D.C.’s hottest club is now the Washington Convention Center, but only NATO members can get in. Our sincere sympathies to anyone who commutes downtown this week, owns a restaurant near there or wants to visit the Apple Store in the Carnegie Library… |
Protect the Carnegie Library Apple Store at all costs! |
Fortunately, the traffic and transit disruptions should be over by Saturday. Therefore, we call our N.A.T.O. – Now Attention To Our Weekend – summit into session. Sincerely, your Secretaries General of Fun, |
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We’re deep in our 🥐 Francophile era 🥐 as we count down to the Paris Olympics (competitions start in two weeks!). France’s national day on Sunday, July 14, is the parfait opportunity to party like you’re in Paris. D.C.’s love for all things French dates back to Pierre “Peter” Charles L’Enfant, after all. Restaurant fêtes
D.C.'s French restaurant scene is fantastic (Eun Yang recently went to newcomer Pastis for Food Fare!), and many spots are celebrating Bastille Day.
Le Diplomate on 14th Street has its annual extravaganza all weekend. On Sunday, La Grande Boucherie launches a special Summer in France menu for the Olympics.
Other French restaurants getting in on the fun include Lutèce, Petite Cerise, Le Mont Royal and Opaline in D.C., plus Bastille and WHINO in Virginia.
Elk Run Vineyards in Mount Airy and Lost Boy Cider in Alexandria will both throw parties. Kid-friendly
Bastille Day at the Park in Tenleytown includes food, beverages and activities. Tickets cost $20. Take a tour in Georgetown or learn about the French alliance during the Revolutionary War at Mount Vernon.
Haute couture
Want to dress up? At the French Embassy, get a taste of the Alsace region at their Bastille Day Gala with dinner, drinks and dancing. Tickets start at $200. |
Don't waste precious family time this summer dealing with clutter—call 1-800-GOT-JUNK? for fast and efficient junk removal! Enjoy the sunshine while we handle the mess, leaving you with a clean space to create new memories. |
Free picks with international flair 🌍
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Free pick
Vienna Multicultural Festival Fri., 4-9 p.m., Vienna, Virginia
🔗 Details
Fill your Friday evening with live music, kids’ performers, games and more (even a Thai fruit and veggie cutting demonstration!). It’s free and open to all. (Just to be clear: It’s Vienna, Virginia, not Austria, which is not in NATO, but this isn’t the place to get into that…). |
Free pick Romanian Weekend
Fri. to Sun., The Wharf 🔗 Details
All weekend long, enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Romania (coincidentally, a NATO member) at the free, family-friendly festival on The Wharf. The schedule includes rock concerts, traditional fiddle music, dance shows, food sampling and hands-on arts and crafts. |
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Capital Fringe Festival July 11-23, various venues in D.C., tickets to each show cost $15 🔗 Details
Shows that bring the best, most creative and sometimes eyebrow-raising stories in D.C.’s theater scene take the stage at the 17th annual Capital Fringe Festival. Check the site for venues in unexpected places.
Pro Tip: Most of these shows are made by locals, some of them first-time playwrights or directors. And some are veteran performers like Virginia magician Ryan Phillips who wowed us on YouTube (above) and took over our IG (Where. Did. The. Liquid. Come. From??!). |
Free pick High Wheel Race
Sat., races begin at noon at 124 N Market Street in Frederick, Maryland 🔗 Details The 10th Annual High Wheel Race in Frederick, Maryland, is not quite an Olympic sport, but it’s sure fun to watch.
These 19th-century bikes (which you may know better as penny farthings) are going to be racing through downtown Frederick for the national title on Saturday.
Last year, Tommy gave it a shot. We’ll let you in on a secret: It’s what inspired our Summer Olympics series, Tommy Tries It.
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Free pick Alexandria & USA Birthday Celebration Sat., 6-10 p.m. with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. 🔗 Details
You thought the birthday celebrations were over last week? No way! Alexandria is turning 275 years young, which means it’s the place for you to party on Saturday. Head to Oronoco Bay Park to see Alexandria’s Symphony Orchestra, fireworks and a cannon salute!
Or, hit up Canal Center Plaza for live jazz by Yellow Door Concert. New Waterfront Park will host a dance party with DJ One Luv. |
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Pinky Lemon, 7 p.m. Thursday, Songbyrd, $15/$18 D.C. shoegazers celebrate the release of last month’s EP, “Pinky Hell.” Fellow Washington shoegaze/emo bands Pretty Bitter and Cuni open. Details. Wanted Man, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Black Cat (Red Room), $15
Psychedelic D.C. garage rockers celebrate the release of a new single. Details.
Totally Tubular Festival, 5 p.m. Sunday, The Anthem, $55.50-$95.50
OD on the ‘80s down at The Wharf. The lineup includes Thomas Dolby, Wang Chung, The Tubes, Bow Wow Wow and Men Without Hats. Listen to an ‘80s artist’s other songs followed by their hit. Repeat. Details. |
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More things happening this weekend |
ICYMI: We've made a change.
We're now putting our long list of extra weekend events on nbcwashington.com. We hope this new list helps you make the most of every weekend!
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Washington Spirit players Casey Krueger (just named to Team USA for a second time) and Nicole Barnhart (proud owner of two Olympic Gold Medals) showed Tommy what it takes to medal in the games. “Tougher than it looks,” he said after taking a stab at goalkeeping. |
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| About Tommy and Sophia
Tommy McFLY (@TommyMcFLY) brings you the best things to do around Washington as a News4 correspondent. A millennial Gemini husband and dog dad originally from Scranton, Tommy celebrates the things that bring our town together.
Sophia Barnes (@barnessophiag) started writing for NBC Washington and The Scene in 2016, covering everything from museum openings to protests to quirky animal stories. She’s an American University alum who loves good food and live music — say hi if you see her around the DMV. |
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