Just because the eclipse is over doesn’t mean your social life has to be! There’s a bevy of other events going down this week in D.C. that could open your mind, your palette, and more.
Photo via Hillyer Art Space.
MONDAY, AUGUST 21
OFF-BEAT BEER: This D.C. Beer week event goes beyond what’s typically in your pint. 3 Stars Brewing Company is hosting its Off Flavors Tasting Class to help brew lovers expand knowledge indulging in some “off flavors.” The guided course will be followed by “some clean beer drinking” inside the brewery’s urban farmhouse. (3 Stars Brewing Company, 6-8 p.m., $20)
LIFE DRAWING: Sit down and freestyle on a canvass with a nude model as your subject. Hillyer Art Space’s weekly Life Drawing class lets students choose their own medium and guide themselves at their own pace so it’s suitable for artist of all levels. (Hillyer Art Space, 6-9 p.m., $10-$15)
SISTER SESSION: Share vibes with a diverse array of women at Amplifying Women Everywhere (A.W.E.), an open mic series featuring local spoken word performers, open mic rookies, and musicians. Grammy-nominated songstress Carolyn Malachi will host Monday night’s edition featuring KaNikki J., who’s been in D.C.’s poetry scene for over a decade. Malachi will interview J., who will close out the evening with a performance. (Busboys and Poets in Brookland, 9-11 p.m., $5)
Image via Golden Triangle BID.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22
OUTDOOR YOGA: Head to Farragut Park and for some outdoor yoga after work. The free class is part of the Golden Triangle BID’s TriFit series that happens three nights a week. (Farragut Square Park, 5:30-6:60 p.m. FREE)
MOVIE AND MUSIC: Shoalin Jazz’s Can I Kick It film series is back on Tuesday night. This summer, the group has screened classic martial arts movies while a DJ plays of hip-hop, funk, and soul soundtracks in the background. The feature film for August is “Shaolin Challenges Ninja.” Guests can watch it while enjoying a full menu of food and drinks. (Songbyrd Music House & Record Cafe, 6-10 p.m.)
NAVAL SOUNDS: Listen to the tunes of U.S. Navy Band and Navy Ceremonial Guard at Concerts on the Avenue at Navy Memorial Plaza. The decades-old event includes a drill presentation and music ranging from current radio hits to iconic American songs. (Navy Memorial Plaza, 7:30-9:30 p.m., FREE)
GET ON VISION BOARD: Sometimes it’s easier to believe in your vision when you put it on paper, or in this case, on a poster board. At SayYes to Vision Boards, you’ll get magazines, glue sticks, scissors, wine, and beer—all the necessities to make those dreams come to life, on paper. (WeWork Dupont Circle, 5:30-7:30 p.m., FREE)
BEER HISTORY: Beer nerds, rejoice! The Heurich House Museum and Wikimedia District of Columbia will host a Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon to celebrate D.C. Beer Week. Learn about the history of beer in the District and how to edit pages in Wikipedia before adding some information about D.C. beers to the encyclopedic website as a group. (Heurich House Museum, 12 noon – 2 p.m., FREE, registration required)
SUP, DAWG? It’s the dream combo: Hot dogs and beer. Check out Flights & Dogs at City Tap House to sample beer from 11 breweries such as Flying Dog, Allagash, Devils Backbone and Lagunitas. Come hungry, leave full – each brewery will be competing to see who can create the best hotdog recipe, and it’s up to the guests to sample and vote. (City Tap House Penn Quarter, 5 – 9 p.m., $25 for a flight of beer and hot dog pairings)
More: Pineapple D.C. Presents: The New Paris (WeWork Apollo, 7 – 9 p.m., $25 – $55)
Image via iStockphoto.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23
ROASTED: This semi-regular roast event has a high-concept premise: a bunch of famous people throughout history end up sharing a stage when a time machine malfunctions. What do they do next? Mock each other, of course. It’s like if Bill and Ted’s school project were directed by Jeff Ross, and it stars local up-and-coming comedians as the historical figures, which will include Thurgood Marshll, Chef Boyardee, Joan of Arc, Osama bin Laden, and more. As the event promises, “the jokes might be mean, but they’re never too soon.” (DC Improv, 7:30 p.m. with doors at 6:30 p.m., $10 and two item minimum)
HIVE-MINDED: The National Building Museum’s buzzy summer exhibit, The Hive, will host an after-hours event that includes live music from Didier Prossaird Trio and good eats from Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue. After all, why call the series a Summer Block Party if you’re not gonna put some barbecue where your mouth is? For this event, teachers and school administrators get in free as long as they pre-register. (National Building Museum, 6 – 9 p.m., $16 for non-members or $10 for members)
HAM IT UP: If you are what you eat, this event will turn you into a pig. For Jamón Night, ANXO Cidery & Tasting Room’s executive chef, Alex Vallcorba, is sharing his knowledge on cured meats with three different kinds of Jamón Iberico, all hand-sliced, which cider maker Gregory Johnson will pair with ciders from the spot. This is definitely the kind of class during which you can eat. (ANXO Cidery, 6:15, $25 including tax and tip)
TREAT YO’SELF: A hump day treat is always in order, so head to the Rent the Runway store in Georgetown for a little pick-me-up. At the Ladies Who Indulge event series, sample the latest creations from Sweetgreen, get a complimentary polish change from Varnish Lane or let Glamsquad do you up with some beach-inspired waves. Or if it’s time to dive deep, lifestyle coach Tiffany Houser will deliver a talk on personal health and happiness at 6:45 that evening, too. (Rent the Runway, 6 – 8 p.m., FREE, registration required)
IN A PICKLE: Keep summer going all year long by pickling fresh, seasonal produce. Don’t know how? Sign up for a pickling workshop hosted by Rachel Armistead of The Sweet Farm. Known for her organic, naturally-fermented krauts, Armistead will teach participants the ins-and-outs of turning veggies into pickled goods. And don’t expect a typical array of cucumbers – you’ll be preserving everything from tomatoes to hot peppers, so prepare for a full and colorful pantry. (Common Good City Farm, 6 – 8 p.m., $25)
TAKE A STAND: Speak out against street harassment in D.C. and beyond. This evening, gather in front of Southwest’s Lockridge Library for food, music and art promoting the reclamation of women’s bodies and public space in the wake of an incident that occurred earlier this month. To show solidarity, participants are encouraged to wear clothing that has elicited unwanted street harassment, and there will be an open mic for sharing stories and encouragement. (Lockridge Library, 5 – 9 p.m., FREE)
More: L’Apéro at Fig & Olive (Fig & Olive D.C., 6 – 10 p.m., FREE, registration required); Reel Israel DC: Harmonia (The Avalon Theatre, 8 – 10 p.m., $9.50 – $12.50), NoMa Summer Screen (NoMa Junction at Storey Park, 7:00 p.m., FREE)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24
Photo by Brandon Kopp.
HIRSHHORN: There’s a ton of interesting stuff going on at the Hirshhorn right now (and pretty much always), including exhibitions highlighting the works of Ai Weiwei, Yoko Ono, and Markus Lüpertz. Can’t go during the day and don’t want to brave the crowd on the weekends? This after-hours event, filled with pop-up activities and live performances, is the perfect alternative. Come for the drinks and stay for the conversation, or vice versa. (Hirshhorn, 5-8:30 p.m., FREE)
SPEAK SPANISH: Whether you’re fluent and jonesing to meet more Spanish speakers or a newbie just learning to habla espanol and looking for a practice buddy, Colony Club is the spot this Thursday. Happy hour is until seven if you need to loosen your tongue. (Colony Club, 6:30 – 8 p.m., FREE)
BURGER BATTLE: Guests get to decide who makes the best burger in D.C. at the Bud and Burgers DC competition, hosted by Hill Country Backyard at the National Building Museum (401 F St. NW). A portion of the proceeds benefit So Others Might Eat, and ticket prices get you samples from Hill Country, Due South, Bullfeathers, Blackfinn, Rebellion, and more. They’ll be accompanied by Budweisers and live music. (Hill Country at the National Building Museum, 6 to 9 p.m., $25)
LOSE YOURSELF TO DANCE: No need to be an expert on the dance floor for this activity: Light Switch Dance Theatre will host weekly community classes for all levels ages 16 and up at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. LSDT is a multidisciplinary dance group that performs in non-traditional spaces to address social issues through movement. Can’t make it this week? Not to worry – they’ll be hosting the workshops through December 14. (Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 7 – 8:15 p.m., $10)
CINEMATIC ART: The Phillips isn’t just for art. Join the museum as it hosts a screening of the German film Good Bye Lenin! Set against the fall of the Berlin Wall, it follows a family as it experiences Germany’s reunification, complete with heavy doses of satire and comedy for good measure. The film is hosted in conjunction its exhibition of artist Markus Lüpertz’s work, who was an essential voice in post-World War II Germany. Don’t forget to check out his pieces: A ticket to the film gets you into the exhibit, too. (The Phillips Collection, 6 – 8 p.m., $10 – $12)
OM + BEER: Shavasana is always better with a beer. Join Brightest Young Things and Heineken at The W Hotel for a post-work glow yoga session. There will be a live DJ playing during the class, and lululemon will host a pop-up shop, too. If feeling zen isn’t in the cards, come anyways: Heineken will be on sale at The W bar for $5 all night long. (The W Hotel, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., FREE, registration required)
PITCH NOT-SO-PERFECT: Relive childhood dreams of being a rock star at Shaw’s Tavern’s first ever Lip Sync Extravaganza. No need to memorize lyrics or warm up beforehand; just head to the second floor and a DJ will have plenty of hits past and present to choose from. Good news: Costumes and props are very much encouraged, so bring that Diana Ross wig. (Shaw’s Tavern, 8:30 p.m. – 12 midnight, FREE)
More: Luce Unplugged (Luce Foundation Center for American Art, 5:30 p.m., FREE), Beyond Respectability: Author Talk with Dr. Brittney Cooper (The Potter’s House, 7 – 9 p.m., FREE, first-come-first-serve seating), D.C. Total Tap Takeover (ChurchKey, 4 – 11 p.m., FREE)
This post has been updated with additional events.
