Things to Do

Culture Vulture

A compilation of interesting—and, most important, free—lectures, cultural events, and more throughout the week.

Monday, February 2
Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore was superb in a Friday-night victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Stop by ESPN Zone tonight at 7 to congratulate Theodore, and get an autograph during a question-and-answer session emceed by Caps broadcaster Steve Kolbe. Prizes will also be raffled off.

UPDATE: The Washington Capitals event is actually Monday, February 9. Our apologies for the error.

Tuesday, February 3
Matt Miller, host of KCRW radio’s Left, Right & Center and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, will read from his new book, The Tyranny of Dead Ideas: Letting Go of the Old Ways of Thinking to Unleash a New Prosperity, at Politics & Prose at 7.

Wednesday, February 4
The Corcoran’s Wednesday jazz series continues with a performance by guitarist Phil McCusker. The concert begins at 12:30 in the Corcoran’s Frances and Armand Hammer Auditorium.

Thursday, February 5
The National Portrait Gallery’s Cultures in Motion Performance series presents A Portrait of Porgy at 7. This musical narrative is based on the life of baritone Todd Duncan, who created the role Porgy in George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. For reservations for this free event, call 202-633-8520.

Friday, February 6
The National Museum of African Art’s Meet the Artist series brings Aime Mpane and Antonio Ole in to discuss their work and site-specific installations in the “Artists in Dialogue” exhibition. The gallery talk begins at 6:30.

Saturday, February 7
Iraqi-American jazz artist Amir ElSaffar will perform with his cross-cultural quintet at 7:30 at the Sackler and Freer Galleries’ Meyer Auditorium. The quintet will play ElSaffar’s Two Rivers, an original work inspired by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the composer’s Iraqi and American heritage, and the common ground between American jazz and Iraqi classical music. ElSaffar plays the trumpet and santur with Rudresh Mahanthappa on saxophone, Nasheet Waits on drums, Carlo DeRosa on bass, and Zaafir Tawil on oud, violin, and dumbek. Tickets will be available at the auditorium door one hour before the event begins.

Sunday, February 8
The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Steinway series presents a performance by the Left Bank Concert Society at 3. The group includes David Salness and Sally McLain (violins), Katherine Murdock (viola), and Evelyn Elsing (cello), accompanied by Chris Gekker (trumpet) and Santiago Rodriguez (piano). Tickets are distributed beginning at 2 in the museum’s G Street lobby.

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