>> The Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. this evening on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. >> Washington-area writers Michelle Brafman, Merle Collins, T. Greenwood, Joanne Leedom-Ackerman, Faye Moskowitz, Barbara Mujica, Jessica Neely, Amy Stolls, Hananah Zaheer, and Christy J. Zink will be at Politics and Prose to read from their contributions to the latest anthology, Electric Grace: Still More Fiction by Washington Area Women….

Good morning, Washington. Flickr user zenfrisbee went down to the West Lawn yesterday to catch the festivities surrounding the Dalai Lama’s visit and acceptance of a Congressional Gold Medal. China, naturally, had “solemnly demanded” the cancellation of the event, which saw President Bush appear with the Dalai Lama in public — something no sitting U.S. president has done before. Bush dismissed China’s concerns over the event, saying he didn’t think it would severely damage relations…

Here’s some video of the Dalai Lama arriving in Washington today from YouTube. Tibet’s spiritual leader will receive a Congressional Gold Medal tomorrow at the U.S. Capitol. The medal, which accompanies a resolution passed last year that recognizes him as “a leading figure of moral and religious authority,” will be presented during a ceremony attended by Preident Bush, representing the first time a sitting U.S. president has met the Dalai Lama in public. If…

FRIDAY: >> Starting tonight, George Mason Stadium plays host to the region’s annual D.C . College Cup. The soccer teams of George Washington, American, Howard, and George Mason will square off in two rounds of games. Though the tournament is conspicuously missing national powerhouses UMD and UVA, the event will still showcase some of the best young talent around. GW and AU kick off tonight’s slate (5:00 p.m.), with Howard and GMU rounding the night…

>> In the early 1970s, Charles Burnett made a film called Killer of Sheep as his MFA thesis film at UCLA, and it became an instant landmark in American cinema. But few people ever got a chance to see it, because the stellar soundtrack included too many classic songs by the likes of Etta James and Dinah Washington to make it affordable to release it into theaters. This week, Washingtonians have a rare chance…

Well, classical music fans, your weekly agenda is back, and there are actually a few things to tell you about this week. Now that the rain has cleared out, you could get an early start on the season with the National Symphony’s free National Labor Day Concert this evening (September 3, 8 p.m.) on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Bring something water-resistant to sit on, as the ground may still be wet. In…

For the sake of not having to write separate posts for all these different yet interesting events, here is a list of some things you may not want to miss in the area this week. TUESDAY >> Has your commute on public transit been especially bad recently? Or is there something you’ve just had to get out, something you’ve wanted to scream at a WMATA executive for the longest time? Tonight is your chance. WMATA…

This DCist suggests that we just write off this week as far as classical music goes. We prefer to think about the month of September, and you can plan out your much more exciting schedule next month with our Classical Month in Washington at Ionarts. Once again, it’s all free this week, but there’s just not that much of it. PIANO RECITALS: >> The Church of the Epiphany (1317 G St. NW) continues to host…

Don’t forget to check out our music and arts agendas for other events going on this Memorial Day weekend (especially since this weekend is your last chance to see a lot of great exhibitions). FRIDAY: >> We wrote about the outdoor Shakespeare Free for All earlier in the week, and still recommend you check out the staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. and run through June 5. >> Students from…

Classical Music Agenda by DCist contributor Charles T. Downey of Ionarts If you have not done your civic duty and Taken a Friend to the Orchestra yet this month, Washington is not the place to try to make that happen in late May. We don’t have much to suggest for your classical listening pleasure this week, but you can keep yourself informed by following our Classical Week in Washington column at Ionarts. FREE CONCERTS: >>…