Sneakerball is the only black tie and sneakers gala tgat annually celebrates the best of sports in the greater washington region. The event is organized to recognize and benefit the Special Olympics and Greater Washington Sports Alliance Foundation, the nonprofit oundation of the Sports Alliance that uses the philanthropic generosity of indivudla and corporate donors to make strategic investments in emerging non-profis that use sports to enhance children’s lives.
YPFP’s annual Affairs of State Gala is DC’s premier event for young professionals working in international relations and foreign affairs. We’ll be celebrating ten years of YPFP’s history with a two-hour open bar, whiskey tastings, music, and more!
What: Affairs of State Gala
When: Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 8:00pm
Where: National Press Club
Notes: tickets available now (age 21+ only)
Advanced Tickets (before Aug. 31) – $55
Last Minute Tickets (Sept. 1-5) – $65
At the Door – $75
The Ambassador’s Ball raises vital funds to support multiple sclerosis research, as well as local rpograms and services that benefit those affected by MS in our community
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History‘s Raise a Glass Star-Spangled Banner Gala Event will be held September 12, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. This cocktail showcase honoring the Star Spangled Banner will support the American Food History Project at the National Museum of American History. The event will be emceed by Simon Majumdar from the Food Network and feature music by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Quartet. Guests will learn how to mix their own cocktails at home, participate in mixology demonstrations, hear from cocktail historian David Wondrich, and see collections objects out of storage.
Washington, D.C.’s most anticipated epicurean festival, the annual Taste of Georgetown, celebrates its 21st year on Saturday, September 13, 2014 from 12 noon-5pm with creative tastes from more than 35 of the neighborhood’s best restaurants, as well as an expansive Craft Beer and Wine Pavilion and live entertainment. For the first time in the event’s history, the Taste will move from Wisconsin Avenue to K Street, along the scenic Georgetown Waterfront. This longstanding event in Georgetown is hosted by the Georgetown BID and benefits the Georgetown Ministry Center’s services supporting the homeless. The event began 20 years ago by Grace Episcopal Church in Georgetown and its former Rector David Bird and member Robert Egger, who went on to found DC Central Kitchen. The BID has been involved since 2004.
This year’s Taste of Georgetown entices attendees to Eat, Drink, Play with a new location, later hours, and experiences to keep the fun going. The only opportunity to taste one’s way through Georgetown in an afternoon, Taste of Georgetown 2014 will offer the opportunity to sample more than 70 signature dishes from more than 35 popular Georgetown dining spots—more than ever. For the second year, teams led by some of Georgetown’s hottest chefs will face off in the Georgetown Chef Showdown, testing their culinary skills during the Iron Chef-style Competition judged by D.C.’s top food experts and media.
The annual tasting festival will take advantage of its new Waterfront location to offer family-friendly entertainment hosted by Pinstripes that will include bocce ball courts, hula-hooping, face-painting and balloon-animal-making with help from a number of Georgetown’s historical attractions. Attendees are encouraged to relax, picnic-style, with their Tastes in the scenic Georgetown Waterfront Park. This year’s event will for the first time include Taste Marketplace, featuring Georgetown-based stores. The event will also feature a live music stage with bluegrass and country bands curated by Gypsy Sally’s. Following the event, attendees can keep the energy and deals going at After Taste Happy Hour events taking place at select restaurants throughout Georgetown.
Tickets are $5 for one tasting and $20 for five tastings (presale only), and can be purchased in advance online at the newly rebranded website, http://www.tasteofgeorgetown.
Getting There
Attendees can access the event via a number of public transportation options, including nearby Metro stations, the DC Circulator, MetroBus, and Capital Bikeshare. For more information on getting to Georgetown, visit http://www.georgetowndc.com/
There is ample parking in Georgetown, including a number of below-ground garages located near the Taste. To view parking garages, visit http://www.georgetowndc.com/
For more information and advanced ticket purchases, please visit www.TasteOfGeorgetown.com.
Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or veg-curious, DC VegFest (www.dcvegfest.com) is the place to be on September 20th from 11-6pm. More than 15,000 people from the Washington, DC area are expected to attend this yearly celebration of the best of everything vegetarian in and around the nation’s capital.
“From free vegan food samples and cooking demos to a kids activity area and live music, DC VegFest has something for everyone,” says Erica Meier, Executive Director of Compassion Over Killing, the event organizer. “Now in its sixth year, this free outdoor event is the perfect way to spend a beautiful fall afternoon with your family and friends – including your furry four-legged friends who can enjoy free treats in our new Barking Lot.”
During this day-long celebration, more than 100 exhibitors, partners, and sponsors will showcase a wide range of products, services and resources to help Washington, DC-area consumers learn more about why eating a plant-based diet and choosing vegetarian foods is one of the best ways to help protect our health, the planet and animals. VegFest will take place at Yards Park, 355 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003.
Speakers include:
- Robin Quivers — Co-host of the Howard Stern show and author of The Vegucation of Robin
- Doron Petersan – Owner of the award-winning Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats
- Joe Yonan — Washington Post Food Editor and cookbook author
- Lesley Parker-Rollins — Vegan mom and host of Ask a Vegan Family
- Bryant Terry – Eco-chef and author of The Inspired Vegan and Afro-Vegan
- Dr. Neal Barnard – President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
- Alexis Fox and Micah Risk of Lighter Nutrition Coaching and Community
- Dr. Betty Smith — 73-year old ultra-marathon runner
- John Schlimm — activist, artist, and international award-winning cookbook author
DC VegFest highlights the many benefits and flavors of vegetarian eating and shows how easy and delicious it is to choose healthier, more sustainable, and kinder foods. Attendees will enjoy free food samples from So Delicious, Tofurky, Larabar, Way Better Snacks, Relay Foods, along with nearly two dozen food vendors including Vegan Treats, Bread & Brew, Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats, Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza, Dama Ethiopian and more.
During the day-long festival, attendees can peruse exhibitor booths from such animal-friendly organizations and companies as Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, the Humane Society of the United States, Conscious Corner, A Well-Fed World, Animal Rescue Bar, Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness, and many more.
In addition to this event being free and open to everyone, the first 1,000 attendees will also get a free 2014 commemorative DC VegFest tote bag loaded with veg-friendly products, coupons and more!
The DC VegFest was originally founded by the Vegetarian Society of DC and has been organized by Compassion Over Killing since 2009.
Please use #DCVegFest14 to follow along with us on social media.
Park Hyatt Washington will host its Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine, a seasonal culinary & beverage experience on Saturday, September 20, saluting the best ingredients of the new fall season. Guests will enjoy the tastes and flavors from Blue Duck Tavern’s talented chefs, regional artisans and local beverage partners.
Join Blue Duck Tavern’s celebrated culinary team outside on the garden terrace to feast on roasted pig, braised meats, whole roasted fish, seasonal salads, farm vegetables, artisan bread, house made desserts, and hand-cranked ice creams, accompanied by wines from The Boxwood Winery in Middleburg, VA and craft beer from Port City Brewing Company in Alexandria, VA. Tickets are priced at $165 per person, inclusive.
WHERE: Blue Duck Tavern Terrace
1201 24th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
WHEN: Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 6:00 pm
On September 22, culinary personalities from around the country will gather in Washington for a first-of-its kind charity roast of D.C. chef and pioneering restaurateur, Nora Pouillon. The night of food, comedy and philanthropy will be held at Dock 5 in Union Market, and honor Nora’s legacy, while poking some fun at her occasional foibles. All proceeds from the inaugural Chef’s Roast will benefit the Chef Action Network, an organization dedicated to building the next generation of chefs advocating for policies that support health, nutrition and sustainability.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the event will feature a series of roasters who will offer anecdotes and commentary on Pouillon’s storied culinary career, which saw the Austrian-born chef open Restaurant Nora in 1979 in Washington’s Dupont Circle neighborhood, and eventually turn it into America’s first certified organic restaurant.
The list of roasters is a who’s who of food world personalities, environmental and food issue advocates, including:
- Chef Rick Bayless – Frontera Grill, Toplobompo and Xoco
- Chef Carla Hall – Co-host of ABC’s The Chew
- Chef Michel Nischan – Wholesome Wave and Chef Action Network
- Chef Mary Sue Milliken – Border Grill Restaurants and James Beard Foundation trustee
- Chef Patrick O’Connell – The Inn at Little Washington
- Chef Ann Cooper – “The Renegade Lunch Lady”
- Ken Cook – President, Environmental Working Group
- Jim Crawford – Owner, New Morning Farm, Founding Member, Tuscarora Organic Growers
- Robert Egger – Founder and President, LA Kitchen, Former President, DC Central Kitchen
The inaugural Chef’s Roast is the brainchild of Arabella Advisors founder and managing director, Eric Kessler, and his wife, Sharapat Kessler, who also serve as event chairs on the host committee. “The Chef Action Network does a remarkable job helping chefs shine a spotlight on important culinary and environmental issues,” said Eric, “and we are thrilled to be able to support it while also paying tribute to Nora, a truly remarkable talent who has had a major, if often underappreciated, influence on American dining.”
During the proceedings, guests will enjoy a Nora-inspired feast prepared by culinary luminaries:
- Cathal Armstrong (Restaurant Eve, Eamonn’s, PX, The Majestic and Society Fair)
- Scott Drewno (The Source by Wolfgang Puck)
- Mike Isabella (Graffiato, Kapnos and G)
- Kate Jansen (Pastry Chef at Willow)
- Haidar Karoum (Proof, Estadio, Doi Moi)
- Mary Sue Milliken (Border Grill Restaurants)
- John Mooney (Bidwell, Bell, Book & Candle)
- Tracy O’Grady (Willow)
- Mikaela Reuben (Private Chef, Vancouver, BC)
- Andrea Reusing (The Lantern)
- Christian Thornton (Atria)
- Sherry Yard (Helms Bakery)
Individual tickets to the Chef’s Roast are $300, while tables for 10 can be reserved for $7,000-$30,000 inclusive of unique opportunities, including a meet and greet with chefs and celebrity roasters. All tickets are available through Eventrbite.
About the Chef Action Network
The Chef Action Network (CAN) is a non-profit organization that connects chefs to tools and resources that will help them create significant and lasting change in their communities, the country and the world. CAN is focused on harnessing the power of America’s preeminent chefs in support of a strong, sustainable, just and healthy food system. www.chefactionnetwork.com
Tuesday, September 23 at 7:00 pm
In Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future, the co-founder of PayPal draws on his experience investing in hundreds of start-ups and shares what he has learned about how to build companies that create new things.
with Politics & Prose
WHAT: FIGMENT DC – Free Participatory Art Phenomenon
WHEN: Saturday September 27, 11am-5pm, Sunday September 28, 11am-5pm
WHERE: Anacostia Park, Section E at the Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, WDC
A “Leave No Trace” event, FIGMENT DC features local artists whose art submerges participants in interactive co-creation. The event is totally free and open to the public, and provides a much-needed platform for emerging artists to engage with a diverse audience, and share their artistic visions. In a culture where passive spectatorship often prevails over active engagement, FIGMENT DC builds community among urban residents and suburbanites alike, as we all collaborate together in generating our collective FIGMENT experience. Family-friendly and completely non-commercial, FIGMENT transforms the beautiful outdoor space of Anacostia Park into a magical, colorful playground that everyone can enjoy.
“FIGMENT is an opportunity for our DC community to come together and enjoy art in all its forms,” says Patty Simonton, director of FIGMENT DC 2014. “Unlike most art galleries in Washington, FIGMENT erases the lines between those who create and those who view art so that everyone can become an artist. DC really does have a thriving, creative arts community and this event brings that artistic energy out to a broad audience.”
Concurrent with the announcement of FIGMENT DC 2014 dates, organizers have launched a crowdfunding campaign, “Your Creativity, Your Participation, Your FIGMENT” to raise $9,200 to provide logistics and services such as water, security, equipment and other associated costs. Strictly non-commercial and not for profit, FIGMENT DC accepts no corporate funding or advertising, and hence relies entirely upon individual donations and support. Consistent with the FIGMENT ethos of participation and personal creativity, “perks,” or gifts given in gratitude for donations, include interactive experiences such as singing lessons. Local DC area artists have also made their artworks available as gifts, to help the campaign meet its goal. The campaign, along with a new video about why FIGMENT is such a special part of the creative community in the Greater Washington area can be found at: http://startsomegood.com/
