Coolest summer ever photo
(PS 7's shaved ice, photo by Lavanya Ramanathan)

Coolest summer ever

Weekend/Going Out Guide staff  |  Updated 08/13/2012

Even the suffocating humidity and tourists can't detract from our annual rituals of spreading out blankets and cheese boards in the park, wandering the farmers market, doing Bikram yoga outdoors and lounging at pool parties. And that's just the tip of the spiked snow cone. There are trips to the beach and trips to the country, too. Summer in Washington is a bounty, people. Here are the reasons -- in no particular order -- to love it.

 
 
 
 
 

Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School

Sandy Spring, MD

What's scary and fun and green all over? Sandy Spring Adventure Park, where you can walk a tightrope, teeter across a log bridge or zip-line from treetop to treetop on the lush campus in Sandy Spring. More than a dozen courses let you test your inner daredevil, from a purple course that even a 5-year-old can attempt to a double-black diamond adventure that will have you walking more than 60 feet in the air. Gulp!

 
 
 
 
 

Jazz in the Garden

Washington, DC  | 8/17 - 8/31

Washingtonians' standing Friday date night is one of summer's simplest pleasures. What, after all, could be better than staking out your own patch of grass under a Joan Miro or a Louise Bourgeois, catching up with friends over a picnic and sangria, and listening to jazz as the sun sets? This year's season will see the return of many favorite performers, including Afro Bop Alliance and Young Lions.

 
 
 
 
 

Hit the pool

+ Multiple Locations

The time for soaking up the sun and making waves at the neighborhood pool - or better yet, a splashy waterpark such as Alexandria's Great Waves, Sterling's renovated Volcano Island or Southern Maryland's Chespeake Beach Water Park - is now.

 
 
 
 
 

Beer gardens

+ Multiple Locations

German beers and picnic tables: In the summer, that's the definition of the perfect pairing. Tall, cool glasses of citrusy hefe­weizen were practically made for the season, and they're better still at some of the area's beer gardens on lazy weekend afternoons. Find them at the Standard and Biergartenhaus; both open early on Saturdays and Sundays, at noon at the former and 11 a.m. at the latter.

 
 
 
 
 

Yoga goes al fresco

+ Multiple Locations
  • (Washington, DC)
  • (Washington, DC)

Hot yoga takes on a new meaning in the summer months when a number of outdoor classes pop up across town. First up is the annual Yoga on the Mall, which is part of D.C. Yoga Week and takes over the Sylvan Theater on Saturday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. (the event begins at 1:30 p.m. with a children's class). At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Dupont Circle becomes an al fresco studio, courtesy of the Logan Circle Lululemon store. And come June, Bikram Yoga Dupont will revive its weekly classes in Meridian Hill Park. Walk your downward dog to the grassy northern section at 5 p.m. every Sunday in June, July and August.

 
 
 
 
 

Ball's Bluff Regional Park

Leesburg, VA

Ball's Bluff was the site of an oft-forgotten Civil War battle in October 1861 that proved costly for Union forces. Today, the site is a state park about three miles northeast of downtown Leesburg that offers hiking trails with sweeping views of the Potomac River in addition to interpretive displays about the battle. It's worth a trip if you'd like to learn about local history, enjoy a respite from the city or both.

 
 
 
 
 

Emerging art

+ Multiple Locations
  • (Washington, DC)

The last day of school signals the beginning of the summer exhibition season for area art school grads, many of whom are putting their work in front of the public for the first time. At the University of Maryland, for example, you can catch the untested thesis projects of newly minted MFAs. For a more curated showcase, check out Conner Contemporary's annual "Academy" showcase, which rounds up the best of the class of 2012 from across the Baltimore-Washington region.

 
 
 
 
 

Free summer concerts

+ Multiple Locations

Lounging on a blanket and listening to live music is a lovely way to spend a summer evening, and plenty of free concert series in the area offer just that. Some of the most popular include old-school funk and R&B at Fort Dupont Park beginning July 14; Wednesday concerts at Strathmore (June 20-Aug. 15); Friday shows at Herndon's Town Green (through Aug. 24); punk and indie rock at Fort Reno (dates to be announced) and the eclectic lunchtime mix of Live on Woodrow Wilson Plaza (dates to be announced). And, of course, don't miss the four freebie concerts presented by the Going Out Guide at Carter Barron Amphitheatre, starting June 15.

 
 
 
 
 

Pool parties

+ Multiple Locations
  • (Washington, DC)
  • (Washington, DC)
  • (Bethesda, MD)

The simple recipe for a summer blowout: a pool, deck chairs, disc jockeys and a bar. Hotel pool parties have been a fixture on the D.C. scene for the past three summers, but the scene is set for a shake-up: Brightest Young Things is throwing exactly one party a month, and the Kimpton Hotels' acquisition of the Donovan House probably will put an end to non-guest swimming in the rooftop pool. All is not lost, however: Mother Trucker, a food truck-centric pool party, takes over the Capitol Skyline two Saturdays a month, with DJs, performers and 15 to 20 food vendors; the bottle-service-friendly Adult Swim parties are back at the Skyline on Sundays; and Bethesda's Doubletree Hotel is expanding its rooftop pool parties, offering music and cookouts on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings.

 
 
 
 
 

Best outdoor movie series

+ Multiple Locations
  • (Arlington, VA)
  • (Rockville, MD)

If you love going to movies but shiver in the icy air-conditioned cineplex, there's no shortage of outdoor movies to enjoy this summer. The area offers scores of free outdoor film series, each with its own draw: family-friendly movies at Rockville Town Square; apocalyptic thrillers at NoMa Summer Screen; and election-themed flicks in Rosslyn.

 
 
 
 
 

Gangplank Marina

Washington, DC

You can sail on the Potomac year-round, but it's during the summer that we find ourselves daydreaming at work about catching a breeze. DC Sail, a nonprofit sailing organization based at the Gangplank Marina in Southwest, offers beginner sailing lessons and sailboat rentals on weekend afternoons, as well as group sailing outings on Wednesday evenings. The monuments seem to glow brighter when glimpsed from the water, and the warming sun and whipping breeze will make you feel like you're miles away from the bustle of the city. 202-547-1250. www.dcsail.org.

 
 
 
 
 

Helix Lounge

Washington, DC

Not all Washingtonians are lucky enough to have their own grill ready to fire up at a moment's notice. Apartment dwellers often need to seek common ground before setting match to briquette, and one of the area's best communal grill grounds is Rock Creek Park in Northwest Washington. Most of its grills operate on a first-come, first-served basis for groups of 25 or less. If you want to nab one ahead of time (or are expecting up to 75 guests), you can reserve one of the park's picnic groves by visiting the D.C. Department of Public Works Permits Office (1250 U St. NW. 202-671-2597). An urban alternative is Helix Lounge's Backyard Bash, where from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, the lounge fires up the grill for a bit of a communal cookout. Just $7 gets you a beef, chicken, turkey or veggie burger, chips and fixins.

 
 
 
 
 

Ice cream sandwiches gone gourmet

+ Multiple Locations

No longer can Washingtonians be accused of being too vanilla, not when the past few summers have honed this city's palate for sea-salt gelato and cantaloupe sorbet. This year, our ice cream of choice arrives with a side of nostalgia, as restaurants are reviving the classic ice cream sandwich. Find waffle cookies with bacon-maple ice cream or lavender spongecake with local strawberry ice cream at the new sweet shop Sugar Magnolia in Cleveland Park (which carries gluten-free varieties, too); hit the "chipwich truck" Scoops 2U, which delivers ice cream between simple chocolate-chip cookies; or indulge in a s'mores-inspired, gold-leaf-topped incarnation at Cafe Dupont.

 
 
 
 
 

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Columbia, MD

Large concerts don't often make for the most intimate, crowd-friendly experiences. The band members look like ants, the food and bathroom lines are long, and the parking-lot situation can be a major headache. But sitting on the lawn at Merriweather Post Pavilion, surrounded by trees, a beer in hand and listening to one of your favorite bands, can help make up for all that. And with a top-notch schedule boasting such acts as noisy indie rockers Sleigh Bells to country favorites Zac Brown Band, you're bound to find one of yours.

 
 
 
 
 

Mike's Crab House

Riva, MD

Ask Marylanders about their favorite part of summer and blue crabs will invariably come up. Crab season begins in earnest in April, but it peaks in the sultry months of June and July. Annapolitans split their allegiance between Jimmy Cantler's Riverside Inn and Mike's Crab House, two waterfront restaurants where you can tie up your boat. Our favorite? Mike's, where there's nothing quite like sitting at the picnic tables outside and watching boats sailing past while cracking into a bushel of crabs with all the fixins.

 
 
 
 
 

Nationals Park

Washington, DC

As long as the Nats keep winning, Nationals Park will be an electric place this summer, as the team chases its first playoff appearance since moving to Washington in 2005. Check the scheduled pitchers: Not many baseball fans have a chance to see a potential Cy Young winner (Stephen Strasburg) and MVP (Bryce Harper) on the same field on a given night.

 
 
 
 
 

Paddling on the Potomac

+ Multiple Locations

Hardier outdoors folk will head out with their kayaks come hail or high water, but the lay paddler's season is now, when warmer (read: wet suit not required) weather and greenery make hitting the water one of the utmost pleasures of a Washington summer. Try the trendy, newish sport stand-up paddling, or stick to the old favorites -- kayaking and canoeing.

 
 
 
 
 

Rickey Month

+ Multiple Locations

Few cocktails quench a summer thirst as well as the rickey, D.C.'s official cocktail, celebrated at bars across the city in July, a.k.a. Rickey Month. You can enjoy the bracing mix of gin or bourbon with soda water and fresh-squeezed lime juice in an air-conditioned room, but it's best sipped on the shaded patio at Room 11 or on Jack Rose's rooftop deck. By the time you've reached the bottom of the glass, you're primed for the next one.

 
 
 
 
 

Spiked snow cones

+ Multiple Locations

Last summer, David Guas debuted Louisiana "sno balls" at his Arlington restaurant, Bayou Bakery. The layers of snowlike shaved ice and house-made syrups topped with a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk were more than just a family-friendly, warm-weather favorite; Guas also offered a selection of spiked versions, including a sno ball hurricane. This summer, a number of other restaurants are getting in on the act. PS 7's has already begun serving Hawaii-inspired, rum-based shaved ice treats, while Jack Rose and Marvin are serving their frozen alcoholic concoctions in the crunchier snow cone style.

 
 
 
 
 

Strawberries are ripe for the picking

+ Multiple Locations

Thanks to the maddeningly indecisive spring weather, berry season has arrived early. Farms are reporting that this sure sign of summer could be gone by mid-June, so make haste to a nearby patch for a taste of sweet, local strawberries. Most farms are charging about $2 a pound.

 
 
 
 
 

Summer musicals

+ Multiple Locations
  • (Washington, DC)

The success of Fringe handily proved two things. First, there are theater audiences to be had in the summer. Second, those audiences want to have fun. Behold: The lighthearted summer season, filling the doldrums with a roller-skating "Xanadu" at Signature Theatre; a populist musical about a rugged former president, "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson," at Studio's 2ndStage; and for better or for worse, Broadway's take on the deadpan TV comedy "The Addams Family," at the Kennedy Center.

 
 
 
 
 

Tennis

+ Multiple Locations

It's not quite Wimbledon, but it's as close as Washington comes to top-flight tennis. Check out championship team the Washington Kastles on the court from July 9 through July 28, with appearances by Serena and Venus Williams, and the Citi Open (formerly the Legg Mason Tennis Classic) from July 18 through Aug. 5.

 
 
 
 
 

The Yards Park

Washington, DC

Nothing beats being near the water on a hot summer day, and the Yards Park is perched on some of the city's best waterfront real estate. Cool off with already-in-full-swing concerts every Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. through Sept. 14, with food and drink provided by the Red Apron Butchery, Buzz Bakery, ChurchKey and a rotating cast of food trucks.

 
 
 
 
 

Tubing

+ Multiple Locations

When you're tubing down a lazy river, life is simple, the current slowly pulling you along, toes in the cool water. Ideally, tubing should be done with a group of friends, a cooler of beer or soda (no glass bottles, please) and a passel of dry towels. And if you don't have the gear, check out one of many area outfitters.

 
 
 
 
 

Twilight Polo

The Plains, VA  | 8/18 - 9/8

If there's another sport that combines a classy atmosphere (think: picnics, sundresses and wine) with the bone-crushing intensity of polo, we're not aware of it. Twilight Polo brings matches to the masses every Saturday night in the summer, featuring top-tier competition and low-priced admission. Never fear if you've never seen the sport of kings. The rules are simple, and most point wins and penalties are explained by the announcer.

 
 
 
 
 

Upton Hill Regional Park

Arlington, VA

Public pools: check. Water slides: check. A spray park: check. Baseball and softball batting cages: check. Miniature golf: check. Leisurely hiking trails: check. Picnic grounds: check. Bocce ball pits: check. Multiple playgrounds: check. Upton Hill Regional Park, a naturally wooded urban park straddling Arlington and Fairfax counties, and its Ocean Dunes Waterpark hit all the high notes for family summer fun. Avoid the big weekend crowds and take a day off work to give the kids a midweek treat instead.

 
 
 
 
 

New York Avenue Beach Bar

Washington, DC

If we had to guess, this year's go-to spot will be the New York Avenue Beach Bar, which is turning a parking lot next to the Warehouse Theater into a full-on vacation, from the cold beers and tropical punches down to 70 tons of sand. Tom Brown, one of the owners of the neighboring bar the Passenger, is promising luau parties, music and picnic tables in the sand.

 
 
 
 
 

Columbia Heights Day

Washington, DC  | 10/6

The end of the summer can feel like a major drag. Enter the D.C. neighborhood festivals, which add a much-needed hit of spice and funk to the late summer and early fall. The season begins with such festivals as Adams Morgan Day and wraps in October, with Columbia Heights Day, the District's answer to the state fair, with bands, art displays and a cupcake-eating contest.

 

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