Art to Go-Go Paints the Night at Dîner en Blanc by Trevor Johnson
On October 4, thousands of guests, dressed head-to-toe in white, gathered on the Kennedy Center terrace for Dîner en Blanc, a much-anticipated pop-up dinner party in the Washington, D.C. area. Against the backdrop of the Potomac River, the elegant event transformed into a celebration of art, music, and togetherness.
“An event like this takes an incredible amount of partnership,” said Linda Davis, co-producer of Dîner en Blanc. “The Anacostia BID plays a huge role — from arts initiatives to career integration programs. Kristina Noell and her team have created so many opportunities, and we’ve been proud to partner with them. This year, we even incorporated new elements like the poetry performance, which followed the Washington National Opera. It all felt so appropriate for the Kennedy Center setting. Having Anacostia BID artists and support here makes this event even stronger — it reflects the creative heartbeat of the city.”
Throughout the evening, three artists from the Anacostia BID’s Art to Go-Go program — Darius Hill, Jazmine Brinkley, and Jona Monet — painted live as part of the festivities. Guests often stopped to watch them work, many expressing curiosity and appreciation for the live demonstrations that added a creative element to the night.
“There are a lot of people here — everyone’s elegant, tuned in, and wearing white. It really shows unity and togetherness,” said Monet, who sold her painting to a guest. “Being able to paint at this event is great because I get to meet new people, share my work with a wide audience, and bring some joy to the evening.”
Another interactive feature of the event was the community poem, where guests were invited to write a single line beginning with “Tonight I choose to remember” in a shared booklet throughout the evening. Later, the collection of lines was performed aloud by Sir Harvey Fitz, curator of culture and a collaborator with the Anacostia BID. Fitz also read one of his own poems and shared his thoughts both before and after his performance.
“I’m going to open with an intro piece that ties into the whole Dîner en Blanc experience, then share the community poem,” Fitz said as he stood in the empty venue before the event began, the sun still up over the Kennedy Center terrace. “Events like Dîner en Blanc are culturally important because they’re a kind of watering hole — they bring all kinds of people together. Many haven’t experienced spoken word, and certainly not Go-Go. While I won’t be blending the two tonight, my presence here — and the networking that comes with it — helps open those doors.”
By the time Fitz spoke on stage, the atmosphere had completely transformed. The once-empty terrace was now filled with thousands of guests dressed in white, their conversations and laughter filling the open space. The sun had set, and the crowd’s energy reflected the excitement of the evening as Fitz performed both his original poem and the completed community piece.
“This was an incredible experience — beyond my wildest imagination,” Fitz said after his performance. “The crowd was amazing — they received my poem so well and really participated in the community poem, which I loved. And their handwriting was legible, which I truly appreciate,” he chuckled. “All in all, it’s been an amazing night.”
At the end of the night, the energy was high, with guests dancing near the front stage and already talking about next year’s Dîner en Blanc. The evening served as both a celebration of elegance and a testament to the power of collaboration, highlighting how the Anacostia BID continues to create opportunities for local artists and community members to share their work with audiences across the D.C. region.
“I could not be happier,” said Davis. “Even though we have about 3,500 people, it feels so intimate — like we’re tucked away together. This is a community. And it represents Washington at the ultimate level.”
For the Anacostia BID, the evening reflected its mission in motion — connecting creativity, commerce, and community. From live art to spoken word, every element of the night showcased how local talent can thrive when given the right platform and visibility.
“Moments like this reaffirm why we do what we do,” said Kristina Noell, Executive Director of the Anacostia BID. “To see our artists painting live at the Kennedy Center, representing the heart and soul of Anacostia, is powerful. It’s not just about art — it’s about visibility, opportunity, and showing that our community belongs in every space where creativity thrives.”