DC digest™

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.    --  Joe Lewis     

My only regret in life is that I didn't drink enough Champagne.    --John Maynard Keynes

Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment – Sept. 8 – Jan. 19, 2025
Discover the origins of one of the most important art movements in history thanks to a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. The museum is replicating a legendary exhibit from Paris in 1874 that helped bring about the dawn of Impressionism. In the display, you will be able to view beloved paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro and many more.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Free Community Days and Open Studio
The first Sunday and second Wednesday of the month are Community Days at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA)! Visit us on Community Day for free admission to the museum. Take this opportunity to explore our collection and special exhibitions. Also, join NMWA educators in the studio, for free, self-directed, drop-in art-making activities inspired by artworks on view.

Exhibitions on view include: Suchitra Mattai: Myth from Matter, in which the multidisciplinary artist explores themes of history, identity and belonging in richly colored textiles; and In Focus: Artists at Work, a close-up look into the practices and perspectives of four contemporary collection artists via short documentary-style videos.

Where
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20005 

When
Sunday, November 3, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Open Studio 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Wednesday, November 13, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Open Studio 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Tickets
Advance purchase of timed tickets recommended, limited walk-up availability. Reserve at nmwa.org/tickets.

Price
Free 

 October Arts and Culture tips

Great suggestions from Ronn and the the ArtHouse MeetUp group.  Join the group or just go on your own, noting reservation or ticket requirements.  

ART AND SCIENCE. On Thursday, attend a Science and Art Cafe: Creativity & Censorship at Busboys and Poets on 14th St. Join Artvocate to explore the delicate balance between creativity and censorship, in a relaxed and engaging setting. Sign up here.

FOR UKRAINE. Also Thursday at Georgetown University, award-winning illustrator and artist George Butler presents his latest work, Ukraine: Remember Also Me. This compelling collection of vivid and powerful testimonies from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is brought to life through Butler’s striking and intimate illustrations. These are always nice events on a beautiful campus. RSVP here.

GALLERIES. Also Thursday, Watergate Gallery – one of our faves – celebrates printmaking women from Argentina with a new show from 6-8 pm. At 7 pm in Kalorama, join Sitar Arts Center in celebrating the incredible work of Héctor Rafael. His series explores themes of mental health and self-identity.

RE-CYCLE. On Friday at 4:30, my friend Ibti leads an urban school garden bike tour for Slow Food DC, OSSE, and FoodPrints with stops at 3 school gardens. Always a nice crowd. Register here. In Georgetown, Printmakers has an opening from 5:30 – 7:30. On U St., the Joan Hisaoka Healing Gallery has an opening. Nearby on 20th St., Ipade throws opens its doors as part of the Dupont Art Walk.

MUSIC AND NATURE The weather is supposed to be great Saturday, perfect to step into a world of serene natural beauty with Tregaron Unplugged, presented by Washington Performing Arts. This intimate outdoor concert series features exceptional performances in the picturesque setting of Tregaron Conservancy, creating a perfect harmony between music and nature. Register here. https://www.washingtonperformingarts.org/event/tregaron-unplugged-24/

ART WALKS. Also on Saturday, Glen Echo has multiple gallery openings from 6-8 pm.  Also join in for the third annual Arlington Art Walk on from 4-7pm, a vibrant event featuring multiple exhibits in one day. This year’s Art Walk coincides with the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington’s (MoCA) daylong celebration of the National Biennial Exhibition, fall shows and Art After Hours. More info here.

CLIMATE CHANGE. On Monday, the French Embassy hosts a discussion about the role of the Law and the Courts in addressing Climate and Environmental change on the occasion of the French Legal Day. Enjoy a glass of wine with the talk. RSVP here. Today.

SPAIN. On Tuesday, celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Munir Hachemi, Javier Adrada de la Torre, and Katie King at the Spanish Cultural Center on 16th St. Sign up here. Then on Oct. 24, Mujeres de Cine presents Elvira Lindo’s “Alguien que cuide de mí” at the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain. Register here.

AN ODYSSEY. Wednesday, Oct. 9, attend a panel discussion titled Greek Classics: A Crisis in American Academia? At the Embassy of Greece in Dupont Circle. Register here.

PLAY TIME. On Oct. 10, the Phillips Collection hosts one of the country’s leading playwrights, James Ijames, as they do a reading of his play White. Tickets cost just $12 or are free for members. Ijames won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize and received a 2023 Tony Award nomination for Best Play for “Fat Ham.”  Purchase here.

SWISS PLIéS. On Oct. 11, you're invited to join the Embassy of Switzerland in the U.S. for a screening & discussion of the documentary "Becoming Giulia"! The director and two Washington Ballet dancers will join the discussion after. Sign up here.

6 DEGREES OF SEPARATION. Saturday Oct. 12 at Reston Town Center, Washington West Film Festival in Partnership with The Reston Town Center Association and BXP Presents The Bacon Brothers, featuring Michael & Kevin Bacon in a free concert in Reston Town Center. Here’s more info.

A WEST SIDE STORY. On Oct. 15 the National Portrait Gallery hosts a talk by Laura Katzman, winner of the Portrait Gallery's prestigious biennial Director's Essay Prize. It will be from her prize-winning essay, “Lorenzo Homar’s Cine Alba: An Intimate Portrait of North American Artists in Nineteen-Fifties Puerto Rico." Register here.

CZECH MATES. On Oct. 21 at the Czech Embassy next to Rock Creek Park, Professor/writer Michael Beckerman presents an entertaining lecture on Czech music, with selections performed by soprano Ada Bílková. Register here.

Note that the embassy events fill up fast!
Enjoy and come on out!
Ronn

Romeo and Juliet
Shakespeare’s timeless story of star-crossed lovers is also a story of the politics of warring families and the violence that consumes them.
Folger Theatre
October 1, 2024 - November 10, 2024

Cabaret Noir
A Film Noir Theatrical Montage
Happenstance Theater
October 24, 2024 - November 10, 2024

A full list of current and upcoming productions is available at theatrewashington.org
Check out their Show Selector.  

Listings including in-person and online events, outdoor, indoor, and streaming performances, virtual classes and workshops, and podcasts and panel discussions, from Washington area theaters is available on the Theatre Washington website. 

Strathmore Music Center

View the full Calendar 

• • Wed October 16 | 7PM

  • Art at Home and Life Around the World

  • The Mansion

  • RSVPLEARN MORE

  • Thu October 17 | 7PM

  • Virtual Creative Writing Workshops

  • Online

  • Bring a pen, a notebook, and an open mind!

  • LEARN MORE

  • Fri October 18 | 8PM

  • Afro-Cuban All Stars

  • The Music Center

  • Celebration of Cuba's musical heritage

  • BUY TICKETSLearn More

  • Sat October 19 | 11AM

  • SENSORY-FRIENDLY CONCERT HALL TOURS

  • The Music Center

  • REGISTERLearn More

  • Sat October 19 | 8PM

  • BSO: Alsop Conducts Chopin and Prokofiev

  • The Music Center

  • BUY TICKETS (ON BSO SITE)LEARN MORE

  • Sat October 19 | 8PM

  • A Room with a "Clue"

  • The Mansion

  • BUY TICKETSLEARN MORE

  • Sun October 20 | 2PM

  • A Room with a "Clue"

  • The Mansion

  • BUY TICKETSLEARN MORE

  • Sun October 20 | 8PM

  • Richard Thompson

  • The Music Center

  • Early innovator of British folk rock

  • BUY TICKETSLearn More

  • Thu October 24 | 7:30PM

  • Christylez Bacon and Mike Block

  • The Mansion

  • Beatboxer and cellist collaboration

  • BUY TICKETSLEARN MORE

  • Fri October 25 | 7:30PM

  • BSO: Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert

  • The Music Center

  • BUY TICKETS (ON BSO SITE)LEARN MORE

  • Sat October 26 | 11AM

  • The Arts are Uniting…A Family Day!

  • The Mansion

  • RSVPLEARN MORE

  • Sun October 27 | 8PM

  • Malevo

  • The Music Center

  • Modern Argentine malambo

  • BUY TICKETSLearn More

  • Thu October 31 | 7:30PM

  • Sarah Cahill

  • The Mansion

  • Classical piano music by new and traditional women composers

Constellation Theater Company performs at Source Theatre 1835 14th St NW
Constellation Theatre Company | Northwest Washington | Theatre Tickets 

Archive of Past Events

Perhaps one of these activities will inspire you to try something new or remind you of something you previously enjoyed.

National Museum of American History  
and National Museum of the American Indian

The Phillips Collection 

The Critics are RAVING about 

Le Cabaret de Carmen!

"Le Cabaret de Carmen is a haunting, beautiful spin on the popular tragedy... entrancing from its languid opening to its dramatic finale."  -Rachael Goldberg, Broadway World 

 "It is opera for those unafraid of art's raw power."  -Whitney Fishburn, DC Metro Theater Arts 

 "A Carmen for our time, the production... must be seen."  -Susan Galbraith, DC Theatre Scene 

Bizet’s opera comes to life in a unique and intimate tango-cabaret experience. As audiences sit at tables with performers, a tango-ensemble brings a beloved music to life up close and personal, and the ultimate femme-fatale begins her intoxicating and immortal chanteuse performance. Performed in a breath-taking and unforgettable 90 minutes, an evening of laughter surrounds this darkly unfolding tragedy loved the world over.

 TICKETS

All performances at Source Theatre 1835 14th St NW

January 10 at 8 pm - IN & OUT Pride night with champagne toast; 6:30 inclusive introductory tango class and on-stage dancing

January 11 at 8 pm - 6:30 introductory tango class and on-stage dancing

January 12 at 3 pm

January 17 at 8 pm - 6:30 advanced tango class and on-stage dancing

January 18 at 3 pm and 8 pm 

January 19 at 3 pm

 Step into LE CABARET DE CARMEN

 with pre-show tango lessons and on-stage dancing.

RSVP Here

Complete your evening out at LE CABARET DE CARMEN with a pre-show tango lesson and dancing on stage. All lessons start at 6:30 pm at SOURCE (1835 14th Street NW). $10 suggested donation taken at the door.

 1/10 - Inclusive beginner lesson by Tango Mercurio in celebration of IN&OUT Pride Night (use code PRIDE for $5 off your CABARET DE CARMEN ticket purchase)

 1/11 - Beginner tango lesson (use code TANGO for $5 off your CABARET DE CARMEN ticket puchase)

1/17 - Advanced tango lesson (use code TANGO for $5 off your CABARET DE CARMEN ticket purchase)

IN Series: Opera that Speaks. Theater that Sings

202-204-7763 | inseries@inseries.org | wwww.inseries.org 

MetroCooking DC

Calling all DC foodies! Martha Stewart, Wolfgang Puck, Lidia Bastianich and Myron Mixon are headed to town THIS WEEKEND for MetroCooking DC! Join them Saturday and Sunday, Nov 16-17 at the Washington Convention Center for the top culinary event of the season! Get your tickets at MetroCookingDC.com or check Groupon for discounted tickets.  There’s also a BBQ Bash, a Grand Tasting Pavilion and a Beer, Wine and Spirits Garden; separate tickets to these events include General Admission for that day to a full schedule of activities at MetroCooking DC.   

Virginia Wine Festival NEW LOCATION  - One Loudoun, Ashburn, VA!

VIP Tickets Nearly Sold Out....

Taste & Purchase 200+ VA Wines

- VA Wineries & Cideries Listed Below 

44th Annual Virginia Wine Festival®

The East Coast's Longest Running Wine Festival

One Loudoun, Ashburn, VA!

October 19th & 20th

Fresh VA Oysters Shucked Fresh...

Schlurp Them Down with Cold VA Wines!

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

VA Craft Brews and VA Oyster Pavilion

Presented by Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association

Check Out the Website: http://virginiawinefest.com/

Curated Previous Events Listed Below

ART SYMPOSIUM AT THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION

In conjunction with the first museum retrospective of Zilia Sánchez, The Phillips Collection has organized a symposium to discuss Sánchez’s work in a broader context. The first part, In Context, features presentations by prominent art historians that frame Sánchez’s work within the trans-national development of modernism in Cuba, the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. The second part, Curatorial and Scholarly Perspectives, discusses the positioning of Sánchez’s work in museum collections and scholarly research. The third part, Legacy, introduces Sánchez’s former students (and now accomplished artists), sheds light on the preservation and conservation of the artist's stretched canvases, and touches on current issues in the field of Latin American art.

Ticket reservations for the symposium include untimed exhibition entry to Zilia Sanchez: Soy Isla, along with regular entry to the permanent collection, and can be redeemed for general entry anytime during museum hours on the date of the lecture. 

INTRODUCTION

Vesela Sretenović, curator of Zilia Sánchez: Soy Isla (I Am an Island)

PART I: IN CONTEXT

Presenters

Alejandro Anreus, William Paterson University 

Edward J. Sullivan, New York University

Susana Torruella Leval, Director Emerita, El Museo del Barrio 

PART II: CURATORIAL & SCHOLARLY PERSPECTIVES

Panelists

Susanna Temkin, El Museo del Barrio

Benigno Trigo, Vanderbilt University

Kelly Baum, The MET Breuer

Moderator: Abigail McEwen, University of Maryland 

PART III: LEGACY 

Panelists

Carlos Enrique Rodríguez, NYC-based artist 

Jorge González, San Juan-based artist 

Irene Esteves, University of Puerto Rico

Michele Greet, George Mason University 

Moderator: Taína Caragol, National Portrait Gallery

Saturday, April 13

2-5 pm

The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street, NW.

Metro: Dupont Circle (Q Street exit)

Tickets for the symposium include admission to the museum all day. Get them at  https://www.phillipscollection.org/events/2019-04-13-symposium

 See photos from the exhibit on the DCdigest page at https://www.dcdigest.com/museums-zoos-galleries   

Scena Theatre 

Presents  

BECKETT TRIO & PINTER REP 

by Samuel Beckett (Ireland) and Harold Pinter (UK) 

directed by Robert McNamara (DC / US)

Previews: Fri April 5 (8 pm) | Sat April 6 (3 & 8 pm) | Sun April 7 (3 & 7 pm) 

Performances: April 8 – May 5, 2019

$15 – $45 | Mon – Sat 8:00 pm | Sat & Sun 3:00 pm & 7pm

Atlas Performing Arts Center   1333 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002 

Don't miss this series of bold, short plays by two theatre giants. 

Celebrate two theatre giants & Nobel Prize winners in a trio of plays by both—now playing in Rep. Ireland’s Beckett is the architect of absurdism. His brazen form of black comedy rages on with three of his most riveting classics in “Beckett Trio, Part 2”: Ohio Impromptu, Come and Go, and Catastrophe. Then, on separate nights, we present “Pinter Rep” by the master of modernism, London’s Pinter and it includes: One for the Road, Mountain Language, The New World Order, and The Pres and An Officer. Political at times, both legends will provoke your brain and stoke your emotions. Catch our month-long tribute to the greatest Thespians of the 20th Century.

GET TICKETS! 

17th Annual Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge 2025

Details on DCdigest Food and Wine page.