The DC Lineup for this weekend: black holes, books and papier-mâché bowls

Education, youth engagement and politics are the themes in this edition of The DC Lineup.

Temperatures will be warm over the next few days, May 15 to 17, ranging from 60 to 87 degrees. The weekend will open with mostly sunny skies on Friday followed by increasing clouds on Saturday and Sunday, according to the forecast.

1. Youth: Youth for Human Rights Washington DC is presenting an hourlong Virtual Human Rights Seminar on Saturday at 4 p.m. (exact details on login information will be sent out on the day of the event to those who register on Facebook). This is the first in a series of seminars about human rights, during which young people will learn about the 30 official human rights listed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The lessons are meant to be preventive measures against crime, human and sex trafficking, bullying and suicide — and to inspire youth to become local advocates for tolerance and peace.

2. Politics: As we enter DC’s 2020 election cycle, there are a number of opportunities to engage with candidates in the digital space. A virtual Ward 7 Democratic Candidates’ Economic Vision Debate takes place on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on YouTube Live. Ward 7 candidates will be joined by moderators Saymah Nah, Marshall Heights Civic Association’s vice chair of economic development, and Victor Horton, a Ward 7 advisory neighborhood commissioner. Each candidate will speak individually for 15 minutes, followed by a general conversation about economic development. In the coming week, residents in wards 2 and 8 will also have opportunities to attend candidates forums in their local council races. On Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m., a Ward 2 forum will be streamed via Zoom and Facebook. On Wednesday, a virtual forum for Ward 8 candidates will be streamed from 5 to 7 p.m. via Zoom. 

3. Education: The DC-based science education nonprofit PSW Science is featuring a lecture by astrophysicist Shep Doeleman this Friday on “The Event Horizon Telescope: First Ever Images of a Black Hole.” The discussion will explain how these photos were taken and how they relate to fundamental theoretical physics and comprehension of the physical universe. Doeleman’s colleagues from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and Harvard University will also make presentations, followed by an audience Q&A with all three speakers. The event is from 8 to 10 p.m. It is free to view and will be broadcast on YouTube.

4. Family Fun: The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC will host a Virtual Family Fun Day on Sunday. The schedule includes fitness classes, a story time, tips from a Giant Food nutritionist, and a drawing lesson with local cartoonist Josh Kramer. The program is from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Ronald McDonald House Facebook page.

5. Literature: DC-area author Lauren Francis-Sharma will speak about her new novel Book of the Little Axe with American University creative writing associate professor Dolen Perkins-Valdez at Politics and Prose Live! on Saturday at 3 p.m. Francis-Sharma is the proprietor of DC Writers’ Room, a co-working space for writers, and is the assistant director of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. She lives in the Maryland suburbs.

6. Comedy: Novel Comedy, a DC-based book club run by comedians, ordinarily puts on shows in bookshops throughout the District. This Saturday, the club is hosting “Becoming: The Virtual Comedy Show” in honor of former first lady Michelle Obama. The gathering will be part book club and part comedy show, as group members discuss the recently released Netflix documentary about Obama’s book tour and share jokes. The 45-minute showcase starts at 9 p.m.

7. Arts: Ward 7’s Unique Union welcomes the public to attend its #SelfCareSunday virtual craft workshop from 1:30 to 3 p.m. this Sunday. Attendees will learn about the history of papier-mâché and how to make these crafted bowls at home using newspapers or magazines, a plastic bag, printer paper, glue, bowls, paint, a paintbrush, water and gloves. The organizers promote the mental health benefits of crafting, which they describe as “soothing artistry” that encourages emotional expression. Registration is free and donations are welcome. A second workshop is planned for May 31.

8. Arts: The DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival is partnering with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art for a Saturday film screening and puppet-making workshop geared toward ages 6 to 12. Filmmaker and puppeteer Sam Koji Hale will lead the class and share his animated puppet film Yamasong, which is in its 10th anniversary year. Registration is required for the online event, which runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m., and puppet patterns are available to download online.

9. Food & Drink: Learn how to make use of typically discarded kitchen items (like coffee grounds, bad wine and stale bread) in the free virtual class “Cooking Scrappy: Fight Food Waste in the Kitchen.” Hosted by Knowledge Commons DC from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, the workshop will feature professional chef Bertrand Brown-Orleans and food writer April Thompson.

10. Education: Profs & Pints Online is offering an introductory Gaelic lesson on Saturday at 7 p.m. Jennifer O’Riordan, a native of Cork and a former Irish language instructor at Catholic University, will teach the basics of this ancient vernacular, share information about its origins and talk about Irish words commonly used in English, such as whiskey, galore, brogue, smithereens and Baltimore. Tickets cost $12, and ticket holders can access a recording of the talk online afterward (for a chance to perfect their accents).