By DCist contributor Lyndsey McKenna
This week, check out a new play, a favorite older movie, and plenty of comedy.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 22
A TOAST TO DANCE: Celebrate the latest show from Dana Tai Soon Burgess’ company, “Silhouettes” at the National Portrait Gallery this month at this happy hour. Tickets get you your first drink, plus appetizers. (Darlington House, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., $25)
ALL TOGETHER NOW: Before the days of Sylvan Esso, Amelia Meath was one-third of Mountain Man with Molly Erin Sarlé and Alexandra Sauser-Monnig. Earlier this year, the trio, who never formally called it quits, returned with Magic Ship, its first record of close harmonies and folk a capella, in eight years. Catch them at Sixth and I tonight with The Dead Tongues. (Sixth and I, 7:30 p.m., $25)
MORE: Morbid Curiosity: Presidential Last Moments Preserved (S. Dillon Ripley Center, 6:45 p.m., $20-$30)
(Photo by Ousa Chea)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23
IT’S ELEMENTAL: Pull out your favorite safety goggles and bring the little ones to National Chemistry Week’s Chemistry Day celebration for a day of hands-on science. Expect experiments with bubbles, scents, dye, batteries, and more, plus remarks on diversity and education for the adults on site. Everyone takes home a copy of the kids’ science publication Celebrating Chemistry and more giveaway goodies. (National Air and Space Museum, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., FREE)
HORSIN’ AROUND: It’s the 60th anniversary of the Washington International Horse Show and more than 500 horses and riders are expected to convene in the District for the occasion. Tuesday’s competitions begin at 7 a.m. with show hunter horses. Come back in the evening to catch professional riders and the WIHS Adult Hunter Championship. (Capital One Arena, through Oct. 28, 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., $2)
MORE: King John (Folger Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $25-$64), NSO Pops: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (The Kennedy Center, 7 p.m., $34-$149), Happy Hour with Planned Parenthood Advocates for DC, Maryland & NoVa (Dacha Beer Garden, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., $10 wristband for additional happy hour prices), Intro to Hand Lettering and Watercolor with Samantha Testa (Shop Made in DC, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., $70), Pokey LaFarge with the Waston Twins (City Winery, doors 6 p.m., show 8 p.m., $20-$30)
November Project D.C. members work out at the Lincoln Memorial. (Photo courtesy of Steve Christensen)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24
MOVIE NIGHT: It’s the start of the first ever Smithsonian African American Film Festival with screenings, workshops, and events about the African-American experience happening at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Gallery of Art, and the Freer/Sackler Galleries. Wednesday’s programming includes screenings of the short documentaries Black Panthers and Malcolm X: Struggle for Freedom and concludes with a (sold out) showing of Widows, directed by Steve McQueen.
($10-$300)
KINGS OF THE BEACH: SoCal slack rock project Wavves and New Yorkers Beach Fossils co-headline the Black Cat in support of two 2017 albums: You’re Welcome is the sixth LP for the San Diego group; Somersault is the third album and first in four years for the Brooklyn band. Kevin Krauter opens. (Black Cat, doors 7:30 p.m., $25)
TIMELY DRAMA Theater J’s latest play, Actually explores a story that seems ripped from the headlines. Two freshmen at Princeton—Tom, who is black, and Amber, who is Jewish—are casually hooking up. When things go downhill, the two students find themselves caught up in the campus justice system, both facing the possibility of losing everything they’ve worked for. Johanna Gruenhut directs this drama that explores the topic of sexual consent on college campuses. (Arena Stage, through Nov. 18, $30-$69)
JUST SHOW UP: Help November Project DC celebrate its fifth birthday, cardio style. The group hopes to attract 500 people to its free workout, so bring a friend for burpees. (Lincoln Memorial, 5:25 a.m. and 6:20 a.m., FREE)
MORE: DC Mural Run (Blagden Alley, 7 a.m., FREE), Ghost Tours: Escape the Museum (National Building Museum, 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., $25), Whisky Brothers: Islay vs. Rye (Petworth Citizen, 7 p.m., $47.50), Halloween Hunt at the Mansion on O (2020 O St. NW, 11 a.m., $35)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
AMUCK: It isn’t October without at least one viewing of the early ‘90s classic Hocus Pocus, so why not relive your youth and see it in in a theater at the National Museum of American History? We all know Bette Midler’s comedic showcase deserves to be seen in the same halls as Dorothy’s ruby slippers and the Muppets. (National Museum of American History, 4:25 p.m., $10)
A.I. WITH STRINGS: Contemporary classical pioneers Kronos Quartet and MacArthur Genius Trevor Paglen unite for the East Coast premiere of Sight Machine, an evening of artificial intelligence and music from Laurie Anderson, George Gershwin, and Steve Reich. The San Francisco-based quartet performs as cameras record and algorithms create a projection in real time. (Smithsonian American Art Museum Kogod Courtyard, doors 8 p.m., show 9 p.m., $75)
FOR LAUGHS: The Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival, a collaboration project from comedian-curator Tig Notaro and Brightest Young Things, begins Thursday night at the Lincoln Theatre. At the fest’s opening show, hear “2 Dope Queens’” Phoebe Robinson and Notaro in conversation. Your ticket includes a copy of Robinson’s new book, Everything’s Trash but It’s Okay. (Lincoln Theatre, doors 5:30 p.m., $45)
MORE: The Whisky Extravaganza (JW Marriott, 7 p.m., $50-$175), Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (The Anthem, doors 6:30 p.m., show 8 p.m., $60-$100), Spooky Karaoke with WVAU (Songbyrd, 8 p.m., FREE), Dinner Reception with the Ambassador of Montenegro (Embassy of Montenegro, 7 p.m., $65-$75), Pumpkin Painting & Carving Contest (Franklin Hall, 7 p.m., $8)
