Get Out! The National Book Festival Is On Saturday, August 22 at the Convention Center

by Peggy Robin

Get your (free) tickets now! All attendees must register in advance. Here's what the website tells us about the tickets needed for entry (my emphasis added):

Join us for the Library of Congress for the National Book Festival, taking place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Doors open at 8:30 am.

Festivalgoers can enjoy many of America's most beloved writers in conversations, interactive programs, book signings and family-friendly activities for attendees of all ages, while exploring the Library’s collections, services and resources.  This year’s festival is also part of the Library’s celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. 

 

The festival is free and open to the public. Free tickets are required for festival entry to help manage attendance and communications and support a smooth experience for festivalgoers. Advanced registration is encouraged; same-day tickets also will be available through this site. Each person may reserve up to 12 tickets. All children over age 2 need a ticket.  

 

Tickets will be issued digitally and sent by e-mail after registration. Festivalgoers should bring their tickets either on a mobile device or as a printed copy. Visitors should allow time for security screening before presenting tickets to enter the event.

 

Tickets are for general entry into the Walter E. Washington Convention Center building(s) only and do not constitute a reservation for admission to specific author events, book signings and other programs, which will remain available on a first-come, first-served basis and do not require separate ticketing. 

 

Tickets are not required to view the festival livestream or videos, which will be available on loc.gov/bookfest.

 

Visit loc.gov/bookfest to find information about authors, programs and activities, planning your day, frequently asked questions and more. 

For technical assistance with registration, including help reserving tickets, accessing e-tickets or loading tickets after registration, please contact eTix Customer Support or call eTix at 1-800-514-3849. 

Here are some useful websites to help you plan your day:

Register For Free Tickets HERE.

Festival Home Page HERE.

Authors Lineup HERE (searchable by name, genre) or alphabetical listing HERE.

Event Schedule HERE. 

Family Friendly Activities HERE.

Skip the crowds! ATTEND ONLINE.

Download & Print the Festival Site Map, Guide And Other Info HERE.

For Info on Security Screening, Directions, Public Transit, And A Lot More, click HERE.

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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: Find My....

 by Peggy Robin

You know about Apple's "Find My...." tracking program? It's the greatest thing... up to a point. You can track your iPhone, your wallet, your keys, your luggage, anything you can tag with a tracking fob or a credit-sized card that works on the Apple "Find My..." system. There's also a comparable app for Android users.

I've been using it for a while, most often to get the "Find My" app to locate my misplaced iPhone. Every time I've done this, it shows me that the phone is somewhere in the house. Trouble is, it doesn't tell me which room. I live in a house with a basement, first and second floor, plus a finished attic, as well as front, back, and side yards where I've occasionally dropped my phone. (Tip: Do NOT put your phone in a shallow pocket while gardening. Or setting up a sprinkler!)

Recently, I was complaining* to my adult daughter about the limitations of the "Find My" system when it came to pinpointing where I left my phone, and she came up with an absolutely brilliant solution. I offer it to you, free of charge: She programmed my phone to initiate a series of steps whenever it receives this one-word text message: "findmyphone." My phone responds automatically to this text message by turning its volume all the way up and opening its music app, playing "Runaway" by Del Shannon. And it will keep playing it on a repeating loop, until I follow the sound to the location of the phone, open the app, and turn off the music....or until the battery runs out (if, for some unknown reason, I can't find it after hours of searching). 

So now I use FindMy to be assured that the phone is in the house and so that I won't have to go turning things over in every room on every floor to track the thing down. Now I know, if I hear "Runaway" coming from the basement, the phone is probably at the bottom of the laundry basket, under all the dirty clothes. If the song is coming from my home office, I may find it on the floor under my desk, where it probably skidded out of sight, underneath the large, ergonomic footrest. If it's in the kitchen, it may have been closed between the pages of a looseleaf binder of recipes and then put back in the bookshelf of cookbooks. These are all real places where I've found my phone in the past, before the FindMy system was in use and my daughter created the program to make it sing to me. 

Now I just listen for the music and lyrics...."As I walk along I wonder what went wrong..... My little runaway". 

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* which, is of course one of my peak skills; if they gave out awards for extraordinary achievement in complaining, I'd have a shelf full of medals and trophies.

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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local from time to time, most frequently on Saturdays.

Get Out! It's ELEFEST on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the National Zoo

 by Peggy Robin

ELEFEST at the NATIONAL ZOO: Friday, August 7 - Sunday, August 9   

In honor of World Elephant Day, join us as we celebrate the Zoo’s newest Asian elephant calf, Linh Mai, with a three-day festival packed with culture, conservation and community! 

Visit the Zoo from Friday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 9, and enjoy a mix of free family-friendly activities and special ticketed programs, including:

National Zoo Elephant Day

Time: Saturday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Outside Elephant Community Center

Learn more about Smithsonian's long-standing commitment to the care and conservation of Asian elephants.

• Meet the veterinarians who care for the health of our herd
• Chat with Keepers and Curators to learn about a 'Day in the Life' of an Elephant Keeper
• Discover just how much an elephant eats with insights from our nutritionists
• Write a personalized 'thank you note postcard' to share with the Elephant Keeper Care Team

Somapa Thai Dance Group 

Time: Saturday, August 8, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. 
Location: Lion/Tiger Hill 

Experience traditional Thai dance performances celebrating Asian heritage. 
Free and open to the public.

DC Public Library (DCPL) Book Truck & Elephant-Themed Story Times

Time: Saturday, August 8, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 
Location: Visitor Center Auditorium & Lion/Tiger Hill

The DC Public Library joins us with their book truck for special elephant-themed story times and activities for young readers at 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Visitor Center. It's part of their Discover Summer initiative, an all-ages city-wide celebration of reading and learning. The DCPL book truck will be at Lion/Tiger Hill from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free and open to all.

Chalk Riot 

Time: Sunday, August 9, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
Location: Great Meadow 

Chalk Riot turns streets into canvases for community expression, using ephemeral mediums and site-responsive practices. Partake in creating a colorful chalk mural that comes to life before your eyes. This family-friendly activity is free and open to the public.

Rhythmaya Dance Group 

Time: Sunday, August 9, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
Location: Lion/Tiger Hill 

Enjoy a vibrant South Indian dance performance before joining in for a short interactive workshop. Free and open to the public.

Sorry, these events are sold out:

EleFest Happy Hour — Friday, Aug. 7 (SOLD OUT) 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (last entry 6 p.m.)

Location: Elephant Community Center Patio

Yoga With Elephants — Saturday, Aug. 8 & Sunday, Aug. 9 (SOLD OUT)

Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 Two sessions: 7 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. / 8 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Location: Elephant Community Center

Flavorful Favorites

Throughout the month of August, discover special food and drink items across the Zoo. Enjoy an elephant cookie from Dolci Gelati, 'Linh Mai's Trunkful of Treats' mint chocolate chip ice cream from Dippin' Dots, or the 'Linh Mai Tai' cocktail (21+) from Vintage Views.

And if you can't make it in-person, donations help make the Zoo's work with Asian elephants possible.

Learn More

Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute 

3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008

Visitor Services: 202-633-2614

Website: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/

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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.

Get Out! And Wish Bao Li a Happy Birthday on August 4 at the National Zoo

 by Peggy Robin

Here's your invitation from Smithsonian National Zoo:

Join us in celebrating the fifth birthday of Bao Li, our male giant panda, on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 9 a.m.! This marks Bao Li's second birthday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Get tickets/register (free event): https://nationalzoo.si.edu/passes/2026-08-04

Highlights:

• Panda keepers will present Bao Li with a "beary" special birthday treat — a custom fruit-based ice cake made by the Zoo’s commissary team.
• Can’t make it to the Zoo? Tune into the Giant Panda Cam to catch the celebration live.
• Admission is free for all visitors. (Donations are welcome.)

This milestone birthday is particularly special as Bao Li is one of the few giant pandas currently living in North America. His presence signifies hope for the future of giant pandas and celebrates the success of our collaborative conservation efforts. 

Since the arrival of the first giant pandas in 1972, the Smithsonian’s panda conservation program has made significant contributions to the recovery of these iconic animals, leading to their removal from the endangered species list in 2016. Join us as we celebrate Bao Li and the ongoing success of our panda conservation efforts, made possible through collaboration with the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Association, our dedicated donors and sponsors, and visitors like you.­

More info: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/events/bao-lis-birthday-celebration 

Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute 

3001 Connecticut Ave., NW 

Washington, DC 20008

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/

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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.

Get Out! Saturday Is Smithsonian Family Day, 10am-4pm - FREE!

by Peggy Robin

 

Bring the family to the Arts & Industries Building for a rich, immersive experience for all ages! The historic space will transform into a family-friendly celebration of the nation's history—inspiring a new generation toward the future through hands-on Activity Experience Zones, live performances, and outdoor fun in the Haupt Garden (weather permitting).

 

Details

Smithsonian Family Day is a one-day celebration bringing together families to celebrate America's 250th birthday, our founding, and our future.

 

When:  Saturday, July 25, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. EDT

Where:  Arts and Industries Building and the Haupt Garden

Cost:  Free Admission, no tickets or registration are required

Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program, Wheelchair accessible

Website: https://www.si.edu/250/events

 

Enjoy a full day of programming, including:

 

Hands on educational activities offered throughout the day

 

10:00am - 10:45am: Dylan Lizza Quartet, Jazz Music Performance

11:00am – 11:30am: Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly, Discovery Theater Performance

11:45am – 12:30pm: The Washington Ballet, Performance and Movement Class

12:45pm – 1:15pm: Capital Accord Chorus, Performance and Singalong

1:30pm – 2:00pm: Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly, Discovery Theater Performance

2:15pm - 3:00pm: Amelia Earhart, Reenactment Performance

 

Theater, music, and dance performances at the Folklife Stage:

Also look for surprise visits from the Smithsonian's founding benefactor, Jimmy (James) Smithson, George Washington, Amelia Earhart, and Xavier Riddle from PBS KIDS!

 

Know Before You Go

 

Getting Here
The Arts & Industries Building is located on the National Mall at 900 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560. We strongly encourage visitors to take public transportation, as parking on the National Mall is extremely limited. If driving, limited street parking and paid garage options are available in the surrounding area. The nearest metro stations are the Smithsonian and L’Enfant Plaza.

 

Entry
Entry is free and open to all. Please be prepared for potential wait times. Doors open at 10:00am at the North entrance to the Arts & Industries Building on Jefferson Avenue.

 

Food & Water
Families are welcome to bring outside food to picnic in our designated indoor area or in the Smithsonian Gardens. Nearby Smithsonian museums have cafes with food for purchase, including the Castle Cafe Summer Shack, Moongate Cafe in the National Museum of Asian Art, and Dolcezza Coffee & Gelato at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

 

Accessibility
The Arts & Industries Building and Haupt Garden are fully accessible. Accessible entrances, restrooms, and pathways are available throughout the venue. The Folklife performance stage will have live ASL interpretation for our programs throughout the day.

 

There will also be a Family Calm Zone in the West Hall, which will be a sensory-friendly space for rest and relaxation for all ages.

 

Guests requiring reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event are encouraged to contact us in advance at info@si.edu at least one week before the event date. General accessibility information can be found at the Smithsonian's Office of Visitor Accessibility website.

 

Weather
Smithsonian Family Day is a rain-or-shine event! Outdoor activities in the Haupt Garden may be adjusted in the event of severe weather. Entrance lines may be quite long and are located outdoors.

 

Questions?
Our volunteers and staff will be on-site throughout the day to assist you. For advance questions, please call us at 202-633-1000.

 

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is usually posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays but this week it's a day late. (Blame Amtrak's spotty wifi for the delay.)

Still Life with Robin: Are your eyes burning? Does the air smell smoky? This website may be helpful

by Peggy Robin

It will be a few more days before we get some real relief from this dangerously bad air that's hanging over our region. In the meantime, follow the health recommendations of the American Lung Association:

On days when the air quality is orange, red, purple or maroon:

• Reduce the time you spend outdoors when the AQI value is high. Also, reduce the intensity of outdoor activity. According to the EPA, the chances of being affected by unhealthy levels of air pollution increase the longer a person is active outdoors and the more strenuous the activity.
• If you must go outdoors, consider wearing a mask. “Unfortunately, not all masks provide adequate protection against particle pollution. Cloth or dust masks, for instance, may not effectively filter out fine particles. However, well-fitted N95 or KN95 masks have better filtration capabilities and may be beneficial on days when the AQI level of concern is high.
• Keep your air indoors healthy by keeping the windows and doors closed. Run air conditioning on the recirculate setting, use a portable HEPA air cleaner or, if it is difficult to maintain clean air in your entire house, create a clean room.
  

Need more science-based advice? Sorry, I'm not the person to ask. (No science classes beyond high school chem.) However, I do have one useful tip which I hope you will find worthwhile. No, it's not a medical or environmental website; it's a vocabulary site. While we're sitting around indoors, complaining, we grow frustrated (or at least I do) by having to use the same old words to talk about our bad air: e.g., smoky, hazy, polluted, code red (or code purple, maroon, or, if things improve, orange)

Merriam-Webster's dictionary site to the rescue! Here are a few fresh descriptors for the air we breathe this weekend -- and to use again next time....and the next, and the next....

Fuliginous

Miasmic

Acrid

Sooty

Image by Merriam-Webster @MerriamWebster, posting on SiForkasTwit
(the site formerly known as Twitter)

I learn something every day from this site. You can follow it here: 

https://x.com/MerriamWebster 

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Still LIfe with Robin is an occasional feature of the Cleveland Park Listserv and the All Life Is Local blog - usually appearing on Saturdays.

Get Out! It's National 7-Eleven Day on Saturday, July 11 (7/11...Duh!)

by Peggy Robin

Saturday, July 11, 2026 is National 7 Eleven Day! Free Slurpees for all! (Between 11am and 7pm)

Click on this National Day link to view a short video on the history of the Slurpee and Free Slurpee Day: https://nationaltoday.com/free-slurpee-day/

Click on this link for more info about getting your free Slurpee:

https://mashable.com/life/free-slurpee-day-2026 or go to the 7-Eleven website at https://www.7-eleven.com/

The Cleveland Park 7 Eleven is at 3433 Connecticut Ave NW

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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: Happy 250th Birthday, America! And to all who celebrate -- stay safe & stay cool!

 Dear Listserv Friends,

 

I hope you are all celebrating America's 250th birthday -- also known as our Semiquincentennial. Or our Sestercentennial or Bisesquicentennial. Or (my favorite) our Quarter-Millennium. 

 

Please stay out of the dangerous sun and heat today. Many planned celebrations have already been cancelled or postponed. WJLA posted this update:

https://wjla.com/news/local/fourth-of-july-heat-changes-whats-canceled-delayed-and-modified-across-the-dmv-holiday-firework-extreme-severe-weather-leesburg-fairfax 

 

As a safe alternative to parades, BBQs, and fireworks, you can find tributes to America's 250th birthday all over the internet.

 

...like this drone light show in Texas:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFVe2vKhwRw

Or this one in Philadelphia:

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaV8NBKIpAL/

 

Across the Atlantic, Paris put on a light show on the Eiffel Tower to celebrate. Here's a short clip: 

https://www.nbcnews.com/video/shorts/eiffel-tower-lights-up-for-america-s-250th-anniversary-266152517527

and another: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1037843151951924  

 

And the same team of French lighting engineers have staged a light show on the Statue of Liberty:

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaTuRmHhgll/  

 

You don't need to sit on the Mall to watch the full 17-minute light show now playing on the Washington Monument. It's available on C-Span at:

https://www.c-span.org/clip/america-250/full-washington-monument-freedom-250-light-show/5187286 [Note: The show is a Triumphalist vision of American history, stressing God, Manifest Destiny, American ingenuity, and the defeat of Communism -- but visually stunning. If you watch it, I recommend doing so on full-screen mode on a large monitor or TV screen.]

 

I've saved my most enthusiastic rec for this Robin Williams routine on the American Flag (4:42 min, 1982):

https://x.com/Todd_Spence/status/2073286992608088412 

 

And to cap it all off - a performance of our National Anthem...played by a maestro of the RubberChickenSpiel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C45U9k0L_pw

 

Happy B-day, America...and many more!

 

-Peggy Robin

CP Listserv Moderator

clevelandparklistservmoderator@gmail.com [clevelandparklistservmoderator @ gmail dot com]

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

Get Out! The Freedom Fest on Sat June 27 Is Your DC Alternative to Trumpified Events to Celebrate America's 250th Independence Day

by Peggy Robin

DC Freedomfest

Saturday, June 27  •  2 PM - 4:30 PM

Sat, Jun 27 • 2 PM

Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial 540 Independence Avenue SW

Freedom and fun!

Join us for FreedomFest, a celebration of DC’s culture, community, and our ongoing fight for equality.

 

As people from across the country gather in DC to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, we’re creating space to celebrate something deeper: the people who live here, our culture, and our vision for the future.

 

FreedomFest brings together music, art, and community in the heart of DC. Expect live performances, local organizers, and cultural expression that reflects what makes this city powerful.

 

This is a space to come together and reflect on the gap between America’s promise and the reality experienced by the people who live in its capital.

 

Whether you’re a DC resident or visiting the District, you’re invited. Free and Family Friendly!

 

This event is part of our DC Summer of Freedom campaign.

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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.

Celebrate Pride Month at the Wharf with Pride on the Pier

 by Peggy Robin

Pride on the Pier returns on Saturday, June 13 to the Wharf on the Southwest waterfront. The event, sponsored and hosted by the Washington Blade, is free and runs from 4-9 p.m. There will be vendors, DJs, and drag performances all day. VIP tickets are $25 and come with air conditioned party room, private bathrooms, and free cocktail.

More details at prideonthepierdc.com.

Pride on the Pier 2026

Saturday, June 13 (4PM-9PM)

The Wharf - District & Transit Pier

101 District Square SW

The Washington Blade in partnership with The Wharf are excited to announce the 7th Annual Pride on the Pier.

Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Wharf waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment.

The District Pier will offer a DJ, dancing and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

The Dockmasters Building will be home to a VIP experience for the duration of the event. Purchase tickets now at www.prideonthepierdc.com/vip.

Family fun for all ages.

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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.

Get Out! This Sunday, June 7, Is CLEVELAND PARK DAY!

 by Peggy Robin

I'm sorry I'll have to miss this year's Cleveland Park Day. I'm in Philadelphia for most of this month, working hard at my second job, being granny/nanny to my 9 month old grandson. The sacrifices I make for this kid! (But soooo worth it!)

But just look at what I'm missing!

Go HERE for the Music Lineup

Go HERE for info on the Line Dancing and the Free Blood Pressure Screening

Go HERE for some great Kids' Activities.

⏰ When – Sunday, June 7, 2026, 12-5pm

 📍 Where – Sam's Park and Shop, Cleveland Park & Cleveland Park Promenade

 🧐 Who – Hosted by District Bridges & Cleveland Park Main Street

 🎉 What – Tie dye, Talent show, Balloon Sculpting, Bouncy Castle, Face painting, Vendor Market, Live music, 18 participating small businesses

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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.