Top Stop: Late Nights at the Smithsonian

Map It:  L'Enfant Plaza   Smithsonian 

EVERY THURSDAY through the end of July, the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall will stay open late and offer free concerts and other performances, art activities, films and, of course, gallery talks.

Tonight, former Bo Diddley sideman Bobby Parker — cited as a major influence on musicians from John Lennon to Carlos Santana and seen in the center of the photo at right — takes his six-string, his band and a heaping helping of the blues to the Hirshhorn from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Meanwhile, at 7 p.m. Associate Curator Anne Ellegood will conduct a tour of Jim Lambie's installation. Curiously, the Hirshorn will also offer a screening of the '57 B-movie "classic" "The Beginning of the End," about giant mutant grasshoppers running amok, at 8 p.m. "The End," it is perhaps worth noting, stars Peter Graves.

The Freer and Sackler Galleries do their part by offering kids of all ages the chance to play with Indonesian shadow puppets from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. and attend a subsequent shadow puppet performance.

Finally, Ghanaian children's book author and illustrator Meshack Asare will visit the Museum of African Art at 5:30 p.m. to share contemporary and classic children's literature about Africa in an activity intended for kids ages 5 to 10.

» Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue at 7th St. SW; 202-633-1000. (L'Enfant Plaza)
» Freer & Sackler Galleries, 12th St. & Jefferson Drive SW; 202-633-4880. (Smithsonian)
» National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Ave. SW; 202-633-4600. (Smithsonian)

This post was written by Express' Tim Follos. Photo courtesy Madam's Organ.