A Merry Britneymas to all who observe! Whether you spend part of today listening to Ms. Spears’ oeuvre or you have other plans, we hope you take the time to browse through this post and have a great weekend!
Light Yards is back to Yards Park on December 1 and through January 1, every night 5-10 p.m. Another beautiful, glowing installation by Amigo & Amigo will set the darkness aglow with Swinging Bells, a set of 13-foot bells interspersed with interactive swings, complimented by the sound of bells filling the wintry air. A perfectly ‘grammable setting for selfiying, hugging and perhaps kissing, before you grab a bite along the waterfront More info here.
Enchant Christmas kicked off at Nationals Park on November 25 and will be there through New Year’s Day. It seems there were some early hiccups, but we went yesterday and it was very sweet and truly enchanting. The light maze is entertaining though we’d like to point out that not every item the passport calls a star is, in fact, a star: Andromeda is a whole galaxy of them. Pegasus is a constellation. However, if you get all the “star” stamps on your passport, you can mail it in for a chance to see a Hallmark Channel movie set up close and personal. There is a biergarten and lots of adorable stalls to buy drinks, mementos, scarves and lamps. There is also a skating rink! And of course, the staff at the stadium is there being their warm, caring selves and guiding you through. Make sure you bundle up! For more info and tickets, click here.
Today, buy your tree and greenery at Miner Elementary! While you’re at it, pick up some delicious baked goods. The fun for a good cause starts at 9 a.m. and goes through 2 p.m. The proceeds of the sales benefit Miner, Payne Elementary and Eliot-Hine Middle School. For more info click here.
Incidentally, if you want to make sure all families have a happy and full pantry year-round, you can donate to the Eliot-Hine Parent Teacher Organization this Thanksgiving through Venmo (@Eliot-Hine-PTO) or PayPal (@EHPTO) and indicate “Community Pantry” in the note field.
Today, you can also stop by the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol, and support Troop 500 and Pack 230 as they sell Christmas trees. Their hours are as follows: Today, 5-7 p.m; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7p.m.; Sunday, 9-until they are gone, gone, gone.
On December 3, the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) is having a special pop-up shop featuring several artists belonging to the Capitol Hill Art League. From noon to 4 p.m., check out and buy art for the loved ones on your list! You can purchase cards, photography, paintings and more.
Honey Made on Barracks Row (727 8th Street SE) will have sip and shop tomorrow as well! Shop, get cute gifts, and have a little something festive! Expect this to be a recurring event throughout the holiday season.
Walk a little farther south and visit Capital Turnaround as it transforms into the Christmas Village at Capital Turnaround! From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy the Santa Train, a skate-less indoor skating rink, crafts, hot cocoa and so much more! For more information, click here and then click under December 3.
And on December 4, enjoy Check Hamala Diabate in concert at the Hill Center. Diabate is a griot– a storyteller in the West African tradition– and his playing and singing are just incredibly fun and energetic. More info here.
Also on December 4, Chanukah LEGOLAND is the mix of two flavors you didn’t know you needed in your life. Help the little ones get excited for the Festival of Lights with everyone’s favorite construction toy brick at the Northeast Library. (And they’ll have a LEGO menorah!) Sign up early here.
Looking for local makers and artists market? The Church of the Resurrection on 5th and E SE is having a Christmas Arts Market from noon to 5 p.m. Get local arts, food and, of course, cheer!
The Brickie Awards, hosted by Councilmember Charles Allen’s office, are back on Wednesday, December 7 at the Hill Center. Come by, celebrate the neighborhood, and cheer the neighbors and institutions that make Capitol Hill oh-so special RSVP here.
On December 8, get festively jazzy with the Capitol Hill Jazz Orchestra Holiday Concert at the Miracle Theatre. This concert will mark the debut of the 18-piece orchestra. The concert will also feature vocalist Imani-Grace Cooper and tap dancer Bakaari Wilder. Tickets
WORLD CUP
Yes, the FIFA World Cup (garbage organization, fabulously fun month of world-class soccer) is happening through December 18. The United States made it out of group stage and will be facing the Netherlands on Saturday, December 3. Wunder Garten in NoMa, The Brig in Barracks Row and The Queen Vic on H Street are three great places to catch the action. Make sure to click the links to RSVP to specific events.
MORE FUN
Did you know the U. S. Capitol holds Capitol Conversations on weekdays at 1 p.m.? These virtual sessions are informative and fun–– a neat opportunity to learn something new while you eat your lunch. Register for Capitol Conversations here.
On Wednesday evenings, make it trivia! Two Girls Trivia runs a quiz at Fight Club starting at 7 p.m. You can also catch them at Biergarten Haus on Tuesday evenings. For more information and quiz hints, check out their Twitter, @twogirlstrivia.
Every Thursday, Kelly’s Irish Times has comedy! The Batting Cage Comedy show starts at 8 p.m. and is free. More info here.
Want to support CHAW? Then buy a digital print here so that you can keep tuition programs free for those who need them.
Hey, have you gotten your COVID booster and your flu shot? No? Well, cross that off your list this weekend! Click here to find where you can get it.
Reminder: DPW is picking up leaves. Make sure you can push your leaves into your tree box as much as possible. Check the brochure here to give yourself an idea of when they may be dropping by your house.
PLAN AHEAD
What is awesome, beloved, a Sagittarius, and will be celebrating ONE HUNDRED YEARS on December 10? It’s the Southeast Neighborhood Library!! The library would like you to drop by between December 8-10 and tell them, in 100 words or less, what the library means to you. More information? Click here.
The Stuart Hobson Drama Players are back with another incredible production. This time around, they will be staging The Lion King! Come watch these talented middle schoolers December 9-11 at the Stuart Hobson Auditorium, 4th and E NE. Tickets
Get a dose of wonderful, richly varied Christmas music with the Folger’s A New World Christmas, December 9-11. You can attend in person at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and purchase tickets here or you can get online access for a suggested donation.
Can’t get enough of craft fairs and don’t mind a little driving or MARCing? Samesies! Mark your calendar for the Charm City Craft Mafia’s Holiday Heap on December 10 in Baltimore. More info? Click here.
Hanukkah starts at sundown on Sunday, December 18 and the Capitol Hill BID, in conjunction with Hill Havurah, will light the first candle at sundown on Monday, December 19. Starting at 5:30 p.m., come by the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol Street, and enjoy jelly doughnuts and cocoa. Right after the lighting ceremony, stay for fire dancing by Kinetic Spinners! More info here.
Want a fun plan on Christmas Eve where you may meet a significant other? This year’s Matzoball is happening at Decades, starting at 9 p.m. Sure, the focus is on Jewish singles, but maybe you want a little matzo magic in your life, gentiles! More info here.
Eastern Market has all sorts of fun things coming your way! On December 10, Bettie the Yeti will be visiting from noon to 2 p.m. And on December 17 and 18, Santa will be at the Market, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.! Also on December 17, there will be a Caroling Marathon from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.starting at the corner of 7th and C SE. More details to come!
OFF-HILL
The Downtown Holiday Market is back on November 18 and if you’ve never been, make sure you stop at least once between the start and December 23 at 8 p.m. All kinds of incredible local and regional makers descend upon F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets. There are treats and performers as well! The market is open every day, except for Thanksgiving day and December 5. More info here.
A new interactive experience is coming to Rhode Island Center, the space right off Rhode Island Avenue Metro, where the Van Gogh exhibit was earlier this year. The experience is called DINOS ALIVE and it looks like it’s gonna be a great hit for the younger set (and their tired, devoted parents). It’s a lot of fun, and the Dinos look amazing. Guaranteed wows from even the most jaded of kiddos. Get tickets here.