Tag Archives: National Air & Space Museum

March 18, 2011 · 8:12 am

Weekend Picks

The museums are heavy on special family activities this weekend, but with the glorious weather forecast for the next few days, I’ve got several suggestions to get you outdoors, too. Happy Weekend!

Family Day: Kites of Asia – Go fly a kite! And make one, too. This free event at the National Air & Space Museum on Saturday welcomes guests to discover the artistry of kites from across Asia. Indoor kite flying, story telling, and hands-on art activities, kite-making included, are on the day’s agenda. The event runs from 10am – 3pm.

Take a Hike – It’s going to be excellent weather for tramping in the woods, though be choosy about where you go — I heard the line of cars waiting to get into the Maryland side of Great Falls last weekend was all the way out to MacArthur Boulevard. For more suggestions on where to walk in the woods, including several that don’t attract large crowds, check out this post about good area hikes with kids.

Goya: Awakened in a Dream – The National Gallery of Art’s Film Program for Children and Teens presents a movie about the artist Goya this week. Recommended for ages 7 and up, the screening will take place in the East Building Concourse auditorium at 10:30am on Saturday and 11:30am on Sunday. The program is free, and seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Everyone’s Playground – Enjoy the sunshine and one of the best playgrounds in the area. If you have young children, and you haven’t been to Clemyjontri Park, I highly recommend taking them there. The play possibilities will seem endless to little ones. The carousel doesn’t open for another couple of weeks, but kids will be so enchanted with other parts of the park, they won’t miss riding the wooden horses.

Mail Females – Discover the history of women who have played important roles in the nation’s mail service. The National Postal Museum is hosting Women’s History Month Family Day from 11am – 3pm on Saturday. Guests can hear stories about postal women and try their hand at some of the jobs they performed.

DC United Opening Day – Kick off the start of the soccer season at RFK on Saturday evening. Tickets are still available for the 7:30pm game, including a couple of packages that come with freebies when you buy at least four tickets. For more information, see this post from a couple of days ago.

Reptile & Amphibian Day – Learn about reptiles and their important role in the ecosystem at this annual event at the National Aquarium. On Sunday from 10am – 4pm, guests can enjoy a variety of activities, including storytime and fun crafts. Aquarium staff will be on hand to answer questions and give talks throughout the day. Special highlights: The alligator exhibit and a shark feeding at 2pm. The event is free with admission – $9.95/ages 11 and up, 4.95/ages 3-11, children under 3 are free.

Picnic, Play, & Planes – Have you been to Gravelly Point, the small park along the GW Parkway next to Ronald Reagan Airport? The beautiful spot along the river is nice place to spread out a picnic, people watch, and kick around a soccer ball — if you really like airplanes. I have to warn about this one: it’s hit or miss with kids (and adults, for that matter). The park is located just beyond the airport runway, so planes take off or land (depending on which way they are going that day) literally right overhead. That’s the hit or miss part. It’s loud and potentially scary for those who don’t like the looks of a plane coming right at them, but quite exciting for those that love a thrill.

Portrait Story Days – Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery anytime from 1-4pm on Sunday to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. Rachel Carson, founder of the modern environmental movement, will be the subject this weekend.

CHAW Artday Concert – Catch a free Singing Lizard concert on Saturday morning at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. The Singing Lizard’s live shows are fast-paced, fun, and full of exciting songs that both kids and adults enjoy. The concert is from 10-11am in CHAW’s Black Box Theater.

On the Big Screen – Rain or shine, an IMAX film is great entertainment. Both the Johnson IMAX Theater at the Natural History Museum and Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater at the Air & Space Museum have several movies playing all weekend. For a couple of reviews, see my post about Arabia 3D and another one about Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk 3D.

Live Entertainment – A few new theater and musical shows recently opened on local stages. This post about spring entertainment from last week has info on what and who’s playing and where. Also be sure to check this post from a couple of months ago listing winter productions, several of which are still running.

Stories in Art –Sculptor David Smith is again the subject for this week’s children’s program at the National Gallery of Art. The workshop will start with a reading of “Half of the Elephant,” about an elephant on a humorous journey to find his missing half.. From there, the group will explore the work of David Smith, then build a sculpture with wood and metal. Hour-long sessions begin at 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm on Sunday. Sign-in will take place in the East Building Atrium, beginning at 11am that day and will continue until all spaces are filled. No admission fee required.

Go Green this Weekend

Playing among the old Capitol columns at the National Arboretum

Whether you celebrate Irish heritage, savor the weather and get outdoors, exercise your eco-consciousness at a wildlife refuge, or simply try something new, there are many ways to embrace “green” with the family this weekend. Here’s where you can employ your green around town the next few days. Happy Weekend!

Green in the City – I just recommended the U.S. National Arboretum last weekend, but with all the sunshine predicted for the next few days, I have no problem duplicating, and this time it’s topping the list. Our family visited on a surprise sunny day a couple of weeks ago for a lovely late-winter nature fix. There’s so much to explore on the 450 acres, but easy hikes through the woods, the old National Capitol columns in the middle of the Ellipse Meadow, and the koi pond where fish frequently poke their faces above the surface, were highlights for our brood. Don’t forget to check out the new Lunar New Year exhibit at the Bonai Museum on display until March 27.

I Love a Parade – If you’re looking for a family-friendly way to celebrate St. Patty’s Day, here’s some advice: 1) Avoid RFK 2) See this post from a few days ago with the scoop on several parades celebrating Irish culture that will be rolling through the streets this weekend.

Boogie Down at Eastern Market – Children’s music comes to the market this weekend as the Boogie Babes present a rare Saturday show. It’s a great chance for families who can’t make it during the week to see what the raves are all about. Local band Crash Chord will get kids grooving in Eastern Market’s North Hall at 10:30am. Cost is $10/family. The sun will be shining, so plan to stick around for some shopping and food sampling after the musical fun.

A “Wild” Birthday Bash– Celebrate the Birthday of the National Wildlife Refuge System at the Patuxent Research Refuge on Saturday from 10am – 3pm. Activities will include live animal viewing with feature performances by Reptile World at 11:30am and 1:30pm. There will also be children’s nature crafts and other activities, the first guided tram tours of the season, and food for purchase from the Crane Café sponsored by Friends of Patuxent. The event is free, though there are small fees for tram tours and food. The Refuge’s National Wildlife Visitor Center is located off of Powder Mill Road, 2 miles east of the Baltimore/Washington Parkway, just south of Laurel, Maryland.

Book it to Petworth – The newly renovated Petworth Neighborhood Library just opened a couple of weeks ago, and the Grand Opening Party is this Saturday from 10am – 4pm. Take a tour and join in other festivities, including art workshops, face painting, and more fun for all ages. And for a sneak peak at the new space, see this post from Prince of Petworth.

Glide ‘Neathe the Sky – This weekend is your last chance to hit the ice al fresco. Our local outdoor ice skating rinks are closing for the season Sunday or Monday. The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden and Silver Spring Veteran’s Plaza ice rinks will shut down their Zambonis on March 13, and Pentagon Row will close it’s skating area on March 14.

Women in Aviation and Space – Learn about women’s contributions to aviation, science, and aerospace at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, the Dulles Annex of the National Air & Space Museum. On Saturday from 10am – 3pm, there will be presentations and activities for all ages to enjoy. In honor of Girl Scout Day, the Smithsonian is offering a discounted $5 rate for Girl Scouts and their families at the Airbus Imax Theater and Pulseworks flight simulators. Admission to the event and museum is free, but parking is $15/car.

Night at the Planetarium – There’s still room in the 5pm and 6pm shows presented by Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium. The first, “Mystery of Missing Seasons” is recommended for ages 5 and up, and the later screening “Solar Sytem Tour” is suggested for ages 3 and up. While guests wait for their show, there will be astronomically cool stuff to do outside the planetarium, including hands-on science activities and celestial viewing through multiple telescopes. These activities will engage both children and adults in fun science education before and after each show.

That’s Entertainment – A few new theater and musical shows are opening on local stages this week. This post about spring entertainment from a couple of days ago has info on what and who’s playing and where. Also be sure to check this post from a couple of months ago listing winter productions, several of which are still running.

Celebrate Black History Month

Today marks the start of Black History Month, and there are many area programs and events happening over the next few weeks to celebrate it. Here’s a round-up of them, some starting as soon as today. Most descriptions are straight from the websites, and I’ll add to the list as I learn about more.

Black History Month at Mount Vernon
There will be several special highlights from February 1 – 28 in observance of Black History Month at Mount Vernon. Every day from 10am – 12pm at the slave quarters, interpreters will focus on the lives and contributions of the slaves who built and operated the plantation home of George and Martha Washington. A wreathlaying and presentation will occur daily at the slave memorial site at 12pm. And at 1pm, the Slave Life at Mount Vernon tour will explore the lives and contributions of the slaves who lived at the Estate. Black History Month activities are included in regular Estate admission: $15/adults, $7/children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under.

American I AM: The African American Imprint
At the National Geogrpahic Museum, take a journey through trials and triumphs while exploring nearly 500 years of African American contributions to the economic, political, cultural, and spiritual development of the United States. Bear witness to more than 200 poignant artifacts from the dungeon doors of the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana to Prince’s guitar. The exhibit will run from February 2 – May 1. Admission is $12/adults, $6/children ages 2-12. Open daily from 9am – 5pm.

Black History Month 2011 Family Day Celebration
On Saturday, February 5, the whole family is invited to the Smithsonian’s kickoff celebration of Black History Month at the National Museum of American History. The day includes the award-winning interactive theatrical presentation “Join the Student Sit-Ins,” performances by the Washington Performing Arts Society, tours of the exhibition The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey — Where Art and History Intersect, the debut of an American Girl self-guided Civil War family tour (“Addy’s World”), and many interactive activities to celebrate family and heritage. The event runs from 11:30am – 5pm.

Play Date with Pride
Culture Kingdom Kids, a mobile cultural arts program that produces children’s events with a cultural twist, presents Play Date with Pride on Saturday February 5 at the Alexandria Black History Museum. Celebrate Black History Month at this interactive workshop for children ages 5 to 12. Enjoy hands-on creative arts such as storytelling, crafts, and music and dance activities. Parents must accompany children. The event runs from 1 – 2:30pm. Reservations recommended.

Segragation Aboard Streetcars
The National Capitol Trolley Museum will present this special exhibit on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of February in observance of Black History Month. Located in Colesville, MD, the museum is open weekends from 12 – 5pm. Admission including unlimited trolley rides is $7/adults, $5/ages 2-17, and $4/all ages without rides.

African American Pioneers in Aviation
The National Air & Space Museum invites visitors to meet famed African American pilots from World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen, who fought discrimination both at home and abroad; talk to Museum experts; and participate in hands-on activities, and story time. This event occurs twice – first at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Dulles on Saturday, February 5, then again at the museum on the National Mall on February 12. Both are free and run from 10am – 3pm.

Black History Month Stamp Collecting
On Saturday, February 12, celebrate Black History Month at the National Postal Museum by making your own stamp collection featuring prominent African Americans such as Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth. After making your collection, be sure to see the Negro Leagues Baseball Stamp exhibition. Drop in between 11am and 2pm to participate in this free program.

Black History at Rock Creek Park
Several days throughout the month, Rock Creek Park is offering programs that explore black history, including “Through a Slave’s Eyes” on February 5 and “Sounds of Black Georgetown” on February 12. Check the website for complete details.

Portrait Story Days: Rosa Parks
Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery’s weekly program to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. in observance of Black history Month, this week guests can learn about Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks. This free program runs from 1 – 4pm.