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

By: Mimi Montgomery

Photo by Eric p.

FRIDAY, FEB. 2

I GOT THE BLUES: If you like blues music, come see the real thing tonight at the Kennedy Center. Memphis Gold is a blues musician – the kind it’s rare to see these days – and he’ll be playing at the Millennium Stage. All the performance at the space are free, so just show up and prepare to enjoy. (The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, 6 p.m., FREE)

COLOR IT IN: Who doesn’t love coloring? Join the Luce Foundation at the Smithsonian Art Museum for its young professionals night complete with art supplies. Sip a complimentary cup of cocoa while you color in pages based on works in the space. (Smithsonian American Art Museum, 5 – 7 p.m., FREE)

NO VEGETARIANS, PLEASE: Tonight and tomorrow is Salty Beast, a pop-up dinner series hosted by Cured D.C. The five-course dinner features Old World-style charcuterie (hence the name) meant to be shared. Pull up a chair at a big, communal table and dig in. (District Space, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., $55)

HAIKU FOR YOU: Today is the last day to enter the Golden Triangle BID’s haiku contest. Pen one of the short poems (five-seven-five syllables per line), submit it, and your work could be featured on a series of signs placed along city sidewalks come March. Oh, you could also win prizes up to $500. (FREE)

MORE: A Branch of Freshest Green: Music of Hildegard von Bingen (Washington National Cathedral, 8 p.m., $30 – $60), His Town: A Drunk Ed Deep Dive into the Masculine Swamp (Black Cat D.C., 8 – 10 p.m., $15), First Friday Dupont: Art Walk (Dupont Circle, 6 – 8 p.m., FREE), YARN (The Hamilton, 8 p.m., $10 – $15)

Photo by Erin

SATURDAY, FEB. 3

MAKE YOUR OWN SUSHI: Learn to roll sushi tonight at Umaya. A seasoned chef will walk you through the steps for creating four different types of rolls, like California and spicy tuna, and you’ll get to sample them all. Both red and white wine is included at the event, too. (Umaya, 1 – 4 p.m., $52)

EMO NIGHT: Travel back in time at Union Stage’s Emo Night. Wear your tightest jeans, skater shoes, and straighten your bangs for a night that’s definitely MySpace profile pic-worthy. The spot will be playing tunes by Yellowcard, Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, and more all night, and there will be plenty of drinks, too. (Union Stage, 10 p.m., $12 – $15)

LOOSEN THE BELT: Get ready to brunch – today is Brunch Fest at Union Market. The all-you-can-eat-and-drink extravaganza has food from the likes of On Toast and Sugar Shack, as well as a Bloody Mary, boozy coffee, and mimosa bar. There will be beer, spirits, and wine, too, as well as music and games. (Union Market, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., $89)

CLUE: Was it Colonel Mustard in the library? Or Miss Scarlet in the kitchen? Partake in a live-action game of Clue that has you running across DC. Groups will be given tasks, challenges, and puzzles to solve as they roam the city streets to solve a murder mystery. (Ollie’s Trolley, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., $24)

MORE: Remember the Time: A Brunch Through the Decades (Prequel, 12 noon – 6 p.m., $10 – $40), Free Community Crafting Class (Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library, 1:30 – 3 p.m., FREE), Used Record Sale (Mt. Pleasant Library Friends, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.), Chocolate Indulgence (The St. Regis, 6 – 10 p.m., $48), That’s What She Said: Book Talk with Joanne Lipman (NewseumED, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m., FREE), Michael Benanav: Himalaya Bound (Politics and Prose Bookstore, 1 – 2 p.m., FREE), Opening Day – Ten Americans: After Paul Klee (The Phillips Collection, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., $10 – $12), 2018 Department of Parks and Recreation Puppy Bowl (Columbia Heights Community Center, 2 – 4 p.m., FREE), Walls of Books Turns Two (Walls of Books, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., FREE), Black Tech Women DC: 2018 Vision Board Workshop (Georgetown Neighborhood Library, 1 – 3:30 p.m., $20.18), Truffle Making Class with D.C. Chocolatier (The Watergate Hotel, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., $60), Digging Up Dessa (The Kennedy Center, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m., $20)

Photo by Josh

SUNDAY, FEB. 4

SING IT: The event Redemption Songs and Sonatas is all about civil rights for all. This afternoon at the National Gallery of Art, come by to hear songs on liberation and freedom like Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” and the Haitian national anthem. There will be piano and violin accompaniment, too. (National Gallery of Art, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., FREE)

FILM FESTIVAL: As part of its Iranian film festival, the Freer|Sackler Gallery will screen the film “Negar” today. The Iranian film follows a woman whose deceased fathers appears to her in a dream. Following his instructions, she resolves to uncover the truth about his death – but does she really want to know everything? (Freer|Sackler Galleries, 2 – 4 p.m., FREE)

SUPER CHILI BOWL: Cheer on the Patriots or the Eagles (or just boo Tom Brady) tonight at Jack Rose. The Adams Morgan bar will be hosting its chili cook-off this afternoon, with five types of chilis and tons of canned and draft beers. It’s all-you-can-eat (and drink!), so go back for seconds while you watch the game (or the commercials – whichever). (Jack Rose Dining Saloon, 6 – 10 p.m., $50)

I’D RATHER JAZZ: If football isn’t really your thing, Rhizome DC’s jazz night is for you. It will be hosting an anti-Super Bowl event that’s all about the music – a trombonist, saxophonist, drummer, singers, and more will all perform. Dinner is provided, for an extra fee, too. (Rhizome DC, 6 – 11 p.m., $15 – $25)

MORE: Bootcamp + Brews (D.C. Brau, 12-noon, $15), Double Agent Date (International Spy Museum, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., $42), Free Community Day (National Museum of Women in the Arts, 12 noon – 5 p.m., FREE)