Smithsonian Associates In Person

We invite you to join us

for selected in-person programs, concert series, studio arts classes and workshops, as well as walking tours, full-day study tours, and overnight tours that visit a range of local and regional destinations.

Musical Events

Smithsonian Chorus: Legends of Song

Pati Jinich: La Frontera

Plato’s Republic

Wed., Apr. 5

An illuminating book discussion series examines why some of the central themes in this timeless dialogue are as relevant today as they were in 4th-century Athens.

(see p. 3)

Wed., Apr. 19

Mexican chef Pati Jinich screens an episode from the new season of her PBS docuseries “La Frontera” and offers insights into how she uses food to explore the culture and people along the border of the United States and Mexico.

(see p. 14)

Thurs., Apr. 13 (see p. 16)

Performance: Thurs., June 8

The Smithsonian Chamber Music Society: 2023 Season

The Axelrod String Quartet

Sat., Apr. 29 and Sun., Apr. 30 (see p. 15)

Schubert’s “Fair Maid of the Mill”

Sun., May 14 (see p. 15)

Jazzed About Art

Sat., Apr. 1 (see p. 16)

To Have and Have Another

Thurs., May 4

Writer Philip Greene, a co-founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail, examines the life of Hemingway through his favorite drinks.

(see p. 14)

Studio Arts

Let your creative side shine in a wide variety of handson classes including photography, drawing, painting, calligraphy, fiber arts, and mixed-media, geared to all experience levels and led by professional artists.

(see pp. 42–44)

A Wine Dinner at Gravitas

Mon., June 5, Tues., June 6 Toast the start of summer and the seasonal bounty of the Chesapeake Bay with wines worth knowing at Gravitas, a Michelin-starred modern American restaurant.

(see p. 14)

The Duke Ellington Orchestra: A Centennial Celebration

Sat., June 10 (see p. 16)

Tours

Our expert-led tours offer one-of-a-kind travel experiences. They’re perfect ways to learn more about topics that intrigue you— and satisfy your yen for exploring fascinating places.

(see pp. 55–60)

Read more about these in-person programs in this guide on our website. Expanded program descriptions, presenters’ information, and more are at

SmithsonianAssociates.org

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

Book Discussion

Shedding Light on Plato’s Republic

For many people, tackling The Republic feels daunting. That’s why Georgetown professor Joseph Hartman is offering this illuminating four-session discussion-based course. Hartman examines some of the central themes, questions as relevant today as they were in 4th-century Athens: What is justice? Is there an external source of goodness? What makes a political community strong, and what causes it to decline?

APR 5 Setting the Stage: Introduction and Book I

APR 12 Building and Educating the Political Community (Books II–V)

APR 19 Plato’s Cave: The Turn Toward the Good (Books VI and VII)

APR 26 The Decline of the Regime and the End of Things (Books VIII–X)

4 sessions: Wed., April 5–26, 12–1:30 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1J0-263; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Genius, Tragedy, Ethics, and the First Atomic Bomb

J. Robert Oppenheimer never really thought about the ethics of the atomic bomb until the successful test of a plutonium device at Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July 16, 1945. Then, he experienced an inrush of ethical anguish and spent the rest of his life trying to come to terms with what he, what America, and what humankind had done.

Hardened geopoliticians of the Cold War tried to destroy Oppenheimer, principally because he expressed his misgivings about the United States’ creation of the hydrogen fusion device. Historian Clay Jenkinson examines Oppenheimer’s ethical quandary about nuclear warfare—and the price he paid for it.

Tues., April 11, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1K0-350; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

What Were They Thinking?

The Philosophies of Maimonides and Aquinas

Maimonides and St. Thomas Aquinas, the pre-eminent Jewish and Christian thinkers of the medieval period, shared a passion for applying the rationalist methods of Aristotle to questions of belief. Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed sought to guide the Jewish community in understanding God as they contended with the more populous and politically powerful Christian and Muslim majorities. Aquinas’ Summa Theologica addresses every conceivable issue that defined Christian thinking up to his time. Ori Z. Soltes, author and Georgetown University lecturer, considers how these gigantic thinkers differ, where they share common ground—and their relevance to our own world of thought and action.

Wed., April 12, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-764; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Jiaxiu

Traditional Roots of Modern China

How an Ancient Worldview Drives Today’s Foreign Policy

China scholar Robert Daly traces China’s 21st-century drive for wealth, power, and status to geographic influences, beliefs, and social and cultural practices rooted in its earliest dynasties. The country’s location, Taoism, social stability, and cultural cohesion all played a role.

10 a.m. Pangu’s Bones: How Geography Shaped Chinese Culture

11:30 a.m. The Struggle for Harmony: Qi and Chinese Attitudes Toward Nature

12:45 p.m. Break

1:15 p.m. Culture, Technology, Wealth, and Power

2:45 p.m. Three Ways To Look at China

Sat., April 15, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; CODE 1M2-254; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

A Journey Through Ancient China

China has more than 3,000 years of recorded history, but misconceptions abound at every stage. This series takes you on a thematic tour of four important topics in ancient Chinese history: religion, ethnicity, law, and eunuchs. Justin M. Jacobs, a professor of Chinese history at American University, gives you a nuanced overview based on the latest scholarship and illustrated with copious slides.

MAY 24 Religion in Chinese History

MAY 31 Ethnic Identity in Chinese History

JUN 7 Law and Punishment in Chinese History

JUN 14 Eunuchs in Chinese History

4 sessions: Wed., May 24, May 31, June 7, and June 14, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-270; Members $80; Nonmembers $90

Individual sessions: Wed., May 24 (CODE 1J0-270A); Wed., May 31 (CODE 1J0-270B); Wed., June 7 (CODE 1J0-270C); Wed., June 14 (CODE 1J0-270D); 6:45 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

U.S.–China Relations: Managing Long-term Rivalry

Co-sponsored by the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars

Relations between the United States and China are at their lowest point since the 1970s. The superpowers are still highly integrated through trade and conflict remains unlikely, but what President Biden calls an “extreme competition” is well underway. Neither Beijing nor Washington has a clear idea of where their competition is headed, how long it will last, or what it will cost. Biden and General Secretary Xi both face domestic pressures that drive them toward a more contentious relationship and prevent them from giving competition their full attention.

Three of Washington’s leading analysts provide insights into whether and how U.S.–China relations can be managed peacefully: J. Stapleton Roy, former U.S. ambassador to China, Singapore, and Indonesia; Amy P. Celico, principal and China director at the Albright Stonebridge Group; and Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington, D.C. Robert Daly, director of the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States, serves as moderator.

Thurs., June 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-267; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Changing Face of Television

YouTube, Bingeing, Streaming, and Beyond

Watching television used to be a fairly simple enterprise: You turned on the set and selected one of 500 cable channels. Now, more and more viewers are watching online-only channels like Netflix or Disney+. Many younger viewers prefer devices such as their laptops or their phones. And tens of thousands of kids and teenagers have started their own TV networks on YouTube, bypassing regular programming altogether. Drawing on video clips to illustrate his talk, media expert Brian Rose explains why the old days of simply “watching TV” are fast disappearing.

Thurs., April 13, 12–1:15 p.m.; CODE 1J0-250; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Rasputin: The Man Who Would Not Die

More than 100 years after his death, few figures in Russian history evoke as much fascination as Grigori Rasputin, often portrayed as the “Mad Monk” who became the political power behind Czar Nicholas II and his family.

The fact that he was neither mad, nor a monk, hasn’t stopped writers from repeating these and other bogus claims. Historians also debate the extent of Rasputin’s influence on the royal family. And many questions still swirl around his murder one December night at the Yusupov Palace.

Historian Ralph Nurnberger explores the mysteries surrounding the life and death of one of Russian history’s most intriguing characters.

Tues., April 18, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-011; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Grigori Rasputin

The French Wars of Religion, 1559–1598 Reform and Conflict

In the second half of the 16th century, France teetered on the edge of an abyss. For three decades the kingdom was near anarchy, torn apart by the vicious cycles of violence between Catholics and Protestants.

Historian Alexander Mikaberidze discusses the complex origins of the Wars of Religion in France and provides concise analysis of the wars, their social and economic toll, and the lasting impact of political ideas that they generated. He also examines the effect they had on the French state, economy, culture, and society.

Thurs., April 20, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-256; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

The Sack of Lyon by Calvinists, 1565

Smithsonian Art Collectors presents

The Art of Philip Guston

Inscapes: Words and Images was a 1976 city-wide festival held in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the collaboration of poetry and visual arts. To commemorate the festival, the Smithsonian commissioned Guston and poet Stanley Kunitz to create this collaborative work inspired by and featuring one of Kunitz's poems.

Philip Guston Now is on view through August 27 at the National Gallery of Art.

Inscapes: Words and Images, 1977 Poster | Retail: $35; Member: $20*

*Member pricing applies to Promoter level and above For membership levels visit SmithsonianAssociates.org/levels

From Coronation to Committal The Traditions and Ceremonies that Shape the British Monarchy

In September 2022, the world watched the pageantry of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral. For the first time, the coverage included the committal ceremony, during which the emblems of royalty were taken from her coffin and placed on the altar. This ritual symbolizes the ongoing nature of the monarchy, with the crown passing from one individual to the next.

From coronation to committal, ceremonies shape the monarchy. Tudor scholar Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger explores the history and significance of these royal traditions and discusses why the ceremonies are important today.

Sat., April 22, 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-257; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

The Supreme Court’s Role in Our Constitutional Democracy

Recent years have seen increasing controversy concerning the Supreme Court— contentious appointments, divisive opinions, and even leaks from inside. Some critics blame the philosophy of originalism, others claim individual justices are advancing political agendas or they fault the judicial body’s structural features and the nominating and confirmation processes.

Kermit Roosevelt, a constitutional law professor, former Supreme Court clerk, and member of President Biden’s Supreme Court Reform Commission, assesses the court and its place in our system of constitutional democracy. What role should the Supreme Court play? What forces are driving the recent controversies? And what, if anything, can we do to make things better?

Mon., April 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-765; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Discovering Türkiye

PBS television host Darley Newman shares great places to discover in Türkiye (the now-official name for Turkey) whether you’re visiting bustling bazaars in Istanbul or venturing off the beaten path. In Istanbul, marvel at the dazzling Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Galata Tower. In Şanlıurfa, walk through Göbeklitepe, an archaeological site older than Stonehenge. In Izmir and Urla along Türkiye’s Aegean coast, visit the oldest known olive oil workshop in Anatolia and view UNESCO World Heritage sites like Ephesus and Pergamum. Newman’s travel insights provide a guide to discovering the diversity and wonders of historic and contemporary Türkiye.

NEW DATE: Mon., April 24, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-237; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Spanish Influence in the American Revolution Guns, Ships, and Cows

The American Revolution was seen by King Carlos III and his ministers as an unprecedented opportunity to regain territory Spain had ceded to the British during the French and Indian War, argues University of Maryland historian Richard Bell

For that reason, Spanish merchants in Bilbao and the Caribbean began secretly supplying the patriots with flintlocks, shot, blankets, and cows in 1774, well before their government’s declaration of war five years later. Bell draws connections between the American Revolution and the waves of independence movements that rippled across Spain’s Latin American colonies in the decades afterward.

Mon., April 24, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-258; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Moviegoing in America

From Nickelodeons to Movie Palaces to IMAX to Streaming

Ever since the movie industry was born in the 1890s, audiences have been thrilled to watch stories come to life on the big screen. Actually, nickelodeon screens weren’t very big. But by the 1920s, extravagant movie palaces were a common venue. Then came suburban drive-ins, followed by shopping-mall multiplexes. Today, the movies offer mind-boggling experiences at 7-story IMAX theaters.

The Fox Theater in Atlanta

Media expert Brian Rose looks at the fascinating history of movie theaters, examines how the experience of moviegoing has changed over the decades, and considers whether movie theaters will survive in the age of streaming services.

Wed., May 3, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-260; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Alcatraz: 250 Years on the Rock

Alcatraz is America’s most notorious island, and its most misunderstood.

Beginning with its first sighting by Europeans in 1769 through its present standing as the top paid tourist attraction in San Francisco, its history is multi-layered. Former National Park ranger and historian John Martini uncovers both the island’s infamous past as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963 and its lesser-known roles as a Civil War fortress, political prison for Confederate sympathizers, and military prison for recalcitrant U.S. Army soldiers and Native American warriors. He also covers its evolution as a National Park site, the now-resurgent natural life, and the challenges of preserving its aging infrastructure.

Wed., April 26, 7 p.m.; CODE 1CV-013; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

A Bitter Defeat

The 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville

Military historians consider the May 1863 Battle of Chancellorsville to be Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s tactical masterpiece and a notable defeat for the Union. However, the consequent Confederate overconfidence played a significant role in the decision to invade the North at Gettysburg, with results that would turn the tide of war.

Historian Christopher Hamner examines the lead-up to Chancellorsville, Lee’s tactics, and the strategic implications of the Confederate victory.

Wed., May 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-013; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Related tour: The Civil War at Chancellorsville (see p. 57)

Spring in the South of France

A Virtual Tour of the Region’s History, Culture, and Sights

Everyone from ancient Romans to Post-Impressionist artists to movie stars has been lured to the enchanting South of France. Its abundance of lavender-laced valleys, glittering seashores, medieval hill towns, and lively cities, all bathed in translucent light, are downright seductive. Journey with travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy in a virtual exploration of Provence and the Côte d’Azur, including the region’s most intriguing sights, historical aspects, food and wine, and art. Among the locales are the sunny beaches of the French Riviera and the gorges known as Europe’s Grand Canyon.

MAY 4 Côte d’Azur

JUN 1 Off the Beaten Path

Individual sessions: Thurs., May 4 (CODE 1CV-C10), Thurs., June 1 (CODE 1CV-D10), 7 p.m.; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

The Cuban Missile Crisis Re-examining a Moment of Extreme Danger

The Cuban Missile Crisis is an event most Americans think they could probably recount in broad contours: In 1962, the Soviet Union tried to sneak nuclear missiles into Cuba, but the United States discovered them and forced the Soviets to back down. But is that what really happened, or is that just the myth Americans have told themselves in the years since? Allen Pietrobon, a global affairs professor at Trinity Washington University, reflects on how such a moment of extreme danger came to happen and whether the United States truly won the face-off.

Mon., May 8, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-261;

The Physiologus A Book of Nature and Fantasy

Unicorns, centaurs, and other animals—both mythological and real—make an appearance in the Physiologus (The Naturalist), a compilation written in Greek by an anonymous author, probably in Alexandria in the 3rd century A.D. Its text comprises chapters on assorted animals and magic stones, with information drawn from the works of ancient and Christian authors, the Bible, and fables. Ilya Dines, a medieval manuscripts specialist at the Library of Congress, delves into the text, illuminations, and legacy of the Physiologus.

Mon., May 15, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-265; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Global Geopolitical Organization

The View from Ground Level

According to the standard model of global politics, the world is cleanly divided into a set number of fundamental units called nation-states. In the conventional narrative, the nation-state model originated in Europe in the late 18th and early-19th centuries and subsequently spread across the world, becoming fully globalized during the post-World War II decolonization era.

But global political organization is far more complicated and chaotic, reminds historian Martin Lewis, and expecting all countries to act like nation-states can result in severe miscalculations. Imposing regime-change, for example, on a country with an inadequate national foundation can result in rapid state collapse rather than democratic reconstruction. Lewis explores how the world is geopolitically constituted at the ground level, rather than as it is ideally imagined by diplomats, scholars, and foreign-policy experts.

Tues., May 16, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-767; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Colonial India’s Complex History

While the historical relationship of India and Great Britain is well-known, events in other countries also affected how India developed into the country it is today. Author Fazle Chowdhury unravels the complicated history of India from its existence as a British colony to an independent Asian nation.

Chowdhury traces the impact of such seemingly unrelated factors as power struggles in 19th-century Afghanistan, Persian Qajar invasions, diplomatic conflicts between Britain and Czarist Russia, and revolutionary movements in both Russia and Persia.

Fri., June 2, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-266; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Perils of Polarization A History of a Nation Divided

It’s increasingly clear that the United States is fragmented: Civility is in short supply, and common values are eroding. However, that’s nothing that hasn’t happened before. Journalist, historian, and author Ken Walsh illustrates how the United States has had recurring problems with creating unity and maintaining respectful discourse. Walsh examines how the United States reached this point, places the current situation in historical context, and discusses whether there is much chance for comity, consensus, and cooperation in the future.

Thurs., May 25, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-014; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

Aaron Burr

The Most Controversial Founding Father

Aaron Burr stands apart from the other Founding Fathers—then and now. Debates continue whether he was a significant political figure or a scoundrel and a traitor. He was a hero of the Revolutionary War, a United States senator, and the third vice president, preceded only by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

Yet Burr’s legacy is usually defined by his role in the presidential election of 1800, his potential attempt to create a breakaway nation for which he faced a trial for treason, and most notably his 1804 duel with Hamilton leading to Burr’s indictment in two states for murder. Historian Ralph Nurnberger discusses the many facets of this fascinating early American political leader and whether he’s best remembered as a patriot or a villain.

Mon., June 5, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-016; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Treaty of Versailles: How Three Men Shaped our World

In 1919, leaders from around the globe gathered in Paris to write the final chapter of World War I. The resulting Treaty of Versailles was the handiwork of three men: British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, French Premier Georges Clemenceau, and American President Woodrow Wilson. They hoped, one diplomat said, to establish “not Peace only, but Eternal Peace.” But even at the time, another eyewitness knew better. “They think they have got peace,” this French general said. “All they have got is a twenty-year truce.” He was right.

George Mason University history professor Kevin Matthews explores a legacy that is still being played out in Asia and the Middle East, in Europe and the United States, and how the men of Versailles created the world we live in.

Tues., June 6, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1D0-018; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Bronze Age: Civilization and Collapse New Insights into a Catastrophe

For more than 300 years during the Late Bronze Age, from about 1500 B.C. until just after 1200 B.C., the Mediterranean region was the stage on which Egyptians, Mycenaeans, Minoans, Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Cypriots, Trojans, and Canaanites interacted, creating a cosmopolitan world system that has only rarely been seen before the current day. When the end came in 1177 B.C. after centuries of cultural and technological evolution, the civilized and international world of the Mediterranean regions came to a dramatic halt.

Historian Eric Cline, author of 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed, surveys a dramatic period of achievement, upheaval, and catastrophe drawing on the most recent data on the Late Bronze Age civilizations of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean and their fates.

Thurs., June 8, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-770; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Live from Poland

World War II in Poland

Significant Sites, Events, and Stories

Take a visual journey through the years of World War II in Poland and related significant locations—Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk—as author and tour guide Christopher Skutela sheds light on the war and its implications. Knowing what happened in Poland, a constitutional republic that lost its independence during the war, provides a deeper understanding of the history of the rest of Europe and a perspective that can help create a better future, Skutela says.

Mon., June 12, 3 p.m.; CODE 1J0-272; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Quakers and the Birth of the Antislavery Movement

As members of the Religious Society of Friends, Quakers in colonial America manifested their radical sense of equality in what they wore and how they acted. It’s not surprising, then, that 18thcentury Quakers were the first group of white Christians in America to confront slaveholding as a religious problem that demanded social action.

But for much of the colonial period, many Quakers were slaveholders themselves—including members of William Penn’s family. It took tremendous energy and effort on the part of a small number of activists to disrupt that status quo in the decades before the Revolution and steer their church towards an outspoken commitment to Black freedom.

Historian Richard Bell recounts this untold story, focusing on the dramatic antislavery crusades and wildly different tactics of three 18th-century Quakers: Benjamin Lay, a hermit; John Woolman, a shopkeeper; and Anthony Benezet, a schoolteacher.

Tues., June 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-264; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Churchill’s Secret Army

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare

In 1940, Winston Churchill famously ordered his Special Operations Executive (SOE) to “set Europe ablaze.” This top-secret army of mavericks, who ran the gamut from Oxford and Cambridge grads to thieves, soon began a program of sabotage and subversion behind enemy lines. Churchill remained closely involved throughout the war.

Historian Rory Cormac traces how Churchill’s enthusiasm for intelligence operations drove a global secret war. Ultimately, Cormac suggests that despite some failures, Churchill’s decisions proved astute, and that SOE’s legacy shaped the peace in surprising and sometimes dramatic ways.

Tues., June 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1H0-775; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

What time does the program end? Unless noted, Smithsonian Associates programs run 1 hour 15 min.–2 hours, including Q&A

Lady Jane Grey

First

Tudor Queen or Royal Traitor?

When young King Edward VI died in 1553, England believed the next monarch would be his half-sister Mary Tudor, the daughter of Henry VIII named in the Succession Act and Henry’s will as Edward’s heir. But Edward was determined not to leave the crown to a Catholic. With the help of John Dudley, president of the regency council, Edward created a “Devise for the Succession” to rewrite history and choose his successor.

Four days after Edward’s death, Lady Jane Grey Dudley—John Dudley’s teenage daughter-in-law—was proclaimed queen. For several days, both Jane and Mary considered themselves the ruler of England. But once she was installed on the throne, Queen Jane’s reign lasted less than two weeks.

Tudor scholar and historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger considers Jane’s life and character and the powerful men around her, tracing the path from noblewoman to young wife to queen. She also examines Mary Tudor’s complicated relationship with Jane—and why it was necessary for one of them to lose her life.

Wed., June 21, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-265; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

The Real Lives of Jews in the Traditional World Insights from the Jewish Theological Seminary Library

Jews through the ages were generally considered pious and thoroughly immersed in Jewish life, standing apart, often by force, from their non-Jewish neighbors. But many of the rare materials in the Jewish Theological Seminary Library in New York City, home to one of the greatest and most extensive collections of Judaica in the world, offer a different picture.

It’s a more nuanced one, based on how specific communities of Jews lived with their neighbors, experiencing life first as human beings and then as Jews. In general, they spoke the same languages as those neighbors, wore the same clothes, and related to the world in similar ways, imagining dragons where their neighbors saw dragons and admiring chivalry where it was admired by all. In a richly illustrated talk, David Kraemer, the library’s director, shares evidence from the magnificent collections that offers surprising correctives to commonly repeated historical “truths.”

Thurs., June 22, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1M2-268; Members $25; Nonmembers $30

Steel in America: A Photographic Journey

Learn the history behind who made steel in the United States, what forces shaped the fate of steel mills and steel towns, and where steel is made today. Using dramatic imagery from the National Museum of Industrial History (a Smithsonian Affiliate) and the Historic American Engineering Record, historian Mike Piersa and photographer Jeremy Blakeslee discuss and vividly showcase the growth, evolution, and sometimes death of facilities that were capable of producing millions of tons of steel per year.

Wed., June 28, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1CV-017; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Unless noted, all programs are presented on Zoom; listed times are Eastern Time. Online registration is required.

A TOP SOMMELIER'S GUIDE TO WINE

Spring Wine Adventures

Expand your knowledge of wine as you travel the world with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in delectable wine-tasting adventures. Each immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.

In a New York State of Wine

New York wine has been pleasing palates and wowing enophiles for ages. The vineyards surrounding the Finger Lakes have proven time and time again to produce wines on a world-class scale. Erik Segelbaum leads a tasty, in-depth session focused on the red and white varieties that grow best in the state, as well as explores some up-and-coming varieties that are being pioneered in New York’s appellations. This is a can’t-miss for any lover of bright, elegant, and complex wines.

Fri., April 21, 6 p.m.; CODE 1L0-511; Members $65; Nonmembers $75

Wein-derlust: Exploring Austrian Wine

Austria has a long and storied history of producing extraordinary, high-acid, and fresh wines. Whether it’s bone-dry Rieslings or Austria’s heritage grape, Grüner Veltliner, its whites are guaranteed palate pleasers and are exceptionally food-friendly. But Austria has so much more to offer. Native reds like Blaufrânkisch (Lemberger), Zweigelt, and St. Laurent shine brightly, as do international varieties like Pinot Noir (Spâtburgunder). This delightful session will have you drinking like a sommelier in no time.

Fri., May 19, 6 p.m.; CODE 1L0-512; Members $65; Nonmembers $75

Deutschland Entkorkt: Uncorking Germany’s Best

Germany has some of the world’s most challenging vineyards to maintain. Steep slopes, eroding hills, and climate change all collaborate to make viticulture a harrowing challenge for even the most seasoned winemaker. However, the effort is well worth it. The country’s wines are mainstays of any sommelier’s toolkit for food-and-wine pairings. It’s here where Riesling finds its ancestral home and is readily consumed in all styles from bone-dry to semi-sweet. Germany’s fresh, bright, and food-friendly reds are also comfortably at home on dinner tables all over the world. Erik Segelbaum serves up a delicious exploration of the wines of Germany and their rich histories.

Fri., June 23, 6 p.m.; CODE 1L0-513; Members $65; Nonmembers $75

3 wine-tasting sessions: CODE 2WINE2023; Members $175; Nonmembers $200

Wine-tasting kit information: The cost includes curated personal tasting kits with enough wine for one person to sample the full lineup of wines. Additional participants must register individually to receive their own tasting kits, which is an essential component of the series. Each session has separate kits available during two scheduled pick-up times the day before the program and the day of the program, 12–4 p.m. at The Eastern wine bar in the Capitol Hill neighborhood (360 7th Street SE; Metro: Eastern Market, Orange, Silver and Blue Lines). Due to state and federal laws, wine kits may not be shipped. NOTE: Patrons receive additional wine tasting kit pick-up information by email prior to each session.

Please visit SmithsonianAssociates.org to view the FAQ on Health & Safety guidelines

VOICES Highlighting people who share their unique perspective on the world today

In Person

Pati Jinich: La Frontera

In her PBS PrimeTime docuseries “La Frontera,” Mexican chef Pati Jinich uses food as the vehicle to explore the culture and people along the border of the United States and Mexico, sharing meals with locals from all walks of life and reflecting on the melding of cultures.

Returning for a second season this spring, “La Frontera: The Everchanging Borderlands” features Jinich’s explorations on the western half of the Mexico–U.S. border, covering California and Baja California, Arizona and Sonora, and New Mexico and Chihuahua. Join her for a screening of an episode from the new season, followed by a conversation focusing on the creation of the series and what she discovered traveling in both countries.

Wed., April 19, 6:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1L0-508; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Spices 101: Pepper

From the tangled jungles of Kerela, black pepper spread around the globe and altered the course of history as it did. Ground, dried, and cooked peppercorns have been used since antiquity, both for flavor and as a traditional medicine. Black pepper is the world’s most-traded spice, beguiling cooks worldwide with its fragrant warmth. Varieties include black, green, and pink pepper, Sichuan, cubeb, long, sansho, and more…but which are the true peppercorns and which are pretenders?

Eleanor Ford, award-winning author of The Nutmeg Trail, delves into the history, botany, lore, and culinary uses of the world’s favorite spice, then turns to the kitchen to explore flavor profiles, cooking tips, and recipes to put pepper to best use.

Wed., April 26, 12–1:30 p.m.; CODE 1NV-032; Members $25; Nonmember $30

In Person

A Wine Dinner at Gravitas

Celebrate the start of summer with a delicious evening at Gravitas, a Michelin-starred modern American restaurant by chef Matt Baker dedicated to seasonal cooking and sourcing from local farms and waters. Baker’s three-course menu specially designed for the event showcases the summer bounty of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and Smithsonian Associates’ favorite sommelier Erik Segelbaum, who leads the popular Wine Adventures series, pairs wines with the courses with a focus on hidden gems. Chef Baker and Segelbaum are on hand to talk about the food and drink.

To Have and Have Another

In Person

The Life and Times (and Cocktails) of Ernest Hemingway

Although he probably never drank Dos Equis, Ernest Hemingway could have been the prototype for the brand’s “Most Interesting Man in the World.” One of the 20th century’s greatest writers, he lived a big, bold, adventurous life, filled with exploits in locations across the world.

Writer Philip Greene, a co-founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail, examines the life, prose, travels, and adventures of Hemingway through the lens of his favorite drinks, watering holes, and drinking buddies. Enjoy light snacks and four cocktail samples and raise a toast to Papa.

Greene’s book To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion (TarcherPerigee) is available for purchase and signing.

Thurs., May 4, 6:45 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1L0-509; Members $55; Nonmembers $70

TWO OPTIONS: Mon., June 5 (CODE 1L0-516); Tues., June 6 (CODE 1L0-517); 6:30–8:30 p.m.; Gravitas, 1401 Okie St. NE, Washington, D.C.; Members $250; Nonmembers $280

The Smithsonian Chamber Music Society: 2023 Season

All performances are in the Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music, American History Museum

The Axelrod String Quartet: Stradivarius and Amati

Join the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society for the unparalleled experience of hearing two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicoló Amati. Axelrod String Quartet members Marc Destrubé, James Dunham, and Kenneth Slowik perform with guest violinists in programs that illustrate the breadth of the quartet repertoire while being unified through the inclusion of a Beethoven quartet in F Major on each program.

Sat., April 1: Mozart: Quartet in G Major, K387 Bartók: Quartet No. 1, Op. 7; Beethoven: Quartet in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1; with guest violinist Mark Fewer

Sat., April 29 and Sun., April 30: Haydn: Quartet in D Minor, Op. 76, No. 2, “Fifths”; Britten: Quartet No. 2 in C Major, Op. 36; Beethoven: Quartet in F Major, Op. 135; with guest violinist Joseph Puglia

Sat., April 1 (CODE 1P0-770); Sat., April 29 (CODE 1P0-771); 7:30 p.m.; Sun., April 30 (CODE 1P0-774); 6:30 p.m.; Members $27; Nonmembers $35

More Musical Delights in the 2023 Concert Season

Schubert’s “Fair Maid of the Mill”

The Smithsonian Chamber Players

Between them, tenor Frank Kelley and fortepianist Kenneth Slowik have lived with Franz Schubert’s great cycle of love, longing, jealousy, and death—the basic subjects of much of the German Lieder repertoire—for well over half a century. Their compelling collaboration in Die schöne Müllerin (Fair Maid of the Mill), D795 is a product of this long mutual familiarity.

Sun., May 14, 7 p.m.; CODE 1P0-805; Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music, National Museum of American History; Members $25; Nonmembers $35

Smithsonian Chamber Music Society concerts are held in the intimate Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music, American History Museum

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In Person

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra Concert Series

Under the artistic direction of maestro Charlie Young, Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra has celebrated some of the greatest jazz music throughout its 32-year history as one of the crown jewels of the National Museum of American History.

Jazzed About Art

Jazz Appreciation Month

To kick off the annual worldwide celebration of jazz, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra offers a soundtrack filled with rhythm, texture, and color as it showcases the work of prominent 20th–century visual artists including William Sharp, John Fenton, and Romare Bearden. Be-Bop by Dizzy Gillespie, Crying and Sighing by McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, and Kingdom of Not by Sun Ra are among the musical selections.

Sat., April 1, 7 p.m.; Baird Auditorium, Natural History Museum; CODE 1P0-780; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

The Duke Ellington Orchestra: A Centennial Celebration

They’ve been called everything from the Washingtonians to Duke Ellington and His Kentucky Club Orchestra to Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (and more). But the Duke Ellington Orchestra under any name maintains an unparalleled place in the history of American music. This year marks the 100th anniversary of this legendary ensemble, and the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra is ready to celebrate its vast musical legacy. Performance selections include Rainy Nights, Harlem Airshaft, Charpoy, and The Biggest and Busiest Intersection.

Sat., June 10, 7 p.m; Baird Auditorium, Natural History Museum; CODE 1P0-781; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Smithsonian Chorus: Legends of Song

If you’re looking for a choral program that celebrates memorable music across the decades, this is the one for you. Join fellow music lovers to sing timeless classics from the 1920s and ’30s such as I Got Rhythm all the way to ’70s and ’80s hits like I’ll Be There and Don’t Stop Believin’

Choral conductor and music educator Ernest Johnson leads the ensemble in arrangements of the hits you know and love. Songs may include favorites by the Gershwins, Duke Ellington, the Beatles, and others, selected by the conductor. (The final song list and musical arrangements are chosen to fit the specific vocal and musical abilities of the group.)

The experience is designed to entertain, challenge, and educate adult singers of all skill levels. Singers receive general instruction in vocal techniques that include exercises in healthy breath. Basic music reading instruction included as music is rehearsed. Rehearsals culminate in a free performance on June 8.

8 sessions plus performance: Thurs., April 13–May 4, Tues., May 9, Thurs., May 18–June 1, 6:30–8:30 p.m.; Thurs., June 8 performance, 7 p.m.; Ripley Center; CODE 1P0-782; Members $120; Nonmembers: $135

Wonder Tales from Japan

Whether they’re called fairy tales or something else, magical stories are found the world over. Like their Western counterpart, Japan’s fantastical stories—otogi-banashi—are part of the body of stories folklorists call “wonder tales”: They contain supernatural elements, are set in the land of once upon a time, and feature marvelous situations.

Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman explore traditional tales from Japan and how contemporary Japanese creators are taking a clue from the West as they combine the enchantments of wonder tales and fairy tales in modern genres like anime (animation) and manga (comics).

Mon., April 3, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-249; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Literature’s Nobel Prize Who Won, Who Didn’t, and Why It Matters

Gender, Sexuality, and the Fairy Tale

Fairy tales have a reputation for being conventional, and many of the most famous ones—think Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk—appear to be just that. But they can be surprisingly inclusive and wonderfully disruptive to our expectations.

Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman share some very old and very unconventional fairy tales and discuss modern LGBTQ+ twists on old tales and traditions.

Tues., June 20, 6:45 p.m.; CODE 1J0-271; Members $20; Nonmembers $25

Each year in October, the greatest award in the world of books—the Nobel Prize in Literature—is announced. Since 1901, the Swedish Academy has given the prize to an author from any country who has produced “the most outstanding work in an idealistic direction.” These subjective words have led to choices that have been alternately celebrated and criticized.

Join Joseph Luzzi, a professor of comparative literature at Bard College, as he delves into the history of the prize, including some of the Academy’s more controversial losers (Leo Tolstoy) and winners (Bob Dylan).

Thurs., April 13, 6:30 p.m.; CODE 1J0-253; Members $30; Nonmembers $35

Your Monthly Digital Program Guide Is Always On Time!

It’s becoming harder and harder to be patient as widespread mail delays across the country are affecting the timely delivery of our monthly program guide. But, in the meanwhile, we want to remind you of some of the convenient online options available to help you keep up with Smithsonian Associates’ programs and special offers.

It Pays To Become a Member (Especially Today) The digital program guide is sent automatically to members via email (1–2 weeks before the print guide arrives).

Members receive early email announcements of new programs, free events, and other special offerings—ahead of the general public Visit Our Website Purchase tickets and make payments; become a member or renew your membership; sign up for program eAlerts; and access our popular Digital Digest.