D.C.-area nightlife, events and dining

Project 4 Gallery’s current exhibition, a visually striking installation by sculptor Foon Sham, does more than spotlight the Chinese-born artist’s recent art. It’s also a celebration of work he made years ago.

The show is no retrospective, but it does feature large piles of sawdust created — and collected — by the artist over 25 years of art-making. There’s even an interactive component, where visitors are invited to contribute their own handfuls of sawdust to Sham’s sprawling, landscape-like installation.

Read my review, and check out a selection of images from the show in the gallery at the top of this post.

Pack a picnic and head to Jazz in the Garden. (Lavanya Ramanathan) As is the Going Out Guide’s weekly ritual, we compiled a list of our favorite events this weekend, featuring a concert from Drake, a festival for strawberry season and the start of one of Washington’s best summer events.

Drake is known as the sensitive rapper, the guy whose lyrics are in touch with his own emotions. It’s a bit of a shift for hip-hop, one that has made Drake one of the genre’s rising stars. He tops the bill at Friday’s Verizon Center concert, which also features up-and-comers J. Cole, Waka Flocka Flame, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz and French Montana.

The strawberry season is always too short, but the Delaplane Strawberry Festival is here to celebrate the berry in all of its glory. Head to the country for children’s games, a petting zoo, hayrides, concerts and food vendors. Alas, there won’t be any strawberry picking, but pre-picked strawberries are available for snacking.

One of our favorite activities kicks off Friday with the Jazz in the Garden concert series at the National Gallery of Art. There’s nothing better than packing a picnic and relaxing in one of the prettiest spots, the museum’s Sculpture Garden, near downtown. Local guitar and blues legend Tom Principato offers the soundtrack this Friday.

These are just a few of our picks. Read the full list of the best events this weekend.

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Memorial Day events

Memorial Day food festivals and food specials

The Old Bay Crab Bake pizza is available at a Memorial Day discount at Fuel Pizza. (By Alex Baldinger/The Washington Post) Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and while we have chronicled some of our favorite nightlife and family events for the the break, here are a few food-related happenings to make it a more delicious break.

Tonight brings the much-anticipated opening of Mike Isabella’s second restaurant, the Day of the Dead-themed Bandolero, in Georgetown.

While Bandolero’s site bills it as a "taco-centric, margarita-laden" Mexican restaurant, expect plenty of refined small plates, Isabella’s specialty since his Zaytinya days. The restaurant opens at 4 p.m.; most of the reservations appear to have been snapped up, but the truly patient could always wait out the crowds for a couple seats at the bar.

Bandolero is just one of dozens of major restaurant launches we’ve seen in 2012, so to help you keep up with the latest hot spots and check out Tom Sietsema’s reviews before you go, we’re taking this opportunity to launch our 2012 new and notable restaurants gallery, with photos and highlights from this year’s new restaurants, including Mintwood Place, Sixth Engine, Green Pig Bistro and Society Fair. Check it out above.

Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place American flags at the graves of U.S. soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day May 26, 2011. (Win McNamee - GETTY IMAGES) Memorial Day weekend in Washington, with our many military and war memorials and active military personnel and veterans, is a time of reflection and celebration. Parades, wreath-laying ceremonies, festivals and, of course, the annual National Memorial Day Concert give visitors and locals plenty of opportunities to remember those who have sacrificed to serve their country. Here’s a roundup of Memorial Day events this weekend:

Saturday

VIVA! VIENNA! MEMORIAL DAY FESTIVAL through Monday. Vienna celebrates the holiday weekend with entertainment, food vendors, artisans, crafters, amusement rides and more. Bring the whole family to this one.

HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS

While dozens of concerts and shows play on eight stages across the Rockville Town Center, nearly 20 of the city's restaurants, from barbecue to baguettes, serve up samples ($1.25 per ticket) at the Taste of Rockville. Other events include a craft festival, games and activities for children and a Memorial Day parade Monday from 9 a.m. to noon complete with marching bands and firetrucks.

Sunday

MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE TO WOUNDED WARRIORS 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pay tribute to the nation’s wounded warriors at this family festival. Tons of exhibitors and six area bands provide the day’s entertainment, including music by Marcus Johnson Project and the Blackbyrds. Barbecue, beer and wine are included in the price of admission.

NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT 8 to 9:30 p.m. The “National Memorial Day Concert” may be the one Memorial Day event that’s quintessentially the District. This nationally televised show on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol is co-hosted by actors Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna, with remarks by retired Gen. Colin L. Powell. The long list of performers include: the National Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Army Chorus and Herald Trumpets, the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters, Daughtry, Natalie Cole, Trace Adkins, “American Idol’s” Jessica Sanchez and British tenor Russell Watson. The grounds fill up early, so it’s best to arrive about 5 p.m., when the gates open.

2012 SUMMER BLAST OFF! 8 p.m. “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band takes the stage once again this year at Wolf Trap to salute our troops and kick off the summer with a bang. Expect a lively set, followed by a fireworks spectacular. Arrive about 6:30 p.m. for optimal lawn viewing.

Monday

THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE 2 p.m. This year’s official National Memorial Day Parade honors the generation of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn in Iraq during the past decade. All Iraq War veterans are invited to participate.

WOMEN’S MEMORIAL 15TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY 4 p.m. Commemorate women who have served in the nation’s military with a ceremony and keynote speech by Navy Rear Adm. Michelle Howard, the first African American woman to command a U.S. Navy ship.