Brain Food
1. “Journey Into America: The Challenge of Islam”: Author Akbar Ahmed, the Ibn Khaldun chairman of Islamic studies at American University, discusses and signs his new book.
Where: Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Info: Free; 202-3387-7638; busboysandpoets.com
2. “Observations With a Typewriter”: Born in Wuhan, China, Ding Ren currently lives in D.C. She is an artist, writer and lecturer who draws inspiration from her surroundings for this performance piece in conjunction with the exhibition Lists: To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts and other Artists’ Enumerations From the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art. The exhibit itself celebrates a common document — the list — as a key to the lives of some of the most celebrated artists of the last two centuries.
Where: Lawrence Fleischman Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Eighth and F streets NW
When: Through Sept. 27; curatorial assistant Mary Savig will give a gallery talk about the exhibition at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Info: 202-633-1000; aaa.si.edu
3. Illustrations from Flora of Virginia: Pen-and-ink drawings from the first manual of all Virginia’s plants since 1792.
Where: Blandy Experimental Farm and State Arboretum, 400 Blandy Farm Lane, Boyce, Va.
When: Arboretum open dawn to dusk every day; exhibit on view through Aug. 31
Info: $8 to$10; 540-837-1758; virginia.edu/blandy
4. “In Utopia”: The vision of the ideal life takes many forms, and author J.C. Hallman investigates six of them here. From “Front Sight,” where all the citizens bear arms, to “Pleistocene Rewilding,” where lions play the role of the long-gone saber-toothed tigers, this collection is an entertaining tour of human dreams in action.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Info: 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
5. Washington: Symbol and City: Created by the government, for the government, Washington was bound to differ from other American cities. Here, the local needs that all cities share — for housing, transportation, water and power utilities, commercial centers, and community institutions — vie directly with national priorities. This exhibition explores how residents experience the city and how Washington itself expresses the tension between the demands of a working seat of government and the desire for a national symbol.
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; through Dec. 31, 2011
Info: Free; 202-272-2448; nbm.org
Family
1. Fairy Houses: About 25 fairy houses made by locals adorn the grounds. Made of everything from horseshoe crabs to glitter, each is a unique work of art. Visit a fairy costume station and let your kids dress for the hunt.
Where: Annmarie Garden, 13480 Dowell Road, Solomons, Md.
When: Through Aug. 31
Info: 410-326-4640; annmariegarden.org
2. Fort DeRussy Health and History Hike: Get some exercise as you listen to a park ranger talk about the Civil War history of Fort DeRussy and the natural history surrounding the fort.
Where: Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road NW
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-895-6070; nps.gov/rocr
3. “The Call of the Wild”: The Atlas Arts Center 1970s Family Series Film Program: Saturdays are double feature days. The early show is the 1970s Family Film Series featuring kid-friendly movies.
Where: Atlas Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE
When: 5 p.m. Saturday
Info: $6; 202-399-7993; atlasarts.org
4. Newborn animals: Come see the new additions to the National Zoo: A giant elephant shrew, or sengi, and acouchi were born in July at the zoo and can be seen in the small-mammal house.
Where: The National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Info: Free; 202-633-4480; nationalzoo.si.edu/Education
5. Earth From Space: Satellite images of Earth show our planet from many views. Focusing on the earliest days of mechanical flight, the facility appeals to all ages, but was especially designed with children in mind.
Where: College Park Aviation Museum, 1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Drive, College Park
When: Through Sept. 6
Info: 301-864-6029; collegeparkaviationmuseum.com
Galleries
1. Black Box: Superflex: The Copenhagen-based Danish art collective Superflex contributes the penultimate exhibit scheduled for the Hirshhorn’s now half-decade-old black box space before the museum relocates the black box to accommodate multichannel works in 2011. For their 21-minute video loop “Flooded McDonald’s,” the creators built a life-size replica of the interior of America’s iconic fast-food restaurant.
Where: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW
When: Through Nov. 28
Info: Free; 202-633-4674; hmsg.si.edu
2. Robert Ryman: Variations and Improvisations: American Jazz musician-turned-abstract painter Ryman’s narrative, nonrepresentational paintings get a rare showcase in this collection of 26 privately held samples of his most evocative work.
Where: The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW
When: Through Sept. 12
Info: $12, $10 students, seniors 62 and older, military; free for museum members and visitors age 18 and under; 202-387-2151; phillipscollection.org
3. The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-6: “Gaman” is a Japanese word that means, roughly translated, to bear privation with dignity. These 120-plus objects by Japanese Americans interned after the bombing of Pearl Harbor during World War II are a powerful manifestation of this idea.
Where: Renwick Gallery, 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
When: Through Jan. 30
Info: Free; 202-633-7970; americanart.si.edu
4. “The Cinecitta Chapel”: Matthew Mann’s Spaghetti Western- and “Looney Toons”-inspired update of a Renaissance fresco cycle by Giotto di Bondone is colorful and irreverent enough to burn your eyes.
Where: Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW
When: Through Sept. 4
Info: Free; 202-315-1305; flashpointdc.org
5. The Unhappy Life of a Plastic Bag: Sabyna Sterrett builds tactile 3-D works from repurposed plastic bags.
Where: Wyatt Gallery, Arlington Arts Center, 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
When: CLOSING SATURDAY
Info: Free; 703-248-6800; arlingtonartscenter.org/exhibitions.htm
Gatherings
1. Earl Lloyd book signing: Sports trivia time: who was the first African-American to play in the National Basketball Association? If you answered Earl Lloyd, you would be correct. He suited up for the Washington Capitols in 1950, knocking down professional basketball’s color barrier in the process. Meet a living legend when the Alexandria native and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame signs copies of his autobiography.
Where: Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria
When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday
Info: Free; 703-746-4356; visitalexandriava.com
2. Special screening of “Pakistan: Inside the Tinderbox”: Nuclear-armed Pakistan is a tinderbox; Al Qaeda’s sanctuary in the midst of an economically challenged, ethnically diverse and politically volatile Muslim country. This documentary highlights hope in the middle of despair. The story of smiles and tears of ordinary folks struggling with terrorism.
Where: Langston Room, Busboys and Poets, 14th and V streets NW
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: Free; 202-387-7638; busboysandpoets.com
3. Return to a Native Place: Algonquian Peoples of the Chesapeake: Meet the Native peoples of the Chesapeake Bay region — what is now D.C., Maryland, Virginia and Delaware — through photographs, maps, and ceremonial and everyday objects. This compact exhibition educates visitors on the continued Native presence in the region, and provides an overview of the history and events from the 1600s to the present that have influenced the lives of the Nanticoke, Powhatan and Piscataway tribes.
Where: National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW
When: Ongoing; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; www.nmai.si.edu
4. Prince William County Fair: The annual Prince William County Fair includes rodeos, demolition derbies, truck and tractor pulls, carnival rides, pet shows, belly dancers, livestock displays, and much more.
Where: Prince William County Fairgrounds, 10624 Dumfries Road, Manassas
When: Through Saturday; check Web site for times
Info: $5 to $8; 703-368-0173; pwcfair.com
5. Arlington County Fair: Enjoy rides, outdoor movies, competitive exhibits, racing piglets, Rainforest Rescue and more.
Where: Thomas Jefferson Community Center and Park Grounds, 3501 Second St. S., Arlington
When: Through Aug. 22; see Web site for times
Info: Admission free, rides extra; 703-228-1853; arlingtoncountyfair.us
Movie
‘The Switch’
Stars Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Jeff Goldblum
Directors: Will Speck, Josh Gordon
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexual material including dialogue, some nudity, drug use. and language
Running Time: 100 minutes
A neurotic and insecure man finds out his best friend wants to have a child through artificial insemination. He surreptitiously replaces her donor’s semen with his own and is then forced to live with the secret that he is the child’s real father.
Music
1. Mary Chapin Carpenter: Washington’s own favorite folk singer and multiple Grammy Award winner returns for her 17th Wolf Trap appearance, performing songs from her new album, “Age of Miracles,” and fan favorites. Her special guest is Grammy-nominated songwriter Eliza Gilkyson.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Info: $42 in-house, $22 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
2. The Irish Tenors: The reunion of Finbar Wright, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan celebrates songs from their latest album, “Sacred,” and traditional favorites of their Celtic heritage about romance, heartache and joy to soothe woes and transport listeners back to the Auld Sod.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: $36 to $52 in-house, $22 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
3. The Temptations and The Four Tops: Everybody clamors to sing along with the Grammy-winning Motown legends as their evergreen R&B hits reverberate throughout the woods.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $38 in-house, $22 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
4. Great Big Sea: The rocking band from Canada, where it performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics, sings with verve, humor and style that earned Juno Award nominations.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: $35 in-house, $25 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
5. Keb’ Mo’: The blues singer-songwriter and guitarist, winner of three Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Blues Album, treats his fans to his inimitable style live in concert.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Info: $59.50; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com; ticketmaster.com
Also worth noting:
6. Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds: The R&B pop singer-songwriter plays guitar and keyboard, produces films and records, and wows the audience.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Info: $65 (sold out, but tickets still available for Aug. 23); 703-549-7500; birchmere.com; ticketmaster.com
Outdoors
1. Civil War Battlefields: Monocacy and South Mountain: Visit the sites of two of the lesser-known battles in Maryland, which occurred during Confederate attempts to bring the fighting out of Virginia into the North. The first stop is a battlefield where a small Union force delayed a larger Confederate army long enough to save Washington. Next you’ll visit a battlefield where Confederates defended mountain passes against the Union advance in 1862.
Where: Meet at Lubber Run parking lot, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington
When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Info: $30; registration necessary at 703-228-4747; program 644440-01
2. Montgomery County Agricultural Fair: The Montgomery Fair this year includes a Battle of the Beast Rodeo, Monster Truck Madness, demolition derby, a large variety of commercial and craft exhibits, a milking parlor, and new concessions outlets. See Web site for all activities.
Where: 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg
When: Through Saturday
Info: $10, children are free; mcagfair.com
3. “The Incredible Hulk”: The Superhero Series continues on the National Harbor, where movies are screened outdoors on the plaza’s big screen through Sept. 26.
Where: National Harbor, Waterfront Street, Oxon Hill, Md.
When: Just after sunset Sunday
Info: Free, lawn chairs recommended; 877-628-5427; nationalharbor.com
4. Capitol Riverfront Market: Visit the Capitol Riverfront Market, offering fresh produce and locally prepared foods.
Where: Intersection of New Jersey Avenue and M Street SE
When: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday; through October
Info: capitolriverfront.org
5. Mathews Arm Elkwallow Wayside: A moderate, well-maintained trail uses the Knob Mountain Trail and Elkwallow Trail to make a pleasing circuit between Mathews Arm Campground and Elkwallow Wayside. Wayside has a cafeteria, snack bar and camp store. 4.76-mile round trip; three hours; dog-friendly.
Where: Near Luray, Va. See Web site for directions.
When: Ongoing
Info: 540-999-3500; localhikes.com
Theater
1. “Twelfth Night”: The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Free for All. In Shakespeare’s beloved play involving two women who have recently lost their brothers, love, mistaken identities and low comedy reign supreme.
Where: Harman Center, 610 F St. NW
When: Through Sept. 5; check Web site for times
Info: Free; 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org
2. “The Importance of Being Earnest”: Scena Theatre stages Oscar Wilde’s famous comedy of manners.
Where: H St. Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE
When: Through Aug. 29
Info: $25-$35; 703-683-2824; scenatheater.org
3. “Cat’s Cradle”: Longacre Lea presents an adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s novel, which explores issues of science, technology and religion, satirizing the arms race and many other targets along the way.
Where: Catholic University, 3801 Harewood Road NE
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, Aug. 25 to 28, Sept. 1 to 4; 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29 and Sept. 5
Info: $15; 202-460-2100; longacrelea.org
4. “D.C.’s Neutrino Video Project”: Washington Improv Theater brings back its unscripted, unpredictable movie phenomenon in which its cameras, actors and crew shoot, edit, score and screen an entirely improvised movie.
Where: Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; through Sept. 11
Info: $15; sourcedc.org
5. “Noises Off”: Michael Frayn’s hilarious comedy uses the concept of a “play within a play” to show how the cast’s and crew’s offstage antics and personalities affect the onstage performance.
Where: Keegan Theatre, Church Street Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; through Aug. 22
Info: $25 to $30; 703-892-0202; keegantheatre.com
