Welcome to the weekend edition of Freestylin’ DC, where I’ll share some of the coolest and most interesting events posted on my site,Free in DC, each Thursday afternoon.
Thursday
After work, head over to the corner of 16th and L Sts. NW for the Third Thursday reception at WVSA’s ARTiculate Gallery, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This month features graphic and video works from Swadeshi Studios, a youth business venture from the Gandhi Brigade.
The MidCity Business Association hosts a Third Thursday event of their own. Many of the stores and businesses will stay open late—until 8 or 9 p.m.—and offer discounts. All the action’s around 14th and U Sts. NW.
Grab your bathing suit and Metro on over to Bethesda’s Doubletree Hotel for Tree Top Tropical Thursday, from 6 to 9 p.m. A DJ will spin tunes by the roof top pool, as guests swim, drink mixed drinks and beer, and munch on appetizers.
Cool off to the sounds of jazz at the American Art Museum’s Kogod Courtyard, site of the monthly third Thursday Take Five concert, from 5 to 8 p.m. If you haven’t been before, the courtyard, with it’s exquisite undulating glass ceilings, is one of my favorite places to escape to.
The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Free-for-All kicks off tonight. Twelfth Night will be performed at Sidney Harman Hall and requires advance tickets for entry, which will be distributed through a daily online lottery. It’s probably too late to attend tonight’s performance if you’re just catching wind of this now, but don’t worry—the show runs until September 5.
Friday
The weekend-long—and entirely free—Dance DC Festival begins tonight at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. “Carnival Afticana!,” a festive evening of Afro-Brazilian music and dance, gets the party started from 7 to 9 p.m.
Discover Anacostia this Friday night! Southeast’s own Grammy-nominated Christylez Bacon will perform a free show at the Honfleur Gallery from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Meet Negro League Baseball players at a 7 p.m. meet-and-greet reception at the Anacostia Community Museum, in conjunction with exhibit “Separate and Unequaled: Black Baseball in the District of Columbia.”
Head over for to Potter’s House in Adams Morgan for “Sounds of Hope,” an inspiring evening of music and poetry. Performers include poet Adi Nochur, the female acappella group SongRise, and trance guitarist Matt Winn. This all ages, donation-based event series takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. This week’s donations support the Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, an organization that supports the environmental efforts of over 300 congregations in the D.C .area.
Saturday
Catch one of the Highlight Tours at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, at noon and 3 p.m. Admission to the museum, including the Chuck Close exhibit, is free every Saturday this summer!
The Textile Museum in Dupont Circle hosts Mid-Century Modern Game Day, from 2 to 4 p.m. Play Twister, Frisbee, hula hoops, and other old-fashioned favorites with your family.
Artists can head downtown to Utrecht Art Supplies for a free mat-cutting demonstration from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
The Dance DC Festival continues at Atlas with free dance workshops from noon to 4:30 p.m. The festival continues into the evening with free performances by Dance Asia 2010 at 5 p.m. and Rhythm Nation, featuring percussive footwork from On the Slide, Dr. Janaki Rangaryan and Furia Flamenca, at 7 p.m. Also at 7 p.m. in the lobby at Atlas, Latin/jazz artist Pablo Gabriel performs a free concert as part of the Intersections series.
Sunday
Brush up on your art history at the National Gallery of Art as David Gariff presents an anniversary lecture on Sandro Boticelli (1446 – 1510) at 2 p.m.
Learn to folk dance at 4 p.m. or try the tango at 5 p.m. at Sunday’s free workshops at Atlas, also part of Dance DC Festival. The festival closes at 7 p.m. with a celebration of a local tradition, hand dancing.
Busboys and Poets hosts a special Focus-In! screening of Pakistan: Inside the Tinderbox, which documents the hope of everyday Pakistanis as they live in the shadow of terrorism. This free event takes place at 8 p.m. at the 14th and V Sts. location.
Amy Melrose is the creator of Free in DC, a blog that highlights low-cost and free events in the D.C. metro area. For complete details about the events mentioned above, visitFree in DC or follow Free in DC onFacebook.