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Ice-Skating Rink in National Gallery of Art To Open November 15
By Press Release, National Gallery of Art
OCTOBER 31, 2008 The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden's 2008-2009 ice-skating season will begin on November 15 and continue through mid-March, weather permitting. The ice rink, located on the National Mall at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, is a popular recreational destination that has attracted thousands of visitors since it reopened as part of the Gallery's Sculpture Garden in 1999. The rink's design allows skaters to enjoy the park-like setting with views of the large-scale sculptures by renowned artists such as Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, and others, as well as the grand architecture of surrounding museums and monuments, for a truly unique Washington, DC experience.
During the opening weekend of November 15 and 16, visitors who purchase time on the ice or rent skates or a locker will receive a coupon for a free cup of hot chocolate from the Pavilion Café. To entertain the young and the young-at-heart, free crayons and placemats to color depicting Julius Caesar Ibbetson's watercolor, Skaters on the Serpentine in Hyde Park (1786), are available at the cash registers inside the Café throughout the winter season.
Ice-Skating Rink Hours and Fees
The hours for the ice-skating rink are as follows:
Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
During the evening, when the Gallery and Sculpture Garden are closed to the public, access to the ice-skating rink and Pavilion Café is restricted to the entrances at Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive near 9th Street.
The skating fees for a two-hour session (beginning on the hour) are as follows:
$7.00 for adults
$6.00 for seniors age 50 and over, children age 12 and under, and students with school ID
Pavilion Café
The Pavilion Café offers a panoramic view of the Sculpture Garden and ice rink and a variety of food and beverages for visitors of all ages. Selections include freshly made wraps, sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, salads, and a variety of desserts. Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine, and beer are available. Visitors may dine inside the Café or outside on the patios.
Café hours during the skating season are as follows:
Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Ice Rink Information
The skating surface, which measures approximately 135 feet long and 90 feet wide, can accommodate more than 200 skaters at one time.
A state-of-the-art music system provides uniform sound to skaters, diners, and spectators without distracting other visitors to the Sculpture Garden. At night, lights encircling the rink illuminate the ice, adding to the skating experience and contributing to the festive atmosphere. Sixteen banners on poles that surround the ice-skating rink represent a cross-section of the broad range of portraiture in the Gallery's collection in the East and West Buildings.
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. www.nga.gov.
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