Thursday, August 7
COMEDY: Every week, Science Club hosts After Class, a comedy night that definitely wouldn’t have cut it at your high school. The topics, presented in seminar/PowerPoint style, are generally ridiculous, fictional, or downright inappropriate for the average US student; plus there’s booze, and all the laughing is likely to disrupt the learning environment. Free. 8:30 PM.
MUSIC: Somehow, roughly a million years after Bradley Nowell died, Sublime soldiers on with some dude named Rome singing. They play all the old hits and even have an album of original material. It’s not exactly like watching a tribute band, though it’s pretty close. If you were a big fan of the original incarnation, it might be worth checking out the show at the Fillmore. Tickets ($56) are available online. 8 PM.
MAZE: The National Building Museum continues to stay up past its bedtime with its late-night block party. Explore the museum’s BIG Maze, then head outside and for some Hill Country barbecue. Tickets ($16) are available online. 5 PM.
Friday, August 8
VARIETY: The formula for Black Cat’s 8×8 night isn’t too complicated if you know your times tables. Eight comedians, storytellers, musicians, and other entertainer-people get eight minutes to wow you. There’s music and dancing both before and after. $10. 9 PM.
FILM: As quickly as it arrives, it goes away again: Union Market’s Drive-In movie series comes to an end (for now) this week with Casino Royale, the James Bond movie that cashed in on the fad of Texas Hold ’Em in a big way. Show up in a car, or on foot, or on your bike, and watch it outside, maybe with some Union Market snacks. $10 per car. 6 PM.
DANCE: DC9 hosts Coalbxx, the spiritual successor to the extremely successful (and missed) Liberation Dance Party. Deejays Stevie Bxx and Billy Bxx spin indie music and project videos all night while you dance and enjoy $2 drinks between 9 and 11. Free. 9 PM.
Saturday, August 9
BIKE: There’s a fairly grim bike ride happening this weekend—to remember the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing, a group will be circling the White House in the radius of a “small nuclear bomb” to send the message that nuclear weapons are not okay to have. It’s a laudable goal, and the event seems to be happening in capital cities around the world. Then, because it’s DC, there’ll be cocktails afterward. Free. 9:30 AM.
CLOWNS: Clowns Without Borders is a group of, well, clowns, who travels to war zones and places in crisis and hopes to bring some joy to the children there, Patch Adams style. They’re hosting a fundraiser at the Trapeze School of New York (DC edition, of course), where you’ll see acrobatics and trapeze from the pros; there’ll also be face-painting, balloon-twisting, juggling, and a photo booth. Tickets ($15) are available online. 8:30 PM.
ART: The Corcoran opens its doors fo’ free at its Summer Saturdays series. There are only a couple of weeks left before you have to go back to paying again—and only a few weeks after that until the museum takes on a very different look. This week, there’s a free sketching class at 10:30 and a trivia contest at 3.
WATER: Yards Park hosts Splash Yards, perhaps the coolest-sounding party of the summer. Essentially it’s a huge water battle and tiki party, featuring super soakers, squirt guns, buckets (no hoses), water balloons, beer from Bluejacket, frozen drinks, live music, pools, water slides, a misting tent, and lots more. I won’t even bother to continue listing the stuff that’ll be there—just check it out. Free. 2 PM.
Sunday, August 10
DOCS: In partnership with the Environmental Film Festival, the National Museum of Natural History hosts The Extreme Life of the Sea, a series of short documentaries about, what else, how freakin’ weird and tough ocean life is. Marine scientist Stephen Palumbi and his son will be around to talk about some of the docs and sign books after the event. Tickets ($8) are available online. 3 PM.
WINE: A good way to wind down the weekend—or have Sunday Funday: Petworth Citizen and Firefly are both offering half-price bottles of wine for most of the day. Both spots have good food, as well, in case you aren’t totally on a liquid diet. All day at Firefly, 5 to 11 PM at Petworth Citizen.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter.
