(Photo by Rudi Riet)
If you’re a science or history buff, it’s going to be a good week. For the rest of us, there are film screenings, concerts, and sporting events to enjoy while waiting for the sweet embrace of Friday.
MONDAY, JUNE 18
THOSE DAMN YANKEES: Is that #Natitude or just a case of the Mondays? It’s your mood. You decide how to spin it. The Nats are back in action, and following on the Capitals’ success, we can’t help hoping that this will be the year for Washington sports. Bad weather bumped a May match-up to today, so grab those last-minute tickets and haul ass to the park as our boys take on the New York Yankees. (Nationals Park, 5:05 p.m., $25-592)
FREE CONCERT: Four Australian women all exclusively dated people who live in Texas? Weird! Suspend your disbelief for a moment and start your week on a chill note with the Australian indie-folk group All Our Exes Live in Texas. The four-woman band won last year’s Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) award for Best Blues & Roots Album. You can hear them for yourself on the Millennium Stage. (The Kennedy Center, 6 p.m., FREE)
RYE NOT: WhistlePig is trying to do it all when it comes to making whiskey. Nearly a third of the Vermont distillery’s FarmStock Rye Crop No. 002 is a two-year aged “Triple Terroir” whiskey made entirely from grain, water, and wood from the WhistlePig farm. The rest of the blend is sourced from MPGI in Indiana and Canada’s Alberta Distillers. Does it need a little more of this and a little less of that? Experiment with the recipe and make your own personal blend of the three at the WhistlePig FarmStock Blending Event. Some finger food will be served. With WhistlePig Rye normally at about $16 a shot at Rebellion, the $20 ticket price for this event is a pretty good deal. (Rebellion DC, 7-9 p.m., $20)
STORIES ABOUT SCIENCE: The Story Collider explores the human side of science through storytelling. The organization is coming to D.C. for a show all about oceans. Five storytellers will share their true tales about their experiences with and connection to the sea. (The Bier Baron Tavern and Comedy Loft, 8-10 p.m., $15-20)
HISTORY ON STAGE: “Ghetto Sheriff” sounds like a really offensive Halloween costume, but it’s actually the name of a play that’s coming to D.C. for one night only. The Hungarian production tells the story of the Holocaust through historical documents and Jewish music. It’s also told in complete darkness, so you can really absorb what you’re hearing and allow yourself to travel back to the 1930s and ‘40s. (Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 8-9:30 p.m., $25)
MORE: U2 eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE Tour 2018 (Capital One Arena, 8 p.m., $41-325)
TUESDAY, JUNE 19
JUNETEENTH: The Emancipation Proclamation didn’t free everyone from bondage. The 19th of June, or Emancipation Day, marks the anniversary of the abolishment of slavery in Texas. You can celebrate Juneteenth at a community learning event featuring remarks from historian C.R. Gibbs and conversations about community safety and other timely topics. There will be Texas BBQ for all, including vegetarians and vegans. (African American Civil War Museum, 5-8 p.m., FREE)
THIS IS HOME: Wednesday is World Refugee Day, but you can mark the occasion a day early at a fundraiser and screening of This Is Home. The documentary follows four Syrian families who are starting over in Baltimore and have just a few months to become self-sufficient. The film, co-presented by Epix and the International Rescue Committee, highlights the challenges these families face, and the strength and resilience they show despite it all. A post-screening panel discussion and reception will follow. (Landmark E Street Cinema, 6-9 p.m., $30)
SHORT FILMS: Sometimes you just need to watch something PG-rated and forget about the real world for a little bit. Weather permitting, you can catch a collection of award-winning Pixar shorts under the open sky in Adams Morgan. A few local businesses are offering deals for moviegoers, so you can grab $5 nachos or a free soda with your falafel, pizza, or arepas before heading over to the event. (Community Soccer Field at Marie Reed Elementary, 8:30-11 p.m., FREE)
MORE: 70 Years Berlin Airlift (Goethe-Institut Washington, 6:30-9:30 p.m., FREE), A Juneteenth Celebration with Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons (Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 7:30 p.m., $15), NSO Pops: Audra McDonald (The Kennedy Center, 8 p.m., $29-119), Washington Mystics vs. Chicago Sky (Capital One Arena, 7 p.m., $25-50)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
WORLD REFUGEE DAY CONCERT: Austin, Texas native Mélat is set to perform a free concert in commemoration of World Refugee Day this Wednesday. Mélat’s parents are Ethiopian refugees, and her modern R&B music centers on what it means to long to be able to live freely. The performance is co-presented by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. (The Kennedy Center, 6 p.m., FREE)
RAY & NEKO: Halcyon’s By The People Festival kicks off tonight with a concert headlined by roots-rock artist Ray LaMontagne, featuring special guest Neko Case. LaMontagne is an award-winning singer-songwriter with seven albums under his belt. The latest, Part of the Light, just dropped last month. Come hear the voice and style that has critics comparing him to Van Morrison and The Band. Just don’t get caught talking during the show. (The Anthem, 8 p.m. $55-199)
MAESTRO: The 2018 National Orchestral Institute and Festival this month is bringing performances and masterclasses to area venues. The festival’s chamber ensemble performs this Wednesday while director Richard Scerbo serves up signature cocktails. The event is open to the public, but don’t be a freeloader. There will be a suggested donation at the door. (College Park Aviation Museum, 5:30 p.m., FREE)
MORE: Wednesday at The Wharf: Justin Trawick and The Common Good (Wharf DC, 6-8 p.m., FREE)
(Photo by Kevin Harber)
THURSDAY, JUNE 21
RENOVATION CELEBRATION: After being closed to the public for a year-long renovation project, The Phillips Collection’s historic house galleries are reopening this week. Check out the now-humidity-controlled and more accessible 1897 home of the museum’s founder, Duncan Phillips, during the Summer Housewarming Celebration. There will be live jazz, drinks, art activities, and tours of the space. Receive Phillips swag when you bring an item to donate to My Sister’s Place, , such as menstrual products or new towels and washcloths. (The Phillips Collection, 6-10 p.m., $12)
S’IL VOUS PLAIT, DU VIN: Popping bottles of the bubbly? Be the person at the party who knows that, “oh, actually, this is prosecco, not champagne. Anyway, congrats on your engagement!” Learn how to talk like you know things at the newly-opened City Winery. At French Wine 101, you’ll learn about the history, culture, laws, and style of wines from Loire, Burgundy, Rhône, Bordeaux, and Champagne. (City Winery, 6:30-8 p.m., $40)
OUT/SPOKEN: Come out of the closet and on to the stage! Story District’s annual Pride show Out/Spoken is back. During the live event, LGBTQ storytellers will share 100 percent true stories that will make you laugh, cry, and feel inspired. This year’s cast includes a lawyer who grew up in a fundamentalist, born-again Christian home, lifelong Washingtonian and entertainer Rayceen Pendarvis, political strategist Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza, an Army vet who’s also a mother of twins, queer Afro-Guyanese poet Saida Agostini, and others. (9:30 Club, 7 p.m., $25)
SUNSET WITH A SPLASH: Honor the sun and stretch your muscles! Celebrate the longest day of the year with some light exercise and #views. The Summer Solstice Sunset Paddle offers kayak, double kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals, and will be an all-levels outing. Enjoy that extra daylight while taking in the beauty of the Anacostia River. (1492 4th St. SE, 7:30-9 p.m., $20-30)
