Dancer Cartier Williams will perform an homage to Sammy Davis Jr. at Busboys and Poets on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Filmfest DC)
School may be out, but it’s a great weekend to learn something new without spending a penny: yoga, trucks, and baseball history all on the agenda.
Beef up your baseball knowledge
Our beloved Nats are in a bit of a slump right now, and to be honest, we only go to baseball games for the hot dogs and racing presidents anyway. Celebrate our favorite parts of America’s favorite pastime at “Baseball Americana,” the latest long-term exhibit at the Library of Congress. The exhibit focuses on diversity in the sport, highlighting the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League and the racial integration of Major League Baseball. You’ll also find the earliest copy of sheet music for “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and other pieces of memorabilia.
Library of Congress, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., through summer 2019
Marvel at things that go vroom
Ever wonder about the vehicles that get nearly every job done in D.C.? On Saturday, the city will assemble its biggest wheels at RFK Stadium from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for “Truck Touch.” Get an up-close look at the vehicles that change traffic lights, push aside snow, rush to aid in emergencies, and more. Kids 18 and under will receive a free boxed lunch. The only downside is they’ll never be satisfied with puny Hot Wheels again.
RFK Stadium, Saturday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Work out at The Wharf
As far as calming sounds go, the sound of waves gently lapping at expensive boats beats the meditation playlist at your yoga studio any day. That’s why we like the free yoga at The Wharf, offering its penultimate class of the summer on Saturday. Bring your mat and some water and make this the class where you finally attempt that headstand. Yes, it’s early, so just remember: Your nearby coffee options include Dolcezza and Milk Bar.
District Pier, Saturday, 9 a.m.-11 a.m.
Take a biking tour of the libraries
Stretch your calves, slather on the sunblock, and pack up your reading glasses for Tour de DCPL, the annual biking tour of DC libraries. For Saturday’s ninth-annual ride, you’ll visit the new West End and Woodridge libraries, and get a peek at the in-progress Capitol View library. You’ll wheel through the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and end the ride at the DC Public Library Kiosk at Deanwood Library. Register here.
West End Library, Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Catch a dance-and-film combo
It seems fitting for a multi-hyphenate like Sammy Davis Jr. to use more than one medium to tell his story. On Sunday, Filmfest DC and Busboys and Poets downtown (1025 Fifth Street NW) will host a screening of the doc Sammy Davis Jr: I’ve Gotta Be Me, which explores the complicated life of the singer, dancer, and comedian through archival footage and interviews with his friends and colleagues, including Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, and Norman Lear. The screening will be preceded by a performance from D.C. tap dancer Cartier Williams, in a performance honoring Davis.
Busboys and Poets, Sunday, 5 p.m.
Lori McCue