The 26 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week

Pi Day specials

This Pi Day (March 14 … 3.14 … get it?) is serving specials from area restaurants. Pizza Paradiso offers $3.14 off a large pie — or, if you really know your stuff, recite the first 31 numbers of pi from memory and get your pizza free. The deals are available all day at all four locations. Pie Shop is selling select sweet pies at $3.14 between 3:14 and 6 p.m. Plus, the first three people to recite the first 24 pi digits get $50 gift cards. D.C.-based pizza brand &Pizza is honoring the day with a deal for loyalty app members ($3.14 pizzas starting at 3:14 p.m.) and a promotion for those redefining “pizza lovers”: a “Pi Do” ceremony at its H Street location, where five couples will get free nuptials and vow renewal ceremonies.

National Gallery Nights: ‘Color Theory’

The first after-hours event of the spring season is coming up at the National Gallery of Art, and National Gallery Nights have become so popular that free tickets are passed out via online lottery. That window is closed, but there are additional passes at the door on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 5:30 p.m. The “Color Theory” theme is inspired by the museum’s current exhibition, “Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper,” and you’ll be able to drop in on color-themed pop-up talks; make your own work of art; go on a color wheel scavenger hunt looking for works by female artists; and listen to colorful performances from Hot Club of Baltimore, DJ Lady Lavender and DJ Underdog while sipping a drink from the bar. Needless to say, a color-blocked dress code is encouraged. 6 p.m. Free.

Boston Brass and the U.S. Air Force Band at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center

The Air Force band’s guest concert series continues with a performance from Boston Brass at the Northern Virginia Community College venue. The brass-centric show includes a diverse program from the quintet and military ensemble. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Free; registration required.

Art in Bloom at the Anderson House

Back for a fourth year, Art in Bloom fills the Anderson House with dozen of floral arrangements inspired by the mansion’s art and architecture. Throughout four days, find the installations scattered throughout the house, museum tours from docents and access to the garden, which is not usually open to the public. Demo and lecture sessions throughout the event focus on medicinal uses of florals and hanakubari, a type of contemporary Japanese flower arrangement. Thursday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. $15-$18.

An evening with William H. Macy and screening of ‘Fargo’ at Warner Theatre

Actor William H. Macy’s long Hollywood career includes 11 seasons as the star of the TV show “Shameless” and a turn in an upcoming “Planet of the Apes” sequel. But his best-known role is hapless car-salesman-turned-kidnapper Jerry Lundegaard in the Coen brothers’ classic Minnesota crime drama “Fargo.” Macy visits D.C. to share behind-the-scenes tidbits about the role that earned him an Oscar nomination, paired with a screening of the film at the Warner Theatre. If you’re a really huge fan of “Fargo” and/or Macy, pricey VIP tickets include great seats for the screening and a meet-and-greet with the actor. 7 p.m. $36-$105.

Pi Day Comedy Show at Comedy Loft of DC

The Comedy Loft of DC is using Pi Day as an opportunity to devote a stand-up comedy show to math, science and more. The lineup includes more than comedians — there are also scientists and science communicators, local and from New York City. Note that there’s a two-item minimum per person (which can be any combination of food or beverages). 7:30 p.m. $15.

Mary Timony at the Black Cat

For years, Mary Timony’s exquisite rock songs have followed intertwining paths between neo-medieval balladeering and glammy guitar heroics. She combined both modes to great acclaim in the ’90s indie rock band Helium. Then she skewed toward more delicate, ancient melodies on a pair of solo albums from the early aughties that still sound ahead of their time. After that, Timony turned her amp up to 11 in the bands Wild Flag, Ex Hex and Hammered Hulls. And now this great Washingtonian is making music on her own again with a new solo album, “Untame the Tiger.” 7:30 p.m. $20-$22.

‘Change Your Game’ at National Museum of American History

Student-athletes and budding inventors alike are sure to be fascinated by this family-friendly exhibit coming to the National Museum of American History. Devoted to innovation in sports, “Change Your Game” shows off artifacts such as the U.S. Open’s automated Hawk-Eye camera that makes line calls for tennis players, the Jogbra sports bra from the 1970s and Gatorade. Interactive elements include a chance to design a high-performance swimsuit, then have an animated character swim against a competitor while wearing it. Other activities include “The Drawing Board,” where you can spin to reveal a challenge and design your own game accordingly, and a quiz called “Fair or Foul,” in which visitors can weigh in on hot-button sports issues. (Sample question: “Should we allow sports surgery if there is no injury?”) Ongoing. Free.

‘Las Místicas de México’ at Mexican Cultural Institute

This immersive installation sold out at Dupont Underground last week but stops at the Mexican Cultural Institute this weekend before heading to Baltimore. Works by Mexican artists including Frida Kahlo, writer Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and composer María Grever converge with projects and new pieces by D.C. artist Marta Pérez García. The audience can move about the exhibit, which also includes a performance of a medieval music drama by Ind. Series vocalists and the Children’s Chorus of Washington. Chairs are available for those with mobility restrictions. Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. $50.

Ellington 125 at the Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center’s season-long celebration of Duke Ellington’s 125th birthday features two Friday night performances by the Duke Ellington Orchestra. The 101-year-old group is joined by Rolling Stones backup singer Lisa Fischer. The first performance is sold out, so make sure to grab your tickets soon. (9 p.m. $35-$45.) The birthday party also includes two National Symphony Orchestra performances of “Symphony Swing: An Evening of Duke Ellington,” featuring the D.C.-born bandleader’s greatest hits, including “Take the A Train,” on Friday and Saturday. (8 p.m. $29-$49.) On Sunday is a family program designed especially for music lovers age 5 and up. Arrive early to check out the NSO’s Musical Playspace, where kids can try out musical instruments, then stick around post-performance for a Q&A with the show’s artists and creative team. (2 p.m. $18-$20.)

St. Patrick’s weekend at Across the Pond

There are three days of 8 a.m. starts in a row in Dupont Circle, where Across the Pond opens early Friday for its annual Kegs and Eggs party, which lasts until noon; early Saturday for brunch ahead of the Six Nations rugby matches, with food again served until noon; and finally on St. Patrick’s Day itself. 8 a.m. to close. Free.

Bingoat: Bingo and goats at Faith Lutheran Church

Spend some quality time with a herd of 15 to 18 Nigerian dwarf goats while playing a few rounds of bingo. The stars of the animal therapy come from Virginia’s Walnut Creek Farm, and their owner, a veterinarian, will be on-site to answer questions — and to give you snacks to feed the goats. 6 p.m. $40.

Ireland at the Wharf

An afternoon of outdoor entertainment on the Wharf’s Transit and District piers starts with a viewing of the Ireland-Scotland rugby match on a giant screen, and Gaelic football and hurling lessons courtesy of local squad the D.C. Gaels. Students from Irish dance schools perform at noon and 2 p.m., and bands performing Celtic rock and Irish-inspired Americana take stages throughout the day. The Guinness beer garden opens at noon, and children and pets are welcome. Noon to 6 p.m. Free.

Norooz Market at Brookland Arts Walk

The Iranian new year falls on the spring equinox Tuesday, but some groups are getting an early start on celebrations. The sixth annual Norooz Market at the Brookland Arts Walk includes 45 vendors selling pottery, jewelry, art and Iranian pastries, among other offerings, while the afternoon also includes tarot readings and performances by artists like multi-instrumentalist Nica Albertson and the Silk Road Dance Company. 3 to 7 p.m. Free.

The H Street Oral History Festival at Atlas Performing Arts Center

A project years in the making, Mosaic Theater Company’s H Street Oral History Festival will showcase new full-length works written by playwrights who spent time interviewing current and former residents of the Northeast Washington neighborhood. Saturday includes readings and discussions of “Central Time” by James J. Johnson starting at 1 p.m. and “Smoke” by Dane Figueroa Edidi at 7 p.m. The following day, a reading of Gethsemane Herron-Coward’s “George on H” begins at 3 p.m. The festival also includes music and food, as well as panel discussions and conversations about the arts on H Street and the future and past of this evolving corridor. Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Free; reservation required.

Shamrock the Dock and Annapolis St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Annapolis’s St. Patrick’s Day party is so big that it stretches across three days. (Sadly, the Hooley kickoff concert on Friday is already sold out.) Shamrock the Dock, which begins Saturday at noon, features two tented stages on the City Dock on Saturday and Sunday. The main stage is the place to hear a variety of bands, including fiddle-forward Celtic American band Scythian, Scottish trad-folk-rock band Skerryvore and indie-folk group Carbon Leaf, while the smaller UA stage hosts traditional pipe bands, Irish dancers and other performers. The parade begins Sunday at 1 p.m., winding down West and Main streets to the City Dock, and features marching bands, Irish ensembles, floats and civic groups. Bands at Shamrock the Dock begin at noon Sunday. Get an early start at Irish pubs downtown, such as Castlebay on Main Street, which opens at 8 a.m., or Galway Bay, celebrating its 25th St. Patrick’s Day on Maryland Avenue. Shamrock the Dock times vary; $30 per day, $60 for weekend pass. Parade at 1 p.m. Sunday; viewing free.

Dacha St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt

If you like a challenge on St. Patrick’s Day, Dacha Beer Garden is bringing back its themed scavenger hunt. Previous iterations have required participants to solve crossword puzzles to extract clues, look for local landmarks, take photos with strangers and ask them to sign petitions. Bring a team of three to five people, or get randomly placed on a team. Either way, there are prizes up for grabs. 1 to 10 p.m. Free.

Capital Comedy Festival at DAR Constitution Hall

Capital Comedy Festival returns to the downtown venue with a lineup of four comedians: veteran Sommore, “Breaking Bad” star Lavell Crawford, actor Don D.C. Curry and radio personality Huggy Lowdown. 8 p.m. $59-$99.

St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls

D.C. is big on St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls, even if none of the bars participating are particularly Irish. The long-running Leprechaun Lap Bar Crawl features free admission to at least eight bars along Connecticut Avenue NW, including City Tap House, Decades and Zebbie’s Garden, with $3 beers, $4 shots and $5 mixed drinks at each. (2 to 10 p.m. $25-$40.) The Shamrock Crawl, another crawl in the Dupont neighborhood, visits almost entirely different bars than the Leprechaun Lap — Public Bar is the only overlapping location — but it has similar specials, including $3 light beers and $4 rail drinks and shots. Pit stops include Recessions, the Madhatter, Sign of the Whale and Cafe Citron. (2 to 10 p.m. $35-$50.) The Clarendon St. Patrick’s Bar Crawl visits Clarendon Ballroom and Mister Days. What kind of time machine have they discovered on Wilson Boulevard? This day-long event also stops at the Renegade (the location of the original Mister Days) and Coco B’s (once the site of Whitlow’s on Wilson) for true flashback potential. Specials include $3 domestic beer, $5 Guinness, $4 shots and $5 rail drinks. (3 to 10 p.m. $9-$25.)

St. Paddy’s Day at Wheatland Spring

For the first time since 2020, the Loudoun County farm brewery is inviting fans of all ages to come visit the brewery for fresh and lovingly cellared beers, live Irish music by Derek Kretzer of the local bluegrass band the Plate Scrapers, and food from the international food truck What the Schnitzel. 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free.

‘Nosh Your Way to a Delicious Purim’ at Edlavitch DCJCC

Hamantaschen, the traditional pastry of Purim, gets a funfetti-esque twist in the hands of San Francisco-based chef Micah Siva. She’ll be at the Edlavitch DCJCC to discuss her cookbook, “Nosh: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine.” Siva chats with chef Susan Barocas about creating vegetarian versions of Jewish cuisine and revamping classic holiday dishes into more modern takes — like pomegranate lentil tabbouleh — without jettisoning tradition. Learn some tricks for your feast, and purchase a copy of the cookbook on the way home. 3:30 to 5 p.m. $25.

‘Following the Thread’ film series at National Gallery of Art

Short films screened back to back highlight the mostly matriarchal cultural and ancestral traditions of fabric creation, hand-weaving and embroidery in four regions: Scotland, the Palestinian territories, Chile and Peru. Following the screening, stay for a discussion with Kathy Brew, whose film “Following the Thread” looks at how Indigenous Peruvian communities of fabric makers continue their craft in a globalized market economy. 2 to 4 p.m. Free; registration required.

‘Leprechaun’ Movie Marathon at Granville Moore’s

Actor Warwick Davis has featured in some of the top-grossing films of all time and is best known for portraying Wicket the Ewok in “Return of the Jedi,” the title character in “Willow” and Professor Flitwick in the Harry Potter series. Between 1993 and 2000, he played a very different role as the gleefully psychotic Lubdan the leprechaun in five “Leprechaun” horror films. (The series is most notable for its supporting cast, including a pre-“Friends” Jennifer Aniston in the original film and Ice-T in the last installment, “Leprechaun in the Hood.”) Find out just how bad these films really are during the weekly Social Sunday series at H Street’s Granville Moore’s, which is hosting a “Leprechaun” marathon alongside food and drink specials. 3 to 8 p.m. Free.

NSO in Your Neighborhood

The National Symphony Orchestra’s free concert series is a great way to experience the orchestra’s big sound without the big Kennedy Center bill. The group is partnering with local schools, museums and organizations to bring concerts to Ward 6 and 8 venues such as the Southwest Library, the Anthem, the Rubell Museum and Artechouse. Note that some performances include poetry and other arts, and some shows are played by chamber groups. Through March 24. Free.

DC Tango Festival

The Embassy of Argentina turns the spotlight onto the country’s national dance during the month-long DC Tango Festival, sponsored by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. A kickoff party ($45) with Argentine wines on March 20 at 8 p.m. at the embassy features the Pan American Symphony Orchestra playing favorites by tango composer Astor Piazzolla. Other events throughout the festival include beginner-friendly Tango Wednesdays dance classes at the Embassy of Uruguay ($20 for four classes), a free screening of a vintage tango movie at the Embassy of Argentina on April 5, and a performance by three pairs of award-winning tango dancers with the Pan American Symphony at the Kennedy Center called “Todo Tango” on April 20 ($65-$85). Various locations. Free to $85.

Astronomy on Tap at DC9

With next month’s total solar eclipse fast approaching, this month’s Astronomy on Tap lectures are focused on the rare natural phenomenon. Grab a drink from one of DC9’s three bars and learn about what to expect on April 8 — from professional astronomers. There’s also trivia, prize giveaways and free solar eclipse glasses. 8 to 11 p.m. Free.