Cities are great places to raise children, DC in particular. So Greater Greater Washington and Streetsblog are teaming up to host a playdate and family picnic to bring our readers together for some kid-friendly fun.

Instead of another after-work happy hour at a 21+ bar, we want to get to know each other’s families and enjoy the great urban outdoors. Streetsbaby Luna and Greater Greater Wunderkind Sophie will be in attendance and can’t wait to spill things on you and your children.

The picnic will be at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden (between Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive and 7th and 9th Streets NW) on Saturday, May 31, starting at 11:00 am. We’ll try to congregate in the southeast corner, near 7th and Madison, but may shift if it’s crowded there. Call 202-460-4376 if you have trouble locating us.

The Sculpture Garden is accessible by every single Metro line, several buses, and the Pennsylvania Avenue cycletrack. While we suggest transit, bicycling, or walking, you can also drive there, and either spend a lot of time hunting for on-street parking spaces or pay for a private garage.

This will be a not-quite-potluck: If you can, please bring a (non-alcoholic) beverage, chips, cookies or some other snacky side to share, but it’s every family for itself on the main course. The Pavilion Café is right there and ready to serve you soups, salads, and sandwiches if you can’t be bothered to spend your morning slathering mustard on whole wheat bread.

No one will be turned away for lack of kids. Your definition of family works for us, whatever it may be. And of course, you’re welcome to come on your own.

Please RSVP here with the number of people (of any age) you’ll be bringing so we have an idea how many folks to expect. We can’t wait to see you and meet your family!

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Tagged: about ggwash, cat:events, events, families, meta, public spaces, the mall

Tanya Snyder is the former editor of Streetsblog USA, which covers issues of national transportation policy. She previously covered Congress for Pacifica and public radio. She lives car-free in a transit-oriented and bike-friendly neighborhood of Washington, DC.

David Alpert created Greater Greater Washington in 2008 and was its executive director until 2020. He formerly worked in tech and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco Bay, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He lives with his wife and two children in Dupont Circle.