🌸 A new karaoke bar in Union Market

Good morning, DC. On this day 242 years ago, the Continental Congress met in Princeton to begin discussions on selecting a permanent seat for the federal government. The next day, a motion was made to build on the banks of the Potomac near Georgetown, setting in motion the creation of Washington, DC.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

October brings a sprawling roster of spooky events across DC, from dog costume contests at Dacha Navy Yard on October 11 to Michelin-starred murder mystery dinners at JÔNT on Halloween night for those with $695 to spare on terror and tasting menus. The National Zoo's Boo at the Zoo returns October 17-19 with 30 trick-or-treat stations and after-hours animal encounters for $35, while Congressional Cemetery offers Soul Strolls walking tours through October and into November that navigate the dark secrets of those buried there (mature themes only, naturally). The lineup spans every mood, from family-friendly pumpkin patches at Alethia Tanner Park to adults-only drag shows at Rhizome, burlesque at DC Brau, and a natural wine party with flash tattoos benefiting the DC Migrant Fund at Sonny's Pizza. Events range from free library lectures on witch hunts to $80 bottomless pour parties, so budget accordingly and book early since popular nights like Boo at the Zoo tend to fill fast.

Resale tickets for what could be Alex Ovechkin's final regular season home game on April 12 against the Penguins are running eight times higher than usual, with upper concourse seats that normally cost around $50 now asking $375 to $2,101 on Ticketmaster. The game sold out immediately through partial plans and individual ticket sales when the schedule dropped, with Capitals spokesperson Sergey Kocharov noting that fans "have the option to resell their tickets and set prices at their own discretion," which translates to speculators having a field day. The 40-year-old broke Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record in April with his 895th career goal, cementing his legacy as hockey's greatest scorer after 20 seasons in DC. Whether this is truly his final curtain call depends on playoff success and his health, but the secondary market isn't waiting to find out. If Capital One Arena prices feel too steep, the Caps close out the regular season April 14 in Columbus where tickets start at $83 plus roughly $275 for roundtrip airfare, and you can still wear red even if Nationwide Arena won't be rocking quite the same way.

Singing Tiger at Hotel Nell brings Dua Lipa energy to a subterranean pan-Asian restaurant where skewers hang over vinyl records, pho broth gets poured tableside, and cocktails arrive with literal flames or smoke bubbles for maximum TikTok potential. The space features three themed karaoke rooms (snake, dragon, and tiger) that run $40 to $50 per hour and can be reserved via OpenTable, joining Union Market's growing karaoke scene alongside Sid Gold's live pianist and Desert 5 Spot's cowboy karaoke nights. The menu spans dan dan noodles to Korean fried chicken to marinated melon nigiri, plus an omikuji wish tree where guests can hang their desires like they're at a Japanese shrine, because apparently wishing for viral content requires proper ceremony.

Winter Wonderfest transforms Nationals Park into a seasonal carnival from November 28 to December 24, featuring six snow tubing lanes that slide directly into second base, a train chugging around the diamond, and curling for those who've always wanted to channel their inner Olympian without the commitment. The festivities mix summer boardwalk vibes with winter activities, including putt putt golf, a snowball throwing challenge, an igloo with 360-degree aurora borealis views, and a speakeasy tucked inside the batting cages with fire pits for s'mores and winter cocktails for the 21-plus crowd. Tickets run $29.50 per person for this choose-your-own-adventure setup where families can ride trains, couples can cozy up in the speakeasy, and groups can gather for mini golf while pretending they're not standing on the same field where the running presidents usually dominate.

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Here’s what’s going on around DC this week:

Woolly Mammoth Theatre | The Great Privation | Time-bending world premiere connecting 1832 Philadelphia to present day through two mother-daughter pairs protecting their land and legacies | 8 PM

Ford's Theatre | The American Five | World premiere exploring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his inner circle planning the March on Washington and the "I Have a Dream" speech | 7 PM

Arts Club of Washington | Josh Cleveland: One True Sentence | Musical storytelling cabaret featuring original songs and narrative in the George Fulginiti Series | 7 PM

Taffety Punk Theatre Company | Cyrano | Classic tale of love and eloquence reimagined at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop | 8 PM

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Monday

81 🌡 60 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 4 mph

Tuesday

79 🌡 67 | 🌧️ 20% | 💨 12 mph

The Atlantis | Glare with Cloakroom | 6 PM

9:30 Club | Cascada | 7 PM

DC9 Nightclub | Slater | 8 PM

Lincoln Theatre | Real Estate | 8 PM

The Atlantis | Oracle Sisters | 6:30 PM

Echostage | Amine with Sango | 7 PM

9:30 Club | Deltron 3030 with Kid Koala | 7 PM

The Theater at MGM National Harbor | Air | 8 PM

Pearl Street Warehouse | Thomas Day | 8 PM

The Anthem | Alex G with Nilufer Yanya | 8 PM

Lincoln Theatre | The Buena Vista Orchestra | 8 PM

The Fillmore - Silver Spring | Petey USA with Alex Cameron | 8 PM

DC9 Nightclub | The Murder Capital | 8 PM

The Hamilton Live | Brent Cobb | 8 PM

The Commanders bounced back from last week's Atlanta loss with a convincing 27-10 victory over the Chargers in Los Angeles, improving to 3-2 and securing second place in the NFC East behind Philadelphia. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt delivered a breakout performance with 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns plus 39 receiving yards, while safety Quan Martin forced a game-changing fumble in the second quarter when the Chargers led 10-0 and threatened to extend their advantage. The win marks Washington's first road victory of the season after dropping games at Green Bay and Atlanta, addressing early concerns about the team's slow starts away from Northwest Stadium. Jayden Daniels returned from injury to guide the offense, and the Commanders will look to build momentum as they head into the heart of their schedule with division matchups looming.

Till next time,