Giving FotoWeek the Brushoff

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Friday, November 21, 2008

With FotoWeek DC-affiliated photography shows at seemingly every art space and museum in Washington this month, is there any place left to see a good, old-fashioned painting?

· Today, the National Museum of Women in the Arts opens "Mary Cassatt: Friends and Family," an exhibition reflecting Cassatt's point of view -- she was a leading American impressionist in Paris -- as well as that of her friend Louisine Havemeyer, from whose collection many of the works are drawn. The 50-odd works by Cassatt include large-scale paintings and drawings of her friends and family; also included are a few works by her impressionist peers Claude Monet and Edgar Degas. $10; seniors and students, $8; age 18 and younger, free. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday noon-5, through Jan. 25. (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.) 1250 New York Ave. NW. 202-783-5000.

· At the Sackler Gallery, you can still catch the collection of brightly hued Indian royal court paintings in "Garden and Cosmos," depicting the maharajas of Marwar-Jodhpur, in what is now Rajasthan. Free. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. "Garden and Cosmos" is up through Jan. 4. 1050 Independence Ave. SW. 202-633-1000.

· If you're looking for paintings, well, the National Gallery has wall after wall covered with them. One show to see: "George de Forest Brush: The Indian Paintings," the 19th-century series that reflects Brush's time living among Native American tribes in Wyoming and Montana. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Through Jan. 4. National Gallery of Art, East Building, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-737-4215.

SAVE THE DATE

CONCERT Cansei de Ser Sexy These Brazilian dance-funk punks have been blog darlings for some time. But the difference between CSS and its counterparts is that the outfit, led by a spark plug named Lovefoxx, actually delivers in its live shows. With a new album ("Donkey") out, the band plays the 9:30 club next month. $20. Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. 9:30 club, 815 V St. NW. 202-393-0930 or 800-955-5566.

CONCERT Lil Wayne This rap star, who has been simmering for years now, finally captured the mainstream crowd this summer with the fantastic record "Tha Carter III." And then, perhaps vying for an even broader audience, he turned up this month at the Country Music Association Awards playing backup guitar with Kid Rock on the performance of "All Summer Long." The enigmatic New Orleans rapper, who was last in the area for this past summer's Virgin Mobile Festival, returns as headliner at a show at Verizon Center at the end of the year. $45.75-$85.75. Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 202-397-7328 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.

THE DISTRICT

Today

THE SCENE "Aperture": Relive the Coolout At least there will be no interminable wait for an elevator. Tonight at Tangysweet (yes, that Tangysweet), the organizers of the Coolout, the Sunday-afternoon rooftop party held at the Beacon till last month, celebrate the opening of a FotoWeek-linked exhibition of Garai Rice's photos from the bash (which, you know if you went, drew eclectic crowds of the beautiful people and always had great music). Back for tonight's reception, which is sponsored by Hennessy, are Coolout DJs Harry Hotter and Adrian Loving. Free. 8-11 p.m. Tangysweet, 2029 P St. NW. RSVP at http://aperture@avlifestylegroup.com or for information, call 202-822-2066.

Tomorrow

EXHIBIT "Onthaasting: About Spare Time and Slower Worlds" You know how you're always saying you're going to take a day off from chores and go to a museum? Perhaps this is the show. At the American University Museum, Belgian video artists Guillaume Bijl, Jacques Charlier, Cel Crabeels, De Brassers, Messieurs Delmotte, Gery De Smet, and Harald Thys & Jos De Gruyter explore the idea of recreation as an escape from daily stresses. Tomorrow, co-curator Niels Van Tomme hosts a talk about the show and a walk-through with some of the artists. (Get there early and check out the other shows; the museum opened six new exhibitions last week.) Free. Talk today at 5 p.m. Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-885-2787 or http://www.american.edu/katzen.

Tuesday

THE SCENE DC Karaoke Showdown For weeks now, the brave have been battling it out over bad songs at Sticky Rice on H Street NE; Tuesday at the Rock & Roll Hotel, the finest karaoke singers to have emerged from the weekly contests will battle it out for the title. Lend support or heckle: It's your choice. Free. 9 p.m. Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625.

MARYLAND

Today

FILM "Frontrunners" Like the classic feature film "Election," this doc follows hyper-ambitious high-schoolers facing that horrid popularity contest known as the student government election. Four candidates are captured as they run for president -- oh, but they happen to attend the legendary Stuyvesant High math and science school in New York, where competitiveness is not an elective. Caroline Suh's film runs for just under a week at the AFI Silver, beginning today. $8.50-$10; students, $5. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. 301-495-6720.

EXHIBITION Miniatures: The Musical? The Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society's annual show of teeny-tiny artworks at Strathmore is a favorite. The show includes 700 works, a sum that isn't too hard to fit into the gallery space because no image may be more than 25 square inches (think: the palm of your hand). Tonight, at the Mansion at Strathmore, catch pianist Rachel Franklin and violinist Airi Yoshioka as they celebrate the show with a night of "miniature" -- a.k.a. short -- compositions by the likes of Debussy and Prokofiev. After the concert, grab a glass of wine and make your way through the galleries. You might want to bring a magnifying glass. $30 (wine is included). 7:30 p.m. Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. 301-581-5100 or get tickets at http://www.strathmore.org (look under Events & Tickets). The exhibition continues through Jan. 3.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Today

ON STAGE Jazz 4 Justice Returns The annual concert by the George Mason University Jazz Ensemble will benefit the pro bono efforts of the Fairfax Law Foundation and the university's music scholarships. The program, performed this year by the group with a special appearanceby 8-year-old trumpeter Geoffrey Gallante (who was featured on CBS at age 4), includes compositions by Duke Ellington and Count Basie. $20; seniors and students, $15. 8 p.m. GMU Center for the Arts Concert Hall, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax. 888-945-2468.

Tomorrow

FESTIVALS Zee Heritage India Festival Organizers are billing this weekend shopathon a "Diwali extravaganza," referring to the Indian holiday that includes celebrations and gift-giving (though Diwali fell in late October this year). But we're thinking even Christmas shoppers should feel free to check out the festival for vendors selling bangles and seriously ornate ethnic bling (real and costume), textiles (how about making curtains from saris?). Also on tap: food and a dance competition. Free admission. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. tomorrow; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Dulles Expo Center, North Hall, 4368 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly. 703-459-5000 or http://www.hifestival.com.

FOR FAMILIES "Plymouth Rock and Roll" There are myriad Christmas-themed concerts in the coming weeks, but we haven't had too many notices for Thanksgiving shows cross our desk. Virginia kiddie act Rocknoceros takes over Jammin' Java tomorrow for a pre-Thanksgiving concert being billed as a chance to "give thanks." As part of the celebration, the band is allowing fans to request songs by e-mailing info@rocknoceros.com. $10. 11 a.m. 227 Maple Ave. E., Vienna. 703-255-1566.