Where else are you going to find John Lithgow and Rob Zombie mentioned in the same roundup? Five things to do this weekend:
Sunday: Halloween Hootenanny at Merriweather
We’ll ignore the obvious that Halloween isn’t for another two weeks because this Sunday night, Merriweather features Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper. Billing themselves as the “Gruesome Twosome,” Cooper and Zombie unite generations across 40 years of rock ‘n’ roll. With a bunch of other acts. Bonus: Compete in the costume contest for a chance to win two lawn tickets to every Merriweather show in 2011. Details: 3 p.m. doors. $40 to $75. merriweathermusic.com.
More live music: The Dead Kennedys are at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel on Saturday. rockandrollhoteldc.com
Friday and Saturday: Mike Birbiglia and Craig Ferguson at the Warner Theatre
The Warner Theatre in D.C. has two great comedic nights this weekend. On Friday, enjoy comedian Mike Birbiglia at 8 p.m. $29.50-$55. On Saturday, it’s Craig Ferguson, he of “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” fame. Details: 7 p.m. $35 to $55. warnertheatre.com
Big comedy weekend: Paula Poundstone is at the Birchmere on Saturday.
Through Oct. 20: D.C. Labor FilmFest
The D.C. Labor FilmFest is back again with six days of movies geared toward work and workers. The main draw here is the D.C. premiere of “Fair Game,” a new film about the Valerie Plame case. Plame will be in attendance at the Tuesday premiere. Other Labor FilmFest highlights include “Fast Food Nation” on Saturday, “The Informant!” on Saturday and Monday, and, per tradition, “Office Space” on Saturday. At AFI Silver Theatre. Show times vary. General admission is $10. For more info, visit dclaborfilmfest.org or afi.com
Also at AFI: Halloween on Screen kicks off Friday and runs through Oct. 30.
Saturday: John Lithgow at McLean Community Center
Here’s something to check out. John Lithgow — yes, the fantastic actor of theater and “3rd Rock from the Sun” — is scheduled to perform his one-man show “Stories by Heart” on Saturday at the McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre. Tickets are $75, $50 for McLean District residents. 8 p.m. For more information, visit mcleancenter.org.
Stick around: Audience members are invited to a reception after the performance.
Through Oct. 24: OVO at National Harbor
If you haven’t seen a Cirque du Soleil performance, you really are missing out. The brilliant movements, symmetry and feats of contortion are amazing to witness, difficult to describe and unlike any theater show you’ve seen. At the Plateau at National Harbor.
Grab dinner: National Harbor has plenty of places to dine. Maybe try the New York steakhouse Bond 45.
