Good day, DC!
Welcome back from the extended weekend. The DMV is a music town this week. You can see Ari Lennox’s homecoming R&B concert at MGM National Harbor, snag passes to Project Glow’s electrifying festival, or clap to local tunes at Petworth PorchFest.
Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend
May 27–May 31
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- Ari Lennox concert. DC’s own R&B star Ari Lennox has a homecoming performance at MGM National Harbor. The two-night show comes after the release of her new album Vacancy, a sensual record featuring nods to the District on songs such as “Mobbin in DC” (Sat-Sun, $129+, National Harbor).
- Project Glow. The high-energy electronic and dance music festival returns to RFK Festival grounds this weekend. Three stages will feature heart-thumping performances from more than 50 artists, DJs, and producers over a span of two days including beats by DJ Mandy, Cosmic Gate, Zeds Dead, and many more (Sat-Sun, $119+ for single-day pass, $209+ for two-day pass, RFK Campus).
- “We Make History” exhibit. The Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum reopens this weekend with an unveiling of a new exhibition, “We Make History.” Find community histories, personal narratives, sports memorabilia, and artifacts from historic Washingtonians in commemoration of the United States semiquincentennial (opens Sat, free, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum).
- Petworth PorchFest. Experience several live pop-up concerts and performances across Petworth at the annual PorchFest. This year’s music lineup features One Worship DMV, go-go band UCB, post-hardcore tunes by Sonorosa, karaoke, and lots more entertainment (Sat, free, Petworth).
Want More Things to Do?
Arts and culture:
- Grab a spot on the Alethia Tanner Park lawn for an outdoor movie showing of adventure flick National Treasure (Wed, free, NoMa).
- Senator Chris Murphy discusses politics and democracy with Jonathan Capehart at Sixth & I (Wed, $15, Downtown).
- Chef José Andrés discusses the recipes in his latest cookbook Spain My Way at Lincoln Theatre (Thurs, $56+, U Street Corridor).
- Shop leather goods, accessories, art, and other finds at Cleveland Park Promenade (Thurs, free, Cleveland Park).
- Pack a picnic and bring a blanket to an outdoor movie screening of dramedy East Side Sushi at Marie Reed Recreation Center (Thurs, free, Adams Morgan).
- Bookworms can discover antique manuscripts, historic documents, and unique maps at Capital Rare Book Fair (Fri-Sun, $15 general admission, free for ages 16 and younger, $60 for opening night, Downtown)
- Adults can have a bit of spelling fun with author Gabe Henry at Planet Word (Sat, $20, Downtown).
Community and heritage:
- Passport DC wraps up this week with workshops, exhibitions, and more (closes Sun, free, various participating locations).
- Learn about native plant seed saving and habitat restoration at this Cocktails & Conversations program (Thurs, free, but registration required, US Botanic Garden).
- New York Times columnist David Wallace-Wells leads a conversation on environmentalism and Jewish identity (Thurs, $28, Northwest DC).
- The Annapolis Irish Festival is two days of Ireland-inspired fun with live music, vendors, and food (Fri-Sat, $30+; kids under 12 free, Crownsville).
- Explore horticultural art and bonsai trees and enjoy a light buffet to help raise funds for the the US National Arboretum (Fri, $350, Northeast DC).
- Close out Jewish American Heritage Month with meditation and movement at a Jewish Wellness Festival (Sun, $36, Chevy Chase).
Theater and shows:
- Bukharian comedian Natan Badalov does standup at The Comedy Loft (Wed, $24.50, Northwest DC).
- See actress Nil Bosca’s solo dance-theater performance in the French production Euphrate at Embassy of France (Thurs, $16, Georgetown).
- Don’t miss The Washington Ballet’s moving performances on the CityCenterDC plaza (Fri-Sat, Sun rain date, free, Downtown).
- Local artist Justin Weaks invites audiences to help him create a new record (Sat-Sun, pay-what-you-will, Penn Quarter).
Music and concerts:
- Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band play at Nats Park (Wed, $184+, Nationals Park).
- Punk group Buko Buko headlines a concert at Black Cat; proceeds benefit DC Books to Prison (Fri, $18, Shaw).
Games and trivia:
- Test your brain knowledge at a team trivia night hosted by J Street Trivia (Thurs, free, Navy Yard).
Things to do with kids:
- Families can listen to gospel harmonies from Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir accompanied by Dove Award-winning artist Anthony Brown (Fri, $46, Howard University).
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.
