National Geographic Sale and Terra Cotta Warriors open this week

This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (November 20 - 22), National Geographic is bringing truckloads of books, maps, globes, toys, clothing, luggage, travel accessories, DVDS and more to its warehouse sale at the Washington, DC armory. This almost-annual sale gives bargain hunters a chance to pick up some cool holiday gifts at up to 90% off. 


I try not to miss this sale. But be warned - the crowds can be huge during peak times (Saturday morning and afternoon), so plan ahead. And everything's pretty picked over by Sunday although there will still be plenty of books available.


Hours: Friday 10 -6; Saturday and Sunday 9 - 5

Metro: Stadium Armory on the Orange and Blue lines. Plenty of parking nearby.

Also, this Thursday, National Geographic's "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," a traveling exhibition featuring the largest number of terra cotta figures ever to travel to the United States, opens at the National Geographic Museum. The exhibition, which includes 15 terra cotta figures from the tomb of China's First Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, who ruled from 221-210 B.C., will run through March 31, 2010. This is the final stop for the warriors, on a four-city U.S. tour.

If you've been to National Geo before, you know the exhibition space has been rather 'confined.' For this exhibit, they've enlarged the space to give the crowds and the warriors a little room to breathe (and move).

You will definitely need to buy advance tickets, which have been on sale since March. Ticket prices are $12 for adults; $10 for seniors, students, military personnel and National Geographic members; and $6 for children ages 2-12.

Hours: daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesdays until 9 p.m. Closed on Dec. 25. 

Location: 17th & M Streets NW, Washington, DC 20036

For more information, visit www.warriorsdc.org.

Dr. Parnassus previews at AFI, November 14

As part of this year's EU Film Festival, the American Film Institute has a real treat for filmgoers – a surprise premiere of Terry Gilliam's latest flight of fantasy, "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus." There will be one showing at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 15. 

The film's gotten a lot of press over the past year for being the last film starring Heath Ledger. The production had just taken a break after filming the real world scenes in London when Ledger returned home to New York for the last time. Director Gilliam, known as much for his oft-troubled productions as for his brilliant imagination and his work with Monty Python, then enlisted Johnny Depp to fill in for Ledger in the fantasy sequences. When Depp's schedule wouldn't allow him the time to complete the project, Gilliam asked Colin Farrell and Jude Law to help out. Tom Waits plays Mr. Nick, the devil, with Christopher Plummer as Dr. Parnassus. The reviews from Europe have been mixed, but I can't imagine this screening won't sell out - get your tickets now or plan to wait until Christmas when it opens nationally.

Dr. Parnassus at AFI