FRIDAY: >> The 18th Street Lounge's regular Wednesday night reggae stars SEE-I are at the Rock and Roll Hotel to celebrate the holidays with some friends who are sure to get you dancing too -- DJ Mat the Alien and remix artists Fort Knox Five. Tickets for the Happy FKX-XMas are $10. >> Rufus Wainwright begins a two-night stint at the 9:30 Club tonight with his sister, Lucy Wainwright Roche. Tickets are still available for......

As you might imagine, there's not a whole lot going on in the art world this week, and unlike the last holiday, even the Smithsonians close on Christmas Day. Nevertheless, we found a few exhibits for you to poke around this weekend. And if you're one of those last minute gift buyers and can't bear to wage war at the mall, don't forget our guide to art museum memberships for something a little more unique......

Living in the Nation's Capital, with so many free events going on year-round, it might seem silly to spend a princely sum of money for the privilege of becoming a Member of a local arts organization. But there are a number of good reasons to think about becoming a member -- maybe you're interested in a particular subject that's only shown at a pay-for museum, maybe you're an artist looking to grab a foothold in......

Hollywood, rock and roll and reality TV are all subject to artist Jeremy Blake’s critical eye in Wild Choir: Portraits by Jeremy Blake. The Corcoran Gallery of Art, where the show opens tomorrow, calls his work “psychological pop portraits” — trippy digital videos depicting the lives of cultural figures. Flashing images, voice overs, music and explosions of color are typical in the three videos on display — 2003’s Reading Ossie Clark, 2005’s Sodium Fox, and......

Let's get this out of the way: Whether you like it or not, Annie Leibovitz is an American Icon. Her intimate portrait photographs of the famous are so pervasive that even if you don't know the name, you're guaranteed to have seen her work, and lots of it. She began her career with Rolling Stone magazine when it was in its infancy, photographing the musically talented, and quickly became known for her deconstruction of human......

The big news this week came on Tuesday, as the Washington Project for the Arts announced it was officially splitting from the Corcoran Gallery of Art at the end of 2007. The success of the partnership has boosted the WPA to a place where they can function solo once more, and are currently setting up shop in Dupont Circle. The Post has an excellent summary of WPA\C's history. >> The Arlington Arts Center is our......

>> Three Stars alumni Greenland take the Black Cat's backstage tonight, with Mikal Evans Band and A Northern Chorus. $8, 9 p.m. >> Best Cellars co-founder Joshua Wesson hosts The European Tour of Wine tonight at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Wesson promises to illuminate the art of pairing wine with cheese, with eight wines and cheeses served throughout the evening as examples. 7 p.m., $60 ($50 for Corcoran members). >> D.C. United opens SuperLiga!......

>> Spoil your senses at Night #2 of the current WPA\C Experimental Media Series. Curated by Brandon Morse, whose own work we've recommended again and again, the one-night exhibition will include video and audio works by a slew of talented newcomers. And though this series is part of ColorField.remix, if we've got Morse pegged correctly this will be a kick in the pants to the usual staid, stripe-y paintings you may associate with the......

One of only three art schools in the nation that are affiliated with a world-class museum, the Corcoran College of Art + Design is a powerhouse in the "art schools of America" roster, ranking high in the Princeton Review (but receiving a ‘C’ average among current pupils and alumni). Founded in 1890, the school is the District’s only four-year, fully-accredited college of art and design. The Corcoran Gallery of Art has finally dedicated a gallery......

>> Help the merchants displaced after the Eastern Market fire at happy hour tonight by imbibing at one of more than 20 D.C. bars that have signed up to donate a portion of their proceeds to begin the rebuilding. Started as the Facebook.com group "Rescue Eastern Market" by Clay Johnson on the day of the fire, you can find the full list and a handy map of participating taverns and cafes at Rescue Eastern......

>> Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month with the Omar Sosa Quartet, who will play tonight at the Lincoln Theater in an evening of Afro-Cuban jazz cosponsored by the Smithsonian. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis, starting one hour before the concert. [1215 U St., NW, Free, 8 p.m] >> For those not content to just sit back and enjoy D.C.'s bevy of musical acts, Clarendon Ballroom offers swing dancing accompanied by a......

TUESDAY: You probably know Cynthia Rowley's clothing, but do you know her writing? Following the success of her Swell books Rowley's new book recounts her personal coming-of-age lessons – from humorous childhood memories to fantastical experiences. Rowley will read from Slim: A Fantasy Memoir at the Corcoran Gallery of Art's Hammer Auditorium, 7 p.m. $25 WEDNESDAY: Zachary Leader will appear in a discussion with Christopher Hitchens about Leader's new book, The Life of Kingsley Amis,......

>> The Corcoran is the place to be for art this weekend when they open the mammoth exhibit Modernism: Designing a New World, 1914-1939 on Saturday. The show will appeal to more than straight-up art lovers — wannabe urban planners (we know we've got some of those around here) will find a survey of industrial architecture; politicos can engage in an examination of the era's struggle for national identity; fashionistas can check out the styles......

We always tell you where the free concerts are, but just because a concert is free does not mean that it will be good. This week, we are leading with the free concerts because they are so good. Other than the free stuff, there is so much to hear, we have selected a few options from what is less expensive, not sold out, and likely to be good. FREE, FREE, FREE: >> The Washington Bach......

MONDAY Andrea Mitchell will finally tackle the question that's been plaguing television news viewers for the better part of the last decade: Why is no one willing to tell her that with each passing face lift, she looks more and more like a Hollywood version of an alien? Apparently, she's just too much of a tough talker for people to stand up to her, as she reveals in her new book, Talking Back: ... To......

TUESDAY Today’s a good day to study the landscape of war, real and imagined. For a close look at the ephemeral, literary variety, stop by the Corcoran Gallery to hear author Ron Rosenbaum discuss The Shakespeare Wars: Clashing Scholars, Public Fiascos, Palace Coups. If you’d prefer something more current, and harrowing, Paul Rieckhoff brings first-hand experience to the task of Chasing Ghosts: A Soldier's Fight for America From Baghdad to Washington. Rosenbaum: in the Hammer......

Remember last week when we told you to mark your calendar for this evening? Force yourself away from the One Tree Hill season premiere and head down to the Corcoran Hammer Auditorium for Night 1 of the second Experimental Media Series. Presented by the Washington Project for the Arts\Corcoran, tonight promises Cowboys, Clichés, Codes, and Conspiracies. In this show curated by Peggy Parsons, the Head of the Department of Film at the National Gallery of......

For all their symbolic power and grand civic functions, D.C. buildings built in the last half century have hardly created much buzz in terms of architecture, due in part to Washington's reputation for staid and conservative design tastes. On the occasion that a renowned contemporary designer finds a willing local patron, their scheme rarely makes it through National Capital Planning Commission review without serious revision or delay, as with Norman Foster's glass canopy finally under......

In last week's Classical Music Agenda, I led with a concert on Sunday afternoon in the Corcoran Gallery of Art's acoustically splendid auditorium. It was the first concert of the season from the Contemporary Music Forum, but not even the Washington premiere of a major piece of new music, Paul Moravec's Tempest Fantasy, could draw more than a sparse audience. The composer himself was on hand to give a brief presentation on Tempest Fantasy, which......

One of those stereotypes about classical music that I would like to explode is that it is the musical equivalent of a dusty museum. Yes, classical musicians often play music from previous centuries, but the performances themselves are very much modern and of our time. What's more is that often classical musicians play new music, and that is an exciting thing to hear. RELATIVELY NEW: >> A favorite local group devoted to contemporary music, the......

We can't say we weren't worried. Watching building disrepair and funding battles, scrapped additions and ousted leaders, many of us wondered if the Corcoran Gallery of Art would ever bounce back from its troubles. On the contrary, it seems the Corcoran may have entered a bright new era. The Post followed around new Director Paul Greenhalgh and published a thorough report on the gallery's new vision. Greenhalgh's enthusiasm is infectious as he describes his first......

Ed Lazere, the executive director of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, has an interesting piece in the current Hill Rag analyzing the Mayor's budget proposal for arts funding in 2007. Noticing large amounts of cash in the budget set aside for repairs and expansion of a handful of private cultural institutions — notably $8 million to repair the roof at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and an additional $5 million for Arena Stage's expansion —......

American University's graduation is May 14 -- which also happens to be Mother's Day. I need to find a good but not exorbitantly expensive brunch option. Any suggestions? In case you and your mom will be spending Mother's Day in the area, DCist encourages you to consider booking a reservation for Sunday brunch sooner rather than later. With American University's graduation falling on the same day, plenty of places are already full -- including brunch......

Last month the Experimental Media Series, a showcase of video/audio mashups and original work, debuted at the Corcoran. The first part in a three part series, featuring the video work of Noah Angel, Champ Taylor, and D.C. blogger Rob Parrish, ended in a rawkus punk delivery by The Videohippos. That performance incorporated gas mask microphones, Mario Paint visuals, and sound that smashed iPod 110 decibel caps. Needless to say it's gonna be loud when the......

Today's photo comes to us from Flickr user furcafe, one of the more prolific members of the DCist photo tagging pool. This is a shot from the Corcoran Gallery of Art. There is no EXIF data for the shot because *gasp* it was taken on film. Also, a quick side note. I was out of town on Friday, so no photo was posted.......

WPA\C is hosting the first of a three night experimental media series, titled After Effects, curated by local heavy Kathryn Cornelius. From 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at the Corcoran Gallery of Art's Armand Hammer Auditorium, check out new video work from Jason Zimmerman, Chad Stayrook (a still from his everytime a scientist dies, a unicorn gets its horn is at right) and a live performance from videohippos at 8:20 p.m. Drink it In: It's......

>> Despite what we hear is a serious rash of over-dressed staffers at the Corcoran Gallery of Art running off to "dentist appointments" with updated résumés in hand after several high profile dismissals were announced earlier this month, there appear to be several good reasons to head down to the beleaguered museum. The first major retrospective of the work of Robert Bechtle, the San Francisco-based painter known for his photorealistic streetscapes, is up through June......

Kick off the New Year by checking out some of the plentiful new exhibits around town. >>The Dupont Circle galleries will be open late (6-8 p.m.) for First Friday this week. Highlights include two new solo shows at Irvine Contemporary, featuring paintings and drawings by Brooklyn-based Bede Murphy and photographs by D.C.'s own Jason Zimmerman. The artists will give gallery talks about their work on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Zimmerman's Straight, Street, Traditional is shown......

>> The Corcoran is all abuzz these days with their newly-announced director and blockbuster shows featuring Andy Warhol and D.C.'s beloved Sam Gilliam. A new exhibition opens there on Saturday that focuses on the depiction of banjos in paintings, drawings and photographs, including the ca. 1895 photo of the woman at right. Interestingly, the exhibit is partially funded by the Steve Martin Charitable Foundation, according to the museum's website. (Who knew that Steve Martin was......

Good morning, Washington. This photo is of an installation at the Corcoran Gallery of Art by artist Sam Gilliam, as part of a retrospective on display through January. The photo was taken by Flickr user pattista. Today will be partly cloudy and windy with highs in the 40s. King Memorial Crosses Approval Hurdle: The preliminary design for the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial was unanimously approved yesterday by the National Capital Planning......