This weeked in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area, expereince a one-of-a-kind event at the Kennedy Center and get a hefty dose of fine art in Reston. Read on for more details!
Prepare for the landing of The Intergalactic Nemesis: A Live-Action Graphic Novel at The Kennedy
Center this weekend! Combining radio show and comic book elements, this unique production follows the story of reporter Molly Sloan, her assistant Timmy Mendez, and a librarian named Ben Wilcott as they face the threat of an invasion of sludge monsters from the planet Zygon. The live performance features three actors, one Foley artist, and one keyboardist who perform all the voices, sound effects and music, while more than 1,000 hand-drawn, comic book images fill a two-story-high screen. This adventure is perfect for families with children ages 8 and up! Watch a preview!
Friday through Sunday
Cost: $18
The Kennedy Center - 2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566
How long has it been since you’ve set aside some time to appreciate art? From May 17-19, stop by Reston Town Center and experience the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival. The outdoor festival, now in its 22nd year, offers attendees the opportunity to admire and purchase original work from over 200 artists across a wide range of mediums. Enjoy live performances and entertainment, and be sure to visit the Family Art Park, which offers something for children, teens, and adults alike. Held by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE), a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting visual arts, the festival begins this Friday with its Opening Night Party from 6pm-9pm.
Friday, 5pm-8pm
Saturday, 10am-6pm
Sunday, 10am-4pm
Cost: Free (attendees who $10 will receive a $10 gift certificate redeemable at participating local restaurants)
This weekend, May 10 - 12, the Washington, DC area is bursting with a variety of spring-time activities for the whole family. Whether you're looking for a trip down memory lane, great live music, a celebration of history, or a cultural journey, there's something for everyone on the calendar. Read on for WETA Around Town's event highlights for this weekend in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Innocent & The E Street Shuffleat The Hamilton Live. This tribute concert celebrates the to two of the most loved albums in rock and roll history: Van Morrisons’ 1970 ‘Moondance’ and Bruce Springsteen's 1973 'The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle’. The Hamilton is the newest member of the Clyde's Restaurant Group following tradition with top of the line food and live music. So if you're looking for an all-in-one musical adventure, this is the ticket! Featuring performances by: Justin Jones, Brian Simms, Luke Brindley, Owen Danoff, Billy Coulter, Daryl Jr. Cline, Tommy Lepson, Jon Carroll, Tony Denikos, Kirk Philips, Margot MacDonald & more.
In a city like Washington, DC where transportation is essential, do you ever stop to
think what life would be like without cars, buses or trains? This Saturday you will have the opportunity to show your appreciation by celebratingNational Train Day 2013 because this year’s theme is “trains matter”. Each spring, this nation-wide festivity brings communities together to honor the history of trains and how they have helped transform America. Enjoy a variety of free activities such as educational stations, arts and crafts, Amtrak K-9 unit demonstrations, train car walkthroughs and more. So if you’re in the mood for some rich history, “choo choo” choose to partake in National Train Day.
Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Cost: Free. Amtrak rides $5 per person; children 12 and under ride free.
Union Station 40 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, DC
All through the month of May, the Library of Congress Packard Campus will commemorate Memorial
Day with free film screenings and a live concert! On Friday, The Quebe Sisters Band from Texas will perform western swing, vintage country, bluegrass, jazz and swing standards, and Texas-style fiddling in the campus theater. On Saturday, LoC will screen “Memphis Bell”, a true story of the 25th and last mission of the American B-17 bomber, starring Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, and Tate Donovan. Come out and celebrate history and culture with these free events this weekend!
The Quebe Sisters Band
Friday at 7:30pm
Cost: Free
“Memphis Bell”
Saturday at 7:30pm
Cost: Free
Library of Congress Packard Campus 19053 Mount Pony Road Culpeper, VA 22701
Spice up your weekend with an eclectic array of dance performances! This Saturday and Sunday, join El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea/DC Contemporary Dance Theatre as they present “Sin Decir Palabres”/”Unspoken Words,” DC’s 3rd Latin American Concert Dance Festival at the Gonda Theatre at Georgetown University’s Davis Performing Arts Center. This annual festival has a variety of dance styles, including classical, indigenous, and contemporary, and includes works from some of DC’s most outstanding dance talent, internationally recognized Latino choreographers, and world renowned performing artists! On Saturday only, American icon choreographer, Kevin Iega Jeff, will kick of the premiere of his work, Juntos, as a special guest speaker. You won’t want to miss these fantastic performances!
Spring has sprung and we're in the mood to celebrate! Check out our weekend event highlights in DC, Maryland, and Virginia for April 19 - 21 below, you're sure to find something you'll like.
Tito Puente (April 20, 1923 – June 1, 2000) was a prestigious Latin jazz and salsa composer and a remarkable musician. Known as “The King of Latin Jazz” and “The King of the Timbales,” Tito Puente made an extensive impact in the music world for 50 years. This Saturday, the Anacostia Community Museum hosts Metro Mambo: Tito Puente: The Definitive Celebration! Hosted by Jim Byers from 89.3 FM’s Latin Flavor, this celebration of the legendary Tito Puente includes un-released recordings, personal insights, and rare memorabilia from former Puente band members and Puente’s biographer, archivist, and best friend of over 40 years, Joe Conzo. Get excited, there will be a dance party featuring one of the region’s top bands!
Now that the sun is finally shinning and the flowers are beginning to bloom, why not spend the weekend outdoors? This weekend, the City of Alexandria will host the 20th Annual Alexandria Earth Day and Arbor Day. The event will consist of a variety of activities such as the Arbor Day tree planting, visual and performing arts events from Alexandria City Public School students, the Annual Earth Day Tree Sale, and music from Woven Green, an eco-friendly band. Also included will be the display of a new hybrid DASH bus, a hybrid trolley and other vehicles to educate families of the importance of going green. So get on your bike, jump on the bus, or walk to Alexandria’s Annual Earth Day Celebration.
“To be, or not to be: that is the question” and we have an answer! This Sunday, you need to “be” at William Shakespeare’s Birthday Open House hosted by the Folger Shakespeare Library. This free celebration will feature fun activities for the whole family, like a Shakespeare portrait contest, fortune telling, Elizabethan crafts, stories from 16th Century England, a scavenger hunt, and poetry contests. Sunday is also the only day the Reading Rooms are open to the public so take a tour inside and then head out on a docent-lead walk through the Elizabethan Garden. This event is rain or shine, be sure to get there in for the cake-cutting ceremony on the lawn at 3:30pm.
Sunday, 12 to 4pm
Cost: Free
Folger Shakespeare Library 201 East Capitol Street, SE Washington, DC 20003
Read the full article to watch our WETA Around Town film discussions from this week, share your impressions of the movies in the comments below! Reviewed: Trance & 42
In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul airs on WETA tonight at 8:00pm! This show honors the soul-infused music from the mid-to late-1960s that came from Memphis, Tennessee and renowned labels such as Stax-Volt Records, which featured artists like Al Green, Ben Harper, Alabama Shakes, Mavis Stables, and more. This exciting evening in the White
House’s East Room pays tribute to Memphis. Though Memphis was a segregated city in the 1960s, blacks and whites came together to make soulful music with a mix of gospel and rhythmic grooves, which is known today as “Memphis Soul.”
In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul is the tenth In Performance at the White House program during President Barack Obama’s administration. This edition features a wide array of classic songs performed by impressive artists: “I’ll Take You There” performed by Mavis Staples, “Soul Man” performed by Sam Moore and Joshua Ledet, “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay” performed by Justin Timberlake and Steve Cropper, “Knock on Wood” performed by Eddie Floyd, “Born Under a Bad Sign” performed by Alabama Shakes, Steve Cropper, and Booker T, “You Don’t Miss Your Water” performed by William Bell, “I Can’t Stand the Rain” performed by Queen Latifah, “I’m In I’m Out And I’m Gone” performed by Charlie Musselwhite and Ben Harper, “Try A Little Tenderness” performed by Cyndi Lauper and Charlie Musselwhite, and “In the Midnight Hour” performed by the full cast.
In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul airs on WETA Tuesday, April 16 at 8:00pm, Wednesday at 4:00pm, Thursdays at 1:00pm, and Friday at 9:00pm. Don’t miss out on these fantastic, soulful performances!
What to do in this wonderful spring weather?! This weekend in DC, Maryland, and Virginia check out a jazzy birthday bash, a Japanese drum performance, a major environmental film festival, and more! Here's the details on our featured weekend events!
If you could celebrate your birthday anyway you wanted, how would you celebrate it? For Grammy Award-winning drummer Jack DeJohnette, celebrating with class and style is always on the agenda. DeJohnette is most widely recognized for joining Miles Davis’s band and helping to change the face of jazz with their album, Bitches Brew. He is also known for his association with artists such as John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Herbie Hancock. In celebration of his 70th birthday, DeJohnette wants to do nothing more than jazz things up at the Terrace Theatre. Currently on an international tour with pianist Geogre Colligan, saxophonist Tim Ries and bassist Jerome Harris, the NEA Jazz Master will play a little music with his friends, ranging from cool jazz rhythms to bittersweet memories.
And beats with energy that will make you want to see them again! This Saturday, join Kodo, a traditional Japanese drum troupe, as they take over the DAR Constitution Hall. Kodo uses ancient and modern compositions to achieve physical and musical versatility that surpasses language barriers. Kodo is known for its performers not only playing the drums, but also using their bodies to tell a story. Experience how the power of sound can create emotions ranging from laughter to aggression to even fear. This show will be an unforgettable experience for all of your senses!
Spring is finally in the air! If you don’t see enough green outside, catch it on the big screen. Celebrate the outdoors with the first weekend of the Environmental Film Festival in the nation’s capital, running March 12 through 24 at museums, embassies, universities, libraries and local theaters. The theme of this year’s festival is the role of rivers and watersheds in the global environment. 190 documentary, narrative, animated, archival, experimental and children’s films were selected to highlight this and many other ecological issues. The festival will feature 110 Washington, D.C. area premieres, including this weekend’s Amazon Gold, on Friday at the National Geographic Society, Cinderella Moon, on Saturday and Sunday at the National Gallery of Art, and More Than Honey on Sunday at AFI Silver Theater. Discover the wonders of the world and the perils that endanger them this weekend through next.
This Romanian film directed by Cristian Mungiu follows the friendship of two young women (Cosmina Stratan and Cristina Flutur) who were raised in the same orphanage as children.
India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) becomes infatuated with her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Good) when he comes to live with her and her unstable mother (Nicole Stoker) following the death of her father. This film directed by Chan-wook Park is largely drama with plenty of mystery and thriller in the mix as India learns more and more about her disturbed family.
Born in 1926, Jerry Lewis is one of America’s most iconic slapstick comedians. He rose to fame with partner Dean Martin with the Martin and Lewis comedy act, which first appeared on television in 1948. In the 1950s, he embarked on a solo career and starred in films such asThe Ladies Man, The Nutty Professor, and It’s Only Money. More recently, Lewis has performed on Broadway and been awarded for his humanitarian acts, always known as being a key member of the comedic community.
This Saturday, comedian Jerry Lewis takes to the stage of the Showroom at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, as he tells stories of his eight-decade career in a tribute to his 87th birthday. The performance will feature narrative and musical acts by Lewis, as well as footage from his career, both classics and never before seen. At the end of the evening, Lewis will take questions from fans in the audience. Join us for this monumental presentation with Jerry Lewis, this Saturday at 6:30pm.
Looking for something to do this weekend in DC, Maryland, and Virginia? Check out our selection of cinematic spectacles, marching band talent, eclectic jazz, and more in your own backyard!
Begin the weekend with a night of culture and cuisine! The Workhouse Arts Center is celebrating India by hosting a dinner and movie! The Arts Center, a converted prison, will be presenting the film Saawariywa, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This Bollywood drama centers on a man and woman who meet in a small town and the past circumstances that prevent them from being together. Aroma Indian Restaurant will be catering the event with authentic Tandoori-style meats and vegetarian options.
Have you ever wondered what happens to the band members after football season is over? Well, sports might be seasonal but the music must go on. The Music Center at Strathmore brings visitors a unique musical performance in honor of the black marching band tradition. A group of 30 marching band members from a variety of Historically Black Colleges and Universities come together to deliver a performance that embraces Motown, hip hop, pop and several other genres. Known for their explosive drum beats and cool rhythm, Drumline Live will certainly get your heart pumping and your feet moving. So if you’re in the mood for fun dance moves and customary band music, don’t miss HBCU’s “fifth quarter” performance.
Want another Friday night option? Start off on the right beat! Strathmore presents “Friday Night Eclectic: An Evening of Jazz with THIEFS.” THIEFS is a “grammatically incoherent” jazz group that intertwines aspects of modern composition and improvisation into a “boundary-less foundation” of beats. Led by drummer and vocalist Guillermo E. Brown, bassist Keith Witty, and saxophonist Christophe Panzani, THIEFS seamlessly shifts from fully electronic to acoustic with their sometimes mellow, other times harsher, grooves. During intermission, enjoy an original jazz dance performance inspired by Satomi Shirai’s photography.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is hosting a free Family Day Extravaganza, which is jam-packed with music-themed activities throughout the gallery. Get ready to groove by creating and wearing a button with your own band name and logo, complimented by music-themed face paint. Next, get down with some breakdancers from The Lab DC, learn how to scratch records like a DJ with DJ Scratch Academy, or make and play your own clay whistle. Leave your mark with a cause-worthy poster and original graffiti on a DIY tee. Afterwards, be sure to take a tour of the gallery, including their new “Pump Me Up: D.C. Subculture of the 1980s” exhibition. (We’ll be airing our critics’ discussion of the exhibition later this month!) At the end of the day, march off in a send-off by percussionists Eddie Eatmon and Rivum Brigade.
Folger Theatre’s Henry V was originally supposed to close this weekend, but due to popular demand, they’ve extended the production’s run. If you can’t see it this weekend, see it next weekend. After that, you’re out of luck! Here’s what our critics have to say about the
Millions of Americans experience hunger every year. This documentary, directed by Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush and starring the likes of Jeff Bridges and Tom Colicchio, not only explores causes of the problem, but also proposes solutions.
Based on the UK television show, this British film directed by Nick Love tells the story of a jaded detective (Ray Winstone) in the Flying Squad of London’s Metropolitan police.
Looking for something to do this weekend in DC, Maryland, and Virginia? Check out our selection of a tropical flower exhibition, mysterious Slavonic music, and an epic viola serenade right in your own backyard!
Living in or near a big city like DC, you can sometimes find yourself disconnected from the natural world. This weekend, the National Museum of Natural History will have an opportunity for museum-goers of all ages to see a major collection of Latin American orchids close to home. Attend the Fiesta de las Or-Kid-eas Family Festival for a variety of orchid related activities, such as orchid face painting, orchid tattooing, orchid mosaic-making, and plant discussions. Want to learn how to pot an orchid? Orchid experts will also be giving patrons an orchid-potting demonstration and will even allow them to take an orchid home with them.
The best way to relax after an exciting weekend is with an afternoon classical music in a beautiful setting. This Sunday, enjoy the Cathedral Choral Society’s performance of Rachmaninoff's “Solemn Vespers, Op. 37” at the impressive Washington National Cathedral. To make this concert even more interesting, the Choral Society will perform the piece in the original Old Church Slavonic, which is a Slavonic language dating back to 9th century Byzantine missionaries. With a talented chorus and historic location, this concert will take you back in time and in peace.
Two concerts are better than one! If the Cathedral Choral Society’s performance wasn’t enough, indulge in a special collaboration between the National Symphony Orchestra’s Tsuna Sakamoto and the American Youth Symphonic Orchestra at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. The musicians will be performing “Symphonic Serenade” and Bartók’s Concerto for Viola and Orchestra. Don’t miss out on this spectacular performance!
Sunday, 8pm
Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for seniors (65+)/students, free for music teachers
Kerri Russell and Josh Hamilton star in Scott Stewart’s story of the Barrett family’s reckoning with a dark and terrible force.
SNITCH (PG-13)
Dwayne Johnson, Susan Sarandon, and John Bernthal star in Ric Roman Waugh’s story of a father who goes undercover for the DEA so his son can finally be released from prison after getting set up in a drug deal.
Looking for something to do this weekend in DC, Maryland, and Virginia? Check out our selection of cultural events right in your own backyard!
Be inspired by art in Bethesda
The second Friday of the month can only mean one thing: art lovers will descend upon Bethesda for the Art Walk taking place at seven galleries and studios. Enjoy free refreshments and a chance to discover original artwork by local, regional and national artists. If you need to rest your legs between galleries, the free Bethesda Circulator bus run continuously with stops within a few blocks from each art space.
If you’re looking for a casual Sunday afternoon, stroll on over to Dumbarton House for The Picnic Theatre’s holiday encore performance of An Ideal Husband.
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes the first installment of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before THE LORD OF THE RINGS, which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING.
HYDE PARK ON HUDSON (R)
In June 1939 the King and Queen of England (Samuel West and Olivia Colman) were invited to stay overnight at President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's (Bill Murray) country estate Hyde Park in upstate New York (actually, it's his mother's—he just lives there). This was the first-ever visit of a reigning English monarch to America. With Britain facing imminent war with Germany, the Royals are desperately looking to FDR for support. But international affairs must be juggled with the complexities of FDR's domestic establishment, as wife Eleanor (Olivia Williams), mother, and mistresses all conspire to make the royal weekend an unforgettable one. Seen through the eyes of Daisy (Laura Linney), Franklin's neighbor and intimate, the weekend will produce not only a special relationship between two great nations, but, for Daisy—and through her, for us all—a deeper understanding of the mysteries of love and friendship.
Set in the 1970s, this drama is about Rudy (Alan Cumming), a drag queen whose outrageous exterior hides a lonely but lovable interior. Going to the apartment next door to complain about noise, he finds Marco (Isaac Leyva), a mentally handicapped teenager, abandoned by his mother who has been arrested for prostitution and drugs. Rudy reluctantly and temporarily takes care of Marco, but soon finds himself wanting to turn his guardianship into something more permanent. Meanwhile, Rudy meets attractive, straight-arrow, closeted Paul (Garrett Dillahunt), who attends his show and likes what he sees. Paul works in the DA's office, which comes in handy when Rudy gets into a fight with social services over Marco. As Rudy and Paul are drawn together and become a couple, they seek to adopt Marco, but meet with prejudice and overwhelming obstacles.
THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE (NR)
In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem were arrested for brutally beating and raping a white woman in New York City's Central Park. The policed announced to a press hungry for sensational crime stories that the young men had been part of a gang of teenagers who were out "wilding," assaulting joggers and bicyclists that evening. The ensuing media frenzy was met with a public outcry for justice. New York Mayor Ed Koch called it the "crime of the century" and it remains to date one of the biggest media stories of our time. Each of the five suspects spent 6 to 13 years in prison before a shocking confession from a serial rapist and DNA evidence proved their innocence. Set against a backdrop of a decaying city beset by violence and racial tension, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE tells the story of how five lives were upended by the rush to judgment by police, a sensationalist media and a devastating miscarriage of justice. Written and directed by Ken Burns (The Civil War, Prohibition, Jazz, Baseball), David McMahon and Sarah Burns.
With such a plethora of holiday events in our region, it’s quite a task to choose the best ones for your already hectic schedule! Luckily, this is the season of giving and we’re feeling particularly generous. Take a peek under your cyber Christmas tree. Our gift to you? A carefully curated directory of our favorite things to do this December in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Now hurry off and have fun — this special time comes but once a year.
Happy holidays from WETA Around Town!
SPARKLES FROM THE STAGE
Theatre’s always magical, but something about the holidays makes the stage shine a little brighter after Thanksgiving. We covered many here in our recent Holiday Theatre Roundup:
Here are a few more performances you shouldn’t tuck away in your stocking; see one now!
Holiday Guys featuring Marc Kudisch and Jeffry Denman
Grace and elegance—don’t we all wish we had more of that, especially as the year comes to a hectic close? Maybe a dancer’s poise will rub off on us. There’s only one way to find out and that means going to a holiday dance performance!
Kwanzaa Celebration with Dance Place
December 14 & 15, 8pm; Cost: $22 general admission
The Nutcracker by Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore School of the Arts, Maryland Institute College of Art & Modell Lyric
December 21 & 22, 2 & 7:30pm; Cost: Starting at $28
Modell Lyric – Baltimore, MD
MUSICAL MERRIMENT
With carols and orchestral celebrations, ‘tis the season of music! We’ve narrowed down the list of holiday concerts galore. And, yes, there’s something about the holidays that makes us feel lyrical.
December 15 & 16, 4pm; Cost: $25 for adults, $10 for children
National City Christian Church – Washington, DC
STIRRING SIGHTS
Glitter, lights, and numerous other decorations put the winter holidays in the running for the most beautiful time of year. Honor the spirit of the season (and the visual arts) by strolling out to one of these shows:
Holiday Films at AFI Silver: It’s a Wonderful Life, The Muppet Christmas Carol, A Christmas Story, The Nutcracker, Miracle on 34th Street,Holiday Affair, etc.
Starting December 7; $11.50 for general admission, $7 per child
Center this weekend! Combining radio show and comic book elements, this unique production follows the story of reporter Molly Sloan, her assistant Timmy Mendez, and a librarian named Ben Wilcott as they face the threat of an invasion of sludge monsters from the planet Zygon. The live performance features three actors, one Foley artist, and one keyboardist who perform all the voices, sound effects and music, while more than 1,000 hand-drawn, comic book images fill a two-story-high screen. This adventure is perfect for families with children ages 8 and up! 
purchase original work from over 200 artists across a wide range of mediums. Enjoy live performances and entertainment, and be sure to visit the Family Art Park, which offers something for children, teens, and adults alike. Held by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE), a non-profit organization with the goal of promoting visual arts, the festival begins this Friday with its Opening Night Party from 6pm-9pm. 
think what life would be like without cars, buses or trains? This Saturday you will have the opportunity to show your appreciation by celebrating 
Day
present 
a remarkable musician. Known as “The King of Latin Jazz” and “The King of the Timbales,” Tito Puente made an extensive impact in the music world for 50 years. This Saturday, the Anacostia Community Museum hosts Metro Mambo: Tito Puente: The Definitive Celebration! Hosted by Jim Byers from 89.3 FM’s Latin Flavor, this celebration of the legendary Tito Puente includes un-released recordings, personal insights, and rare memorabilia from former Puente band members and Puente’s biographer, archivist, and best friend of over 40 years, Joe Conzo. Get excited, there will be a dance party featuring one of the region’s top bands! 
the weekend outdoors? This weekend, the City of Alexandria will host the 20th Annual Alexandria Earth Day and Arbor Day. The event will consist of a variety of activities such as the Arbor Day tree planting, visual and performing arts events from Alexandria City Public School students, the Annual Earth Day Tree Sale, and music from Woven Green, an eco-friendly band. Also included will be the display of a new hybrid DASH bus, a hybrid trolley and other vehicles to educate families of the importance of going green. So get on your bike, jump on the bus, or walk to Alexandria’s Annual Earth Day Celebration. 
“be” at William Shakespeare’s Birthday Open House hosted by the Folger Shakespeare Library. This free celebration will feature fun activities for the whole family, like a Shakespeare portrait contest, fortune telling, Elizabethan crafts, stories from 16th Century England, a scavenger hunt, and poetry contests. Sunday is also the only day the Reading Rooms are open to the public so take a tour inside and then head out on a docent-lead walk through the Elizabethan Garden. This event is rain or shine, be sure to get there in for the cake-cutting ceremony on the lawn at 3:30pm. 
House’s East Room pays tribute to Memphis. Though Memphis was a segregated city in the 1960s, blacks and whites came together to make soulful music with a mix of gospel and rhythmic grooves, which is known today as “Memphis Soul.” 
a traditional Japanese drum troupe, as they take over the DAR Constitution Hall. Kodo uses ancient and modern compositions to achieve physical and musical versatility that surpasses language barriers. Kodo is known for its performers not only playing the drums, but also using their bodies to tell a story. Experience how the power of sound can create emotions ranging from laughter to aggression to even fear. This show will be an unforgettable experience for all of your senses! 
Celebrate the outdoors with the first weekend of the Environmental Film Festival in the nation’s capital, running March 12 through 24 at museums, embassies, universities, libraries and local theaters. The theme of this year’s festival is the role of rivers and watersheds in the global environment. 190 documentary, narrative, animated, archival, experimental and children’s films were selected to highlight this and many other ecological issues. The festival will feature 110 Washington, D.C. area premieres, including this weekend’s Amazon Gold, on Friday at the National Geographic Society, Cinderella Moon, on Saturday and Sunday at the National Gallery of Art, and More Than Honey on Sunday at AFI Silver Theater. Discover the wonders of the world and the perils that endanger them this weekend through next.
performance in honor of the black marching band tradition. A group of 30 marching band members from a variety of Historically Black Colleges and Universities come together to deliver a performance that embraces Motown, hip hop, pop and several other genres. Known for their explosive drum beats and cool rhythm, Drumline Live will certainly get your heart pumping and your feet moving. So if you’re in the mood for fun dance moves and customary band music, don’t miss HBCU’s “fifth quarter” performance. 
with music-themed activities throughout the gallery. Get ready to groove by creating and wearing a button with your own band name and logo, complimented by music-themed face paint. Next, get down with some breakdancers from The Lab DC, learn how to scratch records like a DJ with DJ Scratch Academy, or make and play your own clay whistle. Leave your mark with a cause-worthy poster and original graffiti on a DIY tee. Afterwards, be sure to take a tour of the gallery, including their new “Pump Me Up: D.C. Subculture of the 1980s” exhibition. (We’ll be airing our critics’ discussion of the exhibition later this month!) At the end of the day, march off in a send-off by percussionists Eddie Eatmon and Rivum Brigade.
close to home. Attend the Fiesta de las Or-Kid-eas Family Festival for a variety of orchid related activities, such as orchid face painting, orchid tattooing, orchid mosaic-making, and plant discussions. Want to learn how to pot an orchid? Orchid experts will also be giving patrons an orchid-potting demonstration and will even allow them to take an orchid home with them.
To make this concert even more interesting, the Choral Society will perform the piece in the original Old Church Slavonic, which is a Slavonic language dating back to 9th century Byzantine missionaries. With a talented chorus and historic location, this concert will take you back in time and in peace.
artists. If you need to rest your legs between galleries, the free Bethesda Circulator bus run continuously with stops within a few blocks from each art space.
