Out On the Town

AFRICA'S LOST EDEN
This new National Geographic Channel film documents conservationists' work to restore the lush floodplains in central Mozambique, once known as ''the place where Noah left his Ark'' and ravaged by 15 years of civil war. MSNBC's Hardball host Chris Matthews moderates a discussion after the world premiere screening, presented as part of the Environmental Film Festival. Wednesday, March 24, at 7 p.m. National Geographic Society's Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M St. NW. Tickets are $18. Call 202-857-7700 or visit nglive.org.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
Based on a series of popular books, this comedy examines what it is like to be awkward, bad at sports, and unpopular in middle school. Sounds too familiar, right? Well, presumably some people want to relive the experience. Opens Friday, March 19. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.

ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL
The 18th annual edition of this festival brings 155 documentaries to town through next weekend, with a central theme this year of organic food and climate change. Among the most notable events in the next week is a short film about and discussion with D.C. restaurateur Nora Pouillon, whose Restaurant Nora was the nation's first certified organic restaurant. Nora! screens Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. at the International Student House, 1825 R St. NW. Festival ends March 28. Call 202-342-2564 or visit dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org.

M. HULOT'S HOLIDAY
A masterpiece of gentle slapstick, this 1953 black-and-white French film from cinematic genius Jacques Tati has been newly restored in 35mm print. Monsieur Hulot, the endearing, pipe-smoking clown, satirizes vacationers determined to enjoy themselves through a series of choreographed sight gags about boats, dogs, tennis and other leisure pursuits. One-week-only engagement starts Friday, March 19. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. Tickets are $10 general admission. Call 301-495-6720 or visit afi.com/Silver.

THE ART OF THE STEAL
This documentary with a serious ax to grind has created more of a sensation than even its makers anticipated. It focuses on the move of an art gallery from the suburbs to downtown Philadelphia, a move at odds with its deceased patron's intent. Opens Friday, March 19. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com.

THE BOUNTY HUNTER
This set-up seems ridiculous, even for a rom-com: a bounty hunter (Gerard Butler) is hired to bring in his ex-wife (Jennifer Aniston). Butler may not look like he did in 300, but we certainly wouldn't run away from him. What was Aniston thinking? But really, what were either thinking making this movie, directed by rom-com regular Andy Tennant (Sweet Home Alabama, Hitch)? Opens Friday, March 19. Area theaters. Visit fandango.com.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
Based on Stieg Larsson's bestselling novel, the film is an extremely well-crafted adaptation that stays loyal to the original text, says Metro Weekly's Tim Plant. Rumors of a U.S. remake are floating around, but seeing this limited release version is well worth the effort. Opens Friday, March 19. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH KANSAS?
Based on Thomas Frank's best-selling book, this documentary from Joe Winston focuses on two conservative Kansas families and one Kansas farmer who seeks to revive the state's erstwhile progressive tradition, with citizens voting for politicians who had their interests at heart, and not those of conservative-baiting corporate America. Opens Friday, March 19. Landmark's E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW. Call 202-452-7672 or visit landmarktheatres.com.

AMAZONS AND THEIR MEN
After critical and commercial success with the two-part Angels in America, Forum Theatre presents the second show in its sixth season, a play by Jordan Harrison and directed by Michael Dove and Elissa Goetschius. Amazons and Their Men focuses on the life of Leni Riefenstahl, the German filmmaker who made Nazi propaganda films, chronicling the creation of art and the collapse of a society. Now to this Satuday, March 20. Forum Theatre: Round House Theatre-Silver Spring, 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $25. Call 240-644-1100 or visit forumtd.org.

BUS STOP
William Inge's classic focuses on folks stranded at a small-town diner outside Kansas City, and explores the romantic relationships, real and imagined, that ensue as strangers are brought together under less-than-ideal circumstances. Austin Pendleton directs. Extended to this Sunday, March 21. Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Tickets are $26 to $49. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

DANCING AT LUGHNASA
Brian Friel's Tony-winning transcendental play, loosely based on events from his own life, takes place during the Celtic harvest in 1930s Ireland. Mark Rhea directs this Keegan Theatre production. Opens Saturday, March 20, at 8 p.m. To April 18. Church Street Theater, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are $30. Call 703-892-0202 or visit keegantheatre.com.

DA
The Tony-winning play follows a successful London-based writer who returns to his childhood home in Dublin after the death of his adoptive father, who turns out to be even more maddening as a ghost than he was alive. Typical. Opens Wednesday, March 24, at 7:45 p.m. To April 25. Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Tickets are $26 to $54. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

GOLDEN AGE
This new play by Terrence McNally premieres at the Kennedy Center as part of the venue's five-week McNally series "Nights at the Opera." Walter Bobbie (Chicago) directs this backstage drama surrounding the premiere of Bellini's final opera I Puritani. Now to April 4. Kennedy Center Family Theater. Tickets are $49. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

GREASE
You've never seen Grease like this -- a new all-male production based on the original 1972 Broadway version. The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, the only gay men's chorus in the country that produces fully staged Broadway productions, will mostly stick to the original script, set in a high school in the late-1950s and featuring the hits ''Greased Lightning'' and ''Summer Nights.'' With one major tweak: The entire high school is gay. Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 21, at 3 p.m. Lisner Auditorium, The George Washington University, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $50. Call 202-293-1548 or visit gmcw.org.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
An all-new original production of the playful Alan Menken-Howard Ashman classic that tells the story of the well-meaning flower shop employee Seymour Krelborn and his wisecracking carnivorous plant, Audrey II -- played at Ford's by husband-and-wife acting team Christopher Kale Jones and Jenna Coker-Jones. Feedings to May 22. Ford's Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. Tickets are $20 to $52. Call 202-397-7328 or visit ticketmaster.com.

MASTER CLASS
Tyne Daly stars in this new production of Terrence McNally's Tony-winning play about opera legend Maria Callas, revived as part of the Kennedy Center's Nights at the Opera series of McNally plays, running concurrently. Stephen Wadsworth directs. In previews starting Thursday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. To April 18. Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. Tickets are $25 to $80. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

PLAY IN A DAY
Six professional theater companies in D.C., including Round House and Woolly Mammoth, take part in this sixth annual event, when they write, direct, rehearse and perform original, 10-minute plays based on similar themes, all in only 24 hours, beginning Friday evening. Accredited judges will award $1,000 in total cash prizes and there will also be an audience award after the performances Saturday, March 20, at 8 p.m. Imagination Stage's Lerner Theater, 4908 Auburn Ave. Bethesda. Tickets are $15. Visit 301-215-6660 or visit bethesda.org.

REASONS TO BE PRETTY
This play concludes Neil LaBute's trilogy exploring America's obsession with physical beauty, after The Shape of Things and Fat Pig. Directed by the Shakespeare Theatre Company's David Muse. Opens Wednesday, March 24, at 8 p.m. To May 2. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Street. NW. Tickets are $35 to $51. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.

SOME GIRLS
No Rules Theatre Company, responsible for last year's phenomenal, sold-out run of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Warehouse, opens its inaugural full season with this dark and dramatic comedy from Neil LaBute. Directed by Joshua Morgan, the play focuses on the ugly and truthful sides of relationships, told through the psyche of one commitment-phobic, self-absorbed, promiscuous single man. To this Sunday, March 21. The H Street Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE. Tickets are $25. Call 866-811-4111 or visit norulestheatre.org.

SUMMER AT NOHANT
The Ambassador Theater presents the Washington premiere of this romantic comedy in three acts, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Frédéric Chopin's birth. George Sand, the famed French writer, brings together artists at her celebrated summer retreat in Nohant, including Chopin, one of Sand's lovers. Tyler Herman plays Chopin and Hanna Bondarewska is Sand in an ensemble cast. To this Sunday, March 21. Mead Theater Lab at Flashpoint, 916 G St. NW. Tickets are $25. Visit aticc.org.

SWEENEY TODD

A nightmare drawn by Edward Gorey and colored by a shipwrecked orchestra, it's a fantastic evening of misfits and lost souls. To April 4. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $52 to $76. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org. (Tom Avila)

THE LISBON TRAVIATA
Deriving its title from an unauthorized recording of a Maria Callas performance in Lisbon that became a collector's item, this Terrence McNally play reflects on romantic obsession and diva worship. The Kennedy Center stages a new production of it as part of the series Nights at the Opera, with three McNally plays running concurrently. Christopher Ashley directs Malcolm Gets, John Glover and Chris Hartl in this production. Opens Saturday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. To April 11. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $55 to $65. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org. COMMUNITY AND COLLEGE THEATER

THE PAIN AND THE ITCH
Nomadic Theatre presents this suburban family drama that centers around -- what else? -- Thanksgiving dinner. This Georgetown University student production of Bruce Norris's play is directed by Courtney Ulrich. Wednesday, March 24, through Saturday, March 27, at 8 p.m. Also Saturday, March 27, at 2 p.m., and Sunday, March 28, at 7 p.m. The Devine Studio Theatre at the Davis Performing Arts Center on Georgetown University's main campus. Tickets are $10. Call 202-687-ARTS or visit performingarts.georgetown.edu.

ALICIA KEYS
In support of The Element of Freedom, this hip hop-inspired soul singer, who with Jay-Z last year created yet another anthem to the Big Apple, brings her Freedom Tour to Verizon Center. Thursday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. Tickets are $49.50 to $128. Call 202-628-3200 or visit verizoncenter.com.

ANGELIQUE KIDJO
This vocal powerhouse from Benin effortlessly blends African styles with Western pop, including collaborations with John Legend, Peter Gabriel and Bono. Saturday, March 27, at 8 p.m. Lisner Auditorium, The George Washington University, 730 21st St. NW. Tickets are $25 to $45. Call 202-994-6800 or visit lisner.org.

ASHFORD & SIMPSON
This husband-and-wife songwriting duo is still solid -- solid as a, well, soul is what this is. And ain't no mountain or river can keep them away. Saturday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $65. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

ATHENS BOYS CHOIR
Despite the name, Athens Boys Choir is really just a one-tran-band -- a Southern transsexual Jew to be exact. Otherwise named Katz, he'll perform ''a gender-deviant, multi-media, spoken-word, homo-hop show'' alongside 8 Inch Betsy, an all-girl Chicago-based rock/pop/punk trio. Thursday, March 18, at 9 p.m. Phase 1, 525 8th St. SE. Tickets are $5 to $10. Call 202-544-6831 or visit phase1dc.com.

BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Marin Alsop leads the orchestra, singers from the Washington National Opera's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and dancers from the Baltimore School for the Arts in a program of ''Hearts, Cards & Carnival,'' concluding the BSO's four-week festival of circus-themed programming. The program includes Igor Stravinsky's ballet Pulcinella and semi-staged productions of two short American operas, A Hand of Bridge by Samuel Barber and Blue Monday by George Gershwin. Thursday, March 25, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 28, at 3 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets are $26 to $60. Call 410-783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.

CHAWBARET 7: LOVE, LOSS AND LATTE
The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop presents an evening of pop songs, standards and show tunes about the thrills and spills of love, stalking -- and coffee. Members of the D.C. Cabaret Network and the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington are among those performing. And coffee will be served, natch. Friday, March 26, and Saturday, March 27, at 8 p.m. CHAW, 545 Seventh St. SE. Tickets are $20 at the door. Call 202-547-6839 or visit chaw.org.

EDDIE FROM OHIO
Despite its name, the celebrated American folk band has no connection to the Buckeye State. Instead, all members are natives of Northern Virginia, and its songs are influenced by their deep Virginia roots. Friday, March 19, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, March 20, at 7 p.m. Rams Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis. Tickets are $34. Call 410-268-4545 or visit ramsheadonstage.com.

JERI SAGER
In her solo cabaret show Broadway by Jeri, accompanied by a four-piece band, former Broadway star Sager re-creates her roles in Cats, Les Misérables, Evita, Pippin and Fiddler on the Roof as well as performing other selections. Sager is a Northern Virginia native making her Barns debut. Rescheduled after February's blizzard for Saturday, March 20, at 7:30 p.m. The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25. Call 703-255-1900 or visit wolf-trap.org.

JUKEBOX THE GHOST, TALLY HALL
This D.C. band, whose clever lyrics and melodic pop tunes channel influence from the likes of Elvis Costello, Queen and the Flaming Lips, headlines a show for the hometown crowd with buzz band Tally Hall. Skybox opens. Thursday, March 25, at 8 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. Tickets are $13. Call 202-667-4490 or visit blackcatdc.com.

MISSTALLICA: ALL-GIRL TRIBUTE TO METALLICA
This group actually opens for 30-year-old Canadian heavy metal band Anvil, but we're most eager to hear how well they do in paying tribute to the ultimate, 30-year-old heavy metal band, Metallica. What will it sound like to have a woman sing ''Enter Sandman'' or ''One''? Saturday, March 20. Doors at 8 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $20. Call 202-265-0930 or visit 930.com.

NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC
Violinist Chee-Yun performs Brahms's riveting Violin Concerto as part of an All Brahms program with the Philharmonic, led by Piotr Gajewski. Also on the bill is Hungarian Dance No. 5 and Symphony No. 2. Saturday, March 20, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 21, at 3 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $29 to $79. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

OPERA IN CINEMA: ROM É O ET JULIETTE
Every week through mid-May, the Atlas Performing Arts Center screens a high-definition simulcast recording of a different operatic masterpiece performed at one of Europe's most esteemed venues. Next Wednesday and Sunday, Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts soprano Nino Machaidze as Juliette and tenor Rolando Villazòn as Romeo in Charles Gounod's version of this famous love tragedy. Tony Award-winning stage director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific) makes his European opera debut in this filmed production from Austria's Salzburg Festival. Wednesday, March 24, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 28, at 2 p.m. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $20, or buy five, get one free with code ''OperaHalfSeason.'' Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org

PATTY LARKIN
This songwriting guitarist celebrates a quarter-century of making music with 25, an album of 25 love songs reworked with voice and guitar with a little help from all-star friends, from Mary Chapin Carpenter to Suzanne Vega to Bruce Cockburn. She performs on a bill with acoustic guitarist David Wilcox. Sunday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria. Tickets are $35. Call 703-549-7500 or visit birchmere.com.

THE WASHINGTON CHORUS
Soprano Arianna Zukerman, mezzo-soprano Heather Johnson, tenor William Hite and bass Sanford Sylvan lead the chorus in a performance of Mozart's Requiem, along with Marjorie Merryman's Jonah and Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture. Friday, March 26, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $15 to $60. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

TOM WOPAT
Remember the original Luke Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard? Wopat may not be the heartthrob he was in the '70s, but in one sense he's become even dreamier, showing that he's got great pipes -- and a love for musical theater. Aww. He'll sing from Annie Get Your Gun and Chicago -- he starred in Broadway revivals of both -- among other shows, in his new cabaret show ''Love Swings.'' Sunday, March 28, at 2 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $26 to $66. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

TOWER OF POWER
Considered one of the greatest horn sections in the business, this four-decades-strong ten-piece ensemble has recorded as sidemen for Elton John, Santana and Michelle Shocked. Friday, March 26, at 8 p.m. The State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church. Tickets are $38. Call 703-237-0300 or visit thestatetheatre.com.

WASHINGTON BACH CONSORT
The nation's premier Baroque chorus and orchestra continues its 32nd season with ''Happy Birthday Bach!'' Had the German composer lived to 325 years, he would be treated to a celebration of some of his best-loved works, including the Orchestral Suite No. 1, the Violin Concerto No. 2, the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, and the Prelude and Fugue in G Major. J. Reilly Lewis leads the consort and plays the organ, while June Huang performs violin. Sunday, March 21, at 3 p.m., preceded by an hour-long lecture by Swarthmore College's Bach scholar Michael Marissen. National Presbyterian Church, 41010 Nebraska Ave. NW. Tickets are $23 to $58. Call 202-429-2121 or visit bachconsort.org.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA'S PORGY AND BESS
This company's production returns home after rave reviews in Los Angeles and Chicago. George Gershwin's masterpiece miraculously melds classical music, popular song, jazz, blues and spirituals into iconic American songs like "Summertime," "I Got Plenty O'Nuttin'" and "Bess, You Is My Woman Now." Performances begin Saturday, March 20, at 7 p.m. To April 3. A pre-performance lecture takes place Thursday, March 25, at 6:15 p.m. Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets are $50 to $300. Call 202-295-2400 or visit dc-opera.org.

DAKSHINA OPEN REHEARSAL AND SILENT AUCTION
Daniel Patrick Singh's company gives a sneak peek of works in progress in an intimate setting, with a reception and silent auction afterwards. Saturday, March 27, at 7 p.m. Dance Institute of Washington, 3400 14th St. NW. Call 202-247-1292 or visit dakshina.org.

DANCE PLACE YOUTH FESTIVAL
The Dance Place Step Team is joined by the Joy of Motion Dance Center Youth Dance Ensemble, Coyaba Academy, Maryland Youth Ballet and others in an evening showcasing the next generation of artistic excellence. Saturday, March 20, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 21, at 4 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $15. Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.

CHELSEA HANDLER
The comic and talk show host's humor is edgier and racier than even Kathy Griffin's -- little wonder gays are flocking to her as well. Heather McDonald opens. Saturday, March 27, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. D.A.R. Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. Tickets are $53.50 to $73.50. Call 202-628-1776 or visit dar.org/conthall. Handler will also read from her new book riffing on her life and career, Chelsea Cheslea Bang Bang, Saturday, March 27, at 3 p.m. Borders Books & Music, 1801 K St. NW. Call 202-466-4999 or visit borders.com.

MARC MARON
A standup regular and formerly a radio host for the now-defunct Air America, Maron is now developing a show for Comedy Central, inspired by his popular podcast, WTF with Marc Maron. Monday, March 22, at 8 p.m. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20. Call 202-667-4490 or visit blackcatdc.com.

MO'NIQUE
Fresh off winning an Oscar, the Precious co-star returns to her career in standup that earned her early support from gays with her ribald riffs on sex, such as those in the 2001 film The Queens of Comedy. And her stop at Constitution Hall is almost a homecoming for the Baltimore County native. Saturday, March 20, at 8 p.m. D.A.R. Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. Tickets are $39.50 to $59.50. Call 202-628-1776 or visit dar.org/conthall.

WASHINGTON IMPROV THEATER'S F.I.S.T.
This theater's Fighting Improv Smackdown Tournament returns for its fourth year with 44 teams -- 132 improvisers -- battling in matches over six weekends to be crowned improv champion, as determined by the audience and judges. One of WIT's standing troupes -- onesixtyone, Jackie, Caveat, Season Six or JINX -- performs at each match. The tournament continues every week Thursday through Saturday until the final match April 10. Source, 1835 14th St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-204-7760 or visit washingtonimprovtheater.com.

MARTHA NUSSBAUM
The University of Chicago law and philosophy professor presents a passionate case for sexual freedom, especially same-sex relationships, in Hiding from Humanity: Disgust, Shame and the Law. Disgust, argues Nussbaum, has been the driving force behind civil legislation and public opinion, but compassion, powered by imagination, is just as natural a reaction. Thursday, March 25, at 7 p.m. Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-364-1919 or visit politics-prose.com.

MASTERS OF MCNALLY: ACTORS ON TERRENCE MCNALLY
In this moderated discussion, actors Zoe Caldwell, Audra McDonald and Richard Thomas reflect on the joys and the challenges in presenting the art of one of the great modern playwrights, the gay Terrence McNally. This discussion is part of the Kennedy Center's current Nights at the Opera series of staged McNally plays. Monday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Family Theater. Tickets are $15. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

WALTER MOSLEY
The mystery writer and recipient of PEN America's Lifetime Achievement Award reads from The Long Fall, which introduces a new mystery series focused on Manhattan private investigator Leonid McGill. Friday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. Folger Elizabethan Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $15. Call 202-544-7077 or visit folger.edu.

WYATT O'BRIAN EVANS
The author reads from Nothing Can Tear Us Apart in an event sponsored by the gay charity Helping Our Brothers and Sisters. Saturday, March 20, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The DC Center, 1810 14th St. NW. Call 202-682-2245 or visit www.helpingourbrothersandsisters.com.

UP: PETE DOCTOR
Writer/Director Pete Docter will discuss his Oscar-winning Disney/Pixar film after a screening as part of the Environmental Film Festival. If you missed this in the theater last year, here's another chance to see it on a big screen. Saturday, March 20, at 1 p.m. National Geographic Society's Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M St. NW. Tickets are $5. Call 202-857-7700 or visit nglive.org.

SLDN'S NATIONAL DINNER
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Penn.), lead sponsor of the House's effort to repeal ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'' is the keynote speaker at Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's 18th annual national dinner ''Freedom to Serve,'' where actor Michelle Clunie from Showtime's Queer As Folk also appears. Saturday, March 20, starting at 6:30 p.m. The National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets start at $250. Visit sldn.org/dinner.

1708 GALLERY
With their exhibition ''Forest For The Trees,'' video artist Dana Sperry and painter Chad Erpelding challenge the viewer to look at the effect of globalization on the individual. To March 27. 1708 Gallery, 319 W. Broad St. Richmond. Call 804-643-1708 or visit 1708gallery.org.

AARON GALLERY
''Transcending the Physical Realm: The Abstractions of Javier Cabada'' is an ongoing exhibition of paintings by the abstract expressionist painter Cabada, a D.C.-based artist originally from Spain. Now to March 31. Aaron Gallery, 1717 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-234-3311 or visit aarongallerydc.com.

BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART
''Cézanne and American Modernism'' is the first exhibition to reveal how a small group of pioneering American artists, including photographers Stieglitz and Paul Strand, championed and drew influence from the French master Cézanne before he gained international prominence. Through May 23. Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore. Tickets are $15. Call 443-573-1700 or visit artbma.org.

CITY GALLERY
Yet another art gallery in the bustling H Street NE corridor, this new gallery focuses on the work of local artists, with art pieces at reasonable prices. Over 20 local painters, sculptors, photographers, engravers and printmakers will be represented in this gallery, including Geoff Ault, Ellen Cornett, Tara Hamilton, Martha Huizenga, Ronnie Spiewak and Waly Szyndler. On exhibit through March 28. City Gallery, 804 H St. NE #1. Call 202-468-5277 or visit citygallerydc.com.

CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART
''Turner to Cézanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection, National Museum Wales'' is a collection of 19th century and early 20th century Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, many of which have rarely been exhibited outside of Wales, including masterpieces by Cézanne, Corot, Daumier, Manet, Millet, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Turner and Van Gogh. Through April 25. Corcoran Gallery, 500 17th St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-639-1700 or visit corcoran.org.

DCJCC'S ANDY WARHOL EXHIBITION
In tandem with a new play on the subject, Washington, D.C.'s Jewish Community Center offers this exhibit of silkscreen prints of famous Jews by the late gay New York artist Andy Warhol. Produced in 1980, ''Andy Warhol's Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century in Retrospect'' depicted such luminaries as Albert Einstein, George Gershwin, Gertrude Stein and Golda Meir, selected by New York, Washington and Israeli art dealers and curators. At the time, it was panned by critics as ''crassly exploitative.'' In addition to the original prints themselves, the exhibition features reproductions of the photographs on which Warhol based his artworks as well as media coverage of the original exhibition. Through May 2. Washington, D.C.'s Jewish Community Center's Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery, 1529 16th St. NW. Free and open to the public. Call 202-518-9400 or visit washingtondcjcc.org.

EVOLVE URBAN ART GALLERY
Photographer Erica Riccardelli's new exhibit ''Orchestrated Misbehavior'' focuses on sex, death and forest frivolity. To March 27. Evolve Urban Arts Project, Pierce School Loft J, 1375 Maryland Ave. NE. Call 202-489-8160 or visit art.evolvedc.com.

FRASER GALLERY
The 9th Annual International Photography Competition is a group exhibition of photographs by the finalists of this annual competition, curated by Catriona Fraser with a grand prize of $500, and an additional $450 in prizes. On exhibit to April 3. Fraser Gallery, 7700 Wisconsin Ave. Bethesda. Call 301-718-9651 or visit thefrasergallery.com.

GALLERY PLAN B
''Persona Grata'' features figurative works in painting, photography and sculpture by Timothy Johnson, Shelley Laffal, Keith Clark, Gordon Binder, Chad States, Robert Dodge, Melissa Widerkehr, Andrew Criss, Joshua Hughes and Miassimo Righini. On exhibit through April 11. Gallery Plan B, 1530 14th St. NW. Call 202-234-2711 or visit galleryplanb.com.

GARY FISHER GALLERY
This new gallery, a joint project of Gary Fisher Studios and Hounshell Real Estate, focuses on both established and emerging local contemporary artists. The first exhibit, ''Surroundings,'' features the work of Louis Bowers, Jill Finsen, Gary Fisher, Roberta Gottesman, Nelson Milder, Nancy Varipapa and Liz Wallen. To May 1. Gary Fisher Gallery, 1506 14th St. NW. Call 202-669-4226 or visit fishergallery.com.

GOETHE-INSTITUT WASHINGTON
''Roads and Paths: Photography by Bernhard Fuchs'' explores a sense of quietness and deep intimacy in this German-based Austrian's landscape photographs. On exhibit through this Friday, March 19. Geothe-Institut Washington, The German Cultural Center, 812 Seventh St. NW. Call 202-289-1200 or visit goethe.de/washington.

HAMILTONIAN GALLERY
Linda Hesh's ''In The Garden'' explores traditional ideas of gender disparity through images inspired by the Garden of Eden tale of Eve and the apple. Joining Hesh in a group show at this gallery are Alex Kondner, Bryan Rojsuontikul and Ian MacLean. Through this Saturday, March 20. Hamiltonian Gallery, 1353 U St. NW. Call 202-332-1116 or visit hamiltoniangallery.com.

HILLWOOD MUSEUM & GARDENS
''Sèvres Then And Now: Tradition and Innovation in Porcelain, 1750-2000'' is the first exhibition in America to present together the earliest Sèvres pieces alongside the contemporary works of the 20th and 21st centuries, and to explore fully how continuous innovation propelled Sèvres to become the preeminent porcelain factory. Through May 30. Hillwood Estate, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested donation is $12. Call 202-686-8500 or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.

HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GARDEN
''Josef Albers: Innovation and Inspiration'' presents nearly 70 works spanning the German artist's 55-year career (1917-1973) many on view for the first time. Albers was part of the revolutionary Bauhaus school until the Nazis came to power, when he continued his modern art in America, eventually becoming chair of the art school at Yale University. Through April 11. Hirshhorn Museum, Independence Avenue and 7th Street SW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit hirshhorn.si.edu.

INDUSTRY GALLERY'S EXHIBIT BY TEJO REMY & RENE VEENHUIZEN
The gay-owned gallery presents its second show, focused on the work of Dutch designer Remy and his design partner Veenhuizen, known for using simple materials in strikingly original ways and avoiding designing with computer assistance. ''Hands On'' premiers a prototype for a new series of poured concrete furniture, as well as other works created from bamboo, tennis balls and old woolen blankets. Opening reception Saturday, March 20, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Through May 8. Industry Gallery, 1358 Florida Ave. NE, 2nd Fl. Call 202-399-1730 or visit industrygallerydc.com.

INTERNATIONAL VISIONS GALLERY
D.C. artist Michael Platt fuses digital and conventional photography, drawing and printmaking in work exploring the human condition, particularly that of the history and experiences of African and African Diaspora culture. ''In Abandoned Places,'' he presents discarded spaces, from a bare forest, a drained fountain to a crumbing room, where memories echo. Through this Saturday, March 20. International Visions Gallery, 2629 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-234-5112 or visit inter-visions.com.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
Through remarkable acuity, exhaustive study and close relationships with the artists, Robert and Jane Meyerhoff amassed one of the most outstanding collections of modern art, with an emphasis on six American masters: Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Brice Marden, Robert Rauschenberg and Frank Stella. This gallery presents select works from the collection. Through May 2. National Gallery of Art East Building, 3rd Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Call 202-737-4215 or visit nga.gov.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
The much-hyped ''Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor'' exhibit focuses on just 15 out of the thousands of life-size clay figures buried nearly 2,000 years ago in massive underground pits to accompany China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, into the afterlife. Their discovery outside the city of Xi'an in 1974 is one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century, and this exhibit is the largest collection of significant artifacts from China ever to travel to the United States. Through March 31. National Geographic Society, 1145 17th St. NW. Tickets are $12. Call 202-857-7700 or visit warriorsdc.com.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
''IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas'' is a 20-panel banner exhibition focused on the interactions between African-American and Native-American people, especially those of blended heritage. Through May 23. National Museum of the American Indian, Independence Avenue & 4th Street SW. Call 202-633-1000 or visit nmai.si.edu. RENWICK GALLERY This Smithsonian American Art Museum branch museum presents ''The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-1946.'' The exhibit features more than 120 art objects, most on loan from former internees or their families, and presents historical context through archival photographs, artifacts and documentary films related to the internment experience. On exhibit through Jan. 30, 2011. Renwick Gallery's Grand Salon, 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Free. Call 202-633-1000 or visit americanart.si.edu/renwick.

SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM
A collaboration with the Library of Congress, ''Framing the West: The Survey Photographs of Timothy H. O'Sullivan'' is the first major exhibition devoted to O'Sullivan in three decades. Through May 9. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Sts. NW. Free. Call 202-633-1000 or visit americanart.si.edu.

STUDIO GALLERY
In ''Mindful of Morani,'' painter Bud Hensgen captures the simplicity and elegance of Giorgio Morandi's famous bottles and bowls, and explores why they fascinate and comfort us. Fifty percent of Hensgen's proceeds go to Doctors without Borders' efforts in Haiti. On exhibit through March 27. Studio Gallery, 2108 R St. NW. Call 202-232-8734 or visit studiogallerydc.com. THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION
''Georgia O'Keeffe: Abstractions'' is a new exhibit featuring over 70 paintings, drawings and watercolors by O'Keeffe as well as a selection of close-up photographic portraits of the artist by Alfred Stieglitz. Through May 9. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets $12. Call 202-387-2151 or visit phillipscollection.org.

THE TEXTILE MUSEUM
"Contemporary Japanese Fashion: The Collection of Mary Baskett'' pulls visitors into the fashion revolution begun by top Japanese designers Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo through the display of these dynamic garments from the wardrobe of Baskett, an art dealer and former curator at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Through April 11. The Textile Museum, 2320 S St. NW. Tickets are $55, with advance registration required. Call 202-667-0441 or visit textilemuseum.org.

WASHINGTON STUDIO SCHOOL
This Dupont nonprofit announces a lecture by American University art professor Don Kimes, who also has a current exhibition at the Katzen Museum. In ''Before and After the Flood," Kimes talks about the loss of his home, studio and much of his work through a 2003 flood. A Q&A follows. Friday, March 26, at 7 p.m. Washington Studio School, 2129 S St. NW. Tickets are free but reservations required. Call 202-234-3030 or visit washingtonstudioschool.org.

WOODROW WILSON HOUSE
A selection of over 30 of President Woodrow Wilson's most prized walking sticks feature in ''My Third Leg: Woodrow Wilson's Walking Sticks.'' These important artifacts tell the story of Wilson's life from his early years as a professor and later president of Princeton University, through his two terms in the White House, to his final struggle with disability. Through Aug. 15. Woodrow Wilson House, 2340 S St. NW. Admission to the House costs $7.50, including a guided tour. Call 202-387-4062 or visit WoodrowWilsonhouse.org.

ZENITH GALLERY
Inspired by years as a U.S. Marine lieutenant colonel living in Korea, David Richardson's ''The Soul of Seoul'' paintings reflect the city's street symbols. Extended through March. Chevy Chase Pavilion, 5535 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Call 202-783-2963 or visit zenithgallery.com.

G-40: THE SUMMIT
Intended as an artistic equivalent to the G-20 political summit, this first annual arts summit, sponsored by the Crystal City Business Improvement District and Vornado and curated by Art Whino, features over 400 participating contemporary artists presenting a wide variety of works -- from sculpture to paintings to photography to mixed-media. And it's all displayed throughout four floors of a Crystal City office building made over to be a progressive contemporary exhibition space. There will also be visual and musical performances. Summit continues Wednesdays through Sundays in March. At 223 23rd St., Arlington. Tickets are free. Visit crystalcity.org for more details.

RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY
The circus comes back to town with ''Zing Zang Zoom,'' intended as a thrill-filled, mind-blowing circus spectacular lead by ''Zingmaster'' Alex and his assistant Levitytia, featuring a four-ton elephant, a ferocious tiger, aerialists, human cannonballs, hire-wire walkers and a ''never-before-seen Quadruple Russian Fire-Swing,'' and more. Thursday, March 18, through Sunday, March 21. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. Also Thursday, March 25, through April 4. Patriot Center at George Mason University, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, Va. Tickets are $14 to $110. Call 202-397-SEAT or 703-573-SEAT or visit ticketmaster.com.

SONDHEIM'S 80TH BIRTHDAY WEEKEND
Stephen Sondheim turns 80 on March 22, so who better to throw him a free, weekend-long celebration than the theater company esteeming him more than most? The gay composer/lyricist (A Little Night Music, Company, Sunday in the Park with George) will miss his own party at Arlington's Signature Theatre, but all his fans should come out anyway, checking out the lobby performances, a backstage tour of the current Sweeney Todd production, film screenings of other Sondheim collaborations, including Gypsy and West Side Story, actor discussions and a critic forum, and all culminating in a sing-along and birthday cake ceremony. There will also be a raffle for a pair of tickets to next month's Sondheim Award Gala with Angela Lansbury -- where the stage master will appear. Saturday, March 20, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 21, from 12:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Free. Call 703-820-9771 or visit signature-theatre.org for full schedule of events.

TEAM DC FASHION SHOW AND MODEL SEARCH
The popular annual event raises funds for the LGBT sports association's College Scholarship Program, which this year will award two scholarships of $2,000 each to an LGBT graduating high school senior. The fashion show features 13 models in club wear, swimsuit, underwear and leather/sports/fetish competitions, with a grand prize of $500 cash, a professional photo shoot with Robert Mercer and the opportunity to be a finalist for consideration in the 2011 Ripped Genes calendar. Saturday, March 20, at 8:15 p.m. Town Danceboutique, 2009 8th NW. Cover is $10. Call 202-234-TOWN or visit teamdc.org.

VLADIMIR FELTSMAN
Part of the ''Conversations With Legends'' series, the Russian-American pianist, conductor and teacher will sit down for a conversation about his accomplishments. Saturday, March 27, at 7 p.m. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 600 I St. NW. Tickets are $19.50. Call 202-408-3100 or visit sixthandi.org.

18TH & U DUPLEX DINER

2004 18th St. NW
 Washington 
202-265-9599 Cost: $$ Perched on the border of the Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle neighborhoods, Duplex Diner has long served as a lively and casual gathering spot for D.C.'s gay movers and shakers. The dining room is as social as the bar, with much table hopping and hobnobbing. The food is classic American comfort -- a generous meatloaf, a terrific mac and cheese, unbeatable pork chops and a savory rib eye -- that adds to the at-home-with-friends feel.

1409 PLAYBILL CAFÉ
1409 14th St. NW Washington 202-265-3055 Cost: $$ Serving harried theatergoers and local barflies with the same aplomb, this 10-year-old Logan Circle stalwart is the perfect answer, whether hearty bar fare or a multi-course dinner are on your personal menu. Generous nachos and Playbill's signature "Naomi's Fries" star on the appetizer menu, while nearly every entrée offering will have you yelling "encore!" -- and loosening your belt a notch. Vegetarian options on this mostly traditional American-fare menu abound, while regular dinner specials expand the offerings with flavors from more exotic locales.

ANNIE'S PARAMOUNT STEAK HOUSE
1609 17th St. NW Washington 202-232-0395 Cost: $$ Annie's is a mix of modern meets comfortable and not a lick of pretension, be it morning, noon or late night -- 24 hours a day on weekends. While steak is what made Annie's famous -- we salivate particularly for the filet mignon Oscar, with crab imperial and Béarnaise -- lighter fare abounds these days. Make a meal of the Greek supreme salad with beef tips or grilled chicken, go for the blackened-salmon sandwich, or pass an hour at the bar enjoying one of Annie's signature Manhattans with some Maryland crab-cake sliders.

ALBERTO'S
2010 P St. NW 2438 18th St. NW Washington 202-986-2121 Cost: $ Quality can be found at any price. On the low-end of the financial spectrum, Alberto's definitely delivers quality. Alberto De Souza, who owns the two-outlet Alberto's with his wife, Jillian, combines his Chicago-trained sensibility and French influences -- by way of serving as Sofitel Washington's executive chef -- in a stone oven. The result? ''Go Bears!,'' if you go Chicago style, or c'est magnifique! for a, say, thin crust with goat cheese and capers. By the pie, it's the perfect rustic dinner in, or the soothing nightcap slice as you stumble home. Free delivery around Dupont and Adams Morgan.

BANANA CAFE & PIANO BAR
500 8th St. SE Washington 202-543-5906 Cost: $$ When at the vibrant, festive Banana Cafe, do as any visiting Cuban would do -- order up yourself a sub-style Cuban Sandwich, packed with tender, juicy sliced roast pork loin, honey baked ham and swiss cheese. Even better, go for a Cuban Pizza, smothered with ground beef, pork, plantains and mozzarella cheese. The restaurant, owned and operated by artist Jorge Zamorano, prides itself on its authentic Cuban and Puerto Rican cuisine, but it also traverses Tex-Mex and Tapas territory, offering a tangy ceviche, cod fish fritters, quesadillas, nachos, tacos, burritos, and a terrific trio of Empanadas (beef, chicken, seafood). But no matter which way you go with your food, make sure not to miss Banana's Mojito. Cigars notwithstanding, it's as close to Cuban perfection as you'll ever get.

BEACON BAR & GRILL
1615 Rhode Island Ave. NW Washington 202-872-1126 Cost: $$ Nothing says gay venue like a great happy-hour bar menu -- $5 apiece for mini burgers, crab quesadillas and plenty more. Then there's the elaborate Sunday buffet brunch, with unlimited mimosas, champagne or Bloody Marys; the Saturday night prix fixe wine dinners; or Tuesday's three-course pasta dinners. From bar fare to eggs Benedict, Beacon Bar & Grill hits every appetite. Sneak up to the rooftop Beacon Martini Sky Bar, when open, for one the best views around.

CAFE BERLIN
322 Massachusetts Ave. NE Washington 202-543-7656 Cost: $$ For more than 20 years, the German owners and chefs of Café Berlin on Capitol Hill have faithfully recreated an authentically Deutsch dining experience, while respecting American sensibilities by aiming for a slightly lighter interpretation. The seafood menu, on the other hand, while offering a lighter touch, is more a nod to modern German cuisine than to anything that might've passed gay pioneer Magnus Hirschfeld's turn-of-the-last-century lips. There's the "Land and Sea," for example, offering beef tornados and shrimp fresh from a yogurt, mint and ginger marinade on a bed of pineapple risotto; or the grilled ahi tuna with a wasabi cream sauce. Of course, if you've a hankering for a hearty dose of German classics, never fear. You can feast upon Café Berlin's saurbraten, schnitzel or wurstplatte year round. Enjoy a nice Riesling with the lighter fare, while the bar's variety of German beers will undoubtedly have a nice pairing for the classical dishes. To end without biting into one of Café Berlin's expertly crafted pastries would be a monumental mistake.

D.C. NOODLES
1410 U St. NW Washington 202-232-8424 Cost: $$ D.C. Noodles is focused on churning out delectable dishes of fresh ingredients in unexpected combinations. Asian pumpkin factors into at least two standouts on the menu: Crispy, dense pumpkin empanadas and the red curry chicken with pumpkin and spinach linguini. There are several enticing noodle salads, featuring bean sprouts and string beans. Wash it all down with an earthy saketini or a heavenly Kaffir lime martini. Whatever you do, don't skip the dessert course of cold, coconut ice cream and warm, sticky rice. It's a match made in carb heaven.

DUPONT ITALIAN KITCHEN
1637 17th St. NW Washington 202-328-3222 Cost: $$ Dupont Italian Kitchen has held down its comfortable perch at the southeast corner of 17th and R streets NW, where it's served reliable, hearty Italian fare that's kept its customers satisfied for 23 years. The menu is full-on Italian -- no surprises here -- but there are some wonderful standouts, including Fettucini Alfredo, its broad, al dente noodles swimming in a velvety cream sauce. And really, you can't go wrong with D.I.K.'s gooey cheese manicotti or robust lasagna. If, however, you're in the mood for something extra special, try the Chicken Francaise, boneless breasts lightly sauteed in a piquant garlic and lemon butter. Dupont Italian Kitchen also serves a decent pizza, a smattering of parmagiana-inspired sandwiches, and a special brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays.

FLORIANA
1602 17th St. NW Washington 202-667-5937 Cost: $$ Floriana offers Old World charm for a New World clientele. From its romantic dining area to its chipper service, the effect is to make you feel at home, part of one big happy family. Whatever you do, don't come here while on a diet, because the rich sauces and delicious pasta made by hand are not to be missed, especially Floriana's classic lasagna. Or try the mouth-watering homemade meatballs and linguini. The restaurant also turns out a nice rack of lamb, while shrimp and scallops are served with a decadent cheese risotto that melts in your mouth.

FREDDIE'S BEACH BAR & RESTAURANT
555 South 23rd St. Crystal City 703-685-0555 Cost: $$ Perched atop Crystal City's restaurant row for over seven years, Freddie's is a beachside oasis that'll warm you up and take you to the shore no matter what the weather. The extensive menu features an array of hearty appetizers, burgers and entrées. The crab cakes are some of the best we've had and the roasted half-chicken with au gratin potatoes is flat-out delicious. And the surf and turf is a bona fide crowd pleaser. Don't miss Wednesday night's $6 burger special or Sunday's brunch buffet, offering everything from eggs Benedict to General Tso's chicken.

JACK'S
1527 17th St. NW Washington 202-332-6767 Cost: $$ With a mix of European flair and American simplicity -- peppered with a dash of Turkish exoticism -- Jack's draws festive crowds to both the bar and bistro. Half-price bottles of wine/champagne on Tuesdays and Thursdays doesn't hurt, especially when paired with fare that ranges from burgers to pork loin al balsamico. Bon vivants will certainly appreciate the ambitious cocktail menu and Jack's unique birthday celebrations.

LEVEL ONE
1639 R St. NW Washington 202-745-0025 Cost: $$ With tasteful, inviting décor, and just as tasteful, inviting food, Level One, the youngest addition to 17th Street's famous restaurant row, has quickly become one of its darlings. The menu is diverse, 21st century-style American, and the charming and amicable servers guide you to the best things, from the best bottle of wine to the best way to top a popular Level One burger -- the Southern way, with bacon, BBQ sauce and cheddar. Now that it's warming up, the Level One outdoor patio -- perfect for people-watching -- should soon be bustling.

M STREET BAR & GRILL
2033 M St. NW Washington 202-530-3621 Cost: $$ Sundays at the M Street Bar & Grill are an institution, where table-service brunch and endless mimosas/Bloody Marys are the rule. Yvonne Johnson's jazz accompaniment is the perfect aural digestif with brunch or Thursday dinner. All menus offer solidly American fare with hints of the Middle East and soul cooking at the edges. The two-course dinner for two for $40 makes for a great date -- especially so considering the rooms and suites of the St. Gregory Hotel fill the floors above the restaurant, for those wanting to add their own spice.

NELLIE'S SPORTS BAR
900 U St. NW Washington 202-332-6355 Cost: $$ Nellie's is popular for its big-screen TVs and huge rooftop patio overlooking U Street. But when you want to eat, you don't have to stick to the typical sports-bar staples of burgers, hot dogs and fries. In fact, the real draws on the menu are the Latin-derived dishes. For pub grub, try one of Chef Maria's empanadas or an arepa, a Venezuelan corn muffin puffier and heartier than a pita, stuffed with either delicious chicken salad and avocado or shredded criollo chicken.

SABORES
3435B Connecticut Ave. NW Washington 202-244-7196 Cost: $$ In the cold months, the mid-Atlantic crowds long for warmer days. In the hot months, District residents often wish they could ditch the grey suits and head to a city that beats the heat with siestas and nighttime salsas. Sabores in Cleveland Park fills both bills, with Spanish sophistication and South American sizzle. Traipse your way through an array of hot and cold tapas -- ham croquettes or an anchovy salad? -- in Catalan fashion, or just dive into a full Argentinean steak with the requisite chimichurri. And don't forget the creative desserts, including a mojito sorbet. Go south of the equator and pair your meal with rounds of caiparinhas, or stick with Spain's signature sangria. And if you do, but sure to ditch the car and take advantage of Sabores's one-block proximity to the Cleveland Park Metro.