Forget vegging out on the couch. Get out and enjoy a massive vegan fest or a secret spy party.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9
MEAL PREP: Honor Julia Child’s birthday with Cooking Up History: In the Kitchen with Julia and Paul Child. The program, led by Sur La Table chef Lynne Just, includes a lesson on how to make French onion soup and crêpes Suzette. (National Museum of American History, 1 p.m.-2 p.m., FREE)
NEW TO YOU: Why shop ‘til you drop when you can swap? At the Summer Swap Shop, hosted by D.C. tech company Optoro, you score a ticket for every gently used item you bring; each ticket can be used to “purchase” an item. Clothing remaining at the end of the day will go to Goodwill. (Wunder Garten, 2 p.m.-6 p.m., FREE with registration)
SECRET AGENTS: Hosted by Brightest Young Things and the International Spy Museum, Mission Impossible: Party Protocol is the first after-hours party at the museum’s new location. Come for the disguise makeovers and handwriting analysis, stay for the open bar, silent disco and scavenger hunt. (International Spy Museum, 8:30 p.m.-12 a.m., $65-$80)
MORE: Jazz in the Garden (National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m., FREE), Rosslyn Putt-Putt and Candy BAR (1401 Wilson Blvd., 5 p.m.-9 p.m., $3), Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series (The Yards Park, 7-9 p.m., FREE)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10
GARDEN ROCK: Enjoy scenic surroundings and take in some tunes at the next Lily Ponds Live! Concert. Hosted by Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, there’ll be food available and games to keep little ones entertained. (Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., FREE)
FITNESS FETE: Start your Saturday with a sweat and celebrate Balance Gym’s 10th anniversary at this fitness-centric party. The morning kicks off with Glow Yoga and Bootcamp and continues with a live DJ and a mimosa bar. (Dupont Underground, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., $25)
GIRLS TO THE FRONT: The next generation of musicians take the mic and storm the stage at Girls Rock! DC’s End of Summer Celebration. The youth-centered event features performances, workshops, art activities, and a raffle. (St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1 p.m.-4 p.m., FREE for youth/$10-$20 adults)
MORE:Workshop: Design, Draw, and Paint Your Dream Garden (U.S. Botanic Garden, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., $125 Friends of the Garden/$150 non-members), Yoga 101: Beyond the Flow (lululemon 14th St, 9 a.m., FREE), Daybreaker DC: Dawn Before Dusk (Howard Theatre, 10 a.m., $25), The Veil DC Pop-Up (The Bruery Store at Union Market, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., FREE), Smokey Bear 75th Birthday (Filson, 12 p.m.-4 p.m., FREE), DC 90’s Crawl 2019 (Dupont Circle, 2 p.m.-10 p.m., $20), Fort Dupont Park Summer Concert Series 2019 World Music Night (Fort Dupont Park, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., FREE), White Ford Bronco (9:30 Club, 8 p.m., $25)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
VEG OUT: The East Coast’s largest vegan festival, DC VegFest, takes over Nats Park this Sunday. With activities ranging from readings, crafts, live music and comedy to samples and cooking lessons, there’s enough to please vegans, vegetarians and even meat-eaters. (Nationals Park 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., free entry)
CYCLES THROUGH HISTORY: Get the secret story behind the District from local author Ed Moser on this bike tour. The Hidden History of D.C. begins at the Bike Rack before cruising to the White House, the old White House Wharf, the Jefferson Stone, the Capitol cornerstone, and more sites that contain lesser-known bits of the city’s history. (The Bike Rack, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., $20)
END OF AN ERA: Dearly beloved, we gather this Sunday to pay respects to the Front Page. As the perennial happy hour destination closes its doors for the final time, all are invited to say farewell and relive their intern and early professional years with alumni bar staff and music from DJ Smoky. (The Front Page, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., free entry)
RINGOMANIA: Sunday night is the second of two performances from Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band at Wolf Trap. Pack a picnic and expect of a set of beloved Beatles songs, plus surprise covers from his fellow musicians. (Wolf Trap Filene Center, 6:30 p.m. gates, 8 p.m. show, $45-$70)
MORE: Sunday Long Run (lululemon Georgetown, 7:30 a.m., FREE), Sunday Morning Summer Pilates Series (Summit to Soul, 10 a.m.-11 a.m., $10), Scavenger Hunt at the National Zoo (Smithsonian National Zoological Park, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $20), 3 Stars Brewing Company Lucky 7th Anniversary Party (3 Stars Brewing Company, 1 p.m.-6 p.m., $15-$50)
