Events/Things To Do

WHAT
On Friday, April 29, 2016, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) will celebrate its Annual Spring Gala. Join NMWA patrons, honorary chair Her Excellency Maguy Maccario Doyle, Ambassador of Monaco to the United States and gala chair Shahin Mafi for a special night at the museum’s largest annual fundraising event.

Upon arrival, guests will have the opportunity to view She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World, which explores themes of protest, war and identity. The provocative and poetic works on view—most created in the last decade—include portraiture, documentary images and staged narratives. The featured photographers challenge stereotypes surrounding the people, landscapes and cultures of Iran and the Arab world.

The annual black-tie gala will continue with cocktails in the galleries and an exciting auction followed by dinner and dancing in the elegant Great Hall. The evening will be catered by Occasions and music will be provided by Big Ray and the Kool Kats. The 2016 Gala Auction Chair is Mary Clark.

WHEN
Friday, Apr. 29, 6:30 p.m.
Cocktails and Silent Auction: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner and Dancing: 8 p.m. to midnight

WHERE
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Valet parking available

DETAILS
The spring gala is the museum’s largest annual fundraising event attended by luminaries from Washington’s diplomatic, governmental and social communities. Proceeds will support the exhibitions and programs that make us the leading museum dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in the visual, performing and literary arts.

TICKETS
Individuals $650; Gala Host Committee, Individuals $1,000 and Couples $1,500 (both include premium seating and recognition in the program); Sponsored Tables $10,000 and up

On Friday, April 29, 2016, the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) will celebrate its Annual Spring Gala. Join NMWA patrons, honorary chair Her Excellency Maguy Maccario Doyle, Ambassador of Monaco to the United States and gala chair Shahin Mafi for a special night at the museum’s largest annual fundraising event.

Upon arrival, guests will have the opportunity to view She Who Tells a Story: Women Photographers from Iran and the Arab World, which explores themes of protest, war and identity. The provocative and poetic works on view—most created in the last decade—include portraiture, documentary images and staged narratives. The featured photographers challenge stereotypes surrounding the people, landscapes and cultures of Iran and the Arab world.

The annual black-tie gala will continue with cocktails in the galleries and an exciting auction followed by dinner and dancing in the elegant Great Hall. The 2016 Gala Auction Chair is Mary Clark.

WHEN
Friday, Apr. 29, 6:30 p.m.
Cocktails and Silent Auction: 6:30 p.m.
Dinner and Dancing: 8 p.m. to midnight

WHERE
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20005
Valet parking available

DETAILS
The spring gala is the museum’s largest annual fundraising event attended by luminaries from Washington’s diplomatic, governmental and social communities. Proceeds will support the exhibitions and programs that make us the leading museum dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in the visual, performing and literary arts.

TICKETS
Individuals $650; Gala Host Committee, Individuals $1,000 and Couples $1,500 (both include premium seating and recognition in the program); Sponsored Tables $10,000 and up

On May 1, Mike Isabella will host a Greek Easter celebration at Kapnos Taverna in Arlington.
The festival will be held on the Ballston restaurant’s large patio, and feature spit-roasted meats, homemade spreads and flatbread, live Greek music, Greek wines and more. Tickets are $69.57, all inclusive, rain or shine.

• Sunday, May 1, 12–3pm
• $69.57 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity
• Tickets available through Eventbrite
• Kapnos Taverna Patio: 4000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22203

BlackRock Center for the Arts will hold its annual gala on Friday, May 6 from 6:00pm–10:00pm. The gala theme is “An Evening of Wonder: Celebrating the Magic of the Arts at BlackRock.” In recent years, BlackRock has emerged as a noteworthy community asset, establishing Upper Montgomery County as a sought-after destination to live, work, and play, with its stellar performances, professional quality, and diverse offerings. Though it may seem the Center’s success happened overnight—like magic—it is instead a result of years of hard work and civic leadership in a forward-thinking community, one whose residents value the arts, their impact on the human spirit and their role in creating vibrant communities. Members of the public are invited to attend the event and celebrate the arts in Upper Montgomery County. Individual tickets to “An Evening of Wonder” cost $195 and can be purchased online at

The evening’s schedule for “An Evening of Wonder: Celebrating the Magic of the Arts at BlackRock” includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, silent and live auctions, a three-course dinner, live entertainment, fund-a-need, dessert, and an after-party with dancing. In addition, there will be an awards celebration honoring Therrien Waddell and Jean Casey for their outstanding dedication to the arts in our community. The gala is co-chaired by Jennifer Russel and Chester Anderson and this year’s Honorary Co-Chairs are the Honorable Isiah Leggett and Mrs. Catherine Leggett.

Gala sponsors as of February 9, 2016 include: Lauren Kay Pollin; Dataprise; Adventist Health Care; Hughes, an Echostar Company; John and Sheila Compton; Montgomery College; Shops at Town Center; Sugarloaf Trails; Clarksburg Premium Outlets; Bethesda Magazine; Black Hill, a project of Lerner; Minkoff Development; Matan; Sugarplum Tent Company; Wegmans; &pizza; Elm Street Developments; Jade Solutions, LLC; M&T Bank; Melane and Tom Hoffmann; Margie and Tom Quelet; Zoes Kitchen; and wine sponsorship by Randy and Kathy Scritchfield. Jean Casey, Beth Daly, and Hammet Hough are Individual Sponsors of the event.

Calvary Women’s Services 15^th Annual Hope Awards Dinner

When: May 18, 2016 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Where: Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20004

Cost: $250.00

Calvary Women’s Services will host the 15^th Annual Hope Awards Dinner on May 18 in celebration of women who are overcoming homelessness and changing their lives. Join Calvary for an uplifting event that includes a cocktail reception, silent and live auction, dinner and inspirational stories shared by women who are impacted by Calvary’s programs. 

This year we are delighted to present the Hope Award to Erica May-Scherzer for her active engagement in nonprofit issues and causes including women’s empowerment, education and at-risk youth.

Proceeds from the Hope Awards Dinner will support Calvary’s housing, health, education and employment programs for women who are homeless.  

On Monday, May 23^trd, 38 of the area’s best chefs and mixologists will serve up special tastings of their signature dishes at Chef’s Best: A Taste of Compassion presented by AT&T. Hosted at the historic National Building Museum, Chef’s Best will benefit Food & Friends, a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC serving those living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses.

Thanks to the efforts of this year’s Celebrity Chef Chair Michael Friedman of The Red Hen & All Purpose, guests will enjoy tastings prepared by some of the region’s most talented chefs including: Victor Albisu, Del Campo & Taco Bamba; Erik Bruner-Yang, Maketto & Toki Underground; Jeff Black, Black Restaurant Group; Patrick Curran,Momofuku; Haidar Karoum, Doi Moi, Estadio & Proof; and Robert Wiedmaier, Mussel Bar, among other notables from the DC dining scene. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to bid on an array of exciting silent and live auction items featuring fantastic trips, one-of-a-kind experiences and private dining opportunities.

Proceeds from Chef’s Best will ensure the delivery of medically-specialized meals and personalized nutrition counseling to Food & Friends’ clients living with cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-challenging illnesses. This year, Food & Friends will provide more than 1 million meals to more than 2,800 individuals in Washington, DC, Virginia and Maryland.

Food & Friends depends on the support of corporations, foundations and individuals and is grateful for the sponsors who have contributed to Chef’s Best.

“AT&T is proud to be the presenting sponsor of this year’s Chef’s Best: A Taste of Compassion. We are a longstanding supporter of Food & Friends because of its lasting impact on the community — from its service learning education program to its work restoring health and hope in the lives of those facing life-challenging illnesses. AT&T is grateful for what Food & Friends does every day to serve the DMV community,” said Erik Hower, Vice President, Public Affairs for AT&T and Food & Friends Board Member.

The event will also honor long time Food & Friends Board Member Christopher Wolf with the first annual Compassion in Action award

“There is no more basic charity than feeding sick people, and that is what Food & Friends does every day, providing not only food but compassionate friendship to so many men, women and children in need,” said Christopher Wolf, Food & Friends Board Member. “It’s hard to believe, but I have now served on the Food & Friends Board for more than 20 years.  I have gotten so much out of the board experience, especially from the opportunity to see what a difference the staff and volunteers make in people’s lives. To be recognized for that service is ‘icing’ on the cake.”

In addition, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer will be presented with Food & Friends’ Public Servant Spirit of Caring award for his demonstrated commitment to the fight for health care accessibility and his work as a champion for thousands of Food & Friends clients.

Tickets are $350 and sponsorships begin at $1500. Visit www.foodandfriends.org/chefsbest to purchase tickets and see a current list of chefs and sponsors. The President’s Reception for sponsors begins at 5:30pm. Doors open for the main event at 6:30pm, with bidding for live auction starting around 8:15pm.

DC Greens, an organization aimed at supporting food education, food access and food policy in the nation’s capital, will host its second annual “Spring Dig” at Dock 5 at Union Market on May 24, 2016. Top chefs will prepare a seasonal, gourmet meal utilizing local purveyors, paired with Virginia wine and DC-distilled spirits. As with last year’s event, table sponsorships will come with customized, unforgettable culinary experiences in lieu of an auction.

What:             DC Greens’ Spring Dig will highlight local food, wine and spirits, while working toward their mission of building a healthy food system in DC that can be a model for the nation. Guests will enjoy a multi-course, family-style dinner prepared by a talented culinary team of chefs from the country’s best restaurants. During the pre-dinner cocktail reception, guests will be treated to drinks from Green Hat Gin, as well as wine from Virginia’s Early Mountain Vineyards, served from their Airstream. Early Mountain will also be providing wine throughout the dinner. The evening will be MCed by chair of the DC Food Policy Council and chef Spike Mendelsohn (Bearnaise/Good Stuff Eatery).

Who:              Participating chefs include Bryan Voltaggio of VOLT and Family Meal, Michael Voltaggio of Ink. (LA), Jeremiah Langhorne of The Dabney, Spike Gjerde of Woodberry Kitchen, Dan Giusti of Brigaid (formerly Noma), Rob Weland of Garrison, Ruben Garcia and Rick Billings of ThinkFoodGroup, and Robb Duncan of Dolcezza. Appetizers will be provided by Chaia Tacos, Rappahannock Oysters, EcoFriendly Foods and Righteous Cheese. Wine and spirits from Virginia’s Early Mountain Vineyards and DC’s Green Hat Gin, respectively, will be served.

When:            Tuesday, May 24, 2016.  The cocktail reception begins at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Where:           Dock 5 at Union Market, 1309 5^th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

Tickets:         General admission tickets are $250 per person and include the cocktail reception and dinner. Tickets can be purchased at http://dcgreens.org/springdig/. Dress code is festive attire and valet parking will be available. With three levels of table sponsorships, guests are offered different on and off site experiences, including “Cool Experiences” such as a private shopping party at Salt & Sundry or a bottling party for 15 at Green Hat Gin distillery, or “Unforgettable Events” such as backstage VIP passes for the Sweetlife Festival or a cooking class for 10 with Chef Ruben Garcia.

Tickets at gourmetsymphony.org/events