Photo by kimberlyfaye

BALLET: Even a hundred years after Bram Stoker brought him into existence Dracula still inspires fascination, fear, and even dance. In advance of the Washington Ballet’s production of Michael Pink’s Dracula, their Artistic Director Septime Webre presents “Dracula: Ballet with a Bite,” a lecture and dance demo on “one of literature’s most seductive and fascinating characters.” 6:30 p.m. at the Washington Ballet’s England Studio Theater (3515 Wisconsin Avenue NW) Tickets: $25.

MUSIC: Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chas boogie on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage (2700 F Street NW) tonight at 6:00 p.m. Arrive early, at 5:00 p.m., for dance lessons from Dancing by the Bayo. Free.

FOOD & DRINK: Shake Shack (1216 18th Street NW) celebrates Oktoberfest with… Shacktoberfest! Now through October 21st fill up on Cheddar Brat Burgers, Currywursts, Apfelstrudel Shakes and more.

Coming up this week…

TUESDAY: Maryland’s Flying Dog brewery and the Scottish brewing iconoclasts BrewDog have declared war across the Pond to do battle with a novel concept: to create an IPA, known for a bitterness that so many of us love, without any International Bitterness Units (IBUs). Each of these Zero IBU IPAs will be on tap at RFD (810 7th Street NW) Tuesday night for you to blind taste test and vote on your favorite.

WEDNESDAY: Help support City Dogs Rescue by drinking bottomless beers at Barktoberfest at Biergarten Haus (1355 H Street NE) this Wednesday. 7:00-9:00 p.m. $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

THURSDAY: The annual Velocity DC Dance Festival offers the opportunity to see a dozen area dance groups, including the Washington Ballet and Step Afrika, performing a wide selection of dance styles, including ballet, flamenco, modern, and step. The festival begins this Thursday and continues through Sunday, October 21. 8:00 p.m. $18.

FRIDAY: Mop-headed alt rocker Ben Kweller plays the 9:30 Club (815 V Street NW) this Friday. 7:00 p.m. $22.

SATURDAY: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain performs a range from Beethoven to The Who at the Music Center at the Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda, MD) this Saturday. Bring your own ukulele to join in an some audience participation during one song at the show. 2:00 p.m. $18-$48.

SUNDAY: This Saturday and Sunday are your final chances to hit the Maryland Renaissance Festival (1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis, MD) before it packs up the corsets, swords, and turkey legs for the season. 10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. $10-$22.