The To Do List

image uploaded on Flickr by boboroshi

America’s birthday is just a few days away. If you’re still figuring out what to do this weekend (aside from re-reading the Declaration of Independence), there’s plenty of stuff happening on the Hill.

All Weekend
The Nationals will be in town all weekend, trying to redeem themselves after a particularly disappointing couple of weeks – they’ve lost 13 of the last 17 games. Game times are Thursday at 7:05pm, Friday at 7:05pm, Saturday at 4:10pm, and Sunday at 1:35pm.

Saturday should be especially exciting — Stephen Strasburg will be pitching, and the first 20,000 fans in will receive a patriotic Nationals cap.

Thursday
Several movies will be playing on the Hill on Thursday night. At the Atlas Theater, check out Breakfast at Tiffany’s – the 1961 movie based on a novella by Truman Capote starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard – at 8:00pm. At 8:45pm, as part of its summer movie series, Capitol Riverfront will be showing To Kill a Mockingbird at Canal Park.

If you’d rather spend the night at a bar, head to Rock & Roll hotel for “Drunken Jenga.” It’s the same Jenga we enjoyed as kids – where you remove wooden pieces from a tower of other wooden pieces, trying not to knock the whole thing over – but it’s much more difficult with booze involved.

Saturday
Cowboys are uniquely American. So for the July 4^th weekend, Brightest Young Things is throwing a cowboy-themed party at the Capitol Skyline Hotel pool on Saturday from 12:00pm – 5:30pm. Expect cowboy hats, water guns, lassoing, chaps (!), and even a mechanical bull. Bring your own towel – changing rooms and lockers will be provided.

On Saturday evening, you can experience the national 4th of July celebration a day early and without the giant crowd – at the dress rehearsal of the National Symphony Orchestra concert. The program begins at 8:00pm on the West Lawn of the Capitol. Gates open at 3:00pm. It’s a great chance to have a picnic with a killer view and great music.

If you’re in the mood for catching a movie, the Atlas Theater, will be featuring 1776 at 5:00pm and La Dolce Vita at 8:00pm.

Sunday
For Hill residents, Independence Day is packed with activities.

If you’re into tennis, start the morning (at 8:30am) watching the Wimbledon men’s final with traditional English breakfast specialties at Eric Legg’s house. Erics runs Tennis on the Hill, a nonprofit community tennis association. Be sure to RSVP on ToTH’s website.

At 11:00am 10:00am, head to the Capitol Hill Parade. It begins at 8th and I Streets SE, continues around the Capitol, and ends with a community fair at Eastern Market metro plaza – complete with food, entertainment, and kids games.

If you’re headed to the Capitol Fourth Concert, get there early. With 0% chance of rain and temperatures in the mid-80s, the West Lawn of the Capitol will surely be packed. Performers include Reba McEntire, Gladys Knight, Darius Rucker (formerly of Hootie & the Blowfish!), and the National Symphony Orchestra. The show starts at 8:00pm. Gates open at 3:00pm. If you don’t like crowds, it’ll be broadcast live on PBS.

If you’re not blowing up your own explosives (which is illegal and will really upset Kyra), head to the National Mall or a rooftop. The fireworks are launched from the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool and can be seen from just about every high vantage point on Capitol Hill. The Mall will allow folks to start camping out at 10:00am – the show starts at 9:15pm.

If you’re in the mood for a SEVEN HOUR open bar, Capitol Entertainment Group is hosting its annual Party on the Potomac at The Bullpen. The party features food from Glover Park’s Surfside restaurant and live music from Judo Chop, Slim Pickins, and Jimi Smooth and HitTime. And seven hours of open bar. Tickets are $70 for women, $85 for men. Doors open at 4:00pm.