(Photo by Joe Newman)
It’s a super weekend packed with nerdy, adventurous, and gluttonous things for you to do!
FRIDAY, JUNE 16
NERDFEST: Want to meet Wonder Woman? There will probably be more than a few people dressed as the superhero at Awesome Con, Washington, D.C.’s comic con. The three-day-long celebration of geek culture is the time to get down with your nerdy self and dive into a world of comic books, cosplay, sci-fi, anime, gaming, and more. There will be big names in nerdom in attendance, including director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), Tenth Doctor Who David Tennant, and Marvel Comics man Stan Lee. This year, organizers are partnering with the Smithsonian to present Future Con, a science and future-themed event held as part of Awesome Con. (Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 12-8 p.m. $35-379)
EXPLORE: Have you ever wanted to explore a museum after hours? You’ll get your chance Friday night at Brightest Young Things & National Geographic’s Excellent Adventure. The 21+ event will feature all night access to the museum, music, a live performance by Oddisee, drinks, talks with Nat Geo explorers, photo booths, and more. Early bird tickets are gone and the event has sold out for seven years in a row, so hop on it. (National Geographic Museum, 8 p.m. $35)
SOURCE: Got a minute? How about 10? The Source Festival is in full swing, bringing its popular 10-Minute Plays to an attention-challenged theatergoer near you! Just kidding. Whether you usually find yourself itching for intermission or are perfectly content in the most epic of productions, you’ll be entertained and challenged with Best Of: 6 Ten Minute Plays. These are some of the best super short plays from the past decade, and the topics are a real mix. Read more DCist coverage of the 10th annual Source Festival. (Source, 8 p.m. $15-32)
Get your fill of delicious BBQ at the annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival. (Photo by La Tur)
SATURDAY, JUNE 17
BLUES IN THE ‘BURBS: The 9th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival is this Saturday, bringing back a beloved all-day block party. The day starts with acoustic sets, then you’ll hear live performances by the Reggie Wayne Morris Band, Moxie Blues Band, and Deb Callahan. The night ends with the Silver Spring Blues All-Stars Jam. There are multiple stages and a full line-up of musicians, so come through and check it out. (Downtown Silver Spring, 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. FREE)
REJOICE: Imagine being a slave and finding out, suddenly, that you’re finally free. You probably can’t imagine how that felt (I can’t), but you can understand why on June 19th, 1865, former slaves took to the streets to rejoice when they heard the news that the Civil War had ended. That emancipation day is known as Juneteenth, and you can celebrate it at a family-friendly event this Saturday. There will be live entertainment, genealogy workshops, activities for kids, exhibits, and historical interpretation. (Walker Mill Regional Park, 12-5 p.m. FREE)
BEER, BOURBON & BBQ: What goes better with BBQ than a cold beer? Follow it up with a strong yet sweet bourbon, and you’re in business. Come be a little gluttonous and a lot tipsy at the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival. You’ll get your fill of unlimited tastings as you lick the BBQ sauce from your fingers. Then dance it all off or just sway to the live bluegrass and rock music. You can also learn a few things in seminars with master distillers, brewmasters, and pit masters from the Deep South. (The Plateau at National Harbor, 2-6 p.m. $39)
JFK100: Three Smithsonian museums are presenting a series of events this summer in celebration of the centennial of President John F. Kennedy’s birth. With the goal of engaging a variety of audiences in the American experience, history, art, and culture, the National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of American History and Smithsonian American Art Museum will be hosting events through July 1. America Now: JFK 100 kicks off Saturday night with a free concert headlined by singer-songwriters Citizen Cope and Alice Smith. Check out the NPG’s “Struggle for Justice” exhibit, hear a commissioned song honoring JFK’s ideals of justice and freedom, check out interactive art, and snoop around the museum during a scavenger hunt. (The National Portrait Gallery’s Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard, 5:30-8:30 p.m. FREE)
REGGAESQUE: Get closer to the sun and reminisce on your high school mix tapes at Wolf Trap, where Slightly Stoopid will stop on its Sounds of Summer Tour. This San Diego band sounds a bit like Sublime, which is just fine with us. Come get all the chill vibes. Iration, J Boog, and The Movement will also perform. (Wolf Trap, 7 p.m. $40-55)
LAUGH TO KEEP FROM CRYING: The Second City returns to The Kennedy Center with The Second City’s Almost Accurate Guide to America: Divided We Stand. As DCist reported earlier this week, the show “will poke fun at the issues facing the many different Americas—hopefully closing the gap, joke by joke.” (The Kennedy Center, 8 p.m. $49 – $69)
HAHAHA: It’s a face-off of the funny people. The tournament Comedy Kumite X features eight comedians from the DMV, who match up in five-minute-long sets. Who will the audience choose to advance? You can be part of the decision, and spend Saturday night laughing your butt off. This edition of Comedy Kumite X features Nick Hopping, Kandace Saunders, Brittany Carney, Benjy Himmelfarb, Tommy Sinbazo, Mike Brown, Ahmed Vallejos, and Shahryar. (DC Improv, 9:45 p.m. $17)
More: Adventure Hunt, The Biggest 90s Party Ever, Hamiltunes DC: Summer In The City & Costume Contest
(Photo by Mr.TinDC)
SUNDAY, JUNE 18
HI, DAD: Just a friendly reminder that this Sunday is Father’s Day. Call your dad. Take him out for brunch (or golfing, or something on this list, whatever). Laugh at his jokes.
JAZZ: DC JazzFest continues this weekend with three days of concerts at the Yards. Sunday’s line-up features Gregory Porter, Black Violin, Youngjoo Song Septet, Sarah Elizabeth Charles & Scope. Quick note: Friday’s performances are FREE. (The Yards, 2-9:30 p.m. $49-150)
CULTURE SAMPLER: After a big meal, most people don’t want to move around too much. So let’s flip the script here and bring both the travel and the food to you. The Around The World Cultural Food Festival returns to the grounds of the Washington Monument this Saturday and Sunday. Purchase plates of delicacies from more than 30 countries and see performances of traditional dance and music, too. You’ll even learn a few moves. Each country is represented by only one restaurant, so there will be a diverse and selective offering for your globe-trotting tummy. (National Mall, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. FREE)
JERK: Come to a Caribbean culinary festival and beat the heat with spicy food. The Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival will serve up jerk chicken, pork, fish, shrimp, lobster, and even jerk ice cream. Enjoy what you’re tasting? Watch a cooking demonstration to learn a few tips, then embrace your sweaty self and dance to reggae, soca, and classic hits at this all-day event featuring performances by Tarrus Riley, Romain Virgo, Queen Ifrica, Bunji Garlin, and Fay Ann Lyons. (RFK Stadium, 12-8 p.m. $25-125)
WONDER WOMAN: Go ahead. Go full nerd and see a superhero blockbuster at a Smithsonian museum. This Sci-Fi Sunday, see Wonder Woman in 3D. The film tells the story of a warrior princess who leaves her sheltered island paradise to save the world. People are loving it. (Air and Space Museum and Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center, Various times, $15)
