✨ Your Week Has Potential
If you felt like getting out this week, you'd have options.
You could spend an evening wandering through open artist studios, catch a late-night cult movie, hear a jazz tribute to two legends at Strathmore, learn a new cooking technique, or start the morning outdoors spotting birds.
The Good Week brings together the best of what's happening in Potomac, Bethesda, and the surrounding neighborhoods — so you can spot something interesting and go.
✨ THIS WEEK'S TOP PICKS
🎬 The Rocky Horror Picture Show A late-night cult classic with a live shadow cast performing scenes alongside the film.
🎶 Emmet Cohen: Miles and Coltrane at 100 A Strathmore tribute to two jazz giants, with a pre-concert talk that adds context to the music.
🍄 Mushroom Magic Cooking Class with Chef Cat A hands-on class exploring gourmet mushrooms with a local farm and a menu built around bold flavors.
If you’ve tried something because of this newsletter, we’d truly love to hear about it. Just reply or reach us at [email protected].
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✨ THIS WEEK’S TOP PICKS
Three to plan your week around — a cult movie night, a Strathmore jazz tribute, and a surprisingly fun mushroom cooking class.
🎭 SEE
Art, music, performances, and a few reasons to spend the evening out.
🎨 A Little Focus Pocus
Fri, Mar 6, 5–8 pm (Opening), Through Mar 25 | Artists & Makers Studios, Rockville
Experience Focus Pocus: Macrophotography by Rick Ruggles, where close-up smartphone images transform rust, peeling paint, and street textures into striking abstractions. The work invites viewers to reconsider how scale shapes what we see.
The anniversary opening also includes a mini-solo by Patricia de Poel Wilberg, sculptural work from Francis Maduka Uduh, and new pieces from Gallery 209 artists. Open studios throughout the building allow visitors to see both finished work and the spaces where it’s created.
→ Learn more
🎬 The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Fri, Mar 13 & Sat, Mar 14, 10:30 pm | Landmark Bethesda Row, Bethesda
Did you miss this college milestone — or are you ready to relive it? This late-night screening of the cult classic features a live shadow cast performing scenes in front of the screen while the film plays. Costumes are encouraged, the audience rarely stays quiet, and the line between movie and theater gets pleasantly blurry.
Starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon, the film gleefully spoofs old horror tropes while inviting the crowd to join the spectacle. Best experienced in a packed theater a little past your usual bedtime.
→ Get tickets
🎶 Emmet Cohen: Miles and Coltrane at 100 + Pre-Concert Talk
Sat, Mar 21, 6:30 pm & 8 pm | The Music Center at Strathmore, N. Bethesda
Presented as part of Strathmore’s Windows series — a program that invites artists to explore musical heritage and influence through performance — this concert marks the centennial year of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Pianist Emmet Cohen revisits landmark works from across their catalogs while reflecting on how their innovations reshaped modern jazz.
Arrive early for a free 6:30 pm pre-concert talk exploring the musical partnership between Davis and Coltrane, their influence on modern jazz, and what to listen for in the evening’s performance. The added context often changes how the music lands.
→ Get tickets
🍷 TASTE
Dinner plans, live music, and a couple food-centered ways to spend the night.
🍀 Monday Night Irish Music with the Irish Inn Mates
Mon, Mar 9, 7–10 pm | Irish Inn, Glen Echo
Monday nights at the Irish Inn bring live traditional Irish and folk music from the Irish Inn Mates, a group of seasoned musicians active in the region’s Irish music community.
The players gather close in true pub-session style, with fiddle, flute, bodhrán, and guitar trading melodies as the music unfolds in real time. Come for dinner and settle in for the atmosphere.
→ Learn more
🍄 Mushroom Magic Cooking Class with Chef Cat
Wed, Mar 18, 6–8 pm | Casey Community Center, Gaithersburg
Cook alongside Chef Cat Mata and local specialty farm All Caps Farm in this hands-on class focused on the flavor and versatility of gourmet mushrooms. Participants learn how to prepare several varieties grown using regenerative methods while exploring practical ways to incorporate mushrooms into everyday meals.
The evening’s menu includes Black Pearl mushroom skewers, Lion’s Mane “crab” cakes, and oyster mushroom pasta. Come ready to cook, taste, and learn a few techniques along the way.
→ Learn more / register
🚶♀️ DO
A reason to get outside, move around, or try something a little different.
🚶 Walk with a Doc(tor)
Sat, Mar 14, 9:30 am | Fleming Local Park, Bethesda
Start your morning with a short health talk led by Dr. Simran Malhotra, a lifestyle medicine physician who leads Bethesda’s chapter of the national Walk with a Doc program. This month’s conversation focuses on colon cancer screening and what you should know.
Afterward, the group heads out for a relaxed walk along the Bethesda Trolley Trail — an easy way to move, ask questions, and connect with others while spending time outdoors. Free and open to all fitness levels.
→ RSVP
🐦 Winter Birding Walk at Riley’s Lock
Sat, Mar 7, 7:30–10 am | Riley’s Lock, Potomac
Winter birding has its own rhythm. On this guided walk along the C&O Canal at Riley’s Lock, participants look and listen for seasonal visitors among the riverbanks and wooded trails, from the tinkling notes of a Winter Wren to flashes of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and winter waterfowl.
Led by experienced birders, the outing welcomes everyone from the newly curious to seasoned birdwatchers. Member $33; nonmember $46.
→ Register
🥊 Cardio Kickbox
Thursdays, 6–7 pm, Apr 23–Jun 11 | Rockville Swim and Fitness Center, Rockville
Shake up your routine with this total-body workout that blends boxing, martial arts, and aerobics for a high-energy hour focused on stamina, flexibility, balance, and strength.
Suited for anyone looking for structured cardio with a punch. Wear comfortable clothes and sneakers; bring a water bottle and mat for floor work. $84
→ Registration opens March 5, 8:30 am for non-Rockville residents.
🎨 TRY
Mahjong, calligraphy, clay, darkroom printing — pick one thing you've been meaning to try.
🀄 Mahj 101: Learn the Game
Sun, Mar 8, 11 am–2 pm | Mahj Over Matter, Chevy Chase
Hosted by Mahj Over Matter, this three-hour workshop introduces American Mahjong through structured instruction and guided play. Participants learn fundamentals, hand structure, and the Charleston before moving into live rounds.
Light lunch and refreshments are included, and space is limited to allow for personalized attention.
→ Register
🧦 More Than Just Socks
Sat, Mar 14, 10:30 am | Potomac Fiber Arts Guild @ St. James Episcopal Church, Potomac
If you've ever been curious about sock knitting machines — and who hasn't — this is a good place to start. Internationally known instructor Kim Garver covers the history of the machines and how she uses both antique and modern versions to make far more than socks.
The session blends fiber history with hands-on demonstration. An optional headband mini-workshop follows at the Rockville studio.
→ Learn more / register
✍️ Women Writers Mixer
Sun, Mar 15, 4–5:30 pm | The Writer’s Center, Bethesda
If you’ve been writing in relative isolation — or meaning to reconnect with a creative community — this informal mixer offers a low-pressure way to do it. Women writers from across the DMV gather to talk craft, exchange ideas, and meet others working through drafts, submissions, or new projects.
Bring a drink or appetizer to share, introduce yourself, and start a few new conversations.
Free and open to all women writers; RSVP required.
→ RSVP
🌸 Pinch Pot Bud Vase Workshop
Sat, Mar 28, 1:30–3:30 pm | The Clay Co-op, Rockville
Learn the fundamentals of handbuilding as you shape a pinch pot bud vase from clay in this two-hour, beginner-friendly workshop. You will select from 10 house-made glazes, which the studio applies after bisque firing. Finished pieces are food- and dishwasher-safe and ready for pickup about three weeks later. Well-suited for a first clay experience or a low-key creative afternoon. $75.
→ Book now
✒️ Modern Calligraphy for Beginners
Tue, Mar 31, 7–8:30 pm | Sip & Script @ Whelan’s Beer and Wine, Potomac
Sip & ScriptⓇ brings its beginner-friendly modern calligraphy workshop to Whelan’s, introducing pointed dip pen techniques and contemporary lettering. The 90-minute class covers basic strokes and letterforms with guided practice to build confidence.
Your ticket includes a full beginner kit—nibs, ink, pen holder, guides, and tracing paper—to take home. Come early to order food or drinks; no experience required. $65.
→ Get tickets
📷 Introduction to Black & White Developing and Printing
Thursdays, Mar 5–May 7, 6–10 pm | Photoworks @ Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo
Learn black-and-white film photography the analog way, from loading and exposing 35mm film to developing and printing your own images in the darkroom. This 10-session, hands-on course at Photoworks Studio builds technical confidence while sharpening how you see light, shadow, and composition. Bring your own camera, film, and photographic paper. $400.
→ Register
📚 Fiction Book Club: Megan Howell on Softie
Sun, Apr 19, 2–3 pm | The Writer’s Center, Bethesda
Join fellow readers at The Writer’s Center’s monthly Fiction Book Club for a conversation that moves beyond plot into craft and process. This month, Megan Howell discusses her debut collection Softie: Stories, a work of magical realism exploring isolation and memory.
A 2025 National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” honoree, Howell will read excerpts and respond to questions in conversation with host Hannah Grieco. Free and open to the public; add it to your calendar so you have time to read before the discussion.
→ RSVP
🌿FEEL GOOD
Baby goats and free seeds. That's the section.
🐐 March Community Tours: Meet the Animals
Mar 6 & 7 (plus additional dates) | Rosie's Farm Sanctuary, Potomac
Meet rescued sheep, goats, cows, pigs, mini horses, and chickens up close during a small-group tour of Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary. Guides share each animal’s rescue story and provide context about the realities farmed animals often face.
Tours include time to ask questions, interact with the animals, and spend time on the surrounding property. Tickets start at $25.31.
→ Learn more
🌱 Rockville Makerspace Seed Library
Open Hours: Tue, 6–8 pm & Sat, 12–4 pm | Rockville Makerspace, Rockville
Ready to plant something? Stop by the free Seed Library at Rockville Makerspace and pick up what you need to get started. Take only what you will use and let staff know if a variety runs out so the list stays current.
Have extra seeds at home? Donations of clean, labeled seeds are welcome — a simple neighbor-to-neighbor exchange as the growing season begins.
→ Learn more
💛DO GOOD
Ways to give back, support local causes, and make the week a little brighter for someone else.
🧠 Rockville Science Center Trivia Night
Thu, Mar 12, 7–9 pm | Rockville Science Center, Rockville
Put your science knowledge to work while supporting a local institution. Rockville Science Center’s first adults-only Trivia Night is part of its “Save RSC” campaign, raising funds for a new facility after being required to vacate its current space.
Teams of up to four compete for the “7 for Science” Einstein prize, with questions designed for anyone with general curiosity about science. Individuals are welcome and can join a team at the start of the evening. Tickets are $10; additional donations encouraged.
→ Get tickets
🌱 Grow Food for Local Families
Weekday shifts, 8 am–2 pm (2–4 hours) | Pope Farm Nursery, Gaithersburg
Help grow fresh produce for Montgomery County residents experiencing food insecurity through Montgomery Parks’ Grown@Pope program. Volunteers work alongside staff to plant, maintain, and harvest crops that are donated to local food assistance providers.
Workdays take place on weekday mornings and are scheduled with the program manager after applying. Tools, instruction, and garden tasks such as planting, weeding, mulching, and harvesting are provided
→ Apply to volunteer
🌅STILL TIME
Earlier picks still ahead — and still worth catching.
😂 Jeff Applebaum Live (Benefitting MC Live) — Thu, Mar 5, 7 pm; Fri, Mar 6 & Sat, Mar 7, 8 pm — three nights of stand-up at Give a Hoot Comedy Club supporting MC Live and local disability inclusion nonprofits.
🎨 Global Rhythms: Remembering USAID Through the Arts — Opening Reception — Sat, Mar 7, 2:30–5:30 pm (On view Mar 7–31) — a multi-media exhibition at Compass Atelier reflecting on global partnerships through paintings, photography, and poetry.
✏️ Art in Nature: Nature Drawing — Skulls, Tracks & Scat — Sat, Mar 7, 4:30–6 pm — a beginner-friendly drawing session at Locust Grove Nature Center focused on close observation of natural specimens.
🌙 Community Science Night Hike — Sat, Mar 7, 6–7:30 pm — an evening wildlife survey hike at Locust Grove using the iNaturalist app.
🎹 Soul and Sound Design with Chris Hon — Wed, Mar 11 (concert) & Wed, Mar 18 (workshop) — a hybrid jazz/synth performance and companion workshop at Strathmore.
🍕 Build Your Own Pizza Night — Thu, Mar 12, 6:30–8 pm — a hands-on pizza-making class at Pinstripes in North Bethesda.
🎬 Stand By Me — 40 Years Later — Sat, Mar 14, 7:30 pm — a screening at Strathmore followed by a live reunion conversation with cast members.
🎭 Bonnie Hammerschlag National Capital New Play Festival — Through Mar 15 — developmental readings and a world premiere at Round House Theatre.
🍷 From Sicily to Sardinia: An Island Wine Dinner — Thu, Mar 26, 6:30–8:30 pm — a four-course Italian island wine dinner at Caruso’s Grocery, Pike & Rose.
📚 Plot Twisted: A Crafty Book Club — Wed, Apr 22, 6–8 pm — a book club at District DabbleLab pairing discussion with a creative project.
🕰️ First-Time Fusers Workshop — Sat–Sun, Apr 11–12 — a two-day introduction to fused glass techniques at Glen Echo Park.
🎤 Who’s With Me? — W. Kamau Bell — Fri, Apr 17, 7:30 pm — a new stand-up hour from the Emmy Award–winning comedian at Strathmore.
🎠 Glen Echo Park in Bloom: Gala in the Park — Sat, May 16, 6 pm — a gala evening in the Spanish Ballroom with dinner, live music, and swing dancing.
🌟THAT’S THE WEEK
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.
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🔍FINE PRINT
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.
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