Events/Things To Do

La Cosecha, EDENS’ upcoming contemporary Latin market (1270 4th Street NE) in the Union Market District, will celebrate its opening preview celebration with a festive block party and special concert, presented by title partner Events DC and headlined by Grammy-winning Latin fusion band Ozomatli on Saturday, September 7 from 11am-7pm.

Local pop singer-dancer Jason Cerda will also perform during the free, open-to-the-public event, which will serve as a Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff event and is being curated in collaboration with local music production group All Things Go. Additional musical acts include Salt Cathedral, Mario + Jose, Jonathan Acosta, DJ Bembona, DJ Renzo, DJ Nicolas Losada and Batalá.

The Calle Latina block party’s family-friendly activities include a special Latin-inspired face painting menu created by Colombia-born local muralist MasPaz, Con Sabor kids’ dance classes, chef demos and a flash mob led by Cerda.

Guests will also get a sneak peek at all of the La Cosecha partners: El Cielo, NOVA BOSSA, Amparo, Ali Pacha, Grand Cata, Serenata, Café Unido, Filos Bakery, Zona E Home, La Casita and Peruvian Brothers.
In partnership with sponsors the D.C. Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment, Carlos Rosario School, and Bacardi, the block party will feature additional pop ups by New Latin Wave, Se Habla Español, The Future is Latina, Andeana Hats, Adelante Shoes, Arcay Chocolates, Piña & Coco, Wonder for People and Politics & Prose, Arepa Zone, Ilegal Mezcal and Bacardi.

“After considerable time spent planning and curating La Cosecha, we’re excited and proud to invite all to our preview block party, Calle Latina, where we’ll be celebrating the colors, textures and sounds of Latin America. The ongoing insights and assistance from Latin embassy partners and the city’s cultural tastemakers have been invaluable in the creation of this new marketplace,” says EDENS CEO Jodie W. McLean. “Inclusivity and cultural appreciation are the foundation of any strong community and seem more important now than ever. We hope that by showcasing these dynamic cultures, we can spark conversations and relationships across diverse cultures.”

Ozomatli, known as much for their music as their activism, are two-time Grammy winners with a one-of-a-kind sound that encompasses a wide array of musical styles, including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, rap and more. Since their inception in 1995, Ozomatli has performed all over the world in places like China, Tunisia, Jordan and Burma, serving both as cultural ambassadors and advocates for farm workers’ rights and immigration reform.

D.C.-area native Cerda is a double-threat singer and dancer, boasting Billboard-charting singles Al Lado Mio, Color Favorito and Un Poco Mas, as well as a 3,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art dance studio in northern Virginia.

La Cosecha’s partnerships with Latin embassies, cultural and diplomatic leaders and strategic stakeholders from the Latin community will solidify the new marketplace as a national platform for Latin culture and cuisine. Cultural opportunities for the larger community will include art exhibits, film screenings, live performances, media lab space and outdoor activations throughout the year.

To RSVP for La Cosecha’s Calle Latina block party, please visit www.lacosechadc.com/callelatina.

Gelato Festival America is coming to Washington D.C., September 7^th and 8^th to City Market at O. Join Washington’s Italian community and come out to celebrate authentic Italian gelato. Along our journey to find the best gelato in America, international gelato artisans will gather in the capitol to prepare original flavors fresh in the world’s largest frozen dessert laboratory on wheels. Guests enjoy all-you-can-eat gelato while participating in the Eating Contest, Carpigiani Gelato University, Kids Jury and other activities for the whole family then vote for their favorite flavors to win the Gelato Festival Gold Medal.

Ivy City brewery Atlas Brew Works will hold its sixth anniversary celebration with a special beer release at its Tap Room location on Saturday, September 7, before kicking off an exciting week of DC Beer Week market events.

Six Year Anniversary Celebration at Atlas Brew Works – Saturday, September 7 @ 12pm to 5pm

Join the Atlas Brew Works (2052 West Virginia Ave NE) team as they celebrate six years in Ivy City with games, Pelota Bar and Little Sesame food trucks, and a special release of their sixth anniversary beer, Dave Trippel, an 8.4% ABV rum barrel-aged Belgian Trippel. Alongside Atlas’ extensive beer collection, available for $5 during the party, the team will serve Blood Orange Gose slushies to be enjoyed outside. Guests are invited to take part in activities like a dunk tank, Mario Kart, and Doctor Who pinball competition, among others. Event tickets are available for $15 on GiftRocker or $25 at the door (subject to availability) and include one beer ticket and a donation to Living Classrooms. Additional beer tickets are available for advance purchase. For more information, visit www.atlasbrewworks.com.

Gelato Festival America is coming to Washington D.C., September 7^th and 8^th to City Market at O. Join Washington’s Italian community and come out to celebrate authentic Italian gelato. Along our journey to find the best gelato in America, international gelato artisans will gather in the capitol to prepare original flavors fresh in the world’s largest frozen dessert laboratory on wheels. Guests enjoy all-you-can-eat gelato while participating in the Eating Contest, Carpigiani Gelato University, Kids Jury and other activities for the whole family then vote for their favorite flavors to win the Gelato Festival Gold Medal.

Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beer VI @ Boundary Stone – Tuesday, September 10 @ 5:30pm to 10pm

Atlas Brew Works is one of six breweries competing in the sixth annual Battle of the Barrel-Aged Beer Competition at Boundary Stone (116 Rhode Island Ave NW). On Tuesday, September 10, try Atlas’ Tomb Essence, the brewery’s Imperial Silent Neighbor Stout, aged in Joseph Magnus Bourbon barrels. GA and VIP tickets are available on GiftRocker.

On Wednesday, September 11, the 5^th Annual DC Beer Royale will take place at Roofers Union. Seven D.C. breweries will compete to see whose keg can kick first. The champion will earn a $400 donation from Roofers Union, in addition to door donations, to the charity of their choice. The participating breweries include: 3 Stars Brewing, Atlas Brew Works, Bluejacket, DC Brau, Hellbender Brewing Company, Red Bear Brewing Co., & Right Proper Brewing Company.

Beers and respective charities represented include:

3 Stars “Trouble in Paradise” – a mango & guava sour competing for 826DC

Atlas “Blood Orange Gose” – a refreshing and light bodied brew, competing for Living Classrooms

Bluejacket “Crush-A-Lot” – a sour blonde with coconut, vanilla, milk sugar, pineapple, blood orange & nutmeg, competing for Arcadia

DC Brau “Third Eye” – a pilsner kombucha hybrid, competing for Humane Rescue Alliance

Hellbender “Dunkelweisse” – a wheat brew with a deep banana flavor and subtle clove spice, competing for DC Central Kitchen

Red Bear “51st State” – a hazy IPA, competing for Casa Ruby 

Right Proper “Baron Corvo Cuvee 2” – a bourbon, brandy and rum barreled baron corvo competing for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Also in celebration of the 41^st Annual Adams Morgan Day Festival, Roofers Union and Atlas Brew Works have partnered up to create a collaboration brew, The Adams Morgan Festival IPA, the beer will be tapped on Sunday, September 8 and will beavailable throughout DC Beer Week.

WHEN:                DC Beer Weeks runs September 8 – September 15

                                5^th Annual DC Beer Royale: Wednesday, September 11 from 5:30 – 11 PM

WHERE:              Roofers Union

2446 18^th St NW

Washington, DC 20009

https://roofersuniondc.com/

Kick the Keg Contest at Roofers Union – Wednesday, September 11 @ 5:30pm to 11pm

Help the Atlas Brew Works team kick their keg at Roofers Union (2446 18th Street NW) on Wednesday of DC Beer Week. If Atlas’ Blood Orange Gose is the first keg to kick, the Ivy City brewery will donate its $300 prize to Living Classrooms, striving to build strong, equitable, and sustainable communities through effective education, workforce, and health and wellness opportunities.

8 p.m. Eisenhower Theater

What the Constitution Means to Me

Heidi Schreck’s timely and galvanizing play, directed by Oliver Butler, became a sensation off-Broadway last fall before transferring to Broadway this spring and receiving two Tony Award® nominations (Best Play, Best Actress in Leading Role in a Play)and two Drama Desk Award nominations (Outstanding Play, Outstanding Actress in a Play).

Tickets: $45-129

Event: Capital Book Fest

Where: Woodrow Wilson Plaza (1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, DC 20004)

When: September 12 & October 24, from 10am-6pm

Description: Visit our downtown DC pop-up book sale on Wilson Plaza! Browse over 12,000 gently used books, CDs, and DVDs, all on sale for under $6. Books are provided by Carpe Librum, a used, donation-based bookstore benefiting the DC nonprofit Turning the Page. There’s something for everyone at this sale: children’s books, teen reads, brand-new bestsellers in amazing condition, classic vintage hardbacks and more!

Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/capital-book-fest-tickets-69211919715

Tickets are on sale now for the Friends of the National Zoo’s annual wine fest, and this year, the event boasts an impressive selection of bottles, all rated 90 points or above. Zoo Uncorked returns to the heart of Washington, D.C. and the beautiful setting of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Thursday, Sept. 12 from 6-9 p.m.

Professionals will pour wine ranging from a berry-rich Bordeaux, to an Italian chardonnay with notes of pineapple, to a honey-tinged pinot gris from a sustainable vineyard in Oregon.

“We’re so excited about Zoo Uncorked this year—the wine will be truly exceptional, so the tastings will be fun and delicious.  And it’s so great to be at the Zoo under the stars for this event, enjoying wine and supporting conservation work, here and around the globe,” said Lynn Mento, Executive Director at Friends of the National Zoo.

As attendees explore the Zoo grounds after hours, they’ll have the opportunity to see all sorts of incredible animals—and even meet an African penguin. Big Cats Circle will be open for the duration of the event, and from 6-8:30 p.m., attendees are welcome to explore the Think Tank, where they might catch a glimpse of young orangutan Redd.

Food trucks will sell award-winning crepes, gourmet popcorn and authentic handmade dumplings, while keyboardist and pianist Marcus Johnson will perform his contemporary jazz hits for crowds. The D.C. staple and NAACP-Image award winner will bring wines from his own collection, FLO Wine, for guests to sample.

VIP guests can look forward to delicious cuisine from local restaurants, a dessert bar and exclusive animal encounters at Conservation Pavilion. They also will receive a surprise complimentary animal-themed gift courtesy of TrueZoo.

Go to www.fonz.org/uncorked for more information or to buy tickets.

Ticket prices: 

GA: $55 | Non-member: $70

VIP: $99 | Non-member:  $115

Sober: $30 GA | $95 VIP