”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

No, I’m not sure how we’ve found ourselves at the start of August, either. But, here we are. Several of our writers are on vacation this week, so it’s a light weekend here at We Love DC. Tell us what you’re planning in the comments!

Jenn: I’m in an incredibly chill mood this week. No bad vibes allowed. While I’m riding this wave of good humor through the weekend, maybe I’ll take in some art! The Freer’s got an exhibit of Whistler’s works on paper called “Texture of Night” – studies of moonlit nights which are strangely hypnotic. Kathleen Ewing’s new gallery space in Cleveland Park sounds like an afternoon house party (actually, I think her house is the gallery now), visit between 12-5pm and enjoy ice tea, cookies and her dog Teddy while enjoying easily the best collection of photographs around. You could enjoy a light dinner at Palena’s bar afterwards. Maybe a stroll through the Bloomingdale neighborhood for the Pink Line Project‘s First on 1st quirky art and music walk, with a coffee stop at Big Bear Cafe. Or have brunch at Circa at Dupont followed by a browse through the Washington Printmakers Gallery – artist Julie Niskanen is giving a Sunday talk at 2pm. Sigh. All this culture. Maybe I should head over to H Street and hit some dive bars instead!

Shannon: I’ll be spending a good part of this weekend in the suburbs. It’s the last weekend of the Loudoun County Fair, which features a doughnut-eating competition, a “pig scramble” (it sounds like breakfast, but it’s not), and yes, even outhouse races. I’m not going to miss that. And I will definitely be heading out to Bethesda for the final days of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Restaurant Week, during which area restaurants offer fixed-price $12-15 lunches and $30 dinners. And assuming the weather cooperates, I’m planning on going for a long bike ride to prepare for the “brutal” 50 States Bike Ride, which has been scheduled for September 26th.

Don: My darling wife and I are headed far, far outside the beltway for an art show in Virginia Beach this weekend so I’ll be unable to partake in any of our area’s activities. It’s too bad, because I have a soft spot for Tori Amos and the undead. Tori will be at DAR this Saturday and mid-day yesterday still showed pretty good seats available. Equally as weird but probably taking itself a little less seriously is Rorschack Theater’s “Living Dead in Denmark,” a look at what Elsinore would be like five years after the events of Hamlet. If there were zombies. How do you not want to go to that? Previews start tonight and run till opening on Sunday, which I’ll have to miss. Oh well, there’s always next weekend…

‘”A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”‘
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Rebecca: Friday I’ll head on over to the Kastle’s Tennis Stadium (11th & H Street, NW) to catch the first few matches of the 2009 Street Soccer USA Cup. Of course I’ll be cheering on DC’s team, the Knights, one of the 16 teams representing various homeless and social services agencies from across the country. Aside from competing for the SSUSA Trophy, individual players are competing for a possible place on the US National team for the Homeless World Cup in Milan. If I’m up early enough Saturday, I’d like to catch the 9:32am alignment of Nancy Holt’s Dark Star Park sculpture in Rosslyn. The alignment only happens once a year, and is part of the park’s yearly, family friendly, festival. If the weather’s good that evening, the rooftop deck of Surfside, which I’ve never been to, sounds like the perfect locale for a beer and their Maui tacos. Sundays are for complete recharging, so take a blanket and lay out with a book on the lawn of the National Cathedral.

Max: I’m all about tennis this weekend. The Legg Mason Tennis Classic kicks off on Saturday featuring some of the world’s best players including Andy Roddick, James Blake, and last year’s winner, Juan Martin Del Potro. Washington Kastles ace Scott “Boom Boom” Oudsema has received a wild card invitation to the qualifying rounds on Saturday and I can’t wait to watch him play. Hopefully he’ll be able to carry his momemtum from being named the World TeamTennis Final MVP into the Legg Mason. We Love DC will be covering the tournament so be on the lookout for some weekend features.

Tiff: So, Friday night, I was thinking I’d take in some local comedy with “There Will Be Laughter” at the Drafthouse. Which leaves Saturday night for Juniper Lane at Iota. But Saturday afternoon, Dhoonya Dance is hosting a Bollywood/Hip-Hop fusion workshop at Fusion that I’ve got my eye on. Oh yeah, and I need to get a trip to the farm in somewhere. Sunday? I’ll be asleep.

‘Day 263/365 – International Gentleman of Leisure’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Tom: This weekend marks the return of an old friend’s classic poker game, so I’ll be preparing for a little card-sharpery. But, I’ll be preparing in a non-traditional way by practicing rock concert photography Saturday night at Iota for Juniper Lane, by going to the farm to pick blackberries, and very probably hitting either newly-open Chinatown Coffee Company or old-favorite Peregrine Espresso for a tasty cup of coffee. My weeks are where I do my living, my weekends are where I take it easy and relax. This one is no different.

Liam: This weekend is a big one for me. My old man is coming to town, along with several other friends for a good ol’ fashioned BBQ to celebrate my naturalization as an American. Friday evening I’m going to hit the gym and probably hit up Brasserie Beck’s to negate everything I do with some mussels and frites. Saturday’s the partay, followed by going out in Dupont or Chinatown, most likely. I have tickets to see Paul McCartney at FedEx, but I’m probably not going to go – if it was the Beatles, that’d be a different story. And on Sunday, I plan on relaxing from it all.

Jasmine: I will be out of town this weekend, but if I were sticking around, I would head over to the Kennedy Center to catch the last weekend of Spring Awakening, which is supposed to be lots of fun. This Friday, M. Ward’s second performance at 9:30 Club still has tickets available, and I hear it’s a must-see. And, if the weather holds up, paddleboating in the tidal basin or kayaking in the Potomac sounds like an excellent Sunday activity.

‘(352/365) (199/365)’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Paulo: Saturday is when Jesuits everywhere celebrate the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, so I’ll be with my alumni association at St. William’s Chapel in Georgetown University, meditating on the life of my favorite historical figure ever to be injured by a cannonball. I’m not even Roman Catholic anymore (apostate gone Baptist) but I was raised by Jesuits and have a deep respect for the order, so I still know the motions. Plus, there’s a catered meal after Mass. Yay.

Donna: On Saturday, my man and I will be competing in the GO Urban Adventure Race, which I’ll tell you all about next week. If time allows, I’d also like to head out to the grand opening of Vint Hill Craft Winery. They’re a commercial winery dedicated to folks who want to make their own barrel, but they’ll have their own bottles for sale. Plus, I want to check out their building, an old barn they renovated with green technologies and geothermal. You’ll be hearing more about this place from me later as well!

Ben R: It’s my birthday weekend, so there’s going to be lots of celebrating in our house. Not sure yet what exactly we’re going to do, but some things that strike my fancy is hitting the Fritz Scholder exhibit at the NMAI before the exhibit winds down in a couple of weeks, or getting my spaceflight fix at the National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center. Maybe a nice dinner out at Ten Pehn or up the street at Source? And if someone wants to gift me tickets to Progressive Nation over at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on August 1 – specifically so I can see Dream Theater – well, I’m not one to complain…

Tom Bridge

I live and work in the District of Columbia. I write at We Love DC, a blog I helped start, I work at Technolutionary, a company I helped start, and I’m happy doing both. I enjoy watching baseball, cooking, and gardening. I grow a mean pepper, keep a clean scorebook, and wash the dishes when I’m done. Read Why I Love DC.