Happy Monday, DC!
Washingtonian’s tasty Best of Washington party is sold out, but there’s still plenty to do this week. Cheer on some of tennis’ top players at the Mubadala DC Open, sing along to folk-pop vocalist Noah Kahan at Nationals Park, or stay cool indoors at Miracle Theatre’s The Jury Experience.
Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend
July 20–July 26
-
- Mubadala DC Open. Some of tennis’ greatest players are competing at Mubadala DC Open. Our beloved summer sporting event brings hometown favorite Frances Tiafoe back to the courts at Rock Creek Park along with multi-Grand Slam doubles champion Venus Williams. In between matches, fans can eat Michelin-starred bites and check out live interviews with players (Sat through August 2, $60+, Rock Creek Park).
- Noah Kahan with Gigi Perez concert. Folk-pop vocalist Noah Kahan released his new project The Great Divide this spring. Get tickets to his summertime concert with viral TikTok singer-songwriter Gigi Perez to hear their acoustic and banjo melodies echo throughout Nats Park (Wed, $436+, Nationals Park).
- “The Jury Experience” at Miracle Theatre. Here’s a jury duty that you won’t want to skip. The Jury Experience transforms Miracle Theatre into an interactive courtroom where the audience gets to decide the fate of a dramatic investigation involving a driverless car (Fri, $36+, Eastern Market).
- Loudoun County Fair. Attention pie eaters, carnival ride passengers, and derby enthusiasts: Fair season arrives this week. The Loudoun County Fair is the first local fair to start the season with four days of pig races, live local music, thrill rides, and lots of finger-licking treats (Tues-Sat, $13.50+ for adults, $5.75 for ages 6 to 12, free for 5 and younger, Leesburg).
Want More Things to Do?
Arts and culture:
- Thighs Wide Shut is author Hayley Fleming’s debut romance novel. Learn about the latest love story at East City Bookshop (Tues, free, virtual, Capitol Hill).
- Watch a movie screening of 2002 crime-comedy Catch Me If You Can (Wed, free, Wharf).
- See a fashion show, listen to local bands, and munch on bites from food vendors at Rhizome (Sat, $15, Takoma).
- The historic clock tower—a remnant of DC’s Old Post Office building—at Waldorf Astoria reopens for public views of the city (every Wed-Sat, free, Downtown).
- Ocean’s 8 kicks off Bethesda’s outdoor movies series (Sat, July 31, August 7, free, Bethesda).
- Calling all poets to the Poet Life Fest at Gateway DC Pavilion (Sat, free, Congress Heights).
Theater and shows:
- Homegrown District Fringe Festival closes out their quirky and comedic live acts this week (through Sun, $15, University of District Columbia).
Music and concerts:
- Indie-rock singer-songwriter Kurt Vile plays songs from his ninth studio album Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me at Howard Theatre (Wed, $52, Shaw).
- Punk band Downtown Boys released their first album after a decade hiatus. You can see them live at DC9 Nightclub (Wed, $18+, Shaw).
- Legendary songwriter Bob Dylan returns to Wolf Trap for two evenings to sing some of his greatest rock and roll poems from the ’60s (Fri-Sat, $65+, Vienna).
Sports:
- World Cup is over, but our home team still has lively soccer matches to attend. Cheer for DC United as they face Toronto FC (Sat, $29+, Audi Field).
Exercise and wellness:
- Take a Brain Break at Met Park with aromatherapy, coloring books, and more activities to help you slow down (Tues, free, Arlington).
- Watch the sunrise while you practice yoga at the Jefferson Memorial; there’s a tea social, too (Tues, $55, National Mall).
- Choose to break a sweat at R&B pilates, trap music yoga, or a HIIT workout at Franklin Park (Sat, free, Downtown).
Bites and beverages:
- Treat yourself to ice cream, chocolates, and more complimentary goodies at Union Station (Mon-Fri, free, Union Station).
- Centrolina chef Amy Brandwein collabs with Anju chef Angel Barreto for a four-course tasting menu that blends Korean and Italian cuisines (Wed, $150, Downtown).
Things to do with kids:
- Play console and classic games at the SAAM Arcade (Sat, free, registration encouraged, Smithsonian American Art Museum).
- Artist Javier Starks guides families through a workshop on songwriting, playlist compilation, and storytelling at Arena Stage (Sat, free, Southwest DC).
- Kiddos can splash in the pool, cool off with ice cream, and wheel through a 4-mile family bike ride (Sat, free, Capitol Hill).
If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
