D.C.-area nightlife, events and dining

It's no coincidence that strawberry festivals fill the latter part of May. That's precisely when you'll finally find the sweet, seedy berries on the vine at local farms, if only for a brief, brilliant month. At Sky Meadows State Park, the strawberry season kicks off with the 20th Delaplane festival, featuring fruit, sweet sundaes, strawberry shortcake and family activities including an antique car show and games.

Grammy-nominated singer Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom headlines the weekend of activities celebrating the 50th state with a concert Saturday at 5 p.m. Throughout the weekend there will be lectures and demonstrations highlighting Hawaii's discovery by Polynesian seafarers who navigated (a process called wayfinding) the Pacific Ocean using stars, birds and even kites. There will also be hula dancing, lei making, film screenings and storytelling.

Grilled barbecue oysters and other foods, drinks, a photo booth and more.

Celebrate the country's servicemen and women on Memorial Day eve with a concert by the National Symphony Orchestra and six military bands, with appearances by singer-songwriter Chris Mann, mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins any Tony Award-winner Alfie Boe. As usual, Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna serve as hosts for the event, which begins at 8 p.m. Gates open to the public at 5 p.m.

A Memorial Day concert of patriotic music, with organist Paul Skevington.

A race of 15 to 25 foot vessels departing from the museum's boat basin.

The nighttime hike through the meadows and woods around the center is preceded by a camp fire. Best for ages 6 and older.

At the Spanish Ballroom.

At the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

The local roots-rock band performs a special Memorial Day show.

More than 200 injured veterans participate in a 325-mile ride on hand cycles, recumbents, tandems and traditional road bikes.

By the U.S. Air Force Concert Band

A film following the life of a loan shark.

A ceremony at the cemetery and a procession departing from Shiloh Baptist Church at 801 Sophia St.

Participants include Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, Iraq War veteran and Dancing with the Stars season 13 winner J.R. Martinez, actors Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna and others.

Rides, food, vendors and entertainment.

An exhibition featuring photographs by Ward 8 residents.

Includes performances by more than 30 bands, a Taste of Rockville, children's entertainment and a memorial day ceremony and parade.

At the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre.

A screening of a film about a crew that arrives in a village in the mountains of Azerbaijan followed by a Q&A with the director.

Guests ride a pontoon boat, hear a story and watch for dragonflies. Best for ages 3 and older.

After fleeing a fight, a Muay Thai kick-boxer goes into hiding and his stepbrother, an assassin, is hired to kill him.

Every Tuesday, Lindy Hoppers take over the beautiful Josephine Butler Parks Center near Meridian Hill Park for DJs, dance lessons and occasional live bands.

For those who live a bit closer to Maryland, the Tuesday night jam sessions at Takoma Station Tavern are your answer for weeknight jazz. The historic music venue has hosted the weekly sessions since October 2010, with a rotating roster of musicians led by bass player Raymond Magic and emceed by Takoma Station's own Lydia Williams.

A quiz night best suited to those who want to hang out with their friends, whether they get to play trivia or not.

A solid night of retro hits.

Think the music played at most clubs is too predictable? Good Life Tuesdays is shaking up the status quo, with crowds who go crazy when DJs mix dubstep, house, hip-hop and indie into the same set.

Sample wines from Maison Joseph Drouhin of France.

Since 2007, Imperial China has been one of D.C.'s most exciting and aggressive live bands. Their abrupt tempo changes, full-body grooves and prolific use of samples and loops (which made the band seem much larger than a trio) gave their performances a hyperkinetic, theatrical feel. Wednesday's show at the Black Cat will the band's final performance. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Speakers explore active shooter situations in the workplace and explain what workers can do.

A screening of the new show starring Daniel Sunjata, Aaron Tveit and Serinda Swan includes a Q&A simulcast with the cast.

A lecture and book signing with British-Chinese broadcast journalist Xinran. At the Jefferson Building, Whittall Pavilion.

As interleague rivals, the Nationals and Orioles only play head-to-head a few times each season, which temporarily breathes life into a potentially amazing geographic rivalry. Such meetings are a good chance for Nats fans to travel to Baltimore and vice versa, never more so than this year when a four game series between the two teams will be split evenly between the two cities: Monday and Tuesday's games are at Nationals Park, while the series shifts to Camden Yards on Wednesday and Thursday. Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol St. SE. 202-640-7000. www.nationals.com. Camden Yards, 333 W. Camden St., Baltimore. 410-685-9800. www.theorioles.com.

As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. A well-meaning couple in Gina Gionfriddo's witty Pulitzer finalist play learns that the hard way after setting up a straight-talking friend and a seemingly vulnerable co-worker. Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, who wowed in Studio Theatre's "Contractions," and Will Gartshore star in the area premiere of the off-Broadway hit.

The city's weirdest, kitschiest karaoke event takes place twice a month on U Street NW and H Street NE.

Ceiba offers all of its signature drinks for $5 Monday through Saturday if you visit before or after dinner.

Screenings of the two documentaries as part of the "Searching for the Seventies: The DOCUMERICA Photography Project" exhibition. At the William G. McGowan Theater.

The consumer advocate will discuss his book "Told You So: The Big Book of Weekly Columns"

Learn to paddle on flat water in solo kayaks on Little Seneca Lake. Guests must be able to swim. Best for ages 12 and older.

The co-founder of Fabbioli Cellars to speak.

A film starring Gene Kelly as a circus aerialist who becomes an army private and falls in love with a colonel's daughter

One of five classes with artists who have different approaches to clay.

A tree-related art project using clay. Best for ages 6-12.

Cherokee Rose, Gigi Holliday, Cherie Sweetbottom and Mourna Handful read in the nude.

In celebration of Asian American Heritage Month, a screening of the true story of the Chio-Tian Folk Drums and Arts Troupe in Taichung, Taiwan.

A long-time Newsweek foreign correspondent will discuss his memoir "The Wolf and the Watchman: A Father, a Son, and the CIA"

Six ten-minute plays that have LGBT themes are staged.

The exhibition features 40 paintings of the Potomac River.

A long-running night of vintage reggae, ska, rocksteady and dub is a laidback party.

As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. A well-meaning couple in Gina Gionfriddo's witty Pulitzer finalist play learns that the hard way after setting up a straight-talking friend and a seemingly vulnerable co-worker. Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, who wowed in Studio Theatre's "Contractions," and Will Gartshore star in the area premiere of the off-Broadway hit.

Ceiba offers all of its signature drinks for $5 Monday through Saturday if you visit before or after dinner.

At Rock Bottom's revamped happy hour, save $2 off any of the house-made beers. Even better: It runs from 11 to close every night.

Vidalia's fantastic happy hour features modern takes on southern cuisine. Don't miss cocktails made with Cheerwine, Blenheim Hot Ginger Ale and other regional sodas.

Boundary Road offers drinks after work, then becomes late-night destination for beers, shots and gourmet bar food.