1. It’s about that time of year when the sunflowers at McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in Poolesville, MD, are starting to reach their peak — and visitors are welcome to take in the brilliant scene for free. Nine fields showcase 30 acres of flowers, and they usually bloom for at least a couple of weeks. Get more details and see pics from previous blooms here and here. KFDC Tip: If you plan to go, pair it with a PYO blackberries outing at Homestead Farms, which is just minutes away, or stop by Rocklands Farm Winery, also nearby. And for more sunflower spots, Washingtonian has a round-up of them, though many of the locations require an admission fee and aren’t as big as the bloom at McKee-Beshers.
2. Today from 11am – 3pm, take a Tour of the Universe on the National Mall! Several Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art will be hosting stations that explore different aspects of space through hands-on activities and telescopes.See the eight locations and get more details about what you’ll discover at each one here.
1. Sit back, relax — or stand and play — and immerse in Ase: Afro Frequencies the current exhibit at ARTECHOUSE, the gallery in Southwest DC known for its innovative fusions of art and technology. Celebrating the Black experience from the perspective of artist Vince Fraser, it features striking digital imagery that is cool to view while lounging on beanbags on the floor. Other interactive elements let you try on digital masks, kind of like large-scale filters, and play with art that responds to your movements. There’s also an infinity room-like space that might even get you grooving. This is all to percussive beats layered with spoken poetry by Ursula Rucker. Timed-entry tickets are $16-20/adult, $8-10/12 & under, but tonight and tomorrow evening, July 11 & 12, are Pay What You May Nights, when a limited number of tickets are available for a $1 cash/$5 credit card minimum. Get a glimpse of the exhibit here.
2. Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, and veggies are available for picking at local farms. Just about all of the spots listed in this post about PYO places have something ready for harvest now and welcome guests pick ’em themselves. However, 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.
3. You can join a rally to demand greater gun reform nearby the Capitol (1st & C Streets NE) this Wednesday, July 13, 11am – 2pm. It’s organized by Highland Park moms.
4. Tomorrow and Wednesday, July 12-13, are Amazon Prime Days when you can score great deal on all kinds of items.
5. See a movie in the theater for just $5! AMC just started Discount Tuesdays when tickets to all movies are only $5 all day every Tuesday through October.
1. Great news: The water features at Yards Park in the Capitol Riverfront are finally running again after being closed for repairs! Take the kids to play in the wade pool and splash around in the fountains. You can also hang out in the grassy areas, stroll the boardwalk, take in the scenic views, and have a picnic by the water or go for lunch at one of the many nearby eateries. Access to all of it is free! (Note that the link above is to a very old post about Yards Park, like from the first day it opened, but descriptions of the water features are still accurate. Find more about the area here.)
2. Happening today: Pick up some new reads for the kids and enjoy a fun day out at the Children’s Book Festival. From 10am – 5pm on the Woodrow Wilson Plaza of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, there will be opportunities to meet authors, book readings, and hands-on activities led by the National Children’s Museum and Planet Word. You can also shop thousands of gently-used books (for all ages) on sale for $6 or less provided by Carpe Librum, benefitting Turning the Page, an education-based nonprofit.. Admission is free, The Plaza is located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
3. Little ones can get creative at an art museum! Tomorrow, June 30, the Hirshhorn’s Art Cart, which offers young artists a hands-on maker experience during their visit, will share a project from 10am – 12pm inspired by Laurie Anderson’s 2011 tribute to Lola, her terrier, now on view. And the Hirshhorn is once again offering regular in-person programming for kids — check out the full calendar here.
4. New Smithsonian Nighttime Adventures will offer kids opportunities to explore the National Museum of Natural History after hours! When the crowds are gone, and the doors have closed, one of the world’s most popular museums will become their playground until nearly midnight. Children ages 8-14 and their adult chaperones can join other night owls in this unique experience held Fridays: July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5, and August 12 from 7-11pm. Participants will wander through the museum’s galleries to explore the Earth’s past, discover the wonders of the ocean, and more as they are guided by the fun and challenging “Adaptation Game” filled with activities to complete. Tickets are $85 for general admission and $70 for Smithsonian Associates members, and advance registrationis required.Cost includes exclusive access and activities in the museum, interactive exploration, and a pre-packaged individually wrapped snack.
5. Bravo to my friend Jody on her raw, thought-provoking, impeccably-written piece in the Washington Post that brings to light yet another potential consequence of the Roe v. Wade overturning.
1, The Smithsonian Folklife Festival begins today! Back in person after two years, the event will once again celebrate living cultural heritage and community traditions, this year highlighting United Arab Emirates and Earth Optimism. From June 22-27 and June 30 – July 4, all kinds exhibits, demonstrations, live performances, talks, food, markets, and much more will be on the National Mall between 7th & 12th Streets NW from 11am – 6pm each day. Admission is free. Definitely make time to go — it’s always a fantastic event with so much for all ages to enjoy! View scenes from a past Folklife Festival here. (PS: I recommend taking Metro if possible as parking is tough around the National Mall, especially during this time of year.)
2, This evening, join the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for E.T. : The Extra Terrestrial in Concert, a 40th anniversary celebration of the classic film. The NSO will performs the complete Academy Award–winning score as the movie is projected in HD on the big screen. Tickets are $29-49, and you can use the code 472964 to get 50% off orchestraseats for the performance.
3, Tomorrow, June 23, the National Museum of Natural History is celebrating Pollinator Week with a free family concert followed by a book signing with Latin Grammy winner, Mister G. There will also be hands-on activities and learning stations, plus fun giveaways from the Pollinator Partnership, the US Forest Service, and USDA. Join the fun from 10am – 12:30pm in Q?rius on the Ground Floor of the museum. Admission is free.
4, For those times that you can’t get out, 50 at-home kids’ activities.
Taking in views of DC from the Old Post Office Clock Tower
1. One of the neatest DC adventures (that many people never seemed to know about) is back after a pandemic hiatus! We can once again see the city from a unique vantage point at the Old Post Office Clock Tower. Located at 12th & C Streets NW (within the former Trump Hotel, now Waldorf Astoria) and operated by the National Park Service, it’s free to visit and go up to the observation deck of one of the tallest buildings in DC. It’s fascinating to see the inner-workings of the big ticker and exhilarating to take in the sweeping views of the city. Read more about it in this post about our first visit there many years ago. It’s open daily from 9am – 4pm, but note there are closure dates during the first week of every month — in 2022 they are July 5, August 2, September 1, October 4, November 1, and December 1. The building is located at 12th & Pennsylvania NW, and the entrance for the Tower is at 12th & C Streets NW (on 12th between Pennsylvania & Constitution Ave.).
2. There is fun bubbling up at CityCenter in Downtown DC! BubbleworksDC, an immersive world-class bubble spectacle, is bringing some extra delight to The Plaza through July 4. Stop by to play for free in the 6-8 minute interactive shows — they run every hour at the top of the hour 1-7 pm daily. Since it’s a short experience, make the most of your visit to the area and head to the nearby National Portrait Gallery & Smithsonian American Art Museum. Both are open daily 11:30am – 7pm, and admission is free. CityCenter is located bewteen 9th & 11th. Streets and New York Ave. & H Streets NW. The museums are located at 8th & F Streets NW.
3. Looking for a family volunteering opportunity? DC Way is hosting a clean-up event this Sunday, June 19, from 9am – 3pm. Part of their quarterly environmental project, it will take place on the four blocks surrounding Tyler Elementary School, their primary soccer camp location.The goal is that the cleanliness of the streets surrounding will be improved, a clean community will be present, and a good environment for children to grow in is maintained. All are welcome to help out, but let them know if you’ll be joining!
