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The hazy days of summer are upon us, and events on activity-chocked Capitol Hill have slowed down a wee bit. There’s plenty of time for trying out some of the new spots on 8th Street, picking up peaches at the H Street Farmers Market, checking in on the plots at your local community garden, or sipping beer on the patio, the porch or even under the air conditioning vent. It might even be the weekend to try out that Guiness ice cream recipe. But for those of you looking farther than your freezer for entertainment, never fear!
If you’d like to inject a bit of beer into your weekend arts activities, make plans to see the production of Beertown at CHAW’s Black Box Theatre at 7:30 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. This pay-what-you-can developmental performance gives attendees the chance to see a play as a work-in-progress; the night concludes with a dialogue with the audience examining the show’s content, style and impact. There’s even a desert potluck to reward those with constructive criticism, but please, nut-free deserts only!
For those of you in the mood to tap your toes, it’s time to make some decisions about your plans for Thursday and Friday nights. For a more refined evening, head to CHAW on Thursday night for a free performance by the Moorland Ensemble String Quartet at 7:30 p.m. The program will feature Handel-Halvorsen, Haydn, and Brahms. Or, for bluegrass, hit SOVA for their weekly series, featuring By & By at 9 p.m.
For a neighborly picnic dinner and (hopefully) a river breeze, catch the Jimi Smooth performance at The Yards Park on Friday night. The Motown hits start at 6 p.m.
Or if you’re feeling like it’s time for a “shadow of the Capitol” evening, take advantage of the weekly Friday night concert series by the US Army Concert Band at 8 p.m. on the west steps of the Capitol. The show this week features a musical journey through Spain, Norway, Russia, and Japan.
Breaking Laces with Finding Fiction and Brian Glennon performs at Ebenezer’s Coffee House at 7:30 p.m. for $10. The headlining band Breaking Laces is a three-piece acoustic rock band out of Brooklyn NY with a sound that has stylistic debts to such artists as Death Cab for Cutie, Snow Patrol, They Might Be Giants and the Lemonheads.
The run of Brave Spirits’ presentation of Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Fridge continues through Saturday at 8 p.m., with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.
Tommy Wells will host the 5th Annual Ward 6 Family Day on Saturday from 1-5 p.m. at the Yards Park. Highlights include free food, live music and dancing, as well as zumba and salsa sessions, face painting, boat crafts and a Moon Bounce. There will be a Diaper Drive hosted by the DC Diaper Bank, as well as door prizes featuring gift certificates from local businesses and sporting memorabilia from the Wizards, DC United and Washington Nationals.