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| NEWS from the LIBRARY of CONGRESS |
| March 23, 2017
Press contact: Bryonna Head, Office of Communications (202) 707-3073, bhea@loc.gov
Library to Host Series of Disco Events Line-up includes Gloria Gaynor, Tim Gunn
The Library of Congress is presenting a series of disco-themed events to celebrate and memorialize the era of the mid-1970s and early 1980s that changed American art, fashion, language and sound. “Bibliodiscotheque” will include two months of programs such as film screenings, lectures and a symposium followed by a disco party featuring Gloria Gaynor. “The disco era has left a lasting mark on our culture,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “The music, the clothes, those fantastic disco balls – they are a part of Americana that new generations are still discovering and embracing. I am so thrilled to announce these events and the incredible line-up of guests we will have at the Library in the coming months as we celebrate the era of disco and share related items from the Library’s collections.” Nearly 40 years have passed since the heyday of platform shoes and dazzling disco balls, but disco is recognized as a phenomenon that redefined cultural norms across the United States. “Lest anyone think that disco was an aberrant moment in the ’70’s. Disco culture is inextricable from the history of 20th century fashion,” said Emmy award-winning fashion icon, Tim Gunn. “Its representation in the Library of Congress not only legitimizes the genre, but fully validates it.” The Library of Congress holds significant collection materials in various formats that showcase the American disco experience. These items will be on display for the duration of this series. Programming includes screenings of disco-influenced films as well as lectures and panel discussions presented by cultural experts, such as author, producer and fashion icon Tim Gunn, who will present a lecture on the influence of disco fashion followed by a book signing. The series will conclude with a symposium featuring the disco singing sensation Gloria Gaynor, followed by an evening extravaganza with a live performance. Gaynor will discuss and sign her new book, “We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song.” The book’s title harkens back to her 1978 classic “I Will Survive” which was selected for preservation in 2016 for the National Recording Registry. In “We Will Survive,” Gaynor shares 40 inspirational, true stories about survivors of all kinds — individuals who have found comfort, hope, and courage through the power of that song. “I am thrilled that the Library of Congress has found my role in American music worthy to be commemorated by the inclusion of my recording of “I Will Survive” in the National Recording Registry,” said Gaynor. “I look forward with great anticipation to my concert at the Library of Congress “Bibliodiscotheque.” Events are free and open to the public. Free tickets are required for admission to all activities. Tickets will be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. on March 30at this website. A limited number of press credentials will also be available for reservation. The deadline to reserve credentials for lectures, the symposium, and the dance party is Friday, April 28. Some of the events will be live-streamed on the Library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/libraryofcongress and its YouTube channel at youtube.com/LibraryOfCongress. All programs will take place at the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., or at its James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., both in Washington, D.C. The excitement can be followed on Twitter at @librarycongress and #LCDisco.
The Library’s programming will include: Symposium*
Saturday, May 6 Presented in association with the Library of Congress Music and Prints & Photographs Divisions, and Veterans History Project, with additional support from The Recording Academy.
1 p.m. “The Craft of Making Disco Balls”
1:30 p.m. “Two Perspectives on Beyoncé’s African Dance References”
2 p.m. “Disco: The Bill Bernstein Photographs”
2:30 p.m. “Hot Stuff: Disco and the Remaking of American Culture”
3 p.m. Panel Discussion
4 p.m. “Gloria Gaynor on “I Will Survive”
5 p.m. (Whittall Pavilion) Free, tickets available, visit www.loc.gov/concerts/disco for more information. |
Park Hyatt Washington D.C. will host a Spring 2017 Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine: Great American Craftsmanship, a seasonal culinary & beverage experience on Friday, March 24. This culinary gathering salutes the ingredients, flavors, and talents of local chefs, and the artistry of American designer Thos. Moser. Guests will join newly appointed Executive Chef Troy Knapp and Blue Duck Tavern Chef de Cuisine Brad Deboy for an evening of carefully sourced, and artfully prepared culinary delights paired to match the craftsmanship of Thos. Moser’s renowned handmade American furniture (https://www.thosmoser.com).
WHERE: Thos. Moser
1028 33rd Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
WHEN: Friday, March 24, 2017, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
HOW: Tickets for the event can be purchased by calling (202) 419-6620 or emailing masters.phwashington@
As part of its partnership with award-winning bartender and Chief Spirits Advisor Derek Brown, the National Archives Foundation today announced a new 2017 event series focused on the role of alcohol in America’s history.
The series will kick off with Cocktails in Cuba on March 25, 2017. The United States may have invented the cocktail, but it wasn’t long before it became entwined with the island nation of Cuba, especially through the invention of two of the world’s most recognized libations—the Daiquiri and Rum & Coke. Military intervention, organized crime and literary giants, all in the shadow of revolution, mark the fascinating history of these drinks. Experts, along with one of Cuba’s most renowned bartenders, Julio Cabrera, will discuss cocktails, Cuba and the United States, past and present. This event, which will include a reception before the seminar, will be moderated by Brown, and sponsored by the 86 Spirits Company. Registration is open now and filling up fast, more information is available online here.
“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Chief Spirits Advisor Derek Brown with this new series,” said Patrick M. Madden, executive director of the Foundation. “Derek’s passion for history pairs perfectly with our mission to connect people to America’s story in exciting and unexpected ways.”
“From landing on Plymouth Rock in search of beer to creating the cocktail, the story of America could be easily told through the drinks it has both consumed and condemned. The chance to tell that story – not just with documents but through experts in the field – is unprecedented. I’m grateful to be a part of it,” said Brown.
The event series will also include Global Spirits: American Cocktails, on June 29, 2017. Hosted by the National Archives Foundation and The Tasting Panel Magazine, Global Spirits: American Cocktails, will kick off several days of festivities celebrating July 4, 2017. Top mixologists will be tasked with the creation of an original cocktail inspired by classic American cocktails. As the bartenders blend their concoction for judges to taste, they will describe how they were inspired to create a modern take on an American classic. Guests will have the opportunity to taste exclusive cocktails created by eight of the top bartenders from around the country. A final event, Culinary Cocktails, will be held in September 2017 (details to follow).
In 2015, the National Archives Foundation and Brown partnered on a series of events in conjunction with the then-National Archives exhibit, Spirited Republic. Brown also curated a ten-part History of the Cocktail Series to discuss the role of spirits in U.S. history. Spirited Republic explored the federal government’s efforts, successes, and failures to change our drinking habits, from whiskey rations to the Continental Army to the Whiskey Rebellion to Prohibition and beyond. The exhibit used nearly 100 National Archives records and artifacts to show the evolution of the government’s alcohol policy over time, and to illustrate the wide variety of views about alcohol held by Americans.
Thursday, March 30, 2017, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
This illustrated lecture will explore the historical and political context of American-Russian relations during Henry Middleton’s post as American Minister to Russia in the 1820s and 30s.
$30, $20 Hillwood member, $20 student
4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Maryland’s largest hoedown returns to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on March 31 and April 1. The Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is produced by local Trigger Agency as a benefit to the Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation.
This year marks the 11th annual production which started very humbly in Timonium, MD and has grown to a National Tour reaching hundreds of thousands of guests from New York to Florida.
The all-you-care-to-taste extravaganza starts with a Friday Night Whole Hog Session from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.This session will offer a dinner plate of BBQ with all the fixings as well as unlimited sampling of bourbon and beer. Saturday sessions run from noon to 6 p.m. An exclusive VIP only tasting will be held Noon until 2 p.m. and then General Admission will follow from 2 p.m. through 6 p.m.
A souvenir glass is included with every ticket purchase and offers guests unlimited tastings of 60 of the best craft beers and 75-80 top-notch bourbons. In addition, delicious samples of barbeque from the South’s best Pit Masters will be available throughout the day. The event will offer live music, arts, crafts, memorabilia exhibits and a cigar tent outside for the enthusiast. Full schedules and menus are posted on the website.
“This show has spawned many knock-offs all over the country – but if the truth be known – we started here at the Timonium Fairgrounds ten years ago in one of the smaller buildings. To see where we’ve grown and to share it with all the fans is quite an honor,” explains the festival founder, Greg Nivens, a Baltimore resident. Guests can expect some fun and exciting features this year:
- The Shrine of Swine is back – but the whole hogs are always intriguing and new. Each hog is totally different and even tastes different.
- New Gaming Area – this includes Air Hockey Table Games, Foose Ball, Pinball Machines and Skeet Ball
- Great Live Music is back with some new faces.
- Fun crowd competitions will be featured on the Main Stage including the Stein Holding Competition, The Drink like a Lady Contest, Baltimore’s Best Beer Belly, and Two Rounds of Bacon Eating.
General admission to the festival is $39 in advance / $45 on –site and includes admission to event and a souvenir glass. VIP Saturday admission is $59. The special Friday Night session is $49 per person. Designated Driver admission is also available for $29 and includes admission to the event. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information on purchasing tickets for the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, please visit www.BeerAndBourbon.com or call 800-830-3976. There are thousands of free parking spaces on site, or take the light rail. Please drink responsibly and bring a designated driver.
Maryland’s largest hoedown returns to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium on March 31 and April 1. The Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is produced by local Trigger Agency as a benefit to the Spirit of Hope Children’s Foundation.
This year marks the 11th annual production which started very humbly in Timonium, MD and has grown to a National Tour reaching hundreds of thousands of guests from New York to Florida.
The all-you-care-to-taste extravaganza starts with a Friday Night Whole Hog Session from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.This session will offer a dinner plate of BBQ with all the fixings as well as unlimited sampling of bourbon and beer. Saturday sessions run from noon to 6 p.m. An exclusive VIP only tasting will be held Noon until 2 p.m. and then General Admission will follow from 2 p.m. through 6 p.m.
A souvenir glass is included with every ticket purchase and offers guests unlimited tastings of 60 of the best craft beers and 75-80 top-notch bourbons. In addition, delicious samples of barbeque from the South’s best Pit Masters will be available throughout the day. The event will offer live music, arts, crafts, memorabilia exhibits and a cigar tent outside for the enthusiast. Full schedules and menus are posted on the website.
“This show has spawned many knock-offs all over the country – but if the truth be known – we started here at the Timonium Fairgrounds ten years ago in one of the smaller buildings. To see where we’ve grown and to share it with all the fans is quite an honor,” explains the festival founder, Greg Nivens, a Baltimore resident. Guests can expect some fun and exciting features this year:
- The Shrine of Swine is back – but the whole hogs are always intriguing and new. Each hog is totally different and even tastes different.
- New Gaming Area – this includes Air Hockey Table Games, Foose Ball, Pinball Machines and Skeet Ball
- Great Live Music is back with some new faces.
- Fun crowd competitions will be featured on the Main Stage including the Stein Holding Competition, The Drink like a Lady Contest, Baltimore’s Best Beer Belly, and Two Rounds of Bacon Eating.
General admission to the festival is $39 in advance / $45 on –site and includes admission to event and a souvenir glass. VIP Saturday admission is $59. The special Friday Night session is $49 per person. Designated Driver admission is also available for $29 and includes admission to the event. Kids 12 and under are free. For more information on purchasing tickets for the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, please visit www.BeerAndBourbon.com or call 800-830-3976. There are thousands of free parking spaces on site, or take the light rail. Please drink responsibly and bring a designated driver.
The Willard InterContinental Washington, DC in partnership with Château d’Esclans, a prestigious estate and winery in Provence, France, will host its inaugural Rosé Romp on Saturday, April 1 from 1pm to 5pm. An official event of theNational Cherry Blossom Festival, the Rosé Romp honors Japan’s gifting of the cherry blossom trees to the city, while also celebrating the winery’s most iconic rosé wines. This elegant premier event will take place on the hotel’s outside terrace, replete with real cherry blossom trees, and feature all you can eat and drink, an exclusive ‘Art Walk’ with cherry blossom inspired artwork by local DC artists, and live music.
Guests are invited to dress in their most festive rosé attire as they sip delicious wines including Château d’Esclans wildly popular Whispering Angel Rosé, seasonal local beers, and other selections. “The idea to collaborate with the National Cherry Blossom Festival has been on my mind for many years, but as the rosé market continues to grow and Whispering Angel celebrates its 10th vintage, it is time to turn the vision into reality,” said winemaker Paul Chevalier.
Under Sacha Lichine’s leadership, Château d’Esclans now leads the luxury rosé category with Whispering Angel, Rock Angel, Les Clans and Garrus wines, the most exclusive rosé wines in the world. From the onset of his acquisition of Château d’Esclans in 2006, Lichine immediately set out to change the global perception of blush wines as unsophisticated and overly sweet, often closely associated with American white Zinfandel throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Born into winemaking as the son of acclaimed Bordeaux winemaker and writer Alexis Lichine, Sacha applied the wisdom and skills honed during his experience by investing in vinification technology and recruiting expert oenologist Patrick Léon. Whispering Angel – a benchmark for the delicate, fresh style of rosé that Sacha made famous – has grown into one of the most widely enjoyed rosés in the world, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Rosé Romp attendees will also be able to enjoy a variety of springtime inspired food stations by Executive Chef Peter Laufer and his team, including seared scallops on minted saffron couscous, salmon and pesto pinwheel on orzo pasta, and seared beef tenderloin on brioche toast with sauce béarnaise; as well as a seafood ice bar and a decadent dessert display sure to please one’s sweet tooth.
Entertainment will include an interactive ‘Art Walk’, featuring an exclusive presentation of cherry blossom inspired artwork from established and emerging artists from around DC, and live music by the Bachelor Boys, a premium five piece band.
All-inclusive tickets are $89.00 per person through March 1, when ticket prices will increase to $99.00. To purchase a ticket, please visithttps://roseromp.eventbrite.com call 202-628-9100 for more information.
Washington City Paper Fetes Best of D.C. Finalists at 5th Annual Best of D.C. Celebration April 6th Presented by Events DC
The Washington City Paper and Events DC invite you to join them in honoring the best of the best in D.C. at its 5th annual Best of D.C. Celebration at the DC Armory on Thursday, April 6th beginning at 6pm. Some of D.C.’s best restaurants, mixologists, local breweries and distilleries, bands and retailers will provide the entertainment as guests sip, sample, and dance the night away.
What: Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. Celebration
Date: Thursday, April 6, 2017
Times: VIP 6-10pm; General Admission 7-10pm
Location: Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square (801 K Street NW, Washington, DC)
Price: VIP – $110; General Admission – $70
Tickets: https://www.xorbia.com/events/wcp/Best-of-DC-Celebration-2017
As the world grapples with the most severe global refugee crisis since World War II, musicians convened by conductors John Devlin and Lidiya Yankovskaya, herself a refugee who found asylum in the United States, are coming together to provide a voice to refugees in the country.
At 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 10, Yankovskaya and instrumentalists whose friends and families have fled to the U.S. to escape violence and persecution will perform a special concert for residents in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The performance will take place in The Fillmore Silver Spring and will feature a full symphony orchestra and soloists—including award-winning soprano Zhanna Alkhazova—performing works by refugee composers, such as Iranian composer Gity Razaz, Béla Bartók, and Irving Berlin, as well as music that involves refugee themes written by Verdi and Puccini, among others. The concert will showcase, through music, the positive impact that those who have come to this country seeking safety and a better life have had on American culture and society. It is one of three fundraising events that the Refugee Orchestra Project is organizing this spring.
“I organized the Refugee Orchestra Project as a way to demonstrate, through music, the critical role that these individuals play in our cultural landscape,” said Refugee Orchestra Project Conductor and Artistic Director Lidiya Yankovskaya. “In light of the negative rhetoric we regularly read and hear in the news today, I felt it important for all of us to once again be reminded of the essential role that refugees play in making American culture vibrant and strong.”
Devlin and the D.C.-based Gourmet Symphony will support this endeavor by recruiting local musicians to participate in the concert, as well as food vendors who will provide product and services to encourage donations for the cause.
“Gourmet Symphony was thrilled when the Refugee Orchestra Project representatives reached out to us about a possible collaboration around this worthy cause,” said John Devlin, co-founder and Artistic Director of Gourmet Symphony. “As artistic leaders in the nation’s capital, we feel that it is our responsibility to play an active role in our community and in matters of national importance. The concert will also allow us to engage culinary partners who are passionate about this cause. Our common goal is to offer a sense of connectedness and hope through the music and fellowship shared in this performance.”
Admission to the concert is free, donations are suggested. Guests who make a donation of at least $50 will receive premium seating and a gourmet gift box including snack bites from Gourmet Symphony’s culinary partners at Beuchert’s Saloon and Mike Isabella Concepts, among others—this will be capped at 100. Proceeds from donations will go toward the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), the global Jewish nonprofit that protects refugees in support of those seeking asylum in the U.S. and abroad.
Wednesday, April 12 (7 p.m.)
“54” (Miramax, 1998, R-rated*)
An American drama film written and directed by Mark Christopher about Studio 54, a world-famous New York City disco club.
Events are free and open to the public. Free tickets are required for admission to all activities. Tickets will be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. on March 30at this website. A limited number of press credentials will also be available for reservation. The deadline to reserve credentials for lectures, the symposium, and the dance party is Friday, April 28. Some of the events will be live-streamed on the Library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/libraryofcongress and its YouTube channel at youtube.com/LibraryOfCongress. All programs will take place at the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., or at its James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., both in Washington, D.C.
The excitement can be followed on Twitter at @librarycongress and #LCDisco.
