Events/Things To Do

On Thursday, March 23 at 7:30 pm the Folger Shakespeare Library’s

O.B. Hardison Poetry Series presents the Eudora Welty Lecture with Pulitzer Prize-winning author

Elizabeth Strout (Olive Kitteridge, My Name is Lucy Barton) at the National Press Club. Sponsored

by the Eudora Welty Foundation, this annual lecture celebrates creative origins in the spirit of Welty’s

treasured One Writer’s Beginnings.

Ann Patchett (Bel Canto and The Dutch House), who presented the Lecture from Welty’s living room in

Jackson, Mississippi in 2022, will introduce Strout. The Lecture will be followed by a book signing with

Elizabeth Strout.

Tickets are $25 ($20 for Folger Members and subscribers) and can be purchased at www.folger.edu/poetry

or by contacting the Folger Box Office at (202) 544-7077.

Previous Welty Lectures were delivered by Salman Rushdie in 2016, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in

2017, Richard Ford in 2018, Jesmyn Ward in 2019, and Ann Patchett in 2022.

Elizabeth Strout is widely known for her works in literary fiction and her descriptive characterization.

She was born and raised in Portland, Maine, and her experiences in her youth served as inspiration for

her novels—the fictional "Shirley Falls, Maine" is the setting of four of her seven novels. Strout's novels

include Amy and Isabelle, Abide with Me, Olive Kitteridge for which she won the Pulitzer Prize for

Fiction, The Burgess Boys, My Name Is Lucy Barton, Anything is Possible, Olive, Again, and Oh,

William!. Her latest book Lucy by the Sea was published in 2022.

Ann Patchett is the author of seven novels: The Patron Saint of Liars, Taft, The Magician’s

Assistant, Bel Canto, Run, State of Wonder, and Commonwealth. She has written three books of

nonfiction—Truth & Beauty, about her friendship with the writer Lucy Grealy; What Now?, an expansion

of her graduation address at Sarah Lawrence College; and This is the Story of a Happy Marriage, a

collection of essays examining the theme of commitment. In 2019, she published her first children’s

book, Lambslide.

The Washington Nationals and Washington Nationals Philanthropies invite fans to attend the red carpet arrivals prior to the 2023 Nationals Homecoming Gala, held Tuesday, March 28, at The Anthem located at The Wharf (901 Wharf St. SW). Arrivals are scheduled from approximately 5:00-7:00 p.m. outside The Brighton, host of the official Red Carpet Watch Party.

The Nationals Homecoming Gala is the team’s premier off-the-field event and annual fundraiser for Nationals Philanthropies. This year, the event will honor Ryan Zimmerman with the Power of Baseball Award.

On Tuesday, Nationals players, coaches and front office executives will come together with partners and supporters to celebrate the excitement of a new baseball season. While tickets to the event are sold out, fans can still join in the fun by attending the red carpet celebration at The Wharf, which will include: 

·         Music, Nationals mascots and personalities

·         Exclusive Nationals giveaways, including memorabilia and Opening Day tickets 

·         And the opportunity to meet Washington Nationals players, coaches and special guests as they walk the red carpet.

Celebrate the Washington Nationals home opener with Atlas Brew Works Half Street Brewery & Tap Room, located steps from National Park’s Center Field gate. The solar-powered brewery will open its doors at 9am on Thursday, March 30, to allow for guests to start the celebrations early.

Atlas Brew Works will release a new limited beer for the occasion, Opening Day Lager. With a 4.6% ABV, Opening Day Lager is a pilsner brewed with Huell Melon hops and has notes of honeydew, lime, and orange peel, perfect for an early start to summer.

Make sure to check out the merch section ahead of the game as the brewery has special swag to commemorate opening day. Don’t have tickets but want to partake in the fun? Atlas Half Street will show the Nationals vs Braves 1:05 pm game on its many televisions with sound.

WHERE:

Atlas Half Street Brewery & Tap Room

1201 Half Street SE, #120

Washington, DC 20003

WHEN:

Thursday, March 30

9am to close

Pink isn’t just a color, it’s a vibe. Celebrate the arrival of cherry blossom season at Long Bridge Park in National Landing for a two-part, pink-themed Saturday festival with morning activities for families and evening events for adults. Pump up the pink at Pink in the Park, presented by Amazon and produced by the National Landing Business Improvement District.

• Pink in the Pool: Jump into a splash of pink at the Long Bridge Park Aquatics and Fitness Center. From 9 a.m. to noon, families are invited to take a free swim and toss around pink beach balls. After a dip in the pool, continue the family fun with kite and origami making, face painting, giveaways, sweet treats from Kona Ice, and tons of pink.

• Pink in the Park: The fun continues from 3 to 7 p.m. in the lot at Long Bridge Park for unforgettable music and entertainment with special guest and celebrity host Orlando Jones, and performances by DJ Chan Don, Crush Funk Brass, Umami House, Footwerk, Reesa Renee, and headliner Black Alley. Enjoy a beer and wine garden, food trucks, immersive art installations, Instagrammable moments, and much more. Performance lineup includes: 

  • 3:00 p.m.: DJ Chan Don

  • 3:30 p.m.: Crush Funk Brass

  • 4:00 p.m.: Umami House

  • 4:30 p.m. Footwerk

  • 5:00 p.m.: Reesa Renee

  • 5:45 p.m.: Black Alley 

Adult beverages, including beer and wine, will be provided by Crystal City Wine Shop, DC Brau, Drunk Fruit, Lost Boy Cider and more. Guests can also sample flavors of National Landing restaurants and food trucks including: 

• Peruvian Brothers 

• Pho Wheels 

• The Grease Wagon 

• Health Pub

• Beauty Champagne Bar

• Kona Ice

• King of Pops

• Nasim & Co

“With Pink in the Park, we are excited to bring all the pink energy and celebratory spirit of the National Cherry Blossom Festival across the river to National Landing in Arlington, Virginia,” said Tracy Sayegh Gabriel, President and Executive Director of the National Landing BID. “We’re proud to be highlighting the festival in our neighborhood’s signature park in collaboration with our sponsors and vibrant National Landing businesses and look forward to being part of our region’s storied cherry blossom celebration.”

“Amazon is thrilled to partner with the National Landing BID and the National Cherry Blossom Festival to bring the joy of the cherry blossoms to National Landing,” said Patrick Phillippi, Senior Manager of Community Engagement for Amazon. “Pink in the Park will be one of the largest National Cherry Blossom Festival events ever in Virginia and we are excited to celebrate spring with our community.”

WHEN: Saturday, April 1

• Pink in the Pool from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

• Pink in the Park from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Long Bridge Park Aquatics and Fitness Center; 333 Long Bridge Drive, Arlington, Virginia

HOW: FREE festival tickets and pool passes are available at NationalLanding.org/Pink. Tickets are required.

Eastern Market’s North Hall is located at 225 7^th Street SE, Washington, DC, 20003.  North Hall is accessed from the south via the indoor food stalls or from the north at North Carolina Avenue SE.  Eastern Market is located a block from Metro.

Co-located, Offsite Art Book Fair Programming
Saturday, April 1 Art Book Fair Programs at CHAW
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop | 545 7th Street SE, Washington DC, 20003 (Three blocks south from Eastern Market)

• 2023 Capital Art Book Fair Exhibitor Panel Discussion | Presented by Paper Cuts | Saturday, April 1 from 11am-12pm
• Capitol Hill Art League Exhibition Open Juried Exhibition Reception| Saturday, April 1 from 5:30-7pm

Sunday, April 2 Art Book Fair Programs at Hill Center (Three blocks east from Eastern Market)
921 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC, 20003

• Free Workshop | Children’s Painting with Buck Herring|Sunday, April 2 from 3-5pm
• Exhibition: Hill Center DC Regional Exhibition Juried by Nehemiah Dixon III | See works from over 105 Artists from DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia | Sunday, April 2 from 10am-5pm

Eastern Market’s North Hall is located at 225 7^th Street SE, Washington, DC, 20003.  North Hall is accessed from the south via the indoor food stalls or from the north at North Carolina Avenue SE.  Eastern Market is located a block from Metro.

Co-located, Offsite Art Book Fair Programming

Sunday, April 2 Art Book Fair Programs at Hill Center (Three blocks east from Eastern Market)
921 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC, 20003

• Free Workshop | Children’s Painting with Buck Herring|Sunday, April 2 from 3-5pm
• Exhibition: Hill Center DC Regional Exhibition Juried by Nehemiah Dixon III | See works from over 105 Artists from DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia | Sunday, April 2 from 10am-5pm

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Oxon Run Pinknic & Kite Fly

Oxon Run Park

12:00 – 3:00 p.m.

https://nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/event/oxon-run-pinknic-kite-fly/

The annual Oxon Run Pinknic & Kite Fly celebrates the Ward 8 community with free food, kite kits, art, music, and fun kid activities as the Festival continues beyond the Tidal Basin.

Visual and Interview Opportunities:

• Families participating in Oxon Run Pinknic and kite flying activities.
• Performances by Elyscia and The JoGo Project.

Featured parks in all eight wards, Maryland, and Virginia, will also offer free activities and kites for local residents. For a full list of regional parks participating, click here.

Alexandria’s hometown destination race returns this Spring when the 39th PNC Parkway Classic hits the pavement on Sunday, April 23, 2023. As one of the most popular spring events in the DC metro area, the race, organized by local running retailer Pacers Running attracts thousands of runners and spectators who want to experience the George Washington Memorial Parkway from a unique perspective. The race features both a 5K, and a 10-mile race offering starting at 8:00 am as well as a 600-meter Kids Dash race for the little runners kicking off at 10:30am. Post-race, participants over 21+ can receive a complimentary beverage and join local brewery and sponsor, Port City Brewery at an after party at Oronoco Bay Park to celebrate the finish line.

The race takes place during the presidentially proclaimed National Park Week every April which celebrates America’s treasures. National Park Week is a time to explore amazing places, discover stories of history and culture, help out, and find your park.

Since 1984, the George Washington Parkway Classic has been one of the most scenic and spacious distance races on the East Coast. The Classic 5k Course will start and finish at Oronoco Bay Park. The 10-mile race will start at Mt. Vernon Estate with the course taking runners up the beautiful George Washington Memorial Parkway and ending at Oronoco Bay Park. It is the only race that starts at the historic Mt. Vernon Estate and takes 10 miler runners up a road that is ranked as one of the top scenic roads in the country that resides on National Park Service property. Every runner for the 5K and 10 Miler will receive a medal and a Commemorative technical fabric running shirt.

Registration for each race is required ($45 for 5K and $85 for the 10-Mi). For $50, a virtual option is provided. In addition to the race event, kids can join the fun in a kid-friendly race for $20 kicking off at Waterfront Park in Old Town (at King & Union Street) that is designed for children under 12 years old. Special family friendly activities and entertainment will be included in the kids’ package, along with each Dash participant receiving a special race bib and medal. Post-race, participants over 21+ can receive a complimentary beverage and join local brewery and sponsor, Port City Brewery at an after party in the Brewing Beer Garden to celebrate the finish line.

As the PNC Parkway Classic continues to celebrate the joy of road racing, the race also gives back to the local community. Since the race’s inception, the money raised from the event has helped local and regional charities and organizations, such as the Boys + Girls Clubs of Alexandria, the National Park Service, Rebuilding Together DC-Alexandria, and Together We Bake in continuing each charities mission.

For more information, visit the following website details about registration, race route, and event day activities: www.parkwayclassic.com.

EVENT DETAILS

What:  39th Annual PNC Parkway Classic
Presented by:  PNC Bank N.A.
Produced by: Pacers Running (runpacers.com)
When: Sunday, April 23, 2023
Where: Mount Vernon Estate through Old Town Alexandria
Time:  8AM Race Start, 10:30 AM – Kid Dash
Cost: $20-Kid’s Dash, $45-5K, & $85-10Miler

Website/Event Registration: www.parkwayclassic.com

A long-running event in Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia, underground bicycle racing that began as a series and evolved into the Garage Racing National Championships. Join the National Landing Business Improvement District (BID), the biking community and more than 100 participating cyclists at the sixth annual Garage Racing National Championships, the region’s ONLY underground bike race series that challenges amateur and elite cyclists alike to compete to be the National Champion.

• On Friday, April 28, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM, invite friends and family to watch a series of 30-minute relay, fixed gear, and anything goes races from a lounge area with great views, a spirited happy hour, and a celebration of bicycling to kick off National Bike Month.

• On Saturday, April 29, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, continue the fun all day long by watching a series of bike races ranging from 25 to 40 minutes for junior cyclists, men, women, and non-binary individuals.

The Garage Racing National Championships is part of a series of events and programming hosted by the National Landing BID to recognize National Bike Month. Check out exciting and diverse community events hosted throughout the year in National Landing and stay tuned for more details by visiting nationallanding.org/events.

WHEN: Friday, April 28, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM, and Saturday, April 29, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

WHERE: 2011 Crystal Drive Parking Lot – Floors 2 and 3 lower levels of the parking garage

HOW: Registration for this event is available here.

As part of its ongoing community programming, Maryland Lyric Opera (MDLO) will offer a free performance Friday, May 5 at the Washington National Cathedral as part of the All Hallows Guild Flower Mart to benefit the gardens and grounds of the Cathedral. Soprano Melissa Mino, mezzo-soprano Amanda Fink, tenor Kevin KJ Webb and baritone Javier Arrey and pianist Husan Park will perform selections from La Bohème, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Lakmé, La Traviata, and Rigoletto.

The Washington National Cathedral is located at 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW and is accessible by any No. 30 Metrobus; for those traveling by car, limited parking ($10 fee) will be available at the Cathedral’s underground parking garage.