FRIDAY, MAY 13
IN THE WEEDS: Get ready to get your hands dirty as a volunteer at THEARC Farm. Every Friday, the Oxon Creek-adjacent farm invites community members to plant seedlings and weed, in preparation for the farm’s participation in CSA and farmers’ markets across the city. (THEARC Farm; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; FREE)
RARE BOOK FAIR: This weekend, the historic City Tavern Club is transforming into a bookstore. The Georgetown Rare Book Fair takes place Saturday and Sunday, with a preview night happening Friday. The preview is ticketed, and includes wine and literary-inspired cocktails — but perusing rare books from over 30 sellers on Saturday and Sunday is free. (City Tavern Club; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; $50; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday; FREE).
TANGO FESTIVAL: Dance into the weekend with the DC Tango Festival, which kicks off Friday at the Embassy of Argentina. Buenos Aires-born songstress Mariana Quinteros will perform a mix of traditional and new tangos, some of which come from her 2021 release, “Tango de Nuevos Ayres.” She’ll be accompanied by pianist Anibal Berraute and bandoneon player Javier Sanchez. A ticket also buys you access to an Argentine wine reception. (Embassy of Argentina; 7:30 p.m.; $45).
MOLLY BURCH: Calling all romantics — prepare to swoon as Molly Burch takes the Songbyrd stage. The Austin-based singer-songwriter specializes in love and heartbreak. Over nostalgic, swelling indie-pop symphonies, Burch sings in her unforgettable, husky voice. Catch her as she stops in D.C. to tour her 2021 release, “Romantic Images.” (Songbyrd Music House; 7 p.m.; $23).
MORE: Paper Crane Challenge (Parklands-Turner Neighborhood Library; all day; FREE); Jazzy Colors (Anacostia Neighborhood Library; noon; FREE); Vivian Green (City Winery; 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.; $45+); Black Georgetown Cemeteries Project; (Mount Zion and Female Union Band Society Cemeteries; 7 p.m.; $35); Lingua Ignota (Capital Turnaround; 7 p.m.; $30); Owls of the East Smithsonian seminar (virtual; 7 p.m.; $25); “Show Way The Musical” (Kennedy Center; 7 p.m.; $20); “This is America” (Library of Congress; 8 p.m.; FREE); Yoke Lore (Howard Theatre; 7 p.m.; $20); “Our Town” (Shakespeare Theatre Company; 8 p.m.; $35+).
SATURDAY, MAY 14
EURO TRIP: No passport required for this tour of Europe. This Saturday, European embassies are inviting the public to their annual open house. Visit the embassies of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, and other countries across the European Union. They’ll greet you with drinks, food, and a host of cultural activities. This year’s event will also showcase the union’s solidarity with Ukraine. Ukrainian diplomats, including the ambassador, will be in attendance. (Northwest D.C.; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; FREE).
BEER TRAIL: Get hoppy this weekend with the first-ever Metropolitan Beer Trail. The NoMa BID is partnering with seven local breweries — City-State Brewing Co., Dew Drop Inn, The Eleanor, Metrobar, Red Bear Brewing Co., Right Proper Brewing Company, and Wunder Garten — to offer deals to anyone who registers for the event. All breweries are walkable from the Metropolitan Branch Trail, and the first 300 people to check-in at all seven win a free T-shirt. (Metropolitan Branch Trail; all day; FREE).
ANACOSTIA PORTRAITS: In a new photography exhibit, artist Elena Volkova revives some very old techniques. For “Anacostia Portraits,” the Ukrainian photographer took portraits of people with ties to Anacostia using tintype, a photo process that dates back to the 1860s. The exhibit is on display at Honfleur Gallery through June 18. Join the gallery in celebrating the series with a reception. (Honfleur Gallery; 4 p.m.; FREE).
ONE MORE HAIM: After selling out their first night at The Anthem, beloved sister-group HAIM added one more show, which tickets are still available for. On most of their records, HAIM maintains a smooth, indie-pop sound. But during their last regional stop at All Things Go, they proved themselves to be on-stage rockers. Get there on time to catch Faye Webster, the Atlanta-based singer-songwriter with an angelic voice and bittersweet melodies. (The Anthem; 6 p.m.; $55).
FEMME FEST: Head to metrobar on Saturday night and support two causes — women in DJ booths, and women and girls in Ukraine. At Femme Fest, a women-only lineup will spin house music all night long. The ticketed event will raise funds to support the work UN Women is doing to protect women and girls in war-torn Ukraine. (metrobar; 6 p.m.; $25).
LINCOLN MEMORIAL TURNS 100: The Lincoln Memorial celebrates its centennial May 30. To commemorate, the National Park Service has filled the month of May with events that focus on different aspects of its history. This weekend, Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me panelist and CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Faith Salie visits downtown to break down depictions of the memorial in pop culture — think Forrest Gump and the Simpsons — and how those depictions shape the way we understand it. (National Sylvan Theater; 7:30 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: Fishing Clinic (Diamond Teague Park; 8:30 a.m.; FREE); Alexandria Old Town Springtime Art Festival (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Alexandria; FREE); Bethesda Fine Arts Festival (Bethesda; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; FREE); Puppet Lab (virtual; 11:30 a.m.; FREE); Georgetown Sweets Tour (Georgetown; noon to 5 p.m.; $50+); One DC Annual Meeting (Busboys and Poets Anacostia; 2 p.m.; FREE); “Dreams Rising: Palestinian Children in Gaza Imagine a Future Beyond Trauma” reception (Museum of the Palestinian People; 4 p.m.; FREE); FRESH-TIVAL (Eaton DC; 4 p.m. $20); Washington Jewish Film Festival (Edlavitch DCJCC and Bethesda Row Cinema; 6 p.m.; $15); The Dollop Live (Lincoln Theatre; 6:30 p.m.; $35); “Carmen” (Kennedy Center; 7 p.m. $45+); The Lemon Twigs (Union Stage; 7 p.m.; $20); Papooz (Songbyrd Music House; 7 p.m.; $19); Rare Essence Reunion (MGM National Harbor; 7:30 p.m., $149+).
SUNDAY, MAY 15
BOOKS IN BLOOM: Book banning is surging, according to the American Library Association. This weekend, you can celebrate the books others are persecuting at the sixth annual Books in Bloom Festival. The event, which takes place in downtown Columbia, features panels, workshops, and a pop-up bookstore with a dedicated banned book section, all geared toward celebrating progressive literature. Journalist Carl Bernstein, of Watergate investigation fame, headlines. Also on the schedule are writer John Paul (JP) Brammer, journalist Kathryn Schulz, and Congressman Jamie Raskin. (Color Burst Park; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; FREE).
SEASON FINALE: Prince George’s Philharmonic brings its 56th season to an end with this Sunday matinee. Under the direction of Jesus Manuel Berard and featuring pianist Thomas Pandolfi, the orchestra will perform Mendelssohn’s “Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2,” and Sibelius’s “Symphony No. 2.” (Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center; 3:30 p.m.; $30).
PRIVACY FOR SALE: How have social media and the digital age shaped our relationship to privacy? That’s the question at the heart of this virtual chat hosted by the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Surveillance economy scholar Shoshana Zuboff and filmmaker Shalini Kantayya, director of “Coded Bias,” will mull over this complicated topic together. (Virtual; 4:30 to 6 p.m.; FREE).
GO-GO ARTISTS UNITED: There’s no better way to end the weekend than spending an evening with the region’s best go-go groups. Head to City Winery for performances by Backyard Band, Black Alley, the Chuck Brown Band, Junk Yard Band, Secret Society, and Suttle. Ticket sales go towards a fundraiser for Malachai Johns, a go-go community advocate and booker. (City Winery; 6:30 p.m.; $35)
MORE: Spring Mini-Fest; (Brookland Arts Walk; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; FREE); Taste of the Nation (Franklin Park; 1 p.m.; $95); The Loving Paupers (DC Brau; 2 p.m.; FREE); Session Americana (Hill Center at Old Naval Hospital; 4:30 p.m.; FREE) Capital City Symphony: Symphonic Women (Atlas Performing Arts Center; 5 p.m.; $35); Eilen Jewell and Chris Smither (The Hamilton; 6:30 p.m.; $15+); “Flee” (Lapis; 6:30 p.m.; $55); Lil Boom (Pie Shop; 6:30 p.m.; $20); United States Air Force Band (The Anthem; 7 p.m.; FREE); Mystery Skulls (Union Stage; 7 p.m.; $18); No-No Boys (Songbyrd Music House; 7 p.m.; $15); All Them Witches (Black Cat; 7:30 p.m.; $25); Stavros Halkias (DC Improv; 9:30 p.m.; $30).
