David Sedaris has leveraged his sardonic wit and incisive social critiques to become one of America’s preeminent humor writers. Beginning with his wildly popular “Santaland Diaries,” the great skill with which Sedaris slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that he is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition. He visits his D.C. “home away from home,” the Music Center at Strathmore, on Friday, October 17, 2014 at 8 p.m. Says the San Francisco Chronicle: “Sedaris belongs on any list of people writing in English at the moment who are revising our ideas about what’s funny.” For more information or to purchase tickets, call (301) 581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.
In addition to “Barrel Fever,” Sedaris is the author of “Holidays on Ice,” as well as collections of personal essays, “Naked,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,” “When You Are Engulfed in Flames,” and his most recent book, “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls,” each of which became an immediate bestseller. The audio version of “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls” was a 56th Annual Grammy nominee for Best Spoken Word Album. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling collection of fables entitled “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary.”
Sedaris’s pieces appear regularly in The New Yorker and have twice been included in “The Best American Essays.” There are a total of seven million copies of his books in print and they have been translated into 25 languages.
He and his sister Amy Sedaris have collaborated under the name “The Talent Family” and have written half-a-dozen plays which have been produced at La Mama, Lincoln Center, and The Drama Department in New York City. These plays include “Stump the Host,” “Stitches,” “One Woman Shoe,” which received an Obie Award, “Incident at Cobbler’s Knob,” and “The Book of Liz,” which was published in book form by Dramatists Play Service.
David Sedaris’s original radio pieces can often be heard on This American Life. David Sedaris has been nominated for three Grammy awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. His most recent audio recording of new stories (recorded live) is “David Sedaris: Live for Your Listening Pleasure.”
A feature film adaptation of his story “C.O.G.” was released after a premier at the Sundance Film Festival (2013).
Life has been an endless series of adventures for Neil Patrick Harris. He has enthralled fans for nearly three decades in more than 100 wildly varied roles, ranging from the iconic Doogie Howser, M.D., and Barney Stinson to Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible and his recent, Tony Award-winning turn as Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.Never one to limit himself, Harris is also a two-time Emmy host, four-time Tony host, an accomplished amateur magician, and a licensed taxidermist (one of those is not true). Exhausted yet? Neil’s not!
In addition to his busy work life, Neil is also raising very energetic twin three-year-olds with his husband, David Burtka. But how did an aspiring child actor from a tiny mountain town in New Mexico turn into an award-winning, jet-setting, A-list performer who is also the most prominent example of gay family life in America? By chance or by choice? Not only will NEIL PATRICK HARRIS: CHOOSE YOUR OWN AUTOBIOGRAPHY (Crown Archetype; On Sale October 14, 2014) tell readers the whole story, Neil invites them to step into his shoes and roll the dice for him at decisive turning points throughout his life. In this affectionate homage to the Choose Your Own Adventure books he loved as a kid, he offers dozens of paths to choose from, some of which lead to the NPH we know and love, and others that end in the type of tragic demise that will be very familiar to fans of the original series. Neil Patrick Harris reinvents the celebrity memoir with an autobiography that puts YOU in charge of his life.
WHO: Neil Patrick Harris
WHAT: Book signing
WHEN: 7:30 PM
WHERE: Sixth & I
600 I Street Northwest
Noche de Pasión: The Tango Soirée
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Organization of American States
Join me, the members of The Washington Ballet’s Women’s Committee, Jeté Society and Latino Dance Fund Host Committee for Noche de Pasión: The Tango Soirée on Saturday, November 8, 2014. This inaugural event will benefit TWB’s scholarship programs and the Latino Dance Fund as well as celebrate TWB’s fall repertory program “Masterworks,” showcasing 5 Tangos by world-renowned choreographer, Hans van Manen, among other works.
Noche de Pasión: The Tango Soirée will take place at the stunning Organization of American States, which will be transformed into a sultry Buenos Aires Tango club, full of drama, passion and intrigue. At the VIP reception hosted by TWB’s Artistic Director Septime Webre and members of the diplomatic community, patrons will sip signature “Evita” champagne cocktails and have an opportunity to mix and mingle with dancers who have benefited from the Latino Dance Fund. Following the VIP reception, guests attending the main party will enjoy an exclusive performance by The Washington Ballet, sample the finest in South American wines and spirits, savor delectable Argentine-inspired cuisine, bid on “Super Silent Auction” items and be part of the best dance party to hit Washington, DC in decades. The event will bring together a dynamic group of hundreds of leaders across business, arts, politics, community and culture.
To purchase tickets, click here: http://www.washingtonballet.org/contribute/special-events/noche-de-pasion-the-tango-soiree_copy
Join CQ Roll Call and Hooks Book Events as they host John Bicknell for a book-signing event Wednesday, November 12th.
6 p.m. EST
LOCATION: Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital
Food & beverages will be served.
Complimentary copies of the book will be distributed on a first come first served basis.
America 1844: Religious Fervor, Westward Expansion, and the Presidential Election That Transformed the Nation
About the book:
The presidential election of 1844 was one of the two or three most momentous elections in American history. Had Henry Clay won instead of James K. Polk, we’d be living in a very different country today. Polk’s victory cemented the westward expansion that brought Texas, California, and Oregon into the union. It also took place amid religious turmoil that included anti-Mormon and anti-Catholic violence, and the “Great Disappointment,” in which thousands of followers of an obscure preacher named William Miller believed Christ would return to earth in October 1844.
Author and journalist John Bicknell details even more compelling, interwoven events that occurred during this momentous year: the murder of Joseph Smith, the religious fermentation of the Second Great Awakening, John C. Frémont’s exploration of the West, Charles Goodyear’s patenting of vulcanized rubber, the near-death of President John Tyler in a freak naval explosion, and much more. All of these elements illustrate the competing visions of the American future—Democrats versus Whigs, Mormons versus Millerites, nativists versus Catholics, those who risked the venture westward versus those who stayed safely behind—and how Polk’s election cemented the vision of a continental nation.
About the author:
John Bicknell is the Executive Editor of @FCWnow in lives in Haymarket, VA. Follow on Twitter: @JohnBick1960
On Tuesday, November 18, José Andrés and ThinkFoodGroup will host Sean Brock—the James Beard Award-winning Chef of McCrady’s and Husk Restaurants—at America Eats Tavern to celebrate his new cookbook: Heritage. For $60, tickets include a taste from the cookbook courtesy of America Eats Tavern Head Chef Nate Waugaman, local wines from Virginia’s own Trump Winery, and a signed copy of the book.
The reception will take place in the front bar and private dining room in a passed bite/drink format. The restaurant will remain open for business should guests decide to stay for dinner (price not included in ticket).
What: Sean Brock cookbook party at America Eats Tavern
When: Tuesday, Nov 18 from 6:30—8:30pm
Where: America Eats Tavern (1700 Tysons Blvd inside the Ritz Carlton at Tysons Corner; McLean, VA) *By Metro – Silver Line to Tysons Corner
How: To purchase tickets, visit https://nvite.com/BrockatAmericaEats/brockatamericaeats
Growing in popularity, this year’s Beaujolais & Beyond Festival gathering for the annual wine harvest in France will take place at La Maison Française (at the Embassy of France) on November 21 at 8pm.
In addition to a selection of French breads, cheeses, pâtés and pastries, small plates will be provided by restaurants such as ICI Urban Bistrot and Paul Bakery. Guests will be treated to free-flowing Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, in addition to a selection of wines from France, Italy, Spain and California (see list below).
To complement the libations, festivities will include a local DJ and dancing, a blind tasting contest, trivia quiz, silent auction featuring French products and a raffle for round-trip tickets to Paris from Air France!
From 7:00 to 8:00 prior to the party, VIP ticket holders will enter the heart of the Embassy to enjoy a private tasting event with respected members and personalities from Washington’s political and professional circles. General Admission starts after 8 pm.
Co-hosted by the Alliance Française de Washington DC & the DC French-American Chamber of Commerce.
Where: La Maison Française at the French Embassy// 4101 Reservoir Rd, NW
When: Friday, November 21 at 8pm
Price: Alliance Française and FACC Members- General $55, VIP $90, Block of 10 $450
General Admission- Standard $65, VIP $110, Block of 10 $550
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beaujolais-and-beyond-celebration-2014-tickets-13138536717
Wine Selection:
All wines are courtesy of Deutsch Family Wines and Spirits
VIP Reception
FRANCE: Ch La Bastide Dauzac
ITALY: Enza Prosecco
USA: Joseph Carr Chardonnay; Joseph Carr Cabernet
Beaujolais and Beyond Celebration
FRANCE : Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Village ; Georges Duboeuf Macon Village ; Jean Descombes; Georges Duboeuf Pouilly Fuissé
WASHINGTON STATE : SKYFALL Pinot Gris, SKYFALL Cabernet Sauvignon
CALIFORNIA : Josh Cellars Legacy, Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc California
ITALY : Barone Fini Pinot Grigio, Barone Fini Merlot
Growing in popularity, this year’s Beaujolais & Beyond Festival gathering for the annual wine harvest in France will take place at La Maison Française (at the Embassy of France) on November 21 at 8pm.
In addition to a selection of French breads, cheeses, pâtés and pastries, small plates will be provided by restaurants such as ICI Urban Bistrot and Paul Bakery. Guests will be treated to free-flowing Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau, in addition to a selection of wines from France, Italy, Spain and California (see list below).
To complement the libations, festivities will include a local DJ and dancing, a blind tasting contest, trivia quiz, silent auction featuring French products and a raffle for round-trip tickets to Paris from Air France!
From 7:00 to 8:00 prior to the party, VIP ticket holders will enter the heart of the Embassy to enjoy a private tasting event with respected members and personalities from Washington’s political and professional circles. General Admission starts after 8 pm.
Co-hosted by the Alliance Française de Washington DC & the DC French-American Chamber of Commerce.
Where: La Maison Française at the French Embassy// 4101 Reservoir Rd, NW
When: Friday, November 21 at 8pm
Price: Alliance Française and FACC Members- General $55, VIP $90, Block of 10 $450
General Admission- Standard $65, VIP $110, Block of 10 $550
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beaujolais-and-beyond-celebration-2014-tickets-13138536717
Wine Selection:
All wines are courtesy of Deutsch Family Wines and Spirits
VIP Reception
FRANCE: Ch La Bastide Dauzac
ITALY: Enza Prosecco
USA: Joseph Carr Chardonnay; Joseph Carr Cabernet
Beaujolais and Beyond Celebration
FRANCE : Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Village ; Georges Duboeuf Macon Village ; Jean Descombes; Georges Duboeuf Pouilly Fuissé
WASHINGTON STATE : SKYFALL Pinot Gris, SKYFALL Cabernet Sauvignon
CALIFORNIA : Josh Cellars Legacy, Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc California
ITALY : Barone Fini Pinot Grigio, Barone Fini Merlot
Peruvian Brothers Charity Pisco Reception at the Embassy of Peru
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Embassy of Peru
1700 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tickets $25.00
Cocktail Attire
Peruvian Brothers Catering: Pan con Chicharron, Pan con Pollo, Pan con Asado, Empanadas
Pisco Sours Courtesy of Macchu Pisco
Live Music Courtesy of Piscura Networking
Join the Alliance Française in celebrating the life and work of Romain Gary. A Titan of French literature, Gary published more than 50 books throughout his life under different names. A man of many talents, he fought for France during World War 2 and later became a diplomat. On Friday, December 5 at 7pm, the AFDC will host a discussion panel who will talk about Gary as a diplomat, as a man in history and as a man of letters. The panel will include the Consul General of France, Olivier Serot-Almeras; the Delegate General of the Fondation Alliance Francaise Paris in the US, Jean-François Hans and the Alliance Française de Washington DC’s Executive Director, Sarah Pickup-Diligenti.
Following the panel will be an unveiling of AFDC archives and a reception.
EVENT WEB PAGE: http://www.francedc.org/Events/default.aspx?id=118
WHERE: AFDC// 2142 Wyoming Ave NW
WHEN: Friday, December 5 at 7pm
TICKETS: $20 general; $15 members
For more AFDC events and offerings, please visit our website.
