Happy National Tequila Day. (Photo courtesy of El Tamarindo)
Celebrate National Tequila Day, enjoy a play rehearsed for only 12 hours prior, revel in some non-divisive stand-up comedy and more in this roundup of the week’s most intriguing events.
MONDAY, JULY 24
RADICAL: Punk is more than Kurt Cobain and grungy hair. In the case of The Kominas, it’s “weird brown guys in a punk band who are just trying to help themselves feel better.” Their sound blends a wide range of influences: 1977-era hardcore, reggae, Punjabi folk tunes, surf rock, disco, and dub. It’s intense, so check it out in concert. (Kennedy Center Millennium Stage; 6 to 7 p.m.; FREE)
IMBIBE: It’s National Tequila Day, which means…be careful, but go wild. One place to do that is El Tamarindo, where a Don Julio Tequila and DeLeón Tequila tasting is test your tolerance. (El Tamarindo; 6 to 8 p.m.; FREE)
IMPROVISE: It’s hard enough getting into character with weeks of practice for a meaty part in a full-length production of a Shakespeare drama. Now try condensing that whole process into 12 hours or so. Gulp. That’s the premise of Bootleg Shakespeare, which is putting on part two of Henry VI “without a net.” Pray for them. (Folger Theatre; 7:30 to 9:45 p.m.; FREE)
THROWBACK: Hit the Copacabana and say hi to Mandy with a concert from Barry Manilow, one of America’s favorite legacy pop acts. (National Harbor; 7:30 p.m.; $45-$205)
More: Pop Culture Uncovered presents The Potterverse; Marjorie J. Spruill at Politics and Prose; The Heart & Soul of Magic; Monday Morning Yoga
TUESDAY, JULY 25
Art crosses cultures from the East to the West, as with this Japanese calligraphy. (Photo courtesy of Japan Information & Culture Center)
ART FUSION: Japanese avant-garde calligraphy and European and American abstract art don’t seem like they’re intertwined — but they are. A lecture will explain how the two art forms converged in the 1950s and how else these two cultures mix and mingle (not in a jingling beat). (Japan Information & Culture Center; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; FREE)
BOND: In 1978, Detroit Free Press sports columnist Mitch Albom was watching a Nightline piece about a sociology professor diagnosed with ALS when he realized he had been his student at Brandeis years earlier. He took 14 trips to see Morrie Schwartz between then and his death in 1995. Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie fills in what happened in between, and was a runaway success with readers. On the book’s 20th anniversary, Albom will discuss it with CBS anchor Ted Koppel. (Sixth & I; 7 p.m.; $12-$30)
LAUGHTER UNITES: Everyone likes to laugh. But in a country divided along ideological lines, is it possible for everyone to agree on what’s funny? Probably not, but The Second City comedy troupe hopes to try with its 2017 touring show, “Almost Accurate Guide to America: Divided We Stand.” When fake news reigns, “almost accurate” sounds pretty darn appealing. (Kennedy Center; 8 p.m.; $49-$69)
FOR THE SOUL: Okkervil River is a media darling known for marrying rock influences to an intimate, emotionally vulnerable tone. The band has shed members over time, and now it’s a trio, ready to perform an acoustic set in an unusually small venue for a group used to bigger auditoriums. It’s time to get up close and personal. (The Hamilton; 6:30 to 11:30 p.m.; $24.75-$49.75)
More: Georgetown Sunset Cinema: Brooklyn; The King and I at Kennedy Center; Cabaret; Basic Knife Skills; The Beltway Poetry Slam: Pajama Jammie Jam Slam Edition; Jesse Eisinger at Politics and Prose; Adam Novak at Kramerbooks; Tuesday Night Movies at 1905: Roman Holiday
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26
The National Cathedral at night is a sight to behold. (Photo by wolfkann)
TALE NOT NEARLY AS OLD AS TIME: The National Cathedral might seem like it was built generations ago. But in reality, the last stone was put in less than 30 years ago. A tour led by Clift Seferlis will enlighten attendees on the story of Constantine Seferlis, a sculptor and artist who spent 20 years carving the cathedral’s stones, and who happens to be Clift’s father. (National Cathedral; 7 to 9 p.m.; $20)
DON’T EXIT JUST YET: It’s Capital Fringe Festival extension week, and Exit Carolyn is among the shows sticking around for another week. This one is a poignant drama about two young women who try to move on in the aftermath of the death of their roommate. (Caos On F; 7 p.m.; $17 + Fringe button)
STRIVING FOR GREATNESS: Ultimate Frisbee may not be a household name or a sport that merits regular ESPN coverage. But it means a lot to a lot of people, and it’s very competitive. So goes the new book Ultimate Glory by David Gessner, an essayist who quested in his younger years to be one of the world’s great Ultimate players. Spoiler alert: At some point he goes back to writing; he’ll surely explain why during his book talk. (Kramerbooks; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; FREE)
More: Busboys5K; Yoga in the Galleries; Edward Luce at Politics and Prose; The Summer of Sour Series; NoMa Bid presents Wag the Dog; Petworth Citizen discusses The World of Ice and Fire; Movie and a Meal: The Godfather Part II; Drew Magary at East City Bookshop; No Pulp Comedy
THURSDAY, JULY 27
Head to a plant swap if your wares need a refresh. (Photo courtesy of Old City Farm & Guild)
LEAFY GREEN: Plants can get boring, especially when the same ones crowd a front porch or back deck for weeks or months on end. Avid gardeners can bid that problem farewell by swapping their old plant babies for new ones. They’ll also meet fellow gardeners in the process — always fun for two like-minded creatures to spot each other in the wild. (Old City Farm & Guild; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; $5 donation recommended)
KEEP THE GREEN THEME GOING: For more agriculture-related fun, head to a Green Drinks DC happy hour with Up Top Acres, a small collective of “green-trepreneurs” who have been leading the charge on rooftop gardens and sustainable farming in the nation’s capital. Get happy and find out their secrets. (55 M St. SE office building; 6 to 9 p.m.; FREE)
SMORGASBORD: The Asian-American Literature Festival itself is pretty self-explanatory based on the title. But its schedule is chock full of exciting options, including author talks, writer-scholar speed dating, open mics, and one-on-one mentorship. (Smithsonian, Phillips Collection, Dupont Underground, and the Library of Congress; 1 p.m.; FREE)
SLICK: Jidenna is R&B’s “Classic Man,” and devoted viewers of last year’s Best Picture Oscar winner Moonlight will recognize a “chopped and skrewed” version of his most popular track during a key portion of the movie’s third act. Jidenna has far more tricks up his sleeve than that one song, though, and he’ll pull a few out during a full-length concert. (Howard Theatre; 8 p.m.; $75-$131)
More: Salsa with Kat Joyner; Newseum Nights: Rock On; Tasting Room Trivia; Mario Livio at Politics and Prose; Curators’ Dialogue: Markus Lupertz
