It’s the first weekend of December and there is nothing like Capitol Hill during the holidays. In between showing your support for local shops and artisans,
"Devinely Irreverent" opens at Evolve Urban Arts Project on Saturday.
check out these fun activities on and around the Hill.
Thursday, December 3
For those lucky folks with tickets, tonight’s the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Ellipse at 5pm. Musical guests include Sheryl Crow.
If you didn’t get tickets during the November lottery disbursal and you don’t know someone who knows someone, head to the US Botanic Garden for their holiday train exhibit. It’s fantastic! On select Tuesdays and Thursdays, they are open until 8pm with musical guests. Tonight, the music is Convivium, an a capella group.
For more weekend fun, follow me over the jump.
Friday, December 4
It’s “Free First Fridays” at the Rock and Roll Hotel. Drop It! is joined by Houston, Bobby Jae, Patural and Ken Laze. The party starts at 6pm and goes to 11pm and is free for anyone 21 years old and over.
“Nightmare of You” will be playing at the Red and The Black. The show starts at 10pm and has a $10 cover charge.
Or, for something in a different genre, the Atlas Performing Arts Center will host “Levine at the Atlas: Mozart, Turina and Schumann – Chamber at its Best.” Violinist Susan Fuller and pianist Cecilia Cho join forces with the renowned IBIS Chamber Music Society in this richly satisfying concert including Joaquin Turina’s Scene Andalouse for solo viola, string quartet and piano. Tickets are $10 and the concert begins at 7:30pm.
Saturday, December 5
The forecast calls for a sunny (but cold) Saturday, so plan to do some holiday shopping at Eastern Market. And, before you head out the door, grab that extra coat you’ve been meaning to donate. This Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from noon to 4pm, Boy Scout Troop 500 will be collecting spare winter coats outside the Port City Java for their 10th Annual Winter Coat Drive. They’ll take coats for men, women and children and hope to collect 500 coats by the end of the weekend. Help them reach their goal!
The Evolve Urban Arts Project opens a new show entitled “Divinely Irreverent” on Saturday with a reception from 4pm to 7pm. Evolve Urban Arts Project is located in the Pierce School Lofts at 1375 Maryland, Ave.NE, in the H Street Arts and Entertainment District. The artist, Dana Ellyn, is a DC resident whose color-saturated work is exemplified by a risk-taking vision and playful, yet scathing, critiques of social norms. Dana values her fine arts training but now works on peeling away the art school compulsion to make, and hide behind, pretty pictures. No public figure – from President to Pope – is safe from Dana’s artistic scrutiny. Saturday’s reception will feature a unique tasting menu and beverages paired with selected works. If you can’t make it to the opening reception, check out the exhibit between December 5 and January 30, 2010. Gallery hours are Monday to Friday from 1pm – 4pm; other times are readily available by appointment.
Sunday, December 6
If you ask me, Sundays in the holiday season are all about music. If you’d like to stick close to home, join St. Mark’s Episcopal Church’s Festival Service of Lessons and Carols at 4pm. This traditional Advent service features songs and readings and lasts about one hour.
If you’re up for a drive, head to Wolf Trap, where the U.S. Marine Band (headquartered on Capitol Hill at the Barracks at 8th & I) will accompany a 400-person choir for their annual holiday sing-a-long. The concert starts at 4pm and features Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs. Traditions include a candlelight procession during “Silent Night” and a “jing-a-long” during “Jingle Bells.” (BYO candles and bells.) Parking is limited, so arrive as close to the 3 p.m. opening as you can. The event benefits Toys for Tots, so participants are asked (but not required) to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate.
