Tanger Outlets at National Harbor Open
National Harbor in Oxen Hill, Md., is a busy place. Last week ICE! featuring ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas opened, now just in time for Black Friday shopping, the Tanger Outlets are holding their grand opening this weekend (Nov. 22-24).
Tanger Outlets at National Harbor
Tanger Outlets National Harbor open at 9 a.m. Friday with the official ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. There are 83 outlets at the center including Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Coach, Columbia Sportswear, H&M, Harry & David, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Nautica, Nike, Oakley, Polor Ralph Lauren, Steve Madden, Swarovski, Tommy Hilfiger and Under Armour among others. The Diane von Furstenberg outlet will open in February. There is a 20 percent off coupon on the website for opening weekend and anyone spending a combined $150 on the same day at any store will receive a free quilted handbag. There will be holiday music and fireworks beginning Friday at 7 p.m. On Saturday, The Society, an international blues band from D.C., will perform beginning at 7 p.m.
Opening Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. at 6800 Oxen Hill Road, Oxen Hill, north of The Plateau at National Harbor. Holiday hours through Dec. 23 are 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Regular hours after Christmas are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. Stores will open at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving day and remain open until 10 p.m. on Friday to start your holiday shopping. Free parking is available on site.
JFK Remembrance Day
The Newseum marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Friday with JFK Remembrance Day, with gallery talks, panels and film screenings.
Nov. 22 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at The Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Free with museum admission. The schedule includes a screening of One PM Central Standard Time narrated by actor George Clooney at 10 a.m., Gallery Talk: Creating Camelot at 11 a.m., panel discussing and book signing with Dean Owen, author of Reflections on the Life, Assassination and Legacy of John F. Kennedy at 11:30 a.m., screening of John F. Kennedy A Legacy Remembered at noon, screening of President Kennedy Has Been Shot and a panel discussion with filmmaker Gerardine Wurzburg at 1 p.m., CBS News footage of the events on Nov. 22, 1963, shown on a 90-foot high screen at 1:40 p.m., Gallery Talk: Three Shots Were Fired at 2 p.m., panel discussion and book signing with James Swanson, author of End of Days, at 3 p.m., and a screening of As It Happened at 3:30 p.m.
Sugarloaf Craft Festival
This is the last Sugarloaf Craft Festival in Gaithersburg this year. With more than 400 artisans showing and selling their handcrafted work, its the perfect place to find unique holiday gifts. Now in its 39th year, the festival invites art enthusiasts to meet the jury-selected artists and purchase unique items in functional and decorative pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, leather, wood, metal, furniture, home accessories, photography and fine art. Visitors can also sample and purchase gourmet foods, watch demonstrations from master craftspeople, enjoy live music and participate in interactive children’s entertainment.
Nov. 22-24 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg. Show hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission, good for all three days, is $10 at the door or $8 online here. Children under 12 are free and so is parking.
American Voices at the Kennedy Center
American Voices,” the Kennedy Center’s three-day festival of songwriting and musicianship is a chance to see masters at work. Watch Alison Krauss, Dianne Reeves, Eric Owens, Ben Folds, Sara Bareilles and others coach young artists during the weekend’s “master sessions,” or catch their performance together with Josh Groban and the National Symphony Orchestra during an all-star concert Saturday at 8 p.m.
Nov. 22-24 at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets range from free to $225.
Quidditch Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship
The Quidditch Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship is real, and this weekend the game loved by Harry Potter and the rest of the young wizards at Hogwarts comes to the muggle world. Some minor changes have been made (sorry, no one soars through the air on brooms), but the familiar snitches, bludgers and quaffles abound. For this event, 23 teams — including representatives from University of Maryland and the University of Virginia — will compete for the chance to go to the World Cup. In addition to cheering on the teams, children can tryout kidditch, a non-contact version of the game.
Nov. 23 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Nov. 24 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Loudoun Soccer Park, 19798 Sycolin Road, Leesburg. Free.
Movemberfest II
It’s fitting that H Street NE, long a scenester outpost where a tattoo and excellent mustache can serve as kind of a passport, is playing host to a Movemberfest festival. Purchase a wristband to take advantage of food and drink specials at 18 bars, restaurants and other businesses on the strip including the H Street Country Club, the Argonaut, Cusbah and Dangerously Delicious Pies. There will be free activities for kids at the Big Board and a late-night dance party with the funky Sinister Sound Set at the new Red Rocks Bistro. All proceeds from ticket purchases benefit Movember and its partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Livestrong.
Nov. 22 from 1-11:30 p.m. at 18 businesses along H Street NE. Tickets are $13.65 in advance here here or $15 at the door. Tickets are available at The Big Board or The Queen Vic.
Speakeasy Shorts
SpeakeasyShorts sponsored by DC Shorts and Speakeasy DC is a new type of film competition – a collaboration between filmmakers and storytellers. In 2012, eight filmmaking teams had only five days to write, shoot, edit and screen a film based on stories from eight local storytellers. The kicker: none of the teams had heard the stories before they were presented. For the 2013 event, the competition expanded to 10 film teams and story tellers. The filmmaking teams learned which story they had been paired with last week and on Saturday the films premiere, the audience votes for their favorites and one team walks away with a $1,000 cash prize!
Satuday at the United States Navy Memorial’s Burke Theater, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 for either screening. Tickets are available here.
ICE! featuring ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
See Ma in her kerchief, Pa in his cap and Saint Nick with his eight reindeer as part of Gaylord Natioanl Resort’s Christmas on the Potomac. You’ll marvel at colorful, life-size ice sculptures depicting the classic holiday poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, all brought to life in amazing detail and artistry. Be amazed by hand-carved ice sculptures standing more than 20-feet high, and take a ride down a two-story-tall ice slide. It’s all part of the fun as you stroll through ICE!. New in 2013: enjoy a special bonus scene featuring Christmas in New York City — an all-new, larger-than-life interactive ICE! display featuring the iconic sights and sounds of The Big Apple during the holiday season. The award-winning attraction is carved by a team of 40 master ice artisans from Harbin, China. These talented craftspeople spend more than a month in National Harbor creating our one-of-a-kind display.
Through Jan. 5 at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor. Hours vary. Tickets for adults are $34 for peak days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Thanksgivig Day and Christmas week), $27 off-peak; children ages 3-11 are $27 peak, $19 off-peak; military adults are $30 peak, $22 off-peak; military children ages 3-11 are $25 peak, $15 off-peak. Marriott Rewards members receive 20 percent off non-peak days. Tickets may be purchased here.
ZooLights
ZooLights is brighter than ever! More than 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights transform the National Zoo into a winter wonderland. Lit animal silhouettes, musical light displays and a new garden scene light sculpture make for truly magical sights! Thaw your paws in exhibit buildings and see nocturnal critters! The Small Mammal House, Great Ape House, Reptile Discovery Center, Think Tank and Kids’ Farm will be open every night and will be offering special demonstrations and talks.
Nightly (except Dec. 24 and 25) from 5-9 p.m. at the National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. Free admission. There are fees for Zoo Tubing on Lion/Tiger Hill, carousel rides, train rides and parking.
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.