Give Mom the gift literally no one else can this Mother’s Day thanks to Framebridge, the DC-based company that revolutionized custom framing, both online and in person at your nearest store.
Customize any of their frames with special photos, art, or objects Mom loves or choose from the Perfect Gifts (their most popular frame sizes in our most popular styles, ready to customize).
What’s more: Opt for a tabletop style, AKA the fastest way to the most personal gift. Simply walk into any store with a photo (or just your phone!) and they’ll print, frame, and gift wrap it in minutes. Pro-tip: You can also order online for same-day pickup!
Forget the matching pajama set, coffee mug or body scrub this Mother’s Day. (She already has plenty.)
Instead, surprise the special woman in your life with a creative, fresh flower bouquet from D.C. florist Volanni!
These aren’t generic, big-box bouquets. Michael Lanni, the artist behind these arrangements , puts creative care into each of his designs. As Lanni likes to say, “This is our art, and flowers are the medium.”
Pick out the perfect Mother’s Day arrangement and place your order online. Volanni makes deliveries throughout the DMV. All deliveries will go out Friday, Saturday and Sunday (May 9th-11th).
Mother’s Day is approaching fast on May 11th and flower availability is limited, so you won’t want to wait!
Hey parents: Summer will be here faster than you think. (And yes, camps fill up fast!)
Instead of another summer of endless YouTube scrolling and Roblox marathons, why not turn screen time into something amazing?
Creator Camp—one of the most cutting-edge, 5-star rated summer programs in Texas—is officially launching in Washington D.C. this summer at the Templeton Academy! Featured on Shark Tank and backed by Barbara Corcoran, Creator Camp helps kids ages 6–13 turn their love of screens into real creative skills like filmmaking, animation, game design, YouTube production, and even entrepreneurship. (Think: kids making short films, coding their own games, and starting their own mini-businesses—all in one week.)
The camp was founded by a group of high school friends who got tired of seeing “iPad kids” everywhere and wanted to show the next generation how to create, not just consume. Fast-forward to today, and their camps now serve thousands of kids every summer—while expanding to major cities across the country.
Spots are limited, and D.C. locations are already filling up! If you want your kiddo to have the most creative summer ever, check out the upcoming sessions and enroll today.
D.C. camps will be held at Templeton Academy DC (406 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20004), right in the heart of downtown!
“Laughter is the shortest distance between two people,” said comedian Victor Borge. What’s more? Connecting and laughing with others can strengthen your resilience in the face of uncertainty and help you tackle tough challenges.
Improv classes, in particular, are great for people dealing with uncertainty and anxiety because they train you to be present in-the-moment and focus on the person and situation in front of you, instead of worrying about what the future holds. Plus, they’re incredibly fun and entertaining, offering a much-needed respite from reality.
Writing about her own improv education, Axios DC Reporter Mimi Montgomery recently wrote, “As grown-ups, we often repress the imaginative playfulness and openness we had as kids, writing off these urges as embarrassing or dumb. But that means we cut ourselves off from opportunities to grow and create — dream jobs and passion projects and wild adventures.”
Experts in Spreading Joy
Washington Improv Theater (WIT) has been the DMV’s premier destination for hilarious improv comedy shows and informative, accessible classes for more than 25 years. Each year, more than 1,000 adults take one of WIT’s “Foundations of Improv” courses.
“Everybody needs an escape from time to time, and I’d say that’s especially true right now,” says Mark Chalfant, WIT’s Artistic/Executive Director.
For the past two years in-a-row, Washington City Paper readers have named WIT’s classes as being the “Best Art Class” in the District, according to the platform’s annual “Best of DC” poll.
Start Your New Adventure!
WIT’s Level 1 classes, which teach techniques for honing your communication and collaboration skills, are currently enrolling for weekly classes that start as soon as this Sunday, April 27. There are eight classes in total plus a showcase at the end.
The theater’s talented and dedicated teaching artists are trained in providing a positive learning environment that is safe, inclusive, and welcoming to all.
“WIT students come from a variety of backgrounds and different stages in life, from 22-year-old college grads and 35-year-old mid-career professionals, to 55-year-old senior executives and individuals who are well into retirement,” says Chalfant. “Our classes serve as a laboratory for self-discovery and a catalyst for creativity regardless of how old you are or what you do.”
In addition to WIT’s classes for individuals, its organizational training arm WIT@Work uses applied improv to teach professional skills, leadership development, and team building. It’s one of the top providers of its kind in the entire country.
What WIT’s students have to say:
“I love all the people I’ve met. Improv pushes you to get out of your comfort zone, which builds confidence. It’s all been wonderful!” — Kevin T.
“It’s the best professional training for creativity and working with people. I literally use improv everyday, including trying to approach most ideas with a spirit of ‘Yes, and’!” — Julia G.
“WIT constantly teaches me it’s okay to make mistakes (and move on), and how to trust my colleagues… Your classes have helped me take the poison out of toxic people and relationships, so that we can all take away something truly helpful and powerful.” — Helen D.
It’s almost time to turn up the volume on one of DC’s most beloved neighborhood festivals—Adams Morgan PorchFest is back on Saturday, May 3, 2025, and this year’s lineup is bigger than ever.
The free, family-friendly event transforms stoops, patios, and public spaces into stages for live music across genres—from bluegrass and indie rock to soul, jazz, hip-hop, and more.
🎤 This year’s headliner? Gangstagrass. The Emmy-nominated band blends bluegrass instrumentation with hip-hop flow for a sound (and show) like no other. Catch their set on the Aetna Main Stage at 2424 18th Street NW.
🎶 The music kicks off all afternoon across three main stages and dozens of neighborhood porches. Stroll the 18th Street corridor, hear incredible performances, and soak in the sounds of spring.
🍽️ While you’re at it, take advantage of exclusive PorchFest discounts at participating businesses and restaurants. You can check out specials, wristband pick-up spots, and the full lineup of performers at admodc.org.
Whether you’re a longtime local or just looking for something new to do in DC, PorchFest is your invitation to celebrate community, creativity, and culture—Adams Morgan style.
Admitting defeat against the forces of nature that compel her to sneeze, cough, and itch when prompted to perform an oil change on schedule, area woman Rhoda Bleu was taken to the nearest emergency clinic Thursday, where she was diagnosed as severely allergic to car care.
Bleu, a 38-year-old Shaw resident, says her eyes welled up with tears and an intense headache overcame her when she realized she might have to sit in an auto shop waiting room and make eye contact with someone during the service.
“What if they use a bunch of terms I don’t understand to try to get me to spend even more money?” she sniffled.
Sources also confirmed that Bleu was seen ignoring her check engine light and texts from her mom about coming to visit soon.
Clinicians referred Bleu to a specialist to alleviate her symptoms.
The RX: Visit roda.com to let their expert technicians take car care entirely off her plate with free pick-up and drop-off of her vehicle for service, transparent pricing, and trustworthy care. At press time, Bleu was breathing easy thanks to Roda.
Mosaic Theater Company brings the D.C. premiere of cullud wattah to the stage, spotlighting the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and offering audiences the chance to engage with local and national organizations fighting for clean water.
Written by Erika Dickerson-Despenza, the play runs at the Atlas Performing Arts Center from April 3-27.
“cullud wattah addresses one of the most pressing social issues of our time: our right to safe, clean water,” said Reginald L. Douglas, Artistic Director of Mosaic Theater. “At the heart of the play, three generations of Black women navigate a world that is literally poisoning them. This production is a powerful family drama and a call for environmental justice, urging audiences to push this movement forward.”
The play is set in 2016, marking 936 days since Flint residents lost access to clean water. Marion, a third-generation General Motors employee, is on the verge of a promotion when her sister’s activism threatens to upend their family’s stability. Forced to confront painful truths and threats to their tight-knit family, the women must fight for their survival.
For director Danielle A. Drakes, cullud wattah is a deeply personal project. “It makes me think about the women in my life — our strength, our survival, our love,” she shared. “This play is powerful, poetic, and urgent, shining a light on Black women’s resilience, environmental justice, and the generational impact of systemic neglect.”
The cast features Obie Award-winner Lizan Mitchell as Big Ma, alongside Kelly Renee Armstrong as Marion, Ezinélia Baba as Plum, Andreá Bellamore-Jeanniton as Ainee, and Khalia Muhammad as Reesee.
Mosaic Theater is expanding the conversation beyond the stage with its Reflection Series, offering community discussions on topics such as restorative ecological practices, D.C.’s own complicated water history, and environmental justice. The series includes a post-show panel on April 25 marking the ninth anniversary of the Flint Water Crisis and an Earth Day cleanup on April 26 along the Anacostia River.
With cullud wattah, Mosaic Theater Company continues its commitment to socially conscious storytelling, bringing urgent national issues to the forefront through the lens of powerful, personal narratives.
Save 20% on tickets!
Used code POP20 to save 20% on tickets. Valid on performances from April 3 through April 12. Offer expires April 12.
Serving D.C. and Virginia, Simply Management is owned and operated by Hannah Juricic, who leases and manages almost one hundred and fifty units across the city and over the river. These properties are managed only by Hannah and her assistant.
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Left: Gladstone at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party. Photo by Doug Peters/PA Images via Getty Images. Right: Gladstone at the 96th Academy Awards. Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Detailed image by Smithsonian Imaging Services, DPO/ODT.
Two gowns worn by Oscar-nominated actor Lily Gladstone (Siksikaitsitapi [Blackfeet]/Nimiipuu [Nez Perce]) are on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
The special installation, “Making a Statement,” will be on view through March 2026.
Both gowns were a custom collaboration, designed by Gucci and Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanche) of Ironhorse Quillwork. The gowns were worn by Gladstone the evening of March 10, 2024, to the 96th Academy Awards and the Vanity Fair Oscars party. Gladstone was the first Native American nominated for best actress for her work in the film Killers of the Flower Moon.
Join us for these weekend programs:
Public Programs Free | National Museum of the American Indian
The museum hosts a special after-hours event in celebration of “Making a Statement.” Visitors can see the special installation, appreciate contemporary Indigenous fashion with a unique showcase, participate in hands-on activities by visiting teaching carts, and enjoy music by DJ Jon Ray all evening. Light food and beverages (including beer and wine) available for purchase. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Celebrate the power and beauty of Indigenous fashion and design. Hear from Indigenous designers who create looks at the intersection of Indigenous tradition and contemporary fashionand support their work.
Visitors can get a close look at a first-of-its-kind collaboration between quillwork artist Joe Big Mountain (Mohawk/Cree/Comanche) and haute couture brand Gucci, and appreciate contemporary Indigenous fashion with a unique showcase.
