FRIDAY, AUG. 25
ALEXANDRIA RESTAURANT WEEK: Want a date night on a budget? You don’t need more than $25 to take advantage of Alexandria Restaurant Week, which comes to a close Sunday. Over 70 restaurants in the Alexandria area, including Hank’s Oyster Bar and Indochen, are offering $25, $35 or $45 prix fixe dinners. (Alexandria; through Sunday; $25+)
DC BLACK FILM FESTIVAL: No need to leave the comfort of your couch — the DC Black Film Festival is going virtual. After kicking off in-person earlier this month, the festival is bringing its offerings online this weekend. Support local, independent filmmakers with a stream. (Virtual; through August 30; pay what you can)
PUNK WALKING TOUR: What’s more punk than a walking tour? Only the public library, perhaps. Meet Off the Mall Tours Friday for a District of Punk Walking Tour, which guides attendees down memory lane to the heyday of D.C.’s punk rock scene, highlighting the bands, venues, and people who made it so special. (Gallery Place; 6 p.m.; $25)
BLACK POWER RANGERS: Go go Black Power Rangers! The Black Power Rangers are a quartet of Black comedians from the South: Wills Maxwell Jr., Brandi Roberts, Cordero Wilson, and Jarrod Fortune. They’ll bring their comedic powers to the DC Arts Center. (DC Arts Center; 7:30 p.m.; $18)
MORE: DCBX15 (Renaissance Marriott Hotel; through August 28; $69+), Poetry Readings with CJ Davis (Mason Exhibitions Arlington; 5 p.m.-8 p.m.; FREE), Pleasure Portal: Conscious Creation & Nurturing Our Inner Fire (Eaton DC; 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; $40), Beer Run Comedy (Dacha Beer Garden Navy Yard; 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; FREE), Campout Comedy Show (City-State Brewing; 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; $15), To Kill a Mockingbird (Kennedy Center; through Sunday; $49+)
SATURDAY, AUG. 26
WOMEN’S EQUALITY BIKE RIDE: Did you know this Saturday is Women’s Equality Day? DC Bike Ride did, and they’ve teamed up with REI Co-op and Streets Calling DC to celebrate with a Women’s Equality Day Bike Ride. The 12-mile loop will take bikers through the city and along the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. (Anacostia Park Roller Skating Pavilion; 9 a.m.-11a.m.; FREE)
THAT’S SO VINTAGE: Does your closet need a refresh? Swing by the second installment of That’s So Vintage, a pop-up market featuring over 15 vintage goods sellers that returns to Union Market this Saturday. Admission is free, but you’ll need a timed ticket to enter. (Union Market; 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; FREE)
STAR WARS TAILGATE: Whether you’re coming as a hockey enthusiast or a Star Wars geek, there’s a place for you at the DMV Women’s Hockey All-Star Wars Game & Tailgate. DMV Women’s Hockey, a community dedicated to connecting women with the sport, has organized this Star Wars themed game and tailgate in Laurel. Costumes are, of course, encouraged. (The Gardens Ice House; 1 p.m.-6 p.m.; FREE)
MEGAFEST: Quench your thirst this weekend with a cold beer courtesy of Megafest, a Black-owned beer festival making its return to the District this Saturday. The “festival meets block party” celebrates four years of brewing company Soul Mega with food, music, and a whole lot to drink. (Sandlot Anacostia; 3 p.m.; $50+)
DISTRITO MUSIC FEST: The Distrito Music Fest, a local festival celebrating Latin American musicians based in the D.C. region, makes its return this weekend. Head to Union Stage to dance the evening away to groups like Sonòsfera, Nayas, Pekeke Project, Los Novios De Martita, Bongo District and more. (Union Stage; 5 p.m.; $35)
ARI VOXX & THE SAD LADS: Ari Voxx is okay, please stop asking! This weekend, the local dream-pop singer-songwriter will be celebrating the release of her debut album: I’m Okay, Please Stop Asking. Voxx and her accompanying band, the Sad Lads, will play the album in its entirety at Songbyrd, with Julie O. and Jaylin opening. (Songbyrd Music House; 7 p.m.; $15+)
STRUGGLE MAGAZINE: Putting together an independent literary magazine isn’t easy, but the folks behind D.C.’s Struggle Magazine have done it again. Join the magazine’s team as they celebrate the launch of their fifth issue at Georgetown’s Green Almond Pantry. (Green Almond Pantry; 7 p.m.-10 p.m.; $20)
MORE: Growing Community: Where We Work (Anacostia Community Museum; 10 a.m.-11 a.m.; FREE), Otari Shiuk (Nepenthe Gallery; 11 a.m.; FREE), Middle Eastern Festival (St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church; 12 p.m.-9 p.m.; FREE), Akata Unbound: African Diaspora Coming Together (Martin Luther King Library; 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.; FREE), ‘80s Mayhem (Loudoun Station; 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; FREE), Rockin’ at The Ridge: DTC (City Ridge; 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; FREE), Flashband: Trios (The Pocket; 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m.; $25), Wax Motif (9:30 Club; 9 p.m.; $35), Bollywood Azaad (Hard Rock Cafe; 9:30 p.m.-3 a.m.; $20+), Rodeo Rave (DC9 Nightclub; 10:30 p.m.-2 a.m.; $15+)
SPONSORED LITERARY COSTUME BALL: The Library of Congress has opened a ticket lottery for its upcoming Literary Costume Ball. Limited capacity — lottery closes Aug. 31. Dress as your favorite literary figure for a night of dancing, DJ music, cocktails, caricature artists, photo moments, and curated collections. (Jefferson Building; Sept. 14, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; FREE)
SUNDAY, AUG. 27
TIAN TIAN’S BIRTHDAY: Here’s a birthday party you won’t want to miss: Tian Tian is celebrating 26 years of being a giant panda this Sunday at the National Zoo. Join the celebration in person, or stream it from home — it’ll be Tian Tian’s last in D.C. before flying back to China with his family. (National Zoo; 9 a.m.-10 a.m.; FREE)
POETRY IN THE PARKS: Rhizome is trading Takoma Park for Rock Creek Park this Sunday for Poetry in the Parks, an off-site workshop led by Mount Pleasant poet Amelia. Join the class at Peirce Mill, and let your surroundings inspire your writing. (Peirce Mill; 4 p.m.-7 p.m.; $10+)
GIRL ULTRA: Close out your weekend with Mariana de Miguel, better known as Girl Ultra. The Mexico City born and bred R&B artist turned heads with Nuevos Aires, her 2019 album, and followed it up last year with EL SUR, an energetic, lustful and critically-acclaimed record. (Black Cat; 7:30 p.m.; $20+)
MORE: Meat and Greet with the I-71 Committee (Unity Park; 1 p.m.; FREE), History of Black Georgetown Walking Tour (3206 O Street NW; 2 p.m.; $25), American Roots Concert Series: The Wildmans (Hill Center at Old Naval Hospital; 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.; FREE), Journey Within: Meditation & Wisdom with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Thomas Jefferson Middle School; 5 p.m.-7 p.m.; $35+)
