Happy Weekend!
Celebrate Black History
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout February (and beyond)
Admission: Varies by activity
February is Black History Month, and there are many great events and activities throughout the DC area to celebrate it. Museum programs, guided and self-guided tours, visits to significant sites, story time sessions, online concerts, and more will be enlightening and entertaining for all ages.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Where: Freer|Sackler | Online
When: Friday, 12-12:30pm
Admission: Free
Meditation helps build a relationship to a place of inner quietude. To contribute to a sense of calm in this uncertain time, the Freer|Sackler Gallery is offering free 30-minute online meditations three times a week led by DC-based meditation teachers. They’re appropriate for all levels of practitioners and include a variety of mindfulness practices. Sessions on Fridays include inspiration from art in the museum collection. All are welcome! No previous experience is required.
Winter Inspo
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
For activities that are accessible now, this post is full of recs. From hikes to art experiences to seasonal sports to garden explorations to year-round fun, there are all kinds of things to do that keep social distancing and safety in mind. All you really need are good layers and maybe a little extra outdoor gear.
Maple Trail Walk & Sugaring
Where: Bookside Natur Center | Wheaton, MD
When: Saturday, 11am – 2:30pm & Sunday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free
Brookside’s annual Maple Sugaring Days are still on this year, just a little different. The maple trees are taped, and you can take a self-guided tour to learn how maple sap gets from the trees to your t able. The trail is available onsite during the month of February, and on weekends, a naturalist is on hand to talk about the boiling process, too. Dress for the weather and wear boots — Sugaring Season is also known as Mud Season! The Maple trail walk is free and open from dawn to dusk, the naturalist is there during the hours listed above. Start the Maple trail walk at our 1400 Glenallan Avenue parking lot location – just look for the sugar maple leaf signs.
Out & About
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
The forecast looks good for at least part of the weekend, making even more al fresco adventures possible. The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids is chock full of ideas for things to do, and it’s been updated with the current status of each place or activity. Between warmer temps this weekend and social distancing criteria, it will be especially handy.
Cool Hikes
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Bundle up and get out for a walk in the woods. Tramp in places with scenic views, hike and explore history at interesting locales, and savor a sunny day outdoors. This post has a a bunch of recommendations for good places to go with kids. Some specific recs for right now: The Underground Railroad Experience Trail at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park; Patapsco Valley State Park in MD; Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, VA; Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, and the National Arboretum in DC.
Unity | Peace | Forward
Where: The REACH | Kennedy Center, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
The Kennedy Center just debuted a new art installation at The REACH. A response to this time of unprecedented challenges, Unity | Peace | Forward is a free exhibit in three parts scattered around the grounds. You can see it daily and stroll the lovely outdoor area while the KC is closed. It gets a multimedia boost on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4:30–8:30pm, when a video of quotes from 65 artists around the world is projected on a Video Wall. (It can also be viewed online at any time.) Get a glimpse on the Kennedy Center website.
Dupont Circle Pop Up
Where: Around Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
Prep for Valentines Day at this unique Pop-Up event showcasing artists and makers in front of retail shops around Dupont Circle. More than 40 vendors will be selling jewelry, paintings, pottery, scarves, succulents, chocolates, and more for all your VDay gift giving. Pop-Ups will be in the Dupont Underground and in front of retail shops. Plan to gran a bite from one of the many restaurants in the neighborhood, too.
Ride On
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
With warmer temps and the snow melted, it’s a good opportunity get in family a bike ride, and you’ve got your pick of them around the area. Take in the winter scenery, get some exercise, and have fun — all while easily social distancing. This post has a bunch of pedal-worthy recs, with something for riders of all levels, and this route is particularly ideal with kids.
Ski Day
Where: Ski resorts around the region
When: Through winter
Admission: Varies by resort
Skiing is a fun, active, socially distanced way to take advantage of winter — and there are a bunch of ski resorts within a few hours’ drive that are great for young, newbie skiers (and veteran swooshers, too). This new post is about our recent day trip to Whitetail. And other closest resorts for day trips are Liberty and Bryce. Farther away, but good to check out for longer trips are Roundtop, Massanutten, Wintergreen, Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Snowshoe, Timberline, and Wisp.
Fun on Ice
Where: Ice rinks around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by rink
Glide under the sky and stars! Several ice rinks are open for the season with Covid precautions in place for safe, socially distanced skating. Pentagon Row, Silver Spring at Veterans Plaza, Rockville Town Square, and Reston Town Center are once again welcoming guests to skate the day — and night — away. The Color Burst Ice Rink at the Merriweather District in Columbia, MD, just started its inaugural skating season. And the ice rink at Cameron Run holiday Winter Village in Arlington is still open. [Note: You need advanced reservations at just about all of these places, so plan accordingly.]
I am Human! Dancing with Change
Where: InterAct Story Theatre | Online
When: Saturday, 11am & Sunday, 2pm
Admission: Free
In this virtual dance workshop inspired by the book “I am Human—A Book of Empathy”, Kelly King, InterAct Story Theatre teaching artist and founder of The Movement Movement, brings the community together during this time of change…through books and dance! Dance your way with her through this heartwarming book and create a dance just for us as we move through the world with empathy and dance with change. This event is sure to get you up and moving to chase away those winter chills! Suitable for ages 5 and up. Sign up for Saturday here and for Sunday here.
Fun at Fairfax Parks
Where: Parks around Fairfax County, VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
There are new events from the Fairfax County Park Authority all the time, and this weekend has a fresh batch of nature-inspired activities for guests of all ages. Enjoy Nature Your Way at Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Be a Winter Tree Detective at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Go on a Family Hilltop Outing at Historic Huntley. Details and registration for these and many more nature activities this weekend and beyond are available here.
Charm City Adventures
Where: Inner Harbor Area | Baltimore, MD
When: All Weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Head up I-95 for a change of city scenery. Explore the exhibits at Maryland Science Center. See some of the quirkiest, coolest art ever at the American Visionary Art Museum. Play the day away at Port Discovery. Get an eyeful of the underwater world at the National Aquarium. Or view history in the works at the Baltimore Museum of Industry (open by appt). All of these places are open with new safety protocols in place for COVID.
Black History Scavenger Hunt
Where: Bladensburg Waterfront Park | Bladensburg, MD
When: Sunday, 8am – 12pm
Admission: $3/PG resident, $4/non-resident
This fun scavenger hunt involves downloading a free app on your smartphone and earning points as you, your family, or your team answer trivia questions, participate in activities, take photos and videos, and complete GPS check-ins at various locations. Prizes will be awarded to the teams in first, second, and third place! Participants can keep up to date with the competition with a live leaderboard game news feed. The adventure is a fun, fully interactive, adrenaline-pumping social distancing experience. Team leaders must purchase a ticket for the game of choice at Parks Direct.
Make Bernie’s Mittens: A Virtual Upcycling Workshop
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Online
When: Sunday, 2-3:30pm
Admission: $20/household
Join local fiber artist, Robyn Strayer, on ZOOM and learn to make Bernie’s iconic upcycled mittens from things around your house! Gather an old sweater, scarf, sweatshirt, fleece blanket, or even a few old socks and follow along step by step, or pick up a $5 supply kit from the AMG front desk. Use their printable template and beginner stitches to hand-sew your fluffy, funky mittens. Great for all ages (with adult help) — no sewing skills needed! Supply list emailed upon registration.
Inside Info
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
There are some places still welcoming visitors indoors, all of them with extra safety protocols in place. This post listing open venues around the area also includes museums that reopened but closed again due to rising covid rates. The current status of of all of them are noted.
Restaurant Week
Where: Around the DMV
When: Through February 7
Admission: The cost of your meal
It’s the final weekend to enjoy a yummy meal as you support local businesses. Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week is running through Sunday. Specially priced meals for both dine-in and take-out are $22/lunch, $35/dinner, and $55/dinner (fancier, I assume). And if you’re taking out for two or more people, you can get even better deals — the $35 dinner menu is $60, $120 for four and the $55 dinner menu is $100 for two, $200 for four. Follow the above link to see participating restaurants and menus.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Game day specials from area eateries for the Super Bowl.
* Or game day recipes to try at home.
* Spring enrollment is open for live virtual programs with Young Playwrights’ Theater — and KFDC readers get 50% off!
* For when Covid is over: The Best All-Inclusive Family Resorts.
* In honor of all the Golden Globe nominations…lalalalalalala.
