It's a DC summer must. Think about it: it's free, live music, outdoors, with sangria to purchase and a picnic you've brought. Couples dance, people play cards, but mostly, people just stretch out across blankets, eat cheese and bread and/or hummus and pita and chat while the band plays. This event takes place every Friday night during the summer at the Smithsonian Sculpture Garden, and it is definitely the place to see and be seen.
You've got to get there early if you want a spot. I've been several times before and always arrived after 5. This makes it hard to squeeze into anything. The lawn is covered, as is the fountain and the benches surrounding. Yesterday, having the day off work, I was fortunate enough to arrive at 4:30. There was a space to park my bike, and I even had my pick of places to spread out the blanket. Upon arrival, they are checking bags for alcohol, a new policy this year. Beer, wine, and sangria are all served inside the sculpture garden, but they do not allow outside alcohol brought in, so pack your bags carefully...
After several pitchers of sangria or contraband bottles of wine, many parties start to get a little sloppy. Last night there was dancing in the fountain and people napping in the grass. And girls in the boys bathroom, because the girls' line is always too long (my friend waited for 30 minutes! Go before you leave the house, ladies...)The band stops playing promptly at 8:30 and they start kicking everybody else out. "You don't have to go home, but you have to get the hell out of here," the band told us last night. (Which was a PERFECT night to be outside among friends, by the way. Then again, I like a little humidity.)
Hope to see you out at Jazz in the Garden sometime!
--Megan
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