Until the Museums Reopen, Try These
Despite the fact that Congress and the president reached an agreement late Friday to reopen the government until at least Feb. 15, it comes too late to reopen the Smithsonian museums, National Zoo and National Gallery of Art for this weekend. They won’t reopen until Tuesday. (Hey, after 35 days of not dusting, it will take them all Monday to get the Monets and Picassos presentable). In there meantime, here are some other events to fill your weekend.
The federal government might be partially shut down, but Metro work continues this weekend with the Springfield-Franconia, Van Dorn Street and King Street stations closed on the Blue Line with buses replacing trains between Franconia-Springfield and Braddock Road. Blue Line trains will also single track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road with trains running every 20 minutes between Braddock Road and Largo Town Center. On the Yellow Line, the Huntington, Eisenhower Avenue and King Street Stations will be closed with buses replace trains between Huntington and Braddock Road. Trains run every 20 minutes between Braddock Road and Mount Vernon Square ONLY. Red Line trains single track between Van Ness-UDC and Friendship Heights. Trains will run every 9 minutes between Farragut North and Silver Spring during daytime hours and every 18 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont. Orange Line trains will operate every 20 minutes and Silver Line trains will also operate every 20 minutes between Wiehle-Reston East and New Carrollton. After 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Green Line trains will single track between Fort Totten and Prince George’s Place, but operate on a regular weekend schedule.
Monster Jam
There is something cathartic about watching cartoonishly painted monster trucks with name like Grave Digger, Stinger Unleashed, Scooby-Doo and Pretty Wicked kicking up dirt, smashing cars and doing eye-popping tricks including backflips and vertical two-wheel competitions inside an arena of screaming fans. The Monster Jam — a touring monster truck competition series – makes its annual stop in D.C. this weekend for three showsof revved-up big-wheel action.
Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. at Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW. Tickets are $20-$125.
Everything in Existence
Italian artist studio Fuse brings this interactive, mind-bending exhibit to Artechouse. Everything in Existence examines infinity and eternity, using four separate multimedia experiences. The formation of the art you see in these installations is based on different elements – Snowfall changes based on your motions while Amygdala sources social media for its designs, Clepsydra uses sounds and Multiverse from software. Using this generative technique, Fuse creates “living” art that constantly renews itself and changes before your eyes. Needless to say, this exhibition must be seen to be believed.
Through Mar. 10 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Monday and 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday (over 21 after 5 p.m.) at Artechouse, 1238 Maryland Ave. SW. Tickets are $8-$15 online or $10-$20 at the door.
Music for Young Audiences: Banda Magda
The whole family can take a trip around the globe with Banda Magda, an award-winning group that combines jazz improvisation and South American rhythms. Songs will be sung in six different languages as the band zooms through a set list that will include selections from their new album, Tigre, featuring Uruguayan candombe to Greek folklore to Brazilian samba bests. Audience participation is also on the agenda, so get ready to groove. Arrive one hour early for a musical instrument “petting zoo” with hands-on activities to let children get up close with the instruments they will see played on stage and stay after to ask questions and hear stories from some of the artists.
Jan. 26 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $20.
Image China: Xuanzang’s Pilgrimage
The Chinese Performing Arts Agency will present Image China: Xuanzang’s Pilgrimage, the first traditional concert drama performed by the China National Traditional Orchestra. Follow the story of Buddhist monk Xuanzang who traveled the Silk Road across China on a pilgrimage to India in search of religious texts. Performed with an 80-piece orchestra, it features exotic instruments such as dulcimer, zither and Chinese harp, and elaborate traditional costumes.
Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $70-$120.
School of Rock
This is the last weekend to see School of Rock based on director Richard Linklater’s classic 2003 film starring Jack Black. This acclaimed musical production will capture the imagination of the entire family. Wannabe rock star Dewey Finn’s hilarious foray into substitute teaching at a prestigious school sees him turn his class into an earth-shattering rock band. The play will feature every song from the movie, 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and musical theater’s very first kids rock band playing their instruments live on stage.
Jan 28 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the National Theatre, 1621 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $54-$114.
Admissions
From the author of Bad Jews, the best-selling play in Studio Theatre history, comes Admissions, a compelling tale that satirizes white privilege in America. Bill and Sherri are headmaster and dean at Hillcrest, a New Hampshire boarding school they have spent 15 years working to diversify. However, morals are put to the test when their son, Charlie, is denied entry to an Ivy League school. Charlie’s drastic response puts Sherri in the unenviable position of publicly breaking down an oppressive system while privately working to secure its privileges. It is a no-holds-barred look at privilege, power and the perils of whiteness. This thought-provoking production promises to be a highlight of the season.
Through Mar. 3 at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7 p.m. Sunday at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20-$111.
Ain’t Misbehavin
Ain’t Misbehavin’ is going to bring a whole lot of boogie-woogie to Arlington’s Signature Theatre. You will be transported into the Harlem of yesteryear for an energetic, feet-moving celebration of big band music through the songs of Thomas “Fats” Waller. The Tony Award-winning musical production features songs like Honeysuckle Rose and The Joint is Jumpin’. Performers will include Signature regulars such as Nova Y. Payton, Kevin McAllister and Iyona Blake.
Jan. 23 through Mar. 10 at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (except. Jan. 27), 7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (except Jan. 29) and Wednesday at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $40-$114.
Kleptocracy
The seeds of troubling current events are planted in this world premiere drama Kleptocracy from House of Cards writer Kenneth Lin. A collapsed Soviet Union is ruled by the Oligarchs, hyper capitalists who want to ruthlessly reform Russian markets and open them to the world. The group’s leader is confronted by a young Vladimir Putin, who has his own plans for securing unquestionable power. Find out how modern Russia came to be in this of-the-moment production.
Through Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets are $56-$115.
D.C. Record Fair
A decade ago, music industry “experts” were predicting the death of vinyl records. Thankfully, the organizers of the D.C. Record Fair ignored them. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the fair, which fills the cavernous Penn Social bar with dozens of dealers selling mint-condition Beatles records, dusty old soul albums and bargain-basement crates of $1 slabs of wax, which beg you to drop a few bucks on a 1960s calypso compilation or a blue-eyed soul record with an intriguing cover. A group of gurus provides the soundtrack, including Geologist of Animal Collective, Banned in D.C. author Cynthia Connolly and D.C. Soul Recordings founder DJ Nitekrawler.
Jan. 27 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Penn Social, 801 E St. NW. Admission is $5 before noon and $2 after at the door.
Ongoing events
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Alexander Hamilton: Soldier, Secretary, Icon from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Mar. 3 at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Admission is FREE!
The American Revolution: A World War from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through July 9 at the National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Ambreen Butt — Mark My Words from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Apr. 14 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. https://secure3.convio.net/nmwa/site/Ticketing?view=Tickets&id=101821 Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and older and students older than 18, and youth 18 and younger are FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Americans from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through 2022 at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Baseball Americana from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday through June at the Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Between Worlds: The Art of Bill Traylor from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Mar. 17 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Black Out: Silhouettes Then and Now from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. through Mar. 10 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Daguerreotypes: Five Decades of Collecting from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through June 2 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Dawoud Bey: The Birmingham Project from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Mar. 17 at the National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Disrupting Craft from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through May 5 at the Renwick Gallery, 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. 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!
Evicted from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through May 19 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Eye to I: Self-Portraits from 1900 to Today from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Aug. 18 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Flickering Treasures from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 14 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors ages 60 and older, youth ages 3-17 and students. Children 2 and younger are FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Game Change: Elephants from Prey to Preservation from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Feb. 1, 2020, at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. A Glimpse of Ancient Yemen from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Aug. 18 at the Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Good as Gold: Fashioning Senegalese Women from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 29 at the National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Gordon Parks: The New Tide, Early Work 1940-1950 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 18 at the National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
LAST CHANCE! Judy Garland: A Star Is Born at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (except Jan. 23) and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Jan. 26 at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets are $38.
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Nature’s Best Photography from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through September at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. One Year: 1968, An America Odyssey from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. through May 19 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Outbreak from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through 2021 at the National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Playball and the National Pastime from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday through Apr. 30 at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Building 76, 736 Sicard St. SE. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Portraits of the World: Korea from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Nov. 17 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Postmen of the Skies: Celebrating 100 Years of Airmail Service from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through May 27 at the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pulse from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Apr. 28 at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street & Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Recent Acquisitions from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Nov. 3 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Represent: Hip-Hop Photography from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through May 5 at the National Museum of African American History & Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE. Timed tickets are required on weekends and for groups of 10 or more.
A Revolution in Arms: Weapons in the War for Independence from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday through Mar. 24 at Anderson House, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Rodarte from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 10 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors 65 and older. Children 18 and younger are FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Sea Monsters Unearthed, Life in Angola’s Ancient Seas from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through 2020 at the National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Sean Scully: Landline from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Feb. 3 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Secret Cities from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Mar. 3 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for seniors 60 or older, students with ID and children 3-17. Children younger than 3 are FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Shaping Clay in Ancient Iran from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through September at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. 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!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Superheroes from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Sept. 2 at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Watching Oprah: The Oprah Winfrey Show and American Culture from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through June at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE, but timed passes are required.
Welcome to the New World from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Spring 2019 at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $24.95 for adults, $19.95 for seniors 65 years and older, $14.95 for youth from 7-18 at the door with a 15 percent discount when purchased online. Children 6 and younger are FREE!.
CLOSED DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. 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, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
LAST CHANCE! WIT Road Show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Jan. 27 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $15-$18.
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.