‘Poetry Is a Country’ at National Gallery of Art
Great art inspires — and sometimes, great art inspires even more art. The National Gallery of Art’s “Poetry Is a Country” asked poets and writers to create a new poem inspired by a work in the National Gallery’s collection. The reactions birthed U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón’s “In the End, Everything Gives,” a response to Andy Goldsworthy’s slate installation “Roof,” which lies in the East Building, and author Jason Reynolds’s “Charwoman Interrupted Again,” which came from Gordon Parks’s photograph “Washington, D.C. Government Charwoman (American Gothic), July 1942.” The day features keynote addresses by poets in the East Building Auditorium; poetry readings next to the art that inspired them, taking place throughout the day; and interactive activities throughout the museum, including poetry writing workshops and creating a handmade book. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free.
Fotos y Recuerdos Festival
The National Portrait Gallery celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a fiesta just for kids and families. The Fotos y Recuerdos Festival takes place in the museum’s light-filled Kogod Courtyard, featuring books and story times courtesy of bilingual book company Lil’ Libros. View select portraits from the collection, take a museum tour, and join in during a salsa and bomba workshop with members of the Washington Ballet. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free; no reservations needed.
In Conversation With ‘The Sopranos’
Spend Saturday afternoon bingeing “The Sopranos” in preparation for a live 90-minute conversation with actors from the acclaimed HBO Mafia drama, and bring all your questions and burning theories about the series’s cryptic ending to a Q&A at Capital Turnaround. “Sopranos” fans might already know about the “Talking Sopranos” podcast from Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa (Christopher and Bobby Bacala on the show, respectively), and the duo will share their memories and photos from the show onstage along with Vincent Pastore, who played Tony Soprano’s longtime friend Big Pussy. 7 p.m. (doors open). $55-$80.
Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour
Get a firsthand look at the creative process when 49 Arlington artists open the doors of their studios during the self-guided Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour. With sculpture, ceramics, paintings, photography and found metal objects among the media on the agenda, there’s a lot to explore — so much that the tour split into two days, with studios in the western half of the county open on Saturday and the others welcoming visitors on Sunday. (Don’t worry: There are a number of shared studio spaces, so you don’t actually have to visit 49 different locations.) Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
Celebrate Petworth festival
In its ninth year, the neighborhood festival has over 40 vendors and exhibitors showing off the community’s arts and food. Returning this year is the dog show, which includes categories like best owner look-alike and best dressed. A children’s area features a magic show, puppets and a salsa class. There’s also a station dedicated to sharing Petworth’s history. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
The Mosaic District’s annual weekend-long Fall Festival isn’t the kind of PSL-sipping, pumpkin-carving fall fest you might be thinking of: Instead, it welcomes 90 vendors selling vintage and handmade clothing, candles, jewelry, cards, toys and art. Look for performances by kid-favorite singing princesses, cover band Kristen and the Noise, and salsa band Patrick Albán and Noche Latina over the course of two days, plus a family area, workout classes and other activities. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free.
Taiwan Bubble Tea Festival at Rockville Town Square
Try bubble tea and Taiwanese street food from dozens of vendors in Rockville, a sister city to Taiwan’s Yilan City. This year’s festival also includes karate demonstrations, live music and emphasis on Mandarin language learning programs. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
Falls Church City Hall and the adjoining Cherry Hill Park are filled with music, games, food and local vendors during the 47th annual festival. Beyond live entertainment that ranges from high school bands to magicians to the funky jazz of saxophonist Lil’ Maceo, the festival includes the Taste of Falls Church, which features Hot N Juicy Crawfish, Taco Bamba, and Clare and Don’s Beach Shack; a beer garden including Solace Outpost and Audacious Aleworks; and dozens of booths with makers and local businesses and organizations. Kids get their own stage, as well as bouncy houses, pony rides and other attractions. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free; food and drinks require tickets ($3 each), as do the kids’ rides.
Pre-Loved Bazaar at the Black Cat
You can save the planet, have fun and, more importantly, look good while you’re doing it. That’s the message from Goodwill, Femme Fatale, Swap DC and other organizers of the Black Cat’s Pre-Loved Bazaar. Find vintage looks from a dozen vendors, bring your old clothes to participate in a clothing swap, learn about sustainable fashion and how to repair worn out clothes, or just get a tarot reading while grooving to a DJ. Noon to 3 p.m. Admission is pay-what-you-can, with a sliding scale of free to $50.
Teddy Bear Clinic at National Museum of Health and Medicine
Bring your kids — and their favorite stuffed friend — to this day of playing doctor at the Army’s medical museum. Young visitors (prekindergarten to second grade) can participate in crafts, “checkups” and other activities to learn about health and physical fitness at one of the area’s more unique museums. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Free.
American Television album release show at Comet Ping Pong
Before American Television kicks off a short East Coast tour later this fall, the melodic D.C.-based punk-rock quartet is playing an album release show a little closer to home. The relentless lyrics of newly released “Scars” singles weave a pounding wave of riffs and contempt. The band is joined by Delaware punkers Nathan Gray and the Iron Roses. 10 p.m. $15.
Boiler Room at Gateway DC
Boiler Room started as a way to hear the music bubbling up in clubs thousands of miles away, and while the site still streams sets from shows and festivals happening around the world, it also brings in-person events across the globe. The latest all-dayer, held at the Gateway DC in Southeast, is headlined by “Princess of Amapiano” and Drake fave Uncle Waffles and LA-based DJ and tastemaker Joe Kay, who co-founded the “Soulection” show on Beats 1 radio. Locals on the bill include Mathias and Black Rave Culture. 3 to 10 p.m. $91.50.
