Events/Things To Do

Native Cinema Showcase Screening: Encanto

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m.

(USA, 2021, 120 mins.) Directors: Byron Howard, Jared Bush, and Charise Castro Smith

Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in a magical house in a vibrant town in the mountains of Colombia. The magic of this wondrous, charmed Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift, from super strength to the power to heal—every child that is except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she might just be her exceptional family’s last hope.

Special support for Native Cinema Showcase provided by the Walt Disney Company.

Patrons’ Show, the Art League’s biggest fundraiser, is back on Sunday, February 19, from 6–9 pm. Ticket holders may choose to attend the event in person at the Torpedo Factory or from the comfort of home via the streaming platform Vimeo. This much-anticipated event, now in its 55th year, allows ticket holders to acquire high-quality, original fine art—valued from $235 to upwards of thousands of dollars—while supporting a great non-profit organization and community of artists.

The Patrons’ Show Exhibit features over 600 original fine artworks donated by Art League and Torpedo Factory artists. It opens for viewing in The Art League Gallery and online Friday, February 3, two weeks before the drawing. Ticket holders fill the Gallery during these two weeks studying the artwork and noting their favorite pieces, so they’ll be prepared to select from the available artwork when their turn arrives.

At the Patrons’ Show event, the emcee announces the name of every ticket holder in a random drawing. Each person called chooses their favorite work of art from the Show to take home! In addition to the artwork, ticket holders may win other valuable prizes donated by local businesses.

Tickets for the Patrons’ Show fundraiser are $235 and can be purchased here.

Anyone can see the bevy of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, printworks, and more on the League’s Patrons’ Show 2023 album on Flickr; and download the handy Art Thief app to pick and organize their favorites on an iPhone, iPad, or iTouch (but grab a ticket if you want to claim artwork!).

Film Screening: Night Raiders

Sunday, Feb. 26, 2–5 p.m.  

The National Museum of the American Indian presents Night Raiders as part of the Mother Tongue Festival, which returns in person to the National Mall in 2023. 

(Canada/New Zealand, 2021, 97 mins.) Director: Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis)    

English, Cree with English subtitles  

In a dystopian future in 2043, a military occupation controls disenfranchised cities in post-war North America. Children are considered property of the regime, which trains them to fight. A desperate Cree woman (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers) joins an underground band of vigilantes to infiltrate a state children’s academy and get her daughter back. A parable about the experience of Indigenous peoples, Night Raiders is a female-driven sci-fi drama about resilience, courage, and love.  

The Mother Tongue Film Festival is a public program of Recovering Voices, a collaboration between the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and the Asian Pacific American Center. Learn more about the 2023 festival and past programs at mothertongue.si.edu.

Indigenous Women Weavers of Chiapas 

Saturday, March 11, 12–4 p.m.

Master weavers and embroiderers Maria López Ruíz, Maria de La Luz Gómez Martínez, Anita Ara Pérez and Juana López Díaz of Los Altos de Chiapas, Mexico, will demonstrate the backstrap weaving technique and discuss their community-based work and experience improving the ethical production and trade of weaving products by Indigenous women’s cooperatives. Presented in collaboration with the Inter-American Foundation and NGOImpacto.

Film Screening: Prey

Saturday, March 18, 2 p.m.

(USA, 2022, 100 mins.)

Director: Dan Trachtenberg, (Rated: R)

Naru, a skilled warrior of the Comanche Nation, fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly evolved Predators to land on Earth. Guest Speakers: Amber Midthunder (Fort Peck Assiniboine) and Jhane Myers (Comanche/Blackfeet)

Amid a celebratory 25th-anniversary MainStage season, MET’s resident comedy troupe that started it all, Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) is thrilled to announce the glorious return of MET’s treasured annual fundraiser and the best party of the year, Retro Prom.

Retro Prom will feature the musical stylings of DJ Genius of Benefactor Events to dance the night away to, delicious food by The Savory Spoon, a gift card tree raffle, a silent auction, fun prom photos, a cash bar and a late night pizza party. This sell out event for guests 21 years and older will be held on Saturday, March 18th from 7:00PM – 11:00PM at the William Talley Recreation Center (121 N. Bentz St. Frederick, MD 21701) in Baker Park.

The roaring ‘20s is this year’s Retro Prom theme. Though it is not a requirement that party guests wear a themed outfit it is encouraged that guests dance the night away dressed for prom, all decades of attire welcomed. New to Retro Prom this year is online bidding, which will allow guests to bid from wherever they are on silent auction items, receive outbid notifications, and seamlessly check out at the end of the night. Raffle ticket purchases and donations may also be completed online.

Tickets or tables may be purchased online at www.marylandensemble.org, by phone at (301) 694-4744, or in person at the MET Box Office. Individual tickets are $50 each. Tables are available for guaranteed seating for 4, 8, 10, or 12 attendees. Costs for tables range from $240 – $720 with advanced registration. Tables include a sign with the party’s name, guaranteed seating, and a bottle of champagne on ice. There will also be standing high-top tables and limited non-table seating for those purchasing individual tickets only.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) who for over 25 years have been producing thought-provoking theatre, fun family entertainment, artist residency programs for public schools, challenging classes and side-splitting comedy. MET is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

The event is NOW ON SUNDAY, MARCH 26 in pursuit of better weather! Same time, same place, same fun and FREE activities.

National Kite-Flying Day is the perfect day for the National Cherry Blossom Festival to share all the ways attendees can “spring” on the fun of kite flying, including its signature Blossom Kite Festival, taking place Saturday, March 25, 2023 (10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) at the Washington Monument Grounds. Presented by Hilton, National Cherry Blossom Festival’s proud Premier Hotel Provider, the Blossom Kite Festival is free, fun, and open to the public and features activities, music, competitions, and performances suitable for all ages.

The Blossom Kite Festival showcases kite performances and competitions, kite-making activities, a Family Field with children’s activities, and more. Special guest, Mr. Mikio Toki, a master of traditional Edo-style kites, has traveled the world showcasing his kites and will travel from Japan to be at this year’s Blossom Kite Festival.

FEATURED PARKS: People of all ages can join Blossom Kite Festival from their homes, favorite neighborhood parks, or anywhere around the world. Participating parks in all eight D.C. wards, Maryland, and Virginia will offer free activities for local residents between April 1 and 2. All interested parties can show off their skills, virtually learn how to make and fly kites, and take to the skies on March 25. Featured parks will be listed on the Blossom Kite Festival event page.

Attendees at the Festival’s kite-flying activities can bring their own kites, purchase kites onsite, or pick up free kite kits they can decorate (while supplies last), courtesy of Hilton. Kite flyers can even purchase the official 2023 Festival kite onsite or online at National Cherry Blossom Festival Store.

COMMEMORATIVE KITES: Kite flyers can purchase commemorative kites from previous years (while supplies last) at the Festival’s online gift shop. The 2023 commemorative kite, featuring the work of the 2023 National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Official Artist Orlando Quevedo, will be available for purchase in March during the Festival at select events and in the online store. 

PLANNING YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE: The Festival begins March 20 and runs through April 16. Visit the Festival website to add the Blossom Kite Festival to your calendar. When planning your Festival experience, it matters where you stay. As Premier Hotel Provider, Hilton has over 100 properties in the Washington, D.C., area to meet the needs of any kite enthusiast seeking a staycation or vacation throughout the Festival season. Visit the Festival hotel page to learn more about recommended Hilton hotels.

The Tigerlily Foundation today announce their signature Pajama Glam event will return on Sunday, March 26, 2023, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. The Reston-based, international nonprofit organization, which provides education, empowerment, advocacy, and hands-on support to young women between the ages of 15-45 before, during and after breast cancer, invites women and girls as young as five years old to learn the importance of breast health, and wellness, self-advocacy, risk reduction, and generational conversations, while dressed in their favorite red, pink, or purple pajamas.

Noelle Karmo, daughter of Tigerlily Foundation Founder & CEO, Maimah Karmo created the theme for the event in 2010 to attract and educate young girls about their breasts, body, and health. “When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, it was confusing because I was so young, but there is so much I learned through her experience,” said Noelle Karmo. “There was a lot that many of my friends didn’t understand, so I wanted to create an event for kids. I’m excited to see it grow.”

“It is so important for families to have the discussion about health,” said Maimah Karmo. “This event is building a foundation for a safe space to start these conversations that must be had early and often. My mother educated me about my breath health and taught me breast self-exams at an early age, which led to me finding my own lump during a self-examination and advocating for myself. I want to ensure other young women have that gift of education. Education and awareness require learning young.”

This year’s dress code is chic and stylish pajamas paired with mandatory “bling” accessories to accentuate the glam and sparkle theme. Attendees will enjoy a glamorous lineup of entertainment and activities such as walking the pink carpet, achieving a Passport to a Healthy Lifestyle through creative crafts and activities, 3D Photobooth, local makers, face painters, balloon twisters, live music, and Zumba demonstrations. Guests can also indulge in a decadent candy bar, popcorn station, petit sandwiches, fruit kabobs, and fabulous mocktails. Come meet local Pageant Representatives and enjoy a special movie screening of “Oh, Baby, Baby” co-written by Maimah Karmo and Maggy Francois and produced as part of BET Her Presents: The Waiting Room TV series. The movie a powerful story which explores Black women’s health and fertility. The Tigerlily Foundation invites all girls to get their PJ’s ready and plan for an afternoon full of fun and bling all while learning about the importance of breast health, family history, and achieving health equity.

In addition to the event, guests will have the chance to win a diamond necklace raffle, provided by Diamonds Direct (Tysons Corner location) to help raise funds to support underserved communities and women battling breast cancer.

Event Details:

Tigerlily Foundation – Pajama Glam

Saturday, March 26, 2023, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET

Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner

7901 Tysons One Place
Tysons Corner, VA 22102

www.tigerlilyfoundation.org/

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pajama-glam-2023-tickets-518292495807