It's the Rock & Roll Marathon on Saturday morning, which means tons of road closures around the core of the city.

​Roads will be closed from 6:30 am to 1:30 pm, and Metrobuses will be diverted from 2:00 am to 2:30 pm.

Do not get caught in this! Take the metro and get around underground.

If you want to cheer on the runners, the hill from Rock Creek Parkway to Calvert Street NW is usually the hardest part and where people can use some encouragement.

Also, early Friday morning, you can see a full lunar eclipse! The eclipse starts at 11:57 pm on Thursday March 13, and reaches the full eclipse at 2:58 am on Friday March 14. This animation shows what the eclipse will look like at different times.

Whatever you do, enjoy the warm weather this weekend!

Valerie

Historic Photo of the Week

View from the Capitol of the Library of Congress under construction, November 20, 1894.

Want more historical photos? I post them daily on Facebook.

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.

Reply and let me know your thoughts on this week's events

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

This Week

Wednesday

• 📖 Listen to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on literature, love, and identity as she takes the stage at Sixth & I to discuss her new novel Dream Count. Wednesday 3/12. $12.
• 🧠 Join this hands-on sushi-making class and master sushi rice prep, fish selection + making three different rolls in no time! Perfect for sushi beginners. Wednesday 3/12. $65.
• 🍾 Raise a glass to women in history and the whiskey industry with handcrafted cocktails, appetizers, and the Women Who Whiskey. Wednesday 3/12. $50.

Thursday

• 🐾 Bring your pup for a good time at Yappy Hour to meet your fellow K9 corps! Dogs get pup cups while you enjoy the human bar. Thursday 3/13. Free, no RSVP.
• 📖 Join this month’s pick on BookTok, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, featuring Hollywood glamour, scandal, and untold truths. Thursday 3/13. Free.
• 🍱 Enjoy $1 coffee, $2 lemonade, and free pastry samples while supporting DC Central Kitchen’s job-training cafes. Thursday 3/13. $1+.

Friday

• 🕺 Acclaimed mezzo-soprano Fleur Barron and pianist Kunal Lahiry perform The Power and The Glory, a recital focused on colonial history. Friday 3/14. $50.
• 🌸 Collect stamps, explore interactive exhibits, and chat with park rangers at Rock Creek’s Flora and Fauna expo. Keep an eye out for the Pokey mascot too 👀 Until this Friday 3/14. Free.
• 🖼️ The National Gallery Nights returns with better artmaking, performances & pop-up talks this time. Be on watch for their ticket lottery system the week before each themed evening. Runs Friday 3/14, 4/11 & 5/9. Free.
• 🎭 Watch this original play based on 90s classic film Soul Food about food, love, family, and the Black LGBTQ+ experience, honoring the mothers, grandmothers, and aunts who have welcomed their LGBTQ+ family members with love. Friday 3/14. $35+.

Saturday

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Meet, mingle, or find love at the Social Singles Mixer, held on an exclusive private party room with suprise drinks & happy hour prices all night! Saturday 3/15. Free.
• 🧠 Craft your own terrarium! Learn the basics of succulent care and design your terrarium while sipping sangria. Classes are next Saturday 3/15 and Friday 3/28. $25+.
• 📖 Author Briana A. Thomas will take us back to the golden era of U Street, from the 1900s to the 1950s, when it was home to Black arts, music, and activism. Saturday 3/15. Free.
• 🎈 Celebrate with Bryant Street Market for two years of amazing food. Enjoy food specials, free samples, and giveaways! Plus a free yoga class at 10 AM (with a Lululemon giveaway). Saturday 3/15. Free.
• 🤝 It’s Community Love Day! Enjoy lunch on the farm and creative workshops like perfume oil blending & making stamps. You can bring a donation for the F.R.E.S.H. community fridge or get items from it if you need! Saturday 3/15. Free. Reg not required,
• 🛍️ The Norooz Festival is back with delicious food from local vendors, music, dance, and family-friendly activities at Brookland Arts Walk. Saturday 3/15. Free.
• 🖌️ Crochet your own chunky bag and learn the basics of crochet fashion design. Saturday 3/15. $60.
• 🤝 Green thumbs! Swap seeds, sip tea, and share gardening tips for spring planning with other gardeners. Saturday 3/15. Free. ​
• 🍲 Watch eight top DC chefs compete for the Best Meatball recipe while you get to sample, vote, and enjoy unlimited pasta & focaccia. Saturday 3/15. $85.
• 🤝 Swap plants, paint pottery, and chat with plant lovers! Saturday 3/15. Free.
• 🎭 Don’t miss Silence is Violence: Liberation, featuring performances from DC playwrights addressing themes of self-liberation, social injustice, and activism. Saturday 3/15. $25.
• 🤓 Nerds & game lovers, stop by the library for board games, a video game tournament, and prizes! Saturday 3/15. Free.
• 🎭 1965 Voting Rights Act… and NOW!!!!? is this year’s theme for Blacks in Wax, a performance that brings historical figures to life. Saturday 3/15. Free.
• 🌲 For one day only, the US Botanic Garden is opening its greenhouse to the public! Learn about plant care and get a free meal from a food truck at Bald Eagle Recreation Center after your visit! Saturday 3/15. Free.

Sunday

• 🎈 Celebrate India’s most colorful holiday in Dupont Circle Park with traditional dancing, live DJ sets, and powder throwing. Sunday 3/16. Free.
• 🖼️ Explore African and Asian culture through art while meeting new people from the 20s and 30s young socials group. Sunday 3/16. Free.

Next Week

• 🧠 With spring coming, it’s the perfect time to start your own crops and take home grow lights, containers, and seeds + get expert seedling tips to grow your garden! With access to 300+ seed varieties to choose from. Monday 3/17. $5 registration fee.
• 🤓 Join the retro arcade & block party with DC Gaming Group! Play classic games, build legos, and enjoy board games. Monday 3/17. Free.
• 🤝 DC Greens is looking for volunteers to help out at their urban farm and wellness space. Shifts available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Reopening week starts Tuesday 3/18 to Saturday 3/22.
• 🍲 Taste samples of premium chocolates & handcrafted truffles paired with Spanish cava, red, and white wines in this intimate chocolate and wine tasting experience. Wednesday 3/19. $55.
• 🍲 Need friends to go with for the chocolate feast? Go with foodies from the Weekend Getaways 20s/30s group! Wednesday 3/19. $55.
• 🖼️ A traveling art show around the globe, Artoon Network is bringing 30+ artists and free video games to DC with their Cartoon Art Show. Thursday 3/20. $20+.
• 📖 If you love food and books, this book club is for you! This month’s pick is The Noodle Life by Mike & Stephanie Le, featuring 75 noodle recipes from Asian, Italian, and American cuisine. Thursday 3/20. Free.
• 🤸 Animal lovers will enjoy this 45-minute guided meditation with adorable rabbits (that you can adopt!) at Lost Boy Cider. This event supports abandoned rabbits in need of homes. Ticket includes a drink of your choice. Saturday 3/22. $35.
• 📖 Artist Donnell Lewis and other DC artists discuss the ways they captured the legacy of a 1933 iconic opera singer, Marian Anderson, in their art. Saturday 3/22. Free.
• 🤝 Declutter your wardrobe and find preloved OOTDs at this community clothing swap. Leftovers donated to Suited for Change. Volunteers welcome! Saturday, 3/22. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Swim for spring this cherry blossom season! Includes pink pool themes, free swim sessions, balloon artists, and fun Japanese culture stations. Saturday 3/22. RSVP required. Free.
• 🤝 Free professional headshots at the Library with local photographer Krista Boccio. Saturday 3/22. Free.
• 🎭 Rooted is an inspiring documentary following one woman’s fight for land ownership, urban farming, and food justice in a South Carolina food desert. Saturday 3/22. Free.
• 🤸 Stretch & center yourself with an outdoor yoga in the Sculpture Garden. Saturday 3/22. $20.
• 🏞️ Go outside for a relaxing nature walk around Theodore Roosevelt Island with 20s and 30s young socials. Take in the scenic trails, fresh air, and grab a bite afterward! Saturday 3/22. Free.
• 🤓 Play community Bingo at Atlas Brew Works, and find volunteer opportunities available in your area. Saturday 3/22. Free.
• 🖌️ Learn how to engrave your favorite photographs onto wood and acrylic through laser engraving technology. Saturday 3/22. Free.
• 🎈 Taste, dance, and explore Thai culture at the NVA Thai Street Food Festival. Sunday 3/23. Free entry.

Further Out

• 📜 Learn how to use building permits, historic maps, newspapers, and old photographs to reveal the hidden history of your home and neighborhood. Monday 3/24. Free, registration required.​
• 🖌️ Learn the basics of flower arranging and flower care then craft your own spring bouquet using seasonal favorites like tulips, ranunculus, and anemone. Tuesday 3/25.
• 🕺 The Queen of R&B, Mary J. Blige, brings her For My Fans Tour to United Center with NE-YO and Mario. Wednesday 3/26. $80+.*
• 🎭 The biggest comedy festival in Silver Spring is running four nights for non-stop laughs of stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy performances. Wednesday 3/26 to Saturday 3/29. Free. Price varies for each show; $179 for all access pass.
• 🕺The Library of Congress is hosting a free Regency Ball around Martha Washington and Queen Charlotte, where attendees are encouraged to dress up. Tickets are available Tuesday 2/25 and will go quickly, event happens Thursday 3/27. Free.
• 🎭 Washington’s famous satirical revue returns! Splitting Our Sides is a 2-hour show of song parodies, political comedy, and slapstick fun. Friday 3/28-Sunday 4/6. $35.
• 🏰 Historic tea time at Peirce Mill! Enjoy tea, treats, and music and learn more about the women who ran tea houses and how Peirce Mill was part of the tea room craze in America. 1920s dress up encouraged. Saturday 3/29. Free.
• 🐾 Go on outdoor adventures with your dog to learn about responsible park recreation and earn a B.A.R.K. Ranger badge for your pup! With giveaways, training tips, and fun photo ops. Saturday 3/29. Free.
• 🌲 See thousands of orchids at the US Botanic Garden in a low-stimulation, but interactive & peaceful setting. Saturday 3/29. Free; registration required.
• 🤝 Got trinkets you no longer need? Stop by for a trinket swap at UpCycle Creative Reuse Center. Saturday 3/29. $5 minimum donation.
• 📖 This is your sign to start eating healthy! Eat nutritious, chef-prepared dishes while getting expert health and wellness advice from culinary professionals, registered dietitians, and local healthcare leaders. Saturday 3/29. Free.​
• 🛍️ Snag some gently used merchandise finds at the tossed-and-found rummage sale at bargain prices. This is where I get most of my new clothes for the year. Saturday 3/29 to Sunday 3/30. Free admission.
• 🎈 Come to Spring Fair for eco-friendly crafts, gifts, eco-treats, and more goodies to enjoy the spring season. Sunday 3/30. Free.
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Join this fan-made survivor game at Rock Creek Park if you have what it takes to survive and win $250, sign up through Monday 3/31. $25 if you’re chosen to play.
• 🎈 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
• 🧠 Learning a new language? Find your language partner at this exchange happy hour. Expect many multi-linguists from DC Language and Cultural Exchange club. Friday 4/4. Free.
• 🤸 Sign up for a free morning of Barre, HIIT, and boxing classes in the Bridge District! Plus, a Cherry Blossom Bike Ride, free bike tune-ups, and a marketplace of wellness vendors to buy from. Saturday 4/5. Free.
• 🌲 This Spring, visitors can tour the White House garden and see ornamental trees planted by former presidents. Free timed tickets are available each morning at 8:30 AM outside the White House Visitor Center—first come, first served! Saturday 4/5 to Sunday 4/6. Free.
• 🖼️ Ready for the best vintage finds around DMV? Find vintage fits, accessories, vinyls, glassware, books, and more old stuff! Tickets required. Saturday 4/12. $5+.
• 🎈 Healthy Homes Fair returns with 100+ exhibitors and an appliance “petting zoo” featuring the latest home technologies needed to decarbonize our homes. Win prizes and e-bike incentives. Saturday 5/10. Free.

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.