Best Music 1. National Philharmonic: Music Director Piotr Gajewski conducts “Women Pioneers,” a concert dedicated to female pioneers in law and music. The program includes Amy Beach’s Grand Mass in E-flat major, Joan Tower’s “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman,” Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” and Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso featuring violinist Chee-Yun. The host is former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $32 to $79, kids 7 to 17 free; at 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
2. National Symphony Orchestra: Leonard Slatkin returns to conduct a program of works by Anna Clyne, Saint-Saens and Rachmaninoff. Gautier Capucon performs Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto No. 1.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; AfterWords: Nov. 10 performance followed by a free discussion with Slatkin and Capucon
Info: $20 and up; 480-502-0528, 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
3. Robert Belinic: The Discovery Series presents the Croatian guitarist, winner of multiple awards, among them the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the first guitarist given this honor.
Where: The Barns of Wolf Trap
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $35; 877-WOLFTRAP (965-3872); wolftrap.org
4. Boom! And Broadway: Tony nominee Anne Hampton Callaway and her sister Liz Callaway perform childhood favorites from legendary artists and songs from their own Broadway careers.
Where: The Music Center at Strathmore
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Info: $22 to $55; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
5. The Miles Davis Experience, 1949-1959: A multimedia tribute to an extraordinary decade in American jazz features trumpeter Jason Palmer and his quintet.
Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Info: $22 to $44, Family Friendly Youth through 12th grade half-price accompanied by adult; 888-945-2468; cfa.gmu.edu
Best Galleries
1. The Invention of Glory: Alfonso V and the Pastrana Tapestries: The Pastrana Tapestries — 520-year-old, 12-by-36-foot documents in wool and silk, of Alfonso V’s 1471 conquest of the Moroccan cities of Asilah and Tangier — come to the United States for the first time in this historic exhibition.
Where: West Building, National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through Jan. 8
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
2. Robin Rose: The Big Payback: “Kinda Blue,” Rose’s bold new encaustic-and-linen-on-alumninum-hexcel-panel painting, is the highlight of this showcase of her new work, opening this Saturday.
Where: Hemphill, 1515 14th St. NW
When: Saturday through Dec. 23
Info: Free, 202-234-5601; hemphillfinearts.com
3. Agnes Bolt: Dealing: Polish-born, Pittsburgh-based multidisciplinary artist Bolt lived in the 1,000-square-foot condo of D.C. art collector Philippa Hughes for one week last May as part of this performance art project — inside of a plastic bubble. She relied on Hughes for all her meals and conversation. The after-action report is now a part of Dealing, Bolt’s provocative exploration of the complexity of human relationships.
Where: Project 4 Gallery, 1353 U St. NW
When: Through Nov. 26
Info: Free; 202-232-4340; project4gallery.com
4. Shape Shifters: Karl Connolly and Jan Razauskas tread the line between representation and abstraction in their photography, painting, drawing and installation art.
Where: 39th Street Gallery, Gateway Arts Center, 3901 Rhode Island Ave., Brentwood
When: Through Dec. 31
Info: 301-864-3860; gatewaycdc.org
5. Warhol: Headlines: Andy Warhol found the garishness and vulgarity of news headlines to be a fertile source of inspiration, as this exhibit of about 80 paintings, prints, drawings, video pieces and sculptures culled from tabloids demonstrates.
Where: West Building, National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
Where: Through Jan. 2
Info: Free, 202-737-4215; nga.gov
Best Brainfood
1. “Aftermath”: The play explores the stories of people displaced by the Iraq war.
Where: The Kay Theatre, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University Boulevard and Stadium Drive, College Park
When: Thursday and Friday
Info: $9 to $35; 301-405-2787; claricesmithcenter.umd.edu
2. “Please Take a Number”: Nia Orms brings her critically acclaimed tour-de-force show back to Washington.This one-night-only performance takes place in New York City today. Orms plays seven ethnically diverse characters in a welfare office. As they impatiently wait, the characters share their life stories and find out what it really means to “please take a number.”
Where: Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $37; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
3. “And The Bridge Is Love”: Originally published in 1991 and now back in print, Faye Moskowitz’s collection of personal essays is as fresh as ever. The author teaches creative writing and Jewish American literature at George Washington University.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 1 p.m. Sunday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
4. “The Mummy Case”: The Mystery/Suspense Book Club meets to discussElizabeth Peters’ book.
Where: One More Page Books, 2200 N. Westmoreland St., No. 101, Arlington
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 15
Info: 703-300-9746; onemorepagebooks.com
5. Seventh Annual Fuego Flamenco Festival: Fuego Flamenco VII is an exploration of the diversity and depth of flamenco and its contemporary expressions. This year you will see Jose Barrios and Company from Madrid, a world premiere of Washington’s Edwin Aparicio, and free lecture-demonstrations for children and families.
Where: GALA Hispanic Theater, 3333 14th St. NW
When: Nov. 17 to 20
Info: $18 to $50; 202-234-7174; galatheatre.org
Best Family
1. “What Does Red Do on Thursday?”: An impromptu voyage of discovery, following a painter guided only by his inspiration.
Where: Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda
When: Through Nov. 20
Info: $10; 301-961-6060; imaginationstage.org
2. Get into the Spin with Spencer “Spinny” Johnson: The audience gets into the act with a Harlem Globetrotter basketball star, celebrated for high scoring, integrity and trick-shot artistry. Kids are invited to step up and participate in dazzling fast-action tricks that teach lessons in confidence, goal setting and self-respect.
Where: The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
When: 9:30 and 11 a.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-783-3372; nationaltheatre.org
3. Autumn Tales of the Corn Spirit:Create a corn husk doll like those made by Colonial children while learning about a child’s life in the 1800s. 5 and older.
Where: Pierce Barn, Rock Creek Park, 5200 Glover Road NW
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-895-6070; nps.gov
4. Raccoons Get Ready: Families with children 5 and older: It’s getting cold outside. What do raccoons do to get ready for winter? What do the other animals do? Info: 703-228-3403
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday
Info: $3; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 612851-O
5. Wild Ones: Turkey Trail: Registered children only. Ages 6 to 10. Trace the tracks of the turkey as you trail this big bird through the woods. Learn how to tell a tom from a hen, where they live in the area, and more. Info: 703-228-3403
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Nov. 16
Info: $3; registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 612821-K
Best Gatherings
1. Czechoslovak Christmas Bazaar: This gathering, sponsored by the Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences, features crafts, holiday items and food.
Where: River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6201 River Road, Bethesda
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 301-229-0400; rruuc.org
2. Veterans Day Celebration: The United States Navy Memorial commemorates Veterans Day with a series of special events, beginning with an Authors on Deck program featuring Dwight Jon Zimmerman and John D. Gresham discussing their book, “Uncommon Valor: The Medal of Honor and the Six Warriors Who Earned It in Afghanistan and Iraq.” For complete details, call 202-737-2300.
Where: Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
When: 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday
Info: 202-737-2300; navymemorial.org
3. “Eisenhower: The White House Years”: Jim Newton’s account of President Eisenhower’s administration debunks the notion that the 34th president presided genially over bland times. Drawing on recently discovered and newly declassified documents, the longtime journalist shows that Eisenhower took aggressive action on many fronts, from overseeing the new national highway system to putting the economy into the black to turning McCarthyism into “McCarthywasm.”
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
4. Lunchtime Tour of the Conservatory: Let a knowledgeable guide connect the exotic plant world to your everyday life. You might see bananas, cacao and coffee ripening on the tree and learn about the next big breakthrough in medicinal plant research.
Where: U.S. Botanic Garden
When: Noon to 1 p.m. Nov. 16
Info: Free; no preregistration necessary; 202-226-0672; usbg.gov
5. “The How and the Why”: Two brilliant women of two generations clash over evolutionary biology and what it means to be female.
Where: 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Road, McLean
When: Through Nov. 20
Info: $15 to $25; 703-854-1856; firstsstagespringhill.org
Best Outdoors
1. Riverbend Park: Once a property belonging to George Washington, this stately manor house and gardens have tremendous history associated with Washington and Jefferson, and are now home of the American Horticultural Society. This time of year, you can see still enjoy the extensive gardens.
Where: 7931 E. Boulevard Drive, Alexandria
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Info: 703-768-5700; ahs.org
2. Mount Vernon Trail: In the 19th century, George Washington’s estate became a de facto national shrine. Then, in the 1920s, the federal government created the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway to carry motor vehicles to Mount Vernon. In 1973, they added the Mount Vernon Trail for people who like to get places by muscle power. 15 miles, round trip. Easy.
Where: Lower Potomac River, Alexandria
When: Any day
Info: National Park Service: 703-289-2500; localhikes.com
3. Blooming in November: Conifer foliage and cones, dogwoods in fruit, viburnum in fruit, ornamental grasses, fall foliage, fall blooming camellias, chrysanthemums, native witch hazels.
Where: United States Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NW
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day
Info: Free; usna.usda.gov
4. Hike Muddy Branch Trail Section: Be one of the first to hike this newest trail in the area. It is a section of the Muddy Branch Greenway Trail that will stretch from Gaithersburg to the Potomac when finished. Four miles round trip. Easy. Hikers, dogs, horses.
Where: Gaithersburg
When: Any day
Info: Free; Ranger: 301-949-3010; localhikes.com
5. Benjamin Banneker Park: At the edge of the L’Enfant Promenade is this circular park with a fountain and a wonderful view of the Potomac River. This park is a memorial to Benjamin Banneker, the black man who assisted Andrew Ellicott in surveying the District of Columbia in 1791. Pierre L’Enfant designed the city based on the boundaries set forth by Banneker and Ellicott’s survey.
Where: 10th and G streets NW
When: Dawn to dusk any day
Info: Free; dc.about.com
Best Theater
1. “Stay”: Theater of the First Amendment produces an innovative performance piece by Heather McDonald and Susan Shields, dealing with impermanence and the human desire for things to “stay.”
Where: Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW
When: Friday to Nov. 27
Info: 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org
2. “Jersey Boys”: Full of unforgettable songs, nostalgia and characters: FrankieValli andThe Four Seasons.The story of how a group of blue-collarboysfrom the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time.
Where: National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
When: Thursday through Jan. 7
Info: $66; 800-447-7400; telecharge.com
3. “Beertown”: Dog & pony dc welcomes you to Beertown’s 20th Quinquennial Time Capsule Day! Every five years this small American town unearths its beloved Time Capsule and ritualistically reviews its contents — Beertown’s “artifacts.”
Where: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE
When: Through Dec. 10
Info: $10 to $25; dogandponydc.com
4. “The Rivalry”: Norman Corwin’s play depicts the historic debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in their battle for the Illinois Senate seat, using dialogue from the original debates.
Where: Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $24 to $40; hyltoncenter.org
5. Teatro de la Luna’s Fourteenth Annual Hispanic Theater Festival. This weekend: “Tales Told Under the Influence”: From Venezuela, a comedy that sparkles with wit! From the U.S. for children: “Hansel and Gretel.”
Where: Theatre Two, Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington
When: Through Nov. 19
Info: $30 to $35, children under 4 free; 703-548-3092; teatrodelaluna.org
