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As Edward Snowden has shown us, we’re all being watched. For some lesser-known artists, that might be good news. The Washington Project for the Arts’ timely experimental media show, “Cyber In Securities,” features artists whose work looks at the experience of tracking or being tracked—by private marketers, data miners, drones, or governments—in an effort to expose a supposedly invisible process. The subject matter may be unsettling, but if we truly are under constant surveillance, producing art isn’t a bad way to respond. Read more >>> The exhibit is on view Tuesdays to Fridays noon to 4 p.m. to Sept. 27 at Pepco Edison Place Gallery, 702 8th St. NW. Free. (202) 234-7103. wpadc.org. (Caroline Jones)
EAT THIS
It’s Street Food Friday at Del Campo, which means chef Victor Albisu’s South American grill in Chinatown will be slinging to-go food on the patio from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Among the offerings: skirt steak empanadas with caramelized onion and romesco ($6); a chivito sandwich with seared ribeye, mortadella, ham, and fried egg ($15); and a pan con chicharon sandwich with pork belly and sweet potato ($7). Del Campo, 777 I St. NW. (202) 289-7377. delcampodc.com. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
Tonight: Filmmaker Jeff Krulik presents the premiere of Led Zeppelin Played Here, his feature-length documentary about the legendary band’s 1969 performance at the Wheaton Youth Center, which may or may not have happened. Read more about the film in Ally Schweitzer’s recent Arts Desk post. 9:15 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. $5.
Tonight: Remember the King of Pop at his best at the 9:30 Club’s fourth annual Michael Jackson Dance Party. As in years past, DJ Dredd will spin a collection of MJ’s hits, as well as some obscure tracks and favorite videos. A portion of proceeds benefit the Duke Ellington School for the Arts. 9 p.m. at 815 V St. NW. $15.
Tonight: If you’re sticking around town for the holiday weekend, why not keep your music local, too? The Black Cat hosts bluesy band Big Country Express (formerly known as Bullmoose), rock group Down to Everything, and prog rock revivalists Cherry Tree. 9 p.m. at 1811 14th St. NW. $12. Rock & Roll Hotel also welcomes a local punk lineup, featuring Kill Lincoln, Boardroom Heroes, Braceface, and Collapser. 9 p.m. at 1353 H St. NE. $10.
Saturday: In a theater scene as crowded as D.C.’s, it’s tough for casual theatergoers to know which shows deserve a piece of their paycheck. Let the 12th annual Page-to-Stage Festival help with that. Over Labor Day weekend, the Kennedy Center will host a blitz of free open rehearsals and readings by more than 40 D.C.-area companies. Read more >>>The festival runs noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. Free. (202) 467-4600. kennedy-center.org. (Ally Mutnick)
Saturday: U Street global music hall Tropicalia celebrates its first anniversary all night long. Comedian Jamie Kilstein performs an early show, then the Fort Knox Five DJs take over and spin a variety of funk tunes for the rest of the night. 7 p.m. at 2001 14th St. NW. $10.
Saturday: Get a dose of old-school hip-hop at the Howard Theatre, with a performance by Salt-n-Pepa. Push it real good. 8 p.m. at 620 T St. NW. $39.50.
Sunday: Most of the time, exhibitors want gallery-goers focused on artists’ finished products, not their processes. Often, there are no preliminary sketches next to the finished piece, no photos of the work in process, no abandoned canvases to compare. But with the National Gallery of Art’s new exhibition, “Yes, No, Maybe: Artists Working at Crown Point Press,” process is everything. The 125 works by John Cage, Chuck Close, Richard Diebenkorn (shown), and others reveal the evolution of their prints, allowing viewers to become fully steeped in the process of process. Read more >>> The exhibit is on view Mondays to Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. to Jan. 5, 2014 at the National Gallery of Art West Building, 6th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free. (202) 737-4215. nga.gov. (Christopher Porter)
Sunday: Italian garage punk band Movie Star Junkies play stateside at Comet Ping Pong, along with Harness Flux, Cosmic Halitosis, and DJ Kid Congo Powers. 9 p.m. at 5037 Connectivut Ave. NW. $10.
Sunday: Go-go’s the way to go: Funky nine-piece ensemble Rare Essence performs with Black Alley at the Howard Theatre. 5 p.m. at 620 T St. NW. $19.50.
Monday: Just three minutes into the exceptional Short Term 12, a breathless escape attempt occurs. The runner is Sammy, a scrawny redhead who’s trying to make his regularly scheduled dash from the state-run foster care facility where he lives. But before he can make it off the grounds, three counselors tackle him and literally bring him back down to Earth. The film—an absorbing and effortlessly natural portrait of life in the foster care system—plants its stake in the issues at play in that runaway scene: forgotten teens stuck in a loop of near-escapes, and the young adults who catch them and keep them safe. Read more >>> The film screens throughout the week at multiple theaters. See showtimes for listings. (Jen Chaney)
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