Notice to Our Patrons

Eugenia Cheng, author of Beyond Infinity: An Expedition to the Outer Limits of Mathematics, investigates the universe’s largest possible topic, demonstrating how one little symbol can hold the biggest idea of all.

Monday, July 24, 2017 - 6:45 p.m.

Mezcal has a reputation as a bit of an outlaw in the spirits world—it’s been periodically banned and restricted—and its edgy flavor notes match its history. Miguel Lancha of José Andrés ThinkFoodGroup joins Joe Yonan of the Washington Post to explore the booming popularity of this Mexican import and the intriguing story behind tequila’s smoky sister.

Thursday, July 13, 2017 - 6:45 p.m.

Mallows Bay on the lower Potomac is the site of a “ghost fleet” of nearly 200 wrecked vessels dating from the Revolutionary War through World War I. There’s no better vantage point than a two-person kayak from which to experience this dramatic collection, as well as to explore the bay’s marshy tributaries filled with abundant wildlife.

Saturday, July 8, 2017 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Sip a cocktail in the presence of a Hollywood icon (in photos and film clips that is) during an evening in the stylish spirit of the Portrait Gallery’s exhibition Marlene Dietrich: Dressed for the Image. In an after-hours gathering, historian and exhibit curator Kate Lemay discusses the star’s career and her trademark glamour, as well the making of the retrospective.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017 - 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Marie Curie may have been the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, but women have made their mark in the sciences long before and after that 1903 accolade. Historian Marsha Richmond tells the stories of influential women celebrated as scientific innovators, as well as those whose opportunities and work were denied or repressed. (An optional tour of the Smithsonian Libraries’ Biodiversity Heritage Library is available to program participants.)

Monday, July 10, 2017 - 6:45 p.m.