Apr
12
Thu
Dining Out for Life @ Various
Apr 12 @ 5:30 PM – 11:30 PM

On Thursday, April 12th, diners across the Washington metro region will stand up against HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses by dining out at restaurants participating in this year’s Dining Out For Life® fundraiser (www.foodandfriends.org/diningout<http://www.foodandfriends.org/diningout>), benefitting Food & Friends.

Now in its 30th year serving the Washington community, Food & Friends enlists the benevolence of area eateries – from Hyattsville to Shirlington, from Georgetown to Brookland – in support of adults and children facing life-challenging illnesses who benefit from the organization’s nutrition services. More than 60 area restaurants<https://www.diningoutforlife.com/washingtondc/restaurants> (and counting!) have pledged to contribute 25% to 110% of lunch and/or dinner proceeds to directly benefit Food & Friends’ programs and clients in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

“It’s a fantastic night. With one great meal out with his or her friends, each diner is making a significant and lasting impact on their community members in greatest need,” says Food & Friends’ Executive Director Craig Shniderman. “The restaurant community has long supported the work of Food & Friends and we’re incredibly grateful. The funds raised through Dining Out For Life® make it possible for us to serve thousands of meals each day to those living with the challenges of HIV/AIDS, cancer and other debilitating illnesses.”

Last year, Dining Out for Life®, raised more than $150,000. This year, Food & Friends is thrilled to have more than 60 restaurants on board, including those that are donating their entire evening’s proceeds, or more, to Food & Friends – Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant (110%) and Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse (100%). Please visit www.foodandfriends.org/diningout<http://www.foodandfriends.org/diningout> for a complete listing of participating restaurants.

ABOUT FOOD & FRIENDS: Food & Friends is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization that provides home-delivered, medically-tailored meals and nutrition counseling to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses. Food & Friends’ services are free of charge to recipients who qualify solely based on their health status and nutritional need. With the help of over 9,000 volunteers each year, we deliver to 5,300 square miles of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Since 1988, Food & Friends has delivered more than 21 million meals to 31,000 individuals.

 

Toast of the Tour @ Mess Hall
Apr 12 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Chef Jess” Jessica Swift and Karen Hoefener of Nomad Dumplings will be among the women entrepreneurs giving talks and tastings at the Junior League of Washington’s (JLW) Toast of the Tour cocktail reception at Mess Hall, a business incubator and event space in Northeast Washington, on Thursday, April 12.

JLW is proud to partner with leading female chefs and entrepreneurs for this event. Chef Jess is a registered dietician and classically trained chef whose meal delivery business caters to her clients’ individual needs. Hoefener’s Nomad Dumplings are regionally inspired, colorful dumplings with all-natural ingredients recently featured in Washington City Paper.

The evening reception will also feature tastings from other Mess Hall members and alumni businesses, including Prescription Chicken and Farm to Feast. Barefoot Wine and Bubbly will provide wine, and  attendees will be able to enter a drawing for prizes including an overnight stay at the Jefferson Hotel, reservations at Rose’s Luxury, two free hours of cleaning from Maids in Black, and gift cards to restaurants and bars including Founding Farmers, Mission, Iron Gate, Momofuku, Boqueria, and more.

This event benefits the Junior League of Washington, an educational, charitable organization committed to developing exceptionally qualified female civic leaders who are prepared to address the ever-evolving needs of the Washington, DC, community through volunteer service, meaningful programs and initiatives, and innovative solutions.

Toast of the Tour is the kickoff event for JLW’s 7th annual Kitchen Tour, a walking tour that will spotlight nearby Brookland’s unique homes and food scene on Saturday, April 21. Tickets for Toast of the Tour and Kitchen Tour are available at JLW.org/KTtickets. For Toast of the Tour, general admission tickets are $55, and VIP tickets, which include specialty cocktail tastings and a souvenir oven mitt, are $65.

What: Toast of the Tour, a cocktail reception and kickoff event for Kitchen Tour

When: Thursday, April 12 from 6-9 p.m.

Where: Mess Hall, 703 Edgewood Street NE, Washington, DC

About the Junior League of Washington:
The Junior League of Washington (www.jlw.org) is a nonprofit organization of more than 2,300 women who annually donate thousands of dollars and volunteer hours to the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. JLW is committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. JLW focuses its financial and volunteer resources on the issues of literacy – adult, child, and cultural – and works with a diverse group of community partners. Since 1912, JLW has donated more than five million hours of direct volunteer service and more than $5.8 million to the Washington, DC, community.

Washington City Paper’s 10th Annual Best of DC @ Organization of American States
Apr 12 @ 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

The Washington City Paper invites you to join in to salute the best of the best in DC at its 10th annual Best of D.C. Celebration at the Organization of the American States Headquarters and Art Museum of the Americas beginning at 6pm. More than 50 restaurants, mixologists, local breweries distilleries, entertainment, rare art exhibitions, and many more surprises will leave guests
mesmerized.

The event will benefit one of our city’s hidden gems, the beautiful OAS Art Museum of the Americas.

What: Washington City Paper’s 10 th Annual Best of D.C. Celebration
Date: Thursday, April 12, 2017
Times: VIP 6:00pm; General Admission 7-10pm
Location: The Organization of the American States Headquarters and the Art Museum of the Americas (Constitution and 17 th St. NW and 201 18 th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20006)

Price: VIP – $110; General Admission – $70
Tickets: http://www.xorbia.com/events/wcp/10th-annual- best-of- dc-celebration-

Artisanal Food, Bars & Restaurants: District Doughnut, ANXO, Cuba Libre Restaurant; Rum
Bar, Spark at Engine Company 12, Pow Pow, Blue 44, and many more to be announced
soon.

Brews & Spirits: Right Proper Brewing Company, Port City Brewing Company, 3 Stars
Brewing Company, Edrington Group, Belle Isle Craft Spirits, Virginia Distillery Company,
Catoctin Creek, One Eight Distilling, KO Distilling, Jos. A. Magnus & Co. and many more to be
announced soon.

VIP tickets include a swag bag, plus access to the VIP hour with tastings from specialty
bottles, signature cocktails, and savory bites from some of D.C.’s hottest restaurants.
Information about this year’s beneficiary: OAS Art Museum of the Americas (AMA)
The Art Museum of the Americas (AMA) (museum.oas.org) was the first museum of
modern and contemporary Latin American and Caribbean art in the United States. It is the
center of cultural diplomacy of the Organization of American States (OAS), a multilateral
diplomatic forum for the Western Hemisphere whose aim is to promote democracy, peace,
justice and prosperity (www.oas.org).

AMA’s origins are in the Visual Arts program of the Pan-American Union which pre-dates
the founding of the OAS in 1948.  This early commitment to promoting the art of Latin
America and the Caribbean helped to launch the international careers of artists who are
now regarded as masters of mid-20 th  century artistic trends of new figuration, geometric
and lyrical abstraction, and conceptual, optical and kinetic art.  Today, this valuable collection has more than two thousand works of art, including from Canada and the United
States, and is renowned as a premier collection within the international art community.

This year, the OAS will celebrate its 70 th  anniversary with a variety of initiatives to tell its
story of diplomacy in the Americas.  In service to the OAS and its mission, the Art Museum
of the Americas is gathering support to upgrade the preservation and presentation of it art
collection, bring in new exhibits and promote new artists, bring art to a broader
community through digital media and educational outreach, improve access to the art
galleries for peoples with disabilities and, in general, use this cultural diplomacy asset to
promote more rights for more people in the Americas.

The Art Museum of the Americas welcomes on-going patrons and new audiences to join us
in the celebration of the arts and diplomacy.

Apr
14
Sat
Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine Seasonal Culinary & Beverage Experience @ Park Hyatt Tea Cellar
Apr 14 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Park Hyatt Washington, D.C. will host a spring 2018 Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine, a seasonal culinary & beverage experience on Saturday, April 14, focused on Japanese treasures.  Spring is cherry blossom season, merging two cultures, as these magnificent trees were a gift from Japan to the nation’s capital.  It is the ideal time for Park Hyatt Washington, D.C. to present the art of the Japanese tea ceremony with the seasonal bounty of the mid-Atlantic region.  On this particular afternoon, guests will have the unique opportunity to savor a “Washoku” inspired food menu prepared by Executive Chef Troy Knapp featuring American rice, Chesapeake seafood, and locally sourced vegetables, followed by a traditional tea ceremony, also known as Chano-yu, conducted by Sobin Koizumi, a Urasenke professor from Japan.  The Urasenke tea school teaches the history, importance, and practical knowledge behind this centuries-old tradition.

As a tenured senior professor of the Urasenke tea school, Koizumi has traveled the world teaching non-Japanese people about the heart and soul of Chano-yu.  Learning about Matcha and the tea ceremony with Sobin Koizumi is a unique and rare opportunity, both here and in Japan.  Tickets for this special event are priced at $100 per person, and available for purchase on Eventbite.  Guests will enjoy a presentation covering the history and proper manners for Chano-yu, followed by a tasting of two different rare Matcha teas from the same grower that have limited availability in the United States paired with seasonal confections from Kyoto.  Space is limited and reservations are required.

Additionally, guests of the event will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase 30 grams of Kyoto Uji Matcha, a high-end green tea powder, prepared from young first flush green tea leaves at Uji in Kyoto, the birthplace of the Japanese tea ceremony.  

HOW:             Tickets are available for purchase at: https://parkhyattmasters-tea.eventbrite.com. Seating is limited for this one-of-a-kind event and advance reservations are required.

 

Let It Be: A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles @ National Theatre
Apr 14 @ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

What if the Beatles had reunited 10 years after their break-up? This revamped production of LET IT BE: A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES answers that question, and brings you the show that you never got to see. While the first half of the theatrical performance is comprised of favorites from the Beatles career, the all new second half imagines a world in which the Beatles re-united. 

LET IT BE: A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES comes to Washington, D.C.’s National Theatre on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Tickets for the 8:00pm performance on that day sold out within hours after going on sale. Due to popular demand, a second performance has been added on April 14 at 3:00pm. 

Tickets may be purchased at TheNationalDC.com, in person at the National Theatre Box Office (Monday thru Friday from Noon to 6pm), or by calling 800-514-3849. The National Theatre is located at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in downtown Washington, D.C.

Relive the past from Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road, with favorite hits including “Hard Day’s Night,” “Day Tripper,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Twist and Shout,” “Get Back,” “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” “Strawberry Fields,” and then imagine the reunion that never was.

The end of the Beatles era was not thought to be in sight when the group played their last show on the roof of the Apple Offices in 1969. Imagine what would have been if The Beatles had continued their journey. Travel back to what would have been John Lennon’s 40th Birthday – October 9, 1980. For one night, the Fab Four reunite on stage after a decade apart performing hits like “Back in the USSR,” “Live and Let Die,” “Got to Get You Into My Life,” “My Sweet Lord,” “Hey Jude,” and many more they had never before performed live, along with other classics.

Seen by more than two million people worldwide, LET IT BE: A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES made its North American debut in 2015 across the U.S. and Canada. Audiences can now enjoy the new, revamped “part two,” based on the Broadway show praised as “by far the best Beatles show yet” by the New York Times.

The original production established itself as one of the West End’s most popular shows when it opened in London in 2012. Showcasing the music of the world’s most successful rock’n’roll band, it charted The Beatles meteoric rise from their humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the height of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces.

Praise for LET IT BE:

  • “The Beatles are back sending theatre audiences dancing into the aisles” — Reuters, New York
  • “Winning over an Empire full of Liverpudlians (including, last night, John Lennon’s sister Julia) is no mean feat. But one that Let It Be happily achieves” — Liverpool Echo
  • “Fab for all the family” — The Times of London
  • “Pure Beatles magic back on stage” — The Public Reviews, Liverpool
  • “Does everything and more to recreate that magic era” — Manchester’s Finest, Manchester

Apr
17
Tue
WhiskyFest @ Marriott Marquis
Apr 17 @ 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Presented by Whisky Advocate magazine, WhiskyFest, the leading whisky festival in North America, returns to Washington D.C. for the third year in a row! Celebrating its 21st anniversary, WhiskyFest, which made its D.C. debut in 2016 following events held in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, offers the opportunity to sample nearly 300 whiskies from around the world—including single malt and blended Scotch, Irish, bourbon, rye, Tennessee, Japanese, Canadian, and craft-distilled whiskies, plus high-end rum, cognac, and other spirits—and learn firsthand from the experts.

Who: Whisky Advocate Executive Editor Jeffrey Lindenmuth and the rest of the publication’s editorial team welcome guests to meet an array of master blenders and other notable whisky experts presenting rare whiskies from around the world. Distillery representatives will be on hand at their pouring booths, while educational seminars, featuring their own tastings, run throughout the evening.

Where: Washington, DC Marriott Marquis, 901 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C.

When: Tuesday, April 17

  • VIP Entrance: 5:30 PM
  • Grand Tasting:  6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
  • Seminars: 7:00 PM7:45 PM8:30 PM

Tickets: Regular admission tickets are available at Early Bird prices for $275 and can be purchased online. Tickets include a one-year subscription to Whisky Advocate magazine, a commemorative crystal glass, an event program and pen, the latest copy of Whisky Advocatemagazine, a gift bag, entrance to all seminars on a first come first served basis, a gourmet buffet throughout the evening and nearly 300 whiskies from around the world to sample.

Impact of Advertising Workshop @ Canvas
Apr 17 @ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Purchase your ticket today to secure your spot at FGIDC’s next workshop, Impact of Advertising. Set up your brand for success with the newest, most impactful advertising tools.

Panelists:
Kerri Larkin, Director of Marketing at Saks Fifth Avenue
Stephanie David, Founder of POPNOD

Moderator: Jen Walawender, Media Buyer/Planner at JRA Advertising Agency

Date: April 17, 2018
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Location: Canvas
1203 19th Street NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20036

FGIDC Members – $15
Non-Members – $25
At the Door – $30

Apr
18
Wed
America’s Promise Gala @ Newseum
Apr 18 @ 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM

America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, will honor six exceptional leaders with its Promise of America and Promise Hero Awards on April 18.  The awards will be presented by General Colin Powell and Alma Powell, the founding chair and chair of America’s Promise, at the fourth annual Promise Night Gala which will be held at the Newseum in Washington, DC.

The Promise of America award, the organization’s highest honor, recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made an exceptional difference in the lives of young people and, through their work, have demonstrated the power of the Five Promises – caring adults, safe places, a healthy and safe start, an effective education, and opportunities to serve – to change the odds, transform lives, and build positive futures.

“Our honorees are extraordinary leaders, working diligently to make the promise of America real for every child,” said Alma J. Powell, chair, America’s Promise. “As we enter our third decade of work on behalf of young people in this country, these individuals remind us of the impact we can have if we use our time, talents and influence to make life better for the next generation.”

“Promise Night is an opportunity for us to celebrate the successes of our honorees while being inspired by their community and national impact,” said John Gomperts, president & CEO of America’s Promise. “Their commitment to the advancement of young people is essential to keeping youth on the path to adult success. America’s Promise is proud to recognize such a dedicated group.”

2018 Promise of America Honorees

  • Katherine and David Bradley are co-founders of the CityBridge Foundation, a private family foundation based in Washington, D.C. In 2000, CityBridge began investigating successful practices for combating entrenched, multigenerational poverty—all with the intention of launching a new, signature program in Washington, D.C. CityBridge Education, a nonprofit enterprise dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for all children, was launched out of CityBridge Foundation as an education incubator that seeks out the teachers, leaders, and school teams with the ideas and the drive to create new, better models of school in Washington, D.C.
  • Dr. Michael Lomax is president and CEO of UNCF, the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships and other educational support to African American students and a leading advocate of college readiness: students’ need for an education, from pre-school through high school, that prepares them for college success. Under his leadership, UNCF has raised more than $2.5 billion and helped more than 92,000 students earn college degrees and launch careers.
  • Sondra Samuels is the president & CEO of Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), a collaborative of over 40 partner non-profits and schools. Along with parents, students, partners, and staff, Ms. Samuels is leading a revolutionary culture shift in North Minneapolis that is focused on ending multigenerational poverty through education and family stability. The NAZ collaborative is working toward a single goal—to prepare low-income North Minneapolis children to graduate from high school college and career-ready.
  • Jeff Weiner is the CEO of LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 546 million users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Under his leadership, LinkedIn for Good has reached more than 1 million underserved youth, veterans, refugees, employees and nonprofits, connecting them to greater economic opportunities. Most recently, they’ve introduced LinkedIn Coaches, their signature program to connect underserved young adults and other underrepresented communities to the mentors, networks, and jobs they need to succeed.

2018 Promise Hero Honoree

In addition, this year America’s Promise will also recognize one individual who has made a sustained commitment and unheralded contributions to young people.

  • Dr. Wintley Phipps is founder and CEO of US Dream Academy, an organization dedicated to helping  the nation’s children reach for their dreams through academic, social, and values enrichment; empowering young people most at risk of incarceration to believe in themselves and to succeed.  In addition to his role with the US Dream Academy, Dr. Phipps is a world-renowned vocal artist, education activist, motivational speaker, pastor.  For his work at the U.S. Dream Academy he has received numerous service awards, among them: The Excellence in Mentoring for Program Leadership Award from MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnerships; the Oprah Winfrey Angel Network Use Your Life Award; and Philanthropist of the Year Award from The National Center for Black Philanthropy, Inc.

Last year’s Promise of America Award recipients included Kenneth I. Chenault, former chairman and CEO of American Express Company; Common, hip-hop artist, actor, and founder of the Common Ground Foundation; Arne Duncan, managing partner of Emerson Collective; Bryan Stevenson, executive director of Equal Justice Initiative; and Dorothy Stoneman, founder of YouthBuild.

In 2017, the Promise Hero Award was given to singer and songwriter Andra Day, and New England Patriot Malcolm Mitchell.

The title sponsor for the 2018 Promise Night Gala is the Ford Foundation. This year’s platinum sponsor is Salesforce. Gold sponsors include Kenneth and Kathryn Chenault, College Board, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Say Yes to Education, State Farm and the Walton Family Foundation.

A Taste of Shaw Gala @ Howard Theatre
Apr 18 @ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Shaw Main Streets will host its annual A Taste of Shaw Gala on Thursday April 18, 2018, from 7pm to 9pm. The annual event celebrates the neighborhood’s status as a nationally-recognized dining and drinking destination and is a fundraiser for initiatives that enhance and promote commerce within the Shaw neighborhood, such as the two neighborhood-wide open house events and Art All Night in Shaw.

A Taste of Shaw returns to the Howard Theatre which will be the backdrop for live music by internally-renowned Ethiopian artist Yehuni Belay ad his band, libations and delicious bites from some of DC’s best bars and restaurants. Proceeds from the event support Shaw Main Streets’ economic revitalization and historic preservation activities in the Shaw neighborhood of DC, which have helped bring about the transformation of central Shaw since 2003. Shaw’s hashtag #LoveShaw, represents the comradery of Shaw’s business owners and the citywide support and accolades the neighborhood continues to receive. Yehuni Belay

A hospitality renaissance led by top chefs and mixologists has been under way in recent years, bringing fresh concepts and perspectives in cuisine and beverage, as well as a host of new talent, making Shaw the city’s top dining and imbibing destination. This year’s A Taste of Shaw welcomes new arrivals Gaslight Tavern by the Hilton Brothers, an expansion of Po Boy Jim from H Street, the District’s only Georgian cuisine restaurant; Supra and the latest additions to the Convention Center, The Morris American Cocktail Bar and Unconventional Diner.

Shaw Main Streets invites the entire region to explore some of the best the neighborhood has to offer at one venue, on one special evening. The full list of 2018 A Taste of Shaw host committee members providing sips and noshes include the following bars and restaurants: Beau Thai & BKK Cookshop Espita Mezcaleria Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee Chercher Ethiopian Cuisine Etete Supra Declaration Gaslight Tavern The Dabney & Dabney Cellar Dino’s Grotto La Jambe Farmers & Distillers Drink Company Pop Up Bar PoBoy Jim Fish Scale Dolci Gelati Service Bar DC The Morris American Bar Seylou Bakery & Mill Unconventional Diner

Tickets are $80 in advance and can be ordered online at www.smsgala18.eventbrite.com. On the day of the event, tickets will be $100. Tickets include unlimited food and cocktail tastings, beer and wine, and complimentary valet parking.

Apr
20
Fri
LUNGevity Foundation’s 7th Annual Musical Celebration of Hope Gala @ Mellon Auditorium
Apr 20 @ 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Washington D.C. philanthropists, lung cancer survivors, scientists and friends will gather and boogie to the hits of disco at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium Friday, April 20, for LUNGevity Foundation’s 7th Annual Musical Celebration of Hope Gala, Follow the Call of the Disco Ball.

The disco-themed gala benefiting LUNGevity, the nation’s leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit, will celebrate the extraordinary progress in lung cancer research and the improved quality of life patients are now experiencing due to earlier detection and new treatments for lung cancer.

For the first time, the annual event will be chaired by two lung cancer survivors, former ABC7 Anchor Greta Kreuz and King Automotive owner, Larry Aschenbach. Longtime LUNGevity supporter and NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer will return as the emcee for the evening recognizing individuals and organizations who have demonstrated remarkable leadership in the fight against lung cancer.

Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and 2015’s Face of Hope Recipient, will present the 2018 Face of Hope Award to Dr. Philip Bonomi, Alice Pirie Wirtz Professor of Medical Oncology at Rush University Medical Center, for his work to improve outcomes in lung cancer and how people live with the disease.

The  2018 Hope Award for Corporate Leadership will be presented to Foundation Medicine for their demonstrated exceptional commitment to the health and well-being of lung cancer communities in the United States and globally.

LUNGevity will also recognize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with the 2018 Public Service Face of Hope Award for their progress in improving access to high-quality care for veterans living with and at risk of lung cancer.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception followed by dinner, awards presentations, and dancing.

 For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.lungevity.org/hopegala