Every day brings new sorrows, but let’s only think about them in passing this weekend. Ironically, this weekend will be kicked off by the somber “In America” flag display by artist Suzanne Firstenberg, taking over the National Mall, at the foot of the Washington Monument. The display is bound by 15th and 17th Streets and Constitution Avenue to the north. Mayor Bowser will officially inagurate the display, which will stay in place through October.
Tomorrow, PARKing Day is coming to the District. Eastern Market Main Street is a participant this year and you can visit their parklet in front of 613 Pennsylvania Avenue SE as well as a DDOT demo, which will highlight what bus lanes could look like along Pennsylvania Avenue. More information here.
There’s a rally coming to the monumental core/Capitol area on Saturday. Make a conscious choice to visit the H Street Festival instead! From noon to 7 p.m., enjoy the best from our beloved crazy street. More information here. There will be plenty of street closures all over the place, so let’s get that list going at the bottom, shall we?
Happy Oktoberfest! The Bavarian tradition of beers, merriment and ooompah kicks off at Wunder Garden in NoMa tomorrow, September 17, starting at 4 p.m. There will be a ceremonial Tapping of the Keg. There will be food by our friends at Café Berlin (so you know it’s going to be amazing) and Oompah by the Lost Lederhosen!
Tomorrow, the Live on the Hill series continues. The peppy, happy local concerts at Eastern Market Metro Park will continue to delight on Fridays at 5 and Saturdays at 10 a.m., weather permitting. The remaining dates are as follows:
Friday, 9/17 – Samuel Prather
Saturday, 9/18 – Jon The Bubble Guy
Friday, 9/24 – Herb Scott
Saturday, 9/25 – Marsha and the Positrons
Need more live music? Check out DC Music Live’s bimonthly Set List column, which features reviews, photos and commentary on the local scene! The app helps you explore all the venues around the area offering LIVE MUSIC! Download it here for iPhone and here for Android!
Richard Spotts, organist, will present the Music of Charles Tournemire on Saturday, September 18 at 7 pm at St. Peter’s Catholic Church (2nd St SE & C St SE). No charge, but free-will offering encouraged. COVID protocols require attendees to wear face masks. Socially distant seating is available in the side pews of the church. More information about the concert is at saintpetersdc.org/music
Did we make it to Sunday in one piece? This calls for a special brunch and our pals at Barrel have you covered ALL DAY. That’s right: No more missing your breakfast favorites because you slept in. Around on Monday? They will also be hosting a Bourbon, Breakfast and Bartenders event from noon to 3 p.m. It’s for the restaurant industry, but open to the public. Cheers!
Can’t get enough of outdoor movies? NoMa’s CiNoMatic continues on September 22 with Fast Five. For more info and tickets, click here.
The Capitol Hill Art League has two shows going on– one at CHAW and one at Frame of Mine. The former, called “Reflections,” runs through September 25 and online here. The latter is “Memories” and runs through October 15 and online here.
Looking for story time? The DC Public Library has brought it back! On Tuesdays, go to the rooftop at Union Market, 10:30 a.m. On Wednesdays, go to Marion Park, 4th and E Streets SE, 10:30 a.m.
PLAN AHEAD:
Capitol Hill Village is holding their first LGBTQ Intergenerational Symposium. It will be two days’ worth of panels, breakout discussions and sessions to build community and well-being. Learn more and sign up here.
The DC Bike Ride is coming Saturday, September 25 starting at 8 a.m.! You can register here for the 20-mile ride around all the beautiful sights the city has to offer. Tickets start at $67. Check out the route map here.
The March on Washington Film Festival is happening from September 30 through October 4 this year, both virtually and in person. You can buy early bird tickets here.
The Dachshund 500 and all the other amazing Oktoberfest festivities at the District Wharf are coming on October 2! Check out the link here for more information and check out the picture above because omg.
The Literary Pumpkin Walk is happening on October 23 and you are invited to participate. Sign up here.
OFF-HILL BUT AWESOME:
Coming at just the right time, the FREE Lab and Love Festival is happening on Saturday, September 18 at the Sun Room in Eckington, 327 S Street NW. The festival goes from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., but you can also join a midnight yoga session the night before (info here). You need healthy cooking demos and henna art in your life. More info here.
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is open at Bryant Street NE. The multi-sensory, multi-room experience is open weekdays 10 am-8 pm and weekends 9 am-9 pm. You can read more about it here and get tickets here. Plan to spend between an hour and a half and two hours in this exhibit. The exhibit is family-friendly, but children under 4 may become a little restless in certain areas. By the way, after your visit, stop by our friends at Metrobar and tell them we sent you! The place is super family-friendly and they have a rolling line-up of food trucks parked right outside.
Local band gone big SHAED will be playing at Tysons Corner on September 17, as part of the iHeart Radio Concert Series– and it’s free! Learn more here.
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Street Closures
For the First Amendment demonstrations, all street closures will happen starting at 3rd Street west, from Constitution Avenue NE to Independence Avenue SW. The whole National Mall area will be unavailable to traffic.
As for the H Street festival, Streetcar service will be unavailable. Additionally, you may not park on H Street NE from 3rd to 14th Streets NE starting at 4 a.m. on Saturday. H Street NE will be closed from 3rd to 14th Streets NE from 4 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Saturday. All numbered cross streets will be open to local traffic only between G and I Streets NE. 14th Street, NE will be closed from Florida Avenue, NE to Maryland Avenue. NE Florida Avenue and H Street, NE (No westbound traffic on H Street, NE)