Friday, April 11

Take advantage of this last chance to see your adopted city of D.C. through the eyes of those who know it best — the natives. The Photo 08 exhibit features over 90 works from photographers who are either live or work in the D.C. metropolitan area. So even if you’ve never set foot outside of the Georgetown campus, give yourself the chance to experience it through art.

Photo 08 closes today. It is located at the Ellipse Art Center, located at 4350 North Fairfax Drive in Arlington, Va. It is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $3.

Saturday, April 12

While in the midst of Washington, D.C.’s iconic, and American, cherry blossom season, take the chance to say “konichiwa” to another country’s culture — that of Japan. This Saturday, experience pieces of Japanese life from the Taste of Japan sushi and sake tasting to the J-Pop exhibit to learn what’s cool and new in Japanese culture. The Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival also features live performances and a traditional arts and crafts fair.

The Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival is held from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue between 9th and 14th Streets. Admission is free. Metro: Federal Triangle (Blue and Orange lines).

Sunday, April 13

Take a deep breath, take off that heavy backpack and do something that will improve your posture instead. Head down to the National Mall for Yoga on the Mall, part of Yoga Week, to take outdoor classes from some of D.C.’s best yoga studios. From traditional relaxation and stretching techniques to hot and sweaty Bikram, there is something for every yoga enthusiast.

Yoga on the Mall is today from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 301-768-9160. Metro: Smithsonian (Blue and Orange lines).

Monday, April 14

Here’s a little known fact: April is National Panda Month. So celebrate your favorite bamboo-munching bears and stop by the world-famous Panda House at the National Zoo to learn all about the pandas’ daily lives, and learn how to help endangered pandas in the wild from trainers and zoological experts. Don’t forget to snap a picture with cute and cuddly celebrities Tian Tian and Mei Xiang.

Visit the Panda House between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for Panda Month activities. The National Zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue and is open Friday through Sunday. Admission is free. Metro: Woodley Park Zoo/Adams Morgan (Red line).

Tuesday, April 15

Forget the cheap, plastic stuff sold at Claire’s and check out the real bling at the Smithsonian’s Ornament as Art exhibit. This costume jewelry isn’t the stuff one would see at the Oscars with a designer ball gown; rather there are necklaces made from shredded books and bracelets from broken Coca-Cola bottles. There are over 300 works of wearable art on display designed to inspire awe and almost certain jealousy.

Ornament as Art runs through July 6 at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, located at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. Metro: Farragut West (Blue and Orange lines).

Wednesday, April 16

From the classic Bible-based musical “Godspell” to the contemporary classic “Wicked,” creator Stephen Schwartz has brought to the Broadway stage some of the best stories and songs of this century. Director Michael Bobbitt pays homage to the Broadway superstar with his new show “The Stephen Schwartz Project,” a compilation of Schwartz’s hits. This retrospective will surely delight theater enthusiasts and those with stage fright alike.

The Stephen Schwartz Project runs through May 25 at the MetroStage, located at 1201 North Royal St. in Alexandria, Va. For show times and ticket information, call 703-548-9044. Metro: Braddock Road (Blue and Yellow lines).

Thursday, April 17

Want a slice of island life without having to leave D.C.? Head to the United States Botanical Garden and check out “Hawaii,” the newest permanent exhibit. It features tropical and endangered plants and flowers from the 50th state, as well as a display of typical Hawaiian landscape — complete with a waterfall of molten lava.

The United States Botanical Garden is located at 100 Maryland Ave., SW and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Metro: Smithsonian (Blue and Orange lines), Archives-Navy Memorial (Green and Yellow lines), Federal Center SW (Blue and Orange lines).