Thursday, August 2
TREATS: It’s
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, and I’m just gonna say it: It’s far superior to other sugar-laden days such as Slurpee
and doughnut day. Sugar Magnolia will have buy one, get one free made-from-scratch
ice cream sandwiches all day. $3.50. 11 AM to 10 PM.
TENNIS: The year’s annual pro tennis tournament is in town this weekend. Formerly known as
the Legg Mason, today’s
Citi Open matches feature eighth-seeded
Sam Querrey taking on
Benjamin Becker before the main event—top seed
Mardy Fish will play
Ricardas Berankis. Gates plays at 4 PM; Fish plays at 7 PM. Tickets ($45 to $80) are available online.
Friday, August 3
MUSIC: Three DC group houses are trying to prove you don’t need a big venue to put on a successful
music festival. Cellar Door, North by Northwest Presents, and the Scooby Doo Mansion
join forces to bring you
Americana August Vision, a weekend of folk music, pie-baking contests, and storytelling. Things kick off
Friday night around 8. $10 at the door.
LUAU: You don’t have to go to Hawaii to live the island life—you just have to head out to
Anacostia’s Kingman Island.
BicycleSPACE is hosting a laid-back bike ride from the convention center to the island and an
out-of-control luau once you get there. Expect hula dancing, food trucks, a full moon,
and the chance to explore a part of Washington you probably haven’t been to. Free.
8 PM.
Saturday, August 4
LUAU PART TWO: Hank’s Oyster Bar is getting in on what must be some sort of unofficial hula week with its own luau.
For $75, attendees will get unlimited roast suckling pig, grilled shrimp, kebabs,
and more. You’ll also get six drink tickets redeemable for craft takes on mai tais,
hurricanes, and other island-themed libations. Tickets ($75) are available online.
11 AM to 3 PM.
POOL: A month ago,
Brightest Young Things threw a bangin’ Fourth of July pool party. This time, they’re ditching the America
theme and throwing a good old fashioned pool rave. The first hundred people get a
free burger, and seven deejays will spin different takes on house music. Bring your
glowsticks and bathing suit, but leave the ecstasy at home—you’re going swimming,
and that sounds dangerous. Tickets ($15) are available online. 11 AM to 7 PM.
SALE:
Studio Theatre presents plays with some of the most creative sets in the city, but something has
to be done with those sets once the shows close. Time for a great American tradition:
the garage sale. Grab old set pieces, costumes, and knickknacks accumulated over the
past three years from shows such as
Lungs,
Sucker Punch,
Astro Boy and the God of Comics, and plenty more. Free (unless you buy something). 10 AM to 4 PM.
DANCE: Thirty years ago, Poseurs in Georgetown opened as one of the first hip-ish clubs in
DC. The fact that it was in Georgetown shows you it was a different era. Now, some
of its most famous deejays are reuniting at another hip-ish club,
Rock & Roll Hotel. Act like it’s the early ’80s again at a dance party hosted by Poseurs general manager
Brian Kane, with
DeeJay Mohawk,
Adam Leif, and more. Tickets ($15) are available online. 9 PM.
Sunday, August 5
DRINKS: When it comes to drinking in DC, the rickey is as iconic as you can get. Created here
more than 100 years ago, the cocktail, made with bourbon or gin, is one way to beat
the summer heat. You missed Rickey Month in July (or maybe you didn’t, I don’t know
you), but Jack Rose is giving you one last chance to get acquainted with its
Rickey Month Party—$10 gets you admission and an old-fashioned rickey. $10. 4 PM.
LEGO: If you ever played with Lego as a kid, and let’s hope you did (condolences, Mega Blok
builders), you know all about the cool stuff you can do with them—namely, build things.
Well, people at the annual Brickfair Lego Convention will put your greatest creations
to shame. Come see hundreds of creations, buy Lego blocks, shirts, rarities, and collectibles,
and potentially ogle the Lego fanatics dressed up like their favorite mini figure.
Tickets are $10 at the door. 11 AM to 4 PM at the Dulles Expo Center.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com,
or find him on Twitter @jason_koebler.
