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.
Rumble will host a “Love Yourself Open House“ on Sunday, February 11 offering free classes, giveaways, samples from wellness lifestyle partners and a chance to meet the owners. Box and Flow, a new specialty class combining the classic 45 minute Rumble class with 30 minutes of yoga will be offered at 1pm. First-timers will enjoy their first class on Rumble and can continue their fitness journey with a 24% discount on their first month membership and special offers on class packs.
Established in 2017, Rumble delivers 45-minute, 10-round, full-body strength and conditioning workouts centered around specially designed water-filled, teardrop-style boxing bags. Originating in the heart of Chelsea, New York City, Rumble has expanded to numerous cities, including Los Angeles, Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington DC.
Find more information about Rumble Boxing DC here , Rumble Boxing Ashburn here, Rumble Boxing Falls Church here, Rumble Boxing Courthouse here and Rumble Boxing Philadelphia here.
The 8th Annual National Cannabis Festival returns to The Festival Grounds at RFK Campus on April 19 & 20 headlined by Wu-Tang Clan with Redman and Thundercat.
In addition to the concert, NCF ticket holders can explore sweet and savory eats, check out the epic Exhibitor Fair featuring more than 100 brands, enjoy demos, comedy, panel discussions, eating contests, and more in the Education Pavilions, visit sponsor activations and grab swag site-wide, all while checking out the talent rocking out the main stage on both days.
The 8th Annual National Cannabis Festival returns to The Festival Grounds at RFK Campus on April 19 & 20 headlined by Wu-Tang Clan with Redman and Thundercat.
In addition to the concert, NCF ticket holders can explore sweet and savory eats, check out the epic Exhibitor Fair featuring more than 100 brands, enjoy demos, comedy, panel discussions, eating contests, and more in the Education Pavilions, visit sponsor activations and grab swag site-wide, all while checking out the talent rocking out the main stage on both days.
White House Gardens Tour will take place Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th.
The tours are open and free to the public with daily timed tickets.
How to tour the gardens: The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets each day (May 11th – 12th) beginning at 8:30 AM ET, while supplies last. Tickets will be distributed outside the White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Space is very limited for this highly anticipated event, so please plan accordingly.
You must have a ticket in order to join the tour. White House Spring Gardens Tour Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM ET
About the White House Rose Garden: First imagined in 1902, the White House Rose Garden is one of the most recognizable landscapes in the world. Throughout history, the garden has served as a prominent place for celebrating and marking important American milestones. The White House Gardens Tour is highly anticipated by visitors and Washingtonians alike.
White House Gardens Tour will take place Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th.
The tours are open and free to the public with daily timed tickets.
How to tour the gardens: The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets each day (May 11th – 12th) beginning at 8:30 AM ET, while supplies last. Tickets will be distributed outside the White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Space is very limited for this highly anticipated event, so please plan accordingly.
You must have a ticket in order to join the tour. White House Spring Gardens Tour Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM ET
About the White House Rose Garden: First imagined in 1902, the White House Rose Garden is one of the most recognizable landscapes in the world. Throughout history, the garden has served as a prominent place for celebrating and marking important American milestones. The White House Gardens Tour is highly anticipated by visitors and Washingtonians alike.
Joseph de Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges — Sonata for Two Violins No. 1 in B flat Major
Felix Mendelssohn — Violin Concerto in E Minor Op.64
Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” Op.73
The Artists
Violinist Leonid Sushansky, celebrated for his “gorgeous tone” and “passionate intensity” by The Washington Post and The New York Times, made his Carnegie Hall recital debut in 2005 and has performed globally with orchestras, and as a recitalist, and chamber musician. He has garnered acclaim for performances with prestigious orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic and the Berlin Chamber Orchestra.
Carlos César Rodríguez, hailed for his brilliance and versatility, is renowned as a virtuoso pianist excelling in Hispanic and Spanish repertoire as well as Mozart and romantic works. Rodríguez continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his exceptional performances and leadership in music education.
Najin Kim, Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Washington National Opera Orchestra/ Kennedy Center Opera House, previously served as Associate Concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. Kim’s distinguished career includes performances at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.
Hanbing Jia, Assistant Concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and section first violinist in both the National Philharmonic and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, has performed extensively across the US, Europe, and China. Jia holds a Master of Music degree and Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University.
Uri Wassertzug, a versatile violist, has performed globally with chamber music ensembles and as a guest artist, notably in New Zealand and Alaska. A member of the Washington National Opera/Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, he frequently serves as Guest Principal Violist with the National Philharmonic.
Steven Honigberg is a member of the National Symphony Orchestra. He has showcased his talent in recitals in Washington DC, New York, and across the US. He has appeared as a soloist with esteemed orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra.
The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, known as one of the most prestigious and premiere car events on the East Coast, returns to Alexandria on Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Presenting sponsor Burke & Herbert Bank, returns for the fifth year in a row to support the signature event that stretches across lower King Street and the surrounding side streets near Old Town’s waterfront, to showcase rare and exotic cars.
The Festival has garnered tens of thousands of spectators to the lower King Street area, doubling foot traffic to local businesses, generating widespread media coverage, and raising money for Alexandria-based nonprofits. The event is a high-sensory spectacle for participants, spectators and car enthusiasts, allowing them to experience the “Speed & Style” variety of exotic supercars and vintage motorcycles rarely seen sitting still for up-close viewing.
Center-stage at noon, a unique Fashion Demonstration will be hosted by Maria Elizabeth of Alexandria-based Salon DeZEN. Maria will discuss the elegance and importance of natural fashion and its profound impact when paired with beautiful automobiles. An award presentation highlighting cars judged to be the finest in 11 categories, will immediately follow the Fashion Demonstration.
“We’re thrilled to be the title sponsor of the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style for the fifth straight year,” said David P. Boyle, chair, Burke & Herbert Financial Services Corp. “As Alexandria’s hometown bank, being a part of bringing a festival of this magnitude to the heart of our city and right outside the doors of our historic Headquarters means a lot to us. We couldn’t be happier that Alive! and Community Lodgings – two valued local organizations – will benefit from the proceeds.”
New for this year, the event will include pre-war exotic cars, a myriad of different sponsors showcasing their goods under canopies strategically dispersed throughout the Festival area, and live rock and jazz music provided by two well-known local bands.
EVENT DETAILS
What: 5th Annual Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, Presented by Burke & Herbert Bank
When: Sunday, May 19, 2024
Where: Lower Blocks of King Street around Market Square area (200-500 blocks of King Street, and the 100 blocks of North and South Fairfax St.; North and South Royal St.; and North and South Pitt St.)
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Website: https://www.
Cost: Free – open to all!
Weather Plan: Rain or shine
The 40th Helen Hayes Awards will take place on Monday, May 20, 2024 at The Anthem, on the District Wharf, with a celebratory party to follow. Esteemed Washington theatre artists Felicia Curry, Rayanne Gonzales, Maria Rizzo, and Tom Story will host an evening showcasing the vibrant and diverse community of professional theatre artists in the Washington region. They will be joined by an ensemble of DC-based performers, including Quadry Brown, Carolyn Burke, Victoria Gomez, Sarah Anne Sillers, and Wood Van Meter.
Tickets for the event are $75 for general admission seats and $350 for a seated dinner. Information on all tickets and sponsorships is available here.
“The contributions of DC-area theatre makers extend far beyond the stage. The Helen Hayes Awards recognize the impact theatre has on our region, country, and globe. Shared experience, understanding, empathy, and insight are some of the ways that theatre changes us and makes us better citizens,” said Amy Austin, Theatre Washington President and CEO. “This is a night to celebrate the expansive creative local industry professionals who create and produce plays and musicals on stages seven days a week, 365 days a year.”
The event will recognize work from 151 eligible productions presented in the 2023 calendar year, with nominations made in 41 categories. Productions under consideration in 2023 included 44 musicals, 107 plays, and 36 world premieres.
The 2024 Helen Hayes Tribute will honor Peter Marks, former Theater Critic at the Washington Post. Marks stepped down in late 2023 after serving in this role for 21 years. This award recognizes Marks’ decades of knowledgeable and thoughtful writing about the DC-area, national, and international theatre landscape. He offered nuanced theatre criticism and reporting and he contributed immensely to the recognition of the artistic vibrancy of our region.
Named for actor Helen Hayes – a Washington native and legendary First Lady of the American Theatre – the Helen Hayes Awards has honored excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington region, now celebrating forty years. Nominations are grouped in “Helen” or “Hayes” cohorts, depending on the number of Equity members involved in the production.
