Monday, April 28: Filmfest DC
The focus of this year’s Filmfest DC is on films from or about Latin America. Monday night, La Zona, which looks at class clashes in Mexico City, screens at Regal Cinemas Gallery Place (701 Seventh St., NW; 202-393-2121). More than 70 features, documentaries, and shorts from around the world are being shown as part of this annual festival. Get more information and schedules here.

Tuesday, April 29: Free Ice Cream!
Ben & Jerry’s is celebrating 30 years in the ice-cream business by giving away free cones. Click here for more details.

Wednesday, April 30: The History Boys
If you haven’t already, check out Joy Zinoman’s staging of Alan Bennett’s The History Boys at the Studio Theatre (1501 14th St., NW; 202-332-3300). The play explores issues such as integrity, the right to an elite education, favoritism, and homosexuality. Check out our review and get details here.

View Larger Map

Takoma Park’s vintage boutiques may get most of the buzz in the suburbs, but serious bargain hunters and vintage lovers would do well to take Metro’s Red Line in the other direction and check out Bethesda’s lengthy roster of secondhand shops as well. We recently spent an afternoon exploring Bethesda’s bargain haunts and came home with a hefty load of cool vintage finds.

Thursday, April 24: Fashion designer Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss—best known for her cute, curve-friendly designs (and, okay, also for being Jerry Seinfeld’s ex)­­—will hold court at the Georgetown Urban Chic from 3 to 8 PM for a trunk show of her sweet spring collection. Get 15 percent off and a free gift with every purchase. Check out the new fashion organizing book Shop Your Closet, by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, who will sign copies and dispense spring-cleaning advice.
 
Friday, April 25: Designer Cynthia Rowley—who just debuted an adorable, affordable new housewares collection for Target called Whim—will be honored as Marymount University’s 2008 Designer of the Year at the school’s annual senior fashion show, “Portfolio in Motion.” Tickets to the luncheon and show are $100 and can be purchased online.

Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26: More than 30 local vendors—including fashion favorites Sassanova, Sugar, Proper Topper, and Pink November—set up shop from 11 AM to 6 PM for the fifth annual French Market, Georgetown’s biggest sidewalk sale. Head to the stretch of Wisconsin Avenue from Reservoir Road to P Street for plenty of big discounts; see the full list of deals (and plan your route) over here.

Wednesday, April 23:

Beauty Night Out
In need of a beauty treat? Visit the Style and Image Network’s Beauty Night Out at the Carnegie Library. Get mini-spa treatments and skincare consultations and sample beauty products as you sip cocktails and nibble on treats. For tickets, call the Style and Image Network at 202-387-1845, or visit sinpr.com.

Carnegie Library
801 K St., NW
5 to 10pm
Tickets: $25

Thursday, April 24:

Shoshanna and Melanie Charlton
Meet designer Shoshanna at Urban Chic’s Shoshanna Spring Trunk Show. Enjoy refreshments as you shop and receive 15 percent off any purchase and a VIP goodie bad with Shoshanna purchase. Also, chat with Melanie Charlton and get a signed copy of her new book, Shop Your Closet.

Urban Chic
1626 Wisconsin Ave., NW
202-338-5398
3 to 8 PM

Illustration courtesy of Shecky's.

If you missed last week’s Shecky’s Girls Night Out event at DAR Constitution Hall, have no fear. Though the annual shopping party has packed up and moved on, we managed to elbow our way through the crowds to give you a full recap of the three-night soiree.

Thursday, April 17: Years later, The Big Lebowski is still a cult fave and a cultural touchstone. Get in on the fun with the Arlington Cinema ’n’ Drafthouse’s party tonight. Dude Fest will have trivia, bowling, live music from the movie’s soundtrack, and, of course, a screening of The Big Lebowski. $8; 8 PM.

The third Thursday of every month, the MidCityLive! organization puts on a Thursday Shopper Social in the retail area around 14th and U streets, Northwest. Boutiques and other stores offer discounts, socializing, snacks, and drinks from 5 to 8 PM. So get on over to U Street and shop away. Want to grab a bite to eat afterward? Be sure to check out our U Street Dining Guide.

Friday, April 18: It’s supposed to be 80 degrees today. Hot damn. Head to an outdoor happy hour—you can find the perfect one searching on our handy Happy Hour Finder.

Comedian Aaron Karo was kind enough to grace us with his funny (albeit virtual) presence when he did a live  chat on Wednesday. See him in person when he does his standup thing at the 9:30 Club tonight at 9. Buy tickets ($30) here.

Tuesday, April 15 through Thursday, April 17: The cheeky guide series Shecky’s is taking over DAR Constitution Hall for three nights from 5 to 10 for the DC installment of Girl’s Night Out, its blowout shopping party. Nearly 50 emerging fashion designers will be selling merchandise at up to 75 percent off, along with free samples from event sponsors including Dove and Hershey’s. A $10 ticket will get you an open bar for the night; $25 will bring you a swag bag of products. For more details, go here.

Wednesday, April 16: A slew of brand-new boutiques are opening at Bethesda Row this spring, and they’re offering a special preview day of discounts to welcome new shoppers. Stop by anytime from noon to 8 for 30 percent off all clothing and accessories from Ginger, 40 to 50 percent off select items from Tickled Pink, and 40 percent off resort and spring pieces from Urban Chic. Find directions and rsvp here.