D.C. Blizzard of 2016 (in Photos)
• January 26, 2016

American novelist Eudora Welty famously said, “A good snapshot stops a moment from running away.” A good snowfall partially compensates for its discomforts on a city by providing fleeting moments of great beauty and winter fun. Before the snowplows, the traffic and Mother Nature combine to destroy the evidence, we’ve taken these snapshots of Washington, D.C., during and after the Great Blizzard of 2016.

View our photos by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="124234,124317,124324,124332,124339,124345,124385,124421,124460,124309,124301,124241,124249,124256,124264,124271,124277,124285,124293,124494,124506,124499,124377,124361,124413,124402,124227,124211,124219,124354,124369,124393,124474,124467,124446,124438,124481,124429,124489,124454,102372" nav="thumbs"]

Smithsonian Opens Wegmans Wonderplace Exhibit for Young Kids (photos)
• January 11, 2016

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History opened Wegmans Wonderplace on Dec. 9 at the National Museum of American History. The popular grocery store chain Wegmans (headquartered near Rochester, New York) is sponsoring the $1.5-million exhibit, the first on the National Mall designed for the learning needs of children aged six and under. Danny Wegman, CEO of the grocery chain, and his family were on hand for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. Dozens of children and their moms were joined by Smithsonian Secretary David Skorton, National Museum of American History Director John Gray and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y). But the clear crowd favorite at the ceremony was Elmo of “Sesame Street.” Wegmans will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2016. The opening day festivities included cooking demos for kids and adults, face painting, balloon art and a kids parade.

“Wegmans Wonderplace” will feature six sections each with hands-on, play-based interdisciplinary activities. The 1,700-square-foot exhibit — located in the new Innovation Wing on the museum’s first floor — features replicas of Julia Child’s kitchen, an organic garden, a farm stand, a construction site, the Smithsonian Castle, a picture gallery and a tugboat. Each area combines artifact displays with fun hands-on activities to engage young children and their families. Amenities include family bathrooms with diaper-changing stations, stroller parking and a quiet nook in the rear where parents can feed infants.

The National Museum of American History is open to the public between 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except Dec. 25. and is free of charge. The museum is located on the National Mall at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.

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Wreaths Across America Meets Its Goal to Honor All Veterans Buried at Arlington National Cemetery (photos)
• December 29, 2015

Thousands gathered at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., in sping-like weather on Dec. 12 to lay holiday wreaths over each of the more than 240,000 graves.

The Wreaths Across America program, now in its 24th year, was started in 1992 by Morrill Worcester, owner of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, with 5,000 wreaths. In total, more than 901,000 remembrance wreaths were placed in more than 1,100 locations nationwide on National Wreaths Across America Day.

The opening ceremony near the McClellan Arch featured music by the U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” the presentation of the colors by the Armed Forces Joint Color Guard, welcoming remarks by WAA chairman Wayne Hanson, and a live performance of the song, “Arlington,” by country music star Trace Adkins and “Amazing Grace,” sung by country vocalist Lindsay Lawler.

View our photos from Arlington National Cemetery by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102185,131910,131918,131942,131949,131957,131965,131973,132000,132006,131989,131995,131981,131869,131861,131853,131846,131837,131903,131895,131733,131769,131743,131725,131830,131785,131761,131777,131793,131934,131927,131800,131808,131815,131822,131887,131879,131753" nav="thumbs"]

Santas Invade D.C. for Santarchy 2015 (photos)
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Several hundred Santas, reindeer, snowmen and assorted elves congregated on the National Mall on a seasonably warm Dec. 12 for Santarchy 2015, the worldwide movement to promote “holiday cheer, goodwill and fun.”

We followed the Santas from the steps of the Smithsonian to the Carousel on the National Mall to the Washington Monument. They were last seen heading for the White House, perhaps to complain about drones.

According to the official website, “Santarchy is your chance to be Santa, so step up and be jolly.” So view our photos of your neighbors and business associates making a public spectacle of themselves by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102186,131730,131724,131711,131703,131696,131688,131680,131672,131664,131656,131649,131641,131633,131612,131625,131618,131737,131718" nav="thumbs"]

President Obama and the First Family Light the National Christmas Tree (photos)
• December 14, 2015

President Barack Obama and the first family led the lighting of the National Christmas Tree with a bevy of celebrity performers on the Ellipse at President’s Park near the White House Dec. 3. In his Christmas message, the president asked Americans to “come together as brothers and sisters,” one day after 14 persons were shot to death by terrorists in California.

Actress Reese Witherspoon served as host. Miss Piggy of “The Muppet Show” joined first lady Michelle Obama for a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” Musical entertainment was provided by the United States Coast Guard Band, Trombone Shorty, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Aloe Blacc, Tori Kelly and Fall Out Boy. For the finale, all performers joined on stage for a sing-along with the first family and Santa Claus. The 93rd annual lighting ceremony was presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation. The program will be broadcast nationally on PBS on Dec. 9.

View our photos of the National Tree Lighting ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="102167,132653,132661,132668,132677,132684,132692,132700,132706,132713,132721,132746,132739,132647,132639,132557,132565,132729,132581,132589,132574,132597,132604,132611,132617,132734,132632,132625" nav="thumbs"]

Downtown D.C. Macy’s Unveils Holiday Windows (photos)
• December 10, 2015

Santa and Snoopy headlined the Downtown-Metro Center Macy’s holiday window unveiling on Saturday Nov.14, 2015 in Washington D.C. The department store is dedicating its window displays this year to Charles Schultz’s Peanuts cartoon creations in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and to coincide with the new Peanuts feature film.

The outdoor part of the event included live performances by Grammy award-winning singer, Chrisette Michele, Empire’s V. Bozeman, singer and songwriter Adrian Marcel, the dance team Step Afrika! , the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir and the Ballou High School Marching Band.

View our photos of the festivities and the holiday decorations at Macy’s by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102360,124992,125000,125023,125008,125031,125039,125048,125057,125067,125081,125076,124983,124974,124911,124903,125094,125087,124920,124928,124933,124941,124949,124958,124966,125016" nav="thumbs"]

House Speaker Paul Ryan Presides Over Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting
• December 7, 2015

The Capitol Christmas tree was lit on a rainy evening on Dec. 2 during a ceremony on the Capitol West Lawn. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), in his first lighting ceremony since taking over for John Boehner (R-Ohio) called for a moment of silence during Wednesday night’s Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, following a mass shooting earlier that day in San Bernardino, California, in which at least 14 persons were killed and 17 others were wounded. “Please keep the victims and their families in your prayers right now,” said Ryan before the tree lighting ceremony began. Ryan was assisted in lighting the tree by 10-year old Anna DeVolld from Soldotna, Alaska. The fifth grader wrote the winning essay for the 2015 Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Contest. The tree, a 74-foot spruce, traveled 4,000 miles from Alaska’s Chugach National Forest and arrived in Washington on Nov. 20. It is decorated with thousands of ornaments created by children from the state and will be illuminated nightly between dusk and 11 p.m. through New Year’s Day.

View our photos from the 2015 U.S. Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102391,122812,122820,122827,122833,122841,122849,122857,122864,122805,122797,122789,122889,122751,122883,122871,122760,122767,122774,122781,122876" nav="thumbs"]

Chanting ‘Let Them in!,’ Hundreds Rally Outside White House to Support Syrian Refugees (photos)
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Chanting “Let them in!,” hundreds of demonstrators assembed outside the White House in support of allowing Syrian refugees to enter the United States. The rally from which these photos were taken took place on Nov. 21. President Barack Obama has planned to allow 10,000 Syrian refugees to enter the United States.

Many protesters evoked the famous poem, “The New Colossus,” by Emma Lazarus that is engraved on a plaque mounted on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty that reads in part, “Give me your tired, your poor . . . “.

Earlier in the week, the House of Representatives had voted to make it harder for the refugees to enter due to concerns that terrorists could pose as refugees and carry out attacks similar to those that took place in Paris on Nov. 13.

In addition, more than half of the country’s governors, including Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, have said they will no longer provide placement for the refugees despite assurances from the White House and the Department of Homeland Security that the vetting of the refugees “is extraordinarily thorough and comprehensive” and “the most robust screening process for any category of individuals seeking admittance into the United States.”

Click on the icons below to view our photos from the demonstration in front of the White House. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102386,123304,123325,123318,123332,123312,123289,123229,123221,123213,123264,123256,123248,123169,123177,123157,123239,123205,123296,123186,123273,123281,123195" nav="thumbs"]

“Keep it in the Ground!” Climate Activists Demand Swift Action at White House Ahead of Paris Summit (photos)
• November 30, 2015

Ahead of a major climate summit in Paris, several hundred demonstrators marched outside and around the White House to demand a swift transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The rally in Washington D.C. on Sunday, November 29, 2015 was one of many such demonstrations taking place in major cities around the world. Climate talks will go on until December 11.

View our images of the rally by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102390,123007,123015,123022,123029,123037,123044,123052,123059,123066,123073,123081,123088,123096,123104,123123,123130,123000,122993,123111,122886,122895,122878,122902,122909,122917,122925,122933,122941,122948,122956,122964,122971,122979,122986,123116" nav="thumbs"]

Renwick Gallery Re-Opens After 2-Year Renovation (photos)
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The Renwick Gallery re-opened on Friday Nov.13 on Pennsylvania Avenue after a major two-year $30-million renovation. On hand for the ribbon cutting were philanthropist David Rubenstein, Smithsonian American Art Museum head Betsy Broun and Smithsonian Secretary David J. Skorton. The gallery, which is located near the White House, is home to the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s (SAAM) collection of contemporary craft and decorative art. The exhibition opening Friday is titled “Wonder” and features installations by nine contemporary artists, whose work ranges from geometric wall designs made from insect specimens to spires of stacked index cards. Rubenstein, known for underwriting restoration of several of Washington’s historic monuments, is the lead sponsor for the renovation.

View our photos from opening day by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102359,125317,125323,125312,125304,125295,125286,125278,125269,125261,125253,125245,125237,125229,125221,125215,125200,125330,125092,125100,125108,125083,125116,125124,125133,125141,125149,125156,125164,125172,125179,125185,125193,125208" nav="thumbs"]