D.C.-area nightlife, events and dining

Patent models from 1908 to 1926 from the U.S. Patent Office on display.

To mark the release of "The Washington Post Cookbook: Readers' Favorite Recipes," Daniel Zwerdling of NPR moderates a discussion with former Post food critic and Food editor Phyllis Richman; deputy Food editor Bonnie Benwick; Food editor Joe Yonan; food critic Tom Sietsema; and staff writer Tim Carman. A book-signing and mini "Taste of Barracks Row" follows. Post wine writer Dave McIntyre conducts an informal wine tasting. Books will be available for sale.

When the leaders of the legendary alt-country band Uncle Tupelo broke up in 1994, Jeff Tweedy founded Wilco and Jay Farrar started Son Volt. Wilco has enjoyed a higher profile, though Tweedy largely abandoned his country leanings to pursue a prog-rock approach. Son Volt has hewed more closely to Uncle Tupelo's hillbilly roots, never more so than on its aptly titled new album, "Honky Tonk." With the pedal steel and fiddle brought up in the mix behind him, Farrar takes advantage of his forlorn, nasal drawl to sing 11 new songs persuasively written in the style of such country and western performers as Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Hank Thompson.

A royal ball experience for preschoolers and parents. Best for ages 2-5.

The piece by FABUM (For a Better Understanding of Mankind) invites the audience to explore the mind of a bride.

At the Kogod Courtyard.

Funk. Part of the downtown Bethesda summer concert series

In the Grey Seal Puppets production, the infamous pirate Blackbeard commandeers a bathtub as his new ship. When a plumber stumbles upon the scene and encourages a captive to take back the tub, a war in the bathroom is waged. Best for ages 4 to 8. At the Puppet Co. Playhouse.

DJ Neville C. gets the whole Saint-Ex basement moving with samba and bossa nova beats. The drink specials probably help a little bit, too.

Potomac isn't exactly teeming with inspiration for country music singers. It took a move from the nation's capital to Nashville, the country capital, for Potomac native Maggie Rose's career to ignite. With her debut album, "Cut to Impress," out now, the sassy singer's star is rising.

A rock and roll band formed in 1966 and inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2011.

The ensemble performs works by Barber, Bloch and Brahms. Part of the June Chamber Festival.

A live demonstration that will show guests how to blow glass in the Venetian style. Presented with Montpelier Arts Center.

Featuring summer wines.

At the West Building Garden Court.

Performers take suggestions from the audience to create wacky scenes and funny improv games.

The Canadian foursome perform classical and operatic vocals along with pop ballads. At the Filene Center.

Focus Music in Mount Vernon presents the folk/Celtic duo, Joe Scott on his custom-made double neck guitjo (a 14-string banjo/guitar hybrid) and Hannah Alkire on cello.

Outdoor bicycle-themed activities include lessons on safe riding, gear demonstrations and giveaways. Kids can also earn discount museum admission.

The In Series presents a pocket opera double bill. Stravinsky's "L'Histoire du Soldat" is a Russian folk tale about a soldier who trades his fiddle to the devil for a book that predicts the future and will make him rich. Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" is an Italian comic opera about a large family in 1960s South Philadelphia fighting over who will inherit their deceased relative's cheese-steak shops.

Debra Mims presents Caribbean-influenced stories.

Asher Fisch leads the orchestra in Mahler's Symphony No. 6 in A mionor and performs as a soloist in Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major. At the Dekelboum Concert Hall.

Orchestra instruments give voice to Prokofiev's musical. At the Family Theater.

The museums provides everything visitors need -- including materials and instruction -- to build a kite.

Tour and tasting at Port City Brewing Company, with dishes from Park Hyatt Washington and Blue Duck Tavern executive chef Sebastien Archambault.

At the Filene Center.

The exhibit "Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship" provides the inspiration for a day of reenactments, crafts and demonstrations.

Bring picnic snacks and blankets or lawn chairs for an outdoor band concert. At the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

The ensemble, led by music director J. Reilly Lewis and organist Todd Fickley, performs Mozart's Requiem. Singers of every ability are welcome to sing along.

Cassel performs folk and bluegrass music for children.

At the Lisner Auditorium.

The ensemble performs works by Leshnoff and others. At the West Building Garden Court.

At the Concert Hall.

At the Filene Center.

In this family-friendly performance, members of the orchestra performs Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf.". At the Dekelboum Concert Hall.

Works by the Bethesda painter and founder of Yellow Barn. At the Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery.

It has been more than 50 years since the Rolling Stones first blazed across the stage at London's Marquee Jazz Club, but Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Charlie Watts are on a mission to prove that time is still on their side. Ticket prices for this nostalgia-fueled "50 and Counting" show at Verizon Center, however, might leave you wondering whether the Stones are simply padding their retirement accounts: Some seats run as high as $600.

One of the most crowded, grueling and amusing trivia nights in Washington.

Trust DJ Jahsonic for your weekly dose of classic hip-hop, funk, soul, R&B and new jack swing.

Every Monday night, Sticky Rice offers half-price sushi.

Free admission. Free salsa lessons. Free drinks for women between 9 and 11. Really, you can't lose.

Sculptures and installations by the artist.

On Mondays only, Chevy Chase neighborhood favorite Blue 44 offers a tantalizing fried chicken dinner.

Already tired of chicken and donuts? Mike Isabella and co. roll out a Mexican-inspired brunch menu that features an alternative: chicken and churros.

Show up between 5:30 and 7 p.m. to get 50 percent off all wines by the glass. Just as the specials end, the show begins.

McCory brings his one-man band to Rockville to play familiar and original children's songs.

Children can bring their dolls to this tea.

Terrance Simien and his band of "The Princess & The Frog" fame, introduces children to zydeco music. At the Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods.

Sculptures and installations by the artist.