'Art Beat' With Sean Rameswaram

(Feb. 20-May 30) CANALETTO AND HIS RIVALS One of the world's oldest gondolas is sitting in Washington's National Gallery of Art through the end of May and it's not even the main event. The Venetian vessel marks the entrance to "Canaletto and His Rivals", an exhibit of oil paintings by the Venetian landscape painter and some of his 18th century competition.

(Feb. 25) FOUR SCENES OF FOOLERY Commedia dell'arte or "comedy of art" is an Italian theater tradition from the mid-16th century featuring masked archetypal characters struggling with love, trickery, and general confusion. The form is celebrated around the world and in the District every Feb. 25. The Flashpoint Mead Theatre Lab in Northwest has "Quattro Scenari: Four Scenes of Foolery".

(Feb. 26) AND THE OSCAR FOR BEST MARATHON GOES TO... The Oscars are this Sunday. If you're yet to familiarize yourself with the nominees there's the Best Picture Showcase all day Saturday at AMC Georgetown. Five of the 10 films nominated for the top honor screen with trivia and prizes during the bathroom breaks.

Music: "Pieces Form the Whole" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross