Film Screening: The Homestretch
When: Wed, 04/01/2015 – 7:30pm to 9:30pm
Cost: Free
The Homestretch follows three homeless teens as they fight to stay in school, graduate, and build a future. Each of these smart, ambitious teenagers – Kasey, Anthony and Roque – will surprise, inspire, and challenge audiences to rethink stereotypes of homelessness as they work to complete their education while facing the trauma of being alone and abandoned at an early age. Through haunting images, intimate scenes, and first-person narratives, these teens take us on their journeys of struggle and triumph. As their stories unfold, the film connects us deeply with larger policy issues of juvenile justice, immigration, foster care, and LGBTQIA rights.
Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Those who have registered for the event must be in their seats 15 minutes prior to the start time to guarantee their spot. At that time, remaining seats will be released to those who are on the wait list. Once the guests on the wait list have been seated, any walk-ins will be shown their seats.
Hill Center Jazz Ensemble led by drummer Sanah Kadoua
Wednesday, April 8, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $15/advance, $20/day of. Purchase online at hillcenterdc.org
Now in its third year, the Hill Center Jazz Ensemble has featured numerous Washington jazz luminaries, and prominent guests from New York City. Leading the ensemble this year is the electrifying young drummer Sanah Kadoura. Sanah has quickly become a mainstay of the New York jazz scene, appearing both as leader of her own quartet and with luminaries that include Washingtonian Philip Harper.
Burnett Thompson, Director. Made possible by financial support from National Capital Bank and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, an agency supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Classic French Cooking with 2-Star Michelin Chef Gérard Pangaud
Wednesday, April 8, 7-9:30 p.m.
Cost: $85. Register online at hillcenterdc.org
Join Chef Gérard Pangaud for a Classic French Cooking Class! The youngest chef ever to receive a two-star Michelin rating—and proprietor of award-winning restaurants in Paris, New York, and DC—Chef Gérard will teach you how to prepare an entire dinner, spiced with his trademark humor, stories of the old world, and dozens of invaluable tips for novice and experienced cooks alike. In Chef Gérard’s kitchen the creative use of taste, balance, simplicity, and technique trump the mechanical allegiance to the cookbook—a process that’s not only fun and stimulating, but produces delicious results! In this class, Chef Gérard will feature Asparagus Soup Perfumed with Lemon Grass, Salmon with a Warm Salad of Vegetables and Chocolate Cream.
Dounouya: Global Sounds on the Hill – Cheick Hamala Diabate
Sunday, April 12, 4 p.m.
Tickets: $12/advance, $15/day of. Purchase online at hillcenterdc.org
Dounouya (DOON-EE-YA) is the West African word for “The Whole World.” Hill Center presents a series of concerts, curated and hosted by Brendan Canty and Jim Thomson, featuring musicians at the forefront of DC’s magnificent global music scene. Each concert will be preceded by a 30-minute conversation with the artists, moderated by Canty and Thomson.
Cheick Hamala Diabate is a musician and a historian in the West African griot tradition from the Republic of Mali. Born into a griot family in Kita, Mali, he absorbed 800 years of Malian history and from a young age he learned to play the ngoni-a stringed instrument related to the American banjo-for which he is recognized as a world master. Now based in the cultural crossroads of Washington DC, where he teaches and represents West African culture, Cheick Hamala continually pushes beyond the boundaries of tradition-collaborating and experimenting with multigenerational musicians, producers and incorporating electronic technology into his music. He’s hobnobbed with American string and Blues legends—from Bela Fleck to Corey Harris and is not afraid of running his ngoni or American banjo through a wah-wah peddle with some delay effects. His music embraces the panoply of sound he discovered in America, taking him into sonic realms beyond borders.
MathTree Masterpieces and Masterminds Spring Break Camp (Ages 7-12)
Monday-Friday, April 13-17, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Cost: $450. Register online at hillcenterdc.org
Campers think, create, and develop their problem-solving skills through this unique art and puzzle combo camp. This camp is packed with brain food, creativity, and fun.
Campers spend part of each day creating lovely and fascinating objets d’art with a twist of geometry, from mobiles and Mobius strips, Sierpinski’s triangle and Swirltown, to pointillism and pentagons. They view art from a geometrical point of view, learn terms of geometry naturally in the context of art projects, and discover how closely geometry and art are related.
During the other part of the day, campers puzzle out solutions to a wide range of puzzles, primarily 3-D ones. They log their progress and successes, articulate how they solved their puzzles, and leave camp with an assortment of general problem-solving strategies applicable to puzzles, math, school, and life.
Mad Science Eureka! Invention Spring Break Camp (Grades 1-6)
Monday-Friday, April 13-17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $315. Register online at hillcenterdc.org
Children will overcome a series of challenges using basic materials, simple machines, tips from famous inventors and the most important of all- their mind. With a little bit of ingenuity, children will create catapults and forts, construct working light sticks to take home, and assemble a set of circuits with batteries and light bulbs. While Thomas Edison said, “Invention is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration,” this camp is 100% FUN!
Date Night! Springtime Cooking with Chef Matt Finarelli
Friday, April 17, 6:30-9 p.m.
Cost: $65/person. Register online at hillcenterdc.org
This class will help you move away from the heavy winter stews and soups, and instead focus on fresh, bright dishes that are sure to awaken your palate from the winter doldrums. Come and delight the spirits and senses in a fabulous class full of Chef Matt’s favorite springtime dishes. The menu for this class includes Springtime Frittata, Roast Lamb with Green Pea Sauce, Quinoa and Spring Vegetable Pilaf, and Strawberry Rhubarb Crisps.
Chef Matt is a DC native and top culinary instructor who has both a passion for food and a love of teaching that are simply contagious! He’s cooked at many local restaurants as well as taught at several cooking schools, including Sur La Table, LivingSocial’s 918 F St and Fairfax County’s Adult Education Program.
On The Same Page: Voices of Incarcerated Youth
Monday, April 20, 7 p.m.
Free. Register online at hillcenterdc.org or call 202-549-4172
Please join us for an evening of poetry and community dialogue brought to you by Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop and PEN/Faulkner’s Writers in Schools program. Come hear formerly incarcerated youth share their experiences at the DC Jail and in federal prison and express their personal stories of change through poetry. A moderated discussion on the root causes of youth incarceration and community solutions will follow. By getting everyone on the same page, we create a stronger, healthier community.
Mandarin for Beginners (Adults) with Sigia Zhang
Tuesdays, April 21-June 9, 7-9 p.m.
Cost: $270. Register online at hillcenterdc.org.
This class is designed to introduce Mandarin Chinese to English speaking adults with no experience in Mandarin or other languages of China. Instructor Sigia Zhang will help students develop tonal recognition skills and build the foundation to pronounce Mandarin. Basic concepts of Chinese grammar and written characters will be introduced, and students will practice basic communication phrases used in everyday activities to build up confidence. The class aims to provide an informal and relaxed way for people to get familiar with a language that is mistakenly identified as “difficult” to learn as a second language. “Different,” rather than “difficult” will be emphasized during the class
Financial Strategies for Successful Retirement
Tuesdays, April 28-May 19, 6:30-9 p.m.
Cost: $59 (spouse or guest at no additional charge). Register online at hillcenterdc.org
This informational seminar with Howard Pressman and Carmen Wu introduces you to the concepts and practices that may help you spend your retirement comfortably and in control of your finances. Financial Strategies for Successful Retirement will focus on money management strategies and lifestyle issues facing retirees. You will hear strategies that could help you manage your investments and retirement plans. The seminar will also discuss the effects of inflation and the possible cost of long-term care.
Your registration fee includes a colorful, in-depth workbook and a Retirement Planning Data Form that may help you develop a written inventory of your assets, income, Social Security, and pension benefits. The information in the presentation is designed to help you prepare for a more comfortable retirement.
Howard Pressman is a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner who has been helping families plan to meet their financial goals for over 17 years. Howard is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Financial Planning program and has held the CFP® designation since 2005. Howard was recently recognized as one of the area’s “Top Money Advisers” by Washingtonian Magazine.
Carmen Wu has 26 years of experience in the financial industry, serving as financial adviser, branch manager, regional manager, chief operations officer and vice president of a regional banking institution. She partnered with Egan, Berger & Weiner, LLC in August, 2007 and is an active member of the Financial Planning Association and the Financial Services Institute.
Baby’s First Bite – Baby Food Making Class
Thursday, April 30, 7-9 p.m.
Cost: $80/person or $120/couple. Register online at hillcenterdc.org
Baby’s First Bite is a class designed to help parents feel confident in feeding their infants wholesome and nutritious foods from scratch. Jessie Lupo, RD, LDN and Emily Cleaves, RD, LDN, will use their passion for child nutrition and expertise as Registered Dietitians to help parents prepare an organic meal for the little one and the entire family. Baby’s First Bite graduates will also walk away with a greater understanding of what’s best for their infant’s growing body, how and when to introduce solids, and ways to ensure food safety. The class is intended for parents only and is targeted for infants ages 4-6 months. Call a babysitter, bring a drink and let’s make some baby food!
Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost: Free. No registration required
Learn about ways that you can make a difference at the Volunteer Capitol Hill volunteer fair at Hill Center. This event showcases a wide variety of opportunities for volunteer services, featuring over 30 non-profit organizations that need assistance. Whether you are looking to make a difference in the community, develop new job skills, make new friends, or spend quality family time, Volunteer Capitol Hill offers opportunities to easily match your availability, skills, and interests. This is a great opportunity for youth with service requirements for school as well.
Volunteer Capitol Hill celebrates the extraordinary contributions made by Nicky and Steve Cymrot over a period of forty years to the Capitol Hill community and, in particular, their vision and leadership in the creation of Hill Center.
Sponsored by Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Hill Rag, National Capitol Bank, Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery, and Linda Pettie-Michael Tubbs Realty Team.