Spring/Summer Fun from Mary J. Murphy

Spring/Summer Fun

in Bethesda and beyond

May/June 2012

The past several months have blended together into one long, occasionally rainy, semi-warm, semi-cold season. That's okay. Get ready for some serious changes! May and June bring flowers that don't freeze, warm sunny days that aren't followed by ice storms, unending twilight and lots of time spent outside. Here's our roundup of the best bets as we ease into those lovely summer days.

The Washington National Cathedral is a stunning spot to visit, even if you're not there to take part in a majestic service. The architecture is breathtaking and the grounds magnificent. If you need a reason to go, stop by on May 4 and 5 for the annual outdoor spring festival known as Flower Mart. The event is free and offers floral displays, booths, food, music and entertainment, and rides on the antique carousel. Of course, you can buy plants while you're there, too.

Ever driven down Embassy Row and wondered what those buildings look like behind closed doors? Well, wonder no more. On May 5 from 10 am to 4 pm, the Around the World Embassy Tour allows you walk through those very doors to experience food, art, dance and music inside more than 40 embassies. If that's not enough for you, head back on May 12 from 10 am to 4 pm, when the Embassies of the European Union and the Delegation of the European Commission to the United States will open their doors to the public, offering a rare look at the diverse EU cultures.

Any time you combine a gorgeous waterfront, wine and food for you and a moon bounce to occupy the kids, you know you can't lose. On May 5 and 6, the 2012 Wine and Food Festival at the National Harbor opens its doors at 1:00 and offers amazing tastings and demonstrations by top chefs. There are plenty of activities for the kids, and designated drivers get greatly reduced admission (so raise your glass to them!). This event will sell out, so get tickets online soon.

Olé! Dust off your sombreros and maracas and pour the margaritas - Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner! Since it's a Saturday, the whole family can head down to the National Mall for a big celebration. Maybe you know that May 5 marks the day the Mexican army improbably defeated French forces, or maybe you just like an excuse to eat burritos. Regardless, it's a great chance to head out to dinner with your family or sip drinks on a patio. As long as there's a mariachi band in earshot, you can credit this Mexican holiday for your fun.

LISTEN UP!!! Mother's Day is coming. Did you hear me? Yes, she's your wife, not your mother, but it's your responsibility to come up with an amazing way to celebrate. So you can go to lunch at a fabulous restaurant or buy her a thoughtful gift, but you could also chauffer your family to the local wine country for a picnic (you can get some help with that). Oh, and send YOUR mother some flowers, too.

Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd....The Nats and the Orioles are both smokin' hot this spring, so take your pick and head over to the park. If you can wait a bit and want something close to home, inexpensive and super family friendly, opening day for Bethesda's Big Train baseball is Saturday, June 2.

One of the best things about summer in this area is the abundance of local fruits and vegetables available

at roadside markets. A great farm stand opens May 5 and runs every Saturday through October from 9 am to 1 pm. You can shop for pasture-raised meats and eggs, artisan cheeses, fresh fruits and vegetables, breads and baked goods, cut flowers, plants and more. Markets are open rain or shine. While you're shopping, you can also enjoy chef tastings, book signings and live music! You can also visit Bethesda Central Farm Market at Bethesda Elementary, which is open 9 to 12:30 on Sundays, year-round.

As warm days turn into warm nights, one of our favorite pastimes is listening to music at Veterans Park in Bethesda. May through July, 6:00 to 8:00 pm, all you have to do is stroll on by and listen to these hardworking musicians determined to delight you. The next time you're out with the kids, be sure to make this your last stop.

Guess what? We've got one reason for you to be thankful for this warm winter. The strawberries at Butler's Orchard are ready a few weeks earlier than usual, so grab your baskets and your kids and head up there mid-May! Warning, though...once you taste these strawberries, you'll never want to buy them in a supermarket again. June brings blueberries, sweet peas and tart cherries, so plan to log some hours in those fields. And don't forget to poke around the market when you're checking out - you can buy plants, baked goods, or even some honey produced right at Butler's.

These pre-summer days always make me want to wander around a garden. Preferably, it will be a garden I do not have to weed or mulch. My two favorites are Brookside Gardens, which has a long, winding paved path that takes you past beautiful landscaping and a peaceful pond with requisite gazebo, and McCrillis Gardens, which is just around the corner and smaller though equally as enjoyable.

For more family fun in Bethesda, hit the streets on June 2 from 11 am to 4 pm. Imagination Bethesda will present A Children's Street Festival Celebrating the Arts, which means your little ones can hop from activity to activity, get their faces painted and join in as everyone enjoys the stage of live entertainment. This event combines two of our favorite words: family and free!

Whether you're 5, 85, or any age in between, excitement-loving souls will adore The Adventure Park at Sandy Springs Friends School. Your admission gains you a harness and training, and then you're off to the "peak of the mountain" (figuratively, not literally) where you choose any number of aerial courses, ranging in difficulty from "easy-peasy" to "you've got to be kidding me." Using your strength and balance, you will navigate obstacle courses that include zip lines, tunnels, bridges and boardwalks. Come on...I dare you to try it!