October was funny. November is scary. Our first every true crime festival, Death Becomes Us, is the first weekend in November. Then you spend the fourth Thursday of the month with your family. Add in beautiful, dying leaves and November is one of the scariest months of the year. Let’s make it scary good.
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Superfine! DC Art Fair @ Union Market through November 4
This art fair is for people who know everything about art and for folks who know nothing at all. If the idea of buying art is appealing but trying to figure out what to buy is daunting then this is the fair for you! Over 300 visual artists from DC and beyond will present their work and the best part? YOU CAN AFFORD IT. Get out there and spruce up your place. Take down that old Scarface poster from college! – Jenn Tisdale
One of the strongest, most wrenching music videos in recent memory was 2017’s “Element” off of Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. Much of the imagery employed in “Element” were direct references to the powerful images of late-American photographer Gordon Parks. Over the course of his 60-year career, Parks’ photography captured the lives of African Americans in a manner unparalleled before or after; his vision was as unrestrained as his imagery, capturing pain, survival, and the beauty of simply existing with such deftness that calling him a “visionary” feels like a criminal understatement. This exhibit focuses on Parks’ early years, and provides a curated exposé of an artist still discovering his vision, his craft, and his truth. If you care at all about photography, and the power it can convey, this exhibit is a must. -Ruben Gzirian
Gordon Parks, Trapped in abandoned building by a rival gang on street, Red Jackson ponders his next move, 1948, gelatin silver print, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Corcoran Collection (The Gordon Parks Collection)
Rodarte @ National Museum Of Women In The Arts November 10, 2018 through February 10, 2019
DC doesn’t really get amazing fashion exhibitions, but that is about to change when the much-anticipated (in the BYT offices, for sure) Rodarte retrospective comes to town next week. According to the release: The exhibition explores the distinctive design principles, material concerns, and reoccurring themes that position the Mulleavys’ work within the landscape of contemporary art and fashion. Spanning the first 13 years of Rodarte, more than 90 complete looks, presented as they were shown on the runway, highlight selections from their most pivotal collections. But truly, we’re just ready for something unabashedly beautiful and inspiring and innovative in our city. -Svetlana Legetic
Agyness Deyn wearing Rodarte Spring/Summer 2009; Photo © Sølve Sundsbø Limited
15th Annual Transformer Silent Auction and Benefit @ Corcoran November 17
We don’t care what you’re doing on November 17, you need to clear your calendar and get ready for the best art party of the year. Transformer is hosting their 15th annual silent auction and benefit party, and if you miss it, you’ll regret it for the rest of 2018. With over 175+ pieces of art up for grabs (including a special selection of pieces from Greek artists), this isn’t the time to go in without a plan. Which is why we’ve hand selected our five favorite pieces up for auction this year. Peruse the list below, buy your tickets and start picking out your outfit now. Our full preview is here and keep an eye out for more amazing content on BYT all month long since we are the official media sponsor. -Svetlana Legetic
Nakeya Brown: Almost All the Way to Love, 2018, Inkjet Print, 16 in x 24in
Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey by Mark Dery available November 6
Ah man, I would absolutely read an autobiography of the Original King of Hot Topic, Edward Gorey! Author and media critic Mark Dery spends 500+ pages telling Gorey’s story, revealing a depth that was only hinted at in his work. His delightfully morbid illustrations and pitch-black sense of humor is well loved and often imitated, but his story has never been told, at least not in such exhaustive detail. The perfectly titled Born to Be Posthumous: The Eccentric Life and Mysterious Genius of Edward Gorey is a slam-dunk holiday gift for any current or former goth kid in your life. -Matt Byrne
Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy available November 13
Jeff Tweedy wrote a book! It’s surprising it didn’t happen sooner (it did if you count the collection of poems he released in 2004 but you know what I mean). Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) is a career-spanning memoir with a special emphasis on his personal life, inspirations, and artistic process. Tweedy’s a thoughtful, introspective dude who rarely opens up so directly about this stuff so folks are for sure gonna go wild for this thing! -Matt Byrne
Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes’s Hollywood by Karina Longworth available November 13
Karina Longworth, host and visionary behind the incredibly good Hollywood history podcast You Must Remember This, has compiled a popular history of cinema’s first golden age, as seen through the lens of Howard Hughes’ myraid romantic entanglements. Expect countless crazy but true anecdotes of old school showbiz antics and edifying-yet-troubling revelations about the realities of this wild time in Hollywood. -Matt Byrne
Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference @ GMU Founder’s Hall November 14
Think you can’t start your own business? UNTHINK THAT THOUGHT. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Conference is a full day of women enterpreneurs telling you their stories in the hopes that you’ll someday have a story of your own. Once you RSVP for the event you’ll get to send in your 30 Second Pitch for a company you’d like to start. The winner will be announced at the conference and will get $5,000 to make that dream come true. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? -Jenn Tisdale
Death Becomes Us Pub Final Weekend
You only have a few more days to solve the Black Dahlia murder, hang out in Salem or bathe in the beauty of Elizabeth Bathory. -Jenn Tisdale
Novemberfest @ Rustico (Alexandria) November 3
OK, so last year I blacked out and wrote that Novemberfest might be better than Snallygaster. And then the God of beer and his only son Jesus Engerto moved Snallygaster to mid-October… and then they relocated it to Pennsylvania Avenue… and and then they invited Bellwoods… and it felt like Snally woke up in a Bugatti.
But you know what: The take stands! IDGAF! Everything still checks out. It’s still puffy vest season! There are still less agro whalehuntaz! And I can still drink only Virginia beer and feel like a fucking king!
And now a break from exclamatory statements for some facts. On November 3, Novemeberfest returns to Alexandria (behind the Rustico) for the seventh year. The “outdoor block party” (as opposed to indoor block party?) will draw together over 30 Virginia breweries, food from Rustico and Red Apron, and Barboursville wine for the lames. Admission costs $25 in advance (and that includes $20 of drink tickets).
Alright, back to screaming! These breweries are dope! Honestly, it sort of seems silly to single them out (but I will anyway) (because that’s why I get paid the big blog dollars).
The wild yeasty boys of Pen Druid will be in the house, which is a rare treat. They’ll be bringing Golden Swan, Mercury, and Hermes, and if you want to know more about these delicious brews, check out my recent (brief interview) with Van Carney.
Novemberfest will also feature a keg of Ocelot’s new “megacollab” double IPA Lean on Me – one of only four to leave the Dulles brewery. I know I’m here to make dumb, semi-informed jokes, but I recently wrote an actually serious article on this beer and the cause behind it, and I would encourage you to read it.
Other hot-shit VA breweries joining these guys will be The Veil, Triple Crossing, and Aslin, Aslin, Aslin, Aslin, Aslin (you already know). -Phil Runco
DC Beer Festival @ Nationals Park November 3
Other than the uninspired name, the DC Beer Festival rocks. It was a great World Series, sure, but I miss the Nats (if today’s November 1st, only 105 days until pitchers and catchers report!), so any chance to get back to the ballpark is a must-attend for me. Sure doesn’t hurt having 80 of the nation’s best craft breweries on hand featuring over 200 different beers (including some limited-edition fall seasonal beers), plus food trucks, games, and the Bobby McKey’s dueling piano bar.
There are two sessions on Saturday, November 3rd: one from noon-3 pm and one from 5-8 pm. Go to the later one; it’s cold, but there’s beer and a beautiful sunset and the ballpark lights on and it’s just great all around. Admission is just $45, and includes unlimited tastings. I put the unlimited designation to the test last year and was ultimately talked out of streaking around the bases. Perhaps you’ll attend with cooler friends. -Logan Hollers
Hellbender 4th Anniversary Party November 10
The lovable dudes at Hellbender Brewing are turning four. And it’s time to celebrate. On November 10, the Riggs Park brewery is throwing a birthday party that doubles as a double can release. That’s what we call a double-double in the biz.
Wait, Hellbender is canning? Yes, it’s canning. I told you about this in May. Keep up!
On this particular Saturday, they’ll be releasing fresh cans of the double IPA Double Chazzwazzer (which I talk with head brewer Ben Evans talks about in tte aforementioned article) and whiskey barrel-aged Groundskeeper Islay Scotch Ale (which is a real treat).
Tickets for the party cost $10, but that covers your first beer, so it’s basically free. -Phil Runco
Bluejacket 5th Anniversary November 11
Wow, another DC brewery birthday. Investors must really be freaky in February, amirite?
This time, the birthday boy/girl/child is Bluejacket, the production brewing jewel in the Neighborhood Restaurant Group crown. They’ll be marking five years of Lost Weekend, fruited sours, and the city’s best lagers with a little Sunday get together. Sunday? Yes, Sunday. Monday is federal holiday!
Festivities kick off at 11:00 a.m. with a two-hour (!) broadcast of Foodie & The Beast radio show. Likewise, the Bluejacket bottle shop will open at 11:00 to offer first dibs on two of the brewery’s biggest annual releases: Double Mexican Radio: Bourbon 2018 (a blend of imperial sweet stout aged six months in various Bourbon barrels) and Mad World 2018 (an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels for 9 months and conditioned on Vigilante Coffee’s Tin Lizzie Espresso blendand vanilla beans). There will also be limited edition 5th Anniversary glassware. I know y’all nerds love limited edition glassware.
As your lust for quality radio programming and bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout fades, you may begin to notice the sounds of live music and the olfactory wonder of Chef Marcelle Afram firing up the outdoor grill. That’s your queue to order a glass of For the Company Helles lager and chill. That beer fucking rules. -Phil Runco
Overlord in theaters November 9
Originally slated to be another entry in the Cloverfield anthology, Overlord is set on D-Day, following a group of American paratroopers who get in way above their heads, and wind up face to face with a bunch of freaking Nazi zombies! The pulpy premise and solid advance buzz (this prestige horror flick is at freaking 98% on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing) are enough to have me hooked. -Matt Byrne
The Front Runner in theaters November 21
The Front Runner is the latest Jason Reitman flick, his second of 2018 following the well-regarded Tully, a biographical drama about Senator Gary Hart’s disastrous 1988 presidential campaign. The stacked cast features a harried Hugh Jackman as Hart, with supporting roles from strong character actors like like J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina, and Vera Farmiga. -Matt Byrne
Ralph Breaks The Internet in theaters November 21
Remember how good Wreck-It Ralph was? It was very good. It came out back in 2012 and was a very entertaining piece of family-friendly entertainment, though not quite reaching the highest highs of peak 21st Century Disney. Either way, they finally got around to releasing the sequel to the thing, the unfortunately titled Ralph Breaks The Internet, which sees the titular hero striking out from the world of arcade cabinets and, uh, exploring Online. File under “cautiously optimistic,” my friends. -Matt Byrne
Capital Food Fight @ The Anthem November 8
When it comes to food events in D.C., this is the best of the best. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, DC Central Kitchen is once again putting on its signature fundraising event, the Capital Food Fight. The brainchild of celebrity chef José Andrés, the event is celebrating its fifteenth year in 2018, and its first at The Anthem. This year, over 80 of the Washington area’s greatest restaurants plan to offer tastes of their best dishes, and admission includes unlimited tastes at every booth.
Celebrity chefs and hosts (Andrés and Spike Mendelsohn continue their hosting duties this year, with chefs Jen Carroll and Tom Colicchio, among others, serving as judges); a live cooking battle on the main stage, where four local chefs (Kyle Bailey from the Salt Line, Autumn Cline from Rappahannock Oyster Bar, Alex McCoy from Lucky Buns, and Kevin Tien from Himitsu) compete in an Iron Chef-style battle going to head-to-head with a secret ingredient; and 100% of the proceeds go to DC Central Kitchen to combat hunger and create opportunity in DC through job training, meal distribution, and local farm partnerships.
There’s a VIP Reception with craft cocktails and artisanal samplings and access to the gorgeous second floor balcony with the best views of the live, on-stage chef battle. There’s a speakeasy with exclusive culinary offerings, bar service and flat-screens showing the live battle. Thanks to Chef Andrés, we’ve seen a recent explosion of social issue leadership from the service industry. Point is, if you’re going to pony up for one blow-out food event, make it this one. Philanthropy and food are a great match. -Logan Hollers
The Emporiyum @ Dock 5 November 9, 10 11
If your idea of a good meal is jumping from vegan jerky to Cubanos to cookie dough to empanadas, The Emporiyum is here to take you to a magical world where every kind of flavor is right at you fingertips. From November 9 to 11, they’re setting up show at Dock 5 and making Union Market into an even bigger food destination. You’re going to want to prepare for this event the way you prep for Thanksgiving, because you’re going to eat just as much, but there will be way less uncomfortable family conversations and way more Instagramming. -Kaylee Dugan
Old Ebbitt Grill’s Oyster Riot XXIV November 16 and 17
Old Ebbitt Grill is once again throwing its huge Oyster Riot (the 24th edition!). Tickets include entrance and all the wine and oysters you can handle. There’ll be live music by Mudcat and Bad Influence, along with some passed hors d’oeuvres, but the real draw is oysters. Like, a shitload of oysters. 20 different types of oysters from both coasts, shucked to order (last year, over 75,000 oysters were sucked down in two days – that’s not a typo). There are always a few other items like fruit & cheese, shrimp, and crab claws, but this is an event for oyster lovers. As Old Ebbitt says, “If you don’t like ’em, and you still want to come, we suggest coming early and having a burger.”
People wear some crazy stuff, an impressive 279 wines from all over the world were entered in this year’s International Wines for Oysters Competition, and the party gets wild. Worried about all those oyster shells? Don’t be – every one is sorted and reused to grow over a million baby oysters, thus sowing the seeds of future Oyster Riots. The Saturday afternoon session from 1-4 p.m. specifically benefits the Oyster Recovery Partnership, and all three sessions benefit the Potomac Riverkeeper Network. Also, it goes without saying that oysters are aphrodisiacs and there will be a ton of wine. You’re probably going home with someone. Grab tickets here (they sell out fast). -Logan Hollers
Christkindlmarket opens November 16
Christkindlemarket is a staple of the holiday season in Chicago. The outdoor market is modeled off German street festivals, a traditional Christmas-time celebration. An impressive smattering of German foods and the mythical Christkind of German folklore, who freely roams the market taking pictures and telling stories, will transport you straight to Europe itself. As you wander through a booth-lined Daley Plaza, it’s hard not to get caught up in the freshly made sweets, warm drinks, and–best of all–the totally unique and completley creative crafts you’ll find dispersed throughout the market. After all, it’s never too early to start your holiday shopping. -Afriti Bankwalla
Zoo Lights @ National Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo Begins November 23
The day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the winter holiday season, and what better way to celebrate than with a classic like Zoo Lights? It’s been a rough year, so why not end it by indulging in some good ol’ holiday cheer and merriment. It might seem a little cheesy, but marveling at the colorful lights shaped like elephants and tigers and giraffes is just one of life’s simple joys that will make you feel like a kid again. -Afriti Bankwalla
Soulection’s The Sound of Tomorrow @ 9:30 Club November 1
In the world of progressive electronic music, Soulection stands above the rest. An independent music platform, radio show, and artistic collection, Soulection has been the premier voice for music that intertwines musical influences into a statement, as well as being the modus operandi of speaking volumes about where music is headed with nothing more than a vibe. Jay Kay, co-founder and the voice of Soulection’s Radio show, is at the forefront of Soulection’s expansion from a local Long Beach college radio show to a Apple Music Beats 1 radio mainstay. Whenever I want to hear where experimentation in electronic and low-fi music is headed, Soulection is always the definitive marker. -Ruben Gzirian
Red Bull Music Festival November 3 through 30
Red Bull’s month long music festival celebrates some of Chicago’s best local talent. Whether you’re looking for rap, jazz, or performance art, you can’t really go wrong with a festival that starts with the wonderfully uninhibited Pusha T and ends with the smooth and sweet sounds of Jamila Woods. I’ll also be particularly looking forward to Cupcakke at Thalia Hall. She’s bold, vulgar, entertaining as hell, and a damn good rapper. And, if you’re a Drag Race fan, don’t miss The Vixen, performing alongside seven other radical, socially-minded artists at Subterranean. -Afriti Bankwalla
Kamasi Washington’s 2018 Heaven and Earth is a journey through the mind of a musician who you expect has no other purpose in life than to make music swept up in ideas of life, emotion, perspective, and evolution. Washington’s album lives beyond the confines of what Spotify or Apple Music tell us music is in 2018; it’s an experience very much rooted in the same metaphysical proportions of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. Tracks like “The Invincible Youth,” “Vi Lua Vi Sol,” and “Show Us the Way” are masterful conductions of sound, with Washington’s soul leading each break, cadence, and progression. -Ruben Gzirian
Yaeji @ Black Cat November 6, Knockdown Center November 9
Say it softly, but Yaeji is quickly moving up the ranks of the more exciting electronic producers in New York. There’s something incredibly appealing about her whispered-sung vocals, delivered with an ASMR-inducing quality, and her music grafts the rolling snares of trap music onto the pulsating beats of house music. Yaeji sold out Flash a few months ago – her music must have been a real treat on their sound system – and while the Black Cat’s speakers often underwhelm, I’m hopeful that the larger space will lend itself to excellent energy in the room. -Jose Lopez-Sanchez
Last time I wrote about 6LACK, I pondered what his forthcoming album, 2018’s East Atlanta Love Letter, would say about where his career was headed. After growing with songs like “Let Her Go,” “Pretty Little Fears,” and “Scripture,” I can say with confidence 6LACK’s future is brighter than the recurring lyrical thematics of heartbreak, revenge, and finding pride in pain. 6LACK’s ability to inject vocal flows and variations more commonly found in hip hop into somber R&B constructions distinguishes him from many of his peers who all kind of sound like Drake clones (looking at you Tory Lanez). Whether this constant stream of subconscious anguish will be enough for an evolving future body of work is still a question to be answered, but, as of now, 6LACK is at the top of his game. -Ruben Gzirian
Little Mix LM5 available November 16
I love me some Little Mix, and I don’t care who knows it! “Black Magic” is like, my ANTHEM, you guys, and I’m super stoked for even more pop gems off this upcoming record. And can we just talk about this video?! -Megan Burns
Mac Ayres @ Elsewhere (Hall) November 16, U Street Music Hall November 17
Same same but different. That’s what Mac Ayres is, and that’s great. Over the course of two albums— 2017’s Drive Slow and 2018’s Something to Feel — Ayres oozes a soulful multi-instrumental identity that bridges the gap between the visionaries of the past (Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, and Marvin Gaye) and the leaders of the present (Daniel Caesar, Solange, SiR, etc.). Songs like “Get to You Again” flow unrestrained through your subconscious, taking you away to corners of your mind usually flooded with the daily bustle of life. I’ve had Something to Feel on repeat since it came out; every playthrough feels like a cheap vacation at a time when so much music forces your utmost attention and involvement. -Ruben Gzirian
IDK @ SOB’s November 16, U Street Music Hall November 21
If I was to rank the top-ten most heated hip hop arguments I’ve had with my friends, the importance and lasting impact of rapper Wale is probably in the top three. Sparing details, I’m of the opinion that while Wale was important in shining light on D.C.’s hip hop scene, he is no longer relevant to where present D.C. artists find themselves. A shining example of that is IDK, a young blossoming artist from Maryland’s Prince George’s County who is slowly building up a reputation in a genre that often overlooks D.C. as an incubator of exemplary hip hop talent. IDK (which stands for “Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge”) deftly combines lyrical dexterity with production comfortably at home on drum machines owned by EPMD, RZA, and Public Enemy. It is then no surprise that tracks like “Lil Arrogant,” “Please Forgive,” and “No Wave” plow through vocal ebbs and flows all the while painting a picture of young complex targeted zeal. -Ruben Gzirian
Since the release of 2009’s The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs, Gibbs has lumbered through a career always one step away from being recognized as one the current greats amongst his peers. His latest album, 2018’s Freddie, flew under the mainstream radar but showcased Gibbs at his purging best, with Gibbs effortlessly flowing between punchlines and left-hooks that you imagine some ghostwriter for Drake is desperately trying to copy. Speaking of Drake, Gibbs is the antithesis to what he, and a lot of other rappers, are. Instead, what you get with Freddie Gibbs, and what anyone who has followed his career through creative deviances and lyrical masterclasses has come to expect, is an outlier from an outsider hometown (Gary, Indiana). He’s truly one-of-a-kind, and in 2018 when every new artist is canonized almost instantly, that’s saying something. -Ruben Gzirian
Aminé’s playful, witty take on rap will never cease to amaze. Best known for his debut hit single, “Caroline,” Aminé is thoughtful as he weaves stories of immigrant life and dealing with depression through carefully crafted rhymes and clever jokes. His first album, 2017’s Good For You, was strong enough to hold its own in what was a truly great year for rap. It’s impossibly creative, feel good rap. Mixing joyful beats with introspective lyrics, Aminé’s album showcases his lively, youthful talent. Utterly infectious track after utterly infectious track, Good For You is a taste of the deliciously bubbly side of rap. ONEPOINTFIVE, Aminé’s newest, intermediate EP/LP/mixtape/album, is more somber than Good For You. It’s a little darker, a little less carefree, a little more brash, but just as cohesive and well-produced. The performer’s undeniable talent coupled with his buoyant energy make this an unmissable show for rap fans. -Afriti Bankwalla
MUTEK Mexico November 21 through 24
It seems like everyone and their best friend has been raving about Mexico City for the last couple of years, thanks to affordable air fare, appreciation for traditional and authentic Mexican cuisine, and frankly, Instagram. The truth is that there’s so much more to Mexico City – one of the planet’s true megalopolises – and the city’s homegrown art scene stands at the global epicenter of the avant-garde and the daring. As such, it should be no surprise that a city with over 20 million inhabitants would be host to a progressive art festival like MUTEK. What might strike American audiences as unexpected is that the avant-garde art and music festival is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary there at the end of this month, and it’s having a big party to celebrate.
Originally launched in Montréal, Canada in the year 2000, Mutek has now expanded to seven cities around the world. MUTEK describes itself as “a platform dedicated to create a sonic space that can support innovation in new electronic music and digital art” and it promises to live up to it, with artists such as Actress, Yves Tumor, and Siete Catorce on a line up that spans close to a week of performances and activities. Programs range from the straightforward to the incredibly multi-sensory, and it is a festival that promises to challenge many preconceived notions of art and technology in the way that US-based festivals like Moogfest do. I’ll be heading down there to speak to MUTEK’s local partners and recap the festival for BYT, and I welcome any and all of you to join me -Jose Lopez-Sanchez
Thom Yorke @ Kings Theatre November 26 and 27, Kennedy Center November 30
Thom Yorke, much like Trent Reznor, is hard to illustrate without precariously mentioning their other non-solo projects. And while Radiohead’s impact on modern music, with Yorke as the creative driving force, cannot be understated, his solo-outings are epilogues in a career existing outside the bounds of time, popularity, and cultural relevance. Yorke makes music for one person: Thom Yorke. He’s embarking on a series of live performances with the support of Nigel Godrich and visual artist Tarik Barri. Over the course of these performances, Yorke’s timeless work will be elevated by the engrossing visuals of Barri, reasserting Yorke’s standing as an artist first, musician second. Few in music can claim that sort of Warholian identity, but Thom Yorke knows no other way. -Ruben Gzirian
Travis Scott @ Madison Square Garden November 27 and 28, Capital One Arena November 29
The thing about Travis Scott, especially post-Astroworld and post-fathering a child with Kylie Jenner, is that it’s hard to look at him as an outlier in hip hop or popular culture anymore. Previous albums – 2015’s Rodeo and 2016’s Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight – still had an air of selective approachability, setting flag markers outside of popular youth culture. 2018’s Astroworld changed that in a way, finally placing Scott on-top a mountain of hype and declarations that he, at a time when Kanye West is falling apart in front of our eyes, was the second coming of Yeezus. All of this is debatable, but what isn’t up for debate is that Travis Scott curates one of the best live shows in music; exuberant shows full of gusto and energy, all wrapped in a soundscape that never deviates from perfect highs and calculated lows. This is a show where ground seats are the only seats you should consider. -Ruben Gzirian
YBN Takeour Tour with YBN Nahmir, YBN Almighty Jay, YBN Cordae @ Fillmore Silver Spring November 29
For people who don’t scour the deep cuts of Complex or The Fader, YBN, let alone why or how they’re taking over, may remain a mystery. Centered around the mercurial young talent of YBN Nahmir, an 18-year old rapper out of Birmingham, AL best-known for his aggressive single “Rubbin Off the Paint,” YBN initially began as an online community of friends who played Grand Theft Auto Online together. Fast forward to late-2018 and this group is making waves with the severely underrated album, YBN: The Mixtape. Each song, from the menacing “Porches in the Rain” to the hyphy-influenced “Bread Winners,” is dynamic and curated as to never wear thin. This is very much a group on the ascendancy; full of appetite and belligerence that only youth can sustain. -Ruben Gzirian
USWNT vs. Portugal November 8, vs. Scotland November 13
The USWNT had an impressive showing at the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, and I’m finally feeling like they have a shot at glory in the upcoming 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. (Which they’ve qualified for, by the way. TAKE THAT, MNT!) While Portugal and Scotland are not (in my opinion) the strongest contenders when it comes to international competition, and even though the matches are friendlies, I think these games will further bolster my faith in the team’s dynamic, so BRING ‘EM ON! -Megan Burns
House of Cards final season released on Netflix November 2
So it’s come down to this. In the nearly six years since House of Cards debuted, Netflix has gone from changing the way we watch movies to changing the way we watch television — a streaming service that competes with HBO and Showtime in terms of both buzz and awards. One suspects that the beginning of the end for House of Cards, the final season of which goes live on Friday, is only the end of the beginning for Netflix.
But of course, that’s not the headline here. This is the first season and only season of HoC that will not feature former star Kevin Spacey, one of the casualties of the #MeToo movement, who was fired after being accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior — including by an actor who was 14 at the time. Apparently former President Frank Underwood has been eliminated off screen, leaving the Oval Office and the series in the hands of Robin Wright’s Claire Underwood. The Year of the Woman is getting the Season of the Woman in Cards’s extra-murdery, soap opera-y D.C. And only days before Election Day, too… -Tristan Lejeune
Homecoming premieres on Amazon Video November 2
Well apparently the next logical step in mainstream podcasting would be to adapt successful (if slight) fiction podcasts into more easily accessible TV series, like the forthcoming Amazon Video production of Homecoming. The podcast version of this political psychological thriller, which premiered on Gimlet back in 2016, boasted a pretty remarkable voice acting cast, including Catherine Keener, Oscar Isaac, and David Schwimmer. The Amazon adaptation has Julia Roberts, Bobby Cannavale, and Sydney Potier on deck, among others, making this certainly a show worth keeping an eye out for. -Matt Byrne
Super Drags premieres on Netflix November 9
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: we can never have enough TV shows about drag. And thank God Netflix gets it. Only a month after the debut of Dancing Queen, they’re back with Super Drags, a new animated show in which “Three gay coworkers at a department store lead double lives as superhero drag queens.” That’s right, it’s a cartoon about drag queen superheroes. If that’s somehow not enough of a selling point for you, it also features drag favorites, including Willam Belli, Trixie Mattel, Shangela, and Brazilian superstar Pabllo Vittar. With it’s great cast and just the right number of dick jokes in the trailer, Super Drags is bound to be a refreshing, hysterical, and, of course, completely explicit take on the superhero genre. -Afriti Bankwalla
Loudon Wainwright III: Surviving Twin premieres on Netflix November 13
Netflix will release a filmed version of legendary singer songwriter Loudon Wainwright III’s one-man show, which blends performances of cuts from his deep catalog with spoken word segments pulled directly from his father’s longrunning Life Magazine essay column The View From Here. Whether or not you’re a fan of his, this will likely be an engaging, intriguing watch. There’s a lot of talent in this family! -Matt Byrne
The Little Drummer Girl premieres on AMC November 19
Following the success of 2016’s The Night Manager, AMC and the BBC return with another miniseries John Le Carré adaptation, this time of his 1983 novel about a British actress recruited in an espionage chess game between Israelis and Palestinians. Alexander Skarsgård, Florence Pugh, and Michael Shannon star in this drama, which begins Nov. 19 and marks the TV debut of South Korean director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy). Fair warning: Unlike The Night Manager, Little Drummer Girl is not among Le Carré’s strongest works. Its treatment of its female lead is problematic, at best, and, like Team America: World Police, it amusingly treats her Acting like some kind off superpower. This adaptation will have to strike out on its own to truly be worthy of viewers’ time. -Tristan Lejeune
The Final Table premieres on Netflix November 20
If you’re anything like me, you’ll never get enough cooking TV competitions, so news of an Iron Chef-like high profile show like The Final Table coming to Netflix this month, is a real thrill. The show has pulled together a surprisingly deep well of talent on both the competitor and judging side, including such high profile chefs as Grant Achatz, Enique Olvera, and a whole slew of up-and-coming talent form around the world. Each episode will feature two chefs competing head-to-head to perfect the cuisine of a given country or region, making for interesting and innovative dishes every time. -Matt Bryne
Kenda Confidential @ Lisner Auditorium November 3
You don’t earn the name Homicide Hunter for nothing. Lt. Joe Kenda was a homicide detective for over 30 years. That’s a lot of crime bustin’. His show on Investigation Discovery is one of my faves and his show at the true crime festival will be one of my faves as well. I can’t wait to hear him use his signature catchphrase “my my my…” That’s when you know the shit hit the fan and Kenda hit it back! -Jenn Tisdale
Wine & Crime @ Lisner Auditorium November 3
If you’ve got the crime they’ve got the wine. Wine & Crime is hosted by 3 VERY FUNNY women from Minnesota and you know they are bringing allllll the accents to their chats about true crime. Every episode is paired with a bottle of wine so grab a glass and pair it with this show! -Jenn Tisdale
Mindhunter: John Douglas @ Lisner Auditorium November 4
If you’re a Netflix fiend, you’ve seen the show Mindhunter and this is your chance to get in front of the man who inspired it all. John Douglas was at the forefront of investigating serial killers in the 80’s and he’s bringing his decades of experience to the Lisner, where you can hang out with the man who jump started modern day criminal profiling. Nobody has been doing it longer than him. He’s your true crime grandpa. -Kaylee Dugan
Criminal @ Lisner Auditorium November 4
Criminal is for the singular podcast listener. Sure, you want the thrill of a true crime plot line, but you don’t want the schlock and gore that comes with much of the genre. No, you want the smaller stories, the human stories. You want electrifying interviews and carefully constructed retellings. You want This American Life, but with much more murder… And no one scratches that itch better than Criminal. While their recorded episodes are top notch, their live show brings even more to the table with original animations and live scoring. Come hang out with host Phoebe Judge and dig into the soothing side of true crime. -Kaylee Dugan
Cold Case Files with Paul Holes & CeCe Moore @ Lisner Auditorium November 4
If you read Michelle McNamara’s book I’ll Be Gone in the Dark about the Golden State Killer then you know Paul Holes. He’s the cold case investigator who worked on that case for over 20 years. He carried that file with him through promotions and new jobs. Last year, 3 weeks after retiring, he helped catch him. That’s not Paul’s only case and this show, moderated by the hosts of the Small Town Dicks podcast (Yeardley Smith’s podcast! The voice of Lisa Simpson!) will feature Paul and geneologist CeCe Moore discussing their most fascinating cases. You can’t call yourself a fan of true crime and miss this show. -Jenn Tisdale
Beetlejuice @ The National Theatre through November 18
Before it heads to Broadway, the musical version of Beetlejuice continues at The National Theatre. Listen to our chat music and lyricist Eddie Perfect, director Alex Timbers, actors Alex Brightman and Sophia Anna Caruso and book writers Scott Brown and Anthony King. -Brandon Wetherbee
A Drag Queen Christmas @ Warner Theatre November 18, @ Vic Theatre November 23
You don’t need to be Christian to celebrate Christmas, drag queen style. 12 of the best queens in the country come together this holiday season for none other than our entertainment. Hosted by Miz Cracker and Monét X Change, two of the funniest queens from the latest season of Drag Race, this show will be nothing if not a total riot. Also get ready for some wig-snatching death drops from Alyssa Edwards, Farrah Moan’s sheerly sexy looks, Aja spitting fire on the mic between killer lip-syncs, Latrice…well being Latrice–“large and in charge, chunky yet funky. Bold and beautiful, baby–and Raja serving high fashion. Oh, and just remember: They’re all a lot more naughty than they are nice. -Afriti Bankwalla
