Our end-of-the-week picks for Aug. 2-4
We've gathered up some fun things to do in DC this weekend. You can also read what else is going on during the week and throughout the month.
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Friday
Otakon – Aug. 2-4
Held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center each year, Otakon might just be the dedicated event space’s liveliest function (emphasis on FUN) all year long. The family-friendly convention is run by and dedicated to fans of Asian media, entertainment and pop culture, including anime, manga, music, movies and video games. The festivities range from cosplay contests, skits and live music to panel discussions with comic book (super)heroes, for-sale artworks and much more.
Tickets
Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, Washington, DC 20001
Willard InterContinental
Summer Soirée at Willard InterContinental
Daydreams become reality at one of the most historic and elegantly refined hotel properties in the nation’s capital. Willard InterContinental’s Summer Soiree includes fine-tuned seasonal options in the hotel’s on-site restaurant, Café du Parc, as well as masterfully mixed cocktails at the legendary Round Robin Bar. Also make sure to stop by the hotel’s pop-up bar, which features a jaw-dropping floral design, botanical-themed cocktails, zero-proof elixirs and even a vinyl listening station.
More Information
Willard InterContinental Washington DC, 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Pixar Putt
Pixar Putt at The Wharf
Go to infinity and beyond this summer with whimsical, Pixar-themed mini-golf. The outdoor pop-up is open daily at The Wharf for a limited time and includes 18 interactive putt-putt holes inspired by some of Pixar’s most beloved films, from Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. to Turning Red and Inside Out. Book your tee time for a daytime outing or an 18+ after-hours activity.
Tickets
580 Water Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha – Final Weekend
Billed as an “award-winning clown,” Julia Masli is from Estonia and based in London. Her newest show, which was nominated for Edinburgh’s top prize for Best Comedy Show and named the no. 1 comedy show of the year by The Guardian before a sold-out, four-week engagement at London’s Soho Theatre, comes to DC’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre.
Tickets
Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Saturday
Mubadala Citi DC Open
The District’s signature professional tennis tournament returns to Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Top-tier talent from all over the world will compete for a prestigious trophy, leading to action that you do not want to miss.
Tickets
Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, 5220 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Gordon Parks, Husband and Wife, Sunday Morning, Detroit, Michigan (Bert Collins and Pauline Terry), 1950
Gordon Parks: Camera Portraits from the Corcoran Collection
The National Gallery of Art honors one of the best set of eyes in American history with a 25-portrait exhibition. Gordon Parks revolutionized photography in post-World War II America, situating his subjects in their environment while also paying close attention to their expression, character and dress. You can see images of Muhammad Ali and Leonard Bernstein alongside shots of a Harlem gang leader and a Detroit couple in this moving tribute that features some of Parks’ most beloved photographs.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 4th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Harry Potter™ Day at Nationals Park
Time to head to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at Hogsmeade and catch that Hogwarts Express right to … Nationals Park. Celebrate Harry Potter Day when the Nats take on the Milwaukee Brewers for a 4:05 p.m. Saturday game. The first 10,000 fans to arrive receive one of four Mystery House jerseys (sizes and styles subject to availability) and an array of Potter-themed activities and media are offered throughout the day, including photo booths, sand art potion-making, balloon twisters, caricaturists, face painters, content on the HD board and a themed GEICO Presidents Race.
4:05 p.m. | Tickets
Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Back to the Future: The Musical
Great Scott! A cinematic classic that is now a Broadway musical is coming to the District. Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Back to the Future: The Musical is adapted for the stage by the film’s creators Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis and directed by the Tony Award® winner John Rando. The play features original music by GRAMMY Award winners Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard alongside hit songs from the movie including “The Power of Love,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Earth Angel,” and “Back in Time.”
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Jordan Klepper: Suffering Fools
Known for his exceptional and hilarious reporting on The Daily Show as well as his Emmy-nominated specials, Jordan Klepper brings his stand-up skills to the Kennedy Center stage. Suffering Fools analyzes the inanity of our current political moment through personal stories that include run-ins with the president, entertainment failures, insurrectionists, anarchists and much, much more.
7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. | Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Nine
Based on Federico Fellini’s masterpiece, 8 ½, Nine is a musical journey through “director’s block” as Guido Contini can’t finish his latest film and reckons with a strained marriage. Contini retreats into dreamscapes, where his past and present merge and his whole sense of reality is upturned. Three-time Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler directs a wondrous cast that includes Steven Pasquale, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Carolee Carmello.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Sunday
Glen Kaino: Bridge
This jaw-dropping aerial sculpture is comprised of 200 golden arms hanging from the ceiling of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Luce Foundation Center. Each piece is a casting of the outstretched right arm of Tommie Smith, the American winner of the men’s 200-meter race at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. During the medal ceremony, Smith bowed his head and raised his Black-gloved fist in an act of protest. Decades later, Glen Kaino collaborated with Smith on the grand statement of an installation.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
ISEKAI: Blooming Parallel Worlds
ARTECHOUSE welcomes visitors to its seventh annual installation dedicated to celebrating the beauty of the cherry blossoms in DC. The museum treats your eyes to an exhibit inspired by the Isekai genre of Anime, allowing for the exploration of alternate universes stacked with colors, adventures and immersive technologies. Plus, discover Gachapons hidden throughout the exhibit to win prizes from local businesses or snag a book from the 'Isekai Library'. Make sure to take advantage of tickets with a 10% discount.
Tickets (10% off)
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Ultimate Improv Show
Long-form improv comedy comes to the Kennedy Center thanks to The Ultimate Improv Show presented by Dan Black. The rotating cast will perform based on a unique process: an audience member suggests a prompt that is then used by a guest monologist as inspiration for a true story. The improvisers then weave all that into a hilarious experience.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
The Mountain Goats & The New Pornographers
Two of indie rock’s greatest acts share a bill at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va. The Mountain Goats are led by singer/songwriter John Darnielle; their sound is dramatic, loud and lyrical, leading to some of the most thought-provoking songs of the century. Supergroup The New Pornographers have created power-pop masterpieces since debuting with Mass Romantic in 2000. Expect to hear classics and new tracks from both legendary bands.
7 p.m. | Tickets
Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182
Places to Stay
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today!
#Only1DC Photo of the Week
Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to award-winning hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.
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