A neighborhood Art All Night recap, and two more Van Ness events this weekend

If you came out for Art All Night in DC last weekend, you know it’s all about shining the spotlight on local artists and performers.

What you might not know is that it’s also about giving the venues – largely small and locally owned businesses – some time in the spotlight, too.

Van Ness Main Street summed it up in a message after the events of the weekend:

With more than 20 acts up and down the corridor, a FABULOUS new mural, live music throughout the corridor on every block, and great eats along the way, we hope you walked away with sweet memories – and maybe a new favorite spot on Connecticut Ave.

Events like Art All Night are critically important for our corridor and the small businesses that call VNMS home. They build community, bring neighbors into shops and restaurants they might not have tried otherwise, and draw visitors from all over the DMV – creating new connections and new customers for the business owners who make our corridor special.

This is the impact of the Van Ness Main Street program, now in its 10th year of serving our community. As we close out our fiscal year, we need your support to reach our fundraising goals and keep bringing moments like Saturday to life.

If you loved Art All Night, as well as the other fun community events we host year-round, please consider a gift today. Every dollar makes a difference.

Thank you for your generosity, and thank you for celebrating Art All Night with us!

Fresh off Art All Night, Van Ness Main Street is hosting two more events for the community on Sept. 19:

The Artisan Pop-Up Market will feature more than 20 made-in-DC vendors inside and outside 4340 Connecticut Avenue. They’ll be setting up shop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And whether you’re a line dancing beginner or move like a pro, you’re invited to join the Main Street for free lessons at the Forest Hills Park tennis courts. Coach Nia will be there from 2 to 4 p.m. to help us move and groove.

The Main Street has another busy weekend in store for us in late October. There’s another artisan pop-up market on the 24th, plus a Forest Hills Park cleanup that morning and free music in the park that afternoon.

Then on Oct. 25th is the park’s annual Spooktacular, a decades-old tradition now sponsored by the VNMS Good Clean Fun initiative. It’s always a great party, and a great excuse for families to give their costumes a pre-Halloween tryout. Afterward, participating businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters.

Forest Hills Connection is an editorially independent program of Van Ness Main Street.