A few big items from the past week:

• A corpse flower is in bloom right now at the US Botanic Garden! Getting its name from the putrid smell it emits when first opening, this gigantic flower only stays in bloom for 2-3 days. Go stop by and see it today while you can. The Botanic Garden is giving regular updates on their Instagram.
• ​Maryland Renaissance Festival tickets went on sale Monday, and fans were upset by the long virtual lines to buy tickets, with some reporting waiting 5 hours. Many were blaming bots for the 70,000 people in line to buy tickets. However, by Tuesday, the lines dissipated, and tickets are available for purchase now.
• Budget cuts could mean the closure of the Anacostia Community Museum, but the community is rallying together this weekend to try to save it.
• A DOGE employee was nearly carjacked near 14th & Swann NW by two Maryland teens, and now DC is even more at risk of losing Home Rule.

Valerie

IN THIS ISSUE:

🍽️ Summer Restaurant Week kicks off Aug 18
🚪 A DC staple is closing after 33 years
🌮 Taqueria Habanero still delivers after a decade
🍑 Peach festival, board game speed dating, phone-free art party, sip 20+ wines, and more

Give your opinion, and check back next week for the results.

Last week, I asked: How do you feel about the friendships you have in DC? You responded:

• I don't feel like I have the local friendships I want and am looking to make more (56.2%)
• I have a good group of friends, but I want to make more friends (22.5%)
• I'm happy with the number and quality of local friendships I have (20.2%)
• I don't feel like I have the local friendships I want but I'm not looking to make more (1.1%)

🍲 DC Summer Restaurant Week starts August 18 with lunch and dinner specials, and there are 10 Michelin-starred restaurants participating.

🚪 Capital City Brewing is closing after 33 years on August 28.

⭐ Georgetown's only Michelin-starred restaurant, Reverie, is closing on October 4.

🥯 Call Your Mother is reportedly opening a location in Adams Morgan.

Tried & True features your favorite go-to restaurants that have been around for a while and serve you consistently good food.

This Week's Feature: Taqueria Habanero

"I've been going to Habanero regularly since 2014, and it's been consistently amazing. They do so much with a small space. Watching them make the tortillas makes me happy, their salsas are incredible, they still bring free chips and salsa, and the people are lovely and kind." - Emily

Locations: 3710 14th Street NW & 670 Rhode Island Ave NE
​Website​

😋 What is your favorite tried and true restaurant?

Where do you find yourself going back time and time again? Reply and let me know to be featured and share the love for a local DC restaurant.

Looking for something specific? Check out these options:

• ​Museum parties & happy hours​
• ​DC farmer's markets​
• ​DC-area BARK Ranger programs​
• ​Summer event series​

✨ Premium subscribers: Access the full list of 250+ events here.

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Remember the good old days of Blockbuster? Now you can relive them with a Blockbuster-themed @LittleFreeLibrary on 15th Street NW, where you can borrow, swap, or take DVDs and books - it's like a nostalgia trip with a community twist! Wednesday 8/6. Free.
• 🤓 Sip, mingle, and play your way to love at Dacha's Board Game Speed Dating - it's a fun twist on meeting new people, with games and good vibes all around! Wednesday 8/6. $45.
• 🖌️ Learn how to design a flower arrangement inspired by a dreamy wine country theme, a Summer in Sonoma. Wednesday 8/6. $135.
• 🕺 Wednesday Jazz on Kennedy St is back with Harlan Jones bringing his soulful jazz vibes to the heart of Kennedy Street - perfect for a chill summer evening with friends. Wednesday 8/6. Free.
• 🤓 Get your word game on at Wordplay Wednesday with interactive galleries, puzzles, and a karaoke session that'll have you laughing all night. Wednesday 8/6. $5-$25.
• 🤓 Get your game face on for the UNO Tournament - 1 Year Anniversary Week Kickoff at Penn Social, where you can battle it out for prizes and enjoy happy hour specials with friends. Wednesday 8/6. $17.94.

• 🎭 Catch "Style Wars" at the MLK Library and experience the world of 1980s New York graffiti and breakdancing - it's like stepping back in time to a street art revolution! Thursday 8/7. Free.
• 🎭 Check out a special edition of Summer in the Parks at the Carter Barron Amphitheater with a film screening, ranger program, and more - perfect for history buffs and film fans alike! Monday 8/7. Free.
• 🕺 Get ready for a jazzy evening at Jazz Soirée at Phillips after 5 with live tunes from saxophonist Lyle Link and guitarist Jackson Dunkin, plus a DJ set and art workshop. Thursday 8/7. $20; free for members.
• 🖼️ Experience the charm of the 90s at a Phone Free Art Gallery with art, dancing, and a panel discussion - all without your smartphone! Thursday 8/7. Free.
• 📜 Ever wondered what goes into modernizing a historic building? Check out the Hard Hat Tour at The Adams Education Campus for a peek behind the scenes, hard hats included! Thursday 8/7. $15.
• 🧑‍🍳 Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on sushi-making class where you'll learn to whip up California Rolls, Salmon Rolls, and a Veggie Hand Roll with all the tasty fixings. Thursday 8/7. $69.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Join the Kucheh Kollective's Book Klub to chat about "Good Girl" by Aria Aber, sip tea, and snack on sweets. Thursday 8/7. Donation suggested.
• 🤸 Experience the magic of Firefly Yoga as you flow through gentle poses in a flower field at dusk, surrounded by the enchanting glow of fireflies. Thursday 8/7. $15.

• 🍲 Sip and learn at Pentagon City Wine Merchant's $5 Friday Wine Classes where each week brings a new theme and a 10% discount on featured wines. Friday 8/8. $5.
• 🖌️ Step into a night of creativity and camaraderie at our exclusive 21+ Open Crafting Night where you can unleash your artistic talents over drinks and conversation. Friday 8/8. Free.
• 🖌️ Ever wanted to build your own Gundam model? Join the Otakon Beginner Workshop: Gunpla for ダミー where you'll get hands-on guidance and keep your kit and tools! Friday 8/8. $25.
• 🕺 Get ready to groove with PISCO Y RITMO, the Peruvian Brothers’ new live music series, where vibey beats and Pisco Sour Slushies kickstart your weekend! Friday 8/8. Price not stated.
• 🧠 A cocktails & mocktails workshop that lets you mix an Orange Cold Brew Tonic and a Tiramisu Cocktail while enjoying snacks + both recipes to take home. Friday 8/8. $65.​

• 🎈 Celebrate all things peachy at the Carroll County Peach Festival with peach sundaes, cobblers, and more, plus 50 vendors offering fresh goodies and crafts. Saturday 8/9. Free.
• 🍲 Sip your way through summer at DCANTERPalooza 2025 with over 20 wines to taste, from chillable reds to funky finds, plus a swag bag and snack discount! Saturday 8/9. $45.
• 🎈 Get ready to party at Bolivian Fest DC with live music, Bolivian street food, and dancers celebrating 200 years of independence! Saturday 8/9. $18.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Join the community for a Rally & March to Save the Anacostia Community Museum and make your voice heard while enjoying a meaningful walk through the neighborhood. Saturday 8/9. Free.
• 🕺 Get ready to groove at the Asian City Pop Dance Party with LES THE DJ and FREDY J spinning non-stop Asian beats at Suns Cinema. Saturday 8/9. $15 adv, $20 at door.
• 🎭 CATVIDEOFEST is back with the internet’s cutest cat videos on the big screen, and 10% of ticket sales help local rescue City Kitties! Saturday 8/9. $6.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Strawberry Soirée invites you to enjoy swing lessons, flower crown crafts, cocktails & champagne, Cottage history, and lawn games at President Lincoln's Cottage on Saturday 8/9. $66 early bird!
• 🎈 Sample spicy, rich Jollof rice from West African nations competing for culinary bragging rights. Saturday 8/9. $23+
• 🐾 Find your zen surrounded by soothing sounds and cute kitties in a 45-minute sound bath experience in Alexandria. Saturday 8/9. $55.
• 🖌️ Ever wanted to make a candle that looks like your favorite café drink? Join the Make-A-Matcha-Latte Candle Workshop and craft your own matcha latte candle with London Wick Co! Saturday 8/9. $59.
• 🍾 Sip & See: Our Block Fundraiser and Screening is your chance to enjoy cocktails, meet creators, and catch a sneak peek of a show celebrating Black food and culture. Saturday 8/9. $5.04.

• 🖌️ Get your creative juices flowing at this Make Your Own Oyster Mini Dish with Julie Gross workshop, where you can transform oyster shells into unique art pieces. Sunday 8/10. $43.66.
• 🖌️ Want to take your phone photography to the next level? Check out this one-night workshop with Jon Kandel where you'll learn to capture stunning photos right from your smartphone. Sunday 8/10. $75.
• 🤸 Start your Sunday with intention at Rooftop Yogalates - A Sunday Kind of Love, where you'll flow to Beyoncé's Renaissance album on a stunning terrace. Sunday 8/10. $29.
• 🏞️ Check out Beatrix Farrand’s Dumbarton Oaks with park rangers and see how this pioneering landscape architect's vision shaped Georgetown's green spaces. Sunday 8/10. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Join the Cozy Book Club for a fun chat about Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, complete with donuts and mystery-loving friends. Sunday 8/10. Free.
• 🤸 Stretch, breathe, and sound bath inside the Great Hall of the National Building Museum. Sunday 8/10. $36. ​
• 🧑‍🍳 Get ready to shake up your Sunday with Bartending 101 with Thi Nguyen, where you'll craft a special Vietnamese-inspired cocktail using handcrafted syrups. Sunday 8/10. $55.20.*
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Get creative and connect with neighbors at this Free DC Crafternoon where you can make activism-themed crafts like zines and posters with the whole family. Sunday 8/10. Free.

🤫 Psst! I couldn't fit everything in this issue. See more events happening this weekend and next week.

⚡ More events. More access. Zero FOMO.

Our premium subscribers get the full event list (250+!), weekly updates, and VIP access to exclusive Not Bored in DC events.

​👉 Upgrade to Premium here​

Know of something cool happening? Submit an event for consideration!

* Items marked with an asterisks contain affiliate links (for which I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you) or sponsored. Events are featured based on if I find them interesting and think others will too, regardless if they are affiliate or sponsored.