There won’t be an actual campfire at Smithsonian at 8’s Return to Summer Camp, but you can cut out the middle man and purchase s’mores to satisfy your sweet tooth. (Photo by John Sonderman)
We’re starting September off strong with a packed weekend of parties, entertainment, and love for our local neighborhoods.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
DAS GOOD: Sprechen sie Deutsch? You can learn at Awesome Sommerfest. Take a German speed course, belt out your best rendition of “99 Luftballons,” watch animated shorts in German (aren’t you glad you took that speed course?), grab a bite from Old Europe restaurant, and check out local punk bands Foul Swoops and Br’er in a concert curated by the DC Punk Archive at DC Public Library. (Goethe-Institut Washington, 3-9 p.m. FREE)
I FEEL GOOD: Get up offa that thang at The James Brown Dance Party. Celebrate the life, music, and undying style of the “Godfather of Soul” at this funky tribute show featuring Brown’s former drummer Mousey Thompson, trombonist Natalie Cressman, Patrick Rainey of jam band The Bridge, and more. If you’re a sex machine, what the hell are you doing staying home? Actually, don’t answer that. (The Hamilton, 8 p.m. $15-20)
SUMMER AIN’T OVER YET: Day is done. Gone the sun, from the lake to the—you know the rest. Hopefully you won’t be subjected to “Taps” at Smithsonian at 8’s Return to Summer Camp, but you can throw it back to your camp days with s’mores, arts and crafts, music, games, and more. Capture the flag, by which we mean a few cocktails, at Tortoise and Hare’s cash bar, ask someone to dance, make memories in the GIF photo booth, get a temporary tattoo, and hear embarrassing, very real, diary entries, poems, love letters, lyrics and more presented by real people with very thick skins. Pull out your flannel pajama pants and Camp Whatever t-shirts and gather around for an evening of fun activities that’ll keep you too distracted to sneak off into the woods with that cute kid from Cabin 10. (Enid A. Haupt Garden and Smithsonian Castle, 8-11 p.m. $25-50)
TREVOR NOAH: You won’t see clips of this performance on Twitter tomorrow. If you watch The Daily Show, you’re probably accustomed to seeing host Trevor Noah behind his desk, rehashing the news and skewering celebrities and politicians. But he won’t be sitting down for his two nights of stand up this weekend. Hear the comedian crack jokes live at Friday’s late show, the only performance that still has tickets available. Unlike The Daily Show, you can’t just catch this one later. (The Kennedy Center, 9:30 p.m. $55-125)
More: Caribbean Evening at the Embassy of Barbados, Art Between Us – An All Women’s Open Mic
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
JAZZFEST: The Rosslyn Jazz Fest has been going strong for nearly 30 years, and it’s not stopping now. Join music fans for a day of performances by Joe Keyes & The Late Bloomer Band, Xenia Rubinos, Lee Fields & The Expressions, and The Soul Rebels, fresh off their European tour with Talib Kweli. You can come hungry for good times and grub. There will be wine, beer, and food available for purchase. (Gateway Park, 1-7 p.m. FREE)
PASS THE POPCORN: The DC Shorts Film Festival is officially rolling, screening more than 80 comedies, dramas, documentaries, thrillers, animated adventures, and more at E Street Cinema and the Miracle Theater through September 17. For $30, you can stay home and stream the festival from the comfort of your couch and couture sweatpants. But you’ll have to get up and out into the world if you want to attend one of the festival’s two parties this weekend. On Friday, you can dance and drink beneath the open sky at the rooftop City View Party. Then on Saturday night, things go from under the stars to under the street when Dupont Underground presents Subterranean Soiree. Celebrate indie filmmaking in the former trolley station turned art space for the biggest bash of the festival. (Dupont Underground, 9-11 p.m. $25)
POP, ROCK, AND DROP IT: The season of rompers and short skirts is nearly over, but that won’t stop Har Mar Superstar from dropping his pants and dancing on stage in his skivvies. He’s opening for The Afghan Whigs this Saturday night at 9:30 Club. Big in the ‘90s alt-rock scene, The Afghan Whigs broke up in the early oughts, but have since regrouped and put out new music since reuniting back in 2011. Despite losing their guitarist Dave Rosser in June, the band is still on tour and rocking as much as ever, to the delight of fans old and new. (9:30 Club, 6 p.m. $40)
Adams Morgan Day is an annual celebration of the Northwest, D.C. neighborhood and the people, businesses, and restaurants that call it home. (Photo by Miki J.)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
FOLKFEST: The Takoma Park Folk Festival is back, presenting more than 50 musical performances on seven stages in this decades-long celebration of community. You can buy artisan wares at the craft show, grab lunch and snacks from food vendors, and spend the day enjoying live dance, music, and storytelling. (Takoma Park Middle School, 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. FREE)
ADMO DAY: Maybe it’s where you go for live music or play soccer or buy records or sit for hours drinking coffee served with animal crackers, or maybe Adams Morgan is where you’ve spent more than a few nights you can’t clearly remember. Whatever your reason is for loving the eclectic neighborhood, come celebrate the Kingdom of Jumbo Slice at the 39th annual Adams Morgan Day. Washington’s longest running neighborhood festival will be a family-friendly affair featuring live music, food and drink specials, art, games, and discounts at local businesses. (Adams Morgan, 12-6 p.m. FREE)
SIP & SALSA: The Crystal City BID presents Sip & Salsa, an outdoor wine festival featuring wines from Spain, Portugal, and Argentina and food from here. Tickets get you pours and plates, but the vino stops flowing at 5:30 p.m. Once you get a good buzz going, dance to live Latin jazz. (220 20th Street, Arlington, VA, 2-6 p.m. $20-25)
