It’s Lunar Super Mardi New Valentine’s Gras Bowl Weekend! There is no excuse not to have at least a little fun this week. Let’s go!
On Saturday, February 10, meet at 11 a.m. at Stanton Park for a clean-up. This is the first in what will hopefully become a tradition, organized by neighbor Rebekah Calano. Trash bags and gloves will be provided, but if you want to bring a trash grabber, by all means (we hear you can get pretty great ones at all our local hardware shops). Have any questions? Email recalano@gmail.com for more information.
Want to help you child learn how to make a mini magazine inspired by W.E.B.DuBois “The Brownies’ Book”? Then you must come to the Library of Congress tomorrow, February 10! Once there, you can make your mini mag, visit the young readers’ center, and enjoy a beautiful architectural jewel! RSVP here.
Want to celebrate friendship and cake? Then Hill East Burger’s “All You Need is Cake” event is the one for you. Join them, Capitol Jill and Rewild for cake, good food, and plants! From 3-6, enjoy all of the above (while supplies last) and enter a giveaway! Click here for more info.
Mardi Gras is this coming Tuesday, February 13, and what better place to celebrate debauchery and good times than the Wharf? The celebration gets underway on Saturday, February 10 (Samedi Gras?) from 3-7 p.m.. Enjoy a parade, live music and a fireworks show. You can find the whole line-up and a spot to RSVP here.
Barracks Row Main Street will also celebrate Mardi Gras this whole weekend (Week-end Gras?) and you’re invited! There will be a band on Friday at 6 p.m., plus TWO parades– one during the day and one in the evening! For more info, click here.
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.
The Super Bowl is happening on Sunday, February 11 and every bar on earth is probably showing it. But if you’re looking for the best part, which happens to be the commercials, click here and check out the ones that are live so far.
But if you want a guide of places to celebrate, then check out Barracks Row Main Street! From The Brig to I Egg You, pick a place to watch all the sportsball action! Yay spandexed men! Yay angry chess-masters! Yay Taylor Swift and boyfriend! Click here for more information and details.
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.)
Have a story to tell? Apply to be a part of Capital Fringe! 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!
Lunar New Year
It’s almost here! The new year of the Dragon kicks off on Sunday, February 11. If you have a Dragon in your family, tell them they are wonderful, beautiful people who spread good fortune wherever they go. (Thank you! I know!)
The official DC parade through Chinatown starts at 1:45 p.m. More details here.
Maketto has food specials through February 10. Check them out here.
ChiKo is celebrating the re-opening of their original space as well as Lunar New Year. One of the events is a special tea service with one of our favorites, Capitol Jill! Click here to check out the full line-up and click here to make a tea service reservation.
Hate Valentine’s Day? Then get yourself to the Miracle Theatre and watch “An Affair to Remember” and cry over other people’s thwarted tales of love and loss. Please make sure to follow it up at home with a viewing of “Sleepless in Seattle,” you lovelorn puppy.
Love Valentine’s Day? Union Station has a free concert that day, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the main hall. More info here. They also have a Valentine’s Day giveaway so you can really rock it for yourself or a special someone. Enter here.
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
The annual Cupid’s Undie Run, to benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation, will kick off on 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.
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.
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.)
Psst: The Mystics kick off their season on May 14.