Photos: Van Ness comes out for Art All Night

When is the last time you saw Connecticut Avenue in Van Ness and Forest Hills look so alive?

The commercial corridors of Van Ness and Forest Hills were transformed by Van Ness Main Street’s Art All Night on Friday, September 24th. VNMS estimates that nearly 3,000 people came out to enjoy the festivities, which included live music and dance performances, art displays, and a pop-up art gallery and makers market.

Green Papaya, one of the vendors at the pop-up art gallery at 4340 Connecticut.

The crowds arrived hungry for more than entertainment. Rosemary Bistro Cafe brought out extra tables and every seat was filled with diners when Forest Hills Connection stopped by. I’m Eddie Cano looked similarly busy. Both restaurants hosted events, as did Comet Ping Pong, Muchas Gracias, Uptown Market and Acacia Bistro.

Mariachi Son de America performs outside Muchas Gracias.

“The businesses that participated had a great revenue night,” said Gloria Garcia, the executive director of Van Ness Main Street. And from the artists, she’s hearing: “When is our next event?”

Another Van Ness small business owner, E. David Luria of Washington Photo Safari, documented the festivities. He took the photos featured in this article, and captured this joyful scene as Crush Funk performed at Calvert Woodley.

UDC sites figured prominently at events to the south. The pop-up artist and artisans market was outside its law school. Performers at Levine Music used the steps to the UDC Theater of the Arts as a stage. And the UDC amphitheater was the venue for a mariachi performance and a special Van Ness Main Street Movie Night in the Park presentation of “Coco.”

“We couldn’t have done it without the University of the District of Columbia donating all the space, our sponsors, donors, and an incredible crew of volunteers,” Garcia said.

Here are more photos of the 2021 Van Ness Main Street Art All Night. (All photos courtesy of E. David Luria)