Setting Lyndon Johnson’s ambitious social policies to music seems equal parts brainy and boring. But Wadada Leo Smith’s jazz piece about the “Great Society” programs comes from a place more personal than political; it’s a portion of Ten Freedom Summers, his magnum opus dedicated to moments in the Civil Rights movement. Read more >>> Wadada Leo Smith performs at 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. $20–$33.50. (202) 399-7993. atlasarts.org. (Caroline Jones)
EAT THIS
Ever eaten Cactus? Try it out at Casa Oaxaca, where it’s seasoned with Mexican oregano, then battered and fried in crunchy blue cornmeal to create “cactus fries.” The $9 dish is served with a spicy avocado-tomatillo salsa. Read more here. Casa Oaxaca, 2106 18th St. NW; (202) 387-2272; oaxacaindc.com. (Jessica Sidman)
OH AND ALSO
Friday: Kick off your Halloween with Happenstance Theater’s fourth iteration of Cabaret Macabre, beginning tonight at Round House Theatre Silver Spring. 8 p.m. at 8641 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. $15–$20.
Friday: Fandango Records and City Slang Booking present a global garage-punk showcase at the Velvet Lounge with D.C.’s Thee Lolitas, Brooklyn’s Born Loose, and Tel Aviv’s Sabba Rabba. 9:30 p.m. at 915 U St. NW. $8.
Friday: The Smithsonian’s American Art Museum opens its newest exhibit, “Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art.” On view daily to March 2, 2014, at 8th and F streets NW. Free.
Saturday: On their own, the crisp, vacant, urban-landscape images by Lauren Henkin‘s Growth would be intriguing enough. The images ponder what’s supposed to be there, and what isn’t, sometimes with a less-than-clear resolution. But there’s more. Henkin’s meditation on invasiveness asks how we choose whether to extinguish an outsider or let it be. Read more >>> The exhibit is on view Tuesdays to Fridays noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Gallery at Vivid Solutions, 1241 Good Hope Road SE. Free. (202) 365-8392. vividsolutionsgallery.com. (Louis Jacobson)
Saturday: Detroit DJ and producer Carl Craig performs an extended set at Flash Nightclub after a warm-up from D.C. DJ Solomon Sanchez. 10 p.m. at 645 Florida Ave. NW. $15–$20.
Saturday: California rockers Crystal Antlers play with Young Rapids and Bella Russia at Comet Ping Pong. Find more details on Facebook. 10:30 p.m. at 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW. $12.
Saturday: Monroe Street Market, the new luxury apartment complex in Brookland, hosts its first art festival, featuring music by The Deadmen, artist studio tours, and food trucks. 1 p.m. at 716 Monroe St. NE. Free.
Saturday and Sunday: AFI Silver screens In Search of Blind Joe Death: The Saga of John Fahey, a new documentary about the late Takoma Park guitar legend. 1 p.m. at 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. $5.
Sunday: Casual Sparks fans can pinpoint their favorite Sparks period, and chances are, that period ended a long time ago. Now past their 40th year of making music together, Ron and Russell Mael have transitioned from pop act to cult band, and their faithful fans are special in one critical way: They don’t feel alienated when Sparks does weird stuff. Read more >>> Sparks performs at 6 p.m. at 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. $25. (202) 265-0930. 930.com. (Ally Schweitzer)
Sunday: C0nstellation Theatre officially opens its production of 36 Views, a play about a piece of art that drives six individuals to madness. 7 p.m. at 1835 14th St. NW. $15–$45.
Sunday: Electronic-rock forbear Gary Numan performs at the Black Cat with The Color Film. Read more in our Fall Arts Guide. 8 p.m. at 1811 14th St. NW. $25–$30.
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