Things to Do

What to Do This Weekend: May 9 to 12

Tour the European Union embassies, check out the 48-Hour Film Project, and drink Hemingway-inspired cocktails at the Kennedy Center.

Try some of Hemingway’s favorite drinks at the Kennedy Center on Thursday. Image via Shutterstock.

Thursday, May 9

BURLESQUE: Apparently nerd burlesque is now a thing—first came last week’s Joss Whedon-themed
show, and now Bier Baron brings you

Star Wars

vs.

Star Trek

burlesque
. The show tries to settle once and for all: Who’s hotter, slave Leia or Captain Kirk?
$10 online or $12 at the door. 7:30 PM.

DRINK: Ernest Hemingway is one of history’s most celebrated drinkers, and took his craft
to Pamplona, Paris, and, of course, Cuba. The
Kennedy Center takes you around the world in couple of sips as a tie-in with the Washington Ballet’s
performance of
The Sun Also Rises. You’ll get to try the Jack Rose, martinis, mojitos, and a few other craft cocktails
stirred up by
Philip Greene of the Museum of the American Cocktail. Tickets ($55) are available online. 9 PM.

Friday, May 10

ART: Sculptor
Noah Williams takes those bottle caps, seashells, and knickknacks you throw away and turns them
into beautiful art. Check out his exhibit, “One Man’s Trash,” is at the Art League through June 3.* Free.

COMEDY: You’ve probably been to a few standup comedy shows, but do you know what goes through
a comedian’s head while you’re laughing (or not) at them? At
“You, Me, Them, Everybody Presents,” five local comedians will perform and then sit down for interviews about the process
afterward. Maybe you’ll think twice before you heckle them next time. Tickets ($10)
are available online. 8 PM.

DANCE: Black Cat hosts
Freak Me Friday, which gives you a chance to let off all the steam you’ve accumulated—or at least
get sweaty instead of drenched in the rain we’ve had this week. Deejays Carrie Nation
and Dianamatic spin funk, dance, rap, and whatever else it takes to get you moving.
$5. 10 PM.

Saturday, May 11

EMBASSIES: All the
European Union
embassies
(plus Croatia, which will become a member in July) are having an open house. Each
embassy will have free food, live cultural demonstrations, music, and more. You can
stroll down Embassy Row and then hop on free shuttle buses to farther-afield embassies.
Free. 10 to 4.

FILM: Movies from the
48-Hour Film Project are screening all weekend at AFI Silver. If you’re not familiar, teams are given
a genre, a prop, a line of dialogue, and a character. They’re then given 48 hours
to write, shoot, and edit a short movie. Half the films are hilariously bad, but that
just makes it better when you get to see a stroke of genius. Tickets ($11.50) are
available online. Thursday through Sunday at 7 and 9:30 PM.

MUSIC: Now in its third year at Merriweather,
Sweetlife officially kicks off the outdoor summer concert scene. The lineup has gotten better
each year, but with it, you’ll pay a pretty penny. It now rivals far more established
festivals for single-day cost, but it’s probably worth it to see Phoenix, Passion
Pit, Kendrick Lamar, Solange, and more. Because it’s hosted by Sweetgreen, expect
food better than the standard concert fare. Tickets ($75) are available online. Noon.

CRAFTS: The
DC Craft Mafia is throwing its annual Spring Thing event in Logan Circle. The edgy (for a crafts
festival) features arts and crafts from more than 40 local artists, a puppy adoption
center, and a make-your-own-koozie station. Free. 11 to 5.

Sunday, May 12

MOTHER’S DAY: Your mom does a lot for you—time to do something nice for her. Check out our guide
to all things M-Day
(including some last-minute options if it snuck up on you this
year).

ART: The
Torpedo Factory is hosting its spring open house, featuring live music, a make-your-own-button factory
(bring wallet-size photos), free cupcakes, and, of course, lots of art. Free. 1 PM.

Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com,
or find him on Twitter

*This post has been updated from a previous version.