Get Out! It;s the 2025 Lotus & Water Lily Festival - Friday, July 18th - Sunday, July 20th, 10am-8pm

 by Peggy Robin

2025 Lotus & Water Lily Festival

Friday, July 18th through Sunday, July 20th

10 am to 8 pm

The garden is an interconnected web of life. Whether for their medicinal and edible qualities, or for their beauty and cultural symbolism, people have admired lotuses and lilies for millennia. This year’s festival is a celebration of the connections between animals, plants, the environment and our community.

FRIDAY Morning Programs

• 10 am–10:45 am: Kids Yoga w/ Our Movement Yoga™ (R)
  • Join us for a fun outdoor yoga class designed just for kids! Blending mindful movement, breathwork, and playful exploration, this class helps children build body awareness, balance, and focus. Perfect for ages 7–12; no experience required! Adults are welcome to participate alongside their children. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one—there will be a limited number of extras available.
• 10 am–2 pm: Curiosity Corner: Crafts, Facts & Fun!
  • Dive into a world of creativity and discovery with hands-on crafts, interactive exhibits, and exciting trivia for kids of all ages!

FRIDAY Afternoon & Evening Programs

• 5 pm–6 pm: Guided Outdoor Journaling w/ Ashleigh (R)
  • This guided outdoor journaling session helps participants slow down, tune into their emotions, and gain clarity through nature-inspired reflection. We will go through a grounding and sensory awareness exercise, then do a journaling prompt with a reflection exercise.
• 5 pm–6:45 pm: Forest Bathing w/ Sage (R)
  • Participate in a Forest Bathing saunter guided by certified Nature and Forest Therapy instructor J. Sage Raindancer. Meander through the Kenilworth Aquatic Garden’s paths and ponds, providing a backdrop to prime your senses and observe nature differently. Explore and interact with the ponds with childlike curiosity and awe while taking the time to experience the therapeutic benefits of nature through forest bathing.
• 5 pm–6 pm: Lotus Garden Scavenger Hunt
• 6 pm– 6:45 pm: Guzheng Performance (Traditional Chinese Zither)
• 7 pm–8 pm: Outdoor Jazz Performance by the Washington Conservatory Jazz Players
  • Set among blooming lotus blossoms and serene water lilies, this open-air jazz performance will feature an all-star jazz quintet and guest vocalist, blending soulful melodies and high-energy improvisation in celebration of one of DC’s most beloved summer traditions.

SATURDAY Morning Programs

• 10:00 am–11:15 am: Reiki Inspired Gemstone Jewelry-Making  w/ Lisette (R)
  • Learn how to create jewelry using wire, gemstone beads, and tools that you can easily find in craft stores or online. The intention behind the workshop is to introduce fun and creative ways to relieve stress and support mental health through art. We use colorful gemstones and metal to form jewelry that participants are excited to wear and share!
• 10:00 am–11:15 am: Pause & Bloom: Movement & Journaling w/ Laine (D)
  • Begin with a brief intention-setting practice in the gardens before being guided into a restful Yoga Nidra meditation. Participants are invited to bring a journal for optional reflection after the practice, using simple writing prompts to capture what emerged during the session.

SATURDAY Afternoon & Evening Programs

• 11 am: Rhythms of Asia: Cultural Dance Showcase
  • Experience the vibrant traditions of Asia through dance! Local cultural groups will perform traditional dances from Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Sri Lanka, and Korea, celebrating the rich heritage and artistry of each culture.
• 12:15 pm: Kyungsoo Dan (Korean Traditional Arts)
  • This year, we’re honored to welcome Kyungsoo Dan, a traditional Korean Samulnori percussion quartet, to the festival. Traveling all the way from Korea, they will share dynamic performances of drumming, dance, and song, celebrating the rich rhythms and culture of Korean heritage.
• 1 pm–2 pm: Ethiopian Dance with Bethlehem
  • Bethlehem is an author, dancer of seven Ethiopian dance forms, dynamic speaker, and  Wellness Coach, and the visionary founder of Kinet Bet—a movement dedicated to bridging culture, wellness, and connection. Come experience fun of the whole body engagement of Ethiopian dance from head to toe!
• 2 pm–3 pm: Fashion Show
  • See the incredible talents of fashion designers in the community.
• 3 pm–4 pm: La Jeni & José: Interactive Flamenco Music and Dance Experience
  • Jen Graham, a multidisciplinary movement educator and professional dancer is joined by performance partner José Moreno, Flamenco dancer, guitarist and singer to present, La Jeni & José: Live interactive Flamenco music and dance performance inviting audience participation.
• 4 pm–5 pm: Latin Dance Session with Angela
  • Angela Ingram, folklore educator and professional Afro-Latin dancer and instructor, believes the essence of dance as music personified, filling the void when words falter. Join Angela in an invigorating, fun and audience engaging Latin Dance session.
• 5 pm–6 pm: Sol Y Rumba – Live Latin Band
  • Established in 1993 by singer-songwriter Maria Isolina, Sol y Rumba stands as a beacon of Latin musical excellence in the heart of the D.C. metropolitan area. The ensemble comprises some of the region's most talented musicians, each boasting an impressive musical pedigree. Dancing along is encouraged!
• 6 pm–7:30 pm: Forest Bathing w/ Ashleigh (R)
  • This forest bathing experience is a guided nature immersion designed to help participants slow down, reconnect with their senses, and embrace the therapeutic benefits of the natural world. Inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, this program promotes relaxation, mental clarity, and overall well-being through mindful engagement with the forest environment. We will be doing a short walk suitable for all fitness levels.

SUNDAY Morning Programs

• 10 am–12 pm: Acrylic Painting near the Lotus Pond

SUNDAY Afternoon & Evening Programs

• 11 am–12 pm All Levels Yoga w/ Heather (R)
  • Come join Heather for a beginner friendly, all levels welcome yoga session in the park. The practice will include several aspects of yoga including: asana, meditation, breath work, sun salutations and more.
• 12 pm–1 pm:  West African Drumming Performance
• 1 pm–3 pm: Acrylic Painting near the Lotus Pond
• 2 pm–2:45pm: Live Guitar Music with Calvin Thomas 
• 5:45 pm–7 pm: Hips & Heart Yoga w/ Erika (R)
  • Hips and Heart is a hatha vinyasa style focusing on opening up the heart and hip space for a more wholesome and responsive personal emotional practice. Participants will move through chest opening, back strengthening, hip loosening, and balancing postures to nourish and reinforce these areas where emotions are held and processed. By focusing on the hips and heart, participants are set up to release energy and ideas that stagnate them and refuel themselves with energy and understandings that empower them to respond to each moment. Participants will be encouraged to tap into the focused themes of release, tapping into inner power, and receiving joy.

National Park Service Lotus & Water Lily Festival

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

1550 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019

202 692 6080

https://www.nps.gov/keaq/index.htm

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2Svy8MDig5mz45bV7

https://www.nps.gov/keaq/planyourvisit/lotus-and-water-lily-festival.htm

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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: Read the Signs!

 by Peggy Robin

There was a long Listserv discussion thread begun on July 3 (Message #226785) on what's a reasonable speed limit for a city street; it soon morphed into a broader argument over what constitutes dangerous behavior behind the wheel or on foot. There were 29 messages on the thread before it petered out on June 6 -- and I'm not looking to revive it -- but in my travels around the world wide web today, I came across a funny sign that reminded me of one of the more salient points made during the thread: Too many pedestrians around here are checking their cell phones while crossing the street.

 

I bet this sign would make them look up!

This may or may not be a real road sign. It's all too easy to create a fake, funny image these days. If it's real, and anyone can find out where in the world the photo was taken, please post it here!

I found this photo in a collection of funny signs on Facebook  I hope at least some of them are real. They are all real funny! Some, of course, are much funnier than others.

You can scroll through all 31 signs at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/davidattenboroughfans/permalink/1176976157446726/ 

Here are two good ones as a preview:  

Warning: Do NOT do scroll while driving....or even walking!

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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! The Fort Reno Concert Series Is Back! And There's One Tonight, Thurs, July 10 at 7 PM

by Peggy Robin

Barring thunderstorms, you can enjoy a concert at Fort Reno Park every Monday and Thursday night in July, starting at 7pm. 

I'm too late to give you the line-up for Concert #1, which took place on the opening date on Monday, July 7, but here's what you can look forward to for seven nights in July, starting TONIGHT at 7 PM

Thursday July 10  

Soroche   Sexfaces  Fat Nave

Monday July 14

The Flip Phones   Doll Apartments   Unknown Artist

Thursday July 17

Atoms Apart   Zipa   504 Plan

Monday July 21

NIGHT OF 1000 CAKES!

Time in the Wilderness   Bohemian Waxwing   Bluem

Thursday July 24NIGHT OF 1000 SHIRTS! Thank you for another great season.  We love you Leon!

TORO   Trash Boat and the Ambush   Restives

What to bring: 

YES

FRIENDS
DOGS
BABIES

NO

ALCOHOL
DRUGS
GLASS BOTTLES

Donate

Fort Reno is located at 4000 Chesapeake St NW, across the street from Jackson-Reed High School.

CONTACT: Fort.Reno@gmail.com

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Website: https://fortreno.com/

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

Still Life with Robin: A Tale of Two Returns

 by Peggy Robin

It was the worst of returns and the not-quite-worst of returns.

First, the worst: What do you do when you haven't ordered anything but a package arrives on your doorstep, showing your street and house number but is addressed to someone you never heard of? I don't know about you, but here's what I did. The package was one of those easy-open cardboard envelopes, so I zipped it open for a quick peek inside, and saw two small items: a small copper pipe -- possibly some sort of plumbing piece? -- and another mystery piece, this one in white plastic. Both seemed to me to be something a person would order to do a specific, small plumbing repair. But that person was not me. 

Wanting to do the right thing and get the package bacl to the person who needed it to fix something, I went to the internet and tried to find the person named as the addressee. It wasn't a common name -- and I'm pretty good at google searching -- but a couple different google search parameters failed to turn up anyone with the odd name in my zip code -- or living anywhere in Washington DC. for that matter.

So it seemed that the best solution was to send the package back where it came from and let the sender contact the buyer and fix the mistake in the address. I knew that Amazon had a package return center on the second floor of Tenleytown Whole Foods. I'd used it several times before. If you've ordered something that turns out to be wrong for you, you just go into your order history and get a return authorization. Then you drop the return item off at the Amazon return center. It's quick and convenient, and you can pick up some specialty grocery items while you're there.

Of course, I did not have and could not get an Amazon return authorization for an item I had not ordered. But I wasn't worried about that. It was in an Amazon package and it was someone else's order, and by bringing it back, I was helping Amazon correct what was either their mistake or the seller's mistake -- which should be good for their business...or so I assumed.

Not so fast. When I arrived at the Amazon return center, the first thing the Amazon clerk said was "Return code?" I explained I was returning something that Amazon had delivered to me by mistake and therefore I did not have a code. 

"Well, without a code we can't accept it," said the clerk. "You can keep it."

"It's someone's plumbing parts," I explained. "It's no use to me but someone else has probably got a leaky something-or-other.. You must have contact information for the buyer and can ask them for the right address"

The clerk simply repeated the company mantra: No return code, no return. And then seeing the irritation on my face, she added, "You can take it home and throw it away if you don't want it."

I said (trying hard not to be snippy): "I'm not taking home an Amazon package that does not belong to me. If you don't want to resend it to the person who ordered it, YOU throw it away." And with that, I put the package on the desk and walked out.

Second return story --  the not-the-worst but not-the-best return: This one was for a LandsEnd item. I had a $5.00 credit from a LandsEnd swimsuit I'd ordered some years ago, and it was time for a new swimsuit. I went to LandsEnd.com and had no trouble finding one I liked in the same size as the previous one from LandsEnd, which after many good years of swimming in chlorinated pools, had stretched and faded too much to be wearable. 

The new swimsuit arrived in a few days. I kept all the packaging and kept all the tags on, as well as the paper protection in the crotch, and tried it on. Too small! Well, I'll just send it back for the same one in the next size up. That's how online ordering works these days, I figured. Everyone offers free returns....don't they?

I guess most of them do, but not Lands End. I wish I'd checked the return policy before ordering. If you want to send something back and it's not their sending error, you pay a $9 return postage fee. The only way to return something without paying the return postage is to bring it to a Lands End store for an in-person return. 

So that's what I did. I drove out to the nearest LandsEnd store -- that's the one at Congressional Plaza in Rockville --  with the swimsuit back in its plastic bag, all tags still on, totally unused, back in its original LandsEnd outer envelope, thinking I'd just do an even exchange for the same swimsuit but one size larger. But they didn't have it. However, they did have a fair selection of other swimsuits, and after a few try-ons, I settled on one that fit well and looked nice. And it was $5.00 cheaper than the one I was returning. 

So now I have a LandsEnd swimsuit I like, that I've already worn in the pool and have found comfortable. And I have a $5.00 credit to use for some other LandsEnd order at some point in the future. So why wasnt' that an entirely satisfactory return experience? Because I'm so spoiled by clothing return policies from other sellers that let you send back an item for any reason at all -- no return fee, I'm reluctant to do another LandsEnd order and use my $5.00 credit. If I don't like what arrives, I don't want to run all the way out to Rockville to return the item for free. What if I end up with ANOTHER $5.00 credit? Then who knows how long I might be stuck in this LandsEnd buying loop!

(Yes, I know what you're thinking...."First World problems!" But if we simply accepted all our First World problems without complaint, we'd never solve any of them, would we? Not everything needs to reach crisis level you can talk about how things could be improved!)

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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! You Can Watch the 59th Annual Palisades 4th of July Parade....Or You Can March!

 by Peggy Robin

 

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: Palisades 4th of July Parade is the best little parade in town. (Best little parade just outside of town? That would be in Takoma Park, MD)

 

You can watch from a shaded hillside or you can join in and march. This is the parade that will make you think you're in one of those mythical Hollywood movie musical small towns, where everyone's friendly and they could all burst into an intricately well-choreographed song & dance number at any moment. 

 

Plus, there's free candy and free lunch!

 

What more could you ask?!

 

Here's the info you need to attend:

 

The Palisades Community Association Presents: The 59th 4th of July Parade & Picnic Friday, July 4, 2025 Parade at 11:00am | Picnic at 12:00pm 

Read More »

https://palisadesdc.org/4th-of-july-parade-picnic-faqs/ 

 

Just planning to watch? More info here: https://palisadesdc.org/4th-of-july-parade-spectating-faqs/

 

Planning to march? Not too late to sign up! You can even register when you arrive.

More info here: https://palisadesdc.org/4th-of-july-parade-marching-faqs/

 

Fan of our mayor? Sign up to march with Mayor Bowser's contingent: 

Join the Bowser Administration at the 59th Palisades Community Association 4th of July Parade & Picnic!   

 

Date: Friday, July 4, 2025 

Arrival Time: 10:00 AM 

Parade launch: 11:00 AM 

MeetUp: 4700 Whitehaven Pkwy NW (enter Whitehaven from Foxhall Road) 

Sign up: tinyurl.com/palisades2025

 

Route:

• Starting at Whitehaven Parkway and MacArthur Boulevard NW
• Proceeding northwest on MacArthur Boulevard to Edmunds Place NW
• Left on Edmunds Place to Sherier Place NW
• South on Shereier Place disbanding in Palisades Park

 

Hosted by:

The Palisades Citizens Association

http://www.palisadesdc.org/

(202) 363-7441

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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: Where Have You Gone, Woodstein? Come Back!

 by Peggy Robin

 

I subscribe to a bunch of local e-newsletters -- HeyDC, DCNewsNow, CityPaper's DistrictLineDaily, The51st, WashingtonianDaily, AxiosDC, and 7:30DC -- but today I'd like to give a special shout-out to 7:30DC for asking the question that I would call The Local DC News Vacuum Question of the Week:

"Why is the Washington Post acting like a local opinion page for NYC as they kill the Metro local section for DC? Groan." [posted by 7:30DC on Friday, June 27th]

 

(OK, it's a scene from the movie, not the real thing)

To which I add my own question: How is it that the paper that once boasted the greatest-ever team of  local journalists, guided by a gutsy editor and a publisher of unmatched integrity* is now left with a hollowed-out core and just some old, fading memories of what it used to be?

 

No disrespect to any of the e-news outlets I've cited above, but there's just no substitute for a daily print + online newspaper with a full complement of trained, seasoned full-time reporters on the local beat, fully backed by all the resources of a big-city paper. But in axing the stand-alone Metro section and bringing on new top brass who arrive fully formed with the interests and ethics of the Murdoch-owned tabloids and journals that spawned them, Post owner Jeff Bezos has made it clear he's got zero interest in DC as anyone's hometown. To him, it seems to be just another of the many places where he owns property.  

 

It may be that our best hope is that Billionaire Bezos will grow bored of running his little journalistic side-gig and will look for another billionaire to take over. And then of course, we're all at the mercy of whims and shifting interests of that billionaire.

 

"Oligarchy thrives in weakness (of the press)"

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* Those are, of course, Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein, Ben Bradlee, and the incomparable Katharine Graham.

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local, usually on Saturday but occasionally on Sunday.

Get Out! The Smithsonian Folk Life Festival Is On! July 2 - 7 on the National Mall

by Peggy Robin

The Folk Life Festival is back for the 58th time -- and this year the theme is Youth and the Future of Culture

About fifty-two percent of the world’s population is under thirty, the highest in recorded history. Young people around the globe are working across generations and communities to understand and shape the world they will inherit. At the 2025 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Youth and the Future of Culture highlights their stories, creativity, and aspirations. From media production to traditional building trades, from Indigenous language reclamation to lowrider-car innovations, and more, Festival participants will express who they are in the present with an eye toward a vibrant, sustainable future.

The festival runs from Wednesday, July 2 through Monday, July 7

Hours and activities are different each day - view the full schedule at https://festival.si.edu/schedule

There's a wealth of concerts, workshops, presentations, demonstrations, and performances -- but as "Still LIfe with Robin" has a local DC focus as its theme, let me highlight just one of the Folk Life Festival's offerings:

Thursday, July 3rd, 5:30–8 p.m. | Homegrown Futures: The Sound of D.C. 

Festival Main Stage

Washington, D.C., boasts a deep repertoire of homegrown music and spoken word. Through after-school and cultural programs, local artists are training the next generation of performers from go-go to spoken word to jazz. This concert celebrates some of D.C.’s own young artists and their teachers with performances by DCPS Let’s Go-Go Band, the UDC JAZZtet, and spoken-word artists from Words Beats & Life.

The festival map is below and at this link: https://festival.si.edu/map

Tips for festival-goers: Check the weather before you go! Events may be canceled, rescheduled or moved to other locations in the event of storms or extreme heat. Figure it's always several degrees hotter on the flat, open expanse of the Mall than it is at the edges where there are shade trees. Wear a broad-brimmed hat; keep a water bottle filled with ice water with you, and consider bringing a small battery-operated fan. Remember, air-conditioned museums are always a short walk away. No need to use port-a-potties when there are indoor facilities available.

 

More tips available in my 2023 "Still Life with Robin" column on the 2023 Folk Life Festival at https://alllifeislocal.blogspot.com/2023/07/still-life-with-robin-living-folk-life.html

 

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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: On the one-week anniversary of NO KINGS DAY: A Look Back

by Peggy Robin

It's only been a week but I"m already feeling nostalgic about the friendly, peaceful crowd, their creative signs, and the spirit of hope, that persists, despite the overlay of dread that dampens the current political climate. 

While it may not be a long wait until the next chance to turn out for democracy, I'm taking the time this week to post a sampling of photos I took at the rally last Saturday. I chose the one in Bethesda, mainly because I'm a graduate of B-CC and regard it as one of my several hometowns.*, When I arrived, I found a very large and lively crowd, "singin' songs and a-carryin' signs"-- as the great Buffalo Springfield so tunefully put it. (More nostalgia but for a long-ago time.)

Due to the limits on the display of images in a single Listserv message, I've posted the maximum four in this column, and then links to another nine that can be found in the Listserv album: "Rally For..."

"Fight Truth Decay"

"No kings in America since 1776"

"A republic if you can keep it"

"What this rally needs is MORE COWBELL!"

More pix available in the "Rally For..." album, including these:

Only butterflies should be monarchs

"He has kept among us in times of peace standing armies..." -Quote from the Declaration of Independence

No kings except MLK jr, Billie Jean, and Elvis

Cleveland Parker in Bethesda with No Kings American flag

Make Orwell fiction again

No kings but long live the QUEENS (with little girl plugging her ears to shut out loud car honks of approval)

Statue of Liberty with head in her hands 

Three Drummers Drumming 

ACLU contingent

Here's a reminder that all Listserv photo albums are open for members to add their photos. The instructions are in Message #224008   

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* The others are: Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; and of course, Cleveland Park, DC.

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

Arts, Crafts, Fitness, Food, Good Causes, Architectural Walks -- The Best of Cleveland Park Day Is Back On This Weekend!

 by Peggy Robin

Cleveland Parkers are resouceful people! Though we lost out on our planned Cleveland Park Day --supposed to take place on June 8 but cancelled due to bad weather...and there was no good date to reschedule that worked for everyone -- that isn't the end of the story!

Thanks to Dega Schembri of Foundation Fitness, there will still be a day to come out and mingle with your neighbors and see what many of our favorite shops and eateries have planned for us -- it's on for this Saturday, June 2:.

SAM'S PARK-N-SHOP DAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 21 - 11 A.M. - 2 P.M.

 

Featuring:

European Wax Center

Foundation Fitness Gym

Paragon Thai Restaurant

Stone Cold Creamery

 

JOIN US FOR A DAY OF:

• DISCOUNTS
• GIVEAWAYS
• RAFFLES
• MASSAGES
• CLASS DEMOS
• LINE DANCING
• MUSIC
• OPEN HOUSE

Support Foundation Fitness  Gym's Canned Food Drive for the Capital Area Food Bank and bring...

• Canned Tuna, Salmon or Chicken (in water)
• Canned Vegetables (low sodium, no salt)
• Canned Fruits (in 100% juice)
• Pastas and Pantry Staples

 

We are also still collecting used athletic shoes. Donate either and receive a coupon for a FREE PT Consult and a FREE Week of classes or One FREE workout.  

 

Foundation Fitness has been Cleveland Park's Neighborhood Gym AND locally owned since 1993! We are a full-service gym with recently updated cardio and weight equipment and renovated fully serviced locker rooms. Come visit our gym, check out our beautiful outdoor Zen Garden Deck or come to our Open House Saturday, June 21 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.  

 

For more information email us at clevelandpark@foundfit.com [clevelandpark @ foundfit dot com] or visit our website www.foundfit.com

 

Dega Schembri, Co-Owner

(202) 537-0539

clevelandpark@foundfit.com

~~~

But that's not all! The next day, Sunday, June 22, brings us the architectural walking tour that was originally going to be one of the Cleveland-Parkiest features of Cleveland Park Day -- a Walking Tour of the Architectural Gems of Connecticut Avenue. Now it's back with this announcement from the host, Cleveland Park Historical Society:

Due to Cleveland Park Day's weather cancellation, the Cleveland Park Historical Society is offering a rescheduled date of our walking tour featuring the Architectural Gems of Connecticut Avenue this Sunday, June 22nd. Our guide will be Steve Knight, President of the Art Deco Society of Washington. Steve will talk to us about the avenue’s graceful stretches of fine apartment buildings punctuated with active commercial centers. Join us as we get to know some of the architectural gems that make Connecticut Avenue—and Cleveland Park—so special. Highlights will include Sedgwick Gardens, the Broadmoor, some of the fine commercial buildings lining Connecticut Avenue, the Kennedy-Warren, and Woodley Park Towers.

 

The Art Deco Society of Washington is dedicated to preserving, educating, and celebrating the art, architecture, and cultural achievements of the 1920s and 1930s. In addition to being a practicing architect, Steve Knight organizes and leads popular walking tours exploring Washington’s Art Deco heritage.

 

When: Sunday, June 22 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Where: Meet between 3801 and 3901 Connecticut Avenue (on the east side of Connecticut Avenue across the street from Sedgwick Gardens).

 

The walking tour is free, but space is limited! Register here.

 

Cleveland Park Historical Society

P.O. Box 4862, Washington DC 20008

Email CPHS

https://www.clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org/ 

~~~

That's the spirit, Cleveland Park!

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

Still Life with Robin: Bunnies and Turkeys and Bears, Oh My!

 by Peggy Robin

Ever since I opened up the PHOTOS section of the Cleveland Park Listserv, I've been looking for list members' photos to fill up the pages of the various albums I've created.

My first stab at turning the Listserv in a photo-palooza was with the Spring Flowers album: I posted quite a few there, and started a very lively discussion link about the real ID of The White Flower (see discussion thread accessible from Message #224861)

Today, the photo album that's waiting for your best pix is called Wildlife In & Around Cleveland Park (and other places). This time there's no need for any detective work as was the case with flowers: not so hard to tell a bunny from a bear or a turkey from a chicken. Well, you may have some trouble telling an alpaca from a llama -- but if you encounter a cute, soft-furred animal at the Kids Farm at the National Zoo, you can bet it's an alpaca. (Click on photo #8 below, cf. llama.)

Because of the Listserv's limits on the display of photos in a single message (that's four, if you want to know, and the max size of all photos combined must be under 500kb, JPG format ONLY), I have picked out just four photos to display below. But keep scrolling down, and you can click on the photo links to see another eight.

Bunny in the garden by Barbara on Upton

Franklin the Brookland Bear [photo from Twitter 6 9 2023]

Big Toms in Westchester County, NY by Jerry Garfinkel

Frolicking baby alpacas at the Kids Farm, Photo by Smithsonian National Zoo

That's not all, folks! 

1. Fox in the snow Photo by Sally H. NoVa 
2. Opossum on the roof Photo by Elizabeth Loeb
   
3. Snake on the trail in Rock Creek Park May 31, 2025. Photo by Peggy Robin
4. Chicken feathers, extreme closeup, Ever After Farm, May 31 2025 Photo by Peggy Robin
5. Stag Photo by Thomas H. Mann 
   
6. Alpacas at Feeding Time, Ever After Farm, Warrenton, VA. Photo by Karen Adler
7. Alpaca, closeup of a sweet face Photo by Karen Adler
8. Llama and pig at Hidden Valley Farm Camp, This photo and more by Hidden Valley Camp

(OK. so not all are of wildlife -- there are some domesticated animals in the mix. Didn't want to create yet another album for the tame or semi-tame!

Feel free to upload your own photos. Here are the upload instructions:

1. Go to the PHOTOS section of the CP Listserv. 
2. Click on the album you would like to add your photos to - for example: Wildlife In & Around Cleveland Park (and Elsewhere)
3. Look for the green +Add Photos button and click on it.
4. You will see an option to "Drag image here" or "browse," allowing you to choose how you would like to locate your photos on your computer and add them to the album. 
5. Pull up each photo you want to add to the album, and write a description in the "description" box. Helpful details for the description box include: your name, photo location, date taken, a caption, and any other info you want list members to have.
6. Click Add. 

Happy [photo] hunting!

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

Get Out! Celebrate Juneteenth at the Anacostia Community Museum....While You Still Can

 by Peggy Robin

There are many good options for those who want to celebrate the Juneteenth federal holiday in the regions -- and Washingtonian Magazine has a good roundup of them - available here:

https://www.washingtonian.com/2025/06/12/juneteenth-celebrations-around-the-dc-area/ 

Of the nine great events included in the article, the one I want to pitch to you is happening at perhaps the least known of the Smithsonian's many museums -- and it's a hidden gem. But an endangered one (more on that at the end of this column).

It's the Juneteenth celebration at the Anacostia Community Museum. Here's what's happening for the holiday:

When     Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10 AM – 5 PM

Venue    Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE

Cost        Free

Get Tickets/Register  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-celebration-power-in-the-past-strength-in-the-future-tickets-1351589002089?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join us as we honor Juneteenth with a day full of culture, community, and celebration! From engaging workshops to powerful performances, this event is a tribute to resilience, creativity, and heritage.

🌿 Morning Yoga & Urban Gardening (10 AM - 12 PM)  Start the day with a Morning Yoga by Grounded, followed by an Urban Gardening Workshop that explores the deep-rooted agricultural traditions of African American culture. Participants will:

✅ Discover the historical significance of canning and root cellars

✅ Learn how to plant now for a fall and winter harvest

✅ Get expert tips on container gardening and winter storage

✅ Explore multi-planting techniques for a bountiful harvest

✅ Take home a Root Vegetable Grow Bag and witness a fresh pickle-making demo

Both morning workshops will have limited giveaways! First come, first serve.

🎶 Main Stage Performances (Starting at 12 PM)

The stage comes alive at 12pm, Hosted by BeMo Brown and vibes all day by Miss HER. The incredible lineup of artists and performers:

🎧 DJ Set – Miss HER

🎤 Spoken Word by Teen Poet Lemonade Dream

🎶 Pinky tha Rapper – High-energy lyrical storytelling

🎸 Joi Carter & Band – Soulful melodies and live music

🔥 Black Alley Band (Headliner) – A dynamic fusion of funk, rock, and go-go

🎨 Community Art & Cultural Activities

🖌️ Interactive Mural – Curated by local artist Brian Bailey

💃🏾 Double Dutch – A classic community favorite

🍽️ Local Food Trucks – Enjoy delicious bites throughout the day

Come together with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate freedom, culture, and community. This is a FREE event open to all!

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Sadly, 2025 may be the last year under the present administration that the Anacostia Community Museum can remain open. It is under threat being defunded. Here's an article that explains the threat: 

What Could Trump’s Proposed Smithsonian Cuts Mean for Two DC Museums? The White House's budget would pull all government funding from the Anacostia Community Museum and the planned National Museum of the American Latino.

Written by Kate Corliss 

Published on June 2, 2025

https://www.washingtonian.com/2025/06/02/trump-smithsonian-cuts-anacostia-latino-museum/

Go while you still can and show your support for this small jewel in the Smithsonian's crown!

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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.