>> Rorschach Theatre begins its "pay what you can" previews of References To Salvador Dali Make Me Hot tonight. The surreal and emotional play runs through May 13, but tonight through Friday ticket prices are fluid. There are no reservations, so you'll have to get to the box office at 7:00 p.m. to snatch up cheap seats for the 8:00 p.m. show [The Sanctuary Theatre, Casa del Pueblo Methodist Church, 1459 Columbia Road NW] more ›

There may not be many concerts happening during this coming work week, but the number of concerts scheduled for the weekend will require shrewd planning for serious listeners. SYMPHONY: >> Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, the brothers from France who play violin and cello with exceptional flair, will join the National Symphony Orchestra this week. The program in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall includes the Brahms double concerto (for violin and cello), Debussy's iconic symbolist poem... more ›

Some readers have chimed in wanting news about the new Pope, Benedict XVI. Since we don't have a Vaticanist and the announcment was made from beneath the dome of St. Peter's Basilica and not the U.S. Capitol, we are coming up empty as to a District of Columbia angle. So here we go. We were waiting for a chicken philly at Sun Spot Cafe on G Street NW near the Georgetown University Law Center, "YMCA" playing as the deli's background music, as we stared up at CNN and subtitles popping up about the momentus occasion. The cameras focusing on the chiming bells at St. Peter's coupled with the 1970s hit made for a rocking lunch hour. So from our perspective, the announcment of the new pope was a fun-filled Solid Gold festivity. We wonder if the new Pope likes "YMCA." more ›