Mar
11
Wed
J. Paul’s Icons of Georgetown Awards Dinner @ J. Paul's
Mar 11 @ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

The First J. Paul’s Icons of Georgetown Awards Dinner

What: J.Paul’s 2015 Icons of Georgetown Awards dinner will be hosted by Thomas L. Gregg, the newly appointed chief executive officer of Capital Restaurant Concepts to honor two individuals who have contributed greatly to Georgetown.​

When: The dinner will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Where: J. Paul’s, located at 3218 M Street NW, Washington, DC  20007, http://jpaulsdc.com/

Why: J. Paul’s has been serving Georgetown for over 30 years as an iconic dining saloon, and Capital Restaurant Concepts recognizes the importance of  honoring members of the community who have taken great strides to support and improve Georgetown, Washington DC’s oldest neighborhood. The first 2015 Icons of Georgetown award will recognize two remarkable people, The Honorable Jack Evans and Mr. Paul J. Cohn, for their contributions to Georgetown over the last 20 years of service. Proceeds raised from the evening’s ticket sales will benefit Georgetown Heritage, a new nonprofit dedicated to promoting and presenting the history of Georgetown, http://georgetownheritagesociety.org/ . The funds from the March 11 award dinner are earmarked to help rebuild the Georgetown canal boat that services the C&O Canal National Historic Park.

How: Tickets for a buffet dinner including drinks are priced at $60 per person (all inclusive) and reservations must be made byMarch 6, 2015. Online ticketing http://shop.capitalrestaurants.com/j-pauls/ or by phone at 202.339.6806

About the two iconic award-winners for 2015:

Paul Cohn, started J. Paul’s Dining Saloon at M Street in 1983, and was a co-founder of Capital Restaurant Concepts which was established in 1984 that grew to include J. Paul’s, Paolo’s, Neyla, Old Glory and Georgia Brown’s as well as the since-closed River Club and Club Zei. Cohn, originally from Baltimore, started out as a manager for singers Peaches and Herb in the 1970s. With his restaurants in Georgetown and downtown D.C., he became influential in local politics as well as instrumental in establishing the Georgetown Business Improvement District and other business and non-profit initiatives.

Jack Evans, Councilmember for Ward 2, was first elected to the Council of the District of Columbia in a 1991 special election and re-elected in 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. As the Ward 2 Councilmember, Jack represented 11 distinct neighborhoods including Georgetown. At the Council, Jack serves as Chair of the Council’s Committee on Finance and Revenue, which oversees the District’s finances and tax policy. He also serves on two standing Council committees – Economic Development and Public Safety and the Judiciary.

A native of Pennsylvania, he received an economics degree with honors (cum laude) from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1975, and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law in 1978. Jack began practicing law at the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement and currently serves as Of Counsel at Patton Boggs law firm. On September 18, 2010, Jack married Michele Price. They live in Georgetown with their six children (Katherine, John, & Christine – age 15; Sam – age 20; Maddy – age 18; and Jack – age 15) and their golden retriever Kelly.

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.

Apr
24
Fri
25th Annual FONA Garden Fair and Plant Sale @ National Arboretum
Apr 24 @ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

25th Annual FONA Garden Fair and Plant Sale

At the US National Arboretum in the New York Avenue Parking Lot

3501 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002

 

April 24-25, 2015

April 24

10 am – 1 pm : Members Only Hours

1 pm – 4 pm : Garden Fair and Plant Sale opens to the public

Food Options – Dirty South Deli

 

April 25

9 am – 4 pm: Garden Fair and Plant Sale open to the public

Food Options – D.C. Taco Truck

Music from Washington Revels

Strawberry Planting Craft for Children

 

Admission is free to both the Garden Fair and Plant Sale and the US National Arboretum. For more information, visitwww.fona.org/gardenfair/.

Georgetown French Market @ Book Hill
Apr 24 @ 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The 12th annual Georgetown French Market, held in the Book Hill neighborhood, is a D.C. tradition that marks the arrival of spring. The Georgetown Business Improvement District (BID) announces that the popular shopping weekend—perfect for shoppers, foodies and families—will return Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Book Hill boutiques, antique stores, restaurants, salons and galleries display their discounted wares in an inviting open-air market, evoking the outdoor markets of Paris. Neighborhood restaurants will also offer specials and French fare, including sweet and savory crepes, grilled merguez sausages, pastries and macarons.

Located a few blocks north of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street NW, Book Hill—named after nearby Book Hill Park, at Reservoir Road NW—is known for its historic charm. “The buildings along this stretch of Wisconsin Avenue were built in the late nineteenth century and now house some of the most unique local shops in the city,” said Georgetown BID Vice President Nancy Miyahira. “The French Market is a time to buy items you can’t find anywhere else, at incredible prices, and to explore what makes Georgetown such a special place.”

On Saturday, the TD Bank parking lot at 1611 Wisconsin Avenue becomes a community gathering spot from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and families are encouraged to bring the kids and enjoy live music, strolling mimes, face painting and more.

What:  12th annual Georgetown French Market

When:  Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where:  Book Hill neighborhood; Wisconsin Avenue between P Street and Reservoir Road

For more information, visit http://www.georgetowndc.com/events/french_market/.

Parking & Getting There

In true European style, visitors are encouraged to leave their cars behind and travel to Georgetown using alternate modes of transport. Capital Bikeshare Stations are located throughout Georgetown; closest stations are at O Street at Wisconsin Avenue near the CVS and in the 1800 block of Wisconsin Avenue, across from the Georgetown Safeway. For additional transportation ideas, visit http://www.georgetowndc.com/getting_here/.

 

Apr
25
Sat
25th Annual FONA Garden Fair and Plant Sale @ National Arboretum
Apr 25 @ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

25th Annual FONA Garden Fair and Plant Sale

At the US National Arboretun in the New York Avenue Parking Lot

3501 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002

 

April 24-25, 2015

April 24

10 am – 1 pm : Members Only Hours

1 pm – 4 pm : Garden Fair and Plant Sale opens to the public

Food Options – Dirty South Deli

 

April 25

9 am – 4 pm: Garden Fair and Plant Sale open to the public

Food Options – D.C. Taco Truck

Music from Washington Revels

Strawberry Planting Craft for Children

 

Admission is free to both the Garden Fair and Plant Sale and the US National Arboretum. For more information, visit www.fona.org/gardenfair/.

Georgetown French Market @ Book Hill
Apr 25 @ 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

The 12th annual Georgetown French Market, held in the Book Hill neighborhood, is a D.C. tradition that marks the arrival of spring. The Georgetown Business Improvement District (BID) announces that the popular shopping weekend—perfect for shoppers, foodies and families—will return Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Book Hill boutiques, antique stores, restaurants, salons and galleries display their discounted wares in an inviting open-air market, evoking the outdoor markets of Paris. Neighborhood restaurants will also offer specials and French fare, including sweet and savory crepes, grilled merguez sausages, pastries and macarons.

Located a few blocks north of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street NW, Book Hill—named after nearby Book Hill Park, at Reservoir Road NW—is known for its historic charm. “The buildings along this stretch of Wisconsin Avenue were built in the late nineteenth century and now house some of the most unique local shops in the city,” said Georgetown BID Vice President Nancy Miyahira. “The French Market is a time to buy items you can’t find anywhere else, at incredible prices, and to explore what makes Georgetown such a special place.”

On Saturday, the TD Bank parking lot at 1611 Wisconsin Avenue becomes a community gathering spot from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and families are encouraged to bring the kids and enjoy live music, strolling mimes, face painting and more.

What:  12th annual Georgetown French Market

When:  Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where:  Book Hill neighborhood; Wisconsin Avenue between P Street and Reservoir Road

For more information, visit http://www.georgetowndc.com/events/french_market/.

Parking & Getting There

In true European style, visitors are encouraged to leave their cars behind and travel to Georgetown using alternate modes of transport. Capital Bikeshare Stations are located throughout Georgetown; closest stations are at O Street at Wisconsin Avenue near the CVS and in the 1800 block of Wisconsin Avenue, across from the Georgetown Safeway. For additional transportation ideas, visit http://www.georgetowndc.com/getting_here/.

 

May
2
Sat
Heurich House Family Festival @ Heurich House
May 2 @ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Heurich House Museum to host second annual spring family festival

The Heurich House Museum invites the public to celebrate the beginning of spring at their annual Frühlingsfest on Saturday, May 2, 2015 from 1-4 pm. This family friendly garden event will feature activities for all ages including face painting, maypole dancing, ice cream making, craft activities, and garden games. The museum will be open for guests to explore with scavenger hunts for younger guests included.

Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company will provide a full pig roast with side dishes. Two beers will be on tap courtesy of Virginia-based Old Ox Brewery. Authentic German butter cookies will be available for dessert courtesy of Heidelberg Pasty Shoppe. Ticket price is $20 for guests 12 and older, $5 for children 2-12, and free for children under 2. Admission includes unlimited food and fun! Adults 21 and over will receive two beer tickets. Additional information and tickets available at www.heurichhouse.org/events.

Frühlingsfest is translated as ‘Spring Festival’ and is known as ‘Oktoberfest’s little sister’ in Germany. It celebrates the end of a cold winter and beginning of spring, and it typically occurs from mid-April to the beginning of May. Stuttgart and Munich have some of the largest Frühlingsfests in Germany, and now the Heurich House is bringing the age-old traditional to Washington, DC!

About the Heurich House Museum: The Heurich House Museum preserves the legacy of Christian Heurich and enriches the cultural life of Washington, DC. The mansion was built from 1892-4 by German immigrant, local brewer, and philanthropist Christian Heurich (1842-1945). Recognized as Washington, D.C.’s most successful brewer, he ran the Chr. Heurich Brewing Co. until his death at 102.  The mansion is notable for its technological innovations, original interiors, and rich archival collection of one of the most important local families.

May
11
Mon
STC Annual Dinner & Mock Trial @ Sidney Harman Hall
May 11 @ 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, presents its Annual Dinner and Mock Trial at Sidney Harman Hall(610 F Street NW) on Monday, May 11, 2015. This marks the 20th year that Shakespeare Theatre Company has put on the Mock Trial. The evening begins with dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Forum,  followed by the Trial at 7:30 p.m. in the theatre. A special session of the Supreme Court of La Mancha will review the decisions of the Family Court to declare Don Quixote mentally incompetent and his subsequent placement under the guardianship of his niece, Antonia.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will preside and will be accompanied by Justice Stephen Breyer, as well as Chief Judge Merrick Garland and Judge Patricia Millett, both of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Tom Goldstein of Goldstein & Russell P.C. andCarter Phillips of Sidley Austin LLP will argue the case. The Trial will be moderated byAbbe D. Lowell of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, chair of the STC Bard Association and STC Board of Trustees member.

Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Shakespeare Theatre Company says of Mock Trial, “As I’ve often said, Shakespeare doesn’t tell us what to think, he tells us what to think about. This is what Mock Trial does so stunningly, it uses these classic stories as lenses to look at seemingly old issues and bring them to our modern, and legal, world.”

Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Mock Trial is sponsored by the Bard Association, STC’s affinity group for Washington’s legal community.

Since 1994, the Shakespeare Theatre Company has hosted a Mock Trial based on a play from STC’s mainstage season. The fictional court case poses a legal question, or questions, and the audience must act as the jury to decide the fate of the characters. The Trial aims to examine the links between classic works and contemporary legal theory in a way that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. Past Mock Trials have explored whether Malvolio (Twelfth Night) was entitled to damages for wrongful imprisonment; Iago (Othello) was guilty of the murders of Desdemona and Othello; Hamlet (Hamlet) was insane when he murdered Polonius; and if Sir John Falstaff (Henry IV) should have been compensated for his services to Prince Hal and reinstated as a member of the royal court. Last year’s Mock Trial concentrated on the characters in William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure and argued whether the Duke of Vienna should be held responsible for abuses of power perpetuated by his appointed representative, and debated issues of illegal secret surveillance, false imprisonment, negligent appointment of an unfit deputy, and disrespect of commitment to religious vows.

This season’s Mock Trial focuses on the characters in Dale Wasserman’s Man of La Mancha and asks the question: Did the Family Court commit reversible errors of law and fact in determining that Don Quixote was mentally incompetent, and should the Family Court have appointed Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s loyal friend, as his guardian, rather than his niece Antonia? 

SCENARIO

As word spread of Alonso Quixana’s (self-named and known to the world as Don Quixote) exhibited signs of mental illness or incompetence, his niece Antonia petitioned the Family Court to appoint her to be his guardian to protect his financial interests and to make medical decisions for him. In support of her petition, Antonia described Don Quixote’s hallucinations, his instigation of ill-conceived and ill-fated battles, his unwitting contribution to the brutal treatment of Aldonza, and his persistent inability to separate reality from illusion. Antonia stated that Don Quixote was unable to manage his assets, pay his medical expenses, or make financial decisions in his own best interests, and that he had been the victim of financial exploitation without even realizing others were taking advantage of him. Antonia’s fiancé, Dr. Carrasco, provided a petition of incompetency claiming to be Don Quixote’s treating physician and asserting that Don Quixote’s mental disability was permanent and that he had no ability to understand the nature of the proceedings or reasons for appointment of a guardian.

The Family Court heard extensive testimony about Don Quixote’s ill-fated escapades during his career as a knight errant, about his discussion of his “dreams,” his tendency to burst into song, and his claims of being a knight. His friends testified about Don Quixote’s idealism, courtesy, generosity, gallantry, and nobility. Sancho Panza said Don Quixote knew he was not really a knight, but simply liked to conceive of a nobler world inspired by courtesy and bravery. Don Quixote’s attorney argued that he did not need a guardian, but that if the Court disagreed, it should appoint Sancho Panza, not Antonia.

The Family Court appointed Antonia as Don Quixote’s guardian. On petition for review by the Supreme Court of La Mancha, Don Quixote has asked the Court to decide two questions:

1.  Did the Family Court commit reversible errors of law and fact in determining that Don Quixote was mentally incompetent within the meaning of the laws governing appointment of guardians of property and persons?

2.  Assuming Don Quixote was not fully competent to manage his affairs or make decisions about his medical treatment, should the Family Court have rejected Antonia’s petition as motivated by fraud and self-interest, and instead have appointed Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s loyal friend, as his guardian?

TICKET INFORMATION

Interested in Premium Seating and Dining with the Participants before the Trial?Tickets to the Dinner and Trial ($350) are available now. To purchase tickets please call 202.547.3230 ext. 2330 or contact MockTrial@ShakespeareTheatre.org.

Trial-only Ticket Prices
A Price: $75
B Price: $50 (limited availability)
Student: $20 (valid student ID required when picking up tickets)

Tickets on sale for STC donors and season subscribers on March 18 at noon.

Tickets for the general public on sale March 23 at noon.

For more information please contact MockTrial@ShakespeareTheatre.org or call 202-547-3230 x2312.

May
14
Thu
ZooFari @ National Zoo
May 14 @ 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Treat yourself to some of the best cuisine available from over 100 of the area’s finest restaurants and wineries, while contributing to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s conservation and education programs. Food aficionados are invited to unleash their taste buds and sample delicious dishes from the area’s finest restaurants and vintners. The event, hosted by Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ), will take place on Thursday, May 14, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

In addition to extraordinary food and fine wines, ZooFari also offers a night of unforgettable entertainment. Throughout the evening guests will be surrounded by live music, exotic animal encounters, a silent auction, and new this year, Battle of the Bartenders where local bartenders will compete to create the best tasting original signature cocktail using a mystery ingredient from the Zoo’s Animal Kitchen. Celebrity chef’s Todd Gray (Equinox), Bart Vandaele (Belga Cafe), and Haidar Karoum (Proof) will be in attendance and joining in on the festivities throughout the evening.

Tickets for this annual fundraiser are available on the Zoo’s website at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/activitiesandevents/celebrations/zoofari/. Prices are $160 for FONZ members and $200 for nonmembers.

Exclusive VIP group packages also are available. These packages offer all-access tickets to the Premier Pavilion, valet parking passes, an exclusive VIP pre-party and the LivingSocial Lion Lounge, as well as behind-the-scenes animal  tours.

The ZooFari online auction offers a lively way to support the Zoo’s programs. Bidding will be live on Sunday, April 26 through the online site Bidding For Good. Vacation getaways, private Zoo tours, cooking lessons with top area chefs, and animal art are just a few of the hundreds of items available in the auction. Proceeds benefit the National Zoo’s animal care, science, education, and conservation programs.

 

ZooFari is presented by GEICO® and sponsored by 94.7 Fresh FM, Big Bus Tours, Capital One Bank®, The Coca-Cola Company, Comcast, Manhattan Auto of Bethesda, MD, Rosenthal Jaguar/Land Rover, LivingSocial, NBC4, Washingtonian Magazine, The Washington Post, Widmer Brothers, WTOP and WTOP.com.

May
17
Sun
Cathedral Choral Society @ National Cathedral
May 17 @ 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

The Cathedral Choral Society will present the final concert of its 2014/15 season, Great Opera Choruses, on Sunday, May 17 at 4:00 p.m. The program of well-loved opera arias and choruses includes works by Wagner, Bellini, Gounod, Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni, and Boito. The Cathedral Choral Society, conducted by Music Director J. Reilly Lewis, will be joined by Jessica Julin, soprano; Ben Wager, bass; and the Washington National Opera Children’s Chorus.

“This concert will feature magnificent opera music, sacred and profane, perfect for the Cathedral,” said J. Reilly Lewis. “This is my first time programming opera for this chorus, and these gorgeous works capture all the emotions of great opera.”

Selections will be performed from Wagner, Die Meistersinger; Bellini, Norma; Gounod, Faust; Verdi, Nabucco; Puccini, Tosca; Mascagni, Cavalleria Rusticana; Puccini, Manon Lescaut; and Boito, Mefistofele.

“We are thrilled to be performing opera in the Cathedral for the first time,” said Genevieve Twomey, Executive Director of the Cathedral Choral Society. “This music is rich, exciting, dramatic, and engaging – and to experience this in such a grand space will be a unique and memorable experience.”

The Cathedral Choral Society is pleased to feature soloists Jessica Julin, soprano and Ben Wager, bass, and to welcome the Washington National Opera Children’s Chorus as guest choir on Boito’s Mefistofele. Jessica Julin, soprano has been praised for her “commanding voice,” and is a 2009 Grand Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Grand Auditions. She received her masters from Indiana University, studied at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, and currently resides in Maryland. She won first prize awards in the J.P. Parkinson Competition, Lois Alba Aria Competition, and the Giagiari Bel Canto Competition.

Ben Wager, bass is a 2009 graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. This season, he debuted in Oslo with Den Norske Opera as Escamillo in Carmen and performed two roles with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Previous engagements include with the Nashville Opera, Deutsche Opera Berlin, Minnesota Opera, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 2012, The Washington Times praised him for his “perfect balance of graciousness [and] forthrightness” in a concert opera performance.

The Washington National Opera Children’s Chorus is comprised of many of the finest young singers, ages 8-14, from Washington, DC; Virginia; and Maryland. They appear frequently in WNO productions at the Kennedy Center. Recent performances include the world premiere of Jeanine Tesori’s The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me (2013) and the WNO premier of Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince (2014). They are directed by Will Breytspraak, Children’s Chorus Master, who is the Chair of Performing Arts at Maret School in Washington, DC.

A pre-concert talk by Peter Russell will be presented at 3:00 p.m. in Perry Auditorium (in the Cathedral tower). Peter Russell is a leading figure in the DC opera scene, having served as General Director of the Wolf Trap Opera Company and founding Washington Concert Opera before later taking on his current role as General Director of Vocal Arts DC.

About the Cathedral Choral Society: The Cathedral Choral Society is the resident symphonic chorus of Washington National Cathedral. Now in its 73rd season, the 140-voice chorus presents an inspiring concert season at the Cathedral and shares the joy of choral singing throughout the Greater Washington, DC Area through its community engagement programs. Its 2015/16 season will be announced the week of May 17.

For Tickets: Regularly priced tickets begin at $25. Tickets for children and students with valid ID under the age of 25 are $15. Seniors, veteran, and military may receive 10% off (excludes Premium Nave). Complimentary parking is included with ticket purchase in the Cathedral’s underground parking garage courtesy of the Cathedral Choral Society. To purchase tickets, or for additional information, please call (202) 537-2228 | (877) 537-2228 or visit the website, www.cathedralchoralsociety.org