Monday, May 12: Monday Doggie Happy Hours
Cantina Marina (cantinamarina.com) on the Southwest DC waterfront starts its week with a dog-friendly happy hour every Monday. You’ll come for the $2 beer specials; your furry friend will appreciate the free Milk-Bone bar. See more dog-friendly happy hours in our guide.

Tuesday, May 13: A Night for Beer Lovers at the Brickskeller
Five of the country’s best beer brewers do the Brickskeller tonight at an event called the Lupulin Reunion. Tomme Arthur of Pizza Port and Lost Abbey, Adam Avery of Avery Brewing Company, Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River, and Rob Tod of Allagash will talk about speciality beer and, more important, sharing. So get a ticket ($35) and head over at 6.

It’s a light day in terms of ticket sales, except for one big one we’ve got for you.

Like we alerted you Thursday afternoon, there appear to be Radiohead tickets for this Sunday’s show left over. But these are going to go fast, we know it. So get on it!

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are at the 9:30 Club October 5; get your tickets ($40) here.

It won’t be until August 11 that punk group Rancid hits the 9:30 Club, but tickets go are on sale here.

More>> After Hours Blog | Arts & Events | Happy Hour Finder | Calendar of Events

District

Adams Morgan’s Meridian Hill Park, a National Historic Landmark, is 12 acres tucked away in DC. Also known as Malcolm X Park—a name proposed after the 1968 riots—the two-level retreat is filled with fountains, statues (honoring Joan of Arc, among others), paths, a reflecting pool, and a multitiered waterfall. On the upper level, watch a pickup soccer game or the drumming circles that meet on Sundays. Entrances at 16th and Euclid sts. and 16th and W sts., NW; 202-619-7111. Open during daylight hours.

Rock Creek Park, DC’s largest, extends into Montgomery County and is one of the nation’s oldest national parks. For $7, you can reserve a picnic grove for a group—most are located in shady spots along the creek, and some have restrooms nearby. First-come, first-served picnic areas for 12 are also scattered throughout the park’s 1,750 acres. View a map of the DC portion of the park at nps.gov/rocr; 202-673-7646. Open during daylight hours.

Thursday, May 8: Rolling Stone political writer and all-around funnyman and author Matt Taibbi is at Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Ave., NW) this evening at 7 to discuss his book, The Great Derangement: A Terrifying True Story of War, Politics, and Religion at the Twilight of the American Empire.

The Everybodyfields play haunting, lovely, and twangy country-rock. Grab a beer, sit back, and enjoy them tonight at Iota (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington). 9 PM; $12.

Wanda Jackson, the official queen of rockabilly (she toured with Elvis back in the ’50s), is playing tonight at Jammin’ Java in Vienna (227 Maple Avenue E.). 7:30 PM; $18.

The first-ever NoMa Outdoor Film Festival kicks off tonight at the intersection of New York and Florida avenues, Northeast. The theme this year is James Bond, and tonight there will be a screening of Dr. No. The event starts around 8—whenever dusk comes—and is free. Bring a blanket or low lawn chair, something to snack on (but no alcohol, please), and settle in. The festival will continue every Thursday night through August.

Spring is the perfect time for outdoor activities—and Washington has a lot to offer. Rent a bike and ride to Mount Vernon, take a walk along the Potamac, ride a horse in Rock Creek Park, or rent a kayak and paddle the river. Here’s our guide to some great outdoor activities in Washington.

RIDE TO MOUNT VERNON
Rent a bike at Big Wheel Bikes in Old Town Alexandria and ride the Mount Vernon Trail to George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon. The trail follows the Potomac’s Virginia shoreline, so there are also plenty of sights and pretty views along the way.

Big Wheel Bikes
2 Prince St., Alexandria
703-739-2300
Monday through Friday 11 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 10 to 6, Sun 11 to 6
Bike rentals $35 a day

BIKE TO GRAVELLY POINT
Washington Sailing Marina, where you can rent bikes as well as boats, is located on the Potomac next to the Mount Vernon Trail. Take a leisurely bike ride from here to Old Town, or go in the opposite direction and stop by Gravelly Point for a picnic to watch planes coming into and going from Reagan National Airport.

Washington Sailing Marina
1 Marina Dr., Alexandria (off George Washington Memorial Pkwy.)
703-548-9027
Bike rentals from $16.50 a day

Tuesday, May 6
• Hailing from Minneapolis, These Modern Socks—a quintet known for dressing up in dapper ’70s suits when performing—crafts whimsical indie pop tunes that resonate in your head without overstaying their welcome. The band plays tonight at the Red and the Black.

Wednesday, May 7
• Wikipedia warns against confusing the Teenagers with the American ’50s doo-wop band. As if. We know our naughty French synth-pop bands, thank you very much. The trio performs at the Black Cat with Team Robespierre opening.

Since 2000, illumination artist Gerry Hofstetter has been using 6,000-watt projectors to shine images onto buildings, monuments, and mountains. His next project is an illumination of Washington National Cathedral at Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues. Called “Lighting to Unite,” it will take place from dusk to midnight on May 9, 10, and 11. There’s a test run on May 8.

A former investment banker and helicopter pilot, Hofstetter has projected hieroglyphics onto the pyramids in Egypt and polar bears onto melting icebergs in Antarctica. In his native Switzerland—where he has a marketing company—he used three helicopters to create a 3,300-foot-wide image on the Matterhorn mountain. Future projects include light projections at the Beijing Olympics. But first there's Washington.