Monday, November 12: The Kentucky band VHS or Beta tosses out catchy electro-indie rock and puts on a fun live show to boot. The band is at the Black Cat tonight, with Moving Units and Soft Complex opening. Details here.
If you became a fan of Norah Jones after her hit “Don’t Know Why,” then you might want to head to Iota (2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-522-8340) this evening to see singer-songwriter Jesse Harris, who actually wrote the song. He also penned other tunes on Jones’s debut album, and his carefree, jazzy style has a lot in common with Jones’s. 8:30 PM; $12.
Tuesday, November 13: Anne Elizabeth Moore, former editor of Punk Planet, writes about the decline and troubles of independent arts and media in her new book, Unmarketable: Brandalism, Copyfighting, Mocketing, and the Erosion of Integrity. She’ll be reading from it and hosting a discussion at Red Onion Records & Books, an independent music and book store in Adams Morgan (1901 18th St., NW; 202-986-2718). 7 PM; free.
Drink and do a trivia night for a good cause. Tonight at RFD (810 Seventh St., NW; 202-289-2030), the nonprofit group Idealist is hosting happy-hour trivia. RFD will extend its happy hour ($3 Miller Lite and Sam Adams and $3.50 beer of the day) for the event. 6 PM. To guarantee entry, register here.
Wednesday, November 14: Head to Indebleu (707 G St., NW; 202-333-2538) for a free happy hour with the Smithsonian Young Benefactors. If you’ve been thinking of joining the organization, tonight will be a good chance to learn what it’s all about. 6 to 9.
Thursday, November 15: It’s Beaujolais time! Welcome the 2007 Beaujolais Nouveau wine harvest at the French Embassy (4101 Reservoir Rd., NW) tonight. Samples of seven varieties of 2007 vintage will be served along with food created for the occasion by area chefs. 7 to 10 PM; $69. Tickets are here.
If your French tastes run more toward fashion and history, visit the Hillwood Museum (4155 Linnean Ave., NW; 202-686-5807) tonight to hear historian Caroline Weber as she explores how Marie Antoinette’s fashion influenced the politics and events of her time. Before the lecture, join curator Liana Paredes in the mansion to learn about the swivel chair in Hillwood collection: It was the very same chair where Marie Antoinette once sat and had her elaborate hair done. 6 PM; $15. More details here.
