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Monday, May 9 – Beautiful butterflies

With new summer hours in place, you can stroll through this special butterfly exhibit with exotic plants and live butterflies from around the world until the last entry at 6 PM. Tickets are required, however and rates are as follows: $6 for adults; $5.50 for seniors (60+); $5 for children and members. Big tip for the frugal visitor: There is no charge on Tuesdays; however you still must get a ticket at the desk. Visit the Butterfly Pavilion’s Web site to purchase tickets and for more information about free entry on Tuesdays. Natural History Museum, 10:15-5:00 PM.

Tuesday, May 10 — Harry Potter pops up

The Houston-based paper engineer Bruce Foster talks about designing the 2010 Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book, the design process and paper engineering. “I will show the process from beginning to end, explain some of the math involved in creating this boo and share secrets of Harry Potter that did not make it into the final book,” Foster writes. Free. 12:00 PM. American History Museum. Sponsored by Smithsonian Libraries. Related exhibition: “Paper Engineering: Fold, Pull, Pop and Turn”

Photo courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum

Wednesday, May 11 Behind the Scenes at the Lunder Center

Learn how museum conservators use science, art history and skilled hands to preserve the art collections at the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Free, but register before 3:00 PM at the Luce Foundation Center information desk. Tour begins at 3:00 PM at the same place. Repeats most Wednesdays. American Art Museum.

Thursday, May 12 Pick a Flick just $10

“Film Forward: Advancing Cultural Dialogue” presents 10 films with a discussion following the screenings: Freedom Riders (already sold out); La Mission; Udaan and A Small Act at 6:00 PM; Boy at 6:15 PM and The Last Train Home; Afghan Star; Amreeka; Son of Babylon (free admission, but tickets required) and Winter’s Bone at 6:30 PM. $10 tickets for general admission are available online. Various National Mall locations.

Friday, May 13 Not Your Father’s Planetarium Show

Cosmic Collisions, a planetarium show, is the story of a speeding comet that collides with Earth’s atmosphere. Zipping along at 40 million years per second, the film takes visitors on a journey through time and space that includes colossal impacts and exciting explosions. Scientific visualizations, images from NASA and advanced simulation and imaging technology enhance the experience. Seven shows daily, beginning at 11:00 AM. Tickets are $6.50 members, $9.00 adult (13-and up), $8.00 senior, $7.50 youth (2-12 years old). Purchase tickets by phone (toll-free) 866-868-7774; online up to two weeks in advance or at the box office. Albert Einstein Planetarium at the National Air & Space Museum

All Smithsonian Institution museums and the National Zoo are Open. Photo by Eric Long

All Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are open.

Don’t miss out on all the events and happenings, all scheduled as planned. Tarantula feedings at the Natural History Museum. A special tour of the Kinsey Collections at American History. An Earth Day celebration at the American Art Museum.

And here’s a list of all the exhibitions that are on view.  For the first time, the Freer Gallery’s renowned Peacock Room has been restored to its appearance in 1908, when the museum’s founder Charles Lang Freer used it to organize and display more than 250 ceramics from all over Asia. The new exhibition, The Peacock Room Comes to America, debuts today.

Other don’t-miss exhibitions and landmark Smithsonian artifacts like the Hope Diamond, Julia Child’s kitchen, the Ruby Slippers, The Wright Flyer, The First Ladies exhibition can be found at the following Smithsonian museum locations:

• The Smithsonian Castle
• The Carousel on the National Mall
• The Ripley Center and International Gallery
• The National Museum of American History
• The National Museum of Natural History
• The National Air and Space Museum
• The Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia
• The Smithsonian American Art Museum
• The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
• The National Portrait Gallery
• The Freer and Sackler Galleries
• The Hirshhorn Museum
• The African Art Museum
• The National Museum of the American Indian
• The National Postal Museum
• The National Zoo
• The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City
• The George Gusav Heye Center in New York City

This weekend marks a special time for Smithsonian visitors and the Institution’s spokesperson Linda St. Thomas expressed her delight that the museums were all open for business this weekend:  “People have planned for months, or a year or more, for their spring visits to Washington, which always includes visits to the museums and the Zoo. If it were up to us, we would never shut down. That’s why we are only closed one day a year—Christmas Day.”

Of course spring time is also is presenting Smithsonian photographer Eric Long with some of the most exquisite visual opportunities, enjoy this gallery before gearing up to head out.

Mars' polar ice caps. Photo by HIRISE camera, courtesy of NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Monday April 4: 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 Friends Of the National Zoo (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, go here. National Zoo, 7:00-9:30 PM

Tuesday April 5: Art Collector’s Roundtable

Former Utah Senator Bob Bennett will talk about collecting Western art, his personal collection, and tips on how to start your own collection. Event will also be webcast live. Free. American Art Museum, 7-8 PM.

Wednesday April 6: Discovery Theater: Mad Science

Mad Science returns to Discovery Theater! Dr. Jekyll is back to show you all about things that spin, pop and go boom and brings a kid-friendly and fun approach to complex scientific concepts. For ages 6-16. Tickets are required. Rates are $4 child member; $4 member; $5/child nonmember; $3 child under 2; $6 general admission. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Resident Associate Program box office located in the Ripley Center on the National Mall. Natural History Museum, 10:15 AM, repeats at 1:30 PM.

Thursday April 7. Meet the real Mars

The film “Roving Mars” was made using footage taken by the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. After the screening, stay around for  a discussion with Dr. Alfred McEwen, who will talk about his work on the high resolution camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Weather permitting, take your own look at Mars. Free, but tickets required. Reserve tickets online or call 202-633-2398. Air & Space Museum, 6:30 PM.

Friday April 8: Secret Reunion, first film in the New Korean Cinema series at the Freer Gallery

It’s spy vs. spy in a thriller set in Korea. At their first meeting, two spies—one from North Korea, the other from South Korea—go head-to-head, only to later join forces to work toward a common goal. But do they really? In Korean with English subtitles. Free. Freer Gallery of Art, 7:00 PM.

For updates on all exhibitions and events, visit our companion site goSmithsonian.com

Get in touch with your muse in this week's online poetry workshop. Lyric Muse (1912) by Paul Manship. Image courtesy of the American Art Museum.

Monday, March 7: March Film Screening: My Name Is Kahentiiosta

Kahentiiosta, a young Kahnawake Mohawk woman, took part in a 78-day armed standoff in 1990 as a part of a land dispute between the Mohawks and the Canadian federal government. Arrested and imprisoned, she was detained longer than her peers because the prosecutor refused to let her stand trial using her native name. Learn about Kahentiiosta’s story and why she was prepared to die to protect the land and trees sacred to the Mohawk people of Kanehsatake. Free. American Indian Museum, 3:30-4:00 PM. This event repeats daily, except Wednesdays, through the month of March.

Tuesday, March 8: Washington Resigning His Commission: A History of Damage and Repair

Ferdinand Pettrich’s 1841 larger-than-life plaster statue of George Washington remains an impressive work of art—but it still manages to wow audiences thanks to diligent efforts to keep the piece looking its best. Get an inside look at what it takes to keep this sculpture in its prime through a talk with conservator Hugh Shockey, who will explain ongoing problems with the sculpture and discuss how it has been treated over the years. Free. American Art Museum, 12:30 PM

Wednesday, March 9: DISCOVERY THEATER, Balafon

The balafon, perhaps more familiarly knowns as the marimba, is an instrument that originated in the region of Africa now called Ghana, the Republic of Guinea, and Burkina Faso. They are used at festivals, funerals and celebrations to lift the emotions of people. It is also the name of a dance troupe guided by artistic director “Mama” Kadiatou Conte, a native of Guinea. In this performance suitable for people of all ages, Balafon West African Dance Ensemble brings to the stage an explosion of classical West African song, music and dance. Youngsters will feel the eternal rhythm of the drum, learn about the culture of Ghana, and might even be able to join in the dance. Tickets are required. Rates are $6 general admission; $5 children; $4 for members; $4 for children of members; $3 for children under age 2. Tickets may be purchased online or at the Resident Associate Program box office which is located in the Ripley Center on the National Mall. For groups of 10 children or more (ages 2-16) please call us at 202-633-8700 for a group discount. Discovery Theater, 9:00-10:15 AM.

Thursday, March 10: Face-to-Face Portrait Talk: Juliette Gordon Low

If you’re one of those people who know the Girl Scouts primarily by way of cookies, come on out for this week’s portrait talk where education specialist Geri Provost will introduce you to Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low through a painting by Edward Hughes. Free. National Portrait Gallery, 6:00-6:30 PM.

Friday, March 11: Sin Fronteras Online Poetry Workshop & Reading

In this online workshop sponsored by the Smithsonian Latino Center, write and share your poetry in an online forum moderated by Maria Miranda Maloney, publisher and author of The City I Love. Participants will need a Second Life avatar. Click here to get one! For more information go to http://latinovirtual.blogspot.com/ or e-mail Melissa Carrillo at Carrillom@si.edu. Free. Latino Virtual Museum Sin Fronteras Cafe, 9:00 PM.

For updates on all exhibitions and events, visit our companion site goSmithsonian.com

Christmas Painting (2005) by Ian Whitmore. Image courtesy of the Hirshhorn.

Monday, December 13: For an all-inclusive seasonal celebration, come see “Seasons of Light.” This annual performance highlights the customs of winter holidays from all over the world, such as Ramadan, Diwali, Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Christmas and winter solstice celebrations. Tickets are required. Prices are $6 for adults, $5 for children, $3 for children under age 2 and $4 for Resident Members. You may purchase tickets online or at the Resident Associates Program box office which is located in the Ripley Center. Discovery Theater. Today at 11:30 AM. This event also repeats throughout the month of December, but show times vary. Please check goSmithsonian for show times on the day you intend to visit the National Mall.

Tuesday, December 14: Lathe Demonstrations

Watch the Capital Area Woodturners, Chesapeake Woodturners, and Montgomery County Woodturners demonstrate the process used by the artists in A Revolution in Wood to create their unique pieces. Free. Renwick Gallery, 12:00-1:00 PM.

Wednesday, December 15: Day With the Artists

Meet two recipients of the National Museum of the American Indian’s Indigenous Artist Leadership and Emerging Artist Programs: sculptor Jereldine Redcorn and basket weaver Kelly Church. Learn about their work and how they are working to preserve and revive traditional Native art forms. Free. American Indian Museum, 2:00-2:30 PM. This event repeats  at 3:00 PM.

Thursday, December 16: Rockwell Film Series: It’s a Wonderful Life

In a continuing celebration of the exhibition Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, come enjoy a screening of the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life. For the rare few of you who don’t know the story, small town banker George Bailey contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve as he faces bankruptcy and jail, but meets a guardian angel who shows him how valuable he is to his community and family. Free. American Art Museum, 6:30.

Friday, December 17: Fossil Forensics: Investigating How Early Humans Died

With advancements in medicine and the comforts of modern living, people are enjoying longer lives. Our ancestors, however, had lots more problems to contend with, and in this afternoon lecture, Dr. Anna K. Behrensmeyer of the museum’s Paleobiology Department, discusses investigations into how early humans died. Free. Natural History Museum, 3:00-4:00 PM.

For updates on all exhibitions and events, visit our companion site goSmithsonian.com