19th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party Returns to Governors Island; Tickets on Sale

Michael Arenella and His Dreamland Orchestra host the Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island, June 8 and 9, and August 10 and 11, 2024 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

New York, NY – The 19^th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party returns this summer to Governors Island, June 8 and 9, and August 10 and 11, reviving the vibrations of a timeless zeitgeist of the Roaring 20s.

Ticket sales are live at https://jazzagelawnparty.com and available exclusively through Fever, a global live-entertainment discovery platform.

Originating as a small gathering of friends longing for the simpler charms of a bygone era, the event has evolved into an international destination, the world’s most beloved and longest running event of its kind. The vibrant optimism and inventiveness of Jazz Age culture and its living legacy continue to resonate with generation after generation.       

Governors Island becomes the backdrop for this cultural phenomenon. This trip through time begins with a breezy ride aboard a ferry boat with breathtaking views of Manhattan and Lady Liberty en route to NYC’s hidden gem, Governors Island. Once ashore, a sprawling green awaits, nestled under a canopy of century-old trees, caressed by fresh sea air, surrounded by historic architecture—a dream where the clock stops, nestled right in the heart of New York Harbor.                                                                     

Taste France Magazine offers VIP picnic baskets and a pop-up French market, featuring Centre-Loire wines, Citadelle gin, Lactalis cheeses, and many more gastronomic delights. A selection of refreshing, ice cold cocktails will be provided by Brooklyn’s very own Social Hour – a line of canned craft cocktails founded by bartending veterans Julie Reiner and Tom Macy. Sip on the delightfully fizzy G&T made with New York Distilling Company’s Dorothy Parker Gin, or the Pacific Spritz made with a combination of house made Italian aperitivo and Rosé wine; for whiskey lovers the fiery Whiskey Mule made with New York Distilling Company’s Ragtime Rye will be sure to please.        

Widely anticipated by flappers, sporting gents and tiny tots alike, the event has been revered year after year by a wide array of families, locals, and tourists.            

As always, a delightful array of offerings abounds throughout the day, some of which are listed below.

To purchase tickets, visit http://jazzagelawnparty.com/

PERFORMANCES, ACTIVITIES, & OFFERINGS                       

TWO STAGES featuring the finest Jazz Age entertainment in the world all day, including:

MICHAEL ARENELLA AND HIS DREAMLAND ORCHESTRA – The world’s premier Jazz Age dance orchestra, specializing in the Hot-Jazz of the 1920s. Conductor, composer, musician and crooner Michael Arenella presents a personally transcribed, one-of-a-kind songbook for your listening and dancing pleasure!

RODDY CARAVELLA AND THE CANARSIE WOBBLERS – this fun-loving dance troupe conjures the rebellious and exuberant spirit of Roaring ‘20s youth

CHARLIE ROMAN CASTELUZZO – specializing in hot jazz guitar from the 1930s, featuring his rare collection of popular music from the golden years of jazz. 

QUEEN ESTHER – Jazz vocal royalty!

PETER MINTUN – world’s greatest piano man!

TWO EXPANSIVE, JUMBO-SIZED WOODEN DANCE FLOORS set up right on the lawn!

DANCE LESSONS teach you the hottest dance steps of the time.

CHARLESTON and PEABODY DANCE CONTESTS (Saturdays are Charleston, Sundays are Peabody) 

See who’s the Bee’s Knees in this lighthearted dance-off.

BATHING BEAUTIES AND BEAUS PROMENADE Sundays, June 11^th and August 13^th – pull that itchy wool number out of the mothballs and parade it for all to admire.
(For entry email: voon@icloud.com

PAPER MOON PHOTO BOOTHS – we will print your portraits ON-THE-SPOT!

1920s MOTOR CAR EXHIBITION get up close and personal with flivvers and Tin Lizzies.

KIDLAND carnival games and prizes for junior gents and Flapperettes

VINTAGE CLOTHING VENDORS AND ARTISANS – a veritable village of timeless treasures and inspired creations to take home

DREAMLAND GENERAL STORE – for your comfort and convenience offers picnic blankets, parasols, hand fans, assorted sundries & more

GOURMET FOOD TRUCK MARKET featuring New York’s fanciest picnicking fare and gourmet food trucks along with sweet treats, ice cream and old-time snacks. Plenty of old fashioned lemonade, soda, juices, water, and iced tea to whet your whistle

CHILDREN’S PARADE – Sundays, June 11^th and August 13^th, 3pm at the MAIN STAGE.
Open to all adult-supervised children 12 and younger.
Vintage-inspired kiddie-couture encouraged!

PETANQUE, the French form of Bocce Ball, hosted by Taste France Magazine.

CROQUET, free and open to all! Located between the Josh Cellars activation and Vintage Car Show.

THE HIGH COURT OF PIE CONTEST – Sundays, June 11^th and August 13^th
Categories and celebrity judges to be announced!
Contestants must pre-register for contest and specify category at jazzagelawnparty@gmail.com 

Tickets and info at www.jazzagelawnparty.com. (Reserve a ferry ride to access the location.)

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Newly Renovated Landmark Museum, Extraordinary Festivals, Sports and Events Make DC a Hot Destination this Summer

This year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival (June 26-July 1) celebrates the living traditions of Indigenous peoples, coinciding with the National Museum of the American Indian’s 20th anniversary © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

WASHINGTON, DC – Destination DC, the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, welcomes visitors to experience the reopening of a landmark museum and buzzworthy new exhibits this summer. When combined with a packed calendar of sports, festivals and free events, DC becomes the perfect city for an unforgettable getaway. Begin planning your trip at washington.org/summer.

On June 21, the Folger Shakespeare Library, featuring the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, will celebrate its grand reopening following an extensive, four-year renovation. The reimagined space will boast two modern, state of the art exhibition halls featuring literary and historical pieces that have seldom been displayed to the public. Welcoming new gardens, collaborative research spaces and expanded visitor amenities designed with inclusivity and accessibility in mind are just a few of the additions to this Capitol Hill landmark.

The city boasts a plethora of new and renovated hotels to experience. The famed St. Regis, Four Seasons and Capital Hilton have all unveiled renovations. Exciting rebrands include the Hotel AKA Washington Circle in Foggy Bottom and Hotel Nell – Union Market in burgeoning NoMa. In addition, a portion of the phased enhancements to the highly anticipated Salamander DC hotel, situated along the revitalized Southwest Waterfront, are expected to be complete by the end of summer. A luxury two-story spa and chef Kwame Onwuachi’s new restaurant, Dōgon, will follow. Potential travelers can find deals and book directly at stay.washington.org.

“This summer, there’s only one place where you can spend the day engaging with the work of virtuosos like Shakespeare, then spend the night consuming the work of acclaimed chefs,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO, DDC. “There’s only one place where you can see star-studded concerts, cultural celebrations and fireworks with an iconic backdrop for free. There’s only one place where you can find this combination of excitement and value.”

Summer is highlighted by iconic festivals and events, particularly over holiday weekends. Salute active-duty military and veterans at the Rolling to Remember honor ride and patriotic concert (May 26) and America’s largest Memorial Day parade (May 27). Celebrate DC’s LGBTQ+ community during Capital Pride (May 31-June 9), a prelude to WorldPride in the nation’s capital next summer. This year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival (June 26-July 1) celebrates the living traditions of Indigenous peoples, coinciding with the National Museum of the American Indian’s 20th anniversary. America’s birthday celebration kicks off with a classic July 4th parade followed by “A Capitol Fourth” concert and fireworks on the National Mall. Over Labor Day weekend, DC JazzFest celebrates its 20^th anniversary with performances across the city.

Summer also includes a star-studded sports schedule. Catch the Washington Nationals, DC United, Washington Spirit and Washington Mystics in action. No. 1 pick Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever face the Mystics’ No. 6 overall pick, Aaliyah Edwards, at Capital One Arena on June 7. The U.S. men’s national soccer team hosts a friendly against Colombia on June 8 at Commanders Field, while international legend Lionel Messi and Argentina face Guatemala on June 14. The USA Men’s National Rugby Team hosts Scotland at Audi Field on July 12. The Mubadala City DC Open returns to Rock Creek Park Tennis Center July 27-Aug. 4.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

• The National Memorial Day Parade: Our Sacred Honor, May 27
  Telling the story of American sacrifice along Constitution Avenue through historical re-enactors, veterans and active-duty military personnel, with musical performances and celebrity appearances.
  • Capital Pride, May 31-June 9
    Celebrate with the LGBTQ+ community and its allies at the beloved tradition that honors LGBTQ+ history and acknowledges the evolution of the LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in DC. Note that DC will host WorldPride in 2025.
  • Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, June 17, 21-23
    For the first time, the nation’s capital will serve as a host port and team partner for this grueling competition. After more than 10 months at sea, the 11 teams are expected to arrive in DC on June 17. There will be an exciting activation at The Wharf.
  • Smithsonian Folklife Festival, June 26-July 1
    The free festival salutes international cultures on the National Mall with craft exhibits, live music and cooking demos. The 2024 edition celebrates Indigenous Voices of the Americas and the National Museum of the American Indian, which turns 20 this year.
  • DC/DOX Film Festival, June 13-16
    The second annual event will take place at theater venues across the District.
  • Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, June 19

The Anacostia Community Museum offers a free day-long celebration. The National Museum of African American History and Culture also offers a free community celebration themed “Freedom, Movement, and Migration” on June 15.

• Independence Day, July 4
  Nothing beats seeing the fireworks against DC’s iconic skyline of monuments and memorials, especially for free. Here is a list of the best spots to watch from.
  • Broccoli City Festival, July 27-28
    Headliners at Audi Field this year include Megan Thee Stallion, Gunna and Concrete Family.
  • Otakon, Aug. 2-4
    The family-friendly event at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center is run by and dedicated to fans of Asian media, entertainment and pop culture, including anime, manga, music, movies and video games.
  • National Book Festival, Aug. 24
    A free beloved annual celebration of books of all kinds, from children’s stories to epic novels, curated by the Library of Congress.
  • DC JazzFest,Aug. 28-Sept. 1
    One of DC’s ultimate summer traditions celebrates 20 years of bringing national and local musicians to a range of venues all over the city, including The Wharf. Many concerts are free.

NEW EXHIBITS

• New Worlds: Women to Watch 2024, April 14-Aug. 11
  The National Museum of Women in the Arts brings together 28 visionary artists who imagine alternate realities to address world issues.
  • Little Beasts: Art, Wonder and the Natural World, May 18-Nov. 2
    The National Gallery of Art will feature previously unknown or overlooked flora and fauna discovered during the 16^th and 17^th centuries, paired with specimens and taxidermy from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — the first collaboration of its kind.
  • Reclaiming My Time, Opens May 31
    The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s first exhibition devoted to contemporary Black designers who engage with ideas related to rest, repose and histories of labor and leisure.
  • Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains, June 1-Jan. 20, 2026
    At this National Museum of the American Indian exhibit, the artworks are as diverse as the individuals who created them.
  • 82 First Folios of Shakespeare, Opens June 21
    The newly reopened Folger Shakespeare Library will unveil a permanent display of its 82 copies of the First Folio, the single biggest collection of the world’s 235 surviving copies.

THEATER

• Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic, June 22-23
  Let the National Symphony Orchestra whisk you away to the worlds of Peter Pan and Encanto at the Kennedy Center.
  • Back to the Future: The Musical, July 23-Aug. 11
    Audiences can keep up with Marty McFly and Doc Brown as they traverse the past, present and future at the Kennedy Center.
  • MJ the Musical, Aug. 13-Sept. 8
    The multi–Tony Award-winning new musical comes to The National Theatre.

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AirHelp Unveils World’s Best/Worst Airlines and Airports Of 2023

Delta Airlines, ranked a top 3 US airline, taking off from Detroit Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, ranked among top 5 US airports. © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

With air travel records being broken this holiday season, AirHelp, an air passenger rights advocacy organization, reported the results of its annual AirHelp Score of best and worst airlines and airports for 2023. Among the key findings:

AirHelp found Muscat International Airport, Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport, and Cape Town International Airport to be the best global airports of 2023.

Out of 194 airports analyzed from across the globe for the report, in the U.S., Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport were found to be the best airports in the U.S. for 2023. Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport’s highest ranking category was their restaurants and shops score and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport’s highest ranking category was on-time flights.

Looking at airlines, Qatar Airways, Eurowings, LOT Polish Airlines, Etihad Airways and All Nippon Airways were rated highest among carriers worldwide in 2023. For U.S. airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Airlines were rated the highest in 2023.

Qatar Airways has successfully held its top position since 2018 due to consistency in claim handling, on-time performance, and customer satisfaction. Specifically, Qatar Airways scored 8.0 for claim handling, 8.4 for its on-time performance and 8.8 in customer satisfaction.    

The AirHelp Score, first launched in 2015, is a comprehensive data-based evaluation of airlines and airports, ranking the world’s airports based on which deliver on passenger experience. Knowing that travel doesn’t always go as planned, air passengers need to plan ahead and use available information to know what to expect for future flights.

To calculate the scores, AirHelp used its own database of flight statistics, thousands of customer poll responses and its own experience in helping 2 million passengers around the world receive compensation following flight disruption. Access the full 2023 AirHelp Score list can be found here.  

AirHelp Score 2023 Findings: 

The best United States airports:

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – (13/194) 

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport – (34/194) 

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport – (38/194) 

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – (51/194) 

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport – (55/194) 

The worst US airports: 

Newark Liberty International Airport – (166/194) 

Fort Lauderdale International Airport – (165/194) 

Denver International Airport – (138/194) 

Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport – (136/194) 

San Francisco International Airport – (128/194) 

Top 3 US-Based Carriers 

American Airlines 

United Airlines 

Delta 

Worst 3 US-Based Carriers

Spirit      

Alaska Airlines    

JetBlue  

International Insights 

The best airports in the world are: 

Muscat International Airport – (Muscat, Oman) 

Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport – (Recife, Brazil) 

Cape Town International Airport – (Cape Town, South Africa) 

Brasília–Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport – (Brasília, Brazil) 

Doha Hamad International Airport – (Doha, Qatar) 

The worst airports in the world: 

Banjarmasin Syamsudin Noor International Airport – (Banjarmasin, Indonesia) 

Malta International Airport – (Malta, Malta) 

London Gatwick Airport – (London, United Kingdom) 

Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport – (Lisbon, Portugal) 

Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport – (Belgrade, Serbia) 

The top 5 international carriers are: 

Qatar Airways 

Eurowings 

LOT Polish Airlines 

Etihad Airways 

All Nippon Airways 

The worst 5 international carriers are: 

Air Austral           

Azores Airlines   

TAROM  

Spirit      

Air Canada          

 To view the AirHelp Score ratings in full, visit AirHelp.com/AirHelpScore. 

AirHelp developed AirHelp Score to share expert knowledge and industry expertise, allowing air passengers to better predict what their experiences will be at different airports, how the airlines will treat them under normal circumstances, and what to expect if their flights are disrupted. To determine the airline rankings, AirHelp rates airlines equally in three areas, including claims processing, on-time performance, and customer opinion. Airports’ scores are determined by on-time performance, customer opinion and food and shop options.    

“Our goal at AirHelp is to educate passengers about their rights, but also to help them ensure those rights are being honored in the event of delays and cancellations. Passengers deserve to have satisfying flight experiences, even when disruptions occur,” explains Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp. “AirHelp has one of the most reliable and accurate collections of flight data in the world. Providing travelers with an in-depth look at how airlines and airports are performing helps guide them as they book their flights. At the same time, the AirHelp Score is a useful tool for companies to assess their position and identify areas for improvement, as it is the passengers’ experience that is the most important here.”

Since 2013 AirHelp has grown into one of the world’s largest air passenger rights advocates. AirHelp uses data and cutting-edge technology to power an easy-to-use website to smooth processing customers’ claims. AirHelp has a global staff of over 350, speaking 18 languages, a large team of lawyers specialized in air passenger rights, and local knowledge from a network of partners across 30 countries.

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