Family
1. “Holiday Magic”: The U.S. Botanic Garden’s National Mall and fanciful garden train exhibits have become a beloved Washington tradition, and this year there’s more magic than ever with larger and more amazing displays made of plant-based natural materials. You’ll find an enchanted storybook garden with trains popping in and out of a landscape that now includes Snow White’s cottage and the Owl and the Pussycat’s beautiful pea green boat.
Where: Conservatory East Gallery and Garden Court, United States Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. NW
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Jan. 10
Info: Free; 202-225-8333; usbg.gov
2. “A Muppet Family Christmas”: It’s “A Muppet Family Christmas,” and Fozzie Bear has invited the whole Muppet gang to his mom’s house in the country. Of course, Ma Bear has made plans for a tropical getaway, but she changes them when her home is deluged by Kermit and a plethora of chickens, pigs, and other creatures.
Where: Discovery Theatre, Lecture Hall, Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive NW
When: 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Dec. 18; 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 19
Info: 202-633-3030; discoverytheater.com
3. Scavenger Hunt Hike: Take a winter hike to enjoy the crisp winter air and participate in an unusual scavenger hunt, trekking around Gulf Branch Park. Dress warmly and plan to spend the whole time outdoors.
Where: Gulf Branch Nature Center, 3608 Military Rd., Arlington
When: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 19
Info: Free; registration necessary: 703-228-4747; program No. 623502-O
4. “A Christmas Carol”: Kids of all ages love the story of Scrooge, who transforms from a mean old miser to the warmest, most generous of souls when touched by the holiday spirit.
Where: Blackrock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, Md.
When: 1 p.m. Dec. 19; 3 p.m. Dec. 19
Info: $12; 301-528-2260; [email protected]
5. National Gallery skating rink: Sit at the rinkside cafe or get out on the ice and view marvelous sculptures as you skate. Lockers available.
Where: The National Gallery, the National Mall and Seventh Street NW
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday; open until mid-March.
Info: $6 to $7; 202-216-9397; nga.gov
Galleries
1. Days o’ Work — Trudi Y. Ludwig: Baltimore artist Ludwig’s etchings, woodcuts and rubbings ripple with the tension of opposites: the ephemeral versus the eternal, the calculated versus the spontaneous, predestination versus free will.
Where: Washington Printmakers’ Gallery, 1732 Connecticut Ave. NW
When: Through Jan. 1
Info: Free; 202-332-7757, washingtonprintmakers.com
2. Byron Kim’s “Synechdoche”: In 1991, Byron Kim began making this series of 8-by-10-inch portrait panels whereupon he re-creates the skin tone of each sitter in a mix of oil paint and wax. Now comprised of more than 400 panels, “Synechdoche” was recently acquired by the NGA and newly installed in the East Building’s modern and contemporary art galleries.
Where: National Gallery of Art (East Building), Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW
When: On view indefinitely
Info: Free; 202-737-4215; nga.gov
3. Black Box: Phoebe Greenberg: Phoebe Greenberg’s dreamlike 12-minute film — decorated at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival — takes aim at our consumer culture’s “endless symphony of abundance” and reflects the influence of the work of contrarian filmmaker Peter Greenaway.
Where: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Independence Avenue SW
When: Through April 4
Info: Free; 202-633-4674; hmsg.si.edu
4. Virtuelle Mauer/ReConstrucing the Wall: Computer artists Tamik Thiel and Teresa Reuter have built a 3-D virtual reality installation that re-creates a section of the Berlin Wall in convincing, visceral detail.
Where: The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave.
When: CLOSING Dec. 20
Info: Free; 202-885-1300; american.edu/cas/katzen/museum
5. Form and Movement: Photographs by Philip Trager: Rome, Paris and New York City shine through their inimitable architecture as captured in Philip Trager’s bold, large-format black and white photographs.
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW
When: Through Jan. 3
Info: Free; 202-272-2448; nbm.org
Gatherings
1. Ice!: Discover a world unlike any other as you walk through a winter wonderland made entirely of ice. Explore 10 different holiday scenes made from 2 million pounds of ice, including a life-sized Santa’s Workshop, a penguin village and even ice slides that stand more than two stories tall. Ice! is created by some of the world’s finest sculptors; handcrafted over the course of 40 days, this cold event will warm all hearts.
Where: Gaylord National Resort, 201 Waterfront St., Washington National Harbor
When: Shows daily; check Web site for times; through Jan. 10
Info: $13 to $19.99; 301-965-2000; nationalharbor.com
2. Radio City Christmas Spectacular: The Rockettes bring their high-kicking routines from Radio City Music Hall to D.C. for a run of special holiday shows.
Where: Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW
When: Dec. 18 to 20
Info: 202-397-7328; verizoncenter.com
3. “My So-Called Jewish Life”: Celebrate Hanukkah with a night of autobiographical stories about all things Jewish. Storytellers include Ezra Klein, Hadar Susskind, Hanna Rosin, David Plotz, Vijai Nathan and Amy Saidman.
Where: Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17
Info: $10 in advance; sixthandi.org
4. “Take Joy”: Strathmore’s postmodern pageant imagines a holiday season filled with light and joy, including favorite holiday songs, music from Beethoven to rock, and original songs plus poetry by Dylan Thomas, Emily Dickinson and Langston Hughes. It’s an evening of surprises and revelations.
Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19
Info: $25 to $80; 301-656-6279; strathmore.org
5. “Seasonal Disorder”: Washington Improv Theater’s longest-running show celebrates holiday dysfunction by ad-libbing its way through a yuletide gathering with help from the audience.
Where: Source, 1835 14th St. NW
When: 8 p.m. through Dec. 19
Info: $10 to $15; 202-204-7770; sourcedc.org
Music
1. National Symphony Orchestra: Rossen Milanov conducts the NSO and the Washington Chorus in the Sir Eugene Goossens’ edition of Handel’s “Messiah,” with expanded orchestration and guest soloists.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 17, 8 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19
Info: $20 to $85; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. The Washington Chorus: The annual Candlelight Christmas with brass, organ, percussion, harp, candlelight processional and guest choruses.
Where: Kennedy Center Concert Hall
When: 1 p.m. Dec. 19, 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 22
Info: $15 to $60; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
3. Fourplay: The jazz quartet plays selections from “Energy,” its latest CD, nominated for the 2009 Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19
Info: $55; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
4. Lalah Hathaway: The singer-songwriter of R&B, jazz and soul hits, daughter of Donny Hathaway and star of “The Wiz” eases on down the road to Alexandria before heading to the Barbados Jazz Festival.
Where: The Birchmere
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18
Info: $55; 703-549-7500; birchmere.com
5. Dianne Reeves: The jazz singer, winner of four Grammy Awards, returns for a special program, “Christmas Time Is Here.”
Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
When: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 18
Info: $45; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
Also worth noting:
6. “Take Joy!”: An original world premiere production with comic film and TV actor John Michael Higgins, music directed by Roger Ames, written by Elizabeth Bassine and Nick Olcott, plus poetry and many surprises.
Where: Music Center at Strathmore
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19
Info: $15 to $35; 301-581-5100; [email protected]
7. Signature Theatre’s Christmas Cabaret: Swingin’ Santas, an all-male holiday cabaret.
Where: Signature’s ARK Theatre
When: 8:30 p.m. Dec. 17, 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19, 2 p.m. Dec. 20
Info: $33; 703-573-7328; signature-theatre.org. Also at the Mansion at Strathmore at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20. Tickets are $28 at 301-581-5100 or [email protected].
8. The Choral Arts Society of Washington’s Family Christmas Concert: Joseph Holt conducts the show by playwright/director Mary Hall Surface with carols, sing-alongs and guest appearances by Santa, Frosty and Rudolph, for ages 5 and older.
Where: Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
When: 2 and 4 p.m. Dec. 20
Info: $20 to $30; 202-467-4600; kennedy-center.org
Theater
1. “Young Frankenstein”: The classic Mel Brooks movie comes alive in a new musical production direct from Broadway. The Tony-winning trio behind “The Producers” teams up for this reimagining of the Frankenstein legend.
Where: Opera House, Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW
When: Through Jan. 10; see Web site for dates and times
Info: $37 to $150; 202-4557-4600; kennedy-center.org
2. “The Screwtape Letters”: Based on C.S. Lewis’ novella, which looks at spiritual warfare from a demon’s point of view, this play written and performed by Max McLean.
Where: Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW
When: Through Jan. 3
Info: $29 to $49; 202-547-1122; shakespearetheatre.org
3. “Mommy Queerest”: Judy Gold is back in a funny coming-of-age memoir with music about Judy’s lifelong love affair with sitcoms and her professional quest to finally land a TV show of her own. But is America ready for a gay, kosher, 6-foot-3 feminist with two kids, one bathroom and weekly trips to the nursing home?
Where: Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW
When: Through Jan. 3
Info: $27.50 to $55; 800-494-8497; washingtondcjcc.org
4. “Rent”: The Keegan Theater’s interpretation of the rock opera that tells the story of one year in the life of friends living in New York in the late 1980s. Based on Puccini’s “La Boheme,” “Rent” deals with love, loss, AIDS, and the power of friendship.
Where: Church Street Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW
When: 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; through Jan. 17
Info: $30 to $35; keegantheatre.com
5. Swingin’ Santas: Get into the spirit of the season when “Swingin’ Santas” Michael Barry, James Gardiner, Zachary Prince and Stephen Gregory Smith belt, croon and harmonize their way through some of your favorite seasonal numbers.
Where: Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington
When: 8:30 p.m. Dec. 17; 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Dec. 18 and 19; 2 p.m. Dec. 20
Info: $33; 703-573-7328; signature-theatre.org
