Tourists may think of it as a town of monuments, but those of us who live here really know why Washington is such a vibrant place: Its character and history make this a city like no other. Add the burgeoning home-grown beer and cocktail scene, and you’ve got one more reason to celebrate. Tonight, raise a toast to D.C.’s unique local flavor and home-town pride at a party that salutes its distinctive collection of neighborhoods—and the newest generation of brewers and distillers to make the city their home.
Enjoy after-hours access to the elegant 1902 Carnegie Library on Mount Vernon Square, home to the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. (The sweeping central staircase is the ideal place to make an Instagram-worthy grand entrance.) Taste samples from Atlas Brew Works, Port City Brewing Company, DC Brau, New Columbia Distillers/Green Hat Gin, and Catoctin Creek Distilling Company.
Take in the Historical Society’s newest exhibition, For the Record: Artfully Historic D.C., which captures architectural portraits of Washington sites tagged as among the most-endangered places by the DC Preservation League. Find your neighborhood on the map of the District that covers one of the floors, pose with friends in the photo booth, explore exhibits on a digital scavenger hunt, and dance to music mixed by DJ As-One. The evening is a great way to meet your city neighbors and trade stories with other party-goers about what makes your Washington special.
SPECIAL FEATURES FOR VIP TICKET-HOLDERS: Enjoy exclusive early access to the event from 7 to 8 p.m., as well as Chesapeake Bay oysters from Virginia’s Rappahannock Oyster Company and War Shore Oyster Company, drink samples, light hors d’oeuvres, and a special commemorative pint glass to hold your local brew.
General admission $40
VIP admission $65 (includes early access from 7 to 8 p.m., drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and a commemorative pint glass)
All ticket sales are final. No refunds or exchanges.
Must be 21 years old with valid photo ID to attend.
For tickets and further information the public may call 202-633-3030 or visit www.SMITHSONIANat8.com
WHAT: SMITHSONIAN at 8, in partnership with the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., presents “A Toast to D.C.”
WHEN: Friday, May 8, 8 to 11 p.m.
WHERE: Carnegie Library, 801 K St NW, Washington, DC
Tourists may think of it as a town of monuments, but those of us who live here really know why Washington is such a vibrant place: Its character and history make this a city like no other. Add the burgeoning home-grown beer and cocktail scene, and you’ve got one more reason to celebrate. Tonight, raise a toast to D.C.’s unique local flavor and home-town pride at a party that salutes its distinctive collection of neighborhoods—and the newest generation of brewers and distillers to make the city their home.
Enjoy after-hours access to the elegant 1902 Carnegie Library on Mount Vernon Square, home to the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. (The sweeping central staircase is the ideal place to make an Instagram-worthy grand entrance.) Taste samples from Atlas Brew Works, Port City Brewing Company, DC Brau, New Columbia Distillers/Green Hat Gin, and Catoctin Creek Distilling Company.
Take in the Historical Society’s newest exhibition, For the Record: Artfully Historic D.C., which captures architectural portraits of Washington sites tagged as among the most-endangered places by the DC Preservation League. Find your neighborhood on the map of the District that covers one of the floors, pose with friends in the photo booth, explore exhibits on a digital scavenger hunt, and dance to music mixed by DJ As-One. The evening is a great way to meet your city neighbors and trade stories with other party-goers about what makes your Washington special.
SPECIAL FEATURES FOR VIP TICKET-HOLDERS: Enjoy exclusive early access to the event from 7 to 8 p.m., as well as Chesapeake Bay oysters from Virginia’s Rappahannock Oyster Company and War Shore Oyster Company, drink samples, light hors d’oeuvres, and a special commemorative pint glass to hold your local brew.
General admission $40
VIP admission $65 (includes early access from 7 to 8 p.m., drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and a commemorative pint glass)
All ticket sales are final. No refunds or exchanges.
Must be 21 years old with valid photo ID to attend.
For tickets and further information the public may call 202-633-3030 or visit www.SMITHSONIANat8.com
About SMITHSONIAN at 8
Inspired by the world of the Smithsonian, the SMITHSONIAN at 8 event series offers one-of-a-kind experiences for guests 21+. With themes from the local to the global, these after-hours gatherings combine music, food and drink, and unique settings to create evenings that are smart, adventurous, and memorably entertaining.
The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, presents its Annual Dinner and Mock Trial at Sidney Harman Hall(610 F Street NW) on Monday, May 11, 2015. This marks the 20th year that Shakespeare Theatre Company has put on the Mock Trial. The evening begins with dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Forum, followed by the Trial at 7:30 p.m. in the theatre. A special session of the Supreme Court of La Mancha will review the decisions of the Family Court to declare Don Quixote mentally incompetent and his subsequent placement under the guardianship of his niece, Antonia.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will preside and will be accompanied by Justice Stephen Breyer, as well as Chief Judge Merrick Garland and Judge Patricia Millett, both of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Tom Goldstein of Goldstein & Russell P.C. andCarter Phillips of Sidley Austin LLP will argue the case. The Trial will be moderated byAbbe D. Lowell of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, chair of the STC Bard Association and STC Board of Trustees member.
Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Shakespeare Theatre Company says of Mock Trial, “As I’ve often said, Shakespeare doesn’t tell us what to think, he tells us what to think about. This is what Mock Trial does so stunningly, it uses these classic stories as lenses to look at seemingly old issues and bring them to our modern, and legal, world.”
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Mock Trial is sponsored by the Bard Association, STC’s affinity group for Washington’s legal community.
Since 1994, the Shakespeare Theatre Company has hosted a Mock Trial based on a play from STC’s mainstage season. The fictional court case poses a legal question, or questions, and the audience must act as the jury to decide the fate of the characters. The Trial aims to examine the links between classic works and contemporary legal theory in a way that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. Past Mock Trials have explored whether Malvolio (Twelfth Night) was entitled to damages for wrongful imprisonment; Iago (Othello) was guilty of the murders of Desdemona and Othello; Hamlet (Hamlet) was insane when he murdered Polonius; and if Sir John Falstaff (Henry IV) should have been compensated for his services to Prince Hal and reinstated as a member of the royal court. Last year’s Mock Trial concentrated on the characters in William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure and argued whether the Duke of Vienna should be held responsible for abuses of power perpetuated by his appointed representative, and debated issues of illegal secret surveillance, false imprisonment, negligent appointment of an unfit deputy, and disrespect of commitment to religious vows.
This season’s Mock Trial focuses on the characters in Dale Wasserman’s Man of La Mancha and asks the question: Did the Family Court commit reversible errors of law and fact in determining that Don Quixote was mentally incompetent, and should the Family Court have appointed Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s loyal friend, as his guardian, rather than his niece Antonia?
SCENARIO
As word spread of Alonso Quixana’s (self-named and known to the world as Don Quixote) exhibited signs of mental illness or incompetence, his niece Antonia petitioned the Family Court to appoint her to be his guardian to protect his financial interests and to make medical decisions for him. In support of her petition, Antonia described Don Quixote’s hallucinations, his instigation of ill-conceived and ill-fated battles, his unwitting contribution to the brutal treatment of Aldonza, and his persistent inability to separate reality from illusion. Antonia stated that Don Quixote was unable to manage his assets, pay his medical expenses, or make financial decisions in his own best interests, and that he had been the victim of financial exploitation without even realizing others were taking advantage of him. Antonia’s fiancé, Dr. Carrasco, provided a petition of incompetency claiming to be Don Quixote’s treating physician and asserting that Don Quixote’s mental disability was permanent and that he had no ability to understand the nature of the proceedings or reasons for appointment of a guardian.
The Family Court heard extensive testimony about Don Quixote’s ill-fated escapades during his career as a knight errant, about his discussion of his “dreams,” his tendency to burst into song, and his claims of being a knight. His friends testified about Don Quixote’s idealism, courtesy, generosity, gallantry, and nobility. Sancho Panza said Don Quixote knew he was not really a knight, but simply liked to conceive of a nobler world inspired by courtesy and bravery. Don Quixote’s attorney argued that he did not need a guardian, but that if the Court disagreed, it should appoint Sancho Panza, not Antonia.
The Family Court appointed Antonia as Don Quixote’s guardian. On petition for review by the Supreme Court of La Mancha, Don Quixote has asked the Court to decide two questions:
1. Did the Family Court commit reversible errors of law and fact in determining that Don Quixote was mentally incompetent within the meaning of the laws governing appointment of guardians of property and persons?
2. Assuming Don Quixote was not fully competent to manage his affairs or make decisions about his medical treatment, should the Family Court have rejected Antonia’s petition as motivated by fraud and self-interest, and instead have appointed Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s loyal friend, as his guardian?
TICKET INFORMATION
Interested in Premium Seating and Dining with the Participants before the Trial?Tickets to the Dinner and Trial ($350) are available now. To purchase tickets please call 202.547.3230 ext. 2330 or contact MockTrial@ShakespeareTheatre.
Trial-only Ticket Prices
A Price: $75
B Price: $50 (limited availability)
Student: $20 (valid student ID required when picking up tickets)
Tickets on sale for STC donors and season subscribers on March 18 at noon.
Tickets for the general public on sale March 23 at noon.
For more information please contact MockTrial@ShakespeareTheatre.
Must be 21 years old with valid photo ID to attend. Tickets: $25 in advance, $35 at the door (credit cards or cash). Free for Silk Road Society members.
On Monday, June 15, 2015, Will on the Hill, a favorite bipartisan event of theatre and political fans alike, returns to the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Now in its thirteenth year, this year’s event features a performance of Midsummer Madness,an original play by Peter Byrne, and directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul.The cast will include special guest performer, STC Affiliated Artist Edward Gero andSamira Wiley, known for her role in Orange is the New Black.
The annual Will on the Hill event welcomes Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle and distinguished Washington insiders onto the Shakespeare Theatre Company stage to perform a political satire infused with Shakespearean language and references. The event pays tribute to the unique dynamic of our city and provides a wonderful way to engage new audiences. Proceeds from this event support STC’s many education, artistic, and community engagement programs including in-school workshops and online learning resources that inspire new and diverse audiences and deepen the connection to classical theatre in learners of all ages. Will on the Hill will take place in Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW), and begins with a VIP cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the performance at 7:30 p.m., and a buffet dinner immediately after the performance.
This year’s cast for Will on the Hill will include guest actors Samira Wiley and Edward Gero. Wiley is a TV and film star and a graduate of the Julliard School, best known for her starring role as inmate Poussey Washington on the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black. Gero has been a prominent figure in the Washington theatre community and STC Affiliated Artist has appeared in more than 70 roles on the STC stage, most recently as King Henry IV in Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2. He recently created the role of Justice Antonin Scalia in the world premiere of John Strand’s The Originalist.
In addition to Midsummer Madness, the evening includes a performance from students inText Alive!, a free arts integration program offered by STC to D.C. area schools, which teaches Shakespeare’s plays through performance and adaptation. This year, students from Virginia’s West Springfield High School present their disco-style take on the wrestling scene from As You Like It, which was performed earlier this spring for the Duchess of Cornwall during her visit to the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
About Midsummer Madness: Summer in Washington finds two lobbyists, one male, one female, vying for a job at the prestigious lobbying firm Stratford, Avon and Bard. Each thinks the other has the advantage due to their gender, so their interviewer puts them to the task of solving some of their clients’—and Washington’s—biggest conflicts. Things do not go as planned, however, as Shakespeare’s heroes and heroines emerge to join the fray. The battle of the sexes is far from over…
Many members of Congress will join Edward Gero and Samira Wiley on the STC stage, including Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-OH),Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Susan Davis(D-CA), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Donna Edwards (D-MD), Janice Hahn (D-CA), Jim Himes(D-CT), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Jim Moran (D-VA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jared Polis (D-CO), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Mike Turner (R-OH), and Ryan Zinke (R-MT).
Other illustrious cast members include The Honourable Ian Liddell-Grainger (MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset), Christina Sevilla (DA U.S. Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President); and members of the media, including Jonathan Allen(Vox), Ron Christie (CEO Christie Strategies), Steve Clemons (Washington Editor-at-Large, The Atlantic, National Journal, Quartz), Bob Cusack (Editor in Chief, The Hill), Rich Edson (Fox News), Amy Holmes (The Blaze TV), Rick Klein (ABC News’ Political Director), Latoya Peterson (Fusion), Thomas Rogan (Tom Rogan Thinks), Robert Siegel(NPR’s All Things Considered), Pamela Lynne Sorensen (Pamela’s Punch), and Kelly Jane Torrance (The Weekly Standard).
The Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are Speaker John A. Boehner (R-OH), The Honorable James E. Clyburn (D-SC), House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) andU.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
* Cast members subject to change.
A select number of performance-only tickets to this popular event are available online atwww.shakespearetheatre.org/
WHAT: SMITHSONIAN at 8, in partnership with the 2015 Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s Perú: Pachamama Program, presents “Chicha! A Peruvian Dance Party”
WHEN: Friday, June 19, 8 to 11 p.m.
WHERE: Blind Whino, 700 Delaware Ave SW, Washington D.C.
SMITHSONIAN at 8 makes a summer night even hotter with a Peruvian-style celebration at DC’s Blind Whino.
What’s chicha? It’s an urban music genre originating in Peru that combines a variety of global sounds like South American cumbias and psychedelic surf guitars with local Andean melodies. It’s also the knockout style of neon poster art that exploded as chicha bands began to make their mark in the late 60s.
Say chicha today and you’re talking about a distinct and vibrant mix of color and sound that is unmistakably Peruvian.
Experience it all as Lima’s DJ Sabroso and local favorite DJ Kristy la rAt spin chicha beats. Sample Peruvian beers and pisco cocktails at the cash bar, and get a taste of the country from local food trucks like El Fuego. Try your hand at silk-screening with Peruvian chicha poster artist MONKY.
The evening is the perfect way to whet your cultural appetite for this year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival (June 24–28 and July 1–5), which highlights Peruvian culture on the National Mall.
Cash bar; food available for purchase.
SPECIAL FEATURES FOR VIP TICKET-HOLDERS: Exclusive early access to the event from 7 to 8 p.m., and enjoy small bites, an open bar, and a sampling of Peruvian piscos, courtesy of Macchu Pisco.
#SMITHSONIANat8 #CHICHAat8 #2015Folklife
General admission $25 ($30 at the door)
VIP admission $55 ($60 at door- includes early access from 7 to 8 p.m., small bites, open bar, and drink samples)
All ticket sales are final. No refunds or exchanges.
Must be 21 years old with valid photo ID to attend.
For tickets and further information the public may call 202-633-3030 or visit www.SMITHSONIANat8.com
About SMITHSONIAN at 8
Inspired by the world of the Smithsonian, the SMITHSONIAN at 8 event series offers one-of-a-kind experiences for guests 21+. With themes from the local to the global, these after-hours gatherings combine music, food and drink, and unique settings to create evenings that are smart, adventurous, and memorably entertaining.
FETE DE LA MUSIQUE – A Summer Solstice Music Festival
Saturday, June 20 | 7pm-1am at Sofitel DC, 806 15th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Saturday, June 20th musicians, music enthusiasts, artists, locals and guests of town alike will collide for an upbeat funky night and all night music experience inspired by France’s Fete de la Musique, also known as World Music Day hosted by Art Soiree and Sofitel DC right in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Filling the city with an outpouring of rhythm and sound, different local bands and performers – jazz, rock, folk, classical, pop and world – will take stage at Sofitel DC.
Ballroom
7-7:30pm – Serge Khrichenko
7:30-8:30pm – Cruzie Beaux
8:30-9:30pm – RadaR
9:30pm-10:30pm – Honest Haloway
10:30pm – 12am – Thursday People
Le Bar
7-9pm DJ Daryl Northrop
9-11pm Azul Band
11pm-1am DJ Enea Diotaiuti
TICKETS: $15 before 6/18; $20 after – https://fetedelamusique2015.eventbrite.com
L’Enfant Café is proud to announce the 11h annual Bastille Day party, a cultural celebration of all things French, on Saturday, July 11 from 3pm to 10pm. After celebrating the 10th anniversary on Vernon St last year, the folks at L’Enfant have decided to re-locate the fête to sister venue, Wunder Garten (150 M St NE), the all new beer garden space in NoMa.
Entry to this year’s event and D.C.’s biggest masquerade ball is $7. Advance ticket purchase is required and capacity is limited. Purchase online through www.lenfantcafe.com or www.wundergartendc.com. Guests will storm the Bastille via M St NE, just steps from the NoMa metro stop (Red Line).
The memorable performances have also moved to the new location, including can-can dancers, a New Orleans style brass marching band, burlesque dancers and the royal guests of honor, King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.
The signature folly of the event, the world-famous ‘French Maid Relay Race,’ will take place at approximately 6pm in which racers, men and women, must each wear the risqué black and white maid costume while running back and forth across the street in order to fill a Champagne glass with soup spoons of water. Très chic! Contenders must pre-purchase a costume, with ticket purchase, before the limited supply is sold out.
Enjoy this full line up of entertainment or entertain yourself on the dance floor while listening to a host of live DJs and musical guests. Throughout the event, revelers have the option to sip on the official beer of Bastille Day, Stella Artois, or enjoy Leffe, Stella Cidre, red and white wine, and Champagne. DC Slices and Crepes Parfait food trucks will be on hand to dish out delicious snacks.
Like any good revolution, the celebration doesn’t end there. For the real Bastille Day, the team invites you back to where it all began: L’Enfant Café. On Tuesday, July 14, the French restaurant will offer happy hour from open to close, featuring $5 Stella Artois, red, white and sparkling wine, and highballs. A DJ will provide entertainment while French maids offer fantastique service (read: more entertainment)
L’Enfant Café is a European-style restaurant located at 18th and U Street NW, between Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. It is known for its casual French-influenced menu, offers a full bar, and Saturday and Sunday brunch. L’Enfant is home to La Boum, a popular Saturday afternoon brunch party. With its cozy interior and an expanded sidewalk patio with flower boxes, L’Enfant Caféis DC’s shortcut to Paris.
WHAT:
To commemorate France’s National Holiday, PAUL invites the public to come have some fun and participate in our 5th Annual “Baguette Relay Race” which will take place in front of PAUL Penn Quarter.
Gather Your Friends to create relay teams! Cheering Spectators are welcome!
WHERE:
PAUL Bakery and Café in Penn Qtr. (at the US Navy Memorial)
801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Tel: 202-524-4500/01
WHEN: Tuesday, July 14, 2014 at 11am (Kids Race), and 11:30am (Adult Race)
HOW:
We’ll divide up racers into four teams of five people. Each team will be led by a PAUL employee. Each racer will “quick-walk” one lap around the circle of the US Navy Memorial, and then hand off his/her baguette (baton) to the next teammate. All members of the winning team will get a FREE LUNCH (sandwich + viennoiserie pastry) at PAUL!
Additional Info:
About Bastille Day
Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of Louis the 16th’s Ancient Regime. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king’s power was no longer absolute: power should be based on the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers.
After Hours, the signature late-night event at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, returns Friday, Sept. 18, 8 p.m.–midnight, with the support of idobi Network. The ticketed event features a performance by post-rock/ambient electronic band Tycho, as well as a last chance to see “Shirin Neshat: Facing History,” a major exhibition that presents the work of the internationally acclaimed artist in the context of the history of modern Iran; it closes Sept. 20.
Since 2007, After Hours has been a favorite of local audiences, attracting up to 2,000 people a night to events that have featured performers such as Zola Jesus, Dan Deacon and the Madison Sounds of Deliverance; DJs such as Nancy Whang, Shea Van Horn and Fatback; and artists such as Semiconductor and Bec Stupak and Honeygun Labs.
Known for expansive instrumental soundscapes, Tycho is led by San Francisco-based musician and designer Scott Hansen. Originally a solo project that highlighted the use of drum machines and analog synthesizers, Tycho has grown into a full-fledged band whose precise and hypnotic live performances are accompanied by visuals designed by Hansen. The performance begins at 10:30 p.m.
Exhibitions on view include “Le Onde: Waves of Italian Influence (1914–1971),” which examines the importance of Italian art and thought to developments in futurism, spatialism, op art and kinetic art, and “Sergio Caballero,” which comprises a video work by the Spanish artist that blends homespun puppet animation and live action to tell the grotesque and darkly comic tale of an exorcism. “At the Hub of Things: New Views of the Collection,” a thematic rehanging of largely contemporary works from the collection, is ongoing. All museum galleries will be open until 10 p.m., with last entry at 9:30 p.m.
Tickets go on sale Aug. 25 at hhafterhours2015.eventbrite.com. General admission tickets are $35, and VIP tickets are $100. VIP ticket holders have early access to the event, at 7 p.m., as well as access to a private lounge area with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. In addition, VIP ticket holders are invited to exclusive curators’ tours at 7:30 p.m.
After Hours is supported by idobi, in partnership with Smithsonian Enterprises. For more information about After Hours, visit hirshhorn.si.edu/collection/after-hours/. For more about idobi, visit idobi.com.
