Thursday, February 21: At the Kennedy Center Opera House through Sunday, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents some of the pieces for which it’s best known—including “Revelations” and “Firebird”—along with one piece that recently joined the repertoire: Twyla Tharp’s “The Golden Section,” set to music by David Byrne. Tickets are $30 to $85. 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org.

So you think you can dance? The Fox reality show of that name is holding auditions today at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St., NE) starting at 8 AM and going throughout the day. Rules and other information can be found here.

The Spice Girls really, really are coming to DC—tonight at 7:30 at the Verizon Center. Melanie, Victoria (a.k.a. Posh, wife of soccer/fashion icon David Beckham), Geri, Mel B, and Emma know how to strut their stuff—especially when wearing the outlandish costumes made for this tour by Roberto Cavalli. As of now, tickets are still available—for $72.50, $92.50, and $122.50.

Don’t let snow keep you from good winter shopping deals. The third Thursday of every month, MidCityLive! puts on a Thursday Shopper Social in the retail area around 14th and U streets, Northwest. Boutiques and other stores offer discounts, socializing, snacks, and drinks from 5 to 8 PM. So get on over and shop away.

You know the feeling. The movie’s over, but it’s still all that you can think about. The drama or comedy you just witnessed on screen still seems real and relevant. You step out of the theater and walk down a long hallway to the lobby with an almost heavy heart, unwilling to admit that it was all just make-believe.

For the duration of that walk, you overhear the conversations: “I thought that was wonderful.” “It sucked.” “What did you think of Denzel?”

Then the crowd files en masse into the outdoors, the conversations stop, and you return abruptly to reality.

It doesn’t have to be that way at the Arlington Cinema ’n’ Drafthouse, which recently added a new bar and restaurant, the Old Arlington Grill, to the premises. With eight beers on draft, popcorn to snack on, and a full dinner menu, this small, slightly gritty bar is a fine spot for moviegoers who aren’t quite willing to let the magic of the silver screen dissipate into the night air.

Those who attended Saturday night’s X event at Be Bar represented what X—a local multimedia arts series—is all about: diversity of expression in the arts. The crowd at the dimly lit Shaw-area bar came not just for the strong drinks but to see the work of guest artists and mingle with others who share their thirst for the inventive.

The night celebrated the one-year anniversary of the series, explained Graham Jackson, creative marketing director for X events. Graham works with cofounders David Fogel and David Gutierrez to put on the spectacle on once a month at Be Bar.

“It’s a totally unique experience,” he said. “The point is for people—the audience and artists—to express their creative passions.”

On the wall opposite the bar, a projection screen displayed the work of three DC graphic designers chosen by Jackson. The images changed as they worked on their projects live, sitting among the crowd with their laptops.

Tattoo bar's Tramp Stamp.

The spot: Tattoo Bar, 1413 K St., NW; 202-408-9444

The drink: The Tramp Stamp, a blend of Captain Morgan, amaretto, cranberry juice, and sour, served up.

The price: $12; $8 during happy hour (Wednesday through Friday 5:30 to 9)

First impression: The Captain brings an aromatic kick to this rum cosmo that’s strong enough for a man, chic enough for a woman. The first sip introduces you to each of the flavors; the nuttiness of amaretto sits nicely against the cranberry. The spiced rum, which we expected to overpower the drink, is generously poured without being obnoxious. The result is a surprisingly simple and drinkable cranberry cocktail with an original flavor.
 

Thursday, February 14: Hmm, what is today again? We seem to have forgotten. . . Oh, right—it’s Valentine’s Day! Whether you’re looking for sappy romance or the ultimate anti-Valentine’s Day evening, we’ve got a guide to what you need for a good time. From luxury-hotel getaways to bar parties to romantic restaurants, it’s all here. Read on for the scoop that’ll make your Valentine’s Day as good—or as bad—as you want it to be.

National Geographic Live! hosts screenings of all Oscar-nominated foreign-language films at the National Geographic Society today through Sunday. This year’s nominees are all pretty political and include the Israeli film Beaufort, about the withdrawal of troops from the Beaufort Castle area in 2000. Austria’s The Counterfeiters and Poland’s Katyn address World War II from slightly different perspectives: The former takes an inside look at Nazism through the eyes of a reluctant participant; the latter tells the story of a family torn apart by the presence of Soviet troops in Poland. Mongol, Kazakhstan’s entry, is the story of Genghis Khan. A free reception, an hour before showtime, precedes each film. Get price and time details here. For more Oscar screenings and events, click here.

Friday, February 15: This weekend is the last before the High School Musical theatrical production skedaddles out of town. Read our review to see if it’s up your alley.

When Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to perform at the Kennedy Center on the eve of its 50th anniversary, one of the 30 dancers in the company will know a large chunk of the audience.

Columbia native Alicia Graf says she can’t count the number of family and friends who will come to watch her dance with the company February 19 through 24. She also can’t guess at the number of times she’s visited the Kennedy Center in her lifetime, although she says she’s performed there six or seven times. This is Graf’s third time performing back home with Alvin Ailey.

“Performing in DC is always really special because it is my hometown,” says Graf. “I think it has one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world. When I was younger, I saw Alvin Ailey perform at the Kennedy Center.”