Friends, I had optimistically removed the “from home” in our To Do List because I guess I wanted to believe that we weren’t doing as poorly as it turns out we’re doing (The Hill). Maryland is tightening their own dining restrictions in several counties (Eater). If our local government won’t enforce more serious restrictions, it is up to us to do as much as we can to stay safe while still supporting our friends in the hospitality industry. To do this weekend? Get some takeout from a place you love, tip as generously as you can, and stay home as much as possible.
Let’s see what kind of fun local things we can do from home:
Tonight at 7 p.m. on YouTube, the Anacostia Playhouse is holding the Silenced Voices new work festival remotely. You can celebrate this showcase of new talent starting at 6:30 via zoom– click here to enter.
Take some time to explore all the beautiful pottery you can purchase this weekend, November 13-15, in Pottery on the Hill’s annual show. Go to this portal and, tomorrow starting at 5 p.m., go buy a beautiful vase, mug, or whimsical piece of art that can transform something ordinary like holding butter into a whimsical expression. Or, starting NOW (actually, it started November 5), you can go bid on pieces donated by participating potters. The proceeds go directly to our beloved center for the arts and all-around wonderful meeting hub, the Hill Center. A little light on the cash but you still want to help? Buy a commemorative Pottery on the Hill mug! I like that they appear to have nazars all over them, to watch over you as you have your morning coffee.
The Capital City Symphony invites you to Get Out of this World! You can register here for a family concert and petting zoo(m) aimed at little ones. When you register and make a donation to keep CCS going, you will be emailed a link to the show.
If you’ve ever wondered how hard or painful it was to tear down Capitol Hill homes to make way for the Southeast Freeway, White Men’s Roads through Black Men’s Homes will be of interest to you. The DC History Center has been holding excellent conversations on systemic racism and this one promises to be extremely interesting. Click here to register and donate and you will be sent a link to the event.
Want to try something new? Leni, an Eastern European-inspired joint, opens at the Roost tomorrow at 8 a.m. You can peruse their menu below, and you can have all those delightful-sounding rostis and toastis at home– The Roost delivers locally!
Ginkgo Gardens, 911 11th Street SE, is having their fall sale, and they are offering 25% off perennials, shrubs and trees. Look, if you need to spend some time outdoors, why not do it in a pretty space? The sale ends on November 15 at 5 p.m.!
Tour Touchstone Gallery‘s online holdings so you can pretend life is carefree and you can wander in and out of museums and galleries. Check out their most recent exhibit featuring artist Heather Lynn’s series, “Waiting On.”
Hey parents of little ones: Jurassic Quest is still going strong through November 22. For $45 per car, you can get a tour through a dinosaurland! A few parents I’ve talked to have enjoyed it and said it was worth it, especially for the audio tour. Have slightly older kids who can ride bikes? Rumor has it that you can see half the dinosaurs for none of the fossil fuel if you bike around the outside. More info and tickets here.
Fan of gin? Make sure to sign up for The Betsy‘s Hendrick’s Mixology Class! The class will take place in person next Thursday, November 19, and it runs $45 per person, but space is limited. Give them a call at (202) 544-0100 and reserve your spot today!
If any of the words in “A Taste of the Chesapeake” are part of your love language, you know that Chef Spike Gjerde will be cooking dinner for you on Wednesday, November 18 or Thursday, November 19. Together with Chef Reid Shilling of Shilling Canning Company in Navy Yard, the chefs are putting together a two-night series of pop-up dinners that will benefit the Farm Alliance of Baltimore and you’re very invited. Click over to Resy to check out the menu and reserve either dining room or garden seating for the night.
Plan ahead:
The Congressional Chorus will be holding a special Vogue: Return to the ’90s concert on Saturday, November 21 at 8 p.m. The concert is free, but the organizers ask that you register and donate, in order to keep their mission going. Click here to register and click here to listen to more of the Congressional Chorus on YouTube in the meantime.
Do you love holiday craft shows? GRUMP is coming back for its 10th year and it’s all virtual but no less fun! There will be all manner of awesome arts and crafts, workshops, tarot readings (wink, wink, with yours truly), Yeti bingo, and a whole lot more! Click here to learn more and come back November 27 through December 1 for GRUMPy fun and shenanigans–and YETI delivery?! Whaaaaaat?
