Our Picks

Sunday, November 26, 2006

[CONCERTS}

NEW YORK DOLLS-- See Can't Miss, this page.

PEACHES AND HERMS-- Today, doors at 10 p.m. The sexually explicit electroclash diva takes the stage with her touring band the Herms, made up of J.D. Samson of Le Tigre, Radio Sloan of the Need and Samantha Maloney, who has performed with Shift, Motley and Hole. The Canadian performer is known for her high-energy shows and blue subject matter. With Quintron and Miss Pussycat. 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. $18. 202-265-0930.

SCOTT MILLER-- Monday at 8:30 p.m. The introspective, satiric, roots-rockin' singer-songwriter was born and raised in Swoope, Va., and his Appalachian roots are still reflected in his music. With Eric Brace. Iota Club & Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. $15. 703-522-8340.

FOURGOODMEN-- Tuesday at 8 p.m. Featuring members of Simple Minds, H2O and Big Country, Fourgoodmen have quite a rock-and-roll pedigree. The group has begun to work on new material, but don't despair: They still faithfully perform the big hits that defined their careers, such as "Don't You Forget About Me," "Waterfront," "Love Song," "Someone Somewhere in Summertime," "In a Big Country," "Fields of Fire," "Chance" and more. With the Soft Complex. Jammin' Java, 227 Maple Ave. E, Vienna. $15-$18. 703-255-1566.

BAMBU STATION-- Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The roots-reggae band's provocative, conscientious music has drawn comparisons to that of Bob Marley and the Wailers. Its new song, "Good Morning (How Are the Children?)," is based on a Tanzanian tradition that maintains that a society will thrive as long as its children are fine. Part of Strathmore's Artist in Residence program. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda. $10. 301-581-5100.

SHEMEKIA COPELAND-- Wednesday at 8 p.m. Renowned Texas bluesman Johnny Copeland brought daughter Shemekia onstage with him when she was only 8. Now she's making a name for herself as a blues belter in the style of Koko Taylor and Etta James. Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis. $29.50. 410-268-4545.

MICHAEL HENDERSON-- Thursday at 8 and 10 p.m. The R&B vocalist and bassist began his career as a session musician in the '60s before his own star rose in the late '70s with the hits "Take Me I'm Yours" and "Wide Receiver." Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW. $25. 202-337-4141.

EL VEZ-- Friday at 9 p.m. The East Los Angeles performer who bills himself as the "Mexican Elvis" brings his pop-culture-savvy show that mixes faux-Elvis glamour with pro-Latino grass-roots politics. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. $15. 202-667-7960.

KENIN-- Friday at 9 p.m. The oft-traveling band performs familiar-feeling, lighthearted, acoustic rock. With Sparky's Flaw and Mark Vedete. Iota Club & Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. $10. 703-522-8340.

RADIO 4-- Friday at 9:30 p.m. Crunchy, riff-heavy guitars and danceable grooves meet in the music of the post-punk band that recalls greats like Gang of Four and Mission of Burma. With Rubber Bullets and DJ Cassidy. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. $10-$12. 202-388-7625.

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[Exhibits]

THE ARLINGTON ARTISTS ALLIANCE WINTER ART FESTIVAL-- Friday, 6-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Dec. 3., noon-4 p.m. Works by 35 Alliance members in a three-day festival that features the historic Hendry House dressed up for the holidays and filled with artistic gifts for the home and office, for both big and small budgets. The artists will be present Friday to discuss their work. Fort C.F. Smith Park, 2411 N. 24th St., Arlington. Free. 703-894-0539.

EXPLORATIONS: FIGURE DRAWINGS BY PAT ROBERIE AND STAINED GLASS BY DENISE TARBELL-- Closes Friday. Roberie's nude figure drawings, which span several years, were created with charcoal, pastels and charcoal-acrylic mixed media. Tarbell kept patterns of light and shadow in mind, as well as color and texture, when crafting her stained-glass works. Artists' Gallery, American City Building, 10227 Wincopin Cir., Columbia. Free. 410-740-8249.

DAILY MAGIC IN ANCIENT EGYPT-- Opens Saturday. Through Nov. 18, 2007. Featuring 46 amulets, scarabs, figurines and ritual objects that convey the everyday belief in ritual magic that was thought to bring protection, health, luck and immortality. Walters Art Museum, 600 N. Charles St., Baltimore. Free. 410-547-9000.

JOSHUA LEVINE: THE TROPHY ROOM-- See Can't Miss, this page.

EUGENE HEALY-- Through Dec. 3. A solo exhibition of mixed-media works. Nevin Kelly Gallery, 1517 U St. NW. Free. 202-232-3464.

JACOB KAINEN: FIGURATIVE PAINTINGS, 1959-1965 & WORKS ON PAPER, 1950-1954-- Through Dec. 22. After breaking from nonrepresentational abstraction in 1958, Kainen focused on the paintings of the figure. Eight of his figurative paintings are shown along with several abstract works on paper that predate them. Hemphill Fine Arts, 1515 14th St. NW. Free. 202-234-5601.

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[Literature]

UNIVERSITY CLUB BOOK FAIR-- Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Tom Edsall, John W. Kropf and Thomas Mann are among the authors scheduled to appear. Benefits the University Club library. University Club, 1135 16th St. NW. Free. 202-862-8800.

ALLISON FINE-- Wednesday, 6:30-8 p.m. The author signs her new book, "Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age," which explores how people can use the social media tools of the digital age -- from e-mail to iPods to networking sites -- to cure hunger, homelessness and more. Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW. Free. 202-387-7638.

MATTHEW DIFFEE-- See Can't Miss, this page.

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[Miscellaneous]

SPRING/SUMMER FASHION PREVIEW/RECEPTION-- Thursday at 6:30 p.m. A preview of the 2007 spring/summer runway collections from the world's fashion capitals -- Milan, Paris, London and New York -- follows a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception. Marylou Luther, creative director of the Fashion Group International, editor of the International Fashion Syndicate and author of Clotheslines, an award-winning syndicated newspaper column, leads the discussion and describes how the looks translate from runway to reality. Co-sponsored with the Fashion Group International of Greater Washington. Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW. $35. For reservations, call 202-639-1770.

POTTERY-A-THON-- Saturday, 9 a.m.-midnight. Charities and community groups are allotted two-hour blocks of time for their supporters to paint ceramic pieces, with part of the proceeds donated to the designated groups. Pottery You Paint, 43330 Junction Plaza, Ashburn. Free. 703-726-8041.

SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS WALK-- Saturday at 10:30 a.m. More than 100 Scottish clans, pipe and drum bands, dancers, dignitaries and others march in the annual parade, part of a Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend that raises money for various local charities. Begins at the corner of Wilkes and South Pitt streets, ends at Wolfe and Saint Asaph streets, Alexandria. Free. 703-549-0111.

ADOPTION DAY 2-- Saturday, noon-2 p.m. The Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland hosts a beagle adoption and presents literature on adopting one. Silver Spring PetSmart, 12020 Cherry Hill Rd., Silver Spring. Free. 301-586-8262.

HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE OF LIGHTS WEEKEND-- Saturday, 3-8:30 p.m.; Dec. 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m. On Saturday in Alexandria, enjoy entertainment, food and a visit from Santa before a parade of brightly lit boats begins at 5:30 p.m. A second parade follows at 7:30 p.m. along the Washington Channel. Dec. 3 in Georgetown, the boat parade begins at 5:30 p.m. Donations for Toys for Tots welcome. Saturday: Alexandria Marina docks, behind the Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., Alexandria. Second parade at Water Street off Maine Avenue. Dec. 3: Washington Harbour, 3000 K St. NW. Free. 703-838-4565.

WINTER WONDERLAND-- Saturday, 7-10 p.m. Includes performances, tours, a holiday art show and holiday-themed workshops during which you can create gifts. Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Free. 301-634-2222.

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[Movies]

TOTAL DENIAL-- Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The documentary follows the human rights lawsuit brought by EarthRights International and villagers from Burma against oil company Unocal. Winner of this year's Vaclav Havel Human Rights Award. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.earthrights.org/pr/totaldenialdc.html. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. $10. 202-466-5188, Ext. 108.

10 ITEMS OR LESS-- The comedy stars Morgan Freeman as a movie star who befriends feisty cashier Scarlet (Paz Vega, "Spanglish") while researching a supermarket manager role at an ethnic market in the outskirts of Los Angeles. At Landmark's E Street Cinema.

CANDY-- Australian stage director Neil Armfield's feature debut is based on Luke Davies's prize-winning novel. Heath Ledger plays a charming young poet and heroin user who falls in love with Candy (Abbie Cornish), an art student who begins shooting up as well. FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA RETROSPECTIVE-- See Can't Miss, previous page.

F***-- Through interviews, animation and film and television clips, director Steve Anderson explores the expletive. Appearances by Pat Boone, Drew Carey, Billy Connolly, Sam Donaldson, Janeane Garofolo, Ice-T, Ron Jeremy, Bill Maher, Michael Medved, Alanis Morissette, Kevin Smith and the late Hunter S. Thompson. At Landmark's E Street Cinema.

THE NATIVITY STORY-- Catherine Hardwicke's dramatic work, which makes its world premiere today at the Vatican, chronicles the biblical story of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. With Keisha Castle-Hughes ("Whale Rider") and Shohreh Aghdashloo ("House of Sand and Fog").

TURISTAS-- Fox Atomic's first release (which replaced a remake of "Revenge of the Nerds") is a horror thriller about a group of backpackers who get stranded in the Brazilian jungle after a bus accident.

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VAN WILDER: THE RISE OF TAJ-- In the sequel to the successful 2002 original, Van Wilder's sidekick Taj (Kal Penn) takes the lead as he parties American-style at conservative Camden University.

WASHINGTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL-- Opens Thursday. Through Dec. 10. The 17th annual festival opens with "Family Law," Argentina's official submission for the 2007 Foreign Language Oscar from Daniel Burman, the "Latin American Woody Allen." In addition to screenings of other films, this year's event includes a new program, "The Decade Award," honoring a filmmaker's body of work over at least a 10-year period and being presented to Eytan Fox. For details, visit http://www.wjff.org. Various venues. Free-$20. 800-494-8497.

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[On Stage]

THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM-- Through Dec. 31. Michael Kahn's charming staged performance of George Farquhar's 18th-century English comedy is a new adaptation by Washington playwright Ken Ludwig. Shakespeare Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. $19-$76.25. 202-547-1122.

COMEDY CENTRAL SHOWCASE-- Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Michael Aronin, Tony Deyo and Frank Hong are a few of the local comedians performing for Comedy Central in hopes of snagging a spot on the upcoming season of "Live at Gotham" and other projects. DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW. $15. 202-296-7008.

500 CLOWN MACBETH-- Opens Thursday. Through Dec. 3. Three clowns vie for the right to play the lead role of Macbeth in an interactive performance that combines comedy, stunts and more. Opening night includes a pre-performance panel discussion on performing comedy in front of an audience. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, Route 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park. $30, students $7. 301-405-2787.

THE CENTER DANCE COMPANY: THE NUTCRACKER-- Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 3 at 1 and 5 p.m. Meet the cast after the classic holiday performance, which is set in the 1940s. Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Rd., Arlington. $22-$25; seniors and ages 18 and younger, $17-$22. 703-522-2414.

MISTLETOE & MEMORIES-- Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. Gay Men's Chorus of Washington performs holiday favorites and new songs. Includes a video tribute to mothers and a performance of "Navidad Nuestra" ("Our Nativity") by Argentine composer Ariel Ramirez. George Washington University, Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW. $19-$49. 202-994-6800 or 301-808-6900.

FARAFINA KAN-- Saturday at 8 p.m.; Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. A local West African dance troupe melds the dance and music of the Mandingue people with reggae, blues, jazz and hip-hop rhythms. The Dec. 3 performance is part of the family series, which allows free admission for one child younger than 12. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. $20; seniors, students, teachers and artists $15; children $7. 202-269-1600.

PAUL MOONEY AND DICK GREGORY-- See Can't Miss, previous page.

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[Sports]

WIZARDS-- Tuesday at 7 p.m. vs. Atlanta Hawks. Friday at 7 p.m. vs. Charlotte Bobcats. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. $40-$150. 202-397-7328.

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[Volunteering]

DC EMPLOYMENT JUSTICE CENTER-- Volunteers are needed to help the center, which gives free legal advice to low-income workers on employment-related matters. 202-828-9675, Ext. 14.