Top 5 weekend picks December 6

Every week Connect2Mason will offer five entertainment picks for your weekend and week ahead. Ranging from on-campus to off-campus events, Connect2Mason's Top 5 will give you a jump start on your weekend. Here are the Top 5 picks for this weekend:
 

1. Ice-Skating in the Sculpture Garden
   When: Now until Mid-March
   Where: National Art Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
   
   Enjoy this D.C. tradition as you take a break from your finals studying as you skate outdoors while viewing sculptures and music. Open from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Friday through Saturday, students with a valid student I.D. can skate for 7 dollars with 3 dollars for skate rentals. The sculpture garden includes 17 works of modern and contemporary art as you skate outdoors.
    
2. Messiah Sing-Along
   When: Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.
   Where: Center for the Arts
   
   Enjoy Mason’s School of Music’s annual Holiday concert featuring the Mason Symphony Orchestra and combined choruses; this is a do not miss event for your holiday season. Solo performers will also perform selections of Handel’s Messiah, a classical music tradition. The symphony and the chorus encourage members of the audience to bring  their singing voices along to participate in a sing-along of Handel’s treasured work.
   
   
   
    
3. Mason Players Presents: A Bad Year for Tomatoes
   When: Thursday, Dec. 6 through Sunday Dec. 9
   Where: TheaterSpace in the DeLaski Performing Arts Building
   
   Directed and performed by students of the theater department’s Mason Players present the play “A Bad Year for Tomatoes.” The play centers on Mayra, a Hollywood actress looking to live a “real life” and meet “real people” outside of Hollywood. Mayra soon discovers that no matter where one ends up, the people will always be crazy. Comedy mixes with a murder investigation as Mayra tries to prove her innocence for a murder she did not commit.
   
   Students can get one free ticket with a valid student ID at the Center for the Performing Arts.
    
4. ½ Price D.C. Museum Tickets
   When: This weekend until Dec. 31
   Where: Newseum and Crime and Punishment museum
   
   Purchase  tickets for 10 dollars to both the Newseum and the Crime and Punishment museum at the Office of Student Involvement. Tickets to these high priced museums do not come cheap. Take advantage of this opportunity to see some of the best museums.
   
   A 250,000 square-foot museum of news, the Newseum blends five centuries of news history with various interactive exhibits. Even if you are  not a journalism major or a news junkie, the Newseum is one of the premier museums in the D.C. area. Go this weekend and see former Secretary of State Madeline Albright on Sunday.
   
   
   
   
   Visit the Crime and Punishment museum, which is described by ABC’s Good Morning America as a “must see for CSI fans.” Engage in a variety of high speed car chases, have fun in the crime lab and much more. For any fan of shows dealing with forensics science, take this opportunity to take a dip in it yourself.
    
5. Whaam Slam
   When: Friday, Dec. 7 from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
   Where: Busboys and Poets 14^th and V location
   
   In collaboration with the National Gallery of Art, Busboys and Poets will feature the work of iconic pop artist Roy Lichtenstein as a backdrop for one great night of open mic. Competitors will be in one of three rounds all focused on Lichentstein’s iconic works. Round one but include a poem from the perspective of an object/person in a work. Round two will include a head-to-head haiku round with the third and final round, a traditional poetry slam. Come with your best poetry slam skills or simply go as an audience member. 
   
   Tickets are 10 dollars and can be purchased at the door or online.