Brain Food
1. “Shen Yun Performing Arts”: The group performs traditional Chinese dances to the sounds of a live orchestra and vocalists.
Where: Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Info: $79 to $150; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. ASL Open-Mic Night: On this night, American sign language users and viewers from all corners of life will come together to recite a poem a song or a short skit. Great for those who are learning American sign language. Anyone with sign language knowledge may sign up to recite a poem or a sign song by e-mailing [email protected].
Where: Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW
When: 11 p.m. Friday
Info: $5; 202-3387-7638; busboysandpoets.com
3. “Poetry in the Park”: The sixth annual end-of-summer celebration of poetry features the Last Poets and the Cornel West Theory.
Where: Carter Barron Amphitheatre, 16th Street and Colorado Avenue NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-426-0486; nps.gov/rocr
4. “Romeo and Juliet”: Franco Zefferelli’s film adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy is this week’s offering in the Atlas Performing Arts Center’s tribute to films made in or about Italy.
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $6; 202-399-7993; atlasarts.org
5. Susan Gregg Gilmore: The Improper Life Of Bezellia Grove: The latest in a long line of Bezellias in the Grove family, Gilmore’s protagonist is feisty and irreverent; where love is concerned, she refuses to knuckle under to the rigid rules of her class- and race-bound society.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Info: 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
Family
1. “Beyond: Visions of Our Solar System”: Michael Benson has searched the extensive image archives of NASA and other planetary databases for the most extraordinary images of objects in our solar system. Through skillful manipulation, he presents what our eyes might see if we could visit these spectacular places ourselves. Combining art, science, photography, and exploration, this exhibit presents a visual tour of these diverse landscapes.
Where: Air and Space Museum, Gallery 211, Independence Avenue and Sixth Street SW
When: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily (7:30 p.m. through Sept. 5).
Info: Free; 202-633-2214; nasm.si.edu
2. “Rapids Bridge Hike”: Enjoy a 3-mile hike to Rapids Bridge with a park ranger while looking for signs of summer. Ages 7 and older.
Where: Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road NW
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-895-6070; nps.gov/rocr
3. “The Princess and the Frog”: Summer nights are even better when sitting outside to watch movies with friends and family. The Workhouse Film Institute presents a new outdoor movie series: Cinema Under the Stars. This film is an animated Disney comedy set in New Orleans.
Where: Workhouse Arts Center, 9601 Ox Road, Lorton
When: 8:30 p.m. Friday; Family Fun Hour at 7:30 p.m.: snacks, drinks, pizza, music, games
Info: $20 per vehicle, bring blankets; 703-495-0001
4. “Spider Man”: The last in the superhero series shown on the giant screen near the harbor on Sunday nights. Lawn chairs recommended.
Where: National Harbor, 150 National Plaza, Fort Washington
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: Free; 301-203-4189; nationalharbor.com
5. “Civil War Discovery: You’re in the Army Now!”: Learn what it was like to enlist in the Civil War army and, using replica wood rifles, “load in nine times.” March as a well-drilled unit and go on a skirmish drill.
Where: Fort C.F. Smith Park, 2411 N. 24th St., Arlington
When: 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday
Info: $5; 703-243-4342; registration required at 703-228-4747; program 613620-A
Galleries
1. “Americans Now”: The National Portrait Gallery’s series on living, prominent people from the realms of art, entertainment, science and sports includes striking portraits of Toni Morrison, Cormac McCarty, Willie Nelson and Martha Stewart, among others.
Where: National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F streets NW
When: Through July 10, 2011
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; npg.si.edu
2. “Chinamania: Whistler and the Victorian Craze for Blue-and-White”: Painter James McNeill Whistler’s collected blue-and-white Chinese porcelain like the 23 samples represented here. He often included them in his paintings, briefly making these objects into a fad in the London of the 1870s.
Where: Freer Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW
When: Through Aug. 7, 2011
Info: Free; 202-633-4880; asia.si.edu
3. “Da Vinci: The Genius”: Five hundred years after his death the world remembers Leonard da Vinci’s contributions to art and science. This exhibit addresses the Italian master’s gifts in both fields, but its “Secrets of the Mona Lisa” section makes it a must for art lovers. French engineer Pascal Cotte scanned the canvas using his custom-built 240-megapixel camera, enabling his profound discoveries about the painting’s history.
Where: National Geographic, 1145 17th St. NW
When: Through Sept. 12
Info: Free; 800-647-5463; nationalgeographic.com/museum
4. “Tony Savoie: New Work”: Savoie overlays pieces of painted acrylic on backdrops of found photos and ephemera. The tactile multimedia works that result capture the tension between the human impulses toward violence and generosity.
Where: Long View Gallery, 1302 Ninth St. NW
When: Through Sept. 12
Info: Free; 202-232-4788; longviewgallery.com
5. “Mary ‘Mimi’ Frank: Shelf Life”: Sculptor Mary “Mimi” Frank’s tools are steel and space. Here she uses both to arresting, unconventional effect.
Where: The Athenaeum, 201 Prince St., Alexandria
When: Through Sept. 12
Info: Free; 703-548-0035; nvfaa.org
Gatherings
1. “Ain’t I A Woman? A Complicated Story of Women’s Suffrage in Black and White”: In commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the National Archives Experience presents a panel discussion on the women’s suffrage movement and its lasting effect on race and gender in the United States.
Where: William G. McGowan Theater, National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Info: Free; 202-357-5000; archives.gov
2. “Alexandria Restaurant Week”: Sixty restaurants throughout Alexandria will feature either a $35 fixed-price three-course dinner or $35 dinner for two; a $3.50 sweet treat is offered at participating local bakeries, chocolatiers and dessert shops. See Web site for a link to participating restaurants and menus.
Where: Various locations throughtout Alexandria
When: Through Sunday
Info: 703-746-3301; visitalexandriava.com
3. “Our Town”: A Damascus Theatre Company production of Thornton Wilder’s masterpiece chronicles the daily life of close-knit families, exploring universal truths that connect us all.
Where: Gaithersburg Arts Barn, 311 Kent Square, Gaithersburg
When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
Info: $9 to $15; 301-258-6394; gaithersburgmd.gov
4. “Facing Catastrophe: Environmental Action for a Post-Katrina World”: In this bold contribution to environmental law, Robert Verchick argues for a new perspective on disaster law that is based on the principles of environmental protection. His prescription boils down to three simple commands: Go green, be fair and keep safe. Book signing to follow.
Where: Room, Busboys and Poets, 14th and V streets NW
When: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2
Info: Free; 202-387-7638; busboysandpoets.com
5. “Who We Are”: This unique, 13-minute multimedia presentation transports visitors to the Arctic, the Northwest Coast and the plateaus of Bolivia to reveal the diversity of contemporary native life and to introduce themes and messages encountered throughout the museum.
Where: National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW
When: Every 30 minutes from 10:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; nmai.si.edu
Movie
“The Last Exorcism”
Starring: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr, Louis Herthum
Drector: Daniel Stamm
Rated PG-13 for disturbing violent content and terror, some sexual references and thematic material.
Running time: 100 minutes
When he arrives on the rural Louisiana farm of Louis Sweetzer, the Rev. Cotton Marcus expects to perform just another routine “exorcism” on a disturbed religious fanatic. An earnest fundamentalist, Sweetzer has contacted the charismatic preacher as a last resort, certain his teenage daughter Nell is possessed by a demon who must be exorcized before their terrifying ordeal ends in unimaginable tragedy. Upon arriving at the already blood-drenched family farm, it is soon clear that nothing could have prepared him for the true evil he encounters there. Now, too late to turn back, his own beliefs are shaken to the core when he and his crew must find a way to save Nell — and themselves — before it is too late.
Music
1. Donna Summer: Still the Disco Queen, she exudes boundless energy in her dance club hits that propel audiences to their feet.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: $48 in-house, $25 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
2. “Louis: A Silent Film”: The Birchmere presents Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award winner Wynton Marsalis, classical pianist Cecile Licad and a 10-piece ensemble accompanying the film tribute to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, beautiful women and the birth of jazz, the score composed by Marsalis and L.M. Gottschalk.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $55 to $95; 301-581-5100
3. Anita Baker: The classy vocalist with multiple Grammy awards evokes romance and happy memories with her R&B hits.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Info: $48 in-house, $25 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
4. Herman’s Hermits featuring Peter Noone: There’s a “Kind of Hush” as the British rockers are “Into Something Good.”
Where: Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Info: $45 at (703) 549-7500, (703) 573-SEAT or www.birchmere.com.
5. The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show: Pick a favorite group and they’re represented here: The Flamingos, Jay Siegal & the Tokens, Eugene Pitt & the Jive Five, the Roommates, the Vogues, the Rama Lama Big Band, the lead singers of the Drifters and the Shirelles and many more.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $40 in-house, $25 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
Outdoors
1. Final Evening Tour of National Garden: Stroll through the National Garden to see native plants of the mid-Atlantic region. Hear the folktales and stories that surround these plants. Please note: This tour is held outside in the garden. Bring sunscreen, protective clothing and water. Tour is canceled if it rains.
Where: National Garden, United States Botanic Gardens, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday
Info: Free, no registration required; usbg.gov
2. Bird walk: Join members of the Northern Virginia Bird Club for an informal walk through Long Branch and Glencarlyn parks. Experienced and beginning birders welcome. Bring binoculars and field guides.
Where: Meet at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Sept. 1
Info: Free; registration required at 703-288-4747; program 612940-A
3. Sugarloaf Trail, Shenandoah National Park: This day hike in Shenandoah’s northern district starts next to Skyline Drive and follows the Appalachian Trail for a brief stretch before turning off onto the Sugarloaf Trail. Along the way, you’ll pass a wide variety of flora, fauna, and geographical features. At mile 3.3, tackle a moderately challenging 1-mile, 500-foot ascent of Hogback Mountain. Expansive views of the Shenandoah park await at the top — as does the opportunity to catch views from the top of a hang gliding launch site.
Where: Near the Appalachian Trail; details on Web site
When: All seasons
Info: trimbleoutdoors.com
4. Visit Dumbarton Oaks Gardens: Dumbarton Oaks welcomes the public to visit its terraced gardens, which include a naturalistic landscape of stream, woodland, and meadow.
Where: 1703 32nd St. NW
When: 2 to 6 p.m.; through Oct. 31
Info: $5 to $8; 202-339-6400; doaks.org
5. “Thrive! From the Ground Up”: Can you grow your way to health surrounded by beauty? Visit the Botanic Gardens’ seven Terrace gardens to learn how your garden can be a source of medicine, healthful foods, intoxicating fragrances, and intense flavors. You will find medicinal plants that can help the heart, cancer, and immune system, a kitchen garden, one filled with the sources of some of our favorite drinks, and much more!
Where: Conservatory Terrace, United States Botanic Gardens, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: Dawn to dusk daily, through Oct. 11
Info: 202-225-8333; usbg.gov
Theater
1. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”: This production of one of Shakespeare’s most revered comedies is given a fresh twist on the setting that makes it relevant to today’s fast moving, electronic media saturated world. The woods glow in the dark, the fairies dance to electronica, setting the scene for the wacky things that happen when a man loves a woman who loves a man who loves another woman.
Where: Olney Theatre, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney
When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Info: Free; reservations required; 301-924-3400; olneytheatre.org
2. “Something You Did”: A stellar student from a good family, Alison Moulton is serving her third decade behind bars for an anti-war action she participated in as member of a 1960s radical group that resulted in the death of a black police officer. Now petitioning for parole, she’s visited by the daughter of the slain officer. But her fiercest detractor is a former comrade turned neo-conservative pundit, media star and best-selling author.
Where: Theater J, Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW
When: Saturday through Oct. 3; see website for dates and times
Info: $30-$55; 800-494-8497; theaterj.org
3. “Dinner With Friends”: This Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Donald Margulies explores what happens to decades of friendship between two married couples when one couple is on the verge of divorce. Who’s to blame? Who’s to be believed? And is it right to take sides?
Where: Olney Theatre, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney
When: Thursday
Info: $26 to $49; 301-924-3400; olneytheatre.org
4. “In the Next Room, or the Vibrator Play”: Sara Ruhl’s play deals with a new medical device, pioneered at the dawn of the electrical age, developed to pacify “hysterical” women, but it produces a shockingly different result. Directed by Aaron Posner.
Where: Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Info: $30 to $65; 202-393-3939; woollymammoth.net
5. “Sink the Belgrano!”: SCENA Theatre presents this play, which considers the situation of the British under Margaret Thatcher’s rule during the Falklands War of 1982. The war was the result of the Argentine invasion of the British-owned Falkland Islands. But, “Belgrano!” asks, was Thatcher right to “rule the waves” or did she “waive the rules” of international warfare with the sinking of the Argentine naval ship Belgrano with a nuclear-powered submarine?
Where: H Street Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; through Aug. 29
Info: $25 to $35; 703-684-7990; scenatheater.org
