Brain Food
1. “New Jerusalem: The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza”: David Ives’ play is a witty theological drama, in which philosopher and accused apostate Baruch de Spinoza faces excommunication from the Jewish community.
Where: Theater J, Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; through July 25.
Info: $30 to $55; 800-494-8497; theaterj.org
2. “Indian Summer Showcase”: Catch the last days of this celebration of the arts and culture of the Oaxaca-Mixtec region of Mexico. Art exhibitions and sales, as well as screenings of films, promise to delight visitors. See Web site for details.
Where: National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW
When: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday
Info: Free; nmai.si.edu
3. Source Festival: Some of the nation’s best playwrights pair with some of Washington’s finest actors to present full-length plays. Twelve artists from various fields collaborated for three months to create four Artistic Blind Dates.
Where: Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW
When: Through July 3; see Web site for times
Info: $18; 866-811-4111; sourcedc.org
4. “Toughing It Out in Afghanistan”: Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Hassina Sherjan, president of Aid Afghanistan for Education, look at the present situation in Afghanistan, debunk mistaken impressions of the country and lay out a plan for its future.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
5. “Art”: Andrew Long, Hugh Nees and Howard Shalwitz present a staged reading of Yasmina Reza’s Tony Award-winning play, in which differences of opinion on the nature of art and on a very large, costly white painting put friendships to the test.
Where: Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW
When: 6:30 p.m. July 1
Info: $8 to $20; 202-387-2151; phillipscollection.org
Family
1. “How I Became a Pirate”: Imagine Jeremy Jacob’s surprise when he’s accosted on the beach by a motley crew of pirates. They need a digger to bury their treasure, and Jeremy, clutching his little sand spade, is recruited. At first, the pirate life is all fun, but when night falls, Jeremy gets no bedtime story and no tucking in. At last, Jeremy comes up with an idea to allow him to return to his “regular” life. Enjoyed by ages 3 and up.
Where: Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda
When: Through Aug. 8
Info: $10; 301-280-1660; imaginationstage.org
2. Granny’s Appalachian Tales: Using hand, rod and shadow puppets, live music, and live actors, the Good Life Theater presents folk tales from the rich and vibrant Appalachian tradition. Granny, a life-size puppet storyteller, weaves “Appalachian Jack” tales, the African-American legend of John Henry, and the Cherokee tale “How the Milky Way Came to Be.”
Where: Discovery Theatre, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW
When: 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. July 1 and 2
Info: $4 to $6; 202-633-6060; discoverytheater.org
3. Summer Scavenger Hunt: School’s almost out and summer is nearly here. The evidence is all around if you know where to look. Have fun as you search for signs of summer. Information: 703-228-6535.
Where: Meet at Long Branch Nature Center, 625 S. Carlin Springs Road, Arlington
When: 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday
Info: $3; registration necessary at 703-228-4747; program 643620-03
4. Old Stone House: Women of the Colonial Period: Tour the Old Stone House through the eyes of a woman from pre-Revolutionary War Georgetown. Ages 8 and older.
Where: Nature Center, Rock Creek Park, 5200 Glover Road NW
When: Noon Sunday
Info: Free; 202-895-6070; reservations necessary at 202-362-0117; nps.gov/rocr
5. “Gretty Good Time”: Theater Alliance and VSA’s co-production of John Belluso’s play follows Gretty, a young woman with post-polio paralysis, and her friend Hideko, a Hiroshima survivor, as they travel the globe of fantasy in search of peace. All performances wheelchair-accessible and with Braille programs.
Where: H Street Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE
When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Sunday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; through July 3
Info: $20 to $30; 202-399-7993; theateralliance.com
Galleries
1. German Master Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, 1580-1900: This selection of 120 German drawings from the 17th through 19th centuries features sterling examples of Baroque, Rococo, Romantic and Realist works assembled over a three-decade period by the astute collector Wolfgang Ratjen.
Where: National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through Nov. 28
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
2. Jeffry Cudlin: By Request: Local artist and critic Cudlin selected a panel of seven influential museum directors, art bloggers and collectors to complete a detailed survey of their preferences, then commissioned seven artists to create works based on their responses, but all featuring Cudlin. The respondents’ numerical evaluation of each piece’s success or failure is displayed alongside the work itself, creating a fascinating rumination on an increasingly interactive, feedback-driven media world.
Where: Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW
When: Through July 31
Info: Free; 202-315-1305; flashpointdc.org
3. Gaia, The Urban Romantic: Gaia’s mysterious multimedia works depict human-animal hybrids reminiscent of Max Ernst’s bird-headed figures from his surreal 1934 collage book “Une Semanie de Bonte.”
Where: Irvine Contemporary, 1412 14th St. NW
When: Through July 24
Info: Free; 202-332-8767; irvinecontemporary.com
4. Brian Jungen: Strange Comfort: The first solo exhibition by a contemporary artist in the NMAI’s half-decade history is devoted to Jungen, a Vancouver, Canada-based creator of monumental sculptures and mobiles that repurpose commonplace objects like baseball gloves and cafeteria trays into unforgettable provocations.
Where: National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW
When: Through Aug. 8
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; nmai.si.edu
5. The Unhappy Life of a Plastic Bag: Sabyna Sterrett creates a series of highly tactile new 3-D works from discarded plastic bags.
Where: Wyatt Gallery, Arlington Arts Center, 3550 Wilson Blvd.
When: Through Aug. 21
Info: Free; 703-248-6800; arlingtonartscenter.org/exhibitions.htm
Gatherings
1. “Johnny Meister & the Stitch”: Rosemary Jenkinson’s brutally honest dark comedy unfolds at breakneck speed in this play about the youth who populate the streets and alleys of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Where: Solas Nua, at Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Friday, 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday; through July 17
Info: $21; 202-315-1305; flashpointdc.org
2. World Flavors and Essential Herbs: Come and explore flavors from around the world as the United States Botanic Garden executive director gives a tour of the World Flavors garden. Learn about Native American flavors, spices, spice blends and essential herbs from the Mediterranean, India and Asia.
Where: Conservatory Terrace, United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: Noon to 1 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-255-8333; registration required at 202-225-1116; program TH062510; usbg.gov
3. Women’s Theatre Showcase: “Cream Soda and Creme de Menthe” and “Frida Vice Versa” will be staged.
Where: Roundhouse Theatre, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring
When: Through June 27; see Web site for details
Info: $15; 202-644-1100; roundhousetheatre.org
4. “Home Is Where the Heart Is”: A successor to stories like “A Raisin In The Sun” and “Soul Food,” this is an original contemporary gospel play about the Anderson Family. After years of moving away from each other to pursue their careers and own lives, three siblings reunite when they return home together.
Where: Atlas Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE
When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $25 to $30; 202-399-7993; atlasarts.org
5. Becoming a Bonsai: See the steps involved in creating a bonsai demonstrated in detail in this exhibit. Photographs show how a common crape myrtle is transformed into a charming bonsai through pruning, wiring and repotting. Artifacts from the museum’s collection will also be displayed, including tools used by bonsai masters Toshio Kawamoto, John Naka, and Yuji Yoshimura.
Where: National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, Special Exhibits Wing, National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; through Sept. 12
Info: Free; 202-245-2726; usna.usda.gov
Music
1. Natalie Cole: Nat King Cole’s daughter sings the “Unforgettable” R&B songs she and her father made famous.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Info: $42 in-house, $25 lawn; wolftrap.org
2. Gordon Lightfoot: Canada’s poetic singer-songwriter croons his original folk favorites “Sundown,” “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “If You Could Read My Mind” and more.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: $40 in-house, $22 lawn; wolftrap.org
3. RAIN: The Beatles rule the week as seasoned artists represent the legendary foursome in a multimedia, multidimensional tribute.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: $40 in-house, $25 lawn; wolftrap.org
4. En Vogue: The funky R&B female quartet was “Born to Sing.” The winners of more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, seven Grammy nominations, three Soul Train Awards and two American Music Awards show why Billboard charts can’t get enough of them.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: $59.50; birchmere.com
Outdoors
1. New Historic Old Town Guided Bike Tour: Settled in 1695, Alexandria lies just across the river from D.C. Along with its many boutique shops and excellent restaurants, Alexandria is noted for its many historic sites. Among other “gems” within the heart of Old Town, this guided tour takes you to sites frequented by George Washington, Robert E. Lee and Thomas Jefferson, including Christ Church, Gadsby’s Tavern and the George Washington Masonic Memorial.
Where: 1 Wales Alley, Alexandria
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday
Info: $35; 703-548-7655; reservations recommended; bikethesites.com
2. Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Celebrate the folk arts and listen to mariachi music, learn to make soba noodles, and find lessons in everything from the Chinese language to ecogenic farming.
Where: The National Mall, Constitution Avenue
When: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. June 24 to 28 and July 1 to 5
Info: Free; festival.si.edu
3. Introduction to Archery: From 5,000 B.C., when the Egyptians used archery in their wars against the Persians, to the Middle Ages and beyond, archery has been a staple of combat. You will be broken up into small groups to work with a master instructor and taught the basics of holding the bow and arrow and how to use targets of varying size and distance.
Where: 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville
When: 3:45 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
Info: $45; thingstododc.com
4. Garden tour: Visit Hillwood, the garden adjoining Marjorie Merriweather Post’s magnificent estate. There you can roam in the French Parterre, the Rose Garden, the Lunar Lawn and the Japanese Garden, not to mention the cutting garden and greenhouses.
Where: 4155 Linnean Ave. NW
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, select Sundays
Info: 202-686-5807; hillwoodmuseum.org
5. Staycation: Patuxent River Kayak and Campout Eco-tour: Need a “stay local” vacation this year? You can join a group for a two-day, one-night kayak/camping eco-tour on the beautiful Patuxent Jug Bay. The tour starts with an hour paddle to the campsite, where you will eat lunch, then kayak, birdwatch or hike. The tour includes three meals. All water and juice provided. Bring your own tent if you like.
Where: Upper Marlboro, Maryland
When: 9 a.m. Saturday to 3 p.m. Sunday
Info: $279; thingstododc.com (See “Outdoors”)
Theater
1. “Trumpery”: This play explores Darwin’s dilemma over the decision to publish his theory of natural selection. Spurred by the possibility of being beaten to the publishing punch by an unknown explorer who has developed the same theory, Darwin stakes his claim, 20 years after first coming up with the idea. But does he do so at the expense of his faith?
Where: Olney Theatre, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney
When: 8 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday., 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday; through July 4
Info: $26 to $54; 301-924-3400; olneytheatre.org
2. “Suburban Motel”: This dark cycle of plays by George F. Walker involves a pack of characters with a determined instinct to survive but without the capacity to think their way out of trouble.
Where: 1st Stage, 1524 Springhill Road, McLean
When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday; through July 3
Info: $15 to $25; 703-854-1856; 1ststagespringhill.org
3. “A Man of No Importance”: With book by Terrence McNally and music by Stephen Flaherty, this musical combines passion, humor and sexual awakenings as it tells the story of an amateur theater group in Dublin, Ireland, that is determined to stage a version of Oscar Wilde’s “Salome” against the objections of the church.
Where: Keegan Theatre, Church Street Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; through July 1
Info: $30 to $35; 703-892-0202; keegantheatre.com
4. Source Festival: Completely new works will be presented in this three-week festival. Some of the nation’s best playwrights will be paired with some of Washington’s finest actors to present the festival. You can enjoy 10-minute plays, three full-length plays, and four Artistic Blind Dates, in which 12 artists from various fields (playwrights, filmmakers, musicians, etc.) collaborated for three months to create extremely eclectic art.
Where: Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW
When: Through July 3; see Web site for times
Info: $18; 866-811-4111; sourcedc.org
5. “Legends!”: Lypsinka and James Lecesne offer a new adaptation of James Kirkwood’s play, in which two aging divas battle it out in order to revive their dying careers.
Where: The Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday, 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. June 29; through July 4
Info: $50 to $71; 202-332-3300; studiotheatre.org
