January may be the calm after the holiday storm but it’s certainly not a sleepy month in Washington. There’s still lots to see and do from big car shows to world-saving games.
The National Arboretum will hold a four-mile full moon hike through gardens, meadows, and woods. The two-hour walk over hilly and uneven terrain is more of a hike, not a tour, so good walking shoes are required. The hikes are Jan. 8-10, 2012 at 9 PM and cost $22. It’s not recommended for children under age 16. Registration is required.
Restaurant Week in Washington runs Jan. 9-15, 2012 where diners get a three-course, prix-fixe meal at participating restaurants. Tickets are $20.12 for lunch and $35.12 for dinner. Prices are per person and do not include beverage, tax, or gratuity. Reservations can be made at OpenTable.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian will hold the Native Storytelling Festival Jan. 14, 2012 at noon. The free event will kick off with the official unveiling of a 22-foot totem pole carved and painted by Tsimshiam carver David Boxley and his son, David Robert in the museum’s Potomac Atrium. It will be followed by a performance of the Git-Hoan and a tribal stories, all to kick off the opening of the museum’s exhibit, “Behind the Scenes: The Real Story of the Quileute Wolves.” The festival continues Jan. 15, 2012 with a performance of powwow-style dances and drumming at noon in the museum’s Potomac Atrium.
The American History Museum will pay tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 14-16, 2012 with a presentation of selections of some of Dr. King’s most powerful and compelling speeches and sermons. The event will include live performances, historic photos, and audio recordings. The free events will be held Jan. 14, 15, and 16 at 11 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4 PM.
President Lincoln’s Cottage has a free exhibit called Seat of War: A Panoramic View of Civil War Washington Through Historic Prints until Jan. 15, 2012. The rare prints feature views of the half-finished Capitol dome to Lincoln’s intimate Soldier’s Home retreat. Admission to the cottage is by guided tour only. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. They can be purchased online. Lincoln’s Cottage is on the Armed Forces Retirement Home campus at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Road, NW and Upshur Street, NW.
The Koshland Science Museum will hold a game night on Jan. 26, 2012 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. The game of choice is Pandemic, where each players takes on a role and works as a team to try to save humanity. As a specialist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you watch infectious diseases break out all over the world. Your team’s mission is to prevent the spread of disease by treating hot spots and investigating cures for each of the infections. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and can be purchased by calling the museum at 202-334-1201. More information can be found here. The museum is at 525 E St., NW.
The 2012 Washington Auto Show will be at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Jan. 27 through Feb. 5, 2012. It’s the largest public show in Washington, featuring more than 700 new makes and models from more than 42 manufacturers, including the latest in sustainable car technologies. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children under age 5 are free. Tickets can be purchased online. The convention center is at 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW.
The Renwick Gallery will celebrate its 40th birthday on Jan. 28 with contests, music, hands-on activities, games, gallery talks, crafts and a scavenger hunt through the galleries. The free celebration is from 11 AM to 2 PM at the gallery located at 1661 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
