Our end-of-the-week picks for Feb. 28 - March 2
We've gathered up some fun things to do in DC this holiday weekend. You can also read what else is going on during the week and throughout the month.
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Friday
Orchids: Masters of Deception
Marvel at a rotating display of orchid specimens from the extensive collection of the U.S. Botanic Garden and Smithsonian Gardens. The Garden Court will display stories of orchids who are – you guessed it – masters of deception, using smell, shape and color. There will also be two nine-foot-tall tree sculptures covered in pink and white orchids (a nod to DC’s cherry trees) as well as eight-foot-tall orchid curtains that show off the plant’s special roots.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
How to Be A Power Player: Tudor Edition
The Folger Shakespeare Library exhibit features more than 60 objects from the collection to demonstrate the dos and don’ts for how to be a successful courtier in 16th-century England. Social climbing was a sport in Tudor England and visitors can engage with the entire playbook and even create their own with a 21st-century spin. You can also draw your portrait, design a dinner menu and make your own rules.
Hours | Free Admission
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
A South Fourty: Contemporary Architecture and Design in the American South
The National Building Museum’s new exhibit is dedicated to distinctive modern architecture and contemporary design practices in the American South. The display aims to provide an overview of the current vibrancy of contemporary architecture through illustrated profiles of buildings and practices, statements of principles and observations by those who build in the region.
Hours & Admission
National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
In the Heights
One of the most beloved and energetic American musicals will light up Signature Theatre this spring. Between beloved Latin beats, colorful choreography and favorite numbers like “96,000,” “Paciencia y Fe,” and “Carnaval del Barrio," In the Heights will immerse viewers in the characters, community and culture of Washington Heights.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Saturday
Uncanny
The National Museum of Women in the Arts invites visitors to an exploration of unease across a range of surreal media. The only museum solely dedicated to championing women artists treads into new territory with Uncanny, which reveals women’s authorship of surreal narratives, revealing how the concept is used by these artists to regain agency and dissect feelings of revulsion, fear and discomfort.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Mardi Gras at The Wharf
Go all-out for Mardi Gras at DC’s fun-filled waterfront development, The Wharf. An afternoon and evening of activities includes a parade (featuring stilt walkers, jugglers, the Mardi Gras king and queen, floats and lots more), a dance party with live music and a fireworks spectacular that kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
More Information | Free Admission
The Wharf, 760 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Timeless Mucha: The Magic of Line
A new exhibit at The Phillips Collection reappraises the work of Art Nouveau pioneer Alphonse Mucha and explores his impact on graphic art over the last 60-plus years. Visitors can experience Mucha’s distinct style and learn how psychedelic artists of later generations rediscovered his work and used it to inspire a wide range of media, from comics to manga and murals.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Shen Yun Performing Arts
Don't miss this chance to see the world-renowned vocalists, musicians and dancers that make up the Shen Yun Performing Arts group. In the artists' newest show, which promises their signature magic and elegance, 5,000 years' worth of Chinese myth and culture are woven together alongside a live orchestra, creating a dynamic feast for the eyes and ears.
Tickets
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Twilight Zone: Hidden Wonders of the Ocean
ARTECHOUSE and the Woods Holde Oceanographic Institution have collaborated to highlight an awe-inspiring nightly migration of ocean twilight zone creatures and their intricate connections to the planet’s health, including their contributions to the regulation of the earth’s climate. The groundbreaking exhibition offers a 24-minute cinematic journey with immersive 270-degree projections that span from floor to wall, complemented by six interactive installations and six XR activations. Use the code 'AEF10' for discounted tickets.
Tickets
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20002
Father John Misty
Start the season with a spring in your step at the Father John Misty show on March 1. Touring for his new album, Mahashmashana, the singer brings his indie-folk vibes to the Anthem along with opening act Destroyer.
Tickets
901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Sunday
The Other Children of the Sun
Family-friendly programming at the Kennedy Center offers a superhero adventure this winter. The Other Children of the Sun is based on a Navajo creation legend and follows celestial siblings in a thought-provoking and comedic exploration of heroism. Monsters will be slayed in the captivating production that is recommended for ages seven and up.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
We Gather at the Edge: Contemporary Quilts by Black Women Artists
Two years ago, the Smithsonian American Art Museum acquired 35 quilts from Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, who holds a doctorate in aerospace engineering and is also a prolific artist, curator and scholar. The scope of the quilts featured is remarkable and groundbreaking in its representation of Black history and culture.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Hand to God
The Keegan Theatre stages a Tony-nominated comedy that manages to combine irreverence with contemplations of faith, morality and family ties. After the passing of his father, Jason – who lives in the quiet, religious town of Cypress, Tx. – discovers an outlet for his anxiety at the Christian Puppet Ministry. His complicated relationships with his pastor, the school bully, the girl next door and his mother are thrown into upheaval when Jason’s puppet, Tyrone, shockingly comes to life.
Tickets
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Kunene and The King
In its U.S. premiere, this play written and performed by Tony-winner John Kani is sure to enthrall audiences at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre. Kunene and The King concerns Lunga Kunene (played by Kani), who has been charged with the care of a classical actor (played by Edward Gero) who was just offered a career-defining role as King Lear. The Bard serves as a unifier in this stirring tale set 25 years after the fall of apartheid.
Tickets
Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington
The Atlas Performing Arts Center brings the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington back to its stage for the group to perform an all-new cabaret. Soloists from the Chorus share their own stories and songs of travel adventures past and (hopefully) future. Expect to hear legendary songs like “Midnight Train to Georgia,” “Streets of Dublin,” “Magic To Do,” “Home” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” during this one-night-only performance.
5 p.m. | Tickets
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Places to Stay
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today!
Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to award-winning hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.
