‘Game of Thrones’ kingdoms come to life at Georgetown mansion

March 19, 2024 | (Jason Fraley)

WASHINGTON — It just earned a record 12 Emmy Awards, including the top prize for Best Drama.

Now, it’s your turn to experience the magic of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” with the third annual Night Nouveau party, featuring Kristian Nairn — who plays the character Hodor — as the special guest DJ.

“Hodor is coming over from England where he is actually a very famous DJ in his own right just for this event. He was known as a DJ and then he took this gig as an actor for this little show.” jokes Kate Goodall, Chief Operating Officer of the party’s sponsor S&R Foundation.

The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Georgetown at the lavish Halcyon House at 3400 Prospect St. Northwest, which overlooks both the Key Bridge and Potomac River below.

“They’ll show up at 7:30 and they’ll be led upstairs through the house out into the back garden, which is where you get this tremendous view of the (Potomac) River and Key Bridge,” Goodall says. “We are creating different lands inspired by the show in each area of the house. We’ve got a marine kingdom where we have Fire Breathers and it’s all sort of Moroccan. … There’s also going to be an ice wall, so we’ve got the frozen North. … Then when you walk into the main house, you’ll be in a King’s Landing-inspired space, which will include the Iron Throne. That’s where the dance floor will be.”

The party will be held at Halcyon House in Georgetown. (Sage Communications)
The third annual Night Nouveau will be held at the Halcyon House in Georgetown D.C. (Courtesy Sage Communications)

Tickets aren’t cheap at $200 a pop, but that gives you access to an open bar and food, including free tastings from D.C. area restaurants, including Sushiko, Daikaya, Shake Shack and Dolci Gelati.

“We have the whole range from hot cuisine to really great fast food. You can get everything from crabcakes to sushi to hamburgers,” Goodall says.

Dolci Gelati has created five new ice cream flavors for this event, including Dragon’s Blood.

“You’re not going to taste these flavors again anywhere else,” Goodall says.

While enjoying the food, drink and decorations, you’re also encouraged to wear your best “Game of Thrones”-inspired costume.

“If you come to the ‘Game of Thrones’ party on Oct. 10 and you design a really great costume, you’ve knocked out your Halloween costume right there,” Goodall says.

“In just two years, the event itself has a reputation of its patrons going all out with costume design,” says Scott Greenberg, Account Director for S&R Foundation and a representative for Sage Communications. “We are so excited to see what our attendees are going to come up with.”

If you need ideas for your costume, Saks Fifth Avenue has provided a digital lookboard on the Night Nouveau website. You can also check out photos from previous years to get a feel for the attire. The first year’s theme was Film Noir Murder Mystery, while last year’s theme was Surreal.

“We had people with apples in front of their faces. Someone had eyeballs over his body. Just a normal night in a historical mansion in Georgetown,” Goodall jokes.

Attendance continues to grow from 150 people the first year to 200 people the second year.

“We’re expecting this to be the biggest year yet,” Goodall says. “It’s folks from across D.C., mostly younger, I would say 21-40 age range, but we get people who are more experienced than that. They’re generally sort of artistic or creative types because they really get into the themes. … Having all these amazing people in their costumes wandering around makes it even better, because they’re part of the art, they’re part of the atmosphere, which is always what I look forward to.”

Proceeds benefit S&R Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created in 2000 to “support talented individuals with great potential and high aspirations in the arts, sciences and social entrepreneurship, especially those who are furthering international cultural collaboration.”

Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

“This is a historic Georgetown mansion that’s being converted into a truly phenomenal ‘Game of Thrones’ inspired wonderland,” Greenberg says. “As soon as you walk through those doors, you disappear into ‘Game of Thrones.’ You become part of the show. … You’re going to see some amazing things and you’re going to have one of the best times you’re ever gonna have at D.C. party.”

Hear the full interview with Goodall and Greenberg below:

March 19, 2024 | (Jason Fraley)
Jason Fraley

Hailed by The Washington Post for “his savantlike ability to name every Best Picture winner in history," Jason Fraley began at WTOP as Morning Drive Writer in 2008, film critic in 2011 and Entertainment Editor in 2014, providing daily arts coverage on-air and online.

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