What’s Going On This Week? Here are the Best Events in Town

By: Mimi Montgomery

Paddle the waterways, watch a senator hit balls, and celebrate the Caps.

Photo by Ted Eytan

MONDAY, JUNE 11

BOOK TALK…Did you read Fates and Furies? The New York Times bestseller was written Lauren Groff, who just came out with a book of short stories. Florida is a collection of pieces about, well, Florida, and Groff will be at Politics and Prose to talk writing and her novels tonight.

SARA’S SMILE…Ready for some smooth rock? Come belt You Make My Dreams with thousands of your closest friends at tonight’s Hall & Oates concert. With multiple Billboard hits under their belts, there’s plenty of songs you’ll know the words to.

MEDIA TRENDS…Come listen to a chat about the future of media with a line-up of in-the-know names. Axios reporter Sara Fischer will host the managing director of Ogilvy, Facebook’s head of news partnerships, the co-founder of Axios, and more.

AND…Catch THEY. at Union Stage…Protect your data…Deep dive into Alexander Hamilton’s life…See a screening of Our Father…Flex your improv muscles…Tech in the Arctic??…How to photograph Shakespeare…Chromeo at 9:30 Club…End violence against African-American women and girls…Maximize your running techniques…

Photo by Joseph Gruber

TUESDAY, JUNE 12

JUST KEEP PADDLIN’…Celebrate #YearOfTheAnacostia with a canoe paddle on the open waters. You’ll meet up with a Living Classrooms instructor to explore the waters around Kingman and Heritage Islands while learning about the history and wildlife of the Anacostia. If weather permits, you’ll catch the sunset, too.

HOCKEY <3…If you’ve been living under a rock, the Capitals won the Stanley Cup, and the city is ready to celebrate. Join in with the official victory parade this morning. You’ll start out by the Washington Monument and then continue along the Mall, where you’ll end up at a stage for a rally. Go Caps!

DCIST 2.0…Local news site DCist is finally coming back this month, and tonight you can mix and mingle with the women who will be heading the 2.0 version. Editor-in-Chief Rachel Sadon, Associate Editor Rachel Kurzius, and the rest of the crew will be at Shop Made in D.C. to talk about local journalism and what you’d like to see out of the revamped site.

AND…Yoga on a roof…Chat photojournalism…Paint like Picasso…Groove to Vance Joy…How did vintage become cool?…Please, just go the f*ck to sleep…Catch a concert at Dumbarton House…Hear patriotic tunes by the U.S. Navy Band…

Photo by Beau Finley

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13

GET DOWN…Get your swing dance on tonight with a free shindig at Pearl Street Warehouse. The Foggy Bottom Whomp-stompers will be in-house to play tunes while you pretzel, dip, and twirl. While it’s free to get in, it’s a cash bar, so pick up a drink and mingle between dances.

COMING TO AMERICA…Tonight, the Pinch will host a series of stand-up comedians who all immigrated to America. The group includes folks from South Korea, the Dominican Republic, Poland, England, Cameroon, and more. They’ll talk about their experiences adjusting to U.S. life and make you laugh–a lot.

NOT THAT BAD…Feminist and all-around badass Roxane Gay recently collaborated on Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture, which includes a forward by the author, as well as stories from actors and writers about women addressing harassment and abuse. Gay will be in D.C. tonight at Sixth & I, where she’ll be in conversation with NPR host Linda Holmes and sign books after.

AND…LOL at Colony Club…The Importance of Being Earnest…Watch anime at Union Market…Start your own biz…Go vegan; achieve eternal enlightenment…Catch live (and free!!!!) music at the Wharf…Sip a cocktail whilst watercoloring…

Photo by Flickr user justinbc

THURSDAY, JUNE 14

‘CUE AND BEER…Hill Country Barbecue launches its pop-up at the National Building Museum today for another summer, and there will be a jam-packed happy hour to celebrate. Swing by for a one-hour yoga class before chilling out with some D.C. Brau beer and BBQ. (Pro tip: If you do enough downward dogs, it means you can have as much beer and ‘cue as you want.)

BIPARTISAN BALL…Since 1909, the Congressional Baseball Game has been a staple of Washington history. Come by tonight to watch Senators and Congressman take each other on at Nats Park via America’s Pastime. A portion of the proceeds will go toward the U.S. Capitol Police Memorial Fund to thank the officers who were at last year’s baseball shooting.

SEEDS ‘N’ SIPS…Green thumb and imbibe at the same time: Up Top Acres, a rooftop farm in Navy Yard, will host a Seeds + Sips get-together tonight. You’ll pot three herbs to take home while learning how to use the fresh plants to make your own cocktails. Sip on a rosemary and ginger gin spritzer while taking in the view (and getting the dirt out from under your fingernails).

AND…Learn the art of traditional Filipino embroidery…Talk Aboriginal women artists at the Phillips…Rachael Ray comes to D.C. (with EVOO)…Discuss the notion of home in multicultural art…A celebration of LGBTQ Latinx art and activism…Drink ‘n’ make stuff…Catch a new video exhibit that will transport you to the prairie…It’s World Cup time, baby…