Whether you live in an apartment with a balcony, a house with a huge backyard, or have no outside space to call your own, it is nice to have some greenery to add a touch of nature to your life.
Don Hirsch, a former designer for HGTV’s Curb Appeal, will be giving tips to improve the exterior and interior your home on August 7 at the Smithsonian Associates’ event “Home Makeover Magic.”
So, I decided to embrace my inner HGTV-lover and look for some creative ways to add a touch of green to any home.
Terrariums
Recently I started buying fresh flowers to spruce up my room, but they die so quickly and have to be replaced so often that they can become a hassle. For someone like myself who doesn’t have a green thumb, I needed something that would bring nature into my room without needing a lot of attention.
Recently, I was introduced to the terrarium craze that is going around. These are low maintenance plants that can be kept indoors, and the best part is that you become a landscaper because you can design them yourself! This tutorial for how to make a hanging terrarium globe is just one of many. You can buy them pre-planted at stores like Whole Foods, or you can get ideas online for ways to DIY, like these from Buzzfeed.
Let Gardening Hacks Make Your Life Easier
There are tons of gardening tricks out there, and if you are a pro, then you probably know most of them! But there is always something to learn, and if you are new to the gardening scene then make sure to check out some tips to make your life easier!
One trick that we have seen is the wine cork lanting board that uses wine corks to make holes for seeds in the ground. Want to try out this DIY project? Check it out here.
One tip suggests starting a seedling in a lemon rind
Find a Creative way Display Your Greenery
This old ladder was found and recycled into a series of shelves to hold potted plants! There are plenty of unique ways to display your green thumb’s work, but we thought this one was pretty cool. It takes some work, but it pays off, and if you’re up for the challenge there is a DIY tutorial to show you how they did it!
If you are looking for a quick and simple way to show off your greenery, try some of these ideas from Buzzfeed. There are some great ideas for both the indoors and outdoors. Putting plants in cinderblocks is always a great way to add creative flare!
Spruce Up Your Patio
If you have a patio instead of a garden or backyard, there are ways you can add some greenery! This tutorial on how to make a planter that your patio table umbrella can slide right through is an awesome way to start.
Terrariums are great for patios, and the previous tip on display methods can provide other ways to let your green thumb run wild even if you don’t have ground space! If you don’t have a large patio, consider options that allow you to stack plants. Here is an idea that requires a bit more work, but it can be as simple as stacking your pots in size order!
Ornate Stepping Stones
If you have more of a backyard area to work with, and are looking for something to create a walkway through your garden, you should look into adding stepping stones with some character. Try this tutorial for leaf shaped stepping stones; they are unique and will add to the outdoor feel of your garden. If you want something a little more classic for your backyard, check out this DIY walkthrough for concrete stones designed from rubber door mats!
If you enjoy interior design or just want to add some love to your home make sure to check out “Home Makeover Magic with HGTV’s Don Hirsch” on August 7. Find out more and get tickets here.
Written by Emily Hines, social media intern at The Smithsonian Associates.
In my previous blog post on Shakespeare, I wrote about how Shakespeare’s timeless themes are one of the many reasons that he is still so beloved after 450 years. During the Smithsonian Associates’ lecture “Shakespeare 450: A Standing Ovation,” on Tuesday evening, Carol Ann Lloyd Stanger illustrated this with a heartwarming and beautiful example.
In a war camp in Syria, children and families live in a community made of tents and dirt roads. The children don’t attend school; it is the least of their concerns. Syrian actor-turned-director Nawwar Bulbul was not okay with the prospect of these children losing valuable time in their lives for education and imagination. So, with the help of some of his friends, he created “Shakespeare’s Tent.”
Photo by: Khalil Mazraawi
This is a place where children can come to put on productions of Shakespeare with one requirement: they have to promise Bulbul that they will return to school as soon as they can.
With the promise made, the children set to work to put on their productions of KingLear and Hamlet. Both are plays that deal with themes of loss, honesty, and power. The most important part of these productions for Bulbul is the line, “to be or not to be,” from Hamlet.
Photo by: Khalil Mazraawi
“They so craved a safe place to talk about lives, fears, their sense of loss… and that place was Shakespeare,” Stanger explained.
The children performed their plays in the center of the camp, on a stage that took the form of a giant square drawn in the sand, with swords made of brooms and old broken pipes. They wore the clothes that they had on that day. Families and friends came to watch the performance and eventually they were invited to Amman to perform for an even larger crowd.
These children’s entire view of themselves changed. They had the confidence to perform in front of all of these people. They had a way to cope with the challenges that they faced. And they were shown the endless possibilities that are out there. As one girl commented, she could “be an actor, or a doctor, who knows?”
And as one child said, “I do not feel lonely anymore.”
Photo by: Khalil Mazraawi
With this story in mind, Stanger begged the question: Why Shakespeare?
Why do we continue to read the works of a man who was born 450 years ago? Why did Bulbul choose him as a path for these children’s education?
The first answer that popped into my head was the themes. King Lear and Hamlet are tragedies that feature dark issues. The characters face loss, the corruption and changing of power, and the choice between what is right and what is wrong. This may not directly reflect the lives of the reader or viewer (or actor, in this case), but the emotions and tribulations behind the themes are universal, as are the ways in which we deal with them. These children used dark plays written over 400 years ago to cope with the emotions they faced and the violence around them.
Stanger had a much longer list of reasons for “Why Shakespeare?” which she calls her Shakespeare Top 10. She used this list to not only shed light on the question at hand, but also to provide the audience with a look into the life and times of Shakespeare.
10. Right Time: In England, during Shakespeare’s life, there were many changes occurring. It was a time for exploration into new worlds, new sciences, and new social structures. These new findings and ideas needed new language to communicate them, and Shakespeare was just the man for the job. It was also a time when there was a shift from theater as a group of traveling players to theater as an established building, or “the theater” as we think of it today.
9. Right Place: Shakespeare’s father held many civic positions in their town of Stratford Upon Avon. One of these positions, bailiff, required that he approve all plays that were to be put on for the people of the town. Players would come to his house and perform just for him. It isn’t hard to imagine a young wide-eyed Shakespeare sitting with his father watching these plays and having his interest for the theater heightened. Shakespeare was an actor before he was a playwright, and it is speculated that he may have joined one of these traveling groups that came through his town.
8. Royal Support: During Shakespeare’s time as an actor and a playwright, two monarchs held the throne: Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. Both were highly fond of pageantry, celebration, and flamboyance which led to an interest in the theater. There was serious censorship during this time and more often than not, one would write their plays to please the monarch. Stanger mentioned a fun story: many like to think Queen Elizabeth I loved the character of Falstaff in Henry IV so much, that she asked Shakespeare use him more often. From this came The Merry Wives of Windsor, where Falstaff makes more of an appearance.
7. Social Changes: Social mobility was becoming more of a factor at the time. Shakespeare applied to have a coat of arms made for his father which can be seen at the Folger Shakespeare Library. The fact that a family with as little political power as Shakespeare’s would be granted a coat of arms was a reflection of the times. More and more people were applying and being granted coats of arms during his time.
6. Actor’s Eye: As mentioned previously, Shakespeare was an actor before he was a playwright. He may have acted in some of his own plays, and some scholars think he performed as the Ghost of Hamlet in his productions of Hamlet. Plays were written not to be read, but to be watched, and Shakespeare’s experience as an actor gave him valuable insight when he transitioned to the role of a playwright. He knew how to write for the actors, for the stage, and for the audience.
5. Comedies: Shakespeare’s comedies almost always feature the promise of marriage, a trick or a prank, a world that has been put back together, a knot that has been unknotted, and family. Some examples are Much Ado About Nothing, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Twelfth Night.
4. Histories: The history plays, while often dreaded the most by school children, are “endlessly adaptable” as Stanger says. They feature both the past and what is to come, politics then and now, and question who is and who should be king. In his history plays, Shakespeare does not hesitate to play around with characters and plot, to make it more entertaining, as long as the historical outcome is the same. Modern renditions of the history plays can be used to reflect sentiments at the time.
3. Tragedies: Shakespeare’s tragedies have the ability to bring us to the edge of our seat, to tears, and to cause us to think deeply about the questions he poses through his characters and their actions. There is almost always an ending where the world is still broken and the death toll is high. “It’s being catapulted toward an outcome you can't prevent," Stanger comments, and I think this is what keeps us so intrigued and interested. We so desperately want Romeo to wake up in time, or Othello to find out the truth about Desdemona, but we know with Shakespeare’s tragedies it is not likely.
2. Timeless: If I have said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. Shakespeare’s themes, and even some of his characters, are timeless. That is why the children in Syria performed his plays and that is why many people are gathering throughout the world this year to celebrate his 450th birthday.
1. Language: Stanger pointed out to the audience that, because most of Shakespeare’s plays were based off of existing narratives, the theater goers did not attend his productions for the plot or the outcome, but instead they must have gone to listen to the beautiful language that he crafted.
Written by Emily Hines, social media intern at The Smithsonian Associates.
If I had a knack for science, I would definitely have studied to be an animal conservationist. The thought of spending my day with animals both big and small is heaven, but I often forget just how much science goes into being a veterinarian or working in conservation like Pierre Comizzoli, a reproductive physiologist at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.
Red panda babies recently born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Comizzoli has jokingly been called the “father of Bao Bao,” as it was his and his colleagues’ efforts that led to the adorable giant panda’s birth. I know I do not just speak for myself when I say that I would LOVE to be able to play with the Zoo’s celebrity cub, but what most of us don’t know is the hard work that went into Bao Bao and many of the other animals at the zoo.
“The phrase ‘zoo’ has evolved quite a bit,” said Comizzoli, mentioning how zoos now are far more interested in scientific efforts and reintroducing animals into the wild than they were when they first originated.
“The zoo is a place for family time and seeing the animals, but it is also a place for science and conservation,” he told the audience.
This is good news considering every day in the news we hear that more and more animals are added to the endangered species list, or worse – the extinct list. The limited number of remaining animals proves to be a problem for reproduction. If too few animals are left to revive the species, their offspring may be inbred. This leads to a decrease in what Comizzoli calls “genetic diversity.”
If animals across a species have diverse genetic makeups, then they will pass on the best genes to their offspring as generations go on and produce even more diverse offspring. If the makeups are not diverse, as is the case in inbred animals, then they keep passing along the same traits. Many of these traits may be negative and because of inbreeding will never be eradicated from the species.
To combat this, scientists have begun assisting in the reproduction of endangered species in captivity. The stress of being in captivity means that reproduction may not occur naturally, so scientists have developed methods to help with this, and to promote genetic diversity. With these methods they can reintroduce beneficial genes into a population.
Processes such as in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination are used to assist in the conservation of these endangered animals. Freezing reproductive materials in liquid nitrogen is a big part of these efforts. While it might seem as easy as freezing an egg or reproductive tissue (sometimes they can freeze an entire ovary, imagine the size of an elephant's!), it is much more difficult and scientific than that. Cryobiology, the official term for the collection and storage of biomaterials for conservation and biomedical science, is a growing field.
Each species’ genetic material reacts differently to the processes and therefore must be studied closely and have an individual procedure. Each animal’s reproductive behavior is also different and must be taken into consideration.
For example, Comizzoli pointed out the interesting fact that wild cats, most of which are endangered, ovulate at different times across species. For some, it is induced by mating, and for others it is spontaneous, oddly enough. To figure this out took many years of studying the animal’s behavior and numerous tests.
There are many success stories that Comizzoli touched on, the first of course being very dear to most of our hearts – Bao Bao. In the 1990s there was a very low number of Giant Pandas in China and the rest of the world. Those in captivity had stunted development and poor genetic diversity due to inbreeding which made reproduction difficult on conservationists’ part.
The solution they devised was to use artificial insemination. They also separated the males and females because, after studying giant pandas in the wild, they found that males and females interacted very little outside of mating. To make matters difficult, there is only one period of time during the year that female giant pandas can reproduce, so they had to time the artificial insemination exactly.
Bao Bao at the Smithsonian's National Zoo
The effort was a huge success with 300 pandas now in captivity, which can lead to greater genetic diversity in the population. It is unknown exactly how many giant pandas are in the wild, but it is estimated to be about 1,600. However, the destruction of the giant pandas’ natural habitat has caused population fragmentation, which leads to inbreeding because of how the species is separated across their remaining habitat.
Work is being done to restore and reconnect their natural habitats so groups of giant pandas can mix, and with this comes the possibility for reintroducing those animals in captivity back into the wild.
With all of this in mind, Comizzoli stressed the importance of “filling the gap between technology and ecology, and creating a link between the lab and the field.” Without technology none of this conservation would be possible. Scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and institutions around the world are working to create more cost and time effective ways of conserving our planet’s endangered species.
A lot of science goes into creating these cute cuddly animals we love to visit and see pictures of, and next time I am at the zoo oohing and ahhing over Bao Bao, I will make sure to remember that.
For more information on cryobiology at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo check out this article from the Zoogoer.
Written by Emily Hines, social media intern at The Smithsonian Associates.
The Bard turns 450 this year! I find it pretty amazing that after 450 years we are still reading Shakespeare’s work. I used to wonder what all of the fuss with Shakespeare was about, so I signed up for a class my sophomore year of college. Come my first day, Norton anthology in hand, when I looked around the classroom full of seniors who were rattling off all of the plays they had read, I was embarrassed that I even thought I could attempt to understand Shakespeare’s writing and be on par with these older and more experienced students.
In the iconic play Hamlet, Polonius asks Hamlet, “What do you read, my lord?” Hamlet responds with the famous line, “Words, words, words.” That’s all Shakespeare is really made up of—words—but the Bard is still intimidating. While my Shakespeare class was not my easiest that semester, and understanding all of those words was extremely difficult, the time I put into attempting to grasp the meaning behind each work made it the most rewarding class I have taken.
The reason Shakespeare’s work was able to gain my attention was the ability that I had to relate to the themes and hidden moral and philosophical questions that Shakespeare posed. Shakespeare’s plays have themes we can connect to today, 450 years later, which is probably the most amazing thing about his work! Plays about love, loss, jealousy, money, history, forgiveness, and time just skim the surface of his themes that bridge the gap between Early Modern English writing and modern day life.
Not only has he left us with works that apply to all humans at some point in their life, but he left us with some pretty awesome vocabulary as well! We use more phrases and words in modern English that can be attributed to Shakespeare than you may think. Check some of them about below, and see if you can even guess what play they are from!
It doesn’t take an expert on Shakespeare to know that the legacy he left behind is pretty amazing! Newbies to the author and just general fans like me can look at the list of modern adaptations in film, writing, and on the stage and see that after 450 years the Bard is still creating magic.
In many of Shakespeare’s sonnets, especially Sonnet 60, he wrote about how time destroys all things, but art may have the ability to stand the test of time. Shakespeare has definitely accomplished that with his work, and that is what we will be celebrating in our program, “Shakespeare at 450: A Standing Ovation” on 7/15.
Carol Ann Lloyd Stanger, a Tudor and Renaissance scholar and education specialist at the Folger Shakespeare Library, will be with us to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday and to talk about the legacy he has left on our culture! Get your tickets and learn more here.
Written by Emily Hines, social media intern at The Smithsonian Associates.
Tea plays a large role in many cultures around the world. Here are just a few countries and how tea shapes their culture and daily life.
China:
Chinese legend holds that tea originated in 2727 BC when an emperor was purifying water and some tea leaves blew into his water. The emperor was captivated by the smell and taste of what the leaves created and since then tea has shaped the Chinese culture.
Tea was first used for medicinal purposes and then shifted into a beverage. Its medicinal uses have not been lost though, and drinking it can be seen as a way to help with meditating practices.
According to Food Network, China is the biggest producer of the plant and grows almost 29% of the world’s tea. Found in the mountains of the Sichuan province, the most expensive tea in the world can be about $200 for a small cup.
India:
In India, the legend is that a Buddhist monk traveled to China and vowed not to sleep for 9 years. When he started to get sleepy a few years into his trip, he discovered tea leaves and began chewing on them. The caffeine from the tea gave him the energy and alertness that he needed to stay awake for the rest of his journey.
Tea did not become widely popular in India until the 19th century when the British occupied the country. Because of tea’s relatively short history in the country, India does not have rituals like China and Japan; however, they are one of the largest importers of tea.
Japan:
The Japanese tale on the origin of tea is very similar to that of India; however, the traveling monk does fall asleep. When he awakes he is so disappointed in himself that he tears off his eyelids and throws them away. Where they land is the location of the first tea plant.
The Japanese culture, much like the Chinese, sees tea as a sacred plant. There were many schools dedicated to creating and learning ceremonies surrounding tea. Finally, one ceremony was decided upon for all future use, and it still used around the world today. The ceremony is used for the preparation of green tea and focuses more on the movements and gestures than tea itself.
Sixteen Century tea men took great pride in their tea jars, the shapes, and the textures. One of these types of jars wa the Chigusa and was displayed in a tearoom with special ornamental dressing for guests.
It is hard picture English culture without a pause in the day for “afternoon tea.” Tea was brought to England in the 1600’s and at this time it was popular custom to eat one very large meal in the morning and one in the late evening. As the day wore on, people naturally grew hungry. Thus, tea time was adopted as a way to hold back hunger until dinner. The tradition is not just one that fuels the stomach, but also the social life. It was adopted first by the working class as a way to take a much needed break in the day and socialize with friends.
The United States:
While tea originated long before America was established, the teabag can be accredited to American Thomas Sullivan. He delivered samples of his tea in silk pouches and his customers did not know to empty the pouches and instead put the entire thing in water. This gave Sullivan the idea for teabags in 1904, and since this convenience has been adopted across the world.
The Smithsonian Associates will be hosting Louise Cort, curator of ceramics at Freer and Sackler Galleries; Michael Harney, vice president of Harney & Sons Tea, a New York-based family business; and Calli O’Brien, director of sales and marketing for DoMatcha, a line of Japanese green teas. They will discuss the history of tea and how it has shaped society, culture, and art around the world. Come learn why tea is timeless at Tea Across Time on July 9th. You can also taste a variety of new teas and maybe find a new favorite. Get your tickets here!
Read full descriptions of these countries’ tea cultures here.
Written by Emily Hines, social media intern at The Smithsonian Associates.
Presented by Discovery Theater and the National Museum of Natural History
Written by Tess Duncan, intern at The Smithsonian Associates; 06/13
Videos by Jamal Toye, intern at The Smithsonian Associates
The Smithsonian Institution houses millions of exhibits and puts on countless programs. Each becomes a portal to a different world- old, new, and worlds yet to be discovered. Today, I was transported back to 1906 onto a vessel called the Albatross as it journeyed around the North Pacific Ocean. The tale was told in live theater by an actor, Josh Sticklin, playing Austin Clark, a scientist with the Smithsonian and passenger on the Albatross.
The dynamic tale had it all: “A calamitous earthquake…a young bride left behind…a voyage to faraway shores…unknown creatures of the deep…robbery and tragic death…a pet goat.” The compelling short play was interactive and inspirational, fit for all ages. The video and the musical score that accompanied Sticklin were by award-winners Matt Nielson and Jared Mezzocchi. Through true experiential learning, the audience was awed and inspired by the fact that 71% of our planet is covered by ocean, yet 95% of what it holds remains a mystery to us.
To uncover some of the mysteries, Ocean Educator Dr. Dave Pawson, [pictured above] was invited down to tell the audience more about the impact of Austin Clark and his findings. Clark discovered 600 species throughout his journey on the Albatross, and one hundred years later his specimens still fill the Sant Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History [some specimens collected by Clark are pictured below].
Pictured above: Sea Lily and Dwarf Lantern Shark
Pictured above: Giant Isopod & Monk and Angler Fish
Clark received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, but found after graduation he was made for adventure, not graduate school. Originally a “bird man,” his expedition on the Albatross introduced Clark to the creatures of the deep. The Albatross would pull a weighted net along the ocean floor, pulling up haul after haul of new species of aquatic life. Clark recorded these specimens through sketches in his field journal and preserved others for future study. Upon his return to the United States, he took his specimens and research to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. He spent the rest of his life there, living next to the captain of the Albatross and working at the Smithsonian, but he never again went on an oceanic voyage.
Discovery Theater is the Smithsonian’s theatre for young audiences. They put on the Albatross Expedition production in honor of World Oceans Week. Discovery Theater marries live performance with the rich diversity of Smithsonian exhibitions, quite literally making the museum come alive. Discovery Theater will put on Native Pride Dancers, Diggity Dudes, Human Beatbox, and POP-UP Science in the following month. Tickets are going fast and several days of Human Beatbox and POP-UP Science have SOLD OUT. More details about Discovery Theater can be found on their website or by liking their Facebook Page.
“Better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times.”
This Asian Proverb is something Patricia Schultz, author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, lives by. She has traveled to an unimaginable number of countries, and I say unimaginable not only because the number is definitely large, but also because Schultz has never counted her journeys.
“I think it is important to look forward, not backward,” she told the audience at her lecture “1,000 Places and Beyond” on Wednesday night.
How did such a well-known travel writer get into traveling the world? Study abroad. Schultz stressed the importance of this life-changing opportunity to be “removed from your comfort zone.” During her abroad experience she said that you realize “in that moment you know you are lucky.”
This “gift” of travel so young is not something that everyone is blessed with though.
Schultz met Edith, a 90-year-old woman, in the lobby of the hotel they were both staying at in Macchu Picchu, where Schultz needed oxygen because of the high altitude. Edith, unaffected by the low pressure, was there on her 70th anniversary trip with her husband.
She told Schultz that her great grandchildren had given her a travel book and a highlighter and told her to pick one place she would like to go, and they would send her there.
Edith chose Macchu Picchu saying, “You have to get the difficult trips out of the way.”
Her first US passport, with its first stamps, was for the trip to Machu Picchu. The book that inspired the trip? You guessed it: 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.
Schultz then proceeded to tell the audience her top destinations for travel, with pictures and tips for each of the places.
All of the countries and cities that Schultz mentioned in her lecture
“Lush, green, brooding, and poetic,” Scotland was the first place on Schultz’s list. From Scotland a trip to London is only 4 hours by train, and then from London only 2 hours to Paris!
Schultz’s favorite place to visit? Italy. She says, everything “makes a lot more sense when you go to your homeland.” Venice, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast all make her list of the best places to go when you are in Italy. She said a lot of people are afraid to get lost in Venice so they avoid it, but the city is too “mystical, romantic, magical, and beautiful” to pass up.
The Canals of Venice | Photo by Emily Hines
“I love going to Venice in the off-season because in the summer it is too crowded. If you go in the shoulder season the prices are lower and the locals are nicer,” she said. This advice was not exclusive to Venice. Most cities are less crowded in the off-season which Schultz finds means you can find the beauty and romance in a city much more easily.
Russia, especially Moscow and St. Petersburg , was one country that Schultz stressed to the audience. The winter and summer palaces are ornate and will leave visitors speechless. Each city is a unique experience; Schultz calls them “night and day.”
While her favorite place to visit is Italy, the African Safari takes the place of Schultz’s favorite experience. South Africa’s Kruger National Park was one place she suggested to see the Big 5. Botswana also has boat safaris down rivers and canals that sound like something I’m definitely adding to my bucket list.
Baby Elephants in South Africa | Photo by Emily Hines
Petra and Jerusalem are great places for exploring old history. In Jerusalem especially Schultz said, “It’s quite easy to wander down an alleyway and feel like you’ve been transported back centuries.”
In China, “anything in the world can happen.” If you want a more modern experience, Shanghai is for you, but if you want to explore outside of the city, Schultz suggests the Yunnan Province.
Want something that might possibly be way out of your comfort zone? Try Japan, where Schultz said, “nothing is familiar and everything is exotic and beautiful.” Get a city experience in Tokyo, or in Kyoto see the Geishas.
Istanbul is becoming a more and more popular place to travel and Schultz suggests jumping on board! The city is beautiful and the people are welcoming: “You leave a meal with all new family and friends.”
Schultz signed books after the lecture
Some unique places that made the list: Slovenia, Ethiopia and Mongolia. Each of these destinations provides insight into new cultures that many have never explored before. Schultz suggests that when visiting places like this, or anywhere really, you get a specialized tour guide – not someone who advertises several locations. Her suggestions of tour services can be found in her book!
Personally, Mongolia sounded like that next place that I would want to visit – with its huge stretches of beautiful scenery and its nomadic culture. “It reminds me of Montana,” Schultz said, “but times a gazillion.”
General Tips:
Some places, especially Europe are perfect for traveling by train. It is almost easier and more convenient than air travel.
Tickets for museums and crowded sites can be bought online now, allowing you to beat the rush!
Do your homework and research, don’t miss the good stuff.
Written by Emily Hines, social media intern at The Smithsonian Associates.
When we think of our genes and our DNA, common traits like eye color, hair color, and height all come to mind. Maybe we resent a trait that the generations before us passed down; my unwanted trait is my unruly hair, especially in this summer humidity. Sometimes though, we think fondly of our inherited traits: dimples, curling our tongues, freckles.
The National Museum of Natural History’s exhibit Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code celebrates the growing innovations in DNA sequencing and the complexity of the human genome. The exhibit includes flow charts that allow visitors to see how common a handful of their genetic traits are, interactive elements, and informational videos.
Genetics and DNA are not as simple as our physical traits though and can affect things like sense of smell and sense of taste. On Friday, June 27th, the Smithsonian Associates will be hosting a DNA Mix in the Museum where you can grab a cocktail and wander the exhibit after museum hours. A range of scientists will also be present at the event to discuss various topics in DNA and its complexities.
Do you find yourself smelling others’ perfumes and colognes while no one else around you has a problem with it? In Excuse Me, Your Genes are Smelling, Dr. Shurjo Sen from the National Institute of Health Sciences will explain how you inherit the sensitivity of your sense of smell. You can take the Smelly Gene Test, which will show you where you fall on the sensitivity spectrum for common foods, and why you may love blue cheese and others don’t.
Dr. Danielle Reed from the Monell Chemical Senses Institute will be one of the scientists present. In her presentation Gin, Tonic, & Genotypes, she will show how our DNA sequence affects differences in bitter and sweet taste receptors. This varied perception of bitter ingredients affects whether we find the taste of a gin and tonic to be intense or mild. Make sure to find Dr. Reed, grab a gin and tonic, and test your taste buds!
In addition to these scientists and many more, there will be jazz music, food and drink, and the chance to Get to Know Your DNA. Pat Phelps, a Smithsonian genetics education specialist, will be hosting trivia, and showing you how to create a necklace with a model of your own DNA strand. Make sure to find her when you are there so you can taste a bit of miracle fruit and see what tongue-tripping happens!
The scientists, various activities including jewelry making, the music, and the cocktails are sure to make for an evening as unique as our DNA. Friday, June 27th the DNA Mix in the Museum will be a wonderful mixture of science and socialization as you mix and mingle in the Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History. Tickets are on sale now!
Written by Emily Hines, social media intern at The Smithsonian Associates.
As a child when my parents mentioned visiting D.C. and the Smithsonian for the first time, I immediately thought of the giant elephant in the rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History. What I didn’t realize was that there is an entire room at the museum filled with reconstructed and stuffed animals just like the elephant. Even more completely unknown to me at the time was that it is a career and hobby called taxidermy that produces the animals found in Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals.
Paul Rhymer is the taxidermist responsible for many of the animals in the hall, as was his father. Even though the Smithsonian no longer employs a full-time taxidermist, the art is regaining popularity in light of reality television shows such as Science Channel’s Oddities, Animal Planet’s American Stuffers, and where you may recognize Rhymer as a judge, AMC’s Immortalized.
Taxidermy is fascinating and requires artistic skill, meticulous work, and a love for science and conservation. To discuss his work in light of its boost in popularity Rhymer will be at the Smithsonian on June 24th, so in preparation I decided to roam the Hall of Mammals today.
Despite the number of field trips and families in the hall I decided to edge forward. I was shocked at how these animals are just as realistic looking to me as a young adult as they were when I was a child. There is no doubt in my mind that hours of detail-oriented and passionate work went into each and every animal. It was clear that each animal had been given special care and attention to ensure that its characteristics and appearance were as realistic as possible. I saw visitors gawking over the hippo with its mouth wide open, exposing its huge pointy teeth. All of the animals’ fur and skin were well taken care of with little sign of aging.
Looking at each of the animals, how they were positioned according to the scene they were a part of and the realistic nature of their appearance, I wondered exactly how much work went into each one. The pieces vary in size so it was clear that each takes a unique amount of work. A fifteen-foot giraffe that Rhymer worked on took three solid days of stitching.
I loved not only looking around the room at all of the animals, but also the people watching. Children, their teachers, and their parents alike all marveled at the works. You don’t have to be a 10-year-old boy visiting the National Museum of Natural History for the first time in order to enjoy the exhibit.
Walking through the hall, visitors can see two generations of handiwork. Some of Rhymer’s displays worth stopping to admire are the zebras that can be found at the watering hole (a favorite of many of the visiting children I saw), the large giraffe, the nursing oryx, and the wolf that is ready to pounce.
On Tuesday, June 24th you can take a walk through the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals with Rhymer as he discusses his work in the museum. You can hear about the copious hours spent working and the elements that went into each animal from the creator himself. What better way to explore the exhibit, hear more about the fascinating process behind taxidermy and ask any questions you may have about the animals? Join the Smithsonian Associates for Paul Rhymer, Celebrity Taxidermist: Mounting Interest in a Lost Art.
Written by Emily Hines, social media intern at The Smithsonian Associates.
I’ve often mentioned that one of my favorite perks here is not only getting to attend wonderful events, but also having the opportunity to visit the various museums around the Mall. For my last blog post, I wanted to venture beyond the Mall…I wanted to go to The National Zoo.
Last Friday I had the opportunity to do so. It was a perfect afternoon. At 3 p.m. on Friday, all of the field trip groups had left, parents with young children were wrapping up their afternoon, and other adults hadn’t left work yet. There were definitely a few other people around, but it almost felt like I had the place to myself. Luckily, I had a few great traveling companions with me. Some friends from school had the afternoon off and decided to join.
I didn’t get to see all the baby animals; the lion cubs won’t make their official debut until June (but they did recently pass their swim test). However, there’s still plenty to see at the zoo:
Bao Bao was napping when we visited
If you can’t have your own afternoon escape to the Zoo, you can keep an eye on the animals any time with the Zoo’s many webcams: Panda Cam, Lion Cub Cam, Orangutan Cam, and more.
Tickets to “The National Zoo’s Newest Arrivals: How to Save a Species” are $30 for members and $42 for general admission. The event will be held on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 from 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. in the National Zoo’s Visitor Center. Tickets are available here.
Written by Courtney Guth, social media intern at The Smithsonian Associates. This is Courtney's last post. She will graduate from the University of Maryland next week and begin the Disney College Program in the fall.
