Looking for something to do this weekend in Maryland, Virginia, and DC? Check out our selection of artistic, patriotic, and provocative events right in your own backyard!

A Defiant Artist

Coinciding with the Hirshhorn Museum’s extensive exhibition of the artist’s work Alison Klayman presents Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, the story of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei and his efforts to speak out against his own government.  In Klayman’s directorial debut, the documentary examines Ai’s ability to merge art, politics and the connectedness of the Digital Age in the face of staunch opposition from the Chinese government.  Alison Klayman will introduce the film and be available after the screening for discussion.  Don’t forget to stay tuned for WETA Around Town’s review of Ai Weiwei: According to What? now on display at the Hirshhorn Museum. Seating is limited and available on a first-come-first-seated basis.

Thursday, 7 pm  Hirshhorn Museum Ring Auditorium

Independence Avenue at Seventh Street SW Washington, DC

 

Where photography and global studies meet

With daily events through November 18th, you might have trouble deciding what to hit up during the 5th Annual FotoWeekDC Festival. So if you can only make one, go with the 2012 FotoWeekDC International Awards Competition exhibition.  On view are images by photographers from all over the globe.  See how people experience the world with a camera in hand.

This week-long non-profit photo festival celebrates art photography and photojournalism by emerging and established photographers throughout the region, the country, and the world. Since 2008, the festival has averaged 40,000+ visitors every year. 

Now through November 18, 11am-6pm

The Warner Building 

1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC

For more information: http://www.fotodc.org Cost: $5

 

Contemporary Folk music is not an oxymoron

You don’t have to drive to Appalachia to listen to live Bluegrass.  You don’t even have to drive there to listen to Bluegrass in an 18th-century wood barn.  Thanks to A Night of Contemporary Folk Tunes with Tim O’Brien and special guest Old Man Luedecke, the riveting country music and historical location are a two-for-one deal.  O’Brien returns to Wolf Trap for the first time in three years but it’s a Wolf Trap premiere for Luedecke and his banjo-heavy songs. 

Never been to a concert at The Barns at Wolf Trap? See why you’re missing out with this WETA Around Town Walking Tour.

Thursday, 8pm  The Barns at Wolf Trap 

1635 Trap Road, Vienna, VA

Purchase tickets here! Cost: $24

 

Honoring Those Who Serve

This Veteran’s Day, please remember those who have served and are still serving in the nation’s military.  Several ceremonies will be held on Sunday in the DC area, as well as in local communities.  THEARC will hold a Women Veterans ROCK! Rally, honoring women in the service.  The African American Civil War Memorial & Museum will be honoring African American veterans with a wreath laying ceremony.  Or head over to the National Mall to pay your respects at the National World War II Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Women Veterans ROCK! Rally - Sunday, 2:00pm  

THEARC Theater 

1901 Mississippi Ave. S.E. Washington, DC 

Free and open to the public.   Click here for more information!

 

Wreath Laying Ceremony - Sunday, 2:00pm

The African American Civil War Memorial & Museum 

1925 Vermont Ave, NW Washington, DC 20001

This is a free event. For more information, click here.

National World War II Memorial

Eastern end of the Reflecting Pool along 17th Street, NW/SW.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial 

North of the Korean War Veterans Memorial, across the Reflecting Pool.

For more information, contact Survey Lodge (202) 426-6841

 

Select films opening Friday, November 9:

Skyfall                        (PG-13)

Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in Skyfall, the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time.  In Skyfall, Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her.  As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

 

Lincoln          (PG-13)

Steven Spielberg directs two-time Academy Award® winner Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln, a drama that focuses on the 16th President’s tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.

 

This Must Be the Place     (NR)

Directed by Paolo Sorrentino (Il Divo), This Must Be the Place is a dramatic comedy starring Sean Penn in one of his most unusual and acclaimed roles. Cheyenne (Penn) is a retired rock star.  At 50 he still dresses 'Goth' and lives in Dublin off his royalties, with his long-suffering wife (Frances McDormand). The death of his father, with whom he wasn't on speaking terms, brings him back to New York, where he discovers that his father had an obsession: to seek revenge for a humiliation he had suffered at the hand of an ex-Nazi war criminal now hiding in the U.S. Cheyenne decides to pick up the search where his father left off, and starts a journey, at his own pace, across America.  Winner of 6 David di Donatello Awards (Italy's Oscars).  In English.  Opens exclusively at E Street Cinema.

 

Holy Motors  (NR)

Over the course of a single day, Monsieur Oscar travels by limousine around

Paris to a series of nine “appointments,” transforming into new characters or

incarnations at each stop.  Monster movie, film noir, romantic drama, musical, crime thriller, futuristic sex fantasia… HOLY MOTORS is all of these and, then again, none of these.  It is a shape-shifting, fever dream of becoming, unraveling and starting all over again.  Opens exclusively at E Street Cinema.

 

It’s not rocket science… kids love Sid the Science Kid! Monday November 12 kicks off a week of FOUR ALL NEW EPISODES for “Living Things Week” right here on WETA Kids and WETA TV26!  Our excitement is bubbling over like a messy science experiment thanks to the many lessons awaiting our brains. Sid and his friends take care of a praying mantis and learn what kind of habitat and food this class pet needs. Then the young scientists find out that even when they don’t want to, sleep is important. The kids take a trip to the Science Center and explore the life cycles of living creatures. Finally, allergies and sickness are under the microscope after Sid gets the sniffles and Gerald has an allergic reaction!

We want to ensure that no matter how hectic your schedules are, the Sid fans in your home get a chance to watch Sid in action. Below you will find the multiple air dates and times of each episode, along with episode descriptions and fun activities! Don’t forget to grab your magnifying glass and explore PBSkids.org for Sid the Science Kid games, printables and educational activities to keep your child’s brain active and learning while they’re having fun!

 

Not sure where to watch WETA? We’ve made it easy for you!

WETA Kids (Antenna 26.3, Cox 801, Comcast 266, FiOS 472, RCN 38)

WETA TV26 (Antenna 26.4, Cox 26 & 802, Comcast 26 & 267, FiOS 26 & 471, Dish 8076, RCN 26)

Premiere! “Sid’s Pet Project”

Airs on WETA Kids

Monday November 12, 2012 at 12:00pm

Monday November 12, 2012 at 8:30pm

Friday November 16, 2012 at 12:00pm

Friday November 16, 2012 at 8:30pm

Sunday November 18, 2012 at 12:30pm

Sunday November 18, 2012 at 2:30pm

Airs on WETA TV26

Tuesday November 13, 2012 at 11:30am

Monday November 19, 2012 at 11:30am

“Sid’s Pet Project”

Sid is very excited because he’s going to babysit Grandma’s dog Philbert for the weekend.  This is a great way for Sid to show his parents that he’s ready to take care of his own puppy.  But there’s only one problem…how exactly do you take care of a pet?  Sid heads to school to investigate more, and is delighted to see the special guest.  It’s Gabriela’s Mom, Dr. Rosalinda Cordova!  She brought the class their very own pet…a praying mantis!  And now the kids have to learn how to take care of it.  That means investigating what the praying mantis needs to eat, drink, and what kind of home it needs.  As Sid quickly discovers, taking care of a pet is a big responsibility!

Science Lesson: Taking Care of Living Things

Life Lesson: Before we make a commitment, we must understand the responsibilities involved!

Download this free Sid's Pet Project activity sheet courtesy of PBS Kids!

Premiere! “Sleep? Who Needs It?!”

Airs on WETA Kids

Tuesday November 13, 2012 at 12:00pm

Tuesday November 13, 2012 at 8:30pm

Sunday November 18, 2012 at 1:00pm

Monday November 19, 2012 at 12:00pm

Monday November 19, 2012 at 8:30pm

Sunday November 25, 2012 at 12:30pm

Airs on WETA TV26

Wednesday November 14, 2012 at 11:30am

Tuesday November 20, 2012 at 11:30am

“Sleep? Who Needs It?!”

Sid is ready to stay up all night so he and his stuffed animals can pretend to fly into space on a rocket ship!  When his Mom insists that he can’t stay up, Sid ventures to school to investigate more.  He and friends explore how the body needs sleep to properly function, and most important, we need sleep to grow and stay healthy!   Understanding that sometimes we feel too excited to sleep (like before an adventure into space), Susie presents a special Super Fab Lab where the kids practice calming down, and preparing their bodies for sleep.  Susie lowers the lights, turns off all the sounds in the room, and teaches the kids how to breathe slowly to relax…and sleep!

Science Lesson: Sleep

Life Lesson: We need to always take care of our bodies,,,they are like cars and need the proper fuel to keep going strong!

Premiere! “Seed The Science Kid”

Airs on WETA Kids

Wednesday November 14, 2012 at 12:00pm

Wednesday November 14, 2012 at 8:30pm

Sunday November 18, 2012 at 1:30pm

Tuesday November 20, 2012 at 12:00pm

Tuesday November 20, 2012 at 8:30pm

Sunday November 25, 2012 at 1:00pm

Airs on WETA TV26

Thursday November 15, 2012 at 11:30am

Wednesday November 21, 2012 at 11:30am

Description of “Seed The Science Kid”

At breakfast, Sid discovers seeds in his apple, and decides that seeds really get in the way when you’re trying to eat the apple!  This leads Sid to investigate seeds with his friends at the Science Center, where they learn that many living things grow in life cycles.  And while many fruits start out as seeds, many animals start out as eggs.  The kids investigate frog eggs, butterfly eggs, and chicken eggs, and then see the fully-grown animals they grow into.  The kids are elated and empowered with their newfound knowledge about life cycles, and can’t wait to get back to school so they can plant Sid’s apple seed and watch it slowly grow into an apple tree!

Science Lesson: Life Cycles

Life Lesson: Don’t judge a book by its cover! An ugly caterpillar will always turn into a beautiful butterfly!

Download this free Seed The Science Kid activity sheet!

Premiere! “The Reason Sid’s Sneezin’”

Airs on WETA Kids

Thursday November 15, 2012 at 12:00pm

Thursday November 15, 2012 at 8:30pm

Sunday November 18th, 2012 at 2:00pm

Wednesday November 21, 2012 at 12:00pm

Wednesday November 21, 2012 at 8:30pm

Sunday November 25, 2012 at 1:30pm

Airs on WETA TV26

Friday November 16, 2012 at 11:30am

Sunday November 18, 2012 at 6:00pm

Thursday November 22, 2012 at 11:30am

Description of “The Reason Sid’s Sneezin’”

Sid wakes up and can’t stop sneezing.  He makes his way into the kitchen where he finds his Dad in the middle of a similar sneeze attack.  Sid soon discovers that just like his Dad, he might be allergic to pollen!  This leads Sid on a mission to learn more about allergies.  Mom can think of someone who knows a lot about allergies…Grandma—she’s a nurse! At school, Grandma helps the kids discover that sometimes our bodies can react strongly to something we touch, smell, or eat, so our bodies try to fight it off—and that’s an allergy. Gerald tells everyone that he has a food allergy--he can’t eat strawberries.  Wanting to help their friend, Sid, May, and Gabriela decide to make their class a Strawberry-Free-Zone!  Gerald is touched, and Susie suggests a special Super Fab Lab survey to discover if other people they know also have allergies.

Science Lesson: Allergies

Life Lesson: Helping others can help us too!

Download this free The Reason Sid's Sneezin activity sheet!