There’s a lot to be excited about—including nine new attractions. Be it a new exhibit or a new venue, here are a lot of reasons to leave your house: 

This Is a True Picture of How it Was Exhibit

Raya Bodnarchuk painted every day for years. Now locals have a chance to see all 1,926 paintings at the American University Museum through Aug. 8. The exhibit is best described as a joyous, life-affirming series. 

Capital Turnaround

Now that live entertainment is back, you can’t get enough, right? Good, because the locals responsible for some great shows at Union Stage, Jammin Java, Miracle Theatre, and Pie Shop are opening a new spot in August. Capital Turnaround, located at 770 M St. SE, already has its schedule up for September. 

Casa Kantuta

For one month only, experience Bolivia in the lower level of sPACYcLOUd Lounge in Adams Morgan. Get a taste for the country by trying The Alto, a cocktail named after a city outside the capital La Paz that reminds beverage director Luis Aliaga of a traditional breakfast of bread and milk, or by nibbling on a salteña, a pastry traditionally filled with savory stew (but, yes, there’s a vegan version). The speakeasy offers you a momentary escape from D.C.  

Glen Echo

Free outdoor concerts are the meaning of summer. If you are going to experience summer, let it be at Glen Echo Park, which has been entertaining D.C.-area residents for 130 years. Summer concerts will run through early September.   

HOMEGROWN

This performance project kicks off July 9 and features spoken word artists of Wards 7 and 8. The show will be live and in-person outdoors at THEARC in Southeast, and will be the first in-person production for Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. 

MarketSW

This outdoor night market invites patrons to listen and dance to live music, shop from local artisans, munch on yummy snacks, and crack open a cold one. The market opens every other Friday at The Lot SW, and has its grand opening July 9. First up: Alpha Dog Blues. 

National Native American Veterans Memorial

D.C. got a new memorial while the city shut down. This one honors the service and sacrifice of Native veterans and their families. In fact, D.C. got a few new memorials, so if you are looking for an excuse to visit the National Mall, you now have three.  

Planet Word

This new museum brands itself as where language comes to life. Located at the historic Franklin School, Planet World is a voice-activated museum—apparently the first of its kind. The spot offers interactive galleries, and experiments with bringing words and languages to life. 

SMOKE & BARREL

This isn’t exactly a new spot, but this Adams Morgan joint that offers some great BBQ—including vegan options—is among the businesses that was slated to close because of the pandemic but found a way forward. Here’s to persevering. The celebration begins at 4 p.m. 

—Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)

• To see today’s coronavirus cases and more information, visit our coronavirus dashboard. [EOM]
• Here is how many people left D.C. and where they went. [DCist, Urban Turf]
• Second gentleman Doug Emhoff visited Anacostia High School. [WTOP]

By Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com)