Believe it or not, the last weekend of April is almost here with Earth Day celebrations, free festivals and spring markets popping up across the DMV. If you’re the type of person who goes to open houses just to look (or thinks about doing it 🙋), there’s another way to see how the neighbors live. Home and garden tours are the “it” thing this weekend, popping up in
LeDroit Park and
Georgetown . It’s also
Virginia Historic Garden Week with tours in
Alexandria and beyond. 🌡️
Weekend weather: Sunday will be the better day for outdoor plans because Storm Team4 is tracking rain chances Friday afternoon to Saturday night. It won't be a washout, but we have some suggestions for indoor plans below.
Here’s the forecast. Spring markets
Even if you have enough books, plants or vintage prints, nothing beats the excitement of adding something to your collection – except maybe some chocolate! Treat yourself at these spring markets. Snack and celebrate all things chocolate inside La Maison Française. More than 30 vendors will be selling confections. Go on Friday night for a special wine tasting experience ($75), or choose another session for cheaper tickets. Plenty of
workshops and talks are in the works. We’re intrigued by the CHOCOLATE & WHAT?! “edible lesson” on Saturday with “a unique tasting & talk featuring floral and herbal bites where flavors bloom and facts & folklore flourish!” This flea market supports the Mount Vernon Community School. If you’re a dedicated shopper, you can pay $10 to enter early at 7 a.m. Stroll up and down Wisconsin Avenue NW to find
goodies and deals at dozens of shops between Reservoir Road and O Street. Don’t miss
two pop-up book sales and live music. Sidewalks will be temporarily widened to give shoppers extra room. Kids can enjoy face painting, balloon twisting, a caricature artist, and games on the back patio of the Georgetown Neighborhood Library. Browse thousands of plants and ask experts about any gardening project, from growing herbs on an apartment patio to filling a yard. Stop by the arboretum’s plant sale tent for
rare finds , annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees, then peruse 25 local sellers in the Vendor Village. Family-friendly activities, including face painting, crafts and games, will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors must park at R Street or the Grove lot for free, and a free shuttle will take people to the sale. It’s a good time to explore the
azalea collection , too, or head into the
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. The Plant Sale tent will be open to members only from 9-11 a.m. If the weather is bad, the event may move to Sunday. Check the
website before you go. Several blocks of historic downtown Leesburg will transform into a spring destination this weekend. “The festival showcases beautiful flowers, plants and landscaping along with the best of gardening and outdoor living products and services,” organizers say. Stick around for three stages of
music and live entertainment , a rooftop beer and wine garden, a landscape display contest and kids’ activities.
Here’s info on parking. Support Mt. Pleasant’s artist community, meet local authors and make cards for hospitalized children before exploring the neighborhood’s excellent dining scene.
Joia Burger ,
Purple Patch and
La Tejana are a few highlights our own Eun Yang visited for
Food Fare. More than 120 artists will show and sell their work, including ceramics, glass, furniture, clothing and more. Each artist was selected by a panel of expert jurors. Thursday is the preview night benefit. The show will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, then 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Independent Bookstore Day
Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day. Explore some stops along the
DC Indie Bookstore Crawl , special events for all ages at
Old Town Books and free drinks and swag at
People’s Book in Takoma Park. Or, check out
Kensington's Day of the Book Festival on Sunday.
Indoor activities for a rainy Saturday
It was a pandemic drive from D.C. to Colorado and a book about Black cowboys from his brother that set artist Brandon Hill’s creativity in motion. Saddle up and get to Culture House in Southwest for the last weekend of
“Black Cowboy: American Muscle.” The exhibit challenges what we know about wild west heroes and how African Americans helped shape the culture of the West. The gallery opens to the public for the final time on Saturday, or you can make an appointment. The Library of Congress' newest exhibit tells the story of George Washington and King George III during the American Revolution through a lens never seen before. Maryland Day has something for everybody with more than 400 free activities and events happening at UMD’s campus. That includes plenty happening
indoors in case of rain, including hands-on nature and STEM activities for all ages. Peruse the
full schedule here . There’s also
a map to help you get around. Most showings, from D.C.-focused films to music movies to international offerings, will be shown at Regal Gallery Place. The closure of Landmark E Street Cinema earlier this year sent the iconic film fest looking for a new home. Glad they found it!
Concerts this weekend
One of the stalwarts of the Rhymesayers Entertainment hip-hop collective, the indie rapper known for his socially conscious lyrics has teamed up with producer Ant again for “Satisfied Soul,” his latest LP released earlier this year.
Details. Lee Bains III, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Quarry House Tavern, $19.84 Alt-southern-rocker sang and played guitar for southern punks The Dexateens before striking out on his over a decade ago with The Glory Fires.
Details. With San Francisco punks The Nuns, Escovedo opened the last show the Sex Pistols played. And while The Nuns didn’t last long, Escovedo never slowed down. He was a cowpunk pioneer with Rank & File and mastered roots rock with The True Believers before launching a long and prolific solo career. Truly a remarkable career.
Details. Things to do in D.C.
Things to do in Maryland
8th Annual MCPL Rang Aur Patang Utsav (Colors and Kites Festival) : Sun., Black Hill Regional Park in Boyds, $23.18
Things to do in Virginia
