Category Archives: Museums

June 18, 2019 · 8:52 am

A Community Weekend Full of Family Fun at the National Gallery of Art

In celebration of the exhibit The Life of Animals in Japanese Art, the National Gallery of Art invites you to a free weekend filled with family fun for all ages!

On Saturday and Sunday, June 22-23, drop in the museum’s East Building for an array of artistic and cultural activities, including Taiko drumming, origami lessons, hands-on art making, Japanese folktales, DJ performances, and more!

To help you plan, here are few highlights for families:

FILMS FOR CHILDREN
Howl’s Moving Castle
Saturday, June 22 at 10:15am in the Auditorium
Run time is 2 hours, recommended for ages 11+

My Neighbor Totoro
Sunday, June 23 at 11:15am in the Auditorium
Run time is 1 hour 40 minutes, recommended for ages 4+

FOLKTALES FROM JAPAN WITH MATOKO
Saturday & Sunday, June 22-23 at 1pm & 3pm at the Concourse Galleries
Run time is 45 minutes each session

DROP-IN ART MAKING
Calligraphy with Satomi China
Saturday & Sunday, June 22-23 at 12-4pm in the Education Studio

TAIKO DRUMMING BY CHIN DAIKO
Saturday, 5pm & 6pm and Sunday, 11am & 1pm
On the 4th Street Plaza

More information and the full schedule, including Saturday evening activities, can be found on the Community Weekend page.

Community Weekend
What: Celebrating The Life of Animals in Japanese Art
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, June 22-23
Admission: FREE

This post is sponsored by the National Gallery of Art, however, I only promote events, programs, and places that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.

The Weekend Round-Up: June 7-9

Rediscover and celebrate a Eastern Market this weekend!

Happy Weekend!

Joys of Summer
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
Free concerts in the open air, outdoor swimming, movies under the stars, sprayground fun, and SO much more! Activities exclusive to the season can be enjoyed this weekend, and the 2019 KFDC Guide to the Best of Summer in DC has the whole scoop on all of them.

Dinosaurs are Back in DC
Where: National Museum of National History | National Mall, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
After a five-year hiatus during renovations, the dinosaurs have returned to Natural History Museum. The new David H. Koch Hall of Fossils–Deep Time opens to the public on Saturday, and there will be a special ceremony and activities to celebrate. The first 300 visitors will be able to attend the 10:15am opening ceremony, and all are welcome to check out the exhibition after, though be prepared for long lines. Of course, the rest of the museum is wonderful to explore, too. Oh, and guests are encouraged to come in costume!

Celebrate Capital Pride
Where: Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, & Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 4:30-7:30pm & Sunday, 12-7pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Capital Pride at the annual parade that’s expected to draw tens of thousands of spectators! The procession steps off at 4:30pm at 22nd & P Streets NW and will wind its way through Dupont, Logan, and other areas of NW. It’s sure to be a spectacular extravaganza of ornate floats, street performers, music and dancing, glitter and beads, and plenty of reveling. Sunday’s family-friendly festival, on Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd to 7th Streets NW, will feature three stages of live entertainment and host loads of exhibitors, including local and community groups, national sponsors, local businesses, food vendors, restaurants, and businesses looking to promote their services. It’s all a fun and fabulous opportunity to show support for the LGBTA community and join the celebration!

Celebrate Fairfax
Where: Fairfax County Government Center | Fairfax, VA
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Admission: $10-20/adult, $4-5/youth, free/2 & under
The annual Celebrate Fairfax! festival brings a whole weekend of fun June 7-9 with something for everyone — live music, carnival rides, children’s activities, art, food vendors, and much more to keep guests entertained throughout the weekend. And with Better Than Ezra and Smash Mouth headlining, you get a little time trip back to the 90’s, too!

Women’s World Cup Watch
Where: Around DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
If you want to watch the Women’s World Cup with other fútbol fanatics, a bunch of places around the area will be featuring the matches. Check out this Washington Post article for places to watch the tournament, including some family-friendly spots and viewing parties.

Community Celebration
Where: The Fields at RFK | Hill East, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
All are invited to join Events DC and Mayor Bowser as they host a ribbon cutting ceremony and community celebration to unveil the three new recreational playing fields at RFK. Festivities will include two youth clinics provided by D.C. United’s Training Academy and the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, complimentary food trucks, a steel drum band, activations hosted by DC Fray, and more! Kids can sign up for the clinics onsite. There will also be a special appearance by D.C. United’s Wayne Rooney 🙌 .

Rediscover Eastern Market
Where: Eastern Market | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Eastern Market is DC’s oldest, continually operating, public fresh food market. Located in the heart of historic Capitol Hill, it’s a destination for fresh food, hand-made arts & crafts, and events, and has served as a community hub for 146 years. In 2007, Eastern Market suffered a devastating fire, but was restored and reopened to great fanfare in June 2009. A decade later, all are welcome to come celebrate the 10-year milestone. There will be live performances by Kidsinger Jim and the Eastern Senior High School Marching Band, free workout sessions, and, of course, the whole wonderful market to stroll, shop, and enjoy, both indoors and out!

SoundHealth: Second Saturday
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Saturday, 9:30am & 11:30am
Admission: Free
ReVision Dance Company’s Family Friendly Creative Movement class focuses on developmentally appropriate movement, music, and dance activities. Adults and children have fun moving together in activities that encourage self-expression and socialization while supporting emotional and cognitive development. Most enjoyed by ages 0–3.

DC Jazz Fest
Where: Venues around DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
The first weekend of the annual DC Jazz Festival presents a selection of the jazz genre’s most acclaimed artists as well as emerging artists at venues all around the city. Bring the kids for some afternoon jazz or make it a date night at a show in the evening. See the full schedule of concerts on the website to help you plan.

Pride on the Pier
Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 2pm – 9pm
Admission: Free
Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the Wharf with an exciting array of free activities and entertainment. District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, and other entertainment, including a family-friendly kid’s zone. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older. And don’t miss D.C.’s first Pride fireworks display presented by Compass. While you’re there, take advantage of even more that The Wharf has to offer — read more about it in this KFDC post.

Tinner Hill Blues Festival
Where: Various locales | Falls Church, VA
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Starts at $30/adult, $5/age 7-16, free/6 & under
From blues in restaurants to Cherry Hill Park, and gospel on Tinner Hill, it’s three days of music and blues-related events for all ages all over the City of Falls Church. The 26th Annual Tinner Hill Blues Festival will bring loads of activities along with the live music, including fun for young festival-goers. Kids can enjoy a blues reading, films, and an instrument petting zoo. See the website for details on all of it.

As the Wheel Turns
Where: Peirce Mill | Rock Creek Park, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10a – 4pm
Admission: Free
Learn about the power of water and its connection to food on a mill tour with Friends of Peirce Mill or a National Park Service Ranger at this historic site in Rock Creek Park. Ages are welcome to drop in. Read more about Peirce Mill in this KFDC post.

Cinderella on Strings
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Tickets: $12
This version of the fairytale classic is set in the elegance of 17th-century France, combining elaborate costumes of the Comédie-Française and Offenbach’s “Gaiety Parisian” to adorn the tale of the cinder girl who captures the heart of the handsome prince. The production was acclaimed at the 1997 National Puppet Festival, and performed by invitation at the Center for Puppetry Arts, in Atlanta. Recommended for ages 5+.

Step Afrika 25th Anniversary Celebration
Where: Hartke Theatre | Catholic University, DC
When: Saturday, 2pm/8pm & Sunday, 4pm
Admission: $45-60
Step Afrika! celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season several performances featuring the company’s most celebrated choreography and the world premiere of a contemporary stepping piece, “Thula.” Each performance celebrates 25 years of stepping while paying homage to the company’s deep connections to South African dance, music, and culture.

Rumpus Room
Where: Black Cat | 14th Street NW, DC
When: Sunday,
Admission: $12-15
It’s the School’s (almost) out for Summer edition of the Rumpus Room! The family-friendly daytime dance party transforms the club environment (think disco balls, lights, and, of course, music) into safe family-friendly fun. Prepare for a dance floor filled with little ones, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and caregivers. The soundtrack for Rumpus Room is always a PG mix of popular dance hits, classics, children’s songs and more, all at a kid-friendly volume. Rumpus Room is designed for kids 8 and under, but older siblings are welcome! No adults admitted without a child. Maximum 3 children per adult. Infants and crawling children enter free. Purchase tickets online here.

Shavuot Ice Cream Social
Where: Hill Center | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 3-4pm
Admission: Free
Join Chabad at the Hill Center for a Shavuot Ice Cream Social! Meet other kids, hear the 10 Commandments, enjoy Shavuot games and prizes, and have lots of Jewish holiday fun. The whole family welcome!RSVP appreciated.

Take Your Pick
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Strawberries, cherries, even spinach are ripe and ready for harvest, and many area farms welcome guests to come PYO. It’s always a good idea to check websites or call ahead to confirm availability the day you plan to go. Sunscreen and hat also recommended.

Out in DC
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Capital Pride isn’t the only thing bringing peops out this weekend. The area is full of great places to enjoy being outside. You can read about them in The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids. (But if weather has you seeking shelter, check out The Great Indoors post instead.)

***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Smorgasburg is coming to the Navy Yard.
* Christina Applegate’s foundation, Right Action for Women, provides advanced screening assistance to women with an increased risk of breast cancer (something I just learned about from her recent interview on Fresh Air).
* This experience coming to DC in the fall looks really cool.
* There’s a new Destinations from DC page with links to write-ups about some of the places we’ve visited over the years that make for fun, easy getaways.
* The Durells in Corfu is one of the most delightful series I have watched…ever.

The Dinosaurs Have Returned to DC

A diplodocus is one of the many dinos featured in the Hall of Fossils

Back in 2014, when it was announced that the Hall of Fossils at the National Museum of Natural History would be closing for five years to undergo a major renovation, one of my first thoughts was of Owen. He was eight years old then, in second grade, and still digging dinosaurs. At that time, he wanted to be paleontologist when he grew up (with a side gig as a hip hop dancer, of course) and loved visits to the “Dino Museum.” I remember thinking that when it finally opened again, he would be 13 years old, in seventh grade, and probably not so into the prehistoric beasts anymore. But it seemed like such a long time away that I couldn’t really even fathom what he would be like at that age — my little boy, a teenager!?

Checking out the old Hall of Fossils when they were little people

Well, that time has come. The new David H. Koch Hall of Fossils-—Deep Time is complete, which means the dinosaurs are back — along with a whole new presentation of 3.7 billion years of life on Earth and how the past informs the present and shapes the future.

A first look at the space

The Nation’s T.rex (the real deal!) devouring a triceratops

Stop and see the Centrosaurus

The 31,0000-square-foot exhibition is nothing short of impressive. Featuring everything from an authentic Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton (read the story of its discovery) to replicas of other large prehistoric species to displays of smaller fossils to all kinds of installations and displays about the history of our planet and the climatic, geological, and human impact on it. Carts with related hands-on activities for all ages are also set up throughout the exhibit. You can experience it all as a journey through time, starting billions of years back and following it into the future.

Smaller fossils on display are just as interesting as the giants

A mechanical pterodactyl

An activity cart about dino tracks

The exhibition was produced with some messages in mind: That all life — past, present, and future is connected and is continually changing over time. Geological processes and global cycles cause ecosystem and evolutionary changes, and mass extinctions have at times devastated life on Earth. There is also a call to us humans to recognize the impact we have and consider our role in shaping the future and the fate of life on Earth.

This all opens to the public on Saturday, June 8, with an Opening Ceremony at 10:15am — the first 300 visitors to the National Mall-side entrance can participate in it. After that, all are welcome to explore, though crowds are expected, and there will be lines. But the museum will be open late, until 7:30pm, both Saturday and Sunday. Costumes are encouraged, so come as your favorite dino or as a paleontologist (but be sure to note safety instructions on this page)! There will be even more events to celebrate the opening of Deep Time on several other weekends. Admission to most of them is free.

As for Owen… my teen is now a rising eighth grader. And while he no longer seeks out books about dinosaurs or requests Dinosaur Planet on Discovery Channel, he is still into science (and basketball and soccer and history and indie rock music, and if you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up, he’ll wisely answer something along the lines of, “How can I know now? There are so many possibilities.”).

When I told him about the new Hall of Fossils after attending a preview, I remarked that it was kind of bummer it had closed when he was at peak dino.

His response, “Yeah, but the new one sounds really cool…when can we go?”