Tag Archives: Week 44

January 14, 2021 · 7:42 am

Five Things for Today: January 14, 2021

The National Arboretum is a fave for getting outdoors in the city

1. It’s going to be 50s and sunny today, a perfect time to highlight The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids.

2. Washingtonian shares what you need to know about DC Inauguration Day threats and other Capitol insurrection fallout. In addition, Metro is closing 13 stations near the Capitol and National Mall for a week starting Friday.

3. In this unsettling time, journaling can be a good way to help ease anxieties. NPR has tips on how to get started.

4. TV can also be a good distractor right now. We finally watched The Queen’s Gambit, and it is as good as everyone says. I also recently binged The Flight Attendant, and it was a fun, quirky thriller ala Dead to Me. Hearing good things about Bridgerton, too! (All recs for adults…maybe teens, too.)

5. Of course, the Holdernesses have a song for 2021 (so far).

Five Things for Today: January 13, 2021

A view down East Cap, the Capitol dome visible through the leafless trees

1. The National Portrait Gallery ‘s programs for children that used to be offered in person are available online. Introducing… is essentially the new Portrait Story Days, highlighting some of our country’s historymakers and their portraits in the museum’s collection. Today at 11am they will be Introducing… Abraham Lincoln. Young Portrait Explorers takes place monthly via Zoom, also on Wednesdays 11-11:30am and 3-3:30pm, and explores portraits of astronauts and activists, scientists and star athletes along with the stories behind them. Free registration is required.

2. Weekdays are a great time to visit Great Falls, when you can enjoy some of the most scenic nature in the area without the weekend crowds. Whether you opt for the Maryland or Virginia side, you really can’t go wrong. Take in spectacular views of the falls and rapids from several overlooks and hike easy trails along the river or through the woods. Open 7am to 30 minutes after sunset. Admission is $20/vehicle. (You can also opt to hike there from Riverbend Park, where admission is free.)

3. Are you looking for a way to celebrate and honor MLK? Join Rock Creek Conservancy’s MLK Weekend of Service. Register to help with trash clean-up and invasive removal throughout Rock Creek Park — there are opportunities to volunteer on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

4. AOC speaks about the attack on the Capitol (long but worth the watch/listen).

5. Such a powerful, human moment.

Five Things for Today: January 12, 2021

Take a call box tour downtown

1. The Wander Women Project, a travel blog that celebrates women’s creations and follows female legacy, landmarks, and heritage trails, has a fun way to explore downtown and learn about some pioneering women. Follow a map to find old fire call boxes where several notable women are commemorated (and refer to their website to learn more about them). It’s a fun, safe, free, and educational activity!

2. Did you know there’s a new national park in the region? New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is just over four hours from DC in southeastern West Virginia and offers a bounty of outdoor recreation. It’s best known for white water rafting and climbing, but hiking, biking, and camping opportunities abound, too.

3. Calling all artists! The National Cherry Blossom Festival is partnering with Amazon to present “Art in Bloom,” a premier 2021 project to celebrate the visual arts and showcase the whimsy and creativity of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the nation’s Capital. To bring Art in Bloom alive, 25 oversized cherry blossom sculptures will be painted by local and national artists and installed at a variety of outdoor locations across the DC area starting March 20, the first day of this year’s Festival. Artists interested in contributing to the project are invited to apply through January 22.

4. All 179 Tayor Swift songs, ranked. Do you agree? Do you care?

5. Feeling this.

PS: All kinds of ideas for activities around DC this winter.