THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
WINE DBGB DC hosts a dinner focusing on wines from Provence, on Thursday night. The four-course dinner will feature dishes inspired by the south of France with a wine list curated by sommelier Andrew Wooldridge. $95 (excluding tax and gratuity), 7 PM.
DISCUSSION “Good Ol’ J.R.”, aka Jim Ross, is a professional wrestling commentator and, for anyone who grew up with the Attitude Era, the voice of the WWE. He’ll be at the DC Improv on Thursday night to share stories from his life and career and answer questions from the audience. WJFK-FM personality Chad Dukes will host the show. Tickets $25, 6 PM.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
CONVENTION The annual anime convention Otakon comes to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center this weekend, celebrating East Asian pop culture. In addition to a huge list of guests, Otakon will feature panels, workshops, cosplay, and LARPing; the 2017 con’s full schedule is available online. In addition, Otakon 2017 will host the East Coast debut of the Anisong World Matsuri event, a two-night concert featuring Japanese acts JAM Project and T.M. Revolution on Friday night and Yousei Teikoku and FLOW on Saturday night. $100 for Otakon and $25 per night for Anisong World Matsuri (Otakon 2017 badge required).
MUSIC DC musician Justin Trawick and recording engineer Sean Russell will celebrate the fourth anniversary of their weekly podcast The Circus Life at the 9:30 Club. The event will feature live performances from local bands Party Like It’s, Oh He Dead, Two Ton Twig, Soldiers of Suburbia, and Justin Trawick and the Common Good. Tickets $18, 7 PM.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 12
FESTIVALS The 15th annual Fest Africa will take place at the Veteran’s Plaza in Silver Spring, includes comedy, music, African cuisine, a fashion show, and crafts. Meanwhile at the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center, VietFest 2017 celebrates Vietnamese culture, music, and activities and is the largest Vietnamese cultural festival on the East Coast. Both events are free and run throughout the weekend.
SHOPPING Alexandria’s boutiques host the 8th Annual Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale this weekend throughout Old Town and Del Ray. More than 50 stores will be offering deeply discounted summer merchandises, including clothing, jewelry, and home décor. Participating stores will have bright yellow balloon markers outside their storefronts, and the city will turn off its parking meters in Old Town for the weekend.
BEER DC brewery 3 Stars celebrates its fifth anniversary. In addition to its own beers, the brewery will also host guest taps from Other Half, J.Wakefield, LIC Beer Project, and more. $20, 1 PM.
MUSIC The annual Run For Cover concert gives local musicians a platform to form one-night-only tribute bands to benefit a local charity. The bands covered and creativity of performances have gotten more and more intense every year since the first RFC in 2002; this year’s performers include The Great Pretenders, E yoLO, and White Barry. This year’s show at the Black Cat will benefit Girls Rock! DC. Tickets $12, 8 PM.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13
FOOD Learn all about vinegar at Glen’s Garden Market’s Dupont Circle location with Harry Rosenblum, co-founder and co-owner of the Brooklyn Kitchen and author of the new book Vinegar Revival. Rosenblum will be joined by fellow vinegar enthusiast Daniel Liberson, founder of Lindera Farms Vinegars; the two will discuss the process of making and tasting vinegar. Free, 5 PM.
FILM Paranormal documentarian Chad Calek will screen his new film Sir Noface Lives at the Birchmere. The documentary chronicles the Australian government-sanctioned paranormal investigation of Cockatoo Island, which led to the filming of a full-body apparition that—allegedly—proves the existence of ghosts. Tickets $35, 7:30 PM.
