Best Music 1. The Choral Arts Society of Washington: “Holiday Treasures from Russia” with special guests the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra, mezzo-soprano Irina Shishkova and conductors Dmitry Liss and Enkhbaatar Baatarjav.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Info: $15 and up; 202-344-3669; choralarts.org
2. “Messiah” Sing-Along: Barry Hemphill conducts the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, a 200-voice choir, professional soloists and the audience in selections from Handel’s masterpiece.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: One ticket per person in line will be given away in the Hall of Nations beginning at 6 p.m.
3. Washington Symphonic Brass: Maestro Piotr Gajewski conducts the 17-member brass and percussion ensemble in holiday favorites and great literature from across five centuries written for their instruments.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $35 and up, kids free; 301-581-5100; nationalphilharmonic.org
4. All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam: A tradition for 13 years with host/vibraphonist Chuck Redd, pianist Robert Redd, drummer Lenny Robinson, trumpeter Tom Williams, bassist James King and vocalist Delores Williams.
Where: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Info: Free
5. The Beltway Brass Quintet: Zack Smith leads the jazzy arrangements of favorite songs from TV Christmas shows.
Where: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
When: Noon Saturday
Info: Free
Best Brainfood
1. Botanic Garden Christmas Display: The famous Garden Railway on display in the East Gallery features imaginative buildings created with plant materials. This popular exhibit includes one of the largest indoor decorated trees in Washington, and the capital’s landmark buildings in the Garden Court. You’ll see a “living history” of poinsettias in colors ranging from classic reds to pink, speckled and white.
Where: United States Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Info: Free; 202-225-8333; usbg.gov
2. Holiday Planes and Trains: Miniature trains, villages, tunnel and depots are decked out in the yuletide spirit.
Where: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday
Info: $2 to $4; 301-864-6029; collegeparkaviationmuseum.com
3. “A New Look: Samuel F.B. Morse’s ‘Gallery of the Louvre’ “: A documentary on the extensive six-month conservation treatment of the “Gallery of the Louvre,” this 30-minute film shares new information about the painting and features interviews with conservators, curators and other specialists.
Where: West Building Ground Floor, Lecture Hall, National Gallery of Art, Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through Feb. 29; see website for times
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
4. The Bright Beneath: The Luminous Art of Shih Chieh Huang: The artwork of Huang, 2007 Smithsonian artist research fellow, explores the unusual evolutionary adaptations of the mysterious, deep-ocean creatures residing in conditions inhospitable for humans. During Huang’s time as a Smithsonian artist research fellow, he studied the bioluminescent marine organisms that inspire this art installation.
Where: Sant Ocean Hall, Ocean Focus Gallery, Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through Jan. 8 (except Sunday)
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; mnh.si.edu
5. American Origins, 1600-1900: A “conversation about America” will be on view in a series of 17 galleries and alcoves chronologically arranged to take the visitor from the days of contact between American Indians and European explorers through the struggles of independence to the Gilded Age.
Where: National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F streets NW
When: 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (except Sunday)
Info: Free; 202-633-8300; npg.si.edu
Best Family
1. Breakfast with Santa: Buffet breakfast as well as cookie decorating and crafts. Bring a camera to take a picture with Santa.
Where: Union Street Public House, 121 S. Union St., Alexandria
When: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday
Info: 703-548-1785; unionstreetpublichouse.com
2. Stars of Winter: Orion faces off against the bull, a group of sisters search for the one who went missing, and the twins look on. Join up to go look for them! Hot cider will help keep you warm.
Info: 703-228-3403.
Where: Meet at Fort C.F. Smith Park, 2411 N. 24th St., Arlington
When: 7 to 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $3; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 622852-H
3. “Dr. Dolittle”: This heartwarming musical is full of talking animals and the man who can talk to them and teach them to stop fighting one another.
Where: Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda
When: Through Jan. 8
Info: $10 to $22; 301-280-1660; imaginationstage.org
4. Tales from the African Savanna: Kids ages 3 and older can escape the cold and warm up inside with stories from the African savanna.
Info: 703-228-6535.
Where: Meet at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 4 to 4:45 p.m. Dec. 28
Info: Free; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 622912-Y
5. “The Nutcracker”: Tchaikovsky’s musical adapts Hoffmann’s story exploring a young girl’s adventures with her favorite toys at Christmastime.
Where: The Puppet Co., 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through Dec. 31
Info: $10; 301-634-5380; thepuppetco.org
Best Gatherings
1. Enjoy seasonal concerts at the Botanic Garden. Every Tuesday and Thursday until the end of the year, the Botanic Garden is open until 8 p.m., with concerts in the Conservatory. Upcoming concerts include: Samovar, Russian folk music; Hot Club of DC, Gypsy jazz and swing; and 40 Thieves, Irish rock.
Where: United States Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 22, 27 and 29
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; usbg.gov
2. See the Model Trains at Union Station: The model train displays in Union Station are made up of O-gauge trains from the steam and modern eras. Every train is outfitted with state-of-the-art electronics capable of re-creating the sounds, lights and smoke of their real-life counterparts, and each display is controlled by a digital command system providing hands-free control of the railroad.
Where: Union Station, 2 West/40 Massachusetts Ave. NE
When: Through Jan. 2
Info: Free; 202-289-1908; unionstation.com
3. Downtown Holiday Market: A rotating cast of 50 artisans and exhibitors, holiday lights and live music make this open-air holiday market a favorite stop for those in search of a personal gift.
Where: F Street Northwest between Seventh and Ninth streets
When: Noon to 8 p.m. through Friday
Info: downtownholidaymarket.com
4. “Glory Bea! A Shenandoah Christmas Story”: A Shenandoah Valley family struggles to retain the Christmas spirit when a blizzard keeps the father away from home.
Where: Wayside Theatre, 7853 Main St., Middletown, Va.
When: Through Saturday
Info: $20 to $30; 540-869-1776; waysidetheatre.org
5.”The Nutcracker”: Washington Ballet’s classic ballet is set in 1882 Georgetown, choreographed by Septime Webre. The unique production stars George Washington and King George III.
Where: The Warner Theatre, 13th and E streets NW
When: Through Saturday
Info: $31 and up; 202-362-3606; washingtonballet.org
Best Outdoors
1. Don’t miss the Water Skiing Santa with Kneeboarding Reindeer. Also featuring the Flying Elves, the Jet Skiing Grinch and Frosty the Snowman in a dinghy. Rain, snow or shine!
Where: National Harbor, Md.
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Info: 703-280-1788; waterskiingsanta.com
2. Visit the National Christmas Tree: See the National Christmas Tree, Santa’s Workshop and the Pathway of Peace where 56 trees are decorated with ornaments from every state. Nightly musical performances.
Where: President’s Park, the Ellipse, between the White House and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Trees on view until 11 p.m. through Jan. 1. Music on weekdays: 6 to 8:30 p.m.; weekends: 4 to 8:30 p.m.
Info: National Park Service: nps.gov
3. Skate at the National Gallery and enjoy extraordinary works of art.
Where: National Gallery, Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: See website for dates and times
Info: $7 to $8; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
4. Drive through the Symphony of Lights display on the grounds of Merriweather Post Pavilion. Symphony of Lights is a spectacular display of animated and stationary holiday lights.
Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
When: Through Jan. 1
Info: Cars $20, buses $125; 410-740-7840
5. Skate at Reston Town Center: Through the second week in March the Pavilion floor is transformed into a gleaming ice-skating rink. Ice skates and other supplies are available.
Where: Reston Town Center, 11900 Market St., Reston
When: See website for holiday hours
Info: $7 to $9; 703-709-6300; [email protected]
Best Theater
1. “The Kinsey Sicks: Oy Vey in a Manger”: The least traditional seasonal celebration you will ever see stars the outrageous Kinsey Sicks, America’s favorite Dragapella Beauty Shop Quartet, singing such classics as “Tis the Season to Drink Stoli.”
Where: Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW
When: Saturday to Monday
Info: $25 to $65; 800-494-8497; theaterj.org
2. “Parfumerie”: The romantic comedy inspired the movies”You’veGotMail” andthe musical”She Loves Me.”
Where: 1st Stage, 1524 Springhill Road, McLean
When: Through Jan. 8
Info: $15 to $25; 703-854-1856; 1ststagetysons.org
3. “Much Ado About Nothing”: In Shakespeare’s ultimate battle of the sexes, young lovers parry in the Bard’s brilliant prose. This production is set in 1920s Cuba, where passions and temperatures soar.
Where: Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW
When: Through Jan. 1
Info: $20 to $100; 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org
4. “Billy Elliot the Musical”: The hit Broadway musical follows a young boy in England who grows up with only one dream: to dance.
Where: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: Through Jan. 15
Info: $25 to $150; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
5. “Holiday Follies”: Signature’s annual holiday celebration will feature holiday favorites with special guest performers to liven up the festivities.
Where: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington
When: Through Friday
Info: $41; 703-820-9771; signature-theatre.org
Best Galleries
1. Warhol: Headlines: Andy Warhol delighted in the garishness and vulgarity of news headlines. This exhibit of 80 paintings, prints, drawings, video pieces and sculptures culled from tabloids shows them to be a fertile catalyst for his imagination.
Where: West Building, National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through Jan. 2
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
2. The Invention of Glory: Alfonso V and the Pastrana Tapestries: The Pastrana Tapestries — 520-year-old, 12-by-36-foot historical records, in wool and silk, of Alfonso V’s 1471 conquest of the Moroccan cities of Asilah and Tangier — have never before been shown in the United States.
Where: West Building, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Ave. NW
When: Through Jan. 8
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
3. Hank Willis Thomas: Strange Fruit: A dozen new photographs and videos by Thomas question the notion of representation as applied to African-American identity through depictions of lynchings and sports. It’s a fascinating companion piece to the Corcoran’s concurrent 30 Americans exhibit.
Where: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW
When: Through Jan. 16, 2012
Info: $10; students and seniors $8; ages 12 and under free; corcoran.org
4. Made in Chicago: The Koffler Collection: Roger Brown, Theodore Halkin, Ellen Lanyon and Vera Klement are some the most celebrated Chicago artists highlighted in the handsomely curated haul of paintings, works on paper, and sculptures made between 1960 and 1980.
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW
When: Through Jan. 2
Info: Free; 202-633-7970; americanart.si.edu.
5. Shape Shifters: Karl Connolly and Jan Razauskas blur the boundaries between representation and abstraction in their photography, painting, drawing and installation art.
Where: 39th Street Gallery, Gateway Arts Center, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood
When: Through Dec. 31
Info: 301-864-3860; gatewaycdc.org
