The List — Week of Dec. 4-10

The celebrated violinist, Itzhak Perlman, conducts Mozart’s “Symphony No. 35” (“Haffner”), Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6” (“Pathetique”) and performs Bach’s “Violin Concerto in A minor” at Kennedy Center Concert Hall. — Courtesy Photo

Brain Food

1. Martha Graham Dance Company: America’s oldest contemporary dance company returns to perform Graham’s full-length “Clytemnestra” with live orchestra as part of Modern Masters, The Kennedy Center’s celebration of American modern dance.
Where: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday
Info: $22 to $65; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org

2. Celebrate at Liberia: Come see how Christmas was celebrated at the 1825 Liberia Plantation, where both Confederate and Union forces had their headquarters during the Civil War.
Where: Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas
When: 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday
Info: $10 in advance, $15 at door; 703-368-1873; manassascity.org

3. “Merry Tuba Christmas”: This year marks the 35th anniversary of this holiday tradition, in which tuba, sousaphone and euphonium players from the Washington area play traditional Christmas music. Grab your instrument and arrive for rehearsal at 3 p.m.
Where: The Millennium Stage, The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 6 p.m. Monday
Info: Free; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org

4. ’Twas the night before Christmas: Tour Dumbarton House with holiday music, decoration-making and treats.
Where: Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St. NW
When: 7 to 9 p.m. Friday
Info: $5 children, $10 adults; 202-377-2288; dumbartonhouse.org

5. Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute: Poet Elizabeth Spires, a noted poet of serenity and grace, reads from her own poems as well as those of Emily Dickinson in this annual salute. A wine reception, featuring black cake made from Dickinson’s own recipe, and a book sale and signing will follow the reading.
Where: The Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE
When: 7:30 p.m. Monday
Info: $12; 202-544-7077; folger.edu

Family

1. Falls Church Lutheran breakfast with Santa: Come for breakfast, stay for crafts.
Where: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 3022 Woodlawn Ave., Falls Church
When: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 703-532-6617; www.htluther.org

2. Ornament Decorating Workshop for Families: Be inspired to decorate take-home artifact-shaped dough ornaments based on colors and patterns from the museum’s collection of excavated artifacts.
Where: Alexandria Archaeology Museum, 105 N. Union St.
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 703-838-4399; www.alexandriaarchaeology.org

3. “Frosty the Snowman”: In this new winter production, Frosty comes to life and makes plenty of mischief.
Where: Adventure Theatre, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 5; thereafter Tuesdays through Sundays; check Web site for details; through Jan. 4.
Info: www.adventuretheatre.org

4. Holiday Happenings: Decorate oranges with cloves and make mulling spices, incense pouches and holiday cards. 
Where: The White House Visitors’ Center, 1450 Pennsylvania Ave.
When: Noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, Dec. 9-23.
Info: Free; 202-208-1631;www.nps.gov/whho

5. 9th Annual Young People’s Poetry Marathon in Spanish: A festival of the Spanish language. Teatro de la Luna sponsors this event dedicated to maintaining and appreciating the Spanish language. All young people from the metro area are invited to participate by reciting their own poetry or works by published poets.
Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Public Library, 901 G St. NW
When: 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 10 (elementary schools); 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 11 (middle and high schools)
Info: Free; 202-882-6227; 703-548-3092; www.teatrodelaluna.org

Galleries

1. “Elena Volkova: Airscapes”: Shooting “airscapes” from the windows of aircraft, Kiev-born, Baltimore-based photographer Elena Volkova probes the notions of corporeal versus ethereal; inside versus outside.
Where: Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW
When: Through Dec. 20
Info: Free; www.flashpointdc.org

2. Jonathan B. French, Michael Dax Iacovone and Anne Chan: Photographer Anne Chan shrugs off the monotony of desk life. Michael Dax Iacovone uses maps and equations to guide his camera. Jonathan B. French is a figure of mystery.
Where: Hamiltonian Gallery, 1353 U St. NW
When: Closing Saturday
Info: Free; 202-332-1116; hamiltoniangallery.com

3. “John K. Lawson: Fragile”: Three years ago, artist John Lawson lost most of the work he’d spent the prior quarter-century creating when his New Orleans studio flooded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. This show is partially made up of photos he salvaged, enhanced with encaustic wax to take advantage of the color-bleeding and other accidents of water damage. Lawson’s tattoo designs and beadwork are featured, too.
Where: Honfleur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Road SE
When: Through January 2009
Info: Free; 202-580-5972; www.honfleurgallery.com

4. “Jae Ko: Ten-Year Retrospective”: Her material: rolls of colored adding-machine paper. Her technique: twisting and folding the paper like clay. Her effect: stunning.
Where: The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW
When: Through Dec. 21
Info: Free; 202-885-1300; www.american.edu/cas/katzen/museum

5. “Photofields 2008: Wave / Particle Dance of Life”: New photo-assemblage works by Michael W. Barnard
Where: R Street Gallery, 2108 R. St. NW, second floor
When: Closing Sunday
Info: Free; 202-588-1701

Gatherings

1. “Windows to Wonderland”: Visit the train garden and enjoy pools of holiday plants, and see one of Washington’s largest decorated trees and replicas of National Mall landmarks handcrafted from natural plant material.
Where: U.S. Botanic Gardens, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: Through Jan. 4; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; display can be enjoyed outside through the gallery windows until 11 p.m.
Info: Free; 202-225-8333; usbg.gov

2. Light Up: Watch as the switch is flipped and downtown Rosslyn is illuminated with countless lights rimming the rooftops of high-rise buildings. Enjoy hot chocolate and chili and hear holiday music.
Where: 1100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
When: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Info: Free; 703-522-6628; rosslynva.org

3. “A Soldier’s Christmas”: See re-enactments from the first Virginia Regiment and hear what Christmas in colonial Alexandria was like.
Where: Carlyle House, 121 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday
Info: 10 and under free, $2 for children ages 11 to 17, $4 for 18 and older; 703-549-2997; carlylehouse.org

4. “Mount Vernon By Candlight”: Mrs. Washington invites you into her home, with candlight tours, fireside Christmas caroling, hot cider and ginger cookies. A new tour includes the first and second floors of the mansion and features characters from the Washingtons’ world.
Where: Mount Vernon Estate, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Parkway
When: 5 to 8 p.m. Friday to Sunday and Dec. 12-14
Info: $12 for children 11 and under, $18 for adults; mountvernon.org

5. Four Seasons of Oatlands Art Show and Sale: The Oatlands, a stately mansion, rolling farmland and gardens, was established in the early 19th century as a wheat plantation. Now it is the repository of more than 200 years of American history and culture.
Where: The Carriage House, The Oatlands, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday; through Dec. 23
Info: Free; 703-777-3174; oatlands.org

Movie

‘Cadillac Records’
Critic’s grade: Two stars out of four
Rating: R Running time: 107 minutes
Darnell Martin could have made an entire movie about Muddy Waters. Or Etta James. Or Chuck Berry. Instead, the writer-director has made a movie about all of them with “Cadillac Records,” cramming their complicated individual stories into the larger saga of Chicago-based Chess Records, the label that boosted those stars’ careers and so many others during the 1950s and ’60s. — AP

Music

1. National Symphony Orchestra: The celebrated violinist, Itzhak Perlman, conducts Mozart’s “Symphony No. 35” (“Haffner”), Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 6” (“Pathetique”) and performs Bach’s “Violin Concerto in A minor.”
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 7 p.m. tonight, 1:30 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $20 to $90; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; www.kennedy-center.org

2. Juilliard String Quartet, A Fortas Chamber Concert: The renowned quartet performs works by Mendelssohn, Dutilleux and Ravel.
Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $50; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; www.kennedy-center.org

3. Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Victoria Clark, Tony Award winner for “The Light in the Piazza,” sings selections from her debut CD, “Fifteen Seconds of Grace,” music by great theater composers.
Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $45; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324 or www.kennedy-center.org

4. “The Elixir of Love”: Virginia Opera performs Donizetti’s romantic comedy with a sparkling cast.
Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts
When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday
Info: $44 to $98; 888-945-2468; www.tickets.com

5. Schooner Fare: Down East troubadours return for annual lively romp of maritime folk ditties, pop and original songs conveyed with fun-provoking energy.
Where: The Barns of Wolf Trap
When: 8 p.m. tonight and Friday
Info: $25; 877-965-3872; www.wolftrap.org

Outdoors

1. See the National Christmas Tree: The National Christmas Tree and the 57-tree “Pathway of Peace” are available for viewing daily, with entertainment available in the evening.
Where: The Ellipse near the White House (see Web site for map)
When: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. thereafter through Jan. 1
Info: Free; Entertainment 6 to 8:30 p.m. weekdays; 4 to 8:30 p.m. weekends, Saturday through Dec. 23; 202-208-1631; nps.gov/whho

2. Holiday Boat Parade of Lights: Fifty powerboats, sailboats and the District’s fireboat will parade down the Potomac River from Washington to Alexandria, brightly lit and decorated to compete in different categories.
Where: From Washington Channel (between East Potomac Park and the Southwest waterfront) to Alexandria waterfront marina.
When: 4 p.m. entertainment at Alexandria marina, 5 to 6 p.m. parade; Saturday
Info: Free; 703-838-5005; alexandriava.gov

3. Manassas Tree Lighting: Santa rolls into town by Virginia Railway Express train. The Resounding Joy Handbell Choir from All Saints Church performs. Mayor Hal Parrish leads the lighting of the Christmas Tree, and there are free hayrides, Christmas carols, holiday exhibits, punch and cookies. Visitors can ice-skate at the pavilion and enjoy free admission to the museum.
Where: Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince Williams St., Manassas
When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 703-257-8237; manassascity.org

4. Scottish Christmas Walk Parade: The city of Alexandria invites the public to attend the 38th annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade, which celebrates the city’s Scottish heritage. There will be more than 100 Scottish clans, dancers, bagpipe and drum bands, living history re-enactment groups, dog clubs and a special appearance by Santa Claus. NBC’s Willard Scott is grand marshal.
Where: Begin at corner of Wilkes and St. Asaph streets, Alexandria
When: 11 a.m. Saturday; more events throughout the weekend
Info: Free; 703-548-0111; scottishchristmaswalk.com

5. Kriss Kringle’s arrival: Welcome Kriss Kringle as the City of Frederick opens the holiday season. In the parade, children dressed as snowflakes, reindeer, etc., follow various characters dressed to represent Frederick’s German heritage. The parade ends with giving gifts to children and lighting the tree.
Where: Downtown Frederick, Market and Church streets, Frederick, Md.
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 301-600-2841; celebratefrederick.com

Theatre

1. ‘Twelfth Night’: Shakespeare’s beloved drama, which deals with love lost and found. When a shipwreck separates the twins Viola and Sebastian, a potential tragedy is turned to comedy when the two wash up in a strange and wonderful land transformed by love. Rebecca Bayla Taichman returns to direct this bittersweet classic.
Where: The Harman Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre, 610 F St. NW
When: Through Jan. 4 (see Web site for performance details)
Info: $20 to $55.50; 202-547-1122; www.shakespeare-theatre.org

2. ‘Les Miserables’: The blockbuster musical, based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel about the fugitive Jean Valjean and his nemesis Inspector Javert, is given a whole new approach in a 280-seat black box theater.
Where: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave.
When: Through Jan. 25
Info: 703-820-9771; www.signature-theatre.org

3. ‘Last Days of Judas Iscariot’: Purgatory is the setting for this comedy in which Judas is on trial. He remains catatonic with guilt as the lawyers, judge, witnesses and jury debate everything from free will to divine intervention.
Where: Forum Theatre and Dance, H Street Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE
When: Through Dec. 21
Info: $15 to $20; 202-489-1701; www.forumtd.org

4. ‘A Christmas Carol’: Ford’s Theatre’s annual production of Charles Dickens’ “Ghost Story of Christmas” includes an appearance by Charles Dickens, who visited Washington during the public reading tour of his novel. 
Where: Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW
When: Through Dec. 28
Info: $33 to $65; 202-547-1122; www.fords.org
 
5. ‘A French-Canadian Winter Celebration’: The Washington Revels takes early Quebec as its focus this year.
Where: Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW
When: Dec. 6-14
Info: 202-994-1500; www.revelsdc.org
— Compiled by Emily Cary, Barbara Mackay and Chris Klimek