Is there anything harder to define—-but as easy to spot—-as cool? The National Portrait Gallery gamely takes a crack at this ephemeral notion in a new show, “American Cool,” that opens today. The exhibit includes portraits of everyone from Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, and Elvis Presley to Joan Didion and Jay Z, captured at their most stylish. Read more >>> The exhibition is on view daily 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. to Sept. 7 at the National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F streets NW. Free. (202) 633-8300. npg.si.edu. (Louis Jacobson)
EAT THIS
In honor of the 2014 Winter Olympics, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken is offering a limited-time Team USA doughnut: a vanilla glaze confection with raspberry drizzle, blueberries, and “USA” piped in chocolate. The special doughnut is available for $2.50 in-store and at the Astro food truck from now until Feb. 23. Track the food truck’s location on Twitter at @astrodoughnuts. Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken. 1308 G St. NW. (202) 809-5565. astrodoughnuts.com. (Raphaella Baek)
OH AND ALSO
Tonight: Paint Branch and The Walking Sticks perform a showcase at the Smithsonian American Art Museum co-presented by Washington City Paper. Bloomery Plantation Distillery also provides free samples during the show. 6 p.m. at 8th and F streets NW. Free.
Tonight: Two new shows open at the Hirshhorn Museum today: “Directions: Jeremy Deller” features films by the noted British artist and “Gravity’s Edge” showcases work from the mid-20th century that marks a shift in abstraction and color. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 7th Street and Independence Avenue SW. Free.
Tonight: The great Pissed Jeans, alongside the also awesome Priests and Purling Hiss, play a heavy-duty show at Black Cat. 9 p.m. at 1811 14th St. NW. $15.
Tonight: Want to know what theater to see this weekend? Washington City Paper critics recommend Peter and the Starcatcher at Kennedy Center and Richard III at Folger Elizabethan Theatre. Read our reviews of both shows on our theater page.
Saturday: Beginning tonight, artist Jacolby Satterwhite turns the Capitol Skyline Hotel lobby into a 24/7 art gallery. Read more >>> Jacolby Satterwhite performs at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 I St. SW. Free. (202) 234-7103. wpadc.org. (Kriston Capps)
Saturday: TV scribe and actor B.J. Novak reads from his new collection of short stories, One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, at Politics & Prose. 6 p.m. at 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW. Free.
Saturday: Experimental music artist RAFT performs his original composition, “Transmissions, Long Tones in A and E,” with an ensemble of local musicians at Comet Ping Pong. 10 p.m. at 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW. $12.
Sunday: Round House Theatre’s production of Seminar tackles an unlikely literary scenario: Can four young writers coexist in a New York City fiction class without tearing each other apart? Written by Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Theresa Rebeck and directed by Round House’s former artistic director Jerry Whiddon, Seminar combines emotional depth with biting humor to explore a toxic combination of youth, creativity, and ambition. Read more >>> The play runs Feb. 5 to March 2 at Round House Theatre Bethesda, 4545 East-West Highway, Bethesda. $25–$50. (240) 644-1100. roundhousetheatre.org. (Diana Metzger)
Sunday: DC9 kicks off a week of shows in celebration of its 10th anniversary with a performance by Regents, J. Robbins, Des Ark, and Title Tracks. 8 p.m. at 1940 9th St. NW. $10.
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