FILM

LOVE, GILDA
Back in the ’70s, when Saturday Night Live was in its infancy — and still fresh — Gilda Radner stood out as one of the show’s most vibrant lights. Her most iconic characters — Emily Litella, Lisa Loopner, and Roseanne Roseannadanna — were nuggets of explosive comic joy, although her transition to movies was less than smooth, with several of them directed by and co-starring her husband, Gene Wilder. (Radner had better success with a one-woman show on Broadway.) Without question, her untimely death in 1989 robbed the world of one of the greats. The film features interviews with Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Laraine Newman, Paul Shaffer, and Martin Short. Now playing at Landmark’s E Street Cinema.

NORTH BY NORTHWEST

One of Hitchcock’s most ambitious, entertaining works, North by Northwest tells the story of an Madison Avenue ad man (Cary Grant) who is mistaken for a CIA operative by some very bad men, led by the silken-voiced James Mason. Eva Marie Saint steps into the role of blonde femme fatale, and a thin, equine Martin Landau is chilling as Mason’s number one (and yes, there is a distinct whiff of homoeroticism between the pair). The movie is known for its larger-than-life set pieces, including a silent seven-minute stunner set in a cornfield and ending with a huge ball of fire, and a breathtaking romp atop Mount Rushmore. Bernard Herrmann’s memorable score all but shoves the action forward and Saul Bass’s clever, geometric opening credits rank with his finest. North by Northwest is one of those movies you never tire of watching. Part of the Capital Classics series at Landmark’s West End Cinema. Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 1:30, 4:30, and 7:30 p.m., 2301 M St. NW. Happy hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $12.50. Call 202-534-1907 or visit landmarktheatres.com.

RA XTRA: MANMADE

T Cooper’s documentary profiles four contestants at Trans FitCon, the world’s only transgender bodybuilding competition. The movie delves headfirst into the heart of transgender male culture, revealing unexpected truths about gender, masculinity, humanity and love. Part of Reel Affirmations’ monthly screening series, RA Xtra. Friday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. at the HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Tickets are $12, or $25 for VIP seating as well as one complimentary cocktail, beer or wine and popcorn. Call 202-682-2245 or visit thedccenter.org.

STAGE

BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL

Adventure Theatre presents a world-premiere adaptation of the classic book by Robert McCloskey, in recognition of its 70th anniversary of publication. A co-commission with New York City’s Children’s Theatre, the work was written by Sandra Eskin and Adventure’s Michael J. Bobbitt and features music and lyrics by William Yanesh. Directed by Jess Jung. To Oct. 21. Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Tickets are $20. Call 301-634-2270 or visit adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

BORN YESTERDAY

Garson Kanin’s sharp-edged screwball comedy may be 70 years old, but it resonates all too well with the Washington of today. The story focuses on an opportunistic tycoon seeking to game the Washington system — but the plans are sabotaged by his girlfriend and her alliance with an idealistic reporter pushing back to end corruption. Aaron Posner directs Edward Gero and Kimberly Gilbert in a lavish production bolstered by Daniel Lee Conway’s set, a glamorous two-level hotel suite with striking architectural details. To Oct. 21. Ford’s, 511 10th St. NW. Tickets are $17 to $64. Call 800-982-2787 or visit fords.org.

DANCING AT LUGHNASA

Irish playwright Brian Friel’s wistful memory play tells the story of five unmarried sisters living in a small Irish village in 1936 and facing life’s challenges with resolve and persistence. The show is wise, warm, funny, and, being Irish in heritage, ultimately bathed in sorrow. Everyman Theatre’s production is helmed by Amber Paige McGinnis and stars Megan Anderson, Danny Gavigan, Tim Getman, Annie Grier, Bari Hochwald, and Labhaoise Magee. To Oct. 7. Everyman Theatre, 15 W. Fayette Street in Baltimore. Tickets are $10 to $65. Visit everymantheatre.org or call 410-752-2208.

GLORIA

A play focused on the cutthroat world of New York’s publishing industry, and specifically the Millennial editorial assistants chasing the dream of getting a book deal before they turn 30. Extended to Oct. 7. Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW. Tickets range from $20 to $69. Call 202-393-3939 or visit woollymammoth.net.

HEISENBERG

A chance encounter at a London train stop changes the course of life for two people in this tender, funny, intimate comedy from Tony Award-winner Simon Stephens (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time). Michael Russotto and Rachel Zampelli star. Joe Calarco directs. To Nov. 11. Ark Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org.

HOW TO WIN A RACE WAR

A parody of white supremacist “race war” fiction, Ian Allen’s play spans more than three centuries of civilization for an epic journey that is part-satire, part-exposé, and part horror show — depicting slave rebellions, skinheads, and a liberal dystopian future, and even featuring song-and-dance numbers. Presented by the D.C. theater collective The Klunch, the world-premiere production has a large 12-person cast including Kevin Boudreau, Kim Curtis, Tony Greenberg, Connor Padilla, and Ned Read, with voice work by Christopher Henley and B. Stanley. Weekends to Oct. 20. District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC), 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are $25 to $40. Call 866-811-4111 or visit theklunch.com.

IF I FORGET

A modern Jewish family is fracturing in this political and deeply personal play — and also a hyper-local one, written by Tony-winning Bethesda-native Steven Levenson, who wrote the book for Dear Evan Hansen. Set in Tenleytown, a piece of 14th Street real estate owned by the family becomes a sticking point — should they keep or sell the property? Matt Torney directs Richard Fancy, Susan Rome, Jonathan Goldstein, Robin Abramson, Julie-Ann Elliott, Paul Morella, and Joshua Otten. To Oct. 14. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW. Call 202-332-3300 or visit studiotheatre.org.

LABOUR OF LOVE

A clever mashup of the political gamesmanship of The West Wing with a war-of-the-sexes saga akin to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, James Graham’s Olivier Award-winning comedy is set in a member of Parliament’s district office and pokes witty fun at the ups and downs of left-wing British politics. Leora Morris directs Olney’s production, which features M. Scott McLean and Julia Coffey. To Oct. 28. Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE

★★★½

Love, sorrow, and longing are folded into the plot and into each delectable dish described in Mexican author Laura Esquivel’s beloved 1989 novel Como Agua para Chocolate. That bittersweet recipe produced an equally popular film, directed by Esquivel’s ex-husband Alfonso Arau, and now begets a theatrical adaptation, care of Spanish playwright Garbi Losada. Making its U.S. premiere at GALA Hispanic Theatre under the assured direction of Olga Sánchez, Como Agua para Chocolate captures the poetry and magical realism that have stirred fans of the story’s previous incarnations. In Spanish with English surtitles. To Oct. 7. GALA Theatre at Tivoli Square, 3333 14th St. NW. Tickets are $25 to $48. Call 202-234-7174 or visit galatheatre.org. (Andre Hereford)

LINCOLNESQUE

Keegan Theatre remounts a thoroughly Washington play it first presented in 2009, about a speechwriter for a mediocre Congressman headed for defeat who enlists his brother, a psychiatric outpatient convinced he is the reincarnation of the 16th U.S. president, to write great oratory. Directed by Colin Smith, Keegan’s remount of John Strand’s comedy features original cast members Susan Marie Rhea, Stan Shulman, and Michael Innocenti. A post-show discussion featuring Strand is on Sunday, Sept. 30. Runs to Oct. 14. 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are $36 to $46. Call 202-265-3768 or visit keegantheatre.com.

LYSISTRATA

Sarah Ruden’s adaptation of the Greek farce by Aristophanes focuses on the titular heroine’s ploy to end a never-ending cycle of war by convincing the women of Greece to withhold sex until the men agree to a truce. Michael Blum and Darlene Harris co-direct a cast of local amateurs led by Amy Heller as Lysistrata. Weekends to Oct. 14. Spotlighters, 817 St. Paul St., Baltimore. Tickets are $21 to $24, or just $10 for “Ten Spot Thursday” on Sept. 27. Call 410-752-1225 or visit spotlighters.org.

MARIE AND ROSETTA

Mosaic Theater Company launches its fourth season with George Brant’s empowering play with songs highlighting the talents of Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight, two under-appreciated black music legends. Sandra L. Holloway directs a production starring Helen Hayes Award-winning actress Roz White (Studio Theatre’s Bessie’s Blues) as Tharpe, the queer black woman who all but invented rock ‘n’ roll, while Ayana Reed takes on the role of Tharpe’s young protege Knight. Music direction comes from e’Marcus Harper-Short. Closes Sunday, Sept. 30. The Lang Theatre in the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $50 to $68. Call 202-399-7993 or visit mosaictheater.org.

MERMAID

When nine-year-old Everett tells her family she’s a girl, their good liberal values are put to the test in a lyrical, thought-provoking meditation on gender identity from playwright Andrew Rosendorf. Signature Theatre presents a free reading of the work as part of its SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Readings series, an initiative that highlights and supports the work of regional playwrights. Monday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. Ali’s Bar, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Call 703-820-9771 or visit sigtheatre.org.

MOTHER ROAD

Baltimore playwright Peter Davis premieres the latest in his Parlor Play series, presented in an immersive and intimate environment in which there is a far less divide between the actors and audience than traditional theater. Following the performance, the playwright, performers, and audience engage in a discussion centered on the 30-minute one-act play, a drama set in the politically volatile year of 1968 and focused on a Vietnam vet who has returned home and is struggling to reconnect to his high school sweetheart, who found her voice, her womanhood, and her desire in his absence. Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, at 7 and 9 p.m. The Old Church on Falls, 3649 Falls Rd., Hampden, Md. Tickets are $10. Search “Mother Road” in the Baltimore section of eventbrite.com.

PRAMKICKER

Sadie Hasler’s drama concerns two sisters who are both childless and burdened, to different degrees, by that status. A hit several years ago at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Pramkicker comes to D.C. in a Taffety Punk Theatre production directed by Linda Lombardi and starring Tonya Beckman and Esther Williamson. The show tackles serious issues, including discussions of sexual assault and abortion, with humor and wit. Remaining performances are Thursday, Sept. 27, and Friday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 29, at 3 and 8 p.m. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE. Tickets are $15. Call 202-547-6839 or visit taffetypunk.com.

SOUTH PACIFIC

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific has its dated aspects, in form as well as content, but it is also brimming with early pop hits-cum-American Songbook standards (“Some Enchanted Evening,” “Bali Ha’i”). And then there’s the show’s anti-racist messaging, which remains satisfying and notable, particularly in light of the contrast of how provocatively ahead-of-their-time they were back in the day — a key reason the show won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950. It was the second of only nine musicals to be so honored to date. To Oct. 7. Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Call 301-924-3400 or visit olneytheatre.org.

STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Port Tobacco Players kicks off its 70th season as a community theater in southern Maryland’s Charles County with Robert Harling’s comedy about six Southern friends who harangue, needle, and ultimately support each other in times of crisis. Brimming with sweetness and sass, heart and compassion, Steel Magnolias really takes the cake — a giant Armadillo cake, in fact. Weekends to Oct. 7. 508 Charles St., La Plata, Md. Tickets are $15 to $18. Call 301-932-6819 or visit ptplayers.com.

SUMMERLAND

The Washington Stage Guild presents Arlitia Jones’ drama relaying the mysterious but true tale of William H. Mumler, a spirit photographer with a talent for capturing haunting images from the world beyond the veil. Set in the years after the Civil War, Summerland focuses on Mumler’s booming business of contacting the dead for mourners, and the city marshal who wants to prove the photographer is a fraud. Starring Yury Lomakin, Rachel Felstein, and Steven Carpenter. Kasi Campbell directs. To Oct. 21. Undercroft Theatre of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Tickets are $30 to $60. Call 240-582-0050 or visit stageguild.org.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

Shakespeare’s early comedy of mistaken identities involves two sets of twins and an ocean of confusion. Veanne Cox, Nancy Robinette, Tom Story, Ted van Griethuysen, Sarah Marshall, and Eleasha Gamble head a large, gifted cast. Directed by Alan Paul. To Oct. 28. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW. Call 202-547-1122 or visit shakespearetheatre.org.

THE EVENTS

In the wake of a mass shooting, a lone survivor yearns to find the compassion, understanding, and peace she needs to overcome her trauma — but thoughts and visions of the shooter haunt her every step. David Greig’s The Events is another socially conscious, thought-provoking work presented by Theater Alliance, featuring Regina Aquino as the survivor and Josh Adams as the shooter. Colin Hovde directs. To Oct. 7. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Place SE. Tickets are $35 to $40. Call 202-241-2539 or visit theateralliance.com.

THE LARAMIE PROJECT

The LGBTQ-focused Richmond Triangle Players marks the 20th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death with a production of Moisés Kaufman’s groundbreaking examination into the Wyoming murder and its aftermath. Lucian Restivo directs. To Oct. 19. The Robert B. Moss Theatre, 1300 Altamont Ave. Richmond. Tickets are $10 to $35. Call 804-346-8113 or visit rtriangle.org.

THE PAINTED ROCKS AT REVOLVER CREEK

MetroStage, which launched in 1987 with Blood Knot by Athol Fugard, kicks off its 30th Anniversary Season with the latest play by the South African master. The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek was inspired by the life of outsider artist Nukain Mabuza and shows apartheid’s lingering effects in the country today. MetroStage Artistic Associate Thomas W. Jones II directs Doug Brown, Marni Penning, Jeremiah Hasty, and Jeremy Keith Hunter. To Sept. 30. MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St., Alexandria. Tickets are $55. Call 703-548-9044 or visit metrostage.org.

THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE

Set during the Blitzkrieg in Vienna and London, the drama with music tells the true story of Lisa Jura, an aspiring young Jewish pianist in World War II-era Europe who forfeits her dreams once the war takes hold. Theater J’s production stars Jura’s daughter, Grammy-nominated pianist Mona Golabek, as her mother in the solo show. To Sept. 30. The Kennedy Center Family Theater. Tickets are $44 to $74. Call 202-777-3210 or visit theaterj.org.

TURN ME LOOSE

Gretchen Law’s intimate and no-holds-barred drama chronicling Dick Gregory’s rise as the first black comedian to expose audiences to racial comedy. Edwin Lee Gibson plays Gregory, with John Garlin taking on all the other supplemental roles, from emcee to interviewer to heckler to cabbie. John Gould Rubin directs. To Oct. 14. Kreeger Theater, 1101 6th St. SW. Tickets are $40 to $95. Call 202-488-3300 or visit arenastage.org.

MUSIC

ADAMS MORGAN PORCHFEST

A eclectic and eccentric festival showcasing the rhythms that make the city’s legendary, multicultural neighborhood move. Launched in 2013, PorchFest features more than 30 local musicians and musical acts in mix of ages and expertise, performing everything from brass to R&B, folk to rock, and Latin to reggae in pop-up venues on porches and patios of historic homes and local businesses throughout the neighborhood’s leafy residential streets. Each location hosts three 45-minute sets. Saturday, Oct. 6, from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Starting point is SunTrust Plaza, 18th Street and Columbia Road NW. Free. Call 202-997-0783 or visit admoporchfest.com.

ALL THINGS GO FALL CLASSIC

For its fifth year, the high-caliber indie-pop festival has taken inspiration from the push for women’s rights and gender parity sparked by last year’s Women’s March to present an all-female lineup on its first day, Saturday, Oct. 6. Featuring brand-new, buzz-generating stars Maggie Rogers and Billie Eilish as headliners, the day also brings up-and-coming sensations including Finnish pop star Alma, sunny alt-R&B artist Ravyn Lenae, the Sara Bareilles-esque bright pop-rocker Charlene Kaye (female vocalist of indie-pop group San Fermin), and LPX, the alias of Lizzy Plapinger. Sunday, Oct. 7, brings bigger names all around, with headliners BØRNS, and former Capital Pride headliners Carly Rae Jepsen and Betty Who. The Fall Classic also showcases local culinary favorites Timber Pizza, Shake Shack, Rocklands, and Bun’d Up, among others. General Admission tickets are $65 for 1-Day or $95 for 2-Day, while VIP tickets are $139 for Sunday or $229 for 2-Day (Saturday-only VIP is sold out) and include fast-entry express lane, access to a VIP Viewing Area and Lounge with complimentary food, dedicated cash bar and specialty food vendors viewing areas. Call 888-512-7469 or visit allthingsgofallclassic.com.

BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: STAR WARS

Jack Everly conducts the BSO in a live performance of John Williams’ score to 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope, which will screen overhead as the orchestra plays. The space epic introduced the world to Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi, R2D2, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader. The Oscar-winning soundtrack is as highly regarded as the film, ranking at the top of the American Film Institute’s list of best film scores. Friday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 29, and Sunday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets are $35 to $85. Call 410-783-8000 or visit bsomusic.org.

CHOPTEETH

The Washington Post has referred to this 12-piece band as “a storming powerhouse of big-band African funk…smart, tight and relentlessly driving.” The Afrobeat-driven group has won a number of Washington Area Music Association Awards, including Artist of the Year in 2008, and performs regularly throughout the region. Caz Gardiner opens. Saturday, Sept. 29, at 9 p.m. Gypsy Sally’s, 3401 K St. NW. Tickets are $15 in advance, or $18 day-of. Call 202-333-7700 or visit gypsysallys.com.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA WITH SPECIAL GUEST BIG BOI

Christina Aguilera’s first outing in a decade comes in support of the R&B/hip-hop-flavored Liberation, her first album in six years. Likely to be stacked with her stock-in-trade power ballads and self-empowerment anthems, the comeback concert also features hip-hop royalty in the shape of Big Boi, the OutKast veteran touring in support of his third solo set Boomiverse, whose inclusion should further stoke the crowd. Sunday, Sept. 30, at 8 p.m. Theater at MGM National Harbor, 7100 Harborview Ave., Oxon Hill, Md., Oxon Hill, Md. Tickets are $89 to $350. Call 844-346-4664 or visit mgmnationalharbor.com.

CHRISTOPHER JACKSON

Although more expansive in nature, covering opera and classical artists as well as those from theater and cabaret/pop, Renee Fleming’s VOICES showcase at the Kennedy Center is proving to be a suitable replacement for the much-beloved Spotlight series curated by the late-Broadway legend Barbara Cook. Case in point is this cabaret featuring the original, Tony-nominated George Washington in Hamilton. Jackson has also portrayed Simba in The Lion King and composed music for everyone from LL Cool J and will.i.am to Sesame Street, earning him an Emmy. “Christopher Jackson is the rare kind of actor/singer whose powerful voice and presence are compelling in any medium,” says Fleming, summing up her adoration for the “creative dynamo.” Saturday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Terrace Theater. Tickets are $79 to $150. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

ELENA & LOS FULANOS

A bilingual folk/rock band based in D.C. and influenced by its frontwoman’s experience growing up steeped in two cultures, Nicaraguan and American. With original music ranging from twangy, heartbreak-themed folk Americana to soothing, introspective, violin-infused Latin rock, the band will perform at the Dupont Underground as part of a new partnership with Washington Performing Arts’ Mars Urban Arts Initiative — named after and supported by the Virginia family behind the Mars candy bar empire. Friday, Sept. 28. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Dupont Underground, 1500 19th St. NW. Tickets are $15 to $18. Visit dupontunderground.org.

FUTURE ISLANDS

The Baltimore electro-indie act rose to national fame with a performance on David Letterman’s show in 2014, when lead singer Sam Herring began beating his chest, punching the air and dropping to his knees, belting out the lyrics to “Seasons.” It’s hard to think of a band that made a bigger impression on a late-night talk show. Herring’s voice is what gives Future Islands its sense of immediacy and rawness, as he shouts and bellows one minute and quavers over some tearful realization the next. Herring and co. — keyboardist Gerrit Welmers, guitarist William Cashion, and touring drummer Michael Lowry — will be joined by Ed Schrader’s Music Beat, another neo-new wave/synth-pop act from Baltimore. Friday, Sept. 28. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. Tickets are $41 to $76. Call 202-888-0020 or visit theanthemdc.com. (Sean Maunier)

NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC: ON THE WATERFRONT

Elia Kazan’s iconic Oscar-winning film plays in remastered high-definition while Leonard Bernstein’s only work composed specifically for film is rendered live. Bernstein acolyte Piotr Gajewski conducts Strathmore’s resident orchestra. The evening opens with a performance of the Star-Spangled Banner conducted by Eliot Pfanstiehl, founder of the Strathmore Hall Foundation. Saturday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m. Prior to the performance, there will be a display of behind-the-scenes images from filming, as well as other books and memorabilia about Bernstein and the cast on the Promenade Level, courtesy Second Story Books. There’s also a pre-concert lecture with associate conductor Victoria Gau at 6:45 p.m., and a panel discussion and Q&A with film experts Linda DeLibero and David Sterritt, at 7 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $35 to $80. Call 301-581-5100 or visit nationalphilharmonic.org.

NSO: PICTURES FROM AN EXHIBITION

NSO Music Director Gianandrea Noseda conducts a program of music inspired by the visual arts, including Musorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition, a suite that brings paintings by Victor Hartmann to symphonic life. Also on the program: Rachmaninoff’s The Isle of the Dead, a tone poem influenced by Swiss symbolist Arnold Böcklin’s painting, and Respighi’s Trittico botticelliano, a triptych suite born from Sandro Botticelli paintings including “The Birth of Venus.” Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m. Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $15 to $89. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

NEW WORLDS: BILL MURRAY, JAN VOGLER, AND FRIENDS

And now for something completely different: Bill Murray branches out with this classical-minded, mixed-genre program “mash-up.” Designed to “showcase core American values in literature and music,” Murray narrates the program and reads from Hemingway, Whitman, and Twain, among others, as well as sings lyrics from Bernstein, Gershwin, and Foster, accompanied by a piano trio featuring German-born cellist Jan Vogler, former Chinese child violin prodigy Mira Wang — Vogler’s wife — and Venezuelan-American pianist Vanessa Perez. Co-conceived by Murray and Vogler, the New Worlds ensemble tours in support of a companion Decca Gold recording. Friday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $68 to $148. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

PINK MARTINI WITH ARI SHAPIRO

Everyone’s favorite quirky cocktail mini-orchestra, led by Thomas Lauderdale, makes its debut on the Southwest Waterfront in a concert featuring one regular guest vocalist whose musical career it all-but launched — Ari Shapiro, best known as the co-host of NPR’s popular afternoon news program All Things Considered. Shapiro is featured, but it’ll be a full stage with the 12-member-strong troupe. Sunday, Oct. 7. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. Tickets are $35 to $95. Call 202-888-0020 or visit theanthemdc.com.

RYAN SPEEDO GREEN

The Washington National Opera and the Fortas Chamber series co-presents this recital featuring the winner of the 2018 Marian Anderson Vocal Award, whose past recipients include Denyce Graves, Eric Owens, and Lawrence Brownlee. The New York Times refers to Green as a “scene-stealing bass-baritone with a robust voice.” Thursday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m. Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Tickets are $39. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

SHEMEKIA COPELAND

Continuing the legacy of blues divas Etta James and Bessie Smith, to say nothing of her late father, Texas bluesman Johnny Copeland, Shemekia Copeland is far from just a powerhouse brassy blues singer-songwriter. The stirring, genre-bending music featured on the 39-year-old’s eighth release, America’s Child, is a bluesy, soul-fired blend of Americana, folk, and rock. Recorded in Nashville, the set, with guest turns by John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Rhiannon Giddens, and lesbian folk-rocker Mary Gauthier, “celebrates our collective diversity in all its forms and colors.” Friday, Oct. 5. Doors at 6:30 p.m. The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. Tickets are $15.75 to $35.75. Call 202-787-1000 or visit thehamiltondc.com.

THE LEGWARMERS

It’s been 17 years since Gordon Gartrell and Cru Jones started what has long been heralded as D.C.’s “premier ’80s tribute band,” performing the guilty pleasure hits of the decade. The group, whose members also include Chet Reno, Lavaar Huxtable, Roxanne Rio, Capt. Morgan Pondo, and Clarence McFly, has performed at concert halls throughout the region and beyond. Yet its home base is Virginia’s State Theatre. The band returns once a month, and at every show audience members dress the part — think shellacked big hair, lacy ankle socks, stirrup and parachute pants. Saturday, Sept. 29, at 9:30 p.m. The State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church. Tickets are $18. Call 703-237-0300 or visit thestatetheatre.com.

TROYE SIVAN

Sivan has straightforwardly and openly centred his sexuality on his second album Bloom, making his queerness the focal point of the love songs on the album. “The album is at its strongest when he is leaning into the more joyful sides of the queer experience, as he does on the title track ‘Bloom,’ a catchy, understated celebration of bottoming,” writes Metro Weekly music critic Sean Maunier. Months out from his incredibly stirring and heartfelt performance at Capital Pride, Sivan returns to D.C. for a kind of mini-Pride Mainstage show of his own making — a concert featuring two opening acts, including fellow Capital Pride performer Kim Petras, a German-born, L.A.-based trans dance-pop artist, and Leland, the alias of singer-songwriter Brett McLaughlin, who has co-written many of Sivan’s hits, including “Bloom” and “Youth.” Thursday, Oct. 4. Doors at 6 p.m. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. Tickets are $48 to $168.50. Call 202-888-0020 or visit theanthemdc.com.

URBANARIAS: THE LAST AMERICAN HAMMER

The local opera company opens its season with a topical work by composer Peter Hilliard and librettist Matt Boresi with stars Elizabeth Futral, Timothy Mix, and Briana Elyse Hunter. Holed up in the basement of a Toby Jug Museum on an abandoned Main Street, a conspiracy-theorist YouTube celebrity eagerly awaits a visit from the FBI to explain his theory about the “original” 13th Amendment and bringing about justice. His prized piece of evidence: the last American hammer. Performances are Friday, Sept. 28, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m. Sprenger Theatre in the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $25 to $45. Call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org.

OPERA IN THE OUTFIELD: THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

Now in its 11th year, the Washington National Opera’s annual invitation to any and all to give opera a try via the big screen at Nationals Park continues with a hit production from this past spring of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. Boasting sparkling melodies, high-flying vocal fireworks, and tour-de-force showstoppers, the comedy is one of the most beloved operas of all time. Mars, Incorporated supports the simulcast. Saturday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m. Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol St. NE. Free. Call 202-295-2400 or visit dc-opera.org.

WHITE FORD BRONCO

What the Legwarmers are to the ’80s, this party band is to the ’90s, cheekily named after O.J. Simpson’s notorious failed getaway car. Playing through that decade’s songbook in all styles of popular music is a five-member ensemble consisting of singer/guitarist Diego Valencia, singer Gretchen Gustafson, guitarists Ken Sigmund and McNasty, and drummer Max Shapiro.

Friday, Sept. 28, at 10 p.m. The Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. Tickets are $18 in advance or $20 day-of, plus $10 minimum per person for all tables. Call 202-588-5595 or visit thehowardtheatre.com.

DANCE

CULTURE SHOCK DC: THE ENLIGHTENMENT

A mixed-bill evening choreographed and performed by members of this eclectic company, which features 150 dancers across five troupes and uses hip-hop and urban dance, spoken-word, and live music to inspire positive change in the community. Saturday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.

HELANIUS J. WILKINS: A BON COEUR

The celebrated gay African-American choreographer performs an evening-length, mixed-media solo piece named after a Cajun term that means to do something wholeheartedly. Billed as a celebration of heritage, heart and soul, A Bon Coeur draws on Wilkins’ Creole roots and experiences growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana, as told in a presentation interwoven with text, an original sound score, and projection. The work is also the second installment of a contemporary dance trilogy that has grown out of a multi-year creative research effort by Wilkins. Saturday, Oct. 6, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 at the door. Call 202-269-1600 or visit danceplace.org.

KALANIDHI DANCE: BHOOMI (EARTH)

A work inspired by Vedic hymns and based on the traditional Indian dance form Kuchipudi gets its world premiere at the Kennedy Center as part of the venue’s 2018 Local Dance Commissioning Project. Developed by Anuradha Nehru and Chitra Kalyandurg, Bhoomi (Earth) looks at humankind’s complex and evolving relationship with the natural world, exploring the tension between human progress and environmental sustainability, and whether the external environment can be viewed as a reflection of internal balance. Saturday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

COMEDY

COLIN MOCHRIE & BRAD SHERWOOD: SCARED SCRIPTLESS

Two of the stars from the hit TV improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway? take the show on the road, with hilarious sketches of scenes and songs made up on the fly based on audience suggestions. Friday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $34 to $64. Call 301-581-5100 or visit strathmore.org.

COLIN QUINN: ONE IN EVERY CROWD

No. 56 on Comedy Central’s list of 100 greatest stand-ups of all time, this New York comedian is known from his various shows and specials on that cable channel as well as MTV, Saturday Night Live and more recently for portraying Amy Schumer’s father in Trainwreck. Mere days after suffering a heart attack last February, the 59-year-old took to Twitter to say he was doing well, and joked that if he had dropped dead, “you would see a funeral like Al Capone!” Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Saturday, Oct. 6, at 7 and 9 p.m. Terrace Theater. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call 202-467-4600 or visit kennedy-center.org.

FORTUNE FEIMSTER

One of the funniest alums of the Chelsea Lately comedy family, the North Carolina native has been out as lesbian from her very first TV appearance as a contestant on NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Recently, Feimster played lovable nurse Colette on The Mindy Project, and has been a regular on Chelsea Handler’s Netflix show. Friday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 and 10 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 29, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Arlington Cinema N’ Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. Tickets are $25. Call 703-486-2345 or visit arlingtondrafthouse.com.

READINGS & LECTURES

JOANNE B. FREEMAN: VIOLENCE IN CONGRESS

The long-lost story of physical violence on the floor of the U.S. Congress is explored in this talk with an author of books on that theme, including The Field of Blood and Road to Civil War. Freeman elaborates on the period of history before the Civil War, when the Capitol was rife with conflict and legislative sessions were often punctuated with threats, canings, fist-fights, beatings, intimidation, drawn knives and pistols, mostly over the issue of slavery. Friday, October 5, at noon. William G. McGowan Theater, National Archives Museum, Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets NW. Free, with reservations recommended; first-come, first-seated. Call 202-357-5000 or visit archivesfoundation.org.

DC JAZZ

Through a collection of essays, DC Jazz: Stories of Jazz Music in Washington shines a light on the often overlooked, intertwined histories of the nation’s capital and jazz music. D.C. has been home to many of jazz’s most important clubs, has birthed many of its greatest players and promoters, and remains central to its support and continued spread through various government entities, as well as preeminent institutions ranging from the Library of Congress to the Kennedy Center, and from the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. to Howard University. Solid State Books presents a discussion with the book’s editors, Maurice Jackson of Georgetown University and Blair Ruble of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and contributor Bridget Arnwine, a Maryland-based freelance writer and photographer covering jazz and hip-hop culture. Sunday, Sept. 29, at 4:30 p.m., followed by a Jazz Happy Hour with live music from the Georgetown Jazz Sextet. 600 H St. NE. Call 897-4201 or visit solidstatebooksdc.com.

NATHAN SCHNEIDER: EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE

Subtited The Radical Tradition That is Shaping the Next Economy, Schneider’s book documents how a new feudalism, a new version of the robber-baron economy, is on the rise — but so, too, is an alternative in the cooperative economy. Jointly owned, democratically controlled enterprises that advance the economic, social, and cultural interests of their members, cooperatives often emerge during moments of crisis not unlike our own. The author shows how the co-op movement is showing renewed signs of life, profiling taxi cooperatives, an outspoken mayor transforming his city in the Deep South, and a fugitive building a fairer version of Bitcoin, among others “poised to help us reclaim faith in our capacity for creative, powerful democracy.” Thursday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m. Kramerbooks, 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW. Call 202-387-1400 or visit kramers.com.

REBECCA TRAISTER: THE REVOLUTIONARY POWER OF WOMEN’S ANGER

Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger is an incisive exploration into female anger and its ability to transcend into a political movement. In her new book, Traister, a writer-at-large for New York magazine and bestselling author of All The Single Ladies, tracks the history of female anger as political fuel, from suffragettes chaining themselves to the White House, to office workers vacating their buildings after Clarence Thomas was confirmed to the Supreme Court. Women’s collective anger, when harnessed, can change history, Traister summarizes in her book, which she’ll discuss with Fatima Goss Graves of the National Women’s Law Center. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. 600 I St. NW. Tickets are $15, or $35 including one book, $45 for one book and two tickets. Call 202-408-3100 or visit sixthandi.org.

SHEILA MARTIN, JULIA TAGLIERE

The Writer’s Center presents a “Contest Winners Reading” program featuring Martin, the 2017 McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize winner for her book The Coney Island Book of the Dead, and Tagliere, the Center’s Undiscovered Voices Fellow, plus Center instructor Tara Campbell. Friday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 p.m. 4508 Walsh St. Bethesda. Tickets are $15. Call 301-654-8664 or visit writer.org.

WILFRIED ZEISLER: THE FIRM OF FABERGÉ

Hillwood’s chief curator explores the history of the House of Fabergé and the success of its creations among Russian imperial clientele and later American collectors, such as Hillwood Estate founder Marjorie Merriweather Post. Zeisler’s lecture, “The Firm of Fabergé: Business, Clients, and Collectors,” is the first of five discussions in October, part of a lecture series in conjunction with the venue’s current temporary exhibition, Fabergé Rediscovered (see “Museums & Galleries”). Wednesday, Oct. 3, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Tickets are $20 for one lecture, or $100 for the full series. Call 202-686-5807 or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

AKINOLA DAVIES JR.: HOD

A provocative Nigerian moving-image artist — also known as Crack Stevens, under which name he directed the recent music video “Charcoal Baby” by Blood Orange — Davies premieres a body of work specifically produced for this show, billed as his first American solo exhibition. HOD creates a narrative of reclamation through displaced African artifacts in Western Europe and the impact their energies have both on the spaces from where they were removed as well as the places they now inhabit. The exhibition at Dupont Underground is presented by Sketchedspace, a global art company based in Seoul that collaborates with boundary-breaking artists. Opening reception is Thursday, Sept. 27, at 5 p.m. On display through Oct. 20. Dupont Underground, 1500 19th St. NW. Visit dupontunderground.org.

ATOMIC DOG AND CONSEQUENTIAL CAT

Furry pets are the focus of artwork at the VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital made by members of the artist collective Del Ray Artisans and presented through its Gallery Without Walls program. The exhibit features selections of canine artwork from May’s Atomic Dog exhibit as well as hand-picked pieces honoring feline companions. Participating artists will donate 20 percent of the purchase price of sold pieces in an equal split between the Artisans gallery and Veterans Moving Forward, which provides trained assistance animals to veterans. Closes Sunday, Sept. 30. 2660 Duke St., Alexandria. Call 703-751-2022 or visit DelRayArtisans.org.

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY

Art inspired by food, real or metaphorical, and the way food and drink bring people together to celebrate is the theme of a hybrid show with both visual and ceramic artists at Alexandria’s eclectic Del Ray Artisans Gallery. This National Ceramic Show and Regional Art Exhibit was juried by ceramic artist Lisa York. Closes Sunday, Sept. 30. 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. Call 703-731-8802 or visit thedelrayartisans.org.

FABERGE REDISCOVERED

The late heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post has a renowned collection of pieces from the firm of Carl Fabergé, the legendary jeweler to the last court of Russia. A special exhibition at Post’s Hillwood Estate, nestled in a leafy section of Upper Northwest a few blocks from Van Ness, unveils new discoveries relating to the collection of about 90 Fabergé works, including two imperial Easter eggs. To Jan. 13. 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Suggested donation is $18. Call 202-686-5807 or visit HillwoodMuseum.org.

FRACTAL WORLDS BY JULIUS HORSTHUIS

The latest installation at D.C.’s unique art-meets-technology gallery ArTecHouse is billed as the first immersive art exhibition bridging the gap between the real and the virtual world. This visual “journey of discovery” explores mind-bending sci-fi worlds and infinite 3D geometric patterns, transporting viewers to another dimension. Horthuis, whose work was featured in the 2016 Oscar-winning film Manchester by the Sea and has been seen in collaborations with American EDM duo Odesza among other musical artists, incorporates both projection and virtual reality elements. Closes Sunday, Sept. 30. 1238 Maryland Ave. SW. Tickets for timed-entry sessions are $8 to $15, with evening admission for those over 21 years of age, including exhibit-related Augmented Reality Cocktails available for purchase. Visit artechouse.com.

MOUNTAIN MARYLAND PLEIN AIR

This 10th annual arts event, taking place this week in Western Maryland, is a celebration of the region’s mountainous landscape and of the longstanding French philosophy of “painting in the open air.” Produced by the Allegany Arts Council, the festival selects a total of 30 artists from around the country to spend the week painting the scenery surrounding a particular area spot of their choosing. Among the D.C./Baltimore area artists participating this year are Lissa Abrams, Claudia Brookes, Henry Coe, David Diaz, Raymond Ewing, David Finnell, Jane Knighton, Mike McSorley, Chris Rapa, and J. Stacy Rogers. On Friday, Sept. 28, from 5 to 7 p.m., all participating artists will unveil their works during the 2018 Collector’s Reception and Awards, where $11,000 will be given out to winning artists and patrons will have the first opportunity to purchase the festival-created works. The general public gets that opportunity the next day, Saturday, Sept. 29, which also ushers in a judged Quickdraw competition, concluding with an awards ceremony, at the downtown Cumberland pedestrian mall. Proceeds of artwork sales go toward the Arts Council, based in Cumberland, Md. Call 301-777-2787 or visit mmpleinair.org for more information.

ROOPKOTHA PHOTO EXHIBIT

Vibrant images captured by various photographers, along with historical artifacts and personal memorabilia, tell the story of Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbbub Rabbi Tonoy, two Bangladeshi LGBTQ activists and artists who were savagely murdered in their home two years ago. The Center Arts Gallery in the DC Center for the LGBT Community has set up this powerful installation as part of an ongoing campaign to protest the inaction of the Bangladeshi government to investigate the murders. 2000 14th St. NW. Call 202-682-2245 or visit thedccenter.org.

STUDIO 54 FOREVER: PHOTOGRAPHY BY HASSE PERSSON

Right now, you can get a glimpse into the world’s most iconic disco by taking a stroll down to the Swedish Embassy on the Georgetown Waterfront. Inside the House of Sweden lies an exhibit featuring photos from inside Studio 54 captured by Swedish photographer Hasse Persson, who snapped images in the U.S. from 1967 to 1990, covering race relations, American presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and iconic figures such as Andy Warhol. Persson was one of a handful of photographers granted permission to photograph inside the world’s most celebrated nightclub. On display to Dec. 16, with public access limited to Saturdays and Sundays from 12 to 5 p.m. 2900 K St. NW. Free. Call 202-467-2600 or visit swedenabroad.com/washington.

THE TRAWICK PRIZE

Named after a Bethesda, Md., community leader and arts advocate, the Trawick Prize, established in 2003, was one of the first regional competitions and largest prizes to honor visual artists. Works by the eight finalists for the 16th annual competition factor into an exhibition presented by the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District. In addition to Caroline Hatfield of Baltimore, who won $10,000 and the title of 2018 Trawick Prize Winner, the finalists are Nicole Salimbene of Takoma Park, who earned $2,000 for Second Place and Timothy Makepeace of D.C., who earned $1,000 for Third Place, plus Lori Anne Boocks of Germantown, Md., Clay Dunklin of Laurel, Md., Mary Early of D.C., and Jay Gould and Phaan Howng, both of Baltimore. Closes Saturday, Sept. 29. Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E, Bethesda. Call 301-215-7990 or visit bethesda.org.

UNSEEN: OUR PAST IN A NEW LIGHT

Works by Ken Gonzales-Day and Titus Kaphar are featured in the first contemporary exhibition of the National Portrait Gallery’s 50th anniversary season — and a provocative one at that. Nearly 60 works highlight how people of color — from Native Americans to African Americans, Asian Americans to Latino Americans — are missing in historical portraiture. Still worse, their contributions to the nation’s past were rendered equally invisible. Kaphar sets out to right those slights by recreating well-known paintings and including those traditionally left out, through his series of 17 paintings plus one sculpture. Gonzales-Day, meanwhile, explores how ideas of racial difference, otherness, and national identity have taken shape historically and visually through nearly 40 photographs, including works from his “Erased Lynchings” series focused on the American West as well as his “Profiled” series. The bilingual English/Spanish exhibition is on display through Jan. 6. 8th and F Streets. NW. Call 202-633-8300 or visit npg.si.edu.

FOOD & DINING

DENIZENS BREWING: MAKE IT FUNKY WILD BEER FEST

Silver Spring’s lesbian-owned brewery hosts the 4th annual festival celebrating the unique style of wild and sour brews — from briny goses to barnyardy brett beers. Over 100 funky beers from more than 30 craft breweries, most of them local, will be available for tasting at this event, with the band Soul Witness performing in the beer garden and DJ Kenny M. in the brewery. A special festival menu will also be available. Among the participating breweries in addition to Denizens: D.C.’s 3 Stars, Atlas, Bluejacket, Craft Kombucha, Hellbender, and Right Proper, Maryland’s Black Flag, Brewer’s Art, Franklin’s, Manor Hill, Union Craft, and Waredaca, and Virginia’s Black Narrows, Mad Fox, and Port City. Saturday, Sept. 29, from 1 to 5 p.m. 1115 East-West Highway, Silver Spring. Tickets are $62.50 online or $75 at the door and include a souvenir tasting glass and unlimited sample pours. Call 301-557-9818 or visit denizensbrewingco.com.

LEGAL SEA FOODS: 10TH ANNUAL OYSTER FESTIVAL

The Massachusetts-based seafood chain celebrates all things bivalves. Fried oysters are available in the following styles: Buffalo with blue cheese, celery hearts, and radish; BBQ with coleslaw and BBQ mayo; Sriracha Lime with roasted corn salsa and crispy shallots; or as an “Oyster BLT” with chipotle mayo. Baked Oysters are prepared as a Lobster Spinach Oyster bake with cheese and herbed crumbs; Oyster Scampi with shrimp, garlic butter, and white wine; Crab & Cheese Oyster with Jonah crab, horseradish, cheddar, and cream cheese; or Roasted Oyster with smoked chorizo, butter, and fresh herbs. A variety of oysters will also be available raw, served on the half shell, with selections and prices changing daily depending on what’s available. Wash it all down with this year’s official festival drink, the Deadrise, a concoction of Tito’s vodka, muddled cucumber, lime, and grapefruit bitters. Available at lunch and dinner daily now through Oct. 10. All three area locations: 704 7th St. NW, 2301 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, and 2001 International Drive in Tysons Galleria, McLean. Visit legalseafoods.com.

LOGAN TAVERN: LOGANFEST HAPPY HOUR

The pioneering eatery that helped pave the way for Logan Circle’s restaurant boom puts a happy hour spin on its Oktoberfest promotion. The LoganFest 2018 “Bier Festival” features local Oktoberfest beers, a Berlin Mule, plus appetizers of Pretzel Bites, Beer & Cheddar Dip, and German Sausages — with all items priced at $7. Everyday from 4 to 7 p.m. through Oct. 7. 1423 P St. NW. Call 202-332-3710 or visit logantavern.com.

RADIATOR BIERGARTEN

The cocktail bar and cafe in Kimpton’s Mason & Rook hotel will celebrate cooler temperatures and Oktoberfest traditions with an autumnal festival on the patio, complete with outdoor fire pits. The highlight is German fare on communal tables, from the traditional (Bavarian-themed lagers poured into steins) to reimagined biergarten bites from Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden, including pretzels and beer cheese dip, grilled bratwurst with charred onion and sauerkraut, and chicken schnitzel sliders on a pretzel bun. The promotion includes a loyalty punch card, with each liter of beer earning one punch — those with 10 punches will win an Oktoberfest-themed das boot to take home. Daily from 4 p.m., weather permitting. Saturday, Sept. 29, offers a DJ playing German pop hits from 2 to 5 p.m. Through Oct. 22. Radiator, Mason & Rook, 1430 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Patio seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Call 202-742-3150 or visit radiatordc.com.

TASTE OF BETHESDA

This 29th annual festival brings nearly 50 restaurants and five stages of entertainment to Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle. Produced by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, this year sees participation from new area restaurants including the Big Greek Café, CherCher Ethiopian Cuisine, Dog Haus Biergarten, Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant, The Red Bandana Bakery, and True Food Kitchen. Returning favorites include Georgetown Cupcake, Jaleo Bethesda, Mussel Bar, Olazzo, and Ruth’s Chris. Live performances will come from the 19th Street Band, Aztec Sun, Elikeh, Jay Byrd & the Musical Trust, Joker’s Wild, Rochelle Rice, Sara Jones, and Sweet Saludos, plus Ancient Rhythms Dance Company, Coyaba Dance Theater, the Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance, Urban Artistry, and Wong Chinese Lion Dancers. Saturday, Oct. 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Woodmont Triangle, Bethesda. Free admission, or $5 for four “taste” tickets. Call 301-215-6660 or visit bethesda.org for more information.

THE BIRD: FLOCKTOBERFEST

The poultry-themed Shaw eatery toasts the German-inspired drinking season with a patio party featuring games and activities. Naturally the focus of the party is on German-style food offerings and a variety of beer options, including those from the event’s partners, 3 Stars Brewing and Atlas Brew Works. Saturday, Sept. 29, starting at 2 p.m. The patio on the corner of 11th and O Streets NW. Tickets are $10, including one free beer and complimentary small bites. Call 202-518-3609 or visit thebirddc.com.

NIGHTLIFE BY DOUG RULE

GREEN LANTERN: REWIND: REQUEST LINE

Darryl Strickland was one of the most prolific DJs in gay D.C. in the ’90s, which makes him eminently qualified to serve as VJ for this party focused on playing the best video hits of the ’80s and ’90s. There’s drink specials on offer and even the ability to make requests all night long — obviously this isn’t quite a regular night out. Saturday, Oct. 6, starting at 9 p.m. Green Lantern, 1335 Green Ct. NW. No cover. Call 202-347-4533 or visit greenlanterndc.com.

NELLIE’S: LEDERHOSEN REALNESS

There are many excuses to celebrate Oktoberfest and German beer this time of year, and you’d surely be welcome to wear traditional lederhosen wherever you go. But next weekend, Nellie’s offers an “Octoberfest Extravaganza” presented by DJ Chord Bezerra at which patrons donning lederhosen are promised “unreal deals” on giant steins of craft beer. Also on offer are food specials. Saturday, Oct. 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. 900 U St. NW. Free. Call 202-332-NELL or visit nelliessportsbar.com.

PITCHERS: FLASHBACK

Originally launched in the mid-’90s at Cobalt as a retro-themed party on Tuesdays, longtime DJ and promoter Jason Royce has revived Flashback at Pitchers, the new LGBTQ nightclub with an even newer dance floor. The move to Adams Morgan also comes with other changes, including a switch to Thursdays and covering a wider time frame, with hits going well past the disco of 1975, all the way up to the dance-pop of 2005. Royce is also now joined in the “Party Like It’s 1999” cause by fellow veteran Darryl Strickland. Thursdays starting at 10 p.m. 2317 18th St. NW. Call 202-733-2568 or visit pitchersdc.com.

SLEAZE: YOU GO, GHOUL!

The Wonderland Ballroom in Columbia Heights is never as queer and anything-goes as it is the first Thursday of every month, when Steve “Lemz” Lemmerman throws this popular party, launched in the spring of 2017. Largely inspired by Horse Meat Disco — the traveling U.K.-based gay party with a dark and dirty-disco vibe — Sleaze features a dimly lit and foggy intimate dance floor and an eclectic musical mix focused on dark disco throwbacks and disco-inspired dance tracks, or what Lemz calls “bathhouse music…and future techno.” Lemz switches with his fellow resident DJ Keenan Orr, and the two are joined by DJ Jacq Jill for this early Halloween-themed “fright fest” with host Jane Saw, and a special performance by Jaxknife Complex. Thursday, Oct. 4, starting at 9 p.m. 1101 Kenyon St. NW. Cover is $5. Call 202-232-5263 or visit sleazeparty.com.

UPROAR: SNV: OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN

She turned the big 7-0 on Wednesday, Sept. 26, the original Aussie diva — the one who was at the height of her worldwide fame when today’s leading Down Under Diva Kylie Minogue hadn’t even become a soap star, let alone done “The Loco-Motion” yet. To celebrate the British-born Newton-John, DJ Travis Island leads a special edition of the Saturday Night Videos party on Uproar’s rooftop opening with “a lovely Livvy montage,” followed by random clips during the first hour, then some ONJ video remixes throughout the party, ending with classic Olivia tunes — from her mid-’70s country/pop hits “I Honestly Love You” and “Don’t Stop Believin'” to those from her starring turn in the 1978 film adaptation of Grease, including “You’re The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights,” to “Magic,” “Xanadu” with Electric Light Orchestra, and her biggest U.S. hit, 1981’s “Physical.” Saturday, Sept. 29, starting at 10 p.m. and going to 2 a.m. 639 Florida Ave NW. Visit facebook.com/uproarloungedc/.

ZIEGFELD’S/SECRETS: COUNTRY WALTZ WITH THE DC RAWHIDES

The DC Rawhides have found a new home for their boot-scootin’ brand of social dancing since the closure of Town Danceboutique. Every other Saturday, Southwest’s large, two-story LGBTQ entertainment complex swings open its doors for a different kind of dancer than its late-night stock in trade upstairs. Starting at 7 p.m. on the Ziegfeld’s level, any and all are welcome for an hour-long session of lessons in two-step, west coast swing, and line dancing — including the intermediate style known as “Soaking Wet.” All that plus a particular focus next Saturday, Oct. 6, on country waltz. The evening continues with open dancing to Rawhide DJs until 11 p.m. — or 45 minutes before Ella Fitzgerald and her Ladies of Illusion take to their regular perch accompanied by DJ Don T. But don’t worry, by that time there will be fully exposed dancers and music by DJ tim-e upstairs if that’s more to your liking. 1824 Half St. SW. Cover is $5 until 9 p.m.; $10 after. Call 202-863-0670 or visit facebook.com/DCRawhides.

ABOVE AND BEYOND

MINEFAIRE: THE ULTIMATE MINECRAFT FAN EXPERIENCE

Billed as Comic-Con for Minecraft fans, enthusiasts of one of the world’s most popular video games ever will arrive all decked out to compete for best costume as well as join gaming tournaments, learn from the world’s top Minecraft experts, meet and greet their favorite Minecraft YouTube stars, and enjoy hands-on attractions for families and people of all ages — but, to be frank, this one is mostly for the kids. Saturday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dulles Expo Center, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center Drive, Chantilly, Va. All-inclusive tickets start at $49. Call 703-378-0910 or visit minefaire.com.

SMITHSONIAN’S CRAFT2WEAR SHOW

Now in its 12th year, this “show and sale of wearable art” features masters of American handicrafts — more than 60 — selected by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, as well as leaders from notable design schools. Having raised over $12 million in its first 11 years for the Smithsonian’s museums, research facilities and traveling exhibits, the focus of Craft2Wear is on purchasable, one-of-a-kind clothing, jewelry and accessories. This year’s festival debuts “Pepper,” a robot guide to the many individually designed pieces for sale. It opens with a cocktail reception featuring hors d’oeuvres, sweets, an informal fashion show, and a first chance to see and buy designs on Thursday, Oct. 4, from 6 to 9 p.m. Festival runs Friday, Oct. 5, and Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $13 per day in advance or $15 at the door, or $50 for Opening Night with one-day return, by advance purchase only. Call 202-272-2448 or visit smithsoniancraft2wear.org.

THE ASK RAYCEEN SHOW: MEET THE CANDIDATES

Rayceen Pendarvis’ free LGBTQ-focused variety show features a special “Meet the Candidates” panel, moderated by Pendarvis, and featuring D.C. Councilmembers Anita Bonds (D-At-Large), Elissa Silverman (I-At-Large), and Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), challenger Dionne Bussey-Reeder (I-At-Large), U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), U.S. Rep. (Shadow) Franklin Garcia (D-D.C.), and D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine. The event is rounded out with live music by the CooLots and bellydancer Asala, plus music by DJ Honey, displays by vendors, free food (while it lasts), and a cash bar. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m. HRC Equality Center, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW. Free. Call 202-505-4548 or visit AskRayceen.com.

UNCENSORED COCKTAIL PARTY: BANNED BOOKS WEEK FUNDRAISER

Lovers of literature and the First Amendment have a chance to raise a glass to their favorite books as they commemorate Banned Books Week. Now in its fifth year, the annual cocktail party, hosted by the DC Public Library Foundation, is designed to celebrate those books that have been banned or challenged by censors, from the politically motivated to the prudish, for a host of reasons. For the party, the DC Public Library Foundation brings in some of D.C.’s top bartenders and mixologists to create cocktails based on their favorite book. The party also features live musical acts, crafts, and a pop-up market with local retailers. Friday, Sept. 28, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Blind Whino, 700 Delaware Ave. SW. Tickets are $60. Call 202-869-4099 or visit dcplfoundation.org.