12 Of Our Favorite Events This Week

By: Mimi Montgomery

Photo by Massoud Adibpour

MONDAY, MARCH 19

THE PUPPET LOBBY: Whether you’re a puppet expert, novice, or just curious, The Puppet Lobby is a monthly get-together that showcases local puppeteers and connects you with fellow puppet people. This month, puppet designer Lisi Stoessel, artist Francisco Benavides, and Wit’s End Puppets member Amy Kellett will be leading the discussion and info session. After the event, everyone will head down to Brookland Pint to continue the night. (Brookland Artspace Lofts D.C., 7 – 8 p.m., FREE)

OPA!: Head to Zaytinya this week for its inaugural Greek Spirit Festival. From today to Friday, the restaurant will have tastings and special cocktails that highlight Greece’s traditional spirits and drinks. Tonight, come by for a metaxa tasting, or sample one of their special cocktails like tsipouro sour or pomona. (Zaytinya, 5 – 6:30 p.m., prices vary)

DRINK 4 GOOD: Speed Rack is a national competition that pits female bartenders against each other in round robin-style, judged and timed face-offs. The D.C. one is tonight at Union Stage, and will feature local D.C. women mixologists. It’s for a good cause, too – all the proceeds benefit breast cancer research. (Union Stage, 5 p.m., $25)

MORE: Free Champagne Tasting (Schneiders of Capitol Hill, 5 – 7 p.m., FREE), Short Story Happy Hour (East City Bookshop, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., prices vary), Drag Bingo (Right Proper, 6 – 8 p.m., FREE), Grand Opening (The Capital Burger, 4:30 – 11 p.m., FREE), Planting Peace: Regenerative Agriculture, Indigenous Rights & the Climate (Busboys & Poets – 14th St., 6 – 8 p.m.), Music at Dumbarton Oaks (Dumbarton Oaks, 8 – 10 p.m., $54)

Photo by Brandon Kopp

TUESDAY, MARCH 20

THE BARD: “If music be the food of love, play on…” Yep, the Twelfth Night is coming to D.C. Well, sort of – the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of the Bard’s classic will be screened at West End Cinema tonight. It’s a special event, so make sure you catch it while you can – you’ll feel like you’re in England without ever leaving the District. (West End Cinema, 7 – 10 p.m., $15)

WE WERE THERE: Bread & Roses is a monthly event that tells the stories of workers and organized labor through film screenings, talks, and performances. In honor of Women’s History Month, tonight’s event will feature local labor activists who will tell the stories of women activists like Sojourner Truth and Dolores Huerta. It’s a Busboys and Poets, so you order dinner or drinks during the event, too. (Busboys and Poets – Takoma, 6 – 8 p.m., FREE)

MEGASTRUCTURES: As part of the Environment Film Festival this week, the Singapore Embassy will screen Megastructures: Gardens by the Bay. The documentary follows Singapore’s quest to be the greenest city in the world, and its construction of a huge waterfront garden and the country’s largest park. (Singapore Embassy, 7 – 9 p.m., FREE)

MORE: Iron Gate Communal Table Wine Dinner: Santorini (Iron Gate, 6 – 9 p.m., $125), Book Launch: The Brightest Sun (Kramerbooks, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., FREE), Wild Florida: Hidden in Plain Sight (National Geographic Museum, 7:30 – 9 p.m., $25)

Photo by Caroline Angelo

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21

HERB-Y: Okay, so succulents are trendy these days, but what about herbs? They’re pretty much the easiest way to exercise a green thumb while living in a city. Learn how to be the best herb gardner you can at tonight’s workshop hosted by District Hardware and Bike. You’ll get to make your own herb garden to take home, too, and the staff will help you pick out your plants, pots, and soil. (District Hardware and Bike, 6 – 7 p.m.)

ARTS AND DRAFTS: The Women’s History Month celebrations continue with tonight’s Arts and Drafts event. Learn about the embroidered garments made by women in Southwest China while making your own. While you craft, snack on some Cava and sip beer from Denizens Brewing Co., a Maryland, female-run brewery. Bring extra toiletries, too – they’ll be donated to District Alliance for Safe Housing. (George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum, 6 – 9 p.m., $10 – $15)

FIGHTING EVIL BY MOONLIGHT: If anyone else was as nerdy growing up as your fair author, this will be exciting: Sailor Moon: The Musical will screen at E Street Cinema tonight. It’s a filmed version of the Japanese musical based on the hit anime show (complete with English subtitles). Now just try not to get the theme song stuck in your head… (E Street Cinema, 7 – 10 p.m., $15)

MORE: Women’s History Month: Wine, Women & Knowledge (National Restaurant Association, 6 – 9 p.m., $60 – $95), Founding Mothers: A Conversation with Female Founders (WeWork Dupont Circle, 6 – 8:30 p.m., $25), Playwright Interview: John Strand & Molly Smith (The Library of Congress, 7 – 8:30 p.m., FREE, registration required), Wild and Scenic River Short Films (U.S. Department of the Interior, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., FREE, registration required), I Have a Dream Ranger-Led Walk (National Mall, 4 – 4:45 p.m., FREE), Meat Out March (Busboys and Poets – Takoma, 6 – 8 p.m., FREE), Need to Know Dinner: Laurie Cameron (I Richhi Restaurant, 7 – 9 p.m., $110), Journalist Happy Hour (Boundary Stone D.C., 6 – 8 p.m., prices vary), Dacha Beer Club: Potter’s Craft Cider (Dacha Beer Garden, 4 – 8 p.m., prices vary)

Photo by Der Berzerker

THURSDAY, MARCH 22

AMERICANS: The National Museum of the American Indian is staying open after-hours tonight for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of its latest exhibit, Americans. It looks at the crucial role Native Americans played in the development of our country, as well as their adoption into pop culture imagery and hype. Talk to the curators while trying Navajo cuisine, a poke bar by abunai, and Right Proper Brewing beers and Twisted Cedar Wines vino. (National Museum of the American Indian, 6:30 – 9 p.m., $40)

KOMBUCHA 101: Why spend a fortune on Whole Foods kombucha when you can make your own? Craft Kombucha will be at Union Market tonight for Kombucha 101, a class all about making your own fermented tea. A ticket to the workshop will get you everything you need to make your own bach at home. (Union Market, 6 – 8 p.m., $50)

STAY WOKE: Whatever you’re speaking up for, it’s important to help younger generations cultivate their voice. Tonight’s event, Rulers + Pencils: The Rise of Student Activism, brings student activists together to share their stories, as well as Women’s March organizers and education reformists. It’ll look at the way young activists have evolved through history, as well as discuss how to continue its growth. (50CAN, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., FREE)  

MORE: Truthers Documentary and Panel (National Press Club, 6:30 – 8 p.m., $10), No Vacation + Hot Flash Heat Wave (Union Stage, 7:30 p.m., $15 – $25), Reason Brewery at Pizzeria Paradiso (Pizzeria Paradiso – Georgetown, 5 – 10 p.m., prices vary), She Caused a Riot – Hannah Jewell (Kramerbooks, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., FREE), Spring Fling: Dinner & Dancing (Washington Hilton, 6 – 9 p.m., $20), When Earth Attacks: Causes and Consequences of a Tectonic Planet (Carnegie Institute of Washington, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., FREE, registration required), Distillery Lane Ciderworks Spring Cider Debut (Jug & Table, 6 – 10 p.m., prices vary), Brandy (The Howard Theatre, 9 p.m., $50)