Where & When: What to Do This Weekend

This long weekend, pay tribute to pop culture, hear a new take on opera, or eat cake at a museum

By: Laura McKenzie

Thursday, January 13
Have a night the Dude would abide at Arlington Cinema ’N’ Drafthouse’s “Dude-fest.” The feature presentation of The Big Lebowski is at 9, but get there early for music, trivia, and bowling. Come in costume and get a free pass for your next visit. Purchase tickets ($12) on the drafthouse Web site or at the door.

See “Global Africa: Nick Cave” at the National Museum of the American Indian. The artist has created “soundsuits” made from found objects such as fabric, feathers, beads, and more to create costumes referencing the dress of West African masquerades. The artist is discussing his most recent creations from 7 to 9. Free; first come, first served.

“Off the Wall” at the Washington DC Jewish Community Center aims to showcase a mix of contemporary, local, and Jewish artists. The first installment features Mike Schreiber, a photographer who’s discussing his latest book, True Hip-Hop, which captures a variety of cultural perspectives. 7:30. Get tickets ($5) through the JCC site or at the door.

Friday, January 14
The famous tale of the storyteller Scheherazade comes to life in Arena Stage’s The Arabian Nights. The production, written and directed by Mary Zimmerman, runs through February 20. Buy tickets ($40 and up) on the Arena Stage Web site.

Kick off your weekend with a concert. Rappers Das Racist are playing at the Rock & Roll Hotel at 9:30, and tickets ($12) can be purchased at Ticket Alternative. Also on stage tonight are the local indie-rockers the State Department at the Black Cat at 9. Order tickets ($10) at Ticket Alternative.

Urban Arias produces short (between five and 15 minutes) contemporary operas. The company wants the art form to be fun, accessible, and give emerging composers a chance to shine. There are shows at 7 and 9 at Artisphere. Buy tickets ($15) via the Artisphere site.

The 9:30 Club Backbar is hosting District After Dark: Guns vs. Snowballs, a dance party featuring Lucas Smudge, D$auce, and DJ Macaulay. 11 PM; no cover.

Saturday, January 15
The DC Arts Center is hosting RagnaRock, bringing together a random mix of comedy, music, and theater. Veteran Washington comedians will perform, along with the local band City Limits and a production of “Thor! The Musical.” 10 PM. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Twenty local artists created a series of five monoprints, and one print by each was selected for display in the exhibit “In Unison: 20 Washington, DC Artists” at the Kreeger Museum. It’s part of a collaboration with Sam Gilliam, a member of the Washington Color School. Admission to the museum is $10; Saturdays don’t require reservations.

In celebration of its 90th anniversary, the Phillips Collection is free admission all weekend. There’ll be art-inspired birthday cakes, free Champagne, tours of the collection, and film screenings from 10 to 5 today and 11 to 6 on Sunday.

Pay tribute to the Boss at the State Theatre. Matt Ryan and the American Dream aren’t Springsteen and the E Street Band, but as cover groups go, they’re tops. 7 PM. Buy tickets ($18) at the State Theatre site.

Sunday, January 16
Tomorrow is a day off—why not celebrate with a Sunday-night dance party? Head to U Street Music Hall for Funk 4 the Dream, featuring legendary DJ Afrika Bambaataa and his hip-hop, electro-funk beats. 9 PM to 3 AM; tickets ($10) are available at TicketFly.

It’s the last day to catch “Books Without Words: The Visual Poetry of Elisabetta Gut” at the National Museum for Women in the Arts. The contemporary Italian artist creates expressive three-dimensional “collage-poems” and “book-objects.” Admission is $10.

The Kennedy Center’s South Pacific is also ending its run. The last batch of tickets ($39 to $150) for the classic musical are available at the Kennedy Center’s Web site.

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