Monday, June 11

Our resident badass crime noir novelist/The Wire writer George Pelecanos is back with his latest book, The Cut. This one’s about an investigator who recovers stolen property for a defense lawyer—for a price. Soon, a crime boss hires him to do some investigating, and things get sticky. Pelecanos will be reading from, discussing, and signing the book at the 14th Street Busboys & Poets. Free. 7:30 PM.

Tuesday, June 12

If my experience with it is any indication, it’s not really in the Recording Industry Association of America’s nature to do nice stuff. But at Tuesday’s happy hour, enjoy an open bar, food, and entertainment from the Levine School of Music in the Recording Association of America’s DC headquarters. At just ten bucks, it’s less than the price of a legal digital download of that crappy Carly Rae Jepsen CD you’ve been considering. Tickets ($10) are available online. 6 PM.

Wednesday, June 13

Grab a drink with Washingtonian staffers and buy discounted tickets to next month’s Best of Washington party at our second happy hour promoting the event. A $5 donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society gets you entry, a drink on us, free appetizers, and drink specials on Clarendon Ballroom’s rooftop. $5. 5 PM.

Thursday, June 14

Washington’s best storytellers (not that guy at work who got sooo wasted last weekend and got in a fight at Jumbo Slice) take the mike at Black Cat’s backstage with “And I Am Not Lying.” The event features comedy and storytelling from This American Life’s Jeff Simmermon, The Moth podcast’s Brad Lawrence, and more. Cherry Pitz and Amelia Bareparts (yikes to those names) do some burlesque beforehand. Tickets ($12) are available online. 8 PM.