Monday, January 13
FOOD: It’s Restaurant Week, and you know what that means: a three-course lunch for $20.14 and a four-course dinner for $35.14 at more than 200 area restaurants. That’s a whopping .04 percent price increase since 2013 for lunch and a .02 percent increase for dinner. You should be outraged. For more on where you should go, check out Best Bites Blog’s roundup of the 100 Very Best Restaurants that are participating.
FILM: Attention, hobbits and other magical beings: Black Cat continues its Middle Earth Mondays series with a screening of The Two Towers, which I know is the second film in the Lord of the Rings series because it has the word “two” in it. There’ll be special fantasy-themed drink specials, and bonus points if you dress up like one of those talking tree things or whatever. Free. 8 PM.
Tuesday, January 14
STORYTELLING: Fresh off its big best-of show on Friday, Speakeasy DC is back at it again with its regular storytelling nights at Town Danceboutique. This month’s theme is “the phoenix,” featuring stories about coming back from a bad failure or bad situation. Feel free to bring your own food—drinks will be available at the club. Tickets ($15) are available online. 6:30 PM.
LECTURE: The new Nerds in NoMa speaker series, sponsored by the DC Office of Planning, continues into the new year: This week’s chat is about the future of Union Station, featuring execs from Amtrak, Akridge, and the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation. Given that the place still looks like a giant construction zone, let’s hope they have some good ideas. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Free. 6 to 8 PM.
Wednesday, January 15
FILM: It’s awards season, and, after winning a Golden Globe for best drama last night, 12 Years a Slave is certain to get some Oscar nods. NPR invites screenwriter John Ridley to sit down with correspondent Michele Norris for a public conversation about the process of writing what has been called “the most vivid and authentic portrayal of American slavery ever captured on screen.” Tickets ($15) are available online. 7 PM.
NEW YEAR’S: We all make New Year’s resolutions, but few of us stick to them. Cross all yours off the list at Corcoran Uncorked, a night where you can quickly sample some popular New Year’s resolutions. Learn a new language near master works of art, “travel” around the world with the Corcoran’s collection, and try out CrossFit and ice-skating. There’ll also be free wine—let’s hope one of your resolutions wasn’t to cut back on the booze. Tickets ($12) are available online. 5 PM.
Thursday, January 16
S’MORES: One of the worst parts about winter is that most bars’ outdoor patios become effectively useless, forcing happy hour into crowded, dark rooms. Take back the outdoors with Irish Whiskey’s s’mores night—the fire pit will be lit, allowing you to watch the world pass by in relative warmth while also allowing you to make delicious, free s’mores. 6 PM.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter.
