MONDAY, DECEMBER 12
FILM The DC Environmental Film Festival is sponsoring a youth award for DC residents, aged 12 to 18, to make a 60-second video exploring city life, identity, and the environment. Submissions are open through January 13. Those who are interested might benefit from attending Monday’s Youth Media Workshop about digital storytelling fundamentals at THEARC. Youth can practice filmmaking basics, including scripting, camera work, and soundtracking. Free (with RSVP), 4:30 PM.
MUSIC The Jingle Ball Tour, promoted by iHeartRadio, is an annual revue of the hottest acts on pop radio. This year’s edition features the Chainsmokers, Fifth Harmony, Niall Horan (formerly of One Direction), DNCE (featuring Joe Jonas), Ellie Goulding, and more. Monday’s show at the Verizon Center is nearly sold out, but there are still many seats available behind the stage and sporadically throughout the arena. $20 and up, 6:30 PM.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13
THEATER Making its DC debut, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical opens at the National Theatre on Tuesday and runs through December 31. The musical brings the classic holiday story to the stage, with such memorable songs as “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch”. $48 to $93, 7 PM.
FOOD & DRINK Those undeterred by food critic Tom Sietsema’s vicious takedown of Founding Farmers in the Washington Post should know about their newest restaurant, Farmers & Distillers, opening Tuesday near Mount Vernon Square. The restaurant marries the farm-to-table concept with its own fully functioning distillery, Founding Spirits. Cost varies, 7 AM to 11 PM.
FILM Finding Joseph I is a documentary about the life and mental health struggles of Paul Hudson, frontman of the band Bad Brains, who once went by the name H.R. but now is known by his Rastafarian name Joseph I. The film features interviews with fellow musicians Ian MacKaye, Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def), and Questlove from the Roots. Tuesday night’s screening at AFI Silver Theatre will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker James Lathos and Hudson. $13, 7 PM.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14
BEER Here’s a different kind of scavenger hunt: 5 breweries and 4 bars are sponsoring a Hibernal Hunt starting at City Tap House in Penn Quarter. Order a beer from one of the participating breweries—DC Brau, Hardywood, New Belgium, Flying Dog, and Allagash—and get a clue to the next beer and next bar. At the final bar (you’ll get a “You made it!” clue), players receive a raffle ticket for swag or beer. Free to participate (but purchasing beer is required), 5 PM.
FILM The DC Music Salon, a free film and book series about music, kicks off its seventh season with a screening of Nighthawks on the Blue Highway, a documentary about the longtime DC blues-rock band the Nighthawks. The film follows the group from its rise in the 1970s through its struggles in the 1980s and beyond. Director Michael Streissguth and other guests will be present at the screening at the Shaw DC Public Library. Free, 7 PM.
BEER Tulsa isn’t the top city most people think of in the craft beer explosion, but Prairie Artisan Ales has been brewing some solid beers there since opening in 2012. They’ve only just started distributing at DC stores, so these beers are hard to come by—except at Churchkey, which acquired 33 of their beers, including its imperial stout (BOMB!) and saison (Prairie Ale), plus rare variants (whiskey barrel-aged Christmas BOMB!). Free, 4 PM.
