Two teams from the District Karaoke and BMore Karaoke are battling it out at Penn Social on Monday (Photo by Mindi Westhoff)
By DCist contributor Mimi Montgomery
This week, the 80-degree temperature streak continues, which means you are pretty much obligated to leave your house before D.C. turns back into a swamp. Luckily, there’s a mix of events that will appeal to all palates. Broadway sing-a-longs, a bayou-inspired crawfish boil, a dose of Shakespearean drama, or an endless supply of rum daiquiris—it’s all there. Take your pick.
MONDAY, AUGUST 14
BELTWAY BATTLE: it’s karaoke time. The top two teams from the District Karaoke and BMore Karaoke groups will be battling it out at Penn Social to crown the best cover artists in the DMV. It’s an event 10 weeks in the making, so come prepared to see some serious competition. (Penn Social, 7 – 11 p.m., FREE)
BOOZE + BROADWAY: Calling all Hamilton lovers: This one’s for you. Join TheatreWashington at Beacon Bar & Grill to sip cocktails while singing some of your favorite Broadway hits. Maestro Glenn Pearson will be at the piano while special guest Wood Van Meter of Toby’s Dinner Theatre’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat provides backup vocals. Not only will there be happy hour specials, you can also enter to win tickets to shows like Big Fish or Whipping. (Beacon Bar & Grill, 7 – 11 p.m., pay-what-you-can admission)
RAGIN’ CAJUN: Loosen your belts for a Louisiana-style crawfish boil at DC Penn Quarter. For the price of admission, you’ll get a pound of seasoned crawfish complete with corn on the cob, andouille sausage, and local new potatoes (just bring your own bib). And it wouldn’t be a bayou shindig without some libations— Right Proper Brewing beers will be on tap. (DC Penn Quarter, 6 – 9 p.m., $22.99)
THE KING & I: The cast of The King & I musical, currently touring at The Kennedy Center, breaks out of character for One Night in Bangkok. The benefit concert will showcase the crew performing songs from their favorite musicals, and a live auction will round out the evening. It’s all for a good cause, too: Proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which helps those with critical illnesses receive proper medication and essentials. (Bistro Bistro, 8 p.m., $40 VIP, $25 general admission)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 15
The National Building Museum is hosting a talk on Tuesday on urban beekeeping and the design evolution of modern man-made beehives, as part of its Hive installation. (Photo by Rachel Sadon)
PROUD MARY: Jam out with the queen of hip hop soul herself. Mary J. Blige will be making a stop at MGM National Harbor as part of her Strength of a Woman tour. If her nine Grammys don’t sway you, maybe the venue will—many of the MGM’s restaurants have happy hour specials, so come early. (Theater at MGM National Harbor, 8 p.m., the show is sold out, but resale tickets start at $188)
OTHELLO: “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy…” Catch this and more of the Bard’s wisdom at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Othello. It’s part of the 27th annual Free For All at Sidney Harman Hall, so you’ll have to enter the online lottery or line up before the show for tickets. And if you can’t make it to opening night, don’t worry as the show will runs through August 27. (Sidney Harman Hall, times vary dependent on dates, FREE)
FEELIN’ BUZZED: As part of the National Building Museum’s Hive installation, it will host a “What’s all the buzz about bees?” talk on urban beekeeping and the design evolution of modern man-made beehives. Compare the real thing to the Hive exhibit with the help of Kayla Schwartz, beekeeper at George Washington University Undergraduate Honeybee Research Lab. Who knows? Maybe you’ll start a hive of your own. (National Building Museum, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., $10 student, $12 museum member, $20 non-member)
More: Glen’s Garden Market Bike Club (Glen’s Dupont, 6:45 p.m. – 9:45 p.m., FREE)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16
There’s a free tour of the U.S. Botanic Garden on Wednesday, focused on its art and history. (Photo by Kevin Harber)
MOVIE NIGHT: Join Colony Club and The Lemon Collective as they screen the film Persepolis as part of their Femme Night series. The 2007 French-Iranian animated movie is based on Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel and follows a young girl as she grows up amongst the Iranian Revolution. Grab a drink and stick around after to discuss the film and mingle. (Colony Club, 8:30 – 10:00 p.m., FREE)
FLOWER POWER: Did you know the U.S. Botanic Garden is one of the oldest in North America? Or that it houses about 65,000 plants? Learn more about D.C.’s own flowering oasis by taking a tour focused on the garden’s art and history. You don’t have to be a horticulturist to attend; the event is free and open, so no green thumbs required. Now is a particularly good time to go: three rare corpse flowers are on display and about to bloom. (U.S. Botanic Garden, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m., FREE)
RUM RUNNERS: Get over the Hump Day slump by celebrating National Rum Day at D.C.’s own rum distillery, Cotton & Reed. Erin Vanek will be joined by guest bartender Chris Hassan Francke of The Green Zone to serve their takes on daiquiris all night long. If you’re really feeling the spirit, you can purchase a daiquiri flight to try them all (don’t worry—Union Market is right next door if the post-daiquiri munchies strike). (Cotton & Reed Distillery, 4 p.m. – 12 midnight, price of drinks vary)
More: Hive Late Night (National Building Museum, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., ticket prices vary)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17
The Embassy Hotel is continuing its summer rooftop series on Thursday. (Photo via Facebook)
SUNSET TANGO: If you haven’t reached your summer quota of Instagram pictures featuring drinking on a roof, swing by The Embassy Hotel for a cocktail. As part of the hotel’s summer rooftop series hosted with Art Soiree and Peroni, D.C. Tango Ensemble will perform Latin jazz and Argentine tango tunes alongside guest Claudia Gargiulo. (The Embassy Hotel, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., FREE)
BE OUR GUEST: Sing along to all your favorites at an outdoor screening of Beauty & the Beast. As part of the Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Movie Series, head to Canal Park to see the updated version of the Disney classic starring Emma Watson. Bring your own picnic for a dinner date al fresco (bonus points if you have dancing cutlery and candelabras). There are plenty of places to eat and drink along the waterfront, too, so make a night out of it if a picnic isn’t your style. (Canal Park, sunset, FREE)
INSIDE THE ART: If you haven’t checked out the Ai Weiwei’s Trace exhibit at the Hirshhorn, now is the time to do it. The 176 portraits on display are all made of Legos, and each is the image of someone considered to be an activist or free speech advocate. To promote the exhibit, the Hirshhorn is screening Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, a documentary that follows Ai as he navigates the relationship between art and politics against the backdrop of Chinese censorship. Seating is first-come, first-served, so be sure to get there on time. (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 6 – 8 p.m., FREE)
More: The Yards Bubbles and Bluegrass (The Yards D.C., 6:30 – 8:30 p.m, FREE), Summer Evenings at Hirshhorn (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 5 – 8:30 p.m., FREE)
