Events to Keep Warm or Enjoy the Cold

Oh the weather outside this weekend is frightful and cold. If you’re willing to bundle up and venture out, there are many indoor activities where you can stay warm, a few others where you won’t.

The model railroad displace at the U.S. Botanic Garden. (Photo: dcphotograhper)

Season’s Greenings

Holiday cheer abounds at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Despite the cold winter outside, the conservatory boasts a tropical paradise, a poinsettia showcase and a grove of conifer trees. The West Gallery houses one of the largest indoor, decorated trees in Washington, D.C., and the Garden Court is home to a display of model landmark buildings from our nation’s capital, all made from plant materials.

It wouldn’t be the winter holiday season without the fantasy train display in the East Gallery, which chugs along more than 800 feet of track through imaginative structures created with plant materials. Explore the “World’s Fair” and see many familiar creations that resulted from a long history of public exhibitions.

Closes Jan. 5 at the U.S. Botanic Gardens, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free!

ICE! featuring ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Santa and his sleigh at Gaylord National’s ICE! (Photo: Rachel Cooper)

This is the last weekend to see Ma in her kerchief, Pa in his cap and Saint Nick with his eight reindeer as part of Gaylord National 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.

Closes Jan. 5 at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor. Hours vary. Tickets for adults are $34 for this last weekend; children ages 3-11 are $27; military adults are $30; military children ages 3-11 are $25. Tickets may be purchased here.

Brass of Peace

Brass of Peace (Photo: Kennedy Center)

Led by National Symphony Orchestra hornist Sylvia Alimena, the participants in Brass of Peace, a tuition-free program for talented high school students, play classical works.

For a period of 36 weeks during the school year, the Brass of Peace Scholars, a group of 13-15 gifted children, are given two-hour weekly coaching sessions with Alimena. There are no fees or tuition of any kind. The ultimate goal is to build individual and ensemble skills as well as help them build confidence in performing and public speaking.

Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Free!

Tysons Corner Farmers Market

Chef Thomas Elder of Harth restaurant has launched a new farmers market in Tysons Corner to showcase the region’s best produce and artisan food products.

Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in the rear parking lot of Harth at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Dr., McLean.

I Am Divine

I Am Devine (Graphic: Black Cat)

Drag performer Summer Camp hosts the first Washington D.C. screening of I Am Divine, a documentary about the in-your-face Baltimore drag queen who became the muse of director John Waters and the star of Pink Flamingos and Hairspray.
I Am Divine is the story of Divine, aka Harris Glenn Milstead, from his humble beginnings as an overweight, teased Baltimore youth to internationally recognized drag superstar through his collaboration with filmmaker John Waters. Spitting in the face of the status quos of body image, gender identity, sexuality and preconceived notions of beauty, Divine was the ultimate outsider turned underground royalty. With a completely committed in-your-face style, he blurred the line between performer and personality, and revolutionized pop culture. I Am Divine is a definitive biographical portrait that charts the legendary icon’s rise to infamy and emotional complexities.

Jan. 4 at 10 p.m., doors open at 9 p.m. at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. Admission is $10 and available here.

Three Kings Day Celebration

Three Kings Day Celebration (Photo: GALA Theatre)

Don’t miss GALA Hispanic Theatre’s traditional Three Kings Day Celebration (Fiesta de los Tres Reyes Magos), featuring the Magi, live animals, local performers, a walk through the neighborhood and gifts for every child.

For more than 37 years, GALA has celebrated the holidays with its traditional event for the community. GALA will again tell the timeless story of the Magi with song, dance and storytelling at two performances. The bilingual presentations for the entire family preserve one of the most popular celebrations of Latino cultures. A procession with the Three Kings and live animals — including donkeys, goats and sheep — will begin at 1 p.m. at the corner of Park Road and 14th Stree, NW. Refreshments will be served following each performance.

Jan. 5 at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Tivoli Theater, 3333 14th St. NW. Admission is free, but a small gift for a child is suggested. Tickets will be distributed 1 1/2 hours before the performance at the box office on a first-come, first-served basis.