MONDAY, AUGUST 31
AN APPLE A DAY: It’s apple-picking season! Grab a basket and head on out to Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Virginia, to pluck some Honeycrisps to bring home. There’s also a farm play area and corn maze to get you in the fall spirit. Social distancing rules will be in place. (Great Country Farms, 9 a.m., $14.99/ half peck + farm admission)
FILM FEST: The National Museum of Asian Art is co-sponsoring the New York Asian Film Festival this year, allowing you to check out six movies from Korea and Taiwan, including the new thriller Beasts Clawing at Straws; the rom-com IWeirDo(shot entirely on a smartphone); the comedy The Gangs, the Oscars and The Walking Dead; and more, all for free from your couch. The movies will stream until September 12, so plan your watch schedule accordingly. (Ongoing, FREE)
#FREETHETREES Want to do a good deed in your own backyard? Take Rock Creek Conservancy’s Pledge to Remove English Ivy and help eradicate the invasive plant that can kill trees and damage property. Learn how to identify and safely remove ivy here, and then get to clipping away ivy from your property. (Ongoing, FREE)
MORE: Latinx Who Lunch on Lunes (Congressional Hispanic Staff Association, 12:30 p.m., FREE), ESL Conversation Circles (D.C. Public Library, 6:30 p.m., FREE)
IMAGE: https://pixabay.com/photos/apple-apple-tree-fruit-pome-fruit-2859765/
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
PROSE PROFESSIONAL: Been plotting the next great American novel since quarantine, but need some help getting the words down on the page? Check out this virtual “How to Write a Novel” class from the Writer’s Center and let novelist and writing coach John DeDakis’s 16-point plan guide you from idea to finished product. (11 a.m., $50)
CROSS COUNTRY CULTURE: Check out the Kennedy Center Digital Stage’s new “Arts Across America,” 20 weeks of programming sharing performances from around the country. Watch daily at 4 p.m. via Facebook Live, YouTube, or on the Kennedy Center website. Recent performances include “Many Voices, One Song,” featuring Afro-indie music from Afrosonics, and “Rock Opera 101: Race, Rock & Revision” with the Baltimore Rock Opera. (4 p.m., FREE)
BUZZ, BUZZ: The season for pawpaws, the tropical-tasting fruit native to the D.C. region, is almost here. Join Montgomery County Parks in celebrating their annual PawPaw & Pollinators Festival. Starting today, they’ll be selling pawpaws, native plants and trees, and honey at nature centers in Rockville, Bethesda, and Wheaton. Check out their online programs about pollinators, too. (Ongoing, prices vary)
MORE: Quarantine Creations (Del Rey Artisans, Ongoing, FREE), Global Climate Justice: What Does It Mean? (Smithsonian Associates, 6:45 p.m., $25)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
FLOWER POWER: Take some time to stop and (in a socially distant manner) smell the flowers by booking a Change of Plants Flower Encounter at the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture in Alexandria. Book an hour-long time slot, and you’ll have exclusive access to the field of flowers to wander and snip. (Dogue Farm at Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, 6 p.m., $25 for admission and a bouquet)
MOVIE MYSTERY: Remove the pressure of picking out a movie and head over to Busboys & Poets’ Shirlington location for Dinner and a (Surprise) Movie. Reserve a seat ahead of time, preorder from a three-course menu, and get ready to enjoy a surprise feature film that you didn’t have to endlessly scroll through four streaming services to find. (Busboys & Poets Shirlington, 6 p.m., FREE)
POW! ZAP!: Fire up your drawing tablet and log on to Draw at Home with Fantom Comics. Share ideas and drawings via Facebook Live, with the store’s associate Sarahti leading the event. (6 p.m., FREE)
MORE: Wellness Weekdays: Breathing Easy for Beginner Athletes (Rose Physical Therapy Group, 7 p.m., FREE), Brian Stelter: In Conversation with Jay Rosen (Sixth & I, 7 p.m., $12, $33 with signed book copy)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
LEG DAY: Get a workout and a scenic trip around Arlington via Pedal Saloon, the 14-person, pedal-powered bar on wheels. Grab your friends and pedal your way around Virginia during a two-hour private tour. COVID-19 health restrictions will be in place; see details here. ($420, slots available starting at 10 a.m.)
WINE O’CLOCK: Start your weekend early and head out to The Winery at Bull Run in Centreville, Virginia, for a wine tasting. Reserve your spot at least 24 hours ahead of time and spend an hour sipping, smelling, and enjoying some of Virginia’s wines. Self-guided tastings are also available, if you prefer to go it alone. (The Winery at Bull Run, 11:30 a.m., $160 for 8-person tasting)
MORE: Aerial Yoga (YogaToka, 6:15 p.m., $25), Virtual Craft Cocktail Class with Please Bring Chips (DC Fray, 7:30 p.m., $9.99)
