Are You Ready for Some Football?
2014 is one month old already and the days are getting longer. The big event of the weekend, of course, is Super Bowl XLVIII when the Denver Broncos take on the Seattle Seahawks. But if you aren’t into football (or the two teams vying for #1) or the commercials, it’s not the only thing going on this weekend.
Metro continues its work this weekend. Green Line trains will operate a regular weekend schedule. Trains on the Blue, Orange and Yellow lines will operate every 24 minutes and Red Line trains will run every 24 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont, with additional trains providing service from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. between Farragut North and Silver Spring.
Super Bowl XLVIII
Quarterback Peyton Manning, 37, leads the Denver Broncos against quarterback Russell Wilson, 25, and the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. The winner takes home the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But the Super Bowl isn’t all about the game, it’s about the entertainment too. Singer Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers will star in the halftime show. Opera singer Renée Fleming will sing the national anthem. Before that, Queen Latifah and the New Jersey Youth Chorus will sing America the Beautiful. And you can’t forget the commercials (which cost $4 million for 30 seconds) — many people watch for them alone. This year promises not to disappoint with a Full House reunion from Dannon Oikos Greek yogurt reuniting , released a teaser trailer promoting a Super Bowl ad featuring Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), Jesse Katsopolis (Jon Stamos) and Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier). Also, the movie studios will movie debut previews their upcoming blockbuster releases including Transformers: Age of Extinction and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 along with others from Disney and Lionsgate, which haven’t been announced. Rumor has it Disney will preview either Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Guardians of the Galaxy and Lionsgate will hype the Expendables 3. Many bars and restaurants in the DMV will be showing the game on big screens and offer food and drink specials.
Feb. 2 with kickoff at 6:25 p.m. Fox will broadcast the game live from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. with its pregame show beginning at 2 p.m. Locally, it can be seen on Fox 5.
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby, the lovable Heathcliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show and frequent visitor to Ben’s Chili Bowl, is one of the most influential stars in America today. Whether it be through concert appearances or recordings, television or films, commercials or education, he has the ability to touch people’s lives. His humor often centers on the basic cornerstones of our existence, seeking to provide an insight into our roles as parents, children, family members, and men and women. Don’t miss his premiere engagement at the Music Center at Strathmore, with his hilarious, dead-pan humor.
Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Admission is $49.50-$89.50 and available here. Only 10 seats remained at presstime.
Kenneth Whalum III
Bandleader, composer, arranger and tenor saxophonist, New York City based jazz musician Kenneth Whalum III has set a new direction in music that can be described as creatively engaging, intense and artistically real, to push the conventional boundaries of contemporary emerging artists. Whalum fuses together straight-ahead jazz,pop, soul, gospel, R&B, blues, and country. Whalum has performed and recorded along side this generation’s most renowned entertainers, singers, and musicians; including R&B crooner Maxwell, rap star Jay Z and jazz stars Robert Glasper, Chris Dave, and his own uncle, Grammy-award winning musician Kirk Whalum. In this performance, he brings band and bold, creative artistry to D.C.
Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Dollars for Dainty Burlesque Show
The most talented performers in the DMV have gathered for this fundraiser benefiting the George Washington University’s LGBT Health Program. The program showcases two of local burlesque performer Dainty Dandridge’s favorite things: burlesque and drag. Dandridge has charmed her way into our hearts with her sensational burlesque and extraordinary singing talents. When she’s not prancing in all things glittery, campy and queer, she has her head in the books! Now, she needs your help. Dollars for Dainty is a special show to raise funds to keep the GW LGBT Health Program going strong. The program trains current and future healthcare leaders to develop strategies addressing health issues and reducing health disparities for the LGBT population. Students like Dandridge will graduate with a general knowledge of the psychological, medical and policy-based issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans (LGBT) individuals. This is a one of kind program in the country, but it has lost its funding. By coming to the show you are supporting the LGBT Health Program.
Feb. 1 at 8:30 and 11:45 p.m. at the Black Cat’s Backstage Concert Room, 1811 14th St. NW. Admission is $15 here or at the door (cash only at the door).
Weird, Wild Stuff
“The President’s Own” Marine Corps Band presents Weird, Wild Stuff: Music That Thinks Outside the Box. Over the past few centuries, composers have become ever bolder and more creative in how they use music to represent the world around them. It has often been the composers who dared to try something new in their works that are best remembered. In the process, a mash-up of artistic ideals from seemingly disparate worlds has ensued, and this program highlights a few composers who have not always chosen the road well-traveled. The performance includes Leonard Bernstein’s Prelude, Fugue and Riffs and David Rakowski’s Ten of a Kind. The concert will also feature selections by Charles Ives, Jonathan Newman, and Ottorino Respighi.
Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. at Northern Virginia Community College’s Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts center, 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. Admission is FREE! Parking is $6.
Mandrágora Circus
In this performance, Mariana Silva and Juan Cruz Bracamonte use a combination of circus skills, music and aerial acrobatics to tell their story in as wordless theatrical performance. Mandrágora Circus started its activity as a theater company in 2002 in Trelew, Patagonia Argentina. In 2003, the company premiered the play Mandrágora Circus that combines different kind of artistic expression shaping this theatrical play. Using techniques of circus as a part of the plot in a story that goes beyond the skills.
Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
2014 Washington Auto Show
If you haven’t gotten a chance to check out the 2014 vehicles, you still have a few more days to visit the 2014 Washington Auto Show with more than 700 new cars and trucks from 42 automakers on two floors. The second floor is where Buick, GMC, Chevrolet, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler, Fiat, Toyota, Scion and Ford are located with the big, revolving displays. Hurry, this is your last chance until the 2015s come out.
Through Feb. 2 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW from noon-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Tickets are available here online or at the convention center box office. Military, veterans and seniors 65 and older receive $4 off weekdays and $2 off weekends. Discount tickets are only available at the box office.
Bill Murrary Appreciation Day
Every day should be Bill Murrary Appreciation Day, but then we’d be reliving Groundhog Day, wouldn’t we? To cap off Superbowl Sunday, Satellite Room honors the beloved actor with an evening of his films. Fans who attend the celebration, which falls on Groundhog Day, can enjoy Murray-inspired food such as meatballs and drink specials, like the boozy Stay Puff Marshmallow Man milkshake or Froze Gopher.
Feb. 2 at 2047 Ninth St. NW directly behind the 9:30 Club starting at 10 p.m. Admission is FREE.
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.