Light Show and Tell

On Thursday the Hirshhorn Museum opens Suprasensorial: Experiments in Light, Color, and Space, an exhibition of five important installations from pivotal Latin American artists of the Light and Space movement of the 1960s and 1970s. On Friday, Washington-based artist Samuel Scharf will lead a gallery talk about the exhibition, leaving from the Hirshhorn information desk at 12:30 p.m. The talk and admission to the museum are free.

African and African-American Show and Tell

Bring the kids to the National Theatre this Saturday morning to see storyteller Anna Mwalagho delight and enchant with interactive, traditional African tales about wise lions, wily snakes, and how the world began in Short Stories Brewed from African Pots. It’s part of the regular, free Saturday Morning at the National Theatre series of children’s performances, so tickets are distributed first-come, first-seated a half-hour before the shows, which are at 9:30 and 11 a.m.

Or bring them to the Warner Brothers Theater in the American History Museum for How Old is a Hero?, which highlights some of the civil rights movement’s youngest heroes. Those shows, put on by the Discovery Theater, are at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and Friday, and tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for kids 2 to 16, and $3 for kids under 2.

Crazy Eclectic Shows (and Tell)

This weekend brings two chances to see accordionists who recklessly and happily smash together traditional musical genres to create something wholly original. First, on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Artisphere in Arlington, VA you can see Rana Santacruz, who describes his music as “Mexican alternative folk” or “bluegrass mariachi.” Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door.

Then on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. head down to the Ram’s Head Tavern in Annapolis, MD, to watch Buckwheat Zydeco throw everything from country to rock to blues into his zydeco gumbo. Tickets are $28.50.

The Washington Home & Garden Show is coming to the Washington DC Convention Center on March 9-11, 2012. Learn from world renowned celebrity guests and outstanding local professionals, on hand to show DC how to transform homes into ultimate living spaces.

Features:

• Ty Pennington, host of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and co-host and design expert on the new smash hit talk show, The Revolution;
• Todd Davis, of HGTV’s Room Crashers;
• Glorious Gardens, 16,000 square feet of gardens that will showcase the latest in landscaping and outdoor lifestyle trends;
• Innovation Avenue, a one stop shop for the latest in home decor, kitchen & bath, outdoor living and more;
• Ikea Furniture Fashion Show, haute design comes to life during a chic runway presentation.

For more information, visit www.washingtonhomeandgardenshow.com.

What:
The Washington Home & Garden Show

Where:
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
801 Mt Vernon Place NW
Washington, DC 20001

When:
Friday, March 9: 10am – 9pm
Saturday, March 10: 9am – 9pm
Sunday, March 11: 10am – 6pm

Tickets:
Adults: $9 (online); $12 (at the door)
Children 6-12 years: $3
5 and under: FREE
(Tickets are valid for one day)

FotoDC and The National Cherry Blossom Festival issued the following press release:

“FotoDC and the Festival will co-produce the second annual National Cherry Blossom Photo Contest focused on the nation’s greatest celebration springtime celebration. Imagination is encouraged to capture the 100-year anniversary of the gift of trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC in a bold new way.

The contest runs from February 3 through midnight on April 15. Entries submitted by Sunday, March 11, will receive a 20% discount off submission fees. Images taken over previous years and during the 2012 Festival (March 20 – April 27) will be accepted. Winners will be selected in multiple categories and receive cash prizes, online exposure, and will be exhibited through various mediums during the Festival. Images created via any form of photography will be considered (digital, mobile phone, film and alternative processes), but must be submitted electronically at cherryblossom.fotodc.org. Categories of entry are as follows:

• Landscapes/Nature: scenic photos that show the beauty of blossoms and the trees at and around the Tidal Basin
• People: images showing crowds or individuals enjoying the cherry blossoms
• Festivities: action-filled images of the Festival and its relevant events that take place beyond the blooms, such as the Opening Ceremony, Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival, National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, and performances (a full list of events can be found at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/events)
• Vintage: Images taken from 1930 – 1999. Images can be scanned and moderately retouched.

Each category will have first, second, and third place winners, receiving cash prizes of $300, $200, and $100 respectively. A series winner in each category will also be awarded $300, defined as a submission of three or more photos that convey a collective thought or a body of work with a singular vision. Supplementary prizes will be awarded for “people’s choice” and “best in show” winners. A distinguished panel of judges will select the outstanding work that will be announced and recognized with a celebration of the winners at a special event. Details and entry rules for the contest can be found at cherryblossom.fotodc.org.”

Two Premieres That Push the Envelope

This week two local companies open productions that push the boundaries of what audiences can expect from theater. First, on Wednesday, the Studio Theater’s 2ndStage presents Astro Boy and the God of Comics, a play by Georgetown theater professor Natsu Onoda Power that uses on-stage drawing, interactive video, and 1960s-style animation to tell the story of Osamu Tezuka, a giant of Japanese comics, and his greatest creation, Astro Boy. Wednesday to Saturday shows are at 8:30 p.m., Sunday’s is at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $30. (Discount tickets are available for $18 for select performances.)

Pushing even farther, local “avant-pop performance company” banished? productions presents Into the Dollhouse, which uses narrative, movement, text, music, and sculpture in an exploration of nostalgia and girlhood. The show opens on Friday at the Mead Theater Lab at Flashpoint, with shows at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday (and a preview show on Thursday), and 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15.

Mickey Skates

Bring the kids out to see Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy, alongside more modern characters from Toy Story, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo in Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic, this Wednesday through Sunday at the Verizon Center. Shows are Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at 10: 30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.; Sunday at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m.; and Monday at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $38 to $97.

Music’s Biggest (local) Night

So the Grammies were last week and only celebrities got to go. Big deal! This Sunday it’s the 26th Annual Wammies, and you’re invited. Put on by the Washington Area Music Association, the Wammies hands out awards to DC area musicians in dozens of categories from a capella to zydeco. Nine of the nominees will perform at the awards ceremony, which begins at 8 p.m. at the State Theater in Falls Church. Tickets are $20 for WAMA members, $35 for non-members, and $15 for nominees.

Stay 3 nights, Save 10% + 50% Off Valet Parking & Restaurant Discounts

Cherry Blossom Special – Stay 3 nights at The Beacon Hotel and Corporate Quarters or the St. Gregory Hotel between March 20, 2012 and April 26, 2012 and save 10%. Also includes 15% Off Lunch or Dinner Served in our Dining Room; 25% Off our Breakfast Menu Saturday and Sunday Only Served in our Dining Room from 7:30am to 10:30am; $3.00 Off per person for Sunday Champagne Brunch Served in our Dining Room from 11:00am to 3:00pm; 50% off daily valet parking. More info

Stay 2 nights, Save 5% + 50% Off Valet Parking & Restaurant Discounts

Cherry Blossom Special – Stay 2 nights at The Beacon Hotel and Corporate Quarters or St. Gregory Hotel between March 20, 2012 and April 26, 2012 and save 5%. Also includes 15% Off Lunch or Dinner Served in our Dining Room; 25% Off our Breakfast Menu Saturday and Sunday Only Served in our Dining Room from 7:30am to 10:30am; $3.00 Off per person for Sunday Champagne Brunch Served in our Dining Room from 11:00am to 3:00pm; 50% off daily valet parking. More info

Stay 3 or more nights, Save 10%

Stay 3 or more nights at the Residence Inn Washington, DC/Capitol between March 20 and April 30, 2012 and save 10%. More info

Save 15% on your 3rd night

Stay 3 nights at the Quality Inn Mount Vernon, Virginia between March 20 and April 30, 2012 and save 15% on your 3rd night. More info

Exhibition: February 11 through March 2, 2012
Gala: March 3, 2012

Washington Project for the Arts (WPA) is pleased to announce the dates for its Annual Art Auction Exhibition and Gala, Select. The new exhibition opened at 1800 L Street NW on Saturday, February 11th. The grand opening commemorated the outstanding service of DC arts innovator and Warehouse Gallery and Theater director/curator Molly Rupert to the DC contemporary art community through the presentation of the organization’s prized Alice Denney Award. The exhibition is free to the public and will remain open Wednesday through Saturday between 12 and 6 pm until March 2nd. Selected by eight of the most notable curators from some of the most influential art institutions in the area, the works of art cover a wide variety of media and disciplines and provide a complete exposition of contemporary artistic practice. The curators of the exhibition are Seth Adelsberger (Nudashank), Molly Donovan (National Gallery of Art), Sarah Newman (Corcoran Gallery of Art), Dennis O’Neil (Hand Print Workshop International), Stephen B. Phillips (Federal Government), Katy Murnane Reis (Wexner Center for the Arts), Judy J. Sherman (J Fine Art), and Paul Thulin (Virginia Commonwealth University).

The exhibition culminates with the SELECT: WPA 2012 Art Auction Gala, held on March 3rd. The works of more than 100 local and national artists will be on display and available for purchase. The artists include prominent names such as, John Bankston, William Christenberry, Jane Hammond, Billy Colbert and Ken Ashton, Byron Kim, Linn Meyers, Renee Stout and Fred Tomaselli. The Gala is intended to raise awareness and funds for contemporary artists in the region, an honorable cause which WPA has supported for 31 years. The Gala will also feature a “Moveable Feast” of small plates and mezze prepared by acclaimed celebrity chef Barton Seaver, performance art, a live auction and a silent auction. Tickets for the Gala can be purchased at the WPA website http://auction.wpadc.org/purchase-tickets/.

For more information, please visit http://auction.wpadc.org/. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/WPADC or follow us on Twitter @wpadc.

The National Park Service announced today that it will be changing a quote on the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial. The quote currently engraved on the MLK Memorial is as follows:

“I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness”

The quote will change to the complete original passage:

“Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”

The change was announced after complaints that the shorter passage did not accurately reflect the speech made by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The work is expected to be completed in January 2013.

Love of Dance

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Kennedy Center this Tuesday through Sunday for its annual visit. This is their first time in town since Robert Battle took over as artistic director, becoming only the third person to hold that position after Judith Jameson and Alvin Ailey himself. Three different programs will be performed, depending on the night, including two works by Battle, one by hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris, a classic from Paul Taylor, and of course several pieces by Alvin Ailey, culminating each night with his best-loved Revelations. Tickets range from $30 to $99 for performances at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Tales of Love

One of the hottest performance crazes of the last few years has been live storytelling, which has exploded in popularity in city after city. In Washington, the banner is carried in large part by SpeakEasyDC, which this Friday and Saturday presents a full slate of stories at Dance Place in their fifth annual Sucker for Love Valentine’s Special. Tickets for the Friday show are $22 for adults, $17 for seniors, teachers, and artists, and $10 for college students. Tickets for the Saturday show include admission to the Valentine’s dance party to follow and are $20, or $30 with two drink tickets. Both shows are at 8 p.m.; mature audiences only.

Muskrat Love

What could be more romantic than learning about weird mating habits of the animal world? This Saturday book a date with your loved one for Woo at the Zoo, a lecture about how animals get down, to be held in the National Zoo’s Visitor Center auditorium. Tickets are $22 for talks at 4:30, 6:30, and 8:30 p.m. You must be 21 or older to attend.

The Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site will be closed today, February 8th. However, there are special events planned for President’s Day and Lincoln’s Birthday to coincide with the grand opening of the new Center for Education and Leadership.

On Sunday, February 12th, 2012, Ford’s Theatre will commemorate Lincoln’s Birthday and the opening of the Center for Education and Leadership with a day of free programming and activities.

On Monday, February 20th, Ford’s Theater will again host a day of free programming and activities in honor of President’s Day.

The new Center for Education and Leadership is located at 514 10th Street, NW, across the street from the theatre.

Three Days of Special Events, New Exhibition Opens, Historic Cooking Demonstration from Chefs

George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, celebrates our first president’s birthday with three days of special events including an outdoor cooking demonstration by celebrated chefs, a new food exhibition with more than 125 objects from the Washingtons’ kitchen, a surprise birthday celebration for “George Washington”, a book signing with PBS’s A Taste of History host Chef Walter Staib, and much more! Saturday and Sunday events are included in Estate admission, and admission to all events on Monday, February 21, events are FREE in honor of George Washington’s birthday!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

All events are included in admission: $15/adult, $7/child, 5 and under free.

9 a.m: NEW EXHIBITION OPENS: Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington
Experience a behind-the-scenes look at the Washingtons’ kitchen through the new exhibition, Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington. On display inside the Donald W. Reynolds Museum, this temporary exhibition celebrates food at Mount Vernon and Martha Washington’s role as early America’s premier hostess. Following food from the Estate’s field to kitchen to table, visitors will see recipes and cookbooks that Martha treasured, pots that simmered in her kitchen, and fine tablewares that made Mount Vernon’s dining room fit for a president. For the first time ever, visitors to the Museum will experience scents as they explore the exhibition – smelling cinnamon, coffee, herbs and warm bread. Open through Summer 2013.

9 a.m. – 12 p.m: Hoecake Cook-Off: Award-Winning Chefs Cook George Washington’s Favorite Breakfast
For the first time ever, watch as notable chefs create their own interpretations of George Washington’s favorite breakfast in front of the first president’s home! Four chefs will cook hoecakes over an open fire and present their dishes to “General Washington” on stage at 12 p.m. The participating chefs are:

• Chef Cathal Armstrong – Restaurant Eve
• Chef David Guas – Bayou Bakery
• Chef Christophe Poteaux – Bastille Restaurant
• Chef Robert Wiedemaier – BRABO

Mount Vernon’s staff will cook samples of George Washington favorite breakfast, “hoecakes swimming in butter and honey” (while supplies last) from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Taste one of Mount Vernon’s sample hoecakes and learn more about the 21st-century interpretations created by the award-winning chefs while mingling with “George Washington”!

1:30 p.m: George Washington’s Surprise Birthday Party!
Meet characters from the 18th century as they help visitors surprise “General Washington” with rousing birthday cheers! At “George Washington’s Surprise Birthday Party”, the first president will be presented with gifts which he will describe and react to during a speech to his birthday visitors.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

All events are included in admission: $15/adult, $7/child, 5 and under free.

9 a.m. – 12 p.m: Breakfast with “George Washington”
George Washington’s favorite breakfast was “hoecakes swimming in butter and honey.” Join “General Washington” for a sample of this meal (while supplies last) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

1:30 p.m: George Washington’s Surprise Birthday Party!
Meet characters from the 18th century as they help visitors surprise General Washington with rousing birthday cheers! At “George Washington’s Surprise Birthday Party”, the first president will be presented with gifts which he will describe and react to during a speech to his birthday visitors.

Monday, February 20, 2012

FREE ADMISSION (We expect more than 10,000 visitors)

8 a.m. – 4 p.m: George Washington’s 280th Birthday Celebration
Celebrate the national observance of George Washington’s birthday by visiting his home and burial site FREE of charge on this day. The traditional wreathlaying ceremony takes place at Washington’s Tomb followed by patriotic music and military performances on the Bowling Green. Join characters from the 18th century as they help visitors surprise General Washington with rousing birthday cheers! At “George Washington’s Surprise Birthday Party”, the first president will be presented with gifts which he will describe and react to during a speech to his birthday visitors. The birthday festivities begin one hour earlier this year – the Estate will open to visitors at 8 a.m.! “General Washington” will be on the grounds to greet visitors and receive birthday wishes all day.

Book Signing By Emmy Award Winning Chef Walter Staib

Chef Walter Staib of Philadelphia’s City Tavern and Emmy award-winning host of PBS’s “A Taste of History” will sign books and DVDs in The Shops at Mount Vernon throughout the weekend and Monday holiday. Visitors to the new Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington exhibition can watch an eight-minute video in which the award-winning chef prepares a sturgeon in Mount Vernon’s kitchen. Please visit www.atasteofhistory.org for more information about Chef Walter Staib.