Get Out!🌸 The 2025 Cherry Blossom Festival Has Some Fun Activities This Weekend, March 22 & 23 🌸

by Peggy Robin

It's the first big weekend of the CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL! 

We're still about a week away from PEAK BLOOM, but that shouldn't diminish your enjoyment of the Cherry Blossom Festival events set for this weekend:

You can find links to all the events at https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

Today's "Get Out!" column is highlighting just one event for Saturday, March 22, and one for Sunday, March 23. 

🌸🌸🌸  🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸  🌸🌸🌸

Saturday, March 22

SAAM Cherry Blossom Celebration

Celebrate the cherry blossoms with SAAM! Begin the day on the museum’s 8th and F Street Plaza (weather permitting) with a taiko drumming performance by Nen Daiko. The program continues inside in the Kogod Courtyard for Japanese pop, boogie, and more with Les The DJ. Enjoy other performances while children (ages 12 and younger) make cherry-blossom themed crafts. Seasonal treats are available for purchase from the Courtyard Café. A spring-themed scavenger hunt through SAAM’s galleries extends the fun. Photo by Norwood Photography.

Schedule of Performances:

• 11:30 a.m. – Nen Daiko taiko drumming, F Street Plaza (weather permitting) 
• 12:00 p.m. – Les The DJ, Kogod Courtyard 
• 12:30 p.m. – Misako Ballet Company, Kogod Courtyard 
• 1:00 p.m. – Les The DJ, Kogod Courtyard 
• 2 p.m. – Misako Ballet Company, Kogod Courtyard 
• 2:30 p.m. – Nen Daiko taiko drumming, Kogod Courtyard 

Closest Metro: Gallery Place, 9th street exit

🌸🌸🌸  🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸  🌸🌸🌸

Sunday, March 23

Cherry Blossom Daruma at Anthem Row

Spring is knocking and Downtown D.C. is ready to bloom! The Cherry Blossom Daruma at Anthem Row—a 10-foot-wide Japanese daruma doll aerial art installation adorned with intricate cherry blossom motifs—is set to wow and welcome visitors of all ages to experience spring in the city for the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival. 

When: Sunday, March 23 · 12 - 4pm EDT 

Where: Anthem Row 800 K Street Northwest Washington, DC 20001 Map

Here's a short video that explains what DARUMA are, and what to expect at the Daruma event at Anthem Row:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91lshulroXM  

Event Experience includes:

• 🥁 Taiko Drumming Performance: Feel the beat of spring with Mark H Taiko, a taiko drumming ensemble.
• 👘 Spring Kimono Fashion Show: Witness beautifully designed cherry blossom kimonos by Atelier Kanawa, followed by a kimono dressing demonstration showcasing the artistry of tying an Obi sash.
• 💫 Aerial Cirque Performance: Marvel at an acrobatic display of movement and aerial performance by Cirque-tacular.
• 🎨 The Kodomo: Bring your little ones to the dedicated kid's corner. Let their creativity run loose with a Daruma coloring sheet and origami-making.
• 🎎 Mini Daruma Doll Giveaways: We know you won’t get enough of the Cherry Blossom Daruma installation, so there will be mini Daruma doll giveaways for you to take home.
• 🍢 *Kushiyaki: Indulge in authentic Japanese flavors with sizzling grilled skewers.
• 🍣 *Sushi Tsukuri: Join a sushi-making experience –very limited – brought to you by a skilled chef from Love, Makoto.
• 🍸 *Japanese Sake Tasting: Sample some Japanese sake –Joto Junmai Ginjo, Amabuki Sakura Fubuki, and Mutsu Hassen "Pink Label" Ginjo– as well as the "Blossom Mist," The Westin DC Downtown's signature cherry blossom Empress gin drink.
• 🎵 Global Sounds The experience will close with a lively, crowd-pleasing mix of K-POP and global sounds spun by Les The DJ.

*While the event is free and open to the public, the sushi-making and sake experiences will be available for a suggested nominal donation. All food, beverage, and giveaways are available while supplies last. Alcoholic sampling will be available for attendees over 21 years old.

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The "Get Out!: events list is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: Last Minute Rescue (Or So We Hope!)

 by Peggy Robin 

What a nerve-wracking roller coaster we've been on! Just when it looked like our city's operating budget was being thrown over a cliff, and so many of the Senators that we thought were our friends suddenly seemed to be cowering in the Senate cloakroom, afraid to do battle for us, a noble few stepped up and advanced a bill to pull us back from the precipice -- that is, let us keep our firefighters, EMTs, and police officers on the job, prevent the removal of teachers from the classroom mid-year, and ward off deep cuts to essential programs -- kindly allowing us to to use OUR OWN MONEY as we deem necessary for our own well-being.

Of course, as observed by CM Christina Henderson, it's not over yet. The House must come back after their spring break to approve the bill. So there still could be a bumpy ride ahead.

I take this pause in the drama to thank our Council Members and Mayor who sprang into action, mobilizing citizens from all walks of life to rally, lobby, and swarm the halls of Congress to defend our city from this existential threat. I was especially moved by all the schoolchildren (and their parents!) who showed up at the Capitol to make sure the Senators saw the faces of the people who would be hurt by the House bill. 

For those who have been overwhelmed with the speed of the action or confused about what just went down, I recommend this Instagram video fromCouncilmember Henderson, a true leader in DC's defense.  

 

For a good news recap of how the Wile E. Coyote-like run off the cliff was averted, I recommend this news-clip/article from WTOP: https://wtop.com/dc/2025/03/a-major-first-step-local-leaders-react-to-senates-unanimous-approval-of-dc-budget-bill/ 

 

Huge thanks to Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins,Vice Chair Patty Murray, and Senator Chris Van Hollen, who co-drafted it, along with Senators Angela Alsobrooks, Tim Kaine, and Mark Warner, who worked hard to get it through the Senate by the end of the day. Whew!

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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! Friday Edition: It's Pi Day! That Means Pizza Deals!

 by Peggy Robin

Today the math nerd's favorite day*: It's 3.14 - π -that is to say, PI, making today PI DAY.

While it's not in the same league with that green-beer-swilling festival 3 days later, it does give area pizza sellers and bakeries a nice marketing opportunity -- discounts and special promotions on pizza pies and dessert pies all day long.

Rather than list them here, I refer you to the Washington Post's coverage of the subject: Where to find discounted (or free!) pizza and pie on Pi Day around D.C. And for those of you boycotting the Washington Post, here's a video clip + online article from News4Washington: https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/all-things-circles-3-14-deals-and-fun-events-for-pi-day-in-the-dc-area/3864250/.

* Some of you may ask: "What about those math nerds whose favorite day is Fibonacci Day?" That's Nov 23 (11 23) for those of you non-math-nerds who promptly forgot about the Fibonacci sequence that you were taught sometime in middle school. Well, it doesn't lend itself to promotional sales, so it just can't compete.

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays, but Pi Day is so cool, it calls for a special supplemental edition.

Get Out!🌸 The 2025 Cherry Blossom Festival gets underway on Friday, March 14! 🌸

by Peggy Robin

 

What's the best thing coming to Washington to help take your mind off all the bad stuff?

 

🌸🌸🌸 CHERRY BLOSSOMS! 🌸🌸🌸

 

Get started on the main page: https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/

 

My pick for the best thing of the entire 2-week festival, is the race named for everyone's favorite little cherry tree, STUMPY, who gave his life so that the seawall could be rebuilt and many trees could be saved! (May his many clones live long and prosper!) It's....

 

Stumpy’s Petals & Paddles Race  

Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 4:30 PM

at the Tidal Basin, 1501 Maine Ave SW

Free for spectators

Tickets for competitors: $100 for 2 people, additional $20 for extra rider

Buy tickets: https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/boatingindc-tidalbasin/items/599484/calendar/2025/03/?flow=no&full-items=yes

 

Stumpy’s Petals and Paddles Race at the Tidal Basin promises an exciting and vibrant kick-off to spring and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. This event invites participants of all ages to race pedal boats across the iconic Tidal Basin, a beautiful body of water surrounded by the famous monuments and memorials.

 

Racers will experience the serene yet exhilarating atmosphere of the Tidal Basin, navigating their boats past the delicate blossoms that attract visitors from around the world annually. The race features both timed heats and friendly competitions, with awards for the fastest boats per age group and best dressed participants.

TRANSPORTATION: Parking is limited in the District, especially during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s highly recommended that visitors use DC’s alternative transportation modes like Capital Bikeshare, DC Streetcar, Scooters, Metrobus, and Metrorail to make the most of their experience.

 

For Metrorail: Get off at the following stations: Smithsonian or L’Enfant Plaza

 

For all the other events of the 2-week festival, go to:

https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/all-events/ 

 

Here are a few of the best bets of the Cherry Blossom Festival starting tomorrow, March 14 through Thursday, March 20:

 

Friday, March 14: PINK TIE PARTY - DC’S ULTIMATE SPRING BASH 

https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/event/pink-tie-party/

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-pink-tie-party-tickets-1062864409059?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

March 20-23, 2025 • Art in Bloom DC 2025 at Anderson House

Theme: Cherry Blossom Dreams: A Springtime Celebration

More information and tickets: https://www.artinbloomdc.com/ 

 

March 20 - 27, 2025 • Cherry Blossom Magic at the Museum of Illusions DC 6-9PM

CityCenter DC, 927 H St NW

More information and tickets: https://moiwashington.com/current-event/join-us-for-paint-play-and-pour-at-the-museum-of-illusions-dc/

 

Come back to the "Get Out!" column on Thursday, March 20, for Cherry Blossom events that start on Friday, March 21 or take place on the weekend of March 22-23.

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The "Get Out" events column is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays

Still Life with Robin: With Daylight Saving Time Beginning at 2am Sunday

 by Peggy Robin

Here's your reminder: Before you go to bed tonight, remember to set your clocks ahead one hour for the switch to (audible groan) Daylight Saving Time. 

I've been campaigning against DST for many years, and have used my Still Life with Robin column to grumble about it five times, usually in the column that comes out on the day before it starts. (See Still Life with Robin, March 2024, 2023, 2019, 2018, and 2014  Plus two column by Listserv co-founder Bill Adler: 2011 and 2010.)

 

In a few of those past columns I held out some hope that Congress would finally put an end to all this clock-a-mamie foolishness. 

 

Shortly before Trump began his second term in office, he pledged to end these twice-yearly time resets, calling DST "inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation.”

 

If anything could make me change my mind on this issue, it's being on the same side of a public policy question as President Trump.

 

But then just two days ago, he flip-flopped and has now backed away from it. (See: Trump blinks on ending daylight saving time. The president had vowed to eliminate the century-old practice of “springing forward” and “falling back” but is now acknowledging the complicated politics." --Washington Post

 

Now that Trump has backed away from ending DST by executive fiat, I thought it might be a good time to reevaluate this issue, strictly on the merits. And what better way to do that than to hear the pros and cons debated by experts who have studied DST and its effects?

 

So, for everyone still on the fence about this -- or for anyone who's chosen a side but is still willing to listen to the best arguments for the other side with an open mind -- I present this NPR-backed podcast, an episode in John Donvan's "Open to Debate" series): 

 

OPEN TO DEBATE Is it Time to End Daylight Savings Time?

No matter what side you're on now, you still need to reset any analog clocks and watches that you own -- or finally get rid of them and use internet-linked time-keeping devices that make the swtich for you at exactly 2 o'clock on Sunday morning.

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Satrudays.

Get Out! It's Nowruz, Persian New Year Festival at National Museum of Asian Art, Sunday, March 16, 11am-4pm

by Peggy Robin

Nowruz Family Festival at NMAA

Sunday, March 16, 2025

11:00 am–4:00 pm

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Freer Gallery of Art

National Museum of Asian Art

1050 Independence Avenue SW

Honor the new year at our annual Nowruz Family Day. Come dressed in your Nowruz best and welcome spring with free attractions for all ages, including storytelling, hands-on activities, and more. Persian sweets and food will be available for purchase. Learn about Nowruz.

View Event Details

Register in advance to make sure you get the best experience. Some activities have a limited capacity, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis.

A note about construction and accessibility: The 12th St. sidewalk that runs north and south between Jefferson Dr. and Independence Ave. will be closed due to construction. We encourage you to use the Enid A. Haupt Garden to get from Independence Ave. to Jefferson Dr., and vice versa. Find more accessibility details.

Performances

All performance locations have limited capacity, and access will not be allowed once capacity is reached.

• Storytelling with Xanthe
  
  Ripley Center, Discovery Theater, level B3
  
  12:30, 2:00, and 3:30 p.m.
  
• Musical Performances by Kimia Hesabi and Erin Murphy Snedecor
  
  West Building, Meyer Auditorium, level G
  
  12:45, 2:00, and 3:45 p.m.
  

Activities

Special thanks to Gandomak Children Persian School and our backgammon community players.

• Haft Sin Table
  
  

  West Building, North Lobby
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Haft Sin Table
  
  East Building, Gallery 30
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Scavenger Hunt and Storybook Reading
  
  West Building, Galleries 3 and 4
  
  11 a.m.–1 p.m.
  
• Wish Tree
  
  West Building, South Corridor
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Backgammon and Chess
  
  West Building, South Corridor
  
  12–3 p.m.
  
• Calligraphy by Alibaba Awrang
  
  East Building, B1 Lobby
  
  11 a.m.–1 p.m. and  2–4 p.m.
  

Crafts

Special thanks to Iranian Community School, FarsiSpeakingKids, Gandomak Children Persian School, and Nina Mortazavi.

• Postcard and Nasir al-Mulk Mosque Suncatcher Craft by Gandomak School
  
  West Building, Freer Conference Room, level GR
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Threads of Iran: Regional Clothing Craft by Nina Mortazavi
  
  East Building, Gallery 27
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Printing in Persian: Linocut Printmaking with Kucheh Art Studio + Shop
  
  East Building, Gallery 27
  
  11 a.m.-4 p.m
  
• Hyacinth Craft by Iranian Community School/FarsiSpeakingKids
  
  East Building, ImaginAsia Classroom, level B2
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  
• Haft Sin Coloring
  
  West Building, North Corridor
  
  11 a.m.–1 p.m.
  
• Haft Sin Coloring with Iranian Community School/FarsiSpeakingKids
  
  East Building, Gallery 30
  
  11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  

Tours and Talks

• Docent-Led Spotlight Talks
  
  West Building, Galleries 3–4
  
  1–2 p.m., 2–3 p.m., 3–4 p.m.
  
• Docent-Led Spotlight Talks
  
  West Building, Gallery 12
  
  1–2 p.m., 2–3 p.m., 3–4 p.m.
  
• Tours with Curator Antonietta Catanzariti
  
  East Building, Gallery 21
  
  1–2 p.m. and 2:30–3:30 p.m.
  

Food for Sale

Sales until supplies last. Lines for food vendors end at 3:30 p.m.

• Moby Dick
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3037
  
  12–4 p.m.
  
• KooKoo DC
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3035
  
  12–4 p.m.
  
• Kandu Pastry
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3037
  
  12–4 p.m.
  
• The Persian Table
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3031
  
  12–4 p.m.
  
• Afghan Chai
  
  Ripley Center, Room 3031
  
  12–4 p.m.
  

More information: https://asia.si.edu/whats-on/events/celebrations/nowruz/

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The "Get Out" event of the week is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: A Letter to the Washington Post from List Member Marie Dressel....and a Shout-out to Ms Drissel from the Moderator

 by Peggy Robin

Yesterday, I happened across a copy of a letter that long-time DC resident Marie Dressel sent to the Washington Post to cancel her subscription. The person who publicized Ms. Drissel's letter was Tom Sherwood, formerly a reporter for News4Washington and currently the co-host (with Kojo Nnamdi) of WAMU's DC Politics Hour, 

Here is that post:

Tom Sherwood @tomsherwood:

Calling Jeff Bezos “a disgraceful owner” of the Post, longtime DC civic activist Marie Drissel, a 5th generation Washingtonian, writes publisher Will Lewis, saying she has cancelled her family subscription.

I know it will be a big adjustment to wake up in the morning wthout a big daily newspaper on the doorstep. Even with the paper's about-face on its mission to serve democracy, changed by the owner into a mission to boost his stated twin goals of serving "free markets and personal liberties" -- and its drastic pruning of local coverage, its excision of whole sections, and ongoing dismissals/ firings or forced resignations of so much of its award-winning staff, (see note, below*), it still fills a role that no other news source occupies in our capital city. Despite everything, it will still be hard to live without it. 

E-newsletters, blogs and local discussion forums, including our own beloved Listserv, are not enough. They are too various and scattered, too niche-y -- and who has time to read so many separate Substacks and Patreons? I want to acknowledge the sacrifice Ms Drissel is making to register her protest. 

 

Her letter also gives me an opportunity to recognize the contribution she's made over the years -- all 18 of them! -- as a participating member of Listserv community. She hasn't been a terribly frequent poster, but each and every post she's made has been helpful in some way.

I compiled this sampling:

• Advice on appealing your tax assessment
  
• Recommending an upholsterer
  
• Seeking laptops for a DC high school student, a recent refugee from war-ravaged Chad
  
• Notifying the Listserv that 2 other long-time DC residents & Listserv members, Judy & Gary Kopff, had recently been honored by the DC Council with a proclamation thanking them for their years of volunteer work in the city.
  
• Tips on how to make sure the Office of Tax & Revenue logs in your tax return as filed on time
  
• How to protest overcharges on a utility bill
  
• Giving away Mielle vaccuum accessories
  
• Recommending a cell phone with affordable service in the UK and elsewhere
  

Thank you, Ms. Drissel!

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

* Weird postscript: The April Fool's joke for 2023 was a "Still Life with Robin" column announcing some significant changes coming to the Washington Post, like cancelling more sections and features and firing staff writers and replacing them with AI bots. It was supposed to be funny. So much of what was being made fun of has come to pass that it now feels more like gloom-and-doom prophecy than a parody.