(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.
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 22nd 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-
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 1st, 2017, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.).
WHERE: The Hay-Adams is located at 800 16th 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.
The Washington Women’s Leadership Initiative (WWLI.org) will host former FOX News anchor Gretchen Carlson at its October 16th 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 17th, 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 16th
11:30am – 2:00pm
WHERE Sheraton Premier in Tysons Corner
WHAT: Colon Cancer Alliance 7th Annual Blue Hope Bash
The Blue Hope Bash is the premiere fundraising gala of the Colon Cancer Alliance. It brings together both individuals and corporations that are passionate about supporting our mission to end colon cancer within our lifetime. Since the event’s inception in 2010, it has raised more than $5 million.
The Bash aligns our community of passionate advocates for an inspirational evening to celebrate survivorship and remember loved ones. This year, the Colon Cancer Alliance has set a goal to raise a record-breaking $1 million to support our mission and strategic plan: to invest $10 million in research, save 100,000 lives through increased screening and double the number of constituents Colon Cancer Alliance serves.
WHEN: Thursday, October 19, 2017
5:30 p.m. – VIP Reception
6:30 p.m. – General Reception
8:00 p.m. – Dinner & Program
10:00 p.m. – Event Ends
WHERE: Andrew Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Ave, NW – Washington, D.C.
EVENT THEME: In This Together
BASH EMCEE: Craig Melvin, Co-Anchor of NBC’s Weekend ‘Today Show’, National Correspondent for ‘Today’, and Anchor on MSNBC. Craig recently shared on the Today Show his connection with the disease when his brother Lawrence, was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer at age 39. Craig’s brother Lawrence and his wife Angela will be in attendance. (Today Show Link)
EVENT CO – CHAIRS: Avi & Michelle Benaim. Michelle Benaim was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in 2015 at age 47. She and her husband Avi turned to the Colon Cancer Alliance for support, guidance and information as they navigated Michelle’s diagnosis and have grown to be passionate supporters of the organization’s mission. Michelle passed away on September 30 at the age of 49. Her husband Avi, her three children, and their family will be in attendance to celebrate her life, legacy and dedication to ending the disease by increasing awareness and funding colon cancer-specific research.
SPECIAL GUESTS & VIPS IN ATTENDANCE:
Carmen Marc Valvo, American Fashion Designer, Colon Cancer Alliance Vice Chair & Survivor
Lindsay Czarniak, ESPN SportsCenter Anchor (wife of Craig Melvin)
Lawrence & Angela Meadows (brother and sister-in-law of Craig Melvin)
Former Senator Henry Waxman and his wife Janet Waxman
Roma Torre, Anchor for NY1News
John Backus, Managing Partner at Proof.VC and Colon Cancer Alliance Board Chair
KEY EVENING ELEMENTS & ADDITIONAL INFO:
This evening of hope, inspiration and celebration will feature a welcome reception, notable VIP’s, dinner, live and silent auctions and other elements such as:
Porche Car Raffle – one lucky winner will win a custom 2018 Porche Boxster. Only 850 tickets were printed and the winner does not need to be present to win. Raffle tickets are $100 and purchased online here.
Bubbles, Bourbon, & Bling – The Colon Cancer Alliance’s signature Bubbles, Bourbon & Bling raffle is back with a twist! Guest can purchase a glass of champagne or bourbon for $100 and be entered in for the chance to win a gorgeous 2.63 carat sapphire ring or a men’s Rolex Submariner watch courtesy of Liljenquist & Beckstead.
Lyn Ferriero – Recipient of the Erica & Michael Paul Memorial Award (in recognition of her long-standing dedication and generous service to the Colon Cancer Alliance).
For additional event information, visit www.BlueHopeBash.org.
10TH ANNUAL
AFFAIRS OF STATE GALA & FUNDRAISER
Who: YPFP
What: 10th Annual Affairs of State Gala & Fundraiser
When: November 11, 2017, 8:00pm-11:00pm
Where: City Tavern Club, 3206 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
Why: Affairs of State is DC’s largest gathering of NextGen leaders across business, government, and civil society. A limited number of press passes will be given to members of the press attending and covering the gala.
Quote: “For 10 years Affairs of State has been a highlight on Washington’s
fall social calendar. But this year, Affairs of State will make an even bigger splash – on November 11, we’ll celebrate YPFP’s new impact mission and the emerging voices it amplifies. As the event will occur on Veterans Day, we’ll recognize leaders who have served our country.”
– Jarrel Price, President of YPFP
Tickets: Tickets on sale now through November 11th, available here.
WHAT: The Washington Business Hall of Fame recognizes the professional and philanthropic accomplishments of outstanding business leaders in our region who have made significant contributions to the quality
of life in Greater Washington. More than 100 remarkable laureates have been inducted into the Washington Business Hall of Fame since its founding in 1988 by Junior Achievement of Greater Washington,
The Greater Washington Board of Trade, and The Washingtonian. Honorees must be either in the capstone years of their career or retired from the company most closely associated with their business accomplishments.
WHEN: Wednesday, November 29
5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: National Building Museum
WHO: Ed Grenier, President and CEO, Junior Achievement of Greater Washington
Terri McClements, Managing Partner, PwC Mid-Atlantic, and Chair, 2017 Washington Business Hall of Fame
2017 Laureates:
Philip D. M. de Picciotto – Founder and President, Octagon, Inc.
Michael N. Harreld – Immediate Past President, PNC Bank, Greater Washington
Gracia C. Martore – President & CEO, TEGNA Inc.
Christopher J. Nassetta – President & CEO, Hilton
Presenting Sponsors:
Capital One
PwC
For profiles of this year’s laureates as well as ticket and sponsorship information, please visit www.washingtonbusinesshalloffame.org.
The Washington Business Hall of Fame recognizes the professional and philanthropic
accomplishments of outstanding business leaders in our region who have made significant
contributions to the quality of life in Greater Washington. The annual black-tie gala and awards
ceremony brings together 1,200 business and civic leaders and raises over $1 million annually
to support Junior Achievement of Greater Washington’s innovative financial literacy, work
readiness, and entrepreneurship programs for K-12 students.
More than 100 remarkable laureates have been inducted into the Washington Business Hall of
Fame since its founding in 1988 by Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, The Greater
Washington Board of Trade, and The Washingtonian. Honorees must be either in the
capstone years of their career or retired from the company most closely associated with their
business accomplishments.
For profiles of this year’s laureates as well as ticket and sponsorship information, please visit
www.washingtonbusinesshalloffame.org.
WHEN: Wednesday, November 29, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
WHERE: National Building Museum
WHO: Ed Grenier, President and CEO, Junior Achievement of Greater Washington
Terri McClements, Managing Partner, PwC Mid-Atlantic, and
Chair, 2017 Washington Business Hall of Fame
2017 Laureates:
Philip D. M. de Picciotto – Founder and President, Octagon, Inc.
Michael N. Harreld – Immediate Past President, PNC Bank, Greater Washington
Gracia C. Martore – President & CEO, TEGNA Inc.
Christopher J. Nassetta – President & CEO, Hilton
ArtJamz is hosting an arty New Year’s Eve party Dec 31st to Jan 01st from 10PM to 1AM. The 3HR ArtJamz Glitter Ball Extravaganza features jamming music, hors d’oeuvres, canvas and walls revelers can paint on, a midnight neon champagne toast and TONS OF GLITTER. Come midnight, the ArtJamz Dupont Studio will be transformed into a rocking neon-splashed art studio filled with partying Picassos, revelling Rothkos and crazy Kahlos. Not only can guests paint and glitter bomb their own canvas all night, but there will be a large group canvas where everyone can paint and write their resolutions. Packages range from $70 to $110
Register at
https://app.getoccasion.com/p/
Locations
ArtJamz Dupont Studio, 1728 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20009
Attire: tuxedo tshirt and formal sneakers.
