Two Very Cool Events

On May 9-11th (Mother's Day weekend), the Washington National Cathedral will be putting on a light show of sorts. From sunset to midnight each evening, various complex geometric images will be projected onto the west and south facades (facing Wisconsin Avenue, NW and the St. Albans school respectively). These projections are the first display in the United States of Swiss lighting designer Gerry Hofstetter's art. The mock-up images of the show are amazing; check one out at http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/ltu/index.html. If you can't make it to the grounds of the Cathedral, the images will be viewable from many points in the city and Virginia -- the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Lady Bird Johnson Park, 14th Street Bridge, and the Roosevelt Bridge, to name a few. However, if you travel to the Cathedral close on Saturday, you can enjoy live music, drinks, and snacks.

Coming up this Friday and Saturday at the Cathedral is the annual Flower Mart, a food, craft, and plant fair. There's no particular religious reason for the event; it's just a chance for the All Hollows Guild volunteer garden and groundskeepers to raise money. It's a great place to snatch up Mother's Day gifts such as purses and jewelry. The food is fabulous from fresh-baked goods to chocolate strawberries and Rocklands barbecue. For entertainment, there's live music throughout the day, climbs to the top of the Cathedral bell tower, and themed tours. Also worth checking out are gorgeous cut flower arrangements in the bays along the side aisles in the nave.

The Cathedral is most accessible by car. Entrances to the parking garage are off of Woodley Road and Wisconsin Avenues. There's also some neighborhood parking available, but the residents will send parking enforcement after you if you stay a minute past the permissible two hours. By Metro, ride to Tenley Town on the Red Line and either walk or take one of the frequent buses on the 30 lines south down Wisconsin Avenue. There are also some bus lines along Massachusetts Avenue that will take you from Dupont Circle to the Cathedral.