Flying to Please New Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Takes Off at Dulles by Christine Cubé Visiting the new Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at Dulles is a lot like going to the airport. Your car must fall into line to get through the gated entrance, parking is limited (only 2,000 spaces for the $311 million museum) and carries an unexpectedly high fee ($12), and security greets you just past the doors into the facility. But once you get through the magnetometers, have your carry-on items checked, and wait in another line to get a map so you know where to go, the reason for your visit suddenly becomes very clear. Look straight ahead, and there lies a plane—many planes, in fact, as well as the Space Shuttle Enterprise... Eyes of the South Eudora Welty Photo Exhibit Shows Another Dimension of Writer by Carolyn Chapman Eudora Welty’s short stories and novels about life in her native Mississippi and the South are what made her famous. But before the success of her first book in 1941, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author almost chose to pursue a career in photography instead of writing... Angel Patrol Chinese Luohan Paintings Depict Guardians of Religious Law by Heather Nalbone The most crowd-appealing exhibits currently on display at the Freer Gallery of Art, no doubt, are the tributes to James McNeill Whistler’s exhibition galleries and lithographs. But the prominence of the displays overshadows another worthwhile exhibition. "Guardians of the Law: Chinese Luohan Painting," which opened in early December, is relatively small, with a total of just 22 paintings. The paintings’ historical significance, however, is worth a venture into the small gallery just around the corner from the museum’s more elaborate displays... ‘Crowns’: Worn, Comfortable Hat Appealing but Predictable Musical Comes to Arena Stage < /b>by Lisa Troshinsky "Crowns" at Arena Stage exemplifies a genre that is familiar, not especially surprising, and one that we have come across many times before: storytelling through anecdotes and music of the Southern African American experience. What may be unfamiliar is how the stories of people’s lives are told—not through what they did or said, but through how they used and wore a particular accessory: hats... French Toast Festival of France Celebrates Nation’s Dance, Music, Theater by Gary Tischler It’s hard to imagine that just less than a year ago, the French were not very popular in certain Washington circles. As so-called "freedom fries" become another historical footnote, this city is slowly rediscovering what much of the world has always admired about France—its culture, its flair and its contributions to music, theater and the arts. That’s what French fans will be enjoying at the Kennedy Center over the next several months with the ongoing Festival of France, a joyful and eclectic celebration of all things French... Beyond Art Corcoran Expands Events to Include Lectures, Embassy Dinners, Walking Tours by Carolyn Cosmos Just about anyone in Washington who’s interested in the arts knows that the Corcoran Gallery of Art has a fantastic collection of 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century American art. But what may not be as well known is that artists, architects and authors regularly hold lectures at the Corcoran, that the museum hosts exclusive dinners at embassies and restaurants, and that some very big names in music perform there each month... Out There Exhibit Mixes Science, Art to Offer Unique View of Space by Christine Cube Swiss artist Max Grüter’s interpretation of the final frontier can be seen in Washington, D.C., this month at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). "Max Grüter: My Private Space Program"—a mixed-media exhibit complete with space carpet (a hand-tufted sheep wool rug imprinted with space shoe tracks) and several three-dimensional lambda prints on aluminum—blends science and art to offer a unique look into space, both "domestic" and outer space...

Events Listing Featuring art, dance, lectures, music, receptions and theater, our comprehensive listing offers an array of options for those interested in international events. Included is a list of all major event locations in the Washington, D.C., area... Events Locations For Romanian Ambassador’s Wife, New Baby Comes With New Hope by Gail Scott Carmen Ducaru, the 30-year-old wife of Romanian Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, was up half the night. This time it was not because her husband was still at the chancery until 2 a.m. talking, faxing and e-mailing officials in Romania—which is seven hours ahead in time—but because this busy new mother and father were awake with their first child, Maria-Teodora, born Oct. 19, 2003... Good Is in Details Nair’s Black-and-White Shots of Itria, Italy, Have Timeless Appeal by Fresia Rodriguez Cadavid A rich brown veil warmly embraces all 43 photographs in fine art photographer Rajesh Nair’s exhibit at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Headquarters Gallery titled "Timeless Experience: An Architectural Journey Through Itria, Italy." All of the images, photographed, printed and framed by Nair, strive to isolate the details of Italian village life to allow viewers to see it for both its beauty and peculiarities... Sea Craft Fin Joins Hip, Casual Seafood Restaurants in Dupont Circle by Rachel Hunt and Stephen Qualiana Fin, which offers a wide variety of seafood dishes at great prices, is sure to make a fine addition to the Dupont Circle area... International Film Clips Film Locations Iranian Jewel ‘Crimson Gold’ Social Commentary Disguised as Thriller by Ky N. Nguyen Like the recent "Bus 174" from Brazil, the crisp Iranian thriller "Crimson Gold" is based on a real story of a common person driven to the breaking point by societal injustices. Disguised as a film noir genre piece, it provides sharp social commentary about the schism between rich and poor... See Also: Revelations in Desert ‘Three Wise Men’ in Tokyo It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World Gold Diggers in Office Space Repertory Notes Pushing the Limits ‘Crimson Gold’ Director Jafar Panahi Is Artist of Principle by Ky N. Nguyen Acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi’s thriller "Crimson Gold" opens at Visions Cinema on Feb. 6. His directorial debut, "The White Balloon," was a critical and box office hit worldwide—winning the Camera d’Or (Best First Film) at Cannes. . During his last visit to Washington, D.C., Encyclopedia Iranica feted him at the Four Seasons Hotel. Dressed neatly in a sweater and slacks, Panahi met me beforehand in the corner of a noisy tearoom. At the end of a long day, Panahi responded to questions with thoughtfully intelligent answers...