Thursday, September 27
HAPPY HOUR: No need to wait till Friday to start your weekend—Thursday will do just fine. Head
over to
Science Club for a free drink and a raffle ticket to some prize that still hasn’t been announced.
Maybe you’ll win a Ferrari . . . or a few bucks off your bar tab. In either case,
you’ll be supporting ThriveDC, which helps out DC’s homeless. Tickets ($10) are available
through Eventbrite. 5 PM.
BEER: Common wisdom suggests you need a keg to sample the world’s best beers. You can head
to RFD or Churchkey for dozens of the world’s finest brews, but some of them come
in humble aluminum cans: Alexandria’s
Jackson 20 is hosting a canned beer night, featuring beers from breweries such as 21st Amendment
and Oskar Blues. Oh yeah, you’ll get five courses of food, too. $55. 7 PM.
Friday, September 28
MUSEUMS: You can only get into the Smithsonian after hours every so often, and it’s almost
always worth it. Friday, the Freer Gallery hosts
Asia After Dark, a night of Asian film, art, and, most important, dance music. Ping Pong Dim Sum
will run three bars, so you’ll have the chance to observe Asian culture while getting
kinda sloppy if you so choose. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. 7 PM.
DANCE: For eight years, DC9 has hosted
Liberation Dance Party, a night of indie and not-so-indie dance music. The main draw? An open bar from 9
to 10:30 for just $7. 9 PM.
Saturday, September 29
DANCE: People say you can’t wear white after Labor Day, but as the great philosopher Drake
once said, YOLO. Break that white back out for Masa 14’s monthly
White Party, a night of Latin dance music and cocktails. Anyone wearing blanco gets a free drink.
Anyone wearing anything else gets a headshake of disapproval. Free. 10:30 PM.
ART: Sick of look-but-don’t-touch museums? Yards Park is hosting
Figment, an interactive art festival-thingy. Dozens of artists from around the city will
bring the supplies; you bring the creativity. Works range from the traditional (paintings,
caricatures) to the more imaginative (giant Twister, spinning beds, soul cleansing).
Bring any sins you’re trying to get expunged and your dance moves. Free. 11 to 8.
OPERA: The whole summer at Nats Park has been used for, you know, Nats games. With the way
they’re playing, it looks like the stadium might be occupied for a good part of the
fall, too. But they’re out of town this weekend, so it’s time for
Opera in the Park—even if you’re not into
Don Giovanni, you can check out stage-fighting demonstrations, flamenco dancing, and a dance party
before the show. Free. 5 PM.
DANCE: Speaking of white, wear it and get a ton of paint all over you at
Dayglow, an electronic music festival with more paint than the National Gallery of Art. And
so many more drugs, just sayin’, not endorsing. Tickets ($55; $80 for VIP) are available
through Ticketmaster. 7 PM.
FOOD: If you live near downtown DC, chances are you don’t get out to Friendship Heights
much. But there’s a host of good restaurants out there—luckily you can try them all
out Saturday at
Taste of Friendship Heights. Five bucks gets you four tickets to try bites from Rosa Mexicano, Capitol Grille,
Tynan Coffee & Tea, Indique Heights, and more. Noon to 5.
Sunday, September 30
BEACH: Where did September go? It’s pretty much over, and with it goes any semblance of
summer. Send it off in style with New York Avenue Beach Bar’s
Daylight Party, featuring drink specials, burritos, old-school hip-hop, and a ton of sand. Free.
3 PM.
ART: You sprayed paint all over yourself yesterday—now put it on canvases (with a little
more control this time, please).
ArtJamz is hosting a Sunday night party, where you’ll get to drink beer and wine as you make
some sort of acrylic paint masterpiece. Tickets ($35) are available through Eventbrite.
6 PM.
BEER:
LivingSocial kicked off the summer with an incredible beerfest at Kastles Stadium, featuring more
than 40 breweries. They’re ending the summer in much the same fashion—head out to
National Park’s Fairgrounds for dozens of tastings of craft beer, games, food trucks,
live music, and complimentary sunglasses that you’ll lose and/or break within five
minutes. Tickets ($35) are available online. Noon to 5.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com,
or find him on Twitter @jason_koebler.
