THURSDAY, MAY 25
MUSEUMS It’s the 40th anniversary of the original Star Wars film, and the National Air & Space Museum is hosting an evening celebration. While the museum’s screenings of the film are now fully booked, there are still plenty of reasons to stop by, including 50 costumed characters from the films posing for photo ops, talks by experts, and a band playing Star Wars music. Free, 5 PM.
BOOKS Memorial Day is a great weekend for barbecue, so get some tips from food writer Matt Moore as he discusses his new book, The South’s Best Butts: Pitmaster Secrets for Southern Barbecue Perfection at Kramerbooks. Moore describes how the combination of meat, cooking method, and sauce varies from place to place based on history, culture, climate, available ingredients, and wood, alongside recipes for barbecue and as many fixin’s as you can handle. If you’re heading out of town and would rather read a thriller beachside (or poolside), stop by East City Bookshop, where Paul Vidich will discuss his new novel The Good Assassin, a tale of Cold War espionage set in 1950s Cuba. Both events: free, 6:30 PM.
FRIDAY, MAY 26
BARS Jimmy Valentine’s Lonely Hearts Club is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights. The club will have DJs every night showcasing their brand-new Martin Audio sound system (Pray For Dance on Friday, Tropic of Bass on Saturday, and a Sunday lineup featuring Team Zapata, Dive & Lie Wrecked, Joe L., Jandro, Mettabbana, Beatrix, & Jeff Hancock from DC Brau) and will be pouring their special anniversary beer Jimmy Valentine’s Total Victory, a pale weizenbock brewed specially by DC Brau. Free to attend, 8 PM-4 AM.
COMEDY Locally grown comic Elizabeth Croydon is recording an hour of stand-up for an album at the Black Cat on Friday night. She’s appeared on the Tonight Show and Last Comic Standing and won the designation of Master Debater from National Lampoon. She also ran for Congress in Maryland as a Green Party candidate. This evening of comedy, presented by local comedy producers Lousy Humans, will feature several other DC-area female comics: Valerie Paschall, Cristina Payne, Sarah Roche, and Gigi Modrich. $15 (advance) or $20 (day-of), 9 PM.
SATURDAY, MAY 27
SPORTS The celebration of Star Wars continues at Nationals Park on Saturday afternoon when the Nats host the Padres. Characters from the films will be roaming the concourse, and DJ Stylus Chris will play Star Wars-themed music in Center Field Plaza beginning at 2 PM. In addition, there will be plenty of special menu items, such as Chewbacca Crunch, Luke Frywalker, and Hoth Shave Ice, and the first 25,000 fans at the game will receive a Chewbacca koozie. $25 to $400, 4:05 PM.
COMEDY Comedian, actor, and humanitarian Whoopi Goldberg will share an evening of laughter-filled storytelling at Strathmore on Saturday night. Goldberg is currently the moderator of the TV show The View and has appeared in films such as The Color Purple, Ghost, and Sister Act. She’ll tell stories, perform stand-up comedy, and host a Q&A with the audience. $65 to $130, 8 PM.
SUNDAY, MAY 28
ROLLING THUNDER Memorial Day weekend is the annual Rolling Thunder Run, a motorcycle ride and gathering first started in 1988 with a mission to memorialize service members that were abandoned after the Vietnam War. There are events all weekend, but the big ride takes place on Sunday. Riders participating in the Rolling Thunder XXX First Amendment Demonstration Run will leave the North Pentagon parking lot at noon and ride through the Mall area, ending up at West Potomac Park to pay tribute to their fallen brothers and sisters. Free to ride or spectate.
MUSIC Swedish DJ Alesso will perform at Echostage on Sunday night. He’s toured with Madonna and worked with such artists as Calvin Harris, Tove Lo, and OneRepublic on his 2015 debut album Forever. $40, 9 PM.
MONDAY, MAY 29
PARADE The 2017 National Memorial Day Parade will take place along Constitution Avenue on Monday afternoon and will feature veterans of every conflict from World War II to Iraq and Afghanistan. To remember the 75th anniversary of the Second World War, the Veterans of World War II will serve as this year’s Honorary Grand Marshals. The parade will also feature actor Joe Mantegna, Miss America 2017 Savvy Shields, and musical performances by Daughtry and John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting. Free, 2 PM.
MUSIC DC’s 3rd annual We Rock! Camp showcase takes place on Monday night at the Black Cat. We Rock! Camp is similar to Girls ROck! DC’s youth summer camp, but it gives opportunities for women, trans, and gender non-conforming adults (19+) to learn an instrument, form a band or DJ crew, write original music, and perform for a live audience. $12, 7 PM.
