The Weekend Round-Up: July 19-21

Ready for blast off 🚀🌕

Happy Weekend!

A Monumental Sight
Where: Washington Monument | National Mall, DC
When: Thursday, 9:30-11:30pm
Admission: Free
View the Washington Monument in a whole new light. A 363-foot Saturn V, the rocket that launched the Apollo 11 into orbit, will be projected on the east face. We went to see it last night, and while gawking at an obelisk lit up by a large-scale image might sound like a simple thing to do, it was quite an awesome “Only in DC” experience, elevated by the excitement of the many other Washingtonians who were there to get a glimpse, too. It will be even more elaborate on Friday and Saturday (see below). For more ways to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, see this post.

Apollo 50 Festival
Where: 4th – 7th Streets | National Mall, DC
When: Friday & Saturday
Admission: Free
It’s been 50 years since Apollo 11 made its historic moon landing, and the National Air & Space Museum and NASA are marking it with a big celebration. Join them for the Apollo 50 Festival on the National Mall for all kinds of festivities on Friday & Saturday. A stage and 20 tents will feature hands-on exhibits and activities from exhibitors like NASA, Boeing, Raytheon, The LEGO Group, and PBS’s Ready Jet Go!; live performances featuring costumed characters; and exciting speakers including Adam Savage, ISS astronauts, authors, and NASA scientists and engineers, with more special guests to be announced.

Apollo 50: Go for the Moon
Where: National Mall, DC
When: Friday & Saturday evenings
Admission: Free
The celebration will continue in the evenings with “Apollo 50: Go for the Moon.” The 17-minute show telling the story of the first moon landing will be projected onto the Washington Monument and supporting screens on the National Mall. The free spectacle will run at 9:30pm, 10:30pm and 11:30pm and can be viewed from the area in front of the Smithsonian Castle, btwn 9th & 12th Streets.

Kids in the Castle: Scavenger Hunt
Where: Heurich House Museum | Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 9am – 12pm
Admission: Free
Once again, the Heurich House Museum will open its doors for free, kid-friendly, self-guided tours. Kids in the Castle: Scavenger Hunt gives families the chance to explore the ornate details of the Heurich family home. Children and parents are invited to wander through the house at their own pace and complete a photo scavenger hunt to win prizes. Once visitors have finished their tour, they can relax and play games in the museum’s Castle Garden (weather permitting). Typically, the museum is not open to children under 10, but during this special event, children are the main focus. This event is free, but registration is suggested.

Family Day: Secrets of Egypt
Where: National Geographic Museum | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $5 (free for members)
Join the fun at Family Day, National Geographic’s annual event where you and up to five guests can visit the amazing museum, see award-winning films, and hear live talks from National Geographic Explorers to learn about the incredible work they are doing around the world. This year, they’re taking guests back in time to ancient Egypt! Embark on a virtual visit to the land of the Nile some 3,500 years ago, when the queens of the 18th and 19th dynasties ruled over this storied empire. Check out the multisensory exhibition, “Queens of Egypt,” where you’ll learn about the lives of seven incredible queens, visit the “Sistine Chapel of ancient Egypt,” and see more than 300 precious artifacts from every aspect of Egyptian women’s daily lives. Then try your hand at some hands-on activities, play Egyptian-themed games, see an Egyptian dance performance, and much more! Recommended for kids ages 3-12. Register in advance!

Dig an Archaeology Fest
Where: Dumbarton House | Georgetown, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Be part of a celebration of archaeology, at the annual Day of Archaeology Festival. Talk to archaeologists in person and learn about the science and art of archaeology. Kids can enjoy engaging activities, including mock‐excavations, hands‐on artifact displays, crafts, and demonstrations. The archaeology of local prehistoric and historic inhabitants will also be featured — a great way to learn about local history! Live music, face painting, and visits from some of DC’s best food trucks will also be part of the day’s festivities.

Family Art Programs
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
The NGA’s wonderful Art Investigators is on again this weekend. The drop-in program for kids ages 4-7 will explore works by Jasper Francis Cropsey with a a book reading, a look at his work, then an art project that directly relates to it. Sign-in takes place in the East Building Atrium, starting at 10am on Friday and Saturday, and 11am on Sunday. Be aware that you may not get an early time slot and will have time to fill before your session, so plan accordingly. Read a KFDC review of the series back when it was called Stories in Art (it’s an older post, but still relevant, as the program is very much the same). There will also be Drop-In Art Making on Friday and Saturday 10am – 2pm, and on Sunday 11am – 3pm.

Show Time
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing at a performance of Earthrise at the Kennedy Center.
* Disney’s Aladdin is also beginning it’s run at the Kennedy Center.
* It’s opening weekend for Treasure Island at Synetic Theatre
* Enjoy fun and antics with The Cat in the Hat at Adventure Theatre (look for discount tickets)
* See a storybook character come to life in Matilda the Musical at Olney Theatre (look for discount tickets)
* Reserve free tickets to a Gemini Theatre’s Alice in Wonderland, this week’s Saturday Morning at the National show
* Newsies is Encore Stage & Studio’s latest by kids, for kids production
* The Ballad of Mulan is now on the Imagination Stage
* And little ones will love Balloonacy at the Bethesda theater
* Catch a performance of Circus! at The Puppet Co.
* Dragon Babies is the featured Tiny Tots show there on Sunday
* Take ages 10 and up to The Band’s Visit at the Kennedy Center
* Enter the lottery for tickets to Hamlet, this year’s Free for All production from Shakespeare Theatre Company

UniverSoul Circus
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill, MD
When: Through July 28
Tickets: $18+ (look for a ticket deal)
The world-class, live entertainment attraction that has captured the hearts and imaginations of a new generation of families is celebrating its 24th year of FUN. UniverSoul connects with progressive, upwardly mobile, urban pop cultures from around the world, embracing and celebrating the unique and familiar aspects of global cultures and ethnicities into a stellar production that blends circus arts, theater and music. A fresh, cool, and hip approach to live family entertainment!

Artscape
Where: The Lyric | Baltimore, MD
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
America’s largest free arts festival is happening all weekend long in Baltimore, featuring more than 100 artists of all kinds. There will also be concerts on outdoor stages, street theater, jazz, opera, and classical music. Kids can enjoy lot of activities, and concessions will be available for purchase.

The Lion King (in Luxury)
Where: IPIC Theater | North Bethesda, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $16
The new Lion King film opens this weekend, and you can take your viewing up a notch to see it. IPIC is a luxury movie theater with on-demand food and drink service brought directly to your seat, a convenience amenity only seen at IPIC Theaters that comes in handy when taking the kids to the movies. Note there are other flicks playing, too!

Dance Your Style Street-Dance Battle
Where: Howard Theater |
When: Saturday, 2:30-6:30pm
Admission: $15
Red Bull Dance Your Style is bringing the top dancers from DC and across the mid‐Atlantic region together for the ultimate freestyle street‐dance battle. Sixteen competitors across hip‐hop, house, popping, waacking, locking, and more will take their talents to the dance floor in front of a live audience at Howard Theater for an all‐ages event.

Kick it with Spirit
Where: Maryland SoccerPlex | Boyds, MD
When: Saturday, 7pm
Admission: Tickets start at $25
Keep the World Cup fever going at a Washington Spirit match! Our local women’s pro soccer team has . two players from the championship team on their roster: Rose Lavelle (who scored the second goal in the final match against Netherlands) and Mallory Pugh. This weekend, they’re hosting the Houston Dash at their home field near Germantown. It’ll be a hot one, but you’ll get to see some great soccer!

Tennis, Anyone?
Where: Kastles Stadium | Union Market, DC
When: Saturday, 7pm
Admission: Tickets start at $58
The Washington Kastles, the DC franchise of World TeamTennis, will serve up exciting action on the court on the rooftop of Union Market. (Yes, you can enjoy some fantastic DC views along with the pro tennis play.) Plan to go early and have dinner in the market before or grab something mid-match and bring it up to your seat. For some background on WTT, see this post from a few years back (but note the location has changed since then). PS: Venus is on the roster, so there’s a chance you’ll get to see a legend play.

Table Tennis Showdown
Where: Union Market | Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 7-10pm
Admission: Free
Leave the courts to the professionals, and enjoy another kind of tennis at ground level. Union Market is teaming up with DC Fray to host the ultimate table tennis show down to celebrate Kastles Stadium. Battle it out for the chance to win awesome prizes. Walk-ups registration is open until 6:30pm. Want a guaranteed spot? Pre-register here. Open to all ages + skill levels.

Summer Time Sing-a-Long
Where: Balducci’s | Reston Town Center, VA
When: Saturday, 11-11:45am
Admission: Free
Bring the littlest ones to enjoy live music and air conditioned fun! And get some tasty bites while you’re there. Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market in Reston is sponsoring this free Baby Jams singalong. RSVP here.

National Ice Cream Day Celebration
Where: The Yards | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Sunday, 11:30am
Admission: Free, but reserve tickets!
The Yards and Ice Cream Jubilee invite you to celebrate National Ice Cream Day with a sweet event: DC’s longest sundae will be created – and eaten! Each participant will receive a 2-scoop sundae with Ice Cream Jubilee’s signature flavors as you create a new city record! Tickets can be reserved here or in person at Ice Cream Jubilee’s Yards Park location. The event will take place at the Yards Park Sun Deck, next to Ice Cream Jubilee.

DC United Game Watch Party
Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Sunday 2-6pm
Admission: Free
Head to the Pearl Street pitch to cheer on DC United as they take on Atlanta. Pearl Street gets United as the street is transformed into an away game viewing party destination. The game will be broadcast live on the jumbotron and DJ Stylus Chris, official in-game DJ of DC United, will spin tunes pre-match. Parents can grab a beer from the Heineken bars, all all ages can play games and sign up for cool team gear. Plus, enter to win jerseys, game tickets, and a chance to win a trip for two to see the team take on Portland in Oregon!

Summer Time
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Summer is whizzing by, so enjoy the season while you can with activities that only occur this time of year. Start off the weekend with a free outdoor concert, then continue the fun on Saturday and Sunday with water play at a pool or spray park. Or take it indoors at special summer program like LAWN at the Building Museum or free admission for kids to the Newseum. Wind it all up with crab feast or a movie under the stars. Get details about all of these summer diversions and even more in the 2019 Summer Guide.

***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* The results are in for Washingtonian’s Best of 2019 Reader’s Poll. Do you agree with them?
* After months of searching for a great one-piece swimsuit, the Amalfi from this company is finally a keeper! (PS: That referral links gets you a discount!)
* For your radar: The REACH Opening Festival, 16 days of creativity in action — September 7-22 at the Kennedy Center.
* I frequently revisit this post, particularly the comments, for good book recommendations.
* Speaking of books, I just finished and loved Fleishman is in Trouble and am about to read this one that I learned about via the post above.
* Awhile back, I mentioned my architect/designer friend Margaret and her blog about the tear down/rebuild of their home. Well, it’s finished and they are back in — and it’s amazing. See for yourself!