Friday, September 7: If you love local art, head to Art Romp 20 at the Warehouse Theater (1021 Seventh St., NW; 202-783-3933), especially since it’ll be the theater’s last one—it’s closing soon due to skyrocketing property taxes. Art Romp is a grand fest of local art—from sculptures to short films to paintings—and full of art hipsters, so the people watching is almost as fun as checking out the artists’ work. 6 PM; free.
Saturday, September 8: Great local acts take over the stage at the 9:30 Club (815 V St., NW) tonight for a dance party and concert sponsored by DCist.com and BrightestYoungThings.com. Blisspop DJ-around-town Will Eastman will spin tunes, and the bands Soft Complex, the Dance Party, and Georgie James will play. Things get started at 11 PM; entrance is $10.The Kennedy Center Open House takes place from noon to 7 today, with loads of free, fun events. Highlights include the Russian American Kids Circus, the NSO Instrument Petting Zoo, and musician Ben Kweller playing a free concert at 6 PM on Millennium Stage. Check out the schedule and details here.
Feel like breaking out the sundresses and wide-brimmed hats? Head to the Smithsonian Young Benefactors Cup Polo Match on the West Potomac Park Polo Field (Ohio Dr. and 23rd St., NW). The inaugural event will offer up all that you’d expect—a catered buffet, beverages, and of course, polo matches. If you’re interested, hurry—tickets are sold only through Thursday, September 6. General admission $150, Young Benefactors $125; call 202-633-3030 for purchasing information.
There may not be any particular holiday to celebrate this weekend, but the folks throwing the Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl decided they didn’t need an excuse. The Bethesda bar crawl, which celebrates the countdown to the March holiday, starts at the Harp & Fiddle (4844 Cordell Ave.; 301-951-0115) at 1 PM and goes until 9. Nine bars will take part, offering $2 Miller Lites and $3 Miller Chills (though I can’t in good conscience actually recommend you drink the latter). Registration $5; pick up advance tickets here.
Sunday, September 9: This weekend kicks off the fall festival season, and I couldn’t be happier. Two particularly great ones take place today: the Alexandria Festival of the Arts (which starts on Saturday, and continues through Sunday) and the Adams Morgan Day Festival. Both showcase local art, music, food, and more. For details on these and other local festivals, click here.
The Bloomingdale spot Big Bear Cafe (First and R sts., NW) has become a gathering spot for that transforming neighborhood. The cafe is a great spot to grab some coffee and to chat with neighbors, and a farmers market has been out front all summer long as well. Today Big Bear goes all out with a pig roast and neighborhood party, complete with a Haitian chorus and general good times. 10 AM to 2 PM; free. The farmers market will take place at the same time.
