Thursday, April 24
VARIETY SHOW: The Encyclopedia Show DC’s theme this month is “explorers,” so you’ll hear from all manner of them tonight at the Dunes—from body explorers to psychonauts to world travelers. It’s the last one at the Dunes before the venue closes, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, now’s the time. Tickets ($8) are available online. 8 PM.
DANCE: P.O.V., the W Hotel’s rooftop, just announced it’s going to start throwing a bunch of shows this summer. They’ll all be curated by Brightest Young Things’ Svetlana Legetic, and things get started tonight with performances by DDM, RA the MC, and Sheila D Yeah, who are artists you probably haven’t heard of, which is the whole point. Go learn something new and cool. Fancy cocktails are ten bucks all night. Free. 7:30 PM.
Friday, April 25
SHOP: Wisconsin Avenue is turning into the Champs-Élysées for two days with its annual French market. Most stores, cafes, and restaurants will showcase some of their best stuff on the sidewalk, where they’ll also offer discounts and hand out samples. All day (also Saturday).
FILM: We’re hoping that, like last year, Union Market’s Drive-In movie festival will get extended because it’s so popular. But if it doesn’t, you’ve got three weeks left to check it out. This weekend’s movie is Frozen, which has gone from being something your friends with kids saw on opening weekend to being the most popular thing EVER. Union Market is hosting a “sing-along version,” so you only have a day to read up on the lyrics. As usual, there’ll be games and activities and food trucks before the movie. Free for walkers and bikers; $10 per car. 6 PM.
COMEDY: Wonderland continues its popular Don’t Block the Box comedy night with headliner Jason Weems, who just released his first comedy DVD, Vol. 1, Intellectual Property. He’s also appeared on Last Comic Standing. There’ll be three local openers, and the whole thing is hosted by Reggie Melbrough of Story League. Stick around after for dancing. $3. 7:30 PM.
DANCE: Black Cat is moving its New Order/Duran Duran dance party to the main stage this week; it feature music and music videos from the two bands, which will be queued up, mixed together, and strayed from by four deejays. Tickets ($10) are available online. 9:30 PM.
Saturday, April 26
BLUEGRASS: Of all the events that claim to kick off spring, one of the most fun is the Kingman Island Bluegrass Festival, which is quickly becoming a local institution. If you’re unfamiliar with said island, it’s a man-made one built over a landfill on the Anacostia River. More than a dozen bands from all around the country will take over a couple of stages, and there’ll be food trucks, games, and about a zillion people there—bring a blanket to sit on and a patient attitude, because between bathroom and beer lines, you’ll spend a lot of the day waiting. Luckily, it’s supposed to be nice outside, and you can hear the music from just about anywhere. $10 suggested donation. 1 PM.
DANCE: There’s enough bhangra events in DC that you should probably know what it is by now, but if you don’t, here’s yet another chance for you to get acquainted with one of India’s most popular styles of music (or the American version of it, anyway). Basically, take popular American top 40 songs and club bangers and mash them up with a style of popular Punjabi dance music, and you’ve got the US Department of Bhangra, which is always a crazy fun time. Get to Black Cat’s backstage early if you want to learn how to dance correctly. Tickets ($7) are available online. 9:30 PM.
DESTRUCTION: There’s only one thing humans love more than civilization and living, and that’s imagining how it’s all going to end. The Hirshhorn’s Disasterthon explores that instinct the best way Americans know how—by bashing you over the head with it over and over again. The museum screens six disaster movies back to back, and you can also check out “Damage Control: Art and Destruction Since 1950,” an exhibit that’s closing pretty soon. Free. 10 AM to 10 PM.
MARGARITAS: I don’t know that anyone truly needs to “get ready” for Cinco de Mayo, as the promoters of the Margarita March suggest you might want to do, but there’s no need for an excuse to drink a bunch of margs. The bar crawl spans the gap between Dupont Circle and U Street, so you’ll be “marching” a bit farther than usual. It’ll stop at Alero, Black Whiskey, Buffalo Billiards, Cafe Citron, Diego Restaurant, Mission, Nellie’s, and Stoney’s. Your ticket includes eight margaritas, so please prepare by eating some tacos, as well. Tickets ($55) are available online. 3 to 11 PM.
Sunday, April 27
HISTORIC TOUR: Home Buzz hosts a Columbia Heights home and garden tour, where you can learn about the history of the neighborhood and its buildings and finally intrude on some of your neighbors’ fancy houses. Afterward, there’s a reception with food and drinks. $10 to $15; register online. 11 to 6.
BAR CRAWL: Every once in a while, a few bars on U Street host the Hip “Hop,” a bar crawl through space and time in which you’ll experience a different hip-hop trend and drink special at each bar you check out. Duffy’s, for instance, offers old school hip-hop with an alcohol theme and $3 PBRs. Get it? $10. 2 PM.
STREET FESTIVALS: The Brookland Spring Festival is a good chance to check out an underappreciated neighborhood—head to the Monroe Street Market Arts Walk for some spoken-word poetry, world music, and dance performances, then check out some of the shops and restaurants that have sprung up over there. Free. 4 PM.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter.
