After Hours Blog

ZooLights: Tickets Now on Sale

Tickets are now on sale for the popular winter lights celebration, ZooLights, at the National Zoo December 4 through January 2.

The event features lighted winter scenes and sculptures of some of the zoo’s most popular animals—illuminated with thousands of twinkling, environmentally-friendly LEDs—including giant pandas, elephants, and zebras. New this year is a stingray, chameleon, and a group of squirrels outside the small-mammal house.

Nightly entertainment lineups include performances by Flumpa and Friends Live (December 26 to 29) and Blue Sky Puppet Theatre (all other nights at 6:45 and 7:45).

Canned goods and other nonperishable food items will be collected in the zoo’s gift shops to benefit the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization. Those who donate will receive 10 percent off retail purchases that night.

ZooLights, put on by Friends of the National Zoo, runs December 4 through December 13 (Friday through Sunday nights) and December 18 through January 2 (every night except December 24, 25, and 31) from 6 to 8:30. Tickets, which are available here, are $8 or $5 for FONZ members.

More>> After Hours Blog | Arts & Events | Happy Hour Finder | Calendar of Events

Where & When: What to Do Tonight

For our complete guide to events happening this week, click here. Also, check out our calendar of events.

Monday, November 23
It’s been more than a year since now-President Barack Obama claimed victory after a historic journey to the White House, and campaign manager David Plouffe was there through it all. Hear what went on behind the scenes tonight when Plouffe speaks and signs his copies of his new book, The Audacity to Win, tonight at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. Politics and Prose will host the event, which starts at 7. Tickets are $8, or guests can receive two tickets with purchase of the book for $27.95.

João Gilberto may be the father of Brazillian bossa nova, but to Bebel Gilberto, he’s just father. Following in the footsteps of her dad—the man behind “The Girl from Ipanema”—and mom, the singer Miúcha Gilberto, Bebel will bring her smooth samba and bossa-nova style to the 9:30 Club tonight. Click here for tickets ($35). 6 PM.

Growing up in suburban Utah, Jeremy Chatelain, the bassist for the band Jets to Brazil, was all about country music. When he decided to record a solo album, it was those Western roots that shone through. Hear him tonight when Chatelain takes the Black Cat backstage as Cub Country. Velvet will also play. The show starts at 9; tickets are $8.

More>> After Hours Blog | Arts & Events | Happy Hour Finder | Calendar of Events

Terra Cotta Fun

In honor of the “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor” exhibit, on display at the National Geographic Museum through March, several area restaurants and hotels are offering specials. Here’s some of what’s going on:

TenPenh

Through December 13, executive chef Cliff Wharton will offer a Terra Cotta Pot lunch special ($18) and an Emperor’s Choice three-course prix-fixe dinner ($38), showcasing Chinese spices that date back to 200 BC, such as coriander, chives, and cinnamon. The pan-Asian restaurant is also offering a specialty cocktail called the Immortal that features ginger, green tea, and a mystery liqueur. For reservations, call 202-393-4500.

Mie N Yu

Executive chef Tim Miller will offer a four-course regional tasting menu and a complimentary exhibit ticket from November 4 through March 31. For $49, you’ll start with a taste of Guangdong tea noodles before moving on to spicy clams, smoked pork, and meat skewers. You’ll top off the meal with Mandarin-orange sorbet and steamed cinnamon sponge cake. Beverage pairings cost an additional $18 per guest. For reservations, call 202-333-6122.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

As one of the exhibit’s sponsors, area locations are offering discounted tickets and a specialty cocktail called the Terra Cotta Warrior Smash. This classic drink, which predates the mojito, consists of Hennessy (or any other kind of spirit) muddled with fresh lemons, a sprig of mint, and a pinch of Chinese five-spice. For area locations, click here.

Culture Vulture

A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.

Monday, November 23
Spend the night watching Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard at the Library of Congress’s free screening of The Supremes: Reflections. The second installment of the Library’s Motown in the Fall film series, Reflections is a collection of vintage performances showcasing Motown’s best-selling act of the 1960s. The screening begins at 7 in the Mary Pickford Theater. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 202-707-5677.

Tuesday, November 24
Marvel at the internationally renowned Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor’s latest work, S-Curve, on display at the Sackler Gallery. Part of the gallery’s Perspectives series focusing on contemporary Asian art, Kapoor’s exhibit consists of two 16-foot polished steel walls that curve to create convex and concave undulations.

Wednesday, November 25
FotoWeek DC may have shuttered, but you can still catch Mexican photographer Dulce Pinzón’s “The Real Story of the Superheroes” exhibit at the Healing Arts Gallery through Saturday. Pinzón’s satirical series showcases Mexican immigrants in Manhattan who struggle with blue-collar labor while trying to support their families back home. Appropriately, she has dressed each of her subjects in superhero costumes. Wednesday through Friday 11 to 5, Saturday 11 to 3. For more information, click here.

Where & When: This Week in Washington Nightlife

Monday: Beer Week at Belga Cafe
Celebrate all things Belgian and Beer with Belga Cafe's Beer Week, which goes through this Wednesday. Winter and holiday beers will be on tap, and you can reserve a spot for a four-course menu paired with four beers. Call the restaurant to make your reservation.

Tuesday: Silent Snark
Head to the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage to check out something novel—a chamber group that composes original music to silent films. Tonight, they'll play music written for Laurel & Hardy's Liberty and Charley Chase's Publicity Pays. 6 PM, free.

Wednesday: Pre-Thanksgiving Party
Sticking around town this Thanksgiving? Treat yourself to some pre-turkey-day fun by heading to Station 9 tonight for a massive DJ and dance party. DJs Chris Burns, NavboX, and Patrick Fonseca will be spinning tunes starting at 10 PM. Free from 10 to 11 PM; $5 cover afterwards.

ICE! and Snow at Gaylord National

Gaylord National Resort kicks off the holidays with snow and ice.

>> Check out a slide show of ICE! and Christmas on the Potomac

The Capital Weather Gang predicted some good snowfall for Washington this year, and if the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center has anything to do with it, they’ll be right.

The National Harbor hotel debuted its Christmas on the Potomac holiday event last night with a real snowfall inside its 18-story glass atrium. But that was just the beginning: The hotel will host more than 800 holiday events and displays this year, running almost continuously through early January.

“Our goal is to own Christmas in DC,” says general manager Phil Coffey.

How exactly? In addition to the indoor snowfall (6:15 and 9:15 nightly), the hotel has plugged in more than two million twinkling lights, erected a 60-foot Christmas tree made entirely of candy-like glass, created a fountain show choreographed to holiday music, hung 150-foot light banners to replicate the colors of the Northern Lights, and even built an indoor holiday train village. Though the tree will be lit every night at 6, the real pageantry will come on the weekends, when dancers and a choir join the festivities at 7 with a short holiday show of carols and traditional hymns.

Richmond Gets Crafty: Visual Arts Center’s 45th Craft + Design Show

Last month, the New York Times wrote that Richmond is “emerging as a new player on the Southern art and culinary scene.” Indeed, but why take a Noo Yawker’s word for it when you can slide on down I-95 and check it out yourself?

Next weekend, the Visual Art Center’s 45th Craft + Design Show kicks off under the rotunda at the Science Museum of Virginia. The building, once the Broad Street Station, is a work of art itself. Designed by John Russell Pope, the architect behind the National Archives building, the Jefferson Memorial, and the National Gallery of Art’s west building, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places and alone worth the drive.

If you’ve ever been to the annual Smithsonian Craft Show, you’ll find that this one has a lot in common, except that Richmond’s show is 18 seasons wiser. There’ll be 75 superstar artists representing 17 states displaying works in fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, and wood. Says Karen Cauthen Miller, VAC’s special-events coordinator: “This show provides a unique opportunity to meet the artists, learn their stories, and collect their objects.” That intimacy is a major draw because half of the artists have never shown in Richmond. And lest you think it’s a fusty museum exhibit, a special partnership with Quirk Gallery (where Noah Scalin of Skull-A-Day fame displayed selections this summer) promises fun, youthful art at hang-it-in-the-kids’-rooms prices.

A first timer to the show, I got a sense of the scene by catching up with two Maryland artists who made the cut: Joseph Craig English, a printmaker/painter/sculptor from Washington Grove, and Eric Burris, a metalsmith/jeweler out of Silver Spring.

Funny Town: This Week’s Comedy Events

We keep you tickled with a roundup of comedy events and standup performances.

Fast, loud, and schizophrenic, Robin Williams’s impression-heavy comedy routine is less a standup act than a one-man band, and it’s been making people laugh for 30 years. Now on his “Weapons of Self Destruction” tour, he’ll be appearing at DAR Constitution Hall Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21; both nights the show starts at 8. Tickets ($63.50 to $93.50) can be purchased here.

Kate Clinton uses comedy as a way to critique the world and invoke change—her tours focus on politics, social issues, family, and the economy. (Last year’s tour was called “Hilarity Clinton ’08.”) In addition to two decades of standup, she’s written several humor books, made television and film appearances, and participated in a stage reading of a Tony Kushner play with Olympia Dukakis and Madeline Kahn. She’ll perform at the Birchmere Friday, November 20, at 7:30. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased here.

The first performance of Seasonal Disorder, the holiday show by the Washington Improv Theater troupe Onesixtyone, will be at Source Friday, November 20, starting at 8. Opening-night festivities include a wine-and-cheese reception and backstage tour, both included in the ticket price. After the show, a discussion is scheduled with the cast and director. Your ticket will also get you free admission to iMusical, starting at 9:30 in the same theater. Tickets are $25; buy them here.

Ten Under $10

Sashay through a mansion, peer inside the first Chinese emperor’s tomb, and stamp your passport to Europe with this week’s best deals for $10 or less.

1. “Take Five” on Thursday at the American Art Museum’s monthly night of free jazz in the Kogod Courtyard. With its wave-like glass canopy roof, the atrium gets a boost from 5 to 7 when the ten-piece Brad Linde Ensemble plays tunes by Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Lester Young. Beverages will be provided. For more information, click here.

2. On Thursday, the historic Tudor Place (1644 31st St., NW) is hosting an Art of Martini night from 6 to 8. For $10, guests can hobnob over martinis, refreshments, and live music as they explore the mansion and garden. The event is free for Tudor Place members. Guests must be 21 and over. To RSVP and purchase tickets, click here.

3. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll want to pay a visit to ACKC in Alexandria on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 for a free chocolate-and-wine tasting. The confectionary shop will show off its new fall truffle flavors with libations provided by First Vine. No RSVP required.

To Do: See the Terra-Cotta Warriors at the National Geographic Society

Between Ping-Pong, McDonald’s, and fortune cookies, the United States and China have a rich history of cultural exchange. Therefore, it’s only appropriate that on the week President Obama tours China, the National Geographic Museum is welcoming the long-awaited exhibit “Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor.”

Described as “one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world” by the museum’s director, Susan Norton, the exhibit—debuting Thursday and on display through March—features 100 relics and 15 life-size terra-cotta figures that had remained buried for more than 2,000 years in the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi (ruling from 221 to 210 BC). Discovered when a group of farmers went into a field to dig a well, the necropolis reveals an estimated 7,000 warriors in a virtual underground city created to protect the emperor as he journeyed into the afterlife. The display is the largest showcase of terra-cotta figures ever to travel to the United States and marks the first time the National Geographic Museum has charged money for an exhibit. So far, more than 96,000 advance tickets have been sold.

We got an early glimpse of the exhibit this week. Here are some of the highlights:

Blades of Glory: A Guide to Indoor and Outdoor Ice-Skating Rinks

Strap on those skates and head to one of these local ice-skating rinks.

Why let Michelle Kwan have all the fun? It’s the season for frosted festivities at area ice rinks. Take a break from the holiday bustle to work on your triple axle, bundle up with a date, or bring the whole family to these indoor and outdoor ice-skating facilitates. Before you tie on your skates, make sure to call ahead because the hours are subject to change—at indoor rinks especially. We promise you don’t have to wear the sparkly Spandex skirt unless you really want to.

Where & When: This Week in Washington Nightlife

Monday: 60 Minutes
Go behind the scenes of 60 Minutes tonight when Leslie Stahl and Executive Producer Jeffrey Fager come to the National Press Club to talk about how they choose their stories and more. 8 PM; free. Get tickets here.

Tuesday: Holiday Blockbusters
We can’t be the only ones addicted to movie trailers, right? The DC Film Society is betting we're not. It's hosting “Coming Attractions: Trailer Night, Winter 2009,” an evening of—you guessed it—movie trailers for movies that will be coming out this holiday season. The event takes place at Landmark’s E Street Cinema at 7. Tickets are $8 for nonmembers; first-come, first-served tickets are available in the lobby starting at 6 pm.

Wednesday: Beaujolais Nouveau
Who wants to waste time when a holiday revolves around wine? Celebrate the first few seconds of Beaujolais Nouveau at the Brightest Young Things’ “A Breathless Beaujolais” celebration Wednesday night at 1905. The countdown starts at 9; at midnight, the corks come out. The $10 cover includes wine and a DJ. No RSVP required. Check out our guide for more places to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau.

Le Beaujolais Nouveau Est Arrivé!

Celebrate this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau harvest with a toast. Here’s what’s going on around town.

When laws about wine sales conflate with commerce, wine lovers, and a healthy dose of competition, the result is something like Beaujolais Nouveau. This fruity red wine is harvested and fermented for only a few weeks before it’s shipped out—which, according to French law, can’t be before the third Thursday in November. Here’s where to celebrate in Washington:

Who wants to waste time when a holiday revolves around wine? Celebrate the first few seconds of Beaujolais Nouveau at the Brightest Young Things’ “A Breathless Beaujolais” celebration Wednesday night at 1905. The countdown starts at 9; at midnight, the corks come out. The $10 cover includes wine and a DJ. No RSVP required.

Holding out for Thursday proper is La Maison Française, where the French embassy (4101 Reservoir Rd., NW) is hosting a Beaujolais celebration from 6:30 to 9:30. The menu includes a buffet and French pastries along with other French wines. Francophiles might want to check out the silent auction and raffle—the grand prize is a trip to Paris. Tickets, $60 per person, can be ordered here.

Culture Vulture

A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.

Monday, November 16
Christina Scheppelmann, director of artistic operations at the Washington National Opera, and Brandy Hawkins, a mezzo-soprano with the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist program, present “So You Want to Be a Singer? An Opera Career Talk.” They’ll discuss how to build an opera-friendly résumé, career options in the opera arts, and answer questions. The event will be held in the Abramson Family Recital Hall at the Katzen Arts Center at American University. To make reservations, call 202-448-3465.

Tuesday, November 17
Stop by the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St., NW; 202-347-2635) during your lunch hour to enjoy some classical music with your Five Guys fries. This week’s installment of the Tuesday Concert Series commemorates the 200th anniversary of Franz Joseph Haydn’s death with a program of his compositions performed by pianist Sonya Suhnhee Kim. It can be heard in the main sanctuary from 12:10 to 1. Donations, which benefit local musicians, are welcome.

Funny Town: This Week’s Comedy Events

We keep you tickled with a roundup of comedy events and standup performances.

Thursday, November 12
The five members of the group Broken Lizard, also known as the mad scientists behind the crass 2001 cult comedy Super Troopers, will present a smörgåsbord of performances in the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University at 8. Expect standup, sketches, improv, original films, and a question-and-answer session. And yes, Farva will be there. Tickets are $29.50 ($23.50 for GWU students) and can be purchased here.

Tonight marks the opening standup performance by raunchfest master Robert Schimmel, who’s a regular on The Howard Stern Show. Schimmel will be in Washington all weekend at DC Improv Comedy Club. Thursday’s show starts at 8:30; he’ll also perform Friday and Saturday at 8 and 10:30 and Sunday at 8. Tickets are $22 and can be purchased here; there’s also a two-item minimum from DC Improv’s restaurant and bar at the event.

Ten Under $10

Ride a vintage bike, laugh your face off, and watch Washington’s top bands battle it out in this week’s Ten Under $10.

1. Marvel at the Emmy award-winning photographer Joshua Cogan’s music-related images at the free opening reception of his new exhibit, “Joshua Cogan: Soundprints Vol. 1,” Thursday from 7 to 9:30 at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. Cogan’s locally inspired work ranges from drum circles at Meridian Park to area performances by Jay-Z. The Fatback DJs will provide live music.

2. Everyone knows the first luxury to go in a recession is caricature portraits, but you can indulge yourself by heading to Sova's free opening reception for “People: Portraits by Elizabeth Graeber and Laura Shema” Thursday from 7 to 11. Art aficionados can meet the two illustrators under a groovy soundtrack by DJ Chris Klang and Matthew Hemerlein, watch them in action during a live portrait session, and sip microbrews priced at less than $5. If only there were a petting zoo and prizes, this would be the best county fair ever!

3. Linger at Midtown Loft after its daily free beer happy hour from 5 to 6 to catch the Battle of the Bands Thursday starting at 8. The evening features performances by four Washington bands (The D.R. amA. Kings, Rome in a Day, Citizen, and 23RAINYDAYS) who’ll compete for a chance to perform at an upcoming benefit concert at the 9:30 Club. The event is free, and you must be 21 or older to enter.

Celebrating Veterans Day in Washington

To honor our country’s veterans, here are wreath-laying ceremonies, special events, and more taking place on November 11.

From 9 to noon and 2 to 5 at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, remember the women of the Vietnam War through stories told by Vietnam vets and their children. The event is part of the “In Their Own Words” educational program by the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation. Call 301-314-8505 for more information.

The US Navy Memorial (701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW) has several events lined up to commemorate Veterans Day, beginning with a book signing at noon. David Sears will sign copies of At War With the Wind, a study of Japanese kamikaze fighters during World War II. At 1, a wreath-laying ceremony is scheduled at the memorial followed by a screening of the film Pappy Boyington Field, which details a controversy-ridden campaign by veterans groups to honor a World War II major.

The National Museum of American Jewish Military History (1811 R St., NW; 202-265-6280) is presenting a unique Veterans Day perspective with its presentation entitled “Arthur Szyk: Soldier in Art.” Szyk, who died in 1951, was a World War I veteran and later an active member of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States organization. Irvin Ungar, who curates the Arthur Szyk Society, will speak on Syzk’s art and its powerful political messages. The two-hour presentation begins at 1.

Earlier this year, the National Museum of the American Indian (Fourth St. and Independence Ave., SW) issued a call for four-minute documentaries to be entered in a short-film contest for Veterans Day. On Wednesday, the top three winners of Answering the Call will have their work screened along with other films focusing on the experiences of Native Americans in the military. The screenings, which are free, take place in the Rasmuson Theater at 11:30 and 3:30.

Culture Vulture

A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.

Monday, November 9
Busboys and Poets at 14th and V streets hosts author James W. Loewen as he discusses and signs his new book, Teaching What Really Happened: How to Avoid the Tyranny of Textbooks and Get Students Excited About Doing History. In the follow-up to his book Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, Loewen calls for a new way to teach history by exploring the hidden facts of America’s past. The event begins at 6:30 in the Langston Room.

Tuesday, November 10
The National Museum of Women in the Arts continues its second annual festival with staged readings of plays and poetry. Today’s event, Voices of Liberty: English Women Poets from 1649-1750,” features work by such poets as Aphra Behn and Anne Bradstreet as well as a dance performance by the Artefacts Dance Company. The event runs from 7 to 9.

Wednesday, November 11
Stephen P. Cohen, founder and president of the Institute for Middle East Peace & Development, will discuss and sign his new book, Beyond America’s Grasp: A Century of Failed Diplomacy in the Middle East, at Politics and Prose. The book is the product of more than 40 years of work and study in the region, and it explores the volatile legacy that began with Woodrow Wilson and continues today. The event begins at 7.

Where & When: This Week in Washington Nightlife

Monday: FotoWeek DC
All things photography continue this week with FotoWeek DC. Our pick for tonight? Head to the National Geographic Grosvenor Auditorium for "When Sights and Sounds Converge: Storytelling in the Digital World." Folks from NPR and National Geographic will discuss the evolution of photography, and how the internet has changed the ways in which we tell stories visually. 6:30 PM; free. RSVP to pictureshow@npr.org.

Tuesday: European Films
Can't get enough of all things European? We imagine we'll find you up at AFI over the next few weeks, as their European Union Film Showcase continues through November 24. Tonight, you can check out the Danish film Applaus, which tells the story of an alcoholic actress trying to determine if motherhood is a role that suits her. 7 PM. $10.

Ten under $10

Journey around the world through photographers’ lenses at FotoWeek DC, travel back to 1920s Bolivia with free films, or channel your inner child to help construct a 12-foot-tall Christmas tree made from Legos—all in this week’s top budget bets.

1. This week marks your last chance to grab some popcorn and catch the free DC Latin American Film Showcase. On Thursday, E Street Cinema will screen Proyect Grey—a Salvadorian film about a camping trip gone awry—at 6:30 and at 8:30, The Maid, which explores class issues in modern Chile. Tickets are first come, first-served and are distributed one per person 30 minutes prior to the film.

2. Tucked as it is between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce in the federal dictionary, it’s easy to overlook the US Department of Bhangra. Dedicated to bringing a hot monthly Indian dance party to Washington, its employees work at Bossa on Thursday night, keep odd hours (10 PM to 2 AM), and require very little funding (an $8 cover). For more information, visit Bhangra’s official Web site.

3. Winner of the Torpedo Factory Art Center’s 2009 Open Exhibition Opportunity, artist Renee van der Stelt will showcase ten large sculptures and drawings that resemble satellite images of Earth at the gallery on Friday from 6 to 8. This free exhibit is accompanied by an artist’s talk at 7.

Winning the Lottery: Apply for Christmas Tree Lighting Tickets

The lottery for free tickets is open until Friday, November 6 at 11:59 PM.

The lottery for free tickets to the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony opened bright and early today at 12:01 AM. Applicants have until 11:59 PM on Friday, November 6, to get their names in the hat.

This year, you can fill out an online application or call 877-444-6777 for a chance to secure one of the 2,800 seated tickets or 7,000 standing-room tickets. (Note: Standing-room tickets will have a view of the tree, but not the performance stage.) Applicants may submit only one application but can apply for up to five tickets. Ticket seekers can check the status of their request online or by phone from November 9 through 16. Tickets will be mailed by November 15.

The ceremony, which is scheduled for 5 PM on December 3, kicks off the holiday season in Washington with the lighting of the National Christmas Tree and 56 smaller trees, representing the states, five territories, and DC. It includes live entertainment by well-known performers—this year's lineup has yet to be announced—and the United States Marine Corps Band. The president usually makes an appearance.

If you're not among the lucky ones, you can watch the ceremony here via live Webcast on December 3. And remember, you can see the lit tree without tickets every night through January 1. The lights go off at 11 PM.

More>> After Hours Blog | Arts & Events | Happy Hour Finder | Calendar of Events

Culture Vulture

A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.

Monday, November 2
The Cabral/Truth Circle hosts “Stories of Hope and Struggle,” a film and panel discussion about the plight of Haitian women, at Busboys and Poets at 14th and V streets, Northwest. The film Poto Mitan: Haitian Women, Pillars of the Global Economy profiles five Haitian women whose stories shed light on their country’s hardships. York College assistant professor of African American studies and anthropology Mark Schuller, who produced and co-directed the film, will lead a panel discussion. Event starts at 6.

Tuesday, November 3
In Mexican culture, the souls of the dead visit their living friends and family in the beginning of November. National Geographic Live! (1600 M St., NW; 202-857-7700) will screen La Ofrenda: Days of the Dead, a 50-minute film that shows the runs of Mitla, the gateway to the underworld, according to Mexican Indians. Produced by Lourdes Portillo and Susana Muñoz, the 1989 movie also explores the Latino community’s Day of the Dead traditions in California. Noon.

Where & When: This Week in Washington Nightlife

What to do for fun this week!

Monday: Noir DC
Get gritty with the Noir DC Film Festival, playing through Wednesday at the AFI Silver Theatre. Tonight, you can catch a double feature of Shakedown and Night Editor for just $10. 6:30 PM.

Tuesday: Girls at the Black Cat
Haven't yet heard of Girls? They're on the rise as one of the hottest bands of the year. The San Francisco duo (which is actually two men, though their name may lead you to believe otherwise) plays sunny, lovely pop music reminiscent of the Beach Boys or Elvis Costello. The duo plays the Black Cat's mainstage with Real Estate as opening act. Tickets are $12. 8 PM.

Wednesday: Winter Beer
Warm up as the weather gets colder with a winter beer tasting at the new Birch & Barley and ChurchKey. Taste some of the winter offerings from Flying Dog Brewery, Harpoon, Magic Hat, Sierra Nevada, and more. 5 PM.

Ten Under $10

Halloween is the centerpiece of this frighteningly fun weekend, but we’ve rounded up more than just ghoul-themed activities. From beer to Beethoven to Bobby Fischer, here are ten ways to get out and about on a budget.

1. You can take the edge off at McFadden’s from 4 to 7 each weekday, when all beers and appetizers are half off. If you’ve had a tough week in the office, you can up the ante with the bar’s Get Bombed Thursdays, where all beers, vodka flavors, and everything on McFadden’s new Bomb Menu are 50 percent off. Between chicken wings, fried mozzarella sticks, and popcorn shrimp for $5 or less, you can afford to drink on a full stomach.

2. A new season of American Idol is almost upon us. You can test your own auditioning skills at Logan Circle’s 1409 Playbill Café, where Monday and Thursday karaoke, which kicks off at 9:30, is encouraged by $4 pints of Bass Ale and select vodka and rum drinks.

3. Pre-game for Halloween by heading to Policy on Thursday for the free Just the Tip Halloween Throw Down. Five DJs will spin, beers are $3, and shooters cost $4. The party starts at 9:30. Come dressed to frighten.

Photos: High Heel Drag Race

Every October, the best-dressed drag queens DC has to offer come out to 17th Street to compete in a high heel race. And last night, we were out in the rain to document the best and the brightest of the costumes and the crowd. There was everything from a Marilyn Monroe to a Washington Monument costume—even Mayor Fenty came to see the fun. Check out our photos of the creatively-attired queens here.

>> See the full slideshow.

Were you there? What was the best getup you saw? Tell us in the comments below.

Funny Town: This Week’s Comedy Events

We keep you tickled with a roundup of comedy events and standup performances.

Wednesday, October 28
The DC Improv is combining comedy and good deeds for its 5th Annual Children’s Hospital Halloween Benefit and Collection Drive. The DC Improv Comedy School Cast will headline the event, during which the club will collect costumes, toys and Halloween-themed decorations to distribute to Children’s Hospital. Bring your Halloween merch and enjoy the improv team. All donations must be brand-new for disease and infection control. Doors open at 7, and the show starts at 8:30. Tickets are $15. Visit here for more information.

Thursday, October 29, through Sunday, November 1
The fourth installment of the series written by Jaston Williams and Joe Sears, Tuna Does Vegas premieres in DC at the Warner Theatre. Despite being a two-man show, the comedy revolves around 20 characters living in Tuna, Texas. Catch Williams and Sears, clad in dresses, purses and wigs, playing characters such as snotty Vera Carp and dog killer Pearl Burras. In this one, the small-towners hit Sin City.Tickets are $26 to $56. For show times, click here.

Culture Vulture

A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.

Monday, October 26
Halau Ho’omau I ka Wai Ola O Hawai’i! Find out what that means at the National Theatre’s Hawaiian Celebration, a night dedicated to the 50th state’s 50th birthday. Dancers, directed by Suz and Manu Ikaika, will perform both ancient and modern hula routines to Hawaiian music and chants. The show starts at 6 in the Helen Hayes Gallery, and free tickets are available 30 minutes before the show on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tuesday, October 27
A staple Washington event, the High Heel Race takes place in DC’s Dupont Circle the Tuesday before Halloween. Spectators gather on 17th Street between P and S streets, Northwest, to watch drag queens and other participants show off their outrageous outfits and teach onlookers a thing or two about running in heels. The race kicks off at 9, but bring your camera around 6—racers usually gather early for photo ops.

Wednesday, October 28
Poets Barbara Goldberg and Brian Brodeur come together at the Kensington Row Bookshop (3786 Howard Ave., Kensington; 301-949-9416) for a reading. Goldberg has published four books, coedited two anthologies, and won two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships. Brodeur, a resident of Fairfax, has authored Other Latitudes and So the Night Cannot Go Without Us and runs the blog How a Poem Happens. The event starts at 7 and is followed by an open reading in which attendees can present one poem no longer than a page.

Where & When: This Week in Washington Nightlife

Monday: Halloween in Washington
This week is the lead-up to one of the most fun events of the year—Halloween in DC (and on a Saturday, to boot!). We've got everything you'll need to make this Halloween the greatest one yet, from a roundup of costume stores to a guide to Halloween parties to cheap costume ideas and lots more.

Tuesday: High Heel Drag Race
It's a Halloween DC classic—the Dupont Circle High Heel Race. Between 17th and P Streets, NW, hundreds of spectacularly-outfitted drag queens will parade up and down the street. At 9 PM, they'll race in their heels. Get there as early as 6 PM if you want to get a solid viewing spot. Looking for more Halloween events this week? Make sure to check out our guide.

Wednesday: Mad Men Into Modern Gentlemen
Long for the days when you could drink whiskey at work? When smoking a cigar in the office was the norm? When the cut of a suit mattered? We think you'll enjoy indulging in your nostalgia when Jason Tesauro, author of The Modern Gentleman: A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy & Vice, teaches a series on how to be a "Modern Gentleman" at the Morrison House. Tonight, learn all you ever wanted about cigar and whiskey; there are three more classes in the series. $80, 7 PM; call 703-838-8000 to reserve a space.

Rewind: HouseQuake

We attended the premiere of a documentary that takes a behind-the-scenes look at how the Democrats made a comeback in 2006.

An assassin lurking in the shadows, a shark in the water—that’s how Rahm Emanuel is described in the new documentary HouseQuake, which premiered at the E Street Cinema on Wednesday night.

The film—directed by Karen Price, daughter of Representative David Price—offers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2006 campaign and how Emanuel orchestrated one of the country’s most historic congressional elections. Price and her crew followed seven Democratic candidates: Heath Shuler, Tammy Duckworth, Baron Hill, Diane Farrell, Brad Ellsworth, Tim Mahoney, and Jerry McNerney.

In 2006, Democrats picked up 31 seats to seize control of the House, ending the “Republican revolution” that had reigned for 12 years. As President George W. Bush famously remarked, “It was a thumpin’.”

The think tank Third Way and Representative Chris Van Hollen hosted the premiere. Also in the audience were Representatives Price, Jerry McNerney, Baron Hill, and Ed Whitfield, and the Washington Post’s David Broder.

Drunken Pumpkin: Pumpkin Beers at Local Bars

Nothing says fall to us like a tall pint of pumpkin ale. Here is where you can get some of the best around town.

No other beer manages to be quite as contentious as a tall glass of pumpkin ale. Since the Colonial era, brewmasters have quarreled over pumpkin beer’s merits every October as the seasonal brew makes its annual reemergence. It’s all in the flavor, really: Some beer aficionados croon over the subtle hints of squash, while others pinch their nose at the cloying pumpkin-pie sweetness.

The story of pumpkin beer is as old as America. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin were all said to have experimented with it when English barley was too rare to procure. And the following bars are ready to continue the Founding Fathers’ tradition this month as they roll out new flavors fresh from the pumpkin patch.

Birreria Paradiso (2029 P St., NW, 202-223-1245; 3282 M St., NW; 202-337-1245)
At the Dupont Circle location, you’ll find Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, a hoppy beer with a clean, refreshing taste that bar manager Greg Jasgur says “you can drink a lot of.” A more traditional pumpkin ale, this beer harkens back to the olden days of pumpkin brewing. Meanwhile, on tap in Georgetown is Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale, which has a sweeter, spicier pumpkin-pie flavor, and Cape Ann’s Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout, with a strong roasted flavor, fewer pumpkin-pie notes, and a taste of fresh pumpkin.
How much longer: Through October.
Price: $7 a pint.

Ten Under $10

Whether you’re interested in burning calories by learning to lap dance or packing them on drinking Peronis poured by Italian beer models, this week’s Ten Under $10 offers a wealth of fun ways that both the wealthy and the wanting can keep their wallets in check.

1. Help celebrate the YWCA’s annual Week Without Violence campaign by learning how to fight. Starting at 6 on Thursday, men and women are invited to the Penn Quarter YMCA (624 Ninth St., NW) for a free one-hour self-defense workshop with Sara Salam. The class will cover both holistic and physical ways to channel fear into strength in order to confront attackers.

2. You’re young, ambitious, and working to change the world. Isn’t it time society gave something back to you other than a barely livable wage? Following the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network gala at the White House on Thursday, BlackFinn American Saloon is throwing an after-party for Washington’s young nonprofit workers and their friends starting at 6. A $5 donation is suggested at the door; Miller Lites are just $2, and glasses of house wine, Champagne, and rail drinks are $3. BlackFinn will provide free food. The networking is up to you.

3. The Bethesda-based Chic Physique fitness club is kicking off its grand-opening weekend with a free Friday-night Sexy Halloween Party at 7, followed by a free pole-dancing demonstration at 9 by Jessalynn Medairy, who teaches the gym’s Ooh La La Lap Dance classes. The fitness center is also offering free trial lessons from noon to 5 on Saturday and Sunday. Classes include Pole Tease, Lap Dance, FlirTease, and Hot Hips.

Funny Town: This Week’s Comedy Events

We keep you tickled with a roundup of comedy events and standup performances.

If you’re looking for comedy this week, you’ve come to the right place: The Bentzen Ball is bringing nationally recognized standup acts into town by the truckload for four days of comedy. We’ve already written about it here; you can also check out our interviews with performers Sarah Silverman, Patton Oswalt, Lizz Winstead, and Tig Notaro. Ticket prices range from $15 (for most one-time shows) to $110 (for a weekend pass). The festival runs October 22 through 25; click here for a full schedule.

Buzzed: Toasted-Spice Apple-Cider Punch

Just in time for Halloween, PS 7’s mixtress Gina Chersevani demonstrates how to make a killer apple-cider punch.

When hosting a Halloween party, there are three elements critical for success: (1) a great costume, (2) a good music selection (bonus points if you have a DJ), and (3) killer drinks. The last is perhaps the most critical element—the tastier the drinks, the more your guests will consume, and the drunker they get, the less likely they are to care about (1) or (2).

For advice on the perfect drink to serve at a party, we enlisted PS 7’s Gina Chersevani, who recommended putting together a punch: “Punches are great when you’re entertaining, especially during the upcoming holidays.” Her Toasted-Spice Apple-Cider Punch recipe is made with fresh apple cider, pressed at the restaurant. If you don’t have a cider press, an electric juicer will do the trick—just make sure you remove the apple cores before. To make three cups, you’ll need about 12 pounds of apples. If you’re pinching pennies, here’s some good news: Chersevani recommends making the cider using bruised or slightly damaged apples, which sell for much less than regular apples. Of course, if you’d rather skip the hard work, you can buy premade cider.

Below, Chersevani demonstrates how to make the punch and how to properly toast the spices used in the drink. Check out the videos, and make sure to get the recipe after the jump.

Culture Vulture

A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.

Monday, October 19
Head to the National Theatre’s Helen Hayes Gallery for a night of smooth a cappella as Reverb performs its brand of gospel-inspired soul at 6 and 7:30. Tickets are distributed one per person on a first-come, first-served basis 30 minutes before the show.

Tuesday, October 20
Author Steve Early reads and signs his new book, Embedded With Organized Labor: Journalistic Reflections on the Class War at Home, at Busboys and Poets at DC’s 14th and V streets, Northwest. Early’s book describes how union activists have successfully organized to fight employer opposition and includes a series of essays on social and economic justice. 6 PM.

Wednesday, October 21
Join Kay Ryan, US poet laureate, at the Library of Congress’s Coolidge Auditorium as she reads from her work. The evening marks the opening of the library’s fall literary season of poetry readings and lectures. The reading at 7 will be followed by a book signing and reception in the Great Hall.

Where & When: This Week in Washington Nightlife

Reel Affirmations, the Bentzen Ball, ’90s pop bands, and more.

Monday, October 19: Reel-y Good Shorts
Reel Affirmations, Washington’s lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender film festival runs through October 24. More than 40 films will be screened, including shorts and documentaries. Tonight, a collection of some of the best short films will be shown at the Harman Center for the Arts at 7. Tickets ($10) can be purchased online here, or at the venue’s box office.

Tuesday, October 20: ’90s Dance Party
Rewind the clock and relive the greatest decade ever: the ’90s. Two seminal bands of that decade are in town tonight. There’s the effervescent brothers Hanson, which plays at the 9:30 Club, and “Are You Gonna Go My Way” singer Lenny Kravitz, who’ll perform at the Warner Theatre. Tickets are $30 for Hanson and $59.50 for Lenny Kravitz—a bit steep for acts that haven’t had a hit in a decade, but who said nostalgia’s cheap?

Wednesday, October 21: Judith & Julia
Knopf editor Judith Jones, the woman responsible for putting Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking on bookshelves, is inaugurating an author series at Zola Wine + Kitchen sponsored by Hooks Books Events and Stir Food Group. The event, which runs from 6 to 8, will include a discussion with Jones and a cooking demo. Tickets are $75 and include a copy of Jones’s latest book, appetizers, and two glasses of wine. For reservations, click here.

Fall Into Art

If you’re looking for a creative outlet this season, throw out those boring colored pencils and brushes. Here’s a roundup of some of the most interesting art classes going on in the area.

The Art League School
Card-Weaving Workshop
For anyone in need of a creative pick-me-up, the Art League School will have a one-day workshop on card weaving, a method that dates back to 400 BC and can be used to make trendy straps, belts, or pet leashes. The class will be held on November 21 from 1 to 6. Taught by Linda Hurt, the five-hour session will focus on easy-to-learn weaving patterns. The workshop is $55. To register, click here.

Washington Glass School
Painting With Wax: Basic Encaustic Workshop
Ditch the oil paints and acrylics for this one: On October 17 and 18 from 10 to 3, students can try encaustic painting using beeswax. The versatile method allows the wax to be carved, collaged, or decorated with Xerox transfers. Instructor Ellyn Weiss will demonstrate how to use wax in its molten form and fuse it with heat onto a canvas or board. Tuition is $325, which includes materials.

Xtreme Lava Lovers Weekend
The Washington Glass School is teaming up with the DC Glassworks studio for their hottest weekend yet—literally. In this two-day session, you can liquefy solid glass and aluminum to create beautiful sculptures and practical items such as bowls and plates. Ewin Timmers and Dave D’Orio will supervise this metal crash course on November 7 at the Washington Glass School and November 8 at DC Glassworks in Hyattsville. Each session runs from 1 to 5. The class costs $400.

The Bentzen Ball Preview: Sarah Silverman

To preview the upcoming Bentzen Ball, we’re interviewing several of the comedians who are performing at the festival. Today, we chat with Sarah Silverman.

Blithely offensive with no regard for social taboos and lots of foul language, Sarah Silverman has been called “the most outrageously funny woman alive” by Rolling Stone. Her performance on her Comedy Central series, The Sarah Silverman Program, garnered her an Emmy nomination in July, and she wrote and starred in her own film, Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic, in 2005. She’s appearing in DC this month at the four-day Bentzen Ball comedy festival. See her on closing night, performing with her sister Laura Silverman, Tig Notaro, Steve Agee, and Chelsea Peretti at the 9:30 Club at 8. You can view the full Bentzen Ball schedule—and purchase tickets—here.

More Bentzen Ball interviews:
Lizz Winstead
Tig Notaro
Patton Oswalt

The Bentzen Ball Preview: Patton Oswalt

To preview the upcoming Bentzen Ball, we’re interviewing several of the comedians who are performing at the festival. Today, we chat with Patton Oswalt

The standup-comedy favorite Patton Oswalt recently starred as a Giants-obsessed sports nut in Rob Siegel’s Big Fan and also appeared in Observe and Report and The Informant! He’s one of a slew of comedians coming to town for the Bentzen Ball comedy festival, October 22 through 25. Catch him on opening night with Todd Barry, Tig Notaro, Kyle Kinane, Ian Edwards, and Rory Scovel at 8 at the Lincoln Theatre. Tickets—for single shows or for weekend passes—are available here. We caught up with Oswalt to talk about other comedians in the Bentzen Ball, his obsessions in life, and the health-care crisis.

Read our interviews with Lizz Winstead and Tig Notaro here and here.

When the Weather’s Too Cold: Indoor Fun in Washington

Just because the temperature’s dropping doesn’t mean your spirits have to as well. Washington offers some great opportunities for indoor fun and games, so as the leaves fall, don’t let the weather keep you at home.

For most of us, mini-golf season ends when summer does. But not at H Street Country Club, where putters can find a nine-hole indoor course, skeeball, daily drink specials, and a large Tex-Mex menu. The DC-themed course offers holes featuring monuments, Presidents, and even a putt-putt-size U Street complete with the landmark Ben’s Chili Bowl. The course opens at 5, and games are $7 per person. Ages 21 and up, except on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.

Looking to bring out the kid in you? Well, let’s hope he or she is a good shot—you’ll need it at Ultrazone Laser Tag (3447 Carlin Springs Rd., Falls Church; 703-578-6001). The largest laser-tag facility in Washington, this multi-level battleground equips you with the most advanced technology in infrared warfare, including vests that transmit play-by-play updates to spectators in the lobby. Weekends are packed at Ultrazone, where up to 60 players can engage in the 6,000-square-foot arena. Don’t miss high-school night on Wednesday and college night on Thursday, when students can play all night for just $10. Other times, individual games are $8.50, or $24.95 for unlimited play.

Ten Under $10

Zip through otherworldly wormholes at the Smithsonian, shuck oysters in St. Mary’s County, and peer out at Russia from your back yard (no, really) with this week’s Ten Under $10.

1. In only the 12th time since 1980 that Richard Nixon’s presidential tapes have been opened to the public, visitors can hear him negotiate a peace treaty with the Vietnamese government, arrange for American POWs to be returned home, and listen to statements made during the Watergate trial. Listening stations are free but available on a first-come, first-served basis. The tapes are available weekdays from 9 to 5, and you’ll need a photo ID to get them. National Archives at College Park.

2. For a new take on an old story, head to the AFI Silver Theatre Thursday at 7:30 for a free screening of Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags. This roller-coaster tale of labor and greed is an official selection at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival and chronicles the once-robust United States manufacturing industry and its relationship with unions and governments. Tickets are available at the box office starting Thursday at noon, limit two per person.

Funny Town: This Week’s Comedy Events

We round up events around town that are sure to tickle your funny bone.

Developed in the Sundance Institute’s Jordan-based Middle East Screenwriters Lab last year, Maysoon Zayid’s Little American Whore: A One Woman Show is a funny, irreverent, unexpectedly dirty comedic performance about her complicated identity as a Palestinian Muslim woman with cerebral palsy from New Jersey. (She says she’s the “first shaking comic without a drug problem.”) Zayid is cofounder and co-executive producer of the acclaimed New York Arab-American Comedy Festival, currently in its sixth year. The show debuted in 2006 at Comedy Central Space in Los Angeles, but this is the first time Little American Whore has come to Washington. See it Saturday, October 17, in the Langston Room at Busboys and Poets. $20; 7 PM.

The Bentzen Ball Preview: Tig Notaro

To preview the upcoming Bentzen Ball—which runs from October 22 to 25—we’re interviewing several of the comedians who are performing at the festival. Today, we chat with the brains behind the whole thing, Tig Notaro.

Never heard of Tig Notaro? Maybe you should have. The tough, sardonic West Coast comic plays Officer Tig on The Sarah Silverman Show, and she has called Tig one of her best friends. Notaro is slated to appear as Joan Jett’s mom in the 2010 film The Runaways—and she’s the central, magnetic force behind the Bentzen Ball. She’ll be performing standup at the festival every night; view the schedule or purchase tickets for any of the shows here. You can catch her on opening night with Patton Oswalt, Todd Barry, Kyle Kinane, Ian Edwards, and Rory Scovel at the Lincoln Theatre.

Read yesterday's interview with Lizz Winstead here.

To Do: “Weapons of Mass Disruption” Exhibit at the International Spy Museum

Low-ceilinged and striped with neon, the newest exhibit at the International Spy Museum feels more like a top-secret command center than an educational gallery. Glossy black walls are lined with flashing lights and flickering computer screens. Headlines scroll along a red-lettered marquee, and at the front of the room, a color-coded map of the United States outlines the location of power grids.

Suddenly, the lights fizzle out and the sleek little room is plunged into darkness. The computer screens fade until one video slowly comes into greenish focus, outlining a budding crisis: A cyber attack has shut the system down, incapacitating major parts of the infrastructure.

That means no communication.

No transportation.

No electricity.

No food.

No water.

The Bentzen Ball Preview: Lizz Winstead

To preview the upcoming Bentzen Ball, we’re interviewing several of the comedians who are performing at the festival. Today, we chat with "Daily Show" creator Lizz Winstead.

Lizz Winstead might not be a household name, but one of her creations—The Daily Show—has become a decade-long cultural phenomenon. Not surprisingly, her defunct weekly off-Broadway show, Shoot the Messenger, was also dedicated to exposing media fluff to biting sarcasm. Winstead will be in Washington performing standup at the Bentzen Ball comedy festival, going on from October 22 through 25. You can see her the first three days of the festival; her first show is Thursday, October 22, at 7 at Bohemian Caverns with Natasha Leggero, Chelsea Peretti, Hugh Moore, Chris Fairbanks, Ruby Wendell, and Jason Weems. Tickets for single shows and weekend passes are available here. We talked to her about the festival, some of her favorite comedians, and political comedy.

“Don’t Go in There!”: Scary Movies Around Town

Culture Vulture

A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.

Monday, October 12
The Smithsonian is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of events, including gallery tours such as this one on Latino art and culture. The tour, offered in English and Spanish, spotlights the past 200 years of Latino history in the United States, reflected in the work of Hispanic-American artists. Meet in the F Street lobby of the American Art Museum. 12:30. Call 202-633-5330 for more information.

Tuesday, October 13
On Tuesdays, stop by the weekly concert series at the Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St., NW). This week, you can listen to selections from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, performed by Irina Katz from the Levine School of Music. Donations—all of which go to the performer—are encouraged. 12:10 to 1. You can download the full Tuesday Concert Series schedule here.

Make this your most relaxing Tuesday in a while: Free yoga classes are being held with Krista at BE Yoga in DC’s Cleveland Park. The hourlong, open-level class starts at 6:15, and the introductory class, also an hour, starts at 7:30. Both are the first classes of ten-week sessions; only the first class is free.

Where & When: This Week in Washington Nightlife

Three nights of shopping, an after-hours event at a museum, and more.

Monday, October 12: Laramie Revisited
The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later revisits Laramie, Wyoming for a look at the long-lasting effects of Matthew Shepard's murder on the local community. It premieres tonight at 8 in an Arena Stage production at the Lincoln Theatre, the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and the Reston Community Center, with simultaneous stagings all over the world. The local will be preceded by a broadcast of a pre-performance discussion at New York’s Lincoln Center as well as a discussion after the show. The Arena Stage and University of Maryland productions are free, with reservations required for Arena; the Reston production is $15 for Reston residents, $25 for others. For more information, call 202-488-3300 for Arena, 301-405-2787 for the University of Maryland, 703-476-4500 for Reston.

Tuesday, October 13: Girl's Night Out
Sample beauty treatments and shop while sipping cosmopolitans at Shecky's Girl's Night Out at DAR Constitution Hall. Tickets ($25 in advance; $35 at the door) include the legendary Shecky’s goodie bag, which in the past has included body scrub, books, and lip gloss. For more information, click here. 5 PM to 10 PM.

Wednesday, October 14: Quixotic Pursuit
The Washington Ballet stages novelist Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote, about an out-of-wits fiftysomething countryman and his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza, at the Kennedy Center. Tickets ($25-$125) can be purchased here. 8 PM.

Red Bulls on Parade: “Art of Can” Exhibition Opens in Union Station

A bull, an octopus, and a shark—just some of the aluminum creatures on display at Union Station as part of Washington’s first “Art of Can” exhibition.

Sponsored by Red Bull, the energy-drink company that “gives you wings,” the exhibit kicked off last night, attracting a crowd of art wonks and caffeine addicts alike.

Through October 19, Washingtonians are invited to check out (for free!) some of the country’s most highly carbonated contemporary artworks—all created or inspired by Red Bull’s iconic blue-and-silver cans—on display at Union Station’s main lobby.

Fifty-six works are on display, including an eight-foot octopus and a larger-than-life bull, which incorporates more than 2,000 cans into the design. The artists responsible for the sculptures come from all walks of life: students, industrial designers, sales professionals. Most are from the United States, but some have traveled from as far away as the United Kingdom.

Check out photographs of the exhibit.

Funny Town: This Week’s Comedy Events

We keep you tickled with a roundup of comedy events and standup performances.

While attending Georgetown University, Mike Birbiglia won a competition for funniest man on campus, earning him the opportunity to perform at DC Improv. He’s since emerged into comedic fame across the country as a regular contributor on radio’s The Bob and Tom Show and This American Life plus the star of his one-man off-Broadway show, Sleepwalk With Me, detailing his experiences with a sleeping disorder. He writes the blog My Secret Public Journal, where personal anecdotes become fodder for his deadpan wit. Birbiglia returns to Washington on Saturday, October 10, for a standup show at the Warner Theatre at 8. Tickets ($23 to $33) can be purchased by calling 877-598-8696 or 800-551-7328 or by clicking here.

Tyler Perry of House of Payne fame is coming to Washington for a performance of his 11th play, Laugh to Keep From Crying. It’s intended as a lighthearted look at a tough world, performed à la Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Perry’s show will be performed October 13 through 17 at the Warner Theatre; the show starts at 8 every night, with a 3 PM matinee on Saturday. Tickets ($47 to $57) can be purchased by calling either 877-598-8696 or 800-551-7328 or by clicking here.

Ten Under $10

Peer into the future on the Mall, loosen your belt in Georgetown, and rotate clockwise while standing on the North Pole at the Hirshhorn. Whether your idea of a good time is raving with the same sex or ogling naughty schoolgirls, this week’s Ten Under $10 has something for you.

1. Arrgh! Apparently there’s no spell check aboard the S.S. Bad-Idea-for-a-Bar, but there are great specials on Thievin’ Thursdays at at Piratz Tavern in Silver Spring. Granted, the place looks like a miniature-golf-course-meets-Johnny-Depp-inspired Epcot ride, but it’ll all blur together with $5 rum “Piratz drynks,” half-price “grog” (a mixture of three types of rum and ginger beer), and $3 Coronas, Amstels, Heinekens, and Blue Moons from 5 to 7. Fill up on half-price appetizers, befriend a parrot, and try not to stumble off the plank.

2. Populists, unite! Environmentalist/Green Party candidate/lecturer/consumer watchdog/author Ralph Nader will sign copies of his new book, Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!, at Busboys and Poets on Thursday at 6. Taking a page from Thomas Paine and Upton Sinclair, Nader’s novel imagines what our nation would be like if the wealthiest individuals suddenly became altruistic do-gooders. Supporting Nader by showing up to the event is free—though if you’re a Democrat, it might cost you an election.