The DC Lineup for this weekend: indie shops, community stories and free school supplies

This edition marks the second anniversary of The DC Lineup. Fittingly, our list is full of the types of DC-centric, public service programming that we sought to highlight by establishing this column.

Temperatures are expected to range from 66 to 93 degrees this weekend, Aug. 28 to 30. The forecast also predicts clouds on Friday, thunderstorms on Saturday and clear skies on Sunday.

1. Culture: The second annual DC Funk Parade Photo Gallery will be displayed at Eaton DC, 1201 K St. NW, on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event is part of the Funk Parade’s FunkU initiative. This year’s theme of “Black Broadway” is a nod to the parade’s origins in the U Street Corridor and will include images of the area — past and present. Public health guidelines will be strictly enforced with limited entrants allowed and face coverings required. Reservations are required for 30-minute viewing slots. An online conversation “A Thousand Words: Telling a Community’s Story Through Photography” will be held from 2 to 2:45 p.m., followed by the discussion “If U Street Could Talk” from 5 to 5:45 p.m.  

2. Film: The 2017 documentary More Than a Word unpacks the derogatory name and mascot used by the Washington football team until this summer. The National Museum of the American Indian is hosting two online screenings of the film this weekend: on Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Amanda Blackhorse (of the Diné people) — who was a plaintiff in the 2014 lawsuit Blackhorse v. Pro Football Inc. —  will be featured in a conversation with the museum’s director Kevin Gover (of the Pawnee tribe) that will air after each screening. 

3. History: Thanks to a one-day extension, Saturday is now the last chance to see the installation of Our Story: Faces of Suffrage, Portraits of Change at Union Station. The art display, created by Helen Marshall of the photo and design studio The People’s Picture, celebrates the 100th anniversary of women earning the right to vote in the U.S. with thousands of photos that depict stories of the suffrage movement. Together they create a portrait of Ida B. Wells, a journalist, suffragist and anti-lynching activist who fought for the rights of women of color. Union Station is noted as being of particular historical significance in the suffrage movement. An online version of the mosaic and video explaining the project allow viewers to take in this project and learn from home.

4. Community: The DC nonprofit Community of Hope is distributing free backpacks and school supplies for local elementary, middle and high school students. The Backpack & Mask — Grab and Go Event! takes place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Conway Health and Resource Center, 4 Atlantic St. SW. All attendees must wear face masks and maintain physical distance. Each household (regardless of the number of family members present) may receive up to five backpacks and one mask packet with five cloth face masks.

5. Literature: Howard University creative writing assistant professor Patricia Elam Walker will read from her children’s book Nana Akua Goes to School during a Facebook Live event. The story is about a young girl who brings her West African grandmother to meet her classmates and share what makes her culture unique. The reading is hosted by Sankofa Video Books & Cafe on Sunday from 3 to 5:30 p.m. A Q&A with viewers will follow.

6. Literature: The virtual DC Bookstore Crawl brings together book lovers and local bookshops on Independent Bookstore Day this Saturday. Special events, discounts and a raffle are among the offerings. Bookstores in Baltimore and Northern Virginia are participating along with 16 DC shops.

7. Dance: The DMV Coalition of Dance Educators is offering an entire weekend of free online dance programs with DMVCODE’s Inner Spaces Dance Festival. The fest starts on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and continues until 8 p.m. on Sunday. Registration is required, as space is limited, and donations are encouraged to support the faculty. Instructors will lead a variety of classes, including modern, creative flow, hip-hop and jazz. Discussions and a closing ceremony are also on the schedule.

8. Music: Several DC record stores are slated to participate in Record Store Day with limited in-person opportunities to buy a special drop list of titles released just for the event, mostly from independent producers. Patrons may enter some of the shops by appointment and shop with masks, gloves and physical distancing — but admission to spots like Songbyrd is already sold out, so calling the stores directly about hours and availability is advised. Even if you can’t make it to the stores, you can still get in the spirit of Record Store Day and support your local record stores by buying merchandise online. (And plan ahead to register early for next year.) 

9. Community: The Upper Marlboro, Maryland-based nonprofit The Light of Embassy Missions Ministry serves people who are experiencing homelessness. This Sunday at 2 p.m., the group will be walking the streets in Southeast DC giving out hand sanitizer and face masks. Other services will be provided as needed.

10. Politics: DC Voters for Animals is hosting an online discussion to highlight the animal rights stances of local politicians ahead of the 2020 at-large election. The discussion, which will help determine the group’s endorsements, takes place on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is free to attend, but registration is required. A recording of the DC Voters for Animals’ candidates forum, held earlier this week via Zoom, is available on the group’s Facebook page.