Tag Archives: Spring 2018

April 22, 2018 · 6:22 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: April 23-27

See all kinds of fancy wings at Brookside’s annual butterfly exhibit

Monday – Celebrate National Park Week and enjoy the glorious spring weather by visiting one of our local national parks! Rock Creek, Great Falls, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Prince William Forest, and Fort McHenry are a few that are easily accessible in our area. Hours and admission vary by park — some are even free — so follow the links for details and logistics.

Tuesday – Spend what’s forecast to be a rainy day at the National Building Museum. Little ones can enjoy a free story time with DC Public Library (10:30am) and engage in all kinds of interactive play in the Building Zone. The PLAY WORK BUILD exhibit upstairs is always fun for kids. Museum hours are 10am – 5pm. Exhibit admission, including Building Zone, is $10/adult, $7/child, free for members. During the shutdown, Federal Employees with ID get in free. (KFDC tip: Check out membership options — if you frequent the museum a few times or more per year, it’s so worth it.)

Wednesday – Head to the Library of Congress, where they’re celebrating World Penguin Day, as Antarctic penguins start making their annual northward march to the sea. The Library is hosting a family-friendly conversation with scientist and author Ron Naveen, who has spent more than 30 years working in Antarctica counting penguins, in the Young Readers Center. Waddle over before it begins at 10:30am. And stick around after to explore the magnificent LOC — read more about it here. Admission is free.

Thursday – Go to the Rosslyn READS Spring Book Festival. Throughout the day there will be author readings and signings, story time and storytelling, entertainment for children, live music, and more. Plus, you can have fun browsing thousands of used books, CDs, and DVDs for sale. This all will takes place on Central Place Plaza in Rosslyn from 10am – 10pm. Admission is free.

Friday – Experience the wonderful Wings of Fancy exhibit at Brookside Gardens. The seasonal display featuring live butterflies and caterpillars from all over the world always delights all ages. While you’re there, explore the rest of the beautiful grounds, play in the Children’s Garden, see turtles in the pond, and more. Admission to the park is free, but entry to the butterfly exhibit is $8/adults and $5/ages 3-12, free for 2 and under. Hours are 10am – 4pm for Wings of Fancy, 9am – 5pm at the Visitor Center, and sunrise to sunset for the grounds. For more about the annual exhibit and Brookside Garden, see this KFDC post and this one.

Scenes from “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man” at the Renwick Gallery

A couple of months ago we attempted to go to the Renwick Gallery only to learn upon our arrival that it was closed for awhile in preparation for an upcoming exhibition. I didn’t know what it was at the time, but figured if they were closing the entire museum, then it had to be something substantial — and really good.

Indeed, it is both. No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man brings a piece (or, make that pieces, and big ones!) of the annual Black Rock Desert event to DC in the form of large-scale installations, several of them taking up whole galleries in the museum. The works range from sculptures to immersive installations to jewelry to costumes. And they are beautiful, evocative, solemn, and kooky, kind of how I imagine Burning Man to be.

This is an exhibit that appeals to all ages. Kids will love seeing giant mushrooms illuminated in rainbow colors, walking inside a glowing geometric figure, and checking out the muffin tin parts of a dragon constructed from recycled items. Adults will appreciate all of that and more just as much.

The full No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man exhibition will be at the Renwick through September 16, 2018. After that, only the second floor will be on display through January 21, 2019. Museum hours are 10am – 5:30pm, and admission is free. You can also see sculptures from Burning Man showcased throughout the surrounding neighborhood through December 2018.

Here’s a glimpse of the exhibit, but in person is, of course, always better.

Hybycozo – The Hyperspace Bypass Construction Zone

Tin Pan Dragon and scenes from Burning Man projected behind it

How the Tin Pan Dragon got its name

Shrumen Lumen

The beautiful Temple is a “sacred place for memorial and reflection”

Guests can write on blocks of wood to leave a memorial or meaningful testament.

The Ten Principles of Burning Man

Some of the wacky costumes

Truth is Beauty

A room full of wishes

I swear the Zac Efron one wasn’t mine

Good advice 🙂

Where to Play on the Weekdays: April 16-20

The Emancipation Statue in Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill

Monday – Check out your local library! Drop in for story time, sing-a-longs, arts & crafts, and other activities, or just go to browse for books. See this post from the very early KFDC days for a little background and quick links to libraries around the area. Hours vary by location, admission is free. (Update: A KFDC readers just pointed out some libraries are closed in observance of Emancipation Day. For more ideas of things to do on the rainy day, check out The Great Indoors post.)

In the afternoon and evening, travel back in time with the National Park Service for Emancipation Day at Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill. Relive the moment in DC’s history when Frederick Douglass gave his famous keynote address in Lincoln Park during the 1876 Emancipation statue dedication. The fun-filled day will honor Douglass’ legacy, celebrate and explore the significance of Emancipation Day, and highlight the importance of historic Lincoln Park. This will all take place from 2-8pm. Admission is free.

Tuesday – Catch a performance of Arts on the Horizon’s Outside the Lines at The Lab of Convergence in Alexandria, VA. The show about two pen pals, Bud and Vi, who brighten each other’s lives from afar, is recommended for ages 2-5. Showtime is 10:30am, and tickets are $9.

Wednesday – Go over the rainbow and beyond at Watkins Regional Park. There is so much for all ages to enjoy. The adorable Wizard of Oz themed playground will keep little ones frolicking for hours. You can also visit the animals at Old Maryland Farm, then head to the Watkins Nature Center to view some cool creatures and birds. Along with animals inside, look for frogs in the pond right outside and do some bird watching and visit the owls, then hike the short trails nearby. Park hours are dawn to dusk, 9am – 4pm at the Farm, and 8:30am – 5pm at the Nature Center. Admission is free.

Thursday – Enjoy a hike and a dose of history all at once at Roosevelt Islandt. The trails are easy for little legs to tramp, and you can explore the Memorial Plaza to learn about the legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt. The entrance to the park is located right off the GW Parkway, just past the Roosevelt Bridge, and accessible only from the northbound lanes. Hours are 6am – 10pm, and admission is free. Get a little more of the KFDC take on it in this post about local walks in the woods with kids.

Friday – Rock out with Alex and the Kaleidoscope at Discovery Theater, located in the Smithsonian Ripley Center (next to the Freer|Sackler Gallery). Emmy Award-winning children’s arts educator Alex Mitnick will be your musical guide for an Earth Day celebration of the treasures of the planet. Show times are 10:15am & 11:30am (Friday, too!). Enjoy some outdoor time after the concert — roam the lovely Haupt Garden right behind the Smithsonian Castle, ride the carousel on the National Mall, and/or see art al fresco in the Hirshhorn and National Gallery of Art Sculpture.