museum

Newseum Announces ‘Anchorman: The Exhibit’ to Open November 14, 2013

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

On November 14, 2013, the Newseum, in partnership with Paramount Pictures, will open “Anchorman: The Exhibit,” featuring props, costumes and footage from the 2004 hit comedy “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” prior to the release of its highly anticipated sequel “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” from Paramount Pictures on December 20.

The original film, written by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay, directed by McKay, and starring Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and David Koechner, takes a comic look at a 1970s-era television newsroom and the legendary local anchorman who ruled it until a female reporter arrived to challenge the all-male news team. “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” reunites Ferrell and McKay with the original cast.

Included in “Anchorman: The Exhibit” will be costumes worn by the Channel 4 Evening News team and a number of original props from the movie, including Ron Burgundy’s jazz flute and the whip used by rival anchorman Arturo Mendez during the film’s memorable fight scene between rival news teams. The exhibit also includes a re-creation of the KVWN-TV anchor desk and news set where visitors can pose for photo ops.

“For millions of viewers, the news anchor represents the authority and credibility of television news. But anchormen and women also are popular targets for pop culture laughs,” said Cathy Trost, vice president of exhibits and programs at the Newseum. “The exhibit explores the reality behind the humor of “Anchorman” and tracks the rise of personality-driven news formats in the 1970s.”

Visitors to the exhibit also will have an opportunity to step in front of the camera and participate in an Anchorman-themed TV spot at one of the Newseum’s Be a TV Reporter stations. With lead anchor Ron Burgundy providing a snappy introduction, budding reporters can find out if they have what it takes to become a member of the Channel 4 News team. The exhibit also will feature clips from the movie and special commentary by Will Ferrell.

“I’m literally trapped in a glass case of emotion,” said Ron Burgundy, commenting on his inclusion in the museum’s exhibit.

“Anchorman: The Exhibit” will be on display at the Newseum through Aug. 31, 2014.

New Series – Museum Minute by Elle O’Flaherty Vol 1 – Hillwood Estate

By Prince Of Petworth

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Museum Minute is written by Elle O’Flaherty. Elle lives in Mt. Pleasant.

Outdoor Movie Screening at Hillwood Estate on Friday

Have you been to Hillwood Estate? This Friday night might be the perfect time to go when Hillwood hosts Divas Outdoors, a screening of Queen Bee in conjunction with Capitol Pride week.  Drinks will be for sale and competitive picnicking is on tap with a prize for the best/most lavish set-up.  Tickets are $15 ($10 under 18) and include entry to the mansion [4155 Linnean Avenue, NW]

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Snuggled up against Rock Creek Park, Hillwood would make a great daytime date or interesting brunch spot as the cafe serves lunch and adult beverages.  I can’t vouch for the food, but it’d certainly be off the beaten path.  The lavish grounds and mansion are a photographer’s paradise with a 50’s era Mad Men-style putting green, Japanese garden, Russian house, and creepily elaborate pet cemetery, among many others.  Inside, the mansion is a monument to what a person buys when she’s run out of things to buy.  If super lavish gardens and Faberge eggs aren’t your thing, you might want to skip this one.  Otherwise, this is an often overlooked gem that’s worth it for a walk around the grounds alone.

Two Indoor, 9-hole Courses of Mini Golf Now Open at the National Building Museum

By Prince Of Petworth

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From an email:

WHAT
This summer, the National Building Museum brings back its popular indoor Mini Golf exhibition. The expanded attraction features two nine-hole courses, with all new holes designed and built by leading Washington-area architects, landscape architects, and contractors. The courses explore the architects’ and designers’ ideas for “Building the Future,” with twists and turns sure to challenge golfers young and old.

WHERE
National Building Museum
401 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(Judiciary Square Metro, Red Line)

WHEN
Memorial Day (May 27, 2013) to Labor Day (September 2, 2013) during Museum hours. The Museum will also feature six “Mini Golf Late Night” evenings throughout the summer during which Mini Golf will remain open until 9 pm: June 6, June 27, July 11, July 24, August 8, and August 22.

Corcoran Museum Free This Saturday and Every Saturday over the Summer

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user Rukasu1

From a press release:

This Saturday, May 18, the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design in Washington, D.C. [500 17th Street NW] will participate in Art Museum Day, an initiative of the Association of Art Museum directors by providing visitors FREE admission to the Corcoran, Washington’s oldest museum.

Additionally, the Corcoran will offer free admission on Saturdays starting Memorial Day weekend and lasting all summer long, as part of its Free Summer Saturday promotion.

AAMD’s Art Museum Day coincides with International Museum Day, organized annually around the world by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). Participation by AAMD member museums emphasizes the lasting impact art museums have on their communities, highlights the value of visual arts in society, and provides opportunities for audiences to participate in wide-ranging programs and share their encounters with works of art.

There are many reasons to love the Corcoran, and free admission this Saturday is just one of them.

National Aquarium to Close Sept. 30th Due to Renovations at the Commerce Building

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user egr5005

From the National Aquarium:

The Board of Directors of the National Aquarium, Washington, DC, has announced that, due to necessary renovations in the Department of Commerce building, the facility will be closing on September 30, 2013. The General Services Administration (GSA) requires National Aquarium to vacate its current space in the building by March 2014.

This September 30 closing date allows National Aquarium, Washington, DC, to meet GSA’s March deadline using a timeline that accommodates its main priority: the needs of its animals and staff. The collection of more than 1,500 animals will be transitioned to new homes at either National Aquarium, Baltimore, or at other accredited aquariums.

“Here at the National Aquarium, we value our DC venue’s rich history as the nation’s first public aquarium, and we are committed to maintaining a presence in the capital, where a public aquarium has existed since the late 1800s,” said Tamika Langley Tremaglio, National Aquarium, Washington, DC, Board Chair.

A task force of National Aquarium Board members is exploring opportunities and funding options that would support this goal. The closure will not impact the operation of National Aquarium, Baltimore, one of the nation’s leading aquariums.

Established in 1873, the National Aquarium, Washington, DC, first opened its doors to visitors in 1885 with a collection of 180 species of fish, reptiles and other aquatic animals.

Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue Kicks Off at the West Lawn of the National Building Museum

By Prince Of Petworth

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401 F Street, NW

A few weeks ago we learned Hill Country’s Backyard BBQ was coming to the west lawn of the Building Museum at 4th and F St, NW. The BBQ operates Wednesday through Friday from 4–11 pm, Saturdays from Noon–11 pm and Sundays from Noon–9 pm. I was able to attend the kickoff last Friday. As a fan of the brick and mortar Hill Country located at 410 7th St, NW – I love this new outdoor option. For me, this is all about drinking cold beers and listening to live music outdoors (note – I believe the live music will only be Friday and Saturdays.) For those who work in the area this is going to be a phenomenal happy hour spot. Anyone else stop by yet?

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Lots more photos after the jump. (more…)

Streets of Washington Presents – From Masonic Temple to Women’s Art Museum

By Prince Of Petworth

Streets of Washington, written by John DeFerrari, covers some of DC’s most interesting buildings and history. John is the author of Historic Restaurants of Washington, D.C.: Capital Eats, to be published this September by the History Press, Inc. John is also the author of Lost Washington DC.

One of the stateliest private buildings in Washington is the old Masonic Temple at 13th Street and New York Avenue NW, completed in 1908 and now home to the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Like other Masonic temples, the imposing structure was built with unique cross purposes; it was meant to be both a public forum for lectures and performances as well as a private place for the fraternal order’s meetings and rituals. Since the 1980s, this distinctive Renaissance Revival palace has had a remarkably fitting second life as a museum, and now the NMWA is looking to preserve the building for many more years with much-needed roof repairs. As a participant in the Partners in Preservation program, the museum will be hosting a festive open house this Sunday, May 5, from 12 to 5, offering a great, free opportunity to see this extraordinary building up close and appreciate the art it now displays.

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Photo by the author.

The sharp-eyed visitor will notice decorative touches denoting the building’s original use as a Masonic Temple. Freemasonry is a centuries-old tradition descended from medieval stone masons’ guilds, although modern masons are a strictly fraternal order dedicated to benevolent acts. Masons organize themselves into lodges, which are chartered by regional Grand Lodges. DC got its own Grand Lodge in the mid 19th century. In 1870 it built a temple, still standing, at 9th and F Streets NW, but by the 1890s, with 49 Masonic lodges chartered throughout the city, the old hall was no longer adequate. The Masons resolved to build a magnificent new temple at a suitably prestigious location.

The site selection committee received some 20 offers for sites all around the city, and in 1899 they chose the distinctive trapezoidal corner lot formed by New York Avenue, 13th Street, and H Street NW, a prominent location that would allow unobstructed vistas of the new temple on three sides. The lot, once a knoll with a clump of trees known as “Seven Oaks,” cost $115,000.

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Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue Coming to the West Lawn of the National Building Museum

By Prince Of Petworth

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401 F Street, NW

We first heard about it last year but now it’s really happening! From a press release:

Hill Country Barbecue Market Washington, D.C. is pleased to announce the opening of Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue, a unique branded outdoor experience featuring Hill Country’s award-winning Texas-style barbecue, ice-cold Shiner beers, and signature cocktails on the spacious and picturesque West Lawn of the National Building Museum (401 F Street, NW; www.nbm.org; 202.272.2448). Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue is scheduled to open on May 3, 2013, with a live performance by fun and feisty Americana rock n’ rollers, the Kalob Griffin Band. Throughout the spring and summer, Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue will also feature live American roots music on Friday and Saturday nights, presented by Hill Country Live, Hill Country’s Austin-inspired music program.

“Hill Country Barbecue is excited to be teaming up with the National Building Museum to create the ultimate backyard barbecue for Washingtonians who love to be outside when the weather is warm,” said Jim Foss, Hill Country Barbecue Market’s director of operations. “There’s really no experience that can top a night hanging out on the lawn with friends, having some delicious barbecue with an ice-cold beer, and listening to music during the summer!”

“Hill Country Barbecue will energize our West Lawn, a green space in the heart of downtown Washington, and will complement the Museum’s Mini Golf exhibition and other ‘Summer Block Party’ offerings,” said Chase W. Rynd, executive director of the National Building Museum.

Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue menu will include some of Hill Country Barbecue Market’s signature dishes, as well as a Barbecue Chicken Sandwich and Barbecue Beef Sandwich, and the brand-new Hill Country Hot Links, a house-made spicy and sweet frankfurter-style sausage.
The menu will also include picnic-friendly sides like Confetti Coleslaw, Potato Salad, and Mini Skillet Cornbread. A selection of Shiner beers, including the Bock, Light Blonde, Premium and Ruby Redbird, as well as hand-crafted cocktails like the Hill Country Margarita, seasonal fruit Sangria, and Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue signature cocktail, the Porch Swing, made with gin, strawberry simple syrup and fresh lemon juice for a refreshing cocktail you can sip outside all day. Rounding out Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue menu are non-alcoholic options including fresh-squeezed Lemonade and Iced Tea.

Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue will operate Wednesday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. to catch the after-work, happy hour crowd during the week as well as museum visitors on weekends. Additionally, Hill Country’s Backyard Barbecue will be available as a premiere outdoor, private-event venue for corporate events, summer associate parties, fundraisers, birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, weddings, and more. The National Building Museum is open to the public from 10 am – 5 pm Monday through Saturday, and 11 am – 5 pm on Sundays.

Checking Out What’s New at Some of the Smithsonian Museums

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user mosley.brian

The following was written by Sarah Katz-Hyman. Sarah is a student at University of Maryland and lives in College Park.

Museum Musings

I visited some of my favorite museums (only three on this day) and here are my “oldy but goody” exhibits and “new and exciting.” This list is by no means exhaustive, so please share some of your favorite exhibits from these museums and others.

National Air and Space Museum

Oldy but Goody: The Wright Brothers & The Invention of the Aerial Age

The Wright Brother’s famous first flight occurred in 1903, and now in 2013 we have another rover on Mars, satellites that are reaching the end of our solar system and the ability to fly cross country in about five hours. This exhibit is classic and humbling to think about just how far flight and technology has come.

New and Exciting: Moving Beyond Earth

Who hasn’t thought about being an astronaut for at least one second (literally everyone has, especially if you just read that). This exhibit helps visitors imagine the life of an astronaut through hands-on stations, live lectures and video.

Note: Although I didn’t go this trip, if you have are able to visit the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly you should definitely go. It’s a huge hanger with a ton of cool and important planes throughout history. Highlights for me are the Enola Gay, the Concorde and of course the Space Shuttle Discovery – all three pieces important to the history of aviation, culture and politics.

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New Series: City Kids – The Building Museum

By Prince Of Petworth

City Kids is a new series written by Caroline. Caroline lives in Takoma, DC.

The National Building Museum is often overlooked. In a city packed to the gills with free museums, why pay for one? Especially when I’ve wandered through in the past; it’s a pretty building, but doesn’t seem to have a lot going on at first glance.

That first glance is deceiving. Any parent or caregiver who has been cooped up with a little one can tell you the value of having a safe, interesting, and large space to let that little one blow off some steam. The Building Museum is a convenient go-to.

The main atrium of the Building Museum is ornate and cavernous. It’s a warm winter respite with enough space for kids and office lunchers to each do their thing without bothering the other. When we went on a Thursday, there were foam blocks to play with in addition to open running space and a cool fountain.

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