Things to Do

Best Things to Do in the DC Area, 4/25-5/1: C&O Canal Boats, Georgetown French Market, and a Chocolate Festival

Plus, a pizza party!

Traveling on the C&O Canal. Photograph courtesy of Georgetown Heritage.

Happy AAPI Heritage Month!Β 

Hello Neighbor,Β 

It’s hot out there!

 

So, What Should You Do April 25-May 1?

For your convenience, this newsletter includes emojis to help you during these unprecedented times:Β 

  • The πŸ›‹ indicates an event is happening in-person inside.
  • The 🌲 indicates an event is happening in-person outside.Β 
  • The πŸ’» indicates an event is happening virtually.Β 
  • And lastly, the πŸ†“ indicates an event is free.

Β 

Top 7 Picks of the Week

  1. Boating anyone? Β Boats return to the C&O canal this week and tickets can be purchased here. There will be a formal celebration (Thurs, $250, πŸ›‹, Georgetown), too, featuring cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and live music.Β 
  2. Celebrating the African diaspora. 🌍 The National Gallery of Art will be hosting an Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival featuringΒ  local creators, Jamaican cuisine samplings, and live music (Sat, free, πŸ›‹, National Mall). Similarly, consider attending an open-mic sponsored by the National Museum of African Art, β€œAfrica Out Loud” (Sat, free, πŸ›‹, Brookland), or learn how art responds and shapes the narratives wrought by the transatlantic slave trade (Tues, free, πŸ’»).
  3. A chocolate celebration. 🍫 Indulge in samplings and chocolate education at the 5th DC Chocolate Festival (Sat, $20, πŸ›‹, Glover Park).
  4. Galas everywhere. πŸ’Ž The White House Correspondents Dinner is this week! Also, the Phillips Collection is hosting its Centennial Gala with tickets available to its black-tie after party (Fri, $200+, πŸ›‹, National Cathedral).
  5. Stock up on plants. 🌱 Featuring annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees, the U.S. National Arboretum will be hosting its annual Garden Fair & Plant Sale. Besides plants there will also be food trucks at the event too (Sat, $, 🌲, National Arboretum).
  6. Holi DC. The Festival of Colors takes place this weekend at Bull Run Regional Park (Sun, $10, 🌲, Centerville).
  7. Enjoy French-inspired open-air markets. Explore the annual Georgetown French Market, featuring more than 25 local antique stores, restaurants, and more. There will be macarons, a caricature artist, and live music (Fri-Sun, free, 🌲, Georgetown).

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Β Everything Else This Week

  • A city of foodies. 🍝 Party at aΒ natural wine party (Fri $95, πŸ›‹, Park View) or indulge in a cocktail tasting inspired by the book β€œWhy Fish Don’t Exist” (Sat, $55, πŸ›‹, 14th St.). Head to the Line Hotel for a collaborative pizza party with No Goodbye’s and Andy’s Pizza (Sat, free, πŸ›‹, Adams Morgan). Take cooking classes: Spring Ravioli Workshop (Thurs, $25+, πŸ›‹, Shaw), Brazilian Moqueca (Fish Stew) (Tues, $70, πŸ›‹, Capitol Hill), or Empanadas (Sun, $25, πŸ’»). Join a linguist in understanding how we talk about food (Wed, free, πŸ’»).Β Β 
  • Mother’s Day market. πŸ’– Capitol Cider House is hosting an Artisan Market (Sun, free, 🌲, Georgia Ave.).
  • Street art party. πŸ–Ό Co-sponsored by the Austrian Cultural Forum and at Dupont Underground, the Calle Libre DC Street Art Festival is hosting a closing reception (Fri free, πŸ›‹, Dupont Circle).
  • Politico-like events. πŸ“– How was Berlin the capital of spies (Wed, free, πŸ’»)? How does Putin speak (Mon, $13, πŸ›‹, Dupont Circle)? Maybe watch a Congressional Soccer Match (Wed, free, 🌲, Navy Yard)?
  • Climate change. 🌏 Common Good City Farm is hosting a screening of the documentary β€œBreaking Boundaries,” uncovering the science of our planet. The evening also includes a mixer and discussion (Sat, $15, 🌲, Shaw).
  • Dirty Dancing.πŸ•Ί Actress Jennifer Grey wrote a memoir (Sun, $22, πŸ›‹, Chinatown).
  • Making of the Capitol. πŸ› Learn how the use of free Black and enslaved labor (Fri, free, πŸ›‹, National Mall) was used in the building of the Smithsonian Castle, the United States Capitol, the White House, and Georgetown University. There will be a Smithsonian castle (Sun, free, πŸ›‹, National Mall) cornerstone laying reenactment. DC Library will be hosting a workshop to help users uncover their DC history resources such as nineteenth century newspapers, Dig DC, or Ancestry (Wed, free, πŸ›‹, Mt. Pleasant).
  • Meet and greet. The women’s history-focused A Tour Of Her Own (Wed, $10, 🌲, Capitol Hill) will be hosting a meetup discussing theΒ  life and legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune.Β 

 

Your Neighbor,

Jade (@clockoutdc)

Jade Womack is an energy economist by day, and an events blogger by night. She started her blog, Clockout DC, when she was moonlighting as a bartender in 2019. She grew up in Arlington, and currently lives in Adams Morgan with her dog.