Seasonal Installations of Art & More
Photo: Nycci Nellis
Say goodbye to igloos and ice rinks. Spring is here - YAY - and there's more than flowers popping up out of the ground. Look around at the latest outdoor expereinces:AdMo Art Walk
Think of Adams Morgan as your own personal art gallery thanks to AdMo Art Walk, a free, new way to experience art brought to you by the Adams Morgan Partnership BID, the DC Arts Center, local artists, and neighborhood businesses. Walk the streets of Adams Morgan and admire an impressive selection of artworks displayed in various storefronts in a self-guided walking tour from April 12th through May 14th. Each participating local artist has artwork on display in an Adams Morgan business. The eleven AdMo Art Walk stops include Lost City Books, Little Shop of Flowers, Sakuramen, Mintwood Place, and Rise Bakery. In addition to the art displayed in the various storefronts, Adams Morgan is home to lots of street art including murals, colorful building facades, painted jersey barriers, and more. AdMo Art Walk attendees can follow the Heritage Trail signs while on the self-guided tour to learn more about Adams Morgan, a vibrant community of artists, activists, and entrepreneurs. The Roads to Diversity: Adams Morgan Heritage Trail by Cultural Tourism DC features 18 poster-sized, illustrated signs that combine storytelling with historic images. AdMoDC.org/ArtWalk
Golden Triangle Outdoor Work(outs)
Beginning in May in Farragut Square and in accordance with CDC, National Park Service, and District of Columbia health and safety guidelines, the Golden Triangle BID will kick off its Outdoor Office series, followed by the free outdoor exercise program, TriFit. The BID will also add extra tables and chairs in Farragut, Longfellow, and Monroe parks to create additional outdoor working space on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Outdoor Office kicks off on Monday, May 3 in Farragut Square. Outdoor seating will be available for use on weekdays (except holidays) from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Enjoy socially-distanced tables and chairs throughout the park – perfect for working, eating, and meeting safely while enjoying the neighborhood. Beginning May 5, the Golden Triangle BID’s outdoor fitness program,TriFit, will take place in Farragut Square on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. All classes are led by top certified instructors and are free to attend. Due to social distancing requirements, space is limited, and advanced reservations are required. Check the events section on the Golden Triangle website for activation updates.
Georgetown GLOW Spring Edition
Local and national artists will show five commissioned artworks during Spring GLOW in Georgetown, through Sunday, June 27th. Presented by the Georgetown Business Improvement District, the free public art experience will be viewable by day, and brighter by night. DC artists represented in Spring GLOW 2021 include: Stephanie Mercedes; Chris Combs and David Greenfieldboyce; and Nara Park. Edwin Baruch (New York City) and Curated Creative (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) will also be featured. Each artwork location will allow for social distancing, and masks will be required. In addition to the installations, Spring GLOW programming will include in-person and virtual options – from walking tours to artist talks. Programming dates will be announced in the coming weeks at the GLOW website and throughout the three-month exhibition. Following Spring GLOW, Summer GLOW will feature three artworks that will transform Georgetown’s public alleys from July through September. GeorgetownGLOWDC.com
The Loft at Lena’s – Full Bloom
Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap’s spring theme for The Loft at Lena’s features bold and vibrant floral creations, immersing you in a mix of colorful patterns and lush textures. The design of the space also features green grass climbing the walls, paired with multi-colored ribbons and butterflies. Lena’s has also added new spring menus featuring items like strawberry & baby spinach salad, crab cakes, and spring spritzers, as well as live music performances on Thursday nights. 401 East Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA; LenasWoodFire.com
Casino Al Fresco at MGM National Harbor
Panoramic views of Northern Virginia married with the thrill of the next jackpot create a one-of-a-kind venue that can only be experienced at MGM National Harbor. The integrated resort across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. now has an outdoor gaming terrace where guests can enjoy their favorite slot games. The terrace features cocktail service from the casino floor and is home to a selection of popular games such as Dancing Drums, Buffalos and 88 Fortunes. Smoking is permitted on the outdoor gaming terrace. Its entry is located adjacent to the M life desk. For more information, please visit mgmnationalharbor.com.
Celebrate Women’s Voices with Kamala Harris Art Installation at Officina
The Wharf, in partnership with the Southwest Business Improvement District and Officina, have unveiled a large-scale, outdoor crochet art installation of US Vice President Kamala Harris in celebration of International Women’s Day. The piece is the work of the LA-based international “yarn bomber” and street artist London Kaye. This latest work featuring Vice President Harris is titled “I’m Speaking” and is her largest installation to date, spanning 40-feet in width and 20-feet in height. The art installation was created as a part of Love Across the USA, a community art initiative celebrating women’s voices. More than 150 women from across the country volunteered to participate in the installation by crocheting a square to be woven into the finished piece. The piece will be on display through Memorial Day Weekend, after which it will be moved to its permanent home. A series of menu specials will be featured at Officina for the duration of the installation with proceeds benefiting the National Center for Children and Families, a DC-based nonprofit child and family welfare agency with a commitment to serving poor, disadvantaged, abused, neglected and/or abandoned children, youth, and their families. 1120 Maine Avenue SW; wharfdc.com
Turn Up the Love “The Shrooms”: Light Installation in National Landing
National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) is partnering with Sydney-based light and design studio amigo & amigo to bring its next pop-up experience to the community – “The Shrooms.” Shrooms is an eye-catching installation made up of ten inflatable mushrooms that uses bold contrasting colored fabrics to engage visitors. The pop-ups will be illuminated in the evening, creating an immersive experience for any time of day. As part of the National Landing BID’s “Turn up the Love” campaign, The Shrooms is designed to engage the community and ignite cheer during the winter season. The initiative kicked off in December with a 10-foot tall boombox made from thousands of ornaments that played holiday music, along with three sharable standing photo frames and the more recent – “Love Bug” that popped up Valentine’s Day. 101 12th Street South, Crystal City, Arlington, VA; nationallanding.org
Rosslyn Refresh
This spring, the Rosslyn BID is launching “Rosslyn Refresh,” a campaign focused on helping Rosslyn’s residents, employees, and visitors safely get outside with events and opportunities in Rosslyn. With public parks, including a brand-new dog park, weekend flower markets, and the return of the outdoor office, O2, Rosslyn has everything participants need to shake off the winter blues, reconnect with the community, and even get a healthy dose of vitamin D. To kick-off Rosslyn Refresh, the Rosslyn BID invites the community back to its one-of-a-kind outdoor office, O2. O2 features over 20 socially distanced standing and seated desks, fully equipped with outlets and the office supplies needed to comfortably work outside. The free office space offers an inspiring atmosphere for employees looking to come back to the neighborhood or anyone in the DMV area needing a break from their home office routine. Looking to fit in a workout before heading back home? Break a sweat at one of the BID’s many fitness classes in Gateway Park. Need to stop for fresh produce and seasonal treats? Rosslyn’s farmer’s market is coming back to Central Place Plaza on May 5th. Rosslyn Refresh will also introduce the neighborhood’s first fresh flower market, and a chance to win a staycation package for two. For more information on O2, Rosslyn Refresh, and other neighborhood events, visit rosslynva.org.
Tudor Place Historic House & Garden
Tudor Place has reopened the Historic House & Garden on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m. A model of Federal-period architecture in the nation’s capital, Tudor Place shares the stories of multiple generations of Martha Washington’s descendants and the enslaved workers and servants who lived and worked here. With over 18,000 objects, including the largest Washington Collection outside of Mount Vernon, Tudor Place sits on 5 ½ acres in the heart of Georgetown. Admission is free with a timed ticket entry. One ticket offers three options: Self-guided tour of the Historic House, Garden visit, or both. To ensure visitor safety, the Historic House will be open for self-guided visits instead of the usual docent-led tours. Visitors must check in at the Visitor Center then proceed through the house on their own. Interpretive panels throughout the site will inform visitors about the history of Tudor Place. In addition, the website offers diverse resources including virtual tours, collection highlights, and garden blooms. You are encouraged to bring a picnic meal and enjoy your visit to the fullest. tudorplace.org
