Events/Things To Do

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.

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.

America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, will honor six exceptional leaders with its Promise of America and Promise Hero Awards on April 18.  The awards will be presented by General Colin Powell and Alma Powell, the founding chair and chair of America’s Promise, at the fourth annual Promise Night Gala which will be held at the Newseum in Washington, DC.

The Promise of America award, the organization’s highest honor, recognizes extraordinary individuals who have made an exceptional difference in the lives of young people and, through their work, have demonstrated the power of the Five Promises – caring adults, safe places, a healthy and safe start, an effective education, and opportunities to serve – to change the odds, transform lives, and build positive futures.

“Our honorees are extraordinary leaders, working diligently to make the promise of America real for every child,” said Alma J. Powell, chair, America’s Promise. “As we enter our third decade of work on behalf of young people in this country, these individuals remind us of the impact we can have if we use our time, talents and influence to make life better for the next generation.”

“Promise Night is an opportunity for us to celebrate the successes of our honorees while being inspired by their community and national impact,” said John Gomperts, president & CEO of America’s Promise. “Their commitment to the advancement of young people is essential to keeping youth on the path to adult success. America’s Promise is proud to recognize such a dedicated group.”

2018 Promise of America Honorees

• Katherine and David Bradley are co-founders of the CityBridge Foundation, a private family foundation based in Washington, D.C. In 2000, CityBridge began investigating successful practices for combating entrenched, multigenerational poverty—all with the intention of launching a new, signature program in Washington, D.C. CityBridge Education, a nonprofit enterprise dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for all children, was launched out of CityBridge Foundation as an education incubator that seeks out the teachers, leaders, and school teams with the ideas and the drive to create new, better models of school in Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Michael Lomax is president and CEO of UNCF, the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships and other educational support to African American students and a leading advocate of college readiness: students’ need for an education, from pre-school through high school, that prepares them for college success. Under his leadership, UNCF has raised more than $2.5 billion and helped more than 92,000 students earn college degrees and launch careers.
• Sondra Samuels is the president & CEO of Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), a collaborative of over 40 partner non-profits and schools. Along with parents, students, partners, and staff, Ms. Samuels is leading a revolutionary culture shift in North Minneapolis that is focused on ending multigenerational poverty through education and family stability. The NAZ collaborative is working toward a single goal—to prepare low-income North Minneapolis children to graduate from high school college and career-ready.
• Jeff Weiner is the CEO of LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network with more than 546 million users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Under his leadership, LinkedIn for Good has reached more than 1 million underserved youth, veterans, refugees, employees and nonprofits, connecting them to greater economic opportunities. Most recently, they’ve introduced LinkedIn Coaches, their signature program to connect underserved young adults and other underrepresented communities to the mentors, networks, and jobs they need to succeed.

2018 Promise Hero Honoree

In addition, this year America’s Promise will also recognize one individual who has made a sustained commitment and unheralded contributions to young people.

• Dr. Wintley Phipps is founder and CEO of US Dream Academy, an organization dedicated to helping  the nation’s children reach for their dreams through academic, social, and values enrichment; empowering young people most at risk of incarceration to believe in themselves and to succeed.  In addition to his role with the US Dream Academy, Dr. Phipps is a world-renowned vocal artist, education activist, motivational speaker, pastor.  For his work at the U.S. Dream Academy he has received numerous service awards, among them: The Excellence in Mentoring for Program Leadership Award from MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnerships; the Oprah Winfrey Angel Network Use Your Life Award; and Philanthropist of the Year Award from The National Center for Black Philanthropy, Inc.

Last year’s Promise of America Award recipients included Kenneth I. Chenault, former chairman and CEO of American Express Company; Common, hip-hop artist, actor, and founder of the Common Ground Foundation; Arne Duncan, managing partner of Emerson Collective; Bryan Stevenson, executive director of Equal Justice Initiative; and Dorothy Stoneman, founder of YouthBuild.

In 2017, the Promise Hero Award was given to singer and songwriter Andra Day, and New England Patriot Malcolm Mitchell.

The title sponsor for the 2018 Promise Night Gala is the Ford Foundation. This year’s platinum sponsor is Salesforce. Gold sponsors include Kenneth and Kathryn Chenault, College Board, the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, Say Yes to Education, State Farm and the Walton Family Foundation.

Shaw Main Streets will host its annual A Taste of Shaw Gala on Thursday April 18, 2018, from 7pm to 9pm. The annual event celebrates the neighborhood’s status as a nationally-recognized dining and drinking destination and is a fundraiser for initiatives that enhance and promote commerce within the Shaw neighborhood, such as the two neighborhood-wide open house events and Art All Night in Shaw.

A Taste of Shaw returns to the Howard Theatre which will be the backdrop for live music by internally-renowned Ethiopian artist Yehuni Belay ad his band, libations and delicious bites from some of DC’s best bars and restaurants. Proceeds from the event support Shaw Main Streets’ economic revitalization and historic preservation activities in the Shaw neighborhood of DC, which have helped bring about the transformation of central Shaw since 2003. Shaw’s hashtag #LoveShaw, represents the comradery of Shaw’s business owners and the citywide support and accolades the neighborhood continues to receive. Yehuni Belay

A hospitality renaissance led by top chefs and mixologists has been under way in recent years, bringing fresh concepts and perspectives in cuisine and beverage, as well as a host of new talent, making Shaw the city’s top dining and imbibing destination. This year’s A Taste of Shaw welcomes new arrivals Gaslight Tavern by the Hilton Brothers, an expansion of Po Boy Jim from H Street, the District’s only Georgian cuisine restaurant; Supra and the latest additions to the Convention Center, The Morris American Cocktail Bar and Unconventional Diner.

Shaw Main Streets invites the entire region to explore some of the best the neighborhood has to offer at one venue, on one special evening. The full list of 2018 A Taste of Shaw host committee members providing sips and noshes include the following bars and restaurants: Beau Thai & BKK Cookshop Espita Mezcaleria Sugar Shack Donuts & Coffee Chercher Ethiopian Cuisine Etete Supra Declaration Gaslight Tavern The Dabney & Dabney Cellar Dino’s Grotto La Jambe Farmers & Distillers Drink Company Pop Up Bar PoBoy Jim Fish Scale Dolci Gelati Service Bar DC The Morris American Bar Seylou Bakery & Mill Unconventional Diner

Tickets are $80 in advance and can be ordered online at www.smsgala18.eventbrite.com. On the day of the event, tickets will be $100. Tickets include unlimited food and cocktail tastings, beer and wine, and complimentary valet parking.

Washington D.C. philanthropists, lung cancer survivors, scientists and friends will gather and boogie to the hits of disco at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium Friday, April 20, for LUNGevity Foundation’s 7^th Annual Musical Celebration of Hope Gala, Follow the Call of the Disco Ball.

The disco-themed gala benefiting LUNGevity, the nation’s leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit, will celebrate the extraordinary progress in lung cancer research and the improved quality of life patients are now experiencing due to earlier detection and new treatments for lung cancer.

For the first time, the annual event will be chaired by two lung cancer survivors, former ABC7 Anchor Greta Kreuz and King Automotive owner, Larry Aschenbach. Longtime LUNGevity supporter and NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer will return as the emcee for the evening recognizing individuals and organizations who have demonstrated remarkable leadership in the fight against lung cancer.

Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and 2015’s Face of Hope Recipient, will present the 2018 Face of Hope Award to Dr. Philip Bonomi, Alice Pirie Wirtz Professor of Medical Oncology at Rush University Medical Center, for his work to improve outcomes in lung cancer and how people live with the disease.

The  2018 Hope Award for Corporate Leadership will be presented to Foundation Medicine for their demonstrated exceptional commitment to the health and well-being of lung cancer communities in the United States and globally.

LUNGevity will also recognize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs with the 2018 Public Service Face of Hope Award for their progress in improving access to high-quality care for veterans living with and at risk of lung cancer.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception followed by dinner, awards presentations, and dancing.

 For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.lungevity.org/hopegala

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: 2^nd 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

                1600 Wilson Blvd

                Arlington, VA 22209

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.

The Washington Tennis & Education Foundation (WTEF)is hosting its annual Tennis Ball on Saturday, April 21 at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. to support underserved DC youth becoming champions on and off the court.

This premiere event will kick off with a VIP Round Robin Tennis Tournament at WTEF’s East Capitol Campus, 200 Stoddert Place, SE and will culminate with an elegant evening of silent and live auctions, dinner and an awards program. This gala supports WTEF’s academic and athletic enrichment programs for youth in need in the District.

Willis Thomas Jr., a founding father of WTEF and the first African-American tennis talent from the DC area, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for his life’s work of coaching and mentoring WTEF scholars and building tennis programs in the community. Donald Dell, co-founder of the Washington Tournament now known as the Citi Open, will also receive the Champion of Tennis Award. As the Washington Tournament celebrates its 50^thedition this year, the WTEF honors Dell for his contributions to tennis, and his foresight of giving the tournament’s charter to the Foundation to help DC-area children learn to love tennis while excelling in school.

This year’s gala is generously presented by Citi.

WHAT:          2018 Tennis Ball

WHEN:          April 21, 2018; 6 -10 p.m.

WHERE:       Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C. – 1150 22^ndSt. NW

WHO:           Willis Thomas, Jr.

Donald Dell

The Global Good Fund, a social enterprise accelerating the leadership development of high-potential social entrepreneurs, will host its sixth annual Gala and Summit to present its 2018 class of fellows.

Who:   Daniel Lubetzky, CEO and Founder of KIND, Gala Keynote Speaker (by video)

Former Governor Terry McAuliffe, Gala Veteran Leadership Program Remarks

Carrie Rich, CEO and Cofounder, Global Good Fund (GGF)

What:  The Global Good Fund Gala (April 26, 2018, 7:00pm-9:30pm)

Inova Center for Personalized Health

3225 Gallows Road

Fairfax, Virginia

The Global Good Fund Summit (April 25-28, 2018, 8:00am-5pm)

Convene

1800 Tysons Boulevard

McLean, Virginia

Following a rigorous three-stage selection process, the Global Good Fund selects twelve fellows each year from thousands of applications and matches them with high profile mentors from the business world, $10,000 in capital funding and experiential learning to boost their leadership skills, grow their enterprises, and achieve social impact. At The Global Good Fund’s annual summit and gala, they will have the opportunity to meet each other, network with other fellows, coaches, staff and alumni, and take part in leadership coaching, goal setting and monitoring.

The diverse 2018 cohort of Global Good Fund fellows is comprised of nine women and three men representing six nationalities who are working to solve complex social problems in six different sectors, including poverty, hunger, disability services, education, workforce development, and STEM careers.  They are already driving social change on every continent, with about 75% of their collective impact outside the U.S.   This international group will unite for the first time in-person in Washington, DC during The Global Good Fund Annual Summit April 25-28, 2018, and will be celebrated on April 26th at the Fund’s Annual Gala.

To date, The Global Good Fund has supported 85 social entrepreneurs from 25 countries around the globe. Their board of advisers, directors and mentors include Jeremiah Buckley of BuckleySandler LLP, EY executive Marc Andersen, Johnson & Johnson Vice President Michael Sneed, Northrop Grumman Corp. CEO Wes Bush, BET co-founder Sheila Johnson, Ted Leonsis of Monumental Sports and Entertainment and more.

Funders for the 2018 Gala and Summit include EY, Johnson & Johnson, SILA, Swan & Legend, Getwell Network, and Northern Trust.  The Good News Network is the exclusive online media partner for the 2018 Global Good Fund fellows.

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.