Best Galleries 1. History in the Making: Renwick Craft Invitation 2011: Silversmith Ubaldo Vitali, ceramic artist Cliff Lee and glass artist Judith Schaechter each represent the pinnacle of their craft. This fifth installment of the biennial series begun by the Renwick in 2000 continues the tradition of ensuring craft arts receive due consideration as both.
Where: Renwick Gallery, 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
When: Through July 31
Info: Free
2. Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals: Twenty of the 18th century master’s finest paintings of Venice are exhibited in context with 33 from his most notable contemporaries, including Bernardo Bellotto, Francesco Guardi and Gaspar Vanvitelli.
Where: East Building, National Gallery of Art, Constitution Avenue between Third and Seventh streets NW
When: Through May 30
Info: Free, 202-737-4215 or nga.gov
3. Liminal Light: Matt Ballard, Mayme Donsker, Christine Gray, Loie Hollowell and Ander Mikalson operate in graphite, India ink, smoke and photo collage to probe at the margins of our sight.
Where: Project 4 Gallery, 1353 U St. NW, third floor
When: Through June 4
Info: Free, 202-232-4340; project4gallery.com
4. Philip Guston: Roma: Philip Guston’s 1970-71 residency at Rome’s American Academy was a fecund era that produced these little-know paintings. The Phillips is their sole U.S. venue.
Where: The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW
When: Through May 15
Info: $12, $10 seniors and students, free for 18 and younger; 202-387-2151; phillipscollection.org
5. Adam Dwight & Dana Jeri Maier: Off in a Corner: Maier makes intricate ink drawings on bar coasters, while Dwight’s paintings, animation and sculpture document the life of Mothers Against Drunk Driving founder Candace Lightner. Their shared exhibit makes for an unlikely but fascinating combo.
Where: Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW
When: Through May 7
Info: Free, 202-315-1305; flashpointdc.org
Best Music
1. Washington National Opera: Placido Domingo appears for the last time as WNO’s general director, performing the role of Oreste in Gluck’s “Iphigenie en Tauride” with soprano Patricia Racette in the title role and William Lacey conducting.
Where: Kennedy Center Opera House
When: Friday to May 28
Info: $25 to $300; 202-295-2400, 800-US-Opera; dc-opera.org.
2. National Symphony Orchestra: Neeme Jarvi conducts the orchestra in Glazunov’s Concert Waltz No. 1, Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 6 and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 performed by Yefim Bronfman.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: $20 to $85; 202-467-4600, 800-444-1324; kennedy-center.org
3. Nils Lofgren and Friends: An acoustic evening presented by the guitarist with Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band for more than 25 years, his three brothers and Mary Ann Redmond.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Info: $25 to $55; 301-581-5100; [email protected]
4. John Eaton: His four-part series through May 19 on American Popular Music from Jerome Kern to the Beatles features music by “A Most Remarkable Fella”: Frank Loesser.
Where: Smithsonian American History Museum
When: 10:15 a.m. Thursday
Info: $60 resident members, $54 senior members, $96 general admission; 202-633-3030; residentassociates.org
Best Brainfood
1. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”: National Players return from the road to perform Shakespeare’s beloved comedy in which gods mix with mortals, magical spells yield improbable love affairs and a band of merry tradesmen wander into an enchanted wood.
Where: Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Info: Pay what you can; 301-924-3400; olneytheatre.org
2. Alexi Zentner: “Touch”: An accomplished short-story writer, Zentner has written a haunting first novel. Set in northern Canada, it focuses on Stephen, an Anglican priest who has come home to see his dying mother. His vigil is full of memories, and Zentner’s evocative prose balances the somber occasion with powerful descriptions of logging, long winters, woodland spirits and unforgettable characters.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.org
3. Folger Lectures: Michael Hollinger: How do you change a classic? Find out as playwright and translatorMichael Hollingerdiscusses his new translation of”Cyrano de Bergerac,” now in aworld premiere productiononstage at the Folger Theatre.
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SW
When: 7:30 p.m. May 9
Info: $15; 202-544-7077; folger.edu
4. Gallery Lectures — “Gauguin: Maker of Myth”: Lecture offered by Sally Shelburne, David Gariff, J. Russell Sale or Diane Arkin. Check website for additional dates.
Where: National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW, East Building Concourse, Small Auditorium
When: 11 a.m. May 10 and 12
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
5. Happenings at the Harman: Ballet Teatro Internacional: Cuban Method Modern Dance lecture and demonstration by the BTI Dance Company: “Romeo and Juliet”; “Duet From Rincon de Mi Alma,” “Pajaros Pintados” (excerpt).
Where: The Shakespeare Theatre, 610 F St., NW
When: Noon to 1 p.m. May 11
Info: Free; reservations not required; 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org
Best Family
1.”The Day John Henry Came to School”: Johnny loves video games and hates to go to school. Imagine his surprise when his ancestor, John Henry, comes banging on the door, bringing his 12-pound hammer and promising to bring it to show and tell. For children 7 and older.
Where: Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda
When: Through May 29
Info: $10 to $22; 301-280-1660; imaginationstage.org
2. Egg-cellent Adventures: Families, ages 5 and older. Spring is in full swing. The birds are singing and laying eggs, but they aren’t the only ones. Find out who else lays eggs in spring.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Road, Arlington
When: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday
Info: $3; Registration required: 703-228-4747; program No. 632851-M
3. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”: When Snow White meets seven vertically challenged bachelors, she discovers that everyone has his or her own strengths and weaknesses and that friendship and teamwork make any challenge smaller. Based on the Grimm fairy tale, this production takes the Puppet Co.’s usual sideways view of the popular story, giving it timeliness and humor for adults, as well as kids. Kindergarten through sixth grade.
Where: The Puppet Co., 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo
When: See website for dates and times
Info: $10; 301-634-5380; puppetco.org
4. Ahoy Mateys! Come meet the junkyard pirates, puppets made of recyclables. Discover that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. For ages 3 to 10.
Where: Ripley Center, Smithsonian, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW
When: 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday
Info: $3; 202-633-8700; discoverytheater.org
5. “George and Martha … Tons of Fun!”: Inspired by the stories by James Marshall, the musical shares the whimsy and camaraderie of George and Martha, who are the best of friends. Well, most of the time. For ages 3 and older.
Where: Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda
When: To May 28; see website for dates and times
Info: $10 to $22; 301-280-1660; imaginationstage.org
Best Gatherings
1. On the Thread of Darkness and Light: GALA Theatre presents a new bilingual production by the Paso Nuevo Youth Performance Group. The performance is a compilation of original scenes, monologues, poetry and music, created and directed by these young artists.
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW
When: 8 p.m. May 7
Info: $5; 202-234-7174; galatheatre.org
2. Balinese Gamelan Music and Dance: An evening of music and dance from Bali, Indonesia, presents the complex interlocking rhythms of Balinese music on percussive instruments, the myriad expressions and delicate motions of Balinese dance, and the dynamic interaction that unites them.
Where: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, Route 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Info: Free; no ticket required; 301-405-2787; [email protected]
3. “Build It and They Will Ride”: Washington has increased the number of bicyclists riding for transportation by creating bicycling infrastructure throughout the city. A panel of experts discusses future plans for D.C.’s bicycle infrastructure as well as potential challenges for implementation.
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW
When: 6:30 p.m. May 11
Info: Free; 202-272-2448; nbm.org
4. “Walking on Turtle Island”: Robert Owens-Greygrass presents 21 characters who relate Native American history.
Where: National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW
When: Through May 7
Info: $25; 866-811-4111
5. Melissa Fay Greene: “No Biking in the House Without a Helmet”: Greene’s new memoir is a humorous account of her own experiences with adoption. She and her husband have nine children, five of them adopted, one from Bulgaria, and the others from Ethiopia. How this group has formed a family makes for a lively, loving book.
Where: Politics and Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: 7 p.m. May 10
Info: Free; 202-364-1919; politics-prose.org.
Best Outdoors
1. Astronomy Quest: Families and adults. Children 10 and older. Travel to Sky Meadows State Park to celebrate Astronomy Day. Join other space cadets as astronomy enthusiasts and experts share their knowledge and telescopes with the public. Info: 703-228-3403.
Where: Vans leave from Lubber Run Center, 300 N. Park Drive, Arlington
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday
Info: $15; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 632851-N
2. Birding: Thompson Wildlife Management Area: Adults. Join an exciting excursion where you may see spring migrants, including cerulean warblers and Kentucky warblers along the wildflower-laden trails. Info: 703-228-3403.
Where: Thompson Wildlife Management Area, northwestern Fauquier County
When: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 10
Info: $35; 703-228-3403; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 632841-G
3. History on Foot: Walking Tours: Join one of two tours (Investigation: Detective McDevitt or A Free Black Woman: Elizabeth Keckly) led by costumed actors playing characters from Civil War-era Washington. Both tours lead visitors on a 1.5-mile interactive historical journey through the city narrating its history during the era of President Lincoln.
Where: Tours begin at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW
When: See website for dates and times
Info: $15; 800-551-SEAT; fords.org
4. Midcity at the Crossroads: Shaw Heritage Trail’s 17 poster-size, illustrated signs combine storytelling with historic images. The Shaw neighborhood you will discover is one of the city’s oldest, where traces can be found of nearly every group that has called Washington home. Walkers are encouraged to follow the trail at their own pace, sampling neighborhood character, businesses and restaurants along the way.
Where: First sign is at Seventh Street and Mount Vernon Place NW in front of the Washington Convention Center
When: Any day
Info: Free; 202-661-7581; [email protected]
5. Frederick Municipal Forest — Three Pond Circuit: Nice forest trails and several natural ponds in protected watershed area. 4.26-mile round trip, easy loop trail. Good for hikers, bikers, dogs.
Where: Thurmont
When: Year-round
Info: Contact: City of Frederick; localhikes.com
Best Theater
1.”A Time to Kill”: This stage adaptation of John Grisham’s best-selling courtroom drama considers the meaning of justice when a man takes the law into his own hands following an unspeakable crime committed against his daughter.
Where: Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW
When: Through June 19
Info: Tickets start at $55; 202-488-3300; arenastage.org
2. “Follies”: Winner of seven Tonys,”Follies”is one of James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim’s greatest works. All of life’s might-have-beens take center stage as two couples rehash past times and favorite songs amid the crumbling magnificence of their old theater.
Where: Eisenhower Theater, The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: May 7 to June 19; see website for dates and times
Info: $45 to $150; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
3. “From Berlin to Sunset (or, A Foreign Affair)”: Playwright Charlotte Stoudt’s smart and sexy script imagines a pre-Oscar gathering in 1949 at Billy Wilder’s home with such iconic figures as Marlene Dietrich, Joseph Von Sternberg andErich Korngoldas they gather to anticipate the award ceremony. Enjoy memorable songs:”Falling in Love Again,””They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “Saga of Jenny” andmany more.
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. SW
When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday; through May 15
Info: $20 to $39; cabaret seating available; atlasarts.org
4. “The Green Bird”: Constellation Theatre Company presents thiscommedia dell’arte-inspired fantasiaabout a lovesick king, a greedy fortuneteller, an insatiable sausage maker, a sensual statue and a magical green bird. The vibrant world combines philosophical ideas about truth, love, sacrifice and compassion with inventive physical comedy.
Where: Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday
Info: $25 to $30; 800-494-8497; ConstellationTheatre.org
5. “Side by Side by Sondheim”: The celebrated musical revue’s selections are tied together by being taken from Sondheim musicals or having shared themes.
Where: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington
When: To June 12
Info: $55 to $81; 703-820-9771; signature-theatre.org
