🌸 The Last Holiday of the Summer

Good morning, DC. The much needed holiday weekend is here. Events are plentiful around the DMV so get out and enjoy the late-summer weather. We’ll be off on Monday for the holiday, but we’ll see you back here on Wednesday.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

DC's summer send-off is pulling out all the stops with DC JazzFest commandeering The Wharf and venues citywide through Sunday, plus the National Symphony Orchestra's free Capitol lawn concert Sunday night—gates open at 3 p.m., so pack your picnic (but leave the booze at home). From Greenbelt's old-school Labor Day Festival with rides and diaper derbies to Northern Virginia's water parks hosting their final weekend hurrah, the metro area's serving up something for everyone before Tuesday's reality check, all wrapped in perfect cooler-than-average temps that'll make you wonder why we complained about the heat all summer.

DC's denial game is strong this September with a packed calendar that includes Issa Rae finally making it to town after her Kennedy Center no-show, plus the return of All Things Go festival featuring Lucy Dacus and Noah Kahan (your wallet won’t feel that $39 ticket). From overnight Art All Night shenanigans September 12-13 to the neighborhood festival trifecta of H Street, Adams Morgan Day, and Fiesta DC, the month's serving up enough distractions to make you forget about those back-to-school vibes—plus Theater Week kicks off September 19 with $25+ tickets to over 20 shows, because culture doesn't have to bankrupt you (completely).

Asheville's beloved Chai Pani is opening its doors today, marking the James Beard Award-winning restaurant's first venture outside the South with two-time Beard winner Vishwesh Bhatt leading the kitchen. The 4,000-square-foot space promises the same technicolor chaos and famous okra fries that earned them the nation's Outstanding Restaurant title in 2022, plus new DC-exclusive dishes featuring Chesapeake seafood and Mid-Atlantic ingredients that honor Bhatt's Gujarati roots and Southern journey. For the first time in Chai Pani history, they're accepting reservations—though founder Meherwan Irani kept plenty of space for walk-ins, staying true to street food's democratic spirit.

DC's restaurant scene threw itself a lifeline this week, extending Summer Restaurant Week through August 31st after reservations plummeted by as much as 31% following President Trump's federal law enforcement surge—with 230 of the original 380 participating restaurants jumping on board for the bonus week. Restaurant Association CEO Shawn Townsend called it a much-needed boost during what's already the slowest month of the year, though he was careful to note the downturn wasn't entirely about the National Guard presence that's had delivery drivers and diners alike steering clear of their favorite spots. The good news: once Restaurant Week officially kicked off, reservations actually jumped 29% compared to last year, proving DC diners will still rally around their neighborhood haunts when given a good reason (and a prix fixe deal).

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

Catch the ultimate hooky anthem under the stars with a free outdoor screening of the '80s classic at Union Market's Movies on the Plaza series.

📍 Union Market | ⏰ 8 PM

DC jazz veterans No Trick Pony blur the lines between composition and improvisation with their unique blend of piano, drums, and tenor sax at Takoma's creative hub.

📍 Rhizome DC | ⏰ 7 PM

RuPaul's finest storm DC for a glittering awards show parody featuring Jimbo as Joan Rivers and queens channeling everyone from Gaga to Beyoncé in what promises to be the most extra night of drag this side of the Potomac.

📍 The Anthem | ⏰ 8 PM

DC's legendary punk and metal promoters celebrate a decade of mosh pits with Cincinnati queercore anarchists Slutbomb headlining a lineup that'll make your ears ring for days.

📍 Songbyrd Music House | ⏰ 7:30 PM

DC's inaugural celebration of the diaspora features Atlanta rapper Gunna and Nigerian superstar Asake headlining a day-long festival with 20,000 expected fans, plus immersive art, global cuisine, and a marketplace of Black-owned brands.

📍 RFK Grounds | ⏰ Noon

DC's own "Love King" brings his signature smooth vocals and passionate performance to the legendary Birchmere, where Sunday tickets are still available after Saturday's show sold out fast.

📍 Birchmere Music Hall | ⏰ 7:30 PM

Maryland's 70-year tradition kicks off with the Outstanding Citizen leading marching bands, community groups, and decorated floats down Crescent Road, followed by carnival rides, performances from Griefcat and The Nowhere Men, and the festival's final hurrah until 6pm.

📍 Roosevelt Center | ⏰ 10 AM

Friday

80 🌡 58 | 🌧️ 5% | 💨 10 mph

Saturday

76 🌡 58 | 🌧️ 10% | 💨 5 mph

Sunday

76 🌡 60 | 🌧️ 5% | 💨 5 mph

Monday

77 🌡 61 | 🌧️ 5% | 💨 6 mph

9:30 Club | The 30+ Party | 5:30pm

Wolf Trap | Tedeschi Trucks Band and Whiskey Myers | 7:30pm

The Anthem | DC JazzFest with Matthew Whitaker, Lalah Hathaway | 8 PM

The Howard Theatre | Bnxn | 8 PM

Soundcheck | Lavern | 10 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | Raheem DeVaughn | 7:30 PM

Wolf Trap | Tedeschi Trucks Band and Whiskey Myers | 7:30 PM

Soundcheck | Jauz | 10 PM

Echostage | RESTRICTED with JSTJR | 10 PM

The Anthem | Chevelle with Asking Alexandria and Dead Poet Society | 7 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | Raheem DeVaughn | 7:30 PM

DAR Constitution Hall | Jeezy | 8 PM

Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts | The Bacon Brothers | 8 PM

Wolf Trap | UB40 | 8 PM

Echostage | Above & Beyond | 10 PM

It's been a tough stretch for most of our teams, but there are still some exciting matchups this weekend. The Nats (53-80, sitting in 5th place in the NL East) are hosting the Rays, and if you stick around after the game, there's a postgame concert featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti. The Mystics (14-18, 4th in the Eastern Conference) are hitting the road for a West Coast swing, playing at Golden State on Saturday and at Los Angeles on Sunday. DC United continues to struggle at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings with just 4 wins all season, and they're heading to New York City FC on Saturday hoping to break their lengthy winless streak. For the brightest spot in DC sports right now, check out the Spirit – coming off their runner-up finish in the 2024 NWSL Championship, they're hosting Chicago Stars FC on Sunday at 4 PM at Audi Field for their Pride Match, which should be an electric atmosphere.

Did You Know? The Library of Congress is the world's largest library with over 173 million items, and if you spent just 10 seconds looking at each one, it would take you over 54 years to see them all.

Till next time,