Dig It! The Secrets of Soil exhibit photo courtesy of John Steiner, Smithsonian Institution. With August's abrupt arrival, summer session is almost over. Even if you’ve been done with school for ages, you may still want to keep that brain sharp, if only to make yourself sound interesting at parties. While most of the area’s galleries are a bit out-of-commission, the museums are still packing in the events. >> Recently opened on July 18......

Artomatic is over, and the summer art season is settling in. While now is usually the time when most galleries close their doors or throw together a two-month group exhibition, there are surprisingly still a number of openings and events on the horizon in the coming weeks. But first, we have some news from the Textile Museum. Announced on Tuesday through a press release, the museum’s board has decided to abandon their previous Penn Quarter......

For 25 years, the Dupont-Kalorama Museums Consortium has been holding its annual Museum Walk Weekend to celebrate the two neighborhoods' abundance of cultural centers. This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., they celebrate the event's 25th anniversary by providing free entrance to eight museums, as well as live music, food, demonstrations, walking tours, and other activities to encourage us all to indulge in our city's excellent......

Written by DCist Contributor Amy Cavenaugh The Textile Museum, which announced this summer plans to open a second branch sometime in 2008, has settled on a location, as Penn Quarter Living noted yesterday. The museum, currently located at 2320 S St., NW, plans to open the outpost at 421 7th St., NW, close to the Mall and many of the other District’s museums. The new branch plans to focus on contemporary textile pieces, and will......

FRIDAY: >> We told you all about the Buzzlife White Party at Five yesterday, so follow the link for more details. >> ArtOutlet presents its first ever Flash animation film festival, called Flick, at Warehouse. Tim Bracken opens the event with an alt-country set at 7 p.m., with screenings from selected artists beginning at 8. $5 suggested donation, also Saturday. SATURDAY: >> Like we mentioned in this week's music agenda, the artwork of Mingering Mike,......

If you've been complaining that Memorial Day weekend wiped out your wallet, D.C. art venues heard your pleas for something a little less draining on your finances. This weekend the city is chock full of free activities, from private gallery openings to neighborhood wide social events. Put on your walking shoes and check out the following: >> It's time again for the annual Dupont Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend. Held on the first full weekend in......

April is a huge month for visual art in D.C. Friday marks the beginning of the twofive-week-long Artomatic, while later this month we'll be treated to the first ever international art fair in the city with artDC, both of which we'll tell you more about as they come closer. You've got plenty to keep you busy in the meantime. Believe it or not, Paris and New York don't hold the monopoly on influential visual art......

FRIDAY: The Mozart Year is almost halfway over — the man's birthday was January 27 — but classical concert programming continues to celebrate it. Opera Lafayette gets in the game tonight and tomorrow (June 2 and 3, 7:30 p.m.) with a concert performance of Mozart's first important opera, Idomeneo, at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park. The vocal cast promises to be excellent, including an up-and-coming young singer named Millicent Scarlett, who......

What happens when a bunch of museum professionals try to brainstorm how to boost attendance during what is historically one of the quietest times of year? Apparently, some creative linguistic contortions to connect an eclectic smattering events to the chosen theme: "Warm Up To A Museum." Yes, you can learn about hot wax at the Textile Museum, "warm up to cool art" at the Canadian Embassy, check out an exhibit on global warming at the......

FRIDAY: >> Capital Jazz Fest 2005 goes throughout the weekend at Merriweather Post Pavilion. The line up includes George Benson, Joe Sample, Chaka Khan (at right) Lalah Hathaway and more. Ticket information can be found here. >> The Capital Pride Festival, which runs through June 12, focuses on the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities in D.C. The festival includes panels, film screenings, and a street parade. >> Washington Improv Theater presents its Neutrino Video......

With the weather frightful, hibernating seems like the thing to do. But what better place to escape the cold than in the refuge of D.C.'s museums and galleries? >> The Kennedy Center kicked off its six-month tribute to the 1940s on Sunday night. "A New America: The 1940s and the Arts" spans a wide range of performing arts and is the largest, most expensive event the center has presented. >> "Rembrandt's Late Religious Portraits" opens......