Bright and cheery black-eyed Susans for a rainy day
1. A rainy day activity: Kids can explore the Metropolitan Museum of Art from home with #MetKids. (Of course, there is plenty for adults to enjoy online, too.)
2. And something else for indoor weather: The Indonesian Embassy is hosting a coloring contest for kids in commemoration of 75 years anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence Day. Go here for instructions and rules to participate.
Gorgeous Potomac views at Scott’s Run Nature Preserve
1.Scott’s Run Nature Preserve is a great place to hike and spend time outdoors. Located in McLean just a few miles down the road from Great Falls Park, you can walk through the woods or follow a fire road flanked by a creek down to the river, where there is a lovely waterfall and fantastic Potomac views. If it’s crowded by the falls, just head the opposite way down the trail along the water for more secluded spots to hang out and enjoy a picnic.
3. Even more to be excited about on Capitol Hill: The Safeway in southeast, now called the Beckert’s Park Safeway, reopens today! The Hill Rag offers a sneak peek, and a good thing to know is that it will be open 24/7.
4. Have you listened to The Michelle Obama Podcast yet? There are only a few episodes, but so far so good. This second one is a great listen and resonated in many ways. (And there’s a new one out today.)
1.Clarks Elioak, the delightful farm in Howard County, is open. The grounds are straight out of a fairytale, charmingly adorned with recovered installations from an old storybook park. A petting zoo and fairy forest are highlights right now. Pony rides and more fun are also available. It’s open Tuesday thru Sunday, 10am – 5pm. Admission is $8, and some activities are an extra small fee.
2. The Perseid meteor shower will be peaking over the next couple of nights. Get tips for viewing it.
3. If you don’t have a Costco membership, now is a great time to get one. Groupon is offering a one-year Costco Gold Star Membership Package with a $60 Costco shop card and $40 off an online order. (Note: Valid only for new members and those whose memberships expired prior to April 1, 2020.)
1. Over the last couple of months I’ve mentioned disc golf, FootGolf, and Top Golf, so it’s about time regular ol’ golf gets a shout out hre, especially since it’s been a permitted activity longer than most. There are three courses in DC — East Potomac Park, Langston (near Anacostia Park), and Rock Creek — where the public is welcome to play. Family tees are available for younger beginner players. You can also just hit balls at the driving range, and if you don’t have clubs, East Potomac Park offers complimentary sanitized loaner clubs. And for public golf courses beyond the District, go here.
2. On Wednesdays through August, kids in grades 3-12 can join the National Museum of African American History and Culture for Artists at Home, a digital, interactive program designed to engage students in hands-on art making and conversations about African American artists and different genres of visual art. This week’s session will focus on Printmaking with Twentieth-Century Artist Elizabeth Catlett. Register in advance here.
3. Join the Smithsonian for Wikipedia: 19th Amendment Virtual Edit-a-thon. Help close the gap in articles about the 19th Amendment and women’s role in the suffrage movement. Editing will be open throughout August with Zoom training and office hours every Tuesday & Thursday this month from 11:30am – 1pm.
4. Friends recently introduced us to a different kind of dominoes (how had we never played it before?), and it was really fun.
Yards Park is a great waterfront spot for socially distanced hanging out
1. Join Leesburg Animal Park for a Fishing Derby today from 11am – 3pm. Of course, you can visit the animals, too. The rest of the park is open 10am – 5pm (Wednesday – Sunday), and admission is $15/adult, $13/ages2-12.
3. Came across this nice round-up of waterfront spaces around DC to enjoy warm weather. It was obviously compiled pre-COVID, so there are some suggestions for activities that are not currently offered, but most of the spots recommended are still good for socially distanced hanging out.
