News & Politics

Where & When: What to Do This Weekend

Dance dirty, see the final Fort Reno, hit up an Asian food festival and lots more this weekend.

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Thursday, July 30: Ready to have the time of your life? The Capitol Riverfront’s ’80s film series continues through August 20. Tonight, Dirty Dancing, which stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, shows at dusk (around 8:45). Attendees are encouraged to wear leg warmers and quote their favorite lines to each other. In the meantime, check out this reenactment of a scene from the film with Channing Tatum and Charlyne Yi. Films are shown at Tingey Plaza.

We can hardly believe we’re saying this, but it’s—sniff—the final Fort Reno concert of the season. The series is ending a few weeks early this year, so if you haven’t had the chance to check out the free indie-rock concerts, tonight’s an excellent night to do so. Title Tracks, the group lead by John Davis (formerly of Georgie James and Q And Not U) is headling. The shows start at 7:15 PM.

It’s braaaainnnnns time at the Black Cat tomorrow night. There’ll be drink specials in the Red Room and a chance to sit back and watch a zombie movie or two (titles TBA) in the back-stage area. Free; 8 PM.

Who doesn’t love the Redskinettes? To get your cheerleader fix, head to Public Bar tonight for the official debut of the 2009/2010 Redskins-cheerleaders calendar. There’ll be performances by the new squad and a chance to get your very own calendar autographed. The entry fee is $10, and another ten bucks will get you a calendar. 7 PM.
Friday, July 31: Bethesda/Chevy Chase Summer Restaurant Week goes through Sunday. Check out the details on all the specials here and eat up.

Visual and sonic beauty come together tonight at Wolf Trap when a full orchestra plays the score that’s accompanying Disney’s stunning documentary The Blue Planet. Sequences from the gorgeous nature film will be shown. $20 to $48; 8:30 PM.

Never jumped on the vampire bandwagon? Now’s the time to see what all the fuss is about. Bethesda’s Stars on the Avenue outdoor movie series hosts a free screening of Twilight at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn avenues. The film begins at 9, but make sure to get there early to secure some of the festival-provided seating. To learn more, click here.

The folks of the alternative gay Web site TheNewGay go retro with Transformer, a backstage dance party at the Black Cat featuring some of the best jams from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. Get ready for classic rock, glam, pop, and disco, of course. Tickets to the party, which starts at 9:30, are $5.

Saturday, August 1: Speaking of Fort Reno (see our Thursday listing), if you’re a fan, you should head to the Black Cat tonight where there’s a benefit concert, called Run for Cover, to support the free series. The classical annual event involves members of local bands teaming up to create their own super-group cover bands. This year, there’s Blonde on Blonde, Five Imaginary Boys, Guided by Vices, and lots more. This event usually sells out, so get there early! $10; 9 PM.

Drama junkies can explore old costumes, props, and set pieces at the annual Studio Theatre garage sale. Special finds include Edie Beale-style hats and scarves from Grey Gardens and abstract paintings from A Year of Magical Thinking. 10 to 4 at the intersection of 14th and P streets, Northwest. For more information, click here.

It’s video-mix mayhem on H Street, Northeast: Starting tonight, Sticky Rice hosts a monthly multimedia dance party featuring an array of video mashups—old, new, and weird, according to this video advertisement for the event. Oh yeah, $3 PBRs will be available during the party. 11 PM. 

Sunday, August 2: Curry fans can get their fill all weekend at the sixth annual Asian Food and Tennis Festival (11452 Baron Cameron Ave., Reston), which spotlights India. Thirty local restaurants will offer authentic dishes, many of which can’t be found on regular menus. A multi-cultural marketplace promises to be packed full of Eastern imports. After you finish eating, stick around for Bollywood and Bhangra dance performances. The festival is free; for hours and more information, call 703-589-4144 or visit asianfestivaldc.com.

Are you ready for some rock and soul? Hall & Oates are playing a show tonight at Wolf Trap. You can rock out on the lawn while listening to hits such as “Private Eyes,” “Maneater,” and “Kiss on My List.” 8 PM; $25 to $42.

Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.