The Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will present its seventh annual “Nowruz: A Persian New Year Celebration” free family festival Saturday, March 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages can learn, play and feast at a celebration encompassing both museums to mark Nowruz, the beginning of the new year of 1394 in Iran, Afghanistan and many other countries, coinciding with the first day of spring.
At 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., visitors can relive the Iranian music scene of the 1960s and 1970s with updated versions of classic songs made famous by the likes of Googoosh, Hayedeh, Pari Zangeneh and Parva, along with mesmerizing bandari-beat tunes by Zia Atabi. The band Mitra Sumara, based in New York, features Iranian American vocalist Yvette Perez (pictured below), and re-energizes Persian pop with influences ranging from salsa and disco to Nigeria’s Fela Kuti and Middle Eastern rhythms.Visitors will be able to hear storyteller Xanthe Gresham weave tales from Persian literary classics, learn about the Freer and Sackler’s rich collection of 19th-century Persian photographs, discover the meaning of colorful “Haft Sin” table displays and then make their own, watch a master calligrapher at work and dress up in traditional costumes for photos recreating a Persian painting. Other activities include “fire” jumping for good luck in the new year, backgammon and chess matches, face painting and a hands-on workshop in the ImaginAsiaclassroom for families to make crowns and shields inspired by the Shahnama (Book of kings). Docents will elaborate on important works in the exhibitions “Nasta’liq: The Genius of Persian Calligraphy” and “Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran” to offer glimpses of Iran’s rich artistic traditions.
Persian literature enthusiasts can enjoy book-signing sessions at the Sackler store for Two Parrots–a children’s book adapted from the poet Rumi’s celebrated work–signed by illustrator Rashin from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Food of Life: Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies, signed by author Najmieh Batmanglij from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Persian cuisine by Moby Dick and thematic greeting cards will be available for purchase.
The annual event, celebrated in advance of the true holiday March 21, regularly draws crowds of 10,000 visitors, and is made possible by a gift from Jahangir and Eleanor Amuzegar.
On March 19, the new year celebration will continue with a free concert by Grammy-nominated artists Kayhan Kalhor and Shujaat Khan. In “Ghazal: Indian and Persian Improvisations,” the musicians will reunite for the first time in more than 10 years to perform their unique blend of Indian and Persian classical music.
The annual Nowruz lecture will take place March 29, co-sponsored with the Foundation for Iranian Studies. This year’s distinguished speaker will be Azar Nafisi, the best-selling author of Reading Lolita in Tehran and Things I’ve Been Silent About. In the lecture, Nafisi will discuss her latest work, The Republic of Imagination: America in Three Books.
FEATURED COLLECTIONS
On view at the Sackler until May 3, “Nasta’liq: The Genius of Persian Calligraphy” is the first exhibition to focus on one of the most aesthetically refined forms of Persian culture developed during the 14th-16th centuries: nasta’liq, a type of calligraphy so beautiful that for the first time the expressive form of the words eclipsed their meaning. Also on view will be “Feast Your Eyes: A Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran” featuring one of the largest collections of luxury metalwork from ancient Iran. In the Freer Gallery, visitors can enjoy one of the finest holdings of Islamic art in the United States, with particular strengths in ceramics and illustrated manuscripts.
Iranian photographs from the Freer and Sackler Archives’ collection of more than 1,100 original 19th-century prints and glass-plate negatives by Antonin Sevruguin and other Persian photographers will screen for visitors throughout the day. The collection–the largest public holdings of Sevruguin’s photographs outside Iran–was recently digitized and cataloged in its entirety.
The Rock and Roll for Children Foundation is proud to support the Children’s Inn at NIH. The party will unite music icons and fans for a night of incomparable rock n’roll, dancing and amazing auction items for rock legends.
Memorable performances will include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s newest inductee, Ricky Byrd, of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, as well as Simone Kirke of Bad Company, award-winning TV composer Snuffy Walden, Christine Ohlman of the Saturday Night Live band, singer/songwriter Sarah Niemietz, D.C.’s True Gravity, among others.
Not only will rock fans enjoy a night of live performances, they will have the opportunity to bid on silent auction items including memorabilia and guitars signed by the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Taylor Swift, and many more. Other donated items include exciting vacation packages to destinations around the world such as Africa, Maui, and Scotland.
WHEN: Saturday March 14, 2015
7:00 PM
WHERE: Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club
7719 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
COST: VIP admission – $400 – Sound check access, performer autographed memorabilia, photo opportunity access at sound check, stage front access during event, buffet and open bar included.
Preferred admission – $175 – Stage front access during event, buffet and open bar included.
General Admission – $75 – Stadium seating, cash bar & buffet.
W Washington DC and DC’s 107.3 present
POV Live featuring Cash Cash
You’re invited to an exclusive rooftop concert featuring
#1 artist on Billboard’s Dance Radio charts Cash Cash
Tuesday, March 24th
Doors at 7:00 PM
Cash Cash takes the stage at 8:30 PM
Free show with RSVP, space is limited: povlivecashcash.eventbrite.com
POV at W Washington DC
515 15th Street NW
WHAT: SMITHSONIAN at 8—The Smithsonian’s premier 21+ after-hours event series for young professionals—and Francophonie DC present “La Grande Fete”
WHEN: Friday, March 27, 7 to 11 p.m.
WHERE: La Maison Francaise, Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road, Washington, DC
Get ready for a #SMITHSONIANat8 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, and its closing celebration is alwaysmagnifique. This year’s bash will be no exception.
Beginning at 7 p.m., launch into a world tour of francophone cultures. Sample food and drink from more than 30 embassies as you explore each nation’s unique attractions and traditions. There will be plenty of giveaways for you to take home as souvenirs. Don’t forget to Instagram your experiences and dishes throughout the night using #at8enfrancais for a chance to win prizes.
Emeline Michel will perform from 8 to 9 p.m. This captivating performer and versatile vocalist is one of the premier Haitian songwriters of her generation. She has recorded and appeared on concert stages throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and North and South America for over 20 years. Singing both in French and Haitian Creole, she has catapulted into international acclaim.
DJ Princess Slaya spins music from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and plenty of destinations in between. At 9 p.m., she pumps up the sounds as the evening’s dance party begins.
Don’t miss this chance to experience the best of the French-speaking world—all without leaving home #NoPassportNeeded.
Participating organizations and embassies include but are not limited to: Alliance Francais de Washington, Belgium, Benin, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Commonwealth of Dominica, Cote d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, France, Gabon, Guinea, Haiti, Hungary, Laos, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Monaco, Niger, Republic of Congo, Romania, Senegal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Togo, and Tunisia.
#SMITHSONIANat8 #at8enfrancais #NoPassportNeeded
General Admission $40. (includes admission and food and drink samples from 7 to 9 p.m.) Cash bar starting at 9 p.m.
Tickets must be purchased in advance (no sales at the door).
IDs will be checked at the door. Those under 21 will not be served alcohol
For tickets and further information the public may call 202-633-3030 or visit www.SMITHSONIANat8.com
Throughout the spring, guests can learn about other well-known expressions of Japanese culture in “Zen, Tea, and Chinese Art in Medieval Japan”–such as Zen Buddhism, tea drinking and ink painting, which emerged in the 12th-16th centuries. Also on view will be “Oribe Ware: Color and Pattern Come to Japanese Ceramics,” an exhibition on the renowned style that introduced vivid pattern and color to Japanese ceramics in 1605. In addition, cherry blossom enthusiasts anywhere in the world can share the splendor of the season digitally with a new suite of free e-cards featuring artworks from the Freer and Sackler collections, available online.
Visit asia.si.edu/
On Saturday, March 28, 2015, Washington-area business leaders will gather at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to celebrate the 28th annual Leukemia Ball presented by PhRMA. This year, comedian Jim Gaffigan and musician Michael Cavanaugh will perform at this event, dedicated to raising money for lifesaving cancer research and patient programs funded by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Named the “King of Clean Comedy” by The Wall Street Journal, Georgetown alumnus Jim Gaffigan will entertain guests with an original stand-up routine. The actor, Grammy-nominated comedian and New York Times best-selling author is known for several TV shows and movies, including Away We Go, It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Law & Order. Gaffigan recently appeared in his first Broadway production, That Championship Season, and is currently on a 50-city national tour called “Jim Gaffigan: The White Bread Tour.”
Tony and GRAMMY Award nominee Michael Cavanaugh will enchant crowds with his renowned rock ‘n’ roll sound. Cavanaugh is most famous for his lead role in the Broadway musical Movin’ Out and has toured the country with several symphony orchestras.
The Leukemia Ball, one of D.C.’s largest one-night non-political black-tie events, is expected to raise more than $3.1 million for LLS’s National Capital Area Chapter and will be emceed by ESPN anchor Lindsay Czarniak and MSNBC anchor and national correspondent Craig Melvin. Formerly part of the NBC Washington news team, the couple returns to Washington to continue their longtime support of the LLS mission.
“The Leukemia Ball has directly impacted the lives of blood cancer patients everywhere by helping to fund research and to raise awareness,” said Beth Gorman, National Capital Area Chapter Executive Director. “This year, the Ball will surpass the $50 million fundraising milestone thanks to the relentless support of Washington’s business leaders over the past two decades.”
The 2015 Leukemia Ball is co-chaired by Dan Waetjen, Group President at BB&T Bank, and Ed Offterdinger, Executive Managing Partner at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP. The co-chairs lead an esteemed Executive Committee of more than 60 of the area’s most talented, committed business leaders, who volunteer their time to create a memorable evening and raise millions of dollars in support of LLS’s mission.
“It’s incredible to see D.C.’s most influential companies coming together to support the research and programs offered by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,” said Waetjen. “I’m looking forward to serving as senior chair for the 2015 Ball, especially after co-chairing such a successful event last year.”
Seventy-eight cents of every dollar spent by LLS funds its mission – to find a cure for blood cancer and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS’s commitment to funding innovative research projects has contributed to an unprecedented rise in survival rates over recent years. For example, today, the five-year survival rate for the most common form of childhood leukemia is more than 90 percent, up from 3 percent in 1964.
“LLS has made tremendous progress, but the fight against blood cancer is not over,” said Offterdinger. “I’m honored to be co-chairing the Leukemia Ball, as it allows LLS to continue the search for safe and effective treatments for all patients.”
The Leukemia Ball is long recognized as one of Washington’s most popular black-tie galas. The silent auction, which raised more than $300,000 in 2014, is one of the area’s largest, featuring a variety of travel packages, including American Airlines air travel to exotic locations. The event also boasts a Mercedes-Benz raffle featuring two brand new vehicles donated by local Mercedes-Benz dealers. Tickets are $100, and only 5,000 tickets are printed.
The event’s popularity over the past two decades is also largely due to the featured entertainment. Past headliners have included Diana Ross, Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, John Mellencamp, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Seinfeld, Reba McIntyre, Jim Belushi, Dan Ackroyd and Lionel Richie.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (R) (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org. Patients should contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace and Black Jack will host “Boil on the Bayou,” a daylong, all-inclusive crawfish boil house party on Sunday, April 19, 2015. This will be the only crawfish boil hosted for the season. Two tiers of ticketing, one which will be inclusive of food ($55), and one which will include both food and drinks ($90), will allow guests to enjoy an afternoon of Louisiana crawfish boiled with corn and potatoes and traditional Cajun seasoning, prepared by Chef Colleen Conrad. A whole-roasted, sustainably raised suckling pig roasted on Pearl Dive’s patio in a “La Caja China”, with grilled oysters being fired on top, will also be available. In addition, crawfish hushpuppies, creamy cole slaw, pulled pork sandwiches on the restaurant’s famous Addie’s rolls, pork riblets, and a selection of Southern inspired desserts from pastry chef Carri-Anne Hamer will be on the menu.
Those with a drink inclusive ticket will enjoy unlimited beer from Louisiana’s Abita Brewing Company, as well as ‘Hurricane punch’ made by bar manager E. Jay Apaga. Select white and red wine will be available for the duration of the five-hour event.
A live zydeco band will provide a festive atmosphere throughout the afternoon, and food stations will be set up throughout Pearl Dive and Black Jack, with additional drinks available a la carte at the bar.
WHEN: Sunday, April 19, 2015 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pearl Dive and Black Jack will be closed to non-ticket holders during this time. Food-inclusive tickets can be purchased for $55 per person, and food and drink inclusive tickets can be purchased herefor $90. Ticket price does not include tax and gratuity. **Group tickets available for a 10% discount if purchasing eight or more.
WHERE: Pearl Dive Oyster Palace is located at 1612 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. It is Metro accessible from the Red and Yellow and Green lines, located five blocks from the U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Station, and six blocks East from the Q Street exit of the Dupont Circle Metro Station. For additional information about Pearl Dive call 202-319-1612, or visit www.PearlDiveDC.com.
Richard Miller will be presenting a concert of Brazilian music featuring Kay Lyra, daughter of the famous Bossa Nova composer Carlos Lyra, and Maurício Maestro (founder of the famous vocal group Boca Livre). The concert will take place at the Grill from Ipanema at 8pmon Wednesday April 22, 2015.
When:
The Grill from Ipanema
1858 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone:(202) 986-0757
Visit: www.thegrillfromipanema.com
