Movie buffs, your high holiday has arrived.
The 81st Annual Academy Awards will air live at 8 p.m. Sunday. Millions of people will gather around the television hours before the ceremony to watch the royalty of Hollywood trickle into the Kodak Theatre with the fanfare and glamour the biggest movie event of the year brings.
If you’re not the do-it-yourself type, there are plenty of options throughout the D.C. area to watch the Oscars with your like-minded movie-loving friends.
» Oscar Night America Party: The area’s only official Academy-sanctioned viewing will get under way at 7 p.m. at the Hard Rock Cafe. Take note, however — this is a swanky affair. It’s black-tie. The event also features a silent auction, including a Gibson Les Paul Guitar signed by O.A.R. General admission tickets are still available for $85, and all proceeds from the event benefit the American Red Cross. To register, visit redcrossnca.org.
» D.C. Film Society’s Oscar Party: At the Arlington Cinema n’ Drafthouse, you can watch the ceremonies on the big screen and have a little fun with a predict-the-winners contest. There’s also a silent auction featuring prizes like theater tickets and autographed memorabilia. Local film critics Joe Barber and Bill Henry will be on hand. Doors open at 6 p.m. Advance tickets (which run $20 if you’re not a D.C. Film Society member) can be purchased online at dcfilmsociety.org. Proceeds from the evening benefit the society, Filmfest D.C. and the Washington D.C. International Film Festival.
» Armchair Oscars Party: One party, two locations! Help support One in Ten and the D.C. Center with parties at BeBar and Nellie’s Sports Bar. One in Ten, which produces Reel Affirmations (the nation’s LGBT Film Festival) is hosting the festivities (prizes and raffles here, too!) which get under way at 7 p.m. For information (including tips on hosting your own party at home) visit oneinten.org.
It’s that time again: Mardi Gras is almost here, and this weekend, you can celebrate properly. The Anacostia Community Museum is hosting a Mardi Gras Carnival on Saturday. The free, family-friendly carnival features a guided tour of the Jubilee exhibit, face painting, costumes, music and much more. For information, visit anacostia.si.edu. For the late-night partiers, head to The Front Page in Arlington for Mardi Gras Madness. Doors open at 9 p.m., and for a $5 cover, you can enjoy Love Seed Mama Jump, DJ Kay Jay, and beads and feathered masks (if you’re among the first 200 in the door). For information, call 703-248-9990 or visit frontpagearlington.com.
For the sports fans: The Capitals are home this weekend with a 7 p.m. Friday game against the Colorado Avalanche and a 12:30 p.m. Sunday face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins. For tickets or information, visit capitals.nhl.com. The Wizards are home Saturday night against the San Antonio Spurs. Visit washingtonwizards.com for tickets.
See it before it’s gone: “The Best Judge, the King” (GALA Hispanic Theatre, ends Sunday, $32 to $36); “Les Miserables” (Signature Theatre, ends Sunday, $65 to $87); “Seafarer” (Studio Theatre, ends Sunday, $34 to $45); “The Marriage of Figaro” (Source, ends Sunday, $20, seniors $15); “Love and Whiskey” (National Conservatory of the Dramatic Arts, ends Sunday, $15 suggested donation); “The Women of Tin Pan Alley” (H Street Playhouse, ends Sunday, $30); “Unleashed: The Secret Lives of White House Pets” (Kennedy Center, ends Sunday, $18).
