What to Do This Weekend: April 18 to 21

Thursday, April 18

COMEDY: D.L. Hughley is decidedly better at standup comedy than he is at starring in a sitcom. (See:
The Hughleys. Or don’t, it’s pretty bad.) He’ll be at the Howard Theatre telling some jokes tonight.
Tickets ($50) are available online. 8 and 10:30 PM.

FILM: Comet Ping Pong premieres

Last Shop Standing, a story of record stores in America. It comes just in time for record store day,
so head over and learn how independent vinyl record stores went bust and were subsequently
revived by audiophiles’ desires to buy something cooler than a dumb ol’ CD. Free.
8:30 PM.

ART: Stop giving all your money to Hallmark and learn how to make your own greeting cards.

Crinkle Art Workshops is taking over Willow Clothing Store for the night to teach a printmaking class.
There will be wine and some snacks. Tickets ($25) are available online. 6:30 PM.

Friday, April 19

STREET FESTIVAL: Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown does its best Paris impersonation this weekend, as
more than 40 shops discount their wares and pull them out on the sidewalk for the

French Market. Like any Parisian street, there will be mimes everywhere (don’t get into fights
with them, long story), French cuisine, and live music. 10 AM to 5 PM; also runs Saturday.

FOOD TRUCKS: The city has collectively decided to do fun outdoor events again, hallelujah. The
first
Truckeroo of the season is at the Fairgrounds (outside of Nats Park, for those of you who don’t
remember). More than 20 food trucks will congregate, and there’s beer, live music,
and games. Participating food trucks include BBQ Bus, Takorean, Surfside, Big Cheese,
and lots more. Free. 11 AM to 11 PM.

IMPROV: The members of the
Improvised Shakespeare Company have become so well versed in Elizabethan English that they can spit out a Shakespeare-esque
play without thinking twice about whether that “wherefore” was really necessary (it
was). Like any Shakespeare play, you’ll get lots of insults, rhyming, double entendres,
murder, heartbreak, and whatever else thine heart desires. Tickets ($25) are available
online. 7:30 and 9:30 PM at Artisphere.

COMEDY: The Dunes hosts
Spring Bling, a night of standup comedy featuring six local comics. Things end with a musical
performance by Wytold, a finger-picking cellist whose music is decidedly un-bling-y.
$5. 7 PM.

VARIETY SHOW:
Tilted Torch takes over Black Cat’s main stage for “Lion’s Den,” perhaps its most out-there variety
show yet. The performance will feature both bur- and boy- lesque, belly dancing, contortionists,
singing, stripping (?!), and poi spinning (which involves fire). Tickets ($15) are
available online. 9 PM.

Saturday, April 20

DANCE: The
DC Center, a community center for LGBT people, is trying to move to a new space but needs to
raise $75,000 to do it. So instead of just begging for donations, it’s holding a dance-a-thon—last
one standing wins some sort of prize (don’t worry, there’s a couple bathroom breaks).
Let’s hope it’s less contentious than the one in
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. You can also show up and dance without competing if you just feel like dancin’ in
the daytime. Tickets ($25; $10 for non-contestants) are available online. Noon to
8.

CAMP: Just off I-395 doesn’t sound like the best place to camp, but hey, it’s convenient
right? Head to the Capitol Skyline Hotel for
Washington Project for the Arts’ poolside slumber party. Bring your bathing suit (or go skinny-dipping, that’s what people do when they camp,
right? NOTE: It is maybe illegal to skinny-dip at the hotel, I don’t practice criminal
law), tent, sleeping bag, s’mores supplies, and campfire stories. You can also rent
out a hotel room for $250 if you’re a wimp. There’ll be live music and karaoke for
most of the night. Admission includes two free drinks. Tickets ($35) are available
online. 9 PM to 9 AM.

POT: Yo, it’s 420, everyone toke on that reefer, maaaan. Head to the
Mall between Third and Fourth streets for a rally for marijuana legalization and a big
concert featuring such bands as Congo Sanchez, the Originators, and Daryl Davis &
Unfortunate Sons. I don’t know anything about any of them, but they are probably,
like, so chill. Afterward, you can head to Ghion on Ninth Street for 12 hours of live
music and deejays.

Rally: Free, 11 AM to 4 PM

Ghion: $10, 2 PM

Sunday, April 21

GREEK FESTIVAL: Zaytinya hosts a traditional outdoor Greek market, featuring live Greek music, food (duh),
arts and crafts, wine, and José Andrés’s food truck, Pepe. Free. 11 AM to 4 PM.

COMICS: It’s hard to believe such a creative medium has a convention with such an uninspiring
name, but
Awesome Con (really) has become the area’s best comic convention. Guests this year include Nicholas
Brendon from
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Billy West from
Futurama (and
Doug!), Ernie Hudson, Phil LaMarr, and Theodus Crane. There’ll also be dozens of dealers,
artists, games, and lots of cosplay nerds dressed up as fictional characters, guaranteed.
Tickets ($15) are available online. 10 AM to 5 PM. Also runs Saturday 10 AM to 7 PM.