Thursday, November 13
FILM: E Street Cinema hosts a wine-tasting to go along with a screening of American Wine Story, which seems appropriate. The movie is a brand new documentary following the renaissance of American winemaking (some of the world’s best wines are now grown in Oregon or even Virginia). There’s also a Q&A with some of the winemakers featured in the film. Proceeds go to the American Heart Association. Tickets ($50) are available online. 5:45 PM.
BEER: New Belgium Brewery and Brightest Young Things are taking over the Big Hunt for a night of good beers, trivia, games, and the chance to win some prizes and trips. There’ll be brand new brews on tap, and if you know more about beer than the brewery rep, you could get some swag to show for it. Free. 6 PM.
Friday, November 14
ICE SKATE: Wasn’t it just summer? How is it time to break out the skates already? The Georgetown Ice Skating Rink, now in its third year, opens this week. The thing is bigger than Rockefeller Center, and way less crowded. Check it out. $10 admission, $5 skate rental. Noon to 10 PM.
DANCE: Ever since Daft Punk became such a sensation, it seems like people started forgetting about their forebears, Depeche Mode. For super-moody dance music, there’s no one better, and Black Cat is hosting a dance party to celebrate the group’s music. Four deejays will spin, remix, and mash up Daft Punk songs while others will try to make the visuals just right. Tickets ($10) are available online. 9:30 PM.
MUSIC: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. have been making incredibly catchy music for years, and yet they still haven’t blown up the way they should. Maybe it’s the name. In any case, the band is playing at 9:30 Club, so you can check out their phenomenal live show for yourself. Tickets ($16) are available online. 8 PM.
PHOTOS: FotoBazaar in NoMa is your spot to buy unjuried images this week—it’s opening up with a kickoff party hosted by Brightest Young Things that features the Fatback deejays, a photo booth, an open bar, and lots of artsy images. Tickets ($15) are available online. 6:30 PM.
Saturday, November 15
STREET FAIR: Union Market hosts Fifth Street Folly, a street party/festival. There’ll be various fashion- and food-related events, live music, a pop-up beer garden and hot dog stand from Bluejacket and Red Apron, a big food festival, and lots more. Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM (also Friday and Sunday).
VARIETY: The Capital City Showcase is always a reliable way to spend an evening while learning the names of up-and-coming local bands, musicians, and performers. This month, the show features musical performances from the Sweater Set and Zia Hassan and standup from Randolph Terrance, Hemu Nair, Cliff Gallagher, and Dana Fleitman. Tickets ($10) are available online. 10 PM.
CLUB: If you’re into capital-C Clubbing, the Huxley provides one of the best experiences in the city. It’s turning two this weekend and is celebrating with two hours of complimentary Champagne before the night really gets going—RSVP to make sure you get in for free. 10 PM.
DANCE: DJ lil’e plays shows around the city every single weekend it seems, and there’s a good reason: She’s one of the best at making people move, and she’s got great taste in ’90s dance music. That’s what she’s spinning at Black Cat’s Common People, a ’90s alt-pop dance night. You know what to do. $7. 10 PM.
Sunday, November 16
COMEDY: The beginning of a new week is always a bit heartbreaking, so ease into it with a bit of laughter. Russ Green hosts Sunday Night Funnies at Grand Central in Adams Morgan, featuring $4 draft beers all night and a host of DC’s best (and possibly worst) comedians getting after it in an open-mike sort of situation. Free. 8 PM.
DANCE: Alternatively, you could treat your Sunday like another Saturday with a show at U Street Music Hall. Up this week is Savant, a Norwegian artist who has become one of the world’s leading “complextro” artists, a type of music that uses video-game sounds, crazy bass, and other things that sound like they’re from the future. Tickets ($18) are available online. 9 PM.
Know of something cool going on around town? E-mail Jason Koebler at jasontpkoebler@gmail.com, or find him on Twitter at @jason_koebler.
