Oct
31
Tue
DowntownDC Fall Festival @ Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Oct 31 @ 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Date: Oct 31st, 2017

Time: 12:00pm-2:00pm

Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Washington DC 20004

Description:

Get ready to fall into fun this Halloween with the DowntownDC Business Improvement District and the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center for the DowntownDC Fall Festival.

Bring your coworkers, friends, family and kids to Woodrow Wilson Plaza (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue) on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 12pm-2pm for some free fun, including a special Halloween DJ set, pumpkin decorating with BLICK art, a mysterious Children’s Story Hour with DC Public Library, lively face painting, candy giveaways, and the return of the ghoulish DowntownDC stilt walkers.

Wear your Halloween costumes! Photo ops will be available!

Price: Free

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/downtowndc-fall-festival-tickets-38979134641

Nov
28
Tue
Fairmont Christmas Tree Lighting @ Fairmont Washington DC
Nov 28 @ 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Fairmont Washington, D.C. Georgetown is pleased to announce its 14th annual tree lighting ceremony in the hotel’s Courtyard and lobby beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2017.  Filled with tiny white lights and shimmering Christmas trees, the courtyard becomes a glittering crystal garden the perfect venue for a holiday celebration.

Families will take the chill off with complimentary hot chocolate and cookies as they listen to the award-winning Georgetown Visitation Madrigals perform holiday classics. Children will enjoy decorating holiday cards,   members of the United States Marine Corps Reserves will perform a presentation of colors, and Santa Claus and Rudolph will make a special guest appearance.  All families are welcome to take a photo with Santo in his Winter Wonderland Suite.

Kelly Collis and Tommy McFly, hosts of 94.7 Fresh FM’s Tommy Show, will serve as the masters of ceremonies.

The ceremony, which is free and open to the public, will benefit The U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Program, a non-profit organization that collects toys throughout the holiday season and delivers them to needy youngsters.  Those attending the event are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to be donated. Additionally, monetary donations are accepted on the organization’s website, www.ToysForTots.org.

The newly renovated Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown, at 2401 M Street, NW, is convenient to the finest museums, theaters (including the Kennedy Center), shopping and dining.  Close to two metro stations, it is five miles from Reagan National Airport and 33 miles from Dulles International Airport.  At 413 rooms and luxury suites, The Fairmont Washington, D.C. offers a wealth of facilities while maintaining an air of tranquility insured through the design of intimate spaces, plenty of natural daylight, and a cascade of plants both inside and out.

Dec
6
Wed
Winternational – 6th Annual Embassy Showcase @ Atrium at Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Dec 6 @ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Title: Winternational- 6th Annual Embassy Showcase

Date: December 6, 2017

Time: 11 am- 2 pm

Location: Atrium at Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

 

Description: Winternational is an exciting celebration showcasing the cultural and culinary traditions of Washington’s diplomatic community. 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 the public, guests have the opportunity to travel the world and do some fun holiday shopping-all during the lunch hour!

 

Participating embassies include (list subject to change): Afghanistan, African Union, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, European Union, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Indonesia, Israel, Kenya, Lithuania, Malawi, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman (Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center), Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.

 

Price: Free

Register at: http://itcdc.com/winternational/

 

Feb
24
Sat
Dumpling Making Class and Dim Sum Brunch @ The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Feb 24 @ 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Dumpling Making Class and Dim Sum Brunch

On Saturday, February 24th, Chef Russell will lead a hands-on cooking class teaching guests how to make pot-stickers and spring rolls with accompanying sauces. This interactive demonstration will guide guests through filling preparation and folding techniques. Following the class, attendees will enjoy a family style brunch including the dishes they cooked in class. The event will run from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $50 and available here.

Feb
27
Tue
Night Market and Three-Course Chinese New Year Dinner @ The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Feb 27 @ 6:30 PM – 11:30 PM

Night Market and Three-Course Chinese New Year Dinner

For guests interested in a sit-down dinner to celebrate Chinese New Year, Chef Smith has created a three-course menu that begins with a Whole Steamed Bronzino, representing family togetherness, made with aged soy, fermented black bean, and chili oil. The second course, representative of the five blessings of the New Year including longevityriches, peacewisdom, and virtue, is Whole Soy Lacquered Quail with mustard greens and long wheat noodles. The final course features Chocolate Mochi Cake with tangerine marmalade, which was chosen because the pronunciation of the word “tangerine” sounds much like the pronunciation of the word “money” in Mandarin. Before dinner, guests will have the opportunity to indulge in four live-action stations featuring Whole Roasted Lamb with Steamed Bao BunsChinese New Year Chicken PotageKanpachi Yu Sheng Sashimi, and Chinese New Year Pork Dumplings. The menu is priced at $85 per person with an additional $35 per guest for an optional wine pairing. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the Source’s upstairs dining room. Reservations can be made by phone at 202-637-6100.

Lounge Takeover with Chefs Mike Rafidi and Kevin Tien and Pit Master Joe Neuman @ The Source by Wolfgang Puck
Feb 27 @ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Lounge Takeover with Chefs Mike Rafidi and Kevin Tien and Pit Master Joe Neuman

Chef Russell Smith and team will host a lounge takeover from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27th, with guest chefs Mike Rafidi from Arroz and Requin, Joe Neuman from Sloppy Mama’s BBQ, and Kevin Tien from Himitsu. Multiple dishes from Chefs Smith, Rafidi, and Tien will be available and Pit Master Joe Neuman will be on site with his smoker. Beer will be provided by 3 Stars Brewing and unlimited Wolfgang Puck wines will also be included. Tickets are $50 and available here.

Mar
23
Fri
Smithsonian at 8’s La Grande Fete @ La Maison Francaise
Mar 23 @ 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

WHAT:  SMITHSONIAN at 8, in collaboration with Francophonie DC and the Embassy of France, presents La Grande Fête, the closing celebration of the 2018 DC Francophonie Cultural Festival.

WHEN: Friday, March 23, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

WHERE: La Maison Francaise at the Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC

Get ready for a spectacular party with a French accent. The annual Francophonie Cultural Festival spotlights the music, art, literature, film, cuisine, and customs of French-speaking countries and regions from across the globe. Its closing celebration, La Grande Fête, is always magnifique, and this year’s bash is no exception.

Beginning at 7 p.m., guests will launch into a world tour of francophone cultures. They’ll sample food and drink from more than 30 embassies as they explore each nation’s unique attractions and traditions. DJ Princess Slaya spins music from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and plenty of destinations in between. Experience the best of the French-speaking world—all without leaving home. 

General admission $40

Tickets must be purchased in advance (no sales at the door).

For tickets and further information the public may call 202-633-3030 or visit http://s.si.edu/2ocUayg.

Apr
14
Sat
Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine Seasonal Culinary & Beverage Experience @ Park Hyatt Tea Cellar
Apr 14 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Park Hyatt Washington, D.C. will host a spring 2018 Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine, a seasonal culinary & beverage experience on Saturday, April 14, focused on Japanese treasures.  Spring is cherry blossom season, merging two cultures, as these magnificent trees were a gift from Japan to the nation’s capital.  It is the ideal time for Park Hyatt Washington, D.C. to present the art of the Japanese tea ceremony with the seasonal bounty of the mid-Atlantic region.  On this particular afternoon, guests will have the unique opportunity to savor a “Washoku” inspired food menu prepared by Executive Chef Troy Knapp featuring American rice, Chesapeake seafood, and locally sourced vegetables, followed by a traditional tea ceremony, also known as Chano-yu, conducted by Sobin Koizumi, a Urasenke professor from Japan.  The Urasenke tea school teaches the history, importance, and practical knowledge behind this centuries-old tradition.

As a tenured senior professor of the Urasenke tea school, Koizumi has traveled the world teaching non-Japanese people about the heart and soul of Chano-yu.  Learning about Matcha and the tea ceremony with Sobin Koizumi is a unique and rare opportunity, both here and in Japan.  Tickets for this special event are priced at $100 per person, and available for purchase on Eventbite.  Guests will enjoy a presentation covering the history and proper manners for Chano-yu, followed by a tasting of two different rare Matcha teas from the same grower that have limited availability in the United States paired with seasonal confections from Kyoto.  Space is limited and reservations are required.

Additionally, guests of the event will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase 30 grams of Kyoto Uji Matcha, a high-end green tea powder, prepared from young first flush green tea leaves at Uji in Kyoto, the birthplace of the Japanese tea ceremony.  

HOW:             Tickets are available for purchase at: https://parkhyattmasters-tea.eventbrite.com. Seating is limited for this one-of-a-kind event and advance reservations are required.

 

Apr
25
Wed
Smithsonian Craft Show Preview Night Benefit @ National Building Museum
Apr 25 @ 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
ABOUT THE PREVIEW NIGHT AND SHOW
Preview Night
Wednesday April 25, 6pm-9pm
Meet the artists, enjoy cocktails and a delicious buffet and benefit the Smithsonian (tickets $250).
Show Hours 
Thursday 10:30am-8pm
Friday and Saturday 10:30am-5:30pm
Sunday 11am-5pm
(advanced online purchase $17 or $20 at the door)
The Smithsonian Craft Show is organized and presented by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee. Proceeds support Smithsonian projects that open knowledge, adventure and discovery to the world.
Learn more about the artists, show hours, and daily special events at www.smithsoniancraftshow.org
May
5
Sat
11th Annual Around the World Embassy Tour @ Various
May 5 @ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 In its 11th year, Cultural Tourism DC will produce the hugely popular Around the World Embassy Tour, part of Passport DC, a month-long celebration of worldwide cultures.

Both visitors and local residents can travel the world in one day, visiting more than 40 embassies to learn about culture, food, fashion and more during the Around the World Embassy Tour open houses. In the past, embassies have treated visitors to karate demonstrations, dance performances, sari wrapping lessons, police dog training, henna art and more.

 

WHEN:            Saturday, May 5

                        All participating embassies will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted

                        Admission is free, but some embassies may ask to see a government-issued ID. There is also a smart phone app and web-based phone app available to help visitors better plan their day. More information:https://www.culturaltourismdc.org/portal/signature-events

WHERE:           Embassies will celebrate their cultures’ food, fashion, arts and artisans, music, and dance by hosting DC residents and visitors inside their embassies. Embassies participating to date include Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Gabon, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Thailand, and Uganda.

HOW:              “So far, we received commitments from more than 40 embassies to open their gates and doors to participate in this year’s Around the World Embassy Tour,” says Steve Shulman, Executive Director, Cultural Tourism DC. “Now in its 11th year, we expect nearly 30,000 people to visit embassies during a single day to learn about countries from across the globe. It is a wonderful, uniquely Washington experience for families, individuals and groups.”