International Embassy and Cultural Events in Washington DC (May 8th - May 14th)

↞ Rewinding the Week (May 1st - May 7th) ↞

This week was absolutely insane! May truly is one of the best months for international events in Washington D.C. We went to the Embassy of Argentina for an art exhibition, the Flower Mart at the Washington National Cathedral, and topped it all off with the Around the World Embassy Tour in DuPont and Van Ness areas.

The amazing thing is that we are just getting started with the European Union (EU) Open House on May 13th and the Fiesta Asia Street Festival on May 20th!

Event Highlight: Around the World Embassy Tour (May 6th)

I mean… is this a surprise to any of my fellow readers out there? Of course, this would take up the highlight section for this week’s issue! The crowds were the first thing that were quite noticeable with literal waves of people spewing from the DuPont metro stop. We got there early at 9AM to sneak a passport along with some more information from the volunteer stand. However, others had the same idea.

We had to think tactically with which embassies to visit given the fact that they were only open from 10AM - 4:30PM. The embassies near the DuPont metro stop (Iraq, Columbia, Jamaica, etc) would undoubtedly be full all the time. In addition, once folks got impatient with the lines, they would migrate up to Embassy Row where all the larger embassies were (United Kingdom with the coronation, Chile, etc).

Coming up with our strategy, we surged towards the outskirts of the DuPont area hitting up Eritrea, Rwanda, and Eswantini (they were closed for some reason though?). Then, we ran towards Costa Rica and Albania (both of which easily made Top 5 in our list of embassies). Honestly, our mindset was such that if we spotted an embassy with no line, we darted in to grab the stamp and learn about their culture. Georgia and Gabon were as such with little to no people visiting which was great for us.

We met so many kind folks throughout the day waiting in lines from a family hailing from the distant lands of Iran to healthcare professionals living in Maryland originally from Korea! In the end, as you can see from the photos below, we visited the following embassies according to our passport along with getting stamps:

• Trinidad and Tobago

• Oman Sultanate

• Uzbekistan

• Peru

• Norway

• Gabon

• Mauritius

• Rwanda

• Eritrea

• Albania

• Georgia (they did not have a stamp sadly)

• Costa Rica

International Events List (May 8th - May 14th)

Check out the following international embassy and cultural events happening from May 8th - May 14th below! As a reminder, here is the color scheme for this week’s issue:

• International Club of DC = Orange Highlight

• Things To Do DC = Green Highlight

• Eventbrite = Red Highlight

• Passport DC = Blue Highlight 

Monday, May 8th, 2023

1. Next ISU Space Café Event (North American Ops with Ken Davidian) (FREE!)

   • Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/next-isu-space-cafe-event-north-american-ops-with-ken-davidian-tickets-630906607647?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Tuesday, May 9th, 2023

1. Turkish Elections and Opportunities for De-Escalating the Kurdish Conflict (FREE!)

   • Time: 11:30AM - 1:30PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/turkish-elections-and-opportunities-for-de-escalating-the-kurdish-conflict-tickets-623898456077?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

2. Tuesday Talk—"Bound to the Fire" How Enslaved Cooks Helped Invent Cuisine (FREE!)

   • Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tuesday-talkbound-to-the-fire-how-enslaved-cooks-helped-invent-cuisine-tickets-441589314527?aff=ebdssbdestsearch 

3. 2JFK by Sergio Lombardo (FREE!)

   • Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2jfk-by-sergio-lombardo-registration-627256530167?aff=ebdssbdestsearch 

4. Exhibit: "Un-Muted: The Silent Voices of Political Persecution in Turkey" (FREE!)

   • Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/exhibit-un-muted-the-silent-voices-of-political-persecution-in-turkey-tickets-619514032147?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

5. Film Screening of "La Grande Boucle" - A Cycling Story ($5 - $10)

   • Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/film-screening-of-la-grande-boucle-a-cycling-story-tickets-588052178897?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

1. Flamenco Classes with Mariana & Tia Pepa - May 10 ($35)

   • Time: 5:00PM - 7:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flamenco-classes-with-mariana-tia-pepa-may-10-tickets-632140297647?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

2. French and Ukrainian Music with Annabelle Berthomé-Reynolds and Guest ($15 - $25)

   • Time: 7:30PM - 9:30PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/french-and-ukrainian-music-with-annabelle-berthome-reynolds-and-guest-tickets-615713935957?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

3. Innovative Lives: Theresa Dankovich and Madison Maxey (FREE!)

   • Time: 6:15PM - 8:30PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovative-lives-theresa-dankovich-and-madison-maxey-tickets-539580017357?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

4. Spanish Cinema Now+ 2023: "Piggy" (FREE!)

   • Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spanish-cinema-now-2023-piggy-tickets-549561131137?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Thursday, May 11th, 2023

1. "Where the Light Enters" Artist Reception (FREE!)

   • Time: 6:30PM - 8:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/where-the-light-enters-artist-reception-tickets-612486883757?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

2. Dear Plastic - A Toxic Love Story (Embassy of France) (FREE!)

   • Time: 6:30PM - 9:30PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dear-plastic-a-toxic-love-story-tickets-625708540087 

3. Canciones de mi Corazón Concert ($10)

   • Time: 6:30PM - 8:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/canciones-de-mi-corazon-tickets-626552404107?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

4. Dana Tai Soon Burgess discusses Chino and the Dance of the Butterfly (FREE!)

   • Time: 7:30PM - 8:30PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dana-tai-soon-burgess-discusses-chino-and-the-dance-of-the-butterfly-tickets-595332494517?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Friday, May 12th, 2023

1. Asian Dances & K-pop Performances (FREE!)

   • Time: 12:00PM - 1:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/asian-dances-k-pop-performances-tickets-611454235077?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

2. Artisan in Residence Talk: Han Soo Jung on Gannil, Korean Hat-making (FREE!)

   • Time: 1:30PM -2:30PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/artisan-in-residence-talk-han-soo-jung-on-gannil-korean-hat-making-tickets-627399878927?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

3. Introductory Palestinian Embroidery Class ($20 - $55)

   • Time: 6:00PM - 8:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introductory-palestinian-embroidery-class-tickets-605078585337?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

4. You Always Step Into The Same River: Presentation by Artist Atul Bhalla (FREE!)

   • Time: 6:00PM - 7:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/you-always-step-into-the-same-river-presentation-by-artist-atul-bhalla-tickets-620243273327?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

5. Hybrid Event: Tania Malik, Hope You Are Satisfied, with Tania James (FREE!) 

   • Time: 7:00PM - 8:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hybrid-event-tania-malik-hope-you-are-satisfied-with-tania-james-tickets-580936485667?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Saturday, May 13th, 2023

1. European Scavenger Hunt of Multiple Embassies ($20)

   • Time: 9:30AM - 2:30PM

   • Link: https://thingstododc.com/event/european-scavenger-hunt-of-multiple-embassies/

2. EU Open House (FREE!)

   • Time: 10:00AM - 4:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/united-states-america/eu-open-house-2023_en

3. SOLO ART EXHIBITION: TERRA FIRME/TERRA FRÁGIL (FREE!)

   • Time: 10:00AM - 4:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solo-art-exhibition-terra-firmeterra-fragil-tickets-611434265347?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

4. MOAPIA Presents: 2023 Morning Tai Chi Series (FREE!)

   • Time: 10:00AM - 11:00AM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/moapia-presents-2023-morning-tai-chi-series-tickets-625469093897?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

5. barre3 at The Italian Embassy (FREE!)

   • Time: 1:00PM - 4:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/barre3-at-the-italian-embassy-tickets-629601624407?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

6. Paraguay nendive (Paraguay with you) at La Cosecha (FREE!)

   • Time: 2:00PM - 4:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paraguay-nendive-paraguay-with-you-at-la-cosecha-tickets-629330653927?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

7. Polynesian Dancers (FREE!)

   • Time: 4:00PM - 5:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/polynesian-dancers-tickets-615183920667?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

8. TATREEZ INHERITANCE Monthly Curatorial Tour: May ($25)

   • Time: 6:00PM - 7:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tatreez-inheritance-monthly-curatorial-tour-may-tickets-608742955567?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

9. Where Life Begins (Italian Cultural Society) ($15)

   • Time: 8:30PM - 10:00PM

   • Link: https://www.jxjdc.org/events/where-life-begins/ 

Sunday, May 14th, 2023

1. Transformations - Choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess (FREE!)

   • Time: 2:00PM - 2:30PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/transformations-tickets-597129248657?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

2. Syahidah Osman {CONSTELLASONS} Singaporean Artist Solo Exhibition (FREE!)

   • Time: 4:00PM - 7:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/syahidah-osman-constellasons-singaporean-artist-solo-exhibition-tickets-617456056687?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

3. The Shadow of the Day Film (Italian Cultural Society) ($15)

   • Time: 7:30PM - 9:00PM

   • Link: https://www.jxjdc.org/events/shadow-of-the-day/

4. Music at the Monastery Concert (FREE!)

   • Time: 4:00PM - 5:00PM

   • Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/music-at-the-monastery-free-concert-tickets-629187355317?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Final Notes: Donations and Future Events?

We had a couple of folks reach out to us about donating to help support the newsletter and all the efforts that we put into researching, writing, and documenting the international events that we all love (hence why we are together!). Let us first reiterate this: the newsletter, Google Calendar, and social media platforms will all be FREE! The last thing we want is to create a divide between us and the readers that subscribe to our newsletter and social media platforms.

That being said, some folks were curious how much time we spend on this little passion project of ours on a weekly basis. We spend on average 10-15 hours a week with everything considered from researching events, planning out the social media accounts, putting events on the calendar, writing the newsletter, and reaching out to embassies and cultural centers to better the information available to the public.

In case, you do wish to support the newsletter and all the efforts (if you think we do a good enough job), feel free to donate to the newsletter using the Venmo link. Let us again be clear: everything is FREE, however, for those of you that wish to donate to the newsletter, you now have the “optional” option of doing so.

Anyway, we also have the following events coming up:

1. Fiesta Asia Street Fair (May 20th, 2023)

As always, have a great time AND…

1. Please follow us on Instagram (@embassylifeindc) if you haven’t already.

2. Please follow us on Facebook if you haven’t already!

3. Like the post? Comment on the web version!

4. Explore the Google Calendar!

5. Support the newsletter by donating here!

6. Questions? Send us an email at [email protected] 

Sincerely,

Embassy Life in DC Team