There are two events I really want to highlight for history buffs:

• The house history workshop with DC Preservation League at the DC Public Library is always in high demand. Sign up while you can. History & genealogy is basically gossip, and you can find some good gossip, like the woman who used to live in my house and how she put her married affair partner down as living with her in a census record. Monday 1/27 at 5:30 PM
• If you love public transportation, the National Capital Trolley Museum will have trolley rides on old streetcars on 1/25--but you have to get a ticket early because it also fills up.

Speaking of transportation, watch out for big construction on 495 around Tysons this weekend. VDOT is not mincing words: "Travelers are urged to stay away from northbound I-495 near Tysons the entire weekend of January 24-27."

Valerie

Historic Photo of the Week

A movie theatre advertising screenings of the Hindenburg crash, Washington, DC, April 1937

ICYMI

​

Things to Do in DC: Next 4 Weeks

I'm continuing with highlighting more events that are put on regularly to help you not only meet new people but have a regular space for you to hang out.

Know of something cool happening? Submit an event for consideration!

This Week

Wednesday

• ​Canvas Comedy Hour combines art and laughter where you can enjoy live comedy sets and a guided sip & paint session. Wednesday 1/22. $25.
• Tired of old boring conversations? Share thoughts you want to talk about but find hard to initiate with friends from Skip the Small Talk DC. Wednesday 1/22. Free.

Thursday

• Listen to experts talk about traditional distilling methods from different regions and enjoy samples of exquisite tequilas while you’re at it. Thursday 1/23. $10.
• Foodies and wine lovers should try this beginner’s guide to wine and food pairings at Mason Social. Thursday 1/23. $24.
• Explore cheese & wine tastes with advanced sommelier Claudia Chamberlain as she guides you through four premium wine tastings and four cheese dishes. Tasters get 50% off select featured wines. Thursday 1/23. $65.
• Grab your skates and dance at the roller skating rink where you can find friends from the sapphic community. Thursday 1/23. $2.
• Try delicious mocktails at The Square's Dry January Party. Sample non-alcoholic brands and get a goodie bag worth $50. Thursday 1/23. $19.
• ​Sing karaoke or play board games like Scrabble, Dominoes, Jenga, and Po-Ke-No with other adults at Woodridge Library. Thursday 1/23. Free.

Friday

• ​Meet the cute pandas Bro Li and Qing Bao on their public debut at the National Zoo. Friday 1/24. Free.
• ​Socialize with DMV creatives while crafting your vision board and listening to live DJ performances. Drink specials up all night. Friday 1/24. $10+
• ​Cook Pad Krapow and Pad Thai with Chef Ben Plyraharn and learn authentic Thai flavors. Perfect for foodies and novice chefs to experiment with. Friday 1/24. $150.
• ​Learn how to preserve your historic DC home with this virtual presentation from DC Preservation League about common materials, common failures to look for, and preservation treatments. Friday 1/24 at noon. Free.
• Watch The Grave Dinner and other monster trucks compete at the ultimate Monster Truck race show. Friday 1/24 to Sunday 1/26. $20+.
• If you need a good laugh this weekend, this queer comedy night features an all-star LGBTQ+ lineup including Sunny Laprade who is known for her comedy special “Queer Enough" this Friday 1/24. $15.

Saturday

• Bookworms will love to celebrate the freedom to read at Sip & Censor where you can discuss the most controversial books from around the world and write on the freedom wall. Plus, you can take home a recycled banned book! Saturday 1/25. $20.
• Paint with your hand and battle for debate with your mouth at this paint and debate session at DuPont Underground. Perfect for anyone into both arts and debates! Saturday 1/25. $20.
• DC Transit Day celebrates its 63rd anniversary since the last original DC streetcar ran. See (and maybe ride!) rare streetcars like DCTS 1101 and learn the local transit history and the future of transportation. Saturday 1/25. $13.
• 🤝 Help care for young trees and remove invasive plants at Langdon Park’s Forest Patch. Clip unwanted plants, remove vines, and add mulch. Tools and training provided. Saturday 1/25. Free.
• ​Buy your gifts for love day at this Galentine’s pop-up market. Features home decor, a custom bouquet, romance books, viral Dubai bars, charm jewelries, and custom portraits. Saturday 1/25. Free.
• ​Connect with inspiring women in your comfiest PJs and in a luxury picnic setup. It’s a girls’ night of vision boards and educational talks with experts. Saturday 1/25. $65.
• ​Learn punch needle crafting and wall art with Tyler Makes Things this Saturday 1/25. $50.
• There’s an art party in Arlington that features paper lantern crafting using mixed media techniques for all skill levels, and a delicious cake you can enjoy. Saturday 1/25. Free.
• ​Hike through the summit rocks at Robertson Mountain with hiker friends at the Capital Hiking Club. Saturday 1/25. $36.
• Meet, take pictures, and network with gamers from DC Gaming Group to link up for plans if you’re coming to the biggest Music and Gaming Festival convention this year. Saturday 1/25. Free.
• Come along Washington DC Embassy Events & Museum Meetup group as they tour around the “Struggle for Justice” gallery and learn about civil rights history. Saturday 1/25. Free.
• If you’re planning to redesign your space with soil-free greenery, join this hydroponics workshop to learn the basics of soil-free gardening. Saturday 1/25. $29.
• It’s almost February but you can still reset with HIIT, breathwork, yoga, and sound bath combined for a relaxing wellness experience. Saturday 1/25. $35.

Sunday

• If you want a little sneak peek of your future, come find the Magick Aunties at Atlas Ivy City for some advice and tarot readings in life and love. Sunday 1/26. Price not stated.
• Brainstorm, write, and meet writers of all levels, around ages 20s and 30s from the Writing Heptagon group. Sunday 1/26. Free.
• 🤝 The Portrait Gallery celebrates a Day of Action for MLK Day where you’ll learn about community initiatives and ways to get involved from activists featured in exhibits like “The Struggle for Justice.” Sunday 1/26. Free.
• Fitness enthusiasts will love this challenging 1-hour rooftop workout that’s good for toning and energizing the body (with drinks from District Winery). Sunday 1/26. $10.
• ​The Mane Affair celebrates all things hair with a hair fashion show featuring hairstyles from different eras and cultures. Sunday 1/26. $10.
• You can create your own personalized fortune cookies this Lunar New Year. Sunday 1/26. $59.

Supercharge Your Fridays

Subscribe to Tim Ferriss's "5-Bullet Friday" and receive a weekly dose of inspiration directly in your inbox.

Each issue features five short insights to enhance your life: exclusive tips, must-have tools, thought-provoking quotes, and cool discoveries. Join 1.5M+ who start their weekend informed and inspired.

sponsored

Next Week

• The very popular DC House History Workshop from DC Preservation League is happening at MLK Library in the People's Archive. Reserve your spot before it fills up, because it always does! Monday 1/27 at 5:30 PM. Free.
• Learn how to research your house and neighborhood’s history with The People’s Archive. Monday 1/27. Free.
• Listen to Brooke Shields as she shares her thoughts on aging as a woman with Dr. Sharon Malone. Monday 1/27. $45.
• Enjoy 3-course menus as DC's Winter Restaurant Week returns Monday 1/27 to Sunday 2/2. Price starts at $25.
• Former TEDx speakers are coming to MLK Library to share storytelling tips and advice on how to be a TEDx speaker panel. Tuesday 1/28. Free.
• ​Make stitch crafts while sipping your favorite happy hour drinks. Tuesday 1/28. Free.
• Warm up your evening with spiked hot and sweet chocolates in classic and interesting flavor combinations. Tuesday 1/28. $5.
• DC’s Hobby Swap Collective group is hosting another book swap at Busboys and Poets. Tuesday 1/28. Free.
• Play music and bingo cards with Buddy’s DC on Wednesday 1/29. Free.
• Don’t miss Jack Tucker at this standup comedy show at Kennedy Center as he brings his award-winnig comedy alter-ego to DC. Thursday 1/30. $20+.
• Looking for someone to try new restaurants with during restaurant week? Join ladies from Wonderful Women Without Kids and head to the Amazonia rooftop restaurant for Peruvian food cuisine. Friday 1/31. $55 for a multi-course meal.
• Potterheads will love this Hogwarts-themed festival featuring cosplay contests and a sorting hat ceremony. Don’t forget to dress in your house colors and robes! Saturday 2/1. $18 early bird price.
• ​Bring your seeds to swap, win the best nametag contest, and get new garden books to take home or swap. Saturday 2/1. $20.
• Find your asian taste at the Lunar New Year Market where there’s food, artisans, makers, and lion dances to watch. Saturday 2/1. Free.
• Raise plants from the ground up by learning how to care for a seed from selection to potting. Sunday 2/2. $5.
• Come to Lunar New Year parade with the travel community from Maryland travel meetup group and enjoy a rain or shine parade of culture. Sunday 2/2. Free.

Further Out

• ​Play ping pong or have fun with bingo while meeting other singles. Friday 2/7. $25.
• Watch modern dance performances from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater where they present contemporary favorites, and the signature Ailey classic Revelations played to over 25 million people in the world. Tuesday 2/4 to Sunday 2/9. $50+.
• February's Phillips After 5 is focused on love: appreciate art while joining a singles happy hour and listening to Cinema Hearts. Thursday 2/6. $20.
• Floral fans can get a live floral arrangement demo plus time to play with a variety of flowers. Bring flowers and a vase, then join the flower potluck to swap and share. Saturday 2/8. $45.
• ​Watch this FREE screening of "The Outrun," based on Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir adaptation on addiction and recovery. Sunday 2/9. Free.
• Need to practice Spanish? Go to this Spanish social hour with the Spanish Conversation Practice Meetup group and play activities that encourage you to speak Spanish. Tuesday 2/11. Free.
• If you need help with your Valentine's card, you can join the Valentine card making session with the Arboretum on Wednesday 2/12. Free.
• There’s a charming and fun new play by Bob Bartlett about records and romance. Opening night on Thursday 2/13. $35.
• Dance to your favorite cover hits from Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan, Alanis Morissette, and Maroon 5. This is a Valentine’s cover show benefit to support music education programs for DC’s queer and femme youth. Thursday 2/13. $20.
• ​Dress in your best Goddess outfit in pink, roses, pearls, and gold leaf crowns for this Galentine’s Day Goddess Party. Bring your besties! Thursday 2/13. $10.
• If you want an irreverent celebration of love, check out A Date With John Waters on Valentine's Day in his home town of Baltimore. Friday 2/14. $56+.
• There’s a Goat + Bingo special for players looking for fun while celebrating love this Valentines Day. Friday 2/14. $40.
• Listen to live Indie tunes while painting your own pottery pieces with friends or a special someone this Valentine's Day. Friday 2/14. $6.
• ​Eat sweet strawberries and make hearts day cards for your loved ones on Friday 2/14. Free.
• ​Volunteer for the marsh area around Jones Point Park by picking up trash, litter, and maintaining the trail. Saturday 2/15. Free.
• This exclusive speakeasy evening features Edgar Allan Poe’s most beloved stories and four classic cocktails to make it worthwhile. Thursday 2/20 to Saturday 2/22. $55.*
• Learn to make Argentinian empanadas at La Cosecha. Learn to make empanadas filled with ground beef, vegetables, and eggs in this hands-on class. Thursday 2/20 & 2/27. $69.*
• Chefs from local restaurants will have a chili cook-off at Lower Georgia Ave and you can taste & judge their best dishes for the People's Choice Award. Last year had ~10 different restaurants to taste (and I was a judge!). Sunday 2/23. Free (with VIP option).*
• Bingo Loco is a bingo rave party where comedian MCs, lip-sync battles, dance-offs, confetti, CO2 cannons, and of course, bingo happens in one night. Saturday 3/1. $33. *
• ​Awesome Con 2025 is coming to Washington DC and they're bringing special celebrity guests, comic con panels, screenings, and exclusive exhibits for fans of anime, comics, movies, and games! Friday 4/4. $20

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.