Celebrate the launch of the Freer|Sackler’s annual Korean Film Festival with a party at the museum. (Photo by Phil Roeder)
Party in space, see two different comics, sit in a Goddess Circle, or be that person who gets all their Christmas shopping done early (no judgment—well, kind of). Just don’t forget to set those clocks back an hour come Sunday.
FRIDAY, NOV. 3
KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL: Tonight, celebrate the launch of the Freer|Sackler’s annual Korean Film Festival with a party. On the festive line-up: Korean food from Esther’s Kitchen, a bar with Korean-inspired cocktails, a screening of the film Okja, a K-Pop dance party, and tours of the newly-installed gallery of Korean art. Party on! (Freer Gallery of Art, 5:30 – 9 p.m., FREE)
JOHN MULANEY: Renowned funny man John Mulaney will be in D.C. this weekend. The stand-up comedian, “Oh, Hello” Broadway actor, producer, and previous SNL writer will be performing his show “Kid Gorgeous” tonight, Saturday, and Sunday at DAR Constitution Hall. Tickets are going fast, so be sure to snag one while possible—the laughs will be worth it. (DAR Constitution Hall, 7 and 10 p.m., $36 – $220)
GODDESS CIRCLE: Celebrate this season of change at tonight’s Goddess Circle featuring a guided meditation and art journaling. Slow down and get some clarity amidst writing prompts, art supplies, wine, and chocolate. Hosted by the creator of Heart Space, a community for empowering women, it will be an evening to reset and renew. (The Lemon Collective, 4 – 7 p.m., $35)
FILM FEST: Mountainfilm is one of the country’s longest-running film festivals, and it comes to D.C. this weekend. Tonight and tomorrow, see some of the pieces that showed at the Telluride-based festival’s 2017 event: Catch films on free diving, backcountry skiing, refugee life, medical mysteries, and more. (Grosvenor Auditorium at National Geographic, times vary, $22.50 – $25)
SALSA V. TANGO: Want to learn the tango or to salsa? No need to choose one or the other—Ultra Bar will host a Tango vs. Salsa Dance Lesson tonight. Switch it up with instructors experienced in both dances, but don’t go home early: Stick around after the lesson for a night of free-for-all dancing. (Ultra Bar, 7:30 – 10 p.m., $14)
MORE: Cold Specks (Black Cat, 8 p.m., $13 – $15), Esprit de Noel (Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., FREE)
Join Brightest Young Things at the National Air and Space Museum for its Found in Space party. (Photo by m01229)
SATURDAY, NOV. 4
FOUND IN SPACE: Houston, we have a party. Join Brightest Young Things at the National Air and Space Museum for its Found in Space party. Jam out with performances by Moon Boots, The Range, and DJ Lisa Frank, and catch TED-style talks from NASA engineers and a planetary scientist. Plus, there’ll be a trippy planetarium show, face painting, space bun hair braiding, astronaut ice cream tastings, a photo booth, and an open bar featuring SKYY cocktails and PBR. (National Air and Space Museum, 8:30 p.m. – 12 midnight, $50 – $55)
DAY OF THE DEAD GALA: It’s black tie and masquerade chic tonight at the Mexican Cultural Institute’s Day of the Dead Gala. With live Mariachi music, instruction from on-site dancers, a massive Dia de los Muertos altar, a DJ, a Mexican buffet, and an open bar, it’ll be a night to remember. To top it off, the winner of the event’s raffle drawing will walk away with a trip to Mexico. (Mexican Cultural Institute, 8:30 – 11:45 p.m., $114)
CZECH CHRISTMAS MARKET: Get that holiday shopping out of the way early at the Czech Embassy’s Czech Christmas Market. Pick from handcrafted ornaments, Czech crystal and glass, jewelry, toys, and more while filling up on mulled wine, eggnog, and cookies. Stick around to hear the children of Sokol Washington perform Czech carols at 11:30. (Embassy of the Czech Republic, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., FREE)
BEER IN THE PARK: D.C. Beer Festival is back this weekend. Head to Nats Park for unlimited tastings of craft brews and seasonal beers, as well as lawn games, live music, and food trucks galore. There’s two sessions, so make it a hoppy afternoon or evening. (Nationals Park, 12 noon – 8 p.m., $45)
SWEDISH FAMILY DAY: Bring the whole crew out to Family Day at the Swedish Embassy. There’ll be crafts, film screenings, story time, a toy swap, and a traditional Swedish fika (aka coffee hour). Come at 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to catch Guji Guji, a children’s performance by Swedish group Boulevardteatern. (Embassy of Sweden, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., FREE)
GLOBAL PICS: The World Press Photo Exhibition represents some of the most illuminating, captivating, and best visual journalism of the past year. Check out 2017’s best work at Dupont Undergroun—topics range from climate change to Olympic athletes to race relations, and the stories behind each photo will be told in full. Check it out through Nov. 26. (Dupont Underground, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., $10 – $25)
MORE: Autumn Bonsai Festival (Arbor House at the U.S. National Arboretum, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., FREE), Dog Pool Dip (Washington Hilton, 12 noon – 3 p.m., suggested donation), Children’s Africana Book Awards Community Day (National Museum of African Art, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., FREE), Griz (The Anthem, 8 – 11 p.m., $35 – $55), Fish Fry and Cookout for the Homeless (Franklin Square, 9 a.m. – 12 noon, FREE), Vinyl & Vinyasa (Songbyrd Music House & Record Café, 11:30 – 12:30 p.m., $10), Coffee & Design: Wellness and Play (National Gallery of Art, 12 noon – 2 p.m., FREE, RSVP required), Eat Your Science (Warner Theatre, 3 – 5 p.m., $47.50), The Campfire Grind October (The Bike Rack Brookland, 5 – 11 p.m., $5 – $10), Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Block Party (1700 Block of Lamont Street NW, 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., FREE), Dupont Circle & Embassy Row Architecture Tour (1601 20th St. NW, 2 p.m., FREE), Ai Weiwei: “Trace” | IVY Art Tour (Hishhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 10:45 a.m. – 1 p.m., FREE)
Catch a b-boy and b-girl competition at the Kennedy Center. (Photo by Victoria Pickering)
SUNDAY, NOV. 5
BREAK IT DOWN: As part of the Words, Beats, and Life Festival, the Top Notch 2017 b-boy competition will be hosted at the Kennedy Center. Watch as expert b-boys and b-girls take each other on for the grand prize, while DJs spin the freshest of tracks to support the breakdancing. (Kennedy Center, 12 noon – 7 p.m., FREE)
LANTERN WALK: The end of Daylight Savings doesn’t mean everything has to be dark: Bring some light to the neighborhood at the Mt. Pleasant Lantern Walk. Carry a lantern through a 1.3 mile route complete with a quick trip through the woods. Kids are welcome, and each participant should bring a lighting source of their own. (Lamont Park, 5:45 – 6:30 p.m., FREE)
ART BOOK FAIR: Check out the best in art books, zines, comics, and graphic novels today at the D.C. Art Book Fair at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. There will over 40 vendors, so bring a bag. Plus, it’s a community day, so admission to the museum is free. (National Museum of Women in the Arts, 12 noon – 5 pm., FREE)
MAMMA MIA: Loosen those belts for an Italian food tour in Dupont! The tour includes four food portions and two alcohol pairings, as well as a dose of history. Coinciding with All Saints Day, the tour will tell stories of the Italian population’s long presence here in Washington. (Mangia D.C., 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., $59)
KEVIN SMITH: Get up close and personal with writer, comedian, podcaster, and film director Kevin Smith. The man behind films such as Clerks, Chasing Amy, and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back will be at The Lincoln Theatre tonight. It’s sure to be a funny (and slightly off-kilter) evening. (The Lincoln Theatre, 8 p.m., $35)
MORE: See US in D.C. (Union Market D.C., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., FREE), Yoga at the National Building Museum (National Building Museum, 10 – 11 a.m., $20), Psychic Cabaret (Eno Wine Bar, 5 – 6:30 p.m., $59), Denatured: Technology and the Natural World Closing Reception (D.C. Arts Center, 5 – 8 p.m., FREE), Michael Connelly: Two Kind of Truth (Politics and Prose at The Wharf, 3 – 4 p.m., FREE), Butterscotch and Be Steadwell (Busboys and Poets Takoma, 7 – 9 p.m., $15 – $20), Trap Buti Yoga with Kia (Kali Yoga Studio, 2 – 4:30 p.m., $20), Kwame Alexander (Busboys and Poets Takoma, 3 – 4:30 p.m., FREE)
