Release Date: November 6, 2002

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART SCULPTURE GARDEN ICE-SKATING RINK OPENS MID-NOVEMBER AND CONTINUES LIVE JAZZ SERIES

Washington, DC -- The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden ice-skating rink will be open for the third year from November 16, 2002, through March 15, 2003, weather permitting. The ice rink, the only one of its kind in the country where skaters can enjoy contemporary works of sculpture in a park like setting, has become a major recreational destination in Washington. Last year the rink attracted 61,000 skaters. The rink's sleek, modern design creates open vistas throughout the garden, and the state-of-the-art music system, with twenty-four speakers installed around the rink, provides uniform sound to skaters without distracting other visitors.

The Pavilion Café offers a panoramic view of the garden and ice rink and serves freshly made wraps, sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, and salads. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine, and beer are also available. Café hours during the skating season are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You can access the skating rink and the Pavilion Café at Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue, NW; Ninth Street and Constitution Avenue, NW; or Ninth Street and Madison Drive, NW. For information, call (202) 289-3360.

Jazz on Ice

Following the popular summer "Jazz in the Garden" program, the Pavilion Café will feature an eclectic mix of jazz during its "Jazz on Ice" series. Local artists will perform inside the Pavilion Café every Wednesday and Thursday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., December 4 through March 13. Inside and outside seating is available. While visitors enjoy live jazz inside the café, skaters can hear the recorded sounds of the performers over the music system. Scheduled to perform are (no program is scheduled during weeks of Christmas and New Year's holidays):

December 4 - Dave Mosick Trio
December 5 - Three Wise Guys
December 11 - Jerry Gordon
December 12 - Young and Rollins
December 18 - Saxy Swing
December 19 - Joshua Bayer Trio
January 8 - Thad Wilson
January 9 - Dave Mosick Trio
January 15 - Rick Parker Trio
January 16 - Folie-A-Trois
January 22 - Jerry Gordon
January 23 - Joshua Bayer Trio
January 29 - Saxy Swing
January 30 - Young & Rollins
February 5 - Dave Mosick Trio
February 6 - Joshua Bayer Trio
February 13 - Young & Rollins
February 19 - Jerry Gordon
February 20 - Three Wise Guys
February 27 - Thad Wilson
February 26 - Rick Parker Trio
February 27 - TBA
March 5 - Joshua Bayer Trio
March 6 - Dave Mosick Trio
March 12 - Jerry Gordon
March 13 - Folie-A-Trois

Special Tapas Menu

The Pavilion Café will offer a tapas-style menu and bar on Wednesday and Thursday evenings during the "Jazz on Ice" series. Menu highlights include: Pavilion Fondue (shrimp, scallion and roasted corn in a chipotle cheddar cream cheese fondue, served with pita chips), Focaccia Bruschetta (sliced focaccia, toasted and rubbed with olive oil and garlic, topped with basil, diced tomatoes, and sweet onion, and finished with grated parmesan), and Steamed Dumplings (pork dumplings served with tangy teriyaki sauce).

Skating-Rink Hours and Fees

The hours for the ice-skating rink are: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight; and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission for a two-hour session (beginning on the hour) is $6.00 for adults and $5.00 for seniors (age 50 and over), children (age 12 and under), and students with ID. The skate rental fee is $2.50 (ID required as a deposit). The locker rental fee is $.50 ($5.00 deposit required). Discounts on admission and fees are available for groups of ten or more. For general information, opening announcements, or to arrange a group visit, call (202) 289-3360. Season tickets are available for $195.00.

Please note: During the evening ice-skating hours the National Gallery is closed to the public and the surrounding Sculpture Garden is also closed. Access to the rink and Pavilion Café during these times is restricted to the Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive entrances at Ninth Street.

The skating rink is closed on December 25 and January 1.

General Information

The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov.

Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering the East and West Buildings. Checkrooms are free of charge and located at each entrance. Luggage and other oversized bags must be presented at the 4th Street entrances to the East or West Building to permit x-ray screening and must be deposited in the checkrooms at those entrances. For the safety of visitors and the works of art, nothing may be carried into the Gallery on a visitor's back. Any bag or other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in some other manner must be left in the checkrooms. Items larger than 17 x 26 inches cannot be accepted by the Gallery or its checkrooms.

For additional press information please call or send inquiries to:

Press Office
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785
phone: (202) 842-6353 e-mail: pressinfo@nga.gov

Deborah Ziska
Chief of Press and Public Information
(202) 842-6353
ds-ziska@nga.gov

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