Thursday, August 5
Feeling like a champ? Head to Canal Park for a screening of Rocky, part of the Capitol Riverfront’s Outdoor Underdog film festival. The film begins at 8:45, but arrive early for a round of Wii on the big screen, trivia, and other games. Free.
Tryst in Adams Morgan is holding an opening reception tonight for Non-Representational Photography, the first DC exhibit by artist Alex Pergament. Images feature techniques that obscure a scene using soft focus, under-exposure, and camera movement. As you walk through the exhibit, take in jazz and funk music by the Rast, Ostle, and Blackwood Trio, and enjoy a sampling of hors d’oeuvres. Free. 7 to 9.
Saxophonist Richard Elliot and trumpeter Rick Braun share the stage tonight at the Birchmere for a smooth-jazz set. The two have produced 33 albums between them. Tickets ($39.50) are available here. 7:30.
Get your Broadway fix at a performance of The Mikado at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. The show, presented by the GLBT Arts Consortium, opens tonight and runs through August 7. Call 202-547-6839 or e-mail victor@chaw.org for tickets ($20). 7 PM.
Friday, August 6
Nosh your way through the restaurants of Gaylord National Harbor at Taste of Gaylord, which will take place every Friday this month beginning today. Participating restaurants include Old Hickory Steakhouse, Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine, Pienza Italian Market, and National Pastime Sports Bar & Grill. Tickets ($20 a person) include food samples and a two-ounce alcoholic drink; they can be purchased at the Java Coast coffeeshop located on the resort’s atrium level, or get a $5 discount here for a limited time. 5:30 to 7:30.
Luke’s Wings, the Washington-based charity for wounded veterans, holds its second annual Endless Summer Beach Bash tonight at L2. The tropical-themed party features kiddie pools, a surf simulator, and a slew of beach games. Attendees are invited to don swimsuits and flip-flops and enjoy fruity drinks with mini-umbrellas. Tickets ($20 in advance, $30 at the door) are available here. 7 PM to 2 AM.
The Del Ray Artisans gallery in Alexandria is holding an opening reception for the Gallery of the Legends, a photo exhibit honoring individuals who have played a critical role in Alexandria’s recent history. The showcase is the culmination of the gallery’s 2009/2010 program, Living Legends of Alexandria. Free. 7 to 10.
Get your laugh on at Improv-A-Palooza at the Source theater, a comedy festival hosted by the Washington Improv Theater. The event, which began yesterday and runs through tomorrow, features improv games such as Bad Walken, in which every player is Christopher Walken, and La Familia, which involves handing out cannoli to audience members. Tickets ($10 for a single show or $20 for a three-day pass) are available at the door. 8 pm
Be very, very quiet—I’m listening to rabbits: The National Symphony Orchestra plays the music of Bugs Bunny tonight and tomorrow at Wolf Trap. Large projection screens will be set up inside the theater and on the lawn to play the classic cartoons along with their full orchestral backing. Among the classic cartoon melodies to be featured are “The Rabbit of Seville” and “What’s Opera, Doc?” Tickets ($20 to $50) are available here. 8:30.
Saturday, August 7
Get to know the Bloomingdale neighborhood through 1st on First, an afternoon art stroll featuring the work of local sculptors and installation artists. Pick up a map at Windows Cafe & Market, then end the journey at Big Bear Cafe with live music and a free drink. Noon to 4.
Who says hot weather has to suck all the fun out of outdoor shopping? Hit Midcity this weekend for the Dog Days of August blowout, a gigantic sidewalk sale featuring special deals and sweet treats at more than 100 stores. Must-dos include Studio Theatre’s Garage Sale, free dog and “people” biscuits at Room & Board, and the $5 sale bin at the vintage outpost Treasury. Click here for a complete list of special promotions.
It’s Tax-Free Weekend! Friday through Sunday in Virginia and Sunday only in Maryland, you can get clothing, footwear, and school supplies without forking over the sales tax. More details are here.
One world, one Om. Yoga outfitter LuluLemon is coordinating a nationwide yoga flow. Grab your mat and head to the White House Ellipse (directly between the White House and Washington Monument) for a free, hourlong session. 9 to 10 AM.
The 9:30 Club brings the big dance party back with No Scrubs, a ’90s-guilty-pleasure-filled session conducted by DJs Will Eastman and Brian Dillon. Bust out the baggy pants and butterfly clips, and jam out to everything from TLC to Oasis. Tickets are $15; doors open at 9. The event nearly sold out last August, so be sure to snatch tickets online.
Sunday, August 8
Regulars at Capitol Skyline Hotel’s Spiked pool party should stick around for Synchroswim2010, a free synchronized-swimming performance put on by the Washington Project for the Arts. 6 to 7 PM.
The National Museum of the American Indian’s Living Earth Festival wraps up with an Iron Chef-like competition. Watch Richard Hetzler, chef at the museum’s Mitsitam Cafe, square off against L’Academie de Cuisine executive chef Brian Patterson. The two will duke it out to see who can produce the best sustainable three-course meal in less than an hour. Ingredients include fresh local produce and game such as elk, venison, and quail. The event takes place at 3 outside the museum at Fourth Street a
nd Independence Avenue, Southwest.
Tango for $22? Yes, please! Dance Place hosts the Sharna Fabiano Tango Company for a night of dancing to explore the meaning behind the style’s signature embrace. Partners trade off following and leading. 7 PM; click here for tickets.
Learn to make the pastry world’s latest trend, French macarons—two delicate egg-white-based cookies with jelly or ganache in the center—at Cookology (21100 Dulles Town Cir., Sterling; 703-433-1909). Participants will tackle the hard-to-make dessert with three flavors: dark chocolate and coconut, white chocolate with cranberry jam, and raspberry with pecan butter. The class, $59, runs from 2 to 4. To purchase tickets, click here.
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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.
