Style on the Go: Saturday, July 4, 2009: New Horizons Aboard Anacostia Shuttle

In the midst of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, with all those people milling around, it's been a little hard to spot the new Anacostia Community Museum shuttle service stop on the Mall.

But this summer, the far-flung Smithsonian museum hopes that the Northwest/Mall crowds will take notice of the stop and, better, take the shuttle across the river to see what Anacostia is all about.

And why not? No longer is Dupont Circle the nucleus of Washington night life: This year, we went to Southeast for baseball, Artomatic, the Honfleur Gallery and a Pink Line party, and to Southwest for a pool party. And, well, Northeast has its own little night-life row that has been around a few years.

Last week, we took the weekends-only shuttle, which has been running for just a short time. The museum is on the small side, so it took us just an hour or so to see both "Jubilee: African American Celebration," a major exhibition that chronicles African American celebrations, and "Separate and Unequaled," a show about black baseball, in particular the old Washington team the Grays.

But we also found the shuttle itself a reason to make the trip. Between gossiping with the (very knowledgeable) driver, we got a chance to peek at Anacostia's big houses and little rowhouses, an elementary school, quaint shops lining Good Hope Road SE, the bustling swimming pool across from the museum and the rolling hills.

We passed a lookout that offers a stunning view of the Capitol, and the shuttle driver (who says he grew up in Southeast Washington), explained that it is a favorite spot for watching Fourth of July fireworks. Another stop on the shuttle is the Frederick Douglass home, the hilltop estate (now a national historic site) where the black leader and statesman lived in his later years.

This week, the museum plans to make the ride even better. It's adding a tour guide presentation on the bus, to help you get to know the community even better.

The Anacostia Community Museum shuttle is free. Pickups at the Smithsonian Castle (1000 Jefferson Dr. SW) run about every hour from 10 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. The last pickup from the museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, is at 3:05 p.m. For a full schedule of times and stops, visit http://www.anacostia.si.edu. For information, 202-633-4844. The museum shuttle runs weekends through Sept. 20.

The District

Closing Artomatic

The annual multi-floor art extravaganza is about to close. If you haven't made it out, here's your reminder: The show features floor after floor of mini-exhibitions of work in a previously vacant, charmingly raw office building. Artists pay to play and put in time volunteering at the site; what this means is the show can be a very mixed bag. Today, despite the holiday, Artomatic has plenty of performances slated, and face-painting for kids. Free (cash bar). The exhibit closes tomorrow. Noon-1 a.m. today; noon-10 p.m. tomorrow. 55 M St. SE (at Navy Yard Metro station). Visit http://www.artomatic.org.

Northern Virginia

Concert Those Darlins

We first wrote about this adorable Tennessee trio when the group came through as the opener for the Black Keys' Dan Auerbach. But we just can't get Those Darlins out of our head. They're what you'd get if you crossed Loretta Lynn and the Donnas -- a delicious, punk, tongue-in-cheek twist on old country that includes such giggly lines as "I got drunk and I ate a chicken." And it rocks. The band plays Iota on Tuesday, and we expect it will be one hilarious hootenanny. $12. 21 and older only. 8:30 p.m. 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-522-8340 or http://www.iotaclubandcafe.com.

The District

For Families Celebrate at the Archives

Reasons to spend the Fourth of July at the National Archives: the "dramatic" reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the building; the pomp of the color guard and drum corps; the chance to get your picture taken with Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (okay, not the real Founding Fathers, but reenactors). Events this morning begin at 10 on the Constitution Avenue steps; later, head inside to see the "Big!" exhibit, look at historical documents, try using a quill pen and, uh, get a temporary tattoo? Whatev. Free. Events run from 10 a.m. to about 3 p.m.; the Charters of Freedom will have extended viewing hours, till 9 p.m. National Archives, Constitution Avenue and Seventh Street NW. 202-357-5000 or http://www.archives.gov.

The District

Concert Milkshake

Today, take your kids out to a concert just for them, and still have time left over to scout out a spot from which to watch fireworks tonight (the Mall is a brisk walk away). The Kennedy Center hosts Milkshake, a band that follows the current "kindie" trend, with songs aimed at parents who are cool and kids who will someday be cooler. Free. 6 p.m. today. Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. 202-467-4600 or http://www.kennedy-center.org.