Things I'm Talking About

• If you want to be a part of Real Housewives of Potomac, the Black Broadway event at Howard Theatre that Ashley Darby is hosting will be filmed for RHOP (and they are teasing other RHOP surprises).
• Speaking of Real Housewives, Real Housewives of London is set to come to Peacock in July. I've only heard amazing things.
• ​Netflix has signed a lease at 11th & F NW, and is planning to host screening and events there.
• Local tribes are trying to save the birthplace of Chief Powhatan in Virginia from development.
• Chaia, the vegetarian taco shop, is...no longer vegetarian. Because people want more protein, they're adding meat to the menu.
• There's a Dominican-influenced popup happening at La Tejana on Sunday.
• The northern corridor of Connecticut Avenue NW is in a legal battle, with the city trying to re-zone it for denser use to promote more affordable housing. Some neighbors have been suing to stop it, and the DC Attorney General recently was granted a motion to dismiss, though it sounds like they expect further opposition and challenges.
• Congratulations to premium member Jennifer for winning a pair of tickets to The Roaring Girl!
  • 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 you watching the World Cup? You responded:

• Yes! (45.5%)
• No, not interested (36.4%)
• Not yet, but soon (18.2%)

What do you actually need to buy a home in DC right now?

One free workshop can help you figure that out.

If you've been putting it off because of interest rates, job market anxiety, or just not knowing where to start, this free workshop is for you.

A lot of what people assume about buying a home in DC is either outdated or just not true. You probably don't need as much as you think to get started. The THRIVE Team at TTR Sotheby's has been helping first-time buyers navigate this market for years.

On June 25, they're breaking it all down for FREE: financing, the current DMV market, where opportunity still exists, and what to budget for beyond the list price.

You'll hear from agents, a local lender, a settlement attorney, and recent buyers who just went through it.

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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: Grill of Ipanema

"Grill of Ipanema is a FAMILY place!!! I ALWAYS have a place to sit and they treat me just like family! ❤️❤️❤️❤️" Darleata

Location: 1858 Columbia Rd 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.

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Brunch, local vendors, and matcha in Dupont Circle

If your Saturday mornings have been feeling a little uninspired lately, SYN Dupont has something for that.

​​Trunk Show Brunch​ runs every Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM–3 PM at 2120 P St NW, featuring brunch staples with a SYN twist, a rotating lineup of local vendors inside the space, and a standing matcha residency from Jaliyaa Coffee (think specialty drinks like the Nana-Lush and Nubian Bloom alongside your Crab Cake Benedict.)

• 🌲 Spend your morning spotting birds at Oxon Run Park with a local bird expert who'll teach you how to identify common species. You'll learn some cool stuff, make a craft, and get outside with your family in a super relaxed way. Wednesday 6/24. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 No required reading here, just bring a book you love and swap recommendations with fellow readers at Pass the Book. You’ll get a free drink, score some new titles to add to your TBR, and actually leave with a reading list that excites you instead of one that feels like homework. Wednesday 6/24. $39+.
• 📖 Learn about the fascinating world of lacemaking at Hillwood’s beautiful estate, where you’ll discover the stories behind this intricate female-dominated craft. It’s the first in a three-part summer series exploring how textiles have shaped history and culture. Wednesday 6/24. $22.
• 🤓 Celebrate Pride Month at Queer Quest: A Pride Social Arcade where you’ll game, connect with other local gamers, and dive into nostalgia with classics like The Sims, Nancy Drew, and Neopets. There’s social bingo, announcements, and a chance to find your gaming crew in a joyful, welcoming space. Wednesday 6/24. Free.
• 🖼️ Stolen Summers: The Next 250 brings 250 survivor stories from across the country to Capitol Hill, featuring live music, art installations, and real conversations about extreme weather’s impact on communities. It’s a powerful gathering on the eve of America’s 250th anniversary that centers the voices of people living through these way too common disasters. Wednesday 6/24. Free. *
• 🖌️ Turn your favorite photos into one-of-a-kind art by learning hand embroidery stitching with Other Cat Creations. You’ll get to embroider patterns right onto a fabric-printed photo of your choice, and the instructor will walk you through everything from basic stitches to how to display your finished piece. Wednesday 6/24. $64.

• 📖 Ever thought about how sneakers became such a big deal in American culture? This conversation at the Library of Congress brings together sneaker designers and educators to explore exactly that, plus you'll get to see actual sneakers from the collections. Thursday 6/25. Free.
• 🧠 Learn how to keep your plants alive and thriving at this beginner-friendly workshop where you’ll pick up simple tips that actually work. No green thumb required, just show up ready to grow something green! Thursday 6/25. Free.
• 🧠 Thinking about buying your first home but have no idea where to start? This first-time homebuyer workshop brings together real estate agents, lenders, settlement attorneys, and people who’ve already done it to answer all your questions in one fast-paced hour. You’ll walk out with a real understanding of what it takes to make homeownership happen. Thursday 6/25. Free. *
• 📖 Eugene Robinson shares his family’s journey through America’s racial history in this powerful blend of memoir and history. The Pulitzer Prize-winning former Washington Post columnist traces how his family’s story illuminates the nation’s ongoing struggle with race and the humanity that persists through it. Thursday 6/25. Free.
• 🎈 The Great American State Fair takes over the National Mall with food and culture from all fifty states and territories. You can eat Maine lobster rolls, watch Hawaii’s hula dancers, grab Texas-sized steaks, and see Alaska’s ice carvings all in one place. Thursday 6/25-7/10. Free.
• 🖌️ Make crop art with seeds and beans at this summer crafting happy hour inspired by the State Fairs exhibition. You’ll get two drinks from ANXO cider, live local music, snacks, and after-hours gallery access all rolled into one evening. Thursday 6/25. $25.

• 🧠 Want to level up your golf game without dropping cash on lessons? Free Lesson Friday at East Potomac Golf Links has you covered with full swing, chipping, and putting instruction for golfers of all skill levels, plus games and challenges to keep things fun. Friday 6/26. Free.
• 📜 Explore hidden Federal-era mansions in Foggy Bottom on this walking tour that stops at homes where Founding Fathers James Madison and James Monroe actually lived. You’ll get an exclusive interior look at the Arts Club of Washington, which was Monroe’s residence before becoming the nation’s oldest nonprofit arts organization. Friday 6/26. $35.
• 🍲 Celebrate 30 years of Teaism with an intimate tea tasting at their Penn Quarter location, complete with small bites and a chance to share your favorite memories. Sample different teas, fill out your own tasting notes, and hang out. Friday 6/26. $7.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 If you’re collecting Inciardi prints, this swap meet at Hypergoat Coffee Roasters is your chance to trade duplicates with other collectors while sipping coffee or matcha. All three machines around town just got restocked, so you can hunt for missing pieces before or after. Friday 6/26. Free.
• 🕺 Spend your evening at A Burlesque Salon, where you’ll get a fascinating history lesson on burlesque as an American art form followed by an engaging live show featuring some of DC’s best performers. Plus there’s a buffet dinner and open bar. Friday 6/26. $70.
• 🍾 If you’re single and ready to mingle, Chaotic Singles Love Island Party is bringing the heat with themed games, icebreakers, and drink specials at Sauf Haus. Think less awkward small talk, more connections with people who actually showed up to meet someone. Friday 6/26. $11+.
• 🖌️ Spend your morning learning wildlife photography from professional photographers at the Aquatic Resources Education Center while you photograph birds in the field. All equipment is provided, lunch is included, and you’ll get to take your photos home with you. Friday 6/26. Free.
• 📖 The National Geographic Museum of Exploration is finally re-opening its doors with cutting-edge tech that takes you around the world to see wildlife, communities, and cultures you’ve never experienced before. There’s also an immersive outdoor courtyard. Friday 6/26. $30.
• 🤓 Celebrate Pride with your people at Nerd Nite Out, a queer geek hangout hosted by the DMV D&D Group and DCGaymers. Start the night at Spark Social on 14th Street and connect with fellow queer nerds who get your references and your vibe. Friday 6/26. Free.

• 🕺 Catch Charlie Chan and the Mystery of Love, a powerful dance performance from the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company celebrating Pride Month through movement, personal storytelling, and themes of identity and belonging. Saturday 6/27. Free.
• 🤸 Spend your Saturday morning getting better at tennis with free tennis lessons from DPR pros, then stick around for serve contests, round robin matches, and music at Banneker Rec Tennis Courts. Whether you’re brand new to the sport or looking to level up your game, there’s something for everyone here. Saturday 6/27. Free.
• 🖌️ Drop by the Crochet Community Social at MoCA Arlington’s Innovation Studio to learn some basic stitches or work on your own project in a super chill, beginner-friendly space. You’ll help create squares that become part of a group blanket, and you can show up anytime during the session. Saturday 6/27. Free.
• 📖 Bring your family to Library Day at The Phillips Collection and explore Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series through storytelling, art-making, and gallery tours. Your library card gets you full museum access to this historic Dupont Circle collection. Saturday 6/27. Free.
• 🍲 Head to Dupont Circle for the Mango Festival and taste your way through India’s best mango varieties with free samples all afternoon. It’s the perfect excuse to try something tropical and new without spending a dime. Saturday 6/27. Free.
• 🖌️ Make your own stackable rings at this wire ring workshop with natural gemstones in Arlington. You’ll learn to shape and wrap bronze or sterling silver wire around stone beads to create two custom rings, and all materials are included so you just show up ready to create. Saturday 6/27. $45.
• 🎭 No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre is a darkly funny, mind-bending one-act play about three people stuck in a room together after death, grappling with the idea that hell might just be other people. This classic French philosophical drama is chilling, erotic, and compelling as the characters form shifting alliances that only make things worse. This was my favorite play as a very striving & moody teenager. Saturday 6/27. $56.
• 🤸 Grab a partner and get ready to build a custom bike, then try not to fall into the water as you race across a floating track at Red Bull Spin Off DC. It’s part engineering challenge, part comedy show as teams attempt this wild balancing act at The Wharf. Saturday 6/27. Free.
• 🖌️ Create a personal map-zine inspired by your favorite DC memories using collage, illustration, hand-lettering, and simple binding. You’ll spend two hours turning your experiences of the city into a one-of-a-kind zine that captures what makes your neighborhood special to you. Saturday 6/27. $19.
• 🍾 Catch World Cup soccer with Washington Spirit players behind the bar at this Navy Yard bar crawl hitting Bluejacket, Solace Outpost, and Dacha Beer Garden. Check in at each spot to score exclusive merch deals and enter to win Spirit swag. Saturday 6/27. Free.

• 🖌️ Spend your Sunday morning making a fresh citrus-inspired flower arrangement with Helen Olivia Flowers in Alexandria. You'll get hands-on instruction from a seasoned designer, a bucket of blooms, your vase, clippers, and everything else you need to create something beautiful to take home. Sunday 6/28. $150.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Sometimes you just need to let it out, and Scream Club DC gives you a safe, judgment-free space to do exactly that. You’ll spend 45 minutes breathing, setting an intention, and releasing it all with a collective scream at Georgetown Waterfront Park, then ground yourself before heading out into your day feeling lighter. Sunday 6/28. Free.
• 🖌️ Make a geometric air plant hanger using just straws and string at this Creativebug craft class. You’ll follow along with an instructor video, get free supplies, and even take home a free air plant if you want one. Sunday 6/28. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Bring a picnic blanket and head to Picnic and Ponies at Full Moon Farm to unleash your inner horse girl: watch horse trials, meet the riders and their ponies, and hang out with people who get why horses are amazing. No experience needed. Sunday 6/28. $35.
• 🌐 Bring the whole family to Whanau Day at the New Zealand Embassy for a classic Kiwi celebration with sausage sizzles, lolly scrambles, gumboot throwing, and sack races. You’ll get to hang out with the local Kiwi community and meet the new NZ Ambassador in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Sunday 6/28. $30.
• 🐾 Your dog is ready to be a soccer star at World Pup Cup, where pups can kick toy balls around while costumed refs make ridiculous calls, you can decorate custom trophies, and there’s a whole adoption event with adorable dogs looking for homes. Plus there’s a DJ, food vendors, and ice cream from Toby’s. Sunday 6/28. Free.
• 🤓 Want to jump into a complete Dungeons & Dragons adventure in one afternoon? This one-shot session starts and finishes in four hours, so no long-term commitment needed, and everyone’s welcome whether you’ve played a thousand times or never rolled a die. Sunday 6/28. $15.
• 🛍️ Fashion lovers, this Vintage in The City pop-up is back and bigger than ever with curated designer pieces from Fendi, Chanel, and Dior that’ll make you feel like you stepped out of a fashion magazine. You’ll find vintage bags, accessories, plus Vintage Angels lemonade, free TVA tote bags, and matches to take home. Sunday 6/28. Price not stated.
• 🖌️ Skip the baking and jump straight to the fun part with Chef Yolanda’s buttercream cookie decorating workshop where you’ll learn professional piping techniques to create gorgeous blooms and borders. All the tools and pre-baked cookies are provided, so you can focus on getting creative. Sunday 6/28. $69. *
• 🖌️ Take a break from screens and spend two hours coloring and sipping coffee at Creative Grounds DC for their one-year anniversary celebration. It’s a chill afternoon designed for Black and Brown adults who want to be creative, mindful, and around good people without any pressure to perform or be perfect. Sunday 6/28. Free.

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

• $2 boathouse hh drinks
• bbq festival
• vintage Legos + 2067 time capsule
• ice cream social & art workshop
• yoga with elephants
• graffiti art workshop
• indie sleaze dance party

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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.