Violinist Leila Josefowicz performs at the Kennedy Center Thursday. Photograph by J. Henry Fair.

Thursday, January 12

FILM: The Alliance Française of Washington will host of screening of L’Illusionniste (The Illusionist) at Letelier Theatre. The film won Best Animated Feature at the 2011 César Awards and the Best Animated Film at the 2010 New York Film Critics Circle. The movie will be shown in French with English subtitles. Tickets ($9) can be reserved through the event’s Web site. 7 PM.

MUSIC: Jammin Java’s Mid-Atlantic Band Battle returns with more than 25 bands. Tonight’s performers include Classified Frequency, Adam in America, Shoot the Radio, Buster Brown and the Get Down, the Greater the Risk, Madrone, and TheRuinCity. Tickets ($10) can be purchased through the club’s Web site. 7:30 PM.

Violinist Leila Josefowicz joins the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. Josefowicz, who made her Carnegie Hall debut at 17, will perform Mackey’s Beautiful Passing. Tickets ($20 to $85) can be purchased through the KenCen’s Web site. 7 PM. The show runs through January 14.

HAPPY HOUR: Brightest Young Things and the Kennedy Center are gearing up for the upcoming production of La Cage aux Folles with a free happy hour at Lost Society. Enjoy drink specials, ticket giveaways, a “kissing photo booth,” music by DJ Cale, and more. Guests must RSVP through Eventbrite. 6 PM to 9 PM.

KID-FRIENDLY: Young adult author Christopher Paul Curtis will sign copies of his new novel, The Mighty Miss Malone, at Politics and Prose. Curtis won a Newbery Award for The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963. Free. 10:30 AM.

Pulitzer Prize nominee Donna Britt. Photograph courtesy of the author’s Web site.

Wednesday, January 11

MUSIC: Bassist and producer Antone “Chooky” Caldwell is performing at Blues Alley tonight. The Grammy nominee has provided musical support for Mariah Carey,will.i.am, Snoop Dogg, and the Pussycat Dolls, to name a few. Tickets ($20) can be purchased through the club’s Web site. 8 and 10 PM. 

BEER: Old Town’s RedRocks Pizza is whipping up a seven-course Allagash beer dinner. The spread features a charcuterie plate, wood-roasted sea scallop salad, wood-fired eggplant Parmesan, gulf shrimp, lamb meatballs, a cheese pairing, and panna cotta. Each course will be paired with an Allagash brew. Tickets ($50) can be reserved by calling 703-717-9873. 6:30 to 9:30 PM. 

BOOKS: Former Washington Post columnist Donna Britt will sign copies of her new memoir, Brothers (and Me), at Politics and Prose. The journalist was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1990. Free. 7 PM. 

Strategist and president of Genuine Insights Gina Rudan will discuss her new self-help book, Practical Genius, at the Downtown Barnes and Noble. A signing will follow. Free. 6:30 PM.

COMEDY: Funnyman Todd Rexx brings his standup routine to the Riot Act. The Maryland native has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, HBO’s Def Comedy Jam All-Stars, VH1’s Baggin’, and more. Tickets ($15) can be purchased through the club’s Web site. 8:30 PM.

The Ghost Train Orchestra is performing at the Kennedy Center tonight. Photograph courtesy of the Kennedy Center

Wednesday, November 16
WINE: Black’s Bar and Kitchen is whipping up a six-course wine dinner. Prepared by Chef Quanta Robinson, the seasonal spread will include Maine lobster terrine, house-cured speck salad, pan-roasted char, crispy veal sweetbreads, slow-braised pork, and local cheeses. Each course will be paired with a different wine from Silver Oak Cellars and Twomey Cellars. Tickets ($195) can be purchased by calling 301-652-5525. Proceeds will benefit the Washington Nationals Diabetes Care Complex at the Children’s National Medical Center. 6:30 PM.

MUSIC: Bad boy Kid Rock is dropping by the Fillmore tonight. The Grammy Award–winning rocker has brought us hits including “Cowboy,” “All Summer Long,” and “Picture.” Tickets ($49.50) can be purchased through Live Nation. Doors open at 7 PM; the show starts at 8:30.

If you’re looking for a more subdued concert experience, the Ghost Train Orchestra is giving a free performance at the Kennedy Center. The ensemble will play music from their latest album, Hothouse Stomp, which features the sounds of 1920s Chicago and Harlem. Best of all, a temporary dance floor will be installed so you can groove along to the toe-tapping beats. 6 PM.

PARTY: BYT’s infamous Beaujolais Nouveau party may be sold out, but you can still get your French wine fix at Bistrot du Coin. According to a 1985 French law, this particular type of red wine can’t be distributed until the third week in November. So once the clock hits midnight, guests can enjoy free drinks, as well as music and dancing. The festivities start at 11:30 PM. Cheers!

This photograph by Cade Martin, who shot the Summer/Fall 2011 cover for Washingtonian Bride & Groom, won first place in FotoWeek DC's "commercial" category.

Thursday, November 3

HAPPY HOUR: You’ve heard of happy hour, but what about Handi Hour? Stop by the Renwick Gallery for an evening of drinks and crafts. Channel your inner Martha Stewart, sip craft beers from ChurchKey, and enjoy live music by Brad Pugh. Plus, there will be a scavenger hunt through the gallery’s permanent collection. Tickets ($15) include two drink vouchers; additional drinks can be purchased for $5. 5:30 PM. 21 and up.

MUSIC: Don’t miss opening night of pianist Peter Serkin’s concert with the NSO at the Kennedy Center. The Grammy Award–winning artist has been called “utterly modern and thoroughly engrossing to hear” by the Washington Post. Conducted by Oliver Knussen, the program will feature works by Stravinsky and Messiaen. Tickets ($20 to $85) can be purchased through the KenCen’s Web site. 7 PM. The show runs through November 5.

ART: Phillips After 5, a popular after-hours event at the Phillips Collection, is back with jazz performances, modern art, magic demonstrations, and more. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Tickets ($10 for students, $12 for adults, free for members) can be reserved through the gallery’s Web site. 5 to 8:30 PM.

Jay-Z (pictured here) and Kanye West are bringing their Watch The Throne album tour to the Verizon Center Thursday night. Photograph courtesy of Jay-Z's Facbeook page

Monday, October 31
HALLOWEEN: There’s something for everyone at Dogfish Head Alehouse’s Halloween party. Little goblins can trick-or-treat from 4 to 6 PM, then mummies and dads can head back at 7 for Punkin Pint Night. You’ll get a complimentary pint glass to take home, and rock band Fight the Lion will provide live entertainment. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our Halloween Events Guide, filled with spooky bar specials, parties, haunted forests, family-friendly fun, and more.

Tuesday, November 1
FILM: Don a fedora and relive the 1940s during the AFI’s Film Noir Festival. Tonight’s screenings include The Dark Mirror at 5 PM, Beware, My Lovely at 7, and My Name is Julia Ross at 8:45. Tickets ($8.50 matinee, $11 general admission) can be purchased through the AFI’s Web site. The festival ends tomorrow.

Wednesday, November 2
BENEFIT: Take a stand against domestic violence during the Walk This Way charity fashion show at Andrew Mellon Auditorium. Catch a fashion show featuring local celebrities—including Redskins players DeAngelo Hall and Brian Orakpo, Capitals players Karl Alzner, Nick Backstrom, and John Carlson, and former New York Jets player John Booty. Proceeds will benefit Becky’s Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to the elimination of domestic abuse. Cocktail attire is suggested. Tickets ($125) include access to an open bar and can be purchased through the event’s Web site. 6:30 to 10 PM.

New York City’s Ballet Hispanico is making its Strathmore debut Friday night. Photograph courtesy of the Strathmore

Thursday, October 27

BEER: Halloween is right around the corner, which means it’s time to break out the pumpkin-infused brews. During tonight’s Halloween and Pumpkin celebration, Bier Baron (1523 22nd St., NW) will serve eight pumpkin beers—including the nearly sold-out Southern Tier Pumpking, Dogfish Head’s Punkin, and Schlafly’s Pumpkin. Tickets ($25 online, $30 at the door) include one pumpkin, decorating supplies, and eight beer tasters. Plus, there will be prizes for the best pumpkin and costume. 7:30 PM. And if you haven't already, be sure to check out our Halloween Event Guide.

MUSIC: Tickets are still available for the Strathmore’s tART Cocktail Party. Guests can groove to live jazz performances, sample hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails from an open bar, participate in live and silent auctions, snap a few glamour shots in a funky photo booth, and more. Cocktail attire is recommended. Tickets ($100) can be purchased through the Strathmore’s Web site. 6:30 PM.

FUNDRAISER: Fido can model his All Hallow’s Eve finest during Jackson 20’s annual Howl-o-ween Costume Party. Dogs and their owners are encouraged to wear costumes for a chance to win prizes—including overnight packages at a Kimpton hotel. Complimentary dog treats and fresh water dishes will be on hand, and Halloween-themed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be available for purchase. Tickets ($10) can be purchased at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Registration is 4:30 to 5:30 PM; the contest starts at 6.

Tickets are still available for Moby's performance at the Fillmore. Photograph courtesy of the artist's Web site

Wednesday, October 26
MUSIC: Electronica deejay Moby is dropping by the Fillmore tonight. Often referred to as the king of techno, the artist has sold more than 20 million records worldwide. You can listen to some of his tracks here. Tickets ($38) can be purchased through Live Nation. 7 PM.

PUMPKIN CARVING: Hotel Helix’s annual pumpkin carving contest is back with spooktacular drink specials and prizes. The competition doesn’t start until 6 PM, but you’ll want to show up early to snag one of 30 prescooped pumpkins. Participants will have two hours to carve their masterpiece, at which point the winners will be announced. Onlookers can sample a variety of seasonal cocktails and snacks—including $7 pumpkin martinis, $6 cosmopolitans, $3 Yuengling drafts, $2 PBRs, and half-price burgers.

DANCE: China’s first contemporary dance company, the Beijing Dance Theater, is making its Kennedy Center debut with Haze. Founded in 2008 by Wang Yuanyuan, the troupe tests the “very limits of the country’s strait-laced attitudes,” according to the Telegraph. Tickets ($22 to $60) can be purchased through the KenCen’s Web site. 8 PM.