Get Out! The Events Column, December 27, 2018 - January 3, 2019

US Botanic Garden

We wanted to share some events and activities that we thought would be of interest to list members. Have a great weekend -- and week beyond, too. If you know of an event that the 18,000+ members of the Cleveland Park Listserv should know about, please email us at events @ fastmail dot net.

Peggy Robin and Bill Adler
Publishers, Cleveland Park Listserv
www.cleveland-park.com      

Thursday, December 27 from 6 - 8 PM, Holiday Concert Series: Capital Accord Chorus. Join us for live seasonal music in the Garden Court of the US Botanic Garden. Capital Accord Chorus is a women's chorus performing four-part a cappella harmony in the barbershop style. Their fun and engaging repertoire range from jazz to pop, through standards and show tunes -- they sing it all. Please note: Limited seating available on a first come, first served basis. Seating will open around 5:30 PM. Free, no pre-registration required. United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, 202-225-8333. This event is on despite the US Government partial shutdown, as noted on the website at https://www.usbg.gov/: “The U.S. Botanic Garden is open as scheduled, having been funded for the current fiscal year.”

Thursday, December 27 at 7 PM, Shutdown PrognosticationFest. At this special event we invite all who claim to possess powers of prognostication, divination or augury to come prepared to answer several questions about the current government shutdown, including: What parts of the government will be open? What will be closed? Who will be working without pay, or for delayed pay? And most important of all: When Will It End? Please bring any tools or props you need - Ouija board, chicken entrails, tea leaves, Tarot cards, your CNN special policy analyst/punditry contract - to help you arrive at the answers to these questions. When the shutdown ends, prizes will be sent to the person who was most accurate in predictions. To see the complete list of questions and register to participate in this public ProsnosticationFest, go to: http://bit.ly/cpfakeevent 

Friday, December 28 at 10 AM, Ceremonial Wreath Laying on President Wilson’s Tomb. You are invited to the Washington National Cathedral to watch as representatives from the US military services lay a wreath on President Wilson’s tomb on the 162nd anniversary of his birth. Following the presentation of the wreath, the Woodrow Wilson House will honor First Lady Edith Bolling Wilson with a special floral tribute commemorating the anniversary of her death which falls on December 28th as well. Edith Wilson, a lover of orchids, inspired Chadwick & Son Orchids to develop an orchid named for her that will be included in the spray. This event is free and open to the public. Please note: This event begins at 10 AM, when doors open to the public. If you plan on attending the wreath laying, please arrive in advance and look for signs directing you to a before-hours entrance that will be open from 9:30 AM. The Washington National Cathedral is at Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues NW, http://bit.ly/2RchKLi    

Friday, December 28 from 5:30 - 8 PM, Holiday Jazz at the St. Regis. Get into the holiday spirit with holiday inspired live jazz music, sip on festive cocktails or hot cocoa, and cozy up by the fire. Free. RSVP: http://bit.ly/2CxrUxK. The St. Regis is at 923 16th St NW at K St.

Saturday, December 29 at 12:30 PM, Carillon Recital. Cathedral Carillonneur Edward M. Nassor plays a recital.- free and open to the public. The Washington National Cathedral is a Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues NW, https://cathedral.org/event/carillon-recital/2018-12-29/   

Saturday, December 29 at 1 PM, Game Day at the Georgetown Neighborhood Library. All are invited to a Game Day over the winter break. We will spend the afternoon playing all types of board games. Bring your own or choose from the library's game collection. All ages are welcome to join the fun. Free. The Georgetown Neighborhood Library is at 3260 R St. NW, https://www.dclibrary.org/node/62362 

Sunday, December 30 at 12 noon, Tots’ Noon Year’s Eve at Tudor Place. Ring in the New Year with your little one at this special holiday with Tudor Tots! Enjoy a festive counting-themed storytime, then count down together to 12 PM. Celebrate the noon-year with noisemakers, confetti, a sparkling craft, and toast 2019 with juice. For ages 2 - 4. Parents/caregivers remain with children. Member Child: $5; Non-member Child: $8; Adults: Free. At Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, 1644 31st Street NW, http://www.tudorplace.org/programs/163/weekend-tots-noon-years-eve/ 

Monday, December 31 from 10 AM - 1 PM, Noon Yards Eve. Ring in 2019 with the Noon Yards Eve balloon drop! Family-friendly activities for kids of all ages, including trackless train rides through The Yards, inflatable moon bounces, glitter tattoo artists, balloon artistry, music, and more! The event will culminate with a countdown and celebratory balloon drop at noon to ring in the New Year! Free. Yards Park is at 301 Water St. SE. More info: https://www.theyardsdc.com/event/2018/12/noon-yards-eve-3/ 

Monday, December 31 at10:30 AM, Noon Year's Eve Party. Ring in the New Year with your kiddos at our Noon Year's Eve party. Make a festive party hat, sip sparkling cider, get a glitter tattoo and share your new year's resolutions with us. Festivities begin at 10:30 AM and will culminate with a countdown and celebratory balloon drop at noon to ring in the New Year! Free. At Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Library, 1630 7th St. NW, https://www.dclibrary.org/node/62097 

Monday, December 31, 7 PM - 12 midnight, Big Night in the Little City of Falls Church. The Big Night spans a 4 block area of downtown Falls Church that begins on the 100 block of West Broad Street, which is closed to traffic that evening. Lots of live music, interactive amusements and activities, inflatables, and more. Highlights include: Free Tours of the Historic Falls Church with costumed guides begin earlier this year from 5 - 7 PM; 6 live bands; Roots Music; 19 piece Orchestra with Swing Dancing; Karaoke; Free Popcorn, Hot Chocolate, and Soup while supplies last; Rock Wall Climbing 32′ high; Adrenaline Rush Obstacle Course; Fire Rescue Obstacle Course; Tiger Belly Moon bounce for small children; Caricaturist; Balloon artist; Puppet shows; Fire pits and Fireplaces for warming; New Year’s Eve Novelties (retail); Food and snack carts; Walking Watch Night Menus; Free balloons for hats and countdown wave. ALL FREE, FAMILY FRIENDLY, and OPEN TO ALL. Free Shuttle Bus every 30 minutes from East Falls Church Metro Station to all venues, running from 7pm - 1am. http://www.watchnightfallschurch.com/   

Tuesday, January 1 from 10 AM - 12 noon, Mayor Muriel Bowser's 5th Annual Fresh Start #FitDC 5K. All ages are invited to join Mayor Muriel Bowser and hundreds of DC residents in the scenic Capitol Riverfront for the #FITDC Fresh Start 5K. Whether you want to run, walk or just cheer folks on, this will be a fun event for all! Please take advantage of pre-event packet pick-up opportunities at the VIDA U Street location on Thursday 12/27 from 6-8pm and the VIDA Yards location on Friday 12/28 from 6-8pm. Same-day registration and packet pickup begin at 9:00am and the Fresh Start 5K begins at 10:00am. Capitol Riverfront, Parcel A, at the intersection of M St and New Jersey Ave SE. Registration: http://bit.ly/2RjXFCG 

Tuesday, January 1 from 3 - 4 PM, Tour the Highlights from the Conservatory Collection with a USBG Volunteer Docent. Want to visit a desert, a tropical paradise, and the Mediterranean? Want to travel back to the US Exploring Expedition and the Jurassic period? Take a tour with a knowledgeable guide who will connect the exotic plant world to everyday life. You might see bananas, cacao, and coffee ripening on the tree or learn about the next big breakthrough in medicinal plant research. Tour meets in the Conservatory Garden Court. Free, no pre-registration required. Visitors' note: “The Botanic Garden is open and all activities are funded for the current fiscal year.”

Wednesday, January 2 at 4:30 PM, Kid's Chess Club. This program is for children of all ages who want to learn to play or improve their chess moves and play in tournaments. Our chess instructor will teach the chess players how to think and plan their next move and use their brain power to win. Come and join our chess group and learn to make a risky move, check and have fun. This free program is made possible by the Friends of the Cleveland Park Library. The Cleveland Park Library is at 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW, https://www.dclibrary.org/node/62346 

Thursday, January 3 at 12 noon, Chamber Music at Noon. The DC Public Library, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut of Washington, presents a free chamber music series, open to all (formerly titled the Brown Bag Chamber Recital). Performers include internationally known, local musicians Ralitza Patcheva and Vasily Popov, as well as special-guest performers. At the Goethe Institut of Washington, next door to Library Express, at 1990 K St. NW (entrance is located on 20th St. between Eye and K Streets), https://www.dclibrary.org/node/34726