Last year’s CANstruction theme was transportation, and now through November 27, you can check out sculptures based on the theme “Movie Nights.” (Photo via aiadc.com)
This week’s agenda includes defeating waves of aliens, surviving a nuclear attack, and other optimistic-sounding events.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21
CANNED FOOD SCULPTURES: On Sunday, November 20, teams from architecture and design firms spent the afternoon building sculptures out of cans of food that will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank after the event. From now through November 27, you can check out the “Movie Nights”-themed sculptures, and vote for your favorite design. (National Building Museum, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. FREE)
NUCLEAR ATTACK: Planning for atomic wars was previously considered “thinking about the unthinkable.” If certain election results now have you thinking otherwise, you might want to at least consider preparing yourself for a one-off nuclear attack. The latest Knowledge Commons DC class, Boom! Your Guide to Surviving a Nuclear Attack will teach you all about sheltering, supply management, basic first aid, and how to make a homemade fallout detector. (Woodridge Neighborhood Library, 6:30-8:30 p.m. FREE, registration required)
SPACE INVADERS: Port City Brewing’s Classic Arcade Tournament continues with a Space Invaders showdown. Your $5 entry gets you one pint and two chances to post your best score. The top four scorers will go head to head to determine the ultimate Space Invaders champion. (Port City Brewing Company, 4-7:30 p.m. $5, registration required )
More: Savage Kingdom, Pax Apothecary Launch Party
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22
HOLIDAY PARTY: Get set for holiday hosting, sharing, snacking (and beanie wearing) with Madewell and Food52. Enjoy treats and bubbly as you shop giftable kitchen and home goods (jeans will still be there too). (Madewell Georgetown, 6-8 p.m. FREE)
FRENCH FILM: The retrospective Objects of Desire: The Films of Luis Buñuel comes to a close Tuesday. The last featured film of the retrospective, Death in the Garden, is an adventure film with Surrealist gestures and symbolism about a band of fugitives including a local hooker, a priest, and an aging diamond miner, who are forced to flee into the jungle amid a revolution. (4101 Reservoir Rd NW, 7-9 p.m. FREE, RSVP required)
GERMAN FILM: Watch the German coming-of-age comedy Time to Say Goodbye about a 12-year-old boy who falls head over heels for the new rabbi who is twenty years his senior. (Edlavitch DCJCC, 7:30 p.m. $13)
More: Can I Kick It?, Born in Flames
Sign up to give a comedian a hug at “Do You Need a Hug” by Laugh Owens Laugh.(Photo by Miki J).
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23
SAD JOKES: At Do You Need A Hug? by Laugh Owens Laugh, comics will share their “sad sack bummertown cry on a bus material.” After every set, the audience will determine if the comic needs a hug. If you want to be the one giving the hugs, let host Alyssa Cowan know before the show! (Rendezvous Lounge, 8-10 p.m. FREE)
SEX STORIES: At Smut Slam DC, you’ll hear 5 minute sex-stories and have the chance to anonymously share your own sexual confessions (or ask questions) via a Fuckbucket. (The Bier Baron Tavern, 8:30-11:30 p.m. $10)
THE NUTCRACKER: It’s time for the return of your favorite holiday ballet. Watch the D.C. premiere of the Cincinnati Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. (The Kennedy Center, 7:30 p.m. $69-165, Friday-Sunday performances also available)
More: Trail Running Film Festival, Sweater Beats, The Last Waltz, Peter Hook & The Light
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24
CHRISTMAS VILLAGE: If you’re planning to be in town for Thanksgiving, you may want to at least consider venturing out to the return of the Christmas Village in Baltimore, a German Christmas market open Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve in Baltimore’s West Shore Park/ Inner Harbor. Expect wooden huts housing more than 50 vendors selling waffles, bratwurst, ornaments, jewelry, arts & crafts, and more. (11 a.m.-7 p.m.)
THANKSGIVING DINNER: If you are unable to have dinner with your family this Thursday, there will be no shortage of restaurants serving their take on Thanksgiving dinner. However, there’s only one place to go for a $10 all-you-can-eat feast. Black Squirrel is back with its annual Thank-You Thanksgiving Buffet, featuring turkey, ham, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, and more. Feasting starts at 11:30 a.m.
SWING DANCE: Dance off heaps of mashed potatoes at the Thanksgiving Day Swing Dance Party , featuring music by the Phat Cat Swingers. (The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, 6-9 p.m. FREE)
The Tony Awards® winning musical, ONCE, comes to The National Theatre November 25-27. (Photo via thenationaldc.org)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25
MUSICAL THEATRE: The Tony Awards winning adaption of the Irish musical romance film, Once, comes to The National Theatre for three nights. (*Saturday and Sunday performances also available, 8 p.m. $58-98)
NSO POPS: Watch E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial on the big screen, accompanied by the Oscar-winning score performed live by the NSO Pops. (*Saturday performance also available, The Kennedy Center, 8 p.m. $29-99)
BLUEGRASS: Add a little bluegrass to your Thanksgiving weekend at Keller Williams’ second annual Thanksforgrassgiving (9:30 Club, 8 p.m. $25)
More: Wine Tasting, Bilal
