The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is no stranger to hosting late-night parties populated by young D.C. professionals. The difference in the crowd there Friday night for a Los Angeles-based magazine’s one-year anniversary party? They give a damn—at least according to the tagline for Good magazine, the monthly focused on promoting new ways of giving, which is marketed toward “people who give a damn” about making the world a better place.
The 1,400 attendees who crowded the modern art museum’s 6,000-plus-square-foot outdoor plaza (which is also home to the thrice-annual public After Hours parties) were able to take part in a number of unique multimedia presentations used to showcase how the magazine sees itself as forward-thinking.
“I like to go beyond what’s been done before,” said Good event director Carol Cho (formerly of Surface mag), who worked with marketing director Liza Vadnai to plan the "Choose Good " party. Case in point: Revelers could snap candids in a photo booth and then see their faces flash across the white ceiling moments later. They could also relax on dark leather couches in the third floor Lerner Room Gallery (with its own bar and DJ booth) and interact with a series of Good-produced videos about being socially conscious, set up by Justin Young of the San Francisco-based Fun Foundation.Cho’s favorite element of the evening, however, was a multimedia show by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based audiovisual artists Sosolimited on the main stage in the plaza that featured unique beats played in time with scenes from 1980s after-school specials. Another draw to the soiree: Local DJ duo Thievery Corporation played a two-hour set to end the five-hour-long affair. A number of attendees said they were pleased to become accidental philanthropists—that when they heard the 18th Street Lounge-based DJ duo had a gig at the Hirshhorn, they gladly paid the $20 ticket/subscription fee to attend.
The Good name was everywhere. Cho placed dozens of magazines throughout the museum—near the bars, by the comfy seating around the plaza’s pool (which was aglow thanks to a six-foot moon balloon courtesy of Staged Right Productions), and in between trays of crudités, which featured a special Silk soy-milk-based dipping sauce prepared by Los Angeles-based chef Akasha. Hundreds of Good buttons were sprinkled among a dozen high-top tables, and a Silk soy milk and Izze sparkling juice display was near the bar, where attendees sipped on Christiania vodka and Sapporo beer and sponsor Eco Products supplied biodegradable cups and recycled napkins.
The D.C. event was the first of three anniversary parties the magazine is holding this year. (The New York and Los Angeles versions will follow on September 29 and October 12, respectively.) Cho said Good chose D.C. for its kickoff since, among other reasons, half of the mag’s 12 main charities are based in the nation’s capital.
The 1,400 attendees who crowded the modern art museum’s 6,000-plus-square-foot outdoor plaza (which is also home to the thrice-annual public After Hours parties) were able to take part in a number of unique multimedia presentations used to showcase how the magazine sees itself as forward-thinking.
“I like to go beyond what’s been done before,” said Good event director Carol Cho (formerly of Surface mag), who worked with marketing director Liza Vadnai to plan the "Choose Good " party. Case in point: Revelers could snap candids in a photo booth and then see their faces flash across the white ceiling moments later. They could also relax on dark leather couches in the third floor Lerner Room Gallery (with its own bar and DJ booth) and interact with a series of Good-produced videos about being socially conscious, set up by Justin Young of the San Francisco-based Fun Foundation.Cho’s favorite element of the evening, however, was a multimedia show by Cambridge, Massachusetts-based audiovisual artists Sosolimited on the main stage in the plaza that featured unique beats played in time with scenes from 1980s after-school specials. Another draw to the soiree: Local DJ duo Thievery Corporation played a two-hour set to end the five-hour-long affair. A number of attendees said they were pleased to become accidental philanthropists—that when they heard the 18th Street Lounge-based DJ duo had a gig at the Hirshhorn, they gladly paid the $20 ticket/subscription fee to attend.
The Good name was everywhere. Cho placed dozens of magazines throughout the museum—near the bars, by the comfy seating around the plaza’s pool (which was aglow thanks to a six-foot moon balloon courtesy of Staged Right Productions), and in between trays of crudités, which featured a special Silk soy-milk-based dipping sauce prepared by Los Angeles-based chef Akasha. Hundreds of Good buttons were sprinkled among a dozen high-top tables, and a Silk soy milk and Izze sparkling juice display was near the bar, where attendees sipped on Christiania vodka and Sapporo beer and sponsor Eco Products supplied biodegradable cups and recycled napkins.
The D.C. event was the first of three anniversary parties the magazine is holding this year. (The New York and Los Angeles versions will follow on September 29 and October 12, respectively.) Cho said Good chose D.C. for its kickoff since, among other reasons, half of the mag’s 12 main charities are based in the nation’s capital.
A six-foot glowing moon ballon hung above the fountain in the Hirshhorn plaza, creating a shadowy atmosphere.
Photo: Fitsum Belay
Staged Right Productions anchored a six-foot glowing moon balloon above the fountain in the Hirshhorn plaza, creating a shadowy atmosphere.
Photo: Fitsum Belay
Good event director Carol Cho scattered logoed buttons and fliers throughout the venue.
Photo: Fitsum Belay
Photo: Josh Sisk
Gobos projected the logos of the event sponsors, Virgin Mobile Regeneration and Hope Equity.
Photo: Fitsum Belay
At kiosks, guests could choose from 12 Good-produced videos, which were then projected onto the Hirshhorn's blank white walls.
Photo: Josh Sisk
Audiovisual artists Sosolimited produced a 60-minute performance that blended musical beats with artistic imagery projected onto two 9- by 12-foot screens.
Photo: Josh Sisk
Guests could see the National Mall and the National Archives from the Hirshhorn plaza, which Cho decorated with square ottomans, green pillows, and cocktail tables.
Photo: BizBash
Materials for Virgin Mobile's "ReGeneration" initiative to stop youth homelessness were on-hand for guests to read and take home.
Photo: Fitsum Belay
Eric Hilton of the Washington-based Thievery Corporation DJ duo performed a two-hour set on the turntables. His partner, Rob Garza, made a surprise appearance as well.
Photo: Fitsum Belay
The work of artist Sol LeWitt hung on many of the Hirshhorn's walls.
Photo: Fitsum Belay
