panda 50th anniversary 

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Expert advice for visiting the pandas at the National Zoo - The Washington Post

COVER STORY: tips for visiting pandas at the zoo (fritz)

It started with two goodwill ambassadors named Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, whose 1972 arrival in Washington included an <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2022/03/16/pandas-china-nixon-dc/" target="_blank">official welcome from first lady Pat Nixon</a>. Fifty years later, it’s impossible to discuss the Smithsonian’s National Zoo without giving special prominence to the giant pandas — especially the succession of cubs that have <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/kidspost/2022/04/04/giant-pandas-have-been-stars-national-zoo-50-years/" target="_blank">captivated and charmed</a> visitors since 2005.

Through Aug. 27, the zoo is marking the giant panda program’s <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/celebrating-50-years-giant-pandas" target="_blank">golden anniversary</a> with special events, but going to see Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and rambunctious little <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/national-zoo-reveals-panda-cubs-name-little-miracle/2020/11/23/50e49d90-2387-11eb-8672-c281c7a2c96e_story.html" target="_blank">Xiao Qi Ji</a> can make any day delightful. Beyond the demonstrations and discussions over the next week, we also asked the experts to tell us how to make the most of a visit to the Panda House.

What’s the latest on zoo hours and admission?

The zoo was one of the first Smithsonian sites to return to a daily operating schedule. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the last entrance at 3 p.m., and admission remains free. However, visitors do need to <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/entry-passes-tickets" target=_blank>reserve daily passes</a>, which can be claimed up to 30 days in advance. If the date you want is full, be patient: The zoo says more passes are regularly released both one week and one day out. It’s also important to note that these are not timed passes — if you claim passes for April 17, you can enter at any time after 8 a.m. However, you should reserve the passes before arriving at the zoo.

Giant pandas came to the zoo 50 years ago and changed D.C. forever

What is Xiao Qi Ji’s schedule like? What are the best times to see him eating or playing?

Watching Xiao Qi Ji climb trees, fall out of trees and scamper after his mother is a big part of the pandas’ appeal. “Now that he’s 1½ years old, he follows a similar schedule to Tian Tian and Mei Xiang,” says Laurie Thompson, the assistant curator of giant pandas. “Giant pandas tend to be most active early in the morning, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and in the early afternoon, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.”

Is there a fun or interesting vantage point for seeing the pandas that visitors often overlook?

Thompson reminds visitors that there are both upper and lower walkways in the outdoor viewing area. “One of Xiao Qi Ji’s favorite spots is an evergreen tree in the outdoor habitat,” she says. “If he is up the tree when you arrive, head up the upper walkway — there’s a chance you’ll have a great eye-to-eye view.”

If a visitor arrives at the outdoor enclosure and doesn’t see any pandas right away, is there a particular place they like to hide?

“Look up!” Thompson says. “Xiao Qi Ji likes to climb trees.”

Also, look around and see if there are any humans in the enclosure, which might be a clue. “If the pandas hear keepers cleaning near the Panda House, they may trot over and ‘supervise’ them as they go about their daily duties,” Thompson adds. “Just like his father, Tian Tian, Xiao Qi Ji often approaches the mesh and seems to enjoy when keepers tickle his paws, scratch his head or give his ears a gentle tug. He also likes to <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/pandastory-splashing-good-time" target="_blank">play in the hose spray</a>.”

A Chinese cigarette tin launched D.C.'s love affair with pandas

Are there particular times for panda feedings?

Food is placed in the giant panda habitats before visitors arrive, around 7:30 a.m., and then again at human lunchtime — usually between 12:30 and 1 p.m., says keeper Nicole MacCorkle. Beyond their beloved bamboo, the pandas receive fruits and vegetables. MacCorkle says they “seem to have a taste for sweeter foods, including sweet potatoes, apples and pears.”

As any parent knows, just because you put food in front of a youngster doesn’t mean they’re going to eat it. “Xiao Qi Ji has tried many different foods, and sweet potato is his favorite by far,” MacCorkle says. But “just like his father, Tian Tian, and sister, Bao Bao, he isn’t too fond of carrots.”

Giant pandas have been stars at the National Zoo for 50 years

I’ve watched videos of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSXhyMEmSsQ&ab_channel=Smithsonian%27sNationalZoo" target=_blank>Xiao Qi Ji eating ice pops</a> on the zoo website. When do the pandas get those?

Pandas receive treats multiple times each day, MacCorkle says. A favorite are <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/pandastory-panda-personality-shines" target=_blank>fruitsicles</a> — ice pops made of diluted fruit juice and water — that serve double duty by keeping the animals cool on warm days. “They receive fruitsicles a couple times per week,” MacCorkle says. “However, keepers don’t give them out on a set schedule.”

What are the balls and toys the pandas are playing with?

Just being handed a pile of bamboo every day isn’t stimulating for the pandas. To encourage them to forage, MacCorkle says, keepers <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/pandastory-tickles-and-treasure-hunting-xiao-qi-ji" target="_blank">hide treats and food items</a> in contraptions called puzzle feeders. “The bears have to think about how to get the food out, then roll, spin or shake their feeders to get the tasty treats inside,” MacCorkle explains.

Do any of the pandas prefer being inside to outside?

A giant panda’s native habitat is in forests in the mountains of south-central China, which, MacCorkle points out, “does not typically get as hot as Washington, D.C., does in the summer. Giant pandas prefer temperatures of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit or below.” While the indoor areas of the Panda House are air-conditioned, pandas have opportunities to cool off outdoors in pools, caves and shady trees.

Is there an easy way to know whether the pandas are inside or outside the Panda House before I get there?

MacCorkle suggests that visitors pull up the <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/panda-cam" target=_blank>Panda Cam</a> while walking to the exhibit. A team of volunteers keeps the camera pointed at the bears during regular zoo hours, and it’s easy to tell whether they’re indoors or out.

How is Xiao Qi Ji’s personality different from that of Bei Bei and his other siblings?

“Watching this little cub develop into the smart, observant, inquisitive and goofy bear he is today has brought us a lot of joy,” says keeper Mariel Lally. “When <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/08/13/baby-panda-national-zoo-birthday/" target=_blank>Xiao Qi Ji</a> investigates his environment, he tends to be more cautious than his brothers and sister were. Whether climbing up or down, he takes his time and is careful about his footing. He very rarely misses a step.”

Pandas are solitary animals, and it’s customary for the zoo to separate mother and cub after the cub is weaned. How long will Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji be in the same enclosure?

A detailed explanation from Thompson, the assistant giant panda curator:

“Currently, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji have ample opportunities to interact. In the wild, a weaning giant panda cub would gradually move further away from its mother, until it is unable to see or hear her. To encourage Xiao Qi Ji’s independence, we have given Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji access to new outdoor and indoor habitats so that he can eat and explore enrichment items on his own for brief periods.

“These changes will help Xiao Qi Ji acclimate to adulthood, since giant pandas are solitary in the wild. Determining when the time is ‘right’ for separation is a delicate balance, as keeping a mother and cub together for longer than one or both are comfortable would eventually cause aggression between them.

“As seasoned experts in giant panda behavior, we know exactly what behavioral cues to look for. Once a cub is comfortable and confident in a new yard, it is best to give them independence. Tai Shan remained with Mei Xiang until he was 19½ months old; Bao Bao and Bei Bei separated from Mei Xiang when they were 18 months old.

“Normally, the arrival of spring ushers in giant panda breeding season. This year, however, will be different. At 23 years old, Mei Xiang is considered post-reproductive. With no breeding recommendation from our Chinese colleagues this year, we have a more relaxed timeline for Xiao Qi Ji’s separation.”

Giant Panda Cub Bei Bei Has First Birthday Celebration

staff photographer

What are Bei Bei, Bao Bao and Tai Shan up to these days?

Washington’s panda fans all have a favorite cub, so we asked the zoo to update us on former occupants of the Panda House. Tai Shan, known as “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2006/07/10/tai-shans-fans-flock-to-his-party-but-for-him-its-all-about-the-gifts/391c277b-b567-416d-a900-1b848d262250/" target=_blank>Butterstick</a>” due to his size at birth in 2005, was the first cub in National Zoo history to survive more than a few days. He <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/04/AR2009120401502.html" target=_blank>moved to China in 2010</a> to participate in breeding research and now lives at the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve in Sichuan, where he fathered a cub that was born in 2020.

Bao Bao, the first surviving female cub born at the zoo, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/bye-bye-bao-bao/2017/02/20/fcc832d4-f7a8-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html" target=_blank>left for China in 2017</a>, when she was 3½ years old. Like her older brother, she is now at the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve. She is the mother of three cubs: a female born in 2020 and twin males born in 2021.

Bei Bei, whom many expected to be the last cub born to Mei Xiang and Tian Tian (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/zoo-panda-gives-birth/2020/08/21/c5b1f7b2-df30-11ea-809e-b8be57ba616e_story.html" target=_blank>surprise!</a>), <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/bei-bei-the-giant-panda-leaves-national-zoo-in-dc-for-china/2019/11/19/1f58a390-0a13-11ea-97ac-a7ccc8dd1ebc_story.html" target=_blank>traded the National Zoo for China in 2019</a>. He is at the Bifengxia Panda Base and is expected to enter a breeding program when he reaches maturity.

The current panda family is expected to stay in Washington <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/kidspost/2022/04/04/giant-pandas-have-been-stars-national-zoo-50-years/" target=_blank>until December 2023</a>.

The “<a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/celebrating-50-years-giant-pandas" target="_blank">Pandaversary</a>” officially began in March, but it kicks into high gear this weekend.

April 16 is the 50th anniversary of Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing moving into the zoo, and a day-long <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/events/pandaversary-party" target="_blank">Pandaversary Party</a> features a lion dance (noon) and performances by the Gin Dance Company (11 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.) and musicians Shu-Ting and Huai-En Tsai (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.). The Smithsonian Channel’s documentary about Xiao Qi Ji, “The Miracle Panda,” makes its world premiere in the auditorium at the zoo’s visitor center, with screenings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Humans aren’t the only ones who get to enjoy the day: All three pandas receive special treats in their outdoor yards at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

April 17 is a little less busy, but the schedule includes a screening of “The Miracle Panda” at the visitor center at 1 p.m. and a performance by the Chinese dulcimer-meets-world-music duo Dong Xi from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Easter Monday has more attractions than pandas, including an Easter egg hunt on Lion-Tiger Hill, live music, games and animal demonstrations that include tiger feedings. Still, the zoo’s annual family celebration does include a visit from the Easter Panda. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

April 21: You’ve seen Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji. Now hear from the people who know them best during a panel discussion with zookeepers, veterinarians and scientists at the visitor center’s auditorium. “<a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/events/celebrating-50-panda-mazing-years" target="_blank">Celebrating 50 Panda-mazing Years</a>” is a behind-the-scenes look at the giant panda program, with experts covering such topics as “How to Make Baby Pandas” and “A Virtual Visit to China: Where Are Our Smithsonian’s National Zoo-born Giant Pandas Today?” Presentations are followed by a Q&amp;A with the speakers. Doors open at 6:30. $10 zoo members; $20 general public.

May 26: Brew at the Zoo, the zoo’s annual beer festival, “will be giant panda themed,” organizers say, though they haven’t specified what that means. Maybe a table full of bamboo beers — yes, such things exist — in addition to more than 50 craft beers and ciders available for unlimited sampling? Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 5. 6 to 9 p.m. $60.

Panda birthday parties: All the panda family birthdays fall in late summer, and the zoo plans to celebrate Mei Xiang (July 22), Xiao Qi Ji (Aug. 21) and Tian Tian (Aug. 27) in turn with special ice cakes and other treats.

Giant Panda cub, Bao Bao - Washington, DC

More visitors coming to see the pandas means more visitors who need food and drinks and ways to keep the kids happy. Eateries inside the zoo and restaurants and shops <a href="https://www.districtbridges.org/smithsonians-national-zoo/" target=_blank>in surrounding neighborhoods</a> are competing for this business with panda-themed specials and discounts. Here are a few worth noting; all deals in Woodley Park and Cleveland Park run through May 16.

Ben and Jerry’s: A “giant panda sundae” is made with vanilla and chocolate ice cream, whipped topping, rainbow sprinkles and two “ears” made of Oreo cookies. It’s available through April 22.

Dolci Gelati: Panda-shaped cookies are available Saturday through Monday.

Vintage Views: The <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vintageviewsbar/" target=_blank>pop-up trailer bar</a>, located near the zoo’s Great Meadow, serves “panda dreams,” a coconut mojito served with a bamboo straw, Saturday through Monday.

<a href="https://www.bakedbyyael.com/" target=_blank>Baked by Yael</a>: Located across from the zoo’s main gate, this bakery sells panda-shaped cake pops in chocolate, red velvet and birthday cake flavors. All zoo visitors receive 10 percent off. 3000 Connecticut Ave. NW.

<a href="https://www.coldstonecreamery.com/stores/23497" target=_blank>Coldstone Creamery</a>: Show a same-day zoo ticket at the Cleveland Park ice cream shop for 10 percent off any order. 3501 Connecticut Ave. NW.

<a href="https://www.dukesgrocery.com/dukescounter" target=_blank>Duke’s Counter</a>: The English-inspired bar and restaurant across Connecticut Avenue has created a menu of $12 panda cocktails. (Think “pandarita” and “panda colada.”) Children younger than 10 receive a free panda cookie. 3000 Connecticut Ave. NW.

<a href="http://hanpalacedc.com/" target=_blank>Han Palace</a>: A dim sum restaurant from the owner of Rockville’s China Garden and Tysons’ Han Palace opened earlier this month in Woodley Park. Take 10 percent off everything from soup dumplings to Peking duck. 2649 Connecticut Ave. NW.

<a href="https://tacocitydc.com/" target=_blank>Taco City</a>: The local mini-chain, which made The Post’s list of the area’s best tacos in 2019, offers 10 percent discounts at its Woodley Park location. 2604 Connecticut Ave. NW.

3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/" target=_blank>nationalzoo.si.edu</a>. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free; advance passes required.

Fritz Hahn has covered bars, drinks and nightlife for The Washington Post's Weekend section since 2003, but he also writes about a variety of local entertainment topics.

Fritz Hahn

Expert advice for visiting the pandas at the National Zoo

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Going Out Guide

Visiting the pandas at the National Zoo? Here’s some expert advice.

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The best things to do in the D.C. area the week of April 14-20 - The Washington Post

<a href="https://librarycalendar.fairfaxcounty.gov/event/8875708" target=_blank>Katie Mack at Fairfax Public Library</a>: When imagining how the world might end, most of us think of nuclear war, a meteor strike, maybe zombies taking over the Earth. But Katie Mack thinks about the bigger picture: Her 2020 book “The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking” looks at how the universe and everything in it might end — whether that’s over the course of billions of years or mere seconds from now. It’s an engaging, witty read that can be enjoyed by those who don’t consider themselves particularly “sciencey.” (The Post named it one of “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/most-2020-books/2020/11/18/eb1cc4a8-2384-11eb-a688-5298ad5d580a_story.html" target=_blank>the most 2020 books of 2020</a>.” Mack hosts an online discussion about her book and the apocalypse with the Fairfax County Public Library this week, and signed copies of “The End of Everything” will be available through Falls Church’s One More Page Books. 7 to 8 p.m. Free; registration required.

<a href="https://www.birchmere.com/events/sergio-mendes/" target=_blank>Sérgio Mendes at the Birchmere</a>: You can’t talk about bossa nova without mentioning Sérgio Mendes. With a career spanning over half a century, Mendes has had an impact on music that can be felt even in the present day as he reinvents the sound. His 2006 album “Timeless” gave a new spin to bossa nova by layering neo-soul and hip-hop influences into the mix. On “That Heat,” Erykah Badu’s angelic vocals glide over the jazzy piano while <a href="http://will.i.am/" target=_blank>Will.i.am</a> contributes his commanding, irrepressible flow to the angular chord progression and funky staccato. More than a decade later, Mendes forged another hip-hop collaboration with his 2020 single “Sabor Do Rio,” pairing Common with Mendes’s signature Latin influences. 7:30 p.m. $69.50.

<a href="https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?eventID=8F3BAE78-AEB6-BC48-51408BD7539BE05C&fuseaction=buy.event" target=_blank>Keiko Matsui at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club</a>: Japanese keyboardist Keiko Matsui treats the piano not as an instrument, but rather as a language. On songs such as “Invisible Rain,” from her 2019 album “Echo,” Matsui’s airy piano sounds as if it’s performing a call and response with the sultry guitar. “Journey to the Heart,” the title track of Matsui’s 2016 album, illustrates a whirlwind romance using nothing more than a series of sweeping key changes. Matsui’s take on jazz spans a wide range of not only decades but influences as well, crossing into Latin and contemporary pop, a kaleidoscope of East and West. 8 p.m. $59.

<a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/hip-hop/2021-2022/i-am-woman/" target=_blank>“I Am Woman: A Celebration of Women in Hip-Hop” at the Kennedy Center</a>: MC Lyte burst out of Flatbush in the late ’80s with songs like “I Cram to Understand U (Sam),” becoming the first female hip-hop solo artist to have a gold single (“Ruffneck”) and the first to earn a Grammy nomination. In the process, she blazed a trail for generations of female hip-hop artists. There’s no one more qualified than MC Lyte, a founding member of the Kennedy Center hip-hop Culture Council, to present a concert honoring the artistry of female emcees at the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall. The lineup of heavy hitters extends from the old-school to the new, with Da Brat, Monie Love and Yo Yo alongside Trina, Remy Ma, Mumu Fresh, Mama Sol and Tierra Whack, as well as MC Lyte herself. 8 p.m. $49-$149.

<a href="https://www.thelincolndc.com/e/cat-power-2/" target=_blank>Cat Power at the Lincoln Theatre</a>: Cover songs can be a beautiful thing. When an artist reimagines a song, it provides a new way to listen to something old. Or, when a track is faithfully covered, you can see the connectivity and admiration between singers across generations or genre. Cat Power understands this. Over eight records, the 50-year-old musician has tried to include a cover song on each — not to mention the three albums entirely made up of covers, including 2022’s fittingly titled “Covers.” Let yourself rethink Frank Ocean’s “Bad Religion” a la Cat as she throws a loopy, upbeat guitar that still delivers a potent gut punch. Or shed a tear to her abiding, tender cover of “These Days,” a wrenching song made famous by Nico about feeling the crushing weight of your mistakes in life and love. 8 p.m. $40.

<a href="https://www.secococktails.com/products/copy-of-cocktails-101-a-seco-cocktails-virtual-class?utm_campaign=emailmarketing_120776818735&utm_medium=email&utm_source=shopify_email" target=_blank>Cocktails 101 with Seco Cocktails</a>: Carlie Steiner was the mastermind behind the cocktail programs at beloved bars such as Dos Mamis. Steiner is continuing to spread her wisdom through Seco Cocktails, a company that provides virtual classes. If you’re looking to toast the arrival of consistently warm weather, but shaky on your cocktail-crafting skills, turn to this back-to-basics class. You’ll learn some handy rule-of-thumb ratios to improvise your own concoctions as well as tips on basic processes, such as when to stir or when to shake your drink. 7 p.m. $15. (Zoom link will be included in your confirmation email. A list of needed supplies will be sent separately.)

<a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/events/pandaversary-party" target="_blank">Pandaversary Party at the National Zoo</a>: This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of giant pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing moving into the National Zoo, and there’s a two-day Pandaversary to celebrate. Saturday, the big day, features a lion dance (noon) and performances by the Gin Dance Company (11 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.) and musicians Shu-Ting and Huai-En Tsai (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.). The Smithsonian Channel’s documentary about Xiao Qi Ji, “The Miracle Panda,” makes its world premiere in the auditorium at the zoo’s visitor center, with screenings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Humans aren’t the only ones who get to enjoy the day: All three pandas receive special treats in their outdoor yards at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday is a little less busy, but the schedule includes a screening of “The Miracle Panda” at the visitor center at 1 p.m. and a performance by the Chinese dulcimer-meets-world-music duo Dong Xi from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free, but <a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/entry-passes-tickets" target="_blank">entry passes must be reserved in advance</a>.

<a href="http://dcemancipationday.com/" target=_blank>D.C. Emancipation Day Parade and Concert</a>: In April 1862 – more than eight months before the Emancipation Proclamation – Congress passed the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which freed all enslaved people in Washington, while compensating their owners. Now a holiday in D.C., Emancipation Day is celebrated with a parade on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, beginning at 2 p.m.; a concert in Freedom Plaza with CeeLo Green, Slick Rick, Junkyard Band and Crystal Waters, among others; and a firework display, beginning at 8:30 p.m. 2 to 9 p.m. Free.

<a href="https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/event/petalpalooza/" target=_blank>Petalpalooza at Yards Park</a>: Not ready to let the cherry blossoms go quite yet? Yards Park’s annual celebration features live music on multiple stages, family-friendly activities and a beer garden. A trail of photo-friendly <a href="https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/event/petalpalooza-art-walk/" target=_blank>immersive art installations</a> leads from the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro station to the waterfront park. The party ends with a fireworks display set to music, beginning at 8:30 p.m. 1 to 9 p.m. Free.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcSq0jeLfs9/" target=_blank>Blossom Block Festival</a>: There’s more blossom-themed fun across the river, where the Blossom Block Festival comes to St. Elizabeth’s East. Live music, go-go bingo, murals and family activities are all on the agenda. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.

<a href="https://www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/calendar/events/george-washington-whiskey-tasting/" target=_blank>Whiskey tastings at Mount Vernon</a>: Find out what whiskey and brandy made by George Washington might have tasted like at this outdoor event at Mount Vernon, taking place on Saturday afternoons through the spring and early summer. Tickets include a tour of the estate’s working distillery and three samples of spirits made using 18th century distilling methods (with options such as peach brandy or premium rye whiskey), but do not include admission to the estate itself. 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays through June 25. $50-$60.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcGzU6pO79c/" target=_blank>Black Rock Star Super Hero Marketplace at Heurich House Museum</a>: In celebration of D.C.’s Emancipation Day holiday, the Heurich House Museum in Dupont plays host to an outdoor market with 10 Black-owned small businesses curated by <a href="https://chocolatecityrocks.com/" target=_blank>Chocolate City Rocks</a>. After shopping, grab a seat in the beer garden and sip local craft beers, or tour the indoor exhibit tracing the history of the Heurich brewery, which was D.C.’s largest for the first half of the 20th century. 1 to 5 p.m. Free.

<a href="https://www.thepocketdc.com/events/blkvapor-w-zhariah" target=_blank>Blkvapor at the Pocket at 7DrumCity</a>: It’s easy to want to make music that rages against expectations. But it’s harder to make it sound vital — and fun. Luckily, Blkvapor seems to have discovered the right formula. The Black and trans Baltimore punk trio has really only been at it for three years and has released a handful of grungy, snarling songs that sound as urgent as the last. Check out “A.P.P. (Abusive Power Play)” for vocalist/guitarist Safra Tadesse howling through a hazy and alluring cloud of guitars about an abusive relationship. Or turn to Blkvapor’s charming, ’90s alt-rock-inspired EP, “Vaporising,” for the band’s cleanest and clearest message: Things are bad, especially when you live on the margins, but you sure as hell better be there to try to lift each other up. 8 p.m. $15-$18.

<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/easter-hoppy-hour-and-meditation-with-bunnies-at-aslin-tickets-308276562497?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" target=_blank>Easter Hoppy Hour and Meditation with Bunnies at Aslin Beer Company (Alexandria)</a>: Looking for some serenity on Easter morning before a day of overseeing an Easter egg hunt or an awkward family dinner? Head to Aslin’s Alexandria brewery for a beer and guided meditation session alongside some adorable little bunnies from Tripple Springs Farm in Brandywine, Md. All ages are welcome to join the meditation part of the morning, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat or towel to sit and relax on. 10 a.m. $30.

<a href="https://www.maxwelldcwine.com/" target=_blank>Rose tasting at Maxwell Park Navy Yard</a>: Wine lovers will tell you there’s no time of the year when you shouldn’t drink rosé, but there’s something more refreshing about pink wine in the spring and early summer. Looking for something new and different? Spend 90 minutes sampling at least 20 different rosés during a walk-around tasting at Maxwell Park’s Navy Yard location, guided by five experts. If you find a wine you can’t live without, bottles will be available with special to-go prices. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. $30.

<a href="https://nationalzoo.si.edu/events/easter-monday" target=_blank>Easter Monday at the National Zoo</a>: The family-friendly tradition includes an Easter egg hunt on Lion-Tiger Hill, live music, games and animal demonstrations that include tiger feedings, elephants and a Komodo dragon egg hunt. Lest anyone forget that the zoo is celebrating 50 years of giant pandas, the event includes a visit from the Easter Panda. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free, but entry passes must be reserved in advance.

<a href="https://museum.gwu.edu/dc-mondays-latinx-refuge-dc-punk" target=_blank>Latinx Refuge for D.C. Punk talk</a>: Georgetown University history assistant professor Mike Amezcua discusses how D.C.'s punk community of the 1980s was shaped through the voices and presence of its Latinx members and spaces. Sure, you know the predominantly White names of the bands and musical figures, but if you’ve ever noticed how these iconic shows were played in places such as the basements of immigrant community churches, there’ll be something in this talk for you. Noon. Free; registration required (Zoom link and instructions for joining will be emailed).

<a href="https://www.sixthandi.org/event/janelle-monae-and-contributor-alaya-dawn-johnson/" target=_blank>Janelle Monáe book talk at Sixth and I</a>: Janelle Monáe burst on the scene as a songwriter with serious pipes and a knack for creating music with its own layered, sci-fi-inspired backstory. So it makes sense that the singer/actress is trying her hand at short fiction with a collection of Afrofuturist stories that channels the landscape of her “Dirty Computer” album. Monáe will discuss “The Memory Librarian” at Sixth &amp; I along with collaborator Alaya Dawn Johnson (one of many writers featured in the anthology). Drop in on this book talk moderated by writer Kimberly Drew either in person or online. 7 p.m. $34-$40.

<a href="https://www.blackcatdc.com/shows/indigo-de-souza.html" target=_blank>Indigo De Souza at the Black Cat</a>: On last year’s “Any Shape You Take,” singer-songwriter Indigo De Souza frequently eyes the great beyond through life-or-death love songs: “I’d rather die than see you cry” or “You were darker than death / when I spoke to you last” or “Kill me slowly, take me with you / Down to the garden where magnolias bloom … kill me in the morning.” Not everything is that heavy, though: Sometimes love is a late-night phone call or “breaking up with someone you love ’cause you know it’s gonna be for the better,” as she sings. Both moods cut just as deep in De Souza’s six-string slow burners, whether jangly or jagged, with bits of Auto-Tune and drum machine patterns sewn in. Sonically, “Any Shape You Take” is a departure from her 2018 debut, “I Love My Mom,” even though many of the songs were written at the same time. For that evolution, credit her growing — not just from a DIY setup to a more hi-fi one, but as a person, too. 7 p.m. $20-$24.

Indigo De Souza brings her life-or-death love songs to D.C.

<a href="https://www.unionstage.com/shows/juana-molina/" target=_blank>Juana Molina at Union Stage</a>: Juana Molina’s fans didn’t take well to her switch from acclaimed comedic actress to aspiring singer-songwriter. Her first record, “Rara,” released in 1996, was tepidly received and ignored by the local press in her native Argentina. Undaunted, Molina released “Segundo” in 2000. That album’s textured electronic landscapes and beautiful poetry, paired with her soft vocals and folk guitar, catapulted her to international success. On “Segundo,” Molina combines folk and electronic music, crafting melodies from loops, pitch-bend notes and other devices often found in more experimental contexts. Far from being detached, the lyrics in “Segundo” are filled with good humor, like Molina herself. Noisy birds, howling dogs and distrustful characters populate compositions with a concrete musical language based on improvisation, repetition and spontaneous vocal harmonies. These elements give “Segundo” the playfulness of Uruguayan singer Eduardo Mateo and the gravitas of Argentine musical polymath Leda Valladares. “I really like the narrative of ‘Segundo’; I like that all of its songs have a very visual world,” Molina says. “While making ‘Segundo,’ I’d get what I used to get when I listened to other records I liked: I felt it took me out for a ride.” 8 p.m. $20.

Experimental singer Juana Molina takes listeners into a visual world

<a href="https://www.strathmore.org/what-s-on/in-the-music-center/defiant-requiem-verdi-at-terezin/" target=_blank>“Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín” at Strathmore</a>: A performance of “Defiant Requiem: Verdi at Terezín” at Strathmore will mark the 20th anniversary of this moving multimedia show, which honors the bravery of the Jewish prisoners who performed Verdi’s Requiem mass within the walls of the Terezín concentration camp near Prague. At Strathmore, a live version of Verdi’s Requiem, conducted by “Defiant Requiem” creator Murry Sidlin, will be performed, alongside stories from survivors on video and historical film clips. 7:30 p.m. $35-$115.

Hau Chu is a reporter and editorial aide working with the Features department. He has written for KidsPost and previously worked at the New York Daily News.

Hau Chu

Maria Barrios

Adele Chapin is a freelance writer based in Alexandria. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Eater, BizBash and Condé Nast Traveler. 

Fritz Hahn

Washington, D.C.

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