Brain Food 1. National Cathedral Cr?che Exhibit: Cr?che display from the Cathedral’s collection of over 500 nativity sets. The cr?ches are from many countries and cultures from around the world, and many U.S. states and territories are represented.
Where: Wisconsin and Massachusetts avenues NW
When: Through Jan. 7
Info: 202-547-6200; nationalcathedral.org
2. Botanic Garden Concerts: On Tuesday and Thursday evenings in December, the U.S. Botanic Garden will have extended hours featuring musical performances from 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Garden Court, United States Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday (Samovar, Russian folk music)
Info: Free; 202-225-18333; usbg.gov
3. New Year’s Eve Swing Dance: A family-friendly, alcohol-free event. Free swing dance lesson offered. The Lush Life with Lynn McCune performs.
Where: Glen Echo Park, Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: Lesson at 8 p.m.; dance: 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Info: $25; 202-244-2787
4. “Museum of the American Indian, Highlights Tour”: Cultural interpreters provide a 45-minute overview of the museum’s history, landscape, building, exhibitions and other points of interest.
Where: Potomac Atrium, 1st Level, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW
When: 1:30 and 3 p.m. most Mondays-Fridays; 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.. most Saturdays and Sundays.
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; nmai.si.edu
5. “Conversations with a Conservator”: From Impressionism to Modernism: The Chester Dale Collection. With David Gariff, J. Russell Sale, or Diane Arkin.
Where: National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW; West Building Main Floor Rotunda
When: 11 a.m. Jan. 4, 10, 11, 19-21
Info: 202-737-4215; nga.gov
Galleries
1. “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture”: The Smithsonian faces a public relations disaster, having removed a four-minute excerpt from David Wojnarowicz’s 1987 film “Fire in My Belly” from this, the first U.S. museum exhibit of art history from a gay perspective. More than 100 riveting samples of 19th and 20th century portraiture remain on view.
Where: National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and G streetsNW
When: Through Feb. 13
Info: Free; 202-633-8293; si.edu
2. “Alexis Rockman: A Fable for Tomorrow”: Painter Alexis Rockman’s mordant wit and chops as a draftsman come together in these 47 paintings and works on paper. This first major survey of the artist’s work is expansive and essential.
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW
When: Through May 8
Info: Free; 202-633-7970; americanart.si.edu.
3. “Party Crashers: Comic Book Artists Invade the Art World”: This ambitious two-venue exhibit boasts underground comics artists’s work in the Arlington Arts Center, while the Artisphere half features work by “fine” artists who have appropriated the style of sequential art.
Where: Arlington Arts Center, 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
When: To Jan. 16
Info: Free; 703-248-6800; arlingtonartscenter.org/exhibitions.htm
4. “Gene Davis: Drawings”: Gene Davis was a sportswriter covering the Redskins and Harry Truman’s poker partner. He was also a member of the Washington Color School, and this look at his drawings offers fascinating insight the paintings for which he is more widely known.
Where: Marsha Mateyka Gallery, 2012 R St. NW
When: Through Jan. 15
Info: Free; 202-328-0088; marshamateykagallery.com
5. “The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-6”: Translated from the Japanese, “Gaman” means to bear privation with dignity. These 120-plus objects by Japanese Americans interned during World War II offer a graceful expression of this idea.
Where: Renwick Gallery, 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
When: Through Jan. 30
Info: Free; 202-633-7970; americanart.si.edu
Music
1. New Year’s Eve at the Kennedy Center: Conductor Murry Sidlin leads NSO members, soprano Alyson Cambridge and tenor Eric Owens in a dazzling classical concert punctuated by his delightful wit, a traditional event.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $50 to $95; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org. Guests with tickets from all evening shows are invited to celebrate and enjoy live dancing and music in the Grand Foyer at 11 p.m.
2. John Faddis Jazz Orchestra of New York: The trumpeter returns to the Kennedy Center with his big band and vocalist Nnenna Freelon to welcome the New Year.
Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
When: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. FRiday
Info: $65; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
3. Riders in the Sky: The singing cowboys, multiple winners of the 2010 Western Music Association show, are back in the saddle with songs to stir memories of silver screen heroes of the Old West.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Info: $25; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
4. The Seldom Scene: The New Year’s Eve bonanza features the bluegrass masters, The Eastman String Band and guitarist/vocalist Nora Jane Struthers whose band walked away with the Telluride Bluegrass Festival contest.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $38.50; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
Theatre
1. “Let Me Down Easy”: Conceived, written and performed by Anna Devere Smith, this one-woman show is based on interviews with an eclectic range of people, from a heavyweight boxer to a supermodel, from Texas Governor Ann Richards to legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong. “Let Me Down Easy” mixes a humanitarian’s concern for people with a stand-up comedian’s sense of timing.
Where: Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW
When: Through Feb. 13; see website for dates and times
Info: Tickets begin at $55; 202-488-3300; arenastage.org
2. “Three Kings Fiesta Celebration”: Fiesta de los Reyes Magos will be presented for free, but a gift for a child is requested. Tickets distributed by GALA Box Office starting at noon on a first-come, first-served basis.
Where: GALA Hispanic Theater, 3333 14th St. NW
When: Procession with the Three Kings and live animals begins at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 2 at the corner of Park Road and 14th Street NW; show begins at 2 p.m. Jan. 2.
Info: Free; 800-494-8497; galatheatre.org
3. “A Girl’s Guide to Washington Politics”: Second City celebrates 50 years of satiric theatre, bringing a revue all about D.C., looking at the life of Washington politics with an original spin.
Where: Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D St., N.W.
When: 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 7 and 10 p.m. Friday; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through Jan 9
Info: Tickets begin at $30; 202-393-3939; woollymammoth.net
4. “South Pacific”: The Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical comes to the Kennedy Center. Based on the novel by James Michener, “South Pacific” takes place on a south sea island during World War II. With a cast of 34 and a 26-member orchestra, this production redefines a classic.
Where: Opera House, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through Jan. 16
Info: Tickets start at $39; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
