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Staffer by Day, Actor at Night

March 18, 12 a.m.

When the curtain came up for a recent rehearsal of the Washington National Opera’s upcoming rendition of “Porgy and Bess,” Richard Pecantte was ready. As the soaring cadences of the iconic song “Summertime” reverberated off the walls of the Kennedy Center auditorium, Pecantte leaned in close to a craps game, then stalked off after his character lost. As the rehearsal progressed, Pecantte continued to play various roles that required him, among other things, to help carry a body offstage and change costumes twice. Convincing as he was, Pecantte is not a professional actor. During the day, he walks the corridors of Capitol Hill, monitoring financial services as a legislative assistant for Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.). By night he is a supernumerary — a nonsinging extra — for the Washington National Opera, an accidentally discovered experiment that has become a regular pastime.

At Least Our Bad Winter Was No ‘Little Ice Age’

March 18, 12 a.m.

For Washingtonians inundated by a record amount of snow this February, the wintry weather was more a nuisance than a source of pleasure, the crystalline beauty soon giving way to endless shoveling and plodding through prodigious mountains of slush. The ferocity of winter disrupted the daily rhythms of life. Those who found it difficult to cope might want to visit the National Gallery of Art, where a new exhibition of winter landscape paintings by Hendrick Avercamp reveals how Dutch society adapted to the frigid realities of particularly harsh winters during Europe’s “Little Ice Age.” In Avercamp’s fastidiously detailed works, frozen lakes and rivers become the nexus in which all strata of Dutch society meet and mingle beneath a heavy gray sky.

It’s All About Kansas, Once Again

March 18, 12 a.m.

In the early years of the 20th century, Kansas was known as a hotbed of radical thinkers. But in more recent years the state has grown into a bastion of conservative politics. How this Midwestern state was transformed into a Republican stronghold is explored in the new documentary “What’s the Matter With Kansas?”

In the Footsteps of Tibet’s Buddha

March 17, 12 a.m.

Washington, D.C., is now home to a Buddhist shrine, complete with all the trappings. The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery is displaying the first public exhibition of a rare and detailed Tibetan shrine featuring objects spanning eight centuries.

National Geographic Visits Spiritual Sources

March 17, 12 a.m.

Cultures the world over celebrate, worship and identify with water, and photographer John Stanmeyer, it seems, has seen them all, documenting their watery customs for National Geographic magazine. Forty-five of his pristine aquatic images, including the above-mentioned scenes, are now on display in an exhibit called “Sacred Waters” at the National Geographic Museum (1145 17th Street NW).

Hill Climbers: Staffer for Matsui Puts California in Her Past

March 17, 12 a.m.

When a Member sits on the House Energy and Commerce and Rules committees as does Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), it’s a safe bet to say that no day is a slow day. In the case of Matsui, couple the lawmaker’s committee assignments with her public outreach role — she sits on the Smithsonian Institute’s Board of Regents — and you know her aides stay busy, both on and off Capitol Hill.

Rove’s New Book Aims to Set the Record Straight

March 16, 12 a.m.

In “Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight” Karl Rove does his utmost to “set the record straight” by debunking what he asserts are spurious claims, myths and misconceptions about him and his former boss, George W. Bush.

In New Book, Ex-CIA Agent Comes Clean, Falls Flat

March 16, 12 a.m.

In 2007, ex-CIA counterterrorism officer John Kiriakou transformed the national debate on torture by telling ABC News that while in U.S. custody, al-Qaida operative Abu Zubaydah had been waterboarded only once for about 30 seconds before promptly coming clean about his terrorist activities. Kiriakou repeated the story to just about every major news outlet that would listen: Though the enhanced interrogation technique is morally wrong, he stated, it worked, plain and simple. But the New York Times uncovered some two years later that Zubaydah had actually been waterboarded upward of 80 times and the information that he divulged may not have been as actionable as Kiriakou made it seem, breeding speculation that Kiriakou was a CIA media plant. Now, in his new book, “The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA’s War on Terror,” the now-Senate Foreign Relations Committee adviser finally comes clean.

Ansel Adams’ Vistas Unveiled

March 15, 12 a.m.

A new exhibit, “Ansel Adams: The Mural Project 1941-1942,” at the Department of the Interior, is the long-overdue fulfillment of a project commissioned by former Interior Secretary Harold Ickes in 1936 and stalled during World War II. More than 200 of Adams’ photographs have been stored at the National Archives, and 26 are now on display on the first and second floors.

Museums Rally to Honor Women’s History Month

March 15, 12 a.m.

Even though we’re halfway through March, there’s still a lot to do in celebration of Women’s History Month. Washington offers a good variety, too, with events ranging from book readings to film screenings.

Obama’s Dress Joins History

March 11, 12 a.m.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History officially expanded its popular “First Ladies at the Smithsonian” exhibition Wednesday, welcoming first lady Michelle Obama’s dazzling one-shouldered, white-silk chiffon inaugural gown as its new centerpiece. While the Jason Wu-designed dress is the exhibit’s newest piece, there also are about 1,000 other first lady-related treasures, including a dress and dressing mirror once owned by the first first lady, Martha Washington.

Botanic Garden Alive With Blooming Begonias

March 11, 12 a.m.

The Botanic Garden cultivates a vast array of plant life, from the towering trees and verdant bushes found in jungles to the cactuses and shrubs native to desert climates. A new collection of begonias offers a microcosm of this diversity within a single family of plants.

Portrait Gallery Recalls Neighborhood Progress

March 11, 12 a.m.

The National Portrait Gallery sits at the intersection of history, and last week it opened “Glimpse of the Past: A Neighborhood Evolves,” a photography exhibit that explores the evolution of Penn Quarter from the perspective of the Old Patent Office Building.

Building Museum Exhibit Highlights New England Architecture

March 10, 12 a.m.

“Drawing Toward Home: Designs for Domestic Architecture From Historic New England,” a new exhibition at the National Building Museum, takes a close look at the evolution of American architecture.

City Gallery Champions Local Art

March 10, 12 a.m.

A group of more than 20 local artists united to open a new gallery on H Street Northeast.

Smithsonian Transparency Is Sought

March 10, 12 a.m.

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton has introduced two bills that will radically alter the composition of the Smithsonian’s board of regents subject the institution to the Freedom of Information Act for the first time.

U.S. Liberators Tell Stories of the Horror of Liberating Concentration Camps

March 9, 12 a.m.

The role of U.S. soldiers in the waning days of World War II who freed thousands upon thousands of Jews and others marked for death is retold in Michael Hirsch’s new book, “The Liberators: America’s Witnesses to the Holocaust.”

Government’s Role in Happiness is Focus of New Book

March 9, 12 a.m.

In his new book, “The Politics of Happiness: What Government Can Learn From the New Research on Well-Being,” Harvard scholar Derek Bok explores a number of new studies related to the concept of happiness and then painstakingly asks whether and how government can do much to increase human happiness.

New Books Ready for Spring Sales

March 9, 12 a.m.

Spring is a season of anticipation. As the last of the snow melts away and District residents count down the days to the reopening of outdoor pools, this is a great time to dive into a new book. Here is a list of books scheduled to be released in the next few weeks.

Renwick Shows Internment Art

March 8, 12 a.m.

A new exhibit features artworks created by Japanese-Americans held in internment camps during World War II, many made of found objects and scrap materials.

Turkish Women Explore Modernity

March 8, 12 a.m.

Female Turkish artists explore this paradox in a new exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts titled “A Dream ... but not Yours: Contemporary Art from Turkey.” Drawing on iconic images from Turkish culture and politics, the women whose work is on display seek to locate a space for Turkish women in a society that bends its gaze forward but remains firmly anchored to history.

Artists’ Lists Become Art Themselves

March 8, 12 a.m.

The Smithsonian has mounted a quirky new exhibit of lists made by artists in the pursuit of their craft, as a kind of window into the inner workings of creative minds.

How Big Shots Hide and Dine

March 4, 12 a.m.

It was a typical hot July evening at José Andrés’ tapas haven, Oyamel. Dozens of diners hovered around the bar, sipping on margaritas waiting for their tables. But on this particular evening, something was different.

Big Stick Theory: Wilson’s Canes on Display

March 4, 12 a.m.

Even before a stroke left him debilitated, President Woodrow Wilson was rarely seen without a cane. Wilson, who considered himself to be in fragile health for much of his adult life, collected them over a lifetime.

Directory Taps Into Twitter Fad

March 3, 12 a.m.

In yet another sign of just how ubiquitous Twitter has become on Capitol Hill, the latest edition of a comprehensive directory of all Members of Congress includes each tweeting Member’s alias on the microblogging service.

New Book Details How One Battle in Vietnam Changed U.S. Minds

March 2, 12 a.m.

Ted Morgan’s new book, “Valley of Death: The Tragedy at Dien Bien Phu That Led America Into the Vietnam War,” chronicles a battle in 1954 that ended up being a decisive element to American participation in the war.

Story Seeks Meaning in How Brutality Arises

March 2, 12 a.m.

War rarely yields any sort of moral certitude. For soldiers immersed in a climate where violence is not only condoned but mandated, the distinction between acts committed in the name of duty and decisions borne out of something darker can become dangerously blurred. This seems to be the takeaway from Jim Frederick’s new work of narrative nonfiction, “Black Hearts.”

The Power of Talking About It

March 2, 12 a.m.

War, more than any other historic phenomena, has shaped the contours of the modern world. Over the past few centuries, armed hostilities between nations have forced leaders to redraw borders, forfeit their sovereignty and take hundreds of millions of lives in the process. But what about the wars that were averted or mitigated through diplomacy — the many conflicts that were resolved through shrewd negotiation instead of military force? “Words, as much as weapons, shape history,” posits author Fredrik Stanton in his new book, “Great Negotiations: Agreements That Changed the Modern World,” which chronicles eight of the most epic parleys ever to have transpired.

Art in Unexpected Places

March 1, 12 a.m.

Washington has no shortage of art. The august institutions of the Smithsonian offer visitors the chance to view both priceless classical paintings and innovative modern work, while private museums, including the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Phillips Collection, offer equally impressive repositories of stunning creativity.

March Into the Past

March 1, 12 a.m.

Washington is full of history, but what about the neighboring areas? It’s easy to forget that the capital is surrounded by a number of Civil War battlegrounds that played important roles in our nation’s history. Now that spring is nearly upon us, this is the ideal time to hop in your car and pay a visit to these hallowed grounds.

Chesapeake’s Hidden Treasure

March 1, 12 a.m.

St. Michaels, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, is the kind of town that could almost be called too cute if it wasn’t actually an authentic shipbuilding and fishing village with a storied past.

Warrenton’s History Lessons

March 1, 12 a.m.

If you feel the urge to hit Virginia’s roads this spring, don’t drive too far. Fauquier County, which has actually become a bedroom community of Washington, D.C., but far enough to have real farms and horse ranches, has a town that’s worth your while: Warrenton.

National Gallery Celebrates the Sacred in New Show

Feb. 25, 12 a.m.

Intensely realistic Spanish religious art, some of which has not been seen outside Spanish monasteries and churches, will go on display Sunday at the National Gallery of Art. The exhibition, “The Sacred Made Real: Spanish Painting and Sculpture, 1600-1700,” features 11 paintings and 11 sculptures created during the period referred to by scholars as the Spanish Golden Age.

Presidents Get ‘Time’ In Spotlight

Feb. 25, 12 a.m.

While it may be an honor to have your image on the cover of Time, it is not always flattering. The news magazine has been known to poke fun at its subjects, even in cover portraits. That rule applies even to presidents: When they’re featured on the cover, they’re not always shown in the best light. For clear evidence, take a look at a new exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery.

Letters From Afghanistan Reveal Elegant Heritage

Feb. 25, 12 a.m.

Nearly a decade of war in Afghanistan has seared into America’s consciousness stunning images of explosions among jutting auburn peaks and humble turban-clad peasants nursing their wounded. Still, for most of us, the struggle seems a world away. For Afghans, though, those images are reality. But their world, their culture, is much more than just the fighting. And perhaps because this seems long forgotten, they document their lives in droves of letters they send to the popular short-wave radio station, Radio Free Afghanistan, locally called Radio Azadi.

Josef Albers Found Truth in Squares

Feb. 24, 12 a.m.

It’s hip to be a square, at least according to the Hirshhorn Museum. The Smithsonian Institution’s modern art museum is showcasing a new exhibit of nearly 70 works called “Josef Albers: Innovation and Inspiration” in honor of the late colorist.

At Last, George Washington Gets Presidential Library

Feb. 24, 12 a.m.

The first president has gotten a lot of honors, but one thing he hasn’t gotten is a library dedicated to his memory. Following a large gift, that’s about to change.

Hill Talk: U Street Visitor Center Opens Friday

Feb. 24, 12 a.m.

Most people know the U Street neighborhood for its eclectic mix of bars and restaurants, but there’s a great deal of history waiting to be rediscovered there, too.

Debt’s Dangerous Depth

Feb. 23, 12 a.m.

Now that President Barack Obama’s 2011 fiscal budget has been printed, bound and widely circulated, budget hawk and former Comptroller General David Walker’s recent book, “Comeback America,” couldn’t be more timely. In addition, Obama’s recently announced debt commission makes it even more relevant.

Book Views The Jobs Nobody Else Wants

Feb. 23, 12 a.m.

Though there has been little movement on the issue so far, when he was on the campaign trail, President Barack Obama promised to finally embark on transformative immigration reform during his first term — a task that twice eluded his predecessor.

D.C.’s Black History Gets Gentle Nudge

Feb. 23, 12 a.m.

Washington, D.C., isn’t lacking when it comes to history. At least, that’s the impression most people get when they first arrive and behold its myriad statues, monuments and memorials.

Pentagon Papers Story Revisited in New Documentary

Feb. 22, 12 a.m.

He was called the most dangerous man in America. In 1971, government contractor Daniel Ellsberg was awarded that moniker by then-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. While Ellsberg spent his days analyzing the ongoing war in Vietnam, he spent his evenings photocopying top secret documents that he sneaked home so he could distribute them to various national newspapers in an effort to stop — or at least slow the progress of — the war.

Brown Delivers Helping Hand to Haiti

Feb. 22, 12 a.m.

The campaign slogan for the Congresswoman from the 3rd district of Florida — “Corrine delivers” — has probably never seemed more apt, given Brown’s recent work transporting relief supplies to earthquake victims in Haiti.

Reclaiming Those Negative Images

Feb. 16, 12 a.m.

Oftentimes, there’s more talent under our noses than we realize. That’s certainly true when it comes to “Mixed Media Reflections,” a new gallery at the Corner Store, a multiuse arts space at 900 South Carolina Ave. SE.

Hill Talk: Capitol Hill Bikes Is Back on Barracks Row

Feb. 16, 12 a.m.

Just six weeks after it officially closed its previous location, Capitol Hill Bikes is back — and it hasn’t gone very far.

Our City Film Fest Is Sunday

Feb. 11, 1:45 p.m.

Yachad, a local Jewish housing nonprofit, was looking for a way to raise its profile in 2007 and came up with a unique plan: The group would sponsor a film festival. Our City Film Festival will hold its third annual screening this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Goethe Institute in Chinatown.

How the Law Got Past ‘Separate but Equal’

Feb. 9, 12 a.m.

The landmark Brown v. Board of Education case is rightly looked at as a turning point in civil rights history. But as author Rawn James Jr. describes in his new book, so much happened before that decision was handed down.

Jefferson's Early Days Reveal a Different Leader

Feb. 9, 12 a.m.

Virginia Gov. Thomas Jefferson was out for a morning stroll in his garden on New Year’s Day of 1781 when he got the news — a fleet of 27 ships, origins unknown, had sailed through the Virginia Capes.

Gonzo Journalism’s New Heir

Feb. 9, 12 a.m.

The first thing you’ll notice about Matt Labash’s first book — that is, apart from the cartoonish scowl of a fly-fishing Dick Cheney flanked by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Al Sharpton and Donald Trump’s ridiculous quiff — is the quote by P.J. O’Rourke situated neatly atop the jacket: Labash “is Hunter S. Thompson on acid.” Wait, wasn’t Thompson already on acid? Never mind.

Members Retrieve Haitian Orphans

Feb. 8, 12 a.m.

Of the many grim images broadcast in the aftermath of the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti four weeks ago, Robert and Sarah Gammons-Reese found one particularly disturbing: the sight of their adoption attorney’s collapsed law office in downtown Port-au-Prince.