Headed out of town for the holiday? Before you go, get to a gig, try your hand at pasta-making, learn something new about poetry, or take in a book talk or two.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19
STATE OF AFFAIRS: In Enemy of the People: Trump’s War on the Press, the New McCarthyism, and the Threat to American Democracy, former CBS and NBC News correspondent and current senior adviser to the Pulitzer Center Martin Kalb offers an assessment of the state of the press under President Trump. He’s joined in conversation with Andrea Mitchell. (Politics & Prose, 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., FREE)
THAT’S-A LEARNING: Forget Thanksgiving turkey. Tonight’s all about preparing a proper Italian feast. Learn how to make handmade pasta and two sauces. Drinks are available for purchase. If you’re busy tonight, there’s another class at the same time on Tuesday. (Shaw’s Tavern, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., $45)
BE BRAVE: Go out of your comfort zone and get on stage at an acoustic open mic hosted by Rachel Levitan. (Union Stage Tap Room, 6:00 doors, 7:30 p.m. show, FREE)
MORE: Mickey Factz and Blu with Vice Souletric and Moluba (Songbyrd, 7:00 p.m. doors, 8:00 p.m. show, $15-$17), DC Run Crew HIIT and Run (Banneker Track, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. FREE), Part Time and Bottled Up (Slash Run, 8:00 p.m., $10)
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
PRACTICALLY PUNK VETERANS: Across five records, Pennsylvania’s the Menzingers have become inheritors of a specific punk-inflected guitar rock legacy; last year’s After The Party is equally reflective and anthemic. Tiny Moving Parts and Daddy Issues open. (Black Cat, 7:00 p.m. doors, $20 advance, $25 day of show)
LADIES WHO READ: Girls’ Night In Book Club convenes for its monthly discussion. This month’s featured title: Everything’s Trash But It’s Okay by “Two Dope Queens” and “Sooo Many White Guys” host Phoebe Robinson. Haven’t read it yet? No problem. Bring a book or two for a book swap, and snack on small bites and sips from MundoVino. (Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., $10)
IN VERSE: Poets Clint Smith III, Kyle Dargan, and Julian Randall convene for a conversation entitled Moving Men. The writers will read from recent works and discuss masculinity and manhood in modern American writing and culture. (Hill Center at Old Naval Hospital, 7:00 p.m., FREE)
MORE: Washington Wizards vs. LA Clippers (Capital One Arena, 7:00 p.m., $18+), Thanksgiving Centerpieces (REWILD, 7:00 p.m., $40), The Dead South with the Hooten Hallers and Del Suelo (9:30 Club, 7:00 p.m. doors, $10), The Dirty Nil with Dead Soft and BOAYT (DC9, 7:00 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show, $12)
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21
ON ICE: The ice rink at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is (finally) officially open for the season through March 10, 2019. Be sure to check the weather before you go: The rink is closed when it rains and when the thermometer drops before 20 degrees Fahrenheit. (National Mall between 7th and 9th Streets along Constitution Avenue NW, 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m., $8-9 skating fee, $4 skate rental fee)
LOCAL TUNES: Following his 2015 mixtape Subtrap and his 2016 record Empty Bank, rising Prince George’s County rapper IDK, or Jay IDK, released his acclaimed album IWASVERYBAD with Adult Swim last year. Fellow Maryland rapper Global Dan opens. (U Street Music Hall, 7:00 p.m., $20)
PLAY THE HITS: The Choir of Man U.S. touring production hits the Kennedy Center. The cast of nine performs modern classics (“Teenage Dream,” anyone?) and throwback tunes (“Save Tonight”) channeling the spirit of a late-night pub session. (The Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, 7:30 p.m., $59-$99)
MORE: Friendsgiving: Fantastic Drinks & Where to Drink Them (Petworth Citizen, 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., FREE), Jackson Galaxy of Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell (Lincoln Theatre, 6:30 p.m. doors, $45-$60), Tash Sultana with Ocean Valley (The Anthem, 6:30 p.m. doors, 8:00 p.m. show, $45-$65), At Eternity’s Gate (E Street Cinema, 6:45 p.m., $12.50), Allen Stone with Nick Waterhouse (9:30 Club, 7:00 p.m. doors, $30), Space Eraser with Added Color and Hatch (DC9, 7:30 p.m. doors, 8:00 p.m. show, $10-$12), Thxgivin’ Edition: Oh They Got DJ DJ’s Part 2 (Rock & Roll Hotel, 8:00 p.m., FREE)
