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

By: Mimi Montgomery

Photo by Julie Skarwecki

Monday, May 14

ROYAL WEDDING TEA: It’s time to start the countdown to the Royal Wedding. Toast Harry and Meghan and get in the English spirit at a proper British tea. Each afternoon, the St. Regis will have special English pastries inspired by the royal duo, as well as specialty teas. (The St. Regis, 2 p.m., $55)

LOCAL PRESS CLUB: Celebrate local DC journalism tonight at a happy hour hosted by 730 DC. Mix and mingle before sitting down to hear a panel of local reporters, Christina Sturdivant Sani, Rachel Kurzius, and Leigh Giangreco, talk about covering the city. Afterwards, there’ll be a Q&A, so come with questions. (Pearl Street Warehouse, 6 – 9 p.m., FREE)

BOOK TALK: Thomas E. Ricks is a national security advisor at the New America Foundation, and he’ll be at Kramerbooks to talk about his book, Churchill & Orwell: The Fight for Freedom. The book looks at the roles both figures played during WWII and combating the rise of fascism and authoritarian rule. (Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., FREE)

MORE: New Music Happy Hour (Dacha Beer Garden, 4 – 8 p.m.), Bon Jovi (Capital One Arena, 7:30 p.m., prices vary), Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami (E Street Cinema, times vary, $9.50 – $10), Yoga in the Park (Chinatown Park, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., FREE), Sip + Savor Yoga Social Mondays (Wunder Garten, 6 – 7 p.m., $18), Short Fiction Writing Workshop (Georgetown Neighborhood Library, 7 – 8:30 p.m., FREE), Drag Bingo (Right Proper Brewing Company, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.), Bourbon & Bowties (Art and Soul, 5 – 7 p.m.)

Photo by Ted Eytan

Tuesday, May 15

OUTDOOR MOVIE: It’s the first night of the Adams Morgan outdoor movie screenings, and the event is officially back at Marie Reed soccer field. Kick off summer with tonight’s lineup of Pixar’s short, animated films. The award-winning shorts range from their early days to their new releases. (Marie Reed soccer field, 8:30 – 11:30 p.m., FREE)

MEXICAN BEER DINNER: 3 Stars Brewing Company is heading to Oyamel for a five-course meal complete with beer pairings. The menu pulls from the Mexican flavors Oyamel is known for, with dishes like ceviche, tacos, tostadas, and spicy lamb. It’ll all be paired with libations like double-hopped IPAs, ales, and fruity blends. (Oyamel, 6:30 – 9 p.m., $75)

ROSE ALL DAY: Rose, yes way. Learn all about everyone’s favorite summer water at tonight’s class. You’ll be walked through the history of and process of making the blush wine, as well as how to identifying tasting notes and pair the wines. After, enjoy a wine flights and some paired canapes. (Tyber Creek Wine Bar & Kitchen, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., $45)

MORE: The Black Borderlands: African-American Suburbanization (D.C. Public Library, 7 – 8:30 p.m.), Profs & Pints: Mapping the Silk Road (La Pop D.C., 6:30 – 9 p.m., $10 – $12), Forensic Anthropology & the Mysterious Death of Robert Kennicott (National Museum of American History, 6:45 – 8:30 p.m., FREE), Labyrinth: A Night of Polish Animation (Suns Cinema, 8 – 11 p.m.), Embassy of Slovakia Dinner Reception (Embassy of Slovakia, 7 – 9 p.m., $49), Shakey Graves and The Kids (9:30 Club, 7 – 11 p.m.)

Photo by Caroline Angelo

Wednesday, May 16

MOVIE + PASTA: Nothing like dinner and a movie, right? Head to Via Umbria for a little all-included date night: You’ll catch a screening of the 1972 film Avanti, a comedy that takes place in Southern Italy, while enjoying a pasta dinner and wine. Don’t worry-there’ll be popcorn, too. (Via Umbria, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., $30)

DRINK AND DRAW: Unleash your inner artist at tonight’s drink and draw gathering. It’s pretty much as it sounds–you’ll drink and you’ll draw. Meet at Sauf Haus to get together with some fellow art-lovers, and you’ll enjoy happy hour beers while drawing whatever you please. Bring your own sketchbook and pencils! (Sauf Haus, 6:30 – 9 p.m., FREE, registration required)

CRAFT CLUB: Yeah, succulents are cool, but you still have to water them. But not this one: Make your own needle-felted succulent this evening. The felt, 3D cactus comes with a cheery pink flower, and the instructor will walk you through each step. Best part? You’ll never be able to kill it! (Colony Club, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., $45)

MORE: The Emotional Labor Union: Gender Pay Gap (The Lemon Collective, 7 – 8:30 p.m., $25), Maxim Loskutoff: Come West and See (Kramerbooks, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., FREE), Police: A Field Guide (The Potter’s House, 6:30 – 8 p.m., FREE), Theater Talk: Peter Marks & Eric Tucker (Folger Theatre, 7 – 8:30 p.m., $20), French Cinematheque: Jeanette: The Childhood of Joan of Arc (The Avalon Theatre, 8 – 10 p.m.), Leni Stern African Trio (O Street Museum, 6 – 9 p.m., $25), Race and America’s Long War (Busboys and Poets, 6:30 – 8 p.m., FREE), J-Film: After the Storm (Embassy of Japan, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., FREE)

Photo by Flickr user DCbmyers

Thursday, May 17

DAY IN THE PARK: The Capitol Riverfront is home to Yard Park and Canal Park–over 11 acres of park right on the waterfront. Head to District Winery on Thursday morning to meet with BID members and learn more about the park’s impact on the community. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and the folks from Georgetown’s Urban & Regional Planning Program will be there, too. (District Winery, 8 – 9:30 a.m., FREE, registration required)

NIGHT AT THE ZOO: Eat dinner at the zoo tonight! Zoofari is a dining event that brings together 100 different DC restaurants and bars for them to show off their stuff amongst the animals. Sample all the food tastings and complimentary alcohol while getting after-hours, behind the scenes tours of the zoo animals’ habitats. There will be live music and an auction, too. (National Zoo, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., $160)

COME TO CROATIA: Take your wine tasting international — the Croatian Embassy will host a wine and food event tonight. An expert will walk you through the various types of Croatian wines and their histories before you sit down to sample some. After, stick around for a talk about Croatia’s tourist industry, and maybe book a trip of your own. (Embassy of Croatia, 7 p.m.)

MORE: The Fight to Integrate Glen Echo Amusement Park (National Archives Building, 7 – 8:30 p.m.), Jukebox the Ghost with the Greeting Committee (9:30 Club, 7 p.m., $25 – $60), Instagram for Photographers (Petworth Neighborhood Library, 7 – 8:30 p.m., FREE), Cocktails for a Cause (Service Bar, 6 – 9 p.m.), Summer Sips Wine Series: Rose All Day (City Winery, 6:30 – 8 p.m., $30), Lewis Black: The Joke’s On Us (Warner Theatre, 8 p.m., $37 – $77), Jennifer Zeynab: The Map of Salt and Stars (Kramerbooks, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., FREE), Nat Geo Nights: The Science of Genius (National Geographic Museum, 5:30 – 8 p.m., $20), Short Films from East Germany (Goethe-Institut, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.), Film Screening: Fronteira de Grandeza (Brazil Institute, 3 – 5 p.m.)