Indulge in a five-course dinner with paired cheeses and ciders. (Photo by LaTur)
This week, spend a little time with the artist Renoir, learn the Lindy Hop, or take a nighttime bike ride through D.C.
TUESDAY, OCT. 10
CHEESE + CIDER: Restaurant Sally’s Middle Name will celebrate the changing of the seasons with a pre-fixed dinner featuring the finest from Righteous Cheese and Potter’s Craft Cider. Each of the five courses will have an artisanal cheese and paired cider: from an arugula salad with Garrotxa cheese and hopped cider to a goat milk ricotta tart with grapefruit-hibiscus cider, there will be something for all taste buds. Just come hungry (and thirsty). (Sally’s Middle Name, 7 p.m., $75)
INTRO TO SCULPTURE: Those seeking to claim their inner Michelangelos will certainly enjoy this one: Smithsonian Associates, the museum-based education program, will host the first class of its Introduction to Sculpture course today. The eight-session workshop will provide hands-on studio work, lectures, and demonstrations through December 7 to explore the basic methods of sculpting. Students will get a crash course in art history, too, as they study the works of famous sculptors for inspiration. (S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1 – 4 p.m., $235 – $285)
LOVE STORY: The Folger Shakespeare Library is one of the go-to sources for the Bard’s work, housing an immense collection and plenty of resources. It also hosts events, as well: Tonight is the opening of its production Antony and Cleopatra. See the classic tale come alive as Marc Antony is torn between his duty to the Roman Empire and the bewitching Egyptian ruler Cleopatra. (Folger Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $38 – $49)
SWINGERS: Those looking to up the ante on the dance floor should stop by Jam Cellar’s swing dance class. Targeted at beginners, the first half-hour will be dedicated to mastering the Lindy Hop. After that, various moves will be taught so that participants can free-style groove however they please. Good news: A partner isn’t necessary to attend, so show up ready to mingle. (Jam Cellar, 7:55 p.m., FREE)
MORE Little Junior at Black Cat (Black Cat D.C., 7:30 p.m., $10), Trap Yoga Pop Up (700 H Street NE, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m, $15 – $25), Story & Discovery: Dia de los Muertos (National Museum of the American Indian, 11:15 a.m., FREE), Afghanistan Going Forward: Surge, Negotiate, or Get Out? (The Cato Institute, 10:30 – 12 noon, FREE, registration required), Matisyahu (The Lincoln Theatre, 8 p.m., $40)
Busboys and Poets hosts Defend Yourself’s 20th birthday party tonight. (Photo by Bill Adler)
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11
ANNIVERSARY: Defend Yourself invites everyone out to Busboys and Poets to celebrate its 20th birthday. The group works to empower participants and teach them how to prevent and heal from violence and abuse. Not only does the night celebrate a good cause, it’ll be fun, too: Appetizers, drinks, a photo booth, giveaways, a wall mural, and more will all be on-site. (Busboys and Poets, 5:30 – 8 p.m., FREE, registration required)
ONCE INVISIBLE: Georgetown and GW students will present a program of live performances in dialogue with the exhibit “Bearing Witness: Visualizing Modern Slavery” currently on display at GW’s Gallery 102. The performances are inspired by the artworks and narratives each student encountered during their research of international modern-day slavery. Can’t make it? The gallery is open weekly from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., so be sure to check it out. (George Washington University’s Smith Hall of Art, 6 – 7:30 p.m., FREE)
LECHON Y CHINCHORREO: Friends of Puerto Rico’s Hurricane Maria Recovery Fund will host a benefit tonight at Ben’s Upstairs. Expect Puerto Rican delicacies such as lechon asado bites, tripleta sliders, tostones, empadas, and more. Food aside, all funds raised will go toward rehabilitation centers and the Boys and Girls Clubs in Puerto Rico. (Ben’s Upstairs, 6 p.m., $50 – $100)
DAY OF THE GIRL: It’s International Day of the Girl. Celebrate by attending a screening of “He Named Me Malala.” The documentary shares the story of Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Yousafzai advocates for the rights of girls and their education, and survived being shot by the Taliban for her efforts. The event is sponsored by group Girl Up GW, which works to spread female empowerment throughout the world. (George Washington University’s Marvin Center Amphitheatre, 7 p.m., $3)
MORE: Evening at the Embassy of Malaysia (Embassy of Malaysia, 7 – 9:30 p.m., $50), Punk Art & Politics: Conflict into Power (Goethe-Institut, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., FREE, registration required), Storytime: The Little Island (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 10 – 11 a.m., FREE), Schmitke screening (The Avalon Theatre, 8 – 10 p.m., $9.50 – $12.50)
Catch the film “Renoir” tonight at the Philips Collection, and stop by to see its latest exhibit inspired by his piece “Luncheon of the Boating Party.” (Photo by Kevin Harber)
THURSDAY, OCT. 12
RENOIR: The recently debuted exhibit “Renoir and Friends” at the Phillips Collection showcases works that tell the backstory of one of Renoir’s most-famous paintings, “Luncheon of the Boating Party.” To celebrate, the museum will screen the film “Renoir” tonight. Chronicling the last years of the artist’s life, the film follows the oft-forgotten story of Catherine Hessling, one of the artist’s last models and the first actress in his son Jean Renoir’s films. (The Phillips Collection, 6 – 8 p.m., $10 – $12)
WELCOME, WHARF: The Wharf finally opens. The four-day-long opening celebration begins Thursday morning with an opening ceremony, then carries on with daytime fireworks exploding at noon. Live music continues for the rest of the day, with happy hour celebrations and more fireworks thrown in for good measure. Don’t worry—there will be plenty more celebrations throughout the weekend for those having FOMO. (The Wharf, times vary, FREE)
ABSTRACT ART: The National Museum of Women in the Arts will host an opening reception tonight for its latest exhibit, “Magnetic Fields: Expanding American Abstraction, 1960s to Today.” The collection is the first in the U.S. to focus on the presence of black women artists in the genre of abstraction. To celebrate, the museum invites guests to this after-hours event for behind-the-scenes tours of the displayed works, appetizers, and an open bar. (The National Museum of Women in the Arts, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., $20 – $150)
BIKE AT NIGHT: Sure, we’ve all been to the mall more times than we can count, but it’s always invigorating to see D.C.’s most famous sights in a new light. Join D.C. Cycling Concierge Jeff Miller tonight for a bike ride through Washington. Seeing the monuments and buildings lit in the dark via two wheels is sure to give everyone the D.C. jitters, plus there’s a good chance a stop for gelato may be on the route, too. (The Bike Rack, 7 – 9:30 p.m., $15)
MORE: Embassy of Costa Rica Dinner Reception and Garden Soiree (Embassy of Costa Rica, 6 – 8 p.m., $70), Happy Hour Run with Foundry Multisport (District Hardware and Bike, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., FREE, registration required), LezLink Happy Hour (Satellite Room, 6 – 9 p.m., FREE), Four-Course Beer Dinner with Flying Dog Brewery (Pinstripes, 7 – 9 p.m., $50), Busboys and Poets Presents: Sonja Wolf (Busboys and Poets, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., FREE), Whistle Pig Tasting (Hank’s Cocktail Bar, 7 p.m., $75), Sunset Rocket Yoga on the Dock + Wine (Key Bridge Boathouse, 6:15 – 8:30 p.m., $19)
