The last few shows at Gypsy Sally's include concerts Friday and Saturday as well as a New Year's Eve show with Sinkane, Bencoolen and STIG. The final four shows in January are sold out. (Photo courtesy of Gypsy Sally's)

The DC Lineup for this weekend: finales, free books and family dance

By Jennifer Anne Mitchell On Dec 27, 2019 Last updated Apr 24, 2020

The District closes out the year saying goodbye to two local cultural institutions: the Newseum and the music venue Gypsy Sally’s. Seasonal festivities like a Kwanzaa book giveaway, Christmas donation drive, holiday fundraiser, bar mitzvah-themed bar night for Hanukkah and a few early New Year’s celebrations are also on this weekend’s Lineup. A photography class about winter birds and a hip-hop group’s theatrical interpretation of Peter Pan and Wendy are also options for the next few days, Dec. 27 to 29.

According to the forecast, it will be cloudy on Friday and Saturday with afternoon showers on Sunday. Temperatures should range from 39 to 60 degrees.

The Newseum, which will close its prominent Pennsylvania Avenue NW museum at year’s end, is offering a 15% discount on admission this weekend. (Photo by Sam Kittne courtesy of the Newseum)

1. History: This is the last weekend to visit the Newseum before it ceases operations on Dec. 31. In its 11 years in downtown DC, the museum has welcomed nearly 10 million visitors, according to its website. During these final few days, the Newseum is discounting tickets by 15% online (prices come to about $21 for adults, $16.96 for seniors and $12.71 for ages 7 to 18; children 6 and younger enter for free). Located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, the museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Sunday when it opens at 10 a.m.

2. Local Music: The Georgetown music venue Gypsy Sally’s — which has entertained audiences since 2013 — is closing early next month, and this is the last weekend tickets are still available for shows (all of January’s concerts are sold out). Most of the bands featured over the next few days are from the Washington area, starting with a free show Friday from Smithjackson, a DC duo playing an eclectic mix of folk, rock and bluegrass. Doors open at Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8, followed by a free show from Denver-based husband and wife duo Old Fuss & Feathers at 10:30 p.m. Playing on the main stage Friday night is On the Bus, the longest-running Grateful Dead tribute band in the District, with doors opening at 7 and the show starting at 8:30. Ticket prices range from $13 to $15. On Saturday, Baltimore-based bluegrass band Ghost Sugar performs a free 8 p.m. show in the Vinyl Lounge, and DC funk band Aztec Sun plays on the main stage at 8:30 p.m. (tickets $20). Tiptoe Disco, featuring local singer and songwriter Pixie Jones, closes things out on Saturday with a free set in the Vinyl Lounge starting at 10:30 p.m. Gypsy Sally’s is located at 3401 K St. NW.

3. Reading: MahoganyBooks is celebrating Kwanzaa with Books for the Block, a free book giveaway for kids. Any baby or school-age child who visits the bookstore through Jan. 1 may take one free book from a special children’s selection while supplies last. The event is meant to promote reading together as a family and to honor the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. MahoganyBooks can be found inside the Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Road SE.

4. Family Fun: Celebrate New Year’s Eve a few nights early at the Black Cat’s Rumpus Room Family Dance Party on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. DJs Marc Meistro and Steven Faith present this safe, family-friendly bash as a way to share the nightclub experience with all ages. The afternoon is complete with disco balls, lights and music played at a “kid-friendly volume,” according to organizers. The event is geared toward children 8 and younger; older siblings are also welcome. No adult may enter without a child, with a maximum of three children per adult. Tickets cost $12. The Black Cat is located at 1811 14th St. NW.

5. Holiday Drive: This weekend is the second annual Christmas Community Giveback, presented by the youth nonprofit Reality Check Mentoring. The group is collecting donations from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Franklin Park on 13th Street between I and K streets NW. Requested items include travel-size toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, shampoo, hand sanitizer, tissue packs, soap and body wash; combs, adhesive bandages, baby wipes, lip balm, socks, gloves and hats are also needed. Reality Check Mentoring is based just outside of DC in Temple Hills, Maryland, and mentors young males of color, ages 10 to 17.

6. Food & Drink: This is the last weekend of Ivy and Coney’s Chai-vy and Cohen-y Hanukkah Bar: Bar Mitzvah. Throughout December, the DC sports bar has been celebrating Hanukkah with latkes, sufgani shots (a jelly donut consumed as a shot), cider, kosher wine, music, dancing, and nightly menorah lightings at 7:30. Proceeds benefit HIAS, a Jewish American nonprofit that assists refugees. Ivy and Coney is located at 1537 7th St. NW.

7. Holiday Fundraiser: The Woodridge Warriors Youth Organization, which supports youth sports teams in Ward 5, is hosting its first Holiday Fundraiser this Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. The night will include jazz music, networking, testimonials, light refreshments and a cash bar. A $20 donation is required for admission to the fundraiser, which takes place at the indoor playground Fun It Up, 2312 Rhode Island Ave. NE.

8. Theater: The hip-hop arts organization Words Beats & Life puts its own spin on Shakespeare Theatre Company productions with Shake Flow performances, which engage audiences by starting with a warmup and ending with a discussion. This Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m., the group presents Peter Pan and Wendy at Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. The show is free to attend, but reservations are required online.

Emily Carter Mitchell will lead a photography class on “Wintering Waterfowl” on Sunday at Constitution Gardens. (Photo courtesy of Capital Photography Center)

9. Nature: This Sunday, Capital Photography Center hosts a three-hour class called “Wintering Waterfowl,” teaching students to photograph the thousands of ducks that flock to the Chesapeake Bay area each winter. The session, designed for beginners and led by Emily Carter Mitchell, will cover nature photography tips, such as anticipating the bird’s behavior, getting closer to the subject and selecting the right camera settings for different lighting. The cost is $99. Participants will meet at 10:30 a.m. at Constitution Gardens on Constitution Avenue NW near the Washington Monument; attendees must bring their own camera and tripod.

10. Art: ArtJamz Dupont Studio presents “Pop the Champagne,” an art class to start welcoming the new year on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. The ArtJamz menu allows attendees to select their own canvas, drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic) and merchandise in conjunction with a two-hour class pass, which costs $30. The studio is located at 1728 Connecticut Ave. NW. … The East of the River Steelband hosts its own festive art workshop this weekend: Holiday Paint & Sip. In addition to painting, this event features wine, hors d’oeuvres and a chance to win prizes. Tickets cost $40 for individuals and $60 for couples. The gathering is from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at Episcopal Church of the Atonement, 5073 East Capitol St. SE.