The Cherry Blossom Festival Washington D.C.

Spring is in the air, and there’s no better way to welcome the changing of the season than by attending the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Arts, culture, nature and community spirit come together at this month-long event, commencing on March 20th, with all sorts of activities planned throughout the festival.

If you’ve never seen DC’s cherry blossoms in bloom, you’re in for an absolute treat. One of the best ways to see DC in springtime is by boat, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival has a number of options: grab a tidal basin paddleboat and explore the area on your own, or hop on a boat tour along the blossoms and monuments either during the day or by moonlight.

There are plenty of land-based things to see and do in conjunction with the festival as well. Self-guided land tours are just as breathtaking and inspiring when visiting DC at this time of the year. While you’re there be sure to take a guided tour and explore the history, architecture, and cuisine of the area.

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Hay-Adams Hotel

Sofitel Lafayette Square

Fairfax at Embassy Row 

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DC NATIONAL HARBOR WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL

The 5th Annual Wine and Food Festival at National Harbor brings together world class chefs, artisanal craftsmen, and culinary mavericks with thousands of local and visiting foodies to Washington DC. Over 150 different wines, beers, and spirits will be featured in an all-you-care-to-taste affair—but really it’s all about the wine. Wine and more wine.

This year’s festival departs into Italian vertical tastings, French sections, a salute to Grenache, and other win-eaux flights. Enjoy sundry wines under tents, in the pavilions, and on an extended pier. A special craft beer-tasting Bier Garten (perhaps incongruent with wine) is in keeping with spirited fun. The Whiskey & Bourbon Experience Lounge offers a relaxing setting complete with hand rolled cigar demos and of course spirits, for more spirited fun. The restaurant tastings will last from Noon – 4 p.m. and then theVIPpier hosts the Sunset Closing Party each evening for last call.

You’ll doubtless need a nosh at some point. The Tasting Theater blazes with hands-on cooking demonstrations and wine pairings. Local, regional and national recognized chefs converge for meet and greets, book signings and presentations throughout the event, with live music, entertainers, and more.

W & F  will offer several wine, beer and food tastings and dinners that are beyond the regular show hours and offerings. Attendance is limited, and must be reserved in advance on a first come, first serve basis. The Grand Cru Two-Day All Access Ticket ($185) allows show access for both days and discount admissions to the wine dinners and specialty tastings. Other perks include a free lanyard and goodie bag, full access to theVIPpier and coveted entry to theVIPwashrooms. Please drink responsibly.

May 5th & 6th Noon – 6 p.m. VIP Admission. 1 p.m – 6 p.m. General Admission.

National Harbor Waterfront on the Potomac | wineandfoodnh.com

WASHINGTON DC EMBASSIES OPEN THEIR DOORS

Washington DC welcomes the World this May with its annual celebration of international culture, PASSPORT DC. The American Capital will once again open the doors to its embassies and offer the public a stimulating array of performances, talks, and exhibits for their cultural enjoyment and edification. In addition to embassy open houses, street festivals, concerts, and other events, several Washington DC museums will contribute a rich roster of free special programming to Passport DC.

The events will kick off on Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with Around the World Embassy Tour. A signature Passport DC event, the Tour will showcase over 40 embassies from Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and the Americas, with a diverse range of artists and artisans, performers, lecturers and instructors providing educational and cultural programming for all ages. The world will indeed resemble a village during this Tour.

Each May, the Meridian International Center hosts an International Children’s Festival in Washington, DC promoting cultural exchange and introducing children and their parents to world geography, dress, and traditions. On Sunday, May 6, 2012, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. more than 20 embassies will host educational booths featuring their countries’ cultural heritage through hands-on activities, demonstrations, food tastings, music, and dance performances. An international children’s parade will highlight the festivities. Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20005. Admission free.

On Saturday, May 12, 2012. 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. the 27 Embassies of the European Union and the Delegation of the European Commission to the United States will open their doors to the public. The open house spearheads Europe Week, seven days of events that include speeches, seminars and issue-driven workshops, films, and concerts related to the European Union. Universities, think tanks, cultural bodies, the Embassies and Consulates of EU Member States will program events designed to demystify and illuminate the European Union. Free shuttle bus service provided all day.

Complete schedule available at www.passportdc.org

We recommend staying at,

A member of the Luxury Collection by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, The Fairfax Washington is ideally situated on an attractive and quiet, tree-lined block in Dupont Circle. In the midst of numerous embassies and diplomatic installations, The Fairfax at Embassy Row is set on Massachusetts Avenue, once known for its palatial mansions housing Washington’s elite.

The St. Regis Washington first opened in October, 1926, then known as the Carlton Hotel. Ever since, it has been a favorite luxury lodging choice of the capital’s political and social elite. This dramatic icon in the nation’s capital is enviably positioned at K Street, just two blocks from the White House.

Following a one year, $52 million refurbishment completed in January 2009, The Doyle Collection transformed a historic building into one of Washington’s most modern luxury hotels: The Dupont Circle Hotel. A contemporary masterpiece with a vibrant ambience as sophisticated and energetic as DC itself, the Washington, DC Dupont Hotel overlooks Dupont Circle and offers a prime location next to the best nightlife, galleries and restaurants in DC.

DESTINATION DC: THE 100th CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

March 20 – April 27, 2012

More than a million people come each year to watch the blossoming cherry trees turn the Tidal basin in West Potomac Park into a cloud of pink. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC. The annual two-week celebration honors the lasting friendship between the United States and Japan, with more than 200 international cultural performances and over 90 other events scheduled around the city.

To launch the Centennial Celebration, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will stage a concert and show at the WalterE. Washington Convention Center. A pre-show includes strolling musicians, cultural exhibits, and historical imagery. The musical lineup features renowned American and international artists. James Beard Award-winning chefs José Andrés and Roy Yamaguchi host the Pink Tie Party fundraiser on Tuesday, March 20 from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Don pink and spring attire for an evening of cherry blossom-inspired cuisine and cocktails from 35 of metro-DC’s top chefs, followed by a silent auction, and after-hours lounge.

Among the many events around town, The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade (April 14), one of DC’s largest yearly public events, draws over 100,000 spectators. Family-friendly entertainment includes floats, balloons, marching bands, clowns, horses, antique cars, and celebrity performances. Sakura Matsuri, the largest Japanese cultural festival in the United States, will follow the parade with food, arts, and live traditional and J-Pop performances on four stages, as well as martial arts demonstrations. 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. 12th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is planned to coincide with the blooming of the Yoshino cherry blossoms. The mean date is April 4, but nature isn’t always punctual. Be prepared for heavier crowds on weekends and during peak bloom. The cherry blossom trees grow in three National Park Service locations: around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, in East Potomac Park, and on the Washington Monument grounds.

National Cherry Blossom Festival March 20-April 27, 2012.

WHERE TO STAY DURING THE FESTIVITIES:
 Mandarin Oriental DC: What better way to enjoy this festival than at a Mandarin Oriental Hotel?! This 5 star property overlooks the Southwest Waterfront and inside features asian-inspired design and decor. Step into the soothing oasis of their 10,500 square foot Spa, continuously ranked at the top of the list for best spas in North America. And as a special treat for our clients receive a complimentary buffet breakfast for two daily in Sou’Wester and exclusive benefits for staying in any of the Tai Pan Club rooms.

The Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown: Once the Georgetown incinerator, the 5 star Georgetown Ritz-Carlton Hotel is housed in a distinguishing turn-of-the-century red brick building complete with a 130-foot smokestack rising above Georgetown’s skyline. A boutique hotel with only 86 rooms, each equipped with a separate soaking tub and stand-alone shower, this hotel has become a popular retreat for travelers alike.

Fairfax at Embassy Row: This 4.5 star hotel is the closest thing to staying at the prestigious White House. Popular among dignitaries, business guests and discerning travelers alike, The Fairfax Hotel DC has been providing luxury accommodations and world-renowned service since 1927. Ideally situated right by Dupont Circle, this pet-friendly hotel is only two metro stops from the National Mall, Smithsonian Institution and the famous monuments and memorials of Washington, DC.