🌸 Punk Poetry Icon Patti Smith at Lincoln Theatre Friday

Good morning, DC. Good morning, DC. Three days until the winter solstice, which means you're either leaning into the darkness with cozy plans or fighting it with as many twinkle lights as structurally feasible.

In today’s District Download:

Let’s get to it.

Chanukkah in the Dark wraps its run at Theater J this Saturday—one of those family shows that manages to be genuinely good theater instead of just kid-tolerant. BroadwayWorld's Hannah R. Wing calls it "a wonderful, family-friendly celebration of Hanukkah," which is the kind of review that usually means adults will enjoy it too.

The story follows 10-year-old Max (Sara DeLaney) planning Hanukkah with her grandparents and brother when the power goes out. Instead of descending into chaos, the family adapts with singing, dancing, and imagination under menorah candlelight—Max discovers her own Hanukkah miracle through the unexpected circumstance. DeLaney delivers a performance unafraid to embrace silliness, while the show weaves in Jewish traditions like lighting the menorah and the significance of the dreidel without feeling like homework.

With music by Adam Wernick and book and lyrics by Hayley Finn, the production runs just one hour without intermission—ideal for families with younger kids (recommended ages 5 and up, though better suited for first grade and older). Final performances this weekend at the Edlavitch DC JCC, 1529 16th Street NW.

The Improvised Shakespeare Company performs December 18-23 at The Kennedy Center, where five performers create a fully improvised Shakespeare-inspired show on the spot. The tradition began in 2005 in Chicago and has built a devoted following—the kind of show where you're watching something that will never exist again, which is either thrilling or anxiety-inducing depending on your relationship with live theater.

On Sunday, December 21, The Wharf hosts a Capitals Watch Party from noon to 4 PM featuring ice skating, hot cocoa (free vouchers for the first 200 fans), and a watch party for the Capitals vs. Detroit Red Wings game. The weekend offers the mix DC does well: cultural performances at Kennedy Center, sports fandom at The Wharf, and outdoor winter activities all within the Metro-accessible urban core.

Ingle Korean Steakhouse, which earned acclaim in Tysons, has expanded to DC's 14th Street corridor at 1926 14th St NW (the former Nama Ko space). Owner James Jang—who previously ran Japanese rice bowl restaurant Donburi—says the DC version will focus on prix-fixe menus.

The restaurant specializes in high-end Korean barbecue featuring American wagyu beef presented tableside. The Virginia menu, overseen by chef Jae Youn, includes appetizers such as ice-chilled oysters, cod roe garlic toast, and Korean-style steak tartare alongside premium grilled meats. The restaurant had a soft opening from November 24 to December 8, opened with a limited menu this week, and will expand its offering after a grand opening in mid-December.

The 14th Street location places Ingle in one of DC's most active dining corridors, easily accessible via Metro (U Street station, Green/Yellow lines).

DC renters experienced favorable income-to-rent dynamics in 2025: incomes climbed approximately 4% while rents increased just 1% year-over-year, according to Zillow, providing relief for households struggling with housing costs. More significantly, the gap between renting and homeownership in DC has compressed. Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy says "The typical rent in the D.C. market is roughly $2,400 compared to the cost of owning at about $2,800" as of November—a difference of roughly $400 monthly.

Zillow predicts home values will remain relatively flat in 2026, which should help maintain rental affordability and limit rent increases across the market. However, most renters are making deliberate choices: nearly three-fifths plan to continue renting for at least another year, and only 37% indicated they would purchase even if mortgage rates dropped significantly. Property managers are responding by investing in family-friendly amenities, recognizing that renting increasingly appeals to households with children seeking flexibility and reduced maintenance responsibilities.

The timing matters for year-end financial planning—whether 2026 is the year to consider buying or to lean into the improving rental market.

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

The Anthem | John Mulaney | Emmy-winning comedian's standup show (Thu-Sun run) | $90+

The Lincoln | Patti Smith Book Talk | Music legend discusses her memoir Bread of Angels | $68+

Union Station | Main Hall Holiday Market | Last-minute gift shopping from local vendors (Wed-Sat) | FREE

Wunder Garten, NoMa | Holiday Market | Handmade items and holiday finds (Fri-Sun) | FREE

The Anthem | John Mulaney | Standup show continues | $90+

Mount Vernon | Christmas Illuminations | Winter encampment, camel meet-and-greet, fireworks (also Sunday) | $41 adults, $33 ages 6-11, free under 5 | Family-friendly

Cameron Run Regional Park | Ice and Lights Winter Village | Outdoor ice skating under wreaths and giant stars, hot chocolate available (through Dec 30) | $9+ | Family-friendly

Kraken Kourts and Skates | Procrastinator's Holiday Market | Small businesses, train rides for kids, community giving | FREE | Family-friendly

DC Brau | DC Braulesque Show | Nerdy burlesque meets craft beer | $28

Arena Stage | Step Afrika! Holiday Show | Flips, stomps, and choreography set to hip-hop holiday beats (also Sunday) | $59+ | Family-friendly

The Anthem | John Mulaney | Final night of four-show run | $90+

Mount Vernon | Christmas Illuminations | Winter encampment, camel meet-and-greet, fireworks | $41 adults, $33 ages 6-11, free under 5 | Family-friendly

Cameron Run Regional Park | Ice and Lights Winter Village | Outdoor ice skating, hot chocolate | $9+ | Family-friendly

Wunder Garten | Holiday Market | Handmade holiday finds | FREE

Arena Stage | Step Afrika! Holiday Show | Hip-hop holiday performance | $59+ | Family-friendly

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Friday

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Saturday

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The Atlantis | Kendall Street Company with Solar Circuit | 6:30 PM

Lincoln Theatre | Patti Smith | 7:00 PM

9:30 Club | Dogpark | $40

Soundcheck | Green Velvet | 10:00 PM (Chicago house legend)

9:30 Club | Thievery Corporation with City of the Sun | 8:00 PM (DC legends hometown show)

Blues Alley | Nicole Henry | 9:30 PM

Echostage | Svdden Death | 10:00 PM

Blues Alley | Nicole Henry | 5:30 PM (matinee)

9:30 Club | Thievery Corporation with City of the Sun | 7:00 PM

The Capitals face a home-and-home series with Detroit this weekend—Saturday at Capital One Arena (12:30 PM), Sunday in Detroit (1 PM)—with a chance to bounce back from a 5-1 blowout in Winnipeg while staying in solid playoff position at 18-10-4. Alex Ovechkin, at age 40, recently tied Jaromir Jagr for the longest goal streak by a player 40+ in NHL history and now sits at 907+ career goals after breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record in April. The Wizards (4-20) have the weekend off, deep in rebuild mode developing young talent like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, and Bub Carrington—nobody's expecting playoff contention, just player development and draft positioning. The Commanders (4-10, eliminated from playoffs) also have the week off before their Christmas Day matchup with Dallas (December 25 at Northwest Stadium, 1 PM) after snapping an eight-game losing streak with a 29-21 win over the Giants. If you're keeping score at home, DC's best shot at meaningful games right now is watching Ovechkin chase history while the other two teams focus on next season.

Till next time,