Weekend Roundup, March 30 – April 2
By • March 30, 2023 0 898
As March is “going out like a lamb,” the busy spring season has officially begun. So much to do this weekend, including seeing “The Jungle” at Woolly Mammoth, checking out “Pink in the Park” at National Landing, enjoying a sundae at Nats Opening Weekend, attending the reopening of George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill at Mount Vernon, and exploring new visual art exhibits and performance art around town. Happy weekend!
The Woolly Mammoth Theatre Presents “The Jungle”
“The Jungle” began showing at The Woolly Mammoth Theatre Tuesday and will continue through April 16. The play tells the tale of The Jungle, a camp of stateless citizens outside Calais, France. The camp is a temporary home for thousands searching for refuge and hoping to build something from nothing. There are residents from Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan and more. “The Jungle” explores suffering, dreaming, surviving and living and ultimately celebrates coming together in a time of crisis. The show is co-presented with the Shakespeare Theatre Company. More information on tickets can be found here.
National Landing’s “Pink in the Park” is Saturday
From 3-7 p.m. Saturday, ring in the spring and celebrate the cherry blossoms with live music, food from food trucks like Peruvian Brothers, Pho Wheels and The Grease Wagon and kid-friendly events too. Kids will love “Pink in the Pool” earlier in the day where they can toss around pink beach balls and make some crafts at the Long Bridge Park Aquatics and Fitness Center. More information on Pink in the Park can be found here and Pink in the Pool can be found here.
National Landing is hosting “Pink in the Park” this weekend with the motto “pink isn’t just a color, it’s a vibe.” Courtesy National Landing.
George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill Open April 1 — No Fooling!
If you haven’t paid a visit yet, heading to George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill is certainly worth the trip. The fully functioning reconstructions of the first president’s distillery and gristmill are 2.7 miles from Mount Vernon’s main entrance. Tours are on weekends from April 1 through October and are included with a Mount Vernon grounds pass. Enjoy some small batch spirits to take home too (if you’re of age of course!). More information here.
George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill opens for the season this weekend. Courtesy Mount Vernon.
The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Debuts New Exhibit on Lights
A new 4,340-square-foot exhibit about how the night sky and its disappearance due to light pollution affects all life on Earth, from natural ecosystems to human cultures, has opened at The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The exhibit, called “Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky,” will run through December 2025. The exhibit will give visitors the opportunity to learn what’s at stake as the stars and distant galaxies fade due to light pollution. More information can be found here.
2016 Black Forest Star Party, Curt Weinhold. Courtesy Smithsonian.
The Washington National Cathedral Presents “Duruflé’s “Requiem and Poulenc’s Motets”
On Palm Sunday, peek into Duruflé’s explorations of Gregorian chant with his “Requiem.” The cathedral will also be showcasing a performance of Poulenc’s penitential motets and Tenebrae responsories. Either way, it’s a great option to usher in Holy Week for those who celebrate. More information on tickets can be found here.
The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Celebrates with its “Cherokee Days Festival”
A three-day festival featuring storytelling, traditional flute music, games, demonstrations and hands-on activities will be at the National Museum of the American Indian this weekend. The event showcases the shared history and cultural lifeways of three federally recognized Cherokee tribes. Families with little ones will love visiting the museum’s imagiNATIONS Activity Center where kids can make corn husk dolls, clay turtle medallions, miniature gourd masks and more. Activities are free, but tickets are required and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can find them here.
The National Museum of the American Indian celebrates Cherokee Days this weekend. Courtesy Smithsonian.
Check out “We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC”
Don’t miss the grand opening of the National Women’s History Museum’s Exhibit on D.C. black feminists and their influence on national policy. The grand opening of the exhibit is tonight at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library. “We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC” is curated by historians Sherie M. Randolph and Kendra T. Field and focuses on the stories and voices of Black feminist organizers and theorists. More information can be found here.
A rendering of the MLK Jr. Library, where an exhibit from the National Women’s History Museum is debuting today. Courtesy Silman.com.
‘Hey Batter, Batter!’ — Celebrate Nats Opening Weekend
It’s that time of year again — baseball season! The Washington Nationals Opening Day is today and there are specials celebrating all weekend. Ice Cream Jubilee is offering an Opening Day sundae in a Nats cap with a bonus sugar cookie to customers today, Steadfast Supply is giving 10 percent off to those dressed in Nats red and much, much more. More information on Opening Day festivities can be found here. Play ball!
Ice Cream Jubilee is offering a special Nats-themed sundae for Opening Day. Facebook photo.
“You Don’t Love Me, Yet” Makes Its International Debut at Dupont Underground
Dupont Underground and the Embassy of Sweden are debuting “You Don’t Love Me, Yet” at the Dupont Underground this weekend through April 30. The exhibit features eight renowned Swedish artists who are united in their interest in social issues, interpersonal relationships and interaction between humans and nature. More information on the exhibit and can be found here.
