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$10 Fun
Thursday, July 23: Long before Katie, Suri, and Oprah, Tom Cruise was actually a likeable, not-crazy star. Relive those good old days at the Capital Riverfront’s screening of Top Gun. The film, which made Cruise a star, will be shown at dusk (8:45) by Tingey Plaza. Food, drinks, and a photo booth are available prior to the screening.
Get a taste of the Big Easy in Washington. Every Thursday from 5:30 to 7, the Morrison-Clark Inn holds a “Big Easy” cocktail party on its veranda. Cocktails and free appetizers get the party going right.
Indulge your inner frat boy: Beer pong, visits from DC United players, free shots for the first 50 women, a Dancing With the Stars-style contest, and food and drink specials are all on the menu at Tommy Joe’s Summer Domination party. It costs $10 at the door (10 percent of the proceeds benefit the youth-soccer programs DC Scores and love.fútbol). For more information, e-mail krdonohue@aol.com. 5:30 to 10 PM.
Friday, July 24: Missed your chance to buy tickets for the already-sold-out Hirshhorn After Hours party? Try heading to Anacostia for the Honfleur Gallery’s Summer Jamboree. You can explore the gallery’s new exhibitions and take in the sounds of the Bellevederes, a soul-music collective from Baltimore. 7 PM.
If you haven’t yet made it to any Fringe Fest extravaganzas, try out the Bargain Basement Game Show at Warehouse tonight. It’s a mix of straight-up trivia and funny riffing between the show’s two hosts. 6 PM. Get tickets ($15) here.
Saturday, July 25: The Capital Hip-Hop Soul Fest takes over Marvin Gaye Park (enter at Foote Street and Division Avenue, Northeast) starting at 11 AM today. Last year’s show featured two stages for rap performances, a demonstration stage that showcased local dance troupes, and a fashion show. This year, expect appearances by DC-based Head-Roc and the band Godsheus, international rapper Substantial, and Baltimore’s the 5th L. For directions and further information, click here.
The Nats have gotten so bad that the Bullpen, the outdoor bar/frat-game area across the street from the stadium might feature more athletic prowess than the on-field action. From 12:30 to 5:30 Saturday, warm up for the game with Battle of the Biceps, a strong-man (and woman!) competition featuring such time-honored sports as keg tossing, fast pitching, and arm wrestling. Ten bucks for charity gets you admission, and live music and drink specials will help fuel your puny arms.
Derek Brown is one busy man. In addition to overseeing the speakeasy bar the Gibson and penning a cocktail column for the Atlantic Monthly Web site, he teaches cocktail lessons at CulinAerie. For today’s lesson, titled “Death to Mimosas,” Brown will demonstrate how to make alternative daytime drinks, such as the Ramos Gin Fizz and the Morning Glory. The price for ridding your weekends from bad bubbly? $85. The class is limited to 24 people; those interested must register by Friday. For more information, click here.
Extra Golden, a band of American and Kenyan musicians, seamlessly fuses traditional African pop music (called benga) with rock elements. Among the band’s repertoire is the song “Obama,” written to thank the then Senator from Illinois for helping its Kenyan members obtain visas to play in the US back in 2006. Check out the band—and openers Black and Tan Fantasy Band—at the Black Cat. $12; 9 PM.
Senses will be on overdrive at Liv Nightclub (above Bohemian Caverns in DC’s U Street neighborhood) for Graffiti Rhapsody, a multimedia show featuring live music, exhibits, and body art. Tickets are $10. The show starts at 5. Artists interested in having their work featured can reserve a spot by calling 301-706-0882.
Curious about what goes into a good beer? Follow the Virginia Ale Trail straight to Dupont Circle’s Brickseller Saloon, where four local brewers will explain the process and dole out samples of their beers. The event, which costs $82 per person, runs from 1 to 4:30. Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.
Sunday, July 26: The Capital Fringe Festival winds down tonight with a closing-night party and awards bash. Got a moment? Vote for your favorite shows here, then head to the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar (607 New York Ave., NW) to see who takes home top honors. 7 PM. Free.
Get delicious food, lively music, and colorful traditions at the Peruvian Festival of Arlington today. The festival celebrates the 188th anniversary of independence from Spain. Head to the Gunston Arts Center from 11 to 6 for traditional dishes such as ceviche and chicken a la brasa plus lots more. Free.
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
