Things I'm Talking About

• ​Maryland Renaissance Festival tickets went on sale this week, with this year being the 50th season. Shout out to my friend Christian for waiting in the virtual queue for an hour to get us tickets!
• There are a ton of concerts coming up over the next few months that I'm looking at, and put together a list.
  • Hilary Duff on Sunday (but it's at Jiffy Lube Live)
  • 2charm on 8/7 if you like hyperpop (The Atlantis)
  • Griefcat on 8/9 if you want to laugh (7DrumCity)
  • Kesha with Chromeo and Erika Jayne on 8/14 (Jiffy Lube Live)
  • Channel Tres on 9/7 if you want house x hip hop (9:30 Club)
  • Robyn on 9/9 for pop (The Anthem)
  • Melanie C on 9/11 for pop (9:30 Club)
  • Haute & Freddy on 9/25 for pop (9:30 Club)
  • Charli xcx on 9/28 for hyperpop-lite (Capital One)
  • Jessie Ware on 10/10 for pop (The Anthem)
  • Rebecca Black on 10/15 for hyperpop-lite (9:30 Club)
• DC residents are boycotting DoorDash for supporting a bill that would strip away even more budget autonomy for the city. They didn't like the new 20 cent tax on third party deliveries.
• A bunch of closures are rumored via Popville: IHOP in Columbia Heights seems to be closed, and Looking Glass Lounge's last day is today.
• Tomorrow is the last day to submit your design for the DC State Fair t-shirt contest. I've heard that submissions are lower than prior years, so you have a better chance of winning.
• Maryland has banned English Ivy and the Orange Daylily from being sold, transported, or propogated.

Valerie

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

Last week, we asked: What's your favorite concert venue in the area? You responded:

• 9:30 Club (51%)
• The Anthem (32.7%)
• Capital One Arena (8.2%)
• Howard Theatre (6.1%)
• Songbyrd (2%)
• Echostage (0%)

Still paying rent because buying feels impossible?

Between rising prices, interest rates, and nonstop headlines, it's easy to assume homeownership is out of reach.

But many first-time buyers are surprised to learn they don't need 20% down, everything is negotiable, and there are opportunities in today's market if you know where to look.

At this free Homebuying 101 workshop, local experts will separate fact from fiction, answer your biggest questions, and walk you through the entire process from financing to finding the right neighborhood so that you can make your next move with confidence.

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: Annie's Paramount Steak House

"Annie’s is a fantastic neighborhood staple. Nothing flashy but great vibes and solid food." Gary

Location: 1609 17th St 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 who should be featured and why, and share the love for a local DC restaurant.

✨ Premium subscribers: Access the events map & calendar!

See all events on a map or calendar, and filter events by category, date, and my top recommendations. Choose between a monthly or weekly view.

And you can add it as an app without downloading anything! Get the full list today.

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

Looking for something specific? Check out these options:

• ​Ways to disconnect in DC​
• ​Museum parties & happy hours​
• ​Mosaics classes
• ​Pottery & ceramics classes​
• ​Knitting & crochet classes​
• ​Photography classes​
• ​Run clubs​

• 🖌️ Make miniature works of art and trade them with other creative people at this quarterly Artist Trading Card swap with a whimsy theme. Bring at least 4 cards you've created (2.5x3.5 inches, any medium), put them in a drawing, and walk away with new pieces from other artists. Wednesday 7/29. Free.
• 🤓 National Geographic Trivia Night runs every Wednesday at the Explorers Eatery inside the National Geographic Museum, with two rounds of science, wildlife, and culture questions plus a complimentary drink included. Wednesday 7/29-9/30. $10.
• 🍲 Northeast Summer Nights: Culinary Arts kicks off a five-week Wednesday series at Bryant Street Market with food-focused programming, music, and artist activations. Wednesday 7/29. Free.
• 📜 A panel discussion on the making of the U.S. Constitution brings together scholars from the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court historical societies to dig into the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the First Federal Congress, and Washington’s early presidency. Wednesday 7/29. $50.
• 🎈 Orquesta Manplesa brings the heat to Woolly Mammoth’s month-long celebration of DC’s diversity and America’s 250th birthday. Expect live music, free drinks, a photo booth, and giveaways as you hang out in the heart of Downtown DC. Wednesday 7/29. Free.

• 🍱 Malai x Kolkata Chai Kulfi Pop Party is a pop-up celebrating a new collab between two South Asian DC brands: a masala chai kulfi pop made with Kolkata Chai Co.'s spice mix. The first 50 people to buy one get a free iced chai. Thursday 7/30. Free.
• 🛍️ Carpe Librum is an outdoor pop-up book sale in National Landing with thousands of gently used books, vinyl, CDs, and DVDs, all priced at $7 or less. Thursday 7/30. Free to browse.
• 📖 Live! At the Library: Mid-Atlantic Book Artists is a panel discussion at the Library of Congress with women book artists nominated for NMWA’s upcoming 2027 exhibition, followed by a pop-up show of rare artists’ books from the LOC’s collection. Thursday 7/30. Free.
• 📖 Learn how women used textiles to tell their stories and claim their power at this talk by author Nicole Nehrig, part of Hillwood’s Interwoven exhibition. From sewing to embroidery to weaving, you’ll discover how women throughout history turned needle and thread into acts of resistance, community building, and self-expression. Thursday 7/30. $22.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 afterfive: who’s your match? is a blind-matching networking event at Barrel House Cafe where you’re paired with another attendee based on shared interests and goals before the open mingling begins. Thursday 7/30. Free.
• 🧠 Cabaret and Confidence (Burlesque Basics) is a beginner burlesque workshop at Binge Bar DC where you’ll learn the foundational moves of the art form. No experience needed. Thursday 7/30. Free.

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Scream Club DC is a short guided session at Kingman Island where a group of strangers breathe, set an intention, and scream together. Friday 7/31. Free.
• 🎭 Join true crime fans for Serial Killer Speakeasy is a 90-minute immersive theater experience where the stories of Bundy, Dahmer, Gacy, and Gein are performed live from the killers’ perspectives, paired with four themed cocktails. Friday 7/31. Price not stated.
• 📖 Ever wanted to sleep with the dinosaurs? This overnight adventure at the Natural History Museum lets kids and their grown-ups explore after hours, play survival games, and camp out among the fossils. Friday 7/31-8/1. $130-$150.
• 🎭 A New Brain is a one-night staged reading of William Finn’s lesser-known musical about a composer facing a brain condition — quirky, funny, and worth knowing if you love Falsettos. Friday 7/31. $10.
• 📖 Writer Colin Asher discusses The Midnight Special at Solid State Books, a history of how the criminal justice system shaped American music through figures like Lead Belly, Elmo Hope, Johnny Cash, and Tupac Shakur. Friday 7/31. Free, $36 for book + drink.
• 🎭 The Harry Potter Birthday Marathon at Parklands-Turner Library runs all the films back-to-back on Harry’s actual birthday, with wand-making on the side. Drop in whenever. Friday 7/31. Free.
• 🖌️ Kinusaiga-Inspired Fabric Art Workshop at Merry Pin DC is an introduction to a Japanese “quiltless quilting” technique where you cut grooves into foam board and tuck fabric scraps in to build a layered picture. All materials are provided, and a framing add-on is available if you want it gallery-ready. Friday 7/31. $45+.
• 🍾 The Otakon FREE Kickoff Party is a 21+ night at ESL Shaw with live DJs and dancing to kick off the anime convention weekend. Cosplay is encouraged but the Otakon badge isn’t required. Friday 7/31. Free.

• 🌐 Black Books Matter Fest is MahoganyBooks' annual celebration of Black authors at National Harbor, with 50+ authors doing signings, panels, kids storytime, and local vendors. Saturday 8/1. Free.
• 🍲 Hill East Tomato Party is Sloppy Mama’s annual celebration of peak-season tomatoes from a Virginia farm, with sandwiches, flatbread, and a tomato peach jam olive oil cake from a local baker. Saturday 8/1. Free.
• 🖌️ Spend your evening getting your hands dirty with a Boozy Bonsai Workshop at PlantHouse in Alexandria, where you’ll plant your own bonsai tree and learn care tips from the experts. Saturday 8/1. $31+.
• 🐾 Spend your summer afternoon paddling on the Potomac while helping rescue dogs and cats find homes at Paddle for Paws, a fundraiser for Lucky Dog with kayaking, paddleboarding, a waterfront reception, and a wine pull raffle at Key Bridge Boathouse in Georgetown. Saturday 8/1. $50 (or $25 for reception only).
• 🖼️ Check out Tomorrow the Sun Will Rise, a major exhibition featuring 48 artists from the DC area who were selected from 1,500 applications. You’ll see work from painters, sculptors, and mixed-media artists grappling with what’s happening in the world right now, all while celebrating resilience and creativity. Saturday 8/1-9/20. $20.
• 🎈 Battle of the Beast Rodeo is a professional bull riding event at a working ranch in Union Bridge, MD, with barrel racing, mutton bustin’, and kids riding in the actual bull arena. Saturday 8/1. $25.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Books & Brews Social is a casual morning meetup at the Georgetown Waterfront built around a blind book swap, complimentary coffee, and conversation prompt cards. Saturday 8/1. $8+.
• 🐾 A dog-friendly bar crawl along the Metropolitan Beer Trail hits four walkable NoMa spots, starting at Andy’s Pizza. Grab the free passport for discounts (including free pizza) at each stop. Saturday 8/1. Free.

• 🕺 BYO Movie Vinyl Listening Party at Kuro is an afternoon-to-evening listening party where you bring movie soundtracks and scores to spin on a vintage hi-fi system, or show up empty-handed and hear what others brought. Ticket includes a craft cocktail. Sunday 8/2. $20.
• 🐾 The Capital Cat Festival takes over Midlands DC with adoptable cats, local rescues, pet portrait artists, and cat-themed ceramics and crafts (with proceeds benefiting A Cat’s Life Rescue). Sunday 8/2. Free.
• 🕺 Hilary Duff’s the lucky me tour brings the pop singer back to touring behind her first new music in years, including her upcoming Atlantic Records debut. Sunday 8/2. $88+. *
• 🖌️ The Art of Drying & Preserving Flowers is a hands-on workshop at Edgewood Community Farm where you’ll learn to dry and preserve flowers using air-drying, pressing, and color-preservation techniques. You’ll harvest a fresh bunch from the farm’s production rows to take home and start your own drying project. Sunday 8/2. $20.
• 🤓 Arkham Horror at The Board Room VA is a cooperative board game where you and up to five other players work together to stop Lovecraftian monsters from breaking through into reality. Sunday 8/2. Free.

🤫 Psst! I couldn't fit everything in this issue. See all the events happening over the next week!

• renaissance festival
• beach party bingo
• jazz in the garden
• singles social
• pasta-making class
• Afro-Caribbean festival
• tarot readings
• K-pop craft night night market

Click the Login link below the form and use the email you're subscribed with.

⚡ 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.