Events/Things To Do

National Philharmonic (NatPhil) presents its annual Messiah performances, conducted by Music Director Piotr Gajewski for the first time at Strathmore and Capital One Hall. The holiday program features four outstanding singers—soprano Aundi Marie Moore, mezzo soprano Lucia Bradford, tenor Norman Shankle, and baritone Jorell Williams—and the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, all of whom are returning to share the stage with the NatPhil Orchestra. Continuing a tradition established last year, a portion of the proceeds from the performances at Strathmore will be donated to the 2nd Century Project to aid in the restoration of the neighboring Scotland African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Zion Church.

NatPhil’s Messiah takes place on Saturday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 17 at 3:00 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore and on Wednesday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia. Tickets are currently on sale at nationalphilharmonic.org.

While Messiah has been a holiday tradition at NatPhil for many seasons, this year’s performances are being reimagined by Maestro Gajewski. The novel rendering envisioned by him will include simple staging in which the soloists move about freely in front of the orchestra and interact with the audience as they tell stories contained within the oratorio.

NatPhil’s Messiah performances will again feature educational and community engagement activities. The Scotland A.M.E. Zion Mass Choir and its director Michael Terry return to perform pre-concert sets on December 16 and 17. These sets are free to enjoy and will begin one hour prior to the Messiah performances in Strathmore’s lobby area. Also in the lobby, patrons will find a learning table with resources from the Library of Congress to continue discussions and reflection around Handel’s link to the slave economy.

In the spirit of the season, NatPhil is committed to using the success of this program to give back. As such, the Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church in Potomac, Maryland will receive a portion of the proceeds from the two performances at Strathmore. The historic church, which has been a center of community for Black congregants since 1924, was nearly destroyed by a flood in 2019 and victim of a burglary in 2022. Several partners in Montgomery County, including NatPhil, are supporting ongoing efforts to repair and safeguard the building.

Full Concert Details:

Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore

Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore

Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at Capital One Hall

Handel’s Messiah

Piotr Gajewski, conductor

            with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society

Aundi Marie Moore, soprano

Lucia Bradford, mezzo soprano

Norman Shankle, tenor

Jorell Williams, baritone

National Philharmonic presents a new and novel semi-staged dramatic rendering of Handel’s Messiah, reimagined by Maestro Piotr Gajewski to usher in the start of your holiday season. From the triumphant “Hallelujah” chorus to the hauntingly beautiful “He Shall Feed His Flock,” this timeless oratorio has captivated audiences for over 250 years.

This season, NatPhil reenvisions Handel’s masterpiece, drawing on the storytelling of all-star soloists soprano Aundi Marie Moore, mezzo soprano Lucia Bradford, tenor Norman Shankle, and baritone Jorell Williams, under the direction of Maestro Piotr Gajewski, who takes over conducting duties for this annual NatPhil presentation. The four outstanding soloists will move about freely in front of the orchestra and interact with the audience as they tell the story of the Messiah. 

NatPhil acknowledges the recent discovery of Handel’s involvement in the trans-Atlantic slave trade and is dedicated to continuing the conversation around the performance of his works. A portion of ticket sales revenue will be dedicated to benefiting African American charities in our community.

Program:

George Frideric Handel, Messiah, HWV 56 (with intermission)

Ticket Information

Tickets ($19–$109) are available online at nationalphilharmonic.org. Kids 17 and under can attend National Philharmonic performances for free through the All Kids. All Free. All the Time. initiative.

This holiday season, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Reston is throwing a house party: a gingerbread house party, that is! On Sunday, December 17th 2023, from 11:30am to 1:30pm, children of all ages are invited to participate in a one-of-a-kind workshop with Davio’s own pastry chef Emma Thomas!

Chef Thomas will lead the demonstration and workshop, teaching children how to decorate personalized gingerbread houses fit for the North Pole! The event is $55 per child (excluding tax and gratuity) and adult admission is free. Each participating child will receive one gingerbread house to decorate (with delectable decorations included), hot chocolate and lunch!

What to Expect:

Gingerbread houses ready for decorating

An array of candies, icing and edible decorations

A sprinkle of holiday spirit and lots of laughter

Highlights:

Personalized gingerbread houses to take home

Guided by our gingerbread expert Pastry Chef

Holiday music and festive atmosphere

Hot cocoa station for a sweet sip while you decorate

Kid’s Lunch Station Includes

Cheese & Tomato Pizza

Cheese, Tomato & Pepperoni Pizza

Crispy Chicken Sliders

Kobe Beef Sliders

Chicken Fingers

French Fries

WHERE: Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse | 1902 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA 20190

WHEN: The workshop will be held on Sunday, December 17th from 11:30am 1:30pm

COST:        $55 per child includes gingerbread house and lunch. Secure your spot early and join us for a day of delicious creativity and holiday magic!

Ring in 2024 at the seventh annual Noon Yards Eve! The Yards is bringing back a family-friendly bash to finish out the year.

Celebrate with complimentary activities for kids of all ages including trackless train rides through The Yards, an inflatable slide and bounce house, glitter tattoo artists, carnival games, music by DJ Alex Love, crafts, The Uncle Devin Show, a magician, and more! Families can also take pictures in the photo booth and participate in the 2024-themed giveaways.

The event will culminate with the highly-anticipated countdown and balloon drop celebration at noon, allowing kids of all ages to ring in the New Year! Noon Yards is free to attend, but registration in advance is required on Eventbrite.

WHEN/WHERE:

• Sunday, December 31 | 10am – 1pm

• The Yards Sundeck | 355 Water Street SE, Washington, DC 20003

Calico, in Blagden Alley, is ringing in 2024 with its casual 3^rd Annual Game Night NYE. Whether you’re “pre-gaming” your night with a group of friends and a round of adult juice boxes, or sticking around to see the ball drop over a midnight toast & plenty of communal board games, Calico’s the all-day spot on New Year’s Eve.

Calico is hosting a low-key NYE hangout from 1pm-12:30am, where guests can play board games, enjoy all-day drink specials & eat creative bar snacks. Calico’s taking $2 off draft cocktails & beer all day, plus discounting bubbly bottles.

The bar’s regular food and drink menu will also be available, featuring festive hot cocktails like boozy Hot Chocolate (vanilla vodka, housemade chocolate syrup, cinnamon whipped cream) and the molasses and lightning apple brandy Spiked Cider, plus shareable winter eats like Buffalo Chicken Tomato Pie, beef gravy and mozz-topped Disco Tots, Steak & Cheese, and Tachos.

The bar has also stocked up on fun games such as Monopoly, Clue, Scattergories, Cards Against Humanity, Scrabble, Uno, Jenga, Hungry Hippos, Chess, Checkers, Backgammon and more.

And at midnight, they’ll pour a complimentary sparkling toast.

Calico’s 3^rd Annual Game Night NYE is free to attend, and entry is first-come first-served.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces Grammy Award®–winning singer-songwriter Gregory Porter—who today announced the release of his first-ever holiday album, Christmas Wish—will play a special concert at the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2023, at 8 p.m.

The concert will feature Porter’s longtime pianist Chip Crawford on piano, Emmanuel Harrold on drums and percussion, Gregoire Maret on harmonica, Jahmal Nichols on bass, Ondre Pivec on Hammond organ, Tivon Pennicott on flute, soprano saxophone, and tenor saxphone.

Christmas Wish is a loving tribute to Porter’s favorite time of year—and to great songwriters, singers, and interpreters including Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Gaye, Dinah Washington, and Nat King Cole. In addition to this list of world class names, Porter himself has added to the Christmas songbook with three original tracks, soon to be favorites for the festive season, including the first single “Everything’s Not Lost” which is out now.

Backed by his long-time band and produced by repeat collaborator Troy Miller, the album features inspired interpretations of carols, standards, and soulful sixties deep-cuts including “Silent Night,” “Little Drummer Boy,” Marvin Gaye’s “Purple Snowflakes,” Stevie Wonder’s “Someday At Christmas,” and Frank Loesser’s “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?,” which features a special guest appearance by Grammy®–winning vocalist Samara Joy.

The theme of sharing and caring at Christmas, and the sense of renewal and revival that comes when the year draws to a close, is all here in Porter’s most personal contribution – his trio of new, self-penned songs, “Christmas Wish,” “Heart For Christmas,” and “Everything’s Not Lost,” an elegant piano ballad that is Porter’s persuasive plea to remember those less fortunate than ourselves. “I’m always thinking of balance” he explains. “That has been instilled in me and it keeps coming up in a lot of my music. At your highest, at your greatest, at your most pleasant time, don’t forget about other people who are suffering.”

The album, which also includes orchestral contributions from the Kingdom Orchestra, was recorded between Sear Sound Studio in New York City and London’s Crossways Studio and Abbey Road Studios.

New Year’s Eve Glow at Whitlow’s  

Guests will literally GLOW in the dark at Whitlow’s on New Year’s Eve. The three-level bar hosts its first New Year’s celebration at their new U Street location with the party going on at every level.

The all-inclusive ticketed event, from 9 pm until 2 am, at $85 each, will have lots of black lights and fluorescent colors that glow when the lights are down. A dinner buffet is included with an open bar serving draft beers, wines, rail drinks and champagne.  It’ll be a dance party with DJ Killabeats24  performing on the rooftop and live band Turtle Recall will be performing on the second floor.

New Year’s Eve Glow Party at Whitlow’s

December 31

9 pm – 2 am

$85 per person, includes buffet

901 U Street NW

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-years-eve-glow-party-at-whitlows-tickets-772345555347?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Krewe of Pyros presents the 8th Annual Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The 2024 entertainment line-up is FIYAH featuring Carl Thomas, DJ Mannie Fresh, Be’la Dona Band and DJ Polo 504.

The Events DC Super Lounge will feature four-time GRAMMY nominated recording artist Raheem DeVaughn.

This event supports the Krewe of Pyros Foundation’s Pipeline Scholarship Program.

Formal attire required for entry: Tuxedo and Floor Length Gowns

This is a 3-day event and your ticket purchase includes:

• The Captain’s Welcome Party – Friday, January 26th  at Throw Social
• The 8th Annual Mardi Gras Ball – Saturday, January 27th
• The President’s Thank You Party – Sunday, January 28th at Zebbie’s Garden

At the Ball you will enjoy an open bar, live entertainment, and a delicious three-course meal! 

NOTE: When purchasing your tickets, you will be required to select your choice of entrée. You will also have an opportunity to enter any food allergies. 

The Menu:

• Entrée Choice 1:  Roasted Chicken and Shrimp, with Tomato Etouffee, Dauphinoise Potatoes, Winter Squash, and Baby Carrots
  Entrée Choice 2:  Braised Beef Short Rib, with Dauphinoise Potatoes and Collard Greens
• Entrée Choice 3:  (Vegan) Chickpea Cake, with Warm Salad of Brussels, Broccoli, and Peas with Harissa and Mint Chutney

A stylish evening with runways and networking -benefitting a good cause
A night of Fashion and Fundraising with FGIDC – Hosted by Barnette Holston, The DCFashion Fool!

Join us on Thursday, February 1 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Chicken + Whiskey’s Navy Yard location for a viewing party to watch the 8th Annual Blue Jacket Fashion Show. Founded by fashion designer, Frederick Anderson and marketer, Laura Miller, the event unites the worlds of fashion, entertainment, sports, healthcare, and media to openly discuss prostate cancer, with an emphasis on racial disparities and underserved communities. 2024 models include Cuba Gooding Jr., Daymond John, Phillip Bloch and more!

With your complimentary beverage in hand, get ready to network with your DMV fashion peers, watch the fashion show broadcasted live from NYC and bid on amazing silent auction items.

Come dressed in your most stylish blue outfit – bonus if it’s a blue jacket – and help us raise awareness and funds to support ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer.

Tickets:

FGI Members: $27
Non-Members: $32
A portion of proceeds from the event will be donated to the ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer organization.

Tickets include: Viewing party and one drink ticket. Cash bar for additional refreshments.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art has announced its 2024 family festival commemorating Lunar New Year, a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. The event takes place Feb. 3, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

This year’s Lunar New Year festival will celebrate the year of the dragon. It will consist of performances, talks, tours, hands-on activities and more. The full schedule is available online. The museum also offers many resources to learn about Lunar New Year on its website such as virtual tours of related collections, lesson plans and webinars.

About Lunar New Year
Commonly known as the Spring Festival in China, Lunar New Year is a 15-day celebration marked by many traditions. The Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is the highlight that kicks off the holiday, a feast with a spread of symbolic dishes, such as a whole fish representing abundance, that bring good luck and fortune. The 15th and final day of the holiday is the Lantern Festival, during which people have tangyuan, or sweet glutinous rice balls, and children carry lanterns around the neighborhood at night to mark the end of the celebration.

In the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is the year of the dragon. Different regions across Asia celebrate Lunar New Year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac. Many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders do not observe the Chinese/lunar zodiac.