The National Gallery of Art offers free jazz performances at Jazz in the Garden at its outdoor café every Friday evening throughout the summer. I have gone to a few throughout the summer and thought on such a beautiful Friday you might consider attending later today. It gets CROWDED! I mean so crowded that I’m surprised so many people were that comfortable in such a small area, so be aware to arrive early. The weird thing I noticed when I went for the first time was how small the stage is. It’s just big enough to hold a few musicians. That being said, if you are a great fan of jazz music and outdoor concerts this might not be for you, it’s more of a Friday night hang out rather than a trendy jazz bar. Even still, this event is fun for people-watching and listening to music in the background. It’s casual and you can meet people sitting next to you. However, you can tell people are not here for the music, they are here to hang out. Overall a great way to spend a Friday evening. So, grab a beer, something to eat, find a spot to sit, and enjoy the great music. One last thing, don’t get too drunk and end up like the people in the cover photo dancing in the fountain. It didn’t end too well for them!