(Photo by Daimon Eklund)
There’s nothing like a mid-week holiday to really throw off your workflow. It’s okay, guys. You’re going to be super productive next week! Honestly, at this point, you might as well hit happy hour at the crack of 4 and kick off a weekend of learning about other cultures, sampling German ciders, exploring a world of sound, attending a storytelling event, and more.
FRIDAY, JULY 6
FOLKLIFE: If you’ve been Ar-meaning to check out the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, you better hustle. The cultural celebration closes on Sunday. This year’s focus is on Armenian and Catalan culture. You learn about both with free events this Friday, and through the weekend. Take an Armenian dance workshop, learn about mushroom hunting, see a parade of giants and devils, hear a performance of folk songs, and much more. (The National Mall, 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., FREE)
FEEL GOOD: The Godfather of Soul is no longer with us, but you can hear some of James Brown’s greatest hits played by a fellow who knew him in life. Mousey Thompson was Brown’s drummer, and now he’s keeping the funk alive with his band, The James Brown Experience. Get on up and come dance to the classics. (City Winery, 6-10 p.m., $20-28)
STAND-UP: Stand-up comedy isn’t easy, but it helps when you have a warm audience. One surefire way to loosen folks up? Get them tipsy. Capital Laughs presents Friday Night Laughs, featuring Jared Stern, Dom Rivera, Paris Sashay, and Martin Phillips. You can buy the standard ticket, which comes with one drink, or spring for the $25 admission and enjoy an open bar. Come for the jokes; stay to get your money’s worth of unlimited booze. (Town Tavern, 8 p.m., $15-25)
CIDER: Americans love their beer, but they’re also learning to embrace cider. The fermented apple beverage has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years, but folks across the pond have been sipping the refreshing booze for centuries. Learn about the history and making of German cider, or Apfelwein, and enjoy a tasting of three Bembel-With-Care ciders at Apfelwein: New Fizz for a German Favorite. (Smithsonian S. Dillon Ripley Center, 7 p.m., $35)
MORE: Lip Sync Battle Burlesque (Black Cat, 9 p.m., $12-15)
(Photo by Victoria Pickering)
SATURDAY, JULY 7
HONEY, LISTEN: The Hirshhorn and DC Listening Lounge present Sound Scene: Mapping Memory this Saturday and Sunday. The festival of auditory experiences features performances, games, workshops, and audio art installations that you can interact with. You can make your own wind chime, practice your DJ skills, learn about sonic meditation, share a story, and more. It’s all free, but you should register in advance. (Hirshhorn, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., FREE)
FRINGEFEST: The annual performing arts festival of all things independent, experimental, and often weird is back. Capital Fringe opens Saturday with dance performance O Monsters, about a family that redefines dysfunctional. You can check out dramas, comedies, and more dance throughout the day, and through the month. If you’re not sure what to see, you might start with the Fringe Festival Preview on Sunday. You’ll see four-minute snippets of more than 20 productions, and it’s free, so why not? (various locations, various Times, $17)
JOLLOF: Enjoy a West African staple at the Jollof Festival. Is “Jollof bae”? We’re not sure (that’s what the website says), but the tomato and rice stew is delicious, so whether or not the dish has your heart, lend it your stomach for a few hours. Like mac and cheese or chili, there are many variations, and everyone swears their mom’s recipe is the best. Taste a bunch at the festival, and decide for yourself which jollof is just right. (Union Market, 2-8 p.m., $20-$200)
SISTERFIRE: The Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates the 40th anniversary of Roadwork, a D.C.-based multiracial coalition that puts women artists on the road. You can see some of the talent for yourself this weekend, beginning with a free concert at The Kennedy Center on Saturday, featuring D.C. artists Ysaye Maria Barnwell, Be Steadwell, and Carolyn Malachi. The Sisterfire – Roadwork 40th Anniversary Celebration in D.C. continues Sunday with music, poetry, spoken word, and a big concert on the National Mall. (The Kennedy Center, 6-7 p.m., FREE)
MORE: Chinatown Community Festival (Chinatown Park, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., FREE), Maryland Caribbean Festival 2018 (11503 Cherry Tree Crossing Road, Cheltenham, MD, 12-9 p.m., $15), Summer Arts Fest 2018 (Right Proper Brookland, 12-7 p.m., FREE)
(Photo by Cait Reilly/Goat Rodeo)
SUNDAY, JULY 8
IS THIS REAL LIFE?: Artechouse is back at it with another trippy, virtual reality exhibit. Fractal Worlds opens Saturday, if you’re an Artechouse subscriber, and on Sunday if you’re everyone else. Spend the day in the sweet, sweet air conditioning, experiencing Fractal Worlds by Julius Horsthuis. Explore 3D geometric patterns that go on and on and on, and let your mind wander. (Artechouse, 10 a.m.-11 p.m., $15)
TAKE A WALK, BROTHER: Maybe church on a Sunday morning isn’t your thing, but grandma doesn’t have to know the details when you tell her you went to the local monastery on Sunday. De-stress with a guided forest bathing walk, before it gets too hot and disgusting outside. During this Casey Trees event, you’ll mosey past gardens and lovely trees at D.C.’s Franciscan Monastery, as you breathe in the fresh air and breathe out all your tension. We shouldn’t have to tell you this, but please don’t forget to bring water and wear sunscreen. (Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., $30-55)
CÉZANNE: It’s your last chance to see Cézanne Portraits, the first retrospective exhibition devoted to the post-impressionist painter’s portraits. You’ll see more than 60 works that collectively encompass the artist’s entire career. Some of the paintings have never been exhibited in the U.S. before, so don’t miss this opportunity to see them for free, right here in D.C. Also, did we mention the museum is air-conditioned? (National Gallery of Art, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. FREE)
CUPCAKE COMPETITION: Remember when cupcakes were all the rage and new bakeries dedicated to the single serving treats were popping up all over the place? If you thought the competitive cupcake spirit died when everyone moved on to the next big food craze, you would be mistaken. Watch a dozen bakers compete for a $500 grand prize at Cupcake Wars, with each contestant bringing two kinds of cupcakes to the table. You can get back to binge-watching The Great British Bake Off when you go home. (Studio 52, 3-7 p.m., $25)
FAMILY FOLKLORE: Usually, Perfect Liars Club presents a handful of true stories and one that’s a lie. This Sunday’s event We Are Family is a little different, though. The storytelling fundraiser for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) was put together in response to families who have been separated at the border. You’ll hear touching, true, personal stories about family, while helping to provide unaccompanied refugee and immigrant children with high-quality legal counsel. (Union Stage, 7 p.m., $20)
MORE: Silver Spring Arts & Crafts Summer Fair (Silver Spring Veterans Plaza, 2-8 p.m., FREE), Paella Making Class (La Tasca, 12 p.m., $75-150)
