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

By: Mimi Montgomery

What to Do in D.C. This Weekend (8/10 – 8/12)

Pop-up bars, classic films, and coffee.

Photo by Tim Brown

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10

PARTY IN THE GARDEN…The Enid A. Haupt Garden is between the Museum of African Art and the Freer|Sackler Galleries, and it’ll be bumpin’ tonight for an after-hours event. Come by for late-night access to the African and Asian art exhibits, music by a DJ, cocktails, talks by the curators, a photo booth, and African and Asian-inspired food.

LARP IT UP…Get your Asian pop culture fix in at this weekend’s Otakon convention. Friday through Sunday, come by for all things anime, manga, film, music, video games–you name it. Not only can you listen to the music from Final Fantasy performed live, you can also see an MMA demonstration, LARP while dressed up as your favorite characters, and check out art.

JUST KEEP PADDLIN’…This is kind of like a triathlon, except way more lowkey and way more fun. Run, Paddle, Repeat is an event where you run a mile to the Capital Riverfront, then stand-up paddle board for 30 minutes, then run another mile. No training required, and you can always stay longer to paddle board, if you like.

FALL FEST…The East of the River Fall Fest in Anacostia brings together live performances, go-go music, and free Caribbean food. There’ll be a drive for back-to-school supplies, too, as well as HIV testing.

AND…Hot Chip at U Street Music Hall…Jam at a 90s dance party…Dance to disco at City Winery…Meditate with a gong…Jazz in the Garden…Take a beer-tasting tour at Bluejacket…Catch anime film In This Corner of the World…East Coast and West Coast wine face-off…Listen to stories told by refugees…Play board games at the Potter’s House…

Photo by Justin Schuck

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11

TOUR DE PARK…Ever walked through Meridian Hill Park and wondered, Hmm, how did all this get here? Take a tour with Fiona Clem, who wrote a book about the park, and learn about the 12 acres of space modeled after Italian gardens, its history, and its significance within the neighborhood and city.

DRINK 4 ART…Rorschach Theatre is teaming up with the mastermind behind the Game of Thrones and Royal Wedding pop-up bars to create a one-night-only bar of its own. Inspired by upcoming plays on the theater’s roster, three separate installations will take you through a Icelandic winter, the mysterious cosmos, and the Elysian Fields (all with a drink in-hand, of course). Hosted at Union Drinkery, fund will go toward the theater.

ATTN. MOVIE BUFFS…Hosted every two years, the UCLA Film & Television Archive’s preservation festival is all about those hard-to-find movies that span cinematic history. To celebrate, catch a slew of unique films at the National Gallery through September 3, from works by pioneering female directors to silent comedies. On tonight’s agenda? The Ernst Lubitsch classic Trouble in Paradise.

AND…Shakira at Capital One Arena…Bring the kiddos to a puppet show…Do yoga at the U.S. Botanic Garden…The Mulligan Brothers at Pearl Street Warehouse…Learn 2 preserve fruits and veggies…Photograph butterflies…A pottery workshop…A dog-friendly happy hour at the National Building Museum…

Photo by Joe Flood

SUNDAY, AUGUST 12

BUZZZZ…Are you a caffeine addict? This is for you–the Line Hotel will host the second annual DMV Coffee Roaster’s Showcase. Come try some of the area’s best java, from Vigilante to Swing’s to Qualia. Not our fault if you can’t fall asleep tonight.

BOUQUET + ROSE…This may sound basic, but whatever–it’ll be fun! Head to Up Top Acres’s rooftop farm to make flower bouquets whilst drinking rosé. A farmer will walk you through arranging two bouquets while you sip and snack, and after, you’ll get to take your flowers home in mason jars (because, of course).

FEELIN’ JAZZY…MahoganyBooks is a local store that sells books written by, for, or about folks from the African diaspora. Today, it will team up with the Anacostia Arts Center for a jazzy afternoon. The folks behind the book D.C. Jazz: Stories of Jazz Music in Washington, D.C., will talk about our city’s contribution to the growth of jazz, as well as historical jazz sites in the area. After, the group will sign books, and you’ll be treated to live jazz by the Kent Miller Quartet.

AND…Pedro the Lion at Black Cat…Fried chicken + champagne…Meditate on a rooftop…Catch a film at the Embassy of Sweden…Learn to use Photoshop…Take a dance class on the waterfront…Partake in a guided meditation with your little ones…Watch some French New Wave films…Two words: water aerobics…A book talk with How Schools Work author Arne Duncan…Porch Life at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage…