Thursday Market

Enjoy lunchtime music and a farmers’ market every Thursday with crafts, pastries and fresh produce from 11 to 3 in Rosslyn.  www.rosslynva.org.

Folklife Festival!

The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival opens 6/30 to 7/4 and 7/7-11 on the Mall.  Columbia is featured this year along with the celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the Peace Corps. 

Helen Mirren comes to town!

Join Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons at Strathmore for a concert of “Music Inspired by Shakespeare” including readings from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”  June 30^th at 8 pm. castletonfestival.org.

Play Ball!

The Potomac Nats return home for games 6/29 through 7/1 in Lake Ridge.  www.potomacnationals.com.

Crystal City Market!

Every Tuesday from 3-7 pm, enjoy fresh produce from 20 local area farms along the Crystal Drive sidewalk between 18^th and 20^th Street sidewalk.  Crystalcity.org.

Courtyard Dancing!

“Asia After Dark” at the Freer Gallery July 28^th from 6:30-10:30 pm features a lively courtyard dance party.  Asia.si.edu/asiaafterdark.

Fort Reno!

First concert of the season is June 27^th from 7-9:30.  Promising local bands, picnicking, ice cream truck.  No alcohol.  “Title Tracks”, The Cornel West Theory” @fortrenoDC.

A night at the Birchmere!

Kenny Loggins of the soundtracks for “Caddyshack” performs at The Birchmere June 27^th at 7:30 pm.  www.birchmere.com.

Places for a good time this weekend

Yum
The National Capital Barbeque Battle is June 25-26. Listen to bands, sample the food and watch cooking demos from some of the nation’s best bbq teams. Bbqdc.com.

Georgetown
Have fun at Washington Harbour’s Waterfront Summer Celebration and Balloon Toss June 26th from 12-3 pm. Food, steel drum band, facepainting.

Time for some culture?

Saturdays in the summer, entrance to the cool marble corridors of the Corcoran is free. See “Washington Color and Light” June 25-August 14th. Corcoran.org.

The Northern Virginia Antiques Show is June 25th at The TJ Community Center in Arlington from 11-5. 100 dealers. www.jmkshows.com.

Laura Bush

Laura Bush discusses her life as First Lady with US Archivist, David Ferriero, at The National Archives at 7pm tonight. www.archives.gov/nae.

Fund for Alexandria’s Child - Rollin on The River

Enjoy a great night on the water and support this charity which helps foster children!
Music, dance, food, silent auction, drinks on a Potomac cruise aboard the Cherry Blossom June 24th. For more info, e-mail goodhartgroup@mcenearney.com or visit http://alexandriava.gov/TheFundForAlexChild

Dude Fest

Come dressed as your favorite “The Big Lebowski” character June 23rd to win a free movie pass and see the cult film at the Dude Fest at 7 pm – Arlington Cinema. Arlingtondrafthouse.com

Theatre

Shakespeare
“The Merchant of Venice” shows up at the Shakespeare Theatre in Sidney Harman Hall June 21 through July 24th. His most memorable characters! Shakespearetheatre.org.

Next to Normal
A hit on Broadway, you saw it first here at Arena and now “Next to Normal” will be performed at the Kennedy Center June 28th through July 10th. Kennedy-center.org.

Go Out in Del Ray!

Enjoy restaurants in Del Ray during their Restaurant Week June 20-24. The next day (June 25th_ at
the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center June 25th, enjoy non stop music by locals, food and games at the Del Ray Music Festival. Celtic, country, folk. ww.delraymusicfestival.com.

Fathers Day Ideas

Take your Dad, a friend or yourself on a walking tour of the Maine Avenue fish market from 4:30-7:30 June 18th for fresh shucked oysters, clams and steamed crabs. Dcmetrofoodtours.com.

For Fathers’ Day, go for a run along the C&O Canal Towpath at 6:30 pm in Georgetown June 19th.

Crowds Gather for Blues

Visit the Columbia Pike Blues Festival, an annual event that draws big crowds for music, food, beer and wine, crafts and kids’ fun from 1-8 pm June 18th.

Family Fun

June 18th, have fun at Udvar-Hazy on their Family Day with music, pilots and planes! Nasm.si.edu.

Dewey

Enjoy A Taste of Dewey while you’re at the beach June 18th and give The Rusty Rudder a rest! DC2NY.com beach bus leaves after work Fridays. No need to drive! Deweybeachlife.com.

Taste of Reston

Enjoy The Taste of Reston June 17 3-11pm & June 18 12-11pm. Carnival, food, beer and wine. Restontaste.com.

National Flip Flop Day!

What’s the deal? Free 24 oz. Jetty Punch Smoothie on National Flip Flop Day

When: Friday, June 17

Where: Tropical Café Smoothie, 1556 Potomac Greens Drive, Alexandria

Cost: Free to the first 500 people wearing flip flops

Details: Additional promotions for Father’s Day and the first day of summer are available. Visit the website for more information.

From Broadway

“Wicked” is at the Kennedy Center from tomorrow to August 21st. A blockbuster riff on “The Wizard of Oz”! kennedy-center.org.

Upcoming Performances

A Night in Treme
New Orleans comes to the Kennedy Center. “A Night in Treme” with Big Sam Williams and the Rebirth Brass Band at 7:30 June 13th. Kennedy-center.org.

Singing
Patti LaBelle performs at Wolf Trap June 14th. Remember “Lady Marmalade” and “On My Own”? Katy Perry is there the 15th. wolftrap.org

US Open

Only practice rounds available! Even without Tiger, the US Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda should be worth watching. Ridgewells is catering. Best to take shuttle from Metro. Usga.org/tickets.

The Arts

Arts and Crafts
Head for Annapolis for some cool breezes and the Arts and Crafts Festival June 11-12. Fine arts, wine tasting, family fun. Annapolisartsandcraftsfestival.com.

Alexandria Symphony
The Children’s Arts Festival June 12th from 2-4 pm at T C Williams High features music, an instrument petting zoo, face painting and dancing. Alexsym.org.

Get Outside!

Flicks
The outdoor film festival at Crystal City begins June 6th at dusk near the Metro. Every movie – through 8/29 – has a number in the title. Crystalcity.org.

Garden Party
June 9th from 6-9 pm, enjoy a garden party at the Textile Museum with games, picnic fare, live music, beach blanket bingo and drinks. Textilemuseum.org.

Celebrate
Celebrate Fairfax Festival with The Legwarmers, 90 performances, crafts, petting zoo and carnival rides June 10th 6 pm to midnight. Celebratefairfax.com.

Horsies
See horse country’s finest participate in the Upperville Colt and Horse Show through June 12th. Great scenery and food as a bonus! Upperville.com.

Good Music

Jennifer Holliday
June 11th is the annual Capital Pride Parade at DuPont Circle. On the Pride Main Stage, Jennifer Holliday performs June 12th for the Pennsylvania Avenue Street Festival. Capitalpride.org.

Bluegrass
At the State Theatre in Falls Church June 11th: The Steep Country Rangers, The Boxcars and Dirty Kitchen presented by Bluegrass Country. Bluegrasscountry.org.

Treme
June 13th, the music of Treme comes to The Kennedy Center. Post Katrina music hosted by Wendell Pierce who plays Antoine Batiste on the TV show. Kennedy-center.org.

Fun Theatre

Keegan Theatre
“25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be performed by the Keegan Theatre through July 3rd. A departure from their usual Irish dramas. Keegantheatre.com.

Signature Theatre
Signature Theatre will be presenting five nights of cabaret performances June 7-11.
Songs by Irving Berlin, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Signature-theatre.org.

Arena Stage
Much loved actress, Sarah Marshall, stars in “The Glass Menagerie” June 9th through July 3rd at Arena Stage. arenastage.org.

Comedy

Chelsea Handler performs June 11th at DAR Constitution Hall with comic sidekicks. Ticketmaster.com.

Restaurant Week at The Beach!

Ocean City Restaurant Week runs from June 6th to the 19th. Not available Fridays and Saturdays. www.oceancityrestaurantweek.com

Annual Restaurant Week in Rehoboth Beach through June 11th. Prix fixe meals $20-$30. info@downtownrehoboth.com.

Taste of Del Ray

“Taste of Del Ray” from 1-3 pm June 5th with 15 restaurants participating. www.visitdelray.com.

Wine Festival

30th Annual Vintage Virginia Wine Festival June 4-5 11am to 6pm at Bull Run Regional Park. Shuttles from Vienna Metro. Music and 50 Virginia wineries. Vintagevirginia.com.

Museum Walk

28th Annual Museum Walk Weekend June 4th and 5th means free admission to 10 different museums all accessible by bike. Live music, exhibitions. Dkmuseums.com.

Play Ball!

The Alexandria Aces play their opening game at the field next to Cora Kelley School June 3rd at 7. They’’ also play June 7th and 8th. Eteamz.com.

Delaware Beach Events

At Bethany Beach, enjoy the juried Seaside Craft Show June 4th from 10-5. townofbethanybeach.com.

In Rehoboth, Restaurant Week is June 5-11. downtownrehoboth.com.

Truckeroo

Across from the Navy Yard Metro on June 3rd 20-25 food trucks will gather from 11-9 with live music! Truckeroodc.com.

Jazz Events!

From June 1st to the 13th, DC Jazz Festival on the Mall with Bobby McFerrin among others. For a complete schedule, dcjazzfest.org.

This is your chance to tour Washington’s finest Impressionist and contemporary paintings at the Phillips Collection after hours event with jazz accompaniment from 5 on June 2nd. www.phillipscollection.org.

Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art’s sculpture Garden every Friday from June 3rd to September 9th from 5-8:30 pm. www.nga.gov.

For 3 days from June 3rd through 5th at Merriweather Post Pavillion, enjoy the Capital Jazz Fest with acts like Natalie Cole and Herbie Hancock. Merriweathermusic.com.