Essick discussing his photo in the special Nat Geo exhibit upstairs
courtesy of BurnAway

The National Geographic Live series began a couple weeks ago, so our apologies for getting this to you a little late. Nonetheless, the good folks over at the NG Museum are giving away two pairs of tickets to our readers for (almost) any one of their great programs over the next few weeks. Entering is easy: in the comment field below, give us your name and two of the programs from the following list you’d like to see. We’ll randomly draw two commenters and provide each with a pair of tickets to one of the programs they selected! The drawing will occur around noon on Tuesday, 2/19 and winners notified that afternoon.

All events are at the Grosvenor Auditorium at the National Geographic Museum, located at the corner of 16th and M Streets, NW. Parking is free for programs starting after 6 pm. If you’d like to attend and don’t win, you can contact the box office to purchase tickets.

Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness ($22)
Feb 20, 7:30 pm
Spend an evening with Alexandra Fuller, an award-winning writer and National Geographic contributor who has converted the experience of growing up amidst war and revolution into a powerful literary voice. Raised in Zimbabwe by English expats, Fuller’s coming-of-age experience during that country’s independence struggle provided material for two compelling memoirs, Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight and Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness. Join us for a moving exploration of Africa—and beyond—in a conversation hosted by National Geographic Traveler editor at large Don George.

courtesy of Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie

Gardens By Night ($22)
Feb 21, 7:30 pm
Diane Cook and Len Jenshel, two of America’s leading photographers, have collaborated for years to combine documentary and fine art photography. The result? Stunningly beautiful images in unlikely places, from the fence along the US-Mexico border, to green spaces high up on NYC rooftops. For the March National Geographic, they explored the unexpectedly colorful world of gardens photographed during nighttime hours, juxtaposing creative lighting with carefully sculpted landscapes for unforgettable, arresting images.

The Story Behind ‘Beyond the Story’ With Alice Gabriner ($25)
Feb 25, 7 pm
How does National Geographic magazine Senior Photo Editor Alice Gabriner narrow down thousands of National Geographic photos to create an exhibition of just 50? Discover firsthand the work that goes in to curating a National Geographic photo show as you get an insiders tour, as well as a private viewing of “Beyond the Story: National Geographic Unpublished 2012,” an upcoming photography exhibition featuring unpublished images by photographers on assignment for National Geographic magazine last year. After the talk and tour, enjoy a cocktail reception and mingle with National Geographic magazine staff. Spaces are limited for this event.

Battle for Elephants ($11)
Feb 26, 7:30 pm
Every year at least 25,000 elephants are killed by poachers for their tusks to feed the hunger of ivory collectors and the market for religious objects. The slaughter is massive and accelerating. The very existence of these magnificent beasts is at risk. Watch the premiere screening of the ultimate animal story, Battle for the Elephants, from National Geographic Channel. Hear the urgent story of the fight to save the earth’s most charismatic land animal. Go undercover to meet the secret criminal network behind this deadly trade. The screening will be followed by a discussion with filmmakers and elephant experts.

Adventures in Polar Exploration ($22)
Feb 28, 7:30 pm
One of the greatest polar explorers of our time, Børge Ousland reports on his most recent expeditions to the planet’s high latitudes, with hair-raising stories, photos, and video direct from the field. With 18 trips to the North Pole and six to the South Pole to his credit, Ousland has completed more solo trips to the Poles than anyone else in history. He’ll share tales from his latest voyages, including his historic circumnavigation in 2010 of the entire Arctic in a single season.

The Art of Nature Writing With Jennifer Holland ($30 w/complimentary adult ticket included) – NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DRAWING
Mar 9, 1 pm
Perfect for the next generation of National Geographic writers! Jennifer has done it all: been paid to travel and write for National Geographic, topped the New York Times best-seller list, and hiked through the forest of Papua New Guinea with birds-of-paradise photographer Tim Laman. Join Jennifer as she guides budding authors on what it take to be a wildlife writer. Ages 9 and up. Maximum of 30 participants.

Amazon Gold ($11)
Mar 15, 7:30 pm
Narrated by Academy Award winners Sissy Spacek and Herbie Hancock, Amazon Gold tells the disturbing account of a clandestine journey deep onto the rainforest. Two war journalists uncover the savage unraveling of the pristine landscape in the pursuit of gold. Guided by a Peruvian environmental activist, the journalists travel along the Madre de Dios River in the Amazon, documenting how uncontrolled illegal mining is turning a place of extraordinary beauty into a hellish wasteland—with global consequences. Discussion with filmmaker Sarah DuPont and journalist Donovan Webster follows.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration With Fullset ($25)
Mar 17, 7 pm
Washington-area fans of Celtic music know Nat Geo Live is the place to hear great new traditional groups before they become legends. Check out Ireland’s next hot band on the horizon—FullSet —recently named “New Group of the Year” for 2012 by the Live Ireland Music Awards. The band will be touring hot on the heels of their critically acclaimed debut release, Notes at Liberty. Join us this season for a rousing St. Paddy’s concert to remember!

A Fierce Green Fire: The Battle for a Living Planet ($11)
Mar 19, 7:30 pm
Be inspired by stories of environmental activism—people working to save the planet, their homes, the future. A Fierce Green Fire, narrated by Robert Redford, chronicles grassroots and global movements over five decades, connects all the causes, and explores how we got where we are today. Filled with drama and passion, this dynamic film offers up a big-picture overview of the environmental movement, through vivid stories of people fighting—and succeeding—against all odds. Discussion follows with director Mark Kitchell.

Fuling: Crucible of a Changing China ($22)
Mar 26, 7:30 pm
A rising star on the global photography scene, Anastasia Taylor-Lind documents the lives of distinctive subcultures: Siberian supermodels, Kurdish guerrilla fighters, women of the Cossack resurgence, zookeepers in Gaza. For her first National Geographic assignment, to be published March 2013, this award-winning English/Swedish photographer journeyed along the Yangtze River to the Sichuanese river city of Fuling, China, documenting dramatic changes in both landscape and people since the construction of the ambitious and controversial Three Gorges Dam.

Ben H. Rome

Having lived in the DC area for ten years, Ben still loves to wander the city with his wife, shooting lots of photos and exploring all the latest exhibits and galleries. A certified hockey fanatic, he spends some time debating the Washington Capitals club with friends – but everyone knows of his three decade love affair with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

A professional writer, gamer, photographer, and Lego enthusiast, Ben remains captivated by DC and doesn’t plan on leaving any time soon.