Best Music
1. NSO at Wolf Trap: Randall Craig Fleischer conducts the orchestra in “Broadway Rocks!” The show-stopping numbers from “Phantom of the Opera,” “Rock of Ages,” “The Lion King” and more are performed by four Broadway stars and the City Choir of Washington.
Where: Wolf Trap Filene Center, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna
When: 8:15 p.m. Friday
Info: $35 to $52 in-house, $20 lawn; 877-965-3872; wolftrap.org
2. Zappa Plays Zappa: Dweezil Zappa plays music by his father, Frank, and perhaps a taste of his own latest album, “Dweezil Zappa F.O.H.”
Where: The Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Info: $65; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
3. Sarah McLachlan: The National Philharmonic accompanies the Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and founder of the Lilith Fair tour.
Where: Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia
When: Doors at 6 p.m. Thursday
Info: $56 to $96 in-house, $41 lawn; 877-435-9849; merriweathermusic.com
4. Jonathan Edwards: The iconic singer performs songs from his latest release, “My Love Will Keep,” his first studio album of original material in 14 years.
Where: The Birchmere Music Hall, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: $29.50; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
Best Galleries
1. Jasper Johns: Variations on a Theme: Some 101 pieces from the groundbreaking American printmaker Johns made over a five-decade period exemplify the finest examples of lithography, intaglio, silkscreen and other techniques.
Where: The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW
When: Through Sept. 9
Info: $12, students and seniors 62-plus $10, military, museum members and visitors age 18 and under free; 202-387-2151; phillipscollection.org
2. “Black Box”: Dutch photographer and filmmaker Jeroen Eisinga’s 19-minute black-and-while silent film shows his body being gradually enveloped by more than 250,000 bees.
Where: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 700 Independence Ave. SW
When: Through October
Info: Free; 202-633-4674; hmsg.si.edu
3. Click: Time & Space: Work from Mary Noble, Frank Day and nearly a dozen others investigates the intangible elements that hold us all captive in the corporeal world.
Where: Addison/Ripley Fine Art, 1670 Wisconsin Ave. NW
When: Through July 14
Info: Free; 202-338-5180; addisonripleyfineart.com
4. Royalists to Romantics: Women Artists from the Louvre, Versailles and Other French National Collections: Many of these 77 paintings, prints and sculptures from female French artists circa 1750-1850 have never been seen outside of France. The reign of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the French Revolution, the era of Napoleon and finally the restoration of monarchy form the political backdrop to this fertile century of French art.
Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW
When: Through July 29
Info: $10, seniors 60-plus and students $8, members and visitors under age 18 free; 202-783-5000; nmwa.org
5. Sean Lynch: Bandits in the Ruins: Irish artist Lynch practices what he calls historical activism, using video, photography and other media to fill Transformer’s project space with questions about what will remain of our grand edifices as the decades and centuries pass.
Where: Transformer, 1404 P. St. NW
When: Closing Saturday
Info: Free
Best Theater
1. “The Addams Family”: Enter the dark, delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, et. al. in the majestic, macabre comedy by the authors of “Jersey Boys.”
Where: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: Tuesday through July 29
Info: $39 to $115; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. Washington Improv Theater: “Harold Night at Source” and “I Confess”: Don’t miss these weekly improv shows.
Where: Source, 1835 14th St. NW
When: “Harold Night” Tuesday; “I Confess” Thursday through Saturday
Info: “Harold Night” free, “I Confess” $15 online, $20 at the door; 202-204-7770; washingtonimprovtheater.com
3.”Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson”: A rowdy rock musical about Old Hickory that explores the emotionalism in American politics.
Where: Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW
When: Wednesday through Aug. 5
Info: $30 to $35; 202-232-7267; studiotheatre.org
4. “Clown Cabaret”: This organization produces monthly shows showcasing the ever-evolving art of the clown. It is a theatrical lab where performers experiment with new material.
Where: The Shop, 607 New York Ave. NW
When: Monday, Aug. 13, Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov. 12., Dec. 10
Info: $12; 866-737-7230; clowncabaret.com
5. “Merry Wives of Windsor”: In one of Shakespeare’s favorite comedies, the ever-affable, slightly delusional Sir John Falstaff woos two wives of his town.
Where: The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Sidney Harmon Hall, 610 F St. NW
When: Through July 15
Info: $20 to $100; 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org
Best Brainfood
1. Paris Opera Ballet: “Giselle”: Making a rare international appearance, the Paris Opera Ballet brings its beautiful production of “Giselle” to Washington.
Where: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: Thursday through Sunday
Info: $29 to $150; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. Tuahine Troupe: A group from the University of Hawaii performs a program of traditional Hawaiian music and dance.
Where: Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: 6 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
3. First Free Friday: Visit the galleries and Drum Lighthouse, take a 30-minute cruise, or bring a picnic and listen to the 257th Army Band.
Where: Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons, Md.
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; calvertmarinemuseum.org
4. “Landmarks in 21st Century American Architecture”: A documentary film follows an important American art historian, the design and construction of an art museum in Denver, green residential housing in Pennsylvania, an 82-story apartment tower in Chicago and more.
Where: National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: 12:30 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
5. “Richard III”: Brave Spirits Theatre offers this lab production of Shakespeare’s powerful history play, full of drama and poetry.
Where: Atlas Theater Center, 1333 H St. NE
When: Through Saturday
Info: $15, students and seniors 65-plus $10; 202-399-7993; atlasarts.org
Best Gatherings
1. Allison Leotta: “Discretion”: Leotta discusses her newest legal thriller, which begins with a woman’s fatal plunge from a balcony of the U.S. Capitol.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.com
2. Friday Night Live: Rumba Club: Come dance to Latin music in Rockville Town Square.
Where: 200 E. Middle Lane, Rockville
When: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; 301-998-8178; rockvilletownsquare.com
3. John Witherspoon: The actor, known from the “Friday” movies, among others, has been called one of the funniest men in America.
Where: The Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: $22 to $25; 202-296-7008; dcimprov.com
4. Titanic: 100 Year Obsession: This exhibit looks at the history of the doomed ship and the public’s fascination with it.
Where: National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW
When: Through Sept. 9
Info: $8, museum members, military, seniors 62-plus, students $6, children 5 to 12 $4; school and youth groups 18 and under free; 202-857-7588; nationalgeographic.com
5. Samuel F.B. Morse’s “Gallery of the Louvre”: This weekend is your last chance to see the extraordinary painting done by the father of the telegraph.
Where: National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: Through Sunday
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
Best Family
1. “Galapagos George”: Discovery Theater: Meet George the Giant Tortoise, the only one of his kind, and his adorable friends — sea turtles, lizards, hungry goats, sea lions and even a dancing blue-footed birdy at his home on Pinta Island in the Galapagos.
Where: Discovery Theater, Ripley Center, Smithsonian Institution, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW
When: 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday
Info: $3 to $12; 202-633-8700; discoverytheater.org
2. “The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe”: See this imaginative combination of dance, acting and puppetry as a group of children discover a magic wardrobe and pass into the fantastic land of Narnia. For children 5 and older.
Where: Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda
When: Through Aug. 12
Info: $10 to $27; 301-280-1660; imaginationstage.org
3. “If You Give a Moose a Muffin”: This staged version of the beloved children’s book asks the question, what would happen if a moose came to your home and you decided to give him a muffin? Would he want some jam to go with the muffin? What next?
Where: Adventure Theater MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: Through Sept. 2
Info: $18; 301-634-2270; adventuretheatre-mtc.org
4. “Goldilocks”: Goldilocks and Papa Bear meet in a makeshift courtroom to determine once and for all if Goldilocks is a criminal.
Where: The Puppet Co., 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: Through July 15
Info: $10; 301-634-5380; thepuppetco.org
5. Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament: A family-friendly dinner attraction inspired by an 11th-century feast and tournament. Participants get a four-course banquet and cheer for one of six knights as they joust.
Where: Medieval Times, 700 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover
When: Various times
Info: Free to $56.95; 888-935-6878; medievaltimes.com
Best Outdoors
1. Smithsonian Folklife Festival: This year’s festival focusses on identity and community in Anacostia.
Where: National Mall
When: Through July 8
Info: Free; 202-633-1000; smithsonian.si.edu
2. Giant Panda Enrichment Project: See the pandas in their new habitat: On Friday at 1 p.m., you can meet staff members and learn how they work to vary the pandas’ routine.
Where: 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: Exhibit buildings open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Info: Free; 202-633-4888 nationalzoo.si.edu
3. Frederick Municipal Forest: 3 Pond Circuit: This nice forest trail, a 4.26-mile round trip, is good year-round.
Where: Near Thurmont, Md.
When: Year round
Info: Free; localhikes.com
4. Friday Night Margarita Cruise on the Potomac with Georgetown After Party: Enjoy a special night to celebrate the weekend with an amazing cruise around D.C., tasty margaritas, and a night out in Georgetown. The tour includes one hour of sailing along the Potomac River, a cash bar, $3 margarita specials.
Where: D.C. Harbor, 3050 K St. NW (see website for details)
When: 9:45 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday
Info: $30; thingstododc.com
5. Whitewater Rafting with Dinner Picnic: travel on two rivers through three states (Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia) on an unforgettable two-to-four-and-a-half-hour trip (the length of the rafting depends on the speed of the rapids on that particular day). A riverside picnic (chicken, potato salad, watermelon and beverage) is included on this introductory whitewater adventure. Rafters float by the historic town of Harpers Ferry and carve a spectacular 6.5-mile course through the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Where: See website for directions
When 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Info: $79; thingstododc.com
