13 of our favorite events in D.C. this weekend

By: Mimi Montgomery

Photo by Julian Ortiz

FRIDAY, DEC. 8

LET’S DANCE: The OPEN BOX Project is an improvised and composed dance and music performance that opens tonight at Dupont Underground. Hosted by CulturalDC, it features music by rogue collective and dancers from Orange Grove Dance. The underground architecture serves as inspiration for the evening, and guests become immersed in the work as they follow the musicians and dancers through the tunnel. (Dupont Underground, Friday and Saturday 8 p.m., senior and student $22, regular $30)

#BRINGBACKTHE90S: Relive the glory days that were the 90s at the 9:30 Club’s ultimate dance party. The No Scrubs 90s Dance Party will be bumping all night with Nirvana, TLC, Backstreet Boys, the Beastie Boys, DJ Kool, and the entire gang. MC Hammer pants not required, but highly encouraged. (9:30 Club, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m., $16)

INTERNATIONAL ART: Take in some art tonight at the Embassy of the Republic of Malawi. Artist Kenneth Namalomba will debut his exhibit “Tales of an African Child,” which dives beyond the superficial, surface images often seen from Africa. Join Namalomba as he explores the conflict between inner self and societal projections. (Embassy of the Republic of Malawi, 9 p.m., FREE, registration required)

READY, SET, GLOW: Tonight is the debut of the fourth Georgetown GLOW exhibit, an outdoor public light art installation. Set against the historic backdrop of Georgetown, it’s a whole new way to take on the sparkle of the holiday season. Wander through the neighborhood to catch all the glowing art, and don’t be afraid to get up close and personal: Viewers are encouraged to interact and play with the artwork. (Georgetown, 5 – 10 p.m., FREE)

MORE: Roni Size (U Street Music Hall, 11 p.m. – 3 a.m., $25), Sounds from the Sea Opening Reception (Honfleur Gallery, 6 – 9 p.m., FREE)

Photo by Jess J

SATURDAY, DEC. 9

SQUARE DANCE: Grab a partner and do-si-do. Square dance caller T-Claw will be in D.C. from West Virginia to add some flair to the D.C. Square Dance Collective’s last 2017 get-together. Prepare for some foot-stomping: Fiddler Jesse Milnes and his West Virginian band will provide the tunes. No experience, gingham, or overalls necessary -just enthusiasm. (St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 8 – 11:30 p.m., $5)

FRENCH FESTIVITIES: Vive le holidays! The French Embassy will host its Holiday Gala tonight, complete with live jazz, a Parisian dessert buffet and an open bar. If that’s not enough for you, party through the night with a Parisian discotheque complete with DJ. (Embassy of France, 8 – 11:30 p.m., $75 – $95)

JINGLE BELL ROCK: Take the holiday partying on the road with A Capital Motown Christmas. Guests will meet at Penn Quarter before boarding a bus that will hit up local festive sights like ZooLights, the National Christmas Tree, and the Downtown Holiday Market. There will be a performer on-board who will keep you entertained with Motown songs and Christmas carols, too, and plenty of seasonal drinks and snacks. (Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, 6:30 – 10 p.m., $100)

DOG DAYS: Run off the holiday treats this morning at Rural Dog Rescue’s Reindeer Run. Throw on your most athletic ugly Christmas sweater, grab your pooch, and choose from a 5K or 1-mile race. Post-run, there will be a chance to have holiday photos taken of you or your pup. Bonus: All the proceeds benefit the Underdogs at Rural Dog Rescue. (Howl to the Chief, 9 a.m. – 12 noon, $10 – $15)

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Travel to Russia without ever leaving home at tonight’s Nutcracker Holiday Reception at the Russian Embassy. See a performance of The Nutcracker by the Kirov Academy of Ballet, sample Russian food, taste-test your favorite Russian vodkas, and meet Father Frost, aka the Russian Santa Claus. Each ticket will benefit Podari.Life, a Moscow-based charity that provides medications and equipment to Russian hospitals.

MORE: Refurbished Bike Sale (Big Bear Café, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., FREE), Bonsai for Beginners (H Street Farms, 11 a.m. – 12 noon, FREE, registration required), Fantasia with Demetria McKinney (The Anthem, 6:30 p.m., $64.50 – $84.50), Holiday Photos with Santa (Washington Hilton, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., $20), LezLink Singles Scavenger Hunt (Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 2 – 4:30 p.m., $15), Yoga at La Pop D.C. (La Pop, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., first class free, $10 after), Kids Gingerbread Workshop (DBGB D.C., 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., $75), Holiday Restorative Yoga (The Potter’s House, 10 – 11 a.m., donation requested), Storytime with Nilah Magruder: How to Find a Fox (East City Bookshop, 11 a.m. – 12 noon, FREE), Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl (Dupont Circle, 12 noon – 9 p.m., $42.99), Improv Pop-Up (Colony Club, 8 – 9 p.m., FREE), Glen’s Holiday Market (Glen’s Garden Market – Dupont, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., FREE), Cork’s Holiday Market (Cork Wine Bar & Market, 12 noon, FREE)

Photo by Josh Bassett

SUNDAY, DEC. 10

INTO THE WOODS: Get outdoors with a forest therapy walk. Labeled as an “un-hike,” this walk through the National Arboretum will draw on the tradition of forest bathing, where folks head out to the woods to simply be still and soak in nature’s beauty. It’s the perfect antidote to holiday cabin fever. (United States National Arboretum, 1 – 3 p.m., $40)

BEYOND THE BELL JAR: Catch a performance of “I Am Vertical” at the National Portrait Gallery this afternoon. Inspired by the museum’s exhibition, “One Life: Sylvia Plath,” the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company’s production interprets the poet and author’s life in a whole new light. (National Portrait Gallery, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., FREE)

DECK THE HALLS: The holiday spirit will be alive and well on Eastern Market Main Street today. The Capitol Hill Caroling Marathon will see choirs leaving from the intersection at 7th and C Streets SE each hour to walk the neighborhood and spread cheer. Follow along, stop for a rest while holiday shopping, or even join in yourself. (Eastern Market, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., FREE)

EMMYLOU: Catch the iconic singer, musician, and songwriter Emmylou Harris tonight at The Hamilton. The 13-time Grammy winner and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee will perform pieces from her decades-long career, and it’s all for a good cause: The night benefits Bonaparte’s Retreat Dog Rescue. (The Hamilton, 7:30 p.m., $90 – $250)

MORE: Yoga at the National Building Museum (National Building Museum, 10 – 11 a.m., $20)