Get Out! - The Events Column

Holiday Card - Quratt ul ain
via Wikimedia Creative Commons

We wanted to share some events and activities that list members might be interested in. Have a great weekend -- and week beyond, too. If you know of an event that the 16,500+ members of the Cleveland Park Listserv should know about, email us at events @ fastmail.net.  

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

Thursday, December 8 at 7 PM, Bonsai Hour: Author Talk.Three Washington-based authors (Ann McClellan, Sandra Moore and Stephen Voss) will talk about their books about the tiny, beautiful and historic trees of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the National Arboretum. Free. At the Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW, http://www.dclibrary.org/node/55050

Thursday, December 8 at 7:30 PM, The University of the District of Columbia’s free annual holiday concert. The UDC Chorale directed by Richard Odom, starts the evening with a program of choral music followed by the gospel sounds of The Voices, directed by Gerry Gillespie. The UDC Jazz Ensemble directed by Allyn Johnson closes the program with big band jazz sure to spread the holiday spirit. At the UDC auditorium, Theatre of the Arts Bldg. 46-East) 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW.  

Friday, December 9 from 11 AM - 9:30 PM, Stand With Comet. Comet Ping Pong Pizza is a family-friendly neighborhood pizzeria that has come under attack in the age of fake news. Last Sunday, the attack became literal when a man with an assault rifle entered the establishment and fired at least two shots. Thankfully, no one was hurt. No doubt this awful event and the malicious lies spread beforehand have left the staff feeling unsafe and on edge. They need a little light in all this darkness. So go eat at Comet Ping Pong this Friday and thank the staff for being a part of our community. Tell them you have their back. Tip well. [The preceding write-up was taken from the event’s Facebook page at http://bit.ly/2hpdKSa, but the listserv editor adds: The other businesses on the block have been hit hard by the fake news onslaught, as well. Come out on Friday to show your support and appreciation for Politics & Prose, Terasol, Little Red Fox, Besta Pizza, the Sherwin Williams Paint Store, and the rest -- see https://goo.gl/maps/7CUPcDLtE7R2 for the addresses. By the way, there is no weekly fake event http://bit.ly/cpfakeevent this week…we just can’t get in the mood to find fake news funny right now!]

Saturday, December 10 from 11 AM - 4 PM,The National Postal Museum’s Annual Holiday Card Workshop. You’ll find pretty papers, vintage stamps from around the world and lots of other supplies to inspire your creativity as you create one-of-a-kind holiday greetings. After making your cards, visit the museum’s stamp store to send the cards to your loved ones with a special Postal Museum postmark. This fun program offers something for people of all ages who love arts & crafts. Free - no registration required. At the National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE. Contact: Motoko Hioki  HiokiM @ si dot edu, http://postalmuseum.si.edu/visit/calendar.html

Saturday, December 10 from 11 AM - 3 PM, EdFEST, DC’s citywide school fair. Come and explore the city’s many public school options (PK3-12) for your child. Representatives from DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools will showcase their programs. With the launch of the My School DC common lottery application on December 12, EdFEST is a timely event to help you make informed school selections for the 2017-18 school year common lottery. EdFEST will also feature many free services and fun activities for the whole family: Flu shots for adults, health services for kids and teens, and lots more family fun, games and entertainment brought to you by the DC Department of Health. Sports activities for all brought to you by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, including information about DPR Fun Days, Winter and Spring Break Camps, Cooperative Play, and more. Story time with DC Public Library. Admission and parking are free. At DC Armory, 2001 East Capitol St SE. More at: http://www.myschooldc.org/events/edfest

Saturday, December 10 at 1 PM, “Christmas in the Air,” performance by Nancy Peery Marriott, soprano, accompanied by pianist David Champman. This program of treasured music of the Christmas season will be followed by an informal reception with light refreshments (part of the Anderson House free concert series presented by the Society of the Cincinnati). Free - seating on a first-come first serve basis.

Saturday, December 10 from 2 - 4 PM, Holiday Card Crafting. We will be making holiday-themed greeting cards and gift tags. All materials will be provided, and there will be a special performance by Georgetown University a cappella group GU Harmony. Due to the projects included, this event is recommended for ages 18+. Questions? Email  Email Rebekah Smith, rebekah.smith @ dc dot gov, or Julia Strusienski, julia.strusienski @ dc dot gov.  Free. At Georgetown Neighborhood Library, 3260 R Street NW, http://www.dclibrary.org/node/55215

Saturday, December 10 at 2:30 PM, Calling all future makers! Want to explore circuitry? Come to Chevy Chase DC Public Library to design and build a light switch from scratch. No experience needed, all supplies provided. Ages 8 and up. Free. At Chevy Chase DC Public Library, 5625 Connecticut Ave NW.

Saturday, December 10 at 3 PM, A Holiday Concert: The Season of Light, presented by The Georgetown Chorale. Experience one of the most unique concerts of the season! Excerpts from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio will be performed alongside portions of Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus. The texts of these two masterworks of the high Baroque speak to the imagery of light, joy, and peace common to both Hanukkah and Christmas. American composer Daniel Pinkham’s festive Christmas Cantata, in the arrangement for brass quartet and organ, as well as seasonal carols, will also be featured. Advance tickets: Adults: $25; Students/Children: $15; available online through December 9, 2016 at www.georgetownchorale.org. Tickets at the door: Adults: $30; Students/Children: $15. At First Congregational United Church of Christ, 945 G Street NW.

Saturday, December 10 from 3 - 5 PM, Holiday Extravaganza hosted by the Friends of Rose Park, featuring craft-making, pictures with Santa, music from Georgetown Chimes, train rides, treats from Sprinkles and Baked & Wired, and crafts from Georgetown Parties. Free, but please bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Rose Park is at 26th and O Streets NW, http://www.roseparkdc.org/

Saturday, December 10 at 5 PM, The Colonial English Handbell Ringers 2016 “Young at Heart” Holiday Concert, featuring youthful Yuletide classics such as “Frosty the Snowman” and the original “Away in a Jingle,” some traditional favorites, as well as selections from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Wizard of Oz and even Looney Toons. There are also some beautiful new selections this year, such as “Prayer” from Hansel and Gretel and of course, our traditional Sing-A-Long! The show runs about 75 minutes and is great for all ages. Seating is limited, but there will be plenty of standing room. Other show dates/times can be found at www.colonialringers.com. At The Center, 4321 Wisconsin Ave. (enter on Windom Pl.) Free - Donations always accepted for those who wish to offset our costs.

Sunday, December 11 at 1 PM or 3:30 PM, The Annual CPHS Gingerbread House Party! Get your tickets now because they are going fast! Houses to decorate are $30 each for Cleveland Park Historical Society members and $50 each for non-members - go to http://bit.ly/2gkpE1Z. All materials provided — home-baked houses, icing, candy, sprinkles, and other sticky architectural elements galore.At the Cleveland Park Club, 3433 33rd Place, NW, with sessions from 1 - 2:30 pm and 3:30 -5 PM. Not a member yet? Go to http://www.clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org/ to join CPHS and receive the member discount for this event and all programs through the end of 2017.

Sunday, December 11 from 1 - 5 PM, Studio 4903’s Annual Winter Show. Stop by and enjoy the work of local artists in: jewelry, painting, ceramics, textiles and  illustration. Come see what we've been up to and support your local artists while you enjoy fab art, food, drink and great cheer. Free. At 4903 Wisconsin Avenue, NW on the 2nd floor.

Sunday, December 11 at 4 PM, Thomas Circle Singers presents its annual concert, "The Wonder of Christmas." TCS will be joined by the Commonwealth Brass, organ, harp and percussion to perform holiday favorites such as Conrad Susa’s “A Christmas Garland,” Kirke Mechem’s “Seven Joys of Christmas.” Also guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit are carols and motets of Paul Halley, Carlos Alejandro Catrillo, Matthew Culloton, David Willcocks, and more, as well as a choral procession with bells and an audience sing-alongs of favorite carols. Tickets are $25 in advance through www.thomascirclesingers.org, $30 at the door ($5 student and senior discount); proceeds benefit Calvary Women's Services. At St. Paul's Church, 4900 Connecticut Avenue NW.

Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30 PM, “Stories of Strength” - First-person short digital films by Washingtonians in partnership with OneDC working for racial and economic equity in DC neighborhoods and DC Doors providing comprehensive services for Latino families and single women facing a housing crisis. In collaboration with the students of Prof. Nina Shapiro-Perl's Community Documentary Course.The screening is part of the “Media That Matter” series at American University, Doyle/Forman Theater, McKinley Building -- see http://observer.american.edu/m/location/?loc=10040 for location. Free. A reception starts at 6:30 and the program starts at 7 PM.

Thursday, December 15 from 6:30 - 8:30 PM, “F Street: A Place on the Ridge.” This video portrait of downtown D.C.’s historic Main Street looks at the history of F Street, NW, from Third to 15th Street. The filmmaker examines how F Street has held its own for nearly 200 years as the tide of commerce has ebbed and flowed, often leaving in its wake empty streets and vacant buildings. In addition to historic views, the filmmaker photographed a year in the life of F Street from 1980 to 1981. Join Anne McDonough, Library & Collections Director, Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and Phil Portlock, photographer, writer, film documentary producer, social justice activist and native Washingtonian, for a conversation after the screening. This program is part of the exhibition, “District II,” organized by the Historical Society of Washington, DC and presented in partnership at the National Building Museum. Free, but reservations are required at http://bit.ly/2haa2iN.