This post was written by Hatchet staff writer Jeanine Marie.

There’s more to do this Halloweekend than dress up and gorge on candy.

If you need a break from the Halloween madness, dance to Smallpools, jazz and The Glitch Mob, munch shish kabobs at a local beer garden or take the Metro to King Street for photography “beyond the print” at Torpedo Factory Art Center instead.

Thursday

Free Wine and Cheese Tasting at Sonoma: Get the weekend started with a classier afternoon snack than fall ale and Peanut Butter Cups at Sonoma Bar & Restaurant. Known for its California cuisine, the restaurant keeps customers toasty with a fireplace and its extensive wine list. Local cheesemakers will share free samples to end National American Cheese Month the right way.

Sonoma Bar & Restaurant, 223 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Free, 21+ event.

Lettuce at the 9:30 Club: The old-school group with a ’70s soul will celebrate its 20th year as a band at the 9:30 Club. Lettuce has played alongside hardcore rappers like Wu-Tang Clan and Schoolboy Q, but has always stayed true to its smooth songs and funky Brooklyn roots.
9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. Doors at 8 p.m. $20.

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Friday

Smallpools at the 9:30 Club: This early show featuring the alt-pop sounds of Smallpools and the mellow-electro melody of opener Magic Man is the perfect party-starter for later Halloween plans. Smallpools is best known for its not-so-sleepy song “Dreaming,” which was featured on the FIFA 2014 soundtrack, but you may have heard The Chainsmokers Remix before the original tune.
9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. Doors at 5 p.m. $18.

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After-Hours Costume Party at Fantom Comics: Attend a Halloween soirée with an unusual theme, “gender-bending comic book characters.” Fantom Comics’ new location in Dupont Circle will host a cash bar with happy hour-priced drinks and a costume contest, in which cross-dressing and gender-bending are highly encouraged.
Fantom Comics, 2010 P St. NW. 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. This is a 21+ event.

Saturday

Fish ‘n’ Shhhish! at Dacha Beer Garden: Start November with a celebration dedicated not to pumpkin spice or apple cider, but fish peppers, a historical, spicy “secret ingredient” and a 19th-century mutation of the serrano pepper. The event is promoted by City Blossoms, a community youth organization with a focus on urban farming, and proceeds will go to its Harvest Campaign. Besides the great cause, Fish n’ Shhhish! is a great excuse to grab a beer, munch on Dacha’s shish kabobs and spend some time outside before the cold weather hits for good.
Dacha Beer Garden, 1600 7th St. NW. 1 to 6 p.m.

U Street Jazz Jam at Dukem Restaurant and Bar: For late-night Ethiopian eats and live jazz music, there’s no place better than Dukem. The menu features Ethiopian specialties like sambusas, crispy pastries with veggie or meat filling and kifto, minced marinated beef often served with traditional flatbread. There’s plenty of time to dance off calories from the ethnic cuisine: Dukem stays open until 3 a.m. on Saturdays.
Dukem Restaurant and Bar, 12th and U Streets. NW. Doors at 10 p.m., show at 11 p.m.

Sunday

Post-Photography Exhibit at Torpedo Factory Art Center: Take the Blue Line to King Street to see photography with a material twist. The 14 American artists used glass, fabric and wood to experiment with storytelling through photographs. Torpedo Factory Art Center is a nonprofit organization and home to the largest number of publicly accessible working artist studios in the country. The exhibition is on display until Nov. 30.
Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 North Union St., Alexandria, Va. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Glitch Mob at Echostage: Unapologetic and intense, The Glitch Mob will take over Echostage with futuristic dance tracks like “We Can Make the World Stop” and “Can’t Kill Us.” Mob began in 2006 as a hodgepodge of Los Angeles-based DJs and has since developed a more singular sound and identity with its latest album, “Love Death Immortality.” Mob’s songs have the catchiness of Deadmau5 and a quirkiness like that of Die Antwood, and the show is sure to get your heart racing.
Echostage, 2135 Queens Chapel Road. NE. Doors at 7 p.m. $27.50.

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