Craft cocktails, cherry blossoms, marathons and more.
By Erica Moody
Cherry blossoms bloom in D.C. (Photo courtesy of National Park Service)
CHERRY BLOSSOMS BLOOM
PRETTY IN PINK
You know spring has arrived when throngs of tourists begin to flood the District for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. For more than 100 years, the pale pink blossoms have bloomed on the National Mall and other spots around town. and you can celebrate the occasion with festivities ranging from a family day to an elegant pink-themed soirée from March 20 to April 17. The annual Cherry Blast party produced by Events DC brings “Japanese sights, sounds and tastes” to the Carnegie Library on a night focused on gaming, anime and cosplay. The Pink Tie Party at the Ronald Reagan Building encourages pink cocktail attire and Family Day at the National Building Museum presents interactive activities that connect people to parks to get them excited about the outdoors. Other events include an opening ceremony concert and a kite festival. Find the full list of activities at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
ROCK’N’ROLL MARATHON
RUNNING FOR CHILDREN
Equal parts marathon and music fest, the event comes to Washington each March and remains the only marathon of its length (26.2 miles) that runs entirely within the District of Columbia.You’ll experience the thrill of high-energy local bands and cheer teams along the way. The stats are impressive: since 1998 nationally, runners have raised more than $310 million for participating charities including this year’s St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital. Rock’n’Roll DC is also partnering with wear blue: run to remember, a running community that honors U.S. military vets, with a special tribute blue mile. March 12, visit runrocknroll.com for details.
Clover Club NYC cocktail (Photo by Daniel Krieger)
CRAFT COCKTAIL TOUR
MAGICAL MIXOLOGY
Superfly, the folks behind Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, are bringing the nation’s first craft cocktail tour to Washington for a unique fusion of food, drink, magic and music. Delicious libations will be paired with bites from top bar/restaurants, including Barmini, Copycat,The Dabney, Eat the Rich, Rose’s Luxury and The Gibson. Magicians including Jon Armstrong, Matthew Holtzclaw and Noah Devine will entertain guests and DJ’s Vacationer and Baio will provide the tunes. Proceeds help provide college students with internships in the entertainment industry, since a portion of the profits go to the Well Dunn Foundation. March 12. General admission is $124.50 with a limited number of early bird tickets available for $99. Additionally, a limited number of “First Pour” tickets at $159.50 allow access to the event 60 minutes prior to doors officially opening to all patrons. cocktailmagic.com.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN THE DISTRICT
IRISH TIMES
Wherever you live in the Washington metro region, there is opportunity to catch a St. Patrick’s Day parade and show your Irish pride on March 17. The parade the weekend before goes down Constitution Avenue with elaborate floats, pipes, Irish dancers and pub specials all along the route. The family-focused Alexandria parade includes classic car and dog shows. Or head to Historic Annapolis for a ten-day extravaganza devoted to the Emerald Isle. “Irish Week” features a parade with 90-plus floats, an Irish Coffee competition and plenty of chances to throw back a Guinness.
FREER SACKLER EXHIBITION
CLIMBING ‘TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN’
Formed at the special request of Prince Charles and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai,Turquoise Mountain has transformed an Old Kabul slum into a vibrant cultural mecca — and resurrected the artistic heritage of a war-torn country in the process. Bringing together woodworking, calligraphy, ceramics, jewelry and other crafts, the artisan community is the focus of a new Freer|Sackler show that will transform the museum’s International Gallery “into a visit to Old Kabul.” Turquoise Mountain: Artists Transforming Afghanistan, March 5 – Jan. 29, 2017. Freer|Sackler Galleries, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. 202-633-4880, asia.si.edu.
This story appeared in the March 2016 issue of Washington Life.
