Thursday, October 3
OKTOBERFEST: The Phillips Collection takes its
Phillips After 5 series to Bavaria with an Oktoberfest celebration, featuring German dance, food, music,
and, of course, beer. There’ll be a crash course in the German language given by teachers
from the Goethe-Institut, a talk about the museum’s German works, and an Art Soiree
after-party at Beacon Sky Bar. Tickets ($12) are available online. $5.
GOLF (SORTA): Hit East Potomac Park’s golf course for its first
Young Professionals Driving Range Social, a happy hour at the driving range. Golf might be a classy game, but the driving
range is your chance to try hitting like Happy Gilmore or look like a fool without
having to spend six hours walking all over a course. Free. 5:30 PM.
DRINK FOR CHARITY: If you haven’t checked out
Jimmy Valentine’s on Bladensburg Road, here’s your chance. The semi-hidden bar (make sure you bring
the address or you might miss it) from the owners of Little Miss Whiskey’s is hosting
its annual fundraiser night: Donate $20 to support after-school programs in Trinidad
and get three drink tickets. The drinks there are strong and delicious. $20. 6 PM.
Friday, October 4
DANCE: Speaking of
Little Miss Whiskey’s, it’s hosting its ultra-popular Moneytown dance night, but is mixing it up with
guest deejays the Scorpio Brothers, from Richmond. As usual, Moneytown will feature
the best in funk, soul, and disco music. Also as usual, there’s no cover. Just take
it easy on the slushies. Free. 10 PM.
MUSIC: Psych-pop legends the
Flaming Lips will be at Merriweather as the venue winds down its summer concert series. The Lips
put on an incredible live show: Expect lead singer Wayne Coyne to put himself in an
inflatable ball and roll around on the crowd. This being a jam-ish concert, the band
experiments with drawing out their most popular songs, so be ready for that. Upstarts
Tame Impala open. Tickets ($17.50 to $45) are available online. 5:30 PM.
DANCE:
Black Whiskey hosts Line Up, a dance night that looks to highlight some up-and-coming local electronic
dance music producers. It’s unclear how well bass drops and classy bourbon go together,
but this is your chance to find out. $5. 10 PM.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Part of FotoWeekDC,
FotoBazaar is a companion piece to the (e)merge art fair. The sale features more than 200 photographers
and is being hosted in a space near the NoMa Metro stop. Friday’s opening party will
feature light appetizers, beer and wine, talks by photographers, and music by deejay
G-Flux. Tickets ($13) are available online. 6:30 PM.
MOVIE: The drive-in movie theater at
Union Market was so successful that it’s coming back this fall. The first in the fall series is
Caddy Shack, to celebrate National Golf Day, which is a much easier way to celebrate it than
actually playing or watching golf (though those options are pretty fun too). Get there
at 6 PM if you’re driving; if you’re biking or walking, you can get there closer to
the 8 PM showtime. As usual, all your favorite Union Market vendors will be open.
Free. 6 PM.
FOOD TRUCKS: The last
Truckeroo of the year is this weekend, and all you furloughed workers can take advantage of
the live music all day, games, and more than 20 food trucks that’ll take over the
Fairgrounds out front of Nationals Park. Free. 11 to 11.
Saturday, October 5
ROLLER DERBY: We can’t force Dems and Republicans to strap on skates and duke it out on the hardwood,
but watching some seriously tough women play roller derby is the next best thing.
The
DC
Rollergirls season gets started this weekend, and all federal employees suffering from the shutdown
get 20 percent off. $15. 4 PM.
STREET FAIR: It’s
Columbia Heights’ turn to get in on the neighborhood party fun: The festival features several stages
of live music, food and drink specials at neighborhood bars and restaurants, performances
by local dance troupes, a petting zoo, food trucks, bike-repair lessons, bocce, and
a screen-printing station. Meridian Pint is also hosting an impromptu Oktoberfest
celebration. Free. 10 to 6.
MARKET:
MeetMarket is back in Logan Circle. It features local artisans, shops, designers, and food vendors.
This time, there’ll also be a kid-friendly rock concert featuring several local bands
and free inflatable guitars, sunglasses, and temporary tattoos. Free. 11 to 5.
FOOD: For the 24th consecutive year, Bethesda’s best restaurants pull out all the stops
for
Taste of Bethesda. Each year, more than 40,000 people attend the event, which features 60 restaurants
and five stages of live music and performances. Participating restaurants include
Jaleo, Ruth’s Chris, Mussel Bar, Mia’s Pizzas, Luke’s Lobster, and dozens more. Get
four taste tickets for $5. 11 to 4.
FAIR: No, the
Smile Project is not an elaborate ruse by your dentist, although it is hosted by a nebulous organization
known as Broccoli City. The street carnival was launched because its organizers think
us adults forgot what it’s like to be a kid, and that we don’t have enough fun. Any
excuse is a good one for “extreme bungee,” a rock-climbing wall, live music, flip
cup tournaments, face-painting, and food trucks, so we’ll take it. Tickets ($15) are
available online. Noon to 10.
Sunday, October 6
ART: With so much stuff going on Friday and Saturday, you maybe didn’t have time to check
out
(e)merge at Capitol Skyline Hotel. Well, find some time: Hundreds of artists and dozens of
galleries have taken over the hotel to show off and sell their art. Even if you’re
not turning your living room into a miniature National Gallery of Art during the shutdown,
it’s worth checking out. Tickets ($15) are available online. Noon to 5.
ONE MORE FAIR: There’s one last street fair for the weekend, in Takoma Park. By now, you know the
drill: Booths from local vendors and shops, stuff for the kids, live music, lots of
food and drinks. It’s also a chance to check out one of the area’s artiest communities.
Free. 10 to 5.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com,
or find him on Twitter.
