Arena Stage Season Kick Off Carnival
WHEN: Sunday, August 28, from noon to 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW – Waterfront Metro)
WHY:
Arena Stage is celebrating the new 2016/17 season with a full day of FREE family-friendly activities inspired by two of this season’s most anticipated productions — Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel (10/28-12/24) and Lookingglass Theatre Company’s Moby Dick (11/18-12/24).
Guests of all ages can try their luck on the midway with classic fair games run by Arena Stage’s finest barkers, marvel as aerialists from Gwynne with Wings Aerial Entertainment perform death-defying feats overhead and enjoy carnival inspired food and drink as they stroll down the lobby promenade. Plus kids will love the giant “Carousel” bounce house and petting zoo. Throughout the day there will be special season discounts, prizes and so much more!
Please see the illustrations attached for Carousel (by Nigel Buchanan) and an image from our upcoming production of Moby Dick (featuring the cast of the Lookingglass Theatre Company’s production of Moby Dick. Photo by Liz Lauren).
The Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (www.goldentriangledc.com) will host Chef Kazuhiro “Kaz” Okochi, the head chef at the award-winning KAZ Sushi Bistro at 1915 I Street NW, for an outdoor cooking demonstration, Fri., Sept. 16, from Noon–2 p.m., during Farragut Fridays at Farragut Square Park (at the intersection of K St. and Connecticut Ave. NW). Attendees will learn from Chef Kaz as he prepares a twist on okonomiyaki – a popular Japanese dish, sometimes referred to as “Japanese pizza.”
Okonomiyaki, which is more like a crepe than a pizza, is made from a rich savory cabbage pancake in an egg and flour batter with pork belly, red ginger, smoky dried bonito flakes, Japanese mayonnaise, and a special sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. Samples will be available on a first come, first served basis.
The chef demonstration is part of Farragut Fridays, a weekly outdoor activation of one of the city’s most well-known national parks, which draws more than 39,000 visitors over the summer. Throughout the day, the Golden Triangle BID invites people to use the free Wi-Fi at Outdoor Office and enjoy a variety of pop-up events including adoptable puppies, scavenger hunts and music during lunch. The programming serves as an additional amenity for workers and tourists, as it’s occurring a block from the White House. The complete schedule of activities can be found at goldentriangledc.com/farragutfridays.
“Just one month before the release of Washington, D.C.’s first Michelin Guide, the city’s attention is sure to be on the food scene. These chef demonstrations will give everyone a taste of the creativity and vibrancy of our neighborhood and the more than 32 restaurants here,” says Leona Agouridis, executive director, Golden Triangle BID. “The fact that Michelin decided to bring on of the new guides here doesn’t surprise me. With the diversity and stature of our region, Washington offers unique dining options for workers, tourists, and residents.”
Washington National Opera (WNO) celebrates the return of free opera simulcasts to Nationals Park with title sponsor Mars, Incorporated with the M&M’S Opera in the Outfield performance of Mozart’s classic romantic comedy The Marriage of Figaro on Saturday, September 24, 2016. Gates open at 5 p.m. for “pregame” activities, and the opera will be broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House to the high-definition NatsHD scoreboard at the ballpark at 7 p.m. Free seating will be available in the stands, while access to the outfield grass will be limited on a first-come, first-served basis when gates open at 5 p.m.
The Marriage of Figaro tells an upstairs/downstairs story of love, lust, seduction, infidelity, and ultimately, forgiveness, all set to some of the most sublime and memorable music ever written. The vibrant production, adapted from The Glimmerglass Festival, is directed by Peter Kazaras, whose La bohème was a hit of WNO’s 2014–2015 season. The opera is performed in Italian with English captions, making it easy to follow along with the story and music.
M&M’S Opera in the Outfield will take place rain or shine—in case of inclement weather, some covered seating is available. Regular concessions will be available throughout the ballpark.
More information about the free M&M’S Opera in the Outfield simulcast of The Marriage of Figaro at Nationals Park is available atOperaintheOutfield.org. A full press release is attached.
Play ball! Or Play Mozart!
Josh Phillips and his team at Espita Mezcaleria, the Southern Mexican-inspired restaurant located in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, DC, invite guests to take part in one of Mexico’s great traditions, The Day of the Dead. On Tuesday, November 1st, Espita Mezcaleria will offer an honorary cocktail, Los Siete Misterios mezcal tasting and specialty dishes, available exclusively during dinner service. Face painting and custom temporary tattoos featuring designs from Espita artists will also be available for guests. Standout dishes available for this exclusive night of celebration include Morcilla Tlayuda, house-made Morcilla blood sausage, served on a crisp oversized tortilla with queso Oaxaca; Cochinita Cookies, pig-shaped cookies with piloncillo and cinnamon, as well as Mole Negro, lamb belly with hoja santa, piloncillo, Mexican oregano, chili ash with heirloom corn tortillas. The Day of the Dead menu items will range in price from $5 to $25 each.
For the perfect pairing, guests will have the opportunity to sample several varieties of Los Siete Misterios mezcal, along with an innovative cocktail called Flor de Muerto, or Death’s Flower. Priced at $13, the libation is made from a combination of mezcal, Cruzan Black Strap Rum, pineapple ash, lime juice and coconut syrup, garnished with an edible flower. “I wanted to find a way to combine life and death into one drink,” says Beverage Director/Partner Megan Barnes. “The edible flower represents life and the pineapple ash makes the drink completely black, representing death. This concoction is fairly balanced, leaning on the sweeter side as Day of the Dead is meant to be a day of celebration paying tribute to loved ones who have passed on.”
WHEN: Tuesday, November 1st, exclusively during dinner service, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
WHERE: Espita Mezcaleria is located at 1250 9th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20001. The restaurant is located two blocks from the Mt Vernon Square, 7th St-Convention Center Metro Station accessible on the Green and Yellow Lines. For reservations or additional information, please visit http://espitadc.com.
WHY: Of pre-Hispanic and pre-Christian origin, the Day of The Dead is one of the most important holidays in Mexican culture. In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried, bringing marigold flowers and candles to decorate gravesites. Toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults are also incorporated. Families sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones. Some families build altars in their homes, dedicating them to the dead. Altars are set up October 31st through November 2nd and are covered with offerings to the dead including flowers, fruits, vegetables, candles, incense, statues of saints, and photos of the deceased.
The Columbia Heights Initiative will host its first annual Columbia Heights Night on Friday, December 2nd 2016 from 7pm to Midnight. The inaugural event will celebrate the neighborhood’s diverse businesses and residents, as well as raise money for initiatives that greater enhance and promote commerce within Columbia Heights.
Highlights throughout Columbia Heights Night include ‘A Taste of Columbia Heights’, which will feature a bevy of popular cuisines from some of the corridor’s most beloved restaurants and food vendors. Seasonal cocktails will flow and the dancing will commence with live entertainment and music featuring The Harry Bells. A silent auction loaded with tailored gifts, spa treatments, dining destinations, and more will also be held during the evening. The annual Columbia Heights Tree Lighting Extravaganza will be held the following day, Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 at 6:30pm in the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza.
Tickets for the evening are $75 and are 100% tax deductible. A ticket gains access to the event, four (4) drink tickets, an amazing dinner buffet served up by some of Columbia Heights’ best restaurants, silent auction access, and a swag bag full of goodies.
Ticket link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/columbia-heights-night-tickets-28345969558
The Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant Main Street will join eleven other DC Main Streets programs that have been accredited through DC Main Streets and the National Main Street Center, Inc. As a DC Main Street designee, Columbia Heights Initiative will implement programs and services to support the growth and development of neighborhood businesses and the revitalization of the commercial corridors of Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant.
When: December 2, 2016
7pm-Midnight
Where: All Souls Unitarian Church, Pierce Hall
1500 Harvard Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
What: Official Main Streets Award Announcement, a “Taste of Columbia Heights,” Silent Auction, Live Entertainment.
Who: One Eight Distilling, El Buho Mezcal. Acre 121, Lou’s City Bar, Maple, &Pizza, El Tio, El Chucho. Kangaroo Boxing Club, The Heights, Chick Fil-A, Chipotle, The Coup, The Harry Bells, Columbia Heights Initiative
The Columbia Heights Initiative will host its first annual Columbia Heights Night on Friday, December 2nd 2016 from 7pm to Midnight. The inaugural event will celebrate the neighborhood’s diverse businesses and residents, as well as raise money for initiatives that greater enhance and promote commerce within Columbia Heights. Expect a festive evening of food, dancing, live music and entertainment for one of DC’s oldest and most popular neighborhoods.
Columbia Heights Night follows the decade-long success of The Columbia Heights Initiative’s signature event: Columbia Heights Day. Columbia Heights Day draws tens of thousands of DMV residents to the community, while shining a light on local businesses and services. Much like Columbia Heights Day, Columbia Heights Night invites the entire region to explore the best of the neighborhood in one venue, on one evening.
“We’re here to celebrate our incredible partners, residents, businesses, board members, and the many volunteers who help make it all possible. We’ll be raising a glass to some of this past year’s achievements, which include implementing community clean-ups, monthly networking events, and growing the overall support and voice of our local businesses.” Says Brianne Dornbush, Executive Director of the Columbia Heights Initiative. “With the success of Columbia Heights Day, our goal is to use Columbia Heights Night as an opportunity to once again brings our neighborhood together to join us as we cast a vision for the future of our organization and the neighborhood of Columbia Heights.”
Highlights throughout Columbia Heights Night include ‘A Taste of Columbia Heights’, which will feature a bevy of popular cuisines from some of the corridor’s most beloved restaurants and food vendors. Cocktails will flow and the dancing will commence with live entertainment and music featuring The Harry Bells. A silent auction loaded with tailored gifts, spa treatments, dining destinations, and more will also be held during the evening. The annual Columbia Heights Tree Lighting Extravaganza will be held the following day, Saturday, December 3rd, 2016 at 6:30pm in the Columbia Heights Civic Plaza.
Tickets for the evening are $75 and are 100% tax deductible. A ticket gains access to the event, four (4) drink tickets, an amazing dinner buffet served up by some of Columbia Heights’ best restaurants, silent auction access, and a swag bag full of goodies.
Guests can register and purchase tickets for Columbia Heights Night via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
WHAT: Little Chefs’ Pizza Making Class
WHO: James Beard Award-Winning Chef, Jeff Michaud and his daughter, Gaia
WHEN: December 4th @ 2:00pm
WHERE: Pizzeria Vetri D.C.
HOW: Call (202) 794-9057 or visit the website to reserve seats; tickets are $50/ guardian and child, additional attendees are $25
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC) is hosting the 5th annual embassy showcase, Winternational, from 11 AM – 2 PM, Wednesday, December 7, 2016. Over 35 embassies will be participating in this year’s event.
Last year more than 2,500 guests attended this lively midday celebration of international culture, travel, tourism and trade. This year, there will be many opportunities for 1:1 interviews with diplomats, embassy exhibitors, sponsors and attendees. This festival has the atmosphere of a bustling global marketplace with each embassy promoting their country through vibrant displays of visual art, food, handcrafts, as well as travel and tourism exhibits. Free and open to the public, guests have the opportunity to travel the different continents and do some holiday shopping—all during the lunch hour!
The RRB/ITC is a preeminent forum in the heart of the nation’s capital advancing international commerce and cross-cultural dialogue. As a seamless, unifying framework, the ITC provides a platform for building connections, fostering diplomacy, growing businesses, and creating a more prosperous U.S. and global economy. The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by Trade Center Management Associates.
Watch scenes from last year’s Winternational here.
WHAT: Winternational – 5th Annual Embassy Showcase
WHO: Trade Center Management Associates and the following Embassies:
Afghanistan, African Union Mission, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Botswana, Costa Rica, Egypt, European Union Delegation, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, League of Arab States, Libya, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts & Nevis, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan.
WHEN: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 11:00am – 2:00pm ET
WHERE: Atrium | Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, D.C.
HOW: Free & Open to the Public. Ticket registration requested here.
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC) is hosting the 5th annual embassy showcase, Winternational, from 11 AM – 2 PM, Wednesday, December 7, 2016. Over 35 embassies will be participating in this year’s event.
Last year more than 2,500 guests attended this lively midday celebration of international culture, travel, tourism and trade. This year, there will be many opportunities for 1:1 interviews with diplomats, embassy exhibitors, sponsors and attendees. This festival has the atmosphere of a bustling global marketplace with each embassy promoting their country through vibrant displays of visual art, food, handcrafts, as well as travel and tourism exhibits. Free and open to the public, guests have the opportunity to travel the different continents and do some holiday shopping—all during the lunch hour!
The RRB/ITC is a preeminent forum in the heart of the nation’s capital advancing international commerce and cross-cultural dialogue. As a seamless, unifying framework, the ITC provides a platform for building connections, fostering diplomacy, growing businesses, and creating a more prosperous U.S. and global economy. The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by Trade Center Management Associates.
Watch scenes from last year’s Winternational here.
WHAT: Winternational – 5th Annual Embassy Showcase
WHO: Trade Center Management Associates and the following Embassies:
Afghanistan, African Union, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Botswana, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Egypt, EU Delegation, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, League of Arab States, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts & Nevis, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan.
WHEN: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 11:00am – 2:00pm ET
WHERE: Atrium | Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, D.C.
HOW: Free & Open to the Public. Ticket registration requested here.