Laura’s Weekend Picks: Food, Dancing, Sun (What More Do You Need?)

From Laura Herman of LauraLikesThis. Laura is also a contributor over at Brightest Young Things and you can find her on Twitter @Lmhhabs.

Your complete guide to this weekend in and around Borderstan:

Friday, July 15

Still recovering from last night’s Bastille Day festivities? Kill some time before you, ya know, actually start doing any work today and snag some free tix to Virgin Mobile Free Fest. All you need to do is “like” the Facebook fanpage and click away, beginning at 10 am.

At night, head over to The Black Squirrel (2427 18 St NW) where Ridgewood Social Club will be returning for yet another night of mashup madness. RSC brought the house down over July 4th weekend. I felt like I was back in a sweaty frat house basement, only (a lot) older and (marginally) wiser, and I mean this in the absolute best way possible. Definitely don’t miss this one–the party starts at 10:30 pm. All info is available here.

Saturday, July 16

Check out some local theater. POP!, a musical murder-mystery extravaganza that takes a peek inside the artistic revelry of Andy Warhol’s infamous Factory, just opened at The Studio Theater (1501 14 Street NW) this week. Venus in Fur has also been extended at The Studio Theater and Steel Magnolias is opening soon at the Church Street Keegan Theater (1742 Church Street NW). To help you keep track of all of your options, Jana’s got you covered with a full round up of local theater and guide for what to see.

Eat Local First Week is on! The week-long campaign focuses on spotlighting local farms, local restaurants and the organizations and people that are making locally-grown food more accessible through out the DC community.

Check out the full schedule and support local businesses, farms and the Eat Local First campaign at Saturday’s Farm-to-Street Party from noon to 5 pm on V St between 13th and 14th Streets NW. Expect lots of local food, craft beers, wines, local bands, a dunking booth, pie eating contexts and games galore. Buy your $15 tickets (gets you a lot of great food) in advance here. We heard they are roasting 16 lambs.

If you’re still hungry, head over to Eastern Market for Brasserie Beck’s second annual Mussel Throw Down, in which local chefs will compete head-to-head for a chance to be crowned Mussel King. A $5 ticket includes one bowl of mussels and a beer. Noon to 3 pm.

After a food coma-induced nap, get ready for MIXTAPE tonight because it’s local this month. Head over to Black Cat (1811 14 Street NW) for what has easily become one of my favorite dance parties of the D.C. circuit. Doors at 9:30 pm. $10 cover.

Sunday, July 17

Sunday brunch service at Cork Wine Bar (1720 14th Street NW) starts today! I may be first in line for their  mimosa flights and cispy polenta with charred heirloom tomato, spicy tomato sauce, poached egg, and crème fraiche. Check out Metrocurean’s preview of their menu to whet your appetite.

After brunch, swing by the DC State Fair’s bake sale from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. on the patio at Zorba’s Cafe just north of Dupont Circle (1612 20th Street NW just off Connecticut Avenue). So far they’ve confirmed pies, cookies, scones, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cream pies, zucchini whoopie pies and dark chocolate peanut butter cup cookies…

Don’t get too full or lose stamina because you still need to make it to the  DC Grey Market pop-up, held at 5th and I Streets NW this Sunday. They’ll be featuring food and products from 25 local food vendors. Their last pop-up at Local 16 was one of the coolest events I’ve been to in the last year, so don’t miss out on their last event of the summer. Sign up in advance and get more info here. $2 entry fee.

At night, just give into the hype: go see Harry Potter. Well, that’s my plan, at least.

Happy weekend-ing, Borderstanis! What are YOU doing this weekend? Anything good that we missed? Let us know!