Things to Do

Things to Do in DC This Weekend June 25-28: Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and “Waterweavers”

Here are the best events around town.

The work of Brus Rubio, an Amazonian painter, will be at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Photo Joshua Eli Cogan, courtesy Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Smithsonian Institution.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25

MUSIC: After a series of ups and downs, D’Angelo has returned to remind people what R&B is all about. The crooner, who earlier this year showcased his new music on Saturday Night Live, performs at the Fillmore. 8 PM, $75.

TALK: Lee Daniels’ The Butler was based on the true story of Eugene Allen, an African-American butler who worked in the White House for 34 years. Fans of the film can hear more about Allen, when his son, Charles, visits the Northwest One Library on L Street, NW to tell the tale from his perspective. 7 PM, free.

FESTIVAL: This year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival showcases Peruvian culture. Located on the National Mall, in front of the National Museum of the American Indian, the bash counts on the participation of 105 artisans—cooks, potters, mask makers, musicians, weavers, and more—who come to Washington to celebrate their traditions. Events run from June 24 to 28 and July 1 to 5, free.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

TALK: No matter your political views, it promises to be an important night when Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at the Patriot Center at George Mason University. 5 PM, $30 to $125.

MUSIC: Remember when you couldn’t get “All My Life” out of your head? Well, K-Ci and JoJo are here to make sure you never forget 1999. The brothers, performing in a quartet called Jodeci, recently released a comeback album, featuring two tracks produced by Timbaland. Check ’em out at the Fillmore. 8 PM, $45.

SATURDAY, JUNE 27

DRINK: Alexandria’s Food and Wine Festival returns to Oronoco Bay Park, offering live music, crafts, a children’s corner, and food and wine from some of the city’s best venues. Noon to 6 PM, $20 for food samples, $20 for wine tasting.

THEATER: Relatives attempt to manipulate a terminally ill patriarch, and secrets are revealed. That’s the premise behind Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, opening on June 27 at the recently renovated Keegan Theatre. Tickets are sold out for opening night, but the production continues through July. 7:30 PM, $25 to $36.

PARTY: Check out the Super Art Fight at the Black Cat, where improv comedy and live art meet pro-wrestling and tattooists. This year’s bouts are all 80’s themed, so don’t leave home without your spandex. 9 PM, $15.

SUNDAY, JUNE 28

DRINK: Learn how to create the perfect cocktail with The Art of Adrink: Craft Cocktail Class at Old Engine 12 Restaurant. Five local bartenders, including Sam Schmidt of Hank’s Oyster Bar and Glendon Hartley of Tico, offer tips on drinking the good stuff. Attendees get five drinks, five recipes, a shot glass, snacks, plus other perks. 4 PM, $40 to $65.

EAT: It’s that time again: Part of Pennsylvania Avenue shuts down to accommodate the 23rd Annual Safeway Barbecue Battle. The event includes live music, a sampling pavilion, free food samples, and more. 11 AM to 7:30 PM, $15 for a one-day pass.

Carol Young’s “Memoria,” a ceramic installation part of “Waterweavers.” Courtesy of the artist.

ART: “Waterweavers,” a new exhibition at the Art Museum of the Americas, explores the relationship between nature and art in Colombia. Furniture, video, installations, ceramics, drawings, and textiles come together to express the importance of the country’s waterways. The New York Times called it the “most unassumingly beautiful show” in New York last summer. Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM, free.