The List

1. Sounds of ‘Strassburg’

2005 Instrumentalist of the Year Christian Tetzlaff performs Mozart’s ‘Violin Concerto No. 3’

The Kennedy Center Concert Hall

German violinist Christian Tetzlaff, named the 2005 Instrumentalist of the Year by Musical America, performs Mozart’s elegant “Violin Concerto No. 3” (“Strassburg”) with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by powerhouse Czech conductor Jiri Belohlávek. As part of Shakespeare in Washington, the program includes Dvorák’s “Othello” Overture and Smetana’s Symphonic Poem “Richard III,” along with the latter’s “Vltava” (The Moldau) and Janacek’s “The Wandering of a Little Soul.” – Emily Cary

Performances: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday Tickets: $20 to $80 Info: 202-467-4600, 800-444-1324; www.kennedy-center.org

2. Seasonal music

Music Center at Strathmore

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra explores the musical concept of “Four Seasons.”

When: 8 p.m. today Tickets: $21 to $80 Info: www.strathmore.org

3. Big and brassy

Music Center at Strathmore

Canadian Brass defies standard instrumentation with brass-happy arrangements.

When: 8 p.m. Friday Tickets: $28 to $60 Info: www.strathmore.org

4. Country with a kick

The Barns at Wolf Trap

Grammy winner and environmentalist Kathy Mattea gives country music a Celtic twist.

When: 8 p.m. Thursday Tickets: $35 Info: 877-WOLFTRAP, wolftrap.org

5. Double your pleasure

Library of Congress

The Euclid Quartet and the Degas Quartet in their East Coast premiere of “Ludi” for string octet.

When: 6:15 p.m. Friday Tickets: Free Info: 202-707-6362, www.lov.gov

Best gatherings

1. 25th Smithsonian Craft Show: In its 25th year, the show will feature limited edition crafts such as basketry, ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather and more.

Where: National Building Museum Info: smithsoniancraftshow.org

2. International Film Festival: More than 80 films from more than 30 nations, with this year’s focus on new films from France. Also featured are two films from the Sundance Film Festival produced by Washington’s own Joey Frank.

Tickets: $9 per screening Info: 202-955-5566, www.dcfilmfestdc.org

3. Spring 2007 Design House: Presented by Home & Design magazine and the Washington Design Center, eight of the finest interior designers on the East Coast showcase their design talent in “A Summer House” display.

Where: The Washington Design Center Info: merchandisemart.com

4. Gene Davis: Interval: The exhibition is a key part of the citywide ColorField Remix celebration and honors a major figure in the ’50s and ’60s Color Field visual art movement and the Washington Color School. On display through July 31.

Where: The Kreeger Museum Info: 202-338-3552, kreegermuseum.org

5. Guy Clark, featuring Slaid Cleaves : A country singer/songwriter with folk roots, Clark’s music transcends the norm with its raw emotional purity and soul-stirring rhythms.

Where: The Barnes at Wolftrap Info: www.wolftrap.org

– www.Washington.org

Best galleries

1. Aging gracefully before your eyes

406 Seventh St. NW, Washington

You may not want Mary D. Ott to do your portrait, but you’ll be awed by her ability to expose the gracefully aging souls of things wrought by man and nature. Invigorating her screenprinting with oil, wax and other media, Ott transforms scenes from her travels into layered, crepitating mirages. Her hand-pulled prints of iconic architecture and stray sunflowers mingle with Melissa Widerkehr’s twisted snippets of life. Catch the reception 6 to 8 p.m. today. – Robin Tierney

Tickets: Free Info: 202-347-2787, www.touchstonegallery.com

2. Variations on America: A medley

of masterworks taken straight from American Art Forum collectors’ walls. Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum Info: www.americanart.si.edu Tickets: Free

3. Carmen Jabaloyes: New Works: Luxuriantly hued rooftop views of animated cityscapes and vibrant countrysides by one of Spain’s stellar talents. Where: Prada Gallery, 1030 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington Info: www.pradagallery.com Tickets: Free

4. Behme Craghead Wallace: Sculptures based on the surrealist parlor games “Exquisite Corpse” — mixed-media translations of French poetry — collaged subversions of vintage advertisements. What do they mean? Find out at the guaranteed-to-be-lively artists’ talk 1 p.m. Saturday. Where: Gallery Neptune, 4901 Cordell Ave., Bethesda Info: www.galleryneptune.com Tickets: Free

5. Interaction With Color: Wear artist-tailor artworks through a mirrored hall, bathed in projected color; watch the action on live streaming video. Where: Meat Market Gallery, 1636 17th St. NW, Washington Info: www.meatmarketgallery.com Tickets: Free

Best outdoors

1. WalkingTown, DC: 64 free guided walking tours (and a few bike tours) in 18 D.C. neighborhoods.

www.WalkingTownDC.org

2. Reel Washington: Bikes, Camera, Action: A bike tour to where classic

films were filmed in Washington.

www.bikethesites.com

3. Urban Dare DC: Two-person teams race to solve clues to find checkpoints where they must take photos or perform dares. www.urbandare.com

4. Wild Washington: Animal Sculptures by Bike: Beyond the typical D.C. political party animals with a neighborhood art tour.

www.bikethesites.com

5. Georgetown walking tour: Check out historic parts of Georgetown and its museums, gardens and other sites.

www.washingtonwalks.com

– www.Washington.org

Best Movie

‘Fracture’

Anthony Hopkins, Ryan Gosling

Young and mesmerizing Ryan Gosling goes mano-a-mano with acting titan Anthony Hopkins in this sparkling, fun legal thriller.

Rating: R Length: 112 minutes

Best theater

1. “Saving Aimee”

Kathy Lee Gifford takes on role of controversial evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson in star-studded musical

Signature Theatre, 2800 S. Stafford St., Arlington

Kathie Lee Gifford brings her new musical about the life and theological times of Aimee Semple McPherson to Signature Theatre in Shirlington. We would be worried, but with Carolee Carmello’s rhapsodic belt and Eric Schaeffer seated in the director’s chair, we might end up singing her praises. – Jolene Munch

Tickets: $37 to $63 Info: 202-347-2787, www.touchstonegallery.com

2. “Wedding Band” (staged reading): Jennifer Nelson directs Nancy Robinette in a free staged reading of “Wedding Band” (subtitled “A Love/Hate Story in Black and White”) by Alice Childress Venue: Ford’s Theatre

Tickets: Free

3. “She Stoops to Comedy”: Kate Eastwood Norris deserves another Helen Hayes supporting nod for her riotous “dueling” roles in David Greenspan’s gender-twisting comedy. Venue: Woolly Mammoth Tickets: $32 to $52

4. “References to Salvador Dalí Make Me Hot”: See what’s in the ink blots over at Rorschach with José Rivera’s mystical play set in the California desert. Shirley Serotsky directs Scott McCormick and Yasmin Tuazon. Venue: Rorschach Theatre Tickets: $12 to $20

5. “Elliot, A Soldier’s Fugue”: After earning a Purple Heart, a young soldier returns home from active military duty in Iraq in Quiara Alegria Hudes’ contemporary tale. In English with Spanish surtitles. Venue: GALA Hispanic Theatre Tickets: $20 to $34

Best family

Earth Day celebration: The National Zoo hosts a tree-planting activity along Rock Creek.

NSO Youth Fellows: High school musicians perform classical pieces.

“Emmanuel’s Gift”: A man believes he can change a nation’s perception of the physically disabled.

“Roving Mars”: Experience the surface of Mars as seen through the eyes of two intrepid explorers.

Bodies...The Exhibition: View human organs and systems by looking at preserved human bodies.

– www.Washington.org

Best Day trips

1. Solomon’s Island: Celebrate the 28th Annual Tiki Bar Opening.

www.tikibarsolomons.com

2. Richmond, Va.: Run for a good cause during the 2007 CrossOver Challenge. crossoverministry.org

3. Yorktown, Va.: A professor discusses “The Chesapeake Bay Impact.”

757-890-4490

4. Prichard, W.Va.: Take the kids for the Alpaca

Shearing Day open house. 304-617-9738

5. Leonardtown, Md.: Visit the Earth Day celebration in St. Mary’s County.

leonardtown.somd.com

Best Home & Garden

1. Hidden treasures around every corner

With a backdrop of historical buildings, the streets become a gardener’s delight. More than 130 vendors sell garden plants and accessories, and there will be a variety of food, entertainment, unique garden arts and an entire area geared toward young children with exciting performances and activities.

– Kathy Jentz, www.WashingtonGardener.com

Where: Museum of Natural History

Tickets: $15; Call 202-555-1234

2. Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Tours: Tours of historic homes and gardens from national registered landmarks to private estates. Info: www.mhgp.org.

3. Friends of River Farm plant sale: Featuring hundreds of popular and unique garden plants. Info: www.ahs.org.

4. Earth Day events: Volunteers are needed at the Hidden Pond Nature Center/Pohick Stream Valley Park. Info: earthsangha.org.

5. Washington Design Center’s Spring 2007 Design House: The Design House project is a showcase for designers in the Washington region. Info: www.mmart.com/dcdesigncenter.

Best Brain Food

1. Every Cot Had Its History: A Look at Walt Whitman and His Soldiers: Several unique anatomical specimens open a window into Whitman’s life, his time and some of his most powerful compositions. National Museum of Health and Medicine.

2. Deborah Riley Dance Projects: An exploration of faith, trust and the ways in which we find ourselves moving forward, sometimes in spite of ourselves. Dance/MetroDC.

3. Last Looks, Last Books: The Binocular Poetry of Death: Fifty-sixth A.W.

Mellon Lectures features Helen Vendler, the A. Kingsley Porter University Professor at Harvard University.

National Gallery of Art.

4. “American Conversation with Doris Kearns Goodwin: Reflections of a Biographer-Historian”: Lecture examines the career of this Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian. U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

5. Introduction to The Phillips Collection: Free gallery talk. When: 11 a.m. Saturday.

– www.CulturalTourismDC.org