FRIDAY NOVEMBER 19
HE’S JUST A BILL: Bill Nye is on the agenda. This weekend, tune in to Unexpected Conversations, a virtual event on the first night of the Smithsonian’s Arts + Industries Building’s weekend-long festival. The virtual event will include Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch; actor, author, and White House appointee Kal Penn; environmental advocate and drag queen drag queen Pattie Gonia; spelling bee champion Zaila Avant-garde, and more. (6:30 p.m.; FREE)
MARKET COMEBACK: It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the annual downtown Holiday Market is back starting on Friday. In its 17th rendition, the outdoor market is centered on 8th and F Streets NW and will include more than 70 exhibitors and vendors. (8th and F St NW; 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
MORE MOE: This weekend, a Simpsons-inspired parody event is coming to Springfield, Virginia. Moe’s Pop-Up — the “pop-up where nobody knows your name” — will feature food, drink, pool, photo ops, and more. Please note that this is a fan-made parody and is not associated with The Simpsons, 20th Century Fox, Fox, or Disney. (Springfield Town Center; 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; $32+ for adults)
FREE JOKES: Unwind on Friday by heading to the Upper West Side Café on M Street for a night of live comedy. This weekend, the cafe and bar will host a line-up of comedians from across the region — all with no cover charge. (Upper West Side Café; 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.; free entry)
MORE: Salt of the Earth: Music for Celebration (St. George’s Episcopal Church; 6:30 p.m.; $20+ and FREE for students); Del McCoury Band (The Hamilton Live; 6:30 p.m. doors, 8:00 p.m. show; $35+)
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20
SPIN CYCLE: Learn a new skill this weekend with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. On Saturday, the group will host Confident City Cycle to coach participants “the skills you need to ride safely and confidently on streets, bike lanes, and trails alike,” as organizers say. Participants can choose between two tracks: a fundamental track (think: basics like shifting, signaling, weaving); and the confidence track (think: quick stop, rock dodge, instant turn). (Anacostia Park; 10:00 a.m.; $10, and FREE for WABA members)
WORKOUT AND BREW: Start off your Saturday at DC Brau for a free HIIT class. Led by Alexandra Salomon, the event is open to athletes of all fitness levels — no equipment necessary. Potentially the best part: Participants can enjoy a drink at DC Brau’s beer garden right after. (DC Brau Brewing Company; 11:00 a.m.; FREE)
ART SHOW: This Saturday is the first day of Glen Echo Park’s Holiday Art Show and Sale. The market will showcase creators from across the region, including some of the Park’s resident artists and instructors. Market-goers can expect glassmakers, photographers, painters, jewelers, and everything in between. (Glen Echo Park; 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
WREATH CRAFT: Get on your DIY decor. On Saturday, Ali Chrisler, the florist behind Blue Ribbon Floral, will be hosting a class on the foundations of wreath-making. Event-goers will each make their own personalized wreath to decorate their home (or give as a gift, if you’re feeling generous). (Viceroy Washington DC; 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.; $40)
TURTLE CLUB: This Saturday, NoVa Parks is hosting a kid-centered event focused on your favorite shelled reptiles. The “Talkin Bout Turtles” event allows kids four years old and up to meet some of the Park’s turtles and learn about how they thrive. Kids can even watch a race to see which turtle is the fastest. (Potomac Overlook Regional Park; 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.; $7+ for each participant over the age of four)
MORE: Red Crooked Sky Native American Dance Troupe (McLean Central Park; 3:00 p.m.; FREE) Utopia Film Festival (The New Deal Cafe & Historic Greenbelt Theatre; Times Vary; $7+ per movie); Fall Train Rides at The Station (The Village Green; 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.; FREE); Lady Gaga Drag Brunch (All Set Restaurant & Bar; 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.; $10+); Sketch Night (DC Improv; 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.; $18+); The Cry of Jeremiah (The National Philharmonic; 8:00 p.m.; $39).
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21
YOU, SPY: This Sunday, the International Spy Museum is hosting a sensory friendly program for spy-lovers with autism or sensory sensitivities. An RSVP gets you access to the museum, prepared with few people, decreased noise, and designated quiet zones. (International Spy Museum; 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: Tango to Takemitsu, the Influence of Jazz (Cafritz Hall, Edlavitch DCJCC; 2:00 p.m.; $17+); The Quebe Sisters (The Hamilton Live; 6:30 p.m. doors, 8:00 p.m. show; $25+); The Midnight Gardeners League (DC Improv; 5:45+; $10+)
