WHAT: SMITHSONIAN at 8 presents “PostSecret Revealed: A Party at the Postal Museum”
WHEN: Friday, July 29, 8 to 11 p.m. (7 to 11 p.m. for VIP ticket-holders)
WHERE: National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE
Nothing spices up a party better than spilling a few secrets—and Frank Warren knows more than a million of them. That’s how many postcards from around the world have filled his mailbox since he started the wildly popular PostSecret project in 2004. The anonymous confessions—silly, moving, surprising, provocative, and sometimes disturbing—have already provided the material for six books. The Postal Museum’s exhibition PostSecret: The Power of a Postcard is the perfect reason for a party.
Guests can join Warren for an inside look at the PostSecret phenomenon, as he speaks exclusively with VIP ticket-holders from 7 to 8 p.m. The celebration continues with opportunities for guests to try their hand at crafting their own mail art, and post or tweet a secret they’ve been wanting to tell. They’ll also enjoy music by DJ Alkimist, cocktails, and more as they wander through some of the museum’s fascinating exhibits after hours.
PostSecret: The Power of a Postcard includes hundreds of thousands of postcards sent to Frank Warren. The exhibition tells a contemporary story of mail and the postal service, highlighting the aesthetics of the artfully decorated cards and the contrast between their anonymity and the shared experiences Warren creates with them. It also demonstrates the timeless yet modern quality of postcards and reflects the overlap amongst personal communication, digital technology, and social media at the heart of the PostSecret phenomenon.
Who knows what secrets might be revealed—or created—during the evening?
Copies of Warren’s six PostSecret books are available for sale and signing.
SPECIAL FEATURES FOR VIP TICKET-HOLDERS: Enjoy an exclusive conversation with Frank Warren from 7 to 8 p.m.
General admission $25
VIP admission $30
All ticket sales are final. No refunds or exchanges.
Must be 21 years old with valid photo ID to attend.
For tickets and further information the public may call 202-633-3030 or visit www.SMITHSONIANat8.com
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Bicycle Ride with the U.S. Park Police
Established by President George Washington and continuously on duty in the Nation’s Capital
since 1791, the United States Park Police protect the monuments and memorials of the National
Mall. Join Park Police officers and park rangers on a three-mile ride to Hains Point and back, and
learn about the history of East Potomac Park. Younger riders can try out an orange-cone obstacle
course and a half mile loop around the Park Police headquarters. Meet at 1100 Ohio Drive, SW.
7 a.m., 8 a.m. Lattes with Lincoln
Get caffeinated with the 16th commander-in-chief and learn how legislation signed by Abraham
Lincoln during the Civil War is considered by many to be the birth of the National Park System!
Meet the park ranger at the kiosk at 10 Henry Bacon Drive (north of the memorial).
9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Living National Park Service Emblem
Be a part of the world’s largest National Park Service emblem created on the grounds of the
Washington Monument on our 100th birthday! More than 1,000 participants will be assembled
into a living Arrowhead using brown, green and white umbrellas; once the Arrowhead is formed,
an aerial photograph will be taken and shared with participants on the National Mall and
Memorial Parks website and social media pages. The first 1,000 participants to check-in will
receive a t-shirt commemorating their participation in this historic event, as well as get to keep
their umbrella. Assemble at 9 a.m. on the west side of the Washington Monument grounds.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Rangerpalooza
The green and gray uniform and ranger’s “flat hat” are among the most recognized features of
the National Park Service. Celebrate 100 years of the National Park Service by learning about
the men and women who care for the national parks. Children of all ages can try on National
Park Service uniforms, see how the uniform has evolved through the years, earn a junior ranger
badge, and learn about the many jobs in National Park Service that protect America’s scenic
wonders and historic sites. Lincoln Memorial
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. America’s Front Yard Family Festival
Featuring live music, storytelling and other activities, this festival looks forward to the next
century of the National Park Service, highlighting today’s youth as the future stewards of our
national parks. Grammy-nominated rock band for kids Milkshake headlines an entertainment
lineup that also includes acoustic guitar and vocals by Ellis Woodward; Uncle Devon; lively
children’s sing-alongs with Yosi & the Superdads, the Great American Indian Dancers;
magic, music and juggling with the Wes Holly Balloon Magic Show; vocalist Erica Wheeler,
and YAP, who delivers national park themes through hip-hop music and culture. Constitution
Gardens
The festival also includes face painting, juggling, a corn maze and lots of other fun activities for
kids of all ages. Exhibits by more than 20 National Park Service partners will include Lego
models of national parks, virtual reality park tours, 3-D printing of National Mall monuments
and memorials, natural flora and fauna found in urban parks, and much more!
Shoppers are invited to their nearest Bloomingdale’s location on Saturday, October 8th to kick off Bloomingdale’s October Pink campaign with a morning yoga class by Corepower Yoga. A reservation fee of $10 will benefit The Marisa Acocella Marchetto Foundation and The Carey Foundation which support survivors and their families with cancer-related costs such as transportation, child care, and treatment. Attendees will receive a branded pink yoga mat and goodie bag of beauty samples and healthy treats. To reserve a mat, visit bloomingdalesyoga.eventbrite.com.
This is the 12 th year that Bloomingdale’s continues its commitment to breast cancer awareness and treatment during the month of October. This year the retailer will continue to support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, the Marisa Acocella Marchetto Foundation, and The Carey Foundation by inviting its loyal shoppers to join in the fight with exclusive merchandise and exciting events that help to raise awareness and funds for a cure, in stores nationwide and on bloomingdales.com.
When: Saturday October 8th
Check-in: 8:30 AM
Class: 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
Where: Bloomingdale’s Chevy Chase
5300 Western Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Bloomingdale’s Tysons Corner
8100 Tysons Corner Center, McLean, VA 22102
The Insane Inflatable 5K, a dynamic fun run series made up of inflatable obstacles and taking place in over 115 cities across the United States, is coming to Washington D.C. on October 15th, it was announced today by Stuart Kaul, Director of Events,Insane Inflatable 5K.
The Insane Inflatable 5K is designed to be accessible to everybody – from competitive runners looking for a different type of challenge, to weekend warriors looking for the next great obstacle run, and even those armchair athletes looking to try something fun and new. The course is approximately 3.1 miles long and incorporates 11+ extreme inflatable obstacles throughout the unique terrain of the Prince William County Fair.
The 11+ obstacles combine imagination, creativity, and most importantly a large dose of fun, coupled with a touch of insanity. The signature inflatables (including six new obstacles added for 2016!) range in size and complexity, including “Mad House,” where runners climb, weave, and maneuver their way through this intricate and challenging new inflatable, “Jump Around,” a fan favorite and the largest inflatable of its kind with more than 70 feet of bounce pad, and “Finish Line,” the most awe-inspiring inflatable of the event where participants dodge wrecking balls, make their way past the tipsy towers, climb the rope ladder, and slide their way to victory.
Beyond the obstacles and the race, the Insane Inflatable 5k will also have a “Midway” where participants can enjoy games, food, beverages, merchandise, and swag from local vendors and sponsors.
Runners 21 and older can enjoy refreshing, cold craft beer from the Traveler Beer Company at the official Insane Inflatable 5k Beer Garden and kick back on inflatable couches with friends, family, and fellow bouncers. There will be plenty of varieties to sample, like Traveler Grapefruit Shandy, as well as seasonal offerings like Curious Traveler Lemon Shandy or Jack-O Traveler Pumpkin Shandy.
Additionally, the event will give back to the community, designating a portion of the proceeds from the race to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay For Life movement. The Relay For Life movement is the world’s largest fundraising event to fight every cancer in every community, with over 6,000 events worldwide. Dollars raised help the American Cancer Society save lives by funding groundbreaking cancer research, providing free information and critical services for people with cancer, and supporting education and prevention programs.
The Washington D.C. event, taking place at the Prince William County Fair on Saturday, October 15th, will kick off at approximately 8:30 a.m. with the first wave, and additional waves will run concurrently until noon or 1:00 p.m.
“The Insane Inflatable 5k is the fastest-growing and largest obstacle run in the country, and 2016 is going to be Insane Inflatable 5K’s biggest, best, and bounciest year yet,” said Mr. Kaul. “We’ve listened to the feedback from our fans and updated our inflatable obstacles with crazy new designs. We’re taking the obstacle world to a whole new level with this insanity! Not only will there be new obstacles, but the Insane Inflatable 5K is excited to offer over 40 new locations and over 120 locations throughout the country in 2016.”
Registration fees, which include an event T-shirt and medal upon completion, range from $49 for advance registration to $75 for day of event registration. Children are welcome to participate, with a minimum height requirement of 42”.
For more information about the Insane Inflatable 5K and to register, visit www.insaneinflatable5k.com.