NoMa could never be called the District’s most visually appealing neighborhood. But it has played host to heaps of local photography this year—-notably during the recent FotoBazaar, and now, for the sixth annual edition of FotoWeek. This year’s photo festival kicks off tonight with a hipster-flavored cocktail-and-dance party at FotoWeek’s official HQ at the National Geographic Museum. To guzzle from the open bar and dance, it’ll set you back between $55 and $65. The cheaper party option? NoMa all the way. The heavily local show “FotoNOMA: The District Experience” opens with its own bash Saturday evening in a 25,000 square foot space at 51 N St. NE, and advance tickets cost $14. Read more >>> FotoWeek DC runs Nov. 1 to Nov. 7 at the National Geographic Museum Courtyard, 1145 17th St. NW. Also Nov. 2 to Nov. 10 at 51 N St. NE. See a complete schedule at fotoweekdc.org. (Ally Schweitzer)
EAT THIS
The Heights reopens today after a week-long renovation. In celebration, the Columbia Heights restaurant and bar will offer all-night happy hour at the bar and in the new lounge area. New late night hours also start tonight, with the restaurant open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 11:30 p.m. on Thursdays. You can make the most of those extended hours with the new late night food menu, which includes dishes like pork belly mac and cheese, ginger calamari, and “French fried” oysters. This weekend, The Heights will also host a “garden party” on the 80-seat patio with half price beer and wine from 2 p.m. to close. The Heights, 3115 14th St NW. (202) 797-7227. theheightsdc.com. (Ryan Bacic)
OH AND ALSO
Friday: Fall Fringe begins tonight, giving you a chance to catch the shows you missed during last summer’s Capital Fringe Festival. Head to the Fringe & Purge blog for a refresher on what City Paper reviewers enjoyed. 6:30 p.m. at 607 New York Ave. NW. $15–$20.
Friday: The AFI Silver shows the upcoming movie CBGB, which tells the story of the legendary New York punk club. Actress Katherine DuBois and co-producer Andre Danylevich discuss the film following the screening. 9 p.m. at 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. $7.50–$12.
Friday: Acclaimed Latin pop group La Santa Cecilia performs at Artisphere with G-Flux. 8 p.m. at 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. $15.
Friday: The Edge of the Universe Players begin performances of their new show, The Summoning of Everyman, a medieval play dating back to 1475. 8 p.m. at the Melton Rehearsal Hall at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Co., 641 D St. NW. $15.
Friday and Saturday: David Dorfman brings his modern dance troupe to the Clarice Smith Center for two performances. 8 p.m. at the University of Maryland campus in College Park. $10–$35.
Saturday: Parties and performance art edge ever closer to the singularity with “Lemuria: A Performance Art Party,” hosted by Transformer gallery and the performance art group Animals & Fire at Black Whiskey. For the uninitiated, attending a performance art party is a bit like catching a showcase from a weird music label. The crowd is reverent enough, at least while an artist is doing a set, but most suspect that everyone else is there for the wrong reasons (to Instagram the show and knock back some D.C. Brau). Read more >>> The event begins at 10 p.m. at Black Whiskey, 1410 14th St. NW. $10. (202) 800-8103. lemuriaanimalsandfire.eventbrite.com. (Kriston Capps)
Saturday: Visit the Corcoran Gallery of Art for free today as part of the gallery’s Community Day, c0-sponsored by Washington City Paper. While there, view “An Unkindness,” Mia Feuer‘s immersive new show. Read about the show’s origins in Kriston Capps’ cover story. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 500 17th St. NW. Free.
Sunday: James Blake’s 2013 album, Overgrown, is still led by his strikingly smooth tenor, but the music is even more subtle, more restrained than that of his 2011 self-titled debut, whose haunted atmosphere was punctuated by darts of dubstep. Before the show, read Marcus J. Moore’s interview with Blake on Arts Desk. Read more >>> James Blake performs with Nosaj Thing at 7 p.m. at 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. $32. (202) 265-0930. 930.com. (Christopher Porter)
Sunday: Punk legends Sebadoh play the Black Cat Backstage with OctaGrape. 8 p.m. at 1811 14th St. NW. $20.
Sunday: Former Strokes frontman Albert Hammond Jr. performs a solo show at U Street Music Hall. 7 p.m. at 1115 U St. NW. $25.
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