We survived Election Day and are none the worse for the wear. Give yourself a high-five right now and let’s dive into things to do this weekend and week ahead!
Tomorrow is Veterans Day, a day where we thank and acknowledge the sacrifice and struggle involved in serving the country. The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian will dedicate the National Native American Veterans Memorial tomorrow, the first national landmark in Washington, D.C., to focus on the contributions of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians who have served in the military. This celebration is part of an extended two-day celebration and begins at 2 p.m. on November 11. More information here. You can watch online here.
Did you know it’s Black Restaurant Week? This whole week there will be specials at all your favorite Black-owned places! Check this website to find places to support. I might just have to go get some wings from Bammy’s myself, because their jerk wings and their oxtails are uh-mazing.
Do you love the Hill Center’s Pottery on the Hill? Their first in-person show in two years is coming this November, and you’re invited! The show will open Friday, November 11 with a ticketed preview reception and sale and continues through Sunday, November 13 with free admission. There will also be a silent auction. Part of the proceeds will go toward supporting the Hill Center. Learn more about the event and get excited here.
The latest show from the Capitol Hill Art League is titled “What Brings Me Joy.” This is a non-juried show at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) and it will open with a reception on Saturday, November 12 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. During the reception, attendees can vote for their “people’s choice.” The exhibit runs through December 9.
Melissa Villase˜ñor is coming to the Miracle Theater on Monday, November 14, to promote her book “Whoops I’m Awesome.” This event is organized by East City Books and you can get tickets and preorder the book here.
Did you know the U. S. Capitol holds Capitol Conversations on weekdays at 1 p.m.? These virtual sessions are informative and fun–– a neat opportunity to learn something new while you eat your lunch. Register for Capitol Conversations here.
Get tickets to The Till Trilogy at Mosaic Theater Company. This collection of three works focuses on the 1955 murder of Emmet Till, a 14-year old child who was tortured and killed for allegedly offending a white woman. For more information and tickets, click here. The Till Trilogy runs starting Tuesday, October 4 and through November 20 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.
Every other Tuesday, there is a puppet show at the North Hall of Eastern Market. Come sing and giggle with Kidsinger Jim! The show starts at 10:30 and you can get more info here.
On Wednesday evenings, make it trivia! Two Girls Trivia runs a quiz at Fight Club starting at 7 p.m. You can also catch them at Biergarten Haus on Tuesday evenings. For more information and quiz hints, check out their Twitter, @twogirlstrivia.
Every Thursday, Kelly’s Irish Times has comedy! The Batting Cage Comedy show starts at 8 p.m. and is free. More info here.
Want to support CHAW? Then buy a digital print here so that you can keep tuition programs free for those who need them.
Hey, have you gotten your COVID booster and your flu shot? No? Well, cross that off your list this weekend! Click here to find where you can get it.
Want to help the DC Diaper Bank? They are collecting baby food to keep baby bellies across the area happy during their Fall Fuel-Up for Baby Bellies through November 17! You can donate all week through their Amazon wishlist here.
Do you want your child in grades 4-8 to join the Congressional Chorus? The chorus is doing one-on-one voice placements on November 16 and 30, as well as December 7. Rehearsals will take place at CHAW on Wednesdays, from 4-5:45 p.m., starting in January 2023. To sign up for a voice placement, click here.
OFF-HILL
The Congressional Chorus presents Homesong, a one-day special event at the First Congregational United Church on November 12. For tickets and more information, click here.
Do you love open-air markets, artists, performers and lots of food? Then Art on the Avenue along Del Ray’s Mount Vernon Avenue is the place for you. The festival usually happens in October but this year it was postponed to November 12. Join in the fun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info here.
If your teen is doing National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, then they may want to go to a special workshop at the MLK Library on Wednesday, November 16. The workshop is a check-in and a mini victory lap for hitting the halfway point of writing 30k words in November. More info here.
A new interactive experience is coming to Rhode Island Center, the space right off Rhode Island Avenue Metro, where the Van Gogh exhibit was earlier this year. The experience is called DINOS ALIVE and it looks like it’s gonna be a great hit for the younger set (and their tired, devoted parents). It’s a lot of fun, and the Dinos look amazing. Guaranteed wows from even the most jaded of kiddos. Get tickets here.
The Downtown Holiday Market is back on November 18 and if you’ve never been, make sure you stop at least once between the start and December 23 at 8 p.m. All kinds of incredible local and regional makers descend upon F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets. There are treats and performers as well! More info here.
PLAN AHEAD
Ever wondered what a tour would be like if it hit all sorts of feminist landmarks, both historical and modern, and made you feel excited for HERstory? Wonder no more: A Tour of Her Own has just the program on November 12. Find out more details and info here.
Local songstress Laura Tsaggaris is having a very special show at The Miracle Theater and you’re invited! The Get in the Mood Holiday Show is happening November 22 at 7 p.m. Get tickets here and take a listen at “Get in the Mood” here.
The United States Botanic Garden holiday exhibit is back! The joyful and trainful display runs from November 24 through January 2, 2023, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except for Christmas Day. The indoor displays are beautiful DC landmarks made entirely out of plants, while the outdoor train displays highlight farming across the world. You can plan your visit here.
Are you ridiculously excited about the World Cup? Sure, there are bits about it that are problematic (the slave labor, the imminent threat to LGBTQ+ fans, the usual), but IT IS THE WORLD CUP! Locally, you can catch the fun at Belga Cafe: They will be broadcasting the Red Devil games so you can watch and get your moules et frites on. Click here to RSVP.
Want to watch England Vs. USA with like-minded blokes? The Queen Vic is showing the November 25 game and you can RSVP here.
Wunder Garten also has a hefty share of games. Want to get your Welsh on? You can. Want to cheer the Socceroos? Yeah! Click here for their entire line-up of matches.
On December 2, buy your tree and greenery at Miner Elementary! While you’re at it, pick up some delicious baked goods. The fun for a good cause starts at 9 a.m. and goes through 2 p.m. The proceeds of the sales benefit Miner, Payne Elementary and Eliot-Hine Middle School. For more info click here.
Incidentally, if you want to make sure all families have a happy and full pantry year-round, you can donate to the Eliot-Hine Parent Teacher Organization this Thanksgiving through Venmo (@Eliot-Hine-PTO) or PayPal (@EHPTO) and indicate “Community Pantry” in the note field.
On December 3, visit Capital Turnaround as it transforms into the Christmas Village at Capital Turnaround! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy the Santa Train, a skate-less indoor skating rink, crafts, hot cocoa and so much more! For more information, click here and then click under December 3.
And on December 4, enjoy Check Hamala Diabate in concert at the Hill Center. Diabate is a griot– a storyteller in the West African tradition– and his playing and singing are just incredibly fun and energetic. More info here.
Get a dose of wonderful, richly varied Christmas music with the Folger’s A New World Christmas, December 9-11. You can attend in person at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and purchase tickets here or you can get online access for a suggested donation.
Can’t get enough of craft fairs and don’t mind a little driving or MARCing? Samesies! Mark your calendar for the Charm City Craft Mafia’s Holiday Heap on December 10 in Baltimore. More info? Click here.
Want to get a Christmas tree and help the Friends of the National Arboretum? Then check this link out and deck the halls for a good cause!
Reminder: DPW is picking up leaves starting this week. Make sure you can push your leaves into your tree box as much as possible– especially ahead of the rains this weekend. Check the brochure here to give yourself an idea of when they may be dropping by your house.