THURSDAY, MAY 4
MUSEUMS May the Fourth is unofficially Star Wars Day, and the Spy Museum is celebrating with a lecture titled Star Wars or Spy Wars: Who Needs the Force When You Have Good Intel? Spy Museum historian Dr. Vince Houghton will dive into the themes of espionage throughout the series, starting with the moment that Leia receives the stolen plans all the way through the most recent film, Rogue One. $15, 6:30 PM.
BOOKS Galaxie 500 drummer Damon Krukowski will discuss his new book The New Analog: Listening and Reconnecting in a Digital World with Ian Svenonius at Civilian Art Projects. In the book, Krukowski examines what’s changed in how we produce and consume music since the analog era, looking carefully at what was valuable in the analog realm so we don’t lose sight of it. The conversation will be followed by a book signing. Free, 6:30 PM.
FRIDAY, MAY 5
FOOD & DRINK Petworth’s Taqueria del Barrio is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with bottomless tacos, wings, beers, and margaritas. The restaurant will also have a special Cinco de Mayo punch. $65 (21+ only), 5 PM.
COMEDY Saturday Night Live alum Jay Pharoah performs at GWU’s Lisner Auditorium. His impersonations added a lot to SNL—most notably, he blissfully replaced Fred Armisen as the show’s Barack Obama until he departed the cast in 2016. $33, 7:30 PM.
MUSIC Shirlington’s New District Brewery is kicking off a live concert series, and the debut performer is American Idol Season 4 contestant Travis Tucker. In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo, the brewery will also have its Street Beer on draft, an American pale ale brewed with habanero peppers. Free to attend, 5 PM.
SATURDAY, MAY 6
EMBASSIES Travel the world within the city limits of DC with the Around the World Embassy Tour, part of Cultural Tourism DC’s Passport DC event. More than 40 embassies will open their doors to the public to share their native food, art, dance, fashion, and music. Embassies will typically have demonstrations and other fun events. Tickets not required, but government-issued ID typically is. Free, 10 AM-4 PM.
THEATER The Keegan Theatre is hosting the DC premiere of the play Outside Mullingar, running Saturday through May 28. The play, directed by Keegan Producing Artistic Director Mark A. Rhea, tells the story of romantic tension between two neighboring farmers whose families have long squabbled over a patch of land. $35 to $45, 8 PM.
FESTIVAL The fourth annual Funk Parade takes over U Street with eight outdoor performance areas (12 PM to 7 PM), a parade from the Howard Theatre to the Lincoln Theatre (3 PM), and evening performances at over 20 venues and bars (7 PM – 10 PM). Beyond headliners Backyard Band, Sinkane, and Sun Ra Arkestra, the full schedule includes bands, DJs, and jazz jams; those attending can keep up with schedules and maps via the Funk Parade app (iOS and Android). Free, 12-10 PM.
DANCE CityDance is presenting DREAMscape at the Lincoln Theatre. Hosted by Emmy-winning dancer/choreographer Debbie Allen, the production features elite dancers such as Brooklyn Mack (the Washington Ballet), Cervilio Miguel Amador and Chisako Oga (the Cincinnati Ballet), and ballroom stars Denys Drozdyuk and Antonina Skobina. Proceeds will support CityDance’s free after-school DREAM program. $25 to $38, 8 PM.
SHOPPING The first Saturday in May is Free Comic Book Day, when participating comic book shops give away their wares absolutely free to anyone, no purchase required. These free comics span a breadth of publishers, genres, and ages—it’s intended to provide a free comic book to any reader, no matter age, gender, or interest. FCBD’s web site has a store locator; local participating stores include Big Planet, Fantom, Alliance, EG Comics, Victory, and Hole in the Wall Books. Free, hours vary by location.
MUSIC The Adams Morgan Summer Concert Series starts this weekend, running on Saturdays in May and June at the BB&T Bank Plaza at 18th & Columbia. The inaugural show features local R&B/rock band Almeda, and attendees can get free wristbands for discounts at restaurants and stores in Adams Morgan. Free, 5 PM.
SUNDAY, MAY 7
MUSIC Avant-garde pianist Margaret Leng Tan will give a world-premiere performance of Metamorphoses at the National Gallery of Art East Building Auditorium in a program entitled The Three Cs: Cage, Cowell, Crumb—Pioneers of the Avant-Garde Piano. The piece, written by American composer George Crumb, is inspired by paintings by such artists as Paul Gauguin, James McNeill Whistler, and Salvador Dali; images of the paintings will be shown on the screen before each movement of Metamorphoses. Free, 4 PM.
BOOKS The annual Literary Hill BookFest takes place at Eastern Market on Sunday, with discussions, readings, and signings with the best local writers of memoirs and fiction, politics and poetry, history and sports, food and fantasy—as well as books for kids. The local author talks kick off at 11:15 AM, and the Children’s Corner features a number of story times throughout the day. Free, 11 AM.
