The Smithsonian American Art Museum hosts a Chinese New Year Family Festival on Saturday. (2009 photo by Bruce Guthrie/Courtesy Smithsonian American Art Museum)
The Going Out Guide recommends free things to do for every day of the week.
MONDAY
In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Kennedy Center and Georgetown University are hosting a concert featuring Grammy-winning artist Dionne Warwick and the Let Freedom Ring Choir. Sounds like the perfect way to end a day of service.
6 p.m. Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. 202-467-4600. www.kennedy-center.org. Free tickets will be distributed, two per person, in the Hall of Nations at 5 p.m. Monday. First-come, first-served.
TUESDAY
This exhibition will be closing this weekend, so swing down to the Library of Congress to check out more than 50 pieces of opera memorabilia, including scores, set designs and photos, some of which date to the late 18th century.
8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Library of Congress, James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE. 202-707- 4604. www.loc.gov.
WEDNESDAY
This Photoshop workshop will help beginner-to-intermediate users build on their basic Photoshop skills. Learn to clean up photos, make quality posters or have a little fun with digital art. Interested participants can stay after the class to practice what they've learned.
6 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. www.dclibrary.org/mlk.
THURSDAY
Learn about the role D.C. area African Americans played in Civil War espionage in this lecture by Hari Jones, curator of the African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation and Museum. In his lecture, titled "For Light and Liberty: African Americans and Civil War Espionage in Washington and Beyond," Jones will focus on the "Loyal League," a secret organization of African Americans whose covert operations helped the Union Army win the Civil War. This is the first installment in a two-part lecture series that continues Jan. 30.
6:30 to 8 p.m. Historical Society of Washington, D.C., Roosevelt Studio, 801 K St. NW. 202-249-3955. www.historydc.org.
FRIDAY
The American violinist and violist performs at the Embassy of France as a part of its new FUSION concert series, in which an American artist performs at the embassy, followed by a French artist performing at the Phillips Collection. Cuckson's program will feature works by Samuel Barber, Pierre Boulez, Aaron Copland and more.
7:30 p.m. Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Rd. NW. 202-944-6000. www.frenchculture.org.
SATURDAY
The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Chinese Embassy host a morning of family-friendly activities to celebrate the start of the Year of the Horse. The event will include puppetry from the Tianjin Arts Troupe, traditional Chinese music from the Washington Guzheng Society and a performance by the Johns Hopkins University Yong Han Lion Dance group. Guests also can check out a display about giant pandas (and send a message to Bao Bao at the National Zoo), learn calligraphy and make red paper lanterns. Skilled dough sculptors, painters and paper cutters also will demonstrate their crafts.
11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Kogod Courtyard, Eighth and G streets NW. 202-633-1000. www.americanart.si.edu.
SUNDAY
Glenview Mansion is hosting its annual bridal expo for anyone who has a wedding on the horizon. Meet florists, caterers, wedding cake bakers, photographers, wedding DJs and bands. See models in wedding gowns, look through photographers' wedding albums and try samples from caterers and bakers.
12 to 4 p.m. Glenview Mansion at Rockville Civic Center Park, 603 Edmonston Dr., Rockville. 240-314-8660. www.rockvillemd.gov.
