Best Music 1. Opera in the Outfield: Washington National Opera presents a live simulcast of “Tosca” for people of all ages in the community.
Where: Nationals Park.
When: Gates open 5:30 p.m. Thursday
Info: Pregame activities, vendors, giveaways and more; free
2. National Symphony Orchestra: Season Opening Ball Concert conducted by Christoph Eschenbach with guest artists violinist Joshua Bell and baritone Thomas Hampson. Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: $20 to $125; 202-467-4600, 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
3. Michael Feinstein and Marvin Hamlisch: Music from the Great American Songbook for the sixth annual ARTS by George! benefit event.
Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $40 to $70; 888-945-2468; cfa.gmu.edu
4. Brad Paisley. The country favorite illuminates the Virginia sunset.
Where: Jiffy Lube Live, Bristow
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Info: $32 and up; 866-459-2035; boxofficecenter.com
5. Hiroshima: East meets West in an innovative Pacific Rim mix of keyboard, koto, taiko drum and sax.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $45; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com.
Also worth noting
6. Rachelle Ferrell: The singer-songwriter with the six-octave range honed her skills at Berklee College of Music to balance jazz, pop, R&B and classical music.
Where: Blues Alley
When: 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday to Sunday
Info: $60; 202-337-4141; bluesalley.com
Best Galleries
1. Warhol: Headlines: Andy Warhol found the garishness and vulgarity of news headlines to be a fertile source of inspiration, as this exhibit of some 80 paintings, prints, drawings, video pieces and sculptures culled from tabloids demonstrates.
Where: West Building, National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through January 2012
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
2. Andy Warhol’s “Shadows”: Incredibly, this is the first time Andy Warhol’s 30-year-old monumental painting installation “Shadows” has been displayed with all 102 of its component canvases hung edge to edge as their creator intended. The piece extends 450 linear feet around the outer circumference of the Hirshhorn’s circular second-floor gallery.
Where: Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW
When: Through January 2012
Info: Free; 202-633-4674; hmsg.si.edu
3. KABAROV: In 1998, Ilya and Emilia Kabarov designed a giant metal house to sit on the bank of the Potomac River. Intended to replicate the contours of the suburban American home, the structure’s mansard roof would’ve rivaled the Washington Monument in height. It was never going to be built, obviously, but here you can marvel at its architectural drawings and a scale model.
Where: Hemphill, 1515 14th St. NW
When: Through Oct. 29
Info: Free, 202-234-5601; hemphillfinearts.com
4. The Guerrilla Girls Talk Back: Since 1985, the anonymous collective of artist-activists known as the Guerilla Girls have combated perceived sexism and racism in contemporary culture through posters, books and live appearances — for which they wear gorilla masks.
Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW
When: Through Oct. 2
Info: 202-783-5000; nmwa.org
5. Edgar Degas: Sculpture: The National Gallery of Art rededicates its collection of the French polymath’s sculptures, the finest in the world, with 52 pieces including the iconic “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.”
Where: National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Permanent exhibition
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
Best Brainfood
1.”Vincent”: A one-man play by Leonard Nimoy, performed by B. Stanley. At the time of his death, many of Vincent van Gogh’s contemporaries, including Paul Gaugin, had written the painter off as an insane fool. In this moving one-person performance, Theo van Gogh is determined to rescue his brother’s legacy, attempting to transform him from a madman into a beloved brother and misunderstood genius.
Where: D.C. Arts Center, 2438 18th St. NW
When: Thursday through Oct. 8
Info: $15 to $25; 202-462-7833; dcartscenter.org
2. The Suzanne Farrell Ballet: Members of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet company give a preview performance in honor of the Company’s 10th anniversary.
Where: Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
3. Plant Literacy Festival: Whether you’re fluent or a beginner, drop by the Plant Literacy Festival to learn more about these amazing beings. From roots to fruits and microbes to menu items, travel through various activity stations and explore all the parts that make plants unique, valuable and tasty!
Where: United States Botanic Garden, Conservatory Terrace, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; no registration required; usbg.gov
4. “A Moon for the Misbegotten”: This play, one of Eugene O’Neill’s most lyrical and poetic, is often regarded as a tribute to his older brother, Jamie.
Where: Heritage O’Neill Theater, 4010 Randolph Road, Silver Spring
When: Through Oct. 22
Info: $20 to $32; 301-770-9080; theheritagetheatre.org
5. The National Ballet of China: The troupe performs a mixed program including excerpts from”TheRedDetachment of Women”and”Swan Lake,”as well as”The Yellow River.”
Where: Eisenhower Theater, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: Thursday through Saturday
Info: $25 to 60; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
Best Family
1. Fort Ethan Allen 150th Anniversary: A hundred and fifty years ago, on Sept. 24, 1861, the Union Army began constructing Forts Ethan Allen and Marcy to protect the Chain Bridge. Come visit both these forts and commemorate their construction with exhibits, interpretive walks and activities. All ages.
Where: Meet at Fort Ethan Allen Park, 3829 N. Stafford St., Arlington
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; information: 703-243-4342
2. “The Tales of Beatrix Potter”: Set in an old-fashioned nursery, this performance includes three favorite Potter stories as seen through the eyes of a young English girl growing up at the beginning of the 20th century. As she pursues the everyday activities of playing and learning, the tales seem to grow from her imagination.
Where: The Puppet Co., 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: Through Oct. 9
Info: $10 (discounts available); 301-634-5380; thepuppetco.org
3. “Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse”: Lilly loves all sorts of things. She loves school, dressing up, even her “stinky baby bother. In fact, Lilly loves everything…most of the time. After all, when you have movie star sunglasses and a purple plastic purse, how bad can it be?
Where: Adventure Theater, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: Friday through October 31
Info: $17; 301-634-2270; adventuretheatre.org
4. Gorgeous Gourds for Crafting: Gourds delight the eye with their fantastic shapes and intriguing colors. For thousands of years they have been used for containers and storage. Take part in the fun and embellish gourds for fall decorations. Wear old clothes. Adults and teens only.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday
Info: $20; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 612841-D
5. Calling Crows: Caw! Can you trick a crow? Learn about some smart skills this brilliant bird has and how to tell a fish crow from a common crow.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road., Arlington
When: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday
Info: $3; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 612821-I
Best Gatherings
1. “On Canaan’s Side”: Sebastian Barry weaves Irish and American events for a deftly plotted, richly psychological narrative of the 20th century. Told by Lilly Dunne at age 89, the novel intertwines the stories of her two marriages and the fates of her son and grandson with the century’s many wars, from the Irish struggle for independence to the first Gulf war.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.org
2. “When the Stars Go Out”: A workshop of Stephen Spotswood’s tale of Naomi, a woman on the verge of motherhood, who must deal with the death of her best friend, the neuroticism of her mother and the absence of her astronaut husband.
Where: Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday
Info: Pay what you can; 202-315-1305; flashpointdc.org
3. Under The Arbor:Horsin’ Around With Horseradish: Horseradish has been chosen as the 2011 herb of the year by the Herb Society of America. This simple, ancient root crop provides a spicy-hot flavor to a number of popular dishes and can be grown in our area. Herb Society members will demonstrate how to prepare and use horseradish in a variety of recipes at this outdoor drop-in presentation in the National Herb Garden.
Where: National Herb Garden, National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NW
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-245-2726; usna.usda.gov
4. “Manifold Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James Bible”: Through materials from the year 1000 to 2011, the Folger Shakespeare Library offers a “biography” of one of the world’s most famous books, the King James Bible of 1611, which marks its 400th anniversary this year.
Where: The Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE
When: Friday through Jan. 15
Info: 202-544-4600; folger.edu
5. “The King’s Bible in a Country Without a King”: Jill Lepore, a well-known scholar of early American history, discusses the influence of the King James Bible in the United States.
Where: The Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE
When: 6 p.m. Sept. 29
Info: $15; 202-544-7077; folger.edu
Best Outdoors
1. Lion Birthdays: In August, four of the zoo’s lion cubs turned 1 year old. On Thursday, the zoo’s other cubs — Lusaka, Aslan and Baruti — turn 1 also. To celebrate their birthdays, keepers gave the pride their very own birthday “cakes” (made of ingredients only a lion could love!). Come see how the new cubs will celebrate.
Where: National Zoo, 3100 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; lions on view 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day
Info:Free; nationalzoo.si.edu
2. Fall Plant Sale: Come see and buy native plants like butterfly-attracting species of wildflowers, shade lovers, ferns and shrubs.
Where: Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday (rain date Sunday)
Info: Free; payment by cash or check; info: 703-228-6535
3. Bite-Size Tours are abbreviated tours, making them the perfect size for a lunchtime journey. Try the Maritime Heritage of the Capitol Riverfront and Yards Park, 1.5 miles. During this tour learn about the development of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood with a specific focus on the new 5.5-acre Yards Park’s distinct industrial heritage where the U.S. Navy once produced ships’ instruments and employed 26,000 people. Visit historic buildings and learn about the design elements of the Yards Park. Wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Where: Meet and end outside Navy Yard Metro station, New Jersey Avenue exit
When: Noon Tuesday
Info: Free; culturaltourismdc.org
4. Lee’s Woods Trail: This historic interpretive trail features both Revolutionary and Civil War points of interest. The park service provides guide books at the trail head that lead you along the trail and give a brief explanation of each site. There have been sightings of several bald eagles from the river overlook at the top of the hill. Easy, well-maintained 2-mile round-trip hike.
Where: Woodbridge
When: Any season
Info: Free; Department of Conservation and Recreation: 603-670-0372
5. Visit Anacostia Park while the weather is still good! Anacostia Park is one of Washington’s largest recreation areas with more than 1,200 acres stretching along the Anacostia River from the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge to the D.C.-Maryland border. The park has shoreline access, a swimming pool, ball fields, trails, picnic facilities and the Anacostia Park Pavilion with public space for roller skating and special events.
Where: See website for directions
When: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
Info: Permits for certain activities; see website: nps.gov/anac
Best Theater
1. “Macbeth”: Shakespeare’s historical drama dealing with power, greed and the supernatural. In 2008, Synetic’s “Macbeth” won five Helen Hayes Awards.
Where: Synetic Theater, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington
When: Through Oct. 2
Info: $45 to $55; synetictheater.org
2. “Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South”: Author, scholar and performerE. Patrick Johnsonstars in this one-man show that explores the perceptions, angst, triumphs and vulnerabilities of this minority within a minority.
Where: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington
When: Through Oct. 9
Info: 703-820-9771; signature-theatre.org
3. “Ay, Carmela!”: A vaudeville duo is forced to put on a performance for Franco’s fascist troops during the Spanish Civil War, creating an atmosphere of clicking heels, castanets, passion and black humor.
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 1333 14th St. NW
When: Through Oct. 9
Info: $34 to $38; 800-494-8477; galatheatre.org
4. “Savage in Limbo”: In John Patrick Shanley’s play, five regulars at a seedy Bronx bar look for answers to questions of life and love.
Where: MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria
When: Through Oct. 23
Info: $25 to $50; 703-548-9044; metrostage.org
5. “Parade”: A joint production of Theater J and Ford’s Theatre. Book by Alfred Uhry, music by Jason Robert Brown. The Broadway musical about the 1915 trial ofJewish factory manager Leo Frank, accused of themurder of a teenage girl in Georgia. Ostracized for his faith and isolated from his world, Leo develops a new and deeper love for his wife, who tirelessly crusades for his freedom.
Where: Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW
When: Friday to Oct. 30
Info: $15 to $75; 202-347-4833; fordstheatre.org
