Brain Food
1. “A Great Day in Harlem”: One morning in 1958, nearly 60 musicians showed up at 126th Street in Harlem to be photographed for Esquire Magazine. In this documentary narrated by Quincy Jones, you’ll learn the story behind these three celebrated generations of jazz greats.
Where: Terrace Gallery, The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 4 p.m. Jan. 25.
Info: $15; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. Happy Chinese New Year! SAAM invites the whole neighborhood to join in a celebration of Chinese New Year. Festivities to bring in the Year of the Ox, including the Lion Dance Parade and performances by the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe. Make red (red is the color of luck) paper lanterns in celebration!
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Street, Kogod Courtyard
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 24
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; www.americanart.si.edu
3. “Preparing for the Ball: Costume of the Early Nation”: A showcase of historic American eveningwear from 1775 to 1825. The exhibit was organized to coincide with the presidential inauguration.
Where: Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St. NW
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays (tours begin on the hour) through July 4
Info: $5; free for children and students; 202-337-2288; www.dumbartonhouse.org
4. Evening at the Embassy of Austria: Special Opera Presentation: Leave 21st century America behind as you step onto Austrian soil for a truly unique European cultural experience. The program will feature excerpts from four 19th century operas that capture the complexity, longing and passion of stories that speak to our common humanity.
Where: The Austrian Embassy, 3524 International Court NW
When: 7:30 to 10 p.m. Jan. 22
Info: $65; www.austria.org
5. Scythian Thursdays at Fadó: D.C.’s hottest Irish band called Scythian (sith-ee-yin) comes to Fadó every Thursday.
Where: Fadó Irish Pub, 808 7th St.
When: 9 p.m. every Thursday
Info: $5 to $10 cover charge; 202-789-0066; www.fadoirishpub.com
Family
1. National Puzzle Day: For puzzle lovers ages 5 to 10. Celebrate this special day four days early and learn puzzle history, learn about how many types of puzzles exist, try some … even make one yourself.
Where: Meet at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 1 to 2 p.m. Jan. 25
Info: $2; 703-228-4747; www.arlingtonva.us
2. “Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip Hop Creation Myth”: Written and directed by Psalmayene 24, this theater piece finds Zomo rapping to the sky god, telling him that he wants power. The sky god gives him three pieces of advice, which Zomo follows and finally finds something better far than power. For children 4 and up.
Where: Imagination Stage, The Lerner Theatre, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda
When: 12:30 and 3:30 Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 24-Feb. 8
Info: $10; 301-280-1660; www.imaginationstage.org
3. Chinese New Year: Families with children ages 4 and up. Grab the bull by the horns and celebrate the Year of the Ox. Learn why the ox was given this honor.
Where: Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 3 to 4 p.m. Jan. 24
Info: $2; registration required; 703-228-4747; www.arlingtonva.us
4. “Starry Starry Night”: Stone Lion Puppet Theatre’s unique hand and rod puppets tell the story of Wacky Professor Van Gogh Go, who will catapult you into an incredible journey through space, gazing at stars and constellations.
Where: Discovery Theater, Air & Space Museum, 6th and Independence Ave.
When: 10:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Jan. 22 and 23
Info: $6 and $5; 202-633-8700; www.discoverytheater.org
5. “Under the Ice”: Suspended animation! Voracious predators! Oxygen supply dropping! No, it’s not the latest alien movie. It’s winter in the pond. Learn what’s hiding in that cold, dark water. An indoor program that goes outdoor (weather permitting) to see what can be hauled up from the depths.
Where: Meet at Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Jan. 28
Info: $2 fee; 228-4747; registration necessary; www.registration.arlingtonva.
Galleries
1. “Graphic Masters: Highlights from the Smithsonian American Art Museum”: Childe Hassam, Winslow Homer, and Man Ray are among the artists celebrated in this exhibition illustrating the depth and richness of SAAM’s permanent collection.
Where: The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW
When: Through May 25
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; americanart.si.edu
2. “Perspectives: Anish Kapoor”: The Sackler continues its contemporary Asian art series, “Perspectives,” with this 16-foot by seven foot, polished-steel sculpture by India’s Anish Kapoor, a close cousin of his iconic “Cloud Gate” in Chicago’s Millennium Park.
Where: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Jefferson Drive and 12 Street SW
When: Through July 19
Info: Free; 202-633-4880; www.asia.si.edu
3. “The Finishing Touch: Accessories from the Bolivian Highlands”: Treat yourself to a taste of highlander chic through this collection of more than 100 belts, bags and other accessories made and used by the indigenous people of the Bolivian highlands during the first half of the 20th century.
Where: The Textile Museum, 2320 S St. NW
When: Through Feb. 15
Info: Free; $5 donation suggested; 202-667-0441; www.textilemuseum.org
4. “Dame Darcy: GASOLINE”: Musician and “Meat Cake” cartoonist Dame Darcy shows original drawings from the 2008 graphic novel, “Gasoline.”
Where: Civilian Art Projects, 406 Seventh St. NW, third floor
When: Through Feb. 7
Info: Free
5. “Scale Matters: Photographs from the Joseph and Charlotte Lichtenberg Collection”:
This set of seven massive photos celebrates environments pastoral, industrial, and of every type in between.
Where: The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW
When: Through Feb. 1
Info: Saturday-Sunday — $12 / $10 students and seniors 62+ / free for 18 and under; Tuesday-Friday — donations gladly accepted; 202-387-2151; www.phillipscollection.org
Gatherings
1. “Hawaii,” the newest permanent exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Gardens: The display includes rare and endangered plants from our 50th state, as well as a “lava flow,” waterfall and other typically Hawaiian land features.
Where: U.S. Botanic Gardens, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day
Info: Free; 202-225-8333; botanicgardens.org
2. An Evening with George Pelecanos: Esquire magazine calls George Pelecanos “the poet laureate of the D.C. crime world.” Join him for a discussion of his work including his latest crime noir, “The Turnaround.” Pelecanos also wrote extensively for the critically hailed HBO series “The Wire.” Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Where: Central Library Auditorium, Arlington Central Library
When: 7 p.m. Jan. 26
Info: Free; 703-228-6545; arlingtonva.us
3. “Presidents in Waiting”: John Adams viewed the office of the vice president as “the most insignificant office” ever invented by man. But 14 vice presidents have succeeded to the presidency. The National Portrait Gallery’s exhibit focuses on these men and how they became presidents.
Where: The National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F streets
When: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Jan. 3, 2010
Info: Free; 202-633-8300; www.npg.si.edu
4. Madame Tussaud’s introduces Barack Obama: Madame Tussaud’s will introduce its newest figure just in time for the inauguration. Barack Obama will join other life-size look-alikes of Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Reagan, Nixon, Clinton and Bush. All are available for photo ops.
Where: Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum, 1025 F St. NW
When: Special inauguration hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Jan. 24; then 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: $12.38 to $15.47; www.madametussauds.com
5. “Cityscapes Revealed: Highlights from the Collection”: This first-ever retrospective exhibition of the National Building Museum’s unique collection explores quintessentially American, 20th-century buildings from center-city mansions to main street storefronts and sleek downtown skyscrapers. Anchored by a series of large architectural elements, this walking tour of the cityscape is complemented by exquisitely detailed drawings; rare, early-20th-century photographs; and smaller-scale fragments from national historic landmarks – including the former U.S. Pension Building, the museum’s extraordinary home.
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 31, 2010
Info: $5 donation suggested; 202-272-2448; www.nbm.org
Movies
‘Waltz With Bashir’
Director: Ari Folman
Rated R for some disturbing images of atrocities, strong violence, brief nudity and a scene of graphic sexual content.
Running Time: 90 minutes
In Hebrew with English subtitles
One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there’s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early 1980s. Ari is surprised that he can’t remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. Rated R.
‘Inkheart’
Mo is a gentle bookbinder with an extraordinary secret. His daughter Meggie loves books, but Mo has refused to read aloud to her since her mother disappeared years before. However, after a mysterious stranger visits them, father and daughter go into hiding to escape from the clutches of a villainous ruler and his band of rogues. Rated PG.
‘Underworld: Rise of the Lycans’
Learn the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. Rated R.
Music
1. Tommy Tune & The Manhattan Rhythm Kings: Winner of nine Tony Awards and a host of other major honors presents his song-and-dance repertoire of show standards replete with white tie and tails.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Info: $25 to $65; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
2. National Symphony Orchestra: Emmanuel Krivine conducts the NSO in “Apex” by French composer Pascal Dusapin (2002 composer of the year), the Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique” and Ravel’s “Piano Concerto in G major” performed by guest Yundi Li.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Info: $20 to $80; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org.
3. Benny Golson: The saxophonist celebrates his 80th birthday with Ron Carter, Curtis Fuller, Al Jarreau, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and more all-stars.
Where: Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $22 to $50; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
4. WPAS Men and Women of the Gospel Mass Choir: Stanley Thurston directs the choir in gospel music by guest director Evelyn Simpson Curenton and others, with special guest artist Kurt Carr.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Info: $25 to $59; 202-785-9727; wpas.org
5. Arturo Sandoval: Cuba-born jazz trumpeter, winner of Latin Grammy award, blows away audiences wherever he plays.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Info: $49.50; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
Also worth noting:
6. Jean Carne: Jazz and soul vocalist with five-octave range improvises her stylish repertoire with pizzazz.
Where: Blues Alley
When: 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday
Info: $25; 202-337-4141; bluesalley.com
7. Washington National Opera Young Artists in Concert: Placido Domingo conducts the WNO orchestra and members of the WNO Young Artist Program in American and international works.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 4 p.m. Sunday
Info: $38 to $78; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org.
Outdoors
1. See rare nocturnal acrobats: There are flying squirrels throughout the wooded neighborhoods of Arlington, but they are seldom seen. Join an indoor presentation about flying squirrels, then tiptoe outside to see them glide in for an evening meal.
Where: Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 5:30-6:45 Jan. 24
Info: $4; reservations required; children under 3 free; 703-228-4747
2. Midcity at the Crossroads: Shaw neighborhood: Heritage Trail’s 17 poster-sized illustrated signs combine story telling with historic images. The Shaw neighborhood you will discover is one of the city’s oldest, where traces can be found of nearly every group that has called Washington home. This two-hour self-guided tour ends a block from where it starts.
Where: The first sign is at Seventh Street and Mount Vernon Place NW at the front of the Washington Convention Center.
When: Any day
Info: Free; 202-661-7581; www.CulturalTourismDC.org
3. To cap off your inaugural week in Washington, here’s an opportunity to suffer in the freezing cold for the sake of art! Bring your sturdy tripod and mittens to capture Washington’s most famous nighttime view down the Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial, along with close-up photographs of the illuminated Lincoln statue, the faces of the soldiers at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Albert Einstein Memorial and more. All of these memorials give much more dramatic pictures at night than during daytime. Emphasis will be on proper use of white balance settings for digital cameras and tungsten filters for film cameras.
Where: Entrance to Lincoln Memorial Visitor Center at the lower left corner of the memorial
When: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23
Info: $69; reservations required; 202-537-0937; 877-512-5969; www.washingtonphotosafari.com
4. The U.S. National Arboretum is one of the city’s finest outdoor treasures – and a wonderful hiking venue, too. This hike is a 7.5-mile convoluted loop with 2,200 feet of elevation change. It’s mostly on paved roads that are well marked and usually used only by a few strollers, joggers, bikers and car-enclosed sightseers, as well as arboretum security patrols. On its 446 acres, the arboretum contains formal, landscaped gardens, aquatic plants and various collections of rare trees and shrubs.
Where: 3501 New York Ave. SW
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Dec. 25
Info: Free; 202-245-2726
5. View extraordinary art sculptures and gardens while ice skating at this rink located across from the National Gallery of Art in downtown Washington. The National Gallery of Art ice-skating rink is open mid-November through mid-March, weather permitting.
Where: National Gallery of Art, Seventh and Constitution Avenue NW
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
Info: $7 adults; $6 children/seniors; skate rental $3; 202-737-4215; www.nga.gov
Theatre
1. “The Cherry Orchard”: Anton Chekhov’s poetic drama about the aristocratic Madame Renevskaya, who must sell her cherry orchard in order to pay the mortgage on her family’s property. This classic contains typical Chekhovian humor, but throughout the play are clear messages about important issues in end-of-the-19th-century Russian history, including class conflict, the fall of the aristocracy, the rise of the bourgeoisie, materialism and familial disintegration.
Where: Washington Shakespeare Theatre, 601 South Clark St., Arlington
When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Feb. 15
Info: $25 to $30; pay-what-you-can performances available; 800-494-8497; washingtonshakespeare.org
2. “The House of Yes”: Stroyka Theater presents this black comedy, which reveals the shocking secrets of a strange family.
Where: Round House Theatre, Silver Spring, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring
When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 25
Info: $15 to $20; 301-445-0145; stroykatheater.com
3. “The Marriage of Figaro”: Constellation Theater produces Beaumarchais’ zany, sophisticated farce, full of mistaken identities and sexual intrigue.
Where: Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 22; 8 p.m. Feb. 16
Info: $15 to $20; 202-204-7741; 800-494-8497; constellationtheatre.org
4. Winter Carnival of New Works: The Madcap Players present this series of nine 10-minute plays from local artists.
Where: H Street Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE
When: 8 p.m. Jan. 22-24, 29-31; 2 p.m. Jan 25 and Feb. 1
Info: $11 to $16; 800-494-8497; hstreetplayhouse.com
5. “Les Miserables”: This blockbuster musical, based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel about the fugitive Jean Valjean and his relentless opponent, the police inspector Javert, is given a new look in a pared-down, but rich and full production, in a black-box theater.
Where: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington
When: Extended through Feb. 22
Info: $75 to $87; student/family discounts available; 703-820-9771; signature-theatre.org
— Compiled by Emily Cary, Chris Klimek and Barbara Mackay
