Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99
In horrible planning on my part I was out of town this weekend and missed the festival. From the flickr pool it seems it rained a bit:
Photo by PoPville flickr user caroline.angelo
But it still seems to have rocked:
Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw
So for folks who went – how was it this year?
From MPD:
“The Metropolitan Police Department would like to inform the public and members of the media of the following street closures in conjunction with the 2013 H Street Festival and the 2013 Fiesta DC Parade and Festival. These events are scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2013, and Sunday, September 22, 2013, respectively.
This event will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2013 from 12:00 pm to approximately 7:00 pm.
The following streets will be closed from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm:
Travel will be prohibited across H Street from 4th Street, NE to 14th Street, NE
2013 Fiesta DC Parade & Festival
FIESTA DC: This event will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2013, from 12:00 am to 12:00 pm and will take place on the following streets:
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 9th and 14th Streets, NW
13th Street, NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street, NW
12th Street, NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street, NW
11th Street, NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street, NW
10th Street, NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street, NW
PARADE: This event will be held on Sunday, September 22, 2013, from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm and will take place on the following streets:
Constitution Avenue, NW between 7th and 14th Streets, NW
7th Street, NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and Independence Ave, SW
12th Street, NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue, NW”
From an email:
“Gravensteen Haunted Productions Presents: The Curse of Frau Mueller
Summary: Satisfy your thirst for horror with Gravensteen Haunted Productions. This haunted house is the largest and scariest in the Washington DC area. The goal is to bring a truly unique haunted experience that is sure to stay with you. We provide 50,000 square feet of thrills and scares at every corner with high quality actors, make-up artists, set designs and themed background stories that suck the audience into the experience. Horror enthusiasts will love our flavor of frights. Check us out every Halloween for a unique haunted house adventure in Washington DC.
Dates: First night September 27th, last night November 2nd
Location: 50 Florida Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002 (vacant ice warehouse)
Website & Tickets: www.gravensteen.net
Ticket Prices: $35 (Regular) $50 (Speed Pass to Avoid Line)”
401 F Street, NW
From the National Building Museum:
“The National Building Museum, America’s leading cultural institution devoted to the history and impact of the built environment, is haunted by ghosts. Multiple witnesses have confirmed at least four and as many as six separate spiritual beings living in the Museum, although specific identities of the undead have yet to be confirmed. (more…)
From an email:
The 4th Annual 17th Street Festival presented by Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets will take place on September 14, 2013 from 12pm-6pm
. The 17th Street Festival is a free community event that celebrates the 17th Street Corridor from Riggs Place to P Street.
Festival Includes 6 different zones:
– Art Show sponsored by DCCA – List of artists can be found here.
– Business Specials – 17th Street Businesses will be running specials all day long.
– Entertainment Stage – Link to the schedule is here.
– Kids Zone sponsored by Love Not Label – Activities are listed here.
– Over 30+ Local Vendors
– Pet Zone Sponsored by City Dogs Rescue. City Dogs is brining dogs to adopt and the Humane Society is also coming out with their adoption mobile.”
And MPD notes:
“The following streets will be closed from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm:
§ 17th Street from S Street, NW to P Street, NW.”
Ed. Note: You can see all events here and you can schedule your own event listing here.
Photo by PoPville flickr user randomduck
From a press release:
“The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced the selection of the five individuals who will receive the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors. Recipients to be honored at the 36th annual national celebration of the arts are: opera singer Martina Arroyo; pianist, keyboardist, bandleader and composer Herbie Hancock; pianist, singer and songwriter Billy Joel; actress Shirley MacLaine; and musician and songwriter Carlos Santana.
The Honors Gala will be recorded for broadcast on the CBS Network for the 36th consecutive year as a two-hour primetime special on Sunday, December 29 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT).”
I got one report that there were some vendor arguments but when I stopped by things were running smoothly. And my overall experience was quite positive. I caught some good tunes and had a delicious samosa from Jyoti. There seemed to be a bit fewer folks than previous years (which was a good thing) and with the good weather and good music – I felt there was a very positive vibe. Anyone else stop by?
Photo by PoPville flickr user afagen
Last year Crafty Bastard moved to Union Market after 7 years in Adams Morgan. They’re returning to Union Market this year on Sept 28th and 29th.
From a press release:
“We’re thrilled to announce that this year, in addition to the more than 140 talented vendors who will be featured, attendees can enjoy local food truck fare, a selection of craft brews at the New Belgium Beer Garden, and attractions for every age at the Crafty Clubhouse Tent (stroller parking included)!
This year’s carefully-selected roster of independent artisans will be selling everything from clothing, jewelry and home goods to fine art and toys. There’s a one-of-a-kind find for everyone at Crafty Bastards – and this unique shopping experience is here for two days only!
Tickets are on sale now. Day passes can be purchased in advance for $5, or $10 at the door. Kids under 10 are free!
WHAT: Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair
WHEN: Saturday, September 28th and Sunday, September 29th
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m
WHERE: Union Market
1309 5th St NE”
From the organizers:
“Adams Morgan Day is less than 3 weeks away, and we need your help on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013!
We have an incredible line-up of vendors and a historic six stages with more than 75 live local musical and artistic performances booked for the day.
But we have a monumental task in front of us to make sure everything runs smoothly on the day of the event. This year, the Adams Morgan business and residential communities have come together to host Adams Morgan Day as an ALL VOLUNTEER-run event.
Would you like to join us? VOLUNTEER here.”
Adams Morgan Day kicks off neighborhood festival season with H Street and Columbia Heights following Sept. 21st and Oct. 5th respectively.
Photo by PoPville flickr user rjs1322
From an email:
“This annual celebration of reading and literacy, co-chaired by President Obama and Mrs. Obama, occurs September 21 & 22 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Now in its 13th year, this two-day festival features an impressive lineup of authors, including;
Giada De Laurentiis – Emmy Award-winning chef, best known for her Food Network series “Everyday Italian” and “Giada at Home,” released the first two in a series of children’s books inspired by her own adventures, Recipe for Adventure: Naples and Recipe for Adventure: Paris.
Hoda Kotb – Co-host of the fourth hour of “Today,” Kotb is the author of the New York Times best-seller Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer and Kathie Lee and Ten Years Later: Six People Who Faced Adversity and Transformed Their Lives.
Khaled Hosseini – Author of The Kite Runner, a novel that had a lengthy run as a best-seller that drew on his experiences as a child in Afghanistan. He has since written A Thousand Splendid Suns and his latest novel, And the Mountains Echoed.
Margaret Atwood – Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist; she concludes her MaddAddam trilogy this September.
Christopher Buckley – Satirist and novelist, Buckley has written many satires on Washington, D.C. including Little Green Men, No Way to Treat a First Lady and Florence of Arabia. Thank You for Smoking, a hilarious look at the life of a tobacco lobbyist, was made into a film in 2005.
What:
The Library of Congress’ 2013 National Book Festival—an annual celebration of books, reading and literature co-chaired by President Obama and Mrs. Obama. This DC tradition gives book lovers of all ages a rare opportunity to interact with and get their books signed by their favorite authors.
For more information and a complete list of authors, visit www.loc.gov/bookfest.
When: Sept. 21 & 22
9/21: 10am – 5:30pm
9/22: noon – 5:30pm
Where:
The National Mall, between 9th & 14th Streets”
Big news for festival fans – two of the most anticipated ones have announced dates for this year. First up is H Street’s:
“The 2013 H Street Street Festival—Washington, DC’s premier neighborhood festival— will be held Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013.
Organized by H Street Main Street, the festival will feature over 50 artists and 80 performances on 10 stages accompanied by an array of local, regional and international cuisine, shopping, arts exhibits, educational events, seminars and conversations with local entrepreneurs, artists and community organizations spanning 10 blocks of H Street NE.
This annual event is one of the most popular festivals in Washington, DC, attracting thousands of foodies, art aficionados, wine and beer connoisseurs and music lovers to one of the city’s fastest-growing and most exciting areas.
More than 150 local restaurants, vendors and food trucks will offer a bounty of food selections, including international cuisine, regional fare and much more. The festival will also have several beer gardens and vodka tasting areas featuring a wide array of libations from breweries and distilleries.
The uniqueness of the art and fine crafts in DC is unrivaled and a big part of the identity and culture of the H Street NE area. That’s why this year’s festival will host a variety of art cars, artist booths and installations. These displays are sure to delight art enthusiasts of all types and will allow festivalgoers to interact with displays and talk one-on-one with their creators.
In addition to food, wine, beer and art, the festival has 10 stages with a variety of entertainment, which will feature some of the best local and regional performers in rock-n-roll, rap, jazz, opera, soul music, gospel, Caribbean and more. There will also be pie eating and tattoo contests, live boxing, martial arts demonstrations and many more non-musical performances.
The festival’s emphasis on the distinctiveness and vibrancy of the H Street area extends beyond the food, art and music. Visit the DC Fashion Week stage and help area designers kick off their annual celebration of fashion. Or for a more family-oriented atmosphere, the kids and family zone will be serving up kid-friendly entertainment and interactive events from start until close. The festival will also feature a fitness area, featuring a climbing wall sponsored by REI, as well as other health-promoting events and vendors.
Festival hours are from noon – 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. The festival will take place from the 400 block to the 1400 block of H Street NE.”
And then is Columbia Heights Day’s:
“Community celebration features live music and arts performances, family activities, local artisans, food trucks and more
WHAT: 7th Annual Columbia Heights Day
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 2013
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
WHERE: Harriet Tubman Elementary Field
(Entrance on Kenyon St. NW between 11th and 13th streets)
Just 3 blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro (Green and Yellow lines)
COST: FREE
WHO: Schedule of events include:
Live music and arts performances
Petting Zoo & Kids Zone, with fun games and family entertainment
Morning yoga workshop
Your favorite DC food trucks
Cupcake eating contest
Dozens of local businesses and community groups”