Photo by Michael J.
FRIDAY
ROCK OPERA: The Baltimore Rock Opera Society presents Gründlehämmer at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N Union Street, Alexandria, Va) tonight through Sunday. “A boy. A king. A monster. A mythical guitar to unite them.” 8 p.m. Tickets: $20. —Lis Grant
DANCE: Golden era hip-hop is on the agenda for “Close 2 the Edge” at the Black Cat (1811 14th Street NW). DJs Dredd and Quartermaine will be spinning hip-hop and dance track from the late 1980s through mid-90s. 10 p.m. $8. —W Jacarl Melton
MUSIC: If you feel so inclined to trek over to the CD Cellar in Arlington, there’s a pretty great show happening tonight. Party-core garage rockers Dudes are headlining, with openers Blizzard Babies from Chicago, and D.C.’s jangle pop rockers Brnda. $8 suggested donation. Show starts at 8 p.m. CD Cellar is located at 2607 Wilson Boulevard in Arlington. — Matt Cohen
SATURDAY
FILM: Attention ’90s kids: The AFI Silver is showing a free screening of The Sandlot at 11:15 a.m. Come get nostalgic and watch what’s perhaps the greatest kids movie about baseball ever. You know, the one about The Great Bambi, that wimpy deer. — Matt Cohen
DANCE SOME MORE: The Cherry Blast: Art + Music Dance Party will take place at Blind Whino (734 1st Street SW) from 7 p.m. to midnight. For $15, dance to music provided by live bands and DJs, “including DJ Native Sun, DJ Ayescold, Congo Sanchez , Honest Haloway and Nappy Riddem.” Must be at least 21-years-old to enter.
ANOTHER FILM: This weekend, the Environmental Film Festival presents the latest documentary from Harvard University’s Sensory Ethnography Lab (SEL), who produced last year’s stunning Leviathan. That film used GoPro cameras in an immersive, disorienting seascape that boldly opened up the visual language of documentary filmmaking. SEL’s latest effort, Manakamana, is a decidedly mellower analogue effort that’s mesmerizing in its own way. Directors Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez documented pilgrims travelling by cable car to and from Nepal’s Manakamana temple. Shot in real time, using the entire eleven-minute length of a 16mm magazine for each journey, Manakamana is a series of moving portraits of technology and faith. 4:30 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art. Free. —Pat Padua
HUNT: The Great Urban Race comes to D.C. with quite a price tag: $60 if you buy a ticket before 5 p.m. today, $75 if you don’t. But for the price, you’ll be able to hunt around the city for clues over the span of several hours. Plus you get a t-shirt and an alcoholic beverage! Nick’s Riverside Grill (3050 K Street NW) serves as HQ. 11 a.m.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Photographer Michael K. Wilkinson’s “DC Lo-Fi” closes with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m. Wilkinson “seeks to capitalize on two points of familiarity to many city residents: urban vignettes focused on the disappearing signs of an ever-aging yet ever-changing city, and the ubiquitous square format of Instagram with its instantly recognizable filters. Presented on high-gloss metal panels ranging in size from 12×12 to 30×30 inches, the show bridges the gap gorgeously between the ephemeral ‘social-digital’ format and the permanence of a piece of art on the walls.” At the Anacostia Arts Center (1231 Good Hope Road SE). Free.
SUNDAY
LET’S GO FLY A KITE: Originally scheduled for Saturday, the Blossom Kite Festival will take place on Sunday instead. “Sunday’s festival, a variety of competitions and demonstrations of all things kite flying-related, will kick off at 10:30 a.m. on the Washington Monument grounds, between Constitution Avenue and 17th Street NW, and extend until 4:30 p.m. If the weather doesn’t cooperate—right now the National Weather Service says there’s a 60 percent chance of rain showers before 1 p.m.—it could be pushed back again.” —Matt Cohen
EDIT: The National Museum of Women in the Arts will hold their second annual Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon from 10 to 5 p.m. to improve “entries related to notable women artists and art world figures. Bring your laptop and photo ID to NMWA or participate and join the conversation virtually. Use the hashtag #wia14 as you tweet about the event!” Reservation required.
PING PONG: 826DC is hosting a fundraiser in the form a bracket-style ping-pong tournament at U Street Music Hall. After a month of fundraising, Paddlestar Galactica contenders will square off beginning at 1 p.m. Event is free for spectators and they’re encouraged to come and cheer on the teams. — Matt Cohen
