Happy Monday, everyone!
Festival season is afoot, and you can dance all weekend at the returning Project GLOW festival, or overindulge in all things chocolate at the Embassy of France. If you’re hoping for some indoor music fun this week, then see the opening of the rocking stage play Passing Strange.
Best Things to Do This Week
- Project GLOW. The booming music and dance festival Project GLOW returns to RFK Festival Grounds for two days of electronic beats, food, art, and good times. This year’s party lineup includes DJs and producers Kygo, Tiësto, Gorgon City, Zeds Dead, and DC’s own Baby Weight (Sat-Sun, $100+ for general admission passes, $220+ for VIP passes, RFK Festival Grounds).
- DC Chocolate Festival. Immerse yourself into a world of chocolate and sweet treats at the DC Chocolate Festival. The Embassy of France will host chocolate experts and candy lovers for a day of tastings, artisan seminars, and educational workshops; there’s a class about chocolate meditation, too (Sat, $24, Northwest DC).
- “Passing Strange” musical. The popular hit concert-style stage play Passing Strange arrives at Signature Theatre this week. Singer and playwright Stew narrates the coming-of-age story of a young Black artist traveling Europe to find his passion in the world of art, punk, blues, and rock and roll (Tues through June 18, $40+, Arlington).
- Sugar at the Sandlot. Porchfest DC is throwing an outdoor benefit concert at the Sandlot Anacostia to support local artisans and October’s Southeast edition Porchfest. Bring a lawn chair and friends to this family-fun music and food gathering highlighting area go-go and hip-hop artists such as Future Band DC, The Experience Band & Show, and Yusha Assad (Sat, $25, donations welcome, Anacostia).
- Baseball Family Festival. Baseball fans will love this home-run-themed family festival at The National Postal Museum. The museum is celebrating the ongoing exhibition “Baseball: America’s Home Run” with a day dedicated to America’s beloved pastime. All ages can browse baseball memorabilia, participate in crafts, and join virtual baseball children’s book readings by authors Barb Rosenstock and Rob Skead (Sat, free, NoMa).
Want More Things to Do?
Budget-friendly. All are welcome to dance and stretch with a fitness instructor at this upbeat library cardio class (Tues, free, Alexandria). Catch a preview of a new PBS American history television series with David Rubenstein (Tues, free, George Washington University).
Arts and culture. California abstract artist Shara Mays discusses her work “Overgrown” at Mehari Sequar Gallery (Thurs, free, H Street Corridor). Attend the opening of the multimedia exhibition “Light Multiplies” at Eaton DC to explore generational healing (Fri, free, Downtown). Artist Abigail DeVille delivers a sunset performance honoring enslaved persons in Dark Matters (Sat, free, but registration recommended, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden). Learn to mend and patch up your worn garments at The Outrage (Mon, $5+, Northwest DC). Watch a movie about an adult swimming team at the Embassy of France (Tues, $5+, Northwest DC). Observe all things hockey related at the National Hockey League’s United by Hockey Mobile Museum at the Embassy of Canada (Mon-Tues, free, Northwest DC). Browse the history of China’s Shang dynasty at the “Anyang: China’s Ancient City of Kings” exhibit (*through April 28, 2024, free, National Museum of Asian Art). Also, it’s the final week to explore the vibrant colors of Linling Lu’s “Intersections” exhibition at The Phillips Collection (closes Sun, $16, free for everyone under 18, Northwest DC). Mural artist Miss Chelove, mixed-media artist Nekisha Durrett, and artist and filmmaker Michelle Angela Ortiz discuss their work at Planet Word (Sun, $25, Northwest DC). Experience music and dance performances, visual arts showcases, and scholarly lectures at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design’s month-long NEXT Festival (through May 20, free, Northwest DC).
History and community. Join Rock Creek Conservancy in a conversation about the history of Reno City, an ‘1860s Black neighborhood (Wed, free, virtual). Tour the historic Gadsby’s Tavern Museum to learn about Alexandria’s 18th-century social hub (through May 30, $8, Alexandria).
Theater and shows. See several 10-minute staged play readings at the New Voices New Works Play Festival (Mon, pay-what-you-can, Anacostia). Filmfest DC hosts its final week of screenings (through Sun, $14+, various locations). Round House Theatre’s On the Far End is based on the true story of a Native American activist tracing her family history (through May 7, $39+, Bethesda). Ballet Theatre of Maryland dances the romantic tale of Don Quixote (Fri-Sat, $25 for virtual, $50, Annapolis). Disney’s Aladdin the musical closes this week (closes Sun, $40+, National Theatre). The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts takes on the Shakespeare adaptation of As You Like It (Thurs-Sun, $10+, Downtown).
Music and concerts. Andy Shauf sings live at 9:30 Club (Mon, $25, Northwest DC). DC vocalist Rum.gold performs his album dedicated to U Street (Tues, $18, Wharf). Latin pop artist Kevin Kaarl is in concert at The Fillmore Silver Spring (Wed, $35, Silver Spring). Classical music artist Sofiane Pamart is in concert at Miracle Theatre (Tues, $25, Capitol Hill). The GW Jazz Orchestra, Ben Patterson Jazz Orchestra, and the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra are a part of the Blues Alley Jazz Festival (through Sun, $25+, Georgetown). Local student ensemble Great Falls Jazz Group performs at Canal Park (Wed, free, Capitol Riverfront). Long Beard sings alternative tunes at DC9 Nightclub (Mon, $15, Northwest DC). Get tickets to the National Philharmonic’s tribute show to legendary singer Nat King Cole (Thurs, $19+, Tysons).
Outdoor fun. Break a sweat on the Yards Park boardwalk at a sunrise yoga class or at a kickboxing session with 9Round Fitness (Tues, Thurs, free, Capitol Riverfront). Play pickleball and golf, taste wine, and see fireworks at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival (Fri through May 7, prices vary, Winchester).
Game night. Play trivia and see a drag show to support the Transgender Law Center and ACLU of Tennessee (Tues, free, Northwest DC). Sing karaoke at DC9 Nightclub (Wed, free, Northwest DC). Play music trivia at Songbyrd (Mon, free, Northeast DC).
Things to do with kids. Children can learn about the emotions of love and forgiveness at the National Children’s Museum’s “XOXO: An Exhibit About Love and Forgiveness” (closes May 14, $16, Downtown). Pre-K-aged children are invited to participate in yoga and story time at the library (Wed, free, Alexandria).
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An earlier version of this post said this exhibit closes on Friday, but it does not. We regret the error.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
