The Good Week | October 22, 2026

I love hearing from readers who find something through The Good Week and actually go try it. Michelle H. was one of them last weekend, and I was right there with her, exploring the Chevy Chase Art Walk myself.

That’s exactly the kind of thing I hope The Good Week helps you do: discover something you might not have known about, decide to give it a try, and maybe come home with a new favorite place, experience, or story.

Missed it this year? I shared a look inside on Instagram and Facebook. Follow along there for more local discoveries, last-minute finds, and a closer look at some of the experiences I try myself. And if Michelle’s weekend has you wondering what you might discover next, here are this week’s picks.

✨ THIS ISSUE’S TOP PICK

✉️ Know someone who loves trying new things around Bethesda, Potomac, and nearby? Forward them The Good Week.

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

Shakespeare wrote about love thousands of times, but what did he really have to say about it? Love’s The Thang! takes that question in a new direction, pairing Shakespearean love scenes with foundational Black music, spoken word, and poetry.

Written and directed by Leslie Scott-Jones, the production remixes the Bard through a contemporary lens, asking whether his ideas about love still hold up centuries later. The show is part of Montgomery College’s Performing Arts Series and features student performers in the Theatre Arts Arena.
👉 Get tickets for Love’s The Thang!

Olney Theatre Center is taking on Les Misérables for the first time, timed to the musical’s 40th anniversary, with an extended run through the holidays and into January.

The cast has some Les Mis history of its own. Stephanie Waters, now playing Fantine, previously played Cosette on Broadway and on tour, while two-time Helen Hayes Award winner Tracy Lynn Olivera returns as Madame Thénardier after previously playing Fantine at Signature Theatre. Broadway veteran Trent Saunders stars as Jean Valjean. With performances through January, there are plenty of chances to hear the people sing. Tickets $42–$91.
👉 See dates and get tickets for Les Misérables

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

The Italian Cultural Society’s Savoring Italy series is heading to Lombardia for an evening that mixes regional food and wine with a little cultural context. “Apericena” combines aperitivo and cena, essentially an informal light dinner designed for lingering, tasting, and conversation.

Professor Annelise Brody Morani will introduce Lombardia through its history, art, traditions, and cuisine while guests sample food and wine from the region. It’s part dinner, part cultural deep dive, with plenty of time to mingle with fellow Italy enthusiasts. $65.
👉 Get tickets for Apericena: Savoring Italy, Lombardia

The Maryland Chocolate & Coffee Festival brings more than 200 vendors together for a weekend of sampling, shopping, demonstrations, and talks. Boyds may also be closer than you think: about 30 minutes from Bethesda, 25–30 from Potomac, and 20 from Rockville.

This one is for curious eaters and drinkers, not just serious chocolate or coffee people. Sample your way through the festival, then drop into sessions on craft chocolate, Costa Rican coffee, ancestral cacao, and more. One especially unusual stop: a live chocolate sculpture and historical tasting inspired by George Washington’s chocolate table. $18+.
👉 Get tickets for the Maryland Chocolate & Coffee Festival

A Better Brunch turns a Saturday afternoon at Pinstripes into more than a meal, combining brunch and a mimosa bar with bowling and a guided creative project. The event is organized by Craft Cart, which provides the materials, inspiration, and help for each project.

Choose from a layered wooden arch and canvas, a pressed-flower floating frame, or a pair of decorated wine tumblers. No art experience is needed, and you can come with friends, make it a date, or come solo. $105 includes brunch, mimosas, bowling, and one craft.
👉 Reserve a spot for A Better Brunch

Summer House is getting an early start on holiday entertaining with a hands-on cocktail class led by bartender John “Papi Sips.” You’ll learn to make four seasonal drinks, including creamy coquito, a holiday Negroni, a foam-topped cocktail, and a martini finished with caviar.

The cocktails come with a festive lineup of bites, including French onion tartlets, short rib arancini, chicken schnitzel sandwiches, and Meyer lemon olive oil cake with spiced poached pear. You’ll leave with new cocktail-making skills and a few ideas for holiday gatherings of your own. $112.
👉 Reserve a spot for Summer House’s Holiday Cocktail Class

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

Friday Night Salsa is back at the Pike District Pop-Up Park for two more evenings of dancing under the stars. Each night starts with a free beginner lesson from All Out Danza, then the floor opens for social dancing.

No partner or experience is needed, so you can come with friends or show up on your own and learn as you go. Free.
👉 Get details for Friday Night Salsa

Muse Paintbar is leaning into spooky season with a Coraline-inspired night that lets you recreate the movie’s eerie world on canvas. This one uses Muse’s Lumify lightboard technology, which illuminates shapes and outlines so you can take on a more detailed painting without having to draw everything freehand.

An instructor guides the group step by step, with the canvas, brushes, paint, and other supplies provided. Come early to grab a drink or something to eat from the bar and kitchen, which opens at 7:30 pm. Reservations are required.
👉 Reserve a seat for the Coraline paint night

Mahj Over Matter is celebrating its first anniversary with a social night of American Mahjong. Experienced players can join two hours of open play, while complete beginners can choose a one-hour Taste of Mahjong introduction.

Both options include small bites, bottomless nonalcoholic drinks, a champagne or Kir Royale toast, a raffle ticket, and an anniversary card pouch. Come with friends or solo; tables are arranged by experience level. $40 open play; $50 beginner session.
👉 Choose your Monday Mahj anniversary experience

Here’s an unexpected Halloween combination: charms, gemstones, Korean fried chicken, and cocktails. Prax & Dai Men is setting up a pop-up charm bar at Bonchon where you can create a Halloween-inspired bracelet, necklace, or anklet while you eat and drink.

Choose up to five charms from gemstones, pearls, seashells, and limited-edition Halloween designs, then pick your chain and make it your own. Bonchon fried chicken and a Halloween cocktail are included. Bracelets $28–$45; necklaces and anklets available as add-ons.
👉 Reserve a spot at the Hallow’s Eve Charm Bar

The Spanish Ballroom goes full Halloween with swing dancing, costumes, and live music. A beginner lesson kicks things off at 8 pm, so you can show up without knowing a single step.

King Teddy takes over at 9 pm with swing, rockabilly, jump blues, and early rock and roll. Costumes are optional, with prizes for the best individual, couple, and group looks. Praline Cafe will be open with wine, beer, and food. $20 in advance; $30 at the door.
👉 Get tickets for the Halloween Hop

Glen Echo Glassworks is offering a one-day introduction to glassblowing with a holiday twist. Working with an instructor, you’ll create two handmade pieces from a menu that includes ornaments, tumblers, bowls, vases, flowers, hearts, ring holders, and more.

Along the way, you’ll learn about glassblowing techniques, studio equipment, and color choices while making two gifts to take home. Supplies and safety equipment are included; wear cotton clothing and closed-toe shoes. $170; $167 for Glen Echo Park members.
👉 Register for the DIY Stocking Stuffer Workshop

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

Capital Hiking Club is heading out after dark for an easy four-mile walk along the C&O Canal towpath and Berma Road toward Great Falls. The mostly flat route takes about two hours and offers a completely different way to experience one of the area’s most familiar trails.

Bring a flashlight, water, and comfortable walking shoes. The hike is free, and advance registration isn’t required, though signing up is helpful if plans change because of severe weather.
👉 See details for the Moonlight Hike

Earlier picks still ahead — and still worth catching.

🫖 Midnight Tea at Strathmore — Thu–Fri, Oct. 22–23, 9 pm — Gothic nighttime tea, eerie treats, seers, and a ghost tour through the Mansion in North Bethesda. $65.

📚 F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival — Sat, Oct. 24, 8:30 am–4:30 pm — Author talks, writing workshops, film screening, and a literary bus tour in Rockville. Registration required; add-on fees apply.

☕ Ceramic Painting with Craft Cart at Coffee Republic — Sun, Oct. 25, 1–3 pm — Paint a ceramic plate, bowl, or coaster while enjoying coffee and pastries in Bethesda. $28.

🍁 Nature Journaling at Croydon Creek Nature Center — Sun, Oct. 25, 1–3 pm — Capture fall through writing, drawing, and observation in Rockville. $18.

🧘 Brunch & Burn at Pinstripes — Sat, Oct. 31, noon–2 pm — Try rooftop yoga followed by a cold-plunge recovery session in North Bethesda. $50.

🕵️ Funeral for a Gangster at Glenview Mansion — Fri–Sun, Nov. 6–8 — Dress in 1920s style for an interactive mob-themed murder mystery with dessert in Rockville. $40; $70 with meal.

🥣 Empty Bowls at VisArts — Sun, Nov. 8, 1–3 pm — Choose a handmade ceramic bowl, enjoy a light meal, and support Stepping Stones Shelter in Rockville. $25 advance; $30 at the door.

♻️ MakerHive Grand Opening — Sat–Sun, Nov. 14–15, 10 am–4 pm — Explore a new upcycled art space with free hands-on activities at Girls Who Paint in Kensington. Free.

🎭 Nunsense at Arts Barn — Through Nov. 1 — Five nuns scramble to solve an unexpected convent crisis in this musical comedy in Gaithersburg. $16–$25.

🧢 DIY Patch Bar at Locally Crafted Workshop — Select dates and by appointment — Customize hats and pouches with patches, pins, charms, and chains in Gaithersburg. Check for availability.

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].

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See you next week.

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