Out and About: Weekend Picks
FRIDAY
MOVIE: Don't neglect to consult our film picks for the week, which includes The Secret Policeman's Film Festival at the AFI Silver. Tonight's selection offers a John Cleese-tastic double feature of Pleasure at Her Majesty's, about the making of the very first Amnesty International benefit show that served as the progenitor of "The Secret Policeman's Ball," plus The Mermaid Frolics, a television special of the 1977 benefit, stage-directed by Monty Python's Terry Jones. In between the films, stay in your seats for a Q&A with "Secret Policeman's Ball" co-creator/producer Martin Lewis and music critic/cultural writer Richard Harrington. 7 p.m.
ART: Head to Coldwell Banker’s Art17 gallery between 5 and 8 p.m. for the opening of Friend Request: MCA Invitational, featuring work from 20 members of the Mid-City Artists, including Sondra N. Arkin, Mark Parascandola and Ellyn Weiss.
WIG WALK: By the time you read this, the official registration period for the Wig Walk charity event will be closed, but there's nothing stopping you from joining in on the fun without an official wristband. Wigs will officially be donned between 6 p.m. and midnight tonight at Adams Morgan bars Toledo Lounge, Madam's Organ and Chief Ike's. Read more about the Wig Walk in our interview with the organizers.
JAZZ: Tonight's Jazz Night in Southwest hosts a tribute to local great singer/promoter Ronnie Wells from 6 - 9 p.m., $5.
MUSIC: At Comet Ping Pong, local favorites Exit Clov, will play a late show with Armchairs and Circadian Rhythms. $8, 10 p.m.
Three Stars alum Bellman Barker is at the Velvet Lounge with The Swimmers and Mother. $8, 9 p.m.
"The Capitol City Music Tour" is back this week at Velocity Five in Falls Church. On the slate for tonight will be Kingpen Slim, K-Beta and Uptown XO. $5-$10, 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
SHOPPING/ART: The last day of the Corcoran's Off the Walls sale is today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring art, jewelry and crafts by students, alumni and faculty. This is also your last weekend to see Edward Burtynsky's Oil at the museum.
BAR CRAWL: There are several different holiday-themed bar crawls planned for Saturday. We like Santarchy, the loosely organized costume crawl that starts at noon outside the National Museum of Natural History. Dress however you'd like to represent the season: elves, snowpeople, reindeer, Mrs. Claus, and of course, Santas, are all welcome, just make sure you're dressed up. You can also meet up with the Santarchy crew later in the day by following their erratic movements on Twitter.
MUSIC: Velvet Lounge is presenting "The Last Velodrome," an evening featuring three bands headlined by Stuart Lupton's Child Ballads. Also on the bill are Philly's Instamatic and 3-D Slang. 9 p.m.
If it's the second Saturday of the month, the Black Cat is actually featuring live music on its backstage. This time around, it's Versus and Soft Power. $10, 8 p.m.
JAZZ: Monster saxophonist Tim Warfield will be playing his original holiday arrangements alongside recently profiled vibist Stefon Harris at Bohemian Caverns. Tickets to the 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets are $20.
MOVIE: Narrated by Maya Angelo, A Black Candle will screen at the Black History Museum in Alexandria, followed by a discussion with the filmmaker. The documentary traces Kwanzaa's growth from out of the Black Power Movement in the 1960s to its present-day global impact. Free, 4:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
HANUKKAH: The lighting ceremony for the "National Chanukah Menorah takes place at 4 p.m. The event includes performances by the U.S. Air Force Band and "The Three Cantors." Tickets are required, but free, and you can request them here.
DJ: Tony Humphries, a legend in house music, will be at Eighteenth Street Lounge for a special set, $10, 9:30 p.m.