The Washington Post Weekend - USA (2020-11-27)

THE

WASHINGTON

POST

.

FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER

27, 2020

EZ
EZ

THE

WASHINGTON

POST

.

FRIDAY,

NOVEMBER

27, 2020

Nov. 27

Downtown Holiday Market *

Now in its 16th year, the popular

Penn Quarter shopping destina-

tion has expanded to encourage

social distancing. F Street NW has

been blocked off between Seventh

and Ninth streets to make room

for 60 vendors, including booths

focusing on local fashion design-

ers and Black- and minority-

owned businesses. Noon to 8 p.m.

through Dec. 23 (closed Nov. 30,

Dec. 7 and 14). Entrance in front of

the National Portrait Gallery,

Eighth and F streets NW. Free.

Nov. 28

Mount Vernon Winter Glow *

The annual Mount Vernon by Can-

dlelight is canceled this year, but

you can still visit the festively lit

grounds of George Washington’s

estate, listening to carolers, watch-

ing interactive demonstrations,

and meeting Aladdin the Camel —

yes, Washington once rented a cam-

el to entertain Christmas guests —

and a troupe of Revolutionary War

reenactors. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on

Nov. 27-29 and Dec. 11-13 and 26-28.

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial

Hwy., Mount Vernon. $25-$45.

Nov. 29

Holiday Movies at

the Wharf Transit Pier *

Even if you’ve lost track of the

number of times you’ve seen “Elf”

and “A Christmas Story,” it’s s till fun

to gather around a crackling fire

and watch them on a 20-foot

screen. The $60 ticket to the

Wharf’s o utdoor holiday film series

gets you up to four Adirondack

chairs arranged around a private

fire pit, and you can order food and

drinks from the waterfront Canti-

na Bambina. A different classic

movie is shown every weekend,

starting with “Home Alone” from

Nov. 2 7-29, and then every day from

Dec. 26 to 31. Screenings on Fridays

(6 p.m.), Saturdays (2 and 6 p.m.)

and Sundays (2 p.m.) through Dec.

20. 970 Wharf St. SW. $60.

Nov. 30

Ice Skating at Pentagon Row *

While Pentagon Row is home to the

largest outdoor ice rink in North-

ern Virginia, it can still get a little

busy on weekends, thanks to skat-

ing lessons and group outings, as

well as a restricted capacity that

only allows 50 people at once. Visit

on a weeknight for an e xperience as

smooth as freshly Zambonied ice,

and hit a nearby restaurant for

happy hour after. Open daily

through March. 1201 S. Joyce St.,

Arlington. $9-$10, $5 skate rental.

Dec. 1

D.C. Holiday Lights *

It’s no secret that small businesses

BY FRITZ HAHN

T

he lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the

Ellipse, and the resulting traffic jams. The model

train display at the U.S. Botanic Garden. “A

Christmas Carol” at Ford’s Theatre. Singing along with

Handel’s “Messiah” at the Kennedy Center, after waiting

in the long line for free tickets.

For people who live in the Washington area, these

annual events are as much a part of the holidays as

gathering around a table with family. You may have gone

to them as a child. You may have brought your own

children, too.

But this year, the National Christmas Tree’s lights will

switched on during an online ceremony. There’s no

“Messiah” at the Kennedy Center. Ford’s Theatre’s stage

will be dark and empty.

Don’t worry: The coronavirus, like the Grinch, can’t

steal the true spirit of the season. We may admire

colorful light displays from the safety of our cars, or

watch the Rat King leap across our television screens,

but there is no shortage of opportunities to feel merry

and bright. For every day from Black Friday to Christmas

Day, we’ve found at least one seasonal experience taking

place virtually or in real life. To make celebrating even

easier, many of the virtual events are available for more

than one night, in case they conflict with a work holiday

party o n Zoom — or you need an excuse to duck out early.

(Even in a pandemic, some things never change.)

Still plenty

of cheer for

the holidays

A list of things to do, every day

from now until Christmas

From the Cover

* Events marked with an asterisk

take place in person.

have suffered during the pandem-

ic. A dozen neighborhood Main

Street organizations in the District

have joined forces to encourage

residents to get out and explore

shops and restaurants during the

holiday season. Stroll one of the

festively decorated strips, includ-

ing Georgia Avenue, Mount Pleas-

ant and Logan Circle, for discounts

and participate in a scavenger

hunt, then cast your vote for the

neighborhood with the most spir-

it. Through Dec. 31. Free.

Dec. 2

Give a Can, Get a Can at Pizzeria

Paradiso *

Many people feel extra generous at

this time of year, and so do bars.

Since 2011, Pizzeria Paradiso has

held fundraisers for l ocal nonprofit

Martha’s Ta ble. Give a Can, Get a

Can is the most popular: Bring a

can of low-sodium pasta sauce,

vegetables or salmon (among other

items) to any of the popular Nea-

politan pizza restaurant’s locations

on Dec. 2, and you can trade it for a

can of beer to take home. Two cans

are good for two beers, but custom-

ers do need to purchase a food item

to help Paradiso meet legal re-

quirements. It’s a delicious way to

do good for others. Locations in

Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Spring

Valley and Hyattsville. Free.

Dec. 3

National Christmas Tree Lighting

The first National Christmas Tree

at the White House was lit by

President Calvin Coolidge in 1923.

(The current specimen isn’t that

old — the Colorado blue spruce

was transplanted to the Ellipse

last fall.) This year’s official light-

ing ceremony is taking place on-

line, but the public can still visit

the tree, and the 56 smaller trees

representing states, territories

and the District, in person through

December. Available for stream-

ing at thenationaltree.org. Free.

Dec. 4

U.S. Army Band Holiday

Festival: Latin Jazz

The U.S. Army Band will post new

videos on Friday afternoons

through Dec. 18 as part of its

American Holiday Festival. D iffer-

ent ensembles and styles of music

are featured each week, but one of

the most intriguing finds legend-

ary jazz trumpeter Arturo San-

doval and percussionist Pedrito

Martinez lending Cuban flair to a

program of jazz and holiday music

performed by the 18-piece U.S.

Army Blues band. Available for

streaming starting at 4 p.m. at

usarmyband.com. Free.

Dec. 5

Gay Men’s Chorus of

Washington Holiday Show

A holiday extravaganza like no

other, the Gay Men’s Chorus of

Washington’s annual cabaret

blends traditional choral works,

finger-snapping a cappella, high-

kicking dance routines and saucy

seasonal novelty t unes into a show

that balances quiet and beautiful

moments with laugh-out-loud

production numbers. This year’s

virtual offering, which includes

greatest hits from the group’s pre-

vious shows, features an at-home

singalong. Available for stream-

ing Dec. 5-20 at gmcw.org. $25.

Dec. 6

The Washington Ballet’s

Nutcracker Tea Party @Home

The Washington Ballet isn’t stag-

ing a full version of “The Nut-

cracker” this year, but it is keep-

ing a favorite tradition alive: an

afternoon tea for the ballet’s

youngest fans. The Sugar Plum

Fairy and the Dew Drop Fairy

make appearances in a special

video, which features excerpts

from the 2019 staging of “The

Nutcracker” at the Warner Thea-

tre; a make-at-home Nutcracker

craft project; and a special “live”

performance. (A list of the sup-

plies for the craft project will be

posted on the Ballet’s website and

social media.) “We’re encourag-

ing people to have fun and spend

a nice afternoon together, as if we

were all at the Willard in our

Sunday finest,” says the Washing-

ton Ballet’s Karen Shepherd.

Available for streaming starting

at 3 p.m. through the end of the

month on Washington Ballet’s

YouTube channel. Free.

Dec. 7

Tail Lights at Merriweather

Symphony of Lights *

On most nights, visitors to the

Symphony of Lights in Columbia

admire the animated displays of

more than 300,000 bulbs from

the warmth of their cars, driving

the one-mile course while listen-

ing to seasonal music. Not on Dec.

7, though, when customers are

allowed to walk on a path through

the lights with their leashed dogs.

(Festive costumes are encouraged

for both humans and canines.)

5:30 to 7:30 p.m., with admission

at 10-minute intervals. 10475 Lit-

tle Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia.

$10. Tickets must be purchased in

advance.

Dec. 8

Epiphany Choir Christmas Concert

The Church of the Epiphany can’t

hold concerts in its historic

downtown building, but that

hasn’t stopped the church’s long-

running lunchtime concert se-

ries. Performances by musicians

and vocalists are filmed in the

church, with stained glass win-

dows serving as a backdrop, and

posted to the church’s YouTube

channel at 12:10 p.m. on Tues-

days, when concerts traditionally

begin. This performance finds the

Epiphany Choir paired with the

baroque ensemble Modern Mu-

sick for a program that includes

pieces by Henry Purcell, David

Willcocks and Bolivian baroque

composers. Available for stream-

ing starting at 12:10 p.m. at

epiphanydc.org. Free.

Dec. 9

Floral Design How-To: Holiday

Blooms at Hillwood

A colorful spray of flowers makes

any home feel instantly festive.

Learn the secrets of holiday decor

from Ami Wilber, the floral design-

er at the Hillwood Estate, during a

Zoom seminar and Q&A session.

Work with blooms and greenery

you’ve gathered yourself, or preor-

der a package of materials that

includes roses, carnations and

winter greens that can be picked

up at Hillwood before the pro-

gram. (Note: This class repeats on

Dec. 11.) 6:30 p.m. at hillwoodmu-

seum.org. $12; $72 with materials.

Dec. 10

The First Night of Hanukkah

Expect Hanukkah celebrations to

be socially distanced and muted

this year. Washington is home to

two large menorah displays — the

National Menorah on the Ellipse,

which is scheduled to be lit in a

ceremony b eginning a t 4 p.m., a nd

a menorah at the Wharf’s District

Square, lit between 5 and 6 p.m.

each night during the Festival of

Lights. Those who would rather

not go to a public lighting can join

the Edlavitch DC Jewish Commu-

nity Center, the Pozez Jewish

Community Center of Northern

Virginia, and the Bender Jewish

Community Center of Greater

Washington for 8 Nights o f Lights,

a virtual nightly lighting cer-

emony (5:30 p.m., free). At Sixth

and I, the C ount Every Night virtu-

al party on Dec. 10 includes Ha-

nukkah songs, games and a meno-

rah lighting, as well as socializing

— recipes for Hanukkah cocktails

are provided (7 p.m., $12).

Dec. 11

Bad Santa at Park Up DC *

Universal Pictures passed on the

Coen Brothers’ “Bad Santa” after

reading the script, which they

described as “the most foul, dis-

gusting, misogynistic, anti-

Christmas, anti-children thing

we could imagine,” according to

eventual producer Bob Wein-

stein. No wonder the story of an

alcoholic safecracker who dou-

bles as a mall Santa has become a

cult classic. “Bad Santa” plays at

Park Up DC, the pop-up drive-in

theater located in an RFK Sta-

dium parking lot, on Dec. 11 and

17. If your tastes run to more
    traditional feel-good holiday fare,
    “This Christmas” is featured on
    Dec. 12. 9 :10 p.m. 2400 East Capi-
    tol St. NE. $29-$45.
    CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

MICHAEL KEY

2018 PHOTO BY ASTRID RIECKEN FOR THE WASHINGTON POST 2019 PHOTO BY MICHAEL ROBINSON CHAVEZ/THE WASHINGTON POST

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s annual holiday show is one of the many traditional performances that will go

virtual this year; unlike last year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting, this year’s ceremony will be online; the people who gather this year at the

Ellipse near the White House for the National Chanukah Menorah Lighting will be subject to social-distancing guidelines.