Sure, with Folger Theater, two Shakespeare Theaters, and Washington Shakespeare Company all alive and kicking in D.C. (not to mention Synetic's silent Shakespeare productions), it's not exactly hard to get your Bard fix in this city. But what do all those companies have in common? You have to pay for them. That's what's so awesome about the Shakespeare Free For All at Carter Barron Amphitheatre, which begins tonight and ends June 1: you don't have......

>> Plácido Domingo conducts the orchestra and selected singers of the Washington National Opera in a special concert performance in the Music Center at Strathmore. A few tickets in the orchestra section remain at the box office, if you are looking for a last-minute luxury date. $68, 8 p.m. >> Time is running out to catch this year's Shakespeare Free For All, Love's Labor's Lost, at the Carter Barron Amphitheater. The final performance is......

Sommer Mathis contributed to these picks FRIDAY: >> DCist likes to stay up late on Sundays and watch Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry". We enjoy the variety of viewpoints it always includes, and really truly, at least one poet each episode knocks our socks right off our collective feet. DCist also likes to stay up late and watch "The Cosby Show" on Nick at Nite. It makes us feel all warm and fuzzy, like we......

The Shakespeare Theatre's Free for All is perhaps this DCist's favorite thing about summer in the city. Sure, blistering 90 degree days stuck in rush hour traffic are also a highlight, but nothing compares to seeing a little bit of Shakespeare in the park. This year, the Shakespeare Theatre presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream," from May 26-June 5, at the beautiful Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park, with original direction by Mark Lamos. According......

Have you ever bought this book? Well you then probably have some left over electronics when you attempted the "Sonic Phasor Cannon, Electromagnetic Launcher, Tesla Coi [and] Ultrasonic Microphone." For those who have "obsolete electronics," the District will dispose of them free of charge this Saturday. According to the Department of Public Works: Many types of electronics contain significant amounts of potentially hazardous materials such as arsenic, lead and mercury. In the US it is......

FRIDAY: >> Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet Magazine and former food critic at The New York Times, comes to Politics and Prose to discuss "Garlic & Sapphires," a memoir of her times as a food critic. 7 p.m. Check out an interesting interview with her here, from back in 1996. >> Today marks the start of the Bethesda Literary Festival, which continues all weekend. The festival features contests, readings and participants such as the Post's......

Have used batteries, motor oil, old televisions, chemistry sets and the like that you want to get rid of? Please don't use the Anacostia River as a dumping ground. But do take advantage of D.C.'s free disposal service. The District's annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection is coming up in two weekends on Saturday, Oct. 24, and District officials are starting to spread the word. Check out what can be disposed of (including asbestos tiles and......