Can't Miss

1 DAM!Fest

[concerts] Lots of people complain about the D.C. music scene. Eric Boucher, the man behind local music blog http://www.bigyawn.net/ , decided to do something about it. In an effort to both broaden the community and showcase the talent here, he organized the District's Awake! Music Festival. Acts including Longwave, Travis Morrison, Cloud Cult, Dirty on Purpose, Bishop Allen, Early Day Miners, Decibully and Sharkey will perform at four venues: DC9, the Velvet Lounge, the Rock & Roll Hotel and the Red & the Black.

Thursday-Saturday. $8-$15.

For a complete schedule, see

http://www.damfestival.org/ .

2 Cirque du Soleil

[on stage] The Cirque is hardly news anymore; its bright costumes, fantastic sets and acrobatic acts of derring-do have become a big-top staple. And with huge tents going up in the parking lot of the old D.C. convention center, it's not exactly like the group is sneaking into town. But Cirque du Soleil's high-flying, family-friendly fun is always worth recommending. This time around, the French-Canadian troupe presents "Corteo," a clown's reimagining of his life in the context of an Italian street festival.

Opens Thursday. Through Nov. 26. 11th Street and New York Avenue NW. $40-$75, seniors $36-$67.50, children $28-$52.50. 800-678-5440.

3 Fashion Fights Poverty

[miscellaneous] Designers and manufacturers including Maria Luisa Ortiz, Bébénoir, Edun, Loomstate and Deborah Lindquist gather to show their recent designs in a fashion showcase that benefits BeadforLife, a poverty eradication project in Uganda. The night's festivities include a silent auction of gifts from designers, hotels, restaurants and salons, a runway show and an after-party at Kstreet Lounge. One of the District's biggest fashion events of the year, it also will help a truly worthy cause.

Friday at 6 p.m. The Carnegie Library, 801 K St. NW. $110-$215. 202-625-4332.

4 Lady Sovereign