Best Music 1. ECCO: The Discovery Series presents the East Coast Chamber Orchestra, performing works by Schoenberg, Beethoven, Barber and Tchaikovsky.
Where: The Barns at Wolf Trap
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $35; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
2. The Tschaikowski St. Petersburg Orchestra: Roman Leontiev conducts Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloe” Suite No. 2 and Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade” for orchestra. Prize-winning pianist Alexandre Pirojenko performs Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 1.
Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts Concert Hall
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $25 to $50; 888-945-2408; cfa.gmu.edu
3. National Symphony Orchestra: Christoph Eschenbach conducts “Metamorphosen” by Richard Strauss and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (“Eroica”).
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: $20 to $85; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
4. The Birchmere presents David Garrett: The international violinist brings his “Rock Symphonies” and four-piece rock band to Washington.
Where: Lisner Auditorium
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $36 to $65; 202-397-SEAT (7328); ticketmaster.com
Best Brainfood
1. All I Did Was Ask: An Evening with NPR’s Terry Gross: The host of NPR’s “Fresh Air,” Terry Gross beams her voice into more than 4.5 million homes, automobiles, computers and iPods each week. Gross will appear for a question-and-answer session where she will discuss the art of the interview and her experiences chatting up everyone from Bill O’Reilly to Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $31 to $55; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
2. Step Afrika!: The first professional company in the world dedicated to the tradition of stepping is critically acclaimed for its groundbreaking efforts to further the appreciation for stepping in concert halls worldwide.
Where: Sidney Harman Hall, Shakespeare Theatre Company, 610 F St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday
When: $20 to $49; 202-547-1122; stepafrika.org, shakespearetheatre.org
3. “Smart Growth: Human Transit”: Jarrett Walker, author of “Human Transit,” outlines the fundamental geometry of transit that shapes successful systems, the process for fitting technology to a particular community and the local choices that lead to transit-friendly development.
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW
When: 12:30 p.m. Feb. 9
Info: Free; registration required; go.nbm.org
4. “Love in Art”: David Gariff, an art historian with the Smithsonian who is an expert in modern and contemporary art and the Italian Renaissance, delivers a one-hour lecture.
Where: Rotunda, Main Floor, West Building, National Gallery of Art, Constitution Avenue between Third and Seventh streets NW
When: 1 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Feb. 14, 16, 22, 24 and 29
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
5. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater marks the first season of Robert Battle’s role as artistic director. Several mixed repertory programs are performed, each including Ailey’s signature piece, “Revelations.”
Where: Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: Saturday through Feb. 12
Info: $30 to $99; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
Best Family
1. Groundhog Day Fun: Kids ages 6 and older. The real groundhogs are asleep, but that won’t keep you from learning about America’s only rodent with his own honorary day! Info: 703-228-3403.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday
Info: $3; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 622822-R
2. One of a Kind Ceramic Checkerboard Game Pieces: In an open house with teaching artist Jeremy Huth, create checker boards and game pieces. Ages 5 and up.
Where: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE
When: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; reservations required; 202-547-6839; chaw.org
3. “The Wings of Ikarus Jackson”: There is something different about the new boy at school. Ikarus Jackson’s main challenge is not school work, but fitting in with his classmates. Instead of a backpack, he dons a feathery white set of wings and soars through the city.
Where: The Kennedy Center Family Theater, 2700 F St. NW
When: Saturday to Feb. 23
Info: $18; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
4. The New Year of Trees: Meet and walk to see some of Arlington’s champion trees. You’ll enjoy some tree-themed games and crafts. Families with kids ages 5 and older. Info: 703-228-3403.
Where: Fort C.F. Smith Park, Arlington
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 8
Info: $3; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 622852-K
5. Red Fox, Grey Fox: Which of our Virginia species is the “foxiest”? Decide for yourself as you study their tracks, feel their fur and learn their life histories.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Feb. 8
Info: $5; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 622822-L
Best Gatherings
1. “All the Missing Souls: A Personal History of the War Crimes Tribunals”: As senior adviser to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and then as President Clinton’s ambassador at large for war crimes, David Scheffer was instrumental in organizing the war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, and was involved with similar tribunals for Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Cambodia.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
2. Washington Auto Show: Cars, celebrities, ride and drive events, and contests pepper the Washington Auto Show, which operates as the “Public Policy Show,” unique on the global industry circuit because of its proximity Congress, international diplomatic corps and federal agencies.
Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 891 Mount Vernon Place NW
When: See website for hours; through Sunday
Info: Free to $12; washingtonautoshow.com
3. “Tales from Mother Africa”: Dancing, storytelling and humor are all part of Anna Mwalagho’s show. Best for ages 3 to 8.
Where: Discovery Theater, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW
When: 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday
Info: $3 to $8; 202-633-8700; discoverytheater.org
4. Forest Gardens: Productive Ecosystems: Learn about an exciting way of producing what people need in healthy ecosystems. Modeled on a young, natural woodland, a forest garden can produce all kinds of food ranging from perennial herbs, vegetables and salads to flour for bread foods to chestnuts, acorns, fruits and nuts. Forest gardens also produce wood and other fiber for building, crafts and fuel.
Where: U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: Noon Saturday
Info: Free; reservations: 202-225-1116, usbg.gov; program No. LH020412
5. Mutts Gone Nuts: Experience the world of street arts with a zany comedy dog act and the contortionist whose gifts of flexibility entertain audiences around the world.
Where: Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 6 p.m. Monday
Info: Free; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
Best Outdoors
1. Limousine Great Race/Scavenger Hunt: Careen about with your fellow “hunters” in luxury and style. Have a blast in a friendly but frenzied chase with competing team limousines. Search for Washington’s quirks, secrets and trivia. Each team is given a list of items to retrieve and pictures to take from various locations around Washington.
Where: Meet at Rosslyn Metro Station, top of escalator
When: 6:45 to 11 p.m. Saturday
Info: $68; thingstododc.com
2. Forts of South Arlington: Visit the locations and remaining earthworks of some of the forts built by the Union Army to protect Washington and Alexandria: Forts Scott, Barnard and Ward.
Where: Meet at Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington
When: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday
Info: $15; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 622742
3. Birding Point Lookout State Park: Go on a trip to the southernmost point in Maryland to search for waterfowl in the Chesapeake Bay and brown-headed nuthatches
in the woodlands.
Where: Meet at Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington
When: 7:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday
Info: $35; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 622842-C
4. Ice skating amid the art: Come enjoy some of the most beautiful art in Washington while gliding around on ice skates.
Where: National Gallery of Art Ice Rink, corner of Ninth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: See website for times
Info: $7 to $8; 202-216-9397; nga.gov
Best Theater
1. “Josephine Tonight”: This musical biography of Josephine Baker focuses on the early life of the singer and actress, who entranced audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
Where: MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria
When: Thursday to March 18
Info: $25 to $50; 800-494-8497; metrostage.org
2. “Electile Dysfunction: Kinsey Sicks for President!”: This show marks the official launch of the Kinsey Sicks’ outlandish campaign to become the first Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet to win the Republican nomination for president.
Where: Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW
When: Saturday through Feb. 19
Info: $25 to $60; 800-494-TIXS (8497); dcjcc.org
3. “Next Fall”: Round House Theatre’s premiere of a love story between two men involves not just the young men, but their families as well.
Where: Round House Theatre, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda
When: Through Feb. 26
Info: $26 to $51; 240-644-1100; roundhousetheatre.org
4. “Blood Wedding”: Constellation Theatre’s vision of Federico Garcia Lorca’s poetic story of passion and revenge.
Where: Constellation Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW
When: Thursday through March 4
Info: $20 to $40; 202-204-7741; constellationtheatre.org
5. “Almost, Maine”: 1st Stage tells the story of a frost-covered town where residents fall in and out of love and emotion melts the coldest hearts.
Where: 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Road
When: Friday through Feb. 26
Info:$25; 703-854-1856; 1ststagespringhill.org
Best Galleries
1:Snapshots: Paints and Photography, Bonnard to Vuillard: This collection of some 200 photos and about 70 drawings, prints and paintings from seven marquee post-Impressionist artists gives us a fascinating look of how the arrival of Kodak’s hand-held camera in 1888 altered their ways of seeing and influenced their later work in their native mediums.
Where: The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW
When: Saturday through May 6
Info: $12, students and seniors $10; phillipscollection.org
2. Successions: Prints by African American Artists from the Jean and Robert Steele Collection: Nearly 50 artists contribute vibrant works on paper illustrating a rich diversity of printmaking techniques and subjects.
Where: David C. Driskell Center, 1214 Cole Student Activities Building, University of Maryland, College Park
When: Through June 22
Info: 301-405-6835; driskellcenter.umd.edu
3. Next Generation: Selections by Artists from the 30 Americans Collection: Twelve midcareer artists featured in the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s ongoing 30 Americans exhibit get a separate showcase here that pleads the case for them as the group that will most powerfully influence the American arts landscape.
Where: Corcoran Gallery of Art, Contemporary Wing, 1250 Ninth St. NW
When: Saturday through March 10
Info: Free; info@contemporarywing
4. Patricia Cronin: Bodies and Soul: Cronin’s life-size bronze sculpture, “Memorial to a Marriage,” of her and her “life mate” Deborah Kass, joined in an intimate embrace, is the central work in her first solo exhibition in D.C.
Where: Conner Contemporary Art, 1358 Florida Ave. NE
When: Saturday through March 10
Info: Free, 202-588-8750; connercontemporary.com
5. Anil Revri: Faith and Liberation through Abstraction: Revri’s paintings meditative paintings reward uninterrupted contemplation.
Where: The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave.
When: Through April 15
Info: Free, 202-885-1300; american.edu/cas/katzen/museum
