A lawsuit seeks to block D.C.’s RESALE Act, which is set to go into effect in January and aims to protect concertgoers from deceptive ticketing practices.
Bring your favorite flowers to this floral potluck and create a bouquet that makes you smile, all while supporting a good cause. (Courtesy of Flower Potluck)
Every Thursday, we share weekend events happening around the city. Are you planning an event you’d like us to consider for this roundup? Send it to our team at 51st.news/submit-events.
Find even more events in our Civics Roundup, which focuses on ways to get more involved locally.
November is settling in: The crisp morning air has us seeing our breath again, and the trees are putting on their final show of color. Meanwhile, the city is easing into the winter holidays with a steady stream of performances, art events, and opportunities to get out and meet your neighbors.
From a celebration of the stories we carry to an independent zine festival and a flower-arranging fundraiser to a chocolate tour of Embassy Row, this week's lineup offers plenty of ways to make the most of autumn.
The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum hosts Storytime and crafts for young dreamers on Thursday. (Pedro Szekel/Flickr)
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Story Time: Nobody Owns the Sky 📍 National Air and Space Museum (650 Jefferson Dr. SW) ⏰ 11 a.m. 💸 FREE (timed-entry passes required) Before Bessie Coleman became the first Black woman to earn an international pilot's license, she had to find her own path into aviation. This story time introduces young readers to Coleman's journey and the places she traveled in pursuit of her dream of flying, through the book by Reeve Lindbergh. (Yes, she’s Charles Lindbergh’s daughter!) After the reading, kids can make a banner celebrating their own hopes and aspirations.
After Dark: Stories We Carry 📍 Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Pl. SE) ⏰ 7 -10 p.m. 💸 FREE (reservation required, 21+) Our family traditions, shared meals, and neighborhood memories are history in the making. Inspired by the museum's exhibition “We Make History,” this after-hours gathering explores the ways everyday people preserve our experiences across generations. The evening includes music from DJ Jerome Baker III, an art-making activity with Pyramid Atlantic, and a recipe exchange called Rooted Recipes. (Bring a favorite family or community recipe to share, or take home one contributed by another attendee.) As you explore the museum after hours, pick up a spiked apple cider, hot chocolate, or snack box.
Turn Hard Into Humor Workshop 📍 D.C. Writer's Salon (1807 18th St. NW) ⏰ 7 - 9 p.m. 💸 $10.38 Life has a way of handing us material we never asked for. This writing workshop explores how humor can help you make sense of difficult experiences, shift perspective, and work through anxiety — using techniques drawn from stand up comedy. Couldn’t we all use a little breathing room from the things that weigh on us?
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13
Enjoy a morning of touching, playing, and wandering through the gardens at Hillwood Estate Mansion with your little ones. (Ron Cogswell/Flickr)
Garden Tots: Winter's on the Way 📍 Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens (4155 Linnean Ave. NW) ⏰ 10–11 a.m. 💸 $12 per child or $10 for members (accompanying adult required) A little outdoor exploration can make the changing seasons more interesting for the kiddos. The upper Northwest mansion museum invites children ages 2-5 to explore their gardens through imaginative play, hands-on activities, and art-making. In this session, which focuses on the signs of winter, little explorers can search for acorns, pinecones, and animals preparing for colder weather before making a nature-inspired wreath to take home. Each class is limited to 15 children.
Farmers Supporting Farmers Market 📍 Rhizome DC (6950 Maple St. NW) ⏰ 5 - 8 p.m. 💸FREE (RSVP required) This fall market brings together farmers, artists, and community members for an evening supporting food sovereignty and creative work. The event will feature handmade goods, including dried-flower wreaths, ceramics, naturally dyed textiles, linocut prints, and farm-grown pepper flakes. There will also be a seed-saving workshop, custom seed packets, and performances throughout the evening. The market will take place primarily outdoors, weather permitting. Masks are required when indoors.
The Capital Art Fair 📍 University Club (1135 16th St. NW) ⏰ 5 - 8 p.m. (continues Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.) 💸 $50 for Friday's preview party; FREE Saturday and Sunday Art collectors and curious browsers alike can spend the weekend exploring five centuries of works on paper at this annual festival. This year's edition brings together 17 exhibitors from across the country offering everything from Old Master prints by Rembrandt and Dürer to works by Goya, Picasso, Miró, Warhol, and Keith Haring, alongside Japanese prints and contemporary works. Pretend you’ve got the budget for the high end at Friday’s ticketed cocktail preview featuring wine, canapés, and first access to the artwork.
The Moon Girls Present: PLEASE CLAP! 📍 Kbird DC (1333 P St. NW) ⏰ 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. 💸 $15 Local theater silly billies The Moon Girls are back with an updated show following their run at the 2026 District Fringe Festival. The D.C.-based trio — Cammiel Hussey, Charlotte Kim, and Ali Lightfield — bring their unconventional, quirky humor to a high-stakes setup: They have one shot to entertain you, and they're willing to do just about anything to make it happen. Described by audiences as wonderfully unpredictable, the hour-long performance promises plenty of laughs and unexpected turns.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14
D.C. has something to say! Celebrate the city’s creative spirit alongside local artists and zinemakers at this annual festival. (Toni Lane / courtesy of DC Zinefest)
D.C. Zinefest: A Celebration of Zine Culture in the DMV 📍 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St. NW) ⏰ 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. 💸 FREE Independent publishing gets its moment at this annual one-day festival that makes space for local artists and writers to share their work with new readers and build community. This year's event includes 10 free workshops across two floors of the library. Whether you're already part of the local zine community or simply curious about making your own publication, there's plenty to explore. Find more events like this one in our weekly Civics Roundup!
SPONSORED
Always Becoming — Next Chapter 📍 National Museum of the American Indian (4th St. and Independence Ave. SW) ⏰ 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Join artist Nora Naranjo Morse (Kha’p’o Owenge ([Santa Clara Pueblo]) to celebrate two decades of her sculpture family Always Becoming. Enjoy vibrant dance performances and short films, make your own clay pinch pot, and hear from museum experts caring for the sculptures.
Flower Potluck 📍 Doubles (3118 Georgia Ave. NW) ⏰ 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 💸 Donation requested ($15, sliding scale); RSVP required Bring a few flowers and leave with an arrangement of your own at this bimonthly community event co-organized by 51st co-founder Maddie Poore. Flowers can be store-bought, picked up at a farmers market, gathered from your garden, or respectfully foraged. Participants are also encouraged to bring a vessel, whether that's a favorite vase or an unexpected find. Other supplies will be provided, with proceeds going to DC Migrant Mutual Aid.
NWSL Semifinal: Washington Spirit vs. Utah Royals 📍 Audi Field (100 Potomac Ave. SW) ⏰ 12 p.m. 💸 $36–166 + Women’s soccer fans, it’s time to lock in! The Washington Spirit are one win away from the championship, making your support at Saturday’s semifinal crucial. Head to Rowdy Audi to cheer on our hometown team as they take on the Utah Royals for a spot in the NWSL Championship — coming up in the same stadium on Saturday, November 21, whether or not our team is playing.
Open Studios at 52 O Street 📍 52 O Street Studios (52 O St. NW) ⏰ 12 - 4 p.m. 💸FREE Ever wonder what happens behind the doors of an artist's studio? This twice-yearly event offers visitors a chance to find out. Spread across four floors, the studios include painters, jewelers, photographers, printmakers, tattoo artists, ateliers, and galleries. Many will open their workspaces for an afternoon of conversation — which, with the holidays coming up, gives you a great opportunity to buy gifts directly from the people who made them.
The Friendsgiving Swap 📍 Navy Yard Urby Apartments (1331 Yards Pl. SE) ⏰ 1 - 4 p.m. 💸 $15 Give your closet a refresh without adding another shopping bag to the pile. Swap Season invites participants to bring up to 10 quality secondhand clothing items to exchange with others. Along with the clothing swap, the afternoon will include a cacao lounge for sipping and connecting, as well as a friendship bracelet station for making something to keep or share. Bring a friend, pass along pieces you're ready to part with, and see what finds its way into your wardrobe.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Take a stroll along Embassy Row for a little history with a side of chocolate. (Jonathan Borba/Pexels)
Family Day 📍 Smithsonian American Art Museum, Kogod Courtyard (8th and F Streets NW) ⏰ 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. 💸 FREE Bring the kids and spend the day exploring the SAAM's newly reopened galleries through a series of hands-on activities. Visitors can sketch objects arranged in a still life, then take part in a gallery activity that introduces the elements of art-making through close observation of the museum’s collection. Children ages 12 and under can also enjoy crafts and coloring pages in the iconic Kogod Courtyard.
International Chocolate Tour of Embassy Row 📍 Dupont Circle North Metro Station (1908–1998 Q St. NW) ⏰ 12 - 2 p.m. 💸 $45.85 Embassy Row has plenty of stories to tell, and this walking tour adds chocolate to the itinerary. Participants will explore Massachusetts Avenue's diplomatic corridor, learning about the historic homes and notable residents that have shaped one of D.C.’s most recognizable stretches. Along the way, the tour includes outdoor chocolate and candy tastings inspired by several countries, including Ireland, Romania, Turkey, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Expect a mix of local history and international flavors, alongside a few of Embassy Row's more colorful stories.
Bouldering Meetup with Soul Trak Outdoors 📍 Bouldering Project, Eckington (1611 Eckington Pl. NE #150) ⏰ 4 - 6 p.m. 💸 FREE Want to try climbing but haven't found the right opportunity to get started? Soul Trak Outdoors is hosting its monthly Bouldering Night, bringing together new climbers and experienced enthusiasts for an afternoon of movement and community. Created by and for people of color, the gathering offers an introductory session covering climbing basics, safety, and gym etiquette.
Hanukkah Spectacular 📍 Woolly Mammoth Theatre (641 D St. NW) ⏰ 8 p.m.; performances through December 13 💸 $32-62 What happens when a group of Jewish theater artists are tasked with creating the next commercially successful Hanukkah holiday show? That's the premise of Hanukkah Spectacular, a new comedy at downtown D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre — which follows four artists as they navigate creative differences, competing ambitions, and the pressure to deliver a holiday hit.
India Kea is a D.C. native and essayist adventuring through the city with a focus on art and food. Her writing reflects her passion for all things quirky and flavorful.
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