Love Imax The Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, MD hosts the Imax Film Festival, going on now through March 4, 2010. The seven-film festival includes, "Grand Canyon", "Roar: Lions of Kalahari", "Tropical Rain Forest" and "Super Speedway", the story of Michael Andretti, narrated by Paul Newman. Wathc these films the five-story screen with 38 speaker surround sound. Tickets are $8 per film, ages 3 and older. Check schedule for film times. www.mdsci.org
American Arts "Intersections: A New America Arts Festival", at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, DC brings together artists and audiences to experience and explore the evolving culture of America today. The event features three weekends of music, dance, theater, film, literary and visual arts, February 19-March 7. There are all sorts of performance in multiple venues, collaborations by some of DC's best in music, dance and theater, interactive performances, workshops and classes, up-close cafe and lobby performances and late-night dance parties. Some events require the purchase of tickets, prices range from free to up to $25-$30.
Saturday is a free Family Day Event, were you can take part in a drumming circle, try your hand at arts and crafts and catch a free performance by Christylez Bacon. Check the website for events, dates, times, and venues. www.intersectionsdc.org
Polar Pics The National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC presents the exhibit: "Polar Obsession: Photography by Paul Nicklen". Wildlife photographer Paul Nicklen continues his love affair with the Artic region, with these photos of icy landscapes and the many animals of the region. The exhibit runs until March 10, 2010. Free. Monday-Saturay, 9am-5pm; Sunday, 10am-5pm. www.nationalgeographic.com/events
Movie Romance The AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, MD presents, "Screen Valentines: Great Movie Romances", February 5-March 10, 2010. Enjoy a great selection of great movie romances, including classics like "Bringing Up Baby", "Lover Come Back", "Roman Holiday", "When Harry Met Sally", "Sense And Sensibility", "What's Up Doc?", "High Fidelity" and more. Tickets are: $10 general admission, $9 for seniors and students, $6 for kids 12 and under. Check the website for dates and times of each film.
www.afi.com/silver Local Theatre Winchester LIttle Theatre in Winchester, VA presents, "Belles", a bittersweet comedy about the deep connection between sisters. The play follows six sisters in six different cities through 45 phone calls. Performance dates are March 5-7, 11-14 and 18-20. Showtimes are Thursday-Saturday at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Tickets are $18.75. $16.75 and $14.50. www.wltonline.org Wayside Theatre in Middletown, VA presents, "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story", starring Robbie Limon as Buddy Holly. The show tells the story of Holly's brief but brilliant career, before it ended tragically in a plane crash. The show runs January 30th-March 13th. Tickets are $30 for Friday and Saturday evening performances ($28 Friday nights for seniors and students); Matinees, Thursday and Sunday evening performances are $25 for adults and $23 for seniors and students. Tickets for ages 17 and under are $10 for all performances. www.waysidetheatre.org
Thank You, Thank You Very Much
The Smithsonian National Potrait Gallery in Washington, DC presents the exhibit, "One Life:Echoes Of Elvis" in celebration of the anniversary of Elvis Presley's 75 birthday. Check out all sorts of artistic interpretations of the King of Rock 'n Roll, from Andy Warhol, Ralph Wolfe Cowan, Red Grooms and more. There's the finalists for the "Elvis stamp" on display and more, historical and fantasy-based versions. The exhibit runs January 8-August 22, 2010. Free. Open daily, 11:30am-7pm. www.npg.si.edu
The Real Thing When the Berlin Wall fell 20 years ago, the symbol of oppression took its place in history while a people discovered new freedoms. The Newseum in Washington, Dc has a permanent exhibit, The Berlin Wall Gallery, which features the largest diplay of portions of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany. You'll see eight, 12-foot high concrete sections of the wall and a three-story East German guard tower that stood near Checkpoint Charlie. The gallery tells the story of how news and information help to topple the oppressive East German government. (Friends tell me if you are interested in news, broadcast and print, this museum is well worth the price of admission.) Admission is $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors, military and students with i.d., $12.95 for ages 7-18 and free for kids 6 and younger. Open daily, 9am-5pm. www.newseum.org
A Free Look at the Stars The first public telescope is now open at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. It is located in its own observatory right outside the museum. The 16-inch telescope can be used Tuesdays through Sundays from 10am-2pm, weather permitting. The planentarium also has a new program, "Journey to the Stars"; narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, it tells the story of the life cycle of stars.
Free. The museum is open daily 10am-5:30pm. www.nasm.si.edu
Ford's on Lincoln The new Ford's Theatre Museum is open is Washington, DC, and tells the story of Abraham Lincoln's life in Washington, DC, from the beginning of his presidency to his tragic end at the theatre. There's displays of the Gettysburg Address, a mock train car like the one Lincoln arrived in, a re-creation of Mary Surratt's house, a replica of Lincoln's White House office, videos, election paraphernalia and other artifacts. The museum is open daily, 9am-5pm. Admission is free, but requires a timed-entry ticket. The ticket includes entry to the museum the theatre, and the Peterson House, where Lincoln died. www.fords.org Check Out Those Bones A new exhibit, "Written in Bone: Forensic Files of the 17th-Century Chesapeake", at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History runs through February 2011. The exhibit uses forensic investigations of human skeletons to construct "bone biographies" of 17th-century colonists at Jamestown, VA and their wealthier neighbors living in St. Mary's City, Md. You can exlpore the history and science behind the investigation, and learn intriguing information about these early Americans. Admission to the museum is free. Open daily, 10am-5:30pm. www.mnh.si.edu
America's Museum The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has re-opened after being closed for two years for rennovations. Come see the new home of the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired our national anthem; there's hands-on space for kids and families called "Spark! Lab", and "Invention at Play", an interactive exhibit for the whole family, plus, many new exhibits to explore. Now through January 4th, you can see the White House copy of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Where else can you see all of this, plus Dorothy's ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" AND Kermit the Frog? Admission to the museum is free! www.americanhistory.si.edu
Explore The Ocean The brand new Sant Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is opens in Washington, DC. It is the largest permanent exhibit in the museum and the biggest renovation since the museum opened in 1910. You can see the remains of large, prehistoric fish, see a 45-foot model of a whale, check out plenty of ocean life in the 1,500 gallon aquarium containing an Indo-Pacific coral reef with more than 1,000 specimens of 50 species of live fish and other marine life. There's a film by an underwater cinematographer, a video following a dive through the zones of the open ocean to the bottom in a submersible and much, much, MUCH more! Admission is free. The museum is open daily, 10am-5:30pm. www.mnh.si.edu State of Hate The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC has a new exhibit called, "State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda". The exhibit reveals how the Nazi Party used modern techniques and technologies to carefully craft a message to sway millions with its twisted vision of Germany. There are rare posters, photographs, artifacts and films documenting the role of propaganda in the Nazi effort to achieve ultimate power, driving the world to war. The museum is not recommended for children under age 11. Free. Open daily 10:30am-5pm. www.ushmm.org
Space....The Final Frontier The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC has a new exhibit called, "Space: A Journey To Our Future". This exhibits highlights what's currently happening with space; exploration, satellites, telescopes and more. It also takes a look at living in space and the future of space travel. There are interactive displays, a Lunar Base Camp, so you can see what life would be like on the moon, and a 360-degree "Future Theatre". Free. Open daily. www.nasm.si.edu
Beautiful Butterflies! See more than 400 live tropical butterflies at the new Butterfly Pavilion at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. Timed-entry tickets to see the butterflies are $6 for adults, $5.50 for seniors and $5 for ages 2 to 12; younger get in free. It's all part of a new exhibition, "Butterflies and Plants: Partners in Evolution", about how plants and insects have evolved together. Admission to this exhibition, as well as the rest of the museum, is free! The museum is open daily, 10am-5:30pm. (p.s. - on Tuesday, you can visit the Butterfly Pavilion for free, too) www.mnh.si.edu
Beautiful Trail the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Tour is a 4-mile trail through beautiful, government protected land adjacent to the Patuxent River. Bike or hike the trail Friday and Saturday to see wildlife, maybe even a bald eagle! Signposts along the way reveal the history of the area, and describe the enviromental role played by estuaries and marshes. The self-guided tour takes you through the Patuxent River Park and the Merkle Widlife Sanctuary and Visitor's Center. About a mile from the start, you can climb a 60-foot tower at the edge of the marsh and stand level with the tops of trees. Free. Sunday, the trail is opened to cars. Friday-Saturday, 8am-6:30pm; Sundays, 10am-3pm. http://www.pgparks.com/Things_To_Do/Nature/Chesapeake_Bay_Critical_Area_Tour.htm
Friday and Saturday
Saturday and Sunday
Hooray For Chocolate! The 2010 Chocolate Lovers Festival is being held in Fairfax, VA. Events planned include "Taste of Chocolate" featuring chocolate vendors selling their wares; the Chocolate Challenge, an arts extravaganza where the medium is chocolate; the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, featuring chocolate chip pancakes; historic re-enactments; children's activities; a craft show; open houses at historic buildings and much more. Chocolate overload? Impossible!!! Some events are free, some require a fee. Shuttle buses run between event sites. Check the website for details. Saturday, 8am-4pm; Sunday, 9am-3pm. www.chocolatefestival.net
Some Fun at the Zoo The Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC has two events planned for this weekend. Saturday, the Zoo will host its First Annual Science Fair. Middle School students from Capital City Public Charter School and Jefferson Middle School will exhibit their science projects, which are based on the National Zoo's research, animals and conservation efforts. Four Zoo scientists and staff members will judge the projects on creativity, relevance to the Zoo's mission and use of scientific method. Prizes will be awarded. The event is free and open to the public and will take place in the Amazonia Science Gallery from 1-3pm. Sunday, the Zoo's Wild Side Stage presents the interactive play, "What's For Lunch?". Chef FONZ will show how the animals on the Asian Trail eat. Then, visit those animals inside the Zoo, including giant pandas, red pandas, clouded leopards and more (there is no direct contact with the animals). Performances are at 11am and 1pm. The Wild Side Stage is located in the Visitor Center Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for FONZ members and $7 for nonmembers. www.nationalzoo.si.edu
Exploring The Night Sky There are some cool things happening in the night sky. The Rock Creek Nature Center Planetarium presents two shows Saturday and Sunday; "The Night Sky" at 1pm, for ages 4 and older and "Exploring the Universe" at 4pm, for ages 7 and older. Free planetarium tickets are distributed 30 minutes before each show. Admission to Rock Creek Park and to the Planetarium are free. www.nps.gov/archive/rocr
Friday
Saturday Movie Marathon Celebrate the Oscars this weekend by seeing ALL of the films nominated for the top prize. AMC's Best Picture Showcase will be held at the AMC Loews in Georgetown in Washington, DC. Screenings of all 10 nominated films begin at 12:01AM Saturday with "Avatar" in 3-D and will end 23 hours later with "The Hurt Locker". Unlimited popcorn is included. Tickets are $45.Some of the other AMC Theaters in the area will offer 5 of the 10 nominated films for one price, beginning at 10:30am. Check the website for details. www.amcentertainment.com/bps
Celebrate Your Irish! Everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day. The Ballyshaners host the annual St. Patrick's Day parade on Saturday in Alexandria, VA. The parade travels down King Street beginning at 12:30pm. Before the parade,there is an Invitational Classic Car Show and Fun Dog Show. Free. Details at the website. www.ballyshaners.org
Cooking Up Some Fun The Junior League of Washington hosts "Kids in the Kitchen", a fun-filled interactive health and fitness fair about healthy foods, healthy lives and exercise. There will be nutrition games, cooking demonstrations and fitness activities. Special guests will be on hand, along with certified nutritionists, food allergy experts and other professionals, to answer questions and to host demonstrations on how to prepare healthy and nutritious meals and snacks. The event takes place at the YMCA National Capital in Washington, DC, Saturday from 10am-2pm. Free. www.jlw.org
Celebrating Women's History The Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC will host a Family Day to kick off Women's History Month. There will be musical performances, hands-on art and stamp activities. You can walk the red carpet at a celebrity dress-up and photo station. Saturday, 11:30am-3pm. Free. www.americanart.si.edu
Sunday Learning Japanese
The Textile Museum in Washington, DC will host a midwinter Japanese festival for the family, entitled, "Matsuri". You can experience Japanese culture with hands-on activities, demonstrations and performances. There will be origami folding, a "chopstick challenge", Japanese food sampling and dance performances by Shizumi Manale. There will also be a picture taking studio with kimono and kamishibai and a paper box theater. Sunday, 1-5pm. Free. www.textilemuseum.org
Happy Persian New Year Celebrate the Persian New Year with the spring festival "Nowruz", Sunday at the Freer and Sackler galleries in Washington, DC. There will be fire jumping and dancing clowns, cooking workshops musical performances, activities for all ages, rooted in tradition dating back 5,000 years! Sunday beginning at 10:30am. Free. www.asia.si.edu
Free Brass The United States Air Force Band continues its Guest Arist Series with a free concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. Guest artist is the World-renowned quintet, "Canadian Brass", in a concert titled, "It Might As Well Be Swing". The show will also feature special guest swing dancers Tom Koerner and Debra Sternberg of Gottaswing.com. The concert is free and open to the public. Doors open at 2pm, the concert begins at 3pm. www.USAFBand.af.mil
