Thursday, May 2
VARIETY: As
the Dunes tends to do, it’s pushing the envelope again tonight, with a hybrid comedy/get-freaky
dance night. Standup comics Jamel Johnson and Adam Friedland will loosen you up, and
the balkan-influenced Black Masala and trippy the North Country help you get down.
$5. 7 PM.
COMEDY: U Street’s
Tabaq has an open-mike comedy happy hour hosted by Homegrown Hilarity, a local standup
trio. Free. 8 PM.
DANCE: U Street Music Hall Hosts Helicopter Showdown, Antiserum, and Clicks & Whistles—three groups/deejays
that basically mash up every type of electronic dance music I’ve ever heard. Go if
you like lotsa bass. Tickets ($17) are available online. 10 PM.
Friday, May 3
BARBECUE: Hill Country moves a couple of blocks down and takes over the lawn of the National
Building museum for a night of barbecue and roots rock. Get full details in our earlier
post. Free. 4 PM.
BIKE PARTY: Just because lots of bikers act like they’re Lance Armstrong during the day doesn’t
mean they can’t clean things up at night. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association
hosts its fanciest event of the year,
BikeFest, at Eastern Market. The party will feature casino games, live swing music, food and
drink, a bike-building contest, and a silent auction. Tickets ($55) are available
online. 8 PM.
BURLESQUE: People in DC either really like burlesque or really like
Firefly and
Serenity—
“Whedonism,” a Joss Whedon burlesque tribute show, has already sold out its first performance.
Grab your tickets to the late show before they’re gone and dress up as your favorite
character from the “Whedonverse” for the costume contest. Tickets ($10) are available
online. 11:30 PM.
Saturday, May 4
SHOP: Logan Circle’s
MeetMarket features more than 40 local vendors, artists, and businesses. You’ll find a good
deal of clothes and home decorations, but you’ve also got food from Fojol Bros., Cream
Cycle, and Delish. Free. 11 AM to 5 PM.
WINE: National Harbor’s
Wine and Food Festival features more than 150 different wines, beers, and spirits, a beer garden, a whiskey
lounge, all-you-can-eat food tastings, and live jazz. Tickets ($40) are available
online. 1 to 6 PM.
BEER: LivingSocial takes over the Fairgrounds outside Nationals Park for its always fun
BeerFest. Reps from a few dozen breweries will pour more than 90 types of craft beer; Kristen
and the Noise, Ghost Beach, and Drop Electric play on the big stage; and a bunch of
food trucks head over to make sure you don’t starve. Word of warning: The event is
a blast, but things definitely get a bit crowded. Be ready to stand in some lines.
Tickets ($35) are available online. Noon.
HORSE RACE: It’s a big day for horse racing, with both the
Kentucky Derby and the Virginia Gold Cup going on. If you’re more interested in the former, check
out Best Bites Blog’s guide to where to watch the derby, no matter what mood you’re
in.
REAL HORSE RACE: We can’t forget about the Gold Cup, also happening this weekend—good luck getting
there if you’re not driving, because most party buses have sold out. You can make
your way to the disaster that is the infield or grab a seat to watch the horse race.
If you’re the gambling type, that’s an option. Prices vary wildly, but you can get
in as many people as your car can fit for $85. Tickets ($85 and up) are available
online. Starting at 10 AM.
DOGS: Gonna keep this one short: Kastles Stadium is hosting a “running of the Chihuahuas.” There will be beer, food, music, and Chihuahua races, which are a thing. Free.
11 AM.
Sunday, May 5
CINCO DE MAYO: After what feels like forever,
Impala Cantina y Taqueria is almost ready to open. Help inaugurate the new space on H Street with a Cinco de
Mayo pig roast. Beers are $5, margs are $7, and there’s a giant pig plus tons of outdoor
space to soak up the sun. Noon to 6 PM. For tons more Cinco de Mayo ideas, check out our roundup.
SUNDRESSES: Wonderland Ballroom’s legendary
Sundress Festival, where people wear sundresses and hang out on the patio, is this weekend. It always
pulls in a bunch of people. Proceeds from the day go to Ayuda, which provides legal
and social services for local low-income immigrants. Noon.
DANCE: If day drinking isn’t enough to satisfy your Cinco de Mayo fiesta urges,
Lost Society hosts its first edition of the Getaway, a rooftop dance party that runs until early
Monday morning. Free. 7 PM.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com,
or find him on Twitter.
