AWOL - Zine 001

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE » FALL 2014 » ZINE ISSUE 001

stand back, doors closing:

the Metro Issue + BROOKLAND: THE IVORY TOWER’S FORTRESS + EASTERN MARKET: HARRY POTTER CARRIES MY WALLET + ANACOSTIA: A GREENER GREEN LINE + DEANWOOD: FINDING GOD ON EVERY CORNER

03 SHADY GROVE

by Miranda Cleland

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE Âť Fall 2014 Âť ZINE ISSUE 001

MISSION: AWOL is a progressive magazine run by American University students in Washington, DC. Founded in the spring of 2008 with support from Campus Progress, we are a recognized publication of American University.

support AWOL is published as a member of the Voices Network, which is a part of Generation

We exist to ignite campus discussion of social, cultural

Progress, and with support from

and political issues, and serve as an outpost for stu-

AU Student Activities as a part

dents to explore solutions to local and global problems.

We hope to build bridges between American University and the world around it, ultimately making our campus more inquiring, egalitarian and socially engaged.

of the AU Student Media Board.

For more, visit genprogress.org and austudentmedia.org

AWOL is not affiliated with any political party or ideology. Our stories have an angle, which is different from having an agenda; our reporting is impartial and fair, but our analysis is critical and argumentative.

11 TYSONS CORNER

by Anne Marie Mulligan

Editor-in-chief: Eleanor Greene managing Editor: Alexa Marie Kelly Art director: Ellyse Stauffer

EDITORIAL: STAFF Editors: Jess Anderson, Allison Butler, Casey Chiappetta, Jessica Wombles, Laura Saini, Alex Mazzarisi WRITERS: Brendan Agnew, Jess Anderson, Danielle Bourn, Miranda Cleland, Lydia Crouthamel, Nicole Gray, Ellie Hartleb, Alexa Marie Kelly, Evie Lacroix, Ean Marshall, Alex Mazzarisi, Deanna Mudry, Anne Marie Mulligan, Shelby Ostergaard, Stephanie Rivera, Laura

Cover illustration by Ellyse Stauffer Back cover photo by Anna Moneymaker

Saini

ART: Photo editor: Paige Salmon design assistant: Anagha Srikanth

LIKE A STORY? HATE A STORY? Want to join AWOL? Write to us: awolau@gmail.com

illustration & Photography: Mariam

FIND US ONLINE:

Baksh, Danielle Bourn, Nicole Gray, Alexa Marie Kelly,

BLOG: www.awolau.org

Evie Lacroix, Anna Moneymaker, Deanna Mudry,

TWITTER: @awolAU

Anne Marie Mulligan, Stephanie Rivera, Laura Saini

Facebook: www.facebook.com/awolAU

06 07

10 TAKOMA

by Danielle Bourn

04 FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS

by Ellie Hartleb

05 WOODLEY PARK

by Alex Mazzarisi

22 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

by Julia Rapp

DUPONT

by Shelby Ostergaard

by Ean Marshall

09 BROOKLAND

by Brendan Agnew

21 U STREET

by Deanna Mudry

17 GALLERY PLACE 18 by Evie Lacroix 12 ROSSLYN

by Nicole Gray

16 DEANWOOD

by Jess Anderson

08 JUDICIARY SQUARE

by Sam Russell

14 EASTERN MARKET 15 ARLINGTON CEMETERY

by Lydia Crouthamel

13 CAPITAL SOUTH

by Alexa Marie Kelly

by Stephanie Rivera

20 WATERFRONT

by Laura Saini

19 ANACOSTIA

by Kim Szarmach

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

a light at the end of the red line

shady grove

By Miranda Cleland Illustration by Ellyse Stauffer

At first glance, not much seems to differentiate Shady Grove from othercommuter stations. Like most end-of-the-line stops, it is a little island in a sea of parked cars.

Traveling almost anywhere from the station requires a car or bus.

The platform, framed by a sprawling parking lot and two gargantuan parking garages, is outdoors and provides several sheltered benches to sit on if the weather is particularly grouchy.

“I don’t know of anything that’s even at the Shady Grove stop, so I have no intention of ever going there,” said Jordan Taylor, a sophomore at American University.

Matt Waskiewicz, a junior, echoed Taylor’s sentiments.

“I have never actually been to Shady Grove,” he said. “I have no real reasons to do so.” Waskiewicz says he once considered going just to see what was there, but has yet to make the journey.

Montgomery County planners have noticed that few recognize Shady Grove as an exciting place to go. In 2006, they developed the “Shady Grove Sector Plan,” available at montgomeryplanning.org, to revitalize the area, attract visitors and increase revenue.

The website states that sector plans usually outline the next 20 years from the adoption date, the county has high hopes for Shady Grove. It intends to build a library, a park, retail centers and more than a thousand new residential units. More sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways, which will make the area more accessible and pedestrianfriendly, are also in the works.

While Shady Grove may be initially uninteresting to students, the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) website states that it is vitally important to the nearly 30,000 people that use it daily--some coming from as far away as West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Some day, even students might find reason to make that journey to the end of the red line.

Miranda Cleland is a sophomore studying international studies and Arabic.

3

little cakes, big world

FRiendship heights

By Ellie Hartleb Illustration by Mithila Samak

Rick Gossett and Angela Winter met at a gala for ovarian cancer— an unlikely venue for the conception of a bakery. That night, the two became business partners after discovering Winter was searching for a brick and mortar for her catering company, and Gossett was looking to start a bakery in his recently purchased Friendship Heights storefront. Their fateful meeting became Sweet Teensy Bakery, which opened its doors just a few months ago.

handed over what he deemed their best cupcake and iced coffee combination— the Classic Chocolate Cupcake, and the Shakeorata. The chocolate cupcake with tangy vanilla frosting was served in brown paper on a sleek white platter, while the coffee was served with shots of espresso, syrup, and sugar, shaken over ice and poured like a mixed drink.

There is still more work to be done at Sweet Teensy Bakery, including the making of an official menu and storefront sign. But it seems the cute and comfortable bakeshop is here to stay, and is just one metro stop away.

Ellie Hartleb is a freshman studying journalism.

With jars of colorful sugar sticks lining one wall, chalkboard menus above a counter full of fresh pastries, and bar-style seating at the white marble countertop lining the wall of windows at the storefront, Sweet Teensy Bakery brands itself as the quintessential neighborhood bakery, situated in one of Washington’s most high-end shopping districts. It’s the kind of place where the man behind the counter greets his customers by name and knows their regular order. Its friendly atmosphere appeals to business professionals on the run, college students who are tired of studying in Starbucks, and families who just want to relax.

“We want to be what people remember as a neighborhood bakery where people know the bakers almost as family,” said Gossett.

After telling his bakery’s story, Gossett

WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » AWOL ZINE » FALL 2014

4

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

not your roommate’s ramen

Woodley Park

Words and photo by Alex Mazzarisi

The neighborhood of Adams Morgan is a wellknown foodie paradise in Washington, D.C. Aromas of cuisines from around the world waft down the street, enticing people to try food outside of their comfort zone. I sat down with Jonathan Cho, the owner of Sakuramen, an authentic ramen joint, to chat about what makes his restaurant so unique.

AWOL: How did you come up with the name “Sakuramen?”

Cho: The Japanese word sakura means “cherry blossom,” which is an important cultural aspect to DC. And the name just happened to fit really well with ramen!

AWOL: What inspirations do you draw upon for your dishes?

Cho: Ramen noodles are originally from China, but became a staple in Japan and Korea as well. Our chef studied in Japan, so there is Japanese influence in our dishes, but we are Korean. We all grew up eating a lot of the dishes. The dumplings are my mother’s recipe and she and my mother-in-law help make the kimchi, [a traditional Korean dish of pickled vegetables] fresh every week.

AWOL: How many bowls of ramen do you serve every day?

Cho: During the week, I’d say around 300 bowls of ramen and 300 to 400 dumplings.

But on the weekends double that!

5

AWOL: What’s the best part of being a restaurant owner?

Cho: Ever since our first night, we have been a success and have never needed to do any kind of advertising or marketing. It’s all word of mouth. So to see people we know return and to bring new people with them because they loved the food so much is great. It’s one thing to get someone to come once, but having people come visit because they want to visit and seeing them go fed well and satisfying, well, that’s very satisfying to us.

Ramen might be a staple in the college student’s diet, but after trying some authentic ramen, it might be difficult to go back to noodles from a cup! Each bowl sells for about $11-14 each and offers a change of pace for people jaded by TDR and the Tavern. Be warned though, it is addicting!

Sakuramen is located at 2441 18th Street NW. Alex Mazzarisi is a junior studying public comm.

missing the man who painted

Dupont Circle

by Shelby Ostergaard // Photo by Ellyse Stauffer

He’d been sitting at his spot at three in the morning, waiting for the drunk guys to come out and buy the drunk girls paintings. Next thing he knew, a woman was shaking him awake, telling him he was covered in blood. He’d been kicked in the head and dragged to just outside the Dupont metro stop. This was July of 2013.

Carlton J. calls himself “the homeless artist.” He used to sit in Dupont Circle, the area by Bank of America and CVS. Once, he panhandled there. Then, he started to sell paintings. Carlton got into painting in 2008, the day after Obama was elected. He was sitting in at the feet of a statue, sketching a picture of Obama onto the sidewalk using some charcoal he’d found. An elderly white woman approached him, he said, and asked him where he’d learned to draw. He said he just that liked to. She came back the next day and gave him a big bucket of black paint and a big bucket of white paint.

But she forgot to bring him any brushes. So he went to an alley and ripped up an old foam mattress he found. And he painted with that. By the summer of 2013 he had colors and brushes. But he still says that when he paints black and white with sponges, that’s what the people buy. It’s where he started. There are hundreds of shades of gray that make up a painting. The world he

creates starts with white water and ends with black sky, but you can’t be entirely sure how you got there.

But in July of 2013, something happened to him. Someone, no one knows who, beat him up as he sat waiting for customers, and kicked him in the head repeatedly. They dragged him to the metro station. Then they left him there, to be taken to the hospital by someone else. He did get to the hospital, where he had a row of staples put in, starting at the top of his head and ending at his ear.

A few weeks passed after the incident. Carlton kept painting, but there was something wrong.

His paintings, once so delicate and detailed, now looked sloppy and unfinished. The colors blobbed together instead of blurring. The tiny men and the leaves on the trees looked like a child painted them. No one was buying.

Carlton is gone now, people who used to see him around don’t know where he went. But when you walk through Dupont Circle, you should know that a homeless artist lived here once. And his work was beautiful.

Shelby Ostergaard is a junior studying CLEG. WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » AWOL ZINE » FALL 2014

6

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

satisfy your inner bookworm

you have to spend a fortune -you’ll find cheap paperbacks and used books too .

By Ean Marshall

If you’re into capes and costumes…Check out Fantom Comics, also located on P Street.

Recently moved from Union Station, this comic shop has a large variety of comics both independent and mainstream. Popular characters like the X-Men and Green Lantern are alphabetized in order by character, so its quite easy to pick and choose what books you would like. The staff is very helpful, and are eager to recommend the books that they loved. If you can’t make the trek to Big Planet Comics on U Street, check this place out.

Dupont Circle Photo by Mariam Baksh

Though Dupont Circle is a home to museums (the Jewish Military History Museum, the Textile Museum, and the Laogai Museum are the lesser-known ones that join the famed Phillips Collection in the neighborhood), embassies, and a variety of ethnic restaurants, it’s really the bookstores that make it great.

Three bookstores within walking distance of the Metro station offer great reads to different types of readers.

If you’re interested in finding first-print copies of something, head to Second Story Books.

Located on P Street, this bookstore specializes in antique books. Among the rarities are first editions of Ida Tarbell’s work “The History of The Standard Oil Company.” The bookstore also sells old CDs for music lovers. Don’t think

7

If you enjoy reading with a glass of wine…

Check out Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café.

Located on Connecticut Avenue, Kramerbooks is an indie bookstore that has a wide selection of genres to choose from, including a great biography and history section. Best of all, like Busboys & Poets, there is a café and a bar located in the back of the bookstore, perfect for after work. If you enjoy a mix of expertly curated books and upscale food and drink, check this place out.

Ean Marshall is a senior studying journalism and literature,

a silent salute

Judiciary square Words and photo by Sam Russell

Exiting the Metro in DC usually feels like a lot of rattling, loud screeching, muffled voices, doors swishing, high heels clicking and swarms of people rushing every which way.

But even at lunchtime on a weekday, the Judiciary Square Metro station was quiet. It falls on the metro map somewhere between Metro Center and Union Station. Why is it so quiet here? The answer is just overhead.

Here, it doesn’t even feel like the city. There were people walking around and some cars driving past, but the environment felt peaceful. That’s because the metro spits people out right in the middle of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

The memorial is incorporated into a beautifully landscaped circular park. Along the edge of the circle, under the line of tall trees, is a long (304 feet, to be exact) blue-gray marble wall with over 20,000 names of federal, state and local police officers who have died in the line of duty.

At lunchtime, people sat on the wall, taking their lunch breaks or lay out on the grass under the shade of well-groomed trees.

“I work down the street from here and this is my favorite spot to come for my lunch break in the warmer months,” one visitor said. “I have read almost every name on the wall. I find it calming.”

The most striking part about this memorial sits at the end of each section of the marble walls. A giant, fierce lion or lioness stands

on one side, protecting their cubs. These fierce statues symbolize the way law enforcement personnel protect the people of their area with courage, valor and honor.

The National Law Enforcement Memorial website reads, “The Memorial’s beauty and tranquility make it a special place for reflection, contemplation or just a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle of city life.”

It’s an accurate description.

This memorial isn’t listed on “Best of DC” lists online, but consider it a hidden gem. Try getting off the red line at Judiciary Square next time, and spend a reflective moment with the National Law Enforcement Memorial.

Sam Russell is a freshman studying international studies.

WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » AWOL ZINE » FALL 2014

8

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

the ivory tower’s fortress

brookland

By Brendan Agnew

Were it not for the warehouse bearing the neighborhood’s name that looms over the metro platform, it would be hard to tell that these two sides of the Brookland/ Catholic University metro station were part of the same neighborhood.

At first glance, it looks like another new chic urban hotspot, virtually indistinguishable from Columbia Heights or NoMa. A short stroll northeast tells a much different tale; one of a storied DC working class neighborhood, an “urban renewal” project that the city seems to never have finished.

It’s hard to imagine two neighborhoods so disparate in income and history could coexist a few blocks apart.

To say that they do would not be entirely truthful.

College is for many a “practice-run” for life, a world sealed away from the adulthood. For people between voting and drinking ages, a college campus can provide a sense of comfort and camaraderie. Catholic University of America (CUA), it seems has gone to great lengths to make this conceptual divide between worlds into a physical one.

Over their newly constructed student apartments that surround the university’s campus, one can hardly see the neighborhood outside. The once-abandoned Monroe street is now lined with shops and apartments priced for and filled with students.

9

One would be hard pressed to find a local Brooklander anywhere near the counter at Starbucks or Potbelly Sandwich Shop.

At 12th street, once Brookland’s central artery, the hip urban luxury comes to an abrupt end. Many of the businesses are boarded up or burned out. The ones that stuck around pull bars down over their storefront windows after closing every night to avoid theft. It couldn’t be a further departure from the enclave CUA has created for its students.

Brookland station was recently named the most violent metro stop in the WMATA system. The transit authority reported 44 incidents of violent crime at the stop in the first three quarters of 2013. Quite a few of these were against CUA students, who can’t help but stick out in Brookland, being that the student body is 65 percent white and the surrounding neighborhood largely African American.

Whether CUA’s presence in Brookland is a malignant or benign one depends on who you ask or what side of 12th stand on. For students, it serves as the barrier between their college experience and a neighborhood that social scientists would politely describe as “transitioning”. For those that call Brookland their home, it seems like another expensive wall put up a by a city that does not seem eager to have them.

Brendan Agnew is a senior studying economics.

may the crÊpes be with you

takoma

Words and photo by Danielle Bourn

Nestled in Northeast D.C. lies a quaint Metro stop known as Takoma. Even quainter is the community surrounding it. However, Takoma, despite it’s charming architecture, classy coffee shops, and picturesque couples walking with children, has one serious downfall. Its food truck festival.

Takoma’s Food Truck Fridays, which technically takes place in Takoma Park, Maryland (Takoma and Takoma Park seem to bleed together), was advertised joyfully online at the Main Street Takoma community page. The listing conjures up images of ten or twelve food trucks, lots of fabulous people, some music, and balloons for days. In reality, Takoma’s sad Food Truck Friday was

only home to three food trucks. Some might find it a disapointment.

But for those who venture to Holy Crêpes, it’s not a disappointment — it might even make up for all the nonexistent balloons and music in the world. This little truck, as crazy as this might seem, could possibly even stand as a food truck festival in itself. Holy Crêpes is a little silver truck which bares an uncanny resemblance to a spaceship.

This little charmer was the sweet spot (literally and figuratively) in this sad Food Truck Friday. Their six dollar Peanut Butter/ Chocolate/Banana crêpe is the light at the end of the tunnel, the perfect representation of what one could tell their grandchildren the “glory days” of college were all about.

Holy Crêpes is the silent force that brings unsuspecting patrons to Takoma, calling them there despite the obscenely long metro ride, not unlike the magical force that kept bringing Harry and Sally together, or the one Darth Vader won’t shut up about.

Danielle Bourn is a freshman studying international studies.

WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » AWOL ZINE » FALL 2014

10

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

a silver lining

tysons corner Words and photo by Anne Marie Mulligan

The latest edition to the Metro system brings even more promise to an already developing area in the DMV. Tysons Corner is a microcosm of the expansion happening throughout the McLean area foreshadows more development as the silver line continues to grow. If you’re looking for something new to do this weekend, or for some good retail therapy, go to Tysons Corner. It’s one of the must-see stops on the newly operational silver line and it sure feels like it.

The sparkly platform of the metro leads to the escalators, which are decked out with

11

lights so you can see your feet, even at night.

A bridge with modern glass windows leads out of the station, and over the highway to the consumer paradise of Tyson’s corner.

You will arrive at a beautiful outdoor space boasting an urban pirate ship playground and a tempting Shake Shack. Inside, the mall presents over 100 shops. Attached is an AMC movie theater for shoppers who want to relax and sit down in front of a big screen after a full day. A variety of restaurants, such as Tuscany-themed Brio, and other standard mall eateries like Panera Bread and California Pizza Kitchen give shoppers a place to relax and grab a bite. In the center of the mall is Wasabi, a new kind of restaurant that serves sushi and other dishes from a conveyor belt that circles a booth-style dining area.

Tysons Corner Mall will be sure to satisfy shoppers and locals as the area continues to expand economically.

Anne Marie Mulligan is a sophomore studying international studies.

the lone baker

Rosslyn Words and photo by Nicole Gray

Every day for 18 years, the owner of J’s Cookies has worked 15 hour days, from four in the morning to seven in the evening.

Attached to the Rosslyn Metro stop is the Rosslyn Center, an enclosed area with a handful of shops. In Jung owns a small bakery and coffee shop called J’s Cookies. Originally from South Korea, Jung didn’t speak English, but he did know how to bake.

He opened his shop 18 years ago, and he’s been there in Arlington ever since. Reviewers on Yelp call J’s a “mom and pop coffee shop,”

but they’re mistaken. Jung is his business’ sole employee.

He begins his morning baking bagels, cookies and pastries in a step by step process. An assembly line would be quicker, but he’s the only one here. Jung serves around 200 customers each day and knows that his proximity to the metro benefits his business.

Between baking, running the cash register and preparing foods and drinks, Jung said his days are consumed with his shop. He gets the chance to sit down only on weekends, when a lack of commuter foot-traffic makes it better for his bottom line to close.

But there he’ll be, back every Monday like clockwork.

J’s Cookies is located at 1700 N Moore St., Arlington, Va. Nicole Gray is a freshman studying CLEG.

WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » AWOL ZINE » FALL 2014

12

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

congressmen need tacos too

Capitol south

Words and photos by Stephanie Rivera

If your mouth waters for steamy fajitas, thick guacamole or an inside out burrito (yes, that exists), Tortilla Coast is the place for you.

Located across from the Capitol South Metro stop, T-coast (as most call it) is normally a go-to lunch, dinner and happy hour spot for congressional staffers. It’s also a venue for many fundraisers hosted by members of Congress. Bright colors and quirky fish images decorate T-coast for a fun, vibrant atmosphere.

The menu is filled with your typical tex-mex dishes. From enchiladas to taco salads, T-Coast knows how to throw down. Their chips and salsa can also be a meal on their own, because they are super addicting and can get you full before the order arrives.

Some of signature dishes include enchiladas, the sunset burrito and the popular Inside Out burrito. As a favorite Tex Mex haunt for members of the federal government, T-Coast is pricey with $1.50 for small guacamole and $12.95 chimichangas. But the portions don’t disappoint.

On the weekends, T-Coast offers a killer brunch, which includes huevos rancheros, pancakes and breakfast burritos.

Fun fact: former VP hopeful Paul Ryan once served chips and salsa there when he first moved to Washington.

Tortilla Coast located at 400 First Street SE. Stephanie Rivera is a senior studying public comm.

13

harry potter carries my wallet

eastern market

Words and photo by Alexa Marie Kelly

She says her favorite purse is a geometry textbook.

Artist Caitlin Phillips crafts purses, coasters, jewelry and tablet covers out of vintage books.

She hoards many of her creations — like the Geometry purse — to herself.

A powder blue Pride and Prejudice hangs in Phillips’ booth at Eastern Market, a space she has managed for 10 years. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” strung through with black beads also catches the eye. Not to mention table coasters lined with pages of classic children’s books, from “Winnie the Pooh” to “Amelia Bedelia.”

Phillips runs her business, Rebound Designs, out of a new studio and storefront called “Book land” in the Edgewood neighborhood of Washington. She also sells her work on the business’ website and in an Etsy shop, as well as various craft shows.

The altered book artist found inspiration for Rebound Designs through garbage. Or as she saw it, through discarded treasures.

“I used to work at a used bookstore, and we threw a lot of books away,” Phillips said. “I would take these books, these beautiful books no one wanted and think someday i might come up with something to do with them.”

The final spark for Phillips’ business idea? A purse made of Capri Sun pouches. “If you can make a cool looking purse out of total trash, what’s the classiest thing that you could throw away?”

So Phillips recycled her collection of vintage books and transformed them into the type of art she sells today. Three months later, she quit her job.

For purses, Phillips said her most popular products are Jane Austen or Nancy Drew novels.

Of course, each customer has her own taste. Many even bring Phillips their favorite books to have their own custom purses.

Tablet covers, or what Phillips calls Biblio Tech Covers, are also popular, according to Phillips.

Rebound Designs products range from $65 to $170 and can be found on the website rebounddesigns.com Alexa Marie Kelly is a senior studying public comm.

WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » AWOL ZINE » FALL 2014

14

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

here rests in honored glory

arlington cemetery

By Lydia Crouthamel Photo by Evie LaCroix

It was a gloomy Saturday morning, raining steadily on the thousands of graves that spread out seemingly endlessly over the hills of Arlington National Cemetery. Other visitors, like me, had traveled by Metro to explore and pay their respects despite the bad weather, and as the rain fell we silently recognized the lives of the many soldiers who lay just beneath us. As I meandered through the pathways, the quiet, peaceful atmosphere gave me the space to honor the lives of those who defended my country.

15

Of the many solemn sights that I pondered throughout my trip, it was terribly difficult for me to walk away from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Perhaps what stopped me in my tracks was the silence, or the white marble, or the stern, solitary guard walking silently back and forth before the tomb.

“Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.” Those sobering words are etched into the tomb, where, if I’d had the time, I would have stood and watched the guards pace all night long with unmitigated admiration.

Time passed quickly, and as I reentered the Metro station to head back to campus, I promised myself that I would pay another visit later this fall. Arlington Cemetery was certainly near the top of my list of places to visit upon my arrival to the DC area, but the majesty of this cemetery is unlike anything I expected. It is a sight to humble every American.

Lydia Crouthamel is a freshman studying business, language and culture.

finding god on every corner

ericksburg, while three percent come from Deanwood itself, he estimates.

By Jess Anderson

Many of the churches also have programs catered toward the elderly or single mothers, providing them with meals, clothing, or just someone to depend on.

deanwood

Deanwood marks the last DC metro station on the orange line before the train crosses into Maryland on its way to New Carrolton. The track is lined with decrepit CSX cars, and many of the neighborhood streets feature small houses with barred windows, unkempt lawns, and run-down chain link fencing.

But what the neighborhood lacks in money, it makes up for in churches.

“In Deanwood alone I would say—my goodness, there must be 20, 30 churches in a 10 block area,” said Rev. Ronald Miner, Sr., pastor of the First Baptist Church of Deanwood.

He believes a lot of the “storefront churches”—the smaller, “newer” congregations (First Baptist itself is about 112 years old) have popped up in the last few decades as a crime-prevention measure: by providing neighborhood youths with positive things to do, they stay off the street and away from drugs and alcohol.

Just down the road at Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church, Pastor Freddie Davis has another theory.

“The reason you have so many churches in such a small geographic area is because people don’t go to the churches in their community, they go where they like the church.”

He says that members of the black community in particular are willing to commute to church the same way people commute to work. In his congregation alone he has people who travel from Baltimore or Fred-

“It’s kind of like one team, and the idea is really to just reach out in a Christ-like way,” Miner said.

The high number of places of worship can be a surprise in an area with a reputation like this Northeast suburb. A woman waiting at a bus stop nodded at a parking lot behind her where she said someone had been murdered just last year.

But some locals disagree.

“If you was a victim one time, you’re going to think everything’s bad,” said Keith Woods, as he played cards with two other men in the Senior Room at the Deanwood Recreation Center (DRC). “We have a lot of great people from here—Marvin Gaye, Nannie Helen Burroughs.”

The DRC itself, located just across from the metro station, is just four years old and offers a playground, a library, a pool with a tall twisty slide and senior center to residents of the neighborhood.

Even though visitors are required to show photo identification before entering the facility, it’s a sign that Deanwood is moving forward.

Woods remembers when the area was still acreages of farmland and says, “It’s moving in a positive direction, but it’s not moving fast. It’s just moving.”

Jess Anderson is a junior studying journalism.

WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » AWOL ZINE » FALL 2014

16

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

ent ethnic Chinese populations, and a long history of German immigrants. At its peak, Chinatown stretched from G Street to Massachusetts Ave. But, because of the 1968 Race Riots after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, a large part of the Chinese population moved out to Maryland and Virginia suburbs. This has left the neighborhood to transform old buildings into retail and office spaces.

commercializing chinatown

gallery place

Words and photos by Evie Lacroix

To walk out of the Gallery Place Metro Station is to be assaulted by bright flashing advertisements reflecting off of office windows. In the evening air, there is a cacophony of street performers harmonizing with construction, car horns and bluetooth babbling. The air is saturated with the sickly sweet smell of overflowing garbage cans.

The Gallery Place Metro stop, located at 7th and F Streets, is a place where even people who visit frequently are only interested in passing through. In the immediate blocks around the station there are more offices than apartments. There are no parks for kids to play in, no markets or grocery stores.

Eighty years ago this place was a cultural melting pot. There were 20 differ-

17

Gallery Place now caters to tourists and consumer culture. It’s a hub a museums and shopping, what with the National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian American Art museum, the Spy Museum, a corner proclaiming to be Chinatown, several theaters, and luxury stores in steps of each other. Most places come adorned with translated Chinese signs, giving quasi-authenticity to the Chinatown name.

This is a culture clash of old and new. Gallery Place is home to some of Washington’s oldest buildings and styles of architecture, and some of the newest. New construction is constant, sometimes taking up old lots, and others building upon what was already there.

In the midst of all the chaos, there is a bright spot. Looking past the seemingly apathetic business attitude of the neighborhood, there aura of friendliness between the locals. On street corners and sidewalks it is not hard to find friends meeting up, or strangers exchanging words.

Evie Lacroix is a freshman studying journalism.

Store signs translated in English heading North down 7th Street NW.

Store front window of souvenir shop on H Street.

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

a greener green line

ANACOSTIA

By Kim Szarmach Illustration by Ellyse Stauffer

Walking from the Anacostia Metro Station to Anacostia Park, there is a stark contradiction between the crumbling, littered concrete sidewalks and the serene view of the water and lush greenery ahead. Anacostia may not be thought of for its scenic nature walks, but the peaceful bike path on the river’s edge makes a person wonder if it should be.

A chronic victim of environmental injustice, the Anacostia area may finally be experiencing positive change in the health of its river and the growth of its community.

According to Lee Cain of the Anacostia Watershed Society, deforestation and erosion that occurred during the industrial revolution filled the Anacostia River with soil and made it unsuitable for shipping. Once the river was no longer of economic importance,

the rest of Washington began to neglect the surrounding area.

In the eyes of the city, Cain believes, Anacostia became the perfect location for power plants and landfills, posing health risks to the economically disadvantaged people who have been moved there by the process of gentrification.

The Anacostia Watershed society has spent the last 25 years working to make Anacostia a more appreciated region. Through public engagement, legislative action, and by improving access to the river, the society has made progress in improving the quality of life in the Anacostia community.

According to Cain, improving the cleanliness of the river and fostering a happier community in the surrounding area have a direct correlation.

A cleaner river will draw more attention to the area, which will in turn inspire the creation of more positive change.

Cain is hopeful about the area’s future.

“I think it’s very quickly being realized that [Anacostia] is a destination to value...not a place to avoid,” Cain said.

Kim Szarmach is a freshman studying journalism.

ANACOSTIA 001 19

brunch with a silver spoon

WATERFRONT Words and photo by Laura Saini

Nutella croissants, huevos rancheros, Berkshire sausage, mimosas and Bloody Marys are just some of the options you can get at the bistro across the street from the Waterfront Metro Station. Station 4 specializes in brunch, but also has separate menus for lunch, dinner and dessert.

chero sauce and a blend of spices will win over even those who shy away from eggs.

For customers thirsty for mimosas and other brunch drinks, Station 4 offers a broad array, so bring your ID. For the rest of us there are coffees and sodas.

Although small, Station 4 has a fancy ambience. The ceilings are covered with sparkling chandeliers, intricate mirrors cover the walls, and a huge wine rack is located right in the center of the bistro. Light music plays in the background, and conversations flow both inside and on the bistro’s outside patio.

The portions were fairly large, so if you want dessert, think about bringing some of your main meal home. Dessert options included chocolate ganache, chocolate lava cake, hazelnut semifreddo, and strawberry tart.

The wait staff is very friendly, and the service fairly quick. The friendly waitstaff help customers choose from the large menu, which had plenty of options for vegetarians and meateaters alike. The huevos rancheros—an omelet covered with a blend of spices, avocados, mozzarella and beans— will not disappoint. Ran-

Station 4 is located at 1101 4th Street SW, Washington, DC.

For an eating experience with an elegant environment and convenient location, good food and moderate pricing, consider brunching at Station 4.

Laura Saini is a sophomore studying journalism.

WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » AWOL ZINE » FALL 2014

20

AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE MAGAZINE

street art for u

eyes, and illustrations of icons that juxtapose the brick alleyways on which they’re painted.

By Deanna Mudry

Whether the independently crafted images or commissioned giants like Bill Cosby on the side of Ben’s Chilli Bowl, this art belongs to the people who live there, and the people who pass by to regard it. It’s the people’s art, and it makes for a vibrant cultural center all along the U Street corridor.

U STREET Photo by Anna Moneymaker

The most striking aspect of the area just a step outside of the U Street metro stop is the street art. No, not street art meaning random lines of spray paint that neighbors call Public Works about, but real art that shouldn’t be brought down by the word “street” in its description.

But what is someone saying when they refer to something as street art? Most basically art that is on the street, or maybe something separate from and implicitly beneath art which has been carefully selected and curated. But it’s because the art on U-Street hasn’t been curated that it is so special.

Art on U Street includes beautifully and independently crafted displays of effervescent angel’s wings, the clear image of a small child’s

21

To understand anything as a piece of art, its context must also be understood. The purpose of U Street’s art could be simple artistic expression, politics, or something entirely different. But on U Street, the context and meaning aren’t given on a placard, but rather are left it up to interpretation, allowing the viewer to guess the context and gain a better understanding for the area as a whole.

The integrity of art comes from how much it engages the viewer, whether they glance at a piece quickly or become enthralled, and any visitor to U Street is sure to be engaged by the urban artwork there.

Deanna Mudry is a freshman studying journalism.

occupy sodastream

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

By Julia Rapp Illustration by Ellyse Stauffer

DU

The Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) DC Metro Chapter gathers monthly outside of DC USA, a shopping mall just down the street from Columbia Heights Metro Station. Its goal is to convince managers of the stores and passersby to boycott SodaStream, a manufacturing company that produces carbonated beverages in a contested region in Israel/Palestine.

The group argues that SodaStream operates in Israeli-occupied Palestinian land which deprives its Palestinian workers of labor benefits. Since DC USA is a mall containing large chain stores that tend to sell SodaStream products, it makes sense that the JVP would demonstrate there.

Iliana Smith, a member of the steering committee for JVP, believes that SodaStream shouldn’t be profiting off of Israeli occupation.

Smith said that the main goal of this movement isn’t just to boycott SodaStream but also to educate people about the larger issue of the Israeli occupation in Palestine.

Her passion for this cause is personal. Smith lived in Israel and has family members of Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. Now she advocates for justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.

“I would like nothing more than to see a resolution between the two states,” Smith said.

On a clear Sunday afternoon, members of the JVP demonstrated at their monthly meeting place. Usually there are about twenty-five people at these demonstrations but that day coincided with Adams Morgan Day, so attendance was sparse.

Still, the boycott thrived into the late afternoon as voices in unison shouted “No more money for Israel’s crime!” The chants paralleled the activist’s desires that no more money would be spent on SodaStream, the company that supports Israel’s occupation.

Julia Rapp is a freshman studying journalism.

WWW.AWOLAU.ORG » AWOL ZINE » FALL 2014

22

LIKE AWOL? HATE AWOL? WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

AWOLAU@GMAIL.COM

Introducing: The AWOL has been a part of American University’s student media since 2008, publishing two to three issues per year. We found that the magazine’s editorial content is stronger when we publish only once per semester,

Zine

but wanted to give writers a chance to contribute more and give new writers a reason to explore the city. So we came up with this, our first edition of the AWOL Zine. We’re pretty proud of it.