Our Picks

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Can't Miss

1. SYNECDOCHE,

NEW YORK

[MOVIE] We won't try to describe the plot. Suffice to say that this is screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's latest plunge into hyper-meta drama, after the brilliant triptych of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Adaptation" and "Being John Malkovich." Except this time, Kaufman is also directing. Will his ambition ever cease? His cast includes Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener and Samantha Morton.

Opens Friday. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. 202-452-7672. $7.50-$10.

2. J.D. SOUTHER

[CONCERT] Souther is an old voice in the music business. The Michigan-born, Texas-raised country-rock singer-songwriter made his mark as a studio musician for some '70s rock greats and was the pen behind hit songs by acts from the Eagles to Linda Ronstadt. Now, after a nearly quarter-century absence, Souther is back with a new LP, "If the World Was You," an intimate fusion of country-rock and jazz. With April Smith.

Monday at 8 p.m. Rams Head Tavern, 33 West St., Annapolis. 410-268-4545. $25.

Tuesday at 7 p.m. State Theatre,

220 N. Washington St., Falls Church. 703-237-0300. $23.

3. BOOM

[ON STAGE] The premise

of Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's dark doomsday comedy is whether a marine biologist and a journalism student's coupling in an underground lab could help mankind avoid extinction. That sounds like just the kind of off-the-wall production Woolly Mammoth does so well.

Previews Monday-Tuesday. Opens Wednesday. Through Nov. 30. Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939. Pay-what-you-can for previews. Other performances $24-$57.

4. HERCULES

AND LOVE AFFAIR

[CONCERT] This Brooklyn band may be a perfect example of the Internet's power to create instant underground stars, but there is much more worth exploring here than with your typical blog-favorite flash in the pan. Hercules and Love Affair's house and disco sounds feel contemporary, if not ahead of their time.

Today at 10 p.m. 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. 202-393-0930 or 800-955-5566. $15.

5. MUSEUM

SHOP AROUND

[MISCELLANEOUS] One of the signs that the holidays are fast approaching is this annual shopping event at Strathmore. More than a dozen museums, including the Kennedy Center, the Textile Museum and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, will roll out their gift-shop goods in a spread that makes it a lot easier to score fun and unusual gifts for the hard-to-shop-for.

Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Nov. 9,

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, Bethesda. 301-581-5100. $8.

-- Sunday Source staff

Critics' Choice

SONGS FOR THE THEATER: THE NEXT GENERATION;

AN EVENING WITH CHRISTINE EBERSOLE & JAMES NAUGHTON

[CONCERTS] Musical fans, rejoice: The surge of Broadway stars bringing concert acts to Washington continues. On Saturday, Tony nominee Rebecca Luker (late of "Mary Poppins") steps into Barbara Cook's Spotlight Series at the Kennedy Center, performing "Songs for the Theater: The Next Generation." On Nov. 9, Tony winners Christine Ebersole ("Grey Gardens") and James Naughton ("Chicago") pair up at Strathmore.

-- Nelson Pressley

Luker: Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. 202-467-4600. $45.

Ebersole and Naughton: Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda. 301-581-5100. $25-$65.

HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO

[ON STAGE] Near the intersection of jazz, modern dance and ballet is where you'll find the lighthearted Hubbard Street. This forever-youthful troupe can win over even the most tights-averse dancephobe, and this visit sounds too good to miss. The show features two works by modern-dance veterans: the popular "Minus Sixteen" by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin, with crooning by Dean Martin; and "The Constant Shift of Pulse" by Doug Varone. Also, there's a new piece by company member and quirky young dancemaker Alejandro Cerrudo, titled "Off Screen."

-- Sarah Kaufman

Saturday at 8 p.m. George Mason University, Center for the Arts, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax. 888-945-2468. $22-$44.

Concerts

KRONOS QUARTET-- Today at 7:30 p.m. The experimental chamber group presents "Alternative Radio: A New World Is Possible," a two-hour program with host David Barsamian and activist and author Diane Wilson. University of Maryland, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Kay Theatre, Route 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park. 301-405-2787. $40.

HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR-- See Can't Miss.

J.D. SOUTHER-- See Can't Miss.

DEERHUNTER-- Tuesday at 8 p.m. The experimental Atlanta art-punk band, known for wild, polarizing performances, is touring to promote its new album, "Microcastle." With Times New Viking and Knyfe Hyts. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. 202-667-7960. $13-$15.

USHER-- Tuesday at 8 p.m. The tour may be called "One Night Stand: Ladies Only," but we have been assured that Usher's male fans will be admitted. Warner Theatre, 13th and E streets NW. 202-783-4000 or 202-397-7328. $77-$102.

THE SISTERS OF MERCY-- Wednesday at 7 p.m. The British alt-goth band continues to tour despite not releasing any recorded material in 15 years. With Hypernova. 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. 202-393-0930 or 800-955-5566. $25.

BROTHER ALI-- Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The Minnesota MC heads a great underground hip-hop lineup that includes BK-One, Toki Wright, Mr. Lif and Educated Consumers. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. $15.

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS AND KAKI KING-- Thursday at 7 p.m. The North Carolina indie-rock storytellers team with the New York self-taught guitar virtuoso for what they've dubbed "The Last Happy Night of Your Life." 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. 202-393-0930 or 800-955-5566. $18.

ALLEN TOUSSAINT, HENRY BUTLER AND JON CLEARY-- Friday at 9:30 p.m. Three New Orleans music legends join forces for a tribute to the Crescent City. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, 2700 F St. NW. 202-467-4600 or 800-444-1324. $30.

DAR WILLIAMS-- Friday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The New England folk-scene star performs with Lucy Wainwright Roche. Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. 703-549-7500 or 703-573-7328. $35.

DAN DEACON-- Friday at 8 p.m. The Baltimore musician brings his high-energy electro-pop show to the Hirshhorn's last After Hours event of the year. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. 202-633-2836. $10-$12.

THE SEA AND CAKE-- Saturday at 9 p.m. The Chicago indie-rock supergroup includes members of Tortoise, Gastr del Sol, Shrimp Boat and the Coctails. With Death Vessel. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. 202-667-7960. $15.

Exhibits

AUTUMN COLORS-- Opens Tuesday. Through Dec. 1. Photography by Jack Nevitt and turned wood by Patrick O'Brien. Artists' Undertaking Gallery, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-494-0584. FREE

POLITICAL CRAFT-- Opens Tuesday. Through Nov. 30. Works of social commentary created with traditional craft materials. Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel. 301-953-1993. FREE

SYMMES GARDNER-- Opens Tuesday. Through Dec. 28. A new video installation by the Maryland artist. Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel. 301-953-1993. FREE

PUBLIC SPIRIT: THE HIRSHHORN PROJECT-- Opens Wednesday. Through March 22. The story of the original proposal for the Hirshhorn Museum, which founder Joseph Hirshhorn envisioned as the centerpiece of a utopian "town of culture" in the wilds of Canada. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. 202-633-1000. FREE

AIMEE HELEN KOCH: UNDRESSED-- Opens Thursday. Through Dec. 20. A collection of photographs that depict clothes without the distraction of a wearer. McLean Project for the Arts, McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. 703-790-1953. FREE

GEORGIA GOLDBERG: LIGHT, SHADOW AND AIR-- Opens Thursday. Through Dec. 20. An entire gallery installation is focused on making the invisible visible. McLean Project for the Arts, McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. 703-790-1953. FREE

HOME PLATES-- Opens Thursday. Through Dec. 13. In partnership with the All Fired Up ceramic studios, 60 local artists were given a blank dinner plate to make personal yet functional art. D.C. Jewish Community Center, Bronfman Gallery, 1529 16th St. NW. 202-518-9400. FREE

INSIDE AND OUT: RECENT TRENDS IN THE ARTS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-- Closes Friday. Works by eight contemporary Dominican artists. Inter-American Development Bank, IDB Cultural Center, 1300 New York Ave. NW. 202-623-3774. FREE

ONE LIFE: THE MASK OF LINCOLN-- Opens Friday. Through July 5. Next year's bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth is marked with an exhibition that draws on the gallery's extensive collection of Lincoln portraits, charting his journey from Illinois congressman to president. National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F streets NW. 202-633-8300. FREE

TRANSPORTED-- Closes Saturday. A solo exhibition of new paintings by New York artist David FeBland. Fraser Gallery, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda. 301-718-9651. FREE

VANITAS: NICHOLAS AND SHEILA PYE-- Opens Saturday. Through Dec. 20. The Canadian husband-and-wife duo explores the nature of intense relationships through film and photography. Curator's Office, 1515 14th St. NW. 202-387-1008. FREE

DELIBERATIONS-- Through Nov. 9. Recent paintings by Michael Weiss, a Maryland Institute College of Art faculty member who uses traditional painting methods to create oblique images. Maryland Institute College of Art, 1300 Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore. 410-225-2300. FREE

Miscellaneous

VOTE-- Tuesday. In case you needed a little reminder. FREE

MUSEUM SHOP AROUND-- See Can't Miss.

Movies

Films open Friday and are in general release unless otherwise noted. Opening dates subject to change. Checkhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/moviesor Friday's Weekend section for details and complete movie listings.

PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE-- Playing daily through Thursday. A lyrical, stream-of-consciousness documentary about the venerated rocker. Check http://www.afi.com/silver for showtimes. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. 301-495-6720. $5-$10.

I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG-- Thursday at 7 p.m. Kristin Scott Thomas delivers a career-best performance as a secretive woman just released from a 15-year prison sentence. In French with English subtitles. This opening-night selection for the European Union Film Showcase, which runs through Nov. 25, is followed by a reception by the EU Delegation Commission. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. 301-495-6720. $10-$15.

THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS-- A forbidden friendship forms between Bruno, the son of a Nazi commandant, and Shmuel, a Jewish boy held in a concentration camp. Though the two are separated by a barbed-wire fence, their lives become inescapably intertwined. Landmark's Bethesda Row, 7235 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. 301-652-7273. $7.50-$10.

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN-- A fragile and anxious boy is regularly bullied by classmates but never strikes back. His wish for a friend seems to come true when a girl named Eli moves in next door. It's not long before he figures out that Eli is a vampire! In Swedish with English subtitles. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. 202-452-7672. $7.50-$10.

MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA-- Watch cuddly animated animals make $100 billion at the box office.

THE ORDER OF MYTHS-- The first Mardi Gras celebration in the United States was in Mobile, Ala., in 1703. In 2007, the event is still racially segregated. Filmmaker Margaret Brown, herself a daughter of Mobile, escorts us into the parallel hearts of the city's two carnivals. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. 202-452-7672. $7.50-$10.

ROLE MODELS-- Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott play two men who face a choice: Do hard time or work 150 hours in a mentorship program. After one day with the kids, however, jail doesn't look half bad.

SOUL MEN-- The late Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson team up to play estranged soul singers traveling cross-country to perform at a tribute concert in honor of their former band leader.

SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK-- See Can't Miss.

On Stage

BOOM-- See Can't Miss.

EDGEWORKS DANCE THEATER-- Friday-Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 4 p.m. A multimedia performance by an all-male contemporary dance ensemble led by award-winning choreographer Helanius J. Wilkins. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. 202-269-1600. $22, seniors and students $17, 17 and younger $8.

HOUSE AND GUEST-- Through Nov. 9. Synetic Theater presents an adaptation of the Georgian epic poem by Vazha Pshavela. Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington. 703-228-1850 or 202-397-7328. $15-$40.

TEMPTATION-- Through Nov. 9. The Constellation Theatre Company presents this retelling of the Faust story written by playwright and former Czech President Vaclav Havel. Allison Arkell Stockman directs the play, which mixes an exploration of the divine with political satire. Source, 1835 14th St. NW. 202-315-1305 or 866-811-4111. $20, $15 seniors and students.

Sports

CAPITALS-- Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Carolina Hurricanes. Saturday at 7 p.m. against the New York Rangers. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202-397-7328. $25-$225.

WIZARDS-- Friday at 7 p.m. against the New York Knicks. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202-397-7328. $40-$275.