Rise to the Roof for ‘Day of the Dead’ – Friday, November 2

Starting at 5:00 p.m., the Radiator team will rise up to the rooftop of the Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel to host an evening of Mexican-inspired traditions celebrating ‘Day of the Dead.’ A selection of taco specials from Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden will be available all night as an after-work snack or as a leisurely dinner where guests can graze on Chef Jonathan’s version of Al Pastor tacos, a Central Mexican favorite. To help guests toast to friends and family of the past, Lead Bartender Patrick Barrett has conjured up a menu of cocktails highlighting the nuances of tequila and mezcal, which include:

·        Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: mezcal, jalapeño, lime, and bitters

·        The Salty Skeleton: tequila, aperol, watermelon, lemon, and salt

·        Dia de Los Muertos:  tequila, cilantro, basil, lime, and a jalapeño-cinnamon tincture

From 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., a sugar-skull artist will be on hand to face paint elaborate skeleton designs for anyone interested in partaking in the holiday ritual. All face paintings are compliments of the Radiator team.

‘Day of the Dead’ will take place on Friday, November 2 from 5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on the rooftop at the Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel. No reservations or cover charge required. Rooftop seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. In the event of inclement weather, ‘Day of the Dead’ will be moved downstairs to Radiator. Guests must be 21+.

Honor Song for Returning Native American Women Warriors

Thursday, Nov. 8; 1:30 p.m.

National Museum of the American Indian, Potomac Atrium, Washington, D.C.

In advance of Veterans Day, composer, singer and drummer Ralph Zotigh (Kiowa) will sing an honor song he composed for Native American women veterans. He will be joined by his son, Dennis Zotigh (Kiowa/San Juan Pueblo/Santee Dakota Indian). This song was sung publicly for the first time in Tuba City, Arizona, at the second anniversary memorial for Army Spc. Lori Piestewa (Hopi), the first American servicewoman killed in the Iraq War, who is believed to be the first Native American woman to die in combat while serving in the U.S. military.

Morning at the Museum

Saturday, Nov. 10, 10–11:30 a.m.

Kogod Courtyard

Experience a sensory-friendly program for families of children with disabilities. The program includes early entrance into the museum, facilitated activities and a Take-a-Break Space. Registration Required. To learn more about the program or to register, contact Ashley Grady at NPGaccess@si.edu.

 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 9^th Street, NW, Ste. A, Washington, D.C. 20001;  

– On Nov. 14, 2018, NCMEC will host its first ROCK THE BLOCK. Guests will enjoy
specialty plates and craft drinks at more than 12 of Old Town Alexandria’s top restaurants and food
trucks in one evening – all for one price. All proceeds from the event will benefit NCMEC – a national nonprofit located in Old Town Alexandria – that leads the fight against child abduction and exploitation – because every child deserves a safe childhood.

From 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., event-goers will walk through Old Town Alexandria, enjoying food, drink and music at all of the participating restaurants. Restaurants include: Vermilion, Augie’s Mussel House, The Majestic, Columbia Firehouse, select food trucks at Market Square, Pizzeria Paradiso, Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Virtue Feed & Grain, Hi -Tide Lounge and more to come.

VIP ticket holders will have access to two VIP-only restaurants, including Hi-Tide Lounge. VIP access will also include a pre-party reception from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (location TBD) and an “after-party” with live music upstairs at Virtue Feed & Grain from 9-11 p.m.

General Admission tickets are $125 and include unlimited food and drinks at all participating
restaurants. VIP tickets are $300 and include admission to all participating restaurants, the VIP pre-party reception, VIP-only restaurants and the VIP-only after-party.

– Pre-sale Tickets (20 percent discount) are available on Sept. 10
– Full Price Tickets are available starting Oct. 1
– www.Rocktheblocks.org

Hopi Tribal Festival

Saturday, Nov. 17, and Sunday, Nov. 18; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

National Museum of the American Indian, Potomac Atrium, Washington, D.C.

The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation located in northeastern Arizona. Their nation encompasses more than 1.5-million acres, and is made up of 12 villages on three mesas. Over the centuries, Hopi endures as a nation, retaining its culture, language and religion despite influences from the outside world.

During this all-day, two-day festival, the Hopi people share artist demonstrations, performances of music and dance, and a presentation of the history of the Hopi Code Talkers. The Hopi Youth Color Guard will present and retire the colors at the beginning and end of each day.

Hopi Tribal Festival

Saturday, Nov. 17, and Sunday, Nov. 18; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

National Museum of the American Indian, Potomac Atrium, Washington, D.C.

The Hopi Tribe is a sovereign nation located in northeastern Arizona. Their nation encompasses more than 1.5-million acres, and is made up of 12 villages on three mesas. Over the centuries, Hopi endures as a nation, retaining its culture, language and religion despite influences from the outside world.

During this all-day, two-day festival, the Hopi people share artist demonstrations, performances of music and dance, and a presentation of the history of the Hopi Code Talkers. The Hopi Youth Color Guard will present and retire the colors at the beginning and end of each day.

Native American Heritage Day: Family Fun Friday

Friday, Nov. 23; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.

This celebration of Native American Heritage Day features hands-on activities, “make-and-takes,” and music and interactive dance presentations.