Best Music
1. Gladys Knight: Winner of eight Grammy Awards, the Empress of Soul performs her greatest and latest hits.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda
When: 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday
Info: $58 to $128; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
2. National Symphony Orchestra: Jaap van Zweden conducts Wagenar’s “Cyrano de Bergerac” Overture, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, and the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 featuring Andreas Haefliger.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $10 to $85; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
3. National Symphony Orchestra: Jaap van Zweden presents “Beyond the Score — Pure Melodrama” half-concert, half multimedia presentation exploring Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $10 to $85; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
4. John McCutcheon: The singer/songwriter performs his folk ballads brimming with social consciousness and unforgettable stories.
Where: The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Info: $22; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
5. Karrin Allyson: The jazz vocalist/pianist plays in many genres and has received four Grammy nominations for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Where: Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW
When: 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday
Info: $30; 202-337-4141; bluesalley.com
Best Theater
1. “Ghost Writer”: A writer dies, but his typist continues to take dictation causing great consternation among his wife and his publisher and his fans.
Where: Metro Stage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria
When: Thursday through June 2
Info: $25 to $55; 703-548-9044; metrostage.org
2. “Other Desert Cities”: After a long absence, Brooke Wyeth returns to her politically conservative parents’ Palm Springs enclave to spend the holidays with them. But the warm desert air turns chilly when news of her upcoming memoir threatens to revive the most painful chapter of the family’s history.
Where: Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW
When: Friday through May 26
Info: $40 to $85; 202-488-3300; arenastage.org
3. “DC-7: The Roberto Clemente Story”: From the barrios of Puerto Rico to his successful seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, to the fateful flight to Nicaragua to deliver humanitarian aid, Roberto Clemente was admired and loved for his talents and generosity. This musical reveals the man who battled triumphantly on the baseball field and against discrimination.
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW
When: Through May 26
Info: $20 to $42; 202-234-7174; galatheatre.org
4. “The Elder Statesman”: The Stage Guild has produced every play by T.S. Eliot except this, his final one. An acclaimed and respected politician prepares to retire in the glow of fame, until a barely-remembered friend from his youth turns up with uncomfortable truths. Scandal and disgrace may await a man who expected honors and comfort. But does the end of a life of lies bring tragedy, or relief?
Where: Undercroft Theatre, 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW
When: Through May 19
Info: $50.00 Friday and Saturday evenings, $40.00 all other performances; 240-582-0050; stageguild.org
5. “No Man’s Land”: Three generations of WSC Avant Bard artistic directors converge for this Harold Pinter favorite. “No Man’s Land” features a fallen poet and his drunken dispute with a mysterious stranger over success, adventures and romantic conquests.
Where: Theater on the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington
When: Through May 25
Info: $25 to $35; 703-228-1850; wscavantbard.org
Best Family
1. Survival Skills: You can go days without food but drinkable water is a survival priority. Learn how to purify water in a hands-on class designed to teach traditional survival skills to children ages 8 to 12. For more information, call 703-228-6535.
Where: Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Friday
Info: $10; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 632923-A
2. Let’s Go Camping: Your family is invited to join a gentle introduction to camping out that’s one step up from the backyard. You’ll make camp, then have time for lazing about or playing in the creek. After a delicious dinner cooked over a campfire, enjoy the embers with song and story. The next morning you’ll cook breakfast before breaking camp. Bring your own tent if you have one. If not, tents may be rented for a small fee. For families with children ages 6 and up. For more information, call 703-228-3403.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday to 9:30 a.m. Sunday
Info: $20; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 632853-E
3. Wild Dogs Campfire: The whole family is invited to join us at the fire ring for lots of old-fashioned fun. This engaging program will be filled with entertaining activities, which may include stories, special animal guests, games, songs and, of course, treats like s’mores. For all ages. Register adults and children; children must be accompanied by a registered adult. For more information, call 703-228-6535.
Where: Meet at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $5; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 632953-G
4. Springfest: A daylong festival of family fun. Crafts, games, farmers market, kites.
Where: Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 703-324-3950; springfestfairfax.org
5. Canine Capers: Come run with wolves, coyotes and foxes. Sniff out the wild canines who roam our urban home and learn about the canines who lived in our area long ago. Gnaw into the reasons canines look the way they look and act the way they act, and dispel the myths surrounding them. Compare your dog to its wild relatives. Join the pack and howl! For children ages 8 to 11.
Where: Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday
Info: Free; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 632923-K
Best Brainfood
1. Christel Schmidt: The film historian will host a screening of Mary Pickford’s 1924 film “Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall.” She will also sign copies of her book, “Mary Pickford: Queen of the Movies.”
Where: American Film Institute Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $11.50; 301-495-6720; afi.com
2. Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Continuing to celebrate its 10th year in residence at the Playhouse, Dallas Black presents a program for seniors.
Where: Prince George’s Publick Playhouse, 5445 Landover Road, Cheverly
When: Noon Thursday; 11 a.m. Friday
Info: $7; 301-277-1710; pgparks.com
3. “Oxygen”: Taffety Punk Theatre Company presents a play that is part poetry slam, part bitter romance and part moral screed.
Where: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE
When: Through Friday
Info: $15; 202-355-9441; chaw.org
4. Dance Metro DC: The group offers a free dance performance as part of its mission to foster an environment for dance that is stable, inclusive, sustainable and evolutionary.
Where: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW
When: 6 p.m. Monday
Info: Free; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
Best Outdoors
1. Azalea Collection Tour: View and learn more about azaleas.
Where: U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE
When: 10 a.m. to noon Friday
Info: $15; 202-234-2726; usna.usda.gov
2. Guided Garden Tours: In honor of the Garden Club of Virginia’s 80th Historic Garden Week, Oatlands will offer guided garden tours for the full week.
Where: Oatlands Historic House and Gardens, 20850 Oatlands Plantation Lane, Leesburg
When: 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday
Info: $8 to $12; 703-777-3174; oatlands.org
3. Monday Morning Neighborhood Walkers: Morning walking group: Class 443282A1
Where: Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St., Vienna
When: 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays through May 6
Info: $5 to $6.25; registration required: 703-255-6360; viennava.gov
4. Virginia Historic Garden Week: Every April, visitors are welcomed to more than 250 of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens, homes and historic landmarks during “America’s Largest Open House.” This eight-day statewide event provides visitors a unique opportunity to see unforgettable gardens at the peak of Virginia’s springtime color.
Where: See website for locations
When: Through Saturday
Info: $15 to $40 per tour; 804-644-7776, ext. 21; vagardenweek.org
5. Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival: The festival is an event the whole family can enjoy. There are more than 30 events, including band competitions, dances, parades, carnivals, dinners, luncheons, a 10K race and the coronation of Queen Shenandoah.
Where: Winchester, Va.
When: Friday through May 5
Info: Call for prices; 540-662-3863; thebloom.com
Best Gatherings
1. Andre Aciman: Aciman will discuss his book “Harvard Square,” about an Egyptian college student determined to become successful who falls under the sway of a cab driver.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
2. “Friday Night Eclectic”: Strathmore’s nighttime showcases of the area’s best indie bands, comics and artists returns for its fourth season. This Friday, the Sweater Set CD Release Party.
Where: The Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: $10 to $22; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
3. “Spirit of Washington”: FotoDC switches up its annual spring photo contest, challenging this year’s participants to “capture the true essence of D.C.’s diverse neighborhoods.”
Where: Edison Place Gallery, 702 Eighth St. NW
When: Through Friday
Info: Free; 202-872-3396; fotoweekdc.org
4. Smithsonian Craft Show and Sale: The 31st annual juried craft show displays American-made items, from home decor to clothing to jewelry and more.
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW
When: Through April 28
Info: Free; 888-832-9554; nbm.org
5. “Bye Bye Birdie”: This satire on American society is set in 1958. The story was inspired by the phenomenon of popular singer Elvis Presley and his draft notice from the Army in 1957.
Where: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas
When: Through Sunday
Info: $12 to $15; 703-993-7759; hyltoncenter.org
Best Galleries
1. Faking It: Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop: Artfully manipulated photography didn’t come in with Instagram or Photoshop — it just got easier. This collection of analog-manipulated photos was organized by New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and features some 200 images circa 1840-1980.
Where: National Gallery of Art, West Building, Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
When: Though May 5
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
2. Ellsworth Kelly: Colored Paper Images: Twenty-three samples of seminal American artist Ellsworth Kelly’s paper-pulp works drawn from the gallery’s permanent collection. These rough-edged pieces from the formerly angular and precise Kelly were a shock when they appeared in 1977, and they retain that bracing power today.
Where: National Gallery of Art, East Building, Fourth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
When: Through Dec. 1
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
3. James Busby: Smoke & Mirrors: New heavily graphic paintings from James Busby, made using a unique blend of gesso, graphite, oil and acrylic paints on panel to create pieces that are shimmery and modernist but with a rustic weight and texture.
Where: Randall Scott Projects, second floor, 1326 H St. NE
When: Through May 25
Info: Free; 202-417-4872; randallscottprojects.com
4. Unsung Jazz: Antoine Sanfuentes: Emmy-winning TV producer Antoine Sanfuentes brings his passion project — photographs of D.C.’s underrecognized jazz musicians — to Anacostia’s most exciting gallery.
Where: The Gallery at Vivid Solutions, 1241 Good Hope Road SE
When: Through June 28
Info: Free; 202-365-8392; vividsolutionsdc.com
5. One Man’s Trash … : Last chance to see this fun collection of found-object art from Chuck Baxter and Reynaldo “Quinnessential” Quinn.
Where: Off-Rhode Studio, 2204 Rhode Island Ave. NE
When: Through Friday
Info: Free; 202-554-9455; art-enables.org
