Best Music
1. NSO Pops: “The Wizard and I: The Musical Journey of Stephen Schwartz”: Steven Reineke conducts the orchestra and guest artists for the composer’s 65th birthday celebration.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: $20 to $85; 202-467-4600, 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
2. 18th Annual Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival: Dee Dee Bridgewater hosts the top female jazz artists in three concerts, among them NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan, Regina Carter and Cindy Blackman-Santana.
Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7 p.m. May 16-18
Info: $38 each or all three for $102; 202-467-4600, 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
3. Underground Railroad: An Evening with Kathleen Battle: The soprano sings songs and spirituals of enslaved Africans on their journey to freedom accompanied by pianist Cyrus Chestnut and the Heritage Signature Chorale directed by Stanley Thurston.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $55 to $95; 301-581-5100; strathmore.org
4. Ute Lemper: The Washington Performing Arts Society presents the German singer and actress known for her interpretation of Kurt Weill’s songs, performing “Last Tango in Berlin” featuring music by Weill, Piazzola, Piaf, Brel and others.
Where: Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $40; 202-785-9727; wpas.org
5. Arturo Sandoval: The 2013 Grammy winner and trumpet legend settles in for the weekend.
Where: Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW
When: 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday
Info: $43; 202-337-4141; bluesalley.com
Best Theater
1. “The Submission”: Follows Danny, a gay, white playwright as his play gets accepted at the nation’s pre-eminent theater festival. Trouble is, everyone thinks his play about an alcoholic black mother and her card-sharp son is written by Shaleeha G’ntamobi … and she doesn’t exist.
Where: Olney Theater Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney
When: Through June 9
Info: $48 to $63.50; 301-924-3400; olneytheatre.org
2. “In The Heights”: This musical tells the universal story of a vibrant community in Manhattan’s Washington Heights, a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music.
Where: Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia
When: Through July 21
Info: $51; 410-730-8311; tobysdinnertheatre.com
3. “Jesus at Guantanamo”: The story begins with the premise that Christ has returned to Earth, only to be picked up in the Middle East and sent to Guantanamo Bay as an unlawful enemy combatant. Jesus talks directly to the audience about everything from Mary Magdalene to waterboarding to drones.
Where: DCArts Center, 2438 18th St. NW
When: Through Saturday
Info: $12 to $18; 202-462-7833; dcartscenter.org
4. “No Man’s Land”: WSC Avant Bard’s interpretation of Harold Pinter’s classic.
Where: Theater on the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run, Arlington
When: Through May 25
Info: $25 to $35; 703-418-4808; wscavantbard.org
5. “Other Desert Cities”: After a long absence, Brooke Wyeth returns to her politically conservative parents’ Palm Springs enclave to spend the holidays with them. But the warm desert air turns chilly when news of her upcoming memoir threatens to revive the most painful chapter of the family’s history.
Where: Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW
When: Through May 26
Info: $40 to $85; 202-488-3300; arenastage.org
Best Outdoors
1. Opera in the Outfield: “Show Boat”: The Washington National Opera presents Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II’s masterpiece about life among the performers on a riverboat in Mississippi. Seating available on outfield grass and in the stands.
Where: Nationals Park, 1500 S. Capitol St. SE
When: Gates open at 5 p.m., simulcast begins at 7 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
2. Garden Demonstration: Pruning Azaleas for Plant Health: To maximize flowering and form and preserve the plant health of your azaleas for years to come, learn to prune the right way, at the right time, with the right tool. Join Scott Aker, head of the National Arboretum’s Gardens Unit, in the renowned Azalea Collections for a hands-on demonstration of pruning techniques for azaleas.
Where: Meet in the Administration Building, U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE
When: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday
Info: $12; 202-234-2726; registration required; usna.usda.gov
3. Visit Bartholdi Park: Just across Independence Avenue from the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory is a favorite “secret” garden of many Washingtonians. Bartholdi Park is a two-acre garden that showcases innovative plant combinations in a variety of styles and design themes.
Where: U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW
When: Open dawn to dusk, holidays and weekends
Info: Free; 202-225-8333; usbg.gov
4. Visit Chancellorsville and Spotsylvania Battlefields: This trip, just after the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Chancellorsville, will follow the course of the battle as it occurred in 1863. You’ll look for birds and wildlife and also visit parts of the Spotsylvania Courthouse battlefield, searching for more birds and wildlife.
Where: Meet at Lubber Run Community Center, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington
When: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday
Info: $40; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 632743-A
5. Seneca Ridge Trail: This trail runs along Seneca Creek between Riffleford and Black Rock roads. It is on the opposite side of the creek from the Seneca Greenway Trail, which is restricted to hikers only. This trail is shown in red on the map. The Seneca Ridge Trail is available to hikers, bikers and equestrians. An easy, 5.1-mile roundtrip.
Where: Germantown, see website for directions
When: Any day
Info: Free; 301-924-2127; localhikes.com
Best Family
1. 2013 Emily Jordan Folger Children’s Shakespeare Festival: Watch as Shakespeare’s words come to life through performances from local elementary school students. Each performance lasts about15 minutes as students entertain an audience of their peers.
Where: Folger Elizabethan Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE
When: Through Friday
Info: Free; 202-544-7077; folger.edu
2. “The Cricket in Times Square”: In this sweet and funny world premiere, a little country cricket unexpectedly finds himself in New York City, where his pitch-perfect chirps make him a big-city sensation.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St. NW
When: 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday
Info: $15 to $18; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
3. Turtle Trot 5k: Join together for the Turtle Trot 5k supporting Long Branch Nature Center and local wildlife. The 5k course is certified by USA Track & Field and is chip-timed. Be sure to also catch some “real” turtle races afterward! For more information, call 703-228-6535.
Where: Bluemont Park, 601 N. Manchester St., Arlington
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Info: $30; registration necessary: 703-228-6535; arlingtonva.us/prcr
4. Hawks and Falcons Campfire: The whole family is invited to join us at the Gulf Branch fire ring for lots of old-fashioned fun. For all ages. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. For more information, call 703-228-3403.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 N. Military Road, Arlington
When: 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday
Info: $5; 703-228-4747; program No. 632853-C
5. “The Intergalactic Nemesis: A Live-Action Graphic Novel”: A traditional radio show complete with actors performing multiple characters and inventive sound effects, plus a visual update with enlarged comic book pages serving as a backdrop.
Where: Kennedy Center Family Theater, 2700 F St. NW
When: 7 p.m. Friday, 1:30 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Info: $18; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
Best Gatherings
1. Gail Godwin’s “Flora”: In the tradition of the Southern Gothic, Godwin’s 13th novel is set in a decaying family mansion in 1945. Helen is 10 and has lost her mother and grandmother and is cared for by her 21-year-old aunt, Flora. But the fragile Flora is in some ways more vulnerable than the child, and what the two experience together will haunt Helen for the rest of her life.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
2. “Skin Tight” and “2-2 Tango”: The plays reflect the tumult of relationships through dancing and physical struggles.
Where: Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW
When: Through Sunday
Info: $30; 202-332-3300; studiotheater.org
3. UrbanCorps Transatlantic Hip Hop Festival: Acclaimed French hip-hop dance crew KLP lays movement over the smooth blend of soulful hip-hop and melodically driven jazz sounds of Cuban-Iraqi duo Backpack Jax in a showcase of some of the best performing artistry in France today.
Where: Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Info: $12; 703-875-1100; artisphere.org
4. “Mosiac Mania”: Join Byron Peck in this hands-on art making adventure for the whole family. Working with tiles, learn to make your own small mosaic mural that you can take home and enjoy. Registration fee covers the cost of materials. Please register by Friday.
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW
When: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday
Info: $12 to $17; 888-832-9554; nbm.org
5. Crawfish Boil: Food includes Louisiana crawfish, suckling pig, cornbread, shrimp, Andouille sausage and Southern-inspired sides and desserts.
Where: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, 1612 14th St. NW
When: Noon to 2 p.m and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday
Info: $65 not including tax and gratuity; 202-319-1612; pearldivedc.com
Best Brainfood
1. Classic Conversations: Audra McDonald: McDonald is one of the most highly regarded performers on Broadway and opera stages. She joins Michael Kahn in a discussion of her classical and musical roles and how their challenges intersect.
Where: Shakespeare Theatre Company, Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Info: $20 to $35; 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org
2. Adam Mansbach: Mansbach reads from his new book, “Rage is Back,” and is joined by poets Joseph Ross and Clint Smith for a night of prose and poetry with a graffiti theme. A book signing will follow at the Haskell Center.
Where: Folger Elizabethan Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-544-7077; folger.edu
3. Celebrate Endangered Species Day: Endangered Species Day is an opportunity to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions that can help conserve our nation’s disappearing plant species. See more than 20 booths focusing on endangered plants and plant conservation, as well as activities for children.
Where: U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Ave SW
When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; no registration necessary; 202-225-8333; usbg.gov
4. Richard Blanco: The poet for President Obama’s second inauguration will read from his works.
Where: Mary Pickford Theater, Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE
When: 2 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-707-5677; loc.gov
5. “Sick From Freedom: African-American Illness and Suffering during the Civil War and Reconstruction”: Historian Jim Downs reveals how the war produced the largest biological crisis of the 19th century.
Where: William McGowan Theater, National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue
When: Noon Friday
Info: Free; 202-357-5000; archives.gov
Best Galleries
1. “Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, 1909-1929: When Art Danced with Music”: In founding the most innovative dance troupe of the 20th century Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev recruited Leon Bakst, Pablo Picasso, Giorgio do Chirico and Henri Matisse to contribute posters and set and costume designs. This exhibit features some 130 samples of these extraordinary works.
Where: National Gallery of Art, East Building, Fourth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
When: Through Sept. 2
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
2. “The Salon of Little Deaths”: Matthew Mann and Milana Braslavsky revitalize the enduring genres of landscape and still life with a contemporary approach.
Where: Hamiltonian Gallery, 1353 U St. NW
When: Through June 15
Info: Free; 202-332-1116; hamiltoniangallery.com
3. “My Kind of Magic”: Brooklyn-based painter Beau Chamberlain curated this exhibit contrasting the disparate studio rituals and practices of 10 painters from D.C., New York and Toronto — details of process and method that are often invisible to the casual viewer.
Where: Project 4 Gallery, 1353 U St. NW, No. 302
When: Through June 29
Info: Free; 202-232-4340; project4gallery.com
4. “Raising Dust”: New ceramic pieces from Margaret Boozer, Akemi Maegawa, Melissa Mytty, Matt Price and Matt Ziemke.
Where: Carroll Square Gallery, 975 F St. NW
When: Through Aug. 13
Info: Free; 202-347-7978
5. “Fathom”: “A sculptural exploration of another world” from Liz Lescault and Alison Sigethy.
Where: Waverly Street Gallery, 4600 East-West Highway, Bethesda
When: Through June 8
Info: Free; 301-951-9441; waverlystreetgallery.com
