This time of year usually means planning holiday parties, attending soirées, buying gifts, decorating . . . the list is exhausting. With all the stress of the holiday season approaching, why not take time for a new hobby? Sure, you’re about to be loaded down with all those extra tasks, but some of these holiday hobbies come with perks: They’re relaxing, and the result can often be given as a gift. If you’ve always been interested in knitting, try a beginners’ course that will teach you to make a scarf. Knitting can be done during the Metro commute or when unwinding with a glass of wine on the couch. On  weekends, take the kids to a baking or pottery class, or try a workshop to find new ways to spice up your holiday dinner party.

Saturday, December 6, through Saturday, December 13: Ornament-Decorating Workshop
The Alexandria Archeology Museum invites families to the Torpedo Factory Art Center to decorate holiday ornaments. Create clay ornaments using different shapes, colors, and patterns, and take them home for yourself or to give as a gift. Saturday, December 6, 1 to 4; Sunday and Monday, 11 to 7; Tuesday through Saturday, December 13, 11 to 9. Free; call 703-838-4399 for more information.

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Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday

Thursday, November 20: The third Thursday of November marks the release of the 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau harvest—and French law says the bottle can’t be corked before then. The anticipation is killing us, so we’ve rounded up a few local spots that will toast the special occasion.

You’ll get a French happy hour mixed with music and art tonight at the Phillips Collection’s Soiree Carte Blanche event. Bring your iPod to join in a music-mixing contest with a great prize: a free series of classes at the Alliance Française and a Phillips Collection membership. The fun, food, and Frenchiness gets started at 6 PM; admission is $12 at the door.

Friday, November 21: The National Museum of American History is finally reopening after months of delays. Celebrate its newly renovated digs at a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning from 8:30 to 10. A grand-opening festival commences at 10 and continues throughout the day and weekend. Jazz, blues, classical, and Latin music will be played, and actors will recreate important scenes from American history, including the creation of “The Star Spangled Banner” and sit-ins during the Civil Rights movement. Visit americanhistory.si.edu for details.

You may also be interested in . . . Weekend Happy Hours | Thanksgiving Roundup: Races, Parades, Charities, and More | November in Music | November’s Museums

And don't miss our Inauguration 2009 coverage, including this always-updated list of all the parties and galas.

Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday

Thursday, November 13: Even if you voted for the other guy, surely you can get behind an open bar. That’s what’s taking place tonight at MCCXXIII when the Women’s Information Network hosts a postelection happy hour. $10 for WIN members, $20 for nonmembers, and free if you join WIN at the event.

Are you a local blog lover? We sure are (as if you didn’t know that already from our Blogger Beat series). Well, one of our favorite local blogs, the Prince of Petworth, is celebrating his two-year blogaversary (it’s a word, trust us) tonight at Wonderland. There will be live music, drinks, and the Prince himself. 8 PM; free.

It’s a Chicago-based magazine, but that didn’t stop Stop Smiling from putting out an all-things-DC issue, which it’s celebrating tonight at Civilian Arts Projects. The issue contains articles on local crime novelist George Pelecanos and actor Anwan Glover (who will both be in attendance). The release party will feature the music of Ian Svenonius and other DJs. 7 PM; a $5 suggested donation will get you a copy of the mag.

You might also be interested in . . . An Obama Beer | Cheap Theater Seats | DC’s Best Wine Bars | Theater in November | New and Expanded Happy Hour Finder

Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday

Thursday, November 6: Rami Kashou of Project Runway will be at the Phillips Collection this evening for a happy hour and a discussion about fashion. There’ll be a cash bar, live music by Potomac Jazz Project, and lots of opportunities for mingling. $15; 5 PM.

Friday, November 7: Hirshhorn After Hours just sold out its advance tickets, and for good reason—Dan Deacon will be playing at the museum’s popular Friday-night party. The Baltimorean is well known for his electronic music and manic live shows, so it should be a fun one. There are still tickets, but they’ll be on sale only at the door, so make sure to get there super-duper early.

Celebrate the changing leaves of fall every Friday through December 19 from 5 to 7 PM at Equinox’s cider-themed happy hour. The hot-cider cocktails aren’t so cheap at $10 and $11, but chef Todd Gray’s seasonal snacks—such as pumpkin fritters, sweet-potato pot stickers, and venison chili—are free. Come winter, the happy hour will take on a new theme—chocolate—featuring desserts from pastry chef Melanie Parker.

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Although it’s known for its party materials, Party America (18036 Mateny Rd., Germantown; 301-515-8980) also has many options for costumes and materials for all ages.

Backstage (545 Eighth St., SE; 202-544-5744), on Capitol Hill, is DC’s theatrical superstore, with costumes and accessories for all ages.

Costumes Creative (9168 Brookville Rd., Silver Spring; 301-587-6275) has extended its hours this month to allow shoppers more time to choose from more than 15,000 costumes in stock.

Thursday, July 24: If you still haven’t made it over to Tenleytown to check out the free summer concert series, Fort Reno, tonight would be the perfect time to do so for two reasons: 1) The band Statehood. Including a couple former Dismemberment Plan members, the group plays enthusiastic and angular dance-punkish tunes. 2) Free cupcakes! Every year, Fort Reno holds a Night of 1000 Cakes, which is more or less what it sounds like—tons of free cupcakes. So come on out. 7:15 PM.

The word of the night is Barney’s! The store’s Georgetown Co-op outpost is the site of the kick-off for Fashion Fights Poverty’s “Dress Responsibly With Style” event, which runs from 6-8 PM. Get a peek at Barney’s new fall eco-designs while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

The folks at the Phillips Collection may have noticed how popular the Hirshhorn After Hours (hey, nice name!) series was, because they’re bringing back Phillips After 5, starting today. The event is a Thursday night extended happy hour where you can mingle, check out the great art collection, listen to live music, hear lectures, and sip on drinks. The After 5 series will continue every Thursday for the next five weeks, so if you can’t make it tonight, don’t despair—there will still be plenty of after-hours art to enjoy. Check out the full schedule here.

Thursday, June 12: The semifinals of the Drafthouse Comedy Challenge, a local competition at the Arlington Cinema ’n’ Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington; 703-486-2345) kick off tonight, with four local comedians duking it out for laughs onstage. Next Thursday, four more will compete before two are chosen for the final on June 20. Tickets are $10; 8:30 PM.

Can’t get a date? Buy one! Start tonight at the DC Date Auction, held by a group raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as part of its annual fundraising drive. The date auction (which includes players from DC United—ooh la la!) is at Lotus Lounge (1420 K St., NW) at 7 PM; $10. Check out all the auctionees at dcdateauction.blogspot.com.