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Category: Healthy Living

Topics in this category can include: recipes, mental health, medical and health awareness topics, and Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb topics.

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Decorative image for Winter Study Break Guide

Christa Ebert, Uno Lady
Date: January 2, 2026
Location: Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center (In-Person and Livestream)
Cost: Free (4 ticket limit)

Musician and mixed-media artist Christa Ebert—performing as Uno Lady—creates dream-like soundscapes using layered vocals and nature-inspired visuals. Experience her new video installation Arbor Aria, a collaboration with old-growth forests, followed by a live Uno Lady performance.

Zoolights
Date: Now through January 3
Location: Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Cost: $9

Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights, powered by Pepco, a part of their annual holiday tradition. The event includes live music performances, tasty winter treats and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. Environmentally friendly LED lights and dozens of glowing animal lanterns transform the Smithsonian's National Zoo into a winter wonderland. Note that timed passes are required.

Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985
Date: Now through January 4
Location: National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW
Cost: Free

The National Gallery of Art hosts a monumental tribute to the work of Black artists from around the world. Photography and the Black Arts Movement spans four decades and features roughly 150 pieces by more than 100 artists, including luminaries such as Gordon Parks, Carrie Mae Weems, Frank Stewart, Billy Abernathy, David C. Driskell, Lorna Simpson and many more.

Online Meditation/McLean Meditation Institute
Date: January 4, 2026
Location: Online
Cost: Free guided meditation

We all need healing and support. Together we can manage our heightened stress levels and nourish our sense of community.  As health professionals, you are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, stress, and depression than normal.  Evidence shows that effective wellness programming and strong institutional leadership committed to a culture of wellness care can make a difference.

All are welcome to join any of the four, free, online sessions on Wednesdays when you can learn and practice meditation.  Some sessions offer mindfulness, compassion, and gratitude, as well as mantra, self-inquiry, and more taught by master teachers from the McLean Meditation Institute (MMI) as well as the director, Sarah McLean.

Meet your mind and soothe the feelings of panic, fear, and worry with mindful self-compassion. Become more resilient as you cultivate restful awareness through easy guided mindfulness and meditation practices.  Explore contentment, simplicity, and gratitude.

Also, you can watch/listen at your convenience to guided meditations and mindfulness sessions from MMI staff on YouTube.

January Joy: A Comedy Show
Date: January 9, 2026
Location: Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center (In-Person and Livestream)
Cost: Free (4 ticket limit)

Enjoy a comedy showcase featuring Yasmin Elhady, Mahmoud Jaber, Rola Z, and headliner Abbas Wahab.

Online advance reservations for a given performance date will open on a rolling basis, opening every Wednesday two weeks out from the date.

Capital Accomodations
Date: January 1-30, 2026
Location: George Washington Museum and the Textile Museum, 701 21st St., NW
Cost: Free

From iconic landmarks to forgotten establishments, discover some of the historical hotels, motels and inns that hosted visitors to Washington, D.C. Advertisements, travel guides and prints from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection introduce stories from proprietors and noteworthy guests. 

From A to DC: Transportation in Washington
Date: January 1-30, 2026
Location: George Washington Museum and the Textile Museum, 701 21st St., NW
Cost: Free

Traverse the nation’s capital by air, land or sea in this exhibition exploring the history of Washington’s transportation systems. Artworks from the Albert H. Small Washingtoniana Collection depict innovations in travel that transformed the District during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Source Material: Lessons in Responsible Fashion
Date: January 1-30, 2026
Location: George Washington Museum and the Textile Museum, 701 21st St., NW
Cost: Free

The impacts of overproduction and overconsumption in the global fashion industry are uniquely modern challenges, but promising solutions can be found in textile traditions from the past. This exhibition pairs historical garments from The Textile Museum Collection with works by contemporary fashion designers returning to more responsible uses of materials and resources.  

Music Program at St. Ann DC, “From Past to the Future”
Date: January 18, 2026; 3:00-5:00PM
Location: St. Ann Catholic Church, 4001 Yuma St., NW
Cost: Free but donations are welcome to support the ongoing Concert Series

All performances are free and open to the public! This is a ticketless events, and a freewill offering is gratefully accepted.

Art music is an expression of the soul, and through the God-given gifts of a performer, can bring the listener closer to the source of all that is, Our Lord. Gifted artists, performing in our church, provide an opportunity for people who might not otherwise have the chance to experience this music performed live, to do so in an environment that inspires the human spirit to seek a closer connection to God.

21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Walk and Parade
Date: January 19, 2026
Location: Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast
Cost: Free to $108.55

Celebrate Dr. King's legacy at the 2025 MLK Holiday DC with a Peace Walk, Parade, Wellness Fair, and Prayer Breakfast. Join us!

Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains
Date: Now through January 20
Location: National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Ave, NW
Cost: Free

The National Museum of the American Indian celebrates narrative art among Native nations of the Great Plains with an exciting new exhibition. You'll see historical works alongside contemporary commissions, from battle records to ledger books to pop culture takes.

Wayne Tucker (Jazz)
Date: January 22, 2026
Location: Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center (In-Person and Livestream)
Cost: Free (4 ticket limit)

Miles Davis meets Stevie Wonder—Wayne Tucker and The Bad Mothas present “Grief and Gratitude.”

Online advance reservations for a given performance date will open on a rolling basis, opening every Wednesday two weeks out from the date.

Rik Freeman: Wade in the Waters
Date: Now through February 19
Wednesday & Thursday, 10am-5pm
Location: Phillips @THEARC, 1801 Mississippi Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20020
Cost: Free

DC artist Rik Freeman’s work is showcased in-depth at this free exhibition displayed at Phillips@THEARC. For more than three decades, Freeman has engaged history, community, resilience and joy in his work. Wade in the Waters zooms in on waterways – from the beaches of Bahia to the Anacostia River – and how they connect to the diaspora over generations.

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Picture of high-top desks at Himmelfarb Library.

It’s hard to believe that it’s already December and that the Fall semester is almost over. Congratulations on completing the semester! As the semester draws to a close and your well-deserved Winter Break approaches, we’d like to share some end-of-semester tips to help make this month as stress-free as possible during this busy time. This post includes information for students about studying at Himmelfarb, returning and renewing library materials, faculty end-of-semester tips, and Himmelfarb's Winter Break hours.

Studying at Himmelfarb Library

Himmelfarb Library is a great place to study and prepare for exams! We recognize that study preferences and needs vary from person to person. Himmelfarb has space for all noise level preferences! Here’s an overview of where you can find the perfect study space to suit your needs:

Silent Study Space: 

Silence is golden on Himmelfarb’s second floor. This silent floor, reserved for graduate and advanced degree students, is the ideal location for those seeking absolute silence while they study. Our new table dividers will help you resist the urge to talk or whisper with others at your table. The second floor also has both open and closed study carrels to meet your silent study needs. 

Quiet Study Space: 

The main portion of Himmelfarb’s third floor is a quiet study area where quiet collaboration is accepted. This floor is generally quiet, but does not have the pristine silence of the second floor.

Collaborative Group Study: 

If you’re looking for a place to study with friends, Himmelfarb’s first floor or group study rooms are a great option for you! The first floor is an ideal space to study with friends. It’s not a quiet floor, and it has a range of furniture options, including four-person tables, high-top tables that can serve as standing desks, and comfy couches. 

Himmelfarb’s 28 group study rooms are another great option! Reserving a study room during peak exam periods will guarantee you’ve got the perfect space for your group. Forgot to reserve a room in advance? No problem! Scan the QR code outside an available study room, and make the reservation when you arrive. Study rooms can be booked a week in advance and reserved for up to four hours at a time. Most study rooms can accommodate up to four people, and have large computer screens and dry-erase boards. Dry-erase markers and erasers are available for checkout at the service desk located on the first floor. Study rooms are located on the second and third floors, which are silent or quiet. Please keep conversations at a low volume as study rooms are not noise-proof.

Picture of a 2nd-floor Himmelfarb study room.
One of Himmelfarb's 2nd-floor study rooms.

Study Break Space: 

When it’s time to take a well-deserved study break, check out our Healthy Living Collection located on the first floor near the sofas. You can unwind and relax on the comfortable couches, help finish whatever the current puzzle is on the puzzle table, get in some movement with our hula hoops, yoga mats, and light weights, play a friendly game of chess or another board game with friends, or destress with some adult coloring.

Picture of Himmelfarb's Healthy Living area with puzzle table, hula hoops, and board games.
Picture of Himmelfarb's healthy living area with board games, adult coloring, and yoga mats.

Helpful Study Supplies & Technology

Himmelfarb has a variety of study supplies and technology that can be checked out from the service desk on the first floor, including:

  • Dry-erase markers and erasers
  • Remote controls (for study room monitors)
  • HDMI, VGA, and VGA to HDMI adaptors
  • MacBook, iPhone, and Android Chargers
  • Headphones

Earplugs and scrap paper are also available at the first-floor service desk.

Returning or Renewing Library Materials

Before leaving campus for Winter Break, check your library account to check due dates for any items you have checked out. If you’d like to renew items, log in to your library account, stop by the first-floor service desk, or call (202)994-2962. If you have materials borrowed through Interlibrary Loan, check your Docs2Go account for due dates, and return items on time so we can ship them back to their home library.

Faculty End-of-Semester Tips

Embedded Librarian Service

If you’ll be teaching in the Spring 2026 semester and want a Himmelfarb Librarian to be embedded in your Blackboard course, email us at himmelfarb@gwu.edu to make arrangements!

Course Reserves

Don’t forget to submit your Course Reserves Requests for the Spring 2026 semester!

Linking to Electronic Resources

When finalizing your course syllabi or linking to resources in Blackboard, remember to create durable links for Himmelfarb resources (i.e., journal articles, books, streaming videos, etc.) to ensure your students have seamless access to these resources. Using Himmelfarb’s Quick Tool to generate durable links is an easy and efficient way to get durable links. For help with creating durable links, contact himmelfarb@gwu.edu.

Himmelfarb’s Winter Break Hours

Himmelfarb Library will close for the Winter Break, starting at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Our building will be closed from December 23, 2025, through January 3, 2025. Visit our hours page to view our full hours and holiday closures.

While our building is closed over the break, our databases, journals, and e-books are available from anywhere through our website!

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Winter Study Break Guide header image with snow, pinecones and other wintry images

European Union Film Showcase

Dates: December 3-21, 2025

Location: AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center

Cost: $15 general admission per film

The AFI European Union Film Showcase is in its 38th year. This year, film selections include festival winners, box office hits, and debut works by new directors, as well as many official Oscar® submissions. Schedule here.

Holiday Boat Parade & Party

Date: December 6, 2025

Location: DC Wharf

Cost: Free

Get fired up for the holiday season with a parade of decorated boats sailing along the Washington Channel. Events begin at 5 pm with ornament decorating, holiday karaoke, s'mores, and more. The parade begins at 7 pm, and concludes with a fireworks display at 8 pm.

Del Ray Artisans 30th Annual Fine Art & Fine Craft Holiday Market

Date: First three weekends of December 2025: Fridays 6-9 pm, Saturdays 9 am-5 pm, Sundays 11 am-5 pm

Location: Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22301

Christmas Sing Along

Date: December 13, 2025, 12:30 pm

Location: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

Cost: Free (tickets can be reserved but are not required)

Join Washington area multi-instrumentalist Randy Barrett to sing holiday favorites, accompanied by banjo and guitar.

National Menorah Lighting

Date: December 14, 2025 3:30 pm

Location: Ellipse, across from White House

This annual event features a live musical performance by military bands, hot latkes and doughnuts, free dreidels and menorah kits, as well as the lighting of a giant menorah to kick off the first night of Chanukah. General admission tickets are free but must be ordered in advance.

The Wheel of Holidays: From Christmas to Christmas: Millennium Stage

Date: December 19, 2025, 6 pm

Location: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

Cost: Free (tickets can be reserved but are not required)

Musical group Gerdan plays traditional Ukrainian music, and this performance will highlight the rich tapestry of Ukrainian holiday traditions through music, song and dance.

RFK Farmers & Flea Market

Date: December 20, 2025, 7 am - 3 pm and every Saturday, weather permitting

Location: RFK Stadium Lot 6

Cost: Free

This market features fresh produce and other items from local farms, as well as local artisans selling their products.

Light Yards

Date: Ongoing through January 2, 2026, nightly 5-10 pm

Location: Yards Park

Cost: Free

Visit Yards Park for their annual installation of animated, interactive holiday lights, fun for all ages.

US National Arboretum Gotelli Conifer Collection

Date: Ongoing

Location: NE Washington

Cost: Free

Visiting a botanical garden in the winter? Of course! The Gotelli Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifer Collection at the National Arboretum is one of the most extensive in the world. Perfect to enjoy with snow on the ground, or to wander through on a crisp winter day.

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The 2025 Fall Colors Photo Contest drew 42 amazing entries across all of Himmelfarb Library's constituent groups: SMHS, School of Nursing, and the Milken Institute School of Public Health. Our judges, Laura Abate and Valerie Bowles from Himmelfarb, and MD students Nick Van Dyke and Eleanor Ball, had their work cut out for them!

Red autumn leaves
2025 Fall Colors Photo Contest winner: Radiance, photo by Vania Ballesteros Prieto, Horvath Lab staff member, SMHS

The contest winner was Radiance, by Vania Ballesteros Prieto, who is a staff member at SMHS. See below for an interview with Vania!

Autumn colors reflected in a pond with skyscrapers in the background
Second place winner in the 2025 Fall Colors Photo Contest: Fall Reflections, photo by Rana Rahman, MD student, SMHS.
Creek with trees with yellow leaves
Second place winner in the 2025 Fall Colors Photo Contest: Creekside Serenity, photo by Adam Herath, BSPH student, Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Two photos tied for second place: Fall Reflections, by MD student Rana Rahman, and Creekside Serenity, by BSPH student Adam Herath.

There were many beautiful photo entries, all of which are in the online gallery. Additionally, a print display of all photo entries is currently up at the library.

The Rotation asked Vania a few questions:

Can you share your GW journey? Did you study here? How long have you worked here?

I first came to the university in fall 2023 to pursue the MS program in Bioinformatics and Molecular Biochemistry. I successfully graduated in May of this year and have been a very happy part of the Horvath Lab team since then.

How long have you been taking photographs, and what are your favorite subjects?

I started taking photographs with a digital camera when I was young, initially just as a hobby. My favorite subjects are close-up pictures of flowers and small animals. I enjoy uncovering the small details that are often hard to see at first glance.

What can you tell us about how you got that winning shot?

I found a couple of trees with incredibly beautiful red and orange foliage near my house. I stood directly underneath them, and the afternoon sun lit the backs of the leaves making the colors more vibrant. This backlighting also allowed me to capture the veins of the leaves. I especially like how the close-up angle abstracts the location, leaving the surroundings open to the viewer's imagination.

How did you hear about the Fall Colors Photo Contest?

The Fall Colors Photo Contest was a topic of discussion in the lab. An email with the details was shared with all lab members, and I decided to participate.

I am intrigued that you entered the contest just two minutes before the entry form was deactivated! Tell us more about that?

I was planning to submit the picture earlier but my phone ran out of storage, which made every app (including the photos app) crash instantly upon opening. It was a frantic process of repeatedly opening the photos app, deleting one picture, having the app crash, and repeating the cycle. I finally managed to free up just enough storage to submit the entry two minutes before the form closed. Talk about lucky!

--

Vania stopped by Himmelfarb and got to meet some of the members of the Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb Committee, which has been in existence since 2012 and has as its goal creating ways for our community prioritize wellbeing and support healthy eating, exercise, and stress reduction. The committee has been running the Fall Colors and Spring Blossoms photo contests since 2023, along with other events such as beading workshops and the popular Basketball Toss contest, which raises funds for the GW Healing Clinic.

Vania Ballesteros Prieto, second from left, with members of Himmelfarb's Healthy Living Committee (L-R) Lonnie Williams, Deborah Wassertzug, and Valerie Bowles.
2025 Fall Colors Photo Contest winner Vania Ballesteros Prieto posts in front of the photo display of entries to this edition of the contest.

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Feature image for the Fall September Study Break Guide

Adams Morgan Fall PorchFest

Date: November 1, 2025

Location: Adams Morgan

Cost: Free

One of the District’s most popular neighborhoods showcases some of DC’s best musical talent. Adams Morgan Fall PorchFest will feature nearly 100 artists playing an array of genres, including classic rock, funk, go-go, rap, reggae, bluegrass, classical, and pop. Twenty porches, business patios and parks, as well as the closed 18th Street, will become stages for the day, drawing music-lovers from around the region into the tree-lined streets and small businesses of Adams Morgan.

Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared

Date: November 8, 2025 – February 1, 2026

Location: National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20560

Cost: Free

The National Museum of Asian Art surveys ancient times to the present in a stunning exhibit that displays works that beautifully speak to the diversity of Korea’s artistic legacy across the world. Once private treasures are now public, depicting the evolution of innovation, shifts in style, and technology.

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage-Extraordinary Cinema: Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight

Date: November 9, 2025

Location: 2700 F St., NW, Washington, DC 20566 in the Justice Forum at the REACH.

Cost: Free

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight captures the childhood of eight-year-old Bobo on her family farm in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) at the end of the Zimbabwean War for independence in 1980.

African American Civil War Museum Reopening

Date: November 10-11, 2025

Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G Streets, NW, Washington, DC 20004

Cost: Free

Celebrate the grand reopening of the African American Civil War Museum (which is supported by the African American Civil War Memorial) with two days of events. The DC institution will debut its new home (part of the redevelopment of the Grimke School) with a dedication of its new Lincoln statue (depicting the 16th President signing the Emancipation Proclamation), a trail march, a public ribbon-cutting, a happy hour, a Reading of the Names, and more.

Veterans Day: Honor Those Who Served

Date: November 11, 2025

Location: various monuments, memorials, and special programming

Cost: Free

Many of the monuments and memorials in the nation’s capital honor service members, shedding light on the immense sacrifices that the U.S. Armed Forces have made to protect this country. Any time of year, but especially on Veterans Day, choose from a collection of monuments, memorials, and special programming to celebrate and honor those who served.

DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle

Date: November 14, 2025 – December 23, 2025

Location: 1500 Block of 19th Street NW, Washington, DC

Cost: Free

30-plus small businesses with artisanal goods, boutique brands, worldwide handcrafts, and unique gift items, plus festive decor, local performers, and beloved holiday treats. 

DowntownDC Holiday Market

Date: November 21, 2025 – December 23, 2025

Location: F Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW, Washington, DC

Cost: Free

This year's edition of the DowntownDC Holiday Market will occupy the street and sidewalk on F Street between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. Now in its 21st year, its bright lights bring Penn Quarter and Chinatown to life, providing a holiday spark to the neighborhood. The spacious, open-air village is free and open to the public, kicking off the season just ahead of Thanksgiving (closed on Thanksgiving Day) and closing just before Christmas.

Zoolights

Date: November 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026

Location: Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008

Cost: $6 

Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights, powered by Pepco, a part of their annual holiday tradition. The event includes live music performances, tasty winter treats, and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. Environmentally friendly LED lights and dozens of glowing animal lanterns transform the Smithsonian's National Zoo into a winter wonderland. Note that timed passes are required. Admission is just $6.

Season’s Greetings

Date: November 22, 2025 – January 4, 2026

Location: U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001

Cost: Free

Trade in your dreams of a white Christmas for something even better – a green Christmas. At this year's Season's Greenings exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden, displays will feature not only holiday lights, but thousands of poinsettias, unbelievable plant-based sculptures, a circuit of model trains, and pollinators galore. Tickets are not required. This year's theme? Dinosaurs. 
The Botanic Garden will stay open late on Dec. 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, and Jan. 1. It is closed on Dec. 25.

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage Films – Extraordinary Cinema: East of Wall

Date: November 23, 2025

Location: 2700 F St., NW, Washington, DC 20566 in the Justice Forum at the REACH.

Cost: Free

East of Wall is an authentic portrait of female resilience in the “New West,” inspired and played by the women and girls who live it.

Chanukah Holiday Market

Date: December 2, 2025

Location: Edlavitch DCJCC, 1529 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC

Cost: Free but RSVP required

Join us for one of the largest Chanukah holiday markets in the city! Shop handmade goods from independent artists and food vendors – we’ll have everything from holiday cards to jewelry to baked goods. It’s Etsy IRL! In addition to our vendors, we will also have hot beverages and snacks for sale.

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When was the last time you got outside? If the answer is "summer," we strongly recommend you get up from your desk and head outside! Fall is here. Enjoy a seasonal beverage, breathe in the crisp air, and while you're at it, take a photo of the beautiful colors of autumn! Himmelfarb Library's Fall Colors Photo Contest opens today!

Enter your best photo for the chance to win a fabulous PRIZE. All digital photos submitted will be showcased in the online 2025 Himmelfarb Fall Colors Photo Gallery, and prints will be displayed in Himmelfarb Library.

To get inspired, see posts from past Fall Colors photo contests.

Photo submission dates:  Monday, October 13, 2025 – Sunday, November 9, 2025.

  • Who may enter: GW students, residents, faculty and staff affiliated with the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, and School of Nursing.
  • Limit 1 entry per person. Subsequent submissions by the same person will not be entered into the contest.
  • Contest photo must be original and taken by the submitter in 2025.
  • Submitted photos will be displayed in online and print galleries with the photographer's name and photo title.
  • By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the above rules of the contest.

Judging:

Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and overall artistic impact. One winner will be chosen by a prior contest winner and members of the Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb Committee.

*Himmelfarb Library reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify rules at its discretion. Himmelfarb Library reserves the right to reject any entrant whose entry appears off-topic or violates the rules.

For questions, contact: Deborah Wassertzug (deborah.wassertzug@gwu.edu)

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Feature image for the Fall September Study Break Guide

Corazón y vida: Lowrider Culture

Date: Opens Friday, October 3, exhibit hours 10am – 5:30pm daily

Location: National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560

Cost: Free

A new exhibit at the National Museum of American History reveals the 80-year history of lowriding culture and community-building through a display of photographs, posters, car club clothing, trophies, a pinstripe tool kit, and much more. The unique, vibrant, and bilingual exhibition dives deep into how the Lowrider tradition has become a source of pride in Mexican American communities and a way of combating discrimination.

Oktoberfest at The Wharf

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2pm – 7pm

Location: The Wharf, 760 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024

Cost: Free

Don a dirndl or lederhosen and make your way to The Wharf for its free annual Oktoberfest celebration. The Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash kicks off the festivities, followed by a stein-hoisting championship and Polka on the Pier, which includes a free polka dance class, live music, and a best-dressed contest.

National Gallery Nights Fall 2025 Lottery – Strike a Pose

Date: Thursday, October 9, 6pm – 9pm

Location: National Gallery of Art East Building, 4th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565

Cost: Free

The East Building of the National Gallery of Art hosts another edition of one of the museum’s most popular events. Strike a Pose emphasizes the Gallery’s newest exhibit, Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985, with a delirious celebration of self-expression, fashion, and photography. Wear your favorite outfit inspired by looks from the ‘50s through the ‘80s, step into the photobooth, experiment with photography via on-site artmaking, and take advantage of a rare opportunity to visit the West Building after-hours to check out the exhibit.

Due to high demand, passes to National Gallery Nights are distributed through a free lottery system. Lottery open: Monday, September 29, 10:00 a.m. — Thursday, October 2, 12:00 p.m.

Results announced: Friday, October 3

With Passion and Purpose

Date:  Now - Oct. 5, 10am – 5pm

Location: National Gallery of Art, 4th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565

Cost: Free

A collection that spans 100 years of Black creativity comes to the National Gallery of Art’s East Building Mezzanine thanks to Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson. The largest group of objects by Black artists to enter the museum’s collection at one time includes 175 works. These range from lyrical abstractions to intricate sculptures to well-known paintings. Featured artists include Jacob Lawrence, Archibald Motley, Vivian Browne, Mildred Thompson, Alison Saar, and many others.

Race The District

Date:  Oct. 9 -12, 11am – 9pm

Location: 1309 5th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Cost: Free

Union Market District brings back its electric outdoor go-kart racetrack, this time with the backdrop of a full festival weekend of live entertainment, food, and family activities daily. Races are ticketed and 15 minutes each, open to all skill levels (58" or taller), and just as fun to watch. On Oct. 11, electronic duo Louis The Child headlines a block party on 5th Street, presented by Nü Androids. Ticket holders are invited to access F1 Arcade’s sim racing for free, and all are welcome to Songbyrd’s 10th-anniversary block party on Oct. 12.

Tawny Chatmon: Sanctuaries of Truth, Dissolution of Lies

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 15 – March 8, 2026 10am – 5pm

Location: 1250 New York Ave. NW Washington, DC 20005

Cost: Free

The photography-based work of Tawny Chatmon receives a glorious tribute at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The exhibition will debut pieces from Chatmon’s latest series, which also incorporate audio narrative, embroidery, film, and assemblage. Selections from Chatmon’s acclaimed previous work will also be on display.

Adams Morgan Apple Festival

Date: Saturday, Oct. 18, 11:30am

Location: The Line DC, 1770 Euclid Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Cost: Free

The 12th Annual Apple Festival brings neighbors and visitors together to celebrate the season with heirloom apple varieties from the Adams Morgan Farmers’ Market and a spirited apple pie-baking contest judged by local food personalities. Guests can sample apples, cheer on the bakers and purchase slices of freshly made pies. Proceeds support the Sitar Arts Center, a local nonprofit that provides arts education to young people.

Turkish Festival

Date: Sunday, Oct. 19, 11am - 6:30pm

Location: Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd Street and 6th Street

Cost: Free

The community-organized Turkish Festival fills Pennsylvania Avenue with special art and photo exhibits, folk dancers and concerts ranging from Turkish rock to folk. There will also be Turkish coffee and tea demos and a bazaar touting food and artisanal goods.

Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985

Date: Now – Jan 11, 2026 10am – 5pm

Location: National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565

Cost: Free

The National Gallery of Art hosts a monumental tribute to the work of Black artists from around the world. Photography and the Black Arts Movement spans four decades and features roughly 150 pieces by more than 100 artists, including luminaries such as Gordon Parks, Carrie Mae Weems, Frank Stewart, Billy Abernathy, David C. Driskell, Lorna Simpson, and many more.

LGBTJews in the Federal City

Date: Daily, Now - Jan 04, 2026 6pm – 9:30pm 

Location: Capital Jewish Museum 575 3rd St. NW Washington, DC 20001

Cost: $12 Adults, $10 Ages 65+ & Students w/Valid ID, Free Ages 12 & Younger, Free for Members

This landmark exhibition is the first of its kind to explore DC history, Jewish history, and LGBTQ+ history together, drawing from the Museum’s robust LGBTQ+ archive. Immerse yourself in historical and contemporary photography, artifacts, and oral histories. Learn about legal milestones, far-ranging protests, changes in religious spaces, and vibrant cultural life. Saturday, October 4, 2pm – 7pm

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Suicide Prevention Awareness Month logo.
Image from samhsa.gov

September is Suicide Prevention Month and provides an opportunity to raise awareness about suicide and suicidal ideation (thoughts of suicide). If you, or someone you know, has thoughts of suicide, immediate help is available. Call, text, or chat 988 to speak to a trained crisis counselor.

Like other mental health conditions, suicidal thoughts can impact anyone. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), one in twenty adults (5%) has serious thoughts of suicide each year. In the United States, suicide is the second leading cause of death in people between 10 and 24 years old, and is the 11th leading cause of death overall (NAMI, 2025). Physicians have an increased risk of suicide and suicidal ideation compared to the general population because of “high workload volume and medical errors” (AMA, 2025). Physicians are also less likely to seek help when experiencing suicidal ideation (AMA, 2025). A recent study published in JAMA found that non-physician health care workers, including nurses, health technicians, and health care support workers, are also at increased risk of suicide compared to the general population (Olfson et al., 2023). 

The warning signs of suicide can include talking about wanting to die, feeling empty and hopeless, withdrawing from friends or loved ones, and/or taking dangerous risks. The infographic below from the NIH National Institute of Mental Health includes additional warning signs. If you or someone you know is experiencing these warning signs, get help by contacting the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988!

warning-signs-of-suicide

If you are interested in learning more about suicide prevention, Himmelfarb Library has a Suicide and Suicidology Collection that includes numerous books on this topic. Notable titles from this collection include:

References:

American Medical Association (AMA). (August 7, 2025). Preventing physician suicide. https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/physician-health/preventing-physician-suicide

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (2025). Suicide Prevention Month. https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Month/

Olfson, M., Cosgrove, C. M., Wall, M. M., & Blanco, C. (2023). Suicide risks of health care workers in the US. JAMA, 330(12), 1161–1166. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.15787

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Decorative Image for the Fall Study Break Guide.

Back 2 Business: Student Organization Fair
Location: University Student Center, Grand Ballroom
                  800 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052
Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Time:  4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Cost: Free

Back 2 Business is GWSB’s undergraduate student organization fair that brings together undergraduate clubs and key campus offices to help students explore involvement opportunities, connect with campus resources, and engage with the broader business school community. This event is a great way to meet student leaders, discover organizations aligned with your interests, and start building your GWSB experience! #GWSB

2025 GW Student-Employer Ice Cream Social
Date: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Location: University Student Center, Grand Ballroom
                  800 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052
Time:  2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Cost: Free

Kick off the fall and enjoy sweet treats with employers! Engage casually with companies looking to recruit GW students from across majors or academic disciplines.

This is a casual event, so come as you are!

Attending employers include KPMG, Teach for America, Dell, JLL, Wolf Trap, Ned's Club, and more to be announced!

Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel
Location: Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage
Date: September 3, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Cost: Free

Backed by his band Palmetto Motel, Duane Betts delivers a dynamic live show filled with searing guitar solos, heartfelt storytelling, and a mix of classic influences with fresh energy.

Online advance reservations for a given performance date will open on a rolling basis, opening every Wednesday two weeks out from the date.

Zachary Smith & the Mardi Gras Kings
Location: The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage
Date: September 5, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Cost: Free

Zachary Smith & the Mardi Gras Kings bring a passion for delivering unforgettable performances, playing a unique blend of zydeco, Cajun, New Orleans jazz, and funk.

Online advance reservations for a given performance date will open on a rolling basis, opening every Wednesday two weeks out from the date.

Family-Friendly Activities at the National Book Festival
Date: September 6, 2025
Time: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center
                   Hall D (Level 2, North Building)

Cost: Free

Explore a wide array of fun and exciting activities and programs from the Library of Congress, sponsors, and exhibitors. Don't miss the Roadmap to Reading or the scheduled presentations, readings, and demonstrations in the Library of Congress Pavilion, the STEM District, and the Story District. Learn more on the Family-Friendly Activities webpage.,

Coffee, Canvas, and Community at the Office of Advocacy and Support
Date: Monday, September 8, 2025
Location: OAS Townhouse
                   520 22nd St., NW, Washington, DC
Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cost: Free  (Sign In to RSVP for the Event)
Event Website 

Need a boost before classes? Join the Office of Advocacy and Support for Coffee, Canvas, and Community on Monday, September 8, Monday, October 20, and Monday, November 17 from 11-2 pm.

Join your community for painting with a relaxing cup of tea or an energizing coffee beverage. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Don't worry, no painting supplies or skills required. Come to make friends, relax, paint, or just chill! We hope to see you there!

Women in Sports
Location: District Wharf
                  760 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC
Date: September 6, 2025
Time: 12:00n - 8:00pm
Cost: Free

A Day of Women in Sports at The Wharf is back for its second annual celebration on Saturday, September 6, 2025—and this year, we’re bringing even more inspiration, excitement, and impact to the waterfront. Featuring Legends & Legacy and Tennis of Tomorrow. 

RSVP - Click on the link to rsvp this event.

Takoma Park Folk Festival
Date: September 7, 2025
Time: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
Location: Takoma Park Middle School
                   7611 Piney Branch Road, Takoma Park, MD

Takoma Park Folk Festival is a family-friendly music and arts festival that has something for everyone! 

Explore this year's varied lineup of musical performers and the schedule of when they will be playing across the 6 festival stages.

Preview the artisans who will be participating in the juried craft show and offering their works for sale.

Plan to stop by the community tables to get to know local organizations, resources, and leaders who support the festival.

​View and download the full Festival program, available at the Festival in print, for a list of happenings all in one place.

See you there, rain or shine!

National Zoo - Qing Bao's 4th Birthday Celebration
Date: September 12, 2025
Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Location: National Zoo
Cost: Free

Join us in celebrating the fourth birthday of Qing Bao, our female giant panda, on Friday, Sept. 12, at 9 a.m.! This marks Qing Bao's first birthday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Highlights:

  • Panda keepers will present Qing Bao with a "beary" special birthday treat - a custom fruit-based ice cake made by the Zoo’s commissary team.
  • Can’t make it to the panda exhibit? Tune into the Giant Panda Cam to catch the celebration live.
  • Admission is free for all visitors.

Art All Night 2025
Date: September 12 & 13, 2025
Location: Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library
Cost: Free

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library is excited to participate in this year’s 2025 Art All Night, with The Block Party @ MLK on Saturday, Sept. 13. For the fifth year, the library is bringing you an amazing experience featuring Go-Go music, jazz, art, comedy, a silent disco so much more! The Block Party @ MLK invites you to enjoy all that the library and D.C. have to offer! (Stay tuned for more details)

Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band
Location: The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage
Date: September 19, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Cost: Free

Dogo du Togo & the Alagaa Beat Band embodies the heart and soul of modern Togo, bringing a psychedelic and infectious dance floor groove.

Online advance reservations for a given performance date will open on a rolling basis, opening every Wednesday two weeks out from the date.

Hyattsville Arts Festival
Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
Location: 4314 Farragut Street
                 Hyattsville, MD
Cost: Free

Experience a vibrant celebration of art, culture, and craft brews at the Hyattsville Arts Festival! This lively, family-friendly event unites the local community and visitors alike, featuring over 100 talented artists, unique vendors, top craft brewers, and food trucks from across the DMV area. Enjoy live music all day from some of the region’s best musical acts! Best of all—it’s FREE! Don’t miss this unforgettable day of creativity, culture, and connection!

Tour - Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom Highlights Tour
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025
Location: African American History and Culture Museum
                1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560
Time: 12:45 pm & 2:45 pm
Cost: Free, walk-in   

This tour program meets in the Defending Freedom, The Era of Segregation 1876-1968 exhibit, located on C2.

Converse with a docent.  Learn how African Americans flourished in their own communities during the Era of Segregation 1876-1968 despite the turmoil around them.  Under a time of intense pressure to take away their rights as citizens, African Americans not only survived the challenges set before them but crafted an important role for themselves in the nation.

Tour - Arts of Japan
Date: September 30, 2025
Time: 2:15 - 3:15
Location: Freer Gallery of Art
                1050 Independence Ave., Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only)

As the seasons change, enjoy a free, hour-long guided tour of the museum’s renowned collection of Japanese art. Experience a variety of artworks, including paintings, prints, screens, ceramics, metalwork, and more.

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Image with a blue background, a blue gloved hand holding a vaccine vile, and a needle on the word "Vaccine"
Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)! Staying updated on immunizations is an important way to protect yourself against preventable diseases. Vaccines help provide immunity before potential exposure to diseases by creating antibodies in your body to fight off infections and training your immune system to recognize and destroy harmful pathogens before they can cause serious illness. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Vaccines and Immunizations website provides information on immunization schedules for children and adults, information on pregnancy and vaccination, and a list of recommended vaccines for travelers. Himmelfarb Library offers a variety of immunization resources. Our key journal on the topic is Vaccine, which publishes quality science related to vaccinology.

We also have several books (both in print and online) on the topic of vaccines:

  • Vaccines: A Clinical Overview and Practical Guide: by Joseph Domachowske, and Manika Suryadevara. This e-book covers the fundamentals of vaccines, including what constitutes a vaccine, how they are manufactured and tested, how vaccine recommendations are developed, and practical concerns such as vaccine confidence and hesitancy, misconceptions, and patient communication.
  • Vaccine Law & Policy: by Tony Y. Yang and Dorit Reiss. This book, available in both print and as an e-book, includes comprehensive coverage of key aspects of vaccine law and policy, from product development and intellectual property protections to regulation, public mandates, and vaccine injury claims.
  • Vaccine Wars: The Two-Hundred-Year Fight for School Vaccinations: by Kimberley Tolley.  This e-book provides a comprehensive history of the efforts to vaccinate children from contagious diseases in US schools and examines what triggered anti-vaccination activism in the past, and why it continues today.
  • Pediatric Vaccines: A Clinical Decision Support Chart: What You’re Protecting Against and Why It’s Important Today: by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This e-book includes helpful visual aid guides that clinicians can use in conversations with patients and parents about the importance of vaccines, the diseases they help prevent, and vaccine recommendations.
  • Stuck: How Vaccine Rumors Start - And Why They Don’t Go Away: by Heidi Larson. This e-book examines how the issues around vaccine hesitancy center around people feeling left out of the conversation, and examines the social vectors that spread vaccine rumors, how they spread around the globe, and how these individual threads are all connected.

Want to learn more about staying up-to-date on your vaccines and keeping track of which may need updating? Our Immunization Awareness Month post from August 2024 has resources to help you do that! Want to learn more about how vaccines work? Check out this great video from Nature - which you can also share with your patients:

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