February Roundup of Museums and Books
Denise at Dare to Care is our host this week. Hop on over there for the roundup.
One Step Forward
One Step Forward comes out on Tuesday! I’ve been posting bits of suffrage history on social media each day. If you want to dig deeper, I have a suffrage history page where there are lots of links.
Be sure to check out my blog post over at Irene Latham’s blog today! Irene did a generous blurb for One Step Forward, and I’m honored to be over at her place today!
I’m excited to report that School Library Journal gave it a starred review! “”Poetry reflects the events and emotions—a square concrete poem for her jail cell, text side by side as [characters] walk and talk, and shrinking text as Matilda feels silenced. Women finding and employing their voices is a theme. A forceful story while chronicling parts of the suffrage movement often ignored.” They also recommended it as a “strong general purchase.” These final verdicts at the end of their reviews are helpful when librarians are looking to make choices when purchasing.
If you’d like a signed copy of One Step Forward, please order through my local indie, One More Page Books. I’ll sign books and they’ll ship them to you!
If you are buying through an online retailer, you can sign up to receive a free signed bookplate. Sign up here and I will mail them out in March.
25 Museums in 2025
February Museums
3. MLK Jr. Memorial Library
Visited February 1, 2025
The central library of DC Public Libraries has a beautiful space with lots of room for exhibits. I needed to renew my DCPL library card, so I lined it up with the timing of this exhibit. The entire large first floor lobby was dedicated to this exhibit. It included videos, large displays with information, and artifacts.
They had several books for sale and lots of library books for Black History Month on display including this one by Keila V. Dawson.
4. National Portrait Gallery
Visited February 1, 2025
Pretty much across the street is the National Portrait Gallery. It’s one of my favorite places in DC. It has the gorgeous Kogod Courtyard inside between the two buildings. I’ve done a lot of writing in that space. On February 1, it was packed with people doing activities for Lunar New Year. It’s also down the street from my favorite restaurant, Teaism.
There is always something interesting in the Portrait Gallery and I love that they sometimes have smaller exhibits. I saw a cool Sylvia Plath exhibit there once. “Brilliant Exiles” is about lots of women who went to Paris to escape gender and/or racial discrimination in the United States. It had portraits of Gertrude Stein, Alice Toklas, Josephine Baker, Augusta Savage, and so many more.
by Evie Robillard, illustrated by Rachel Katstaller
Josephine by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Christian Robinson
Augusta Savage by Marilyn Nelson
I also went back to the National Portrait Gallery for Sarah Albee’s event for The Painter and the President. The Nationals Baseball team “Racing Presidents” were there and hammed it up for the crowd. The illustrator, Stacy Innerst, was also there and did a portrait drawing demo. They had a huge crowd and it was one of the most interactive picture book events I’ve been to.
The Painter and the President by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Stacy Innerst
5. Folger Shakespeare Library
Visited February 1, 2025
This was the first time I’d been back to the Folger since it reopened after a renovation. They have a gorgeous cafe with lots of seating, but it was packed.
I specifically went for this exhibit because I knew it was closing in early February. It was a tiny exhibit but had exquisite, intricate, tiny books made by Inglis. You can see some of her work here.
6. Harry Benson: Washington, DC
February 15, 2025
I accidentally found this on a quick walk between the Portrait Gallery and Walgreens. Right on 7th Ave was a sign for this photography exhibit. It was free and I could see an Alice Paul photo from the sidewalk. I went in and it was one of the coolest things I’ve stumbled on.
Harry Benson was a photographer for Life magazine and has taken photos of many presidents from JFK to the current president. He had iconic photos of Ethel Kennedy, Katharine Graham, the Beatles, and DC protests. It was two levels of powerful photography.
It’s only on exhibit until May, so if you find yourself in Washington, DC between now and May, I highly recommend this exhibit.
February Books Roundup
by Rosita Stevens-Holsey and Terry Catasus Jennings
Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow by Steve Almond
Thanks to Irene for this recommendation. He was at George Mason University last week, but I couldn’t make the schedule work to go hear his talk.
Picnic, Lightning by Billy Collins
The Trouble with Poetry by Billy Collins
by Leigh Ann Henion
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking
Haiku of the Week
February storm
snow cones served
in the moon garden
Haiku & Photo © 2025 Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Photo Taken: February 12, 2025 in the moon garden in my yard
Haiku Written: February 12, 2025
RECREATE
I’m still planting seeds–some inside and some outside.
19 Comments
tanita
Congratulations on your star! 🌟Yay!!
I’m obsessed with your museum visiting! Thanks for allowing us to go vicariously.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you so much, Tanita! I love that I stumbled onto one of the museums. 🙂
Tracey Kiff-Judson
So much to love aboutt this post, Marcie! Your snowcones made me happy. Most of all, CONGRATULATIONS!! I am so excited for you and to read your book.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you! It feels good to celebrate some good news (because this writing life moves at a snail’s pace and the good news doesn’t happen very often).
Denise Krebs
Marcie, wow, so much museumy magic here. I’m glad to see you take adventage of living where you do. I love that photo of Alice Paul. Those snow cones in the moon garden make me smile.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I mean…Alice called to me from the sidewalk! I HAD to go in. 🙂
Linda Baie
Your book will be here soon, Marcie! I’ve had it on hold since they said it was ordered! Congratulations for the star review! Thanks for all the wonderful gallery peeks! There so much to love there! I will look for Sarah Albee’s book! Love the snowcones, too!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda!
Rose Cappelli
So excited for your book to come out, Marcie. Congratulations! I love how you take us on virtual museum trips. Thank you for that, and yes, I think I’ll have one of those snow cones – they look good enough to eat!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
yes to yummy snowcones!
PATRICIA FRANZ
snow cones in the moon garden! I LOVE your haiku photos!
I might have to look into one of those macro lenses.
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
This one was taken with my regular old iphone! I will bring my macro lens for my regular camera with me to Tahoe!
Linda
I love the snow cone image in your haiku and can’t wait for your book to arrive!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Thank you, Linda!
Linda
I’m not sure if my comment posted, but I said that I love your snow cone image and look forward to your book arriving on my doorstep!
Susan Thomsen
Your book is here. Yay! I’m going to ask my library to buy it. I saw the National Portrait Gallery for the first time a couple of years ago, and look forward to going back. Great place!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Yes, thank you! I love that people are requesting it at their library!!!
JoAnn Early Macken
Congratulations on your new book and its starred review! I love the snow cones, I’m inspired by your reading list, and I envy your museum visits. Thank you for the updates!
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
I feel fortunate to be so close to so many FREE museums.