Usually, the summer means things start slowing down, but not in D.C. If anything, the long-awaited dip in temperatures means more action than ever. From coffee raves to soup parties to art festivals, here’s what we’ll be doing this month.
Take Your Caffeine Addiction To The Next Level
Technically, Sept. 29 is National Coffee Day, but I’ll be celebrating the entire month. The DC Coffee Festival is happening at Union Market on Sept. 27 - 28 with roasters (and samples 👀) from around the country. It’s also the perfect excuse to check out D.C.’s newest party trend, coffee raves. One of our favorites, Daybreaker, is coming to the Kennedy Center on Sept. 20.
Show Off Your Skills At the DC State Fair
All I’m saying is winning best chili at the DC State Fair is an automatic +10 aura points. There are dozens of categories to compete in from best photo to best pickles. If you’re not in the competition mood, you can always browse other people’s entries, visit vendors, eat fried pickles, and watch the performers.
Catch the Last Library Punk Show
The last library rooftop punk show of the season is on Sept. 4. The headliner, The Goons, is a local punk band known for their high-octane, aggressive, "mohican-kid speed-rock." Bands Tosser and Keep Your Secrets will round out the evening.
Some very serious jam judging happening at the DC State Fair. (Mr.TinMD/Flickr)
Come Out For Art All Night
One of my most anticipated events of the year. Hundreds of artists come out across over a dozen neighborhoods on the nights of Sept. 12 and 13. There’s food, music, art for purchase, interactive exhibits, and lots of friendly faces. P.S. we will be tabling at the Mt. Pleasant Art All Night! Come by and say hi, we’d love to see you!
Host a Soup Party
Exit park picnics, enter cozy diner parties. But why not change up the format? My personal fave is a soup party where everyone brings one ingredient and you all make it into something hopefully (somewhat) edible. Or host a daytime “cafe” at your apartment where friends and family can drop in for a cuppa.
View Photos Central To the Black Arts Movement
On Sept. 21, the National Gallery of Art is opening a new exhibit on photography’s impact on the civil rights and freedom movements of the 1960s and 1970s. With many museums around D.C. facing pressure from the Trump administration to do away with “woke ideology,” we can’t take exhibits like this for granted.
