WHAT: Embassy chefs from around the world will gather for the 2017 Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge presented by TCMA (A Drew Company), to showcase the unique flavors of their countries in a friendly, delicious culinary competition. With more than 30 embassies participating, this year’s event offers attendees a global culinary experience unmatched in Washington DC.

Attendees will have the opportunity to sample a sip and bite from all participating embassy chefs, and cast their votes for the People’s Choice award. The winner will be announced alongside the Judges’ Choice – selected by a group of elite members of the worlds of diplomacy, culture and the culinary arts, who will critique each dish and beverage before placing their votes.

The Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge not only encourages culinary diplomacy, but also celebrates the arts of many cultures and highlights some of the area’s amazing musicians, dancers and singers. In years’ past, performances have included Bolivian folk dancers, Russian violinists, Chinese dancers and Brazilian samba artists. This year’s event will feature a non-stop range of performances to accompany the delicious food and drink that will be served.

Embassy of Barbados, swept the competition in 2015 winning over the people and the judges, and was the Judges’ Choice winner last year, alongside Peoples’ Choice winner Embassy of the Philippines. Both countries will return to the competition this year to defend their titles and win another coveted golden pineapple.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20460

WHO: Chefs from every corner of the globe will be competing, including:

PRICE:   General Admission – $65.00
              Includes all the global sips and bites and live entertainment

VIP – $95.00
Includes one-hour early entry to meet chefs, taste their offerings, and network with embassy community elite

For tickets and more information, please visit http://www.eventsdcembassychefchallenge.com/home_2017#tickets

KENNEDY CENTER OPEN HOUSE: CELEBRATING JFK AT 100
Saturday, May 27, 2017, 12 p.m.–10 p.m.

With world premiere commission and activities for all

Campus-wide–FREE

In celebration of John F. Kennedy’s 100th birthday, the Kennedy Center will host an Open House. This free event welcomes the public to explore and experience the performing arts through the halls, theaters, and plazas of the Kennedy Center through more than 30 free performances, activities and events for all ages and tastes. The arts program will feature artists from across the U.S., the Washington, D.C. region, and abroad.

Highlights include:

• Bandaloop, the pioneers of vertical dance, will present multiple performances suspended from the roof of the Kennedy Center throughout the day.
• Company E, a D.C-based contemporary dance company, will perform a Kennedy Center JFK Centennial-commissioned work and world premiere, (In) Security or Jack and Nikki Do the Cold War Tango, in the Grand Foyer using both Millennium Stages simultaneously to explore the John F Kennedy/ Nikita Khrushchev relationship.
• Flexn will present five different performances throughout the day in the Eisenhower Theater of flex dance which is an electrifying form of street dance evolved from Jamaican bruk-up and reggae. Each performance will be in a different format (solo, two-on-two battles, full company), and each focusing on one of the five JFK Centennial ideals as well as opening with a discussion of the works by Peter Sellars and Reggie Gray.
• Finding a Line: Skateboarding, Music, and Media will return with a skate park and music stage open and active throughout the day on the plaza.
• Citizen Artist Fellow Paige Hernandez and Baye Harrell will perform “All the Way Live!” in the Family Theater.
• The National Memorial Day Choral Festival in the Concert Hall will present patriotic repertoire which will include works that celebrate President Kennedy such as the “Star Spangled Banner,” “America the Beautiful,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “Inauguration,” and “To the Moon.”
• Local Washington Ballet will participate in Open House activities by presenting their independent commission Frontier.

All of the programming in the three largest theaters and the Grand Foyer will explore and celebrate the legacy of President Kennedy.

(WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera (WNO) today announces an exciting

conclusion to its 2016–2017 season: the 2017 WNO Opera Gala, celebrating WNO

Board Chairman Jacqueline Badger Mars, who will step down as Chairman this

summer. The Gala, on Saturday, June 3, 2017, will include a concert in the Kennedy

Center Opera House featuring the WNO Orchestra and an array of musical stars who

will pay special tribute to Jacqueline Mars’s visionary leadership of WNO: legendary

soprano Renée Fleming, superstar mezzo-soprano and D.C. native Denyce Graves,

and Hamilton Tony Award® winner Leslie Odom Jr. The Gala is presented as part of

JFKC, the Kennedy Center’s season-long celebration of John F. Kennedy’s centennial,

and explores the themes of service and gratitude, which are often associated with

President Kennedy.

The Co-Chairmen of the WNO Opera Gala are WNO Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B.

Casey and Mrs. John F. Mars. The Opera Gala pays tribute to Jacqueline Badger Mars

for her six seasons of leadership of the WNO Board of Trustees. Highlights of her

tenure include the founding of the American Opera Initiative, which for the last five

seasons has helped identify the brightest rising American composers and librettists and

has added their work to the repertory; the programming of an annual opera for families

at the holiday season, including Hansel and Gretel, The Little Prince, and the world

premiere commission of The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me; and the presentation of WNO’s

first-ever complete Ring cycles in 2016, a feat that put WNO into a very elite group of

American opera companies.

“I have been honored to work with Jacquie Mars since 2008, and her imaginative

leadership and guidance have brought WNO unparalleled growth and success while

also making the opera more accessible to a broader audience,” said WNO executive

director Michael L. Mael. “Our next Chairman will certainly have big shoes to fill, but I

am happy that Jacquie will continue to steer this company as a WNO trustee.”

Tickets for the Gala concert start at $49 and are on sale now to Kennedy Center

members. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 10 a.m.

For those who wish to purchase special Gala packages, the evening will begin with a

VIP cocktail reception on the Kennedy Center’s River Terrace at 5:30 p.m., followed by

the Gala concert at 6:30 p.m. After the performance, Gala package holders will depart

the Kennedy Center for elegant black-tie dinners hosted by many ambassadors at their

embassies or residences throughout the city, a longtime tradition of the Opera’s season-
ending social gathering.

The Opera Gala is WNO’s largest fundraiser and one of Washington’s most anticipated

events of the year. Proceeds from the Opera Gala will play a crucial role in advancing

the Opera’s award-wining artistic, educational, and outreach programs.

While the 2016–2017 season is coming to an end, the new season promises

excitement. WNO’s 2017–2018 season includes new productions of Verdi’s epic drama

Aida, the company premiere of Handel’s magical baroque opera Alcina, and Verdi’s

towering masterpiece Don Carlo, plus Rossini’s delightful comedy The Barber of Seville

and Bernstein’s biting satire Candide. The season also features a festival weekend of

four world premieres as part of the American Opera Initiative, the return of the holiday

family opera The Little Prince, two special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist performances,

and more. Subscription packages are available now.

TICKET INFORMATION:

Tickets for the Gala concert start at $49 and are available online, in person at the

Kennedy Center Box Office, and by calling (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324. For all

other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at

(202) 416-8540.

Christian Heurich’s granddaughter, Jan Evans, will host a special History & Hops at the Heurich

House Museum on July 20 th from 6:30-8:30pm. Mrs. Evans was very close to her grandparents,

Christian and Amelia Heurich, and lived with them for a time in their Dupont Circle mansion. She

will discuss her time in Washington, D.C. as well as her family’s history and legacy. Guests will

be able to speak directly with Mrs. Evans as well as enjoy beer, snacks, and tours of the historic

Heurich House Museum.

Born in Hawaii, Mrs. Evans has lived in Japan, Cuba, Florida, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. A

local business-woman, she is a current board member of the Association of Oldest Inhabitants

of Washington, D.C. and Director of the Friends of the National World War II Memorial. Mrs.

Evans was also instrumental in establishing her grandparents’ home as a museum. Together

with her cousin Gary Heurich, she created the Heurich House Foundation and helped the

organization purchase the Heurich mansion in 2003, from the Historical Society of Washington,

D.C. The Heurich House museum would not exist today, in its intact form, without her

intervention.

Guests at History & Hops will have the chance to meet and speak with Mrs. Evans as she

recounts her time spent in Washington, D.C. with her grandparents between 1930 and 1956.

The museum will also feature a variety of drinks to celebrate Mrs. Evans’ time spent traveling

the world.

Tickets for History & Hops hosted by Jan Evans are $30 per person and include tastings,

snacks, and tours of the Heurich House Museum. For more information and to purchase tickets,

please visit http://bit.ly/HHJuly2017. Guests must be 21 or older.

All proceeds benefit the preservation and growth of the Heurich House Museum.

What:   Kimberly Snyder & Well + Good Present DC Beauty Immersion Speaking Tour + Radical Beauty book signing

Where: Westin Washington D.C. City Center

1400 M St NW

Washington, DC 20005

When: Saturday, July 22^nd from 12pm-2pm

Who:    Kimberly Snyder, New York Times best-selling author and nutritionist

ABOUT: New York Times best-selling author and nutritionist Kimberly Snyder will kick off her Beauty Immersion Speaking Tour with an event in DC sponsored by Well + Good.  The event will feature a discussion from Snyder followed by a Radical Beauty book signing and meet and greet, which will take place at the Westin Washington D.C. City Center on Saturday, July 22nd from 7:00pm-9:00pm EST. This event is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased here: http://kimberlysnyder.com/events/

–“Have You Seen My Tail?” the new children’s book by author Kaitlin Puccio, is
now available for sale. The story will enthrall children as they join Corky the Corgi on a hunt for his missing
tail. At the heart of the tale is a timeless fable about accepting differences and being
comfortable in your own skin (…or fur).
The book’s message about compassion, acceptance, and companionship will appeal to
families looking for engaging tools to raise empathetic and confident children.
A portion of the proceeds from each “Have You Seen My Tail?” purchase will go to Paws of War, an
organization that matches rescue dogs with military veterans suffering from the emotional effects of war.
Kaitlin’s first book, “The Adventures of Celia Kaye,” has been a useful tool for children’s organizations like The
Girl Scouts of Central Texas, with whom Kaitlin collaborated to create a curriculum to educate children about
celiac disease and food allergies, while also teaching the importance of accepting differences.
“Have You Seen My Tail?” was designed by Grammy-nominated record cover designer and artist Sarah
Larnach, who also illustrated “The Adventures of Celia Kaye.”

WASHINGTON, DC AREA BOOK EVENTS
Kaitlin will appear to read and sign “Have You Seen My Tail?” at DC area Pawties this summer. Join her at
Soapstone Market on August 5 from 10 to 11 AM.
THE SEARCH FOR THE REAL LIFE CORKY
Corky is so excited that he discovered the secret of his missing tail, and he wants to tell corgis everywhere!
Send in photos or videos of your corgi being paw-fect and Corky will post them on his Instagram.
The winner will get a mountain of toys, treats, and more pooch-related products for your Instafamous corgi.
Plus, your pup will be featured on Corky’s book page as Corky’s new friend. Give us a woof
at @CorkyWithNoTail and use #IRLCorky to submit. Visit @CorkyWithNoTail on Instagram for details.

On September 1st, the award-winning Hay-Adams, located steps from the White House at 800 16th Street, NW, 20006, will host its next Author Series luncheon honoring David McCullough to discuss his latest work, The American Spirit, Who We Are and What We Stand For. The Hay-Adams’ Author Series, where literary crowds honor literary masters, is an on-going event, which welcomes outstanding writers in a historic setting, directly overlooking the White House at the Top of the Hay. One will enjoy exceptional food, drink and lively conversation.  Tickets are priced at $90 per person (all inclusive), which includes a three-course, prix fixe menu with wine pairings.  The menu, themed around the book, will be created by Vice President & General Manager Hans Bruland and Executive Chef Nicolas Legret.

Additionally, Kramerbooks (http://kramers.com) will be on hand so guests will have the opportunity to purchase a copy of The American Spirit, Who We Are and What We Stand For, which McCullough can sign and personalize after the luncheon.  Tickets go on saleAugust 11, 2017 and will be available online at http://hayadams.com/author-series/washington-dc-author-events or by calling (202) 638-6600.

WHO:             David McCullough has been acclaimed as a “master of the art of narrative history.” He is a winner of two Pulitzer Prizes, two National Book Awards, and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. Over the course of his distinguished career, he has spoken before Congress, The White House, colleges and universities, historical societies and other esteemed institutions.

In his latest book, The American Spirit, Who We Are and What We Stand For, McCullough has collected some of his most notable speeches in a brief volume designed to identify important principles and characteristics that are particularly American. It is a timely tome, reminding us of core American values to which we all subscribe, regardless of which region we live in, which political party we identify with, or our ethnic background. This is a book about America for all Americans, that reminds us who we are and helps guide us as we find our way forward.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, McCullough was educated there and at Yale, where he received a degree in English literature. He and his wife, Rosalee Barnes McCullough, reside in Boston, Massachusetts.

WHEN:          The luncheon will be held on Top of The Hay on Friday, September 1^st, 2017, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.).

WHERE:       The Hay-Adams is located at 800 16^th Street, NW, Washington DC, 20006, across Lafayette Square from the White House. The historic Hay-Adams offers guests Washington’s most prestigious address with views overlooking the White House, Lafayette Square and St. John’s Church, the “Church of the Presidents.”  The hotel is just minutes from the Smithsonian, the Museums, the Washington Monument, the National Mall, as well as convenient to Metro stations and the convention center.  For reservations or more information call (202) 638-6600 or visit their website at www.hayadams.com.

Capitol City Brewing Company in celebrating the 18^th annual Mid-Atlantic Oktoberfest at Arlington’s Shirlington Village. Oktoberfest is from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and located at the outdoor streetscape at 4001 Campbell Avenue.

In honor of this tasty holiday Santa Rosa chefs Spike Mendelsohn, Max Albano and John Renninger have each created a limited-edition taco.  On Wednesday, October 4^th diners can order up the Three Amigos Taco Series, which will consist of one of each chef’s specialty taco.

Fried Green Tomato Taco

Cornmeal Fried Green Tomato │ Grilled Corn │ Chipotle Aioli │ Pico │ Cotija

Blackened Shrimp Taco with Pineapple-Kiwi Salsa

Blackened Grilled Shrimp │ Yellow Rice │ Pineapple-Kiwi Salsa │Crema

Steak & Peppers Taco

Grilled Mojo Steak │ Peppers/ Onions │ Jalapeño │ Avocado Crema

The Three Amigos Taco Series will be available for one day only and will be served from open to close (11:00 am – 10:00 pm.)  While enjoying their tacos, guests can also try one of the Santa Rosa’s craft margaritas (on tap,) sip on a seasonal Agua Fresco or order up one of the restaurant’s numerous beers.

To add to the festivities, a Mariachi Band will be on hand from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm playing live music. 

Santa Rosa Taqueria is located at 312 Pennsylvania Ave, SE in Washington, DC.

 The Washington Women’s Leadership Initiative (WWLI.org) will host former FOX News anchor Gretchen Carlson at its October 16^th speaker event. Each attendee will receive a copy of Gretchen’s new book, “Be Fierce – Stop Harassment and take Your Power Back” (release date: October 17^th, 2017).

In 2016, Gretchen made a life changing decision to “walk off the set” and speak up about injustice in the workplace. The former Miss America, and mother of two, who became a star news anchor at FOX never imagined that she would become the face of the issue, but after she stood up, walked out, and spoke out, employees all over the world began to take the leap of truth and take back their lives, careers, and dignity, forever changing the way people fight harassment and anything else holding them back.

Gretchen will speak about her own experience and about injustice in the workplace at WWLI’s October event.

Registration is required for this event. Ticket pricing information is availablehere.

WHO                           Gretchen Carlson is one of the nation’s most successful and recognized news anchors and a tireless advocate for workplace equality and the empowerment of women. She most recently hosted “The Real Story” on Fox News for three years, and prior to that co-hosted the #1 rated cable morning news show, “Fox and Friends,” for more than seven years.

Carlson started her television career in Richmond, Virginia, as a political reporter, and later served as an anchor and reporter in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dallas. She moved to the national scene as the co-host of “The Saturday Early Show” on CBS in 2000 where she also served as a CBS News correspondent covering the G-8 Summit in Genoa, Italy, the Timothy McVeigh execution, 9-11 from the World Trade Center, the Bush-Gore election, and many other national and international stories. She reported and produced a 30-part series on domestic violence that won several national awards.

In 2015, Carlson’s first book, Getting Real, became a national best-seller.

WHEN                         Monday, October 16^th

                                    11:30am – 2:00pm

WHERE                      Sheraton Premier in Tysons Corner

8661 Leesburg Pike

Tysons, VA 22182