Dec
1
Tue
Fairmont Tree Lighting @ Fairmont Hotel
Dec 1 @ 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Fairmont’s  12th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

5:30 – 7:00 pm.

Fairmont Hotel – 2401 M Street, NW

Family photos with Santa & Rudolph

Refreshments,

Entertainment by Georgetown Visitation Madrigals

holiday crafts

U.S. Marine Corps Presentation of Colors

Free and open to the public

Guests are asked to bring a toy for Toys for Tots

Dec
5
Sat
Smithsonian Holiday Festival @ National Mall
Dec 5 @ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Smithsonian will host a free, two-day festival Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the National Mall to kick off the holiday season. A wide selection of festive events, activities and seasonal décor will be available at participating museums and galleries. The festival will also feature performances by Members of the Singing Sergeants with Combo and the U.S. Air Force Max Impact Band, and free screenings of Frank Sinatra’s film Pal Joey.
Other highlights include Family Day activities at the National Air and Space Museum where aspiring pilots can build a biplane ornament, make a comet to take home and sample astronaut food like freeze-dried ice cream at the museum store. At the National Museum of American History, visitors can learn how Moravian Stars are made, sample chocolate during a demonstration by American Heritage Chocolate and visit C-3PO, who is temporarily back on display. The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will feature a hands-on activity where visitors can make their own Sōtatsu-inspired fans in the ImaginAsia classroom.
To see the full list of family-friendly activities, gift-wrapping, trunk shows, performances and book signings, visit www.si.edu/events/holiday.
Participating museums include the National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of African Art, National Postal Museum and the Smithsonian Castle.
Dec
6
Sun
Smithsonian Holiday Festival @ National Mall
Dec 6 @ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The Smithsonian will host a free, two-day festival Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the National Mall to kick off the holiday season. A wide selection of festive events, activities and seasonal décor will be available at participating museums and galleries. The festival will also feature performances by Members of the Singing Sergeants with Combo and the U.S. Air Force Max Impact Band, and free screenings of Frank Sinatra’s film Pal Joey.
Other highlights include Family Day activities at the National Air and Space Museum where aspiring pilots can build a biplane ornament, make a comet to take home and sample astronaut food like freeze-dried ice cream at the museum store. At the National Museum of American History, visitors can learn how Moravian Stars are made, sample chocolate during a demonstration by American Heritage Chocolate and visit C-3PO, who is temporarily back on display. The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will feature a hands-on activity where visitors can make their own Sōtatsu-inspired fans in the ImaginAsia classroom.
To see the full list of family-friendly activities, gift-wrapping, trunk shows, performances and book signings, visit www.si.edu/events/holiday.
Participating museums include the National Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of African Art, National Postal Museum and the Smithsonian Castle.
Beat & Path: Flash Nightclub All Day Celebration @ Flash
Dec 6 @ 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

On Sunday, December 6th, digital arts collective The Beat & Path will host an all-day event at Flash Nightclub in celebration of the success of the DC-based web series Walk of Shame  with support from the Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP). The event will feature music performances from D.C. top talent, including a headlining performance by E.A.S.Y. – the live electronic duo comprised of award-winning turntablists DJ Shiftee and DC’s own, DJ Enferno. Proceeds from the event will benefit DJ Enferno’s music education non-profit Mix Major, as well as the Dupont Underground, which will provide live art activations by local artists during the event.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased HERE.

The award-winning Walk of Shame series was originally funded by a successful crowdsourcing campaign featured on Kickstarter in 2013.  Since first airing, film festivals, including the Toronto Web Fest 2015, Miami Web Fest, Brooklyn Web Fest, NYC Web Fest, Rome Web Fest, DC Web Fest and the upcoming Rio Web Fest, have all officially recognized the web series.  At the DC Web Fest, Walk of Shame was an award recipient for Local Hero and Audience Choice, and at the Miami Web Fest, the series won awards for both Best Music/Score and Best Supporting Actress (Stephanie Ray Glass). Walk of Shame was recently nominated for an Emerging Voice Award at Brooklyn Web Fest. The series has also won an American University Visions Award for editing, and was nominated for an Emerging Voice Award at Brooklyn Web Fest, Best Cinematography at the Rio Web Fest, and Achievement in Music and Score at the upcoming New York Web Fest.

The six-episode, online-only series depicts a modern coming of age tale as told through the lens of DJ culture. The cast includes characters ranging from youthful bloggers to budding disc jockeys, and the series covers topical themes such as online dating and hipster fashion trends.  Episodes are currently being released online with other transmedia content including mixtapes, original music and short web clips.

WHAT:            The Beat & Path to host all day celebration at Flash nightclub with support from the Washington, DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP)

WHEN:            Sunday, December 6, 2015

3PM – 9PM (Full music line-up TBA)

 

WHO:              Performances by E.A.S.Y. (DJ Shiftee & DJ Enferno), Trayze, DJ Amen Ra, Spinser Tracy, Kerim, DJ As-One, DJ Bo, The Editor and more TBA

 

WHERE:           Flash

645 Florida Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20001

Dec
9
Wed
Mt. Vernon Triangle FREE Santa Celebration @ 5th & K Streets NW, Washington, DC
Dec 9 @ 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

The Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District (MVT CID) is pleased to present its annual Santa Celebration on the plaza at 5th & K Streets, NW in Washington, DC from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 9th.

The Santa Celebration is free and open to the public and will feature:

  • FREE photo opportunity with Santa for kids, dogs, and adults
  • Hot chocolate with fun, seasonal toppings provided by the MVT CID and Le Pain Quotidien
  • Fresh, hot popcorn courtesy of 5th Street Ace Hardware
  • Brazilian Cheesecake bites courtesy Texas de Brazil
  • Holiday cookies courtesy of the City Vista Safeway
  • House-made dog treats courtesy of A Baked Joint

The event will also serve as a collection point for new, unwrapped toys for Central Union Mission’s Operation Christmas Miracle. More information about toy donations available at: http://www.missiondc.org/christmas/

 

Dec
10
Thu
Rosslyn 3rd Annual Holiday Market @ Gateway Park
Dec 10 @ 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The 3rd Annual Holiday Market will return to Rosslyn from 10 am to 6 pm on Thursday, Dec. 10 and 10 am to 8 pm on Friday, Dec. 11. The Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) will host the third annual neighborhood holiday market and celebration in Gateway Park, which will feature a host of unique and local vendors.

This year’s event will kickoff on Dec. 10 with a number of family friendly activities including winter-themed crafts and games, along with photos with Santa from 4:00 to 6 pm. There will be live jazz music and an assortment of food, including from local food truck, Killer Tomato Pies, onsite from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., as well as Rosslyn restaurant Bistro 360, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday’s activities will also include a special Pop-Up Boot Camp at noon designed to help attendees start the holiday season guilt-free. A professional trainer will lead participants through High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) – an exciting and intense cardio workout designed to burn as many as 1,000 calories per class. Registration for the event is free and the first 45 registrants will receive a free Rosslyn BID water bottle and a voucher for $3 off beer or wine at the Holiday Market. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.rosslynva.org/holidaybootcamp

On Dec. 11, the Holiday Market will continue with a live jazz performance and fares from local food trucks Fusion Confusion and Killer Tomato Pies from 11:00am to 2:00pm. More adult-oriented festivities will continue that evening, with a live performance from popular local cover band Jeff From Accounting, complete with beer and wine sales from Washington Wine Academy from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. New to this year’s event, Friday’s celebration will conclude with a bonfire and D.J. in Gateway Park West from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., with hot food, wine and beer available for purchase.

In the spirit of the holidays, Rosslyn BID will also be overseeing its annual clothing drive, which will run through Dec. 11.  Gift-wrapped donation boxes will be placed in the lobbies of buildings throughout the neighborhood, and all clothing collected will be donated to Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (A-SPAN), a non-profit group that seeks to meet the needs of local homeless people. A-SPAN will have a booth at the market to raise awareness surrounding the initiative.

“You bring the chestnuts and we’ll bring the open fire,” said Mary-Claire Burick, president of the Rosslyn BID. “Having the largest park in Arlington available to host the Holiday Market lets us do some fun and creative things you don’t always see at other holiday markets.”

The Holiday Market showcases high quality items from a variety of vendors and holiday shoppers are able to browse everything from innovative jewelry and sweet treats to handmade clothing.

Additional Holiday Market vendors include Baby Hats Shoes and More, Switchwood, The Board Bus, Courtney Gillian, Popcorn Queens, Black Pug Smokehouse, Peruvian Trends, Pezzi Unici, Stella & Dot, Jinsei Juice, Was Paper and more!

A full list of vendors and details on the Rosslyn Holiday Market can be found at http://www.rosslynva.org/HolidayReady

##

Jan
28
Thu
Benton Blount Band at Gypsy Sally’s @ Gypsy Sally's
Jan 28 @ 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Gypsy Sally’s presents an evening with Benton Blount Band and special guest Trotter Michaels on Thursday, January 28th. Benton is a southern rock-country singer/songwriter and was a finalist on the 10th season of America’s Got Talent.

Benton Blount

“I know people look at me, with my tattoos and appearance, and they don’t think I look like a country singer,” he says. “When I sing, I have a gruffness to my voice that’s different than most country singers too. But when I start to talk, you can hear that I’m as country as cornbread. And the songs, with their real-life stories and positive outlook on life, have more in common with country music than anything else. Country music is where I belong.”Indeed, when this hulking man with the imposing look starts to sing, people often are surprised at his tender love songs and his upbeat view of what people can achieve in their lives. “I like surprising people,” he says. “My life and my career have been full of surprises too. But it’s always a good surprise. I like showing people that this is what I should be doing, and this is where I belong!

Ticket Link

Trotter Michaels (formally called The War and Treaty)

Baltimore-based Americana/folk/country/soul duo Tanya Blount Trotter & Michael Trotter Jr. have been creating music since June 2013. Michael plays the keyboard, Tanya plays the tambourine. Occasional accompaniment by a cello player, a mandolin or a guitar player results in a blend of classical, soul, folk, Americana, and love-filled revival convicting lyrics.

SHOW DETAILS

Date:               Thursday, January 28, 2016

Venue:            Gypsy Sally’s
Address:         3401 K Street NW

Washington, DC
Phone:            202-333-7700

Showtime:      8:00pm, Doors 7:00pm

Ticket price:   ADV $12/ DOS $14

Website:         www.gypsysallys.com

Feb
6
Sat
Crafty Bastards Cabin Fever @ Hecht Warehouse at Ivy City
Feb 6 @ 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Why wait for the fall to get Crafty? Washington City Paper is expanding its popular Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair with a second installment this winter. The inaugural Crafty Bastards Cabin Fever will take place on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Hecht Warehouse at Ivy City (1401 New York Ave. NE) in Washington, D.C.

The one-day indoor winter fair will feature handmade products and wares by 100+ select artists and crafters from around the country, including several first-time Crafty Bastards like:

–       Hell Razor for Men of Washington, DC (www.etsy.com/shop/hellrazorformen)

–       Harper Macaw from Washington, DC (https://harpermacaw.com)

–       Raisa Antonia from Hancock, NH (http://www.raisaantonia.com)

–       North End Bag Company from Virginia Beach, VA (http://www.northendbagco.com)

–       Lewis and Pine from Brooklyn, NY (www.lewisandpine.com)

–       West Oak Design from Wyndmoor, PA (www.westoakdesign.com)

In order to make your Cabin Fever shopping experience enjoyable, entry times will be staggered based on ticket type. Tickets can be purchased in advance online via the Washington City Paper website. 

VIP Tickets – $25: Gain exclusive access to Crafty Bastards Cabin Fever for an extra hour of shopping and no lines before the Crafty-loving masses arrive. VIP ticket also includes one bagel, a mimosa, and a Crafty Bastards Cabin Fever tote bag. VIP Entry begins at 10 a.m.

Savvy Shopper Tickets – $15: Enjoy shorter lines and a complimentary Crafty Bastards tote bag with entry starting at 11 a.m.

Early General Admission – $10: Gain access to all vendors beginning at 1 p.m.

Late General Admission – $5: Gain access to all vendors starting at 3 p.m.

Last Call General Admission – $5: Gain access to all vendors starting at 5 p.m.

Kids 12 and under are free. Visit www.washingtoncitypaper.com/craftybastards for advanced tickets, a complete gallery of all Crafty Bastard Cabin Fever vendors, and more, including details about complimentary shuttle service from the NoMA metro stop provided by the Hecht Warehouse.

About Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair

Over the past 12 years, hundreds of Crafty Bastards have sold countless pieces of handmade “craftiness” at the Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair. The fair has been selected as one of Washington’s Top 100 Events by BizBash and was voted by Washington City Paper readers as the Best Arts Festival in its annual Best of D.C. poll. For more information about the annual Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair, please visit www.washingtoncitypaper.com/craftybastards/.

 

#CraftyBastardsCabinFever

Feb
10
Wed
Heartbreak Hotel @ W Hotel's POV
Feb 10 @ 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
POV Live presents HEARTBREAK HOTEL

For all you lovers and love-haters out there, join us for a special dance party to kick off the
Valentine’s Day weekend featuring some of the area’s buzziest bands.
Featuring local artists:
Wednesday, February 10th
Doors open at 7:30 PM
Show starts at 8 PM
POV
at W Washington DC
515 15th Street NW
Entry is free, tables can be purchased in POV Lounge at POVRoofTop.com
$10 specialty cocktail
Mar
3
Thu
The Walkmen’s Walter Martin Sings Art History at the Hamilton @ The Hamilton
Mar 3 @ 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM

The Hamilton is usually home to indie rock concerts, but on Thursday, March 3 it will host an art history class – of a sort.

Walter Martin of the Walkmen’s first solo album for adults (‘Arts & Leisure’) is his wry and witty take on art history. For this special return to his hometown of DC, he’ll play songs about Alexander Calder’s toy circus, Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and first falling in love with art at the National Gallery. Needless to say, this won’t be the art history you studied in college.

NPR Music calls his new album “hard to resist” and the New York Times said it “carries a sense of wonder [with] a wry humor.” Read a recent interview at the Washington Post: http://wapo.st/1ouOMUX

Who: Walter Martin (of The Walkmen) CD Release Show
Where: The Hamilton, 600 14th Street, N.W.
When: Thurs, Mar 3 @ 7:30pm
With: Near Northeast, The Plate Scapers
RSVP: raypadgett@shorefire.com