Events/Things To Do

Patrons’ Show, the Art League’s biggest fundraiser, is back on Sunday, February 19, from 6–9 pm. Ticket holders may choose to attend the event in person at the Torpedo Factory or from the comfort of home via the streaming platform Vimeo. This much-anticipated event, now in its 55th year, allows ticket holders to acquire high-quality, original fine art—valued from $235 to upwards of thousands of dollars—while supporting a great non-profit organization and community of artists.

The Patrons’ Show Exhibit features over 600 original fine artworks donated by Art League and Torpedo Factory artists. It opens for viewing in The Art League Gallery and online Friday, February 3, two weeks before the drawing. Ticket holders fill the Gallery during these two weeks studying the artwork and noting their favorite pieces, so they’ll be prepared to select from the available artwork when their turn arrives.

At the Patrons’ Show event, the emcee announces the name of every ticket holder in a random drawing. Each person called chooses their favorite work of art from the Show to take home! In addition to the artwork, ticket holders may win other valuable prizes donated by local businesses.

Tickets for the Patrons’ Show fundraiser are $235 and can be purchased here.

Anyone can see the bevy of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, printworks, and more on the League’s Patrons’ Show 2023 album on Flickr; and download the handy Art Thief app to pick and organize their favorites on an iPhone, iPad, or iTouch (but grab a ticket if you want to claim artwork!).

Film Screening: Night Raiders

Sunday, Feb. 26, 2–5 p.m.  

The National Museum of the American Indian presents Night Raiders as part of the Mother Tongue Festival, which returns in person to the National Mall in 2023. 

(Canada/New Zealand, 2021, 97 mins.) Director: Danis Goulet (Cree/Métis)    

English, Cree with English subtitles  

In a dystopian future in 2043, a military occupation controls disenfranchised cities in post-war North America. Children are considered property of the regime, which trains them to fight. A desperate Cree woman (Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers) joins an underground band of vigilantes to infiltrate a state children’s academy and get her daughter back. A parable about the experience of Indigenous peoples, Night Raiders is a female-driven sci-fi drama about resilience, courage, and love.  

The Mother Tongue Film Festival is a public program of Recovering Voices, a collaboration between the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and the Asian Pacific American Center. Learn more about the 2023 festival and past programs at mothertongue.si.edu.

Runners take your mark. In celebration of Women’s History Month, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation is hosting the fifth annual FITDC HerStory 5K Run/Walk at Freedom Plaza on Saturday, March 4 at 9:00 a.m. The FITDC HerStory 5K is free of charge, open to all DC residents and for all race levels. Residents can submit race registrations at: http://herstory5k.com.

Downtown DC’s flat running course along Pennsylvania Avenue will again serve as the perfect backdrop for the race event, which highlights panoramic views of the U.S. Capitol and national monuments. Both dog and stroller friendly, the FITDC HerStory 5K is geared toward families, kids, weekend athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike.

Events and prizes for the FITDC HerStory 5K include:

• Free commemorative HerStory T-Shirt and Race Bib for all race participants while supplies last (courtesy of AETNA)
• Post-Race Finish Festival with music, giveaways and vendors from local women-owned businesses.
• Freedom Plaza adorned with quotes for HerStory making women
• Pop-up exhibits about women’s history
• Parking space is extremely limited at Freedom Plaza, so FITDC encourages race participants to leave their cars at home. Convenient methods of transportation include: walking, Capital Bikeshare, DC Metro, Uber, Lyft or taxicab.

Race packet pick-up will take place on Wednesday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2 from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at SteadFast Supply (301 Tingey Street, SE) Hook Hall (3400 Georgia Ave., NW) and Bourne 2 Fly Fitness (3408 18th Street NE). When registering, please specify shirt size and preferred packet pick-up location.

Before, during, and after their run/walk, residents are encouraged to tag @myfitdc, while they share pictures and selfies on social media using the hashtags #HerStory5K and #CelebrateWomen. Race participants can track their run time through our sign-up portal to compare and connect with family and friends.

REGISTRATON: DC residents can submit race registrations at: http://herstory5k.com.

WHAT:  Fifth Annual FITDC HerStory 5K Run/Walk

• Free and Open to DC Residents
• Free commemorative T-Shirt & Race Bib for All
• Participants
• Post-Race Finish Festival: Music, Giveaways, Vendors from
• Women-Owned Businesses
• Freedom Plaza Featuring Exhibits and Quotes from
• HerStory Making Women

WHEN:  Saturday, March 4, 2023 / Registration 9:00am | 5K Begins 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:  Freedom Plaza – 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Race Route:  Downtown DC along Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

PACKET
PICK-UP:  Wednesday, March 1 & Tuesday, March 2 / 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Three Locations:

-SteadFast Supply at 301 Tingey Street, SE

-Hook Hall at 3400 Georgia Avenue, NW

-Bourne 2 Fly Fitness 3408 18th Street NE

Registrants please specify pick-up location and T-shirt size

Race Day: Saturday, March 4 at 9:00 a.m. (Freedom Plaza)

Indigenous Women Weavers of Chiapas 

Saturday, March 11, 12–4 p.m.

Master weavers and embroiderers Maria López Ruíz, Maria de La Luz Gómez Martínez, Anita Ara Pérez and Juana López Díaz of Los Altos de Chiapas, Mexico, will demonstrate the backstrap weaving technique and discuss their community-based work and experience improving the ethical production and trade of weaving products by Indigenous women’s cooperatives. Presented in collaboration with the Inter-American Foundation and NGOImpacto.

Film Screening: Prey

Saturday, March 18, 2 p.m.

(USA, 2022, 100 mins.)

Director: Dan Trachtenberg, (Rated: R)

Naru, a skilled warrior of the Comanche Nation, fights to protect her tribe against one of the first highly evolved Predators to land on Earth. Guest Speakers: Amber Midthunder (Fort Peck Assiniboine) and Jhane Myers (Comanche/Blackfeet)

Amid a celebratory 25th-anniversary MainStage season, MET’s resident comedy troupe that started it all, Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) is thrilled to announce the glorious return of MET’s treasured annual fundraiser and the best party of the year, Retro Prom.

Retro Prom will feature the musical stylings of DJ Genius of Benefactor Events to dance the night away to, delicious food by The Savory Spoon, a gift card tree raffle, a silent auction, fun prom photos, a cash bar and a late night pizza party. This sell out event for guests 21 years and older will be held on Saturday, March 18th from 7:00PM – 11:00PM at the William Talley Recreation Center (121 N. Bentz St. Frederick, MD 21701) in Baker Park.

The roaring ‘20s is this year’s Retro Prom theme. Though it is not a requirement that party guests wear a themed outfit it is encouraged that guests dance the night away dressed for prom, all decades of attire welcomed. New to Retro Prom this year is online bidding, which will allow guests to bid from wherever they are on silent auction items, receive outbid notifications, and seamlessly check out at the end of the night. Raffle ticket purchases and donations may also be completed online.

Tickets or tables may be purchased online at www.marylandensemble.org, by phone at (301) 694-4744, or in person at the MET Box Office. Individual tickets are $50 each. Tables are available for guaranteed seating for 4, 8, 10, or 12 attendees. Costs for tables range from $240 – $720 with advanced registration. Tables include a sign with the party’s name, guaranteed seating, and a bottle of champagne on ice. There will also be standing high-top tables and limited non-table seating for those purchasing individual tickets only.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) who for over 25 years have been producing thought-provoking theatre, fun family entertainment, artist residency programs for public schools, challenging classes and side-splitting comedy. MET is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

The Washington Nationals and Washington Nationals Philanthropies invite fans to attend the red carpet arrivals prior to the 2023 Nationals Homecoming Gala, held Tuesday, March 28, at The Anthem located at The Wharf (901 Wharf St. SW). Arrivals are scheduled from approximately 5:00-7:00 p.m. outside The Brighton, host of the official Red Carpet Watch Party.

The Nationals Homecoming Gala is the team’s premier off-the-field event and annual fundraiser for Nationals Philanthropies. This year, the event will honor Ryan Zimmerman with the Power of Baseball Award.

On Tuesday, Nationals players, coaches and front office executives will come together with partners and supporters to celebrate the excitement of a new baseball season. While tickets to the event are sold out, fans can still join in the fun by attending the red carpet celebration at The Wharf, which will include: 

·         Music, Nationals mascots and personalities

·         Exclusive Nationals giveaways, including memorabilia and Opening Day tickets 

·         And the opportunity to meet Washington Nationals players, coaches and special guests as they walk the red carpet.

Celebrate the Washington Nationals home opener with Atlas Brew Works Half Street Brewery & Tap Room, located steps from National Park’s Center Field gate. The solar-powered brewery will open its doors at 9am on Thursday, March 30, to allow for guests to start the celebrations early.

Atlas Brew Works will release a new limited beer for the occasion, Opening Day Lager. With a 4.6% ABV, Opening Day Lager is a pilsner brewed with Huell Melon hops and has notes of honeydew, lime, and orange peel, perfect for an early start to summer.

Make sure to check out the merch section ahead of the game as the brewery has special swag to commemorate opening day. Don’t have tickets but want to partake in the fun? Atlas Half Street will show the Nationals vs Braves 1:05 pm game on its many televisions with sound.

WHERE:

Atlas Half Street Brewery & Tap Room

1201 Half Street SE, #120

Washington, DC 20003

WHEN:

Thursday, March 30

9am to close

Eastern Market’s North Hall is located at 225 7^th Street SE, Washington, DC, 20003.  North Hall is accessed from the south via the indoor food stalls or from the north at North Carolina Avenue SE.  Eastern Market is located a block from Metro.

Co-located, Offsite Art Book Fair Programming
Saturday, April 1 Art Book Fair Programs at CHAW
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop | 545 7th Street SE, Washington DC, 20003 (Three blocks south from Eastern Market)

• 2023 Capital Art Book Fair Exhibitor Panel Discussion | Presented by Paper Cuts | Saturday, April 1 from 11am-12pm
• Capitol Hill Art League Exhibition Open Juried Exhibition Reception| Saturday, April 1 from 5:30-7pm

Sunday, April 2 Art Book Fair Programs at Hill Center (Three blocks east from Eastern Market)
921 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC, 20003

• Free Workshop | Children’s Painting with Buck Herring|Sunday, April 2 from 3-5pm
• Exhibition: Hill Center DC Regional Exhibition Juried by Nehemiah Dixon III | See works from over 105 Artists from DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia | Sunday, April 2 from 10am-5pm

Eastern Market’s North Hall is located at 225 7^th Street SE, Washington, DC, 20003.  North Hall is accessed from the south via the indoor food stalls or from the north at North Carolina Avenue SE.  Eastern Market is located a block from Metro.

Co-located, Offsite Art Book Fair Programming

Sunday, April 2 Art Book Fair Programs at Hill Center (Three blocks east from Eastern Market)
921 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC, 20003

• Free Workshop | Children’s Painting with Buck Herring|Sunday, April 2 from 3-5pm
• Exhibition: Hill Center DC Regional Exhibition Juried by Nehemiah Dixon III | See works from over 105 Artists from DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia | Sunday, April 2 from 10am-5pm