D.C.-area native Tori Amos is touring in support of her 10th studio album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin – and with 17 songs clocking in at a total of more than 72 minutes, it definitely is a long-player. The set finds the singing pop pianist in typical form: rotating between swampy and sour complicated tunes, and those that are sweet and searching, with gorgeous melodies. And all the while Amos often chews on her syllables, like a baby mimicking its mother. Did she just sing something about “sin”? Awww. Saturday, Aug. 1, at 8 p.m. D.A.R. Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. Tickets are $45. Call 202-628-1776 or visit www.dar.org/conthall.

If you're a workaday Washingtonian, not every day can be a day at the beach. Thankfully, Nage, with its dedicated following in its hometown of Rehoboth, has secured a foothold in the District. And while it may be hard to replicate the scent of Rehoboth's salt-air breezes, the dedication to local, seasonal fare remains. Nestled in the Marriott Courtyard Embassy Row on Scott Circle, the ground-floor space feels cozy in winter, yet bright and airy in summer. Continue that summer mood with a grilled summer vegetable panini, or a soft-shell crab croissant with mango, arugula and chipotle aioli. Both are available for either brunch or lunch, and offer just a hint of what's on offer. Consider starting dinner with roasted tomato gazpacho, enhanced with the summer succulence of avocado and fresh crab. On Saturdays, you might follow with Nage's Seafood Supper. You may not feel sand in your toes, but wash down that lobster with a glass of Nage Sangria, and you won't be far off.

Nage - 1600 Rhode Island Ave. NW - Washington, D.C. - 202-448-8005 - Cost: $$

Pictured: Summer Lobster a la Nage

Photography by Todd Franson / Metro Weekly

It’s the last weekend for the rock-steeped musical Spring Awakening at the Kennedy Center. And to ensure the 2007 Tony Award-winning musical by Duncan Sheik and Steven Slater leaves town with a bang, cast members will perform a special “Seasons for Dreaming” cabaret at Town tonight, July 30, at 11 p.m. Town Danceboutique, 2009 Eighth St. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-234-TOWN or visit www.towndc.com.

Due to overwhelming grassroots pressure, including a Facebook campaign, HBO finally reversed course and agreed to go ahead with the 10th annual edition of this film screening series on the National Mall, now with additional support from Comcast and the Trust for the National Mall. Tonight, July 27, brings the second of only four films this year, Dog Day Afternoon, Sidney Lumet’s 1975 crime caper starring Al Pacino. Monday, July 27, at sunset (approximately 8:30 p.m.) on the National Mall, between Fourth and Seventh Streets NW. Free. Call 877-262-5866.

D.C.’s own lesbian pop-rocker, Mara Levi, will compete as a solo artist against nine rock bands during a “Battle of the Bands” event in suburban Virginia. The deck seems stacked against her, but Levi is a fantastic performer and she’s doing her darnedest to get her fans out, since the crowd picks the winner of this Gorilla Music production. Sunday, July 26, at 4 p.m. Jaxx Nightclub, 6355 Rolling Road, Springfield. Tickets are $10. Call 703-569-5940 or visit www.jaxxroxx.com.

Jason Mraz, a reggae-pop singer from Mechanicsville, Va. (Dave Matthews country, naturally), has been on a major label most of this decade, but it wasn’t until last year that he jumped up from just below the pop radar. You couldn’t avoid his ubiquitous hit “I’m Yours” as 2008 ended. Even if he doesn’t chart another hit like that, he’s got plenty of time to coast. Tonight, Saturday, July 25 at Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md. Doors at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 to $45. Call 800-551-SEAT or visit www.ticketmaster.com.

This nationally recognized Fairfax band has moved on from major-label Epic Records and is now touring in support of a re-release of its album Bathing in a New Economy through a new deal with Redeye Distribution. Saturday, July 18. Doors at 6 p.m. Nightclub 9:30, 815 V St. NW. Tickets are $15. Call 202-265-0930 or visit www.930.com.

With tasteful, inviting décor, and just as tasteful, inviting food, in the hands of chef Michael Holdcraft, Level One is definitely something special. Though the menu is diverse, 21st century-style American, Holdcraft exhibits a real passion for seafood. On a recent visit, he served up a succulent salmon contrasted with a gazpacho-style lentil salad, and a satisfying crabcake with a special sauce. The charming and amicable servers guide you to the best things on the menu, from the best glass or bottle of wine to the best way to top a popular Level One burger – the Southern way, with bacon, BBQ sauce and cheddar. At half-price on Sundays, your Southern burger will come to just over $5. With the average entrée priced at just $15, in fact, chances are, you’ll leave with fond memories all around, and plans to make more. Level One is at 1639 R Street NW, in Washington. Call 202-745-0025. Cost: $$.

Victor Ekpuk is inspired by the ancient tradition of ideographic writing systems in Africa, combining arcane symbols with his own invented pseudo-script to tell a story. The languages in which he “writes” are not comprehendible, therefore the stories become not about words themselves but about the forms the words take. Their beauty lies not in their meaning but in their shape, forcing the viewer to see the work rather than read the work. The cultural consciousness Ekpuk creates is inspiring – transforming abandoned languages into a record of permanence in art. On display through this Saturday, July 18. Long View Gallery, 1302 Ninth St. NW. Call 202-232-4788 or visit www.longviewgallery.com.

This year’s fourth annual Capital Fringe Festival, featuring 120 shows running repeatedly over 18 days, includes a dozen or so with gay and lesbian themes, ranging from mild to wild. Among those on tap this year: Brent Stansell’s sexually explicit My Fabulous Gay Sex Life, recounting his local sexual escapades; Kevin Thornton’s semi-autobiographical Sex, Dreams & Self Control, set to an alternative folk-rock score; Beyond Dark Corners from local theater director Terry Sidney and performance artist Christopher Prince, a work of poetry, music and storytelling from a black gay perspective; and the experimental 4.48 Psychosis, a play by the late lesbian Sarah Kane exploring depression and suicide. This year’s festival is concentrated at some 20 venues in the Mount Vernon neighborhood and headquartered at the former A.V. Ristorante Italiano. Now through July 26. Fort Fringe, 607 New York Ave. NW. Single tickets are $15; festival passes are $50-$300. Call 866-811-4111 or visit www.capitalfringe.org.

The NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) Business Improvement District presents its second season of this outdoor film series offering a film every Wednesday night through July 29. All films this season focus on films about musicians and bands, and are preceded by live DJs, special guests and a barbecue. This Wednesday's offering is Standing in the Shadows of Motown, the documentary about the Funk Brothers, the group of Detroit musicians who backed up dozens of Motown artists. Wednesday, July 15, from 7 to 11 p.m. Lot on L Street, between Second and Third Streets NE. Free. Visit www.nomasummerscreen.com.

Woolly Mammoth presents Chicago’s legendary comedy troupe Second City for this topical revue of sketch comedy, songs and a little bit of improvisation. The show, Barack Stars, includes material from previous Second City political shows, as well as new material written especially for this production. It’s all focused on giving Chicago’s favorite son – the sitting U.S. president, of course – “his satiric due, with an economy on the ropes and maybe just a touch of swine flu for good measure.” Opens Tuesday, July 14, at 8 p.m. Through Aug. 2. Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW. Tickets are $40. Call 202-393-3939 or visit www.woollymammoth.net.

A documentary of legendary gay Italian designer Valentino Garavani, Valentino: The Last Emperor explores his extraordinary life and work over the past half-century, from his founding of the Valentino label to his dramatic exit from the company just last year. But the heart of the film is the unique relationship between Valentino and his longtime partner, in life and work, Giancarlo Giammetti. Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets are $10. Call 202-966-6000 or visit www.theavalon.org.

The Madison: A Loews Hotel launches a new “pianists-in-residence” program featuring D.C.’s top jazz pianists – Bob Smith in a cabaret-style on Mondays, and then Dick Morgan, John Eaton, Robert Redd, Tom Korth and Bob Boguslaw rotate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The pianists will pick a bassist, singer or guitarist to join them as they wish. Cocktails and light faire will be available to complete the intimate club ambiance. Beginning Monday, July 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Through Aug. 31. Loews Madison Hotel, at 15th & M Streets NW. Cover is $10. Call 202-587-2700 to make a reservation or for more information.

Radio Golf is the last of the late August Wilson’s 10-part “Pittsburgh Cycle” of plays, each set in a different decade in the city, this drama, set in the 1990s, tackles gentrification and one African American’s bid for elected office. Extended through Sunday, July 19. Studio Theatre’s Mead Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. Tickets are $34 to $53. Call 202-332-3300 or visit www.studiotheatre.org.

Fans of Elton John can make a full day of it today, July 11. Before he takes to the stage in the evening with Billy Joel, John’s charity presents its fourth annual “Washington/Baltimore Lunch around the World” fundraiser. A buffet will be included, along with John-focused trivia games. And John memorabilia will be auctioned off and raffled. John himself, unfortunately, will not be on hand. Saturday, July 11, from 1 to 4 p.m. Banana Café, 500 Eighth St. SE. Tickets are $25. To register, email your name and the number of people in your party to 2009LATWDC@cox.net.

Quality can be found at any price. On the low-end of the financial spectrum, Alberto’s Pizzeria definitely delivers quality. Alberto De Souza, who owns the two-outlet Alberto’s with his wife, Jillian, combines his Chicago-trained sensibility and French influences -- by way of serving as Sofitel Washington’s executive chef -- in a stone oven. The result? “Go Bears!,” if you go Chicago style, or c’est magnifique! for a, say, thin crust with goat cheese and capers. By the pie, it’s the perfect rustic dinner in, or the soothing nightcap slice as you stumble home. Free delivery around Dupont and Adams Morgan. Locations at 2010 P St. NW and 2438 18th St. NW. Call 202-986-2121. Visit www.albertospizzeria.com.

Photograph by Todd Franson

Read more Metro Weekly Dining Guide reviews here.

The quintessential troubled artist, Brannan first gained attention getting naked in the film Shortbus, but the gay singer deserves attention now for his music, nearly as naked as he was on film. It's sparse, stripped down to acoustic guitar, occasional bass and occasional piano, keeping you focused on the lyrics and his sweet Paul Simon-esque tenor. His audacious and compelling debut album goddamned was one of last year’s best releases, and In Living Color is a fetching set of seven covers of songs, from the likes of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and the Cranberries, plus two originals that are every bit as strong. He covers Ani DiFranco’s “Both Hands” on the new set. The same night DiFranco performs in Baltimore, he’ll be downstate. We argue for heading to the state capital, because Brannan is captivating live. Thursday, July 9, at 8 p.m. Rams Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis. Tickets are $13.50. Call 410-268-4545 or visit www.ramsheadonstage.com.

Guest conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos will lead the BSO in Bernard Herrmann’s score to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1960 film, Psycho, which will be screened in its entirety, and with original voice track, during the performance. Thursday, July 9, at 8 p.m. Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Also Friday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m. Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1212 Cathedral St., Baltimore. Tickets are $25 to $55. Call 410-783-8000 or visit www.bsomusic.org.

While you may think the "ruby" slippers Judy Garland wore as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz would be an ample Smithsonian artifact to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, there's plenty more. Step into the National Museum of American History and make your way to the entrance of the Archives Center. Adjacent the entrance you'll find a collection of GLBT memorabilia -- artifacts? -- marking the anniversary. There's the chilling 1981 copy of New York Native bearing the headline, "Cancer in the Gay Community." Or, for a happier note, take a gander at the cover of the brochure from the 1987 Gay Men's Chorus of Washington concert, "Let Freedom Ring," with the Denver Women's Chorus and Lesbian and Gay Bands of America. In all, a tiny rainbow of treasures. On display through Aug. 2. At 14th Street & Constitution Avenue NW. Visit americanhistory.si.ed or call 202-633-1000.

The Motown legend will perform from her roster of hits, including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Sunday, July 5, at 8 p.m. Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets are $25 to $45. Call 703-255-1900 or visit www.wolf-trap.org.

It’s not something you want to do every year – too many tourists – but everybody should, at least once, head down to the U.S. Capitol to hear the National Symphony Orchestra’s annual A Capitol Fourth concert. This year, Erich Kunzel conducts the orchestra in a performance of patriotic favorites and classical masterworks, most notably Tchaikvosky’s 1812 Overture, during which a cannon is usually fired, shortly before the fireworks display at 9:10 p.m. Also performing this year: Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, Michael Feinstein and the Jersey Boys cast. Saturday, July 4, at 8 p.m. West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Free. Call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org/nso/ for more information.

In conjunction with Sherman Cymru, the leading theater company from Wales, The Studio Theatre presents reading of seven Welsh plays. Among them is Cardiff East, by noted and openly gay Welsh writer Peter Gill, which takes place in the Welsh capital of Cardiff over the course of one day and follows three storylines, each of a different generation from the same gritty neighborhood. One storyline follows two young men in a burgeoning romantic relationship. Now through Sunday, July 5. Studio Theatre, 14th & P Streets NW. Admission is free to all readings. Call 202-332-3300 or visit www.studiotheatre.org/wales.

Sure, "every night is ladies night" at Lace, as the new venue's tagline promises. But every night is also dinnertime. You might have dancing in mind, but come a little early and sample the cuisine so you'll have the calories to make that milk shake. Whatever your taste, from hearty and homey to delicate and delicious, Chef Yvonne Lucas is well-equipped to fill the bill. Share the calamari with its refreshing sun-dried tomato and pesto dip to start. Or, if you're looking for something a little meatier, try the spicy, honey-glazed drummettes. Lucas will reward your best behavior with knock-out salads. You won't miss anything by making a meal of the orange-glazed salmon salad, with Lace's homemade tequila-lime vinaigrette, or the Asian shrimp and spinach salad, with homemade sesame-soy-ginger dressing. Let the competition between Lace the bar and Lace the restaurant work to your advantage, adding one of Lace's signature cocktails to the experience. The "L" Word Martini mixes Absolut Mango with sour mix, Sprite and grenadine. You'll have to ask your server yourself what's in the Lace Panties.

Located at 2214 Rhode Island Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. Call 202-832-3888.

Asian Shrimp and Spinach Salad photographed for Metro Weekly by Todd Franson.