The H Street corridor Ben’s Chili Bowl has turned one year old this week, and it’s time to party.

The half-smoke purveyor at 1001 H St. NE is celebrating Saturday with games and a visit from the Nationals Natsmobile.

Also on Saturday, the Southeast Library is having a book sale and  Pacers Running (300 Tingey St. SE) is hosting what it calls “The Great North American Naughtical Beer Mile.”

The thermometer is expected to reach the lower 90s Saturday under partly sunny skies, according to the National Weather Service. But storms might develop in the afternoon. No rain is in the forecast for Sunday, which likely will have a high temperature in the upper 80s.

And according to Jessica Oros, an editor at East City Art (more info about them on Facebook, Twitter or through the publication’s newsletter), interesting places to stop for D.C.-area art this weekend include:

Addison/Ripley Fine Art (1670 Wisconsin Ave. NW)
11:30 a.m. Saturday
Artists Isabel Manalo and Christopher Addison plan to discuss the cultural inspirations of Manalo’s exhibit “Unscripted, Naturally.”

Foundry Gallery (2118 8th St. NW)
5-8 p.m. Saturday
Members of the Foundry Gallery are celebrating “summer, outdoors, freedom from school, and the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service” in an all-gallery art show, according to its website.

Studio SoHy (5132 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, Md.)
7 p.m. Saturday
Studio SoHy is scheduled to present a posthumous exhibit of nationally acclaimed painter Ted Kliman, who had been known for his “soaring, haunting canvasses,” as East City Art’s website noted.

DC Arts Center (2438 18th St. NW)
4 p.m. Sunday
Artist Sarah West is scheduled to discuss her exhibit “Vanishing Point,” in which West combined references to Early Renaissance paintings with digital symbols and artifacts, according to East City Art’s webpage.

The Clay CoOp (328 North Stonestreet Ave., Rockville, Md.)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Local clay artists from the D.C. area are slated to showcase their works in Clay CoOp’s event, “Proximity.” All art work present at the show is up for sale, according to East City Art’s website.

A parade, late-night food trucks and fireworks are coming to the Capitol Hill area this Independence Day weekend.

On Sunday night, “Midnite BBQ” is returning for its third year with vegan and vegetarian cuisine at the DC Pavilion (1399 5th St. NE).

Then on Monday, the Barracks Row Fourth of July Parade is slated to kick off from 8th and I streets SE at 10 a.m. Fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:09 p.m. on the National Mall.

The temperature is expected to reach the low 80s on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, according to the National Weather Service No rain is expected, except for Independence Day.

And according to Jessica Oros, an editor at East City Art (more info about them on Facebook, Twitter or through the publication’s newsletter), an interesting place to stop for D.C.-area art this weekend is:

Washington Sculptors Group (Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center at 40 South Carroll St., Frederick, Md.)
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
“Cartes Blanches” is a group exhibition that is part of the 2016 Sculpture Now series.

Photo via Flickr/Tim Kelley

Traveling across Capitol Hill is getting more difficult this weekend.

Blue, Orange and Silver line Metro trains aren’t expected to run from the Eastern Market station to the Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road stations from Saturday until July 3, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Shuttle buses are slated to get Metro riders between Eastern Market and points east, including the Potomac Avenue and Stadium-Armory stations, which won’t open during the two-week long “SafeTrack Surge” work.

If you opt to walk or bike instead of use the Metro this weekend, you won’t need an umbrella, but might want some sunscreen. The temperature is expected to get to the low to mid 80s under sunny skies Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

And according to Jessica Oros, an editor at East City Art (more info about them on Facebook, Twitter or through the publication’s newsletter), interesting places to stop for D.C.-area art this weekend include:

• Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery (1632 U St. NW)
  3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday
  Sam Feldman and Fred Spero of the National Widowers Organization host a panel discussion concurrent with Gretchen Feldman’s The Healing Studio.
• Alper Initiative for Washington Art (4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW.)
  6 to 9 p.m. Saturday
  The Alper Initiative for Washington Art presents “The Looking Glass” featuring ten D.C.-based Latin-American artists.

The temperature in the District could rise above 90 degrees for the first time this year this weekend.

Although the Capitol Hill area’s pools and spray parks are open for the season, storms might keep swimmers out of the water Saturday. Sunday is the only day without a chance of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Rain or not, the Southeast Library is slated to have its monthly book sale Saturday, with most books priced at $1.

And according to Jessica Oros, an editor at East City Art (more info about them on Facebook, Twitter or through the publication’s newsletter), interesting places to stop for D.C.-area art this weekend include:

• Project Create Studio (2028 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE)
  1 to 4 p.m. Saturday
  Join Project Create Studio for June Family Art Day and learn to paper weave.
• Addison/Ripley Fine Art (1670 Wisconsin Ave. NW)
  5 to 7 p.m. Saturday
  In her third exhibition at Addison/Ripley Fine Art, Isabel Manalo focuses on the exploration of language.
• Flashpoint Gallery (916 G St. NW)
  5 to 7 p.m. Saturday
  “The Four Moments of the Sun” by Ann Bouie reflects her spiritual journey.
• Brentwood Arts Exchange (3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood, Md.)
  5 to 8 p.m. Saturday
  Carol Barsha and Jackie Brown exhibit work in “Between the Real and the Imagined.”
• Willow Street Gallery (6925 Willow St. NW)
  6 to 8 p.m. Saturday
  “Collected and Layered/Reinventing Landscapes” features the work of Mei Mei Chang, Rebecca Rivas-Rogers and Megan Maher’s landscape paintings.

Photo via Flickr/DPR

Climbing into firetrucks and other D.C. government vehicles as a member of the general public usually is frowned upon, unless you have authorization to do so.

And that approval is coming Saturday.

A menagerie of city vehicles is rolling onto the RFK Stadium campus as part of the annual D.C. Department of Public Works “Truck Touch.”

If you go to the event, you might want to get there in the morning. No rain is expected then, according to the National Weather Service. But Saturday afternoon and evening could include showers and storms, as the temperature rises to the lower 80s. Sunday is expected to bring more rain, with a high temperature in the mid 80s.

Here’s what else you might want to know for this weekend:

• Metro’s “SafeTrack” plan takes effect Saturday with weekend train service ending at midnight.
• The Southwest DC Farmers Market is having its grand opening Saturday.
• The fairgrounds in Navy Yard will host a festival where residents can taste more than 80 craft beers in addition to wine, cider, food, live music and art Saturday and Sunday.

And according to Jessica Oros, interesting places to stop for D.C.-area art this weekend include:

• Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place SE.)
  11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday
  Families are invited for a docent led tour of “Twelve Years that Shook and Shaped Washington: 1963-1975.” For more information, click here.
• Arts/Harmony Hall Regional Center (10701 Livingston Road, Fort Washington, Md.)
  3 to 5 p.m. Saturday
  Dale O’ve Jackson presents a series of paintings and sculptures which express his African heritage. For more information, click here. 
• Honfleur Gallery (1241 Good Hope Road SE)
  6 to 9 p.m. Saturday
  “Hear/Here” curated by Jarvis DuBois features the works of four artists who focus on activism through art. For more information, click here. 
• Vivid Solutions Gallery (1231 Good Hope Road SE.)
  6 to 9 p.m. Saturday
  Scott G. Brooks and Todd Franson showcase their works in “Uncovered,” which examines cover art without text and logos. For more details, click here.

Oros is the editor of East City Art. You can get more information about East City Art on Facebook, on Twitter or through the publication’s newsletter.

Photo via Flickr/DCDPW

Ready for summer and a three-day weekend?

Saturday likely will be the best day to go outside, with the temperature expected to reach the mid-80s under sunny skies, according to the National Weather Service. Storms are slated to arrive in the area Sunday night and leave by Monday morning. The temperature is expected to be in the low 80s both days.

Here’s what else you might want to know for the Memorial Day weekend:

• Most outdoor public pools and spray parks are opening for the season at noon Saturday.
• The Beach Boys, Trace Adkins and other entertainers are performing on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Sunday as part of the annual National Memorial Day Concert, which is free.
• Metro trains are running on a Sunday schedule on Monday. There’s also track work throughout the system.
• Government buildings are closed Monday. D.C. public libraries also are closed Sunday.
• Parking meters and most parking restrictions won’t be enforced Monday, except along the H Street NE streetcar line.
• Trash and recycling collection that would normally happen Monday will be pushed to Tuesday.
• Hill Now is closed Monday. Enjoy the holiday!

Runners, and probably some dogs, will descend on Stanton Park for the Capitol Hill Classic Sunday.

Showers and maybe a few thunderstorms are expected to come through the area Saturday, with the temperature rising to the lower 70s, according to the National Weather Service. But rain finally should clear the area by the start of the race, bringing sunny skies and a high of about 60.

Here’s what else you might want to know for this weekend:

• Sapore on Capitol Hill now is selling “bipartisan barbecue sauce.”
• The Folger Shakespeare Library on Sunday is hosting a free forum on race and religion.
• The Hill Center’s “Seeing Red Film Series” is continuing Sunday with a screening of “Crossfire,” a 1947 film that caught the attention of the House Un-American Activities Committee.

(Updated at 4:35 p.m.) Display Ship Barry is setting off from the Washington Navy Yard this weekend on its voyage to the scrapyard.

If you want to bid farewell, plan to arrive at Yards Park (355 Water St. SE) by 7:15 a.m. Saturday.

The temperature is expected to get up to the mid 60s Saturday under partly to mostly cloudy skies, according to the National Weather Service. A shower is possible. On Sunday, a high of about 70 is likely with mostly sunny skies. But it might sprinkle Sunday morning.

Here’s what else you might want to know for this weekend:

• Dogs of all shapes and sizes are getting free rein to wander Congressional Cemetery with their owners Saturday.
• But only Chihuahuas are participating in the annual “Running of the Chihuahuas” race Saturday.
• Gallery OonH is opening its photo exhibition showcasing the history of the H Street corridor Saturday.
• Pineapple and Pearls, Medium Rare and other area businesses are serving food and drink samples on Barracks Row Saturday.
• A nationally touring roadshow that has performers “using nothing more than the art of pelvic storytelling and pure imagination” is coming back to the H Street corridor Sunday.

The sounds of banjos and fiddles are slated to fill the air around the Anacostia River as part of the Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival this Saturday.

Concertgoers can expect clouds and possibly some rain, with the temperature rising to the lower 60s Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

On Sunday, rain and maybe some thunderstorms are forecast to hit the D.C. area. The temperature is expected to get up to the upper 60s.

Here’s what else you might want to know for this weekend:

• The Carpe Librum pop-up used bookstore in NoMa is back.
• Miner Elementary School is hosting a yard sale and fundraiser Saturday.
• J.O. Wilson Elementary School is having kids games and activities, along with food trucks, Saturday.
• The D.C. Rotary Club is putting on a rubber duck race for charity as part of a day of food and music along the Anacostia River Saturday.
• Labyrinth Games & Puzzles is offering several kid-friendly games and activities as part of International Tabletop Day Saturday.
• The annual spring Ladysmiths Art Jewelry sale is hitting Southwest this weekend.
• Literary Hill BookFest is bringing authors to Eastern Market Sunday.
• The annual “Running of the Chihuahuas” in Southwest isn’t happening Sunday as scheduled. Organizers have moved it to a different date, due to the likelihood of rain.

Photo via Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival/Matthew Brazier

Looking to get out of the house this weekend?

If you venture outdoors, you won’t need to worry about an umbrella, except maybe to protect yourself from a few showers Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature should get up to the low 70s on Saturday and Sunday.

Here’s what else you might want to know for this weekend:

• Miracle Theatre now is screening movies on Barracks Row. This weekend it has “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Kung Fu Panda 3.”
• Friends of the Northeast Library is holding a children’s used book sale Saturday.
• The Folger on Capitol Hill is celebrating William Shakespeare’s birthday with free cake and Elizabethan-era activities Sunday.

Photo via Folger Shakespeare Library

The Nationals are back in town for the season, and snow might be around this weekend, too.

Snow and rain are in the forecast for Saturday, with the temperature dipping to the upper 20s, according to the Nationals Weather Service. On Sunday,  sunny skies are expected to return, bringing the temperature to the lower 50s.

Here’s what else you might want to know for this weekend:

• The Friends of Southeast Library is having its monthly book sale Saturday.
• The Southwest waterfront is hosting a day of live entertainment, food and fireworks Saturday as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
• Mayor Muriel Bowser and Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman are helping open a Southwest baseball field named in the Nats player’s honor Saturday.

The weekend has arrived (or is almost here if you’re reading this on Friday).

If you go outside this weekend, be prepared for the possibility of rain Saturday and breezy, albeit sunny, weather Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. The temperature will rise to about 60 degrees Saturday, but only will hover around 50 degrees Sunday.

Here’s what else you might want to know for this weekend:

• EatBar has made its triumphant return, landing on Barracks Row.
• The Southwest Community Gardens are resuming their operations for the season Saturday.
• Thousands of runners will be dashing across Southwest D.C. Sunday as part of the annual Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run.

Photo via National Cherry Blossom Festival