Union Market will get a little taste of Brazil when internationally inspired lifestyle brand NOVA BOSSA pops up at the thriving retail and culinary district.

Offering art and photography, bain couture, books, women’s clothing, handbags, home decór, jewelry and scarves, the NOVA BOSSA pop-up will feature a wide selection of globally sourced items from international designers, including Adriana Degreas, Artiz, Catarina Mina, Cecilia Prado, Mercedes Salazar, Mola Sasa, Paula Mendoza Jewelry, Scarf Me, Wymann Rio and more.

From intricately handmade bags to 24-carat gold-plated statement jewelry to colorful baskets from the Amazon, NOVA BOSSA’s assortment of luxury-leaning goods orbit around founder and CEO Carolina Furukrona’s passions for travel, design and entertaining.

She launched NOVA BOSSA last year following 100 international adventures and a business certification from Harvard, in an effort to both pay homage to her São Paulo roots and enable top lifestyle brands — especially by women designers and artisans — from her native Brazil and other emerging markets to go global.

“NOVA BOSSA is delighted to celebrate our one-year anniversary by partnering with Union Market DC for this pop-up,” Furukrona says. “We believe that Union Market’s focus on culture and commerce, on showcasing the very best new businesses in the region, and on serving a dynamic and diverse clientele makes this a unique opportunity for our brand. We are excited to showcase rising international women designers − most of which have never before been available in the United States or the D.C. region – and to prove that the creativity, craftsmanship and design emanating from places like Brazil can be just as good, if not better, than what’s coming out of Europe. After spending so much time abroad I feel D.C. is lacking some bossa, so it’s an honor to present new products that can give a daring and fresh update to the wardrobes and homes of our great city.”

As home base for 40+ award-winning restaurant and retail concepts, northeast D.C.’s thriving Union Market District continues to grow its reputation as a brand incubator, giving small businesses the solid footing they need to get to the next level.

The NOVA BOSSA pop-up launches February 22, and will operate as follows:

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 longevity, riches, peace, wisdom, 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 Buns, Chinese New Year Chicken Potage, Kanpachi 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

Chef Russell Smith and team will host a lounge takeover from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27^th, 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.

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.

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.

Purchase your ticket today to secure your spot at FGIDC’s next workshop, Impact of Advertising. Set up your brand for success with the newest, most impactful advertising tools.