#1 Art & Entertainment Event
Set to mark its 40-year anniversary this year, the ceremony will feature some retrospective moments for the live crowd at the 2,200-seat Kennedy Center Opera House, which always sells out for this affair, and on the event’s PBS broadcast, airing December 26. History will be made next month at the event when recipient LL Cool J becomes the first hip-hop artist honored; and also because President Trump announced he would skip the affair after some honorees threatened a boycott if he attended. Other luminaries to be recognized are recording artists Gloria Estefan and Lionel Ritchie, television producer Norman Lear, and choreographer and dancer Carmen de Lavallade. Next: December 3, 2017
#2 Art & Entertainment Event
Another full-house gathering at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the 20th annual Twain prize this year went to David Letterman. Sponsored by Capital One—which funded a red carpet pre-show on Facebook Live—and Comcast/NBCUniversal, the event took place October 22 and was broadcast on November 20. Among those who praised and skewered Letterman and his 33-year career were comics Jimmy Kimmel, Steve Martin, Amy Schumer, Martin Short, and others, along with his colleagues from Late Night With David Letterman, Paul Shaffer and Biff Henderson. The event raised $2.2 million for the Kennedy Center’s arts, education, and community programs. Next: Fall 2018
#3 Art & Entertainment Event (new to the list)
The bipartisan fund-raiser, which has honored President Lincoln for over four decades, brought in close to $2 million for the historic venue’s programs. Many government leaders attended the June 4 gathering, including President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump; Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence; senators Roy Blunt, Bob Corker, Richard Durbin, Lindsey Graham, Patrick Leahy and Ed Markey; House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; and others. In total, the venue’s 550 full-view seats were filled. Melania Trump was the honorary chair, and football giant Peyton Manning and businessman Ronald Perelman received the Lincoln Medal. The event’s lead sponsor was General Dynamics, while Ovation sponsored the red carpet. Next: June 2018
#4 Art & Entertainment Event
The largest cast to date took part in the June 12 show at Sidney Harman Hall, with 40 members of Congress and Washington influencers among the performers. The original script Met By Moonlight, by Peter Byrne and The West Wing writers, was given life by actor Santino Fontana and other thespians: U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, and eight members of the House. Media participants included writers and editors from the Hill, the Atlantic, and the Washington Post, plus a Fox News correspondent, ABC’s political director, and more. The announcement of Fontana’s involvement reached 18,000 Facebook users, and the event raised $510,000 for the Shakespeare Theatre Company. Next: Spring 2018
#5 Art & Entertainment Event
With 112 films from 28 countries, the 15th edition of the documentary film festival covered a variety of topics, including the environment, sports, politics, and art. Filmmaker Laura Poitras, who is best known for Oscar-winning Citizenfour, an Edward Snowden portrait, was named the Charles Guggenheim Symposium honoree; the Audience Award for Best Feature went to Step, and Fish Story won the Audience Award for Best Short. Notables present included Mariska Hargitay, Morgan Spurlock, scientist Bill Nye, and others. AT&T once again was the presenting sponsor, and several discussions were held with journalists from ABC, NPR, PBS, CQ Roll Call, and the Washington Post. Next: June 13-17, 2018
#6 Art & Entertainment Event
Nearly 79,000 jazz fans attended at least one of the 125 performances that were on offer June 9 to 18 in 40 venues citywide, including performing arts spaces, museums, restaurants, hotels, and community centers. Produced by Events D.C., the 13th annual festival featured more than 90 bands and 300 artists. Among the highlights, D.C. JazzFest at the Yards boasted 11,000 attendees during three days of programming; Jazz in the ’Hoods came to 22 neighborhoods; Jazz ’n Families Fun Days at the Phillips Collection garnered 5,100 attendees; and the Bass-ically Yours Series at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage hosted six nights of free jazz performances. Sponsors included Renaissance Hotels, Coca-Cola, Amtrak, and others. Next: June 8-17, 2018
#7 Art & Entertainment Event (up from #8)
Marking a dozen years of existence, the theatrical showcase featured 90 shows from July 6 to 30. Five shows received audience awards, while 16 had their runs extended. Held in 19 venues, mostly in the Trinidad neighborhood, the summertime event included unique productions such as MacBheatha, a high-flying Shakespeare adaptation; Comedian Elected to Town Council in New Jersey; and the experimental Dishwasher, where guests were invited to wash dishes in the home of actor Brian Feldman while he delivers a monologue. Current events and politics also were explored, according to WTOP. Produced by Capital Fringe, the event reported that it generates more than $283,000 in revenue for participating artists. Next: July 6-July 23, 2018
#8 Art & Entertainment Event (up from #9)
The 14th annual festival received record-breaking submissions of more than 1,500 films and 77 screenplays. Nearly 170 films from some 30 countries were screened, while six screenplays were shown over 10 days. Programming included dozens of showcases, an outdoor screening in partnership with Asian Pacific American Film Festival and EuroAsia Shorts, and four lunchtime showcases presenting area filmmakers. Many films premiered, including 15 from around the world, six from North America, five from the United States, and 25 from the east coast. Evening parties and a Shorts Competition with a $2,000 prize also took place. Sponsors included Apple, Yelp, Tito’s Homemade Vodka, and others. Sunnyside VR demonstrated its products at some events. Next: Fall 2018
#5 Fashion & Beauty Event (new to the list)
Domestic violence prevention organization Becky’s Fund hosted the ninth annual Walk this Way Charity Fashion Show October 27 at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. More than 600 attendees raised $200,000, and organizers showcased storytelling—in keeping with the #metoo campaign—by having a dozen survivors on-stage. As emcee, journalist Tamron Hall spoke about a family experience. Local menswear brand Brimble & Clark outfitted area athletes, including Vernon Davis and Chris Carter of the Washington Redskins; Steven Birnbaum, Kofi Opare, Sean Franklin, and Bill Hamid of D.C. United; Tierra Ruffin-Pratt of the Washington Mystics; and former N.F.L. stars Gary Clark and John Booty. DiDomenico provided eveningwear for Sunni and the City of radio station WPGC; Estelle Johnson of the Washington Spirits; and commentator Christy Winters-Scott. Next: October 18, 2018
