East of the River Magazine – March 2025 by Capital Community News

Ward 7 Councilmember

Wendell Felder

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

Building the Dream: Wacif’s Anacostia Arts Center is getting a makeover. Meet the team working to make it happen. by

McClure

Mayor Says NFL Stadium Fastest Route to RFK Development: What We Know About Plans for RFK Campus by Elizabeth O’Gorek 18 Meet Your New Ward 7 Councilmember: Felder and Staff Gear Up with Emphasis on Communication, Development and Service by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Meet the Ward 7 Team by Elizabeth O’Gorek

ANC 7D Report: Kenilworth Swing Space Sparks Construction Concerns by Sarah Payne

ANC 8F Report: Final Two Phases of Riverfront PUD Go Residential by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner

Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com

Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com

Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com

Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

The National Cherry Blossom Festival

The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC, and celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. Today’s Festival now spans four weeks, March 20 to April 14, and welcomes more than 1.5 million people to enjoy diverse and creative programming promoting arts and culture, natural beauty, and community spirit. Here are some of the highlights: Parade, March 29, 10 a.m. to noon (March 30, rain date); Kite Festival, March 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (March 30, rain date); Petalpalooza at the Waterfront, April 5, 1 to 9 p.m.; Cherry Blossom 10 Mile, 5k and Kids Run, April 5 and 6; Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival, April 12 and 13 ($10 to $25); Peak Bloom Tidal Basin Welcome Area, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

Sakura Matsuri: Japanese Street Festival

Annie at the National

Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination, and sometimes, an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package. Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner, and now this well-loved musical is set to return in a new production—just as you remember it and just when we need it most. Annie is at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. from April 11 to 20. Tickets start at $59. thenationaldc.com.

The Sakura Matsuri: Japanese Street Festival, on Saturday, April 12, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, April 13, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., is the largest celebration of Japanese culture in the United States. The festival, on Pennsylvania Avenue NW between Third and Seventh, features Japanese cultural performances on four stages (including J-Pop, traditional Japanese music, and martial arts) and a diverse range of cultural exhibitors, artisan and commercial vendors of traditional and contemporary Japanese goods, and Japanese and other food and beverages. The festival also spotlights travel and tourism opportunities and innovative Japanese technologies. Tickets are $10 to $25. sakuramatsuri.org.

In the Tower: Chakaia Booker at the NGA

Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence

Coﬀeepot, Shop of Alexander Petrie, Charleston, South Carolina, 1742-1768, Silver with wooden handle, 3996, Loan courtesy of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA).

The Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, 1776 D St. NW, presents its new exhibition, Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence, in collaboration with the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive from March 29 to Dec. 31, 2025. This exhibition embraces the stories of those who pursued independence by centering on the lives and experiences of Black craftspeople and artisans from the 18th and 19th centuries. Fighting for Freedom features more than 50 objects made by both free and enslaved craftspeople. With artifacts from the 18th, 19th, and 21st centuries, this exhibition tells the stories of countless known and unnamed figures whose skills and commitment created not only objects but independence in many forms. Free admission. Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. dar.org/museum.

DC Beer Festival at Nat’s Park

On Saturday, April 12 (rain or shine), the DC Beer Fest returns to Nationals Park. Soak in the spring weather while indulging in beer samples from over 80 breweries. Groove to the live music beats and savor the culinary delights offered by a variety of food trucks. General admission is $55. Session one is from noon to 3 p.m.; session two is from 5 to 8 p.m. Upgrade your experience with $90 VIP early access to batting practice in National’s cages. Also included with VIP are limitless beer tastings, exclusive entry to the warning track and dugouts, and a DC Beer Fest T-shirt. All guests must be at least 21 to attend. dcbeerfestival.com.

For over four decades, Chakaia Booker has cut, coiled, and contorted tires, sculpting the industrial waste into spectacular abstract forms. Booker uses discarded tires both as a commentary on cultural histories and experiences and as a sustainable practice. Salvaging the tires avoids their disposal into landfills, where they trap and emit methane gas that pollutes the environment and contributes to global warming. From April 5 to Aug. 3, see three awe-inspiring sculptures by this American artist who transforms tires to explore environmental concerns in the National Gallery of Art East Building, Tower Level, Gallery 501. nga.gov.

Experience Hendrix at the Warner

Here’s the performance roster on April 5, 8 p.m., at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW, of the musicians inspired by the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix: Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Zakk Wylde (from Black Label Society / Ozzy Osbourne), Eric Johnson, Devon Allman, Samantha Fish, Noah Hunt (from Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band), Mato Nanji (from Indigenous), Henri Brown, Ally Venable, Kevin McCormick (from Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band), Dylan Triplett, Tony Beard, Sam Bryant, and Orlando Wright. Tickets are $72 to $300. warnertheatredc.com.

Orchids: Master of Deception at the US Botanic Garden

Orchids captivate and enthrall people around the world. They also captivate and lure pollinators—sometimes through fascinating, beautiful deceit. Through April 27, join the US Botanic Garden as they showcase some of the unique, bizarre, and intriguing orchid adaptations that deceive pollinators looking for food, mates, locations to lay their eggs, and more. Explore thousands of orchids in this 29th annual joint orchid exhibit between the US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW, and Smithsonian Gardens. The Garden is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. usbg.gov.

Chakaia Booker, Acid Rain, 2001 rubber tires and wood overall: 10 x 20 x 3 (120 x 240 x 36 in.) National Museum of Women in the Arts. Photo: Lee Stalsworth

Portrait of Jimi Hendrix oil on canvas by the Swedish artist Tommy Tallstig.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen at the Hirshhorn

From April 4 to Jan. 3, 2027, the Hirshhorn Museum presents Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen, a landmark exhibition of new and recent paintings as well as a single-channel video work in the Museum’s second-floor inner-ring galleries. Pendleton is known for his visually distinct and conceptually rigorous paintings that he begins on paper with drips, splatters, sprays, geometric shapes, words and phrases, and inky fragments reminiscent of broken letters. He photographs these initial compositions and then layers them using a screen-printing process, purposefully blurring the distinctions between the act of painting, the act of drawing and the act of photography. hirshhorn.si.edu.

Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show at Spooky Action

Written during the darkest days of Stalin’s reign, and banned for decades, Bulgakov’s funny, devilish, brilliant satire The Master and Margarita became a literary phenomenon with a cult following. In this new musical retelling, a band of dissident rock musicians (or perhaps the demonic retinue of Satan himself) visit 1930s Moscow to expose social climbers, bureaucrats, and profiteers. The Master–an idealistic writer working on a novel about Christ and Pontius Pilate–is silenced and detained in an asylum. Margarita, his collaborator and lover, embarks on a journey through heaven and hell to save him and his manuscript. Professor Woland’s Black Magic Rock Show is at Spooky Action Theater, 1810 16th St. NW, from March 20 to April 13. Tickets are $15 to $55. spookyaction.org.

DC Cocktail Festival at Union Market

On Saturday, March 29, sample 15 crafted cocktails from DC’s best bars and restaurants at Dock5 at Union Market. All craft cocktail tastings are included in your ticket. They believe in responsible alcohol service. To sample the cocktail tastings, you will be provided with a tasting card that you can use to redeem for each of the 15 cocktail samples. You have a choice between VIP tickets and GA tickets. General admission sessions ($39) are 1 to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. VIP tickets get you in an extra hour earlier than GA ($55). dccocktailfestival.com.

Worship of Shri Nathji Paintingca. 1700 India, Rajasthan state, Bikaner Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper H x W (overall): 18.8 × 26.7 cm (7 3/8 × 10 1/2 in) Credit: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection—funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art, S2018.1.47

Delighting Krishna: Paintings of the Child-God

Imagine a god who appears to you as a mischievous child—you dance together in meadows, play with him, and gift him fruits and flowers. This may give you an idea of how the Hindu Pushtimarg community engages with the divine. They seek to delight and care for the child-god Krishna, and in return, they receive joy and spiritual insight. Delighting Krishna delves into the emotions and philosophy of the Pushtimarg tradition and the ingenuity of its artists. For the first time since the 1970s, these fourteen pichwais from the National Museum of Asian Art’s collections are on view from March 15 to Aug. 24. These paintings are literally larger than life, averaging about eight by eight feet in size. Awash with color and brimming with joy, these artworks themselves invite delight. asia.si.edu.

For his first solo exhibition in Washington DC, Adam Pendleton highlights his unique contributions to contemporary American painting while making use of the architecture of the Museum and the history of the National Mall.

George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners at Wolf Trap

From the opening notes of “Cissy Strut,” George Porter Jr.’s basslines are unmistakable. As a founding member of seminal funk band The Meters, Porter melded syncopated polyrhythms and grooves inherited from New Orleans’ African musical roots. Now the music legend takes The Barns stage with his longtime band, the Runnin’ Pardners, performing classic Meters tunes plus songs from their highly acclaimed album Crying For Hope that are sure to make you move. $48. George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners are at the Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA, on Friday, March 28, 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). wolftrap.org.

Washington DC Travel & Adventure Show

On Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 30, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., get ready to pack your bags and make the first stop on your next vacation the Washington DC Travel & Adventure Show at the Washington Convention Center. Discover thousands of the newest vacation options from the top destinations from around the globe and meet the experts who are on-hand to help you personalize and book your trip. The top names in travel are all ready to teach you how to travel like a pro on three on-the-show-floor theaters. Advance sale tickets are $16 to $23 for adults 17 and over. Children 16 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. travelshows.com/shows/washingtondc.

The Stylistics at the Birchmere

The Stylistics are an American Philadelphia soul group that achieved their greatest chart success in the 1970s. All of their hits were ballads characterized by the falsetto of Russell Thompkins Jr. During the early 1970s, the group had twelve consecutive R&B top ten hits, including “Stop, Look, Listen”, “You Are Everything”, “Betcha by Golly, Wow”, “I’m Stone in Love with You”, “Break Up to Make Up” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New”, which earned them five gold singles and three gold albums. Tickets are $69.50. The stylistics are at the Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria VA, on Sunday, March 16, 7:30 p.m. birchmere.com.

The Stylistics at the Ford Amphitheater in Coney Island, 2019.

(World Premiere) #Charlottesville at Keegan

#Charlottesville at Keegan is a tour-de-force performance about the power of witnessing, constructed from interviews with residents of Charlottesville impacted by events surrounding 2017’s “Unite the Right” rally and counterprotests. Award-winning performance artist, Priyanka Shetty, was away that August and could only decipher the trauma through Twitter. She returns to interview, assessing the personal toll, while following up from recent trials of the co-conspirators. Tickets are $44 to $54. #Charlottesville is at the Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW, from March 22 to April 13. keegantheatre.com.

Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital

Since 1993, DCEFF has been the premier showcase of environmental films. Each March, they bring the world’s largest green film festival to museums, embassies, universities, and other cultural institutions across Washington DC. In addition to the many thousands of audience members they serve with their in-person programming, DCEFF offers year-round virtual screenings to passionate and environmentally conscious viewers across the United States and the world. Search and watch at dceff.org/watchnow. The DCEFF 2025 festival dates are March 20 to 29. Look for their schedule at dceff.org/festival.

The American Southwest, directed by Ben Masters, screening Saturday, March 22, 7 p.m. at the US Navy Memorial.

George Porter, Jr.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 51-2025

HCVP PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Office of the Executive Director (OED) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide HCVP Professional Consulting Services for its Housing Choice Voucher Program.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available Monday, March 03, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?

company_id=506

To access files Vendors are required to Register on the Housing Agency marketplace. See registration link below.

https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html? company_id=506

PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, March 17, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.

Email Jasmin Travis, Procurement Specialist (OAS) at Jtravis@ dchousing.org for additional information.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 08-2025

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR JUDICIARY HOUSE

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Office of Asset Management (OAM) requires licensed, qualified professionals to provide Property Management Services for Judiciary House for this solicitation.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, March 03, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at: https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506

Respondents will then need to log in and locate this RFP for all related documents. It is the Proposers responsibility to check the Housing Agency Marketplace site regularly to stay current on the documents that are available as this is the primary communication site for this RFP.

To access files Vendors are required to Register on the Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below.

https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506

DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.

PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Friday, March 28, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.

Email Abdul Karim Farooqi, Procurement Specialist (OAS) at afarooqi@ dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

neighborhood news

Building the Dream

Wacif’s Anacostia Arts Center is getting a makeover. Meet the team working to make it happen.

by Matthew McClure

Everyone East of the River is talking about the redevelopment of the Anacostia Arts Center. In February, the Washington Area Community Investment Fund (Wacif) – the owners of the center since late 2021 – made public the dream team of architects, builders and advisors they’ve assembled to expand, improve and enhance this vital community resource. This talented group of diverse creatives has tangible connections to and experience in working with communities east of the Anacostia River, crucial in a neighborhood where trust, inclusiveness and transparency are the foundations of doing business. Let’s meet everyone involved.

Shannan Herbert, CEO of Wacif

Shannan Herbert joined Wacif as CEO in April last year. You’d recognize her and Messay Derebe (general director of the Arts

Center) if you’ve attended any of the Arts Center’s many exhibitions, panel discussions or festivals.

Before joining Wacif, Herbert used innovative technology and experience in community development financial institutions, or CDFIs, as she sought to equalize opportunities for those systemically excluded from financial support (traditionally women and people of color).

“What we’re doing at the center is enhancing the services that we already offer,” Herbert declares. The history of Anacostia and the Arts Center guides her plans for supportive incubators of the city’s innovative thinkers and makers. “We have people that have started and want to start businesses. They need a community of educators, a community that wraps its arms around them and a community that gives back. We want to make sure people feel whole and stable and seen.”

mit to anything concrete before final plans are unveiled later this year, but she does want to retain the ethos of the Arts Center as a launchpad “for growth and continued development and a valuable benefit to the community that we serve.”

Derebe says that three iterations of community engagement sessions have been held to ensure that partners have input in the redevelopment. “Last year we did seven focus groups representing every stakeholder that’s served by the Arts Center,” she explains. “That’s not only informing the actual physical development but more importantly what happens in the building once it’s complete.”

Herbert doesn’t want to com-

Jimmie Drummond III, Principal of Drummond Projects

Jimmie Drummond founded Drummond Projects during his junior year at Howard University. His talented team of design practitioners – primarily women and people of color –tackles ingrained social and economic injustices in the built environment through innovative architecture.

“We celebrate the history while

inspiring the future,” Drummond says. “Almost 100% of our projects are for small, minority-owned businesses.” With both his mother and his father immersed in social improvement (the former in healthcare technology and health policy and the latter in missionary work), you might even say it’s in his blood.

Drummond is the first African American to earn master’s degrees in architecture and lighting design from Parsons School of Design. Drummond and his team have worked on residential and commercial projects all over the city, including in Anacostia where he bought his first house. “It’s historically where the African American professional can do well. Doctors, lawyers, even politicians; it’s a safe space.” Monumental figures in African

Wacif CEO Shannan Herbert at the Anacostia Arts Center. Photo: Courtesy Wacif

The Drummond Projects team. Photo: Stephen Miller

American history – Frederick Douglass, Roy Donahue Peebles ‒ have communicated their success through Anacostia’s architecture, a legacy that Drummond is hoping to tap into. “The architectural vernacular was a way of showing a certain middle and upper class. Our approach is understanding that we need to have a sensitivity in retaining and restoring but also engaging with a transparency that permeates into the street. We want people walking by the Arts Center to feel a part of the energy. We’re studying color, light, furniture systems. The storefront needs to act as a podium.”

Brunson Cooper, President and Founder of Corenic Construction

Just like Jimmie Drummond, building shared community spaces is part of Brunson Cooper’s heritage. “My mother’s side of the family is a lot of carpenters and builders of churches back in Georgetown, South Carolina.” Cooper still has an old carpentry manual he inherited from his granduncle. “My mom would say it came to me naturally,” he smiles. “We bring to life what an architect puts on paper. It’s in my blood to do this.”

Cooper founded Corenic Construction in 2009. Since then, he’s been building communities from the ground up throughout the DMV. The Anacostia Starbucks Opportunity Cafe and the

beautiful Shady Glen Fire and EMS building in Prince George’s County, Maryland, are part of his portfolio, in addition to Friendship Public Charter School on Minnesota Avenue and a small manufacturing space for a local beauty retailer on Benning Road in Ward 7.

“Small incubators grow big companies. I started out in one myself,” Cooper says. “We’re trying to bridge the gap and support the opportunities that entrepreneurship provides. It’s important that the small businesses within the community we’re building in are part of the project.”

Ralph Bell, Principal of Beltway East

Growing up in a working-class Maryland neighborhood being slowly drained of its resources made Ralph Bell want to understand why bad decisions are made that a ect vulnerable communities the most. “I grew up in PG County but I had plenty of family throughout the east of the city. A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to do owner’s representation and development consulting, but I wanted to do it in the places where I came from.”

Bell founded Beltway East ‒ a real estate development and advisory rm –so that he could position his 20 years of experience at the nexus of conversations between architects, construction companies and property owners to ensure that

Messay Derebe, director of the Anacostia Arts Center, and project consultants Ralph Bell, Jimmie Drummond, Micheal Johns, Ian Walker and Lolade Frankel at a planning meeting. Photo: Courtesy Wacif

developments best serve the people that use them.

“We like to turn place into space,” Bell explains. He’s just wrapped up consultation on Dreaming Out Loud, a community-supported agriculture initiative only a few steps from the Arts Center, where he’ll soon be spending a lot of his time. “My job is to represent the owner through the process of development and construction; to help them be more ecient. I want to make sure nothing is missing in their experience.”

What Do Anacostia Arts Center Tenants Think?

Tonya Chappell is co-founder of Chappell’s Cleaning Services. She’s been running her commercial and residential cleaning business from the Arts Center’s entrepreneurship support hub – the Hive ‒ for three years. Because the Hive is located within a HUBZone as designated by the Small Business Administration, it means Chappell can bid competitively for DC government contracts as a certi ed business enterprise, something she wouldn’t have been able to do before securing o ce space at the Arts Center. “The Hive is our primary location and it’s served us well. We’ve been able to expand our certi cations and grow our business.”

What would Chappell like to see in an enhanced Arts Center? “I think it’s a hidden jewel. It’s a great location in a great space, and it can be even more attractive for our clientele that are visiting. I’ve seen momentum in the space since the change in management. More people are using the facility and we’ve noticed the activity.” She thinks Lunch and Learn sessions (where entrepreneurs get to meet each other and leverage their skills, experiences and contacts) would “provide the opportunity to collaborate and to be advocates for people that share the same space.”

Join Wacif for the Anacostia Arts Center’s Dreaming and Building Together Series, a collaborative forum where everyone, from neighbors to tenants to members of the public, can have their say on how the renewed Anacostia Arts Center looks and functions. Search for the Anacostia Arts Center on Eventbrite to check dates and times for the next installment in the series. ◆

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Mayor Says NFL Stadium

Fastest Route to RFK Development What We Know About Plans for RFK Campus

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Mayor Muriel Bowser made it clear at a Feb. 13 night meeting that she seeks an NFL Stadium at RFK Campus as the anchor for development of the 177-acre site, setting the stage for extensive debate particularly around the question of who would pay.

The two-hour meeting was held in the auditorium of Eastern High School (1700 E. Capitol St. NE), the 1400-seats nearly filled.

Plans

Bowser said that District control of the RFK site came after a 13-year effort that culminated at the right moment. “We haven’t always been able to say we have the right partner in the Washington football team, but that’s changed,” she said.

There are not yet concept drawings of a stadium, Bowser said. “The charge that we would give any architect that works with us is that this stadium will be on the monumental axis in the nation’s capital that’s built on the L’Enfant plan,” the mayor said. “It has to be big, not big in terms of size, but the vision of it.”

Bowser asserted that the fastest way to develop the RFK Campus with all potential amenities is to anchor it with an NFL stadium. She pointed to Whole Foods at Walter Reed, the Anthem at The Wharf and the District-built hospital at St. Elizabeth East.

The Mayor said planning is in very preliminary stages. The city is thinking about what kind of investments the District would be willing to make. Other considerations include park uses and how to deliver commercial, residential and entertainment offerings.

Right now, Bowser said, thinking is that the stadium would occupy 20-25 acres on the campus, with additional space for parking garages, she said. When asked, she would not hypothesize on how many acres parking might require. Both Bowser and Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder (D), who spearheaded the meeting, assured

attendees that they were in conversation with WMATA about potential improvements and additions to metro at the site.

A youth sportsplex first proposed and funded by the mayor in 2022 was still in the plans, she said, although funding had subsequently been voted out of the budget in 2024 and would have to be reallocated.

The Commanders, she said, had other choices in the region. But she repeated her belief that the District has the best site, a site at the center of the region well-served by transit and where the Commanders have a winning history.

At this moment, Bowser argued, the District had the opportunity to shape a vision at RFK, a vision that she has discussed since “day one.”

“In my very first swearing-in speech,” Bowser said, “I said we will have a Super Bowl in Washington, DC.”

What the Commanders Said

The Washington Commanders did not attend the meeting at Eastern. But, Commissioner Ebony Payne (7D05) told the crowd at a Friends of Kingman Park (FOKP) meeting held earlier in February that she had spoken with representatives of the Washington Commanders. She was told the Commanders were planning for a 65,000 person “superdome” style stadium with parking for about 10-12,000 vehicles. About 75 percent would be in garages with limited surface parking lots. The team had a site plan, a map indicating what type of development would go where on

the campus, but no concept designs or drawings.

Two retail zones were indicated on the campus map, one near the metro entrance, according to information representatives conveyed to the commissioner. Another located near the water was indicated as including market rate housing. The area currently north of the fields was slated to include affordable housing. No numbers were mentioned.

The Fields at RFK remain on plans for the site made by the Commanders, a commitment echoed by Bowser and welcomed by most attendees. But it isn’t exactly a concession. The Congressional legislation passed at the end of 2024 that granted DC new terms under a 99-year lease requires that 42 acres be maintained as parks and open space for active outdoor recreation. The 27-acre Fields at RFK go a long way to fulfilling that requirement.

DC Vault Coach Ed Luthy at a Feb. 4 FOKP meeting. He also appeared at the Feb. 13 meeting, bringing a slew of youth in DC Vault garb. Photo: E.O’Gorek/CCN

Who Will Pay

At the Feb. 13 meeting, activist Adam Eidinger noted that stadiums typically take about $1 billion of public money. “Will you commit to not o ering a subsidy?” he asked Bowser. “No,” Bowser said.

One Ward 6 resident thanked the mayor for getting control of the site but then questioned how development would be paid for, particularly opposing public funding for a stadium. “What I’m wondering is, how much taxpayer money do we have to invest in the stadium before we restore circulator bus service, before we are able to have the roads clear of ice and snow on a regular basis, and trash collection?” he asked, before walking away from the mic stand.

Questions

While The Fields at RFK were included on the plan, no other community recreational facilities were sketched in for the campus. Many attendees at the Eastern meeting were concerned with the fate of youth sports at RFK. Ed Luthy, Director of DC Vault, a pole vault training site adjacent to RFK Campus, lined the front row of the auditorium with youth in DC Vault apparel. Luthy brought four of his youth champions with him to the microphone, asking that youth sport like his and the nearby Maloof Skateboard Park not get displaced by development.

Bowser said that her team and representatives with the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development (DMPED) would sit down with the groups. “We want to understand your needs,” she said.

Another resident asked if the mayor would commit that plans for development at RFK would be consistent with District law passed in 2022 requiring that new buildings nanced or owned by the DC government adhere to net zero energy standards and not use fossil fuel energy. “We’re not at that level of planning,” Bowser said.

Felder has said this is the rst of multiple community meetings as the project gets o the ground. The Councilmember has launched a survey asking Ward 7 residents what they want to see on the site: www.surveymonkey.com/r/RFKsite

DC also has a new website on the RFK development: ourrfk.dc.gov ◆

Meet Your New Ward 7 Councilmember

Felder and Staff Gear Up with Emphasis on Communication, Development and Service

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder (D) took office in January, winning a 10-way race to succeed incumbent and former District Mayor Vincent Gray. Felder, a fourth-generation Washingtonian and the second of nine children, grew up in public housing, graduating from McKinley Tech High School before earning a B.S. from Bowie State and then an M.A. from Georgetown.

Felder, who will turn 34 later this year, is a former Chair of the Ward 7 Democrats and a four-time advisory neighborhood commissioner who last served as chair for ANC 7D. During his campaign he managed the unifying feat of earning endorsements from the last two Ward 7 councilmembers, Gray and Yvette Alexander, as well as incumbents in Ward 2, 5 and 8. Gray is one of three mayors to support Felder, who also earned support from former Mayor Anthony Williams. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) did not directly endorse Felder, but Marvin Bowser was present as Felder launched his campaign in December 2023.

Many say it was the door-knocking that really made the difference. Felder campaigned in Ward 7 neighborhoods from Mayfair to Hill East, Hillcrest and Penn Branch.

He’s new to the office but has served for more than a decade in government. Felder started in the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services (MOCRs), then worked as deputy chief of staff to the DC Office of the City Administrator (OCA) before moving to community development manager in the Office for the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). Economic development and constituent services are two themes he carries forward into his first term.

Priorities

Felder said he’s spent his first month as councilmember building a team and systems to serve residents effectively. “My goal has been to create an office that is efficient, accessible and responsive to the needs of our community,” he said.

His office has developed a 100-day plan focused on four key areas: infrastructure, constituent services, communications and legislative priorities. The first two priorities provide clear processes and ensure that systems are in place to serve residents efficiently and address concerns. The team is also working on strategies to keep the community informed and engaged.

Felder is identifying key policy priorities and laying the groundwork for meaningful change. “As we move forward, I am committed to tackling some of the most pressing issues facing our community,” Felder said, identifying public safety, equitable economic growth, affordable housing and expanding homeownership as at the top of his legislative agenda.

Small and minority-owned businesses are another key priority, he added, to ensure that local entrepreneurs have the resources and opportunities to thrive. His office will also focus on improving neighborhood schools and expanding adult learning programs to increase access to education and career pathways.

Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder.

Community Engagement

Perhaps unsurprisingly given Felder’s own background as a MOCR staffer, community engagement is at the heart of his work. As the performance oversight and budget season begins, his office will host listening sessions to hear concerns and priorities directly from residents. “This is a crucial time to secure funding and investments that will directly benefit our community,” Felder said. “Our success depends on working together, and I want to hear from residents, business owners, faith leaders, seniors and youth to ensure that the work we do reflects the true needs of Ward 7.”

His office is crafting a community engagement plan that will be refined once a communications director is appointed.

Felder said he will implement his campaign promise to establish advisory councils and task forces that will help inform and guide the work, ensuring the office connects with the community.

Councils will include:

• Educ ational Task Force: focused on improving educational opportunities and resources for youth.

• Economic Advisory Council: tasked with advising about business development and economic growth.

• Youth Advisory Council: giving young people a place to discuss issues directly affecting them.

• Ward 7 Leadership Council: bringing together community leaders and influencers to guide and advise on major initiatives.

Felder will also establish affinity groups to ensure that key voices are heard and engaged in meaningful ways. These groups will include:

• Faith-Based Leaders Council: leaders from local churches, mosques and other faith institutions to help strengthen community outreach, provide social support and advocate for policies that uplift our residents.

• Returning Citizens Advisory Group: a platform for formerly incarcerated individuals to voice their needs and challenges while helping shape reentry programs, workforce initiatives and housing policies toward successful reintegration.

• Senior Advocacy Group: for seniors to discuss key concerns such as health-

Meet the Ward 7 Team

Delia Houseal, Chief of Staff

Marshall Heights resident Delia Houseal is an environmentalist and herbalist who finds joy in exploring nature, learning about plants and advocating for a healthier, more sustainable world. “I believe Ward 7 is rich with potential and opportunity,” Houseal said, “and I am honored to play a role in helping our community grow, thrive and reach its fullest potential.”

Mary Tanyoue, Special Assistant/Scheduler

Mary Tanyoue will serve as Councilmember Felder’s special assistant and scheduler. “I’m very excited to work for the residents of Ward 7 and make the community a better place!” Tanyoue declared.

L.J. Chavis, Legislative Director

L. J. Chavis, the legislative director, said he has dedicated himself to the rule of law and public service since he arrived in DC. “I look to do the same for Ward 7 residents by supporting Councilmember Felder in his advocacy and legislative agenda,” Chavis said.

Lawrence Davin, Constituent Services Director

Capital View native Lawrence Davin attended school in Ward 7 and returned after college to teach middle school, “driven by a passion for education and community impact.” As director of constituent services for Councilmember Felder, he is dedicated to advocating for residents and strengthening the community. In his free time, Davin enjoys visiting Kenilworth Park and attending National Symphony Orchestra concerts.

Francis Campbell, Constituent Services Coordinator

A third-generation Washingtonian and a 46-year resident of Burke Street SE, with five sons and a wife of 46 years, Campbell has a background as a registered/certified respiratory therapist. He served 12 years as an advisory neighborhood commissioner and ANC Planning & Zoning chair and was also constituent services coordinator for former Councilmember Vincent C. Gray. “Now I am committed to continuing my service to Ward 7 residents under Councilmember Wendell Felder,” Campbell said, “working to fulfill and enhance his vision for our community.”

Louis Sawyer, Outreach Specialist

Louis Sawyer Jr. will provide specialized outreach services to key stakeholders in Ward 7. He said his motto for the workplace and beyond can be found in Colossians 3:23-24: “… for which many believe, and I believe, that I have been designed for this work by Almighty God.” He declared, “I am very passionate with respect to the assignment entrusted to me.”

Delia Houseal, chief of staff to Councilmember Felder.

Councilmember Felder’s special assistant and scheduler, Mary Tanyoue.

Felder’s legislative director, L.J. Chavis.

Ward 7’s outreach specialist, Louis Sawyer.

Ward 7’s constituent services director, Lawrence Davin.

Francis Campbell, Ward 7’s constituent services coordinator.

Photos: Courtesy Office of Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder

care, transportation and aging-inplace services while ensuring they remain active participants in the civic life of Ward 7.

Building Community and Aiding Advocacy

Felder wants to improve social cohesion and create positive interactions among Ward 7 residents. His office will host annual community events that celebrate diversity, build relationships across neighborhoods and create spaces for residents to come together. Those might be cultural festivals, neighborhood cleanups, resource fairs or intergenerational gatherings, Felder said. “These events will provide opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and unity,” he explained.

His office will also educate and empower residents to become strong community advocates by providing training on civic engagement, government processes and grassroots organizing. This, he said, will help ensure all voices in Ward 7 are valued and that the councilmember’s policies and initiatives accurately reflect the community. It’s needed now, Felder said, because “as we head into budget season, it’s clear that this year will be particularly tight.”

Budget Priorities

The DC Council will need to make tough decisions about what to fund in FY2026. “This is especially difficult because Ward 7 has lacked the investment it needs to truly thrive,” Felder said. Felder wants to be sure the council is prioritizing things that are most important to constituents in this budget. He’s asked ANC members, civic association leaders and other community representatives to submit budget requests and created a budget survey for residents.

But he’s looking at the long view, too, preparing a five-year budget plan that will help address the funding needs across the ward. “If something can’t be funded this year, perhaps we can aim for Year 2 or Year 3,” Felder stated.

That means prioritizing dollars in areas that have been underfunded. There are parks and recreation centers in Ward 7 that haven’t been upgraded in over a decade, Felder noted, and stalled projects like Capitol Gateway.

Communication remains key around what is probably the biggest question he’s asked so far: What will happen at RFK Stadium? “The redevelopment of the RFK site will be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a true anchor in our community,” Felder explained. He’s hoping the project will drive big change in the ward. Felder has not publicly voiced a stance on what he thinks should be there, saying throughout the election that he needed to hear from the community first. His office is administering a survey to gather community input on what they want to see at the site. “We encourage all residents to take the survey and make their voices heard,” Felder said.

Take the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/RFKsite. See Councilmember Felder’s committees and get contact info at www.dccouncil.gov/council/ward7-councilmember-wendell-felder. u

Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder (D) won a 10-way race with a neighborhood door-knocking campaign.

ANC 7D Report

Kenilworth Swing Space Sparks Construction Concerns

by Sarah Payne

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met Feb. 11 via Zoom. Commissioners Artilie Wright (7D03), Ebony Payne (7D05), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09) and Dev Myers (7D10, secretary) were in attendance. Commissioners Mike Davis (7D04, vice chair) and Marc Friend (7D06) were absent. Single Member Districts 7D01 and 7D02 are currently vacant.

Swing space is a facility used to ”temporarily house a school community” while buildings undergo construction to ensure the continuity of education and school programming, according to the agency’s website. DCPS’s Kenilworth Elementary’s swing space is located at 1300 44th St. NE.

The renovations began in 2021, and DCPS expected to complete the project in August 2025. A presentation on the DCPS website detailed remaining work including excavation, foundation installation, roofing, flooring, painting and more.

DCPS has requested permission from the Dept. of Buildings (DOB) to extend working hours on the project, citing concerns about completing the project on schedule. DCPS is seeking a letter of support from the commission for the afterhours work permit. The project team has been in communication with the commission to “share information” and seek support for their application, Chair Alcorn said.

The construction plans for the site, and the impact it would have on nearby residents, have raised eyebrows, said neighbor Denise Issac. In addition to noise concerns from the extended hours, Issac emphasized that contractor parking on nearby residential streets could make egress from the neighborhood difficult, impacting elderly residents.

“They put a whole design together,

reached out to the commission and never spoke to any resident in the neighborhood,” Issac stated.

Alcorn said the commission will serve to “help facilitate and share information, amplify or be part of the discussions,” but noted that these conversations were still in their “preliminary” stages and that the commission is “not set to take any action” on this matter.

Other Matters

DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Community Engagement Manager

Chris Dyer briefed the commission on the upcoming summer camp registration process. All District residents are invited to register children ages three through 13 for this year’s programming. Camps will take place from June through August across four sessions: session one ( June 23 through July 3), session two (July 7 through July 18), session three (July 21 through Aug. 1) and session four (Aug. 4 through Aug. 15). The lottery will remain open through March 3.

Visit dpr.dc.gov to learn more about DPR’s year round and summer programming.

The commission voted to:

• request DDOT conduct a Kenilworth road safety study and design audit.

• write to DC government stakeholder agencies to request a feasibility study to install closed circuit TV (CCTV) on the I-295 pedestrian bridges to improve safety.

ANC 7D will meet next on March 14 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. You can learn more about the commission and register to attend at 7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1.

Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u

ANC 8F Report

Final Two Phases of Riverfront PUD Go Residential

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 8F met both in-person at 250 M St. SE and online via Zoom Feb. 18. On the dias were Commissioners Nic Wilson (8F01), Markita Bryant (8F02), Brian Strege (8F03) and Edward Daniels (6/8F04) and Liam Goodwin (6/8F05).

Developers MRP Realty and Florida Rock applying to the Zoning Commission (ZC) for two modifications of significance to a project approved in 2017 as they finish the final two phases of the Riverfront Planned Unit Development (PUD) project at 25 Potomac Ave. SE. The first two buildings, Dock 79 and The Maren, opened in 2020. The two new buildings will be built between the Maren and the New Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge (FDMB).

The applicant requires a modification of significance for the change in use as well as approval of the design.

Originally planned as a hotel and of-

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

fice building, the project has been converted to residential and retail. Each will be 130 feet high with 590 residential units total, 59 of them affordable. Framing on the buildings is white, echoing the bridge.

The site plan features a significant amount of open space, including a permanent dog park accessible to all as well as green space internal and accessible to all, a key feature of the community benefits.

The FDMB will sit slightly over the dog park, which due to grading will sit partially over the entrance to the parking garage. There will be about 6,300 square feet of retail. A new riverfront promenade will span the rivers’ edge reaching from Diamond Teague Park east over to the bridge. Amenities spaces will be primarily along the street sides, but a retail pavilion will be part of this riverwalk. The switch to residential is expected to require fewer vehicular trips than the hotel and office use. About 380 parking spots are expected, with 50 allocated to retail, about .6 spots per unit.

Concept design showing the final two buildings to be constructed as part of the Riverfront PUD at 25 Potomac Ave. SE. The buildings will be residential, rather than for hotel and office uses. Image: MRP Realty/Florida Rock, Screenshot: ANC 8F/Zoom

Commissioners appreciated the developer’s dedication to open and green space. They also praised their commitment to pets,. The project will provide interim space for continued use as a dog park during construction.

Incident at Courtyard Marriott

First District Commander Colin Hall reported on a shooting at the Courtyard Marriott Navy Yard (140 L St. SE). Describing it as “unfortunate [and] kind of shocking,” Hall said that the incident took place during a birthday party for a 14-yearold. Some of the juvenile attendees at that party ran into another teenager at the nearby CVS. The two groups had previous acrimonious interactions, Hall said. The birthday party attendees fled back to the hotel, where they were staying with a parent, followed by the other teenager.

That teenager tried to get the party group to come out and fight with them until he was chased away by area security. But he returned later with a gun as the party attendees were in the lobby of the hotel. Unable to gain entry, Hall said, the youth shot the glass in the door, above the door and an interior wall. Hall said the suspect is a resident of the neighborhood. The youth is known to police and there is video of the incident, so officers are just trying to locate the suspect, he said.

Hall said that the hotel has a security officer who works 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and so was not yet on duty. But the secured entrance to the lobby did work, Hall said, noting that the incident took place on a busy Saturday night and saying the fobenabled entry probably prevented more casualties. In response to a question from Commissioner Bryant, Hall said the youth division will follow up with Child Family Services and the school, including conflict resolution services. Commissioners suggested that MPD and the ANC meet with Marriott management, which Hall welcomed, suggesting the BID as another attendee.

Other Public Safety Updates

Commander Hall said there was a murder in a sixth-floor unit of the Park Riverside (1011 First St. SE). The case was closed by arrest. It was a domestic inci-

dent in which an argument between a father and son escalated to the point where the son shot and killed his father.

Captain Adam Crist continued the public safety report by noting a second homicide on the 900 block of M Street SE in front of Domino’s Pizza. Crist said that there are good images of suspects from surveillance.

Crist also warned attendees that robberies of high-end jackets by brands such as Canada Goose and Moose Knuckles re trending citywide. He encouraged folks to some way tag or label the items to make it easier to identify.

Office of Tenant Advocate Relocates

Nicole McEntee appeared on behalf of the Office of Tenant Advocate (OTA), an independent agency of the DC Government that provides tenants with assistance in dealing with landlords, helping them to form tenant associations. McEntee encouraged tenants in Navy Yard that are having issues with management or who have questions about their rights or the legality of various actions to contact OTA. The office relocated at the end of December to 899 North Capitol St. NE, a block north of Union Station.

The ANC voted to:

Send a letter supporting the National Petal Palooza Festival, unanimously except for Daniels abstaining for professional reasons. The festival is scheduled to take place at Yards and Diamond Teague Park on Saturday, April 5 from 1 to 9 p.m. with fireworks to conclude.

Send a letter to area residential property managers, the Capitol BID and MPD asking them to work together to deal with an escalating problem with pet waste in public space. Commissioners will outreach to buildings and get a sense of maintenance and enforcement, working to identify problem spaces and ways to address concerns.

ANC 8F generally meets on the third Tuesday of the month with the exception of August. The next meeting is scheduled for March 25. See the full calendar of meetings and instructions to join at anc8f.org. u

Virtual Login: https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/82241895770? pwd=30xgxP1oqOWhDHUuXw1vbrC1rYieSe.1 and enter password: anc7d Representing the Capitol Hill/Hill East, Eastland Gardens, Kenilworth, Kingman Park, Mayfair, Parkside, River Terrace and Rosedale

Brian Alcorn, Chairperson 7D08 – Capitol Hill 7d08@anc.dc.gov

Mike Davis, Vice-Chair 7D04 – River Terrace 7d04@anc.dc.gov

Brett Astmann, Treasurer 7D07 – Rosedale 7d07@anc.dc.gov

Dev Myers, Secretary 7D10 – Hill East 7d10@anc.dc.gov

Artilie Wright 7D03 – Parkside 7d03@anc.dc.gov

Ebony Payne 7D05 – Kingman Park 7d05@anc.dc.gov

Marc Friend 7D06 – Rosedale 7d06@anc.dc.gov

Ashley Schapitl 7D09 – Hill East 7d09@anc.dc.gov

/ bulletin board

Visitors dance in the East Building during National Gallery Nights.

National Gallery Nights Return

National Gallery Nights, a free, after-hours program, returns to the National Gallery of Art East Building this spring. Visitors are invited to join on the second Thursday of March, April and May (March 13, April 10, and May 6), from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Registration is available through a lottery system, which opens on Monday at 10:00 a.m. and closes on Thursday at noon the week before each event. Lottery entrants will be noti ed on Friday. Limited walk-up passes, available at the East Building entrance before each event, will be distributed rst-come, rst-served starting at 5:30 p.m. Light fare, gelato, and beverages, including beer, wine and specialty cocktails, will be available for purchase throughout the East Building, in the Cascade Cafe, Terrace Cafe and Espresso & Gelato Bar. www.nga.gov

Colors and Canvas: Free Adult Art Therapy Program at Anacostia Library

On Thursdays, starting on March 20, from 5 to 7 p.m., visit the Anacostia Library, 1800 Marion Barry Ave. SE, for a fun and unique way to unwind and express creativity. A selection of coloring sheets, colored pencils and markers will be available. Open to adults. www.dclibrary.org

Anacostia River Festival (Save the Date)

The 2025 Anacostia River Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 17, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. SE.

Oxon Run Pinknic & Kite Fly

Join the National Cherry Blossom Festival at Oxon Run Park, Valley and Wheeler Rd. SE, in Ward 8, for the annual Oxon Run Pinknic & Kite Fly on April 6, noon to 3 p.m. The event o ers kite programming, entertainment and more in coordination with the Blossom Kite Festival. www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

Environmental Film Festival Film Screening: “Rooted”

Faced with the lack of fresh produce in a South Carolina food desert, Germaine Jenkins dedicated 10 years to creating an urban farm on an empty city lot. “Rooted” embarks on an intimate journey alongside Germaine, a Black mother of two, resolute in her quest to own the land she farms, a critical step in establishing stability for her community and sowing generational wealth for her family. The screening of “Rooted” at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, is part of the Environmental Film Festival on Saturday, March 22, 1 to 3 p.m. www.anacostia.si.edu

Sunset Cinema Movie Night at Francis A. Gregory Library

On Thursdays, 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., visit the Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE, for Sunset Cinema movie night. Bring friends and family and enjoy a relaxing evening. www.dclibrary.org

Free Walk-In Legal Clinic at Bellevue Library

Are you a survivor of domestic violence? The caregiver of an abused, neglected or abandoned child? An immigrant eeing violence? Do you need help with your protection order, divorce or custody issues? Every Friday the DC Volunteer Lawyers Project o ers free legal assistance via a walk-in clinic at the Bellevue Library, 115 Atlantic St. SW, from 10:30 a. m. to 1:30 p.m. Conversations are con dential; virtual or phone appointments. For more information, visit www.DCVLP.org or call 202-425-7573. To request a reasonable accommodation for this program, contact DCPLaccess@dc.gov or call 202-727-2142.

DC Creative Affairs Of ce Counseling Services

Care for Creatives is a partnership between the DC Creative A airs O ce (www. creativea airsdc.com/partnerships) and the George Washington University, Community Counseling Services Center (CCSC) to provide pay-what-you-can mental health services to area creatives. Creatives who reach out to the CCSC will be matched with a clinical intern to support them through a solution-oriented therapy approach. All services are con dential and provided via telehealth and in person near the Foggy Bottom Metro stop. To receive care, visit www.communitycounseling.gsehd.gwu.edu/services/care-for-creatives

DC Reverse Mortgage Insurance and Tax Payment Program

The nonpro t organization Housing Counseling Services accepts applications for REMIT, the DC Housing Finance Agency’s Reverse Mortgage Insurance

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership i city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust

DC Open Doors

homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia

homebuyer or a D.C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust homebuyer or a D.C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia

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

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

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

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

DC4ME

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees.

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

COVID-19

DC4ME is offered to current fulltime District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower’s employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.

COVID-19

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

COVID-19

Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health at St. Elizabeths East

Mayor Bowser has announced that the new Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center GW Health on the St. Elizabeths East campus, 1200 Pecan St. SE, will open on April 15. The hospital is part of the District’s partnership with Universal Health Services to create a comprehensive and integrated system of care for communities East of the River and all DC residents. The $434.4 million project provides a 136-bed (expandable to 184), full-service hospital, with maternal health and delivery including a Level II NICU, a trauma center, an ambulatory pavilion for physician o ces, clinics, a 500-car parking garage and a helipad for emergency transport. Universal Health Services will operate and maintain the hospital for 75 years as well as invest $75 million in healthcare infrastructure in Wards 7 and 8. The mayor announced the opening date at a celebration of the renaming of the Entertainment and Sports Arena to CareFirst Arena. As part of the renaming, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) announced a 10-year partnership with Events DC that commits $2 million to programming on the St. Elizabeths East campus for workforce development, maternal health and food insecurity. www.cedarhillregional.com

and Tax Payment Program. DC homeowners who have a reverse mortgage and are at risk of foreclosure may receive up to $40,000 to pay delinquent property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and homeowner association or condo association fees. Income limits apply. To determine quali cation call the Foreclosure Prevention Hotline at 202-265-2255.

Annual

DC Central Kitchen Cafe Day

On Thursday, March 13, with support from o cial partner Monumental Sports & Entertainment, DC Central Kitchen will celebrate the third annual DC Central Kitchen Cafe Day. This citywide event marks six years of an innovative, job-train-

ing cafe model. During the day, all three DC Central Kitchen Cafe locations will offer $1 any-size drip co ee and $2 strawberry lemonade, as well as free samples from DCCK’s kitchen and several partnering social enterprises. Cafe Day locations are Marianne’s by DC Central Kitchen, 901 G St. NW, which opens at 9:30 a.m.; DCCK Cafe at the Klein Center, 2121 First St. NW, which opens at 7:30 p.m.; DCCK Cafe at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, East Building, which opens at 8 a.m. www.dccentralkitchen.org

Picture This! Free Professional Headshots at SW Library

Professional headshots can be a great way to connect with potential employers and

clients, whether you use them on networking sites, your own website or other professional media. On Saturday, March 22, 1 to 3 p.m., grab an appointment with local photographer Krista Boccio ‒ Rebel with a View ‒to get a professional headshot at the Southwest Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW. Arrive photo-ready with makeup and clothing you wish to be photographed in. Photography will take place indoors. Sessions are limited and will last approximately 10 minutes each. Sessions are o ered on a rst-come, rst-served basis. Participants must provide a valid email address. www. dclibrary.org

Fireworks at Nats Park

Fireworks return to the ballpark with three postgame Friday night reworks on April 19, May 3 and Sept. 13, and a special Freedom Fireworks show presented by Budweiser to celebrate the Fourth of July on July 3. www.mlb.com/nationals

Capital Art Book Fair at Eastern Market

The annual Capital Art Book Fair brings together publishers, artists, collectors and art enthusiasts to showcase and celebrate the world of art books. Artists, publishers and independent bookmakers exhibit and sell art-related publications, which can include artist monographs, exhibition catalogs, zines, photography books, graphic novels and other printed materials that double as ne art. The Capital Art Book Fair is at Eastern Market’s North Hall, 225 Seventh St. SE, on April 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission www.artbookfair.eastcityart.com

The District’s Sketch Comedy Festival

DC Sketchfest is DC’s only sketch comedy festival and features 36 comedy troupes from the US and Canada, for four days only from March 26 to 29, at The DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St. NW. A sketch is a short, fully scripted comedy scene, the same thing as on Saturday Night Live. The organizers welcome performers of all types, ranging from veteran sketch troupes to newcomers. General admission tickets are $15. DC Sketchfest is organized by the

DC sketch comedy community. www.dcsketchfest.com

Friends of the National Arboretum Flowering 5K

On Sunday, March 23, at 8:30 a.m., enjoy spring at the US National Arboretum during Friends of the National Arboretum’s Flowering 5K. This run or walk takes you

Lost History: The Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy in Old Anacostia Tour

For generations following the escape of John Wilkes Booth from Washington City up Good Hope Road SE, conspiracy chatter lingered about the neighborhood’s connections to the plot to assassinate President Lincoln. On Friday, April 11, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., learn about the lost history and unknown relationships of key conspirators in a walking tour o ered by local historian, reporter and tour guide John Muller. The tour meets at the Visitor’s Center of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE. Wear walking shoes; total travel is 2.5 miles. Parts of the tour are not accessible for people with mobility issues. Questions and photography are encouraged throughout the tour. Tickets are $15 to $20, plus fees. This tour repeats on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 11:30 a.m. Find this and other tours at Lost History Associates via www.eventbrite.com/Lost History Associates.

Carte de visite of John Wilkes Booth.

past garden collections brightly colored with spring owers, over tree-lined rolling hills and along streams winding their way to the Anacostia River. All roads are closed to vehicles during the race. Registration is $40 to $55. Kids under 13 are free. T-shirts are available while supplies last. www.fona.org/events_programs

The Abraham Lincoln Institute Symposium at Ford’s

At Ford’s Theatre on Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Abraham Lincoln Institute and Ford’s Theatre Society present a free symposium focused on the life and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln. The speakers are Hilary Green, “Unforgettable Sacri ce: How Black Communities Remembered the Civil War”; Jon Grinspan, “Wide Awake: The Forgotten Force that Elected Lincoln and Spurred the Civil War”; Manisha Sinha, “The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic, 18601920”; Harold Holzer, “Brought Forth on This Continent: Abraham Lincoln and American Immigration”; Michael Vorenberg, “Lincoln’s Peace: The Struggle to End the Civil War”; and Allen Guelzo, “Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment.” Book signings will take place in the theatre lobby throughout the day. Free general admission tickets are required: www. my.fords.org/11592. fords.org.

The Carlos Chavez Choir: Call

for Male Voices

The Carlos Chavez Choir, turning one year after its debut at the Mexican Cultural Institute, seeks male voices. If interested, contact info.corocarloschavez@gmail.com.

Annual Diversity Employment Day Career Fair

The DC area’s 25th Annual Diversity Employment Day Career Fair is on Wednesday, April 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Doubletree Hilton, Crystal City, 300 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, Virginia. Register and schedule inperson meetings with recruiters at www.citycareerfair.com/ dc or register by email when you send your resume to Fasttrack@citycareerfair.com.

NPS Seeks Public Comment on the Tidal Basin

The Tidal Basin is an engineering feat and a key feature of West Potomac Park. The National Park Service is developing a concept plan and environmental assessment for the basin’s long-term management, focusing on transportation, conservation, tree preservation, protection of natural and cultural resources, visitor experience, recreation, infrastructure, security and more. Visit the project website at www.parkplanning.nps.gov/tidalbasinDCP to

Watch the Blooms Live on #BLOOMCAM

#BloomCam, brought to you by the Trust for the National Mall, in partnership with the National Park Service and Earthcam, is a live, 24/7, real-time view of the cherry trees lining the Tidal Basin. Positioned on the Salamander Washington DC rooftop, #BloomCam o ers year-round views of the cherry trees and their seasonal changes. www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/bloom-watch

learn more and share your ideas through March 19.

Help Shape DC Public Library’s New Behavior Guidelines

DC Public Library seeks community input as it updates its rules of behavior. DCPL is connecting with customers via a survey, focus groups and pop-up interviews at neighborhood libraries. Feedback from all stakeholders will be reviewed and considered alongside nationwide best practices and targeted community needs. Complete the survey at www. dclibrary.org/help-shapedc-public-librarys-newbehavior-guidelines.

F1 (Formula One) Arcade Opens at Union Market District

The F1 Arcade, 420 Penn St. NE, is a new simulation racing experience o ering the excitement, drama and glamor of Formula 1. It features full-motion racing simulators, food and a selection of cocktails. Hours are Monday to Wednesday, and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Guests should be at least age seven to race; under 21s are welcome until 7 p.m. www.f1arcade.com/ us/washington-dc

Art Enables Free Saturday Workshops

Art Enables is dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to make, market and earn income from their original artwork. In addition, artists build the skills, relationships and experience necessary for a successful career in the arts. The free program meets on a drop-by basis on select Saturdays each month, at 2204 Rhode Island Ave. NE, any time between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Upcoming Saturday Workshops are March 15, April 12, May 17 and June 28. www.art-enables.org

Wheeler Road SE Safety Project: Public Meeting Announcement

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) invites you to an in-person public meeting for the Wheeler Road Safety Project at True Gospel Tabernacle Baptist Church, 4201 Wheeler Rd. SE, on Thursday, March 13, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Learn about recommendations for the next steps toward a safer, more connected and acces-

sible transportation network. Contact Peyton Manning at peyton@tbaconnects.com with any questions.

SAAM Cherry Blossom Family Celebration

On Saturday, March 22, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., celebrate the season of cherry blossoms with SAAM. Begin the day on the F Street Plaza (weather permitting) with a taiko drumming performance by drumming group Nen Daiko. The program continues inside in the Kogod Courtyard for Japanese pop, boogie, and more with Les The DJ. Enjoy other performances while children (ages 12 and younger) make cherry-blossom themed crafts. A springthemed scavenger hunt through the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s galleries extends the cherry blossom fun. americanart.si.edu.

Do You Have a Notice for the Bulletin Board? If you have an event notice, volunteer opportunities or other community news, send it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. ◆

Opening lap, 2010 Rd.3 Malaysian GP.

east washington life

Theater Night

A curated review of theater in the DMV

by Matthew McClure

It’s a foregone conclusion that William Shakespeare’s work is the be-all and end-all. If all the world’s a stage, then you can never have too much of a good thing and the English playwright’s words are a dish fit for the Gods and a tower of strength in a brave new world. The above sentence is made up almost entirely of phrases coined by Shakespeare which are still in use today. This month’s column is a nod to the enduring legacy of Shakespeare through contemporary works that draw on his oeuvre. We’ve also included another re-imagining of classic material in our Special Mention section.

Catch before Closing

Kunene and the King, Shakespeare Theatre Company Showing thru March 23 www.shakespearetheatre.org

With South Africans seemingly making news headlines for all the wrong reasons recently, what a joy it is to welcome the legendary South African activist, playwright, director and actor Dr. John Kani to American shores for the US debut of his critically acclaimed play Kunene and the King.

Sold out to audiences in England (where it first opened in 2019 at The Royal Shakespeare Company) and South Africa, this version of Kani’s play is brought to the Shakespeare Theatre Company stage in association with Octopus Theatricals, with Ruben Santiago-Hudson in the director’s seat. Written six years ago as a rumination on South Africa’s 25th anniversary of democracy post-Apartheid, Kani’s play is a touchingly funny story of two South Africans from radically different worlds bonding unexpectedly through Shakespeare’s King Lear and the looming specter of death. “I wanted to ask ‘What have we learned, how far have we come in our at -

tempt to create a just, democratic, non-sexist, non-racial society?’ This is my contribution to opening that discussion. Are we better now than we were 30 years ago?” Kani states. Edward Gero plays Jack Morris, an ageing white actor who’s landed the role of a lifetime: Playing King Lear in Shakespeare’s eponymous 17th Century work. Morris also has terminal liver cancer, which precipitates inviting “sister” Lunga Kunene (Kani) into his house as an in-home caregiver.

Kunene and the King, like much of Dr. Kani’s work, is both reflexive and reflective. As a singular contributor to Protest Theater – both through his writing and performances – Kani is no stranger to the racism and brutality of South Africa’s Apartheid regime: Returning home in 1975 after a performance in Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Banzi is Dead, Kani was horrifically attacked by South African police, losing his left eye as a result. Kani’s brother, Wel-

ile, died of liver cancer the same year that Kunene and the King was performed in 2019, with Sir Antony Sher –who passed away only three years later from the same disease —playing Jack. These myriad influences find expression in the play, along with a deep and abiding passion for Shakespeare inculcated from an early age through an isiKhosa translation of King Lear that Kani was taught in high school in 1959. “There’s an old man who’s trying to make sense of his existence who, before he walks past the screen of life, asks if he has left any footprint that can help another traveler reach his destination,” says Kani about the protagonist in Shakespeare’s play, who falls victim to the scheming and machinations of his family and his own hubris. “The choice of King Lear is to discuss cultural differences and cultural points of view. Jack Morris thinks it’s high class and learned for a Black person (Lunga Kunene) to know about Shakespeare, but in return Lunga teaches Jack about humanity.”

Throughout the play, Kunene and Morris challenge each other’s preconceptions by touching on seemingly innocuous idiosyncrasies that will be familiar to South Africans in the audience. Kunene drinks tea from the household’s fine china while serving Morris a beverage in an old enamel mug –a household item stereotypically associated with “the help.” Morris discovers Kunene’s home address in Soweto and visits him unannounced towards the end of the play, a transgressive act in a country still plagued by a legacy of spatial Apartheid that cleaved communities through racialized segregation. “The play wouldn’t work if Jack was an open racist. He has to make a mistake every time he opens his mouth.” Dr. Kani says as he explains how Morris’s latent racism surfaces when he offers Kunene a servant’s room in the back of his property.

Like all great theater, Kani’s play has found renewed signifi -

John Kani and Edward Gero in Kunene in the King at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo: Teresa Castracane.

cance within the current global zeitgeist. At the age of 82, Kani is troubled by a world that’s increasingly polarized. He hopes that Kunene and the King will offer a soothing dose of hope, humility and humor at a time when there are many wounds that need salving. “I’m watching what’s going on around the world. There’s a strange thing that’s happening. We have to take responsibility for our actions and our silence. I know that humanity will be the last victor. We’re going to find each other, see each other, understand and talk to each other. It’s the only way to a better community.”

On Right Now

A Room in the Castle, Folger Theatre Showing March 4 – April 6 www.folger.edu

My love affair with William Shakespeare’s Ophelia began as a young boy, watching a flame-haired Kate Winslet swan around Elsinore Castle in Kenneth Branagh’s epic four-hour film adaptation of Hamlet, a tragic tale of madness, unrequited love and grasping power. Even then, I knew there had to be more to this character, and it turns out I was right.

There’s no shortage of alternative universes inhabited by Polonius’s daughter and Prince Hamlet’s fleeting love interest. Jür -

gen Vsych’s Ophelia Learns to Swim, Ed Gass-Donnelly’s Dying Like Ophelia and Claire McCarthy’s Ophelia are all creative tributes to one of only two women (the other is Queen Gertrude) to grace the pages of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Now, thanks to Lauren Gunderson, there’s another.

Gunderson, touted by American Theatre Magazine as the Most Produced Living Playwright, is no stranger to the Bard’s plays. She’s used Shakespeare as source material for her works The Taming and Toil and Trouble and this month she’ll bring Ophelia, Queen Gertrude and Ophelia’s handmaid Anna to the Folger Theatre stage in collaboration with the Cincinnati Theatre Company in A Room in the Castle. The title is a wink to Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own (a meditation on feminine expression, liberty and creativity in a world dominated by patriarchy) which should give you a hint of what’s to come. With director Kaja Dunn at the helm and Sabrina Lynne Sawyer as Ophelia, Oneika Phillips as Queen Gertrude and Burgess Byrd as Anna, the ‘Women of Hamlet’ are given full, unapologetic and vivacious life in Gunderson’s augmentation of this classic story.

If you love music, there’s plenty of soulrousing melodies on offer, Gunderson says. “Since Ophelia is often singing in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, it felt like a natural exten-

sion to make her into a little Taylor Swift in her room trying to come up with a love song.” Ophelia’s inspirational melodies are a rich counterpoint to Hamlet’s madness, explains Gunderson, and Queen Gertrude and Anna are in on the act. “Ophelia is the unsung song. Her song is a confession but then becomes a performance and a generative inspiration to keep going. It felt very resonant with what Shakespeare gave us and who this character is, like a handshake between Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the extension and augmentation that this”. Through toe-tapping lyrics, the audience gets to travel with Ophelia on an alternative journey that doesn’t end in a watery grave as per Shakespeare’s original penning.

With the Folger Shakespeare Library and Theatre mere steps away from a nexus of power now largely dominated by men, there’s a beautiful synchronicity to A Room in the Castle being given space to speak its message to DMV audiences at this moment. Don’t miss it.

Special Mention

Poppea, IN Series

Showing March 14 – March 30 www.inseries.org

Poppea, the last and possibly greatest operatic work by the Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi, comes roaring back to life through a contemporary infusion of Southern Indian Bharatanatyam dance in the last of IN Series’ Monteverdi trilogy. Indian-Canadian choreographer Hari Krishnan, stage and musical director Timothy Nelson and a host of uber talented vocal artists – accompanied by IN Series’ INnovatio Orchestra – will fire up stages at Dupont Underground, St. Mark’s Capitol Hill and Baltimore Theatre Project commencing on the first night of the Hindu Festival of Holi and running till the end of March. u

Sabrina Lynne Sawyer, Burgess Byrd and Oneika Phillips in A Room in the Castle at the Folger. Photo: Mikki Schaffner.

Image: Show art for Poppea by PLUNKERT.

The Old Man from Anacostia The President Is a Real Drag

by Philip Pannell

The goal of Donald Trump’s advancing authoritarianism is to put his mark on every aspect of American life. Nothing will escape his narcissistic quest to make sure that every American will be reminded daily that he is our president-king. Not even arts, culture or the environment will be immune. He has announced that he intends to “beautify” the District of Columbia, which includes removing “graffiti.” Do not be surprised when the Black Lives Matter Plaza is whited out.

He has announced a plan for a national park with statues of “greatest Americans.” I would not be surprised if monuments to cuddly confederates like Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis are erected in Anacostia Park.

Like other authoritarians, he has demonized certain minorities. Among those targeted by the Nazis were Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, communists and socialists. Trump’s targets for fear and hatred include transgendered people and drag performers. According to statisticians, transgenders at the most may constitute less than 1% of our nation’s population. But Trump would have us believe that all public restroom and female athletic teams are being invaded by transgenders. To him they are such a danger to national security that he issued an executive order to ban them from the military. According to campaign finance reports, Trump and his MAGA Republicans spent $215 million in anti-trans advertisements in the 2024 elections.

Obviously the economy and international affairs are not enough to keep Trump busy. So, he managed to become the chairman of the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for

the Performing Arts and proclaimed that there would be “no more drag shows.”

Cross-dressing has been an acceptable form of entertainment throughout history. During the time of William Shakespeare, men played the female roles, and there are gender-bending characters in several of his plays. The highly stylized kabuki theater emerged in 16th century Japan and includes cross-dressing.

Joan of Arc dressed as a man to accompany French soldiers in battle. Her attire, a matter of practicality, led to her being burned at the stake for heresy.

Trump’s intolerant and ignorant attitude toward drag means that Flip Wilson’s Geraldine, Martin Lawrence’s Sheneneh and Tyler Perry’s Medea would never be permitted to grace the stage of the Kennedy Center while he is in charge.

This June, the DC LGBTQ community will cele -

brate the 50th anniversary of its Pride Parade. Also, WorldPride will be celebrated from May 17 to June 8, and two million celebrants are expected. Pesidents Biden and Obama lit up the White House in rainbow colors in celebration of Pride. Don’t expect Trump to join the celebration this year. Probably the only thing that will be lit up in his White House will be his face in a rage that drag queens will be marching in the streets. Will his Proud Boys show up to make America straight again? Will Trump need more pens to sign more pardons?

Practically every other day, Trump issues some mean-spirited executive order. Will his obsession with transgenders and drag queens lead him to issue an order outlawing the quintessential drag celebration, Halloween? Is he having nightmares that the ghost of DEI Past may knock on the White House door? Is he haunted by the specter of a male with better makeup impersonating Melania? Or does the ultimate transvestite terror of a trick-or-treating lesbian costumed as the 47th president have him in a cold sweat? Trump’s authoritarian impulses and policies not only threaten the diverse cultural fabric of American society, they are also a real drag.

Long-time Ward 8 community activist Philip Pannell can be contacted at philippannell@comcast.net. u

kids & family

Blossom Kite Festival

On Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., (rain date, March 30), on the Washington Monument Grounds, join in the fun with soaring activities, music, competitions, and performances. Kite enthusiasts, beginners, families and friends are all welcome. Get ready to enjoy kite demonstrations and competitions, arts & crafts, and so much more. To y a kite in the Adult Kitemakers Competition or Youth Kitemakers Competition, competitors must register either online in advance or at the Registration Tent on the day of the event. Registration for all competitions will remain open until spaces are lled, or the competition begins. Winners of each category will receive a prize. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/ event/blossom-kite-festival.

WILD Nature Play Time with the ACM

Presented as a pilot program by the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, the WILD Nature Play Club meets on the rst Saturday of every month, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, where kids can explore the half-mile loop trail right next to the museum. Kids can enjoy unstructured play time in nature as well as a child-directed hike through the George Washington Carver Nature Trail. At the end of the hike, the participants will gather for a story and nature activity then head back to the museum. Come prepared for the weather—rain or shine—and bring an extra pair of clothes, closed-toe shoes, water, and a snack. Reserve a spot at anacostia.si.edu/events.

Bloomaroo at the Wharf

by Kathleen Donner

Bloomaroo at The Wharf, on Saturday, March 29, 4 to 9 p.m., is a free family-friendly event. Take the kids by the Kids Craft Zone on Recreation Pier for activities including koi kite decorating, a haiku creation station, balloon artists, face painting and more. Fireworks at 8:30 p.m. wharfdc.com/bloomaroo.

Upcoming King Bullfrog Happy Hours at Hill Center

On Fridays, April 4, May 9 and June 6, 5 to 7 p.m., bring the family to Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, to enjoy an evening lled with live music perfect for all ages. These concerts are outdoors and perfect for little ones to run, dance, laugh, and play to the beat of their favorite songs. With their musical stories, amusing wordplay, and close attention to all their audiences, they’re the hottest sensation in family music in the DC area. Adult tickets are $7; $14 for kids. Children under two do not need a ticket. Beer, wine and pizza for sale. hillcenterdc.org.

Petalpalooza at Capitol Riverfront

On Saturday, April 5, 1 to 9 p.m., at Capitol Riverfront Navy Yard, celebrate spring at Petalpalooza, for a full day of live music and engaging activities. This day-long all-ages celebration brings art, music, and play to multiple outdoor stages, interactive art installations, a cashless beverage garden, family-friendly hands-on activities, roaming entertainers, and more, all along the banks of the Anacostia River. The evening is capped by the dazzling choreographed O cial National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks show set to music starting at 8:30 p.m. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/event/petalpalooza.

The Cherry Blossom Kids Run

The Cherry Blossom Kids Run is on Saturday, April 5 at 11 a.m. at Freedom Plaza. It is for children ages four to ten. Packet pick-up for registered participants takes place on Friday, April 4 inside the National Building Museum between 2 and 7:45 p.m., and on Saturday, April 5, between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the registration tent in Freedom Plaza. No times or places will be kept. The $15 fee Includes t-shirt and nisher medal. cherryblossom.org/pre-race/events/kids-run.

NMAAHC’s North Star: A Digital Journey of African American History

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture presents an educational website that will provide a variety of learning activities designed to share African American history using the museum’s collection. The “North Star: A Digital Journey of African American History” website is designed for the discovery and creative use of Smithsonian’s digital collections and tools by educators and students in grades six through twelve. This site gives students and educators access to more than 35 digital education curricula that will share an overview of American history through the African American lens. The North Star digital journey exposes users to themes, people and moments in history, with units such as Slavery in Colonial America, The Civil War, The Black Arts Movement and the Modern Civil Rights Movement. nmaahc.si.edu/learn/digital-learning/north-star. ◆

This craft was made during the program and used during the interactive story time.

PK3 - 5th Grade

School Features: Open Houses:

FRI, MARCH 7th

10 AM – 12 PM FRI, MARCH 28th

5 PM – 6:30 PM

SCAN HERE LEARN MORE & RSVP:

SMALL CLASS SIZE: Customized learning experience.

DREAM TIME: Weekly exploration of interests, dreams, & passions.

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING: Bonding through Crew Time.

www.idreampcs.org 2220 Branch Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) Office of Capital Construction & Design (CCD) and Office Administrative Services (OAS) require licensed, qualified professionals to provide Data Analysis and Management, CRM Integration, and Process Improvement services.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, March 3, 2025, and can be found on Housing Agency Marketplace at:

https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506

To access files Vendors are required to Register on the Housing Agency marketplace. See the registration link below.

https://ha.internationaleprocurement.com/requests.html?company_id=506

DCHA will provide either a live or pre-recorded demonstration for any vendors unfamiliar with the platform.

PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Monday, March 24, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.

Please email LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod, Contract Specialist at LMMCLEOD@dchousing.org for additional information.

LEE MONTESSORI PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO PROCURE AND INSTALL PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

Lee Montessori Public Charter School is seeking proposals to procure and install playground equipment at their East End campus, located at 2345 R Street SE.

Proposals are due no later than March 17th at 4:00pm ET. Applications must be submitted electronically to joshua@leemontessori.org and lesley@conroylandscape.com

For a full copy of the RFP, additional information, or questions, please contact:

17 leemontessori.org

CROSSWORD

by Myles Mellor

Across:

1. 2nd letter addendum

4. Beautician, at times

8. Kunis of Hollywood

12. Like a lemon

18. Easier than stick-shift

21. Andes’ tubers

22. Reno state

23. Stevie Wonder’s 7

25. There are seven of them, goes with 44 across

26. Collaborate

27. Bleat of a goat

28. One side of a vote

29. Saxon starter

34. Letter-shaped workbench groove

38. Corp. bigwig

40. Thin paper

44. See 25 across

45. Small fasteners

49. UK TV

50. More infrequent

51. Biblical prophet

53. Tuba note?

54. Chop down

55. Williams of “Ugly Betty”

57. Similar to a web

59. ____ gow poker

61. End of the year month, for short

62. Poorly

64. More than unpopular

65. Page of music

67. Counting calories

71. Greek letters

72. Western remade in 2016

76. Jazzman Saunders

77. Cold symptom

78. Mubarak’s predecessor

79. Put together

81. Internet addresses

82. E.R. workers

85. “Murders in the ___Morgue”

86. Onslaught

88. Japanese grill

91. Hair

94. Leafy drink

95. It gets a pedi

98. Spring sound

100. On target

101. Out for the night

103. Short pastoral piece

104. Kind of student

106. Blockhead

107. Marina sights

109. Inventor Nikola

110. “Sorry if ___ you down”

113. Run in front of U

115. Defaulter’s comeuppance

119. At sixes and ____

122. Temporary star

129. Lay it on

130. S.A. ancient

131. Craftiest

132. Maxima makers

133. Attention getting sound

134. Prompts unpleasantly

135. Figures

Down:

1. Bribes, with “off”

2. Chop ___

3. Ollie’s partner in old comedy

4. Old German currency

5. Chinese basketball giant

6. Spider is one

7. Thorax protector

8. Dark syrup

9. Hosp. area

10. In perscriptions, milk

11. Pump

12. What’s more

13. B follower

14. Chekhov’s first play

15. Early 20th-century art movement

16. Futilely

17. Small islands

19. Free Willys

20. NYC transport

24. “Who __?”: Saints fans’ chant

30. “All Songs Considered” network

31. Substance

32. Old Italian money

33. Incessantly

35. Actress, Minnelli

36. Common tip jar item

37. Sound of reproach

38. Algonquian speaker

39. Serious grime

40. Gov. health org.

41. Berlioz’s “Les nuits d’___”

42. Vane dir.

43. Kind of diagram

46. Defamatory phrase

47. Hire

48. Outbuildings

52. Coastal features

56. Speak derisively

58. Feeding stage of insects

59. Spanish chef’s concoction

60. Bank letters

62. Suffix with chlor-

63. Vietnam War Memorial designer

65. Relating to a word sequence

66. Enkindle

68. Nothing at all

69. Biting

70. Russian empresses

72. Strains

73. Barely beat

74. No ___, ands or buts

75. Dean’s e-mail address ender

76. Mazda convertible

80. Stringed musical instruments

83. Catches red-handed

84. Joplin of ragtime fame

87. Beheads

88. “Hey!”

89. Abuse

90. Bring on board

91. Game played in “Crazy Rich Asians”, ___ Jongg

92. Choose

93. Local fund-raising grp.

96. Parker part

97. Big fuss

99. Grissom’s first name, on “CSI”

102. Cafeteria-goers

105. Decorated, on a French menu

108. Fig. in identity theft

110. “The heat ___!”

111. Pants maker Strauss

112. Nights before

114. N.F.L. stats

116. Pristine plot

117. Coin across the border

118. More scraps

120. Confidentiality agreement, for short

121. Father’s pride

122. Not guzzle

123. Low-ranking U.S.N. officer

124. Venture capitalists, abbr.

125. Redheaded doll

126. Legislator’s cry

127. Jokester

128. Approves