OCTOBER 2017
FALL ARTS SPECIAL
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What’s on Washington Extra
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Theatre Round Up by Barbara Wells
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Eastside Arts by Phil Hutinet
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Jazz Avenues by Steve Monroe
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The Jazz Project by Jean-Keith Fagon
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Calendar
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 30
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The Bulletin Board
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Phil Mendelson by Jonetta Rose Barras
The Numbers by Claire Zippel
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Islamic Heritage Month Celebrated in October by John Muller
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ON THE COVER:
Fire Station or Townhomes? by Cuneyt Dil
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Thayobleu. Photo: Magdalena Papaioannu. See story on pg. 16
Our River: The Anacostia by Bill Matuszeski
HOMES & GARDENS 47
Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton
KIDS & FAMILY
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Notebook by Kathleen Donner
IN EVERY ISSUE 54
The Classified
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R E S TA U R A N T S BARS T H E AT E R C O N C E RT S PERFORMING A RT S EXHIBITS MUSEUMS GALLERIES EVENTS
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W hat’s Was h i ng ton / C E L E B R AT E T H E WHARF OPENING/
On Oct. 12, 11 a.m., the Wharf opens with off a four-day celebration that includes live music, fireworks and festivities along the SW waterfront. Some highlights are daytime fireworks at noon on Oct. 12 and 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 12 and 15; live music and entertainment from noon to 9 p.m. on Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday; and noon to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. There will be a Blessing of the Wharf at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Enjoy paddle boat excursions, yoga on the pier, buskers, s’mores at the Wharf fire pit, art wheels, kite flying, dragon boats and more. For the complete celebration schedule which includes performance listings and locations, visit wharfdc.com/sneakpeak.
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/RENOIR AND FRIENDS: LUNCHEON OF THE B O AT I N G PA RT Y /
This special exhibition will focus on The Phillips Collection’s celebrated Luncheon of the Boating Party (1880-1881) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and the diverse circle of friends who inspired it. The first exhibition to focus on this singular masterwork in more than 20 years, it is comprised of more than 40 carefully chosen paintings, drawings, pastels, watercolors and photographs from public and private collections around the world that reveal the story of Luncheon of the Boating Party. Renoir and Friends: Luncheon of the Boating Party is on exhibition at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, from Oct. 7 to Jan. 7, 2018. phillipscollection.org. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Luncheon of the Boating Party, 1880–81. Oil on canvas, 51 1/4 x 69 1/8 in. The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, Acquired 1923
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The Ship of Tolerance, Zug, 2016 Photo: Luis Eduardo Martinez Fuentes Competitors share their shucked oysters with the crowd after the judges are done evaluating their performance.
A Perfect Harmony – Visualisation by 59 Productions. Shirine Babb (Cleopatra) and Cody Nickell (Mark Antony). Photo: James Kegley
/ U S N AT I O N A L OYSTER F E S T I VA L I N S T. M A RY ’ S COUNTY/
The 51st Annual US National Oyster Festival is on Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, 42455 Fairgrounds Rd., Leonardtown, MD. Stewed, raw, fried or scalded oysters are available. Seafood lovers can feast on fried clams, scallops, soft crab sandwiches, crab cakes, shrimp, fried fish and seafood chowder. Food is pay-as-you-eat. The National Oyster Cook-Off is on Saturday. It has three contest divisions: Hors d’oeuvres, soups and stews, and main dishes. The festival’s main event is the National Oyster Shucking Championship held on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 to 5:30 p.m. The National Championship is on Sunday from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Shuckers from around the country compete by preparing 24 pre-selected oysters, perfectly. The oysters are then offered to the crowd in the stands. Read more at usoysterfest.com.
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/THE UTOPIAN P R O J E C T S AT THE HIRSHHORN/
Ilya and Emilia Kabakov: The Utopian Projects features more than twenty whimsical models by acclaimed Russian-born artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov. These maquettes are elaborate, miniaturized versions of massive projects from around the globe, which the artists have created collaboratively over the past thirty years. Offering a rare glimpse into the duo’s artistic process, these creations are perfect for the Hirshhorn’s youngest visitors, inviting viewers of all ages into a surreal world in miniature. Opening nearly thirty years after the Hirshhorn hosted Ilya Kabakov’s first major US exhibition, The Utopian Projects coincides with the artists’ first major international museum exhibition at the Tate Modern in London. hirshhorn.si.edu.
/FREER AND SACKLER GALLERIES REOPEN/
As the specially commissioned centerpiece of the weekend-long reopening celebration on Oct. 14 and 15, “A Perfect Harmony” will see the facade of the
Freer become a vast canvas for a projection-mapping event for with five performances on the evening of Oct. 14 at 7:45 p.m., 8:45 p.m., 9:45 p.m., 10:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. Using the latest technology, the 12-minute animated artwork traces the history of the Freer and Sackler Galleries. “A Perfect Harmony” will light up the Washington night in an empowering and not-to-be-missed celebration of art and ideas. asia.si.edu/reopening.
/ANTONY AND C L E O PAT R A AT THE FOLGER/
Folger Theatre launches its 2017/18 season of power, passion, and politics with William Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra. Julius Caesar is no more. Mark Antony at the peak of his political power is ensconced in Egypt at the side of the irresistible Cleopatra. Torn between his military duty toward Rome and his passionate love affair with Cleopatra, Antony finds himself engaged in both war and romance. Shakespeare’s classic encompasses politics and power, love and jealousy, alliance and misalliance. Antony and Cleopatra is on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre from Oct. 10 to Nov. 19. Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.
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Young Lioness with Her First Cubs, Serengeti, 2012, by Michael Nichols. Photo: Michael Nichols/ National Geographic
/ M I L I TA RY B A N D S CHRISTMAS SHOWS T I C K E T AVA I L A B I L I T Y /
/VIRGINIA WINE F E S T I VA L /
On Oct. 14 and 15 from noon to 6 PM, the Virginia Wine Festival will be held for the first time at Old Town Alexandria. The 42nd festival presents over 200 of Virginia’s best wineries, craft exhibitors, seminars and incredible music on the Potomac River waterfront. Discover gourmet food trucks, Virginia products, freshly shucked oysters, top bands and children’s activities. General admission is $35 with a $65 VIP ticket for early admission and exclusive tastings. Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., Alexandria, VA. virginiawinefest.com.
/ H A RV E S T J A Z Z N I G H T AT K E N I LW O RT H GARDENS
On Oct. 21 from 4 to 6 p.m., discover the Harvest Jazz Night at Kenilworth Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. There will be live music from 4 to 6 p.m. and a special evening park tour at 5 p.m. Please remember to bring a chair, blanket and a picnic to hear music under the stars. The Friends of Kenilworth Park also will give a special shout-out to the volunteers, partners, community members and friends who help keep the place running. There is a large parking lot at the Aquatic Gardens. If the lot is full, street parking is available. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org. u
Deck the halls! The US Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Christmas concerts are on Dec. 1, 8 p.m.; Dec. 2, 3 and 8 p.m.; and Dec. 3, 3 p.m. Visit usarmyband.com starting on Nov. 1, 10 a.m., to order free tickets. The US Air Force Band Christmas concerts are on Dec. 9, 3 and 8 p.m. and Dec. 10, 3 p.m. Tickets available online in November at usafband.af.mil. US Navy Band Christmas concerts are Dec. 16, 3 and 8 p.m. and Dec. 17, 3 p.m. Tickets will be available in late October at navyband.navy.mil/holiday_concert. These holiday concerts are all free (tickets go fast) and at the DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. Seating is general admission. Patrons Photo: Courtesy of the Virginia Wine with tickets are seated on a first-come, first-served basis one hour prior to show Festival time. No tickets are required 15 minutes prior to start time.
/“WILD: MICHAEL NICHOLS” PHOTOGRAPHY E X H I B I T I O N AT N AT I O N A L GEOGRAPHIC/
See extraordinary images of wildlife and wild places through the eyes of legendary photographer and former National Geographic magazine Editor at Large for Photography Michael “Nick” Nichols. Visitors will travel to the remotest reaches of the globe through Nick’s stunning, evocative, and technically innovative photos of our natural world. $15. “Wild: Michael Nichols” is on display from Oct. 12 to Jan. 12, 2018 at the National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. nationalgeographic.org.
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T h e at r e O E U N D up
/AS A NEW SEASON D AW N S , T H E A C T O R ’ S THE THING
by Barbara Wells
very September we Washingtonians are spoiled by theater, as dozens of local companies roll out award-winning plays with stellar directors at the helm. Yet amid this embarrassment of riches, uncertainty plagues me until the casts are announced. Unlike Shakespeare, I can’t be sure the play’s the thing. For me, it’s the actors. Sadly, I’m not familiar with every actor who takes the stage, but I’ve seen enough of them to feel I know a few. I’ve even startled several when I spotted them around town, expressing my admiration and asking what they were up to next. I trust them to seek out promising projects and great directors, and even when they make a poor choice, I know they’ll bring something special to their roles. Washington’s theaters have announced the casts for only a fraction of the season’s plays, but among this selection some of my favorite actors bring a flutter of excitement. So far, these are the performances I look forward to this fall.
Scrooge at Ford’s. He’s played leaders, losers, and everymen, black and white, of every background, with aplomb, lending a resounding voice and deep humanity that few actors can match.
Theatre J, Sotto Voce, Oct. 3–29
Death of a Salesman, Ford’s Theatre, through Oct. 22
Craig Wallace assumes the role of Willy Loman in this Arthur Miller classic, once more taking on the challenge of nontraditional casting that’s been a hallmark of his work since his first appearance with the Shakespeare Theatre Company 30 years ago. From his early roles as silent shepherds and soldiers, Wallace advanced to supporting roles on stages across the city until finally landing a wide array of leading roles — from Othello at the Folger Theatre to
Craig Wallace as Willy Loman with cast members Thomas Keegan, Kimberly Schraf, and Danny Gavigan for Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.” Photo: Scott Suchman.
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WHO DO YOU LOVE?/
This story of a young Cuban man’s research into the fate of the S.S. St. Louis at the hands of the Nazis leads him to a reclusive writer, portrayed by Washington theater veteran Brigid Cleary. I vividly remember her riveting performance in a 2004 production of Homebody/Kabul by Theatre J and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Playwright Tony Kushner opened the play with a widely criticized monologue, lasting nearly one hour, on 3,000 years of Afghan history. But Cleary’s rendition left me breathless. If she can handle that, she can do anything.
An Act of God, Signature Theatre, Oct. 3–Nov. 26 Tom Story excels in challenging serious roles. In Mosaic Theater Company’s Blood Knot, he was outstanding as Morris, the conflicted son of a black woman who has been passing for white in South Africa, and he appeared as Prior Walter, abandoned and alone and suffering from AIDS, in Round House’s Angels in America. But Story is also a hoot. I can’t wait to see him play God in this play with a script by David Javerbaum, who won 13 Emmy Awards writing for The Daily Show. The show also features the delightful Jamie Smithson as the angel Gabriel. Smithson was the best thing about Signature Theatre’s production of Cake Off, delivering hilarious portrayals of a wickedly sinister emcee, a devil-may-care veteran contestant, and a legend-
ary stop-at-nothing champion of a cutthroat baking competition.
Folger Theatre, Antony and Cleopatra, Oct. 10–Nov. 19 Cody Nickell has been a stalwart performer at the Folger Theatre for years, with a flair for wit and romance that earned Helen Hayes Award nominations for leading roles in The Taming of the Shrew and Arcadia. And as the Earl of Leicester in the Folger’s production of Mary Stuart, he effortlessly weaved through episodes of conspiracy, seduction, despair, and remorse, more than holding his own in wooing the formidable Holly Twyford as Queen Elizabeth and Kate Eastwood Norris as Queen Mary. Nickell has all the makings of a stirring Mark Antony opposite acclaimed New York actress Shirine Babb, and the production in the round promises extra intensity and intimacy.
Peter Pan, Synetic Theater, Oct. 18–Nov. 19 Anyone who saw Alex Mills’ adorable Puck in the Synetic production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, followed soon after by his terrifying performance in Jekyll and Hyde, has witnessed his spellbinding blend of physical movement and passionate expression. He’s perfectly cast as Peter Pan, bringing a boyish appeal with dark undercurrents. Ryan Sellers, another Synetic veteran, is the picture of Captain Hook. Sellers’ stern demeanor, which played to great effect in Signature’s West Side Story, is softened by the good humor showcased last year in the Folger Theater’s Second Shepherd’s Play and many children’s productions at Imagination Stage. What a fine duet.
Arena Stage, Pajama Game, Oct. 27–Dec. 24 For this classic musical, Broadway actress Nancy Anderson returns to D.C., where I last saw her musical talents in the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2012 and Side By Side By Sondheim at Signature Theatre six years ago. She’s joined by the incomparable Edward Gero, who’s been busy portraying Antonin Scalia in the Originalist at Arena Stage and
around the country. He’s always been outstanding, whether playing Mark Rothko in Red, Richard Nixon in Nixon’s Nixon, or Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, as well as in scores of Shakespeare Theatre Company productions. I’m also eager to see Britney Coleman, who makes her Arena Stage debut as Babe. I had never heard of her until I witnessed her dazzling rendition of “I’m Not at All in Love” at Arena’s season preview event. Now I know she’s a big reason to see the show.
Round House Theatre, The Book of Will, Nov. 29–Dec. 24 This comedy about two actors determined to compile the lost works of their friend William Shakespeare would easily grab my attention. But the photo of Todd Scofield on the Round House webpage for the show (appearing even before casting was announced) had me sold. I always enjoy watching this multifaceted actor, who has become practically ubiquitous in Washington. He’s turned up as the frustrated, sputtering Gooper in Round House’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; as the gentle father of Pearl in Imagination Stage’s The Little Mermaid; and in countless supporting roles at the Folger and Shakespeare theaters. And as C.S. Lewis in Freud’s Last Session at Theatre J, Scofield provided the perfect balance of optimistic strength and assuredness opposite Rick Foucheux’s abrasive, depressed Sigmund Freud.
Mosaic Theater Company, Queens Girl in Africa, Jan. 4–Feb. 4 Mosaic’s Queens Girl in Africa features the quietly powerful Erika Rose as Jacqueline Marie Butler, who sails to Nigeria after the assassination of her father’s close friend Malcolm X. A Woolly Mammoth company member, Rose stood out among the massive cast of Mosaic’s Unexplored Interior as an American struggling to unravel the Rwandan genocide, and she won a Helen Hayes Award for her mesmerizing portrayal of Hawa, a brutalized Muslim woman who has lost her entire family, in Theater J’s production of In Darfur. Yet she was equally at home as Curtis, a servant baffled by the behavior of Kate and Petruchio in Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Taming of the Shrew. Who do YOU love? Be on the lookout. Chances are, they’ll turn up on a Washington stage soon. Barbara Wells is a writer and editor for Reingold, a social marketing communications firm. She and her husband live on Capitol Hill. u
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/EAST OF THE RIVER BOOK F E S T I VA L /
On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Rocketship Rise Academy will host the second annual East of the River Book Festival, organized by Anacostia resident and pedagogue Dr. Courtney Davis, who is also the author of “A Is for Anacostia.” The free book festival will feature local authors, poets, and independent presses and bookstores as well as illustrators and educators. It will provide an opportunity for visitors to purchase books that support the area’s publishing and literary community. While Davis looks forward to connecting with her community at the festival, she welcomes all bibliophiles. Davis traces the origins of the East of the River Book Festival to the first Lumen8Ancostia festival in April 2012, where she ran a popup to showcase her children’s book “A Is for Anacostia.” At the time, Davis also presented a few local authors whose programming included book readEotR Book Fair. Photo: Marty ings. Since then, the book fair has Williams grown in size and scope. The event has taken place at the St. Elizabeths East Pavilion and the Anacostia Arts Center. At this year’s festival, one can expect to meet local authors, publishers, and independent booksellers, including Abike Farley, Barbara Parks-lee, Bri Jones, Chris Lowry, Carolivia Herron, Charnora Reid, Chester Hall, Christine Jackson, Classroom Culture, Courtney Davis, Crystal Judkins, Donna Sherard, Duende District Bookstore, East City Bookshop, Felicia Fort, Jared Parks, Jermaine Gassaway, Kia Dawkins, Kujichagulia Press, LaKesha Williams, Michael Roberson, Miguel Coppedge, Ronnie Sidney II, Serena Wills, Sherrita Berry-Pettus, students from Ketchan Elementary, Tambra Raye Stevenson, the Future Foundation, and Tracy Chiles McGhee. Cbabi Bayoc (www.cbabibayoc.com), author of “when i become a dad,” will present his wonderfully illustrated children’s book at the festival. Bayoc is also a prolific figurative painter and illustrator. He will lead a workshop and collaborate with young artists to create a mural in the community. Also new to this year’s programming, the schedule features panel discussions and additional workshops providing information about storytelling, resources for indie authors, and using diverse books in school and community. The festival is on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Rocketship Rise Academy located at 2335 Raynolds Place SE. More information can be found at www.eotrbookfest.com.
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by Phil Hutinet
/ C E L E B R AT E L AT I N AMERICAN C U LT U R E AT T H E ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM/ Sept. 15-Oct. 15 is the official Hispanic Heritage Month. The Anacostia Community Museum (ACM) invites the public to celebrate Latino culture through a series of programs including artist studio visits, film, and live music. On Friday, Oct. 13, from 2 to 4 p.m., the ACM will screen “We Like It Like That: The Story of Latin Boogaloo” (2015; 80 minutes). Created in East Harlem, the Bronx, and parts of Brooklyn, Latin boogaloo fuses Afro-Cuban music with the ubiquitous American sounds of the 1960s such as R&B, jazz, funk, and rock. Its leaders include musicians Joe Baatan, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, and the Lebron Brothers. The documentary explores this melting pot moment in music through live performances, musical reRosalia Torres-Weiner, “Gateways/Portales,” 2016, a mural created for an exhibition at the Anacostia Smithsonian Community Museum.
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views, interviews, and archival footage. The audience will have the opportunity to discuss the movie after the viewing. On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in celebration of the exhibition “Gateways/Portales” currently on view at the ACM, visit the studios of three area Latino artists: Luis Peralta, Wilfredo Valladares, and Samuel Miranda. The museum provides a shuttle to visit each studio. Luis Peralta has won awards for his portrait paintings and has exhibited widely at area galleries. Wilfredo Valladares works on sculpture including large public art commissions such as “Journey Anacostia” located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Good Hope Road SE. Samuel Miranda is a visual artist, educator, and poet whose published work includes “Full Moon on K Street: Poems about Washington, DC,” and the journals Chiron Review, MiPoesias, and Beltway Poetry Quarterly. Hear Latin-jazz fusion for yourself! The ACM hosts The Rumba Club, a 28-year-old, Baltimorebased band that has performed with contemporary jazz legends such as Lionel Hampton, Monguito Santamaria, Manny Oquendo, Gary Thomas, Avishai Cohen’s International Vamp Band, and Lonnie Plaxico. Latin Beat magazine calls the Rumba Club sound “the finest dancing and listening music possible.” Register online at www.anacostia.si.edu or call 202-633-4844 to register for any of these programs.
Thayobleu. Photo: Magdalena Papaioannu
/ P L AY D AY 2 0 1 7 /
Play Day was conceived by 8 Arts & Culture in partnership with the DC Department of Parks and recreation in response to the alarming rates of childhood obesity in the United States. This year’s event will take place at Oxon Run Park and include a slew of free outdoor activities. Activities include contests such as flag football, dominos, potato sack races, dodgeball, card games, a pie-eating contest, kickball, Monopoly, a hula hoop challenge, horseshoes, chess, tug-of-war, tennis, checkers, a turtle contest, soccer, connect four, a talent show, softball, Uno, a dance competition, basketball, tic-tac-toe, a threelegged race, freeze gag, and a scavenger hunt. For more information, contact 8 Arts & Culture via email at info@w8acc.org, online at www.8arts.org. You may contact coordinators D. Brown at 202702-3185 or Bryant Brown at 202-279-0821 or via email at Bryant.brown16@gmail.com.
/GOOD HOPE ROAD UNDERPA S S P U B L I C A RT UNVEILING/
All Play Day 2017. Photo: 8 Arts & Culture
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Building Bridges Across the River, the organization working to realize the 11th Street Bridge project, has commissioned a 90-foot set of LED frames beneath the I-295 underpass at Good Hope Road. The frames were unveiled on Sept. 29. According to the organization, “This art installation will change the underpass from an uninviting, dimly lit space to a bright welcoming entryway to Anacostia Park.”
In addition to restoring a connection between the Anacostia River and Historic Anacostia, which has been disconnected from the waterfront since completion of the interstate highway, Building Bridges Across the River aims to exhibit the work of east of the river artists on a rotating basis. The intersection of Good Hope Road and Anacostia Drive SE is where the future Bridge Park is planned to connect Historic Anacostia to the Navy Yard. Artist Bruce McNeil, a Ward 7 resident, will inaugurate the public art installation with his photograph “The Mouth of the Anacostia River.” The work is expected to be on view through the end of the year.
/MUSIC/
On Sunday, Oct. 8, from 8 to 11 p.m., the Anacostia Arts Center rocks with three of DC’s finest rock bands: M.A.M. (Joe Manchester and his band), The Nightstreets, and Thayobleu. The bands ask audience members to “bring their outdoor voices.” Anacostia Arts Center is located at 1231 Good Hope Road SE. Tickets are $12 at the door. Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, dedicated to DC’s visual arts. For more information visit www. eastcityart.com. u
Bruce McNeil, “Mouth of the Anacostia.” Photo: Bruce McNeil
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The next night, Oct. 13, the Bohemian Caverns All Star Band entertains with Allyn Johnson on piano, Kris Funn, bass, Quincy Phillips, drums, Donvonte McCoy, trumpet, and Tedd Baker, saxophone. On Oct. 20, Cheikh Ndoye & Friends perform, and closing out the month on Oct. 27 is a group led by pianist Bill Charlap.
Av e n u e s by Steve Monroe
/ C E L E B R AT I N G A RT B L A K E Y ( B I RT H D AY O C T. 11 ) /
OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS:
Thelonious Monk Centennial Celebration, Oct. 8, Kennedy Center ... Chick Corea/Steve Gadd Band, Oct. 8, Blues Alley ... “At the Kilimanjaro the tour de force was [Terence] Akua Allrich/Nina Simone, MirBlanchard’s tune ‘Oh by the Way,’ the four horns opening iam Makeba Tribute, Oct. 8, Atwith sweet harmonies over Blakey’s rustling, Plaxico’s now las Performing Arts Center … Dizcommanding bass work and [Mulgrew] Miller’s heavy Thezy Gillespie Centennial Tribute, lonious Monk and McCoy Tyner-like ripples on piano ... Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, DC Jazz Jam/ In the front row, a girl in brightly-colored dress jumps up, The Brixton .... Tedd Baker “CD shouts, does a little dance, walks a few feet, comes back, and Release Party,” Oct. 11, Blues Alsits down. By now some listeners have their eyes closed, some ley ... Jaimeo Brown Transcenwith heads bowed, bobbing slightly to the music, others just dence, Oct. 12, Clarice Smith staring. [Donald] Harrison blows slurring riffs on alto sax, Center, University of Maryland [Lonnie] Plaxico pumps out his bluesy chords on bass. The … Twins Jazz Orchestra, Oct. 12, rhythms slow, grow somber, spark again and soar in different Saxophonist Tedd Baker, who has a new CD coming out soon, Twins Jazz ... Jean DeVerne/Tribcolors. Blakey pounds, slashes and bombs away...” plays with the Bohemian Caverns All-Star Band on Oct. 13 at Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel. Photo: Tedd Baker ute to Lena Horne, Oct. 13, West– Stephen A. Monroe, “Scenes of Jazz Alive, Art Blakey’s Jazz minster Presbyterian Church ... Messengers at the Kilimanjaro, Washington, D.C.,” in “Violet Larry Brown Quintet, Oct. 13-14, Twins Jazz ... Harry Appelman/The RumAvenues,” Vol. III, 1988. ba Club, Oct. 14, Anacostia Community Museum … Integriti Reeves, Oct. 14, The Alex/The Graham Georgetown Hotel … Michael Nirenberg, Oct. 14, Jazzway 6004/Baltimore … 4th Annual Tribute Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Oct. 14, Caton Castle/Baltimore … MBowie & The BLAST, Oct. 17, Blues Alley ... Cowboys & Frenchmen, Oct. 18, Blues Alley ... John Kocur, Oct. 18, Twins Jazz ... Homecoming for Larry Brown, Oct. 20, Westminster ... Wondering who the next top-shelf pianists are? You might want to check out Dial 251, Oct. 20-21, Twins Jazz ... Fred Hersch, Oct. 21, Atlas ... Dizzy Gilthe Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz 2017 International Piano Competition, lespie Centennial Celebration, Oct. 21, Kennedy Center ... Jazz Workshop: Oct. 9 and 10, in DC as the institute celebrates Monk’s 100th birthday year. It’s Monk’s Time, Oct. 21, Levine School of Music/Strathmore ... Allyn JohnThe first-place award is $25,000 and a Concord Music Group recording son Ensemble, Oct. 24, University of the District of Columbia Recital Hall/ contract; second place, $15,000; and third place, $10,000. Fifty percent of each Bldg. 46-West ... BJ Jansen & Common Ground/Delfeayo Marsalis, Duane Euprize will be paid directly to the winner, with the remaining funds applied tobanks, Oct. 25, Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club ... Sarah Wilcox, Oct. 25, ward the winner’s future musical education, according to institute information. Twins Jazz ... Brad Linde Ensemble/10th Anniversary Concert, Oct. 26, Atlas Past winners and top competitors have included Orrin Evans, organ star ... Jane Monheit, Oct. 26-29, Blues Alley ... Tribute to the Jazz Baroness, Oct. Joey DeFrancesco, area favorite Harry Appelman, Jacky Terrasson, Gerald 27, Westminster ... Michael Thomas Quintet, Oct. 27-28, Twins Jazz ... ThinkClayton, and DC’s Aaron Parks. ing About Jazz/The Jazz Baroness, Oct. 28, Westminster ... Paige Wroble, Oct. The semifinals, with free tickets available at the door at noon, are from 1 28, The Alex … Jazz Lecture Duke Ellington: Genius Beyond Category, Oct. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 9 at the Smithsonian’s Baird Auditorium, National Museum 29, Levine School of Music/Silver Spring of Natural History. The finals, on Oct. 10 at the Kennedy Center, include an all-star concert, and tickets can be purchased at the Kennedy Center box office. OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS: Walter Bishop Jr. 4; Jo Jones, Larry Young 7; PepFor more information go to www.smithsonianassociates.org and www. per Adams 8; Abdullah Ibrahim, Kenny Garrett 9; Thelonius Monk 10, Junior kennedy-center.org. Mance, Harry Edison, Art Blakey 11; Mel Rhyne 12; Art Tatum, Ray Brown, Von Freeman, Lee Konitz, Pharoah Sanders, Johnny Lytle 13; Fela Anikulapo-Kuti 15; Roy Hargrove 16; Cozy Cole 17; Wynton Marsalis 18; Jelly Roll Morton 20; Dizzy Gillespie, Don Bays 21; Ernie Watts 23; Jimmy Heath 25; Milton Nascimento 26; Zoot Sims 27; Clifford Brown 30; Illinois Jacquet, Booker Irvin 31 You can keep jazzing up your fall at the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, Md., as “Live! At Montpelier Jazz” continues with Brazilian songstress Rose Steve Monroe is a Washington, DC, writer who can be reached at steve@jazzavMoraes on Oct. 12, paying tribute to the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim. enues.com and followed at www.twitter.com/jazzavenues. u
/TOP PIANISTS COMPETE FOR MONK INSTITUTE AWA R D /
/ M O R E J A M M I N G AT MONTPELIER/
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The
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/TO KNOW LOVE ••••
MARIA SCHAFER, VOCALIST/
With her lush, sensuous, and enchanting voice, jazz vocalist Maria Schafer has given us a modern-day jazz album on a grand scale. Simply put, Ms. Schafer has the kind of classy voice that would not be out of place in the pantheon of great female jazz vocalists. Her stylistic awareness is evident in beautiful, elegant phrasing, selective use of vibrato and varied articulation, giving an expressive range that never conflicts with the music’s natural language. The music is so refreshingly evocative and so richly colorful that it immediately brings to life a kind of Gatsby-like Jazz Age in a place teeming with folks dining, dancing, and having fun. Trumpeter Brad Black’s playing is, at its best, a calming force with phrasing that is incisive without sounding aggressive, while his handling of rhythm is both supple and muscular. What a wonderful world, as Louis Armstrong once sang. All around, an immensely polished collection of classic jazz standards with infinite subtleties of tonal shading to heighten atmospheric evocation. My favorite is “Estrada Branca.” Other standouts: “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” “The More I See You,” “I Fall In Love Too Easily,” “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “In Summer (Estate),” “You’d Be So Nice To Come To/Alone Together,” “Body and Soul,” “It Could Happen To You,” “Almost Like Being In Love,” “Lush Life,”and “S’Wonderful/They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” Performers include Maria Schafer (vocals), Shane Savala (guitar), Joe Butts (bass), Kyle Sharamitaro (drums), and Brad Black (trumpet).
/CROSS MY PALM WITH SILVER ••• AVISHAI COHEN QUARTET, ECM/
What makes this album a collector’s item starts with the remarkable collaborative efforts of Avishai Cohen (trumpet), Yonathan Avishai (piano), Barak Mori (double bass), and Nasheet Waits (drums). Say what you want about musicians working together, but this collection is a musician’s dream of performing with righteous humility and sacred love. The album creates an impressive impact on the listener with its natural, dramatic energy and waves of pastoral contemplation. It confirms the special strengths of the quartet’s distinctive personal synthesis in bringing the methods and language of the avant-garde for a beautifully spacious and resonant sound that gives the music a timeless quality. The opening piece, “Will I Die, Miss?, Will I?,” with its softly, soaring opening melody, is perhaps the most immediate favorite of the entire album. It is poignant, exquisitely textured and full of instrumental phrases and harmonious contrapuntal virtuosity. As a signature performance, it is an absorbing, immensely sophisticated piece, explor-
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ing the astonishing ranges of the trumpeter. Mr. Cohen’s playing is crystalline, his coloration alive with myriad tints and hues. And, as with any brilliant trumpet or saxophone player, he can swerve from lush, late romanticism to strident modernism and back again as if caught up in a dreamscape; but as with any really revelatory dream, the more you probe it, the more lucid it seems. On the more robust and exploratory “Shoot Me In The Leg,” a piece that reaches out far beyond pedagogical concerns, Mr. Cohen with his deliberate tempo and his highly seductive sound, draws attention to a host of hidden subtleties – harmonic and rhythmic, as well as inner voices – often with the synergistic brilliance of the quartet. Another highlight is “Theme For Jimmy Greene.” Subtle timbres, poised high notes inform all performances, an accomplishment well worth it for revelations of such beauty.
/TIME BEING •••
TIM ARMACOST, SAXOPHONES/
Traditional jazz is alive and thriving with this really cool, scintillating, and romantically infectious music as a vital, and cultural life force. To celebrate this noble tradition, Tim Armacost, Robert Hurst (double bass), David Kikoski (piano), and Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums) have spawned an eclectic hybrid of intoxicating sounds and movements that titillate our senses. Is this music the joy of love or just the eucalyptus of fun? The pleasure is all yours with highlights like “Teo,” “The Next 20,” the agony and revelation of “Sculpture #1, #2, #3,” the sanguine passion and hungry loneliness of “Lonely Woman,”and the warm and memorable title track “Time Being.” Time Being is an exquisite, timeless gem. Bon vogage…
/SWING-A-NOVA ••• THE VERVE JAZZ ENSEMBLE/
An excellent and flexible trumpeter with a beautiful depth in the lower registers of the trumpet, Tatum Greenblatt makes this album immediately identifiable in traditional jazz with first-rate musicians Josh Feldstein (drums), Steve Einerson (piano), and Elias Bailey (bass). This is consistently an exciting and most impressive album, where the music is idiomatic and technically immaculate and refreshingly free of the idiosyncrasies that so many of today’s jazz musicians bring to the music. In these often over-rated social media times, where emotional aridity is often applauded highly, the music of Swing-A-Nova is doubly rewarding with its themes and motifs, with musicians conversational passages spontaneously-sounding in their flexibility. First on the listening list is “From This Moment On,” (and, to my ear, deeply American jazz), followed by the serendipitous “You Stepped out Of A Dream,” and the notably perceptive “Tones for Joan’s Bones,” with its heartfelt projection of the work’s tender and arresting closing phrase. Other highlights include “Nica’s Dream” and “Speak No Evil.” The recording is beautifully engineered and balanced. u
H y p e r L o c a l | hīpər
. lōk(ə)l |
Hyperlocal connotes information oriented around a well defined community with its primary focus directed toward the concerns of its residents. synonym: eastoftheriverdcnews.com Daily online. Monthly in print.
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/HALLOWEEN/ Find a Nearby Pumpkin Patch. pumpkinpatchesandmore.org. Alexandria’s Original Ghost & Graveyard Tours. Every evening in October at 7:30 PM (Fridays and Saturdays, also at 9 PM). Tours depart from the Ramsay House Visitors Center, 221 King St., Alexandria, VA. $13, adults; $7, children ages 7 to 17. Free, under 6. alexcolonialtours.com. The Most Haunted Houses Walking Tour. Fridays and Saturdays in October, 7:30 PM. Violent quarrels, vicious attacks, murder and suicide. Why is it such turbulent events in Washington history seem concentrated around the seven acres of Lafayette Park? $20 per person (3 and younger, free). $5 discount with US military or federal government ID. Embarks from “The Octagon” sign at 1799 New York Ave. NW. Two hours. Just show up. washingtonwalks.com.
National Building Museum Ghost Tours. Oct. 7, 8, 22, 28, 29 and 31 at 7 and 8:30 PM. Angry spirits. Mysteries and lies. Can you find the truth in time? Solve puzzles and find clues to reveal the truth and escape the room. A 60-minute event for ages 12, up. Limit 10 participants per time slot. $30. nbm.org. Soul Strolls at Congressional Cemetery. Oct. 21 and 27, 7 to 10 PM; Oct. 22 and 28, 6 to 10 PM. Hour-long tours depart every 15 minutes. Beer, wine and cider for sale. Adult tickets, $22; children 12 and under, $12. Arrive early and have a glass of wine. Browse the gift shop. Listen to music while waiting for tours to depart. congressionalcemetery.org. Drag Queen High Heel Race. Oct. 24, 9 PM. Always fun, always outrageous and always held on the Tuesday before Halloween, this event features elaborately costumed drag queens racing down 17th Street, NW from R to Church. It attracts large crowds to cheer them on so don’t expect to park in the area. The race begins at 9 PM but come early because the real fun begins before the race. An informal block party follows. Night of the Living Zoo. Oct. 27, 6:30 to 10 PM. Prepare to witness death defying acts and amazing oddities at Friends of the National Zoo’s annual adults-only Halloween party. $30. nationalzoo.si.edu. Hilloween at Eastern Market. Oct. 27, 5:30 to 7:30 PM. It’s simply the place to be for a haunted-house, a moon bounce, face painting, photo booth, candy treats, games, contests and a talented kids’ fortune teller. The haunted house will be in the new PenFed Realty office at 705 North Carolina Ave. SE. Rorschach Theatre: Klecksography-Toil and Trouble at the Atlas. Oct. 28, 7 and 9 PM. Something wicked is brewing this Halloween at Rorschach Theatre as they conjure 7 new stories about witches forgotten and familiar. atlasarts.org.
T H E V E RY L A S T D AY S O F T H E F I R S T COLORED CIRCUS AT T H E A N A C O S T I A P L AY H O U S E / Ayanna Hardy as ‘Ruby Dyson’ in Restoration Stage’s “The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus” Photo: Steven A. Butler, Jr.
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Oct. 19 to Nov. 12. The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus by Steven A. Butler, Jr., tells the story of how Butler’s great-great grandparents Ollie Tyson and Ruby Dyson fell in love and settled in La Plata, Md. For tickets and more information, call 202-714-0646 or visit restorationstage.org.
DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in D.C. The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency is your homeownership resource in the District for buying a home to retaining your home; we have a homeownership program to assist you. Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP) DCHFA serves as a co-administrator of the DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) first time home buyer program, HPAP, which provides interest free deferred loans for down payment and closing costs assistance up to $84,000 combined. DCHFA administers HPAP applications for households meeting very low to low income criteria.
DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers first-time and repeat buyers fully forgivable second trust loans to cover a buyer’s minimum down payment requirement in addition to below market interest rates for first trust mortgages for the purchase of homes.
Mortgage Credit Certificate The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) provides an additional incentive for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home in the District of Columbia. An MCC provides qualified borrowers the ability to claim a Federal Tax Credit of 20 percent of the mortgage interest paid during each calendar year.
HomeSaver Restore Assistance Program DCHFA now offers a Restore Assistance Program. – A one-time payment, up to $60,000, to “catch-up” on delinquent property related expenses. Applicants must have suffered a qualified financial hardship due to unemployment or underemployment, own a home in the District and be able to sustain future payments going forward. Visit www.DCHFA.org for full qualification guidelines and information on how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.
815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG
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Bat Bonanza! at the Botanic Garden. Oct. 28, 10 AM to 5 PM. Come as a bat. Come as a plant pollinated by a bat or simply learn about bats. There will be bat-related activities throughout the Conservatory. Come and learn why bats matter. Free. No preregistration required. usbg.gov. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Devil’s Assistant (silent movies) at the Atlas. Oct. 29, 4 PM. This spooky double-bill includes The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, a feature film from 1920 with themes of hypnotism, murder and insanity. The Devil’s Assistant with its red-tinted hellscape is sure to send shivers down your spine. Pianist Andrew Earle Simpson will perform the new musical scores. The Atlas offers free popcorn at their Silent Film screenings, and for this special Halloween event, they encourage audience members to attend in costume. atlasarts.org.
/ W ASHINGTON I N T E R N AT I O N A L HORSE SHOW / Kent Farrington and Creedance Photo: Shawn McMillen
Oct. 24 to 29. More than 500 of the best horses and riders in the world will arrive at Capital One Arena for six days of world-class international show jumping and top national hunter and equitation competition plus entertaining exhibitions, boutique shopping and community events. wihs.org.
All Treats, No Tricks Labyrinth Walk at the National Cathedral. Oct. 31, 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Treat yourself to a time of quiet contemplation this All Hallows Eve. Costumes welcome! The Cathedral offers opportunities to walk the labyrinth on the last Tuesday of each month as part of the Cathedral Labyrinth Walks program. Washington National Cathedral. cathedral.org. All Souls Remembrance at the National Shrine. During the month of November, the National Shrine remembers the beloved deceased in prayer. In memory of faithfully departed loved ones, enroll them in their All Souls Remembrance. Those enrolled will be remembered in their prayers on the Commemoration of All Souls’ and throughout the entire month. nationalshrine.com.
/ V E T E R A N S D AY /
Mount Vernon Salutes Veterans. Nov. 11, 9 AM to 4 PM. In honor of the nation’s veterans, Mount Vernon admits all active duty, former, or retired military personnel, free of charge. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA. mountvernon.org. Wreath Laying at World War II Memorial. Nov. 11, 9 AM. 17th Street between Constitution and Independence Avenues NW. wwiimemorial.com. Wreath Laying at Air Force Memorial. Nov. 11, 11 AM. Wreath laying ceremony and a two-minute moment of silence will be observed to commemorate those members of the US Armed Forces who were killed during war. Air Force Memorial is at One Air Force Memorial Drive in Arlington, VA. airforcememorial.org. Veterans Day Wreath Laying at Arlington. Nov. 11, 11 AM. President Trump will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. The public is invited to watch this ceremony or to listen to the speech that follows. There is standing room at the wreath laying and seat-
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ing in the adjacent amphitheater for the speech. Get there early. Leave umbrellas and backpacks at home. Parking and the ride to the ceremony site are free. arlingtoncemetery.mil. Veterans Day Observance at The Wall. Nov. 11, 1 PM. Vietnam Veterans Memorial. vvmf.org. Women’s Memorial at Arlington Cemetery Veterans Day Observance. Nov. 11, 3 PM. The ceremony will include formal military honors, a keynote address, veterans’ remarks and wreath layings. womensmemorial.org. National Veterans Day Concert at the National Cathedral. Nov. 11, 7 PM. Through the National Veterans Day Concert, the Cathedral honors and celebrates those who have served the country. Free Concert but registration is required through the box office. Cathedral.org. Fort Ward Veteran’s Day Soldier-led Tours. Nov. 11, 10 AM and 2 PM. An interpreter portraying a Union Army veteran will reminisce about his military service at Fort Ward during the Civil War while conducting a tour of the historic fort. Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Rd. Alexandria, VA. alexandriava.gov/FortWard. Veterans Day 10k and Walk. Nov. 12, 8 AM. There’s no better place to celebrate Veterans than in the Nation’s Capital. Fittingly, the course runs near several of the city’s great war memorials. runpacers.com/race/veterans-day-10k.
/AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD/
TABOO by Qrcky at Anacostia Arts Center. Oct. 7 to 31. TABOO is a solo exhibition by artist Qrcky. Qrcky is a contemporary, DC artist whose prints and paintings engage with celebrity culture. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. Rhythm Café at the ACM. Oct. 14, 2 to 3 PM and Nov. 11, 2 to 4 PM. On Oct. 13, experience the cool Latin jazz fusion of Baltimore’s The Rumba Club in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and the current exhibition, Gateways/Portales. On Nov. 11, New York musician Carl Grubbs and The Alon Nechushtan Band will present Dark Side of Monk. Using innovative arrangements, the group will highlight the compositional brilliance of Thelonius Monk’s linear approach to melody and rhythms. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. Jazz Night at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Oct. 21 from 4 to 6 PM. Live music from 4 to 6 PM and a special park tour at 5 PM. Kenilworth Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. friendsofkenilworthgardens.org. DC Queer Theatre Festival. Oct. 13 and 14. DCQTF is back with two nights of Extraordinary Performances from six amazing and diverse playwrights. $20 to $50. Anacostia Arts Center,
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1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. thedccenter.org/ events/dc-queer-theatre-festival. Free Yoga by Transp0se Lite. Oct. 21, 11 AM. Transp0se Lite is a gentle yoga class that infuses yoga and meditation for beginner yogis. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. transp0se.us.
/ MAGNETIC FIELDS: E X PA N D I N G A M E R I C A N ABSTRACTION, 1 9 6 0 S T O T O D AY / Oct. 13 to Jan. 21, 2018. This is first exhibition in the US featuring abstraction by an intergenerational group of black women artists. It includes work by 21 artists, including Chakaia Booker, Howardena Pindell, Mavis Pusey, Shinique Smith, Alma Woodsey Thomas and Mildred Thompson. National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. nmwa.org.
/MUSIC AROUND TOWN/
Music at 9:30 Club. Oct. 7, Back To Back and Troyboi; Oct. 8, Glass Animals; Oct. 10, Ron Pope; Oct. 11, Mura Masa; Oct. 13, Against Me!; Oct. 14, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors; Oct. Mildred Thompson, Magnetic Fields, 1991; Oil on canvas, triptych, 70 1/2 x 150 in.; Courtesy of the Mildred Thompson Estate, Atlanta, Georgia. Art and photo: 16, PVRIS; Oct. 17, Julien Baker; Oct. 18, HamSecond Chances. Oct. 26, 7 PM. Courtesy and copyright the Mildred Thompson Estate, Atlanta, Georgia ilton Leithauser; Oct. 19, What So Not x BaauSecond Chances follows the lives er; Oct. 20, JJ Grey & Mofro; Oct. 21, Moon Taxi of 8 characters while exploring and Moon Hooch & Marco Benevento; Oct. 22, Juthe many faces of domestic viodah & the Lion; Oct. 23, Benjamin Booker; Oct. 24, lence. $20. Anacostia Arts CenNoah Gundersen and Beach Fossils; Oct. 25, Louis ter, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. The Child; Oct. 27 and 28, MisterWives; Oct. 28, Gryffin; Oct. 29, Bad Suns; Oct. 30, Iration; Oct. The Washington Ballet @ THEARC. Through May 25, 2018. Mondays, 7:15 to 8:30 PM, Adult 31, The Dresden Dolls; Nov. 1, Ibeyi; Nov. 2, JR JR; Nov. 3, Cabinet; Nov. 4, Elbow; Nov. 5, Ariel Pink; Vinyasa Yoga; Tuesdays, noon to 1:15 PM, Adult Ballet; Wednesdays, noon to 1 PM, Adult Barre; Nov. 6 and 7, The Mountain Goats; Nov. 8, Josh Abbott Band; Nov. 9, The Strumbellas; Nov. 10, Thursdays, 10:15 to 11:30 AM, Adult Modern; Thursdays, 7:15 to 8:15 PM, Adult Pilates; SatThe Lone Bellow. 815 V St. NW. 930.com. urdays, 8:30 to 9:30 AM, Adult Zumba. Single classes are $12. A discount of $6 is granted to Music at U Street Music Hall. Oct. 7, Luca Lush; Oct. 8, Danny Krivit; Oct. 11, Tricky; Oc. 12, Phanadults from the zip codes 20020 and 20032. A valid ID is required to receive the discount. Class toms; Oct. 13, Susto & Esmé Patterson and Manila Killa & Robotaki; Oct. 14, Quinn XCII and TOKicards good for 12 classes are $100/$60 for Wards 7 and 8 residents. THEARC is at 1901 MissisMONSTA; Oct. 16, YehMe2; Oct. 17, Kali Uchis; Oct. 19, Nai Palm; Oct. 20, The Fleshtones; Oct. 21, sippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org.
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Black Pistol Fire and Claptone; Oct. 24, Yumi Zouma; Oct. 25, Giraffage; Oct. 26, MAX and Hot Since 82; Oct. 27, Stranger Synth (Halloween Costume Party); Oct. 28, U HELL ft. Amtrac; Oct. 29, Leon; Oct. 30, T-Pain: Acoustic Tour; Oxct. 31, Shout Out Louds; Nov. 1, Lil Peep; Nov. 2, Phoebe Ryan; Nov. 4, Slow Magic; Nov. 7, Dhani Harrison; Nov. 8, Wax Tailor and Blank Banshee; Nov. 9, Chet Porter; Nov. 10, Orgone; Nov. 11, Sahbabii (new date) and MK. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. ustreetmusichall.com. Music at Black Cat. Oct. 7, Magic City Hippies and Nate Staniforth: Real Magic Tour; Oct. 9, Yawning Man; Oct. 10, Little Junior; Oct. 11, Charlie Parr; Oct. 12, Vagabon; Oct. 13, Nate Staniforth; Oct. 14, Everything Everything and Right Round; Oct. 15, HallowZine; Oct. 16, Truckfighters; Oct. 17, Toadies; Oct. 18, Sinkane; Oct. 19, Drunk Education; Oct. 20, Natalie Prass; Oct. 23, Covey; Oct. 24, The Smoking Popes; Oct. 25, The Effects; Oct. 26, Sara Curtin; Oct. 27, Paperhaus; Oct. 28, Halloween Dance Party; Nov. 1, Public; Nov. 2, Loud Boyz; Nov. 3, Cold Specks; Nov. 4, JD McPherson; Nov. 5, Blitzen Trapper; Nov. 6, Mister Heavenly; Nov. 10, Dance Yourself Clean and Dessa; Nov. 11, Lee Ranaldo. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com. Music at Hill Country. Oct. 7, Kiti Gartner; Oct. 10, Greyhounds; Oct. 12, Wild Ponies ‘Galax’ Release Tour; Oct. 13, Cash’d out; Oct. 14, Strahan & The Good Neighbors; Oct. 21, Scott Kurt & Memphis 59; Oct. 24, Gurf Morlix; Oct. 25, Slaid Cleaves; Oct. 26, Dressy Bessy, The Split Squad; Oct. 27, Possessed by Paul James; Oct. 28, Whitney Rose; Oct. 31, The Woggles; Nov. 3, Sunny Ledfurd; Nov. 11, Pere Ubu; Nov. 10, Chamomile and Whiskey; Nov. 11, Sleepy LaBeef. Hill Country Live, 410 Seventh St. NW. hillcountry.com/dc. Music at the Lincoln. Oct. 7, Paul Weller; Oct. 10, Matisyahu; Oct. 13, Blind Pilot; Oct. 19, Vance Joy; Oct. 21, Colin Hay; Oct. 26, The Most Specialist Evening with Tig Notaro & Friends; Oct. 28, Colin Quinn and Big Terrific; Oct. 30, Lucinda Williams; Nov. 2, Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band; Nov. 4, The Breeders; Nov. 5, Kevin Smith; Nov. 7, The English Beat. The Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. thelincolndc.com. Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. Oct. 7 and 8, Alvvays; Oct. 10, Turnover; Oct. 12, Andrew W.K.; Oct. 13, The Underschievers Renaissance Tour; Oct. 14, NAH.; Oct. 15, Cults; Oct. 17, Propagandhi; Oct. 19, The Weeks; Oct. 21, Billie Eilish; Oct. 26, Protomartyr; Oct. 27, White Ford Bronco; Oct. 28, the Void’s H Street Halloween; Oct. 29, Craig Finn & the Uptown Controllers plus John K. Samson; Oct. 31, Nothing But Thieves; Nov. 1, J. Views;
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/ I-295 AND GOOD HOPE ROAD U N D E R PA S S A RT L I T
The 11th Street Bridge Park, a project of Building Bridges Across the River has 90 feet of LED frames that illuminate the Good Hope Road Freeway Underpass and feature work from East of the River artists. This installation transforms the underpass from an uninviting dimly lit space to a bright welcoming entryway to Anacostia Park. The 11th Street Bridge Park and the Anacostia Arts Center will feature the work of local DC artists in 90 Ft LED frames to brighten the underpass and reconnect the neighborhood to the park and river. Photo: Bruce McNeil
Nov. 2, The Clientele; Nov. 4, Tera Melos; Nov. 5, All Them Witches; Nov. 6, the Rural Alberta Advantage; Nov. 7, White Reaper; Nov. 8, AJJ; Nov. 10, Overcoats; Nov. 11, Sannhet. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Music at The Howard. Oct. 8, Aterciopelados; Oct. 9, The Lox, Westside Gunn & Conway; Oct. 14, The Sweet Spot DC: Fetish Edition; Oct. 15, Felipe Pelaez Unplugged; Oct. 18, Tasha Cobbs; Oct. 21, Soca Inferno w/ Bunji Garlin & Fay-Ann Lyons Howard Homecoming Day Fete; Oct. 22, Lil Kim; Oct. 26, Amine; Oct. 27 and 28, Eric Roberson; Nov. 1, Rich Chigga; Nov. 3, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic; Nov. 4, Paul Mooney + Special Guests TBA Tribute to Dick Gregory; Nov. 10, Gian Marco. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com. Music at the Atlas. Oct. 8, Akua Allrich; Oct. 14, 15, 20 and 21, Shining Brow; Oct. 20, Combo Chimbita; Oct. 21, Fred Hersch; Oct. 22, Capital City Symphony-50th Anniversary Season Opening Concert; Oct. 26, Brad Linde Ensemble-10th Anniversary Concert; Nov. 3, Herb Scott Quintet. The Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. Music at Boundary Stone. Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6. Open Mic & $4 Drafts with Reed Appleseed. Boundary Stone, 116 Rhode Island Ave. NW. boundarystonedc.com. Blue Monday Blues in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. Oct. 9, Memphis Gold Blues Band; Oct. 16, Danny Blew & the Blues Crew; Oct. 23, Swampdog Blues!; Oct. 30, Scott Ramminger & the Crawstickers. $5 cover. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Music at Ivy City Smokehouse. Oct. 11 and 25, The Junior Bryce Band; Oct. 18, Denise Henderson & Scott Schoem. Ivy City Smokehouse, 1356 Okie St. NE. ivycitysmokehouse.com. Music at Pearl Street Warehouse. Oct. 12, Booker T. Jones; Oct. 13, Amy Helm; Oct. 14, Town Mountain; Oct. 15, Kim Richey; Oct. 18, Driftwood; Oct. 19, Eli “Paperboy” Reed w/ High & Mighty Brass Band; Oct. 20, Grant-Lee Phillips; Oct. 21, Daryl Davis presents Chuck Berry’s Reelin’ & Rockin’ 91st Birthday Bash; Oct. 26, Fletcher’s Grove & Groove Fetis; Oct. 27, Amythyst Kiah, Oct. 28m Davy Knowles w/ Blueheart Revival; Nov. 3, Justin Jones; Nov. 4, Nick Fradiani. Pearl Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl St. SW. pearlstreetwarehouse.com. Music at The Anthem. Oct. 12, Foo Fighters; Oct. 14, Kaleo; Oct. 15, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; Oct. 16, Phoenix; Oct. 17 and 18, LCD Soundsystem; Oct. 20, Queens of the Stone Age; Oct. 21, Zedd; Oct. 23, the War on Drugs; Oct. 25, Phil Lesh & The Terrapin Family Band; Oct. 27, The Head and the Heart; Oct. 29, Primus; Nov. 2, The Shins; Nov. 4, Griz; Nov. 7, Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile (and the Sea Lice); Nov. 8, Grizzly Bear; Nov.
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10, Lindsey Stirling-Warmer in the Winter Christmas Tour; Nov. 11, Tegab and Sara-The Co 10th Anniversary Acoustic Tour. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. theanthemdc.com. Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. Oct. 13, Tribute to Lena Horne; Oct. 20, Homecoming for Larry Brown; Oct. 27, Tribute to the Baroness; Oct. 28, Thinking About Jazz-The Jazz Baroness. $5 cover. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org.
more. Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., National Harbor, MD. visitprincegeorgescounty.com. DC United at RFK. Oct. 22, 4 PM vs New York Red Bulls. dcunited.com.
/MARKETS AND SALES/
Music at Sixth and I. Oct. 16, Alt Nation Presents Atlas Genius; Oct. 22, Avey Tare; Oct. 28, Gavin DeGraw; Nov. 4, A Far Cry and Luciana Souza: The Blue Hour. Sixth and I, 600 I St. NW. sixthandi.org.
Ward 8 Farmers Market is closed for the season.
Gay Men’s Chorus in It Takes Two. Nov. 11, 4 and 8 PM. Fabulous soloists from the Chorus perform bawdy duets and sensual tangos told through songs and stories. For ages 16, older. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Pottery on the Hill Show & Sale at Hill Center. Oct. 28, 10 AM to 5 PM and Oct. 29, 11 AM to 4 PM; preview reception, Oct. 27, 6:30 to 9 PM. $30. Pottery on the Hill features functional pottery from 17 of the nation’s top ceramic artists. Free admission. hillcenterdc.org.
/ S P O RT S A N D FITNESS/
Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD.
Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Oct. 7, 11, 17, and 21; Nov. 2, 6 and 10. Capital One Arena. capitals.nhl.com. Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating. Public ice skating is on Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29; 2:30 to 4:30 PM. Oct. 13, 20 and 27; noon to 2 PM. Oct. 14, 21 and 28; 1 to 3 PM. $5 for adults; $4, 12 and under and seniors 60 and over; $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena is at 3779 Ely Pl. SE. fdia.org. Washington Wizards Basketball. Oct. 8, 18 and 20; Nov. 1, 3 and 7. Capital One Arena. nba.com/wizards. Yoga Gatherings at the Botanic Garden. Oct. 14, 21 and 28; 10:30 to 11:30 AM. WithLoveDC is a movement to spread love, joy, and acceptance throughout the District. WithLoveDC offers free yoga gatherings at the US Botanic Garden. This program is first-come, first served with limited space available. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mats. No preregistration required. usbg.gov. Marine Corps Marathon. Oct. 22, 7:45 AM. The MCM field is limited to 30,000 registered participants. For the course, visit marinemarathon.com/events/marathon/mcm-info/course. Marine Corp Marathon Health & Fitness Expo. Oct. 20, 10 to 6 PM and Oct. 21, 8 AM to 5 PM. The two-day event showcases hundreds of exhibitors featuring the latest running gear, recovery products, technology, exercise equipment, nutrition, food and
SW Arts Market. Oct. 13 and 27, 4 to 10 PM. Fourth and M Streets SW. marketswdc.com.
/CIVIC LIFE/
Congresswoman Norton’s SE District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. 2041 MLK Ave. SE, #238. 202-678-8900. norton.house.gov. Eastland Gardens Civic Association Meeting. Third Tuesday, 6:30 to 8 PM. Zion Baptist Church of Eastland Gardens, 1234 Kenilworth Ave. NE. Contact Rochelle Frazier-Gray, 202-352-7264 or richelle.frazier@longandfoster.com. Anacostia Coordinating Council Meeting. Last Tuesday, noon to 2 PM. Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort St. SE. For further details, contact Philip Pannell, 202-889-4900. Capitol View Civic Association Meeting. Third Monday, 6:30 PM. Hughes Memorial United Methodist, 25 53rd St. NE. capitolviewcivicassoc.org. Deanwood Citizens Association. Fourth Monday, 6:30 PM. Deanwood Recreation Center, 1300 49th St. NE. Historical Anacostia Block Association. Second Thursday, 7 to 9 PM. UPO Anacostia Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. For further details, contact Charles Wilson, 202-834-0600. Anacostia High School Improvement Team Meeting. Fourth Tuesday, 6 PM. Anacostia High School, 16th and R Streets, SE.
Fairlawn Citizens Association. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Ora L. Glover Community Room at the Anacostia Public Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. Ward 7 Education Council Meeting. Fourth Thursday, 6:30 PM. Capitol View Library, 5001 East Capitol St. SE.
/ANC M O N T H LY MEETINGS/
ANC 7B. Third Thursday, 7 PM. Ryland Epworth United Methodist Church, 3200 S St. SE. anc7b@pressroom.com. anc7b@earthlink.net. ANC 7C. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE. anc7c@verizon.net. ANC 7D. Second Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Dorothy I. Height Neighborhood Library, 3935 Benning Rd. NE. 7D06@anc.dc.gov. ANC 7E. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Jones Memorial Church, 4625 G St. SE. 7E@anc.dc.gov. ANC 7F. Third Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Washington Tennis and Education Foundation, 200 Stoddert Place, SE. ANC 8A. First Tuesday, 7 PM. Anacostia UPO Service Center, 1649 Good Hope Rd. SE. anc8adc.org. ANC 8B. Third Tuesday, 7 PM. Seventh District Police Station Community Center, Alabama and McGee Streets, SE. anc8b.org. ANC 8C. First Wednesday, 7 PM. 2907 MLK Jr Ave. SE. ANC 8D. Fourth Thursday, 7 PM. Specialty Hospital of Washington, 4601 MLK Jr. Ave. SW. Have an item for the Calendar? Email calendar@hillrag.com. u
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DC GOVERNMENT GOES ON AIR
Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has launched the DC Government’s first radio station, DC Radio 96.3 HD4. This makes Washington, DC one of only two municipalities in the United States with a full-power, city-owned radio station. Managed by the District’s Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment in partnership with WHUR Radio, the station features programming on government resources, news, emergency updates, community affairs, education, current events, arts, music and entertainment. It also serves as a platform for local musicians to promote their talents. DC Radio also provide training programs and college internships for District residents. DC Radio can be accessed on any HD4 radio and can also be streamed online at DCRadio.gov.
11th Street Bridge Park Get $5 Million JPMorgan Chase & Co. has announced the 11th Street Bridge Park as a national winner of its Partnerships for Raising Opportunity in Neighborhoods (PRO Neighborhoods) annual competition. The winning collaborative, led by Building Bridges Across the River in partnership with the Washington Area Community Investment Fund, City First Enterprises and the Skyland Workforce Center, will receive $5 million over the next three years to make strategic investments on goals outlined in the 11th Street Bridge Park’s Equitable Development Plan. The collaborative develops and preserves affordable housing, provides capital to locally-owned small businesses and provides construction training to residents for work on the 11th Street Bridge Park. The PRO Neighborhoods is part of a larger $10 million, three-year investment to help drive inclusive economic growth in underserved DC neighborhoods, most notably in Wards 7 and 8. This long-term commitment is the firm’s third investment in a major US city. To learn more about JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its community investments, visit jpmorganchase.com.
East of the River Hospital at St. Elisabeths Mayor Bowser has released a site study for the construction of a new hospital east of the Anacostia River. It recommends the District construct the new acute care facility on the East Campus of St. Elizabeths. The campus currently includes the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center and G8WAYDC, an urban park and marketplace pavilion which hosts a variety of events for residents. The St. Elizabeths East Campus will also soon house the Washington Mystics and a training facility for the Washington Wizards. Other development plans for the site include affordable family-sized apartments, home ownership town homes and an office building with ground floor retail.
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On Sept. 19, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), center, was joined by (L to R) President Wayne A.I. Frederick, Howard University, Director Angie Gates, Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment, and Deputy Mayor Brian Kenner, Planning and Economic Development to cut the ribbon of the newly launched DC Radio, a noncommercial radio station that airs information and programming on government resources, emergency updates, news, community affairs, education, current events, arts, music and entertainment. Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah/ Executive Office of the Mayor
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THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0019-2017 HEATING VENTILATION and AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE & REPAIR SERVICES and WATER TREATMENT SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems and Water Treatment throughout various DCHA properties. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/ Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, September 11, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 12:00 PM. Contact LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist at (202) 535-1212 or by email at LMMCLEOD@DCHOUSING.ORG with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM
For fifty years, the Anacostia Community Museum at 1901 Fort Pl. SE has pushed the boundaries of what “museum” means. Conversations with neighbors have shaped exhibitions and programs. Collections preserve the stories of everyday people. Today, with a focus on contemporary urban themes, ACM continues to investigate shared experiences, mutual interests and agreed-upon goals. “Your Community, Your Story” on exhibition highlights some of the museum’s signature projects. anacostia.si.edu. Community leader Juana Campos (right) and daughter Carmen Torruella-Quander pose in front of the $28 sewing machine that Campos bought to build her life in DC after emigrating from the Dominican Republic in 1940. The sewing machine was on view in the museum’s exhibition, “Black Mosaic: Community, Race, and Ethnicity Among Black Immigrants in Washington, DC.” Photo: Harold Dorwin
Discover Park Van Ness, an inspired address for your lifestyle. Overlooking the lush expanse of Rock Creek National Park, these vibrant new apartments are stylish outside and in.
26 inclusionary zoning units available One and two bedrooms Read more: dchousingsearch.org
4455 Connecticut Avenue, NW | Washington, DC 20008 | 202.849.7797 ParkVanNess.com
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Volunteer at Kenilworth Park
Clean-up Shepherd Parkway
Now that fall has arrived, it is time to begin putting the gardens to bed for the winter. On Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to noon, help the gardens’ staff winterize the plants and grounds or take a swipe at litter and invasives. On Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to noon, spend Veteran’s Day of Service removing cut lotus, invasive plants, picking up trash, planting native plants and performing other park projects. Individuals and groups welcome. SSL credits can be earned for both cleanup events. To register for either or both, visit friendsofkenilworthgardens.eventbrite.com. Contact Tina O’Connell at tina@friendsofkenilworthgardens. org with questions.
Shepherd Parkway volunteers hold their signature community clean-ups every second Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mark the calendar on Oct. 13, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9. Volunteers meet in the picnic area near the corner of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, SE. Gloves, bags and light refreshments are provided. Wear boots and work clothes. Contact Nathan at nathanbharrington@gmail.com to arrange your groups volunteer experience.
350 Volunteer at Benning Terrace Rec Center On Sept. 23, 350 District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA) volunteers completed key
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upgrades to DC Housing Authority’s (DCHA) Benning Terrace Recreation Center at the 25th Annual DCBIA Community Improvement Day. This completes a multi-year joint effort to build a thriving sports, recreation and activity space for Benning Terrace residents. DCBIA and DCHA volunteers made upgrades, including creating outdoor playground games, installing new outdoor exercise equipment, adding permanent shade structures, upgrading the community garden, creating a walking path, adding picnic benches, installing art stations and site signage and extensive general landscaping.
AmeriHealth Earns Commendable Accreditation AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia, a Medicaid managed care plan serving the District of Columbia and a member of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, has earned a Commendable Health Plan Accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). NCQA awards a status of Commendable to organizations with service and clinical quality that meet NCQA’s rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement. Through ongoing evaluation and continuous quality improvement, AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia improved its accreditation status based on a review of the health plan’s most recent Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores. For more information, visit amerihealthcaritasdc.com.
2017 Local First Awards Think Local First DC is honoring local businesses, entrepreneurs and artists who contribute positively to the community with its 2017 Local First Awards. On Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., come eat, drink, dance and party at the awards ceremony. Own a business? Want to connect with a community of DC entrepreneurs and artists who make our local economy thrive? Email executivedirector@thinklocalfirstdc.com for sponsorships. Interested in volunteering or showcasing a product? Email orlando@thinklocalfirstdc.com. Visit
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Anacostia Coordinating Council Boat Ride
Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) addresses the crowd.
rrington Dixon, former ACC chairman, A presents an award to At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds (D). Arrington Dixon and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. (D).
Photos by Maurice G Fitzgerald
ACC Executive Director Philip Pannell addresses the audience.
Attendees enjoy the beautiful Anacostia River.
Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D), Ward 7 Councilmember Vince Gray (D), Arrington Dixon, ACC Executive Director Philip Pannell.
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thinklocalfirstdc.org to read more and subscribe.
DC Public Libraries Add Holiday Hours Starting this month, one DC Public Library in each ward will be open on select holidays. The change in hours was funded in the DC Public Library’s FY 2018 budget. The libraries are Mount Pleasant Library at 3160 16th St. NW; Georgetown Library at 3260 R St. NW; Tenley Library at 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW; Petworth Library at 4200 Kansas Ave. NW; Woodridge Library at 1801 Rhode Island Ave. NE; Watha T. Daniel Library at 1630 Seventh St. NW; Dorothy I. Height Library at 3935 Benning Rd. NE; Anacostia Library at 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. Selected holidays are Columbus Day on Oct. 9; Veterans Day on Nov. 10; Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15, President’s Day on Feb. 19; and DC Emancipation Day on April 16.
DC Open Doors: Homebuyers’ Info Statistics prove that homebuyer education contributes to successful homeownership. On Oct. 18, 6:30 to 8 p.m., learn how to purchase a home in the District of Columbia using a DC Open Doors mortgage product. This free seminar is at District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, 815 Florida Ave. NW. dcopendoors.com.
DC Infrastructure Academy Launched On Sept. 5, Mayor Bowser signed a memorandum of intent to launch the “DC Infrastructure Academy,” an innovative workforce training program designed to provide hands-on experience and access for residents to secure longterm employment in the infrastructure industry. In 2016, the District’s infrastructure sector included 6,721 job positions; 2,500 job openings with only 1,246 hires, representing a shortage of nearly 50 percent. It sustained an average hourly wage of $48.45. By year 2021, the District’s infrastructure sector will increase by 11 percent and almost 20 percent by year 2026. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com.
Young Adults wanted for Research Study! We are looking for NONSMOKING men and women between 18-24 years old for a 6-month study about tobacco ads and attitudes towards tobacco. Qualifications: • Non-smoker or former tobacco user • Between 18-24 years old • Lives in Washington, DC
Study participants can receive up to $105. To see if you qualify, visit: www.DCTRAX.org E ast
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Phil Mendelson
Phil Mendelson, Chairman of the DC Council.
The Mindful Politician
article by Jonetta Rose Barras & photos by Andrew Lightman
P
hil Mendelson, chairman of the DC Council (D), recently organized a “meet up” at the Firehook Bakery on Pennsylvania Ave. SE. He hasn’t held a formal re-election kickoff, but no one could be blamed for thinking the gathering at the Ward 6 eatery a political event. A couple of staffers wore T-shirts from a previous campaign and Mendelson held court for at least 90 minutes. He displayed an encyclopedic knowledge of the government, as residents asked questions ranging about everything from parking restrictions and Airbnb regulations to illegal construction, alley maintenance, school modernization, and small business retention. “He is the consummate politician,” said Stan Jackson, head of the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation in Ward 8. Most people perceive the city’s seventh Council chairman as a political misfit. Tom Lindenfeld, a political consultant, compared Mendelson with now deceased North Carolina Senator Sam Ervin, who became legendary during the Watergate hearings for his intense questioning of witnesses and who often described himself as a country lawyer. Mendelson doesn’t have a southern drawl; he’s from Ohio. Still, the persona he has adopted may be as theatrical as Ervin’s. “You don’t get to be one of the most powerful politicians in the city by being a bumpkin,” continued Lindenfeld. “People who underestimate Mendelson do so at their peril.” Asked during an interview at his office in the John A. Wilson Building whether he agreed with those descriptions, Mendelson demurred. “I’m not the typical politician who wants to brag. We’re elected to get things done in the public interest. I try to keep that in mind, so it’s not about me.” Not everyone has flattery for Mendelson, however. Ward 1 activist Terry Lynch said Mendelson has not been a good leader of the legislative branch. “I don’t see the Council chairman moving the city forward,” declared Lynch. He called Mendelson’s tenure “undis-
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tinguished” and without any “definitive hallmark achievement.” “Thank God for the small business entrepreneurs and activists, they have driven the city’s success,” added Lynch. Another political operative accused Mendelson of being stubborn and possessing a “desire to command everything. He doesn’t see lines between the executive and the legislature.” Mendelson countered that when he took over as chairman the Council was “in extreme decline.” Two members had pled guilty to federal felonies and a third would be arrested on bribery charges. “I think the Council has rebounded.” As for the vision thing, as leader of the legislature Mendelson is focused on ensuring the institution has the public’s trust and works well as a unit. “This Council wants to grapple with protecting and promoting diversity, affordability, and quality education,” he added, which may not be presented as a typical vision but clearly provides the legislature’s priorities. “I do think Chairman Mendelson has evolved as a politician,” said At-large Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I), recalling the occasion years ago when her Washington City Paper colleague Erik Wemple plastered Mendelson with the odious title of “staffer Phil.” “But I saw Phil recently wearing one of those Robert White pocket squares,” Silverman added jokingly.
FROM STAFFER TO SOMEBODY
Before Mendelson was a staffer, he was a Ward 3 activist. During those days, he helped rescue McLean Gardens from the wrecking ball. In 1978, he was elected an advisory neighborhood commissioner. Later, he served as aide to Ward 3 Councilmember Jim Nathanson (D) and then-DC Council Chairman David Clarke (D). From those various vantages, Mendelson gained mastery over the arcane and the mundane: rules, bureaucratic regulations, zoning minutia.
Unsurprisingly, in 1998, he ran for a seat on the Council, winning the Democratic nomination by a mere 17 percent. Over the years, he has morphed into one of the highest citywide vote getters. In 2010, for example, he earned 77,127 votes in the Democratic Party primary; the only person with higher numbers was Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), who had 116,277 votes. During his tenure on the Council, Mendelson has worked on everything from the creation of the Department of Forensic Science to implementation of gun control, from the prevention of human trafficking to the creation of an elected attorney general, as well as the establishment of budget autonomy for the District, marriage equality, and tax reform. “After 20 years I am still accessible. I can get things done,” said Mendelson, offering that evaluation in an emotionless voice, underscoring the impression of him as professorial and wonkish. Those non-threatening traits persuaded his colleagues to select him in 2012 as interim chairman, after Kwame Brown stepped down from the position prior to pleading guilty of a federal felony. “The crown jewel was the ascension to the chair, think about how Mendelson maneuvered that,” said Jackson. In 2014, Mendelson won the Democratic Party primary, bringing in 69,138 votes in his bid to serve a full four-year term as chairman. He sailed through the general election.
CONTROL FREAK OR FACILITATOR?
“He’s coming into his own as chairman,” said DC Auditor Kathleen Patterson. Patterson, who formerly represented Ward 3 (D), citing as an example Mendelson’s handling of the controversy surrounding Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) plan to close DC General as a shelter
for homeless families and construct or rent smaller facilities in the city for a similar purpose. That original mayoral proposal drew fire from District residents who argued variously that they hadn’t been consulted and that Bowser’s plan was a boondoggle for developers. “It was fun to see Phil be a powerful policymaker and be political,” continued Patterson. “He is a pretty adroit politician.” Ultimately, under Mendelson’s leadership, the Council approved a bill that shifted the location of a couple of shelters and ownership of the facilities from private developers to the government. Those alterations earned him an expletive from Bowser, which became the talk of the town for weeks. Beverly Perry, senior advisor to the mayor, brushed aside that history. “The mayor and Phil meet every week. Just like in any other family, they have their spats but they continue to meet and to work in concert to keep this city moving ahead.” Mendelson echoed those same sentiments, refusing to extend the discussion about him and Bowser beyond that. “The thing about Phil I admire is he is for getting things done. He is not one of the people who wants to study things to death,” continued Perry. “The mayor is like that. She comes from a business perspective; she wants to get things done. She wants to get things done in a timely manner and to have a reasonable perspective. People with a background like mine admire that,” added Perry, who is a former executive with Pepco. Mendelson’s handling of the homeless controversy may have been deft – not so much with other issues, said some advocates and government insiders. He has been roundly excoriated for what some described as his control-freak tendencies. “Committees in places like Maryland and Virginia are truly empowered.
Committees are not empowered here,” said one government official. “As chairman, he knows the rules of this Council better than anyone, and when you know the rules you have a lot of power. Phil has been able to maneuver because he knows the rules,” said Silverman, adding that she started carrying her “rule book to each legislative session.” “I think my style is confusing to outsiders. How can you be Machiavellian if you’re low-key?” countered Mendelson, without a hint of facetiousness in his voice. The case against him may be his handling of the Universal Paid Leave Act (UPLA). The bill, originally introduced by Silverman and At-large Councilmember David Grosso, established a new tax paid by local businesses to help provide benefits for workers in the private sector. To surprise of proponents, Mendelson referred the legislation to his Committee of the Whole which he controls. He took months before finally bringing final legislative proposal for a vote. His bill modified benefits and reduced the tax that would be levied against businesses. Shortly after passage of that version of the UPLA, Mendelson and others introduced legislation to change how the law is funded, delaying its implementation. Silverman objected asserting the change in financing could negatively affect the benefits package. “Mendelson has said he likes to be a moderating influence,” she continued, explaining that early in his tenure he was on the left. “Now that the Council is more to the left, he has moved more toward the business community.” Mendelson defended his actions, noting the business community and Mayor Bowser had serious concerns about the new tax. “It’s worth looking at whether we can improve the financing mechanism.” “One of the challenges in working with Phil is that he keeps his own counsel. He keeps his cards close to his vest. That makes it difficult to get closure,” explained Patterson. “As chairman of the Council, I have to be mindful of how we get to majority vote. That means finding the balance that works,” said Mendelson He may have created a permanent enemy, however. Political insiders said Grosso is considering a run for chairman. Grosso declined to be interviewed. He also did not respond to my question, submitted to his spokesperson, asking him to confirm or deny reports of such a move. Interestingly, just as the Council was returning from its summer recess, Mendelson and Grosso got into a disagreement over the DC Public Schools teachers union contract, according to Wilson Building insiders. Grosso wanted to introduce it as emergen-
cy legislation, Mendelson resisted, although he supported the agreement. Folks knowledgeable about the dispute said the chairman used it as a teachable moment. There could be some truth to that assessment. When I asked Mendelson to compare his style with that of previous chairmen, he said he is closer to Linda Cropp (D), describing her as “collegial and collaborative. But, she could also bring down the hammer. I’ve been counseled that’s the way to do it,” he added. “There is a unique strategy to Mendelson’s style that is not always confrontational but also not always kind,” said Jackson. “Most politicians operate under the edict that says, ‘Cut me and I’m going to cut you deeper.’ Phil is going to cut you – just not at that moment.”
A MAN OF PRINCIPLE
Truth be told, most voters aren’t focused on process. They have embraced Mendelson’s well-crafted persona, becoming comfortable in their 20-year political marriage. What strikes them as most important is what was on display at the Firehook: integrity, commanding knowledge of government, a willingness to listen, and honesty. Even when he doesn’t tell them what they want to hear, they trust him. “He’s incorruptible,” said Ward 7 resident John Capozzi, who once ran against Mendelson but is now a staunch supporter. “Typically, there’s been a pay-toplay culture, and Phil just has not been involved in that. Phil has his own compass of what he wants. He meets with lobbyists but is not focused on them when he makes a decision.” Eboni Rose Thompson, a Ward 7 education activist, has “appreciated when he’s stepped in to make sure the Council is a good check to the mayor. I think that is pretty responsible.” There are character flaws she admitted, but those are somewhat trivial. “I think he is more of a worrier. He gets into the weeds. He probably chews on some things too much.” Disputing Lynch’s argument about Mendelson’s failure to sparkle, Thompson said, “The Council chairman is like an orchestra leader; it’s not necessary for him to distinguish himself.” Mendelson asserted there are good reasons to “rehire” him, including his management of the Council. “I am thoughtful, so if you, the voter, feel strong about something, unlike many, I will listen. My legislative accomplishments show that I can get things done. My record clearly indicates I care about affordability, equity, and the kind of values to ensure diversity and opportunity.” That documented record, even in a changing Washington, DC, likely is enough to win re-election. Predicted Silverman: “Phil’s seat is pretty safe.” Jonetta Rose Barras is a DC-based freelance journalist and host of “TheBarrasReport” television show
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The Numbers
DC Added $8 Million to the Pockets of Low-Income Workers Thanks to Tax Credit Expansion by Claire Zippel
T
he District government took innovative steps in recent years to put over $8 million back in the pockets of hardworking residents trying to make ends meet on very low wages. It’s helping thousands of households keep up with DC’s high cost of living. How? The DC Council expanded the DC Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a tax benefit for low-income working families and individuals, in 2014. Now the numbers are in, showing that an extra 10,300 working families and individuals claimed the EITC in 2015. EITC expansion was an important step to make sure that DC’s growing prosperity is more widely shared.
WHAT IS THE CREDIT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
The District’s Earned Income Tax Credit, based on the federal EITC, assists residents who work but have low earnings. The credit amount grows with each additional dollar of earnings for those with very low earnings, reaches the maximum credit and levels off, and then decreases slowly to zero as earnings reach the income limit. The DC EITC is refundable, meaning that if the value of the credit exceeds the amount of income tax owed, the balance is received as a tax refund. The DC and federal EITCs make a big difference in the finances of working households who struggle to survive on low wages. For example, a single parent with two children working full-time for $15 an hour (annual income $32,000) gets a $1,650 tax refund thanks to the DC and federal EITCs. Without
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those credits, they would owe $2,070 in DC and federal income taxes. That kind of income boost helps low-income working families make ends meet. Workers tend to use their EITC mostly for necessities like groceries, transportation, child expenses, and paying down past-due bills and debt. Some are able to use the EITC to get ahead – to go back to school or get new training.
We know this creates brighter futures for children in low-wage working families. Children whose families receive the federal EITC are healthier, research shows, and do better in school than their peers. The income boost has been linked to higher earnings and employment rates when the children grow up, meaning the EITC has a great return on investment.
EXPANSION HELPED 10,000 MORE FILERS
The DC Council acted in 2014, following recommendations from the Tax Revision Commission, to address a limitation in the federal EITC. While the federal EITC provides substantial help for households with children, it does very little for adults without children in the home. The maximum federal EITC for a single person without children is only $500, and they can benefit only if they earn less than $15,000. The expanded DC EITC provides a special supplement for workers without children in two ways. First, it has a maximum credit of $500, compared with $200 under the prior rules. Second, while the federal EITC ends for this group of workers when income exceeds $15,000, DC residents earning up to $24,000 can receive some level of tax credit. As a result, more workers without children can receive some amount of the DC credit. Not surprisingly, these changes made the DC
Islamic Heritage Month Celebrated in October EITC accessible to many more workers. Following the expansion, 10,300 more workers claimed the DC credit, and the total amount received grew by $8.3 million. In contrast, the number of tax filers claiming the federal credit – which did not change – didn’t increase at all that year, according to a DC Fiscal Policy Institute analysis of tax return data. This suggests that the increase in claims for the DC credit happened thanks to the expansions for workers without children. These figures confirm that expanding the District’s EITC has been a huge help to thousands of workers struggling on low wages. Boosting the incomes of low-income workers is an important step to make sure that DC’s growing prosperity is more widely shared. Even with this good news, more work needs to be done to ensure that all eligible residents know about and claim the EITC and other tax credits they’ve earned. According to Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB), as many as 20,000 DC residents who have low wages are still not claiming the federal EITC, and thus are not receiving over $40 million in federal tax credits. This suggests that with increased awareness and free tax preparation, even more workers would benefit from the DC EITC expansion. Claire Zippel is a policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia, and to increase opportunities for residents to build a better future.
by John Muller
W
hile the presence of the American Islamic Heritage Museum (AIHM) at 2315 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE now spans more than seven years, the history of Muslim presence in this country predates colonization, revolution, and the United States Constitution. The narrative of Muslims in America is largely untold and undiscovered, says Amir Muhammad, curator and co-founder of the AIHM. Since 1996, Muhammad, with his wife Habeebah, has toured an exhibit that documents the history of Muslims in America. His efforts have reached more than 100,000 people at universities and museums across the country, from Cambridge to Palo Alto. As a cultural attache for the State Department, he has toured the exhibit from Qatar to Nigeria “The museum helps connect people through arts and culture by sharing the rich and largely unknown narrative of Muslim heritage and legacy in this country,” says Muhammad.
MUSEUM ORIGINS
Working at the Islamic Education Center in Potomac, Md., in the early 1990s, Muhammad said he was exposed to all kinds of Muslims: Sunnis, Shiites, Yemenis, Saudis, Africans, and Europeans – all worshipping together. “This is the beauty of America,” Muhammad told me. Beyond our pluralistic shores these differences of regional origin or sect can cause great divisions and struggle. Around this time, Habeebah Muhammad, a former staff member of the Anacostia Community Museum, began curating source material, and her husband began researching source material. As an outgrowth of their teamwork, breaking new ground in scholarship and forming alliances with existing cultural institutions, they began “a museum without walls” in 1996. In 2005, the ACM became the first American museum to promote and feature Muslims in America. Then in March 2010, the Muhammads opened the AIHM at its current location, on a side of town often left off maps handed out to tourists. International groups of Afghans, Chinese, and Palestinians, as well as local school groups, have discovered a part of American history previously obscured. Although the museum has a significant national profile, it remains under the radar for many Washingtonians. However, its importance to Ward 8 as a destination was recently recognized in the “Washington DC Economic Partnership’s 2017 Neighborhood Profile.”
ALL ARE WELCOME
While walking to the Anacostia Metro station on Sunday evenings, I have often passed the AIHM and been invited inside by Amir Muhammad. I have broken fast for Ramadan, sat with a diverse group of Muslims, Jews, and Christians of different walks of
Amir Muhammad shows visitors the latest exhibit at the American Islamic Heritage Museum on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE.
life in an Iftar celebration, and attended free musical performances and local history lectures. In a city packed with museums that celebrate seemingly every demographic, cause, and event in American and world history, this humble museum in a humble part of town with a humble mission should be recognized not just during Islamic Heritage Month but year-round. Despite the tone and tenor in many communities, Muhammad is optimistic about the future of the museum, Ward 8, and the country. With a twinkle in his eye, he confirms, “Goodness is on the rise.”
CURRENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS
You may have heard of Muhammad Ali or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but do you remember when NBA guard Mahmoud AbdulRauf sat during the National Anthem in the 1990s? Until the end of October, an expansive exhibit detailing the contributions and experiences of Muslim-American sports professionals is on display at the AIHM. During the school year, the museum, formerly the home of the Clara Muhammad School, hosts an after-school food program from 3:30 until 4:30 p.m., every day. Local children are all welcome. On Saturday, Oct. 7, AIHM will host a “Day of Dignity” with hot meals, school supplies, hygiene services, and community services and referrals provided. On Sunday, Oct. 8, a play focusing on the true story of Yarrow Mamout, a well-known free person of color and Fulani Muslim living in Georgetown at the turn of the 18th century, will debut. AIHM is seeking volunteers for administrative help with upcoming programs, Iftar, and fundraising. Those interested should contact Habeebah Muhammad at 202-302-5904 or 202610-0586 or aihmuseum@gmail.com. For more information on the museum visit www.aihmuseum.org.
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Fire Station or Townhomes? Confusion Reigns on Minnesota Avenue NE article & photos by Cuneyt Dil
4
409 Minnesota Ave. NE is adjacent to CSX train tracks, an empty plot of land except for a long vacant garage. Three houses sit abandoned on the block across the street. Yet, this parcel is prime for development, just off I-295, on a Metrobus route, and halfway between two Metro stations, Minnesota Avenue and Deanwood. And, Valor Development, the owner of the 55,517 square foot property, has plans for the site. It’s just that no one seems to know what Valor exactly wants. The District government, hoping to build a fire station on the site, has been left in the dark about as much as the community.
THE PLANS KEEP CHANGING
In 2015, Valor pitched building about 30 townhomes and a playground on the land. The lot is a peculiar size, a narrow strip of land that’s just wide enough to fit the length of a house. With neighborhood support, the DC 409 Minnesota Ave NW.
Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) awarded them several zoning variances on Nov. 17, 2015 paving the way to build the homes. Valor hand purchased the land in 2014 for roughly $550,000, according to testimony by the company Principal Will Lansing to the BZA in July 2015. The townhomes were proposed as three stories tall and in the $350,000 price range. An architect and real estate expert were brought onto the project team. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Dorothy Douglas (7D03), who resides across the street, testified in support of the project at the time. So did multiple neighbors.
A FIRE STATION?
Then this August, Douglas got a notice from the District government. The city was planning to build a new station for Engine Company 27, currently occupying an aging station down Minnesota Avenue, at that site. According to the Department of General Services (DGS), Valor approached the agency offering the land in spring 2016, in response
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to a solicitation. Speaking on background, a DGS official explained that Valor, by entering a “non-binding agreement” with the agency to explore building a fire station, made clear they scrapped plans for the townhomes. DGS had been conducting preliminary site review since summer 2016 to build the fire station, but it wasn’t until this summer that the agency made the news public to ANC 7D, when the ANC was on recess. DGS plans to send the formal proposal to build the station to the DC Council in December. If approved, DGS would begin design work and conduct further community outreach, and draw up lease terms with Valor. 4409 Minnesota Avenue is not large enough to hold both projects. DGS would need the entire lot for a firehouse, Lansing says. “Our interest is to advance the fire station project,” he says.
KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN
Except Valor, if their moves at the BZA are any hint, still wants to build townhomes. While
rights as a private landowner, we believe it’s prudent to extend our BZA application until we’re able to determine the exact direction with the fire station project,” he says.
NEIGHBORS FRUSTRATED
From Left to Right: McCree Burwell, ANC Commissioner Dorothy Douglas, Tacretia Cree.
going ahead with the fire house plan, in mid-September developers asked the BZA for a two year extension on their original plan. They justified the extension request on the difficulties of securing permits. Lansing says that the firm wanted to make sure the zoning relief didn’t lapse in case the fire house project didn’t pan out. The BZA granted the extension on Sept. 27. At no point did Valor mention a fire station in their testimony to the board. Nor did DGS realize Valor sought an extension on the town home project. East of the River magazine broke the news of the zoning relief extension to DGS in late September. “I can’t comment on that,” was the DGS official’s response. Lansing contends that Valor has just been keeping the townhomes as a plan B. “There’s no signed lease with DGS at this point, but to protect our
This has left Douglas and a number of her neighbors exasperated. The fire station news seemed to pop out of nowhere, after nearly two years of no activity on the housing project. ANC 7D voted Sept. 28 to oppose the firehouse on the lot. Most people just want the city and developers to be straight with them. “It’s very strange,” says Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray (D). “It sounds like Valor needs to come up with some information about why they’re proposing two different projects on the same site.” Douglas now worries Valor will get a lucrative contract and lease, subject to DC Council approval, for the firehouse. She is concerned that her tax dollars will go to a public project that the community had little say in. Gray asked DGS to extend the community’s comment period on the firehouse until late October. DGS has offered to attend ANC 7D’s Oct. 9 meeting. Meanwhile, Valor has been waiting for the city to take the official lead on organizing community input.
WORRYING ABOUT GETTING ROLLED
Neighbors remain concerned. “I think there is a huge ethics issue here,” says Tacretia Cree, who was drawn to the neighborhood in 2014 for its relative affordability. She wants more transparency with the fire station project, which Lansing and DGS promise will be given in the coming months. Walking through the block on a recent day, Douglas is tired of running in circles to make the city to provide more information. She bought her house, on the corner of Minnesota Avenue and Kane Place, in 1978 and has been a longtime voice in Ward 7. “We’re just not getting the communication entitled from [Valor] or DGS,” Douglas says.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0033-2017
UNIFORMS AND PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE) SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires Uniform and Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Services. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/ Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, September 18, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at 11:00 PM. Contact Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at (202) 535-1212 or by email at lwashing@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
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Our River: The Anacostia
AREC: A Place You Should Get to Know article & photos by Bill Matuszeski
fish passage and reproduction in DC have been removed and fish ladders installed. There is a specialized electro-fishing boat to temporarily stun fish so they can be measured, weighed, examined, and tagged. American shad for stocking are raised at AREC. All this is tied to the efforts of the DOEE and Maryland to improve water quality and habitat so that eventually fish in local waters can be caught and consumed. At this point, there are a number of fish advisories as the rivers and streams are cleaned up, and the focus is on catch-and-release recreational fishing as well as spawning of species that leave for the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean. Much of the public education program focus is on school groups from pre-K through 12 who visit during the week and learn about a wide range of habitat and animal issues associated with the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek, as well as their tributaries. Many of the older students, perhaps one-third of the total, have a three-part visit with a session in the aquarium, a walk with a park ranger along the river, and a boat trip with the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS). Visitors learn that DC waters are home to more than 70 fish species, dozens of which spawn here. The DOEE releases about a AREC Discovery Room.
AREC building.
I
t’s called AREC and pronounced “A-REC.” That stands for Aquatic Resources Education Center. Operated by the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) in cooperation with the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, it is a center for the study of the District’s rivers and streams. It is located along our Anacostia, on the east side between the Pennsylvania Avenue and East Capitol Street bridges, at the end of the park drive and next to the roller-skating rink. There are two related sets of activities for the public at AREC – environmental engagement and fisheries research and management.
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Tommy Wells, director of DOEE, sees AREC as “a little-known place that does so much for the Department. We have a great team of biologists located there who are working hard to restore the natural elements of our rivers – the Anacostia and the Potomac.” Among other things, the center is our own aquarium on the Anacostia, with over 40 species of local fish, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and aquatic plants displayed in attractive and well-lit tanks. A children’s Discovery Room offers hands-on learning. The DOEE’s fisheries research and survey programs at AREC include extensive efforts to restore fish populations through management and habitat improvements. Barriers to
welcome to the
million juvenile American shad each year into DC waters, and striped bass tagged in the District have been captured as far north as Maine and as far south as Georgia. Parents with children two to five years old can attend a “Fish Tales Story Hour” on the first Thursday of every month from 10 to 11 a.m. Upcoming sessions include “Aquatic Birds” on Oct. 5, “Marvelous Mammals” on Nov. 2, and “The Power of Plants” on Dec. 7. Other special events for families include a spring “Family and Youth Casting Call” for budding fishers, which attracts over 500 visitors. AREC has focused its education programs on youth through the schools and limited its hours for the general public to 10 a.m.-2 p.m., weekdays, or by appointment. Special events sponsored by AREC or by others using the facilities have generally been on weekends. If staffing levels could be increased, there would be more hours for family visits, especially on weekends. If you have a special need for information, you can request to visit with experts during the week to learn about fisheries surveys, fish habitat improvements, fish surveys, invasive species monitoring, hatcheries, or consumption limitations. As Wells says, “If you want to know more about the impact of invasive species on our surrounding waters like, snakeheads or blue catfish, these are the folks who can tell you all about it.” Meanwhile you can plan to visit as a participant in special events. Those for youth mentioned above and others are listed along with more information on the AREC website – www.ddoe.dc.gov/ arec. Signups and inquiries can be sent to www.doee.arec@dc.gov. Some of the possibilities that may interest you are: • “Frog Watch,” a citizen science program that holds monthly meetings from February through August to carry out protocols, training, and observation of frogs and toads and their habitat. The observations are recorded by participants on evenings and Saturdays. • “Bioblitz,” part of a national, citizen-based survey of animals and
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DC HOUSING ENTERPRISES
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 2017-3
GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR REHABILITATION AND RENOVATION OF SCATTERED SITE “940-T Street NW”
AREC aquarium.
DC Housing Enterprises (DCHE) requires a General Contractor to provide construction services for the substantial rehabilitation of 940-T Street NW, Washington, DC. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/ Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, September 25, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, October 30, 2017 at 12:00 PM. Contact LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist at (202) 535-1212 or by email at LMMCLEOD@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
plants using cellphone apps to record data. The AWS holds one or two sessions a year at AREC to coordinate local efforts. • “Watershed Stewards Academy,” an AWS-sponsored program that trains adults in watershed preservation and restoration at AREC on Saturdays in fall and spring. Groundworks Anacostia and other groups also schedule training sessions and meetings throughout the year. Check the website for these and other meetings and open house events. Use the e-mail address above to sign up for receiving notices. “In a City known for its national museums and monuments,” says Wells, “it’s great to have an environmental education program dedicated to our local residents and students. It’s a great resource for our schools and families.” The real issue is how AREC can grow and reach more residents with its programs and sponsorship of other groups’ activities. It seems the school connections are well-designed and successful in reaching students of all ages. But the limited hours for public visits prevent adults and families from coming on weekends and other times to enjoy the displays and learn about
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the fish and other aquatic life in our rivers and streams. Perhaps greater involvement with adult education programs could make people aware of the knowledge and experience that await them at AREC. At the same time, the capable and impressive staff in both the education and the fisheries programs are working at full capacity and cannot be expected to take on more. Check out AREC and I guarantee you will become part of the public asking for more of what you see and experience there! Bill Matuszeski writes monthly about the Anacostia River. He is the retired director of the Chesapeake Bay Program, a DC member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Anacostia River, and a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River.
homes & gardens / 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
PRICE
BR
$501,000 $399,999 $335,000 $300,000 $275,500 $270,000 $158,000
3 2 2 2 3 4 3
$453,000 $315,000
3 2
$395,000 $349,990 $348,000 $345,000 $345,000 $333,000 $306,000 $261,000 $255,000
4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
$480,000 $435,000 $428,000 $419,000 $410,000 $400,000 $399,000 $387,500 $384,999 $365,000 $360,000 $355,000 $349,900 $330,000 $330,000 $319,000 $317,000 $316,000 $315,000 $310,000 $298,600 $260,000 $254,900 $250,000 $247,000 $245,000 $240,000 $168,000 $152,000 $150,000
8 3 6 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 4 2 3 3 2 2 2
$439,000 $362,000 $345,000 $335,000 $309,000
3 3 2 3 2
FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA
1401 RIDGE PL SE 1336 RIDGE PL SE 1328 TALBERT TER SE 1816 MINNESOTA AVE SE 1742 GALEN ST SE 1335 T ST SE 2316 GREEN ST SE
CHILLUM
229 LONGFELLOW ST NW 18 MILMARSON PL NW
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 734 MISSISSIPPI AVE SE 791 BARNABY ST SE 1105 VARNEY ST SE 626 CHESAPEAKE ST SE 702 CHESAPEAKE ST SE 1935 VALLEY TER SE 3219 5TH ST SE 718 ALABAMA AVE SE 3219 12TH PL SE
DEANWOOD
4601 GRANT ST NE 115 47TH ST NE 5300 CENTRAL AVE SE 4807 FITCH PL NE 128 57TH PL SE 71 55TH ST SE 4247 EADS ST NE 4112 GAULT PL NE 1031 46TH ST NE 836 49TH ST NE 5245 KARL PL NE 5322 JAMES PL NE 5349 AMES ST NE 50085010 JAY ST NE 6126 BANKS PL NE 1017 49TH ST NE 825 50TH PL NE 1113 47TH PL NE 1310 EASTERN AVE NE 5053 SHERIFF RD NE 15 40TH ST NE 5133 SHERIFF RD NE 256 56TH PL NE 238 57TH PL NE 836 51ST ST NE 434 EASTERN AVE NE 5402 BLAINE ST NE 6132 BANKS PL NE 857 52ND ST NE 5722 FOOTE ST NE
FORT DUPONT PARK 1107 44TH PL SE 1519 41ST ST SE 4502 TEXAS AVE SE 4208 HILDRETH ST SE 4332 GORMAN TER SE
4382 DUBOIS PL SE 4359 C ST SE 4255 FORT DUPONT TER SE 1654 40TH ST SE 3233 ELY PL SE
HILL CREST
2901 BRANCH AVE SE 2007 32ND ST SE 3167 WESTOVER DR SE 2133 32ND ST SE 3206 NASH PL SE 3008 ALABAMA AVE SE 3834 CARPENTER ST SE 3807 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE 710 32ND ST SE
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5217 D ST SE 5008 B ST SE 5056 B ST SE 5527 CENTRAL AVE SE 4808 B ST SE
RANDLE HEIGHTS
3206 15TH PL SE 1736 S ST SE 1853 BRUCE PL SE 1954 VALLEY TER SE 2304 SOUTHERN AVE SE 3012 22ND ST SE 2206 IRVING ST SE 2640 STANTON RD SE
$297,000 $295,000 $265,000 $250,000 $236,000
3 2 3 3 3
$750,000 $575,000 $550,000 $545,000 $515,000 $510,000 $479,400 $447,000 $290,000
5 4 3 4 6 4 3 4 2
$425,000 $375,000 $290,000 $287,000 $199,000
4 4 2 2 2
$349,999 $330,000 $325,000 $311,000 $310,000 $305,000 $210,000 $207,000
4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2
$193,500
2
$138,000 $100,000 $73,000 $70,000 $65,000 $64,900
1 1 2 2 1 1
$64,050
2
$213,000 $170,000 $120,000
3 2 2
$339,900 $339,000
2 2
$90,000 $77,500 $30,750
2 2 2
CONDO ANACOSTIA
2333 16TH ST SE #304
CONGRESS HEIGHTS
2915 8TH ST SE #5201 721 BRANDYWINE ST SE #102 3868 9TH ST SE #101 742 BRANDYWINE ST SE #301 3872 9TH ST SE #102 3872 9TH ST SE #302
FORT DUPONT PARK 3937 S ST SE #8A
HILL CREST
2009 37TH ST SE #301 3861 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #B 2029 38TH ST SE #A
KINGMAN PARK 332 18TH PL NE #1 332 18TH PL NE #2
RANDLE HEIGHTS
2850 HARTFORD ST SE #202 2311 ALTAMONT PL SE #3 3072 30TH ST SE #302
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0018-2017
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING (ERP) SYSTEM SOLUTION The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires a turnkey solution for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and related services. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/ Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, September 25, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, October 30, 2017 at 11:00 PM. Contact Kimberly Allen, Procurement Manager at (202) 535-1212 or by email at kallen@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information. E ast
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kids & family
by Kathleen Donner
Beat Father Absence Blues Esther Productions Inc., a national nonprofit organization, My Sister’s Place, artist Brittany Nicole Adams and author Jonetta Rose Barras have joined forces to present “THE GIFT: An Interactive Arts Healing and Reconciliation Experience” on Oct. 21, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 1313 New York Ave. NW. A powerful interactive program, designed by therapists, artists and social service providers, THE GIFT helps girls and women struggling with the pain of father absence. Beginning with a special opening ceremony that helps individuals identify areas of emotional pain that may be affecting personal or professional lives, participants moves through three intense and impactful arts healing sessions, created to help them better understand their situations and develop a plan for moving past the pain to empowerment. While the work is serious, it is also fun and engaging. A continental breakfast and light
lunch also will be served. Door prizes will be awarded. The event is free but registration is required at estherproductionsinc@gmail.com.
Calling All Preschool Readers Like stories? Grab a grown up and pay Benning Library a visit. The 30 to 40-minute reading program is designed to promote language and listening skills. Join them every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Exercise your mind with stories and activities that spark the imagination and arouse curiosity. Benning Neighborhood Library is at 3935 Benning Rd. NE. dclibrary.org/benning.
Drumming with Dishes In a very special kitchen, a lively child and her shy imaginary friend cook up beautiful music using pasta box shakers, dishes, spoons and many more surpris-
HEROES OF PLAY! 5K AT ANACOSTIA PARK
On Oct. 14, walk or run a 5k to benefit children experiencing homelessness. The event is open to participants of all ages and abilities. Runners and walkers are encouraged to join in. Proceeds will help fund programming that directly benefits children living in temporary housing. Sign-in begins at 7 a.m.; race at 8 a.m. at Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. Read more and register at playtimeproject.org/heroesofplay5k. Photo: Courtesy of the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project
ing instruments. “Drumming with Dishes” is a whimsical interactive performance celebrating friendship, play and imagination. As the heroine empowers her imaginary friend to create music, discover just what wonders can be accomplished when everyone plays together. Tickets are $12. Best suited for ages 2 to 5. Drumming with Dishes is on stage from Oct. 25 to 29 at The Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Maker! On Tuesdays at 4 p.m., create a different project every week as exploring art, music, science and technology. Dive into Maker and create projects such as mini robots, helicopter games, racing cars, airplanes, musical instruments, movies and computer programming
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FREDERICK DOUGLASS FAMILY FUN DAY
Family Fun Day at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, Oct. 15 at noon to 3 p.m., will feature house tours, music, crafts, games, kid’s activities and living history. This event is free and open to the public. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is at 1411 W St. SE. nps.gov/frdo. Photo: Courtesy of the National Park Service/Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
games. Recommended for children ages 6 and up. Deanwood Neighborhood Library is at 1350 49th St. NE. dclibrary.org/deanwood.
Girls Inspire Summit On Oct. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., The Anacostia Community Museum teams up with The Society for Girls Inc. for their 2017 Girls Inspire Summit. The event will focus on young women sharing their wisdom. The theme of this year’s summit is “Dear Future Me,” featuring a writing activity, stories from guest panelists and an
interactive component to the program. The summit is designed to provide the girls with insight and self-reflection from their past selves. By the close of the summit, the girls will figure out who they desire to be, what goals they want to achieve. The Girls Inspire Summit is at R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center, St. Elizabeth’s East, 2730 MLK Jr. Ave. SE. Register at 202-633-4844.
Saturday Mornings at The National Visit the National Theatre on select Saturday mornings for free programs that
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engage and inspire young minds. Saturday programming is best suited for children 4 to 10. Siblings and friends of other ages are always welcome. Performances take place Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the Helen Hayes Gallery. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets may be reserved one week prior to the performance. The reservation system closes at 10 a.m. on the Friday before the performance but walk-ins are welcome if there is room. Register and get more information at thenationaldc.org. Here’s the remaining fall lineup: Oct. 21, Robin Hood; Oct. 28, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow; Nov. 4.
Discovery Theater on the Mall On. Oct. 20 and 25, 10:14 and 11:30 a.m., Fábulas Fairy Tales. The adventures of three bears, three little pigs, three billy goats gruff, and three little kittens are joined by a classic story about a lion and a mouse that’s also a guessing game. Spanish-language learning, literacy through storytelling,
WASHINGTON INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW KIDS’ DAY
math, music, and more! For ages 5 to 8. On Oct. 26, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., African Roots/Latino Soul. This vibrant play explores what it means to be Latino, African American, and proud, growing up in the heart of the American melting pot. The story of Celia Cruz, the warmth of mama’s kitchen and the bustle of city life all play parts in a show that demonstrates that the pulse of the music is the heart of the people. Written with the Young Playwrights’ Theater, this is a story of the triumphs of today’s multicultural kids. For ages 6 to 12. These shows are at the Smithsonian Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW, on the National Mall. Tickets are $6 per child, $3 for under two and $8 for adults. discoverytheater.org.
Boo at the Zoo On Oct. 20 to 22, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., come for DC’s favorite not-sospooky Halloween haunt. With more than 40 treat stations, animal demonstrations, keeper chats, and decorated trails, this frightfully fun evening is a
WIHS Kids’ Day 2017 will take place Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. Outdoor activities will be held in front of the Hotel Monaco at 700 F St. NW and face painting and other events will be held on the Capital One Arena concourse. wihs.org. Photo: Alden Corrigan
On Sept. 8, President Obama surprises McKinley Technology High School students with visit.
treat for the whole family. Also, don’t miss a themed hay maze and scarecrow field. $30. All guests 2 and older, adults included, must have a ticket. Reserve tickets at nationalzoo.si.edu.
Trick-or-Treat at Mount Vernon On Oct. 27 and Oct. 28, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., participate in a scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride on the 12-acre field and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft on this unforgettable evening. See wool carding, spinning and fish net making in the historic area before greeting “Martha Washington” on the piazza of the Mansion. Burn off all the extra excitement with 18th-century dancing in the upper garden. Historic chocolatemaking demonstrations and chocolate tastings will take place. A children’s costume parade will begin at 5 p.m. and prizes will be awarded for most fang-tastic “George” and “Martha” costumes. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids, 11 and under. mountvernon.org.
Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run The Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run is on Oct. 21 in the Pentagon North
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Parking lot. Nearly 3,600 children ages 5 to 12 will participate in the one-mile just-for-fun event. All participants receive a T-shirt, medal and snacks at the finish line. The Kids Run hosts six separate starting times. Register at mcmregistration.com.
Race for Every Child 5k and Kids’ Dash The Race for Every Child 5k raises funds to help kids grow up stronger. The race is on Oct. 21, at Freedom Plaza. Registration, open through Oct. 21, is $40/$50. The Kids’ Dash, ages three to ten, is $15. RaceForEveryChild.org.
NSO Spooktacular Concert On Oct. 28, 2 and 4 PM, creep into the Kennedy Center Concert Hall for costumed classics at this frightfully fun concert featuring ghoulishly attired musicians. Arrive early for trick-or-treating and a special Haunted Hall Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo.” $15 to $18. This concert is for ages 5 and up. kennedy-center.org.
THE BIG BUILD AT THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
The Big Build is on Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. It is an interactive, fun-for-all-ages celebration of our built environment. Learn from construction and building arts professionals while hammering nails, sawing logs, applying join compound and hopping aboard real trucks. Each year at The Big Build, amateur builders can discover what it’s like to build a brick wall, carve stone and hammer nails. Work side-by-side with designers, builders and artisans demonstrating their skills. Meet plumbers, ironworkers, landscape architects, woodworkers and experts to learn about their professions and hobbies. Admission is free. Recommended for ages 5 through 12. nbm.org. Photo: Emily Clack Photography
GALita’s Bilingual “Blancaflor” In this charming Spanish fairy tale with music and puppets, a prince promises to complete a series of impossible tasks to return to his kingdom. However, he can only succeed with help from the brave maiden Blancaflor. Blancaflor is on stage at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, from Oct. 7 to 21. $12, adult and $10, child. galatheatre.org.
DAR Family Events Some schools give you a DESK, we give you a CITY.
On Oct. 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy ghost stories. People from the past liked scary stories too. Are the ghosts and ghouls from George Washington’s time still scary today? On Nov. 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., try out the toys and games from children in America’s past. Find out how kids had fun before tablets and smartphones. These are free, walk-in events. Daughters of the American Revolution Headquarters is at 1776 D St. NW. 202-628-1776. dar.org.
Robert Post’s Comedy Theatre for Kids
Personalized
(Average class size of 8)
+
Deeper Learning (2 academic subjects per 10-week term)
= Lifelong, Self-Directed Learners (Info Sessions Every Thursday at 9 am)
OPEN HOUSES: OCT 24 at 7 PM & NOV 5 at 1 PM RSVP: http://info.blythtempleton.org/hill17 52
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Hilarious, poignant, and physically dazzling, Robert Post’s wholesome one-man variety show fills the stage with bumblers, dreamers and cartoonish heroes of every stripe on Oct. 21, 2 p.m. at the Kennedy Center. $20. kennedy-center.org.
Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Family Days On Oct. 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy fall activities with the whole family at
George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Take a wagon ride, learn about wheat treading in the 16-sided barn, and witness 18th-century dancing, blacksmithing, and corn husk doll demonstrations. Play early-American games. Walk through a straw bale maze. Listen to 18thcentury music. Fall Harvest Family Days is included in Mount Vernon’s general admission of $20 adults; $10 youth. George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Mount Vernon, VA. MountVernon.org.
Pinocchio at Glen Echo Half life-size rod puppets, performed in the Italian “Comedia del Arte” style, tell Carlo Collodi’s story of what it means to be “real”. Share the trials and tribulations of the little live puppet as he discovers that the “easy way” isn’t always the right way. On stage at Glen Echo, Oct. 15 to Nov. 17. This show is recommended for ages 5, up. Running time is 45 minutes. Tickets are $12. thepuppetco.org.
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Smartest Girl in the World Studious Leo and his younger sister Lizzy couldn’t be more different. But, the two share dreams of becoming successful and making life easier for their overworked parents. When Mami and Papi forbid Leo to accept a place on his school’s TV Challenge team due to his chronic illness, Lizzy studies up to compete in his stead. But, the plan backfires when Leo feels jealous rather than grateful. Can Lizzy win the competition and regain her brother’s love? Best for ages 6, up. From Oct. 7 to 29 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. imaginationstage.org.
How I Became a Pirate Argh matey! It’s pirate’s life for me on the high seas! One day as Jeremy builds
a sand castle on the beach, a pirate ship rows ashore in search of a place to bury the pirate’s treasure. Taken aboard as an honorary pirate, Jeremy learns the ropes of what it really means to be a smelly, swashbuckling pirate. The pirates just might learn how to play soccer too. How I Became a Pirate is on stage at Glen Echo through Oct. 22. Tickets are$19.50. my.adventuretheatremtc.org. Have an item for the Kids and Family Notebook? Email it to bulletinboard@hillrag. com.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0020-2017
ELEVATOR PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires Elevator Preventive Maintenance and Repair Services. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, September 11, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 11:00 PM. Contact Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at (202) 535-1212 or by email at lwashing@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information. E ast
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