What You're Doing This Week

Cherry Blossom Photo Contest; Craft Beer Countdown; Taste of the Nation

By Stephanie Silva, Caprice Singletary and Carissa DiMargo • Published April 2, 2012 • Updated on April 3, 2012 at 12:00 pm

What are you doing this week? We offer up our favorite picks for the five days ahead:

MONDAY, APRIL 2:

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation features more than 80 restaurants' chefs and mixologists to lend their time and delicious talents to help raise funds needed to end childhood hunger. VIP tickets include an hour preview and access to a VIP lounge. It's all happening at the National Building Museum (401 F St. NW). VIP 6 p.m.; $150. General admission 7 p.m.; $95.

Haven't made it to see the boldest commission yet at the Hirshhorn (Independence Avenue and 7th Street SW)? Get going! Artist Doug Aitken has transformed the exterior of the building into a 360-degree video installation. Sunset-midnight; more info here.

Three Dog Night of '60s-'70s fame takes the stage at the Birchmere (3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria) to bring some "Joy to the World." (Sorry. We had to.) 7:30 p.m.; $79.40.

TUESDAY, APRIL 3:

Could you make your memoir only six words long?S ome people have been able to? SMITH Magazine and Reboot are celebrating the release of Oy! Only Six? Why Not More? Six-Word Memoirs on Jewish Life at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue (600 I St. NW) with a live show where storytellers only have six minutes to reveal the backstory behind their six-word memoir. 6 p.m.; $10, or $15 for admission plus a copy of the book.

Jaclyn Friedman discusses and signs her new book, "What You Really Really Want: The Smart Girls Shame-Free Guide to Sex and Safety" at Busboys and Poets (2021 14 St. NW) in the Langston Room. 6:30 p.m.; free.

British invasion time! Rock out with the Moody Blues at DAR Constitution Hall (1776 D St. NW). 8 p.m.; $60-$110.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4:

Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Long Day's Journey into Night" is now running at the Arena Stage's Kreeger Theater (1101 6th St. SW). The play chronicle's a family's struggle to confront their individual demons that threaten to take them down. The play is running through May 6. 7:30 p.m.; $55-$70.

"The Greatest Show on Earth" is headed to Fairfax. From now until April 15, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus brings its high-wire acts, trapeze artists and troupe of clowns -- and don't forget that motorcycle cage thing! -- to the Patriot Center (4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, Va.). 7 p.m.; $14-$110.

Have a good laugh at Warner Theatre (513 13th St., NW) this Wednesday with actor and comedian Kevin James (best known for "King of Queens" and a bevy of Adam Sandler flicks). 7:30 p.m.; $45.50-$65.

THURSDAY, APRIL 5:

Phillips After 5: Journey to Japan offers an evening of Japanese language lessons, plus Japanese-themed food, drink, and fashion as part of the weekly Thursday mix of art and entertainment at the Phillips Collection (1600 21st St. NW). Gallery talks will share the ways post-impressionist artists collected Japanese art and adapted the subject matter and styles for their own styles. 5-8:30 p.m.; $12; reservations recommended.

FotoDC throws an opening bash for Cherry Blossom Central, featuring 2011 winners and select 2012 entries for its Cherry Blossom Photo Contest at at the Edison Place Gallery (701 9th St. NW). You can also check out the C"ity of Trees" exhibition by Alan Russ. L2 Lounge (3315 Cady's Alley NW) hosts the after-party. Main event: 6-8 p.m.; no cover; RSVP here. After-party: 8:30 p.m.-late; $20.

Daily happy hours at Boundary Road (414 H St. NE) feature a different draft beer for $4 each day and $1 4oz tasters of any of their draft beers, OnTap reports. 5-7 p.m.; no cover.

FRIDAY, APRIL 6:

Smoke and Barrel (2471 18 St. NW) hosts a Craft Beer Countdown, when all drafts go down a dollar on the hour until midnight. The kitchen is open until 1 a.m. with the full menu. What’s better than booze and barbecue? 10 p.m.-2 a.m.; no cover.

Free events are running all day, every day at the Canon Performance Stage as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and on Friday, into the evenings. Offerings include "visual artist supreme" Quest Skinner (5:15-6 p.m.) and Honor by August (6:30-7:30 p.m.). See full schedule here.

Kathleen Akerley returns to the Gunston Arts Center, Theater II (2700 S. Lang St., Arlington) to direct the stage version of "On the Waterfront," based on the classic 1954 Marlon Brando film. 8 p.m.; $17 for opening weekend.

ALSO SEE:

Check Out the Scene: Keep up with what's happening in the D.C. area anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our e-mail newsletters.