Thursday, June 19: Ooh la la! Bethesda Row boutique Ginger hosts a Paris-themed book party for Kristin Harmel’s latest novel, The Art of French Kissing. It’s the perfect dishy beach read. Pair it with a breezy Christiane Celle Calypso tunic and you’re totally prepped for summer. (Plus, customers get free gift with all Christiane Celle purchases during the party.) RSVP to dcrsvp@thepattongroupinc.com.

Think ‘70s Swedish pop was the best it got? Then you’ll probably be at the 9:30 Club tonight for the Official Abba Celebration Tribute. The fun and campy tribute to the Swedish supergroup will still have you singing along to “Dancing Queen.” $40; 7:30 PM.

Annuals, a six-piece indie-pop outfit from North Carolina, are playing at Iota this evening. We’ve found their lush pop melodies and exuberant songs to be the perfect soundtrack for summer. How can you resist the soaring sounds of this song, for example? Find out for yourself tonight at their show. 9 PM; $12.

Monday, June 16: Kickoff of SilverDocs
Silverdocs, the AFI/Discovery Channel festival at the AFI Theatre running June 16 through 23, showcases 100 documentaries. Films to watch for: Werner Herzog’s Encounters at the End of the World, which profiles the Antarctic community of McMurdo Station. Herzog will present the film. On opening night is All Together Now, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Love, the Cirque du Soleil show set to Beatles tunes. A Beatles cover band will perform at a gala following the screening. See details here.

Tuesday, June 17: Pure Pop at the Black Cat
The Canadian band Sloan has been making delicious power pop for decades now. If you like the Beatles, you’ll love Sloan; its tunes have all the sing-along goodness and harmonies of the Fab Four with a modern twist, plus a great live show. At the Black Cat tonight; $15.

If you’re anything like us, the hot weather has you reaching for all manner of frosty drinks—cold beers, fruity concoctions, sweet glasses of sangría. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a guide to some of our favorite hot-weather happy hours spots—from outside locations that are actually pleasant in the heat to dark and dim basement bars where you can escape the sun and stay cool.

Have more recommendations of happy hours to beat the heat? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll update our post.

Thursday, June 12: The semifinals of the Drafthouse Comedy Challenge, a local competition at the Arlington Cinema ’n’ Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington; 703-486-2345) kick off tonight, with four local comedians duking it out for laughs onstage. Next Thursday, four more will compete before two are chosen for the final on June 20. Tickets are $10; 8:30 PM.

Can’t get a date? Buy one! Start tonight at the DC Date Auction, held by a group raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as part of its annual fundraising drive. The date auction (which includes players from DC United—ooh la la!) is at Lotus Lounge (1420 K St., NW) at 7 PM; $10. Check out all the auctionees at dcdateauction.blogspot.com.

Summer is upon us, and that means oppressive heat, gaggles of tourists, hours of traffic on the Bay Bridge . . . and free outdoor concerts! Save your pennies for gas, sunscreen, and bug spray and check out our roundup of great spots for free music in the Washington area.

Have the scoop on other fun freebies? Let us know in the comments.

WASHINGTON
Carter Baron Amphitheatre (16th St. and Colorado Ave., NW). This 4,200-seat outdoor theater in Rock Creek Park hosts concerts, theater, and dance performances throughout the summer. It’s run by the National Park Service, which books an eclectic lineup of reggae, classical, gospel, pop, hip-hop, and more. Some performances are free, though tickets—distributed the day of the show at the theater’s box office and the Washington Post building (1150 15th St., NW)—are required. Other performances cost more than $20; tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

Monday, June 9: Death Cab for Cutie
Six albums later, singer Ben Gibbard and his band remain as dark and moody as ever—and that’s a good thing (for the band’s listeners, at least). Currently touring in support of their album Narrow Stairs, the Seattle quartet stops by the Merriweather Post Pavilion (10475 Little Patuxent Pwy., Columbia;  410-715-5550) for a show at 7:30. Tickets are $25-$40.
 
Tuesday, June 10: Scott McClellan at Politics and Prose
McClellan’s account of his time as White House press secretary, recounted in What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception, has been causing waves for its critical look at both President George W. Bush and his administration. McClellan will be at Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Ave., 202-364-1919) to read and discuss his memoir. 7 PM.

Summertime, and the outdoor movie watching is easy. Screen on the Green has finally released its summer movie schedule, and we've got the details. Never been? Screen on the Green features classic films on the National Mall between 4th and 7th Streets, and will start July 14th. Check below for the schedule and how to have a great evening while watching the free films.