Happy Monday, DC!
Have a Valentine’s date night at National Gallery Nights, or catch a movie at the DC Independent Film Forum. Plus, Mardi Gras at the Wharf is back with a parade and fireworks.
Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend
February 9–16
-
- National Gallery Nights. National Gallery Nights returns this week for another season of after-hours art strolls and dancing. The ticket lottery is closed, but you can try for a walk-in ticket to the opening party, “Art Under the Stars” (Thurs, free, limited walk-in tickets available, National Gallery of Art).
- DC Independent Film Forum. Binge-watch more than 60 short and feature films at local theaters and at the German-American Heritage Museum, during the DC Independent Film Forum (Wed through February 16, $65+ for passes, multiple DC locations).
- “Nick Cave: Mammoth” exhibit at Smithsonian American Art Museum. Sculptor Nick Cave presents “Mammoth” at the Smithsonian. His new work crafts fantastical “hides” and “bones” of mammoths to explore themes of identity, nature, and his own family heritage (Fri through January 3, 2027, free, Smithsonian American Art Museum).
- Stereophonic musical. David Adjmi’s Tony-winning energetic musical is set in the ’70s at a recording studio and features original tunes by Arcade Fire’s Will Butler. The production follows the coming-of-age journey of a rock band working to complete their album (Tues through March 1, $41+, National Theatre).
- Mardi Gras at the Wharf. Step into the spirit of New Orleans at the Wharf’s Mardi Gras jamboree. The mile-long parade down Wharf Street features colorful stilt walkers, decorated floats, and greetings from the King and Queen of Mardi Gras. After the parade, Too Much Talent Band and Naptown Brass Band will play at District Pier and The Grove Stage, and there’s a finale fireworks show (Sun, free, Wharf).
Want More Things to Do?
Arts and culture:
- Photographer George Hurrell captured the glitz and glam of Hollywood during the ’30s and ’40s. Now, 20 vintage images are on display in “Star Power” (opens Fri, free, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery).
- Explore the rare and vibrant artwork of impressionist artist Mary Cassatt (Sat through August 30, free, National Gallery of Art).
- Composer Marc Shaiman discusses new book In Never Mind the Happy—a look at his career in Broadway (Sat, free, Northwest DC).
Community and heritage:
- Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Scott Shane uncovers the history of Thomas Smallwood—an enslaved person who helped people escape bondage (Tues, $30, virtual).
- “Founding Fortunes: The Estate Sale of Martha Washington” exhibit opens at Tudor Place to celebrate America’s 250th birthday (Wed, $10, Georgetown).
- Attend the annual George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town (Sat, free, Alexandria).
- Celebrate Frederick Douglass’s 208th birthday with live music and student performances (Sat, free, Navy Yard).
- Commemorate George Washington’s birthday at the first President’s historic estate (February 16, free, Mount Vernon).
Theater and shows:
- Storytelling and magic come together at Nothing Up My Sleeve…Simple Deceptions for Curious Humans (Wed through March 15, $50+, Bethesda).
- Attend or listen in to a live taping of Slate’s Political Gabfest (Wed, $45 in-person, $15 for virtual, Downtown).
- One-man show On Beckett brings comedy and tragedy to Shakespeare Theatre Company (Wed through March 15, $43+, Downtown).
- American Ballet Theatre performs an adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale (Wed-Sun, $60+, Kennedy Center).
- Storytellers share their own love journeys live at Story District’s Sucker For Love (Sat, $45+, U Street Corridor).
Music and concerts:
- The National Symphony Orchestra plays a symphonic rendition of music from Brahms and Radiohead (Tues-Wed, $33+, Kennedy Center).
- Veteran rock band Nine Inch Nails arrives in DC for an epic Peel It Back tour stop (Wed, $63+, Capital One Arena).
- R&B singer Dende teams up with local artist Melan for a pre-Valentine’s Day concert (Thurs, $16+, Wharf).
- Celebrate Galentine’s Day in a pink, rose-inspired outfit as a nod to the love goddess Venus (Fri, $13, Shaw).
- Decades is throwing a DJ dance party in Bollywood style for everyone in a situationship (Fri, $12+, Downtown).
- The Folger Consort plays some of the most popular love songs of the 15th century hailing from France and Burgundy (Fri-Sun, $20+, Capitol Hill).
- Singer-songwriter Miguel performs airy tunes and pop hits at the Anthem (Sun, $73+, Wharf).
Get involved:
- Attend a Valentine’s Ball for a good cause. This formal event helps raise funds for brain cancer (Sat, $100+, Georgetown).
Bites and beverages:
- Play drag bingo, and enjoy a buffet at Unconventional Diner’s Galentine’s dinner (Fri, $60, Shaw).
- Have a happy Valen-wines Day at Lulu’s Wine Garden; there will be tacos and unlimited pours (Sun, $66, U Street Corridor).
Things to do with kids:
- Teens and adults can walk through the new VR experience Horizon of Khufu to explore ancient Egypt (through February 28, $24+ for adults, $17+ for ages 10 to 17, Downtown).
If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
