Mark Your Calendars: NOW at the Corcoran: Chris Martin

The Corcoran will open NOW at the Corcoran: Chris Martin from June 18- October 13. Martin, a DC native, is the second artist to show in NOW, the Gallery’s newly established contemporary art program dedicated to emerging and mid-career artists.

Martin uses his art to explore landscape, personal and historical applications of abstract paintings, and the relationship between art and everyday life.

In addition, starting October 1 until February 12, 2012, the Corcoran will open 30 Americans, contemporary art collectors comprised of established emerging black American artists. This will bring together both established and emerging artists whose work explores race, gender, identity, and popular culture.

For more information on the exhibits, visit the Corcoran online.

You're Invited: Put a Corc In It with Renaissance Dupont Circle and The Corcoran

You're Invited: Now at Night

There is a new gallery in town and a celebration to follow! This Friday, October 1 at 8pm, The Corcoran Contemporaries presents NOW at Night to launch the opening of the newest contemporary gallery, NOW at the Corcoran.

This evening full of fun, music, drinks, and food, will showcase private viewings of the contemporary art exhibits, with all proceeds benefiting future NOW exhibitions. VIP tickets are available and include an invitation to an intimate pre-reception, a luxury gift bag, and recognition on the NOW at Night website.

To learn more about this event, visit Corcoran Gallery of Art online. So throw on your stylish cocktail dress and get in touch with your artistic side and enjoy a night of entertainment honoring DC’s newest gallery.

Mark Your Calendars: Artini

Throughout the month of March, 12 of the city's top mixologists will compete to create the most artistic martini; each artini is inspired by a work featured in the current exhibition A Love of Europe: Highlights from the William A. Clark Collection. Visit the participating restaurants all month long to sample the 12 artinis, and vote for your favorite at www.washingtonian.com/artini.

Then, join the 1869 Society for the culminating ARTINI benefit, where your votes for the winning artini will be revealed.

Saturday, March 27
8 p.m. to Midnight
Corcoran Gallery of Art
Cocktail attire

Taste the 12 artinis crafted by the competing mixologists.

View A Love of Europe and the works of art that provided the inspiration behind each artini.

Enjoy a cocktail buffet and dessert, dance to music by DJ Chris Nitti, and tour the special exhibition Turner to Cézanne.

buy your Tickets now!

1869 Society Members $85
Non-1869 Society Members $100

Click here to purchase your ARTINI tickets.

Discount packages of 1869 Society membership and ARTINI tickets are available. Tickets are limited for your enjoyment. Must be 21+ to attend. No walk-ins permitted. No refunds permitted. Tickets are non-transferable after March 18. 1869 Society membership at the Dual level and above allows a Member to purchase up to two tickets at the 1869 Society Member price.

All proceeds will support ArtReach, the Corcoran's community outreach program. ArtReach extends the resources of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design to underserved communities in Washington, D.C. through free high-quality arts education programs.

For more information about ARTINI, visit www.corcoran.org/artini.

You're Invited: Meet James Rosenquist at the Corcoran

Tomorrow night, don't miss an exclusive chat with one of the most famed pop artists of our time, James Rosenquist. The billboard painter and visual artist will be discussing his newly-published memoir, Painting Below Zero as well as his life and inspirations.

Register here for the event, which starts at 7 p.m.

Image from artnet.com.

In Case You Missed It: July Monthly Guide

Want to know what's hot this month? We've got all the deets, via the latest on JuliB.com.

Psst: You'll find fun events like Sinatra Soiree, two boutique openings, a celeb chat and more in inside. Don't skip the click!

You're Invited: Summer of Love at Macy's

Don't miss this fun event, held in partnership with one of Deacon's fave organizations, the 1869 Society at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

Mark Your Calendars: Artini

Artini tickets are now on sale! If you're interested in a VIP pass (which includes gratis admission to an exclusive after party at Urbana, where former President Clinton and the Mrs. dined last night) ... you'd better buy soon - they're almost sold out!


Throughout the month of March, 12 of the city’s best mixologists will compete to create the most artistic martini, inspired by the work of students attending the Corcoran College of Art + Design. Visit the participating restaurants, sample the “artinis”, and vote online for your favorite at www.washingtoncitypaper.com/artini.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. during the month of March, one featured venue will offer a 20% discount on their “artini” to all attending sippers.

Please visit www.corcoran.org/artini for dates and locations.


**Celebrate**

Saturday, March 28, 8 p.m.–Midnight
At the Corcoran Gallery of Art

The 1869 Society invites you to attend the culminating event where you may sample all of the “artinis,” enjoy a cocktail buffet, dance to music provided by DJ Heather Femia, participate in our ARTINI Raffle, and tour the exhibition Maya Lin: Systematic Landscapes. Your votes for the winning “artini” will be revealed during the event.

1869 Society Members $80 • Corcoran Members $90 • Non-Members $100 • VIP $125
VIP Admission Includes five raffle tickets and an invitation to the VIP post-reception at Urbana Restaurant and Wine Bar.

All proceeds will support the Corcoran College of Art + Design’s scholarship fund.

Kindly RSVP by Thursday, March 18. visit www.corcoran.org/artini or call (202) 639-1753 to register. Tickets will not be sold at the door. No walk-ins or refunds permitted. Tickets are non-transferable after March 18.


**Win**

The luxury items available in the ARTINI Raffle are sure to be coveted by all! Tickets are available for purchase online and at the door. Winners will be announced at the ARTINI Party.

ARTINI Raffle tickets are $5 for 1, $15 for 5, or $25 for 10. To purchase, click here.

Mark Your Calendars: DWELL Magazine at the Corcoran on Monday

The Corcoran has really had some great events recently, and Deacon (a budding architect) wanted to point out Monday's lecture with Sam Grawe, Editor in Chief of Dwell magazine.

We're fans of this magazine- it's a little more reachable than Architectural Digest, less interior focused than Verandah, and not as niche-y as some of the cottage, ocean, ect. publications.

Grawe plans to discuss why architecture and design should be important to everyone—especially at home.

$15 for members, $20 for the public. www.corcoran.org/calendar (202) 639-1700 to reserve.

Deacon Exclusive: Two-For-One Admission to the Corcoran

Dying to check out the Avedon exhibit before it flees town? Now's your chance - here's a pass for two-for-one Corcoran admission.

Avedon is a must-see show, so make sure you squeeze it in before the Inauguration consumes your life (if it’s not already!). Feel free to print this coupon off and/or forward to friends (note: hard copy coupon must be in-hand at the front desk for the discount).

In Case You Missed It: Robin Givhan on Politics, Power, and Pretty

To those of you who didn't have the pleasure of listening to the one and only Robin Givhan (Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post fashion columnist) last night at the Corcoran, click to read my recap in The Washingtonian today.

(Image courtesy of The Washington Post).

You're Invited: ChrisKla design preview tonighat at KStreet Lounge

Who isn't a fan of custom-made baubles? If you're not done with holiday shopping, pop to K Street Lounge tonight for a sneak peek at our good friend and designer Christina for an exclusive preview of her new collection, ChrisKla. Plus, proceeds help fight Lou Gerhig's disease, so it's practically tax-deductible.

Deets below ... we'll probably see you there after hitting up the Robin Givhan lecture at the Corcoran.

Luxe Life: Fashion 101 at the Corcocan

FYI, Edward Allen, the East Coast head of Fashion for Nordstrom, is speaking tomorrow night at the Corcoran for their bi-annual "what's hot" chat. This time, hear both a "must know now" speech where Allen dishes on how to look stylish this winter, plus the usual video by Fashion Group International on Spring 2009's hottest trends.

It starts at 6:30, but arrive a few minutes early for a good seat. We've been going to these events for some time now and had the pleasure to interview Edward for a piece in Washingtonian a few months back.

You won't want to miss it ... Tickets are available here.

In Case You Missed It: We Partied with the Power Players

We spent Saturday night at the Corcoran, partying with Richard Avedon's exhibit and the power players of DC. What did you do?

See the BizBash write up for deets.

In Case You Missed It: New Store Adore Post -- Party with the Power Player

Saturday evening's gala at the Corcoran Gallery of Art was top-notch all the way around, but it did give Deacon some food for thought ... where do you go to find appropriate black tie wear? Neimans and Saks, sure ... but we weren't looking for something that every gal in town could sport.

Check out this week's Store Adore post for "Fashion fit for a Fete," plus a sneak peek at up and coming local designers ChrisKLA and BEA.

In Case You Missed It: Hello to Art and Soul

TGIF! Deacon's trying hard to avoid making this blog into a "where you can see and be seen" review ... I mean, isn't there more than enough of that on Pamela's Punch?

But we spent last night at the Art and Soul opening at the new Affinia Hotel on Capitol Hill and must say, it was event worthy of your attendance... and our blogging.

One of my fave PR firms (Hisaoka) partnered with some of the best ladies in town (those at the Corcoran) for great opening event that also served as pre-party for the up-and-coming Fall Fete at the Corcoran next weekend. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, do so ASAP.

We enjoyed small bites (OMG, the mac-n-cheese balls were to die for) courtesy of Art Smith and Ryan Morgan as well as cocktails like the "Front Porch," a sweet yet kickin' blend of vodka, sweet tea, simple syrup, mint and lemon zest.

Art and Soul (you saw our JuliB review, right?) aims to serve comfort food with a southern-ish twist, and we were pleasantly surprised by even the small offerings we tried ... think Southern Ham wrapped shrimp (or barbecue marinated varieties for those who don't do meat), salmon and caviar on potato bites, mini crab cakes with lemon tartar sauce, tiny beef tenderloin sandwiches on amazing house-made rolls, and of course ... the aforementioned mac n-cheese balls. Okay, we'll admit it, we overindulged a bit on those.

Art lovers got a great preview of the Corcoran's ongoing Richard Avedon exhibit in a private back room with flat screen TVs broadcasting images from the exhibit. Plus, those who found the room didn't want to miss a minute of the "mini" themed dessert table- carmel apple puddings, peanut butter chocolates, cupcakes and even mini dipped apples. YUM.

The space was beautiful (see photos below) and overall we can't wait to make it back for dinner ... or a hotel stay, thanks to the gratis coupon that came in our press bag at the end of the night.

Let's just say we're moving a little slowly this morning ....



(From Left to right, Kristin Guiter of the Corcoran, Rachel Cothran of Project Beltway, Barrett Evans of IBM, and Sarah Beth of the Corcoran)