D.C.-area nightlife, events and dining

As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. A well-meaning couple in Gina Gionfriddo's witty Pulitzer finalist play learns that the hard way after setting up a straight-talking friend and a seemingly vulnerable co-worker. Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, who wowed in Studio Theatre's "Contractions," and Will Gartshore star in the area premiere of the off-Broadway hit.

At the Kogod Courtyard.

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.

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.

On the third Thursday of the month, a local brewer pours beers at the Heurich House, known as the Brewmaster's Castle, while docents offer tours of the museum and gardens.

Interns flock to this legendary night of drinking for $2 bottles of beer and a free taco bar.

A suspicious actor disguises himself and tries to seduce his wife in this dark comedy. At the Eisenhower Theater.

As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. A well-meaning couple in Gina Gionfriddo's witty Pulitzer finalist play learns that the hard way after setting up a straight-talking friend and a seemingly vulnerable co-worker. Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, who wowed in Studio Theatre's "Contractions," and Will Gartshore star in the area premiere of the off-Broadway hit.

Featuring summer wines.

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.

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

Krzysztof Urbanski conducts the orchestra, which is joined by pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, in a performance of Grieg's Suite No. 1 from Peer Gynt, MacMillan's Piano Concerto No. 3, Saint-Saens's Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major and Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra. At the Concert Hall.

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.

A night for fans of classic '80s and '90s indie-pop turns five with help from numerous guest DJs.

Sculptures and installations by the artist.

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.

A suspicious actor disguises himself and tries to seduce his wife in this dark comedy. At the Eisenhower Theater.

As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. A well-meaning couple in Gina Gionfriddo's witty Pulitzer finalist play learns that the hard way after setting up a straight-talking friend and a seemingly vulnerable co-worker. Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, who wowed in Studio Theatre's "Contractions," and Will Gartshore star in the area premiere of the off-Broadway hit.

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

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.

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.

Andrew Karnavas performs folksy songs including ones about a friendly platypus and a helpful salamander.

Debra Mims presents Caribbean-influenced stories.

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

As the saying goes, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. A well-meaning couple in Gina Gionfriddo's witty Pulitzer finalist play learns that the hard way after setting up a straight-talking friend and a seemingly vulnerable co-worker. Alyssa Wilmoth Keegan, who wowed in Studio Theatre's "Contractions," and Will Gartshore star in the area premiere of the off-Broadway hit.

At the Filene Center.

At the Lisner Auditorium.

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

At the Concert Hall.

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.

DiMuro leads a group of dancers and choreographers through dances created to the preludes of Rachmaninoff in "Future Preludes, in genres including hip hop, hula, flamenco and Sri Lankan.

Thunderous Productions stages Agatha Christie's 1958 murder mystery.

Damascus Theatre Company gives the 1982 movie about a comedy writer and an often-drunk actor a turn on the stage.

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.

Group exhibition that explores the effect speed and pressure have on contemporary drawing. Features works by Joe Giordano, Brandon Morse, Renee van der Stelt, Elzbieta Sikorska, Barry Nemett and more. Opening reception will be held on Friday, May 31 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The second reception will be held on Friday, June 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sculptures and installations by the artist.

A bienniel exhibition juried by Margaret Heiner of Heiner Contemporary. Reception and gallery talk June 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. At the McLean Community Center.

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

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

For those who live a bit closer to Maryland, the Tuesday night jam sessions at Takoma Station Tavern are your answer for weeknight jazz. The historic music venue has hosted the weekly sessions since October 2010, with a rotating roster of musicians led by bass player Raymond Magic and emceed by Takoma Station's own Lydia Williams.

A solid night of retro hits.

Think the music played at most clubs is too predictable? Good Life Tuesdays is shaking up the status quo, with crowds who go crazy when DJs mix dubstep, house, hip-hop and indie into the same set.

On Tuesday night, Breadsoda converts two of its pool tables to ping-pong tables and offers baskets of tacos for $6.

Group exhibition that explores the effect speed and pressure have on contemporary drawing. Features works by Joe Giordano, Brandon Morse, Renee van der Stelt, Elzbieta Sikorska, Barry Nemett and more. Opening reception will be held on Friday, May 31 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The second reception will be held on Friday, June 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sculptures and installations by the artist.

The popular and long-running happy hour features all-you-can-eat snacks and water for dogs, and bar snacks and refreshing drinks for humans.

A bienniel exhibition juried by Margaret Heiner of Heiner Contemporary. Reception and gallery talk June 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. At the McLean Community Center.