Arts & Society
Weekend Roundup: November 14-17
Gala Guide for Spring 2013
• March 28, 2013
Spring has sprung, although it may not have been clear to those who looked out their windows on Monday morning to see snow topped trees in early blossom. There will be no end of festivities in coming months. The nation’s capital offers treats for all—the Opera Ball, the Washington Ballet’s Hemingway in Paris Ball, Washington Performing Arts Society Annual Gala, Corcoran Ball, National Museum of Women in the Arts Spring Gala and Phillips Collection Annual Gala are high on social lists. Theatergoers have the Helen Hayes Awards, Folger Gala, and Will on the Hall. Foodies can delight in Taste of the Nation, March of Dimes Gourmet Gala, Taste of Georgetown and RAMMY Awards Gala. Dog lovers and treasured pets can strut their stuff at Fashion for Paws and the Bark Ball. Cats tend to shun the social scene.
April 2
Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards
Join Vital Voices to celebrate 12 years of honoring extraordinary women leaders working to strengthen democracy, increase economic opportunity and protect human rights around the world. Kennedy Center. For more information, call (202) 636-8743 or
visit www.vitalvoices.org.
April 6
Washington National Opera’s Annual Opera Ball
This prestigious black-tie celebration begins with intimate, pre-Ball dinners hosted by ambassadors at their elegant residences and embassies. The Ball continues at Villa Firenze under the patronage of the Ambassador of Italy and Mrs. Claudio Bisogniero. Guests will be treated to an evening of dessert, dancing and opera performances. For more information, call (202) 416-8496.
James Renwick Gala
This celebratory night during the Spring Craft Weekend will feature dinner, auctions and the presentation of the One-of-a-Kind Award to Elmerina and Paul Parkman. The Willard Hotel. For more information, call (301) 907-3888 or visit www.jra.org.
April 8
The 29th Helen Hayes Awards
One of the country’s most prestigious cultural honors, the Helen Hayes Awards recognize and celebrate artistic achievement and bring significant local, national and international recognition to the remarkable artistry on Washington area. The Warner Theatre, The J.W. Marriott. For more information, call (202) 337-4572 or visit www.theatrewashington.org.
Taste of the Nation
Top local chefs, restaurants and mixologists come together to raise funds to ensure that no child goes hungry. National Building Museum. For more information, call (202) 675-0377 or visit www.lgwdc.org.
April 10
N Street Village Gala
The award-winning social services agency that provides shelter and support to homeless and low-income women in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area will host its annual gala to honor the clients, volunteers and supporters of the organization. The Ritz-Carlton, West End, Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.nstreetvillage.org.
April 11
Sitar Arts Center
“Paint the Town” is the theme of this year’s gala to support high-quality arts education to families lacking these opportunities. Cocktail reception and special musical performance from Origem. Mexican Cultural Institute. Please call (202) 797-2145 or visit www.sitarartscenter.org
Folger Gala
This event pays tribute to the Bard and his timeless plays. The evening includes cocktails, a performance in the Elizabethan Theatre and a seated dinner in the reading rooms. Folger Shakespeare Library. Please call (202) 675-0377 or visit www.folger.edu/
April 12
A Moveable Feast: The Hemingway in Paris Ball
The Washington Ballet’s Gala, a highlight of Washington’s social season, raises funds to support TWB’s community engagement and education activities, such as the DCPS in-school residency DanceDC, and the groundbreaking programs at THEARC in Anacostia. The Library of Congress Jefferson Building. Call (202) 362-3606 or visit www.washingtonballet.org.
April 13
Fashion for Paws
The Fashion for Paws Runway Show features local personalities as the models, many accompanied by fashionably dressed canines, to benefit the Washington Humane Society, the only Congressionally-chartered animal welfare agency in the nation. National Building Museum. For more information, call (202) 723-5730 or visit www.fashionforpaws.org.
Washington Performing Arts Society
Annual Gala & Auction
A highlight of the spring gala season, the WPAS Gala raises funds to support the organization’s main stage and education programs. The evening features an auction, dinner, dancing and a headlining performance. The Ritz-Carlton Washington. For more information, call (202) 533-1891 or visit www.wpas.org.
April 16
“For the Love of Sight” Visionary Awards Dinner
The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sight-saving retinal research, will honor former Ambassador Tom Korologos and former U.S. Secretary of Labor Ann McLaughlin Korologos with its Visionary Award. The Ritz-Carlton, West End, Washington, D.C. For more information, call (240) 423-0643 or visit www.fightblindness.org.
April 17
March of Dimes Gourmet Gala
The Gourmet Gala is a fundraising dinner where Members of Congress and other Washington notables participate in a competitive cook-off to support the March of Dimes. National Building Museum. For more information, call (703) 637-1334 or visit www.marchofdimes.com.
April 19
58th Annual Corcoran Ball
A highlight in Washington’s spring philanthropic calendar, the black-tie benefit features uniquely decorated formal dining rooms within the Corcoran’s historic galleries, among priceless works of art. Club Corcoran is a special late-night option for the junior set. Corcoran Gallery of Art. For more information, call (301) 951-3780 or visit www.corcoran.org/ball.
April 20
Spring Gala at the Strathmore
Michael Feinstein will headline Strathmore’s 2013 Spring Gala. This magical night helps support Strathmore’s education and artistic programming, master classes, Artist in Residence programs, free community events and festivals. Strathmore. For more information, call (301) 581-5135 or visit www.strathmore.org.
April 24
Smithsonian Craft Show Preview Night Benefit
Meet the artists whose skill and passion have created exceptional American works of art and preview the prestigious juried show before it opens to the public. Produced by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, all proceeds support the Smithsonian. National Building Museum. For more information, call (202) 633-5006 or visit www.smithsoniancraftshow.org.
April 26
National Museum of Women in the Arts Spring Gala
The spring gala is the museum’s largest and most important annual fundraising event. Proceeds support the exhibitions and programs that make the National Museum of Women in the Arts the leading museum dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in the visual, performing and literary arts. National Museum of Women in the Arts. For more information, call (202) 266-2815 or visit www.nmwa.org.
Weekend Round Up February 14, 2013
• February 19, 2013
RED Opening Night Reception
February 15th, 2013 at 05:00 PM | Free | info@oldprintgallery.com | Tel: (202) 965-1818 | Event Website
RED will open with a nighttime reception on February 15, 2013, from 5-8pm. RED is a group show of contemporary printmakers who feature the emboldened and passionate hue in their prints. The artists use this energizing pigment to excite the eye and engage viewers- drawing them into their dynamic compositions. The show will be on view until April 13, 2013.
Address
The Old Print Gallery; 1220 31st Street, NW
Chance for Life
February 16th, 2013 at 01:00 PM | 55-300 | info@chance-for-life.net | Tel: (703) 519-6696 | Event Website
The 8th Annual Chance for Life Charity event is an evening of poker, wine tasting and dancing to fund research seeking a cure for pediatric spinal cord cancer.
Address
City Tavern; 3206 M St NW Washington, DC 20007
Washington Bach Consort presents “Bach for All Seasons”
February 17th, 2013 at 03:00 PM | Tickets $23-$65, Students 18 and younger $10, Pay Your Age 18-38 | contact@bachconsort.org | Tel: 202.429.2121 | Event Website
In honor of the 35th Season & by popular demand music director & founder J. Reilly Lewis & National Presbyterian’s glorious Skinner organ star in an all-Bach program built around the “Great Eighteen,” BWV 651–658, begun in Bach’s youth in Weimar & revised in his final years in Leipzig. Singers from the Consort chorus perform Bach’s exquisite harmonization’s of the various melodies upon which these keyboard masterpieces are based.
Address
National Presbyterian Church; 4101 Nebraska Avenue, NW
Authors on Deck
February 20th, 2013 at 12:00 PM | free | Tel: 2027372300 | Event Website
As part of the United States Navy Memorial’s “Authors on Deck” book lecture series in honor of Black History Month, author Bland Simpson will present his literary work, Two Captains from Carolina: Moses Grandy, John Newland Maffitt, and the Coming of the Civil War (University of North Carolina Press; September 2012). Two Captains from Carolina twines together the lives of two accomplished nineteenth-century mariners from North Carolina–one African American and one Irish American.
Address
United States Navy Memorial; Naval Heritage Center; 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Double Your Mamet at Roundhouse and Theater J
• February 15, 2013
The Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Md., isn’t a huge, cavernous space. It’s both modern and inviting, a theatre with a long history—up on the lobby wall is a big poster of Ed Gero as Richard Nixon.
Inside the theater last week, actors were starting to come in, preparing—opening night at that point was only a few days away on Feb. 11—to enter the stream of David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross”, Mamet’s classic play about real estate agents on the make, battling it out in a small company, lying, cheating, thieving, getting ahead and falling behind.
“Glengarry Glen Ross” is early and top drawer Mamet—he won a Pulitzer Prize for it in 1984. These days, Mamet would appear to be everywhere, certainly in Washington where Theater J is doing “Race.” Round House and Theater J are working together to sponsor discussions on both plays. In addition, “Race”, will be a critical part of “Race in America: Where Are We Now?”, a Presidents’ Day Weekend (Feb. 16-17) symposium of film, theater and discussion sponsored by the Washington, D.C., Jewish Community Center.
Mamet is a fluid playwright, known for pungent dialogue, plays actors lived to perform in. He never stands still and has moved from outspoken liberalism to outspoken quasi-conservative, most recently in a controversial Newsweek article defending 2nd amendment gun rights.
“I don’t worry about Mamet on gun control,” Mitchell Hebert, a veteran and lauded Washington actor said. He’s directing the Roundhouse production of “Glengarry Glen Ross”. “We’re dealing with a classic play by Mamet, a play about the American dream, certain kinds of people who talk a certain way. The speech rhythms of his dialogue, actors sometimes can get caught in them, you see that in some of his films. It’s a realistic play, but it’s not necessarily just a play about real estate agents. It’s probably not Washington Fine Properties or Long and Foster.”
Hebert is an actor of course and when an actor becomes the director, well, as he says, “that can get tricky.” “It may be a little awkward at first, but on the other hand, they know that I know what they’re dealing with, the process, how to get where you want to go, and I’m the director, yes, but I can help. Plus, I know them, I’ve worked with them. We know each other.”
Levine this time around at Round House is played by Rick Foucheux, who’s worked on most of Washington’s major stages (he was Willy Lohman in Arena’s “Death of a Salesman”, he appeared in the “The Government Inspector” at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. “I think I may have been a little too young for Willy,” he said (I would beg to differ). “But you know, Mamet is right up there, in my mind with the great American playwrights—O’Neill, Williams, Miller—and Mamet. They’re uniquely American but translates universally. “Glenngary” is an American classic, along with “American Buffalo”, which somebody once called a play about three idiots. It’s the language. It’s the words. It’s full of ellipses.”
In the theater, Hebert operates from the aisles and the seats and a table which has an appealing untouched box of donuts on it. The stage is two- sets—the real estate office where a blackboard announces the standings in the sales race with Roma holding a big lead, and a sign for a Chinese restaurant. We’re looking at a section in which Roma—played with a enveloping, fast bravado by dark-haired Alexander Strain—is bragging a little until one of his clients-whom Roma has talked into buying an expensive plot of land—is outside the dour. Roma enlists Levine to help him evade the client, by pretending to be a big shot that he has to take to the airport. It’s like a game of two-card monte in follow-up exhibit in the near future.”
Hebert makes suggestions—without seeming to he brings the three actors closer together until they’re practically nose to nose where once they were in different parts of the set. It’s a process, change, repeat, louder, softer, less, more, the lines repeated, but the movements different, the sound a little more, a little less and you can see the bit coming together seamless. It’s a process, or, as Hebert says at one point, “This the work we do, gentlemen”.
Mamet, over the years, has had many concerns, and variations on a theme of work, American dreaming and the social quilt getting frayed. If “Glengarry” and “Buffalo” are about people on the borderlines and edges of the dream, later plays—excepting of course “Speed the Plow”, which is about dreamland itself, Hollywood (as is “Bambi Meets Godzilla”), then Mamet the latter-day not-saint is concerned with what makes us itch and argue and fight and hate. So we have “Oleana” which was a searing he-said-she-said battle between a female student and her professor, and “Race”, which examines the legal system and race and in which a wealthy white man is charged with raping a black woman.
“Glengarry Glen Ross” runs at the Round House Theatre through March 3. “Race” will be performed at Theater J through March 17.
Weekend Round Up January 31, 2013
• February 4, 2013
“Authors on Deck” – Churchill and Sea Power by Christopher Bell
January 31st, 2013 at 12:00 PM | Free | Tel: 202-737-2300 | Event Website
As part of the United States Navy Memorial’s “Authors on Deck” book lecture series, author Christopher Bell will present his latest work, Churchill and Sea Power (Oxford University Press, 2012). Bell addresses a surprisingly neglected aspect of Winston Churchill’s career: his attitude to sea power.
Following his presentation, Bell will be available for a Q&A session and book signing.
Address
United States Navy Memorial, Naval Heritage Center; 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Parish Gallery Georgetown: “Through the Years” Group of Gallery Artists
February 1st, 2013 at 06:00 PM | parishgallery@bigplanet.com | Tel: 202 944 2310 | Event Website
This opening reception entitled “Through the Years” features a group o gallery artist that at one point had shown at The Parish Gallery. Over the past 21 years, The Parish Gallery have shown so many exciting and talented artist. This exhibition the gallery will be showing both mid-career and masters.
Address
Parish Gallery
1054 31st Street, NW
Choral Evensong
February 3rd, 2013 at 05:00 PM | Free | diana@christchurchgeorgetown.org | Tel: 202-333-6677
Christ Church, Georgetown, continues its Choral Evensong series on Sunday,February 3 at 5 p.m. with the music of Philip Radcliffe, Herbert W. Sumsion, and Edward C. Bairstow. Sung by the professional Choir of Christ Church, this series is free and open to the public as a gift to the community.
Address
Christ Church, Georgetown
31st and O Streets, N.W.
Turn Up the Heat! Annual Gala
February 4th, 2013 at 06:30 PM | Tickets start at $275 | ocna@ovariancancer.org | Tel: 202-331-1332 | Event Website
Join the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance for an evening of delicious food that helps raise awareness of ovarian cancer and support programs for women with the devastating disease. We are once again teaming up with dozens of celebrated women chefs from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Our 8th Annual Gala highlights the best of these chefs’ talents and raises funds for ovarian cancer.
Address
Ritz Carlton, 1150 22nd St NW
14th Annual Washington DC International Wine & Food Festival
February 5th, 2013 at 04:00 PM | $75-$125 | sgregory@webportglobal.com | Tel: 202-312-1300 | Event Website
With our increasingly knowledgeable consumer base, the 2013 Festival will be extended over several days and will include seminars, tastings, food pairings, dinners, and a signature event each evening. Our goal is to provide guests with multiple, focused opportunities to sample high quality food and wine, meet and greet winemakers, chefs and tastemakers, and continue our tradition of sharing the art, culture and fun of food and wine.
Address
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Straight Talk With Liz Ann Sonders
February 6th, 2013 at 06:00 PM | Free | john.welch@edelman.com | Tel: 800-750-9539 | Event Website
Liz Ann Sonders, Schwab’s Chief Investment Strategist, takes a look at what she sees on the horizon for the markets and economy in 2013. She will share her perspective on changes coming out of Washington and the impact they may have on individual investors, especially for those nearing or in retirement. This video presentation will be followed by a branch-led discussion.
Address
7401 Wisconsin Ave, Suite #100; Bethesda, MD 20814
CAG: 4th Annual Georgetown Art Show
February 7th, 2013 at 06:00 PM | Tel: 202-368-5878 | Event Website
CAG (Citizens Association of Georgetown) invites all to celebrate and view the talent and creativity of Georgetown resident artists at CAG’s 4th Annual Georgetown Art Show. Free to the public, the show will launch with an opening reception on Thursday, February 7th from 6 to 9 p.m. and will be open from Friday, February 8th thru Sunday, February 10th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the House of Sweden (2900 K Street, NW). CAG’s unique show will feature artwork by local Georgetown residents and artists who have studios in Georgetown. Media will include oil and watercolor paintings, prints, sculpture and photography. Most works will be for sale, with a few on loan from private collections. Click here for more about the show.
Address
House of Sweden
2900 K Street NW
Charlottesville Wine & Dine
• December 6, 2012
Two hundred and fifty years ago, a city was founded along a Virginia trade route that led from Richmond ?to the Great Appalachian Valley. Named after Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, it was established as an intersection of industry and natural resources, urbanity and wilderness. As the country evolved, through the throws of war and the expansion of the West, Charlottesville stood as a geographic and philosophical step- pingstone, gently nestled in the eaves of the Blue Ridge Mountains and standing at the forefront of economic, cultural and academic achievement.
Today, Charlottesville continues its legacy, having become a premier destination in the Mid- Atlantic Region. Renowned for its innovation in winemaking, regionally inspired culinary artist- ry, rustic local culture and top-end, often quirky and unique retail, Charlottesville brings its cul- tural and geographic heritage into its daily life.
Only two hours from Washington, the winter months are the perfect time to settle in for a cozy Charlottesville weekend, sitting fireside at a rural inn, dining at one of their classic or contemporary restaurants, or warming up from a wintry vineyard tour in a rustic tasting room. Here is a primer for Charlottesville’s restaurants and vineyards, all perfect places around which to frame a weekend getaway and take the edge off the winter months ahead.
Wine
As we stand on the doorstep of winter vineyards may seem low on the list of worthy city was founded along a Virginia discussion topics. Now of course is the time trade route that led from Richmond where vines begin to go barren and production comes to a standstill until the spring thaw. While everyone else with the winter wonderland bug is waiting in line at the ski slopes, Charlottesville’s wineries offer intimate afternoon getaways off the beaten path. With the last of the fall wine festivals and vineyard weddings behind us, tours are down and crowds have dwindled, leaving true wine enthusiasts with a selection of world- class vineyards to explore without the fuss of traffic. With over 20 vineyards to choose from, it is just a matter of knowing where to start.
Early Mountain Vineyards is a great place to begin your Charlottesville wine tour. Relatively new to the community, they are not only produc- ing impressive wines but maintaining their his- toric property with a commitment to biodiversity and sustainable farming. Having learned from wine pioneers in Virginia and around the world, we know that practical organic and biodynamic methods, such as limiting our use of sprays and pesticides, help preserve the natural balance of the vineyards’ ecosystem and yield healthy and expressive grapes. Not that you need to know this to enjoy their delicious wine.
Their tasting room is among the most impressive in Virginia, ranked second out of 220 wineries by Virginia Wine Lover online. Visitors to Early Mountain Vineyards can warm by the fire and enjoy the views after lunch with fare from the tasting room’s ‘eat local’ marketplace featuring cheeses, charcuterie and products from Virginia purveyors. They keep a selection of the best Virginia wines from other vineyards in house along with rotating featured selections. Learn why Virginia is a growing destination for wine enthusiasts.
www.EarlyMountain.com
King Family Vineyards is a family-owned and operated boutique winery located in Crozet, just fifteen minutes from Charlottesville at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The winery specializes in small productions of ultra- premium wine that showcase the remarkable qualities of nearly 100% estate grown fruit. Founded in 1998, the winery’s first vintage was only 500 cases. Today, the winery produces approximately 5,000 cases of wine per year, and according to owner David King, King Family sells everything they make. During the winter, the winery’s tasting room is home to a warm stone fireplace and rich, family-friendly seating areas. Bring your own goodies or pick from the tasting room’s gourmet assortments of chocolates, cheeses, salamis, spreads, and hot French bread.
www.KingFamilyVineyards.com
Pollak Vineyards, a favorite of this author, was founded by David and Margo Pollak, who first made wine in Napa Valley in the 1970s. With their new viticultural venture, they wanted to explore a new terrain in the winemaking world. Virginia, they decided, was the Napa of the East Coast. They found their current Charlottesville plot in 2001 and started planting fruit in 2003.
“We don’t buy or outsource any fruit for our wine,” says Dovel. “We grow all our own grapes, and even sell to some of our neighbors, which we’re very proud of. It’s rare to find a winery that does all estate grown wines. What you taste in our wines is our true terroir—what Mother Nature has to offer our specific property.”
Today, Pollak is well known for their Viogniers and Petit Verdots. Their red wines are unfined and unfiltered, with a lot of finesse but a still-present power. “If you put France and California together,” says Dovel, “that’s where we sit: big fruit with great structure—and the character of Virginia’s unique climate makes it awesome.”
www.PollakVineyards.com
Dining
As hinted at by the wineries, local and region- al produce plays a large part in Charlottesville’s culinary scene. A handful of restaurants are spearheading this movement, delivering innova- tive but comforting American fare, inspired with international flavors and rooted in the surrounding farmland.
Mas was conceived by chef Tomas Rahal as an opportunity to feature slow, organic, artisanal food and wines, inspired by Spain and emphasizing simple, well-handled ingredients served in a casual neighborhood setting.
Featuring a contemporary, tapas-style menu, Mas specializes in bite-sized dishes eaten between larger meals. These snacks are often eaten in groups, sharing dishes communally and without any pretense or formality. Among their mouth-watering menu options this season, try their Medulla, a rich beef marrow blended with Alba truffles, sweet butter, parsley, garlic and bread crumbs, and toasted with Manchego. Los Dos is a pairing of wild King Salmon and Yellowfin tuna tartares with thyme flowers, grey sea salt and garlic crisps. They also have an outstanding selection of Spanish wines for unforgettable pairings.
www.MasTapas.com
Judging by its name alone, you can probably guess where The Local cultivates its culinary inspiration and resources. Since it opened in March 2008, The Local has provided a venue to showcase the abundant supply of small farmers, artisan cheese makers, breweries, distilleries and award wining vineyards in the Charlottesville
area. They even support local craftsman and artisans, and much of what you see in the restau- rant is fabricated locally. Start your meal with a local Caromont Goat Cheese salad, with roasted local beets and poached local apples, on a bed of mixed greens, which, believe it or not, are sourced locally. For the main event, choose from local trout stuffed with pimento cheese over corn grits and local braised greens, or a (local) local half chicken in a blackberry glaze with poppy seed slaw and potatoes.
www.TheLocal-Cville.com
[gallery ids="101075,137204" nav="thumbs"]Weekend Roundup November 8, 2012
• November 12, 2012
The Georgetowner’s Holiday Benefit & Bazaar 2012
November 29th, 2012 at 06:00 PM | $45 or $65 at the door | adra@georgetowner.com | Tel: 202 338 4833 | Event Website
Join us for an evening of shopping and holiday delights, as we honor and give back to a shining community star:
THE GEORGETOWN SENIOR CENTER
Shop for unique gifts from select vendors.Warm your senses with seasonal cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Gather in the joy of giving this holiday season.
Advance tickets can be purchased for $45 or $65 at the door.
Address
Historic Georgetown Club; 1530 Wisconsin Ave NW
Live Jazz at The Henley Park
November 8th, 2012 at 07:00 PM | Free | Tel: 202-638-5200 | Event Website
The Henley Park Blue Bar Lounge presents vocalist Nancy Scimone and her pianists each Saturday night, 7:30 to 11:00. Scimone will sing songs by the greats, including Gershwin, Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and Irving Berlin. The bar menu offers gourmet dishes, desserts, cocktails, and international wines and beers.
Address
Henley Park Hotel Blue Bar Lounge; 926 Massachusetts Ave NW
Snooping with the Curator Tour
November 8th, 2012 at 07:00 PM | 10.00 | info@dumbartonhouse.org | Tel: 202-337-2288 | Event Website
This in-depth tour allows visitors see the insides and interiors of some of Dumbarton House’s important objects, including the Baltimore desk, piano forte, and Charleston sideboard, not usually seen by the public. Learn about these wonderful objects and our on-going efforts to preserve the Dumbarton House collection. Scott Scholz, Deputy Director & Curator, will give the hour-long tour. The program begins in the Dumbarton House Visitor Center, located on the Q Street side of the house.
Address
2715 Q Street, NW
Spy at Night
November 9th, 2012 at 06:00 PM | $14.95 | Tel: 202.EYE.SPYU | Event Website
Come to the International Spy Museum for Spy at Night, an experience providing guests with exclusive after-hours access to the museum exhibitions. A night of “intrigue, deception, and cocktails.”
Address
The International Spy Museum; 800 F St NW
Oceans in Focus Exhibit
November 10th, 2012 at 01:00 AM | Free | Tel: 202.483.6000 | Event Website
As part of FotoWeekDC, the Oceans in Focus Exhibit at the Dupont Circle Hotel will showcase spectacular underwater photography from noted photographers David Doubilet, Brian Skerry, Michelle Westmorland and Octavio Aburto.
Address
Dupont Circle Hotel; 1500 New Hampshire Ave, NW
Tea with Mrs. B Holiday Etiquette and Tea Party for the Entire Family
November 11th, 2012 at 01:00 PM | $29-$49 | Tel: 202 736-1459 | Event Website
Children are invited to learn about healthy eating and holiday manners at this fun-filled event. Culinary demonstration focusing on holiday meals and treats. Menu includes: house made finger sandwiches, mini desserts, cupcakes, tarts and fruit kabobs, along with green, black and white herbal teas. There will also be Silver butler service, a Holiday Photo booth, and a Gift bag.
Address
The Fairfax at Embassy Row Hotel, the iconic ballroom
Photographs of Social Life in Washington DC, 1900-196
November 11th, 2012 at 12:00 PM | Free | Tel: 202-347-7978 | Event Website
Part of FotoWeekDC, this offers a glimpse of social life in Washington DC between 1900 and 1960, as documented by the National Geographic Society through photographs.
Exhibit runs through November 30
Address
975 F Street NW
Freshfarm Markets 2012 Farmland Feast
November 12th, 2012 at 05:00 PM | $250 and up | Tel: 202.362.888 |Event Website
10th annual Farmland Feast showcases our Chesapeake Bay farmers and producers. Local chefs will prepare a spectacular six-course anniversary dinner with local food and local wine pairings. Our mission driven, selective auction takes place during the seasonal cocktail hour; a live auction is held during the dinner. This benefit is a prominent part of the local-food movement in the Washington, DC area, and was named “the locavore party of the year” by DC magazine in 2010.
Registration closes: Friday, November 09, 2012
Address
The Ritz-Carlton, 1150 22nd St NW
Beat the Heat with Boats and Beaches
• November 6, 2012
For the past few weeks, being out in the sun has been downright masochistic. Stepping outside, the pelting heat was nearly suffocating. On a bicycle, it felt like being blasted by a full body blow-drier. Last Sunday, our city hit 100 degrees for the fourth consecutive day — a natural feat unsurpassed since July 1930. Across the country this year, more than 40,000 daily heat records have been broken, and after the storm that left so many of us without electricity, the heat couldn’t have come at a more inconvenient time.
Wandering around the farmers markets, our local food producers are bemoaning the heat’s effects on this season’s crops. “This is the last week for blueberries, thanks to mother nature,” said one local vendor when I bought a still tasty but admittedly heat-stricken bushel last weekend.
Thankfully, things seem to be easing up outside. This isn’t to say the rest of the summer season is going to be a cakewalk, but we can start thinking again about venturing into the sun and enjoying summer as it should be enjoyed: by the shoreline, in the water, and out at sea.
From George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River in 1776, to the Kennedys’ iconic yachting excursions that captured in celluloid the idealism and spirit of the late post-war era, Washington, D.C. has scattered bits of its history on the water. The Potomac and Anacostia Rivers wind through our neighborhoods, their beauty and power never failing to refresh the senses. If ever you’re feeling blue, take a walk along the Mt. Vernon trail up by Roosevelt Island beside the Potomac River, watch the birds take flight, breathe the air, wrap yourself in the billowing silence and tell me if you don’t feel at least a little better.
And in the Delmarva area, there are plenty of locations for waterfront escape. The Maryland shore has charm, history and abundant seaside culture. Along the Delaware coastlines, popular beach destinations give way to serene waterfront and unforgettable excursions. The odds are, most of you have your house rentals set up. Here are some great things to do.
Delaware
Coastal Kayak
Offering sailboat rentals, guided kayak and bicycle eco-tours, Coastal Kayak allows guests to experience the bayside marshlands and wildlife from a completely new perspective.
The salt marsh tour is a fanastic addendum to any list of activities. Paddle through the salt marshes around a state wildlife refuge, the feeding grounds for many animals. You’re liable to see herons, osprey, horseshoe crabs and skimmers, among other wildlife. One of the premiere offerings is the exploration of a small sandbar where you get out of your kayak and comb the beach for a variety of beach dwellers such as fiddler crabs, starfish and clams.
Chincoteague and Assateague Islands
Chincoteague Island, just a 30-minute drive from Bethany down Route 1, is Virginia’s only resort island, and one of the more beautiful islands that salt and pepper Virginia’s eastern shore. This rustic, wild-looking beach is famous for its breathtaking and accessible wildlife, oyster beds and clam shoals, migratory birds and packs of wild horses, which often graze casually around the parking area.
Throughout the summer, crowded beaches give way to stretches of secluded shore line, marshes and forests for those willing to walk beyond the crowded entrance. As a Natural Wildlife Preserve, the Chincoteague and Assateague islands harbor plenty of inspiration for the adventurous, Thoreauvian journeyman.
Nassau Valley Vineyards
Producing a wide variety of wines, Nassau Valley is Delaware’s first and only farm winery. The self-guided tour includes a chronicle of wine’s 8,000-year history, up to the processing and production of modern day vineyards. Picnickers are welcome, and specialty tastings and wine and food pairings are available on site or off. Theater and musical groups perform during the summer months. This is an ideal stop on a rainy beach day or a midweek break from the pulsing July sun.
Maryland
The Oxford-Bellevue Ferry
The Oxford-Bellevue Ferry is also a great way to see the surrounding area of Talbot County. America’s oldest privately owned ferry, established 1683, crosses the Tred Avon River between Oxford and Bellevue, Maryland. It’s a quick trip, 7 to 10 minutes (20 round trip) but it’s a lot of fun and St. Michaels is a pleasant seven-mile bike ride or drive from the Bellevue landing. The ferry can carry cars and motorcycles. For more information visit www.OxfordFerry.com.
The Chesapeake Lighthouse Tours
These tours are a unique look at Chesapeake’s lighthouse heritage, which has assisted the passage of boats for centuries. Captain Mike Richards, who guides the tours, has over 35 years’ experience on the Chesapeake Bay and shares stories of these historic lighthouses and their surrounding areas. Half and full-day tours leave from the Bay Hundred Restaurant at Knapps Narrows Marina, through October. For more information, visit www.ChesapeakeLights.com.
The Tilghman Island Marina
The Tilghman Island Marina is a popular destination spot with transient boaters and boating clubs and groups all throughout the bay, who also offer boat rentals and various charters.
The picturesque marina overlooks the Chesapeake Bay and Nature Area. Offering a quaint ambiance in a park-like setting that caters to boating groups and guests, it’s a great place to enjoy a Chesapeake Bay sunset from the comfort and privacy of your own boat. You can also jet ski, sail, bicycle, fish and take waterway tours. Walk, ride or dinghy to all Island attractions, Inns and restaurants. For more information, visit www.TilghmanMarina.com. ?
Hyde-Addison
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You might not see them right away, but you sure can hear them. The teacher bellows, “Supermans!” and a bunch of people a quarter of his size giggle and reach out their arms. “Now, Hulk,” he rumbles, flexing his biceps, as several smaller pairs of arms Hulk out on the blacktop. “Batmaaaaans!” he sings, his rapt audience following every move.
A half block from busy Wisconsin Avenue, where the buses blow exhaust and the cab drivers honk, Hyde-Addison Elementary School is a vibrant, integral part of Georgetown life. This D.C. public school is a place of non-stop action—with 15 classrooms, a library, a cafeteria and a science lab—even after school. “For starters,” says Kara Sullivan, whose son Curtis is in Kindergarten at Hyde, “the strong sense of community is strengthened by seeing classmates, teachers, parents, and Hyde t-shirts as we walk around Georgetown. Where my elementary school had school buses lines up to swiftly take kids away from school at 3:15, there’s a lingering open play date for all kids after Hyde gets out.”
The social curriculum, in the playground, is just as important as what goes inside the school’s walls. Hyde operates on a philosophy that positive interaction is crucial to learning and that learning itself is not simply academic learning. One of the school’s tenets reads, “There is a set of social skills that kids need to be successful: cooperation, assertion, responsibility empathy and self-control.” The school’s physical layout and its meetings and rules are designed to encourage positive interaction—between students and teachers, parents and administrators. And, though it is not explicitly stated, between the school and its environment.
Hyde might once have been a place that drove parents to move out of Georgetown and ignored by those who could afford to send their children elsewhere. Now, Hyde pulls families into Georgetown. The price is right, the commute to school a pleasant stroll, the parents and kids proud of the place. “Georgetown often feels like a small town tucked in a big city,” says Dana Nerenberg, Hyde’s principal. She adds that the school benefits greatly from the community, from volunteers to partnerships.
A local school makes the big city seem manageable and, perhaps, not so scary. “One of the benefits of a neighborhood school is having other kids to play with after school and on weekends,” says Leslie Maysak, who has two boys at Hyde and a block-long commute. “As well as, for me as a parent, knowing the other families personally and having a network of people that can count on each other to pick up your child in a pinch or keep an eye on them for a few minutes,”
Hyde’s presence makes Georgetown about more than just shopping and (lack of) parking. Bob Tompkins’s son, Jack, is in first grade. “To really be a community,” he says, “you have to cover all the aspects of life. It is great that among all the other things Georgetown has to offer, it is a great place to raise a family.”
Ten years ago, there was zero buzz about Hyde. For some parents, sending a kid there was a radical move; few of their neighbors in Georgetown did. Many of the kids who grew up near Hyde were driven, or took the bus, up and out Wisconsin Avenue to private school. Now, Hyde is a strong and growing part of the life of the neighborhood. Enrollments are up, and interest in the school is high. With the PTA’s help, the school has bought iPads and intends to incorporate them into next year’s curriculum. The school is looking to expand its library and build a gym.
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Newport, Rhode Island: A Fresh Sense of History
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The city is known on the whole as a New England summer resort. It integrates the most desirable qualities of any leisure travel destination, with enough options and activities to accommodate any budget. While only a half-day’s drive or aerial puddle jump away from the Washington area, Newport, Rhode Island has a spirit all its own. Founded in 1638, it is enveloped in a rich and much-beloved history—and as our Georgetown House Tour approaches, it might be worth noting that Newport also has one of the highest concentrations of colonial homes in the nation. Further similar to Georgetown, Newport is very much a contemporary urban haven, proud of its history but residing in the cultural here-and-now.
Not too crowded, not too hot, and as friendly as a summer evening is long, Newport, Rhode Island is just the ticket for a Washingtonian weekend getaway or an enriching weeklong stay. On top of the usual, year-round attractions the city has to offer, there is an array of summer events and activities on the horizon, far enough away to plan ahead but close enough to start getting excited.
Newport Mainstays
Sailing and Boating
There are myriad choices when it comes to enjoying the famed waters off Newport. From canoes and kayak rentals, to charters, excursions, harbor tours, and even sailing school for the adventurous at heart, you can enjoy the rippling tide of Narragansett Bay in nearly any capacity.
Kayaking and canoeing offers visitors the opportunity to pursue the waters, coastlines and hidden waterways of Newport intimately and at their own pace. Explore the islands and wildlife of Bluebell Cove, watch ospreys dive for fish along the Westport River, take in the waterfront homes of historic Bristol, or see the yachts of Newport Harbor.
If you want to rent a boat or charter, the horizons open even further. Dozens of destinations are easy cruises in the Bay’s protected waters—only a couple of gallons of fuel if you’re motoring, and gentle breezes if you’re hoisting the main and fore. Want to be where all the urban action is? Stay in Newport Harbor. Itching for a day of fun boutiques? Sail west over to Wickford Village. Need some peace and quiet? Drop anchor for a day or two off Jamestown. Want to visit the America’s Cup Hall of Fame? Tie a bowline to the docks in Bristol Harbor.
International Tennis Hall of Fame
If you revere the racket, this is the place for you. The Tennis Hall of Fame, at the Newport Casino, was founded in 1954 by tennis innovator James Van Alen (among other major contributions to the game, Alen invented the standard tiebreaker system used in regulation tennis matches today). It was host the first U.S. National Championships in 1881. In 1997, the complex and museum were restored to their original splendor with the completion of a five-year, $7.5 million renovation and endowment project.
The Museum’s galleries chronicle the rich history of tennis through interactive exhibits and videos, as well as showcasing popular memorabilia from historic champions and the superstars of today. Dramatically set in the original clubrooms of the Casino, the style, class and good nature of this gentleman’s sport comes vibrantly to life at the museum.
Rosecliff Mansion: the “Great Gatsby” House
There are endless mansion and historic home tours to take on in your visit to Newport. A standout among them, however, is Rosecliff Mansion. Commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899, architect Stanford White modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat at Versailles. After the house was completed in 1902, at a reported cost of $2.5 million, Mrs. Oelrichs hosted extravagant parties in its grand and cavernous hall, including a fairy tale dinner and a party featuring famed magician Harry Houdini.
Rosecliff is now preserved through the generosity of its last private owners, who gave the house, its furnishings, and an endowment in 1971 to the Preservation Society of Newport County, who maintains many of the areas tour-friendly historic mansion properties. The house has something of a Hollywood resume, having played the lavish home to Robert Redford’s Jay Gatsby in the 1974 film, as well as “True Lies,” Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad” and most recently “27 Dresses” starring Katherine Heigl.
The mansion is also a host to the annual Newport Mansions Food & Wine Festival, where guests can eat and drink like true 1920s flappers. For more information on that, keep reading!
Upcoming Festivals and Events
The Great Chowder Cook-Off
June 2
On Saturday, June 2, 2012, the Great Chowder Cook-Off kicks off summer in New England. Be a part of the original, largest, and longest running chowder championship in America, and try a wide spread from national to regional competitors. Festival-goers will taste-test a myriad of traditional and exotic chowders from kitchens across the country, then vote for the best in three categories: clam, seafood and creative. For more information visit NewportWaterfrontEvents.com.
Newport Antiques Show
July 27 – 29
Celebrating its sixth year, the Newport Antiques Show has become a seminal event for antique lovers across the country. Over forty of the industry’s finest dealers will showcase the best antiques the world has to offer to over 2,500 visitors at the Stephen P. Cabot and Archer Harman Ice Center at St. George’s School in Middletown. The show’s 2012 Loan Exhibit will highlight fine and decorative arts from the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The exhibit will include New Bedford art such as scrimshaw and Pairpoint Glass along with work from artists such as William Bradford. For more information visit NewportAntiquesShow.com
Newport Jazz Festival
Aug. 3 – 5
Founded in 1954, the Newport Jazz Festival was the first annual jazz festival in America. It has been host to numerous legendary performances and historic moments since its inception, including performances by Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane Miles Davis, and a career-reviving performance by Duke Ellington in 1958. Referred to as the grandfather of all jazz festivals, the event draws thousands of people from all over the world. Highlight performances this year include Bill Frisell playing the John Lennon songbook, vocalist Diane Reeves, and legendary drummer Jack DeJohnette’s 70th birthday performance. For more information visit NewportJazzFest.net
Newport International Boat Show
Sept. 13 – 16
The 42nd Annual Newport International Boat Show will feature new sailboats and powerboats, and thousands of products and services from exhibitors worldwide, showcasing the latest innovations and trends in seafaring technology. Boating has never been more exciting; whether it’s an evening harbor cruise, a fun-filled day of fishing or an extended cruise on a yacht with all the luxuries you can imagine. Come discover the many new products, programs and opportunities on the oceanic horizon. For more information visit NewportBoatShow.com
Newport Mansions Food & Wine Festival
Sept. 21 – 23
This festival, devoted to the joys of gastronomy, has quickly become one of the most anticipated food and wine events in the country. Rosecliff mansion and Marble House will host more than 100 of the world’s finest vintners and more than two dozen of New England’s finest restaurants and caterers for a three-day epicurean adventure. This year, world-renowned French chef Jacques Pépin, along with his daughter, Claudine—who has partnered with him on three of his James Beard Award-winning public television programs—will host a cooking demonstration and book signing. Form more information visit www.NewportMansions.org
Weekend Roundup November 1, 2012
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AIA of DC 125th Anniversary Party
November 2nd, 2012 at 06:30 PM | cdenby@markitectureconsulting.com | Tel: 703-665-1311 | Event Website
Attendees to the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will have the opportunity to explore the District Architecture Center, win door prizes, toast the Recognition Award Winners, and enjoy custom made cocktails. All proceeds will fund AIA DC’s educational and public service programming.
Address
District Architecture Center 421 7th Street NW Washington DC 20004
Montpelier Hunt Races
November 3rd, 2012 at 12:30 PM | Begin at $15.00 | education@montpelier.org | Tel: (540) 672-2728 | Event Website
Experience the thrill of steeplechase horse racing at the 78th running of the Montpelier Hunt Races on the historic grounds of James Madison’s Montpelier.
Montpelier Hunt Races always hosts seven races. The first race post time is 12:30 PM and the last race usually begins between 4:30 and 4:45PM.
Address
James Madison’s Montpelier, Orange, VA
The Bayou: DC’s Killer Joint
November 3rd, 2012 at 07:00 PM | Adult $12 Senoir $10 | Event Website
World Premiere. The Bayou Documentary, directed by David Lilling, chronicles the club’s unlikely rise, changing faces, jaunty anecdotes, gaudy on- and off-stage high jinks and mystical allure. The 13-year project culls nearly 100 hours of interviews with prominent performers, impresarios, employees and patrons, and exclusive musical footage in a playful, poignant and revealing homage to a musical icon.
Address
The Center Stage at Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA 20191
Atheist’s Paradise
November 3rd, 2012 at 08:00 PM | $15.35 | UniversePlayers2@aol.com | Tel: (202) 355-6330 | Event Website
With performances from November 3rd through November 25th, the play follows the story of “Doc” Johnson, a philosophy professor and football coach who dedicates most of his time to teaching critical thought. Conflict ensues when a new college president pressures “Doc” to create a winning football team and scale back his teachings. Along the way, “Doc” mentors students Sheila and Bob, who both come to his defense when his role at the college is jeopardized.
Address
Melton Rehearsal Hall, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
American Girl Fashion Show
November 4th, 2012 at 11:00 AM | $55-75 | communications@youreyes.org | Tel: 202-234-1010 | Event Website
Presented by the Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington. Fundraising event perfect for families. Fun and entertainment for everyone. For more information, or to buy tickets, visit www.youreyes.org.
Address
9600 Newbridge Drive, Potomac, MD 20854
Washington Bach Consort presents “The Virtuoso Bach” featuring Elizabeth Futral
November 4th, 2012 at 03:00 PM | Tickets $23-$65, Students 18 and younger $10, Pay Your Age 18-38 | contact@bachconsort.org | Tel: 202.429.2121 | Event Website](http://www.bachconsort.org/index.php)
Bach famously wrote that music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul. Allow your soul an afternoon of delight with an all-Bach program featuring some of the master’s most virtuosic and challenging writing for solo singers and instrumentalists. Concertmaster Andrew Fouts and guest soprano Elizabeth Futral, who performs two of Bach’s most brilliant Cantatas for solo soprano, join other supurb performers in this showcase of musical treasures.
Address
National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Avenue, NW
Freshfarm Markets 2012 Farmland Feast
November 12th, 2012 at 05:00 PM | $250 and up | Tel: 202.362.888 | [Event Website](https://freshfarmmarkets.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/FRESHFARMMarkets2012FarmlandFeast/tabid/349514/Default.aspx)
10th annual Farmland Feast showcases our Chesapeake Bay farmers and producers. Local chefs will prepare a spectacular six-course anniversary dinner with local food and local wine pairings. Our mission driven, selective auction takes place during the seasonal cocktail hour; a live auction is held during the dinner. This benefit is a prominent part of the local-food movement in the Washington, DC area, and was named “the locavore party of the year” by DC magazine in 2010.
Registration closes: Friday, November 09, 2012.
Address
The Ritz-Carlton, 1150 22nd St NW
