Take a world tour without leaving the neighborhood: If you’ve ever wanted to see what’s inside the many embassies in and near Van Ness and Embassy Row (Massachusetts Avenue), now’s your chance. On Saturday, May 6th, non-European Union embassies open their doors to visitors for an “Around the World Tour,” and on Saturday, May 13th, it’s the E.U.’s turn to show off at embassy events. Entry is free, but bring cash to purchase food, if available. Here’s a tip from Events DC: “Embassies on International Drive are larger and often have shorter lines than those on Embassy Row.”
The neighborhood embassies hosting May 6th open houses are Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, Georgia, Morocco, Ethiopia and Jordan. Tanzania and Uganda will be hosting events at UDC. (Here’s a map.) On May 13th, the closest E.U. open houses are at the embassies of Austria, Slovakia, the Netherlands (which is sharing its space with Belgium and Luxembourg), Hungary and Czechia. (Here’s the E.U. locations map.)
Just add plants: If you’ve enjoyed seeing the Connecticut Avenue treeboxes in bloom this spring, consider spending a couple of hours one Saturday or Sunday planting even more flowers. Van Ness Main Street and Kathy Sykes are hosting planting events during the first three weekends of this month. The plants are nearly all native to the area, help feed and sustain native insects, birds and other pollinators, and they’re just plain nice to look at! The volunteer events are from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and you can sign up by emailing sykeskathy@yahoo.com. Children and older students in need of community service hours are welcome.
Pull some weeds: Rock Creek Conservancy has “oases” within the park where it’s been working to remove invasive species and restore native plants to their rightful place. One of these projects is at Rock Creek Trail 9, where Broad Branch Road meets Beach Drive. Volunteers are invited to an oasis restoration event at this site on Saturday, May 20th. Register here. Another oasis, in Reservation 630 West, needs volunteers for a May 27th restoration event.
Support area nonprofits: Northwest Neighbors Village, an aging-in-place network that connects members with volunteers, is hosting a virtual “Tickets for a Cause” event on Tuesday, May 23rd. Purchase a $100 raffle ticket for chances to win one of a dozen prizes (including a weekend at a lake house, baseball tickets, and a Hillwood visit), and an invitation to a backyard cocktail celebration in June.
And on May 20th, the literacy nonprofit Turning the Page will be setting up its used books and music pop-up shop outside the Van Ness Main Street office at 4340 Connecticut Avenue.
What’s happening at Peirce Mill: The return of milling season at the two-century-old mill has been delayed by a very modern construction project: the installation of a new fire suppression system in the barn. As a result, the mill is closed even for tours some weekends this month. Friends of Peirce Mill suggests checking the Rock Creek Park NPS alerts page before you go.
If you’re an artist who enjoys teaching your craft (and getting paid for it), one thing you can do this month is apply to lead a workshop at Peirce Mill’s June 10th “Create by the Creek” event. Friends of Peirce Mills says subjects could include plein air watercolor painting, botanical drawing and nature photography.
What’s happening at Hillwood: Azaleas and other brightly colored flowering plants are popping out all over. Now, imagine how they look in Hillwood’s expansive gardens. Take one of Hillwood Museum’s “Gardener’s Focus Tours,” or take a self-guided tour through the grounds. Also, on May 18th, the museum is hosting a concert inspired by the exhibition Determined Women: Collectors, Artists, and Designers. The concert will feature works by two women who blazed trails in the 20th century as musicians and composers.
This is only a partial list of neighborhood happenings! To find more, check out our community calendar. And please let us know if we’ve missed anything of interest in May, or send us your tips for June and beyond.
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