12 Of Our Favorite Events in D.C. This Weekend

By: Mimi Montgomery

Photo by Clif Burns

TAG IT: Let your rebellious creative streak run free at ArtJamz’s Graffiti Party. Paint the studio walls however you please for an hour, with a complimentary beverage to fuel your liquid inspiration. Afterwards, pay a little extra to stick around, if you want, and move your art to a canvas. (ArtJamz Dupont Studio, 8 – 9 p.m., $15)

WOMEN + ARTS: Celebrate Women’s History Month at the National Museum of the American Indian. Get to learn about Native American artist Nora Naranjo-Morse and her sculpture exhibit, “Always Becoming,” that she created on the museum ground using natural materials and clay. You’ll get in on the action, too, and create your own clay pot or sculpture. (National Museum of the American Indian, 1:30 p.m., FREE)

GARDEN DANCE: Combine flowers and dance tonight because…why not? The Heart Stuck Bernie dance group will perform amongst the orchid display at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Both the choreography and plants are beautifully unusual, so it’s a good fit – stick around for drinks after. (U.S. Botanic Garden, 6 – 8 p.m., $10 – $15)

WET YOUR WHISTLE: If you’re a vodka-cran kinda imbiber, this may not be for you. The Whisky Nite event will take over the Fairmont Hotel tonight, with over 150 distillers on-site to share their booze. Local bartenders will be on-site mixing cocktails, and you can listen to talks by whisky experts or shop for liquor cabinet supplies. Worry not – there’ll be food there, too. (Fairmont Georgetown, $139 – $199)

MORE: Networking and Happy Hour at the French Embassy (French Embassy, 6 – 9:30 p.m., $45 – $65), Bad Jews (Generic Theatre Company, 7 p.m., $5), First on First Features (Heurich House Museum, 6 – 8 p.m., FREE), First Friday Dupont (Dupont Circle, 6 p.m., FREE), Galactic (9:30 Club, 8 – 12 midnight, $30), Paint to Flesh: Current Figurative Work from Martin Campos (Washington Studio School, 5 – 8 p.m., FREE), So Fetch: 2000s Tribute Band (Union Stage, 9 p.m., $10 – $25)

Photo by washingtonydc

SATURDAY, MARCH 3

ADOPT, DON’T SHOP: Meet all the doggos and cats today! The Humane Rescue Alliance will host an adoption event at District Hardware & Bike. The spot is newly-relocated to the Wharf, so stroll around before or after to check out the new neighborhood. You can bring the dog (or dogs plural) you adopt at the event, too. (District Hardware & Bike, 12 noon – 3 p.m., FREE)

MEET THE MAKERS: Meet the folks behind some of your favorite D.C. brands at Union Kitchen’s Meet the Makers event. Sample bites from Dorjee Momo, sip Cosmic Juice, snack on Swapples, and check out many more of the entrepreneurs making the D.C. food and drink community great. Your ticket includes samples from everyone, and you can purchase products on-site, too. (Union Kitchen, 5 – 7 p.m., $19.99 – $29.99)

WELCOME!: Head by the Petworth clothing store Willow today to welcome a new friend to the neighborhood. Capitol Cider House will be opening on Georgia Avenue soon, and it’ll be giving away samples of its cider at the store to celebrate. Al Sur Latin Kitchen will be there, too, handing out empanadas, so make it a lunch-and-drinks thing. (Willow D.C., 2 – 4 p.m., FREE)

EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN: Let’s rock. It’s Hair Metal Night at the Capitol Hill Hank’s Oyster Bar. Sling back oysters while singing karaoke to favorites like Poison and Journey, and you better not show up in your weekend sweats – winner of the costume contest gets a prize, so break out that Bret Michaels wig. (Hank’s Oyster Bar – Capitol Hill, 3 p.m. – close, FREE)

FLOWER POWER: Just in time for peak blooming season, The Watergate Hotel will teach you how to make your own flower crown out of cherry blossoms. Cape Cod’s The Wandering Florist is in town to teach you the ins-and-outs of making a dainty crown perfect to wear as you go check out the blooms in-person. Complimentary prosecco comes with the lesson, too. (The Watergate Hotel, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., $40)

MORE: Who Does She Think She Is? Screening (Smithsonian American Art Museum, 3 – 5:30 p.m., FREE), Dumbarton Oaks Hike with Pride Outside and Q Street (Meet at Woodley Park Metro Station, 2 – 4 p.m., FREE), The October Sessions (Big Bear Cafe, 5:30 – 8 p.m., FREE), The Secret History of Meridian Hill Park (Meridian Hill Park, 10 – 11:30 a.m., $23), Wallows (Union Stage, 8 p.m., $25), Mayor Marion Barry, Jr. Statue Dedication (The John A. Wilson Building, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., FREE), Artist’s Reception: March Exhibitions (Studio Gallery, 4 – 6 p.m., FREE)

Photo by Eric Spiegel

SUNDAY, MARCH 4

I DO: It’s almost wedding season – get prepared at Modern Luxury’s event An Evening of Bridal Luxury. Whether you’re a bride, groom, or maid of honor, or just really, really like wedding cake, it’s always fun going to check out gowns, caterers, event decor, florists, and entertainment. All that will be on-hand to see at the event, and there’ll be food and wine, too. (District Winery, 5 – 8 p.m., $25 – $45)

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…: Who will it be – Dunkirk? Get Out? Find out for yourself at Commissary’s Oscars party. There’ll be Academy Awards-inspired cocktails and dishes, an all-night happy hour, and free bubbly for whomever correctly guesses a winner. Plus, they’ll have a full-wall projector showing the event, so you can examine all the starlet’s dresses up close and personal. (Commissary, 4 – 11 p.m., FREE)

WHEEL YEAH: Celebrate your love of all things two-wheeled at BicycleSPACE’s pop-up market and film fest. While Groundswell Films screens its short films, vendors such as L.A.’s Bikie Girl Bloomers, Portland’s Microcosm Publishing, and New York’s Vespertine NYC will be selling their goods. Bike-themed bags, clothes, jewelry, and books – how can you choose? (BicycleSPACE Downtown, 12 noon – 5 p.m., FREE)

MORE: Drum Classes (Hands on Drums, 4 – 5:30 p.m., $20), Hippie Sabotage (9:30 Club, 7 – 11 p.m., $30), Bikes, Baristas, and Beers (District Hardware and Bike, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., FREE, registration required)