The DC Lineup for this weekend: Broadway tunes, benevolence and a master banjoist

Meaningful entertainment is the theme throughout this edition of The DC Lineup.

The weather will be cloudy throughout the weekend, Oct. 9 to 11, according to the forecast, with rain on Sunday. Temperatures should range from 58 to 75 degrees.

1. Music: Two highly accomplished regional musicians are headlining a concert hosted by Rhizome DC this Saturday. DC native Amadou Kouyate shares his African heritage by playing the drums (djembe and koutiro) and the 21-string kora, and the other featured performer — Grammy-nominated Maryland-based Check Hamala Diabate — is known for his mastery of stringed instruments such as the ngoni, banjo and guitar. The outdoor event will take place at Rhizome, 6950 Maple St. NW; entry is strictly limited to 50 people and requires face masks, social distancing and tickets that are priced on a sliding scale from $5 to $20. Southeastern Roastery will be on site with a coffee pop-up shop. The show will also be livestreamed at twitch.tv/rhizomedc. Donations are welcome to support the artists.

2. Community: Luther Place Memorial Church on Thomas Circle is presenting a benefit concert this Saturday to support Ward 2 Mutual Aid. Pianist Justin Fitch, baritone Justin Harrison and mezzo-soprano Jazmine Olwalia will perform Disney and Broadway music. The show will take place from 7 to 7:45 p.m. on Facebook Live. Select “Mission of the Moment” to donate funds online.

3. Community: To mark National Coming Out Day this weekend, the Capital Pride Alliance is organizing an alternative to a traditional parade. On Saturday, the first-ever Capital Pride Out Brigade invites participants to drive in a decorated car (what the organizers are calling a “Pridemobile”) to join a “mobile parade train” that will move through all eight wards of the District. Each registered vehicle will be assigned a designated starting point and proceed as part of a caravan. Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated Pridemobile, and groups are encouraged to create Pride caravans consisting of five vehicles. Registration costs $100 for a multi-passenger vehicle (including cars, trucks and vans) and $25 for a single-passenger vehicle (like motorcycles, bikes and scooters). Proceeds will go toward The DC Center and the Capital Pride Alliance. Anyone who is unable to pay for the registration fee may apply for a participation grant. The Out Brigade takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. Afterward, attendees are invited to head to a drive-in screening of 1993’s Hocus Pocus from 7 to 9 p.m. at Park Up DC, 2400 East Capitol St. NE; ticket prices range from $29 to $45.

4. Community: Another first is National Coming Out Day at The Wharf on Sunday. Local businesses will offer specials and fitness professionals will host specially themed classes at The Wharf, 760 Maine Ave SW. The event is presented by the Washington Blade, The Wharf and Absolut Vodka. “During this time it is important to still celebrate coming out in a safe and socially distanced way,” Stephen Rutgers, the Washington Blade’s director of marketing, said in a statement.

5. Food & Drink: The local culinary organization Tiny Chefs provides youth with culinary skills and nutritional knowledge through cooking classes. The group is offering a virtual course on “Flavorful Fall Donuts” on Saturday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. An ingredient list will be sent beforehand to make seasonal favorites like apple cider donut holes and pumpkin cinnamon sugar donuts. The workshop is geared toward ages 5 to 16, with parental guidance suggested for younger students. Tickets cost $25.

6. Community: The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church is distributing fresh groceries on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. Those interested in receiving food donations are invited to drive or walk through the church parking lot at 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE to pick them up. The DC Dream Center and Breadcoin are partnering with the church to organize this event.

7. Architecture: Take online tours of homes and live-aboard houseboats during Waterfront Village’s third annual Homes of the Southwest Waterfront Tour. The Zoom tours begin this Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. and continue the following two Sundays, Oct. 18 and 25. There is usually a charge to attend, but since the event is virtual this year the organizers are waiving admission fees. Donations are appreciated. Waterfront Village is a volunteer group that helps older adults in Southwest DC and Navy Yard maintain their independence and lead active lives.

8. Community:  The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum is hosting a National Weekend of Remembrance on Saturday and Sunday. One of the activities is the National Run for the Badge — a 5K fundraiser being held as a virtual event on Saturday from 9 to 11:30 a.m., followed by an awards ceremony at 5 p.m. Registration costs $35. On Sunday morning, members of the Police Unity Tour will read the names of 307 law enforcement officers whose names were added to the memorial earlier this year. The service will be broadcast on Facebook from 10 a.m. to noon. A third event is A Day of Relief on Sunday from 8:40 to 11 a.m., during which police departments, faith-based communities and others will make kits that include safety, hygiene and health-related items and then distribute them to 700 people who are experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC. The meeting place is Veritas City Church, 3255 K St. NW. The Day of Relief event is organized by the museum and the National Faith and Blue Weekend. 

9. Community: Impulse Group DC advocates for sexual health by emphasizing entertainment along with education — because, the organization states in its description, “why can’t HIV awareness and prevention be fun?” This weekend, members are hosting “Doin’ It Doggy Style,” a free event on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Francis Dog Park in the 1200 block of 25th Street NW. Attendees are invited to bring their dogs for a day of fun and activities, including a discussion on the mental health benefits of having pets. Masks are required. All dogs must have rabies shots, and no pit bulls or Rottweilers may attend.  

10. Arts: The DC-based gallery Art Enables is hosting a virtual art exhibition throughout the month of October. Outside Forces showcases the work of more than 100 artists who are self-taught, come from underrepresented groups or have disabilities. The annual exhibition began in 2006 to highlight creativity beyond traditional art institutions. “While an exact definition of Outsider Art can be difficult to pin down, one often feels they know it when they see it: inventive work of extreme individuality motivated by the artist’s own personal concepts and desires, rather than the expectations of the mainstream art world,” the gallery’s website explains.