Giving Tuesday – Give a Little, Get a Snuggle
Tuesday, December 3
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
BrandBox is located on the lower level between Seasons 52 and Arhaus Furniture
BRANDBOX is teaming up with local Northern Virginia dog and cat rescue organization, Wolf Trap Animal Rescue, to raise funds and awareness for the organization and promote ‘Giving Tuesday’. BrandBox will host ‘Give a Little, Get a Snuggle’ in front of their retail incubation concept. This event will feature puppies, who will later be available for adoption through WTAR. A minimum donation of $5 (cash and major credit cards accepted) will procure donors 5 minutes of ‘Puppy Cuddles.’ 100% of the donations collected will directly benefit WTAR and assist in funding their adoption program in Northern Virginia. The puppies on-site will be available for adoption through WTAR’s adoption event on Saturday, December 7th, at The PetSmart in Tysons Corner. BrandBox by Macerich, at Tysons Corner Center, provides a turnkey approach for high-growth, first-to-market brands to open and operate stores, and scale physical retail as a complement to e-commerce.
On Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Hall of Union Station, a consortium of partners, including the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce—Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Washington Performing Arts, Union Station, and exclusive media partner WHUR 96.3 FM, will present the annual Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting to the people of Washington, D.C. This beloved holiday event, which attracted 5,000 guests in 2018, is presented free to the public and will feature performances by The String Queens, whose members have collaborated with artists such as Ledisi, Janelle Monáe, and Common, and the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir.
In one of Washington’s most popular holiday traditions, which began in 1997, Norway will present a Christmas tree to the people of Washington, D.C., in recognition of the strong friendship between Norway and the United States, and in gratitude for America’s assistance during and after World War II. The theme for this year’s tree is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These goals address the challenges we face as a global community and the 2030 target for achieving them. Specially designed ornaments and signage will represent the goals.
Complete Schedule of Events
Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting (6:00 p.m.)
Featuring The String Queens, the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The 30-foot tree is decorated with 20,000 lights and ornaments representing all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Norway’s ambassador to the United States, Kåre R. Aas, will light the tree with a special guest, Member of the Norwegian Parliament Linda Helleland.
Free, registration encouraged | Family-friendly
Location: Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
On Tuesday, December 10 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Franklin Hall will partner with Bells Brewery and Great Lakes Brewing Co. to host a Gingerbread House competition featuring some limited edition Christmas beers from both breweries. All participating teams will receive a gingerbread house kit to kick things off, but all are encouraged to bring additional supplies and decorating items to step up the competition. Teams can be any size and use any items they see fit for their final house decorations.
Judges from Franklin Hall and both breweries will decide first, second and third place winners and a prize pack for each will include vintage beers, brewery swag and merchandise and a gift certificate from Franklin Hall. Special brews on tap from Bells include Christmas Ale (Scotch Ale), To A Locomotive in Winter (Smoked Porter) and Bright White (Belgian White Ale), while Great Lakes will feature Christmas Ale, Ohio City Oatmeal Stout and Great Lakes IPA. As an entry fee to participate, each team member is asked to bring in one canned good or food item to support the work of the Capital Area Food Bank. A list of the most needed items can be found here.
Franklin Hall will host a food drive for the Capita Area Food Bank for the entire month of December and all patrons are encouraged to bring an item when visiting the bar throughout the holiday season.
On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, “toast” food journalist Charlotte Druckman and her new book, Women on Food! From 7-9pm, guests will enjoy a glass of Prosecco and specialty toasts from Washington DC’s female culinary leaders, Chef Amy Brandwein (Centrolina + Piccolina), Chef Ann Cashion (Johnny’s Half Shell + Taqueria Nacional), Rose Previte (Maydan + Compass Rose), Yamrot Ezineh (Letena) and Chef Cagla Onal (Green Almond Pantry) to celebrate women in the industry and the success of Charlotte’s book. Each guest will receive their own copy of Women on Food.
Date: Tuesday, December 10th
Time: 7-9pm
Location: Piccolina
963 Palmer Alley NW
Tickets: $40, includes a glass of champagne, toasts, and a copy of the book
Click here to purchase
Boundary Stone’s Fifth Annual Toy Drive – Thursday, December 19 @ 5pm to 11pm
Join the Atlas Brew Works team at Boundary Stone (116 Rhode Island Ave NW) on Thursday, December 19, for the pub’s annual Toy Drive. Bring an unwrapped gift for the drive and receive a complimentary Atlas beer. All toys will be donated to St. Martin’s Catholic Church to be handed out to children in the neighborhood for the holidays. Rumor has it Santa will even make an appearance. For more information, visit here.
Photos with Santa at Atlas Brew Works – Saturday, December 21 @ 11am to 2pm
Photos with Santa returns to Atlas Brew Works (2052 West Virginia Ave NE) on Saturday, December 21. Take as many photos as you like with your own device for a minimum recommended donation of $25. Come out and support a good cause as all donations will go directly to St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Any guest that brings an unwrapped toy for the toy drive will receive a complimentary beer.
Eric Nuzum – Make Noise: A Creator’s Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling — in conversation with Scott Simon — at Politics and Prose at Union Market
Friday, January 10, 2020 – 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In his comprehensive guide to creating and distributing podcasts, Nuzum, who as former head of NPR podcast development oversaw shows including TED Radio Hour, Invisibilia, Sincerely X, and The Butterfly Effect with Jon Ronson, goes beyond just the basics. Offering practical information, insider’s advice, and tips on the big picture, he identifies core principles, such as thinking like the audience while staying focused on your own message; establishes best practices for interviews and for developing character, story, and voice; shares strategies for refining ideas and developing an audience; and shows how to use audio effectively as a means of expression. Nuzum will be in conversation with Scott Simon, host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
This event is free to attend with no reservation required. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.
Politics and Prose at Union Market 1270 5th Street NE Washington DC 20002
Prachi Gupta will be discussing her first book AOC: Fighter, Phenom, Changemaker at Solid State Books, 600 H Street Northeast Washington, DC, 20002, Monday, January 13 at 7:00pm. The event is free and open to the public and books will be available for purchase and signing.
AOC: Fighter, Phenom, Changemaker is among the first biographies of one of the most talked-about women in politics and is written by Prachi Gupta, a freelance journalist who previously worked at Jezebel, covered the 2016 election for Cosmopolitan.com, and has interviewed figures like Hillary Clinton, Ivanka Trump, and Michelle Obama. It’s an inspiring holiday gift that shares Ocasio-Cortez’s remarkable life story and a clear and compelling look at who she is, what she stands for, and the movement that she’s energized. Booklist called AOC a “beautiful tribute to a contemporary firebrand,” praised Gupta’s reporting, and recommended the book for both adult and YA readers.
On Friday, January 17th, 2020, Chef Charlie Palmer takes the famous wine country event Pigs & Pinot on the road! In honor of its 15th year, he’s bringing it to Charlie Palmer Steak Washington D.C. where guests will sample highly acclaimed Sonoma and Willamette Valleys Pinot Noir wines, alongside a variety of pork dishes from local chefs.
With all net proceeds benefiting No Kid Hungry’s work to end childhood hunger in America, “Taste of Pigs & Pinot” presents a remarkable line-up of food and wine tastings. The event is supported by sponsors including family-owned Joyce Farms, dedicated to using humane, all-natural and regenerative farming methods and providing sustainably raised, heritage breed, antibiotic-free pork, as well as participating wineries and allied restaurants, working together to make this charitable celebration possible.
Chef Charlie Palmer and the Charlie Palmer Steak team will be joined by their colleagues and fellow chefs:
- Nathan Anda, Chef Red Apron Butchery, The Partisan
- Marjorie Meek-Bradley, Chef St. Anselm
- Scott Drewno & Danny Lee, Co–Chefs CHIKO
- Victor Albisu, Chef/Owner Poca Madre, Taco Bamba
The participating Pinot Noir wineries are:
- Balletto Vineyards
- Brooks
- Croix Estate
- Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery
- Freeman Winery
- Papapietro Perry Winery
- Siduri
- Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards
- Twomey Cellars
Taste of Pigs & Pinot Event
Friday, January 17th, 2020 | 6:00-9:00 p.m. | Charlie Palmer Steak Washington D.C.
$95
Guests in DC will sample 10 highly acclaimed Pinot Noir wines alongside a variety of pork dishes, including homemade sausages, charcuterie, grilled pork, patés and other special creations from Chef Palmer, Charlie Palmer Steak, and local guest chefs including Nathan Anda [Red Apron Butchery + The Partisan], Marjorie Meek-Bradley [St. Anselm], Scott Drewno and Danny Lee [CHIKO], Victor Albisu [Poca Madre + Taco Bamba]. All pork generously provided by Joyce Farms.
On Sunday, Jan. 19 — the day before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — CapitalBop will be hosting this year’s Jazz and Freedom Festival, an all-day musical celebration and benefit, to help raise awareness and funds on behalf of organizations fighting for immigrant rights right here in our DMV community.
The festival is co-presented by CapitalBop, Shannon Gunn and Eaton Hotels, and will benefit the ICE Out of DC coalition. The concert features poetry by poet and community advocate Claudia Rojas and a full program of music by bass clarinetist Todd Marcus, guitarist Cristian Perez, drummer Angel Bethea and the Jazz and Freedom Octet (a pickup group of D.C. jazz heavyweights organized by Gunn, a respected trombonist and composer). It will take place at the Eaton, 1201 K St NW, Washington DC 20005.
Each year, the festival gathers members of D.C.’s overlapping communities of artists, activists and audiences for a day of music and conversation around a different social justice issue. It also operates as a benefit for a community organization doing activist work in the DMV: Empower DC in 2015, Black Lives Matter DMV in 2016, WPFW 89.3 FM in 2017, and the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation in 2019.
On Jan. 19, doors open at 3 p.m. We will host a panel discussion with representatives from ICE Out of DC and special guests at 3:30 p.m., followed by a performance by the Jazz and Freedom Octet (a group of D.C. jazz heavyweights organized by Gunn) at 4:30, a trio led by drummer Angel Bethea at 5:30, and a quartet led by guitarist Cristian Perez at 6:30. At 7:30, poet and community advocate Claudia Rojas will recite her work. At 8:15, star clarinetist Todd Marcus will lead his trio in a set of music. The night will conclude with an open jam session. Breaks in the program will be complemented by short pieces by Rojas and short announcements by CapitalBop staff and members of the ICE Out of DC coalition.
SCHEDULE:
3:00 p.m. Doors open
3:30 p.m. Panel discussion with ICE Out of DC
4:30 p.m. The Jazz and Freedom Octet
5:30 p.m. Angel Bethea Trio
6:30 p.m. Cristian Perez Quartet
7:30 p.m. Poet and community advocate Claudia Rojas
8:15 p.m. Todd Marcus Trio
9:15 p.m. Jam Session, open to the public
