Photo by Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie.FUNDRAISER: Residents of Cathedral Court Condominium are hosting a happy hour fundraiser for the Washington National Cathedral, which has stumbled upon some fairly rough times of late. The group will be collecting donations for repairs to the Cathedral at Cactus Cantina (3300 Wisconsin Avenue NW) tonight. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
SPORTS: It’s quite rainy, but those of you looking for a good deal on baseball are in luck. The Nationals are offering Matinee Doubleheader Thursday: a $2 ticket gets you admission to both today’s matinee (already getting under way) and tonight’s makeup game. There are also $2 hot dogs and $5 beers all day at Nationals Park. Get your tickets at the Nats Park box office.
THEATER: MetroStage (1201 North Royal Street, Alexandria) opens Savage in Limbo tonight, a play set in a seedy Bronx bar. 8 p.m. Tickets: $45.
FILM: Tonight is the first night of the DC Shorts Film Festival, the popular showcase for short films from around the world, which is now in its eighth year. The festival will screen145 films from 23 countries in 11 days, beginning tonight with screenings at E Street (555 11th Street NW) and the Artisphere (1101 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington).
>> If features are more your scene, check out a screening of the documentary Lunch Line, which examines issues surrounding hunger and school lunch reform, at the National Archives’ William G. McGowan Theater. Following the film will be a panel discussion featuring Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, nutritionist Dr.
Margo Wootan and filmmaker Michael Graziano. Seating is on a first come, first served basis at the Special Events Doors on 7th Street and Constitution Avenue. 7:00 p.m.
MUSIC: A lackluster sophomore record may have dampened the buzz around Vivian Girls, but the trio has bounced back with a solid third album, material from which you can hear tonight at the Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H Street NE).Widowspeak opens. $10. 8:30 p.m.
>> Frenchman Sergent Garcia burst onto the European music scene in the late ’90s with a blend of reggae, dancehall and salsa that he dubbed “Salsamuffin.” He is currently touring the U.S. and will be at the Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW) on Thursday. 8 p.m. doors. $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
>> The 9:30 Club (815 V Street NW) stage hosts Ghostland Observatory. $27.50. 7 p.m.
>> At DC9 (1940 9th Street NW), take in sets from Braids and Pepper Rabbit. $10. 8:30 p.m.
JAZZ: Luke Stewart, the free jazz editor at CapitalBop, also leads the OOO Trio, who will open for saxophonist Matt Parker and his experimental group at the Red Door (443 I Street NW). 8 p.m. $10.
TALK: D.C. Office of Planning director Harriet Tregoning features at a panel discussion on big box retail in Washington — yes, that includes Walmart — at the National Building Museum (401 F Street NW) this evening. $20 for the public, $12 for members, free for students with ID. 6:30 p.m.
ART: Spend An Evening With Chris Martin at the Corcoran Gallery of Art (500 17th Street NW) for a talk about the inspiration and process behind his current show Chris Martin: Painting Big, on display through October. Tickets for non-members are $15.
>> The 2nd Thursday Art Night: Fall for the Arts opens tonight at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 North Union Street, Alexandria) with open studios, artist talks, and receptions for Target Gallery‘s 2011 Open Exhibition Winner So Yoon Lym’s solo show, The Dreamtime, at 6 p.m., Shanthi Chandrasekar’s Red Dots and the All-Media Membership Show at The Art League Gallery at 6:30 p.m., and work from summer session students in Summer’s Tide beginning at 6 p.m.
>> There’s a ton more art to take in tonight — just check out our Arts Agenda for the full scoop.
FASHION: Fashion’s Night Out comes back to Georgetown this evening, featuring 85 participating stores in what is “the largest FNO celebration in the region.”
FOOD & DRINK: The Cajun Experience (1825 18th Street NW) is the place to be if you’re a New Orleans Saints fan (or just dig some free pub food); in honor of tonight’s NFL opener, the Adams Morgan bar will offer free hors d’ouerves from 6-8 p.m. and beer prices will go down $1 every time the Saints score.
