ZooLights at the National Zoo © cliff1066™ on Flickr

ZooLights at the National Zoo: November 25, 2011 - January 1, 2012: LED lights will illuminate the Zoo’s beautiful trees, walkways, and buildings, and life-size animal silhouettes and festive holiday décor will make this a perfect night out at the area's only free holiday light show at Zoolights at the National Zoo.

Gaylord National's ICE! Winter Tradition Featuring DreamWorks' Merry Madagascar: November 18, 2011 - January 8, 2012: Gaylord National's popular ICE! winter holiday attraction returns with an all-new, hilarious theme: ICE! featuring DreamWorks' Merry Madagascar. From November 18th to January 8th, 2011, the DreamWorks Animation holiday TV special will be brought to life in an interactive world of colorful ice sculptures carved entirely from TWO-MILLION pounds of ice.

Season's Greenings at the US Botanic Garden: November 24, 2011 - January 2, 2012: The winter solstice and holiday season is a culturally important time celebrated for thousands of years. Plants have always played an important role, from the fragrant conifers and other evergreens used for wreaths and holiday trees to mistletoe, poinsettia and other holiday blooming plants.

Holiday Model Train Display at Union Station DC: Now - January 2, 2012: The joy of model railroading transcends generations as it sparks the imagination of young and old alike often creating memories that last a lifetime. As a leading model train manufacturer, M.T.H. Electric Trains from nearby Columbia, Maryland produces a wide range of products spanning HO, O, G and Standard gauges.

Ford's Theatre Presents A Christmas Carol: November 18 - December 31, 2011: . Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption.

Christmas at Mount Vernon Estate: November 25, 2011 - January 6, 2012: Christmas at Mount Vernon has been named as one of the "12 Places to Catch the Holiday Spirit" by AAA! Mount Vernon is decking the halls for a special daytime program November 25th, 2011 – January 6th, 2012.

18th Annual Symphony of Lights in Symphony Woods, Columbia, MD: November 21, 2011 - January 1, 2012: Symphony of Lights is a spectacular display of more than 70 larger-than-life, animated and stationary light creations in Symphony Woods, Columbia, MD.

Holidays at the National Harbor, W/ Fun, Food & Fireworks - FREE!: November 25, 2011 - January 1, 2012: On Friday, December 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd, 2011 from 6pm - 9pm on the Plaza by the big Christmas Tree, enjoy time with friends and family as you stroll along the streets of National Harbor and enjoy all the great in store offers.

The Washington Ballet Presents The Nutcracker: December 1 - 24, 2011 For 50 years, generations of Washingtonians have grown up loving—and introducing loved ones to—TWB’s The Nutcracker.

7th Annual Downtown Holiday Market Washington, DC: December 2 - 23, 2011: Bringing a unique and festive shopping "village" to the heart of Downtown DC, the Noon to 8pm market features more than 175 regional artisans, crafters and boutique businesses of ethnically produced goods.

Festival of Lights at the Washington, DC Mormon Temple: December 2, 2011 - January 1, 2012: One of the D.C. area's great community traditions, the Festival of Lights at the Washington, DC Mormon Temple features free concerts nightly in the comfortable, state-of-the-art theater located in the Visitors' Center.

Santa's Workshop at the Ellipse in Washington, DC: December 3 - 24, 2011: Santa and his elves are eager to welcome you! The Santa’s Workshop will be open from Saturday, December 3rd – Saturday, December 24th, 2011.

Mount Vernon Estate Candlelight Tours: December 3 - 18, 2011: "Mrs. Washington" hosts an enchanting evening of candlelit tours, fireside Christmas caroling, and samples of hot cider and ginger cookies.

IceBox, Washington Project for the Arts' Holiday Gift Shop: December 2 - 23, 2011: Featuring crafts, jewelry, housewares, and small works of art, all hand made by WPA member artists, IceBox is the perfect stop for all of your holiday shopping.

Smithsonian Gardens Holiday Traditions Daytime Tour: December 7, 9 & 10, 2011: Bedecked in their bright holiday finery, the Smithsonian gardens are a welcoming destinations this time of year. Cindy Brown, a Smithsonian Gardens Education Specialist, will lead a tour laced with history and how-to’s through the Enid A. Haupt and Mary Livingston Ripley Gardens.

National Symphony Orchestra Pops: The Perfect Gift at the Kennedy Center: December 8 - 11, 2011: Celebrate the holidays with the National Symphony Orchestra Pops, Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke, and the Canadian Tenors, four gifted young men with diverse vocal styles, undeniable charm, and international solo success.

United States Army Band Presents "A Holiday Festival" Concert: December 9 - 11, 2011: The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” will celebrate the holiday season with the annual “A Holiday Festival” concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, the weekend of December 9th - 11th, 2011.

Holiday Candlelight Tours at Montpelier Mansion: December 9 & 10, 2011: Warm up your winter evenings with festive music, lovely candlelight and traditional holiday greens on a Holiday Candlelight Tour at Montpelier Mansion on Friday, December 9th & Saturday, December 10th, 2011.

Off the Walls Holiday Art Sale at the The Corcoran College of Art + Design: December 8 - 10, 2011: The Corcoran College of Art + Design’s annual Off the Walls Holiday Art Sale features jewelry and wearable art, ceramics, and fine art.

12 Days of Merriment in Georgetown, A Holiday Shopping Tradition: December 9 - 20, 2011: As cheerful and grand as the holiday season, 12 Days of Merriment in Georgetown is full of exclusive holiday promotions, playful contests and activities, and discount parking deals to make holiday shopping that much easier.

Christmas with the Fairfax Choral Society, Carols from the Old and New Worlds: December 10, 2011: Welcome in the holiday season with the three hundred voices of the Fairfax Choral Society as theye present Christmas with FCS - Carols from the Old and New Worlds on Saturday, December 10th, 2011.

Caroling in the Rotunda at the National Gallery of Art: December 10 - 18, 2011: Caroling in Rotunda at the National Gallery of Art, surrounded by seasonal blossoms, has become a favorite family activity at the Gallery during the holidays.

The Georgetown Chorale Winter Concert: December 11, 2011: The Georgetown Chorale holiday concert, A Promise of Light will take place Sunday, December 11th, 2011, at 3pm in the afternoon at Christ Lutheran Church, 8011 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, Maryland.

Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours: December 10 & 11, 2011: Take a break from the fast pace of the season and experience the unique charm and history of Old Town Alexandria. As part of the Civil War Sesquicentennial events, experience 1860s Alexandria during the holidays. Tour Gadsby's Tavern Museum, Carlyle House, Lee-Fendall House and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, as part of your holiday celebration.

Lotus Uprising Holiday Extravaganza: December 17, 2011: Join Lotus Uprising, a musical yoga supper club, on H Street for an epic holiday extravaganza on Saturday, December 17th, 2011. There will be holiday jingles, the tunes of Collin Crowe, an ugly holiday sweater contest, and of course, mistletoe.

Family Christmas Concert at Kennedy Center Concert Hall: December 17, 2011: Perfect for the young and the young at heart, this theatrical concert warms up the holiday season with a heartfelt tale about two children who capture the spirit of Christmas with a very special gift.

National Symphony Orchestra Presents Handel's Messiah at the Kennedy Center: December 15 - 18, 2011: Continue a Christmas tradition with Handel's epic masterpiece, Messiah, conducted by Matthew Halls and performed with holiday spirit by the NSO, acclaimed guest singers, and the University of Maryland Concert Choir.

Holiday Treasures from Russia Concert at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall: December 19 - 24, 2011: The Choral Arts Society of Washington presents Holiday Treasures from Russia at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Monday, December 19th, 2011 at 7pm, Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 at 7pm and Saturday, December 24th, 2011 at 1pm.

National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony: December 20, 2011: The National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony is coming up Tuesday, December 20th, 2011 at 4pm. The Lighting Ceremony will take place at The Ellipse, near the White House (at the NW end, near Constitution Avenue), Washington, DC.

The Water-Skiing Santa and his Kneeboarding Reindeer: December 24, 2011: Don't miss this one of a kind Washington, D.C. tradition - The 26th Annual Water-Skiing Santa and his Kneeboarding Reindeer on December 24th, 2011! Also featuring the flying elves, the jet-skiing Grinch, and Frosty the Snowman in a dinghy. The event starts at 1pm sharp - rain or shine.

The birthday deal is redeemable during regular business hours: 10:30am – 10pm Thursday, August 4, 2011. This deal is only good at the Zburger- Tenleytown location, 4321 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC. For more information, visit: ohmygoff.tv/theblog/50%C2%A2-burgers-milkshakes-today/

Photo © MattHurst on Flickr

"NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration," on view through October 9th, 2011, features works by artists as diverse as Annie Leibovitz, Alexander Calder, Nam June Paik, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol and William Wegman. The exhibition includes drawings, photographs, sculpture and other art forms and media from the collections of NASA and the National Air and Space Museum. These more than 70 works—ranging from the illustrative to the abstract—present a different view of NASA than the one in history books or news shows.

Several of the artists have captured the faces and personalities of the men and women who have flown in space. Other members of the team—scientists, engineers, technicians, managers and thousands of others who made the space program possible—are also portrayed. Bunkers, gantries, radio dishes and the towering Vehicle Assembly Building of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida attracted other program artists, some of whom were struck by the co-existence of the space-age architecture of the Cape with the beaches, swamps, birds and animals that surround the space-age facility.

For more information, visit: www.nasm.si.edu

Indian Summer Showcase 2011 Events

June 11th, 2011: On Saturday, June 11, at 5 p.m. for Indian Country/Country Indian, singers Victoria Blackie (Navajo) and Rebecca Miller (Mohawk) and Becky Hobbs (Cherokee) will hold an outdoor concert on the museum's Welcome Plaza. Last year, Blackie won the prestigious "Debut Artist of the Year Award" at the Native American Music Awards and, in 2002, she performed at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Miller, of the Six Nations in Ontario, Canada, has been nominated for the Aboriginal Music Award, the Canadian Country Music Award, European Country Music Award and the Big Country Music Award.

June 22nd - 25th, 2011: The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma brings the tribe's music, food, games and more to the museum Wednesday, June 22, through Saturday, June 25, during Choctaw Days.The four-day event includes a reenactment of a traditional Choctaw wedding, stickball demonstrations, dance performances, storytelling and booths showcasing beadwork, pottery, flutes and Choctaw cuisine.

July 2nd - 22nd, 2011: This summer, museum visitors can enjoy two free "Dinner & A Movie" events at the museum's Rasmuson Theater: Kissed by Lightning, by Mohawk director Shelley Niro, Saturday, July 2, and Auto Immune Response, by Diné artist Will Wilson Friday, July 22. Inspired by an ancient Iroquois tale, Kissed by Lightning follows a Mohawk artist who keeps the memory of her late husband alive through the recreation of stories he would tell her. Auto Immune Response is a documentary about Wilson's work using large-scale photographs and digital video to imagine what the Navajos' relationship to the land might be like in the distant future. Wilson will introduce the screening and take questions afterward. Each screening begins at 7 p.m. Cuisine from the Mitsitam Cafe will be available for purchase from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Seats in the theater are limited, the public may register online at www.AmericanIndian.si.edu/calendar.

July 22nd - 24th, 2011: Starting Friday, July 22, and continuing through Sunday, July 24, the museum invites visitors to explore indigenous contributions to environmental sustainability, knowledge and activism at our annual Living Earth Festival. Presented in tandem with the opening of the exhibition "Conversations with the Earth: Indigenous Voices on Climate Change," the three-day celebration includes an outdoor farmers market where tribally owned cooperatives and farms will sell fresh produce, buffalo and traditional American Indian dishes; an Iron Chef-style cook-off between local and Native chefs in the museum's outdoor amphitheater; hands-on family activities and an evening concert with the Pappy Johns Band, a blues and rock band from the Six Nations in Ontario, Canada; the Plateros, a blues rock family trio from from Tohajilee, N.M., the eastern agency of the Navajo Nation; and Greg Analla, an Isleta and Laguna Pueblo musician from Albuquerque, N.M.

August 6th, 2011: On Saturday, Aug. 6, at 5 p.m., the Red Power Squad, a group from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, performs at the museum's outdoor Welcome Plaza. Formed in 1998 by Conway Kootenay, the Red Power Squad is a Native rap and hip-hop group designed to provide an outlet for inner-city youth.

For more information, visit www.AmericanIndian.si.edu/IndianSummerShowcase

2011 marks the fifth year of the West End Farmers Market! Primarily producer-only, every week you can look forward to: fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs, freshly baked breads, pastries and desserts, artisanal cheeses and yogurt, free range chicken, pork, beef and buffalo, handmade, fresh pasta and oven-ready meals, sweet, savory and smoky nuts, delicious jams, jellies, salsas and sauces, hot, brewed coffee, packaged ground coffee and coffee beans, beautiful fresh cut flowers and potted plants, and handmade jewelry and art.

For more information, visit: westendfarmersmarket.org

You might also enjoy:

• The Wine and Food Festival at National Harbor: May 14 & 15, 2011
• 8th Annual Open-Air Georgetown French Market: April 29 & 30, 2011
• Wine Enthusiast's Toast of the Town DC: May 20, 2011

For more information about the market, and to see a list of vendors, visit: ballstonarts-craftsmarket.blogspot.com/

You might also enjoy:

• 29th Annual Smithsonian Craft Show: April 14 - 17, 2011
• 8th Annual Open-Air Georgetown French Market: April 29 & 30, 2011
• Shopping in Adams Morgan

Photo © Rob Speed on Flickr

Piratz Tavern is an exciting place to go and immerse yourself in a swashbuckling fantasy as you eat.  As patrons enjoy their meals, a fight may suddenly break out in the tavern.  Armed and costumed re-enactors draw their swords as the tavern becomes a battle ground for blood thirsty ruffians.  Don't be alarmed!  This is business as usual in a Piratz Tavern.  The reassuring smiles of the serving "wenches" help to assure guests that this is merely one of the treats of an adventurous dining and bar experience.

Another part of the Piratz Tavern experience is live music.  The Pirates of the Drunken Ferret grace the halls of the tavern as they raise their voices to the rafters every Friday night.  Live dance demonstrations are also typical in the tavern such as the Calypso belly dancing hosted on January 15^th and 22^nd and Belly Dancing Rosie Fridays in January.  Other tavern standards include a ladies night known as "Wench Wednesdays" and a night for the men which is called "Theiven Thursdays".  Sunday brunch is the place to be for live sword fighting demonstrations as well as an interactive historical experience.

Piratz Tavern offers special menus for lunch, dinner, and children.  The lunch menu is special because it offers a number of sandwiches which are not available for dinner.  Meals on all menus are hearty with Caribbean, Jamaican, and Thai influences among the many aromatic and rich dishes fit for an explorer.  While the menu offers a wide range of meats, a number of vegetarian options are also available.  All of these items are offered at prices typical of local family restaurants with sandwiches for as little as $7 and entrees for as much as $24.

The Piratz Tavern is an exciting place to find a unique atmosphere and an immersive dining experience.  They have a comprehensive and interactive website which should make planning your visit both fun and easy.  As the swashbuckling adventurers who frequent the Piratz Tavern can tell you, there is a treasure to be found in Silver Spring!

Website: www.piratztavern.com/home.html

Photo © Ed Siasoco on Flickr

Those who long for a taste of the air combat, which is analyzed throughout the military history portions of the Air and Space museum, are given an opportunity to enjoy an interactive flight simulator experience.  A pilot and co-pilot 48" or taller may pay $8 each to hop into the cockpit of an F-4 Phantom II fighter jet and try their hands at taking down enemy aircraft.

This is an exercise in cooperation, as one guest acts as the pilot taking off from an aircraft carrier, and careening through the air in pursuit of opponents, while the gunner carefully times the release of projectiles to take down their objectives.  The goal of the exercise is to take down the five bogeys traditionally required to garner the title of combat "ace".

Larger groups and those who do not wish to "work" for their flight experience may opt for the $7 ride simulators.  Unlike the interactive simulations, there are many options of ride experiences.  While offerings vary from day to day, they are usually divided into the categories of air or space experiences.  Some of the most common space experiences are the "Cosmic Coaster", a roller-coaster ride to the stars, and "Space Walk" tour of the International Space Station.

Air simulations include the "F-18 Experience" which allows guests to experience the thrill of riding in the jet currently employed by the Navy's Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team.  "Wings" is another air simulation which allows guests to ride in a variety of aircraft, letting them experience the evolution of combat aircraft through history.

Flight and ride simulators are available at both the National Mall campus of the Air and Space Museum and the Udvar-Hazey Air and Space Annex in nearby Dulles, Virginia.  If you want to take your Air and Space experience to new heights, consider taking advantage of an Air and Space Simulator Ride!

Website: www.nasm.si.edu/

Journey to the Stars by Margaret Kimball

Upon arriving at the museum, my friends and I made our way to the planetarium box office in order to look into show times and buy our tickets.  The shows "Journey to the Stars" and "Black Holes" each run approximately 25 minutes and alternate on the half hour.  Each ticket will gain you access to only one show.  We decided to experience the "Journey to the Stars" and found that tickets cost $9.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors, $7.50 for children 12 and under, and only $6.50 for Smithsonian members.   As we had 45 minutes before our show, we were able to enjoy a leisurely visit to nearby exhibits dedicated to the planets, pioneers of flight, and World War I aviation.

When it was time for the show, we each had the opportunity to choose a comfortable, slightly reclined seat.  We enjoyed the planetarium characteristic of every seat being an ideal vantage point for enjoying the overhead show.  As the lights dimmed we found ourselves greeted by the voice of actress Whoopi Goldberg.  Among her many impressive acting credits is the role of Guinan on the iconic science fiction series Star Trek: the Next Generation.  She was therefore an ideal guide on an amazingly experiential "Journey to the Stars".

The show combines satellite footage and computer generated imagery to allow guests to zoom through the cosmos and visit a number of stars.  Visitors are introduced to the composition, attributes, and lifespan of stars.  In particular, the show focuses on our own sun and its impacts upon Earth.  This informative show is so entertaining that guests will forget that they are learning and sit in awe of their fantastic voyage to the beautiful and amazing stars.

Be warned that due to the experiential nature of this show, you may experience a sense of dizziness during and for a few moments after the show.  It feels like you are soaring and spinning through the stars at various points and I for one found my head spinning even as I was dazzled and delighted by this encounter with space.

Website: www.nasm.si.edu/

"We're focusing on a two-year launch for the Mead Center, so planning the follow-up season began long before we opened," shares Smith. "This is a robust, full-bodied season in our new home for American artists, which spans 12 months of programming. We are now a year-round theater. This season features two world premieres, two musicals, four comedies, two projects by Arena Stage resident playwrights Amy Freed and Karen Zacarías, presentations from the Goodman Theatre and Oregon Shakespeare Festival and a tribute to the first American Giant in theater, Eugene O'Neill. There are 11 productions that are as ambitious and inspiring as opening this center has been for Arena Stage staff, artists and audiences."

To see the upcoming schedule of events, visit: www.arenastage.org