The Good Week | June 4, 2026

It’s graduation season around here, and The Good Week sends heartfelt congratulations to all the graduating high school and college seniors. Kudos to the parents, too. You earned at least part of that diploma.

And for any new empty nesters out there: no need to panic-scroll your way through the quiet. We’ve got you covered with plenty to do in and around Potomac, Bethesda, and Rockville.

This week, five private gardens open their gates in Potomac, artist studios welcome visitors at Glen Echo, and somewhere in Rockville, a dog is about to have the best Thursday of his life. There’s also a French pastry class, a belly dance instructor who performed in Egypt, and a golden-hour kayak tour of Little Seneca Lake.

Scroll down. There’s a lot of fun to be had this week.

✨ THIS ISSUE’S TOP PICK

Thanks for helping to spread the word about The Good Week. ✉️ Got this from a friend? Sign up here.

Art, music, performances, and a few reasons to spend the evening out

If you've ever wondered what actually happens inside all those studios and galleries at Glen Echo Park, this is your chance to find out. Art Walk opens the doors to artist workspaces throughout the park for an evening of demonstrations, exhibition openings, gallery talks, and informal conversations with the artists themselves.

This month's event includes a stone carving demonstration, painting and drawing demos, a curator talk at Photoworks, open studios at the Art Glass Center and SilverWorks, and multiple exhibition openings throughout the park. Free.
👉 Learn more

The Potomac Village Garden Club's annual tour opens the gates to five private gardens that are not normally open to the public. Each reflects a different gardening philosophy, from English cottage-inspired landscapes to native plant habitats and wooded conservation gardens.

Visitors can explore water features, pathways, hillside plantings, and creative approaches to supporting wildlife and managing stormwater runoff. The tour also offers plenty of inspiration for anyone thinking about their own outdoor spaces. $40.
👉 Buy tickets

Pride Month takes center stage at The Square as Rockville celebrates the 10th anniversary of Rockville Pride. The afternoon features live performances, community organizations, arts and crafts, and activities for all ages in the heart of Town Center.

The free event is hosted by the City of Rockville Human Rights Commission and welcomes everyone to come out, celebrate, and show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
👉 Learn more

Writing can be a solitary activity. A writing salon is the opposite.

This workshop introduces participants to the tradition of salon-style gatherings, where writers come together to share ideas, conversation, and creative community. Through a guided salon experience, attendees will explore how these groups work, what makes them successful, and how to find, join, or even start one of their own.

Open to writers of all genres and experience levels. $50 members/$60 non-members.
👉 Learn more

Some happy hours are better with four legs. Bring your dog to World of Beer for an evening of pup-themed cocktails, raffle prizes, giveaways, and patio time with fellow dog lovers, all in support of the Montgomery County Humane Society.

Whether your dog is the social one or you are, it's an easy excuse to get out and kick off summer. Free to attend; food and drinks available for purchase.
👉 Learn more

What began as a college a cappella group at Indiana University has grown into one of the most successful vocal groups in the world. Straight No Chaser has sold more than three million albums, earned over a billion streams, and built a devoted following with its blend of pop songs, tight harmonies, and humor.

Their breakout moment came with a viral version of "The 12 Days of Christmas." Give it a listen before the show: Give it a listen before the show.

Their Beach Bash tour brings summer-themed favorites and crowd-pleasing arrangements to Strathmore. Flying solo? Strathmore's "Meet Me at Strathmore" program offers a pre-concert gathering with light bites, a complimentary glass of wine, and the chance to connect with other concertgoers before the show. $28+
👉 Buy tickets

Food experiences, tastings, and classes that make the week revolve around something delicious.

For one weekend, a corner of Bethesda transforms into a celebration of Greek food, music, dance, and culture. Come hungry for gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, loukoumades, and other traditional specialties, then stay for live performances, church tours, shopping in the Greek marketplace, and treasure hunting at the Monastiraki Flea Market.

Admission and parking are free, making this one of the area's most popular cultural festivals and an easy way to spend an afternoon exploring something different.
👉 Learn more

Rockville's restaurant scene is one of the most diverse in the region, and this month-long dining challenge gives you an excuse to explore it. Visit participating restaurants, upload your receipts, and earn entries for prizes while sampling everything from Persian and Korean cuisine to Mexican, Indian, Vietnamese, and Japanese specialties.

Even better, the program benefits local nonprofits, with proceeds supporting organizations including the Rockville Concert Band, RHE Foundation, Rockville Bike Hub, Friends of the Library Montgomery County, Stepping Stones Shelter, and several local schools.
👉 Learn more

A trip to Paris is optional. Learning how to make Paris-Brest, sea salt caramels, and chocolate-dipped French butter cookies is not.

This hands-on baking class explores classic French pastry techniques, including pâte à choux and vanilla-praline crème, while giving participants the chance to create several bakery-worthy treats from scratch. Expect plenty of mixing, baking, and tasting along the way. $89.
👉 Learn more

Hands-on classes and social activities where you can learn something new or step a little outside your comfort zone.

Not every flower arrangement comes from a garden. In this workshop, participants will use pieces of sea glass to create three handmade floral arrangements that can be displayed at home or given as gifts.

No artistic experience is required, and instructors will guide guests through the process from start to finish. Because each piece is made from glass, every flower will have its own unique imperfections, character, and texture. $65.
👉 Learn more

When was the last time you received a handwritten postcard? This adult workshop combines watercolor painting with a format that has largely disappeared from everyday life: the postcard.

Participants will create original watercolor postcards using provided supplies and can keep them, frame them, or actually drop them in the mail. Free.
👉 Learn more

A burger, a drink, and a board game is a pretty solid Wednesday night formula. Clear Skies Meadery hosts a weekly board game night where you can bring friends, find new ones, start a game, or jump into one already in progress. Josh's Smack Shack will be serving burgers throughout June.
👉 Learn more

Move your body, get outside, and stay active this week.

You don't need a partner, special shoes, or any idea what you're doing to get started. Salsa at The Square returns every Thursday this summer with free beginner-friendly dance instruction followed by an evening of Latin music and social dancing.

The program is hosted by Potomac-based All Out Danza, whose founder, Víctor Hugo Maysonet, has more than 30 years of experience teaching Latin dance. Free.
👉 Learn more

Learning from someone who has spent decades studying and performing a dance form in its cultural home is rare. Yasmin Henkesh, founder of Serpentine Dance Studios, performed professionally in Egypt, Paris, and London before opening her Bethesda studio and has more than 40 years of experience teaching Egyptian-style belly dance.

This beginner class introduces the fundamentals of the dance, along with Arabic music, cultural context, and basic techniques. It is designed for newcomers, the belly-dance curious, and anyone looking for a different way to move. $20 drop-in.
👉 Learn more

This guided kayak tour of Little Seneca Lake brings LGBTQIA+ community members together for an evening on the water, with opportunities to spot wildlife including herons, beavers, and perhaps even a bald eagle.

Participants should have basic paddling experience, as this is a tour rather than an instructional class. Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are provided. $30.
👉 Learn more

Earlier picks still ahead — and still worth catching.

📷 Black-and-White Film Developing & Printing — Thursdays, June 4–Aug. 6 — film developing and darkroom printing course at Photoworks Studio, Glen Echo Park

🎶 Glenstone Summer Music Series — June 6, 5:30–7:30 pm — outdoor concert series at Glenstone, Potomac

🧘‍♀️ Try Aerial Yoga — June 6 & 20, 2–3:30 pm — beginner aerial yoga workshop at Flying Buddha Studio, Gaithersburg

🛍️ Downtown Bethesda’s Outdoor Maker Market — June 6–7, 11 am–6 pm — outdoor maker market in downtown Bethesda

🏡 Town of Kensington Tour — June 7, 10 am–5 pm — self-guided historic home and garden tour in Kensington

🀄 Learn American Mahjong Over Lunch — Mondays, June 8 & 15, 12–2 pm — beginner mahjong series at Colony Grill, Potomac

🎷 Jazz on the Lawn at Josiah Henson Museum — June 11, 5–8 pm — live jazz, local wine, and food trucks at Josiah Henson Museum & Park, N. Bethesda

🕵️ Sherlock Holmes, Ghost Stories, and a Country Manor — June 12–28 — supernatural Sherlock Holmes play at Arts Barn, Gaithersburg

🍺 7 Locks Brewing: Summer Kickoff — June 13, 3–8 pm — beer releases, vendors, BBQ, and raffles at 7 Locks Brewing, N. Bethesda

🀄 Mahj Over Matter: June Mahj Boot Camp — June 14, 10:30 am–3:30 pm — beginner-friendly mahjong workshops in Chevy Chase

🎤 Patton Oswalt Live: Apocalyptic Pop Culture Comedy — June 20, 8 pm — stand-up comedy at Strathmore, N. Bethesda

🎭 Audition for Best Medicine Rep’s Upcoming Season — June 20, 10 am–4 pm — paid local theater auditions at The Writer’s Center, Bethesda

🎭 Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre — Select dates June 20–Aug. 2 — dinner theatre season featuring Into the Woods and Anything Goes in Rockville

🎭 The Game’s Afoot Open Auditions — June 22–23, 7–10 pm — community theater auditions at Rockville Little Theatre

🏃‍♀️ Your Thursday Morning 5K Running Reset — Thursdays, 6:15 am — free weekly 5K run/walk with Bethesda Running Club

🪓 Axe Throwing Gets a Modern Upgrade — Various dates/times — game-driven axe throwing at Adventure Park, Sandy Spring

🎳 Unlimited Bowling All Summer Long — All summer long — daily bowling summer pass at Pinstripes, N. Bethesda

💛 Spend Time With Seniors in Memory Care — Ongoing, 1–5 pm — memory care volunteer opportunity at Brookdale, Potomac

If you stop by any of this week’s spots, let them know you heard about it in The Good Week.

If something landed well—or if we missed a place you think deserves attention—tell us at [email protected].

And if you know someone who’d appreciate a little local intel on Thursdays, forward this along.

See you next week.

✉️ Got this from a friend? Sign up here.

If this landed somewhere other than your primary inbox — spam, junk, Promotions — drag it over and add our address to your contacts. It's the easiest way to make sure The Good Week finds you every Thursday.

If you’re a local business interested in advertising or sponsoring a future issue, reach out to [email protected].

We double-check details, but plans change — confirm before you head out. All outings, reservations, and purchases are at your discretion; The Good Week isn’t responsible for any changes, cancellations, or experiences once you arrive.

View past issues of The Good Week.

© 2026 The Good Week. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced without permission.