1. Journey to a time before Twilight Thursday as the Smithsonian American Art Museum screens F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent vampire classic, Nosferatu, at 6:30. An original live score from the Thad Wilson Group accompanies the 100-minute film. Free tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis outside the McEvoy Auditorium, so come early.

2. The National Air and Space Museum kicks off a four-part lecture series Thursday as Rosaly Lopes leads the discussion “Where the Hot Stuff Is: Volcanoes of the Earth and Solar System” at 8. Lopes will describe how the solar system is home to a wide array of volcanic eruptions that are both similar to and different than those that we experience on Earth. Guests who arrive at 7:30 can meet Lopes for a pre-talk Q&A. Tickets are free, but you must request them; click here.

3. Get ready to laugh your face off at the second weekly installment of the Capitol Skyline Hotel’s Comedy Night, Thursday from 8 to 10. Headlined by the 2008 winner of DC’s Improv Comedy contest, Hampton Yount, the evening features five comedians for only $5. Drink specials and cheap pizza are available as well.

4. Can’t make it to Dublin for St. Patty’s Day this year? Save your money and head to Againn Friday night for the UK-inspired pub’s free Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Party from 5 to 7. Join booze master John Heffernan as he pours tastes of Bushmills for revelers and discusses whiskeys’ different styles. After downing Irish whiskey, make your way to the bar for $5 pints of Guinness and Kilkenny, Bushmills cocktails, Irish coffees, and hot toddies.

5. Get out your inner teen angst by getting down at the Black Cat’s Kicks! party Friday night at 9:30. The free backstage event features a playlist of roaring rock and roll, garage, punk, and power pop spun by DJs Kim and Sara of Pow Wow. All ages are welcome.

6. Those looking to see some hot man-on-man action without ringside seats or satellite television should head to Public Bar Saturday night when the sports pub shows the Ultimate Fighting Championship bout between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey. The fight card starts at 8, with the title bout likely starting at around 10. There’s no cover to enter.

7. Learn the difference between suelta, Rueda de Casino, and the oh-so sultry salsa romántica as you and a partner take a free salsa lesson at Cabanas (3050 K St., NW) Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30. Participants must RSVP; call 202-498-6921 or e-mail info@host-dc.com to reserve a space. If you see a certain Washingtonian blogger wearing plaid and having no clue as to what he’s doing on the dance floor, come say hi.

8. For the 11th year, the Washington DC Independent Film Festival is screening more than 100 films from around the world at the Navy Memorial Museum’s Burke Theater (701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW). This year’s edition lasts until Sunday, and tickets cost $10 for general admission and $7 for students and seniors. For a complete list of film titles and times, click here.

9. Poets Katie Bowler, author of the collection State Street, and John Murillo, author of Up Jump the Boogie will read selections of their work at the Writer’s Center’s free Open Door Reading Series Sunday from 2 to 4. For more information, click here.

10. Find your greenest clothes and head to the free Washington, DC St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sunday from noon to 3. Now in its 39th year, the parade runs on Constitution Avenue, Northwest, from 7th to 17th streets, with bands, dancers, and various Irish groups performing all the way. Grandstand tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased by clicking on the parade’s Web site.

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