Spring Fling @ All Over Washington

With spring upon us, there are a lot of arts-related and botanically bountiful settings people can enjoy outdoors in DC, before the humidity of the summer months sets in (a good time to hit air-conditioned art museums!).

Cherry Blossoms in Washington (Andrew Bossi/Wikimedia Commons)

Any attempt at an exhaustive list is inherently flawed because when there's so much of a good thing - such as art and culture offerings in DC - creating a single, say, "Top Ten" list is well nigh impossible.

So here's a purely subjective overview of things that are fun to do in springtime in Washington:

(1) NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL (March 20 - April 27, 2012)
Sure it's always crowded at the Tidal Basin when the blossoms are in bloom, and this year promises to be super crowded given that it's the 100th anniversary of this event that literally kicks off spring (and the summer tourism season) in DC, but they are just so gosh darn beautiful - so really, they're worth it.

This year's event includes a symposium on The Japanese Influence on American Craft.

And this After Hours CHERRY BLAST event The Pinkline Project is touting could be fun.

(Addendum: More Cherry Blossoms' fun stuff was covered by Art Beat on March 20.)

(2) Check out the UNITED STATES NATIONAL ARBORETUM to see bountiful blooms and escape the city for a few hours - minus the crowds swarming around the cherry blossoms downtown.

(If you like flowers, you may also want to experience Orchid Month at HILLWOOD.)

(3) Hang out with friends at an NGA JAZZ IN THE GARDEN event (2012 dates TBA)

Koi a the United States National Arboretum (Alexander Maier/Flickr)

(4) Tour the SCULPTURE ON THE GROUNDS at THE KREEGER MUSEUM (through July 2013), a beautiful retreat from downtown DC that is also home to a very fine permanent art collection.

(5) Take the elevator all the way to the top of THE OLD POST OFFICE PAVILION and enjoy the view. (And if you're into the history of news, stop by the NEWSEUM afterwards.)

(6) Follow a Heritage Trail or take a guided walking tour to find out more about Washington's history and architecture via CULTURAL TOURISM DC or other organizations such as ThingsToDoDC.

The Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington. (Wyn Van Devanter/Flickr)

(8) Visit GLEN ECHO PARK, see one of the art exhibits there, or attend Family Day (April 28, 2012), a free event which celebrates the opening of the Park's historic Dentzel Carousel for the 2012 season.

(9) Enjoy the grounds, attend an exhibition opening reception at AU's KATZEN ARTS CENTER, or other evening museum and gallery events, including HIRSHHORN AFTER HOURS (2012 events TBA).

(10) Visit DUMBARTON OAKS PARK, check out the Research Library and Collection while you're there, and sign up for one of the guided tours.

And - because no such list can ever be truly exhaustive (and because I am admittedly a bit of an arts blogging greenhorn) - check out what these folks recommend right here as springtime DC arts scene highlights.

The historic Dentzel Carousel at Glen Echo Park (chrisbb@prodigy.net/Flickr)

Spring Arts Preview @ WPOST

The Washington Post has released its SPRING ARTS PREVIEW, including a GOING OUT GUIDE: EXHIBITS featuring a comprehensive listing of 401 upcoming museum and gallery exhibits.

Feeling spoiled for choice?

The Post has added nifty little "check marks" to signify which shows have been singled out as Editor's Picks.

Among these  Editor's Picks one of my personal favorites is No. 399:

THE PEACOCK ROOM COMES TO AMERICA

"The Freer Gallery's Peacock Room, designed by James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903), will get a makeover to appear as it did in 1908, when it was the dining room of museum-founder Charles Lang Freer." - WPOST

Detail of The Peacock Room at the Freer Gallery of Art (c) TomR/Wikimedia Commons

I have taken several visitors and art lovers from out-of-town - some from as far afield as Vienna (an international jewel in the crown of top art cities if there ever was one!) - to the Freer in the past to see the Peacock Room and the Whistler paintings on display there.

All of them - including my creatively cerebral art lover friend from Vienna - were charmed by both the Peacock Room and the bemusing story behind its creation.

As the FREER points out on the joint FREER / SACKLER Web site:

PEACOCK ROOM SHUTTERS OPEN NEXT

ON THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012, Noon - 5:30 pm 

To learn about The Peacock Room (1876-77) before you go, visit A CLOSER LOOK.