Cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin. Courtesy the DC Public Library.
Spring is just around the corner — which means it’s time to trade winter coats for t-shirts; and stuffy, overheated buildings for open windows and fresh air.
To kick off the season, how about some Spring Cleaning? Join us in celebrating Return Those Borrowed Books Week from March 3 – 9. Log on to myALADIN (accessible through the library website) to see what books you have checked out from Trinity and other WRLC libraries. If you’re finished with a title, bring it back. If you owe any fines, spring is the perfect time to pay them. And if you’re afraid you’ve lost something, please come to the library and let us know. (We promise: it won’t be that bad.)
After spring cleaning, it’s smooth sailing into sunnier weather. March 20 is this year’s First Day of Spring and also marks the beginning of the 2013 Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from the government of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC. The trees are a symbol of lasting friendship between the two municipalities, and over time a plethora of celebrations and activities have grown up around the blossoming of these trees.
This year’s activities — many of which are free and open to the public — will include:
- Opening ceremonies on March 23. (Tickets required.)
- Japanese Culture Day at the Library of Congress (Thomas Jefferson Building) on March 23.
- Family Days @ the National Building Museum on March 23 & 24. Includes a range of family-friendly activities in the Museum’s breathtaking interior space.
- A Kite Festival on March 30.
- Soccer and rugby tournaments on April 6 & 7.
- A special ninja performance at the Spy Museum on April 13. The show is open to the public; additional activities require tickets.
- An ongoing, free scavenger hunt designed by the Spy Museum. Anyone with a smartphone can become a spy, unlocking clues and earning prizes.
The 1922 Cherry Blossoms. Courtesy the Library of Congress.
The trees themselves generally blossom mid-March through mid-April, so make a visit to the Tidal Basin and enjoy the scenery as long as it’s around. The average peak is typically April 4, but last year the flowers looked their best as early as March 20. Visit the festival website for full details and to see Park Service predictions about this year’s conditions.
Finally, as we head into March we can look forward to plenty of so-called “spring” showers. The Farmer’s Almanac is calling for lots of wet and slushy weather this spring, so make sure you dress appropriately.
After all, March is National Umbrella Month — don’t leave home without one!