MONDAY, OCT. 31
SPOOKY TATTOOS: Get a goblin, ghoul, cat, or monster tattoo to commemorate your love for Halloween. District Tattoo will be offering pre-sized Halloween themed designs at this flash event where prices will be $100 for black-and-white, line tattoos and $150 for shaded, color tattoos. Make sure to show up early to put your name on the sign-in sheet. The shop will call you when ready and you have 15 minutes to arrive. (District Tattoo; 11 a.m.; $100+)
HALLOWEEN ART PARTY: Head to the Midlands for a Halloween happening. The space will be transformed into the Land of Skulls art gallery with skull-themed artwork from 24 artists. The pieces will be sold silent-auction style, along with a costume contest, old-fashioned tin-type photography, fortune tellings, food, and a live DJ. (Midlands Beer Garden; 6 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: From Nuremberg to Ukraine: Accountability for Mass Atrocities (Human Rights Institute at Georgetown Law; 3:30 p.m.; FREE), Elektra (Kennedy Center Opera House; 7 p.m.; $45), Washington Magic Halloween Spooktacular (Arts Club of Washington; 6:30 p.m.; $68), Sofar Sounds Halloween Show (secret address in Ivy City; 7:30 p.m.; $21), Spooky Night (10th Street Community Park; 5:30 p.m.; FREE), Halloween Gala, Concert, Dinner, & Dancing (Embassy of the Czech Republic; 6:30 p.m.; $75), HARRYWEEN: A Harry Styles Costume Party (DC9 Nightclub; 10 p.m.; $20), Halloween Spook-Takular (Lansburgh Park; 4:30 p.m.; FREE), Literary Costume Mixer (Solid State Books; 6 p.m.; $10), Halloween Costume Fun Run with DC Run Crew (14th Street lululemon; 6:30 p.m.; FREE), Teenage Halloween, Spring Silver, Pinky Lemon concert (The Runaway; 8:30 p.m.; $12), Halloween History ghost tour of Old Town Alexandria with Ed Moser (Christ Church; 5:30 p.m.; $23)
TUESDAY, NOV. 1
DAY OF THE DEAD: Celebrate Día de los Muertos at various places in D.C.: the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington hosts a picnic celebration along local taco truck La Tingeria (5:30 p.m., FREE admission). The Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs brings an altar to the Frank D. Reeves Center of Municipal Affairs for attendees to add their loved ones’ pictures to (6 p.m., FREE). Then, on Wednesday, the National Portrait Gallery annual celebration kicks off with an indoor festival including music, dancing, art activities, and a community altar followed by a projected live art show on the building. (Altar begins at 5 p.m.; Live projection at 6:30 p.m.; FREE).
MONTE-CARLO LEGENDS: Transport yourself to Monte Carlo in D.C. at the Embassy of Monaco. Enjoy a special screening of “Monaco Grand Prix, The Legend,” the story of how the small country became the prime place for Formula 1 races, followed by a photograph exhibit featuring vintage images of iconic Monacans. (Embassy of Monaco; 7:30 p.m.; FREE)
CHEERS AND CHEESE: Eavesdrop Brewery in Manassas and Oh Graze Away host the Cheers and Cheese a beer tasting and cheese/charcuterie board making class. The instruction includes cheese education, charcuterie styling tips, and recommendations on how to make your perfect board. (Eavesdrop Brewery, 7 p.m., $75)
MORE: Pop-up vaccination day for COVID-19, flu, and monkeypox (Eaton Hotel; 9 a.m.; FREE), Women Uncorked: Question or Confession (Sense Salon; 7 p.m.; $20), Beth Orton (Sixth & I; 8 p.m.; $30), BARKLEY author Timothy Bella (Busboys and Poets 450K; 6 p.m.; FREE), Poetry & Spoken Word Night (Union District Oyster Bar & Lounge; 7 p.m.; $5), The Brilliance of Stars author J’Nell Ciesielski in conversation with Eliza Knight (One More Page Books; 7 p.m.; FREE), Fall Floral Wreath Making (PLNTR; 7:30 p.m.; $55)
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2
OPEN STUDIO: Eaton hotel’s artist in residence, Jesse Raine Littlebird, marks the start of Indigenous Peoples Month with daily open studio sessions. Join the first one as Littlebird leads visitors through performances called “Coyote Strategies” to immerse them in his personal art practice as he explores his relationship to the idea of promised land. “A Fragmented Exodus” opens at the gallery afterwards on November 9. (Eaton DC; 12 p.m.; FREE)
MEET THE BARTENDER: Immerse yourself in the world of mixology at the Morrison House hotel’s restaurant, The Study. Join bartender Manny Pressley as he walks through step-by-step how to transform a gimlet into a cucumber gimlet. Tickets include a welcome cocktail and cheese plate. (Morrison House; 4:30 p.m.; $36.38)
MORE: Love Story: Amber Goldhammer solo exhibit live painting reception (Merritt Gallery; 12 p.m.; FREE), Annual Billecart and Caviar Dinner (Bresca; 5:30 p.m.; $320), Perfect Liars Club: the storytelling interrogation show (The Comedy Loft; 7 p.m.; $15), Dover Quartet concert (Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center; 7:30 p.m.; $49), Sargent and Spain: a review by Lola Jiménez Blanco (Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain; 6:30 p.m.; FREE), Friendsgiving Trivia (Alamo Drafthouse DC; 7 p.m.; FREE), “Thriller” dance class and performance (Woodridge Neighborhood Library; 6:30 p.m.; FREE), American Alpine Club Happy Hour & Gear Swap (Aslin Beer Company; 6 p.m.; FREE)
THURSDAY, NOV. 3
AUTHORS PANEL: The Inner Loop, a monthly reading series for creative writers in D.C., presents a panel and Q&A at Politics and Prose near Union Market. The event will feature local authors Dan Brady, Jenn Koiter, and Andrew Bertaina discussing publishing and more before heading to Last Call for drinks. (Politics and Prose Union Market; 6:30 p.m.; FREE)
VR DANCE: Planet Word hosts an evening of dance on film from the Chamber Dance Project. The event features seven dance films and one world premiere virtual reality experience with a reception and two screenings. The VR experience puts viewers on stage with the dancers performing “Dwellings” live. A VIP reception includes champagne, bites, and a private tour of the exhibits, while general admission is available for a screening at 7:30 p.m. (Planet Word; 7:30 p.m.; $40 for general admission, $75 for VIP)
COCKTAIL PARTY: Celebrate local home goods store Salt & Sundry’s 10th anniversary with a cocktail party. The Union Market shop will kick off a month of programming with light bites and special cocktails from Buffalo & Bergen, plus 10% off storewide during the event. (Salt & Sundry Union Market; 6 p.m.; FREE)
POETRY READING: Hear from four local poets of different backgrounds at this free poetry reading at the Takoma Park Community Center. Each piece of poetry transcends borders with readings from artists of various identities: a Venezuelan immigrant poet, an African American poet laureate, a Black poet and teacher, and a Vietnamese-American writer. (Takoma Park Community Center; 7:30 p.m.; FREE)
ANNUAL CONCERT: Join the Freer Gallery of Art for their annual concert featuring artists from the Marlboro Music Festival. The program features Respighi’s “Il tramonto,” Brahms’ “String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op.67,” Orth’s “You Shattered my Deafness,” and Mendelssohn’s “String Octet in E-flat major, Op.20.” (Freer Gallery’s Meyer Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.; $6)
SWEET TREATS: Things get sweet at The Sugar Shack, the Leadership and Arts Coalition’s first-ever themed fundraiser. LAC raises awareness and money to provide programs for marginalized youth in communities that are also underserved, food insecure and poverty stricken; the event will include a “best-dressed” contest, food from MrsGNDaKitchen, and raise funds for LAC and Tina’s Baby, among others. (201 Massachusetts Ave. NE; 6 p.m.; $12)
MORE: Artist Networking Event Featuring Rose Jaffe (AOB Studio; 5:30 p.m.; $15), Solas Nua: The Playboy of the Western World premiere (Atlas Performing Arts Center; 7:30 p.m.; pay what you can), Young Playwrights’ Theater Community Callback Fundraiser (Denizen’s Brewing Company; 7 p.m.; $65), Marvel Trivia (Atlas Brew Works Ivy City; 7 p.m.; FREE), An Evening with Andrés Cepeda (Sixth & I; 8 p.m.; $45), Women, Wine, & Tech networking event (Microsoft; 5:30 p.m.; FREE), From Ancient to Modern: The Current State of Research on Iraq (Freer Gallery of Art; 10 a.m.; FREE), Masquerade Perreo Ball (Living Room; 9 p.m.; $20), California Soul: Recipes from a Culinary Journey West author Tanya Holland (Bold Fork Books; 7 p.m.; FREE), “ALT BAe” Concert/Pop-Up/Open Mic (ONLE Studios; 8 p.m.; $15)
