(WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera (WNO) today announces an exciting
conclusion to its 2016–2017 season: the 2017 WNO Opera Gala, celebrating WNO
Board Chairman Jacqueline Badger Mars, who will step down as Chairman this
summer. The Gala, on Saturday, June 3, 2017, will include a concert in the Kennedy
Center Opera House featuring the WNO Orchestra and an array of musical stars who
will pay special tribute to Jacqueline Mars’s visionary leadership of WNO: legendary
soprano Renée Fleming, superstar mezzo-soprano and D.C. native Denyce Graves,
and Hamilton Tony Award® winner Leslie Odom Jr. The Gala is presented as part of
JFKC, the Kennedy Center’s season-long celebration of John F. Kennedy’s centennial,
and explores the themes of service and gratitude, which are often associated with
President Kennedy.
The Co-Chairmen of the WNO Opera Gala are WNO Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B.
Casey and Mrs. John F. Mars. The Opera Gala pays tribute to Jacqueline Badger Mars
for her six seasons of leadership of the WNO Board of Trustees. Highlights of her
tenure include the founding of the American Opera Initiative, which for the last five
seasons has helped identify the brightest rising American composers and librettists and
has added their work to the repertory; the programming of an annual opera for families
at the holiday season, including Hansel and Gretel, The Little Prince, and the world
premiere commission of The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me; and the presentation of WNO’s
first-ever complete Ring cycles in 2016, a feat that put WNO into a very elite group of
American opera companies.
“I have been honored to work with Jacquie Mars since 2008, and her imaginative
leadership and guidance have brought WNO unparalleled growth and success while
also making the opera more accessible to a broader audience,” said WNO executive
director Michael L. Mael. “Our next Chairman will certainly have big shoes to fill, but I
am happy that Jacquie will continue to steer this company as a WNO trustee.”
Tickets for the Gala concert start at $49 and are on sale now to Kennedy Center
members. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 10 a.m.
For those who wish to purchase special Gala packages, the evening will begin with a
VIP cocktail reception on the Kennedy Center’s River Terrace at 5:30 p.m., followed by
the Gala concert at 6:30 p.m. After the performance, Gala package holders will depart
the Kennedy Center for elegant black-tie dinners hosted by many ambassadors at their
embassies or residences throughout the city, a longtime tradition of the Opera’s season-
ending social gathering.
The Opera Gala is WNO’s largest fundraiser and one of Washington’s most anticipated
events of the year. Proceeds from the Opera Gala will play a crucial role in advancing
the Opera’s award-wining artistic, educational, and outreach programs.
While the 2016–2017 season is coming to an end, the new season promises
excitement. WNO’s 2017–2018 season includes new productions of Verdi’s epic drama
Aida, the company premiere of Handel’s magical baroque opera Alcina, and Verdi’s
towering masterpiece Don Carlo, plus Rossini’s delightful comedy The Barber of Seville
and Bernstein’s biting satire Candide. The season also features a festival weekend of
four world premieres as part of the American Opera Initiative, the return of the holiday
family opera The Little Prince, two special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist performances,
and more. Subscription packages are available now.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets for the Gala concert start at $49 and are available online, in person at the
Kennedy Center Box Office, and by calling (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324. For all
other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at
(202) 416-8540.
Christian Heurich’s granddaughter, Jan Evans, will host a special History & Hops at the Heurich
House Museum on July 20 th from 6:30-8:30pm. Mrs. Evans was very close to her grandparents,
Christian and Amelia Heurich, and lived with them for a time in their Dupont Circle mansion. She
will discuss her time in Washington, D.C. as well as her family’s history and legacy. Guests will
be able to speak directly with Mrs. Evans as well as enjoy beer, snacks, and tours of the historic
Heurich House Museum.
Born in Hawaii, Mrs. Evans has lived in Japan, Cuba, Florida, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. A
local business-woman, she is a current board member of the Association of Oldest Inhabitants
of Washington, D.C. and Director of the Friends of the National World War II Memorial. Mrs.
Evans was also instrumental in establishing her grandparents’ home as a museum. Together
with her cousin Gary Heurich, she created the Heurich House Foundation and helped the
organization purchase the Heurich mansion in 2003, from the Historical Society of Washington,
D.C. The Heurich House museum would not exist today, in its intact form, without her
intervention.
Guests at History & Hops will have the chance to meet and speak with Mrs. Evans as she
recounts her time spent in Washington, D.C. with her grandparents between 1930 and 1956.
The museum will also feature a variety of drinks to celebrate Mrs. Evans’ time spent traveling
the world.
Tickets for History & Hops hosted by Jan Evans are $30 per person and include tastings,
snacks, and tours of the Heurich House Museum. For more information and to purchase tickets,
please visit http://bit.ly/HHJuly2017. Guests must be 21 or older.
All proceeds benefit the preservation and growth of the Heurich House Museum.
Capitol City Brewing Company in celebrating the 18th annual Mid-Atlantic Oktoberfest at Arlington’s Shirlington Village. Oktoberfest is from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and located at the outdoor streetscape at 4001 Campbell Avenue.
In honor of this tasty holiday Santa Rosa chefs Spike Mendelsohn, Max Albano and John Renninger have each created a limited-edition taco. On Wednesday, October 4th diners can order up the Three Amigos Taco Series, which will consist of one of each chef’s specialty taco.
Fried Green Tomato Taco
Cornmeal Fried Green Tomato │ Grilled Corn │ Chipotle Aioli │ Pico │ Cotija
Blackened Shrimp Taco with Pineapple-Kiwi Salsa
Blackened Grilled Shrimp │ Yellow Rice │ Pineapple-Kiwi Salsa │Crema
Steak & Peppers Taco
Grilled Mojo Steak │ Peppers/ Onions │ Jalapeño │ Avocado Crema
The Three Amigos Taco Series will be available for one day only and will be served from open to close (11:00 am – 10:00 pm.) While enjoying their tacos, guests can also try one of the Santa Rosa’s craft margaritas (on tap,) sip on a seasonal Agua Fresco or order up one of the restaurant’s numerous beers.
To add to the festivities, a Mariachi Band will be on hand from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm playing live music.
Santa Rosa Taqueria is located at 312 Pennsylvania Ave, SE in Washington, DC.
Did you miss out on this year’s Oktoberfest? If so, it’s not too late. Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s Oktoberfest will take place beginning Monday, October 23rd through Friday, October 27th from
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The hotel’s courtyard will be transformed into a German Biergarten featuring a live grilling station, German music and draft beer. So, don your favorite lederhosen and dirndls or, just come as you are.
The grilling station will feature hotel chefs preparing a choice of Bauernwurst, a locally handcrafted German sausage and Weisswurst, a traditional Bavarian sausage, served with Kartoffelsalat, German potato salad, and a pretzel twist for just $5. A selection of traditional and spicy mustards will be available too.
Guests will also enjoy $5 drafts of Flying Dog Dogtoberbest Marzen Beer and other German beers throughout the week-long fest.
To kick off Fairmont’s Oktoberfest, a very Instagramable musician, Peter Giovani, will perform with his accordion on Monday, October 23rd, from 5 -7 p.m.
No reservations are required for Oktoberfest, seating is available on a first come basis. In the case of inclement weather, Oktoberfest will move into the lobby.
Did you miss out on this year’s Oktoberfest? If so, it’s not too late. Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s Oktoberfest will take place beginning Monday, October 23rd through Friday, October 27th from
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The hotel’s courtyard will be transformed into a German Biergarten featuring a live grilling station, German music and draft beer. So, don your favorite lederhosen and dirndls or, just come as you are.
The grilling station will feature hotel chefs preparing a choice of Bauernwurst, a locally handcrafted German sausage and Weisswurst, a traditional Bavarian sausage, served with Kartoffelsalat, German potato salad, and a pretzel twist for just $5. A selection of traditional and spicy mustards will be available too.
Guests will also enjoy $5 drafts of Flying Dog Dogtoberbest Marzen Beer and other German beers throughout the week-long fest.
To kick off Fairmont’s Oktoberfest, a very Instagramable musician, Peter Giovani, will perform with his accordion on Monday, October 23rd, from 5 -7 p.m.
No reservations are required for Oktoberfest, seating is available on a first come basis. In the case of inclement weather, Oktoberfest will move into the lobby.
Did you miss out on this year’s Oktoberfest? If so, it’s not too late. Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s Oktoberfest will take place beginning Monday, October 23rd through Friday, October 27th from
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The hotel’s courtyard will be transformed into a German Biergarten featuring a live grilling station, German music and draft beer. So, don your favorite lederhosen and dirndls or, just come as you are.
The grilling station will feature hotel chefs preparing a choice of Bauernwurst, a locally handcrafted German sausage and Weisswurst, a traditional Bavarian sausage, served with Kartoffelsalat, German potato salad, and a pretzel twist for just $5. A selection of traditional and spicy mustards will be available too.
Guests will also enjoy $5 drafts of Flying Dog Dogtoberbest Marzen Beer and other German beers throughout the week-long fest.
To kick off Fairmont’s Oktoberfest, a very Instagramable musician, Peter Giovani, will perform with his accordion on Monday, October 23rd, from 5 -7 p.m.
No reservations are required for Oktoberfest, seating is available on a first come basis. In the case of inclement weather, Oktoberfest will move into the lobby.
Did you miss out on this year’s Oktoberfest? If so, it’s not too late. Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s Oktoberfest will take place beginning Monday, October 23rd through Friday, October 27th from
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The hotel’s courtyard will be transformed into a German Biergarten featuring a live grilling station, German music and draft beer. So, don your favorite lederhosen and dirndls or, just come as you are.
The grilling station will feature hotel chefs preparing a choice of Bauernwurst, a locally handcrafted German sausage and Weisswurst, a traditional Bavarian sausage, served with Kartoffelsalat, German potato salad, and a pretzel twist for just $5. A selection of traditional and spicy mustards will be available too.
Guests will also enjoy $5 drafts of Flying Dog Dogtoberbest Marzen Beer and other German beers throughout the week-long fest.
To kick off Fairmont’s Oktoberfest, a very Instagramable musician, Peter Giovani, will perform with his accordion on Monday, October 23rd, from 5 -7 p.m.
No reservations are required for Oktoberfest, seating is available on a first come basis. In the case of inclement weather, Oktoberfest will move into the lobby.
Did you miss out on this year’s Oktoberfest? If so, it’s not too late. Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown’s Oktoberfest will take place beginning Monday, October 23rd through Friday, October 27th from
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
The hotel’s courtyard will be transformed into a German Biergarten featuring a live grilling station, German music and draft beer. So, don your favorite lederhosen and dirndls or, just come as you are.
The grilling station will feature hotel chefs preparing a choice of Bauernwurst, a locally handcrafted German sausage and Weisswurst, a traditional Bavarian sausage, served with Kartoffelsalat, German potato salad, and a pretzel twist for just $5. A selection of traditional and spicy mustards will be available too.
Guests will also enjoy $5 drafts of Flying Dog Dogtoberbest Marzen Beer and other German beers throughout the week-long fest.
To kick off Fairmont’s Oktoberfest, a very Instagramable musician, Peter Giovani, will perform with his accordion on Monday, October 23rd, from 5 -7 p.m.
No reservations are required for Oktoberfest, seating is available on a first come basis. In the case of inclement weather, Oktoberfest will move into the lobby.
Get ready to bebop down below! Dupont Underground, the arts and cultural organization that lies beneath Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle, will host “Meet Me at the Underground: A Jazz Age Soiree” on Friday, October 27. The restored space will be a subterranean 1920’s-style speakeasy for the evening, with jazz musicians performing live, dramatic costumes of the era, and an art-deco-inspired beverage from neighboring Dupont restaurant, Firefly.
From 7:00-11:00 p.m., soiree attendees can dance the night away to lively tunes from jazz musician Dante Pope. International jazz vocalist Rochelle Rice will join Dante for a special performance and may even show guests how to snap their fingers like a true jazz enthusiast. Attendees are encouraged to dress the part with costumes inspired by the period.
Firefly’s Lead Bartender Brendan Ambrose will be composing a melodic masterpiece of his own. His riff on a jazz-era cocktail will be a feast for the senses featuring freshly-picked herbs and flowers from Firefly’s rooftop garden.
What’s the Secret Password?
One may argue a true speakeasy has a password, and “A Jazz Age Soiree” does not disappoint. Prior to dancing the jitterbug, partygoers are invited to Firefly for a special pre-show dinner menu. For $35, diners will receive an appetizer, an entrée, and a glass of house wine. Any guest that comes into the restaurant on Friday, October 27 with the password “UNDERGROUND” may receive the dinner deal.
“Meet Me at the Underground: A Jazz Age Soiree” is open to the public. Guests must be 21+ to attend. Tickets are $20 on Ticketfly, and $25 at the door.
