Champagne on Wheels Heads to the District

Washingtonians can join celebrated Champagne House Veuve Clicquot as their Airstream makes its way to D.C. this May. The Champagne on wheels has toured the United States - from California to New York - and is bringing the bubbly straight to your door on its last stop.  On Thursday, May 30, the Clicquot Airstream will hit the patio at the Dupont Circle Hotel. Visit from 5 to 10:00 pm and purchase Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label by the glass and bottle. Or you can stop by on Friday, May 31 at the W Hotel from 5 to 10:00 pm. No reservation necessary, just an appreciation for Champagne. 

Project Create Art Auction Coming May 16th. VIP guests receive artwork print from artist Denis O'Neal

VIP guest receive this select artwork print form artist Denis O'Neal 

Join me as I host Project Create's 5th Annual Art Auction + Benefit on May 16, 2013.  The event features nearly 30 curated artworks selected by Reyes + Davis Independent Exhibitions for sale during our auction.  Guests will enjoy music by DJ Jahsonic, wine and hors d'oeuvres, as well a student art exhibition.

Project Create provides accessible arts education to promote positive development in the lives of children experiencing homelessness and poverty.  I have served on their Board of Directors for a year.  You can learn more about Project Create at www.projectcreatedc.org, and be sure to watch this recent news segment on Harris' Heroes on Channel WJLA/ABC7.  

Your support of this event helps to "Create Art, Create Opportunity, and Create Community" for underserved populations here in the District.  I hope you will join me! 

PURCHASE tickets online from $50 to $100 (includes selected artwork print) at:http://projectcreatedc.brownpapertickets.com/.  For the next two weeks, advance purchase online tickets will be sold at a discount!   

May 16, 2013

6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Paul Hastings, LLP

875 15th Street, NW

(McPherson Square Metro)

Washington, D.C.

Honorary Chair: Brigitte Reyes | Reyes + Davis Independent Exhibitions

Hosted by:

~ Monica Bussolati | Bussolati

~ Ines Barlerin | Artist 

~ Ray Farmer | Time Magazine

~ Jade Floyd | The Case Foundation

~ Pam Fredrick | ArtSPACE Management, LLC 

~ James Gilbey | Discovery Communication

~ Flora Kanter | ArtSPACE Management, LLC 

~ Kira Marchenese | Project Create Board of Directors

~ Sara Farley | The Global Knowledge Initiative

~ Ora Nwubueze | The Dunes/Vera Cruz Gallery

~ Adra Williams | Otim Williams
~ Matt McGuire and Sarah Craven
~ Christie Walser and Tom Mullins
~ Charles Small
~ Dorothy T. Sales

~ Doug Heye

26th Annual Bark Ball Coming June 8th Benefitting Washington Humane Society

Tickets and deets are HERE. 

Sweetlife Festival Releases Set Times.....Lawn SOLD OUT, VIP and Pavilion Seating Still OPEN

Tickets are HERE.

Join Food & Friends for Chef's Best Dinner & Auction May 13th

Tickets are $200 to $250 HERE.

Washington Humane Society Hosting Mega-Adoption Event May 18th

WHS will host a one day mega-adoption event, Sliding Into Home, featuring “name-your-own” adoption fees. Potential adopters will be able to pay whatever amount they choose to bring home a wonderful, loving pet. Over 100 animals will be ready and waiting for their new families at the WHS New York Avenue Adoption Center at this festive baseball themed event. 

Saturday, May 18, 2013 

12 p.m. – 4 p.m.  

WHS New York Avenue Adoption Center 

1201 New York Avenue, NE

Washington, DC 20002 

(202) 727-5494 

View available pets online!

Parking is available in the WHS parking lot next to the New York Avenue Adoption Center. The Adoption Center is Metro accessible from the Rhode Island Ave station.

The Sweetlife Festival Returns May 11th with Phoenix, Passion Pit and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Tickets are $75 to $150 at  http://sweetlifefestival.com/

Sip with Socialites to Benefit the Oral Cancer Foundation April 25 at Sofitel

Click HERE to learn more and RSVP. 

DC This Week Supports the Arts in the District. Do You?

DC This Week has long been a supporter of arts education and arts funding for DC nonprofits. Join the Advocate for the Arts and a number of cultural organizations who are fighting to sustain funding in Mayor Vincent Gray's budget proposal. His proposal will cut DC arts grants from over $11 million to less than $6 million. Read more HERE.

Please send a message to your council member now to let them know you support funding for the DC arts and the many institutions who rely on funding support to sustain their programs. Two organizations that I serve on the Board of Directors for - Project Create and the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative - rely on this funding.

CLICK HERE to find your council member and tell them YOU SUPPORT THE ARTS IN DC.

Cheers. Jade 

Art Buzz Jewelry Trunk Show Coming this Wednesday

Join us Wednesday, April 17, 2013 for the ART BUZZ Jewelry Trunk Show featuring the works of DC jewelry designers at Vera Cruz Gallery.

Hosted by Cher Castillo Freeman, Jade Floyd and Ora Nwabueze the ART BUZZ Remix will raise funds for the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative's Arts for Every Student Program. Preview the newest exhibition at Vera Cruz Gallery featuring the work of New York based artist Haruto Imamura.

Peruse hundreds of jewelry pieces for both men and women and purchase a raffle ticket for the chance to win a signature piece from each designer that evening.

$10 donation at the door includes one drink ticket and light appetizers. Additional alcohol available for purchase. 

Designers include:

• April Fish Jewelry
• Calamarie
• Prissy Treasures
• Gail Murdock
• Deidree Bennett 
• Elizabeth Rothschild

and more to be announced! 

All jewelry priced at an affordable $15 to $100.

ART BUZZ is designed to showcase the works of DC designers and actively raise funds for the DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative's Arts for Every Student (AFES) program.

AFES provides DC public and chartered schools with access to cultural opportunities throughout the Washington metropolitan area. The DC Collaborative ensures that nearly 30,000 underserved DC public schools benefit from the region's rich array of arts amenities. They provide free transportation and free tickets to music,dance, and theater experiences; plus trips to The Kennedy Center and museums.

6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Vera Cruz Gallery

2108 Vermont Ave. NW (across from 9:30 Club) 

Washington, DC

(U Street/Shaw Metro Stop)

Artist Haruto Imamura

The God's Have Answered: Whole Foods on P Street Now Delivers

Now my local Whole Foods delivers. It's like an answer from heaven. Have an order? Reach out to jeff.porter@wholefoods.com or dial 202.332.4300 ext. 211

Takoma Park ART Hop and Kick Off Party at Trohv this Weekend

Takoma Park's annual Art Hop takes place this weekend and features the work of over 60 artists in the local shops, restaurants and galleries Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm.  One of my ALL TIME favorite stores Trohv is hosting the   OTBA's Art Hop kick-off party this Friday from 6-8 pm. The kick-off party will include craft beer from 3 Stars Brewing, wine from S&S Liquor, desserts from Capital City Cheesecake, and there'll be a slew of food trucks: Big Cheese, Chef Driven, Doug the Food Dude, Rolls on Rolls and Stella's PopKern!

Trohv will also have an impromptu sale with 15% off most items. Check it out. 

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids invites you to celebrate their 17th Annual Youth Advocates of the Year Awards Gala May 2nd

Did you know that tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S. and around the world? In fact, it has killed 100 million people worldwide. 

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids invites you to celebrate their 17th Annual Youth Advocates of the Year Awards Gala and afterparty on May 2nd at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The gala celebrates the accomplishments of outstanding young people and tobacco control advocates in the United States and around the world. Help mark the progress toward creating a future free of the death and disease caused by tobacco use.

Tickets for the gala are $350 each and a limited number of sponsorships are available from $2,500 to $5,000. Learn more and purchase tickets HERE.

Join City Year DC for a "Spring Break" Happy Hour this Friday

Support City Year’s 164 corps members, serving over 4,000 students in DC public schools this Friday for happy hour. Join the board of directors April 12th from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the luxe bar Capitale.  Guests will enjoy an open bar, appetizers from Pepe by José Andrés and a silent auction that includes:  · Washington Capitals hockey stick signed by Alex Ovechkin · Washington Nationals bat signed by the team · Washington Redskins ball signed by the team · Washington Kastles tickets · Two VIP passes to one-day of the AT&T National Golf Tournament at Congressional Country Club (June 24-30) · Dinner at Cactus Cantina/Lauriol Plaza · Box of deluxe cigars · Tour and tasting at Boxwood Vineyard · In-home wine tasting provided by Cork & Fork · Consultation with award-winning interior designer Tickets are $40 per person.

Click HERE to purchase tickets online.

The Bar Method DC Invites You to "Tuck for a Cause" Date Night

Join the Bar Method DC on Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. as they shake, tuck and relax with beer and bubbly. For a $50 donation (per couple) you can help support the National MS Society and be entered into a raffle for Bar Method goodies. Sign up for the Date Night class  at dc.barmethod.com (please reserve only one spot per couple)

Nouveau Riche RIP - the monthly party concludes, give your respects at U Street Music Hall Thursday

More deets HERE. Goodbye Gavin, Nacey and Steve. You will be missed. 

Fashion for Paws is Back! Support their Animal Rescue Efforts in the District

Grab your pups and pumps for the 2013Fashion for Paws runway show which returns to the District on April 13th. Nearly 2,000 guests will support the Washington Humane Society for their signature fundraising event of the year in celebration of their animal rescue efforts in the city. 

Join E! News correspondent Ashlan Gorse at the National Building Museum, along with honorary guests Congressmen Jim Moran and John Campbell, who will both receive the 2013 Humane Avenger Award. 

Tickets are $150  HERE. This year DC This Week will support fundraising model Elena Francis and her pup Carlos for the event. Help Elena reach her $5,000 fundraising goal by purchasing tickets in her name or supporting her through a donation HERE.

Congrats to the 2013 RAMMY Nominees and DC This Week Favorites

For foodies in DC the  RAMMY's represent all that is savory. Last night nearly 300 chefs, sommeliers, staff and industry professionals gathered at Hamilton restaurant for the announcement of this year's RAMMY nominees.  Duo Tommy McFly and Kelly Collis of The Tommy Show on 94.7 FRESH FM radio were on hand to recognize the District's leading restaurants and staff who dominate in 16 categories. 

Winners will be announced at the  31^st annual RAMMY Awards Gala on Sunday, June 23rd. Tickets are $225 (RAMW member) and $300 (non-member) HERE. And be on the look out so you can cast your vote for the  Neighborhood Gathering Place, Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene and Power Spot of the Year.  

Check out DC This Week's votes below. And the nominees are........

Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year  

• The Ashby Inn & Restaurant
• Blue Duck Tavern
• The Bombay Club
• Marcel's
• Rasika  (DC This Week favorite)

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year  

• Birch and Barley
• Cork Wine Bar  (DC This Week favorite)
• Estadio
• Jaleo - Penn Quarter
• KAZ Sushi Bistro   

Casual Restaurant of the Year  

• Bar Pilar
• Bayou Bakery
• C. F. Folks  (DC This Week favorite)
• Nando's Peri-Peri
• Pete's New Haven Style Apizza

Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year  

• Ardeo + Bardeo  (DC This Week favorite)
• Bastille 
• Evening Star Café
• Nellie's Sports Bar
• Willow Restaurant

New Restaurant of the Year  

• Boqueria
• DGS Delicatessen
• Fuego Cocina y Tequileria
• Mintwood Place  (DC This Week favorite)
• Rasika West End

Chef of the Year   

• Tony Conte - The Oval Room
• Haidar Karoum - Estadio/Proof  
• Tarver King - The Ashby Inn and Restaurant
• Cedric Maupillier - Mintwood Place  (DC This Week favorite and he is pretty hot too!)
• Fabio Trabocchi - Fiola

Rising Culinary Star of the Year   

• Scot Harlan - Green Pig Bistro 
• Tim Ma - Maple Avenue Restaurant
• Marjorie Meek-Bradley - Ripple  (DC This Week favorite)
• John Melfi - Blue Duck Tavern
• Nathan Shapiro - The Ashby Inn and Restaurant 

Pastry Chef of the Year   

• Beverly Bates - Vidalia
• Peter Brett - Blue Duck Tavern
• Alison Reed - Ripple  (DC This Week favorite)
• Susan Wallace - BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant
• Tom Wellings - Fiola

Wine Program of the Year  

• Adour
• The Ashby Inn and Restaurant
• Dino  (DC This Week favorite)
• Marcel's
• Ripple

Beverage/Mixology Program of the Year  

• Birch & Barley/Churchkey 
• Bourbon Steak 
• EatGoodFood Group
• Rasika
• Room 11  (DC This Week favorite)

Power Spot of the Year   

• The Bombay Club
• Johnny's Half Shell
• P. J. Clarke's  (DC This Week favorite)
• Seasons
• The Source by Wolfgang Puck

Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene of the Year  

• Bar Pilar
• Fiola
• Fuego Cocina y Tequileria
• Hank's Oyster Bar - Capitol Hill
• Jack Rose Dining Saloon  (DC This Week favorite)

Manager of the Year   

•  Joseph Cerione - Blue Duck Tavern
• Justin Guthrie - Estadio
• Alex Muñoz - Hill Country Barbecue Market
• Michael Nevarez - Vidalia/Bistro Bis/Woodward Table
• Tyes Zolman - Black Restaurant Group

Employee of the Year   

• Helene Jones - Poste Moderne Brasserie
• Lauren Lowe - DC Coast
• Luis Noriega - Zengo
• Ali Schemeck - Chef Geoff's, New Mexico Ave.
• Elizabeth Zelaya - Fiola   

Restaurateur of the Year

• José Andrés & Rob Wilder - THINKFoodGROUP
• Meshelle & Cathal Armstrong - EatGoodFood Group
• Michael Babin - Neighborhood Restaurant Group  (DC This Week favorite)
• Ashok Bajaj - Knightsbridge Restaurant Group
• Drew Kim, Mark Neal and Ty Neal - Matchbox Food Group   

Associate Member of the Year   

•  Acme Paper & Supply Co.
• BB&T  (DC This Week favorite because I bank there!)
• EagleBank
• SYSCO Food Services of Baltimore
• Marriott Wardman Park Hotel

Food and Friends Invites You to Dine Out for Life to Support Local AIDS Service Organizations

Dining Out for Life returns to the District on April 25th. More than 100 restaurants across the city, including some of my favorites like Chez Billy, Cashion's, Mintwood Place, the Pig and Tabard Inn, will join 3,000 across the country in 60 cities to raise money for local AIDS service organizations. 

Join Food & Friends DC as they raise funds to support the nearly 3,000 individuals in the metropolitan community who benefit from their services. How you can help? Dine at any of the participating restaurants who then donate 25 to 110 percent of their day's profits to Food & Friends. You can also help fill those restaurants by inviting friends, family and colleagues to dine out at your  favorite restaurants. Learn more HERE. 

DC This Week Reader Giveaway: Tickets to Gilt City DC Private Warehouse Sale for 5 Readers!

Get ready ladies.  DC This Week has teamed up with Gilt City DC to give 5 lucky readers and their guests tickets to the Saturday, March 23rd Warehouse Sale at Longview Gallery. 

HOW YOU CAN WIN? Tweet @DCThisWeek or email dcthisweek@gmail.com with "warehouse" in the subject line between March 12th and March 15th at midnight and tell us why DC This Week should send you to the warehouse sale. Headed to meet the boyfriend's parents and need a new look? Gala season have you scrambling for a last minute dress? The dog ate your Valentino?

5 lucky winners will be announced on Monday, March 18th and receive tickets to the sale for them and a guest. Entry is at 1 p.m. sharp and arrive early because the DC fashionistas will be out in full force and ready to arm wrestle for that Badgley Mischka (believe me it may happen). Check out some of my finds from last year's sale above. 

The event gives you exclusive access to Gilt.com merchandise - everything from women's fashion to home accessories - with live music, cocktails, stylists and more. Guests will also enjoy complementary refreshments by AQUA hydrate and Coco Cafe, La Marca Prosecco, Uber gift cards for first time users, snack stations to keep you going and online promotions by Seamless Web.  Not a member of Gilt? CLICK HERE to get in on the action.

And if you don't win our reader giveaway you can purchase public tickets ONLINE HERE.

Early Mountain Vineyard Hosts Oyster Fest March 23rd

Join me at  Early Mountain Vineyards, March 23, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for their First Annual Oyster Festival! They have teamed up with their Best of Virginia partner Chatham Vineyards for the bash.  Just an hour and a half drive from D.C., guests can venture out to the  vineyard to enjoy a day of fresh Eastern Shore oysters, clams, chowder and all the fixings. 

For the perfect pairing, you and your guest will receive two complimentary glasses of 2010 Church Creek Steel Chardonnay with additional wine and tasting flights available for purchase from the Best of Virginia partners and Early Mountain Vineyard. 

Tickets are $55 and $65 for VIP tickets which includes a seat at the Foodie and the Beast live taping with David and Nycci Nellis. Learn more at  https://earlymountain.com/ 

(Disclaimer, my employers are owners of Early Mountain Vineyard)

Vote for Food & Wine Magazine's Best New Mid Atlantic Chef

DC chefs Cedric Maupillier from Mintwood Place and Erik Bruner-Yang from Toki Underground are in the running! Vote online HERE.

On My Radar: Gourmet Food Delivery

It's official. I'm addicted to Graze healthy snack delivery. I recently signed up for Graze at just $5 a week and also for Plated for $30 (meal for two) and had Gourmet Spotting gifted to me for my birthday for a full year subscription.  My culinary desires are now all fulfilled! 

Gourmet Spotting deliveries can once a month for 3, 6 or 12 month subscriptions. 

Plated deliveries can come each week or you can space them out. All ingredients, including meats and seasfood are include din the cooled container that comes to your work or home. 

Friday Fundraiser for Negril Education Environment Trust at Vera Cruz Gallery

Click HERE for more details. 

Andy Warhol @ Christie’s Online Auction Begins Today

Learn more and register to bid ONLINE HERE.

DC International Film Festival Coming this April

If you didn't have your fill with the Oscar's last night then you must check out Filmfest DC returning to the District April 11 through 21st at venues across the city. Moviegoers can catch 80 features, documentaries, comedies and shorts. Tickets coming soon HERE.

Featured films will include these and many more:

• Midnight's Children (Canada) is based on the award winning Salman Rushdie novel
• Kon-Tiki (Norway) is shortlisted for Best Foreign Language Film to the Oscars (photo above)
• Paradise: Love, Paradise: Faith, and Paradise: Hope is a provocative series directed by the controversial Austrian director Ulrich Seidi
• In the Shadow is the Czech Republic's entry for Best Foreign Language Film to the Oscars
• Laurence Anyways (Canada) won the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival

Devils Walk As Saints at DC9 this Wednesday

Need a little eye-candy ladies and good tunes? DC-based band Devils Walk As Saints are headed to DC9 this Wednesday. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 at the door. 

DC Donut Fest Presented by BYT Coming March 2nd

Tickets are $12 to $15 HERE. 

Coming Soon to 9:30 Club March 13th: Starfucker. Tickets on sale

Tickets are $20 HERE.

This Saturday check out AXEL F with DJ's Jahsonic, Stylus and Adrian Loving

Coming Soon: Duke Ellington School of the Arts presents An Evening with Patti LaBelle March 25th at the Kennedy Center

The Performance Series of Legends is the signature fundraising event for the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Now in its 6th year, this annual event has featured Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, Denyce Graves, and Dave Chappelle. This year's event starring Patti LaBelle kicks off the school's 40th Anniversary celebrations. Tickets are $50 to $175 HERE.

DC Chef Jenn Cravato Releases New Cookbook "Olive Oil, Sea Salt & Pepper"

Salivating over her Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tart recipe. Check out the new cookbook and order online HERE.

DC International Design Festival Starts February 21st

Artisphere and Apartment Zero have teamed up for the DC International Design Festival. The festival features a three-month long multi-disciplinary celebration of design, featuring the exhibition The Next Wave: Industrial Design Innovation in the 21st Century, curated and produced by Apartment Zero co-owner Douglas Burton. The opening reception takes place on February 21st from 7 to 10 p.m. See the full slate of events for the month HERE.

Win FREE tickets to the Washington D.C. International Wine & Food Festival

Wine lovers can win FREE tickets to the Washington D.C. International Wine & Food Festival 2nd Annual Sommelier Showdown next Wednesday from Early Mountain Vineyards. 

The event will take place Wednesday, February 6 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm in the Pavilion Room at The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center downtown. 

Early Mountain staff will be on hand to pour their wines and those from their Best of Virginia program, including Thibaut-Janisson, Ankida Ridge & Barboursville, along side noted vineyards brands from across the globe!

Want to attend? Email your name & phone number to SommShowdown@earlymountain.com They will randomly select TWO sets of winners on Monday, February 4.

Participating vineyards at the Sommelier Showdown include:

Win a FREE Wedding in DC with the Great Bridal Scavenger Hunt

Engaged, but stressed over planning and the cost to host in D.C.? Then get ready for the scavenger hunt of a lifetime. This March, The Great Bridal Scavenger Hunt: For the Love ofDC will give 10 very lucky couples the chance to win an all-expenses paid wedding, by solving clues throughout the city; Amazing Race style. 

Contestants manuveur the city via Bike and Roll DC and only 10 couples will be selected from the first 200 submissions.

How to enter? Couples can submit their creative videos online HERE. Fans and staff will vote on their favorites on YouTube and Facebook. The winning couple will receive a package featuring consultation and products from DIYva Designs (Presenting Sponsor, Planning), Longview Gallery (Venue), Fox  Ventures (Event Décor and Floral), Spilled Milk Catering (Catering), Toy Box Productions (Videography), Electric Entertainment (Audio/Visual),  Donavan House (Accommodations), Nival Salon and Spa (Bridal hair and make-up), Bash Booths (Photo booth), P. Lawrence Bridals and Formals (Wedding Gown), Everard’s Clothing (Groom’s Tux), Cha Studio (Custom Veil), and Sweets by E (Custom Wedding Cake).

The competition is open to couples marrying this summer, those who have been married 5 plus years and would like to renew their vows and same sex couples.  Enter by March 5^th HERE.