🌸 Oktoberfest weekend

Good morning, DC. On this day in 1789, George Washington issued America's first national Thanksgiving Proclamation, declaring November 26 as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. The proclamation marked one of the earliest examples of presidential authority in the new republic.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

The District is getting serious about laughter this fall, with a stacked roster of comedy shows that runs the gamut from internet sensation Druski making his Capital One Hall debut on October 9 to Emmy winner John Mulaney closing out the year at The Anthem in December. Trevor Noah proved so popular at Warner Theatre that his October 13 show sold out immediately, prompting the former Daily Show host to add two more February dates for those who missed out. The headliner worth marking on your calendar is the Because They're Funny Comedy Festival at the Wharf October 10-12, featuring Jay Pharoah and Sommore alongside a competition where six finalists battle for $10,000 and Hollywood representation. The festival has drawn over 9,000 attendees since its 2023 debut and earned recognition from USA Today as one of the year's top 10 new events, proving DC is becoming a serious comedy destination. Tickets range from free community events to $90 for Mulaney's premium slots, so grab yours before the good seats disappear.

Ford's Theatre closes out its world premiere of "The American Five" on October 12, offering one last week to witness the behind-the-scenes story of how Martin Luther King Jr. and his inner circle orchestrated the 1963 March on Washington and crafted the "I Have a Dream" speech. The production spotlights the five key figures who made history happen: Dr. King, Coretta Scott King, Bayard Rustin, Stanley Levison, and Clarence B. Jones, chronicling their work from 1952 through that defining August day while navigating FBI surveillance, death threats, and internal tensions. South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn caught a performance and told The Washington Informer the play "humanized this in a way that made me respect the work," capturing the private struggles behind public legacy in ways history books rarely reveal. Director Aaron Posner leads a cast of DC theater veterans making their Ford's debuts, with Ro Boddie and Renea S. Brown reprising their chemistry as Martin and Coretta after their acclaimed turn in Round House Theatre's "The Mountaintop" last year. Tickets run $26 to $53, with discounts for groups, military, seniors, and those under 40, making this your final chance to see history shaped not by monuments but by real people making impossible choices.

Washington's entertainment scene is ditching the traditional closing-time playbook in favor of flexible, community-focused experiences that range from silent discos in public parks to after-hours museum events and rooftop gatherings across neighborhoods. Local businesses are responding to residents' packed schedules and desire for spontaneity with creative programming that keeps the city lively well beyond standard hours, including late-night food trucks and immersive art installations that transform familiar spaces after dark. The shift reflects a broader reimagining of how Washingtonians socialize, with venues from U Street's historic jazz clubs to H Street NE lounges creating more intimate, adaptable environments that prioritize connection over convention.

Chef Tadayoshi Motoa, who earned a Michelin star for his Madrid restaurant Toki, has opened Omakase Room by Tadayoshi on 14th Street with NYC Group, serving a 20-course menu for $200 at an intimate 12-seat counter where he's already eyeing another star. The chef flies all his seafood directly from Japan and splits his nigiri service between traditional fermented red vinegar rice paired with fatty tuna and uni, and modern sweetened vinegar for delicate fish like young sea bream, a technique that honors sushi's historical roots while accommodating contemporary palates. Despite the pedigree and price point, Motoa wants the twice-nightly seatings to feel educational and approachable rather than stuffy, promising none of the jalapeño-on-sashimi fusion moves that define modern Japanese cuisine elsewhere.

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

1310 Kitchen & Bar | Lucky 13: Taylor Swift Showgirl Night at 1310 | Celebrate Swift's 12th album with DJ sets, pop-tart decorating, friendship bracelet making, and a costume contest | 9 PM

Whitlow's on U Street | The Life of a Showgirl Album Release Party | Music bingo, DJ sing-alongs, friendship bracelet making, face painting, and Swift-themed cocktails at this free rooftop celebration | 8:30 PM

The Wharf | Oktoberfest at The Wharf | Cheer on dachshunds at the Wiener 500 Dash, then learn to polka and compete in stein-hoisting contests at this free Bavarian celebration | 2 PM

Alethia Tanner Park | Home Rule Music Festival | Free grassroots celebration closing with Junkyard Band's go-go grooves | 1 PM

Nationals Park | Chris Brown: Breezy Bowl XX | The R&B superstar brings his three-hour anniversary tour featuring hits like "Gimme That" | 7 PM

Malcolm X Park | Rachelpalooza | Free meetup for anyone named Rachel, Rachael, or Reachel to connect with fellow Rachels in Columbia Heights | 2 PM

Friday

72 🌡 54 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 1 mph

Saturday

77 🌡 56 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 5 mph

Sunday

79 🌡 59 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 6 mph

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9:30 Club | Hailey Whitters with Owen Riegling | 6 PM

The Fillmore - Silver Spring | The Sound Of Animals Fighting with This Will Destroy You | 7 PM

The Atlantis | Bo Staloch with Emma Ogier | 7:30 PM

The Theater at MGM National Harbor | T-Pain | 8 PM

Capital One Arena | Chaka Khan | 8 PM

Soundcheck | WUKI | 10 PM

9:30 Club | The Floozies & Dirtwire | 10:30 PM

9:30 Club | Deltron 3030 | 6 PM

Jiffy Lube Live | Keith Urban | 7 PM

The Anthem - DC | Lorde with The Japanese House and Chanel Beads | 7 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | Guy Clark | 7:30 PM

The Atlantis | Cautious Clay with Elujay | 7:30 PM

The Fillmore - Silver Spring | The 502s with Arts Fishing Club | 8 PM

The Howard Theatre | Kota The Friend | 8:30 PM

9:30 Club | Emo Night Brooklyn | 10 PM

Soundcheck | N'to | 10 PM

Echostage | Hamdi with Partiboi69 | 10 PM

9:30 Club | The Tallest Man On Earth with The Still Tide | 7 PM

Music Center at Strathmore | Lizz Wright | 7 PM

Union Stage | Slow Crush with Faetooth | 7 PM

The Anthem - DC | Lorde with The Japanese House and Chanel Beads | 7 PM

Nationals Park | Chris Brown | 7 PM

Birchmere Music Hall | Lori McKenna | 7:30 PM

The Atlantis | Cautious Clay with Elujay | 7:30 PM

The Howard Theatre | Lil Tracy | 8 PM

Jiffy Lube Live | Twenty One Pilots | 8 PM

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The Washington Commanders hit the road Sunday afternoon to take on the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium, looking to shake off last week's tough 34-27 loss to Atlanta that dropped them to 2-2 and second place in the NFC East. The good news for fans is that rookie sensation Jayden Daniels appears ready to return after missing practice time with a knee issue, setting up an exciting quarterback showdown with Justin Herbert in what should be an evenly matched contest between two teams hungry to get back in the win column. The Commanders have struggled away from Northwest Stadium this season with an 0-2 road record, but they'll catch a break facing a Chargers team that's down both starting tackles and star pass rusher Khalil Mack on injured reserve. Catch the 4:25 PM kickoff on FOX at popular DC sports bars like Showtime Bar & Grill, 106.7 The Fan's official watch parties, or stream it on Paramount+ if you're stuck at home nursing your Sunday Funday hangover.

Till next time,