Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

We give you our picks for an abbreviated Where & When Weekly; hope you're enjoy the shortened work week as much as we are!

Tuesday, Feb. 20: If you’re doing anything besides celebrating with bourbon and strands beads, you must not be aware that it’s Mardi Gras. There are several parties tonight in honor of Fat Tuesday. In Clarendon there’s the annual Clarendon Mardi Gras Parade featuring floats from local merchants and organizations, live music, and lots of beads. The fun starts at 8 pm at the intersection of Veitch Street and Wilson Boulevard. The after party usually continues at several bars in the area.

For a different, grittier vibe, head over to the Red and Black in Northeast DC (1212 H St., NE). Featured tonight are the hot jazz sounds of the Le Bon Temps Krewe, and there will be several drink specials as well. And beads galore! $8 for the cover; things get started at 10 pm.

Wednesday, Feb. 21: Atlanta indie group Snowden has been tearing up the scene lately, making itself heard up and down the East Coast. I caught the group in Atlanta this summer and can testify to its atmospheric, energetic show—these guys have a huge britpop sound that they manage to make their own; when they perform live, the soundscape is amazing. I've recently been digging their song (and video for) "Anti-Anti." Tonight they're at the Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H St. NE) with Montreal rockers Malajube. $12. 9 pm.

Thursday, Feb. 22: Several local plays are ending their run on Friday; why not catch them right before they head out of town? The Passion of the Crawford (at the Studio Theatre), Orson's Shadow (at the Round House Theatre), and Into the Woods (at the Signature Theatre) will all be finishing up this weekend; you can read our reviews of those shows over in our Theater Reviews section.