Photo by yostinator.FRIDAY:
HAPPY HOUR: Stop by the Beer for Backpacks happy hour at Iron Horse (507 7th Street NW) tonight, where a $10 suggested donation helps The Perry Center buy backpacks and school supplies for D.C. students and gets you a free pint of Goose Island Summer Ale. 5-8 p.m.
DOGS: It’s Dog Night at the Yards Park (4th and Water Street SE) Friday Evening Concert series. Listen to the R&B/Funk band Signature while your pup munches on free dog treats from Chateau Animaux. 6-8 p.m. Free.
COMEDY: Start your weekend with some laughs at the Don’t Block the Box Comedy Hour, featuring comedians Jimmy Meritt, Andy Kline, Mike Larrick, Evan Valentine and Reggie Melbrough, tonight at Wonderland Ballroom (1101 Kenyon Street NW). 7 p.m. $3.
MUSIC: Help support budding musicians at the Girls Rock! DC benefit at Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW). Blackberry Belles, Ugly, and Spoonboy & The Papas will perform. 9 p.m. $10.
>> See your other music options for tonight in the Weekly Music Agenda.
MOVIE: Grab your toga and head to the Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival’s (Gateway Park, base of Key Bridge, 1300 Lee Highway, Arlington) screening of Animal House tonight. Dusk. Free.
OPEN MIC: The mic is yours tonight at the Shirlington Busboys and Poets (4251 South Campbell Avenue, Arlington), to perform your music, poetry, stand-up comedy, magic, dance and other talents. The evening will start off with music from Ryan Walker of The Beanstalk Library, followed by open mic sign-up at 10 p.m., and the show continues til midnight. $5.
TV: The Discovery Channel kicks off Shark Week from the safety of land at a community screening of Great White Invasion at Veterans Plaza by the Silver Spring Civic Building (One Veterans Place, Silver Spring) tonight. They’ll be Shark Week swag giveaways, free beverages from Vitaminwater and more. 8:30 p.m. Free.
ART: Video art projections, DJs and live bands converge for Summerscream! at Comet Ping Pong (5037 Connecticut Avenue NW) tonight, from Civilian Art Projects and Sasha Lord. 10:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. $10.
SATURDAY:
POOL: Pair that mustache and ironic tee with your swimmies, Brightest Young Things is throwing a Hipster Camp pool party at Capitol Skyline Hotel (10 I Street SW). $15 entrance fee includes a burger. 12-8 p.m.
ART: The Corcoran Gallery of Art’s Free Summer Saturdays continue this weekend with Break It Down Like James Brown, an afternoon dance party celebrating the Chris Martin: Painting Big exhibit. 1-3 p.m. Free.
SHARKS: The National Aquarium (1401 Constitution Avenue NW) is getting on the shark bandwagon with a Shark Weekend, featuring talks on the “history, lives, and habits” of numerous shark species and shark-related activities, including a scavenger hunt and arts and crafts. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $10 for adults, $5 for kids.
FOOD & DRINK: City Blossoms is throwing a Basil Bonanza potluck and contest at the Marion Street Intergenerational Garden (1517 Marion Street NW) this Saturday. Bring a basil-themed dish to share (should feed 5-10 people) and a copy of the recipe, and stay after for a film from Banished? Productions. The potluck goes from 7:30-9 p.m., followed by the film at 9 p.m. $10-$20 suggested donation for the film.
>> Bottomless tequila is either awesome or terrifying. Decide for yourself at El Centro D.F.’s (1819 14th Street NW) Bottomless Tequila Brunch, featuring tacos, Mexican small plates and unending cocktails. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. All you can eat and drink for $35 (plus tax and tip).
>> Attend a cocktail demonstration by sommelier David Kurka and manager Pamela Doherty at the Butcher’s Block (1600 King Street, Alexandria) to learn about different summer cocktails, including the Reverse Martini (Dolin Dry Vermouth, Hendricks Gin, Muddled Cucumber, Celery Bitters), Cardamaro Manhattan (Russell’s Reserve Rye Whiskey, Cardamaro, Dolin Rouge Vermouth, Fee Brother’s Whiskey Barrel Bitters), and the Blanco Negroni (Cocchi Apertivo Americano, Dolin Blanco Vermouth, Plymouth Gin, Angostura Orange Bitters). After the demo, you can purchase the cocktails, or the vermouth and bitters to take home and recreate them yourself. 2-4 p.m.
>> Flying Dog is now old enough to drink! Help them celebrate their 21st birthday during a party at the Alexandria Rustico (827 Slaters Lane, Alexandria) this Saturday. 7 p.m. Free admission, beer priced individually.
MOVIE: The Bethesda Outdoor Movie series (Woodmont Triangle, corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues) concludes Saturday with The Social Network. 9 p.m. Free.
>> AFI Silver Theatre’s (8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring) Totally Awesome ’80s movie series continues this weekend with Time Bandits (9:45 p.m.) and Altered States (midnight). $11 each.
FESTIVAL: Acrobats, dancers, gymnasts, contortionists and others converge on F Street NW (between 7th and 9th Streets) Saturday to perform and promote wellness at the Total Body Health Fair and Festival. 12-6 p.m. Free.
MAGAZINE: DC Zinefest are bringing a zine expo, showcasing the work of writers, artists and D.C. zine creators, to St. Stephens Church (1525 Newton Street NW). 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Free.
GAMES: You’ve had years to master games like Twister, Uno, Taboo, Scattegories, Jenga, Pictionary, Candyland, Table Hockey and more. On Saturday, you have the chance to show off your dice-rolling, card-flipping, and wordsmithing skills and compete with other kids-at-heart at Sheraton National Hotel’s (900 South Orme Street, Arlington) Recess Game Night and Ice Cream Social. 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. $5.
BURLESQUE: All this heat getting you down? Boost your spirits with the Summertime Blues Burlesque Show at Red Palace (1212 H Street NE). 9:30 p.m. $12 in advance, $15 day of.
MUSIC: Catch The Cornel West Theory, who blend jazz, spoken word and hip-hop, at the U Street Music Hall (1115A U Street NW). Kokayi, Gods’Illa, and D.J. Underdog also perform. 7 p.m. $10.
>> Rock out to some cover bands while you help raise money for Fort Reno at the Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW). 8 p.m. $10.
SUNDAY
FOOD & DRINK: Learn the History of the Martini at the Red Palace (1212 H Street NE) Tall Tales cocktail class. 8 p.m. $25 admission includes 3 cocktails.
FESTIVAL: Head to Downtown Silver Spring (916 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring) for the Big Cherry Block Party featuring Japanese entertainment, activities, arts and crafts, and more. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.
TV: Redline (707 G Street NW) kicks off its new “Entourage Sundays” this weekend, where they’ll project the HBO show on an 11-foot screen and offer food and drink specials. They’ll also be showing the latest episode of True Blood. 9-11 p.m.
MUSIC: Two huge names in country and pop are in town this Sunday. Dolly Parton performs at Wolf Trap (8 p.m., $35 lawn, $60 seats) and Britney Spears comes to the Verizon Center (7 p.m., $25-$350).
