What’s Going On This Weekend? Here are the Best Events in Town

By: Mimi Montgomery

Ben Folds, baseball, and Belize.

Photograph by Lorie Shaull

FRIDAY, JUNE 29

PLAY BALL…The exhibit Baseball Americana opens at the Library of Congress today. It’s as it sounds–a deep dive in America’s pastime, with documents outlining its earliest set of rules, old photos (like those of Civil War soldiers playing the sport), extensive baseball card collections, and broadcasts of the greats like Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson.

FAMOUS FACES…You can keep celebrating the National Portrait Gallery’s 50th anniversary at its one-room exhibit One Year: 1968, An American Odyssey, which opens today. The collection looks at the year the museum opened, with 30 portraits of famous faces of the time like Bobby Kennedy, Jimi Hendrix, the Apollo 8 astronauts, and MLK, Jr.

FOLDS, BEN FOLDS…The quirky, funny, and talented musician Ben Folds is hosting Declassified tonight at the Kennedy Center, which is described as “part concert, part party.” The line-up is totally curated by Folds, and tonight will see tunes from the likes of Jon Batiste of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and singer-songwriter Kishi Bashi. Stick around–there’s live band karaoke afterwards.

YOU BETTER BELIZE IT…Party Belize-style tonight at the country’s embassy. It’ll pull out all the stops to represent the best of the Central American nation: a full Belizean buffet, an open bar with local rum, facetime with the ambassador, authentic music, and Belizean art. Almost like a mini-vacation, no?

A FAREWELL TO TOWN…It is iconic gay nightclub Town’s last weekend in the District, and it’s doin’ it up big. Stop by tonight for the final Bear Happy Hour before a drag show and DJ sets kick off. The big closing party is Saturday night, though, with another drag show with music by the club’s owner. As they say, it’s not goodbye–just see you later. Good luck battling the lines out front!

AND…Blac Rabbit at U Street Music Hall…A France v. Germany World Cup-themed wine tasting…Cacao + sound bathing…Old 97’s at the 9:30 Club…Dance the night away at the French Embassy…Party like it’s the 90s…Walk Theodore Roosevelt Island at night…Practice your French, s’il vous plaît…Gong bath it up…

Photograph by Tim Brown

SATURDAY, JUNE 30

SHOW UP AND SPEAK…No matter your political or ideological beliefs, it’s still pretty cool to see democracy in action. Participate in your rights to freedom of speech (or watch others!) at today’s rally to end family separation. Protesters with signs in-hand will meet in front of the White House to let Trump know what they think about his immigration policies.

UNDERNEATH IT ALL…Dive into the history of the local Franciscan monastery–no, literally, you will go underground. The catacombs beneath the church are reminiscent of the same early Christian structures, which were used to house the dead. Don’t worry, this one was created purely for replication, and all (but one!) of the graves are fake. It’s a little foray into history that will have you feeling very Tom Hanks in The DaVinci Code.

PINK DRINK…Aaaaaand the rosé events just keep comin’. Yards Park is going all-out pink today for a shindig that’s all about every millennial’s fave beverage. Sample nine different kinds of rosé and bop around between booths by the likes of District Winery, Due South, Chloe, and Whaley’s. And yes, you will be able to document it all via Insta–there will be photos setups galore.

AND…Shop local in Georgetown...Come in for a free mammogram…Turnpike Troubadours at 9:30 Club…Yoga + poetry…Stephen Stills and Judy Collins reunite…Bar crawl it up for America…Celebrate five years of Arcuri restaurant…Jam and groove at Pansaari…Take the little one to a bilingual event at the National Theatre…Wish it was the 80s? You’re in luck…Listen to some Canadian Brass…

Photograph by Flickr user washingtonydc

SUNDAY, JULY 1

‘TIS THE CEZANNE…It’s the last day to catch the free Cezanne exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. The exhibit is the first devoted exclusively to the French painter’s portraits, with over 60 on display. It has a thorough walk-through of Cezanne’s approach to documenting his subjects, and it features exclusive works that have never been displayed in the U.S. before.

ALMOST TOO PRETTY TO EAT…Calling all Top Chef binger-watchers–just like your favorite culinary masters, you, too, can plate your dishes with finesse and style. District Space will host Iron Gate chef Paola Velez to teach you how to pair flavors in a stop-and-stare presentation (topped with edible flowers from Little Wild Things). On top of the hands-on demonstration, you’ll get a complimentary drink and dessert.

SWINGIN’ SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES…Grab your Baby Boomer friends, because this is  night they won’t want to miss. The Happy Together Tour is heading to the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club to play the best of the 60s and 70s. The Turtles of songs like “Happy Together” will be headlining, and other artists include Three Dog Night’s Chuck Negron, The Association, and The Cowsills. Rock out like it’s 50 years ago.

AND…Elaine S. Povich on her John McCain biography…Yoga at Dumbarton House…Learn to backpack through the wilderness…Visit the National Museum of Women in the Arts for free!…Live it up at a bottomless brunch with stand-up comics…A historic tour through the many scandals and secrets of Lafayette Square…