They’re two of the National Zoo’s newest fur babies. In Thursday’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax got a sneak peek to say hello to them before anybody else.

You can check out and meet two of the more unique creatures now on display at the zoo: the sloth bear cubs.

If you haven’t heard of a sloth bear before today, join the club. But 6-month-old twins Ozzy and Champa (along with mom Molly) will quickly melt your heart with their playfulness and elite eating abilities.

Considered a “vulnerable” species, sloth bears have a very high birth mortality rate. But these two babies (and mom) have made it through a closely monitored growing period.

The zoo said they hope to keep this family thriving for decades to come. In the next week or so, you could be among the first to see their first steps outside.

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In Tuesday’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax (and D.C. explorer and friend of the show Austin Graff) visited the Albert Einstein Memorial, a massive 7-ton bronze sculpture overlooking Constitution Avenue, just down the block from the Lincoln Memorial.

If you didn’t know about the Einstein statue, you might also be unfamiliar with the building it sits in front of — the National Academy of Sciences. The statue was placed there for a reason.

Established in the 1860s during the Civil War, the National Academy of Sciences is one of the nation’s oldest scientific institutions.

In Tuesday’s episode, Kaufax explores what makes it a hidden gem in the nation’s capital — and how the Einstein’s statue and the building connect.

The National Academy of Sciences offers tours by appointment only. .

Austin Graff’s book, “111 Places for Kids in Washington That You Must Not Miss,” is available .

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Imagine being able to reach out and touch the stars without ever lifting off from the ground.

A new immersive, 3D virtual reality experience from the Smithsonian offers guests a window into the cosmos — the first of its kind in D.C.

In Thursday’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax gets “Starstruck!”

The 5,000-square-foot Penn Quarter attraction is a collaboration between events company Fever and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. It was built from actual scientific data, with designers consulting real-life astrophysicists to conceptualize the dimensions of the known universe.

Whether you’re standing on the surface of the sun, encountering the event horizon of a black hole, or being whisked away to take in the Pillars of Creation, the sheer scale of this attraction will make guests feel like they’re floating, and give a sense of wonder that emphasizes just how vast the universe is.

Strap on a headset and check it out for yourself!

Details on the experience can be found on

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Have you ever seen a mini donkey participate in its own doctor’s checkup?

That’s a sentence we never thought we’d type, but now you can see just that at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo!

In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax spent the afternoon at the Zoo’s Kids Farm alongside some adorable mini donkeys, where he saw firsthand how new vet techniques and training are helping improve animal healthcare — one appointment at a time.

The coolest part? Anyone from the public can take a look and see this new “voluntary animal healthcare” up close, simply by passing through and petting some 4-legged friends.

The Zoo says it’s all part of an effort to make animal healthcare less stressful for all, and they hope this will ignite a passion for animals in some of their youngest fans!

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It’s one of the most unique and interactive America 250 festivals you’ll find anywhere in the country this summer — right on the waterfront in historic Old Town Alexandria.

And did we mention it’s free?!?

“Sails on the Potomac” is the first gathering of fully operational, Revolutionary War-era tall ship replicas in the D.C. area since America’s Bicentennial in the 1970s. And this weekend only, you’ll get the chance to step on deck and get out on the water — with real-life colonial guides!

In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax got an exclusive tour of the Tall Ship Providence, which docks year-round at the Pier Bar in Old Town. He also got the chance to check out ships from Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania joining the party.

This three-day festival running through June 14 also happens to be at the same time as Alexandria’s 48th annual Jazz Fest. So on top of free ship tours, there will be live music, historical pop-ups, food tents and much more.

While ship tour tickets are free this weekend, reservations are encouraged if you don’t want to wait in line as a walk-in. Get more information on timed tour tickets at the

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Clocking in at just under 2.5 pounds and about a foot long, the fennec foxes at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo prove that good things come in small packages.

In the latest episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax got the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes to play with these four-legged friends to learn a little more about what makes them so unique—and see how the Zoo is helping their species thrive in the wild.

It’s not a Pokémon, but this tiny, furry canine (who also happens to be a kind of unofficial Zoo mascot) is one of the cutest and most dreamy species you’ll find if you venture into the Small Mammals wing of the National Zoo!

Learn more about the

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In the latest episode of “Matt About Town,” explore the lore of the near Dupont Circle.

Built in 1890 for German immigrant Christian Heurich, the extravagant, intricate, opulent house boasts all kinds of incredible features that make it unique, that are very much on-brand, considering who lived there once upon a time.

This episode not only highlights some of the incredible architecture that transports you to a different world and makes this property stand out. It also dives into the history of the Heurich Brewing Company, which, at one point, was a household name (and the biggest nongovernmental entity) in D.C.

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Some call it the “Comic Con” of Loudoun County — a celebration of comics, art and much more at Lot Con in Ashburn, Virginia.

In the latest episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax visited Comic Logic Books & Artwork, the shop that hosted a mini-convention-style event championing local vendors and collectors.

From veteran comic fans to those who are merely comic curious, there’s a little something for everyone here.

Tune in to see how this event is also inspiring a new generation to take up the comic book mantle for years to come!

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He allegedly dropped one of the most epic quotes in American history about regretting that he had “but one life to lose” for his country.

And his monument sits hidden in plain sight on Constitution Avenue between 9th and 10th streets in D.C.

In Thursday’s episode of “Matt About Town” — Part II in an America 250 miniseries where WTOP’s Matt Kaufax explores lesser-known Revolutionary War monuments all around D.C. — we head to the Department of Justice to uncover the “forgotten” Nathan Hale statue.

The marker depicts Hale, a spy in Washington’s Continental Army, as he’s about to be executed by the British. The story of how Hale, who was only 21 when he was hanged in 1776, became a spy is a fascinating historical deep dive.

As if the record of his service to a young America wasn’t interesting enough, the story of how his statue ended up at DOJ and how, despite its central location, it has flown under the radar for years is equally compelling.

As Matt and a familiar National Park Service ranger will show you, if you go exploring and manage to find this piece of history, it’s worth an extra look!

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In Tuesday’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax heads to International Park in Northwest D.C. to highlight the latest obscure monument — a statue of a mysterious muse, potentially dating all the way back to ancient Greece.

Kaufax looks to find out why the woman depicted was once the victim of a case of mistaken identity.

Originally thought to be a sculpture honoring the theatrical Greek muse of drama and tragedy, Melpomene, this statue was uncovered during an archaeological dig in Athens in the late 1950s, during the height of Cold War tensions.

In an effort to strengthen diplomatic ties, the Greeks cast a limited number of rare copies and gave one to the U.S. For years, Melpomene watched over Van Ness until historians realized the statue wasn’t actually Melpomene, but someone even more significant in the classical Greek pantheon.

Watch the video for the big reveal!

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But the man credited with developing the universal law of gravitation has an interesting tie to the nation’s capital.

In today’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax heads to the Van Ness neighborhood to embrace the wonders of gravity. Brace for falling apples in International Park.

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Before the Washington Monument, D.C. paid tribute to America’s founding father with an approximately 20-foot-tall statue in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood — approved way back in 1783.

In Thursday’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax heads to Washington Circle to the lesser-known, original sculpture of the nation’s first president.

The statue depicts Washington riding his horse into the heat of conflict on the front lines at the Battle of Princeton, and it has a historical lore that goes beyond its forgotten nature.

This is Part 1 in a new series from Matt where he’ll be exploring lesser-known Revolutionary War sites around the nation’s capital!

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In the latest episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax is among the first to try the cutting-edge gaming technology at Sandbox VR DC.

The attraction is a permanent installation near CorePower Yoga and is co-run by Sandbox and LOL Entertainment. D.C. is the third city across the U.S. to host this kind of space.

At Sandbox VR DC, visitors can navigate obstacles, fight zombies or battle monsters from other worlds. The venue features 11 different attractions, with multiple variations, using motion capture technology to track players’ movements in real time. After the experience, guests can watch video replays of their virtual adventures.

After strapping on the in-game sensors, it can feel like stepping onto the set of a Hollywood movie.

And speaking of Hollywood, the experience also includes exclusive games inspired by film and TV. One of them, “Squid Game Virtuals,” was created in collaboration with Netflix. Other experiences are based on popular franchises such as “Rebel Moon” and “Stranger Things.”

More information and tickets are available on .

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What’s better than a story on the hidden secrets of D.C.’s Jefferson Memorial? A sequel!

In Thursday’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax returns to the Tidal Basin, alongside everyone’s favorite ranger, Mike Litterst, with even more little-known lore behind this iconic memorial.

From a severed head to America’s very own “National Treasure” moment, to a very obscure connection to the King of Rock and Roll himself, these historical facts show there’s a lot more than meets the eye at this D.C. staple!

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An Arlington-based barbershop quartet chorus is bringing back a love of the four-part harmony in Virginia, one note at a time.

In Tuesday’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax learns a new tune — or two — as he joins in song with the Arlingtones.

are a Northern Virginia chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, a nationwide organization that aims to help preserve this uniquely American form of music.

At one of their frequent “guest nights,” Kaufax observed firsthand how anyone curious or remotely interested can come in, learn the history of barbershop, learn a song from scratch and make new friends in a welcoming community that flies under the radar in the D.C. area.

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