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Fun date and activity ideas for your DC-area Valentines and Galentines

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Fun date and activity ideas for your DC-area Valentines and Galentines


Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day mean that many of us are brainstorming ways to spend some quality time with our favorite people.

Plenty of restaurants are offering special Valentine’s Day menus or Galentine’s brunches, but maybe you want to switch things up this year.

From free dates to crafty activities, here are out-of-the-box activities and fun outings you can try for your Valentines and Galentines.

Free dates and activities in the D.C. area

Orchid conservation exhibit: About 350 flowers have come out of the Smithsonian’s orchid collection and into the Kogod Courtyard between the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Between the flowers, don’t miss the technicolor orchid sculptures created by Baltimore-based artist Phaan Howng using 3D scans of the plants. The exhibit is free to visit and will be open until April 28.

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Middleburg’s 13th Annual Winter Weekend Sale: The “Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital” in Loudoun County is the perfect place to hunt for deals Feb. 16-19. The area also hosts many wineries and restaurants to complete your quick day trip.

Millennium Stage: The Kennedy Center’s free stage has several concerts to choose from this week, including a performance by Justin Adams and Mauro Durante on Wednesday.

Unique D.C.-area date ideas for any pair

Cookology Cooking School: What’s more endearing than a delicious meal made with love? This Ballston Quarter cooking school offers a range of classes for adults and kids ages 3 and up – including a whole series of Valentine’s Day classes. Or, you can give your giftee a gift card to begin fulfilling their chef-y dreams.

Ice skating: The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden ice rink . You can also skate through Georgetown’s waterfront, The Wharf ice rink and Yards Park.

Monet: The Immersive Experience: Whisk your person away into the iconic landscapes of the impressionist painter Claude Monet. The exhibit includes larger-than-life digital renderings of the most famous impressionist paintings and backdrops ideal for a quick DIY photoshoot. It’s set to open the weekend after Valentine’s Day.

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Profs and Pints: For about $15, give the gift of knowledge at this popular series of talks by professors on topics ranging from Emily Dickinson’s love life or Orcas vs. Yachts.

Plant stores: Freshen up your décor and get crafty at one of the D.C. area’s many plant stores. Plant House in Alexandria; PLNTR in Northwest D.C. and Plants Alive! in Silver Spring are great for workshops.

Spa World: The Korean spa in Centreville, Virginia, offers pools, saunas and poultice rooms made of red clay, gems, salt and more with general admission, plus you can book massages and other care services. Spa World offers gift cards and a selection of Groupons starting at $35 for a one-day general admission. (If you haven’t been to a Korean spa before, read the FAQ and etiquette advice before committing. Pool access is separated by gender, and no clothes are allowed in them.)



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Washington, D.C

Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return

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Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return


Community members gathered on Tuesday night to review redevelopment plans for the RFK Stadium site and offer feedback as the Washington Commanders prepare for a return to the District.

The steel structure of the old stadium has now been removed, and officials say comments on the project’s environmental impact statement are due at the end of April. The final master plan is taking shape with input from residents.

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Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return

FOX 5’s Melanie Alnwick said a strong crowd gathered in D.C. Tuesday to speak with developers and city planners. The RFK site is divided into six districts, including the Plaza District, Riverfront District and Stadium District, each with proposed features for residents to evaluate. Members of the community viewed design concepts, asked questions and used green and red stickers to mark what they supported or opposed.

In the Kingman Park District, a primarily residential area, residents raised concerns about preserving green space and the placement of parking garages.

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Groundbreaking for the Plaza District is scheduled for 2029, with the stadium targeted to open in 2030. The Commanders are investing $2.7 billion in the project, the largest private investment in city history, with another $1 billion coming from D.C. taxpayers.

City leaders say the redevelopment could create up to 6,500 housing units, 30,000 construction jobs, 2,000 permanent jobs and generate an estimated $5.1 billion in tax revenue.

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Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return

Another community meeting is set for Saturday at St. Coletta Church, with a site walk planned in April.  More online.

St. Coletta Meeting Details

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  • When: Saturday, March 28, 10 am to 12 pm 
  • Where: St. Coletta of Greater Washington, 1901 Independence Avenue SE (Closest Metro: Stadium-Armory) 

Online Survey

For those unable to attend an in-person event, the District will offer an online survey where residents can provide feedback on the master plan. The survey will request input on topics similar to those discussed at the events. The Office of Planning will combine this feedback with comments received at the in-person events, via email, and at the community visioning meetings that were held from October 2025 through February 2026.

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  • The survey link will be available from March 30-April 10 at OurRFK.dc.gov.

Community Site Walk

On Saturday, April 18, neighbors of the RFK Stadium campus are invited to join a walking tour led by staff from the Office of Planning. The walk will include visits to areas that are important to the redevelopment and stopping points for discussion. This interactive outdoor workshop will allow stakeholders to step into the shoes of a planner and share their ideas for the site’s future. 

  • When: Saturday, April 18, 10 am 
  • Where: Stadium-Armory Metro Station, 192 19th Street SE 
  • RSVP: A registration link will be available soon at OurRFK.dc.gov.

Community gathers for RFK stadium site open house meeting as Commanders prepare for DC return

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The Source: Information in this article comes from The Office of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and previous FOX 5 reporting.

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What to know about the ‘No Kings’ protest in DC this weekend

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What to know about the ‘No Kings’ protest in DC this weekend


Washington, D.C., and the surrounding DMV area are set to host the third major “No Kings” march and rally this Saturday, March 28, 2026, as part of a wave of nationwide demonstrations planned for the same day.

Event details:

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Organized locally by area chapters of Indivisible and allied grassroots groups, the event aims to draw protesters to downtown Washington and surrounding counties to oppose policies of the Trump administration and to voice broader concerns about civil rights and democratic norms.

The march will kick off at 10 a.m., with participants gathering at Memorial Circle near Arlington Cemetery, with additional access from the Blue Line or nearby parking at the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, according to the event organizers. There is no public parking in the immediate area, but participants can be dropped off at the circle.

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People take part in a “No Kings” protest in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images)

From there, the procession will head across the Memorial Bridge into Washington, D.C., passing the Lincoln Memorial and continuing on to the Washington Monument.

At the conclusion of the march, participants can walk to a downtown rally, from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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A broader movement

Big picture view:

A nationwide series of “No Kings” protests is set for March 28—over 3,000 events are scheduled. 

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These protests are organized by groups including Indivisible and the broader 50501 Movement, which have coordinated previous actions in June and October 2025 that drew millions of participants nationwide, including in Washington, D.C. 

Other ‘No Kings’ rallies in the DMV 

Dig deeper:

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In addition to the main rally in downtown D.C., several other demonstrations tied to “No Kings 3” are scheduled around the DMV this Saturday.

In Arlington, Virginia, activists are organizing a march across the Memorial Bridge beginning at 10 a.m., with protesters expected to continue into West Potomac Park before joining larger crowds in the District proper, for example. 

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There are hundreds of “No Kings” events scheduled to take place this Saturday throughout the DMV. You can click here to find a list of all of them. 

The Source: Information from “No Kings” organizers, Indivisible, Mobilize and previous FOX 5 DC reporting. 

Washington, D.C.NewsD.C. PoliticsMaryland PoliticsVirginia PoliticsMarylandVirginiaPolitics
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Great Mother March sets out on 500-mile pilgrimage from Asheville to Washington

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Great Mother March sets out on 500-mile pilgrimage from Asheville to Washington


ASHEVILLE, N.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Great Mother March has begun a 500-mile pilgrimage from Asheville, North Carolina, to Washington, D.C.

Organizers said the 32-day journey is a women’s empowerment pilgrimage inspired by the Buddhist monks’ Walk for Peace.

Great Mother March(Great Mother March)

“This is a universal movement,” founder Whitney Freya, an artist, author and sacred activist, said. “Everyone has a mother. Every tradition reveres a Great Mother. And we all depend on Mother Earth. This march is a call to honor those truths while reminding us what is possible when we move together, with intention, hope, and love.”

The march is expected to end April 22, Earth Day, when participants reach the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

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Great Mother March
Great Mother March(Great Mother March)

Here’s a look at the group’s route:

Great Mother March route
Great Mother March route(Google Maps/Great Mother March)

Organizers said the group will walk alongside the Appalachian Mountains through rural communities in North Carolina and Virginia, with planned stops including Black Mountain, Old Fort, Marion, Linville and Boone, North Carolina.

From there, the group plans to travel via Todd and West Jefferson, North Carolina, and the River Country Campground along the New River, to the Peace Pentagon near Independence, Virginia.

The marchers are expected to arrive in Galax, Virginia, on April 1, then continue to Hillsville, Floyd, Ferrum and Rocky Mount, arriving in Rocky Mount on April 5.

The group is expected to reach Lynchburg on April 9 and travel up U.S. 29 to Waynesboro, arriving April 12.

Organizers said the marchers plan to arrive in Charlottesville on April 13 and spend April 14 at IX Art Park to rest and prepare for the final leg to Washington.

From Charlottesville, the group plans overnight stops in Barboursville, Orange, Culpeper and Warrenton, Virginia, before arriving in Manassas on April 19. Additional stops include the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, and Alexandria, Virginia, ahead of the group’s arrival in Washington on April 22.

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