Things to Do

Best Things to Do in the DC Area 6/6-6/12: Pride Festival, Jazz Festival, and an El Salvadorian Festival

Plus goat yoga!

Alessia Cara at the 2018 Capital Pride Concert. Photograph by Ted Eytan/Flickr.

Happy Pride!Β 

Hello Neighbor,Β 

There’s the Pride Festival, March for Our Lives, Pride on the Pier, the Home Rule Festival, and various pop-up markets this Saturday. Expect delays getting across town.Β 

By the way, the National Museum of Women in the Arts is calling for entries to its β€œAs long as” feminism prompt for an art installation this fall. The public is welcomed to submit suggestions till Wednesday.Β Β 

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So, What Should You Do June 6-12?

For your convenience, this newsletter includes emojis to help you during these unprecedented times:Β 

  • The πŸ›‹ indicates an event is happening in-person inside.
  • The 🌲, indicates an event is happening in-person outside.Β 
  • The πŸ’» indicates an event is happening virtually.Β 
  • And lastly, the πŸ†“ indicates an event is πŸ†“.

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Top 5 Picks of the Week

1. Say Gay! πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆπŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆπŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆΒ It’s DC Pride weekend! There’s so much to do including a block party (Sat, πŸ†“, 🌲, Dupont Circle), festival (Sun, πŸ†“, 🌲, Downtown), fireworks show (Sat, πŸ†“, 🌲, The Wharf), and a parade (Sat, πŸ†“, 🌲, various locations). There’s also the DC Dyke March (Fri, πŸ†“, 🌲, Downtown), Rock the Lot with Pride (Thurs, πŸ†“, 🌲, National Landing), and Takoma Pride (Sun, πŸ†“, 🌲, Takoma).

2. Museum fun. πŸ‘‘πŸ‡°πŸ‡·Β Explore the collaborative relationship of Princess Grace and fashion house Dior as part of a new exhibit at Hillwood (starts Sat, $18, πŸ›‹, Van Ness). Head to the National Museum of Asian Art for the after-hours kick-off of the Korean Film Festival (Fri, πŸ†“, πŸ›‹/🌲, National Mall) with late-night access to museum galleries, food trucks, live painting, performances, and a screening of Hot in Day, Cold at Night.Β 

3. March for Our Lives. 🀍 The student-led demonstration in support of gun control legislation returns to DC (Sat, πŸ†“, 🌲, Downtown).Β 

4. Other celebrations:Β 

  • Mi PequeΓ±o El Salvador Festival. πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡»Β Celebrating Immigrant Heritage Month, the festival will highlight the contributions of the El Salvadoran community to Mount Pleasant. Enjoy artisans, cultural performances, food, and more (Sun, πŸ†“, 🌲, Mount Pleasant) .
  • Home Rule Festival. πŸ₯Β Pay tribute to Washington, DC’s music and jazz culture at this free outdoor music festival with a record fair, food trucks, and craft beverages (Sat, πŸ†“, 🌲, Historic Walter Reed).
  • Platinum Jubilee. πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§Β Honoring Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, the Fairmont Hotel’s courtyard will host a ceremonial celebration featuring Champagne, slices of cake, and an authentic Scottish bagpiper (Wed, πŸ†“, 🌲, Georgetown).

5. Pop-Up markets. πŸ› Shop at aΒ Black Market Creatives Showcase (Sat, πŸ†“, πŸ›‹, Anacostia) at Anacostia Arts Center. Visit Each Peach Market for aΒ Spring Pop Up (Sat, πŸ†“, 🌲, Mount Pleasant). Discover over 50 emerging brands at the DC Summer Market (Sat, $8, πŸ›‹, Union Market). While enjoying the parade, stop by the Dupont Main Street Summer Pop-Up (Sat, πŸ†“, 🌲, Dupont).

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Β Everything Else This Week

  • Outdoor movie season. 🎞🎞🎞 There’s Space Jam (Thurs, πŸ†“, 🌲, Mosaic District), Enter the Dragon (Tues, πŸ†“, 🌲, Downtown), Queen of the Capital (Tues, πŸ†“, 🌲, Adams Morgan), The Princess Bride (Wed, πŸ†“, 🌲, NoMa), Mamma Mia (Fri, πŸ†“, 🌲, Rosslyn), Belfast (Thurs, πŸ†“, 🌲, Downtown), Moonrise Kingdom (Thurs, πŸ†“, 🌲, The Reach), Crimson Tide (Thurs, πŸ†“, 🌲, Archives), and In the Heights (Fri, πŸ†“, 🌲, Union Market).
  • Outdoor concert season. 🎺 Enjoy a neighborhood concert by the The United States Navy Band & Ceremonial Guard (Tues, πŸ†“, 🌲, Navy Memorial), R&B pop group Pebble to Pearl (Wed, πŸ†“, 🌲, The Wharf), and Jazz-Gogo-Funk The Experience Band and Show (Sat, πŸ†“, 🌲, Dupont Circle).Β 
  • Bring your skates. Throughout the summer, the Wharf will host a πŸ†“ pop-up roller skating rink at Transit Pier (Sat-Sun, πŸ†“ entry, 🌲, The Wharf).
  • Time to dance. πŸ’ƒπŸΎ Learn how to salsa (Tues, πŸ†“, 🌲, Columbia Heights) or country line dance (Fri, πŸ†“, 🌲, Navy Yard).
  • Urban farms. πŸ₯¬Β Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Washington Youth Garden (Sat, πŸ†“, 🌲, National Arboretum) or have a dinner at an urban farm (Thurs, $35+, 🌲, Shaw). Volunteer at the National Park’s Rooftop Farm (Fri, πŸ†“, 🌲, Navy Yard).
  • Pour the wine and the Champagne. 🍷 Try wines rated 90 points or higher at the Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour (Fri, $275+, πŸ›‹, Downtown). Take photos at a very Instagrammable Chandon Secret Garden (Fri-Sun, $, πŸ›‹, Georgetown), which will be popping up in Georgetown. Try Slovak wines at the Embassy of Slovakia (Thurs, $59, πŸ›‹, Van Ness).
  • Juneteenth is coming! Learn about the Texas Freedom Colonies (Sat, πŸ†“, πŸ›‹, National Mall). Prepare for your at-home celebrations with a Juneteenth playlist (Mon, πŸ†“, πŸ’») and a Juneteenth cooking workshop (Mon, πŸ†“, πŸ’»).Β 
  • Voting rights. Join former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder as he discusses his new book (Thurs, $12+, πŸ›‹, Chinatown).Β 
  • Last call. It’s the last week of the DC Temple Open House (until Sat, πŸ†“, πŸ›‹, Kensington).Β 

 

Your Neighbor,

Jade (@clockoutdc)

Jade Womack is an energy economist by day, and an events blogger by night. She started her blog, Clockout DC, when she was moonlighting as a bartender in 2019. She grew up in Arlington, and currently lives in Adams Morgan with her dog.