Feb
7
Sat
Sweethearts and Patriots Annual Gala and Silent Auction @ City Tavern Club
Feb 7 @ 9:00 PM – Feb 8 @ 1:00 AM

Promoting patriotism, historic preservation and supporting America’s service men and women are some of the many reasons young members join the District of Columbia Societies of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution (DCSSAR and DCDAR).  Volunteer efforts focused on helping our servicemen and their families have been a high priority in recent years for young members of the non-profit, non-political service organizations.

DCSSAR and DCDAR cordially invite you to the 2nd Annual Sweethearts and Patriots Gala and Silent Auction benefiting Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) on February 7, 2015, from 9pm-1am. The patriotic black-tie (optional) gala will be held at the historic City Tavern Club (CTC) in the heart of Georgetown. Attendees will enjoy an open bar, desserts, dancing, socializing and the opportunity to bid on incredible items at our silent auction. Attendees of the gala are invited to attend the post-gala party hosted at Chi Di of Georgetown.

The annual Sweethearts and Patriots gala is organized jointly by young members of the District of Columbia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and members of the District of Columbia Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Each year the gala benefits a different local organization that supports Veterans – chosen by the Founders Committee. Founders Committee members include Carl Bedell, Reid Collins, Andrew Dye, Kate Henvey, Julie Kinzer, Carina May and Leslie Ogden.

TAPS offers compassionate care to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in our Armed Forces. Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. Learn more at http://www.taps.org/.

Feb
15
Sun
Art Soiree’s Mardi Gras Masquerade @ Sofitel Hotel
Feb 15 @ 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Don your most elegant masks and festive attire for one of the greatest French traditions and immerse into the colorful world of carnival!!!
You’re invited to
MARDI GRAS MASQUERADE 2015

WHEN: Sunday, February 15 | 8pm
WHERE:
Sofitel Hotel, 806 15th Street NW, Washington DC

TICKETS*: $15 before Feb 9th online only: https://mardigrasmasquerade2015.eventbrite.com
Tickets go up in price to $20 on 2/9/15

ENTER THE WORLD OF MASQUERADE
Dance the night away to the best of New Orleans inspired live music and get transported to the French Quarter in a heartbeat with festive decorations and costumed models.

The glamorous night of dancing and live entertainment will take place at the luxurious Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square right in the heart of DC. Entertainment includes a live New Orleans-style jazz band, DJ, festive decorations, costumed models, and more.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! Let the good times roll!

Doors open 8:00pm & the band starts playing 9:30pm. Since it’s a holiday weekend, there is no need to worry about staying out late!
Tickets: $15 before 2.9.15; $20 after –  online only; Event is 21+
Attire: Costume or evening attire

(For those coming without a mask, complimentary basic masks will be provided upon entry.)

Enjoy jazz, dancing, performances, & cash bar.

Feb
18
Wed
10th Annual Turn Up the Heat Gala @ Ronald Reagan Building
Feb 18 @ 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM

WHAT :  The 10thAnnual Turn Up the Heat: A Celebration of Women Chefs celebrates the talents of renowned women chefs and supports the work of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Attendees enjoy a live auction, and a tasting from the top women in the industry, featuring nearly 60 women chefs, restaurant owners and mixologists.

Attendees include cancer survivors, supporters of the Alliance, corporations and leaders in business, health care and oncology. This year the gala celebrates its 10th Anniversary: ten years of delicious food, celebration, and support to those touched by ovarian cancer.

WHERE: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004

WHEN: Wednesday, February 18, 2015   6:00 PM

WHY: Turn Up the Heat is an important fundraiser for the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance and allows us to continue our vital work on behalf of ovarian cancer survivors. Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers for women, and is the deadliest gynecologic cancer. This gala allows the Alliance to provide support to women who are diagnosed, educate the public about ovarian cancer and speak up for our community on Capitol Hill and throughout the country.

WHO: 60+ WOMEN CHEFS, RESTAURANTEURS & MIXOLOGISTS

Our participating chefs come from every corner of the DMV. From food trucks to fine dining, they represent the wealth of women working in our region’s restaurant industry. As we mark our 10th Anniversary, our number of chefs taking part reaches a record high. Several chefs are themselves ovarian cancer survivors or have personal connections to this cause. Visit our gala website or contact the Alliance for the most recent list of participating chefs.

CONTACT: For more information about the Gala, to view a list of participating chefs and to purchase tickets, visit www.ovariancancer.org/gala .

Feb
22
Sun
Red Carpet Party to Watch the Awards @ Malmaison
Feb 22 @ 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

SCHEDULE:
7:00pm
Doors Open / Red Carpet Report

8:30pm
Awards Broadcast Begins
We’re rolling out the RED CARPET, so please join us for a Party at the elegant Malmaison in Georgetown to watch the Awards live on Sunday February 22, 2015! Glam it up, and join us as we rally behind our favorite movies of 2014!

REGISTER NOW:

We will sell out.

http://dcfilminstitute.org/red-carpet-party-2015

Mar
7
Sat
Nowruz: A Persian New Year Celebration @ Freer/Sackler Galleries
Mar 7 @ 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will present its seventh annual “Nowruz: A Persian New Year Celebration” free family festival Saturday, March 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages can learn, play and feast at a celebration encompassing both museums to mark Nowruz, the beginning of the new year of 1394 in Iran, Afghanistan and many other countries, coinciding with the first day of spring.

At 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., visitors can relive the Iranian music scene of the 1960s and 1970s with updated versions of classic songs made famous by the likes of Googoosh, Hayedeh, Pari Zangeneh and Parva, along with mesmerizing bandari-beat tunes by Zia Atabi. The band Mitra Sumara, based in New York, features Iranian American vocalist Yvette Perez (pictured below), and re-energizes Persian pop with influences ranging from salsa and disco to Nigeria’s Fela Kuti and Middle Eastern rhythms.Visitors will be able to hear storyteller Xanthe Gresham weave tales from Persian literary classics, learn about the Freer and Sackler’s rich collection of 19th-century Persian photographs, discover the meaning of colorful “Haft Sin” table displays and then make their own, watch a master calligrapher at work and dress up in traditional costumes for photos recreating a Persian painting. Other activities include “fire” jumping for good luck in the new year, backgammon and chess matches, face painting and a hands-on workshop in the ImaginAsiaclassroom for families to make crowns and shields inspired by the Shahnama (Book of kings). Docents will elaborate on important works in the exhibitions “Nasta’liq: The Genius of Persian Calligraphy” and “Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran” to offer glimpses of Iran’s rich artistic traditions.

Persian literature enthusiasts can enjoy book-signing sessions at the Sackler store for Two Parrots–a children’s book adapted from the poet Rumi’s celebrated work–signed by illustrator Rashin from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies, signed by author Najmieh Batmanglij from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Persian cuisine by Moby Dick and thematic greeting cards will be available for purchase.

The annual event, celebrated in advance of the true holiday March 21, regularly draws crowds of 10,000 visitors, and is made possible by a gift from Jahangir and Eleanor Amuzegar.

On March 19, the new year celebration will continue with a free concert by Grammy-nominated artists Kayhan Kalhor and Shujaat Khan. In “Ghazal: Indian and Persian Improvisations,” the musicians will reunite for the first time in more than 10 years to perform their unique blend of Indian and Persian classical music.

The annual Nowruz lecture will take place March 29, co-sponsored with the Foundation for Iranian Studies. This year’s distinguished speaker will be Azar Nafisi, the best-selling author of Reading Lolita in Tehran and Things I’ve Been Silent About. In the lecture, Nafisi will discuss her latest work, The Republic of Imagination: America in Three Books.

FEATURED COLLECTIONS

On view at the Sackler until May 3, “Nasta’liq: The Genius of Persian Calligraphy” is the first exhibition to focus on one of the most aesthetically refined forms of Persian culture developed during the 14th-16th centuries: nasta’liq, a type of calligraphy so beautiful that for the first time the expressive form of the words eclipsed their meaning. Also on view will be “Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran” featuring one of the largest collections of luxury metalwork from ancient Iran. In the Freer Gallery, visitors can enjoy one of the finest holdings of Islamic art in the United States, with particular strengths in ceramics and illustrated manuscripts.

Iranian photographs from the Freer and Sackler Archives’ collection of more than 1,100 original 19th-century prints and glass-plate negatives by Antonin Sevruguin and other Persian photographers will screen for visitors throughout the day. The collection–the largest public holdings of Sevruguin’s photographs outside Iran–was recently digitized and cataloged in its entirety.

Mar
27
Fri
Bricks & Mortar Ball @ Manhattan Laundry
Mar 27 @ 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Event:
Bricks & Mortar Ball
March 27, 2015
7:00 – 11:00 PM
$100 per ticket
Group Packages Available

Location:
Manhattan Laundry
1346 Florida Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

Venue Description:
Manhattan Laundry is a complex that originally housed the traction facility for a streetcar company. The oldest building on the site was built in 1877. The complex became a printing plant in 1892 and it was converted into a laundry in 1905. The site represents the expansion of Washington’s urban core and industrial development along the city’s edge at Florida Avenue. The historic complex is primed for an adaptive reuse of office and retail.


Event Description:
The annual Bricks & Mortar Ball features open bar, hors d’oeuvres and dancing to the Blue Tips Rhythm Review at the historic Manhattan Laundry Building. The event benefits the DC Preservation League, Washington’s only citywide nonprofit solely dedicated to the preservation and protection of the historic resources of our nation’s capital.


Tickets:
http://www.dcpreservation.org/bricks-mortar-ball-2015/

La Grande Fete @ La Maison Francaise, Embassy of France
Mar 27 @ 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

WHAT:  SMITHSONIAN at 8—The Smithsonian’s premier 21+ after-hours event series for young professionals—and Francophonie DC present “La Grande Fete”

WHEN: Friday, March 27, 7 to 11 p.m.

WHERE: La Maison Francaise, Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC

Get ready for a #SMITHSONIANat8 spectacular party with a French accent. The annual Francophonie Cultural Festival spotlights the music, art, literature, film, cuisine, and customs of French-speaking countries and regions from across the globe, and its closing celebration is alwaysmagnifique. This year’s bash will be no exception.

Beginning at 7 p.m., launch into a world tour of francophone cultures. Sample food and drink from more than 30 embassies as you explore each nation’s unique attractions and traditions. There will be plenty of giveaways for you to take home as souvenirs. Don’t forget to Instagram your experiences and dishes throughout the night using #at8enfrancais for a chance to win prizes.

Emeline Michel will perform from 8 to 9 p.m. This captivating performer and versatile vocalist is one of the premier Haitian songwriters of her generation. She has recorded and appeared on concert stages throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and North and South America for over 20 years. Singing both in French and Haitian Creole, she has catapulted into international acclaim.

DJ Princess Slaya spins music from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and plenty of destinations in between. At 9 p.m., she pumps up the sounds as the evening’s dance party begins.

Don’t miss this chance to experience the best of the French-speaking world—all without leaving home #NoPassportNeeded.

Participating organizations and embassies include but are not limited to: Alliance Francais de Washington, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Commonwealth of Dominica, Cote d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Laos, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Niger, Republic of Congo, Romania, Senegal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Togo, and Tunisia.

#SMITHSONIANat8  #at8enfrancais #NoPassportNeeded

General Admission $40. (includes admission and food and drink samples from 7 to 9 p.m.) Cash bar starting at 9 p.m.

Tickets must be purchased in advance (no sales at the door).

IDs will be checked at the door. Those under 21 will not be served alcohol 

For tickets and further information the public may call 202-633-3030 or visit www.SMITHSONIANat8.com

 

Mar
28
Sat
Freer/Sackler Cherry Blossom Celebration @ Freer/Sackler Museums
Mar 28 @ 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
On Saturday, March 28, the galleries will host a premiere event of the National Cherry BlossomFestival, “Cherry Blossom Celebration,” a free, family day where visitors can unleash their inner artist with Washington’s popular ArtJamz, take guided tours exploring nature in Japanese arts and browse vintage Japanese kimono for purchase. Anime fans can view classic sci-fi anime films, including the 3-D epic Harlock: Space Pirate, and meet legendary anime director Shinji Aramaki.

Throughout the spring, guests can learn about other well-known expressions of Japanese culture in “Zen, Tea, and Chinese Art in Medieval Japan”–such as Zen Buddhism, tea drinking and ink painting, which emerged in the 12th-16th centuries. Also on view will be  “Oribe Ware: Color and Pattern Come to Japanese Ceramics,” an exhibition on the renowned style that introduced vivid pattern and color to Japanese ceramics in 1605.  In addition, cherry blossom enthusiasts anywhere in the world can share the splendor of the season digitally with a new suite of free e-cards featuring artworks from the Freer and Sackler collections, available online.

Visit asia.si.edu/cherryblossom for the complete schedule of programs.

Leukemia Ball @ Convention Center
Mar 28 @ 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM

On Saturday, March 28, 2015, Washington-area business leaders will gather at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to celebrate the 28th annual Leukemia Ball presented by PhRMA. This year, comedian Jim Gaffigan and musician Michael Cavanaugh will perform at this event, dedicated to raising money for lifesaving cancer research and patient programs funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Named the “King of Clean Comedy” by The Wall Street Journal, Georgetown alumnus Jim Gaffigan will entertain guests with an original stand-up routine. The actor, Grammy-nominated comedian and New York Times best-selling author is known for several TV shows and movies, including Away We Go, It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Law & Order. Gaffigan recently appeared in his first Broadway production, That Championship Season, and is currently on a 50-city national tour called “Jim Gaffigan: The White Bread Tour.”

Tony and GRAMMY Award nominee Michael Cavanaugh will enchant crowds with his renowned rock ‘n’ roll sound. Cavanaugh is most famous for his lead role in the Broadway musical Movin’ Out and has toured the country with several symphony orchestras.

The Leukemia Ball, one of D.C.’s largest one-night non-political black-tie events, is expected to raise more than $3.1 million for LLS’s National Capital Area Chapter and will be emceed by ESPN anchor Lindsay Czarniak  and MSNBC anchor and national correspondent Craig Melvin. Formerly part of the NBC Washington news team, the couple returns to Washington to continue their longtime support of the LLS mission.

“The Leukemia Ball has directly impacted the lives of blood cancer patients everywhere by helping to fund research and to raise awareness,” said Beth Gorman, National Capital Area Chapter Executive Director. “This year, the Ball will surpass the $50 million fundraising milestone thanks to the relentless support of Washington’s business leaders over the past two decades.”

The 2015 Leukemia Ball is co-chaired by Dan Waetjen, Group President at BB&T Bank, and Ed Offterdinger, Executive Managing Partner at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP. The co-chairs lead an esteemed Executive Committee of more than 60 of the area’s most talented, committed business leaders, who volunteer their time to create a memorable evening and raise millions of dollars in support of LLS’s mission.

“It’s incredible to see D.C.’s most influential companies coming together to support the research and programs offered by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,” said Waetjen. “I’m looking forward to serving as senior chair for the 2015 Ball, especially after co-chairing such a successful event last year.”

Seventy-eight cents of every dollar spent by LLS funds its mission – to find a cure for blood cancer and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS’s commitment to funding innovative research projects has contributed to an unprecedented rise in survival rates over recent years. For example, today, the five-year survival rate for the most common form of childhood leukemia is more than 90 percent, up from 3 percent in 1964.

“LLS has made tremendous progress, but the fight against blood cancer is not over,” said Offterdinger. “I’m honored to be co-chairing the Leukemia Ball, as it allows LLS to continue the search for safe and effective treatments for all patients.”

The Leukemia Ball is long recognized as one of Washington’s most popular black-tie galas. The silent auction, which raised more than $300,000 in 2014, is one of the area’s largest, featuring a variety of travel packages, including American Airlines air travel to exotic locations. The event also boasts a Mercedes-Benz raffle featuring two brand new vehicles donated by local Mercedes-Benz dealers. Tickets are $100, and only 5,000 tickets are printed.

The event’s popularity over the past two decades is also largely due to the featured entertainment. Past headliners have included Diana Ross, Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, John Mellencamp, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Seinfeld, Reba McIntyre, Jim Belushi, Dan Ackroyd and Lionel Richie.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (R) (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.

 

Apr
10
Fri
NMWA Annual Spring Gala @ NMWA
Apr 10 @ 6:30 PM – 11:59 PM

On Friday, April 10, 2015, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA), under the gracious patronage of His Excellency the Ambassador of Italy and Mrs. Laura Denise Bisogniero along with NMWA’s Board of Trustees, will celebrate its Annual Spring Gala in celebration of the special exhibition Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea.

Upon arrival, guests will have the opportunity to view Picturing Mary, which explores the concept of womanhood represented by the Virgin Mary as well as the social and sacred functions her image has served through time. This landmark exhibition organized by NMWA brings together more than 60 Renaissance- and Baroque-era works from the Vatican Museums, Uffizi Gallery and other museums, churches and private collections in Europe and the United States.

The annual black-tie gala will continue with cocktails in the galleries and an exciting auction followed by dinner and dancing in the elegant Great Hall. The 2015 Gala Auction Chairs are Jacqui Michel, Frances Usher and Debra Latiolais.

WHEN
Friday, April 10, 2015
Cocktails and Silent Auction: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner and Dancing: 8 p.m. to midnight

WHERE
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Valet parking available

DETAILS
The spring gala is the museum’s largest annual fundraising event attended by more than 400 luminaries from Washington’s diplomatic, governmental and social communities. Proceeds from the Spring Gala support the museum’s exhibitions, educational programming and the groundbreaking exhibition Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea.

TICKETS
Individuals $650; Gala Host Committee, Individuals $1,000 and Couples $1,500 (both include premium seating and recognition in the program); Sponsored Tables $10,000 and up