Best Music 1. NSO Pops: Steven Reineke and Randy Waldman co-conduct An Unforgettable Tribute to Nat “King” Cole with George Benson. The winner of 10 Grammy Awards, Benson performs the music that Nat Cole made famous on recordings and TV, along with numbers from his own latest album, “Guitar Man.”
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 1:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: From $20; 202-467-4600, 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
2. Chanticleer: The virtuoso male chorus presents “A Chanticleer Christmas” in two local venues.
Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $24 to $48; 888-945-2468 or cfa.gmu.edu; Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas: 4 p.m. Nov. 27.: $32 to $48; 888-945-2468; hyltoncenter.org
3. Steven Spooner: The pianist performs a major new work by the young Arab-American composer Mohammed Fairouz.
Where: National Gallery of Art
When: 6:30 p.m. Sunday (Doors open 6 p.m.)
Info: Free on a first come, first seated basis
4. Dry Branch Fire Squad: The quartet of bluegrass masters gives thanks for fans with songs from “Echoes of the Mountains” and other CDs.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $25; 800-745-3000; ticketmaster.com
5. The Seldom Scene: Popular American bluegrass band welcomes very special guests Mike Auldridge, Tom Gray and John.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26.
Info: $35. Sold out at presstime, but tickets might be available through resellers. Information: 703-549-7500; [email protected]
Best Galleries
1. Exercise Your Mynd — BK Adams IAMART: You’ve mere days remaining to catch District entrepreneur BK Adams’ largest retrospective to date, with more than 50 of his found-object sculptures, paintings, photos and video assemblages documenting the “other way of seeing” that has served as his compass throughout his eventful life.
Where: Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place, SE
When: Through Nov. 27
Info: Free; 202-633-4820; anacostia.si.edu
2. The Blues and Other Colors: Nine African-American painters and photographers attempt a visual translation of the musical genre of the blues, as well as an exploration of the color blue as the expression of an emotional state.
Where: District of Columbia Arts Center, 2438 18th Street NW
When: Through January 8, 2012
Info: Free; dcartscenter.org
3. Time and Place: Paintings by Robert LeMar: Painter Robert LeMar honed his mastery of line and color at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Where: Waverly Street Gallery, 4600 East-West Highway, Bethesda
When: Through Dec. 3, 2011
Info: Free; 301-951-9441; waverlystreetgallery.com
4. Field of Vision: Martha Oatway and Tracy Hill: Maps and geology are the organizing motifs for this joint show from American Martha Oatway and Brit Tracy Hill.
Where: Washington Printmakers Gallery at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, 8230 Georgia Ave, 2nd Flr., Silver Spring
When: Through Dec. 31
Info: Free; 301-273-3660; washingtonprintmakers.com
5. In Season: Margaret Boozer, Foon Sham and Tricia Keightley are but a few of the contributors to this particularly strong group show from Project 4 gallery artists.
Where: Project 4 Gallery, 1353 U St. NW, 3rd Floor
When: To Jan. 7, 2012
Info: Free; 202-232-4340; project4gallery.com
Best Brainfood
1. “A Second Chance”: Two New Yorkers meet mid-life trying to findasecondchanceat love and happiness as they come to terms with their emotional pasts.
Where: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell St., Arlington
When: Through December 11
Info: $30 to $47; 703-820-9771; signature-theatre.org
2. “Equivocation”: Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s production of Bill Cain’s play set in London in 1605, where the worlds of King James and the historical Gunpowder Plot collide with Shakespeare and his acting company.
Where: Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW
When: Through January 1
Info: $40 to $85; 202-488-3300; arenastage.org
3. “Pride and Prejudice”: Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are desperate. With no sons, they are determined to arrange profitable marriages for their five daughters.And when two eligible young men arrive in the neighborhood, excitement and passion begin to rule.
Where: Round House Theatre, 4545 East West Hwy., Bethesda
When: Through December 31
Info: $26 to $51; 240-644-1100; roundhousetheatre.org
4. “A Broadway Christmas Carol”: MetroStage’s seasonal salute to Christmas, Charles Dickens and all things Broadway.
Where: MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria
When: Through December 18
Info: $25 to $50; 1-800-494-8497; metrostage.org
5. “The Sound of Music”: The music and lyrics of Rodgers and Hammerstein make this story of the von Trapp family one of the most beloved musicals of all time.
Where: Olney Theatre, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney
When: Through January 1
Info: $26 to $54; 301-924-3400; olneytheatre.org
Best Family
1.”The Nutcracker”: Tchaikovsky’s musical adaptation of 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. Thursdays and Fridays; 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through December 31.
Info: $10; 301-634-5380; thepuppetco.org
2. “Dr. Dolittle”: A heartwarming musical full of talking animals and the man who can talk to them and teach them to stop fighting one another. Starring Rob McQuay.
Where: Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda
When: Through January 8
Info: $10 to $22; 301-280-1660; imaginationstage.org
3. Marie Rutkoski: The Jewel of the Kalderash: In the concluding volume of the Kronos Trilogy, Petra Kronos, Tomik, and Neel go to Romany, ready to deliver the Terrestrial and Celestial Globes and save Petra’s father. But there’s a secret they hadn’t planned on, and it unleashes an epic power struggle.Ages 12-14.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 10:30 p.m. Monday
Info: Free; politicsandprose.com
4. Autumn Night Sky: When I Wish Upon a Star:Visit the only planetarium in the National Park System. View the season’s brightest stars, planets, and constellations and learn about their stories.
Ages 5 and older.
Where: The Planetarium, Nature Center, Rock Creek Park, 5200 Glover Road NW
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-895-6070; nps.gov
5. Crafternoon: Kids ages 6 and older. You’ll pick a mystery craft bag which will contain a surprise selection of several crafts. Then spend the rest of the day working on crafts. Info: 703-228-6535.
Where: Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Rd., Arlington
When: 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday
Info: $3; Registration necessary: 703-228-4747; Program #612921-H
Best Gatherings
1.”A Christmas Carol”: Charles Dickens’ immortal tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, and his journey of transformation and redemption.
Where: Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW
When: Through December 31
Info: $41 to $65; 800-982-2787; fordstheatre.org
2. “Rebel With a Cause”: Join Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, “Equivocation” playwright Bill Cain and director Bill Rauch for a discussion on rebellion and conspiracy from the Gunpowder Plot to today.
Where: Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SW
When: 5 p.m. Sunday
Info: Free; call for reservations: 202-488-3300; arenastage.org
3. DJ Bruno: Salsa Tuesdays: Every Tuesday, Artisphere presents dance lessons followed by DJs spinning the best in salsa. Come early for happy hour food and drink specials.
Where: Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
When: Nov. 29: 7:30 p.m. dance class; 8:30 p.m. music and dance
Info: $20 in advance; $25 at door; 703-875-1100; artisphere.com
4. “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy”: Steve Solomon’s show is one of Broadway’s longest running one-man shows. Growing up in a multiethnic neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, Steve Solomon mastered the art of impersonations and now incorporates them into his comedic tales.
Where: Wolftrap, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna
When: November 30 through December 2
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
5. See what’s blooming at the Botanic Gardens: The historicLord & Burnham greenhouse contains eight garden rooms under glass, totaling 28,944 square feet of growing space.These days you can see Golden Passion, Nong Nooch vine, String of Beads and much more in the Conservatory alone.
Where: United States Botanic Gardens, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: 10 to 5 p.m. daily
Info: Free; 202-226-0672; usbg.gov
Best Outdoors
1.Reston Thanksgiving Kick-Off for the Holidays: Santa & Mrs. Claus lead the Holiday parade complete with balloons, floats and costumes.
Where: Market St. and Freedom Drive, Reston
When: Parade: 11 a.m. Friday; meet Santa: 12:30 p.m.; Tree lighting: 6 p.m.
Info: 703-476-9377; restontowncenter.org
2. Visit George Washington’s home: Mount Vernon is decking the halls for a special daytime program Friday through January 6. Holiday visitors will enjoy themed decorations (including 12 Christmas trees), a gingerbread replica of the Mansion, chocolate making demonstrations and a rare opportunity to tour the third floor of the Mansion.If the tradition continues, Mount Vernon will be home to the turkeys pardoned by the President.
Where: Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway (George Washington Parkway)
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, including Thanksgiving Day
Info: Free to $15; 703-780-2000; mountvernon.org
3. “Ice”: Well, it feels like outdoors, so bring your hat and mittens. Coats provided. As part of Christmas on the Potomac, the Gaylord National Resort’s Ice! is a special holiday event in the D.C. area. The 2011 edition of Gaylord National’s Ice! will featureDreamWorks’ Merry Madagascar, which will bring the characters of this far-off land to life in two million pounds of hand-carved ice.
Where: Gaylord National Resort, Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor
When: Through January 8
Info: gaylordhotels.com
4. Owen’s Creek and Deerfield Nature Trail: 3 miles round trip, easy, well-maintained loop trail. You will see a 19th-century saw mill complete with water wheel. Good for hikers, children, dogs.
Where: Near Thurmont, Md.
When: Year round
Info: Free; Contact: Catoctin Mountain National Park; 301-663-9388
5. While the weather is still good, visit Hillwood Estates, the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post. The many gardens on the Estate’s 25 acres are colorful this time of year.
Where: 4155 Linnean Ave. NW
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturdays
Info: Free to $15; hillwoodmuseum.org
Best Theatre
1.”Romeo and Juliet”: Shakespeare’s tragic love story is told without words in the final selection of Synetic Theater’s “Speak No More” Festival.
Where: Synetic Theater, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington
When: Friday to December 23
Info: $45 to $55; synetictheater.org
2. “Much Ado About Nothing”: Shakespeare’s ultimate battle of the sexes, in which young lovers woo and old enemies fight. This production is set in 1920s Cuba where passions and temperatures soar.
Where: Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW
When: Friday through January 1
Info: $20 to $100; 202-547-1122; ShakespeareTheatre.org
3. “Krapp’s Last Tape”: John Hurt stars in this brilliant play by Samuel Beckett story of a man alone on his sixty-ninth birthday, preparing for his own “party” of sorts, surrounded by volume after volume of a life ontape. Before recording his annual account of another year gone by, Krapp carefully selects a vintagetapeand drinks of his past.
Where: Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW
When: Thursday through December 5
Info: $85 to $105; 202-547-1122; ShakespeareTheatre.org
4. “Bust”: Written and directed by Lauren Weedman, this is an autobiographical play based on her experienced working as a volunteer advocate in a Southern California prison for women.
Where: Studio Theatre, 1501 Fourteenth St. NW
When: Wednesday to December 18
Info: $35 to $60; 202-588-5262; studio-theatre.org
5. “Jersey Boys”: The brilliant musical following the path of four blue-collarboysfrom the wrong side of the tracks who became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time.
Where: National Theater, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
When: Thursday to January 7
Info: $36.50 to $151.50; 800-447-7400; JerseyBoysTour.com
