Brain food
1. NSO Pops: Happy Holidays: Step out of the cold and allow time-honored holiday classics to warm your heart. The NSO Pops captures the spirit of the holiday season in this Kennedy Center tradition featuring vocal ensemble Afro Blue, a visit from Santa Claus and other guests.
Where: Concert Hall, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Info: $20-$85; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. City Choir: Open your heart to the season by joining the City Choir for its annual celebration of Christmas music. From the first notes of the processional to the familiar carols sung with the audience, there is something for every member of your family to enjoy.
Where: National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW
When: 5 p.m. Sunday
Info: $15 to $45; 301-572-6865; thecitychoirofwashington.org
3. “In Dulci Jubilo: A German Christmas”: With Cantate Chamber Singers and an ensemble of brass, wind, strings and organ. The Consort celebrates the holidays with the festive music of Michael Praetorius, the most prolific German composer of the early 17th century. The Consort performs some of the great Christmas favorites from this collection, including “In Dulci Jubilo,” “Es ist ein Rose” and “Puer Natus Est.”
Where: The Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE
When: Friday to Dec. 20
Info: $43; 202-544-7077; folger.edu
4. “Shabbat Hanukkah Style”: Musical and interactive Shabbat with Rick Recht. Happy hour before the 7:15 service and dinner afterward.
Where: Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $6; 202-408-3100.
5. Ballet: New York City Ballet performs two programs of mixed repertory with works by Balanchine, Robbins, Martins and Wheeldon, including “Mozartiana,” “Les Gentilhommes,” “Dances at a Gathering” and more.
Where: Opera House, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: Through Sunday
Info: $29 to $85; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
Family
1. “The Nutcracker”: Always a family favorite at this time of year, Septime Webre’s “The Nutcracker” is full of new touches and details, but the story you loved as a child is still the same.
Where: Warner Theatre, 1299 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
When: Thursday to Dec. 27; see Web site for dates and times.
Info: $31 to $87; 202-783-4000; warnertheatre.com
2. Celebrate the season: Discovery Theater’s seasonal favorite celebrates the warmth of world holidays filled with light and love. Visit the traditions of Diwali, Ramadan, Sankta Lucia, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Christmas and a First Nations tradition of the Winter Solstice. Get tickets early — this show sells out.
Where: Discovery Theatre, Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive NW
When: 10:15 and 11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m. shows Friday, 16, 17 and 18.
Info: $4 to $10; 202-633-3030; discoverytheater.com
3. “The Snow Queen”: Adapted from a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. Gerta’s quest to find her brother takes you all the way to Laplandia.
Where: Classika Theatre, 4041 Campbell Ave., Arlington
When: 12:30 Saturday and Sunday until Jan 10; 3:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 26, 27, Jan. 1, 2, 3, 9, 10; 12:30 p.m. Dec. 24, 30, Jan. 1.
Info: $15; 800-494-8497; classika.org
4. “The Little Engine That Could”: Based on the well-loved classic book by Watty Piper, a little train carrying oodles of toys to all of the good boys and girls is confronted with a towering, seemingly impassable mountain. Can the Little Engine pull the train to the other side?
Where: Adventure Theatre, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: See Web site for dates and times
Info: $12 to $15; 301-634-2270; adventuretheatre.org
5. “Deer Family in the Forest”: Enjoy the winter forest while learning about North American deer: caribou, elk, moose and Virginia’s own white tail deer. Take a walk in the woods to look for signs of deer and make a craft to take home.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday
Info: $3; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 623502-N
Galleries
1. Renaissance to Revolution: French Drawings from the National Gallery of Art, 1500-1800: The National Gallery of Art has shown only pieces of its collection of French Old Master drawings — until now. An unprecedented opportunity to see all the NGA’s key specimens of French draftsmanship from the 16th through 19th centuries at once.
Where: National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through Jan. 31, 2010
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
2. American Bronzes: Thirty-plus bronze sculptures culled from the Corcoran’s exemplary permanent collection, with a particular wealth of striking pieces by female sculptors from Harriet Whitney to Bessie Potter Vonnoh.
Where: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW
When: No closing date currently set
Info: $10; $8 seniors/military/students; corcoran.org
3. Form and Content: Selected Works by Floyd Coleman: The music of John Coltrane and Duke Ellington is among the most prominent influences on the hypnotic multimedia abstracts of historian and social critic Coleman, who indulges his more creative, less analytical side in this evocative exhibit.
Where: Historical Society of the District of Columbia, 801 K St. NW
When: Through Jan. 24, 2010
Info: Free; 202-383-1850; historydc.org
4. Artwork by Tracy’s Kids: Tracy’s Kids is a charity that encourages young cancer patients to express their feelings about their treatment through art. This selection of work produced through that program bristles with the determination and imagination of their creators.
Where: Carroll Square Gallery, 975 F St. NW
When: Through Jan. 8
Info: Free
5. Days o’ Work — Trudi Y. Ludwig: Baltimore artist Trudi Y. Ludwig’s etchings, woodcuts and rubbings ripple with the tension of opposites.
Where: Washington Printmakers’ Gallery, 1732 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: Through Jan. 1
Info: Free; 202-332-7757, washingtonprintmakers.com
Music
1. The Cathedral Choral Society: Music Director J. Reilly Lewis conducts the CCS in its annual “The Joy of Christmas” featuring the Heritage Signature Chorale, organist Scott Dettra, Edward Nassor at the carillon and the Washington Symphonic Brass. Along with beloved carols, the concert also includes the world premiere of a Christmas carol by American composer Lee Hoiby.
Where: Washington National Cathedral
When: Noon and 4 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday
Info: $20 to $80; 202-537-2228; cathedralchoralsociety.org. Special hourlong family matinee at noon Saturday is $25 general admission.
2. NSO Pops: “Happy Holidays” with conductor Marvin Hamlisch, Afro Blue jazz vocal ensemble and Santa Claus. A festive concert with music, fun and surprises for all ages.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday
Info: $20 to $78; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
3. Too Hot to Handel — The Gospel Messiah: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presents Marin Alsop conducting the orchestra in the classic oratorio infused with jazz, gospel, rock and R&B.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Info: $25 to $80; 410-783-8000
4. Handel’s “Messiah”: The National Philharmonic conducted by Stan Engbretson with chorus and guest soloists.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday
Info: $29 to $79 (ages 7 to 17 are free); 301-581-5100
5. NPR’s A Jazz Piano Christmas: Jazz pianists Dr. Billy Taylor, Ramsey Lewis, Patricia Barber, Eldar and Robert Glasper perform holiday songs in solo and special duo formats on two pianos. Show to be recorded for later broadcast.
Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
When: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $42; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
Also worth noting:
6. Canadian Brass: A Canadian Brass Christmas offers a diverse program of classical music, traditional carols, Hanukkah songs and jazzy pops number.
Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts,
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $24 to $48; 888-945-2468; gmu.edu/cfa
7. “In Dulci Jubilo: A German Christmas”: The Folger Consort performs the festive music of Michael Praetorius, the most prolific German composer of the early 17th century.
Where: Folger Elizabethan Theatre
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Dec. 18, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 19 and 20, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17
Info: $43; 202-544-7077
8. Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Karen Akers, the concert and cabaret singer, is at center stage.
Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $45; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
Theater
1. “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind”: Woolly Mammoth again hosts Chicago’s Neo-Futurists in their famous, long-running late-night hit in which the eccentric players race against the clock to perform 30 miniature plays in 60 breathless minutes. Even if you’ve seen it before, every performance is different. For this visit, the Neo-Futurists bring new plays, two casts and a special New Year’s Eve performance.
Where: Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 614 D St. NW
When: To Jan. 2; see Web site for dates and times
Info: $30; 202-393-3939; woollymammoth.net
2. “The Prisoner of Zenda”: A swashbuckling adventure adapted by Matthew Francis from the novel by Anthony Hope. Full of rebellion and romance, this epic offers an impassioned approach to the holidays.
Where: 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tyson’s Corner
When: 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday
Info: $15 to $25; 703-854-1856; 1ststagespringhill.org
3. “August: Osage County”: Estelle Parsons stars as the perceptive, pill-popping matriarch of an extended clan in this gripping and darkly funny tale that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play.
Where: Eisenhower Theatre, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., N.W.
When: Through Dec. 20
Info: $25 to $80; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
4. “A Christmas Carol”: Join the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Signature Theatre’s Michael Baron directs a new staging that captures the magic and joy of Dickens’ classic. During the run of “A Christmas Carol,” Ford’s Theatre has partnered with Bread for the City to create a donation drive. Patrons can make monetary donations at Ford’s box office. In exchange for a $10 contribution, patrons can receive $5 off a single ticket to “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 29 to Jan. 3.
Where: Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW
When: Through Jan. 3, 2010
Info: $30 to $56; fordstheatre.org
5. “As You Like It”: Shakespeare’s brilliant comedy full of romance, poetry and wisdom, all found in the magical forest of Arden. In this version, the forest of Arden becomes the America where generations of immigrants have sought freedom and peace.
Where: Sidney Harman Hall, The Shakespeare Theatre, 610 F. St. NW
When: Through Dec. 22; see Web site for dates and times
Info: $20 $80; 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org
