Photo by Jim Havard.
FRIDAY
THEATER: “It’s hardly unusual at this point to see some piece of popular horror adapted into a musical. The latest contender from Alliance for New Music-Theatre find’s Kafka’s Metamorphosis as fodder for a musical dark comedy. Ten performances are going up at Woolly (641 D Street NW) in partnership with the Embassy of the Czech Republic. Runs September 10th-21st. Tickets $30.” 8 p.m. —Riley Croghan
ART: Vivid Solutions Gallery (1231 Good Hope Road SE) will hold an opening reception for photographer Jared Soares’s The Farms, which documents the basketball courts at the Barry Farm public housing project. 6 to 9 p.m.
FILM: The series, “Directed by Ken Russell,” presented by the Library of Congress in association with DCist and Brightest Young Things, continues this week with Russell’s lush 1970 film about composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Music Lovers. The director pitched his film to the studio as as ‘the marriage of a homosexual and a nymphomaniac,’ but that sensationalism introduced the composer’s music to a legion of new fans. Starring Richard Chamberlain as Tchaikovsky and Glenda Jackson as Antonina Milyukova. Hosted by Music Division staff member and DCist’s chief film critic, yours truly. All films will be shown in the Mary Pickford Theater, third floor of the Library of Congress’ James Madison Building (101 Independence Avenue SE). Doors open 30 minutes before screening. Seating is very limited, but standbys are encouraged to line up starting at 6:30 p.m. In the likely event of a sellout, available seats will be released to standbys five minutes before show time. For information, call 202-707-5502. Note: the film will be projected from a DVD.” —Pat Padua
ANNIVERSARY PARTY: The Black Cat turns 21! Though this year’s party isn’t nearly as stacked as the weekend-long 20th anniversary party last year, staff bands and DJs (including yours truly) will be performing on the main stage all night. Citadel, Spoonboy, and Booze Riot perform (along with a special guest you’ll want to see), but the best part? Half-off booze all night. $10, doors at 9 p.m. — Matt Cohen
COMIX SIGNING: Ahead of tomorrow’s Small Press Expo, renown comic book artists MariNaomi, Yumi Sakugawa, James Kochalka, and Box Brown will be reading and signing new work at Big Planet Comics in College Park, Md. (7315 Baltimore Avenue). Free and starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
SATURDAY
CELEBRATION: The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place SE) is celebrating its 47th anniversary with an end-of-the-summer festival featuring “live entertainment, storytelling, face painting, balloon art, arts & crafts activities, food trucks, a vendor’s marketplace and tours of the current exhibitions.” Local businesswoman Juanita Britton will receive a community service award. Read out profile of her here. Free shuttle from the Anacostia Metro station. Noon to 4 p.m.
BEER: Taste over 250 beers at this year’s Snallygaster at Yards Park ( 355 Water Street SE). “The festival’s intimidatingly huge selection of brews is curated by Greg Engert — beer director of Churchkey, Birch and Barley, and Bluejacket — and maintains some seasonal approach that speaks to the festival’s birth from an Oktoberfest event held at Rustico in Alexandria,” as DCist contributor Juana Summers wrote in her preview. Read it here. Tickets $30. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
FOOD: “Journey over to Georgetown (K Street NW between Wisconsin Avenue and Thomas Jefferson Street) for the 21st annual Taste of Georgetown. The event, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., will feature tastings from over 35 Georgetown restaurants, plus an Iron Chef-inspired cooking competition and a Baked & Wired “cakecup” eating competition. Tickets are $5 a tasting, or you can buy a group of tickets online.”—Elizabeth Packer
FESTIVAL: More than 200 artists take over Alexandria, Va. for the King Street Art Festival (Washington Street to the Potomac River waterfront), which takes place on both Saturday (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). “At this community festival, art enthusiasts discover spectacular paintings, life-size sculptures, jewelry, photography, ceramics and more, offering extraordinary art for every taste. More than $15 million in art will be on display, providing visitors with the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind wares and meet the artists behind the work, hearing firsthand what inspires them.” The Art League will once again host its Ice Cream Bowl Fundraiser ($15 for a handmade bowl and a scoop of Artfully Chocolate), and the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 North Union Street) will present an ice carving demonstration on Saturday.
SMALL PRESS EXPO: It’s back! The long-running independent comic book, graphic novel, and zine convention returns to the Bethesda North Marriott this weekend. Small Press Expo is easily the best comic book convention in the region, with a terrific lineup of independent publishers, writers, and artists. This year’s impressive lineup of guests includes Lynda Barry, Charles Burns, James Sturm, Jules Pfeiffer, and a lot more. The expo runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and noon to 6 p.m. Info/tickets/everything can be found here. — Matt Cohen
SUNDAY
ANOTHER FESTIVAL: The long-running Adams Morgan Day (18th Street NW between Columbia Road and Florida Avenue) will once again feature live music, food, craft vendors, local businesses and a dance plaza. Noon to 7 p.m.
PIG ROAST: Osteria Morini (301 Water Street SE) will host a pig roast to benefit the D.C. non-profit Brainfood. “In addition to the centerpiece of whole roasted suckling pig, Executive Chef Matt Adler is also planning a table replete with platters of the restaurant’s popular Battilardo de Affettati (cheese and charcuterie board), meatballs, salads and summer corn. Pastry Chef Alex Levin will stock the dessert table with a selection of housemade gelato sandwiches.” A $75 ticket will get you unlimited food and drink, while $50 will cover just food. Noon to 4 p.m.
TOUR: The self-guided Kalorama House and Embassy Tour gives you access to some historic properties including the Embassy of Slovenia, the Embassy of Latvia, the Cultural Center of the Korean Embassy, the Ambassadorial Residence of Egypt, the Embassy of Luxembourg, the Embassy of Croatia and a private residence at 2346 S Street NW. Proceeds benefit the President Woodrow Wilson House (2340 S Street NW), which is also open to ticket-holders. Day-of tickets can be purchased for $40 at the President Woodrow Wilson House beginning at 11 a.m. Tours take place from noon to 5 p.m. Email Allyson Saca with questions.
