Monday, December 8:
The Library of Congress’s Frank Zappa mini-festival continues tonight with a screening of 200 Motels. Directed in 1971 by Tony Palmer, Charles Swenson, and Zappa, the film captures life on the road with Zappa’s band, the Mothers of Invention, and its performances with the Royal Symphony Orchestra. Theodore Bikel and Ringo Starr make guest appearances. Showtime is at 7 in the James Madison building’s Mary Pickford Theater. Call 202-707-5677 between 9 and 5 to reserve a seat for this free event.
Tuesday, December 9:
The Sackler and Freer Galleries present “Performance Five Directions: A Korean and American Jazz Excursion” tonight at 7:30 in the Meyer Auditorium. Three New York musicians, Ned Rothenberg (clarinet, shakuhachi), Erik Friedlander (cello), and Satoshi Takeishi (percussion), will be joined by three Korean musicians, Yoon Jeong Heo (geomungo/zither), Kwon Soon Kang (vocal), and Young Chi Min (flute, chang-go), in the collaboration. Call 202-397-7328 to reserve tickets or show up at the auditorium door one hour before the performance to claim tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Wednesday, December 10:
Predoctoral fellow Holly Markovitz will lecture and lead a tour of Frank Gohlke’s photographs tonight at 6 in the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The exhibition, Accommodating Nature: The Photographs of Frank Gohlke, will be on display through March 3, 2009. Guests should meet in the Reynolds Center’s F Street lobby.
Thursday, December 11:
Humorist and author Calvin Trillin offers his perspective on the 2008 presidential race at the Wesley United Methodist Church (5312 Connecticut Ave., NW) at 7. Trillin’s book, Deciding The Next Decider: The 2008 Presidential Race in Rhyme, will be on sale at the church for $13.
Friday, December 12:
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, winner of the 2007 Japanese Academy Award for best animation, screens at 6:30 at the Japanese Cultural Center (1155 21 St., NW). Based on a 1965 novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui, the film is about a high school girl who obtains the ability to leap back through time. Call 202-238-6949 for more information.
Saturday, December 13:
Actor Clayton LeBouef of Homicide: Life on the Street and HBO’s The Wire will read selections from his book, Maddening Behaviors: Some I Hear, Some I See, in the African Art Museum’s lecture hall. The reading starts at 2 and will be followed by a book signing.
Sunday, December 14:
The Museum of the American Indian’s spotlight series on native athletes continues with retired hockey player and coach Ted Nolan. Nolan, who was the NHL’s coach of the year in the 1996-97 season, will discuss his sports career with USA Today sportswriter Eric Brady. The event will be held in the museum’s Rasmuson Theater.
