Fourth of July 2006 Long Weekend in DC

Sat 1 Jul 2006 11:25:55

It's the pre-Fourth of July long weekend (although I still need to go to work a bit on Monday), and DC is buzzing with things to do, beyond the standard museums and memorials and fireworks.

• The Smithsonian's new Reynolds Center (formerly the Old Patent Office Building), home to the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, reopens today after years of renovation work. Amy and I are on our way to the ribbon-cutting right now. Free ice cream!
• The 2006 Folklife Festival is open on the National Mall, featuring Alberta and native basketry.
• Superman Returns is out, and there's no better way to watch it than in IMAX 3-frickin'-D at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center. (The catch is that you need to drive there, because the shuttle bus schedule doesn't accomodate the Superman showtimes: the first showing of the day ends just as the last shuttle is leaving to go back to the Mall.)
• On the Fourth itself, the Independence Day parade starts 11:45 AM at Constitution Ave and 7th Street, which is right by the Archives.
• The evening fireworks start just after 9pm; DC Pages has a map of prime fireworks viewing areas. Amy and I are going to try for the Capitol, since it's closest to home.

What are you up to in your neighborhood for this 4th of July weekend? (Remember, Philippines, this is our "real" Independence Day, too.)

Update: Fireworks photos here.