Art on 8th

source: danceplace.org

    We love supporting local events in the community! Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Dance Place presents an evening of creativity and excitement. Enjoy free music, dance, arts and crafts in DC neighborhoods Brookland and Edgewood.
    On Thursdays, live music is at 6:30pm on the Arts Walk at Monroe Street Market (716 Monroe St NE). There will be great performances across the genres including Brazilian/Bluegrass Fusion, jazz vocalists Natalie Jean and Denyse Pearson and African-inspired pieces. Dance events with audience participation and dance lessons are hosted at 6:30pm on the Busboys & Poets Plaza (625 Monroe St NE); techniques in hand dancing, salsa, and many more will be taught. Saturdays are for Get Creative: a series of workshops in movement, arts and crafts, and gardening. This happens at 1:30pm at Dance Place (3225 8th St NE). The themes are a little different each week so be sure to stop by more-than-once!
    Dance Place’s Art on Eighth is a key part of the organization’s Program Enhancement Fund, a $500,000 multi-year initiative to offer expanded free community arts and cultural programming. Art on 8th is happening now through the end of September rain or shine. This event series is made possible through the support of local businesses.

Summertime Means Garden Party Season!

photo credit: purewow.com

Let’s enjoy the sunny weather with chic garden parties galore! Here are our favorite touches to amp up your backyard gathering into something spectacular.

Fairy Lights : Twinkle lights are perfect for evening garden parties. They give the party a soft, romantic ambiance while ensuring guests can navigate the backyard seamlessly. Sparklers pair well with the pretty glow of fairy lights and make a great photo op!

Don’t Be Afraid to Get Crafty : From making beautiful tissue-paper flowers to repainting lawn furniture to creating unique decorations, showing your crafty side will only make your garden party better.

Finger Foods : While you shouldn’t feel restricted on the menu (it’s your party and you’ll cook what you want to), it is good to keep in mind that finger foods are easy to fit on little plates so people don’t feel confined to a table during the festivities.

Unwanted Pests : Anything outdoors means there’s a chance for insects to interfere with the event you spent hours carefully planning, so be sure to invest in netting or mesh covers for the food. Mosquitoes specifically can be a pain, so be prepared and light repellent torches or citronella candles around the property to protect guests.

Go Colorful : Garden parties are a celebration of the season, so what better way to pay tribute to summer’s effervescence than with bright blooms and colorful table pieces? Make custom cocktails all colors of the rainbow. Lay out colorful blankets. Tie brightly colored ribbons on the backs of chairs.

Party Playlist : It’s just not a party without great music so be sure to have a fantastic playlist queued up for the event. Top 40 pop mixed with old-school rock and R&B throwbacks are a surefire combination. Tip - use a Bluetooth speaker to avoid unsightly wires getting in the way.

DHM Top Picks: Summertime Bars

Summer heat got you down? When the sun sets and you desperately need a cool drink, head to these local favorites for rooftops with killer cocktails and views.

DNV Lounge
Downtown, 1155 14th St NW

Photo: Gerry Suchy

DNV Lounge offers affordable prices, great views, Thursday night music series, and our personal favorite, a pool!

Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Adams Morgan, 2007 18th St NW

Photo: The Purple Passport

Jack Rose Dining Saloon is where the whisky-lovers go to live it up: a plethora of whisky options greet a customer walking through the door, and upstairs patrons can soak in the best views of Adams Morgan at this hip bar.

Roofer’s Union
Adams Morgan, 2446 18th St NW

Photo: Stephanie Breijo

Roofer’s Union is a cool cocktail bar with awesome punch bowls and custom drinks, plus a rooftop overlooking all of 18th St NW.

The Graham Observatory
Georgetown, 1075 Thomas Jefferson St NW

Photo: Trip Advisor

In Georgetown, The Graham Observatory offers great rooftop experiences and a fantastic shot of the Potomac, but the main attraction at this bar are the top lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians who frequent. Time to brush up on your small talk!

Sauf Haus Bier Hall
Dupont Circle, 1216 18th St NW

Photo: Yelp

Sauf Haus Bier Hall in Dupont Circle translates roughly to “The Place to Knock ‘Em Back” and proudly hosts Oktoberfest-themed food, drink, and music.

Local 16
U St Corridor, 1602 U St NW

Photo: Herb & Lace

Local 16 in the U St Corridor is gorgeous on the exterior and interior with a great brunch deal ($27 for bottomless two-hour-long food and drink) and tasty cocktails.

Making the Routine Remarkable: Amping Up the Party

Photo courtesy of Babble.com

From Instagram to brunch, newly trendy terms and activities are popping up daily. One that interests us in particular is the gender reveal party. Ten years ago, family and friends would simply ask the mother-to-be, and that was the end of that. However, a quick browsing of Pinterest will reveal this to no longer be the case. From colored frosting-filled cupcakes to pink and blue paintball, the gender-revealing trend has exploded. While we may roll our eyes at this unnecessary party, its popularity is undeniable.

In the field of marketing and events, we can’t help but be inspired by the gender reveal party trend. With the right combination of well-designed accessories, positive publicity, and a playful atmosphere, women have taken the mundane and made it into a must-celebrate event. We wonder what other tasks and events we could spruce up with a little publicity and well-designed marketing. From your small business’s anniversary party to a new listing’s open house, there’s no excuse to not make the routine remarkable!

Take a Bite into Themed Celebrations

Shark Week may be over but we’re not quite ready to part ways...Why not make Shark Week...Shark Month? In the world of marketing, Shark Week is an admirable phenomenon, using drinking games, party tricks, and blow-up shark toys to gain this channel some of its highest viewership of the year.

Shark Week’s appeal is simple: in the era of binge watching, a week of constant shark entertainment surrounded by friends is a dream come true. Discovery Channel releases factoids on social media and makes sure Shark Week is educational in addition to being entertaining. During Shark Week, Discovery Channel partners with other organizations like TOMs and Georgetown Cupcakes to promote the species and donate to their conservation efforts. What a great reminder of how marketing partnerships can make a difference!

Now it’s time to let Shark Week inspire! From safaris to luaus to discos, there are hundreds of themes to amp up your summer event. And of course, a classic masquerade theme takes any garden party to the next level of sophistication. Time to get planning!

photo courtesy of atlanticwhiteshark.org