The Good Week | October 29, 2026

I’m so excited about this issue of The Good Week that I want to get right into it. There’s a lot happening across Potomac, Bethesda, Rockville, and nearby, from seasonal events to holiday outings and local shopping.

I’m especially excited about the markets, artist shows, galleries, and independent shops popping up for the season, with everything from original art and vintage finds to handmade gifts and one-of-a-kind pieces you won’t see everywhere else. It’s a chance to find something that feels personal while supporting local artists and small businesses.

I’ve started gathering those finds into a new Good Week holiday guide, linked in this week’s Top Pick below. I’ll keep adding to it throughout the season.

✨ THIS ISSUE’S TOP PICK

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

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

Amy Kaslow Gallery is bringing together artist Joan Danziger and Smithsonian entomologist Floyd Shockley for a conversation inspired by Danziger’s Beetlemania! exhibition. Danziger’s jewel-toned sculptures celebrate the strange beauty and variety of beetles, while Shockley brings the science, from the hundreds of thousands of known species to the outsized role beetles play in healthy ecosystems.

The dialogue explores why humans have been fascinated by beetles for centuries, from sacred scarabs to fireflies to the Volkswagen Beetle. Danziger’s exhibition remains on view through November 8.
👉 RSVP for tonight’s Beetlemania!

Four adult siblings come home for Christmas Eve carrying partners, secrets, resentments, and very different ideas about religion, family, and what they owe one another. Round House Theatre presents the regional premiere of Leslye Headland’s Cult of Love, a music-filled family drama fresh from Broadway.

Several performances add another reason to go: post-show discussions are scheduled for November 18, 19, and 29, with separate designer and director discussions on November 18 and 20. Pay-what-you-can performances are also available November 18 and 21.
👉 Watch a Broadway drama unfold over Christmas Eve

Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom Jr. returns to Strathmore with a holiday concert mixing Christmas classics, original songs from his holiday albums, and a few favorites from Hamilton, where he originated the role of Aaron Burr.

Last year’s Christmas tour sold out completely, so this is one to book early if it’s on your list. VIP packages with meet-and-greets and other extras are also available. $28–$145.
👉 Get tickets for Leslie Odom Jr.’s Christmas Tour

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

Just in time for holiday entertaining, this hands-on workshop teaches you how to make craft syrups without a complicated process or specialty equipment. You’ll work with flavors including vanilla bean, chocolate, lavender, and more, using methods designed to be practical enough to recreate at home.

You’ll also learn ways to use the syrups beyond coffee, from cocktails and mocktails to other drinks and treats. Everyone leaves with an assortment of syrups to take home. $50.
👉 Reserve a spot for the Craft Syrup Workshop

Knowles Station is hosting a Laurent-Perrier master class, pairing five Champagnes from the historic house with a tasting menu from Chef Cherry Tablac. The lineup ranges from La Cuvée Brut and Ultra Brut to the 2018 vintage, Grand Siècle No. 27, and Cuvée Rosé.

Small plates include cheeses, crab croquette, Asian pear salad, braised short rib, and strawberry cheesecake. Seating is extremely limited, and special pricing on the featured Champagnes will be available during the event. $90.30 including tax and gratuity.
👉 See Knowles Station’s tasting events

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

Chew & Chill DIY is turning candle-making into a Halloween project with a two-hour workshop where you choose your fragrance and colors, then pile on tiny pumpkins, ghosts, tombstones, and other spooky decorations to create your own scented candle.

No experience is needed, and all materials are provided. Spots are limited. $59.
👉 See the Halloween candle workshop on Instagram

Ever thought about writing a novel? Connie Morella Library is turning National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) into a month-long challenge, starting with a November 1 kickoff packed with tips for tackling the goal: 50,000 words in 30 days.

Then keep the momentum going at free write-ins on November 7, 9, 21, and 23, where you can work alongside other writers. The series wraps November 30 with a finale to celebrate however far you got. Finished novel definitely not required. Free.
👉 See dates and details for NaNoWriMo

Local ceramic artist Dorel Dalya Pollack is opening her Rockville studio for a two-part holiday ornament workshop. On November 8, you’ll hand-build your ornaments from clay, then return November 22 to paint and decorate them before they head into the kiln for their final firing.

Pollack’s own work blends functional ceramics with organic, nature-inspired forms, and her studio offers small-group pottery classes and workshops. Tools, materials, and firing are included. The workshop is limited to 12 people, with a 10% discount for groups of five or more. $170.
👉 Book the Holiday Ornament Workshop

Locally Crafted Workshop is giving book lovers a reason to put down the novel and meet each other. The evening mixes book-themed coloring, collage bookmark-making, reading recommendations, and a bring-a-book/take-a-book swap, with optional conversation prompts for anyone who could use an easy way into the bookish chatter.

All craft materials are included, along with light snacks and drinks. Bring a few books to trade and leave with something new for your reading pile. $20.98.
👉 Reserve a spot for Book Lovers Craft Night

Here’s one to put on your calendar now so you have time to read ahead. Connie Morella Library’s Mystery Book Club is taking on Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods, a thriller about a girl who disappears from her family’s summer camp 16 years after her older brother vanished in the same region.

The group meets on the last Tuesday of each month to talk mysteries, thrillers, and whodunits. Pick up a copy at the library’s front desk or borrow the digital edition through MCPL, then come ready to discuss on November 24. Free.
👉 Save the date for the Mystery Book Club

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

MORE is hosting a weekly women’s mountain bike ride on the Cabin John trails, and beginners are welcome. Expect about 4–5 miles on natural-surface singletrack, with the group meeting at 6 pm and wheels down at 6:10.

Bring a mountain bike in good condition, a helmet, and water. Hybrid bikes aren’t suitable for this ride, and wet or muddy trails may mean cancellation. Space is limited, and registration through Golden Volunteer is required. Free.
👉 Register for the women’s mountain bike ride

Earlier picks still ahead — and still worth catching.

🧿 Hallow’s Eve Charm Bar at Bonchon — Thu, Oct. 29, 5–8 pm — Make a Halloween-inspired bracelet, necklace, or anklet while enjoying Korean fried chicken and cocktails in Rockville. $28+. TONIGHT

💃 Friday Night Salsa at Pike District Pop-Up Park — Fri, Oct. 30, 6–8 pm — Start with a beginner salsa lesson, then enjoy social dancing under the stars in N. Bethesda. No partner needed. Free. THIS WEEKEND

🛍️ Old Line Market at Aix La Chapelle Farm — Fri–Sun, Oct. 30–Nov. 1 — Browse vintage clothing, furniture, art, and home décor from 60+ sellers at a historic Poolesville farm. $20. THIS WEEKEND

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

💃 Halloween Hop at Glen Echo Park — Sat, Oct. 31, 8–11:30 pm — Swing dance to live music, dress in costume, and learn a few steps in the Spanish Ballroom. $20 advance; $30 at the door. THIS WEEKEND

🍷 Apericena: Savoring Italy, Lombardia — Wed, Nov. 4, 6:30–8 pm — Explore Lombardia’s food, wine, and culture at the Italian Cultural Society in Bethesda. $65.

🕵️ 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.

🍫 Maryland Chocolate & Coffee Festival — Sat–Sun, Nov. 7–8 — Sample chocolate and coffee, explore 200+ vendors, and enjoy demonstrations in Boyds. $18+.

🥣 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.

🔥 DIY Stocking Stuffer Workshop at Glen Echo Glassworks — Fri, Nov. 13, 10 am–1 pm — Learn glassblowing and create two handmade holiday gifts in Glen Echo. $170; $167 for members.

🎳 A Better Brunch at Pinstripes — Sat, Nov. 14, noon–4 pm — Combine brunch, mimosas, bowling, and a guided craft project in North Bethesda. $105.

🍸 Holiday Cocktail Class at Summer House — Thu, Nov. 19, 6–8:30 pm — Learn to mix four seasonal cocktails and enjoy festive bites in N. Bethesda. $112.

✨ Autumn Lights at Woodend Nature Sanctuary — Fri, Nov. 20, 5–8 pm — Enjoy live jazz, fall-inspired food, cocktails, and a silent auction benefiting conservation in Chevy Chase. $75.

🎭 Les Misérables at Olney Theatre Center — Oct. 30–Jan. 31 — Experience Olney’s first production of the beloved musical, featuring Broadway veterans. $42–$91.

🧢 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 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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