Your Free Guide to DC: January 20 – 26, 2020

It’s January and I don’t know about you but one of my (many) resolutions is to spend less money. I want to save that cash like I’m going to do something non-reckless and non-wild with it, instead of my usual budget planning which involves looking at my bank account balance and shrugging. To help me (and hopefully you), we’re bringing back a new and (hopefully) more useful version of our old Free Things To Do in D.C. guide.

Below, we’ve picked 5 free things happening everyday this week. From music to movies to literature to art, you deserve nothing but the best.

Monday – January 20

• Volunteering is always free.
• March in the 39th annual MLK Peace Walk & Parade with Mayor Muriel Bowser.
• Author Anna Wiener talks about her interesting new book Uncanny Valley: A Memoir at Politics and Prose.
• The Washington Psychotronic Film Society is screening Ninja III: The Domination and Hi-Keeba! at Smoke & Barrel.
• Jackie Lee’s is throwing a mezcal party to remind you that This Is Not Normal.

Tuesday – January 21

• Learn about that arty boy Constantin Brancusi at NGA‘s screening of On the Wings of Brancusi.
• Or you can catch the movie Journey to the Depths of the Student’s Soul at Bistro Bohem.
• Or or you could see Selma at the Woodbridge Library.
• César Cuautémoc García is talking about his book Migrating to Prison at Politics and Prose.
• Bring your own vinyl to Songbyrd and force strangers to listen to your favorite music whether they like it or not!

Wednesday – January 22

• Do some yoga in the Luce, one of the most beautiful spaces in D.C.
• Saneit Monae is singing some sweet R&B at DC9. There is a $10 suggested donation if you have some cash.
• Head on over to Slash Run for a free screening of Existenz. Cuddle up with some Cronenberg.
• The Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain is hosting a talk about Hispanic heritage.
• Go back to Politics and Prose for an author talk with Jeanine Cummins.

Thursday – January 23

• Check out a conversation with the artist Sheldon Scott at the National Portrait Gallery.
• Jump around to Thygui and The Colonies at the Wonderland Ballroom.
• The National Archives Building is screening One Woman, One Vote with a sweet panel discussion after the film.
• Stop by Solid State Books for an author talk with Laura McKowen on her book We Are the Luckiest.
• Watch The Great Battle with some cool strangers at the Korean Cultural Center.

Friday – January 24

• Explore the entirety of the color pink with the art experts at the Hirshhorn.
• Dance it up at DC9‘s Sexy Back / 2000s dance party.
• Or you could slide on over to The Dew Drop Inn for some tunes.
• Smithsonian Folklife is hosting a screening of the Brazilian films Mulheres de Axé and Um Dia no Ilè at Howard University.
• Because the Folger loves you, they’re putting on a free staged reading of The Bardy Bunch.

Saturday – January 25

• Get your fill of Robert Frank at NGA‘s double feature of Fire in the East: A Portrait of Robert Frank and Leaving Home, Coming Home: A Portrait of Robert Frank.
• Drink a beer and get wild to Debt Crisis, The Rememberables and Chilton at Slash Run.
• Hit up a Chinese New Year party at The LINE Hotel.
• Get your picture taken with a very fancy camera at the Leica Store.
• Then hit up Max Fillion at the Songbyrd Vinyl Lounge. There is a $10 suggested donation if you have some cash.

Sunday – January 26

• Clibbus, Period Bomb, Lucky Baby Daddy and Thee Deluxe are at Songbyrd.
• Jeffrey Colvin is talking about his book Africaville at Solid State Books.
• Or catch Blair Imani at the Petworth Neighborhood Library.
• Stop by Velvet Lounge to see Skyscrapers, Jason Byrd and Swamp Grass.
• Hit up one last screening at NGA.