Things to Do

What to Do This Week: October 17 to 20

Comic writer Bill Bryson at Sixth and I, pop diva Cyndi Lauper at the 9:30 Club, and the Velocity Dance Festival returns.

Cyndi Lauper is performing at the 9:30 Club Tuesday night. Photograph courtesy of the artist’s Web site.

Monday, October 17
SIGNING:
Comic writer Bill Bryson will be signing copies of At Home: A Short History of Private Life at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. In his latest book the always witty Bryson takes readers on a room-by-room tour through his house. The Washington Post reviewer said this book, much like his others, follows “the natural wave patterns of his own curiosity, but they answer the questions that have always, or maybe never, been rustling at the back of your brain.” Tickets ($10; free if you buy the book) can be purchased through Politics and Prose’s Web site. 7 PM.

Editor’s note: Sixth & I tweeted that the event is sold out.

Tuesday, October 18
MUSIC:
If you’re in the mood for an ’80s flashback, Cyndi Lauper is performing at the 9:30 Club tonight. The Grammy Award-winning pop diva has brought us hits like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” and “True Colors.” And on her latest album, Memphis Blues, Lauper collaborated with B.B. King and Allen Toussaint. Tickets ($45) can be purchased at the 9:30 Club’s Web site. Doors open at 7 PM.

Wednesday, October 19
DOGGY HAPPY HOUR:
Halloween may be a few weeks away, but you and Fido can get a jump start on the festivities during the Park Hyatt’s Paws at the Park fundraiser. Dogs and their owners are encouraged to wear costumes for a chance to win prizes. Tickets ($12) include two drinks, Halloween candy, and dog treats. Proceeds will benefit the Washington Animal Rescue League. 6 to 8 PM.

Thursday, October 20
DANCE:
The Velocity Dance Festival returns to Sidney Harman Hall with performances by world-class dance companies and artists. The three-day festival will feature the Washington Ballet, Urban Artistry, Flamenco Aparicio, and more. Tickets ($18) can be purchased through the festival’s Web site, but you’ll want to snatch them up quickly because last year’s performances sold out quickly. Tonight’s performance starts at 8 PM.