We could all use a break and some natural beauty after the last week of ice and snow. Could a show about orchids bring relief? The powerhouse exhibition from Smithsonian Gardens and the U.S. Botanic Garden returns Friday with a new theme and location: The National Museum of African American History and Culture. Elsewhere, it’s National Puzzle Day, which brings competitions and friendly swaps; a new exhibit at the Embassy of Japan’s cultural center explores the moon through art and poetry, and features a talk with an astronaut; and the Creative Cauldron brings a weekend of music and entertainment to Falls Church. If you want to move your body, there are DJ parties dedicated to “Heated Rivalry,” Bad Bunny, millennial heartthrobs and country line dancing.
Editor’s note: This weekend could see impacts from both a winter storm, which might bring snow to the area, and a looming government shutdown, which might affect local venues. Follow the news and check social media before making plans on and after Saturday.
Thursday, Jan. 29
A Global History of Spam at Hill’s Kitchen
It has been a staple of World War II rations, the star of a Monty Python sketch, and the scourge of your email inbox. But Spam has a much bigger cultural legacy in the U.S. and abroad, as Kelly Smith highlighted in last year’s social biography, “Spam: A Global History.” Join Smith at Hill’s Kitchen near Eastern Market to learn about the origin and uses of Spam, and how it appeared in cuisines around the world. You’ll get to try a few unusual kinds of Spam before you go. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. $13.26.
‘Shrewd Awakening’ at Barrel House
This take on Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew” at the 14th Street bar is part modern reimagining and part rock concert. There’s no stage, so the audience is intermingled with the action. The production stars drag and cabaret performer Joey Arias, with live music by D.C. band the Bedrocks. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10:30 p.m. $30.
Grateful Dead Night at Babycat Bethesda
Kensington’s Babycat Brewery hosted a tribute to the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir last week, playing live shows over the sound system, showing concert footage on the TVs, and giving fans a chance to hang out and remember one of their musical heroes. The brewery got enough requests to host a similar event in Bethesda that it’s bringing the party to Rugby Avenue. 7 p.m. Free.
DC Rawhides at Trade
The DC Rawhides are a fixture around town, two-stepping and line dancing with sold-out crowds at venues including Eastern Market’s North Hall and the rooftop at Pitchers. They’re debuting a new venue this week: the expansive “Shark Tank” dance floor at Trade, “for an evening of dancing, country music, and fun.” 8:30 p.m. Free.
National Puzzle Day at Cleveland Park Library
Thursday is National Puzzle Day, and while the city’s biggest celebrations of jigsaws take place Saturday (see below), the D.C. Public Library is hosting a social at the Cleveland Park branch. Come ready to solve puzzles with other enthusiasts, and bring puzzles to swap and work on at home. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free.
Friday, Jan. 30
‘More Than a Flower: The Connective Power of Orchids’ at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
The U.S. Botanic Garden and Smithsonian Gardens’ 30th annual orchid exhibition has a new home this year. “More Than a Flower: The Connective Power of Orchids” opens Friday at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, bringing hundreds of brightly colored flowers to the museum’s second level. The exhibit traces how orchids are treated in cultures around the world, and how scholarship and a love of rare flowers bring communities together. In honor of its surroundings, the exhibit includes a display of orchids named for African American icons, such as Oprah Winfrey and Aretha Franklin, and two new orchid-inspired artworks commissioned by the museum. This is the first time the orchid exhibition has been held at a museum that requires timed-entry passes. The National Museum of African American History and Culture allows visitors to reserve tickets 30 days in advance, and a Smithsonian spokesperson says “the museum is expecting to have plenty of tickets (including same-day tickets) available for visitors throughout the exhibition.” Through April 26. Free; timed passes required.
Passport Music Festival at Creative Cauldron
This weekend was scheduled to be the grand finale of the 15th annual Passport Music Festival, which brings a diverse tapestry of musicians to the stage in Falls Church. Last week’s snow and ice has led some events to be rescheduled into February, but that doesn’t diminish the luster of the shows over the next few days. On Friday, local soul singer Cecily is donning her platform shoes for “Celebrating the Queens of Disco,” a show full of hustle-worthy grooves. (7:30 p.m.) Jazz and funk singer IO pays tribute to WHUR-FM’s legendary “Quiet Storm” radio format of the ’70s and ’80s — think Sade, Anita Baker, and the Delfonics — on Saturday evening. (7:30 p.m.) Sunday brings a doubleheader: Raymi performs contemporary music on traditional instruments of the Andes, such as zampoñas and quenas (2 p.m.), while local favorites Little Red and the Renegades bring an early start to Mardi Gras season with a mix of zydeco and New Orleans R&B (7:30 p.m.). All shows $25-$30; $90 for a table for two.
Justin Bieber vs. One Direction at As You Are
A dance party playing nothing but One Direction and Justin Bieber tunes all night sounds like catnip for millennials (and maybe Gen Z elders). DJ Bite Back spins the best songs that will make you stay on the dance floor all night. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.
‘Chez Joey’ at Arena Stage
Tony winner Savion Glover of “Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da Funk” is the co-director and choreographer for “Chez Joey,” a fresh reworking of Rodgers and Hart’s 1940 musical “Pal Joey.” The freewheeling jazz production sees Tony winner Myles Frost as musician Joey Evans. The Chicago nightclub performer is torn between his love for chorus girl Linda and his chance for a big break, courtesy of a baroness whose wealth could vault him into the limelight. Through March 15. $83-$133.
Saturday, Jan. 31
National Puzzle Day
National Puzzle Day might have been Thursday, but the pieces are falling into place for two celebrations this weekend. Labyrinth, D.C.’s biggest game shop, marks the holiday Saturday with a community puzzle swap: For every puzzle you bring to the Capitol Hill store, you’ll be able to take one home with you. Labyrinth is also hosting a speed-puzzling competition for teams of two, which is currently full, though you can sign up for the wait list or just watch the action. (Noon to 4 p.m. Free.) The D.C. Puzzle Competition bases its format on the USA Jigsaw Nationals, in which solo competitors race to finish 300- or 500-piece puzzles. In Saturday’s event at the National Cathedral School, there are two 90-minute heats. Tickets include entry and a puzzle to take home. (9:30 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. $49.43-$65.81.)
‘Heated Rivalry’ dance party at DC9
Did you miss a chance to buy tickets to the instantly sold-out 9:30 Club “Heated Rivalry” dance parties in February? You can still dance to songs from your favorite show (we hear you, “All the Things She Said”) across the street at DC9. Note that ticket prices increase the day of the show. 11 p.m. $5 in advance; $10 day of show.
‘Benito Bowl: A Bad Bunny Party’ at Public Bar Live
The Dupont Circle sports bar is celebrating the Super Bowl halftime show early with a Bad Bunny dance party. DJ Enemy plays music from the king of Latin trap while the bar offers themed drink specials. 10 p.m. $14.
Book Talk: Roddy Bottum — ‘The Royal We’ at Politics and Prose
Roddy Bottum is best known as the keyboardist in Faith No More, who burst from the San Francisco underground to mainstream radio and MTV in the ’80s and ’90s with singles like “We Care A Lot” and “Epic.” Bottum also famously came out as gay in an interview with the Advocate at the height of the band’s popularity — a rarity in the hard-rock scene at the time. His recent autobiography, “The Royal We,” covers his career at the top of the alternative rock world, his addictions, and looks back at “a charged era of bicycle messengers, punk rock, street witches, wheatgrass, and rebellion.” Bottum joins celebrated music producer Rich Morel, a co-founder of D.C.’s Blowoff dance party, to discuss the book at the Union Market branch of Politics and Prose. 6 p.m. Free.
‘Both Sides Now: The Music and Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen’ at Sixth and I
This theatrical concert centers the artistic world of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen; expect performances of “A Case of You,” “Hallelujah,” “Big Yellow Taxi,” “Suzanne” and many more. 7:30. $52.
‘Kinky Boots’ at Capital One Hall
This perennial favorite musical with a score by pop queen Cyndi Lauper struts into Capital One Hall for the last weekend in January as part of a national touring production. Cheer on the unlikely friendship between anxious Charlie, who is trying to right his family’s struggling shoe factory, and drag queen Lola, who helps design a fabulous pair of new stilettos. Saturday at 1 and 7 p.m.; Sunday at noon and 6 p.m. $78-$222.
Sunday, Feb. 1
Boozy Board Game Night at Mr. Henry’s
Board games and “Dungeons and Dragons” adventures know no season, but when we talked to friends and colleagues about winter activities for our recent Winter Bucket List, a surprising number mentioned playing games with family and friends. Maybe there’s just something cozy about getting together and settling in for a couple of hours with Catan, Century or fellow dungeon crawlers. Labyrinth, D.C.’s best board game shop, hosts weekly game nights in its Capitol Hill store but moves up the street to Mr. Henry’s on the first Sunday of the month for its Boozy Board Game Night. There are dozens of games available, ranging from quick-fire word games to complex strategy sessions, or you can bring your own. It’s a very social environment — if you see someone playing a game you love, or something that looks interesting, just ask to join. 6 to 10 p.m. $10.
Deep Dive Live at the Atlantis
There’s much to celebrate at the Atlantis on Sunday, with two record-release parties taking place on the same stage. Venray, a duo that meshes surf-rock guitars and ’90s-style indie rock, returns to the club that they opened in 2023, when they performed with Trouble Funk at a show for “Friends and Family” — now the title of Venray’s new album. Post-punk trio Tired All the Time is the second group with a new record out; “Somewhere Else” is packed full of fuzzed-out, synth-driven songs that should appeal to fans of Interpol and darker pop. Shoegazey quartet Flowerbomb completes the bill. 6:30 p.m. $13.
‘A Latte Love & Pawtraits’ at Tango Pastry
Drink espresso creations and try Argentine snacks as you paint portraits of your pets. The ticket price includes two Valentine’s Day-themed cards as your canvas. This paint-and-sip benefits A Cat’s Life Rescue. Note that registration closes three days before the event. 2 p.m. $35.
Monday, Feb. 2
‘The Right Stuff’ at the National Air and Space Museum
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of the National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall. Celebrations take place throughout the year, including the grand reopening of seven renovated galleries this summer. This week, the museum kicks off its 50th Anniversary Film Series, appropriately enough, with the 1983 historical drama “The Right Stuff,” which focuses on the early years of the American space program, from early test flights through Project Mercury. The series will continue with a different air- or space-themed film each month, including “Hidden Figures” and “Sully.” 6:30 p.m. $15.30.
‘Chasing Kaguya: Moon Myths to Missions’ at the Japan Information and Culture Center
Over the course of Japanese civilization, the moon has inspired great art, poetry, folk stories and annual moon-viewing harvest festivals. A new exhibit at the Japanese Embassy’s Japan Information and Culture Center looks back at these centuries-old traditions while looking at what comes next, including the country’s role in space exploration and a possible return to the moon. Look for special events over the course of the exhibit. Japanese American astronaut Daniel Tani, who completed five spacewalks during his time with NASA, gives the official opening talk Wednesday. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Free; registration required.) Through March 27. Free.
Wednesday, Feb. 4
‘Profs and Pints: The Love Lecture’ at Hill Center
Profs and Pints’s professor-led lecture series returns to the Hill Center for a talk on matters of the heart. Laura Papish, associate professor of philosophy at George Washington University and teacher of a seminar on the philosophy of love, sex and friendship, asks questions on romance: How does our society’s understanding of love shape our experience of it? Is love a morally good thing? Why do we think of love as irrational? Accompanied by her husband, Chris, on guitar, she offers answers just ahead of Valentine’s Day. 6 p.m. $15.
Aperitivo Hour natural wine tasting at Sonny’s Pizza
There’s a subtle Valentine’s Day theme at this month’s natural wine happy hour at Sonny’s Pizza: It features co-ferments, or wines where two or more varieties of grapes ferment together in the same vessel. Like a good couple, the varieties’ flavors mingle, develop and become more seamless as they age together. Tickets include tastes of multiple natural wines, and a chance to talk about them with staff and importers. 6 to 8 p.m. $12.51.
BYO Vinyl Night: ‘Love Songs + Songs to Make Out To’ at No Kisses
Next door to the Parknatural wine tasting, the intimate No Kisses cocktail lounge is getting an early start on Valentine’s Day PDA: The theme of this month’s BYO Vinyl Night is “Love Songs + Songs to Make Out To,” so bring your favorite slow jams and ballads to the tucked-away bar, slide the records over to DJs Laura Lopez and Matt Mathews, and find a nice corner to sip your basil-infused martini or a sharp White Negroni. 7 to 10 p.m. Free.
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