MCI goes boom
Skateboarding great Tony Hawk returns to the MCI Center on Monday for the third installment of his high-flying extreme sports extravaganza, Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huckjam. The show incorporates skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross in a one-of-a-kind choreographed live show. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 to $85. 601 F St. NW. 202/397-SEAT.
Tchaikovsky’s bells and cannons
The National Symphony Orchestra’s summer concert series at Wolf Trap continues tonight with an all-Tchaikovsky program, “Russian Bells and Cannons.” Virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell performs the Violin Concerto in D Major as conductor Emil de Cou and the U.S. Army Chorus have at such crowd-pleasers as the “1812 Overture.” Showtime is 8:15 p.m. in the Filene Center. Tickets are $18 to $38. 1645 Trap Road, Vienna. 703/218-6500.
Ladies only
Several of the leading female voices in R&B and hip-hop take to the Merriweather Post Pavilion stage Saturday for the Sugar Water Festival. Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Floetry take care of the R&B portion of the night, while one of the original female voices in hip-hop, Queen Latifah, takes a break from acting and gets back to her musical roots. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 to $75. 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md. 202/397-SEAT.
Happy birthday, Old Town
Alexandria marks its 256th birthday Saturday with the USA & Alexandria Birthday Celebration. Designed in praise of the town’s ethnic diversity, the evening kicks off at 4 p.m. in Oronoco Bay Park with activities for the whole family. The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra presents the big-band salute “Swinging on the Waterfront” at 9 p.m. The evening concludes at 10 p.m. with fireworks and the “1812 Overture” from the symphony. Admission is free. Oronoco Bay Park, Union and Madison streets, Alexandria. 703/883-4686.
Folk newcomer
With a smoky vocal style and blues-inspired folk sound, newcomer Shannon McNally has used her second album, “Geronimo,” to break through and shine. Miss McNally make two stops in the area, tonight at Jammin’ Java in Vienna and Saturday at Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis. Tickets are $12 for the Java show and $15 for Rams Head. See Calendar for addresses.
Honky-tonk at Nissan
Nissan Pavilion goes country Saturday, when superstar Toby Keith brings to town his Big Throwdown Tour II. Along for this honky-tonk affair are Lee Ann Womack and newcomer Shooter Jennings. Tickets are $33.25 to $68.25. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. 7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow. 202/397-SEAT.
Under the stars
George Washington University offers the first outdoor movie screenings of the summer with its second annual “Films on the Vern” movie series. Every Wednesday through Aug. 17, the school will screen a different movie on Mount Vernon Campus Quad. Kicking things off Wednesday is the 1987 comedy classic “The Princess Bride.” Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Admission is free. 2100 Foxhall Road NW. 202/242-6673.
— Thomas Walter
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