El Día de los Muertos Celebration
Thursday, Nov. 1, 5:30 p.m.
Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard
Join us for an evening of music, dancing and crafts in celebration of Latin American heritage, including special performances by the DC-based band Los Gallos Negros and dancers from the Maru Montero Dance Company.
Rise to the Roof for ‘Day of the Dead’ – Friday, November 2
Starting at 5:00 p.m., the Radiator team will rise up to the rooftop of the Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel to host an evening of Mexican-inspired traditions celebrating ‘Day of the Dead.’ A selection of taco specials from Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden will be available all night as an after-work snack or as a leisurely dinner where guests can graze on Chef Jonathan’s version of Al Pastor tacos, a Central Mexican favorite. To help guests toast to friends and family of the past, Lead Bartender Patrick Barrett has conjured up a menu of cocktails highlighting the nuances of tequila and mezcal, which include:
· Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: mezcal, jalapeño, lime, and bitters
· The Salty Skeleton: tequila, aperol, watermelon, lemon, and salt
· Dia de Los Muertos: tequila, cilantro, basil, lime, and a jalapeño-cinnamon tincture
From 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., a sugar-skull artist will be on hand to face paint elaborate skeleton designs for anyone interested in partaking in the holiday ritual. All face paintings are compliments of the Radiator team.
‘Day of the Dead’ will take place on Friday, November 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on the rooftop at the Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel. No reservations or cover charge required. Rooftop seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event of inclement weather, ‘Day of the Dead’ will be moved downstairs to Radiator. Guests must be 21+.
Honor Song for Returning Native American Women Warriors
Thursday, Nov. 8; 1:30 p.m.
National Museum of the American Indian, Potomac Atrium, Washington, D.C.
In advance of Veterans Day, composer, singer and drummer Ralph Zotigh (Kiowa) will sing an honor song he composed for Native American women veterans. He will be joined by his son, Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/San Juan Pueblo/Santee Dakota Indian). This song was sung publicly for the first time in Tuba City, Arizona, at the second anniversary memorial for Army Spc. Lori Piestewa (Hopi), the first American servicewoman killed in the Iraq War, who is believed to be the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.
Thursday, Nov. 15; 6 p.m.
National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmuson Theater, Washington, D.C.
Steve Inskeep, host of NPR’s Morning Edition, is also the author of “Jacksonland,” a history of President Andrew Jackson’s long-running conflict with John Ross, a Cherokee chief who resisted the removal of Indians from the eastern United States in the 1830s. Inskeep will join Kevin Gover (Pawnee), director of the National Museum of the American Indian, for a conversation about the museum’s newest exhibition, “Americans,” and the history of Indian Removal.
Hopi Tribal Festival
Saturday, Nov. 17, and Sunday, Nov. 18; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
National Museum of the American Indian, Potomac Atrium, Washington, D.C.
The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation located in northeastern Arizona. Their nation encompasses more than 1.5-million acres, and is made up of 12 villages on three mesas. Over the centuries, Hopi endures as a nation, retaining its culture, language and religion despite influences from the outside world.
During this all-day, two-day festival, the Hopi people share artist demonstrations, performances of music and dance, and a presentation of the history of the Hopi Code Talkers. The Hopi Youth Color Guard will present and retire the colors at the beginning and end of each day.
Hopi Tribal Festival
Saturday, Nov. 17, and Sunday, Nov. 18; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
National Museum of the American Indian, Potomac Atrium, Washington, D.C.
The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation located in northeastern Arizona. Their nation encompasses more than 1.5-million acres, and is made up of 12 villages on three mesas. Over the centuries, Hopi endures as a nation, retaining its culture, language and religion despite influences from the outside world.
During this all-day, two-day festival, the Hopi people share artist demonstrations, performances of music and dance, and a presentation of the history of the Hopi Code Talkers. The Hopi Youth Color Guard will present and retire the colors at the beginning and end of each day.
Native American Heritage Day: Family Fun Friday
Friday, Nov. 23; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.
This celebration of Native American Heritage Day features hands-on activities, “make-and-takes,” and music and interactive dance presentations.
WHAT: “We Choose to Go to the Moon” performance
WHEN: Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 15, 18
6:30–7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery
Eighth and G streets N.W.
WHO: Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company
The National Portrait Gallery will present “We Choose to Go to the Moon,” a performance by the museum’s resident Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company. Inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s “One Year: 1968, An American Odyssey” exhibition, which notably displays a portrait of the Apollo 8 astronauts, the performance reflects on America’s idealism around the space race, the mystery of the cosmos and the fragility of life.
“We Choose to Go to the Moon” was created in collaboration with NASA and includes sound bites from leading scientists and astronauts in addition to selections of pop culture music including “Stairway to Heaven” and “Fly Me to the Moon.” The title of the dance refers to a line from the 1962 speech by President John F. Kennedy about the national effort to land a man on the moon. This work was recently performed at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
