Things I'm Talking About

• I took a mosaics class on Sunday where I worked with smalti (glass) for the first time, and I feel like it is 500x worse than the first mosaic I ever did. Honestly having trouble with it not being as nice as I wanted to it be, but I need to learn how to use the material better to get the result I want. Learning a new skill is emotionally hard.
• Each year, I round up the costs of different gyms in DC.
• 9:30 Club celebrated 30 years at their current V Street NW location, after moving from 930 F Street NW.
• Yellow Line is now going to Greenbelt every other train.
• NPS is repairing fountains throughout the city, including Malcom X/Meridian Hill Park.
• Now is the time to look for multi-week classes or leagues. Many are starting soon, so find a hobby you're interested in, and find a way to do it.
• Let's be honest, I'm not talking about much except Heated Rivalry. Emotionally, I'm stuck at the cottage.

Congrats to premium member J. for winning tickets to the Thank Me Later comedy show & after dance party!

Valerie

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

Last week, I asked: Will you be cutting back on drinking this January? You responded:

• I'm not making a conscious change to my drinking (50%)
• I won't be drinking (37.5%)
• I'm cutting back on drinking (6.3%)
• I want to drink more (6.3%)

Comedy + Dancing = The Only Way to Start 2026

​Start 2026 with laughs at The “Thank Me Later” Comedy Show, hosted by DMV fave Dom Grayer and packed with comedians seen on Comedy Central, Netflix, HBO, and more.

It all goes down Friday, January 9 at Pearl Street Warehouse, followed by the official afterparty you won’t want to ghost.

After the show, stick around for the official afterparty from +Close Friends: an elevated night of music and dancing.

With a redesigned space, upgraded sound, and a rotating lineup of DJs dropping house, hip hop, R&B, and Afro/Amapiano, it’s a night made for people who love music and want to start the year on a good note.

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: Bucks Fishing and Camping

"Bucks Fishing and Camping. Consistently yum, go for the chocolate cake with fresh whipped cream, and the ambience is seriously cozy." Jennifer

Locations: 5031 Connecticut Ave NW
​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.

✨ Premium subscribers: Events calendar is here!

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Looking for something specific? Check out these options:

• ​Museum parties & happy hours​
• ​DC gym membership prices​
• ​Hidden gem theaters​
• ​Holiday & winter bars around DC​
• ​Ways to disconnect in DC​
• ​Mosaics classes
• ​Pottery & ceramics classes​
• ​Knitting & crochet classes​
• ​Photography classes​

• 🍲 Test your palate with a blind tasting comparing $50 vs $100 French wines to learn how to spot the best deals on any wine list. You'll taste six wines with cheese pairings while learning insider tricks from Josephine's wine director. Wednesday 1/7. $54.
• 🤓 Wordplay Wednesday at Planet Word turns the museum into your playground with after-hours access to karaoke galleries, word puzzles, and games, plus treats and drinks for purchase. It's like game night but way cooler, and you can browse their gift shop too. Wednesday 1/7. $5+
• 🖌️ Learn the art of modern calligraphy with a hands-on lettering workshop where you'll master pointed dip pen techniques and take home your own beginner's kit. Perfect for anyone who loves beautiful handwriting, planning a wedding, or just wants a fun crafty night out. Wednesday 1/7. $80.
• 📜 Frank Goodyear is talking about Teddy Roosevelt's wild African safari that collected over 23,000 specimens for the Smithsonian back in 1909. You'll hear stories from the expedition and can snag a signed copy of his new book afterward. Wednesday 1/7. Free.

• 📖 Take a stroll through time with a photo tour of National Park Seminary that shows off its unique history as a hotel, school, and hospital annex. Thursday 1/8. Free.
• 🖌️ Create a 2026 vision board using vintage food magazines while connecting with fellow food lovers at this hands-on crafting session. You'll cut, paste, and manifest your food future in a relaxed, creative atmosphere. Thursday 1/8. $9.
• 🤸 Hip-Hop artist and meditation teacher Ofosu Jones-Quartey is blending beats with mindfulness for a unique evening of guided meditation, storytelling, and live music. You can bring a yoga mat if you want to get comfy on the floor. Thursday 1/8. $15.
• 🎭 Watch Jiro Dreams of Sushi at the MLK Library and get inspired by the 85-year-old sushi master who turned a tiny subway station restaurant into a three-Michelin-star destination. Thursday 1/8. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Book Klub is discussing "For the Sun After Long Nights" in a cozy setting with tea, sweets, and meaningful conversations about identity and belonging. It's designed to be welcoming whether you finished the book or not! Thursday 1/8. Free.
• 🕺 BlackBox Ensemble is premiering a one-of-a-kind multimedia piece that blends wind ensemble music with pipa solos and video art exploring identity across three continents. Thursday 1/8. Free (or $6 for reserved seating).

• 🎭 Get ready for the ultimate so-bad-it's-good experience at this Movie Party screening of The Room with Greg Sestero live. The audience will be quoting along to Tommy Wiseau's cult classic, and you'll finally understand what all the fuss is about. Friday 1/9. $25.
• 🕺 Nora en Pure is bringing her 360° set to Echostage with support from Spencer Brown and Glusko for a night of electronic beats that'll keep you moving. Perfect for anyone who loves house music and wants to dance until late. Friday 1/9. $41+.*
• 🕺 Start your year with laughs at Thank Me Later Comedy Show featuring comedians from Comedy Central and Netflix, plus stick around for the dance party afterparty. Friday 1/9. $20.
• 🍾 CLOSEFRIENDS: THE FINALE is bringing house, hip hop, R&B, and Afrobeats to Pearl Street Warehouse's upgraded space with a bigger dance floor and better sound system. Friday 1/9. $27+.
• 🕺 Backbone Comedy is throwing a fundraiser show where the laughs support Free Minds, a local reentry organization helping folks impacted by incarceration. This queer-run comedy night at As You Are has a two-drink minimum. Friday 1/9. $20.
• 🍲 Taste authentic French king cakes and maybe find the hidden charm that makes you royalty for the day. You'll sample three flavors of galettes des rois from a local French patisserie in the cozy library at Alliance Française. Friday 1/9. $25.
• 🕺 Learn to swing dance then party with a live jazz band at the historic University Club for this Gatsby-themed New Year celebration. No partner or experience necessary. Friday 1/9. $65+.
• 🎭 Watch an intimate archival film about a Pakistani-American family followed by a thoughtful discussion with the filmmaker. It's a slow, reflective experience exploring memory and identity that'll give you plenty to think about. Friday 1/9. Price not stated.
• 🖌️ Bring your knitting needles and current project to this relaxed stitching circle at the Old Stone House where you can chat about colonial fiber arts while working on whatever you're making. It's perfect for knitters of any skill level who want some good conversation and creative time. Friday 1/9. Free.
• 🏞️ Perfect for families wanting to get kids excited about hiking, this ranger-led winter woodland walk teaches trail safety and hiking basics while exploring Rock Creek Park's winter landscape. It's just a half-mile loop designed for ages 6 and up, so everyone can keep up! Friday 1/9. Free.

• 🖌️ Learn how to fix your favorite clothes with simple mending techniques like darning and patching in this drop-in workshop. Bring something that needs repair or use their materials to practice on. Saturday 1/10. Free.
• 📜 Explore the gorgeous gardens designed by America's first successful woman landscape architect at Dumbarton Oaks Park with park rangers who'll share how Beatrix Farrand's vision shaped Georgetown. You'll learn about her groundbreaking design philosophy and how the park is being restored to match her original plans. Saturday 1/10. Free.
• 🖌️ Turn that old t-shirt or forgotten tote bag into something amazing at this block printing upcycling workshop where you'll learn to add cool patterns to fabric you already own. Perfect for anyone who wants to try something creative while being kind to the planet. Saturday 1/10. $49.
• 🖌️ Combine meditation with tiny embroidery stitches for a surprisingly calming way to spend your Saturday morning. You'll start with guided breathwork, then let each small stitch follow your breathing rhythm. Saturday 1/10. $10.
• 🤓 Who says Dry January has to be boring? Wine & Games at Shanklin Hall has non-alcoholic options, board games, and a DJ set to help you set intentions for 2026 with good company. Saturday 1/10. Free.
• 🖌️ Get your hands dirty at this pottery workshop at DC Brau where you'll learn to make pinch pots and turn them into vases, planters, or candle holders while sipping drinks. You'll take home up to 3 pieces plus paint to decorate them at home. Saturday 1/10. $70.
• 🤸 Learn to swim with other adults in a totally judgment-free environment, then celebrate with drinks and food from No Sauce Que Catering. Perfect for anyone who's always wanted to feel confident in the water or couples looking for a unique date night. Saturday 1/10. $71.

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Booze Free Bingo for Dry January is perfect if you're doing the sober January thing but still want to hang out and have fun. It's regular bingo but with mocktails and good company instead of the usual bar scene. Fun fact: I won a round of this in a prior dry January. Sunday 1/11. $11.
• 🤸 Start your Saturday morning right with puppy yoga at Old Town Books where you'll stretch, breathe, and play with adorable adoptable pups from Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. Your ticket goes directly to the shelter, so you're helping these furry friends find their forever homes while getting your zen on. Sunday 1/11. $43.
• 🧠 Learn the clever milk jug winter sowing method to grow native plants on the cheap and help local wildlife thrive. You'll get all the supplies and seeds, just bring a milk jug if you have one! Sunday 1/11. $5.
• 📜 Discover the hidden stories of Georgetown Waterfront on this ranger-led walk that covers everything from Native American villages to colonial ports to today's bustling scene. You'll get great Potomac views while learning how this spot shaped DC's history. Sunday 1/11. Free.
• 🤸 Join DC's pickleball ladder league where you'll get matched with new players each week for friendly competition and new friends. Eight weeks of Sunday games at Kraken Kourts, and all skill levels are welcome! Starts Sunday 1/11. $158.*
• 🍲 Learn whisky history at this rare tasting where Edinburgh expert Arthur Motley brings original ancient documents you can actually touch while sipping single malts. Hear fresh stories about Scotch whisky that haven't been told before, plus taste rare releases from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Sunday 1/11. $110.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 The Vibes Open combines indoor golf with nonstop drinks, DJ sets, and NFL playoff games on the big screens. Perfect for meeting new people whether you're a golf pro or just here for the party atmosphere. Sunday 1/11. $30-42.
• 🖌️ Bring whatever craft project you've been putting off and spend the afternoon making stuff with fellow crafters at Craft & Chat at Ministry of Brewing in Baltimore. Your ticket includes supplies to make a 2026 bingo card plus a drink to keep you fueled. Sunday 1/11. $13.

🤫 Psst! I couldn't fit everything in this issue. See 90 events happening this weekend and next week like:

• Heated Rivalry watch party
• Basketball & the Civil Rights movement
• Spy tour
• Lots of vision boarding workshops
• Resume workshop

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* 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.