Cherry Blossom Festival drink specials

Here we focus exclusively on the cheapest YET most satisfying entertainment to be found around DC. Every week we highlight free and almost free activities, a choice happy hour or two, food specials and hot tips for budget survival. PLEASE POST YOUR FREE EVENTS (FOR FREE!) ON OUR AGENDA PAGE or send us FREE TIPS to [email protected] for inclusion in the future FREE THINGS guide. So, time to plan the week!

Monday, March 30 – Rough day? Catch some laughs and cuddle-y feelings with Paddington at the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse for $2 Movie Mondays. But if you’re too grown up for that, Theory of Everything is playing too.

Tuesday, March 31 – If you couldn’t make it yesterday, no worries, Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse has you covered with Imitation Game. Only $2.
Tuesday, March 31 – Caught the travel bug but can’t afford to leave the country? Live vicariously through The Wishing Tree, a film set in pre-revolution Georgia. Screening is free, but reservations are required.
Saturday, April 4 – Piano prodigy Jason Moran will introduce a documentary about his mentor Thelonious Monk with his own performance at the National Gallery of Art.

Monday, March 30 – Celebrate the human form at the Bodies Visible Open Mic night, where touring poet Anna K Binkovitz and others will perform. $5.
Monday, March 30 – Try something new, without the risk. Very Be Careful, a Colombian vallenato band, is coming to the Kennedy Millennium Stage all the way from Los Angeles. And it’s free. Unless you miss the show and have to go to Bossa, where they’re playing later that night and tickets are $10.
Monday, March 30 – If you’ve got a little to spare, Good Graeff is playing at DC9 tonight for just $10.
Tuesday, March 31 – It’s a night of cheap music. Rosa Diaz & Daniel De Jesus are playing at Bossa ($5), The Suffers are playing at DC9 ($10), Whitey Morgan & the 78’s are playing at Hill Country BBQ ($10 in advance, $12 at the door) and if your wallet’s feeling heavy, John Kadlecik & the DC Mystery Cats are playing at Gypsy Sally’s ($15).
Tuesday, March 31 – But if you have absolutely no cash to spare, Japanese pop star turned jazz pianist Senri Oe will be playing a free concert at the Millennium Stage.
Wednesday, April 1 – Rapper Richie Skye and singer Prince Jerel are coming to the Ask Rayceen Show, and admission is free.
Wednesday, April 1 – Or head down to the Velvet Lounge for a show by Pleasure Train and Pushovrs for only $8. No, this is not an April Fools joke.
Wednesday, April 1 – Celebrate the fourth anniversary of The Paperhaus with Laughing Man, Anthony Pirog, Crown Larks and Dave Klinger. BYOB and whatever cash you have in your wallet for donations.
Wednesday, April 1 – Enjoy a couch night at the Black Cat, with DJS Mike Murphy, Justin Gellerson and Matt Cohen playing 80s & 90s pink, indie, garage and “whatever”.
Thursday, April 2 – Check out art and music at the opening of Shawn Smith’s Pixels, Predators and Prey at the Artisphere.
Friday, April 3 – Spring to life at Zeba Bar with Lisa Frank, Twin Kills, Marko Peli, Meegs and [capsaicin]. No cover for those 21+.
Friday, April 3 – Stop by the Wonderland Ballroom for the talk show, You, Me, Them, Everybody! Live!, hosted by Brandon Wetherbee with color commentary from Haywood Turnipseed Jr. $5 suggested donation
Saturday, April 4 – Spend your night enjoying tunes by Pree, Zula, Laser Background, Palm and Alex Tebeleff at above the bayou. BYOB, free.
Saturday, April 4 – Head to Thelonius for Soul in the Hole, a night of electronic soul featuring Chris McClenney, Gudo and DJ Wit. Just $5 before midnight.
Sunday, April 5 – Check out Get a Tan, Overly Polite Tornadoes and Cattle Bat this afternoon at the Pinch for just $5.

Thursday, April 2 – Celebrate Marvin Gaye at, well, Marvin. The restaurant is offering an extended happy hour featuring $9 smoked baby back ribs, $8 Absolut cocktails and a day of performances.
Saturday, April 4 – It’s happy hour all-day long at Grillfish, where they’ll be serving $1 oysters all weekend as well as during regular happy hour times during the week.
As long as there are pink trees – Celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival with some of these food/drink specials:

– Café Bonaparte and Malmaison – Sip on one of three cherry-themed cocktails for just $12.

– RareSweets – Try the President Taft Deviled Almond Sundae (with cherry compote) for just $7.50.
– Cordial Fine Wine & Spirits – Rose? It’s free wine tasting on Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. or Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. until April 12.

Tuesday, March 31 – Let your inner bookworm out. Graeme Simsion, author of “The Rosie Effect”, will be at Politics & Prose in Takoma and John Benditt, author of “The Boatmaker”, will be at Upshur Street Books.
Thursday, April 2 – Hang out in the Phillips after hours for just $12. The event is popular though, so make sure to reserve your tickets soon.
Thursday, April 2 – Got a bike? Celebrate World Autism Awareness day with a bike to the beach that will light up the city in blue. Make a difference, free of charge.

Saturday, April 4 – Bad hair day? No such thing. Come discuss the politics of natural hair at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library as part of their exhibit Yours Naturally: Beauty That Grows On You.
Saturday, April 5 – Celebrate Easter like the French do (and in French) at Alliance Francaise DC in Dupont for just $10.

That’s all, remember – PLEASE POST YOUR FREE EVENTS (FOR FREE!) ON OUR AGENDA PAGE or send us FREE TIPS to [email protected] for inclusion in the future FREE THINGS guide. Feel free to leave us your suggestions in the comments. Sharing is the new caring.