By the time Alex Vaughn was set to perform at Miss Toya’s Southern Kitchen on Friday, Sept 27, one of the venues hosting Pennsylvania Avenue East Main Street’s (PAEMS) Art All Night event, it was a packed house.
District resident Shekita McBroom even decided to celebrate her birthday at the event.
“I just look forward to a good time tonight. I look forward to [Alex Vaughn] performing tonight,” she told The Informer before the songstress took the stage. “I’m excited.”
Vaughn’s performance was part of this year’s “Art All Night,” presented by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Local and Small Business Development.
This year’s theme, “Art to the Future,” focused on futuristic creativity through multiple mediums.
As part of its mission to revitalize retail, retain and attract a diverse customer base, empower surrounding communities, and develop businesses along the Pennsylvania Avenue Southeast corridor, PAEMS offered establishments an opportunity to engage residents in a creative way.
“We want to make this side of Pennsylvania Avenue across the Sousa Bridge as nice as the Pennsylvania Avenue on the other side of the bridge. Our merchants here have traditionally been kind of ignored. They haven’t got the same resources as businesses on the other side of the river, so we want to promote these businesses and help them,” said Earl Williams, chair of the Promotions Committee with PAEMS.
More than 70 local vendors participated in the weekend-long event held across the city. Programming along PAEMS included a parade, wrestling match, live paintings, an outdoor art market and performances from Black Alley, Sugar Bear, EU, and Alex Vaughn.
The District’s film community was also highlighted, featuring the documentary “7 Rising,” produced by local cinematographer Paul Grant, chronicling the election process of Ward 7’s highly contested race and discussing the importance of civic engagement in the community.
The citywide event provided entertainment, good energy and promoted the DMV and its talent.
CEO of Marshall Heights Community Development Organization Babatunde Oloyede, emphasized the importance of creating a platform for DMV creatives.
“I’m expecting a lot of high electric intensity, a lot of vibrancy, a lot of good moves, and good vibes,” Ooloyede said before Art All Night fully kicked off. “The whole idea behind this event is to really support the community, support D.C., and make sure that we are giving them a platform to do what they do right, and to make sure that we’re amplifying all their talent and hard work,” he said.
