Thursday, Sept. 13
D.C. Shorts Film Festival Landmark E Street Cinema 555 11th St. N.W. 7 p.m., $12 for students
A conservative Christian and a radical feminist fall in love. A seedy motel becomes the scene of murder. An American Muslim ponders his social position in modern society. A love letter gets baked into hundreds of fortune cookies. These are among the 13 short films that will kick off the fourth annual D.C. Shorts festival this evening. Screenings continue until Sept. 20.
Friday, Sept. 14
Stage Opening: "No Exit" Scena Theatre at Warehouse Theatre 1024 Seventh St. N.W. 8 p.m., $25 for students
If there's anything better than French existentialism on a Friday night, we haven't heard about it. Director Robert McNamara takes on Jean-Paul Sartre's modern view of hell in Scena Theatre's performance of "No Exit," which runs through Nov. 20.
Saturday, Sept. 15
Garutachi Underwear Party VI Rock and Roll Hotel 1353 H St. N.E. 9 p.m., $10 or free sans clothes
Joh Redden, Ca$$idy, Mikey Vader and Cale - a.k.a. the deejays that make up this weekend's Garutachi fete - celebrate a love of lingerie at the Rock and Roll Hotel's sixth underwear party. Dodge the entrance fee by (almost) letting it all hang out.
Sunday, Sept. 16
Exhibition Opening: Edward Hopper National Gallery of Art Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue N.W. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., free
"Nighthawks," an intimate look inside a 1940s diner, is perhaps American artist Edward Hopper's greatest legacy. However, the National Gallery of Art has almost 100 of his works for this wide-ranging traveling exhibit, which runs through Jan. 21 before heading to the Art Institute of Chicago. Everyone's favorite father-of-the-bride, Steve Martin, narrates a documentary on Hopper, shown in the East Building.
Monday, Sept. 17
Book Event: Christopher Dodd Politics and Prose 5015 Connecticut Ave. N.W. 7 p.m., free
Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut discusses his new book, "Letters from Nuremberg: My Father's Narrative of a Quest for Justice," at Politics and Prose. If that doesn't sound like a feel-good time, keep in mind that this book tells the story of the Nuremberg Trials through love letters, written by the senator's father when he was an attorney at the trials.
Tuesday, Sept. 18
Akron/Family Rock and Roll Hotel Doors at 8 p.m., $12
If this week's MTV Video Music Awards were any indication, we probably all need a break from the likes of Fall Out Boy and Fergie. Luckily, the Rock and Roll Hotel is providing such a respite with Akron/Family this Tuesday. The folky experimental band will help us all forget about that laser-filled Linkin Park performace.
Wednesday, Sept. 19
Book Event: Alan Greenspan Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University 730 21st St. N.W. 7 p.m., $15
In what's sure to be one of the most sobering events of the week, economist Alan Greenspan discusses globalization and his new book "The Age of Turbulence." Be sure to get there early to pick up a pre-signed copy.
- MIA STEINLE
