The Union Market District is kicking off Spring and celebrating the diverse collection of businesses, both old and new, with a daylong street fest featuring food and activities from district neighbors and partners including Trader Joe’s, Politics and Prose, Cotton & Reed, Masseria, Pluma, A. Litteri, Blue Bottle, DC United and more.
The free, family-friendly day will take place Saturday, April 7 from 9am to 4pm. Bordered by New York Avenue, Florida Avenue and 6th Street NE, the festival will be spread across the entire Union Market District, including venues 4th x Neal, Angelika, Dock 5, 4th x Morse Street and the Market itself.
From all-day live music at Neal Place to a pop-up bookshop by Politics & Prose and a bevy of food trucks lining Neal Place NE, the entire district, long known for attracting innovative retail as well as launching and scaling businesses, will be activated for a day of creativity and community.
World class chefs will be on hand for cooking tips while DC United players lead a youth workshop. Michelin-starred chef Nick Stefanelli will be selling breakfast sandwiches on Masseria’s patio and Instagram influencers Tamon George and Gary Williams of Creative Theory will take portrait photos in the historic alley of 4th x Neal. Meet under the Yoko Ono mural on 6th Street for spoken word poetry and dance off the winter blues with DC’s favorite DJ’s and live music.
The full schedule, including signature events, will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information about the Union Market district street fair, please visit www.unionmarketdc.com.
WHEN:
Saturday, April 7, 2018; 5:30 P.M. ET
WHERE:
U.S. Capitol Grounds
WHO:
This event is being hosted by the American College of Sports Medicine as a part of ACSM’s International Health & Fitness Summit.
Get an early start to patio season with Barley Mac’s second annual Oysterfest on April 21. Owner Mike Cordero is serving up classic summertime favorites – oysters, chilled white wine, cocktails, beer and whiskey. Guests are invited to taste samples of the restaurant’s locally caught oysters and down drinks from the bar from 1 to 5 p.m. Afternoon highlights include an oyster eating contest, shucking instruction stations and cigar rolling demonstrations. Oyster shooters will be made to order.
Live music from local favorites The Wing-Its, an oyster buffet and open bar will be set up on the patio between 1 and 5 p.m. Guests (ages 21+) will be given a stemless Barley Mac wine glass to sip from and bring home. Shirts will also be for sale.
Barley Mac’s oyster menu features raw oysters harvested from Northern Virginia. Continuing the all you can eat tradition, Barley Mac is serving Raw Oysters, Oyster Rockefellers, Grilled Oysters, Fried Po-Boys, Oyster Stew, Fried Buffalo Batter Oysters and Oyster Ceviche.
The Oyster & Wine Festival is open to all age groups (21+ will be given wristbands and two drink tickets). Tickets are $49 a person, or $59 a person at the door and can be purchased prior to the event here. Event sponsors include Sam Adams, Balvenie and Hendricks. The event will be held weather permitting.
WHO: Barley Mac & Mike Cordero
WHAT: 2nd Annual Oyster Festival
Oyster Eating Contest
Oyster Shucking Instruction Station
Cigar Rolling Station
Purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual- barley-mac-oyster-fest-tickets-44815028958
WHEN: Saturday, April 21
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE: Barley Mac
About Barley Mac
Barley Mac is an American restaurant offering gourmet comfort foods and an extensive whiskey menu. Located just a few blocks from the Rosslyn Metro Station, Barley Mac brings a love of delicious food, whiskeys and bourbons to Northern Virginia. The innovative twists of American comfort foods will please the taste buds, while the specialty liquor menu is sure to excite even the fiercest cocktail enthusiasts. With an industrial chic interior, plentiful seating and large bar area, Barley Mac is an ideal drinking and dining choice for groups of all sizes.
Get going on your spring cleaning, DC! This Earth Day, VIDA Fitness and DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) are inviting Washingtonians to experiment with the new Swedish-inspired, environmentally conscious fitness trend: Plogging – a fitness combination of jogging while picking up litter that offers a variation of body movements by adding bending, squatting and stretching to the main action of running.
On Sunday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m., Washingtonians may gather together to lessen their carbon footprint and engage in the latest fitness craze. Earth Day’s 2.5 mile Plogging will begin at Raymond Recreation Center at 3725 10th Street, NW and then hit four additional public park and playground locations at: 11th & Monroe Park, Powell Recreation Center, Girard Street Park and Harrison Playground. This event is free and open to the public. The Raymond Recreation Center is accessible by the green and yellow lines at Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro Station.
Named after the Swedish term ‘plocka upp,’ Americans have begun integrating the trend into their regular workout routine: grabbing an empty trash bag and cleaning up their surroundings during their outdoor runs. The plogging event is the latest opportunity VIDA Fitness is spearheading to encourage locals to get #FitDC and make DC the number one fittest city in the country again.
For three consecutive years, D.C. earned the #1 ranking in the annual American Fitness Index Data Report published by the American College of Sports and Medicine (ACSM), but forfeited the top spot to Minneapolis in 2017. VIDA Fitness and DPR are determined to take back the title in 2018 by engaging Washingtonians with a variety of fitness programs and expos.
Plogging After Party
As Ploggers finish their District tour with full trash bags in hand, the celebration will continue at VIDA Fitness’ U Street location at 1612 U Street, NW, where participants can enjoy complimentary water and taco bowls from neighborhood favorite Takorean.
WHAT: Inaugural VIDA Fitness/DPR Citywide 2.5 Mile Earth Day Plogging Event
WHEN: Sunday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. (Earth Day).
WHERE: (Locations in chronological order)
- Start: Raymond Recreation Center (Metro access: Petworth/GA Ave. Green Line)
- 11th & Monroe Park
- Powell Recreation center
- Girard Street Park
- Harrison Playground
- End/Celebration: VIDA Fitness, U Street
LINKS: RSVP here!
20 local artists in a variety of disciplines will be exhibiting over 100 pieces all priced under $750 at “Real Art on a Shoestring” at SR/A La Collection in downtown Bethesda. This notable event aims to show the average consumer that owning original art is not out of their budget.
The opening reception will occur on April 26 from 6:00 – 8:30pm. “Real Art on a Shoestring” will be on display through summer 2018.
SR/A La Collection is the retail gallery arm of SR/A Interior Design, a boutique commercial interior design firm. SR/A showcases a revolving collection of artists and antiques in the 3500 SF gallery space that fronts their office-space in downtown Bethesda. Unlike typical art galleries, SR/A believes art shows best as it would in a person’s home – surrounded by furniture, accessories and antique treasures. As original art has a reputation for being too expensive, for this show SR/A has partnered with 20 local artists to bring the public affordable, yet exquisite pieces – all for $750 or below.
This event plays on the well-known phrase, “on a shoestring,” to prove that creative pieces can be found on a smaller budget. The list of participating artists includes local favorites such as Linda Cafritz, Mark Schwenk, Fabiano Amin, Stefanie Stark, and more!
“I think this show is a great way for people to buy affordable, real works of art from local artists. There are so many different styles, mediums, and artists participating in this show; it’s a great opportunity to see, admire, and add art to your life” – Fabiano Amin, Participating Local Artist
You can catch these remarkable artists and their creations, as well as complimentary food and drinks, on April 26th, 2018 at SR/A La Collection (7020 Wisconsin Ave.)
Crystal City’s summertime happy hour is back, opening a month early and announcing a new partnership with The Stand bringing food and beverage from local restaurants and an exciting live music lineup. Starting on May 4, each Friday from 5-9 pm, attendees can listen to live music from a variety of bands while enjoying local bites and drink.
What: Fridays at the Fountain
When: Every Friday May – October from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Crystal City Water Park – 1751 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202
Live Music Schedule:
May 4 Revelator Hill
May 11 Whiskey Pull
May 18 Zach Cutler & Friends
May 25 Gordon Sterling 3
June 1 Big Bad Juju
June 8 Mary El Band
June 15 Revelator Hill
June 22 Jonathan Sloane Trio
June 29 Holly Montgomery
July 6 The Jogo Project
July 13 The Jon Miller Band
July 20 Gordon Sterling and the People
July 27 Big Bad Juju
**Later dates to be announced**
Admission: 100% Free to enter, listen, and relax; food and drink for purchase (credit cards accepted) – $5 for beer/wine. $20 to join the Mug Club and receive a branded, reusable mug.
Crystal City’s summertime happy hour is back, opening a month early and announcing a new partnership with The Stand bringing food and beverage from local restaurants and an exciting live music lineup. Starting on May 4, each Friday from 5-9 pm, attendees can listen to live music from a variety of bands while enjoying local bites and drink.
What: Fridays at the Fountain
When: Every Friday May – October from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Crystal City Water Park – 1751 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202
Live Music Schedule:
May 4 Revelator Hill
May 11 Whiskey Pull
May 18 Zach Cutler & Friends
May 25 Gordon Sterling 3
June 1 Big Bad Juju
June 8 Mary El Band
June 15 Revelator Hill
June 22 Jonathan Sloane Trio
June 29 Holly Montgomery
July 6 The Jogo Project
July 13 The Jon Miller Band
July 20 Gordon Sterling and the People
July 27 Big Bad Juju
**Later dates to be announced**
Admission: 100% Free to enter, listen, and relax; food and drink for purchase (credit cards accepted) – $5 for beer/wine. $20 to join the Mug Club and receive a branded, reusable mug.
On Sunday, May 13, the Radiator team will celebrate mothers with a playful twist on a traditional high tea on the rooftop of the Kimpton Mason & Rook Hotel. While overlooking picturesque views of Washington, D.C., family members may enjoy boozy tea and Chef Jonathan’s take on classic finger sandwiches. As a special toast to the beloved matriarch, a “mom-osa” bar will be available throughout the afternoon.
The Mother’s Day Tea Party will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., weather permitting. No reservations or cover charge required.