Best Music 1. “BABALU! – Celebrating the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Collection”: Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. perform in a spectacular opening night show honoring the legacies of two American entertainment legends, with Raul Esparza and Valarie Pettiford and the Desi Arnaz Orchestra playing orchestrations of the 1940s and ’50s American Songbook with a Latin beat.
Where: Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-397-7328
2. Esperanza Spalding: The 2011 Grammy Award winner performs music from her album “Chamber Music Society.”
Where: Warner Theatre
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: $49.50 to $62.45; 202-783-4000; livenation.com
3. The Ahn Trio: The Discovery Series welcomes the dazzling trio back to celebrate Founder’s Day with a co-commission, “BraziliAHN.”
Where: The Barns of Wolf Trap
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $40; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
5. Virginia Opera: The VO premieres Verdi’s “Aida” in partnership with the Richmond Ballet.
Where: George Mason University Concert Hall
When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday
Info: $44 to $98; 888-945-2468; cfa.gmu.edu.
5. The Hugo Wolf Quartett: The ensemble makes its Dumbarton debut with a program of “songs without words” from the greatest Leider composers of the Romantic Era: Schumann, Schubert and Viennese composer Hugo Wolf.
Where: Dumbarton Concerts in Georgetown’s Historic Dumbarton Church
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $33, students and seniors $29; 202-965-3000; dumbartonconcerts.org
Best Brainfood
1. The Kennedy Center’s own Suzanne Farrell Ballet celebrates its 10th anniversary with two mixed programs, each featuring Balanchine’s”Diamonds” in partnership with the Sarasota Ballet.
Where: Eisenhower Theater, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: Through Sunday
Info: $29 to $84; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. “The Iliad”: Stephen Mitchell’s achievements as a translator are unparalleled. From ancient epics to literary classics, he’s rendered timeless texts in today’s English. His new version of Homer’s ancient Greek tale of the Trojan War is a masterpiece of scholarship and craft.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.org
3. R. Dwayne Betts Ta-Nehisi Coates: A reading and discussion by Betts, the program director for the D.C. Creative Writing Workshop and author of “A Question of Freedom: A Memoir of Learning, Survival, and Coming of Age in Prison,” and Coates, senior editor for the Atlantic magazine and the author of “The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood.” A reception and book signing follow.
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SW
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $15; 202-544-4600; folger.edu
4. “Michelangelo: A Life on Paper”: Leonard Barkan, a professor of comparative literature at Princeton University, discusses his latest book in the East Building auditorium.
Where: East Building, National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Ave. NW
When: Sunday
Info: 202-737-4215; nga.gov
5. Landscape for Life Brown Bag Lecture: “Right Plant, Right Place?”: Truly successful gardens provide beauty, require little chemical input and give back to nature. By emphasizing mid-Atlantic-native plants and understanding their requirements, the homeowner can have it all.
Where: Conservatory Classroom, Conservatory Terrace, United States Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: Noon to 1 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; registration required; code: LH101411; usbg.gov; landscapeforlife.org
Best Family
1. “The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful and Her Dog!”: Fly through the solar system with Dr. Wonderful and her amazing team of Newton (the dog) and Ben (the human). Girl-detective meets science-geek in this super cool astronomical musical theater event. Age 6+.
Where: Family Theatre, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: Through Oct. 29
Info: $18; 202-267-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. Act!vated Story Theatre: World Tales: These actors don’t just tell stories, they act!vate them with physical comedy, audience participation, American Sign Language and imaginative props — all before a gigantic oversized book that tells kids about the importance of reading to develop an active imagination!
Where: The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
When: 9:30 and 11 a.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-783-3372; nationaltheatre.org
3. Otters Imaginary and Real: River otters delight us with their acrobatic twists, curiosity and playfulness. But they are now a rare sight in Northern Virginia. Meet at Gulf Branch to learn more about these animals, hear stories and make an otter paper doll set to take home. 703-228-3403.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesday
Info: $5; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 612821-G
5. “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”: This marionette romp follows the antics of three brothers who try to get the goat of a henpecked troll.
Where: The Puppet Co., 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: Through Nov. 18
Info: $10 (discounts available); 301-634-5380; thepuppetco.org
Best Gatherings
1. Alton Brown at McLean Uncorked International Food & Wine Festival: Brown, national celebrity food scientist, plus local celebrity chef Bob Kinkead, will visit McLean in a daylong event. There will be wine seminars, wine tastings and various food- and wine-associated vendors. (Wine-and-Dine event 5:30 to 10 p.m.; $75).
Where: McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
Info: $24 to $57; 703-790-0123; mcleancenter.org
2. Sulu DC: A monthly performance showcase of emerging and established Asian-American and/or Pacific Islander artists in spoken word, music, dance, theater and film.
Where: Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
When: 8:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $10; 703-875-1100; artisphere.com
3. “Quality Education as a Constitutional Right: Creating a Grassroots Movement to Transform Public Schools”: Robert Moses will discuss and sign his book. In 2005, the famed civil rights leader and education activist invited 100 prominent black and Hispanic intellectuals and activists to meet to discuss a proposal for a campaign to guarantee a quality education for all children as a constitutional right.
Where: Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW
When: 6:30 p.m. Monday
Info: Free; 202-387-7638; busboysandpoets.com
4. “HellSpawn”: An Active Cultures Theatre production. Inspired by”The Exorcist”and D.C.’s own urban legends of demonic possession,”HellSpawn”will make your Halloween just a little bit scarier.
Where: Riverdale Park Town Center, 4650 Queensbury Road, Riverdale
When: Thursday through Oct. 22
Info: $15 to $25; activecultures.org
5. “Get Sparked! Reading”: A reading of works that inspired art pieces now on display in the gallery.
Where: Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
When: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday
Info: 703-838-4827; thedelrayartisans.org
Best Outdoors
1. China: The Art of a Nation: Landscape in Mind: Leading Chinese contemporary artists ponder the relationship between art and life in China today by combining traditional and contemporary ideas on landscape in this free outdoor exhibition.
Where: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW; exterior grounds
When: Through Oct. 30
Info: Free; kennedy-center.org
2. Fall Heritage Festival: Each fall Arlington residents gather to celebrate our nation’s heritage. Join them for a family-friendly day of hands-on fun, from games to crafts, candle making and cider pressing.
Where: Walker Log House, Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday
Info: $5 (children under 3 free); children must be accompanied by an adult
3. Birding Adventure: Blandy Farm and Sky Meadows: Join an excursion to the other side of the Blue Ridge Mountains and look for fall migrants, including sparrows and raptors.
Where: Meet at Lubber Run Rec Center, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday
Info: $35; 703-228-3403; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 612841-B
4. “Investigation: Detective McDevitt”: Written by Richard Hellesen. Join Michael Feldsher, who portrays McDevitt. He’ll give you a firsthand look at the investigation into the Lincoln assassination conspiracy and the events of April 14 and 15, 1865. The tour covers 1.4 miles, lasts two hours and makes about eight stops. Wear comfortable shoes.
Where: Tours begin at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW
When: Through October 29
Info: $15 to $17.75; fordstheatre.org
5. Green Spring Gardens: The gardens are a year-round gold mine of information and inspiration for the home gardener, anoutdoor classroomfor children and their families to learn about plants and wildlife, and a national historic site that offers glimpses into a long history with colonial origins.
Where: Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria
When: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to and Saturday, noon to 4:30 p.m. Sundays
Info: 703-941-7987; fairfaxcounty.gov
Best Theater
1. “7 (x1) Samurai”: This one-man show by David Gaines re-creates Akira Kurosawa’s epic film “Seven Samurai.” It’s a blend of mime, story, clowning and acrobatics.
Where: TheaterSpace, Performing Arts Building, George Mason University, Route 123 and Braddock Road, Fairfax
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: 888-945-2468; cfa.gmu.edu
2. “A Bright New Boise”: In the parking lot of a mega craft store in Idaho, someone is summoning the Rapture. Samuel D. Hunter’s heartbreakingly funny reckoning between a father and son will shatter your preconceptions about the sacred, the profane, and the secret lives of big-box retailers.
Where: Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW
When: Through Nov. 6
Info: $40 to $67.50; 202-393-3939; woollymammoth.net
3. “Can’t Scare Me, the Story of Mother Jones”: A Theatre of the First Amendment world premiere by Kaiulani Lee, this historical/biographical one-woman show, performed by Lee, is about Mother Jones and her influence on the history of labor reform in America.
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NW
When: Friday through Oct. 30
Info: $12.50 to $30; 202-399-7993; atlasarts.org
4. “The Book Club Play”: Ana lives in a near-perfect world with an adoring husband, perfect job and her greatest passion: Book Club. But when bizarre circumstances put her life under a magnifying glass, things begin to heat up and more truths are told than anyone bargained for.
Where: Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW
When: Through Nov. 6
Info: $40 and up; 202-488-3300; arenastage.org
5. Teatro de la Luna’s International Festival of Theater: Teatro de la Luna’s 14th Annual presentation delivers drama and comedy from Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Venezuela and the United States. There’s a Children’s Festival as well.
Where: Theatre Two, Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington
When: Through Nov. 19
Info: $30 to $35; children free; 703-548-3092; teatrodelaluna.org
Best Galleries
1. Gordon Parks: Photographs from the Collection: This selection of 25 haunting photographs is drawn from photojournalist and filmmaker Parks’ most significant essays, exposing the poverty of the Depression while in the employ of the Farm Security Administration and, later, documenting the struggle of the civil rights movement for Life magazine. Essential.
Where: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW
When: Through Jan. 2012
Info: $10, seniors and students $8, 12 and under free, military personnel free; corcoran.org
2. Made in Chicago: The Koffler Collection: Roger Brown, Theodore Halkin, Ellen Lanyon and Vera Klement are among the Chicago artists highlighted in the nicely curated yield of paintings, works on paper, and sculpture made between 1960 and 1980.
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW
When: Through January 2012
Info: Free, 202-633-7970; americanart.si.edu
3. Jules Arthur: Obbligato: New mixed paintings by Arthur, who augments his surfaces with applications of paper, leather and even metal.
Where: Morton Fine Art, 1781 Florida Ave. NW
Where: Friday through Nov. 4
Info: Free; 202-627-2787; mortonfineart.com
4. The Gothic Spirit of John Taylor Arms: American printmaker Arms (1887-1953) gets his long-overdue first NGA exhibition, featuring 60 prints, drawings and copperplates spanning from his early drawings of New York landmarks to his justly celebrated renderings of cathedrals.
Where: West Building, National Gallery of Art, Constitution Avenue between Third and Seventh streets NW
When: Through Nov. 27
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
5. Family Matters: Portraits from the Qing Court: These 16 portraits of emperors, empresses and other royals of the 18th century Qing dynasty — many of them nearly life-size — retain their power to induce awe after nearly three centuries.
Where: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Jefferson Drive and 12th Street SW
When: Through Jan. 16
Info: Free, 202-633-4880; asia.si.edu
