Thursday, August 16
ANNIVERSARY: It’s already been five years since Nellie’s opened on the corner of Ninth and U streets, Northwest. Since then, it’s become a great place for anyone, gay or straight, to catch a game, play trivia, or listen to Top 40s on the rooftop deck. For its fifth anniversary, the bar is serving up $5 burgers and Absolut vodka drinks all night long. 5 PM to 2 AM.
BEER: If you aren’t worn out by all the other DC Beer Week events you’ve been going to (and you have been going, right?), District Chophouse has one of the best tonight with its Cask Night. For $50, you’ll get unlimited samples from 15 breweries, including Capitol City Brewing Company, Gordon Biersch, and DC Brau; light food; and a tasting glass. You’ll also be entered into various raffles for brewery swag. $50. 6 PM.
Friday, August 17
BEER AND GOLF: H Street Country Club hosts a night of mini golf and beer—which is nothing unusual, until you realize New Belgium Brewery is taking over every tap in the house, serving up Fat Tire and lots of other offerings. Plus at 8 PM there will be a “hole in one challenge”—the winner gets a Fat Tire-branded cruiser bike. No cover. 4 PM.
SUPER-CUTE SOLD-OUT CHEETAH EVENT: The National Zoo’s cheetah cub celebration is sold out, but in case you have your first born to offer as a bribe, I thought I’d mention it anyway. It’s not every day you get to hang out with baby cheetahs and drink at an open bar. Shoulda been on top of this one. 6 PM. Sold out.
DANCE: It’s a pretty slow night for “special event” dance nights, but DC9’s Liberation Dance Party is always good in a pinch: open bar from 9 till 10:30 for just $7. Things start out kinda slow but get weird around midnight, when the dance floor gets packed and the Passion Pit blasts pretty freely. $7. 9 PM.
Saturday, August 18
GO-GO: There will never be enough Chuck Brown appreciation days to satisfy the masses, and with good reason. This annual concert is usually at the 9:30 Club, but with his resurgent popularity, it’s been moved to the DC Convention Center. Brown’s band gives him a tribute, while Calvin Richardson, India Arie, and lots more acts open. Before the show, some DC celebs get the red-carpet treatment, and you can expect this to be more party-like than concert. It would have been his 76th birthday in just a couple of days, after all. Tickets ($40 to $350) are available through Eventbrite. 3 PM.
SHOP: Carnelian Boutique, a formerly online-only retailer, is opening a pop-up shop in Capitol Hill. Their flirty, affordable offerings are great for a night out, and they’ll also be selling jewelry made from salvaged materials. Saturday, the launch party will feature free sweets from Hello Cupcake and complimentary glasses of bubbly. Free. 5 PM.
FLIP CUP: Settle the blonde versus brunette battle once and for all in the fairest way possible: a flip cup tournament at Mason Inn. Bud Light pitchers for $10 keep things affordable, and you can win prizes for most creative team name, best uniform, and most valuable flipper. Proceeds go to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. Get your trash talk ready. $25 entry fee per five-person team. 5:30 PM.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Did you know Third Eye Blind is playing a free concert after the Nationals game? Now you do. Tickets to the game (around $30) are available on StubHub. 7 PM.
Sunday, August 19
WEIRD POOLSIDE BATTLE OF THE BANDS: Capitol Skyline’s Adult Swim pool party has decided to host the weirdest battle of the bands ever, pitting futuristic electro deejays against a three-piece band that sometimes plays Beatles cover shows and a singer songwriter who plays songs “Keith Urban style” … and I haven’t even mentioned the group “Glorious Maximal Crazy.” That doesn’t change the fact that Adult Swim is still the best way to eat brunch and get back to partying on a rooftop pool. Free before 1 PM; $20 after.
PIG: If you prefer to stay dry, Bourbon Steak is hosting a pig roast—for $50, you’ll get all-you-can-eat slow-roasted pig, pork tacos, sausages, Thai-style pork ribs, grilled corn on the cob, cornbread, and an oyster bar. Finish it off with a dessert table including homemade sundaes. Then go pass out thanks to your food coma. Tickets ($50 for food only, $60 with drinks) are available through Eventbrite. Noon to 3 PM.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter @jason_koebler.
