The DC Lineup for this weekend: beers and bikes as the District begins to reopen

Arts events and leisure activities like an online beer tasting, virtual social bike ride and seven straight hours of cat-related programs are some highlights over the next few days, May 29 to 31. 

Friday marks the end of the DC government’s stay-at-home order, moving into the first phase of reopening that Mayor Muriel Bowser calls “stay-at-home lite.” Dog parks, golf courses, parks, tennis courts, tracks and playing fields are opening up again (though contact sports are still prohibited). Restaurants that previously had outdoor seating may begin serving customers in those areas as long as tables are at least 6 feet apart, no more than six people are sitting together, and orders are placed and served at the table. Barbershops and hair salons may take customers by appointment only, with stations at least 6 feet apart (waxing, electrolysis, threading and nail care are prohibited). Nonessential retail may also open with restrictions, including no customers inside the shops. Instead, businesses may offer curbside or front-door pickup and delivery of items. 

The District continues to be in a state of emergency. Gatherings of over 10 people remain prohibited. Social distancing, wearing face masks, frequent handwashing and getting testing for COVID-19 if needed are still advised, with requirements in place when shopping and in some other circumstances.

The weather for this last weekend in May will start off with thunderstorms on Friday and then transition to sunny skies on Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures will range from 51 to 87 degrees, according to the forecast. 

1. Youth: Over the past five months, local teens worked with theater artists at Arena Stage and grief counselors from the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing. This Sunday, they will present an original piece Escape Plan, which centers on the experience of being a young person during the COVID-19 crisis. The show runs from 4 to 5:15 p.m., followed by an audience Q&A. It is free to attend. The program comes out of Voices of Now Wendt Center Ensemble, a free drama and writing class for teens who have experienced a death-related loss. The Wendt Center has a network of counseling services that serve the Washington area.

2. Arts: “Bid to Fight COVID” is a virtual art auction to help support the local visual arts community during this uncertain time. The collection of artworks available for bid can be previewed online; registration on Eventbrite is free and required to bid on items. The auction itself will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Martha’s Table to aid its efforts to help District residents during the pandemic. The event is produced by DC-based painter and activist Absurdly Well (known for his street art), Washington Informer Bridge and InTheRough PR firm.

3. Recreation: Take part in a virtual challenge bike ride this Saturday with Rapha and The Armed Forces Cycling Classic. The Zwift Ride is led by U.S. amateur crit champion Justin Wiliams and his brother Cory Williams. The program starts at 11 a.m. and will include a 10-minute warmup, a 40-minute ride at a social pace and a 10-minute cool-down. Register for the ride with Zwift, an app for home fitness. The ride is free to attend, but participants are encouraged to donate to TAPS, an organization that supports people who have lost a loved one in the military.

4. Arts: The PAKKE event-sharing platform is highlighting local music, visual art, dancing, comedy and more with “Baby Bear,” an online variety show and fundraiser hosted by local filmmaker, comedian and storyteller Jon Chase. Comedian Kasha Patel, musician Conrado Muluc, dancer Caroline Hernandez and fire spinners Riki Khalfani and Jasmine Plummer are some of the acts scheduled to perform. Though the event is free, donations are welcome to support Sanctuary DMV‘s efforts to provide food and money to immigrants and other marginalized communities in the Washington area who aren’t able to access government emergency support. The showcase is on Friday from 8 p.m. to midnight on YouTube (with a link that will be shared on the PAKKE website closer to the start time).

5. Poetry: The Native Tongue open mic poetry slam preserves DC culture by featuring local poets. This Friday’s event is hosted by performer Jay Sun; radio host and comedian Joe Clair headlines the program. It will be broadcast from 8 to 10 p.m. on Nubian Hueman’s Instagram Live and is free to attend. Those interested in performing must register on Eventbrite (spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis) and have an Instagram account to participate. 

6. Literature: The Washington National Cathedral is offering a free virtual writing workshop “Spring Into Summer: Writing Through a Change of Season,” led by acclaimed DC-based essayist Randon Billings Noble. The hourlong class is this Sunday at 4 p.m. Registration is required to receive a link to the Zoom meeting and closes at noon on the day of the event.

7. Food & Drink: Attend a virtual beer tasting with DC Brau Brewing Co. and Franklin Hall, which was nominated for a 2020 RAMMY award for Best Beer Program. Tickets cost $40 and include a six-pack of DC Brau craft beers, swag and sample malts and hops. A Franklin Hall cookie and a 90-minute tasting session with the head brewer of DC Brau on a Zoom chat are also perks. Proceeds from the tasting will support furloughed staff at Franklin Hall. The gathering is on Friday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Supplies will need to be picked up beforehand at Franklin Hall, 1348 Florida Ave. NW.

8. Music: The local pizza joint Comet Ping Pong is hosting a Live From Home music series on its Instagram page. This Sunday’s showcase features 15 DC musical acts, including solo artists as well as members of the following groups: Aaron Leitko, Bal Boheme, Den-Mate, Erin and Ryan Nelson, Kill Lincoln, Frass Green, Lotion Princess, Mark Cisneros, Mystery Friends, Noochie, October 71, Spring Silver, Teen Mortgage, Tosser and Washington Social Club. The livestream is from 4 to 10 p.m. 

9. Arts: DC-based artist Tai Hwa Goh is a featured speaker at a six-week series of free virtual artists talks and studio visits sponsored by IA&A at Hillyer and the Korean Cultural Center in Washington, DC. The discussions are broadcast on IA&A at Hillyer’s Facebook Live and Instagram pages. Goh will talk this Friday at 6 p.m. and then respond to questions posted from the audience in the comments section on both platforms for the remainder of the week. Goh was born in South Korea and received a Master of Fine Arts in printmaking and sculpture at the University of Maryland in College Park.

10. Pets: On Saturday the Humane Rescue Alliance and Meow DC are hosting an entire day of online activities related to cats. Highlights of what the organizers call “cat-ivities” include yoga with cats, a “Pet Photo Tips” class, a webinar featuring expert explanations for cats’ behavior, and a trivia contest hosted by DC101’s Klinger. A downloadable Meow DC bingo card and a Humane Rescue Alliance cat coloring page are available online. Saturday’s schedule runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes giveaways every hour for those who donate. Some events, like cat yoga, require donations of at least $5.