An Ode to Mother Earth
While you should show your love for Mother Earth all year long, let your actions speak volumes this April during Earth Month. We here at TheListAreYouOnIt.com are embracing the month as we all celebrate our planet's beauty with the many tastes and experiences across the DMV. From eco-friendly events to sustainable dining options, there are countless ways to be good at nurturing our planet while savoring the abundance of Earth's offerings right here in the DMV. Let's make every day Earth Day:
National Park Week: The National Park Service has declared April 20-28 National Park Week. Show your appreciation and admiration during this week for all that our national parks have to offer. In honor of the celebration, all National Park entrance fees are waived on April 20. This includes the magnificent Great Falls Park. Make a full day trip out of it by taking a scenic Great Falls Road Trip which includes hiking, history, and world-famous whiskey. fxva.com/event
Earth Day Creative Salon: Get ready to tackle the critical issue of plastic waste at the Washington Informer BRIDGE's Earth Day Creative Salon: "People vs. Plastics," a free, ticketed event that aims to inspire actionable solutions and raise awareness about the urgent need to address plastic pollution in the DMV area. Building on the 60-year legacy of local Black-owned media as a product of the Washington Informer, the BRIDGE amplifies diverse voices and fosters community through engaging multifaceted content. Christopher Bradshaw, Executive Director of Dreaming Out Loud Inc., will moderate a panel discussion exploring practical steps individuals and communities can take to make a meaningful impact. Complimentary plant-based hors d'oeuvres will be provided by Eatopian Eats alongside live music by world-renowned DJ Underdog.Thursday, April 25 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Hill Prince, 1337 H Street NE; washingtoninformerevents.com
Chesapeake Bay Week® on Maryland Public Television: MPT celebrates the Chesapeake Bay region with its 20th annual slate of documentaries and specials highlighting the beauty, importance, and fragility of the nation’s largest estuary. During the week of April 21-27, MPT will offer more than 22 hours of broadcast and livestream programming focusing on the Chesapeake Bay’s history, heritage, and resources as well as efforts to protect its diverse ecosystem. This year’s lineup includes more than 30 documentaries and specials, including eight programs viewers will see on MPT for the first time. Cornerstone MPT productions debuting in April are Racing Rivals: Log Canoes of Chesapeake Bay on Monday, April 22 at 8 p.m. and The Chesapeake Bay Summit 2024: Course Correction on Tuesday, April 23 at 8 p.m. Another six programs acquired by MPT from talented film producers will premiere throughout the week. Even more content will be available to stream live and on-demand using the free PBS App and MPT’s online video player. A video preview and more information about MPT’s 2024 Chesapeake Bay Week lineup can be found at mpt.org/bayweek
Earth Week at The Yards: Celebrate Mother Nature for Earth Week with an outdoor movie screening and yoga classes. Gather your friends and family for a screening of Disney's Elemental on April 26 at 8:00 p.m. on The Yards Sundeck. Don’t forget to bring blankets and chairs and stop by your favorite Yards restaurant on the way to pick up dinner for a picnic under the stars. Ice Cream Jubilee will be selling scoops onsite and a deluxe topping bar will allow you to customize your movie treat. On Monday, April 22, head to Earth Day morning and evening yoga classes on the Sundeck. Led by Yoga & Meditation instructor, Calm with Carlyn, these classes are the perfect way to find your zen. $25 Pacers gift cards will be gifted to the first 12 attendees and yoga straps to the first 100 yogis at each session. You will also have an opportunity to donate to Anacostia Riverkeeper. Tickets are free but registration is required through Eventbrite: Movie; Yoga; 355 Water Street SE
Earth Day Doughnuts: On Sunday, April 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., celebrate Earth Day early by creating sweet memories while decorating mini doughnuts at Astro Beer Hall Shirlington. Tickets are $15, including a doughnut decorating kit featuring six mini cake doughnuts and assorted decorations. Registration available through Eventbrite.
Viva Abejas at dLeña: dLeña’s Viva Abejas campaign has returned. Through Monday, April 22 (Earth Day), indulge in bee-centric dishes and drinks at the modern Mexican concept. One in every three bites of food depends on bees for pollination. Chef Richard Sandoval aims to celebrate this integral part of the food cycle with a 360 degree approach to food, signature activations, cultural education, philanthropy, and more. Menu offerings are focused on bees, utilizing sustainably obtained honey, pollen, and other bee-derived ingredients. Specials include duck confit tacos with agave honey, cilantro, romesco sauce and pickled vegetables on blue corn tortillas, and the Margarita royale with tequila blanco, honey, passion fruit cordial, lime, bee pollen and an edible flower. Finish your meal with a slice of honey vanilla cheesecake, topped with honeycomb. Those ordering any Viva Abejas food or beverage special will receive wildflower seed packets to plant flowers at home, directly aiding the bees. Richard Sandoval Hospitality is aiming to educate 60,000 students this year by sending teams to work with Title 1 schools around the country with their in-classroom lesson plan, developed with educators and curriculum experts at Slow Food USA. 476 K Street NW; dlenadc.com
New Initiatives at Park Hyatt: In keeping with their commitment to advancing environmental action so that destinations around the world remain vibrant for all, Park Hyatt has introduced two new initiatives in time for Earth Month. First, food scraps and compostable items are collected from Blue Duck Tavern on each service day. Four 65-gallon-size bins are emptied from the hotel twice a week, equally 4.5 tons per year being composted and kept out of landfills. Blue Duck Tavern is working with Maryland-based Compost Crew. In addition, five hives, a total of 50,000 bees, and one queen per hive, are being “checked in” to the hotel rooftop. Collaborating with Capital Bee Care LLC, the bees will feast on the hotel’s rooftop garden as it blossoms with an array of herbs and flowering plants such as echinacea, black-eyed Susan’s, mint, basil, lemon verbena, chamomile, and more. Blue Duck Tavern and Blue Duck Lounge will incorporate these rooftop herbs and flowers into its seasonal menus and cocktail program. blueducktavern.com
DC Reduces: DC Reduces is a grassroots initiative that helps businesses and consumers in the DC community reduce single-use packaging. They do this by offering a sticker for businesses to place in their shop windows, signaling to customers that the shop is open to customers bringing their reusable coffee mugs, bags, or other containers for their purchases...hassle-free. So far, 64 DC businesses have signed up to the program, including 23 coffee shops/bakeries such as all five DC Gregorys locations have signed up, SakuSaku, Puro Gusto, Zeke’s and more. For more information, click here.
Water Milled Ingredients: Chef David Guas of Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery and Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen has been granted the exclusive use of the grits produced from George Washington's Gristmill - the same machine used by Washington in 1771. The Gristmill is incredibly eco-friendly as it operates solely by a water mill beneath the building - in fact, it is the only milling system in America still utilizing this design. Guas incorporates the grits and cornmeal into classic cornbread, lemon chess pie, and cornmeal sable cookies. 1515 N Courthouse Road, Arlington; bayoubakeryva.com
Low-Waste Cocktails: Restaurateur and cocktail expert Gina Chersevani keeps her Buffalo & Bergen libations waste-free by juicing and utilizing all of the fruit, down to the skins, in her drinks. Citrus ends and herb stems are the foundation in Chersevani’s infused syrups, and garnishes remain a byproduct of already-incorporated ingredients. Also, locally-sourced spirits contribute to the low carbon footprint of how she runs her businesses. Union Market & Capitol Hill; buffalobergendc.com
Snail of Approval Awards: The Vineyards at Dodon has been recognized as one of six local businesses to receive the 2024 “Snail of Approval” award from Slow Food DC. Each year, the Snail of Approval Award recognizes food & beverage establishments for the pursuit and practice of “Slow Food” values in their business, from sustainable farming practices to responsibly sourcing ingredients. The other winners include Chinese Street Market, Earth Spring Farm, Nido Wine Shop + Market, Paste and Rind Cheese Co., and Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery. The cohort will gather in May to celebrate the honor at the official Snail of Approval Awards Ceremony.
Locally Sourced at Shilling Canning Co.: Shilling Canning continues to source food by partnering with local farms & being resourceful in their practices. If you’ve been in the restaurant lately, you will notice a list of partner farms on the menu to let you know a little about where your food comes from. They have also officially joined Destination DC's Sustainability District program. The program supports Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Sustainable DC 2.0 initiative, which has the goal of making DC the “healthiest, greenest, most livable city.” 360 Water Street SE; shillingcanning.com
Kegs Are It at Sixty Vines: Packaging is regularly cited as the top contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, often producing more emissions than grape cultivation and winemaking combined. Sixty Vines saves over 300,000 bottles, corks, and labels annually from landfills by serving wine in keg. For Earth Month, the brand is launching an online hub with insights about the positive environmental impact of wine on tap. In addition, throughout April, you can enjoy a curated wine flight featuring four pours from Sixty Vines’ winery partners most deeply committed to eco-conscious winemaking. The flight menu includes a QR link to videos from each winemaker for guests to discover the story behind the taps. For Earth Day weekend, there will be a variety of events, including a brunch event featuring a Sustainability Somm to provide education on the impact on wine-in-kegs on April 20, a pop-up market featuring local businesses on April 21, and an Earth Day celebration featuring complimentary wine tastings from partner winemakers, including those featured in the Earth Month flight, paired with light bites on April 22. In addition, you are encouraged to bring corks, clothing, and batteries in for recycling all weekend long. Those who bring in a bag of corks will receive a complimentary 5oz. glass of wine in exchange for their donation. Clothing donations will benefit Women Giving Back, supporting women and children in crisis with a caring and committed community. For more information about Sixty Vines, visit sixtyvines.com
Month-Long Specials at Equinox on 19th: Chef Todd Gray is celebrating Earth Day all month long by highlighting several menu items that make use of food that otherwise might be discarded. Chef Todd has been at the forefront of plant-based dining and sustainability since the restaurant opened in 1999. These specials will be available through April 30: The Limoncello D'Alfredo, a sparkling cocktail using skins from juiced citrus, which is incorporated into housemade limoncello (made with citrus juice, milk, and peels, and allowed to ferment for 14 days and then strained). House Made Empanadas: Equinox's popular braised short rib empanadas are made from beef short rib and hanger steak trimmings saved from other dishes. The trim is roasted and hand-chopped with caramelized onions and fresh herbs. The snack is available during happy hour for $9. Finally, Gray is making sunchoke chips from the peels of the plant-based creamy sunchoke soup. The peels are crisped up and used as a garnish for soups, fish, and meat dishes. 900 19th Street NW; equinoxrestaurant.com
