Fundraising Pre-Opening Party at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace & Black Jack, Saturday It’s not difficult to understand why Jeff and Barbara Black, owners of the Black Restaurant Group, feel it important to help raise money for children who battle with diabetes.
Five years ago, their son was diagnosed with the disease.
On Saturday, the Blacks are hosting a fundraising event at their yet-unopened establishment Pearl Dive Oyster Palace & Black Jack. Money raised will go to the Children’s National Medical Center.
“When it happens, you’re kind of in disbelief,” Jeff Black said of how it feels when you learn your child is diagnosed with diabetes. “It hits you like a ton of bricks.”
The Black Restaurant Group has set a goal of raising $200,000 to build an education kitchen as part of a larger expansion at Children’s National Medical Center. The kitchen will be a place to learn about the dietary needs of diabetic children.
“It’s going to be a way for the team at Children’s Hospital to educate the parents,” Black said.
The fundraising party is also a sneak peek of the restaurant group’s new establishment. Pearl Dive Oyster Palace should open next week, and features Gulf Coast culinary selections. Upstairs, Black Jack, which should open later this month, will be a neighborhood bar, complete with two indoor bocce courts.
Info: $30 in advance, $40 at the door (includes complimentary food and a cash bar); 1612 14th St. NW; blackrestaurantgroup.com
When: 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Saturday
DC Shorts Film Festival, through Sept. 18
This annual D.C. event, which has become quite the local film institution, opened on Thursday. Now in its eighth year, it showcases 145 short films from 23 countries. A basic ticket runs $12, but a pack of five costs only $10 a ticket. Plus there are special bundles; see the festival’s website for details.
Info: $12 for a single ticket, $10 a ticket for a Big 5; dcshorts.com
When: Show times vary; through Sept. 18
Virgin Mobile FreeFest at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Saturday
The operative word in the above event heading is “free.” No four-letter word is sweeter. As you can imagine, the free tickets are long gone, but the Fan e-Paks are still available for $49.50. You get one ticket, money donated to a good cause, a T-shirt, poster, and a souvenir cup that gets you a buck off brew or soda. And considering the lineup — The Black Keys, Cee Lo Green, Patti Smith, Okkervil River and more than a dozen additional acts — 50 bones isn’t bad.
Info: $49.50; virginmobilefestival.com
When: Noon Saturday.
Toby Keith at Jiffy Lube Live, Saturday
Country star Toby Keith is back on the road, bringing his breed of country rock Americana to a venue near you. Or kinda near you. Check Keith out at Jiffy Lube live, with Eric Church.
Info: $20 to $110; livenation.com
When: 7 p.m. Saturday.
Adams Morgan Day Festival, Sunday
Almost every day feels like a festival in Adams Morgan. This Sunday is the 33rd Annual Adams Morgan Day Festival, meaning that the event has been around longer than most of the partiers who head out to the iconic neighborhood on Friday and Saturday nights. Enjoy food, drink, live music, dancing, culture and more.
Info: Free; adamsmorgandayfestival.com
When: Noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
