Weekend Roundup, Sept. 14 – 17
By • September 14, 2023 0 860
Another lovely September weekend awaits! Check out a 12-foot puppet of a Syrian refugee as she makes her way through the country, see the debut of an Artechouse and NASA partnership, enjoy without fail the Museum of Failure, and much more.
See 12-Foot Puppet “Little Amal”
An internationally celebrated 12-foot-tall puppet of a young Syrian refugee girl, dubbed “Little Amal,” will be visiting the area Sunday. Little Amal is joining over 1,500 artists at over 100 artistic events over 35 towns and cities this fall. She’ll begin her D.C. adventures in partnership with the Anacostia Business Improvement District at Big Chair along V St. SE. She’ll then maker her way to the Hillsdale Farmers Market. The puppet will also make appearances at Black Lives Matter Plaza and the Washington Monument, as well as additional D.C. sites until she leaves for Pittsburgh September 19. More information on the Little Amal visits can be found here.
Visit Mount Vernon’s Colonial Market & Fair
Mount Vernon’s Colonial Market & Fair returns on the venue’s 12-acre field. Take the whole family to chat with colonial artisans who will be selling traditional handcrafted food and wares. There will also be live colonial era music, 18th century games, and learn how to make crafts circa George Washington’s time. Speaking of General Washington, both he and First Lady Martha Washington will be available for meet-and-greets in the General’s Tent. More information on the fair can be found here.
A previous colonial fair demonstrator wows a crowd. Courtesy Mount Vernon.
Artechouse and NASA Debut “Beyond the Light”
Experiential arthouse Artechouse, along with NASA, are debuting “Beyond the Light” Friday. The immersive exhibit blends artistic expression, science, and technology to explore our journey as a civilization, using light as a guide. The cinematic-like exhibit explores NASA’s discoveries, including the latest from the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope. More information on the exhibit can be found here.
A new exhibit appears at Artechouse this weekend. Photo via TAA PR.
Don’t Fail to Check out The Museum of Failure
The Museum of Failure brings together nearly 160 products and services that were total flop but paved the way for other great inventions. Some invention names may catch your eye (Apple and Heinz anyone?) The museum, located at 3270 M St. NW in Georgetown Park, will run through the end of October. More information on how to get tickets can be found here.
Checking out an exhibit at the Museum of Failure in Georgetown. Photo from Museum of Failure on Instagram.
Guffaw Away at The DC Comedy Festival
Dupont Underground is hosting the Fifth Annual DC Comedy Festival now through September 16. Don’t miss talent from the city (that has launched the careers of icons like Wanda Sykes, Martin Lawrence and Dave Chappelle). Dupont Underground’s partner, Broken Diamond Comedy, is bringing together over 100 comedians from the local and international scene. “We are thrilled to use this one-of-a-kind space to host some of the country’s most established, as well as up-and-coming, comic talents. Come laugh with us in a space like no other in D.C.,” said Dupont Underground CEO Ana Harvey in a press release. More information on the show can be found here.
Photo from an earlier Dupont Underground comedy show. Courtesy Facebook.
Don’t Miss National Portrait Gallery Artist Programs This Weekend
Spend your Sunday at The National Portrait Gallery with conversations with artist Kenturah Davis and Thomas Holton. Davis’s signature style of “text drawings,” fusing the acts of writing and drawing will be discussed from 2-3 p.m. at the McEvoy Auditorium. Later, photographer Thomas Holton will chat about his portraits of the Lams, a Chinese family living in New York City, and Holton will be exploring themes of identity and belonging. Holton’s talk will be from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Registration is required for both — Davis’s event can be found here and Holton’s can be found here.
A drawing by Kenturah Davis. Courtesy National Portrait Gallery.
Participate in The End of Summer Clean-Up
Legacy DC is hosting an “End of Summer Clean-Up” Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pick up litter and clean up the neighborhood. Afterwards, return to Legacy DC to return gear and have a hydration break with Topo Chico and treats from Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee. Gift bags will be offered to volunteers ages 21+. Gloves, pickers and trash bags will be provided. More information can be found here.
