This weekend, celebrate Mardi Gras, New Orleans style or Texas independence.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1
ART IN THE AREA: On display for the first time in the United States, “The REDress Project” by artist Jaime Black (Métis) is an outdoor art installation featuring red dresses to signify missing or murdered indigenous women. The display remains at the museum through March for Women’s History Month. (National Museum of the American Indian, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., FREE)
POP-UP PARTY: Celebrate the opening of the new Femme Fatale DC pop-up shop at the opening party featuring a performance by Boomscat and music from Kryptk. The evening is your chance to explore the space and also BloomBars, the artist and non-profit incubator and performance space next door. (3224 11th St NW, 7 p.m.-10 p.m., $15 suggested donation)
GAME SHOW: Brooklyn comedian Carly Ann Filbin brings her Upright Citizens Brigade show “Let Me Break You Up: An Anti-Dating Game Show” to Arlington. The evening puts relationships to the test: If you end up with the lowest amount of points at the end of the evening, you’re destined for a breakup. (Arlington Drafthouse, 7:30 p.m., $20)
MORE: First Friday Dupont (Dupont Circle, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., FREE), Cole Escola (9:30 Club, 6 p.m. doors, $20), Mardi Gras 2019 featuring the Dirty Dozen Brass Band (The Hamilton, 6:30 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, $25-$30), White Ford Bronco (Rock & Roll Hotel, 8 p.m. doors, 9:30 p.m. show, $25), Nina Nesbitt with Sophie Rose (Union Stage, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, $15+), Anthony Pirog (Black Cat, 9 p.m. doors, FREE/suggested donation), Wild Pink with Active Bird Community and the Obsessives (Comet Ping Pong, 10 p.m. doors, $12)
SATURDAY, MARCH 2
LONE STAR STATE: The DC Texas Exes convene in honor of Texas Independence Day. Expect Chuy’s Tex-Mex and beer from Shiner at the family-friendly, dog-friendly festivities. Proceeds support the chapter and scholarship fund. (Wunder Garten, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., $10-$30)
LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER: As Mardi Gras comes to a close next week, the spirit of New Orleans is on display across the District. Head to the Wharf for a parade with plenty of beads and a dance party; the night concludes with a fireworks finale from 7:50 p.m.-8 p.m. (The Wharf, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., FREE)
NOTHING EVER HAPPENED: Fronted by Bradford Cox, Deerhunter decamped to Marfa, Texas, to work on its eighth album. Why Hasn’t Everything Already Disappeared?, released back in January, finds the longstanding group reckoning with the present day rather than looking back. Brooklyn artist L’Rain opens their D.C. show. (9:30 Club, 6 p.m. doors, $25)
DRINK UP: The 15th annual Brewer’s Ball hosts more than 40 breweries and 30 restaurants, from locals like ANXO and Port City to distant creators like Florida’s Funky Buddha or New York’s Ommegang. The evening event—cocktail attire requested—supports the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Sample beer and locally-made bites, or participate in a silent auction. (National Building Museum, 7 p.m., $150)
MORE: Yoga in the Garden (U.S. Botanic Garden, 10:30 a.m., FREE), Seed Starting Workshop (Annie’s Ace Hardware – Petworth, 11 a.m., FREE), Women Who Whiskey: Hip Hop Yoga & Beer (3 Stars Brewing Company, 11:30 a.m., $25), Blagden Alley African Food Tasting: Spring Edition (1230 9th St NW, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., $20-$35), Gaby Moreno (The Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, 6 p.m., FREE), The Last Rewind: DC’s Phish Tribute (Rock & Roll Hotel, 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, $12), Kodie Shane with Killumantii and Baby Goth (Songbyrd, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, $15+), Kronos Quartet: Music for Change: The Banned Countries (Sixth & I, 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, $45), Le Butcherettes with Stars at Night and Venray (DC9, 8:30 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, $15)
SUNDAY, MARCH 3
YOU CAN FLY: All you need is faith, trust, a little pixie dust, and some inspiration if you want to make one of the most enduring children’s characters of all time. Based on the Oscar winning film, Finding Neverland tells the story of Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie. As we pointed out in our review, adults will find as much to love here as kids. (National Theatre, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., $64-$154)
TRUE LOVE’S KISS: Before there was the Disney cartoon, there was the ballet. The Washington Ballet presents the classic The Sleeping Beauty, featuring the Washington Ballet Orchestra’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s score. (The Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., $25-$160)
FREEZE FRAME: Sure, you could capture memories on your smartphone, but why not look like a pro with a real camera? Learn the basics or refine your skills with the Understanding Your Digital Mirrorless or SLR Camera: Moving Beyond Auto Mode studio arts workshop. (National Museum of Natural History Computer Lab, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., $210 member/$260 non-member)
MORE: Community Day (National Museum of Women in the Arts, 12 p.m.-5 p.m., FREE) American Girl Live! (Strathmore, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., $30-$76+), USCO: Films, Performance and Conversation with 1960s Multimedia Pioneers (National Gallery of Art East Building Auditorium, 2 p.m.), Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Washington Wizards (Capital One Arena, 6 p.m., $9+), American Aquarium with Timmy the Teeth (U Street Music Hall, 7 p.m., $20)
