Washington DC - Art & Entertainment

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During the day Washington appears to be a city of gray suits and serious politics, but after dark, it has plenty to offer in the way of nightlife and culture. Locals and visitors flock to first-rate theaters and concerts or to dance the night away in the many clubs and ballrooms. In the summer, a constant schedule of outdoor events, many of which are free, brings people out to watch a Shakespeare play or to listen to the US Navy Band. Politics aside, Washingtonians enjoy their evenings in a truly nonpartisan manner.

Stage and Screen

Washington is home to several fine theaters presenting everything from big Broadway hits to smaller productions featuring local playwrights and covering topical issues. The Kennedy Center is a showcase for classic theater, both old and new, performed in the large Eisenhower Theater or the more intimate Terrace Theater. The National Theatre is Washington's answer to Broadway, presenting many touring companies and occasionally premiering musicals before they move on to the Great White Way in New York City.

The Warner Theater has a multifaceted past: opened in the 1920s as a vaudeville house, it became a classic movie palace and then a venue for rock bands before closing its doors. Reopened in 1992, it now features big name plays and other entertainment acts. Another theater with a past is Ford's Theater, which has carefully preserved the 1865 scene where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Plays are produced on the same stage onto which John Wilkes Booth jumped after delivering the fatal shot. A visit to the theater is both an historic and a cultural experience.

The Arena Stage, Source Theatre Company and the Gunston Arts Center are a few of the more eclectic and innovative theaters in the Washington area dedicated to the celebration of the dramatic arts. Many offer programs to educate and inform as well as entertain.

Movie theaters throughout the metropolitan area show the latest offerings from Hollywood and international studios. The Uptown, with its giant screen, is the place to see newly released epic films. Located at the Kennedy Center, the American Film Institute features documentaries, classic movies and other film events such as studies of film history-showcasing the work of a particular director.

Music

The premier venue for classic opera in Washington is the Kennedy Center's Opera House. This grand stage is the home of the Washington Opera, which performs seven operas in the November-March season, all in their original languages with English supertitles.

The National Symphony Orchestra calls the Kennedy Center home as well, performing in the Concert Hall from September-June. In the summer, the acclaimed orchestra can be heard at Wolf Trap Farm Park and playing from the steps of the U.S. Capitol on special holidays.

Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University is another venue for classical music, often offering lesser-known works.

Outdoor concerts are popular in the warmer months when Washingtonians and visitors bring picnics and listen to free music on the National Mall, in Rock Creek Park or at the National Zoo. The official bands of the U.S. Armed Forces often give concerts featuring patriotic and popular tunes.

The Capitol City draws popular, contemporary music as well. The Nissan Pavilion, Merriweather Post Pavilion and Wolf Trap Farm Park all bring in big name artists for summer outdoor concerts. Constitution Hall and the 9:30 Club have year-round shows with a variety of rock and roll, jazz, blues and pop.

Washington's international makeup provides a variety of music from around the world. Irish folk music can be heard nightly at several pubs including Murphy's and Kelly's Irish Times. Cuban, African and Zydeco can often be heard at the Birchmere, as well as country and bluegrass.

Dancing

Whether it's salsa, swing, ballroom or the latest hip-hop, Washington has many great clubs in which to dance the night away. Habana Village gives Latin dance lessons before the evening gets under way and the club has three floors of dancers doing the salsa and tango. Coco Loco, DC Live and LuLu's are also popular Latin dance venues. Swing has experienced a revival and Washingtonians are kicking up their heels to music from the Big Band era. Classes are held at many places throughout the city including the Chevy Chase Ballroom. The Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers lessons and dances throughout the week in a variety of styles including Cajun, swing and contra dancing. There is also an elegant Sunday afternoon tea dance, often featuring the waltz.

Contemporary dance clubs are numerous in the Metro area, many staying open until the wee hours of the morning. They range from the posh MCCXXIII and Republic Gardens, both of which have a dress code, to hip-hop and reggae at State of the Union. Club Heaven and Hell offers an angelic atmosphere in the upstairs dance room and a darker pool hall downstairs.

For the latest information on happenings around town, check the Washington Post's Weekend section, which comes out on Fridays, or check their website at www.washingtonpost.com.







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State of the Union


Party all the time
 1357 U St Northwest
Washington DC 20009
+1 202 588 8810
State of the Union
Republic Gardens


Small but worth the wait
 1355 U St NW
Washington DC 20009
+1 202 232 2710
http://www.republicgardens.com
Republic Gardens
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts


Outdoor Music & Theater
 1645 Trap Road
Washington DC, VA 22182
+1 703 255 1900 / +1 703 255 1868
http://www.wolf-trap.org/
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts
National Zoo


World-renowned animal park
 3001 Connecticut Avenue NorthWest
Washington DC 20008
+1 202 633 4800
http://www.nationalzoo.si.edu/
National Zoo
Club Heaven and Hell


Best of both afterworlds
 2327 18th Street North West
Washington DC 20009
+1 202 667 4355
Club Heaven and Hell
Rock Creek Park


A capital forest
 5200 Glover Rd NW
Washington DC 20008
+1 202 895 6070
http://www.nps.gov/rocr/
Rock Creek Park
Ford's Theatre


Lincoln's Assassination Site
 511 10th Street North West
Washington DC 20004
+1 202 347 4833 (tickets)
http://www.fordstheatre.org
Ford's Theatre
MCCXXIII


Elite club
 1223 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington DC 20036
+1 202 822 1800
http://www.club1223.com
MCCXXIII
Habana Village


Salsa the night away
 1834 Columbia Rd NW
Washington DC 20009
+1 202 462 6310
http://www.havanavillage.com
Habana Village
Nightclub 9:30


Next stop for MTV
 815 V Street Northwest
Intersection of 9th, V and Vermont streets
Washington DC 20001
+1 202 393 0390 / +1 202 397 7328 (Tickets)
http://www.930.com/
Nightclub 9:30
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts


Memorial & Performance
 2700 F St NW
Washington DC 20566
+1 800 444 1324 / +1 202 467 4600
http://www.kennedy-center.org
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Birchmere


Famous for folk
 3701 Mount Vernon Ave
Washington DC, VA 22305
+1 703 549 7500
http://www.birchmere.com/
Birchmere
Murphy's


Irish fare and folk music
 2605 24th Street Northwest
Washington DC 20008
+1 202 462 7171
Murphy's
National Mall


Memorials and museums
 900 Ohio Dr SW
Washington DC 20024
+1 202 485 9880
http://www.nps.gov/nama/
National Mall
Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park


Weekend dances
 7300 MacArthur Blvd
Washington DC, MD 20812
+1 301 492 6229 / +1 301 634 2226
http://www.nps.gov/glec/
Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park
Kelly's Irish Times


Popular, lively pub
 14 F Street Northwest
Washington DC 20001
+1 202 543 5433
Kelly's Irish Times
Arena Stage


Quality regional theater
 1101 Sixth Street Southwest
Washington DC 20024
+1 202 554 9066
http://www.arenastage.org
Arena Stage
Gunston Arts Center


Diverse theater program
 2700 South Lang Street
Washington DC, VA 22236
+1 703 228 1850
Gunston Arts Center
National Theatre


Broadway in DC
 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington DC 20004
+1 202 628 6161 / +1 800 447 7400
http://www.nationaltheatre.org
National Theatre
Warner Theatre


Dance, music and Broadway shows
 13th and East Streets Northwest
Washington DC 20004-2405
+1 202 783 4000/ +1 800 551 7328 (Toll free)
http://www.warnertheatre.com/
Warner Theatre
U.S. Capitol


Home of legislative branch
 East Capitol Street
NE and 1st Street, NE
Washington DC 20002
+1 202 225 6827
http://www.aoc.gov/
U.S. Capitol
Washington DC
Washington DC - Historical Background
Washington DC - Where to Stay
Washington DC - Neighborhood Guide
Washington DC - Dining & Drinking
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