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
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

Jul
14
Tue
Bastille Day Baguette Race @ PAUL Bakery & Cafe in Penn Quarter
Jul 14 @ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

WHAT:

To commemorate France’s National Holiday, PAUL invites the public to come have some fun and participate in our 5th Annual “Baguette Relay Race” which will take place in front of PAUL Penn Quarter.

 

Gather Your Friends to create relay teams! Cheering Spectators are welcome!

 

WHERE:

PAUL Bakery and Café in Penn Qtr. (at the US Navy Memorial)

801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC

Tel: 202-524-4500/01

 

WHEN: Tuesday, July 14, 2014 at 11am (Kids Race), and 11:30am (Adult Race)

 

HOW:

We’ll divide up racers into four teams of five people. Each team will be led by a PAUL employee. Each racer will “quick-walk” one lap around the circle of the US Navy Memorial, and then hand off his/her baguette (baton) to the next teammate.   All members of the winning team will get a FREE LUNCH (sandwich + viennoiserie pastry) at PAUL!

 

 

Additional Info:

 

About Bastille Day

Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of Louis the 16th’s Ancient Regime. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king’s power was no longer absolute: power should be based on the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers.

Jul
18
Sat
5th Annual DC Scoop @ Dock 5 @ Union Market
Jul 18 @ 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Union Market, the vibrant district in Northeast DC, will host its fifth annual DC Scoop event on Saturday, July 18 from 1pm-4pm. The highly-anticipated, free event, which drew over 3,000 Washingtonians last year, will take place at Dock 5, the indoor space above the market. Ice cream vendors from over 15 different creameries will put their best foot forward to win the crown title of “Best Ice Cream,” offering guests a wide array of free samples and servings for purchase, from gelato to ice cream sandwiches, popsicles to soda shoppe-style scoops.

Sweet tooths at the family-friendly event can participate in ice cream-eating contests, raffles, and giveaways. Timber Pizza Co. will provide savory complements to patrons’ favorite desserts, and Union Market vendors Buffalo & Bergen and Trickling Springs will join the fun to serve Root Beer Floats to kids.

Last year’s DC Scoop winner, Nicecream Factory, pairs liquid nitrogen with fresh local ingredients to create flavors for customers on the spot—a business model developed by owners Gilbert Welsford and Sandra Tran. “We were so excited to be recognized,” Welsford exclaimed. “There were so many incredible competitors participating in last year’s DC Scoop event. We’re passionate about what we do and we were glad to provide the DC and Northern Virginia areas with what we think is the best ice cream out there,” he said.

Participants for this year’s DC Scoop include:
• Milk Cult
• Little Baby’s Ice Cream
• Gifford’s
• King of Pop’s
• Carmens
• NiceCream
• Ice Cream Jubilee
• DC Puddin’
• Faithfully Sweet
• Dangerously Delicious Pies
• Suga Mama Sweets

EVENT DETAILS:
Saturday, July 18, 2015
1 – 4 p.m.
Dock 5 @ Union Market
1309 5th Street NE
Washington, DC 20002

Jul
22
Wed
Washington Kastles Charity Classic @ GW Smith Center
Jul 22 @ 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Some of Washington’s powerhouse politicians, newsmen and other notables will vie for the Kastles Cup while raising money for a great cause during the fourth annual Washington Kastles Charity Classic this Wednesday, July 22 at the Smith Center, located on the George Washington University campus.

Members of Congress and the national media will join the five-time Mylan World TeamTennis champion Washington Kastles for this one-of-a-kind tennis event.

Democrats, Republicans and even the Kastles will be separated into Team Stars and Team Stripes for a series of fast-paced tiebreakers. The team with the most cumulative points at the end of the final tiebreaker will capture the Charity Classic championship.

The 2014 Charity Classic ended dramatically when Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA) rallied Team Stripes to a 47-46 comeback victory, earning MVP honors along the way. Representative Dent returns this year, joining his 2014 teammates Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL), ABC News’ Jonathan Karl, and former Director of the National Economic Council Gene Sperling.

Founded in 2008, the Kastles have made more than $1 million in charitable donations. The Charity Classic is an extension of those efforts with 100% of ticket proceeds benefiting Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), DC Public Education Fund, and Food & Friends. Fans can choose which organization to support when they make their ticket purchase.

“Our franchise’s founding mission has been to give back to the D.C. community, which makes the Charity Classic such a meaningful night,” said Kastles owner Mark Ein. “People who don’t agree on much can agree that tennis is the sport of a lifetime and a wonderful way to come together. Kastles players and fans are very much looking forward to this year’s event.”

Representing the Kastles at the Charity Classic are reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open mixed doubles champion Leander Paes, Top 25 doubles player Anastasia Rodionova, big-serving American star Sam Querrey, and head coach Murphy Jensen. They will be joined on the court by:

  • Representative Joyce Beatty, D-OH
  • Representative Cheri Bustos, D-IL
  • Representative Charlie Dent, R-PA
  • Representative Bob Dold, R-IL
  • Representative Jared Huffman, D-CA
  • Representative Bobby Scott, D-VA
  • Representative Kevin Yoder, R-KS
  • Senator Jeff Flake, R-AZ
  • Senator Jeff Merkley, D-OR
  • Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV
  • Bret Baier, Fox News
  • Mark Ein, Washington Kastles Owner
  • John-Paul Flaim, The Sports Junkies on 106.7 The Fan
  • Ed Henry, Fox News
  • Jonathan Karl, ABC News
  • Ben Olsen, DC United Head Coach
  • Gene Sperling, Former Director of the National Economic Council

More Charity Classic players will be announced on WashingtonKastles.com as the match approaches.

All ticket proceeds go to charity and general admission tickets cost $10 through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com, 202-397-7328). VIP dinner tables, boxes and seats start at $50 and can be purchased by calling 202-4-TENNIS (483-6647).

Kastles Stadium at the Smith Center is located at 600 22nd Street NW, three blocks from the Foggy Bottom-GWU stop on Metrorail’s blue, orange and silver lines. Parking is available for $10 at four George Washington University parking garages located within three blocks of the Smith Center.

Jul
29
Wed
Safeway Chicken Wing Contest @ Georgetown Safeway
Jul 29 @ 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM

The Georgetown Safeway is celebrating National Chicken Wing Day with its first annual Chicken Wing Eating Contest.  Ten contestants from around the country and the area will square off to see who can stomach the most chicken wings in the allotted five minute time period to win the grand prize of $250 cash and a $250 Safeway Card.  This year, #7 ranked Gentleman Joe Menchetti of Connecticut will be going up against hometown favorite and #8 ranked Mike “Muchin” Longo of Dumfries, Virginia.

Featured Contestants: 

“Gentlemen” Joe Menchetti, Hartford, CT, Featured on America’s Got Talent eating 5 pizzas in 90 seconds

Mike “munchin” Longo, Dumfries, VA, holds the National Record for Italian Ice with 4 pounds 1.25 ounces

Ian “the Invader” Hickman, Rosslyn, VA,  9 pound burger in 9 minutes

 

Prizes:                                First place- $250 cash and $250 Safeway Gift Card, second place- $100 cash and $100 Safeway Gift Card, third place- $50 cash and $50 Safeway Gift Card, fourth place- $50 Safeway Gift Card, fifth place – $25 Safeway Gift Card.

Free Food for Spectators: Following the contest, all spectators will be treated to free Safeway chicken wings.

Date/Time:                      Wednesday, July 29th, 2015

Pre-event media interviews begin at 12pm

Contest begins at 12:30PM

 

Location:                          Georgetown Safeway, 1855 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC

 

RSVP:                                 Kenny Fried of Brotman•Winter•Fried at kfried@aboutbwf.com or 202.468.8200

 

Information:                    www.safewaychickenwingcontest.com

Aug
25
Tue
Find YOur Park Servabration @ National Mall
Aug 25 @ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

American Express is partnering with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to mobilize thousands of volunteers to conserve and preserve parks across the United States. Through a $550,000 grant from American Express, SCA will conduct a series of Find Your Park volunteer events, scheduled to occur over the next year, on national days of service such as September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance (September 11) and Veterans Day (November 11).

To kick off the partnership and commemorate the National Park Service’s 99th birthday, American Express and SCA will host a hands-on ‘servabration’, which is free and open to the general public.

The event will feature birthday cupcakes by Sprinkles Cupcakes, hands-on volunteer projects, a park-themed photo booth, and other interactive experiences, which offer the public the opportunity to learn more about the history of volunteering in national parks. More information about the event is available at https://www.thesca.org/find-your-park-servabration.

American Express is one of the National Park Foundation’s premier partners for the Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque movement, inspiring people of all backgrounds to discover all that a park can be, share their experiences with each other, and support these treasured places and their programs.

 

WHO:                                  Jonathan B. Jarvis, director, National Park Service, Jaime Berman Matyas, CEO and president, SCA, and Ayomide Sekiteri, Centennial Volunteer Ambassador, SCA will discuss the legacy of America’s national parks and the importance of service and volunteerism in parks.

WHEN AND WHERE:        Tuesday, August 25

Speeches and birthday celebration: 10 – 10:30 a.m.

Volunteer activities: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

 

National Mall, Washington Monument Grounds

Corner of 15th Street NW & Constitution Ave NW

Washington, D.C.

Sep
6
Sun
Rattle the Runway w/ Harley Davidson @ National Air & Space Museum
Sep 6 @ 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Patriot Harley-Davidson®, 9739 Fairfax Boulevard, will host a pre-ride Rattle the Runway party on Saturday, September 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a bike show, live music and food trucks.  The event is FREE and open to the public.

Rattle the Runway will take place on Sunday, September 6 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and is an annual commemorative motorcycle ride from Dulles Airport to the Pentagon.  Motorcycle staging and Opening Ceremonies will take place in the rear of the National Air and Space Museum – Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.  The event is open to all motorcyclists, any make or model, and is free to participate.  No registration is required.

For more information visit www.patriothd.com or call 703-352-5400.

Sep
8
Tue
Burn After Reading: G’town Free Sunset Cinema Series @ Georgetown Waterfront Park at the intersection of K/Water Street and Cecil Place, NW.
Sep 8 @ 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM

The Georgetown Business Improvement District (BID) will screen Burn After Reading, starring Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, and Tilda Swinton on Tuesday, September 8 at 7:30 p.m. in scenic Georgetown Waterfront Park. The movie is part of the lineup in Georgetown Sunset Cinema, Georgetown’s first-ever free outdoor movie experience. This summer’s inaugural lineup features movies filmed in or inspired by Georgetown, Washington’s oldest and most iconic neighborhood. Moviegoers are encouraged to bring a picnic and blanket and enjoy the panoramic backdrop of the sunset, Potomac River and Key Bridge. For more information, visit www.georgetowndc.com/sunsetcinema

Burn After Reading–set in Georgetown, but filmed in Brooklyn—was originally slated to screen July 28 but was rescheduled due to poor weather. The series officially closed on August 4 with iconic horror film The Exorcist. The Exorcist (R).Other films in the series included St. Elmo’s Fire (Rated R), State of Play (Rated PG-13), and No Way Out (Rated R).

No time to assemble a picnic? Sunset Cinema-goers are encouraged to take advantage of special Georgetown food and beverage deals available online at http://www.georgetowndc.com/sunset-cinema-offers/. Additional deals and onsite vendors to be announced.

Burn After Reading at GEORGETOWN SUNSET CINEMA

WHEN: Tuesday, September 8. The film will start close to sunset, at around 7:30 p.m.; arrive early for best seating and giveaways.

WHAT: FREE outdoor movies series hosted by the Georgetown Business Improvement District (BID).

WHERE: Georgetown Waterfront Park at the intersection of K/Water Street and Cecil Place, NW.

HOW: Admission to Georgetown Sunset Cinema is FREE and open to the public. Blankets only (no chairs, please); picnics welcome. Seating is limited; arrive early for best seating. Georgetown Waterfront Park is a national park and prohibits the use of alcohol.