1. Happy International Women’s Day! One cool way to celebrate: See #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit, the largest collection of statues of women ever assembled together. You can view many of the bright orange sculptures, all of them based on real women who work in STEM, at the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle. They also, apparently, are spread out among the Arts & Industries Building, National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, and along the National Mall. They will be on display through March 27 and free to view.
2. Speaking of Air & Space… This Saturday, March 12, the museum is celebrating 100 years of the aircraft carrier with a special in-person Family Day. Soar Together @ Air and Space On Site Family Day: Floating Airfields will run 10am – 2pm at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the Chantilly, VA, “wing” of the Air and Space Museum. Meet aircraft carrier crew members and learn about their lives at sea, explore different jobs through hands-on activities, find out how to identify aircraft that land on carriers, and catch a free IMAX showing of Aircraft Carrier: Guardian of the Seas. Plan for time to explore the rest of the museum, too! Admission is free, though parking is $15.
3. Spring is on the way — and so is the dazzling array flowers that come with it! Start getting ready to view them with Bloom Town: Where and When to See the Best Flower Displays Around DC, a post created back in 2018, but updated every year to reflect new dates for festivals and any other pertinent info. (And we have been to see all of the blooms, so all of the info and opinions come from actual experience!)
4. Later, Skaters! Just about all of the outdoor ice skating rinks have closed for the season — the warm weather prompting early closure for at least one. BUT if you want to get in one last glide under the sky, the Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion is open through this Sunday, March 13. Of course, you can also skate inside — this post lists indoor ice rinks around the area, too.
5. A group of local chefs led by Casey Patten of Grazie Grazie and Matt Adler of Caruso’s Grocery are coming together for a fundraiser to support Ukrainian refugees. Belly Full is a two-day Pizza Pop Up happening this weekend, March 12-13, 4-9pm, with 100% of proceeds donated World Central Kitchen to help feed Ukrainian refugees along the borders. You can order your pizzas in advance online and pick up at 804 V Street NW.
