Cirque Du Soleil’s “Quidam” runs through Sunday at the Verizon Center. Photograph by Matt Beard
Thursday, November 17
JEWELRY: Accessories junkies won’t want to miss Judith Ripka’s sample sale at the Georgetown Ritz-Carlton. Shoppers can get up to 70 percent off the designer’s jewels—which have been worn by A-listers Kate Hudson, Vanessa Williams, and Cindy Crawford. Washingtonian readers can save an additional $50 by printing out this blog post. The sale runs through November 19. 10 AM to 5 PM.
DANCE: China’s first contemporary dance company, the Beijing Dance Theater, is returning to the Kennedy Center for three nights. Tonight’s performance will feature the choreography of Zhang Jianmin and Chen Weiya. Founded in 2008 by Wang Yuanyuan, the troupe tests the “very limits of the country’s strait-laced attitudes,” according to the Telegraph. Tickets ($58) can be purchased through the KenCen’s Web site. 7:30 PM.
COMEDY: For one night only, funny man Craig Robinson will be performing at the Arlington Cinema. You may recognize him as Darryl Philbin of The Office, or from his cameos in Knocked Up and Pineapple Express. Tickets ($30) can be purchased through the drafthouse’s Web site. 7:30 and 10 PM.
GRAND OPENING: Microsoft is opening a new store at Tysons Corner, and to celebrate, the company is giving away free tickets to a Joe Jonas concert on Saturday, November 19. The first 200 guests will receive two concert tickets, along with one meet-and-greet pass. The next set of guests will receive two concert tickets while supplies last. The grand opening ceremonies begin at 9:30 AM, but you’ll want to get there early to secure a spot in line.
Friday, November 18
ICE SKATING: It’s time to dust off those old skates, because the National Gallery of Art Sculpture’s ice-skating season starts today. This weekend (November 19 and 20), guests will receive a complimentary cup of hot chocolate. Tickets ($8) can be purchased at the rink. Today’s hours are 10 AM to 11 PM. The rink is located on the National Mall between Seventh and Ninth Streets.
THEATER: Tickets are still available for tonight’s performance of The Mistorical Hystery of Henry (I)V at the Artisphere. This comedic mishmash, directed by Tom Mallan, combines Shakespeare’s Richard II, Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2, and Henry V. “There’s a truly arresting idea behind WSC Avant Bard’s fall show,” says arts writer Jane Horwitz. Read our full review here. Tickets ($30) can be purchased through the WSC’s Web site. 7:30 PM.
ART: The 36th annual Sugarloaf Crafts Festival is back with more than 400 artists. Stop by the Montgomery County Fairgrounds (16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg, MD) for an afternoon of gourmet food, live art demonstrations, interactive theater performances, and, of course, tons of art. Tickets can be purchased online for $7 or at the door for $9, and are good for all three days of the festival. Today’s hours are 10 AM to 6 PM. The fair runs through November 20.
DANCE: Don’t miss Howard University’s first annual dance showcase, “Unleashed: Inventive Explorations and Inhibitions,” at the Ira Aldrige Theater. Students will integrate a variety of genres, including jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, African, and tap. Tickets ($15) can be purchased at the door. The showcase runs through tomorrow. 7:30 PM.
Saturday, November 19
KID-FRIENDLY: Dance Place is hosting a two-day Family Festival featuring intergenerational workshops, local vendors, and performances. Today’s events include a creative movement class at 9:30 AM, African dance at 10:30, Step at 11:30, hoop dance at 12:30 PM, and hip-hop at 1:30, plus performances at 4. Tickets ($15) can be purchased through the studio’s Web site.
MUSIC: Folk singer Suzanne Vega is dropping by the Sixth & I Synagogue tonight. Vega’s “cool, vibratoless voice, always on the note, singing without syncopation and with minimal dynamics, conveys an inviolable purity of heart tinged with mystery and a faraway melancholy,” says the New York Times. You can listen to some of her songs here. Tickets ($35) can be purchased through Ticketmaster. 8 PM.
OPERA: It’s your last chance to catch the Washington National Opera’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Kennedy Center. In Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic opera, a young woman is forced into marriage, causing her to lose her happiness—and her sanity. Read our review here. Tickets ($25 to $300) can be purchased through the KenCen’s Web site. 7 PM.
FUNDRAISER: Dance till you drop during the 13-hour DC Dance Marathon at the Embassy Suites Convention Center. The day will be filled with live entertainment, team competitions, and more—the only rule is that you can’t sit down. Proceeds will benefit the Children’s National Medical Center. Check-in begins at 7 AM; the fun starts at 8. Dancers can register through the event’s Web site.
Sunday, November 20
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: Tickets are still available for tonight’s Cirque du Soleil: Quidam performance at the Verizon Center. “In addition to jump rope (and this is no average double dutch), Quidam incorporates aerial silk acrobatics, hand-balancing, juggling, ‘statue’ acrobatics (a genre Cirque du Soleil has virtually made its own), and banquine, in which 15 different artists hurl each other into the air,” says associate arts editor Sophie Gilbert. Read the full article here. Tickets ($40 to $130) can be purchased through Ticketmaster. 1 and 5 PM.
MUSIC: The Japanese taiko drummers of Yamato are performing at the Lisner Auditorium tonight. The 17-member troupe was founded in 1993 by Masa Ogawa. Tickets ($25 to $45) can be purchased through the theater’s Web site. 7 PM.
If you’re looking for something with a bit more soul, the Howard University Jazz Ensemble are giving a free concert at the Kennedy Center. The group will be joined by Howard’s vocal group Afro Blue, who are currently appearing on NBC’s The Sing-Off. 6 PM.
FESTIVAL: Today is your last chance to check out the Chilean Rakizuam Festival at the National Museum of the American Indian. Today’s events include folklore dancing at noon, a Mapuche weaving demonstration at 12:30, and a Chilean wine tasting at 4. Free.
