Kitchen 101: Knife Skills w/ Chef Wendi James
2025-07-15 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-08-11 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Hill Center DC, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC, 20003, United States
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereLearning how to properly yield a knife is key to cooking great meals safely. Do you want to learn how to chop vegetables like a pro or learn the proper uses for certain knives?
Join Chef Wendi James in Hill Center’s kitchen as she teaches the essentials of knife skills for beginners! Learn the techniques of proper knife selection, care, basic cuts and proper form. The chef will guide you through breaking down common vegetables, while you chop along side or simply take notes. This participation class is limited to 12 people.

About Wendi: Wendi James received a Cuisine and Pastry Diplome from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris in 1997 and has completed advanced courses in chocolate and sugar from The French Pastry in Chicago.​ Since 1997, her work experience includes stints at Restaurant Gerard Besson (Paris), Restaurant Daniel (New York), The Inn at Little Washington (Virginia), and Charlie Trotter’s (Chicago).
Wendi also holds a BA in Hospitality Management from the University of Illinois. You can find this talented Chicago native offering culinary instruction and planning events at various venues in the DC metropolitan area. Wendi travels to Paris yearly to continue to explore the city she loves and all the delicious delicacies that Paris offers. She would love to share her experience and love of food with you.

Please Note: Tickets are non–refundable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Hill Center is dedicated to making our programming equitable and accessible to all. If cost, accessibility, or other obstacles are a barrier to attending a program, please contact programs@hillcenterdc.org and we will be happy to work out a solution.

If you need assistance registering, please check out these step-by-step instructions, video tutorial or call (202) 549-4172 for assistance.

Long Lunch: Pizza + Flatbreads Workshop with Chef Mark Haskell
2025-07-18 11:00 - 13:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereWe all know it, we all love it, but do we actually know the right way to make it? Step away from the frozen pizza and kick off your weekend with fresh food! Join us for a long lunch of proper dough making and different styles of pizza including: Napoli traditional, Philly style red, and french onion pissaladière. Learn at Hill Center, then do a proper pizza night at home!

Complimentary beer and wine are included in the price of the course!

“My favorite part of the class was the Chef sharing his deep knowledge of ingredients and tricks of the trade!” -Charles

Chef Mark Haskell’s career has taken him to kitchens in Europe, Asia, South America and the US. A native of the South Carolina Lowcountry, he has an affection for Southern cooking and gardening, and he applies his international flair to these traditions. He was knighted a Chevalier to the Confrérie de Vin de Saint Vincent for his work promoting organic and biodynamic food in the Côtes du Rhône region of France.
Click HERE for more classes with Mark Haskell!
This class requires at least 6 participants.

If you need assistance registering, please check out these step-by-step instructions, video tutorial or call (202) 549-4172 for assistance.

Hill Center is dedicated to making our programming equitable and accessible to all. If cost, accessibility, or other obstacles are a barrier to attending a program, please contact programs@hillcenterdc.org and we will be happy to discuss options.

Discover the Terroir: A Maryland and Virginia Wine Journey
2025-07-19 14:00 - 16:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereFeaturing Wine Expert Leslie Frelow
Join us on July 19th for an exceptional wine tasting experience celebrating the unique flavors and craftsmanship of local wines from Maryland and Virginia. The afternoon is dedicated to showcasing the extraordinary character and diversity found in the Mid-Atlantic region’s viticulture.
Indulge in a selection of five exclusive wines, each meticulously chosen to highlight the distinct advantages of grape growing in our local terrain. From the rolling hills of Virginia to the lush landscapes of Maryland, you’ll journey through aromas, tastes, and stories that define our regional winemaking excellence.
Our discussion will dive into the unique climate conditions and soil compositions that contribute to the distinctiveness of Mid-Atlantic wines. You will learn about the innovative approaches and traditional techniques that local winemakers employ to harness these advantages.
The Wine Concierge is a minority-owned and woman-owned business founded by Leslie Frelow, who previously worked for several years in the public policy industry for public and non-for-profit organizations. Following her passion, Ms. Frelow’s beginnings with her wine-focused business, Vino 301 Wine Concierge, started in January 2013 with regional wine tours and special events programs. She holds a Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits (WSET). Encouraged and inspired by her industry peers, she has had the honor of participating as a judge in regional wine competitions, which included the 2019 Maryland Governor Cup and Maryland’s Comptroller’s Cup.
The excitement revolving around Ms. Frelow’s wine tourism and education programs, as well as her dedication to supporting winemakers of color and women-owned wineries, have inspired her to launch The Wine Concierge’s unique internet retailer business in the District of Columbia in 2020.
Ms. Frelow has also discovered ways to celebrate minority-owned winemakers and connect with like-minded wine enthusiasts through the podcast, The Swirl Suite, hosted by Sarita Cheaves, Tanisha Townsend, Glynis Hill, and Ms. Frelow. The podcast (https://www.swirlsuite.com/), which features engaging interviews with wine professionals such as Melissa Schulte of Black Ankle Vineyards, Eric Turner of Hip Hop Juice Box, Burnie Williams of Chats Wine & Liquor, and winemakers at the Essence Wine Festival, serves as an inspiring resource for established and aspiring wine entrepreneurs.

On the Noodle Road Featuring Jen Lin-Liu: The Chinese Dinner Party
2025-07-20 11:00 - 14:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereAuthor, cooking instructor, and culinary consultant Jen Lin-Liu has been teaching at the Hill Center and this will be her last class before she leaves Washington D.C. for a while (though she will always consider the D.C. & the Hill Center her home). In this class, she’ll bring together many of the elements she’s taught in her classes, including stir-frying and cutting methods, and show you how to throw the perfect Chinese Dinner Party.
The menu is:

Chinese Cucumber Salad
Dan Dan Noodles (Vegetarian Option Available)
Fried Rice with Cantonese Lap Cheong Sausage (Vegetarian Option Available)
Stir-Fried Seasonal Vegetables
A Surprise Dessert

Jen Lin-Liu was born in Chicago and grew up in Southern California. She is the author of Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China, On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome with Love and Pasta, and the forthcoming Formidable Mrs. Chao, the real-life story of China’s Julia Child. She founded acclaimed Beijing cooking school Black Sesame Kitchen and is currently the events director at Chang Chang, a Chinese restaurant by Peter Chang in Dupont Circle.
Complimentary beer and wine are included in the price of the course. Bring your appetite and an apron.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are non-refundable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

French Cuisine Basics: Getting Saucy! The Foundational Sauces
2025-07-21 18:00 - 20:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereIn this three part cooking class series, learn the building blocks of classic French sauces to elevate your cooking to the next level. Through demonstration and hands on training, create dishes in every class using a variety of sauces. Classes take place once a week for three weeks.

Week 1: Stocks, Roux, Veloute, Fruit Coulis
Chicken Pot Pie; Vanilla Ice Cream with Raspberry Sauce
Week 2: Bechamel, Mornay, Chocolate Ganache + Hollandaise
Four Cheese Macaroni & Cheese; Profiteroles
Week 3: Sauce Tomat, Bechamel, Caramel
Moussaka; Sautéed Apples with Caramel Sauce

About Wendi: Wendi James received a Cuisine and Pastry Diplome from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris in 1997 and has completed advanced courses in chocolate and sugar from The French Pastry in Chicago. Since 1997, her work experience includes stints at Restaurant Gerard Besson (Paris), Restaurant Daniel (New York), The Inn at Little Washington (Virginia), and Charlie Trotter’s (Chicago).Wendi also holds a BA in Hospitality Management from the University of Illinois. You can find this talented Chicago native offering culinary instruction and planning events at various venues in the DC metropolitan area. Wendi travels to Paris yearly to continue to explore the city she loves and all the delicious delicacies that Paris offers. She would love to share her experience and love of food with you.
PLEASE NOTE: Tickets are non-refundable. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Hill Center is dedicated to making our programming equitable and accessible to all. If cost, accessibility, or other obstacles are a barrier to attending a program, please contact programs@hillcenterdc.org and we will be happy to work out a solution.

If you need assistance registering, please check out these step-by-step instructions, video tutorial or call (202) 549-4172 for assistance.

Favorite Summer Tomato Dishes Featuring Veteran Food Writer Bonnie Benwick
2025-07-26 11:00 - 14:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereCelebrate the best of summer produce, inspired in part by years of Top Tomato reader recipe contest winners published in The Washington Post’s Food section. Bonnie makes just about all these recipes every year. We’ll share top tomato kitchen tips and tales, too. Recipes include a terrific tomato pie, a kimchi-inspired relish, and cheesy, quick-grilled beefsteak slices.
Menu:

Ann Marotto’s Fresh Tomato Pie (demo, served)
Tomato Nectarine Blueberry Salad
Tomato Mousse with Basil Oil (demo, served)
Grilled Tomatoes with Cabrales and Pine Nuts
Tomato Kimchi-Chi

Complimentary beer, wine, and other beverages are included.
Bonnie Benwick worked as a journalist for four decades, much of which was spent at The Washington Post. During her Food section tenure, she wrote the “Dinner in Minutes” column and other recipe-related features, and ran the test kitchen. She edited The Washington Post Cookbook: Readers’ Favorite Recipes (2013). Retired, she is now involved in cookbook production, and was honored to contribute two recipes (Date-Night Pasta and Blood Orange Salsa) to the terrific A Taste of Hill Center (2021). Bonnie has led Hill Center’s annual holiday cookie baking class since 2013.
Please Note: Tickets are Non-Refundable. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Chess Wizards Summer Camp (Ages 6-12)
2025-08-04 08:45 - 15:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereChess Wizards is a fun way to have kids experience the excitement of chess. With half and full day classes, kids will play in mini tournaments, have interactive lessons with chess pros and play cool chess variants like bug house. It is proven that chess enhances cognitive development in children, improves both verbal and mathematical skills, and increases all levels of academic performance! Playing chess stimulates the mind and helps children strengthen skills such as focusing, visualizing goals, abstract thinking, and forming concrete opinions. Instructors (who are called “Wizards”) provide all the materials necessary for your child to participate in the class and no additional purchase is required to attend. Snacks will be provided but full day kids should bring a lunch. All students will receive a trophy, puzzle folder and wizards t-shirt.
Come join the fun!
Register here. Type in ‘20003’ and then scroll down to see camps hosted at Hill Center!

Tangy, Spicy, & Sweet—Moroccan Magic!
2025-08-14 18:00 - 20:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister Here In this interactive cooking class, Marianne Tshihamba serves up dishes inspired by her travels. Learn the secrets of balancing bold Moroccan flavors: succulent Chicken Tagine with Briny Preserved Lemons, a crunchy-sweet Carrot & Harissa Salad, and the art of pouring Mint Tea like a true Berber host. Your taste buds will dance to the rhythm of North Africa!
Dishes that we will be preparing in class.
Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemon and Couscous
Moroccan Carrot Salad
Mint Tea
Complimentary beer and wine are included in the price of the course!
An ingredients list and recipes will be sent out following the class.
Marianne Tshihamba has traveled the world pursuing new flavors and demystifying unfamiliar ingredients. Here in the Washington area, she has scouted the countless international grocery stores that stock their shelves with a wide range of products to serve the needs of our diverse community. Good food knows no boundaries or borders. Check out Marianne on WJLA, where she makes regular appearances to discuss her food and travels.
This class requires at least 6 participants. Participants will be notified if the minimum is not met. Registration will close a couple days before the class so the instructor can shop for the appropriate amount of ingredients.
If you need assistance registering, please check out these step-by-step instructions, video tutorial or call (202) 549-4172 for assistance.

Spanish Language Course: Advanced Beginners Class (Monday Fall 2025)
2025-08-18 18:00 - 20:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereHill Center has partnered with Go Spanish Now to provide this Spanish course with instructor Iya Suarez.

Iya’s passion for teaching Spanish is complemented by her career as a professional flutist, having performed in orchestras. Her musical experience and academic training enhance her teaching approach, providing a unique and dynamic learning experience for her students. Previously, she taught Spanish at Hill Center, where she captivated students with her engaging methods. Her approach blends creative techniques with her academic expertise, offering a distinctive and impactful learning experience that keeps students motivated and enthusiastic about the language.

The purpose of this course is not simply to teach you about Spanish, but rather to develop your language skills so that you can communicate successfully in the language. For that reason, the course includes a variety of components designed to allow you to practice and improve your abilities in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding spoken Spanish. This course exposes learners to a variety of cultural aspects in the Spanish-speaking world and in the Cultural Readings that are found in the workbook.

Our goal is to give you the confidence you need to progress smoothly. With us you will learn how to maintain a basic conversation in Spanish for beginners. You will learn basic elements of Spanish grammar, understand and use everyday expressions in Spanish, and more.

The students will be able to see the progress very soon and enjoy the interaction in an intimate class setting of 4 to 12 students.

For this class, please purchase a copy of ‘Go Spanish 1 (8th Edition).’ Please come with a notebook as well and something to write with!

This is an 8-week course. In order to offer flexibility, Hill Center offers the option to purchase 4 sessions for $199. This way, you can attend 4 classes over the course of 8 weeks; however, you are responsible for keeping current with the workload. A minimum of 4 students required for this class to occur. Students will be informed if the minimum is not met.

Hill Center is dedicated to making our programming equitable and accessible to all. If cost, accessibility, or other obstacles are a barrier to attending a program, please contact programs@hillcenterdc.org and we will be happy to work out a solution.

Spanish Language Course: Beginner Class (Tuesday Fall 2025)
2025-08-19 18:00 - 20:00

Spanish Language Course: Intermediate Class (Wednesday Fall 2025)
2025-08-20 18:00 - 20:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereHill Center has partnered with Go Spanish Now to provide this Spanish course with instructor Iya Suarez.

Iya’s passion for teaching Spanish is complemented by her career as a professional flutist, having performed in orchestras. Her musical experience and academic training enhance her teaching approach, providing a unique and dynamic learning experience for her students. Previously, she taught Spanish at Hill Center, where she captivated students with her engaging methods. Her approach blends creative techniques with her academic expertise, offering a distinctive and impactful learning experience that keeps students motivated and enthusiastic about the language.

The purpose of this course is not simply to teach you about Spanish, but rather to develop your language skills so that you can communicate successfully in the language. For that reason, the course includes a variety of components designed to allow you to practice and improve your abilities in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding spoken Spanish. This course exposes learners to a variety of cultural aspects in the Spanish-speaking world and in the Cultural Readings that are found in the workbook.

Our goal is to give you the confidence you need to progress smoothly. With us you will learn how to maintain a basic conversation in Spanish for beginners. You will learn basic elements of Spanish grammar, understand and use everyday expressions in Spanish, and more.

The students will be able to see their progress very soon and enjoy the interaction in an intimate class setting of 4 to 12 students.

For this class, please purchase a copy of ‘Go Spanish 1 (8th Edition).’ Please come with a notebook as well and something to write with!

This is an 8-week course. In order to offer flexibility, Hill Center offers the option to purchase 4 sessions for $199. This way, you can attend 4 classes over the course of 8 weeks; however, you are responsible for keeping current with the workload. A minimum of 4 students required for this class to occur. Students will be informed if the minimum is not met.

Hill Center is dedicated to making our programming equitable and accessible to all. If cost, accessibility, or other obstacles are a barrier to attending a program, please contact programs@hillcenterdc.org and we will be happy to work out a solution.

Stone Room Concerts @ Hill Center Featuring Progressive-Acoustic String Band High Horse
2025-08-22 19:00 - 21:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereCurated and Hosted by Stone Room Concerts Founder David Holiday
“Their unique combination of instruments “featuring cello as a utility infielder, at once filling in as the second “fiddle” role, then joining the rhythm section to add extra oomph,” gives them a very textured sound.” – AmericanaUK
High Horse is a progressive-acoustic boy band featuring four friends, three bows, and one pick. A mix of Bluegrass, Old-time, and Celtic music, it’s a band of brothers playing alternative rock on acoustic instruments. It’s a rollicking romp of great vibes, virtuosic chops, and tight vocals.
Comprised of fiddler Carson McHaney, cellist Karl Henry, guitarist G Rockwell, and bassist Noah Harrington; the band draws from their varied musical backgrounds to explore and perform original compositions and tunes from diverse folk traditions.
High Horse is based in Boston, collecting the skills and artistry learned from their education at the Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory.
About David Holiday: David Holiday — a lifelong music aficionado who in his youth performed with the Grammy-winning Texas Boys Choir and numerous youth orchestras and ensembles, founded Stone Room Concerts together with his wife in 2012 to bring intimate, high-quality performances by local, national and international independent musicians to the DMV area. He has hosted more than 200 shows over the past decade in homes, churches and other eclectic venues, including for several years at Bikenetic,a full service bicycle shop in Falls Church. Stone Room Concerts also serves as the fiscal agent for Niñas Arriba, a charitable project of Latin Grammy-nominee Gina Chavez and their wife Jodi Granado, which they set up to support the college education of young women in El Salvador and Central America. In keeping with his long standing professional involvement with Central America, Holiday is part of a team supporting the Maya Kaqchikel musician Sara Curruchich. In 2023, he had the privilege of serving as tour manager for Curruchich’s first-ever US tour, including major venues and festivals in New York, California, Colorado and Illinois.

From Savory to Sweet: The Ultimate Tea Party
2025-08-23 11:00 - 14:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister Here In this interactive cooking class, Marianne Tshihamba serves up dishes inspired by her travels. Channel you inner Bridgerton fantasies and learn the secrets of a luxurious English Tea service. Starting with the best scones you’ve ever had, followed by 3 kinds of tea sandwiches and ending with a berry-laden Victoria sponge cake.
Dishes that we will be preparing in class.
English Scones
Curried Egg, Cucumber Watercress, and Gravalx Tea Sandwiches
Victoria Sponge Cake
Complimentary beer and wine are included in the price of the course!

An ingredients list and recipes will be sent out following the class.
Marianne Tshihamba has traveled the world pursuing new flavors and demystifying unfamiliar ingredients. Here in the Washington area, she has scouted the countless international grocery stores that stock their shelves with a wide range of products to serve the needs of our diverse community. Good food knows no boundaries or borders. Check out Marianne on WJLA, where she makes regular appearances to discuss her food and travels.
This class requires at least 6 participants. Participants will be notified if the minimum is not met. Registration will close a couple days before the class so the instructor can shop for the appropriate amount of ingredients.
If you need assistance registering, please check out these step-by-step instructions, video tutorial or call (202) 549-4172 for assistance.

Spanish Tapas Party: Small Bites, BIG Flavor!
2025-08-28 18:00 - 20:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister Here In this interactive cooking class, Marianne Tshihamba serves up dishes inspired by her travels. From Barcelona bars to Madrid markets, recreate Spain’s most addictive snacks: Golden Patatas Bravas, a zingy Orange & Fennel Salad, rustic Chickpeas with Chorizo, and Scallops in Saffron Sauce that’ll make you feel like a seaside chef.
Dishes that we will be preparing in class.
Batatas Bravas
Orange and Fennel Salad
Chickpeas with Chorizo
Scallops on Saffron Sauce
Complimentary beer and wine are included in the price of the course!
An ingredients list and recipes will be sent out following the class.

Marianne Tshihamba has traveled the world pursuing new flavors and demystifying unfamiliar ingredients. Here in the Washington area, she has scouted the countless international grocery stores that stock their shelves w
ith a wide range of products to serve the needs of our diverse community. Good food knows no boundaries or borders. Check out Marianne on WJLA, where she makes regular appearances to discuss her food and travels.
This class requires at least 6 participants. Participants will be notified if the minimum is not met. Registration will close a couple days before the class so the instructor can shop for the appropriate amount of ingredients.
If you need assistance registering, please check out these step-by-step instructions, video tutorial or call (202) 549-4172 for assistance.

DC Way Aftercare (2025/2026 School Year)
2025-09-02 15:00 - 18:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereLooking for an after-school program that’s more than just child care? Welcome to DC Way’s After-School Program at the Historic Hill Center, where we’ve partnered with the Hill Center to bring dynamic, hands-on enrichment right to the heart of Capitol Hill. Here, young learners explore, create, and move through a rotating mix of art, STEM, sports, and storytelling — all in one of DC’s most beautiful and historic landmarks.
Classes begin September 2 — spots are limited, so secure your child’s place today and let the after-school fun begin!
What Makes Our Program Special
Our partnership with the Hill Center means children experience after-school fun in a secure, inspiring environment steeped in history, just blocks from the U.S. Capitol. Every week features a rotating schedule of 10 themed enrichment classes, blending arts, sports, science, and imaginative play — all designed for Pre-K through 3rd Grade.
Our 10 Rotating Enrichment Classes

⁠Hands-On STEM & Builders Club – Build bridges, towers, balloon rockets, and more while tackling fun logic and math challenges.
Art Studio & Jersey Design – Paint, color, and create wearable art.
Camp Skit & Commercial Challenge – Let imaginations soar on stage.
Science Explorers – Slime, volcanoes, and surprising experiments.
Active Game Challenges – Freeze Dance, obstacle courses, soccer-themed games, and playful competitions.
Mission Impossible & Camp Olympics – Adventure-themed obstacle courses.
Chess & Board Games Zone – Strategy, focus, and fun.
Story Circle & Comic Book Creation – Bring stories to life in words and pictures.
Language & Culture Class – Learn new languages and global traditions through fun activities.
Letter Writing & Creative Cards – Share messages with friends, family, and community.

Tippi Toes: Ballet Tap Jazz Combo
2025-09-02 17:40 - 18:25
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereBallet, Tap & Jazz combo classes are offered for children 3-6 years old. This high energy dance class is designed to keep boys and girls engaged in continual motion while they learn the basic elements of dance including positions and terminology. We incorporate an even mix of the three types of dance over the 45 minute class time in a way that is fun and healthy for active children including exercising their bodies, imagination and singing voices!

Mr. Mike's Music - Babies Class (0-6 Months)
2025-09-03 09:00 - 13:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereThe Music Together® Babies Class was created especially for families with infants under six months old. That’s right: It’s never too early to start our music classes!
Maybe you’ve noticed that your baby responds when you play a song in the car or sing to soothe him. Babies are naturally musical—and you don’t have to be a great singer or dancer yourself to nurture their love of music. In this music class for babies, your Music Together teacher will show you how you can support your baby’s music development through simple and fun activities. You’ll learn lots of musical ways to connect with your little one through music, and you’ll bond with the other new parents in your class, too.
Families with infants are welcome in this class until their baby begins to crawl with confidence. At that point they can move up to the Mixed Age class. Older children are NOT allowed in this class at any time.

Tippi Toes: Toddler & Me
2025-09-03 10:00 - 10:45
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereToddler & Me dance classes are for children 18 months up to the age of 3 years. Music, movement, balance and the basic dance steps are introduced in a fun, friendly and positive manner. This type of class includes mom or dad, another loved one or a caretaker participating in the class along with the little dancer. Our teachers will keep the music and curriculum moving along while parents take an active role in encouraging, supporting and keeping the little dancer on track.

Tippi Toes: Tippi Pro
2025-09-03 17:40 - 18:25
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereTippi Pro takes our Ballet Tap Jazz combo class to a whole new level – introducing more complex dance steps, combos, and steps across the floor in the same upbeat, FUN Tippi Toes way! This class is designed for 6-9 year olds and builds on concepts learned in prior Tippi Toes classes. No prior dance experience is required.

Foghorn Stringband: American Stringband Concert
2025-09-03 19:00 - 21:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereThe Foghorn Stringband is the present day gold standard for real-deal hard-hitting genuine old-time American string band music, with nine albums, thousands of shows, over 20 years of touring under their belts, and an entirely new generation of roots musicians following their lead. American roots music is a diverse and never-ending well of inspiration, and Foghorn Stringband continually and obsessively draws from old-time, bluegrass, classic country, and Cajun music traditions in an ongoing quest to present a broad span of American historical music with an unparalleled youthful energy, joy, and virtuosity.
Each member of Foghorn Stringband exemplifies the best of the roots music traditions from their respective native cultures. Caleb Klauder’s wistful, keening vocals and rapidfire mandolin picking are as influenced by Southern roots music as much as they are by his upbringing in the sea islands of coastal Washington State. Reeb Willms hails from the wind swept Eastern farmlands of Washington. Her musical family and rural upbringing are on display with every note she sings and every heart she breaks. Nadine Landry’s roots lie in the rural backroads of Acadian Québec, and her high lonesome vocals have delighted audiences the world over. Her earth-shaking bass playing is the rumbling backbone of the Foghorn sound. Minnesotan Sammy Lind, simply put, is the old-time fiddler of his generation whose tone and voice are as old as the same hills that gave birth to this music. Together, these four have forged a sound like no other.
The band’s repertoire has expanded greatly in the past 15 years. They are as comfortable playing music at a neighborhood square dance as they are stirring a festival audience to a frenzy. Old time dance tunes rub shoulders with Cajun waltzes, vintage honky tonk country, and classic bluegrass….and it’s all rendered into a cohesive whole. Foghorn Stringband can often be found after a performance in a local pub or club continuing to play with equal energy and joy late into the night.

Sake 101 / Intro to Sake
2025-09-05 18:00 - 20:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereInterested in sake but don’t know where to start?
Sake is incredibly diverse and goes far beyond just the hot shooters most people experience at their favorite sushi restaurant. Sake can be clean and crisp, fresh and bright, fruity and complex, or rich and umami-heavy. You’ll taste through these types, learn why they taste that way, and leave equipped with the knowledge to pick out your preferences when ordering sake in the future.
You’ll get a guided tasting from a certified sake sommelier of various sakes that will open your eyes to the wide spectrum of sake available. You’ll taste 4 samples of sake and receive a Sake 101 pamphlet to take home.

Scott Movens, the founder of Sake District, is a sake expert and educator based in Washington DC. He has multiple sake certifications, including WSET Level 3 with distinction and Certified Sake
Professional. Aside from professional qualifications, hebrews his own sake and takes frequent research trips to Japan to further his craft.

Stone Room Concerts @ Hill Center Featuring Award-Winning Indie Folk Singer/Songwriter Kipyn Martin
2025-09-05 19:00 - 21:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereCurated and Hosted by Stone Room Concerts Founder David Holiday
Kipyn Martin is an emerging Indie Folk singer-songwriter whose roots sink deep into the banks of the Shenandoah River. She has played festivals, concert halls, coffeehouses, and house concerts from New England to Texas. She has earned multiple Gold Awards in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, and has previously been honored by the Washington Area Music Association with multiple WAMMIE nominations (Songwriter of the Year and Folk Contemporary Vocalist). In 2015 she won the WAMMIE for New Artist of the Year. In addition to songwriting, Kipyn holds a Master of Music in Composition and teaches private lessons in voice, guitar, piano, and songwriting.
Currently one can find Kipyn performing in the DC/Baltimore areas. She is a dedicated tribute artist as well as performing songwriter. 2025 will see her paying tribute to Joni Mitchell as part of Joan & Joni with music partner Allison Shapira, as well as paying homage to Simon & Garfunkel as part of Newmyer Flyer’s Bleecker Street.
Kipyn lives in Frederick, MD with her family and cat.
About David Holiday: David Holiday — a lifelong music aficionado who in his youth performed with the Grammy-winning Texas Boys Choir and numerous youth orchestras and ensembles, founded Stone Room Concerts together with his wife in 2012 to bring intimate, high-quality performances by local, national and international independent musicians to the DMV area. He has hosted more than 200 shows over the past decade in homes, churches and other eclectic venues, including for several years at Bikenetic,a full service bicycle shop in Falls Church. Stone Room Concerts also serves as the fiscal agent for Niñas Arriba, a charitable project of Latin Grammy-nominee Gina Chavez and their wife Jodi Granado, which they set up to support the college education of young women in El Salvador and Central America. In keeping with his long standing professional involvement with Central America, Holiday is part of a team supporting the Maya Kaqchikel musician Sara Curruchich. In 2023, he had the privilege of serving as tour manager for Curruchich’s first-ever US tour, including major venues and festivals in New York, California, Colorado and Illinois.
Kipyn Photo Courtesy Eric Michael Hilton Photography

Tippi Toes: Hip Hop
2025-09-06 12:00 - 12:45
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereDo you love to dance around the house listening to great music? Have you ever wanted to play freeze dance or do a line dance? Tippi Toes teachers will have you dancin’ to the beat in no time! Our Hip Hop class starts with warm-ups and stretching and quickly moves into learning hip hop choreography for combos and dances as well as practicing steps and combos across the floor! Our version of hip hop is extremely tasteful and uses age-appropriate material including clean popular music that your child will enjoy.

EAST WORKSHOP: COMIC BOOK CREATION WORKSHOP RESIDENCY
2025-09-07 13:00 - 15:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister Here🎨 Eastern Market Art Series & Teachings (EAST)
COMIC BOOK CREATION WORKSHOP RESIDENCY
Artist in Residence: Lindsay Johnson
Dates: One Sunday per month – Sept 7, Oct 5, Nov 2, Dec 7
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Ages: 8–14
Where: Eastern Market, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free!
Sign up: Come for one or join all four!
LA Johnson is a professional artist and educator in Washington, DC. Her work spans various media, including painting, murals, sculpture, video, animation, illustration, and comics. She is an art director and video producer at NPR. Her first fully-illustrated book called Party of One, came out last year through Chronicle Books. She lives in DC with her husband, two boys, and one cat. View her work at www.thelajohnson.com
Class Overview:
Bang! Pow! It’s a comics class for kids! Learn to create your characters, build a plot, and draw your very own comic! Taught by a local professional illustrator and comic creator, LA Johnson. Each 2-hour session stands alone, but they build toward a complete comic book by the end of the residency. Come for one or join all four!
🗓️ Monthly Workshop Schedule
Each 2-hour session stands alone, but they build toward a complete comic book by the end of the residency.
🟣 Sunday, September 7
🧠 Create Your Comic Book Characters
Design original characters from the ground up—personality, biography, appearance, and superpowers. Explore facial expressions, costumes, and sketch your first comic poses.
🔵 Sunday, October 5
📖 Story & Scene Building
Bring your characters to life in a short story. Learn how to create a dynamic plot with conflict and resolution. Learn how to lay out comic panels, use dialogue bubbles, and create action or emotional scenes in pencil.
🟢 Sunday, November 2
🖊️ Inking & Comic Page Design
Refine your pencil sketches and ink your comic pages, working on bold lines, contrast, and page flow. Create a title page and author bio for your comic.
🟡 Sunday, December 7
🎉 Add Color & Finish Your Comic!
Add color, finishing touches, and prepare for a group showcase. Artists will share their work with peers and families in a fun celebration!
✍️ Join the Fun

Open to all kids ages 8–14 – beginners welcome!
Come to one or all sessions
All materials provided

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Photography 2025 Juried Show
2025-09-08 - 2026-01-09
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister Here

Basic Drawing Techniques: Drawing From an Image
2025-09-09 18:30 - 20:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereThis course is designed for adults who wish to start drawing, but aren’t sure where to begin! We will be working on basic drawing skills and techniques over the course of four classes. Our first class will serve as an introduction – trying out techniques and becoming familiar with materials. In the second class, students will begin a drawing based on an image of their choice with guidance along the way, as they put what we have learned to use. The following classes will be used as a way to complete details of our drawing, add finishing touches and a short critique of everyone’s work! We hope you will join us to learn something new and maybe meet some friends along the way!
Please bring a hard copy image to draw from. It should be 4″x 6″ or larger (ex. preferably an image of a person where they are the focus of the image). All other materials are provided.
Classes will take place on September 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th.

“This class was so helpful! Christine was a great teacher and conveyed a lot of useful information and everyone in the class had fun!” -Mary Ann
“I loved this class–I wish it continued through the Summer!” -Caitlin

Christine Vineyard is a local DC artist and art teacher, working with all mediums and a concentration in photography, drawing and painting. She has her BFA in Art Education and a Masters of Art Education with a focus on curriculum writing. Christine has worked with all ages from preschool to adults and is excited about sharing her knowledge and love of art with others.
This class requires at least 4 participants. Registrants will be notified if the minimum is not met.
If you need assistance registering, please check out these step-by-step instructions, video tutorial or call (202) 549-4172 for assistance.
Hill Center is dedicated to making our programming equitable and accessible to all. If cost, accessibility, or other obstacles are a barrier to attending a program, please contact programs@hillcenterdc.org and we will be happy to work out a solution.
Click HERE for more classes and workshops with Christine!

SOLD OUT! At Issue: The Erasure of Black History Featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning Historian Marcia Chatelain and New York Times White House Correspondent Erica L. Green
2025-09-10 19:00 - 21:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister HereHill Center launched its new public affairs discussion series, At Issue in April. The series examines the many critical issues we are faced with today.
Since taking office, President Trump has tried to reframe the country’s past involving racism and discrimination by de-emphasizing that history or at times denying that it happened. As historian Marcia Chatelain notes, “When you erase history, you make people more vulnerable to abuses of power.”
Erica L. Greem has reported on concerns surrounding President Trump’s executive orders and their potential impact on Black history education and recognition. Specifically, Green has described how the orders have raised concerns about the possible re-framing of American history and culture, which some fear could lead to the minimizing, ignoring, or even erasure of aspects of Black experiences and contributions to the nation’s past. In a June 20th New York Times analysis, Green writes, “The president’s decision to snub Juneteenth — a day that has been cherished by generations of Black Americans before it was named a federal holiday in 2021 — is part of a pattern of words and actions by Mr. Trump that minimize, ignore or even erase some of the experiences and history of Black people in the United States. Since taking office in January, he has tried to reframe the country’s past involving racism and discrimination by de-emphasizing that history or at times denying that it happened. Government websites have been scrubbed of hundreds of words, including “injustice” and “oppression.” Federal agencies eliminated or obscured the contributions of Black heroes, from the Tuskegee Airmen who fought in the military, to Harriet Tubman, who guided enslaved people along the Underground Railroad. School libraries were purged of writings by pre-eminent Black authors like Maya Angelou. Mr. Trump has assailed the Smithsonian Institution for what he characterized as “divisive, race-centered ideology” in its exhibits on race. He ordered the renaming of monuments to honor Confederate soldiers who fought to preserve slavery. Taken together, Mr. Trump’s actions are part of a larger cultural and political battle, in which diversity has become an all-purpose target for society’s ills.” “Trump’s behavior around Juneteenth isn’t isolated at all — it speaks to how he views our community, and everyone who doesn’t look like him or isn’t as wealthy as he is,” notes Derrick Johnson, the president of the N.A.A.C.P. “It’s why he’s stripping away our rights, erasing our history and silencing our voices.”

Marcia Chatelain is the Presidential Penn Compact Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Chatelain has received awards and honors from the Ford Foundation, the American Association of University Women, and the German Marshall Fund of the United States. During her twelve years at at Georgetown University, Chatelain won several awards for her teaching and university service, including the 2022 Georgetown Black Alumni Council Distinguished Leader Award, the 2021 Georgetown Alumni James S. Ruby Faculty Appreciation Award, and in 2018, a Provost’s Distinguished Associate Professorship, among others. In 2016, The Chronicle of Higher Education named her a Top Influencer in academia in recognition of her social media campaign #FergusonSyllabus, which implored educators to facilitate discussions about the crisis in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014. She has held an Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fellowship at New America, a National Endowment for the Humanities Faculty Fellowship, and an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship. The author of South Side Girls: Growing up in the Great Migration, she teaches about women’s and girls’ history, the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, as well as black capitalism. Her latest book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America examines the intricate relationship among African American politicians, civil rights organizations, communities, and the fast-food industry. Chatelain has received numerous awards for Franchise, including the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in History, the Hagley Prize in Business History, the Organization of American Historians Lawrence W. Levine Award, the Hurston Wright Legacy Award, the Hooks Institute National Book Award, the Alfred and Fay Chandler Book Award and the James Beard Foundation Award for Writing.
Erica L. Green is a White House correspondent for The New York Times, covering the daily decisions comings and goings and newsworthy events involving the president, the vice president and other members of his cabinet. Green is particularly interested in social policy and civil rights, but covers a range of topics spanning domestic and foreign policy. She is drawn to stories that illustrate how the decisions made on Pennsylvania Avenue impact the American people, and shape the dynamics of American society. Green joined the White House beat in the summer of 2023, and covered the last year-and-a-half of the Biden administration, as well as the 2024 presidential campaign. Prior to that she covered education.

Presented in conjunction with ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History, founded in 1915 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and Hill Center’s Benjamin Drummond Emancipation Day Celebration, a series that honors America’s first liberated enslaved people with scholarly and celebratory programs that bring together a diverse group of prominent experts, artists, and public figures throughout the year to explore the Civil War and its aftermath from the African American perspective. The series is named in honor of the Old Naval Hospital’s first patient, a young African American seaman.

Antipasti Heaven- Great Italian Bites!
2025-09-11 18:00 - 20:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister Here In this interactive cooking class, Marianne Tshihamba serves up dishes inspired by her travels. From Sicily to Venice, explore Italy’s snack game: Crunchy Arancini, tangy Marinated Seafood Salad, and the ultra-luxurious Whipped Salt Cod Spread. Warning: May induce spontaneous Italian hand gestures.
Dishes that we will be preparing in class.
Aranchini
Marinated Seafood Salad
Baccalà Mantecato
Complimentary beer and wine are included in the price of the course!
An ingredients list and recipes will be sent out following the class.

Marianne Tshihamba has traveled the world pursuing new flavors and demystifying unfamiliar ingredients. Here in the Washington area, she has scouted the countless international grocery stores that stock their shelves with a wide range of products to serve the needs of our diverse community. Good food knows no boundaries or borders. Check out Marianne on WJLA, where she makes regular appearances to
discuss her food and travels.
This class requires at least 6 participants. Participants will be notified if the minimum is not met. Registration will close a couple days before the class so the instructor can shop for the appropriate amount of ingredients.
If you need assistance registering, please check out these step-by-step instructions, video tutorial or call (202) 549-4172 for assistance.

Joseph Sassoon Discusses his book The SASSOONS: The Great Global Merchants and the Making of an Empire in Conversation with New York Times Writer Binyamin Appelbaum
2025-09-12 19:00 - 21:00
from May 12 to December 17 @ 6:15 pm - 8:15 pmRegister Here“As engaging as Sassoon renders the intricacies of business and religion, the book is at its best when the family’s supercharged ambitions take center stage….Rags-to-riches stories may all be the same, but it’s the way in which a fortune is lost that’s truly compelling. Sassoon’s detailed account of the decentralization of family power and the proliferation of descendants interested in spending but not making money is well paced and supremely satisfying….Joseph Sassoon’s book isn’t just a marvelous yarn, it’s an Ottoman ‘Our Crowd’ that gives his family its due.”—New York Times Book Review
A spectacular generational saga of the making (and undoing) of a family dynasty: the riveting untold story of the gilded Jewish Baghdadi Sassoons, who built a vast empire through global finance and trade—cotton, opium, shipping, banking—that reached across three continents and ultimately changed the destinies of nations. They were one of the richest families in the world for two hundred years, from the 19th century to the 20th, and were known as the Rothschilds of the East.
Mesopotamian in origin, and for more than forty years the chief treasurers to the pashas of Baghdad and Basra, they were forced to flee to Bushehr on the Persian Gulf; David Sassoon and his sons started over with nothing and beginning to trade in India in cotton and opium.
The Sassoons soon were building textile mills and factories, setting up branches in shipping in China, and expanding beyond, to Japan, and further west, to Paris and London. They became members of British parliament; were knighted; and owned and edited Britain’s leading newspapers, including The Sunday Times and The Observer.
And in 1887, the exalted dynasty of Sassoon joined forces with the banking empire of Rothschild and was soon joined by marriage, fusing together two of the biggest Jewish commerce and banking families in the world.
Against the monumental canvas of two centuries of the Ottoman Empire and the changing face of the Far East, across Europe and Great Britain during the time of its farthest reach, Joseph Sassoon gives us a riveting generational saga of the making of this magnificent family dynasty.
Books will be available for sale. A book signing will follow the conversation.
Joseph Sassoon is Professor of History and Political Economy at Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies and holds the al-Sabah Chair in Politics and Political Economy of the Arab World. He is also a Senior Associate Member at St Antony’s College, Oxford, where he also completed his PhD. Professor Sassoon, whose research focuses on political economy, economic history, Iraq, Iraqi refugees, and authoritarianism, has published extensively and is the author of five books.
Binyamin Appelbaum is the lead writer on economics and business for The New York Times editorial board. He writes about public policy, often through the lens of economics. In recent years he has focused on issues including economic inequality, climate change and the housing crisis. Appelbaum examines what is broken and illuminates paths that might lead to a better place.

Joseph Sassoon Photo Crefit: Michael Lionstar
