MUSEUM OPENING

SMITHSONIAN ADDITION The Smithsonian Institution’s new National Museum of the American Indian will open September 21 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Tribal communities have contributed not only to the exhibits and collections, but also to the design of the building and the landscaping. The museum is dedicated to showcasing the cultures, histories, languages, and artifacts of American Indians.

It will be launched with a six-day special event, the First Americans Festival, September 21 to 26, featuring free performances by more than 300 singers, dancers, storytellers, and artisans representing three-dozen tribes throughout the Americas. The five-story facility is located at Fourth Street and Independence Avenue, S.W. It will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Because large crowds are anticipated and some galleries are small, timed passes are necessary for admission. A limited number of free passes will be distributed daily starting at 10 a.m. at the east entrance of the museum; otherwise you can wait in line to enter on a first-come, first served basis. Or reserve timed passes in advance for a fee of $1.75 a ticket plus a $1.50 service charge per order by calling 866-400-NMAI or visitingwww.tickets.com.

Visit www.AmericanIndian.si.edu for more information.

INTERNET SERVICE

YOM KIPPUR AROUND THE WORLD Jewish travelers who will be away from home on Yom Kippur can find a place to attend prayer services almost anywhere in the world – from Kinshasa, Congo, to Chiang Mai, Thailand – by logging on to www.chabad.org and clicking on “High Holiday Events.”

The services are run by rabbis from the Lubavitcher organization, but they are open to Jews of all levels of observance. Prayer services will be held beginning at sundown on Sept. 24 and during the day on Sept. 25. Travelers are also invited to join in a communal meal to break the fast at sundown on Sept. 25. Locations range from hotels and hostels to “Chabad Houses,” which are centers set up and staffed by Lubavitchers around the world.

The Web site also offers information on celebrating other Jewish holidays as they occur throughout the year, including Hanukkah celebrations in December and Passover seders in the spring.

WEEKEND GETAWAY

AUTUMN IN NANTUCKET The crowds of summer are gone and it’s a bit nippy for ocean dips, but there are plenty of reasons to visit Nantucket Island this fall.

Architecture and history buffs will enjoy strolling through Nantucket Town’s cobblestone carriageways and narrow lanes, featuring 800 houses built between 1740 and 1840. Nature lovers will revel in the colorful foliage, dramatic sunsets, and bird watching; hiking and biking opportunities also abound.

Autumn events include the annual Arts Festival, October 1 to 10; October 4 outings with bird watching and marine ecology themes; the “Octobeer Fest” featuring German cuisine and the fruits of the vine from the local Nantucket Vineyard and Cisco Brewers on October 11, and the annual Harvest Fair, Cranberry Festival, and chowder contest on October 18.

Visit www.nantucketchamber.org for details on events, help with accomodations or more information or ask for a copy of the official guide to

Nantucket at 508-228-1700.