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Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler (1893) by John Singer Sargent. Image courtesy of the American Art Museum.

Monday, November 2: National Family Literacy Day

Knowledge is power (I know, it’s an overused phrase—but it’s true) and today is a great day to encourage the people in your family to pursue a lifetime full of reading. Enjoy storytelling sessions as well as theatrical performances that tie in to permanent museum exhibits like the Star Spangled Banner and the Greensboro lunch counter. Hopefully the day will inspire you to go home and do some reading on your own—and encourage you to talk about the things that grab your interest with those near and dear to you. Even if you aren’t in the DC area for this event, visit the website of the National Center for Family Literacy—who is co-sponsoring this event—to find programs in your area. Free. American History Museum, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM

Tuesday, November 3: FONZ Photo Club

If you’re a shutterbug with a penchant for snapping shots of critters, come on out to the National Zoo and participate in the FONZ (that’s Friends Of the National Zoo for those of you who think Henry Winkler when they see the word, FONZ) photo club’s monthly meeting. Share your photos, hear from speakers and learn about new techniques that may help you capture that picture perfect moment. You must already be a FONZ member to participate. For more information on the FONZ photo club and how to participate, check out their website. National Zoo, 7:00 PM

Wednesday, November 4: Portrait of Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler

John Singer Sargent had a knack for painting socialites and caused a perfectly marvelous scandal when he unveiled his Madame X in 1884. (The uproar over the painting was so great that it prompted him to move from Paris to London.) In tonight’s gallery talk led by deputy director emeritus Charles Robertson, come take a look at another work of Sargent’s: an 1893 portrait of Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler, heiress to the Astor fortune. Free. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 6:00 PM

Thursday, November 5: Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyond Limits

Photographer Dorothea Lange will perhaps be forever known for one photograph—a portrait of Florence Owens Thompson popularly known as Migrant Mother, which has become an iconic image of the Great Depression. Come listen to Linda Gordon, author of Dorothea Lange: A Life Beyond Limits, discuss the life and times of this famous photographer. A book signing will follow the lecture. Free. American Art Museum, 7:00 PM

Friday, November 6: Sounds of Africa

Modern music has a fair share of roots firmly planted in Africa, and today, Ugandan musician Daniel Ssuuna will teach you about African instruments as well as polyrhythms and syncopation. Visitors will also have the opportunity to play instruments. Ideal for visitors aged 6 and older. Free. African Art Museum, 10:30 AM. This event will repeat on November 20 at the same time and venue.

For more information on events and exhibitions at the Smithsonian museums, check our companion website, goSmithsonian.com, the official visitor’s guide to the Smithsonian.

Morris Kantor's "Baseball at Night"

The battle over (New Jersey) baseball’s championship trophy starts tonight as the New York Yankees host the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the World Series. At the Smithsonian, however, it is baseball season year-round. In the collections of the National Museum of American History, curators have obtained various items relating to the October (this year, the November) Classic. A sampling of the historic objects:

• Official programs from the 1919, 1952 and 1979 World Series
• Gameday ticket from the Colored World Series of 1934 that included squads from the Philadelphia Stars, the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the Black Yankees, and the Chicago Giants
• Parking certificate from Memorial Stadium in Baltimore from the 1979 World Series between the Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates
• A scorecard from a game from the 1951 series, decorated by small vignettes of baseball scenes in each of the four corners of the card.
• The actual third base used in the 2007 World Series, along with the jersey worn by Boston Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester.

These items, and other sports-related memorabilia, came to the museum either from staff who were serendipitously attending games or from donations. The Red Sox objects, for instance, came from the team itself. But a diehard baseball fanatic would notice one strange thing about this collection. Who won the 1952 World Series? The New York Yankees. What about 1951? The Yankees. Also in the collection, a pennant for the Yankees.

Does the Smithsonian have a pro-Yankee bias?

Not if Jane Rogers, American History’s associate curator for the Division of Music, Sports and Entertainment has anything to say about it. Her husband is a Orioles fan, so rooting for the Yankees is out of the question for her. Her sports allegiances are more tied to the Washington Redskins, but for the sake of her dignity, it’s probably best to pretend that isn’t the case this season.

None of the World Series items are currently on display, but if you have a hankering for some museum-style baseball, go to the American Art Museum’s “1934: A New Deal for Artists” and view Morris Kantor’s “Baseball at Night,” also seen above.

Celebrate Halloween at the Smithsonian! Insignia, VMF-531 Grey Ghosts, United States Marine Corps. Image courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum

Sorry kids, no special events happening at the Smithsonian today. But be sure to check out this site for a listing of regularly-scheduled happenings around the Institution.

Tuesday, October 27: American Art Museum Architectural Tour

They don’t build ‘em like they used to—which is why touring buildings like the former Patent Office Building (home to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery) can be so charming. But it’s oh so easy to pay more attention to the art on the walls than the building itself. That said, come gain an appreciation for the building that houses these world-class works of art in this architectural tour led by Deputy director emeritus Charles Robertson. Free. American Art Museum, 5:45

Wednesday, October 28: Ask an Expert: The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

In this lunchtime lecture, come listen to Tom Watters discuss the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter —a spacecraft launched earlier this year to scout out potential places on the Moon’s surface that would best accommodate an outpost and extend mankind’s presence in the solar system—and the early results of this mission. Free. Air and Space Museum, 12:00 PM

Thursday, October 29: The “Not So Spooky” Halloween Show

Halloween is so frequently celebrated with sights and sounds meant to send chills down your spine—so much so that the youngest members of your family may feel a little left out of the fun for fear of being, well, scared. So, for the littlest tricksters, here’s a treat from the Discovery Theater. Come out in your costumes and listen to two stories: the first, “Why the Bat Flies at Night” is a creation story from Africa that will be told with puppets, and the second, “The Ghosties’ Happy Day,” invites the audience to help tell the tale. Ideal for persons aged 2-7. Tickets are required. Rates are: $6 general admission, $5 for children, $4 for members, $4 for children of members, and children under the age of 2 are free, but please reserve a (free) ticket for those persons. S. Dillon Ripley Center, 10:15 AM. This event repeats on Saturday, October 31 at noon and will include a face painting activity.

Friday, October 30: A Salute to Judy Garland and Friends

It’s unfortunate to think that Judy Garland may now be best remembered for the tragic circumstances that filled her life and one of the ultimate camp icons as opposed to being remembered as a darn good entertainer. (Her crowning achievement may very well have been her 1961 performances at Carnegie Hall, memorialized on vinyl—and later CD—and acknowledged by the Library of Congress as an aesthetically and culturally significant recording.) Forty years after her death (and 70 years after she appeared in The Wizard of Oz), pianist Richard Glazier is presenting a tribute show featuring a host of songs that Garland made world-famous: “The Boy Next Door,” “The Trolley Song,” “The Man That Got Away” and, of course, “Over the Rainbow.” Tickets are required. Rates are: $25 general admission, $20 for Resident Associate members. Tickets may be purchased online. American History Museum, 7:30 PM

For more information on events and exhibitions at the Smithsonian museums, check our companion website, goSmithsonian.com, the official visitor’s guide to the Smithsonian.

Still Life with Pumpkin, Book and Sweet Potato (ca. 1855) by an anonymous photographer. Image courtesy of the American Art Museum.

Monday, October 19: A Stitch in Time: Block-by-Block Quilting Series

Ideal for persons aged 8 and older, this workshop will introduce you to the basics of quilting. That’s right, you too can gain the skill set required to make a piece suitable to keep you warm or to hang on the wall as a part of your eye-catching home decor. In this session, learn how to design and sew quilt squares together—and how to jazz up your work with appliqué designs. Cosponsored with the Daughters of Dorcas and Sons quilting organization. Sewing skills are not required. Free, but reservations are required. Call 202-633-4844 to reserve your spot and materials today. This series continues on selected Mondays: Nov. 16, Feb. 8, March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21. Anacostia Museum, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Tuesday, October 20: Gallery Talk with Joann Moser

In school, you learn your alphabet and how to read sentences just fine, but no one really takes the time to teach you how to read images. (And if you’re toddling around an art museum, the latter is a helpful skill to have.) Come on out to the American Art Museum and enjoy a tour of the exhibit What’s It All Mean: William T. Wiley in Retrospect led by senior curator Joann Moser, who will help you understand the symbols and allusions the artist uses in his work. Free. American Art Museum, 6:00 PM

Wednesday, October 21: The Problem of Frames

When you need to frame a piece of artwork for your home, it’s easy to take it to the nearest craft store or order the pieces you need online. What you get is rarely anything too fancy, so it’s easy to forget that frame making is an art unto itself and that there was a time when the frame used to house a painting was a presentation piece and part of the overall aesthetic experience. (Some of you may be familiar with the recent story of how the Metropolitan Museum of art is re-creating the elaborate frame that set off the iconic Washington Crossing the Delaware.) Come enjoy a tour led by American Art Museum frames conservator Martin Kotler who will discuss the art, craft and history of American frame making, as well as the challenges that museums face when it comes to framing pieces. You won’t be able to look at these home “accents” in the same way again. Free, Renwick Gallery, 12:00 PM

Thursday, October 22: Faces of the Frontier – Domingo Ghirardelli: Face-to-Face Portrait Talk

Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it in dew, cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two? Answer: Domingo Ghirardelli. (Yeah, yeah, the word “candyman” is a little more rhythmic. So sue me.) You may not know Domingo, but you’re more likely to be familiar with the chocolate that bears his surname. Setting up shop in San Francisco in 1852, his wares have been sating the American sweet tooth for generations. With Halloween on the horizon, there’s no better time to come on out to the Portrait Gallery and learn more about the man behind the candy than tonight, which features a gallery talk led by curator of photographs Ann Shumard. Free. Portrait Gallery, 6:00-6:30 PM

Friday, October 23: Boo at the Zoo

Perfect for persons ages two to 12, Boo at the Zoo provides families with a safe, fun and educational way to celebrate the Halloween holiday. Dress up and step on out to haunt the National Zoo where there will be 40 treat stations featuring an assortment of candy and snacks in addition to animal encounters and keeper talks. Tickets are required. Rates are: $15 for members, $25 for nonmembers, free admission for children under two. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Zoo’s Visitor Center. National Zoo, 5:30 PM-8:30 PM.

For more information on events and exhibitions at the Smithsonian museums, check our companion website, goSmithsonian.com, the official visitor’s guide to the Smithsonian.

Nocturne (1879-80) by James McNeill Whistler. Image courtesy of the Freer Gallery of Art.

Friday, October 16: The Woman Behind the New Deal

Come on out to the American Art Museum where Kirstin Downey is on board to tell you about Frances Perkins, an economist and social worker who, as FDR’s Secretary of Labor, shaped the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, the National Labor Relations Act, the Social Security Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act. A book signing will follow the lecture. Free. American Art Museum, 7:00 PM

Saturday, October 17: Owl Prowl

Owls have a reputation for being rather intelligent animals—but how wise are you to these creatures of the night? Come on out to the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and spend an evening prowling for owls along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline while learning all about how they live. Cost is $5 per person. Registration is strongly recommended, although walk-ins will be allowed to go on the tour if there is still room. To reserve a spot today, please call 443-482-2300. Also note that the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center is about a 30-minute drive outside of the Washington, DC area. For directions, go to this website. The Owl Prowl will begin at the Reed Conservation Center. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 8:00-9:30 PM

Sunday, October 18: The Texture of Night: Etchings by James McNeill Whistler

Some of you may be familiar with the cheap-but-intellectual pickup line, “Would you like to come up and see my etchings?” Well, if you’re James McNeill Whistler, you’ve got etchings worth seeing. Come on over to the Freer and immerse yourself in the world created by Whistler’s nighttime visions of London, Amsterdam and Venice. After viewing the art, head down to the ImaginAsia classroom where the younger members of your family can participate in an art activity where the little ones will get an opportunity to create their favorite real or imaginary nighttime scene. Free. Freer, 2:00 PM

For more information on events and exhibitions at the Smithsonian museums, check our companion website, goSmithsonian.com, the official visitor’s guide to the Smithsonian.

Detail of Crux (as seen from those who sleep on the surface of the earth under the night sky) (2008) by Brian Jungen. Photo by Ernest Amoroso, courtesy of the National Museum of the American Indian.

Monday, October 12: Book Signing

Robert F. Door will be available to autograph his book Hell Hawks!: The Untold Story of the American Fliers Who Savaged Hitler’s Wehrmacht. Free. Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 12:00-5:00 PM.

Tuesday, October 13: Celebramos Panama: A Musical Extravaganza

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Grupo Folklorico de Panama, which will demonstrate Panamanian music, dance and culture. Tickets are required. Rates are: $6 for adults; $5 for children (ages 2-16); $4 for Resident Members. Call 202-633-8700 to purchase. Natural History Museum, 10:15 AM.

Wednesday, October 14: The Nectar of Enlightenment: Buddhist Ritual Song and Dance from Korea

Come enjoy the pageantry of ancient Korean Buddhism, courtesy of the Young San Preservation Group. Arrive early to partake of a gallery tour of Buddhist art and stay for the show, which is full of dancing, chants and elaborate costumes. Free, but tickets are required. For ticket reservation information, visit the Freer’s website. Freer, 6:45 (gallery tour), 7:30 (concert)

Thursday, October 15: Punball: Only One Earth

So, you think you’re a sensation when it comes to pinball—if not a total pinball wizard? Come check out the whimsical new show by artist William T. Wiley and enjoy a rare opportunity to play one of his artworks: Punball: Only One Earth, a pinball machine with a worldly message. Free. American Art Museum, 5:30-6:30 PM. This event repeats October 29, November 12, December 3 and December 17.

Friday, October 16: Meet the Artist: Brian Jungen

Brian Jungen has a penchant for turning trash into artistic treasures, in his hands baseball gloves and discarded Air Jordans become fanciful works of sculpture. Meet the artist at the American Indian Museum where the Jungen will discuss his work and influences. Free. American Indian Museum, 7:00-8:30 PM

El Chandelier (1988) by Pepón Osorio. Image courtesy of the American Art Museum.

Friday, October 9: Latino Art in Transition

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by coming out to the American Art Museum and listening to a lecture conducted by Pepόn Osorio—who is perhaps best known for his large-scale installations—and emerging artist Miguel Luciano who will discuss how Latin art is changing. Free. American Art Museum, 7:00 PM

Saturday, October 10: Stamp Design: Big Message, Small Canvas

If you’re ever looking for cheap—but attractive—apartment art, it’s hard to go wrong with a nicely framed sheet of postage stamps. (This blogger has a sheet of Star Wars stamps proudly displayed in his living room—but still can’t decide what to do with Elvis and Marilyn.) Considering the breadth of subjects that stamps cover, there’s something suitable for every personality, and as I’ve mentioned, postage stamp design can be absolutely stunning. But how does an artist approach working on such a tiny canvas? Come on out to the Postal Museum and hear art director Ethel Kessler discuss how powerful messages—from breast cancer awareness to civil rights—are adapted to stamp-sized works of art without losing their punch. A question and answer session will follow. Free. National Postal Museum, 11:00 AM

Sunday, October 11: Steinway Series: Left Bank Concert Society

Come and enjoy the Left Bank Quartet with Colette Valentine, on piano, perform compositions from Bélla Bartók’s first string quartet, Ernö Dohnányi’s Piano Quintet, Op. 1, and György Kurtág’s Signs, Games, and Messages. Free. American Art Museum, 3:00 PM.

Shadow Artist (1920) by Norman Rockwell. Image courtesy of the American Art Museum.

“What’d you do, grow up in a Norman Rockwell painting?” Woody Allen sarcastically quipped in the movie Annie Hall, reacting to his newfound lady love’s description of her blissful all-American family life. Whether or not you agree with the snarky attitude, that line is a testament to the fact that Rockwell created the definitive vision of American apple pie, a visual vocabulary to describe all the wonderful little things that make up a part of our cultural identity. But his artwork is much more than waxing nostalgic on our nation’s values. In addition to being a consummate draftsman, Rockwell was an adept storyteller and his artwork dealt with topical issues of the day, highlighting the heroism of the average American life.

George Lucas and Stephen Spielberg—who ply their storytelling craft with celluloid instead of paint and brushes—have amassed a collection of Rockwell paintings and a selection of 50 of those pieces will be on display next summer at the American Art Museum from July 2, 2010 through January 2, 2011. “Lucas, Spielberg and Rockwell perpetuate ideas about love of country, personal honor and the value of family in their work,” says Virginia M. Mecklenburg, senior curator and organizer of the exhibit as well as author of the catalog that complements the show. “With humor and pathos, they have transformed everyday experiences into stories revealing the aspirations and values that have sustained Americans through good times and bad.”

(“Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg,” Smithsonian American Art Museum, July 2, 2010 through January 2, 2011.)