A Smorgasbord of Nordic Pop

In a town filled with Prince face-offs and Britpop/indie dance nights (what does that even mean?), Hej Hej, the all-Scandinavian DJ night, arrived at Cafe Saint-Ex a year ago like a blast of fresh, Nordic air.

Hej Hej (pronounced hey hey, it's Swedish for "hi!") became the place to go for Washingtonians of Scandinavian descent. Then came the masses, the connoisseurs of Scando-pop who wanted to hear Jens Lekman, the Shout Out Louds and Ida Maria.

The event's fans are " really on their game," says Natalya Minkovsky, who with Melissa Gilmore Vivari founded the dance night following a trip to Iceland and a for-kicks all-Nordic set at their old Black Cat dance party Bluestate. They say they're struck by the cultures of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland, not just the music of that part of the world.

Behind the DJ booth, the frosty ladies (who, oddly, don't dress like Abba, don't seem to love Ikea and only occasionally don viking hats) say they play what they like -- upbeat pop, though they note that Norway has a strong heavy metal scene, and Sweden has its own hip-hop. To stay up on the scene, they visit sites such as http://www.itsatrap.com.

On Tuesday, they return to Saint-Ex to celebrate the first anniversary of their ever-growing, ever-evolving bash. They'll take requests and generally keep the crowd moving (in return, they're requesting that guests dress up like Bjork, for fun, of course). And down the road, the ladies of Hej Hej are among the sponsors of a concert by Sweden's the LK on March 8 at the House of Sweden in Georgetown.

Free. 10 p.m. Tuesday. 21 and older only. 1847 14th St. NW, basement level. 202-265-7839.

Save the Date

[ ON STAGE ] Margaret Cho It seems like every comedian has taken to the road lately (Tracy Morgan's at Lisner on March 1, and tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster at 10 a.m. today for Chris Rock's fourth local show, this one at DAR). The latest to add to your list is Cho, the biting Korean American comic, who'll be at the Warner for a two-night stand later this spring. (Ever the entertainer, she's bringing guests, including comic-video purveyor Liam Sullivan, the guy behind the YouTube hit "Shoes.") Tickets go on sale today at 10 through Ticketmaster and at the Warner box office. $28.50-$45.50. April 10 at 8 p.m., April 11 at 7 p.m. Warner Theatre, 13th and E streets NW. 202-397-7328.

[ ON STAGE ] "Primary Urges" Returns This silly wisp of a musical, staged by City in a Swamp and packed with performers from the local spoof squad Hexagon, had a run at the Warehouse Theater in the fall. It returns to the stage for a few laughs before the Super Tuesday primaries Feb. 5. The show follows a congressman's ill-thought-out run for president. $30; students $20. Feb. 1 at 8 p.m., Feb. 3 at 3 p.m. The Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda. 202-364-8644 or visit http://www.cityinaswamp.com.

[ ON STAGE ] Flamenco Festival Returns There are, in all, five chances to catch a performance of flamenco by some of the dance form's stars (set to live music) at Lisner Auditorium next month. Set to perform: Cuatro Esquinas (Four Corners), Tomatito Quintet, Mujeres and Eva Yerbabuena. So what's new? This year, you won't have to choose between traditional and contemporary performances. All the shows will blend old-world and new forms of flamenco. $35-$60; $20 GWU student tickets available at the box office. Various days and times Feb. 9-15. Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st St. NW. 202-994-6800 or 202-397-7328.

The District

Today

[ FILM ] "Rule of the Game" The last film of the Freer's Iranian Film Festival is said to be one of the rare comedies shown outside that country, and it looks as though it was made for Western audiences: It's a zany ringer for "The Beverly Hillbillies," what with its uncultured peasants going head-to-head with wealthier relatives for an inheritance. Free tickets (two per person) distributed an hour before shows. Tonight at 7, Sunday at 2 p.m. Meyer Auditorium, Jefferson Drive and 12th Street SW. 202-633-1000.