Mark your Calender, Big Events Happening in Shaw in September

UPDATE: 9/19/2013: ANNOUNCEMENT - Marriott Marquis (top of post)

UPDATE: 9/11/2013 : List of Participating Business's for Shaw Open House (bottom of post)

There are three major events going on in September in Shaw

September 25th:

Marriott Marquis "Topping Out" Celebration

Update 9/19/2013:
The official announcement has been made. The "Topping Off" celebration for the Marriott Marquis, will take place on Wednesday 25th September as planned. The celebration will take place on the L Street NW side of the new Marriott Marquis and is open to the public.Below is the PR:

"....The event will be held on Wednesday September 25th, 2013 from 10AM to roughly 12 Noon.....We are expecting the following to be in attendance and to speak:

Daniel A. Nadeau, General Manager of the Marriott Marquis
Mayor Vincent Gray
Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans
Greg O’Dell, President and Chief Executive Officer of Events DC
Bill Marriott, Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Marriott International
And Others

Please join the celebration to hear the speakers, to witness a structural member of the glass skylight roof be “Topped Off”, and to partake in a quick tour of the Hotel. This is an official Block Party Event, and the event is set up to be observed/witnessed from L Street.
Hensel Phelps would like to thank everyone in the neighborhood for your patience as we endure this celebration, and furthermore as we near the completion of the District’s largest Hotel! Hotel Opens May 1st, 2014"

Original Post:

On Wednesday September 25th starting at 10:00am, the Marriott Corporation will celebrate the "topping out" of the Marriott Marquis Hotel. The celebration will take place on L Street NW (which by the way will be closed during the celebratory period) between 9th and 10 Streets NW. Currently due to attend, Bill Marriott, Mayor Vincent Gray and Council Member Jack Evans. Tours of the hotels atrium/lobby will be available to the public primarily to view the Sculpture (which is complete now) and the huge glass skylight that covers the hotel interior (very impressive). So add this to your calender

September 28th/29th:

Nuit Blanche / Art All Night

On September 28, 2013, Shaw Main Streets will present Art All Night, the second full scale overnight arts festival in Washington, DC, based on Paris' Nuit Blanche. The magic will last from 7:00 PM that night until 3:00 AM on Sunday, September 29, 2103. The first festival, on September 24, 2011, drew an estimated 15,000 attendees.  A smaller Taste of Art All Night, on October 20, 2012, was held in downtown’s Chinatown/Gallery Place/Penn Quarter area.
Twelve venues in central Shaw along 7th and 9th Streets, NW, will showcase the work of DC painters, sculptors, photographers, fashion designers, musicians, dancers, poets, actors and more, with international participants, as well.
“Art All Night is a unique opportunity to explore the creativity of DC artists of all types, in traditional and nontraditional spaces, ranging from small galleries and theaters to the historic 80,000 square foot Wonder Bread Factory and the award-wining Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library,” 
This is not to be missed.

I will use this posting to update information on Participants, Venues and any changes that may effect your enjoyment of these three excellent and highly recommended events in Shaw.

September 14:  (Successfully Completed)

Shaw Open House

Shaw Main Streets is pleased to announce that the annual Shaw Open House event will take place on Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Shaw Open House events, which have been held since 2005, showcase Shaw businesses and what they have to offer neighborhood residents and visitors alike.
The event is a free self-guided tour in which attendees walk Shaw’s main streets and visit participating establishments to sample the goods and services each offers.  Every visitor is given a free Shaw Open House passport that is stamped at every stop. The passports will entitle the bearer to a free sample and special discounts.  Completed passports will be entered in a drawing for prizes from each participating business.
A chance to get to know the small business' of Shaw and pick-up a freebie while your doing it.

Update: 9/11/2013
The list is finalized (and what a list) of the businesses participating in Shaw's Open House this Saturday 14th September......so grab a passport early and make the rounds - lots of goodies, food and fun.

Cher Cher Ethiopian Restaurant & Market
Cheryl A. Lofton & Associates
City Market at O
Dacha Beer Garden
Divine Shine
Dove House Liquors
Etete Ethiopian Cuisine
Hail-O
Halcyon Salon
La Colombe (serving for the first time in DC)
Mandalay Restaurant
Pekoe Acupuncture & Wellness
1905
Pizza D’oro
Queen of Sheba Restaurant
Reformation Fitness
7th Flats
Shaw’s Tavern
Simon Vintage
SiTea
Taylor & York Salon
Touchstone Gallery
Thally (will be participating @5pm when the bar opens)

More details at Shaw Main Streets