MONDAY, OCTOBER 3
MUSEUMS You may have seen Renaissance painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s strange portraits of people made from fruits and vegetables before—but not like this. Sculptor Philip Haas uses those works as the basis for “Four Seasons,” his lushly verdant, 15-foot-tall models, on exhibit at the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. They be displayed through March 31, so visitors can see the changing seasons reflected in the artwork and its surroundings. $18 suggested donation, 10 AM
ETC There are more than 65 million refugees across the world, a crisis so immense that it’s easy to forget that behind those numbers are real people. The humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders created “Forced from Home”, an outdoor exhibit on the Mall to refocus attention toward those individuals fleeing war and persecution, using interactive technology to tell the stories behind the statistics and to show what it’s like when you have to leave everything behind. The exhibit runs until October 9. Free
LECTURE Get nerdy at Busboys and Poets’ DC Science Café. The event at the 5th & K NW location features two socio-environmental scientists: veterinarian and research scientist Elizabeth Daut, who’s talking about how the exotic pet importation industry has adverse effects on native wildlife and human health, and ecologist and evolutionary biologist Chris Trisos, who will explore how the growth urbanization will impact diversity among plant and animal communities in ways we can’t yet comprehend. Free, 6:30 PM
MUSEUMS Get into the spirit of World Architecture Day at the Hirshhorn in an interesting and delicious way. The museum, affectionately known as the “Brutalist donut” for its shape and structure, is offering free donuts courtesy of Zombie Coffee and Donuts along with special, architecture-themed tours throughout the day. Speakers include Deane Madsen, associate editor for ARCHITECT magazine and the mind behind @brutalistDC. Free, 10 AM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4
DEBATE Governor Mike Pence of Indiana and Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia are squaring off in tonight’s Vice Presidential debate, and Boqueria’s Big Talk, Small Plates debate viewing party is the ideal setting to watch it in. Stress-eat your way through unlimited tapas and drinks while you watch what most likely won’t be as explosive as last week’s presidential debate, but is just as important. $45 per person, 9 PM
MUSIC Feminist pop-punkers Tacocat, responsible for arguably the catchiest songs ever written about “that time of the month,” mansplaining, street harassment, and The X-Files’ Dana Scully, play DC9 with Bad Moves and Daddy Issues. $14, 9 PM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
THEATER Taffety Punk Theatre Company performs a refreshing retelling of Homer’s epic poem The Iliad at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. Bringing into focus the poem’s teachings about life despite the overtly grim, anti-war message, Taffety company member Esther Williamson is the single narrator as members of the minimalist indie punk band Hand Grenade Job take turns joining her onstage performing the ethereal score they’ve created for the production as “The Muse.” You can catch An Iliad until October 22, but tonight’s preview is Pay-What-You-Can. 8 PM
COFFEE In honor of the anniversary of the day the show aired, Gilmore Girls fans can get a taste of Stars Hollow right here at Qualia when the coffee shop rebrands as Luke’s diner for “Luke’s Coffee Day”, serving free cups of coffee between 7 A.M. and noon.
FILM If you’ve come to believe that the only movies released seem to be either sequels or about superheroes, maybe it’s time to check out another country’s selection. All week at Edlavitch DCJCC, the Seret DC festival is playing the top films from the past year of Israeli cinema, and the lineup—including Abulele, a childhood drama featuring a mythical monster, and Atomic Falafel, a farce about Iranian nukes—is definitely different than what you can find in the multiplex. $13.50 per screening, various times
THEATER The New York Times called Tony Award-winning play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, based on the bestselling novel, “one of the most fully immersive works ever to wallop Broadway.” That’s because each piece of the production—from the dark, angular set design to the techno score—is used to depict the heightened senses of a brilliant 15-year-old on the autism spectrum as he tries to solve the mystery of his neighbor’s murdered dog. The show begins its run at the Kennedy Center this evening and runs until October 23. $39 to $119, 7:30 PM
