Tag Archives: Kogod Courtyard

January 20, 2012 · 10:23 am

The Weekend Round-Up: January 20-22

My favorite six-year-old

I have to start this weekend round-up with a special shout-out. It was six years ago yesterday that my favorite little man arrived, and life became a fantastic adventure I never could have imagined prior to becoming a parent. My tiny baby, who was less than six pounds upon his early arrival and fit snugly in the crook of my arm, now reads, writes, runs fast, jokes around, expresses his dreams. When I take a moment (when I have a moment) to digest it all, it’s pretty darn astounding. And I couldn’t be prouder of the boy he’s become. Happy Birthday, my sweet O.

And with my sentimental moment indulged, let’s talk about the weekend. Museums programs and special events, children’s theatre, a clothing swap, and hoops action are among my recommendations for family fun. And with dreary weather in the forecast, the indoor list makes the round-up, too. Happy Weekend!

Spy Fest 2012 – Is your child the next 007? Find out at the International Spy Museum on Sunday from 11am – 2:30pm. Recommended for ages 7 and up, the event will include mini missions, tradecraft demos, and a chance for guests to try their spy skills. Tickets are $10, and advance registration is required. Go here to sign up!

Celebrate Africa! – Kids of all ages are invited to the Textile Museum’s 3^rd Annual Mid-Winter Festival celebrating the art and culture of Africa. On Saturday from 12-4pm guests can enjoy dress-up, storytelling, dancing, crafts, and more. Try on contemporary clothing and accessories inspired by cultures of Central Africa, then pose for a professional photographer and walk away with your picture. Hand-sew a Kuba-inspired textile. Enjoy snacks of cassava chips and South African red tea while master drummer Joseph Ngwa leads traditional drumming and dance, and master storyteller Baba-C entrances listeners with interactive storytelling. Visitors will also entered to win great prizes. Admission to the event is free.

Happy Lunar New Year! – Usher in the Lunar New Year a little early at Rockville Town Center with a day full of lively festivities, including a parade hosted by VisArts, street performers, live music, martial artists, lion dancers, an 18-person golden dragon, VisArts exhibitions, vendors, crafts, and more! It’s all free and happening on Saturday from 11am – 4pm.

Multi-Prints Family Day – Press, stamp, and rub to make an artistic impression during this printmaking family day at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. On Saturday from 11:30am – 3pm, artists from George Mason University will demonstrate a variety of printing techniques to kids of all ages, who can then visit our workshop tables to create a print of their own to take home! This free event will take place in the Kogod Courtyard of the museum located at 8^th & F Streets, NW.

Farm to Table Family Day – The Kogod Courtyard is going to be a busy place this weekend. Head there on Sunday as the National Portrait Gallery celebrates the arrival of the recently commissioned portrait of chef, author, and restaurant owner Alice Waters by artist Dave Woody. Enjoy live music, learn about the “farm to table” movement, and participate in hands-on activities. The free event takes place from 11:30am – 3pm.

Swap ‘Til You Drop – Or for a few hours, anyway. Saturday is World Swap Day and peace. love. swap. – The Original Maternity, Baby Kid Clothing & Gear Swap is celebrating with a swap event on Saturday at Jonah’s Treehouse in Glover Park. Pass on your old clothes and gear and score some (sorta) new stuff! Item drop-off is from 5-6pm, and the swapping is from 6:30-7:30pm. Admission is $5 if you register in advance, $7 at the door. Go here for more information and to register online

Rubber Ducky, You’re the One – The National Children’s Museum is hosting a joint birthday party for Ernie and his best pal, Rubber Ducky, at the Launch Zone on Saturday. From 11am – 4pm, children can take part in “Percussion Playtime” to celebrate Ernie’s love of playing the drums and make bubble art to celebrate Ernie and Rubber Ducky’s favorite pastime. No R.S.V.P. is required for this party, just drop in for a splish-splashin’ good time!

Wizards vs. Celtics – How about some hoops action on Sunday afternoon? Never mind that it’s not a winning season for the Wizards so far; the games are still exciting and a fun time for all ages. Our family caught the match-up against Toronto a couple of weeks ago – Sasha’s first basketball game, and the Wizard’s first W this season – and we all had a blast. Along with the on-court thrills, kids will love the games, entertainment, and giveaways during time-outs and halftime. Game time on Sunday is 1pm, and tickets start at $10.

Art History 101 – The drop-in program a the National Gallery begins its Artful Conversations series and continues Stories in Art this weekend. On Saturday, kids ages 8-11 and an accompanying adult, can attend the former to learn about a work of art and participate in a related poetry-writing activity. Sessions are at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm. Sign-in will take place in the East Building Atrium, beginning at 10:00 a.m., and will continue until all spaces are filled. On Sunday, kids ages 4-7 can again learn about Henri Matisse through storytelling, discussion, and an art project. Sessions are at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm. Sign-in will take place in the East Building Atrium, beginning at 11am, and will continue until all spaces are filled. Read a KFDC review of the program here.

Stage Time – There’s a variety of entertainment to be enjoyed in local theatres this weekend. The Snowy Day opens at Adventure Theatre, a rousing tale about the War of 1812 is the free show at Saturday Morning at the National, Peter and the Wolf and Tiny Tots are at The Puppet Co., and Mouse on the Move is at Imagination Stage. Find details on all of these productions in this post about winter entertainment.

The “In” Crowd – Looks like it’s going to be a good weekend to hang indoors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get out of the house. For sheltered adventures around town, check out this list.

Portraits Alive!

For many of us with young kids, getting them interested in museum exhibits that are not 3-D, formerly living creatures, currently living creatures, or some kind of large craft that has soared through the sky can be a challenge. They often need something a little more than just a picture on the wall…something tangible to help them make sense if it, something to bring it to life.

Well, we are in luck. Starting tomorrow, July 28, the National Portrait Gallery will present Portraits Alive!, a theatrical tour of the museum’s collections performed by teens from Mayor Fenty’s 2010 Summer Youth Employment Program. Every Tuesday – Friday through August 13, visitors can join the group on a journey that explores a variety of works as the students become the portraits—performing an original, student written play, they will portray the people represented in the photos, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints.

Performances begin at 2:15pm, meeting in the F Street lobby. And just like admission to the museum, they are free! Get there early to grab lunch at the cafe (or bring your own) and enjoy it in the magnificent Kogod Courtyard.

The National Portrait Gallery is located at Eighth and F Streets NW. Hours are 11am – 7pm daily.

Land of the Free Music

What better way to start a holiday weekend than with a cold beer free concert? (And a cold beer, of course.) Several outdoor music shows are happening around town starting with jazz this evening and ending with a concert at the Capitol on Sunday. Here’s a review of what’s happening when.

Could the weather be any better for Jazz in the Sculpture Garden? If your evening is open, it’s a great time to pack a picnic dinner, spread out a blanket among the outdoor art, and enjoy some good music. This evening’s featured performer will be Bio Ritmo, whose sound is described as hot salsa. Listen to the Latin beats from 5-8:30pm.

The Air Force Band Summer Concert Series continues this weekend with a performance at the Air Force Memorial tonight. The show starts at 8pm and will feature Max Impact. Known for their high energy, Max Impact is made up of four of the Air Force’s most dynamic vocalists supported by a hard-hitting five-piece rhythm section.

Join the Air Force Band again Saturday and Sunday as the Smithsonian American Art Museum celebrates the opening of “Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg” with a concert in the Kogod Courtyard. From 1pm – 3pm, the Airmen of Note will perform American big band classics—music from Glenn Miller and early Airmen of Note bands. The Kogod Courtyard is located at 8th & F Streets NW.

If you don’t want to deal with the crowds on July 4^th, but still want to see A Capitol Fourth concert live, you can catch a rehearsal show tonight and tomorrow evening at 8pm. Rehearsals take place on the West Lawn of the Capitol, just like the real show, and they are free, just like the real show. Gates open to the public at 5pm for rehearsals.

And, of course, there will be lots of music on Sunday to celebrate Independence Day. As mentioned in yesterday’s post, there is the National Independence Day Parade, the concert on the Washington Monument Grounds, and A Capitol Fourth concert that will also air live on PBS.