Enjoy a movie en plein air, or from inside your car at Union Market. (Photo by drewsaunders)
It’s a big weekend for birthdays and anniversaries. No need for presents, but your presence is requested.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4
ART WALK: It’s hot outside but nice and cool in the art galleries you can visit as part of the First Friday Dupont Art Walk. In addition to the local galleries and historic houses that you can pop into for free, you can pay $10 for an hour of studio time and a complimentary drink at Art Jamz. (Various Locations, 6-8 p.m. FREE)
SUMMER DANCE SOIREE: Dress up and head out for the French Embassy Summer Dance Soiree. Learn the steps to the Viennese Waltz, Tango, and Salsa, then dance the night away. There will be wine and Parisian desserts for purchase. (Embassy of France, 7-10:30 p.m. $20-30)
DRIVE-IN MOVIE: Pull up at Union Market for a drive-in screening of Chef, a funny and heart-warming film about an overworked and under-challenged cook who completely loses it, quits his job, buys a food truck, and takes his kid and longtime friend on the road. The movie begins at 8:30 p.m., but you’ll need to arrive by 8 if you plan on parking. (Union Market, 6-10:30 p.m. $10 for parking)
CAKE-Y JONES: Calling all Deadheads and folks who like “Ripple.” The late Jerry Garcia’s birthday was this week, and Gypsy Sally’s is celebrating a few days late with Day’s Between. The show will feature performances by Grateful Dead tribute band Better Off Dead and bluegrass outfit The Dirty Grass Players. Now to figure out what you did with that tie-dye dress from college… (Gypsy Sally’s, 9 p.m. $15)
Ari Shapiro presents his first solo cabaret performance this weekend at AMP at Strathmore. (Photo by Cassidy DuHon)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5
FOOD & ART: The 3rd annual event Taste of Studio returns this weekend. Studio Theatre’s open house invites you to enjoy performances, go behind the scenes, learn how to sell it in a mini acting class, get a sneak peek of Wig Out!, see visual art installations, listen to live music, sip a beer in the pop-up garden, and more. There will be food and beverage tastings from 1-4 p.m., with more than 30 local bars and restaurants participating. (Studio Theatre, 12-8 p.m. FREE-$100)
COMICS: Silver Spring comic book store Alliance presents its first Free Graphic Novel Day. Come by to select a free book from Marvel Comics, then shop around with 20 percent off graphic novels all day. (Alliance Comics Silver Spring, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. FREE)
SUMMERFEST: The Summer Spirit Festival is this Saturday and Sunday, bringing you a full weekend of hip hop, soul, jazz, R&B, and more. Saturday’s line-up includes Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Fantasia, De La Soul, Common, and Trombone Shorty, among others. (Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2-11 p.m. $54-250)
NUIT CIRQUE: Art Soiree is infusing art into another summer night with a circus-themed event featuring performers, costumes, and tricks. Nuit Cirque will be on a rooftop instead of under a big top, and invites you to swap the popcorn for cocktails. (Rooftop at the Liaison Capitol Hill, 8 p.m. – Midnight. $10-20)
SHOCK & SWORDS: Let the sideshow be the main event this Saturday as Atomic Doll Productions presents Shocked and Amazed! Sip on a circus-themed cocktail as you witness burlesque, sword swallowing, feats of strength, and more. (Bier Baron, 8-11:30 p.m. $18-30)
MEW: Danish alt-rock band Mew is playing the 9:30 Club this Saturday. The three-man band is big on visuals. Their trippy music videos translate to the in-person experience, with projections customized to fit each song. Pop group Monakr, formed by Grammy-nominated artist Matthew Santos, will also perform. (9:30 Club, 8 p.m. $25)
CABARET: NPR’s All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro made his name in journalism. But he’s also used his voice as a frequent guest performer with Pink Martini. This weekend, he’ll take center stage with an event that blends the worlds of music and journalism. The upheaval and emotions he’s experienced on assignment are woven into the songs he’ll perform this Saturday in Homeward, his first solo cabaret performance. (AMP by Strathmore, 8 p.m. $30-50)
More: Jurassic Park: In Concert
This weekend, test out games by indie developers at SAAM Arcade. (Photo by LaTur)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6
OPEN HOUSE: Signature Theatre is excited to bring local audiences another season of entertainment. But before the venue can open its next season of shows, it’s opening its doors for a day of free performances, music, sing-along’s, games, and more. (Signature Theatre, 12-8:30 p.m. FREE)
ART ARCADE: This Saturday and Sunday, play video games at a museum. The SAAM Arcade will feature a plethora of games by indie developers for you to test out. You can also take a workshop and learn how to program your own classic arcade game. There will also be some musical performances. (Smithsonian American Art Museum, 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. FREE)
ARTSY WOMEN: It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means it’s Community Day at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. As you explore the museum free-of-charge, take a closer look at women who work in abstraction, see examples of art that wow through spectacle and scale, and take a tour highlighting the “Fierce Women” who bucked societal norms and followed their dreams to become artists, activists, and innovators. (National Museum of Women in the Arts, 12-5 p.m. FREE)
WONDERLAND: Wonderland has officially entered its teenage years. Patrons shouldn’t feel compelled to act any more snotty or unruly than usual, but they are welcome to come enjoy an all-day happy hour that begins after brunch. Ian Walters will play live music through varying levels of sobriety, and at 8 p.m. there will be a free comedy show. (Wonderland Ballroom, 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. FREE)
