Friendship Heights Alliance Announces Bustling ‘24 Events Calendar

WASHINGTON, DC, March 20, 2024 — The Friendship Heights Alliance officially kicks off a busy year of creative programming tomorrow with a new series focused on community building and education. Since its inception in 2021, the Alliance has focused on activating the public realm with events; building community amongst the residents in the neighborhood; bringing arts and creative pop-ups; and supporting retailers, businesses, and property owners.

NEW: Third Thursdays: Gather & Learn

The Third Thursday series invites the neighborhood to learn and engage with a new topic, skill, or friend at various locations around the neighborhood, from a native plant workshop to a panel discussion on social isolation and loneliness.

This new series is born directly out of neighborhood requests for more cultural, creative, and connection-building events. (The neighborhood’s community survey is available now to gather ever more feedback to inform the organization’s priorities and next steps.)

March 21: A Business Of Her Own will explore the connection between community, design, and local retail. This fireside chat full of stories and insights on neighborhood vitality will be moderated by Kaitlin Calogera, founder and president of A Tour of Her Own; and include tales and insights from Gina Schaefer, the founder and co-owner of 13 hardware stores located in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD, and their suburbs; and Carolyn Muraskin, the founder of DC Design Tours. The event will be hosted at Sheyla Vie Collections, a woman-owned, independent clothing store in the heart of Friendship Heights.

Additional dates and topics are as follows:

April 18: Documenting & Experiencing Music in DC
May 16: Broad Branch/Belmont Exhibit Discussion
June 20: Native Plant & Seedling Workshop
July - August (no Third Thursday events)
September 19: Social Isolation & Loneliness
October 17: Real Life AI
November 21: An Immigrant Food Story: With Cooking Demo

Makers Markets:

The Alliance is also bringing back its signature Makers Markets, another opportunity to activate the neighborhood’s public spaces while supporting local arts and small entrepreneurs. Now entering their third year, the Makers Markets will take place on three Saturdays this year, each with a creative component for adults and children alike. The block-long sidewalk festival along Wisconsin Avenue between Jenifer and Harrison Streets is known for its hospitable hang-out zones, oversized games, music, dance, and more.

Spring Maker's Market & Festival: Saturday, May 18, 3-7 pm
Summer Maker's Market & Festival: Saturday, August 24, 3-7 pm
Holiday Edition: Maker's Market & Festival: Saturday, November 2, 12-4 pm

Business Monday Mixers

The Alliance is also creating a series of business-focused Monday Mixers for property owners, retailers, and business groups in the neighborhood to network and connect. The series kicked off in January with a partnership event with ULI Washington at Junction Bistro, Bar & Bakery. The next Monday Mixer is Monday, April 8 at Turncoat, the speakeasy bar at The Heights Food Hall, from 5-7 pm. Future mixers will be held at Clyde’s of Chevy Chase, Alley Cat, and Maggiano’s.

Other neighborhood entities organize dozens of free, community events each year, so this year the Alliance has coordinated with The Collection, Shops at Wisconsin Place, Hera Hub, Tristan Foods, The Heights Food Hall, Sheyla Vie, and other neighborhood organizers to build a vibrant year-round calendar. The Collection alone is organizing 25+ events this year, including two film festivals, an Easter event, summer concerts, and holiday events for Hanukkah, Christmas, and more. All the details and an interactive events calendar are available at friendshipheights.com. Additional Friendship Heights events include Bike to Work Day (registration open now for May 17); Park(ing) Day (September 20); and a series of pop-ups and mural installations to be announced soon.

About the Friendship Heights Alliance

The Friendship Heights Alliance envisions a more vibrant, dynamic, and inclusive future for Friendship Heights, with diversity in housing opportunities and retail experiences, and a people-friendly public realm. This place-focused nonprofit coordinates the community building needed to reinvigorate Friendship Heights, focusing on the commercial corridor along Wisconsin Avenue from Oliver Street in Montgomery County, Maryland, to Fessenden Street NW in Washington, DC. The Alliance is a 501(c)6 nonprofit created in 2021 to focus on public space management and coordination; increase collaboration amongst property owners in both Maryland and Washington, DC, as development continues; promote the neighborhood; and engage with residents and businesses. For more information or to get involved, contact hello@friendshipheights.com, visit friendshipheights.com, or follow the organization on Instagram @FriendshipHeightsAlliance.

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