Things to do the week of Sept. 16-19, 2024
We've gathered up some things to do across the nation's capital, including museum exhibits, concerts, only-in-DC events and much more. Don't miss our things to do this weekend and things to do this month as well.
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Monday
Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment
Discover the origins of one of the most important art movements in history thanks to a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. The museum is replicating a legendary exhibit from Paris in 1874 that helped bring about the dawn of Impressionism. In the display, you will be able to view beloved paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro and many more.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
Sightlines: Chinatown and Beyond
A new exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, will showcase the imprint of Asian Americans on the physical and cultural terrain of the nation's capital. Installed in a gallery that overlooks DC's Chinatown, the exhibition features examples of cultural products that feature Chinese, Korean and Japanese heritage and/or express coalitional Asian American and BIPOC identities. These include displays of artwork, material culture, images and other graphic material drawn from Smithsonian collections and shared by local lenders, including community members and repositories such as the DC History Center and the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University. A free celebration on Sept. 7 marks the exhibit's opening.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Walkingtown DC
On September, Events DC showcases the incredible walkability of the nation’s capital during this free, week-long public tour program. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Walkingtown DC, so it'll be bigger than ever, with a slogan of "Explore DC: Eight Days, Eight Wards, One City." In total, dozens of guided walking tours will be held throughout the District, including neighborhood showcases, themed excursions, historical journeys and many more. Historians, licensed tour guides, community leaders and business owners, among others, host these adventures that will take you to both well-known and hidden gems across DC. The anniversary celebration will be capped off by a closing reception on Sept. 22.
Tuesday
Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band
The international rock legend and famed drummer for the Beatles comes to DC with his iconic band, which has toured for over three decades. Don't miss the chance to see this group of tried-and-true superstars. The roster includes Edgar Winter, Warren Ham, Colin Hay and other world-class musicians.
8 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024
Clue
See the classic Hasbro board game come to life on stage at the Kennedy Center. Based on the 1985 feature film, this unrivaled and interactive whodunit is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
Assimilation, cultural identity and the pursuit of the American dream are all front-and-center in this fascinating production that was nominated for five Tony Awards. Set in Harlem at a bustling hair braiding salon, the play zooms in on the lives of six women (and others) to present a spellbinding portrait of the African immigrant experience in the U.S.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Wednesday
The Comeuppance
Set in nearby Prince George’s County, Md., The Comeuppance concerns the self-proclaimed “Multi-Ethnic Reject Group” on the night of their 20th high school reunion. A mystical force makes these friends face the past head-on and reckon with an uncertain future. Penned by MacArthur Genius Award winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, the play garnered a New York Times Critic’s Pick.
Tickets
Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Comedy of Errors
One of Shakespeare’s earliest plays shows that The Bard knew how to make audiences chuckle as well as he knew how to make them cry. Hilarity ensues in a case of mistaken identities as Artistic Director Simon Godwin directs an uproarious affair that will add some rock ‘n’ roll to a humorously topsy-turvy family saga.
Tickets
Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Thursday
The Atlantic Festival
Convene with "great minds who don't think alike" at this year's The Atlantic Festival, a two-day event featuring speakers, in-depth interviews, screenings, book talks and happy hours, all aimed at discussing today's most pressing topics. Put on by The Atlantic right beside its headquarters at The Wharf, this year's lineup includes Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, actor and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, CNN's Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper and many more. In-person and virtual passes are on sale now.
Tickets
Maine Avenue and Water Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Go-Karts at Union Market
Union Market and Events DC have partnered to bring an adrenaline-fueled weekend to the nation’s capital. Union Market will host a unique go-kart racing experience powered by K1 Speed in its parking lot, with 15-minute races featuring six drivers (both seasoned riders and beginners are welcome; minimum required height is 58”) as well as live music, food, beverages and additional live entertainment.
More Information
Union Market, 1275 5th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Stephen Arnold and Sea Change
Visit the Kogod Courtyard – one of DC’s coolest indoor spots – to celebrate an original American art form with the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Take 5 series. The free, live concert program showcases Stephen Arnold and his group Sea Change, a quintet featuring bass, saxophone, piano, guitar and drums. Refreshments can be purchased from the Courtyard Café and board games will be available for borrowing and playing during the show.
5 p.m. & 7 p.m. | Register | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Primary Trust
Winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize and a highly acclaimed New York Times Critic’s Pick, Primary Trust makes its DC-area premiere thanks to Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va. Kenneth is a frequent patron of Wally’s Tiki Bar until a job loss prompts him to re-examine the past. Funny and emotional in equal measure, Primary Trust is not to be missed this fall.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Old 97’s
At the forefront of the alt-country movement in the mid-1990s, Old 97’s made a name around the venerable Austin, Tx. music scene before becoming nationally renowned. Led by singer/songwriter Rhett Miller, the group showcased plenty of down-home chops before expanding their sound to include power-pop muscle across more than a dozen LPs. Hear the group’s signature sound inside DC’s legendary 9:30 Club.
7 p.m. | Tickets
9:30 Club, 815 V Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
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