Reserve a spot for Phillips After 5

Anyone who has paid a visit to the Phillips Collection's popular monthly art party, Phillips After 5, knows that certain areas -- namely around the bar and food tables -- can resemble a packed Orange Line train during rush hour. Luckily, the Phillips is trying to remedy the over-crowding issue by capping off the number of attendees starting with the next installment on July 1. The museum is taking a cue from Hirshhorn After Hours and offering advanced registration; just visit the museum's web site to reserve your spot.

This month's festivities also include the chance to add a dash of theater to your arty evening. There will be a staged reading of the Tony-winning play "Art," which follows a trio of friends whose relationship crumbles under the weight of an all-white painting. Tickets for the reading are $20 and include entry to the museum (for a timely visit to a couple of monochromatic exhibitions) and admission to Phillips After 5.

-- Stephanie Merry