Out On the Town

12TH ANNUAL WASHINGTON DC INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
This year's festival takes place all under one roof, creating a community atmosphere where filmmakers and filmgoers can converse, workshop and watch over 100 films selected, juried and judged by industry professionals. A gay-specific highlight is Heartland Transport, a documentary short following 17 gay and lesbian couples as they travel by bus from St. Louis to Iowa City to get legally wed. The D.C. Independent Music Festival will also run concurrently with the film festival. Through Sunday, March 14. Heartland Transport runs as part of the ''Hot Topic -- Let's Deal With It!'' program on Sunday, March 14, at 2:30 p.m. Heritage Center, Penn Conference Center, Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Visit dciff.org.

BOONDOCK SAINTS
Virginia's State Theatre offers an early St. Patrick's Day screening of this 2000 crime thriller about Irish American fraternal twins (played by Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus) out to rid Boston of the Russian Mafia, while being chased by an FBI agent, played by Willem Dafoe. Coincidentally, Boondock Saints II is about to get a straight-to-DVD release. Monday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. The State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church. Free admission. Call 703-237-0300 or visit thestatetheatre.com.

AMAZONS AND THEIR MEN
After critical and commercial success with the two-part Angels in America, Forum Theatre presents the second show in its sixth season, a play by Jordan Harrison and directed by Michael Dove and Elissa Goetschius. Amazons and Their Men focuses on the life of Leni Riefenstahl, the German filmmaker who made Nazi propaganda films, chronicling the creation of art and the collapse of a society. Now to March 20. Forum Theatre: Round House Theatre-Silver Spring, 8641 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring. Tickets are $25. Call 240-644-1100 or visit forumtd.org.

ANDY WARHOL: GOOD FOR THE JEWS?
Theater J premieres Josh Kornbluth's comedic monologue, which takes on the gay Warhol's controversial 1980 series, ''Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century.'' Raised as an atheist by Marxist parents, the San Francisco-based Kornbluth investigates his unease with the Warhol exhibit in his monologue, directed by David Dower, by exploring its history, the subjects and their creator. And the original Warhol silkscreen prints are on exhibit in the DC JCC's Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery through the show's run. (See separate listing under Museums and Galleries). To March 21. The Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater, Washington, D.C.'s Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW. Tickets are $30 to $55. Call 202-777-3210 or visit theaterj.org.

BUS STOP
William Inge's classic focuses on folks stranded at a small-town diner outside Kansas City, and explores the romantic relationships, real and imagined, that ensue as strangers are brought together under less-than-ideal circumstances. Austin Pendleton directs. Extended to March 21. Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Tickets are $26 to $49. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

GOLDEN AGE
A new play by Terrence McNally makes its premiere at the Kennedy Center to kick off the venue's five-week McNally series Nights at the Opera. Walter Bobbie (Chicago) directs this backstage drama surrounding the premiere of Bellini's final opera I Puritani. Opens Friday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m. To April 4. Kennedy Center Family Theater. Tickets are $49. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

HIGH FIDELITY: A MUSICAL

High Fidelity is based on the book written by Nick Hornby that also inspired a film of the same name. The show's ensemble cast meets, matches and plays off one another with a camaraderie you can't manufacture. They love what they're doing and the spirit is contagious, even when they're doing it all in a theater space a good five feet smaller than their sometimes overly ambitious choreography demands. To this Sunday, March 14. DCAC, 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are $25. Visit landlesstheatrecompany.org. (Tom Avila)

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
An all-new original production of the playful Alan Menken-Howard Ashman classic that tells the story of the well-meaning flower shop employee Seymour Krelborn and his wisecracking carnivorous plant, Audrey II -- played at Ford's by husband-and-wife acting team Christopher Kale Jones and Jenna Coker-Jones. Feedings start Friday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m. To May 22. Ford's Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $52. Call 202-397-7328 or visit ticketmaster.com.

NOT MY LABEL: A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
Ambassador Theater presents a staged reading of new writer Rula's monologue based on her real-life traumatic events of being banished by her family and peers after revealing her true identity. Old World values meet New World realities -- and the ending promises to be out of this world altogether. Sunday, March 14, at 7 p.m., followed by a wine reception with Rula. Flashpoint's Mead Theater, 916 G St. NW. Tickets are $15 and can be ordered by visiting aticc.org.

SOME GIRLS
No Rules Theatre Company, responsible for last year's phenomenal, sold-out run of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Warehouse, opens its inaugural full season with this dark and dramatic comedy from Neil LaBute. Directed by Joshua Morgan, the play focuses on the ugly and truthful sides of relationships, told through the psyche of one commitment-phobic, self-absorbed, promiscuous single man. To March 21. The H Street Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE. Tickets are $25. Call 866-811-4111 or visit norulestheatre.org.

SUMMER AT NOHANT
The Ambassador Theater presents the Washington premiere of this romantic comedy in three acts, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Frédéric Chopin's birth. George Sand, the famed French writer, brings together artists at her celebrated summer retreat in Nohant, including Chopin, one of Sand's lovers. Tyler Herman plays Chopin and Hanna Bondarewska is Sand in an ensemble cast. To March 21. Mead Theater Lab at Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW. Tickets are $25. Visit aticc.org.

SWEENEY TODD

A nightmare drawn by Edward Gorey and colored by a shipwrecked orchestra, it's a fantastic evening of misfits and lost souls. To April 4. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $52 to $76. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org. (Tom Avila)

THAT FACE

You cannot help but be impressed -- enormously, tremendously impressed -- by the playwriting skills of Polly Stenham. When she was just 19 years old, the Londoner scribbled out a sulphuric little piece entitled That Face. It took London by storm, making it all the way to the West End. And now it has a chance to stir up Washington, as Studio 2ndstage has mounted its own sharply honed production. It would be evil to reveal details of the plot, because the real enjoyment of That Face lies in discovery. The narrative swirls in a murk of initial uncertainty, and Stenham uses adroit misdirection to keep us off balance. By the time the pieces fall into place and That Face reveals its soul, the drama has burrowed deeply under your skin, where it keeps crawling for days. Smartly directed by Rahaleh Nassri and featuring a cast whose standouts include Patrick Thomas Cragin as a conflicted, tragically codependent young man, and the wonderful Eva Wilhelm, whose heart-stopping portrayal of a woman barely clinging to the edge of sanity is by turns vicious, comic and deeply poignant. Hers is the kind of unforgettable performance by which theatrical legends are made. Ends this Sunday, March 14. Studio Theatre's 2ndStage, 14th & P Sts. NW. Tickets are $25 to $35. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org. (Randy Shulman)

THE BLUEST EYE
Adapted by Lydia R. Diamond from the novel by Toni Morrison, this play focuses on Pecola Breedlove, an 11-year-old African-American girl in 1940s Ohio, who faces persistent teasing and hatred. She blames her dark skin and prays for blue eyes, believing that love will come if she looks ''right.'' Walter Dalas directs this University of Maryland Department of Theatre production. Two shows left, Thursday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m., and Friday, March 12, at 8 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center's Ina and Jack Kay Theatre, University of Maryland, University Blvd. and Stadium Dr. College Park. Tickets are $26. Call 301-405-ARTS or visit claricesmithcenter.umd.edu.

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
Arena Stage's Molly Smith directs an intimate, chamber version of the musical that won six Tony Awards in 2005. With a book by gay playwright Craig Lucas (Prelude to a Kiss) and music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, this Arena Stage production stars gay actor Nicholas Rodriguez (One Life to Live, Sex and the City 2) as handsome Fabrizio Niccarelli. Now to April 11. Arena Stage's temporary Crystal City stage, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington. Tickets are $27 to $82. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

AIR
The popular French electronic pop duo of Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Nicolas Godin tours in support of Love 2, another set of, well, airy jams. Wednesday, March 17. Doors at 7 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $40. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

ATHENS BOY CHOIR
Despite the name, this is really just a one-tran-band -- a Southern transsexual Jew to be exact. Otherwise named Katz, he'll perform ''a gender-deviant, multi-media, spoken-word, homo-hop show'' alongside 8 Inch Betsy, an all-girl Chicago-based rock/pop/punk trio. Thursday, March 18, at 9 p.m. Phase 1, 525 8th St. SE. Tickets are $5 to $10. Call 202-544-6831 or visit phase1dc.com.

BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The orchestra presents a four-week mid-season music carnival opening with a program featuring Cirque de la Symphonie performers on and above the stage. Marin Alsop leads a line-up of music from across the continents, from Poulenc's charming portrayal of Louis XIV in Les Biches Suite to Aaron Copland's depiction of Billy the Kid. Thursday, March 11, and Friday, March 12, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets are $30 to $90. Also Saturday, March 13, at 8 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Call 410-783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.

EDDIE FROM OHIO
Despite its name, the celebrated American folk band has no connection to the Buckeye State. Instead, all members are natives of Northern Virginia, and its songs are influenced by their deep Virginia roots. Friday, March 19, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 20, at 7 p.m. Rams Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis. Tickets are $34. Call 410-268-4545 or visit ramsheadonstage.com.

GREG BROWN
Brown offers reflective, contemporary guitar-heavy folk music about life's shortcomings and successes. Jason Wilber, Brown's lead guitarist, opens the show by offering his unique combination of rockabilly and folk-pop along the lines of Lyle Lovett. Friday, March 12, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Rd., Vienna. Tickets are $30. Call 703-255-1900 or visit wolf-trap.org.

HUMBLE TRIPE
The Durham, N.C.-based queer band has only been together a year, but it's already opened for the likes of Amy Ray, Bower Birds and other bands. Blending Americana, folk and rock, the five-piece now tours the East Coast in support of its debut album Counting Stars. Friday, March 12, at 9:30 p.m. Phase 1, 525 8th St. SE. Call 202-544-6831 or visit phase1dc.com or humbletripe.com.

LEON RUSSELL
Part of Phil Spector's studio brigade known as the ''Wall of Sound,'' Russell's rolling piano style has helped create hits for everyone from The Byrds to Frank Sinatra to Ike and Tina Turner. Friday, March 12, at 9 p.m. The State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church. Tickets are $22. Call 703-237-0300 or visit thestatetheatre.com.

POLISH MUSICIANS CELEBRATE BICENTENNIAL OF FREDERIC CHOPIN
Leading Polish musicians and composers mark the bicentennial of Frédéric Chopin's birth. Acclaimed pianist Ewa Pobłocka gives a classical recital, and Andrzej Jagodziński's Trio and Leszek Możdżer perform jazz improvisations. In collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland. Thursday, March 11, at 6 p.m. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-387-2151 or visit phillipscollection.org/calendar.

RED MOLLY
The New York female trio offers Americana music featuring three-part harmonies and banjo, Dobro and guitar. ''They come on less like stars strutting for their minions than pals sharing their favorite songs,'' raved The Boston Globe. Sunday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Ave. E. Vienna. Tickets are $15. Call 703-255-3747 or visit jamminjava.com.

TANYA TAGAQ
Since the 2005 release of her self-titled debut, the native of Nunavut has brought her unique mix of traditional Inuit throat singing and contemporary styles to an ever growing audience. She has recorded with musicians as diverse as Björk and the Kronos Quartet, whose member David Harrington called her the ''Jimi Hendrix of Inuit throat singers.'' Friday, March 12, at 7:30 p.m. National Geographic Society's Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M St. NW. Tickets are $25. Call 202-857-7700 or visit nglive.org.

THE LOW ANTHEM
Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams — all students of classical composition — combine folk and blues arrangements with chamber music and even gospel. Its 2009 album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin is melancholic from the start — quiet, intimate, full of longing, and often hauntingly beautiful. The band will put on two shows Thursday, March 11: A free mini-show at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, and then a full-fledged concert at 11 p.m. at Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

THE MORNING BENDERS
The four members of The Morning Benders met while working at Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland. But they left the Happiest Place on Earth to make just as happy indie pop. Thursday, March 11, at 9 p.m. Black Cat Backstage, 1811 14th St. NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202-667-4490 or visit blackcatdc.com.

CITYDANCE ENSEMBLE
This company presents two Paul Taylor masterpieces as well as two new pieces from choreographer-in-residence Christopher K. Morgan and artistic director Paul Gordon Emerson, whose work is accompanied by Grammy nominee Christylez Bacon. Saturday, March 13, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 14, at 4 p.m. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. Tickets are $35 and $55. Call 202-547-1122 or visit harmancenter.org.

EDGEWORKS DANCE THEATER
Led by founder and award-winning choreographer Helanius J. Wilkins, the city's premier all-male company of mostly black men celebrates its ninth anniversary season performing an evening of new and signature works, including a sneak peek of this fall's Trigger, a cross-disciplinary work that raises questions about choice, class and how economic conditions affects individual choices. Saturday, March 13, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 14, at 7 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. Tickets are $22. Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org. COMEDY

THE SECOND CITY 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
Chicago's historic comedy troupe, which helped launch the careers of Mike Meyers, Steve Carrell, Bill Murray and Bonnie Hunt, celebrates 50 years of improv and comedic sketches. Saturday, March 13, and Sunday, March 14, at 7:30 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Rd., Vienna. Tickets are $22. Call 703-255-1900 or visit wolf-trap.org.

WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER'S F.I.S.T.
This theater's Fighting Improv Smackdown Tournament returns for its fourth year with 44 teams -- 132 improvisers -- battling in matches over six weekends to be crowned improv champion, as determined by the audience and judges. One of WIT's standing troupes -- onesixtyone, Jackie, Caveat, Season Six or JINX -- performs at each match. The tournament continues every week Thursday through Saturday until the final match April 10. Source, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-204-7760 or visit washingtonimprovtheater.com.

TERRENCE MCNALLY IN CONVERSATION WITH MICHAEL KAISER
The four-time Tony Award-winner, known for musicals (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Ragtime, The Full Monty) as well as plays (Love! Valour! Compassion!) gives insight into his multi-faceted career at the launch of his Nights at the Opera play trilogy -- The Lisbon Traviata, Master Class, Golden Age -- in production over the next five weeks at the Kennedy Center. The center's Michael Kaiser will lead the interview. Monday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Family Theater. Tickets are $15. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

WYATT O'BRIAN EVANS
The author reads from Nothing Can Tear Us Apart in an event sponsored by the gay charity Helping Our Brothers and Sisters. Saturday, March 20, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The DC Center, 1810 14th St. NW. Call 202-682-2245 or visit helpingourbrothersandsisters.com.

SMYAL FOR CHAMPAGNE
Drag queen Summer Camp is just one of the performers and guest DJs scheduled at this fundraiser at the Duplex Diner for the local organization serving LGBT youth. The bubbly will be flowing into the evening. Sunday, March 14, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. 18th & U Duplex Diner, 2004 U Street NW. Call 202-265-7828 or visit smyal.org.

TEAM DC FASHION SHOW AND MODEL SEARCH
The popular annual event raises funds for the GLBT sports association's College Scholarship Program, which this year will award two scholarships of $2,000 each to an GLBT graduating high school senior. The fashion show features 13 models in club wear, swimsuit, underwear and leather/sports/fetish competitions, with a grand prize of $500 cash, a professional photo shoot with Robert Mercer and the opportunity to be a finalist for consideration in the 2011 Ripped Genes calendar. Saturday, March 20, at 8:15 p.m. Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th NW. Cover is $10. Call 202-234-TOWN or visit teamdc.org.

1708 GALLERY
With their exhibition ''Forest For The Trees,'' video artist Dana Sperry and painter Chad Erpelding challenge the viewer to look at the effect of globalization on the individual. To March 27. 1708 Gallery, 319 W. Broad St. Richmond. Call 804-643-1708 or visit 1708gallery.org.

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART
''Cézanne and American Modernism'' is the first exhibition to reveal how a small group of pioneering American artists, including photographers Stieglitz and Paul Strand, championed and drew influence from the French master Cézanne before he gained international prominence. Through May 23. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore. Tickets are $15. Call 443-573-1700 or visit artbma.org.

CITY GALLERY
Yet another art gallery in the bustling H Street NE corridor, this new gallery focuses on the work of local artists, with art pieces at reasonable prices. Over 20 local painters, sculptors, photographers, engravers and printmakers will be represented in this gallery, including Geoff Ault, Ellen Cornett, Tara Hamilton, Martha Huizenga, Ronnie Spiewak and Waly Szyndler. On exhibit through March 28. City Gallery, 804 H St. NE #1. Call 202-468-5277 or visit citygallerydc.com.

CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART
''Turner to Cézanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection, National Museum Wales'' is a collection of 19th century and early 20th century Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, many of which have rarely been exhibited outside of Wales, including masterpieces by Cézanne, Corot, Daumier, Manet, Millet, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Turner and Van Gogh. Through April 25. Corcoran Gallery, 500 17th St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-639-1700 or visit corcoran.org.

DCJCC'S ANDY WARHOL EXHIBITION
In tandem with a new play on the subject, Washington, D.C.'s Jewish Community Center offers this exhibit of silkscreen prints of famous Jews by the late gay New York artist Andy Warhol. Produced in 1980, ''Andy Warhol's Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century in Retrospect'' depicted such luminaries as Albert Einstein, George Gershwin, Gertrude Stein and Golda Meir, selected by New York, Washington and Israeli art dealers and curators. At the time, it was panned by critics as ''crassly exploitative.'' In addition to the original prints themselves, the exhibition features reproductions of the photographs on which Warhol based his artworks as well as media coverage of the original exhibition. Through May 2. Washington, D.C.'s Jewish Community Center's Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery, 1529 16th St. NW. Free and open to the public. Call 202-518-9400 or visit washingtondcjcc.org.

EVOLVE URBAN ART GALLERY
Photographer Erica Riccardelli's new exhibit ''Orchestrated Misbehavior'' focuses on sex, death and forest frivolity. To March 27. Evolve Urban Arts Project, Pierce School Loft J, 1375 Maryland Ave. NE. Call 202-489-8160 or visit art.evolvedc.com.

FRASER GALLERY
The 9th Annual International Photography Competition is a group exhibition of photographs by the finalists of this annual competition, curated by Catriona Fraser with a grand prize of $500, and an additional $450 in prizes. An opening reception and awards ceremony happens in conjunction with the Bethesda Art Walk Friday, March 12, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. On exhibit to April 3. Fraser Gallery, 7700 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda. Call 301-718-9651 or visit thefrasergallery.com.

GALLERY PLAN B
''Persona Grata'' features figurative works in painting, photography and sculpture by Timothy Johnson, Shelley Laffal, Keith Clark, Gordon Binder, Chad States, Robert Dodge, Melissa Widerkehr, Andrew Criss, Joshua Hughes and Miassimo Righini. Public reception Saturday, March 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On exhibit through April 11. Gallery Plan B, 1530 14th St. NW. Call 202-234-2711 or visit galleryplanb.com.

GARY FISHER GALLERY
This new gallery, a joint project of Gary Fisher Studios and Hounshell Real Estate, focuses on both established and emerging local contemporary artists. The first exhibit, ''Surroundings,'' features the work of Louis Bowers, Jill Finsen, Gary Fisher, Roberta Gottesman, Nelson Milder, Nancy Varipapa and Liz Wallen. Opening reception is Saturday, March 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Gary Fisher Gallery, 1506 14th St. NW Call 202-669-4226 or visit fishergallery.com.

GOETHE-INSTITUT WASHINGTON
''Roads and Paths: Photography by Bernhard Fuchs'' explores a sense of quietness and deep intimacy in this German-based Austrian's landscape photographs. On exhibit through March 19. Geothe-Institut Washington, The German Cultural Center, 812 Seventh St. NW. Call 202-289-1200 or visit goethe.de/washington.

HAMILTONIAN GALLERY
Linda Hesh's ''In The Garden'' explores traditional ideas of gender disparity through images inspired by the Garden of Eden tale of Eve and the apple. Joining Hesh in a group show at this gallery are Alex Kondner, Bryan Rojsuontikul and Ian MacLean. Through March 20. Hamiltonian Gallery, 1353 U St. NW. Call 202-332-1116 or visit hamiltoniangallery.com.

HILLWOOD MUSEUM & GARDENS
''Sèvres Then And Now: Tradition and Innovation in Porcelain, 1750-2000'' is the first exhibition in America to present together the earliest Sèvres pieces alongside the contemporary works of the 20th and 21st centuries, and to explore fully how continuous innovation propelled Sèvres to become the preeminent porcelain factory. Through May 30. Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested donation is $12. Call 202-686-8500 or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.

HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GARDEN
''Josef Albers: Innovation and Inspiration'' presents nearly 70 works spanning the German artist's 55-year career (1917-1973) many on view for the first time. Albers was part of the revolutionary Bauhaus school until the Nazis came to power, when he continued his modern art in America, eventually becoming chair of the art school at Yale University. Through April 11. Hirshhorn Museum, Independence Avenue and 7th Street SW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit hirshhorn.si.edu.

INTERNATIONAL VISIONS GALLERY
D.C. artist Michael Platt fuses digital and conventional photography, drawing and printmaking in work exploring the human condition, particularly that of the history and experiences of African and African Diaspora culture. ''In Abandoned Places,'' he presents discarded spaces, from a bare forest, a drained fountain to a crumbing room, where memories echo. Through March 20. International Visions Gallery, 2629 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-234-5112 or visit inter-visions.com.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
Through remarkable acuity, exhaustive study and close relationships with the artists, Robert and Jane Meyerhoff amassed one of the most outstanding collections of modern art, with an emphasis on six American masters: Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Brice Marden, Robert Rauschenberg and Frank Stella. This gallery presents select works from the collection. Through May 2. National Gallery of Art East Building, 3rd Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Call 202-737-4215 or visit nga.gov.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
The much-hyped ''Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor'' exhibit focuses on just 15 out of the thousands of life-size clay figures buried nearly 2,000 years ago in massive underground pits to accompany China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, into the afterlife. Their discovery outside the city of Xi'an in 1974 is one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century, and this exhibit is the largest collection of significant artifacts from China ever to travel to the United States. Through March 31. National Geographic Society, 1145 17th St. NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202-857-7700 or visit warriorsdc.com.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
''IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas'' is a 20-panel banner exhibition focused on the interactions between African-American and Native-American people, especially those of blended heritage. Through May 23. National Museum of the American Indian, Independence Avenue & 4th Street SW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit nmai.si.edu. RENWICK GALLERY This Smithsonian American Art Museum branch museum presents ''The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-1946.'' The exhibit features more than 120 art objects, most on loan from former internees or their families, and presents historical context through archival photographs, artifacts and documentary films related to the internment experience. On exhibit through Jan. 30, 2011. Renwick Gallery's Grand Salon, 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Free. Call 202-633-1000 or visit americanart.si.edu/renwick.

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM
A collaboration with the Library of Congress, ''Framing the West: The Survey Photographs of Timothy H. O'Sullivan'' is the first major exhibition devoted to O'Sullivan in three decades. Through May 9. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Sts. NW. Free. Call 202-633-1000 or visit americanart.si.edu.

STUDIO GALLERY
In ''Mindful of Morani,'' painter Bud Hensgen captures the simplicity and elegance of Giorgio Morandi's famous bottles and bowls, and explores why they fascinate and comfort us. Fifty percent of Hensgen's proceeds go to Doctors without Borders' efforts in Haiti. An artist's reception takes place Friday, March 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On exhibit through March 27. Studio Gallery, 2108 R St. NW. Call 202-232-8734 or visit studiogallerydc.com. THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION
''Georgia O'Keeffe: Abstractions'' is a new exhibit featuring over 70 paintings, drawings and watercolors by O'Keeffe as well as a selection of close-up photographic portraits of the artist by Alfred Stieglitz. Through May 9. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets $12. Call 202-387-2151 or visit phillipscollection.org.

WOODROW WILSON HOUSE
A selection of over 30 of President Woodrow Wilson's most prized walking sticks feature in ''My Third Leg: Woodrow Wilson's Walking Sticks.'' These important artifacts tell the story of Wilson's life from his early years as a professor and later president of Princeton University, through his two terms in the White House, to his final struggle with disability. Through Aug. 15. Woodrow Wilson House, 2340 S St. NW. Admission to the House costs $7.50, including a guided tour. Call 202-387-4062 or visit WoodrowWilsonhouse.org.

ZENITH GALLERY
Inspired by years as a U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel living in Korea, David Richardson's ''The Soul of Seoul'' paintings reflect the city's street symbols. Extended through March. Chevy Chase Pavilion, 5535 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Call 202-783-2963 or visit zenithgallery.com.

CAPITAL QUEER PROM
This fourth annual prom for the LGBT community and its allies -- age 21 and up -- is designed as a second chance to enjoy your high school prom the way you wish it had been. This year's theme is ''Casino Royale,'' so expect casino games as well as music, dancing, appetizers, a cash bar and a silent auction. There will also be prom portraits and voting for a Prom King and Queen. The beneficiary is the Wanda Alston House. Fab Lounge will host the official after-party. Saturday, March 13, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Almas Temple, 1315 K St. NW. Tickets are $50, and available at the HRC Store, 1633 Connecticut Ave. NW, or visit CapitalQueerProm.com.

G-40: THE SUMMIT
Intended as an artistic equivalent to the G-20 political summit, this first annual arts summit, sponsored by the Crystal City Business Improvement District and Vornado and curated by Art Whino, features over 400 participating contemporary artists presenting a wide variety of works -- from sculpture to paintings to photography to mixed-media. And it's all displayed throughout four floors of a Crystal City office building made over to be a progressive contemporary exhibition space. There will also be visual and musical performances. Summit continues Wednesdays through Sundays in March. At 223 23rd St., Arlington. Tickets are free. Visit crystalcity.org for more details.

HOMESTEAD SKI AREA
Said to have pioneered skiing in the South, the Homestead in the Allegheny Mountains features a variety of cold weather activities, from downhill skiing to snowboarding to snowmobiling to ice skating on an Olympic-sized rink. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. The Homestead Ski Area, Hot Springs, Va. Call 540-839-3860 or visit thehomestead.com.

SAKE TASTING AND TOUR AT TEXTILE MUSEUM
The Textile Museum offers an evening program focused on sake, the alcoholic beverage made from rice and a craft in Japan for millennia. Several varieties will be sampled, and then associate curator Lee Talbot will lead a tour of "Contemporary Japanese Fashion: The Collection of Mary Baskett.'' The exhibit pulls visitors into the fashion revolution begun by top Japanese designers Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo through the display of these dynamic garments from the wardrobe of Baskett, an art dealer and former curator at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Sake tasting and tour Friday, March 12, 6 to 8 p.m. The exhibit runs through April 11. The Textile Museum, 2320 S St. NW. Tickets are $55, with advance registration required. Call 202-667-0441 or visit textilemuseum.org.

18TH & U DUPLEX DINER

2004 18th St. NW
 Washington 
202-265-9599 Cost: $$ Perched on the border of the Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle neighborhoods, Duplex Diner has long served as a lively and casual gathering spot for D.C.'s gay movers and shakers. The dining room is as social as the bar, with much table hopping and hobnobbing. The food is classic American comfort -- a generous meatloaf, a terrific mac and cheese, unbeatable pork chops and a savory rib eye -- that adds to the at-home-with-friends feel.

1409 PLAYBILL CAFÉ
1409 14th St. NW Washington 202-265-3055 Cost: $$ Serving harried theatergoers and local barflies with the same aplomb, this 10-year-old Logan Circle stalwart is the perfect answer, whether hearty bar fare or a multi-course dinner are on your personal menu. Generous nachos and Playbill's signature "Naomi's Fries" star on the appetizer menu, while nearly every entrée offering will have you yelling "encore!" -- and loosening your belt a notch. Vegetarian options on this mostly traditional American-fare menu abound, while regular dinner specials expand the offerings with flavors from more exotic locales.

ANNIE'S PARAMOUNT STEAK HOUSE
1609 17th St. NW Washington 202-232-0395 Cost: $$ Annie's is a mix of modern meets comfortable and not a lick of pretension, be it morning, noon or late night -- 24 hours a day on weekends. While steak is what made Annie's famous -- we salivate particularly for the filet mignon Oscar, with crab imperial and Béarnaise -- lighter fare abounds these days. Make a meal of the Greek supreme salad with beef tips or grilled chicken, go for the blackened-salmon sandwich, or pass an hour at the bar enjoying one of Annie's signature Manhattans with some Maryland crab-cake sliders.

ALBERTO'S
2010 P St. NW 2438 18th St. NW Washington 202-986-2121 Cost: $ Quality can be found at any price. On the low-end of the financial spectrum, Alberto's definitely delivers quality. Alberto De Souza, who owns the two-outlet Alberto's with his wife, Jillian, combines his Chicago-trained sensibility and French influences -- by way of serving as Sofitel Washington's executive chef -- in a stone oven. The result? ''Go Bears!,'' if you go Chicago style, or c'est magnifique! for a, say, thin crust with goat cheese and capers. By the pie, it's the perfect rustic dinner in, or the soothing nightcap slice as you stumble home. Free delivery around Dupont and Adams Morgan.

BANANA CAFE & PIANO BAR
500 8th St. SE Washington 202-543-5906 Cost: $$ When at the vibrant, festive Banana Cafe, do as any visiting Cuban would do -- order up yourself a sub-style Cuban Sandwich, packed with tender, juicy sliced roast pork loin, honey baked ham and swiss cheese. Even better, go for a Cuban Pizza, smothered with ground beef, pork, plantains and mozzarella cheese. The restaurant, owned and operated by artist Jorge Zamorano, prides itself on its authentic Cuban and Puerto Rican cuisine, but it also traverses Tex-Mex and Tapas territory, offering a tangy ceviche, cod fish fritters, quesadillas, nachos, tacos, burritos, and a terrific trio of Empanadas (beef, chicken, seafood). But no matter which way you go with your food, make sure not to miss Banana's Mojito. Cigars notwithstanding, it's as close to Cuban perfection as you'll ever get.

BEACON BAR & GRILL
1615 Rhode Island Ave. NW Washington 202-872-1126 Cost: $$ Nothing says gay venue like a great happy-hour bar menu -- $5 apiece for mini burgers, crab quesadillas and plenty more. Then there's the elaborate Sunday buffet brunch, with unlimited mimosas, champagne or Bloody Marys; the Saturday night prix fixe wine dinners; or Tuesday's three-course pasta dinners. From bar fare to eggs Benedict, Beacon Bar & Grill hits every appetite. Sneak up to the rooftop Beacon Martini Sky Bar, when open, for one the best views around.

CAFÉ BERLIN
322 Massachusetts Ave. NE Washington 202-543-7656 Cost: $$ For more than 20 years, Café Berlin has faithfully recreated an authentically Deutsch dining experience, while respecting American sensibilities by aiming for a slightly lighter interpretation. Feast upon Café Berlin's saurbraten, schnitzel or wurstplatte year round. Enjoy a nice Riesling with the lighter fare, while the bar's variety of German beers will undoubtedly have a nice pairing for the classical dishes. You'll want to make a special trip this month for their traditional, anual game menu, which includes ostrich, rabbit, wild boar, bison and, naturally, venison.

D.C. NOODLES
1410 U St. NW Washington 202-232-8424 Cost: $$ D.C. Noodles is focused on churning out delectable dishes of fresh ingredients in unexpected combinations. Asian pumpkin factors into at least two standouts on the menu: Crispy, dense pumpkin empanadas and the Red Curry Chicken with pumpkin and spinach linguini. There are several enticing noodle salads, featuring bean sprouts and string beans. Wash it all down with an earthy saketini or a heavenly Kaffir Lime Martini. Whatever you do, don't skip the dessert course of cold, coconut ice cream and warm, sticky rice. It's a match made in carb heaven.

DUPONT ITALIAN KITCHEN
1637 17th Street NW Washington 202-328-3222 Cost: $$ Dupont Italian Kitchen has held down its comfortable perch at the southeast corner of 17th and R streets NW, where it's served reliable, hearty Italian fare that's kept its customers satisfied for 23 years. The menu is full-on Italian -- no surprises here -- but there are some wonderful standouts, including Fettucini Alfredo, its broad, al dente noodles swimming in a velvety cream sauce. And really, you can't go wrong with D.I.K.'s gooey cheese manicotti or robust lasagna. If, however, you're in the mood for something extra special, try the Chicken Francaise, boneless breasts lightly sauteed in a piquant garlic and lemon butter. Dupont Italian Kitchen also serves a decent pizza, a smattering of parmagiana-inspired sandwiches, and a special brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays.

FLORIANA
1602 17th St. NW Washington 202-667-5937 Cost: $$ Floriana offers Old World charm for a New World clientele. From its romantic dining area to its chipper service, the effect is to make you feel at home, part of one big happy family. Whatever you do, don't come here while on a diet, because the rich sauces and delicious pasta made by hand are not to be missed, especially Floriana's classic lasagna. Or try the mouth-watering homemade meatballs and linguini. The restaurant also turns out a nice rack of lamb, while shrimp and scallops are served with a decadent cheese risotto that melts in your mouth.

FREDDIE'S BEACH BAR & RESTAURANT
555 South 23rd St. Crystal City 703-685-0555 Cost: $$ Perched atop Crystal City's restaurant row for over seven years, Freddie's is a beachside oasis that'll warm you up and take you to the shore no matter what the weather. The extensive menu features an array of hearty appetizers, burgers and entrées. The crab cakes are some of the best we've had and the roasted half-chicken with au gratin potatoes is flat-out delicious. And the surf and turf is a bona fide crowd pleaser. Don't miss Wednesday night's $6 burger special or Sunday's brunch buffet, offering everything from eggs Benedict to General Tso's chicken.

JACK'S
1527 17th St. NW Washington 202-332-6767 Cost: $$ With a mix of European flair and American simplicity -- peppered with a dash of Turkish exoticism -- Jack's draws festive crowds to both the bar and bistro. Half-price bottles of wine/champagne on Tuesdays and Thursdays doesn't hurt, especially when paired with fare that ranges from burgers to pork loin al balsamico. Bon vivants will certainly appreciate the ambitious cocktail menu and Jack's unique birthday celebrations.

LEVEL ONE
1639 R St. NW Washington 202-745-0025 Cost: $$ With tasteful, inviting décor, and just as tasteful, inviting food, Level One, the youngest addition to 17th Street's famous restaurant row, has quickly become one of its darlings. The menu is diverse, 21st century-style American, and the charming and amicable servers guide you to the best things, from the best bottle of wine to the best way to top a popular Level One burger -- the Southern way, with bacon, BBQ sauce and cheddar. Now that it's warming up, the Level One outdoor patio -- perfect for people-watching -- should soon be bustling.

M STREET BAR & GRILL
2033 M St. NW Washington 202-530-3621 Cost: $$ Sundays at the M Street Bar & Grill are an institution, where table-service brunch and endless mimosas/Bloody Marys are the rule. Yvonne Johnson's jazz accompaniment is the perfect aural digestif with brunch or Thursday dinner. All menus offer solidly American fare with hints of the Middle East and soul cooking at the edges. The two-course dinner for two for $40 makes for a great date -- especially so considering the rooms and suites of the St. Gregory Hotel fill the floors above the restaurant, for those wanting to add their own spice.

NELLIE'S SPORTS BAR
900 U St. NW Washington 202-332-6355 Cost: $$ Nellie's is popular for its big-screen TVs and huge rooftop patio overlooking U Street. But when you want to eat, you don't have to stick to the typical sports-bar staples of burgers, hot dogs and fries. In fact, the real draws on the menu are the Latin-derived dishes. For pub grub, try one of Chef Maria's empanadas or an arepa, a Venezuelan corn muffin puffier and heartier than a pita, stuffed with either delicious chicken salad and avocado or shredded criollo chicken.

SABORES
3435B Connecticut Ave. NW Washington 202-244-7196 Cost: $$ In the cold months, the mid-Atlantic crowds long for warmer days. In the hot months, District residents often wish they could ditch the grey suits and head to a city that beats the heat with siestas and nighttime salsas. Sabores in Cleveland Park fills both bills, with Spanish sophistication and South American sizzle. Traipse your way through an array of hot and cold tapas -- ham croquettes or an anchovy salad? -- in Catalan fashion, or just dive into a full Argentinean steak with the requisite chimichurri. And don't forget the creative desserts, including a mojito sorbet. Go south of the equator and pair your meal with rounds of caiparinhas, or stick with Spain's signature sangria. And if you do, but sure to ditch the car and take advantage of Sabores's one-block proximity to the Cleveland Park Metro.