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

By: Mimi Montgomery

Photo by Eric Sidle

MONDAY, MAY 21

ORCHIDDING ME: No more Trader Joe’s bouquets for you! Head to the National Arboretum to learn the ways of the green thumb from a master. Jeff Morris, orchid-grower extraordinaire, will walk you through taking care of these finicky plants, and you’ll have exquisite blooms of your own in no time. (National Arboretum, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., FREE)

BIZ TALKS: Atlantic Media owner David Bradley oversees publications such as the Atlantic, National Journal and the Hotline, Quarts, and Government Executive, not to mention consulting companies like Corporate Executive Board and the Advisory Board Company. Come pick the business mogul’s brain at a fireside chat tonight. (The Alley, 6 – 9 p.m., $25)

THE THEATAH: Ever wanted to dip your toe into the theater world? Now’s your chance. At tonight’s Direct an Epic Workshop, Constellation Theatre Company’s artistic director, Allison Stockman, will walk you through how to direct your own production, and will share her insights from putting together shows. (Constellation Theatre Company, 7 – 9 p.m., $25)

MORE: Oud Beersel Beer Dinner (Brasserie Beck, 5 p.m.), Cinema Lounge Discussion: Science Fiction (Teaism Penn Quarter, 7 – 9 p.m.), Rooftop MacRostie California Wine Tasting (The Watergate Hotel, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., $50), D.C. Premiere of Soufra (GW Lisner Auditorium, 7:30 – 10 p.m., FREE), D.C. Death Cafe (The Potter’s House, 6 – 8 p.m., FREE), Jim Holt: When Einstein Walked with Gödel (Politics and Prose, 7 – 8 p.m., FREE), Carla dal Forno (Union Stage, 7:30 p.m., $15 – $35)

Photo by Flickr user Josh

TUESDAY, MAY 22

ART TOUR: See the National Gallery in a new light. Senior Lecturer David Gariff’s tour “Images of Labor” takes you through the portrayal of workers and their work in the museum’s permanent collection. From artists like Joseph M.W. Turner to Winslow Homer, you’ll get a new perspective on old pieces. (National Gallery of Art, 1 – 2 p.m., FREE)

EAT + DRINK LIKE A LOCAL: Local food publication EdibleDC Magazine will host its food and drink event tonight celebrating the best of DC cuisine. A ticket gets you samples from of 15 bars and restaurants like Brothers & Sisters, Maketto, District Winery, One Eight Distilling, 2 Birds 1 Stone, and many more. After you sample all the bites and sips, head to the after party at Blagden Alley’s Calico. (Long View Gallery, 6 – 9 p.m.)

THE ART OF GATHERING: Priya Parker is the founder of Thrive Labs, which helps people from the arts, political, education, nonprofits, and business to come together to create meaningful communities and events. She outlines the importance of such human connections in her book The Art of Gathering, which she’ll be discussing at Politics and Prose tonight. Parker will be introduced by Washington socialite Sally Quinn, the ultimate gathering coordinator. (Politics and Prose, 7 – 8 p.m., FREE)

MORE:  Film & Board Game Night (Pansaari, 5:30 – 10 p.m.), Funk on 14th Street (Chicken + Whiskey, 7 – 11 p.m.), Pasta + Beer = Power Hitter (Osteria Morini, 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., $20), Veneto Wine Dinner with Remo Farina Winery (Via Umbria, 7:30 – 10 p.m., $125), Jokes on Tap: Open Mic Comedy (Union Stage, 8 p.m., FREE), Adams Morgan Outdoor MovIe Night: The Big Lebowski (Marie Reed Elementary Soccer Field, 8:30 – 11:30 p.m., FREE), Tuesday Grilled Cheese Night (Cork Market, 5 – 10 p.m.)

Photo by Tim Brown

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23

PUBLIC ART: Your commute will be a little cooler today: For one day only, Union Station will have the work of Lithuanian-American artist Ray Bartkus on display in the Main Hall. The Gardens is a color-changing, LED display meant to evoke a new take on Lithuanian folk art. To kick of the display, the Ambassador of Lithuania and Congressman John Shimkus will make remarks, and there will be a jazz performance, too. (Union Station, 9 a.m., FREE)

DOCU NIGHT: Served Like a Girl  is a documentary that follows a group of women entering the Ms. Veteran America contest, which caters to female former active military members. Not only does the film cover the much-needed community the competition brings to these women, it also looks at the rising number of homeless women veterans who have experienced PTSD and sexual abuse, and the efforts being made to help. Catch a screening in town tonight. (Anacostia Community Museum, 11:30 – 1:30 p.m., FREE)

ANOTHER YEAR WISER: Aging can be a difficult concept to grasp beyond buying anti-wrinkle cream, putting money in our 401Ks, or getting together for class reunions. But the Hatchery’s Alanna Ford wants women to refocus their perspective on aging, making sure they’re taking the necessary steps now to age healthfully and holistically. At her workshop, you’ll ask what it means to live a good, full life, and she’ll share tips on using aging as a means of rebirth. (The Lemon Collective, 7 – 9 p.m., $25)

MORE: The Future of Cybersecurity (Carnegie Institute for Science, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., FREE), Wednesday Group Run (Georgetown Running Company, 7 – 8 p.m., FREE), Big Cats on the Prowl (Defenders of Wildlife, 6 – 9 p.m., FREE), A Conversation with Grace Bonney for Good Company (WeWork White House, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.), Jason Reynolds with Mark Oshiro (Busboys and Poets, 6 – 8 p.m., FREE), The Works of Winsor McCay (Suns Cinema, 8:30 – 10:30 p.m.), Prof & Pints: Why Populists Rise (Bier Baron Tavern, 6 – 9 p.m. $10 – $12), Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, and Rohan De Silva (The Kennedy Center, 8 – 10:30 p.m.), Cocktail Class; Julep Cocktails (Via Umbria, 7:30 –  9 p.m., $35)

Photo by Flickr user ashleykalena

THURSDAY, MAY 24

SUMMER COOKING: Summer means fruit. But how to take full advantage of the seasonal goodness while cooking? Dynamic duo the Cook sisters (a gardening and cooking writer and a nutritionist and cook, respectively), will teach you how to grow, harvest, and ripen everything from watermelons to peaches–and how to prepare and serve them, too. (U.S. Botanic Garden, 12-noon, FREE)

NOT-SO-WORKING LUNCH: Take advantage of your lunch break at the SummerSetDC music series. Every Thursday through June 7, you can catch a free performance on the National Mall. Grab your sandwich and park it outside for a bit to hear music from the very cool banjo player Sara Ghebremichael. (Meet outside Air and Space Museum, 12 noon – 2 p.m., FREE)

CUISINE DES ARTISTES: The arts are colliding in DC tonight. Literary, theatrical, visual, and culinary masters are joining forces for a one-of-a-kind dinner. Chefs like Jim Sole of Black Salt and Claudio Pirollo of EtVoila will join forces with local artists to create a multi-course dinner where each dish is truly a work of edible art. Throughout the feast, local creatives from singers to musicians to poets will perform their work, and you can take tours through the Woodrow Wilson House, too. (Woodrow Wilson House, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., $200)

MORE: History Happy Hour: The Press & the Presidency (The Willard, 6 – 8 p.m., $49), Michael Blackson (The D.C. Improv Comedy Club, 7:30 – 9 p.m.), Home Styling 101 (Fostr Collaborative, 6 – 8 p.m., $25), Nine Songwriter Series (Pearl Street Warehouse, 7 p.m., $10), Artist Talk: Tony Lewis (Hirshhorn Museum, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., FREE), The Freya Project (Colony Club, 7 – 10 p.m., $20), Talk: Secret Cities (National Building Museum, 6:30 – 8 p.m., $10 – $20), British Empire and the Literature of Rebellion-Author Talk (The Potter’s House, 6:30 – 8 p.m., FREE), Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers (International Spy Museum, 12 noon – 2 p.m., $89)