#capitol-tours

#capitol-tours

Petalpalooza celebrates the peak bloom of cherry blossoms with art installations, a dazzling fireworks show, and live music along the Anacostia River this weekend.

The American public volubly aired its opposition to US president Donald Trump's plans to build a $400m, 22,000-sq.-ft ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House in an hours-long online meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) on Thursday (5 March). Led by White House staff secretary Will Scharf, who previously worked as Trump's personal lawyer, the commission is the final procedural hurdle the project needs to clear before construction can begin.

From boutique hotels to glamping getaways, we want to hear your opinions. Typically, we're the ones giving readers travel recommendations. But this year, we're asking you to share your opinions too. Do you have a hotel you love? A resort you keep going back to? We're asking you to nominate your favorite places to stay within a four-hour drive of Washington, DC, from country inns to destination spas. Your picks could end up in our May issue.

"The object of the Museum is to acquire power," announces a crusty old archaeologist in Penelope Fitzgerald's 1977 satire, The Golden Child. It isn't a goal he respects. He wants the museum where he's settled into semiretirement to genuinely devote itself to educating its visitors. Instead, he correctly charges, its curators act like a pack of Gollums, hoarding "the art and treasures of the earth" for their own self-aggrandizement and pleasure.

"It was interrupted by a thing called the Civil War, and so it never got built," Trump said aboard Air Force One as he flew to Florida last weekend. "Then, they almost built something in 1902, but it never happened."

Gallop downtown to ring in the Lunar New Year with family and friends at the Lunar New Year Parade. The year of the horse jamboree spotlights cultural performances and a firecracker finale between 6th and I streets, NW (Sun, free, Downtown). Lunar New Year Festival at the Smithsonian. Mark the year of the horse with art, jewelry-making, lion dance performances, food, and more at a Lunar New Year Festival. All ages can watch traditional drumming and cultural dance showcases from visiting groups such as Di Dim Sae Korean Traditional Art Institute and Vietnam Society (Sat, free, Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art).

Happy snow day, DC! Have a snowball fight, indulge in frosty food deals, and then venture out to the theater. There are several new performances opening this week, such as Chez Joey and world premieres from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Plus, Ramy Youssef arrives at Warner Theatre to tell his hilarious clean jokes. Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend January 26-February 1

"The White House stands not only as a residence of the for the nation's chief executive, but as an enduring emblem of the of democratic restraint, architectural elegance and the collective will of the people for over two centuries, its neoclassical facade, designed by James Hoban, and designed through careful evolutions, has symbolised a government of modesty and accessibility, unadorned by the gilded excesses of monarchies past."

Hidden from all visitors, the current location is no different than the basement the plaque was kept in for years. Senators unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution in January directing the architect's office to prominently display' the memorial in a publicly accessible' part of the Senate wing until it could be permanently installed on the building's western side, as required by a 2022 law signed by former President Biden.

Fully renovated in 2021, this rowhome features exposed brick and custom window treatments throughout, plus three outdoor spaces. The open-concept living room includes a gas fireplace, a large bay window for natural lighting, and wide-plank hardwood floors. The dining space includes a wet bar and wine fridge. Bedrooms include a king-sized primary bedroom, a second bedroom with a private balcony leading to a roof deck, and a basement bedroom with a full bath for guests.

Speaking to donors at a White House dinner, he revealed several scale models, inspired by Paris' Arc de Triomphe earning the project the nickname, 'Arc de Trump.' When asked by a CBS news reporter who the arch was for, he reportedly pointed to himself saying 'me,' adding that it would be 'really beautiful.'

She'd pulled on rain boots, driven about an hour and trudged through the mud of what her tour guide called "an industrial dump" early Saturday with dozens of other tourists to see "The Presidents Heads," a private collection of every ex-POTUS's sculpted likeness from Washington to George W. Bush. They're arranged in haphazard rows, with Andrew Jackson occupying a prime front spot simply because the owner likes his hair. The vibe is Stonehenge-meets-"The Walking Dead."

Playwright Rachel Bonds's new production narrates a woman's journey through school, romance, and the complexities of modern adulthood (Wed through April 19, $55+, Logan Circle).

Age has long been a point of debate in American politics, but it becomes especially controversial when lawmakers remain in office well beyond traditional retirement years. As the nation grapples with issues like healthcare, technology, and economic change, questions naturally arise about how age, generation status, and experience influence leadership at the highest levels of government. For some voters, longevity in office represents wisdom; for others, it raises concerns about representation and outdated reasoning.

The legislators released a video in November as US forces carried out air strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, and as US President Donald Trump ordered the National Guard to deploy to major US cities to crack down on undocumented migrants and crime. This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens, the lawmakers said in the video. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or Constitution, they said.

With a ring of massive columns and seating for more than 70,000 people, President Donald Trump may be getting the football stadium of his dreams. Renderings have just been released of the proposed design for a new stadium for the Washington Commanders NFL team, and the aesthetic is right in line with an architectural style the Trump administration has been championing with increasing passion.

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday amid attacks on civil liberties and marginalized communities, museums and galleries in the nation's capital are opening exhibitions that question what it means to be an American.The National Gallery of Art presents 115 works in Dear America while other shows focus on individual artists such as Mary Cassatt and Nick Cave, all in the pursuit of exploring "Americanism" as a facet of education, expression, and aesthetics.

This Sunday brings three capital-B Bowls: Super, Puppy and Benito. See below for our recommendations for where to spend your favorite one. Bad Bunny fans who want to get the halftime show started early have several dance party options Saturday night, and area bars (including Atlas Brew Works) are hosting events for the Winter Olympics from Opening Ceremonies onward. In addition to early Valentine's Day celebrations, this week has cozy crafting nights, another "Heated Rivalry" party and the kickoff of the D.C. Independent Film Festival.

Discover the history of five Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the museum's recently opened "At the Vanguard" exhibit throughout the month. This week, there's a curator tour about American military history on Wednesday, and a Harlem Renaissance book talk with writer A'Lelia Bundles on Thursday (exhibit closes July 19 , free, events require registration, Smithsonian NMAAHC).

This is one of the biggest holiday weekends of the year, as celebrations of Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day overlap and blur. (Sadly, no one organized our dream soiree with a brass band performing for singles dressed as Babe-raham Lincoln and other sexy presidents.) We have separate lists for the area's best Mardi Gras parties, Black History Month events, Lunar New Year celebrations,