Release Date: November 5, 2003

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
SCULPTURE GARDEN ICE-SKATING RINK
OPENS MID-NOVEMBER FOR FIFTH YEAR


Mother and daughter enjoying the ice rink in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden.
Photo by Dean Beasom, © 2000 National Gallery of Art

Washington, DC --The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden ice-skating rink will be open for the fifth year from November 15 through March 14, 2004, weather permitting. The ice rink, the only one of its kind in the country where skaters can enjoy contemporary works of sculpture in a parklike setting, has become a major recreational destination in Washington.

Rink Hours and Fees

The hours for the ice-skating rink are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. 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.

Jazz on Ice

Following the success of last season's jazz concerts, the Gallery is once again presenting live jazz during its Jazz on Ice series every Thursday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., December 4 through March 11, 2004 (no program is scheduled during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's holidays). Visitors can enjoy live performances in the comfort of the Pavilion Café while relaxing, eating, and watching ice-skaters glide to the live music outside in the open air of the Gallery's ice rink. The café offers a special tapas-style menu and bar during concerts. 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.

Dec 4

Jerry Gordon trio

Dec 11

Thad Wilson trio

Dec 18

Geoff Reecer duo

Jan 8

Joshua Bayer trio

Jan 15

Rick Parker trio

Jan 22

Jerry Gordon trio

Jan 29

Bossalingo

Feb 5

Joshua Bayer trio

Feb 12

Reginald Cyntje trio

Feb 19

Darnell Bell trio

Feb 26

Nasar Abadey trio

Mar 4

Bossalingo

Mar 11

Thad Wilson trio

Pavilion Café

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.

 

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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