Kick Off Your Holidays This Weekend
Thanksgiving is still almost a week away, but Christmas events are starting to pop up around the DMV. A Christmas Carol opens at Ford’s Theatre on Friday and Ice! opens at the Gaylord National and Holiday in the Park opens at Six Flags America on Saturday. Also the Junior League of Washington hosts its annual Holiday Shops at Dock 5 to help your get your shopping started.
Red Line trains will not operate between Medical Center and Grosvenor this weekend with buses replacing trains. Red Line trains will run every 12-15 minutes between Shady Grove and Grosvenor and every 10 minutes between Medical Center and Glenmont. Orange Line trains will single track between Foggy Bottom and Clarendon every 24 minutes, while Blue Line trains single track between Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery every 24 minutes. Silver Line trains will operate every 24 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston ONLY. Green and Yellow Line trains will single track between L’Enfant Plaza and Mount Vernon Square every 24 minutes, with Yellow Line trains operating between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square ONLY.
Ice!
A white Christmas in the DMV isn’t guaranteed, but you can expect wintery temperatures at the Gaylord National’s popular attraction Ice!. Two million pounds of ice sculptures are kept at a chilly 9 degrees – so cold that special parkas are passed out to every ticket holder. This year’s show includes ice scenes from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, while the life-size ice slides make this winter wonderland interactive.
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Nov. 18-Jan. 1 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday and 1-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., Oxen Hill. Tickets are $17-$39.
Museum of the Bible Grand Opening
After three years of construction, the Museum of the Bible opens its doors on Friday telling the sotry of the Bible using recreations of ancient villages, immersive films, theme park-style rides and a garden of biblical plants. Located two blocks from the National Mall, it is in a 430,000-square-foot renovated brick warehouse featuring one of the world’s largest privately-held collections of Biblical artifacts, as well as numerous interactive elements. The eight-story museum also houses a 500-seat theater, a children’s area, a restaurant named Manna operated by Todd Gray of Equinox that features Mediterranean-inspired dishes, such as a falafel sandwich on rye, and a rooftop garden.
Daily from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day at the Museum of the Bible, 400 Fourth St. SW. Admission is FREE, although some exhibits and guided tours do have fees and timed entry tickets are required.
Recent Acquisitions
The National Portrait Gallery’s Recent Acquisitions exhibit features its newest additions. Subjects include figures who have made lasting contributions in such areas as medicine, music, literature, art and social justice are represented in paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs and new media. You can marvel at works featuring Madeleine Albright, Spike Lee, Rita Moreno, Francis Scott Key and many more in this 27-piece display. See the story of America and witness the powerful impact of great portraiture as you journey through the fascinating collection.
Nov. 17-Nov. 4, 2018 from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Junior League of Washington Holiday Shops
The Junior League of Washington’s 59th annual Holiday Shops bazaar features dozens of artisans and merchants selling jewelry, clothing, stylish baby accessories, perfume and home goods. In addition to gift-hunting, there are special events throughout the weekend, including a grand opening cocktail party on Friday where you can shop while sipping beer and wine while tasting food from area restaurants and a DJ spins, and pet photos with Santa on Saturday afternoon.
Nov. 17 from 6-11 p.m., Nov. 18 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m and Nov. 19 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Dock 5 at Union Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE. Admission is $5 for a one-day pass, $10 for a two-day pass and $50 for the opening party.
A Christmas Carol
Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption in A Christmas Carol. Originally conceived by Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Charles Dickens’s Yuletide classic. D.C. actor Craig Wallace plays Ebenezer Scrooge. This annual production has been a Washington tradition for more than 35 years.
Through Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday except Nov. 23, Dec. 25 and 31 and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with matinees at noon on Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 6 and 7 and 2 p.m. matinees on Nov. 22, 24, Dec. 13, 14, 20, 22, 27 and 28 at Fords Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. Tickets are $24-$107.
Twelfth Night
One of The Bard’s greatest heroines comes to life on stage courtesy of Shakespeare Theatre Company. Twelfth Night is the tale of Viola, who shipwrecks on the coast of Illyria and quickly disguises herself as a page boy for Duke Orsino. Soon enough, Viola is immersed in a love triangle, running into other fascinating characters along the way. Considered one of Shakespeare’s funniest plays, don’t miss director Ethan McSweeny’s imaginative take on this classic.
Through Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, except Thanksgiving, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday with occasional noon weekday matinees at Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. Tickets are $25-$118.
Making Room: Housing for a Changing America
Housing demands in America have shifted dramatically in the last 50 years. Nuclear families make up just 20 percent of America’s housing community today, compared to 40 percent in 1970. Nearly 30 percent of those looking for homes are single adults, a demand that has not yet been met by supply. Making Room: Housing for a Changing America explores how housing innovators are attempting to handle this development, showcasing new models and designs along the way. Making Room will also feature The Open House, a 1,000-square-foot home designed by architect Pierluigi Colombo that is hyper-efficient and wholly adaptable.
Nov. 18-Sept. 16 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors 60 or older, students, and children ages 3-17.
Me … Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall is the world’s most famous conservationist and animal activist, and the Kennedy Center welcomes a new musical adaptation of her life as a child and how it influenced her incredible work in Me … Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall. The entire family will love the tale of Jane and her toy chimpanzee, Jubilee. Together, the duo discovers why it is so important to care for all living creatures, with memorable songs lighting the way.
Nov. 18-Dec. 10 at 1:30 and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday and 11 a.m., 1:30 and 5 p.m. on Nov. 25, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $20-$25.
Holiday in the Park
Beautiful lights, seasonal food and holiday-themed attractions and characters make up Holiday in the Park. Six Flags America is transformed into a winter wonderland with millions of twinkling lights and more than 25 rides including roller coasters, seven holiday shows and sweet treats. Running weekends and select days starting this Saturday through Jan. 2, make the drive to enjoy the thrills of Six Flags accompanied by plenty of holiday cheer.
Weekends from Nov. 18-Jan. 1 from 2-9 p.m. except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and on Nov. 24, Dec. 22 and the nightly the week between Christmas and New Year at Six Flags America, 13710 Central Ave., Bowie. Tickets are $42.99 before Dec. 1 or $47.99 after if bought online in advance or $65.99 at the gate for adults, $45.99 for children under 48 inches and FREE for children 2 and younger.
In the Tower: Anne Truitt
For the first time, the work of Anne Truitt is showcased in a major exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. Truitt was one of the leading figures associate with minimalism, the sculptural tendency that emerged in the 1960s featuring pared-down geometric shapes scaled to the viewer’s body and placed directly on the floor. In the Tower: Anne Truitt examines the development of Truitt’s work across 50 years through nine sculptures, 12 paper works and two paintings. Some of the artist’s most acclaimed pieces will be on display, highlighting her successful use of different forms of media. Truitt was born in Baltimore and grew up on Easton on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Nov. 19 through Apr. 1 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday at the National Gallery of Art East Building, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Mural
On loan from the University of Iowa Museum of Art, Jackson Pollock’s larges work will reside in the National Gallery of Art’s East Building starting Sunday. Mural is nearly 20 feet long, a work originally commissioned by Peggy Guggenheim for her New York City home. The piece represents a dynamic shift in Pollock’s style making it one of the most important compositions in the painter’s storied career.
Nov. 19 through October 28 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 11 a.m-6 p.m. Sunday at the National Gallery of Art East Building, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Ongoing Events
Ai Weiwei: Trace from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Jan. 1, 2018, at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
FINAL WEEKEND! Alcina at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $69-$195.
FINAL WEEKEND! Anthony and Cleopatra through Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7 p.m. Sunday at the Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $35-$79.
Architecture of an Asylum: St. Elizabeths 1852-2017 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 15 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and children.
Beautiful Blooms: Flowering Plants on Stamps from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through July 14 at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Admission is FREE!
FINAL WEEKEND! The Book of Mormon at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 1:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $59-$229.
Crazy for You at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday through Jan. 14 at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $40-$89.
Divine Felines: Cats of Ancient Egypt from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 15 at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Encountering the Buddha: Art and Practice across Asia from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 29, 2020 at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
The First Lady of Song: Ella Fitzgerald at 100 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through April 2 at the National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
The Faces of Battle: Americans at War, 9/11 to Now from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Jan. 28 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Ilya and Emilia Kabakov: The Utopian Projects from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Mar. 4 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Nov. 12, 2018, at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Marlene Dietrich: Dressed for the Image from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Apr. 15 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Murder Is Her Hobby: Frances Glessner Lee and the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at the Renwick Gallery, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Nina Simone: Four Women at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7;30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday through Dec. 24 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets are $71-$111
Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains) at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 31 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D St. NW. Tickets are $20-$76.
Pajama Game at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 24 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets are $50-$99.
Parallax Gap from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily through Feb. 11 at the Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW. Admission is FREE!
Remembering Vietnam from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 6, 2019, at the National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Rick Araluce: The Final Stop from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 28 at the Renwick Gallery, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Subodh Gupta: Terminal from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through 2020 at the Freer|Sackler Galleries, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
The Sweat of Their Face: Portraying American Workers from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Sept. 3 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Tamayo: The New York Years from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Mar. 18 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting: Inspiration and Rivalry from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 21 at the National Gallery of Art, Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
What Absence Is Made Of from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through the summer of 2019 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, 7th Street and Independence Avenue Sw. 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.