D.C. weekend: History Conference, Petalpalooza and Spring Pop-up

1. 📚 D.C. History Conference

Learn about progressive Black feminism, Chinese poetry and art, the Black deaf community and LGBTQ+ activism within the city's history from community leaders and historians at the D.C. History Conference.

Why it matters: This is the 50th year of the conference that discusses the past, present and future of D.C.

Catch up quick: The Home Rule Act of 1973 allowed D.C. residents to elect a mayor and council, giving the city Mayor Walter Washington and the first D.C. Council.

• "We're looking forward to reflecting on both of these anniversaries side by side," D.C. History Center executive director Laura Brower Hagood told Axios.

If you go: Programming goes through Saturday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. View schedule here. Free

• The closing keynote is "A History of Politicizing D.C. Crime and How Washingtonians Fought Back."
• Worthy of your time: The Justice Department is boosting efforts to crack down on D.C. crime, writes Cuneyt.

2. 🌸 Petalpalooza

• Enjoy a day of live music, art installations, a climbing wall, cherry blossom-themed kids activities, yoga, food trucks, fireworks and more, 1–9pm Saturday at the Capitol Riverfront Navy Yard Metro. Free.

3. 🍷 A Night of Fine Wine

• Sip wines from multiple regions of France in an immersive wine tasting experience, 6-9pm Friday at the Embassy of France. View wine list here. Tickets start at $105.

4. 🛍️ Unique Markets Annual Spring Pop-up

• Shop over 70 small businesses and meet local designers, 10am–5pm Saturday at Dock 5 at Union Market. Tickets for 2-day access are $16.

5. ✍️ Spring Poetry Slam

• Enjoy a youth poetry slam in a garden, 2–4pm at the Washington Youth Garden in the National Arboretum. Free.

6. ☕ Coffee & Canvas

• Enjoy local coffee, breakfast tacos, mimosas, live music and art at an outdoor market with local artisan goods and small businesses, noon–5pm Saturday at Metrobar. Free.