The DC Lineup for this weekend: ‘Tis the season to give back

With the holiday season approaching, many area businesses are showcasing their products in pop-up shops around town this weekend (Nov. 16 to 18). As an alternative to Black Friday sales, consider purchasing merchandise made in the District to support local commerce.

Additionally, there are multiple ways to provide support for DC residents who are in need with food drives and distribution days this time of year. This weekend’s pre-Thanksgiving slate also includes events honoring Holocaust survivors and American Indian Heritage Month, among others.

The weather is predicted to be cold, with temperatures as low as 34 degrees. Following the first snow of the year on Thursday, it should be fairly dry with a 10 percent chance of precipitation amid sun on Friday and Saturday and cloudy conditions on Sunday.

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   Ward 7 Neighborhoods: Residents of Ward 7 can pick up a free turkey during DC Council member Vincent Gray’s Thanksgiving Turkey Distribution Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Deanwood Recreation Center, 1350 49th St. NE. The limit is one turkey per household and distribution is first come, first served while supplies last. Proof of residency is required. A variety of other Thanksgiving programs taking place at local recreation centers are listed on the DC Department of Parks and Recreation website.

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   Causes: FreshFarm’s annual Thanksgiving Fresh Food Drive complements the local nonprofit group’s regular gleaning program, which helps local residents who are in need by working with community partners to deliver leftover produce from its farmers markets each week. On Saturday, FreshFarm will accept monetary donations at its H Street NE market from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 800 13th St. NE, as well as at its downtown Silver Spring market at 890 Ellsworth Drive taking place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monetary donations will also be accepted at the Dupont Circle market at 1500 20th St. NW on Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Fresh Food Drive will use the donated money to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and turkeys from participating farmers to distribute to partners First Church of Christ Holiness, Shepherd’s Table, DC Central Kitchen and Iona Senior Services, which will make Thanksgiving baskets and meals for those in need. There are more opportunities to donate food around the city, such as the CANstruction program the National Building Museum that raises awareness of hunger through design-build competitions using canned goods that are then donated to the Capital Area Food Bank.

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   Recreation: An ice-skating rink bigger than the one at New York City’s Rockefeller Center opens this Friday at the Georgetown Waterfront Park, 3050 K St. NW. The Washington Harbour Ice Rink will be available for public use through March 1. Hours vary during the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, but otherwise the rink is generally open from noon to 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; noon to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays; noon to 10 p.m. on Fridays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $10 for adults and $9 for kids, seniors and military personnel. Skates cost $6 to rent, and lessons are available for people of all ages. Weekly themed nights include Two for Tuesday Skate, when two people are admitted for the price of one, and College Night Skate Thursdays, when university students get $2 off admission with a valid student ID.

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   Local Business: Bask in a tropical oasis created by the Coconut Market, a pop-up shop that unites artisans from tropical regions in Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia, as well as their local diaspora communities. Shopping goes from noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday at International Arts & Artists at Hillyer, 9 Hillyer Court NW. Patrons can also enjoy food, drink and live music, including Afrobeats, Afrohouse, Asian pop, bachata, merengue, kompa, reggaeton, ragga and soca, to name a few. Tickets cost $6.94. Vendors interested in participating in the Coconut Market’s upcoming “Fiesta in the Snow” on Dec. 16 can submit details online for consideration.

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   Local Business: The Junior League of Washington will host its 60th annual Holiday Shops marketplace this weekend at Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE. Beyond checking holiday shopping off your list of things to do, this market allows you to give back: All proceeds support the group’s efforts to improve DC, including training volunteers and awarding grants to local nonprofits. A grand-opening party is Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.; market hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket prices are $50 for the grand opening, $5 for one-day admission and $10 for weekend admission. Additionally, there is a special event from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday called “Santa Paws” in which pets can have their picture taken with Santa Claus. A photo session costs $25.

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   Cultural: As part of American Indian Heritage Month, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian at 4th Street and Independence Avenue SW is hosting the Hopi Tribal Festival on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation in northeastern Arizona that has succeeded in preserving its culture, language and religion for centuries. This free event, hosted by the Henry Luce Foundation, will give attendees a chance to witness the enduring artistry and history of the Hopi people.

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   Sports: The eighth annual Janney 5K & Fun Run is on Saturday. Past races have attracted almost 800 runners. The 5K starts at 9 a.m., and the fun run starts at 10 a.m. The Janney Elementary School PTA presents this event to promote healthy lifestyles. The race begins at the elementary school, 4130 Albemarle St. NW. Registration costs $40 for the 5K and $20 for the fun run. Both include a race T-shirt.

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   Causes: Honor local Holocaust survivors at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum with a ceremony on Saturday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This benefit event will offer attendees a chance to personally connect with survivors taking part in the First Person: Conversations With Survivors program, which includes auditorium conversations as well as YouTube videos of the live events and a podcast series. Tickets cost $85. The evening is presented by the Washington Next Generation Board, which works to engage emerging leaders in the museum’s efforts to “confront hatred, prevent genocide and promote human dignity.” Online donations are also welcome to support the museum, which is located at 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW.

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   Local Business: The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Program at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School is hosting its second annual Harvest Bazaar on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1100 Harvard St. NW. This free event features food, handmade jewelry, crafts and professional services offered by current Carlos Rosario students and alumni from El Salvador, Cameroon and Honduras, to name a few. Currently, 32 exhibitors are confirmed. Last fall, there were over 300 visitors. For over 40 years, the school has helped tens of thousands of immigrants succeed through adult education. This marketplace provides additional support.

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    Film: Step back to yesteryear with Flickering Treasures: Rediscovering Baltimore’s Forgotten Movie Theaters. This exhibition at the National Building Museum celebrates the 240-plus movie theaters that have entertained moviegoers in Charm City since 1905. History comes alive with photographs from photojournalist Amy Davis, archival images, architectural highlights of the cinemas, and oral history from Baltimore residents. Flickering Treasures opens on Saturday and runs through Oct. 14, 2019. Entry to this and other museum exhibitions costs $10 for adults and $7 for seniors, students and ages 3 through 17.