THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
MUSIC Synth-y, electro-pop duo (and Hall and Oates cover masters) The Bird and the Bee bring their insanely catchy beats to the Black Cat. The LA natives recently released remixes of songs from their 2015 album, Recreational Love, called Recreational Remixes. $18 to $20, 7:30 PM
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
MUSEUMS After three years of renovations, the National Gallery of Art is finally reopening its East Building, with three exhibits: “In the Tower: Barbara Kruger” (through January 22), featuring the artist’s arresting profile-with-text images; “Los Angeles to New York: Dwan Gallery, 1959–1971” (through January 29), charting the rise of avant-garde gallerist Virginia Dwan; and “Photography Reinvented: The Collection of Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker” (through March 5), featuring contemporary and experimental photo work. Free, 10 AM
BOOKS Celebrate freedom of expression at the The DC Public Library Foundation’s UNCENSORED Cocktail Party, part of Banned Books Week. Mess Hall DC will be providing the food, mixologists from spots like 2 Birds 1 Stone, Petworth Citizen and Zaytinya will be serving up cocktails, and performances by local favorites including Chain and the Gang and DJ Ayes promise to keep the energy high and the mood merry. Plus, local artists and retailers will have live screen printing and a pop-up market so you can bring the party home with you. $50, 7 PM
MUSEUMS Mannequin/nutcracker hybrids, electric neon nudes, and anatomical figures woven from straw are just some of the eccentric works in “No Man’s Land: Women Artists From the Rubell Family Collection,” in which more than three dozen artists from 15 countries use painting and sculpture to expand on themes born in the 1970s feminist art movement. Their depictions of the female body as well as challenges to traditional “women’s work” will leave you thinking about gender norms, too. The exhibit opens today and runs until Jan. 8 $10, 10 AM
DANCE, It’s a moment of transition for The Washington Ballet, which lost its artistic director, Septime Webre, in June after 17 years. In his place is Julie Kent, former principal ballerina, teacher, and coach at New York’s American Ballet Theatre. She directs the program at this 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Kennedy Center, with dances from Swan Lake, among others. $40 to $175, 8 PM
NIGHTLIFE Get a nice view of tonight’s new moon from the Smithsonian Castle and Haupt Garden, courtesy of the the Smithsonian at 8 event, Glow in the Garden. Enjoy a night full of activities, including a trivia contest, live music, strolling performers, a .gif booth, and plenty of sips and bites. Attendees are encouraged to dress in neon to emit a little glow of their own. $25 to $50, 8 PM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1
FOOD & DRINK Washingtonian is presenting this year’s Taste of Georgetown, happening on K Street NW, between Wisconsin Avenue and Thomas Jefferson Street. The annual event throws over 30 of the neighborhood’s restaurants together for a street full of flavor. This year, grab dishes from 1789, the Sovereign, Baked & Wired, and many more. Meal tickets are sold day-of for $20 (4 tickets), $30 (7 tickets), and $40 (10 tickets); 11 AM
MUSIC Get to know Adams Morgan as you never have through PorchFest, a neighborhood-wide live music festival featuring more than 30 bands and taking place on dozens of porches, patios, and street corners. For the full, AdMo experience, plot your day with the bars and restaurants you want to hit up in mind. Free, 2 PM
FESTIVAL Crafty Bastards is once again turning Union Market’s parking lot into a DIY haven this weekend, featuring 150 of the craftiest independent artists from across the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. Whether your goal is to get holiday shopping done early or liven up your space, you’ll easily find one-of-a-kind handmade arts and crafts for any occasion. $6 to $10, 10 AM
FILM The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery presents Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams at the museum’s McEvoy Auditorium. This critically acclaimed documentary shows Herzog and his team filming inside France’s Chauvet Cave, home to the world’s oldest surviving cave paintings—at 30,000 years old. Or, if you’re looking for a different type of movie about passages, head over to the Hirshhorn for a showing of Labyrinth. Free, 3 PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2
RECREATION If the idea of competing in a triathlon gives you anxiety, you’re not alone. But Adidas promises something different when their Wanderlust Festival comes to RFK Stadium for a so-called “mindfulness triathlon.” Equal parts chill, challenging and fun, the usual running, cycling and swimming are thrown out in favor of a day that encourages the mind-body connection. An almost-5K that’s focused more on prancing or skipping to the finish line is followed by 75 minutes of flow yoga with a DJ, finishing off with a 30-minute guided meditation. You may not get a trophy, but you’ll get plenty of Namaste. $49, 7:30 AM
MUSIC Marcus Johnson is a man who wears many hats: chart-topping jazz pianist, entrepreneur, wine connoisseur, author. He’ll be showing off his musical side at Howard Theatre’s jazz brunch, where attendees can chow down on all the classic brunch dishes and cocktails while listening to Johnson’s relaxing, smooth jazz. $15 to $35, 12:30 PM
