Every Tuesday, the Going Out Guide highlights the week’s best DJs, bands, dance nights and parties. Looking for Halloween events? Check out this list of bar crawls, costume contests, parties and more.
‘Whiskey Women’ book signing
Yardfest is one of the highlights of Howard University's Homecoming weekend. (Josh Sisk/For The Washington Post)
Wild West saloons, Al Capone’s gangsters and beer-and-a-shot Irish pubs have given whiskey a reputation as the most masculine of drinks. However, author Fred Minnick argues that women have played a far larger role in the world of Scotch and bourbon than they receive credit for, from distilling the spirits to designing the bottles. Minnick visits Jack Rose this week to discuss his latest book, “Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish Whiskey,” and to lead a tasting of four whiskeys that should appeal to men and women alike.
Wednesday at 7 p.m. Jack Rose Dining Saloon, 2007 18th St. NW. 202-588-7388. www.jackrosediningsaloon.com. $30, includes a copy of the book and four samples of whiskey.
Black Milk: ‘No Poison No Paradise’ tour
Black Milk doesn’t “turn up.” He doesn’t make music for you to take selfies at the club. There’s no Autotune. He has doggedly stuck to his guns as one of those rare rap talents who can spit acrobatically over his own beats. And those beats harken back to the days when the drums slapped you in the face and kicked you in the chest. With each solo release, he’s added symphonic layers to those savage drum beds. Live, analog instruments over dusty samplescapes. Off-kilter time signatures. Bubbling synth bass. His newest project, “No Poison No Paradise,” delivers more of his trademark dark rawness. And that rawness explodes onstage with his band. Black Milk returns to D.C. to present the new record at Liv Nightclub.
Thursday at 8:30 p.m. Liv Nightclub, 2001 11th St. NW. 202-505-4548. www.livdc.com. $15.
Howard University Yardfest
We usually don’t advocate calling in sick in order to attend events, but we have to make an exception for Howard University’s Homecoming Yardfest. Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and Beenie Man have performed at the university’s main quad, and last year featured performances by Drake and Meek Mill. The lineup is always a surprise until the last minute, but expect a mix of radio hitmakers, up-and-comers and local talent. This year, there’s a $5 charge for what had been a free event, so we recommend getting tickets in advance.
Friday at noon. Howard University, 2400 Sixth St. NW. www.bisonhomecoming.com. $5.
Camp Freddy
The premise of Camp Freddy is more guilty pleasure than groundbreaking: Five rock stars, including Dave Navarro (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction) and Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver), are the core group, blasting out covers of Van Halen, Cheap Trick and Led Zeppelin. The trick is that the crowd never knows who the guest stars will be: Slash, Steven Tyler and Robin Zander are among the legends who’ve sat in for a song or two. This show should be extra special: All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Boulder Crest Retreat, a camp for wounded warriors and their families.
Saturday at 8 p.m. 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. 202-265-0930. www.930.com. $50.
