IN THIS ISSUE:

🏟️ RFK Stadium + DC Rental Act votes happening today
💔 El Rinconcito II might close — go while you can
🕺 Flamenco parties, vintage costume balls & live DJs
🎭 Theatre Week kicks off with $25+ shows across DC
🎈 Celebrate H Street Fest, Columbia Heights Day & more

Things I'm Talking About

🍁 I'm looking for the best spots to look at fall leaves in DC! If you have a favorite spot, I'd love to hear (bonus points if you have a timestamp on any photos that tell you when it was looking good in prior years). Reply and let me know and I'll share!

🎶 Echostage now has lockers so you don't have to carry around things when you go to a show.

🏠 Baltimore is opening grants to rehab vacant buildings for residential use.

🎬The Sandlot previewed its latest location on Minnesota Avenue at the old Senator Theatre movie palace.

🏢 UrbanTurf has a look at 12 different office-to-residential conversions currently in the works in DC.

🏟️ Today is the final vote on the $3.7 billion RFK Stadium redevelopment plan.

📜 The final vote on the updated DC Rental Act is expected today as well.

🪧 I am not the best source for news about the DC occupation. If you're looking for up to date ways to get involved, Organize DC is probably the best source of events.

Valerie

⚡ 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.

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

Last week, I asked: When do you think the federal occupation will end in DC? You responded:

• Never (35%)
• Next year (27.5%)
• This month (20%)
• November (12.5%)
• October (5%)

💔 El Rinconcito II, one of my go-to spots, has For Lease signs in the window. I'm featuring them under Tried & True below.

🌴 A new bar & restaurant focusing on the cuisine of the Seychelles is opening in Shaw.

🍸 The Tombs started turning into a nightclub after 10 PM, but the model isn't sustainable without a cover charge. People pushed back on the cover, and now they are evaluating whether they'll go back to just a restaurant.

🇵🇷 Qui Qui, a favorite Puerto Rican restaurant, is re-opening in its new Park View location next week.

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: El Rinconcito II

El Rinconcito II is always a fun time, whether it's with a group or just a friend enjoying a marg on the patio. Good prices on good food, everyone loves their pupusas but my favorite is their nachos (which are a whole meal). Their tamarind margarita is my favorite in DC.

They are also the only place I will get delivery nachos from, I don't know what they do differently but it's the only place I've found where the nachos show up to my house still delicious.

I'm taking over this section this week because they have For Lease signs due to dwindling customers with everything going on in DC. Go and experience it, and help out a local business who has been here for YEARS. -- Valerie

Location: 1326 Park Rd NW
No website; check out Yelp​

😋 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-area BARK Ranger programs​

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

• 🖼️ For the first time in years, the National Archives is putting the entire US Constitution on display, showing all four original pages, the rarely seen fifth page signed by George Washington, plus the Bill of Rights and every amendment since. Running now until Wednesday 10/1. Free.
• 🤸 Start your Wednesday mornings with Sunrise Yoga Above the Nation’s Capital, a refreshing blend of mindful movement and breath work overlooking the city. Every Wednesday through October 31. $13.
• 🍲 It's National Harbor's Burger Week from September 14-20! Indulge in chef-created burgers, unique seasonings, and unexpected burger bites while supporting a good cause. Sunday 9/14 - Saturday 9/20. Free entry.

• 📖 Join the Yarnworks Meetup at Marianne's Cafe for a cozy evening of knitting, crocheting, and chatting with fellow crafters. Thursday 9/18. Free.
• 🕺 Say adios to summer at the End of Summer Flamenco Cocktail Party and enjoy live Flamenco, tapas, and sangria at Taberna del Alabardero. Thursday, 9/18. $68.
• 🎭 Join the special 75th anniversary screening of "All About Eve" with the Golden Age of Hollywood Costume Ball. Thursday 9/18. Free.
• Last chance to explore the outdoors with the Summer 2025 Anacostia River Discovery Series. Thursday 9/25. Free!
• 🕺 Experience vintage glamour, music, dancing, movie magic, and a celebration of Hollywood's iconic style from the 1920s to the late 1950s. Join the Golden Age of Hollywood Costume Ball at the Library of Congress on Thursday, 9/18. Free entry.
• 🕺 Get ready for a night of flowers and live music s at the Live Music at the US Botanic Garden and enjoy performances by Tornado Rose and TrapCellist, plus botanical mocktails and snacks for purchase. Thursday 9/18. Free.
• 🎭 Want to explore some of the DC's best theatre but on a budget? Score tickets to 20+ shows at Theatre Week featuring musicals, plays, classics, and more. Thursday 9/18 to 10/5. $25, $45, or $65.
• 📖 A Book Club For Those Who Love Food lets you explore Jamie Oliver's 7 Ways cookbook and get inspired by easy, tasty recipes. Thursday 9/18. Free.
• 🎭 Join the world premiere documentary screening of From Rails to Trails, a 60-year story of transforming abandoned rail corridors into public trails, featuring interviews with Pete Buttigieg & Tommy Thompson, a book signing, and in-depth conversation with the film's director. Thursday 9/18. Free.
• 📖 Join the grand finale of WAMU's Summer of Sci-Fi at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for an evening panel exploring how 1950s science fiction shapes our tech-filled world today. Thursday 9/18. Free.

• 🍲 Spanish Embassy Tasting is a first-ever wine tasting night with the Embassy of Spain. Friday 9/19. $110+.
• 🕺 Get ready for a night of symphonic, cirque-tastic fun with Troupe Vertigo: Cirque España! featuring aerial artists, contortionists, and dancers backed by the NSO. It's a visual feast set to classical music that'll leave you in awe. Fri 9/19. $39+
• 🤓 There's a Nerds Night Out you can join, a monthly bar crawl where you can explore geek-friendly bars in different neighborhoods. Friday, 9/19. Free entry!
• 🌐 In celebration of Black cowboy and cowgirl culture, the Bill Pickett Rodeo features horseback riding and tricks, lasso demos, and reenactments of the origins and legacy of African American western life. Friday 9/19 - Saturday 9/20. $45.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Stand up for democracy at the Rally for democracy on the National Mall. Show that America is nothing without all of us - workers, immigrants, Black, Brown, and more. Friday 9/19. Free.
• 🎭 Connect with your DMV community at the Local DMV Stories: Special Community Screening in Adams Morgan. Enjoy local food, watch inspiring short films about immigrants in the area, and chat with the filmmakers afterward. Friday 09/19. $10.

• 📖 Ready for a night of nerdy fun? Join Nerd Nite at DC9 for cheeky talks on mystery helicopters, robot combat, and monsterotica romantasy biology. Saturday, 9/20. $13+
• 📜 Step back in time on the Civil War Hospital Tour and explore the Lee-Fendall House's role as a Union Army hospital during the Civil War. Saturday 9/20. $15 for general public, free for museum members.
• 🖌️ Get ready to welcome Fall with a Harvest Cheeseboard Building Class at Mess Hall! It's a fun cheeseboard workshop where you'll learn the art of cheese pairing and design while enjoying a glass of bubbles. Saturday, 9/20. $87.
• 🎈 Ready to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the H Street Festival? Get ready for a day filled with music, food, and local vendors. Saturday 9/20. Free.
• 🤸 Kickstart your day with DAYBREAKER morning yoga and a surprise DJ set, complete with live musicians, dancers, and free drinks to keep you fueled. Saturday 9/20. $25+.
• 📖 Tea at Woodlawn Manor offers a delightful afternoon of English Tea sandwiches, pastries, and fresh fruit in a historic setting. Sip tea, learn about Woodlawn Manor's 200-year history, and test your knowledge with Autumn Trivia on Saturday 9/20. $55.
• 🧠 Ready to find your perfect plant match? Join Plant Speed Dating with Host Shalita O'Neal for a fun, interactive herbalism workshop where you'll meet medicinal plants and discover your wellness allies. Saturday 9/20. $25 admission.
• 🖼️ Get ready to rock out at Rock Creek Park Day celebrating the park's 135th anniversary with a Punk Rocks twist! Enjoy guided hikes, DIY punk crafts, and even make your Punk Pup a B.A.R.K. Ranger. Saturday 9/20-21 and 9/27-28. Free.
• 🖌️ Get your hands dirty and learn the magic of herbs at this Growing Community: Herbalism Workshop with Dr. Madea Allen, where you'll make your own herb-infused olive oil and vinegar to take home. Saturday 9/20. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Ready to refresh your wardrobe sustainably? Join the FALL CLOTHING SWAP at MLK Library. Bring up to 10 pieces to exchange for new-to-you treasures. Saturday 9/20. Free.

• 🍲 Indulge in a sweet paradise at Cake Fest DMV and enjoy your cakes to the fullest with live demos, delicious cake tastings, and fun activities for families. Sunday, 9/21. $18.
• 🖌️ Unwind and bring a fall gnome masterpiece to life! Join the Fall Gnome Painting workshop on Sunday, 9/21. $39.
• 🖼️ Get your hands dirty at the Clay Festival DC where DMV potters and ceramic artists will showcase their talents. Join in on mini clay projects and watch live pottery wheel demos! Saturday 9/21. Free.
• 🖌️ Coffee Painting Workshop with Chandni is a creative experience of turning brewed coffee into art. Sunday 9/21. $45.
• 🕺 Are you a butterfly lover? Mariposa Garden in Kalorama Park is hosting a fall equinox fundraiser with classical music among the flowers. Bring a blanket and support this community-run gem. Sunday 9/21. Donations.
• 🖌️ Learn how to make bread! Join the Japanese Milk Bread Class and learn the secrets of creating soft, chewy Shokupan bread and take home your delicious creations, plus a bonus pumpkin butter recipe! Sunday, 9/21. $129.
• 📖 Join Airplane Mode at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library for an afternoon of creativity, connection, and learning without phones. Sunday 9/21. Free.
• 🖌️ Looking to de-stress and get creative? Score a free Paint By Numbers Meditation Kit at MLK Library, which includes a color guide, two images, paint, and brushes - first come, first served! Sunday 9/21. Free.
• 🎈 Celebrate Columbia Heights Day and shop from a various mix of vendors, live music, crafts, and activities for all ages. Join the neighborhood fun for free! Saturday, 9/21. Free.
• Appreciate nature and creativity more at this Autumn Equinox Workshop, featuring guided trail walk, meditation, sensory practices, and mindful art-making. Sunday 9/21. $66+

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

• Autumn equinox wine tasting & tarot readings
• Bike all 50 state streets in DC
• Crab feast
• Coffee festival
• Cupcake decorating workshop
• Alpaca happy hour

⚡ 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.