Some of Stein’s famous friends during her lifetime included: Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, and Ernest Hemingway. She was a literary celebrity and arts networker, as well as life-long partners with Alice B. Toklas. She wrote novels, poems, essays, literary and art theory, ballets, memoirs, and children’s books.

The exhibition tells five stories about Stein: “Picturing Gertrude”, “Domestic Stein”, “Art of Friendship”, “Celebrity Stein”, and “Legacies”. The National Portrait Gallery is located at Eighth and F Streets, NW in Washington, DC. It is open daily from 11:30am-7:00pm and admission is free.

Another awesome perk? If you visit the museum on Monday the 16th, you will receive a two-for-one voucher for admission that you can use anytime before the “30 Americans” exhibit closes on February 12th.

The Corcoran Shop will also be offering 30% off all “30 Americans”  merchandise from Saturday – Monday (in-store purchases only).

The Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 Seventeenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
(The main entrance is located on Seventeenth Street between New York Avenue and E Street NW.)

Saturday, September 24th, check out the Washington Menswear Collections Show at the Washington Post Conference Center. Menswear designers will present their new collections at 7pm, doors open at 6:30.

On Sunday, September 35th, enjoy the International Couture Collections at the Embassy of France la Maison Francase. Ten international designers will present collections at this finale event which will run from 5 – 9 pm.Ticks are required and cost $60 for general admission or $150 for VIP, which includes front row seats, a deluxe gift bag, a champagne toast, and a VIP pre-show reception.

Regular admission to the museum is ten bucks, but you won’t need that today to enjoy Gallery tours, demonstrations, workshops, and performances. There are also special programs scheduled to celebrate the Corcoran’s collections of historic American and European Paintings, Modern and Contemporary art, Photography and Media Arts, and the contemporary exhibitions Washington Color and Light and Chris Martin: Painting Big.

Every Saturday there will be chalk drawings from 11am – 4pm, weather permitting, and Highlights Tours from noon – 3pm. This Saturday, learn how to sketch from a live model. All materials will be provided and the sketching will be from noon – 3pm.

Capital Portraits: Treasures from Washington Private Collections, 1730-2010
Washington, DC; On Display Through 9/5
The National Portrait Gallery is hosting a survey of works from private collections, spanning multiple schools and generations from the 18th to 21st centuries. Selections include colonial and Impressionist portraits by John Singleton Copley and Mary Cassatt, Andy Warhol’s unmistakable pop art and Kehinde Wiley’s depictions of present-day hip-hop and athletic icons as conquering Renaissance heroes.

A Time to Kill
Washington, DC; Performances Through 6/19
Arena Stage is hosting the theatrical world premiere of Grisham’s first novel, 1989’s “A Time to Kill,” in a special pre-Broadway engagement. The adaptation by Rupert Holmes tells the story of Carl Lee Hailey, a father who faces murder charges after seeking revenge for a racially motivated crime committed against his daughter. It’s up to an idealistic young attorney to stand up to the prosecution and the growing tension in a small Mississippi town.

U.S. Open Championship
Bethesda, MD; Happening 6/13 – 6/19
1997 was the last time the U.S. Open was played on the Blue Course at Congressional in Bethesda, and Tiger Woods finished tied for 19th. See for yourself how he finishes the championship in 2011. He will face stiff competition from Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, as well as the world’s current “Number 1” player, Martin Kaymer of Germany.

Wicked
Washington, DC; Performances 6/15 – 8/21
If you have never seen this Stephen Schwartz musical, which won three Tony Awards in 2003, do not miss this chance. It last played the Kennedy Center in 2005, and the entire run sold out almost immediately. There are plenty of good seats still available this time around; so take the trip to Oz!

Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Washington, DC; Happening 6/30 – 7/11
Each summer, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates the idea of living traditions: Concepts or institutions that affect society on an ongoing basis. This year’s festival includes features on the food and culture of Colombia; the legacy of the Peace Corps and its efforts to promote peace; and the rich history of American rhythm and blues music.

The Merchant of Venice
Washington, DC; Performances 6/21 – 7/24
Don’t miss your chance to see one of Shakespeare’s most controversial plays performed by the Shakespeare Theatre Company in DC. This tragic comedy broadly explores intolerance, gender and sexuality, the nature of greed and revenge, and the meaning of justice.

AFI Silverdocs
Silver Spring, MD; Happening 6/20 – 6/26
Last years’s AFI’s Silverdocs festival included 102 films screened at the Silver Spring theater, and some, like “Restrepo,” “Freakonomics” and “Waiting for Superman” went on to become household names. This year’s festival’s full schedule hasn’t been released yet, but expect a mix of new and old, from independent and high-profile directors alike.

Race: Are We So Different?
Washington, DC; Exhibition On Display 6/18 – 1/1/12
Exploring race as a matter of science is the aim of this new exhibition, developed by the American Anthropological Association and the Science Museum of Minnesota, that tries to answer a very fundamental question: What is race?

The collection of 100 faces is currently on display near your rent apartments DC at the Great Falls Library until May 31st. The Library is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-6pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 1-9pm, and Saturday from 10am-5pm

These exhibit is free to the public and you can call 703-757-9830 for more information about the Library and the collection.

The first 500 guests to check in at the event Friday evening will receive a limited-edition poster, compliments of the museum. The event runs from 7-11pm, so be sure to arrive early to get your free gift. Tickets to the event are $25 and can be purchased here.

The first installment of this event was held in February and sold out in just four days. This edition has several new and exciting additions like music by DJ Spyda who will be spinning Caribbean and West African music, a Farafina Kan, performing a traditional West African dance, Moko Jumbie Stilt Dancers, spoken word from Mistress of Ceremonies Love the poet, and new- and old-school reggae from Kurow and the All Stars.

Guests will also be given the opportunity to participate in an art-making workshop where they will decorate cloth with custom-made West African wooden stamps featuring traditional Adinkra symbols. The participants in this workshop will be able to take these cloths home and frame them for a personalized souvenir from the evening.

National Museum of African Art – Smithsonian Institution
950 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC
Information: 202-633-4651
Price: $25

There will be over 150 wines, beers, and alcohol in an “all you care to taste” area, a special art walk with art from the galleries on National Harbor, cabanas on the beach, hand-on cooking demonstrations, and live music to enjoy.

Unfortunately, Saturday’s tickets are sold out but you will still be able to purchase tickets for tomorrow’s event on-site. They will be $45 and provide you access to the festival from 1-6pm. You will also receive a souvenir wine glass, unlimited samples, and entry to all performances and demonstrations. Children 12 and under are free. A portion of the proceeds will benefit D.C. Central Kitchen, so come out to enjoy delicious food, wine and craft beer for a good cause!

The exhibit contains 176 works of art from Picasso’s personal collection, all of which represent every major artistic phase of his 80 year career. The VMFA is celebrating its 75th anniversary with this Picasso display and is the only East Coast venue for the exhibition’s seven-city international tour. The exhibition is co-organized by the Musée National Picasso, Paris and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Tickets are available now for $20 and can be purchased here. $16 tickets are also available for students and visitors who are over the age of 65. Children 6 years of age and under may visit for free.

Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
200 North Boulevard
Richmond, VA
Information: 804-340-1400