October in the Neighborhood: Spooky Movie Nights, ‘Celebrate VNMS,’ pollinator plantings, Halloween events

The UDC amphitheater is a terrific place to enjoy movies outdoors. Picnics are encouraged. (2021 Van Ness Main Street photo)

Friday nights are a little spooky this month. Van Ness Main Street and several local sponsors are hosting three Spooky Movie Nights at the UDC amphitheater (next to the Theater of the Arts and the UDC tennis courts). Tickets are free (and linked below) and carryout picnics are encouraged.

• October 3: Beetlejuice
• October 10: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
• October 24: The Addams Family

Celebrate the neighborhood with the neighbors. October 11th is “Celebrate VNMS” day, and like last year’s Van Ness Main Street event, it promises to be entertaining for all ages, with several free events (including a jazz concert at Forest Hills Park) and the Main Street’s Second Saturday pop-up market returning to 4340 Connecticut Avenue. Updates to come on various social media platforms (@vannessmainst), on Eventbrite, and at VanNessMainStreet.com.

Plant pollinators and pull weeds. October 11th is also the first day of Master Gardener Kathy Sykes’ annual fall planting and beautification campaign along Connecticut Avenue. Her partnership with VNMS and ANC 3F focuses primarily on native plants that provide sustenance and homes for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Those who wish to volunteer are asked to email Kathy at [email protected] with their preferred dates. All ages are welcome. Kids younger than 16 must be accompanied by a grownup, and students can earn community service hours.

Kathy and her volunteers will be working from 2 to 4 p.m. on the following days and locations:

• October 11: Calvert Woodley
• October 12: Franklin Montessori School
• October 13 (Indigenous Peoples Day): Rosemary Bistro Cafe
• October 18: Potbelly/UDC Law School
• October 19: Former Walgreens/Tikka
• October 25: Politics and Prose
• October 26: Forest Hills Senior Living

And on the morning of the 11th, Kathy will don her Weed Warrior hat to lead volunteers removing invasive plants from the wooded area behind the Politics and Prose parking lot. The event, from 10 a.m. until noon, is part of the Rock Creek Conservancy Weed Wrangle now under way.

Hang out with local astronomers and geologist. The Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory at 5241 Broad Branch Road has for years been the sort of neighbor that invites people over for cookies and good conversation. On October 25th, it’s inviting the neighbors over for ice cream and s’mores… with a science-based twist.  That ice cream will be frozen with nitrogen. And the marshmallows on those s’mores will be toasted by the sun. These are just some of the demonstrations and activities planned for the Carnegie EPL’s first-ever open house. The event is free, and registration is encouraged, but not required.

“Spooky season,” but super cute. Hillwood Museum’s Spooky Pooch Howl-o-ween Celebration on October 18th is sure to be adorable. The same goes for Van Ness Main Street’s Halloween events the following weekend.

On Sunday, October 26th, VNMS hosts the free Spooktacular at Forest Hills Playground (10 a.m. until noon). The party will be followed by trick-or-treating along Connecticut Avenue (at participating businesses 12:30 to 2 p.m.). And at 5 p.m., costumed pets are to gather at Park Van Ness for the Spooky Bark Parade. Find more details and sign up here to receive updates. Also, volunteers are needed for the Spooktacular, and can sign up here.

Forest Hills Connection is an editorially independent program of Van Ness Main Street.