Events/Things To Do

Nearly 100 of Washington, D.C.’s best restaurants will descend upon the Smithsonian’s National Zoo for ZooFari: Dine for Wildlife, the area’s biggest and longest-running food and drink tasting event hosted by Friends of the National Zoo. At ZooFari you’ll be able to sample delicious food, wine, and beer, participate in a silent auction (featuring exclusive animal-made artwork) meet a naked mole-rat, and much more—all while supporting conservation work around the globe. Save the date for May 17, 2018 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. to celebrate and save species.

In addition to extraordinary food and fine wines, ZooFari also offers a night of unforgettable entertainment. The chef that rocks, DJ Chef—champion of the Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen—will be preparing eats while spinning beats!

Guests will also dance under the stars with live music by renowned dance band DC Fusion and classically trained violinist Ben Hoyt. There will also be exotic animal encounters, food sculptors, a cake decorating contest by the Art Institute of Washington, and a silent auction featuring exclusive paintings made by D.C.’s famous panda family Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Bei Bei.

“ZooFari is our premier dining and fundraising event, and the longest-running food and drink event in the nation’s capital. Many of the restaurants have been featured on Food Network, Travel Channel and Cooking Channel,” said Lynn Mento, Executive Director of FONZ. “Best of all, the proceeds from this fabulous evening support the Zoo’s mission to save species.”

Tickets are available now at fonz.org/zoofari. Ticket prices are $160 for FONZ members and $200 for nonmembers. Exclusive VIP packages are also available. Some of these packages offer all-access tickets, valet parking, and a private VIP pre-party, as well as behind-the-scenes animal tours.

The ZooFari online auction offers a lively way to support the Zoo’s programs. Bidding begins Thursday, May 10 at 501auctions.com/fonz. Vacation getaways, private Zoo tours, exclusive parties with top area chefs, and animal art are just a few of the hundreds of coveted items available in the auction.

On Tuesday, May 22, 2018, The National Women’s History Museum will host its Women Making History Awards in Washington, D.C. The annual event commemorates the achievements of women and the importance of preserving women’s history and highlights the need for a national women’s history museum on the National Mall.

This year’s event honors award-winning journalist and author Cokie Roberts, and #MeToo movement founder Tarana Burke. CNN’s chief political correspondent, Dana Bash, PBS Contributing Correspondent, Alison Stewart, will also participate in the program.

WHO: National Women’s History Museum Women

WHAT: Women Making History Awards

WHEN: Tuesday, May 22, 2018

6:00pmET Reception

7:00pmET Program

WHERE: Carnegie Institution for Science

1530 P Street, NW

Washington, DC

Tickets are available at https://www.womenshistory.org/2018-women-making-history-awards.

Heart of America celebrates 20 years in Washington, DC

• 8:00 a.m. Race Start
• 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Post Run Village

• Jamie Vespa Cooking Light Editor, nutrition and culinary expert demonstrates fresh, healthy recipes on the culinary stage.

• Runners participate in a heart-pumping dance warm up with Mark Jones.

• Irene Kaznachey of YogaWorks leads a post-run stretch and Hannah Preston from Zweet Sport, offers an exciting body sculpt demonstration.

• Post Run Food & Fitness Festival filled with chef demonstrations, beer garden tastings, and giveaways!

• Jamie Vespa, Cooking Light Magazine Editor
• Owner and Inspired Chef Taria Ramos, of Inspired Cravings

• Tickets are priced at $45 (Prices increase June 1), and can be purchased at www.fitfoodierun.com.
• Pets are welcome.
• All events are rain or shine.

Washington Redskins teammates — cornerback Josh Norman and tight end Vernon Davis — announce that they will co-host the fifth annual White Party benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW) and Norman’s Starz24 Foundation.

The highly anticipated summer soiree, originated by former Redskins player Pierre Garçon and with a head-to-toe all-white dress code, is taking place on Saturday, June 2 at Decades (1219 Connecticut Avenue NW). The sleekly-decorated rooftop boasts palm trees, tropical plants and greenery-covered privacy walls across the 2,500-square foot space, making for the perfect backdrop for the evening.

Local pro athletes, NFL executives, community leaders and Washington VIPs will rub elbows for a good cause, helping to raise money for BGCGW and Starz24 that will foster a new generation of innovative and talented future leaders nationwide.

“As a native Washingtonian, I have always wanted the best for my city, so giving back in this way is personally important for me,” says Davis. “It feels amazing knowing that our event will help make dreams come true for some of Washington’s best and brightest kids.”

“My Starz24 Foundation is all about developing future skills in our young people and the White Party will help us widen that reach,” adds Norman. “When Vernon and I talked about teaming up to make this event a reality, I knew we could have a real impact by working together.”

The White Party will feature a premium open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres donated by Barcode and a live auction.

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, invite locals and guests alike to partake in a Root Beer Float Day fundraiser   on Friday August 10^th.   Sales of classic root beer floats will benefit the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital

WHEN: Friday August 10^th from 11 am until 10 pm

WHERE:              The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City

                             1250 South Hayes Street

                             Arlington, Virginia  22202

                             www.ritzcarlton.com/pentagoncity

Join the fun in fyve lounge as hotel guests, as well as the ladies and gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City celebrate 35-year Marriott partnership with Children’s Miracle Network by offering a traditional root beer, rich vanilla ice cream, whipped cream with a cherry on top float.

During the week of August 6, participating Marriott International hotels throughout the United States and Canada will host root beer floats fundraising activities with the proceeds going directly to local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Root Beer Float Day is a nod to Marriott’s beginnings when company founder, Bill Marriott, Sr., and his wife Alice opened two root beer stands in Washington, D.C., in the 1920s.