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Enjoy local artists, performers, food and drink Saturday at Tenleytown Main Street’s Art All Night event

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by Katherine Saltzman

Local artists and businesses are getting ready to shine during the District’s Art All Night festivities this Saturday, September 29th.

Tenleytown Main Street is one of eight DC Main Street organizations participating in the free event. Tenleytown hosted its first Art All Night three years ago, when its Main Street program was first launched, said Leigh Catherine Miles, executive director.

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“We jumped on it in 2016 because we felt it really captured the creative and artistic spirit of Tenleytown and surrounding neighborhood,” Miles said. “We have a really artistic community here, including art studios and AU Katzen Arts Center, but also Middle C Music, the District’s only full music store. We have dance studios [and] a lot of residents that are accomplished artists.”

This year, more than 100 artists and talent groups are to perform and showcase their work at 14 venues in Tenleytown. See the full schedule at tenleytownmainstreet.org and during the event, visitors can pick up a guidebook at the welcome center set up at 4601 Wisconsin Avenue.

At the 2017 event, CityDance POP!, the dance studio at 4435 Wisconsin Avenue, organized a flash mob and other dance companies joined in. This time, its dancers will be performing “Ease on Down the Road” from The Wiz at 7 p.m. at the Metro entrance by Panera. For CityDance Director Ivy Chow, Tenleytown Art All Night as much a community event as it is an arts showcase.

“I think it’s wonderful and uplifting to see a community come together to celebrate the arts for an entire night,” said Chow.

In addition to the opportunity for artists to showcase their talents, local businesses and restaurants thrive during the evening.

“We’ve had businesses tell us its one of the best nights of the year. Some of our restaurants are completely packed during the evening. Streets are busy, vibrant evening. It’s a great opportunity for business to really shine and get sales, which is what we really want,” Miles said. “Last year we had around 11,000 people attend the event. We are hoping to have strong turnout as we move into the third year.”

Tenleytown Art All Night highlights

  • For the first time, American University will be participating in the festivities. The AU Katzen Arts Center will open late for an “after hours” showcase of its early fall exhibits. A free shuttle bus will run every 15 minutes between Tenleytown Metro and the Katzen Arts Center for easy accessibility.
  • Tenleytown Main Street is expanding its “Art of the Drink” initiative for guests who are 21 and over. Guests can purchase a wristband which will provide access to beer and wine and special cocktails tastings at six different locations. DC-based brewers and distillers will be featured.
  • Femme Fatale’s pop-up art collective (4620 Wisconsin Avenue) is providing providing 8,000 square feet of space for art exhibits, dance and music performances, and refreshments.

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    Art All Night Tenleytown begins at 7 p.m. with a special kickoff event at the Tenleytown Metro plaza. It will include international dance, music and a parade that goes by the venues. The festivities wrap up at midnight.

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