Out and About: Weekend Picks
FRIDAY:
>> Politics and Prose hosts a cartoonist double-whammy: American cartoonist and author Lynda Barry will make an appearance to discuss her latest collection of cartoon panels, What It Is. 7 p.m. Then Tom Tomorrow will talk about his new collection of This Modern World cartoons, The Future's So Bright I Can't Bear to Look. 9 p.m.
>> Pop in to Art Whino's party at the Addidas store tonight in Georgetown (1251 Wisconsin Ave NW) and see live painting by Brandon Hill, with music by DJ Feng, from 7 to 11 p.m. Tomorrow, head to the gallery in National Harbor for the opening of their new exhibit, Cheeseburgers and Sushi, featuring Hill's works, and more music and performances, 6 p.m. to midnight. Both events are free.
>> Don't forget to consult our film picks of the week, which includes the All Roads Film Festival at the National Geographic's Grosvenor Auditorium.
>> The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival rolls on through the weekend. Check out all of top our picks, including tonight's Fertile Ground show at the 9:30 Club. Opening will be Chopteeth, D.C.'s only Afrobeat big band, and Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music Latin Jazz All-Stars, La Timbistica. 7 p.m. $25
>> Seattle soul singer Choklate has built a strong following on the U.S. indie soul scene after the release of her self-titled debut album. Joining her at the Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, MD will be fellow Seattle artist Darrius Willrich. $25 in advance, 7:30 p.m.
>> The Girls Rock & Girls Rule Tour lands at the Red and the Black, a cause we always get behind. A bunch of NYC bands are on the bill: G-Spot, Loki the Grump RewBee, Maria Mini & The Underage Hotties, America's Sweetheart, plus locals Tami D'Mar and Curly and the Rocket. Your cover charge is a tax-deductible donation to the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. 8 p.m., $8.
>> Fleet Foxes could not be more sold out, so good luck on that one. At the Black Cat with Frank Fairfield. 9 p.m.
Photo by Ryan Holloway
SATURDAY:
>> The 2nd annual Columbia Heights Day kicks off at the Harriet Tubman Elementary School field on 11th Street NW between Kenyon and Irving. Last year's event was underwhelming, but this year's has been much more widely promoted, so hopefully more people will attend. The neighborhood party will include: a community bike ride, a pet costume parade at 10:30 a.m. from the Tivoli to the field, a mariachi band from 12:45-1 p.m., and a cupcake eating contest at 1:45 p.m., which Prince of Petworth says will feature Ward 1 Council member Jim Graham. DCist fave Flex Matthews (***) plays at 2, and there's a petting zoo with a zebra (!). All in all, it sounds like a good time. And after you're done, there are food and drink specials all over the neighborhood, like happy hour all day at Wonderland and Red Rocks and other deals at restaurants around the 'hood. Here's the full line-up.
>> Stop by Union Station to check out some historic train cars and locomotives and enter to win a raffle for free Amtrak tickets. It's all part of the station's Centennial Celebration, also Sunday.
>> Pyramid Atlantic opens Drawn to Washington on Saturday, featuring a juried selection of works by Mid-Atlantic region artists. Katherine Blood, Curator of Fine Prints for the Library of Congress, will choose one print from the exhibit to enter into the LoC's permanent collection. See them all at the reception, 6 to 8 p.m.
>> D.C. United take on Chivas USA in at 7:30 p.m. at RFK, but get there as early as 2:30 p.m. for the free D.C. Jam Session event, a massive soccer-style tailgate party with live music and beer to get you revved up for the match.
>> Canuck synth-pop tarts Chromeo were a big hit at the Virgin Mobile Festival last month, despite being saddled with a thankless early-afternoon time slot. This time they're at the 9:30 Club, with Treasure Fingers. 8 p.m. doors, $20.
>> Locals on the rise Jukebox the Ghost headline the Black Cat mainstage, with Say Hi to Your Mom and Junior League. $12, 9 p.m.
SUNDAY:
>> Head down to the Sylvan Theater for the annual Jazz on the National Mall concert, the centerpiece of every Duke Fest. This year's stellar lineup includes Howard University's Afro Blue, bluesman Taj Mahal, bassist Christian Mcbride and his Quartet, Conrad Herwig's Latin Side Project, the McCoy Tyner Quartet, and dynamo vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater. 12 to 7 p.m. Free.
>> The one and only Nick Cave (and of course, The Bad Seeds) begins a two-night stand at the 9:30 Club. With the Bellmer Dolls. 7 p.m. doors, $40 but long, long gone. Try Craigslist you there.