The List: July 9-15
July 9, 2009
Brain Food
1. Graphic Masters II: Highlights from the Smithsonian American Art Museum: The second in a series of special installations, this exhibit celebrates the extraordinary variety and accomplishment of American artists' works on paper. These exceptional watercolors, pastels, and drawings from the 1920s to the 1960s reveal the central importance of works on paper for American artists, both as studies for creations in other media and as finished works of art. .
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW
When: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Jan. 10, 2010
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; americanart.si.edu
2. Adam Hurt: Drawing on diverse musical influences to create his own elegantly innovative sound, the 25-year-old claw-hammer banjo player has placed in or won most of the major old-time banjo competitions
Where: Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., NW
When: 6 p.m. tonight
Info: Free; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
3. "Inventing Marcel Duchamp": More than 100 portraits and self-portraits of the iconoclastic artist have been assembled, including those by Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns.
Where: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Eighth and F Streets NW
When: Through August
Info: 202-633-1000; si.edu
4. Women and Decolonization: Historian Philippa Levine presents "Still Invisible: Women, Gender and Decolonization" in a program sponsored by the Kluge Center. In her lecture, Levine will discuss why decolonization studies rarely include the contributions of women, from the perspectives of women involved in anti-colonial movements and women who were part of the colonial authority structure.
Where: Library of Congress, Kluge Center Meeting Room, Thomas Jefferson Building
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday
Info: 202-707-2692; loc.gov
5. "Luminous Silence": Landscape and nature photography by Margot S. Neuhaus
Where: Organization of American States, 1889 F St. NW
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Friday
Info: oas.org
Family
1. Billy Jonas: Jonas' heartwarming work has been enjoyed across North America since 1987. Previously a member of the highly acclaimed duo, "The Billys," he has been featured at prestigious festivals and venues nationwide and shared stages with some of the world's favorite acoustic artists.
Where: Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna
When: 11 a.m. Saturday
Info: $10 for everyone 1 and older; jamminjava.com
2. "Freshest of All Time": Breakdance crews from the United States and abroad square off.
Where: St. Stephen's Church, 1525 Newton St. NW
When: Doors open at 6 p.m.; show at 7 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-667-1192; hhtf.org
3. Mongolian Naadam Festival: The annual Mongolian sports festival features throat singing, contortionists, live music, and traditional mask dancing. Children can participate in chess, archery and races.
Where: Barcroft Sports and Fitness Center and Park, 4200 S. Four Mile Run Dr., Arlington
When: noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Info: Free; 703-228-1850; arlingtonarts.org
4. "All That Was Left of Them": Students from Wesleyan University rework stories by Hans Christian Anderson.
Where: Goethe-Institut, 814 7th St., NW
When: 7:30 p.m. tonight; 8 p.m. Friday; 1 and 5:15 p.m. Saturday; 5 p.m. Sunday
Info: 866-811-4111; capfringe.org
5. "Bugs Bunny on Broadway with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra": The "wascally wabbit" takes up the baton for a film and music event.
Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md.
When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: 202-397-7328; merriweathermusic.com
Galleries
1. "The Art of Power: Royal Armor and Portraits from Imperial Spain": Drawing upon the Spanish Royal Armory in Madrid as well as other European sources, this fascinating show explores how Spain used armor as a visual symbol of its military might from the 15th through the 18th centuries.
Where: National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through Nov. 1
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
2. "Kodachrome Culture: The American Tourist in Europe": Postwar prosperity made international vacations a possibility for an unprecedented number of Americans in the middle of the 20th century. But many more got their first glimpse of European leisure destinations in the pages of National Geographic magazine, whose international photography is celebrated in this sumptuous survey.
Where: National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW
When: Through Sept. 7
Info: Free; 202-857-7588; events.nationalgeographic.com/events/exhibits/2009/06/25/kodachrome-culture/
3. "Victor Ekpuk": Drawing upon ancient African ideographic writing, Nigerian-born, D.C.-based mixed media stylist Victor Ekpuk tells stories in his own invented script. It's beautiful and hypnotic, if incomprehensible.
Where: Long View Gallery, 1302 Ninth St. NW
When: Through July 18
Info: Free; 202-232-4788; longviewgallery.com
4. "Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of Our 44th President": "Visual silent testimonies of joy" in honor of the new Commander-in-Chief.
Where: Historical Society of the District of Columbia, 801 K St. NW
When: Through July 26
Info: Free; 202-383-1850; historydc.org
5. "Strictly Painting VII": Independent curator Vivienne Lassman is the juror of the MPA's biennial survey of contemporary painting.
Where: McLean Project for the Arts at McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean
When: Through Aug. 1
Info: Free; 703-790-1953; mpaart.org
Gatherings
1. Elton John and Billy Joel: The piano men team up for the first ever concert at Nationals Park.
Where: Nationals Park, 1500 S. Capitol St. SE
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $56.50 to $182; 588-632-6287
2. "Psycho": Watch Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller with original voice track while the BSO performs Bernard Herrmann's famous score.
Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, N. Bethesda
When: 8 p.m. tonight
Info: $25 to $55; 410-782-8000; www.strathmore.org
3. "Open Forge": Drop by to watch, participate and learn as members of the Blacksmiths' Guild of the Potomac use fire and muscle to form raw iron into useful tools and beautiful objects.
Where: Meet at the Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Rd., Arlington
When: noon to 4 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 703-228-3403; for all ages.
5. Screening of "Trouble the Water" with panel discussion to follow and "Block Party for Justice": One DC hosts this screening of a film about Hurricane Katrina and a celebration of local arts and culture with free food, entertainment, carnival games and face painting.
Where: Screening: Public Welfare Foundation, 1200 U St. NW; Block party: Shaw-Howard University Metro Station, Seventh and S Streets
When: Screening: 6:30 Friday; Block party noon to 6 p.m. Saturday
Info: Screening free, $10 donation suggested; block party free; 202-232-2915; www.washingtonpeacecenter.org
Movies
"Bruno"
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen
Director: Dan Mazer
Rated R for pervasive strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity and language.
Running Time: 83 minutes
Flamboyant Austrian fashionista Brno takes his show to America.
"I Love You Beth Cooper"
Denis Cooverman, a geeky high school valedictorian, decides he has nothing to lose by making a play for Beth Cooper, the popular cheerleader, declaring his love during the graduation speech. Much to his surprise, Beth shows up at his door that very night and decides to show him the best night of his life.
"Hurt Locker"
When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge, by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. James behaves as if he's indifferent to death. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James' true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever.
"Moon"
Astronaut Sam Bell has a quintessentially personal encounter while stranded on the moon for a three-year period.
"Blood: The Last Vampire"
A vampire named Saya, who is part of covert government agency that hunts and destroys demons in a post-WWII Japan, is inserted in a military school to discover which one of her classmates is a demon is disguise.
Music
1. Video Games Live!: Jack Wall conducts the National Symphony Orchestra in a classical composition that coordinates with favorite video games, among them Myst, Tron, Zelda, Final Fantasy and Super Mario Brothers, all served up on giant screens both in-house and on the lawn.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $32 to $48 in-house, $20 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
2. Hamlisch Conducts Hamlisch: The National Symphony Orchestra performs selections from the composer's prize-winning store of Broadway and Hollywood scores, among them "A Chorus Line," "The Sting," "The Way We Were" and his latest, "The Informant" with Matt Damon due out in September.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8:15 p.m. Saturday
Info:$32 to $48 in-house, $20 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
3. Roseanne Cash: The Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/author performs her own hits and essential country songs suggested by her father and recorded for her upcoming album "The List" due out in the fall.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $35; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
4. Old Time Banjo Festival: Grammy winning duo Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer welcome Mike Seeger, Bruce Molsky, Clark Buehling, The Old 78s and Adam Hurt to a rollicking evening of live, unadulterated banjo music.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $29.50 at Birchmere Box office or birchmere.com. Preceded by a Banjo Contest at 11 a.m. Saturday at House of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park (winner performs with them at the Birchmere that evening); followed by banjo workshops at noon Sunday; info@oldtimebanjofestival.com
5. Phil Myers & Liang Wang: Maestro Loren Maazel's Castleton Festival presents New York Philharmonic Principal Horn Myers, Principal Oboe Wang and pianist Virginia Perry Lamb performing works by Telemann, Schuller, Piantoni, Britten, Piazzolla, Ravel and Reinecke.
Where: The Theatre at Washington, 291 Gay St., Washington, Va.
When: 7:30 p.m. tonight
Info: $25; 540-937-4969, (866) 974-0767; castletonfestival.org
Also worth noting:
6. Last Train Home: The gurus of roots rock as DC loves it return from Nashville for a special outdoor homecoming.
Where: Strathmore Backyard Theater Stage (under a tent)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: $10, cash only at the gate (first come, first served). Bring blankets or low beach chairs; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
Outdoors
1. "Growing Green: A Family-Friendly Gardening Festival": Explore acres of exotic and familiar flowers, plants and bushes at this oasis in the city. An afternoon of family-friendly activities.
Where: U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday
Info: $5 children; $10 adults; 202-245-2726; usna.usda.gov
2. "Frontstage: Rebellious Country": Country rock, free concert.
Where: Tingey Plaza behind U.S. DOT building, New Jersey Avenue and Tingey Street SE
When: noon to 2 p.m. July 15
Info: Free; capitolriverfront.org
3. USA/Alexandria Birthday Bash: The City of Alexandria celebrates its 260th birthday as well as the nation's birthday. There will be music by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, poetry, birthday cake and fireworks.
Where: Oronoco Bay Park, Oronoco Street and Union Street, Alexandria
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 703-883-4686; alexandriava.gov
4. Calling all Civil War buffs: "Civil War Artillery." Bring the family and learn to work as a team to load and aim a replica Civil War cannon. Your guide will talk about the different types of artillery used in the Civil War you'll "bombard" a replica fortification.
Where: Meet at Fort C. F. Smith Park, 2411 N. 24th St., Arlington
When: 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday
Info: $5; registration required: 703-228-4747; program # 644355D
5. Sixteenth Street Corridor: This historic corridor stretches through streets lined with grand mansions, elegant row houses, and urban vistas. Make time to explore the impressive architectural styles of Lower Sixteenth Street where Queen Anne, Italianate, Romanesque and Beaux-Arts style homes mingle with imposing institutional buildings and notable churches along this broad thoroughfare. Sixteenth Street is rife with cultural hot spots. As you make your way along the avenue, be sure to stop by the Washington DC Jewish Community Center where you can peruse the gallery, have a kosher dinner and see plays at Theater J.
Where: Start at the White House, head through Lafayette Park and proceed to Adams Morgan.
When: any day
Info: Free; 202-661-7581; culturaltourismdc.org; click on "Historic Neighborhoods."
Theater
1. "Spring Awakening": Based on the 1891 play by Franz Wedekind, "Spring Awakening" is a fusion of views on morality and sexuality, set to a rock 'n roll score. Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, "Spring Awakening" celebrates the unforgettable journey from youth to adulthood with power and poignancy. Parental discretion is advised due to mature content, including brief partial nudity and strong language.
Where: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through Aug. 2
Info: $25 to $90; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. "Ain't Misbehavin'": With sultry, sassy, exuberant music "Ain't Misbehavin'" brings to life the work and life of legendary pianist and composer Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller. Its show-stopping numbers recreate the unforgettable feel of 1930s Harlem.
Where: Olney Theatre, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md.
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 6:30 p.m. Sunday (except July 19); 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; 1:30 p.m. July 15
Info: $26; 301-924-3400; olneytheatre.org
3. "Captain Drew on Leave": It's summer 1905 and Captain Drew -- on leave from the Royal Navy, looking for romance -- finds himself in an unexpected situation when he meets the wife of a local industrialist.
Where: Quotidian Theatre, The Writers' Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda
When: Through Aug. 9
Info: $15 and $20; 301-816-1023; quotidiantheatre.org
4. "Dark Play or Stories for Boys": A Washington, D.C., premiere of Carlos Murillo's play explores the power-and potential risk-of inventing yourself online.
Where: Forum Theatre, H St. Playhouse, 1365 H St.
When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; through Aug. 2
Info: $15 to $20; 202-544-0703; forumtd.org
5. "King Lear": Shakespeare's heart-rending tragedy about a monarch's division of his kingdom among his three daughters, "Lear" explores the most basic questions of human existence: love and duty, power and loss, good and evil.
Where: The Shakespeare Theatre, Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street, NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday; 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through July 22
Info: $20 to $84.75; 202-547-1122; shakespeare-theatre.org
