Out On the Town

AMC THEATRE'S BEST PICTURE SHOWCASE
With 10 nominees, AMC Theatre's annual daylong Oscar Bender screening of all films nominated for Best Picture at Sunday's Academy Awards is more brutal this year. For example, Avatar screens in 3D just after the stroke of midnight Friday night/Saturday morning, and A Serious Man screens at 3 a.m. If you can stay up, you can see Up in 3D at 5 a.m. But that's awfully late/early! The rest of the nominees -- District 9, Inglourious Basterds, The Blind Side, An Education, Precious, Up In The Air -- follow throughout the day, ending at 9:30 p.m. with The Hurt Locker -- which means, yes, the marathon is book-ended by movies from two directors, a former husband and wife team, James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow. Talk about drama. See all 10 for just $45, a price that also includes unlimited refills on a free large tub of popcorn. Saturday, March 6. AMC Loews Georgetown 14, 3111 K St. NW. Call 202-342-6441 or visit amcentertainment.com/bps.

NEXT FLOOR
Part nightmare, part morality tale, artist Phoebe Greenberg's 2008 short film is a metaphor for society's excessive consumption. Winner of Best Short Film at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, the film, which Greenberg conceived of and produced with director Denis Villeneuve, is by turns intense, hilarious, shocking and gruesome. Greenberg, founder and director of a Montreal-based theater and contemporary art space, is inspired by the Theater of the Absurd and her study of physical theater with Jacques Lecoq. On view through April. Hirshhorn Museum's Black Box new media space, Independence Avenue & Seventh Street SW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit hirshhorn.si.edu.

SHUTTER ISLAND

and a half Martin Scorsese's latest film, originally slated for release last October, was delayed just weeks before it was to open because the studio wanted it to have ''every possible chance to succeed both creatively and financially.'' If Scorsese needed more time in the editing room, it was time well spent. The film works -- but just barely -- and it's only the last 20 minutes that redeem what is an increasingly frustrating build-up. Fortunately the pay-off makes it all worthwhile. Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone), Shutter Island is the site of a mental hospital for the criminally insane -- an Alcatraz-like prison off the coast of Massachusetts. When a patient goes missing, Federal Marshals Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are sent to investigate. Emerging from the fog onto the island like gumshoe heroes, the two are met by the island's creepy doctors, Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley) and the German Dr. Naehring (Max von Sydow), the latter serving as a reminder of Teddy's time fighting the Nazis. Nothing is as it appears on the island, and before long finding answers is just as important as surviving. Shutter Island is one of those films that almost demands a second viewing once you have the secret decoder ring. To make it through the first time, you just have to be a man of faith to trust that these men of science know what they're doing -- one way it's like Lost. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com. (Tim Plant)

THE GHOST WRITER

Adapted from a novel by Robert Harris, The Ghost Writer is a political thriller of the highest order. The Ghost (Ewan McGregor), never named, is hired to write -- or rather re-write -- the memoirs of former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), when the ghostwriter who drafted the first manuscript is found washed up on the shore. Only hours after the Ghost joins Lang's team in the states, Lang is accused of crimes against humanity for turning over terror suspects to the U.S. for torture. The more the Ghost questions what he's told to write, the more peril he encounters. Like Shutter Island, The Ghost Writer pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock with its careful, methodical style. Rather than rely on cheap stunts to heighten tension, director Roman Polanski depends on mounting unease to create a slow build so subtle at times that you don't realize you've been holding your breath until you're desperate for more air. Polanski clearly has something to say with The Ghost Writer. But even at its most heavy-handed, it's never too much. Instead, it's like an evil deed that, once committed, will forever haunt you. Small wonder Polanski captures the concept so well. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com. (Tim Plant)

12TH ANNUAL WASHINGTON DC INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
This year, this film 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. Thursday, March 4, 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.

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 until May 2. (See separate listing under Museums and Galleries). Opens Saturday, March 6, at 8 p.m. A talk-back with the cast will follow the performance on Thursday, March 11. 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.

HENRY V / RICHARD II

There are many reasons to see both Richard II and Henry V, currently in rep at the Shakespeare Theatre. Although there are strengths and weaknesses to each production, overall the plays, seen together, are powerful, memorable, and provocative on myriad levels. Less often staged than Henry V, Richard II focuses on the internal machinations of the king's court and in some ways is the more psychological of the two. In textbook-like contrast, Henry is a battle-hardened man's man with an appealing aspect of vulnerability and self-doubt. Actor Michael Hayden plays both Henry and Richard, and he displays truly exceptional fluidity and exceedingly cognizant command of the language. A core ensemble takes roles in both plays, and to see both productions is to sense what it must have been like to experience the repertoire of an Elizabethan acting troupe. In repertory to April 10. Sidney Harman Hall, Harman Center for the Arts, 610 F St. NW. Tickets are $43 to $94. Call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org. (Kate Wingfield)

HIGH FIDELITY: A MUSICAL

Based on the book written by Nick Hornby that also inspired a film of the same name. The book was applauded, the movie earned a cult following and the musical -- written by David Lindsay-Abaire with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Amanda Green -- managed to be on Broadway long enough to be entirely forgettable. But the musical has cult potential all its own, making it the perfect piece for Landless Theatre Co. to produce, a company whose work has also included President Harding is a Rock Star and Gutenberg! The Musical! When we arrive on the scene Rob (Helen Hayes Award-winner Stephen Gregory Smith) and his girlfriend Laura (Karissa Swanigan) are entering into an uncertain breakup. Playing an un utterly appealing anti-hero, Smith shines without stealing the spotlight. Swanigan's performance and especially her voice are reason enough to see this musical, but there are also Rob's motley sidekicks in his flailing vinyl record store, Andrew Lloyd Baughman and Josh Speerstra. The ensemble 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 March 14. DCAC, 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are $25. Visit landlesstheatrecompany.org. (Tom Avila)

I AM MY OWN WIFE

In Signature Theatre's production of Doug Wright's I Am My Own Wife, actor Andrew Long shifts and assumes the identities of some 35 different individuals who occupied some place in the life of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. Born a biological male but living as a female, the German von Mahlsdorf survived the Nazis and, later, the crippling oppressiveness of the East German Communist government. Long takes firm hold of Wright's carefully crafted, Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning script to deliver a stunning performance, leaping from person to personality, character to character, with remarkable ease. It is just Long accompanied by some beautifully rendered effects of light and sound, which support the production not by fading into anonymity, but by generously contributing to the realization of a final, wonderfully finished whole. It's a mesmerizing and imaginative night at the theater. Closes Sunday, March 7. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $47 to $71. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org. (Tom Avila)

IN THE HEIGHTS
The 2008 Tony Award-winning musical, still playing on Broadway, isn't scheduled to stop in D.C. on its inaugural national tour, but it will hit Baltimore's gorgeous Hippodrome Theatre. Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical, with a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, is set in New York's vibrant Washington Heights neighborhood, a place where the coffee is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. Closes this Sunday, March 7. Hippodrome Theatre, 12 N. Eutaw St., Baltimore. Tickets are $22 to $62. Call 410-547-SEAT or visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

IN THE RED AND BROWN WATER

Another movement in Tarell Alvin McCraney's ''The Brother/Sister Plays'' trilogy, In the Red and Brown Water is an aggressive work of theater showcasing the gay playwright's masterful way of manipulating language into sound and sound into language. In this play set in the Louisiana projects, Oya (Raushanah Simmons) is a gifted runner who can, quite literally, go as far as her legs will take her. She has a supportive mother (Denise Diggs) and an offer from the state university. But choices are never that easy. McCraney deserves tribute for the fearless manner with which he toys with the conventions of traditional theater, including deftly incorporating hip hop. A fantastic ensemble of actors all around, Simmons is especially stunning as Oya. It's a memorable performance, the ghost of which will haunt you for days after the final bows are taken. Extended to this Sunday, March 7. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Sts. NW. Tickets are $49 to $63. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org. (Tom Avila)

ORESTES, A TRAGIC ROMP

Urged on by the god Apollo, Orestes (Jay Sullivan) has avenged the murder of his father by killing his own mother. General public opinion among the citizens of Argos is that Orestes and his sister Electra (Holly Twyford) should be put to death immediately. So, why a tragic romp? Because there is more humor at work here than the Euripides play's storyline, adapted by playwright Anne Washburn, would suggest. There are subtle asides and full-throated gaffs, nods to the audience and genuine knees-slappers. Costume designer Jessica Ford has wrought beautiful havoc on the entire cast, creating wardrobe elements that patchwork everything from Blanche's Streetcar to Seattle circa 1985 to, well, Saturday morning cartoons. Much of director Aaron Posner's brilliant tone comes from the pulsating and utterly arresting Greek chorus. James Sugg, who not only composed the music for Orestes but also served as its sound designer, has crafted a lovely, dark swirl. Washburn has given new life and spirit to a play some 2,400 years old. Under the watchful eyes of Helen Hayes award-winning director Posner, this world premiere is now flourishing in D.C.'s Folger Theatre. Closes this Sunday, March 7. Folger Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $30 to $60. Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu. (Tom Avila)

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. The play, directed by Joush Morgan, focuses on the ugly and truthful sides of relationships, told through the psyche of one commitment-phobic, self-absorbed, promiscuous single man, played by Brian Sutow. Lisa Hodsoll, Clementime Thomas, Morgan Reis and Emily Simoness play women from the man's past. Opens Thursday, March 4, at 8 p.m. 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. In previews Tuesday, March 9, and Wednesday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is Thursday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. To March 21. Mead Theater Lab at Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW. Tickets are $25. Visit aticc.org.

SWEENEY TODD

Signature Theatre's Sweeney Todd is a nightmare drawn by Edward Gorey and colored by a shipwrecked orchestra. A lonely fairy tale featuring a peculiar assortment of murderers, madmen and the morally bankrupt, it's a bloody, brilliant valentine. Benjamin Barker, now known to the world as ''Sweeney Todd'' (Edward Gero), has returned to that ''hole in the world like a big black pit'' of London to seek revenge on the man who caused his wrongful conviction and exile. It's in London that the Demon Barber of Fleet Street meets Mrs. Lovett (Sherri L. Edelen), a woman whose claim to fame is making the worst meat pies in London. Together, the two fall into a scheme that both satisfies Todd's thirst for revenge and the hungry dozens at the soon overflowing tables of Mrs. Lovett's shop. Filling Signature's grim stage -- a skeleton of pipe and decay -- is an outstanding cast whose voices and performances lace together into a seamless tapestry. With Sweeney Todd director Eric Schaeffer and the team from Signature deliver 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 heartstopping 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. To 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. Opens Friday, March 5, at 8 p.m. To March 12. 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 this 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. In previews starting Friday, March 5, at 8 p.m. 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.

THE MISER

The Washington Shakespeare Company has made the most of its atmospheric lair in its latest production -- Moliere's comedy The Miser -- by turning the space and surrounds into the comically creepy mansion of a 21st century hoarder. This vaguely unhinged and un-Hoovered vibe works perfectly with David Ball's unabashedly vigorous adaptation in which he infuses this 17th century comedy of manners with enough American-style vernacular to bring out the patriot in all of us. Who couldn't love a Miser who refers to his son as "fuzzy balls"? But seriously, despite the loss of some of Moliere's antiquated but effective language, Ball neatly compensates with his sophisticated wit and a keen ear for the well-placed curse word. And what also works here is that both Ball and director Akiva Fox so blithely embrace anachronism -- 17th century word-play sits aside modern idiom while archaic views on marriage hang comfortably among baggy jeans and cropped cardigans. All told, this is fun, fast-paced and the best kind of off-beat. It is Moliere with an art-house edge, a cozy and entertaining way to spend a bitter winter's eve. Extended to this Sunday, March 7. Clark Street Playhouse, 601 S. Clark St., Arlington. Tickets are $25 to $35. Call 703-418-4808 or visit washingtonshakespeare.org. (Kate Wingfield)

ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
''The nine-time Grammy-winning kings of Texas swing'' hit the Birchmere to prove, as its tagline has it, ''Western swing ain't dead. It's ...Asleep at the Wheel.'' Thursday, March 11, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $35. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

BACH SINFONIA
The ensemble of 16 vocalists and 10 instrumentalists performs the complete motets of Johann Sebastian Bach, including Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn, a work previously attributed to Bach's great uncle. After the performance the Sinfonia will record the motets for its third album. Saturday, March 6, at 8 p.m. Montgomery College's Takoma Park/Silver Spring Performing Arts Center, 7995 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Tickets are $28. Call 301-362-6525 or visit bacsinfonia.org.

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.

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.

JON CARROLL
This prolific Washington-based pop/R&B artist from the Mary Chapin Carpenter band showcases the sunny optimism and sharp piano skills captured in his most recent release, the Wammie Award-winning Love Returns, recorded at the Barns, something of a home base for the artist. Friday, March 5, at 8 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna, Va. Tickets are $22. Call 703-255-1900 or visit www.wolf-trap.org.

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO
The Grammy-winning all-male South African ensemble, brought to worldwide fame through Paul Simon's Graceland album over two decades ago, continues to make joyous music to uplift your spirits. Friday, March 5, at 8 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $18 to $55. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

MARIINSKY OPERA & ORCHESTRA
The world-renowned company from St. Petersburg, Russia, presents several programs as part of the Kennedy Center's Focus on Russia: An evening of Tchaikovsky Operas in Concert Thursday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m.; and Prokofiev's War and Peace Saturday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 7, at 1:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are $29 to $150. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Former NSO Principal Guest Conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos returns to conduct Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23 with Argentinean pianist Ingrid Fliter, as well as Mozart's Serenata notturna and Strauss's Symphonia Domestica. Thursday, March 4, at 7 p.m., and Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $20 to $85. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

PINETOP PERKINS
At 97 years old, this Mississippi blues icon, best know as Muddy Water's piano man, is still sharing his music with the world, having released 15 studio albums since 1992. At the 2000 Grammys, Pinetop was presented with a lifetime achievement award for his work and contribution to not just the blues, but music as a whole. Friday, March 5, at 9 p.m. The State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church. Tickets are $20. 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.

TANYA TAGAQ
Since the 2005 release of her self-titled debut, this 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
From its hand silk-screened cover art to its meticulously crafted songs, this Providence, R.I. trio offers work meant to be held, savored, contemplated and occasionally stomped along to. 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 (kennedy-center.org); 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.

FOURTH ANNUAL WOMEN'S CHORAL FESTIVAL OF WASHINGTON
The University of Maryland Women's Chorus and the women's choruses of Elizabeth Seton High School and Bethesda Chevy Chase High School join the Washington Women's Chorus to sing songs by women composers during Women's History Month. Saturday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. University of Maryland Memorial Chapel, College Park. No tickets required, but donations accepted. Call 202-244-7367 or visit washingtonwomenschorus.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.

SUSAN FARRELL BALLET
The celebrated company presents two mixed repertory programs, including George Balanchine's Haieff Divertimento and Jerome Robbins' Afternoon of a Faun. Wednesday, March 3, through Sunday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. Also Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7, at 1:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are $29 to $84. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

GLAMOUR, GLITTER & GOLD
This year's Academy Award-themed fundraiser for the DC Center takes place on both floors at Town, with the Oscar ceremony on large-screen TVs. Shi-Queeta-Lee hosts on the ground floor, with performances by the DC Cowboys and the DC Kings, with live music by DJ Jason Horswill. But the official Oscar viewing happens upstairs, with hosts Margaret Murray, formerly of One In Ten/Reel Affirmations, and Metro Weekly's Randy Shulman, including VIP seating and cocktail service. There will also be a red carpet and Oscar raffle. Sunday, March 7, starting at 7 p.m. with a champagne happy hour. Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th NW. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door, or $100 for 2 VIP tickets. Visit thedccenter.org/supporters_ggg.html.

THOM BIERDZ
The gay star of The Young and The Restless -- he plays the openly gay Phillip Chancellor III -- reads from and signs copies of his book Forgiving Troy, which won the 2009 National Best Book Award for Autobiography and was a finalist of the Lambda Literary Award. The book chronicles the true story of Bierdz's mother's murder at the hands of his younger brother Troy. Sunday, March 7, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Books-a-Million Bookstore, 11 Dupont Circle NW. Call 202-319-1374 or visit thombierdz.com. Bierdz will also participate in a ''live painting event'' to benefit Out for Work-DC, on Saturday, March 6, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. MOVA Lounge, 1435 P St. NW. Tickets, including complimentary wine and appetizers, are $25 in advance; $35 at the door. Call 202-797-9730 or visit outforwork.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 begins Thursday, March 4, at 8 p.m., and 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.

CAPTURING FIRE QUEER SPOKEN WORD SUMMIT AND SLAM
A first of its kind, this national summit and slam is open to all local and national GLBT performance artists. Spoken-word artists Andrea Gibson, Tara Hardy and Sonya Renee and music act The Good Asian Drivers perform at an opening ceremony, to be followed by two days of performance and writing workshops, panels and networking. The summit culminates in a poetry slam, at which a National Queer Slam Champion will be crowned among 30 competing page-to-stage poet performers by the audience. Among organizers of this event is Natalie E. Illum, a founder of the long-time, regular queer women's spoken-word event mothertongue. Sunday, March 7, to Tuesday, March 9. Tickets to single events are $10, or all-inclusive summit passes are $35. For more details, find Capturing Fire on Facebook.com or email .

ERIC SCHAEFFER
Signature Theatre's artistic director leads the March Brown Bag Thursday discussion, focused on the theatre's 20th anniversary and in particular the three productions he's directed of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, including the one currently playing at the theatre to rave reviews. He'll also highlight some of his favorite past productions. Thursday, March 4, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Signature Theatre's Mead Lobby, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Free. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org.

HENRY ROLLINS
The D.C. native former hardcore punk rocker and fervent gay rights supporter returns to the area to unleash his latest spoken word show, ''The Frequent Flyer Tour.'' Tuesday, March 9, and Wednesday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $25. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

LAURA SHAPIRO
This author of the 2007 biography ''Julia Child: A Life'' stops by the University of Mary Washington to give a Great Lives Lecture about the pioneering American food legend. Hopefully, the audience will pepper her with questions about last year's film Julie & Julia. Just how accurate was it? How convincing was Meryl Streep as Child? And how much did Shapiro hate Nora Ephron's tacked-on tacky tale of blogger Julie Powell? Tuesday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. University of Mary Washington's Dodd Auditorium in George Washington Hall, 1301 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, Va. Free. Call 540-654-1065 or visit umw.edu.

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. Grand opening reception Saturday, March 6, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 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.

ELECTRIC MAID
This alternative art venue in D.C.'s Takoma neighborhood now features the artwork of Michael Auger and Todd Gardner, plus paintings by Jared Davis and photographs by Steve Strawn in ''It's Electric! A Robo-Themed Art Show.'' The Electric Maid, 268 Carroll St. NW. Call 202-545-3980 or visit electricmaid.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.

GALLERY NEPTUNE
Five artists are featured in the new group exhibit ''5'': drawings from Carol Barsha, paintings from Greg Minah, small-scale abstractions from Willie Marlowe, photographs from Beatric Hamblett and sculptures from Hsin His Chen. Closes this Saturday, March 6. Gallery Neptune, 5001 Wilson Lane, Bethesda. Tickets are $15 for Valentine's event. Call 301-718-0809 or visit galleryneptune.com.

GALLERY PLAN B
D.C.-based painter Ted Milligan uses vibrant colors and intricate construction to create his ''Mental Maps'' paintings, which are on exhibit at this gallery in a pairing with abstract color photographs from Charlie Gaynor, Juditha and David Young. On exhibit through this Sunday, March 7. Gallery Plan B, 1530 14th St. NW. Call 202-234-2711 or visit galleryplanb.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.

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.

INDUSTRY GALLERY
Shlomo Harush's ''Round the Corner'' is the inaugural exhibition at local lawyer Craig Applebaum's H Street Corridor gallery, which specifically focuses on 21st century design. Harush's has recreated an outdoor urban tableau inside the gallery with unique sculptural pieces made out of sheet metal and aluminum -- complete with a fully operational encased SUV. Closes this Saturday, March 6. Industry Gallery, 1358 Florida Ave. NE, 2nd Fl. Call 202-399-1730 or visit industrygallerydc.com.

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 13. 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. Opens Friday, March 5. 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/.

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, from 6 p.m. 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.

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/.

SUSAN CALLOWAY FINE ARTS
''Here and There'' consists of Rodgers Naylor's paintings of urban life, including scenes from D.C. as well as other U.S. cities and spots in Mediterranean Europe. Closes this Saturday, March 6. Susan Calloway Fine Arts, 1643 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Call 202-965-4601 or visit callowayart.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.

WENTWORTH GALLERY AND JANE SEYMOUR
Actress Jane Seymour appears at this gallery's two locations to discuss her original oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings. That's right, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is also an artist. Friday, March 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wentworth Gallery: Westfield Montgomery Mall, 7101 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda. Call 301-365-3270. Saturday, March 6, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wentworth Gallery: Tysons Galleria, 1731 M. International Dr., McLean. Call 703-883-0111.

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.

D.C. FRANCOPHONIE FESTIVAL
This Friday, March 5, more than 35 Washington embassies, governments and associations present their culinary specialties at a Grande Fête to kick off this 2010 festival celebrating all things French, featuring a seminar on Vietnam today, concerts and a film festival running into early April. The Grande Fête will also feature live music from the likes of Louisiana's Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and Cyprus's pop singer Nikolas Metaxas. And there will be a raffle for roundtrip tickets to Tahiti, with all proceeds going to reconstruction efforts in Haiti. Friday, March 5, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. La Maison Française, 4101 Reservoir Rd. NW. Tickets are $30. Visit francophoniedc.org.

FOURTH ANNUAL CAPITAL QUEER PROM
B.O.I. Marketing & Promotions presents this fourth annual prom for the LGBT community and its allies, ages 21 and up, 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 you can expect casino games as well as music, dancing, heavy 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 p.m. 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. Grand Opening Party set for Saturday, March 6, at 8 p.m. Summit continues Wednesdays through Sundays in March. 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 has opened its Ski Area for the winter season, its 50th. It features full snowmaking capabilities and a variety of cold weather activities, from down-hill 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.

INTERSECTIONS: A NEW AMERICA ARTS FESTIVAL
The Atlas Performing Arts Center's first festival features a multi-disciplinary, multi-ethnic and multi-generational line-up of more than 30 artists and cultural institutions from all over the metropolitan area. Among activities on tap: a world premiere from Washington hip-hop artist Christylez Bacon; the Washington Savoyards' production of Scott Joplin's rarely performed opera Treemonisha; actor Kathleen Gonzales' one-woman, multi-character tale about her family in Haiti; and a concert from legendary folk singer and activist Tom Chapin. NYC's Symphony Space, the Folger Shakespeare Library and Politics and Prose Bookstore will host literary events spotlighting diverse authors. The festival runs to this Sunday, March 7. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets range in price from $5 to $40. Call 202-399-7993 or visit intersectionsdc.org for a complete schedule.

FAIRFAX PINBALL OPEN TOURNAMENT
The 7th annual competitive pinball event features a Main Tournament, the Classics Tournament, various Mini-Tournaments, including Cousin-It, the Ben Franklin Tournament and a Doubles Tournament. Friday, March 5, through Sunday, March 7, starting at 12 p.m. daily. John's Place Restaurant, 11104 Lee Highway, Fairfax. Cost is $5 and up. Call 703-352-7222 or visit virginiapinball.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, the German owners and chefs of Café Berlin on Capitol Hill have faithfully recreated an authentically Deutsch dining experience, while respecting American sensibilities by aiming for a slightly lighter interpretation. The seafood menu, on the other hand, while offering a lighter touch, is more a nod to modern German cuisine than to anything that might've passed gay pioneer Magnus Hirschfeld's turn-of-the-last-century lips. There's the "Land and Sea," for example, offering beef tornados and shrimp fresh from a yogurt, mint and ginger marinade on a bed of pineapple risotto; or the grilled ahi tuna with a wasabi cream sauce. Of course, if you've a hankering for a hearty dose of German classics, never fear. You can 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. To end without biting into one of Café Berlin's expertly crafted pastries would be a monumental mistake.

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. At half-price on Sundays, your Southern burger will come to just over $5. With the average entrée priced at just $15, chances are, you'll leave with fond memories all around.

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.