The Wharf will bring Fat Tuesday festivities to the Southwest waterfront early with a Mardis Gras Parade on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. (Photo courtesy of The Wharf)

The DC Lineup for this weekend: Mardi Gras, Dr. Seuss and Girl Scout badges

By Jennifer Anne Mitchell On Mar 1, 2019 Last updated Mar 4, 2019

Editor’s Note: Women’s History Day at the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, listed in this article as taking place on Sunday, March 3, was mistakenly included among this week’s items with information from last year’s activities. The event will take place Saturday, March 23; we will include the updated listing in The DC Lineup published that week. The DC Line regrets the error.

March’s opening weekend, March 1 to 3, is full of programs dedicated to Women’s History Month, including a few fun ways for young women in the Girl Scouts to earn badges. An exhibition opening featuring local artists, a fundraiser to raise money for local youth in low-income families to play soccer, and the first weekend of a pop-up bar that celebrates cherry blossom season are all on tap. Rounding out our list of highlights are Mardi Gras at The Wharf and a reading of Dr. Seuss classics on Read Across America Day (which is also Seuss’ birthday).

The weather forecast calls for rain on Friday afternoon and evening, clouds on Saturday and afternoon rain or snow shows on Sunday. Temperatures will range from 33 to 51 degrees.

1. History: Sunday is Women’s History Day at the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, 1776 D St. NW. In addition to getting the chance to explore the museum’s collection to learn about famous women in American history, visitors can decorate a “Votes for Women” sash to honor women’s rights activist Alice Paul, help with chemistry experiments to honor chemist Alice Ball, or try to crack codes like Civil War spy Mary Bowser. The event is open to all ages and free, except for special $10 programs that give Girl Scouts an opportunity to earn badges.

2. Youth: Alternatively, Girl Scouts can start off Women’s History Month with an event made just for them — Saturday’s Girl Scout Day at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. A day full of events will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., including a NewsMania game show about women’s history; a giant Front Page Frenzy game board that highlights the work of well-known women; Girl Scouts Sing karaoke; educational programs; a craft station; selfie photo ops with a cutout of Nellie Bly, a female journalist who in 1890 broke a record by traveling the world in 72 days; and a Nellie Bly Global Scavenger Hunt. Tickets cost $11 per person and are available to scouts, leaders, parents and family members. Admission is free for ages 5 and younger. Attendees can order a commemorative Girl Scout patch at the event.

The DC-based Open Goal Project seeks to make travel soccer accessible to youth who otherwise couldn’t afford to participate. (Photo courtesy of Amir Lowery)

3. Sports: The Open Goal Project is a DC-based organization that makes travel soccer accessible to youth in low-income families. It can cost thousands of dollars per year to play after factoring in costs such as equipment, travel, offseason training, tournaments, lodging and food. On Saturday, a fundraiser called “Art for Open Goals” from 4 to 10 p.m. will help to “even the field, change the game,” as noted on the group’s Instagram announcement. The event at the Josephine Butler Parks Center, 2437 15th St. NW will showcase photography that illustrates success stories from the program. Refreshments will be served.

4. Holiday Parade: Celebrate Fat Tuesday a few days early on the Southwest waterfront at The Wharf’s Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. at District Pier on Wharf Street. A dance party, stilt walkers, dancers, mascots, custom-made floats (including one representing the Washington Nationals), a fireworks finale, and live music from Junkyard Saints, Batalá Washington and the Eastern High School Marching Band make this a great alternative for those who can’t make it down to New Orleans. There will also be specials at area restaurants and youth activities, so the whole family can come along.

5. Causes: Family Day: Freedom From Want will take place at the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, a joint project with GWU’s Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service, will provide students and area families an opportunity to work on a service project to help local families in need of support. This weekend, attendees will learn how to make a recycled tote bag — plus stock it with non-perishable items to give away. There will also be tours of the traveling exhibition Enduring Ideals: Rockwell, Roosevelt & the Four Freedoms, which highlights Norman Rockwell’s iconic paintings as well as works by other artists that capture expressions of freedom. Saturday’s event is free and does not require reservations; the Enduring Ideals exhibit continues through April 29. The museum is located at 701 21st St. NW.

6. Literature: Spend Read Across America Day — held each year on Dr. Seuss’ birthday — experiencing “We Love Dr. Seuss Reader’s Theater” on Saturday at the Palisades Neighborhood Library, 4901 V St. NW. Starting at 2 p.m., there will be crafts plus readings of Seuss classics like Green Eggs and Ham, The Sneetches and Yertle the Turtle. Both the young and young at heart are welcome.

7. Arts: DC artists Spencer Dormitzer and Michal Gavish are showcasing their work at International Arts & Artists’ arts center IA&A at Hillyer. Gavish’s “Crystal Architecture” installation transforms the space into an urban landscape with large prints of buildings on DC’s principal avenues. Dormitzer’s presentation “PONDERer, ING… or, I AM THE ASTEROID” centers on the concept of talking to yourself about simple yet profound concepts. These two exhibitions open alongside Transcendence, a group exhibit by LGBTQIA+ artists about gender constructs that was curated by Antonius Tin Bui, a Vietnamese-American artist who recently graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Join the opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday at 9 Hillyer Court NW. The exhibits will continue through March 31.

The Cherry Blossom PUB, a pop-up bar created by Drink Company, offers seasonally appropriate drink specials. (Photo by Nicholas Karlin)

8. Food & Drink: Next Wednesday, the National Park Service will announce its prediction for this year’s cherry blossom peak bloom. If you can’t wait that long, head to the Cherry Blossom PUB, 1839 7th St. NW, to get a dose of flowers right away. The Drink Company’s seasonal pop-up bar opened on Thursday and will run through April 21. Hours are from 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on other nights. Drink specials include “Once and Floral,” with orange flower water as well as “Cherry Blossom G&T,” with cherry blossom tonic.

9. Education: Girl Up GW, chartered by the United Nations to empower young women worldwide, presents a Women’s History Month Kickoff Gala on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, 950 New Hampshire Ave. NW. Female leaders from the university and elsewhere in DC will speak about opportunities for women in modern-day culture. Light fare will be served. Tickets cost $7. Cocktail attire is required.

10. Local Business: Femme Fatale DC will host an opening party for its new pop-up store — featuring merchandise from more than 20 womyn-owned DC businesses — on Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. in Columbia Heights at 3224 11th St. NW. The festivities will include live performances by Boomscat and DJ Kryptk, plus community art throughout the event. Since the pop-up is next to BloomBars, they are partnering together for the music and art portion of the night. There’s a suggested $15 charge, which includes entry to BloomBars.

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