I think we can all agree that one of the reasons “we love DC” is the arrival of spring each year when our city is transformed from a bleak, gray land of zombies into a cheery land of fresh-faced partiers.  The harsh winter weather is behind us, the cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom, girls swap their jeans for skirts, and it’s time to start planning how you’ll enjoy every waking minute before the sweltering heat invades our city.

What better way to celebrate the disappearance of winter than checking out the National Cherry Blossom Festival?  While it officially started on March 28th, it runs until April 12th and is packed full of fun things to do, ranging from blossom tours to photo safaris to wicked awesome Japanese-themed art fashion anime parties.  Say what?  That’s right, on Friday the Pink Line Project kicks into gear again to throw a party that is sure to be the highlight of this year’s festival.  Enter stage left: Cherry Blast.

In an effort to help expand the boundaries of DC’s art world into the Southeast, Cherry Blast will convert an empty warehouse into a party filled with art, music, dance, fashion, anime, and origami from local creative types.  This is the scene and the place to be seen, and there will be even be swag!  There are free parking lots as well as on street parking by the warehouse, but if you’re looking for alternative means of transportation, the event is offering free shuttle service from the Anacostia Metro station as well as every half hour from Dupont Circle.

So if you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival that doesn’t involve sweaty tourists, this is it.  It’s a great art project that will boost the work prospects of many freelance artists from around the city.  Oh, and did I mention there will be swag?  See you there DC!

Cherry Blast
Friday, April 10
9 pm to 2 am
Warehouse at 2020 Shannon Place SE
$10 (21 and over)

Music and Video:
Yoko K + Aphrodizia
Optical Groove with A DC DJ
302acid
John Bowen – Video Killers DC
JMC

Art:
Words Beats Life, Inc.
Asad ULTRA Walker
Hiromi Ashlin, courtesy of Gallery Sydney-East
Cory Oberndorfer

Fashion:
Moojooken

Dance:
CityDance Ensemble

Spoken Word Performance:
Life Pieces to Masterpieces

Film:
DC Anime Club

Light Design:
David London – Divergency

Peeps:
DIABETIK

Food:
On the Fly

Max Cook

Hailing from the Mile High City, Max has also lived in Tinsel Town, the Emerald City, as well as the City of Brotherly Love. Now a District resident, he likes to write about cool photos by local photographers, the DC restaurant and bar scene, or anything else that pops into his mind.