Talk about glitz, merriment and circumstance. Macy’s Metro Center (1201 G Street) unveiled its holiday windows recently with a special Yuletide performance by former Destiny’s Child member and Grammy-award winning singer Michelle Williams. The “Believe” windows tell the story of the magic behind Christmas décor and depict brightly illuminated lights, dazzling ornaments, sparkling tinsel, and magical snowflakes. New this year: the beginning of a series of D.C.-inspired holiday windows, including one depicting the White House Christmas tree lighting. In addition to the famed Christmas window unveiling, the highly talented Ballou High School Marching Band and the Washington Performing Arts Society’s Children of the Gospel Choir performed to a crowd of merrymakers. Santa Claus, Olympic gold medalist LaShawn Merritt, the 80 Greatest Redskins of All Time inductee Clinton Portis, and rising pop star Jasmine V also made appearances.
Macy’s, whose window displays won a DowntownDC BID Momentum Award in 2008, is collecting letters to Santa through December 24. Children can bring a stamped letter to the store, addressed to Santa at the North Pole, and drop it into Santa’s special letterbox. The department store will donate $1 for each letter received—up to $1 million—to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.