East of the River Magazine – November 2022 by Capital Community News

NOVEMBER 2022

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE N OVEMBER 2022 N E X T I S S U E : D E C E M B E R 10

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 16

Development from the Grassroots Up: Ward 8 Community Economic Development (W8CED) Collects Data to Direct Growth by Elizabeth O’Gorek

What to Know About Voting in the 2022 General Election: What’s On the Ballot, Where to Go, and When You’ll Get Results by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Support Pours In For Eastern Marching Band: $190,000 Donated in Response to WaPo Article by Elizabeth O’Gorek

IN EVERY ISSUE 04 46 47

What’s on Washington The Crossword The Classifieds

The Old Man of Anacostia: I Hate Guns by Philip Pannell

Changing Hands by Don Denton

The Eastsider: Winter Blues by Leniqua’dominique Jenkins

DC Dream Center Celebrates 5 Years by Elizabeth O’Gorek

KIDS & FAMILY

Our River: The Anacostia – Beautiful Autumn Walks Along Our River by Bill Matuszeski

Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE 34

The Players Lounge at 50: Some Personal Reminisces

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

ON THE COVER: Georgena, from the Players Lounge. See page 34

by Kenneth V. Cummins

Capital Community News, Inc. Publisher of: Capital Community News, Inc. PO Box 15477, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 www.capitalcommunitynews.com www.hillrag.com

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2022 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

STEP AFRIKA’S HOLIDAY STEP SHOW AT ARENA STAGE As the world’s first holiday show highlighting the African American tradition of stepping, Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is a feast for the eyes and ears. Fabulous and furry friends from the Arctic Kingdom—Popper the Penguin and Polo the Polar Bear—along with DJ Nutcracker ensure a fun and exciting experience for the entire family. Step Afrika’s Holiday Step Show is at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, Dec. 9 to 18. Tickets are $56 to $95. Arena Stage also offers their Family Fun Pack for this show—four seats for $130. arenastage.org.

ANNAPOLIS CHOCOLATE BINGE FESTIVAL (THIS ONE’S ALL ABOUT CHOCOLATE!) On Sunday, Dec. 4, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Inner West Street Association brings the popular Annapolis Chocolate Binge Festival to downtown Annapolis for the holidays. The annual festival features family-friendly entertainment, chocolate, holiday shopping, and the festive West Street Holiday Light Canopy. Take a chocolate tour along West Street with chocolate vendors selling various chocolate specialties, including chocolate truffles, caramels, bars, fudge, cookies, cakes, French macarons, cupcakes, pies, brownies, and more. Photo: Anne Weathersby Live music and entertainment starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. as the West Street Holiday Light Canopy lights up. General admission tickets are $5; kids under 12, free; 12, tastings, $10; 24 tastings, $20. The festival is at West Street Calvert and West Street, Annapolis. annapolischocolatebingefestival.com. 04

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HOLIDAY MARKETS Downtown Holiday Market. Nov. 18 to Dec. 23, noon to 8 p.m. This market’s footprint, F Street NW, from Seventh to Ninth, allows for wide aisles for shopping, browsing and enjoying food and live entertainment. downtownholidaymarket.com. White House Historical Association Holiday Book Festival. Nov. 29 to Dec. 3, noon to 2 p.m. Festival will feature book signings, a raffle, and pre-signed books available for purchase. 1610 H St. NW. whitehousehistory.org. Heurich Christmas Market. Dec 2 to 4. 1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW. $10 entrance. heurichhouse.org. Native Art Market. Dec. 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian’s annual Native Art Market features works by more than 35 award-winning and innovative Indigenous artists from the Western Hemisphere. americanindian.si.edu. ABOVE: Downtown Holiday Market operates from Nov. 18 to Dec. 23 – closed Thanksgiving Day and Dec. 5. Photo: Courtesy of Downtown Holiday Market

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THE WAR & TREATY AT SIXTH & I WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Since their start in 2014, The War & Treaty have amassed a following as eclectic as their sound—a bluesy but joyful fusion of Southern soul, gospel, country, and rock-and-roll. The husband-and-wife team of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter continue their journey to the top of the music scene following their latest widely acclaimed release, Hearts Town. The War & Treaty are at Sixth & I, 600 I St. NW, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). $26 in advance; $29 dayof. sixth&i.org.

THANKSGIVING DAY TROT FOR HUNGER 5K This Thanksgiving be part of a time-honored DC tradition at SOME’s (So Others Might Eat) annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5k on Freedom Plaza. This year, join the in-person race on Thanksgiving morning. Race morning check-in is at 8 a.m.; Little Turkey OneMiler is at 9:15 a.m.; 5k waves begin at 9:40 a.m. The race-finisher family-friendly festival with music, activities, tastings and live entertainment is from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. trotforhunger.org. Funds raised from the Trot for Hunger help benefit thousands of our DC neighbors in need, including families and the elderly, by providing much-needed food, housing, access to healthcare, employment training, and long-term comprehensive addiction treatment programs. some.org. Courtesy of SOME (So Others Might Eat)

Courtesy Danielle E. Thomas/Washington National Cathedral. Photo: Pam English

WASHINGTON HARBOUR ICE RINK OPENS FOR SEASON The Washington Harbour Ice Rink on the Georgetown waterfront opens for the season on Friday, Nov. 11. Hours of operation are Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. (Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday hours vary.) Prices are $10 for adults; under 12, seniors and military, $9; skate rental, $7; penguin rental, $10. thewashingtonharbour.com/ice-skating

A SPLENDID LAND: PAINTINGS FROM ROYAL UDAIPUR Around 1700, artists in Udaipur (a court in northwest India) began creating immersive paintings that conveyed the mood of the city’s palaces, lakes, and mountains. These large paintings and their emphasis on lived experience have never been the focus of an exhibition. With dazzling paintings on paper and cloth--many on public view for the first time--A Splendid Land reveals how artists conveyed emotions, depicted places, celebrated water resources, and fostered personal bonds over some two hundred years in the rapidly changing political and cultural landscapes of early modern South Asia. A Splendid Land: Paintings from Royal Udaipur is on exhibition in the Sackler Gallery of the National Museum of Asian Art from Nov. 19 to May 14. asia.si.edu. 06

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“Sunrise in Udaipur,” ca. 1722–23, The City Palace Museum - Udaipur, Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), Udaipur, 2012.20.0015, detail

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

POTTERY ON THE HILL SHOW & SALE “PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS” AT STUDIO Emma is an actress. She is also living with an addiction, and it’s trying to kill her. In rehab, but not ready for recovery, Emma just wants to escape-through drugs, through performing, through anything that lets her make her own reality. David Muse directs his first production in the new Victor Shargai Theatre, a theatrical tour-de-force that evokes the vivid and disorienting world of intoxication and lies as Emma decides whether to fight for her recovery and the people, places, and things she’ll face there. $65 to $95. People, Places and Things is at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW, from Nov. 9 to Dec. 11. studiotheatre.org.

On Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 13, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., see the work of 18 of the best ceramic artists in America at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Pottery on the Hill features functional pottery, all meant to be used in everyday life. Whether you’re looking for a unique holiday or wedding gift, want to decorate your home with one-of-a-kind items like platters, vases, serving bowls or dinnerware, or even just want to upgrade your coffee cup or beer stein, you’ll find an impressive collection of handmade pots at Pottery on the Hill. On Friday, Nov. 11, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., get a first chance to see and purchase the works of their artists. Hors d’oeuvres, wine, and beer included in the ticket price of $35, advance; $40, day of. First 100 people at the door receive a free handmade cup by potter Dan Finnegan. From Nov. 3 to 13, browse the virtual silent auction to benefit Hill Center. hillcenterdc.org.

Photo: Courtesy of The Wharf, Washington DC

VITTORE CARPACCIO: MASTER STORYTELLER OF RENAISSANCE VENICE AT THE NGA

THE DISTRICT’S HOLIDAY BOAT PARADE The District’s Holiday Boat Parade is on Saturday, Dec. 3, 6 to 9 p.m., for the 30th time. Celebrate the holidays with this iconic DC event that features over sixty beautifully decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. Get into the spirit with holiday ornament decorating, family photos with Santa, a fire pit and live music under their 40 ft. lighted Christmas Tree. Here’s the schedule: 7 p.m., boats arrive; 8 p.m., fireworks; 8:15 to 9 p.m., live music on District Pier stage. Best enjoyed from the District Pier. wharfdc.com.

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Vittore Carpaccio, Two Women on a Balcony, c. 1492/1494 oil on panel, overall: 94.5 x 63.5 cm (37 3/16 x 25 in.) Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, Museo Correr, Venice

A leading figure in the art of Renaissance Venice, Vittore Carpaccio (c. 1460/1466–1525/1526) is best known for his large, spectacular narrative paintings that brought sacred history to life. Although for centuries he has been loved and celebrated in his native city for his observant eye, fertile imagination, and storytelling prowess, this exhibition marks the first retrospective of the artist ever held outside Italy. In a focused selection of 45 paintings and 30 drawings, large-scale canvases painted for charitable societies are seen alongside smaller works that originally decorated the homes of prosperous Venetians. National Gallery of Art West Building from Nov. 20 to Feb. 12. nga.gov.

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THE RAINMAKER AT 1ST STAGE Not only is the Curry family farm being devastated by drought, but Lizzie Curry, to the chagrin of her father and brothers, is unmarried with no viable prospects. A charming, confident trickster named Starbuck comes to town and promises to bring rain in exchange for $100, setting off a series of events that enable Lizzie to see herself in a new light. Tickets are $50; $47 for seniors; $15 for students, teachers and military. The Rainmaker is at 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Rd., Tysons, VA, from Nov. 17 to Dec. 11. 1ststage.org.

HARRY CONNICK, JR.: A HOLIDAY CELEBRATION AT THE KC On Monday, Nov. 21, Harry Connick, Jr. invites you the Kennedy Center Concert Hall to celebrate the holidays with him and his band as 2022 draws to a close. One of the most beloved artists performing holiday music, Harry has been thrilling audiences around the world for decades with his definitive take on Christmas classics, as well as his own originals and fan favorites like “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus” and “When My Heart Finds Christmas.” $69 to $229. kennedy-center.org.

Studio of Johannes Vermeer, Girl with a Flute, c. 1669/1675, oil on panel, painted surface: 20 x 17.8 cm (7 7/8 x 7 in.), framed: 39.7 x 37.5 x 5.1 cm (15 5/8 x 14 3/4 x 2 in.) National Gallery of Art, Washington, Widener Collection

VERMEER’S SECRETS AT THE NGA The National Gallery of Art shares groundbreaking new findings about Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675) that are explored in the exhibition Vermeer’s Secrets, which opened on Oct. 8 and closes on Jan. 8. These findings led an interdisciplinary team of curators, conservators, and scientists to determine that the painting Girl with a Flute was made by an associate of Vermeer--not by the Dutch artist himself, as was previously believed. This fascinating exhibition with a lot of scientific detail is in the NGA West Building main floor, near the west end entrance. nga.gov.

INTO THE WOODS AT SIGNATURE Escape into a fantastical fairytale adventure where dreams come true, but not free. A trove of storybook characters’ paths intertwine as they chase their deepest desires through an enchanted forest. However, once they receive their happily ever after, the unintended consequences of granted wishes unravel their worlds. Weaving a euphoric score including the songs “Giants in the Sky,” “On the Steps of the Palace,” “No One Is Alone,” and “Children Will Listen” with a darkly humorous book, Into the Woods is a sophisticated musical twist on beloved childhood fables. Tickets are $40, up. Into the Woods is at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Nov. 8 to Jan. 29. sigtheatre.org.

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AN ITALIAN IMPRESSIONIST IN PARIS: GIUSEPPE DE NITTIS The Phillips Collection, in collaboration with the Pinacoteca Giuseppe De Nittis, the City of Barletta, Italy, and the Puglia Region, has organized the first exhibition in the US devoted to the work of Giuseppe De Nittis (18461884), an Italian painter whose career flourished in Impressionist Paris in the 1870s and 1880s. Although not well known outside of Italy, De Nittis is a central figure to the aesthetic and institutional upheavals of 1870s Paris. His urban scenes of Paris feature innovative arrangements and plein air subjects painted with a detailed realism that depicts a sophisticated and economically booming city. New research is presented in the exhibition about De Nittis’s friendships with Edgar Degas and Edouard Manet. Work from all periods of De Nittis’s career will be featured along with select works by his most important artist friends in Paris. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, from Nov. 12 to Feb. 12. phillipscollection.org. Giuseppe De Nittis, Breakfast in the Garden, 1884, Oil on canvas, 81 x 117 cm, Pinacoteca Giuseppe De Nittis, Barletta

AN EVENING WITH MORRISSEY AT THE ANTHEM Steven Patrick Morrissey, known professionally as Morrissey, is an English singer and songwriter. He came to prominence as the front man and lyricist of rock band the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. Since then, he has pursued a successful solo career. His music is characterized by his baritone voice and distinctive lyrics with themes of emotional isolation, sexual longing, selfdeprecating and dark humor, and anti-establishment stances. Highly influential, Morrissey has been credited as a seminal figure in the emergence of indie rock and Britpop. $55 to $95. Morrissey is at The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW, on Monday. Nov. 28, 8:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). theanthemdc.com.

H HANDEL’S MESSIA L A N O TI AT THE NA CATHEDRAL .; Saturday, Dec.

On Friday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m d Sunday, Dec. 4, 3, noon and 4 p.m.; an National Cathe4 p.m., join Washington and experience ah dral for Handel’s Messi ce as Handel spa a in c ssi this Christmas cla The Cathedral’s would have intended. d Gothic splendor soaring architecture an y other in Washingan offers a venue unlike s work. (On Saturday, ton to experience thi ncert is an abbreviDec. 3, at noon, the co “Messiah” highlights, ated performance of s with young chililie perfect for busy fam up. cathedral.org. dren.) Tickets are $20,

LIMINALITY: A STORY OF REMEMBRANCE

Photo: Nalinee Darmrong

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On Nov. 6 through Jan. 28, the Nicholson Project presents Liminality: A Story of Remembrance, a solo exhibition by Phylicia Ghee. An immersive installation created during Ghee’s time in residence at The Nicholson Project, Liminality: A Story of Remembrance is an ode to the self-taught herbalists, midwives, and root women whose stories are shrouded in the mysteries of Ghee’s personal family history and the history of this country. Incorporating sound, texture, and an apothecary cabinet that feels like walking into the living space of a family matriarch, Ghee transforms gallery into a place that feels sacred, where herbs are hanging and herbal remedies are cultivated, and found objects are interwoven with family stories. The Nicholson Project’s gallery, 2310 Nicholson St. SE, is open Saturdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by appointment. Visitors can meet the artist at the public opening on Nov. 6, 4 to 6 p.m. thenicholsonproject.org/2022-phylicia

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PATTI SMITH: SONGS & STORIES AT SIXTH & I

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

LLOYD BANKS AT THE HOWARD Christopher Charles Lloyd, better known by his stage name Lloyd Banks, is an American rapper. He began his career as a member of East Coast hip hop group G-Unit, alongside childhood friends 50 Cent and Tony Yayo. After the group’s 2003 release of their debut album, Beg for Mercy, Banks released his first solo album—The Hunger for More, in 2004, featuring the top ten hit single “On Fire.” His second studio album, Rotten Apple, was released in 2006. His third studio album, The Hunger for More 2, was released in 2010. Lloyd Banks is at The Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). $40 to $80. thehowardtheatre.com.

Sophie Allison

In 2018, without any plan for what might happen next, visionary writer and performer Patti Smith posted her first Instagram photo: her hand with the simple message: “Hello Everybody!” Known for shooting with a film camera, Smith started posting images from her phone including portraits of her kids, her radiator, her boots, and her cat. Followers felt an immediate affinity with these miniature windows into the world of the National Book Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. With over 365 photographs taking you through a single year, A Book of Days is a new way to experience Smith’s expansive mind. She shares vintage photographs, previously unpublished photos from life on and off the road, and, in intimate daily notations, dispatches from her travels around the world. During this event, Smith will speak about the book and perform a few songs. Patti Smith: Songs & Stories is at Sixth & I on Thursday, Nov. 17, 7 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.). sixthandi.org.

SOCCER MOMMY AT THE 9:30 CLUB Sometimes, Forever cements Sophie Allison’s status as one of the most gifted songwriters making rock music right now. Packed with clever nods to synth-filled subgenres like new wave and goth, the album finds Sophie broadening the borders of her aesthetic without abandoning the unsparing lyricism and addictive melodies that make Soccer Mommy songs so easy to obsess over. Sometimes, Forever is the 24-year-old’s boldest and most aesthetically adventurous work. It’s a fresh peek into the mind of an artist who synthesizes everything--retro sounds, personal tumult, the relatable disorder of modern life--into original music that feels built to last a long time. $30. Soccer Mom Sophie Allison’s is at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, on Sunday, Nov. 13, doors at 7 p.m. 930.com.

AN EVENING WITH PATTERSON HOOD AT CITY WINERY City Winery Washington DC presents An Evening with Patterson Hood (of Drive-By Truckers) live in concert on Friday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.). Patterson Hood is a prolific writer and performer whose character-driven stories are packed with political subtext. He is best known as front man, singer, songwriter and guitar player for the critically acclaimed rock and roll band Drive-By Truckers, but is also a writer of essays, columns and short stories as well as a solo performer and producer. In addition to his work with Drive-By Truckers, Patterson has three solo albums and co-produced or played on additional albums by Jerry Joseph, Bettye LaVette, Booker T. Jones and The Dexateens. $35 to $45. City Winery is at 1350 Okie St. NE. citywinery.com/ washingtondc.

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THE SONGS OF BURT BACHARACH & HAL DAVID AT WOLF TRAP Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s distinctive and riveting take on pop music brought us timeless hits like “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Do You Know The Way to San José,” “Always Something There To Remind Me,” “What The World Needs Now,” and many more. This special evening features an all-star 12-piece band including horns, strings, and some of the DC area’s finest singers including Nikko Atiim Nixon, Anita King, Steve Washington, Lynn Verronneau, Desson Thomson, Deeme Katson, Margot MacDonald, and more recreating the magic and arrangement flourishes found on Bacharach and David’s original records. $27. The Songs of Burt Bacharach & Hal David is at Wolf Trap’s The Barns on Saturday. Nov. 26, 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). wolftrap.org.

Anita King

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neighborhood news

Development from the Grassroots Up

Ward 8 Community Economic Development (W8CED) Collects Data to Direct Growth by Elizabeth O’Gorek

evelopment is coming at a fast pace in Ward 8. Building is underway near the Frederick Douglass Bridge, Congress Heights Metro and St. Elizabeth’s East Campus. Construction on the 11th Street Bridge Project could begin as soon as a team is selected, bringing up to a million visitors a year crossing the Anacostia River into Ward 8. Amidst this flurry of activity, one organization wants residents to have a leading role in the planning happening throughout their community. Mustafa Abdul-Salaam, founder of the Ward 8 Community Economic Development (W8CED), says that residents have formulated a common vision to guide neighborhood renewal. Ab-

W8CED Ambassadors Sora Robinson and Antoinette Cotton collect data at a United Planning Organization (UPO) event. Courtesy: W8CED

W8CED Founder Mustafa Abdul Salaam is committed to helping Ward 8 residents define their community.. Courtesy: W8CED

dul-Salaam, a former managing director with urban venture capital firm Smith Whiley & Company, is part of a leadership team that also includes life coach and activist Dr. LaVerne Adams and community activist and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Jamila White (ANC 8A05). “There’s an opportunity for those who live in Ward 8 right now, particularly those of color, to really define what the community can look like going forward so that everyone can benefit,” Abdul-Salaam said.

Bottom-Up Approach

Community economic development, or CED, is a grassroots approach to local development that is driven by the community’s social, environmental and economic priorities. “From the construction development perspective, people feel helpless, they feel like, ‘I can’t do anything, this is already happening’,” said Dr. Adams. “So this is the time for us to get in and say, hey, look we need to have a voice here in what’s happening in our community.” CED is not all about bricks and mortar either, organizers say. It also means helping current residents get the resources they need to be part of economic success where they live. 16

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This is not a new idea. The Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO) has been working on projects since 1979, most recently in partnership to develop the Skyland town center. In 1988, the Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation (CHCTDC) began with a focus on increasing employability via education before moving into development. The 11th Street Bridge Park project has focused on making the whole community part of growth. And there are more. Grassroots development organizers say they should have a role in development planned in their communities. The Office of the DC Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) said they welcome all voices to the table. “We are committed to delivering projects that the community wants and needs,” said a representative, “and we do that by listening to a diverse group of voices during our RFP [Request for Proposal] processes, comprehensive plan, as well as more local planning efforts.” But Abdul-Salaam says what’s different about W8CED is that it is a model of bottom-up organization unique in the country. “I don’t know any other model in this country that have done this deep of a bottom-up process,” he said. Rather than a government entity coming in to propose solutions to a perceived “problem” in the community, the W8CED process is resident-driven, asset-centered and focused on a holistic list of the needs of the community, organizers say. It’s aimed not at mitigating discreet problems but aimed at creating durable wealth that would move the entire community forward. The group has its origins in a workforce development council formed by former Mayor Marion Barry as Homeland Security began making plans to move their headquarters to St. Elizabeth’s Campus. That council fizzled out, but AbdulSalaam, who was a member, resuscitated the concept, bringing stakeholders together to form a steering committee. In 2021, the Bainum Family Foundation gave W8CED $500,000 to begin data collection. The Foundation invests in children and families with a focus on racial equity, mostly in DC’s Wards 7 and 8.

The Plan

The W8CED collects and collates data they will then put together in a vision document to guide planning and development. The scope is large, but the community is stepping up. Over 2,000 residents have registered to be part of W8CED, Abdul-Salaam said. More than 22 businesses and service providers are part of the steering committee. About 1,500 people attended training sessions W8CED offered on the concept of CED; 50 of those individuals went on to work directly on the project, spending 18 months gathering data, speaking with residents about their priorities and goals for the community. They did this at tabling and outreach events, as well as via phone surveys with residents. Questions focused on their concerns, their sense of wellbeing and the direction they’d like to see the community move. W8CED is also leveraging Streetwyze, an app that allows residents to identify and geolocate community assets and point to places for improvement. After early meetings, W8CED determined 11 subjects of concern, forming subcommittees to focus on each. They held town halls on each subject to talk about what specific recommendations residents have in those fields, their priorities and desired outcomes. They will use that information to help shape long and short-term strategies that are expected to be released later this fall. One part of the plan is a Ward 8-focused community investment fund that will help establish small businesses. Urgent needs include equitable development resources that will help support the businesses already in the community and enrich those to come, such as incubators and support and assistance with technology. The group wants to help more residents become homeowners, prioritizing education and training on credit and credit repair but also down payment assistance as well as funding for maintenance and renovation. They also want to focus on workforce development. Already partnering with the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), W8CED would like to leverage that relationship and foster another with DC Public Schools to provide training for food businesses.

Antoinette Cotton started working with W8CED as a data collector in late 2021. As part of her work, she said she spoke to about 60 senior citizens every month over a period of about six months. A Ward 8 resident for six years, she heard about W8CED on Instagram. A mother of four children in four different schools, she was discouraged at how difficult it was to find resources to help with transportation, education and mental health. She said what is important about the effort is that resident views are being documented and actually acted upon. “If we hadn’t created this for the Ward 8 CED, nobody’s voice would have gotten heard,” Cotton said, noting that many residents told her that they knew services were available but not how to access them. Abdul-Salaam said the goal is for W8CED to become an interest/lobby group with a membership model along the lines of AARP, giving residents a voice and an opportunity for residents that live in underserved communities. He’d like to see expansion to Ward 7 and 5 —to anyone who could benefit from that support. Eventually, says Dr. Adams, they’d like W8CED to become a digital co-op where people can “get in where they fit in.” “Whatever it is that they feel they want out of this [W8CED] plan, they’ll be able to access it through this digital community,” said Adams. The vision is of a place for people to connect and find events. W8CED will act as a master collaborator, bringing together all of the resources that are available so that they can be leveraged towards achieving goals. The plan will be shared with private developers and with District agencies. Change is coming, Abdul-Salaam said, so the W8CED plan is a way of asserting community needs, rather than having outside forces make the decisions. “Being proactive is laying out a plan for the city and developers so that if they want the community’s support, they need to support that agenda,” he said. “It just changes the dynamics in a community like Ward 8 that historically has not had a plan, and therefore they were historically planned upon.” Learn more about W8CED and get involved by visiting www.ward8cedplan. com u E ast

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N o vember 2022

neighborhood news

What to Know About Voting in the 2022 General Election

What’s On the Ballot, Where to Go, and When You’ll Get Results by Elizabeth O’Gorek

DC Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Vote Centers are open Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition to the Early Vote Centers, which remain open, Hill residents can vote at Eastern Market (225 Seventh St. SE, North Hall), Jefferson Middle School Academy (801 Seventh St. SW, Gymnasium); J.O. Wilson Elementary School (660 K St. NE, Multi-Purpose Room); Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol St. NE, Church Hall); Payne Elementary School (1445 C St. SE, Multi-Purpose Room); Stuart-Hobson Midd-le School (410 E St. NE, Gymnasium); Watkins Elementary School (420 12 St. SE, Mul-ti-Purpose Room); Miner Elementary School (601 15 St. NE, Gymnasium). See all vot-ing centers at dcboe.org/ Voters/Where-to-Vote/Election-Day-VoteLocations To vote by mail, you can deposit completed mail ballots in one of 55 drop boxes from Friday, Oct. 14, until 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find a box near you: https://dcboe.org/Voters/Where-to-Vote/Mail-BallotDrop-Boxes. You can mail in your vote via the United States Postal Service (USPS) but it has to be postmarked no later than Nov. 8. Even so, DCBOE will not count mail-in ballots received after Nov. 15.

Here’s what you need to know.

On the Ballot

Voters will elect the Delegate to the House of Representatives, the DC Shadow Rep-resentative, DC Mayor, Attorney General for DC, Chairman of the DC Council, two At-Large Councilmembers, the Ward 6 Councilmember, Ward 6 State Member of the State Board of Education and the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in their Sin-gle Member District. Your ANC and SMDs may have changed due to redistricting. Check your current SMD and ANC here: anc.dc.gov/page/anc2023-anc-and-smd-boundaries Initiative 82 is also on the ballot. If passed, the measure would gradually increase base wage to tipped workers from current $5.05/hour to minimum wage by 2027. The special recall election for ANC 6A04 took place on Oct. 23.

Important Dates • • • •

Ballots Mailed Out: Oct. 3 Drop Boxes: Oct. 14 until Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. In-Person Early Voting: Oct. 31 to Nov. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day Voting: Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How to Vote In Person or By Mail

You can vote early and in person from any voting center no matter where you live. They are open Oct. 31 to Nov. 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. On the Hill, early voting hap-

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When Are Results Available?

A mail ballot drop box on C Street near Payne Elementary School (1445 C St. NE). E.O’Gorek/CCN

pens at Rosedale Recreation Center (Gymnasium, 1701 Gales St. NE), King Green-leaf Recreation Center (201 N St. SW) and Sherwood Recreation Center (640 Tenth St. NE). See the full list at earlyvoting.dcboe.org.

Unofficial election night totals will include ballots received by mail and at ballot boxes by Nov. 7 as well as the ballots cast at Vote Centers. Mail-in ballots will be counted un-til Nov. 15, and totals will be updated on the dcboe.org website. DCBOE does an audit and is expected to certify the results of the election by Nov. 30. Get more info at dcboe.org u

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Support Pours In For Eastern Marching Band $190,000 Donated in Response to WaPo Article by Elizabeth O’Gorek

hristine Mullins knows fall has arrived when she hears the sounds of the Eastern High School Blue and White Marching Machine practicing on the streets outside her Hill home. “It’s hard to explain, but I get emotional every time I hear them and always have to drop everything and come outside to watch,” Mullins said. “I hope they know how much we appreciate them!” Bandmembers might have a sense of the scale of that appreciation now. On the heels of a Washington Post story published Oct. 8, during Eastern’s Homecoming Weekend, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF) received more than $190,000 in donations earmarked for Eastern’s marching band. Band Director James Perry said he was overwhelmed by the support. “I feel extremely blessed. I’m ecstatic,” said Perry. “It’s all about the kids, it benefits them. Whatever can help put a smile on their face, I’m just overwhelmed with the level of support that we’ve received.”

Telling Their Story

Lizzie Johnson is the Washington Post reporter who wrote the story. She moved to the Hill in 2021 from San Francisco. One of the first things she noticed about her new neighborhood was the band music that started outside every afternoon around 4 p.m. Investigating, she discovered Eastern’s marching band at practice. She started watching them as they passed. “They’re just incredible … they just ripple with energy and passion and are so good,” she said. “And I just kept thinking about how unique it was that the neighborhood loves the band and the band loves parading through the neighborhood and how sweet that was.” She said an important part of the story was how the band had done so much with so little. She discovered that the program only gets $6,000 a year from the school system—enough to fund about two bus rides to competitions. In trying to figure out their funding situation she discovered the CHCF, which had given the band a grant in 2019 and started the Campaign for Pride to raise another $90,000 to replace the band’s uniforms. That campaign moved to the margins as CHCF turned to

ABOVE: Eastern’s Blue and White Marching Band leads the Homecoming Parade through the Hill, Oct. 8. Photo: Christine Mullins RIGHT: The Eastern High School Lady Gems Dance Team performs in the homecoming parade Oct. 8. Photo: Christine Mullins.

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meeting needs generated by the COVID pandemic. But Johnson’s article put it front and center when she put a link to the Campaign for Pride in the story, not expecting this kind of response. “I knew they were special just because I’ve been lucky enough to hear them so often, but it was crazy to see how that story resonated with so many people,” she said of the response it generated. “I just could never have imagined.”

Capitol Hill Community Foundation

CHCF President Nicky Cymrot was gardening when her phone started pinging wildly, alerting her to donations. Amazed at the sudden cascade, she sent out queries and found out about the article when a foundation board member sent her the link. Cymrot said the outpouring of support was incredible. “It’s all down to Lizzie Johnson,” she said. “This was beyond belief for me, the power of words and the power of the story.” CHCF Treasurer Stephen Daniels said about half the 2000+ donations came from residents in the District, Maryland or Virginia, but donations came in from almost all the other states. International contributions came in from as far away as Australia. Cymrot said the foundation will help the band create a plan and budget for the money, helping with distribu-

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tion and disbursement of the funds. Founded in 1989, CHCF is a community organization that is usually funded entirely by contributions from Capitol Hill residents and businesses. The foundation uses funds to support activities, projects and groups that enrich the lives of residents and celebrate the history and beauty of the community. Since its founding, CHCF has donated more than $13 million to a broad range of local organizations and projects, giving money to schools, art festivals, non-profit organizations and individual teachers. Capable of responding to needs in real time, CHCF has stepped in to help after emergencies, channeling community support to those most affected by the 2007 fire at Eastern Market and the fire that destroyed Frager’s Hardware in 2013, and funding grants to organizations supporting those impacted by the pandemic in 2020. CHCF has given nearly $95,000 to Eastern High School over the past 11 years, said Daniels. A majority of those funds have gone to support the band, including a 2019 Arnold F. Keller Grant intended to repair instruments, but other grants have helped expand the International Baccalaureate program, fund the e-sports team and pay for theater equipment, educational programming and field trips. Eastern High School celebrates the 100th anniversary of the school building in 2023. CHCF contributed $25,000 to Story of Our Schools (SOOS) which will help students celebrate the anniversary by creating a museum-quality exhibit that tells the school’s story, including a timeline and artifacts. The full cost of the project is $85,000, so Eastern still needs to fundraise to cover the remaining costs of the exhibit, which will be a permanent installation at the school.

About The Eastern Band

Eastern’s Blue and White Marching Machine is grateful for the support of CHCF, Perry said. “They’ve always been a great supporter of the [band],” said band director Perry. “And when this story came out they really jumped on the ball and kept us informed of what we needed to do and how we needed to move—so we’re forever grateful for the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.” The band means a lot to the community, the school and its students, Perry said. “This is my family away from my family,” he said. “We share a bond amongst one another that is unmatched. The things that we discuss here go beyond just music; we talk about mental health, we talk about team building skills, academics,” Perry said. “We’re just really trying to approach this and ensure that we create a fostering environment for these students.” As a testament to the band’s impact, more than 90

percent of its graduating members go on to college. Perry said the funds will open up endless opportunities for the marching band and the students. They can finally get new uniforms and replace broken instruments, some of which are more than twenty years old—far older than the students playing them. The band is one of the most requested in the city, performing from August to July 4th, sometimes four times a week, including at the White House, the National Football Hall of Fame parade, the Teach for America convention, the opening of the Southwest Waterfront Wharf, Washington Capitals Championship Parade and the Hill’s own Fourth of July parade. It’s a lot to take on, Perry said, getting students to the various performances and making sure they have uniforms and instruments in good order —and making sure they eat. Running a band on that scale is costly. With 65 students and support staff, they need two buses for transport, so it costs $2,800-$3,000 to transport the band just within the District. Perry also sold his car in 2019 to help with some of the costs. “The money had to come from somewhere,” he said. A GoFundMe campaign was started to help him replace the vehicle. He said the show of support blew him away. It never occurred to him that someone would start a campaign (https://www.gofundme. com/f/eastern-highs-band-director-mr-perry-carfund) to help get him another. “I’m extremely humbled and appreciative that people thought enough of me to even go that far,” he said. In addition to grants from organizations like CHCF, the band earns money through paid bookings and fundraising, selling popcorn and a lot of donuts. “I have been up early some mornings loading Krispy cremes into U-Hauls,” Perry said, laughing. The Post story set off a cavalcade of donations, but also an influx of performance requests. “I can’t even keep up with the amount of requests that are coming in,” Perry said. An alumni stepped in to function as his administrative aide, helping to respond to the inquiries. Johnson said while she is happy with the response to the story, the real credit goes to the kids in the band. “I think my job is to hold a mirror up to things so people can see them better,” Johnson said. “I just showed what the band was already doing, and it was those kids being so incredible and so passionate about what they did that struck people — I was just the mirror to help them see it.” Donate to the Story of Our Schools 100th Anniversary of Eastern High here: https://www.storyofourschools.org/donate/ You can still donate to the Campaign for Pride, for the school’s marching band, at www.capitolhillcommunityfoundation.com/eastern-high-school ◆

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N O VEMBER 2022

neighborhood news

DC Dream Center Celebrates 5 Years by Elizabeth O’Gorek

ne evening late in August, a stream of people filtered in and out of the DC Dream Center at 2828 Q St. NE. Kids stopped to do arts and crafts, play some basketball in the gym or to take biking classes with volunteers from Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). Meanwhile, adults conversed over barbecue and visited tables with information from local organizations and DC agencies. The DC Dream Center (DCDC) was celebrating five years since the ribbon was cut on the center’s new building that serves the community of Southeast DC, with a particular focus on Ward 7 and 8. The center offers free programs to the community including employment services, after school sessions and after-school camps, one-to-one mentoring, tutoring, exercise classes, Bible studies, “Mom’s Night Out”, weekly prayer breakfasts and bi-monthly luncheons. “Not only was it a celebration of five years of God’s faithfulness, it really was an opportunity to bring together community that, especially due to COVID, really hasn’t had an opportunity to celebrate much in a communal fashion,” said DCDC Executive Director (ED) Ernest Clover.

A Long History in the Community

There are Dream Centers all over the world, from Perth, Australia to Atlanta, GA. Each one provides a specialized response to needs in the community. DCDC Executive Director D Ernest Clover speaks at the August 2022 celebraDCDC’s history actually goes back 26 tion of the DC Dream Center (DCDC) Fifth Anniversary. Photo: DCDC years to the founding of the Southeast White House (SWWH, 2909 Pennsylvania Ave SE) ton from Morrison and Dominick. His team immediately by Sammie Morrison and Scott Dimock. They wanted undertook fundraising, listening to community members to provided community programs and services as part of about their needs. In the end, the Dream Center was built Christian public witness. The SWWH established the to order for many of the programs that SWWH had been mentoring, after school and family support programs as offering for decades, a space open to all District churches well as many of the outreach programs that DCDC confor outreach and programming. tinues today. Founded in the same year, SWWH built a relationship with the National Community Church (NCC) PasA Re-Examination of Purpose tor Mark Batterson. In 2010, NCC began considering a Now DCDC meets community needs as they are identicenter for outreach in the city. Morrison and Dominick, fied. During the pandemic, the Center repurposed from then in their early 70s, had hoped to renovate a buildMarch 2020 to June 2021 to give out over one million ing they owned about a block from SWWH for the same pounds of food, over 64,000 free meals, and over 100,000 purpose but were ready to step back, so they handed the free hygiene and non-perishable items. ministry and the building over to NCC to renovate for urAlthough they never closed, the pandemic forced a ban outreach. pivot in planning at the Dream Center, Cover said. “COClover arrived at the Southeast White VID, just like for a lot of other people, really shook us to House in 2012, starting out as a mentor our foundations,” Clover said. “We had to examine, “why to a 12-year-old student. That’s when the are we doing any of the stuff we’re doing?” opportunity opened up to build out the DCDC identified key guiding principles. Education is new Dream Center. Clover took the bathe first priority, Clover said. A second centers on helping students understand the power of language. A third is “the marketplace of ideas,” wherein DCDC makes space for people of diverse backgrounds to come together and talk. The final but still prominent pillar is economics; DCDC holds job fairs and helps entrepreneurs establish businesses.

Entrepreneurship ABOVE: DCDC’s Drumline group, run by the Washington Arts Rhythm & Drums Project, performs at the block party. Photo: DCDC RIGHT: Children play with balloon art at the party. The Dream Center works to meet community needs, but has a special focus on children and youth. Photo: DCDC

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The center uses each of its programs to facilitate all five principles. For instance, four years ago, DCDC entered a collaboration with Howard University, to provide medication assisted treatment and telehealth to persons with opioid use disorder. Howard was looking for the right person to work in the program.

They found the ideal candidate in the DCDC community, hiring a grandmother with a child in DCDC’s after school program. A former addict now 11 years clean, she is now the peer specialist in Howard’s program at DCDC. Clover said this is just one example of how adults’ lives can be transformed by the Center. “She told me, “I never thought I’d have a job with sick days, holiday pay”,” he recalled her saying. She particularly likes having an office with photos of her family up on the wall, he said. Other opportunities are offered in part through the Community Service Agency Building Futures Program, which helps neighbors get certificates in trades and get jobs in carpentry, plumbing or electrical. Entrepreneurs have started landscaping businesses through SWWH.

People at the Core

DCDC itself has an entrepreneurial spirit, Clover said, working to connect the ecosystem in Wards 7 and 8. Volunteers are the backbone of DCDC. Most volunteers live in the community and walk to the Dream Center and help to build the programs. For instance, it would be impossible to offer computer skills sessions to seniors without people with know-how who are willing to teach others how to download programs, use email and navigate the internet—critical skills especially for the many grandparents raising school-aged children in a time of hybrid learning. He’d like to have a farmer’s market on the property which would work with the goals of education, entrepreneurship and ideas. “All the pieces exist,” Clover said, “it’s just us aggregating them together.”

Changing Lives

DCDC works to affect all those in the community, but there is a special focus on children. The primary vehicle to affect kids, Clover said, is mentor relationships. At the outset of the relationship, Clover said, adults need to have real conversations to find out about the lives children are leading and what they really need as building blocks to their success. For some children, a dream might be spending cash (Contunued on pg. 27) E ast

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neighborhood news

Our River: The Anacostia Beautiful Autumn Walks Along Our River article and photos by Bill Matuszeski

ies is a wasteland under conversion to a modern community of apartments, condos, restaurants and stores. But there is a lot of history here, not all of it glorious. This part of the city has had a long time coming along – from the early farms of freed slaves (of which there is little left to see), to a major coal powerplant (remnants of which are to be made into part of a complex of new apartments). On the north end, on the outer walls of the powerplant storage area next to the stadium are magnificent new painted murals celebrating the citizens from both sides of the bridge. The experience leaves you wanting to search for more before it gets covered over by new construction. And the trees along the water are breaking out in beautiful colors as autumn progresses.

Poplar Point

n July I suggested a series of summer walks that got me a lot of thanks. So this month I decided to set out a similar set of hikes and walks along the Anacostia River; they take advantage of the changing colors of the foliage and the opening up of vistas. Below are five suggested walks along sections of the River in DC. They start near where the Anacostia joins the Potomac and move upstream almost to the Maryland line.

This hike is on the Anacostia side of the River and begins at Poplar Point just north of the Douglass/South Capitol Street bridge. This is a walkway along the River about 100 feet back from the water and along Anacostia Drive, SE, which carries very little traffic, so it is peaceful. What makes it really special is that the Park Service has let the natural vegetation return to the area between you and the River. While there are a few trees, nearly all the rest is natural native plants spreading among themselves and producing a range of flowers, seed pods and leaves that is stunning, especially at this time of the year, when all is going from blossoms to seeds to leaves of many colors. After a quarter mile or so the display is less dramatic, but it comes and goes all the way to the 11th Street Bridge.

Buzzards Point

Anacostia Park

Garden at The Point, a restaurant with a lot of outdoor seating from which to admire the river located at the end of Buzzard Point.

We start with a part along the River you are least likely to have hiked, in part because it is by no means beautiful from one end to the other. But it is undergoing change at an historic rate, and that is why it should be seen and parts appreciated. This is Buzzard Point, an area that starts at the Capitol Hill end of the rebuilt Frederick Douglas Bridge and the new soccer stadium in the north and runs between Fort McNair and the River to a point with a marina, new highrise apartments with fabulous views of the rivers, and an award-winning restaurant called, appropriately, The Point. The area between these northern and southern boundar26

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Up-river on the same side, Anacostia Drive passes under Pennsylvania Avenue and ends in a parking lot at the Skating Pavilion and River Museum. This hike boasts vibrant autumn colors, and the magnificent pedestrian and bicycle bridge that starts there and heads up and over the railroad tracks that have just crossed the River, allowing you to look down on these nearby trees along the water like nowhere else in the area. Once over the bridge there is a short walk in the woods near the water, but not so close that you can’t get away from

Restored natural landscape along the River at Poplar Point.

any one else on the trail and slip down to be alone with the River. The trail eventually passes under East Capitol Street and enters the next walk below.

River Terrace Park

If you are planning a trip with youngsters and want to excite them, River Terrace Park is the place to go! It is on the Anacostia side of the River and begins just south of Benning Road. Or, as noted above, you can add it to a trip over the railroad from the Skating Pavilion. This is a neighborhood park kept in excellent condition with picnic tables, a pavilion and terrific playground with new and interesting equipment. It has a number of colorful trees and vistas over the River and nearshore grasses as well as the open water to the north, which includes the Metro bridge over the River in the distance. It is a place that reminds you of what neighborhood parks and playgrounds used to be like.

Spectacular hiking and biking bridge over the railroad above the Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, a roller skating venue at 1500 Anacostia Dr. SE.

(Contunued from pg. 24) on the food they want, or having a bed —rather than just a mattress— to sleep on. “I always want to bring dreaming to a real-world reality of the here and now,” Clover said, “but never lose sight of speaking prophetically over children.” The Dream Center mentor program is a threeway relationship, Clover said, between mentor and mentee as well as the guardian. The program begins with a year of commitment, at about 10 hours a month. Sometimes, Clover said, it is seemingly simple stuff that makes a big difference for a child’s future. “Dreams do take structure. No one’s really going to have a dream that’s executable without being taught how to build some structure in their lives.” Mentors emphasize what Clover calls “guardrails for life,” including the importance of money management, good grades and doing homework. As they get older, mentors will talk to them about identification and driver’s license and help with obtaining these. The biggest difference between the Dream Center and Big Brothers is the faith component, Clover said; mentors are Christians and will invite mentees to church or to Bible study, although nobody is required to go.

ture filled with trees and other plants from around the world. It is focused on improving species of all types and making them feel at home in a broader set of climate conditions and change. There are many places to visit in the Arboretum that are especially beautiful in autumn. River access and a broad range of trees and plants in autumn colors are best in the Asian Gardens;

River Terrace Park South of Benning Road in Anacostia

Kingman and Heritage Islands

Kingman and Heritage Islands, on the west side of the River across from River Terrace Park, are familiar to folks living on both sides of the River due to access from either the Benning Road bridge or the RFK Stadium parking lot. But both islands Trees Changing Color at the National Arboretum are undergoing change as their invasive species are being replaced by a range of native plants. It is an experiment to see if it is possible to retain a natuif coming by boat there is a dock on the river and gate acral native landscape in the midst of a large city and surcess during open hours. Beyond the Asian Gardens is a rounding suburbs. The result is a reduction in the mass set of River overlooks from the dogwood gardens, with visof vegetation and the emergence of a range of plants with tas opening up and colors appearing as leaves drop and interesting forms and colors. Heritage Island is the first autumn progresses. Other places to look for color and/ stop on the trail from the RFK parking lot and is less travor emerging vistas include Springhouse Run, a recently eled and more intimate. Kingman Island is much largrestored natural stream taking the storm sewer emerging er and more traveled; and only it extends below the East from under New York Avenue and using nature to treat it. Capitol Street bridge. Both are worthy of periodic checkThe new stream is so convincing that is has drawn beains as they change over time with increasing dominance vers to build dams at points along it. of native plants. Other Arboretum sites for fall visits include the

National Arboretum

Finally, the National Arboretum is over 400 acres of na-

Dream with DC

The Center holds fellowship luncheons on the first and third Wednesday of every month and everyone is welcome to attend; the next one is Nov. 16. These meals, beginning at 12:30 p.m., facilitate an environment where people from a variety of backgrounds can come together for fellowship, establishing friendships and building relationships. In the next few weeks, DCDC will begin seasonal outreach. In November, they will prepare Thanksgiving meals to families. Next month, they will open Santa’s Toy Shop, a collection of donated toys where parents are invited to shop. “It’s a way to preserve the mystery and amazement of Christmas, even when other things are difficult,” Clover said. “But it’s also a way we are creating culture, creating and holding space where people can relate to one another as a fam around something that is positive.” Clover said he was looking forward to the next 25 years in the community. “We put the unity in community at the Dream Center,” he said. “This is a place where hope becomes habit, where kids can be kids and you’re never too old to dream your wildest dream.” You can get involved by volunteering your time, skills or support. Visit https://dcdreamcenter.com/ volunteering/ u

demonstration gardens between the main office building and the open fields, the fields from there to the columns, the Youth Garden (where a high tree walk is being designed for installation behind, providing access to all manner of colored leaves in the fall), and the trail above the azaleas (where you can see from the top the Capitol and beyond once the leaves start to fall and open up the vista). So many places to go and enjoy the autumn are yours along our river, the Anacostia. Let me know of other places you have discovered for fall walks; send to bmatsedc@gmail.com. Bill Matuszeski is a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River, and the retired Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also serves on the board of Friends of the National Arboretum and on Citizen Advisory Committees for the Chesapeake and the Anacostia. u

Colors Changing on Kingman Island

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neighborhood news / bulletin board

In 1970, neighborhood residents worked with Anacostia Community Museum staff to transform the vacant lot next to the museum into People’s Park. Painting murals on the walls and planting a community garden also helped to transform people’s lives. Photo: People’s Park, 1970. Anacostia Community Museum, Smithsonian Institution

The Utopia Project: Inspiration for Creative Activism

. Why does The Utopia Project seeks to deconstruct the reasons why social change happens art of activthe learn to space a is gallery ve interacti This fails? one tactic work and another a series of Through world. our transform to us of each in creativity the ism and to unlock envision then and about care experiential activities, visitors learn to tap into the issues they asked to be will visitors Here, Space.” “Dream their own version of a utopia in an immersive irawe-insp the to hand at problem the beyond world a , imagine, with all obstacles removed tactics d -informe research the discover they mind, in success of image that With ing end goal. here dreams that have most often led to measurable social change. Last is the maker space—w visitors ards, whitebo and Legos to tape and d become actions. With everything from cardboar at the is Project Utopia The world. better a making for ideas are invited to prototype their Sunthem Join 2023. 1, March through SE, Pl. Fort 1901 , Museum nity Anacostia Commu openProject Utopia The of day, Nov. 6, 3 to 6 p.m., for a special afternoon in celebration ing. anacostia.si.edu.

Future of Wards 7 and 8 Panel @ THEARC

THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, is hosting a panel on development East of the River on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 8 to 11:30 a.m. The panel will consist of developers, tenants, investors, community organizers, nonprofits, and public officials with an interest in community growth, workforce development, and the success of Wards 7 and 8. Read more and get your tickets (attendance, $39; sponsor, $109) at bisnow.com/events/washington-dc/neighborhood/future-of-wards7-and-8-7439. For questions, speaker suggestions, or sponsorship opportunities, email Director of Event Production, Elizabeth Baker at liz.baker@bisow.com.

Anacostia Coordinating Council’s Holiday Celebration

On Monday, Nov. 28, 6 to 9 p.m., join the Anacostia Coordinating Council’s 10th Annual Holiday Celebration at the Black Box Theater at THEARC, 1801 Mississippi Ave. SE. Watch Live at tiny.cc/ACCHolidayCelebration. anacostiacc.org.

Fairlawn Citizens Association’s Annual Tree Lighting

On Saturday, Dec. 3, 4 p.m., enjoy the Fairlawn Citizens Association ‘s 36th Annual Tree Lighting at Minnesota Ave. and Good Hope Rd. SE. fairlawndc.org.

NGA Sculpture Garden Ice Rink Opens for Season

Sculpture Garden Ice Rink, National Gallery of Art, Washington

EASTOFTHERIVERDCNEWS.COM

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink reopens for the season on Saturday, Nov. 26 and remains open through March 5, weather permitting. The ice rink is located on the National Mall between Seventh and Ninth Streets along Constitution Avenue NW. The ice rink is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Skating sessions begin on the hour and last 45 minutes, leaving a 15-minute break for ice maintenance. Two consecutive sessions cost $12 for adults and children 13 and over or $9 for adults 60 and over, children 12 and under, military servicemembers, and students with a valid school ID. Skate rentals are $6. Lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis for $1. The ice rink will be closed when it rains or in extreme temperatures. nga.gov/skating.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District. DCHFA, Resource in the District. DCHFA,Your YourHomeownership Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District. Open DCDC Open DoorsDoors DCDC Open Doors is your to homeownership in the Open Doors is key your key to DCThis Open Doors city. program offers competitive interest rates and homeownership in the city. This program in the DC Open Doors is your key toonhomeownership lower mortgage insurance costs first trust DC Open Doors

city. Thiscompetitive program offers competitive interest rates and offers interest rates and lower

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DC Open Doors is, or your key resident to homeownership in the be purchasing a home the time homebuyer a D.C. to in qualify city.homebuyer This program offersresident competitive interest rates and or a D.C. District of Columbia. for DCOD. Youinsurance must, befirst purchasing lower mortgage costs on trustin the , behowever, purchasing a home HPAP provides interest freeof deferred loans for down a District home inofthe District Columbia. Columbia. homebuyer or a D.C. resident

serves free as a deferred co-administrator HPAP provides interest loans forofin down be purchasing a home the this DC Department of,Housing and Community District of Columbia. Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer HPAP provides interest deferred loans of for down serves asfree a co-administrator Home Purchase Assistance program. this DC Department of Housing and Community Program (DHCD) (HPAP)serves Development’s first-time buyer as ahome co-administrator of HPAP provides interest free deferred loans program. this DC Department of Housing and Community HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down (DHCD) first-time buyer forDevelopment’s down payment and closing costhome assistance program. up to $202,000 combined. serves as of serves asDCHFA a co-administrator years or older who have fallen behind on insurance this DC Department of Housing and a co-administrator of this DC Department and tax payments as a result of their reverse Community mortgage. Development’s (DHCD) first-time home Qualified District homeowners can receive up to buyer of Housing and Community Development’s program. years or older who havehome fallenbuyer behindprogram. on insurance (DHCD) first-time and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Qualified District homeowners can receive up to years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a assistance result of their reverse mortgage. DC4ME provides mortgage with optional down payment District assistance to D.C. government Qualified homeowners can receive up to DC4ME employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time DC4ME provides mortgageincluding assistance with District government employees, employees years or older who have fallen behind onoptional insurance provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. ofDC4ME District government-based instrumentalities, and tax payments as a result ofgovernment their reverse mortgage. down payment assistance to D.C. independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools,up to government employees. DC4ME is receive offered Qualified District homeowners can employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's provides mortgage assistance with District government employees, including employees toDC4ME current District government employer falls full-time under the oversight of the Council of optional of District government-based down payment assistanceinstrumentalities, to D.C. government the District of Columbia. employees, including employees District independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, employees. DC4ME is offered toofcurrent full-time and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's government-based instrumentalities, District government employees, including employees employer falls under the oversight of theCharter Council of of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional the independent District of Columbia. agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, COVID-19 down payment assistance to provided D.C. government Schools, and organizations, the to and organizations, the applicant/borrower's DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance employees. DC4ME isprovided offered to current full-time applicant/borrower’s employer falls under employer falls under the oversight of the Council of those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 District government employees, including employees pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of the District of Columbia. the oversight of the Council of the District oftoDistrict government-based instrumentalities, COVID-19 up $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage independent agencies, D.C. Public Schools, ofupMAP Columbia. for to sixCOVID-19 months. DC provides financialCharter assistance to and organizations, provided applicant/borrower's those affected by the impacts of the the COVID-19 employer falls under the oversight of thea loan Council pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive of of COVID-19 thetoDistrict of Columbia. up $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to for up to six months. those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of www.DCHFA.org up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage COVID-19 for up to to sixapply months.to any of DCHFA’s homeownership how

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Visit AVENUE, www.DCHFA.org E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE N O VEMBER 2022 29 815 FLORIDA NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG

Visit www.DCHFA.org

neighborhood news / bulletin board

Mount Vernon by Candlelight

On Nov. 25 and 26; Dec. 2 and 3; Dec. 9 and 10; and Dec. 18, take a candlelit guided tour and learn about holiday traditions in 18th-century Virginia. Visit with Mrs. Washington and other 18th-century residents of Mount Vernon in a 45-minute candlelit tour of the Mount Vernon estate, followed by a reception. Learn about holiday traditions of 18th century Virginia and hear stories of Christmases past from costumed character actors portraying Washington’s family, friends, and enslaved or hired staff. Tour times are 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. $36 for adults; $28 for youth. mountvernon.org.

Cedar Hill Urgent Care Facility Opens

On Oct. 8, Mayor Bowser opened the new Cedar Hill Urgent Care Facility, at 2228 MLK Ave. SE, in Ward 8. The facility is the first urgent care in Ward 8 and is the first of two locations to open as part of the UHS/DC partnership for a comprehensive system of healthcare for District residents and in particular, communities east of the Anacostia River.

Thanksgiving Hike with Ward 8 Woods

On Sunday, Nov. 20, 2 to 4 p.m., join Ward 8 Woods staff, Board members and volunteers for a late fall walk through one of the least visited forests in DC. Bald Eagle Hill is the wooded area between the DC-Maryland line, Joliet Street SW and South Capitol Street. They’ll begin in open upland forest around the Bald Eagle Recreation Center, 100 Joliet St. SE, and pass through an area sadly destroyed by invasive wisteria before descending into the broad flood plain of Oxon Run and end up on South Capital Street and Eastover Shopping Center. The hike will be guided but off-trail, with total hiking time of one to two hours. Wear boots or sneakers you don’t mind getting dirty. Hiking fee is $10. For questions or assistance before, during or after the event, call Nathan on 202-520-2742. ward8woods.org.

Food & Friends’ Slice of Life Thanksgiving Pie Sales

Join Mount Vernon as they celebrate the build-up to the 250th Anniversary of American Independence. Hear how a young Colonel Washington and his family celebrated Christmas in a year of growing tensions and uncertainty.

Historic Anacostia Block Association’s Annual Caroling

On Sunday, Dec. 4, 5 p.m., meet at the Fire Engine House 15, 2101 14th St. SE, and join in the Historic Anacostia Block Association’s 17th annual caroling around the neighborhood. facebook.com/HABA.

Handel’s Messiah Concert and Community Dinner

On Saturday, Dec. 10, 5 p.m., enjoy Messiah Chamber Orchestra playing Handel’s Messiah at St. Philip’s Chapel, 2001 14th St. SE. Community dinner follows. Free. Watch Live at tiny.cc/ MessiahConcert.

Congress Heights Christmas Tree Lighting

On Friday, Dec. 16, 6 p.m. (rain date, Dec. 17, 6 p.m.), celebrate the holidays with a community tree lighting at Shepherd Park, corner of Malcolm X and MLK SE. facebook.com/CongressHeights-Community-Association.

Wards 7 & 8 Faith Leaders Holiday Prayer Breakfast

Wards 7 & 8 Faith Leaders Second Annual Holiday Prayer Breakfast is on Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m., in the Panorama Room, 1600 Morris Rd. SE. anacostiacc.org/faith-committee.html. 30

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Slice of Life has become a tradition in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Pie Sellers and Pie Teams come together to raise money, ensuring that neighbors facing serious illnesses can enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal complete with two delicious pies. Each pie is baked fresh and picked up on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving at conveniently located pickup sites. Select from apple crumble, classic pumpkin, nutty pecan, sea salt chocolate chess and sweet potato. Each pie sale provides a full days’ worth of meals for a neighbor in need. There’s no easier way to give back during the holidays. Pie sales have started at sliceoflifedc.org.

MPD Cadet Corps Training Center Opens

On Oct. 19, Mayor Bowser and Chief Robert J. Contee, III of the Metropolitan Police Department, opened the new MPD Cadet Corps Training Center at 2405 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. This learning facility will serve as a central location for cadets to advance their careers in public service. The MPD Cadet Corps program is for DC residents ages 17 to 24 and allows young people to serve part-time as uniformed, civilian employees, while getting paid a salary and earning up to 60 tuition-free college credits. The program puts cadets on track to enter into MPD’s Police Officer Recruit Program at the Metropolitan Police Academy.

Electronics Recycling in Ward 8

Reverse Logistics Group is holding a free electronics recycling event in Ward 8 for

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neighborhood news / bulletin board

DC residents, small businesses and small non-profits on Saturday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., near the Fort Stanton Recreation Center, Erie Street SE between 17th and 19th. rev-log.com/dcecycling.

Southwest Nights at Arena Stage

People who reside or work in Southwest DC can buy discounted tickets for

Before the Bulldozers: Historic Southwest DC Exposed

Before the Bulldozers: Historic Southwest DC Exposed is an audio and augmented reality journey exploring the history of the redevelopment of the Southwest neighborhood in Washington, DC. Using GPS, this Walking Cinema app guides you from site to site through DC’s Southwest Neighborhood, telling the story of the country’s first large-scale urban renewal project—a project that uprooted 23,000 people and knocked down nearly 5,000 buildings to create an entirely new neighborhood. This short walk presents two worlds that were co-existing in the 1950s Southwest: A close-knit African American neighborhood on its way out and a highly modern, mostly white neighborhood on its way in. These neighborhoods are being captured, shaped, and fought for by two massive creative minds: the old neighborhood by the amateur photographer Joseph Owen Curtis, and the new neighborhood by architect Chloethiel Woodard Smith. As you walk, you alternate viewpoints and see how vastly different concepts of social benefit are still reflected in the visual landscape. The “Before the Bulldozers” app is available for download on iPhone and Android devices. Users should bring a pair of headphones for the best experience and start the tour at the Waterfront Metro Station, as the app is GPS activated at the site. A 45-minute video version of the tour is available on anacostia.si.edu/walkingtour for people to join the experience remotely. Guided tours are available for school groups and adults. To join a tour, the public can go to anacostia.si.edu/walkingtour for schedules. Registration is required two weeks in advance.

specially designated Southwest Night performances of each production. Tickets are $36 for musicals and $26 for non-musicals, plus fees. Proof of Southwest DC residency or employment for each member of the party must be presented at the time of pick-up. Tickets are based on availability. Upcoming Southwest Nights are Sanctuary City, Nov. 17 and 27; Ride the Cyclone, Jan. 15 and 25; The High Ground, Feb. 25 and March 21; Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches, April 4 and 22; Exclusion, May 13 and 25. arenastage.org/tickets/savings-programs.

National Arboretum Winter Festival

On Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., shop from local vendors, buy Christmas trees and holiday greenery, and enjoy free holiday-themed family activities in the New York Avenue parking lot, 3501 New York Ave. NE. On-leash dogs are allowed. While you are there, the Friends of the National Arboretum invite you to enjoy the Arboretum’s winter splendor and explore gardens and collections like the Gotelli Conifer Collection, Camellia Collection, and National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. fona.org.

Army Band American Holiday Festival

Planning is underway for in-person army band concerts at DAR Constitution Hall, on Dec. 2, 3 and 4. Free tickets are now available online only. usarmyband. com/american-holiday-festival

Audi Field Opens Sensory Room

On January 1, 1924, boys pose in front of a car behind Randall Grade School in Washington, DC. Several are shoeless and one holds a baseball bat. Writing on the photograph includes information about some of the boys’ activities in World War II. Photograph is attributed to an unknown Mr. Randolph. Photo: From the Joseph Owen Curtis Photograph Collection

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Audi Field, home of DC United, has partnered with KultureCity to make the venue and all of the programs and events that the stadium hosts to be sensory inclusive. The KultureCity Sensory Room is located at the top of Heineken Tower at Audi Field and will be open for all events taking place at the stadium, including all DC United home matches. The dedicated space is designed by medical professionals for those who may need a quieter and more secure environment. The sensory room is outfitted with bean bags from Yogibo, bubble walls, and a cus-

tom tactile artwork created by an autistic artist. Families and individuals can download the free KultureCity App where one can view what sensory features are available and where they can access them. KultureCity is a non-profit recognized nationwide for using its resources to revolutionize and effect change for those with sensory needs, not just those with autism. audifield.com.

Thanksgiving Mass at the National Shrine

On Thursday, Nov. 24, you are invited to attend Holy Mass at the National Shrine at 8 a.m. and noon. There are no confessions and the Shrine Shops will be closed. The church will close at 1 p.m. nationalshrine.org.

Leaf Collection Program Begins

DPW will begin collecting leaves from neighborhoods on Monday, Nov. 7. The collection schedule has been adjusted to allow leaf collection crews to do collections when most leaves have fallen, with residents still receiving two leaf collection pickups. The first pass for leaf collection will occur when leaf accumulation is lighter, for one week in each section. The second pass will be for two

Antietam National Battlefield Memorial Illumination

Antietam National Battlefield will present the Annual Memorial Illumination on Saturday, Dec. 3 to honor the 23,000 casualties from the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. The event is a driving tour open to the public starting at 6 p.m. Cars enter the park by traveling west on Route 34 and lining up on the shoulder of the road. Cars are allowed to enter the event until midnight. Walking is not allowed. The Visitor Center address is 5831 Dunker Church Rd., Sharpsburg, MD— 70 miles from DC. nps/gov/anti.

weeks in each section when leaf accumulation is heavier. Residents are asked to rake their leaves for collection to the curb or into the tree box at the front of their residence— paper bags are not required. To help facilitate the collection process, residents are asked to keep vehicles away from the curb lanes on scheduled collection days. Check dpw.dc.gov/service/leaf-collection to confirm your area’s leaf collection dates.

Non-DC Resident Medical Cannabis Program Access

Effective Oct. 21, non-DC residents, including international visitors, may register for a 30-day temporary patient registration to purchase medical cannabis from a DClicensed dispensary. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age to apply and pay a nonrefundable $30 fee. Upon receipt of payment, applicants are issued a digital registration that may be immediately used at any of DC’s seven licensed dispensaries. Nonresidents may also continue to purchase medical cannabis by presenting a valid patient registration from a US state or territory extended reciprocity. Currently, 38 states and territories are extended reciprocity including Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. DC residents may currently apply for a free patient registration without a healthcare provider’s recommendation if they self-certify purchased cannabis will be used for medical purposes. Additional details are available at abra.dc.gov. Questions and applications may be directed to medicalcannabis@dc.gov.

DDOT Granted Federal Funds for Electric Vehicle Charging

The District Department of Transportation has announced it will receive $16.6 million in federal funding though President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to build out DC’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The federal funding will be used for projects directly related to charging electric vehicles, to include upgrading existing and constructing new DC fast charging infrastructure, installation of on-site electrical service equipment, community and stakeholder engagement, EV charging station signage, data sharing, and related mapping analyses. For more information, visit nevi.ddot.dc.gov. ◆

METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT

HOMICIDE VICTIM

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT

VICTIM’S NAME

Charnice Milton

LOCATION

2700 block of Good Hope Road, SE DATE/TIME

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Up to $25,000 Reward

9:40 PM

On Wednesday, May 27, 2015, at approximately 9:40 pm, Ms. Charnice Milton was shot and killed in the 2700 block of Good Hope Road, SE. The Metropolitan Police Department seeks the public’s assistance in gathering information regarding this homicide.

CONTACT

Detective Chanel Howard (202) 437-0451 Detective Robert Cephas (202) 497-4734 Homicide Branch (202) 645-9600

(cell) (cell) (main)

H O W TO H E L P O U R I N V E S T I G AT I O N

This case is being investigated by the Department’s Homicide Branch. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the detective(s) listed above or the Command Information Center (CIC) at (202) 727-9099. Anonymous information may also be forwarded to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

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east washington life

The Players Lounge at 50 Some Personal Remanences by Kenneth V. Cummins (Aka Loose Lips One)

missed the entrance to Players Lounge and drove on past the cherished southern cooking restaurant and bar in Southeast that had just started celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its September 1972 opening. The sign on the front of the tan, two-story building at 2737 Martin Luther King Avenue SE has become so faded that it is barely noticeable to passersby. I had been back here infrequently since Jan. 8, 1999, when City Paper and I celebrated the passing of

the Loose Lips mantle, after 15-and a half years, on to Loose Lips Two (Erik Wemple) to keep the column of local politics and humor alive and relevant. Players Lounge was the perfect spot for that transfer ceremony. The former strip club during 1970s and `80s had been transformed into the political gathering spot where east of the river met Georgetown and Kalorama; Blacks and Whites talked local politics and sang karaoke together; where DC First Ladies Cora Masters Barry and Diane Williams, whose husbands had

sparred bitterly at times, stood on the backroom stage where naked ladies had once gyrated and sang a soulful karaoke duet of “Stand By Your Man.’’ Plus, Players served the best, authentic southern cooking in DC.

Warm, Cozy and Welcoming

This may have been the perfect spot for that party nearly 23 years ago, but it turned out to be the worst night. The afternoon rain had turned to sleet, and by nightfall, streets were glassy and treacherous. Driving across the District, and traversing river-spanning bridges, did not seem like the wisest way to spend that icy, cold Friday evening. But when I arrived, expecting to be early, the small, two-room restaurant was already nearing capacity. Once the entrance door closed behind me, the miserable sleetfilled night outside disappeared immediately, as though it had ceased to exist – and did for at least the next four hours. The world now was filled with that dank smell of a uniquely neighborhood bar combined with the sweet, soothing odors of the frying and baking going on in the kitchen behind the small bar counter. The atmosphere was warm and cozy; full of chatter and laughter and the sounds of eating and drinking. “People who come here want to feel like they are a part of it, like it belongs to them,’’ says soft-spoken, owner and founder Steve Thompson, 78. “We try to make it feel like that, like a neighborhood place.’’ When I returned there this past September, the bar counter just inside the door was the busiest spot in the small restaurant. Customers continuously scurried in, picked up bags of carryout lunches and headed out the door again, to work or wherever they needed to be. Two on-duty police officers chatted amiably with customers and employees while awaiting their pickup lunch orders. Four brightly colored wooden booths line the short Georgena, the dim unitive, effervescent owner’s wife, bantered gaily with customers as she took their orders. Her popularity with the neighborhood crowd reached the point where locals began referring to the place as Georgena’s, and some still insist the name had been changed in the 1990s.

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wall left of the entrance. Georgena, the dim unitive, effervescent owner’s wife, bantered gaily with customers as she took their orders. Her popularity with the neighborhood crowd reached the point where locals began referring to the place as Georgena’s, and some still insist the name had been changed in the 1990s. Not so, says Steven Thompson. “The community tried to change the name. They started calling it Georgena’s becaue they didn’t like the name Players. But I never changed it.’’ “Sneak and Peek” Missions In the back is a much more spacious room where the strippers used to dance, and which still seems to be the domain for the men, at least at lunch time. On my last visit, two small groups of men were gathered around adjacent tables, eating fried foods and sharing conversations. One group included Richard Proctor, who said he was only four years older than Players but has been coming there most of his life. “The kids in the neighborhood used to have `sneak-and-peek’ missions,’’’ Proctor recalled fondly. “We would sneak in, get a peek at the women and then run out before we got caught.’’ Fifty years ago, Thompson bought Massey’s Tavern, which occupied only the cramped first room of Players today. After watching his young bartenders

routinely hit on women coming in, he soon changed the name to Players Lounge, acquired the adjacent space and introduced nude dancing. When Congress granted DC residents Home Rule on Christmas Eve 1973, the implementing Home Rule Charter required the creation of elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissions all across DC to give communities a greater voice in their new self-governance. Soon after, Players Lounge became the target for the newly elected neighborhood ANC, which wanted to shut the place down. The District’s 37 ANCs had been granted powers to block liquor licenses. To survive, Thompson had to agree to get rid of the dancers and operate as a neighborhood bar and restaurant.

The Place that Barry Built

Players Lounge could be tagged as the gathering place that Mayor-for-Life Marion S. Barry Jr. built. The small eatery has grown its loyal following on favorable fried fish and fried chicken, rich mac’n’cheese and perhaps the best collard greens around. And Barry was Players biggest devotee, continually proclaim(Continued on pg. 36, center column)

The Lounge’s simple exterior does not betray its rich history.

The wall of the Lounge is decorated with the photos of patrons. The PlayersLounge Menu is a soulful delight.

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The Old Man of Anacostia

(Continued from pg. 35) ing the collard greens at Players “the best collard greens I’ve ever eaten.’’ Political consultant and Vince Gray ally Chuck Thies observed that when Barry would

I Hate Guns by Philip Pannell

do not like guns. As a child, I did not have toy guns and as an adult I have neither owned a real one nor have a desire to do so. But I do support the rights of people to defend themselves and totally understand why gun ownership is necessary. According to the Small Arms Survey, United States civilians own 393 million guns. According to the 2020 Census, there are 331.5 million residents. With more guns than people, our country is the ultimate Second Amendment society. Like it or not, guns will always be with us and we must learn to live with them — safely. According to recent reports, guns sales have markedly increased among women and African Americans. I have several friends who have concealed carry permits. Trust me, I do not have MAGA or militia types in my circle of friends. With the crime wave that is washing over our neighborhoods, it is understandable why guns sales have increased in certain sectors of our society. As a kid I would visit my relatives in rural North Carolina and see a shotgun on a rock after having been used to slaughter a hog. There would be a shotgun propped up in the corner of the house. All my young relatives were taught to shoot before they were teenagers. They were well aware of what guns could do and were taught to use them responsibly. Of course, the experience of urban youths with guns is totally different than that of my rural cousins. But I strongly feel that city youths should be made aware of the responsible use of guns and the lethal danger of their misuse. Gun education in our schools is now as much as 36

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a necessity as classes about driving, drugs and sex. It is time that we begin a rigorous and objective community conversation about including gun education in the school curriculum. Now, before you think that the NRA has taken control of my mind and soul, let me be clear that I am not advocating that elementary school students be given gun replicas with their books. I simply believe that the time has come for us to be realistic about the presence and impact of guns in our society and how we can impart lifesaving information to young children. Schools are now engaging in active shooter response training. Education about responsible gun ownership and usage should also have utility. After my 82-year-old mother died, while I was clearing out her apartment, I found her gun and her permit for it. I did not know that my mother owned a gun because she never told me. She knew I hated guns. I immediately noticed that the issue date of her gun permit was the same year that she had been robbed and injured coming home from work. I also discovered that she was a member of a shooting range. I unrolled the paper targets and it appeared that she was a fairly good shot. I gave her gun to a friend of mine to take to the police headquarters. I couldn’t even handle emotionally or manually my deceased mother’s legal weapon. I do not like guns. Long-time Ward 8 community activist Philip Pannell can be contacted at philippannell@ comcast.net. Pannell is the Executive Director of the Anacostia Coordinating Council. Help Make Wards 7 & 8 Great! Become a Member of the Anacostia Coordinating Council: Visit http://www.anacostiacc. org/join-us.html. ◆

Two patrons enjoy a leisurely lunch.

walk through the lounge’s narrow entranceway “it was like Elvis had walked into the building.’’ There would be a momentary hush, then a rush to greet the beaming Barry and engage in friendly banter. Barry was not the only local pol who helped popularize Players as the place for pols and activists to gather after momentous elections such as Barry’s stunning 1994 comeback following prison, and Tony Williams’s dramatic 1998 ascension to the top office. When asked at a 2014 mayoral candidates’ forum to name her favorite Ward 8 spot, At-Large Republican Councilmember Carol Schwartz promptly replied “Players Lounge.” Many in the audience chuckled and nodded approvingly. “She goes there, too,’’ one woman confirmed. “I’ve seen here there many times.’’ Maybe it’s the southern hospitality and small-town attitude that makes the place feel so welcoming. Or maybe it’s the Chocolate City pride and the comfortable authenticity of the inhabitants that keeps ‘em coming back. Or maybe it’s just a needed escape from the oppressive federal fumes that engulf much of the downtown and Capitol Hill areas to a calmer, friendlier, more inviting atmosphere. Or maybe it’s just the food. Whatever it is, let’s hope Players remains – and the fish, chicken and greens keep cooking -- for another 50 years. ◆

Changing Hands Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list,based on the MRIs, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

NEIGHBORHOOD

PRICE

FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA

2303 1/2 Elvans Rd SE 1910 1/2 Naylor Rd SE 1900 Q St SE

BENNING HEIGHTS 3904 Ames St NE

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 517 Lebaum St SE 129 Mississippi Ave SE 316 Raleigh St SE 17 Danbury St SW 146 Chesapeake St SW 74 Elmira St SW 166 Darrington St SW

DEANWOOD

5500 Eads St NE 1022 49th Pl NE 4929 Blaine St NE 504 58th St NE 206 58th St NE 5757 E Capitol St SE 216 63rd St NE 5036 Nash St NE 4908 Meade St NE 5079 Sheriff Rd NE 5207 Clay St NE

FORT DUPONT PARK 1551 41st St SE 3930 C St SE 1622 Fort Davis Pl SE

HILL CREST

2404 SE 32nd St SE 3651 Alabama Ave SE

HILL EAST

1430 C St SE

KINGMAN PARK 613 21st St NE 430 24th St NE

LILY PONDS

4215 Meade St NE 232 33rd St NE

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5506 D Street SE 5208 Bass Pl SE

5121 H St SE 123 56th St SE 4657 A St SE

$462,500 $355,000 $205,000

4 3 2

$730,000 $575,000 $460,000 $450,000 $449,000 $435,000

4 4 3 3 4 3

$74,000

$362,000

$315,000

3908 Southern Ave SE #101 $170,000

RANDLE HEIGHTS $650,000 $649,900 $610,000

4 4 3

$550,000

$662,500 $489,000 $460,000 $440,000 $437,000 $429,000 $290,000

5 3 3 2 3 3 2

1008 Cook Dr SE 2233 R St SE 1956 Valley Ter SE 1818 U Pl SE 3437 23rd St SE 2392 Elvans Rd SE CONDO

BARRY FARMS

2640 Wade Rd SE #13

CAPITOL HILL EAST 420 16th St SE #B1

CARVER LANGSTON 1014 1/2 17th Pl NE #6

$600,000 $590,000 $540,000 $510,000 $505,000 $430,000 $426,450 $397,999 $310,000 $235,000 $200,000

4 4 4 4 3 3 2 3 2 2 3

$475,000 $439,000 $366,500

4 3 3

$890,000 $500,000

4 3

$1,260,000

FAIRFAX VILLAGE

FORT DUPONT PARK 510 Ridge Rd SE #201

$90,000

3316 Banneker Dr NE #3316 $439,500 3197 Apple Rd NE #9 $380,000

3 3

FORT LINCOLN

HILL CREST

1319b 27th St SE 2007 37th St SE #301 2035 38th St SE

RANDLE HEIGHTS

1716 28th St SE #2 1716 28th St SE #1 3113 Naylor Rd SE #C

$310,000 $180,000 $125,000

3 2 2

$525,000 $475,000 $117,500

3 3 2

$120,000

COOP

$799,000 $550,000

4 2

$550,000 $514,800

3 2

$525,000 $485,000

4 3

BARRY FARMS

2665 MLK Jr. Ave SE #103 ◆

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east washington life

The Eastsider Winter Blues by Leniqua’dominique Jenkins

y internal alarm clock wakes me up at 5 a.m. every day. During the warmer months, I would be gently awakened by the sunlight peeking through my blinds, and by the sweet fragrance of flowers. I would casually muddle through my morning routine. I would leisurely prepare my coffee, brush my teeth, work out and look forward to starting my day. But, for the last few weeks I have been struggling with having restful sleep and feeling lethargic, constantly having to force myself to work out, and feeling less energized about things that typically excite me. I was having a case of the winter blues. The Winter Blues is not a clinical diagnosis. It is a change in mood due to fewer hours of daylight. Our body’s internal alarm clock, medically referred to as our circadian rhythm, radically changes as winter approaches. The decrease in sunlight over an extended period signals to our body that it’s nighttime which leads to fatigue during the day. During the winter we experience our shortest days in the year. The shorter days and longer nights commonly lead to vitamin D deficiency, insomnia, low energy, and weight gain. Black and brown people have higher rates of vitamin D deficiency, therefore the lack of sunshine on melanated skin can directly impact our mood. One of the ways to combat this during the darker months is to increase your vitamin intake, and to use light therapy. When you are not able to soak up natural sun rays, vitamin D, fish oil, and light therapy are smart alternatives. Direct sun exposure plays a more role in the body’s production of serotonin. The brain releases this hormone which prompts the brain to make you feel calm, happy, and focused. Many people all over the world experience the winter blues, and the numbers for folks having winter clinically diagnosed depression is alarming, especially in Black women. Slowly I am starting to get my mojo back. I am getting restful sleep, I am squeezing in fall hikes and holiday themed activities, and I 38

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had more than enough energy to get through my day.

Tips To Help Rid You of the Winter Blues

1. Drink coffee. The cold weather invites tension and tightness in the body. Tension in the body leads to stress. Stress increases fatigue and a depressed mood. One way to combat the cold and stay warm by drinking warm beverages, like coffee! 2. It’s ok to not be ok. Our environment is changing. The leaves are falling and nature appears to be still. Meeting up with friends, group hikes, and Sunday brunch may begin to feel like a chore. Embrace your desire to spend more time alone. Mother Nature is creating the perfect opportunity for you to journal more, learn a new hobby, or to master some new recipes. Lean into this social shift as an opportunity to take your personal development to the next level. Some transformative practices for me have been journaling, conscience breathing, and reading. 3. Outside is always open. Do not allow the temperature to spoil your fun. It is always a great idea to enjoy nature. It does not have to be bright and sunny to enjoy the outdoors. For example, hiking, ice fishing, skiing, and ice skating are just a few fun activities to do during the less sunny months. Every year the colorful foliage, crisp air and pumpkin-themed drinks signal the arrival of fall. I am learning to listen to my body, and its constant changes too. It is important that I am mindful of environmental changes, and of my own. I need to feel my feelings, be introspective and embrace practices that will help me to no longer feel blue. (The winter blues is not a clinical diagnosis, nor is seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which often has symptoms that are more debilitating and severe. It is important for peo-

The author embracing the outdoors as winter sets in.

ple to understand the various forms of clinical depression and seek the appropriate help when necessary. If you or someone you know is experiencing clinical depression. Please encourage them to call 988. 24 hours/ 7 days a week. There are Lifesaving services and trained licensed counselors ready to provide support.) Leniqua’dominique Jenkins holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Houston and has worked on Capitol Hill and in Africa, India and Spain. She is a preschool teacher at a language immersion school in Ward 7. u

Artist: Jay Coleman

Coleman is pictured in studio with a working model for ‘Communessity,’ a completed work now outside Barry Farms Recreation Center. Photo: Elizabeth O’Gorek

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kids & family

by Kathleen Donner

Step Afrika!’s Holiday Step Show Family Fun Pack

As the world’s first holiday show highlighting the African American tradition of stepping, Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is a feast for the eyes and ears. Fabulous and furry friends from the Arctic Kingdom—Popper the Penguin and Polo the Polar Bear—along with DJ Nutcracker ensure a fun and exciting experience for the entire family. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, Dec. 9 to 18. Tickets are $56 to $95. Arena Stage also offers their Family Fun Pack for this show—four seats for $130. arenastage.org.

Saturday Morning Live! Returns

Girls on the Run Fall Community 5k

The Girls on the Run Fall Community 5k is on Sunday, Nov. 20 at Anacostia Park, 894 Howard Rd. SE. Arrival and pre-race festivities start at 7 a.m.; race starts at 8 a.m. Registration will be open until the day before the 5k at noon and then re-open the day of the event for families, friends and community runners. $35. gotrdc.org/5k. At Girls on the Run Washington DC, teaching critical life skills is the cornerstone of their research-based programs. Meeting in small teams, trained volunteer coaches inspire girls of all abilities to strengthen confidence and other important life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and physical activity.

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Fun takes center stage at the National Theatre for Saturday Morning Live! Kids are invited to the Helen Hayes Gallery space on select Saturday mornings at 9:30 and 11 a.m. for wow-inspiring children’s entertainment of all sorts, from interactive performances, puppets, dance, and music—all designed to light up imaginations and celebrate a world of wonder. It’s free. It’s fun. On Saturday, Nov. 12, see The Harambee Experience by Baba Ras D. Harambee is a multicultural experience children enjoy while building their competency for diversity and familiarity with language immersions. Baba Ras D shares songs in Kiswahili and Espanol. Shows are best enjoyed by kids ages three to six, but anyone is welcome to join in on the fun. Tickets are free, but they request that you register in advance. Walk-up tickets are subject to availability. Masks are optional, but highly recommended. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. nationaltheatre.org/saturday-morning-live.

Handel’s Messiah Family Concert at the National Cathedral

On Saturday, Dec. 3, at noon, join Washington National Cathedral for Handel’s beloved “Messiah,” and experience this Christmas classic in a space as Handel would have intended. This concert is an abbreviated performance of “Messiah” highlights, perfect for busy families with young children. Experience the best of “Messiah” with the whole family. Tickets are $20, up. cathedral.org.

“Season’s Greenings” at the Botanic Garden

Despite the cold winter outside, the US Botanic Garden Conservatory boasts a tropical paradise, one of the largest indoor decorated trees in Washington, DC, a poinsettia showcase and a grove of conifer trees. It wouldn’t be the winter holiday season without the fantasy train display in the East Gallery, which chugs along a track through imaginative structures created with plant materials. Many of DC’s landmark buildings, all made from natural materials, are included in the display. Open daily, Thanksgiving Day through Jan. 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. usbg.gov.

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Discovery Theater’s Seasons of Light

Joy, warmth, and community illuminate seasonal holiday celebrations the world over. This signature Discovery Theater show celebrates the history and customs of Diwali (Devali), Chanukah, Las Posadas, Ramadan, Santa Lucia Day, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and the First Nations’ tradition of the Winter Solstice in an interactive event that bridges communities and cultures. Seasons of Light is at Discovery Theater Monday to Friday, from Dec. 5 to 16, at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., with an additional 1 p.m. performance on Dec. 9 and 16. It is recommended for ages five to ten. $9 for adults: $8 for kids; $3 for kids under two. Tickets on sale now. This show always sells out. Discovery Theater’s Ripley Center is at 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW (on the National Mall). discoverytheater.org.

A Magical Cirque Christmas at National Theater

On Dec. 16 to 18, the world’s greatest entertainers unite for a spellbinding and incredible holiday production—A Magical Cirque Christmas. Experience the enchantment of Christmas as Magical Hostess Lucy Darling takes you through an evening of dazzling performers and breathtaking artists, accompanied by your favorite holiday music performed live. $50 to $100. Recommended for all ages. Children under four are not permitted in the theatre. The show runs approximately two hours. broadwayatthenational.com.

Holidays in the 18th Century Family Day

On Saturday, Dec. 10 and Sunday, Dec. 11; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., discover how the holiday season was commemorated in the 18th century through family-friendly activities at Mount Vernon. Activities are included with admission. Adults 12 and older, $28; kids, $15; birth to five, free. $2 off admission if tickets purchased online three days in advance. mountvernon.org.

Storytime at Union Market

On Tuesdays, through Nov. 22, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., enjoy Family Storytime focusing on ages birth to five on the Rooftop at Union Market. Bring a blanket or towel to sit on as everyone enjoys songs, fingerplays, and books during this weekly event for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. This program is led by Northeast Library staff from DC Public Library. unionmarketdc.com.

Storytime at the NGA

Storytime at the NGA is on Friday, Dec. 2, 10 to 11 a.m. The Storytime group will gather at the East Building entrance. The featured children’s book will be read in both English and Spanish. Together they’ll read a book aloud, move, and play. They welcome all ages, especially their youngest visitors and nursing mothers. They invite you to stroll around the museum on your own afterwards. Stroller 42

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parking is available at the coat check. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For groups of ten or more or to request accommodations, contact family@nga.gov.

Calling Young Playwrights: Submit Your Script

Mosaic Theater is hosting their third annual High School Playwriting Contest for ninth through twelve grade students at public and charter schools in the Washington, DC metro area including, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Northern Virginia. Winning playwrights will receive a cash prize and have their plays read and directed by professional theater artists at the Petworth Branch of the DC Public Library during the live presentation and readings on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. Submit your play by Nov. 28 for consideration. mosaictheater.org/playwriting-contest.

Israeli Dancing in the Parking Lot

Are you looking to meet great people and have fun, all while getting a high-energy workout? On Thursday, Dec. 1 (and upcoming Jan. 5 and Feb. 2), 6 to 7 p.m., get your feet moving to the energetic beats of rikudai-am (Israeli dance). This monthly drop-in session

Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating

Fort Dupont Ice Arena two-hour skating sessions are on Sundays, 2:30 p.m.; Fridays, noon and Saturdays, 1 p.m. Extra sessions on Friday, Nov. 25, 2:15 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 23, 3 p.m. Adults skate for $5; kids and seniors for $4. Skate rental is $3. The arena is at 3779 Ely Place SE. fdia.org.

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Zoolights Returns

Zoolights invites you to meander through the Zoo when it is covered with thousands of sparkling lights, attend special keeper talks and enjoy live entertainment. Zoolights returns this year on Nov. 25 to 27; Dec. 2 to 4, 9 to 11, 16 to 23, and 26 to 30; 5 to 9 p.m. Free admission; parking is $30. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience

When clothing suddenly falls from the sky, Wilbur J. Mole Rat stuns the colony with his decision to get dressed. In a community where baring is caring and skin is in, can Wilbur find the courage to rock to the rhythm of his own electric guitar? Mo Willem’s beloved picture book explores what can happen when we have the courage to be ourselves. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, from Nov. 16 to Jan. 8. Tickets, $12, up. Recommended for age four to ten. imaginationstage.org.

is high energy, attracting young people and families from across the DC Metropolitan area. Instruction will only include line dance for the time being (no circle or couples dances). Free to attend and open to all, beginner and experienced dancers alike. No dance partner necessary. Israeli Dancing in the Parking Lot is at the EDCJCC Parking Lot, 1529 16th St. NW. edcjcc.org.

The Day You Begin at the KC

It’s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet…but somehow you do it. This world premiere commissioned musical is based on one of Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson’s most popular picture books. Following the performance on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m., young audience members can ask questions and hear stories from the show’s artists and creative team. $20. The Day You Be44

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gin is at the Kennedy Center from Nov. 19 to Dec. 18. Most enjoyed by age seven and up. kennedycenter.org.

Daughters of the American Revolution Christmas Open House

Snow Maiden at Synetic

Maryam Najafzada for Synetic Theater’s Snow Maiden 2022. Photo: Johnny Shryock

In a frozen silver forest high in the mountains, a lonely boy builds a girl from snow. When she mysteriously comes to life, mischief, laughter, and enchantment abound. But what will happen when the ice begins to melt? Told through dazzling movement, dance, and acrobatics, Synetic’s magical take on beloved folktale Snegurochka is a story of hope, friendship, and the power of dreams. $25 to $40. Snow Maiden is at Synetic Theater, 1800 So. Bell St., Arlington (Crystal City), from Dec. 1 to 23. synetictheater.org.

On Wednesday, Dec. 7, 5:30¬ to 8 p.m., enjoy live holiday music, tour 31 period rooms, cider, hot chocolate, cookies and Santa at the DAR Christmas open house. Visitors are encouraged to bring a new or lightly used children’s book to donate to their DAR Memorial Continental Hall, 17th and D Streets, NW. dar.org.

US Air Force Band “Seasons of Hope” Holiday Concerts

These concerts at DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St, NW, feature the Concert Band and Singing Sergeants performing timeless renditions of holiday favorites. They’ll be joined by the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir and a special visitor from the North Pole. The concerts are on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 3 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, at 3 p.m. Free tickets are available at usafband.eventbrite.com. If sold out, there are usually some empty seats on stand-by.

The Puppet Company’s Nutcracker at Glen Echo

From Nov. 25 to Jan. 1, join the Puppet Co. for their 34th annual Nutcracker. This time-honored seasonal celebration includes Tchaikovsky’s familiar story of Clara and her prince, with some Puppet Co. nursery rhyme spin. Nutcracker is on stage at Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD, Nov. 25 to Dec. 20, Thursdays, Fridays, Dec. 19 and 20, at 10 a.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. It is on stage Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 (except Christmas), weekdays and weekends, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets are $15; under age two, no ticket required. Recommended for age four, up. thepuppetco.org.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Hershel just wants to celebrate Hanukkah with the commu-

Alexandria’s Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Concert

On Saturday, Dec. 3, (rain or shine), 11 a.m., this family-oriented parade begins at St. Asaph and Wolfe Streets and concludes at Old Town’s Market Square with a massed band concert at 1 p.m. campagnacenter.org/scottishwalkweekend. Photo: R Nowitz for ACVA

nity, but the Queen and King of the Goblins have forbidden the lighting of the candles. Can Hershel save the day and lift the curse for this shtetl? Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is on stage at Glen Echo, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD, Dec. 1 to 20, Thursdays and Fridays, Dec. 19 and 10, at 1 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, at 4 p.m. It is on stage Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, weekdays and weekends at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15; under age two, no ticket required. Recommended for age five, up. thepuppetco.org.

Joy of Christmas Concert at the National Cathedral

On Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 and 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m., trumpets, drums, and voices herald the coming of the Christmas season. As the cold of winter sets in, music of the holidays past and present will warm your spirit. The Cathedral Choral Society’s annual Joy of Christmas is a Washington tradition. Tickets are $25, up. Parking in garage is $10 flat-rate in cash. Washington National Cathedral is at 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. cathedral.org. u

Thanksgiving Little Turkey One-Miler and Family-Friendly Festival

This Thanksgiving be part of a time-honored DC tradition at SOME’s (So Others Might Eat) annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5k on Freedom Plaza. Race morning check-in is at 8 a.m.; Little Turkey One-Miler is at 9:15 a.m.; 5k waves begin at 9:40 a.m. The race-finisher familyfriendly festival with music, activities, tastings and live entertainment is from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. trotforhunger.org. Funds raised from the Trot for Hunger help benefit thousands of our DC neighbors in need, including families and the elderly, by providing much-needed food, housing, access to healthcare, employment training, and long-term comprehensive addiction treatment programs. some.org. E ast

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www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

XWORD Computer Beginnings? by Myles Mellor Across:

1. Like extreme opposites 6. Nonplussed 11. Online windows, with pop 14. Neat 18. Butterfly 19. Whale show 20. Nautical guy 22. Stat start 23. Relating to the promotion of longevity through diet 25. Certain cookies 27. Two-dimensional extent 28. English queen 29. 0s and Xs 31. Eccentric 32. Bluenose 33. Attack 34. Dickens’ character 35. Young kids 39. Removable locks 42. J.M. Keynes subj. 46. Backslide 47. Night of poetry 48. World’s smallest republic 51. Dixie pronoun 52. Record label abbr. 53. ___ Tweed 54. Letters after Q 55. Robotic thinking? 61. Not healthy 62. Basketball backboard attachment 63. Diner order 64. Driveway type 67. White wine aperitif 68. Lures 72. It once billed itself “The most trusted name in television” 73. End of the year month, for short 74. Gradually narrow 75. Northerly land area named after a Canadian PM

84. Ready follower? 85. Attach, in a way 86. Range units: Abbr. 87. Abound 89. Put down 91. Letter ender 92. “The girl from___ goes walking” 95. Part of N.A.A.C.P.: Abbr. 96. ___ fly 98. Extended musical composition 99. The Beatles’ ____ in the Life 102. “Shallow ___” (Jack Black film) 103. Barely beat, with “out” 104. Resulted 106. Hydrocarbon 108. Spring time 109. V.I.P.’s opposite 113. Some kind of a nut 115. “The Prince” writer 118. Elongated slit 119. ‘’Gilmore Girls’’ girl 120. Not one of the majors 121. Water balloon sound 122. Saga 123. Work for eds. 124. Chucks 125. Irk

Down:

1. Cotton fabric 2. Actor Sharif 3. Tie up 4. India tourist city 5. Australian jumper 6. Fatuous 7. Beachwear 8. Fully satisfy, desire 9. Longtime record label 10. Bidding locale 11. Letters at Camp Lejeune 12. Sch. groups 13. Cul-de- ___ 14. State ranger

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 15. Pancake maker 16. Contradict 17. Attention getters 21. Connecticut university 24. Reveals 26. Sheila singer, Tommy 30. Post-E.R. place 32. Pizzazz 33. Oktoberfest souvenir 34. Painter Matisse 35. Be nosy 36. Paper quantity 37. Queen of scat 38. Toiletry item 40. One of 150 41. ‘’Duke of ___’’ (1962 doo-wop classic) 43. Sewing group 44. Beginnings 45. “__ a chance!”

47. Issue 49. Soviet fighter 50. Ending for an enzyme 52. “So ___” 53. Next in line? 56. Exclamation of surprise 57. ___ bit 58. Foootball org. 59. Prank 60. Peacock Network 64. Hosts 65. Urchins 66. Fundraising gp. 67. Wail 68. Wilts 69. Prefix with ‘’center’’ or “cycle’’ 70. Moliere’s ‘’L’ecole___ femmes’’ 71. Website symbol 73. Part of LED 74. Demolition compounds

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76. Metric wts. 77. The Giants’ Manning 78. Like pecan pie 79. Last letters 80. Encourage 81. ___ time 82. Poet’s contraction 83. Moore of “G.I. Jane” 84. Act passed to protect rights of people with disabilities 88. Cold war figure 90. Out 91. Of a hymn 92. Incongruous results 93. Italian food 94. Swallowed up 97. Quaker pronoun 98. Like some wonders 100. Defective firecracker 101. On ____ with (equal to) 104. Tra __ (singing sounds) 105. E.P.A. concern: Abbr. 106. Haughtiness 107. Baseball player for the Giants 108. Screens for bulletin boards? 109. LePew of cartoons 110. Popular fashion magazine 111. One of five Norwegian kings 112. Evening, informally 113. Colo. is on it 114. Soccer fan in the family 116. It makes men mean 117. Insurance company for vision, abbr.

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East of the River Magazine – November 2022

Articles inside

The Players Lounge at 50 Some Personal Reminisces

DC Dream Center Celebrates