Thursday, July 19
GET INSIDE: Jazz in the Garden is a great event, but it sure has been hot, hasn’t it? Take things
inside without becoming a complete shut-in at the American Art Museum’s
Take 5! performance tonight, featuring the Freddie Redd/Butch Warren Quartet, who will be
playing the music of Thelonious Monk. The show’s happening in the Kogod Courtyard,
where the sun’s rays will hit you only after passing through glass and being filtered
through air conditioning. Perfect. Free. 5 PM.
JAZZ: If you like your jazz to cost money (that’ll go to a good cause), check out the Fisher
House Foundation’s
Cocktails for a Cause at Current Sushi. This event ups the ante a bit—there’ll be the aforementioned cocktails,
all-you-can-drink Champagne, cupcakes from Red Velvet, and sushi and light apps.
Johnny Graham, who has performed at the Kennedy Center, will provide the tunes. Tickets ($30) are
available online. 6:30 PM.
Friday, July 20
SIDEWALK SALE: We love
Bethesda Row, as evidenced by the many Best of Washington happy hours we’ve thrown there. This
weekend, it’s hosting a good ol’-fashioned sidewalk sale. Grab samples, sale items,
and more from places such as Amethyst, City Sports, Jaleo, Pink Palm, Pirjo, Urban
Chic, Vapiano, and more. Until about 9 Friday and Saturday and 6 on Sunday.
HAPPY HOUR: The
Blue Banana is one of the coolest spots on Georgia Avenue, and it’s hosting one of the most interesting
benefit happy hours we’ve heard about recently. Hang out on the spacious patio from
6 to 9 PM for free appetizers and $4 mixed drinks—you’ll get in for a $10 donation
to Project Create, which teaches art classes for some of the city’s underserved children.
Here’s the catch: If you donate a new pack of art supplies (crayons, paints, stencils—you
know, ART STUFF), you’ll get in for free. $10. 6 PM.
Saturday, July 21
CULTURE: It’s that time of year when we “celebrate” French and Belgian national holidays because
they have good food and beer, respectively. Stella Artois is throwing the
Taste of Belgium Saturday, featuring lots and lots of Stella, Leffe, and Hoegaarden, a mussel-eating
contest, Belgian music, food, and games, and a Belgian beer class. Entry is free,
though you should expect to pay for all those beers you’ll be tossing back. Free.
Noon to 7 PM at Yards Park.
FOOD: From the guys who brought you Listen Local First comes
Eat Local First, a celebration of area farms, breweries, and businesses. Saturday’s Farm-to-Street
party on V Street (between 13th and 14th streets) will make you never want to leave
DC: All the food, wine, retail, music, beer, and organizations come from close by.
Participating businesses include Busboys & Poets, the Diner, Local 16, Sweetgreen,
the Pug, DC Brau, Chocolate City, and more. Tickets ($15) are available online. 1
to 7 PM.
Sunday, July 22
CUPCAKES AND HISTORY: Yeah, we know you don’t think Georgetown Cupcake warrants those ridiculous lines.
But a delicious cupcake is still a delicious cupcake. And Georgetown is a fine place
to go on a Sunday—especially when you think about all the history that’s happened
there.
Dumbarton House will lead a historical tour through Georgetown, stopping at the “big three” cupcake
shops—Sprinkles, Georgetown Cupcake, and Baked & Wired—to give you a bit of history
on cupcakes (invented in the late 1800s!) and Georgetown (used to be a slum!). Tickets
($20) are available online and include three cupcakes. 10 AM.
CRABS: Normally, there’s no reason to go to Virginia to get Maryland crabs, but the seafood
feast set up by Alexandria’s Jackson 20 tavern makes it worth the trip (it’s the same
bay anyway, right?). The feast includes crabs, stuffed Chesapeake Bay oysters, fried
clams, corn, and red potatoes. Beers both craft (Watermelon Wheat, DC Brau, Porkslap)
and decidedly not (PBR, Miller High Life) will be available. $45. 6 PM.
