Take a Shine to the Winter Holidays in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's capital shines brightly throughout the holiday season. Whether visitors seek family fun, like the lighting of the White House Christmas tree and a visit with Santa, or need the perfect gift, a cozy bar with a fireplace, and an electric evening of theater, the District's shops, restaurants and entertainment offerings make lasting memories. Find hotel packages and a full calendar of events on Washington.org and exclusive freebies and insider tips on DCcool.com.

NEW IN 2014: UNIQUE DC COOL FREEBIES AND DEALS
Find unique deals and freebies at restaurants, hotels, bars, theaters and other hospitality hubs throughout the holiday season on our live-like-a-local-insider site. DCcool.com lists only-in-DC tips, itineraries and deals for people eager to explore Washington, DC on and off the National Mall. Among the unique DC Cool holiday deals in our Winter issue:

Georgetown Suites: Spend the first night at this all-suites hotel in north Georgetown at the posted rate, and pay only the temperature outside at check-in on the second night. If the temperature is 52 degrees, you'd pay $52, 20 degrees you pay $20, and so on. The deal is available Thursdays-Sundays only, November 16, 2014-February 28, 2015, based upon availability. Two-night minimum required with a four-night maximum.

Capella Washington DC: Receive a complimentary welcome cocktail (or mocktail) at weekday breakfast, lunch or dinner at The Grill Room, the hotel's fine, canal-side restaurant with the mention of "DC Cool." This deal is available through January 31, 2015.

Oyamel: Enjoy a (1) complimentary taco when you mention "DC Cool" during late-night hours at José Andrés' Mexican cocina in the Penn Quarter. The offer is available 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. Thursday-Saturday; Sunday, 10 p.m.-midnight, thought January 18, 2015. One per person, please.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts: Score 20% off each full-price ticket to Shear Madness, the city's longest running improv comedy, with a mention of "DC Cool." Access this exclusive discount in-person at the Kennedy Center's main box office or via telephone. The discount is valid for all performances except the 6 and 9 p.m. shows on December 31, 2014.

HOLIDAY HOTEL PACKAGES
Like snowflakes, no two Washington, DC hotels are the same. Discover your perfect perch for a holiday break in the nation's capital. Many offer spirited seasonal packages designed to make family reunions, romantic weekends, thrill-a-minute getaways and holiday shopping trips designed to make Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve, and all days in between, unforgettable. Among the most high spirited seasonal hotel packages:

Dupont Circle Hotel: "Baby It's Cold Outside" package includes 10% off the daily rate; homemade gingerbread; a take-home gift of gingerbread spices and mulled wine, and the chef's signature holiday recipe to try at home.

The Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown: The "Holiday Lights and Breakfast Delights" package includes overnight accommodations, a daily continental breakfast for two as well as hot chocolate and cookies in the hotel lobby. Available November 16, 2014-January 18, 2015, rates start at $219 per night based on double occupancy and availability. Rates do not include taxes or gratuities.

The Hay-Adams Hotel: Enjoy luxury accommodations in the nation's capital with a seasonal welcome amenity from pastry chef Josh Short and continental breakfast for two each morning. Choose from a Christmas Day lunch or dinner for two served at the Top of The Hay, the hotel's spectacular private venue with commanding views of the White House, Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial. The Christmas package can be combined with any guest room or suite option. Rates for superior rooms start at $569; junior suites from $1,069; one bedroom suites from $2,069; and the Federal Suite from $3,569.

Marriott & Renaissance Hotels of Washington, DC: Stay at any Marriott or Renaissance hotels in the District and take advantage of their holiday gift: Guests receive a $25 daily credit good for ancillary charges such as dining, parking and WiFi. The offer is valid November 14, 2014 - January 19, 2015 for stays Thursday-Sunday that include a Friday or Saturday night. Credit is not valid for room and tax charges. Please refer to promotional code 1AH.

The Willard InterContinental: The "residence of presidents" dresses up in holiday finery. Among the seasonal treats: holiday dining events by Chef Serge Devesa; holiday libations at the Round Robin Bar; free nightly choir performances in the grand lobby; a gingerbread Lincoln Memorial by pastry chef Gary O'Hanlon; holiday afternoon tea in Peacock Alley and attractive holiday rates. Stay between November 23-30, and December 19-30, 2014, with rates starting from $199 per room per night. Guests can also enjoy an up-close view of the entire White House Historical Association's cherished ornament collection decorating the tree in the hotel's historic lobby.

HOTEL DEALS ON WASHINGTON.ORG
Book DC-area hotels on Washington.org powered by ARes, our online booking partner, including:

Beacon Hotel and Corporate Quarters: The longer you stay, the deeper the discount: save 5% on a one night stay; save 10% on two nights; and save 15% on three-night stays or longer. The package includes one room for two adults; 15% off breakfast and lunch in the hotel's restaurant, free WiFi (two devices); 50% off valet parking (a savings of $18.50 per day plus tax), and vouchers for two complimentary Shirley Temples upon check-in.

Embassy Row Hotel: The Dupont Circle property's "Stay and Play" package includes deluxe hotel accommodations, overnight valet parking, and late checkout so you can enjoy more of America's coolest city.

Georgetown Suites: Save 20% when you stay two or more nights, Thursday-Sunday. Guests also receive complimentary continental breakfast daily and complimentary WiFi.

Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel: Stay two or more nights and receive a $50 credit for Art and Soul, the hotel's restaurant and bar.  Rates start at $129 per night. The package must be pre-paid and is nonrefundable.

Loews Madison Hotel: Pick your present: Guests receive premium plus WiFi and a holiday-themed amenity, plus choose between a $50 hotel credit or complimentary valet parking.

Quality Inn Mount Vernon: Stay two consecutive nights, and get the third night free, November 4, 2014-January 4, 2014. Guests who take advantage of the DC Cool-inspired holiday savings also receive complimentary breakfast daily and complimentary parking.

Residence Inn Washington DC Downtown: Plan ahead and book your weekend or holiday stay 14 days in advance for modern accommodations, unbeatable rates, and more!  Book two nights and save 10%; Book three nights and save 15%, pending availability.

Residence Inn Alexandria  Old Town South at Carlyle: The "Suite Shopping Spree" includes a daily hot breakfast buffet; buffet dinner with two glasses of wine, beer or soft drinks (Monday-Thursday, 5:30PM-7:00PM, excluding holidays), free WiFi and complimentary parking (a $20 value). To make stays even "suiter," a $25 American Express gift card will be issued, one per room. Package subject to availability; $25 American Express gift card may be substituted with a Visa or MasterCard gift card.

Residence Inn by Marriott Washington, DC/U.S. Capitol: Stay three or more nights between November 14, 2014-January 4, 2015 and save 10%.

St. Gregory Luxury Hotel and Suites: "Enchanted Holiday Package" includes $129/deluxe room with an American breakfast and a 50% discount on parking. Upgrade to a suite for $10.00 more. The package runs November 20-30, 2014, December 12, 2014-January 4, 2015.

WINTER SPORTS AND ICE SKATING
The NHL will host the 2015 Winter Classic, an old-time outdoor hockey game for international broadcast in National's Park on Jan. 1, 2015. The host team, the Washington Capitals will take on the Chicago Blackhawks at 1:30 p.m. in a special rink built inside the baseball stadium. While tickets to the feel-good game are sold out, there are myriad places to watch around town. Additionally, the family-friendly spirit of the Winter Classic will be celebrated on Half Street near the baseball stadium between 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on game day with a fan festival. Fans are invited to test their hockey skills and show their spirit before the puck drops on New Year's Day. For those looking for a larger hockey story: National Museum of American History has American hockey memorabilia in their collection.

There are many more opportunities to enjoy world-class hockey as the Washington Capitals take on their division at the Verizon Center in the heart of the Penn Quarter. Teams within drive-in radius include the Philadelphia Flyers; Carolina Hurricanes; Columbus Blue Jackets; New Jersey Devils; and Detroit Red Wings. DC fans "rock the red" and the ethos in the stands is family-friendly fun. The Washington Capitals' practice ice at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston, VA is accessible from downtown DC by metro. The space offers fans opportunities to watch the team practice and to skate during public hours too.

For those who want to show off their triple axels, there are several places to ice skate al fresco:

• Magnificent works of art ring the rink at the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden.
• Or, head to Georgetown's Washington Harbour for a spin around their riverside rink boasting views of the Potomac and Theodore Roosevelt Island.
• Near National's Park, home of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic, the 12,000-square foot rink in Canal Park in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood offers public skating sessions and learn-to-skate lessons.

All rinks are operational and weather dependent, between late-November until late February.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Our city is aglow:

• The first week of December brings a festive lineup of tree lighting ceremonies at some of DC's most famous locations, such as the National Tree on the White House Ellipse on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m., (tickets for the lighting ceremony are distributed by national lottery) kicking off a month of musical performances and events as part of the annual Pageant of Peace celebration.
• The Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown Hotel will hold its annual tree lighting party, Dec. 3,. The hotel asks guests to bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.
• The National Menorah will be lit on Dec. 16 on the grounds adjacent to the White House.
• ZooLights returns to dazzle families at the National Zoo (most evenings Nov. 28-Jan.1). More than 40 animated light installations (made up of more than 500,000 LED bulbs) as well as Panda Claus, an "ice-less" rink and a carousel delight visitors. Admission to ZooLights is free.

HOLIDAY CONCERTS, CHOIRS and OPERETTAS
World-renowned musical groups, traditional and inventive performances lend holiday cheer to DC audiences.

• The season brings a host of festive favorites to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts including the National Symphony Orchestra Pops' Happy Holidays! with Cirque de la Symphonie (Dec. 11-13), and Handel's Messiah (Dec. 18-21). The Gift of Nothing, (Nov. 28-Dec. 28), a world-premiere musical adaptation of the beloved children's book about a cat searching for the perfect present for a dog who has everything, ideal for children ages 4 and up. The Washington National Opera presents a "family opera," a new holiday tradition for WNO, this year, The Little Prince (Dec. 19-21).
• At the National Theatre, Donny and Marie Christmas (Dec. 2-7) presents a folksy American holiday review as only the Osmonds can.
• At the Verizon Center, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents The Christmas Attic (Dec. 17), a new rock opera.
• There are a host of holiday jazz performances too.  Among the most significant, are funky Marcus Johnson (Dec.11-14); pianist Freddy Cole (Dec. 18-21) and Eric Felton and his orchestra playing tribute to DC's favorite jazz son Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite (Dec. 9 and 10).
• The Washington Chorus presents a candlelit Christmas concert at Strathmore, a concert hall with near-perfect acoustics in Rockville, MD.

SHOPPING
A boomlet in high-end retail at CityCenterDC (Burberry, Kate Spade, Longchamp, Hugo BOSS) in the Penn Quarter as well as busy boutiques across shopping districts like Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Friendship Heights and Barracks Row on Capitol Hill make DC a great place to shop for holiday treats.

Destination DC's 2014 holiday campaign offers a view of a family shopping in Georgetown: parents and children, who might well be planning to visit unique boutiques like M29 Lifestyle (chic accessories, baby clothes and party dresses for mothers and daughters); Tugooh Toys (treats for ages tot-12, and DC-centric toys like a Lego White House); Addison/Ripley Fine Art (contemporary paintings, prints, photos); A Mano (European-accented homewares); and Hugh & Crye (bespoke shirts for men).

As good as our neighborhoods are, the variety of DC's museum shops truly adds only-in-DC elements to one's holiday shopping lists. Among the museum shops loaded with toys, treasures and trinkets: The National Gallery of Art; National Building Museum; National Museum of the American Indian; Library of Congress; International Spy Museum; National Museum of African Art; Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens and many others. 

There are two stand-out opportunities to shop DC's museums in one place: Strathmore's annual Museum Shop Around unites 19 not-for-profit museums selling their wares at a holiday bazaar (Nov. 13-16). Smithsonian museums on the National Mall throw a serious shopping party in time for the holidays. During the Smithsonian Holiday Festival (Dec. 6-7) there are over 40 special events including book signings, photo ops, concerts, trunk shows and a shuttle bus will circulate between the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of American History, with stops along the National Mall. In the spirit of a European Christmas market, the Downtown Holiday Market hosts rows of boutiques in tents where guests can shop for trinkets, gifts, ornaments and other surprises at this pop-up market. Shoppers can warm up with hot chocolate and a pocket of Migue's Magnificent Mini-Donuts.

FINE ART
At the National Museum of Women in the Arts, "Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea" (Dec. 5-Apr. 25, 2015) presents a survey of images of the Virgin Mary as person and concept in Western art from the 6th-18th century by the likes of Botticelli and Michelangelo and women artists including Artemisia Gentileschi, on loan from the Vatican Museum and the Uffizi Gallery, among others.

SEASONAL FEASTS
From spectacular holiday feasts to seasonal snacks, DC offers a buffet of dining experiences that nod to myriad traditions. Hotels including the Willard InterContinental and the Park Hyatt Washington's Blue Duck Tavern offer holiday brunches. 

HOLIDAY THEATER
Many of the District's theaters present their most anticipated shows around the holiday season, and it's the perfect opportunity to view classic holiday performances.

• The Washington Ballet's Nutcracker (Dec. 4-28) is an enchanting tribute to our nation's capital starring George Washington as the heroic Nutcracker and England's King George II as the villainous Rat King at the historic Warner Theatre.
• A richly dressed version of A Christmas Carol (Nov. 20– Jan. 1) will be performed at historic Ford's Theatre, a longstanding DC tradition.
• There is an abundance of family-friendly theater at venues throughout the city, including Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Kennedy Center (Dec. 16 – Jan. 4), Donny and Marie Christmas (Dec. 2-7) and Pippin (Dec. 14 –Jan. 4) at the National Theater.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Among the holiday events that are right around the corner in Washington, DC:

Nov. 28 - Jan. 6: Mount Vernon by Candlelight: Visitors to the famous estate learn about the Washington family's Christmas traditions as they tour the candlelit mansion, meet First Lady Martha Washington and enjoy caroling and free cookies. Exciting additions this year include Holiday Illuminations: a spectacular evening on Saturday, Dec. 20: seasonal holiday music, visit George Washington's camel (a holiday treat he imported to delight his guests); a campfire at a Revolutionary encampment, and a fireworks show.

Nov. 28-Dec. 23: Downtown Holiday Market: The popular holiday market held on 7th and F Streets, NW across from the Portrait Gallery.
More than 60 regional artists sell their wares (clothing, seasonal decorations, fine art) at this open-air happening, daily, noon-8 p.m.

Dec. 1-25: Holiday Happenings at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel: Spend some holiday time at this historic hotel in the heart of the Nation's Capital with their Nutcracker-themed hotel packages, Christmas Eve dinner, Nutcracker Brunch, Holiday Teas and nightly musical performances at 6 p.m. in the lobby.

Dec. 4, Dec. 4-Jan. 1, 2015: At 5 p.m. on Dec. 4, the first family will light the White House Christmas Tree with a star-studded ceremony on the Ellipse. Tickets are coveted and as such are distributed through a national online lottery. The lottery begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, October 17 and ends at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 20. To apply for the lottery, visit recreation.gov or call (877) 444-6777. There are 3,000 seated tickets and 14,000 standing room tickets available through the lottery. Emails will be sent after November 3 to the lottery winners with instructions for printing tickets. Once the tree and the Pathway of Peace have been officially lighted, it will be lit at dusk nightly until Jan. 1. The popular Santa's Workshop section will be open Dec. 9-Dec. 24, Monday to Thursday, 4:00-6:30 p.m. and 7:00-9:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday: 12:30-4:30 p.m. and 5:30-9:30 p.m., Christmas Eve: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Dec. 6: Scottish Christmas Walk: This annual tradition kicks off Alexandria's holiday season with the fresh scent of heather and the stirring melody of bagpipes throughout the quaint streets of Old Town.

Dec. 7: Logan Circle Holiday House Tour: This 31st annual event will feature East Logan, with special emphasis on the rich history of residential and commercial alley life in Logan's own Blagden Alley and Naylor Court. The tour will also feature the Blagden Alley studio of world-renowned master printmaker David Adamson.

Dec. 5-7: Handel's Messiah: Each December the Washington National Cathedral Choir presents this holiday classic, enlivened by the grand acoustics.

Dec. 13-14: Russian Winter Festival: Hillwood Museum & Gardens celebrates Russian holiday traditions with folktales, cultural performances, music, hands-on arts projects for kids and self-guided family tours of the museum's Russian art collection.

Dec. 16-23: A Renaissance Christmas: The Music of Flanders and Italy: The Folger Consort captures a distinctively enlightened spirit of 14th century Belgium and Italy with a choir accompanied by organ, winds and period strings.

Dec. 13 & 20: Gingerbread House Making Workshop at Tudor Place: Stroll through the mansion built by Martha Washington's granddaughter almost 200 years ago and participate decorating a mansion made of gingerbread. Recommended for kids.

Jan.  1: NHL's Winter Classic and Fan Experience: The Washington Capitals take on the Chicago Blackhawks at National's Park for the 8th iteration of the New Year's Day old-time outdoor hockey game. The fan experience on Half Street runs 9:30a.m.-1 p.m. and the puck drops at 1:30 p.m.

Find more upcoming events, exclusive hotel packages, special performances and values for wintertime visitors on Washington.org and DCcool.com.

About Destination DC:Destination DC, the lead destination marketing organization for the nation's capital, is a private, non-profit membership organization of more than 1,000 businesses committed to marketing the area as a premier global convention, tourism and special events destination with a special emphasis on the arts, cultural and historic communities. www.washington.org.

SOURCE Destination DC

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