Photo by AtomKanner.FRIDAY
SCAVENGER HUNT: Participate in the First Annual District Beer Hunt, sponsored by J Street Beer. Put together a team of four to hit 10 bars, gathering clues and ordering beers in an attempt to win prizes. There will be awards for most beers found, most bars visited, best team name and best team uniform. The games begin with check-in at RFD (810 7th Street NW) between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., and ends with a Post-Beer Hunt Party at RFD on Saturday (party starts at 8 p.m., checklists are due by 10 p.m.). $20 entry fee per team. They can only accommodate a few more teams, so preregister or get there early!
PHOTOGRAPHY: This weekend is your last chance to catch DCist Exposed at Long View Gallery (1234 9th Street NW). While you’re there, pick up the 5th Anniversary magazine for the discounted price of $25. On Friday and Saturday, the gallery is open between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Free.
PARTY: Brightest Young Things is taking over the Newseum (555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) yet again. Check out their “A Night at the Newseum II: Way Out Of Line” party for access to exhibits, drinks, DJs, inflatable dinosaurs, caricature artists and more. 8 p.m. $20.
DANCE: See ballet performances from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, The Royal Danish Ballet School, New National Theatre’s Tokyo Young Artists Training Program, and the Julio Bocca Foundation Ballet Argentino School of the Arts at Protégés III at the Kennedy Center (2700 F Street NW). Tonight at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. $19-$60.
FOOD & DRINK: Of Wine & Words, at the Boeing Conference Center (1200 Wilson Blvd., Arlington), is a fundraiser for The Reading Connection, a nonprofit that creates “literacy-rich environments” for at-risk kids. Food will be provided from 10 restaurants, including Liberty Tavern, Willow and Restaurant 3, along with wine from Chateau O’Brien at Northpoint. Carla Hall, of Top Chef fame, will also be in attendance to share her Green Eggs and Ham recipe. VIP Reception at 6:30 p.m., event at 7 p.m. Tickets: $35 for volunteers, $115 for others.
MOVIE: As part of the Environmental Film Festival, National Geographic presents a screening of We Still Live Here, the story of resurrecting an American Indian language, at the Carnegie Institution for Science (1530 P Street NW). 8:30 p.m. Free.
FASHION: Closet Runway struts through Eastern Market’s North Hall (225 7th Street SE) tonight. Doors and shopping opportunities open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 in advance / $20 at the door.
MUSIC: Asobi Seksu, Cults and Sun Airway perform at the Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H Street NE). 8 p.m. $14.
>> The Joy Formidable, Mona and The Lonely Forest play the Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW). 8:30 p.m. $13 advance / $15 doors.
SATURDAY
FESTIVAL: The National Building Museum (401 F Street NW) hosts the National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day, where you can build and decorate a kite for Sunday’s Blossom Kite Festival on the National Mall, make kirigami flowers, see musical and dance performances (from the Shizumi Kodomo Dance Troupe, Washington Ballet, Nen Daiko Taiko Drum Ensemble, and others) and more. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Free.
SWAPS: Trade in clothes you’re tired of for new (to you) wear-ables at the Hillyer Art Space’s (9 Hillyer Court NW) Swap Shop. For each item you bring in, you’ll receive a ticket, which you can exchange for a new article of clothing. Both men and women are welcome. There will also be vintage clothing vendors, who you can buy from at the event. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10.
>> The DC Bike Swap 2011 will be setting up this Saturday at Lamont Plaza (Mount Pleasant and Lamont Streets NW). Attendees are encouraged to bring “bikes, tools, parts, accessories, bike art, food, books, movies,” etc. Volunteer bike mechanics will also be on hand to offer advice and help. 12 p.m.-2 p.m.
FOOD & DRINK: Take Chef Bob McGuire’s “Cherry Blossom Cooking Class” to learn how to make dishes (like duck confit with wild-cherry gyoza) from TenPenh’s (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) Cherry Blossom Tasting Menu. The best part? After the class, you get to eat, with sake and wine pairings. Make a reservation by emailing Jillian Zins at or calling (202) 408-0201. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $75.
ART: In response to recent censorship of artwork by the Smithsonian Institution, the Corcoran (500 17th Street NW) is holding a day-long panel presentation on Culture Wars: Then and Now. Curators and speakers will discuss the history of censorship in America, artists’ responses to censorship, and free speech and arts funding. 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Free.
>> Learn how to be an artist and still make a living at the Washington Sculptor Group’s Mini Boot Camp workshop at Georgetown Library (3260 R Street NW). Artist Sharon Louden will explain working with galleries, applying for grants, finding jobs in the arts, creating a portfolio, and more. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Free, but RSVP.
BOOKS: Sarah Vowell, author, former editor of This American Life, and voice of Violet in The Incredibles (fun fact!), comes to Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Avenue NW) to discuss her new book Unfamiliar Fishes, which tells the history of Hawaii before it was a part of the U.S. 6 p.m.
MUSIC: Help support 826DC, a nonprofit we’re a fan of for their work teaching writing skills to kids, at a benefit concert Saturday at St. Stephens Church (1525 Newton Street NW) featuring Tereu Tereu, The Caribbean and Carol Bui. 8 p.m. $8.
>> U Street Music Hall (1115 U Street NW) is hosting a Japan Relief Fundraiser this Saturday, with music from DJ Tittsworth, Reed vs Reed and Uncle Jesse. 100 percent of ticket sales will be donated to the Red Cross. 10 p.m. $10.
>> Gerald Watson and DJ 2-Tone Jones’ mixtape project “SHAOLIN JAZZ – The 37th Chamber” is a jazz reworking of Wu Tang Clan’s 1994 hip hop album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Come out for a listening party at Palace 5ive (2220 14th Street NW). There will be free Heineken, Chairman’s Reserve and Vitamin Water. 9-11 p.m. Free.
>> Jil Aigrot presents “An Evening of French Song,” performing the songs of Edith Piaf, Josephine Baker, Charles Aznavour and others at G.W.’s Lisner Auditorium (730 21st Street NW). 8 p.m. $25-$45.
SUNDAY:
FESTIVAL: The 44th annual kite festival on the National Mall has changed its name from the Smithsonian Kite Festival to the Blossom Kite Festival this year. Come fly your kite, or just come watch kite flying skills in the Hot Tricks Showdown (2 p.m.) and an airborne competition in the Rokkaku Battle (3 p.m.). 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.
SHOPPING: The Very Cherry AdMo Pop Up Shop (2421 18th Street NW) opens this Sunday and will be selling art, photography, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, accessories and hosting events through April 10th. There will be a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. along with a Japanese Shishi dog, Kabuki dance, and origami demo. 12 p.m. -9 p.m. Free.
FOOD & DRINK: Catch the March Madness Cupcake Face-Off at Red, White & Bleu (127 South Washington Street, Falls Church) wine and food shop, where five cupcakes will go head-to-head in pairings with five wines and five beers, to see which combination is best. You must make reservations — call (703) 533-9463, to attend. Bakers will compete at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. $20.
SPORTS: It’s double the DC Roller Girls competition this Sunday, with DCRG All-Stars taking on the Maine All-Stars followed by the DC DemonCats vs. Scare Force One, all at the D.C. Armory (2001 E. Capitol Street SE). The event will also collect funds for Japan Relief, via the Red Cross. 4 p.m. $12.
MOVIE: See the Reel Portraits: Katharine Graham Double Feature of His Girl Friday (1 p.m.) and All the President’s Men (3 p.m.) at the National Portrait Gallery (Eighth and F Streets NW). Preceding the films, you’ll hear from historian Amy Henderson. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Free.
>> The National Gallery of Art (4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW) presents Ciné-Concert: Art in Motion!, a screening of 15 abstract short films from 1924 through 2011 presented along with live music from Andrew Simpson on piano and Barry Dove playing percussion. Artist Sharon Louden will be on hand to describe her digital work, which is part of the screening. 5 p.m. Free.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Washington Photo Safari is offering a photography workshop that will benefit the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund. You’ll meet up with photographer instructors at Lafayette Park (1600 H Street NW), and make stops at the White House, American Red Cross Building, the Red Cross Memorial and elsewhere, learning techniques as you go. 8:30 a.m. $100.
MUSIC: If you missed Asobi Seksu at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Friday, head to the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage (2700 F Street NW) on Sunday for a free performance. 6 p.m.
>> Comet Ping Pong (5037 Connecticut Avenue NW) hosts Wild Yaks, Lil Daggers, Jacuzzi Boys, JEFF the Brotherhood, and Fergus & Geronimo. 8 p.m. $10.
>> Typefighter performs at the Red Palace (1210 H Street NE). 8:30 p.m. $8.
