This weekend is full of great stuff to get into!
Friday, October 3rd:
For Comedy Lovers: The Bentzen Ball kicked off on Wednesday and runs through Sunday! Presented by website Brightest Young Things, the festival, curated in part by comedian Tig Notaro, brought back favorites and booked odd television stars, and returned to the venues where its schtick works best (9:30 Club, the Black Cat) and booked new locations that could broaden its audience. See website for ticket and venue details.
For Beer & Pumpkin Lovers: Adams Morgan favorite The Black Squirrel hosts Smashing Pumpkin Beer Fest, where you can drink pumpkin beer from 15 of the bar’s 57 taps. There will also be a slew of pumpkin food: Roasted pumpkin soup, pumpkin sloppy joes, pumpkin veggie burgers, pumpkin mac and cheese, pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream floats and MORE PUMPKIN STUFF if thats even possible. Free. 5 PM.
For Art & Beer Lovers: Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory hosts Art on Tap, where 7 paintings by Art League instructors are paired with seven local craft brews, and local restaurants provide complimentary appetizers inspired by the pairings. Local bands Shark Week and Greenland provide the tunes. Tickets ($45) are available online. 7 PM.
Saturday, October 4th:
For Halloween Lovers: Ready to get in the scary Halloween spirit? Head out to Markoff’s Haunted Forest, which is so scary that you are required to sign a waiver, kicks off this Saturday! Tickets are $22 to $35.
For the Beer Lovers: Capitol City Brewing Company is hosting its 15th annual Oktoberfest at the Village in Shirlington—which will have 3 Oktoberfest beers from the brewery (and many more from 65 others) to sample, live folk music, German and non-German food. Admission gets you 10 drink tastings, and additional tickets cost $1 each. $30. Noon to 7 PM.
For Art Collectors & Lovers: The (e)merge Art Festival is going on at the Capitol Skyline Hotel all weekend. Loads of artists take over the hotel (and some of hotel rooms) to show off their works! You can snap up some inexpensive pieces from up-and-coming artists while wandering all over the hotel. Tickets ($15) are available online. Noon to 7 (also Friday and Sunday).
For Music Lovers: Rhode Island Avenue NE PorchFest Front porches of neighborhood establishments and homes all along scenic Rhode Island Avenue, NE will be turned into intimate stages for an afternoon of music enjoyed in crisp fall air. As part of Art4AllDC, this event connects arts and culture seekers in DC with local artists for free, and is ideal for the whole family to enjoy.
Sunday, October 5th:
For Honoring Veterans: The new American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Dedication Ceremony located adjacent to the Botanic Garden and in view of the Capitol Building receives its dedication this Sunday, and confirmed speakers include President Barack Obama, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, and National Spokesperson Gary Sinise. This star-shaped fountain with a constant ceremonial flame is a tribute to present and future disabled vets, as opposed to a person or event of the past. Be a part of this historical moment, as Americans can now properly honor some of the bravest soldiers to have ever defended the United States. 11 a.m., info on attending 150 Washington Avenue SW, Washington, DC
For Night Owls: Animal Collective is at U Street Music Hall with a bunch of deejay sets. Geologist and Deakin spin whatever they want, what better way to pretend you don’t have to go to work on Monday morning? Tickets ($10) are available online. 10 PM.
