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

By: Mimi Montgomery

FRIDAY, APRIL 13

Photo by Ted Eytan

ART WALK: Come check out the Art Walk at Monroe Street Market for its first event of the year. The artist’s studios will be open, the live music will be playing, and the cocktails will be flowing. Try your hand at pottery or watercolor painting, and enjoy treats from &pizza, Busboys and Poets, Holy Crepes food truck, and more. (Monroe Street Market, 5 – 8 p.m., FREE)

SNOW CHILD: Tonight marks the world premiere of the musical Snow Child, which is adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. It follows a couple in the 1920s Alaskan wilderness trying to rebuilding their marriage after losing a child. Then everything changes as soon as a child emerges from the woods surrounding their cabin… (Arena Stage, times and prices vary)

CRAFT + COCKTAILS: Collaging gets amped up a notch with cocktails at Shop Made in D.C. Tonight, join Capitol Hill Arts Workshop teacher Cherie Lester to make a collage on ready-to-hang hardwood. Choose from fabric, paint, paper, or bring your own memorabilia; whatever you choose, Lester will be there to help you lay out the design. (Did we mention there’ll be cocktails?) (Shop Made in D.C., 6 – 8 p.m., $34)

FLOWER CROWN + PLAY: The Lemon Collective will take things off-site for tonight’s event. Meet the crew at Folger Theater to make your own flower crown before heading in to see its production of The Winter’s Tale. A ticket includes crown materials and signature cocktails inspired by the play. (Folger Theater, 6 – 8 p.m., $25)

MORE: Gin Deconstructed (The Gibson, 7 – 10 p.m.), Literary Cocktails: Scott Pilgrim (Petworth Citizen, 7 p.m.), Thai New Year (Thai Xing, times vary), Adams Morgan Mommy Meet-Up (Pitango Gelato, 3 – 7 p.m., FREE), Mimi Miller Fashion Pop-Up Shop (W Washington D.C Hotel, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., FREE), 15th Annual Viennese Ball at the French Embassy (Embassy of France, 7 – 11:30 p.m., $85 – $165)

SATURDAY, APRIL 14

Photo by Flickr user Erin

CHERRY BLOSSOM PARADE: It’s the big finale of all the cherry blossom madness–the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. Head to Constitution Avenue to watch the seasonal celebration hosted by ACB7’s Alison Starling and Jonathan Elias. Keep your eyes peeled for big-time cameos like rapper Silento, Cara Mund aka Miss America, and Carla Hall of The Chew. (Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets, 10 a.m., FREE)

VINO, PLZ: The weather is going to be awesome today, so if you need even more excuses to head out and drink, look no further than DC Wine Fest’s spring shindig. Sample vinos from a bevy of wineries both local and afar while taking in the art at Long View Gallery. There will be live music and food, too. (Long View Gallery, times and prices vary)

YOU’RE THE EXPERT: The podcast You’re the Expert uses comedy to dive into scientific research. In each episode, comedians try to guess what a scientist studies, and tonight it’s taping an episode live in DC. Come hear comedians like Scott Adsit from Veep and 30 Rock try to figure out how a National Geographic Explorer spends his or her days. (National Geographic Museum, 6:30 – 9 p.m., $25)

EMANCIPATION DAY: It’s Emancipation Day, the celebration of President Abraham Lincoln freeing slaves in the District of Columbia (which he did prior to signing the Emancipation Proclamation). To commemorate the historic event, there will be a concert, parade, and fireworks in Freedom Plaza. The best part? Singer Brandy will be there performing. (Freedom Plaza, 2 – 8:45 p.m., FREE)

DRINKING BOTANY: Pairing botanical infusions with spirits is an age-old practice, both for flavor and health reasons. Join Dwight Grimm of Little Alchemist Farm for an evening at the U.S. Botanic Garden, where he’ll walk you through 17th-century shrubs to modern-day takes on root beer. Think of it of a boozy history-meets-botany class. (U.S. Botanic Garden, 6 – 8 p.m., $30 – $35)

MORE: Crawfish for Cancer Sixth Annual Boil (Pinstripes, 2 – 7 p.m., $80 – $100), Sipping History Walking Tour (W Hotel, 3 – 6 p.m., $39), Agora Patio Party (Zaytinya, 12 noon – 4 p.m., FREE), Second Saturday Brewing Tour (Anxo Cidery, 2 – 5 p.m.), Barks and Blossoms Brunch (Art and Soul, 12:30 – 3 p.m., prices vary)

SUNDAY, APRIL 15

Photo by Flickr user ken_1001

ITALIAN CINEMA: Want to work on your Italian? Come to Cineforum Italiano’s showing of the film Out of the Blue. It follows a classic tale: A playboy’s jaunts around town are cut short when he finds out he has a daughter. Enjoy the Italian version of a feel-good comedy, complete with English subtitles for those whose language skills aren’t totally up to par yet. (Casa Italiana Language School, 6 – 9 p.m., $10)

CRAB CRUISE: Take a cruise down the Potomac complete with all-you-can-eat crab. The boat trip will take you past sights like the monuments, The Kennedy Center, and the cherry blossoms while you snack on crab, corn-on-the-cob, hush puppies, and more. Oh, almost forgot–there’s $3 margaritas, too. (Meet at Georgetown waterfront, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., $80)

BAR AND BARRE: Work off the weekend indulgences…and then indulge some more. The Sovereign will host a barre class at the bar: Women Who Whiskey will partner with Open Barre for a good sweat sesh, after which you’ll have some cocktails and a whiskey tasting. If only every workout were this fun! (The Sovereign, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m., $30)

MORE: Takoma Park Farmers Market Summer Kick-Off (Laurel and Carroll Avenues, 10 a.m. – 12 noon), D.C. Cherry Blossoms Painting (ArtJamz Dupont Studio, 5 – 7 p.m., $28), Cherry Blossom Truffle Making Class (The Watergate Hotel, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., $60), Art You Can Eat (Dacha Beer Garden, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.), Mimouna Mimosa Brunch (National Museum of American Jewish Military History, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.,