Moon suits, ‘Jaws’ & late-night Metro – your DC weekend

Good morning, DC. The rain really came down this week. We hope everyone was able to make it through the storms unscathed.

In today’s District Download:

• New Business Openings

• Jaws 50th Anniversary

• Defenders Trophy Ceremony

Let’s get to it.

THE DIGEST

Smithsonian Air & Space unveils its “second half”

The museum’s long-awaited west-wing makeover wraps on July 15, adding nine sparkling new galleries—think Apollo moon suits next door to Starship prototypes—plus a hands-on “Living in the Space Age” kid zone. Timed-entry passes will still be required, but the opening means the entire National Mall flagship is finally back in orbit after a multi-year rehab.

Metro goes later (and faster) on weekends

Starting this Friday night, all Metro lines will run until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with trains every 12 minutes or better—yes, even on the Silver Line—aiming to make post-game rides and date-night returns a lot less stressful.

New RFK stadium plan edges forward

A fresh economic study says a Commanders comeback at the RFK site could pump $1.6 billion into DC’s economy—fueling renewed buzz (and debate) over a mixed-use riverfront district anchored by a modern NFL stadium. Expect legislation in the Council this fall.

Heavy Rain Impacts the District

A line of strong storms packing intense rainfall, potentially bringing 2-3 inches of rain per hour, threatened the Mid-Atlantic region including D.C., leading to flash flood warnings in effect for the city and parts of Maryland and Virginia on Wednesday.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Bar Colline opens Friday in National Landing

Arlington’s skyline just got a little more Parisian—Bar Colline, the Hilton brothers’ 230-seat French brasserie, debuts July 11th with steak-frites, croque madame and a leafy 40-seat patio next door to Amazon HQ2. Daily 3-6 p.m. happy hour means $6 rosé and local drafts—perfect pre-Bastille-Day.

Yala Greek Ice Cream arrives on National Ice Cream Day

If you love tangy Greek yogurt, wait until you try it frozen. Yala opens July 20th—conveniently National Ice Cream Day—with flavors like baklava and pistachio-honey churned with South Mountain Creamery milk and imported Greek goodies. Expect pints to-go so you can stash summer in the freezer.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

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

Friday

🎬 Cinematery: “Jaws” under the Stars 7:30 PM. Picnic among the headstones for a 50th-anniversary screening of the blockbuster on a giant outdoor screen—film at sunset.

🎸 Capitol Riverfront Summer Concert 7 PM. Grab a blanket for free live tunes by Perfekt Blend on the boardwalk, plus river views and nearby take-out for the kids.

Saturday

🥁 Konvenience Festival 3 PM. Olney Theatre teams with the Korean Cultural Center for drummers, K-pop dance party, and food-truck bites.

🏈 Defenders Trophy Party on the Pier 4 PM. Snap selfies with the UFL championship hardware while a DJ spins and players sign autographs.

Sunday

🧩 Curiosity Day at Planet Word 10 AM - 6 PM. Scavenger hunts, curator pop-ups, and a brand-new “Questions Beacon” interactive fill the museum.

🏀 Caitlin Clark Book Talk 5 PM. USA Today columnist Christine Brennan discusses On Her Game and women’s sports’ boom at Politics & Prose on Connecticut.

WEATHER

Friday

89 🌡 74 | 🌧️ 40% | 💨 SE 5 mph

Saturday

88 🌡 74 | 🌧️ 50% | 💨 SE 10 mph

Sunday

86 🌡 73 | 🌧️ 70% | 💨 S 5 mph

LIVE MUSIC LOWDOWN

Friday

Kennedy Center Concert Hall | Lindsey Stirling & the NSO Pops | 8 PM

9:30 Club | White Ford Bronco | Doors 8 PM

Saturday

Wolf Trap Filene Center | Todo Sonido Festival | 4 PM

9:30 PM | Sub-Radio - Sunrise City Finale | 6 PM

Sunday

Dirty Habit | ABBA Under the Stars | 6 PM

Simple Bar & Grill | Various Live Music | 7 PM

DC SPORTS

Nats Split in St. Louis and Mystics Get Dramatic Win

The Nats fell 4-2 Tuesday but bounced back 8-2 Wednesday behind MacKenzie Gore’s seven-strikeout gem and long balls from James Wood and Nate Lowe. The Mystics edged the Sky 81-79 Tuesday then erased an eight-point deficit to stun the Aces 70-68 Thursday, sparked by a 12-2 closing run. Five former Maryland Terrapins—Derik Queen, Julian Reese, Selton Miguel, Donta Scott & Jahmir Young—tip off in Las Vegas at the NBA 2K26 Summer League through July 20, giving Terps fans some mid-summer hoops to track. The Nats are at the Brewers this weekend, Mystics are at the Storm, and D.C. United are in LA against the Galaxy.

Did You Know? D.C. celebrates its “birthday” on July 16—the day in 1790 when President George Washington signed the Residence Act, officially choosing a stretch of Potomac River swampland as the permanent national capital.

Till next time,

District Download