THURSDAY, MAY 7
THEATER: There are so many oddly fascinating parts to The Tramp’s New World, a new play at the Mead Theatre Lab at Flashpoint. First, it’s a one-man play. Second, it’s based on a never-produced screenplay by Pulitzer Prize-winner James Agee and tells the tale of Charlie Chaplin’s famous “Tramp” character, who’s the single survivor of an atomic blast. And there’s more: The play combines all that with physical comedy and silent film. $15, 8 PM.
MUSIC: Ohio native Griffin House has toured with John Mellencamp and the Cranberries, but this singer/songwriter has enough talent to carry his own show. Hearing his songs, you’d never guess he picked up a guitar for the first time when he was 18 years old–or that he supposedly cranked out his first album in just five days. Check him out at the Hamilton at 7:30 PM. $15 to $22.
FRIDAY, MAY 8
COMEDY: Loni Love has made appearances on The Tonight Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Chelsea Lately, where she was a roundtable panelist. Now she’s got her own gig. She’s a co-host of The Real, a daytime talk show on Fox. Catch up with Love at the DC Improv, where she’ll perform from May 7 to 9. 8 and 10:30 PM. $22.
DRINK: This one is a who’s who of DC drinking. At this Smithsonian at 8 event, you can try drink samples from Port City Brewing Company, DC Brau, Atlas Brew Works, Green Hat Gin, and Catoctin Creek Distilling Company–all at the “Instagram-worthy” location of the Carnegie Library. $40, 8 to 11 PM.
WATCH: One of the largest gatherings of vintage warplanes since World War II flies over Washington on Friday, starting at about noon. Here’s where you can watch the sky parade.
SATURDAY, MAY 9
DRINK: Think of this as a convention for beer and cider, because that’s exactly what it is. The DC Craft Beer Festival features 150 beers, ciders, and meads from about 75 breweries. For $55, you get to try it all, plus you get a tasting glass and access to informative seminars, which is why you’re going in the first place, right? 2 or 7 PM entry.
CULTURE: Did you miss the World Embassy Tour last week? Don’t fret. On Saturday, you get access to the European Union embassies from 10 AM to 4 PM. Just about every embassy is offering food–and it looks like there’ll be copious beer or wine at stops like Spain, Austria, Belgium, and Croatia. Free.
SUNDAY, MAY 10
MUSIC: If you’re in the mood for a road trip, check out Prince’s “Rally 4 Peace” concert at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, where the audience is encouraged to wear gray as a tribute to Freddie Gray. ($22 to $497, 8 PM) If you’re sticking around town, check out Hayden at the Black Cat. $12 to $15, 7:30 PM.
EAT: Is your mom into sumo wrestling? Take her out for dinner to Daikaya, where you can eat shishito peppers and beef tongue skewers while watching Japan’s Grand Sumo Tournament from May 10 to 24. On the menu, there’ll also be special sumo-inspired specials, including a variety of chankonabe ($18)–the soup sumo wrestlers eat to gain weight.
