Thursday, October 31
COMICS: Nerdify your Halloween at the Fridge’s Arty Party, featuring Union Station’s Fantom Comics. Dress up like a superhero (or villain, if you tend to side with the bad guys) to compete for the chance to spend $100 at Fantom Comics. There’ll be other giveaways and contests all night, and deejay Oso Fresh will be providing the music. Free. 7 PM.
HALLOWEEN: If it’s a big event, you can count on Jack Rose to do it right. There’ll be complimentary hors d’oeuvres from 8:30 to 9:30 and specialty cocktail drink specials all night (count on some spooky ones), and the roof will be open—hopefully the heat will be on. Free. 8 PM.
HAUNTED(?) HOUSES: For our money, there’s no place in DC more mysterious than the Mansion on O Street, with its 100 rooms, secret passages, and hidden doors scattered throughout. For its Halloween party, the mansion will be open for touring, and there’ll be a treasure hunt, a chocolate fountain, and a deejay. You’ll also find one of the more extensive costume contests, featuring prizes for best costume, best pet costume (bring your pet python!), craziest shoes, most creative, grossest, and lots more. Tickets ($30) are available online. 8 PM.
ZOMBIE RIDE: With all the candy you’ll probably be eating, you’re going to want to burn off some calories. BicycleSpace makes it easy with Night of the Bicycling Dead, which is a terrible play on words but an awesome event. You and a bunch of your zombie friends meet at 1019 Seventh Street, Northwest, with your bike and a bicycle-friendly spooky costume. For the next couple of hours, you’ll take over the city, scaring passersby and probably annoying anyone brave enough to drive in DC on Halloween night. Afterward, you’ll probably head to a bar—BicycleSpace is going to send out exact details just before the ride happens. Free. 8 PM.
Friday, November 1
WASHINGTONIAN PARTY: Celebrate Halloween with your favorite people—us! Washingtonian’s official Halloween party is at Dupont Circle’s new Kabin lounge. You’ll get your first drink free and a Washingtonian-themed goodie bag. There’ll also be music from deejay Soundtraxx, a costume contest, and drink specials ($6 cocktails, $4 wine and beer) all night. Tickets ($15) are available online. 9 PM.
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS: More than a few of you have probably taken tomorrow off. Take advantage of it at Bandolero’s Día de Los Muertos brunch, featuring bottomless mimosas and margaritas, plus lots of death-themed food and decorations. 11 to 4.
ART: Arlington Arts Center is also hopping on the Día de Los Muertos tren carro with its annual exhibition. Friday’s opening party features Mexican hot chocolate, dancing, traditional Día de Los Muertos foods, a live mariachi band, and lots of art. Free. 6 PM.
MUSIC: If you get the chance, see Holy Ghost! at a smallish venue now, because they’re on their way to blowing up. The New York City-based dance duo sound more disco-electronica than house, which is so welcome in this day and age. They headline a late show at 9:30 Club with Midnight Magic and Ozker. Tickets ($20) are available online. 11 PM.
PHOTOGRAPHY: It’s FotoWeek DC time again, and that means lots of great photography all around the city. It also means a baller opening party at the National Geographic Museum, featuring an open bar, food, world music and American dance music, a new Nat Geo photography exhibit, and lots more celebrating the art of photography. Tickets ($65) are available online. 7:30 PM.
Saturday, November 2
GIVE BLOOD: The sense of satisfaction (and the free cookie) is enough for most people to donate blood, but any sort of added incentive is pretty nice, too. If you’re due to give blood, head over to Seekers Church in Takoma for Cartoonists Draw Blood. More than a dozen local artists will draw you while you donate, giving you a lifelong souvenir to commemorate the occasion. Hopefully they get you before you pass out. Free. 10 to 3:30.
MINI-GOLF: Golf tournaments are normally all-day affairs featuring lots of cursing, frustration, and lost golf balls. For me, at least. H Street Country Club rectifies that with the Hope Marietta Mini-Golf Classic, featuring free mini-golf, cheap drinks, and a private party at Rock & Roll Hotel afterward. Winner gets a $150 cash prize, and a raffle winner will get free entry to the organization’s casino night. Proceeds benefit the foundation, which raises money for children with congenital heart defects. Donations requested. 6 PM.
BARDLESQUE: With a name like Bier Baron, it was only a matter of time before the Dupont spot paired its regular burlesque nights with Shakespeare. At Bardlesque, expect soliloquies, sonnets, a lot of suggestive iambic pentameter, and some Elizabethan outfits that don’t stay on for too long. Tickets ($10) are available online. 8:30 PM.
MUSTACHES: With Halloween over, it’s time to transition those lumberjack mustaches you grew directly into Movember, every man’s best excuse to not shave. Del Frisco’s Grille is celebrating the start of the month with a party, featuring drink specials, complimentary steak sandwiches, Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, and “mo-shroom” flatbreads. Free. 3 to 7.
Sunday, November 3
BIKE: You are all classy ladies and gents, so pull on your finest tweed coat, hop on your penny-farthing (or regular bike, whatever), and ride around the city in style for the annual DC Tweed Ride. Afterward, head to the Brixton for burlesque, food, the Fidgety Feet Dancers, and lots of other dapper dandies like yourself. The ride is free; tickets for the Brixton party ($20) are available online. Noon.
FILM: It’s your last chance ’til next year to scare yourself silly: Head over to AFI Silver for Halloween On Screen. Sunday’s movies include Ghostbusters (in 70-millimeter film, for those of you who care about such things), the 1963 Paranormal Activity forerunner The Haunting, and The Vault of Horror, the 1973 sequel to Tales From the Crypt. Tickets ($12) are available online. Check website for schedule.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter.
