Weekend Round Up December 7, 2017
By December 7, 2017 0 781
•Running through Jan. 8, “Glow,” the fourth edition of Georgetown’s exhibition of light art, opens this Friday, Dec. 8. Presented by the Georgetown Business Improvement District, “Glow” will feature nine installations by local and international artists, with works lit from 5 to 10 p.m. nightly. For details, including a map and information about each installation and related programming, visit georgetownglowdc.com.
On Friday: ceramics and jewelry sales in Old Town, Russian music at the French Embassy and wine drinking in the Park View neighborhood (also on Saturday) …
Artfete Open House & Holiday Party
On Friday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m., the Art League will kick off the holiday season at its Madison Annex, 305 Madison St. in Alexandria, Virginia, with a free open house and party featuring live music by the Foggy Bottom Whomp-Stompers, artwork, artist demos and a wearable-art fashion show. The Art League’s Holiday Ceramics and Jewelry Sales continue through Sunday. For details, visit theartleague.org or call 703-683-1780.
‘Stars of the RCAS’
The Russian Chamber Art Society opens its 2017-18 season at the Embassy of France, 1530 Reservoir Road NW, with a 7:30 p.m. concert on Friday, Dec. 8, celebrating the 75th birthday of founder and artistic director Vera Danchenko-Stern and her 50 years of performing with her brother, violinist Victor Danchenko. After the esteemed duo plays several pieces, singers and instrumentalists will perform works by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and other Russian composers. Tickets (including wine and birthday cake) are $55. VIP tickets (also including a pre-concert Champagne reception) are $100. For details, visit thercas.com.
Drink the District Wine Festival
At the Drink the District Wine Festival: Holiday Edition, participants will savor crisp whites, rich reds and flirty roses while noshing on perfectly paired bites from the vibrant local culinary community. Sessions are Friday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 9, at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Tickets are $59 and $99 per three-hour session. For details, visit drinkthedistrictwinefestival.com. Park View, 3400 Georgia Ave. NW.
On Saturday: an open house at the Alliance Française, a talk on Suzanne Farrell and George Balanchine at the Kennedy Center, Storm Large’s “Holiday Ordeal” at Sixth & I and “Duke Ellington’s Neighborhood” at GALA (also on Sunday) …
Children’s Open House
The Alliance Française of Washington, D.C., 2142 Wyoming Ave. NW, will open its doors at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, for a day of programs for children from 1 to 18 years old. Visitors can listen to stories, sing along with Achille in the library and introduce children to French and francophone culture through comic books, novels and movies. Placement tests will be available for children and parents interested in registering for French language classes. The open house is free with RSVP. For details, visit francedc.org or call 202-234-7911
Ballet 360°: The Choreographer and the Muse
Dance critic Alexandra Tomalonis uses discussion and video to explore various topics in the art form. This session — on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 4 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery — will consider the deep connection between legendary choreographer George Balanchine and Suzanne Farrell, one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century. Tickets are $15. For details, visit kennedy-center.org or call 202-467-4600.
Storm Large at Sixth & I
On Saturday, Dec. 9, at 8 p.m., Washington Performing Arts presents award-winning singer Storm Large, who will bring her wild and wonderful Holiday Ordeal to the stage at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue. Both a solo artist and a featured vocalist with Pink Martini, Large is a force of nature on stage, lending her commanding voice and bawdy humor to jazz standards, hard rock and everything in between. Parental advisory: This program includes mature themes and language. Tickets are $40. For details, call 877-987-3000 or visit sixthandi.org.
‘Duke Ellington’s Neighborhood’
In Series presents an interactive journey for kids through Duke Ellington’s D.C., Saturday, Dec. 9, at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 10, at 1:30 p.m. at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. Attendees will discover how a local hero championed African American musicians, influenced the Harlem Renaissance, shaped D.C.’s cultural history of and became an international star. Written by Mattias Kraemer and directed by Angelisa Gillyard, the show features a jazz combo and singers with Stanley Thurston at the piano. Tickets are $25 ($23 senior/young professional; $15 youth/student). For details, visit inseries.org or call 202-204-7763.
On Sunday: art for sale at the Hill Center, the big-band sound at Strathmore and “Nine Lessons and Carols” at St. John’s, Georgetown …
Hill Center Galleries Holiday Reception & Gift Sale
On Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m., the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, is holding a reception and gift sale in its galleries, featuring the six artists who have solo shows through December 30: Joanathan Bessaci, Rachel Bohlander, Karin Edgett, Michael Ford, Judith Peck and Scott Warren. Several additional artists will be on site with artisan birdhouses, purses, pottery and chenille scarves. For details (RSVP encouraged), visit hillcenterdc.org or call 202-549-4172.
Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra
Though the legendary nightclub it’s named for is closed, the Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece big band, is still going strong. Featuring some of D.C.’s best musicians, the BCJO will perform classics from Ellington, Basie and Strayhorn in the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike in North Bethesda, Maryland, on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $30. For details, visit strathmore.org or call 301-581-5100.
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
The St. John’s Choir presents this beloved holiday service of readings and music in the tradition of King’s College, Cambridge, on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m. Performed in the serene and radiant beauty of candlelight at St. John’s Church, 3240 O St. NW, the program will feature music arranged by Rutter and Willcocks in addition to traditional Christmas carols for all to sing. For details, visit stjohnsgeorgetown.org or call 202-338-1796.