On this week’s agenda: an adults-only water fight, the latest class in DC Wine Week’s Summer School, animated art history for kids and parents, and a theatrical exploration of pop sex advice. Finally, an epic round of Pokémon is played … by a symphony? As always, check Groupon for even more great things to do in DC.
Splash Yards: Water Battle and Tiki Party at the Yards
Navy Yard | Saturday, August 9, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Yards Park marks the spot of DC's first-ever 21+ water festival. The pool area will be stocked with water slides, an Instagram booth, and the makings of a massive water battle (AKA buckets and soakers). The Bluejacket tiki bar takes care of the drinks (for a price), and ‘90s tribute band White Ford Bronco and Rock Creek Social's DJ Jerome Baker III handle the soundtrack. (355 Water St. SE; free)
Children's Film: Getting to Know Degas and Cassatt at the National Gallery of Art
National Mall | Through Sunday, August 10
Children’s author Mike Venezia's book series Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists has been adapted—at least, in part—to two animated shorts about impressionist painters Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas. The films explore how the two iconic artists became friends and collaborators in late 19th-century Paris, and provides kid-friendly context for the gallery’s Degas/Cassatt exhibit. (West Building Lecture Hall at 6th and Constitution Ave. NW; free)
Accounting for Taste: Pairing Wine with Food at DCanter - A Wine Boutique
Capitol Hill/Southeast | Wednesday, August 13, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Got a wine-pairing conundrum? The latest course in DC Wine Week's Summer School series covers what to serve with cuisines from France to Thailand, as well as more sophisticated topics such as how wine interacts with various food textures and cooking methods. Be sure to fill up on bread ahead of time: the event includes six tastings and tempting discounts on those wines. (545 8th St. SE; $40; buy tickets here)
World Premier of Pokémon: Symphonic Evolutions at the Warner Theatre
Penn Quarter | Friday, August 15
You don't have be a fan of Pokémon to appreciate its music, especially when the game's score is performed by a full orchestra. The symphonic experience explores the last 20 years of Pokémon's orchestral landscape and corresponds with the 2014 Pokémon World Championships, which are taking place in DC on August 16 and 17. (513 13th St. NW; $37.50; buy tickets here)
The Campsite Rule, presented by The Washington Rogues
Anacostia | Through Saturday, August 16
Famed sex columnist Dan Savage once coined the ''campsite rule'' for relationships: ''Always leave your partner better off than you found him or her.'' Washington Post humor columnist Alexandra Petri explores this concept in her story of an unexpected courtship between a career woman and an inexperienced college freshman. Tim Treanor of DCTheatreScene.com praises the work as ''a line of bon mots, witticisms, and tangents so delightful they will remind you of Charlie Parker improvising on a tune.'' (2020 Shannon Pl. SE; $20; buy tickets here)
Images courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, the Pokémon Company, and DC Wine Week
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Things To Do In Leesburg
Dance King Entertainment
Two Private Lessons, Two Group Classes, and Two Practice Sessions for One or Two (Up to 79% Off)
Students learn salsa, Argentine tango, or swing during private and group lessons, then unleash their skills at practice sessions
Leesburg
$220 $49
One, Two, or Three Months of Unlimited Boot-Camp Classes at TRUE Athlete Performance (Up to 58% Off)
TRUE Athlete Performance
Multiple Locations
$99
$45
View Deal
Two Weeks of Personal Training for One or Two at LizFit (Up to 67% Off)
LizFit
Leesburg
$240
$80
View Deal
5 or 10 Martial-Arts Classes at ATA Elite Martial Arts (Up to 72% Off)
ATA Elite Martial Arts
Leesburg
$52
$19
View Deal
Three Rounds of Indoor Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf for Two, Four, or Six at Glowgolf (Up to 70%Off)
Glowgolf
Leesburg
$20
$7
View Deal
10- or 5-Punch Pass for Open Jump Sessions or Hourly Drop-Offs at Pump It Up (Up to 55% Off)
Pump It Up
Leesburg
$100
$45
View Deal
90-Minute Historical Columns and Carriages Tour for Two or Four at Morven Park (Up to 50% Off)
Morven Park
Leesburg
$18
$9
View Deal
$19 for $47 Worth of Martial Arts — Mountain KIM Taekwondo LEESBURG
Mountain Kim Taekwondo Leesburg
Leesburg
$47
$19
View Deal
Distillery Tour with Souvenir Shot Glass for Two or Four at Catoctin Creek Distillery (Up to 50% Off)
Catoctin Creek Distillery
Loudoun County
$20
$11
View Deal
Select Local Merchants
Pole Pressure owner Jessalynn Medairy is an international pole-dancing performer, judge, and teacher. In 2010, she placed fourth in the US Pole Dancing Championship, she has appeared numerous times in Pole2Pole magazine, and she often performs for NATO. With these credentials, Jessalynn heads a team of certified pole-fitness instructors as they teach students the art of pole fitness in a variety of beginner, intermediate, and advanced pole-dancing classes. The instructors keep classes small to give students the one-on-one attention they need to master the sultry and muscle-toning spins, twirls, and climbs.
823 Revelstore Ter
Leesburg,
VA
US
At harvest time, Corcoran Vineyards’ well-tended grapes jump from their vines and, with the help of owner Lori Corcoran’s meticulous cellar work, release subtle and harmonious flavors within a wide variety of bottles. Take a trip to the charming, venerable country estate (it was once surveyed by George Washington), have a seat in the 1750 log-cabin tasting room, and invite these intrepid fruits to show off atop your tongue. With this deal, you'll sample six sensuous varietals paired with cheeses, then use your Groupon for $10 worth of anything in the tasting room and retail shop. Take home a bottle of the fruity 2007 Cabernet Franc, or pick up the medium-bodied 2008 Malbec, a vanilla-tinged wine that's ideal for social galas, fine dining, and limo rides. Visitors can chat with the owners and winemasters themselves, who'll be in the room to discuss each wine's distinct flavors, possible food pairings, and ability to levitate. Free parking is available.
14635 Corkys Farm Ln
Waterford,
VA
US
A 2,000-year-old game from Asia. An Argentinean polo player. A farm in northern Virginia. What may seem like the openings to three different stories is actually the description of one place: Middleburg Polo Academy. The scenic farm ground originally set the scene to a polo boarding and training facility by seasoned polo player Daniel Tognini and his wife, Ilene. These grounds morphed into an academy in 2007, thanks to the Tognini children, who had become enraptured with polo and the eponymous collared shirts the horses wore. Striving to inspire other youths with the game he first mastered in his native Argentina, Tognini fills Middleburg’s calendar with classes, camps, and private tutorials, teaching the history of polo and techniques to help students eventually compete in the sport.
Along with Middleburg Polo Academy, Daniel runs Amigos Outback Adventure and specializes in rustic outdoor activities. Families gather together to enjoy authentic adventures such as trail rides, canoe and river boat trips, and outdoor wine tastings.
20221 Foggy Bottom Road
Bluemont,
VA
US
Cuisine Type: Distilled Spirits?Whisky, Gin, and Brandy
Established: 2009
Reservations: Required
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Parking: Free street parking
Most popular offering: Roundstone Rye
Alcohol: Full bar
Delivery / Take-out Available: No
Outdoor Seating: No
Pro Tip: Bottles may be purchased on site directly from the distillery.
Q&A with Scott Harris, Owner
What is one fun, unusual fact about your business?
The building we call home was built in the first year of Prohibition in a town known for it's support of the Temperance movement.
Is there anything else you want to add that we didn't cover?
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company was founded by Becky and Scott Harris in 2009 as the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. We are located in Purcellville, Virginia, in the heart of the Loudoun Valley. Loudoun County, often called D.C.'s Wine Country, is home to more than twenty vineyards and wineries, and it now has a distillery.
The name "Catoctin" is a regional name. Pronounced Ka-TOCK-tin. The name derives from the Indian tribal name "Kittocton" which, legend has it, meant "place of many deer". Catoctin describes a range of mountains and the creek which flows picturesquely into the Potomac River and Chesapeake Watershed.
At Catoctin Creek, we believe in high quality food and spirits. Organic means higher quality: grain and fruit, sourced locally when possible, free of pesticides and chemical additives that would come through in the spirits we produce. Sure, it is more difficult to produce organically, but the results speak for themselves. And kosher is another way to respect the tradition of high quality foods.
D?cor can say a lot about the type of food a restaurant serves. How does your d?cor inform or reflect your culinary practice?
Industrial chic. This working distillery is in a beautifully renovated 1920's era Buick dealership. Exposed brick, huge windows and open ceilings give a spacious and inviting feel to the tour experience.
In your own words, how would you describe your distillery?
Visit the first family-owned distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. See this working distillery in production, including our custom-made Kothe potstills and condensers. Tours will highlight the process of making distilled spirits, including fermentation, distillation, aging, and bottling.
Often, depending on the day, you may see much of this equipment in operation and meet and speak with the owners.
120 West Main Street
Purcellville,
VA
US
After one look at Creek's Edge Winery, guests might find it hard to leave. The Amish-style building, which was designed to complement the landscape, paints a pretty picture with its mix of local stone, black walnut from the property, and handcrafted metalwork. An upper-level patio overlooks the verdant lawn nestled between the hills of Furnace Mountain and the edge of the Catoctin Creek. On chilly nights, a crackling fire in the stone fireplace and candles from the giant chandelier above cast a soft glow over the room. To get from the lower to the upper levels, visitors go through a silo designed to mimic the interior of a wine barrel, complete with oak strapped with metal.
Guests can relax at Creek's Edge all day, gazing at the scenery while sipping wines such as vidal blancs, chambourcins, and cabernets. When hunger strikes, patrons can select tapas made from local ingredients by chef Jason Lage of Market Table Bistro or simply dig into the snacks they brought from home.
41255 Annas Ln
Georges Mill,
VA
US
Shocktober is a fundraising event for Paxton Campus, a nonprofit that provides direct services for people with disabilities and their families. Since its founding in 1922, Paxton Campus has served as a nurturing place for people in need. Rachel Paxton had the dream of turning her home into a welcoming environment for underprivileged families, and it has since sheltered people as a convalescent center, daycare, and orphanage. In the past 90 years, the center has grown into a sizable organization with an onsite preschool, one-on-one academic programs, and ALLY, an advocacy program for people with disabilities. To keep the community involved in its operations, Paxton Campus also runs regular events including yoga groups, seasonal dances, and life skills workshops.
601 Catoctin Circle Northeast
Leesburg,
VA
US
