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MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2010 KidsPost—and Frazz—will be back with more fun facts next Monday.


6


An online guide to events, night life and entertainment


Free & easy


The Going Out Gurus recommend free things to do for every day of the week


MONDAY Model Train Display Union Station’s decorations aren’t complete


without this model display featuring a reproduction of aNorwegian train, part of the Toys for Tots drive. Through Jan. 3. Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 202-289-1908. www.unionstationdc.com.


TUESDAY WoodrowWilson wreath-laying On the birthday of the former president, a wreath


will be placed at his resting place, accompanied by full military honors. Wilson is the only president buried in the District of Columbia.


10 a.m. Washington National Cathedral, Wisconsin


and Massachusetts avenues NW. 202-537-6200. www.cathedral.org.


WEDNESDAY Future Times/TheWhale Holiday Party D.C.’s DJ collective that specializes in space-age


disco and futuristic funk takes to the turntables.


10 p.m.UStreet Music Hall, 1115USt. NW. 202-588-1880. www.ustreetmusichall.com.


THURSDAY Weston Jennings The up-and-coming organist plays aMillennium


Stage recital with a twist: The performance will take


place inside the luxe confines of the Kennedy Center’s concert hall. 6 p.m. The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. 202-467-4600. www.kennedy-center.org.


FRIDAY First Night Annapolis


A family-friendlyNewYear’s Eve celebration that


features early fireworks at 7:30 p.m. and another round at midnight. 3 p.m. Annapolis City Dock, Randall Street, Annapolis. 410-268-0581. newyear.annapolis.gov.


SATURDAY


Winter Classic viewing party If you can’t make it to Pittsburgh to watch the


JOHN MCDONNELL/THE WASHINGTON POST


Capitals take on the Penguins in theNHL’s annual outdoor game, the next best place to watch it is on the big screen at Arlington Cinema ’N’ Drafthouse. 1 p.m. Arlington Cinema ’N’ Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. 703-486-2345. www.arlingtondrafthouse.com.


SUNDAY American String Quartet


TheNational Gallery kicks off its six-concert series


of all of Beethoven’s compositions for string quartets. 6 p.m. National Gallery of Art, East Building,


Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-737-4215. www.nga.gov. —Alex Baldinger and David Malitz


c P L A N N I N G A N E V E N T W E S H O U L D K N O W A B O U T ? T E L L U S . S E N D L I S T I N G S I N F O R M A T I O N T O E V E N T S@WA S H I N G T O N P O S T . C O M


CAN’T BE THERE?Go see Alex Ovechkin and the Caps take on Pittsburgh at a party in Arlington.


facebook.com/goingoutguide twitter.com/goingoutgurus


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$5ORLESS ROCKWELLEXHIBIT This final week of the year can be both the doldrums and a mad scramble. Nothing seems to be going on, but it’s your last chance to make the year feel worthwhile. Did you read enough books? Go to enough museums? Thanks to the Smithsonian, you can make up your quota on that last one with a visit to “Telling Stories,” the exhibit of Norman Rockwell paintings pulled from the collections of filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, which closes Sunday. And you can sit and read that book you meant to finish in the museum’s heated atrium once you’ve browsed.


Through Sunday. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW. 202-633-1000. www.americanart.si.edu. Free. —Fiona Zublin


SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM


‘TELLING STORIES’: Catch the Smithsonian’sNorman Rockwell show while you still can. It closes Sunday.


DearAmy: MyhusbandandIarehavingan


CAROLYN HAX


Quid pro quo is a faulty foundation for friendship


While I’m away, readers give the


advice. On “moochers” who accept invitations but don’t extend them:


Where didwe get the idea thatwe’re supposed to give only ifwe have the expectation of getting the same back? I enjoy entertaining and invite people to my home. I givewhat Iamcomfortable giving and I expect the same in return— not the same that I gave; I expectwhat my friends are comfortable giving. Just as some people have more money than others, some people have more time, more energy, more compassion, more thoughtfulness. You never knowwhere relationships will find balance. If you are looking for quid pro quo, sign a contract stating your expectations. If youwant a friendship, be a friend.


C. On bodies subject to scorn (it isn’t


just big girls): The counterpart to plus-sizedwomen


is menwho are smaller than average. I come from awhole family ofwonderful menwho fit that description. Society has come to see the error in discriminating against larger people—there are plus- size clothes and fashion models, even— but small men get the short (I know, bad pun) end of the stick. Look at their hiring/earning stats, the tendency of women to dismiss them, and the “joking” remarks they endure: All of this regardless of their intelligence, kindness, wit, athleticism, and capabilities.What a greatworld it will be when, indeed,we get beyond the superficial. Thank goodness for the parents in your columnwho nurtured their large daughter’s self-image. Here’s hoping they are equally understanding when she brings home a short fiance.


S.


On becoming a stepparent (stepmother, in this case):


I’ve been there, had the panicky thoughts and,worse, a false confidence following thereafter, but I lived through


Dangers in reach may be least of toddler’s problems ASK AMY


argumentandneedanoutsideopinion. Here’s thesituation:Wehavelivedin


our rentalhouseforabouteightmonths. Thereisadrawer inourkitchenthathas, amongother things,matchesand batteries init.Wehavea19-month-oldson whoisabletoopensaiddrawerandget stuffoutof it. Myhusbandstayshomeandis the


primary caretakerofour sonwhileIamat work.Myhusbandhasadmittedthathe hashadmoreopportunities tofix the situationbecauseheishomemoreoften. Ihavealsoadmittedthat Iobviouslydo


bear someresponsibilitybecauseIalso knewthat itwasaproblemanduntil yesterdayhadneverdoneanythingabout it.


Ourquestionis,whoismore NICK GALIFIANAKIS FOR THE WASHINGTON POST


it. Iwould say these things: 1. Youmay be charmed towatch your


man acting as a parent; it is a side you wouldn’t otherwise see, even with visiting privileges. 2. Depending on the ages of the kids,


expect them to blame you for awhile— theirworld came apart and you are their “change”; the kids I inherited had never been taughtwhat I consider the basic courtesies,were not doingwell in school, etc. You can help out but still be kind. You can pleasantly widen their horizons, not force them into a brand newworld. 3. Nomatterwhat has to pass


between you and their mother (and it shouldn’t be much, she should have to speak to their father), be courteous and let her make an ass out of herself if that’s going to be in the program. The kids will drawtheir own conclusions as long as you don’t lose it in front of her or them.When nobody’swatching any longer, you can go out and kick one of your car tires. 4. Do not try to be their mother, they


already have one; try to be a good friend and mentor, and raise them to be pleasant people themselves as much as can be, and all will bewell.While they are teenagers you will have grave doubts, but, believe it or not, it is indeed a fulfilling thing to do.


A (sort of) battle-scarred veteran


3Read the whole transcript or join the www.washingtonpost.com/discussions.


discussion live at noon Fridays at


Write to Tell Me About It, Style, 1150 15th St. NW,Washington, D.C. 20071, or tellme@washpost.com.


responsiblefor thefact that thedrawer has (until yesterday)neverbeencleaned outandthedangerous items takenoutof our son’s reach?


WonderingMother SometimeswhenI’mout andabout,


people askme if Imakeupletters that appear inmy column.AndI always respondby saying, “Who canmake this up?” Inthe time it took youandyour


husbandto bat this issue back andforth andthenfor youto sitdownto e-mailme your query, your soncouldhave ingested several batteries andlearnedto lighthis owncigarettes. Mypoint being:Bothparents are


equally responsible for removing dangers fromJunior’s reach. Generally,whatever adultperceives


thehazardfirst shouldact first.


DearAmy: Iamamotherof twochildrenwith


anotherbabydueanydaynow. Myolderdaughter is inkindergarten,


andIhavenotbeenactivewhenit comes timetovolunteer for classpartiesand suchbecausemypregnancyhasbeen rough. Recently I receivedanastyphonecall


fromoneof theclassmothers stating that Ididnot signuptohelpoutat thewinter party. Shealsopointedout that Ihadnot


givenmoney for theteachers’ gift,even thoughthedeadlinefor this contribution wasmorethanaweekaway. Iknowsheisawareofmypregnancy


becauseImetherat theHalloweenparty andsheaskedmewhenIwasdue. HowshouldIhaveresponded? Ididn’t


callherbecauseIwasafraidshewould talktomeas if Iwereoneofher children. Whatdoyourecommend? Pregnant and Frustrated


Youshouldhave respondedpolitely to


thispersonwhohas beenrude to you. Here’s a sample script: “Iwon’t be


helping outwithclassparties this winter.Myunderstanding about contributing to the teachers’ giftwas that thedeadlinewasnextweek. If I can contribute, you’ll receive themoney by then. “Thank youfor all youdo for these


teachers andthe kids. I cantell it’s really frustrating, andI’ll certainly stepupto


helpif I’mable later inthe year.” Youdon’thave to offer reasons or


excuses fornot volunteering.Volunteers volunteer.That’swhy they call it volunteering (otherwise itwouldbe called“work”).Beingnasty isn’t an effectiveway to gethelp, andthe sooner thismomrealizes this, themorehelpshe willhave.


DearAmy: “NotaBridesmaid”didn’twant tobein


her friend’sweddingbecauseshewas so mucholder thantheotherbridesmaids. Many yearsago, Iwas inthesame


situation. Imademy “gracious” refusal to thebride-to-beandlostafriend. Thereisnoway, I realized, torefusethe


honorofbeingaskedtobepartofa weddingpartywithoutoffending. Inaddition, yousuggestmakinga


negativeremarkabout thedress—“I’ll looklikeanovercookedsausage,”which couldeasilybetakenby thebrideasa criticismofher tasteinclothes. Myadvicewouldbeforher toresign


herself tolooking less thanlovely fora fewhoursofher lifetokeepher friendshipandthebride’s feelings intact. Lost a Friend


Youmake anexcellentpoint.Most of


uswouldbehappy to look like an overcookedsausage ifwe knewa friendshipwas at stake.


Write to AmyDickinson at askamy@tribune.comor Ask Amy,Chicago Tribune, TT500,435N.Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill.60611. © 2010by theChicago Tribune


Distributed by TribuneMedia Services


TOP10FILMS “Little Fockers,” the third installment of the Focker franchise, topped the box office with a $34 million opening weekend. Here are the top movie ticket sales Friday through Sunday, with estimated weekend receipts and total receipts since the movie opened. The number of weeks opened is in parentheses.


Weekend


1. Little Fockers (1) 2. True Grit (1)


3. Tron Legacy (2)


4. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (3)


5. Yogi Bear (2) 6. The Fighter (3)


7. Gulliver’s Travels (1) 8. Black Swan (4) 9. Tangled (5)


10. The Tourist (3) Total


in millions of dollars 34.0 25.6 20.1


10.8 8.8


8.5 7.2 6.6 6.5 5.7


48.3 36.8 88.3


63.9 36.8


27.6 7.2


29.0


143.8 41.2


SOURCE: WWW.BOXOFFICEMOJO.COM GLEN WILSON/ASSOCIATED PRESS


FAMILY SEQUEL: Colin Baiocchi is one of the “Little Fockers.”


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