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Hip-hop from the underground: True to its name, Strathmore's Friday Night Eclectic plays the wild card tonight with a performance by rappers Educated Consumers. Miles away from anything on the radio, the group combines grimy, politically-minded rhymes with heavy warehouse beats. The show begins at the Mansion at 9 p.m. Bring cash; the bar doesn't accept credit cards.

Something more traditional: Maybe hip-hop isn't your thing. In the complete opposite direction, the Cantate Chamber Singers celebrate 25 years with a retrospective of the choral music that earned them a national reputation. The full evening of song includes traditional Masses and original pieces by young contest winners and composers-in-residence. The concert will take place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at St. John's Norwood Parish in Chevy Chase.

Paintings that might melt your heart: You know those Kay Jewelers commercials with Jane Seymour that seem to blare from the TV every 10 minutes? Well the "Dr. Quinn" actress crafted the Open Heart herself. In fact, the design was a painting before it was a pendant. Seymour has been painting for over a decade and tonight, she'll be in Bethesda to show off her work. From 6 to 9 p.m., fans and collectors can catch a glimpse of the 59-year-old at Wentworth Gallery inside Westfield Montgomery Mall.

A trip down the rabbit hole: Kids too young for "Avatar"? Take them to see Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland." The 3D fantasy includes bizarre creatures and eye-popping effects, but it isn't bogged down by all that violence and imperialism. It's entertaining for adults, too. Burton's film is zany, and the characters are fleshed out. Though not perfect, this adaptation is your best bet for a quick weekend escape.