🌸 Let the weekend in

Good morning, DC. It’s Friday, you’ve made it. Pair a concert with a new dinner spot this weekend to help take your mind off of things.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

DC Summer Restaurant Week kicks off Monday, August 18, bringing prix fixe deals to the city's newest dining rooms—though "deal" might be generous when many dinners clock in at $65 per person (looking at you, inflation). The smart money's on lunch and brunch, where $25-$35 gets you into hotspots like Georgetown's Alara with Mediterranean spreads or Union Market's Minetta Tavern channeling NYC vibes. Standouts include Lucky Danger's crab lo mein with leek fondue in Penn Quarter and El Taller del Xiquet's competition-worthy paellas in Glover Park. With menus running through August 24, you've got a week to check off that ever-growing "must try" list—just book now before the rest of DC beats you to it.

The National Gallery's beloved after-hours parties are back this fall, opening the East Wing from 6-9 PM on the second Thursdays of September, October, and November for art tours, live music, and cocktails on the mezzanine. These events are so popular that tickets now require winning a lottery—entries open a week before each event at 10 AM and close the following Thursday at noon, with winners notified that Friday. September 11 kicks things off with "Back to School" featuring jazz-funk from Virginia's Butcher Brown, while October brings '50s-'80s fashion vibes and November showcases the largest collection of Australian Indigenous art ever shown outside Down Under. Can't score a lottery ticket? Show up at the East Entrance at 5:30 PM the night of each event for first-come, first-served passes—just be prepared to hustle for those coveted spots.

Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer is bringing his popular NYC all-day cafe Daily Provisions to Dupont Circle's buzzy corner at 1601 Connecticut Avenue, taking over the space left vacant when Foxtrot Market abruptly shuttered. The bakery-cafe, known for its addictive crullers, breakfast sandwiches, and roast chicken, marks Meyer's return to DC after his Navy Yard restaurant closed during the pandemic. Construction is wrapping up with menus already posted in the windows, and doors are set to open Monday, August 18—just in time to caffeinate the back-to-work crowd.

Leesburg's swanky new Hotel Burg unveils its crown jewel restaurant The Huntōn on August 19, helmed by chef Vincent Badiee, who's leaving the soon-to-close Patowmack Farm after stints at DC's Michelin-starred Fiola and Gravitas. The menu reads like a love letter to Loudoun County with open-fire cooking and hyper-local ingredients—think venison tartare, duck leg tacos, and a showstopping Hunter's Game Pie. The restaurant anchors the boutique hotel complex that took over three historic King Street buildings, joining the already-open Diana Lounge and a members-only speakeasy called The Chase.

Here’s what’s going on around DC this weekend:

The nation's first fantasy book convention transforms National Harbor's Gaylord into a weekend wonderland of cosplay, author panels, and D&D adventures through Sunday. Expect writing workshops, budget cosplay tutorials, jewelry crafting sessions, plus a marketplace packed with book signings—and yes, wings, armor, and horns are absolutely encouraged at the formal masquerade balls, "BookTok Burlesque" show, tabletop gaming sessions, and something called a "War Room" combat adventure.

Georgetown's outdoor cinema series kicks off tonight with "Paddington in Peru" at sunset, bringing free Friday flicks to the grassy park just west of Washington Harbour through September 12. The lineup includes crowd-pleasers like "Top Gun: Maverick," "Coco," "Twilight," and "Grease," with nearby spots like Fiola Mare and Farmers, Fishers and Bakers offering to-go dinner specials for your picnic spread. Seating opens at 7 PM each week with movies starting at sunset—no reservations required, just bring a blanket and maybe some marmalade sandwiches.

Chuck Brown's cultural legacy gets the party treatment at Metrobar's Metro-themed beer garden on Rhode Island Avenue NE from 2 to 7 PM. The free afternoon celebration brings together arts-and-crafts vendors, a record fair, DJs spinning go-go and funk, plus themed cocktails to keep the groove going. Come for the vinyl, stay for the vibes, and raise a glass to the Godfather of Go-Go.

Eighteen breweries from DC and beyond converge at Port City Brewing Company's annual sudsy celebration from noon to 4 PM, featuring out-of-towners like The Veil and Jackie O's alongside local favorites Jailbreak, Lost Generation, and Liquid Intrusion. Your $63.60 ticket ($10 for designated drivers) gets you unlimited pours plus lawn games, food trucks, and DJ Sprinkles spinning tunes—even teetotalers can enjoy Best Day Brewing's nonalcoholic options. It's basically adult summer camp with better beverages and no mosquito-infested bunks.

Cross your fingers for summer breezes as Ida Lee Park fills with colorful kites from 11 AM to 5 PM during this free family festival. Bring your own kite or just watch the pros work their aerial magic while kids bounce on moon bounces, get their faces painted, and browse handmade crafts at the marketplace. With live music, coloring stations, and food vendors on deck, it's the kind of wholesome Saturday that makes you forget about your inbox for a few hours.

The Mezzanine at the Line Hotel transforms into vinyl heaven from 6 to 10 PM, with Jamal Gray and special guests spinning ambient grooves while over 10 vendors hawk crates specifically curated for DMV record collectors. The free event (with RSVP) brings together the area's most devoted wax enthusiasts for an evening of digging, dealing, and debating the merits of first pressings. Come for the rare finds, stay for the audiophile arguments about whether colored vinyl really does sound different.

The Barracks Row sub shop celebrates its first birthday at 2 PM with a traditional cannoli-eating competition that promises "cream, crunch, and competition." Sign up via their Instagram or just show up to Capitol Hill to watch brave souls stuff their faces with ricotta-filled pastries in pursuit of glory and probably a stomach ache. It's free entertainment that combines the best of competitive eating with Italian-American dessert tradition—leave your dignity at home.

87 🌡 74 | 🌧️ 25% | 💨 6 mph

86 🌡 72 | 🌧️ 20% | 💨 5 mph

89 🌡 74 | 🌧️ 15% | 💨 4 mph

The Atlantis | Haiden Henderson with Hayes Warner | 7:30 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | Jeff Lorber with Everette Harp | 7:30 PM

9:30 Club | Jake Scott | 8 PM

Soundcheck | Ferry Corsten | 10 PM

Union Stage | Ramirez | 7 PM

The Atlantis | The Armed with Prostitute | 7:30 PM

The Anthem | Ben Rector with The National Parks | 7:30 PM

Wolf Trap | Mary Chapin Carpenter and Brandy Clark | 7:30 PM

9:30 Club | Clipping. with Open Mike Eagle | 8 PM

Echostage | Kayzo | 10 PM

The Atlantis | Penelope Road | 6:30 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | Maysa | 7:30 PM

Wolf Trap | The Concert: A Tribute To ABBA | 8 PM

The Anthem | The Struts with Dirty Honey | 8 PM

Warner Theatre | Jesse & Joy | 8 PM

The Fillmore Silver Spring | Erykah Badu The Alchemist | 9 PM

The Nationals pulled off a thrilling 8-7 comeback victory over Kansas City on Wednesday afternoon, with Daylen Lile delivering a clutch two-out, ninth-inning single to complete the road series win in dramatic fashion. The Mystics returned from the WNBA break Wednesday night hosting the Golden State Valkyries at CareFirst Arena, still fighting to climb out of 10th place with their 14-17 record as the playoff race heats up. Thursday brought the Phillies to Nationals Park for the start of a four-game series in the club's 20th anniversary season, while the Washington Spirit gear up for Friday night's home match against Racing Louisville FC at Audi Field. Meanwhile at Commanders training camp in Ashburn, rookie cornerback Trey Amos has emerged as a standout performer while the team preps for Saturday's preseason game against Baltimore, with Jayden Daniels and new additions Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil continuing to build chemistry.

Did You Know? The Lincoln Memorial has a typo carved in stone—the word "FUTURE" was accidentally engraved as "EUTURE" in Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address on the north wall. Rather than recarve the entire block, they filled in part of the first letter to fix it, but you can still spot the patch job if you look closely on the 11th line from the top.

Till next time,