The 23 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week (2024)

August 1, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. EDT

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As You Are reopening

When Capitol Hill’s queer community space launched a fundraiser to keep its doors open in February, it raised more than $170,000. But in April, problems with the building forced As You Are to temporarily close anyway. Finally, the cafe and bar is back and celebrating with a weekend of events. After opening Thursday at noon, it’s hosting a “queeraoke” night upstairs. On Friday, the “Mother” dance party features pop hits from Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan and more. Saturday brings a celebration of emo and pop-punk with “Fishnets and Feelings,” and Sunday ushers back AYA’s “Later in Life” coffee chats for those 35 and older. Through Sunday. Free.

James Baldwin birthday celebrations

Friday is James Baldwin’s 100th birthday, but some locals are getting an early start on celebrating the centennial of the author and civil rights activist. The National Portrait Gallery, which recently opened “This Morning, This Evening, So Soon: James Baldwin and the Voices of Queer Resistance,” billed as a “collective portrait” of the multifaceted Baldwin, hosts a 90-minute James Baldwin Birthday Slam in the Kogod Courtyard, feting him in poetry and prose, with local poetry collective ARS Poetica. (5 p.m., free.) At the Georgetown Library, Smithsonian historian Deborah Tulani Salahu-Din offers a talk on “Why Baldwin Matters Today,” followed by live jazz and the cutting of a birthday cake. (5:30 p.m. Free.)

Casta’s Rum Bar Fifth Anniversary Party

Casta’s Rum Bar is a go-to party spot for fans of rum-based Cuban co*cktails, whether you’re craving a classic mojito, a smooth-and-fruity Hotel Nacional or a frozen daiquiri on the tucked-away back patio, paired with weekly salsa lessons. The West End bar celebrates its fifth anniversary with an extended happy hour featuring $5 beers and shooters and $5 snacks including Cuban sliders and yuca fries. 5 p.m. to midnight. Free entry.

Swiss National Day at Gallery O on H

Recent weeks have seen the French celebrating Bastille Day and Belgian restaurants offering half-price beer for that country’s national day. This week, it’s Switzerland’s turn. H Street NE’s Swiss restaurant Stable is on hiatus for the season, so it’s hosting a pop-up party at neighbors Gallery O on H. Tickets include bottomless sausages, raclette, frites and other traditional dishes, washed down with Swiss beers, wines, co*cktails and aperitifs. BYO alphorn. 6:30 to 9 p.m. $50-$85.

Thursday Thirst at Shakers

Last week, Shakers celebrated its first year on Vermont Avenue NW with two-for-one drinks, which we thought was a great deal. As an encore, one of our favorite new LGBTQ+ bars has announced a new special: $3 rail drinks “from open to close” on Thursdays. This is the budget-friendly kickoff to the weekend that your wallet is craving. 5 to 11 p.m. Free.

H Street Bingo

Ask any restaurant or bar owner and they’ll tell you that traffic slows down in August, as people head out of town or dial back plans due to the sticky, sauna-like humidity and pop-up thunderstorms. Merchants on H Street NE are trying to encourage bar and restaurant hopping this month with the launch of H Street Bingo. Register through the H Street Herald newsletter to get a bingo card, then visit businesses along the corridor through Aug. 31, taking photos at various locations. Complete rows or columns to be eligible to win prizes including tickets to shows at Atlas Performing Arts Center, dinner for two at Steak Frites or $25 gift cards. Through Aug. 31. Free to register.

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Otakon at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Cosplay parties and anime screenings, fashion shows and dance classes, maid cafes and a masquerade — the fun never stops at Otakon, Washington’s largest celebration of Asian pop culture. This year, the con’s 30th anniversary, is no exception: Drop into guest panels covering topics such as Japanese folklore, a day in the life of a K-pop star or “how Studio Ghibli uses animation to portray difficult topics.” Watch a sumo bout, or try “Sailor Moon”-inspired yoga. Shop stands full of collectible merchandise or original art, or browse the “30 Years of Otakon” exhibit. Try live-action role playing; learn how to sew your own costumes for next year’s Otakon; or meet animators, directors and voice actors. And definitely don’t miss the signature formal ball and masquerade, which bring all the themes of Otakon together. Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $100 for three-day passes; $40-$70 per day; $50 ages 9 to 12; free for under 9.

African Diaspora International Film Festival at GWU University Student Center

George Washington University hosts the 17th annual African Diaspora International Film Festival, with a docket of 17 features, shorts and documentaries shining a light on Black culture in the United States and around the world. The festival opens Friday with “Breaking Boundaries,” a documentary about African American rhythmic gymnast Nastasya Generalova’s quest to make it to the 2020 Olympic Games, followed by a Q&A with Generalova. The closing-night event is the D.C. premiere of “One Person, One Vote?,” an examination of America’s electoral college, followed by a Q&A with director Maximina Juson. The rest of the lineup includes contemporary and classic flicks about life in Suriname, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Brazil, Cuba, the United States, France, Jamaica and Tunisia. Through Sunday. $13 for regular screenings; $11 for students and seniors; $20-$35 for opening night or closing night; $120 for an all-access festival pass; $45-$55 for one-day passes.

Baltimore Artscape

Our neighbors to the north have been hosting the Artscape festival for 40 years, as it’s grown to become one of the nation’s largest destinations for free art and culture. For three days, the neighborhoods around Penn Station — Station North, Mount Vernon, Charles Street and Bolton Hill — are filled with music, pop-up installations, activities and public art exhibitions, making it an easy day trip for Washingtonians. Chaka Khan, Sheila E. and the Original Wailers headline one of four music stages, but there’s so much more to be found: fashion shows; juried markets with artists and makers; interactive gaming; dance, puppet and improv comedy performances; beer gardens; Baltimore house DJs and drag performances. Stick around each night for activities like karaoke or voguing. Friday from 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.

‘Emily in Paris’ pop-up bar at Morris American Bar

Between the Olympics and the upcoming fourth season of “Emily in Paris,” the City of Light is enjoying an extended moment in the spotlight. And if you’re trying to capture some of that Parisian joie de vivre, Emily’s Netflix overlords would steer you away from the likes of Le Dip, Bar à Vin or Bistrot du Coin in favor of their official pop-up bar at Morris American Bar. The press release promises “a chic Parisian cafe featuring neon signs, scaled-down Tour Eiffels” and co*cktails made with French aperitif Lillet, an official sponsor. Come Aug. 15, when the new season of “Emily” launches, you’ll be able to view it on a 15-foot projection screen. Until then, the Olympics will be the focus. Through November. Reservations suggested.

Jane Austen Ball at Dumbarton House

Georgetown’s circa-1800 Dumbarton House plays host to the ultimate night out for Jane Austen fans: a formal Regency ball, complete with waltz lessons for newbies. The evening includes the chance to tour the mansion and explore the gardens after dark, and guests can opt for a ticket that includes an hour-long dance lesson before the festivities begin, or a cheaper option that nixes the dance lessons in favor of an 8 p.m. entrance to the ball. Wine and dessert will be available for purchase, and as for the dress code, “Regency attire” is requested (but black tie works, too). 6:30 to 10 p.m. $95-$145.

‘The Ultimate Improv Show’ at the Kennedy Center

Catch some of the improv scene’s finest at the Kennedy Center’s week-and-a-half-long string of shows. The shows kick off when a rotating celebrity monologuist — including Punkie Johnson (Aug. 6), Scott Simon (Aug. 7 and 8) and Harvey Guillén (Aug. 10) — takes a prompt from the audience to share a true story. A cast of improvisers then weave scenes into a full show, made up in real time. Through Aug. 11. $40-$65.

Suarez Family Brewery at the Sovereign

Lager lovers rave about the clean, sharp and eminently quaffable pilsners and dark lagers from New York’s Suarez Family Brewery. But the family-run operation’s offerings run deeper, including saisons and mixed-culture ales aged on locally grown rhubarbs or peaches. Try six of these rare beers, including sours aged in oak barrels with cherries and satsuma plums, during a tasting at the Sovereign in Georgetown. And if your tastes lean classic, they’ll have pours of the crowd-pleasing Palatine Pils and While unfiltered Helles, too. 5 p.m. Free admission; beers priced individually.

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Black Books Matter Fest at Mahogany Books

Mahogany Books’ National Harbor location is replacing its Black Books Matter Day with a festival highlighting local authors and vendors. The event, hosted in honor of activist James Baldwin’s 100th birthday, features talks from local Black writers, a book swap, a children’s story time, a library card sign-up drive and a vendor market featuring businesses like African Ancestry. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free.

Mid City Dog Days

Deals await at area boutiques if you’re willing to suffer through the August humidity: Indie stores in D.C. and Alexandria host August sidewalk sales over the next few weekends. First up is the Logan Circle and U Street corridor’s 25th annual Mid City Dog Days sidewalk sale, where boutiques and vendors set up shop along 14th and U streets. Browse discounted items outside favorite bricks-and-mortar destinations Salt and Sundry, Solid State Books, GoodWood or the Transformer gallery, or explore dozens of pop-up vendors hawking candles, pottery, jams and jewelry along the sidewalks. Stop off for outdoor refreshments at Aslin’s beer garden or Cork Wine Bar along the way. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.

Jollof Festival at Dew Drop Inn

Come hungry to Dew Drop Inn to sample several regional variations of one of West Africa’s most beloved dishes. Chefs from around West Africa compete for a champion title, as designated by participants. The festival also includes family-friendly activities and performances. A tiered ticketing system offers entry only, three to five jollof tastings and samples of other African dishes. 2 to 7 p.m. $10 for children under 10; $15-$90 for adults.

Girl Pop Brunch Tea Party at Le Mont Royal

The French Canadian restaurant in Adams Morgan is launching a monthly brunch series featuring songs from the women of this summer’s pop scene: Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and more. A ticket includes a brunch buffet, disco tea service and bottomless tea-themed co*cktails. 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. $55.

J.J. Fad at the Hip Hop Shop

All-female hip-hop trio J.J. Fad is remembered today for the infectious 1988 hit single “Supersonic,” but the group made hip-hop history for more than just one song: They were among the first artists on Eazy-E’s Ruthless Records, and “Supersonic” was one of the first songs nominated for a Grammy for best rap performance, though it lost to “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” Hip-hop historian Sean “XLG” Mitchell is interviewing the members of J.J. Fad for a forthcoming documentary, “Straight Outta Ruthless Records: The Story of J.J. Fad,” and the public is invited to watch the conversation and partake in a meet-and-greet session. 1 to 3 p.m. Free.

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D.C. Rickey co*cktail Competition at Jack Rose

On the face of it, the rickey is a simple yet refreshing summer drink: a highball with either gin or bourbon and the juice of half a lime, topped up with soda water. No wonder D.C.’s native co*cktail — invented at a downtown bar called Shoomaker’s in the 1880s — has been dubbed “air conditioning in a glass.” It’s a simple drink, that is, until D.C.’s top mixologists have their way with the recipe. Since 2008, the D.C. Craft Bartenders Guild has sponsored a contest to find the most delicious and original take on the rickey, and previous years have seen gins, whiskeys and sodas infused with a cornucopia of ingredients: black pepper, jicama, watermelon — even carbonated tomato water. This year, bartenders from Amazonia, the Wells, Side Door and other local hot spots are bringing their versions to Jack Rose in an attempt to win a trophy and bragging rights. Tickets include unlimited samples of the competitors’ rickeys, passed hors d’oeuvres and the right to vote for your favorite in the people’s choice contest. 1 to 4 p.m. $45.

Wonderland Ballroom’s 20th anniversary

“Unless you lived in Columbia Heights [in 2004], you can’t imagine the days when the Wonderland Ballroom was the only bar on the 11th Street NW strip. Heck, it was one of the only places for drinking and dancing in the entire neighborhood, which fostered a great sense of community and too many first dates to count.” That’s how we wrote about Wonderland Ballroom’s 10th anniversary party back in 2014, and a decade on, as we’ve watched even more neighborhood favorites come and go, it’s worth remembering that Wonderland was serving up cold drinks, great tunes and fun gatherings like Sundress Fest years before the Target opened a few blocks west. At this point, it’s impossible to imagine Columbia Heights without it. Here’s to many more years of happy hours and sweaty dance parties. 4 p.m. Free.

All-You-Can-Eat Maryland Hard Shell Crabfest at the Imperial

If you’ve been out to buy Maryland blue crabs this year, you know prices are higher than usual. And we have to admit that the $125 ticket price of the Imperial’s all-you-can-eat crab feast — $147 with tax and gratuity — made us pause. But if you want to feast on local blues this year, you’re going to pay for it, especially in the middle of D.C. This feast includes 2½ hours of unlimited No. 1 and No. 2 crabs, local corn on the cob, potato salad, Old Bay fries, homemade hush puppies, and buckets of Natty Boh. (A la carte $12 co*cktails include puss*r’s Painkillers and Ocean City-style orange crushes.) Seatings at 1 and 5 p.m. $147.

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E.U. with Sugar Bear at Strathmore

Strathmore’s Live From the Lawn concert series is scheduled to host all kinds of music this summer — jazz, blues, bluegrass, kids’ music and more. But what’s the plan for the gigs scheduled to take place after legendary go-go band E.U. — of “Da Butt” fame — presumably leaves a smoking crater in the grass? Pack a picnic dinner, your dancing shoes, your backside and a blast suit. 7:30 p.m. Free.

AdMo Vibe in Kalorama Park

The July 31 launch of the AdMo Vibe summer concert series in Adams Morgan’s Kalorama Park was postponed due to wet conditions, so let’s hope the weather is more favorable for the outdoor performance by the Airport 77s, a D.C. power pop trio whose spiky riffs and smooth harmonies conjure the Jam and Cheap Trick. (And no, dear reader, your eyes don’t deceive you: That is former Washington Post columnist John Kelly pounding the drums.) Fingers crossed they’ll have the chance to play songs like “One Good Thing About Summer.” Before the concert begins, visit neighborhood restaurants for discounted picnic supplies, including $12 sandwiches and burgers from the Imperial; $15 hot chicken and waffle platters from Federalist Pig; or buy-one, get-one-free dishes from City Lights of China. (See the Adams Morgan Partnership website for a full list of deals.) Concert 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free.