The DC Lineup for this weekend: anniversaries, archives and autumn events

This weekend, creativity and history are highlighted throughout the District as an array of groups host anniversary celebrations featuring comedy; different kinds of visual art, including portraiture; and jazz, punk and blues music. Used-book sales, seasonal festivals and a 5K race are also on the Lineup for this weekend, Oct. 11 to 13.

Clear skies are in the weather forecast for Friday, followed by clouds on Saturday and Sunday. The temperature should range from 52 to 76 degrees — signaling the start of jacket season.

1. Art: This is the first weekend to see Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief’s Tribute to America’s Warriors, an exhibition of President George W. Bush’s paintings in Studio K at the Kennedy Center. The exhibit, which depicts members of the military who have served since 9/11, includes 66 colorful oil portraits and a four-panel mural. The artwork aims to reflect the stories of veterans and cultivate an appreciation for their service and an understanding of the wounds of war. The collection is on loan to the Kennedy Center from the Ambassador and Mrs. George L. Arygros Collection of Presidential Art at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Portraits of Courage is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday through Nov. 15. It is free to attend. Tickets may be reserved online or purchased at the door. 

2. Art: The DC Arts Center (DCAC) 30th Anniversary Party celebrates the decades that the center has brought creative programming to the District with the help of thousands of curators, directors, painters, sculptors, actors and poets. Archival images will be on display alongside work from DCAC alumni and live performance art. The event — “part fundraiser, part exhibition, part concert, part testimonial,” according to an event listing on Facebook — takes place at The Cheshire, 2412 18th St. NW (rear), on Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets cost $20, or $100 for VIP entry that includes a pre-party from 6 to 7 p.m. Those interested in helping the DCAC continue its operations are encouraged to bring funds to donate.

3. History: Learn about the District’s musical history at the DC Punk Archive 5th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday at the Georgetown Neighborhood Library, where the DC Public Library’s archive is being stored during the renovation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. From 2:30 to 4 p.m., the punk archive — including zines and rare concert footage — will be on display in the Peabody Room. From 2:30 to 5 p.m., an outdoor celebration will feature an exhibit by local music photographer Antonia Tricarico and music by Les the DJ and the group CORIKY (Amy Farina, Ian Mackaye and Joe Lally). Activities include a do-it-yourself merchandise table where visitors can make buttons as well as stencil posters and T-shirts (paper will be provided, but attendees must bring their own T-shirts). The event is sponsored by the DC Public Library Foundation.

4. Music: Hillfest 2019 features numerous musical performances by more than 20 artists on Saturday. Dance, story time and fitness workshops are also on the schedule, which runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Garfield Park, 200 F St. SE. The event’s headliners are Lori Williams, a DC native and director of vocal music at Wilson High School, and Rodney Whitaker, who is known as one of the world’s best jazz double bass performers, according to his website. The festival is presented by the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation. It is free and open to the public.

5. Comedy: Join Grassroots Comedy DC this Friday for a Super Spectacular Comedy Show for Immigrant Justice from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW. The performance pays tribute to our nation of immigrants and highlights their many accomplishments. Tickets are sold out online but may be available for purchase at the door for $20. Grassroots Comedy DC hosts stand-up comedy fundraisers monthly to support local nonprofits. Proceeds from Friday’s show will benefit Ayuda. According to its website, Ayuda is the only nonprofit in the DC area that offers a full range of legal, social and language services for immigrants, including services related to domestic violence. The show supports National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which runs through the end of October.

6. Music: Enjoy more free music and dancing at the 30th annual DC Blues Festival at the Wunder Garten, 1101 1st St. NE, on Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. The lineup for the event includes DC legends The Nighthawks and area favorite Bad Influence Band, according to the festival flier. Carly Harvey’s Kiss and Ride, the 2018 winner of the DC Blues Society’s Battle of the Bands, and Matt Kelley and Ian Walters, the 2018 winners of the Solo/Duo Competition, will also perform. The fest is presented by the DC Blues Society and the NoMa Business Improvement District.

7. Recreation: Celebrate the one-year anniversary of the National Law Enforcement Museum with Run for the Badge, a 5K run that honors law enforcement. The race starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday just north of museum at 444 E St. NW. Registration fees are $40 for the general public and $20 for youth ages 8 to 13. Youth must be accompanied by an adult who is also registered for the run. Run for the Badge coincides with the museum’s Family Fun Day and Museum Anniversary Celebration. This free event features a scavenger hunt, a photo booth, face painting and a martial arts demonstration. It takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum. Spots must be reserved online.

8. Education: Learn about design from architects, artisans and craftspeople during The Big Build at the National Building Museum on Saturday. The event includes a construction vehicle “petting zoo,” virtual and augmented reality in a Tech Lab, story time, and a chance to build a brick wall. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum, 401 F St. NW. It is free for all ages to attend and no registration is required. Attendees can also visit the museum’s exhibitions for free. Current exhibits include Flickering Treasures, featuring Baltimore’s bygone movie theaters, and For You by Youth: Urban Landscapes Reimagined, which highlights designs for public green spaces in the District by teen participants in a museum program called Investigating Where We Live. 

9. Literature: More than 15,000 used books, CDs and DVDs will be sold for under $6 each at Columbia Heights Reads, a nonprofit book sale. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza, 14th Street and Park Road NW. Books are provided by Carpe Librum, a bookstore associated with Turning the Page, an organization dedicated to helping students succeed. The selection includes children’s and teen’s books, bestsellers and vintage hardbacks. The program is supported by District Bridges, which fosters community and local economic development. … Carpe Librum and Turning the Page are also providing books for the Southwest Book Bazaar on Friday until 9 p.m. at 4th and M streets SW. Presented in conjunction with the Southwest Business Improvement District, the event includes live music and food trucks. … The annual art and book sale held at the State Department by the Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide kicks off this weekend. In addition to used books, items for sale include CDs, DVDs, jewelry, stamps, coins and art from around the globe. The Art & BookFair is open to the public this weekend and next on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On the last day, books are half-price. The entrance to the State Department is located at 2201 C St. NW.

10. Seasonal Festivals: The National Acolyte and Fall Festival at the Washington National Cathedral on Saturday celebrates autumn with a procession, cathedral tours and workshops on topics that include kite making. The fest features Acolyte Olympics with friendly competitions such as the Hole-y Water Bucket Challenge. Enjoy a picnic lunch — bring your own or purchase one from participating food trucks and vendors. Merchants will sell jewelry, knitwear, ornaments and church goods. Choral groups and other musicians are slated to perform throughout the celebration. The festival is free and open to the public. Those interested in joining the acolyte procession must pay a registration fee of $10. Check-in for acolytes opens at 8:30 a.m. The procession starts at 10 a.m., and the fest continues until 5 p.m. The cathedral is located at Wisconsin and Massachusetts avenues NW. … Across town, Union Market at 1309 5th St. NE is hosting its All Things Go Fall Classic on Saturday and Sunday. The fest features music from emerging artists plus food and drinks from local vendors such as Insomnia Cookies and Compass Coffee. Other activities include 360-degree slow-motion photo booths, virtual reality lounges, spray paint walls and art installations. Tickets range from $70 for one-day general admission to $249 for a VIP two-day pass.