Friday, March 13
THEATER: Picture this: You’re a low-profile spinster running your very own café, when evil oil prospectors show up and try to swindle you out of your business. Why? They’re convinced oil lurks below ground. The Mad: A Fracking Fairytale at the DC Arts Center is a yarn of coffee, spinsters, and, yes, hydraulic fracturing. 7:30 PM, $20.
THEATER: Max Major guarantees three things at his THINK Again! show: mind reading, hypnosis, and magic. The performer, who calls himself “Real Life Sherlock Holmes,” promises a night of “spellbinding bewilderment” at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. 8 PM, $32 to $79
DANCE: Always wanted to tango? Now’s your chance. Check out this event at the Kennedy Center, which includes a free dance class and a performance exploring the connections between Argentine tango and Portugese fado. 5 PM, free.
Saturday, March 14
MUSIC: Cristina Pato is a glass-ceiling-cracking bagpiper, who will be performing at a downtown synagogue. Check out the first female Galician bagpiper to ever release a solo album at Sixth & I at 8 PM. $25.
HISTORY: If you want to learn more about President Abraham Lincoln’s time in office, visit the Decatur House for a peek inside the 1860s White House. The exhibit, which debuts this weekend, includes family-friendly activities like a scavenger hunt. 10 AM to 4 PM, free.
MUSIC: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad combines two sounds: old-time Appalachia folk instrumentation with the reggae beats of 1970s Jamaica. Get to dancing at this unique show at the Hamilton. 8:30 PM, $17 to $23.
COMEDY: It’s time for the ninth rendition of the Fighting Improv Smackdown Tournament (FIST), hosted by the Washington Improv Theater. Starting this weekend, DC’s best improvisers will embark on a month-long battle for the title of FIST champion. Audience members get to vote for their favorite teams. Shows from 4 PM on, tickets starting at $12.
Sunday, March 15
MUSIC: Even if you don’t know them by name, you’ve probably already heard of Milo Greene. In the last few years, the Los Angeles band has made waves at Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo for their upbeat tunes, including their biggest hit, “1957”. Enjoy a show featuring songs from their latest album at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Northeast. 7 PM, $16.
DANCE: The Task of Doing features Helen Simoneau Danse from New York City in an exploration of the roles people take in relationships. The modern dance act includes a new solo performance by the choreographer herself–Helen Simoneau. 7 PM, $30.
