Runners, head to the starting line! VIDA Fitness is hosting its fourth annual 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, October 13 at East Potomac Park. The local fitness club will donate proceeds from the event to Thrive DC – a local non-profit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the D.C. area. Local radio personalities Kelly Collis and Jen Richer, co-hosts of 94.7 Fresh FM’s The Tommy Show, will emcee the race and awards ceremony. The 5K Run/Walk is open to the public and participants can submit their event registrations at: www.vidathrive5k.com.
Nicknamed Hains Point by locals, East Potomac Park’s flat running course, which circles the Potomac River, will again serve as the backdrop for the event. Both dog and stroller friendly, the VIDA Thrive 5K Run/Walk is geared toward families, kids, weekend athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. There will be special race heats for both children and pets.
Events and prizes for the race include:
- VIDA memberships, personal training sessions and guest passes.
- Gift cards from SweatBox, Aura Spa and Bang Salon.
2018 Packet Pick-Up will take place at VIDA Fitness-Gallery Place on Thursday, October 11 from 9 a.m. — 6p.m. and U-Street on Friday, October 12 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Parking space is extremely limited at East Potomac Park, so VIDA encourages race participants to leave their cars at home. Convenient methods of transportation include: walking, Capital Bikeshare, DC Metro, Uber, Lyft or taxicab.
Continuing a race tradition, VIDA Fitness is again hosting a sock drive to benefit Thrive DC, which runs now right up to race day. Runners and spectators are encouraged to bring new socks of all sizes and styles to all VIDA locations or on race day where donation boxes will be located. VIDA Fitness is doubling the efforts and will match each pair of new socks donated to Thrive DC. Since their partnership began in 2015, VIDA Fitness has raised more than $50,000 for Thrive DC.
To purchase your race entry and receive more information on the VIDA 5K Run/Walk, please visit:www.vidathrive5k.com or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/events/442012079595140/. Registration costs $45 per person.
WHO: VIDA Fitness, Thrive DC and The Tommy Show
WHAT: 5K Run/Walk benefiting Thrive DC, with Tommy Show Hosts, Grand Prizes including PT sessions, massages and free month of membership
Tickets: $45
Schedule of Events on Saturday, October 13:
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- 7:00 AM – Packet Pick-Up Opens
- 7:00 AM – Bag Drop Opens
- 7:40 AM – Warm-Up & Stretch
- 7:55 AM – National Anthem
- 8:00 AM – Race Begins
- 9:00 AM – Awards Ceremony
- 9:30 AM – Course Closes
WHEN: October 13, 2018 at 8:00 a.m.
WHERE: East Potomac Park at Hains Point
14th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024
1350 Okie St NE,
Washington, DC 20002
Cocktail Seminar and Book Signing with Phillip Greene, Author of A Drinkable Feast and Co-Founder of The Museum of the American Cocktail.
Date: Thursday, October 18th
Time: 7pm-9pm
Ticket Price: $60.00
(Must be 21 years of age and have valid photo ID)
A history of the Lost Generation in 1920s Paris told through the lens of the cocktails they loved
In the Prohibition era, American cocktail enthusiasts flocked to the one place that would have them–Paris. In this sweeping look at the City of Light, cocktail historian Philip Greene follows the notable American ex-pats who made themselves at home in Parisian cafes and bars, from Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein to Picasso, Coco Chanel, Cole Porter, and many more.
A Drinkable Feast reveals the history of more than 50 cocktails: who was imbibing them, where they were made popular, and how to make them yourself from the original recipes of nearly a century ago. Filled with anecdotes and photos of the major players of the day, you’ll feel as if you were there yourself, walking down the boulevards with the Lost Generation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Phillip Greene is one of the founders of the Museum of the American Cocktail in New Orleans and author of To Have and Have Another: A Hemingway Cocktail Companion and The Manhattan: The Story of the First Modern Cocktail.
He is a sought-after speaker on topics within cocktail history, as well as, a mixology consultant for restaurants and institutions across the world, and he is a regular cocktail columnist for The Daily Beast. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and three daughters.
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: A maestro, a yogi, and an orchestra walk into a tunnel. There’s no punchline, just an amazing and unique one-night experience awaiting fans of live music and yoga on Sunday, Oct. 21st, as the American Pops Orchestra and yogi Michael Peterson will host their first Music and Mindfulness practice and concert at Dupont Underground.
Here’s what to expect:
Will there really be a live orchestra at a yoga class?
Yes — the American Pops Orchestra is versatile and nimble in size and musical stylings. To fit the space and vibe of this event, APO Founder and Musical Director Luke Frazier will conduct and play piano along with the Pops’ Chamber Ensemble: four cellos and one percussionist. APO’s principal percussionist Jeremy Yaddaw co-wrote the original score of an interwoven soundscape of classic Broadway melodies arranged in an eastern meditative style. Playing this music live in Dupont Underground lends an acoustic sound similar to a cathedral or the Paris catacombs.
What’s it like to do yoga in Dupont Underground?
Instructor Michael Peterson will guide participants on a journey through mindfulness and flexibility as the orchestra plays. This practice is open to all, no matter their level of ability. At last year’s event, there were people doing yoga for the first time and some simply sitting to enjoy the music and meditation without being physically engaged. Seating will be available for those seeking a calming experience.
Dupont Underground is a 15,000 square foot space that can accommodate up to 250 people for this event. Previous shows have sold out, and tickets are available here. Water, tea, juice and other snacks will be available for purchase, and participants should bring their own mats and towels. It is advisable to dress in layers to keep warm during the relaxation part of the session. The session will last 75 minutes.
How did this collaboration happen?
Frazier began practicing yoga a few years ago and was instantly enamored with the focus, strength and meditation yoga brings.
“As I spent more time doing yoga, I also spent more time thinking about how live music would enhance the experience,” says Frazier. “So I decided to combine these two loves into something different and exciting that allows us to explore the parallels between yoga and live music in real time.”
Before finding his calling as a yoga teacher, Michael Peterson studied dance and theater, and even played the drums.
“Sometimes in yoga we get so focused on technique, we don’t really let it be a fun and creative process,” says Peterson. “The atmosphere of a yoga class is so central to the practice, and live music has a way of creating a more artistic and creative atmosphere that rejuvenates the soul. It’s this communal experience where we all come together to create and experience something that only happens right in that moment.”
The practice on October 21 is the first in a series. The other practices will take place at Dupont Underground on April 13 and May 8, 2019 at 6pm.
Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, located steps from CityCenterDC at 801 9th Street, NW, 20001, will celebrate the release of Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot’s second cookbook, CUBA COOKS: RECIPES AND DESRETS FROM CUBAN PALADARES AND THEIR CHEFS (October 2018) with a book signing party on Tuesday, November 13.
Guests pay $50 per person to enjoy select open bar to include beer, red and white wine by the glass, house red and white sangria, Pyrat Mojitos, Mango Mojitos and Spiced Cuba Libre’s along with an array of passed and stationary tapas, ceviches, and desserts profiled in CUBA COOKS. Dishes are subject to change, but may include Ceviche de Pez Perro, hog fish ceviche with blackeyes peas, coconut milk, cilantro and cachucha Chile sauce; Sopa de Cilantro, chilled cilantro soup with tempura of clams; Tacos de Berenjenas, malanga tacos with eggplant salad; Buñuelos de Espinaca, spinach and manchego cheese fritters, served with goat cheese sauce; Croquetas de Pollo, chicken croquettes with cachucha aioli; Alitas de Pollo a lo Chino, Chinese barbeque chicken winglets; Tostones con Ropa Vieja de Pato,braised pulled duck legs with Hawaiian toston, as well as Cuban Porchetta, pork belly and pork loin roast with Moros y Cristianos pilaf. Desserts are just as enticing and include Churros con Chocolate; Macarrones de Coco; Guayaba con Mousse de Queso Crema as well as El Arroz con Leche de Mami Totty. Cookbooks will also be available for purchase throughout the evening and priced at $40 each.
A vibrant celebration of the island’s bold flavors, creative techniques, and unique inspirations of Cuba’s finest paladares, readers of CUBA COOKS will find a rich variety of dishes which have been adapted from some of the best private restaurants from Old Havana to Santiago de Cuba. Showcasing a cuisine which marries traditional foundations with modern influences, Pernot and Co-Author Lourdes Castro have thoughtfully collected recipes and stories that reveal a vibrant contemporary cuisine. Throughout the book, readers will find illuminating and insightful notes about Cuba’s culinary heritage, as well as helpful notes found with every recipe.
Guillermo Pernot is a nationally renowned chef and restaurateur, and chef-partner at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Orlando and Washington, DC. Named “Chef of the Year” by Esquire magazine and one of “America’s Ten Best New Chefs,” by Food & Wine, Pernot is a two-time James Beard Award winner for Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic) and Best Single-Subject Cookbook for Ceviche: Seafood, Salads, and Cocktails with a Latino Twist (Running Press, 2001).
Lourdes Castro is a professor, recipe developer, and author of three cookbooks, Latin Grilling (Ten Speed, 2011), Simply Mexican (Ten Speed, 2009), and Eat, Drink, Think in Spanish (Ten Speed, 2009). A recurring judge on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, Castro has also appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show and The Talk, and on news and lifestyle programs for Better TV, Univision, Telemundo, and CNN en Español. Her recipes have also appeared in Food & Wine, Latina magazine, and The New York Times.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 13, 2018, from 6 PM to 8 PM.
WHERE: Cuba Libre Restaurant and Rum Bar is located at 801 9th Street, NW, Ste. A, Washington, D.C. 20001;
When: Saturday, December 1, 6 to 8pm
Where: Soulex Float Spa, 1010 Massachussettes Avenue, NW
What: Celebrate the holiday season than with an evening of meditation, mindfulness, and creativity. In partnership with Mental Health America (MHA), SOULEX float spa is excited to host a DIY Bath Salts Charity Workshop. The evening will open with a discussion lead by a representative from Mental Health America. Then we will guide you through a brief meditation to set your mind into a state of calm. The remainder of our evening will be dedicated to creativity. We will provide all the attendees with a portion of bath salt and a myriad of dried herbs, florals, and essential oils to infuse into your very own take-home bath salts. Proceeds will go to help Mental Health America on their mission to spread mental health awareness and aid across the country. 100% of ticket sales will be donated to Mental Health America. Attendees will be able to purchase promotional pricing on float packages that evening in which 30% of the total sales will be donated to Mental Health America.
How: Tickets are $10 available here
Avoid letting winter wreak havoc on your skin, and head to Aura Spa. The popular day spa is hosting a Winter Wonderland Mixer at its U Street location, promising an evening of pampering on Wednesday, December 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at1612 U St NW, Washington, D.C. Complimentary cranberry mimosas and holiday themed desserts will be served throughout the evening.
Guests are invited to sample various spa products and enjoy a refreshing night with free chair massages and skin analyses by expert Aura Spa estheticians. Aura Spa and Bang Salon swag bags will be provided, and attendees who pre-book spa services at the event will receive 15 percent off. All GM Collin skincare and retail products will be 25 percent off. Guests will also be entered into a raffle to win an assortment of Aura Spa products. This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Elaine@vidafitness.com, and for more information on Aura Spa, visit www.auraspa.net.
WHO: Aura Spa – U Street
WHAT: Winter Wonderland Mixer
Complimentary Cranberry Mimosas & Festive Desserts
Complimentary Skin Analyses & Chair Massages
15 percent off all spa services when pre-booked at the event
WHEN: Wednesday, December 5th
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Aura Spa – U Street
1612 U St NW
Washington, DC 20005
RSVP: Guests may RSVP to Elaine@vidafitness.com
Hanukkah Latke Brunch / eat.YOGA.drink. @ City Tap Dupont – Sunday, December 9
Visit City Tap Dupont on December 9 for a special Hanukkah iteration of their weekend brunch, featuring platters of latkes served with sour cream and applesauce for $8 as well as featured beers from Shmaltz Brewing. Stick around after grabbing an early brunch for a 12pm eat.YOGA.drink. instructor-led vinyasa class in City Tap Dupont’s private room. Tickets are $20 and include the class, small bites afterward, and an alcoholic drink of your choice. Make reservations for brunch and purchase tickets to the eat.YOGA.drink. class at www.citytap.com/location/
Let your cocktails and your yoga practice flow this holiday season with VIDA Fitness. On Tuesday, December 11 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., VIDA Fitness will host a public Chaturanga & Cocktails event at District Distilling to benefit Thrive DC – a local nonprofit dedicated to ending and preventing homelessness in DC. For the first hour of the night, VIDA instructor Alexandra Chili will lead a yoga flow. After the yoga session, guests will try skinny versions of District Distillery cocktails, as well as a special VIDA cocktail menu that features health-conscience beverages. The money raised that night will benefit Thrive DC, who can provide much-needed clothing and supplies to DC’s homeless community. To reserve your place at VIDA’s Chaturanga & Cocktails, make at least a $5 donation to Thrive DC by visiting http://www.thrivedc.org/vidayoga.
WHO: VIDA Fitness, District Distillery & Thrive DC
WHAT: Chaturanga & Cocktails
VIDA Instructor Alexandra Chili will lead yoga flow
Sample healthy cocktail samples and special VIDA cocktail menu
$5 dollar or greater donation to Thrive DC holds your spot and benefits those in need
Please bring your own mat
Reserve your spot here: http://www.thrivedc.org/vidayoga
WHEN: Tuesday, December 11
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: District Distillery
1414 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
VIDA Fitness is relieving the DC area of gift-giving anxiety by bringing fun, local retailers into their studios for a Holiday Bazaar this December. The Holiday Bazaar will be open to the public on Wednesday, December 12 at VIDA’s City Vista location and again on Thursday, December 13 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at VIDA’s U Street location. Retailers include District Distillery, District of Clothing, Dani Marie Artistry, Prescription Chicken, LuLaroe, Grape Intentions, Freres Branchiaux, Milk Bar,Snowing in Space Coffee, Metal and Stone Creations and Bicycle Trash. All local merchants will provide a discount and distribute free samples.
WHO: VIDA Fitness
Vendors Include:
- District Distillery
- District of Clothing
- Prescription Chicken
- LuLaroe
- Grape Intentions
- Freres Branchiaux
- Milk Bar
- Snowing in Space Coffee
- Metal and Stone Creations
- Bicycle Trash
WHAT: Holiday Bazar
Register: vidafitness.com/bazaar
WHEN: VIDA – City Vista
Wednesday, December 12
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
