Things I'm Talking About

• Fountains are on at Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park, and I think everyone is talking about. Last time I saw them on, it was the Obama Administration. Hopefully they're fixed for good, but there have been lots of times where they turned them on only to have them break again shortly after, so go see it while you can.
• ​9:30 Club's Friends with Benefits rewards program has started releasing Discount Discovery Shows where limited tickets are only 100 points.
• The tickets for the Dulles 5K/10K on the Runway are live, and the race is on the actual runway that planes use. If you do the 10K, you get closer to the gates. I walked the 5K last year, and it sells out every year.
• If you love Survivor, apply to play a 1-day version in Rock Creek Park.
• Peter Chang Kitchen in College Park after less than a year.
• A free kids summer camp with Kung Fu, Chinese Lion Dance, and African Djembe Drumming is open for registration with Hung Tao Choy Mei.
• People on EBT can get free access to paid museums through Museums for All, which I hadn't heard of before.
• Smithsonian Castle is re-opening on Friday for the summer, but it's temporary.
• Check out the Not Bored website/app for more Memorial Day Weekend things to do & plan your long weekend.

Valerie

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

Last week, we asked: You're planning a picnic. What's the most important thing to bring? You responded:

• The food (61.2%)
• The blanket (28.6%)
• The drinks (8.2%)
• The bluetooth speaker (2%)

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: Taco City DC

"Their margaritas are next level and I've yet to order a single thing from their menu that wasn't a hit. Don't sleep on their happy hour - a true hidden gem on the Capitol Hill/Navy Yard border." Lauren

Location: 1102 8th Street SE
​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 who should be featured and why, and share the love for a local DC restaurant.

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• 📖 Ever wonder what it's like to fly straight into a hurricane? Meet the Air Force's Hurricane Hunters as they share stories about tracking Earth's most dangerous storms from inside their specially equipped aircraft. Wednesday 5/20. Free.
• 🎭 Explore Hillwood's mansion and gardens, then settle in for a documentary about master watchmakers paired with dinner at their café. Feeds both your stomach and your curiosity. Wednesday 5/20. $22.
• 🖌️ Learn the ancient Japanese art of water marbling and create your own beautiful designs on traditional hanshi paper. The Embassy of Japan is bringing this hands-on suminagashi workshop right to the MLK Library. Wednesday 5/20. Free.
• 🍾 Final Episode Survivor Watch Party on DC9's rooftop deck where you can cheer, gasp, and make predictions with fellow fans as season 50 wraps up. Watch the drama unfold together with some fresh air. Wednesday 5/20. Free.
• 📖 Create your own political party after hearing author Lee Drutman discuss breaking America's two-party system, then work with artist Ashley Jaye Williams to design your dream political movement. Plus you can grab drinks at the museum's biergarten before and after. Wednesday 5/20. Free.
• 🖼️ Check out the original costumes from Netflix's Pedro Páramo adaptation at the Mexican Cultural Institute, where you can see how award-winning designer Anna Terrazas brought each character to life through fabric and color. It's a cool behind-the-scenes look at how costume design tells a story. Wednesday 5/20-5/22. Free.

• 🕺 Art on 8th brings jazz dance lessons, live performances, and a jam session to Dance Place's outdoor arts park. Pack a picnic blanket and enjoy whether you want to learn some moves or just listen to the music. Thursday 5/21. Free.
• 📖 Fashion dolls meet American history in this fun panel discussion about how toys like American Girl dolls have shaped how kids learn about the past. Mara Wilson moderates experts talking about everything from paper dolls to modern collectibles, plus you can check out the Library's doll collection beforehand. Thursday 5/21. Free.
• 🖌️ Turn your random junk drawer treasures into actual art at this found object art workshop where you'll learn to make cool stuff from everyday items. Bring your own weird finds or dig through the instructor's collection of interesting objects. Thursday 5/21. $36.
• 🕺 Clara Campbell brings her rich jazz vocals to the gorgeous Kogod Courtyard for an evening of Great American Songbook classics with her quintet. Perfect way to unwind after work with some smooth jazz in one of DC's most beautiful indoor spaces. Thursday 5/21. Free.
• 🎭 Pack a blanket and some snacks for Adams Morgan Movie Nights, kicking off with Rocky under the stars at Marie Reed Recreation Center. It's the perfect excuse to grab takeout from a local spot and settle in for a classic neighborhood movie night. Thursday 5/21. Free.
• 🤸 Picture yourself doing yoga surrounded by soaring cathedral ceilings and gorgeous stained glass windows at Washington National Cathedral. All skill levels welcome, just bring your mat and get ready for something pretty magical. Thursday 5/21. $27.

• 🏰 The Smithsonian Castle is temporarily reopening after being closed for renovations, featuring a special exhibit with Thomas Jefferson's desk, Harriet Tubman's hymnal, and the gold flake that started the California Gold Rush. Take this chance to explore this iconic building. Friday 5/22-9/7. Free.
• 📖 Celebrate Bruce Lee with author Jeff Chang and a live DJ screening that combines book talk, film, and beats for Asian American Heritage Month. You'll get to hear about Lee's impact on Asian America, then watch The Big Boss with DJ 2-Tone spinning live accompaniment. Friday 5/22. Free.
• 🍾 Queer Magic Dance Party brings sparkles, pole performances, tarot readings, and a glitter bar to Black Cat with music spanning R&B to Afrobeats. Come dressed in your most magical outfit and dance the night away with free photobooth fun, flash tattoos, and tooth gems. Friday 5/22. $19.
• 🖌️ Get your hands dirty making your own handbuilt ceramic bowl with Shoulder Cat Studio at the gorgeous Heurich House Museum. You'll shape stoneware clay, add textures with stamps and rolling pins, then paint it with colorful pigments while sipping craft beer from the museum's biergarten. Friday 5/22. $45.
• 🕺 Jazz in the Garden kicks off its summer series with American Sounds celebrating the country's musical traditions from Appalachian to Creole jazz. You'll need to enter a lottery for passes, but they also release day-of tickets at 5pm if you want to try your luck. Friday 5/22. Free.

• 📖 Look up at the stars through real telescopes with astronomy experts who'll help you spot planets, stars, and the moon from the Udvar-Hazy Center parking lot. Bring red-covered flashlights to keep the sky dark for everyone. Saturday 5/23. Free.
• 🤝 Clean up the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail while getting some exercise in this plogging event that combines jogging with picking up litter (though you don't have to jog if you don't want to). You'll cover a beautiful 2-mile stretch with all supplies provided, plus there's free Athletic Brewing afterward! Saturday 5/23. Free.
• 🕺 Dance & Go Home x Afro Plus are throwing a massive Memorial Day rave at Berhta's open-air Banana Stage with 2,000+ party people, food trucks, and nonstop energy. Think day party meets cultural celebration with adult games, drink specials, and Afro-centric beats that'll keep you moving. Saturday 5/23. $18.
• 🖌️ Crystal sound bowls meet neurographic art in this outdoor workshop where you'll create flowing, organic patterns while in a meditative state. All skill levels welcome for this playful, no-pressure art experience! Saturday 5/23. $30.
• 🎈 MTP Block Fest brings cumbia legend Yeison Landero to Lamont Plaza for a free afternoon of music, food trucks, vinyl vendors, and community screenprinting. You'll get to dance to the grandson of cumbia's king plus local band SOROCHE in the heart of Mount Pleasant. Saturday 5/23. Free.
• 🌐 Get ready to dance with steel drums, sip wine cocktails, and soak up Caribbean energy at the Caribbean Wine & Music Festival featuring live bands and unlimited tastings of 19+ wines. Think mango sangria, steel orchestra vibes, and 40+ vendors at this beloved Maryland tradition. Saturday 5/23-5/24. $40+.
• 🤓 Team up with friends for National Treasure Hunt's Heist Night at Historic Congressional Cemetery, where you'll crack codes and solve escape room-style puzzles in a treasure hunt adventure. Great for history buffs and puzzle lovers who want to test their skills while exploring one of DC's most historic spots. Saturday 5/23. $50.
• 📜 Step into a powerful chapter of local history on this 1.5-mile guided hike through Rock Creek Park's Peirce Mill area with a park ranger. You'll discover the stories of formerly enslaved people and others who built new lives in what became the park, learning about their resilience and lasting contributions. Saturday 5/23. Free.
• 📖 Bring your family quilts to this hands-on preservation workshop where museum experts will show you how to properly store and care for these treasured pieces. You'll explore beautiful African American quilts from the collection and get personalized advice for your own quilts. Saturday 5/23. Free.

• 🤓 Learn to play mahjong while snacking on Cantonese and Taiwanese treats at the Chinese American Museum. It's part game afternoon, part cultural food experience, and perfect for trying something new. Sunday 5/24. $70.
• 🕺 Indie Rock Karaoke at DC9 lets you belt out Pavement, Pixies, and Built to Spill on the main stage with a crowd that actually knows the words. Host KIT has curated all the indie classics you've been singing in your car. Sunday 5/24. Free.
• 🖌️ Celebrate 35+ years of DC Black Pride history while making themed craft kits inspired by this year's "New Black Renaissance" theme. You can create your craft there or take a kit home to work on later. Sunday 5/24. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Ready to meet some new people over your favorite caffeinated drink? This matcha and coffee meetup pairs you with 4-6 strangers for spontaneous conversations and community building at a local Alexandria cafe. Sunday 5/24. $10.
• 🕺 The Gym Jam is a high-energy dance party where you can sweat it out to DJ Caribbean Mills and live drumming while playing games and moving however feels good. Sunday 5/24. $13.

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