Photo by Dan Lawrence 62.
Virgin Mobile’s FreeFest is sold out, but there’s still plenty to do in and around D.C. this weekend.
FRIDAY
MOVIE: Outdoor move night in Lamont Park continues with Bend It Like Beckham. “Food and drink specials available from local businesses, including specials from Radius Pizza (calzones, pizza & popcorn), and the Fojol Bros. of Merlindia food truck.” 7:15-9:30 p.m. Free.
JAZZ: We here at DCist don’t try to hide the fact that Cassandra Wilson is our favorite jazz vocalist working today. She employs her smokey voice with the technique of a highly schooled jazz singer without losing the deep rooted blues of her native Mississippi. Wilson will be at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club on Friday and Saturday for 8 p.m. sets. Tickets $50 plus food and drink minimum. — Sriram Gopal
DANCE: Sivam, Inc. will present Utsav: A Celebration of India’s Maestros of Music & Dance tonight at the Kennedy Center’s (2700 F Street NW) Terrace Theater. “This Kathak dance performance features Aditi Mangaldas, one of India’s prominent classical dance exponents.” Through Sunday. 7:30 p.m. Ticket are $35.
SATURDAY
FESTIVAL: Ten blocks of H Street NE will be shut down on Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. for the corridor’s annual festival. “The festival will feature over 50 artists and 80 performances on 10 stages accompanied by an array of local, regional and international cuisine, shopping, arts exhibits, educational events, seminars and conversations with local entrepreneurs, artists and community organizations.” This includes a water ice eating contest from Steak & Ice and a half-smoke eating contest from Ben’s Chili Bowl. Free. From the 400 block to the 1400 block of H Street NE.
DOG DAY: The Congressional Cemetery ( 1801 E Street SE) will host the Day of the Dog festival “to celebrate everything we love about dogs. We’ll have activities for both people and their pups, including contests, games, demonstrations and much more. Local pet vendors and services will also be present, as well as pet adoption agencies and shelters with dogs and cats ready for adoption.” Resuce organizations who will be present include the Washington Animal Rescue League, Washington Humane Society, Rural Dog Rescue, Lucky Dog Rescue and D.C. Shiba Inu Rescue. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WIENER RACE: Oktoberfest celebrations will kickoff with dozens of tiny, hot dog-shaped dogs racing against each other in the second annual Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash for Charity. Sponsored in part by On Tap magazine, the free event will also feature dachshunds going up against each other in categories such as best trick, best pair, and best costume. If you have a wiener dog, you can enter it in the race for $20, with all entry fees donated to the Washington Humane Society. Space is limited to 96 and, according to the release, it sold out last year. 1-4 p.m. — Matt Cohen
VIEW FLUGTAG: Red Bull’s Flugtag at the National Harbor, where competitors will attempt to fly homemade planes, is sold out. But Smith Commons (1245 H Street NE) will hold a viewing party during the H Street Festival. Noon-7 p.m.
MUSIC: In case you were unaware, Union Kitchen—a communal culinary warehouse space in NoMa—has a vacant lot next to it. But instead of building on the lot, the owners decided to keep it as is and throw outdoor events there every weekend, because they are cool like that. As such, The Lot at Union Kitchen hosts free outdoor concerts every weekend, showcasing the best local talent as well as some touring bands rolling through town. This weekend, local psychedelic blues-rockers Paperhaus were supposed to headline, along with NYC noise-pop acts Starlight Girls and Zula. The weather is supposed to be kind of shitty that night, so the show’s been moved to a DIY space at 906 H Street NE. 5 p.m. Free. — Matt Cohen
SUNDAY
FESTIVAL: Cambodian Community Day will be held at Ben Brenman Park (4800 Brenman Park Drive, Alexandria, Va.) and will feature a “Yee Ke Mak Theung show, artistic performances/classical dances, arts and crafts exhibit, traditional games, children activities, live band and food and refreshment for sale.”11 a.m.-6 p.m.
FOOD & DRINK: Get tipsy with your pooch at the Pups and Pilsners festival in Crystal City (1405 Crystal Drive on the Crystal Drive Northern Green). “This dog-friendly festival features a massive beer garden with ten stations – each with a different craft brew, including offerings from local breweries. Crystal City restaurants will serve up food to satisfy appetites.” Festival admission free. Tickets $20 for booze.
MORE FOOD & DRINK: Zaytinya (701 9th Street NW) will host its Third Annual Grape Festival beginning Sunday through October 5. “This is third consecutive year that Zaytinya is raising glasses to the most cherished fruit of Mediterranean cuisine with many variations of this respected harvest through wine tasting events, dinners, a grape-inspired menu and a handcrafted specialty cocktail.” On Sunday, head chef Michael Costa will create a winner dinner “featuring wines from the famed producer Ktima Pavlidis of northern Greece.” $75 per person plus tax and gratuity.
RUN: If you’re going for a run, why not do it for a good cause? Run or walk in the Stop Cancer Now 5K along Georgetown’s C&O Canal Trail. Join other participants, create a team, or participate virtually, with all proceeds going to the Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund’s hotline and research. Sign in by 9:45 a.m., race starts at 10 a.m. $25 registration. If you register by Saturday night, $15 for DCist readers with code “run”. — Nicole Dubowitz
