AT THE SMITHSONIAN

Events January 4-7: Talk Back to Historic Figures, Weave the Mayan Way and Unplug with Musicians

A professor from the 19th century will take your questions, a Mayan weaver will craft a keepsake and an Indie group will keep you in the groove

Beth Py-Lieberman

Senior Editor

January 3, 2013

Pianist Sarah Fridrich performs this weekend at Luce Unplugged. Photo by Isabelle Carbonelle

Friday, January 4: Meet Joseph Henry

Climb aboard our history time capsule and have a chat with the Smithsonian first secretary, a well-turned-out gent, who walked the halls of the red brick Castle during the Civil War and ran the Institution from 1846 to 1878. Reenactors portray professor Joseph Henry (1797-1878), a man great intellect whose foresight and vision defined the Smithsonian and his words ring true even today. “There is poetry in science and the cultivation of the imagination,” he once wrote, “is an essential prerequisite to the successful investigation of nature.” Hang out with Henry most Fridays and Saturdays 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. National Museum of American History

Saturday, January 5: Maya Weaving Demonstration with Juanita Velasco

See something done right. Mayan weaver Juanita Velasco, who is fluent in the Ixil language spoken in Santa Maria Nebaj, Guatemala, shows you an unusual way to weave, demonstrating the traditional backstrap weaving techniques of her people. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. National Museum of the American Indian

Sunday, January 6: Luce Unplugged with Sarah Fridrich

An acoustic concert series, Luce Unplugged invites local musicians to perform. First take a tour with a museum staffer and then enjoy free coffee or tea and enjoy the music of . singer, song-writer and pianist Sarah Fridrich and drummer Kirk Kubicek. Their indie-pop, jazz influenced sound is reminiscent of Regina Spektor and Fiona Apple but with a sound completely their own. Talk at 1:30 p.m., music at 2 p.m Smithsonian American Art Museum

And if you happen to have a herd of family members curious to explore all the Smithsonian has to offer, just download our specially created Visitors Guide App. Get the most out of your trip to Washington, D.C. and the National Mall with this selection of custom-built tours, based on your available time and passions. From the editors of Smithsonian magazine, the app is also packed with handy navigational tools, maps, museum floor plans and museum information including ‘Greatest Hits’ for each Smithsonian museum.