It’s the weekend and it may snow today, so there is much excitement in the air. What else should we do?
Today! The Lunar New Year celebrations are still going strong at ChiKo with a special tea service by one of our favorites, Capitol Jill! It’s mostly sold out but you can drop in and there is still seating for 1 p.m. More info and tickets here.
Pascual opened yesterday and we are looking forward to trying it. What did you all think? Check out more info about the place here.
By the way, Barracks Row Joey’s is also open and we’ve heard good things. Check out their menu and vision here.
From Joey’s you can walk to Frame of Mine and catch the latest show from the Capitol Hill Art League. Reflections offers a wide array of CHAL members’ artistic points of view. The show will hang through March 1. More info here.
The National Museum of the American Indian invites you to learn about everyone’s favorite dessert, beverage and indulgence: From Bloom to Beverage takes you on a journey to discover chocolate, its history and symbolism. For more information and RSVP, click here.
Don’t forget to register for the National Gallery Nights— special evening parties where the National Gallery of Art is open after hours and lovely things happen. The link to register, along with instructions, is here.
Did you know the DC Public Library has a ton of online resources? Among them, Creativebug gives you unlimited access to all sort of creative pursuits! Learn how to sew, knit, bake, draw and more! Check it out here.
The annual Cupid’s Undie Run, to benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation, will kick off on Saturday, February 17. Don your cutest underwear and pray that the weather is as nice as this weekend’s as you raise money to support those who suffer from neurofibromatosis (NF). Click here to sign up or learn more, or if you want to donate and skip the “running in your chonies” part, you can do that too.
Do you love films? Then the DC Independent Film Forum’s High School Film Competition is an event you won’t want to miss. Coming to the Miracle Theatre and the Angelika Pop-Up this weekend, this is a showcase, workshop and competition for high school students from all over the world. For more info, check out the website here. For a piece about local teens entering the competition, click here.
Want to travel far away without leaving DC? Then the Travel Fiction Club might be the one for you. The Travel Fiction club meets at the Northeast Library the third Tuesday of every month. This month, they’ll visit Australia and discuss The Sun Walks Down. More info here.
Margarita Day comes for some but once a year, on February 22. Take advantage of the merriment and celebrate by sampling all the different kinds of Margs that Barracks Row Main Street offers. More information and RSVP here.
Looking for community for your pup? Kingsman Bark supports Kingsman Dog Park, and they hold fun events in and out of the dog park. Email kingsmanbark@gmail.com to be included and to receive their newsletter.
The Oscars aren’t until March 10, but you can watch Oscar-nominated movies at the Angelika Pop-Up (Poor Things, Anatomy of a Fall, American Fiction, Oppenheimer). Is a place a pop-up if it’s been around in the same spot for over 10 years? Asking for a friend. (I will keep making this joke until someone tells me how clever I am.)
Interested in community safety? Unsure as to what the police can and cannot do? MPD organizes their Community Engagement Academy three times a year and the next cohort is starting soon. Interested? Fill out the card here.
Want to share what makes a Capitol Hill Home unique? Send in your photos to Capitol Hill Restoration Society‘s Capitol Hill Home contest! Want to communicate through art? Apply to Artomatic! Want to celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival from your porch? Register your Petal Porch!
SKATING RINKS
It may seem laughable to think about skating when it’s 50 degrees out, but our area boasts several ice skating rinks so you can live your best icy life. Most rinks open around this time of year and stay open through February (or March, in the case of the Sculpture Garden). Check the websites for additional info:
District Wharf
Canal Park
Sculpture Garden
WEEKLY FUN
Every Tuesday through Thursday, from noon until 8 p.m., the 1908 Lounge pops up at Union Station. The bar serves cocktails, beer and wine and offers a fun atmosphere for locals and commuters alike.
The Library of Congress is open late on Thursdays for Live! at the Library. These events are free but require timed passes. You can also sign up for a recording of the performance (more info here) and watch at home with your favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage.
At ReLume, you can make something beautiful and have fun while doing it! From candles to seasonal decorations to starting a new hobby, you can do it all there. Make a holiday wreath this Sunday! More info here.
Want to get your square dance on with the DC Rawhides? They are yee-hawing their way into our hearts on select Friday and Saturday evenings, 7-11 p.m., at Eastern Market’s North Hall. Click here for more info.
Mr. Henry’s is THE place to listen to jazz on the Hill. They have performances Wednesday through Saturday, but we have a soft spot for Saturday Showcase. Tickets and more info on all the performers past and future here.
A Sunday tradition, the Flea Market at Eastern Market is your one-stop shop for wonderful art, clothing, cosmetics and more. Follow them on Instagram here.
Labyrinth has great events almost every night of the week, except for Monday. If you’re looking to demo board games or enjoy some of your favorites with old and new friends, check out their event calendar. Guess what? Labyrinth is open Mondays during the busy holiday season!
On Monday evenings, Trivia Kings takes over Barrel for trivia night. For more info, click here. (They also host trivia nights all over town.)
On Wednesday evenings, make it trivia! Two Girls Trivia runs a quiz at Fight Club starting at 7 p.m. For more information and quiz hints, check out their Twitter, @twogirlstrivia.
as you are on Barracks Row has great events happening almost every day of the week: from crafting on Wednesdays to karaoke on Thursdays and Sundays to Saturday dance parties, this queer-safe space welcomes everyone. Check out their calendar of events here.
Every Thursday and Friday, Kelly’s Irish Times has comedy! The Batting Cage Comedy show starts at 8 p.m. and is free on Thursdays. More info here.
OFF-HILL
The Smithsonian has a beautiful exhibit at the Kogod Courtyard, between the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The Future of Orchids examines the beauty of orchids and their fragility. Sculpture by Phaan Howng. blends and For more information, click here.
The National Building Museum’s newest long-term installation, Building Stories, is a beautiful, interactive trip for children’s book lovers of all ages. Explore the architecture of what makes a good children’s book, revisit some of your old favorites and find a new compelling story to fall in love with. The exhibit will be at the museum for 10 years, but there will be programming with the DC Public Library and a constant curation of new children’s literature titles. Make sure you grab a passport and explore! More info and tickets here.(Check out our recent peek on Instagram here.)
Mondays can be tough days, but Songbyrd has Music Trivia this and every Monday up in Union Market district to gladden hearts and fuel your competitive spirit. The best part? It’s ALL AGES! Enjoy it with friends or as a family. More info here.
The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center has FREE performances that you can also catch on their livestream. For more info click here.
PLAN AHEAD
Ice Yards at Yards Park celebrates ten years! The après ski party takes over the beautiful riverside park and brings all kinds of fun activities for all ages like penguin bowling, snow simulator and iceless curling, plus drink and dessert specials, a fondue experience at Due South, fried chicken from Shilling Canning Co., and more. Your ticket also includes a contribution to Special Olympics. Come for the fun and stay to watch the Polar Bear Plunge benefiting Special Olympics! More info and tickets here.
Mosaic Theatre Company held their annual Playwriting Contest in collaboration with the DC Public Library and the winners are in! Join them on Saturday, February 24 as the winners read their plays starting at 2 p.m. at the Northeast Neighborhood Library. For more information on the contest and the winners, click here.
It’s a leap year, so why not do something fun on that one extra day? “Dish! The Storytelling Cocktail Hour” comes back to the Hill Center on Thursday, February 29. Get tickets here.
It’s a leap year, so why not do something fun on that one extra day? “Dish! The Storytelling Cocktail Hour” comes back to the Hill Center on Thursday, February 29. Get tickets here.
Do you love Schneider’s? Then you may want to join a special dinner at Café du Parc at the Willard Hotel on February 29 at 6 p.m.. Ninth-generation winemaker, Joël Duffau, will lead a 5-course meal that’s expertly paired with the Bordeaux wines of his family estate, biodynamic winery Château La Mothe du Barry. Tickets and more info here.
The Washington Bach Consort’s Noontime Cantatas are free lunchtime performances with talented musicians who celebrate the art and genius of Bach. The first concert this year will happen on Monday, March 4 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. More information here. The concerts are free but if you enjoy them, consider donating here.
The Embassy Chef Challenge, a night of culinary delights and sportsmanship, will take place March 7 at Union Station. Taste dishes expertly made by local embassy chefs and vote for your favorites. For more information and tickets, click here.
St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, which means it’ll be extra debauched on, um, St. Pat’s Eve, Saturday, March 16. So far, we’ve heard The Wharf will have Ireland at the What, from 12-6 pm. More details soon!
Opening Day isn’t until April 1, but you can start planning your game day early because the special ticket event calendar is here! From Pups in the Park to Alumni nights, get the group or fam together and have fun rooting for the Nats. Click here to learn more and purchase. (Psst– the freebies list is here.)
Take a bus tour around significant sites for Black, Feminist DC with A Tour of Their Own. Black Feminist DC kicks off on April 13 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library and takes you on a journey through the living history of DC. For more info and tickets, click here.
Psst: The Mystics kick off their season on May 14.