National Union Building

I Regret Nothing is the sort of one-person show that earns its laughs by refusing to tidy up the embarrassing parts. Sara Polon tells the story of a successful entrepreneur who finds herself badly out of her depth, tracing a path that includes bombing on a New York comedy stage and an unfortunate 4am trip to the ER. The premise sounds like a setup for a collection of punchlines, but the show is billed as a story about the things people rarely talk about, with the messiness and vulnerability left intact. That gives the comedy some weight without turning the evening into a therapy session. Running September 1 through 3 at the National Union Building, the 90-minute show starts at 7:30pm, with doors opening an hour earlier for drinks. If you like personal storytelling that can get uncomfortable before finding its way back to a laugh, this is a worthwhile small-room outing.

Taste of DC Academy brings together two things that Washington does exceptionally well: serious food culture and a good excuse to spend an afternoon eating and drinking. The focus here is barbecue paired with bourbon, a combination that gives the experience a clear point of view rather than trying to cover every corner of the local dining scene. The format is built around tasting, with the chance to dig into the details behind the food and pours instead of simply showing up for a meal. That makes it a better pick for curious diners who enjoy knowing what is on the plate and in the glass. It also has the easy social appeal of a shared tasting without requiring the commitment of a formal dinner. If you like your food events with a little education and a lot of flavor, this one earns a spot on the calendar.