East of the River – February 2020 by Capital Community News

FEBRUARY 2020

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BLACK HISTORY CALENDAR

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by Steve Monroe

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 32

The Bulletin Board

KIDS & FAMILY 36

What’s on Washington Calendar The Crossword The Classiﬁeds

Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

School Choice Reduces Neighborhood School Resources: Parents in Wards 7 and 8 Vote with Their Feet by Elizabeth O’Gorekk

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

HOMES & GARDENS 44

Building Community by Planting Urban Forests by Catherine Plume

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ON THE COVER:

Alvin Ailey, Myrna White, James Truitte, Ella Thompson, Minnie Marshall and Don Martin in Revelations, 1961. Photo: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Photograph by Jack Mitchell, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. and Smithsonian Institution. All rights reserved. 2013.245. See page 26

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2020 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N IN SERIES’ WOMEN COMPOSERS FESTIVAL AT GALA IN Series’ Women Composers Festival is a two-day festival celebrating female composers. It centers on two new stagings of operas by living artists—Here Be Sirens by Kate Soper (USA) and Ana y su Sombra by Gabriela Ortiz (Mexico). The festival on March 6 and 7, at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, also features an opening gala concert, a Dorothy Fields cabaret and a love songs cabaret. All tickets are $25. inseries.org.

Get your steps in with this climb to a spectacular view. Photo: Danielle E. Thomas/Washington National Cathedral

NATIONAL CATHEDRAL ANGELS AND MONSTERS TOWER CLIMBS On Saturday, Feb. 1, 10:30 a.m. and Fridays, Feb. 14 and 21 at 2 p.m., you can climb the National Cathedral’s two western towers and get a close-up look at the many gargoyles and grotesques while visiting the open-air walkway wrapping around these two towers (about 125 feet above the ground). The climb ends on the very top of the northwest tower, which provides the best views of the Cathedral itself, and 360-degree views of the surrounding area (over 200 feet above the ground). $50. cathedral.org.

THE SCIENCE OF CBD: ANECDOTES AND EVIDENCE Gabriela Ortiz, composer of “Ana y su sombra,” a family opera. Presented by IN Series as part of the Women Composers Festival in March 2020 at GALA Hispanic Theatre. inseries.org. Photo: Martierene Alcántara

MARDI GRAS AT THE WHARF

Photo: Patrick Revord for The Wharf

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Can’t go to New Orleans? On Saturday, Feb. 22, 4 to 7 p.m., at the District Pier, the Wharf is celebrating Mardi Gras with a community-wide extravaganza featuring a spirited parade down Wharf Street, a dance party with live music on District Pier, and a special finale. Get special treats at your favorite neighborhood restaurants. They’ll also have activities and crafts for kids. And don’t forget to stop by the Caps Campfire at Camp Wharf for s’mores. wharfdc.com.

Of the more than 100 related chemicals found in cannabis plants, cannabidiol (CBD) has become almost as wellknown as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), seemingly overnight. Now widely available in retail stores and websites, it has suddenly emerged as a popular consumer product. Much remains unknown about the effects, mechanism, long-term consequences and legality of CBD. On Thursday, Feb. 20, 6:45 p.m., join Steven Grant, a neuroscientist at the National Institutes of Health, for an examination of what research has—and more importantly, has not—discovered about this elusive chemical’s potential benefits and risks. $45. smithsonianassociates.org.

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

ART AFTERWORDS: BROWN GIRL DREAMING AT NPG On Tuesday, Feb. 18, 5:30 to 7 p.m., join staff from the National Portrait Gallery and the DC Public Library for a monthly conversation about portraits and prose. Discuss a portrait from the museum’s collection in addition to Br own Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. Jacqueline Woodson shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in South Carolina and New York during the 1960s and ’70s. Her vivid poems touch upon life at the end of the Jim Crow era and the growing awareness of the civil rights movement. You will discuss how activist Angela Davis is portrayed in Woodson’s memoir and in a photograph on view in the exhibition “In Mid-Sentence.” National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets, NW. npg.si.edu.

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS Drive-By Truckers is kicking off the election year with The Unraveling, their first album in three and a half years. “Those years were among the most tumultuous our country has ever seen and the duality between the generally positive state of affairs within our band while watching so many things we care about being decimated and destroyed all around us informed the writing of this album to the core.” Drive-By Truckers is at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, on Friday, Feb. 28 and Saturday, Feb. 29, at 8 p.m. $35. 930.com. Drive-By Truckers. Photo: Andy Tennille

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER AT AIR & SPACE No one’s ever really gone... Rey’s journey continues and the Skywalker saga concludes in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker plays in the IMAX Theater at the Air and Space on the Mall. It’s $15 for adults with discounts for seniors and kids. For showtimes, visit si.edu/imax/movie/star-wars-rise-skywalker. Runs 155 minutes. si.edu/imax.

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Photo: Angela Davis by Stephen Shames. Gelatin silver print, 1969. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.Â ÂŠ 1969 Stephen Shames

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

GEORGE WASHINGTON BIRTHDAY PARADE IN OLD TOWN The 2020 George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria’s Old Town is on Monday, Feb. 17, 1 to 3 p.m. The oldest and largest parade celebrating the birth of George Washington in the USA, it winds through a one-mile route along the historic streets of Old Town The theme of the 2020 Celebration is “Selfless Service to Country.” The focus of the 2020 parade is music and the performing arts. This year’s Grand Marshal is Rear Admiral Robert Shumaker (Ret.). washingtonbirthday.com. No better place to see George Washington than at this festive tribute in Old Town. Photo: Steve Muth

MELISSA ALDANA QUARTET AT SIXTH & I Recently seen and heard with Cécile McLorin Salvant in WPA’s “Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour” concert, Chilean-born tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana has a storybook résumé: A saxophonist since age six, she was playing pro gigs as a teenager when she found an early booster in pianist Daniel Perez. She went on to study at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and then, at age 24, became the first woman to win first prize in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. On stage at Sixth & I on Saturday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m. $30. sixhandi.org. On her fifth album, Visions, the Chilean-born tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana evokes the life of Frida Kahlo and brims with Aldana’s trademark harmonic sophistication and deftly spun solos. Photo: Courtesy of Washington Performing Arts

DC AIR SEX CHAMPIONSHIPS Entering its tenth year as a nationally touring roadshow, Air Sex is the worlds first SPART--a combination of sports and art. Each Air Sex show combines the pageantry and prestige of professional sports with the excitement and creativity of a first-rate talent competition. Think Air Guitar, but instead of pretending to play old musical instruments, Air Sex participants have jaw-dropping sexual encounters with an invisible partner (or partners!) using nothing more than the art of pelvic storytelling and pure imagination. DC Air Sex Championships is on stage, for those 21 and older, at the Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE, on Wednesday, March 4, 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). $15. rockandrollhoteldc.com.

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SHIPWRECK: A HISTORY PLAY ABOUT 2017 AT WOOLLY A group of well-meaning liberals gather at a farmhouse in upstate NY for a relaxing weekend. A son adopted from Kenya struggles to feel connected to his new family and country. And the 45th US President sends a history-altering dinner invitation. There is plenty of blame to spare as snow piles high, mountains crumble, and the wounds of the 2016 election break open. The mythology of America is re-written in real time as we are forced to grapple with the legend of a frightening New York man made from gold. At Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW, from Feb. 10 to March 8. woollymammoth.net. The mythology of America is re-written in real time in Shipwreck at Woolly Mammoth. Image by Cade Martin

BRENTANO STRING QUARTET On Friday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m., the Brentano Quartet performs at The Barnes at Wolf Trap with a program that pays homage to inspiration, both earthly and divine. Beethoven’s brilliant Quartet in A minor Op. 132 is followed by tributes by Mario Davidovsky and Mendelssohn. $42. wolftrap.org. Mark Steinberg, Serena Canin, Nina Lee and Misha Amory. Photo: Juergen Frank

Anne O’Donnell (soloist) in Martha Graham’s “Diversion of Angels.” Photo: Brigid Pierce

MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY: THE EVE PROJECT AT THE KC Martha Graham is inarguably the mother of American modern dance. In celebration of the centennial of the 19th amendment in 2020, which gave women the right to vote, the Martha Graham Dance Company has created a collection of new commissions and signature Graham classics that each make bold statements about female power. The Martha Graham Dance Company: The EVE Project is at the Kennedy Center from March 5 to 7. kennedy-center.org.

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JONATHAN RICHMOND AND BONNIE “PRINCE” BILLY AT THE LINCOLN On Saturday, March 7, 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.), see punk rockers Jonathan Richmond and Bonnie Prince Billy at the Lincoln Theater. Jonathan Richman is a singer, songwriter and guitarist who has been playing music, recording and touring most of his life. Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s (stage name) music known for his honesty and punk aesthetic, has been likened to Americana, folk, punk and rock. $35. They share the stage at the Lincoln Theater, 1215 U St. NW. thelincolndc.com. Photo: Tim Mosenfelder

Having fun with DC Fray. Photo: Courtesy of DC Fray

DC FRAY SPRING REGISTRATION OPEN DC Fray uncovers the coolest things to do in DC. Discover the best in food and drink, sports, fitness, events, attractions and other can’t-miss activities. Registration is open for basketball, bocce, bingo, bowling, cornhole, dodgeball, flag football, hockey, kickball, shuffleboard, skeeball, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, trivia, ultimate frisbee and yoga. Read more and register at dcfray.com.

DC COCKTAIL FESTIVAL The annual DC Cocktail Festival is on Feb. 29, noon to 10 p.m., at the National Union Building, 918 F St. NW. They ask you to come, throwback great food and enjoy live musical performances, all while sampling some of the best cocktails from the city’s best cocktail mixologists. All craft cocktail tastings are included in your timed ticket which starts at $60. To sample the cocktail tastings, you will be provided with a tasting card that you can use to redeem the 15 cocktail samples. dccocktailfestival.com. Mixologists mix it up at the DC cocktail Festival. Photo: Cordell PageMixologists mix it up at the DC cocktail Festival. Photo: Cordell Page

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FEBRUARY

Twilight Tuesdays at the Anacostia Community Museum.

Tuesdays, 5 to 8 PM. See the Anacostia Community Museum exhibits. Learn about their collections. Hang out in the Sunburst Room. This is a free drop-in program. Events include: Feb. 11, Valentine Day Cards with a Message; Feb. 18, Conversation with Tazewell Thompson of the Washington National Opera (WNO) about the WNO’s production of “; Feb. 25, Alma Robinson leads families in an art workshop celebrating Black History Month. All art supplies provided; March 3, decorate masks for Fat Tuesday! All materials provided. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu.

In the DC premiere of Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson’s new contemporary opera “Blue,” a family struggles when a teenager is shot by police. Hear a conversation about the production between Thompson and Anacostia Community Museum Director, Melanie Adams along with selected songs from the production, Feb 18, 6:30 p.m., as part of the Anacostia Community Museum’s new late- night series, Twilight Tuesdays. Photo: Karli Cadel, Courtesy of the Washington National Opera

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AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Black History Month Book Club: March by John Lewis. Feb. 12, 7 PM. Join the Capitol View library for a Black History Month book club. They’ll be reading Congressman John Lewis’ award winning graphic novel memoir about his work in the Civil Rights Movement. Capitol View library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. dclibrary.org/capitalview. Malcolm X: Murder in New York Film Screening. Feb. 14, 1 PM. Benning Library, 3935 Benning Road NE. dc/library. org/benning. Frederick Douglass and Women’s Suffrage: Celebrating the 202nd Birthday of Frederick Douglass and the Centennial of the 19th Amendment. Feb. 15, 10 AM to 5 PM. Following the opening ceremony at Anacostia High School Auditorium, 1601 16th St. SE, there will be special themed house tours at Cedar Hill, 1411 W St. SE and an art program in the visitor center. There will also be programming at the Anacostia Arts Center and Anacostia High School including guest lectures, an exhibit by the DC League of Women Voters and performances in the lobby. Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument hosts special tours, a ranger talk and an art program as part of this event. A shuttle will run between the program locations in historic Anacostia beginning at noon. nps.gov/frdo. The Beloved Community: MLK Jr. and Activism in Washington, DC. Feb. 15, 2 to 4 PM. No single person stood out as much as a beacon of civil engagement and activism during that time than Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. A Right To The City Author Talk Series: Stephen Danley. Feb. 22, 2 to 4 PM. Stephen Danley talks about his book, “A Neighborhood Politics of Last Resort: Post-Katrina New Orleans.” Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. Author Talk with Derek Musgrove-Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation’s Capital. Feb. 22, 7 to 8 PM. Considered one of the best new historical overviews of the socio-political and economic forces that have shaped one of the nation’s most misunderstood urban centers, the book expands on issues such as social in-

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SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP TODAY For existing & inspiring District businesses - the Small Business Resource Center is here for you!

DISB Coffee & Capital at DCRA Monday, February 3, 2020 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor, Room E-200 Washington, DC 20024 Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48240

Navigating Government Contracting with DCPTAC Thursday, February 20, 2020 10:00 am – 11:30 am Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor, Room E-200 Washington, DC 20024 Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48844

DCRA at Your Neighborhood Library – Learn The Process of Starting a Business

DOES – Employer Incentives to Support your Business Goals

Monday, February 3, 2020 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm West End Neighborhood Library 2301 L Street NW Washington, DC 20037 Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48231

Monday, February 24, 2020 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs 1100 4th Street SW, 3rd Floor, Room E-300 Washington, DC 20024 Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48224

DCRA at UPO: How to Start a Business

SBRC’s One-On-One Session: Basic Steps to Obtaining a Business License

Tuesday, February 11, 2020 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm United Planning Organization 2907 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE Washington, DC 20032 Register: dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events/48382

Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (By appointment) Department of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd Floor, Room E-268 Washington, DC 20024 Register: https://dcrasbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events

Jacqueline Noisette | (202) 442-8170 | jacqueline.noisette@dc.gov Claudia Herrera | (202) 442-8055 | claudia.herrera@dc.gov Joy Douglas | (202) 442-8690 | joy.douglas@dc.gov Tamika Wood | (202) 442-8004 | tamika.wood@dc.gov

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equality, gentrification, racism and economic disparity in Washington, DC within a historical context. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. Black History Month Artists’ Market. Feb. 29, 1 to 4 PM. Features black owned businesses, art and brand. Anacostia Arts Center, 2131 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Busboys and Poets Weekly Open-Mic. Tuesdays, 8 to 10 PM. For two hours, audiences can expect a diverse chorus of voices and a vast array of professional spoken word performers, open mic rookies, musicians and a different host every week. Busboys and Poets-Anacostia, 2004 MLK Ave. SE. busboysandpoets.com. Soufside Sip & Shop Brunch. Every third Sunday of the month, 11 AM to 3 PM. Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, 3200 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. chacc.org. Soufside Sip & Shop Happy Hour. Every Thursday, 6:30 to 9 PM. Featuring music, food, vendors and vibes. Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, 3200 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. chacc.org. East of the River Spanish. Sundays through June 15, 10 to 11:45 PM. Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, 3200 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. chacc.org. Bird Walks at Kenilworth Park. Sundays, 8 AM. Walk takes place over a 1.5-mile route. Be prepared to stand and walk in both sunny and shaded areas and on unpaved trails. Tours are offered year-round and will focus on park history as well as wildlife found along the Anacostia River and flowers blooming during that season. Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, 1900 Anacostia Ave. SE. nps.gov/keaq. A Right to the City at the Anacostia Community Museum. Through April 20, 2020. After a half-century of population decline and disinvestment, Washington, DC and similar urban centers around the country have been witnessing a “return to the city,” with rapidly growing populations, rising rents and home prices. “A Right to the City” explores the history of neighborhood change in the nation’s capital. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. Tour the Frederick Douglass House. Daily tours are at 9 AM, 12:15 PM, 1:15 PM,

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3 PM and 3:30 PM. Ranger led tours are the only way to see the inside of the Frederick Douglass house. Tours are ticketed. Tour tickets are available by reservation or on a first come, first served basis. Tours last about 30 minutes. 1411 W St. SE. nps. gov/frdo.

er Deanwood Heritage Trail.” Fifteen postersized street signs combine storytelling with historic photographs and maps. culturaltourismdc.org/portal/820.

A Self-Reliant People: Greater Deanwood Heritage Trail. Discover this traditionally African American enclave in Far Northeast by following “A Self-Reliant People: Great-

Capital City Go-Go. Feb. 8, 13 and 25; March 2, 20, 22 and 28. Single game tickets start at $10. Entertainment and Sports Arena, 1100 Oak Dr. SE. esaontherise.com.

SPORTS AND FITNESS

RISE 2020.

Feb. 14, 7 PM; Feb. 15, 2:30 and 7:30 PM; and Feb. 16, 2:30 PM. Outstanding dance performances from Collage Dance Company under the artistic direction of Kevin Thomas. $32.50. THEARC Theater, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. bbardc.org.

Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating. Saturdays, Feb. 8, 15, 22 and 29, 1 PM; Sundays, Feb. 9, 16 and 23, 2:30 PM; Fridays, Feb. 14 and 28, noon; and Feb. 17, noon to 2 PM. Skating is $5 for adults; $4, 12 and under and seniors 60 and over; and $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE. fdia.org.

This Bitter Earth at Anacostia Playhouse.

Feb. 22 to March 22. An introspective, black playwright, finds his lack of activism questioned by his white boyfriend, an impassioned member of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. theateralliance.com.

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United States Men’s Basketball Team. Feb. 23, 3 PM. Tickets are now on sale for USA Basketball versus Puerto Rico. Tickets start at $5 (plus fees). Courtside seats are $75. Entertainment and Sports Arena, 1100 Oak Dr. SE. esaontherise.com. Transpose Yoga. First and Third Saturday, 11 AM to noon. Free; donations welcome. Anacostia Arts Center, 2131 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com.

Anacostia Parkrun. Weekly Free 5k Timed Run. Saturdays, 9 AM. Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE. Registration required before first run. Beginner welcome. Every week runners grab a post parkrun coffee at a local café. Read more at parkrun.us/anacostia. Vinyasa Yoga. Wednesdays, 6:30 PM. Unite the mind, body and spirit through a soothing moving meditation practice of yoga. All levels. $5; mat rental $1. Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, 3200 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. chacc.org. Have an item for the Calendar? Email it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. u

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Black History Month Calendar Historically Speaking: Thurgood Marshall--A Conversation Between Spencer Crew and Juan Williams. Feb. 10, 7 to 9 PM. Historian and NMAAHC interim director Dr. Spencer R. Crew will be interviewed by Juan Williams about his biography of America’s first black supreme court justice. Entitled Thurgood Marshall: A Life in American History, the book chronicles Marshall’s career as a civil rights litigator and founder of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Free. Book sale and signing follows. National Museum of Africa-American History and Culture. nmaahc.si.edu. Shakespeare Theatre’s The Amen Corner by James Baldwin. Feb. 11 to March 15. In a 1950s storefront church in Harlem, Pastor Margaret Alexander rails at her congregation and her teenaged son for their vices. With a gospel choir singing of redemption in one room and her son bonding with his ailing father over their love of jazz in the next, Margaret must face the music herself when a figure from her own troubled past returns. shakespearetheatre.org.

More to the Movement Gallery Talk. Feb. 19, 11 AM to noon. Exhibition curator Elizabeth Novara will discuss contributions of women of color in the suffrage movement and ways in which the Library’s collections can be mined creatively to bring their stories to light. Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building, Whittail Pavilion. loc.gov. Early Black Authors of the American Musical. Feb. 19, 7 to 8:30 PM. This second of a two-part lecture sequence by Ben West, creator of “The Show Time! Trilogy,” offers an exciting account of the American musical’s early African American authors. Library of Congress, James Madison Building, Pickford Theater. loc.gov.

The Enslaved People of Mount Vernon Tour. Daily at 11:30 AM through March; 10 AM and 2 PM, April through September. Listen to the stories of the enslaved people who built and operated Mount Vernon and learn about their daily lives on the estate during this 60-minute tour. Tour is free with Mount Vernon admission. mountvernon.org.

“The President” Music and Legacy of Lester (Prez) Young: A Jazz and Cultural Giant. Feb. 22, 7:30 PM. Arguably, no musical instrument conjures up as clear a mental image of jazz as a tenor saxophone. Being a primary influence for many noteWhat’s Really Going On? Live Podcast with Henry & worthy musicians, including Charlie Parker and Noah. Feb. 12, 7 PM. As part of Black History Month, come Stan Getz, tenor saxophonist Lester Young forged a The slave quarters, where the majority of house servants and skilled workand join the What’s Really Going On Podcast for a live disvoice in jazz all his own. Lester Young was the temers on Washington’s Mansion House Farm were assigned quarters, is one cussion! Co-hosts Henry and Noah discuss the latest in culplate for popular cultural jazz aesthetics. His jargon, stop along the Enslaved People of Mount Vernon tour. Photo: Russ Flint tural and political news with the purpose of keeping you dress, and swagger fueled generations of hip and well informed in this chaotic and confusing world. Southcool—even before it was cool. The enjoy the muPM. Features black owned businesses, art and brand. Aneast Library, 403 Seventh St. sic of Lester Young spanning acostia Arts Center, 2131 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiSE. dclibrary.org/southeast. three decades. $30. National Rosa Parks: In Her Own aartscenter.com. Museum of American HistoWords Exhibition. Race for the White House ry. americanhistory.si.edu. Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George WashingThis Library of Congress exhibition re“Obama v. McCain. Feb. 12, ton’s Mount Vernon. Through Sept. 30, 2020. This veals her lifetime of activism. This first ex7 PM. Race for the White This Bitter Earth at Anaexhibition explores the personal stories of the people hibition of the Rosa Parks Collection inHouse is a CNN Original Secostia Playhouse. Feb. 22 enslaved at Mount Vernon while providing insight into ries. Using rare archival footto March 22. Jesse, an introcludes her personal writings, reflections, George Washington’s evolving opposition to slavery. age, interviews, and stylized spective black playwright, photographs, records and memorabilmountvernon.org. dramatizations, each episode finds his lack of activism quesia. Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson of the docuseries tells the stotioned by his white boyfriend, Musical Crossroads at NMAAHC. Ongoing. In exploring Building. loc.gov. ry of one iconic campaign for Neil, an impassioned memhow the intermingling of musical and cultural traditions, the Presidency of the United ber of the Black Lives Matter styles and beliefs, brought forth new modes of American States. Panel discussion folMovement. Anacostia Playmusical expression, the exhibition expands the definition of lows screening. National Arhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. African American music to include African American muchives, 700 Constitution Ave. theateralliance.com. sic-makers in all genres and styles. The National Museum NW. archives.gov. of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is at Colored Troops & Alex1400 Constitution Ave. NW. nmaahc.si.edu. Black History Month Book andria National Cemetery. Club: March by John Lewis. Feb. 27, 7 PM. John ChapTour the Frederick Douglass House. Tours are at 9:00 man, will lead a conversaFeb. 12, 7 PM. Join the Capitol AM, 12:15 PM, 1:15 PM, 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM. Rangtion on the struggles of AfriView library for a Black Histoer led tours are the only way to see the inside of the Fredcan American soldiers as they ry Month book club. They’ll erick Douglass house. Tours are ticketed, and there are fought for rights to be buried be reading Congressman a limited number of tickets available for each tour. Tour in the soldiers’ cemetery. $15. John Lewis’s award winning tickets are available by reservation or on a first-come, firstAthenaeum, 201 Prince St., graphic novel memoir about served basis. Tours last about 30 minutes. 1411 W St. SE. Rosa Parks at the White House with President Bill Alexandria, VA. nvfaa.org. his work in the Civil Rights nps.gov/frdo. Clinton after receiving the 1996 Presidential Medal of Movement. Capitol View liFreedom, Washington, DC. Visual Materials from the Black History Month Artbrary, 5001 Central Ave. SE. U Street Walking Tour. Join DC by Foot and explore the Rosa Parks Papers, Prints and Photographs Division, ists’ Market. Feb. 29, 1 to 4 dclibrary.org/capitalview. historic treasures of the U Street corridor. Once known Library of Congress

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One Life: Marian Anderson. Through May 17. This exhibition examines the ways in which artists, concert promoters and others wielded Marian Anderson’s iconic likeness as a powerful symbol in the pursuit of civil rights. National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW. npg.si.edu. as “Black Broadway,” this neighborhood remains a trove of the capital’s African American history. From the Civil War through the Jazz Age to the race riots of the ‘60s and beyond. freetoursbyfoot.com. National Museum of African American History and Culture. Open daily, 10 AM to 5:30 PM. September through February, NMAAHC timed passes required only on weekends. Walk-up entry is not available on weekends. Passes are available online three months in advance and are issued the first Wednesday of every month. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is at 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. nmaahc.si.edu.

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2020

spring Patti Smith at the Kennedy Center On Saturday, March 21, 8 p.m., the Kennedy Center’s DIRECT CURRENT mainstage season draws to a close with an evening of music and poetry from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame punk icon and National Book Award-winning poet Patti Smith; her daughter, the composer, instrumentalist and activist Jesse Paris Smith; and Canadian cellist and composer Rebecca Foon. $59 to $149. kennedy-center.org. Patti Smith. Photo: Edward Mapplethorpe

One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue at Sixth Street SW, presents “One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection,” on view April 4 to Sept. 20, 2020. The exhibition debuts the museum’s new acquisitions by the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, including two of her renowned Infinity Mirrored Rooms. Building on the legacy of the museum’s 2017 blockbuster survey, “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors,” the forthcoming exhibition cements the enduring art-historical connection between the visionary artist and the Smithsonian’s national museum of modern art on the National Mall. hirshhorn.si.edu.

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The Inﬁnity Mirrored Rooms by Japanese artist Yoyoi Kusama. Photo: Courtesy of Hirshhorn Museum

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“Taking the Stage” at the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Timon of Athens at Shakespeare Timon lives in a golden world of opulence and generosity, throwing wild parties attended by politicians, artists, and the celebrities of Athens. When she loses her wealth and her friends abandon her, Timon takes to the forest, exchanging her luxurious gowns for sackcloth and plotting revenge against the city she loves. On stage, Feb. 20 to March 22, at the Shakespeare Theatre, Michael R. Klein Theater (formerly Lansburgh Theatre), 450 Seventh St. NW. shakespearetheatre.org.

Taking the Stage, in the fourth floor Cultural Galleries, is organized thematically, according to genre: Theater, Film and Television. Each section will highlight key events, figures, and themes from various eras and bring legendary performances to life through artifacts, historical images, and media presentations. The exhibition showcases compelling stories of how African American performing artists have enriched American culture while also crafting possibilities for social change. National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. nmaahc.si.edu. Alvin Ailey, Myrna White, James Truitte, Ella Thompson, Minnie Marshall and Don Martin in Revelations, 1961. Photo: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Photograph by Jack Mitchell, Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation, Inc. and Smithsonian Institution. All rights reserved. 2013.245

The Cast of Timon of Athens. Photo: Henry Grossman

Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Wolf Trap For over 50 years, South Africa’s five-time Grammy Award-winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has warmed the hearts of audiences worldwide with their uplifting vocal harmonies, signature dance moves, and charming onstage banter. Read more about them at mambazo.com. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is on stage at The Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA, on March 16 and 17, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $42. wolftrap.org.

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Alua Allrich at Blues Alley Jazz vocalist and DC native Akua Allrich has proven herself to be a musician of extraordinary talent and crowd-moving passion. With finesse and charisma, this vocalist, composer and teacher has successfully etched out a place for her unique expression, electrifying audiences in and around DC with soldout performances. Akua Allrich is on stage at Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW., on April 9, 8 and 10 p.m. Tickets are $25. bluesalleylive.com.

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Celia & Fidel at Arena

The lines can be long awaiting entry to the Embassy of Peru when it celebrates Around the World Embassy Tour, so the embassy provides a variety of music, dance, and corralled livestock on its plaza. Photo: Judy Manesh

Can one woman change the mind of a man and the fate of a nation? Fidel Castro’s most trusted confidant and political partner, Celia Sánchez, is never far from his side as he grapples with how to move his country forward. It’s 1980 and a failing economy has led 10,000 Cuban citizens to seek asylum at the Peruvian Embassy in Cuba. Castro must decide what kind of a leader he wants to be: merciful or mighty. Imbued with magical realism, Arena Stage’s seventh Power Play imagines a conversation between Cuba’s most influential female revolutionary and its most notorious political leader in a contest between morality and power. On stage at Arena, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Feb. 28 to April 12. arenastage.org.

Passport DC Passport DC is a month-long journey around the world highlighting DC’s international diplomatic community and their lively and varied cultures. Celebrated annually in May, which is International Cultural Awareness Month in Washington, Passport DC is 31 days of programming by 70 embassies and some of DC’s very best cultural institutions. A few dates to remember: European Month of Culture, May 1 to 31; Flower Mart at National Cathedral, May 1 and 2; Around the World Embassy Tour, May 2; and European Union Open House, May 9. CulturalTourismDC.org. Image: Raul Colón

Beethoven at 250: The Symphonies In honor of Beethoven’s 250th birthday, conductor Gianandrea Noseda leads the National Symphony Orchestra in a three-week festival of concerts celebrating the composer’s remarkable genius and impact on music. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear all nine symphonies—music that resounds as loudly today as it did two centuries ago. From May 2 to June 14, the NSO will perform Beethoven’s nine symphonies: May 28 and 29, first and third; May 30 to June 3, second and fifth; June 5 and 6, fourth and seventh; June 9 and 10, sixth and eighth; and June 12 to 14, ninth. $15 to $89. Kennedy-center.org. 28

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Cherokee Days Festival at the American Indian Museum

“Let your deafness no longer be a secret - even in art!” - Beethoven’s notes in the sketches of Opus 59 string quartet, 1806

The Cherokee Nation, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee in Oklahoma, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians unite in a three-day celebration of Cherokee culture and history. Cherokee Days presents cultural demonstrations of basket weaving, flint knapping, carving, regalia making, bead working, history presentations, flute performances and storytelling. Friday, April 3, Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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by Steve Monroe

Jazz Black History Month Spotlight: Capital Jazz Festival 1985

Many years before the DC Jazz Festival took root, my souvenir booklet reminds us, we had this one: “As Mayor of the District of Columbia, I am pleased to extend greetings to the musicians, performers, sponsor, guests and audience of the first annual Capital City Jazz Festival being held here in our capital city on June 7 and 8, 1985” [Mayor Marion Barry Jr.] Performers at the DC Convention Center concert included Miles Davis, Max Roach and M’Boom, Philly Joe Jones and Dameronia, the World Saxophone Quartet, Howard University Jazz Repertory Orchestra and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

KAZE, Ethnic Heritage, Lena Seikaly, UDC Ensemble on Tap

Among the notable events this Black History Month, Transparent Productions Trombonist Reginald Cyntje, whose “Rise of the Protesters” recording last year precontinues its 23rd season by presenting sented a moving history of the movements for civil rights and justice, performs Feb. 9 KAZE with pianist Satoko Fujii at 8 p.m. at DC Jazz Jam and Feb. 21-22 at Twins Jazz. on Feb. 13 at Allyworld in Takoma Park, Maryland, and Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Fridays Vocal Jazz” series with Lena Seikaly at 8 p.m. on Heritage Ensemble at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16 Feb. 21. Tickets are $20. See www.mrhenrysdc.com for at Rhizome in Northwest DC. Tickets are $20 in advance more information. (www.rhizomedc.org), $25 at the door. On Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m., Bobby Felder and Friends Mr. Henry’s, the longtime jazz spot at Sixth and Penncelebrate Black History Month with guest vocalists Tiya! sylvania Ave. SE that features Wednesday jam sessions is and Dick Smith in the “Jazz@Wesley” series at National “rebooting” its Sunday Sharon Clark Metropolitan SingUnited Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW. Call ers Jam, with shows from 1 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 16 and 23. 202-363-4900 for ticket information. The venue also hosts the launch of Chris Grasso’s “Third 30

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February Highlights: … Ahmad Jamal, Feb. 8, Kennedy Center … Michael Thomas, Feb. 8, Twins Jazz ... Dave Stryker, Warren Wolf, Feb. 8-9, Keystone Korner/Baltimore … Keiko Matsui, Feb. 8-9, Blues Alley … Bobby Muncy Quartet, Feb. 9, Twins Jazz … Reginald Cyntje, Feb. 9, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Integriti Reeves, Feb. 11, Blues Alley … Cyrille Aimee, Feb. 12, Blues Alley … Shacara Rogers, Feb. 14, Hill Center … Eugenie Jones, Feb. 14-15, Twins Jazz … Cyrille Aimee, Feb. 14-16, Keystone Korner/Baltimore … Jen Krupa, Feb. 16, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Roy Ayers, Feb. 20-23, Blues Alley … Akua Allrich Jazz Ensemble, Feb. 21, Westminster Presbyterian Church … Reginald Cyntje, Feb. 2122, Twins Jazz … Spot On Jazz/Dance, Feb. 23, Atlas … Raoul Midon and Lionel Loueke, Feb. 23, Amp at Strathmore/ North Bethesda … Matthew Niess, Feb. 23, DC Jazz Jam/The Brixton … Peabody Jazz Faculty Ensemble w/Sean Jones, Kris Funn, Feb. 24, Blues Alley … Paul Piper Sextet, Feb. 27, Twins Jazz … Bowie State University Community Jazz Ensemble, Feb. 28, Westminster … Jason Moran/The Bandwagon w/Cassandra Wilson, Feb. 28, Kennedy Center … Project Natale, Feb. 28-29, Twins Jazz … Thinking About Jazz/Benny Goodman: King of Swing, Feb. 29, Westminster … Marlow Rosado Quintet, Feb. 29, Atlas … February Birthdays: James P. Johnson, Joshua Redman 1; Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz 2; Eubie Blake 7; Chick Webb 10; Machito 16; Stan Kenton, David Murray 19; Nancy Wilson 20; Tadd Dameron 21; James Moody 26; Mildred Bailey, Dexter Gordon 27.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

JAZZAlive features the UDC Small Jazz Ensembles under the direction of Allyn Johnson at 12:30 p.m. at the University of the District of Columbia Recital Hall (Performing Arts – Bldg. 46West), 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW.

Whether it’s drinks with the gang or dinner with your funny Valentine, Mr. Henry’s has everything you want!

Long Live the Spirit of Vernard Gray

601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE

From our favorite master musician/ bandleader Charles Rahmat Woods last month: “We also got word this evening of the passing of Bro Vernard Gray, executive director of the East of the River Jazz Fest and a true cultural entrepreneur and community leader in the Washington DC/Baltimore region. Some people may talk the talk, but Vernard Gray was a ‘sho nuf ’ doer ... he had a creative mind, worked hard and made things happen. He was also a staunch defender of DC’s Anacostia turf and its legacy … He will be sorely missed. May God bless his soul, accept the good he did and bring comfort to the family. Peace.”

LIVE MUSIC Wednesday thru Saturday evenings.

Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival Is Here!

National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Benny Golson, Ellis Marsalis, Kenny Barron, Roy Haynes and Jimmy Heath and more will perform at the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival on Feb. 14-16 at the Hilton Washington DC/ Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland.

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Lionel Lyles came roaring into Alice’s Jazz and Cultural Society one night last month with his tenor sax riffs on “Short Story,” a brawny, blowing vehicle for him and trumpeter Michael Fitzhugh, before both of them led a waltzing, lilting tempo on Lyles’ tune “The Nightlife,” also featuring pianist Justin Taylor’s tasteful melodies. Lyles also shined with bluesy licks on “Alternative Facts,” “5th Arrival” and tunes from his recent album “Simplistically Complex.” Steve Monroe is a freelance writer based in Washington, DC. He can be reached at steve@ jazzavenues.com or @jazzavenues. ◆

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neighborhood news

Menkiti Breaks Ground on Project in Historic Anacostia

The Menkiti Group and Enlightened Inc. in partnership as MLK Gateway Partners LLC (MGP) broke ground on the first phase of their MLK Gateway project. Located at the corner of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, MLK Gateway will become a catalytic commercial center for historic Anacostia. Phase One features the restoration of 14,000 square feet of ground floor retail as well as 20,000 square feet of newly built office space. The project is anchored by Enlightened Inc., an award-winning minority-owned information technology and cybersecurity firm that will relocate its nearly 150 district-based employees to a new headquarters in the project. The building’s design and incorporates existing historic facades to provide a rich backdrop for new vibrant street-fronting retail. Phase Two of the project will include construction of a new building at 19091913 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE with street-level retail and multistory office space above.

Free Tax Help

Through April 15, meet with a qualified AARP tax aide to help answer your tax questions and prepare your 2019 income tax filing. Get free help on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Bellevue Library; on Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Anacostia Library; on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Capital View Library; and on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Francis Gregory Library. For more information and to find other sites offering tax assistance, visit dclibrary.org/incometax.

Longtime Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) member Vernard R. Gray passed away on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020, in Cuba.

Benning Streetcar Project Open House

Bo Menkiti and The Menkiti Group were joined at Jan. 8’s groundbreaking by Enlightened Inc. President and CEO Antwanye Ford, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D), Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D), Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio and community members. Photo: Andre Russell

Mayoral Budget Engagement Forums

Share values, priorities and ideas with Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) to aid her in the development of her FY21 budget. On Feb. 10 at noon, there is a Senior Budget Engagement Telephone Town Hall. To RSVP, call 202-442-8150. There are Budget Engagement Forums on Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m., at Edgewood Rec Center, 301 Franklin St. NE; Feb. 20, 6:30 p.m., at UDC Student Center, 4200 Connecticut Ave. NW; and Feb. 22, 11 a.m., at Kenilworth Rec Center, 4321 Ord St, NE. For more information and to RSVP, visit 2020BudgetForums.eventbrite.com.

Maximize Social Security

On Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m., at Francis A. Gregory Library, attend a complimentary seminar to learn potential strategies for maximizing Social Security benefits. Find out about eligibility, timing benefits and other factors. Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave., SE. dclibrary.org/francis. 32

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The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will hold an open house on Feb. 20, 6:30 to 8 p.m. at River Terrace Education Campus, 405 Anacostia Ave. NE, for the Benning Road Reconstruction and Streetcar Project. As part of the ongoing Benning Road and Bridges Transportation Improvements Environmental Assessment (EA), DDOT has initiated this preliminary design project aimed at improving the Benning Road corridor to safely and efficiently accommodate all modes of transportation. The project also will study potential modifications of the DC-295 and Benning Road interchange. At the open house, DDOT staff will provide an update on the project, present the DC-295 and Benning Road interchange preferred options and solicit public input. For more information, visit https://www.benningproject.com/.

Park Cleanups

On Jan. 12, 140 members of the World Mission Society Church of God converged on Ft. Stanton Park and removed 6,000 pounds of trash from the area around 2709 Bruce Place, including 161 large trash bags, 91 tires and over 500 pounds of scrap metal. On Dr. Martin Luther King Day, a contingent of Ward 8 Woods volunteers gave out 150 reusable grocery bags at the annual Ward 8. On the first Saturday of every month, help remove trash and invasive plants from Fort Stanton Park, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers meet in front of the Ft. Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. Gloves, bags and light refreshments are provided. Wear work boots and durable pants. Bring a water bottle-refills provided. Documentation of community service hours will be provided upon request. Ward 8 Woods also holds Shepherd Parkway clean-ups every sec-

Vernard R. Gray, 1941–2020

Longtime Anacostia Coordinating Council (ACC) member Vernard R. Gray was a visionary curator, art collector, photographer, Jazz fan, videographer/filmmaker and fashion designer. He is best known as owner of the Miya Gallery (1976-2001), the District’s first Afrocentric gallery, named for his daughter. A native Washingtonian, he promoted the current “Made in East River” initiative which encourages DC government to allow use of vacant city-owned properties for cultural use, including food-producing greenhouses! He and the ACC collaborated for several years on events and projects to promote Jazz in DC--particularly east of the river.

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The Nationals Are Hiring

The Washington Nationals are in search of part-time gameday staff to join the World Series champions for the 2020 season. Each year, the Nationals recruit new candidates to fill more than 200 part-time positions. Interested candidates are invited to apply at teamworkonline.com/baseball-jobs/washington-nationals by Feb. 14. Those qualified will be interviewed at the annual hiring event planned for late February.

Photo: Courtesy of the Washington Nationals Baseball Club

ond Saturday of the month, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Volunteers meet at 555 Newcomb St. SE. For questions, contact Nathan at 301-758-5892 or nathan@ward8woods.org.

Free Career Assistance

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Need assistance looking for work? Possess the basic digital literacy skills required in the workplace? Attend one of the two-hour Job Seekers Drop-In Clinic on Mondays, Feb. 10 and 24; 5 to 7 p.m. at Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave. SE. Seen on first-come, firstserved basis, everyone will receive oneon-one assistance. Learn to create an email account; establish a job board account; building and typing a résumé; conducting online job searches and completing online job applications. dclibrary.org/capitolview.

Volunteer at Kenilworth Park

Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens partners with the National Park Service to host special events and celebrations throughout the year. Spring cleanup volunteer events are from 9 a.m. to noon on March 28, April 25 and May 30. Read more and register at kenaqgardens.org/events.

Anacostia Playhouse Name Your Own Price Tickets

Name Your Own Price tickets are available for each Theater Alliance performance at the Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE to ensure that the price of a ticket does not stop anyone from seeing live theater. To claim a ticket under the program, just show up at the box office one hour before the show and there will be a minimum of 10 Name Your Own Price tickets available. thetheateralliance.com.

Earth Day Cleanup 2020

On April 25, 9 a.m. to noon, join the Anacostia Watershed Society to clean up the riverbanks of the Anacostia. With nearly 40 sites across the watershed, volunteers will be collecting litter while beautifying and restoring the river. Volunteer registration opens on March 2. To find out more, email the AWS Earth Day team at earthday@anacostiaws.org. Join the Earth Day email list at anacostiaws.org.

Shakespeare Theatre Ticket Lottery

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) offers a ticket lottery that theatregoers the opportunity to purchase $20 tickets to upcoming productions of the 2019/20 Season, beginning with James Baldwin’s “The Amen Corner.” Each lottery runs for two weeks. Winners receive a unique promo code to purchase up to four tickets for any performance during the first two weeks of the show’s run. Patrons may visit https://www. shakespearetheatre.org/account/ffa_ lottery_login.aspx?eve=7:30 to enter.

Examining the Earned Income Tax Credit

On Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the True Reformer Building, 1200 U St,

NW, attend a forum on “Examining the Role of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in Poverty Alleviation & Wealth Creation in the District of Columbia.” For the past four decades, the EITC has been considered the most effective poverty alleviation public policy in the nation. In 2019, over 49,000 low and moderate-income families received over $161 million associated with the EITC. However, around 20,000 eligible families did not claim the credit. Explore national research and local opportunities to maximize the EITC for the benefit of low and moderate-income individuals and families in DC. Visit www.caab.org/en/ do-you-know-about-the-role-the-eitcplays-in-lifting-thousands-of-washingtonian-families-out-of-poverty-everyyear for more information.

DC Free E-Cycling

Find a list of 2020 DC e-cycling collection events in all eight wards at rlgamericas.com/DCecycling. Discover where residents and businesses can drop off covered electronic equipment for recycling through Dec. 18, 2020. Desktop and laptop computers, tablets, E-readers, small-scale servers, portable digital music players that are battery powered, computer monitors, mice, keyboards, computer speakers, desktop printers, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, DVRs, signal converter boxes, cable and satellite receivers and gaming consoles used with TVs are all covered. All recycling events are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine.

Apply for Events DC Community Grants

The Events DC Community Grant Program provides financial support to nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting youth sports or performing or cultural arts in the District of Columbia. Applications for this grant cycle are due no later than March 1, 2020. For more information about the grant program requirements and application process, visit eventsdc.com or email communitygrants@eventsdc.com. Have in an item for the Bulletin Board? Email the information to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. ◆

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WARDS 7 & 8

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School Choice Reduces Neighborhood School Resources Parents in Wards 7 and 8 Vote with Their Feet by Elizabeth O’Gorek

amara Francis wakes her son shortly after 6 a.m. and gets him ready for the day, sending him downstairs to his father to dress and eat breakfast while she gets ready for work. The household is a well-oiled machine in the morning. It has to be. Everyone needs to be in the right place at the right time so the family can be out the door and in the car by 7:30. Ahead of them is a drive of more than an hour to school and then to the office. The Francis family lives so close to their neighborhood school, Plummer Elementary, that their kindergartener could sleep until after 8:00 in the morning and still make it well in advance of the 8:45 start. Instead, Francis’s husband switched to a night shift at work and everyone altered their schedules so their five-year-old could attend an alternative school in Northwest. “It’s really stressful for families, and it’s a stress for us,” Francis said. “We sacrifice a lot, even just in the commuting time, because DCPS [District of Columbia Public Schools] is not willing to invest in neighborhood schools in the way they should.” In the District, school funding is directly linked to student enrollment. So, when Francis’s son moved to a public charter school, the money followed him, effectively reducing the budget of Plummer Elementary.

Enrollment Key to Budgets

The District of Columbia determines funding for DCPS and charter schools using a formula that is based on the next-year enrollment projections. The formula allocates a per-pupil dollar amount for each projected student, as well as for student classifications such as early language learners or special education. Schools with smaller populations are more expensive to operate because DC has no standard for increasing the budget to keep up with fixed facility costs such as energy bills and maintenance, aside from school enrollment. Plummer’s enrollment has been declining, from 416 students in 2013 to 331 in 2018-19. But the auditor’s report finds that enrollment projections are often inaccurate and fail to account for mid-year student movement. Ac36

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cording to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), a total of 382 students were served by Plummer last year, meaning that the school served an additional 51 students for various periods and times, using a budget based on the October count. Last year, 75% of the student body was deemed at-risk. In a letter to DC Auditor Kathleen Patterson, Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn said projections are largely accurate, adding that his office had commissioned a study of the adequacy of at-risk funding. “We look forward to working with our schools, school communities, and agencies to continue to improve upon our processes and help plan for the future,” Kihn wrote. Declining enrollment tightens resources, forcing administrators to decide what to fund and making schools less attractive options for choice.

Enrollment and Mobility

Francis and her family are part of a growing number of parents making the choice to send their children to schools outside of the neighborhood. A recent report commissioned by the DC Office of the Auditor, “Enrollment Projections in DC’s Public Schools: Controls Are Needed to Ensure Funding Equity,” found that many students leave their ward of residence daily for school: 52% in Ward 7 and 63% in Ward 8. “This research raises important questions about unintended consequences,” said Patterson. “Choice affects mobility, and mobility affects achievement, and we just don’t know enough about the impact of our current practices.” The report also raises important questions about the long-term impact of the city’s robust-choice environment. It highlights the interconnected nature of publicschool enrollment and subsequent resource allocation. It identifies a pattern of District families moving away from schools that have more students considered at-risk to schools with fewer students considered at-risk. That pattern is facilitated by the school lottery system in DC, and it impacts schools with high levels of student poverty that subsequently face declining enrollment followed by declining resources, creating a vicious cycle.

A class at Mundo Verde, a bilingual DC Public Charter School. Photo: Ann-Marie Van Tassell.

Weighing the Options

Francis said that her son had a great early childhood learning experience in Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 at Plummer Elementary School (4601 Texas Ave. SE). However, as he entered kindergarten, she wanted a more immersive experience, particularly in terms of languages. Learning languages is an issue that Francis sees as so important in closing the achievement gap that she founded a not-for-profit, East of the River Foreign Languages for Kids, to create opportunities in Wards 7 and 8. The school’s lack of resources extends to infrastructure. Francis described how children dodge rocks created by brokendown playground pavement. Last year, after DCPS announced it was reducing the budgets of 20 schools –17 in Wards 7 and 8, including Plummer – she testified before the DC Council that the school needed a new playground, a new roof and work (Continued on pg. 38) in the library.

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kids & family (Continued from pg. 36) “I wasn’t completely confident these upgrades were going to happen,” Francis said. “I realized frankly that Ward 7 schools were not really a priority – that’s how I felt – so I had to weigh the options for my child.” She had reason to be worried. When she testified, she said councilmembers told her that budgets are based on enrollment. Enrollment at Plummer was dropping.

Whose Choice? by Kathleen Donner

Zomo the Rabbit

Zomo, one hip-hoppity rabbit, is taking on DC. When Zomo is dissed and dismissed by the other tricksters in town, he turns to the Sky God for more power. The Sky God sends him on an impossible quest taking him from the breakdancing fish on the DC Waterfront, to the graffiti artist cow at the National Zoo and finally to the DJ Leopard in Adams Morgan. Will Zomo find the power he’s seeking? Or will he wise up? This high-energy hiphop adaptation of a Nigerian folktale originally commissioned by Imagination Stage in 2009, puts a local spin and lots of silly humor on the global tradition of trickster tales. For ages 4, up. Feb. 8 to March 22 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. imaginationstage.org.

Explore Bellevue Library

Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., join an interactive program for children, ages 2 to 5 and caregivers that uses play and exploration to develop pre-literacy skills. This program will rotate through play, music and dance. Bellevue Library is at 115 Atlantic St. SW. dclibrary.org/Bellevue.

Deanwood All Ages Story Time

Thursdays at 10:30 a.m., explore stories and activities to encourage children to develop a lifelong love of reading and learning. This 20-to-30-minute program is designed to promote language and listening skills, expand children’s imaginations and arouse their curiosity about the world around them. It is recommended for children ages birth to five. Deanwood Library is at 1350 49th St. NE. dclibrary.org/deanwood.

Rise + Rhyme

Mondays, at 9:30 a.m. there is morning storytelling and performances for children ages 5 and under with the goals of teaching children to engage with their community, learn to love performing and become rising ‘artivists!’ Busboys and Poets-Anacostia is at 2004 MLK Ave. SE. busboysandpoets.com.

President’s Day Public Skating

There is a public skating session at Ft. Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE., on Monday, Feb. 17, from noon to two p.m. Skating is $5 for adults; $4, 12 and under and seniors 60 and over; and $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE. fdia.org.

Discovery Theater

On Feb. 11 to 13, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., enjoy Into the Great Unknown-African American Adventurers and Explorers. Leadership, courage and adventure take center stage in this inspiring Discovery Theater original. From Matthew Henson, co-discoverer of the North Pole, to astronaut Mae Jemison, meet a century’s worth of bold men and women who challenged the Western frontier, the highest of mountains and the vastness of outer space. For ages 6 to 12. On Feb. 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., enjoy Going the Distance. Race to the finish line with two black Olympians who changed history! Soaring music contributes to a vivid portrayal of the lives of Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph. Watch them as they overcome childhood illness, infirmity and poverty to become the world’s fastest man and woman. For ages 6 to 12.All shows are $6 for kids; under two, $3; adults, $8. Discovery Theater, Ripley Center, 1000 Jefferson Dr. SW. discoverytheater.org. 38

EastofthERivERDCNEws.Com

Eboni-Rose Thompson says that the city should be working to guarantee equitable education for kids. The chair of the Ward 7 Education Council said that does not mean taking choice off the table, but it argues for investing in neighborhood schools, the only place kids are assured a place in the classroom. Thompson said that a system that depends on enrollment for resources is not sustainable. Parents don’t want to send their children to a school in the hope that it will have sufficient enrollment to be adequately funded, she said. The auditor’s office is shining light on the issue of who takes advantage of school choice, itself an issue of equity, Thompson added. While some students benefit from the system, those who do not are those with the greatest needs. The problem, she said, is that the choice system presumes people will go through multiple processes in order to access a good education. “What happens if the adults in your life aren’t doing that for you?” she asked. “Whether that is because they don’t have the information, or the time or the access or the resources – you don’t have a choice. That shouldn’t be the case.” When you think about how rapidly the city is changing, she added, and the impact on neighborhoods, it becomes even more important to make a commitment to schools and the children who attend them. “If we’re going to hold kids steady,” Thompson said, “we have to hold schools steady. Period.”

“I Don’t Think It’s a Choice”

Last spring, after weighing the options, Francis put her son’s name in the DC Lottery. He was matched with bilingual public charter school Mundo Verde (30 P St. NW). Describing the budget that teachers work with at Mundo Verde as “ridiculous” compared to what Plummer had to cope with, Francis said that the school offers courses like swimming and robotics in addition to language. It also has a school garden to teach about food and wellness. “These are things that are not looked at as ‘enrichment.’ They are part of the core curriculum,” she said. Though the family is satisfied with Mundo Verde, Francis said that the choice process was stressful and complicated, and with sibling and distance preferences playing roles, not as random a lottery as parents are led to believe. “I don’t think it’s choice at all,” she said. “A choice would be: my neighborhood school is a solid, fine, functional school where he’s going to get a comparable education to a [public elementary school like] Oyster or Marie Reed. And I don’t feel that way.” The District’s apparent inability to provide every school with sufficient resources to meet the needs of students is ultimately a self-fulfilling prophecy, Francis said. “How do you prevent schools from failing, if you don’t give them the resources?” she asked. “If the school isn’t properly funded, it’s ultimately headed for closure.” You can read the auditor’s report at www.dcauditor.org/report/enrollment-projections-in-d-c-public-schools-controls-needed-to-ensure-funding-equity. Learn about the Ward 7 Education Council at www.ward7edcouncil.org, and learn about Francis’s language not-for-profit at www. eotrlingokids.com. u

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Presidential Family Fun Day at the NPG

Every year the National Portrait Gallery kicks off Presidents’ Day weekend with a presidential party loaded with crafts, music, dancing, games and special tours of “America’s Presidents.” Celebrate with the Portrait Gallery, President Lincoln’s Cottage, the DC Public Library, the Washington Nationals’ Racing Presidents, artists and experts from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Plus, a special booth for the new The Obama Portraits book. Presidential Family Fun Day is on Feb. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Kogod Courtyard. The National Portrait Gallery is at Eighth and F Streets, NW. npg.si.edu.

Rigoberta, ¿dónde estás?

Kids’ Black History Month Events

Portrait Story Days at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW, are 1 to 4 p.m.; Feb. 8 and 9, Rosa Parks; Feb. 15 and 16, Barak Obama; Feb. 22 and 23, Frederick Douglass; and Feb. 29, Michelle Obama. Drop by the Education Center, room E151, on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon to hear a story and create art inspired by someone in the Portrait Gallery’s collection. npg.si.edu. On Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., there is an African American Pioneers in Aviation and Space Family Day at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. Join them as they celebrate African American History Month by revealing past pioneers and giving families the opportunity to inspire the next generation of innovators in aviation and space. airandspace.si.edu. Engineering STEM Day at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is on Feb. 22, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. To help celebrate National Engineering Week, NMAAHC will highlight the long lineage of African American engineers. From the earliest people of African descent using their knowledge of rice cultivation to the newest generation of technology prodigies and inventors, the contributions of African Americans to the nation’s prosperity, history and culture are significant. This program will introduce visitors to the world of engineering and share how African Americans have shaped and influenced the world. Free but you must register at nmaahc.si.edu.

As 10-year old Pilar travels to Guatemala City in search of her idol Rigoberta Menchú, villagers along the way suggest questions she should ask the Nobel On Feb. 25, 5 to 8 p.m., there is a Black History Peace Prize winner. This Month Family Art Workshop at Anacostia Commuis a journey of self-discovnity Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. All supplies proery filled with stories, song vided. anacostia.si.edu. and dance. The bilingual Rigoberta, ¿dónde estás? A Journey through Guatemala, written and directed by by the National Archives Foundation, Cornelia Cody (El Salvador/USA), is on give children a chance to practice listenstage at GALA Theatre, March 14 to 28. ing skills, participate in group activities $12 for adults; $10 for children. Student and create a craft. This is a walk-in promatinees are March 16 to 20 and March gram. archives.gov. 23 to 27, at 10:30 a.m. (weekdays). For Mozart Mash-Up more information, contact education@ On Feb. 22, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; and galatheatre.org. Feb. 23, 1:30 and 4 p.m., enjoy the muNational Archives Story Times sic of Mozart in a special family concert On Feb. 12, March 18, April 15 and May at the Kennedy Center. A string quartet 13, 10 to 11 a.m., at the Boeing Learnfeaturing members of the National Syming Center Resource Room, Nationphony Orchestra plays its favorites from al Archives presents story times for 3 to the prolific composer. At age three, Wolf5-year-olds and accompanying adults. gang Amadeus Mozart could be found obThese special programs, funded in part serving his big sister Nannerl at the key40

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Beauty and the Beast is a romantic tale of a handsome prince and his love set in a Mardi Gras at the Museum! great forest in old Russia. On March 3, 5 to 8 p.m., decorate masks for There are curses, conflicts, Fat Tuesday! All materials provided. For more hopes, dreams and exciting information about Twilight Tuesdays, call adventures, all the things 202-633-4868. Anacostia Community Musethat make a happy ending um, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. that much sweeter. Imaginative settings and beautiful costumes support this board. By 4 or 5, he had written his first large-scale marionette version of the clascompositions and his first symphony by sic love story. $12. On stage at Glen Echo, age 7. This concert is most enjoyed by Feb. 20 to March 29. Recommended for age 7, up. All patrons must have a ticket. age 5, up. Here’s the remaining lineup: $20. Come early for a petting zoo. kenneHansel and Gretel, April 3 to May 10; Pedy-center.org. Courtesy of the Anacostia Community Museum

LOC Names New National Ambassador

The Library of Congress (LOC), the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader has announced the appointment of Jason Reynolds as the seventh National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature for 20202021. Reynolds is the author of 13 books for young people including his most recent, “Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks,” a National Book Award finalist, which was named a Best Book of 2019 by NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post and TIME. A native of DC, Reynolds began writing poetry at nine years old and is the recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, 42

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Amelia Mouse (Mary Myers) and Nellie Mouse (Kyosin Kang) take a rocket to the moon in “Mouse on the Move” at Imagination Stage. Photo: Jeremy A. Jackson

INTERSECTIONS for Kids

Imagination Stage’s Mouse on the Move, Feb. 21 to March 1. Two adventurous mice ready to explore the world beyond their little mouse-hole. They decide to go to the moon since it is cat-free and made entirely of delicious, mouth-watering cheese. $15. Friendlier Fables & Thoughtful Tales, Feb. 22. Enjoy familiar stories with kinder twists. Learn about respect and friendship in a funny, touching, engaging show for all ages! $15. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.

ter and the Wolf, May 15 to June 2. thepuppetco.org.

The Snowy Day

This beautiful show follows the character of Peter and his friend Archie around the neighborhood in four of Ezra Jack Keats’ beloved tales, “The Snowy Day,” “Whistle for Willie,” “Goggles!” and “A Letter to Amy.” Renowned for his tender personality, the character of Peter faces relatable everyday challenges to which children of all ages will find delightfully entertaining. At Adventure Theatre at Glen Echo, Feb. 14 to March 29. All ages. Tickets are $19.50 and can be purchased at adventuretheatremtc.org or 301-634-2270. Have an item for the Notebook? Email it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. u

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homes & gardens

Building Community by Planting Urban Forests

by Catherine Plume

hat’s new in Wards 7 ate? There’s a lot of construction happening, but have you noticed all of the young trees that are being planted? Neighborhoods east of the river are recognizing the many advantages that trees bring to open areas. Thanks to help from DC-based Casey Trees, some 1,000 trees were planted at 30 locations across the two wards in 2019, with more to be planted in 2020.

Citywide Challenge

DC has a goal of reaching 40% tree cover by 2032. Casey Trees is an urban forestry nonprofit established in 2002 to restore, enhance and protect the tree canopy of the nation’s capital and help attain that goal. The organization has planted over 25,000 trees across the District, and it provides

Father Thomas and Denise Bogans of Our Lady of Perpetual Help kick off the church’s tree-planting event. Photo: Casey Trees

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trees to anyone in the District at no or low cost. According to a Casey Trees report, the District had a 38% tree cover in 2018, up 3% from 2010. Tree planting requires physical work, and Casey Trees likes to involve the community in the tree-planting events. Last year, over 1,600 local residents, including almost 1,000 youth, participated in tree-planting activities. Trees were planted at a variety of locations all across the two Wards – from schools to church properties to public spaces.

Our Lady Plants New Trees in Ward 8

Over the summer, congregants from Ward 8’s Our Lady of Perpetual Help contacted Casey Trees about the possibility of planting trees to provide privacy and a noise shield for a community gathering area located near a main road. Casey

Trees foresters visited the property to develop a design and determine the best native species for the site. As the congregation’s land is located on top of a huge hill (with a spectacular view of the District!), water-loving species were included in the design to mitigate stormwater runoff and erosion. A total of 88 trees – a mixture of native elm, oak, sycamore, juniper, cypress and sweetgum – were planted. Members of the congregation, along with Casey Trees staff and volunteers, provided the labor for the planting – which required a fair amount of strength. Paul Corragio, a Casey Trees urban forester, oversaw the operation. He notes that “this was one of my favorite tree-planting projects. Congregants had a lot of enthusiasm for the trees and the work involved, and it was contagious. The church pastor, deacons and really the entire parish were incredibly appreciative of our work. They shared

Changing Hands Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia 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 office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. NEIGHBORHOOD

CLOSE PRICE

BEDS

ANACOSTIA 1311 S St SE 1320 Maple View Pl SE 1420 Morris Rd SE 1422 18th Pl SE 1504 16th St SE 2124 13th St SE

$600,000 $485,000 $479,000 $495,000 $284,000 $375,000

BARRY FARMS 1428 Howard Rd SE 1476 Morris Rd SE 2441 Elvans Rd SE 3366 Brothers Pl SE #3

$338,000 $449,000 $550,000 $225,000

CAPITOL HILL EAST 1391 Pennsylvania Ave SE #221

$399,999

CONGRESS HEIGHTS LEFT: St. Luke Catholic Church’s Father Cornelius joins Green Compass’s Nicole Whalen and Inocencio Quinones in the church’s tree-planting project. Photo: Green Compass

their deep roots and history in the community, and how they wanted the trees to become a part of the community fabric. It was hard work but a lot of fun.”

St. Luke’s Steps Up in Ward 7

Meanwhile, members of Ward 7’s St. Luke Catholic Church also caught the treeplanting bug. In late October, congregants gathered with Casey Trees staff and volunteers to plant over 30 trees on church property as part of a voluntary stormwater management project developed and paid for by Green Compass, a DC-based clean-tech company that is helping the District meet its sustainability goals by installing green infrastructure and clean energy projects. Nicole Whalen, the CEO and founder of Green Compass, helped organize the project. “We designed a green infrastructure project that manages some 20,000 gallons of water and saves the Church thousands of dollars on their water bill,” she explains. “The trees are a key part of the project. Since we collaborated with Casey Trees, it was a no-cost project for the church. And, the tree planting event itself was a great way to engage the community. About 20 parishioners showed

up early on a Saturday morning to plant trees – including Father Cornelius! It was truly an interactive and multigenerational event, with people of all ages showing up to plant trees. In just over two hours, we created a new urban tree canopy. It was really inspiring!” Coraggio hopes other groups across Wards 7 and 8 will take advantage of this Casey Trees programming, which offers several grant options for homeowners, schools, community institutions and even as memorials. See https://caseytrees. org/plant/ for more information about all of the tree planting programs that Casey Trees offers. And, don’t forget, spring is a busy treeplanting season, and Casey Trees is always looking for volunteers. You can sign up to plant trees as an individual or as a part of a group outing at https://caseytrees.org/volunteer/. Be a part of making DC greener! Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer, and a blogger for the DC Recycler: www. DCRecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter: @DC_Recycler. She is also the vice chair of the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club, but the perspectives expressed here are her own and do not necessarily represent the positions of that organization. u

114 Joliet St SW 1244 Barnaby Ter SE 24 Danbury St SW #24 277 Newcomb St SE 3327 5th St SE 3517 21st St SE 3794 1st SE 400 Newcomb St SE #3 4044 1st St SW 606 Chesapeake St SE 833 Hr Dr SE 85 Elmira St SW 862 Hr Dr SE

$485,000 $340,000 $216,100 $380,000 $260,000 $385,000 $225,000 $315,000 $389,900 $376,000 $385,000 $371,000 $400,000

5 4 3 3 3 4 2 4 5 2 1 7 3 3 4 4 4 0 2 3 3 3 4 4

506 12th St NE 725 18th St NE #1

$799,900 $580,000

HILL CREST 1718 29th St SE 2042 Fort Davis St SE #301 2103 Suitland Ter SE #102 3130 Alabama Ave SE 3148 Westover Dr SE 3151 Westover Dr SE

$226,000 $105,000 $136,300 $539,999 $699,000 $425,000

KINGMAN PARK 1506 Gales St NE #1 302 Oklahoma Ave NE #301 423 18th St NE #2 425 19th St NE 503 21st St NE

$575,000 $288,000 $550,001 $527,000 $699,000

DEANWOOD LILY PONDS 1059 48th St NE 1112 48th Pl NE 1114 51st Pl NE 244 NE Division Ave NE 313 44th St NE 4223 Gault Pl NE 4231 Clay St NE 4312 Jay St NE 4719 Eads St NE 4810 Quarles St NE #401 4913 Just St NE 4917 Minnesota Ave NE 4952 Just St NE 5216 Karl Pl NE 5225 Blaine St NE 5322 Jay St NE 57 46th St NE 601 44th St NE 627 49th St NE 812 51st St NE 939 55th St NE

$480,000 $215,000 $413,000 $214,000 $382,000 $250,000 $220,000 $475,000 $256,000 $127,200 $185,000 $464,000 $280,000 $350,000 $508,000 $389,500 $316,000 $410,000 $375,000 $226,000 $449,900

FORT DUPONT PARK 226 Anacostia Rd SE 3326 E St SE 3935 S St SE #303 4033 Ely Pl SE 4213 Hildreth St SE 4222 SE Southern Ave SE

$525,000 $225,000 $105,000 $499,999 $295,000 $399,500

H STREET CORRIDOR 1016 K St NE 1145 5th St NE 1350 Maryland Ave NE #304 319 K St NE

$970,000 $695,000 $414,000 $1,189,000

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129 33rd St NE 148 33rd St NE 206 33rd St NE 206 34th St NE 320 36th St NE 3603 Grant Pl NE

$455,000 $399,900 $405,000 $329,000 $349,000 $470,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5110 H St SE 5212 D St SE 5537 Central Ave SE

$430,000 $225,000 $365,000

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1436 Congress Pl SE 1725 Erie St SE 2224 S St SE

$387,000 $405,000 $384,900

SW WATERFRONT 1211 4th St SW 1239 4th St SW 1311 Delaware Ave SW #S331 215 G St SW #131 608 4th Pl SW 800 4th St SW #S221

$1,000,000 $872,000 $280,000 $650,000 $1,050,000 $450,000

3 3 3 1 2 4 4 3 2 1 3 3 4 3 2 2 2 2 3 4 3 2 3 4 2 4 2 2 3 4 2

TRINIDAD 1169 Summit St NE 1210 19th St NE #3 1410 Montello Ave NE #1 839 19th St NE #5

$315,000 $530,000 $675,000 $410,000

WASHINGTON HIGHLANDS 433 Xenia St SE u

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F ebruary 2020

XWORD

www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

“Acidic”

by Myles Mellor Across:

1. Wettish 5. Morse code dash designation 8. Arch city, for short 11. Pick 14. “Chicago” star, first name 15. Japanese fencing 17. Premium cable TV network 18. J.C. Dithers’ wife in ‘’Blondie’’ 19. Something hard to accept 23. Crushing defeats 24. Abstruse 25. Annuls 26. Sunny 27. ___ off (really annoyed) 28. Giant Hall-of-Famer 29. Sweethearts 31. One-seeded fruit, botanically 34. Sharp blows 39. Midback muscle, for short 40. Granada greeting 42. Environmental watchdogs, for short 44. Chocolate is one variety.... 46. “You betcha!” 47. Sore 48. Was in the hole 49. High end candy shop offerings 53. Heavy-duty cleanser 54. Use a straw 55. Calendar spans: Abbr. 56. Paid player 57. “Drama y Luz” band 58. Family docs 59. Looks over 62. Nutritionist’s fig. 64. Spanish for gold 65. Tidbit 66. No and Dre, e.g. 69. It might be left behind after a betrayal 77. Comme ci, comme ca 78. Out of practice 79. CSI evidence

80. Fix, as leftovers 81. Word on a towel, perhaps 82. Snack 83. ___ Dee River 84. Dresses 85. Tongue 88. Least cooked 92. Venus or Mars 93. Earth sci. 95. Crusader opponent 100. Words to live by 102. Neighbor of Swed. 103. Greek citadel 105. It happens if hopes are dashed 108. Burn soother 109. Cooling device 110. Nature calls? 111. Trident features 112. Dict. listing 113. U.P.S. delivery: Abbr. 114. Aesthetic wavelength 115. Wood sorrels

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com

Down: 1. Shut out 2. Pop singer Baker 3. Distributed 4. Kind of dish 5. Stops 6. Tropical cuckoos 7. The good cholesterol that clears arteries 8. Did a blacksmith’s job 9. Cookbook abbr. 10. Blue 11. Limestone 12. Goad 13. Fancy shooting marbles 14. Unrefined 15. Swedish coin 16. Firstborn 18. Textile

20. Airline to Israel 21. Kicker’s aid 22. Alligator pear 27. Duty of older sibling 30. Gleaming 31. English classic actor, first name 32. Unfamiliar with 33. Fencing sport 34. Cold war grp. 35. Catch 36. Lawyer: Abbr. 37. Guitarist Townshend 38. Envelope that comes back, abbr. 40. Derisive laughs 41. Tic-tac-toe failure 43. Pitches

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45. Major or Minor Bear 46. Blue Triangle org. 47. Some former RCA products 48. Water stick 50. Home to Helios 51. Word errors 52. Records that may be broken 57. Boca Del ___, Fl 58. Medical drama title character 59. Musical James 60. Slangy OK 61. Like a 911 call: Abbr. 62. Mantegna’s “Criminal Minds” role 63. Brace 64. Chemistry Nobelist Hahn 65. Tube or Sanctum

66. Qatar’s capital 67. One having second thoughts 68. Pierce with a fork, e.g. 69. Blonde shade 70. Stain 71. Aggravation 72. A celebrity may have one 73. Compass point 74. Model 75. She played Sally who met Harry 76. Elev. suburb 83. Hawkish 86. “Red Dragon” star 87. Shred cheese 89. Chaperone 90. Hindu body wrap especially for women 91. 1982 Disney film 93. Auction warning 94. Sounds of hesitation 96. Is ___ (probably will) 97. Strip 98. “Mefistofele” role 99. Ball teams’ number 100. New corp. hires 101. Not to be trusted 102. Bismarck’s state: Abbr. 103. On ___ with 104. “Two-way” thoroughfares (Abbr.) 106. Request for proposal, for short 107. Kentucky bluegrass

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East of the River – February 2020

Articles inside

The Crossword

Calendar

Changing Hands

The Bulletin Board

Notebook

Building Community by Planting Urban Forests

School Choice Reduces Neighborhood School Resources: Parents in Wards 7 and 8 Vote with Their Feet

Jazz Avenues

What’s on Washington