The Toast of the Town

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Thursday, November 20, 2008

It's French custom to inflate the importance of the light, fruity red wine called Beaujolais nouveau by restricting its release each year: Not a drop of the year's yield may be sipped till the third Thursday of November.

So it is that the day has become cause for celebration. (But seriously, how many of us drink the stuff any other time of the year?) Here in Washington, you can join in the ritual uncorking of bottles at a number of events:

· Today, the International Club of DC marks the occasion with a twist on the "first batch" concept. Its Beaujolais-Not-So-Nouveau event, held with GiraMondo Wine Adventures, the French Wine Society and the Washington Wine Academy, is intended to spotlight many of the other offerings from the Beaujolais region, not just the nouveau. $19 includes a glass of the wine and hors d'oeuvres; $59 for a full 12-wine Cru tasting that includes appetizers (but no nouveau!). 6:30-8:30 p.m. today. Embassy Suites, 1250 22nd St. NW. Visit http://www.giramondowine.com/events or call 301-841-7609.

· Tomorrow, the Alliance Francaise hosts its own release party with French accordion music, the serving of Labouré-Roi's Beaujolais nouveau and cheese. $35; Alliance members, $25. 6:30-9:30 p.m. 2142 Wyoming Ave. NW. Visit http://www.francedc.org or call 202-234-7911.

· The biggest party might be the annual foodie event thrown tomorrow by the French-American Chamber of Commerce and French International Culinary Society with, yes, bottle after bottle of nouveau, but also a buffet of French specialties. (Note that dress code calls for business attire, not your Sunday khakis.) $80; members of either group, $70. 6-9 p.m. The Washington Club, 15 Dupont Circle. For details, visit http://www.faccwdc.org or call 301-340-7855.

Save the Date

ON STAGE Patton Oswalt Tapes His New DVD in Town The snarky, nationally known comic voiced Remy in the animated hit "Ratatouille," roasted Flava Flav and is an occasional figure on the late-night circuit. The alum of NoVa's Broad Run High also actually gave his alma mater's commencement address this year. Perhaps the local connection is why he's taping his upcoming DVD in the Washington area: He performs two shows for crowds and cameras at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium in February. Try to look hot. $20. Feb. 28 at 7 and 10 p.m. 730 21st St. NW. 202-397-7328

CONCERT The Black Keys The blues-soaked duo (singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney) returns to the area after two sold-out shows back in May at the 9:30 club and a spot at the Virgin Mobile Festival in August. The Post's critic called out the rockers for their musical similarities to another bluesy Midwest duo, the White Stripes, during those 9:30 club shows, but is that such a bad thing? The Keys are at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore in February. Tickets go on sale Saturday at noon. $25; $27 day of show. 8 p.m. Feb. 4. 20 Market Pl., Baltimore. 202-397-7328 or save Ticketmaster fees and get tickets through the box office, 410-244-1131 or http://www.ramsheadlive.com.

The District

Today

THE SCENE Producers, Labels and DJs, Unite The newest party thrown by the local production team 88 is still in its infancy (as is Muse, the bar where it's held), but if the successes of its predecessors -- Loda in Silver Spring and X at Be Bar -- count for anything, this could be a regular Thursday night destination. PLD also focuses on electronic music, but this party showcases the music of local contributors (whereas Loda brings in out-of-towners and X blends live performance art and visuals with electronic music). Free till 10 p.m.; $5 till midnight; $10 after midnight. 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Muse, 717 Sixth St. NW. Visit http://www.eightyeightdc.com.

EXHIBIT Wolfram Hahn The Goethe-Institut has turned its gallery space into FotoGalerie, with a mission of showcasing young German photographers (the nation has emerged as a hotbed for photography: Its stars include Andreas Gursky and Wolfgang Tillmans). The inaugural show features Wolfram Hahn's "Disenchanted Playroom," portraits of children between 3 and 12 whose countenances reflect adult-looking expressions ranging from aggravated to blase. Turns out, they got the faces watching television. Free. Mondays-Thursdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fridays 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Goethe-Institut, 812 Seventh St. NW. 202-289-1200.

THE SCENE Soirée Carte Blanche Tonight, the Phillips Collection and Alliance Française team up for the second Soirée, a bash that goes a bit later into the evening than the usual Phillips After 5 evenings and is a little more dressed up (so, seriously, dress up and make a date of it). Held in the Center for the Study of Modern Art behind the museum, the night will feature a DJ spinning electronic music, a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, an iPod music-mix contest and tours of the show "Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Over the River, a Work in Progress" (at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.). $15; $7 for Phillips members. A very limited number of tickets remain. 6-9:30 p.m. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. To register, 202-234-7911, Ext. 16 or Ext. 31.

Tomorrow

FOR FAMILIES Museum of American History Reopens The museum that's a tourist favorite for its collection that includes Dorothy's ruby slippers and the Star-Spangled Banner returns after a two-year renovation project (see story, Page A1). Three days of events launch it all. Tomorrow the museum stays open late, and all three days, you can catch music performances, take tours and do hands-on activities. Free. The ribbon cutting is set for 8:30 a.m. tomorrow; the reopening festival is 10 a.m.-7 p.m. tomorrow and 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-633-1000.

Maryland

Today

ON STAGE "86 Minutes to Ponder": Rick Maue and David London Prepare to be amazed: Tonight at the Writer's Center in Bethesda, Rick Maue performs his "Psychic Phenomena . . . and other lies," which dissects the paranormal by exposing its tricks, and rising local magician David London will perform his "(insert title here)," a mix of his humorous extended tricks. Tickets are $12 online and $15 at the door. 8 p.m. 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda. Get tickets through http://www.divergency.com/86minutes.html or 301-654-8664.

Tomorrow

CONCERT Miss the Recent Bad Brains Show? The Next Best Thing: H.R. The legendary, reggae-leaning lead singer of D.C. punk Bad Brains strikes out on his own for a show tomorrow at Baltimore's Ottobar. Outlaw Nation and Lionize open. $10. Doors open at 10 p.m. (all ages). 410-662-0069 or get tickets at http://www.theottobar.com.

Saturday

HOLIDAYS Getting Started, Um, Early: Frederick's Festival of Greens Check out 100 wreaths and trees decorated by artists and businesses at the county's inaugural Festival of Greens, an eight-day event held at the Cultural Arts Center. Opening day is tomorrow, but the packed schedule of activities begins Saturday, when there are performances by the Emmitsburg Community Chorus and Tuba Christmas, games and activities for children, and a free 8 p.m. screening of Bill Murray's "Scrooged." The events continue through next week, culminating in Frederick's annual Frosty Friday event the day after Thanksgiving. (The wreaths? They're auctioned off on Nov. 29.) Free. Saturday events are 1-8 p.m. Cultural Arts Center of Frederick County, 15 W. Patrick St., Frederick. For a full schedule, visit http://www.frederickartscouncil.org (see "Announcements") or call 301-662-4190.

Northern Virginia

Today

ON STAGE "Pillowman" This fable by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh follows a fiction writer whose horrific tales about children's deaths suspiciously resemble real cases. Police make the connection, and the writer faces some seriously brutal questioning. No bones about it, it's a sick ride, but McDonagh's imagery can make for fun viewing. The GMU Players take on the play this week. $6. Today-Saturday at 8 p.m., plus Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. George Mason University Center for the Arts black-box theater, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax. 888-945-2468.

Tomorrow

CONCERT Cobra Collective and U.S. Royalty Cobra Collective (whose members come from bands including the Bonapartes and Death by Sexy) channels early, intellectual Brit-pop, while U.S. Royalty gets a lot of buzz around town for its catchy and slightly Southern-tinged pop (somehow, it works, without being, well, Kings of Leon). They play with Payola Reserve tomorrow night at Iota. $10. Age 21 and older only. 9 p.m. Iota Club & Cafe, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-522-8340.

Saturday

ON STAGE Andy Kindler at the Drafthouse The Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse is billing Kindler -- who has made appearances on "Late Show With David Letterman" and Lewis Black's "Root of All Evil" and played Andy on "Everybody Loves Raymond" -- as the first of the national comics to perform at the venue, back in the day. He's at Montgomery Cinema & Drafthouse tonight; but wouldn't it be fun to see him at the Arlington location that he launched as a place to see comedy? $18. 9:45 p.m. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. 703-486-2345 or get tickets in advance at http://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com.