chutney, and the biryani tiffin with the choice of chicken or vegetables.

Curry tiffins are served with jeera basmati rice, chana masala, kachumber salad, raita and naan. Choices include the murgh makhani tiffin with chicken in creamy tomato curry, the macchi tiffin with fish fillets in cashew curry, the rogan josh tiffin with lamb in creamy tomato curry, and the palak paneer tiffin with cottage cheese in spinach curry.

It is St. Patrick’s Day weekend and while the Potomac may not run green, everyone will be Irish. On tap this weekend are parades, bagpipes and green beer will be flowing everywhere. And there will be corned beef and cabbage galore. But you don’t have to be Irish to have fun, there are plenty of other things going on in the DMV.

But those living near the Green line in Greenbelt aren’t so lucky. The Greenbelt station will be closed with busses replacing trains from College Park. Other Green line trains along with train on the Orange, Blue and Yellow lines will operate at regular weekend levels, except Saturday on at the Franconia-Springfield station on the blue lines, where trains will operate every 20-25 minutes between 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Red line trains will run every 16 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont, with additional trains providing service from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. between Farragut North and Silver Spring. On Saturday, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. for the Rock ‘N Roll Marathon.

Happy St. Patrick’s Weekend! The Potomac River runs green pas the Kennedy Center and Washington Monument. (Photo Ian Livingston/Washington Post. Illustration: Mark Heckathorn/DC on Heels)

World Stages

Rupert about Rupert Murdoch will be performed by the Melbourne Theatre Co. during the Kennedy Center’s World Stages event. (Photo: Melbourne Theatre Co.)

The Kennedy Center is in the middle of its international festival featuring works from 20 countries from nearly every continent. The festival includes 13 fully staged productions, nine of which are U.S premieres, as well as theater-focused installations, staged readings and panel discussions. World Stages brings together some of today’s most exciting theatrical visionaries — including work by famed director Peter Brook, novelist/playwright Ariel Dorfman, playwright David Williamson and acclaimed War Horse collaborators Tom Morris and the Handspring Puppet Company; a play featuring Academy Award nominee Dame Janet Suzman; Olivier and Tony Award–winning puppetry; new twists on Shakespeare and other classics; and much more.

Through Mar. 30 at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. Various times and locations. Ticket range from free to $69.

African Films Festival

(em>Half of a Yellow Sun with 12 Years a Slave’s Chaiwetel Ejiofor will be shown at the AFI Silver Theatre. (Photo: Monterey Media)

The AFI Silver Theatre’s 10th annual New African Films Festival began Thursday and features 18 films from all across Africa. Among the films is Half of a Yellow Sun with Chaiwetel Ejiofor from 12 Years a Slave on Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m. Set in the late 60s, Olanna (Thandie Newton from Crash), her sister Kainene (Anika Noni Rose from Dreamgirls) and Olanna’s revolutionary boyfriend, Odenigbo (Ejiofor) are forced to make bold choices in order to navigate the complex social terrain mapped out by Nigeria’s ethnic, political and religious divide, and survive. Many of the screenings include Q&As after with authors, directors and others.

Mar. 13-20 at the AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. Various times. Tickets cost $12 for general admission, $7 for children and $10 for seniors.

A piece from Kelly Towels’ display The Death of Ulysses at Hierarchy. (Photo: Kelly Towles)

Death of Ulysses

Eight years in the making, D.C.-based artist Kelly Towles’ solo exhibition, The Death of Ulysses, is inspired by Homer’s epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey. Towles, who is known for his Washington street art, creates a fantastical world that injects Homer’s poems with new life and hidden meanings while reorienting them for modern society. Towles explores the deep roots of fables and the power of storytelling, creating a landscape for his own mythical-modern day society. Hidden meanings and symbolism paired with mashups of pop culture and classic literature.

Mar. 14-Apr. 7 at Heirarchy, 1841 Columbia Rd. NW. Opening reception Mar. 14 from 7 p.m.-midnight. Exhibit open Saturdays and Sundays from noon-5 p.m. Admission is free.

St. Patrick’s Day Parades

Girl Scouts in the 2013 Manassas St. Patrick’s Day parade. (Photo: Manassas St. Patrick’s Day parade)

Gaithersburg and Manassas will observe St. Patrick’s Day today with parades. Dozens of units will march in Gaithersburg’s St. Patricks’ Day parade, including Celtic dancers, bagpipe bands, clowns, fire trucks and more. The grand marshals and masters of ceremony are Tommy McFly, Kelly Collis and Jen Richer of 94.7 Fresh FM’s The Tommy Show. Following the parade, there will be live entertainment at the Lakeforest Plaza until 1 p.m. Manassas’ St. Patrick’s Day parade will include a variety of local and regional groups including Irish dance as well as several bagpipe and drum groups.

Gaithersburg St. Patrick’s Day parade kicks off at 10 a.m. Mar. 15 at Washingtonian Center (I-370 and Washingtonian Boulevard) with live entertainment following at the Lakeforest Plaza until 1 p.m. Free.

Manassas’ St. Patrick’s Day parade steps off at 11 a.m. at Quarry Road and Prescott Avenue, turns right onto Center Street and ends at Harris Pavilion near Grant Avenue. Free.

Shamrock Bar Crawl

Green beer (Photo: Tuscon Foodie)

Put on your green and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early with the Shamrock Bar Crawl in Arlington that includes stops at 15 area bars including Hart Times Café, Whitlow’s, American Tap Room, Wilson Tavern and more. Tickets grant you entry into each bar, a special shamrock mug, party favors, beads, discounts and more.

Mar. 15 from 2-9 p.m. Tickets cost $20 between 2-5 p.m. at Clarendon Ball Room, Mad Rose or Velocity Five, where everyone must pick up their wristband and mug.

Hair

Hair at the Keegan Theatre. (Photo: Keegan Theatre)

The granddaddy of all rock musicals that gave us Aquarius, Let the Sun Shine In, Good Morning, Sunshine and Easy to Be Hard, Hair focuses on the sexual and social revolutions of the tumultuous 60s, complete with the period-accurate nudity and strong language. It is about a group of teens searching for truth, peace and love in a Vietnam War era.

Mar. 15-Apr. 12 at the Keegan Theatre at Church St., 1742 Church St. NW. Shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets range from $35-$42 here.

St. Patrick’s Parade

The 2013 D.C. St. Patrick’s Parade (Photo: St. Patrick’s Parade Committee of Washington, D.C.)

Washington, D.C.’s 43 annual St. Patrick’s Parade features more than 100 marching bands, military units, dance schools, floats and a variety of other groups and organizations. Rev. Monsignor Salvatore A. Criscuolo is the grand marshal. The Gael of the Year, selected for her outstanding service to the Irish community, is Cecilia Farley. The judges reviewing stand is located between 15th and 16th Streets NW.

Mar. 16 beginning at noon along Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets NW. Free!