Weekend Buzz: April 16, 2026
So many great activities and events around town this weekend! Dine with alpacas. Celebrate Earth Day. Check out the city of Falls Church Arts Day, the Defending Democracy Film Festival at the Paragon, Creative Cauldron's Bold New Voices Festival, Falls Church Arts' new "250 and Counting" exhibition, a show from Little City Concerts, summer events at Commons Park, and a District Sounds music festival on the Wharf. Plus, local comedy, theater, music, fine arts, film, and dance. Enjoy!
LOCAL THEATER
Bold New Voices Festival
Creative Cauldron, 127 E. Broad St., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Through May 9.
All tickets are FREE!
Creative Cauldron’s “Bold New Voices” initiative supports the development of new plays or musicals written by women and underserved voices. This is a safe space for all attendees. Join Creative Cauldron for a series of professionally staged readings and help us choose the final selection for our 2026-27 Season “Bold New Voices” production.
Sponsored by Diener & Associates, Certified Public Accountants. Principal Sponsor: John Wiant. Special Funding by ArtsFairfax and the Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church.
ABOUT THE SELECTIONS AND WRITERS
The C Word
Written by Sarah Lina Sparks | Directed by Sally Imbriano
The C Word follows the story of five girls waiting for a job interview to become associate curator at a museum. While waiting for the interview, they're unexpectedly trapped by the hysterical oracle (Hystoracle). In order to escape, they must choose someone to sacrifice as tribute to the C-monster.
Sarah Lina Sparks (she/her) is a proud Filipina playwright and recent UCLA graduate based out of Southern California. Her writing is largely inspired by her Filipino heritage, women, and the unique experience of coming of age in the new millennium.
Live From My Dad’s Couch
Written by Gaelyn D. Smith | Directed by A. Lorraine Robinson
Live from My Dad’s Couch is part stand-up comedy, part bad shower singing, coming together in a cabaret-style performance about the failure of the promises made to Gen-Z by those who came before us, in front of a live studio audience (you). From the set (her father’s living room) Gaelyn shares semi-autobiographical, very political, funny stories and observations of what it’s like to become an adult when the world (seems) to be falling apart.
Gaelyn D. Smith is an actor, writer, director, teaching artist, and digital content creator born and raised in Washington, D.C., whose work seeks to expand possibilities and add nuance to the representation of the Black experience.
His Girl Friday
Book by Danielle Moore | Music & Lyrics by Zachary Sloan and Danielle Moore | Directed by Matt Conner
His Girl Friday is a new musical comedy based on the classic Cary Grant / Rosalind Russell film of the same title (named to AFI's list of the 100 Greatest American Comedies). The film came properly into the adaptable public domain in 2024 when its source material, The Front Page, also entered public domain. Featuring a big band score, the piece is a love letter to screwball comedies and the importance of the fourth estate in combating corruption.
Danielle E. Moore (she/her) is a writer, composer, and producer. Danielle’s work Audrey: The New Musical, was a Regional “Bold New Works” premiere at Creative Cauldron in 2023.
Policarpa: Apocalypse Sur Amerikka
Written by Diana Burbano | Directed by Elena Velasco
In Policarpa: Apocalypse Sur Amerikka an inexplicable plague infests La Gran Colombia. Ingrid Bolivar – the brilliant, mad ex-wife of Colombia's leader – is the only one who knows that the plague is carried by a young women of the streets, whom she adopts and uses as weapons against the government. Policarpa, a girl with magical gifts, is supposed to be Ingrid's secret apocalyptic weapon. But when Policarpa falls in love with a top government official, she resists becoming an instrument of destruction and instead seeks to become a savior through sacrifice.
Diana Burbano was named as part of the Los Angeles Times’ “La Vanguardia” 2022. She's a Colombian immigrant, a playwright, an Equity actor, and a teaching artist. Diana’s play Ghosts of Bogotá premiered at Alter Theatre in 2020 just before the pandemic shut down.
For more info go here.
The Meridian Theater Department Presents: Amadeus
Meridian H.S., 121 Mustang Alley, Thursday, April 23; Friday, April 24; Saturday, April 25. 7:30 p.m.; Doors open at 7:00.
Mark you calendars! Meridian H.S. announced they will be posting a ticket link soon.
Anthropology
Nova Nightsky Theater, Falls Church Presbyterian Church, Memorial Hall, 225 E. Broad St. Thursday, April 16 and Friday, April 17 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 18 matinee at 1:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 19, 7:00 p.m.
When a grieving woman builds an AI version of her late sister, she doesn’t expect the digital twin to start keeping secrets of her own. Anthropology is a gripping, heartfelt thriller about technology, loss, and what it means to be human.
For ticket info go here.
Young Americans
1st Stage Tysons, 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons. April 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m.; April 18 and 19 at 2:00 p.m. Through April 26.
Written by Lauren Yee. Directed by Nikki Mirza.
Joe and Jenny, a young immigrant couple, embark on a cross-country drive to their new home, bonding over roadside landmarks, motels, and surprisingly memorable stops at IHOP. Two decades later, Joe retraces that same journey with their 21-year-old daughter, Lucy. As these parallel road trips unfold — separated by twenty years — a vivid portrait of a family, their past, and the lengths we go for the people we love begins to unfold.
“This wonderful little dramedy feels as wide open as the road from East to West Coast." - BroadwayWorld
Presented with generous support from The Mather.
Open Captioned Performances :
- April 16 - 7:30 p.m., April 17 - 7:30 p.m., April 18 - 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., April 19 - 2:00 p.m.
Audio-Described Performance:
- April 19 - 2:00 p.m.
Mask Required Performances:
- April 18 - 7:30 p.m.
Community Conversations
Following the 2:00 p.m. performance
4/18/26: Meet the Cast
Join 1st Stage in conversation with the cast of Young Americans.
4/19/26: Haiti: An Origin Story
Join 1st Stage in conversation with C.R. Gibbs about the story, colonization, and history of Haiti.
For ticket info go here.
CINDERELLA
Last Days! ~ Glen Echo, Puppet Co. Playhouse, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. April 16, 10:30 a.m. Weekday showing at 10:30 a.m. Through April 19.
Rod puppets convey the classic tale of rags to riches, love at first sight (twice!), and getting what we all deserve. Don’t miss this fan favorite production, or your magical midnight curfew!
Directed by Dillon Mitcham.
Recommended ages 5+. Run time: approximately 45 minutes.
Presenter: the Puppet Co.
Admission: $18 (under age 2, no ticket required).
Phone: 301.634.5380.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Final Days! ~ Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday Matinees at 2:00 p.m. Through April 18.
By Todd Kreidler, based on the movie by William Rose. Directed by Adam Konowe. Produced by Jacquel Tomlin and Alan Wray.
A progressive white couple’s proud liberal sensibilities are put to the test when their daughter brings her Black fiancé home to meet them in this fresh and relevant stage adaptation of the iconic film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. Blindsided by their daughter’s whirlwind romance and fearful for her future, Matt and Christina Drayton quickly come to realize the difference between supporting a mixed-race couple in your newspaper and welcoming one into your family – especially in 1967. But they’re surprised to find they aren’t the only ones with concerns about the match, and it’s not long before a multi-family clash of racial and generational difference sweeps across the Draytons’ idyllic San Francisco terrace. At the end of the day, will the love between young Joanna and John prevail? With humor and insight, this play begins a conversation sure to continue at dinner tables long after the curtain comes down.
Tickets: $26 Reserved Seating.
For ticket info go here.
My Fair Lady
Vienna Theatre Company, 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna, Evenings: April 17, 18, 24 and 25, also May 1 and 2 at 7:00 p.m.; Matinees: April 19 and 26, as well as May 3 at 2:00 p.m.
Adapted from George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. Lyric and Book: Allen Jay Lerner. Music by: Frederick Loewe.
My Fair Lady is a musical about a Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, who is transformed into a lady by Professor Henry Higgins through speech and etiquette lessons as part of a bet. The plot explores themes of class, transformation, and identity, culminating in a new relationship for Eliza as she becomes too refined for her old life but too independent to be Higgins's creation.
For ticket info go here.
Travesty
Just Extended Through April 19! ~ Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW. April 16, 17, 8:00 p.m.; April 18, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; April 19, 2:00 p.m.
Created and Performed by SASHA VELOUR.
Travesty traces the secret queer history of a single spot throughout time — A witch burns in a field; a clown builds a theater; an underground gay bar rises up against the police. As Velour embodies different characters through a series of jaw-dropping lip-syncs, she invites you to take part in the cycle of existence, resistance, and camp that IS drag. Part performance art, part history, part call to action, Travesty will have you screaming at the top of your lungs, dancing in the aisles, and inspired to “change the muthaf*ckin’ world!”
Run time: Approximately 80 minutes with no intermission.
For ticket info go here.
As You Like It
Final Weekend! ~ Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol Street, SE. April 16, 7:30 p.m., April 17 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., April 18 and 19 at 2:00 p.m. Through Sunday, April 19.
By William Shakespeare. Directed by Timothy Douglas.
As You Like It, envisioned by Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels, is one of the most beloved Shakespearean comedies.
Rosalind and her cousin Celia are forced to leave the court where they find respite and adventure in nature, inevitably succumbing to the madness of love and delightfully unpredictable circumstances.
This production offers a love note to D.C., imbuing the forest of Arden with the familiar vibes, culture, and characters that mark the District as a singular, resilient, and redemptive place of belonging.
Tickets: $20 – $109
Duration: Approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, plus a 15-minute intermission.
For ticket info go here.
The Minutes
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Select Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. Through May 3.
Playwright: Tracy Letts. Director: Susan Marie Rhea.
D.C. Premiere!
Night falls on Big Cherry, USA — a seemingly ordinary town with secrets festering beneath its folksy charm. As the city council meeting unfolds in real time, tensions rise, alliances shift, and a routine agenda veers into chaos. What begins as civic procedure spirals into a gripping unmasking of buried truths — and a chilling question: How far would you go to protect your version of the truth? From the razor-sharp pen of Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts (AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY), THE MINUTES is a darkly hilarious, slow-burning thriller that peels back the patriotic veneer of American identity. Part biting satire, part psychological mystery, it exposes the rot at the heart of institutional power and the stories we tell to survive it.
For ticket info go here.
1776
Ford’s Theatre, 511 Tenth Street, NW, Through May 16.
Book byPeter Stone. Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards. Directed and Choreographed by Luis Salgado.
This popular American musical is an insightful, vibrant and humorous take on our founding fathers’ determination to do the right thing for their fledgling nation. As members of the Second Continental Congress struggle to reach consensus, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson argue for independence from the British monarchy. The ensuing debates defined our country. As we explore this historical moment through the evolving identity of America today, this robust, award-winning musical boldly brings our country’s beginnings to blazing life.
Duration: Three hours including a 15-minute intermission.
Recommended ages: 13 and up.
Accessible
Audio-Described Performances : May 2, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
ASL-Interpreted Performance : April 16 at 7:00 p.m. and May 9 at 1:00 p.m.
Sensory Friendly : April 25 at 1:00 p.m.
For ticket info go here.
Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest
Limited Tickets Remaining! ~ Mosaic Theatre Company, 1333 H. St. NE. April 15, 7:30 p.m., April 17, 18, and 23 at 7:30 p.m. Through May 3.
Book & lyrics by: psalmayene 24. Music by KOKAYI. Directed by Reginald L. Douglas. Choreographed and Associate Directed by Tony Thomas.
Presented in partnership with the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation and Washington Performing Arts.
It’s time to make some Good Trouble! In this musical, Mosaic’s Playwright-in-Residence, Psalmayene 24, honors the legendary “Conscience of Congress”: the late Congressman John Lewis.
Focusing on the Congressman’s formative years of ages 18-28, Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest reveals the humanity and heart of this mighty historic figure. The musical explores how the murder of Emmett Till motivated Lewis to pursue a life of service, including leading the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, fighting for Civil Rights with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and working for nearly two decades in Congress.
A theatrical event not to be missed, Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest is both a galvanizing call to action and an inspiring reminder that we can all make a difference, no matter our age.
“[Young John Lewis] should not be missed” ~ BroadwayWorld Atlanta
“A rousing tribute” ~ Arts ATL
For ticket info go here.
Appropriate
Nearly Sold Out! ~ Olney Theatre Center, Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD. Friday, April 17, 1:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.; April 22, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Through April 26.
By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Directed by Jason Loewith.
Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ searing satire of a family digging through their recently deceased patriarch’s crumbling estate is both gut-splittingly funny and shocking in its confrontation of conveniently forgotten family history. D.C.-luminaries Kimberly Gilbert (Angels in America) and Cody Nickell (Ink) star as siblings battling over the possession and meaning of their father’s dark patrimony. As the rest of the family descends on the ancestral property in rural Arkansas, old rivalries and grudges are eclipsed by the moral weight of what they find. Staged in our black box Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, this will be a unique staging of one of the most important American plays of the past 15 years.
ap • pro • pri • ate ~ adj. 1. suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person, occasion, etc. 2. belonging to or peculiar to a person; proper v. 3. to set apart, authorize, or legislate for some specific purpose or use 4. to take to or for oneself; take possession of; 5. to take without permission or consent; seize; expropriate; 6. to steal, especially to commit petty theft.
If the performance you want is sold out, we recommend checking back, as member seats may be exchanged and are made available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis. Any additional seats for sold-out performances may be released for sale at 9:00 a.m. on the day of the performance.
Ticket prices: $52 - $116 (including fees).
Duration: three hours with one intermission. Act 1: 60 minutes. Act 2: 95 minutes.
Age Guidance: If this were a film, it would be rated R for strong language, racist imagery, and sexual content.
For ticket info go here.
GUARDS AT THE TAJ
Final Weekend! ~ NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon. April 16 and 17 at 8:00 p.m.; April 18 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; April 19 at 2:00 p.m. Through April 19.
At what point do you follow morals over orders? This darkly comic play explores how unexamined adherence to leadership can drive you to stifle what makes you most human. Set in a fictionalized 1648 India, two Imperial Guards watch from their post as the sun rises on the newly-completed Taj Mahal for the first time — an event that shakes their respective worlds. When they're ordered to perform an unthinkable task, the aftermath forces them to question their very ideas of beauty, loyalty, and even their own friendship. A wry and haunting examination of blind obedience.
If You’re Into:
- Abbott and Costello (but with more gore)
- 'Animal Farm' if Key & Peele wrote it
- Severance absurdism
Expect:
- A buddy comedy that goes wrong
- Blood, Beauty, and a really bad day at work
- Dreaming of futures while reckoning with the past
Run Time: 90 minutes with no intermission.
Special Event: Under 40 Happy Hour, Friday, April 17, starting at 7:00 p.m.
Audience Advisory: This production contains theatrical blood and gore, simulated violence, and flashing lights.
For ticket info go here.
LOCAL MUSIC
Sounds of Home at 250
The Falls Church Episcopal, 166 E Broad St., April 18, 7:30 p.m.
For Arlington's 9th Street Quartet, their program "Sounds of Home at 250" explores the idea of belonging through music, highlighting some of the diverse voices and histories that shape current American life. The program features works by Jessie Montgomery, Kevin Puts, Steven Snowden, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, Stephen Gorbos, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Reena Esmail — composers whose musical voices represent a broad spectrum of American experience.
Cost: $25 general admission, free for students/youth.
Link: https://littlecityconcerts.org/9th-street-quartet-4%2F18.
Celtic Underground
Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N. Washington St., April 18, 5:30 p.m.
Mason Bands Anniversary Concert: 55 Years of Mason Bands
GMU Center for the Arts, George Mason Dewberry School of Music, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Friday, April 17, 7:30 p.m.
Join us for a landmark celebration as the Mason Bands present the 55th Anniversary Concert, bringing together generations of musicians for an unforgettable evening of music and legacy. Featuring the Mason Symphonic Band, Mason Wind Symphony, and the Mason Alumni Band, this concert honors the past, celebrates the present, and inspires the future of George Mason University’s vibrant band community.
This historic event welcomes back three revered figures in Mason’s musical legacy: Professor Anthony J. Maiello, Professor Mark Camphouse, and Joseph Kanyan, all former Directors of Concert Bands.
As a highlight of the concert, the Mason Wind Symphony will perform Paul Hindemith’s Symphony in B-flat in celebration of the 75th anniversary of this cornerstone work of the wind band repertoire. Hindemith’s groundbreaking symphony remains a towering achievement in the genre, bridging tradition and modernism with bold craftsmanship and emotional depth.
The Wind Symphony will also present the world premiere of a new work by Dr. Andrea Reinkemeyer, composed in honor of the 55th Anniversary of the Mason Bands. This celebratory commission captures the spirit, growth, and creative momentum of the Mason Bands community, written by one of today’s most exciting and visionary American composers.
With performances that span tradition, innovation, and community collaboration, the 55th Anniversary Concert is a tribute to what makes the Mason Bands extraordinary. We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone as we reflect, honor, and move boldly into the next era of excellence.
Tickets: $24 General Public; $19 Senior; $9 Student. Prices include fees.
For ticket info go here.
ELIADES OCHOA
The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Sunday, April 19, 8:00 p.m.
Four-time Latin Grammy Award winner Eliades Ochoa is one of the most celebrated soneros of all time, known for his masterful guitar playing, gravel-edged voice, and signature black hat. Often called “Cuba’s Johnny Cash,” his music draws from rural traditions and storytelling of the Cuban countryside. A founding member of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club, Ochoa rose to fame through the group's Grammy-winning album and Oscar-nominated documentary. His latest release, Guajiro, is a powerful testament to a lifelong musical journey, deeply rooted in Cuban tradition, yet resonating with universal appeal.
Tickets: $28 – $68.
For ticket info go here.
Old Town Hall Performance Series ~ Trio Niche
Stacy C. Sherwood Center, 3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax, Friday, April 17, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Free.
Contact: Christine Vincent, 703-273-6097, or Christine.Vincent@fairfaxva.gov.
Dolce Suono Ensemble
Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, Coolidge Auditorium (LJG45A), 10 1st Street SE, Saturday, April 18, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
The event is free, but tickets are required, and there may be special restrictions.
Dolce Suono Ensemble: Mimi Stillman, flute, Juliette Kang, violin, Yu-Ting Chen, violin, Che-Hung Chen, viola, Gabriel Cabezas, cello, Charles Abramovic, piano.
Led by flutist and Artistic Director Mimi Stillman, the Dolce Suono Ensemble performs an intriguing array of chamber works by important American composers. The repertoire illustrates why The New York Times calls Stillman “not only a consummate and charismatic performer, but also a scholar. Her programs tend to activate ear, heart — and brain.” You’ll hear a Mozart flute quartet alongside Irving Fine’s solo piano work Homage à Mozart, and Stillman’s arrangements of two songs Fine wrote for a production of Federico Garcia Lorca’s Doñna Rosita, the Spinster. A trio by Ned Rorem and Zhou Tian’s Irises, round out the program, which also features the world premiere of David Serkin Ludwig’s “Woman in Gold” for flute and string quartet, co-commissioned by the Library’s Verna and Irving Fine Endowment.
For ticket info go here.
District Sounds Festival
The Wharf, 760 Maine Ave. SW. Saturday, April 18, 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
We're thrilled to welcome District Sounds Festival to The Wharf! On Saturday, April 18, join District Coalition for a one-of-a-kind celebration of community, culture, and live music on the waterfront this spring.
The lineup features DC Public School students sharing the stage with international artists, a flamenco vs. tap dance battle, the Carly Harvey Band, and a grand finale with critically acclaimed D.C. rapper ODDISEE performing alongside an 80-person orchestra. Fuel up with food and drinks from Del Mar and other local vendors. Open to all ages and perfect for a spring day on the water.
Tickets: $6 - $12.
For ticket info go here.
LOCAL FINE ARTS
Meridian I.B. Art Show, Public Opening Nights, April 15-16
City of Falls Church Arts Day, April 18
The City of Falls Church Arts Day is sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church and will take place on April 18, 2026, with a rain date of April 25. Artists are invited to submit works for display on the scenic grounds of the Cherry Hill Farmhouse. Visitors from across the region will enjoy not only the featured artwork, but also Falls Church’s public art installations and live musical performances scheduled throughout the day.
Arts Day will coincide with the City’s popular Saturday Farmers Market and is expected to draw a large audience. Events like this not only provide a platform for artists to showcase their work, but also foster community engagement and a deeper appreciation for the arts.
Artists interested in participating in the event should complete an application.
Parking is available along Park Ave., the Community Center/City Hall Campus, or the Kaiser Permanente parking garage.
For our reporting on last year's 'Arts in the Park' Event see below:
Christopher Jones
See ‘250 and Counting’ at Falls Church Arts, Opening this Saturday, April 18!
Christopher Jones
Brian Conn: The Birds of NoVA
Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, 230 W. Broad St., Through April 19.
"When the pandemic began, nature walks became my escape from the monotony of working from home. Those walks quickly evolved into a passion for birding and wildlife photography. This collection captures the diverse birdlife of Northern Virginia, from the familiar American Robin to Hooded Merganser chicks taking their first leap into the world." ~ artist Brian Conn
Brian Conn's Artist website: https://photos.theconnman.com/About-Me.
For more in-depth coverage of art curation at Rare Bird, see our recent story below:
Christopher Jones
Spotlight on the Arts Festival ~ Opening Night & Art Contest
Mark your calendar! Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, Va., Friday, April 24, 7:00 p.m.
You’re invited to “Opening Night at Spotlight!”
Join us for an evening of live entertainment, cocktail/light fare, and the 3rd annual Spotlight Art Contest, sponsored by Capital One Hall!
Enjoy musical performances by:
- Cristian Perez & Munit Mesfin
- The Sweet Adelines
- Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts MCT Student Artist Performance
- Spotlight Scholarship Award-Winning Pianists from George Mason University
YOU can choose our Art Contest’s Community Choice Award winner!
We received nearly 400 entries for our art contest this year! At Opening Night, our finalists’ artwork will be on exhibit and for sale*, and each Opening Night attendee will receive a ballot to vote. Who will win the Community Choice Award ($500)? Vote for your favorite!!
At Opening Night, we’ll also be announcing the New York Life Grand Prize ($1500), 2nd Place ($1000) the Student Artist Award ($500) winners, selected by a juried panel.
Dress however you’re comfortable! Casual, business casual, cocktail...
TICKET sales through through April 15. $35 General Admission.
For ticket info go here.
Reverie is not the same as 'Doing Nothing'
Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, 888 N. Quincy St., Arlington. Closing event with Michele Montalbano, April 25, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Finding Awe: Billy Morrow Jackson’s Eve
National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, East Building Upper Level, Gallery 406, Friday, April 17, 2:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Talks & Conversations. Part of Finding Awe.
Explore how awe propels creativity and learn how Billy Morrow Jackson packed a complex array of emotions into scenes of everyday life.
During this 90-minute pause from your daily route, we’ll look slowly and mindfully at Billy Morrow Jackson’s Eve. You’ll be invited to look closely, wonder, and share your insights with the group. Together, we’ll learn “awe practices” that you can bring to your everyday life.
When the workshop is full, the registration button will stop working. Due to last-minute cancellations, check back on the morning of the April 17 or April 18 workshop for available tickets. Questions? Email us at tickets@nga.gov.
"Finding Awe" is grounded in the National Gallery’s mission to welcome all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity. It offers new “awe practices” drawn from the research of Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California-Berkeley, director of The Greater Good Science Center, and author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life (2023). Research shows that experiences of awe help support mental and physical wellbeing and open us up to greater creativity and deeper empathy. Explore awe at the National Gallery of Art.
For more info go here.
Mary Cassatt
National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, West Bldg. Main Floor, Gallery 86. Through Aug. 30.
An intimate exhibition brings together rarely-seen treasures and iconic works by Mary Cassatt, marking 100 years since her death.
Mary Cassatt’s art and life reflect an independent spirit that defied expectations for women in her time. Explore three galleries in the National Gallery’s impressionist collection to look closely at how she worked. Some 40 paintings, drawings, and prints — largely drawn from our rich holdings of her work — show an artist shaped by tradition yet radically modern.
Admission is always free and passes are not required.
For more info go here.
Nick Cave: Mammoth
Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), Open Daily, 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Through January 3, 2027. Free Admission.
In Mammoth, Nick Cave invites visitors to walk among the fantastical remains of these ancient creatures. His new project envisions a world animated by the power of the past and the transformative possibilities of the imagination.
Nick Cave (b. 1959) is renowned internationally for his work that surreally and seductively combines sculpture, performance, and fashion. Known for the exuberant Soundsuits that he originally created in response to racialized police violence, Cave has long been interested in the intersections of history and identity. With this new body of work, his scope is both broader and more personal. Cave explores his family’s history in rural Chariton County, Missouri, his relationship with the landscape there, and the nature of his own creativity. In doing so, he invites us to consider our connections with the natural world and the everyday objects that surround us.
In Mammoth, Cave remakes the museum’s galleries into an immersive environment marked by the crafted hides and bones of mammoths, a video projection of the long-dead animals come to life, and hundreds of transformed found objects — from vintage tools to his grandmother’s thimble collection — presented like paleontological specimens on a massive light table. By showcasing the ordinary and often forgotten bits and pieces of the world we live in, Cave’s work shines light on what we value and how we make meaning together. It evokes the lives and cultures we've lost, as well as the magical possibilities of a universe created through imagination and the humblest of materials.
Focused on the fundamental connections between people and their environment, Cave asks how we can begin to make sense of our relationship with a landscape that continues to evolve. How might we adapt, persevere, even thrive? As the contemporary world increasingly challenges what it means to be human, Cave envisions a space of both grief and possibility.
For more info go here.
Paper as Politic
Final Weekend! ~ Mason Exhibitions, George Mason University School of Art, Art and Design Building, Suite 2050, 4400 University Drive Fairfax, Va. Through April 23.
Curated by Helen Frederick, Nicole Donnelly, Jeffrey Kenney.
The impetus behind organizing the exhibition Paper as Politic during this critical and unprecedented moment in history is multifaceted. The bold red line crossing out the phrase "Paper as Politic" in the call for entries has challenged artists to engage with a variety of politically relevant themes, including propaganda, censorship, race, language, cultural transformation, and numerous forms of intervention and resistance.
Featured artists have also recognized paper as a medium for historical documentation, serving as registries, poignant epitaphs, memorials, and crucially, as visual calls for democracy and humanitarian issues.
This exhibition underscores the deep understanding of paper as a lasting, portable, and democratic vessel for information — one that is easily altered, recyclable, or even destroyed. This notion is manifested in a diverse array of works, including paintings, prints, artist books, graphic designs, collages, and sculptures.
Paper as Politic acts as a cultural petri dish, capturing not only the darker aspects of our times but also interrogating the nuances of deception, criminality, and potential restoration, all while inviting satirical, sublime, judgmental or non-judgmental perspectives. Through various personal explorations, the exhibition consolidates the power of paper as a medium of expression. Its honesty stands in stark contrast to the distortions often present in social media, ultimately recognizing the importance of sustainability in artistic practice.
About the Curators
Helen Frederick is recognized as a distinguished artist, curator, educator, coordinator of international projects, and as founder of Pyramid Atlantic. As an advocate for and an active participant in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area arts scene, she's served on the directorial boards of alternative art spaces, various local and national boards and national peer-review panels. She has fulfilled speaking engagements around the world, always emphasizing collaboration across disciplines. Throughout her life her passion for diverse cultures and histories has led her to travel to observe the material cultures of many societies, their skills. and ideas and to make connections among disparate cultural traditions.
Nicole Donnelly is a Philadelphia-based painter, hand papermaker, and installation artist. She received her MFA from the University of Iowa in 2009 and her BA from Bennington College, and she has received grants and fellowships to complete residencies at the Morgan Conservatory of Paper, the Goldwell Open Air Museum, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Women’s Studio Workshop. Donnelly often collaborates with other artists and poets through the media of paper and paint. She is the President of the International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA), operates the creative papermaking studio paperTHINKtank, and her artwork has been exhibited throughout the United States and internationally.
For more info go here.
Janet Loren Hill | Andrew Casto
Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, 12001 Market St. #103, Reston Va. Through July 25.
The exhibition will feature recent work by artists Janet Loren Hill and Andrew Casto. Hill’s shaped paintings present surreal characters moving through complex environments, tracing various global histories of coercion, labor, and the potential for rupture.
Casto’s recent work — whose formal language is based on a material study of geological processes translated into ceramic and mixed-media vessel forms — explores the connection between “macrocosmic” environmental change and interruptions in our often routine existence.
Visually, their work plays both against and with each other: painting vs. ceramic, large vs. small scale, use of texture, the absurd and the sublime, decadent color, and sometimes unnerving forms. Contextually, they share a use of humor and absurdity, varied references to the body, and commentary on our world.
For more info go here.
Miró and the United States
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, Through July 5.
Special Exhibition!
At the end of his life, Joan Miró maintained, “It was really American painting that inspired me.”
Co-organized with the Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona, Miró and the United States explores the vibrant exchanges between Catalan artist Joan Miró (1893-1983) and the burgeoning American art scene in a pivotal moment of 20th-century art. This little-known yet decisive period of connection between Miró and American artists — including Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, Lee Krasner, Norman Lewis, Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, and Adolph Gottlieb — was influential in the development of post-war art on both sides of the Atlantic.
For Miró, the United States represented new audiences and creative freedom. He had retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1941 and 1959, and traveled to the U.S. seven times between 1947 and 1968, during which he met artists in their studios, collaborated on prints and architectural projects, and closely followed exhibitions at galleries and museums. Featuring 75 works by more than 30 artists, this exhibition reframes Miró’s legacy, revealing how his dream-like pictures evolved through artistic dialogue and experimentation with his American counterparts.
For more info go here.
Teen Portrait Competition, 2025
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Second Floor, North Galleries. Through Aug. 30.
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery is proud to present the winners and finalists of the 2025 Teen Portrait Competition!
Matilda Myers of Maryland and Kate Stermer of California have been announced as winners of the 2025 Teen Portrait Competition, a triennial event inspired by the museum’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. The teen competition is open to students between the ages of 13 and 17 who reside in the United States and its territories. Ten finalists were selected from the 13 to 15 age group, and nine finalists were selected from the 16 to 17 age group. The selected works showcase the next wave of contemporary portraiture by teens. Myers received the top prize from the 13–15 age group, and Stermer from the 16–17 age group. The photographs by the 19 finalists will be on view in a video presentation on the second floor of the National Portrait Gallery through August 30, 2026.
Teens were invited to submit their photographic portraits through an anonymous open call. The museum received more than 1,100 entries from students in 48 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. The photographs were reviewed by the Teen Museum Council, a group of high school students from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia who aim to learn about museum careers while building a community for teens with interactive programs and events inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. The council narrowed the submissions to 40 semi-finalists. Three members of the council, joined by artist Caitlin Teal Price, who is based in Washington, D.C., and New York, juried the competition’s final round to select the exhibiting artists and name the prizewinners.
Myers’ photograph, “Rest,” compares the masculine and feminine by showing a ballerina resting with a pickaxe. Stermer’s black-and-white portrait, titled “The Cost of Conformity,” depicts a teenage girl as a puppeteer manipulating the markers of success (cars) with marionette strings. Photographs by all 19 finalists prompt conversations about identity through the eyes of teens in the United States, and they address topical issues including tradition, mental health and sibling relationships. The photographs will be on view alongside the museum’s triennial “The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today” exhibition, featuring finalists of the 2025 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition by artists 18 and older.
For more info go here.
Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean
Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Arthur Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW, East Building. Through Sept. 7.
At the dawn of time, the Hindu god Vishnu slept on a coiled serpent floating in the primordial ocean. There, he dreamed the universe into existence. This magnificent story of creation comes to life through the largest bronze ever cast in Southeast Asia, now on loan to us from the National Museum of Cambodia.
For the first time in centuries, you can experience this sculpture’s full monumental scale: a breathtaking six meters long (nearly twenty feet). Only the head and torso have been displayed since 1936, when the sculpture was found buried in a pit with dozens of loose bronze fragments. A team of international experts has recently conserved and reconnected the body’s remnants after decades of scientific research.
Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean presents this monumental masterpiece of Cambodian artistry and explores its rich context. Delve into the sculpture’s original island-like temple, the deep blue waters of the surrounding reservoir, and the ancient city of Angkor. Learn about water’s cultural importance as a mirror of the ocean of creation, and admire the exceptional bronze-casting and engineering skills of artists who lived a thousand years ago.
An exclusive film brings you to the present-day reservoir and its surrounding community. Cambodian American director praCh Ly shares a day in the life of a local fisherman, a merchant, and a young Buddhist monk. Titled Awkun (meaning “thank you” in Khmer), this film draws attention to the relationships that bridge sacred and urban spaces, from past to present.
For more info go here.
Basil Kincaid: Spirit in the Gift
Rubell Museum DC, 65 i Street SW. Through Fall, 2026.
Basil Kincaid: Spirit in the Gift marks the first solo museum exhibition in Washington D.C. for Kincaid (b. 1986, St. Louis, MO). Four large-scale quilted artworks created during the artist’s residency at the Rubell Museum in Miami in 2023 will be presented in the D.C. museum’s largest gallery. Kincaid’s work pays homage to the long history of quilt-making while exploring the relationships between identity, ancestry, and place. Some themes are deeply personal and autobiographical, others are more universal, but all evoke the joy inherent in the artist’s love for and nurturing of community. The entailed and labor-intensive process of creating these monumental works is balanced by an improvisational, spontaneous, and fluid quality that runs throughout them. The result is as indebted to freehand drawing and jazz music as it is to patchwork quilt making and embroidery.
For more info go here.
Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Through July 26.
Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection brings together approximately 80 works by nearly 70 of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Magdalena Abakanowicz, Cecily Brown, Sheila Hicks, Jenny Holzer, Julie Mehretu, Joan Mitchell, Faith Ringgold, Tschabalala Self, Amy Sillman, Lorna Simpson, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Pat Steir, Sarah Sze, Kara Walker, and Zarina. Featuring a wide variety of artworks from the past eight decades, including painting, sculpture, installation, textile, beadwork, and ceramics, the exhibition emphasizes connections between intergenerational and international artists who circumvent and upend conventions in art-making, embracing craft techniques, inventive methods, and alternative materials.
The exhibition is organized within seven sections that illustrate key thematic threads: Gestural Abstraction, Luminous Abstraction, Pixelated Abstraction, Disobedient Bodies, Of Selves and Spirits, The Power of Form, and Craft is Art. Each section juxtaposes works by emerging artists with the pathbreaking contributions of their predecessors, demonstrating how earlier generations anticipated contemporary perspectives on representation, identity, and power. Making Their Mark envisions art history as an interconnected web of influences and affinities among artists who subvert traditional narratives and hierarchies in a historically patriarchal field.
Many of the works on view question rigid and gendered distinctions between art and craft, eroding arbitrary and increasingly obsolete categories and value systems. Making Their Mark assembles significant works by artists whose innovative explorations demonstrate expansive vocabularies of art-making, highlighting the importance of prioritizing diverse perspectives to change the way art histories are told.
For more info go here.
LOCAL FILM
Defending Democracy
Film Festival and Fundraiser
Paragon Theater, Founders Row, 112 Founders Ave., Sunday, April 19, 2:30-5:00 p.m.
The League of Women Voters of Falls Church will host a Defending Democracy Film Festival and Fundraiser on Sunday, April 19, from 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. at Paragon Theater, 112 Founders Avenue, Falls Church. See program details below.
Tickets are $40 per person, first come first served, with a maximum capacity of 55 people. Only a few tickets are left, so buy yours soon!
100% of profits go to our Falls Church League.
The funds raised will allow LWVFC to print our local voters' guides and other materials informing the public about their voting rights and upcoming elections. It also funds our participation in community events to promote voter registration and information, and supports our local candidate forums and other programs about public issues. Dues alone cannot cover these costs as 80% of dues supports the national and state League activities.
Buy Tickets Online: Fundraiser Tickets (includes 10 raffle tickets!)
Flyer Attached: Film Festival
Program Details:
Two documentaries will be featured that touch on historic and contemporary challenges to democracy. From the role of iconic Rosie the Riveter to the continued battle for women's rights through the Women's March, these films will both enlighten you and encourage you to treasure and exercise your right to vote.
2:30 p.m. ~ Opening Reception and Raffle. Each ticket purchase includes 10 raffle tickets for a chance to win one of the wonderful prizes provided by our amazing event sponsors (see list below).
3:00 p.m. ~ Films begin:
- Film 1 ~ "Home Front Heroes" (Rosie the Riveter National Historic Park Film)
- Film 2 ~ "Women's March" (Documentary Film on Democracy and Human Rights)
4:15 p.m. ~ Post-film discussion begins.
*Colter Adams, born and raised in Falls Church City, will do a short presentation on his recent work to assist immigrant families in the Minnesota area.
*Jennifer Tabola, Falls Church League member, will lead participants in a discussion regarding "How to Stay Engaged" in politics at the local and national level and effect change.
4:45 p.m. ~ Program Wrap Up and Raffle Winners Selected.
Raffle Prizes Include:
*Balanced Female Fitness – One month of unlimited classes
*Bead Bunny – Stackable, stretchy bracelets
*Clare and Don's Beach Shack – $20 gift certificate and Beanie
*Creative Cauldron – 2 tickets to the upcoming Little Women production
*Entangled – Beginner's Knitting Kit
*Harris Teeter – $50 gift certificate
*Harvey's – $25 gift certificate
*Jazzercise – One month of unlimited classes
*Northside Social – 2 Bags Organic Whole Bean Coffee
*Pilates at Stacey's – 3 Free Melt or Suspension Classes
*Stylish Patina – Local Love Gift Basket
For ticket info go here.
Good Valley Stories
National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, East Building Large Auditorium, Saturday, April 18, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Good Valley Stories focuses on Vallbona, a northern district of Barcelona, and its inhabitants, both old and new. Renowned for his interest in the intersections of documentary and fiction, Spanish director José Luis Guerín provides a playful and thought-provoking account of many generations living, working, and playing in Vallbona. (José Luis Guerin, 2025, Spanish, Catalan, French, and Russian with English subtitles, DCP, 122 minutes)
Presented in partnership with the Washington, DC International Film Festival (Filmfest DC).
To register go here.
Cine-Concert: The Great Train Robbery followed by Sand!
National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, East Building Large Auditorium, Sunday, April 19, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Part of Treasures of American Cinema: Westerns as Reel Americana.
Join us for live piano accompaniment by Andrew Simpson and an in-person introduction by Courtney Holschuh, archives technician, nitrate vaults, Library of Congress.
The Great Train Robbery has become one of the most referenced shorts in cinematic history. This tale of train bandits getting away with murder and treasure on the rails ends with the iconic three-quarter image of actor Justus D. Barnes firing a pistol directly at the camera. Filmed in November 1903 partially at Thomas Edison's New York studio, as well as on location in Essex County Park, New Jersey. (Edwin S. Porter, 1903, 35mm, silent, 12 minutes)
The early Western Sand! stars and was produced by William S. Hart, one of the silent era’s most popular actors. A train station attendant laid off by an unscrupulous boss, his character tries to prove himself worthy of his ladylove and his job by thwarting banditry on the rails. (Lambert Hillyer, 1920, 35mm, silent, 73 minutes)
To register go here .
CELEBRATE EARTH DAY!
Idylwood Studios Earth Day Pop-up, April 22
Following is based on a March 29 Idylwood Studios press release:
Idylwood Studios of Falls Church is pleased to announce its “Earth Day Pop Up Event,” a celebration of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, from 3 – 7:00 p.m. The event – free and open to the public – will be at 7617 Idylwood Road, Falls Church.
Idylwood Studios will host several artisans, vendors and community activists whose work focuses on reuse and recycling.
Berryfine Goods is an ethical estate service that addresses waste diversion and reuse and Jenny Newberry Art is the owner and artist whose art is made from what others leave behind.
Fillagreen is a zero-waste, refillable health and beauty shop in Manassas that offers sustainable home and personal care products to help customers reduce plastic waste.
Future Acres Farm will be present to discuss best practices for composting.
Luci’s Mobile Library is a Springfield-based nonprofit that fosters a love of reading by providing free, gently used books to children.
Mend a Hand teaches individuals to repair, revive and reimagine their treasures. By passing knowledge down, Mend a Hand ensures that more people know how to fix the things they love and already have rather than buying new.
Paloma Vintage Designs transforms vintage and reclaimed costume jewelry into bold modern accessories and décor. Every piece is sustainably handcrafted.
Rokatree empowers people to level up their living spaces with textile art.
Scout troops and community groups will attend to learn more about sustainability, so there will be great opportunities for engagement and connection. Hands on demonstrations will be offered.
For media inquiries contact: Pamela Huffman, pamelahuffmanart@gmail.com, 703-362-4078. Instagram: @idylwoodstudios.
For more info go here.
Providence District Earth Day Celebration, April 18
To register go here.
Check Out Summer Events at West Falls!
WEST FALLS KICKS OFF SPRING & SUMMER EVENT SERIES IN COMMONS PARK
Weekly programming and signature events bring live music, fitness and community gatherings to Falls Church
West Falls is excited to announce its spring and summer programming lineup, bringing a dynamic mix of live music, wellness experiences and community-centered events to Commons Park. Starting in April, a mix of live music, outdoor workouts, and community events that invite you to gather, unwind, and make the most of the warmer months. Whether it’s catching live music with friends, joining a fitness class, or putting your trivia skills to the test, the lineup is curated to create a lively, welcoming atmosphere, making West Falls a go-to spot all season long.
- Dates: Every Friday starting Friday, April 17
- Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
- Location: Commons Park
- Cost: FREE
- Details: Kick off the weekend with live outdoor performances by local and regional musicians. This weekly series brings a rotating lineup of talent to Commons Park, including local musicians James Stevens, Laura Farrell and many more!
- Date: Wednesday, April 29
- Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
- Location: Commons Park
- Details: Part of the City of Falls Church Fitness Challenge, this high-energy event kicks off with a 30-minute HIIT workout led by local studio Balanced Female Fitness. After the workout, keep the energy going at Honoo Ramen Bar right in Commons Park, where attendees can enjoy happy hour specials until 7 p.m. Grab a drink, refuel with bites and connect with friends and neighbors for the perfect midweek reset!
- Dates: Every Thursday starting May 7 through June 11
- Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
- Location: Commons Park
- Cost: FREE
- Details: Put your knowledge to the test every Thursday night at our weekly trivia tournament. Bring your crew, pick up dinner from one of our restaurants, and go head-to-head for weekly prizes and ultimate bragging rights.
- Dates: Every second Saturday starting May 9
- Time: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
- Location: Commons Park
- Cost: $10
- Details: Start your weekend on a high note with an energizing outdoor class led by Barre3, with an all-levels workout that combines strength, cardio, and balance for a feel-good start to the day. Come with a mat and water, bring a friend, and make a morning of it by exploring local shops or grabbing brunch!
WHERE: Commons Park at West Falls, 201 W. Falls Station Blvd.
LOCAL COMEDY
Improv Workshop: Unexpectedly Funny!
Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave., Main Level Conference Room, Saturday, April 18, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Ages: Adults and Teens.
Note: Registration is required for this event and will close on April 18 at 2:00 p.m.
Join us for Unexpectedly Funny, an exhilarating improv workshop with Nikki Frias!
Discover the joy of spontaneous creativity while exploring the fundamentals of improvisation in a fun and supportive environment. Through engaging games, exercises, and group activities, participants will sharpen their quick-thinking skills, enhance their communication abilities, and build confidence in their ability to think on their feet. Whether you're a seasoned performer or brand new to improv, this workshop offers something for everyone. Come unleash your imagination, embrace the unexpected, and experience the thrill of improv!
About the Presenter
Nikki Frias is a comedy teacher in the DMV area with over a decade of experience. She fosters a supportive environment for students to explore their creativity. Known for her dynamic teaching style, Nikki emphasizes confidence and collaboration in improv, while her writing workshops focus on storytelling and finding one's voice. Her unique approach integrates improvisation into writing, inspiring students to unleash their artistic potential onstage and on the page.
To register go here.
$5 Comedy Night
The State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Friday, April 17. Doors open 7:00 p.m. Show starts: 8:30 p.m.
$5 Comedy Night is back inside at the State Theatre! Featuring the DMV's best comedians!!
You must be 18 or over to enter unless accompanied by your parent/guardian. Valid ID required. Save some money! There's only a $1 fee when you buy your ticket in person at the box office.
For ticket info go here.
W. KAMAU BELL
Who's With Me?
The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Friday April 17, 7:30 p.m.
Kamau returns to the stand-up stage, full of questions, thoughts, and a heavy dollop of silliness in these hectic times. He’s pretty sure the only way we make it through all of this is if we face it together. So Kamau wants to know: Who’s With Me?
About W. Kamau Bell
W. Kamau Bell is a stand-up comedian, filmmaker, husband, and dad. For seven seasons, he hosted and executive produced CNN’s five-time Emmy Award-winning original series United Shades of America. In 2023, Bell won an Emmy for his HBO documentary 1000% Me: Growing Up Mix and a Peabody Award for his 2022 Showtime docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby.
Bell is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling book Do the Work: An Antiracist Activity Book and the author of The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama’s Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian. In March 2025, he contributed a chapter to bestselling author Michael Lewis’ book Who is Government?, based on Bell's Washington Post article and short documentary, “The Rookie.”
His most recent comedy special, Private School Negro, is available on Netflix. Bell serves on the boards of DonorsChoose, which helps teachers raise money for class projects, and Live Free, a nonprofit dedicated to ending gun violence, mass incarceration, and mass criminalization. He is also the ACLU’s artist ambassador for racial justice and hosts the ACLU podcast At Liberty. In 2023, Kamau and his wife Melissa Hudson Bell co-founded Who Knows Best Productions, a media production company based in Oakland, CA. He cares too much and sleeps too little.
Tickets: $28 – $75.
For ticket info go here.
CELEBRATE AMERICA'S 250th!
Road to Revolution
National Archives Museum, West Rotunda Gallery, 701 Constitutions Ave. NW. Through April 30.
Road to Revolution is a rotating exhibition series highlighting National Archives records that document major milestones and critical historical context to the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Augmenting the well-known sequence of events in the two years preceding July 4, 1776, are displays that focus on the diverse experiences and perspectives for members of the Founding generation whose stories are less well known — including Native Americans, free and enslaved African Americans, and women.
Collectively Road to Revolution reveals that the journey from colonial resistance and rebellion to American revolution and independence is not composed of a single narrative but a story of many intersecting (and diverging) paths in the universal pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
Behind the Ink of the Declaration of Independence
Through April 30.
Meet the people who left their mark in ink on the Declaration of Independence.
For more info go here.
LOCAL DANCE
HONKY TONK DANCE WITH KITI GARTNER & THE DRIFTING VALENTINES
Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD, Bumper Car Pavillion, April 17, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Two step the night away at a Honky Tonk Dance with Kiti Gartner & the Drifting Valentines, presented by Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture. A free dance lesson is included with admission, led by Sharon Schiliro and Michael Hart of Dancing by the Bayou.
Kiti Gartner & the Drifting Valentines is a band out of Washington D.C. who play western swing, rockabilly, old country and some jump blues. Their influences include music from the 1940s thru the early '60s, including almost everything that came out of The Quonset Hut and RCA Studio B in Nashville, Sun Records in Memphis, and Bakersfield. Band members are Kiti Gartner (vocals, rhythm), Zachary Sweeney (electric guitar), Jonathan Bozarth (upright bass), Brian Alpert (drums), Lynn Kasdorf (pedal steel guitar).
Schedule
7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. || Beginner Two Step Lesson
8:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. || Dancing with the band
Tickets
Discounted Advance Tickets ($22) || Online Only || Advance sales end at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 16.
Same-Day Tickets ($27) || Online or at the door (Cash, Check, or Credit Card) || Doors open at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17.
Dual Dance Ticket ($40) || Includes 4/17/26 Honky Tonk Dance with Kiti Gartner & The Drifting Valentines and 6/19/26 Honky Tonk Dance with Dede & the Do-Rights || Purchase Dual Dance Ticket >>
All sales final.
Presenter: Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture
Admission: $22 Advance; $27 Same-Day; $40 Dual Dance Ticket.
Email: dance@glenechopark.org.
For more info go here.
Wanna Make Art in the Park?
Art in the Park
Winkler Botanical Preserve, 5400 Roanoke Ave., Alexandria. April 18, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Presented by Nova Parks.
Show off your creativity! Make your mark on Winkler Botanical Preserve by creating a work of art using materials found in the park.
After a hike to gather art resources, on an area of natural canvas, weave, position, balance and set natural mediums into beautiful art forms. Stack rocks, arrange branches, and decorate with leaves and twigs to build natural sculptures.
At the end of the program, we'll leave an open-air art show for others to enjoy until nature reclaims and reshapes it.
To register go here.
Enjoy the Georgetown French Market!
Je t'aime Georgetown!
Mark your calendars! ~ Along Wisconsin Ave. from O Street to Reservoir Road, April 24-26, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Georgetown BID is hosting their 23rd annual Georgetown French Market April 24-26, 2026. This popular open-air market – originally inspired by those often seen in France – will feature sidewalk sales and specials from more than 40 locally-owned boutiques, cafés and galleries along Wisconsin Avenue from O St. to Reservoir Rd., plus live music, stilt walkers, face painting, a mime and more. Neighborhood restaurants will also offer food and drink specials featuring French cuisine and beyond – from pastries, croissants, and macarons, to lunch items grilled outside, and wine discounts.
The 23rd annual Georgetown French Market is sure to be magnifique!
This event may be photographed and/or video recorded. Please be advised that by entering this event site you agree to being filmed and/or photographed, and the resulting assets may be used for marketing or promotional purposes.
For more info go here.
Enjoy an Spring Market!
Flourish: A Spring Market Event
Virginia Square, Arlington, Saturday, April 18, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Join the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington and Made in Arlington for a market to celebrate spring! Music, local vendors, and art making. Fun friendly vibes!
Event Highlights:
Outdoors
- "Made in Arlington" Market – 20+ vendors selling local handmade goods!
- Food and drink: Rossana Mobile Espresso Experience and King of Pops
- Wild Clay Pigments Craft led by artist Andrew Barco
Indoors (other events to check out)
- Yoga in the Tiffany Gallery 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Sound Bath in the Tiffany Gallery 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Artist Talk: James Stephen Terrell 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
View more about Flourish: A Spring Market.
Chill Out with Alpacas!
Alpaca Happy Hour at Peruvian Brothers
Peruvian Brothers, 1450 South Eads Street, April 16, 23, and 30, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Come for the Alpacas, stay for the specials!
Peruvian Brothers is hosting happy hours in April with a few special guests. Friendly and fluffy mini alpacas will be on site between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. every Thursday in April. Come visit with these sweet and curious creatures and grab some delicious food and drinks from your favorite neighborhood Peruvian spot.
For more info go here.
Compiled by Christopher Jones
Member discussion