Clients in the News – September 2017

• This year’s highly anticipated American Horticultural Society Annual Gala at River Farm – on September 23 – celebrated America’s Gardening Legacy: From Sea to Shining Sea. Avalon staff had a wonderful time attending the gala dinner and silent auction with the AHS staff and other gardening enthusiasts at the beautiful River Farm, along the banks of the Potomac. Visit AHS’s website for ticketing and more information.

• Can’t get enough Sharknado? Then you’ll definitely want to score tickets to National Geographic Society’s Shark and Recreation Excellent Adventure event on September 15, 8:00 p.m.–midnight. But this night at the museum is not for kids – 21 and over only. Picture 2,200+ attendees – many in costume – descending on NatGeo’s headquarters for a night full of surprises and shark info, including cocktails, lightning talks from NatGeo explorers, DJ sets, exclusive access to the Museum’s Sharks exhibition, splash with real mermaids, ride the mechanical shark, and a shark-infested photo booth. Visit NatGeo’s website for all the details and ticketing information.

• For as long as people have dreamed about flight, women have fought to be on equal terms with their male counterparts in aviation. As part of the National Air and Space Museum’s Heritage Family Days, visit NASM on the National Mall on September 16 for a spectacular daylong family event: Women in Aviation and Space. You’ll learn about the tremendous contributions women have made to aviation and space exploration, despite the many challenges they have faced. The free event will feature presentations by women in the field, hands-on activities, and stories. Go to NASM’s website for more information.

• The National Parks Conservation Association invites you to hit the road – literally – and join the 2017 Climate Ride events. These fully supported bike rides and hikes have been happening in and near national parks all year and have finally arrived in our neck of the woods. The Shenandoah & Blue Ridge Parkway ride is slated for September 23–26. Climate Ride staff manage the details so that participants can focus on the beautiful routes each day. For more information on this ride, as well as the last rides of the year in Bryce, Zion, and Escalante, visit NPCA’s website.

• A quick reminder of three upcoming Friends of the National Zoo events: First up, Zoo Uncorked on September 7 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. It’s a wild evening of local and national wine tasting, live music, handcrafted goods from independent area artists for sale, and a stroll around the National Zoo. Next, bring the family to the Zoo on September 24 for Zoo Fiesta, an all-day free event celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month – including live music, authentic gourmet cuisine, and educational activities about conservation in Central and South America. And finally, the Monkey Business Gala is a non-traditional fete on September 28 to benefit the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in partnership with FONZ.

• And one more reminder: The popular Wolf Trap Ball is back on September 23 – an elegant, black-tie evening of celebration, dinner, and dancing on the magnificent Filene Center stage at the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia. Visit Wolf Trap’s website for more information on how you can take center stage at this spectacular event.

MORE exciting events: Farm Sanctuary Twilight Tour; The Trustees Fall Farm Festival.