Deck the halls: Make your way to wreath-making workshops this week. If foliage isn’t your thing, there’s comedy, storytelling, and a D.C. punk retrospective.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 10
SWEET! What could be sweeter than a free hot chocolate happy hour? Every weekday afternoon at the Hamilton Hotel, you can choose between a Caribbean hot chocolate or a standard option on the house. (Hamilton Hotel, 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., FREE)
TO MARKET: Shop and sip on signature drinks at the Crafts and Cocktails Holiday Market at Moreland’s Tavern. (Moreland’s Tavern, 5:00 p.m., free entry)
FROM DOWN UNDER: Sydney’s Gang of Youths released its sophomore album of guitar-forward rock, Go Farther In Lightness, to massive acclaim in Australia last year. At Monday’s 9:30 Club concert, fellow Australian artist Gretta Ray opens. (9:30 Club, 7:00 p.m. doors, $20)
MORE: DC Science Café (Busboys and Poets Brookland 6:30 p.m., FREE), HOT 99.5’s Jingle Ball (Capital One Arena, 7:30 p.m., $60+)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11
‘BUDDY THE ELF, WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?‘ If you know elves’ four major food groups and the best way to spread Christmas cheer, prove it at Elf trivia at Pinstripes. The game includes five rounds of challenges. (Pinstripes, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. FREE)
HO HO HA HA: This High Frequency Humor show Laughing Loud for All to Hear tackles all the awkward that comes with the holiday season. Local comedians take the stage, including Ali Cherry, Robert Mac, and Phil Mike. (Big Bear Cafe, 8:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m., $8)
STORY TIME: Hear eight 7-minute stories at Story District’s monthly event. This month’s theme: Surprise! Stories about Things You Weren’t Expecting. (Black Cat, 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show, $20)
ALL THESE POSES: Hit savasana and then sip at Chaturanga & Cocktails. VIDA instructor Alexandra Chili leads the flow, and your entry fee helps support Thrive DC. (District Distillery, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., $5)
MORE: Succulent and Terrarium Crafting (District Hardware & Bike, 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m., $5), Podcasting 101 (Mindspace, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., FREE), Iron Gate’s 5th Anniversary Party (Iron Gate, 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., $25), Phosphorescent with Liz Cooper & the Stampede (9:30 Club, 7:00 p.m. doors, $25), Wreaths Two Ways with The Lemon Collective (Union Market, 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., $60), Jorja Smith (The Fillmore, 7:00 p.m. doors, 8:00 p.m. show, $40), More Than Human Holiday: The Museum of Science Fiction Celebrates Theodore Sturgeon (Comet Ping Pong, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., FREE), Bayside (Acoustic) with Kayleigh Goldsworthy (Sixth & I, 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., $22 in advance, $26 day of)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12
RISE AND SHINE: Don’t hit snooze and skip the mid-week slump with Daybreaker DC’s Solstice Lights. The morning begins at 6:00 a.m. with an hour of yoga followed by a dance party until 9:00 a.m. (FLASH, 6:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m., $18.45-$35)
MUSIC TO OUR EARS: The National Symphony Orchestra heads to the Wharf with Holidays at the Anthem, a program of beloved seasonal songs, form “Carol of the Bells” to selections from The Nutcracker. (The Anthem, 6:30 p.m. doors, 8:00 p.m. show, $15-$35)
DRINK AND DRAW: Imbibe and embrace your artsy side as you learn to craft a seasonal cocktail from Buffalo and Bergen; then use it as your inspiration for a painting guided by artist Marcella Kriebel at the monthly Watercolor and Cocktails. (Union Market, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., $50)
MORE: Wreaths with Smithsonian Gardens (S. Dillon Ripley Center, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $85 member, $100 non-member), DC Tri Club Holiday Lights Run (Shake Shack, 6:15 p.m., FREE), Holiday Fair & Cassette Night (Colony Club, 6:30 p.m., FREE), Eating Animals Film Screening & Discussion (Cleveland Park Library, 6:30 p.m., FREE), Jokes, Japes & Jests Comedy Fundraiser for Words, Beats & Life (Smith Public Trust, 8:00 p.m., $10)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13
THAT’S SO PUNK ROCK: Compiled by Cynthia Connolly, Leslie Clague and Sharon Cheslow, Banned in DC chronicles the now-legendary D.C. punk scene. Connolly’s talk at the Hirshhorn Museum celebrates the book’s 30th anniversary; the program concludes with a book signing and refreshments. (Hirshhorn, 7:00 p.m., FREE)
LOCAL TUNES: The Luce Unplugged series continues with Fairfax’s Cinema Hearts, a ‘60s pop-inspired trio. Drinks and snacks are available for purchase on site. (Smithsonian American Art Museum, 5:30 p.m, talk, 6:00 p.m. show, FREE)
CHRISTMAS, BUT MAKE IT FASHION: Forgo a fake wreath or a store-bought option and make your own at REWILD’s modern wreath workshop. (REWILD, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., $135)
MORE: Centerpieces with Smithsonian Gardens (S. Dillon Ripley Center, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $85 member, $100 non-member), Hillyer Holiday Party and Fundraiser (Emissary, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., FREE), District Triathlon District Sports Happy Hour (Colony Club, 8:00 p.m., FREE), Dave Matthews Band (Capital One Arena, 8:00 p.m., $55+)
