I think I’ve got a little something for everyone this weekend–and hopefully this glorious weather sticks around, because all of this week’s picks take place outdoors. Get the details in the Washington Times print edition, in PDF format, and below.

Discover Charm City’s eclectic creative side. (Photo Courtesy Baltimore Artscape)

Get Out: The Week’s Pocket Picks for July 18, 2014

The Washington Times

By Samantha Sault

Pick of the Pack: Baltimore Artscape

Washington may have the Smithsonian, but Baltimore boasts one of the most eclectic arts scenes in the region. This weekend, get a look at Charm City’s creative side when Baltimore Artscape takes over several neighborhoods. The largest free arts festival in the country, Artscape is three days of exhibits, music, theater, dance, film, fashion and children’s activities. If you’re looking to buy, visit the Artists’ Market, featuring more than 150 artisans. If you’re simply looking to enjoy, take advantage of dozens of free performances, ranging from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and local jazz singers to Ballet Memphis and the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater at the Lyric Opera House. With a special focus on dance, this year’s festival will debut the Aerial Arts Arena, showcasing acrobats and circus performers, and Silent! Disco in Pearlstone Park to get you moving. The festivities continue in the evenings with Artscape After Hours, featuring DJs, comedy shows and discussions. Through Sunday throughout Baltimore, Md. 410/752-8632. Web: artscape.org. 

Festival: Mandela Day

Nelson Mandela would have turned 96 Friday, but the celebrated South African leader passed away seven months ago after a long battle with a lung infection. Born in 1918, Mr. Mandela studied law and, as a young man, got involved in the anti-apartheid movement. In 1962 he was arrested on charges of conspiracy to overthrow the government and served 27 years in prison. Upon his release, Mr. Mandela worked to end apartheid and was elected South Africa’s first black president, dedicating his life to freedom and prosperity for South Africans and his impoverished neighbors. On Saturday, the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum will join with Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens for a free festival featuring musical performances and arts and crafts to honor Mr. Mandela’s life and legacy. While you’re there, get a look at the exhibits including “Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence,” showcasing 29 works of bead art by women in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and “Separate and Unequaled: Black Baseball in the District of Columbia.” Saturday at the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE. 202/633-4820. Web: anacostia.si.edu. 

Rock: O.A.R. and Phillip Phillips

R.E.M. said “don’t go back to Rockville,” but O.A.R. (Of a Revolution) returns to their hometown year after year for a must-attend summer show for Washington natives. The alternative rock band was founded in 1996 in Rockville, Maryland, where four musicians met at Wootton High School. They attended Ohio State University, met their fifth band mate and built a following. O.A.R.’s debut album, “The Wanderer,” took off with the catchy song “That Was A Crazy Game of Poker,” and they soon found mainstream fame with hits including “Love and Memories,” “Lay Down,” “Shattered (Turn the Car Around),” among others. Providing the quintessential sound of barbecues and college parties, O.A.R. will return to the Merriweather Post Pavilion Saturday as part of the tour for their latest album, “The Rockville LP,” released in June. Phillip Phillips, winner of the 11^th season of “American Idol,” will open the show. Saturday at Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md. 877/987-6487. Web: ticketfly.com. 

R&B: Lionel Richie and CeeLo Green

It’s tough to find a concert that the young and the not-so-young can enjoy, but this week, Wolf Trap will host a special musical event with two R&B legends for at least two generations. Maybe you’ll be most excited to hear R&B megastar Lionel Richie, who got his start as a singer and saxophonist with the Motown group The Commodores and immortal ballads like “Three Times a Lady” and “Sail On.” In the 1980s, Mr. Richie embarked on a successful solo career, producing chart-topping hits like “Truly,” “Hello,” “Endless Love,” and “All Night Long.” Or, maybe you’re more into grooving with CeeLo Green, who found fame as one half of the soul duo Gnarls Barkley and their hit “Crazy.” Mr. Green likewise has had a successful solo career, most notably with the song “Forget You” and his role on the music competition television show “The Voice.” Either way, the two stars—who have won five Grammy Awards apiece—will get you dancing on the lawn. Monday and Tuesday at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Va. 877/965-3872. Web: wolftrap.org. 

Film: Screen on the Green

On a pleasant summer evening, the last thing you want to do is sit inside a cold, dark movie theater—which is why Screen on the Green has been a favorite summer activity in Washington for 16 years. The renowned outdoor film festival begins on Monday with “The Karate Kid,” the 1984 favorite starring Ralph Macchio as an unpopular high school kid who becomes a karate student to defeat the bullies and win the girl of his dreams. Pack a picnic and grab a spot on the National Mall, where the film will be shown on a 20-foot by 40-foot screen at sunset. The festival will continue every Monday, weather permitting, through mid-August with classics such as “Lover Come Back,” “Key Largo,” and “A Soldier’s Story.” Every Monday at sunset through Aug. 11 on the Mall between 7^th and 12^th Streets. 877/262-5866. Web: hbo.com/screenonthegreen.

© Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC and Samantha Sault