Weekend Buzz: May 20, 2026

This Memorial Day weekend we honor those who "gave their last full measure of devotion." Of course, Falls Church City's Memorial Day Parade and Festival this Monday provides a fine venue for the occasion. Don't miss Harvey's Summer Stomp showcase of nearly 20 local businesses on Thursday. Have you caught Creative Cauldron's show "Little Women: The Musical" yet? Summertime outdoor film series are off and running. Renowned authors Walter Isaacson and Geraldine Brooks are giving author talks. And we have the latest in local music, comedy, dance, film, theater, and fine arts. Plus, the alpacas are back by popular demand!

Honor Memorial Day

Falls Church City Memorial Day Parade and Festival Details

It is that time of year! The 44th Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festival is returning Monday, May 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of City Hall (300 Park Ave.) The event is rain or shine! 

Begin the morning with the spirited 3K fun run; then honor our community’s fallen military service members at the Veterans Memorial. In the afternoon, dive into delicious food trucks, peruse local vendors, bounce around on the kids’ rides and inflatables, and spectate the show-stopping parade down Park Avenue.

This event is for all ages, with attractions for everyone, including the Memorial Day ceremony, a parade down Park Ave., amusement rides, inflatables, live music, and over 70 vendor booths featuring local businesses, artisans, civic groups, and glorious food. New this year, in commemoration of the country’s 250th anniversary, the VA250 Mobile Museum will be on-site, featuring interactive exhibits about Virginia’s rich history in front of City Hall.

Some surrounding streets will be closed beginning at 5 a.m. Check parking options and road closures in advance.

Full Schedule of Events: 

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m – Festival  

• Vendor booths, including civic groups, crafters, merchants, local food, and food trucks. 
• Children's amusements, including pony rides and inflatables.
• VA250 Mobile Museum interactive experience titled “Out of Many, One.”
• Inova Blood Drive, located outside the Community Center (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).  

9:00 a.m. – June and Mike Beyer Foundation 3K Fun Run 

• Starting line: Great Falls St. at Little Falls St.
• Finish line: Park Ave. at Little Falls St.
• Free! No registration required!
• Rollerblades, scooters, and bicycles are not permitted. 

9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – Music on the Main Stage 

• Stage located on Park Ave. at Little Falls St.
• 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.: Road Street Avenue local pop cover band.   

11:00 a.m. – Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial 

• Hosted by the 
  Greater Falls Church Veterans Council.
• Located outside of the Community Center at the Veterans Memorial
• Featuring Keynote Speaker, Wyatt Shields, Outgoing City Manager of 23 Years, City of Falls Church. 

2:00 p.m. – Parade Begins 

• Parade route: Park Ave., between N. West St. and Little Falls St. 
• Led by the Quantico Marine Corps Band and 2026 Grand Marshals, Nan Hof, Shey Wakeley, and Mary Jo West.
• 'Best of' Trophy presentation after the parade   

Event Sponsors  

June and Mike Beyer Foundation • Heidi's Vending • CYMNOW flowers • Kitchen Saver • Passanante's Home Food Service • Renewal By Andersen • The Falls Church News Press • Wolf MMA 

Check Out this Local Business Showcase!

Fun for All at Harvey’s Summer Stomp, May 21!

Summer Stomp!

Where? Harvey’s Bar & Restaurant , 513 W. Broad St.

When? Thursday, May 21, 5:00 – 8:30 p.m.

• Fun & games for all ages? Check.
• Local business involvement? Check.
• Music, great conversation, delicious food and drinks? Double check!
• Collaboration and community for a wonderful cause? You bet!

Harvey’s Summer Stomp is gearing up to be an evening of discovery and celebration for families. Local child-focused businesses will set up displays and games for children and families. A lot of fun, paired with useful information.

Thomas Harvey, owner of Harvey’s Restaurant said, ”We are all about community and great food. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the summer season than connecting our local businesses with Falls Church families, while supporting OSG in their mission to serve adults with developmental disabilities.

Nearly two dozen local businesses including Clay Cafe, Creative Cauldron, Founders Eye Care, KiPS Family Gymnastics, Scramble, Mary Riley Styles Public Library will be there, each sharing a bit about themselves so that neighbors new and old can discover more of what this thriving community has to offer. 

The goal of Summer Stomp is two-fold: gather the community together before the summer holidays are in full swing and support OSG, a local non-profit that supports adults with developmental disabilities access affordable housing, integrate with neighbors and enjoy what many of us take for granted – the dignity of choice and living interdependently. 

Harvey’s will be donating 10% of proceeds to OSG all day long.

OSG’s Executive Director Margot Greenlee said, “What moves me most about Summer Stomp is seeing the Falls Church community open its arms. At OSG, we work every day to make sure adults with developmental disabilities have the same choices we all want for the people we love. Watching local families and businesses come together to support our mission is incredibly meaningful.”

Participants:

OSG

Acton Academy

Clay Cafe

Creative Cauldron

Dulin Preschool

Easter Seals Child Development Center

Founders Eye Care

Harvey’s

KiPS Family Gymnastics

Kysela Imports

The Learning Quest

Mary Riley Styles Public Library

Penzey's Spices

ProHealth Medical

Scramble

Seven Corners Psychotherapy

Sylvan Learning Center

The Toy Nest

Tutor Smart

For more on Harvey's local business spotlighting see our recent story here:

Harvey’s Hosts 6 Local Businesses in ‘Spotlight Falls Church’

To boost community, collaboration, and awareness, Harvey’s restaurant – known as a “home for good food and friends” at 513 W. Broad St. – hosted six local businesses and nonprofits in their Spotlight Falls Church outdoor patio event, the sweltering summer evening of July 17.

The Falls Church IndependentChristopher Jones

LOCAL MUSIC

MISIL STEREO TRIBUTO A SODA STEREO + Gustavo Cerati

Zip Code Band: Tributo a Hombres G + Enanitos Verdes

The State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Friday, May 22. Doors open: 7:00 p.m. Showtime: 8:30 p.m.

Genre: Latin Rock / Tribute. 

With millions of records sold worldwide SODA STEREO was arguably the most influential Spanish Rock band from the 80's/90’s era. MISIL STEREO pays tribute to this amazing Argentinian band bringing their sound back to life once again, featuring strings and keys capturing every detail of their hits. Be part of the full experience performed by talented musicians of the best Soda Stereo-tribute band in America.

ZIP CODE

This high-octane tribute band brings the anthems of Hombres G and Enanitos Verdes roaring back to life. From sing-along choruses to pure ’80's Latin rock nostalgia, they deliver nonstop hits that turn every show into a full-on fiesta. If you love Spanish-language rock classics, this is your soundtrack.

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.

Tickets: $25: Advance: $30: Day of Show.

For ticket info go here.

DL FunkBand

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N. Washington St., Saturday, May 23, 5:30 p.m.

Funk Band with R&B feel with a Go Go, Hip Hop, Rock swing.

Music in the Gardens: A Brass Quintet Celebration of America's 250th Anniversary!

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Korean Bell Garden, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, May 24, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Virginia Chamber Orchestra musicians return for their 11th season, performing in our Korean Bell Garden – with A Brass Quintet Celebration of America's 250th Anniversary! Grab your favorite blankets or bag chairs and enjoy the sounds of America!  

Music in the Gardens concerts are free with regular garden admission ($5-$9) or garden membership. On your way to the Korean Bell Garden, stop by the Breezy Bites food truck as well as the Blossom Bar (with wine, beer, and the Stars & Stripes Spritz!) to purchase soft pretzels, funnel cakes, fruit, chicken salad croissants, hot dogs, charcuterie minis, and cold beverages. 

Memorial Day Fun and Fanfare with the VCO Brass Quintet! Gil Hoffer and Philippe Brunet, trumpets; Amy Horn, French horn; Jeffrey Knutson, trombone; Jan Duga, tuba.

The program will include selections from the standard American patriotic repertoire such as “God Bless America,” the Beer Barrel Polka, music by Duke Ellington, as well as international tunes from all over the world.  This concert is supported by a grant from Arts Fairfax in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

Please note: It is approximately an 8-minute walk from the Visitor Center (and its restrooms) to the concert location. Concerts may be delayed or cancelled in the event of inclement weather. On sunny days, a personal umbrella is a good idea, but tents are not permitted. Outside food (with the exception of water) may not be brought into Meadowlark.

For more info go here. 

Rock The Block: The Reflex

Old Town Square, 10415 North Street, Fairfax City, Friday, May 22, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

• Step inside the DeLorean and let The Reflex take you on an epic time-travel adventure straight to the raddest decade ever — the 1980s! This full-throttle retro concert experience recreates the sound, style, and electric energy of the era’s biggest hits.
• From Madonna and Cyndi Lauper to Bon Jovi, Pat Benatar, Billy Idol, Bryan Adams, Journey, and Heart, The Reflex delivers the ultimate throwback party — big vocals, big hair, and even bigger vibes.
• So dust off those Jordache jeans, tighten that fanny pack, throw on your Members Only jacket, lace up your Vans, and get ready to rewind the clock with The Reflex: The DMV’s Ultimate ’80s Tribute Band.

For more info go here.

Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Clara Campbell

Smithsonian American Museum of Art, Kogod Courtyard, 800 G Street NW, Thursday, May 21, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Part of series: Jazz Series: Take 5!

Celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, a series of free, live performances. Clara Campbell, a jazz vocalist based in Washington, D.C., is known for her rich tone and expressive style, bringing fresh life to jazz standards while staying rooted in the tradition. Campbell and her quintet will perform selections from the Great American Songbook, featuring original arrangements by Campbell. 

Borrow a board game to play during the concert and stop by the Courtyard Café to purchase refreshments.

To register go here. 

Orchestra Noir

Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW, Saturday, May 23. Doors open: 7:00 p.m. Show starts: 8:00 p.m.

Orchestra Noir, the acclaimed Atlanta based orchestra, returns with its brand-new Culture 2000 Tour, an immersive concert experience that evokes and celebrates the spirit of early 2000s culture.

Under the direction of Maestro Jason Ikeem Rodgers, the orchestra will deliver a high-impact night of music, movement, and nostalgia as it reimagines the biggest 2000s Hip Hop and R&B hits through an orchestral lens.

Get ready to sing, dance, and experience the culture in a whole new way. Take part in our new sound, new energy, and the creative evolution of the Orchestra Noir experience with Culture 2000.

An overall 8 ticket limit for this event applies.

For general ticketing and event questions, please contact the Warner Box Office at WarnerBoxOffice@LiveNation.com. For Premium Seating information, please reach out to Maryclaire Griffin at MaryclaireGriffin@LiveNation.com or call 202-626-8255.

For ticket info go here. 

Simone Dinnerstein, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Katherine Needleman, and Baroklyn

Mark your calendars! ~ Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, Coolidge Auditorium (LJG45A), 10 1st Street SE. Wednesday, May 27, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (Rescheduled from Nov. 6, 2025.)

Part of Concerts from the Library of Congress.

Simone Dinnerstein, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Katherine Needleman and the Baroklyn ensemble perform an evening of chamber works by J.S. Bach to open a special Founder's Day 2025 celebration marking the Library’s illustrious century-long history as a concert presenter. This concert and the following day’s performance by the percussion ensemble Tambuco are an homage to Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge’s forward-looking stance in championing music both very old and very new. Baroklyn’s arresting new arrangements and transcriptions of the chorales, concerto and cantata on the program were chosen by Dinnerstein, “a unique voice in the forest of Bach interpretation,” (New York Times). Created for the group’s recent Complicité project, they reveal an intimate and thoughtful reimagining of Bach’s music that allows us to experience his genius through contemporary ears. 

The event is free, but tickets are required, and there may be special restrictions.

Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov.

Pre-concert Conversation: Let the People Hear It: Concerts from the Library of Congress at 100. Book Talk with co-authors Nicholas A. Brown-Cáceres and David H. Plylar, PhD. Books will be available for purchase. 6:30 p.m., Whittall Pavilion. 

For ticket info go here. 

LOCAL COMEDY

Asian Comedy Showcase

Capital One Hall, The Vault, 7750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons, Friday, May 22. Doors open: 7:00 p.m.

Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month by watching some of the funniest Asian comedians in the country!  This all-Asian lineup is headlined by nationally touring comedian, Andre Kim (Netflix), and features Justin Um (NBC), Joe Richard Saunders (DC Improv), and Shelley Kim (CBS)!

Queens native Andre Kim has razor sharp jokes, a sexy voice, and an Asian face. As a fixture at The Stand in NYC, Andre is regularly on lineups with the best comedians in the world. He recently sold out his first ever show at The Comedy Store in LA and made his debut at the Comedy Mothership in Austin, Tx. Whether it’s videos from Vice’s DEBATES or his viral standup clips, Andre’s unique perspective cannot be matched… already garnering 25 million views on Instagram.

Justin Um is a clean comedian with a natural ability to connect and engage with various audiences through his unwavering happiness. He describes his style of comedy as "vulnerable and empathetic humor," which is exhibited by his love and genuine affection for people. He focuses on sharing his unique upbringing through his insightful perspective, playful honesty, and positive crowd interactions. Justin has been featured on NBC, CBS, and The Korea Times. He performs across the country as the opener for Francisco Ramos, and has also opened for Ian Bagg, Geoffrey Asmus, Benji Brown, and many others.

Shelley Kim is a comedian, producer, and content creator based in Washington D.C. A rising star, Shelley has been featured in the Washingtonian, “The Art of Comedy” on PBS, and “Comedy in the Capital” on CBS. The Washington Post also listed her as one of the “10 Funniest Comedians Working in D.C. right now.” She has performed with national headliners including Ramy Youssef, Todd Barry, Dulce Sloan, and Judah Friedlander. Most recently, Shelley opened for Roy Wood Jr. and Jordan Klepper on their sold-out “America: For the Last Time” tour.

Joe Richard Saunders is a standup comedian, writer, and certified proof that the universe has no sense of dramatic timing. Between 2023 and 2025, he survived a collapsed lung and two fights with cancer — only to find 147 unread emails and a parking ticket waiting for him at the end. Joe’s comedy points out the absurdity of surviving something enormous, only to immediately have to attend to Monday morning meetings at 9 a.m. that should have been an email. A working comic with original TV pilots heading to festivals across North America, Joe has shared the stage with Mary Beth Barone, Chris Kattan, and Luke Severeid.

For ticket info go here. 

LOCAL DANCE

Viennese Waltz Workshop

Glen Echo, Spanish Ballroom, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Md. Saturday, May 23, 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Learn basics of social Viennese Waltz in this workshop with Todd and Migle of DanceSport Endurance which includes lessons and supervised and assisted dancing.

Todd and Migle have performed solo at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the Kennedy Center, the Austrian Embassy, and the White House, and have taught hundreds of waltz camps and workshops. They love sharing social dance skills and look forward to teaching dance in the Spanish Ballroom!

2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. ~ Social Dance Warmup

2:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.: ~ Lesson. 

4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ~ Supervised, Assisted Viennese Waltz Dancing 

Advance online tickets for workshops will close at 12 noon the day of each workshop. Tickets also available to purchase at the door the day of the workshop.

Admission: $20/person - General Admission, $10/person - full time students

Phone: 202-361-8633

Email: dsedance@gmail.com

For ticket info go here. 

LOCAL FILM

Sunset Cinema at The Wharf

Transit Pier at The Wharf, 970 Wharf Street SW. Wednesday evenings from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

2026 Lineup

May 27: Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

June 3: Shrek 2 (2004)

June 10: Hairspray (2007)

June 17: Sinners (2025)

July 1: National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007)

July 8: Hamilton (2020)

July 15: A League of Their Own (1992)

July 22: Catch Me If You Can (2002)

July 29: Apollo 13 (1995)

August 5: Roman Holiday (1953)

August 12: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

August 19: F1 (2025)

August 26: Project Hail Mary (2026)

September 2: Double Feature of When Harry Met Sally (1989) and First Wives Club (1996)

• Movies take place on Wednesdays at Transit Pier at The Wharf (970 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024). Learn more about different ways to Get to The Wharf.
• Movies are on Wednesdays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• Movies begin at 7:30 p.m.
• Limited adirondack chairs are available on a first-come first-served basis starting at 7:00 p.m. You may bring a blanket or folding chairs to this event.
• Closed captions are available upon request. Please see the movie attendant on site or email here to make the request.
• This event is family-friendly — all ages are welcome. Dogs on a leash are welcome. You must be 21+ to consume alcohol.
• Waterside bar Cantina Bambina serves up cold Pacifico and mixed drinks throughout the movies. Outside drinks are not allowed.
• You may bring in food from any Wharf restaurant. Stageside kiosk Union Pie offers hot and fresh pizza throughout the show. Whether you're craving a Cuban sandwich, a hot and sweet pizza, or chips and guac, our Wharf restaurants have something special for everyone.
• In the event of inclement weather, event status updates will be posted on the Sunset Cinema event page on The Wharf Facebook page.

For more info go here. 

Dinnertime Documentaries | Secret Mall Apartment (2024)

Mark your calendar! ~ Hillwood Gardens, Estate, and Museum, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW, Wednesday, May 27 - 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Enjoy a spring evening at Hillwood with an engaging documentary! Tour Hillwood’s mansion, gardens, greenhouse, special exhibition On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting at Hillwood, eat a delicious meal at Merriweather Café, and enjoy a film. This evening’s featured documentary is Secret Mall Apartment (2024), directed by Jeremy Workman.

Tickets: $22: Adults; $12: Members; $7: Students.

Reservations are required for a seated dinner at Merriweather Café between 5:30 and 6:45 p.m. To reserve your table, please visit Resy. 

TIMELINE

5:30-7:30 p.m. | Explore Hillwood  

• Enjoy Hillwood’s mansion, gardens, greenhouse, and On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting.
• Find the perfect souvenir for your visit at the museum shop.
• Enjoy dinner at the Merriweather Café or Merriweather To Go.  

7:30-9:00 p.m. | Film Screening  

• Seating for the film is first-come first-serve in the visitor center theater, Dina Merrill Pavilion, CW Post, and Merriweather Room B

ABOUT THE FILM

In 2003, eight Rhode Islanders created a secret apartment inside a busy mall and lived there for four years, filming everything along the way. Far more than a prank, the secret apartment became a deeply meaningful place for all involved.

For ticket info go here. 

Say Amen, Somebody

National Gallery of Art, East Bldg., Large Auditorium, Saturday, May 23, 2:00 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Part of Treasures of American Cinema: National Film Registry 2025 Selections.

One of the most acclaimed music documentaries of all time, Say Amen, Somebody is a joyous, funny, and deeply emotional celebration of Gospel music, featuring a line-up of earth-shaking performers by Thomas A. Dorsey, Willie Mae Ford Smith, The Barrett Sisters, and The O'Neal Twins, among others. Restored by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in 2020, the film features archival footage, photographs, and moving on-screen memories. (George Nierenberg, 1982, DCP, 100 minutes)

Part of the ongoing film series Treasures of American Cinema.

To register go here.

LOCAL THEATER

Little Women: The Musical

Creative Cauldron Stage, 127 E. Broad St. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Through June 7.

Based on Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic, this Civil War era story of love and family stands the test of time. Little Women follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March as they navigate adolescence, each determined to live their lives on their own terms. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but publishers reject them, until she finally begins to weave the personal story of herself and her sisters’ experience growing up in Civil War America. The powerful score of this Tony Award-nominated musical soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope – the sounds of a young America finding its voice.

Directed by Laura Connors Hull. Music by Jason Howland. Lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. Book by Allen Knee.

Tickets: Tier One: $50; Tier Two: $40; Students: $25.

Visit fxva.com/fairfax250 to explore the celebration.

For ticket info go here. 

OTHELLO

Extended! ~ Shakespeare Theatre Company, Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW. Through June 28.

By William Shakespeare. Directed by Simon Godwin.

Trust no one.

Simon Godwin directs Wendell Pierce (The Wire, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Elsbeth) in Shakespeare’s towering tragedy about the power of words to kill. Venice is scandalized when its protector, Othello (Pierce), elopes with a nobleman’s daughter, while his most trusted lieutenant, Iago (Ben Turner, Macbeth), seethes after being passed over for a promotion. Vengeful Iago speaks a word and contorts the world: transforming Othello’s faithful wife into an adulteress and upright men into beasts.

Runtime: Approximately 3 hours, with a 15-minute intermission.

For ticket info go here. 

Pippin

Limited seats available! ~ Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Friday, May 22, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 23, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, May 24, 2:00 p.m. Through July 26.

Stephen Schwartz’s (Godspell, Wicked) musical masterpiece of purpose, ambition, lust and glory sizzles for summer, thrillingly staged as only Matthew Gardiner can do.

A traveling troupe of performers brings to life the story of Pippin, the restless heir of Charlemagne, on his quest for purpose. Dreaming of greatness, he dives into war, passion, and even murder — only to find himself disillusioned at every turn in this dazzling and provocative coming-of-age parable about what it means to be extraordinary.

Join us for this sardonic and witty extravaganza, flush with spellbinding dance and the iconic songs “Corner of the Sky,” “Magic to Do” and “Morning Glow.”

“Massively, almost overwhelmingly entertaining” ~ BroadwayWorld 

Book by Roger O. Hirson. Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Originally produced on the Broadway stage by Stuart Ostrow. Originally directed on the Broadway stage by Bob Fosse. Music Directed by Jon Kalbfleisch. Choreographed by Rachel Leigh Dolan. Directed by Matthew Gardiner.

• Running time is approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
• This show will use strobe and lighting effects, loud noises, theatrical haze/smoke and the use of a torch/fire.
• The production will contain adult themes, sexual content, adult language, drug use, representations of violence, war and death, and discussion of suicide.
• Recommended for mature teens and up. Signature does not admit anyone under 6.
• Audio Described.

For ticket info go here. 

The Drowsy Chaperone

Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. Sunday matinees at 2:0o p.m. Through June 6.

Music and Lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison. Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Directed by Krissy McGregor. Choreographed by Benjamin Simpson. Music Directed by Owen Posnett. Produced by Jennifer Thomas.

Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Golden Age musical, featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another. With the houselights down, a man in a chair appears on stage and puts on his favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life, and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the man in the chair looks on. Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan, and an intoxicated chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight. Hailed by New York Magazine as “The Perfect Broadway Musical,” The Drowsy Chaperone is a masterful meta-musical, poking fun at all the tropes that characterize the musical theatre genre.

Tickets: $36 Reserved Seating.

For ticket info go here. 

OR,

Constellation Theatre Company, 1835 14th St. NW. Thursday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 22, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 23, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 24, 2:30 p.m. Through June 7.

A Whip-Smart Theatrical Romp of Power, Passion, and Playwriting.

Written by Liz Duffy Adams. Directed by Allison Arkell Stockman.

Liz Duffy Adams’ play entitled OR, is a fast-paced, witty comedy that blends romance, feminism, and espionage in 1660s England. The farce follows Aphra Behn — spy, poet, and the first professional female playwright — as she races to finish a script, navigate secret missions, and juggle lusty entanglements, all in one chaotic night. With clever wordplay and whimsical plot twists, OR, is a celebration of art, passion, and sexual freedom.

Ages: 13+

Runtime: 90 minutes

Seating Policy: This production offers two seating tiers: Premium and Standard. Premium seating is located in the first three rows, while Standard seating is in the last two rows. All seats within each tier are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Your ticket will grant you access to one of the two tiers.

Content Advisory: This production contains swearing or ‘coarse’ language, references to sexual content, sexual assault, violence, grief, smoking, and use of weapons. For additional information, please contact the box office.

Pay What You Will Policy: Constellation Theatre Company is offering Pay What You Will tickets for all preview performances. PWYW tickets start at just $2.00 and can only be purchased with cash at the Box Office.

For ticket info go here. 

The Great Gatsby

Broadway at the National

Final Weekend! ~ National Theater, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Wednesday, May 20, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, May 21, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 22, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 23, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, May 24, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Through May 24.

"This national tour of The Great Gatsby does more than dazzle — it stays with you as you leave the theater" ~ Paul Lisnek, Curtain Call

"A feast for the senses, including stunning dance routines, glamorous, Tony Award-winning costumes and a steady streak of soaring, jazzy pop songs" ~ Chicago Concert Review

THE PARTY’S ROARING IN WASHINGTON D.C.!

THE GREAT GATSBY is a “Broadway extravaganza that explodes with life and energy” (Entertainment Weekly). Based on the classic American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Tony Award-winning new musical is an unforgettable journey of love, wealth and tragedy that brings the Roaring Twenties to life on stage.

Directed by Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), this story of extravagance and longing features choreography by Dominique Kelley (So You Think You Can Dance), a book by Kait Kerrigan (The Mad Ones) and a jazz- and pop-influenced original score by Jason Howland (Little Women) and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square).

Run Time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission.

Age Rating: Recommended for ages 10 and up.

For ticket info go here. 

The Motion

Arena Stage, Fichandler Stage, 1101 6th St. SW. Through June 14.

Credits by Christopher Chen. Directed by Hana S. Sharif.

They came to test a theory — now reality is testing them.

A fiercely intelligent and emotionally charged exploration of humanity.

What begins as a razor-sharp debate spirals into a world-altering unraveling as four scholars are thrust into a kaleidoscopic odyssey through memory, identity, and the fragile boundaries of belief. As the world around them transforms, they find unexpected solace, love, and companionship. Collectively, they wrestle with profound and unsettling questions about purpose, morality, and what it truly means to be alive. The Motion is a searing, intelligent, and emotionally charged journey into the core of the human condition — where certainty shatters, vulnerability reigns, and no conviction emerges unscathed.

HBCU Night: Tuesday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Rep your school! Grab $39 tickets using code HBCU and celebrate with your fellow HBCU students and alumni.

Young Professionals Night: Saturday, May 30 at 8:00 p.m.
Network over happy hour at 6:30 p.m., catch the show, and connect with fellow theater lovers! Pay-your-age tickets with UNDER35 (ages 21–35) or $35 tickets with YOUNGPRO (ages 36–45).

Post-Show Conversations
Connect with the show beyond the performance at a post-show conversation on May 28 and June 3 following the 12:00 p.m. matinees, and on June 9 following the 7:30 p.m. performance.

Running Time: Approx. 1 hour, 45 minutes without an intermission.

For ticket info go here. 

I & You: The Musical

Final Weekend! ~ Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. May 20, 21, at 7:30 p.m.; May 22 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; May 23 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; May 24 at 1:30 p.m. Through May 24.

A musical adaptation of the popular play that combines the emotional power of The Fault in Our Stars with the literary wit of Dead Poets Society.

It's a school assignment she doesn't want, about a poem she hasn't read, with a partner she'll never forget. Anthony (J. Antonio Rodriguez of the Hadestown National Tour) turns up in Caroline’s bedroom one night with oatmeal cookies, a beat-up book, and a presentation assignment they’re supposed to create together: explore Walt Whitman’s poem “Song of Myself.” Chronically absent with a serious illness, Caroline (Alex De Bard from Hello, Dolly! & Disney's Frozen) hasn’t been to school in a while… and can’t even remember meeting some kid named Anthony, which dials up both her suspicions and her “snark-o-meter.” But as the two get to know each other, they finally learn of the deeper mystery that brought them together. Whitman’s powerful poetry inspires the music and lyrics by American Idol veteran Ari Afsar, which expands the magic of Lauren M. Gunderson’s remarkable story.

Co-produced with McCarter Theatre Center. Based on the book and the play by Lauren M. Gunderson. Music and Lyrics by Ari Afsar. Directed by Sarah Rasmussen. Co-produced with McCarter Theatre Center.

For ticket info go here. 

AGUARDIENTE: WHERE MAGIC TRANSCENDS BORDERS

Final Weekend! ~ GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th Street, NW, Thursday. May 21, 22, 23, at 8:00 p.m.; May 24 at 2:00 p.m. Through May 24.

Book, Direction and Choreography by Luis Salgado (Puerto Rico). Music by Daniel Gutiérrez (Colombia).

ROOTED IN RHYTHM. CHARGED WITH MAGIC.

In this vibrant musical, two New York writers from Colombia and Puerto Rico return to their roots, rediscovering their Caribbean heritage through cumbia, bomba, currulao, and the magical realism of García Márquez.

En este vibrante musical, dos escritores neoyorquinos de Colombia y Puerto Rico regresan a sus raíces para reconectarse con la riqueza de su herencia caribeña, guiados por la cumbia, la bomba, el currulao y el realismo mágico de García Márquez.

For ticket info go here.

ONCE

Opens tomorrow! ~ NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Dr., Herndon. May 21 - June 21.

Book by Enda Walsh. Music & Lyrics by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová. Directed by Heather Lanza.

Can a chance encounter change your life forever? On the streets of Dublin, an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant are drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, an unexpected friendship and collaboration quickly evolves into something more. This captivating piece is the only show to have music with an Academy Award, Grammy Award, Olivier Award, and Tony Award. This achingly beautiful musical, including the Oscar-winning song "Falling Slowly,” illustrates how a lighting-in-bottle experience can reignite passion and purpose.

If You’re Into:

• Indie folk music like The Swell Season 
• Normal People
• Cozy Irish Pubs

Expect:

• Stuck Artist’s Second Chance
• Almost Romance
• Intimate acoustic musical
• Actor-Musicians that rock!

Special Events:

• $30 Under 40 Happy Hour: Friday, June 5 at 7:00 p.m. Folks under 40 are invited to get to the theatre early to enjoy their first drink on the house and mingle with other theatre-lovers. This Happy Hour is part of our $30 Under 40 program where NextStop offers $30 tickets to anyone under 40. To sign up for this discount code, simply fill out this short form.
• Topical Talkback: Friday, June 5 after the 8:00 p.m. show. Audiences are invited to stay after the performance for a free talkback that dives deeper into the themes of the show.
• Artistic Talkback: Sunday, June 14 after the 2:00 p.m. show. Audiences are invited to stay after the performance for a free talkback with the artists that brought the show to life.

For ticket info go here. 

LOCAL FINE ARTS

See ‘250 and Counting’ at Falls Church Arts!

Falls Church Arts: ’250 & Counting’ Show Opens April 18

April 18 Evening Reception Launches Exhibition ‘Commemorating the Nation’s Semiquincentennial with Artistic Reflections, Future Visions’ Following is based on a recent press release from Falls Church Arts: Falls Church Arts Gallery is honored to present “250 and Counting,” featuring 66 multimedia artworks referencing themes of American life since the Declaration

The Falls Church IndependentChristopher Jones

Loida Velilla:

Slices of Life

Now Showing! Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, 230 W. Broad St. Through Aug. 2. Free.

Loida Velilla's Artist Statement: 

I have been painting in a variety of mediums, including acrylics and pastels. My focus is on mutuality of colors and design - including abstracts and bold impressionism. I work to instill a feeling of personal connection with each work of art, achieving a balance of color, design, overpainted highlights and drama. My art studios are in both Falls Church, Va. and Bayamon, Puerto Rico. I have conducted an interactive workshop at the Museum of Art in Bayamon, PR.

Instagram: @Loida_Artist; email:  loida.velilla@gmail.com.

For more info go here. 

Fred Schnider Gallery, 888 N. Quincy St, #102, Arlington. Next Event: 'Artist Talk' with Robin Croft: Saturday, May 30, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Finding Awe: Chakaia Booker’s Monumental Sculptures

National Gallery of Art, East Bldg., Tower Level, Tower 3. Saturday, May 23, 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Part of Finding Awe. Talks & Conversations.

Chakaia Booker, Acid Rain, 2001, rubber tires and wood, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. Museum purchase: Members' Acquisition Fund. Photograph by Lee Stalsworth. Copyright Chakaia Booker.

How do artists help us reflect on the interconnectedness of the world? Learn how awe can connect us to the environment while exploring Chakaia Booker’s rubber sculptures.

During this 90-minute pause from your daily route, we’ll look slowly and mindfully at works of art in the exhibition In the Tower: Chakaia Booker: Treading New Ground. 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 workshop to see if tickets are available for the morning or afternoon session. Ages 18 and up. 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.

To register go here. 

IV. Passio—Patientia—Potentia: Tribulation, Tension, Transformation

National Gallery of Art, East Building, Large Auditorium, Sunday, May 24, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Part of The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts.

This is the final lecture in In Praise of Difficulty: Ambiguity, Aesthetics, and the Work of Art in Medieval Europe, the 75th A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts presented by Aden Kumler of Universität Basel.

Medieval Christians understood passio — the state of being acted upon, even de-formed and transformed — to be a fundamental aspect of the human condition and of Christ’s redemptive work. In this lecture, Kumler examines how medieval works of art took up passio and the cognate virtue of patience as a theme, an aesthetic strategy, and an occasion for reflecting upon the making and beholding of works of art.

 To register go here. 

Down the Shore: Work by Patrick Macintyre

For more info go here. 

Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, National Mall, Fourth Street & Independence Ave. SW. Ongoing Exhibition.

Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting explores how Native artists challenged perceptions of what constituted art and what Native art could and should look like. Featuring more than 50 works by over 40 artists, this exhibition tells the story of how American Indian art expanded after World War I and how Native painters began to advocate for themselves in a world that often ignored their talent.

Artists such as Fred Kabotie, Tonita Peña, and Stephen Mopope carved out space for painting at a time when Native art was often dismissed. Later generations — including Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Kay WalkingStick, Fritz Scholder, James Lavadour, Jeffrey Gibson, Dyani White Hawk, and Athena LaTocha — expanded the field even further, embracing a wide range of approaches. Over the span of ten decades, these artists and their work demonstrated the breadth, complexity, and continuing expansion of Native self-expression. 

For more info go here. 

Kevin Jones:

Reflections in Black and White

Mason Exhibitions, George Mason University School of Art, Art and Design Building, 4400 University Drive, Suite 2050, Fairfax. Through June 20. Free and open to the public.

Reflections in Black and White is a collection of drawings by Kevin Jones. Jones creates large-scale, highly detailed work based on reinterpretations of masterworks in the classical canon through the lenses of science fiction, comic books, and anime. Kevin’s work searches for new truths in the re-examination of classic work. His work uses the concept of Afro-Futurism as a way of engaging with the topic of Black erasure. 

For more info go here. 

Within Reach: Artists & the Built Environment

Final Weekend! ~ Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, Main Level. Through May 24.

Featured Artists: Gerardo Camargo, Megan Mueller, and Nicholas Wisniewski.

Within Reach focuses on the physical, financial, and emotional relationships between people and the spaces they build. The artists whose works are included in the exhibition address the architecture of urban sidewalks, the labor that goes into the construction of single family homes, and the stories embedded in blocks of 19th century rowhouses.

Often working with found materials, the three artists in Within Reach create installation, collage, and intricate drywall carvings. By working directly with the materials of our everyday infrastructure, the artists emphasize the close physical relationship humans have with these environments. First and foremost, this infrastructure has been built to house and support human life. Beyond this immediate functionality, however, it often takes on other roles, being treated as a commodity, an investment vehicle, or a marker of social or economic status. These artists invite us to think expansively about the spaces we build for ourselves, how we value them, and how they shape our lives.

Curated by Blair Murphy, Senior Curator and Director of Exhibitions.

For more info go here. 

The Collaborative | Pyramid Atlantic

Imar Lyman ~ Echo/Location: Exploring the Extra-Sensory

The Kreeger Museum, 2401 Foxhall Road, NW. Through July 11.

The Kreeger Museum and Pyramid Atlantic Art Center are pleased to present Imar Lyman ~ Echo/Location: Exploring the Extra-Sensory, a solo exhibition featuring the work of Imar Lyman, on view at The Kreeger Museum through July 11. This exhibition is presented under The Collaborative, a program developed by The Kreeger Museum to support Washington-area artists.

Echolocation is a form of biological sonic radar. Used as a tool for some animals to “see” and navigate their environments, sound waves are emitted to avoid prey and find their way in the dark.

Echo/Location showcases D.C.-based artist Imar Lyman’s [Hutchins] (b. 1970) new body of abstract work. Bringing together mixed media collage, painting, sculpture and printmaking, his artistry is in conversation with artists Sam Gilliam and Frank Stella, masterworks that have anchored The Kreeger Museum’s Contemporary Gallery since 1994 when the Museum opened to the public.

Imar Lyman’s debut exhibition at the museum utilizes “echoes” from the past to navigate the current moment and propel different points of view forward. Several pieces featured invite participation, asking the viewer to consider how the artwork is presented or to explore its form and function — things which may not always appear obvious. Constantly pushing boundaries, he also pays homage to overlooked aspects of printmaking traditions. The culmination becomes an energetic loop of color, patterns, and materiality that blend time and our place within it.

For more info go here. 

Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art

National Museum of African Art, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. Through August 23.

Curated by Kevin D. Dumouchelle and Serubiri Moses.

We are here.

Artists’ voices are central to this exhibition, which is based on years of close collaboration and dialogue with African visual art practitioners who claim belonging in the LGBTQ+ community, however they define those terms. They're united by a simple, shared declaration: We are here and always have been and will be.

The exhibition is part of a larger research initiative, the Here Project, that seeks to document these voices. The artists in the Project practice across the entirety of the African continent and its global diaspora, using their work to speak their truths. Inviting us into their worlds, they share complex stories of openly claiming their identities, their histories, and their place. While their experiences are unique to them, they address issues that unite us all: the importance of family, of spirit, of standing up for oneself and others, of imagining the future, of making intimate connections, of finding belonging, of embracing potential, and above all, of experiencing joy.

Here is based on years of close collaboration and dialogue with these artists and their communities. Through their art, they invite us into their worlds, and share complex stories of openly claiming their identities, their histories, and their place. Here is in the largest exhibition on this subject to date, with nearly 60 artworks, demonstrating how they're a part of a larger story of African art history.

They are here. All that is left is for us to hear them.

Support for Here generously provided by the Fisher Arts Impact Fund.

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. 

Material Witness

Rubell Museum Washington DC, 65 I St SW, Through Fall, 2026.

Material Witness presents 30 of today’s most compelling and innovative artists employing non-traditional materials and processes. Squid ink, Coca-Cola, ostrich eggs, anointing oil, lipstick, discarded metal, and animal hides are several of the preformed, natural, and unnatural mediums incorporated into three-dimensional works that expand upon the storied legacy of assemblage—a critical approach to artmaking that was first formalized in the 1961 exhibition The Art of Assemblage at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.With echoes of land art, Arte Povera, abject art, and readymades these artists employ industrial waste, organic detritus, and mass-produced commodities to explore formal, environmental, political, and social concerns. Found objects in various entropic states provide the backbone for many of these works, illuminating cycles of consumption, decay, and renewal.Material Witness spans 23 galleries across the museum’s three floors and presents individual artist rooms as well as group presentations connecting artists who share similar materials and motives. For many of these artists, Material Witness represents their first exhibition in our nation’s capital or at the Rubell Museum.

For more info go here. 

Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms

Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Galleries 23 & 24, 1050 Independence Ave. SW, Through July 26.

The tallest mountains on earth rise from the plains of northern India in a series of steep hills, snowy peaks, and narrow valleys. From the same Himalayan region arose some of the world’s most beautiful—yet least understood—works of art.

Discover the extraordinary beauty and unique history of paintings made for Hindu kings in India’s Pahari (hill) region between the 1620s and 1830s. Pahari artists worked in radically different styles ranging from lyrical and naturalistic to boldly colored and abstracted. Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms illuminates new scholarship on the collaborative artist communities in which most painters worked. Learn about the political, cultural, and religious contexts of these forty-eight exquisite works, and look closely to enter a world of fine detail that delights and astounds.

Of the Hills celebrates the remarkable collection of Pahari paintings the museum acquired from renowned art historian Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Ralph Benkaim. Some of these artworks have never been exhibited publicly before. We’ve brought these rare pieces into conversation with our historic collections and paintings on loan from the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Of the Hills is accompanied by the major publication Pahari Paintings: Art and Stories and runs concurrently with Pahari exhibitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum.

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. 

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. 

Artist Talk: Victoria Sambunaris

National Gallery of Art, East Bldg. Large Auditorium, Thursday, May 21, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Artist Talk. Part of Talks & Conversations.

Victoria Sambunaris, Untitled (Coaldale, Pennsylvania), 2007, chromogenic print, Gift of Lannan Foundation, 2024.94.16

Join us for a presentation by artist Victoria Sambunaris, whose photographs are on view in the exhibition Beneath the Surface: Mining and American Photography. For over 25 years, Sambunaris has structured her life around a photographic journey traversing the American landscape to document its transformation.

Victoria Sambunaris (born 1964, Lancaster, Pa.) grounds her artistic and research practice in cross-country travel conducted alone by car for several months per year. Equipped with a 5x7 inch field camera, her large-scale photographs capture the impact of technological and industrial interventions upon the land. This work includes collected ephemera and video documentation of experiences and observations on the road: snapshots, maps, road logs, journals, geology and history books, mineral specimens, and artifacts. She holds a BA from Mount Vernon College and an MFA from Yale University School of Art and has received numerous awards, including the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship; Charles Red Fellowship in Western American Studies, Brigham Young University; Aaron Siskind Foundation Individual Photographer’s Fellowship; and the Anonymous Was a Woman Award. Radius Books published her monographs, Taxonomy of a Landscape (2013) and Transformation of a Landscape (2024). 

To register 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. 

MPA Berlage Arts & Education Studio: Yasmine C. Iskander: Life Through the Power of Color

McLean Project for the Arts, 1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean. Through June 7.

Yasmine C. Iskander Gallery / Gallery Vivienne: Yasmine C. Iskander: Life Through the Power of Color.

Guided by her passionate inner life, Yasmine Iskander (1998–2024) expressed her world in brilliantly colored abstract paintings. She built compositions by alternately veiling and revealing shapes, applying washes that soften edges and then marking the plane with geometric or biomorphic elements that assert themselves with decisive clarity.

“My art expresses my feelings about the happy moments in my life, but also about the difficult times I've had, especially my many heart and brain surgeries,” Yasmine once explained.  “When I paint, I feel strong, excited, exuberant and emotions flow as colors! I feel it in my heart. The colors and shapes that guide my work pop into my head. I use a range of vibrant colors.”

Yasmine’s visual responses were shaped, in part, by her deafness — a condition that sharpened other senses and altered the way she attended to the world. She cultivated a heightened visual attentiveness: a sensitivity to rhythm in form, to the cadence of color shifts, to the spatial qualities of layered shapes. “As a Deaf artist who wears hearing aids, I know that there are many ways to communicate. Colors are the most direct and powerful,” she said.

Rather than defining her work by limitation, this aspect of her life enriched it, producing paintings that feel attuned to subtler registers of perception. Her canvases translate experience into a distinct aesthetic grammar.

For more info go here. 

Best Laid Plans: Unrealized Projects from the Archives of American Art

Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery, The Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, 1st floor, 8th and F Streets, NW. Through Oct. 18.

Best Laid Plans examines unrealized projects preserved in the Archives of American Art. While centered on unfinished artworks, the exhibition also brings together proposals for publications, exhibitions, and other creative initiatives that, for various reasons, were never realized. Rarely exhibited or published, these materials often survive only in archival form. By foregrounding them, the exhibition reveals an essential dimension of the Archives’ holdings and introduces little-known — or entirely unknown — projects by influential artists and thinkers.

For more info go here. 

GRAB BAG

Check Out Summer Events at West Falls!

Commons Park Event Series at West Falls

Weekly programming and signature events bring live music, fitness and community gatherings to Falls Church

Trivia Night Tournament

• Dates: Every Thursday 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.

Barre3 Pop-Up Series

• 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.

Ready for Trivia Night?

Thursday Night Sporcle Events Pub Quiz

Clare & Don’s Beach Shack, 130 N. Washington St. Every Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Bring your friends and show off your trivia chops!

Wanna Hit the Beach… Volleyball?

Club Volo Friday Beach Volleyball

National Landing, Club Volo 223 23 Street South, Fridays, through June 5, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Get ready for the weekend with our Friday 4v4 Volleyball league at Club Volo National Landing!

*Captains, win your league and nominate your best player to represent you in our Spring Volleyball All Star Game at Club Volo*

Beach Volleyball (4v4)

- 4 players max on the court, 3 men max

- Minimum 2 players to start, at least 1 woman

- Games will be played with rally scoring, best of 3 (21-21-15)

- No gender rule for hits per side

To register go here.

Back by Popular Demand!

Alpaca Happy Hour at Peruvian Brothers

Peruvian Brothers, 1450 South Eads St., Thursday, May 21, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Thursday, May 28, 5:00 p.m. - 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. 

Author Talks Not to Be Missed!

Live! At the Library: An Evening with Geraldine Brooks

Mark your calendars! ~ Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Bldg., Coolidge Auditorium (LJG45A), 10 1st. St. SE. Thursday, May 28, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Part of Live at the Library.

This free event is included as part of Live! At the Library. Tickets for Live! At the Library are required and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Join us for a conversation featuring the 2025 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction winner, beloved bestselling novelist Geraldine Brooks, with prominent book critic Ron Charles. Brooks is revered for her ability to bring the past alive via dynamic, realistic characters. She is the author of six novels, including “Horse,” “People of the Book,” “Year of Wonders” and the Pulitzer Prize-winning “March.” Brooks’ most recent book, “Memorial Days: A Memoir,” recounts her journey grieving the sudden loss of her late husband. Book signing to follow.

Request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ADA@loc.gov.

For ticket info go here. 

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written: Author Lecture with Walter Isaacson

Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, May 27, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Hear from historian Walter Isaacson about his new book, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written, which explores the story behind one of the most famous sentences in American history, and why it still matters.

A book signing and reception with complimentary beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres will take place after the lecture.

In-person tickets to this lecture include a copy of The Greatest Sentence Ever Written by Walter Isaacson, which can be picked up at the lecture.

This event is the second in the 2026 Michelle Smith Lecture Series, which is supported by an endowment established by a generous grant from the late Robert H. and Clarice Smith.

Cost:

In-Person: $72 for General Public, $62 for Members.

Virtual: $20 for General Public, $15 for Members.

Meet the Speaker: Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson is a Professor of History at Tulane and an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg, a financial services firm based in New York City. He has been the CEO of the Aspen Institute, the CEO of CNN, and the editor of Time Magazine.

Isaacson’s books include, Elon Musk, The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race, Leonardo da Vinci, The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution, Steve Jobs, Einstein: His Life and Universe, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, and Kissinger: A Biography.

He is a host of the show “Amanpour and Company” on PBS and CNN, a contributor to CNBC, host of the podcast “Trailblazers, from Dell Technologies.”

Isaacson was born on May 20, 1952, in New Orleans. He is a graduate of Harvard College and of Pembroke College of Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He began his career at The Sunday Times of London.

Isaacson is chair emeritus of Teach for America. He was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which runs Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and other international broadcasts of the United States. He has also been a member of the U.S. Defense Innovation Board.  

In 2023, Isaacson was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Joe Biden. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Royal Society of the Arts, and the American Philosophical Society. He serves on the board of United Airlines and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

For ticket info go here. 

Compiled by Christopher Jones