Friday, October 13, 2017 / by Brittini Martinez
15 Fun Events To Do In DC This Weekend
Friday the 13th—sure, some will be cranking Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and avoiding black cats and mirrors, but why do that when there’s so much going on this weekend? With a Swedish film screening, free opera in the park, and a dog-friendly rooftop party, it’s another busy weekend in the District.
Take an Argentine tango class at 18th Street Lounge. (Photo by Victoria Pickering)
FRIDAY, OCT. 13
TWO TO TANGO: Dive headfirst into the passion and romance of the Argentine tango at a dance lesson hosted by the International Club of D.C. Post-instruction, stick around for an authentic tango performance, then take the floor: All participants are invited to stay and enjoy 18th Street Lounge throughout the evening. (18th Street Lounge, 7 - 9 p.m., $16)
CARTOON NIGHT: Cartoonist Roz Chast has an impressive resume: Her work has been featured in The New Yorker since 1978 and is collected in several books, including a graphic memoir. Her latest book, “Going Into Town,” is described as a love letter to New York. Hear her speak about her latest book, her long career, and her inspiration tonight at Politics and Prose. (Politics and Prose, 7 - 8 p.m., FREE)
A NIGHT IN SLOVAKIA: Become immersed in the traditional, Old World ways of Eastern Europe with a night at the Embassy of Slovakia. The embassy’s chef will prepare traditional Slovakian food for guests, and there will be a bar of authentic regional wine and beer. To top off the evening of culture, be sure to stick around for a presentation of Slovakian folklore songs, a film, and a display of Slovakian art. (Embassy of Slovakia, 7 - 9:30 p.m., $50)
SWEDISH SCREEN: Dupont Underground continues its Swedish Film Series tonight with a screening of “White People.” Lisa Aschan’s film is part dystopian science fiction, part horror, and focuses on a group of people kidnapped and held hostage in an underground prison—an eerily fitting film for Friday the 13th. (Dupont Underground, 7 p.m., $6)
HOME-GROWN HISTORY Join a ranger on a walk around the Washington Monument to uncover lesser-known tales from its long history. The mile-long tour will trace the Potomac River’s original shoreline and cover more than two centuries of almost-forgotten Washington lore. Bring an out-of-town guest, or simply come to appreciate the rich history of our nation’s capital. (Paddle boat parking lot, 10 a.m., FREE)
MORE: Against Me! ((9:30 Club, 8 p.m., $25), Uncanny Comedy: Friday the 13th (Dojo Comedy, 8 - 11 p.m., $10), Manila Killa with Robotaki (U Street Music Hall, 10:30 p.m., $12)
Washington Concert Opera will host an outdoor performance Saturday at Meridian Hill Park. (Photo by Justin Schuck)
SATURDAY, OCT. 14
OPERA IN THE PARK: Enjoy the unusually warm weather at an outdoor opera concert. Meridian Hill Park will host performances by rising stars from the Washington Concert Opera, and there will even be a chance to win free tickets to the 2017-2018 season. Bring blankets and chairs, lean back, and let the music do its thing (pets are welcome to tag along, too). (Meridian Hill Park, 11 a.m. - 12 noon, FREE)
PETALS + POSES: Join local yoga teacher Mimi Rieger at the Georgetown Lululemon for an early evening roster of yoga, cocktails, and flower arranging. Just show up with a yoga mat, a small container to bring home a self-made flower arrangement, and a charitable mindset—all proceeds will go to the victims of hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Maria. (Georgetown Lululemon, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., $20)
END ALZHEIMER’S: The Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise funds and awareness for the disease, and it’s coming to D.C. today. The route is two miles long, but walking isn’t the only way to make a difference: Sign up to
FALL BLOCK PARTY: Dust off those dirndls—it’s the second-annual Petworth Blocktoberfest!Head to the neighborhood’s Randolph Street for live music, German beer and cuisine, and plenty of fun and games. Grills will be provided for neighborhood residents to enjoy, and there will be events specifically tailored to children, as well. (500-600 block of Randolph Street NW, 4 - 10 p.m., FREE, $20 donation requested for food and drink)
DISTRICT NOMS: Union Kitchen will open its doors and introduce guests to the local entrepreneurs and trailblazers cooking up some of the most exciting food in the District. Sample snacks, beverages, and products from over 50 groups such as Atlas Brew Works, Ice Cream Jubilee, Bottoms Up Bagels, Maketto, and more. A ticket includes a $5 Union Kitchen Grocery gift card, and there will be merchandise available for purchase on-site, too. (Union Kitchen, 5 - 7 p.m., $19.99 online, $25 at door)
ILLUMINASIA: It’s the grand reopening of the Freer and Sackler Galleries of Art. To celebrate, the spaces will host a weekend-long festival of Asian art, food, and culture. Tonight, enjoy a market with food and art and an animated projection on the Freer Gallery’s façade. Tomorrow, come tour the reimagined galleries while checking out a tai chi class, a drum circle, a street food market, several outdoor music performances, talks by the museum curators, and much more. (Freer and Sackler Galleries of Art, Saturday 5 p.m. - 12 midnight, Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., FREE)
MORE: Bikes, Baristas, and Beers (District Hardware and Bike, 10 a.m - 1 p.m., FREE, registration required), Kaleo featuring ZZ Ward and Wilder (The Anthem, 8 p.m., $40 - $55), Grocery Walk + GW Food Institute (Foggy Bottom Metro Station, 9 a.m., FREE)
Bring the pups to a dog-friendly pool party. (Photo by Nikoo's Photos)
SUNDAY, OCT. 15
DOG DAY Grab the
LOCAVORES Head to
WRITING WORKSHOP This one’s for the poets: How does one confront writer’s block and keep the imaginative spark alive? Confront questions like this while finding new sources of inspiration at a writing workshop with poet and teacher Ruth Irupé Sanabria. Attendees are encouraged to bring whatever inspires them to class—an Instagram account, a book, a plant found outside—and will draft poems that use the surrounding world as a muse. (Split This Rock, 12:30 - 3 p.m., $20)
FALL FANCIES: Want to give Martha Stewart a run for her money? Then check out Steadfast Supply’s
MORE: Fall Into Balance (YogaWorks, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., $63.45), Women’s Training Ride(District Hardware and Bike, 9:30 - 11 a.m., FREE, registration required), School Garden Tour 2017 (BicycleSPACE Downtown, 11:30 - 2:30 p.m., donation requested), Sunset for Dancers(Georgetown Waterfront Park, 4:30 - 9 p.m., $10), Improv Brunch (The Pinch, 12 noon, prices vary), From Port to Posh (Old Stone House, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., FREE), Mozart Requiem(Washington National Cathedral, 4 - 6 p.m., $25 - $80), Indian Daal Class (Pansaari, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., $65), D.C. Chamber Orchestra Concert (Church of the Reformation, 3 - 5 p.m., FREE)
article provided