As August approaches and summer break comes to a close, a surge of residence hall move-ins and concluding internships hit the heat-soaked District, leaving little time to enjoy side quests and events D.C. has to offer.
Before the impending grind of fall semester begins again, D.C. offers a variety of summer activities and events that wrap up the season. Be sure to carve out some time to enjoy D.C.’s summer finale with friends and family, making the most of these last warm days of summer.
Summer Restaurant Week
The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington has announced that from Aug. 18 through Aug. 24, restaurants across the DMV will offer three-course prix fixe menus. The options include a wide range of cuisines — including Chinese, Korean, Salvadoran, Mexican and modern American, among others. Restaurants like Boqueria and Sette Osteria in DuPont, Chef Geoff’s in West End are included in the week’s deals.
Restaurant Week is a biannual event that highlights the DMV’s rich and diverse array of flavors to visitors and locals alike, prepared by world-renowned chefs at acclaimed restaurants in the D.C. area. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington runs the week and organizations like Events DC, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and Pepco sponsor the event.
Participating restaurants will serve brunch and lunch menus priced at $25 or $35 per person, and dinner menus at $40, $55 or $65 per person. With over 200 dining options around the area, guests can choose to reserve tables at Michelin-starred restaurants, like the Mediterranean-inspired Tail Up Goat in Adams Morgan, to local campus options, like Duke’s Grocery.
The Wharf’s Putt Across America
If you’ve spent all summer stuck in an office dreaming of travel, The Wharf is currently hosting an immersive mini golf experience that will transport attendees to tourist destinations across the country. The 18-hole course takes players on a 4D journey through iconic American landmarks and landscapes, like Niagara Falls, the Statue of Liberty and Bourbon Street.
Tickets are priced between $17.76 and $25 per person, with special group discounts available for parties of four to nine. Tickets are priced based on availability, so it’s best to reserve them in advance. The course is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and each ticket also includes dining discounts to restaurants on the Wharf.
“Bond In Motion” at The International Spy Museum
Take a Metro ride to the International Spy Museum to see the limited-time exhibition, “Bond in Motion,” which features the legendary Aston Martin DB5 from the movie “Goldfinger.” The display features legendary vehicles from the six decades of James Bond films, including cars used by 007, his allies and enemies, like the “Bath-O-Sub” from “Diamonds are Forever” and the Tuk Tuk from “Octopussy.”
The museum is offering discounted combo tickets as the exhibition closes Sept. 1. Admission to “Bond in Motion” fort $8.48 per person when purchased alongside general museum admission, which is $29.63 for college students. Exhibition-only tickets are also available for $10.60 per person.
“Live! At The Library”
The Library of Congress is hosting “Live! At The Library” every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., where visitors can enjoy extended visiting times with happy hour snacks and drinks provided by the library. Each week features special events such as music, films, and displays, including exhibitions of notorious editorial cartoons and curated showcases exploring the impact of American performers on pop culture.
This month’s lineup of events includes an exhibition of “The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution,” running through March 2026, to showcase the surprisingly similar lives of George Washington and King George III through personal letters and other artifacts, though never meeting each other. On Aug. 14, the library will host a live Bluegrass Concert from a quartet, The Henhouse Prowlers.
During these events, the library will offer a rare opportunity to visit the grand Main Reading Room in the Thomas Jefferson Building, which is often reserved for credentialed researchers. The Main Reading Room offers 50,000 collections of books and pamphlets, featuring city directories and family histories.
Free tickets for “Live! At the Library” are required for entrance and are available on a first-come, first-served basis online. Dress up with friends, enjoy community and experience one of the world’s largest libraries while immersing into the stories, art and culture that shaped the nation, all at no cost.
