Smithsonian.com

Anansi the Impossibe by Verna Aardema

Friday, January 2: Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride
Before Thelma and Louise, there was Amelia and Eleanor. That’s right. Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt. Based on a little-known event, these two strong-willed women slip away from a formal dinner party for some good, clean, high-flying fun. After a reading of Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride, kids will be able to participate in an art activity. Free. Air and Space Museum, 11 AM.

And as if I need to state the obvious: an airplane can clear a canyon MUCH better than a 1966 Thunderbird convertible.

Saturday, January 3: Anansi Does the Impossible! An Ashanti Tale
When I was a kid, one of my absolute favorite picture books was A Story A Story, which told the tale of how Anansi the Spider Man performs feats of death-defying skill in order to win back the stories the Sky God stole from his people. That said, I am very pleased to see that this story lives on in this latest retelling by Verna Aardema, which will be read aloud for young and eager ears. Free. National Museum of African Art, 11 AM-12 Noon.

Sunday, January 4: Art a la Cart
You know you want to touch the artworks on the museum walls. (Heck, one time I accidentally set off the alarms at SAAM because I couldn’t tell where the floor ended and the art installation began.) People just like to interact with pretty things, right? If you’re between the ages 7 and 12, come out to the American Art Museum for some hands-on fun that will curb your curiosities in a socially acceptable manner. Hands-on activities are available for your eager mitts, allowing you to explore the world of art on a whole new level. For everyone outside of this age bracket, go elsewhere and take a pottery class. Free. Repeats the first Sunday of every month. American Art Museum, 1-4 PM.

Portrait of Stephen Colbert, courtesy of National Museum of American History

10. Recession buster! Can’t make it to Cabo this year? Put on your flip-flops and floral print shirts and enter the Smithsonian’s very own tropical oasis, the Butterfly Pavilion at the National Museum of Natural History. It promises 95 degrees F and 80 percent humidity.

9. Prepare a Smithsonian-wide scavenger hunt for your kids, nieces or nephews with clues leading to treasures like Dorothy’s ruby slippers, a giant squid and the Wright Flyer.

8. After seeing Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, opening May 22, try to retrace the steps Ben Stiller must have made in filming it.

7. Enter the National Museum of American History’s National Anthem singing contest on YouTube, which will launch in February, for a chance to win a trip to DC and the opportunity to perform your rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” on Flag Day, June 14.

6. Eat a meal from every region—Northern Woodlands, South America, Northwest Coast, Meso America and the Great Plains—featured at the National Museum of the American Indian’s café.

5. Sleep over at the Smithsonian National Zoo through its Snore & Roar program. How many people can say they’ve camped out next to a lion’s den? Check this out.

4. Enter a kite in the 43^rd Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival on March 28, 2009. Just make sure its bridle is on the right way. I speak from experience. And, speaking of festivals on the National Mall, go to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which runs June 24-28 and July 1-5.

3. Meet Secretary Clough, the Smithsonian Institution’s new Secretary as of 2008—even if it’s just through reading ATM blogger Beth Py-Lieberman’s interview with him.

2. Attempt a Stephen Colbert-esque quest to get your portrait in a Smithsonian museum. (You didn’t hear it here!) Or, at least, take a snapshot with his portrait (above), which now hangs next to Dumbo the Flying Elephant on the National Museum of American History’s third floor.

1. Propose to your girlfriend in front of the Hope Diamond in the National Museum of Natural History. Tell her that you wanted to get her the 45.52 carat blue diamond, but the museum just wouldn’t part with it.

Edison's light bulb, courtesy of National Museum of American History

On New Year’s Eve 1879, after toiling in his laboratory for over a year, Thomas Alva Edison unveiled his electric light bulb to the public in his hometown of Menlo Park, New Jersey. The very bulb is on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

Twenty-eight years later, also on New Year’s Eve, a young metalworker by the name of Jacob Starr took one hundred 25-watt light bulbs (thanks to Edison) and fashioned them onto an iron and wood ball, five feet in diameter and weighing 700 pounds. He attached the ball to a flagpole atop One Times Square in Manhattan, and at the stroke of midnight, to the cheers of partiers in the street, his invention—the New Year’s Eve Ball—dropped. A tradition was born.

Think of how far we’ve come. This year’s New Year’s Eve Ball, which doubles the size of previous Balls, will be adorned with 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs and 2,668 Waterford Crystals and weigh 11,875 pounds. Apparently, the amount of energy consumed by the lights, which in combination with the crystals can cast more than 16 million colors and billions of patterns, isn’t all that exorbitant. They say it’s equivalent to the energy per hour it takes to use two ovens.

Players get a lesson in forensics at the Natural History Museum

The long-awaited finale to our ARG saga is online! For those who don’t know, ARG’s are “alternate reality games”—a hybrid of mystery stories and online gaming—popular with new media marketers and online communities.

A few months ago the Smithsonian American Art Museum became the nation’s first major museum to sponsor an ARG (always on the edge of the envelope, the Smithsonian). Curators scattered a trail of clues for players to piece together. In addition to their online clue-gathering, gamers gleaned hints through top-secret tours of cemeteries and underground laboratories.

I got to play along. Read the resulting story, which has more information about ARGs and about how I helped save the Smithsonian from a ghostly invasion. See pictures of skeletons, chapels and other clues, here. Or go here to test your wits by trying to solve the mystery yourself.

Georgina Goodlander, curator and clue-master, guest blogged about the ARG over at Museum 2.0. She said it was a success and sponsored “engagement” with the Museum. How else can a Museum become web-savvy?

(Photo courtesy of Georgina Goodlander)

Celebration (1975) by Charles Searles. American Art Museum

Monday, December 29: Kwanzaa: A Musical Tribute

The sounds of the holiday season are many and multifaceted, so come hear The Sounds of Awareness put on a Kwanzaa mini-concert. Free, but reservations required. Call 202-633-4844 to reserve your spot. Anacostia Community Museum, 11:00 AM.

Tuesday, December 30: Reruns

Happy Holidays! American Popular Holiday Songs, 1941-1945 repeats (previously covered here) repeats today. Free, American History Museum, 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM and 4 PM.

ZooLights (previously covered here) also repeats. Tickets required. See past blog post for rates. National Zoo, 6-8:30 PM.

Wednesday, December 31: Kwanzaa Family Workshop

Artist Wanda Aikens is on deck to teach you how to make scented and edible items for the holiday as a means to learn about the principle of Kuumba (creativity). Free, but reservations are required. Call 202-633-4844 to reserve your spot. Anacostia Museum, 10:00 AM.

Thursday, January 1: Happy New Year!

Nothing special is scheduled for today, but the museums (and gift shops) are open and waiting for you!

Friday, January 2: Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride
Before Thelma and Louise, there was Amelia and Eleanor. That’s right. Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt. Based on a little-known event, these two strong-willed women slip away from a formal dinner party for some good, clean, high-flying fun. After a reading of Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride, kids will be able to participate in an art activity. Free. Air and Space Museum, 11 AM.

And as if I need to state the obvious: an airplane can clear a canyon MUCH better than a 1966 Thunderbird convertible.

Saturday, January 3: Anansi Does the Impossible! An Ashanti Tale
When I was a kid, one of my absolute favorite picture books was A Story A Story, which told the tale of how Anansi the Spider Man performs feats of death-defying skill in order to win back the stories the Sky God stole from his people. That said, I am very pleased to see that this story lives on in this latest retelling by Verna Aardema, which will be read aloud for young and eager ears. Free. National Museum of African Art, 11 AM-12 Noon.

Sunday, January 4: Art a la Cart
You know you want to touch the artworks on the museum walls. (Heck, one time I accidentally set off the alarms at SAAM because I couldn’t tell where the floor ended and the art installation began.) People just like to interact with pretty things, right? If you’re between the ages 7 and 12, come out to the American Art Museum for some hands-on fun that will curb your curiosities in a socially acceptable manner. Hands-on activities are available for your eager mitts, allowing you to explore the world of art on a whole new level. For everyone outside of this age bracket, go elsewhere and take a pottery class. Free. Repeats the first Sunday of every month. American Art Museum, 1-4 PM.