MONDAY, DEC. 11
OH GAYDEL GAYDEL GAYDEL: For the fifth night of Chanukah, GLOE and other Jewish organizations are hosting a happy hour for LGBTQ+ Jews. The event will feature a drag appearance, a live artist painting, candle lighting, dreidels, and other holiday festivities. (Shakers DC; 6 p.m.; $5)
JINGLE BALL: Hot 99.5’s Jingle Ball returns tonight and there are a few tickets still available! This year’s performers include OneRepublic, Jelly Roll, Big Time Rush, Flo Rida, and more. (Capital One Arena; 7:30 p.m.; $125+)
MORE: Chanukah Party (Sixth & I; 7:30 p.m; $15), Re: Her* Holiday Market (Cork Wine Bar and Market; 5 p.m.; FREE), Profs and Pints: Nightmare Before Christmas (Penn Social; 6 p.m.; $14.31), Stage Fright DC Holiday Show (Sudhouse DC; 9:45 p.m.; FREE), Patrick Watson and La Force (Union Stage; 8 p.m.; $30), Natural Dye Workshop(Rhizome DC; 7 p.m.; $20+)
TUESDAY, DEC. 12
PRETTY WOMAN: The musical rendition of Pretty Woman comes to D.C. this month. While it doesn’t star Richard Gere or Julia Roberts, it has all the iconic moments of the original movie. (The National; 7:30 p.m.; $59+)
GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY: Another musical opens in D.C. this week! The Tony-Award winning Girl From The North Country uses the music of Bob Dylan to tell the story of a group of travelers whose paths cross in a guesthouse. (Kennedy Center; 8 p.m.; $49+)
MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS: Need to take a minute to unwind? Head to this meditation and mindfulness class in the Tiffany Gallery. The session promises to equip attendees with skills for improving well being. (Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington; 6:30 p.m; $10+)
MORE: Holiday Sketch Show (DC Improv; 7:30 p.m.; $20), Chanukah Party (National Museum of American Jewish Military History; 6:30 p.m.; FREE), William Basinski (The Atlantis; 6:30 p.m.; $35), Ward 1 Mutual Aid Holiday Toy Drive & Fundraiser (Lyman’s Tavern; 6 p.m.; donations encouraged), Hot Boy Hoilday: Circus Sideshow (Pie Shop DC; 8 p.m.; $12), Little Satchmo screening (Docs in Progress; 7 p.m.; FREE)
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13
TENLEY HOLIDAY MARKET: Not all the holiday markets are on the weekend. On Wednesday, Tenleytown’s newly opened East West Cafe hosts a holiday market with 20 local vendors. (Tenleytown; 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; FREE)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLOR: In honor of the pop star’s birthday, Wundergarten is hosting a party for Swfities in the area. There will be music trivia — themed accordingly — and a showing of the Eras Tour movie. (Wundergarten; 7 p.m.; FREE)
SECOND WEDNESDAYS: Do you like jazz? Well, Betty Mae Kramer Gallery and Music room is hosting an evening of free jazz. This month’s event highlights vocalist Christie Dashiell and pianist Allyn Johnson. (Kramer Gallery; 6 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: Comedians Dave Ross and Ismael Loutfi (City-State Brewing; 7:30 p.m.; $30.23 for a ticket and a beer), Street of Shame screening (Suns Cinema; 7 p.m.; $12), Josh Radnor (Pearl Street Warehouse, 8 p.m.; $15), Youth Artist Series Poetry Night with Ash Newton / Leo Casalini / Kat&Maxi Duo (Rhizome DC; 7 p.m; FREE), The Purest Bond (Busboys and Poets Takoma; 6 p.m; FREE), Liz Cheney in Conversation with Mark Leibovich (Virtual; 7 p.m.; $12)
THURSDAY, DEC. 14
ACTS OF KINDNESS: Join the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s community services and program coordinator, Jenelle Cooper, for a virtual talk on the power of giving. The discussion, part of the museum’s “Take Time Thursdays” series, will include giving back as the year comes to a close and how to insert random acts of kindness into your and others’ lives. (Virtual via the Anacostia Community Museum; 2:30-3:15 p.m.; FREE)
MUSICAL THINKING: Earlier this year, the Smithsonian American Art Museum introduced the time-based exhibition, “Musical Thinking: New Video Art and Sonic Strategies.” On Thursday, curator Saisha Grayson will discuss the selection process and how everything came together to create the emotionally resonant exhibition .(Smithsonian American Art Museum; 5:30 p.m.; FREE)
JUST REMEMBERING: The Japanese Embassy’s J-Film series returns. Thursday’s movie will be Just Remembering, which follows a couple over the course of six years as they navigate various trials and tribulations, including COVID. (Japan Information & Culture Center; 6:30 p.m.; FREE)
TREE LIGHTING: Gather at Canal Park this Thursday for the annual tree lighting. Then stick around to go ice skating, use a Snow Globe photo booth, vibe to live holiday music, or get some food from local vendors. The first 150 attendees get free skate rentals, and the first 100 will get a Capitol Riverfront mug & hot cocoa kit. (Canal Park; 6 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: Holiday Happy Hour (Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building; 4:30 p.m.; FREE), Fred Mascherino w/ Oceans in the Sky + The Great Heights Band (The Pocket; 7 p.m.; $15), The Slackers + Mustard Plug + The Freecoasters + Stop the Presses (The Black Cat; 6:30 p.m.; $28), Take Time Thursday: Random Acts of Kindness (Virtual; 2:30 p.m.; FREE), Richard Bona and the Asante Trio (Virtual; 6:30 p.m.; $15)
