The Hirshhorn Museum is easily one of my favorite modern art museums in Washington, DC. Every visit…read moreoffers something new to discover, and the museum itself is as impressive as many of the exhibits it houses. A few highlights from my visit: Beautiful, clean, and modern space that complements the artwork perfectly. The museum's unique multi-level circular layout makes it easy to navigate and explore. Every turn seems to reveal a new exhibit, installation, or piece of art that invites you to stop and reflect. A great mix of modern and contemporary works that appeal to both casual visitors and art enthusiasts. Clean, well-maintained facilities throughout the museum. Bathrooms are conveniently located on the lower level and easy to find. Free admission makes it an easy recommendation for anyone visiting the National Mall. One of my favorite aspects of the Hirshhorn is how immersive the experience feels. As you move through the circular galleries, each corner offers something different to see and experience. The museum encourages exploration, and it's easy to lose track of time wandering between exhibits. Overall, the Hirshhorn is a must-visit for anyone interested in modern and contemporary art. Between its striking architecture, thoughtfully curated exhibits, and welcoming atmosphere, it's a place I return to whenever I'm in DC.

This is a pretty cool museum, but they REALLY overhyped the Basquiat x Banksy collaboration. There…read morewas one piece of Banksy art which was a take on a Basquiat piece. The Basquiat collection was also pretty sparse. Mr. Smithsonian should be ashamed. I hope he's looking up and reading this. The museum's upper floors are 2 concentric circles so I'd recommend doing 2 loops around to avoid missing anything. There were displays with videos, lights, paint, and other media. I enjoyed exploring. The sculpture garden was closed when I was there, so I was unable to see anything there. I also don't know what was on the ground floor besides the entrance and the cafe. Seemed like something else should have been there. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It's worth a visit for sure and I enjoyed my time. But I was drawn in by the false hype.

Stopped by Project 4 for the opening reception of Navigable Zones by Puerto Rican artist Nayda…read moreCollazo-Llorens on Saturday night. An easy walk from Dupont Circle and also just a short distance from the U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro stop, the Project 4 Gallery is an intimate two-level space where you're sure to get cozy with your fellow art-gawking patrons. Should the temperatures be high, dispense with superfluous layers of clothing immediately or prepare to sizzle! If Saturday night's opening reception is any indication of the crowd, expect to see hipsters (young and old), artists, an overt intellectual or two and a healthy representation of the petite bourgeoisie. Regardless of outward appearances, folks here are friendly and unstuffy. A welcome thing in the world of art, to be sure.

Project 4 is a trendy new gallery that recently popped up on U Street. The artists that are on…read moredisplay here skew towards international and avant-guard, and of course, contemporary in style. The overall goal of Project 4 is to explore cultural subjects. You'll most likely find one person shows or a "theme" show by no more than 2-3 artists here. For example, the current exhibition features 2 artists. One of them paints watercolors while the other is a photographer that specializes in overexposed black and white.

"Where's your will to be weird?" ― Jim Morrison…read more This quote by one of Alexandria's favorite sons pretty much sums up this eclectic art gallery. Yes, just ask anyone from Austin, TX, and you'll understand why weird is indeed a good thing. I think weird art is cool. Weird art makes us think. Weird art keeps us honest. And nothing can be more cool, more provocative, more honest than the Artbot Gallery. I popped into this shop on a whim, and I was immediately treated to a visual feast of paintings, nick-nacks, and assorted surreal treasures. I quickly settled on a gift for a friend who simply adores Owls; it was a small portrait of a rather mean looking owl in a Victorian business suit. At first, I thought he might look too mean, but when I thought it over, I realized that if I were an owl, I would probably be miffed to be stuck in a suit as well. One perfect gift down! I soon found myself also purchasing a Krampos Christmas stocking and some unicorn band aids. Hey, where else are you going to find something so utterly cool and weird. I almost opted for a Krampos scarf as well, but I wasn't sure how that devilish image would be received with the hoi polloi...Best to not not to risk it, like Krampos I might end up scaring small children. The rest of the shop curiosity shop of art and magic. From the paintings of rainbow colored supermen to the Bigfoot lunch box, this shop has something for everyone. At first, you might be a little intimidated and think that this shop isn't for you, but I say give in to whimsy and let your imagination guide you to something really cool, something really wierd.

We stopped by again... Apparently, the business is now half art gallery and half tattoo shop…read more UPDATE August, 2017: Now they are closed. I hear they moved.

came here for the opening of "Gumby & the Ghosts" by Tony Coleman & Andrew Jeffrey Wright. a free…read moreevent with complimentary small bites and live music, the exhibition was so charming and whimsical. this truly was a homegrown, niche artsy event that i happened upon on social media, and im so happy i did. charming joint, go check out Galactic Panther ! it's a 10 min straight shot from the metro station

Invited to an open mic via eventbrite here on a wednesday night. event was for open mic (comedian,…read morespoken word, etc.) Our ticket purchased included a drink. The gallery had a mini fridge of wine, beer, etc. that you could choose from One shared bathroom. Street parking, pay until 9pm. Located right on the corner of the King street intersection Many of the comedians knew each other. They were funny. Show actually started at 930, altho 9p states on the eventbrite Plenty of wall art to purchase. a canibus vendor was also on site. located in a family style neighborhood About a 5 minute walk from the King street metro

What tourists sometimes miss are the many smaller art galleries throughout the city like Touchstone…read moreGallery. Steps away from the DC History Center inside the Carnegie Library is a small local gallery. It's free to enter and the staff are very nice. Two rooms are filled with art of different kinds. They also have a restroom and a drinking fountain.

It's a small gallery that is generally open to the public free of charge and gives opportunities to…read moreboth established and new talent to showcase their art. The curator was nice and friendly and even made a recommendation for a nice Thai restaurant nearby where we had dinner after the showing.

Working in DC, I've visited many museums over the years, but the Textile Museum officers a very…read moredifferent experience from the large Smithsonian museums. It's smaller, quieter, and perfect if you want to explore something unique without the crowds. I had the opportunity to take a private tour of the museum, which made the visit even more special. The exhibits highlight textiles from around the world, showcasing beautiful craftsmanship, intricate patterns, and the cultural stories behind fabrics and garments. It's fascinating to see how many history and artistry can be expressed through textiles. One of the highlights form e was he museum shop, which honestly feels like an extension of the museum itself. The store carries handmade items from artisans around the world, reflecting their cultures through unique colors, patterns, and textile techniques. It felt less like a typical gift shop and more like another curated exhibit. I also loved the library, which may be small but holds an impressive collection of textile-related books. For anyone interested in fabrics, fashion, or global textile traditions, it's a wonderful resource. Located on GW campus, this museum truly feels like a hidden gem in DC. It's definitely worth a visit!

Stopped by here to check out the museum during lunch, and it was very quiet on a Friday afternoon…read more There were only 2 exhibits open, but there was a lot of neat things to check out. I particularly liked the historical pieces of traditional costumes on display. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Oh and check out the stairs...amazing!

This was my first time visiting Workhouse and it was for their Red, White, and Boom event. I paid…read morefor parking in advance for $35 ($40 at the gate). I also bought wristbands for the kids that were $15/each and allowed for unlimited rides and the gaming truck. We also enjoyed the new mini golf course, which is art themed of course, and that was $12/child. We took advantage of the food trucks and especially liked the kettle korn and paradise ice cream. Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to look around at the studios, but I definitely plan to keep an eye out for more events that will bring us back here.

Lots of different studios and many buildings to explore. If you like history the museum is…read moreworthwhile ... affordable art directly from the artist

I really enjoyed visiting this museum. It's a small place and the tour was about half an hour, but…read moreI learned a lot of cool facts about medicinal history and how sick people were treated in the past. They preserved a lot of old artifacts, medicines, apothecary tools and furnitures which was really cool to see and learn about. They also compare some of the practices from back then to present day which was interesting to learn. They have a nice little gift shop too. A really interesting place to visit in Old town Alexandria!

Might update later but wanted to share that I finally visited this place. It's wild that I have…read morelived nearby for so many years and have just walked by without noticing. It is a small place, but very interesting snapshot of what an Apothecary would have looked like approximately 100 years ago. They still have all the medicine that was in the jars when they closed, on display. I didn't go upstairs yet, but the downstairs is fascinating by itself. Free for Alexandria City residents but otherwise $5 or $8 depending if you want to tour upstairs (specific times). You can also go inside and stay in the lobby area which is also a gift stop without paying admission. As a herbalist, it was very cool to see cinnamon being prescribed alongside arsenic and marijuana - all plants have their purposes! Haha. I liked that the tour guides seemed passionate about the history of the place. We discussed my concern that the gender and race of the apothecary owners allowed them to profit off of the ancestral knowledge and traditional medicine in a way that was denied to women, BIPOC people, and BIPOC women in particular, who often worked in the field under the threat of death and/or imprisonment. Anyways, I am working to change that. I will definitely be back!