From an email:
“4th Annual Columbia Heights Christmas Tree Lighting – Dec 6th
Columbia Heights Civic Plaza at 14th and Park Rd., NW.
The lighting ceremony will be Saturday, December 6th at 6:30pm. Last year we had over 400 people attend the lighting. The tree is a wonderful way for residents from across the city (not just Columbia Heights!) to come together as a community during the holiday season.”
Photo by @uscapitol
@uscapitol tweets around 5:20pm:
“The 2014 Capitol Christmas Tree has been lit!”
“88 foot White Spruce 2014 Capitol Christmas Tree comes from @ChippewaNF in Minnesota.”
corner of Connecticut Avenue, NW and R Street, NW via facebook
From a press release:
“The annual tree lighting ceremony organized by Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets (HDCMS) and sponsored by La Tomate is this Thursday. More than 1000 lights and oversized ornaments were used to decorate this beacon at the corner of Connecticut Avenue, NW and R Street, NW in front of La Tomate restaurant.
Community citizens will join this special occasion on Thursday, December 4, 2014, at 6:00 pm to light the 20-foot Christmas Tree and usher in the holiday season aided by Santa, his elves and a choir of youth voices. Children from Ross Elementary School will sing carols from 5:30-6:00 to welcome dignitaries and Kris Kringle.
Santa Claus will be on hand for photos with children and those young at heart – free of charge – from 4:00-7:00 p.m. All children will be given a candy cane – if they have been good throughout the year. Complimentary vin chaude (mulled wine) will be provided by La Tomate to those of age. The public is invited to bring their own cameras, and photos taken by HDCMS will be uploaded on the Dupont Circle Main Streets Facebook the next day. A $20 gift certificate to La Tomate Caffe’ will be awarded to the most spirited photo shared on social media with the hashtag #LaTomateTree. This event is free and open to the public – snow or shine. A 10% discount off the dinner bill will be offered to those dining at La Tomate that evening.”
Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr.TinDC
Safe travels to those on the road and good eating to all!
And a reminder from Textdoc:
“In case there are any Thanksgiving orphans (or other interested parties) who aren’t avid readers of Random Reader Rant and/or Revel:
Unofficial PoPville Thanksgiving get-together, Thurs. 11/27, the Black Squirrel (2427 18th Street, NW), for their $7 buffet. Meet at 11:30 a.m. Look for Pablo.”
Photo courtesy Lost & Found
Also from Lost & Found:
“Lost & Found (1240 9th St. NW) will be open on Thanksgiving at 7pm and serving some mulled wine and cider.)
Thanks to a reader for sending from the site of CityCenter’s Tree Lighting this coming Saturday.
7th and O St, NW
Thanks to a reader for sending:
“Christmas lights at the o street giant!”
And don’t forget the the official tree lighting and festivities is tonight.
Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80
From the Kennedy Center:
“The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced Stephen Colbert will host the 37th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, December 7, 2014. The Honors Gala will be recorded for broadcast on the CBS Network for the 37th consecutive year as a two-hour primetime special on Tuesday, December 30 at 9 p.m. (ET/PT). As previously announced, the recipients of the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors will be singer Al Green, actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks, ballerina Patricia McBride, singer-songwriter Sting and comedienne Lily Tomlin.
“The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes excellence on a national stage and we are pleased that a man of Stephen’s accomplishment will host the show. He is best in class and will no doubt undo any solemnity that might otherwise attend the occasion,” said Honors co-producer George Stevens, Jr., the recipient of 17 Emmy Awards who conceived the Honors in 1978.
Stephen Colbert stated, “I am stunned to be receiving a Kennedy Center Honor at such a young age. I thought it would be years before… I’m sorry. I’m being told I am HOSTING the Kennedy Center Honors. Oh…Well, I’m glad. That makes a lot more sense.” (more…)
From a press release:
“Rhode Island Row invites the community to attend its inaugural Neighborhood Tree Lighting and Open House holiday event, hosted by WPGC’s DJ Flexx. Guests will enjoy live performances, photos with Santa, festive entertainment and more. In addition to its holiday open house, Rhode Island Row is the new flagship location for the WPGC Coat Drive 95, in partnership with Salvation Army, a DC tradition more than 20 years in the making. WPGC will broadcast live from Rhode Island Row, collecting coats and winter accessories donations for the Salvation Army. When guests donate a coat or winter accessory they will receive one free ticket for photos with Santa to be redeemed during the Rhode Island Row holiday open house.
Event schedule is as follows:
10:00am to 7:00pm – WPGC Coat Drive 95, benefitting the Salvation Army
6:30pm to 9:00pm – Photos with Santa, free face painting, free balloon twisting, roaming festive entertainment and live performances
7:00pm – Tree lighting with a live special performance from the all-male choir from Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church, located in front of Carolina Kitchen
Where: Rhode Island Row, 2300 Washington Place NE, Washington, DC 20018
When: November 22, 2014, from 6:30pm to 9:00pm
Cost: This event is free and open to the public”
From a press release:
“What: City Market at O Holiday Tree Lighting Event
When: November 21, 2014 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Where: 8th & O Street, NW
Join Roadside Development, the residents of City Market at O, and DC officials for the first annual Shaw Holiday Tree Lighting on November 21, 2014. The event is also a celebration of City Market at O’s one-year anniversary.
The community program will feature live performances, free family activities and crafts, performances by local artists, and the tree lighting ceremony.
The event includes a toy drive to benefit the Children’s National Medical Center Holiday Toy Store, a pop-up store within the hospital during the holidays so parents can shop for presents for their children who are patients. The store also has items that children can buy for their parents. Roadside Development will supplement the toy drive with a cash donation.
City Market at O is also providing support for the Goodwill at The Grill, an annual community Thanksgiving breakfast, hosted by the Florida Avenue Grill. Revenue generated from the sales at the Anniversary Celebration will be donated to Florida Avenue Grill’s signature event on November 25 that benefits hundreds in the community.
Event Timeline:
• 6:30 -8:30pm: Public event and tree lighting
• 6:45pm: Special performances, speeches, and tree lighting”
2015 artwork by Jing Jing Tsong from the Big Island, Hawaii
From a press release:
“The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Kenichiro Sasae, Ambassador of Japan, Gregory A. O’Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC, sponsors, and stakeholders joined Wednesday evening for a preview for the 2015 National Cherry Blossom Festival (March 20-April 12).
The National Cherry Blossom Festival Paradeâ presented by Events DC is on Saturday, April 11 (10:00am-noon), nationally syndicated once again with the organization’s support.
The 2015 artwork was unveiled (pictured above). The official artist is Jing Jing Tsong from the Big Island, Hawaii. She is critically acclaimed for her illustration work that combines traditional printmaking and digital techniques to create vibrant compositions of color, pattern and texture. The one-of-a-kind artwork is an annual collector’s item, and will be featured on the 2015 poster and official merchandise.”