The DC Traveler

It’s again time for the annual Smithsonian Kite Festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC.  
This year’s theme is Brushstrokes in the Sky, featuring the history and craftsmanship of Asian kites. 
The first kites were invented by the Chinese around 800 BC. Early kitemakers used them for all types of purposes, including measuring the wind, measuring distances, and communication.  The Chinese military started to effectively use them for communications and signaling soon thereafter.
Kites first appeared in Europe in the 1600s and was mostly limited to a children’s play activity.
In the U.S. colonies in June of 1750, …read more

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Discover the beautiful world of butterflies as they flutter around your head at the new Butterfly Pavilion oasis at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.
The new pavilion will open today, with over 300 live butterflies.  
In the adjacent gallery, Partners in Evolution teaches how animals and plants co-exist through depending on each other for food, protection and pollination.
This is the second butterfly park or habitat in the Washington, DC area, the other is located at Brookside Gardens in suburban Wheaton, MD.
The new Pavilion at the Natural History will open on Friday, February 15th, …read more

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The Smithsonian’s Discovery Theater, is just for kids. For 25 years it has been presenting fun, innovative, educational, and entertaining live performances for kids and their parents. Staging thirty productions each year, the shows feature dancers, actors, musicians, puppets and storytellers in performances that present tales from around the globe.
Their July schedule includes:

Under the Sea – Sea creatures and ocean life by naturalist Andrew Wilson.
Summer Africa – Celebrate summer… Ugandan-style!
Robert Strong…Nothing Up His Sleeve! – Magic, juggling and comedy for kids.
The Whatza-Puppet Show – Master puppeteers create puppets out of just about anything and then put on a show.

Smithsonian’s Discovery …read more

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Every Friday evening you can enjoy live jazz, cocktails, a bite to eat and even a movie at the Museum of Natural History. 
The current movie is the comedy, Night at the Museum staring Ben Stiller.  In this fantasy pic, Stiller takes a job as a night watchman at New York’s Museum of Natural History…and things come alive. While the critic’s have given the move only average  reviews, it would make for a great family theme night or theme date. 
 
 
The schedule of musical performers is available online and a special Latin Jazz night is scheduled on Friday, March 2nd.
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian …read more

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Camera…Scanner.
Last week, I wrote about a great photographic exhibit of award-winning nature photographs on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
 

In the gallery next door, is a rather unique exhibit of stunning photographic(?) images of flowers.  The reason for the question mark is that these images are not taken with a camera, but with a digital desktop scanner.
 
Transitions: Photographs by Robert Creamer is an exhibit of 39 photographs and a brief video presentation on how he creates these dramatic and one-of-a-kind images.
 
Creamer, a professional photographer for over 30 years, set down his camera and brought his subjects – flowers, …read more

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Spectacular and award-winning images of nature are on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.  The exhibit displays selected photographs from the 2006 Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards and the National Wildlife Photography Awards competitions.
From over 24,000 entries, the winners represent the best in wildlife and nature through the art of photography.
     
Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History
10th Street and Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20560
Admission – all and Smithsonian museums are free
Hours – Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through March 25th
Nearest Metro subway station – Smithsonian Station (use the Mall exit) – Blue and Orange …read more

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The National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC has on display several of the world’s most famous rare gemstones, including the famous (and supposedly cursed) 45 carat Hope Diamond and the 330 carat Star of Asia Sapphire.
But one of the often overlooked gemstone is the vibrant 23 carat Burmese red ruby called the Carmen Lúcia ruby.
Rubies of this type are rarely over 20 carets and this one is one of the best examples in the world.
Donated to the Smithsonian by a wealthy businessman in memory of his wife, Carmen Lúcia, this rare stone is set in a platinum ring …read more

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