On Tuesday, February 8 at 7:30 pm, the O.B. Hardison Poetry Series at the Folger
Shakespeare Library in collaboration with the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum,
present a poetic mix-tape in response to the Rock Hall’s exhibition It’s Been Said All Along:
Voices of Rage, Hope, and Empowerment.
Poets Patricia Spears Jones, Nate Marshall, Reuben Jackson, and Ashley M. Jones (no relation)
read their own poetry and use it to explore the rage, hope and empowerment embedded in the historic
musical legacy of such artists as Public Enemy, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and
others. The reading will artfully combine poetry and music from the exhibition.
Tickets for this virtual event are $5 – $30, with a suggested price of $15. Tickets can be purchased
at the Folger Box Office at 202.544.7077 or by visiting www.folger.edu/poetry.
About It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope, and Empowerment, the Rock & Roll Hall of
Fame says, “musicians have responded in song and action to promote social justice and equality. What
the world is seeing today, as injustices are called out and protesters are finding their voices, is not new.
And neither are the musical responses – words and music and passion converging to create something
much bigger that cuts deep into the rage, gives hope and radiates empowerment.”
The reading will begin with a pop-up exhibition of rare items from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and
Museum and will be followed by a moderated conversation with questions from those in attendance.
This reading is co-sponsored by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Yards is bringing back its annual winter-themed wonderland on Saturday, February 26. Back for its 8th year, Ice Yards has everything guests need for an après ski-inspired afternoon. Guests are invited to enjoy live music, photo booths, winter-inspired beverages, and will even be able to show off their iceless curling and ax-throwing skills and ‘hit the slopes’ on a large snowboard simulator! To celebrate your medal-worthy snowboarding performance, join in on the après ski fun with a winter beverage next to a cozy fire pit.
The Yards is proud to partner with Special Olympics DC for the annual Polar Plunge Fundraiser. Participants will “take the plunge” in an above-ground swimming pool on the boardwalk as Ice Yards guests cheer them on. The Polar Plunge supports over 2,500 DC-based athletes with year-round sports training and the opportunity to compete in the Special Olympics DC Games.
Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite and include a drink ticket and a donation to Special Olympics DC. This event will adhere to all city-mandated Covid protocol. Please note Ice Yards is a 21 and over event. To register for the SODC Polar Plunge, please visit www.dcpolarplunge.org.
WHEN/WHERE:
-
Saturday, February 26, 2022 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
-
Ice Yards is rain or shine
-
-
Yards Park | 355 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20002
The 7th annual Jazz & Freedom Festival will bring together some of the finest musicians in D.C. (and beyond) with community activists confronting racial injustice and anti-Black violence in our communities. Presented by CapitalBop in partnership with Shannon Gunn and the Eaton DC, this year’s JAFF will take place all afternoon and evening on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Eaton’s Beverly Snow warehouse space, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to Harriet’s Wildest Dreams.
Jazz & Freedom Festival
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Eaton DC: 1201 K St. NW, WDC
Suggested donation $20/give what you can
3 p.m. Doors
3:30 Panel featuring Harriet’s Wildest Dreams
4:30-9:00 Five sets of music & poetry
9:00 Open jam session
Following Eaton policy and D.C. law, proof of full Covid-19 vaccination is required for entry. Vaccination cards and IDs will be checked at the door of the building; a negative test is not a substitute for proof of vaccination. Face masks required.
The centerpiece of the festival, of course, is the music. And the incredible lineup that the JAFF’s creative team — led by CapitalBop cofounder Luke Stewart, Shannon Gunn and Kelsye Adams — has assembled is stacked with brilliant talent from start to finish.
The acclaimed steel pan virtuoso and composer Victor Provost will play a headlining set with his band. A pair of incredible duos will also perform: bassist Corcoran Holt with percussionist/poet Jabari Exum, and Jupiter Blue (featuring Tara Middleton and DM Hotep, both members of the Sun Ra Arkestra).
Trombonist and co-organizer Shannon Gunn will lead the Jazz & Freedom Ensemble, a D.C. supergroup with a rotating lineup that anchors every JAFF. And to close out the evening, the Collect!v Crew — a DMV musicians’ collective anchored by bassist Dennis Turner and drummer Biscuit Bynum — will close out the night, bringing its groove-based take on contemporary Black music back to the Eaton, where it has been a regular presence over the past few years.
The festival will feature five sets of live music and poetry, as well as a panel discussion moderated by Harriet’s Wildest Dreams cofounder Qiana Johnson, featuring Ty Hobson Powell of Concerned Citizens DC, Jessica Teachey of The MusicianShip, Beth Yirga of the Palm Collective and musician Onrae Lateel.
Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic hosts a night of inspiration and hope at the 2022 Wish Ball on February 26, 2022. Held at the Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C., this gala event raises funds to support granting wishes to children fighting critical illnesses in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. The premier Make-A-Wish fundraiser in the Mid-Atlantic region, this evening will feature dinner, dancing, a silent auction, and inspirational stories from wish kids and their families.
WHY: To raise critical funds and celebrate the mission and work of Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic. This year alone, 840 local children are expected to be diagnosed with a critical illness – and for each wish granted, one more local child is waiting for a wish. Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic needs the community’s support to close the gap between children who have received their wish this year and those who are still waiting.
What: Wish Ball is a spectacular gala event featuring unforgettable wish experiences, exciting silent and live auction items, and a lively after-party.
The 2022 Wish Ball is co-chaired by Amanda & Erich Cabe and Jyothi Raghavan and Ram Ramachandran. Hatch Exhibits joins the event as the Exclusive Production Sponsor to present interactive displays telling the stories of local wishes. Guests will step into a wish kid’s dream as they explore Andrew’s unbelievable backyard treehouse, shoot hoops with Zain on his basketball court, and become a billboard model like Abi. Entertainment includes an inspirational program with Emcees Peter Alexander (NBC News) & Alison Starling (WJLA 7 News) and live music from Lucy Black Luxe. A live and silent auction round out the evening.
More information at wishballmidatlantic.org
The Academy for Classical Acting’s 2022 cohort will be presenting their Spring Devised work, The Epic of Gilgamesh, on March 24 and 25 at 7:30 pm at George Washington University’s Theatre XX and on March 26 and 27 at 2 pm at the National Arboretum. Devised under the direction of ACA faculty member Dody DiSanto, The Epic of Gilgamesh is based on a poem of the same name from ancient Mesopotamia. Originally inscribed on 12 clay tablets in cuneiform script, the poem recorded the life and adventures of the historical King of Uruk, Gilgamesh himself. Perhaps the oldest written story on Earth, this text is the epitome of classical and has been lovingly and painstakingly translated into a beautiful performance piece highlighting the work of ACA’s 2022 graduating class.
Tickets for this event are free, but donations are suggested. All donations go toward The Academy’s scholarship fund.
You can reserve your tickets here. Please make sure to note which performance venue your ticket is for: George Washington University’s Theatre XX (March 26 and 27) or the National Arboretum (March 26 and 27).
The Academy for Classical Acting’s 2022 cohort will be presenting their Spring Devised work, The Epic of Gilgamesh, on March 24 and 25 at 7:30 pm at George Washington University’s Theatre XX and on March 26 and 27 at 2 pm at the National Arboretum. Devised under the direction of ACA faculty member Dody DiSanto, The Epic of Gilgamesh is based on a poem of the same name from ancient Mesopotamia. Originally inscribed on 12 clay tablets in cuneiform script, the poem recorded the life and adventures of the historical King of Uruk, Gilgamesh himself. Perhaps the oldest written story on Earth, this text is the epitome of classical and has been lovingly and painstakingly translated into a beautiful performance piece highlighting the work of ACA’s 2022 graduating class.
Tickets for this event are free, but donations are suggested. All donations go toward The Academy’s scholarship fund.
You can reserve your tickets here. Please make sure to note which performance venue your ticket is for: George Washington University’s Theatre XX (March 26 and 27) or the National Arboretum (March 26 and 27).
The Academy for Classical Acting’s 2022 cohort will be presenting their Spring Devised work, The Epic of Gilgamesh, on March 24 and 25 at 7:30 pm at George Washington University’s Theatre XX and on March 26 and 27 at 2 pm at the National Arboretum. Devised under the direction of ACA faculty member Dody DiSanto, The Epic of Gilgamesh is based on the poem of the same name from ancient Mesopotamia. Originally inscribed on 12 clay tablets in cuneiform script, the poem recorded the life and adventures of the historical King of Uruk, Gilgamesh himself. Perhaps the oldest written story on Earth, this text is the epitome of classical and has been lovingly and painstakingly translated into a beautiful performance piece highlighting the work of ACA’s 2022 graduating class.
Tickets for this event are free, but donations are suggested. All donations go toward The Academy’s scholarship fund.
You can reserve your tickets here. Please make sure to note which performance venue your ticket is for: George Washington University’s Theatre XX (March 26 and 27) or the National Arboretum (March 26 and 27).
The Academy for Classical Acting’s 2022 cohort will be presenting their Spring Devised work, The Epic of Gilgamesh, on March 24 and 25 at 7:30 pm at George Washington University’s Theatre XX and on March 26 and 27 at 2 pm at the National Arboretum. Devised under the direction of ACA faculty member Dody DiSanto, The Epic of Gilgamesh is based on the poem of the same name from ancient Mesopotamia. Originally inscribed on 12 clay tablets in cuneiform script, the poem recorded the life and adventures of the historical King of Uruk, Gilgamesh himself. Perhaps the oldest written story on Earth, this text is the epitome of classical and has been lovingly and painstakingly translated into a beautiful performance piece highlighting the work of ACA’s 2022 graduating class.
Tickets for this event are free, but donations are suggested. All donations go toward The Academy’s scholarship fund.
You can reserve your tickets here. Please make sure to note which performance venue your ticket is for: George Washington University’s Theatre XX (March 26 and 27) or the National Arboretum (March 26 and 27).
Cherry Blossom Paint Class with Painted Palettes – Thursday April 7th 5:30-7:30PM
- Samantha Testa is the owner and artist behind the Brookland DC watercolor and calligraphy studio, Painted Palettes. As a former first grade teacher, Sam enjoys teaching workshops to adults, making custom watercolor house portraits for clients, making custom gifts at live events, and finding inspiration around her home city, Washington DC.
