A big hit at birthday parties, The Great Zucchini has entertained children at the White House Easter Egg Roll and the National Zoo.  He bring his interactive  show, especially for the toddler-set, to both of the Washington, DC’s area Cinema & Drafthouses in Arlington and Montgomery.

The Great Zucchini’s magic tricks may not be all that amazing to an adult, but his interaction with his pre-school audience, making himself the brunt of every joke, is what makes children howl with laughter.

The Great Zucchini 
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse
2903 Columbia Pike
Arlington, Virginia (map it)
and
Montgomery Cinema & Drafthouse
11006 Veirs Mill Road
Silver Spring, Maryland (map it)

Dates and Times 

• At the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse – Saturdays – January 10, 2009 at noon, February 14 at 11:00 a.m., March 14 at 11:00 a.m., and April 11 at 11:00 a.m.
• At the Montgomery Cinema & Drafthouse – Saturdays – all shows at 11:00 a.m. – Saturday Jan 24, 2009, February 28, March 28, and April 25.

Tickets – $8.00 and are available online.  These shows often sell out, so best to order tickets in advance.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Arlington Drafthouse – Pentagon City, Blue and Yellow lines, then a 1½ mile walk or cab ride. Montgomery Drafthouse – Wheaton – Red line, then a ¼ mile walk.

Parking – Arlington Drafthouse – Street and garage parking is available within a couple blocks of the theater.  Montgomery Drafthouse  – free parking at the Wheaton Plaza mall.

Images – Laughing child

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Post from: The DC Traveler

A few of the model railroad layouts include themed displays including a huge 40 foot by 50 foot display, along with close to a dozen other major displays  from Washington, DC area model railroad clubs, representing all kinds of different themes. 

Plus, there’ll be an interactive slot car track and a train layout made exclusively out of Legos. 

For the smaller children, take them on the Train on Time, a riding train just for kids.

And if you didn’t find that special model railroad gift you were hoping for this Christmas, expect many vendors selling all kinds of model railroad gear.

The Greenberg Train & Toy Expo
Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Center
Chantilly, VA  (map it)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, December 27-28, 2008.  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily.

Tickets – Adults – $7.00,  children 11 and under free. Admission is good for both days. Tickets are available at the door. 

Parking – Free.

Images – Flickr – station, Santa Fe

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Post from: The DC Traveler

From klezmer bands to hip hop, hard rock and honky tonk; this should be a concert for the whole family to enjoy.  It’s a unique collection of some of the best of the annual Jewish holiday celebration songs.

With classics (and not so classics), like O Khanuke, O Khanuke, (I have a little) Dreydl, Honky Tonk Hanukkah and the fun On Christmas I Got Nothing, it’s hard not to find something to smile about.

Here’s the opening verse of On Christmas I Got Nothing (lyrics by Chuck Brodsky)

My family never roasted chestnuts – on an open fire
Never went around the neighborhood – singing carols with a choir
Never went to Midnight Mass & sat on cold hard pews
My family – we had different views

This year, the eight days of Chanukah (or Hanukkah), is celebrated from sunset on December 21 to sunset, December 29.

A Chanukah Feast in Concert
The Music Center at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852  (map it)

Date and Time – Saturday, December 27, 2008, 8:00 p.m.

Tickets – $21.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro subway station – Grosvenor-Strathmore – Red Line.  Take the elevators to the 4th level and cross the sky bridge to the Music Center.

Parking – Free parking is included in the ticket price, valet parking is $10.00.

Images – Flickr – candles, Dreydl,
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Post from: The DC Traveler

All the rinks offer skate rentals, and charge under $8.00 for ice time. Check the rink’s website for hours and fees.  Most are open Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice Skating
The Plaza
1201 South Joyce Street
Arlington, Virginia 22202 (map it)
703-418-6666

Herbert Wells Ice Rink
5211 Paint Branch Parkway (formerly Calvert Road)
College Park, MD 20740 (map it)
301-277-3717

Reston Town Center Ice Skating Rink
Reston Town Center – Market Street and Pavilion
11900 Market Street
Reston, VA 20190 (map it)

Pershing Park
Pennsylvania Avenue at 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC (map it)

Normally, the rink is open by mid-November, but not this year. I’ll update this post if it reopens.

Images – Flickr – ice skates, Pershing Park,
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Post from: The DC Traveler

American Dance Institute’s Youth Ensemble will perform a shorter version, just an hour long, of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

Children an experience the magic of the story and dance in  less intimidating setting and more relaxed environment.

The performances will be held in the intimate 140-seat world-class facility, where children can get a close up view of the performance by ADI students and instructors.

The Nutcracker
The American Dance Institute
1570 E, Jefferson Street
Rockville, Maryland  20852 (map it)
301-984-3003

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, December 20 and 21, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $20.00, Seniors and children 12 and under -$10.00. Contact the Institute at tickets@americandance.org or by phone at 301-984-3003

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Twinbrook Station – Red line, then a 10 minute walk, or take the Ride On #26 bus Glenmont – Montgomery Mall. 

Parking – Free

Image – Flickr
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Post from: The DC Traveler

This year’s tree, from the Sapphire Mountains of Western Montana, was originally 100 feet tall, but was cut to 73 feet.

It’s open to the public daily.

2008 Capitol Christmas Tree
U.S. Capitol Building – west grounds 
1 1st Street, NE, between Constitution and Independence Avenues Washington, DC  (map it).

Dates and Times – Daily through January 1, 2009

Admission – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Federal Center SW – Blue and Orange line, then a 5-block walk or use the DC Circulator. Union Station and Judiciary Square – Red line, are both about ¾ mile walk.

Parking – Limited street parking is available in the area. Check for limited 2-hour parking limitations during weekday business hours in residential areas.

Image – from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

According to the Talmud, after a large-scale revolt and victory of the Jews over the Hellenistic empire (about 165 BC), the alter at the Temple in the old city of Jerusalem was rededicated. On that day, there was enough holy oil to keep the eternal flame burning for just one day. But the flame burned for eight days and nights, enough to produce a new batch of holy oil.

An eight day festival was declared to commemorate the miracle.

The event on the National Mall includes music by the Three Cantors.  Hot Latkes and doughnuts will also be served.

Nation Menorah Lighting Ceremony
The Ellipse
1600 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC‎  (map it)

Dates and Times – Sunday, December 21, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.

Admission - FREE, but tickets are required.

Nearest Metro Subway Stations – Metro Center, Federal Triangle and McPherson Square, than a short walk to the Ellipse, or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Limited street parking is available, especially during rush hour.

Image – from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Enjoy a traditional colonial plantation holiday dinner at Gunston Hall, the home of founding father, George Mason.

Dine tavern-style, by candlelight, on items such as traditional   turkey and dressing, Virginia ham, dressing, and of course, home made pie.

For more about Gunston Hall, check out my Oct. 12, 2007 post.

Plantation Christmas Yuletide Dinner at Gunston Hall
Gunston Hall Plantation
10709 Gunston Road 
Mason Neck, Virginia 22079  (map it)
703-550-9220

Dates and Times – Friday, December 12, 2008 at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 13  at 4:30, 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $39.95 , children 10 and under – $19.95. Beer and wine is extra. Dinner includes admission to Plantation Christmas. Call 703-550-9220 for reservations. Parties of ten may reserve a private table.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Franconia-Springfield – Blue line, then a 12 mile cab ride.

Parking – Free parking is available.

Image – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

The self-guided tours include four historical building.  On the walking tour are:

• Gadsby’s Tavern Museum – a colonial tavern and meeting place.
• Carlyle House – Alexandria’s only stone Palladian-style house dating back to 1753.
• Lee-Fendall House, the home of the Lee family, and son Robert E. Lee. The urban plantation house was built in 1785 and restored to its early Victorian elegance.
• Old Presbyterian Meeting House – In 1772, a small group of Calvinist who had split from the Church of England, built their own meeting house in which to worship. Today, the church is still used for regular services.

Enjoy seasonal decorations, carolers and light refreshments along the way. Plan on about two hours, if you stop to enjoy the music. 

Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours 
Gadsby’s Tavern
138 N Royal Street
Alexandria, VA 22314 (map it)

Start at any of the four sites and continue at your own pace.

Dates and Times – December 13, 2008, From 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Start at any of the four locations and tour at your own pace.

Tickets – Adults – $20.00, Seniors $15.00, children 6-17 – $5.00, and are available online or by calling Gadsby’s Tavern Museum at 703-838-4242

Nearest Metro Subway Station – King Street – Yellow and Blue lines. then a 20-minute walk or take the free King Street Trolley form the Metro station.

Parking – Street and paid garage parking is available.

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Combining the Victorian charm, old world scenery and dazzling costumes of battling soldiers, pesky mice, snow-flake ballerinas, holiday party-goers and costumed dancers from around the globe, it’s sure to put anyone in to the holiday spirit.

I would recommend this performance over the Washington Ballet’s production of the same.

The Joffrey Ballet: The Nutcracker  
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Opera House
2700 F Street, NW
Washington DC. 20566 (map it)

Dates and Times – Thursday – Sunday, December 11-14, 2008.

Tickets – $47.00 – $150.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Foggy Bottom/George Washington University (23rd and I St.) – Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk.

To avoid the walk from the Metro station, ride the free Kennedy Center shuttle that runs every 15 minutes Monday – Friday from 9:45 a.m.- Midnight, Saturdays 10:00 a.m.- Midnight, and from Noon – Midnight on Sundays.

Parking - limited parking is available at the Kennedy Center for $17.00.

Images – Giselle, Russian production of Giselle, both – public domain ________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler