MONDAY, OCTOBER 17
FILM Fans of the outdoors should check out the very first Adventure Film Festival, making a stop on its world tour at the AFI Silver Theatre. Catch independent films on subjects ranging from the glory of nature to environmental activism, including First Ascent: Point of No Return, which tells the mountain climbing adventures of festival founder Jonny Copp. Proceeds from the event benefit the DC section of the American Alpine Club. $22, 6:30 PM
CONVERSATION The Story Collider, a Moth-like podcast that shares personal anecdotes revolving around science, is performing a live show at Busboys and Poets’ 5th & K NW location. Presented in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, this evening’s subject is surgery, with stories ranging from heartbreaking to heartwarming. Free, 8 PM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18
CONVERSATION Join DC Zinefest at the Black Cat for Hallow-Zine, a night of creepy stories told by local writers and storytellers. Expect “spooky mad libs,” puppets, and Halloween spirit in spades. Ticket sales will benefit next year’s DC Zinefest. $8, 7:30 PM
MUSIC Catch twerking, booty-shaking and so much more when New Orleans-based rapper and Queen of Bounce Big Freedia performs her energetic, no-holds-barred act at the Howard Theatre. In a year that saw her both joining forces with Beyonce and narrowly avoiding jail time, the queen has a lot to celebrate on this tour. $20 to $25, 8 PM
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19
DEBATE As the 2016 election slowly, painfully, ambles to a close, make the most of it by watching the final debate someplace fun. Politics and Prose and DC9 will be projecting the debate on their big screens for free, and Mellow Mushroom’s The Not So Mellow Debate will feature a debate buzzword drinking game to be played with this week’s “swing-state beer,” Ohio’s Great Lakes Brewing.
CONVERSATION Extras from everyone’s favorite Sunday morning binge-watch series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, are ready to spill all the hot gossip at the Rendezvous Lounge for the Stories from the Set series. If you’ve ever wanted to know what Christopher Meloni’s cologne smells like or Mariska Hargitay’s favorite snack from craft services, these folks will probably be able to tell you. Free, 8 PM
