The DC Lineup for this weekend: Brimming with Irish charms

Options for going out in the District this weekend, March 15 to 17, include the world’s largest environmental film fest, local jazz and choral music, and a fundraiser to end world hunger. There are also plenty of seasonal events for not just St. Patrick’s Day but also March Madness, Persian New Year and Women’s History Month.

The weather will cool off after our warm spell, with the forecast calling for clouds on Friday and Saturday and then mostly sunny conditions on Sunday. High temperatures will range from 73 to 52 degrees.

1. Film: This weekend is the start of the largest environmental film festival in the world — right here in DC. The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital kicked off Thursday and continues through Sunday, March 24. The annual fest began in 1993 to promote the enjoyment of natural surroundings and the importance of environmental stewardship. Over 100 films are expected to attract more than 20,000 viewers. A celebrated cultural event in the District, the festival won the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Creative Industries in 2017. The festivities bring together more than 110 collaborators, such as National Geographic, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Embassy of Japan, Eaton DC, E Street Cinema and the Carnegie Institution for Science. Locations, times and ticket prices vary for each film on the schedule, which includes some free screenings.

2. Holiday Celebration: DC’s HOT 99.5 radio station will broadcast live from Georgetown as part of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at Rí Rá Irish pub, 3125 M St. NW. The broadcast begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday and includes a chance to win a limited-edition St. Paddy’s Day T-shirt. Along with live radio, there will be special events throughout the day, starting with an Irish (or American) breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Afternoon and evening performances will feature the DC Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes & Drums, The Red Hand Band, The Bare Minimum and the District Irish Dance Academy.

3. Holiday Music: The Washington Chorus presents a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration led by Irish conductor Christopher Bell — a native of Belfast who’s in his second year as artistic director of the Washington Chorus — on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW. An Irish band with fiddlers, dancers, pipe players and choral arrangements of Irish classics make this a festive holiday option. Tickets range from $18 to $72.

4. Education: Profs and Pints invites college faculty members to give talks at bars, cafes and other spots in the city. This Sunday at 6 p.m., the group is offering an educational alternative to the many St. Patrick’s Day parties throughout the city with “Intro to Gaelic” at The Bier Baron Tavern, 1523 22nd St. NW. Jennifer O’Riordan — a native of Cork, Ireland, and formerly assistant director of Irish studies and Irish language instructor at Catholic University — will give Sunday’s lecture. Learn the history of the language, basic pronunciation, Gaelic greetings and other practical sayings, an Irish song, and some Irish words that you might already know. For example, did you know that Baltimore is a Gaelic term that means “the big house”? According to The Baltimore Sun, the Maryland city is named after the Lord of Baltimore and the land that he owned, a small town called Baltimore in Ireland. Tickets cost $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

5. Culture: Celebrate the Persian New Year with the Norooz Market DC on Saturday. Fom 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., local merchants will sell goods at the Arts Walk at Monroe Street Market, 716 Monroe St. NE. Then, from 6 to 7 p.m., Iranian musician Aida Shahghasemi will perform a concert at Busboys and Poets’ Brookland location, 625 Monroe St. NE, from 6 to 7 p.m. Entry to the market is free; the concert costs $25 per person or $40 for a VIP ticket that includes a curated gift bag with items from market vendors and admission to a special lounge during the market.

6. Local Music: The ninth annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival began last Sunday at the Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, and runs through March 31. The festival will host its first DC event of the year this weekend. On Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m., Levine Music will host a free Brazilian Drumming Masterclass taught by Los Angeles-based jazz drummer Ana Barreiro at Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Campus (THEARC), 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. On March 22 and 23, the fest will showcase young artists at Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, Maryland.

7. Sports: Kick off the start of March Madness on Selection Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m. with fellow sports lovers at the Bottom Line, 1716 I St. NW. The tavern will feature food and drink specials throughout the evening. This neighborhood bar was established in the District in 1979, and calls itself “a staple in DC for 40 years.” Bottom Line is inviting attendees to join its March Madness bracket.

8. History: In honor of Women’s History Month and the upcoming centennial of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 18, 2020, the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center hosts Votes for Women Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to learning about the Americans who advocated for a woman’s right to vote, attendees can create mini-banners, participate in a scavenger hunt and cast their own votes. The event is free and open to all ages. The visitor center is located beneath the U.S. Capitol, with an entrance at East Capitol and 1st streets NE.

9. Food & Drink: Dine out for a good cause at a fundraiser dinner to benefit Hostelling International USA’s Explore the World scholarship program and World Central Kitchen, José Andrés’ nonprofit to end hunger. The reception is on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hostelling International DC, 1009 11th St. NW. The dinner is co-hosted by Hostelling International DC and DC-based travel media specialist Jessica van Dop DeJesus of the blog The Dining Traveler. Tickets cost $50 and include a buffet with Puerto Rican food plus a choice of wine, beer or soft drinks. The event also includes a live Bomba performance by Proyecto Piquete and a raffle with a chance to win prizes such as a two-night stay at Hostelling International’s penthouse apartment in New York, Jose Andres’ book We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time, a Samsonite luggage set, and The Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico along with a tote bag.

10. Local Music: The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC performs Let Freedom Sing at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW, on Saturday at 4 and 8 p.m. The show commemorates the influence that African-Americans have had on civil and equal rights for the LGBTQ community. The program will feature jazz, gospel, R&B and Broadway music, including Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Tickets cost $25 to $65. The matinee performance will include American Sign Language interpreters.

This post has been updated to include a revised start time for the Washington Women in Jazz Festival’s masterclass on Saturday.