Say Goodbye to Bei Bei This Weekend
Bei Bei, the National Zoo’s giant panda cub, returns to China on Tuesday, but you can wish him well this weekend as the zoo hosts many activities to say goodbye before he goes. For foodies, the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show returns to the convention center with top chefs Martha Stewart, Wolfgang Puck, Lidia Bastianich and Myron Mixon scheduled to talk along with local chefs like Amy Brandwein, Kwame Onwuachi and Kevin Tien. And finally, if you want to be more active, many ice skating rinks including ones in Canal Park and at the Silver Spring Civic Center have opened for the winter. The rink at Washington Harbour in Georgetown is slated to open Monday.
Despite the many visitors expected to visit the National Zoo this weekend to say goodbye to giant panda cub Bei Bei, who returns to China on Tuesday, Metro is closing the Cleveland Park, Woodley Park and Dupont Circle stations around the zoo this weekend. Red Line trains operate on regular schedules between Shady Grove and Van Ness and between Farragut North and Van Ness-UDC while free shuttle buses replace trains between Van Ness and Farragut North. On the Orange Line, platform work, trains will operate on a regular schedule between West Falls Church and New Carrollton, but every 24 minutes on Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sunday between West Falls Church and Vienna. Passengers traveling to or from Vienna and Dunn Loring will need to change trains at West Falls Church. Silver, Blue, Yellow and Green trains will run on regular weekend schedules.
Bye Bye, Bei Bei
Giant panda cub Bei Bei is scheduled to leave the National Zoo on Nov. 19 for his new home in Chengdu, China. From Nov. 11-18, the zoo will host its Bye Bye, Bei Bei farewell celebration featuring a series of events. During this time, Panda Cam 1 will focus exclusively on Bei Bei so you don’t have to miss a minute of his final days in D.C. From 9 a.m.-2 p.m. daily, there will be a postcard station next to Bei Bei’s outdoor habitat where you can write a postcard with your well-wishes. The postcards will be sent with Bei Bei to China. Also daily at 11 a.m. there will be a Q&A with a panda keeper where visitors can ask questions about giant pandas. And at various times throughout the day, he will be given treats including applesauce, biscuits, ice cakes made with his favorite treats and sweet potatoes. On Saturday and Sunday beginning at 8:30 a.m., there will be free hot cocoa for visitors while supplies last. Saturday features a dumpling party for visitors at 8:30 a.m. In China, dumplings are a must-have food for festivities and a popular food for bidding farewell to loved ones before they leave home. The shape of dumplings also resembles an ancient gold-bar, or “yuan bao,” which represents perfection and completion. There will also be a friendship and luck bracelet station from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. both days. Visitors can make and take home a bracelet that symbolizes the conservation collaboration that has taken pandas from “endangered” to “vulnerable.”
Nov. 16-17 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily at the National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Nao Santa Maria
If you want to know how brave the explorers of the 15th and 16th centuries were, just look at their wooden ships and ask yourself, “Would I want to spend months travelling thousands of miles on one of these things?” This modern full-size replica of the Nao Santa Maria, the flagship on Christopher Columbus’ first voyage across the Atlantic, is open for self-guided tours of all four decks, as well as conversations with the crew.
Nov. 15-17 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at The Wharf’s Market Pier, 1100 Main Ave. SW. Tickets are $10 for adults (ages 11+) and $5 for children 5-10.
Recent Acquisitions
In its new Recent Acquisitions exhibit that opens Friday, the National Portrait Gallery displays 25 historical and contemporary pieces that have recently come into its possession, including subjects such as Morgan Freeman, Audrey Hepburn, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Philip Glass, Wilma Rudolph and Andy Garcia. Each figure displayed has had an impact on the history and culture of America through his or her work.
Nov. 15 through Aug. 30 from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Sophia Loren Film Festival
The Sophia Loren Film Festival is capped with a meet-and-greet with the Italian silver screen legend herself. She will be in the D.C. area for “An Evening with Sophia Loren” at Montgomery College’s Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center on Nov. 20-21, which will include an onstage chat and a chance for audience members to ask Loren questions. To prep, check out screenings of Loren’s oeuvre from the classic comedy Marriage Italian Style to her Oscar-winning performance in Two Women.
Nov. 15-24 at various times at Montgomery College’s Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center, 51 Manakee St., Rockville. Tickets are $5 for film screenings and $550 for “An Evening with Sophia Loren.”
Rent – 20th Anniversary Tour
Seven artists strive to make their dreams come true without selling out in Jonathan Larson’s classic rock musical that has inspired audiences for two decades. Now, Rent is going all out with a 20th anniversary rendition that will have you singing, laughing and crying all over again. The revolutionary masterpiece packs friendship, creativity, love and struggle into its reimagining of Puccini’s La Bohème as it follows an unforgettable year in the lives of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out.
Nov. 15-17 at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $54-$229.
Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show
Thousands of consumers will descend upon the D.C. convention Center this weekend for the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show. The event offers cooking demos, samples from more than 50 restaurants, pop-up cooking classes, specialty food vendors and more. Saturday features a BBQ Bash from noon-3 p.m. and a beer, wine & spirits garden from noon-5 p.m. and featured talks by chefs Myron Mixon from 11:15 a.m.-noon, Martha Stewart from 1-1:45 p.m. and Lidia Bastianich from 2:15-3 p.m. as well as local chefs Kwame Onwuachi, Rob Rubba, Amy Brandwein, Victor Albisu and Haidar Karoum. Sunday features a Grand Tasting Pavilion from noon-3 p.m. and the beer, wine & spirits garden from noon-4 p.m. and chef Wolfgang Puck from 1-1:45 p.m. along with local chefs Kevin Tien, Daniela Moreira and Vikram Sunderam. See the online schedule for the full list.
Nov. 16 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Nov. 16 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW. Tickets are $21.50 for adults and $10 for children ages 5-12. Classes, book signings, food tastings and meet-and-greets are extra.
Heroes: Principles of African Greatness
The National Museum of African Art uses pieces from its permanent collection to tell riveting stories of heroism throughout Africa’s arts and history in the new exhibit Heroes: Principles of African Greatness, which opens Saturday. Nearly 50 pieces from more than 40 artists are partnered with a historic African individual who embodies the core values of leadership – justice, integrity, generosity or empathy — showcased in the work. The exhibit features well-known artworks as well as new acquisitions, including a watercolor by South African president Nelson Mandela that depicts the rock quarry in the prison on Robben Island where he was exiled for many years. Along the way, you will discover African heroes both well-known and under-appreciated.
Nov. 16 through Dec. 31, 2020 from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily at the National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Blackfeet Nation Tribal Festival
The Blackfeet Reservation is located in northwestern Montana along the slope of the Rocky Mountains, with more than 17,000 enrolled members. The National Museum of the American Indian celebrates this incredible, long-standing tribe with its free Blackfeet National Tribal Festival, where you can enjoy Blackfeet performers, artists, historians and culture bearers. See seasonal dances and demos on how the tribe makes traditional garb, beadwork, handcrafted jewelry, moccasins, carvings, baskets and more. The festival is part of the museum’s celebration of American Indian Heritage Month.
Nov. 15 and 16 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Hungarian Holiday Bazaar
International bazaar season is in full swing, and this week’s headliner is the Hungarian Holiday Bazaar hosted by the Hungarian Scouts of Washington, D.C., which features sausages, wine and Christmas candy and pastries — all of which will appeal, even if you have never tried the delicious nut roll known as beigli. Shop books and traditional craft items, then stick around for folk dancing, live music and a DJ.
Nov. 16 from noon-10 p.m. at the Women’s Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase. Tickets are $10 for adults; children 12 and younger are FREE!
Holiday Tree Lighting and Block Party
It is just about time for the holiday season to kick into gear around the DMV. One of the earlier (and best) celebrations takes places in downtown Silver Spring this Saturday with the Holiday Tree Lighting & Block Party, where the local creatives from No Kings Collective are putting on a block party featuring a live art battle, in collaboration with Secret Walls, and drink stations serving up cocktails, spiked hot cider and boozy hot cocoa. The centerpiece of the celebration is the unveiling of “the Colorbound Tree,” a 35-foot art installation by Karl Unnasch. The tree’s colors and sparkling lights will shine throughout the holiday season. There will also be holiday arts stations for the kids and you can meet dancers and the Nutcrack from the Maryland Youth Ballet along with giant Connect 4, Jenga and cornhole.
Nov. 16 from 6-10 p.m. at Fountain Plaza in Downtown Silver Spring, 916 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring. Admission is FREE!
Ongoing events
Airness at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 30 at Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Tickets are $41-$51.
All Work, No Pay from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through February at the National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Alonso Berruguete: First Sculpture of Renaissance Spain from 10 a.m.-5 p.m Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 17 at the National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Amadeus at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday (except Nov. 19) through Dec. 22 at Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets are $27-$85.
Animals, Collected from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.6 p.m. Sunday through Spring 2020 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $7-$10.
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!
American’s First Veterans from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday through Apr 5 at Anderson House, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Bonnard to Vuillard: The Intimate Poetry of Everyday Life from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-6:30 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 26 at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors 62+, and children 18 and younger are FREE!
By the Light of the Silvery Moon: A Century of Lunar Photographs from the 1850s to Apollo 11 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 5 at the National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Capital Harvest on the Plaza from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays through Nov. 22 at the Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Elephants and Us: Considering Extinction from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 13 at the National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave. NW. 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 End: A Mediation on Death and Extinction from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 20 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and older and students older than 18, and FREE for children 18 and younger.
LAST CHANCE! Everybody at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday through Nov. 17 at the Shakespeare Theatre Co.’s Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. Tickets are $49-$112.
The Eye of the Sun: Nineteenth-Century Photographs from the National Gallery of Art from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 1 at the National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Feel the Sun in Your Mouth: Recent Acquisitions from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through February at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue and Seventh Street NW. Admission is FREE!
Game Change: Elephants from Prey to Preservation from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Feb. 1, at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Ginny Ruffner: Reforestation of the Imagination from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 5 at the Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW. Admission is FREE!
Hoops from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 5 at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for youth ages 3-17, students with ID and seniors ages 60 and older.
I Am . . . Contemporary Women Artists of Africa from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through July 5 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
In Mid-Sentence from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Mar. 8 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Intersections: Los Carpinteros from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-6:30 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 12 at the Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors 62 and older. Children 18 and younger are FREE!
It’s Hip to Be Square: The Mint Family from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Nov. 31 at the U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Live Dangerously from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 20 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and older and students older than 18, and FREE for children 18 and younger.
Lucid Motion from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Dec. 1 at Artechouse, 1238 Maryland Ave. SW. Advance tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for students, seniors and military and $8 for children 2-14 and $20, $15 and $10, respectively, at the door.
LAST CHANCE! The Magic Flute at 7 p.m. on Nov. 9 and 23, and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15, 17 and 22 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $25-$299.
Manifesto: Art x Agency from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Jan. 5 at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue and Seventh Street SW. Admission is FREE!
Marcel Duchamp: The Barbara and Aaron Levine Collection from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Oct. 12 at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Michael Sherrill Retrospective from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Jan. 5 at the Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW. Admission is FREE!
Mid-Century Master: The Photography of Alfred Eisentaedt from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday through Jan. 12 at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for college students, $5 for children ages 6-18 and children younger than 6 are FREE!
EXTENDED! Newsies at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday through Dec. 29 at Arena Stage,1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets are $66-$102.
Occupant at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (except Nov. 23), and 7:30 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Dec. 8 at Edlavitch D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW. Tickets are $30-$52.
One Life: Marian Anderson from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. through May 17 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
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!
The Outwin 2019: American Portraiture Today from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Aug. 30 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Pat Steir: Color Wheel from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 7 at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
Picture Books of the Past: Reading an Old Master Painting from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Sept. 30 at the Museum of the Bible, 400 Fourth St. SW. Advance tickets are $19.99 for adults, $9.99 for children 7-17 and children and younger are FREE. Tickets at the door at $24.99 for adults, $19.99 for seniors, military, first responders and students, $14.99 for children 7-17 and children 6 and younger are FREE!
Picturing the American Buffalo: George Catlin and Modern Native American Artists from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Apr. 12 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
LAST CHANCE! 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!
Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. through Jan. 3, 2021, at the National Archives, 701 Constitution Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 31 at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets are $12.71-$21.21 online or $14.95-$24.95 at the door.
Sacred Dedication: A Korean Buddhist Masterpiece from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through Mar. 22 at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Sculpture Down to Scale: Models for Public Art at Federal Buildings, 1974-1985 from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. through June 6 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
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!
Section 14: The Other Palm Springs, California from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through January at the National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Ave. SW. Admission is FREE!
Seriously Funny: From the Desk of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 31 at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is $12.71-$21.21 in online or $14.95-$24.95 at the door.
Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday through September at the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. 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!
LAST CHANCE! Theory at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 17 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets are $10-$65.
The Touch of Color: Pastels at the National Gallery of Art from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 26 at the National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Verrocchio: Sculptor and Painter of Renaissance Florence from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 12 at the National Gallery of Art, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
What Absence Is Made Of from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily through March at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW. Admission is FREE!
White Pearl at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and 7 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 10 at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. Tickets are $20-$111.
Women Artists of the Dutch Golden Age from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday through Jan. 5 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $8 for seniors 65 and older and students. Children 18 and younger are FREE!
Women of Progress: Early Camera Portraits from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through May 31 at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. 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.