The DC Lineup for this weekend: a physically distant bike ride and recognizing heroes

A virtually connected bike ride is a safe way to get out and enjoy the warmer weather during this first weekend of April. Opportunities to support restaurant workers, those without access to food, vulnerable veterans and health care workers are other options for this weekend, April 3 to 5. Plus digital offerings like a film screening about a pioneering African American journalist, a karaoke party, a story swap, a DC Reads book discussion and a local music performance all take place online.

The weather will be sunny on Friday, followed by some clouds on Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures should range from 45 to 68 degrees, according to the forecast.

1. Community Service: United Soldiers and Sailors of America (USASOA) serves homeless and elderly veterans in the DC metro area. The group is recruiting volunteers for an emergency food drive on Saturday in response to the COVID-19 crisis. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers will collect donations for USASOA left outside of homes on Capitol Hill and along the H Street NE corridor, then take them to the nonprofit’s offices at 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE to clean and box the gifts for delivery. The organizers note that healthy individuals who are not in a high-risk category, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), are welcome to help out. Throughout the event, USASOA will follow CDC guidelines such as wearing gloves and face masks and maintaining physical distance. Those who are unable to volunteer may support these efforts by donating funds or items like canned soup, rice, pasta, microwaveable food, protein bars, clothing and toiletries.

2. Community Service: MedStar Health is seeking donations of money and medical supplies such as unopened hand sanitizer, bleach wipes, procedure masks, N95 masks, exam gloves and isolation or procedure gowns. Another way to show support is writing a message of gratitude through a form on MedStar’s website, which will be shared with caregivers and health care workers. “THANK YOU for putting yourself in the line of fire to selflessly save others,” reads one message from Rhonda L.W. “You are the true heroes in this!!” … George Washington University Hospital is also in need of gifts, especially personal protective equipment (PPE) like non-surgical face masks. On its pandemic update page, the hospital shares a link to an initiative by Joann Fabrics that aims to donate 100 million masks nationwide, with resources like an instructional video and written guide to making face masks at home.

3. Literature: The DC Public Library hosts an online book talk by DC-based author Elizabeth Acevedo on Saturday at 2 p.m. The discussion via Zoom marks the culmination of a special DC Reads program intended to encourage personal connections at a time of social distancing. The featured book is Acevedo’s With the Fire on High, about a high school senior who balances her responsibilities as a teen mother and her dreams of becoming a chef. Copies of the e-book, which is suitable for teens and adults, are available via the DC Public Library’s digital collection.

4. Food & Drink: Erik Bruner-Yang, the James Beard-nominated chef of Maketto on H Street NE, started The Power of 10 initiative to solve two problems by employing out-of-work restaurant workers and feeding those in need. Participating restaurants include Maketto, ABC Pony and Cane. To manage logistics of food distribution, each restaurant is paired with a nonprofit partner: Food on the Stove, Creative Class or the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Foods. Bruner-Yang’s model requires him to raise $10,000 per week to pay for 10 full-time jobs and 1,000 free meals. Donations are processed online with options to give one meal for $10, 10 meals for $100, 100 meals for $1,000, and 1,000 meals for $10,000.

5. History: Whitman-Walker Health is hosting a Facebook watch party on Saturday from 8 to 9 p.m., featuring a screening of Pioneers of Black Journalism: The Legacy of Max Robinson. The recorded panel discussion, which took place in February 2018, celebrated trailblazing journalist Maxie Cleveland “Max” Robinson Jr., who was the first African American to co-anchor the news on a national network. Family and friends of Robinson participated in the talk at the Lincoln Theatre. Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist Gordon Peterson — who co-anchored The Big News (which later became Eyewitness News) with Robinson — moderated the conversation.

6. Recreation: Support nearby breweries and COVID-19 relief through the Bikes & Beers Social Distancing Ride. Registered participants may bike anywhere (indoors or outdoors) at any time, track mileage online, and compare results on a virtual platform. Riders will also be eligible to win prizes for top mileage, and all participants will receive snacks, a social distancing event T-shirt, a 24-ounce event water bottle, two beer tokens for local breweries, a 30% off coupon for a future ride with Bikes & Beers, and branded swag — a bottle opener, a koozie and stickers. Sponsor giveaways and perks as well as a live Facebook raffle are also part of the fun. Registration costs $49. Participating breweries in Virginia are Vanish Farmwoods Brewery in Leesburg, Stone Brewing and Väsen Brewing in Richmond; those participating in Maryland are Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick and Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore. Proceeds go to families and cycling charities with the aim of helping people and businesses affected by the current pandemic.

7. Music: The DC-based event planner Mer Events is hosting a virtual karaoke party and donating the proceeds to local restaurants that are struggling due to the coronavirus outbreak. The gathering takes place on Zoom from 8 to 10 p.m. on Friday. Tickets cost $15; registrants will receive the login details and may participate as singers or audience members. Singers will be able to choose from more than 35,000 songs. Judges will select a winner, who will receive a $50 gift certificate to a nearby restaurant. An hour of social time will follow the competition.

8. Arts: Story District, which creates community through autobiographical storytelling, typically produces more than 30 live shows a year along with a podcast, classes, trainings and consulting. After a successful online event last week, Story District is hosting another Virtual Story Swap this Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. on Zoom. Pairs will be assigned to virtual breakout rooms to share stories based on prompts; then some will have a chance to tell stories to the whole group. Register online to receive the login details. Payment is optional.

9. Music: DC Different Drummers is a primarily LGBT music group that is welcoming of all musicians. Though its spring 2020 live concert “Precious Moments” was canceled to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the group will present music from the program via Facebook and Twitter on Saturday at 7 p.m. For those interested in learning more about Different Drummers, a virtual open house will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday. All adult musicians, twirlers and color guard are welcome to attend the recruitment event. The group is particularly in need of saxophone, horn and sousaphone players, as well as color guard.

10. Arts: Last week, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities released a request for applications for its fiscal year 2021 Public Art Building Communities grant program. Individuals, nonprofit organizations and business improvement districts (BIDs) may apply to create and install new temporary or permanent public artworks that link to the community. Projects that have previously received funding from the commission as well as performance-based projects and artworks are not eligible. Awards vary: up to $50,000 for individuals; $125,000 for nonprofits; and $250,000 for BIDs. Applications are due by July 17.