Restaurant Week, DC Jazz Fest, Musical

Happy Monday, everyone!

Close out August with good eats during Summer Restaurant Week, and don’t miss the community music vibes at DC Jazz Fest.

Best Things to Do This Week

August 28-September 4

1. Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week. The foodie week we’ve all been waiting for is here. You can choose from brunch, lunch, and dinner at special prices of $25, $40, or $55 a person during Summer Restaurant Week. Along with old favorites, there are a number of first-time restaurants participating this week, including Philippe Chow, Certo, and Pizza Serata (Mon-Sun, $25+, various locations). Check out our food team’s picks of top spots and new spots offering Restaurant Week menus, plus recommended places for brunch.
2. Lil Baby in concert. Grammy-nominated Atlanta artist Lil Baby is coming to town to rap trending upbeat songs from his latest album, It’s Only Me. His It’s Only Us Tour includes a high-energy lineup of emerging rap stars: The Kid Laroi, GloRilla, Gloss Up, Rylo Rodriguez, and Hunxho (Thurs, $52+, Capital One Arena).
3. DC Jazz Fest. This local favorite returns to the District for five nights of music. Although the opening night of DC Jazz Fest at House of Sweden is sold out, jazz lovers can still snag tickets to the opening day concert at Eaton DC showcasing pianist Janelle Gill, trumpet player Thad Wilson, and other artists. Guests can attend shows and workshops on the remaining days at spaces all around town including Union Stage, Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Kreeger Museum, and more (Wed-Sun, free+, various locations).
4. The Bridges of Madison County musical. Signature Theatre presents the musical The Bridges of Madison County. The love story about the affair between a housewife and a visiting photographer is based on Robert James Waller’s best-selling novel (through September 17, $40+, Arlington).

Want More Things to Do?

Arts and culture: View re-collaged classic plaster casts in the “Metamorphosis” exhibit at The Writer’s Center (Mon, free, Bethesda). Washington Post journalist Laura Meckler discusses her new book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity at Politics and Prose (Wed, free, Northwest DC). Award-winning author S. A. Cosby’s fiction novel All the Sinners Bleed is this month’s read at Solid State Books (Mon, free, H Street Corridor). Observe a collection of alternative handmade prints from photographer Redeat Wondemu at Photoworks (Sat-Sun, free, Glen Echo). City Cast DC podcast has a birthday, and you can celebrate with the hosts at Sonny’s Pizza (Mon, free, Georgia Avenue). Would you like to learn how to flirt? Join People Uncorked for a chat about sex and relationships (Wed, $20+, Northwest DC).

Community talks and lectures: Scientist Katie Stack Morgan explores planet Mars (Tues, $30, virtual). Age-Proof Your Brain with scientist Marc Milstein (Tues, $30, virtual). Learn about AI’s Promise and Perils at Penn Social (Tues, $14, Penn Quarter).

Theater and shows: Add a classic thriller to your movie list this week, and catch a screening of ’80s horror film Sleepaway Camp (Tues, $7, Northeast DC, Arlington). Watch the martial arts film Escape from New York along with a jazz-funk live score at Songbyrd (Mon, free, Northeast DC). Modern dance troupe Compagnie Käfig perform Pixel (Wed-Fri, $25+, Kennedy Center).

Music and concerts: Country singer Iris Dement promotes her latest album at The Birchmere Music Hall (Wed, $45, Alexandria). See Broadway star Gavin Creel in concert (Thurs, $59+, Kennedy Center). Attend the last summer concert by Washington National Opera and Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestras (Sun, free, Kennedy Center). Go on a Jazz Hop through historic Anacostia (Fri, free, Anacostia). Attend an intimate Sofar Sounds concert featuring two to three performances ranging from comedy to dance, and more (Wed, $23, Adams Morgan). The Smashing Pumpkins are in town for a rocking show at Jiffy Lube Live (Thurs, $27+, Bristow).

Things to do with kids: Kick off Hispanic American Heritage Month with a kids party hosted by Culture Queen; the event includes storytelling, music, and crafts (Sat, free, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum).

Get involved: Listen to music, sip cocktails, and eat dinner with dessert at Mag-Pau Hana Tayo at Common Good City Farm; a portion of the proceeds will benefit those affected by wildfires in Lahaina, Maui (Tues, $30+, LeDroit Park).

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