I had a fantastic time at the 2022 Rosslyn Jazz Festival! I attended for over two hours and had the…read morechance to listen to two groups: Groove Orchestra and Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio. The first band included instrumentals as well as singing whereas the second group was solely instrumentals (but Jimmy James' guitar sung just as wonderfully as a voice). As soon as I arrived, I checked out the food and drinks vendors. I really appreciated the variety of food that was offered (including different cuisines and even fully vegan truck options). The beverage stations also offered about 6 different beer options, sangria, and other canned options such as seltzers. The weather made for an even better event. Between sets, the tribute to September 11 presented by the Arlington Police & Fire departments was well timed and much appreciated. Next year, I will definitely be bringing a lawn chair but there were plenty of stone curbs and mulch beds that made for comfortable seating.

This event was the definition of big things in a small package. Great talent, intimate outdoor…read morevenue, the o-so-attractive price of free-ninety nine, and a crowd just oozing with a genuine love and appreciation of the music that drew them all to this little park. I can't wait for next year. Two thumbs way up.

The Hillyer Art Space is the spot to see the latest from DC artists. This gallery is a complete,…read morenon-profit art assistance organization. From the front of the gallery, this space doesn't seem like much. However, inside you'll find exhibits that vary from sculpture, paintings, drawings, photographs, sculpture, decorative arts, prints to video installations. I particularly enjoyed the show going on right now called, "It's Not You, It's Me." It is a bunch of prints by an Annapolis artists. The pieces reflect different aspects of relationships.

This is a review for the Hillyer as a venue rental, nothing else. The art gallery itself is great…read more I got married at the Hillyer Art Space in Sept. 2014. Nice space, very DIY. Their event coordinator was very helpful for the whole planning process leading up to the wedding. We had no trouble setting up and taking down everything for the wedding, and for the most part things went relatively smoothly. We appreciate how accommodating she was when we had questions or scheduling difficulties, and would be fine recommending the Hillyer for more casual events. Other perks: minimal decorations needed, art all over for guests to enjoy, and really cool gallery -- guests liked the space itself. However, our wedding itself is what brings this review down so much. The Hillyer told us about 3 weeks before the wedding that they we also hosting a large public DC-wide event right after our event (Art All Night), but by no means did they foresee how it would impact our wedding. Dozens (my mom swears nearly 100) of people ended up crashing our wedding on Saturday night, in large part because they thought I (the bride) was performance art or part of a show. in fact, when I came back to work on Monday, one of my coworkers told me that she showed up at my wedding, and then showed me a photo of me that she had taken from the gallery entrance to post on Instagram. Many more were turned away at the door throughout the night. Much of our wine and food was actually taken by people wandering in off the streets. Every few minutes I personally had to escort someone out. The most frustrating part was during my father's wedding toast - a man walked into the room and directly in front of my dad during his toast (arm's length), to come watch the speech. It was completely ridiculous. This could have been mitigated by the Hillyer staff with presence at the door rather than my cousins acting like bouncers. I also talked to some people who were very confused as to why the marketing and ads for the Art All Night event did not specify that the Hillyer would be closed for a private event until 11pm. There was only one small sign on the door that said "Private Event" and with no details describing the fact that a wedding was taking place. The one staff person on site was only helpful about halfway through the ceremony when we complained that so many strangers were interrupting the wedding. All in all, it was extremely frustrating to have to deal with this. I know that the Hillyer is a small gallery and has limited capacity to address many of our concerns, especially now that the event is over - we were very happy with the DIY aspect of the event itself, so had no problems with anything there. I am a super laid-back person, and this was a very casual wedding compared to most weddings, but there is absolutely no good excuse for anyone having to deal with these kinds of interruptions at their wedding. The staff should have been better prepared to deal with this, knowing that they booked such a large and public event on the same evening. We got NO response when we tried to follow up with their staff to discuss afterwards and have not heard from them since. I even waited 4 days to post this review just to give them the courtesy of having a chance to respond to address our concerns. UPDATE 10/5/14: we just received a response from their event coordinator this morning and appreciate the reply, although it does not change this review.

I highly recommend! Amazing night at the Mead- AYNOHYEB play was superb! The actors dressed and…read moreacted their parts like it was in real time in 50s blacklisted Hollywood! A real treat and must see-here you get the Broadway experience with actors in their perfect dialogue delivery! But what was most interesting of all was the venue! It was a perfect setting for plays and performances in a more intimate setting! I got lucky to be seated on C1, which gave the most vantage point to watch the whole play from start to finish! The intimate setting also allowed unexpectedly running into former colleagues (lawyers) from former agency -they saw the back of my head being seated upfront and politely and briefly asked where i've been(just as we were taking our seats)--it really has been awhile and glad to have seen and catch up with them even briefly! I miss those guys! Venue was fantastic with ample space to mingle before the show and interact with fellow patrons of the arts and culture! The staff were excellent and friendly-made our time at the Mead Center not just enjoyable but also memorable! A real treat indeed! Thank you!

Arena stage is a performance arts center that offers many plays, musicals and shows during each…read moreperformance season. They have 3 theatres within the venue. There is also a bar to order drinks before the show and during intermission. Tonight we saw the CrazySexyCool TLC musical and it was phenomenal! The show was a biopic of TLCs journey as a musical performance group, the ups, downs, challenges and losses. I really learned a lot about the group as I listened to them growing up without knowing much about their personal history and life details. The main actors for T-Boz, Left Eye and Chilli were spectacular. Their voices were incredible and evoked a lot of emotions. The show highlighted many of TLCs music as expected and the show exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended!

Saw John Butler and Band 4/29 at the Lincoln Theater and I just had the time of my life not only…read morebecause of the show, but also because of the venue and staff. The venue is very intimate without feeling claustrophobic. I don't think you can get a bad seat. I was surprised that the cost for an adult beverage was only $11.50 (before taxes and tip). Now on to the staff....they were all so friendly professional. They truly went out of their way to make your experience exceptional and smooth. Shoutout to Bernard for his kindness, humor, and just plain overall charisma. Instead of making me throw away some snacks I had he had it secured in the office for pick up after the show. He was so funny and easygoing about it all and he and other staff went out of their way to not make me feel bad or stupid for the faux pas. The bartenders in the foyer were awesome and patient too when I wasn't sure what to order. They also served my drinks neatly and their welcoming demeanor made me go back for another. If you are attending an event at the Lincoln Theater know that you will be taken care of very well and that your event will run smoothly. It's a beautiful venue and I hope to be able to go to another concert again soon!

Great theatre. I went here for an event about a decade ago and my wife went to see Alok two nights…read moreago. The seats are great and pretty affordable. It is also very conveniently located just across U Street from the Metro and next to Ben's Chili Bowl.

The Hirshhorn Museum is easily one of my favorite modern art museums in Washington, DC. Every visit…read moreoffers something new to discover, and the museum itself is as impressive as many of the exhibits it houses. A few highlights from my visit: Beautiful, clean, and modern space that complements the artwork perfectly. The museum's unique multi-level circular layout makes it easy to navigate and explore. Every turn seems to reveal a new exhibit, installation, or piece of art that invites you to stop and reflect. A great mix of modern and contemporary works that appeal to both casual visitors and art enthusiasts. Clean, well-maintained facilities throughout the museum. Bathrooms are conveniently located on the lower level and easy to find. Free admission makes it an easy recommendation for anyone visiting the National Mall. One of my favorite aspects of the Hirshhorn is how immersive the experience feels. As you move through the circular galleries, each corner offers something different to see and experience. The museum encourages exploration, and it's easy to lose track of time wandering between exhibits. Overall, the Hirshhorn is a must-visit for anyone interested in modern and contemporary art. Between its striking architecture, thoughtfully curated exhibits, and welcoming atmosphere, it's a place I return to whenever I'm in DC.

Such a good solo date in DC! I got to the Hirshhorn about an hour before closing and was honestly…read moresurprised that I was still able to see everything without feeling too rushed! My tip if you're short on time: start on the top floor and work your way down. I started with the outer part of the floor and worked my way inward, then followed the same pattern on the next floor. It made it really easy to navigate the museum without missing anything. Definitely recommend for a solo date, art lovers, or anyone looking for something affordable to do while visiting DC. Pro tip: Even if you only have an hour, GO! Start at the top, work your way down, and you can cover a lot.

It was a beautiful day for a Juneteenth Jazz in the Garden concert. There was plenty of seating…read moresurrounding the pond, both grass and concrete benches. I enjoyed walking the grounds prior to the concert to take in some of the gigantic sculptures. Georgia Heers is a talented singer, and my friends and I were glad she was our first concert in the garden.

Free sculpture garden just outside of the national gallery of art. Beautiful to enjoy the breeze by…read moresitting down in one of the many benches. Really nice cafe as well that sells sandwiches, salads, drinks.

Fun date activity to kick off the spring season. At Artomatic you're able to check out soooo many…read moreartists at once. The event is held in an abandoned office building throughout 8 floors. It's open most days until the end of April and stays open pretty late. Definitely plan to spend multiple days viewing all of the art because it can be overwhelming. You can park a couple of blocks into the neighborhood for free for 2 hours. The only downfall was that it was pretty hot in the building. I don't think there's any ventilation in here opposed to the first floor. Have fun if you go and thank you to all of the artists who shared their art.

Came here to check out a friends artwork. This was my first time at Artomatic and I invited my…read morecousin who's in the art industry locally. We came during the week day after 5 to avoid the weekend crowd. There is a parking garage right next to the building at $7. Upon entrance, we are greeted by some of the local artists, get checked in with an armband and began to explore. There are 8 floors but we only did 4 of them (3, 4, 7 & 8) We started on the 4th floor so I can locate my friend's work first but went thru quite a few rooms along the way. The way Artomatic is set up which is an office building of about 50+ rooms per floor filled with artwork. Most of the volunteers were pleasant because we were so lost but this 1 guy who was sitting on the 4th floor with his volunteer shirt seemed disturbed when we asked him where a certain room was. It's quite confusing in there but you'll get use to it. We were told there were 2 open floors with artwork and entertainment which were 3 & 8. They serve alcohol & non alcoholic beverages and light snacks. We met a few of the artists while there as they were creating their own pieces. My cousin and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I left inspired. One of the greeters told us there hadn't been an Artomatic event since 2017, so that is great for DC to bring them back. Will return to explore the other floors, it's a lot to take in and cannot all be done in one evening.

Representing Feb. 2023 (1 of 2) in scrapbook series is The Phillips Collection. I visited Phillips…read moreCollection one time then. I had bought tickets to their Phillips after 5 event, which always occurs on the 1st Thursday of the month, for the 1st Thursday of November 2016. So, why if I had tickets for November 2016 that it's representing February 2023? In late October 2016, I thought this Phillips Collection sounded cool, bought the tickets, and got a date to go. That Thursday morning, my date canceled saying she was sick. While sitting at my office in Columbia, MD, I was stewing with annoyance, anger, & figuring what to do. Initially, I thought I'd have to send mass texts to get someone to go. But I was like, I don't even want to schlep from my office to DC that afternoon even it wasn't going to be the date I had intended it on being. I called the manager that November 3, 2016 morning, and manager said I could apply the tickets to any Phillips after Five in the future. What I didn't realize in November 2016 that it would be more than 6 years later that I would redeem. In late January 2023, I noticed a Meetup group going to Phillips after Five on February 2, 2023. I was like this is the catalyst to finally redeem my tickets. I emailed them this responding to the October 30, 2016 email with the ticket: Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2023 12:01 PM "Hi, back on October 30, 2016 I had purchased two tickets for the Phillips Collection First Thursday for November 3, 2016. On that Thursday morning, November 3rd, my date canceled on me, and I was thinking I don't really want to scramble to find someone else to go last minute. So, I called, spoke with I guess the manager, and decided I would cancel, which the person I spoke with said that feel free to use at any First Thursday in the future. Well, I've tentatively decided to use my ticket for this next Thursday, February 2, 2023. How will this work? Do I just show up and give them the print out of the original ticket?" Thursday, January 26, 2023 4:24 PM "Thank you for reaching out to the Phillips Collection about your inquiry on Phillips after Five. Even though your ticket was purchased seven years ago, due to the general blanket statement made in the past, we will honor this request. When you arrive for the event on February 2nd, please give your name at the will call desk and they will check you in. In the future, when you are unable to attend an event and want to reschedule to a different date, we request that you let us know what date you want to reschedule to in advance. On the whole, we do not keep raincheck tickets in the queue indefinitely." My experience on Thursday, February 2, 2023: I was impressed with the multi-story building with lots of cool artwork from Impressionist (speaking of being impressed) to various contemporary works. There was a band, who was good. They also had making friendship bracelets. I had fun, met some new people from Meetup group. Overall, this was a fun night. A few of us even went to a nearby bar for drinks/food; so I got back to my car by Metro parked in Rockville pretty late for a Thursday night. Conclusion: I appreciated Phillips Collection worked with me in November 2016 for my initial request, and they honored what I paid for in late January 2023 even though likely a different manager. I always had in the back of my head one of these Thursdays I should use this, but going to DC on a Thursday night after work was never convenient and never had a particular catalyst to go. Also, then there was some interruption with Covid further pushing back what theoretically might've been an earlier timeline to have visited. This is a cool place, definitely worth a visit!

I used to be a member at the Phillips; this is probably the way to go for the local as entrance is…read moreexpensive and exhibits rotate. On my return, I found one floor closed, but there will usually be something under installation somewhere in a museum of this size. While I was not seeking any specific tour or event, I found a tour guide, who essentially just gave an introduction to one painting. It was engaging, though there are often events of greater significance. The museum is an old mansion, and in some areas poses challenges for those with mobility limitations, people of a sort which I saw plenty of on my visit. Typically you can find an elevator if you look hard enough. The collection is eclectic and often defies description. I find a significant number of their pieces I either hate or am bored by, but the overall experience is aesthetically distinctive and it's not what you'd get downtown. Outside of its pure museum experience, the Phillips offers a lot in the community, from events to kids to engagement for those dealing with dementia. A walk down to the basement levels yields a vista of local non-professional art. I appreciate the commitment to the community.