With summer drawing to a close, NoMa celebrates a spectacular event season that attracted thousands of residents and workers to movies, concerts, and the neighborhood’s first farmers market. But folks outside the neighborhood are taking notice, too: Travel & Leisure Magazine rated NoMa Summer Screen as one of America’s Top 10 Outdoor Movie Theatres! In addition, the International Downtown Association recognized NoMa BID with a Merit Award to celebrate the BID’s popular programming.
The BID has doubled its signature events for the last two years – and just in time: More than 6,000 employees and 1,400 residents moved into NoMa in 2010, and thousands more have come throughout 2011. The BID now offers more than 100 free events each year.
But event season is not over yet! ZestFest, a two-week outdoor festival with Pink Line Project bringing arts, music and culture to NoMa, runs September 20 through 30. The NoMa Farmers Market continues Wednesday afternoons through October 26.
Over the last few years, NoMa BID has focused heavily on connecting both residents and employees at exciting, fun and free events. These events bring culture, music, artists, local farmers and more to this neighborhood, while building community and enlivening the public realm.
Special thanks to our partners and sponsors for supporting the 2011 event season, particularly: TD Bank, the Union Station Business Center, Courtyard by Marriott, Au Bon Pain, the Loree Grand at Union Place, Polinger Shannon & Luchs, and the property owners surrounding Union Center Plaza, namely Lincoln Property Company, American Realty Advisors, 810 First Street, Akridge and Union Center Plaza Management Corp.
Upcoming Events:
NoMa Farmers Market
The highly anticipated Farmers Market, which runs June 8 through October 26, has been a tremendous success. The mid-week market brings meat, cheese, bread and fresh, local produce to a convenient location across from Harris Teeter (at 1200 First Street, NE), so patrons can pick up all of their groceries in a one-stop-shop. The market is organized by the NoMa BID and managed by Donné Malloy of Metro Green Markets.
ZestFest: Fun Unleashed for Two Weeks
Join us for ZestFest, a zany two-week festival bringing arts, culture and music to the streets of NoMa from September 20 to 30. Stay tuned for a final schedule at www.zestfest.org that will include Zumba classes, Project Fitness demonstrations, lunch-time concerts, badminton on the lawns, Rock Band on a huge screen, and concerts curated by Bloombars. The NoMa BID partnered with The Pink Line Project to organize the interactive fall festival. Interested in sponsoring this year’s ZestFest or the next year’s events? Contact Rachel Davis, Director of Marketing & Events.
NoMa WalkingTown DC Tour
Presented by Cultural Tourism DC, WalkingTown and BikingTown DC strive to shed light on the many jewels of DC, from the unknown to well-known attractions. This year, NoMa BID offers three chances on September 24 and 29 to take the NoMa tour. See where the Beatles played their first U.S. concert, hear the area’s rich history, and learn how the New York Avenue Metro station sparked the sleek new development underway now in DC’s most connected neighborhood. Read more.
Completed Events
Now in its fourth year, NoMa Summer Screen experienced average crowds of 350 people each week, and attracted well known local chefs, including Chef Buben of Vidalia/Bistro Bis and Todd Gray from Todd Gray’s Watershed. A variety of food vendors and trucks brought their fare to the Loree Grand Field each week, including popular barbecue team Smokin’ Somethin’, which has garnered quite a following after three years at the event. NoMa Summer Screen was featured 74 times this summer in local and national publications.
Rhythm in NoMa
NoMa’s lunchtime concert series, Rhythm in NoMa, gives employees a break during their lunch hour to relax and enjoy music ranging from Blues to Jazz to Reggae. This year, NoMa organized the series in two locations: 14 weeks at the New York Avenue METRO Plaza, and another six weeks at Union Center Plaza near CNN. Thank you to our patrons for braving the heat on some of those infamous DC summer days to come out and enjoy the music!
About NoMa
NoMa is a vibrant, growing neighborhood north of Union Station and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In the last five years, private developers have invested more than $3 billion in the 35-block area covered by the NoMa BID, and have plans to develop more than 20 million square feet of office, residential, hotel, and retail space. In 2010, more than 6,000 people moved into NoMa to live or work; and eight new retailers opened for business. NoMa has 15 modes of transportation, including two Red Line Metro stops, and the best biking facilities in DC, with the only East Coast Bikestation, the 8-mile Met Branch Trail, and six Capital Bikeshare stations. NoMa is the most connected neighborhood in Washington, DC. For more information about NoMa, visit nomabid.wpengine.com and sign up for our bimonthly newsletter. Follow us on Twitter @NoMaBID; or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nomabid.
For immediate release
News Media Contact: Rachel L. Davis
202-997-3846, [email protected]
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