The DC Lineup for this weekend: coat distribution, Christmas tree sales and contemporary dance

The spirit of the holiday season is alive (albeit virtually or from a distance sometimes) in this edition of The DC Lineup, covering the first weekend in December.

Over the next few days, Dec. 4 to 6, temperatures are expected to range from 31 to 53 degrees. The forecast also predicts rain overnight Friday and into Saturday morning, followed by partly cloudy conditions on Saturday and mostly clear skies on Sunday. 

1. Dance: The Dance in DC production series pairs area artists with local businesses to highlight the power of the arts and vitality of the small-business community. This Friday, dancer Ashanté Green will be performing a site-specific contemporary piece at Chaia Tacos in Georgetown, 3207 Grace St. NW. The performance will be broadcast live on Facebook from 7 to 7:30 p.m. Dance in DC is the second of two Mars Arts DC: Virtual series in 2020 presented through a partnership between Mars Inc. and Washington Performing Arts. The virtual Mars programs are supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Events DC, the HMF Beaudoin Family Foundation and a microgrant from the DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

2. Community: The Coats for Kids program has provided around 400,000 coats to youth in the Washington area since 2009. The tradition will continue with coat distribution on Friday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine, 3900 Harewood Road NE, and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 1600 Morris Road SE. The gatherings are organized by Knights of Columbus, whose volunteers will give out coats in the parking lots at these locations with a drive-through system to keep attendees at a safe physical distance; walking up is also an option.

3. Local Businesses (Ward 1): MPower Now – MPrende Ya is presenting its annual holiday marketplace “Showcolatada” on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. The festivities include a nativity scene contest, hot chocolate, dance, art, and music by a live DJ, carolers and singer Juan Ore. The event takes place at Lamont Plaza, 3258 Mount Pleasant St. NW. Physical distancing and face masks are required. … Park View is hosting a holiday market series on the first three Saturdays in December from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hook Hall, 3400 Georgia Ave. NW. This weekend’s local vendors include Body Scrubs by Rebeca, Culture Socks, Designed by Ashley Scales, Indigro Plants, JustAJ’s Food, Personal Best Ceramics, Sauce City USA, Sio Ceramics, Sugar Bottom Farms and Sweets by Shy. Public health protocols like face masks, social distancing and one-way traffic will be enforced.

4. Local Businesses (Wards 2 and 5): As of fall 2020, the Carlos Rosario School-Small Business Program has helped more than 300 adult immigrants learn English and entrepreneurship skills. For the third year in a row, the program will be featured in a pop-up at Union Market’s La Cosecha, 1280 4th St. NE. A different artisan will set up shop at La Cosecha every weekend until Dec. 20, with Indigo Wear from Colombia featured this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Dec. 12 and 13, the Carlos Rosario School’s program will host an International Holiday Outdoor Pop-Up Market showcasing 10 artisans and vendors of baked goods. … Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets is featuring 35 local vendors and artists in its fourth annual holiday pop-up on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Sellers will set up outside in front of storefronts as well as in the Dupont Underground. … Shop Small Georgetown runs through Dec. 12 and includes specials from area businesses. Among the highlights are a chance to schedule a private visit to Addison/Ripley Fine Art, 1670 Wisconsin Ave. NW, or receive a free branded mug (while supplies last) from Georgetown Piano Bar, 3287 M St. NW, with the purchase of a hot chocolate or adult warm beverage.

5. History: Washington, DC History & Culture is offering a free virtual program “Enslaved Washington, DC: 1790-2020.” This livestream presentation and discussion will cover the history of slavery in the District, highlighting sites where people were held captive and sold. Edward J. Ingebresten, who teaches at Georgetown University, will lead the talk and share his thoughts about how this history relates to present-day policies of non-representation. It takes place on Saturday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Zoom. Registration is required to receive the link. 

6. Community: Mount Pleasant’s Bancroft Elementary School is hosting its annual Christmas tree sale this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days; the first hour is reserved for those 60 years and older. Wreaths and roping will also be available for purchase. Face masks are required, admission will be limited in order to maintain safe physical distance, and contactless credit card payments are accepted. The school is located at 1755 Newton St. NW. … John Eaton Elementary School is also hosting a Christmas tree sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday; the event takes place again at the same times next weekend. A raffle and holiday craft table are also part of the festivities. Eaton face masks will be provided. The school is located temporarily at 3373 Van Ness St. NW during renovation of its Cleveland Park campus. … Parent-teacher organizations from Eliot-Hine Middle School and Miner Elementary School partner to produce their fifth annual holiday greenery sale. Online pre-orders are closed, but poinsettias, tree stands and a limited number of trees will be sold on site at Miner Elementary, 601 15th St. NE. Proceeds from poinsettias go toward Eliot-Hine, and money earned from the sale of trees, wreaths, stands and garland goes to Miner. The sale takes place on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Social distancing and face masks are required.

7. Music: The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington (GMCW) is celebrating its 40th anniversary season by sharing the best of its previous holiday shows as well as brand-new virtual music and dance performances. Viewers will hear songs like “Jingle Bells,” “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy,” “The 12 Rockin’ Days of Christmas” and “Boogie Boogie Frosty.” A holiday sing-along invites the audience to participate. The approximately hourlong seasonal concert will be available to stream online beginning Saturday at 7 p.m. through Dec. 20. Tickets cost $25 and allow for multiple viewings of the program on the same device within 48 hours. Options to donate additional funds are also available, with perks like a VIP happy hour with GMCW artistic director Thea Kano, invitations to donor events throughout the season, and a gift package with treats to enjoy during the show.

8. Music: The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Luce Foundation Center for American Art is hosting a virtual listening party in partnership with Hometown Sounds, an initiative that highlights local music with podcasts, videos and featured performances with the goal of “showing the world how DC rocks.” This Friday, Paul Vodra and Anthony Porecco will host a Luce Unplugged conversation with instrumental artist Terracotta Blue, whom the organizers describe as “a highly prolific electronic musician [who] combines elements of hip hop and chillwave to create contemplative soundscapes.” The hourlong talk starts at 6 p.m. … The President’s Own United States Marine Band is playing a virtual concert this Friday from 8 to 10 p.m. The program is part of the (Re)Hearing Beethoven Festival presented by the Library of Congress and starts off a celebration of Beethoven’s 250th birthday that highlights lesser-known arrangements written for chamber ensembles. Friday’s show features music from Symphony No. 3 and Symphony No. 7.

9. Seasonal Events: Holiday caroling — with masked singers from a distance — is taking place on select Saturdays and Thursdays throughout December in Adams Morgan. This weekend’s caroling, however, has been postponed to Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. due to the prospect of wet conditions on Saturday. Beyond that, the scheduled times are Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. and Dec. 19 from noon to 2 p.m. Follow the Adams Morgan Business Improvement District on Instagram at @admobid for updates on the carolers’ locations, and any changes to the schedule because of weather.

10. Arts: The multidisciplinary arts project JxJ — which organizes the annual Washington Jewish Film Festival and the Washington Jewish Music Festival — kicks off a virtual fest this weekend that continues through Dec. 10. The virtual JxJ 2020 event includes more than 30 international and national films, eight concerts featuring local and international musicians, and more than 20 panel discussions with filmmakers, guest artists and audience questions. Individual films may be accessed for $9.50 per household, which in some cases includes access to related discussions. Other ticket prices vary, including concert tickets that are “pay-what-you-choose.” All-access passes cost $90. The virtual fest is organized by the Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington, DC, Bender Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington and Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia.

This post has been updated to include additional ticket information about the JxJ festival and to note the new timing for caroling in Adams Morgan.