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

SEPTEMBER 2022

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Publisher of: MIDCITY YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FAGON GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL FAGON EDUCATION

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43 The Old Man of Anacostia: Players Lounge Turns 50 by Philip Pannell

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PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com

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MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com

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

ON THE COVER: Dreaming Out Loud Fall Festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 301 49th St. NE, behind Kelly Miller Middle School. This year’s festival celebrates the end of the farm season and complements DOL’s programs. Featuring a mix of entertainment and networking opportunities, the festival gives attendees knowledge about the source of their food and an opportunity to interact with farmers and vendors while enjoying mouth-watering delicacies. www.dreamingoutloud.org EVERY ISSUE What’s on Washington Crossword Classiﬁeds

KIDS & FAMILY Notebook by Kathleen Donner

Capital Community News,

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Wild West of A Capital Community News, Spotlight Investigation Kenneth V. Cummins and Sarah Payne Getting the Lead Out: How To Find Out If You Have Lead Pipes And What To Do If You Do by Catherine Plume Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner Changing Hands compiled by Don Denton

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com

Unregulated Cannabis Retailers –

We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com.

EAST WASHINGTON LIFE Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Marks its 55 Year Anniversary: A Reboot Starts With A Public Celebration Sept. 15 by Phil Hutinet Eastsider by Leniqua’dominique Jenkins

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

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

Art All Night: 100 Artists, Eight Wards, Two Nights

WHAT’S WASHINGTONON

DC Art All Night will take place from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. the following morn ing on two nights—Sept. 23 and 24. It takes place in twenty neighborhoods with different activities on each night, bringing visual and performing arts, in cluding painting, photography, sculp ture, crafts, fashion, music, literary arts, dance, theater, film, and poetry, to indoor and outdoor public and pri vate spaces, including local business es and restaurants. First presented as Art All Night: Nuit Blanche DC in 2011 by Shaw Main Streets, Art All Night drew crowds of 30,000 plus to cele brate the art and local culture. Since then, the event has grown to fea ture many more neighborhoods with over 120,000 attendees from across the DMV to DC to celebrate the arts. dcartallnight.org.

After Hours at the Museum: National Gallery Nights

Photo: Alexander Padro

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

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

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H Street Festival

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

WASHINGTON

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“Sargent and Spain” at the NGA

Boyz II Men at Wolf Trap

WHAT’S ON

On Friday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m., Boyz II Men are making their long over-due Wolf Trap debut. Boyz II Men’s combination of sweet soul harmonies and swaggering new jack swing beats ruled radio in the mid-’90s with hits including “Motownphilly,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “On Bended Knee,” and more. SWV opens the show with their smooth harmonies. Tickets are $37, up. Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna VA. wolftrap.org.

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

All American: The Power of Sports

“Beyond King Tut” at the National Geographic Museum

This new exhibit at the National Archives celebrates the role ofsports in creating, spreading, and promoting American iden-tity with a new exhibit, All American: The Power of Sports,opening on Sept. 16. Sports unite people, teach values, and in-spire hope and pride. In the United States, sports have pow-ered efforts to bring citizens together, shape them, and proj-ect a vision of what it means to be American. But sports conveypower to athletes too—power to break social barriers and pro-test injustice. All American will be on display in the LawrenceF. O’Brien Gallery of the National Archives, 700 PennsylvaniaAve. NW, through Jan. 7, 2024. This 3,000-square-foot exhib-it showcases more than 75 items including original records,artifacts, and photographs. Highlights include original sportsequipment and jerseys gifted by star athletes to Presidents,early 20th-century tobacco baseball cards, trophies, rare pic-tures and lm footage, patents, and more. archives.gov.

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

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

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This Synetic classic, based on a Georgian epic poem, tells the ancient story of a family who takes in a lost stranger only to discover he is from an enemy clan, and their valiant attempt to save him when their village wreaks vengeance. Performed around the world, Host and Guest is a timely and relevant tale of war, strife, the beliefs that tear us apart, and the humanity that brings us together. $25 to $60. Host and Guest is on stage at Synetic Theater, 1800 South Bell St., Crystal City, from Sept. 12 to Oct. 2. synetictheater.org.

Anti-Flag at the Black Cat

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

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

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

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

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

Polyester knit overall: 185.42 x 175.26 cm (73 x 69 in). National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

Photo: Courtesy of Synetic Theater

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

“Host and Guest” at Synetic

An Evening with The Washington Ballet

JOIN US FOR THE 2022 ART ALL NIGHTART ALL NIGHT A FUN YET RELAXED OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THE ANACOSTIA ARTS AND CULTURE DISTRICT DURING DC’S CITYWIDE ART ACTIVATION - ART ALL NIGHT! FOR MORE INFORMATION ANACOSTIABID.ORG/ART-ALL-NIGHT-2022 Anacostia Drive Thru Art Gallery · Love, Hope, Art Pop Up Gallery curated by renowned artist Luis Peralta · Neon Light Art Demonstrations with renowned artist Craig Kraft · Instagrammable moments throughout the business corridors (large picture frames and more to take photos in front of to Instagram or keep for your 2022 Anacostia Art All Night memories · Art Chill - Take a seat in an Adirondack chair, bring your blanket or your favorite outdoor seating and see artwork from DC artists on a huge screen that has been curated to music. · Silent GoGo and Saki and Soul food tasting at Check-It · Big Chair Discussion: Art of the Game - Discuss the artist’s role in the creation of online gaming · Anacostia Art Center Afrobeat’s Lounge · Paint and Sip at Busboys and Poets · Musical Walk: Second Line Band will start the evening with an Artist Helping Artist musical walk - Good Hope Rd., SE to MLK Ave., SE (Big Chair) · Free Pedicab rides make stops at activations Artist Brunch - Artists (visual artists, DJs, poets, dancers, etc.) come together to talk about art and enjoy good food.SATURDAYSATURDAYFRIDAYFRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23-24SEPTEMBER 23-24 FOR MORE INFORMATION ANACOSTIABID.ORG/ART-ALL-NIGHT-2022 E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE S EPTEMBER 2022 11

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

As the concluding event of Kennedy Cen ter’s 50th Anniversary celebration, Leon ard Bernstein’s MASS returns 51 years after its world premiere at the Kenne dy Center’s 1971 opening gala. Directed by Alison Moritz and choreographed by Hope Boykin, this monumental work will be re-staged in the Concert Hall and fea ture the NSO and conductor James Gaf figan along with 2020 Marian Anderson Award winner Will Liverman as the Cele brant. $29 to $209. Performances are on Thursday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 17, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 18, 3 p.m. kennedy-center.org.

National Dance Day at the REACH

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

Leonard Bernstein’s MASS

Photo: Courtesy of the National Apple Harvest Festival

National Apple Harvest Festival

Photo: Jati Lindsay

ON WASHINGTON

Idles at The Anthem

WHAT’S

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

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

From Thursday to Saturday, Sept. 15 to 17, practice your moves and dust off the dancing shoes for three days of in-person activities for National Dance Day. The three-day celebration fea tures free interactive dance classes, performances, live music, film screenings, and more from lo cal dance artists and organizations. Presented through a partnership between the Kennedy Cen ter, American Dance Movement (formal ly the Dizzy CongresswomanFoundation),Feetand El eanor Holmes Nor ton (D-DC), this an nual event invites people of all ages and abilities, from the littlest danc ers to profession als, to participate in a free celebration of the joy of dance and movement. Ev erything’s free but some registrations are required. Find the complete sched ule at ter.org/whats-on.kennedy-cen

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Virginia Wine Festival

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

Photo: Courtesy of Adam Stoltman

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

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Haley Heynderickx & The Westerlies at the Miracle Theater

“One Life: Maya Lin” is the first biograph ical exhibition of the architect, sculptor and environmentalist. Lin, who catapult ed to global prominence in 1982 for her design of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memori al, has spent more than four decades mak ing work that centers on history and hu man rights with a particular focus on how we experience and relate to landscape. Lin describes her practice as “a systematic or dering of the land that is tied to history, time and language.” The exhibition traces Lin from her childhood to today, present ing a range of photographs, sculptures, personal ephemera, sketchbooks, archi tectural models and images of her com pleted works. “One Life: Maya Lin” is on view Sept. 30 through April 16, 2023 in the National Portrait Gallery “One Life” gal lery, newly relocated to the museum’s sec ond floor. The NPG, Eighth and G Streets, NW, is open seven days a week, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. npg.si.edu.

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

Maya Lin working on Civil Rights Memorial.

Photo: Manuel Harlan, 2021

Westside Boogie: More Black Superheroes

“One Life: Maya Lin” at the National Portrait Gallery

Photo: Vincent Bancheri

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

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

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

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

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Nancy Robinette. Photo: Scott Suchman

ON WASHINGTON

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

The Good Doctor is a comedy, with music, by American play wright Neil Simon. It’s a series of short plays, based on short sto ries and other works of Russian writer Anton Chekhov, framed by a writer making comments on them. Before he turned to the stage, Chekhov wrote some of the world’s greatest short sto ries. By turns touching and hilar ious, they’ve been adapted for the theatre by the master of com ic dialogue Neil Simon. $50 to $60. The first three performanc es are pay-what-you-can. No res ervations necessary. The Good Doctor is on stage at Washing ton Stage Guild, 900 Massachu setts Ave. NW, Sept. 29 to Oct. 23. stageguild.org.

“A Trip to Bountiful” at Fords

WHAT’S

Kaia Kater: Roots Music at Hill Center

Anacostia Community Museum 55th Anniversary Celebration

On Thursday, Sept. 15, 6 to 8:30 p.m., see the faces that make up the fabric of our neighborhoods, as the communitybased portraits shared with ACM as part of “Portraits by the People” are project ed on the side of the Museum. Projec tions start just after sunset. In addition to interactives and giveaways, Soul & Ink will be on-site with limited edition inter active screen printing. The weekend of Sept. 16-17 is also the last chance to see ACM’s awardwinning exhibit: Food for the People: Eating Activism in Greater Washington. Take a deep dive into the food is sues of the nation’s capi tal—past and present—with this outdoor and indoor ex hibition featuring artifacts, art installations, videos, and hands-on interactives. ana costia.si.edu.

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Aetna is offering DC Government employees a range of solutions to address their medical needs. We’ve got you covered For more information, visit AetnaDCgov.com Aetna is the brand name used for products and services provided by one or more of the Aetna group of subsidiary companies, including Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna). This material is for information only. Health benefits and health insurance plans contain exclusions and limitations. Information is believed to be accurate as of the production date; however, it is subject to change. For more information about Aetna® plans, refer to aetna.com Aetna is a registered trademark of Aetna Inc. ©2022 Aetna 89.12.304.1-DCInc.(10/18) E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE S EPTEMBER 2022 19

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A jar of “flower” boasts of the seller’s I-71 compli ance and warns against consumption in public and on federal property. Photo: Andrew Lightman

A loophole in the law has hindered regulation of DC’s retail marijuana sector and engendered a prob ably illegal and rapidly expanding drug business that appears to be spiraling out of control.

This investigation revealed that 42 of the I-71 storefronts are in DC’s Northwest quadrant. Wards 1 (23), Ward 2 (8) and Ward 6 (15) house more than three-fourths of the I-71s Districtwide, and Zip codes

For a $60-$90 donation to the lawyers suppos edly a floor above – what is known in these shadowy businesses as the “gift” ‒ donors can walk out with a thank-you of 3.5 grams of the flower of their choice. At other similar DC businesses, which may number more than 100, the gift is a kid’s sticker normally cost ing pennies, a QR code giving ownership of amateur ish art, a “counseling”’ session, a tiny tube of CBD topical muscle balm or other meaningless and inex pensiveThisitem.sleight of hand allows I-71 cannabis entre preneurs to skirt DC’s law allowing only personal use and sale of medical marijuana. I-71 refers to Initia

of CannabisUnregulatedRetailers

A Capital Community News, Spotlight Investigation

tep past the Dick Tracy caricature on the sign advertising Street Lawyer Services and into the business at 409 H St. NE and you won’t find a lawyer. No lawyer’s shingle is visible anywhere, inside or out.

tive 71, approved by DC voters in 2014, which legal ized possession of up to two ounces of weed, cultiva tion of only three mature plants at a time and a “gift” of no more than one ounce of pot to another person over 21 years of age. Federal law still classes marijua na as a Schedule 1 substance whose possession and sale are a felony.

TheWildWest

“They’re upstairs,” the woman who greets cus tomers assures us in the brightly lit room, direct ing our attention away from the art on the walls, the couch no customer is allowed to sit in and the largescreen TV on the wall blasting out “Without Re morse,’’ and toward an array of marijuana products known in DC’s burgeoning and unregulated weed in dustry as “flower.”

Capital Community News, publishers of the Hill Rag, East of the River and MidCity DC newspapers, supported by Spotlight DC, a nonprofit supporter of local investigative journalism, has identified 60 of these storefronts, 31 of which appear to be operating without a Basic Business License (BBL), which en ables consumers, employees and governmental off ials to identify business owners. 25 are operating without a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), which assures consumers the business has been certified as safe and can legally do business at its location.

by Kenneth V. Cummins and Sarah Payne

A Legally, Licensed DC Medical HistoricDispensaryCannabisInAnacostia Convenient from SW Waterfront Close to Navy Yard Ball Park 5 minutes from Capitol Hill/Eastern Market Exit 1C 295-S | Exit 5C 295-N 10 Minutes from downtown DC FREE on-the-spot self-certification (For DC residents only 21+, no doctor required) Proudly serving patients from all U.S. States and U.S. territories with a medical cannabis card. 2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE WDC 20020 202.845.8574 | @anacostiaorganicsanacostiaorganics.com 100% WOMANBLACKOWNED OVER 50+ years of experience FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS 10 % OFF Exp. 09/30/2022 *New Clients only. SERVICE ROOFING & GUTTERS FLAT ROOFNEWSPECIALISTSROOFS EXPERTS IN PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ROOF COATINGS AND REPAIR ALL TYPES OF GUTTERS/DOWNSPOUTSROOFINGCHIMNEYREPAIRS BRICK AND MASONRYBLOWN-INBRICKWATERPROOFINGTUCKPOINTINGINSULATION FREE ESTIMATES FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED 202-262-4168 I HstewartRoofing.com LICENSED BONDED INSURED Check us out on Thumbtack and HomeAdvisor 202-333-1310 www.polarbearairconditioning.com Specializing in: Equipment: Change outs & Complete Ductwork Systems + High Velocity Systems WE SERVICE & INSTALL ALL MAKES & MODELS • Residential & Light Commercial • Roof Top Package Units • Highly Experienced Technicians • Low Prices • Free Estimates On Replacements • Convenient Financing • Licensed, Bonded & Insured FAST SERVICE FAST INSTALLATION Serving Washington DC Since 2001 SAVE! SAVE! RebatesDCSEUAvailable 10% OFF LIST PRICE ON ANY EQUIPMENT*Exp.09/30/2022INSTALLATIONS $25 OFF Any Service *Exp.09/30/2022Call 18 Month, 0% Interest Financing All Credit Cards Accepted E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE S EPTEMBER 2022 21

of these cars with Maryland and Virginia tags come o the highway, go down H Street and then go right back out again,” Silverman notes.

MASS.CONN.AVE.AVE.NW MASS.AVE.SE MACOMB ST. NW WISC.AVE. M ST. NW PENN.SEST.11AVE.SE11ST.NE H ST. NE E. CAPITOL STSTCAPITOLS.N.CAPITOLST. 12ST.NE OTIS ST. NE RHODEIS.AVENEFLA.AVENEN.J.AVENW N.Y.AVE.NE5ST.NEGEORGIANWST.6AVE.U ST. NW NEWTON ST. NW MERIDIANPL. EUCLID ST. TAYLOR ST. NW PARK RD. COLUMBIARD. NWST.10 F ST. NW NWST.14 18ST.NW V ST. SE MLKAVE. MALCOM X AVE. CONSTITUTION AVE NW 18 H STREET NE CORR. U STREET NW CORR. GEORGIA AVE CORR.

H Street and attract street drug dealers who peddle their illicit wares or prey on patrons headed to the I-71s or to legitimate bars, restaurants and other businesses.

According to Saleem, landlords who lost tenants during the pandemic and faced mortgage and tax payments are succumbing to offers from the I-71s to pay two or three times the going rent. “These businesses have more cash and they can pay higher rents,” says Saleem. “We are losing our H Street vibe.”

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Caveat Emptor

Anwar Saleem, executive director of H Street MainStreet, con rms Silverman’s observation and warns that the popular nightlife corridor is being turned into DC’s version of Amsterdam. Saleem says 15 I-71s currently operate on

“It’s really upsetting,” says Linda Mercado Greene, owner of Anacostia Organics, one of seven licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in the District and a national leader in the movement to legalize marijuana. “We lost 60% of our business last year.”

20001 (12), 20002 (14) and 20009 (11) are home to more than At60%.one point, nearly a dozen of these storefronts populated a 10-block section of H Street NE, a popular nightlife corridor that draws customers from the whole Metro area. At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman (I) lives two blocks from the popular H Street corridor. “I see all

Map by Jason Yen, CCN, Inc.

Sincelicense.”theI-71s appear to have em ployees, they also are required to ob tain workers comp insurance and to pay state and federal withholding and un employment. Paying workers under the table to avoid these taxes and fees is il legal, Loots says. The DC Department of Employment Services has regulatory authority over these violations.

Absence of a BBL, corporate or LLC registration and/or a C of O, Loots acknowledges, makes it much more dif ficult to pursue consumer protection claims when injuries or illness result from a visit to these stores or use of the products sold.

Greene said the same is true for the six other legally licensed and reg ulated medical dispensaries. She bas es her claim on statistics compiled and published by New Frontier Data, con sidered to be the Bible of the cannabis industry nationwide, and data from the DC Alcoholic Beverage and Regulation Administration (ABRA), which reg ulates legal dispensaries and licensed growers.“We have to pay so many fees, have tons of regulatory compliance, and they [the I-71s] don’t have to adhere at all,” Greene says. “The legal cannabis in dustry is tightly, tightly regulated. We pay a lot of taxes. We have to pay for security, background checks, workers compensation. Why are we re-upping our licenses every year when we can just go out and open up?”

This investigation found that some of the 29 to 35 I-71s displaying BBLs and/or C of Os ‒ and, in some instanc es, food handling certificates from the

Capitol Hill attorney James Loots, who specializes in steering business cli ents through the DC regulatory maze, says, “Normally a business needs a tax registration (with the IRS and the DC Office of Tax and Revenue), registra tion with DCRA as a corporation, lim ited liability company or sole propri etorship, and, in most cases, a basic business

E ast of th E R iv ER M agazin E s E pt EM b ER 2022 23

DC Department of Health (DOH) ‒managed to get them without meeting the requirements Loots cited above and without apparent oversight from regulatoryWhenagencies.askedif the DC Department of Consum er and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has sanctioned I71s, Daniel Weaver, chief of staff for DCRA, which issues BBLs and C of Os and reg isters DC business entities, sidestepped the question. “When a complaint is re ceived about a business, we do open up an investigation based on that complaint,” Weaver replied. “All busi nesses in DC are required to have business licenses,” WeaverUponadded.entering the up stairs Capitol Budz shop at 607 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, the customer cannot escape noticing the BBL, C of O and DOH certifications dis

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

CannabisPayneshops

often occupy the upper floors along retail corridors. Here Gifted Curators, an I-71 business, is perched above a Subway.

E astofth E R iv ER DCN E ws C om24

Photo: Sarah Payne

played prominently on the wall. But the locked cases of brightly colored cannabis edibles, plus the pre-rolls (joints, or marijuana cigarettes) and

Photo: Sarah

The Gift That Keeps Giving

Only the licensed, legal dispensa ries can stock more than two ounces at any given moment. Medical dispensary owners report commonly keeping eight to 10 pounds of weed in inventory.

E ast of th E R iv ER M agazin E s E pt EM b ER 2022 25

Zukerberg doesn’t mind that the gifting provision has become a loop hole in the law big enough to pull the entire District of Columbia through. “The cannabis business is a $6 billion business nationally, and it’s run by momand-pop-operations,” he says. “Most of these I-71 shops are local entrepreneurs.

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

flower would indicate to any DCRA inspector that the business has much more on hand than the two ounces of marijuana permitted to be possessed under DC law.

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

Enterprisinggifts.”

Attorney Paul Zukerberg led the ef forts to decriminalize marijuana in DC in 2013 and the passage of Initiative 71 the following year. Zukerberg said that although the gifting provision was meant to be “purely altruistic, eventu ally it became more like a barter situa tion, then if you can gift it, you can ex change

manner as they regulate alcohol sales. Recently, however, ABRA announced it will coordinate the Joint Cannabis Task Force, com prised of regulators from DOH, DCRA, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMA), Of fice of the DC Attorney General, MPD, Office of Tax and Reve nue and the Department of Fo rensicOnlyScience.personnel from DOH, FEMA, and DCRA will enter the shops for onsite inspection. Forensic Science will test products seized in inspections for contaminants and quality.Creation of the Joint Cannabis Task Force was an nounced Aug. 5, and business es got a 30-day grace period to clean up their act or dis appear before inspectors arrive.

neighborhood news

What happens is, when you get a more formalized system and the big corporations come in, the lo cal people get pushed out.”

“This is aimed at Congress,” observes political strategist Tom Lindenfeld, who has been advising the legal dispensaries on the issues posed by the I-71s. “DC is less likely to get adult use if it can’t prove it can regulate the illegal markets.”

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

It is difficult to determine the ownership of I-71s. 29 have not filed information with the DC government that might aid such an inquiry. 41 of the 60 businesses examined were owned by limited liability companies (LLCs). These corporate filings are used widely here and nationwide to mask ownership.

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

This viewpoint has led to lax regulatory enforcement and legislative oversight, observ ers concur. No agency contacted has been will ing to take the lead in addressing the problems of the local retail cannabis sector. The DC De partment of Health (DOH) originally was giv en jurisdiction over guaranteeing the health and safety of the weed sold in the dispensaries, but DOH officials said enforcement should be the responsibility of ABRA.

Photo: Sarah Payne

Regulating the legal market involves keeping out marijuana allegedly brought in from other states, a felo ny under both DC and federal law. Only marijuana cul tivated in DC by the five licensed growers can be sold, and only in the legal dispensaries. Dispensary owners report approaches by “sales reps” offering weed from “plugs” – as the cultivation sources are referred to ‒ in California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland and Oregon.

Using information from DCRA databases and so cial media postings, this investigation positively iden tified 12 owners of I-71s. Two are white and living out of state. “Just because you have a Black person behind the counter doesn’t mean the store is Black-owned and Black-financed,” notes Lindenfeld. Lonny Bramzon, a white criminal defense attorney and cannabis advocate, is a longtime Maryland resident who has practiced law in Silver Spring since 2004. He owns Street Lawyer Services, where the lawyers supposedly were upstairs when a reporter entered the place on the afternoon of August 22. Street Lawyer Services also has businesses in New York and Miami, according to Bramzon’s so cial media posts. Bramzon describes the business as a “marketing service,” not a law office.

Bramzon is as difficult to find in his main law of fice at 8720 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring as it is to find a lawyer at Street Lawyer Services in DC. He initially

ABRA officials resisted, at first, complaining they needed more resources, manpower and au thority to police the cannabis sector in the same

“Usually, people are already growing it some where before they open up a shop,” says Norbert Pick ett, owner of Cannabis, a legal dispensary in Ward 7, who reports being approached. “They already have the plug. That’s why they are opening the shop.”

E astofth E R iv ER DCN E ws C om26

Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyon McDuffie (D) and Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D), in pri vate conversations with colleagues, have argued that the issue of the I-71s is a matter of racial jus tice, according to one DC Council source, who requested anonymity. This view was echoed by the Democratic candidates for attorney gener al last

Opaque Ownership

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

Passing the Buck

Zukerberg’s vigorous defense of the current state of the canna bis business in DC has been ad vanced by many with influence. Critics and supporters of the ini tiative alike charge that District regulatory agencies under May or Bowser’s leadership purposely have ignored enforcement and al lowed these businesses to operate illegally, free of regulations and requirements of “clean hands” (payment of all back taxes) placed on other DC businesses.

“I am proud of the people who figured out how to create this loophole to act in a legal man ner to be part of the burgeoning market that’s go ing to be very successful,” echoed attorney Ryan Jones at the same event.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kenneth V. Cummins has been reporting on DC politics and issues for nearly 40 years.

accepted inquiries to discuss his business but cancelled at the last minute.

Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. ◆

660 Pennsylvania Ave SE 1718 14th St. NW Union www.peregrineespresso.comMarket JOE.COFFEE Order With Joe’s Coffee App GET YOURDELIVEREDBEANS E ASTOFTHE R IVER DCN EWS COM28

It’s a Wild, Wild World

“When the voters approved Initiative 71, nowhere in there did it talk about the creation of businesses,” points out Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D). “I71 was about the ability for you to legally grow in your home, legally be able to possess small amounts and legally be able to give a small amount to a friend.” “There’s no such thing as an I-71 business,” states Allen unequivocally. “It’s very creative branding, but it’s not real.”

E ast of th E R iv ER M agazin E s E pt EM b ER 2022 29

Getting the Lead Out

2) Private side Only Lead Replacements

neighborhood news

To DC

E astofth E R iv ER DCN E ws C om30

Options If You Have Lead Pipes

1) DC Water Initiated Lead Replacements

ing lead pipes for free--regardless of income, and plans to ramp up even more. Visit dcwater.com/lead-free-dcconstruction-dashboard for an up-to-date look at current and planned projects. Homeowners are notified at least four months in advance of planned work.

Water

How To Find Out If You Have Lead Pipes And What To Do If You Do

The DC Water Service Line Map is a great tool for determining if you have lead water pipes leading to your home. Credit: DC Water

ead water pipes leach microscopic amounts of lead into water, causing health issues, especially in children, pregnant women, and pets. According to DC Water, there are some 30,000 lead service pipes in the District: 10,000 lo cated on public space and 20,000 on private property. Lead Free DC was initiated in 2019 with a goal of replacing all District lead water service pipes by 2030. The program includes discounted (and sometimes free) lead line re placement for DC residents.

• Test your water through an independent lab or get a free lead testing kit from DC Water. You’ll receive the results in about six weeks.

If there are no capital improvement proj ects planned on your street, and you have lead pipes on your property but non-lead pipe in the public space (green/gray cir cle on map), you can apply for the DC De partment of Energy and the Environment’s (DOEE) Lead Pipe Replacement Assistance Program (LPRAP) that uses District funds to cover 50% of the lead pipe replacement cost regardless of income. Some residents will qualify for 100% coverage.

• On the DC Water Service Line Map at https://geo.dcwater.com/Lead/, enter your address to see if there are lead ser vice lines on your property, on District (public) property, both, neither, or if there’s no avail able information. A snapshot of Capitol Hill gives a sense of the prevalence of lead pipes: green indicates no lead pipes, gray in dicates lead, and white indicates where no in formation is available.

To determine if your service pipe is a source of lead:

If both the public and private portions of the water service line are lead (gray/gray circle on map), and no capital improvement projects are planned for your neighborhood, you can enroll in the Voluntary Replacement Program where you, the homeowner, pay for work on private property. DC Water will pay for all public space work and coordinate with you to ensure both portions are replaced at the same time.

learn if your household has a lead water service pipe, you’ll first need to understand a few basic concepts. Public space pipe and private space pipe (pipes that you, the home owner, are responsible for) are depicted in the diagram below. Credit:

by Catherine Plume

DC Water regularly re places lead service pipes in conjunction with other proj ects across the District, and this program is being ex panded under Lead Free DC. This year, DC Wa ter launched 150 projects across the District, replac

3) Voluntary Full Lead Replacements

DC Water’s Map may indicate that the type of pipe in either the public space, private property, or both is

John Deignan, Program Manager for Lead Replacement at DC Water notes, “The average cost of lead pipe replacement is approximately $200 per linear foot. That comes out to $3000$3500 for the average homeowner depending on the length of pipe to be replaced, and the installation of the new water connection into the house. The discounts we provide through both our District-funded lead assistance programs reduce those costs signi cantly. To date customers have saved $4.5 million in private-side costs with these programs”.TheSafe Drinking Water Act of 1986 banned the use of lead water pipes and solder containing lead, but half of all owner-occupied houses in the District of Columbia were built more than 79 years ago. While removing lead water pipes is the right thing to do to ensure your family’s health, it’s also an important when selling or leasing your home. The Lead Water Service Line Replacement and Disclosure Amendment Act of 2018 requires that any lead pipes and the results of any lead testing are disclosed to tenants or potential home buyers.

unknown. In that case, regardless of the program you select, DC Water contractors will dig a 4-6 foot hole in your yard to determine what sort of pipes you have and replace any lead pipe. They’ll also need to dig holes to place any lead pipe, so hold o on redoing that landscaping until after any lead pipe replacement activity happens!

Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, an urban homesteader, writer, and active member of the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club and its Executive Committee. Perspectives expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the positions of that organization. ◆

John Lisle, DC Water Vice President of Marketing and Communications notes, “Since the start of the Lead Free DC program in October 2019, DC Water has replaced over 2700 lead pipes across the District. That’s about 22 miles of pipe. As more and more residents sign up to have their lead service lines replaced, we’re con dent we will meet that 2030 goal of a lead free DC!”

WIDE SHOE OUTLET Men’s and Women’s sizes up to 15 EE Brands: Naturalizer • Soft Spots • Ros Hommerson • Propet Walking • Cradles • Easy Street 301-702 simplywide.com1401 Savings in store and online Lots & Lots WideShoesWidth All ComfortDay Limited Time simplywide.com SalesAll$10 off 4279 Branch Avenue Marlow Heights, MD 20748 WE TREAT YOUR PETS LIKE FAMILY! ANIMAL CLINIC OF ANACOSTIA Candace A. Ashley, DVM Serving the East of the River community for over 40 years! 2210 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE 202.889.8900 I doctorashleydvm.com HOWTOH EL P OU R IN VESTIG A TI ON HO MICI DE VI C TI M Up to $25,000 Reward ME TR OPO LI TA N POLIC E DE P ART MEN T VIC TIM’SNAME Charnice Milton LOCATION 2700 block of Good Hope Road,SE DATE/TIME Wednesday, May 27, 2015 9:40 PM CONTACT Detective Chanel Howard(202) 437-0451 (cell) Detective Robert Cephas(202) 497-4734 (cell) Homicide Branch(202) 645-9600 (main) DE SCR IPTI ONO F IN CIDE NT 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. e Metropolitan Police Department seeks the public’s assistance in gathering information regarding this homicide. 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 More info and recipes at: larrysweetcorn.comMore info and recipes at: larrysweetcorn.com 100% ALL NATURAL! NO added sugar, additives, coloring or preservatives The best corn you’ve ever had Available at IN THE FROZEN VEGGIES SECTION in the Whole Foods Section Now Available ONLINE @ E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE S EPTEMBER 2022 31

Turner Neighborhood Library, 1547 Alabama Ave. SE; noon, Department of Homeland Security Headquarters, 1547 Alabama Ave. SE; and 6:00 p.m., Martha’s Table at The Commons, 2375 Elvans Rd. SE. On Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10:00 a.m., Phillips at THEARC, 1801 Mississippi Ave. SE; noon, Emmanuel Baptist Church, 2409 Ainger Pl. SE; 4:30 p.m., Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center, 3200 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE.; and 7:00 p.m. (full orchestra), Fort Stanton Recreation Center, Avalon Playground, 1812 Erie St. SE. On Thursday, Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m. (full orchestra), Entertainment and Sports Arena, 2427 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. www.kennedy-center.org./nso

The District Department of Transportation

Dreaming Out Loud (DOL) creates economic opportunitiesfor the DC metro region’s marginalized communities throughbuilding a healthy, equitable food system. The fth install-ment of its Fall Annual Festival will take place on Saturday,Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 301 49th St. NE, behindKelly Miller Middle School. This year’s festival celebratesthe end of the farm season and complements DOL’s pro-grams. Featuring a mix of entertainment and networking op-portunities, the festival gives attendees knowledge about thesource of their food and an opportunity to interact with farm-ers and vendors while enjoying mouth-watering delicacies.www.dreamingoutloud.org

Includes New Ward 7 Route

(DDOT) has announced the release of the DC Circulator Transit Development Plan 2020 Update Final Recommendations. Proposed changes include the preferred alternative for a new service route for Ward 7 that will connect Deanwood Metro station to Union Station. The recommended Ward 7 route will serve destinations in Deanwood, Benning Road, Stadium-Armory and Union Station Metrorail stations. DDOT will host a virtual public meeting on the evening of Sept. 14 for feedback on thenal recommendations. The public comment period will close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. For additional information, project virtual o ce hours and meeting dates, visit www.dccirculator.com/2022-service-changes.

NSO in Your (East of the River) Neighborhood

Dreaming Out Loud Fall Festival

In celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, the museum has asked DC residents to submit images of themselves and their communities. Through Sept. 15, “Portraits by the People” will collect images from across the greater Washington area to capture a visual representation of the diverse neighborhoods and people that drive the city. Select portrait submissions will be shown on the museum’s social media sites and as building projections during the 55th anniversary celebration on Sept. 15, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. www.anacostia.si.edu/portraits

neighborhood news / bulletin board

Update to DC Circulator Plan

Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is on the lookout for people who are interested in serving as board members, starting in 2023. They seek individuals with a passion for their mission and, ideally, fundraising, nance and accounting and human resources skills. The Friends value diverse per-

Anacostia Community Museum’s “Portraits by the People”

Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens Seeks Board Members

E ASTOFTHE R IVER DCN EWS COM32

The National Symphony Orchestra’s In Your Neighborhood program uses the power of music to unite, empower and celebrate DC communities. Concerts listed below are free to the public with rst-come, rst-served seating. Here’s the schedule. On Friday, Sept. 16, at 5:00 p.m., Busboys & Poets, 2004 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE.; and 6:30 p.m., Oxon Hill Park, 1200 Mississippi Ave. SE. On Saturday, Sept. 17, at 10:30 a.m., Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, 20 MacDill Blvd. SE; and 4:00 p.m., Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. On Monday, Sept. 19, noon, Wells Fargo, 1545 Alabama Ave. SE; 4:00 p.m., Levine Music@THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE; and 5:00 p.m., Anacostia Neighborhood Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd. SE. On Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 10:00 a.m., Parklands-

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

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

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

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

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DC Open Doors

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

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

Visit www.DCHFA.org

E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE S EPTEMBER 2022 33

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

COVID-19

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

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

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

COVID-19

DC Open Doors

60 0 • WWW.D CHFA.O RG

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

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

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

COVID-19

Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)

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

DC4ME

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

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

Visit www.DCHFA.org

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

Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

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

DC Open Doors

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

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

Visit www.DCHFA.org

DC Open Doors

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

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

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

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

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down payment and closing cost assistance up to $84,000 combined. DCHFA serves as a coadministrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) firsttime home buyer program.

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

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

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

Four women drawn together by abstraction merge decades of creating in parallel universes into a uni ed vision. “Women of an Undetermined Age” synthesizes the improvisation, spirit, spontaneity, rhythm and experience of being black in two and three dimensions. Featured artists are Aziza Claudia Gibson Hunter, Gail Shaw-Clemons, Adjoa J. Burrowes and Sheila Crider. “Women of an Undetermined Age” is at Hon eur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE., through Sept. 24. The artist talk is Saturday, Sept. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. The gallery is open Thursday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. www.hon eurgallerydc.com

“Women of Undeterminedan Age” at Honfleur Gallery

From Sept. 30 to Nov. 5, Hon eur Gallery, 1241 Good Hope Rd. SE, presents a solo exhibition by internationally acclaimed light sculptor Craig Kraft. A Smithsonian instructor for the past 24 years, Kraft used neon light to create monumental outdoor light sculptures but now turns his attention to social and political issues such as ignored and unaccounted-for missing children, climate change, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump in American politics and nding hope against all odds. The opening reception is Friday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. www. hon eurgallerydc.com

With the District’s third monkeypox vaccination clinic opening in Ward 8, DC Health is encouraging residents to continue registering for a vaccination appointment. Upon booking an appointment, residents may choose which vaccination site they want to visit. Monkeypox vaccinations are con dential, and District residents can bulletin board

Valley Plac Arts LaunchedCollaborative

Honfleur Gallery Presents Emergency Neon Exhibition

On July 28, Mayor Bowser and the O ce of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development cut the

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ribbon on two 100% a ordable housing communities, Providence Place and The Strand Residences. The properties deliver 179 a ordable units in Ward 7, including 63 replacement units, through the New Communities Initiative. Providence Place is a 93-unit community with a mix of family-sized apartments located at 594 50th St. NE and was built on land owned by the Progressive National Baptist Convention. The Strand Residences, 5129 Nannie Helen Burroughs Ave. NE, next to the historic Strand Theater, includes 86 one- and two-bedroom affordable apartments. Both properties include units prioritized for residents from Lincoln Heights and Richardson Dwellings. 35 units at Providence Place and 28 at The Strand Residences are reserved for households at less than 30% of median family income (MFI), or approximately $42,690 for a family of four. The remaining units at both properties, 116 units total, are available to households earning up to 60% MFI, or approximately $85,380 for a family of four.

neighborhood news /

Neon Inkjet print, 2022. 8.5” x 20.5” x 4.5”. Photo: Relisha Rudd Awareness Rally, Washington DC

Ribbon Cut on 179 New Affordable Homes in Ward 7

ARCH Development DC has announced the formation of Valley Place Arts Collaborative, a producing and presenting project in support of Ward 7 and Ward 8 artists and creative projects. The collaborative’s mission is to promote arts, culture and the creative economy in Wards 7 and 8. This includes support of local art galleries and artists, promotion of creative arts and cultural organizations and individuals and technical assistance to arts and the creative economy. It will focus on presenting East of the River artists including actors, playwrights, musicians and more, as well as bringing programming to arts east of the river. www.archdevelopmentdc.org/valleyplace

Work by Adjoa J. Burrowes.

spectives and backgrounds and encourage all to apply. To learn more, reach out to FoKAG executive director Tina O’Connell at tina@fokag.org or (202) 494-0456.

Monkeypox Vaccination Clinic Opens in Ward 8

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neighborhood

Photo: Bob Creamer Photography

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DCHFA Finances 130 Affordable Apartment Homes in Ward 8

activities and visit with local vendors. Enter the National Arboretum through the entrances at R Street (2400 R St. NE) or New York Avenue (3501 New York Ave. NE). www.fona.org

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

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

National Arboretum Fall Festival & Bulb Sale

Live at the Library (of ScheduleCongress)

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

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, seen from road.

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency has closed on the nancing of Terrace Manor, 130 new apartment homes in Ward 8’s Randle Heights neighborhood. The community will be 100% a ordable, with all units reserved for residents earning 60% or less of the area median income. All tenants will have access to resident services including the Skyland Workforce Center, midnight basketball at THEARC and shuttles to the Village of Parkland Splash Park owned by WC Smith. On-site amenities will include a community room, business center, tness center, 24hour front desk, free garage parking, bike storage and enhanced security measures.

The second annual Arboretum Fall Festival & Bulb Sale is on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buy bags of favorite and unusual ower bulbs, enjoy family-friendly

Rendering: Stoiber & Associates

Jazz in Canal Park

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. (doors at 6:00 p.m.), the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, celebrates the 200th anniversary of Tubman’s birth and explores how the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Church Creek, Maryland, and the newly opened Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York, are protecting and sharing her legacy. Speakers include Ahna Wilson, superintendent of the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in New York, Chris Elcock, associate principal at GWWO Architects, and Deanna Mitchell, superintendent of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center in Maryland. $15 admission; free for students. Public reception follows. www.nbm.org

Opera on the Field: “Carmen”

How can the preservation of landscapes strengthen our understanding of our shared history? The story of Harriet Tubman’s journey from an enslaved person to a leader of emancipation to a giant of American history exempli es the power of individuals to a ect the cultural narrative.

Story District Celebrates 25 Years

Harriet Tubman: What Happens at the Intersection of Legacy and Landscape?

of Congress Thomas Je erson Building and all exhibitions are open for extended hours from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Happy hour drinks and snacks are available for purchase in the Great Hall. Free timed passes are sometimes required for certain events. Find the latest event details at news / bulletin board

pre-register for appointments by visiting www.preventmonkeypox.dc.gov.

The new Thursday evening series, Live at the Library, features special events with actor Frances McDormand in conversation with radio and podcast producers the Kitchen Sisters, the inaugural reading of US Poet Laureate Ada Limon and more in September. On Thursday evenings, the Library

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Air and Space Reopens

The Joint Base Andrews Air & Space Expo, on Sept. 17 and 18, is a family-friendly way to support the military and watch the aerial maneuvers of skilled aviators. Aerial performers include the Thunderbirds, F-35 Demo Team, Heritage Flight (F-35/P-51), C-17 Demo, US Army Golden Knights, and USAFA Wings of Blue. There is no set time for each per-

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

$10 Hamilton Tickets

Choral Group Ushers in Fall Season

There are 40 $10 seats o ered via Lucky Seat for all performances of “Hamilton” at the Kennedy Center. For complete details, visit www.luckyseat.com/shows/ hamilton-washington-2022Jul. There is also a traditional in-person rush, starting two hours prior to curtain time, for every performance except Sundays, when rush tickets will go on-sale at noon. $49 tickets will be available (maximum of two) until sold out. There is no guarantee of quantity or location. Service fees may apply. www.kennedycenter.org

Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) invites you to a Dinner Under the Stars on the arboretum’s meadow and a tented dinner in view of the Capitol columns on Tuesday, Sept. 20, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Spend a fall evening with colleagues, business leaders and government representatives. FONA supports and promotes the National Arboretum through education and recreation programs and events that ensure the arboretum’s research and gardens remain a resource for DC residents and tourists from around the world. Individual tickets are $350. To reserve a table or tickets, or for more information, contact Cathy@ fona.org or Calrich@fona.org.

former. Static displays will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Among other commemorations, this year’s Joint Base Andrews Air Show will celebrate the Air Force’s 75th birthday. Parking is at FedEx Field with free shuttle buses. www.jba.af.mil/Air-Space-Expo-2022

Dinner Under the Stars at the Arboretum

Co-Working at DC Public Libraries

Encore Creativity for Older Adults, America’s largest choral organization for adults over 55, welcomes new and returning singers to the fall session. Encore is a popular local choral group that sings an eclectic mix of music from di erent eras, and DC ROCKS takes singers back to favorite hits from the 50s through the 80s. Encore is accepting registra-

Tour the Floating Residences of DC’s Waterfront

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neighborhood news / bulletin board

The rst phase of the reimagined National Air and Space Museum will open to the public on Friday, Oct. 14. The museum will reopen with eight new and renovated exhibitions, along with the planetarium, the museum store and a new Mars Cafe. Visitors must reserve free timed entry passes to visit. The passes will be available starting Sept. 14. www.airandspace.si.edu

“Outside Forces” at Art Enables

Through Oct. 22, Art Enables, 2204 Rhode Island Ave. NE, welcomes independent artists and those from sister studios around the country for “Outside Forces,” an annual exhibition of work by self-taught artists. This exhibition began in 2006 as a way for DCarea groups working with self-taught artists to exhibit together. The exhibition spans all three gallery spaces, featuring artists from across the nation alongside resident artists. It o ers a selection of a ordable work in a wide array of styles. A digital exhibition is available online. www.art-enables.org

JBA Air & Space Expo

www.loc.gov/live. Live at the Library is part of a broader e ort to reimagine the visitor experience in new formats during extended evening hours on Thursday nights. www.loc.gov

DC Public Library o ers workspaces, events and workshops, technology, business resources and other exible (and free) workday opportunities. Each library has a variety of tables and chairs and lounge areas with outlets for keeping your device charged. www. dclibrary.org

BARRY FARMS 2321 14th Pl SE $322,000 2

The Department of Public Works Of fice of Waste Diversion is developing a comprehensive Zero Waste DC Plan de signed to reach Mayor Bowser’s goal of diverting 80% of the city’s waste away from landfills and incineration by 2032. The agency is holding a series of com munity engagement forums throughout the summer and fall to get input from residents, businesses and stakeholders. Zero Waste DC will identify and prior itize actions, targets and goals required to achieve zero waste. Over the next five months, DPW will solicit public input on how to meet the goal by hosting 20 community engagement forums across all eight wards and conducting two 45day public comment periods as well as a citywide outreach campaign. To learn more and to access the full sched ule of events and activities, visit www. zerowaste.dc.gov/zwdcplan.

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1506 23rd St SE $588,000 3

BENNING HEIGHTS 5035 Kimi Gray Ct SE $480,000 3

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

1110 Congress St SE $540,000 5 911 Alabama Ave SE $549,900 3

HILL EAST 16 17th St NE #331 $680,000 2

1416 22nd St SE #UNIT NINE $447,500 2

TRINIDAD 1306 Trinidad Ave NE $819,000 3 1826 H St NE $617,000 2

FORT DUPONT PARK 1501 Fort Davis Pl SE $375,000 3 543 Hilltop Ter SE $449,900 3

FORT LINCOLN 3470 Summit Ct NE #3470 $380,000 2

TRINIDAD 1028 Bladensburg Rd NE #37 $461,000 3 1229 18th St NE #101 $315,000 2 1645 West Virginia Ave NE #3 $749,000 3 u

Changing Hands

CARVER LANGSTON 828 18th St NE #201 $415,000 1

LEDROIT PARK 65 Rhode Island Ave NW #1 $820,000 4

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 717 Brandywine St SE #102 $135,000 1

1408 19th St SE $300,000 3 1429 19th St SE $510,000 2

DAKOTA CROSSING 3622 Comm. Joshua Barney Dr NE $630,000 3

DEANWOOD 119 56th Pl SE $280,000 3 5413 E Capitol St SE $401,000 3

CAPITOL HILL EAST 1631 Independence Ave SE $815,200 2

HILL CREST 2110 38th St SE #202 $100,000 1

NEIGHBORHOOD PRICE BR

KINGMAN PARK 222 20th St NE #3 $455,000 2

ASHEFORD COURT

DPW Seeks Public Input on Upcoming Zero Waste DC Plan

ANACOSTIACONDO

1422 Monroe St NW $1,195,000 4 700 Columbia Rd NW $1,100,000 2 760 Hobart Pl NW $847,500 3

FEE ANACOSTIASIMPLE

1922 Valley Ter SE $405,000 3 2344 Q St SE $595,000 4 3450 23rd St SE $405,000 3

tion for its 15-week programs that be gin in September. No auditions neces sary. The sessions will culminate in a free holiday concert that is open to the public. For more information and reg istration, visit www.encorecreativity.org or call (301) 261-5747.

IVY CITY 1204 Staples St NE $520,000 2 KINGMAN PARK 1622 Gales St NE $925,000 3 1634 F St NE $722,000 3 427 20th St NE $470,000 2

FAIRFAX VILLAGE 2059 38th St SE #102 $174,900 2

LILY PONDS 3346 Alden Pl NE $550,000 2 4118 Meade St NE $475,000 4

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.

Most Non-Compete Agreements Banned in DC

Beginning Oct. 1, the Ban on NonCompete Agreements Amendment Act of 2020 and updates from the NonCompete Clarification Amendment Act of 2022 ban many non-compete agreements and workplace policies that restrict employees in the District of Columbia from competing with their employers, both during and after em ployment. In exceptional cases noncompete agreements are permitted but must meet certain requirements to be enforceable. For more information, compete-ban-legal-alert.www.lawhelp.org/dc/resource/non-read

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CONGRESS HEIGHTS

1508 Mississippi Ave SE $790,000 6

Director Melanie Adams. Image courtesy ACM

While admittedly mostly operat ing in “pandemic mode” since tak ing over after the completion of the

At ACM’s helm since August 2019, Director Melanie A. Adams has spent over a quar ter-century managing community-based programs. Her arrival coincided with the muse um’s new mission now aimed at preserving “communities’ memories, struggles, and success es, [offering] a platform where diverse voices and cultures can be heard.”

For the museum’s 55th anniversary, Adams encourages the public to participate in the “Portraits by the People” project by submitting a self-portrait and personal story. The entries will be unveiled in a public celebra tion marking the museum’s anni versary on the evening of Thurs day, September 15.

A Reboot Starts With A Public Celebration Sept. 15

ACM remained active during the pandemic through cutting-edge public programs like “31 Men of Change” and “Food for the People” which were exhibited outside. ACM curators reimagined how exhibitions could be viewed while ensuring the public was kept safe from COVID.

by Phil Hutinet

Anacostia Community Museum. Image courtesy ACM

east washington life

ith over a half a century of community-based programming under its belt, Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place SE) con tinues to produce vanguard exhibitions that challenge the public to re think norms and to take action.

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New Leadership

Anniversary55MarksCommunityAnacostiaSmithsonian’sitsYear

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Pylons honoring food workers on ACM’s outdoor plaza. Image courtesy ACM.

Any anniversary is call for a celebration but as Adams’ explains, the main goal of the event is to “reconnect with and to celebrate the community.” And what better way to connect with the museum then by also being part of an

An urban gardening series will be Included in the. Workshops for children 10 and over will provide instruc tion on how to grow fruits and vegetables.

Visit the museum’s website at https://www.anacostia.si.edu. More information can be found at ACM’s 55 year celebra tion and “Portraits by the People” project, https://anacostia. si.edu/celebrate55. Event takes place Thursday, September 15 from 6:30-8 p.m.

A perfect example of this type of community narrative is “Food for the People: Eating and Activism in Greater Washington.” On ACM’s outdoor plaza, tall pylons and colorful sculptural elements invite the public to rethink the way they look at food and how we as Americans con sume it. The curated installation is part of the museum’s ongoing exhibition “Food for the People: Eating and Ac tivism in Greater Washington” which opened April 17, 2021 and closes September 17, 2022.

Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, DC’s alternative art source. For more information visit www.eastcityart.com u

On the Horizon—2023 Exhibitions

Adams’ experience in building community-based pro gramming dovetails almost seamlessly with ACM’s ongo ing mission as a neighborhood-centered learning institu tion. It stives to reflect its surroundings by centering its programming on the communities which it served includ ing unrepresented populations whose stories often go ig nored. Adams says that ACM will continue to “talk about the stories of the people who are furthest from justice. Our emphasis is local; the Mall is national. We are telling the local stories of the DMV.”

museum’s renovations in the summer of 2019, Director Adams brings an impressive 25 years of community-cen tered approaches to education and experiencing muse ums. Her career also includes a working as a mayoral ap pointee in St. Louis, Missouri with a focus on improving racial disparities in that city’s educational system. From 2005-2016, Adams led the Missouri Historical Society as Managing Director, overseeing 700 St. Louis communi ty programs with over 100 community partners. More re cently, in 2016, she served as Deputy Director for Learn ing Initiatives at the Minnesota Historical Society.

ACM obtained a grant from a private foundation to cata log and organize its archives with the end-goal of making them accessible to the public. Adams says that ACM “has a rich collection of African American art” in its archives. Much of that art comes from a half century of visual arts programming and includes regional artists’ work. Ultimate ly, she hopes to “make the archives more usable.”

The exhibit puts a human face on food production by showcasing the work of reformers, honoring food work ers, including farmworkers, meat processors, grocery store clerks and restaurant workers. By way of sculptural trib utes, the museum’s curators acknowledge and value food workers’ labor which made life possible for the rest of us during quarantine.

ACM exhibition! Everyone is encouraged to go to ACM’s website at https://anacostia.si.edu/celebrate55 and to up load their portrait and to include a personal story which will be used for the “Portraits by the People” project, which will be projected on the wall of the museum at sunset dur ing the Notcelebration.tobemissed during the celebration, Soul and Ink, a locally-based mobile screen printing shop, will be on site as part of the festivities. Attendees can be able to print custom T-shirts and totes which they can take home. Soul and Ink’s screen print designs will be custom made just for the evening.

Down the Road—Organizing and Catalog ing the Museum’s Archives

“Food for the People” not only challenges the public to rethink what they eat and how they obtain their food but who produces and distributes the food they consume. A detailed discussion of food accessibility addresses the dis parities seen in the DC region with regard to “food insecu rity” which the exhibition defines as “limited or uncertain access to affordable, nutritionally adequate food.”

Celebrating 55 Years

2023 will be the “Year of the Environment” at ACM. In keeping with its mission to create “a platform where diverse voices and cultures can be heard,” the Center for Environ mental Justice at ACM will open next year. The Center will show connections between communities and the environ ment as well as the connections between healthy environ ments and healthy people.

The center will offer a series of public facing programs and exhibits designed to engage audiences and provide ways in ways in which we can individually make a differ ence through personal action.

Food for the People

Soul and Ink Crew: For https://www.soulandinkcrew.com

On September 15 from 6-8:30 p.m., ACM will host its first public event since in-person programming was suspended due to the pandemic. Director Adams welcomes the en tire region to “Come celebrate with us!”

Meeting ID: 944 9344 8524 Passcode: 3275KC1

Where: 1-301-715-8592

As my life began to bloom, I start ed to prepare for my next chapter, home ownership. As prices in the Dis trict soared, my search for a home be came more pointed toward East of the River because it was economical and the homes were unique, especially in Deanwood. The community offered houses in Victorian, neoclassical, colo nial revival, prairie and craftsman styles, with front- and backyards. These homes were designed and constructed by Afri can American Purchasingarchitects.myhome on “the oth er side of the tracks” seemed like just an expression until I be gan to pack my bags. Throughout US his tory, railroads, high ways and other humanmade boundaries have been used to racial ly divide. In my case, moving across the bridge served as a symbol of separation between DC’s more affluent wards and those communities that have been histor icallyWhenoverlooked.Iannounced to my co-workers

Meeting ID: 944 9344 8524 Passcode: 6755143

W hen I graduated from the University of Houston, I decided to make the District of Columbia home. Shortly after, I landed a position with a prominent DC Councilmember. I was determined and ready to create change by working on Capitol Hill.

Where: Zoom.us

Simona Wright-James of Walk Yo Hood, Val Saurez of Positive Chalk DC and the author (L-R) pose in front of the famous mural in Marvin Gaye Park in Ward 7 at Porchfest DC.

that I would be moving away from the Hill, their responses were telling. “Why leave the Hill when everything you need is right here?” “Are you sure you want to live across the bridge? It’s really un safe.” Although most of my colleagues had never ventured east of the river, nor did they have mentionable relations with the people there, they pushed a false nar rative that did not reflect the lives nor the experiences of the people that called Wards 7 and 8 Deanwoodhome.was established by a white slaveholder named Levi Sheriff. He divided his land between his three daughters, Margaret Lowrie, Emmeline Sheriff and Mary Cornelia Dean. The three subdivisions were named Whit tingham, Lincoln Heights and Burrville. These communities later came to be known as WhenDeanwood.myrealtor showed me a home for sale in this historic commu

by Leniqua’dominique Jenkins

The Eastsider

3rd Tuesday of each Month at 7:00 pm Next Meeting: September 20, 2022

ALL AREANC-8BWELCOME

Dial in by Phone:

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Monthly Community Meetings

Join Zoom Meeting by Video:

Leniqua’dominique Jenkins holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the Universi ty of Houston and has worked on Capitol Hill and in Africa, India and Spain. She is a pre school teacher at a language submersion school in Ward 7. u

n 1984, I was a volunteer in Jesse Jackson’s campaign for president and was registering voters and circulating petitions to qualify Rev. Jackson’s dele gate slate for the ballot in the Dem ocratic primary. One evening, when I was petitioning in the Martin Lu ther King Jr. Avenue business cor ridor, I decided to check out the Players Lounge, 2737 MLK Jr. Ave. SE, a bar and restaurant that I had never visited. I entered and saw a long bar to my right and to my left booths of lively diners enjoying their plates of soul food and the R&B on the jukebox.

As a Players Lounge regular, I have vivid memories of Marion Barry singing “Papa Was a Roll ing Stone” at the weekly karaoke, Rev. Al Sharpton stopping by for dinner, Washington footballers Art Monk and Charles Mann having lunch, Donna Brazile chilling out after a day managing Eleanor Holmes Nor ton’s first campaign for Congress and the countless po litical events and birthday parties. It has been the site for various activities, and Steve Thompson’s S&G Cater ing has been a constant positive force in the community.

Players Lounge immediately became my favorite res taurant and nightspot. Fast forward 38 years and it still is. The strip shows ended years ago, but the food is still fantastic, affordable and plentiful.

My neighborhood is one of the Dis trict’s oldest African American commu nities. Located in Ward 7, it is consid ered the greenest ward in DC. I spend a lot of my free time enjoying green spaces or exploring the 15 cultural and histor ical landmarks that have been identified by Cultural Tourism DC. Deanwood is home to Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Garden, a state-of-the-art recreational center with an indoor pool and Marvin Gaye Park, the longest municipal park in DC.My neighborhood has nothing like the incidents of crime that are often am plified by media outlets. It is a commu nity with a history of resilience and selfsufficiency. This history is remembered through the works, activism and histo ry of my ancestors. The Strand Theater was the first motion picture theater open to African Americans east of the Anacos tia. It was home to the National Train ing School for Girls, founded by Nannie Helen Burroughs, a place of residence to activist and songwriter Marvin Gaye and skilled architects and contractors like H.D Woodson. It is a safe and resource richOvercommunity.adecade later, I am more excit ed than ever by my decision to move from Capitol Hill to Deanwood. My commu nity is historically rich, with unique green spaces and important landmarks. Homeownership is an accomplishment, no matter the ward.

The Old Man of Anacostia Players Lounge Turns 50

Players Lounge has hosted political fundraisers and benefits for youths and other worthy community causes. It has hosted memorial services, repasts, free Thanks giving dinner for the homeless and delivered free food to the sick and shut in. The former strip club was once even the site of Sunday church services. Although, during recent years, some folks refer to the business as George na’s Restaurant, for the old timers it is and will always be PlayersTheLounge.restaurant and bar business is challenging. For an establishment to be around for half a century is tru ly remarkable, but Steve and Georgene Thompson have the right stuff. Players is an iconic institution in Ward 8. Stop by this month and raise a toast to the owners, staff and customers of the oldest bar and restaurant east of the river. And order some food.

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

by Philip Pannell

Players Lounge owner Steve Thompson and the author.

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ing for good food. It is indisputably the oldest restaurant and bar east of theTheriver.people who go to Play ers Lounge are as flavorful as the food and as soulful as the music. Don’t worry about the decor, the people are the atmosphere. It is the “Cheers” of Ward 8.

This month Steve Thompson will celebrate his 50th year as the co-owner of Players Lounge along with his charming wife Georgene. In 1972, Steve purchased the business, then named Massie’s Cavern, and, as they say, the rest is history. Over the years it has become a water ing hole for community activists, a must campaign visit for politicians and the place to go if you are simply look

nity, I was ready to purchase. I fell in love, first, with the family-centered cul ture and, second, with the charm of the house. Deanwood felt like home because it is a closeknit community in the city. This charm reminded me of my child hood down South but complemented my professional interest.

I asked the bartender if I could speak with the own er and was introduced to Steve Thompson. I became an immediate member of his fan club, taken in by his jovial personality. He showed no hesitancy in permitting me to register and petition his staff and customers. When I went to the second room in the rear, I encountered the entertainers, who unlike DC’s politicians had nothing to hide. They were strippers. When they were not perform ing, I registered them to vote or had them sign Rev. Jack son’s petition. That evening was the most enjoyable time I had experienced doing political work. After finishing my petitioning, I stayed, had dinner and drinks and re mained until closing.

“The Lion and the Mouse”

LEFT: The Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia displayed in the new “Destination Moon” exhibition, opening Oct. 14, 2022.

by Kathleen Donner

National Air and Space Museum Opens Renovated West End

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum reopens half of its flag ship building on the National Mall on Fri day, Oct. 14. Eight new and renovated ex hibitions, the planetarium, museum store and Mars Café open on the building’s west end. The museum has been under going a seven-year renovation that began in 2018 and includes redesigning all 23 exhibitions and presentation spaces, com plete refacing of the exterior, replacement of outdated mechanical systems and oth er repairs and improvements. Only half of the building will be opening, and great in terest in visiting is expected. Free timedentry passes will be required to ensure vis itors have an enjoyable experience. The passes will be available on the museum’s website on Sept. 14. airandspace.si.edu.

Hirshhorn’s Maker Morning: To Infinity

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

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Dawn Fox, shown here, has been creating dioramas that depict different scenes from books and seasonal themes.

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

For Beyond the Book, Dawn invited some of the diorama’s biggest fans to come help her create a jungle scene for The Lion and the Mouse. Watch the process on watch?v=9nfOkieyVmU.youtube.com/

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

Deanwood Library Celebrates

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

To Sail Around the Sun at the KC

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

Here is your chance to celebrate who you are, find other kids like you, and have some fun. There is power in numbers! Each month the third Saturday through Novem ber, 11 a.m. to noon, Unicorn Kids Club focuses on a different way to be different. Join other kids at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, for stories, making cool stuff, and other activities designed just for kids ages five through twelve. There’s a different focus each month: Sept. 17, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Kids Day;

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

NSO Family: Sleepover at the Museum

Unicorn Kids Club: Celebrate What Makes You Magical!

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Photo: Djenno Bacvic Photography

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

Jacqueline and Jason’s Block Party!

One-Time Back-toSchool Payment for DC ReceivingFamiliesTANF

President Lincoln’s Cottage’s Homecoming is a celebration of Lincoln’s decision to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation—at the very home where he drafted it. This year, it will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17. Celebrations include the Freedom 5k starting at 9 a.m. ($40 fee to run in the 5k) fol lowed by free Family Day activities featuring pony rides, pet ting zoo, face painting, and other activities for kids and fami lies. There will also be a 100 ft. Tot Dash for kids immediately following the 5k. The Tot Dash is free and doesn’t require reg istration. From 3 to 6 p.m., there will be a Jazz performance from the Petworth Jazz Project. There is a $40 fee to run in the 5k. Pre-registration is recommended. President Lincoln’s Cot tage is at 140 Rock Creek Rd. NW. lincolncottage.org.

District families who are enrolled in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program will be receiving a one-time, back-toschool payment of approximately $1,000. The Mayor made the an nouncement at a TANF Employ ment Program hiring event at the Frederick Douglass Community Center in Ward 8. For questions about the one-time back to school payments, contact the ESA Public Benefits Call Center at 202-727-

For the first time, Disney On Ice invites families to step inside the magical adventures of Walt Dis ney Animation Studios’ Frozen and Disney Animation’s Encanto. This adventure on ice transports fans into two of the most popular Disney films as audiences can sing along to their favorite songs while embracing world-class ice skating and aerial acrobatics when it vis its EagleBank Arena, 4500 Patri ot Circle, Fairfax, from Oct. 6 to 10. Audiences will see Anna, Elsa, Mirabel, and the Madrigal family live, as well as fan favorites Mick ey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Don ald and Goofy. Tickets at Dis neyOnIce.com.

outdoor games inspired by Jacqueline’s book The World Be longed to Us: sidewalk chalk activities, hopscotch, fort build ing, jump rope, double Dutch, and hula hoops. Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase onsite. ken nedycenter.org.

Disney On Ice Presents Frozen and Encanto

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Craft Kit To Go at MLK Library

Family Day at President Lincoln’s Cottage

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

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Bilingual Spelling Bee at Southeast Library

On Sunday, Oct. 16, on the REACH Plaza, enjoy a free, fam ily event full of activities and per formances to kick off the Kennedy Center’s 2022-2023 Performanc es for Young Audiences season.

5355, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

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

Oct. 15, New Kids on the Block Day; Nov. 19, Celebrate All Differ ence Day. anacostia.si.edu/events.

Hill Center Family Day

Jacqueline Woodson will narrate and share poetry with music by Jason Moran and The Bandwag on. The REACH Plaza will have

Photo: Courtesy of Disney On Ice

DC Prep campuses now Callforapplicationsacceptingforthe22-23schoolyear,servingstudentsPK3-8thgradeinwards5,7,8.Preparingstudentsanacademicallyandsociallysuccessfulfuture.202-780-5126 for more information or visit: dcprep.org 100 Gallatin St. NE Washington, DC 20011 www.bridgespcs.org I 202.545.0515 Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Scan this QR code to register for an information session or building tour Pre-K 3 through 5th grade Building a strong foundation for learning COME LEARN WITH US! ENROLL TODAY! Apply for admissions at: www.myschooldc.org or call (202) 888-6336 To register for the building tour or ZOOM Info session, call (202) 545-0515 or email Schoolinfo@bridgespcs.orgBuildingToursSeptember. 1 and 13 from 6 – 7pm ZOOM Information Sessions English / Inglés: September 13 and 27 from 6 – 7pm Español / Spanish: 13 de septiembre y 27 de 7 – 8pm PRE-K 3 – 5TH GRADE SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR EXPANDED ENROLLMENT IN PREK-3, PREK-4 & KINDERGARTEN E AST OF THE R IVER M AGAZINE S EPTEMBER 2022 49

The Jim Henson Foundation Grant awarded “Milo the Magnifi cent” is an engaging puppet show about an aspiring magician. This wordless comedy, inspired by turn of the century vaudeville enter tainers, is as physical as it is charming. Using stunningly innovative

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The Cabin John Kids Run is on Sunday, Sept. 25, 9 to 10 a.m. at Cabin John Regional Park in Potomac. In the interest of promot ing children’s running, this race is free to all runners 17 and un der. Registration is race-day only. Read more and get directions at mcrrc.org/calendar-event/cabin-john-kids-run-2022.

kids & family

Cabin John Kids Run 2022

Need ideas for how to talk about art with your little ones? In each box on nga.gov/learn/teachers/les sons-activities/pre-k.html you can explore artworks with your children, read books with related themes and try your hand at making some art of your own. Download the related coloring pages and cut-outs for extra creative fun. Let children’s interests and attention span set the pace for a shared looking and reading experience. Encourage conversation throughout your reading, not just at the end. Sharing thoughts and questions as they arise helps keep everyone engaged. Follow up your exploration and reading with a museum visit or a hands-on art making experience. nga/gov/learn.

Colonial Market & Fair at Mount Vernon

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

Photo: Courtesy of George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Milo the Magnificent Halloween Spooktacular

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

NGA’s Art Tales for Pre-K

Opera on the Family-FriendlyFieldActivities

puppetry, Milo presents a variety of magic tricks which don’t always go as planned. Milo the Magni cent is on stage from Sept. 1 to 30. Witch Wartsmith hosts the annual Halloween Spooktacular and you get to vote on the winner. Part contemporary competition show, part vintage telethon, and part punpalooza, this spooky variety show will tickle your funny bone. Some of their contestants will change year to year, so come back to see old and new friends alike. Witch Wartsmith’s is on stage from Oct. 1 to 31. Both shows are at the Glen Echo Playhouse, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo and are recommended for ages four and older. They run on Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tickets are $15. thepuppetco.org.

Maryland Renaissance Festival

Isabel Leonard in Carmen. Photo: Scott Suchman

The Great Frederick Fair

Washington National Opera celebrates the 17th year of its most popular community event with a free opera broadcast at the state-of-the art soccer stadium Audi Field. Opera on the Field will present Georges Bizet’s beloved Carmen on Sunday, Sept. 25, 4 p.m. (rain or shine). Attendees are encouraged to arrive as early as 2 p.m. when gates open to enjoy the festive family-friendly atmosphere. The tion/opera-on-the-org/wno/home/educa-visitForchancescraftsportunities,localcludeentertainmentpre-showwillin-performancesbyartists,photoop-artsandforchildrenandtowinprizes.moreinformation,kennedy-center.eld.

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

The Maryland Renaissance Festival utilizes a story line and progresses each year forward in the timeline of Henry VIII, through all his reign and all six of his wives. This season the year is 1536, and as ever, the King’s love life is the source of gossip. The Maryland Renaissance Festival, a tradition for the entire family, runs Saturdays

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The Race for Every Child, on Satur day, Oct. 15 at Freedom Plaza, sup

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

Mt Vernon Pl. NW. Admission is free. Started in 1972, the Fair has become an effective student venue and continues to be one of the largest school fairs of its kind in the region. For fifty years, the BSF/LSF School Fair has provided a networking opportunity for thousands of families in the metropolitan area to meet with representatives from more than sixty independent schools. Par ents and prospective students get firsthand knowledge about each school’s programs, community, admission re quirements and financial aid process. In addition, the fair features interactive seminars focused on the admissions process, the financial aid process and personal/family financial management. Read more and register at blackstudent fund.org.

Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run Registration Still Open

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

and Sundays and Labor Day Mon day through Oct. 23, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., for weekends of thrills, feast ing, handmade crafts, entertainment and merriment in Crownsville, near Annapolis. The 27-acre Village of Revel Grove comes to life each au tumn with more than 200 profes sional performers on ten stages, a 3,000-seat arena with armored jousting and streets filled with vil lage characters. Over 140 artisans exhibit crafts in their own renais sance shops, five taverns featuring cool libations and 42 food and bev erage emporiums. rennfest.com.

ports children and families throughout the Washington area by raising funds for specialized medical care, research into childhood diseases, and impor tant wellness and preventive servic es at Children’s National Health Sys tem. Participants may register to join in-person or virtually. Registration is free. Registration gives you access to a personalized fundraising dashboard and the opportunity to recruit team members and raise vital funds to sup port Children’s National Hospital. Those who raise $30 or more will re ceive a Race for Every Child: 10th An niversary Edition t-shirt. All in-person 5k participants will receive a chipped bib. The 100-yard Kids’ Dash is a great way to encourage your child to be active and healthy. Just one block long, the Kids’ Dash route is on Penn sylvania Ave. NW, starting at 12th St. and finishing at 13th St. It will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. and participants will dash in waves, based on their age group. childrensnational.donordrive. com. u

Race for Every Child Kids’ Dash

The Black Student Fund & Latino Student Fund Annual School Fair is on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2 to 5 p.m., at the Washington Convention Center, 801

Image: Courtesy of Imagination Stage

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

Black Student Fund & Latino Student Fund Annual School Fair

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Baltimore’s Port Discovery Children’s Museum

Spies 2: Flight of the Hawk Imaginationat Stage

Oct. 29 to Nov. 20, join S.P.I.E.S. in person, where it is more interactive than ever. This follow-up to the online hit S.P.I.E.S. & the Lost Treasure of Atlantis combines live theatre and taped adventure scenes to create a collaborative and exciting experience where each audience gets to be the hero and solve the puz zles–and no two perfor mances are alike. Best for ages five to eleven. Imagi nation Stage is at 4908 Au burn Ave., Bethesda. imaginationstage.org.

The MCM Kids Run is on Saturday, Oct. 29 in Arlington, VA. Children ages five to twelve can participate in the one-mile fun run. Pre- and postevent hospitality, activities, entertain ment, games and mascots make this an unforgettable event. The Kids Run offers families eight start time options between 9:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Registration is $15 and is now open at marinemarathon.com/events.

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Across:XWORD 1. Popular tea maker 7. In it, no one’s ahead 14. Open-eyed 19. Dissonant 20. Mistaken 21. Finger or toe 22. West coast team 25. Powerful national cricket team 26. Electric ___ 27. Martini guzzler 28. Won __ __ nose 29. Near failure 30. It makes one hot 32. Angers 34. Record company or animal 39. Nutritionist’s g. 41. Aragorn’s love in “The Lord of the Rings” 44. “...___ will!” 45. Brings out 46. RX 350 for one 48. Boot out 50. One with a butter y logo 52. Rush 53. East coast team 58. Snowden tangled with it 59. Cocoon dwellers 60. Fragrant 62. “___ go bragh! 63. Horror writer 64. Exclamation 65. Grunts 66. Student score (abbr.) 69. First name in mysteries 71. High-speed Internet inits. 74. Drilling tool 76. Bright sh 78. Payroll ID, at times 79. “Can’t Get It Out of My Head” rock grp. 81. Napoleonic law 83. Unre ned rock 85. Copter or port preceder 86. Regular workers 90. Touches 91. Tanning lotion letters 94. NFL team 96. Halo, e.g. 98. Looker 99. Fulmar’s kin 100. Sound of delight 101. Shells out 103. Where small dogs sit, often 106. Good ___ 108. A Beatle bride 111. Port-au-Prince is its capital 112. “Pippi Longstocking” author Lindgren 114. Australian state, abbr. 116. Recipe direction 118. Pre x with pro t 120. Can material 121. “___ who?” 123. Path start 125. East coast team 131. On the ball 132. Grow together 133. “Golf, ___?” 134. Early Judean king 135. Dagger holders 136. Danish city Down: 1. Flavorful 2. Someone making amends 3. Domineered 4. Pre x with body 5. ___ Lama 6. Neighbor of Fla. 7. Daily riser 8. Like JFK 9. One engaged in, su x 10. Understand 11. Musical composition 12. Shedder of old feathers 13. Tarzan creator’s monogram 14. Pink Floyd “Remember ___” 15. Gandalf, for one 16. Ripen www.mylesmellorconcepts.com•www.themecrosswords.com“Teams” by Myles Mellor 17. Dry wine drink 18. Space invaders, for short 23. Poetic contraction 24. Weight abbr. 31. Famous sitarist 32. Family name at Indy 33. Kitchen counter? 35. Govt. housing org. 36. Volunteer’s words 37. Capone nemesis 38. Agcy. founded in 1970 40. Obliquely 42. Forested 43. Overseas money 45. Immediately adjoining 47. Arapaho foe 49. Quick haircut 51. Smooch in London 53. Cities 54. Beelike 55. Farm cry 56. O yonder 57. “___, vidi, vici” (Caesar’s boast) 59. Black eyed ___ 61. Compass point 63. King’s abodes 66. Cup surrounder 67. Chalice covers 68. How you buy a used car, often 70. Boat pronoun 72. Bohemian, e.g. 73. Single 75. Like a certain rule 77. “Tommy” rockers 80. Kind of child 82. Not playing 84. Southern soldier 87. Naval bases? 88. Electrical measurement 89. Travel lodges 90. Egg ___ yung 91. Cummerbund 92. Chrysalis 93. At no cost, in Germany 95. Column crossers 97. Red ___ 102. Pedro’s pesos 104. Tack on 105. William or Harry, e.g. 107. Car company founder Ferrari 109. Country 110. Greek theaters 112. Two-time Best Director Oscar winner Lee 113. King of the gods, in Hindu mythology 115. Twisted 117. Benefactor 119. Flat 121. Rogen of “50/50” 122. December 24 and 31 124. Eye problem 125. “I don’t think so” 126. Mrs. sheep 127. Start to monger 128. Refrain syllables 129. Like Gen. SchwarzkopfNorman 130. Philosopher -- -tzu ◆ Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com Tues, Thurs, & Friday: 11am -10pm Wed: 11am – 8pm Sat + Sun: 10am – 7pm 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE (Steps from Eastern Market Metro) 202-544-1059 • labyrinthdc.com Live and silent auctions for the hotter ticket items *Saturdaywillkickoffthesalewithauctions.Bidderregistration isrequired. A listofgameswillbepostedbeforetheevent. *Sundaywillconcludewith a rummagesale,withprices droppingasthedayprogresses. *Funds raised are used for Labyrinth’s community outreach programs, including a Teacher Wishlist Fund and community game nights. Sat. Sept. 10 • 10AM - 6PM Sun. Sept. 11 • 10AM - 6PM 10 TH ANNUAL USED GAME SALE!!! registration E ASTOFTHE R IVER DCN EWS COM54

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East of the River Magazine – September 2022

Articles inside

The Wild West of Unregulated Cannabis Retailers – A Capital Community News, Spotlight Investigation

Notebook by Kathleen Donner

Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner

The Old Man of Anacostia Players Lounge Turns 50