I took a few weeks off from posting my column due to my annual trip to Las Vegas for a trade show and The Diplomat’s birthday. I’m planning to completely relax this weekend before what is sure to be an exhilarating autumn, but if you’re looking for plans for the holiday or beyond, take a look at my picks in the Washington Times, available in the print edition, in PDF format, and below.

Washington Times Get Out: The Week’s Pocket Picks for August 29, 2014

By Samantha Sault

Pick of the Pack: National Book Festival

Whether you’re at the beach, on a plane, or simply too hot to leave your air-conditioned living room, the waning days of summer are meant for curling up with a good book. On Saturday, the Library of Congress invites you to its annual free festival where you can find your next read. Now in its 14^th year, the National Book Festival will feature more than 100 authors, poets, and illustrators from all genres. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., meet the authors, get books signed, and enjoy panel discussions and entertainment for all ages. This year’s festival theme is “Stay Up with a Good Book,” so the event will include, for the first time, evening activities including a poetry slam competition as well as a panel discussion called “Great Books to Great Movies” with novelist E.L. Doctorow, author of “Ragtime” and “Billy Bathgate,” who will be awarded the 2014 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. Saturday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW. 888/714-4696. Web: loc.gov/bookfest. 

National Book Festival 2014 (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

Festival: D.C. Blues Festival

It’s the last long weekend of the summer—but don’t be blue! In fact, you’ll want to pack a picnic and head to Rock Creek Park’s Carter Barron Amphitheater for the 26^th annual D.C. Blues Festival sponsored by the D.C. Blues Society. The festival opens at noon Saturday with a full line-up of local blues favorites, beginning with the Stacy Brooks Band, winner of last year’s D.C. Blues Society Battle of the Bands who has performed in Memphis. Other highlights include Eddie Turner, who combines Afro-Cuban rhythms with blues, jazz, and rock, and Shakura S’Aida, 2013 Blues Music Awards nominee for Contemporary Female Artist of the Year. Throughout the day, the John Cephas Workshop Stage, named for the Piedmont blues guitarist, will feature music workshops for all levels as well as a children’s musical instrument “petting zoo.” Saturday at the Carter Barron Amphitheater, 16^th St. & Colorado Ave. NW. Web: dcblues.org. 

Concert: National Capitol Labor Day Concert

On Sunday, the National Symphony Orchestra kicks off the 2014-2015 season and marks the achievements of American workers with a free Labor Day concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Led by NSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke, the 90-minute concert will feature music from American television, movies, and Broadway stages by Richard Rodgers and Stephen Schwartz, among others, as well as patriotic favorites like “America the Beautiful” and Aaron Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man.” Along with the orchestra, special guests will include Emmy Award-winning actress and singer Nicole Parker of “MADtv” and Christopher Johnstone, who was part of the Tony Award-winning production of “South Pacific.” The gates open at 3 p.m. for an open rehearsal at 3:30 p.m. and the main event at 8:00 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the concert will take place at the Kennedy Center. Sunday at the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. 800/444-1324. Web: kennedy-center.org. 

Theater: Belleville

Washington’s Studio Theatre opens its new season with a bang on Wednesday, with an unforgettable psychological thriller by Amy Herzog, a Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist and Obie Award winner before the age of 35. Her play “Belleville” tells the story of Amy and Zack, a young American couple living in Paris with a seemingly perfect life and seemingly perfect marriage—but, of course, things aren’t always what they seem. The couple moves to the bohemian neighborhood of Belleville so Zack can take a prestigious job with Doctors Without Borders helping children with AIDS. But when Amy comes home early one day, she uncovers some unsettling revelations about her husband and her marriage that will keep the audience’s rapt attention until the conclusion. Get your tickets for the Sept. 14 or Sept. 27 matinees and participate in a post-show discussion with the actors. Through Oct. 12 at the Studio Theatre, 1501 14^th St. NW. 202/332-3300. Web: studiotheatre.org. 

Exhibit: Wilderness Forever: 50 Years of Protecting America’s Wild Places

Fifty years ago on Wednesday, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act, which established the National Wilderness Preservation System with 9.1 million acres across the country. Since then, Congress has added over 100 million acres—a total of 757 preserves—to the list to be enjoyed for generations to come. On the anniversary of the law’s enactment, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History will debut a photography exhibit celebrating “the majesty, diversity, and value of the nation’s wilderness areas.” The exhibit includes 50 large-format photos taken by both professionals and amateurs and chosen by a jury of wildlife photography experts. You’ll see photos of America’s diverse scenic landscapes, wild flora and fauna in their natural habitats, people enjoying the wilderness, and other images that are sure to inspire you to plan your next trip to a national park. Through summer 2015 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 10^th St. & Constitution Ave. NW. 202/633-1000. Web: mnh.si.edu.

© Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC and Samantha Sault