Thursday, June 27
MINI-GOLF: After his showing at the US Open, it’s possible that you’re better at golf than Tiger
Woods, but better get in a little practice to make sure. Check out the
National Building Museum’s two mini-golf courses, which were designed by top architects and engineers from
around the country—they’re only staying open late a couple of times all summer, so
don’t miss out. $5 per game. 4 to 9 PM.
BENEFIT: Top women newscasters, including Doreen Gentzler, Anita Brikman, and Shawn Yancy,
will be at the Hamilton for
Newsbabes, a night to benefit the Howard University Breast Cancer Center. Admission includes
hors d’oeuvres and desserts, a pink cocktail bar, and lots of dancing. Tickets ($75)
are available online. 7 PM.
FREE MUSIC: Pentagon Row had to find something to do with its outdoor ice-skating rink—which apparently means
turning it into a giant rock stage. This week, Gonzo’s Nose, one of the area’s best
’80s cover bands (it’s between them and the Legwarmers for best in the biz), will
have you wishing you still had big hair. With the humidity, maybe you will. Free.
7 PM.
Friday, June 28
FILM: Inspired by the
Taming of the Shrew and an all-time classic teen movie,
10 Things I Hate About You launched the careers of Heath Ledger and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (though the latter’s
would take a while to really take off). Grab someone that you hate the way you don’t
hate, not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all, and get to Rosslyn’s
Gateway Park for a free outdoor screening. Sundown.
FRINGE: Capital Fringe is coming up, so get ready for lots of independent, quirky, and just plain awesome
theater. To get you excited, the organizers are holding a preview event at Fringe
Festival HQ on New York Avenue. The event features 30 different acts performing four-minute
previews of their shows, live music and dancing, and a gypsy tent bar that’s open
’til the wee hours. Free. 7:30 PM.
JAZZ & ART: As if you needed another reason to go to
Jazz in the Garden: This week, just steps away from where Swingtopia will be playing (they’re a swing
band, duh), the Hirshhorn keeps its doors open late, showing off its new exhibitions,
and hosts a cookout on its outdoor plaza.
Jazz: 5 to 7:30 PM
Hirshhorn: 7 to 10 PM
MUSIC (SORT OF): Just because:
Kid Rock is playing a concert at Jiffy Lube Live. If you haven’t read the hilarious and frightening
story of hanging out on his boat cruise yet, check it out now. Tickets ($29) are available
online. 6:45 PM.
COMEDY: Wonderland Ballroom’s
Don’t Block the Box comedy night is back, featuring Aparna Nancherla, a DC native who has performed at
SXSW and shown up on the
WTF and
Nerdist podcasts, along with Dana Bell, Pat Riley, and Natalie McGill, a reporter for the
American Public Health Association who won the District’s Funniest Journo comedy competition
earlier this year. $3. 7:30 PM.
Saturday, June 29
DRINK: Drink the District (is that a challenge?) takes over Yards Park with
Red White & Brew, a festival featuring more than 100 wines and 50 beers to taste, 15 food trucks,
live music, and lawn games to sate your competitive side. Tickets ($45 per four-hour
session) are available online. Noon to 10 (also Sunday noon to 4).
DANCE: Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar is hosting the
Analog Soul Club, a night of ’70s funk and soul, Afrobeat, and a bunch of other music you can dance
to, including cumbia, samba, and calypso. You can get a shot and a Natty Boh for $6
all night to help fuel what’ll no doubt be a sweaty time. Free. 10 PM.
CARNIVAL: Scrap DC takes your crap and turns it into beautiful art—or at least reusable stuff.
Show some support for what they do at the
Scrap Carnival, which features cake walks, face painting, and beanbag games, as well as some less
traditional attractions, such as alcoholic lemonade. Tickets ($30 to $100) are available
online. 7:30 PM.
COMEDY: Now that he’s done with
30 Rock,
Tracy Morgan has a bit more time on his hands, and he’s using it to hit the standup circuit, including
a stop at Warner Theatre. The comedian had to apologize profusely after he worked
some pretty terrible anti-gay jokes into his act a while ago; let’s hope he’s decided
to retire those. Tickets ($35.50) are available online. 8 PM.
BURLESQUE AND FILM: Tilted Torch, the area’s most prolific burlesque troupe, in conjunction with DC Shorts,
take over Rockville’s VisArts for
Pasties and Popcorn, a night of risqué short films, live burlesque, and weird sideshow acts. Tickets
($15) are available online. 8:30 PM.
Sunday, June 30
RECORDS: Vinyl records are back in a big way—if you’re not streaming music, you might as well
have giant, pretty artwork to go along with the music you own. The DC Record Fair
returns to Penn Social, where reps from Vinyl District, Som Records, and DC Soul Recordings
will hawk their wares and spin some mood music to help inspire you what to buy. $5.
11 to 5.
I’M ON A BOAT: If you think booze cruises don’t quite have enough bass drops, check out the
Electronic Music Cruise, which marries dubstep and the high seas. The cruise leaves from the Georgetown waterfront
for a four-hour trip on the Potomac. Just don’t dance hard enough to fall overboard.
Tickets ($25) are available online. 2:30 PM.
FESTIVALS: The Smithsonian’s
Folklife Festival takes over the Mall this weekend (and next weekend too). This year, the festival
focuses on Hungarian culture, fashion around the world, and the way spoken word can
be used to pass down culture. As always, the festival features food, dance, music,
fashion, stories, and film from around the world. Visit the website for more details.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com,
or find him on Twitter.
