ML Interest Tag: eclipse

A Total Eclipse of LA: See It With Little Stargazers

by rtandreakagey

Opposites attract for one spectacular view on Sunday, September 27th when the sun and the moon tango in the sky for a rare total lunar eclipse. Grab some blankets and hot chocolate and take your little Galileos out for an unforgettable view of the night sky. Check out our suggestions of best places to sneak a peek at this “sheer lunar-cy” with or without telescopes.

photo credit: Kolleen G. via Yelp

Stargazers Unite
Griffith Observatory
The popular Observatory will be hosting a free Lunar Eclipse Presentation on Sunday, September 27 with astronomy staff members explaining the phases of the eclipse to the crowd as they happen. The event will run from 6:30-9:45 p.m. and if a beautiful night under the stars isn’t enough, the Observatory will also have a pianist at a grand piano playing “moon themed music.” (Moonlight Sonata, anyone?) Take note, however, that parking is limited at the Observatory itself and the winding side street has been known to cause quite the traffic jam on popular nights, especially if there is a concert at the Greek Theatre. We suggest arriving quite early for a prime viewing spot and stress free parking or take the Metro Red Line (Sunset/Vermont) and the DASH Observatory Weekend Shuttle; they’re expecting an enormous crowd and parking will be challenging. If you can’t make it to the Observatory but still want to partake in the commentary, they’ll be live streaming the lunar eclipse on Griffith TV via their website.

2800 East Observatory Rd.
Griffith Park
213-473-0800
Online: griffithobs.org

photo credit: Santa Monica Mountains National Rec Area Facebook Page

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Head up to the Santa Monica Mountains and join Focus Astronomy for a special lunar eclipse viewing party. They provide the telescopes, you provide the inquiring minds. Telescopes will be available for viewing and photographing the eclipse until 10 p.m. When the sun sets they’ll train the telescopes to the moon as it rises over the hills. This free event is from 5-10 p.m. Contact the Visitor Center for more information at 805-370-2301.

Rancho Sierra Vista
4121 Potrero Rd.
Newbury Park
805-370-2301
Online: nps.gov/findapark/event-listing.htm?eventID=27035

photo credit: Dennis E. via Santa Monica Sidewalk Astronomers Website


Take to the Streets
Santa Monica Sidewalk Astronomers
Look for these star guides on the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. They’ll have their telescopes set up for your galactic crew to view. And if your pint-size Copernicus catches the astronomy bug then Barnes and Noble is nearby for all of your star-reading needs. Or drive a little further up the boardwalk to Venice Beach where you’ll find more Sidewalk Astronomers near the Rose Avenue outfall. Either way, you can’t beat a starry sky over crashing waves.
Online: nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/club-view.cfm?Club_ID=700


Burbank Sidewalk Astronomers
You can find some of the Burbank Sidewalk Astronomers set up at the Asia Pacific Museum in Pasadena where they’ll provide telescopes for the public. Keep an eye on their website for details and updates.
Online: home.earthlink.net/~sidewalkastronomers/index.html


LA Sidewalk Astronomers
Take the metro to the North Hollywood stop and enjoy people watching and star gazing alike. The LA Sidewalk crew will be set up near the NoHo Metro station.
Online: nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/club-view.cfm?Club_ID=1224

Party in Your Backyard
The sky should be clear enough on the 27th to enjoy the eclipse from the comfort of your own backyard—even without a telescope. Here’s an approximate time frame for Los Angeles of what to expect from the cosmos:

6:45pm: Moon rises (Moon in partial eclipse)
7:11pm: Totality begins (Moon is totally covered in shadow)
7:47pm: Maximum eclipse
8:23pm: Totality ends (Moon emerges from shadow)
9:27pm: Umbral eclipse ends

photo credit: NASA Moon Images Flickr album/Bob Gent

Party in the Forest
Worried about getting a clear view of the sky from your personal city scape? Pack your binoculars and try one of these LA starry views for a cosmic retreat.  All are spectacular star watching spots on this or any night.

  1. Templin Highway, Angeles National Forest
  2. Saddleback Butte State Park, Antelope Valley
  3. Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, Antelope Valley
  4. Topanga State Park, Santa Monica Mountains
  5. Malibu Creek State Park, Santa Monica Mountains
  6. Mount Wilson, Angeles National Forest
  7. Frazier Park & Mount Pinos, Los Padres National Forest

Don’t see your favorite star gazing spot listed above? Share it with us in the comments!

—Andrea Conway Kagey

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A 1,000-Foot-Long Slip ‘n’ Slide is Coming to Town

by Allison Sutcliffe

Swelteringly hot days like Seattle’s seen this summer call for new and creative ways to cool off. Sure, wading pools and spray parks do the trick for the everyday. But when it comes to adventurous alternatives wouldn’t you rather slide through the city on an oversized slip ‘n’ slide? Grab your floaties, inner tubes and sunscreen and read on for the scoop on Slide the City.

Editor’s note: As of August 5, 2015, Slide the City Seattle has been postponed until next summer. Despite months of hard work and coordination between event organizers and city officials, the State and King County Health Departments reported that they could not accommodate the event this year due to increased permit requests. We’ll keep you posted on next year’s event. 

photo: Slide the City

Party On! 
The premise of Slide the City is a simple one that seems to have come straight out of your childhood imagination. Shut down a major city thoroughfare for one day and replace it with a 1,000-foot long slip-n-slide. Then, invite about 6,000 of your closest friends over for one giant party. See? Simple and dreamy. Add on some food and vendor and entertainment booths to this awesome day and it might just eclipse Bumbershoot as your sidekick’s coolest event of the summer.

photo: Slide the City 

Ride On!
There are three different ways to slide through the city with your crew: single, triple and unlimited rides. The single ride ticket ($16-$30) includes one twisty-turvey slide down the track during a two-hour, pre-assigned window, along with some simple swag (a bag and a mouth guard). A triple slide ticket ($31-$45) gets you three down-and-backs during the two-hour window and a bit more swag (add a tube to this package). And for those who want to do nothing else all day other than ride this slippery slope, the unlimited ticket ($48-$65) is the way to go. There’s lots more swag with this pass. Plus, you can ride all day long, including two hour-long windows before and after the event, which means less crowded slide times for you. Since each rider rides solo, your minis will need their own tickets. And as of this writing, registration for the Seattle event hasn’t opened yet. Since it’s one that sells out quickly, notifications are a must for families who are ready to rock the slip ‘n’ slide this summer.

 photo: Slide the City

What to Bring
Think “day at the beach” when gearing up for this adventure. Swimming suits, sunscreen and a towel to dry off are on the can’t-forget list. Floppy hats, goggles, squirt guns and other water-themed adds-ons are up to you and your mini crew. Don’t forget that each rider has to have his or her own inflatable to cruise the strip. So, plan to bring some from home or purchase them when you get there.

photo: Slide the City

Slide the City
Mercer St. (between Warren Ave. N. & Fourth Ave. N.)
Seattle, Wa
Online: slidethecity.com
Tickets: slidethecity.com/events/seattle

When: August 16, 2015 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Cost: $16-$65
Ages: 5 & up (and at least 46” tall)

Do you plan on attending Slide the City? What is your family’s favorite water slide? Tell us in the Comments below.

— Allison Sutcliffe

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Petworth: An Insider’s Guide to Kid-Friendly Hotspots

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

With its proximity to Rock Creek Park, rich history, and revitalized business district, Petworth has something for everyone from preschoolers to the POTUS himself. Here’s a list of our favorite places to eat, play, dance, and explore with kiddos in this growing nabe.

Parks and Playgrounds

Photo: Petworth Jazz Poject via Facebook

Enjoy Jazz in the Park with the Petworth Jazz Project
An evening of jazz doesn’t have to be an adults-only affair. The Petworth Jazz Project hosts a series of outdoor concerts that are a great option for a family night out. Held on the last Saturday of the month, each performance starts with a special kids show that’s followed by a showcase of local jazz talent. Not a jazz fan? Then dust off your dancing shoes. This year’s lineup includes cultural and modern dance performances on the second Saturday of the month.

8th and Taylor Streets, NW
Online: petworthjazzproject.com

Restaurants

Photo: Chez Billy via France

Feast on French Fare at Chez Billy
“Kids menu” and “authentic French cuisine” are two phrases you don’t usually hear in the same sentence. That’s not the case at Chez Billy. Whether families eat inside or on the back patio, tiny diners can enjoy kids’ menu standards with a French twist (think grilled cheese with gruyère), while parents splurge on the restaurant’s specialities, including $1 oysters on the half-shell during happy hour, which is held Tuesday-Saturday from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. To that, we say “Oui!”

3815 Georgia Ave., NW
202-506-2080
Online: chezbilly.com

Play and Explore

Photo: President Lincolns Cottage via Facebook

Step Back in Time at President Lincoln’s Cottage
When Honest Abe needed a break, he headed to his Gothic Revival cottage located in what is now Petworth. Today, President Lincoln’s Cottage is a haven for history buffs young and old. This national monument offers hands-on, multimedia activities that bring our 16th president’s experiences as a politician, policymaker, and family man to life. When planning your visit, don’t forget your picnic basket–the Cottage’s large lawn offers the perfect spot for an outdoor nosh fest. And if you are going with a Girl Scout, call ahead to learn how she can earn a badge on your visit!

Upshur Street at Rock Creek Church Rd., NW
202-829-0436
Online: lincolncottage.org

Sing-Along at Upshur Street Books
Upshur Street Books started as a Kickstarter project and resulted in the first independent bookstore to open in the District since 2003. In just a short time, the store has become a neighborhood gathering place for bookworms of all ages. Parents in Petworth and beyond speak highly of the store’s sing-alongs, which feature local musicians, puppeteers, and even a Santa look-a-like during the holidays. The small space fills up quickly, so be sure to show up early to get a stroller parking spot.

827 Upshur St.,NW
202-726-0380
Online: upshurstreetbooks.com

Spend the Day at Raymond Recreation Center
There are no rickety swing sets in sight at Petworth’s Raymond Recreation Center. The Center’s outdoor spaces recently underwent a $2.5 million dollar upgrade, and are now home to state-of-the-art equipment. When you visit, check out the Eclipse Plus Net climber. This structure, which encourages balance, coordination, and upper body strength, is the first of its kind in the country. Other highlights include a fitness zone, a pavilion with picnic tables, and a “We Saw” that sits up to five kids at a time.

3725 10th St., NW
Online: dpr.dc.gov

Does your family have any favorite Petworth spots? Tell us about them in the comments section below.

–Sarah Vogel

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Celestial Oohs and Ahhs Worth Staying Up Late For

by Ayren Jackson-Cannady

You may not know your eclipse from your penumbra but you still thrill at the sight of a falling star. Share that sky-high feeling with your own starry-eyed wonders by trying these stellar picks for celestial-inducing oohs and ahhs that make it worth keeping them up past bedtime.

Go to Paris. Paris, Va, that is.
Cruise an hour west of NoVa near Paris Va. to escape the bright city’s lights and find the perfect stargazing site at Sky Meadows State Park. Each month, the park opens at night for a Saturday night star party, that includes a half-hour program for kids ages 7-12 presented by Air and Space Museum Albert Einstein Planetarium staff, a night sky orientation and (cross your fingers for clear night skies) an opportunity to see the stars and planets up close and personal through a telescope. With a little night luck, you and the kids will share the real deal of the Milky Way. Cue the star soundtrack for the ride home. We are stardust. We are golden. Insider Tip: Bring flashlights but cover them with a brown paper bag. Stargazing etiquette is to keep things dark. A brown paper bag lets you see but it is not a bright light.

Sky Meadows State Park
1012 Edmonds Ln. (Delaplane, Va)
Cost: $5/car
540-592-3556
Online: dcr.virginia.gov

We Don’t Need No Stinking Telescope
You can watch the International Space Station travel across the sky without a telescope. NASA’s Spot the Station website delivers all the deets on when and where in the night sky to look for the coolest flyby in your corner of the universe. Wait for the longer flight durations (5-6 minutes) and pass on the 3:34 am flyby; this craft will orbit around again. Pro tip: Sneak a test run so you’ll be ready to help your space explorers spot the astronauts wave as they pass by in the space station. Oh, when it says 9:52 pm, they mean it. You snooze, you lose. Jaw-dropper fact you can casually mention to the kiddos: Space Station is moving 5 miles per second or somewhere around 17,500 miles per hour. Whooosh!

Online: spotthestation.nasa.gov

Fantabulous night for a Moondance
Come Sept. 9 head outside with the kids in PJs and gawk at the superdooperest super moon you’ll see all year (there are three of them, and this is the last one). Read them their bedtime story by moonlight. If Goodnight Moon is an old cliché (do they ever tire of that book?) try Kitten’s First Full Moon. Some North American Indian tribes call the full moon the Green Corn Moon or Sturgeon Moon. What would your family name this moonzilla? Weather permitting, howling and dancing are recommended.

Icarus Couldn’t, But You Can
Go ahead get close to the sun and stare. No worries—you and your mini sunbeams can gawk safely at sunspots through the really big telescope at the Public Observatory, just outside of the east terrace of the Air and Space Museum. If you are lucky you will also see a moon crater and Venus, too. Umbrella warning: If it is cloudy or rainy the Observatory is closed.

Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory
National Air and Space Museum
Independence Ave. at 6th St., SW (National Mall)
Open: Wed.-Sun., 12 pm-3 pm
Online: airandspace.si.edu

Monthly Stargazing Fix
Satisfy your stardust jonesing with a fix at these local planetariums, observatories and sky watching events online.

  • Rock Creek Planetarium and Nature Center
    5200 Glover Rd., NW
    202-895-6070
    Online: nps.gov
  • Arlington Public Schools
    David M. Bowen Planetarium
    426 N. Quincy St. (Arlington, Va)
    703-228-6070
    Online: aspsva.us
  • University of Maryland Observatory
    3200 Metzerott Rd. (Adelphi, Md)
    Online: astro.umd.edu

 Where do you go to stargaze? Give us the scoop in the comments section below. 

—Linda Bennett

Photo courtesy of Lotzman Katzman via Flickr, Sage Ross via Flickr, Anthony Crider via Flickr

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