The African American Civil War Memorial and Museum, located at the U Street Metrorail station, celebrated is 20th anniversary in 2018. (Photo by Naomi Harris)

The DC Lineup for this weekend: monuments, motorcycles and Nats make history

By Jennifer Anne Mitchell On May 22, 2020 Last updated May 22, 2020

The Washington Nationals’ World Series ring ceremony, Memorial Day celebrations and local cultural events make up The DC Lineup for what will be a three-day weekend for many, May 22 to 25.

Clouds are expected through Monday with rain and thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday, according to the forecast. Temperatures should range from 55 to 81 degrees.

1. Sports: The Washington Nationals will unveil their 2019 World Series rings at 7 p.m. on Sunday in the first-ever virtual championship ring ceremony in the history of Major League Baseball. The event will be broadcast on Nationals.com, the MLB Network, MASN and the Nats Facebook and YouTube channels. Members of the championship-winning team and the Nats owners will featured, along with Washington-area celebrities. Viewers are invited to send messages of support and donations to the NATS4GOOD Community Response Fund to support the World Central Kitchen and Capital Area Food Bank’s efforts to prevent hunger amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Select support messages will be showcased during the ring ceremony. Additionally, the first part of the documentary Improbable — the story of the Nats World Series win — will premiere on Saturday at 7 p.m. followed by the conclusion on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on Nationals.com and MASN.

The World War II Memorial is among the DC landmarks being highlighted in a Memorial Day discussion about themes of war and peace in DC’s monumental core. (Photo courtesy of National Park Service)

2. History: The local social group Washington, DC History & Culture is offering a free Memorial Day program, “War & Peace Themes in DC’s Monuments & Memorials.” The program will highlight local landmarks, including Civil War memorials, the World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, service memorials, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, the Peace Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. Robert Kelleman, founder of Washington, DC History & Culture, will host the discussion, with input from Arlington National Cemetery expert Harry Phillips. The event will take place on Zoom on Monday from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

3. Social Causes: The 32-year Memorial Day motorcycle tradition typically held in the District is going virtual this weekend. The organizers of what’s now called Rolling to Remember are challenging participants to sign up to ride 22 miles on Sunday and download the REVER app to plan, track and share their ride. All riders are encouraged to follow physical distancing practices and local public health guidelines. Along with the new name, the event formerly known as Rolling Thunder has a new focus this year: to advocate for the 22 veterans who die by suicide every day and demand solutions to this crisis. AMVETS is managing this weekend’s event, and donations to the organization are welcome.

4. Social Causes: To honor service members, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham will speak at a special Memorial Day service on the Washington National Cathedral online portal this Sunday from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meacham — a presidential historian and author of The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels — now resides in Nashville, but has ties to the District: He was editor of The Washington Monthly and later worked at Newsweek for 12 years, first as managing editor and then editor.

5. Social Causes: Community Building Art Works is celebrating Memorial Day weekend with a storytelling hour, Break & Bloom: Planted in Service, on Friday at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live. A veteran, an active-duty service member and a military spouse will be featured, following weeks of rehearsal for this program about fracture, self-discovery and growth. Additional performers include Sufian Zhemukhov, award-winning storyteller and associate research professor of international affairs at George Washington University.

6. Culture: A virtual Queerantine Con this Saturday will benefit DC-based Tagg Magazine, one of the only two print queer women’s magazines in the entire country. Since Tagg has lost advertisers during the COVID-19 pandemic, this fundraiser aims to help sustain the publication through the crisis. The schedule includes music, conversations and a closing party featuring DJ Tezrah (voted Washington Blade’s “Best DJ” in 2017 and 2018). The event will be broadcast live from noon to 9 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube. It is presented by Tagg and Fairy Gaymother Media.

7. Ward 6 Neighborhoods: Mosaic Theater Company at the Atlas Performing Arts Center presents “A Conversation About DC’s H Street Corridor” to address changes in the neighborhood and prospects for an equitable future at a time of rapid development. Looking back through history, the dialogue will consider how to preserve culture and establish equity as the area develops. Panelists include Derek Hyra, associate professor and founding director of the Metropolitan Policy Center at American University; Anwar Saleem, executive director of H Street Main Street; Jane Lang, a lawyer, arts philanthropist, activist and arts education promoter; and Marqui Lyons, a fifth-generation Washingtonian, local historian and meetings coordinator. Laley Lippard, director and manager of public programming and partnerships at Mosaic Theater Company, will moderate the talk, which takes place on Friday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Facebook Live.

8. Music: Many DC-based military bands will perform in the PBS National Memorial Day Concert. Normally held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, this year the concert features filmed performances and tributes from around the country. Elements from the Washington area include numerous musical groups from the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as Service Color Teams from the Military District of Washington, DC. The show will be broadcast at 8 p.m. on Sunday on PBS, the Armed Forces Network and the National Memorial Day Concert’s Facebook, YouTube and website. Prominent figures like retired U.S. Army Gen. Colin Powell and numerous stars from arts and entertainment will also make appearances.

Sol Roots will perform Friday at 5:30 p.m. as part of the Hamilton’s virtual happy hour series. (Photo courtesy of Sol Roots)

9. Music: The downtown DC restaurant and music venue The Hamilton continues its Late Night in the Loft series with live-streamed concerts from local artists on its Facebook page. This Friday’s virtual happy hour showcases funk, blues, rock and soul music by Sol Roots from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. It is free to attend. Roots has been on the board of directors of the Songwriters Association of Washington, which supports original music in the District through activities like its Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.

10. Community: To celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2018, Whitman-Walker Health shared 40 stories of its community members to paint a picture of its history. The organization is currently hosting Facebook Watch Parties to share some of these narratives; part two of the program takes place this Saturday from 8 to 9 p.m.

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