Top 5 weekend picks September 20

Every week Connect2Mason will offer five entertainment picks for your weekend. Ranging from on-campus to off-campus events, Connect2Mason's Top 5 will give you a jump start on your weekend. Here are the Top 5 picks for this weekend:

1. National Book Festival
When: Saturday and Sunday September 22-23
Where: Washington D.C. National Mall

For any lover of books and culture, the annual Library of Congress National Book Festival is the place to be at this weekend. Featuring noted authors such as Newberry Award winner Lois Lowry, author of books such as “The Giver” and “Number the Stars.” Along with Lowry, young adult authors John Green and David Levithan will be in attendance followed by book signings. John Green is best known for his New York Times best selling book, “The Fault in Our Stars” along with his popular Youtube video blogging series called the Vlogbrothers.

For those interested in reminiscing about their elementary school years, Goosebumps series author R.L. Stine will also be attending the festival.  Along with children and young adult authors, three-time Pulitzer Prize New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, will be promoting his new book, “That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back.” For history lovers, author Tony Horwitz will be promoting his new book on the American Civil War.

The National Book Festival is hosted by the Library of Congress and is free to the public. For a list of all the schedule of authors, visit the National Book Festival Website.

2. Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
When:  September 22 at 8pm
Where: Center for the Arts

Free student tickets are available to see the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra open their 2012-2013 season. Featuring works by American composers Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin, the program will also include the Virginia premier of Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Taafe Zwilich. 

Tickets can be purchased with a valid Mason ID at the Center for the Arts Box Office.

3. The Killers tickets go on sale
When: September 21
Where: Patriot Center

British pop-rock group The Killers, will be returning to the Patriot Center on December 18 as part of their World Tour. Known for their songs "Mr. Brightside" and "All That I've Done," the band recently released their fifth studio album, “Battle Born” this month. The band came to the Patriot Center back in 2009, but the band hasn’t toured since theyir announced hiatus back in January 2010. Indie-pop group Tegan and Sara will be opening for the band that same night.

Tickets for the show can be purchased from Ticketmaster beginning at 10:30am on Friday September 21.

4. Go see an independent or foreign movie
Where: Mosaic District, Angelika Film Center
When: This weekend

Opening on Friday September 21, Farifax’s newest movie theater is sure to be an experience like no other. Showcasing independent and foreign movies, just fifteen minutes away from George Mason in the Mosaic District, Angelika Film Center will expose you to films that aren’t normally shown in the mainstream movie theater. During its opening weekend, Angelika will be showcasing award winning new released films. Get out of your dorm and experience something outside of the regular blockbuster film.

5. The Artist
When: Saturday September 22 at 9pm and Sunday September 23 at 6pm
Where: Johnson Center Cinema

The Office of Student Involvement will be screening the 2012 Oscar for Best Picture film, “The Artist.” The movie centers on silent film star George Valentine as his world is turned upside down when spoken word is introduced to the film industry in 1927. Experience the world of silent film as it is meant to be seen: in a theater not on your laptop. Filmed in black and white, "The Artist" portrays the art of film and film making. See this Oscar winning film for free, with your valid student ID this weekend.