Celebrate Women’s History Month, Nowruz and St. Patrick’s Day all in one weekend. Here’s what’s happening around D.C. through Sunday.
FRIDAY, MARCH 15
EXHIBITION OPENING: Part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s massive exhibition Artists Respond: American Art and the Vietnam War, 1965-1975 presentation, multimedia artist Tiffany Chung’s Vietnam, Past Is Prologue focuses on the conflict’s effects on former Vietnamese refugees. Using maps, paintings, and video interviews, Chung presents the South Vietnamese perspective that’s often overlooked in historical records. (Smithsonian American Art Museum, 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m., FREE)
MUSICAL MOMENT: Australian singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly’s debut Beware of the Dogs, released earlier this month, is an uncompromising record that’s rich with incisive observation and still manages to make the listener laugh a little, too. Atlanta’s Faye Webster opens when she visits D.C. this weekend. (U Street Music Hall, 7 p.m., $15)
A FOND FAREWELL: Last summer, the building that housed Cobalt and Level One was sold to a real estate investment company; earlier this month, the nightclub officially closed its doors. To commemorate the club, Pitchers is hosting a goodbye party, and half the proceeds will go to Cobalt’s staff. Well-wishers are invited to share Cobalt and LevelOne photos on the Facebook event page. (Pitchers, 8 p.m.-10 p.m., free entry)
MORE: National Symphony Orchestra: Baroque & Beyond (The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 11:30 a.m., $15-$89), Open Studio Pop-Up: Botanical Art (National Portrait Gallery, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., FREE), Charlotte Hornets vs. Washington Wizards (Capital One Arena, 7 p.m., $7+), Tainted Cabaret: Weird, Wonderful and Totally Inspirational Burlesque (Black Cat, 8 p.m. doors, 8:30 p.m. show, $15 advance/$18 day of show), Oops!…I Did It Again 2000s Dance Party (DC9, 11 p.m., FREE with ticket/$5 without)
SATURDAY, MARCH 16
SPRING BREAK: Nowruz, or the Persian new year observance that marks the start of spring, isn’t officially until next Wednesday, but you can get a start on the seasonal celebration this weekend. The free Nowruz Market DC features a makers market, music from the Silk Road Dance Company and a pop-up tea tent; the evening paid program features a musical performance from Aida Shahghasemi. (Arts Walk at Monroe Market, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., free daytime market, $25-$40 for evening performance and VIP tickets)
CHILDREN’S THEATER: Based on Christopher Paul Curtis’ Newbery Medal-winning book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 tells the story of the civil rights era through the eyes of 10-year-old Kenny. The staging for young audiences features Tichina Arnold, J. Bernard Calloway and Chad L. Coleman. (The Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater, through March 24, 11:01 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., $20-$50)
TAKE A WALK: Go for a four-mile moonlight hike along the C&O Canal Towpath to Great Falls, Maryland. The Capital Hiking Club trip is open to all ages (and dogs!) and will last around 2 hours; it’s recommended to arrive 10-15 minutes before the start of the hike. (10801 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, MD, 8:15 p.m., FREE)
WE WANT THE VOTE: The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center celebrates Women’s History Month with Votes for Women Day. The daylong free program includes a scavenger hunt, a mock vote, banner-making and more. (U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., FREE)
MORE: Where to Next? Race (Dacha, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $80-$108), Olde City Opening Day 2019 (Olde City Farm & Garden, 12 p.m.-7 p.m., FREE), Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Presents Let Freedom Sing (Lincoln Theatre, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., $25-$65), Erykah Badu (The Anthem, 6:30 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, $75-$145), Memphis Grizzlies vs. Washington Wizards (Capital One Arena, 7 p.m., $6+), Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio (Sixth & I, 8 p.m., $42), Teenage Fanclub with the Love Language (9:30 Club, 8 p.m., $30), Michael Brun Presents Bayo (Black Cat, 8 p.m., $15 advance/$20 day of show), Crossroads Club: Nate Smith + KINFOLK with Van Hunt (The Kennedy Center Atrium, 9 p.m., $29)
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
RACE DAY: Lace up your sneakers and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the annual Pacers Running St. Pat’s Run. Choose between a 5k or 10k course, do the double and run both. There’s no on-site packet pickup or race registration, so sign up before Sunday if you’re ready to run. (15th St NW near the Washington Monument, 8:15 a.m. 5k, 9 a.m. 10k, $10-$65)
GOING GREEN: The Environmental Film Festival shines a light on environmentally-focused films. Sunday’s program features Grit at 7 p.m., Return to Mount Kennedy at 4 p.m. and The Dawn Wall at 2 p.m.. (National Geographic Campus Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., $9.60-$12)
HEARING GREEN: What would St. Patrick’s Day be without a little live music? Rock & Roll Hotel’s 1st annual St. Patrick’s Day party features music from local acts M$TR, High-Brid Band and Sufi Hamilton; Union Stage’s celebration features Scythian with the Maple Academy Irish dancers. (Rock & Roll Hotel, 3 p.m. doors, 4 p.m. show, $5 advance/$10 day of show/Union Stage, 5 p.m. doors, 6 p.m. show, $22-$40)
MORE: Yoga at the National Building Museum (National Building Museum, 10 a.m.-11 a.m., $20), The Washington Chorus Presents St. Patrick’s Day Celebration (The Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 3 p.m., $18-$72), In Your Ear: Dorney, Downs, Todarello, Plus Svalina & Engel (DC Arts Center, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., $5), Cherry Blossom PUB (1843 7th St NW, 5 p.m.-11 p.m.), Transcendence (St. Mark’s Church, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m., $10-$20)
This post has been updated with the correct time for Lonnie Smith’s concert.
