What You’re Doing This Weekend

What are you doing this week? Niteside offers up some suggestions:

Kick off FotoWeek DC at with a launch party held at FotoWeek Central (1800 L St. NW) at 5 p.m. and moving to the Corcoran Gallery (500 17th St. NW) at 8:30 p.m. Enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at both venues while enjoying tunes spun by FatBack DJs. Tickets $55.

Mingle at the Museum: Portraits After 5 at the National Portrait Gallery (8th St. & F St. NW) offers up event-themed hors d'oeuvres and, obviously, plenty of portraits. 7:30-10 p.m.; $20-$25.

Throughout NFL season, Radius Pizza (3155 Mt. Pleasant St. NW) dshes up any draft and a slice of cheese pizza for just $5 at the bar. Daily; 5-7 p.m.

The daylong For Sisters Only concert, sponsored by WPGC, feature hot acts by D.C.'s all-star rapper Wale, New Edition offshoot band Bell Biv DeVoe, and Estelle. Other acts include Roscoe Dash, Tank, Johnny Gill and Eric Benet. It's all at the Washington Convention Center (801 Mt. Vernon Place NW). 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; $10.

Calling all photogs! Head out to Nightvisions, an all-night FotoWeek shooting event at FotoSpace (1838 Columbia Road NW) for an all-night party. Photographers are invited to create images digitally and submit them in person to be displayed and judged by photo editors, art directors, and gallery curators. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. 8 p.m.; $10.

Don't just watch the show, be a part of it for the Big Hair Ball at the Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington). Get '60s swanky with big hair and go-go boots for this costumed party and celebrate acclaimed musical Hairspray! Prizes will be awarded for hairdos and costumes. 8 p.m.; $75-$250.

Head down to Woodlawn Plantation (9000 Richmond Highway, Alexandria) for the Vices That Made Virginia Festival, featuring blue crab, cornmeal, cobblers and a roast pig. Wash down the extravagant colonial feasting with some homegrown Virginia wines and sip bourbon while you listen to old style bluegrass bands. 4-8 p.m.; $125.

Get your hands on some hops for the American Homebrewers Association's Learn to Homebrew Day at Meridian Pint (3400 11th St. NW). Learn about the art of home beer brewing and maybe you could soon be making your own signature brewski. 12 p.m.; free admission.

Put on your fancypants for a night of good food, great entertainment and plenty of champagne at the 2011 Champagne Gala at the Embassy of France (4101 Reservoir Road NW). A silent auction will benefit the numerous activities of the French- American Cultural Foundation and enjoy music by the Bob Hardwick Orchestra and buffet-style food from local restaurant chefs. 7-11 p.m.; tickets $175 with online code "champagne special;" $115 of it is tax-deductible.

The Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show fills the Washington Convention Center (801 Mt. Vernon Place NW) with tasting and entertaining workshops, food and wine pairings, a cocktail throwdown and more. James Beard award-winning chefs will present 45-minute cooking demos every hour. The Celebrity Theater will feature Food Network stars Paula Deen, Giada De Laurentiis and Guy Fieri. Chef Jacques Pepin and daughter Claudine wlil host a book signing and presentation. $24.50 & up.

Gear up for a night of laughter at Divas of Comedy Exposed at Riot Act Comedy Theater (801 E St. NW). The evening of nonstop comedy, hosted by Terrance Da Comedian, features female comedians from the D.C. 7 p.m.; $15.

Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Ave. NW) plays host to DC Reads for a discussion centered on the bestselling and buzz-worthy book "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates." Kurt Schmoke -- Howard University Law School dean and former mayor of Baltimore -- will moderate the discussion, which features author Wes Moore's mother, and the sister of the "other" Wes Moore. 5 p.m.; free admission; book $15.

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What You're Doing This Weekend