Before we forget: The Hill is Home is celebrating 15 years and you’re invited to our Quinceañera! We’re teaming up with Eastern Market Main Street for a fun “Sweet 15” style party and benefit. DJ Tony T will be spinning records, Capitol Jill will bring CAKE and we will have activities for everyone. Mark your calendars for THURSDAY, MAY 16, 6-9 p.m., Eastern Market’s North Hall. (Please note date change). TICKETS WILL BE ON SALE SOON!!! See you there?
Hey nerds! Saturday April 27 is a big BIG day because it’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner Weeke lolololol no, it’s INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY!!111111!!111!!!11!!! Celebrate one of the biggest pleasures in life, otherwise known as a well-stocked, small, independently-owned bookseller, purveyor of joy, entertainment, knowledge and neighborhood charm. Make sure to stop by all of them! We are talking, of course, about all our beloveds: East City Bookshop, Capitol Hill Books, Solid State Books and Little District Books (and we see you, looking like a snack made of books at the top of the hill, Politics and Prose).
It’s also East City’s EIGHTH BIRTHDAY!!!!! Make sure you stop by and help them eat cake <3
Hill Family Biking celebrates one whole year of bike rides and wholesome fun on April 27 starting at 4 p.m.! Celebrate the faces and places that have made this scrappy community a success! They will be riding 4.5 mile rides celebrating the new Potomac Ave and 19th Street bike lanes and end with a block party in front of Maury Elementary. All are welcome at the “Open Streets Jr” block party starting at 5 p.m., whether you participate in the ride or not, to enjoy,
- Fat Pete’s BBQ Food Truck (Veggie options available)
- MARACAS Ice Pops Tricycle
- Collaborative chalk art by Chalk Riot.
- Kid’s biking course (bring your balance bikes!)
- Face painting
- DJ Paul Spires
- Throne Labs (yes we’ll have a working bathroom on site!)
- And who’s who of orgs w/ swag and smiles like WABA, Girls in Gear, goDCgo, Capital Bikeshare and more!
Project Glow is coming back to RFK on April 27 and 28. Send non-cloudy weather vibes! For more information and tickets, click here.
Do you love ping pong? Do you love supporting good causes like 826DC, a non-profit that helps kids with their homework and writing skills? Then PADDLESTAR GALACTICA is the tournament for you! Sign up here and get ready for a paddling adventure on April 27 that could help someone’s life!
One of the highlights of the gardener’s calendar is back: The FONA Garden Fair and Plant Sale is happening April 27 at the US National Arboretum. For more info and membership options, click here.
Get down and funky Saturday evening with the Old School Dance Party at the Pie Shop on H Street. DJ Tony T will be spinning the tunes.
The American Roots Concert series is back at the Hill Center and this Sunday, April 28, features Rose And The Bros, who bring Zydeco and Cajun music to brighten your Sunday. This concert series is outdoor and FREE but you are asked to kindly RSVP here.
Or perhaps you want to go back to East City Bookshop for a Romance Author Meet and Greet! Make sure you purchase your books so you can get them signed by your favorites! More info and tickets here.
WEEKLY FUN
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 for next month’s event, along with instructions, is here.
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. This week, why not make your own candle? More info here.
Looking for something fun to do with your toddler? The Northeast Neighborhood library has Toddler Explorations on Mondays, from 11-noon. More info here.
Mr. Henry’s is THE place to listen to jazz on the Hill. They have performances FOUR nights a week! Check out their calendar of events 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.
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.
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.
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
Catch a movie in the grand hall of the National Building Museum! This Saturday, April 27, starting at 6:30, get immersed in the magic of The Lord of the Rings. Dress up and have a ball! Tickets and more info here.
The Metropolitan Beer Trail kicks off this weekend! Get more info and get your beer and bike or walk on here.
Did you know the University of the District of Columbia has A LOT OF JAZZ? It’s true! On Monday, April 29, celebrate Duke Ellington’s 125th birthday at the Calvin Jones Big Band Jazz Festival. Buy your tickets here.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts has an incredible new exhibit titled “New Worlds: Women to Watch 2024.” This biennial show, which opens on Sunday, April 14, highlights some of the boldest, most touching and creative work by women and women-identifying artists working right now. From a haunting multimedia exhibit about climate change to a powerful nude sculpture and self-portrait of an artist who’s a breast cancer survivor, the show takes viewers on a circular journey where the past is also the future. Highly recommend it! For more information, tickets and membership options, click here.
The National Portrait Gallery has a new exhibit opening today, on view through June 3, 2025, called “Brilliant Exiles.” The exhibit, which takes over a large part of the second floor, focuses on mostly American women who emigrated to Paris between 1900 and 1939. During that tumultuous 40-year period, these migrants excelled in different areas. From writing, painting and dancing to publishing and interior design, these forward-thinking avatars pushed boundaries and found that Paris did not judge them for their womanhood or for being people of color or queer, but instead celebrated them and let them be. The exhibit is a carefully curated view of the women through their own eyes and, far more often than you might hope, through the eyes of important men in their lives. You can learn more and plan your visit here.
The Hirshhorn kicks off their 50th Anniversary celebration with “Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1960-1960.” Enjoy 270 artworks by 126 different artists and especially enjoy the thoughtful curation on display, where pieces are in conversation and juxtaposition to one another– it’s a great way to better understand modern art. There will also be programming that goes along with the exhibit. Click here for more information and programming and don’t miss the Art Cart!
The Anacostia Playhouse‘s newest show is called “Sunset Baby” and it focuses on how our choices form our present and our historical significance. For more information and tickets, click here. Hurry– the show closes this weekend!
The National Building Museum has a new exhibit about Frank Lloyd Wright titled Southwestern Pennsylvania and features some of his more daring, beautiful concepts that never came to fruition for the city of Pittsburgh. The exhibit has beautiful models, delicate hand-drawn renderings and bold imaginings of what Pittsburgh might have looked like with avant-garde skyscrapers encrusted on the sides of its mountains. Majestic. More info here.
The Smithsonian has a beautiful exhibit at the Kogod Courtyard, between the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery through this Sunday, April 28. The Future of Orchids examines the beauty of orchids and their fragility. Sculpture by Phaan Howng blends and highlights the shapes and wild color schemes of these fascinating epiphytes. For more information, click 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.
PLAN AHEAD
Brunch on the Go is back at The Yards! Every weekend in May, get your walk on and brunch your way to health–– or just happiness. For tickets and more info, click here.
Barracks Row Main Street has several events coming up in May: check out their Eventbrite and make your plans!
The Smithsonian Craft Fair is happening May 1 through 5 at the National Building Museum. A benefit for the Smithsonian and a celebration of folk roots, the festival will feature artists in different disciplines and you’re sure to find something you’ll love on the floor or at the online auction. Click here to plan your visit.
On May 3-5, visit the Capitol Rare Book Fair at the University Club in Downtown DC. Look for local fave Capitol Hill Books– they’ll be exhibiting! More info here.
Do you love CHAW? Do you want to help them with their goals to provide free tuition to kids who need help? Do you love an evening of song and merriment? Then CHAWbaret is the show for you! This year’s version is all about animal songs and it’s called PAWbaret! More info and tickets here.
The Anacostia River Festival is happening on Saturday, May 4! Celebrate the past, present and future of our beautiful river with a wonderful festival and market in Anacostia Park, just across the river from us, as well as a. There will be music, activations and more. Click here for more information.
On May 4, tour the world without crossing a boundary stone! Passport DC, the event that welcomes you into embasseis around the District so you can get a peek of their culture, arts and especially food! Click here and get excited!
And also on May 4, the magnificent and majestic Running of the Chihuahuas at the Wharf. Sign your chihuahua up for the races, participate in the costume contest with your doggo (all breeds welcome) and prepare for a day of mirth and merriment. For more information, click here.
The next 1D CAC meeting is May 7. Click here for more info.
The Drive-In returns to Union Market on May 10! Check out the movie lineup and secure your spot here.
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society House Tour is happening May 11 and 12. For more information and tickets, click here and here.
Also happening on May 11, the European Union opens their embassies to the public! EU Open House 2024 will take place along Embassy Row and other points in Northwest DC from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more info, click here.
On May 13, learn about a lost hero of the abolitionist movement with the latest Ruth Ann Overbeck lecture series at the Hill Center. Space is limited. RSVP here.
Psst: The Mystics kick off their season on May 14.
Also on May 14, there will be a Ward 7 candidate forum on transportation and environmental issues via Zoom. RSVP here.
Dish! The Storytelling Cocktail Hour returns to the Hill Center on May 15. Have a nice sip and enjoy some piping hot tea from talented storytellers. Think of it as giving mom the gift of laughter for Mother’s Day! For more info click here. For tickets, click here.
On May 16, Mosaic Theatre Company opens their newest play, Mexodus. Read all about it and get tickets here.
On Sunday, May 19, Chiarina Chamber Players will deliver the last concert of the season: BETWEEN WORLDS: DVOŘÁK, RAVEL, SIMON, PONCE. For tickets, click here. To become a supporter, click here.
And also on the 19, listen to a special storytelling session called Voices of Rosedale, from 2-4 p.m. and the Rosedale Library. To learn more about this project, click here.
Do you love barbecue? The Giant Barbecue Battle returns to DC on June 22 and 23 this year. Check out the guests and the fun and get pumped here.
And it’s not until July 27 and 28, but get pumped for the Broccoli City festival. This year, it’ll be at Audi field and the lineup looks very star-studded. Tickets are now on sale! Keep an eye on their website here.
The Because They’re Funny Comedy Festival, showcasing comedians of color, isn’t until September 27-29, but you can get your tickets starting May 1 here. Are you a young comedian? Why not submit a video to be considered for their Breakout of the Year contest? Click here for more info.
Finally, if you’re excited about the Folger re-opening, why not get a subscription? Check it out here.