Mid City DC Magazine – September 2022 by Capital Community News

SEPTEMBER 2022

PUBLISHER:

• melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com

MANAGING Andrew Lightman andrew.hillrag@gmail.com Jean-Keith 2022 Community Rights

Reserved. Capital Community News, Inc. • Est. 1976 PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 www.capitalcommunitynews.com • www.midcitynews.com Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of: MIDCITY YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FAGON GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL FAGON EDUCATION NEXT OctoberISSUE:8th

SEPTEMBERCONTENTS2022 24 36 16 04 what’s on washington your neighborhood 16 The Wild West of Unregulated Cannabis Retailers A Capital Community News, Spotlight Investigation • Kenneth V. Cummins and Sarah Payne 24 Shaw Streets • Pleasant Mann 28 Bulletin Board • Kathleen Donner at home 35 Changing Hands • Don Denton out and about 36 Insatiable • Celeste McCall 38 Business Briefs • Sarah Payne kids and family 40 Notebook • Kathleen Donner 46 classifieds ON THE COVER: Photo: Tour the Floating Residences of DC’s PageWaterfront.28 We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.

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EXECUTIVE Melissa Ashabranner

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by Capital

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Jennifer Stevens set soap bubbles aflame at the Shaw Art Market at 2021 Art All Night.

This year the H Street Festi val is on Saturday, Sept. 17, noon to 7 p.m. The festival started as a 500-participant bloc party more than 12 years ago and has since grown into a 150,000-participant event. It is one of the most anticipated and highly attended single day festivals in Washington DC. The festival, on H Street NE, is 11 blocks long and has 14 staging areas that are diversely themed and programmed to target the different audiences. The staging areas feature music of dif ferent genres, dance, youth-based performances, interactive children’s program, fashion, heritage arts and poetry. hstreetfestival.org.

After Hours at the Museum: National Gallery Nights

National Gallery Nights returns this fall, bringing lively, multisensory programs to the East Building af ter hours on second Thursdays, Sept. 8, Oct. 13 and Nov. 10; 6 to 9 p.m. The program offers the myriad experiences that define National Gallery Nights, including live performances, artmaking, music, and pop-up talks. The event is free; light fare and drinks are available for purchase. Registration is required and opens one week in advance at noon via nga.gov/nights. A limited number of passes will become available online at 10 a.m. the morning of each event, and a few additional passes will be available at the door—first-come, first-served—starting at 5:30 p.m. nga.gov/nights.

Visitors enjoy a National Gallery Nights program. National Gallery of Art, Washington

WHAT’S WASHINGTONON

Photo: Alexander Padro H Street Festival

Art All Night: 100 Artists, Eight Wards, Two Nights DC Art All Night will take place from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. the following morning on two nights—Sept. 23 and 24. It takes place in twenty neighborhoods with different ac tivities on each night, bringing visual and performing arts, including painting, pho tography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, mu sic, literary arts, dance, theater, film, and poetry, to indoor and outdoor public and private spaces, including local businesses and restaurants. First presented as Art All Night: Nuit Blanche DC in 2011 by Shaw Main Streets, Art All Night drew crowds of 30,000 plus to celebrate the art and local culture. Since then, the event has grown to feature many more neighborhoods with over 120,000 attendees from across the DMV to DC to celebrate the arts. dcartall night.org.

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This new exhibit at the National Archives celebrates the role of sportsin creating, spreading, and promoting American identity with a newexhibit, All American: The Power of Sports, opening on Sept. 16.Sports unite people, teach values, and inspire hope and pride. In theUnited States, sports have powered efforts to bring citizens together,shape them, and project a vision of what it means to be American.But sports convey power to athletes too—power to break social bar-riers and protest injustice. All American will be on display in the Law-rence F. O’Brien Gallery of the National Archives, 700 PennsylvaniaAve. NW, through Jan. 7, 2024. This 3,000-square-foot exhibit show-cases more than 75 items including original records, artifacts, andphotographs. Highlights include original sports equipment and jer-seys gifted by star athletes to Presidents, early 20th-century tobaccobaseball cards, trophies, rare pictures and lm footage, patents, andmore. archives.gov.

“Beyond King Tut” at the National Geographic Museum

“Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience” celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the legendary discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. Visitors will experience cinematic storytelling and soaring projection imagery as they venture into the Boy King’s world like never before. Meet the gods of the underworld, study the ancient practice of mummi cation, and learn more about the Explorers who continue to unmask the mysteries of the Golden King’s life. Beyond King Tut goes beyond a traditional artifact display and uses the power of photography and multimedia to create a time traveling adventure of discovery. $20 for adults; $12 for ages ve to twelve; $16, students, military, seniors. Beyond King Tut is at the National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW, through Feb. 5, 2023. nationalgeographic.org.

“Sargent and Spain” at the NGA Celebrated as the leading society portraitist of his era, John Singer Sargent in uenced a generation of American painters. His captivation with Spain resulted in a remarkable body of work that documents his extensive travels from the north to the south and to the island of Majorca. Over three decades Sargent responded to the country’s rich culture by producing landscapes and marine scenes, pictures of everyday life, and architectural studies, as well as sympathetic portrayals of the locals he encountered. For the rst time, Sargent and Spain presents approximately 120 dazzling oils, watercolors, and drawings, many of which are rarely exhibited. Sargent and Spain is at the National Gallery of Art West Building from Oct. 2 to Jan. 2 2023. nga.gov.

Boyz II Men at Wolf Trap

All American: The Power of Sports

Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. May Noma behind the plate and Tomi Nagao at bat . . ., May 30, 1942

On Friday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m., Boyz II Men are making their long over-due Wolf Trap debut. Boyz II Men’s combination of sweet soul harmonies and swaggering new jack swing beats ruled radio in the mid-’90s with hits including “Motownphilly,”

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

“I’ll Make Love to You,” “On Bended Knee,” and more. SWV opens the show with their smooth harmonies. Tickets are $37, up. Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna VA. wolftrap.org.

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John Singer Sargent, Under the Olives, 1908, oil on canvas. overall: 55.88 x 71.12 cm (22 x 28 in.), framed: 77.47 x 93.98 x 5.72 cm (30 1/2 x 37 x 2 1/4 in.) Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mount Vernon, Illinois, Gift of John R. and Eleanor R. Mitchell, 1973.1.54. Photograph by Daniel Overturf

SEPTEMBER 2022 07 100 Gallatin St. NE Washington, DC 20011 www.bridgespcs.org I 202.545.0515 Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Scan this QR code to register for an information session or building tour Pre-K 3 through 5th grade Building a strong foundation for learning COME LEARN WITH US! ENROLL TODAY! Apply for admissions at: www.myschooldc.org or call (202) 888-6336 To register for the building tour or ZOOM Info session, call (202) 545-0515 or email Schoolinfo@bridgespcs.orgBuildingToursSeptember. 1 and 13 from 6 – 7pm ZOOM Information Sessions English / Inglés: September 13 and 27 from 6 – 7pm Español / Spanish: 13 de septiembre y 27 de 7 – 8pm PRE-K 3 – 5TH GRADE SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR EXPANDED ENROLLMENT IN PREK-3, PREK-4 & KINDERGARTEN

Billy Bragg at the Lincoln

Polyester knit overall: 185.42 x 175.26 cm (73 x 69 in). National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation “Host and Guest” at Synetic This Synetic classic, based on a Georgian epic poem, tells the ancient story of a family who takes in a lost stranger only to discover he is from an enemy clan, and their valiant attempt to save him when their village wreaks vengeance. Performed around the world, Host and Guest is a timely and relevant tale of war, strife, the beliefs that tear us apart, and the humanity that brings us together. $25 to $60. Host and Guest is on stage at Synetic Theater, 1800 South Bell St., Crystal City, from Sept. 12 to Oct. 2. synetictheater.org.

For decades Thornton Dial, James “Son Ford” Thomas, Lonnie Holley, Mary T. Smith, Purvis Young, and many other Black artists in the South worked with little recognition, often using recycled materials as their art supplies and yards, porches, or boarded-up storefronts as their galleries. The women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, made dazzling quilts from well-worn clothing or leftover scraps of fabric. Despite racism and other forms of discrimination, all of these artists drew on deep cultural and spiritual traditions to create some of the nest art of our time. In 2020, the National Gallery acquired 40 sculptures, assemblages, paintings, reliefs, quilts, and drawings from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, and several related gifts have recently entered the collection as well. From Sept. 18 to March 26, 3023, enjoy these inventive works, including nine Gee’s Bend quilts, and learn the remarkable stories of their making and makers. National Gallery of Art East Building, upper level. nga.gov.

Anti-Flag at the Black Cat

Billy Bragg performs at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW, on Friday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). He is an English singer-songwriter and activist. His music blends elements of punk rock and soul with lyrics that span political or romantic themes. His music is centered on bringing about change and involving the younger generation in activist causes. $55. “Among the million things that never happened were my planned US dates for the past three years, so I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with my audience and trying to make some sense of where we are after all this time. It will be great to be back out on the road playing songs in North America once again.” thelincolndc.com.

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An Evening with The Washington Ballet

The last time Anti-Flag embarked on a North American tour it lasted two days before Covid 19 brought it to an end. After more than a year of challenges, hardships and misfortune for many the world over they are hitting the road again. They want everyone who believes that Black Lives Matter, that neo-fascism has no place in this society, that LGBTQ+ people are free to be who they are, that war and war pro teering is morally reprehensible, and that capitalism is messed up, to walk away from these shows feeling re-energized for the struggles ahead and to know that they are, indeed, not alone and to keep up the good ght. Admission is $25 (all ages). Anti-Flag performs at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW, on Friday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. blackcatdc.com.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Photo: Courtesy of Synetic Theater

Called to Create: Black Artists in the American South at the NGA

On Wednesday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m. (gates at 6:30 p.m.), The Washington Ballet celebrates one of the most beloved works by choreographic master George Balanchine alongside a trio of original works including choreographer Silas Farley’s commissioned work Werner Sonata & The Washington Ballet’s own Andile Ndlovu, a lively celebration of the creative process and a showcase for the company’s diverse range of talents. $30. Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA. wolftrap.org.

SEPTEMBER 2022 09

National Apple Harvest Festival Located in the heart of Pennsylvania Apple country, just north of Gettysburg, the National Apple Harvest Festival celebrates the fall season with beautiful handmade crafts, delicious food, and jam-packed entertainment. The festival has special attractions ranging from steam engine displays, live music, antique cars, orchard tours, pony rides, tastings and craftsman demonstrations. The National Apple Harvest Festival is on Oct. 1, 2, 8 and 9; open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. $10 admission; free under twelve. 615 Narrows Rd., Biglerville, PA. appleharvest.com.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON Idles at The Anthem Idles are a British rock band formed in Bristol in 2009. Their debut album, Bru talism, was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, as was their second album Joy as an Act of Resistance in 2018. Their third album, Ultra Mono, was released in September 2020. The band released their fourth album, Crawler, last year. The punk rock Idles performs, along with Injury Reserve, at the Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW, on Sept. 14, 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). $45 to $75. theanthemdc.com.

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Leonard Bernstein’s MASS

Photo of Idles at their last visit to The Anthem.Photo: Farrah Skeiky

Leonard Bernstein. Photo: Allen Warren: allenwarren.com.

As the concluding event of Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Leonard Bern stein’s MASS returns 51 years after its world premiere at the Kennedy Center’s 1971 open ing gala. Directed by Alison Moritz and cho reographed by Hope Boykin, this monumental work will be re-staged in the Concert Hall and feature the NSO and conductor James Gaffi gan along with 2020 Marian Anderson Award winner Will Liverman as the Celebrant. $29 to $209. Performances are on Thursday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 18, 3 p.m. kennedy-center.org.

Photo: Courtesy of the National Apple Harvest Festival

National Dance Day at the REACH

Photo: Jati Lindsay

From Thursday to Saturday, Sept. 15 to 17, practice your moves and dust off the dancing shoes for three days of in-person activities for National Dance Day. The three-day celebration features free interactive dance class es, performances, live music, film screenings, and more from local dance artists and organizations. Presented through a partnership between the Kennedy Center, American Dance Movement (formally the Dizzy Feet Foundation), and Con gresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DDC), this annual event invites people of all ages and abilities, from the littlest danc ers to professionals, to participate in a free celebration of the joy of dance and move ment. Everything’s free but some regis trations are required. Find the complete schedule at center.org/whats-on.kennedy-

SEPTEMBER 2022 11

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Photo: Vincent Bancheri

“TINA: The Tina Turner Musical” at the National One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner has won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tick ets sold than any other solo performer in music history. This new musical based on the life of the legendary artist and pre sented in association with Tina Turner herself, received its world premiere in April 2018 in London, where it opened to five-star reviews and has broken box office records, is on stage at the Nation al Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from Oct. 4 to 23. Tickets start at $60. BroadwayAtTheNational.com.

Photo: Manuel Harlan, 2021

Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and the cast of TINA: The Tina Turner Musical.

Maya Lin working on Civil Rights Memorial.

The 46th Annual Virginia Wine Festival® is in Oct. 1 and 2, noon to 6 p.m. both days, at One Loudoun, 44600 Freetown Blvd, Ashburn, VA. This year they’re on the grass! Tickets are $15 to $70. General admission includes tasting glass, unlimited wine and cider tastings from many VA Wineries, and access to VA Oyster Pavil ion, and all concessions and musical enter tainment. virginiawinefest.com.

Westside Boogie: More Black Superheroes

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

“One Life: Maya Lin” at the National Portrait Gallery “One Life: Maya Lin” is the first biographical exhibition of the architect, sculptor and envi ronmentalist. Lin, who catapulted to global prominence in 1982 for her design of the Viet nam Veterans’ Memorial, has spent more than four decades making work that centers on his tory and human rights with a particular focus on how we experience and relate to landscape. Lin describes her practice as “a systematic or dering of the land that is tied to history, time and language.” The exhibition traces Lin from her childhood to today, presenting a range of photographs, sculptures, personal ephemera, sketchbooks, architectural models and images of her completed works. “One Life: Maya Lin” is on view Sept. 30 through April 16, 2023 in the National Portrait Gallery “One Life” gal lery, newly relocated to the museum’s second floor. The NPG, Eighth and G Streets, NW, is open seven days a week, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. npg.si.edu.

Photo: Courtesy of Adam Stoltman

With his debut mixtape Thirst 48 arriving in June 2014, Boogie had his breakthrough with The Reach—a 2015 mixtape that spawned the Jahlil Beats-produced “Oh My,” whose viral success cemented him as one of the most refreshingly honest new voices emerging from the West Coast. Releasing Thirst 48 Pt. II in 2016, Boogie found his raw, unfiltered lyricism earning praise from artists like Ri hanna, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem, who signed him to Shady Re cords in October 2017. $20 admission. Westside Boogie is at Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW, on Thursday, Sept. 22, 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). unionstage.com.

Haley Heynderickx & The Westerlies at the Miracle Theater Through soft acoustic guitar picking and deftly accented trombone sighs, Haley Heynderickx’s music immediately re calls folk music of the ‘60s and ‘70s mixed with a love of jazz radio. But Heynderickx’s singing—her vocals that range from sultry to operatic—belie a tenacity in her soul. It’s a balance then, between exposing and protecting herself on I Need to Start a Garden—her debut album. The Westerlies, a quartet that mixes jazz, classical, and Appalachian folk, are a New York-based brass quartet. $24. Haley Heynderickx & The Westerlies are at the Miracle Theater, 535 Eighth St. SE, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). themiracle theatre.com.

Virginia Wine Festival

SEPTEMBER 2022 13 ArtAllNightDCShaw.com Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor. ©2022 Shaw Main Streets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Saturday, September 24, 2022 I 3 PM - 6 PM I FREE KIDS’ ZONE Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 7th Street, NW An afternoon of arts activities and performances for children and youth before the Art All Night Shaw festival begins at 7 PM. It’s for the Kids! Presented by

Media SponsorSponsored By KIDS’ ZONE

Photo: Simone EllisonPhoto: Victoria Pickering

Anacostia Community Museum 55th Anniversary Celebration

Kaia Kater: Roots Music at Hill Center

On Thursday, Sept. 15, 6 to 8:30 p.m., see the faces that make up the fabric of our neigh borhoods, as the community-based portraits shared with ACM as part of “Portraits by the People” are projected on the side of the Mu seum. Projections start just after sunset. In addition to interactives and giveaways, Soul & Ink will be on-site with limited edition inter active screen printing. The weekend of Sept. 16-17 is also the last chance to see ACM’s award-winning exhibit: Food for the People: Eating Activism in Greater Washington. Take a deep dive into the food issues of the nation’s capital—past and present—with this outdoor and indoor exhibition featuring ar tifacts, art installations, videos, and hands-on interactives. ana costia.si.edu.

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

A Montreal-born Grenadian-Canadian, Kaia Kater grew up between two worlds: her family’s deep ties to folk music and the years she spent soaking up Appalachian music in West Virginia. Her old-time banjo-picking skills, deft arrangements, and songwriting abilities have landed her in the spotlight in North America and the UK, garnering critical acclaim from outlets such as NPR, CBC Radio, Rolling Stone, BBC Music, and No Depression. Kaia Kater appears at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, on Sunday, Sept. 18, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. as part of their free, outdoor American Roots Music Series. Register for free tickets at hillcenterdc.org/events.

“The Good Doctor” by Neil Anton(adaptedSimonfromChekhov) at Washington Stage Guild

The Good Doctor is a comedy, with music, by American playwright Neil Simon. It’s a series of short plays, based on short stories and other works of Russian writer Anton Chek hov, framed by a writer making com ments on them. Before he turned to the stage, Chekhov wrote some of the world’s greatest short stories. By turns touching and hilarious, they’ve been adapted for the theatre by the master of comic dialogue Neil Simon. $50 to $60. The first three performances are pay-what-you-can. No reservations necessary. The Good Doctor is on stage at Washington Stage Guild, 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Sept. 29 to Oct. 23. stageguild.org.

“A Trip to Bountiful” at Fords Carrie Watts dreams of escape from the bustling city and of a return to simpler times in her beloved Bounti ful, Texas. She sets out on a risky journey to her beloved hometown, with her family in hot pursuit. Along the way, she encounters kindness and compassion … and makes a remarkable discovery about the true meaning of home. One of the foremost interpreters of Horton Foote’s work, Michael Wilson directs Nancy Robinette as Carrie Watts with Tom Story as her son, Ludie, and Kimberly Gilbert as her daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae. This classic American drama is a touching portrait of family, what we hold onto and what we leave behind. “A Trip to Bountiful” is at Ford’s Theatre, 511 Tenth St. NW, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 16. fords.org. Nancy Robinette.

Photo: Scott Suchman

SEPTEMBER 2022 15 Aetna is offering DC Government employees a range of solutions to address their medical needs. We’ve got you covered For more information, visit AetnaDCgov.com Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of subsidiary companies, including Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna). This material is for information only. Health benefits and health insurance plans contain exclusions and limitations. Information is believed to be accurate as of the production date; however, it is subject to change. For more information about Aetna® plans, refer to aetna.com Aetna is a registered trademark of Aetna Inc. ©2022 Aetna 89.12.304.1-DCInc.(10/18)

Photo: Andrew Lightman

THE A jar of “flower” boasts of the seller’s I-71 compliance and warns against consumption in public and on federal property.

tep past the Dick Tracy caricature on the sign advertising Street Lawyer Services and into the business at 409 H St. NE and you won’t find a lawyer. No lawyer’s shingle is visible anywhere, inside or out. “They’re upstairs,” the woman who greets customers assures us in the brightly lit room, directing our attention away from the art on the walls, the couch no customer is allowed to sit in and the large-screen TV on the wall blasting out “Without Remorse,’’ and toward an array of marijuana products known in DC’s burgeoning and unregulated weed industry as “flower.” For a $60-$90 donation to the lawyers supposedly a floor above – what is known in these shadowy businesses as the “gift” ‒ donors can walk out with a thank-you of 3.5 grams of the flower of their choice. At other similar DC businesses, which may number more than 100, the gift is a kid’s sticker normally costing pennies, a QR code giving ownership of amateurish art, a “counseling”’ session, a tiny tube of CBD topical muscle balm or other meaningless and inexpensive item. This sleight of hand allows I-71 cannabis entrepreneurs to skirt DC’s law allowing only personal use and sale of medical marijuana. I-71 refers to Initiative 71, approved by DC voters in 2014, which legalized possession of up to two ounces of weed, cultivation of only three mature plants at a time and a “gift” of no more than one ounce of pot to another person over 21 years of age. Federal law still classes marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance whose possession and sale are a felony. A loophole in the law has hindered regulation of DC’s retail

WILDCANNABISUNREGULATEDRETAILERSACapitalCommunityNews,SpotlightInvestigationWEST by Kenneth V. Cummins and Sarah Payne

An I-71 business proudly displays its Certificate of Occupancy, Basic Business License and a ServSafe Certification in safe food handling from the DC Department of Health.

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Photo: Sarah Payne

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Map by Jason Yen, CCN, Inc.

18 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM conn.Ave. Mass.Ave.NW Mass.Ave.SE Macomb St. NW Wisc.Ave. M St. NW Penn. Ave.SE11St.SE11St.NE H St. NE E. Capitol StStCapitolS.N.CapitolSt. 12St.NE Otis St. NE RhodeIs.AveNEFLA.AveNEN.J.AveNW N.Y.Ave.NE5St.NEGeorgiaNWSt.6Ave.U St. NW Newton St. NW MeridianPl. Euclid St. Taylor St. NW parkrd. ColumbiaRd. NWSt.10 F St. NW NWSt.14 18St.NW V St. SE MLKAve.

is investigation revealed that 42 of the I-71 storefronts are in DC’s Northwest quadrant. Wards 1 (23), Ward 2 (8) and Ward 6 (15) house more than three-fourths of the I-71s Districtwide, and Zip codes 20001 (12), 20002 (14) and 20009 (11) are home to more than 60%.

marijuana sector and engendered a probably illegal and rapidly expanding drug business that appears to be spiraling out of control. Capital Community News, publishers of the Hill Rag, East of the River and MidCity DC newspapers, supported by Spotlight DC, a nonpro t supporter of local investigative journalism, has identi ed 60 of these storefronts, 31 of which appear to be operating without a Basic Business License (BBL), which enables consumers, employees and governmental o cials to identify business owners. 25 are operating without a Certi cate of Occupancy (C of O), which assures consumers the business has been certi ed as safe and can legally do business at its location.

Anwar Saleem, executive director of H Street

Malcom x Ave. Constitution

At one point, nearly a dozen of these storefronts populated a 10-block section of H Street NE, a popular nightlife corridor that draws customers from the whole Metro area. At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I) lives two blocks from the popular H Street corridor. “I see all of these cars with Maryland and Virginia tags come o the highway, go down H Street and then go right back out again,” Silverman notes.

Caveat Emptor “It’s really upsetting,” says Linda Mercado Greene, owner of Anacostia Organics, one of seven licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in the District and a national leader in the movement to legalize marijuana. “We lost 60% of our business last year.” Greene said the same is true for the six other legally licensed and regulated medical dispensaries.

Ave NW 18 H Street NE Corr. U Street NW Corr. Georgia Ave Corr.

MainStreet, con rms Silverman’s observation and warns that the popular nightlife corridor is being turned into DC’s version of Amsterdam. Saleem says 15 I-71s currently operate on H Street and attract street drug dealers who peddle their illicit wares or prey on patrons headed to the I-71s or to legitimate bars, restaurants and otherAccordingbusinesses.to Saleem, landlords who lost tenants during the pandemic and faced mortgage and tax payments are succumbing to o ers from the I-71s to pay two or three times the going rent. “ ese businesses have more cash and they can pay higher rents,” says Saleem. “We are losing our H Street vibe.”

She bases her claim on statistics

SEPTEMBER 2022 19 A Legally, Licensed DC Medical HistoricDispensaryCannabisInAnacostia Convenient from SW Waterfront Close to Navy Yard Ball Park 5 minutes from Capitol Hill/Eastern Market Exit 1C 295-S | Exit 5C 295-N 10 Minutes from downtown DC FREE on-the-spot self-certification (For DC residents only 21+, no doctor required) Proudly serving patients from all U.S. States and U.S. territories with a medical cannabis card. 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE WDC 20020 202.845.8574 | @anacostiaorganicsanacostiaorganics.com 100% WOMANBLACKOWNED

“We have to pay so many fees, have tons of regulatory compliance, and they [the I-71s] don’t have to adhere at all,” Greene says. “The legal cannabis industry is tightly, tightly regulated. We pay a lot of taxes. We have to pay for security, background checks, workers compensation. Why are we re-upping our licenses every year when we can just go out and openCapitolup?”

Hill attorney James Loots, who specializes in steering business clients through the DC regulatory maze, says, “Normally a business needs a tax registration (with the IRS and the DC Office of Tax and Revenue), registration with DCRA as a corporation, limited liability company or sole proprietorship, and, in most cases, a basic business license.” Since the I-71s appear to have employees, they also are required to obtain workers comp insurance and to pay state and federal withholding and unemployment. Paying workers under the table to avoid these taxes and fees is illegal, Loots says. The DC Department of Employment Services has regulatory authority over these violations.Absence of a BBL, corporate or LLC registration and/or a C of O, Loots acknowledges, makes it much more difficult to pursue consumer protection claims when injuries or illness result from a visit to these stores or use of the products sold. This investigation found that some of the 29 to 35 I-71s displaying BBLs and/or C of Os ‒ and, in some instances, food handling certificates from the DC Department of Health (DOH) ‒ managed to get them without meeting the requirements Loots cited above and without apparent oversight from regulatory agencies.When asked if the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has sanctioned I-71s, Daniel Weaver, chief of staff for DCRA, which issues BBLs and C of Os and registers DC business entities, sidestepped the question. “When a complaint is received about a business, we do open up an investigation based on that complaint,” Weaver replied. “All businesses in DC are required to have business licenses,” Weaver added. Upon entering the upstairs Capitol Budz shop at 607 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, the customer cannot escape noticing the BBL, C of O and DOH certifications displayed prominently on the wall. But the locked cases of brightly colored cannabis edibles, plus the pre-rolls (joints, or marijuana cigarettes) and flower would indicate to any DCRA inspector that the business has much more on hand than the two ounces of marijuana permitted to be possessed under DC law. Only the licensed, legal dispensaries can stock more than two ounces at any given moment. Medical dispensary owners report commonly keeping eight to 10 pounds of weed in inventory.

The Gift That Keeps Giving Attorney Paul Zukerberg led the efforts to decriminalize marijuana in DC in 2013 and the passage of Initiative 71 the following year.

Zukerberg said that although the gifting provision was meant to be “purely altruistic, eventually it became more like a barter situation, then if you can gift it, you can exchange gifts.”

I-71 stores sell a wide range of cannabis infused edibles. Everything from doctored Fritos to Sour Patch Kids. Photo: Sarah Payne

NEIGHBORHOOD

Reporters found no attorneys at Street Lawyer Services. Photo: Sarah Payne

20 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM compiled and published by New Frontier Data, considered to be the Bible of the cannabis industry nationwide, and data from the DC Alcoholic Beverage and Regulation Administration (ABRA), which regulates legal dispensaries and licensed growers.

Cannabis shops often occupy the upper floors along retail corridors. Here Gifted Curators, an I-71 business, is perched above a Subway. Photo: Sarah Payne

Zukerberg doesn’t mind that the gifting provision has become a loophole in the law big enough to pull the entire District of Columbia

Enterprising entrepreneurs took notice of that provision, and soon retail souvenir stores and head shops were gifting marijuana with the purchase of overpriced t-shirts and other items. Pop-up stores appeared suddenly and overwhelmed neighborhoods for a few days, and then disappeared. Eventually the gifting became less and the required purchases declined in value and desirability to the point where many I-71s engage in outright sale of marijuana, in violation of DC and federal laws.

The role of the DC Council is legislative rather than regulatory. It has struggled to create a form of amnesty for the I-71 owners and bring them into the legal market that is expected to develop in DC. This leaves enforcement to Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the executive branch. But the regulatory agencies have been slow or reluctant to stem the rabbit-like proliferation of I-71s.

SEPTEMBER 2022 21

Gift Curators has reversed the order of gifting. Customers walk out with the gift of marijuana but have to request the product purchased, an artwork, by email later. The C of O for Gifted Curators defines permitted business uses as art gallery and retail.

“I am proud of the people who figured out how to create this loophole to act in a legal manner to be part of the burgeoning market that’s going to be very successful,” echoed attorney Ryan Jones at the sameThisevent.viewpoint has led to lax regulatory enforcement and legislative oversight, observers concur. No agency contacted has been willing to take the lead in addressing the problems of the local retail cannabis sector. The DC Department of Health (DOH) originally was given jurisdiction over guaranteeing the health and safety of the weed sold in the dispensaries, but DOH officials said enforcement should be the responsibility of ABRA.

Opaque Ownership

Lonny Bramzon, a white criminal defense attorney and cannabis advocate, is a longtime Maryland resident who has practiced law in Silver Spring since 2004. He owns Street Lawyer Services, where the lawyers supposedly were upstairs when a reporter entered the place on the afternoon of August 22.

It is difficult to determine the ownership of I-71s. 29 have not filed information with the DC government that might aid such an inquiry. 41 of the 60 businesses examined were owned by limited liability companies (LLCs). These corporate filings are used widely here and nationwide to mask ownership. Using information from DCRA databases and social media postings, this investigation positively identified 12 owners of I-71s. Two are white and living out of state. “Just because you have a Black person behind the counter doesn’t mean the store is Black-owned and Black-financed,”notes Lindenfeld.

22 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM through. “The cannabis business is a $6 billion business nationally, and it’s run by mom-and-popoperations,” he says. “Most of these I-71 shops are local entrepreneurs. What happens is, when you get a more formalized system and the big corporations come in, the local people get pushed out.”

The Gentleman Toker, a local blogger (www.gentlemantoker.com), maintains a guide to all I-71 businesses in the DMV area. This certificate recognizes Euphoria, a Capitol Hill wellness center, as the “Best Store Concept in 2021.”

Seth Laderman, who owns Gifted Curators at 2469 18th St. NW, is a white businessman based in Colorado and California. A receipt for a purchase made at Gifted Curators showed no sales tax. Prices at the establishment are inclusive of sales tax, stated an employee at the time. (The establishment later provided reporters with a copy of an email receipt from The DC Office of Tax and Revenue attesting to a recent quarterly sales tax payment.)

Passing the Buck Zukerberg’s vigorous defense of the current state of the cannabis business in DC has been advanced by many with influence. Critics and supporters of the initiative alike charge that District regulatory agencies under Mayor Bowser’s leadership purposely have ignored enforcement and allowed these businesses to operate illegally, free of regulations and requirements of “clean hands” (payment of all back taxes) placed on other DC businesses. Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie (D) and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D), in private conversations with colleagues, have argued that the issue of the I-71s is a matter of racial justice, according to one DC Council source, who requested anonymity. This view was echoed by the Democratic candidates for attorney general last spring.

NEIGHBORHOOD

Street Lawyer Services also has businesses in New York and Miami, according to Bramzon’s social media posts. Bramzon describes the business as a “marketing service,” not a law office. Bramzon is as difficult to find in his main law office at 8720 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring as it is to find a lawyer at Street Lawyer Services in DC. He initially accepted inquiries to discuss his business but cancelled at the last minute.

ABRA officials resisted, at first, complaining they needed more resources, manpower and authority to police the cannabis sector in the same manner as they regulate alcohol sales. Recently, however, ABRA announced it will coordinate the Joint Cannabis Task Force, comprised of regulators from DOH, DCRA, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMA), Office of the DC Attorney General, MPD, Office of Tax and Revenue and the Department of Forensic Science. Only personnel from DOH, FEMA, and DCRA will enter the shops for onsite inspection. Forensic Science will test products seized in inspections for contaminants and quality. Creation of the Joint Cannabis Task Force was announced Aug. 5, and businesses got a 30day grace period to clean up their act or disappear before inspectors arrive. “This is aimed at Congress,” observes political strategist Tom Lindenfeld, who has been advising the legal dispensaries on the issues posed by the I-71s. “DC is less likely to get adult use if it can’t prove it can regulate the illegalRegulatingmarkets.”the legal market involves keeping out marijuana allegedly brought in from other states, a felony under both DC and federal law. Only marijuana cultivated in DC by the five licensed growers can be sold, and only in the legal dispensaries. Dispensary owners report approaches by “sales reps” offering weed from “plugs” – as the cultivation sources are referred to ‒ in California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland and Oregon. “Usually, people are already growing it somewhere before they open up a shop,” says Norbert Pickett, owner of Cannabis, a legal dispensary in Ward 7, who reports being approached. “They already have the plug. That’s why they are opening the shop.”

The task force is getting pushback before the start of inspections after Labor Day. “This is absolutely unconstitutional. It’s the most disgusting thing I’ve ever seen,” declares an indignant Paul Zukerberg. “They are targeting these places and going in there, without a warrant, and demanding that they produce all of these records. It’s exactly what the Fourth Amendment was designed to prevent.”

Photo: Andrew Lightman

“This is one of the only ways oftentimes that minorities can get the opportunity to sell (and) to engage in this new form of commerce that has arisen … in that sense I support [gifting],” stated attorney Bruce Spiva during a candidates debate at the Hill Center on May 9, 2022.

Kenneth V. Cummins has been reporting on DC politics and issues for nearly 40 years. Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. u

This is the first article in an investigation of the DC cannabis gray market supported by a grant from Spotlight DC: Capitol City Fund for Investigative Journalism. Spotlight DC encourages the submission of proposals by independent journalists. For more information, visit www.spotlightdc.org.

Many I-71 stores resemble the Apple Store in their minimalist design.

“That’s what I don’t understand,” Silverman states during a recent interview, referring to the findings reported in this article. “If half of these businesses are illegal, why don’t we just shut them down?”

Photo: Sarah Payne

It’s a Wild, Wild World “When the voters approved Initiative 71, nowhere in there did it talk about the creation of businesses,” points out Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D). “I-71 was about the ability for you to legally grow in your home, legally be able to possess small amounts and legally be able to give a small amount to a friend.” “There’s no such thing as an I-71 business,” states Allen unequivocally. “It’s very creative branding, but it’s not real.”

SEPTEMBER 2022 23

Mayor’s Office Meets with Ninth Street Businesses

Vander Nat held another meeting with the group on Aug. 24 to review progress and remaining issues. The business owners noted that the police had started to provide light towers to the area but that it would help if they could light up Ninth Street down to R Street.

Photo: Pleasant Mann

NEIGHBORHOOD

Ninth Street while the crime was taking place in the sidestreets and alleys. The owners said that almost every employee had had their car broken into. They suggested that the police provide more light towers in theAllarea.the businesses expressed concerns about their survival. Every owner said that their revenues had gone down 40-50% since the completion of a portion of the Ninth Street cycletrack on the 1900 block, due to lack of parking, difficulties with making food pickups and traffic gridlock. Noting that the rest of the cycletrack will not be constructed until next year, the business owners felt they had been targeted for removal.

Shaw Art All Night Coming Sept. 24 Art All Night, the annual overnight celebration of neighborhood arts and culture, returns to Shaw the evening of Saturday, Sept. 24. In previous years, the center of the event was Parcel 42, which is now a construction site for an affordable housing development. This year, the Shaw festival welcome center, artists’ market and main stage will be on the west plaza at Banneker Academic High School, along with Tenth Street Baptist Church’s R Street parking lot, which will include art installations, video projections and live entertainment. Headliners include Grammy-nominated hip hop multi-instrumentalist Christylez Bacon, recording artist/songwriter Ace Ono, muralist Aniekan Udofia and fire/bubble-blower Jennifer Shannon. There will be two dozen other art and performance venues in Shaw during the festival, including outdoor locations and a parade led by the Batala Washington drummers. The Watha T. Daniel Library will offer do-it-yourself art programs and entertainment for children, teens and adults. The Shaw Community Center will close 11th Street and present a program in front of Lincoln Temple including a performance by youth from the Washington Jazz Arts Institute and wrestling matches by C3W Wrestling. Team Rayceen will present an LGBTQIA+ artist showcase featuring a mini ball at the DC Housing Finance Agency auditorium. All of the Art All Night in Shaw events are free and open to the public and no tickets or reservations are required. For more information, visit www.artallnightdcshaw.com.

Vander Nat was also working to arrange a meeting between Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B and the Ninth Street Association to reduce friction between the two groups. The business owners had complained about the inclination of the ANC and neighborhood groups to challenge every liquor license renewal on the block. They also complained about the inconsistent application of regulations for noise and hookah use by DC inspectors.

Vander Nat noted that Councilmember Brianne Nadeau had introduced the Harmonious Living Bill, which might clarify noise and nuisance regulations.

Neighborhood kids check out federal and District emergency vehicles at Shaw’s National Night Out.

Shaw NationalCelebratesNightOut National Night Out, the annual event to strengthen ties between law enforcement and the community, returned to Shaw the evening of Aug. 2 at the Kennedy Recreation Center. It was hosted by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Third Police District led by District Commander James Boteler. Attendees also included MPD Assistant Chief Morgan Kane, the chief of Patrol Services North, Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto and DC City Administrator Kevin Donahue. The Kennedy Recreation field hosted two bounce houses and a “dunk a policeman” tank where attendees could get an MPD officer wet. A grill provided burgers for the crowd along with food and drink from DC businesses. There were also emergency vehicles from District and federal agencies that kids enjoyed revving up. This year’s National Night Out featured booths and displays from the US Secret Service, the Diplomatic Security Special Agents Association and other District and federal law enforcement agencies, along with community groups and DC government agencies.

Solana Vander Nat, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture, met with members of the Ninth Street Business Association on the afternoon of Aug. 2. The meeting was part of a series held to resolve issues along the entertainment corridors of U Street and H Street NE and Connecticut Avenue.

24 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM

Shaw Streets by Pleasant Mann

Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander Padro and Assistant Chief Morgan Kane at the Shaw National Night Out. Photo: Pleasant Mann

The business owners, largely located on the 1900 block of Ninth Street NW, said that the big issue right now was gun violence. The police presence on the block was not effective. Shaw Main Streets had set up a nightly reimbursable police detail using offduty police officers, but it was often down to one officer due to the reduced size of the police force. When the police were there, they tended to stay on

SEPTEMBER 2022 25

• Glo/Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant and Lounge (1608 Seventh St. NW). Alexander Padro, chair of the Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee (ABC), noted that the investigative history of the establishment showed three infractions since the last license renewal. They were all related to violating COVID-19 compliance regulations, with the establishment paying fines for two infractions and receiving a warning for the third. Padro said that the ABC recommended supporting license renewal. Eichler moved to support renewal and it passed, 4-0.

26 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM

ANC 6E Holds Special Meeting Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E typically does not hold a meeting in August but it held a special meeting on Aug. 3 to review two requests for support for liquor licenses. The virtual conference had Commission Chair Michael Eichler (6E01), Alex Lopez (6E02, secretary), Rachelle Nigro (6E04, vice chair) and Patrick Parlej (6E05) in attendance. There was a quorum to conduct official business. The establishments requesting support for licenses were:

The next meeting of ANC 6E is on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 6:30 p.m.

• Quattro Osteria (1840 Sixth St. NW). Padro said that the establishment did not have an investigative history but that the committee had heard both positive and negative comments from the community. Lopez said that the restaurant had largely been a good neighbor but there had been problems when it obtained one-day permits for entertainment on the patio. He wanted the commission to protest the license so that he could get a settlement agreement. Two neighborhood residents mentioned that the establishment created problems when it introduced entertainment. Lopez made a motion for the ANC to protest the license, which passed, 4-0.

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SEPTEMBER 2022 27 Small Business Resource Center (202) 442-4538 | dcra@dc.gov WEBINAR: LEARN HOW TO BECOME A CERTIFIED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (CBE) SBRC ONE-ON-ONE CALL SESSION: STEPS TO OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE WEBINAR: FOUNDATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS: MODULE 2, THE BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS WEBINAR: DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, SECURITIES AND BANKING – COFFEE AND CAPITAL WEBINAR: FRANCHISE YOUR BUSINESS: A PROVEN STRATEGY FOR GROWTH & SUCCESS WEBINAR: DCRA AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY –LEARN THE PROCESS OF STARTING A BUSINESS WEBINAR: FOUNDATIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS: MODULE 3, THE BUSINESS PLAN HOW TO START A BUSINESS IN DC EN ESPAÑOL SBRC ONE-ON-ONE CALL SESSION: “TALK BUSINESS AFTER HOURS” SIMPLE STEPS FOR STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS! WEBINAR: MARSHALL HEIGHTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (MHCDO) PARTNERSHIP: STEPS TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS LICENSE Thursday, September 1, 2022 • 10:00 am Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/56498 Monday – Friday by appointment between 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Register: Thursday,dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/eventsSeptember8,2022•2:00pm Register: Thursday,dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/56316September8,2022•10:00am Register: Monday,dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/57565September19,2022•10:00am Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/55836 Tuesday, September 20, 2022 • 5:00 pm Register: Thursday,dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/55586September22,2022•2:00pm Register: 1401LatinoMonday,dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/56326September19,2022•6:00pmEconomicDevelopmentCenterColumbiaRoadNW,Washington,DC20009 Register: Wednesdaysdcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/59057byappointmentbetween4:00pm-6:00 pm Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events Tuesday, September 27, 2022 • 9:30 am R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center 2730 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE Register: Wednesday,dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/58739September14,2022•6:00pm Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/58958 SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE SMALL WORKSHOPBUSINESSTODAY Are you an aspiring or existing business in the District? The Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) is here for you!

NEIGHBORHOOD

28 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM

Story District Celebrates 25 Years

“Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story” at Theater J

Story District celebrates its silver anniversary on Oct. 1, from 7 to 9 p.m., with a special performance at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW, featuring favorite storytellers from its 25-year legacy. Performers in clude Caitlin Reilly, Graham Campbell, JR Denison, Antwan Perry, Mike Kane, Alexandra Petri, Yasmin Elhady and Jenn Kamara. The celebration will con tinue after the performances in the theater lobby with cupcakes, games and beats by DJ Sugarpants. Tickets are $25 at www.storydistrict.org/tickets/birthdaybash.

BULLETIN BOARD

“Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story” is a funny and edgy love story interwoven with a high-energy klezmer concert. This folk musical is inspired by the true tale of two Jewish Romanian refugees finding love on the shores of Canada in 1908. $64 to $84. Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW, through Sept. 25. www.theaterj.org

Art Bites Gallery Talks at SAAM

On Fridays, Sept. 23, Oct. 28 and Nov. 18, 12:15 to 1 p.m., join Smithsonian American Art Mu seum’s research fellows for this lunchtime series of gallery talks as they share new discoveries about artworks on view. Learn the stories behind these objects and how each one informs about Ameri ca’s ever-changing culture. Meet in G Street lobby. www.americanart.si.edu

“The Outsider” at the Keegan A timely comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy, “The Outsider” is on stage at Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. SW, through Sept. 24. Ned Newley doesn’t want to be governor, is terrified of public speaking and his poll numbers are impressively bad. But political consultant Arthur Vance thinks that Ned might be the worst candidate to ever run for office, unless the public is looking for the worst candidate to ever run for office. Tickets are $55; $45 for under 25, students and seniors. www.keegantheatre.org

how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia Visit www.DCHFA.org how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust mortgages. You are not required to be a first-time homebuyer or a D.C. resident to qualify for DCOD. You must, however, be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.

Homebuyers Info Sessions are Back at DCHFA Register at bit.ly/dcopendoors

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage.

60 0 • WWW.D CHFA.O RG

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down payment and closing cost assistance up to $84,000 combined. DCHFA serves as a coadministrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) firsttime home buyer program. DC4ME DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower’s employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.

8 15 FLORIDA AVENUE, N W, WA SHINGTON, D C20001•202.777.1 60 0 • WWW.D CHFA.O RG

Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.

SEPTEMBER 2022 29

Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia. COVID-19 DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months. N W, WA SHINGTON, D C20001•202.777.1

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia. COVID-19 DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.

DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership int city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia Visit www.DCHFA.org how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

COVID-19 DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.

8 15 FLORIDA AVENUE, N W, WA SHINGTON, D C20001•202.777.1 60 0 • WWW.D CHFA.O RG

The MCC provides an additional incentive for firsttime homebuyers to purchase a home in D.C. An MCC offers qualified borrowers the ability to claim a Federal Tax Credit of 20 percent of the mortgage interest paid during each calendar year.

Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)

8 15 FLORIDA AVENUE,

Voices Festival Productions has announced Part II of its Voices from a Changing Middle East Festival. It will begin with “My Calamitous Affair with the Minister of Culture & Censorship, or Death of the Dialogic in the American Theater” by VFP founder and playwright Ari Roth, a comic roman a clef about artistic collaboration and the cost of riding the third rail while making mission-driven theater. “My Ca lamitous Affair” runs Sept. 29 to Oct. 23 at the Corner at Whitman-Walker, 1701 14th St NW. The Corner at Whitman-Walker was originally the entrance and lobby of the Whitman-Walker Clinic, which for years served LGBTQIA+ and treated HIV positive community members. The former clinic lobby now serves as a multi-purpose performance space and hub for diverse cultures and communities to celebrate and gather. www. voicesfestivalproductions.com

NEIGHBORHOOD

Photo: Washington National Cathedral

As it embarks on its 25th anniversary season, Washington Improv Theater begins a year-long residency at Studio Theater, 1501 14th St NW.

30 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM

“Heroes of the Fourth Turning” at TheaterStudio

Photo: Bob Creamer Photography

RCN is offering new cus tomers 1.2 gigabit speeds including 1200 Mbps on the download and 20 Mbps on the upload for optimal work ing, streaming and more. The company has also unveiled its new streaming application, Astound TV+ app. When connected to Wi-Fi, a user can stream live TV and free on-demand programs in and out of the home, as well as platforms including iOS or Android phones and tablets, select Android TVs, Apple TV and Fire TV devices. www. astoundtv.com

Voices from a Changing Middle East Festival Returns

On the edge of the Wyo ming wilderness, the last guests linger late into the night at a celebration for the new president of their con servative Catholic college. Reunited after seven years, the friends track their dis tance from each other and the people they thought they’d be by now. Will Ar bery’s portrait of conserva tives trying to make sense of where they stand is an

incisive look at the Catholic right. “Heroes of the Fourth Turning” is at Studio Theater, Sept. 21 to Oct. 23. Studio Theatre is at 1501 14th Street NW. www. studiotheatre.org Washington Improv Theater at Studio Theater

RCN SpeedsSuperchargedOffersandTVStreaming

National Cathedral Blessing of the Animals

On Sunday, Oct. 2, at 2:00 p.m. (food trucks and music from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m.), Washington National Cathedral honors the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment. At the yearly Blessing of the Animals service all critters and their caretakers are invited to gather on Walker Court in front of the cathedral. Join them before or after the blessing to enjoy food-truck offerings and live mu sic, and be on the lookout for special animal guests. (There is also a pet blessing at Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE, by Christ Church on Capitol Hill on Oct. 2 at 4:00 p.m.) www.cathedral.org

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, seen from road.

Harriet Tubman: What Happens at the Intersection of Legacy and Landscape? How can the preservation of landscapes strengthen our understanding of our shared history? The story of Harriet Tubman’s journey from an enslaved person to a leader of emancipation to a giant of American history exemplifies the power of individuals to affect the cultural narrative. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. (doors at 6:00 p.m.), the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, celebrates the 200th anniversary of Tubman’s birth and explores how the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Church Creek, Maryland, and the newly opened Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York, are protecting and sharing her legacy. Speakers include Ahna Wilson, superintendent of the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in New York, Chris Elcock, associate principal at GWWO Architects, and Deanna Mitchell, superintendent of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Maryland. $15 admission; free for students. Public reception follows. www.nbm.org

WIT will mount six productions in three sepa rate performance spaces within the newly reno vated facility, in addition to the free, weekly,

SEPTEMBER 2022 31 12-years-and-running Harold Night series which will move to Wednesday nights. WIT begins its Studio eater residency with “Playing It by Ear,” featuring the iMusical ensemble, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 22. At each performance a cast of singer-improvisers creates a new show of scenes, lyrics and music, all inspired by a single audience suggestion. www.witdc.org $10 Hamilton Tickets

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National Arboretum Fall Festival & Bulb Sale e second annual Arboretum Fall Festival & Bulb Sale is on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buy bags of favorite and unusual ower bulbs, enjoy family-friendly activities and visit with local vendors. Enter the National Arboretum through the entrances at R Street (2400 R St. NE) or New York Avenue (3501 New York Ave. NE). www.fona.org

Returning to DC’s NoMa neighborhood for the seventh consecutive year, the international mural festival, DC Walls, will convene 20 local, national and international artists for a 10-day live mural installation and celebration. e outdoor festival takes place Sept. 7 to 17 throughout the NoMa neighborhood. NPR will sponsor this year’s festival, presented in partnership with the NoMa Business Improvement District. Special events include an opening day celebration at Alethia Tanner Park on Sept. 9, a DC Walls Party Sept. 15, artist-led walking tours and the return of the Secret Walls battle on Sept. 14. www.dcwallsfestival.com

Mural by Kimchi Juice DC Walls Mural Festival Returns for Seventh Year

ere are 40 $10 seats o ered via Lucky Seat for all performances of “Hamilton” at the Kennedy Center. For complete details, visit twotraditionalwashington-2022Jul.luckyseat.com/shows/hamilton-www.ereisalsoain-personrush,startinghourspriortocurtaintime,for

every performance except Sundays, when rush tickets will go on sale at noon. $49 tickets will be available (maximum of two) until sold out. ere is no guarantee of quantity or location. Service fees may apply. www.kennedycenter.org

Isabel Leonard and Michael Fabiano in the Washington National Opera’s “Carmen.”

Photo: Scott Suchman

32 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor. Follow us onInstagramonFollowusonTwitterLikeUsFacebook #dineinshaw #drinkinshaw #shopinshaw #loveshaw chesapeakewdc.com@chesapeakewdc Crab Shack & Bar 925 U Street, NW 920 Blagden Alley, NW 202.629.3942 causadc.com@causadc_ 905 U Street, NW Authentic Detroit-Style Pizza 1819 7th Street, NW (202)507-9135 @motownsquaredc I motownsquaredc.com @crackedeggery 1921 8th Street, NW 7 am - 3 pm crackedeggery.comDaily 1133 11th Street, NW 202.836.4107 @mariscos1133 mariscos1133.com “No. 1. The best new restaurant in Washington, D.C.”—Washington Post 1440 8th Street, www.oysteroysterdc.comNW We Love Plants, Mushrooms & Oysters Oyster Oyster WINNER: CHEF OF THE YEAR, 2022 RAMMY AWARDS More info and recipes at: larrysweetcorn.com 100% ALL NATURAL! NO added sugar, additives, coloring or preservatives The best corn you’ve ever had Available at IN THE FROZEN VEGGIES SECTION in the Whole Foods Section Now Available ONLINE @ Live at the Library (of Congress) Schedule e new ursday evening series, Live at the Library, features special events with actor Frances McDormand in conversation with radio and podcast producers the Kitchen Sisters, the inaugural reading of US Poet Laureate Ada Limon and more in September. On ursday evenings, the Library of ConOpera on the “Carmen”Field: Washington National Opera celebrates the 17th year of its most popular community event with a free opera broadcast at Audi Field. Opera on the Field will present Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m., rain or shine. Attendees are encouraged to arrive as early as 2 p.m., when gates open, to enjoy the familyfriendly atmosphere. e pre-show entertainment will include performances by local artists, photo opportunities, arts and crafts for children and chances to win prizes. For more information, visit education/opera-on-the-kennedy-center.org/wno/home/www.eld.

SEPTEMBER 2022 33 Find your neighborhood news, DAILY ONLINE, MONTHLY IN PRINT IT'S WHAT WE DO. 14TH STREET • SHAW • LOGAN CIRCLE • LEDROIT PARK • DUPONT CIRCLE MT. VERNON SQUARE • BLOOMINGDALE • BRENTWOOD • NOMA • TRUXTON MIDCITYDCNEWS.COMCIRCLE LIKE US FOLLOW US INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? CONTACT YOUR SALES REP TODAY! 202.543.8300 CAROLINA x12 | KIRA x16 | ANDREW x19 | MARIANA x20 Northwest DC’s #1 Community Newspaper

JBA Air & Space Expo

The Joint Base Andrews Air & Space Expo, on Sept. 17 and 18, is a familyfriendly way to support the military and watch the aerial maneuvers of skilled aviators. Aerial performers include the Thunderbirds, F-35 Demo Team, Heritage Flight (F-35/P-51), C-17 Demo, US Army Golden Knights and USAFA Wings of Blue. There is no set time for each performer. Static displays will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Among other commemorations, this year’s Joint Base Andrews Air Show will celebrate the Air Force’s 75th birthday. Parking is at FedEx Field with free shuttle buses. www.jba.af.mil/Air-Space-Expo-2022

Tickets for the Washington International Horse Show

Tour the Floating Residences of DC’s Waterfront

Concerts are free on Wednesdays in September, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Canal Park, 200 M St. SE. Here’s the lineup: Sept. 7, Great Falls Jazz Group; Sept. 14, Tobago Bay Calypso; Sept. 21, DMV Percussion Academy Jazz Trio; Sept. 27, Heru Peacock. www.capitol riverfront.org/canal-park

Tickets are now on sale for the 64th Annual Washington International Horse Show, Oct. 24 to 30, presented by Mars Wquestrian at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Experience the beauty and athleticism of the finest horses and riders in the world as they come together for seven days and three nights of international show jumping, top hunter, pony and equitation competition plus entertain ing exhibitions, boutique shopping, VIP hospitality and special events. www.wihs.org u

34 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM NEIGHBORHOOD

After a three-year hiatus, the Southwest Floating Boat-Home Tour resumes on Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. One of DC’s unique communi ties is now in its new home as part of Southwest’s Wharf development. Wharf Marina is home to the largest liveaboard community on the East Coast. Visitors can check out 20+ houseboats, house-barges, cruisers and sailboats that people call home. $27.99 (includes service fee); $5 neighborhood discount for Zip code 20024. Since their inception, these tours have raised about $40,000 for local char ities. The tour always sells out quickly. www.dchouseboat.org

gress Thomas Jefferson Building and all exhibitions are open for extended hours from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Happy hour drinks and snacks are available for purchase in the Great Hall. Free timed passes are sometimes required for certain events. Find the latest event details at www.loc.gov/live. Live at the Library is part of a broader effort to reimagine the visitor experience in new formats during extended evening hours on Thursday nights. www.loc.gov Jazz in Canal Park

COLUMBIACoOp HEIGHTS 3701 13th St NW #202 $23,575 0 KALORAMA 2540 Massachusetts Ave NW #501$532,500 1 MOUNT PLEASANT 1860 Clydesdale Pl NW #201/202$575,000 2 PETWORTH 208 Farragut St NW #202 $105,000 1 RLA (SW) 1311 Delaware Ave SW #837S $275,000 2 SHAW 1512 Marion St NW #302 $246,250 1 ◆

SEPTEMBER 2022 35 Neighborhood Price BR 14TH STREET CORRIDOR 2129 15th St NW $1,075,000 4 BLOOMINGDALE 1803 2nd St NW $1,243,000 6 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1422 Monroe St NW $1,195,000 4 700 Columbia Rd NW $1,100,000 2 760 Hobart Pl NW $847,500 3 DUPONT CIRCLE 1743 S St NW $1,300,000 2 ECKINGTON 2018 3rd St NE $1,179,900 5 KALORAMA 1803 Phelps Pl NW $2,500,000 5 LEDROIT PARK 417 U St NW $685,000 3 PETWORTH 3817 5th St NW $1,225,000 4 4110 3rd St NW $1,155,000 4 4403 Kansas Ave NW $990,000 3 808 Delaﬁeld Pl NW $730,000 2 SHAW 403 R St NW $1,300,000 3 U STREET 1323 V St NW $1,000,000 3 BLOOMINGDALECONDO 150 V St NW #V202 $585,000 2 151 V St NW #1 $820,000 2 1822 N Capitol St NW #1 $750,000 2 74 R St NW #1 $930,000 3 CENTRAL 1010 Massachusetts Ave NW #602$687,500 2 1121 24th St NW #108 $435,000 1 1308 21st St NW #B1 $280,000 1 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1017 Monroe St NW #2 $670,000 2 1224 Euclid St NW #2 $850,000 2 1233 Euclid St NW #3 $950,000 3 1341 Irving St NW #A $620,000 2 1343 Clifton St NW #301 $521,000 2 1417 Newton St NW #301 $365,000 1 1435 Clifton St NW #6 $485,000 1 1435 Clifton St NW #8 $815,000 2 1451 Park Rd NW #115 $200,000 0 3509 14th St NW #3 $645,000 2 3523 13th St NW #1 $815,000 3 3572 13th St NW #2 $855,000 3 3585 13th St NW #4 $990,000 3 503 1/2 Park Rd NW #1 $745,000 3 921 Randolph St NW #C $278,900 1 DUPONT CIRCLE 1280 21st St NW #705 $260,000 0 1330 New Hampshire Ave NW #421$330,000 1 1741 T St NW #201 $575,000 2 1 Scott Cir NW #609 $235,000 0 1260 21st St NW #905 $320,000 1 1308 21st St NW #201 $589,000 2 1615 Q St NW #404 $549,500 1 1615 Q St NW #410 $310,000 0 1724 17th St NW #76 $525,000 1 1930 New Hampshire Ave NW #42$600,000 2 ECKINGTON 1625 Eckington Pl NE #413 $414,765 1 317 W St NE #1 $660,100 2 329 Rhode Island Ave NE #105 $347,500 1 KALORAMA 2022 Columbia Rd NW #404 $375,000 1 2032 Belmont Rd NW #325 $245,000 0 2149 California St NW #G $699,000 2 LEDROIT PARK 65 Rhode Island Ave NW #1 $820,000 4 LOGAN CIRCLE 1634 14th St NW #501 $775,000 2 1133 13th St NW #704 $295,000 1 1239 Vermont Ave NW #101 $515,000 2 1327 R St NW #1 $1,925,000 4 1407 15th St NW #4 $880,000 2 1425 11th St NW #501 $609,000 1 1427 Rhode Island Ave NW #304$1,230,000 2 1441 Rhode Island Ave NW #317 $387,000 0 MOUNT VERNON TRIANGLE 437 New York Ave NW #1011 $374,500 1 811 4th St NW #219 $543,000 2 OLD CITY #2 1412 15th St NW #2 $315,000 1 1777 T St NW #3 $450,000 1 555 Massachusetts Ave NW #603 $695,000 2 907 N St NW #B2 $709,000 2 PENN QUARTER 601 Pennsylvania Ave NW #802 $349,500 1 801 Pennsylvania Ave NW #1202 $446,250 1 925 H St NW #510 $1,450,000 2 PETWORTH 3602 Rock Creek Church Rd NW #3$307,500 1 4204 8th St NW #2 $499,900 2 838 Varnum St NW #1 $249,900 2 927 Kennedy St NW #304 $564,900 2 800 4th St SW #S505 $330,000 1 1653 New Jersey Ave NW #2 $650,000 2 440 Rhode Island Ave NW #404 $560,000 2 U STREET CORRIDOR 1310 T St NW #1 $1,625,000 2 2004 11th St NW #324 $675,000 2 1939 12th St NW #503 $775,000 2 2117 10th St NW #102 $595,000 2 2311 15th St NW #2 $907,500 2

changing hands

REAL ESTATE

Changing Hands is a list of most residential sales in the Midcity DC area from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker of ce on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

Prost, the Bavarian-style beer garden in Mount Vernon Triangle, is festooned with banners, signs and other Teutonic paraphernalia.Crispy

From Europe to Asia ...

As we qua ed Oktoberfest draft beers, we ordered a traditional bratwurst, nestled in a crunchy pretzel bun, slathered with sauerkraut and escorted by spicy mustard. A tasty side of German potato salad was replete with bacon and what tasted like a spritz of Presentedvinegar.on a bed of greens, tomatoes and hardboiled egg quarters, Peter’s chicken schnitzel chopped salad was tossed with blue cheese dressing. e concoction was a lighter take on the usual heavy, breaded cutlet. Other menu options encompassed Prost Benedict (made with sausage and capped with poached eggs), chicken schnitzel with Hollandaise, Prost breakfast burger, German pancakes and a de nitely un-German avocado toast. Lunch for two with a small draft beer apiece came to $35. Service was pleasant. Heading the Prost dinner menu: a deviled eggs appetizer; hefty wurst platters heaped with three kinds of sausage, along with potato salad and kraut; short ribs spaetzli (little dumplings); sauerbraten and veggie spaetzli. Prost is open daily including weekend bottomless brunch and lively happy hours. For more information, visit www.prostdc.com.

chicken rice, laced with assorted vegetables, is another signature dish at Laos in Town.

Something’s Crabby …

36 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM

We couldn’t swing a trip to Munich this year due to COVID,our shaky nances and other issues. erefore, we decided to celebrate an early Oktoberfest at Prost, the festive beer garden/restaurant at 919 Fifth St. NW (Mount Vernon Triangle). Oktoberfest, by the way, commemorates the Oct. 12, 1810, wedding of Bavarian Prince Ludwig to Princess erese of SaxHildeburghausen. In Germany, the two-week blowout usually runs from late September through early October. I once attended this beersoaked fest many years ago. Prost (German for “cheers”) opened about two years ago. Husband Peter and I settled at a table inside the colorful dining area, festooned with Bavarian banners, artwork and other Teutonic paraphernalia. e concrete-topped bar added a rustic touch.

Insatiable by Celeste McCall

Early Oktoberfest

After all that sausage, schnitzel and beer, we were ready for a lighter Asian repast. We hadn’t visited Laos in Town, 250 K St. NE, for quite a while.

also nd wine and cocktails with zany monikers like Hummingbird and Fighting Tiger. We began our lunch with an order of pon pia (vegan spring rolls), followed by khua khao (crispy chicken rice laced with lots of white meat and umpteen kinds of veggies). e dish delivered myriad layers of delicious avors. I found the crispy rice salad with pork and veggies a tad sour, but apparently that’s a traditional Lao avor. Laos cooking is somewhat similar to ai and Vietnamese cuisine. Practically all Southeast Asian chefs use a lot of rice, but Laos adds more curry, as well as spicy sour avors. Unlike Vietnamese diners, Laotians (and ais) generally eat with forks instead of Lunchchopsticks.fortwoat Laos in Town with a beer apiece came to a reasonable $57.20 before tip. Service was excellent. Laos in Town is open daily for lunch and dinner. For more information, visit www.laosintown.com.

In Shaw, Chesapeake Crab Shack & Bar has opened at 925 U St. NW (Vermont and U Street). e team behind Duke’s Grocery, Shaw’s Gogi Yogi and other culinary endeavors o ers a casual vibe with an assortment of shell sh dishes and a lively bar scene. Expect steamed and seasoned Maryland blue crabs, peel-and-eat shrimp and snow crab legs. Among the sides are Old Bay cabbage slaw, crab mac-and-cheese and corn-on-the-cob. All beers are locally brewed.

OUT AND ABOUT

condimentsandformurals,bamboo-linedpurple-cushionedcomfy,walls,cookbooks(notsale,unfortunately)otherartifacts.Asianareoeredforsale.

So, on a sweltering August afternoon, Peter and I drove there. (Another favorite, the fast casual Indian Indigo, is just across the street.) Since it was way too hot to sit outdoors, we perched on a (lager)condimentsandformurals,bamboo-linedpurple-cushionedcomfy,cornerseatneartheentrance.isplaceispretty;thesprightlyinteriorisadornedwithlanterns,walls,cookbooks(notsale,unfortunately)otherartifacts.Asianareoeredforsale.WeeachorderedaVientianedraftLaotianbeer.Youcan

At Laos in Town, vegan spring rolls, accompanied by a zippy dipping sauce, are a popular appetizer.

anks to a large awning equipped with fans and heaters, the “shack” welcomes guests year-round. For hours and more information, visit www.chesapeakewdc.com.

Logan Circle’s Mi Vida dispenses miso-marinated tuna taquitos, agavemarinated chicken skewers, Chilean sea bass with pumpkin seed salsa, skirt steak with mole and crispy shallots. e stunning 287-seat newcomer underwent a makeover with two illuminated bars, a life-size faux tree dotted with 75 hand-painted Oaxacan owers, decorative railings and tiles and twinkling lights. Look for a third Mi Vida later this year in Penn Quarter. For more information, visit www.mividamexico.com.

SEPTEMBER 2022 37

Mi Vida, chef Roberto Santibanez’s “modern Mexican” hotspot at the District Wharf, has unveiled an o spring in Logan Circle. Located at 1901 14th St. NW, the three-story outpost opened last month where Matchbox used to be.

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It’s Baack! Whitlow’s Bar & Grill, which debuted at 11th and E streets NW in 1946, has been reborn again, this time in Shaw. After Whitlow’s departed Washington in 1989, it reappeared in Clarendon (Arlington) six years later. It closed last summer. Now called Whitlow’s DC, the new incarnation is located at 2012 Ninth St. NW, formerly Echo Park. Whitlow’s focuses on beer and other libations, plus pizza from nearby Andy’s. A full menu is in the works. For updates, visit www.whitlows.com.

Logan Lowdown

Chips and (Classy) Eggs Here’s a fun splurge for a special occasion. Destino, the dressy Mexican restaurant at 1280 Fourth St. NE (La Cosecha Latino market in Union Market) is o ering appetizer-size chilaquiles draped with paddle sh caviar and smoked trout roe and crowned with a runny egg. e $24 dish is sprinkled with dill. Also emerging from chef Robert Aiken’s eclectic kitchen is guacamole, ceviche, quesadillas, pato (duck breast) and more. Destino is Spanish for “destination” and “destiny.” For hours and more information, visit www. destinodc.com. Gone Nearby, we were shocked and saddened to learn that Rappahannock Oyster Bar, 1309 Fifth St. NE (inside Union Market), is departing after a decade in business. We will miss the yummy grilled oysters and seafood chowders but plan to revisit the District Wharf location soon. Coowner Travis Croxton was among the rst Union Market retail tenants when it debuted in 2012. Fortunately, he is shifting his employees to the Wharf location. See you there. ◆ In Shaw, Chesapeake Crab Shack & Bar dispenses a casual vibe and lots of crabs similar to these. bun, bratwurst is slathered with sauerkraut and escorted by spicy mustard and potato salad.

Nestled in a pretzel

Shaw’s Tavern General Manager Rob Heim always welcomes customers with a smile. Photo by Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets.

he spirit of Motown and Detroit culture is alive in the Shaw neighborhood at Motown Square Pizza (1819 7th St. NW). Chef/owner Paulos Belay relocated to DC after culinary school and found himself homesick for Detroitstyle pizza. Without any Detroit-style eateries close by, Belay turned to his own kitchen and started experimenting with recipes in his apartment. His friends served as taste testers early in the pandemic. In April 2022, Belay opened his pizzeria and quickly became a part of Shaw’s vibrant restaurant scene. Belay previously worked at Buddy’s Pizza, an iconic Detroit establishment and a place Belay says is credited with the creation of Detroit-style pizza, where he “fell in love” with the dish. The pizza, a rectangular pie with the sauce on top, is a unique offering for those who love crisp corners. “Most people think that the corners are the best slices, and I tend to agree with that,” Belay said of his pizza.

Experience Unique Flavors and Fun All Week at Shaw’s Tavern Visit Shaw’s Tavern (520 Florida Ave. NW) for fun events in the community every night of the week. The Southern-inspired tavern features a variety of dishes, with food, drink and entertainment specials throughout the week. The restaurant truly has something for everyone,

Visit Motown Square for a Taste of Detroit T

“I really take pride in the dough, and I think we have the best. We also import the cheese from Wisconsin, and I try to make the most authentic Detroit pie in the city. I feel like I owe it to everybody back home to do that.”Belay said that the community response to his pizza has been overwhelmingly positive and noted that there are more “transplants” from Michigan living in the DC area than he initially realized. “It’s been pretty cool connecting with people that had the pizza before, and also the people here who’ve never heard of anything like that but still enjoy the pizza.”

38 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM

OUT AND ABOUT Motown Square Chef/Owner Paulos Belay with his signature pepperoni pizza. Photo by Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets.

The pizzeria offers a variety of pies named after Detroit streets and neighborhoods, in addition to salads and baked pasta dishes. Michigander pro tip: be sure to ask for Detroit’s own Vernor’s Ginger Ale to complete your meal. Motown Square Pizza is open Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday from noon to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 8:00 p.m. You can learn more about the menu and place an online order at www.motownsquaredc.com.

Aside from the style, Belay said, the quality and source of the ingredients set his pie apart from others. “I use really good ingredients for the pizza, and I hope that sticks out because I do have a pastry background and I went to culinary school for baking,” Belay said.

Business Briefs by Sarah Payne

Angel’s Share is known for offering the best selection in the area, as well as great customer service. The shop also carries products that are local to DC including Green Hat Gin, Borough Bourbon, District Made Rye, Cask & Cane Rum, Civic Vodka, Rodham Rye, Madam by Republic Restoratives and beers from DC Brau Brewing, Atlas Brew Works and Capital City Brewing.

with a variety of experiences each week. On Monday, the tavern features trivia night at 7:30 p.m., in addition to a happy hour from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. On Tuesday, the restaurant celebrates Taco Tuesday with $10 taco plates and $8 margaritas starting at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, the restaurant has live music at the piano bar beginning at 8:00 p.m. On Thursday, starting at 5:00 p.m., the tavern offers half-priced bottles of Weekendswine. kick off with Fajita Friday, with live music starting at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, bottomless mimosas are served beginning at 10:00 a.m., and Sunday evenings feature a drag dinner at 8:00 p.m. General Manager Rob Heim explained that community is at the heart of the 10-year-old tavern’s concept and event schedule. “We’ve just tried to be a neighborhood spot for people to gather for fun and different entertainment,” Heim related. “We’re really well known for political events such as debates and election night, or any hearings that happen. We just tried to be the neighborhood tavern for the Shaw community.” Heim said the tavern has a “chill vibe” and aims to provide good food and good music. The menu ranges from specialty burgers and signature pizzas to pasta and seafood entrees. The range of events draws regulars as well as first-timers. The change of energy night to night makes the tavern special. “One night it’ll be football or another game and we’re full of sports fans, and next time, it’ll be a drag show,” Heim observed. “We’re really just here for everybody.” Shaw’s Tavern is open Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight, Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. To learn more about the menu, make reservations and order online, visit www.shawstavern.com.

Angel’s Share is open Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight. For more information, visit www. angelssharedc.com. Orders can also be placed on Instacart for delivery.

Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hill rag.com. u

“When people walk into the store, they say, ‘Wow, this store is huge, it’s beautiful, you guys carry everything,’” Sabharwal remarked. “It’s a great response. They just welcomed us with open arms.”

The community is the cornerstone of their business, and Sabharwal enjoys meeting neighborhood residents when they come in to look around and to tastings on Friday and Saturday evenings. “We want people to come in and hang out,” Sabharwal explained. “It’s a neighborhood store, it’s really safe, there is beautiful lighting, it’s got a nice mural outside and people love it. It’s a landmark.”

SEPTEMBER 2022 39 OUT AND ABOUT

With nearly 800 types of whiskey in store, Angel’s Share is sure to satisfy your wine and liquor needs in Shaw. Coowners Puneet Sabharwal and Shankar Puthran bought Angel’s Share in June 2022 and have quickly become a key part of Shaw’s vibrantSabharwalcommunity.hasbeen in the restaurant business for over 22 years and has opened Subway and Qdoba franchises in the area. In this new venture, Sabharwal and Puthran are excited to learn new things and share their expertise with customers on a more personal level. “I’m really passionate about food, hospitality and customer service, and I enjoy my drinks, so this was a perfect combination,” Sabharwal said. Sabharwal was initially hesitant to take over the fiveyear-old Angel’s Share from the founders because it was vastly different from his previous restaurant franchises. But he has been overwhelmed by the positive feedback from the community.

Angel’s Share co-owners Puneet Sabharwal and Shankar Puthran are proud of their extensive liquor and wine selection. Photo by Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets.

Angel’s Share Offers Huge Brown Liquor and Wine Selection

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum reopens half of its flagship building on the National Mall on Friday, Oct. 14. Eight new and renovated exhibitions, the planetarium, museum store and Mars Café open on the building’s west end. The museum has been undergoing a seven-year renovation that began in 2018 and includes redesign- ing all 23 exhibitions and presentation spaces, complete refacing of the exterior, replacement of outdated mechanical systems and other repairs and improvements. Only half of the building will be opening, and great interest in visiting is expected. Free timed-entry passes will be required to ensure visitors have an enjoyable experience. The passes will be available on the museum’s website on Sept. 14. airandspace.si.edu. The Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia displayed in the new “Destination Moon” exhibition, opening Oct. 14, 2022.

Washington National Opera celebrates the 17th year of its most popular community event with a free opera broadcast at the state-of-the art soccer stadium Audi Field. Opera on the Field will present Georges Bizet’s beloved Carmen on Sunday, Sept. 25, 4 p.m. (rain or shine). Attendees are encouraged to arrive as early as 2 p.m. when gates open to enjoy the festive family-friendly atmosphere. The pre-show entertainment will include performances by local artists, photo opportunities, arts and crafts for children and chances to win prizes. For more information, visit the-ﬁwno/home/education/opera-on-kennedy-center.org/eld.

Isabel Leonard in Carmen. Photo: Scott Suchman

40 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM

Beyond the Book is a literacy program that helps children grow into joyful readers by showing them the many ways stories can be experienced and told. Dawn Fox, a Library Associate at the Deanwood Library, 1350 49th St. NE, has found a wonderfully creative way to help children go “beyond the book” to experience stories—by building interactive dioramas. This Summer’s featured Beyond the Book title is The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney. This 2009 wordless adaptation of an Aesop fable, tells a story of how an adventuresome mouse proves that even small creatures are capable of great deeds when he rescues the King of the Jungle. See the Diorama throughout September. dclibrary.org/deanwood.

National Air and Space Museum Opens Renovated West End

Hill Center Family Day On Sunday, Sept. 25, 1:30 to 6 p.m., come to Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, and enjoy a free day of crafts, shows, carriage rides, balloon animals and a family exercise class. Here’s the schedule: 1:30 to 2 p.m., family ﬁtness class by FIT4MOM DC; 2:30 p.m., Turley the Magician; 2 to 5 p.m., carriage rides, face painting and balloon animals; 2 to 6 p.m., craft table and DC artist and Hill Center studio arts instructor, Christine Vineyard, will be chatting with families about her hilarious book, Good Jokes Bad Drawings, and offering a craft for kids; 4 to 6 p.m., King Bullfrog hits the stage with high-energy original, folk and blues songs carefully tailored to get children dancing and delight grownups. Beer, wine, and other concessions served. Register for Family Day at hillcenterdc.org/event/ family-day-2022.

Dawn Fox has been creating dioramas that depict different scenes from books and seasonal themes. For Beyond the Book, Dawn invited some of the diorama’s biggest fans to come help her create a jungle scene for The Lion and the Mouse. Watch the process on youtube. com /watch?v=9nfOkieyVmU.

kids&family

“The Lion and the Mouse”

Photo: Courtesy of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum

Opera on the Field Family-Friendly Activities

Deanwood Library Celebrates

Photo: Djenno Bacvic Photography

SEPTEMBER 2022 41 YU YING IS OPEN TO ALL! Learn more and register for an upcoming virtual open house at washingtonyuying.org/enroll PREK 3 - GRADE 5 • We’re one of 11 DC public charter schools with equitable access preference. • Parents and guardians –you don’t need to speak Chinese for your child to attend. learnComeChinesewithus!

On Sunday, Oct. 16, on the REACH Plaza, enjoy a free, family event full of activities and performances to kick o the Kennedy Center’s 2022-2023

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a Craft Kit giveaway. is kit includes materials you’ll need to create a papel picado banner and a marigold out of tissue paper, as well as recommended books and other resources. ese kits are available rst-come, rst-served basis at the Children’s Reference desk on the second oor. dclibrary. org/mlk.

Performances for Young Audiences season. Jacqueline Woodson will narrate and share poetry with music by Jason Moran and e Bandwagon. e REACH Plaza will have outdoor

Claude Monet, The Artist’s Garden at Vétheuil, 1881, oil on canvas, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, 1970.17.45

KIDS AND FAMILY

Receiving TANF District families who are enrolled in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program will be receiving a one-time, back-to-school payment of approximately $1,000. e Mayor made the announcement at a TANF Employment Program hiring event at the Frederick Douglass Community Center in Ward 8. For questions about the one-time back to school payments, contact the ESA Public Bene ts Call Center at 202-7275355, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., explore the idea of in nity through Artist Yayoi Kusama’s work. Drop by and participate in their “Obliteration Station”, make your own wearable art, and collaborate on an in nity wall mural. Please note, this experience does not include entry into One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection. Due to the nature of the featured artworks, free timed-passes are required to experience One with Eternity. Stroller parking is available in the Lobby and Lower Level. hirshhorn.si.edu.

One of the choices Ward 6 voters will be making this fall is who will represent our Ward on the DC State Board of Education. Two candidates are running: Brandon Best and Joshua Wiley. Join us to learn more about them, to hear their visions for education in DC, and to get your questions answered.

NGA’s Art Tales for Pre-K Need ideas for how to talk about art with your little ones? In each box on nga.gov/ learn/teachers/lessons-activities/pre-k.html

Ward 6 State Board of Education Candidate Forum

you can explore artworks with your children, read books with related themes and try your hand at making some art of your own. Download the related coloring pages and cut-outs for extra creative fun. Let children’s interests and attention span set the pace for a shared looking and reading experience. Encourage conversation throughout your reading, not just at the end. Sharing thoughts and questions as they arise helps keep everyone engaged. Follow up your exploration and reading with a museum visit or a handson art making experience. nga/gov/learn.

On Sunday, Oct. 2, 3:30 to 4:40 p.m., celebrate your English and Spanish language knowledge this Hispanic Heritage Month with a spelling bee for developing readers ages ve to eight. Registration is required at dclibrary.org/southeast.

Here is your chance to celebrate who you are, nd other kids like you, and have some fun. ere is power in numbers! Each month the third Saturday through November, 11 a.m. to noon, Unicorn Kids Club focuses on a di erent way to be di erent. Join other kids at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, for stories, making cool stu , and other activities designed just for kids ages ve through twelve. ere’s a di erent focus each month: Sept. 17, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Kids Day; Oct. 15, New Kids on the Block Day; Nov. 19, Celebrate All Di erence Day. anacostia.si.edu/events.

Hirshhorn’s Maker Morning: To Inﬁnity

Unicorn Kids Club: Celebrate What Makes You Magical!

NSO Family: Sleepover at the Museum

42 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM

Craft Kit To Go at MLK Library

Imagine spending your birthday at the museum. On Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2 and 4 p.m., join Mason and his friends for a musical and scienti c scavenger hunt through the many exhibits that make any museum special in this National Symphony Orchestra concert with music and story by Karen LeFrak based on her book of the same name. Most enjoyed by age ve and older. kennedycenter.org.

Bilingual Spelling Bee at Southeast Library

One-Time Back-to-School Payment for DC Families

Jacqueline and Jason’s Block Party!

SEPTEMBER 2022 43 DC Prep campuses now Callforapplicationsacceptingforthe22-23schoolyear,servingstudentsPK3-8thgradeinwards5,7,8.Preparingstudentsanacademicallyandsociallysuccessfulfuture.202-780-5126 for more information or visit: dcprep.org

President Lincoln’s Cottage’s Homecoming is a celebration of Lincoln’s decision to issue the lincolncottage.org.140Lincoln’srecommended.thethea3requireDashfollowingDashwillkidsandpettingfeaturingFamilythe9FreedomCelebrationsonhomeProclamation—atEmancipationpreliminarytheverywherehedraftedit.isyear,itwillbeheldSaturday,Sept.17.includethe5kstartingata.m.($40feetorunin5k)followedbyfreeDayactivitiesponyrides,zoo,facepainting,otheractivitiesforandfamilies.erealsobea100ft.Totforkidsimmediatelythe5k.eTotisfreeanddoesn’tregistration.Fromto6p.m.,therewillbeJazzperformancefromPetworthJazzProject.ereisa$40feetorunin5k.Pre-registrationisPresidentCottageisatRockCreekRd.NW.

Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run Registration Still Open e MCM Kids Run is on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Arlington, VA. Children ages ve to twelve can participate in the one-mile fun run. Pre- and post-event hospitality, activities, entertainment, games and mascots make this an unforgettable event. e Kids Run o ers families eight start time options between 9:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Registration is $15 and is now open at marinemarathon. com/events.

On Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., both days, step back in time at Mount Vernon’s Colonial Market & Fair, featuring food and wares made by colonial artisans. Take in the sights and sounds of the marketplace on Mount Vernon’s 12-acre eld. Chat with colonial artisans selling traditional handcrafted food and wares. Hear live music from the colonial era. Watch as expert artisans demonstrate period crafting techniques. See General Washington in the General’s tent. The Colonial Market & Fair is included with general admission: $28 for adults; $15, kids six to eleven; ve and under, free. mountvernon.org.

Company E’s Hannah Wojszynski, Kathryn Pilkington, Philip Baraoidan and Ryan Carlough.

KIDS AND FAMILY

To Sail Around the Sun at the KC “Gather all four seasons today?? I’ll do it, but I have to be home by dinnertime. It’s mac and cheese night!” On Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., follow one child’s journey around the globe in one day in To Sail Around the Sun with DC dance company Company E and music ensemble Sound Impact in an enchanting tour of the world. Through dance, live music, and storytelling, To Sail Around the Sun travels beneath the springtime waves o the shores of Australia, deep into the summertime rainforests of Argentina, under the autumn leaves of Japan, and through the wintry snows of Kazakhstan in an adventure for families and children. To Sail Around the Sun was originally created by Company E in 2017 for the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences program. $30; sixty minutes, no intermission. kennedy-center.org.

Milo the SpooktacularHalloweenMagniﬁcent e Jim Henson Foundation Grant awarded “Milo the Magni cent” is an engaging puppet show about an aspiring magician. is wordless comedy, inspired by turn of the century vaudeville entertainers, is as physical as it is charming. Using stunningly innovative puppetry, Milo presents a variety of magic tricks which don’t always go as planned.

Milo the Magni cent is on stage from Sept. 1 to 30. Witch Wartsmith hosts the annual Halloween Spooktacular and you get to vote on the winner. Part contemporary competition show, part vintage telethon, and part punpalooza, this spooky variety show will tickle your funny bone. Some of their contestants will change year to year, so come back to see old and new friends alike. Witch Wartsmith’s is on stage from Oct. 1 to 31. Both shows are at the Glen Echo Playhouse, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo and are recommended for ages four and older. ey run on ursdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets are $15. thepuppetco.org.

Family Day at President Lincoln’s Cottage

RenaissanceMarylandFestival

e Maryland Renaissance Festival utilizes a story line and progresses each year forward in the timeline of Henry VIII, through all his reign and all six of his wives. is season the year is 1536, and as ever, the King’s love life is the source of gossip. e Maryland Renaissance Festival, a tradition for the entire family, runs Saturdays and Sundays and Labor Day Monday through Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., for weekends of thrills, feasting, handmade crafts, entertainment and merriment in Crownsville, near Annapolis. e 27-acre Village of Revel Grove comes to life each autumn with more than 200 professional performers on ten stages, a 3,000seat arena with armored jousting and streets lled with village characters. Over 140 artisans exhibit crafts in their own renaissance shops, ve taverns featuring cool libations and 42 food and beverage emporiums. rennfest.com.

Colonial Market & Fair at Mount Vernon

Photo: Courtesy of George Washington’s Mount Vernon

44 MIDCITYDCNEWS.COM games inspired by Jacqueline’s book e World Belonged to Us: sidewalk chalk activities, hopscotch, fort building, jump rope, double Dutch, and hula hoops. Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase onsite. kennedycenter.org.

The FrederickGreatFair

Race for Every Child Kids’ Dash

This year, The Great Frederick Fair, Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E Patrick St., Frederick, MD, is from Sept. 16 to 24, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Enjoy agricultural competitions, rides and games, live music and a Kids’ Zone. $10 admission; free for ten and under. Some activities are thegreatfrederickfair.com.extra.

Image: Courtesy of Imagination

Featuring loads of hands-on indoor activities, Port Discovery at 35 Market Place, located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, is a place for fami lies who love engaging in imaginative learning and play from interactive art studios and musi cal exhibits to the museum’s famous four-story SkyClimber. Port Discovery is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tues days and Thursdays, 2 to 5 p.m. These hours subject to change. Admission is $21.95 for all attendees age one and older. Admission pric ing includes all-day entry to the museum, ex hibits, and special activities. portdiscovery.org.

The Race for Every Child, on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Freedom Plaza, supports children and families throughout the Washington area by raising funds for specialized medical care, research into childhood diseases, and important wellness and preventive services at Children’s National Health System. Participants may register to join in-person or virtually. Registration is free. Registration gives you access to a personalized fundraising dashboard and the opportunity to recruit team members and raise vital funds to support Children’s National Hospital. Those who raise $30 or more will receive a Race for Every Child: 10th Anniversary Edition t-shirt. The 100-yard Kids’ Dash is a great way to encourage your child to be active and healthy. Just one block long, the Kids’ Dash route is on Pennsylvania Ave. NW, starting at 12th St. and finishing at 13th St. It will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. and participants will dash in waves, based on their age group. donordrive.com.childrensnational. u SEPTEMBER 2022 45

Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park (last chance)

Kids ages four to twelve can run the bases after every Sunday day game throughout the season. This season’s remaining dates are Sept. 18 and Oct. 2. Kids Run the Bases begins immediately following the game, weather permitting. An adult must accompany runners to the field. Once the game has ended, it takes the grounds crew approximately 20 minutes to prepare the field. Kids and parents/ guardians can begin lining up at the end of the seventh inning, however fans who would like to stay and watch the entire game will still be able to line up once the game has ended. Participants must exit the ballpark through the Right Field Gate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First com.washington.nationals.mlb.St.

Stage KIDS AND FAMILY

Spies 2: Flight of the Hawk at Imaginati on Stage Oct. 29 to Nov. 20, join S.P.I.E.S. in person, where it is more interactive than ever. This follow-up to the online hit S.P.I.E.S. & the Lost Treasure of Atlantis combines live theatre and taped adventure scenes to create a collaborative and exciting experience where each audience gets to be the hero and solve the puzzles–and no two performances are alike. Best for ages five to eleven. Imagination Stage is at 4908 Auburn Ave., imaginationstage.org.Bethesda.

Baltimore’s Port Discovery Children’s Museum

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Photo: Richshaad RyanPhoto: Pleasant Mann

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Mid City DC Magazine – September 2022

Articles inside

Bulletin Board • Kathleen Donner

Shaw Streets • Pleasant Mann

Business Briefs • Sarah Payne