Things I'm Talking About

• The DC primary election, of course.
  • DC Democratic primary was yesterday, which is essentially the real election. Janeese Lewis George has a strong lead with 64% of the votes counted, according to the Associated Press as of the time I'm writing this.
  • This would mean that since the 2006 election, 3 out of 4 DC mayors were Ward 4 councilmembers before being elected mayor. Covering Georgia Avenue and Chevy Chase, Ward 4 has been one of the more diverse wards in DC, and it seems like proving ground for broader appeal.
  • I think the wildest mayoral campaign this year was Vincent Orange. Did you know he had a phone number you could call and talk to AI? Did you know he tried to get viral TikTok dances made for his campaign? "Hello DC youth" and "make sure you tag your parents" have not left my head and have been making me laugh for the past month.
• There's a ton going on this weekend: Juneteenth, Pride, Smithsonian Solstice Weekend, and Father's Day. You are going to find something you enjoy this weekend.
• Instead of just Saturday, the Smithsonian has extended into a full Solstice Weekend with more events during the day. I have a list of the different Smithsonian Solstice events by location to make it easier, and the events are also in the app on the map and location pages.
  • Pro tip: the African Art Museum is the place to be. The Arts & Industries building always has a looooong line, but the African Art Museum has shorter lines, great DJs, art that's always worth seeing (and too often overlooked), and a connection over to the Asian Art Museum so you can go between the two without waiting in line again. Just remember, this is the African Art Museum, which is different than the Museum of African American History & Culture (I've seen people get the two confused).
  • National Gallery of Art is not participating this year. Even though it's not a Smithsonian, it has participated in the past.
  • The National Mall is going through some stuff with the America 250 programming, so it probably won't be as picturesque as last year and the Smithsonian is warning people it's going to be harder to get around.
• DC Public Library is doing free eye exams this summer, with free glasses for kids 3-18.
• DMV restaurants are participating in Eat250, with special events and $25 and $50 specials.
• Kafe Leopold in Georgetown announced that after 21 years, they are closing on Father's Day.
• Congratulations to premium member Brittney for winning a copy of Austin Graff's 111 Places for Kids in Washington DC That You Must Not Miss. You may know Austin as the guy who made a guide to every single neighborhood in DC
  • Premium members: We have more giveaways for premium members coming up, so keep an eye out! If you're not premium yet, now's your chance.

Valerie

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

Last week, we asked: Are there any America 250 events that you're planning to do or have done? You responded:

• No, not interested (74.7%)
• Yes, some (14.7%)
• No, I don't know of any (10.7%)
• Yes, a lot (0%)

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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: Jetties

"everytime I drive past jetties I think about ordering the Thanksgiving sandwich 😋" bhop16

Location: 1609 Foxhall Road NW in DC; 5632 Connecticut Ave NW in DC; 3708 Macomb St NW in DC; and 4829 Fairmont Ave in MD
​Website​

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• 🖌️ Plants in the Park is back with hands-on plant workshops where you'll create a patio fruit starter to take home. It's a perfect excuse to get outside and make something cool with your hands. Wednesday 6/17. Free.
• 📖 Curious about how great design tells a personal story? Head to Patrick Sutton’s book signing for “Tailored Interiors” where you’ll hear from an acclaimed interior designer about creating spaces that actually reflect who you are. There’s a keynote talk, Q&A, wine and snacks, plus a chance to grab a signed copy of the book. Wednesday 6/17. Free.
• 🕺 Head to the District of Pride Showcase at Lincoln Theatre to celebrate 20 years of LGBTQIA+ leadership with live music, drag performances, spoken word, and community recognition. Hosted by the legendary Rayceen Pendarvis. Wednesday 6/17. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Meet Blondie the horse and tour the new Wells Fargo Education Center at the U.S. Park Police Horse Stables on the National Mall. You’ll get to explore exhibits and grab free America’s 250th giveaways. Wednesday 6/17. Free.
• 🍲 If you love cooking and good food, this Cookbook Club potluck at Bold Fork Books is your kind of night. You’ll cook a dish from Edna Lewis’s classic “The Taste of Country Cooking,” bring it to share, and spend the evening eating, talking, and making friends with other food lovers in the shop. Wednesday 6/17. $21.
• 🖌️ Make pride perler bead jewelry while chatting with Rachel Leigh Campbell about trans rights and identity documents at this hands-on Crafted Dialogues event. You’ll design and create earrings, necklaces, bracelets, or keychains while supporting TransLaw and the Transgender Strategy Center. Wednesday 6/17. $15.

• 🍲 Come watch our cheesemonger Kara McGrath run through her competition prep for the Cheesemonger Invitational while you taste her pairings, judge her skills, and help her get ready for the ultimate cheese competition in NYC. You'll get a pint, tons of cheese samples, and the chance to be part of something pretty cool. Thursday 6/18. $60.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Want to hang out with sharks? Head to the National Aquarium for Thursday Night Swim, an adults-only event where you can explore amazing exhibits, grab a drink (first one’s free!), and enjoy the place without navigating around kids. Thursday 6/18. $60.
• 🕺 Jazz trumpeter Paul Bailey celebrates Miles Davis’s 100th birthday with live music in the gorgeous Kogod Courtyard, plus board games, solstice snacks, and chalk art activities. Thursday 6/18. Free.
• 🌐 Head to Harrison Park for the 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration where you’ll catch live go-go music, local vendors, and family activities celebrating Black Broadway and community power. It’s a full evening of culture and connection that’s free for everyone. Thursday 6/18. Free.
• 🎭 A Fine Madness brings theater to unexpected spots around DC with free community events that mix performance, conversation, and connection at places like Eighteenth Street Lounge. Think Golden Record-inspired gatherings where you can actually talk with the artists and other theater lovers. Thursday 6/18. Free.

• 🌐 Spend Juneteenth honoring DC’s oldest Black cemeteries with the Black Georgetown Foundation at Mt. Zion-Female Union Band Society Cemeteries, where you can take tours, help with beautification, listen to live music from the Mt. Zion UMC Orchestra, and participate in a special plaque dedication. All ages welcome, no experience needed, and gloves are provided. Friday 6/19. Free.
• 🎈 Indepen'Dance takes over the American History Museum with two days of dancing, live music, and hands-on activities celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary. You can learn go-go moves from The Go-Go Museum, catch live performances from swing bands to DJ sets, take drop-in dance classes in everything from hip hop to ballet, and even watch the cult classic film Hairspray. Friday 6/19-6/20. Free.
• 🤸 Lace up your skates for the Skate Of The Union Festival kicking off with a Friday night skate around DC’s monuments, plus weekend races and skate camps. Great for everyone from beginners to speed demons! Friday 6/19-6/21. Free.
• 🖼️ Watch artist Ubaldo Sánchez create a stunning alfombra (sawdust carpet) installation across the tile floors of the Arts and Industries Building. He and his assistants will be there all day sharing the story behind this beautiful Maya artistic tradition and letting you get up close with the process. Friday 6/19. Free.
• 🕺 Get ready to dance under the stars at Discoteca del Sol, where DJ Adrian Collazo and Orquesta Manplesa bring the heat with salsa dura and 1970s disco on the Madison Avenue Terrace. It’s the perfect blend of Caribbean rhythms and summer energy that’ll have you moving all night. Friday 6/19. Free.
• 🌐 Juneteenth at Anacostia Community Museum is throwing a neighborhood block party with live music, spoken word, cooking demos, and a late-night skate session to close things out. Think front-porch conversations, youth activities, and good food all day long. Friday 6/19. Free.
• 🌐 Celebrate Juneteenth Community Day honoring Opal Lee’s 100th birthday with storytelling, line dancing, a go-go performance, art making, and a cookout workshop that brings generations together. There’s something for everyone, from kids’ story time to genealogy sessions and a curated shop featuring Opal Lee’s own books. Friday 6/19. Free.
• 📖 The Natural Museum of Natural History is staying open late with a scavenger hunt, DJ music in the Rotunda, and special exhibits celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary. Grab a self-guided hunt, explore the galleries until 11 pm, snag a prize from the National Postal Museum table, and hit up the cafés for food and drinks while you’re there. Friday 6/19. Free.
• 🌐 Head to Anacostia for the OurSpace Juneteenth Celebration where you’ll find live music, local vendors, food trucks, and interactive art all day long. It’s a community-centered space to celebrate, shop small, and connect with your neighbors. Friday 6/19. Free.
• 🕺 RIOT! The Official Capital Pride Opening Party is bringing the heat to kick off Pride weekend with BOB The Drag Queen doing a DJ set and Myki Meeks headlining alongside a stacked lineup of local and national performers. Friday 6/19. $39+.

• 🌐 The Capital Pride Parade is back to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and love while honoring the historic fight for equality right here in DC. Find a spot along the parade route to watch and celebrate the different groups. Saturday 6/20. Free.
• 🍲 Bring a homemade dessert and leave with a box full of treats from local bakers at this community swap in Arlington. It’s a potluck where everyone wins and you get to meet other dessert lovers from around the DMV. Saturday 6/20. $29.
• 🖌️ Bring the kids to Library Day at the Rubell Museum for storytime, arts and crafts, and a chance to explore quilts by artist Basil Kincaid that celebrate community, identity, and ancestry. It’s a free way to spend your Saturday morning doing something creative together. Saturday 6/20. Free.
• 🎈 Stick around after dark for the Solstice Celebration at the National Museum of African Art with curator-led tours, live DJ sets, and performances that’ll keep you dancing until nearly midnight. You’ll get to explore the “Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art” exhibition while soaking in the energy of multiple stages featuring everything from DJ Detailz to the Ni Dembaya Band. Saturday 6/20. Free.
• 🖌️ Get your hands inky at this collaborative screen printing workshop where you’ll layer colors and images on paper to create one-of-a-kind prints you take home. You’ll rotate between different screens with other participants, experimenting with texture and color while learning techniques from Beth Hansen, a DC printer with 20 years of experience. Saturday 6/20. $55.
• 🖌️ Spend Father’s Day doing something fun together at this Father & Daughter Trucker Hat Workshop where you’ll customize your own hat to take home. You get three hours to get creative, free parking, and the whole thing happens at Atlas Brew Works so the adults can grab a drink while you craft. Saturday 6/20. $55.
• 🧠 Learn which weeds in your garden are actually edible or medicinal and what they’re telling you about your soil. Xandra Coleman will show you how to turn those pesky plants into useful knowledge during this hands-on workshop at the Urban Demonstration Garden. Saturday 6/20. Free.
• 🎭 Catch Hairspray (1988) at the History Film Forum, where a Baltimore teen’s dream of becoming a dance queen becomes a fight for racial desegregation in the 1960s. John Waters’ cult classic is funny, sweet, and surprisingly relevant, plus it’s part of the Indepen’Dance celebration. Saturday 6/20. Free.
• 🖼️ Head to the opening reception for Britnee Scott’s debut solo exhibition and experience striking visuals that explore memory, identity, and what can’t be erased. You’ll get three hours of immersive art, good conversation, and that electric energy that only happens on opening night. Saturday 6/20. Free.

• 🧑‍🍳 Learn to make your own hot sauce from scratch using fresh, local peppers and discover how to balance heat with flavor in this hands-on workshop. You'll explore different pepper varieties and create your own unique blend to take home. Sunday 6/21. $34.
• 🕺 Come celebrate Black Music Month and Father’s Day at the 90’s Block Party featuring Doug E. Fresh, DJ Quicksilva, and DJ Flexx spinning 30 years of DMV beats. Expect an afternoon of classic hip-hop, R&B, and Go-Go right at MLK Jr. Memorial Library’s Loggia in downtown DC. Sunday 6/21. Free.
• 🌐 Capital Pride Festival takes over Pennsylvania Avenue with multiple stages, food trucks, and dance parties that go until 10pm. You can catch high energy performances from Maren Morris, Leikeli47, and more, grab drinks with a Capitol view, or dance under the sunset right in the middle of America’s Main Street. Sunday 6/21. Free.
• 🤝 Spend your Sunday morning doing something good for the island while learning about nature. Remove invasive plants at Theodore Roosevelt Island with the NPS Weed Warriors and local Master Naturalists, with tasks for all skill levels from cutting vines to sawing down bush honeysuckle. Sunday 6/21. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Spend your Sunday afternoon on a relaxed brewery walk with other women around DC, hitting a few spots at an easy pace with good conversation and fresh air. Whether you’re into beer, prefer non-alcoholic drinks, or just want the company, this is a low-pressure way to meet people and reset your weekend. Sunday 6/21. Free.
• 🖌️ Learn the Japanese art of kusamono with artist Young Choe at the National Arboretum, where you’ll create your own small plant composition to take home. This hands-on workshop covers everything from the history and styles of this beautiful botanical artform to the actual techniques you’ll use to build your piece. Sunday 6/21. $100.

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

• spooky summer comedy nights
• secret history mocktail debates
• late-night museum scavenger hunts
• dinosaur hall sleepovers
• Waterfront square dancing

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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.