Out and About: Weekend Picks

Photo by bethhowe1

FRIDAY

MUSIC: Critical favorite Vic Chesnutt has a new record out, and is on tour with his band, which consists of Guy Picciotto of Fugazi, along with members of Thee Silver Mt. Zion. Locals Clare and the Reasons open on the Black Cat mainstage. $13, 9 p.m.

DANCE: Joy of Motion Dance Center, H Street Main Street, the Atlas Performing Arts Center, and Auto Zone are hosting a Thriller on H Street Party tonight in the Auto Zone parking lot. Starting at 7 p.m., the Atlas Center is holding dance classes taught by Joy of Motion to teach participants the iconic dance. Then at 9:30, everyone will move to the Auto Zone parking lot where a screen will be on display showing the film while everyone mimics the moves. If you can't make it to the 7 p.m. dance, you are still invited to participate in the Thriller dance and take part in the Thriller video screening and performance, Moonwalk contest, full screening of Thriller and more. $10 kids, $20 adults.

DJ: After the Thriller party, head over to check out DJ Smudge and Harry Dixon at their "Night of the Living Dead" party at Little Miss Whiskey's Golden Dollar (1104 H Street NE). Free, costumes encouraged.

COMEDY: The Velvet Lounge is hosting an early comedy event tonight. Dubbed the "Three Chord Comedy Happy Hour", Onion contributor Zach Broussard will be on hand at 7 p.m. for a $2 cover. Stick around for the bands that go on at 9 p.m.: The Beatnik Flies, Ottley and Pup Tent. $10.

ART: Flashpoint Gallery is hosting a costume party and fundraiser in conjunction with the their House exhibit, featuring paintings by Andrew Wodzianski based on imagery from William Castle’s 1959 House on Haunted Hill. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, and the party starts at 9 p.m. To find more art events, consult the Arts Agenda.

MOVIE: The AFI Silver is hosting its annual Nosferatu screening, a 1922 silent German film which set the early standard for Dracula-oriented films. D.C.'s Silent Orchestra will play their original score over the movie at the 7 and 9:30 p.m. screenings. Tickets are $20. Find more of our recommended films with this week's Popcorn and Candy.

SATURDAY

MUSIC: It's Halloween, and pretty much every bar in town is hosting some kind of special holiday-themed party. The Rock and Roll Hotel is celebrating with a full costume party, plus live performances from Captured! By Robots, Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt, and Bonjour, Ganesh!. For $1, you can also bob for PBR. $8 adv/$10 door, 8 p.m.

American University's student-run radio station, WVAU, will host a free Halloween show as part of its “Capitol Punishment” concert series. The night features a costume contest, plus performances by Tickley Feather, Talk Normal, and D.C.’s own Soft Power at the Kay Spiritual Center. Doors 6 p.m.

The Red and The Black is hosting a Road House Halloween. Local rockers The Jones will be presenting a special performance as "The Swayze, A Tribute to Road House." We're thinking plenty of Jeff Healey covers, in an effort to turn the Red and the Black into D.C.'s answer to the Double Deuce. And, as a bonus, if you show up dressed as a character from the movie, you get in for free. $5, 8 p.m.

The Velvet Lounge has a huge Halloween bash of their own, with Ra Ra Rasputin, Loderunner, Vita Ruins and Exactly playing upstairs, and a series of DJs spinning on the ground floor. There will also be door prizes for costumes in a number of categories, zombie movies, bobbing for apples in whiskey, and a "spooky jail" with guards armed with supersoakers filled with tequila. $8 for the show, $4 if you're just hanging out at the bar, 9 p.m.

FOOD & DRINK: If you'd prefer to just hole up away from the throngs with some delicious cocktails, The Gibson's Corpse Revival night might be a good (if pricey) option. The bar (located at 2009 14th Street NW) is officially opening its new upstairs section tonight, and a $75 all-inclusive ticket includes food and drinks from 8:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., plus a pumpkin-carving contest. Call 202-232-2156 for reservations.

THEATER: The Round House Theatre in Bethesda is holding two pay-what-you-can performances of their new play, 26 Miles. Show times are at 3 and 8 p.m., with the box office opening an hour before each show; arrive early to get your tickets.

ART: THEARC is holding its Fourth Annual Arts Day, with everything from music and dance performances ranging from African harvest to The Washington Ballet, a magic show, face painting and a “musical petting zoo” which is all for free from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

FARMER'S MARKET: From 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., the 14th & U Farmers Market is hosting a Halloween-themed bake sale put together by a group of local food bloggers to benefit Martha's Table. Look for cookies, pumpkin pie bars, whoopie pies, cupcakes and more. There will also be a costume contest at the market that day, featuring prizes from area merchants.

SUNDAY

MUSIC: For a singer/songwriter-centric evening, head to the The Red and the Black, to see New York's Laura Meyer, play with local Stripmall Ballads, and Brooklyn's Will Scott, $6, 8:30 p.m.

Kadri Gopalnath is a master Carnatic musician who uses the saxophone as his vehicle for expression. He will perform at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at 4 p.m.Tickets are $20 to $100, and don't miss our full preview.