capitalcommunitynews.com • April 2011
Est. 1981
CAPITOL HILL
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
CAPITOL HILL
323 S. Carolina Ave., SE
1364 Taylor Street, NW
$1,099,500
$498,500 – Coming Soon! Todd Bissey 202-841-SOLD THE BISSEY TEAM
www.MouseOnHouse.com/13944
Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661
CAPITOL HILL
1009 K Street, NE
1007 K Street, NE
BRIGHTWOOD
6223 8th Street, NW
$699,000 – CONTRACT
$707,777 – CONTRACT
$386,777
www.homevisit.com/DC7530728
www.MouseOnHouse.com/13122
www.mouseonhouse.com/13581
Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com
Todd Bissey 202-841-SOLD THE BISSEY TEAM
Fern Pannill 240-508-4856
GEORGETOWN 1419 27th Street, NW
LD
Sun-filled 3BR/2BA in East Village is steps to Rose Park!
SO
$910,000
CAPITOL HILL
204 5th Street, SE
www.chriszimmer.com/1419NW27
$999,000
S
DUPONT
1520 16th Street, NW #201 $639,500 – SOLD www.chriszimmer.com/1520nw16
www.homevisit.com/DC7490443
Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com
D L O
Todd Bissey 202-841-SOLD
Stan Bissey 202-841-1433
Todd Bissey 202-841-SOLD THE BISSEY TEAM
D L O
S CAPITOL HILL
CAPITOL HILL
16th STREET HEIGHTS
FORT DUPONT PARK
WOODRIDGE
1414 F Street, NE
1011 7th Street, NE
$559,000 - CONTRACT Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com
$759,000 – CONTRACT
$839,500 – SOLD
$139,900 - $199,900
$318,500
www.chriszimmer.com/1011ne7
www.chriszimmer.com/1539UP
www.chriszimmer.com/4715texas
www.chriszimmer.com/3201Walnut
Todd Bissey 202-841-SOLD THE BISSEY TEAM
Stan Bissey 202-841-1433 THE BISSEY TEAM
Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661
1539 Upshur Street, NW
4715 Texas Avenue, SE
3201 Walnut Street, NE Stan Bissey 202-841-1433 THE BISSEY TEAM
“WHERE WASHINGTON SHOPS FOR A NEW ADDRESS!”® 225 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003
Tel: 202-544-3900 www.johncformant.com
Sales • Rentals • Commercial Leasing • Property Management • Investments
HOUSE TOUR SENSATION! 1332 Massachusetts Avenue, SE
106 5th Street, NE
633 A Street, NE
VICTORIAN CASTLE ONE Block to the Capitol! 300 C Street, NE
202-544-4236 phyllis@phyllisjaneyoung.com www.phyllisjaneyoung.com
SENATE SIDE SPLENDOR! 323 A Street, NE
Spring Has Finally Arrived, And With It A Bouquet Of Wonderful New Listings!! HUNTINGTOWN, MD THE OLD BOWEN FARM AT SANDY BOTTOM 1525 OLD PLUM POINT ROAD FULLY RESTORED HISTORIC HOME CIRCA 1832 PRICE REDUCED!! Lovingly restored three bedroom, one and one half bath farm house with wood floors throughout, formal living room, separate dining room, country kitchen, guest cottage/office/artist studio with running water, garage/barn with electric, water and wood stove. A large parking area surrounded by granite curbs and walkways. This home boasts two center halls with formal staircases, nine and ten foot ceilings surrounded by 92 feet of porch. Historic zoning allows for a bed and breakfast, antique or craft shop. The main house has the original woodwork, doors, wood floors and plaster walls. The property is surrounded by rolling farmland and is an easy commute to DC, Annapolis or Baltimore. $499,900
64 15th Street, NE Unit 64 Washington, DC 20002 The Car Barn!! Fantastic two level two bedroom/two and one half bath condo in desirable Car Barn.This gated community is steps to Lincoln Park and the Metro. Completely updated unit with hardwood floors, wood-burning fireplace, granite and stainless steel in the kitchen and a master with ensuite bath. Lives like a home--with the carefree lifestyle of a condo!! Plus one car garage parking! $515,000
Capitol Hill 1352 South Carolina Avenue, SE Grand Home On A Grand Avenue! Wonderful almost new EYA constructed home within steps of Lincoln Park and Eastern Market! The façade of this three bedroom, three and one half bath home blends perfectly with its historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. But behind the façade awaits a home designed for modern day use! The first floor features a guest bedroom with a full bath and access to the rear-loading two car garage.The second level has a sunken living room with a gas burning fireplace, a large dining area conveniently located off the gourmet eat-in kitchen. Two bedrooms on the third level include a large south facing master with a walk-in closet and a designer bath that will wow. Topped off with a roof top deck with absolutely stunning views!! Perfect for viewing 4th of July fireworks or fair weather al fresco entertaining! $819,000
Capitol Hill 222 Warren Street, NE Perfect Condo Alternative On Wonderful Warren!! Absolutely stunning two bedroom and one bath home on charming Warren Street. The first level features an open floor plan with a gas burning fireplace, exposed brick walls and a lovely modern kitchen with copious cabinet and counter space!! This sleek space is adorned with gorgeous black granite, stainless steel appliances and a floating staircase leading to the second level. Two generous sized bedrooms with custom designed storage systems and a modern bath complete the second level. The rear bedroom has a large balcony perfect for relaxing with a morning coffee—or enjoying the idyllic views of the deep rear garden. The rear yard/garden is one of the deepest we have seen in a long time. This area is broken up into three separate yet flowing spaces: a large patio for entertaining, a meandering garden leading to a potting/storage shed and finally off-street parking! $479,000
Capitol Hill 327 11th Street, NE Terrific Two-Unit!! A grand façade hides a wonderful two-unit property with a C of O. Great configuration with each unit boasting two bedrooms and one bath. Large open living/dining areas, updated kitchens, and flooded with natural light. Plus walls of exposed brick, wood burning fireplaces and large rear decks off the living area. Complete with a brick rear patio and off-street parking! Live in one and have your tenant pay half your mortgage—sounds like a win-win!! $709,000
Capitol Hill 27 15th Street, SE Purse Pleasing Property! Lovely end unit home, located in a well sought after neighborhood. This three level home boasts two bedrooms (plus an office)/one full bath and two half baths. Featuring hardwood floors, built-in bookcases and a fenced-in rear yard. $449,000
Capitol Hill 910 G Street, NE Exquisite Contemporary Townhouse!!! Tastefully finished 3 BR/2.5 BA end unit featuring an updated chef’s kitchen, hardwoods, new carpeting on the 2nd level, gas fireplace, fenced in patio and gated off street parking for 2 cars. Built in 1992, this home has been lovingly maintained by present owners and is sited within walking distance of Union Station and all the restaurants and shops on the rapidly expanding H Street/Theatre corridor.Washer/dryer, CAC, lots of windows and much more- get ready to fall in love! $599,000
Finding Folks Their Perfect Capitol Hill Home Since 1988 Proud Sponsor of Hilloween
202-547-5088
www.jackiev.com Allegiance
Licensed in DC, MD, VA & FL
202.255.5554 Coming, May 2011 On the corner, off the park, a rare offering not seen on the market since 1975. Stunning exterior consisting of two bays, fairy tale turret, perfectly positioned w/extensive landscaping. Immaculate brick pointing, true slate roofing, & 56 southwestern windows. An interior consisting of main and upper levels in excess of 3,000 sq. ft., plus an additional 1,530 square foot lower level, for an unbelievable building area totaling 4,500+ square footage of dramatic and functional space.
Not Just Spacious…
You could land a helicopter in this home! Not Just Light-Filled… Amazing effervescence streaming through 56 windows! 1217 C Street, NE Industrial Strength, Muscle-Bound Beauty Queen Just 2 Blocks off Lincoln Park! Extremely LoftLike...So like SoHo you’ll think you’re in NY. Rarely found 3000+ sq feet of living space, Both functional and emotional space. Both grand entertainer and intimate romantic lair. Massive Master Suite w/18’ ceilings and a bath built for 5. Lower Level Arcade of a Rec Room plus guest quarters w/3rd bath.
625 L Street, NE Live Like A Rock-Star 3 fabulously finished, totally tricked-out levels. lifestyle straight from the pages of a magazine. The first floor just keeps going and going, second and third are private suites with double decks Incredible Capitol Views. A home of MANOR proportion! (As In “Castle”)
Tom Faison’s Group are the Realtors you want working for you. Whether you’re selling our buying. We did both, in fact Tom’s Team helped us sell two houses and buy our dream home. We weren’t the first bid, nor were we the highest bid, but thanks to Tom we were the winning bid, and now we’re living in a house we never imagined we could have. Mark Segraves and Laura Rodger,1241E Street, SE
202.255.5554 Tom Faison Jesse Hagopian Tim Barley
202.255.5554 202.288.1053 202.577.5000
Sidamo Coffee and Tea
Organic & Specialty Coffees 25 Types of Loose Teas
• Breakfast & Lunch: Bagels, Salads, Sandwiches & Desserts • Daily Grind • Fresh Roasted Coffee Beans hours: Mon–Fri 7-7 Sat 8-6, Sun 8-5
Ethiopian Coffee Ritual Sundays @ 2pm
417 H Street, NE FREE
202-548-0081 www.sidamocoffeeandtea.com
A fun-filled summer enrichment experience One location, t wo exciting choices 2 hours from Washington, D.C., in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley Traditional American Summer Camp Coed Overnight/Ages 6-17 • • • • • • •
Visual and Performing Arts Sports Horseback Riding Aquatics Nature Outdoor Adventure and much more!
Performing Arts Intenstive Experience Coed/Overnight/Ages 14-17 • • • • •
Performing Arts Stage Productions Leadership Training Service Projects Summer Camp Activities
w w w.HorizonsCamp.US.com 540-896-7600
SOUTH CAPITOL STREET EIS COMMUNITY UPDATE MEETING The District Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration invites you to a public meeting to discuss the South Capitol Street Project. www.southcapitoleis.com April 26th 2011 Amidon-Bowen Elementary School 401 I Street SW • Washington DC 20024 6:30 to 8:30 PM April 28th 2011 Savoy Elementary School 2800 Shannon Place SE • Washington DC 20020 6:30 to 8:30 PM The purpose of the meeting is to provide the community with an update on the status of the project, provide an opportunity to review the preferred roadway and bridge alternatives, and to submit comments concerning the project. Please RSVP to Joseph Dorsey DDOT at 202-543-1231 or email Joseph.Dorsey@dc.gov or to Tracee Strum Gilliam at 202-550-6373 or email strum@pbworld.com.
Congrats To The New Capitol Hill Little League! Opening Day April 1!!
ACTIVE 132 12th St. NE $1,069,000 Charm & Charisma, 1 blk to Lincoln Pk. 4 BR, 4 1/2 BA, KITCHEN with panache, recreational basement, garage w/in-law unit.
SOLD:
COMING SOON
409 1st, SE 606 Kentucky Ave SE, Unit A
1212 G St SE - Fully loaded, upgraded, & functional 2BR, 1.5Ba with allure. Deeper than many, more enticing than most!
UNDER CONTRACT 317 10th Street, NE #11
Megan Shapiro (Cell) 202-329-4068 meg@megandgeorge.com
George Olson (Cell) 202-203-0339 george.olson@rmxtalk.com
www.megandgeorge.com Allegiance
The Norris Group
04.11
What’s Inside
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ineveryissue 14 16 130 138 142
Go ... See ... Do Washington’s Best Calendar Classified Ads Last Word The Nose
capitolstreets 29 32 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 53 56 58
Hill Buzz / by Anna Cranage Conathan The Bulletin Board The Race Is On: At-Large Council Seat/ by Alice Ollstein The Numbers/ by Elissa Silverman Hine School Redevelopment / by Amanda Abrams Where Will the Tracks End/ by Lex Kiefhaber Performance Parking Introduced to Ward 6/ by Lex Kiefhaber Knight Vision at Amidon/ by Donny Kirsch ANC 6A / Reasonable Accomodation Issue / by Roberta Weiner ANC 6B / Pacifico Gets Support / by Gwyn Jones ANC 6C / Walmart Gets Scrutiny/ by Roberta Weiner ANC 6D / M Street Traffic Problems / by Roberta Weiner
communitylife 59 60 62 64 66
Spotted on the Hill / by Peter Vankevich Profile: Leah Sturgis and Frank Solivan / by Pattie Cinelli H Street Life: Khan’s Mongolian BBQ Opens / by Elise Bernard Taste of 8th & More / by Sharon Bosworth South by West: DC United Considers Buzzards Point / by William Rich
realestate 69 72
History: Neighborhood Car Garages/ by Robert M. Pohl Changing Hands: Residential Home Sales / compiled by Don Denton
ARTSdiningentertainment Special 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96
Profile: Bart Vandaele of Belga Cafe/ by Amanda Abrams Zest: Great Food & Neighorhood Cheer/ by Celeste McCall Wine Guys: Burgundy in the News / by Jon Genderson Lola’s Adds Two Floors/ by Celeste McCall Dining Notes/ by Celeste McCall Theater: Studio’s New Hand at the Tiller / by Brad Hathaway At the Movies / by Mike Canning The Literary Hill / by Karen Lyon Art and the City: Jorge Garcez-Rocha / by Jim Magner The Jazz Project / by Jean-Keith Fagon
beautyhealthfitness 97 100
Helping You Deal With Heart Pain/ by Dr. John Maguire Daydream Believer/ by Ronda Bresnick Hauss
kidsandfamily 101 104 106 109
Kids & Family Notebook / by Kathleen Donner All Apologies/ The Embarrassment of the Public Tantrum by Anna Cranage Conathan Summer Camp Fun: A Directory School Notes / compiled by Susan Braun Johnson
homesandgardens 117 120 122 126 128
Beware: When Local Critters Come A-callin’ / by Rindy O’Brien @ Your Service / by Heather Schoell Ask Judith: Time To Get the Lead Out / by Judith Capen The Pro and Cons of Metal Roofs/ by Tom Daniel Dear Garden Lady / by Anonymous
COVER: Secrets by Robert Freeman. 24” x 30” giclee print on archival paper, edition of 200. $1,900 unframed. at Zenith Gallery. 202-783-2963 • zenithgallery.com. Freeman’s work is also at the Zenith 33rd Anniversary show ZARTiculation. April 2nd–July 3rd. At Chevy Chase Pavilion. 5335 Wisconsin Ave, NW
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HILL RAG MID CITY DC EAST OF THE RIVER FAGON COMMUNITY GUIDES
Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner melissaashabranner@hillrag.com
llergies: Two-Time Loser By Dr. David Walls-Kaufman
Last week a long-time patient of mine came in with his son. The dad was very excited: “Doc! My allergies are all cleared up again!” In a chiropractic office, we clear allergies up regularly. But this case was more fun and rewarding than usual because I had cleared up his allergies already. This happened about three years ago. At the time, he was shocked. “I called my mom and asked her if she ever remembered a time in my whole life when I didn’t get clobbered by allergies, and she said she didn’t.” It was his first time experiencing an allergy-free life. Stress events—mental, physical, chemical—do harm to our nervous system and create nerve interference. This acts like a bad cell phone connection that stops our brain and body from communicating and functioning as they should. Our immune system, that fights all our battles against disease, is hurt by this. Removing nerve interference lets it bounce back. But last week—his allergies were back! I gave him an adjustment, and told him to wait and see. When I saw him again with his son, he explained, “Almost instantly, as soon as I left, it did the trick. The adjustment cleared me right up.” Nerve interference that results from the stresses in our lifetimes is a silent killer. It gums up the body’s innate recuperative function. This can cause or contribute to any condition. You and your family can’t be fully healthy and thriving without a nervous system functioning free of nerve interference.
For the better health and life experience of you and your family Capitol Hill Chiropractic Center 411 East Capitol St., SE 202.544.6035 Serving Capitol Hill since 1985. ADVERTISEMENT
EDITORIAL STAFF
SOCIETY & EVENTS
MANAGING EDITOR: Andrew Lightman andrew@hillrag.com CFO & ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Maria Carolina Lopez carolina@hillrag.com KIDS & FAMILY EDITOR: Susan Braun Johnson schools@hillrag.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Mary-Frances Daly maryfrances@hillrag.com
Mickey Thompson • socialsightings@aol.com
HOMES & GARDENS Rindy O’Brien - Hill Gardener • rindyob@mac.com Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Judith Capen • judith.capen@architravepc.com HomeStyle: Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com
NEWS & NEIGHBORHOOD REPORTS ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
ANC6A:
ART: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com DINING: Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com HIT THE CITY: Kathleen Donner • kathleen.donner@gmail.com LITERATURE: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu MOVIES: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net MUSIC: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com RETAIL THERAPY: Scott Frazini • scott.frazini@gmail.com THEATER: Brad Hathaway • brad@potomacstages.com TRAVEL: Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com THE WINE GUYS: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com
Tanya Snyder • tanya.c.snyder@gmail.com Hunter Gorinson • hunter.gorinson@gmail.com ANC6C: Hunter Gorinson • hunter.gorinson@gmail.com ANC6D: Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com BARRACKS ROW: sharon@barracksrow.org H STREET LIFE: Elise Bernard • inked78@hotmail.com THE NOSE: thenose@hillrag.com LOGAN CIRCLE • mark@hillrag.com SHAW • shaw@hillrag.com MOUNT VERNON TRIANGLE • triangle@hillrag.com BLOOMINGDALE • bloomingdale@hillrag.com 14TH & U • 14thandU@hillrag.com ANC6B:
CALENDAR & BULLETIN BOARD HILL RAG, MIDCITY DC & EAST OF THE RIVER: CALENDAR EDITOR: Kathleen Donner calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
GENERAL ASSIGNMENT
PRODUCTION/GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR: Jason Yen 202.543.8300 X21 • jay@hillrag.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER / WEB MASTER: Jason Nickens 202.543.8300 X17 • jason@hillrag.com
Michelle Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com Heather Schoell • hschoell@verizon.net Tanya Synder • tanya.c.snyder@gmail.com Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Peter Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Kathleen Donner • kathleen.donner@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Paul D. Shinkman - pdshinkman@gmail.com Melanie Sunukjian - melsunuk@gmail.com Shannon Holloway - holloway.shannon@gmail.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Deborah Bandzerewicz 202.543.8300 X13 • deb@hillrag.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE: Kira Means 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Maria Carolina Lopez 202.543.8300 X12 • carolina@hillrag.com MARKETING ASST.: Giancarlo Fagon
BEAUTY, HEALTH & FITNESS
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Andrew Lightman DISTRIBUTORS: Southwest Distribution DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION: distribution@hillrag.com
Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Ronda Bresnick Hauss, LCSW • www.quietwaterscenter.com quiet_waters_center@yahoo.com Peter Sherer • Peter@expmatters.com
KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleen.donner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com
ADVERTISING & SALES
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DEADLINES & CONTACTS ADVERTISING: sales@hillrag.com DISPLAY ADS: 15th of each month CLASSIFIED ADS: 10th of each month EDITORIAL: 15th of each month; submissions@hillrag.com BULLETIN BOARD & CALENDAR: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
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.
PUBLISHER: JEAN-KEITH FAGON • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2010 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.
capitalcommunitynews.com 12 ★ HillRag | April 2011
H Street is Open for Business! Khan’s Bar & Grill 1125 H Street NE Khan’s Bar & Grill is the place for healthy dining. Load your bowl up and let our talented chefs cook you a delicious stir fry. 202.399.6010 | www.khansdc.com
3 Point Teks 935 H Street NE 3 Point Teks offers a full range of computer services including repair, security, setup, as well as software and hardware installation. PrePaid cell phones available
Picture That Photography Studio 905 H Street NE H Street’s premier portrait photography studio is the place for portraits. 202.544.0231
202.547.1007 | www.3pointteks.com
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 13
GO.SEE.DO. Shakespeare’s Birthday Open House at the Folger Library. OOn Sunday, April 17, noon-4:00 PM, help celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday with jugglers and jesters, music and theater performances, sword fights, birthday cake, and a tour of the Folger’s reading rooms and Elizabethan Garden. This family-friendly event is free. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street, SE. 202-544-4600. folger.edu
Unicyclist on East Capitol Street. Photo: Claire Duggan
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade.
Photo: Ron Engle 14 ★ HillRag | April 2011
On Saturday, April 9, 10:00 AM-noon (rain or shine) enjoy the lavish floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, and performers along Constitution Avenue, NW between Seventh and 17th sts. Standing along the parade route is free; grandstand seating is $17. After the parade, enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere of the largest Japanese cultural festival in the United States, featuring food, arts and culture, merchandise, and live traditional and J-Pop performances on four stages, including martial arts demonstrations. 11:00 AM-6:00 PM at 12th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. $5 for ages 13 and older. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
Frager’s Fourth Annual Spring Convention. Frager’s Hardware’s annual Spring Convention starts off with a parade from Frager’s at 11th and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE to the Eastern Market North Hall with an women’s drum band in the lead, kid’s school sports groups, the Eastern High School Marching Band and the BID following along for the clean-up. Captain Apollo is in charge. If you need repairs done on your house or are contemplating a renovation, the Convention gathers together plumbers, electricians, carpenters, contractors, landscape gardeners and other tradesmen who all want your business. Saturday, April 16, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. For info email Apollo@fragersdc.com or call 202-543-6157.
Glass Artist, Nina Falk’s nest bowl
Takoma Park Art Hop. OOn April 7-10, Main Street Takoma’s second annual Art Hop will showcase the work of more than 40 artists throughout the businesses in Old Takoma. On display will be a variety of art including wearable art, photography, mixed media, sculpture, jewelry, textiles, and painting. They promise to keep your self-guided tour of the unique shops and businesses lively with artist demonstrations, artist talks, music, street performers and kid activities. This 100% volunteer driven event which began on a paper napkin over lunch at Mark’s Kitchen is considered one of the best things to do in Old Takoma. 240-253-4229. arthoptakoma.com
Trout Fishing in the Yellow Breeches Watershed. Located in Southcentral Pennsylvania, the Yellow Breeches watershed offers some of the finest trout fishing in the United States. Fishing is a time-honored tradition here and endless opportunities exist year round for the angler. It is an ideal destination for a family outing or some peaceful time alone on the stream. To fish, you will have to buy a Pennsylvania fishing license for about $20 at any sporting goods store in the area. Your destination, Boiling Springs, PA, is about three hours from DC. 717-240-7812. cumberlandcd.com
Yellow Breeches Creek in Boiling Springs. Photo: Courtesy of Cumberland County Conservation District capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 15
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APRIL
HillRag CALENDAR CHERRY BLOSSOMS, GARDENS, TREES AN CLEAN-UPS
Fireworks and Musical Prelude at SW Waterfront. Saturday, Apr. 2, 5:30 PM, fireworks at 8:30 PM. Festival atmosphere with kids’ activities and food sales along the SW waterfront. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org Macy’s Cherry Blossom Show. Through Apr. 10 at Macy’s Metro Center. Thirty cherry trees each week, ranging between 12 and 18 feet tall, will welcome both shoppers and arborists alike, elegantly guiding them along the main aisles of Macy’s Metro Center. 212-494-4495. macys.com Anacostia River Earth Day Clean--up. Saturday, Apr. 9, 8:30 AM-noon. Kingman Island as well as other locations. For details contact swendel@anacostiaws.org or 301-699-6204. Help Clean-up Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Saturday, Apr. 9, Earth Day, 9:00 AMnoon. Volunteers engage in a wide variety of activities including invasive plants removal, painting, lily pond restoration, trash removal (land based and river borne), planting, pruning, and other duties as assigned. These activities require the ability to kneel, squat, lift, and perform routine gardening and clean up functions over a period of three to four hours. Volunteers are required to wear clothing appropriate for the work at hand--long sleeved shirts, long pants, and no open toe shoes. 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. 202-426-6905. nps.gov/kepa
Earth Day Celebration at US Botanic Garden. Friday, Apr. 22, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Join them as the USBG celebrates the 41st anniversary of Earth Day! Come enjoy a cooking demonstration with Chef Tania Mercer and meet with representatives of environmental organizations from throughout the region. Drop by and learn all the ways that you can make the planet a healthier place and become a more active steward of the plants that support life on earth. Free. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov Arbor Day Tour of the National Garden. Friday, Apr. 29, noon-1:00 PM. This year, the USBG will celebrate Arbor Day with a stroll through the National Garden to see trees and shrubs of the Mid-Atlantic region. Hear related folktales and stories. Please Note: This tour is held outdoors. They suggest wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and bringing water. The tour is canceled if it rains. Free but pre-registration required. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-1116. nfusbg.org Casey Trees Open House 2011. Saturday, Apr. 30, noon-5:00 PM. Join them for an afternoon of family-friendly activities, demonstrations, building tours and neighborhood tree walks as they celebrate the official opening of their new headquarters and National Arbor Day. Street parking and bicycle valet will be available. It is a ten minute walk from the Brookland-CUA Metro and serviced by the H8 Metrobus line. 3030 12th St. NE. RSVP to caseytrees.org. 202-833-4010. National Arboretum Spring Celebration Garden Fair. Saturday, Apr. 30, 9:00 AM4:00 PM. This early season shopping extravaganza promises thousands of plants, annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs for every
Navy’s Ceremonial Guard pouring water from the Seven Seas into the memorial fountains Photo: Courtesy of the United States Navy Memorial
Navy Memorial Blessing of the Fleet Saturday, Apr. 9, 1:00 PM. Passed down through generations of mariners and navies around the world, the annual Blessing of the Fleets tradition will be held for the 20th consecutive year at the United States Navy Memorial. Held on the outdoor plaza, the event begins just after the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. The centuries-old Blessing of the Fleets ceremony is intended to safeguard crews and ships from the danger of the seas through a traditional blessing given by a clergyman at the water’s edge. The Blessing of the Fleets’ highlight occurs when Sailors from the U.S. Navy’s Ceremonial Guard proceed across the Memorial Plaza’s “Granite Sea” to pour water from the Seven Seas and the Great Lakes into the surrounding fountains, charging them to life and ushering in the spring season. Ceremonial music is provided by the U.S. Navy Band. United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-380-0718. navymemorial.org 16 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Liberty North Community Market 100 vendors: Art, Crafts, Food & Produce Every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00-6:00 At the corner of 5th and Eye Street, NW Closest Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown
www.libertynorthcommunitymarket.com capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 17
garden. Plant experts will be available to answer your questions and assist you with plant selection. There will be garden-related items for sale, free lectures, free activities for kids and food vendors. Free admission. U.S. National Arboretum, New York Avenue Parking Lot, 3501 New York Ave. NE. 202-245-2726. usna. usda.gov Be a Casey Trees Volunteer. Casey Trees offers volunteer opportunities for individuals of all ages and skill levels. Everyone can play a role in restoring the tree canopy of the nation’s capital. Volunteer activities include: Tree plantings (March-April; October-December); Tree inventories (May-October); Tree care (May-October); Advocacy (year-round). You can volunteer once or often. Those interested in playing a more active role at Casey Trees, can be come a Citizen Forester by taking one of three qualifying classes each season – Trees 101, Stand Up for Trees or Tree Planting. Citizen Foresters teach new volunteers how to properly plant and care for trees and spread the word about Casey Trees and the importance of trees. 202-833-4010. caseytrees.org National Garden Tour. Saturdays, Apr. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 1:00-2:00 PM. Stroll through the National Garden to see trees and shrubs of the Mid-Atlantic region. Enjoy stories surrounding them and learn which would grow well locally in your lawn and/or garden. Please Note: This tour is held outdoors. They suggest wearing sunscreen and protective clothing, and bringing water. The tour is canceled if it rains or during times of extreme heat. Free. No pre-registration required. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202225-8333. usbg.gov
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD Scena Stages Irish Production of “The Weir.” Through Apr. 24. The story opens in a rural Irish pub where three local lads—Brendan, Jack, and Jim—revel in their usual high jinks. Soon they discuss the pretty young woman from Dublin named Valerie who has just rented an old house nearby. Suddenly, Valerie enters the pub with a male escort—and the trio of men swap ghost stories in an effort to impress her and entertain themselves. After a few more drinks, Valerie opens up and reveals the haunting secret behind her unexpected departure from Dublin. Her heartfelt and haunting story softens the brash nature of the men and ultimately exposes their true kindness, and puts them on a path of friendship and understanding that they never anticipated. In the end, The Weir is a rich human story filled with emotional ghost stories, as told by unique characters from the country. $25-$40. H Street Playhouse, 1365 H St. NE. 703683-2824. scenatheater.org
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Start The New Year in a Newly Renovated Home
Gross National Product “State of DisUnion.” Fridays and Saturdays, 8:00 PM, through April 22. $25, adults; $20, seniors; $15, students. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. For tickets, call 202-399-7993 or visit atlasarts.org. For information about Gross National Product, call 202-783-7212 or visit gnpcomedy.com. April at Star and Shamrock. Nightly specials in April to celebrate their first anniversary. Sundays, Blue Plate Dinner; Mondays, Trivia Night; Tuesdays, Family Night; Wednesdays, 1/2 price Reuben’s. 1341 H St. NE. 202-388-3833. starandshamrock.com
All Properties Listed On: BobWilliamsRealEstate.com ColdwellBanker.com CBMove.com Realtor.com
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Dinner & a Movie @ Johnny’s Half Shell Johnny’s Half Shell presents “A Place in the Sun” on Saturday, April 30th at 7 PM. Please ask about the Neighborhood Discount. Johnny’s is located at 400 North Capitol Street, NW. Make sure to make a reservation by calling 202-737-0400. Visit www.johnnyshalfshell.net for more information. St. Augustine’s Art & Spirit Coffeehouse. Wednesday, Apr. 6, 7:00 PM. Motherdaughter duo Lois Tett, gospel singer and Marie Compohi, orator and comedienne, present an evening of old school “Gospel Songs and Funny Stories.” Coffee and desserts, followed by audience Q&A. Free, donations accepted for artists’ honorarium. St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St. SW. 202-5543222. staugustinesdc.org
103 8th Street NE • $489,500 Run...This home won't last. Captivating 3BR/2.5BA Bayfront Victorian embodies Capitol Hill Character & Charm. 1811 Independence Avenue SE • $565,000 Park your car and walk 1/2 block to metro! Beautifully renovated ... high ceilings,bright ss/granite kitchen,warm wood floors ... 3br/3.5ba,finished lower level and off-street parking.
Music of Spring at Eastern Market. Apr. 2-3, 9-10, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. Alongside Eastern Market’s foods, arts and crafts, there will be upbeat, springtime jazz, world-beat, Americana, classical, and spoken word in the street, on the plazas, and in Eastern Market’s newly restored North Hall. Free. Eastern Market, 225 Seventh St. SE. 202-6985253. easternmarket-dc.org CHRS Special MeetingOn Hine Redevelopment. on April 5th at Maury Elementary School multipurpose room, 13th St. & Constitution Ave. NE (entrance on 13th St.), 6:45-8:30 pm. ANC 6B 2nd Special Public Meeting April 26th at Brent School 301 North Carolina Avenue SE 6:30 PM. At these meetings, Stanton-Eastbanc’s design team will present the revised concept drawings for the Hine site. Representatives of the development team will be there as well as the architects. www.hineschool.com
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109 8th Street NE • $629,500 Storefront office building,3 levels, 1.5 half baths. 908 Sheridan Street NE • $579,500 Southern Comfort ...Wrap Around Porch is an enticing introduction to large,spacious rooms within this newly renovated home.
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1320 Holbrook Street NE • $350,000 Semi-detached Porchfront w/ 3br/3ba plus attached 1 car garage has been renovated to please w/ SS/Granite Kitchen,Glass Tiled Baths,Wood Floors & Tray Ceilings. 927 Delafield Place NE • $359,500 No need to wait for perfection ...warm wood floors,accent/recessed/chandelier/pendant lighting,2 large bedrooms,3 full baths,finished lower level,large deck,yard & off-street parking.
Our properties have sold in less than 3 weeks at or near asking (if not, above). References can and will be provided. Former Owner of Burns & Williams Real Estate • Coldwell Banker’s top 2% in 2010 1st Qtr. Third generation Capitol Hill resident - dating back to 1918 • Selling Real Estate on Capitol Hill since 1977
34 YEARS EXPERIENCE WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF
202.543.5959 Visit www.bobwilliamsrealestate.com
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen at Corner Store. Friday Apr. 8, 8:00 PM. Multi award winning Bluegrass band. $20. 900 South Carolina Ave. SE. 202-5445807. cornerstorearts.org The Deep Sea Quest for Amelia Earhart. Friday, Apr. 8, 11:30 AM. The disappearance of Amelia Earhart is an enduring mystery. Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, vanished without a
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2011 SUMMER CLASSES FOR ADULTS & CHILDREN AT ST. MARK’S For Children Ages 9 to Teens Classes Begin Tuesday July 12 & End on Thursday August 4 The Children’s Classes Thrice Weekly: Tuesdays & Wednesdays – 4 to 6:00 pm Thursdays – 1 to 3:00 pm
Check our website for: Tuition information and Summer Adult Class Schedule St. Mark’s Dance Studio Artistic Director: Rosetta “Rosie” Brooks 301 “A” Street, SE (202) 543-0054 stmarksdancestudio.org
CCourtesy National Cherry Blossom Festival
Free Valet Bike Parking at the Tidal Basin In an effort to get people to the blossoms without their cars, the Washington Area Bicycle Association is offering free valet bike parking on weekends at the Jefferson Memorial during the Cherry Blossom Festival. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org trace in the Pacific Ocean on July 2, 1937, during their attempt to circle the globe. No clues—wreckage, an oil slick or floating debris—were ever found. Deep-sea explorer David W. Jourdan launched two expeditions in the past 10 years to find Earhart’s Lockheed Electra airplane. He will discuss his findings in this lecture. Library of Congress, Mary Pickford Theater, third floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE. loc.gov Southeast Library Book Sale. Saturday, Apr. 9, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. 403 Seventh St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary.org/southeast Solo Exhibit by Chor Boogie. Opening Reception, Apr. 9, 6:00-11:00 PM. Chor Boogie is an artist, a conceptual genius, a street romantic, a master of illusion and technique, Chor Boogie is an original. The Fridge, Rear Alley, 516 Eighth St. SE. 202-664-4151. thefridgedc.com Tik Tok at Corner Store. Apr. 10, 8:00 PM. Klezmer infused New Orleans style quartet, featuring a classically trained flamenco guitarist from Granada on the accordion. $20. 900 South Carolina Ave. SE. 202-544-5807. cornerstorearts.org The Last Full Measure: Civil War Photographs from the Liljenquist Family Collection. Apr. 12-Aug. 13, weekdays, 8:30 AM4:30 PM. Portrait photographs of the young men who fought in the Civil War, as well as their wives and children—poignant faces that gaze across time—are the subject of a major exhibition at the Library of Congress. Nearly 400 ambrotype and tintype photographs showing both Union and Confederate soldiers will be on display. Library of Congress, second-floor South Gallery of the Thomas Jeffer-
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son Building, 10 First St. SE. loc.gov The Capitol Reading Series @ Riverby Books. Apr. 12, (second Tuesday of every month), 6:30 PM. 417 E. Capitol St. 202-5434342. riverbybooks Bethany and the Guitar, Chatham Street, The Beggar Folk, Holly Montgomery at Ebenezers. Thursday, Apr. 14, 7:30-10:00 PM. Bethany has always loved to sing, but it was only after she began recording with her brother, Kurtis Parks, that she realized her passion for songwriting... $8. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Smithsonian Craft Show. Apr. 14-17. Featuring 120 artists, including 55 first-time exhibitors. $15. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. 888-832-9554. smithsoniancraftshow.org The Twilite Broadcasters at Corner Store. Apr. 15, 8:00 PM. Traditional music. $20. 900 South Carolina Ave. SE. 202-544-5807. cornerstorearts.org Emily White Concert at Corner Store. Apr. 16, 8:00 PM. Emily White stands out conspicuously from the pack, with her hushed, preternaturally haunting vocal delivery and bewitching sense of indie-rock-informed melody. $20. 900 South Carolina Ave. SE. 202544-5807. cornerstorearts.org Musical Mondays at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church. Monday, Apr. 18, 8:00 PM. Season’s “Musical Mondays” conclusion with a performance by widely acclaimed organist Timothy Olsen, who will perform a vibrant and varied program of organ favorites. Free. 421
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Seward Square, SE. 202-546-1000. chumc. net. 421 Seward Square, SE “Ruined” at Arena Stage. Apr. 22-Jun. 5. In war-torn Congo, Mama Nadi keeps the peace between customers on both sides of the civil war by serving everything from cold beers to warm beds. This shrewd matriarch both protects and profits from the women whose bodies have become battlegrounds “ruined” by the brutality of government soldiers and rebel forces alike. Inspired by interviews conducted in Africa, this searing play is an engrossing and uncommonly human story told with humor and song, revealing the immeasurable loss and hopelessness of war, yet finding affirmation in life and hope. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org Jenny & Tyler with Dan Krikorian at Ebenezers. Apr. 28, 7:30-10:00 PM. Jenny and Tyler are a husband and wife duo based in Nashville. $10. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Avi Wisnia with Jennings at Ebenezers. Apr. 29, 8:00 PM. Singer/Songwriter Avi Wisnia presents an eclectic mix of refreshingly original songs, finding inspiration in classic Brazilian bossa nova, acoustic American folk, 1950’s west-coast jazz, and contemporary pop. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Jazz Night (and fishfry) in Southwest. Fridays, 6:00-9:00 PM. Westminster Presbyterian Church. Local musicians perform and the Southwest Catering Company provides a fish fry 5:30-8:30 PM. $5/general; free/ children under 16. Modestly priced food. 400 I St. SW. 202-484-7700. westminsterdc.org/jazz. Blue Monday Blues. Mondays, 6:00-9:00 PM. Westminster Presbyterian Church. Local musicians perform, and the Southwest Catering Company provides a fish fry from 5:30-8:30 PM. $5/general; free/children under 16. Modestly priced food. 400 I St. SW. 202-484-7700. westminsterdc.org/ blues.htm. Petar Ralchev Quartet to Appear in Concert. May 14, 7:30 PM with a dance party at 9:00 PM. One of the great masters of Eastern European instrumental folk and folkjazz music, Petar Ralchev and his quartet will perform in concert. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Fourth St. and Independence Ave. SE. Tickets available online through Brown Paper Tickets until May 12 for $20 general admission ($10 under 18 and $15 for students) at bit.ly/ralchev-dc-tickets. Tickets will be $25 at the door. For more information, call Parker Jayne at 202-5490744. Spring Public National’s Ballpark Tours. Tuesday-Saturday (non-game days), 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. On day of night-time home games, tours at 10:30 AM. Take the Nationals Park Ballpark Tour for a behindthe-scenes look at Nationals Park. Over the course of an hour and fifteen minutes you will visit the PNC Diamond Club, the Lexus
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Presidents Club, the Stars & Stripes Club, luxury suites, the Shirley Povich Media Center, Nationals dugout and Nationals clubhouse. Throw a pitch in the Nationals bullpen. $12-$15. All proceeds from Nationals Park Tours will be donated to the Nationals Dream Foundation. washington.nationals. mlb.com
SPORTS, DANCE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS DC United Home Matches. Apr. 6, 9 and 21. $23-$52. $15 college night tickets available on Apr. 21. RFK Stadium. 202-587-5000. dcunited.com Tidal Basin 3K Monthly Run. Third Wednesday of each month, noon. This run is free and informal. West Potomac Park (meet on Ohio Dr. at West Basin Dr., near the Tourmobile stand). 703-505-3567. dcroadrunners.org Race to Stop the Silence 8K. Saturday, Apr 23, 9:00 AM. Also 5K and 1K kids race. Race to help stop child sexual abuse. Freedom Plaza, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. $25 ($5 for kids). 301-871-0400. stopcsa.org or runwashington.com Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating Spring Schedule. Fridays, noon-1:50 PM; Saturdays, 11:15 AM-12:15 PM; Sundays, 1:00 PM-2:20 PM. $5, adults. $4, children and seniors. Skate rental, $3. 3779 Ely Place, SE. 202-5845007. fdia.org Play Bocce (aka Lawn Bowling). Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Garfield Park, Second and F St. SE. Registration now open. First week of games take place the week of April 18. dcbocce.com Rumsey Pool. Weekday public swimming, 6:30-9:00 AM; noon-5:00 PM; 6:30-7:30 PM (adult lap swimming only); 7:30-9:00 PM. Saturday, 1:00-5:00 PM. Sunday, 10:00 AM5:00 PM. Free for DC residents (have ID). 635 North Carolina Ave. SE. 202-724-4495. dpr. dc.gov/dpr Roller Skating at Anacostia Park. Skate weekends, sunrise to sunset. This is a covered, outdoor skating pavilion. Free. One-hour free skate “rental” starts on Apr. 30 but sizes and supplies are limited. From Apr. 14-25, the facility will be closed for maintenance. During summer months, open daily. Go east on Penn. Ave. across Anacostia River and make the first right turn onto Fairlawn Ave. and another right onto Nicholson and then into the park. 202-472-3873. Free public tennis courts in Ward Six. King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St. SW; Garfield Park, Third and G sts. SE; Randall Park First and I sts. SW; Rosedale Recreation Center, 1701 Gales St. NE; Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis for one-hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr.dc.gov/dpr
Peter Frias Real Estate “Your Connection to Capitol Hill and Beyond” I’ve been representing buyers and sellers on the Hill for over 15 years, and I can help you too! 1% of my commissions are donated to Habitat for Humanity DC
1009 K Street, NE – UNDER CONTRACT - Another spectacular renovation from Nantucket Holdings! Everything brand new. 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, stainless and granite. Extra kitchen, bath and bedroom in the basement. OFF-STREET PARKING! Truly stunning! $699,000 NEW ON THE MARKET!
1414 F Street NE – UNDER CONTRACT in 5 Days - 3 bedroom with 2 full baths on three finished levels, lovely rear deck, and OFF-STREET PARKING! COMING SOON! mid-$500k’s
204 5th St., SE – SOLD – Former Two Unit Huge 5 bedroom, 4 bath, 4 level townhouse just steps from Eastern Market! $999,000
WWW.PETERFRIAS.COM PETERJOHNCFORMANT.COM 2027448973 capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 23
Tango Lessons in the North Hall. Every Thursday and first Saturday, take tango lessons in Eastern Market’s North Hall. Beginning lessons are at 7:00 PM; intermediate at 8:00 PM and dancing-until-morning begins at 9:00 PM. $10 per lesson. $12 to just dance ($10 if you’ve taken a lesson). tangodc.com Reggie Glass’ The Movement in Human. Apr. 23, 8:00 PM; Apr. 24, 7:00 PM. This project explores the intricate ways we experience one another and how we are affected by the life lessons we must face. Human is a dance theater work, choreographed by Reggie Glass, about people who work to let their past inform them as they strive for progress in the future. $10-$20. Joe’s Movement Emporium World Arts Focus, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd. Mount Rainier, MD. 301-699-1819. joesmovement.org African Dance Class. Every Monday, 7:15-8:30 PM. For adults. No prior experience necessary. Walk-ins welcome. THEARC. $10. 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org Yoga Class. Every Saturday, 10:00-11:15 AM. For adults. No prior experience necessary. Walkins welcome. THEARC. $10. 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org Mason Rhynes Productions & Joe’s Movement Emporium presents Late Night Expressions. Saturday, Apr. 30, 10:00 PM. This Late Night features AftaShock, Reggie Glass, Gesel Mason Performance Projects, A. Suttlar Martin and other special guests! $15-$20. (mature audiences). Joe’s Movement Emporium World Arts Focus, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd. Mount Rainier, MD. 301-699-1819. joesmovement.org
MARKETS Courtesy of Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals Baseball Home Games Apr. 2, 3, 12, 13, 14, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. May 1 and 2. 7:05 PM (Sunday games at 1:35 PM). $5, up. South Capitol and N sts. SE. washington.nationals.mlb.com East Potomac Tennis Center (indoor courts). Open daily. Indoor courts available year round at 70 degrees. 7:00 AM-10:00 PM. Winter indoor court fees are $17-$36/hour depending on the time. 1090 Ohio Dr. SW (East Potomac Park). 202-554-5962. eastpotomactennis.com Southeast Tennis and Learning Center (indoor courts). Open daily; Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM-9:00 PM; Sunday, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Four indoor courts. Six outdoor courts. Summer hourly fees at $6 to $10 for adults. Kids 17 and under play for free. 701 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-645-6242. dpr.dc.gov/dpr Tai Chi Class. Saturday mornings (except when it’s below zero or very inclement weather), 8:00 AM. Lincoln Park. Dr. David Walls-Kaufman, a Capitol Hill chiropractor, conducts this class
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every Saturday morning. Please dress comfortably. Free. East Capitol St. between 11th and 13th Sts. 202-544-6035. East Potomac Driving Range. Open daily except Christmas, 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Tuesdays open 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM. The East Potomac Driving Range features 50 covered and 50 uncovered stalls for year-round golf practice. $6 for 51 balls. East Potomac Golf Course, 972 Ohio Dr. SW. 202-554-7660. golfdc.com Langston Driving Range. Open every day except Christmas, sun-up to sun-down. In addition to the driving range, Langston has an 18 hole course, snack bar, pro shop and offers golf lessons. 45 balls, $4.75. 180 balls, $14.25. $2, golf club rental. 26th and Benning Rd. NE. 202397-8638. golfdc.com
Liberty North Community Market (new market). Open Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 AM6:00 PM. The market will have 80-100 vendors selling art, crafts, food, and produce. Fifth and Eye sts. NW. libertynorthcommunitymarket.com Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; Saturdays, 7:00 AM-6:00 PM; Sundays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM6:00 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. On weekends the market area comes alive with farmers bringing in fresh produce, craft and flower vendors, artists, a flea market and street musicians. 200 block of 7th St. SE. 202-5440083. easternmarketdc.com H Street Farmers’ Market. Saturdays, 9 AMnoon. Open Apr. 16 through Nov. 20. Parking lot in the 600 block of H Street. The market is a producers-only outdoor market offering fruit, vegetables, meats, baked goods, cheese, flowers and more for sale. freshfarmmarket.org Friends in the Market “Funky Flea Market” with a DJ. Saturdays and Sundays, 8:00 AM5:00 PM. New and used clothing, tools, furniture, jewelry, plants, soaps, art, CD’s, videos and electronics. 6th St. NE (north of Florida Ave. beside DC Farmers Market). 202-399-6040.
Dupont Circle Farmers’ Market. Sundays year round (rain or shine), 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times of London named the market one of the top farmers’ markets in the country. During the peak season, there are more than 30 farmers offering fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, cheeses, fruit pies, breads, fresh pasta, cut flowers, potted plants, soaps and herbal products. 20th St. and Mass. Ave. NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM. The crowd is as diverse as the items for sale! Antiques, collectibles, art, furniture, rugs, pottery, china, jewelry, silver, stained glass, books and photographs are an example of the available items. 1819 35th St. NW. 202-775-3532. or georgetownfleamarket.com Mi Tierra (Latino) Market at Unity Park. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (weather permitting). 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Unity Park at Champlain St. Euclid St. and Columbia Rd. NW. Mi Tierra market has 18 approved vendors that sell foods and crafts from their native countries in the heart of Adams Morgan. Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year. 7:00 AM-9:00 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722.
CIVIC LIFE Community Office Hours with Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. First Thursday of the month in Southwest and third Thursday of the month on H St. NE; both are 8-9:30 AM. All Ward 6 residents encouraged to come out and meet with Wells and members of his staff. Call Wells’ office for meeting location, 202-7248072. tommywells.org Congressman Norton’s Government-to-go in Your Neighborhood. Thursday, Apr. 14, 5:007:00 PM, Safeway Supermarket, 401 M St. SW. Get Answers and information on federal programs and policy such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and other federal benefits. 202-225-8050. norton.house.gov Hine School Public Meetings. CHRS Special Membership Meeting, Apr. 5, 6:45-8:30 PM, Maury Elementary, 13th and Constitution Ave. NE. ANC 6B Special Public Meeting, Apr. 26, 6:30 PM, Brent School, 301 North Carolina Ave. SE. At these meetings, Stanton-Eastbanc’s design team will present the revised drawings for the Hine site. hineschool.com AARP’s Southwest Waterfront Chapter 4751 Meeting. Apr. 20, noon, Riverpark Cooperative Community Room, 1301 Delaware Ave. SW. ANC Meeting for 6-A. Second Thursday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. 202-423-8868. anc6a.org ANC Meeting for 6-B. Second Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at Brent Elementary School, 301 North Carolina Ave. SE. 202-543-3344. anc6b. org
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ANC Meeting for 6-C. Second Wednesday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at Heritage Foundation, 214 Mass. Ave. NE, first floor conference room. 202-547-7168. anc6c.org ANC Meeting for 6-D. Second Monday, 7:00 PM. St. Augustine’s, 600 M St., SW. 202-5541795. anc6d.org
OUT OF TOWN
THIS EASTER SEASON…Experience Christ At
A Community Where Faith and Life Intersect
Earth Day @ Loudoun. Sunday, Apr. 10, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM. The Earth Day Family Festival, the official Earth Day Celebration of Loudoun County, will feature live music, Bash the Trash from NY, square dancing, kids workshop to build instruments, live wildlife exhibits, petting zoo, market place with local artisans arts and crafts, beer and wine garden, over 100 exhibitors; eco friendly products, services of all kinds. Willow Creek Farm by Clyde’s, 42920 Broadlands Blvd., Broadlands (Loudoun Cty.), VA. 703-725-8040. earthdayatloudoun.org Civil War 150: The Baltimore Commemoration. Apr. 15-17, all day. Patriotism, honor, slavery and civil liberties, these were the is-
sues that Marylanders faced in 1861. Baltimore, a divided city in a divided state in a divided nation, witnessed the first bloodshed, known as the Pratt Street Riot, in a conflict that gave America a “new birth of freedom.” Baltimore and Maryland commemorate the turbulent years in which the city was occupied and the state became a battleground. 410 Light St., Baltimore, MD. Find events listing on baltimore.org. Leesburg Garden and Flower Festival. Apr. 16 and 17, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. Witness the Historic District of Leesburg as it is transformed into a garden of delights! Walk through award winning landscape displays and shop for fresh flowers, gifts, trees, fountains, garden furniture, and much more! Enjoy lively music, and bring the kids to visit our hands-on art and education area featuring puppet shows, story telling, and unique art projects. Rain or shine. King, Market, and Loudoun sts. (Leesburg Historic District) Leesburg, VA. 703-7771368. idalee.org Celtic Festival of Southern Maryland. Saturday, Apr. 30, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM (rain or shine). This is the oldest Celtic celebration in Maryland. More than 50 clans and societies have information to share. Three performing
April 9 – Traditional Passover Seder – 5 pm Jesus and his friends shared in this faith celebration his last night. Join in the traditional meal and learn about its significance to both Jewish and Christian faiths.
April 17 – Palm and Passion Worship – 11 am With palms waving, renowned guest organist Timothy Olsen and the choir will lead us in hearing and exploring The Seven Last Words of Christ.
April 18 – Musical Monday Concert – 8 pm Timothy Olsen, winner of the 2002 National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance, will perform a vibrant and varied program, including works by Reger, Sweelinck, Bizet, Bach and more! A reception will follow. Both are free.
April 21 – Maundy Thursday Worship – 7 pm Hear the final conversation of Jesus and his followers. Share in Holy Communion. All are welcome at the table.
April 22 – Good Friday – 7 pm Joining with Ebenezer United Methodist at 4th and D St., SE, we will hear ordinary voices wrestle with what Christ meant when he spoke from the cross.
April 24 – Easter Worship – 11 am Bring a fresh cut flower, if able, and rejoice in Easter Morning Worship!
– Easter Feaster – 12:30 pm Enjoy a traditional Easter meal where members, first-timers, housed and unhoused, GLB and T, elders and infants all feast together.
EASTER Easter Sunrise Service at Arlington Cemetery. Easter Sunday, Apr. 24, 6:15 AM (but get there much earlier). The Easter Sunrise Service on at the Arlington National Cemetery Amphitheater will begin with a musical prelude. There is no rail service at this hour but parking is free. 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.org
The Great Vigil of Easter at National Cathedral. Saturday, Apr. 23, 8:00 PM. This is the night when Christ broke the bonds of death…and rose victorious from the grave. Tonight we hear the ancient stories of God’s redeeming work, moving from darkness to light, from solemn chant to joyful song, as we celebrate the glorious Resurrection. Intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin aves. NW. 202-537-6200. nationalcathedral.org
Solemn Easter Vigil Mass at National Shrine. 421 Seward Square, SE (5th and Pennsylvania) 202-546-1000 • Email: office@CHUMC.net. The Rev. Alisa Lasater Wailoo • pastor@CHUMC.net Visit our web site at www.CHUMC.net Adult and Children’s Sunday School classes. Worship at 11 am • Nursery care available. Café Capitol Hill, 12:30 pm 26 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Saturday, Apr. 23, 8:00 PM. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-526-8300. nationalshrine.com
Festival Holy Eucharist at National Cathedral. Easter Sunday, Apr. 24, 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM (free tickets required). 4:00 PM, Evensong on Easter Day. 5:15 PM, Organ Recital. Intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin aves. NW. 202-537-6200. nationalcathedral.org
Easter Sunday Mass at National Shrine. Easter Sunday, Apr. 24, 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, Noon, 4:30 PM.
CELEBRATE EASTER AT LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REFORMATION A Reconciling in Christ Congregation • Chapel open daily Accessible to people with physical handicaps
Holy Week Services Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Good Friday Saturday
April 17 April 21 April 22 April 23
8:30 and 11:00 am 12:10 and 7:00 pm 12:10 and 7:00 pm 8:00 pm (St. Mark’s)
Concert Series Piano Recital Saturday, April 9, 7:30 pm Leavitt’s“Requiem” Saturday, April 16, 7:30 pm Leavitt’s“Requiem” Sunday, April 17, 3:00 pm Easter Sunday, April 24 8:30 am Festival Service 9:45 am Brunch 10:00 am Easter Egg Hunt 11:00 am Festival Service
212 East Capitol Street 202.543.4200 • Fax: 202.543.4201
www.reformationdc.org
CHRIST CHURCH + WASHINGTON PARISH Join us for worship, fellowship, outreach and education Holy Eucharist: Sunday: 8:15 and 11:00 am Wednesday: 7:30 am Adult Education 9:45 am on Sundays Childcare and Sunday School offered at both Sunday services Easter Schedule Palm Sunday April 17 8:15 and 11:00 Holy Eucharist 10:40 Palm Procession from Eastern Market (7th & N Carolina) Holy Eucharist – Mon April 18 – Wed April 20 at 7:30 am Maundy Thursday – April 21 6:00 pm –Children’s Service 6:45 pm –Soup Supper 7:30 pm – Holy Eucharist Good Friday – April 22 Noon & 7:30 pm Good Friday Service Noon to 7:30 Church open for Stations of the Cross Holy Saturday – April 23 8:00 pm – Ecumenical Easter Vigil at St. Marks’ Capitol Hill Easter Sunday – April 24 9:00 am & 11:00 am Holy Eucharist with Brass of Peace Easter Egg Hunt and Festive Coffee Hour following both services
202.547.9300 620 G St., SE Washington, DC 20003 www.washingtonparish.org
Inaugural Sesquicentennial Worship Service Celebrate our Annual Anniversary
Sunday, April 10, 2011 At 11:00am with guest performers The GW Troubadours and the CHPC Choir The Sunday service will showcase the church’s history and plans for upcoming activities including the Saturday, May 7 “It’s History” Sidewalk Sale
visit www.capitolhillpreschurch.org for more information. 201 4th Street, SE (at Fourth and Independence Ave SE) Washington, DC 20003 • 202-547-8676
ANDREW WALTON, Pastor capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 27
Spanish Mass at 2:30 PM. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-526-8300. nationalshrine.com
Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church. Easter Service at 11:00 AM. 201 Fourth St. SE. 202-5478676. capitolhillpreschurch.org
Capitol Hill United Methodist Church. Easter Service at 11:00 AM. 421 Seward Sq. SE. 202-5461000. chumc.net
Christ Church on Capitol Hill. Holy Eucharist at 8:15 AM and 11:00 AM. 620 G St. SE. 202-547-9300. washingtonparish.org
Holy Comforter-St Cyprian Roman Catholic Church. Easter Masses at 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM. 1357 E Capitol St SE. 202-547-2036. holycomforterstcypriandc.parishesonline. com
Lutheran Church of the Reformation. Easter Services at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM. 212 E. Capitol St. 202-543-4200. reformationdc.org
St. Marks Episcopal Church. Holy Eucharist at 9:00 AM and 11:15 AM. Sermon Seminar at 10:00 AM. Contemplative Eucharist at 5:00 PM. 118 Third St. SE. 202-543-0053. stmarks.net
St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill. Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, Apr. 23, 8:00 PM. Easter Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM. 313 Second St. SE. 202-547-1430. saintpetersdc.org ★
28 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Capitol Streets Hill Buzz article by Anna Cranage Conathan | photos are courtesy of Patrice Cameau of Commun PR
F
Commun Public Relations irst, I must share two (www.CommunPR.com), buzz-worthy discoveries: Nutella lattes, was a full-makeover event now available at the new designed to help boost the Hill “bean scene” Pound, self-esteem of homeless and second, in my sad 1/2 women who are reentering attic, not ten feet above my the working world and repillow, two squirrels are claiming their lives. noisily nesting. The 25 pampered ladies Nutella lattes are deof the day were residents licious, especially when of DC’s Calvary Women’s combined with a Nutella Center, a shelter with a scone! Enjoying them at two-fold mission: to proPound, the classy yet comfy vide homeless women with new café on Penn, between a safe place to live and basic 6th and 7th, only doubles CDC and Virginia based hair stylists, manicurists and makeup artists donated services, and to help edutheir time and services to give 15 residents of Calvary Women’s Services free the pleasure. Get yourself makeovers during “The NEW YOU Project” on March 14, 2011 at the Randolph cate and empower them for Cree Salon. to Pound, people, before independent living. the laptop tapping, coffeeTo these struggling slugging squatters claim this new hot women, a day of pampering is a luxury spot. usually reserved for those with greater Squirrels. Well, I’ve never eaten resources and fewer worries, but beone, so I can’t say they’re not delicious, cause of Cameau’s hard work, the but what I can tell you is that these sponsorship of Commun Public Relauninvited varmints, with their infernal tions, Calvary Women’s Center, First scratching and nestling in my insulaRising Mount Zion Baptist Church tion, are impeding my ability to sleep. and the Randolph Cree Salon, as well Based on a stellar recommendaas services donated by local hair styltion from my Hill parenting “soul Licensed celebrity nail technicians, Indigo Smith ists, make-up artists and manicurists, (L) of Washington, DC and Angel Williams of Richsiblings,” the resourceful moms and mond, Va., give manicures to residents of Calvary the women of Calvary House received dads of MoTH, I’ve hired Adcocks Women’s Services during “The NEW YOU Project” a one-of-a-kind makeover experience, on March 14, 2011 at Randolph Cree Salon. Wildlife Trapping Service. My apand a new, restored sense of self. pointed Adcock trapper, Clint, will If all this Hill-anthropy has you inspired, visit the Calvary Women’s capture my uninvited guests with the Randolph Cree and “the New You” Center website and check out their help of a rooftop trap. Once caught, wish list: http://www.calvaryservices. Clint will drive my squirrelly squat- Project Just next door to Monkey’s Uncle org/howtohelp/wishlist.asp ters about fifteen miles away, in an effort to jam their incredible internal is premiere full-service salon, Ranhoming devices and thwart their plan dolph Cree. As with most salons, Groovy DC to roost annually in their established Randolph Cree is closed on MonIn related unexpected roommate love nest; my decidedly unromantic days, but on a recent Monday, own- news: As of April 1st, the Groovy guys, crawl space. I’ve recommend Clint ers Evan Pehrson and Michael Ives Dennis and Manuel, are moving in use the additional prophylactic of opened their doors to generously with everyone’s favorite uncles. (I smell sponsor “The New You” project. tiny blindfolds. “The New You Project,” a labor of a sitcom!) Groovy DC owners, Manuel love for Patrice Cameau, President of Cortez and Dennis DeWees, recently capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 29
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found themselves in the unexpected and unfortunate position of having to move their popular Hill shop out of its current residence before they were able to finalize the lease on their new location. This temporary displacement put them in a totally un-groovy retail holding pattern. Enter Jay Keegan and Michael McFadyen of Monkey’s Uncle (monkeysuncleonthehill.com), purveyors of recycled children’s clothes, animal crackers, and community spirit. Hearing about Groovy DC’s conundrum, they invited Manuel and Dennis to set up shop in their upstairs space until they can relocate their beloved boutique to its new home. Mad props to Uncle Jay and Uncle Michael for helping the Groovy guys get their groove back. To get your Groovy updates, visit Dennis and Manuel’s website (groovydc.com). The cup of community kindness overrunneth on 7th St.
More Restaurants! Xavier Cervera is opening another restaurant. I mean, another two: Pacifico, next to Belga, and Senart’s Oyster House, next to… Belga. (Don’t worry Bart, Belga’s beer, moules, and steak frites are still super sexy.) Of course, Xavier already has Lola’s, Chesapeake Room and Molly Malone’s… What’s that? He has another one? Further expanding his Barrack’s Row holdings, Mr. Cervera has secured the lease on 701 8th St., home to various unmemorable wireless stores as well as the quirky office and art supply store where I was able to procure ink cartridges in a pinch, blessedly sparing me the schlep to Staples. (I’m over it. Almost.) Mr. Cervera plans to reinvigorate the desirable corner location with a Gourmet Market. Okay, now a joke: Why did Xavier cross the road? To open ANOTHER restaurant! Across from Eastern Market, next to Tunnicliff ’s, is 224 7th St, currently home to Petite Gourmet. Soon Xavier will be claiming residence with his first 7th St. venture and newest brainchild, Boxcar. You may be wondering, “Will it be a place for orphaned children* and wayward hobos?” Uh. No. It’ll be a bar. A rockin’ one, I reckon, with Xavier at the helm.
30 ★ HillRag | April 2011
My question: Does he sleep? He can clearly take care of the eating part, he just has to walk three steps in any direction to land in one of his restaurants, but does the man sleep? Off the record buzz: I heard Xavier has designs on my house. He wants to turn it into his own version of “mini bar.” Or a pantry, maybe. (I hope he’ll hire me, if he does.)
Free Lobster Buffet and More So, I heard there was going to be a free lobster buffet fundraiser event. At first I was confused because I couldn’t figure out how one could raise money by giving away free lobster. But when three of my favorite words in the English language are combined – free, lobster, and buffet – salivation trumps logic. And then the Husband reminded me that whenever local Hill band, Free Lobster Buffet advertises for a gig, I cycle through the same Pavlovian thought process, at the end of which I am a little sad - no free lobster - but then I remember, I love that band! As much as the FLB fellas “act locally” – performing at Brent’s “Taste of the Hill” Gala or the MoTH annual picnic – they’re also “thinking globally.” Lead singer, Nathan Havner and his FLB band mates are raising funds for the survivors of the tragedy in Japan. While their JAM FOR JAPAN event will be will yesterday’s news by the time we go to print (the event was March 26 at Club Soda Lounge) you can visit the FLB website (freelobsterbuffet.com) to make a donation to the American Red Cross, and show your support for the survivors of the tragedy in Japan. Other hip happenings in the Hill music scene? CrashChord, Capitol Hill’s all-girl middle school band sensation has released their premiere album - “Clutter” - and it’s available for you and your sadly neglected iPod to download. The album, featuring original CrashChord songs, is a mix of addictive pop/rock and thoughtful ballads. (Download Clutter at cdbaby.com/cd/crashchord and visit CrashChord on Facebook.) Calling all Hill boys and girls of summer, ages 7 – 12: Time to pick up some Big League Chew, break in those cleats, stick a ball in your well-oiled glove and wedge it under your mat-
tress so it’s in optimal shape to snare that rocketing line-drive. Hill parents, remain calm. There’s no need to send a panicked text to your extra-Beltway Sherpa. Your little leaguer won’t be playing in Ballston this summer. Thanks to Seth Shapiro, owner of Marvelous Market Capitol Hill (marvelousmarket. com/capitolhill) and a collection of other equally marvelous Hill parents, Capitol Hill Little League is a go! To learn more, check out CHLL’s website: (www.capitolhilllittleleague.org)
A Tale of Two Bike Shops We now have two bike shops on 8th Street: Capitol Hill Bikes and the newly settled City Bikes. An interesting choice for City Bikes, I thought, to set up shop so close to CHB. Even more peculiar? “New bike shop” is in “old bike shop’s” previous location. Don’t really know what to say about this except… So… uh… That happened. Who will you be riding tandem with, Hill pedal pushers? Me? I’m a “dance with the one who brung ya on their handle bars” kind of gal. Now, if only Capitol Hill Bikes would bend to my will and do stroller tune up service. I don’t want to WD-40 my wheels or re-tape my handles. I want my husband to do it. But he won’t. Obvious answer: subcontractor! Who’s with me? (Are you listening, Capitol Hill Bikes?) *NOTE: The Boxcar Children is an outstanding, captivating young reader mystery series. See Roberta at Fairy Godmother for further information on these classic books. Anna Cranage Conathan is a freelance writer and screenwriter, disorganized Sous Chef to husband, Mike, and “Hill mom” to son, Sam. She is accomplished in the feminine arts of conversation, flower arranging and hiding unwashed hair under a ballcap. To put a buzz in Anna’s ear, email her at bananascabana@yahoo.com. ★
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 31
bulletin board
Courtesy of East Potomac Mini Golf
East Potomac Mini Golf Opens The mini golf is open weekends in Apr. and May, 11:00 AM-7:00 PM and every day Memorial Day through Labor Day, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. Built in the1920’s, this course is reputed to be one of the oldest in the US. $6.50 for adults and $5 for kids. East Potomac Park, 972 Ohio Dr. SW. 202-488-8087. golfdc.com
are being collected to create the Hill Center’s permanent history exhibit. Since receiving her MA in the history of decorative arts and architecture from the Smithsonian’s joint program with the Corcoran College of Art and Design, Mort has worked as a visitor guide and historian at the U.S. Capitol and recently curated an exhibit on Arctic explorer and artist Russell W. Porter at the National Archives. Her lecture is scheduled for Tuesday, April 19, at 8:00 p.m. at the Naval Lodge Hall at 330 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E. As always, admission is free but a reservation is required due to limited seating. Please email OverbeckLecture@CapitolHillHistory.org, giving your name and the number of seats you will need.
Azalea Peak Bloom at the US National Arboretum The glorious azalea’s peak bloom this year is expected to be the last week of April. The best way to see this collection is on foot but there are also $4 tram tours. Because of public outpouring of comments and concerns, the arboretum has suspended actions to remove the Glenn Dale azaleas, as well as the National Boxwood Collection and Perennials Collection. This might be a good year for a visit. Free admission. United States National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE. 202-245-2726. usna.usda.gov
Capitol Hill House Tour On May 7 and 8, the Capitol Courtesy of US National Arboretum Hill Restoration Society will host its 54th annual tour of houses and April 19 Overbeck Lecture: A history gardens. The focus this year will be between Ninth & 13th Sts. SE below of the Old Naval Hospital E. Capitol St. to Pennsylvania Ave. With the long-neglected Old NaThose who wish to volunteer as house val Hospital at 9th and Pennsylvania docents on the weekend of the tour S.E. about to be reborn as the Hill should contact Dori Fengler at dori- Center, the Overbeck History Project fengler@yahoo.com. Tickets are $25 will present an illustrated lecture on in advance and $30 on the tour week- April 19th tracing the 145-year story end. Order tickets online at chrs.org. of this neighborhood landmark. Art and architectural historian Kamissa 32 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Mort will show how the historic site evolved – from Civil War era hospital, to medical training school, to old soldiers home, to office space for DC government agencies, to derelict and decaying eyesore – before being rescued now for use as a cultural and education center for the community (see www.HillCenterDC.org). Mort will base her lecture on the photos, documents and artifacts that
Storytelling Workshop at William Penn House On Apr. 30 and May 1 William Penn House Quaker Center at 515 E. Capitol St. SE, will be holding a storytelling workshop concluding with a potluck and Quaker dialogue at 6:30 PM on Sunday May 1. Effective storytelling is a fine and beautiful art that can cut across age and cultural barriers. Knowing the basics of effective
storytelling can help strengthen the story, making it memorable long after the oration is over. The art of storytelling is not only useful for the telling of stories, but also in helping organize thoughts for any kind of public speaking from professional presentations to messages in Meetings. The cost of this two-day workshop is $175. They are offering discounted lodging for participants ($30). If you are interested, contact Brad Ogilvie at 202-543-5560. WilliamPennHouse.org.
EMMCA Elections EMMCA, the Eastern Market Metro Community Association, which promotes the civic interests of residents especially within the neighborhood surrounding the Eastern Market Metro, held its elections. Larry Janezich was re-elected EMMCA Secretary, and Barbara Riehle was re-elected President.
CHRS Preservation Café to Feature House History Research The Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s Apr. 20 Preservation Café will feature the second of a two-part series on house history research by local historian Matthew Gilmore. Whereas the first session in Feb. addressed researching the construction and history of a house itself, the Apr. session will focus on how to learn about the people who have previously lived in a home. Mr. Gilmore will discuss how to research who used to live in your house, as well as how to find some historic demographic information about your neighborhood through city directory and census records. (An article about the February Preservation Café is the lead story in the March 2011 issue of CHRS News – chrs.org) Together, the information from the two sessions provides a primer for the novice house history researcher. Mr. Gilmore has been giving local history workshops since 1995, drawing on his experience as a reference librarian in the Washingtoniana Division of the
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DC Public Library. Since leaving the library he has authored or co-authored four books, the most recent on Foggy Bottom. He has edited H-DC (www.h-net.org/~dclist) since 2000, and is also an editorial board member and erstwhile guest editor of and contributor to the Historical Society of Washington DC’s journal, Washington History. In addition, he serves on the program committee for the annual conference on Washington, DC studies. Researching the History of Your House will be held Wednesday, Apr. 20, 6:30-7:15 PM downstairs at Ebenezers Coffeehouse at Second and F Sts. NE. Preservation Cafés are free, accessible, and open to the public; no reservation is necessary. chrs.org
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202-547-1777 34 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Washington Kastles to Build Tennis Stadium “at the Wharf”
Canal Park is preparing to break ground and should open by the second quarter of 2012. Streets and sidewalks have been closed off and work is underway. This three acre park will feature open lawns for concerts and movies, a children’s play area, fountains and ice skating in winter. The park is located at Second and M sts. SE. canalparkdc.org
The Washington Kastles will build a stadium on the southwest waterfront, replacing the temporary stadium on the site of the CityCenterDC project. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring. The new stadium will also be temporary, with the hope that a more permanent stadium will be incorporated into the plans for the greater waterfront redevelopment project. The stadium will occupy the former Hogates site with a 2700 seat, “semi-permanent” structure that will entail pouring a concrete pad for the court with “high end bleacher seating” akin to scaffolding, with concessions and even waiter service to some of the seats. 202-4TENNIS. washingtonkastles.com.
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop Registering Children and Adults for April Classes
Public Parking Spaces on the South Side of H Street, NE Re-opened
Canal Park Construction Started
N OEL K ANE
youth steel drummers, djembe(drum) players and high-energy West African dancers will elevate your African dance experience. $35 per adult, $15 per child, 12 years and under. Reservations required. For further information, call Vera Oye’ Yaa-Anna 202-773-5446 or 202547-4899. Email Oyepalaver11@Verizon.Net. Oyepalaverhut.Org.
The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) is now registering children and adults for a new slate of eight-week classes in the visual and performing arts beginning Apr. 11. Adult classes include Intro to Jewelry Making, Intro to Drawing, Urban Sketching, Pastels, Figure Drawing, Tap Dance, Ballet, Social Ballroom Dance, Pilates, The Art of Singing, Photography, Ceramics, and more. Students ages zero to five years old can participate in an array of early childhood classes including Music Together, Yoga for Children, Read All About It, and Pre-Ballet sessions. CHAW also offers private music instruction in a variety of instruments for students of all ages. Tuition assistance and payment plans are available for all classes. For a complete list of workshops, classes or registration information, visit CHAW’s website at chaw.org or call 202-547-6839.
Echoes of the African Sound International Culinary Feast at St. Marks On Saturday Apr. 30, 7:00 PM, the Nave of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will be transformed into a Magical African Night. You can feast on cuisine from five countries. The menu includes jerked turkey, garlic collage, spinach and cilantro, cous cous Jollof, peas and rice, keweley (fried plantains) and much more. At 8:00 PM musicians, storytellers, enthusiastic
The District Department of Transportation has re-opened the public parking on the south side of H St. NE from Third to Eighth sts. The work is part of the H Street Reconstruction Project. More information about the project is available at dashboard.ddot.dc.gov under the Ward 6 Projects Link or by contacting the project field office at 202-544-7603.
Southwest Performance at Arena Stage On Sunday, Apr. 24, 2:00 PM, individuals who live or work in Southwset DC can buy $25 (and applicable fees) tickets for “At Home at the Zoo” at Arena Stage. This is part of the Edward Albee Festival. In this meticulous and nuanced look at the lives of three New Yorkers, an everyday conversation between a husband and wife takes an unexpected turn into dangerously personal territory. The revelations and confrontations catapult them from their delicately balanced world onto life-changing paths. With the intensity and honesty for which Albee is known, At Home at the Zoo reveals the cutting truth about the razor’s edge of our humanity. Proof of Southwest DC residency or continued employment for each audience member of each party must be presented at the time of purchase. Tickets are limited to four per person and are based on availability. To purchase tickets, call 202-488-3300 or stop
by the Arena Stage Sales Office. arenastage.org
Fresh Eggs from Humanely Raised Hens Animal Welfare Approved is pleased to announce the availability of eggs from hens living on pasture at local “Abundance Farm” in Round Hill, VA. Abundance Farm is an Animal Welfare Approved certified farm that produces superior quality eggs. Farmer Jamie Pantel loves her laying hens of various breeds. The birds live free range on pasture with high animal welfare standards in place. Jamie uses organic production methods and solar technology. Abundance Farm is a diversified family farm with chicken, turkey and sheep. It is open to visitors. Eggs are $5 a dozen and $3 for a half dozen. The Capitol Hill pick-up location is 900 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. For details, contact Wendy at WendyS@AnimalWelfareApproved. org or 703-585-7323 or Jamie at Jamie@Abundance-Farm.com or 908-581-5135.
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Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church Inaugural Sesquicentennial Service A cappella group the GW Troubadours from the George Washington University, the CHPC Choir and Music Director Mikoung Cho will perform during the 11:00 AM worship service on Sunday, Apr. 10, at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 201 4th Street, SE launching a three year Sesquicentennial celebration. Founded in 1864, the congregation will commemorate 150 years of worship and service to the Capitol Hill community in 2014. The GW Troubadours have not sung on Capitol Hill recently so this is a rare treat for Hill residents who have not seen them perform. In addition to the musical program, the service will showcase the church’s history and plans for upcoming activities including the May 7 “It’s History” Sidewalk Sale. capitolhillpreschurch150.org capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 35
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Auditions for CHAW’s “HMS Pinafore” The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop is having auditions for an August community production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore on Tuesday, Apr. 19 and Monday, Apr. 25, 7:009:00 PM at 545 Seventh St. SE. Performances will be August 46 and 11-13. Rehearsals begin in May. Those unable to make the audition dates can schedule an appointment by calling 202547-4102 or emailing jpstrach@ aol.com. All are welcome to audition. 202-547-6839. chaw.org.
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ELECT ★ DOROTHY DOUGLAS For At-Large Council Member
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Don’t forget to VOTE - April 26
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36 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Tickets are on sale now for the best-selling show in Arena’s 60 year history. Inspired by the toughness of the prairie, Artistic Director Molly Smith sets her production in the robust world of territory life filled with a dynamic cast as rich and complex as the great tapestry of America itself. With Rodgers and Hammerstein’s timeless music, Oklahoma! celebrates the vigor of America’s pioneering spirit with athletic dance and bootstomping energy. Chock full of classic tunes such as “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’,” and “People will Say We’re in Love,” this muscular production will thrill audiences young and old. $75$91. July 8-Oct. 2. 202-4883300. arenastage.org
Potholepalooza 2011 Launched Potholepalooza is the District’s annual campaign to aggressively repair damaged roadways across the city. A pothole is formed when the roadway temperatures fluctuate. As the roadway expands and vehicles drive over compromised sections, the area of the road separates or buckles forming a hole in the surface of the road known as a pothole. Pothole erosion increases during rain and the growth of the hole can become accelerated as the water causes
further damage to the bottom and side of the pothole. How to report a pothole--call 311, or use the On-line Service Request Center at 311.dc.gov, or text message or Tweet to twitter. com/DDOTDC, or e-mail to Potholepalooza@dc.gov. Callers must identify the location including the correct quadrant (NW, NE, SE, SW) in the city and as much detail as possible about the hazard, including the approximate size and depth of the pothole. DDOT crews will also be out and about proactively identifying potholes. ddot.dc.gov/potholes
The Art Around Us Website Are you looking for art in your neighborhood? Do you want to know more about that statue downtown or artists local to your area? Look no further. Art Around is a comprehensive map of all art in DC and it’s curated by you. That means, not only can you search by the type of art you’re looking for (murals, statues, guerrilla art, museums, etc.), you can also play a role in keeping this insideout museum alive. So, don’t just look at art: comment on it. Share your stories, ask artists questions, and update information about the works you find listed. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even add to the map: use the curate feature to share witty graffiti you find downtown or that odd gallery behind your house. Your contributions to this budding project, funded by the DC Commission for the Arts and Humanities in partnership with the Washington DC Economic Partnership, will help make even bigger contributions to the public archive of our common space. theartaround.us
Free Workshops for First-time Homebuyers Housing Counseling Services, Inc., a HUD approved non-profit agency, now offers free two-hour Pre-Purchase Orientations every week to help first-time homebuyers navigate the home-purchase process and take advantage of
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“Still no sign, Spring arrived faster than our signs!” Just remember 1240 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Capitol Hill Animal Clinic Monday - Wednesday 8AM to 6 PM Thursday, Friday 8 AM to 7 PM Saturday 8 AM to Noon
202-546-1972
special loan programs offered by DC government. Attendees will receive a detailed overview of the Home Purchase Assistance Program, which offers 0% interest loans of up to $44,000 from the DC government to assist first-time homebuyers with down payment and closing costs. D.C. government employees are also eligible for an additional $10,000 of 0% interest financing through the Employer Assisted Housing Program. Appointments to apply for both of these programs can be made at the orientations. Wednesday, Apr. 6, 6:00 PM; Thursday, Apr. 7, 11:00 AM; Thursday, Apr. 14, 11:00 AM; Thursday, Apr. 21, 11:00 AM; and Thursday, Apr. 28, 11:00 AM. Housing Counseling Services, 2410 17th St. NW, Suite #100. For more information, call Elias Cohn at 202-6677516.
National Air and Space Museum Extended Spring/Summer Hours The National Mall building will be open until 7:30 PM and the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport until 6:30 PM, daily through Sept. 4. nasm.si.edu
“100 Bowls of Compassion” Gala to Benefit Miriam’s Kitchen To continue serving over 200 area homeless men and women daily with homemade meals and comprehensive case management services, Miriam’s Kitchen of Foggy Bottom will host its 10th Annual “100 Bowls of Compassion” gala and auction on May 12, 6:00-9:30 PM, at the National Building Museum. Tickets are $275 and can be purchased online, over the phone at 202-452-8926 x 227, or by sending a check to 2401 Virginia Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20037. miriamskitchen.org
713 D STREET SE | WASHINGTON DC 2003 202.543.1997 | WWW.HILLSKITCHEN.COM TUESDAY-SATURDAY 10 TO 6PM, SUNDAY 10 TO 5PM CLOSED MONDAY 38 ★ HillRag | April 2011
DC Preservation League 40th Anniversary Celebration On Thursday, Apr. 21, 6:30 PM cocktails-8:30 PM dancing, join DCPL as they celebrate their 40th anniversary. It promises to be a night
of fantastic food, cocktails and dancing the night away fun! The mission of the DC Preservation League is to preserve, protect, and enhance the historic and built environment of Washington, DC through advocacy and education. $75-$150. The Wonder Bread Factory, 641 S St. NW. 202-783-5144. dcpreservation.org
Family Stories: Daughters, Mothers, and Bubbe On May 1, the National Museum of American Jewish Military History and the Washington, DC Jewish Community Center will devote a special afternoon to some of the most important women in our lives. They invite you to portray your beloved female relatives through a skit, scrapbook, video, song and dance routine, or what ever your imagination can conjure. To submit your piece and reserve a 10 minute time slot, contact Jean Graubart at 202-777-3268 or jeang@washingtondcjcc.org. To discuss any video/audio equipment needs for the day, contact Mary Westley at 202-265-6280 or mwestley@jwv.org. This event is open to the public and admission is free. Guided tours of the museum exhibits will be available for the adults and they will offer treasure hunts for kids (reading age and up). Sunday May 1, 1:00-5:00 PM, National Museum of American Jewish Military History, 1811 R St. NW. 202-265-6280. nmajmh.org
Civil War at Sea Symposium at the Navy Memorial On Saturday, April 23, 9:00 AM3:00 PM, the United States Navy Memorial is holding a symposium to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. The US Naval Institute and the US Naval History & Heritage Command will co-host the event, highlighting the US Navy’s role in, and contributions to, the outcome of the war. The event will kick off with keynote speaker Craig Symonds, renowned author of awardwinning books Lincoln and His Admirals and The Civil War at Sea, and will include historians and authors who can speak about the blockading efforts, riverine warfare, and the major sea battles of the four-year war.
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In addition, historic memorabilia and artifacts from the war will be on display. Free and open to the public. United States Navy Memorial Naval Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202737-2300. navymemorial.org
Be a Visions in Action Host Family this Summer Visions in Action is looking for families to host high school students aged 15-18 and their teachers from French-speaking West and Central Africa as part of a youth leadership and international exchange program supported by the State Department. The participants have been carefully selected by the Public Affairs sections of the various United States embassies, and represent the best in their countries. The 20 participants this spring are from Mauritania and Burkina Faso, and will be in the Washington, DC area for 4 weeks, from June 18-July 17. Interested families should contact Samuel Bong at exchange@ visionsinaction.org or 202-6257402. visionsinaction.org
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The Beads and Baubles Festival Saturday, Apr. 9 and Sunday, Apr. 10, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM, Marriott at Metro Center, 775 12th St. NW. The festival is a marketplace for all things creative and handmade where you can buy beautiful beads, jewelry, accessories, and wearable art incorporating beads, buttons, and baubles! The festival will offer more than a dozen workshops where one can learn how to make jewelry in a weekend! This event is sponsored by The Bead Studio Inc., which supports arts education programs for young people in the Washington DC metropolitan area with an emphasis on the art and culture of beadwork and entrepreneurship development. $7. 202-3205989. washingtondcbeadexpo. vpweb.com ★
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 39
capitolstreets news
The Race is On April 26 Primary for the City Council At-Large Seat by Alice Ollstein
W
hen former City Council Chair Vincent Grey became our new mayor, the at-large seat holder Kwame Brown became the new Chair—leaving his seat wide open. The primaries for the special election for the at-large seat are set for April 26, and nine candidates are in the ring: six Democrats, one Republican, one Independent and one Statehood Green Party member. Education and the District’s deficit are the key issues of the day, though candidates are putting forward their thoughts on everything from transit and sustainability to tax brackets and unemployment. With such a crowded ballot—albeit overshadowed by a few frontrunners—the candidates are struggling to stand out. A March poll by the Clarus Research Group showed Vincent Orange far in the lead with 28 percent of the vote, followed by Patrick Mara and Sekou Biddle at six percent each — though 49 percent are still undecided. Here’s the Hill Rag guide to who’s who in the April 26 showdown.
The Dems Sekou Biddle (D) Sekou Biddle (D) won the Interim Councilmember spot, and got official backing from the Democratic Committee, Mayor Vince Gray, and new Council Chair Kwame Brown— but these endorsements could either help or hurt him. All the support has given him a massive fundraising and credibility boost, but his opponents say he’s entrenched in the Democratic Party establishment. Biddle’s climb from Teach for America volunteer to charter school activist to Interim Councilmember is impressive, as is his 17-year track re40 ★ HillRag | April 2011
cord working for education reform in the District—notably as Director of Community Outreach for KIPP DC. Biddle has also represented Wards 3 and 4 on DC’s Board of Education, and calls education the city’s “number one issue” and the “civil rights issue of our time.” Yet his flip-flops on raising taxes on DC’s wealthiest versus cutting the budget have drawn some criticism. Website: www.sekoubiddle.com
Tom Brown (D) Washington native Tom Brown (D) is another candidate with his eye on unemployment. With the campaign motto “Getting Our City to Work,” Brown is reminding voters of his long history of working with DC’s disadvantaged populations, including the homeless, mentally challenged, and refugees. A teacher and father in Southeast Washington, Brown is also known for founding Training Grounds, Inc., an organization that provides job training undereducated and underemployed youth and young adults, and serving on the board of the thriving charter school program KIPPDC. Website: www.whytombrown.com
Dorothy Douglas (D) Dorothy Douglas (D) is the only woman in this race, and brings a long and varied resume to the table. She has been a teacher in DC’s Public Schools System, an employee of the Department of Corrections, the Chairperson for ANC 7C and 7D, and a former Ward 7 school board member, among other credentials. She is also the mother of three, grandmother of five, and a former foster parent of four of her own nieces and nephews. No website.
Joshua Lopez (D) Joshua Lopez (D) is both the youngest candidate in this election and the only Latino. A former Adrian Fenty campaign aide, he ran the former Mayor’s unsuccessful-yet-impressive write-in campaign. Born in DC to Guatemalan parents, Lopez wants to represent the District’s immigrant population, which he says currently has no voice on the Council. He also has a good chance with young voters, former Fenty supporters and Latinos. Since he doesn’t have the most money and he’s not the best known, Lopez hopes to win by “outhustling” the competition. Lopez’s priorities are implementing a progressive tax to help balance the budget, encouraging more parent involvement in public schools, and creating more jobs for DC residents. Also an advocate of public transit, he says he relies on a BMW to get around: “bus, Metro, and walking.” Website: www.domainphresh. com/jlopez2011
Vincent B. Orange (D Vincent B. Orange (D) is perhaps the next highest-profile contender after Biddle. The Former Ward 5 council member has both name recognition and serious funds. Orange, a former PEPCO executive, has lost his fare share of elections: first the mayor’s race to Adrian Fenty, then the Council Chair to Kwame Brown, then the Interim seat to Biddle. Yet Orange is still a candidate to watch for April. Orange’s major focus is jobs. He wants to create a “Job Czar” to tackle unemployment in the District, boost job training, and create programs match local businesses with local workers. These ideas earned him an
endorsement from the Ward 8 Democrats, the union AFSCME and the DC Building & Construction Trades Council. He says he is not in favor of raising taxes, and believes the budget can be balanced through other means, such as claiming Medicaid reimbursement. Orange runs into more trouble on social issues. He drew ire during his mayoral campaign for saying his opponents who supported gay marriage were not “morally fit to run this city,” but later declared his support for DC’s marriage equality law. Website: www.orangeatlarge.com
Bryan Weaver (D) Bryan Weaver (D) has activist credentials dating back to his work as an aide on Reverend Jesse Jackson’s presidential bid. Since then, he has been an organizer for the SEIU, founded a non-profit for at risk DC youth, and served eight years as an ANC commissioner in Adams Morgan—which earned him the Washington City Paper’s “City’s Best ANC Commissioner” title in 2007. Weaver has taken a strong progressive stance on a variety of issues—from securing permanent funding for public transit to equal marriage rights for LGBT couples. He has publicly also declared his desire to create three new tax brackets for top wage-earners to make the income tax more progressive. Website: www.bryanweaverdc.com
The Republican Patrick Mara (R) As the sole Republican in this race, you would think Patrick Mara (R) wouldn’t stand a chance in this heavily Democratic town. But with all the Democrat candidates splitting the vote, and with such low turnout ex-
pected, Mara just might be able to rally the Republican and Independent troops behind him. A member of DC’s Board of Education, a DC voting rights activist, and a volunteer with many local public schools and non-profits, Mara is a selfidentified socially progressive, fiscally conservative Republican. He’s actually trying to distance himself from Republican label by stressing his “independent” voice—saying he supports gay marriage and green energy—though he’s sticking with familiar party platforms, such as a no-tax-hike pledge. The Washington Examiner even dubbed him “the most viable District Republican politician.” Website: patrickmara.com
The Independent Arkan Haile (I) Arkan Haile (I) is running as an Independent because, he says, that’s how he makes decisions. An immigrant from Eritrea, Haile co-founded a minority-owned boutique cor-
Ward 6 Community Forum for the At-Large Special Election Candidates Tuesday, April 19th 6:30 - 8:00 pm North Hall of Eastern Market Moderated by WTOP’s Mark Segraves Co-sponsors: Ward 6 Democrats The Hill Rag CHAMPS North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association and many more...
porate law firm here in the District, and is also serving on the Economic Development and Zoning Committee of ANC 6A. A Capitol Hill resident with a son in DCPS, Haile says he’s committed to improving education and “fiscal responsibility” in the District, and that his legal and business background gives him the skills to do so. He is going after the votes of DC’s sizable Ethiopian population, but is still largely unknown to the greater community. Website: www.arkanfordccouncil.com
The Statehood Green Party Member Alan Page In a race that’s all about standing out, attorney, artist and activist Alan Page does an excellent job. A Ward 6 homeowner and single father with a daughter in DCPS, Page is making his mark by rejecting corporation donations and running a truly grassroots campaign. He’s an advocate of a progressive tax, more job opportunities for local youth, and affordable solar power. Website: alanpagedc.blogspot.com
The Takeaway You can register to vote, update your voter information, and search for your polling place at the DC Board of Elections and Ethics site: www.dcboee.org. Even with all the drama surrounding this race, turnout is expected to be low. The last special election involving a citywide race—in 1997—saw just 7.4 percent of voters come out and cast a ballot. So even though there are a few clear leaders in this battle, it’s anyone’s guess how this could turn out. And remember, whomever wins on April 26 won’t get the seat for a full term — only what was left of Kwame Brown’s original term — so they’ll have to campaign again next year. And with the District’s primaries likely getting moved up to the first half of 2012, they’re really only going to have a few months to settle in and start working before challengers start emerging from the woodwork. Happy voting, DC. ★ capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 41
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Matchmaker, Matchmaker Make Me a Match How a Workforce Intermediary Can Strengthen DC’s Pipeline to Jobs for the Unemployed by Elissa Silverman
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t i h s a h G A R L The H I L ER! T T I W T D N A FACEBO O K “Like” HILL RAG to stay on top of your local community news on FACEBOOK
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www.capitalcommunitynews.com 42 ★ HillRag | April 2011
hich of the following statements is true about the District’s economy? 1. Nearly one out of every 10 DC adults is searching for work but can’t get a job. 2. There are twice as many jobs in the District as there are adult residents. Both are true, as incongruous as that might seem. So how come so many DC residents can’t find work when so many jobs are available? The question is a top concern to both Mayor Vincent Gray and DC Council Chairman Kwame Brown—and for good reason. Lowering our city’s unemployment rate has many benefits: for individuals, for families, for neighborhoods, and for the city as a whole. One answer to the question is that there is a skills mismatch between DC residents seeking work and the jobs available in the city. There is also a networking gap, in that people who have been out of the job market for a while aren’t connected to others who can share information about jobs and job opportunities. DC is a competitive employment market, because jobs here attract applicants from surrounding states. So having both job skills and a way to find out about job openings are crucial to finding a living-wage job. In short, the District government needs to be as dynamic in creating in-demand workers as it is in to creating vibrant economic development and in-demand jobs. One way to do that is to follow a workforce development approach that is getting results in cities such as Seattle, Minneapolis and Boston. These cities have created what’s known as a workforce intermediary to help fill the skills and networking gaps. The intermediary connects with employers that are getting ready to hire and then works with local training programs
to train residents for those jobs. Legislation currently before the DC Council would create a workforce intermediary as part of First Source reform.
A Matchmaker for the Job Market We know that successful matches don’t always happen spontaneously. That’s why services like Match.com and eHarmony are so popular. There’s a need for matchmaking in the business world too. Mortgage brokers, for example, work to coordinate buyers, sellers, agents and lending institutions, all of whom have the goal of getting a house sold but come to the table with very different motivations. The broker makes the process as efficient and gainful as possible for all those involved. A workforce intermediary is a broker or matchmaker in the jobs market. An intermediary works with employers, job trainers, and those looking for work so that a successful job match can be made. On the job seeker end, the intermediary helps with skills assessment, coordinates with trainers, and helps with networking. On the employer side, workforce intermediaries help businesses recruit and retain qualified workers and work toward creating a stronger workforce pipeline. It’s a win-win for everyone. How do they do that? An intermediary identifies employers with upcoming hiring needs to identify the types and number of jobs that will be created, and the skills and certifications needed for them. The intermediary then coordinates with government job training programs, community colleges, and non-profits to create a plan to train residents for those jobs and offer additional workforce
Affordable Health Insurance Plans for individuals, families, small business and the self-employed supports, like child care and transportation. An intermediary can also screen possible workers to create a ready-made pool of qualified residents for an employer. For a business that wants to hire or is expected to hire DC residents but doesn’t know how to find them, this can be a big help. A few common misperceptions: First, an intermediary is not a training provider but a neutral matchmaker between trainers and employers. And an intermediary is not separate from other workforce development efforts, such as OneStop centers and community college programs, but an additional tool to further enhance these programs.
Do we really need a workforce intermediary in DC? In many ways, the job market works fine naturally, with job seekers finding jobs and employers filling positions on their own. But in parts of the District, this clearly is not the case. In Ward 8, which includes neighborhoods such as Anacostia, Congress Heights and Barry Farm, one out of every 4 residents is searching for work. Education and skill level are a big factor. Many of the city’s hardest to employ residents lack basic literacy skills so even those jobs with the least formal education requirements are simply out of reach. Access to information on jobs is another challenge. Even qualified workers sometimes have difficulty finding out about jobs opening up. Workers in construction, for example, often access jobs through professional or social networks, such as a foreman telling workers from a previous project about a new one. These informal networks put newly trained workers trying to break in at a disadvantage. A workforce intermediary can help overcome these barriers. And in some cases, an intermediary helps prospective workers address special obstacles, like securing transportation to a job site. A director of a workforce intermediary in Baltimore was told by an employer that all the job applicants his group was providing were problematic, and it had nothing to do with skills or job habit. None of the applicants had
access to a car—or even a drivers’ license in some cases—which made it hard to get them to job sites. The intermediary was able to quickly figure out a solution—which allowed these workers not only car loans to purchase cars but also established lines of credit for many who never had a credit history. Once again, it’s a win-win.
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Why not just enforce First Source? DC’s First Source law requires contractors doing work for the city and those receiving taxpayer-financed assistance to make a “good faith effort” to hire DC residents for at least 51 percent of new jobs created. Unfortunately for more than a quarter century, the law has not been emphasized or enforced, and both employers and job seekers complain that the law doesn’t meet their needs. Recently there has been a renewed focus on First Source. Mayor Gray signed an executive order earlier this year assigning enforcement duties to his Deputy Mayor’s office, and Chairman Brown has introduced a bill reforming First Source, including the establishment of the workforce intermediary. Certainly First Source needs to be enforced so that the city can benefit from public investments. But First Source cannot be improved by better regulation alone. Providing a list of unemployed and underemployed DC residents to employers, as occurs under First Source, shouldn’t be the first and only part of the process. Instead, First Source should be part of a workforce development continuum that starts with anticipating hiring needs and helping train workers for the jobs created through the city’s public investments. Contractors with the city need help finding skilled workers for their jobs, and job seekers need better networks and supports to gain access to these jobs. A workforce intermediary can help make that happen.
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Elissa Silverman is a policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderate-income DC residents. ★
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 43
capitolstreets news
Hine School Redevelopment The Iterative, Building-Community-Support Part of the Development Process by Amanda Abrams
T
o Capitol Hill residents, the process might seem utterly ordinary and necessary. But an observer from outside the neighborhood could be forgiven for being surprised and impressed at the level of dialogue occurring between the Hill community and the developers of the Hine School site at Eastern Market. Two years be-
particularly one that utilizes public resources and occurs in a designated historic district—underway in DC. In February, the developers— Stanton Development and EastBanc, as well as an architect from Esocoff & Associates—submitted the first new comprehensive plans for the site since winning the bid for the project in 2009. Community members were
DC’s Historic Preservation Review Board, then presented those plans to the community in a series of ANC meetings in early March. Some neighbors allege that the more recent plans don’t match the ones they’d seen a month ago. “In February, I thought things were looking pretty good,” said Barbara Riehle, president of the Eastern Mar-
8th Street difference between Feb. 2 and Feb 25. Rendering courtesy of Esocoff & Associates
fore construction is slated to begin, talks between community groups, ANC representatives, and personnel from the companies developing the property are occurring on virtually a weekly basis, as the project’s plans are presented, discussed, amended, and presented again. But it’s all part of the normal process of getting a new development— 44 ★ HillRag | April 2011
largely supportive of the mix of residential, office, and retail space that was presented, as well as the development’s various heights. Facades were not introduced at that time. A month later, Hill residents don’t seem quite as sanguine about the project and its prospects. In late February, the development team submitted its plans for the site’s design to
ket Metro Community Association. “But when they came back in March, things seemed to have changed, and I have no idea why.” The main thing residents are stewing over is the project’s eastern building, which stretches along 8th Street from C Street down to Pennsylvania Avenue. Neighbors had hoped for a four-to-five story building dedicated
to residential units whose façade resembled townhouses. But the plans submitted to the HPRB show that the corner of the building, which faces Pennsylvania, has increased from five to six stories and will include more retail than initially planned (though the businesses are designed to be “quiet” ones, such as doctors’ offices). And instead of segmented units along 8th Street, each with their own door and perhaps even small gardens, the long building will likely have only one entrance. “The 8th Street building is higher and more massive than it was originally in the designs,” said Marcel LaFollette, president of Eyes on Hine, a coalition of homeowners from the 300 block of 8th Street. In particular, she said, “where D Street comes into 8th Street, near Pennsylvania: that portion of the residential section has gotten bigger, and the design has changed. So we’re asking questions about its use. We’re concerned that if you lock in a design now, it’ll lock in how it’ll be used.” But according to Amy Weinstein, the project’s architect, the site’s plans are very much still a work in progress. Yes, she admitted, the eastern building’s corner at 8th and Pennsylvania did go up another story, but it’s still a good 25 feet lower than the complex’s corner at 7th and Pennsylvania. Retail there may wrap around onto 8th Street, but there won’t be any commercial windows facing that street. As for how the building will look, Weinstein said, “We’re studying the 8th Street façade at this time.” It’s possible, she said, that residences won’t all have individual entrances from 8th Street, but they’ll all be linked to a corridor inside the build-
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Community Meetings on Hine Development The Capitol Hill Restoration Society special membership meeting will occur on April 5 at 6:45-8:30 pm, at Maury Elementary School, 13th Street and Constitution Avenue NE. The ANC special call meeting will take place on April 26 at 6:30 pm at the Brent School, 301 North Carolina Avenue SE.
ing that’s accessible by elevator. Weinstein pointed out that the project requires a tricky balancing act: taking the immediate neighbors’ concerns into account while also playing to residents of the broader Capitol Hill area. “We’re looking to maximize opportunities for the larger Hill community; they’re seeing this as their town center,” explained Weinstein. But the sentiments of residents who live a little farther away sound pretty similar to those closer to the site: cautious, but generally enthusiastic about its potential. “I think people here are excited about having more density at Eastern Market and that whole area,” said Nick Alberti, an ANC commissioner representing a district that includes Lincoln Park, several blocks to the northeast. “The architectural design needs some improvement, but it’s an ongoing process. I’m confident we’ll get to a good solution.” Indeed, the process is far from over. Weinstein and the developers are still redesigning their plans in response to comments that arose at the ANC meetings in early March. They’ll present that response to the community at an April 5 meeting with the Capitol Hill Restoration Society and the public. And then, depending on how that version of the site’s design goes over with the community, they might go back to the drawing board once again to make some more tweaks. There is, however, an end in sight. The goal of this lengthy process is to get approval by the ANC, whose opinion carries “great weight” with the Historic Preservation Review Board. The HPRB, in turn, must okay the site’s appearance and design—or, technically speaking, its compatibility with the character of the historic district—in order for the project to keep moving forward.
So for their part, ANC representatives are also currently meeting with community groups to discuss complaints members might have with the design. Gradually, they’re creating a set of draft recommendations that cover each aspect of the project in some detail. “This isn’t a one-page statement,” explained ANC commissioner Ivan Frishberg, whose district covers the project. “It’s a pretty serious effort to provide meaningful feedback for HPRB that they’ll listen to.” That draft document should be out around the third week of April, giving the community a week or so to discuss it. “It’s very much an iterative process, one step at a time,” said Frishberg. And then on April 26, the full ANC will meet in a special call session to take formal action on the recommendations, which will be sent to the HPRB. Two days later, on April 28, the HPRB itself will hold a meeting with the developers to hear the case and provide feedback. It’s not a formal thumbs up/thumbs down-type hearing; rather, it gives the historic preservation folks a chance to weigh in on the project and gently steer the developers in a more appropriate direction, when necessary. It’s another iterative process; the developers and the HPRB staff may wind up meeting three times in order to work out issues that arise. The whole thing might seem a bit ridiculous to that hypothetical outsider mentioned earlier—and it’s certainly not a quick chain of events. But it means the community will have a better chance of getting what it wants in a development that, as many residents pointed out, will greatly affect the character of their neighborhood for years to come. “You can see it as a whittling down process,” said Frishberg. “You deal with boulders, then with gravel, then with sand. Every time [the plan] comes back, there’s another opportunity for community input.” The Capitol Hill Restoration Society special membership meeting will occur on April 5 at 6:45-8:30 pm, at Maury Elementary School, 13th Street and Constitution Avenue NE. The ANC special call meeting will take place on April 26 at 6:30 pm at the Brent School, 301 North Carolina Avenue SE. For more information, visit hineschool. com. ★
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capitolstreets news
Where Will the Tracks End? The Streetcar’s Connection to Union Station is Still Not Determined by Lex Kiefhaber ooking west on H and 3rd streets NE, at the base of the Hopscotch Bridge, one can’t help but wonder where the newly laid streetcar tracks are going. After three years of demolition and reconstruction, which has confounded drivers, inconvenienced businesses and
L
hole in the Hopscotch Bridge, and connect the streetcar line to an existing tunnel beneath, providing direct access to the back of Union Station at 1st St NE. Without this connection to Union Station the H street line would be isolated from the metro, altogether undermining the purpose
back over a century. When Union Station was constructed in19051908 they built an underpass along H St NE allowing traffic to pass underneath the railroad tracks running north along 2nd St NE--nearly identical to the underpass on K St. NE still in use today. For the next
exasperated residents, the District is finally approaching the end of its “Great Streets” initiative in the Atlas corridor. But one final, and integral, question remains: where will the tracks end? According to DC’s District Department of Transportation (DDOT) the answer is simple: they will cut a
of the streetcar line and unleashing a flood of logistical (and financial) complications. The only affordable, timely, and reasonable solution is to cut a hole in the Hopscotch Bridge and run the streetcars through the tunnel, which would be simple, if the District owned the tunnel. The legacy of the tunnel stretches
65 years the underpass operated as a conventional thoroughfare for cars, pedestrians, and until the mid-sixties, streetcars.
46 ★ HillRag | April 2011
From a Tunnel to a Bridge… In 1974 Union Station underwent a massive renovation, one facet of which was the construction of an
overpass above the tracks on 2nd street—the Hopscotch Bridge. The bridge encased what was the H street underpass, transforming it into a tunnel and rendering it useless for public transportation. Concurrently, the District of Columbia transferred the rights to Union Station and much of the surrounding property to an independent corporation, the Washington Terminal Company (WTC). The original agreement stipulates that after sealing off the east and west portals of the underpass, the “existing underpass structure in toto and the space enclosed therein” were relinquished to WTC. WTC was created by Congress in 1901 to support the railroads using Union Station, but operated as an autonomous corporation outside governmental purview. Included in the property the District transferred to WTC was the Railway Exchange Agency (REA) Building on the 900 block of 2nd St. NE. In 1981, an independent realestate firm, Mount Clare Properties, bought three parcels of land from WTC including the REA building. Buried deep in the surveyors report detailing the exact land boundaries Mount Clare purchased is a section of H St. NE in parcel number three, amounting to a scant 0.15498 acres of land. This thimble of property, less than a sixth of an acre, is a segment of the tunnel encased by the Hopscotch Bridge which abuts the REA building, and which the District currently needs to connect the H St. Streetcar line to Union Station.
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When Mount Clare Properties sold the REA building to REA Associates—an LLC controlled by Potomac Development Corporation (PDC)—in 1984, the surveyors report included the 0.15489 acres of land below H St. NE. Two years later, WTC formally ceded perpetual easement rights to the “basement and vault space” specified in the original sale of the REA building in 1981, and again in 1984, effectively guaranteeing permanent and exclusive ownership of a portion of the tunnel below H Street to Potomac Development Corporation. Leaving nothing to speculation, the District and REA Associates formally qualified ownership over the tunnel in an agreement dedicated solely to the “use of public space below H Street Overpass.” This agreement, ratified in 1989, stipulates that “REA shall be entitled to the exclusive use of the subject space for vehicular access purposes,” in other words, PDC is the sole and outright owner of less than a sixth of an acre below the Hopscotch Bridge.
…And Back Again Two decades ago, the thumbprint of subterranean land attached to the REA building was an afterthought—unusable for public access and of negligible value. Today, it is the keystone in the District’s $30+ million dollar streetcar investment on H Street. The DC Streetcar Plan, released by DDOT in October 2010, unequivocally states that the District “will cut a portal through the eastern abutment of the H St Bridge. DDOT will operate revenue and non-revenue service through the H St. Underpass.” The portal will provide a seamless connection to Union Station, as well access to a maintenance facility on the western abutment of the H St. underpass. DDOT analyzed five alternative solutions to the western terminus, and deemed each to be unfeasible due to a significant increase in cost, inconvenience to the community (without access to the portal, the District would be forced to appropriate alternative public space for a maintenance facility), and in some
cases, no connection to Union Station. Subsequently, DDOT entered into negotiations with PDC for access to their portion of the tunnel. The negotiations were shortlived. In May of 2010 the President of PDC, Richard Bell, replied to DDOT’s point man on Streetcars and Associate Director, Scott Kubly, with a letter stating that PDC is unwilling to acquiesce to the District’s request to utilize their property and “will no longer provide access to [their] portion of the tunnel.” The report issued by DDOT in October includes a section on PDC, in which it states that “negotiations have not resulted in an amicable settlement. As a result, DDOT has elected to pursue a taking to secure an easement.” To further clarify what “a taking to secure an easement” would amount to, they attached an appendix detailing the process involved in the District appropriating PDC’s property through eminent domain, with relevant cases and legal flow charts.
Moving Towards the Light The next chapter in the tunnel’s history will unfold over the coming months. The District is heavily invested in the Streetcar Project, both financially and politically. Given no feasible alternative to completing the project, it can be assumed that DDOT will use whatever legal machinations and strategic leverage available to acquire rights to the tunnel. PDC, which asserts that the sixth of an acre below the Hopscotch Bridge is “essential to the operation of our building,” appears to have no interest in facilitating a timely solution. More than a century after it was first constructed, after a long and convoluted history rife with numerous transfers of ownership and a telescopic focus on 0.15489 acres of land, the H Street Underpass will eventually reclaim its original purpose as an arterial thoroughfare, integrating the Atlas District with the greater Washington DC metropolis. While the resolution is still unclear, the District is dedicated to the resurrection of the underpass, holding fast to the prospect of light at the end of the tunnel. ★
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capitolstreets news
Performance Parking Introduced to Ward 6 by Lex Kiefhaber
I
f you listen carefully when hunting for a parking space with my Aunt Jan, you can hear her quietly praying to the goddess of parking, Margaret. “I’m a friend of Margaret’s… I’m a friend of Margaret’s…” and in no less than three turns around the block, Aunt Jan, without fail, will be comfortably settled in a spot and on her way. Unsure whether the Law of Margaret applies to DC drivers, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is taking a different approach. DDOT has laid out plans to improve the turnover rates of parking spaces for non-residents and increase the available parking for residents on non-commercial corridors in one of the most congested areas in the city-the lower part of Ward 6 encompassing Barracks Row, the Ballpark and the Arena Stage. After a two-year study of 145 blocks and 6,260 parking spaces in Ward 6, DDOT issued a report in April detailing how it would improve parking for both residents and visitors using a management strategy called ‘performance parking.’ Performance parking works by increasing the price of short term parking spaces on highly congested blocks while providing offstreet parking options (city owned lots or commercial garages) and tightening enforcement on mixed use and purely residential corridors.
Performance Parking in Practice Damon Harvey, the research and development project manager with the transportation policy and plan48 ★ HillRag | April 2011
ning division within DDOT, said that the District’s goal is to “keep folks that are outside the community on the mixed use and commercial corridors and then free up the residential corridors for the folks that live in those communities.” By installing additional meters on commercial blocks, manipulating the price of parking to better accommodate the demand, and making off-street parking more desirable, the District hopes to increase the rate of turnover on highly congested streets thus making more parking available to visiting patrons and keeping them off residential streets. The parking spaces around the Ballpark will be slightly more expensive in 2011, jumping from $4.00 for three hours to $6.00. The rate hike will apply to all meters South of I-395, East of 2nd St. SE, above M St. SE and West of South Capitol Street SW—about a 12-block expanse just north of the Ballpark. The District is also installing six meters along Water Street between Fisherman’s Wharf and M Place, SW, and on the 600 Block of Maine Street in front of the Arena Stage. The price of parking around the Ballpark will be comparable to other commercial areas in DC, and the introduction of meters around the newly refurbished Arena Stage should increase the rate of turnover and available parking. Along with spots on the street, the District is emphasizing the use of offstreet parking for non-residents who intend to patronize the community’s many attractions for an extending period of time. The parking facility below I-395, on 8th and I St. SE, opened last
year, but due to poor advertisement is underutilized. Martin Smith, of Barracks Row Main Street, pushed hard for the reduction of rates, hoping deter patrons from parking in the surrounding community when they couldn’t find a diagonal space on 8th Street. DDOT responded by reducing the rate from $1.50 to $.75 per hour in an effort to attract people away from residential streets surrounding Barracks Row.
Residential Focus A secondary effort to free up parking for residents who live in walking distance to the restaurants and bars in Barracks Row is the expansion of the Ballpark District Zone to include all the residential blocks west of 11th St. SE, and as far north as the 300 block
of 7th St. SE. This expansion will incorporate Eastern Market and the surrounding blocks, paving the way for more meters along 7th Street, and allowing for “Resident Parking Only” signage on 11th St. SE. Resident Only Parking has been successful in Southwest, stipulating that certain streets are reserved exclusively for Ward 6 registered cars between midnight and 7 a.m. This opens up spaces for locals who need a place to park their cars overnight. In concert with Resident Only Parking, DDOT plans to expand the hours of parking enforcement around Barracks Row until 2 a.m. By extending the enforcement to 2 a.m, the two-hour limit would be late enough to deter patrons from parking for extended periods, knowing that the enforcement period
would expire before they would get a ticket. Norman Metzger, the Associated Neighborhood Council Commissioner for 6B whose single member district includes a portion of Barracks Row and the neighboring community, said that people in his community have embraced the changes in parking management thus far, and approve of the District’s plan moving forward. “I’ve had no complaints about it, people have adapted to the system very well,” he said. Commissioner Metzger was involved in constructing the plan to implement further performance parking in Capitol Hill, and expressed support for the changes proposed by DDOT.
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Looking Ahead The District is also encouraging other modes of transportation, especially the bike-share program. DDOT has allocated $250,000 for three more stations in SE, one at the Yards Park and the other two locations have yet to be determined. The District has also put aside $180,000 for the design and construction of an Eastern Market Metro Plaza Information Hub, which will help pedestrians and bicyclists navigate the surrounding area. Overall, the report issued by the District indicates many subtle, but potentially effective changes to the management of parking. With so many highly attractive destinations in Ward 6, and an increasing residential population, it was the prime test case for performance parking. “Performance parking makes sense in areas that have numerous special traffic generators,” said Mr. Harvey. Considering the Ballpark, Eastern Market, newly refurbished Arena stage and the continuously expanding variety of attractions on and around Barracks Row, Ward 6 certainly qualifies. Most of the changes stipulated in the DDOT plan go into effect later this year. Until then, keep your fingers crossed and eyes peeled, and if that doesn’t work, always remember that it pays to be a friend of Margaret’s. ★
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HINE SCHOOL PUBLIC MEETINGS NOTIFICATION OF 2 ADDITIONAL •
CHRS Special Meeting on April 5th at Maury Elementary School multipurpose room, 13th St. & Constitution Ave. NE (entrance on 13th St.), 6:45-8:30 pm.
•
ANC 6B 2nd Special Public Meeting April 26th at Brent School 301 North Carolina Avenue SE 6:30 PM.
At these meetings, Stanton-Eastbanc’s design team will present the revised concept drawings for the Hine site. Representatives of the development team will be there as well as the architects.
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capitolstreets news
Knight Vision at Amidon-Bowen by Donny Kirsch
A
midon-Bowen Elementary School is situated in what many would consider an ideal location in Southwest Washington, DC – in a blossoming neighborhood that is in walking distance to the Mall, waterfront, and the new Arena Stage. On paper, however, Amidon-Bowen does not look like a school of choice. According to the DCPS website, it is a Title 1 school in the second year of restructuring, and the test scores are low – very low.
New Leadership Test scores, however, are only one part of Amidon-Bowen’s story. In the words of Amidon-Bowen parent Ms. Melifonwu, “One wouldn’t know or hear about the positive things that are happening at the school if you aren’t directly connected to the school, that is, a teacher, parent, etc.” A deeper look at the school suggests that Ms. Melifonwu is right, and as she and many community members note, a key factor to the school’s potential is its newly appointed principal, LaShante’ Knight. In her first year, Principal Knight has engaged in a holistic overhaul of the school. She has increased math and reading blocks 50%. She has brought in new literacy interventions, increased the amount of staff development for teachers, called for bi-weekly progress reports, and challenged teachers to take students on at least two field trips per semester. At least as important as initiatives on the academic front, Principal Knight has sought cultural change at Amidon-Bowen. Recess is structured, with students given a choice of four supervised activities. Alongside the standard list of specials commonly seen at Hill elementary schools (art, music, science, etc.), Amidon-Bowen 50 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Principal Lashante’ Knight with students
now includes a course taught by the school psychologist addressing conflict and techniques for conflict resolution. And when students miss the mark, as kids sometimes do, detention includes community service followed by time designated for reflection. Principal Knight has extended her outreach initiatives to parents and community members. The school holds one event a month aimed at engaging families, ranging from fitness days to awards assemblies, and the PTA is growing. In addition, every two weeks, Principal Knight sends an e-mail blast to community members, local businesses, and churches letting them know what is going on at the school and how they can support those initiatives.
Signs of Success From a visit on a cold day in late fall, it is apparent Principal Knight’s efforts are beginning to pay off. The spotless halls feature student work and progress alongside walls decorated with colorful murals and inspirational quotes. In every class, I see students focused and on task. The students’ pride in their work is evident from the
fact that they regularly send Principal Knight their work. Teachers are excited too. One of the classes I visited was doing a Jeopardy style review. Principal Knight told me the teacher was so proud of the lesson, she invited her several times to observe the review. Veteran Amidon-Bowen teacher Miriam Hugee echoes this growing enthusiasm, “Having spent 10 years teaching grades 4-6 at Amidon-Bowen, I am pleased to see the progress our school is experiencing. ” This is not to say that all these changes come easily. Principal Knight notes that getting students on grade level will take time. In addition, engaging parents is proving to be a challenge, but it is one that Principal Knight is actively pursuing, “one parent at a time, one meeting at a time.” She sends out personal invitations to events such as awards assemblies, and a parent resource center is available at the school with donated computers. It is clear that good things are happening Amidon-Bowen. There is strong leadership in place that is implementing academic and cultural reforms, and the community is a providing support. At the same time, Amidon-Bowen is lacking one asset which helped transition many of Capitol Hill school’s into school’s of choice. Specifically, while there is a new influx of families moving into the neighborhoods that feed into Amidon-Bowen, particularly in the Capitol Riverfront community east of South Capitol Street, these families do not seem likely to begin sending their children there any time soon.
Van Ness vs Amidon One group of neighborhood advocates led by Eve Brooks and including former school board candidate Melissa
Rohan and educator Julia Peyton (both parents of pre-elementary school age children) is advocating for a full restructuring of the school. This would include allowing Principal Knight to put her own educational team in place, a facilities renovation, and the transfer of the early childhood program into the custody of Apple Tree, which the group believes would do a better job of providing the children with skills necessary for kindergarten. A potential obstacle is the effort to reopen Van Ness, at 4th and M Street, SE. Currently, Amidon-Bowen is the designated school for the Capitol Riverfront community that is booming around the new stadium. The case for reopening Van Ness is pretty straightforward, and CR families have gained some powerful voices of support. In Councilmember Tommy Wells’ opinion, “Amidon-Bowen is too far away for these families.” Michael Stevens, Executive Director of Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District, a major stakeholder in the success of the community, echoes Councilmember Wells, adding that the neighborhood is drawing families, growing quickly --faster than expected, and the families need a viable and local school option. The movement to reopen Van Ness has also gotten the attention of DCPS who conducted a study on the possibility of reopening Van Ness. The results of the study were released at a December 8 meeting, and it is clear from the study that there are many families moving into the neighborhood and that there are long waiting lists for the closest neighboring elementary schools, which in addition to Amidon-Bowen include Brent and Tyler. At the same time, these waiting lists are primarily for the early childhood program. When taking into
account all grade levels at the three schools, only Brent is fully enrolled. Given this, DCPS announced at a meeting on February 28, that DCPS recognizes that the Capitol Riverfront (CR) community is growing and that Van Ness likely will reopen, but this will not happen before 2015. The questions that followed the announcement indicated that CR families are not yet ready to give up on DCPS and were willing to accept an alternative. Alas, the alternative they suggest is …Tyler Elementary School, and DCPS seems open to considering giving CR families priority status (not quite in-bounds but better than out-of-bounds) to attend Tyler. Hardly a word is said about Amidon-Bowen. As the meeting closed, one got the sense that it will take more than crosswalks to get CR families to cross South Capitol. But as the DCPS representatives leave the dais, Eve Brooks jumps up and asks for everybody’s attention. She wants to make sure they know there is a lot of activity surrounding AmidonBowen – a meeting with At-Large Councilman Sekou Biddle, a meeting with Council Chair Kwame Brown, -- the list goes on. It is clear that Amidon-Bowen has its supporters, and they are committed to ensuring that it too becomes a school of choice for nearby families. While many have argued that the decision to reopen Van Ness should not be connected to progress at Amidon-Bowen, some in the Amidon-Bowen community are concerned that the reopening of Van Ness could divert needed resources from Amidon-Bowen and hinder its efforts to become an academically successful and diverse school. In the words of Ms. Melifonwu, “We live in a diverse neighborhood, and our schools should reflect that. There shouldn’t be a separation of schools based on economic status, race, culture and whatever other factors that seem to be driving the reopening of Van Ness.” Unfortunately, the divisions are there, and a key factor to overcoming them seems to lie in the future success of Principal Knight and her reforms. ★
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capitolstreets ANC reports
ANC 6A by Roberta Weiner
6A Deals With “Reasonable Accommodation” Issue A northeast house renovation that has made use of a little noticed federal regulation that provides that “reasonable accommodation” has to be made in meeting lot occupancy requirements for disabled individuals has become the impetus for action by ANC 6B and 6A. It appears DCRA,and the BZA are not exercising jurisdiction over these requests, even when it appears that requests are being abused by people who do not have disabilities. According to Economic Development Chair Drew Ronneberg, there is little transparency and no opportunity to appeal these decisions. In fact, according to Ronneberg, DCRA does not appear to have a guideline on the matter, and is not making its rationale for its decisions publicly available. His committee was particularly concerned that these requests were being used by developers to circumvent the zoning process. Saying that accountability was needed, and that the ANC was not looking to stop anyone with a disability from seeking reasonable accommodation, Chair David Holmes noted how important it is to have standards that are universally applicable. The ANC passed a resolution to send a letter to the Acting Director of DCRA 52 ★ HillRag | April 2011
requesting that that the agency publish guidelines for assessing “reasonable accommodation” requests by homeowners, that the guidelines provide relief which is tailored to demonstrate a need for accommodation, that ANCs be provided with notice of such requests and that a public comment period be held prior to the granting of a request, and that the accommodation be allowed to last only as long as the need exists, e.g. until the building has a new owner that doesn’t require the accommodation. The motion passed 5-0-1, with Commissioner Mack abstaining.
And Apple Tree Goes On Building permits for the Apple Tree Learning Center that were withdrawn because they had been issued more than two years ago and should have gone through a renewal process before construction started were reinstated by DCRA, Commissioner Nick Alberti announced. Drew Ronneberg pointed out that the law was so clear on the deadline that he couldn’t understand how the permit reinstatement had happened. Mr. Alberti was about to offer a resolution mandating that the ANC appeal the DCRA ruling, when a new Commissioner, Sheree Lawler, said that while restoring the permits was indeed a questionable action, that with four new commissioners on the ANC, the normal approval process for permit approval should be followed again, and the matter should be referred to the Economic Development Committee
and discussed by the community and the developer. Mr. Alberti agreed to withdraw his resolution, and the matter was referred to the Committee, which will hold a meeting on the issue.
A Questionnaire for H Street Zoning Overlay Compliance The Economic Development Committee recommended that the Zoning Administrator develop a questionnaire for developments on H Street to make sure that developers are in compliance with the Overlay. The Overlay was developed to make sure that there are guidelines to make certain that H Street is not developed in a haphazard way. It contains things such as ceiling heights for retail establishments, the use of translucent windows, and the location of residential, retail and entertainment districts within the overlay. Dr. Ronneberg suggested that such a questionnaire would enable DCRA to enforce the mandates of the overlay before it issued building permits. According to Ronneberg, DCRA currently has a similar questionnaire to distinguish between fast food establishments, prepared food shops and restaurants. The ANC passed a motion to send a letter to Matt LeGrant, the City’s Zoning Administrator, requesting that an applicant for a building permit with the H Street Zoning Overlay be required to fill out a questionnaire to determine compliance with the Overlay’s requirements.
City Grant Approved for H Street Then ANC unanimously agreed to support an application for Neighborhood Investment Fund (NIF) funds
for two very different projects that will benefit H Street and its merchants. The grant is being sought by H Street Main Street and CHAMPS from a program of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Planning. One of the grant programs will create a small business seminar series, with how-to clinics led by professionals targeting issues applicable to H Street businesses. According to Chair David Holmes, topics to be included will be such issues as DCRA permitting and licensing, zoning updates, small business accounting and establishing social media work flow with Face book, Twitter, LInkedIn, etc., and should facilitate best practices for H Street’s small businesses in need of business development. The other project, The Chalk Walk, will be an interactive outdoor art experience which will build on the emerging H Street arts scene. It will consist of local artists, sponsored by H Street businesses, who will draw on designated storefront areas of the sidewalk along the length of H Street. The grant has the support of Councilmember Wells.
Other Action In other action, the ANC: Heard a presentation from Fred Moosally, Executive Director of ABRA, and Charles Brodsky, Chair of the ABC Board that focused on Voluntary Agreements and their enforcement, the effectiveness of single sales, the fact that they are beginning a series of “enforcement months” to focus on each Ward ( July will be Ward 6’s turn), and other issues of importance to 6A residents and establishment owners. • Voted to provide a grant of $1767 to the Maury School PTA for the purchase of three high-tech overhead projectors for use by both students and staff of the school. The next meeting of ANC 6A will be held on Thursday, April 14, at 7 pm at Miner School, 601 15th Street NE. ★ •
ANC 6B by Gwyn Jones
A
restaurant roof deck, performance parking, and the Hine Junior High School redevelopment project dominated the March 8 meeting of ANC6B.
ANC Supports Pacifico License with Conditions The ANC voted to support the much-discussed Alcoholic Beverage Commission license application for Pacifico, ending the ANC’s protest, which had been lodged late last year. As part of the ABC process, the ANC was required to attempt to reach a settlement with the applicant to resolve the protest issues, and the ANC’s ABC committee chair, Carol Green (6B07), noted that Pacifico’s owner, Xavier Cervera, had made several compromises to address ANC concerns. Among the conditions added to the Pacifico Voluntary Agreement (VA), which gets attached to the establishment’s ABC license, Pacifico’s total occupancy will be reduced to 140 (75 indoors, 45 in the summer garden). The hours of operation have also been reduced to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The architectural design will incorporate features to keep noise from being heard beyond the establishment itself, and employees will be encouraged to take public transportation. Similarly, patrons will be encouraged to use transit and public parking facilities. Even with concessions, the ANC’s ABC committee report noted that negotiations between the Pacifico and the protesting neighbors were at an impasse. Several residents expressed dismay that the ANC would drop its protest. “Don’t you care about your neighborhood?” asked Pope Barrow, a resident of the 800 block of E St. SE. “We are voting for the community,” Green said. “We need to resolve the ANC’s protest.” Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04) opposed the committee recommendation because she felt that the summer
garden hours should be the same as the sidewalk café. The ANC’s vote to support the license was 8-1-1, with Oldenburg opposing and Chair Neil Glick (6B08) abstaining.
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ANC Continues License Protest of 8th Street Bar and Grill On other ABC matters, the ANC voted unanimously to join with other parties in their continued protest of the 8th Street Bar and Grill license application. The ANC’s position is that the 8th Street Bar and Grill license should be a “CR” license, that is, a restaurant that can serve beer, wine and spirits, without entertainment. The ANC voted to submit that recommendation to the ABC Board as a contingency in case the applicant (8th Street Bar and Grill) prevails at the protest hearing.
Proposal on Performance Parking Expansion Fueled in part by the growing number of restaurants along Barracks Row, parking issues on and near 8th St. SE continued to spark strong discussion among commissioners and residents as the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) explores expanding “Performance Parking” zones within the ANC and other areas in Ward 6. The pilot was initiated about two years ago, partly in response to the opening of the Nationals Ballpark. One component of performance parking is that rates are adjustable, rising during peak demand hours and lowering during periods of less demand. The new multispace meters that are appearing in many places throughout the city can be programmed accordingly. David Garrison (6B01) recounted the Performance Parking Pilot that has been proposed by DDOT and approved by the D.C. Council creates an enhanced Residential Performance Parking on one side of each street. Revenue from multi-space meters in the RPP zones is used to support non-automobile initiatives. The proposed pilot would extend the boundaries to North Carolina Ave. and east to 11th Street. One benefit of the extension, according to Garrison is that it
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ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, 7 pm, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE.
www.anc6a.org ANC 6A, 2nd Thursday, April 14 Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee 3rd Tuesday, April 19, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th & G Streets, NE • Chair, Adam Healey, 556-0215 Transportation & Public Space Committee 3rd Monday, April 18, 7pm • Community Room of the Capitol Hill Towers 900 G St. NE • Chair, Omar Mahmud, 546-1520 Economic Development & Zoning Committee 3rd Wednesday, April 20, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th & G Streets, NE • Chair, Drew Ronneberg, 431-4305 Community Outreach Committee 3rd Monday, April 18, 7pm • Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith Annex 1235 C Street, NE • Chair, Elizabeth Nelson, 543-3512
Please check the Community Calendar on the website for cancellations and changes of venue. Attend a meeting! Volunteer for a committee! It’s your ANC! capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 53
capitolstreets news would allow the meter funds to be used for non-auto initiatives in those areas as well, such as bicycle racks, solar trash compactors, benches, and an info hub at the Eastern Market Metro. The DDOT report is due out soon, he said. Confusion was apparent among some of the attendees who were concerned about restricted parking near their homes which are currently outside the RPP zone. Oldenburg had done some initial constituent outreach that at least one resident found confusing. “We were told earlier that we were going to be petitioned block by block [about whether we wanted RPP],” said Carl Kendall, a resident of 9th St. SE. “Now this is being bulldozed through on us.” Garrison assured attendees that the DDOT proposal would not be supported by the ANC until outreach had been done, and that they were still in the early stages. Ivan Frishberg (6B02) outlined the process going forward, recommending that each commissioner informally reach out to his/her constituents. If there is support for moving forward, then plans will be developed with the ANC, the community, DDOT, etc., Frishberg noted. Norman Metzger (6B03) added that he has never received complaints about performance parking. “When we need things tweaked – for churches for example – DDOT is very helpful.” Another area of contention is an unassigned parking zone alongside the Marine Barracks on 9th St. SE. Oldenburg has started discussions on how to resolve the “free” parking zone with DDOT and Marine representatives. The ANC’s newly formed Transportation Task Force will be moving forward to resolve the issue. Garrison also reported that DDOT has expressed support for expanded use of the parking lot under the Southeast Freeway to encourage use by patrons and employees of businesses along/near Barracks Row. Among suggestions being considered are a lower hourly rate, increasing the maximum hours from two to three hours, and ending the meter requirements at 9:30 p.m. instead of midnight. In addition, improvements would be made to make 54 ★ HillRag | April 2011
parking there more accessible, such as replacing non-working lights and improving signage to direct people to the public parking there.
wwHine Junior High School Redevelopment Project Because of the great interest and potential neighborhood impact of the proposed Hine redevelopment project, the ANC will be holding a series of meetings to facilitate greater community input and feedback as the project moves forward. The project proposed by StantonEastbanc Development comprises a mixed-use development on the school building’s site as well as the east-west alley on the 200 block of 7th and 8th streets SE. The development would comprise residential, office and retail spaces, reopening C St. SE between 7th and 8th streets, and a plaza area at the corner of 7th and C streets SE. The first meeting was March 15. A second meeting will be scheduled in April. As explained by Garrision, the process for this development could be lengthy. First is the submission before the Historic Preservation Review Board. Next, there will be zoning review and “lots of negotiations throughout between the ANC, the developers and the community. The March 15 and April meetings will focus on the developer’s submission to the HPRB. To that end, the ANC at its March 8 meeting asked for feedback from residents regarding the HPRB application. Chief among the concerns raised were the height and massing issues and ensuring that the new development is consistent with the historic character of the neighborhood. One resident pointed out that in 2009 the commission had resolved to oppose any development over 40 feet high. Oldenburg added that the ANC had submitted criteria for the Hine project to the developers and suggested that commissioners review that criteria and try to hold the developer to them.
New Commissioners Prevail on Contentious Task Force Creation Over the “vehement objection”
of Commissioner Francis Campbell (6B10), a proposal from first-term commissioners Brian Flahaven (6B09) and Jared Critchfield (6B06) to create an ANC6B Capitol Hill East Task Force narrowly passed, 6-4. Flahaven, who presented the proposal to the Commission, outlined four reasons for the task force: * Demonstrate ANC6B’s clear commitment to addressing development issues facing Hill East • Partner with the city and its agencies to ensure that Hill East development issues are addressed • Provide a way to engage more Hill East residents in the ANC to address their specific concerns • Recommend ways that the ANC can support development efforts in Hill East Flahaven cited the need for a task force observing that much of the ANC’s time seems to be focused on Barracks Row issues. The task force would cover the areas served by single-member districts 06 (Critchfield), 08 (Glick), 09 (Flahaven), 10 (Campbell) and 11 (vacant). Campbell said that he opposed the formation of the task force on the grounds that it was duplicative of other bodies already in place. When ask directly by the chair how he felt about the formation of the Hill East Task Force, Campbell responded, “At this point I am vehemently opposed.” Garrison noted that it seemed to be inappropriate to form a task force covering a commissioner’s area without that commissioner’s consent, but a majority of the ANC voted to create it nevertheless. Flahaven was subsequently approved as chair of the task force with 7 in favor and 3 abstentions. The ANC also created two additional task forces: a Transportation Task Force, chaired by Kirsten Oldenburg; and an Outreach and Constituent Services Task Force, chaired by Brian Pate. Commissioners may participate in any/all task forces created by the ANC. In addition, the ANC will be appointing resident members to fill out the task forces. Residents interested in serving on these, or other ANC6B committees and/or task forces should contact their commissioner or
the commission staff (office@anc6b. org/202-543-3344). Commissioners’ contact information can be found here: http://www.anc6b.org/cms.html.
Planning & Zoning Actions The ANC took the following actions based on recommendations of its Planning & Zoning Committee recommendations: • 2011 National Police Week 5K Race – Voted 10-0 to support. • 520 8th St. SE, Senart’s Oyster & Chop House – Addition of sidewalk café. Support approved via consent calendar. • 224 7th St. SE – New restaurant storefront and one-story rear addition. Voted 10-0 to support. • 521 11th St. SE – Redesign of rear side elevation and changes to front porch. Commissioners agreed to support the redesign of the rear elevation but voted to recommend that the applicant, Bernard Renard, reconstruct the front porch instead of eliminating it. • 524 8th St. SE – Two rear additions to the existing building. This building, which would house the Moby Dick Restaurant on the first floor and Nooshi on the second floor, presented accessibility issues that almost derailed ANC support for the design. But the architect committed to conforming to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements to ensure that “reasonable accommodation” would be made in the design. The commissioners ultimately voted to support the project contingent upon submission of plans to meet ADA requirements or provide reasonable accommodation. • 308 G St. SE – Special Exception to allow a rear sunroom addition to one-family, semi-detached dwelling. Support approved via consent calendar. • 1613 E St. SE – Special Exception to permit a 2-story rear addition to a one-family rowhouse. Support approved via consent calendar. • 1605 H St. SE – Special exception for a rear deck addition to a onefamily row house. Support approved via consent calendar. ★
Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, Inc.
12th Annual Business Meeting & Family Community Conference This Year’s Theme:
“Strengthening Community Dialogue As One City” @ A. Kiger Savoy Elementary; 2400 Shannon Place, SE WDC 20020 Directly across the street from The Anacostia Metro Station
April 9, 2011 9 am – 4 pm FREE ADMISSION Invited Guests: Mayor Vincent Gray (confirmed); City Council Chairman Kwame Brown; Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry
• ELECTION OF 2011 FSFSC BOARD OFFICERS • INFORMATIVE WORK SHOPS WITH CEU CREDITS • MOON BOUNCE & CLOWNS • FREE CHILDCARE • WII & PS3 TOURNAMENTS • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT • MOBILE UNITS • HEALTH VENDORS • FREE FOOD
For More Information Contact: Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative, Inc. 2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE Suite 304 Washington, DC 20020 • Phone 202-889-1425 Fax 202-889-2213 • www.fsfsc.org
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 55
ANC 6C by Roberta Weiner
Walmart Project Begins Its Journey Through ANC 6C
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One of the four D.C. stores proposed by Walmart is proposed for 801 New Jersey Avenue NW, and Commissioner Keith Silver, in whose SMD the giant retailer plans to locate, is beginning what will be a major mobilization to affect what is built and how the store will be constructed and operated. He has already held a community meeting, and plans to involve Councilmembers Wells and Michael Brown, among others. The project, which will be a matter-of-right development, does not require ANC approval, but, Silver said, the Zoning Committee and full ANC will be involved. Chairman Karen Wirt said that the ANC would devote an entire meeting to the issue. Several subcommittees have been established: Business, to monitor and work with small businesses in the area; Traffic and the Environment; and Community Benefits. Silver asked that members of the Commission volunteer to chair these committees. Rob Amos, chair of the Develo0pment Committee, said that he plans to meet with the developer on the store, saying that the developer, The Bennett Group, is separate from Walmart and is purchasing the land from the District. Mackenzie Baris, who works with D.C. Jobs With Justice announced that that organization was also about both construction jobs and equable employment opportunities at the store. She recommended that people view a documentary available on the web called “The High Cost of Low Prices” about Walmart’s history of labor relations.
Massive I-395 Project Continues Moving Forward The massive mixed-use project that will change the face of the
District between E Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW over I-395 is progressing, with the support of the ANC. The three-block plan will involve building platforms over the freeway, moving the old Adas Israel synagogue that now serves as a museum for local Jewish history, moving the rectory of the local Catholic church, and constructing several office and residential buildings. The developers of the project, the Dreyfus Group, and its attorneys, presented changes to the project that were requested by the Zoning Commission after a January hearing on its PUD. The changes involve changing the retail strategy of the North Block of the building and changing the massing of the buildings. The retail has been redesigned to be oriented toward Massachusetts Avenue NW, with a focus on restaurants and service retail. The ANC voted unanimously to approve the changes.
Another Liquor License Raises Noise and Parking Issues Concern about noise from another new restaurant is an issue for several neighbors of Boundary Road, which will be located at 414 H Street NE. The 65-seat establishment plans to operate with a “rustic farm-to-table” menu, outdoor tables and some entertainment on a mezzanine floor. Longtime neighbor Sally Jenkins complained that the H Street Zoning Overlay had designed the first eight blocks of H Street to be for residential purposes and it was rapidly joining the east end of the street as part of the entertainment district. She, and others, said that the parking, particularly as construction picks up, will be impossible and will further infringe on what is already limited residential parking. Brad Leopold, one of the restaurant’s owners, said that he expected most people to take advantage of public transportation, and that he was looking forward to hiring mostly local people—who would not be driving—to work at the place. He also said he planned to have bike racks for customers. Commissioner Tony Richardson, in whose SMD the restaurant is located, said he was planning to hold a community meeting before a Volun-
tary Agreement (VA) was negotiated. The ANC voted to protest the license until a VA is agreed to and signed.
Another Residential Building Planned for Mt. Vernon Square K Street NW is slowly becoming a focal point of residential development, and Paul Millstein of Douglas Development presented a concept plan for another apartment building, this one at 450 K Street NW, that requires approval from the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). The building will have 246 rental units including studios, one bedroom, and two bedroom apartments, and will have on-site parking. The building will have ground floor retail, and a second floor courtyard, fitness center, café and club room. The building will be LEED Silver. Both Commissioners Mark Dixon and Keith Silver expressed their hope that the developers will hire from the community, and expressed confidence in the developers. The Commission voted without objection to support the HPRB application.
Two Great Events in APRIL! Special CHRS Meeting about the Historic Preservation Review Process For the Hine School Development Site • Tuesday, April 5 – 6:45 -8:30 pm Maury Elementary School multipurpose room, 13th & Constitution Ave., NE • (Entrance on 13th Street) This special membership meeting will include a presentation by the design team of revised concept drawings, Q&A with Stanton Development/Eastbanc on their proposed plans, information about the Historic Preservation Review Board’s process, and a request for comments from CHRS members and the public. The meeting is free and open to the public.
Preservation Café – House History Research: Part Two April 20 – 6:30-7:15 pm Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 2nd & F Sts., NE, downstairs The April Preservation Café will feature the second of a 2-part series on house history research by local historian Matthew Gilmore. Whereas Part One in February addressed researching the construction and history of a house itself, the April Café will focus on how to learn about the people who have previously lived in a home. Mr. Gilmore will discuss how to research who used to live in your house, as well as how to find some historic demographic information about your neighborhood through city directory and census records. Together, the information from the two sessions provides a primer for the novice house history researcher. Mr. Gilmore has been giving local history workshops since 1995, drawing on his experience as a reference librarian in the Washingtoniana Division of the DC Public Library. The Preservation Café is free, accessible, and open to the public; no reservations are needed.
Preserve and Protect Your Neighborhood Join the Capitol Hill Restoration Society • CFC # 50747
202-543-0425 www.chrs.org
A Mediterranean Restaurant at NY Avenue Metro The ANC unanimously approved an application for a public space permit for Roti, a Mediterranean grill, at 1275 1st Street NE. Rudy Prieto, the owner, plans to add 14 tables outside his establishment, joining neighbors Tynan’s Coffee and Tea and Potbelly at that location. There will be free-standing umbrellas, but no stanchions, fence or other barriers separating the tables from the sidewalk. The tables will take up about 10’ feet of space directly outside the restaurant.
Other Actions •
•
In other actions, the ANC: Approved a liquor license for Watershed, a new restaurant by noted chefs Todd and Ellen Grey to be located at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1225 1st Street NE. Supported a two-year extension of an HPRB concept design for a project at 443-459 I Street NW, in order to enable a pocapitalcommunitynews.com ★ 57
capitolstreets news
•
tential purchaser of the property to complete due diligence on the property, which will be a mixeduse residential and retail project. Voted to support the Capitol Hill Classic 10K Race to benefit the Peabody School on May 15, the ANC 6C portion of Bike DC, a citywide bike ride on May 22; and the City of Hope Walk for Hope on April 19.
The next meeting of ANC 6C will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 7 pm, at the Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue 0NE. ★
ANC 6D by Roberta Weiner
M Street Traffic Problems on the Way To Solution The District department of Transportation (DDOT) has completed its analysis of the traffic problems at 4th and M Streets, SW, and has recommended a series of initiatives to rectify them. In about 30 days, southbound cars on the newly opened 4th Street will no longer be able to make left turns, and the traffic lights will be realigned to allow more time for pedestrian crossing. There will also be improved signage explicitly prohibiting U-turns at that intersection. There will also be increased and consistent enforcement from MPD. People seeking to go east, from the Safeway garage for example, can make a right turn and proceed east on I Street across South Capitol Street. The developers of the Capper/Carrollsburg development (see below) will shortly demolish a District-owned building and heavy equipment parking lot and open I Street at New Jersey Avenue, which is currently closed. The ANC voted 5-1 to support the DDOT proposal.
Another Step Forward at The Yards The next step forward at The Yards will be the renovation of the Lumber Shed, a historic two-story building in 58 ★ HillRag | April 2011
the Yards Park. Originally slated to be a two-story retail structure, Forest City Washington, the project’s developer, has had difficulty finding tenants for the second story of the building, and so, according to Alex Nyhan of Forest City, they now plan to move their offices, currently downtown, to the second floor, moving ahead with the reconstruction of a classic industrial building, which will be a primarily glass and metal structure. It will also be a “green” building, with Forest City seeking LEED Gold certification. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the change in usage for the Lumber Shed building at The Yards. Construction will begin before the end of the year.
New Uses for Money-Eating SE Washington Post Building The former Washington Post printing plant at 225 Virginia Avenue SE—renamed 200 I Street SE—has a new lease on life, and will soon house three DC agencies, the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Child and Family Services, and the Council on Arts and Humanities. Previously slated to be used by MPD, the District paid rent for the empty building for three years. The 420,000 sq.ft. behemoth is being attractively redesigned, with its south-facing entrance fronting on Canal Park and a public art gallery in its lobby. Jane Mahaffie of StonebaridgeCarras, the building’s developer, requested support for a public space permit for landscaping and hardscaping of the property, which the Commission unanimously granted.
New Safeway Receipt Checking Initiative Debated A month-old Safeway policy— checking customers’ receipts as they leave the store—that is exclusive to the Southwest store has become a source of debate within the neighborhood and has reached the ANC. Mid-Atlantic Safeway communications manager Craig Muckle and Loss Prevention Director Tom Harris were at the ANC meeting to discuss Safeway’s rationale for its new initiative and explain that it is a test for a possible region-wide new
policy if they think it is a success. Commissioner Andy Litsky was direct in opposing the plan and the way in which it was implemented, pointing out that at a time when Southwest real estate values are rising and the area is having a renaissance-including the new Safeway store, the initiative puts everyone in Southwest under suspicion, and plays to old fears that the neighborhood is unsafe. He suggested that if Southwest residents were not being singled out, then Safeway should implement it at another store, such as the recently-re-opened market in Georgetown. Commissioner Cara Shockley pointed out that there were no signs posted, and that there had been no advance discussion or notification for the neighborhood. Additionally, Commissioner David Garber pointed out, the design of the store, with the registers in the rear, did nothing to discourage shrinkage. In response, Harris explained that Southwest was chosen for the test program because it has more customer visits per week--35,000—than any other store in the District, that it has a Safeway Signature seating area/food court in the front of the store, and that the customer base is diverse, not only economically, but in terms of a mix of residents, workers, tourists and other visitors—in short, a microcosm of the District. He blamed increasing inventory shrinkage on the bag tax and the decreasing use of plastic bags since its implementation. Several community members expressed their disapproval of the program, saying they felt insulted . A motion was passed to write to the chief executive of Safeway’s Eastern Division, with a copy to the head of the corporation, which is based in California, disapproving of the test program and urging that, if it is continued, that it be implemented in another store in the District. The vote was 51-1, with Chair Ron McBee opposed, and Commissioner Bob Craycraft, whose constituents, he said, supported the test, abstaining.
Update on Capper/Carrollsburg The Commission received a detailed update on the Capper/Carrollsburg Hope VI project from David
Cortiella of DCHA, the project director, who said the second phase of town homes is ahead of schedule and should be ready for move-in by July or August. He said that still outstanding are the last four parts of the project: including two office buildings, which have been okayed but lack financing. They are completing underground infrastructure projects, and a new home for DPW is in the works, which should be completed by August, after which they will demolish the current building and re-open I Street at New Jersey Avenue SE. Most important, according to Cortiella, there is an “ironclad” commitment to build the project’s much delayed community center, which will be constructed with funds supposed to come from federal PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) funds. Cortiella was questioned about the return of former residents of the Capper/Carrollsburg public housing project, and he said that there was a complete list of displaced tenants, that some of them have already moved into the new development, that he meets with them every six months, and that those who still want to return will have priority for the new apartments when they are completed. He said that nationally the return rate for Hope VI projects was 25-30%, and he expects this will do the same.
In other actions, ANC 6D… • Unanimously agreed to support a BZA application for a variance for the Capitol Hill Day School which will temporarily move to modular units at 1000- 5th Street SE from May through March 2012 while their South Carolina Avenue building is renovated. The school has agreed to provide three scholarships for the community. • Unanimously agreed to a motion to support the renaming of the Town Center West Park as the Duck Pond Park, which requires the submission of legislation by Councilmember Wells and a vote by the City Council. Support for the naming includes a petition with over 100 signatures garnered from all eight wards. The next meeting of ANC 6D will be held on Monday, April 11, 7:00 p.m. at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel, 3rd and L Streets SE. ★
Community Life Spotted on the Hill
The White-crowned Sparrow text and photo by Peter Vankevich
F
inally spring is here and with this seasonal change, it is time to start being on the lookout for interesting birds that may be passing through our neighborhoods. One of them, a pleasant and somewhat unusual sighting, is the White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys). This handsome bird can be identified by the prominent black-andwhite stripes on the head and a smallish pale pink or yellow bill. It is sometimes confused with the far more common White-throated Sparrow that winters here which also has this prominent striping on the crown. White-throated Sparrows, however, can be distinguished by a bright white throat patch and yellow lores between the bill and the eyes and a more chunky appearance. White-crowned Sparrows are birds of the Great North; their primary nesting grounds are across Upper Canada, Alaska and the mountainous northwest. Their wintering ground includes much of the United States, though fewer can be found this far east. The DC Christmas Bird Count usually manages to find a couple of these birds and in parts of Maryland and Virginia one can find more in fall and winter. Five subspecies have been identified including an eastern race. Subtle plumage differences can help tell them apart. They will often in flock with other sparrow species and prefer brushy habitat. When on the ground they move with a hopping motion. Like the Eastern Towhee and the Fox Sparrow, they will scratch leaves with both feet in search of seeds and anthropods and will also visit birdfeeders.
The song usually begins with one to three clear whistled notes that are steady in pitch and ends with three buzzy notes. This sound has been of much fascination to scientists since there are subtle regional variations thereof which have attracted the attention of the socio-linguistic wing of ornithology so to speak. A search of the literature reveals several theme-related research projects with titles such as The Response of Female Mountain White-Crowned Sparrows to Songs from Their Natal Dialect and an Alien Dialect. This bird was photographed at the Congressional Cemetery. I hasten to add that over the years I have seen this bird in early spring perched in bushes and trees on the Hill on my early morning walks to work.
to the Brown Creeper, featured in the February issue. With spring forthcoming, one should be mindful that bird migration often involves traversing hundreds of miles or more and is, to say the least, highly perilous. Birds on migration when they come down to rest are in an exhaustive state which makes them highly susceptible to predators. I once came upon a Louisiana Waterthrush lying on the sidewalk in front of the Hawk and Dove. I picked it up and brought it to a park and put it down in what I hope was a safer area to rest. It was gone the next morning, hopefully by then somewhere along the C&O Canal to scope out a niche to start its family. This is a good time to keep adventuresome cats indoors or have them in areas that will keep them from harming our diminishing songbird populations.
Bird Notes
If you have any comments or interesting birds visiting a feeder on Capitol Hill that could be a possible feature for this column, or would like to join me for a stroll on the Hill with your binoculars or camera on a weekend morning, feel free to contact me, at petevankevich@gmail.com. ★
I was contacted recently by one of our readers who observed a neighbor’s cat catch a bird that looked very similar
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 59
communitylife
Leah Sturgis and Frank Solivan A Jewelry Artist and Blue Grass Musician Treat the Hill With Their Talents by Pattie Cinelli
L
eah Sturgis is a familiar face on the Hill. She’s been selling her unique hand-made jewelry at Eastern Market on weekends for about eight years. You may not recognize her husband Frank Solivan. For most of those years Frank has been playing blue grass and country music all over the country with the elite, highly competitive U.S. Navy band Country Current. But two years ago Frank did the unthinkable – he gave up his secure income, his benefits and a job making a living playing music to venture out on his own. “We took a huge risk becoming fulltime artists working for ourselves,” said Frank. “But in the Navy band I was playin his songs, “I am a Rambler” and “Day to Day.” ing music, not making music. I wanted more. Now we have a partnership. We help each He laughed. “When I moved to Juno, I worked other with our art and we’re learning to be business as a school bus driver, a substitute school teacher and other jobs, then I moved back to Anchorage to people.” Frank and his band Dirty Kitchen will be giv- make money.” He also spent a year in Nashville but ing his premier performance at the Hill’s Corner wanted to move back to Alaska for Leah. While livStore, (www.cornerstorearts.org) Friday April 8. He ing in Juno, Leah was content teaching pre-school, recently released his third CD, “Frank Solivan & making jewelry as a hobby and selling it at Rock Dirty Kitchen,” a collection of hard driving, con- Paper Scissors, a store she co-owned in Juno. Then a life altering opportunity appeared. When temporary acoustic music and thoughtful songs of love and friendship played within the bluegrass sen- they were both at the Anchorage Folk Festival where sibility. In the two years he’s been out of the Navy, Country Current was playing, the band asked Frank Frank has performed around the country and in our to play a few songs with them. A month later they neighborhood outside at Eastern Market and in the asked him to sit in for their absent fiddle and mandolin player. He learned 50 tunes, honed his skills North Hall of the Market last year. Their story as a couple is inspiring. Their art is on an electric guitar and made an impression. After exciting. Both Frank and Leah have put their personal stamp on their work. In the six years Frank was in the Navy, Leah had the opportunity to grow her own business. She first visited Eastern Market 15 years ago while visiting a former roommate. “That was the coolest market I’d ever seen,” she said. “There was nothing like it in Juno where I was living. Never in a million years did I think I would be living here and selling jewelry at that market.” Leah met Frank at the Alaska Folk Festival years ago in Juno where he was performing. They “hit it off ” but Frank lived in Anchorage, which is about 1000 miles away. “He might as well have lived in Colorado,” said Leah. Frank wrote about being in a long distance relationship Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen 60 ★ HillRag | April 2011
several months, two auditions and many soul searching talks with Leah, the couple moved to DC and Frank found himself an enlisted man in boot camp doing pushups. The couple’s move to DC and Frank’s secure Navy job gave Leah an opportunity to pursue her creative interests. “I didn’t want to do a 9-to5 job, so I began making jewelry full time.” Her business grew, and she developed her unique hand-made jewelry designs from natural elements such as caribou, antler, porcupine quill, wood and fresh water pearl. Much of her material is from Alaska. Her designs are precise, simple, organic yet elegant. “I combine earthy material with clean, contemporary design. My techniques and materials are basic. I use all hand tools. It’s my design that is unique to me.” About half Leah’s business is from Eastern Market sales. Her work is sold in stores all over the country from an outpost in Chicken, Alaska to New York City. When Leah travels to wholesale shows, Frank will often be found manning the stall at Eastern Market for his wife. Their huge risk seems to be paying off. Frank has been able to create his own notable brand of entertainment that sets him apart from others. “Dirty Kitchen” is not just the name of his band. It symbolizes what Frank has grown up with – music and food. “My whole family loves to play music. My grandma was in vaudeville and loved to play a mandolin and fiddle. My mother sings, my father, brother and sister play music and my cousin Meghan McCormick, is a professional musician and singer. When Leah went to a Solivan family reunion in Oregon (about 100 people) she said the group had set up a stage and had devised a scheduled time for all the family bands to play there. Not only does his mother sing, but she also has been in the restaurant business all of her life. Frank said he always had a knack for cooking for large groups of people. When he put together his business plan for his band he wanted people “to have the experience we had at home – intimacy, good food and music.” In addition to his touring, Frank’s Dirty Kitchen experience offers fans a chance to spend quality time with the band. Frank Solivan & Dirty
Kitchen will host a 20-person sit down three-to-four course meal with music or a 50-person onebowl wonder with music. “I wanted to share my passion for cooking with people, give them the experience we have at home. I want to host a wonderful intimate evening with good food and music.”
Leah Sturgis’ jewelry set
Leah’s and Frank’s future plans are as big as their hearts. They are hoping to create a Dirty Kitchen model for fundraisers. There is a Dirty Kitchen cookbook in the works and a network show in the making. “It’s hard work, but we love it. It’s our passion.” Frank said they’re not looking to get rich, just to make a steady sustainable living. Leah and Frank want to share their art with everyone. “We want to be inclusive and embrace all with open arms. Let’s have a good time, listen to music, eat good food and bring people together.” In addition to The Corner Store show on April 8th, Frank will be playing on April 10th at the Ram’s Head in Annapolis. Leah is at Eastern Market every Saturday and Sunday. To view Leah’s jewelry or to order log onto: www.leahsturgis. com. To listen to Frank’s music log onto: www.dirtykitchenband.com. To book a Dirty Kitchen dinner log onto: www.quicksilverproductions.com. Pattie Cinelli has lied on the Hill and has been writing for the Hill Rag since the 1980s. As both a professional journalist and fitness expert, she began her health/fitness column more than 12 years ago. Email her with questions or story ideas/comments at: fitness@pattiecinelli.com. ★
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h street streetlife life by Elise Bernard Partner. That means Khan’s will show every DC United game. I assured, in fact, that any time there’s any soccer game available on TV it will appear on at least one of the ten large screens at Khan’s. One of those screens, incidentally, is a 110 inches, and boasts an HD projector.
Argonaut Joins the Crowd For Weekday Lunch Add oldie but goodie Argonaut Tavern (http://www.argonautdc.com, 1433 H Street NE) to the list of places serving up weekday lunch, though it’s confined to Wednesday through Friday (they already serve brunch on weekends) for now. Even so, this is a great chance to drag the office down to H Street for fish tacos. The Argonaut joins a growing list of full service restaurants offering serving lunch along the Corridor during the workweek.
Khan’s Brings Mongolian Bar-B-Q to H Street
Grill Your Own at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar
The Argonaut now serves weekday lunch Wednesday through Friday
Kahn’s Bar and Grill (http://www. khansdc.com, 1125 H Street NE) should be up and running by the time you read these words. The team behind Khan’s offers up an experience previously unavailable anywhere along the Corridor. That team consists of owner James Lee, General Manager Carmin Ruggiero, and Assistant General Manager Nate Oser, and they are pumped about the upcoming opening. As any aficionado of Mongolian barbeque knows, half the fun is putting together your
The team at Khan’s brings Mongolian barbeque to the H Street Corridor 62 ★ HillRag | April 2011
bowl of ingredients, and watching the fast moving chefs as they quickly cook your food (the other half is enjoying the meal itself ). In addition to Mongolian bar-b-q (starting a $9 a bowl with fountain soda included), Khan’s also offers a twelve-item menu of Asian fusion selections. Khan’s opens at 11am daily for lunch service. Order the Mongolian barb-q until 9pm (10pm on weekends). On weekend nights the grilling station transforms into a second bar when the cooking ends. Those experiencing late night cravings can still satisfy them with something off the bar menu. Cast your gaze behind the bar at Khan’s and you’ll find an array of unusual liquors, including Japanese scotch, and a few varieties of white whiskey. White whiskey is a young (unaged) whiskey, sometimes referred to as white dog, or legal moonshine. It’s recently gaining converts who flock to its clean and bold flavor. The bar boasts a respectable twelve taps, including Asahi Super Dry, Kirin Ichiban, PBR, and various craft brews. Ruggiero and Oser view the bar aspect of Khan’s as an ever evolving entity. They plan to rotate taps, and bottle beers frequently. They also discussed crafting custom infusions. There will, of course, be plenty of sake. Soccer fans can rejoice in the knowledge that Khan’s joins Biergarten Haus (http://biergartenhaus.com, 1355 H Street NE), The Pug (http://thepugdc.com, 1234 H Street NE), and the Queen Vic (http://www.thequeenvicdc. com, 1206 H Street NE) as a DC United Bar
Are you searching for the perfect place to host your next laid back gathering with friends? You might want to consider the back patio at Little Miss Whiskey’s (http:// littlemisswhiskeys.com, 1104 H Street NE). You can fit a decent crowd back there, and it really is the type of place where people are impressed the first time they see it. It even comes with a stainless steel gas grill (you provide the food). You’ll have a superior beer selection, and no worries about under, or over buying on drinks. Reserve the patio simply by guaranteeing a certain minimum bar tab. Email reservations@littlemisswhiskeys.com for further info.
Patio and Outdoor Bar Construction Continues at Capital City Diner This summer you’ll be able to enjoy the fresh air while you devour your BLT or chicken fried steak. Matt Ashburn, owner of the Capital City Diner (http://www.capitalcitydiner.com, 1050 Bladensburg Road NE) is hard at work on the back patio
Soon you’ll be able to enjoy pigs in a blanket al fresco at Capital City Diner
Additions & Basement Experts and outdoor bar. At around 1000 square feet the patio more than doubles the seating capacity of the vintage diner. The patio seats will no doubt be put to good use during Saturday and Sunday brunch service, which is among the Diner’s busiest times. With all permits already secured from the city Ashburn expects to have the patio open and accommodating patrons by mid-April. He describes the patio as an outdoor garden space, complete with trees and plants. Plans are even in the works to possibly offer limited live music.
The Queen Vic and Toki Underground Anticipation for the opening of new places on the H Street Corridor is nothing new. But this spring has already seen a barrage of new places open their doors. By the time you read this article both Toki Underground (http://tokiunderground.com, 2nd floor of 1234 H Street NE) and the Queen Vic (http://www.thequeenvicdc.com, 1206 H Street NE) should be serving happy crowds of patrons. Toki Underground’s menu features a variety of dumplings ($5 for six dumplings), and five types of traditional ramen ($10 a bowl). Four of those ramen varieties employ a traditional tonkotsu base. Tonkotsu broth is a rich and creamy broth achieved by simmering pork bones for hours. Even when empty the space seems to buzz with a constant energy, which makes sense when owner Erik Bruner-Yang describes his desired atmosphere as “fun, loud, chaotic, and cheap.” The Queen Vic is a British style pub with a frequently changing menu featuring a particular focus on wild game. One constant on the menu is the omnipresent curry (though the curry itself will vary from day to day). The curry recipes come from owner Ryan Gordon’s father in law, a two time winner of a British Curry Award, so we should all be in for a treat. For more on what’s abuzz on the H Street Corridor you check out my blog at http://frozentropics.blogspot.com. ★
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communitylife
Taste of 8th and More Spring Celebrations on Barracks Row by Sharon Bosworth office planning is underway for the Taste of 8th, our annual spring restaurant sampling event featuring our own super stars. We are hosting Taste of 8th on Saturday, April 30 from 1 to 4 pm. With new restaurants joining Taste of 8th every year, it has become a phenomenon drawing visitors from the entire metro area to discover the amazing food on our corridor. For more information about Taste of 8th or to buy tickets ($5.00 each or 5 for $20.00) see ad in Hill Rag, go to www.barracksrow.org, or call the Barracks Row office: 202-544-3188. Iris Burnell of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service can provide “Refund Anticipation Checks” in one day.
I
n late March each year on Capitol Hill and the nearby National Mall winter slush miraculously dries up and ethereal cherry blossoms peak. Our 8th Street tree boxes fill in with crocus and daffodils. Fresh shoots of lirope sprout from last year’s wilted remnants and our planters are a riot of purple and yellow pansies nodding in the river breezes. Barracks Row itself is the scene of local spring traditions. In March, patio season comes over Eighth Street, SE almost overnight. Menus change and tables and umbrellas pop up outside everywhere -- expanding restaurant seating in some cases by 50%. Early spring brings the first pitch of the season as the National’s come home from training camp to their ball park eight blocks east of Barracks Row. This year baseball season begins on March 30. The buzz of fans on the 8th Street patios will be about super stars: will Strasburg’s shoulder surgery work… when will Bryce Harper come up from the minors? At the Barracks Row Main Street 64 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Senart’s Re-Opens After Fairytale 100-Year Nap Dotted among these annual spring happenings three new retailers are celebrating store openings bringing fresh alternatives for shoppers and one restaurant is re-opening after a nap of almost one hundred years. For two of Barracks Row’s service businesses it’s high season: our tax preparer’s are working with a vengeance to make sure your return is perfect and turned in on time. Here’s a recap of some of recent additions - both already open and about-to-be. Late in March the City Bikes store at 707-709 8th Street, SE quietly opened for business. Go by and introduce yourself to Eric Welp, general manager and Jeff Bloomfield, store manager. Jeff will be smiling because he lives on Capitol Hill and was transferred to this location after being manager at the Adams Morgan City Bikes store. His bike ride to work is 5 minutes now. A big grand opening celebration is planned by owner Charlie McCormick for the first weekend in April with further opening events taking place over the spring biking season.
Penny Karas, owner of Hello Cupcake at 705 8th Street, SE is focused on an April opening of her new Barracks Row location where she will debut a mixed retail/restaurant concept. The 8th Street, SE location of Hello Cupcake will be the model Karas uses to expand her cupcake empire beyond the original Dupont Circle shop. The Barracks Row store will not only be a cupcake bakery and coffee shop but it will also be the center of Hello Cupcake’s nationwide shipping service. At Sweet Lobby, a European bakery at 404 8th Street, SE, work is progressing steadily. Sweet Lobby will feature macarons (it’s spelled the French way, Spell Check) and other continental delicacies. Owned by the McIntosh siblings, an early to mid April is the target opening date. Take a peek in the front windows at Senart’s Oyster and Chop House, re-opening soon under new management after a nearly one hundred year hiatus. See if you can spot Chef Brian Kline inside and give him a wave. Chef Brian was formerly chef at Brasserie Beck, Marcel’s and the Four Seasons Hotels. Chef Brian is at work behind-closed-doors at Senart’s making final preparations for an as-yet- unscheduled April re-opening.
donors of the clock, along with Xavier Cervera, the owner of Senart’s who is donating the clock’s installation, upkeep and insurance. All donors will be on hand in early April to unveil the clock and formally introduce the new landmark to the neighborhood. The street clock may come in handy for tax preparers along Barracks Row who will be leading their clients toward the yearly countdown. This year taxes are due at midnight on April 18. Two 8th Street businesses focus on individual tax preparation and well as business services: Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and Community Credit Union Services. Both have been part of the Barracks Row community for many years. Iris Burnell located the Jackson Hewett office on 8th Street in 1995 when she bought the franchise for this area. Burnell is a graduate of Howard University in accounting and went on
Countdown to Tax Day on Barracks Row’s New Landmark During the month of March, the area front of Senart’s has been the scene of measuring and digging as crews prepare for the installation of a turn-of-the-century style street clock. Carrol and Karl Kindel, who have lived on Capitol Hill more than 40 years, are the
City Bikes General Manager, Eric Welp – Now Open: With repair service and 2011 bike styles.
MEET Molly’s NEW CHEF!
Chef Brian Klein will preside over Senart’s Oyster & Chop House re-opening after almost 100 year hiatus.
to Catholic University for graduate school. “Taxes aren’t just numbers, they are people’s lives,” Burnell notes. “We are here to answer questions all year long, not just in tax season – that’s part of our relationship with our clients.” Many people discover almost too late that much overthe-counter tax software just cannot handle the nuances of life altering situations: claiming your parents as dependants, getting married or divorced, inheriting stocks or bonds, buying a house, etc. So, as April moves irrevocably toward tax day, there is always a trail of new customers to 8th Street, SE searching for last minute salvation. Once Iris Burnell gets them to a better place on their tax return she’ll tell them she never had a second thought about the future of 8th Street. Burnell was a believer in the neighborhood from the beginning, locating her people-oriented practice on 8th street when our street had a long way to go. Today we are proud to have Iris Burnell and our other services businesses on the row. By their very presence they formed the solid foundation from which we grew. Today stylish new ventures like Sweet Lobby and Hello Cupcake blossom build their success on the stability our service businesses delivered over the years to our once decrepit corridor. ★
Molly’s Malone’s welcomes Executive Chef Brendan Tharp, formerly of Blue Hill Tavern. Chef Tharp is introducing a new exciting menu that includes his signature lamb shank and Irish potatoes, hardy Guinness Stew, and a variety of new sandwiches and new brunch items.
Pub Fare will Never Be The Same! Molly Malone’s 713 8th Street SE (202) 547-1222 www.mollysdc.com
Specializing in all aspects of Real Estate Settlements We Guarnatee Attention to Detail & Personalized Service 650 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Suite 170 Washington, DC 20003-4318 202-544-0800 capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 65
communitylife
BYwest
SOUTH DC United Considering Buzzard Point for New Stadium by William Rich
A
s the 2011 MLS season gets underway, there have been several reports recently in the media about DC United’s search for sites to build a new stadium in the District. Previous attempts to build one at Poplar Point and Prince George’s County, Maryland never materialized. This time around, one of the sites under consideration is in Buzzard Point, specifically Akridge’s 100 V Street project. Currently, 100 V Street is planned as a secure federal campus, but there have been no tenants lined up so far. According to Lisa Steen, Vice President of Marketing at Akridge, they are aware of DC United’s ongoing search, but Akridge has no immediate plans for any type of development at 100 V Street. “We would certainly be open to any number of uses, but I imagine only [DC United] can say whether they’re interested in it for a stadium,” said Steen. DC United is being coy about their intentions as well. Doug Hicks, Senior Vice President of Marketing at DC United said, “We are looking at several locations in the District, but I’m unable to specify which ones. We’ve had conversations with Akridge, but we’ve also met with other developers.” Despite the vague comments from both parties, it appears that Buzzard Point is one of the top contenders for a new stadium to replace DC United’s current home at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, which is an aging facility surrounded by parking lots on federal land along the banks of the Anacostia River. Several MLS franchises have built new soccer-specific stadiums in the past few years, including the New York Red Bulls,
66 ★ HillRag | April 2011
The 100 V Street project planned by developer Akridge is represented by the buildings with the green roofs. If DC United built a stadium at the site instead of the initial plan for a secure federal campus, it would be only a few blocks from Nationals Park. Rendering courtesy of Akridge
Chicago Fire, Philadelphia Union, and the Colorado Rapids, while RFK is a multipurpose stadium built in 1961 that has a seating capacity of over 45,000, lacking the intimate atmosphere of newer stadiums. While United is searching for a new home, it is in negotiations with the city to extend their lease at RFK. “We are in the process of expanding our relationship with the city at RFK and look forward to continuing that relationship,” said Hicks. It is unclear what financial contribution can be made by the city towards construction of a new soccer stadium for DC United since the District is nearing its borrowing limit and is facing budget shortfalls. The Buzzard Point site in ques-
tion is located three blocks southwest of Nationals Park on nine acres of land one block wide and three blocks long. A soccer stadium on a narrow site like the Buzzard Point location is not unprecedented – stadiums for Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires and Tottenham in London are located in dense urban areas with limited space. If a soccer stadium is located at Buzzard Point, the area would become a stadium district of sorts. Linking the stadiums would be Potomac Avenue, SW, which currently is lined mostly with industrial operations west of South Capitol Street. With a soccer stadium on one end and a ballpark on the other, Potomac Avenue, SW could become an entertainment district with retail stores, bars and res-
taurants that cater to fans, as well as neighborhood residents and employees at Fort McNair. The DC streetcar is planned to have a couple lines come down to Buzzard Point and possibly run along Potomac Avenue, SW, a wide boulevard that would have room for a streetcar. Perhaps ferry service can be introduced on game days via James Creek Marina, located just to the southwest of the stadium site. While there are differing opinions over the effect that stadiums have on economic development and how Buzzard Point should be developed, a DC United Stadium in the area may cause other projects to get underway that otherwise would take several years or decades to get built, including development on Po-
Kastles Stadium at The Wharf, located at the site of the former Hogates restaurant on the Southwest Waterfront, will open in time for the 2011 season in July. Rendering courtesy of the Washington Kastles
tomac Avenue, SW. Back in 2009, a neighborhood study was done by the American Planning Association’s Planning Assistance Team (PAT) and recommended that Buzzard Point become a primarily residential neighborhood. There are other proposals to make the area an environmentally-friendly eco-zone that would exclude vehicular traffic. The introduction of retail to the neighborhood, coupled with a streetcar line could help spur residential development in Buzzard Point, like Marina Place, a planned 99unit condo project by Buzzards Point LLC catty corner to the site at 1st Street, SW and V Street, SW. As a condition of approval by the ANC in January, the developer pledged to promote the area as pedestrian-friendly. Just to the east of 100 V Street is the Buzzard Point Power Plant, which Pepco plans to decommission by May 2012. The power plant itself will most likely be landmarked as historic, but the PAT recommends that the plant can be repurposed as a cultural amenity like a museum or art gallery space. With the planned departure of the U.S. Coast Guard from its headquarters at 2nd Street, SW and V Street, SW to St. Elizabeth’s by 2015, the PAT suggests the Coast Guard headquarters building and another office building nearby get acquired by the District for a mix of open space and limited redevelopment. That option seems unlikely, but a similar alternative would be to redevelop the Coast Guard headquarters building as a mixed use project that embraces its location next to the river and provides public access to the waterfront. Even without a soccer stadium, the Near SE-SW area is already becoming a stadium
district. Aside from Nationals Park, the Washington Kastles World Team Tennis organization recently announced it will move from downtown to a new stadium this summer at The Wharf, which is the $1.5 billion redevelopment of the Southwest Waterfront by the Hoffman-Madison Waterfront team. Kastles Stadium at The Wharf will be built at the corner of 9th Street, SW and Maine Avenue, SW at the site of the former Hogates restaurant and will be there for two years. A surface parking lot along Water Street, SW will be provided for patrons as well as a pre-existing parking garage. Aside from Kastles matches in July, the stadium will be used for other events throughout the year to keep the space animated. Once construction of phase one of the Southwest Waterfront begins in 2012, the stadium will either be moved to another site along the Southwest Waterfront, or the team will play in an indoor concert facility the HoffmanMadison Waterfront team is planning for The Wharf. Although a soccer stadium at Buzzard Point would not be used as often throughout the season as Nationals Park and would most likely not host as many non-soccer events as planned at Kastles Stadium at The Wharf, there is the potential for the venue to host exhibition matches, high school & college matches, concerts, as well as other sporting events, including lacrosse. The alternative for the stadium site as a highly secure federal campus will create a dead zone 12 months out of the year.
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68 ★ HillRag | April 2011
RealEstate Neighborhood Car Garages An Historical Asset to Our Life on the Hill by Robert Pohl
I
moved to Capitol Hill because of country. Although Ford’s Model T its walkability. Being able get to was still two years away from prorestaurants, bars, and supermarkets duction, cars had ceased being the on foot was a great attraction. What sole province of the hobbyist and surprised and pleased me, however, was were beginning to be owned by peothat there is another service accessible ple who didn’t know the difference between a flywheel and a carburetor. in this way: Car mechanics. Dotted across the Hill are a num- Since the cars of this era were still ber of garages specializing in the main- finicky, at best, a number of farsighttenance and repair of vehicles, and all ed men saw an opportunity for a new are easily accessible without the need business: The storage, maintenance, for borrowed cars or courtesy shuttles. Being able to drive over, drop off my car, and then walk home in time for breakfast is something that really improves my life. The history of these garages goes back to the early years of the last century, and a few visionaries who realized that the automobile was not just another fad, but something that would change the face New Union Garage ad from 1907 of the world. In these days of zoning and regu- and sale of these new contraptions. One of these visionaries was lations, such businesses would have no chance of opening in a residential Charles E. Myers, who found the perdistrict, but these garages – as well fect spot to build such a garage. Located as a number of others – have contin- on the 600 block of Maryland Ave NE, ued operations, although under dif- it was surrounded by just the sort of homes whose owners were likely to be ferent names. his customers. On November 26, 1906, he was granted the permit to build a The New Union Garage 1906 was a crucial year in the garage on what was an open lot. Unfortunately, his neighbors, pregrowth of the use of cars in this
sumably more accustomed to the clip-clopping of horse’s hooves than the grumbling of motors, were not keen to have Myers use his land in this way, and they succeeded in having his permit rescinded two weeks later. Myers thereafter managed to convince enough of the immediate neighbors of the value of his shop and in early 1907 Myers’s tenant Charles C. Hughes was in business under the name New Union Garage. Hughes not only stored and serviced vehicles, but sold Jewel and Elmore cars, both of which were interesting for having two-stroke engines. Neither survived the decade, though Elmore was bought by GM before being shut down. Pat’s Capitol Hill Garage now occupies the space at 645 Maryland Ave. NE.
The Capitol Hill Garage Olive G. Kimball, a judge on the police court, was a bit more cautious when, on February 15, 1907, he applied for a permit to build a garage on B Street (today Independence Avenue) Kimball selected as his site a block on which few people lived. No complaints were filed by the neighbors, and Kimball’s builder James York capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 69
Ad from newspaper with Capitol Hill Garage logo from 1907 Mark Holt in the alley in front of 10th Street Auto Repair, 518 10th St. NE.
Chris Charucksiri at Capitol Hill Auto Service Center, 615 Independence Ave. SE.
Detail of an ad for the E B Frazier garage from 1925
was able to get to work immediately. Work proceeded rapidly, and within a few months the Capitol Hill Garage was open for business. Like the New Union Garage, it not only housed cars, but also repaired and sold them, in this case Ramblers and Mitchell cars. Later, they added Michelin tires and anti-knock gasoline to their offerings. Like Myers, Kimball was never directly involved in the operation of the garage, preferring to spend his time working on what would become his life’s achievement: The memorial amphitheater at Arlington Cemetery, which finally was dedicated a few years after Kimball’s death in 1916. Capitol Hill Auto Services now occupies the space at 615 Independence Avenue.
Tippett’s Garage Another tack was tried by Philip Frank Tippett in 1919. Choosing as the location for his garage an old stable, he was easily able to persuade the necessary 2/3 of owners within
90 feet and 3/4 of those within 200 feet to sign off on this conversion. It may have had something to do with the rather checkered past of the stable. Opened in 1874 by the notorious billiard-parlor operator Benjamin Cooley, who frequently appeared before the police magistrate for some infraction or another, it had, over the course of its 40-year existence been home to runaway horses, stolen buggies and even a fire. Presumably the neighbors hoped that the new use for the building would be quieter than the old. Since the early 20th Century, the stable had been operated by Frederick Johnson, and he had hung on as cars took over ever more of the jobs previously done by horses. After the sale to Tippett, frequent additions were made to the building, giving it the two-stories it has today, as well as a – now long-gone – sign advertising the garage and the Elcar automobiles it sold. Today Benjamin Cooley’s old stables are the Hill Auto Repair at 712 E Street, SE.
E. B. Frazier Motor Co. Easterbrook Frazier – usually known as E. B. Frazier – fol-
Pat Jones next to his 1916-vintage Weaver Press at Pat’s Capitol Hill Garage, 645 Maryland Ave. NE
Ted Momenian in front of Hill Auto Repair, 712 E Street, SE. 70 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Ad for Fred Johnson’s Stables with horse picture from 1913
Kitty Kaupp & Tati Kaupp lowed in Tippett’s footsteps in 1920. Frazier converted a warehouse into a garage. The warehouse had been built in 1896 by Henry F. Getz, a builder. Getz was in business with his father, and together they built a number of large projects across DC over the next 8 years, at which point Henry Getz suddenly disappeared, leaving a bereft wife and an enormous pile of debts. Frazier hired the famous architect Alfred B. Mullett to do the conversion of the warehouse, and was soon in business, selling Paige and Jewett cars, both products of the Paige-Detroit company, as well as storing and maintaining his customers cars. In 1960, James “Jimmy” Finley, a retired boxer, took over the shop. He converted the upper story into a boxing gym, and over the next 40 years, a veritable who’s who of boxing came through its doors: Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard both trained there, it was used as a backdrop for a Mike Wallace interview, and even Miles Davis would drop by when he played concerts in the area. Finley eventually retired from the auto-repair business and then from boxing as well. The E. B. Frazier Motor Company is today 10th Street Auto Repair – and the gym space above houses a pole-dancing fitness studio. Hill residents used to the convenience of having a garage just around the corner wish them a long and successful life, and I certainly plan on giving them my custom as long as I can. Robert Pohl is a DC tour guide and historian. His walking tours of Capitol Hill can be booked through WalkingShtick.com ★
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635 Pennsylvania Ave SE Lease $3,000 / Month Commercial Lease. 2nd Floor office space, 1200 Square Feet with street front entry. Renovated with open layout, glass block, light-filled windows, roof deck. Located between 6th & 7th and Pa Ave SE at the Eastern Market & Metro, retail & commercial corridor. Barracks Row-8th Street & Navy Yard just blocks away. Walk to US Capitol, House side, Library of Congress 707 Massachusetts Ave NE $945,000 Beautifully maintained historic Victorian Bay Front 2BR 2BA + 1BR 1BA In Law, sep metered. Sunny rear deck, flagstone patio and 2 car parking. 9'10" ceilings, LR w/ gas FP and built in book cases. DR area w/ exposed brick wall opens to kitchen w/ granite counters, pressed tin ceiling, SS stove. 2nd floor offers Master BR w/ cathedral ceiling, exposed brick, skylight, custom spacious walk in closet +W/D. 2nd BR w/ exp. beams & brick walls. A quick walk to Eastern Market/Stanton Pk/Union Station. 316 F Street NE Commercial Lease Strategic location on Historic Capitol Hill at US Capitol and Union Station,Senate side, SEC building,& Mass Ave retail corridor. 6402 Square Feet available in increments from 165 SF up, on 1st & 2nd levels. Lower level available 2000 SF. Beautifully renovated building with high ceilings, large windows, marble lobby. Grand presence. 1365 Independence Ct SE $799,000 Brick 4 level end unit at Bryan SquareTH. 3 BR 3.5 BA + Family Room/Den. New const. 2004 LR/DR ,Frpl + Kitchen open flow/entertaining. Hrdwd fls,granite & SS Kitchen +office area. Marble BA, Master sep shower +tub,double vanities. Walk in closet. Custom upgrades incl Lutron Whole House Light Control System, whole house ethernet. Roof top terrace w/ skyline views + 2 car Garage/Pkg.
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View on www.kittykaupp.com capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 71
real estate changing hands Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. 829 WHITTIER PL NW 6506 7TH ST NW 524 SOMERSET PL NW
$599,000.00 $520,000.00 $292,000.00
4 5 3
$500,000.00 $479,000.00 $405,000.00 $380,000.00 $375,929.00 $300,000.00 $290,000.00 $264,000.00 $244,000.00 $239,900.00 $235,000.00 $227,000.00 $192,000.00
4 6 5 2 3 2 3 3 5 3 3 3 2
$898,000.00 $850,000.00 $810,000.00 $800,000.00 $776,000.00 $775,000.00 $770,000.00 $765,000.00 $750,000.00 $735,000.00 $660,000.00 $626,000.00 $587,685.00 $579,000.00 $575,000.00 $555,000.00 $550,000.00 $544,000.00 $539,900.00 $535,000.00 $498,000.00 $495,750.00 $489,000.00 $479,500.00 $479,000.00 $440,000.00 $432,500.00 $329,900.00 $300,000.00
5 2 3 3 2 3 3 4 4 2 2 3 3 3 2 3 4 2 4 2 3 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 3
$1,550,000.00 $1,347,000.00 $1,065,000.00 $925,000.00 $845,000.00 $842,500.00
5 5 6 4 3 4
BROOKLAND 4018 13TH ST NE 649 FRANKLIN ST NE 4814 7TH ST NE 35 BRYANT ST NE 408 AVA WAY NE #EM0001 739 FARADAY PL NE 4118 14TH ST NE 3007 CLINTON ST NE 1002 TAYLOR ST NE 2507 10TH ST NE 1510 NEWTON ST NE 2421 3RD ST NE 1405 KEARNY ST NE
CAPITOL HILL
Neighborhood
Price
BR
FEE SIMPLE 16TH STREET HEIGHTS 1613 MADISON ST NW 1539 UPSHUR ST NW 4728 13TH ST NW 1313 KENNEDY ST NW 1235 INGRAHAM ST NW 1207-1209 INGRAHAM ST NW 4507 13TH ST NW 6304 16TTH ST NW
$820,000.00 $780,000.00 $475,000.00 $460,000.00 $265,000.00 $240,000.00 $230,000.00 $630,000.00
5 5 4 3 5 3 4 6
ADAMS MORGAN 1845 ONTARIO PL NW 1680 KALORAMA RD NW 2207 ONTARIO RD NW
$676,000.00 $399,999.00 $586,000.00
5 2 2
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4600 YUMA ST NW 4330 42ND ST NW 4018 VEAZEY ST NW 4408 BUTTERWORTH PL NW
$1,050,000.00 $905,000.00 $865,000.00 $817,000.00
3 5 3 4
$370,000.00 $365,000.00 $232,000.00 $199,999.00 $175,000.00 $153,000.00 $92,500.00 $65,000.00
3 3 3 4 3 3 2 3
$1,290,000.00
4
$490,000.00 $345,000.00
5 2
$475,000.00 $155,000.00 $128,000.00 $75,000.00
5 3 3 3
$790,000.00
5
BERKLEY 2323 49TH ST NW
BLOOMINGDALE 44 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 1323 1ST ST NW
BRENTWOOD 1003 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE 1510 ADAMS ST NE 1331 DOWNING ST NE 2237 14TH ST NE
BRIGHTWOOD 6930 PINEY BRANCH RD NW
72 ★ HillRag | April 2011
CHEVY CHASE 6150 30TH ST NW 3901 ALBEMARLE ST NW 3513 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 3816 HUNTINGTON ST NW 3214 NORTHAMPTON ST NW 5 PINEHURST CIR NW 3140 HIGHLAND PL NW 3204 ROWLAND PL NW 3514 34TH ST NW 3523 PORTER ST NW
$1,852,000.00 $1,800,000.00 $815,000.00 $800,000.00
4 4 3 3
$672,500.00
4
$680,000.00 $679,000.00 $635,000.00 $613,000.00 $547,000.00 $545,976.00 $540,000.00 $530,000.00 $500,000.00 $499,900.00 $389,000.00 $357,500.00 $350,000.00 $320,000.00 $290,000.00 $285,000.00
3 5 4 4 3 5 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
COLONIAL VILLAGE 1648 ROXANNA RD NW
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1108 FAIRMONT ST NW 1008 SPRING RD NW 3605 13TH ST NW 1482 NEWTON ST NW 3118 SHERMAN AVE NW 3615 WARDER ST NW 1367 PERRY PL NW 934 QUINCY ST NW 3552 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW 626 OTIS PL NW 1015 FAIRMONT ST NW 1419 PERRY PL NW 759 HARVARD ST NW 649 PARK RD NW 720 MORTON ST NW 708 OTIS PL NW
$280,000.00 $236,000.00 $230,000.00 $225,000.00 $190,000.00 $495,000.00
5 3 3 3 2 3
3507 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE 1219 ALABAMA AVE SE 202 MALCOLM X AVE SE 4138 2ND ST SW 3219 6TH ST SE 708 CHESAPEAKE ST SE 622 SOUTHERN AVE SE
$259,500.00 $249,000.00 $190,000.00 $150,000.00 $95,000.00 $90,000.00 $40,000.00
3 4 3 4 3 3 2
$1,085,000.00 $652,221.00
5 8
$290,000.00 $285,000.00 $245,000.00 $230,000.00 $169,900.00 $166,000.00 $165,500.00 $97,200.00 $83,000.00
4 4 3 3 2 2 2 3 3
CRESTWOOD 1810 RANDOLPH ST NW 4224 16TH ST NW
DEANWOOD 5713 EADS ST NE 1032 45TH ST NE 624 49TH PL NE 34 46TH ST NE 5100 HAYES ST NE 5068 JAY ST NE 533 45TH ST NE 3927 AMES ST NE 515 59TH ST NE
$3,500,000.00 $2,000,000.00 $746,500.00
10 6 2
ECKINGTON 58 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 137 RANDOLPH PL NW 170 T ST NE 54 R ST NE 320 SEATON PL NE
$560,000.00 $405,000.00 $379,000.00 $315,000.00 $238,000.00
6 3 3 4 3
FORT DUPONT PARK 4018 E ST SE 1529 42ND ST SE 3913 C ST SE 1541 41ST ST SE 4219 FORT DUPONT TER SE 4304 GORMAN TER SE 1116 46TH ST SE 612 CHAPLIN ST SE
$205,000.00 $197,000.00 $188,000.00 $106,900.00 $100,000.00 $100,000.00 $88,000.00 $72,300.00
3 2 3 3 3 3 4 4
$699,000.00 $927,500.00
4 4
$3,000,000.00 $1,275,000.00 $1,255,000.00 $1,225,000.00 $1,185,000.00 $1,150,000.00 $910,000.00 $830,000.00 $780,000.00 $725,000.00
4 3 3 3 3 4 2 2 2 2
$815,000.00
3
$490,000.00
3
$385,000.00 $330,000.00 $175,000.00 $150,000.00 $92,100.00
4 4 3 0 3
FOXHALL 4464 GREENWICH PKWY NW 4448 RESERVOIR RD NW 3014 P ST NW 1627 SUTER’S LN NW 3540 RESERVOIR RD NW 2815 Q ST NW 2709 DUMBARTON ST NW 3930 HIGHWOOD CT NW 2717 O ST NW 2625 O ST NW 2706 N ST NW 1519 26TH ST NW
GLOVER PARK 3913 BENTON ST NW
H STREET 1148 ABBEY PL NE
HILL CREST 2711 33RD ST SE 3737 NASH ST SE 3127 LYNDALE PL SE 3305 ALABAMA AVE SE 723 CROISSANT PL SE
KALORAMA
2305 1ST ST NW 1921 6TH ST NW 44 W ST NW 2 ADAMS ST NW 1859 3RD ST NW 531 FLORIDA AVE NW 43 ADAMS ST NW 33 BRYANT ST NW 25 W ST N #02/07.2011 337 ELM ST NW 2420 NORTH CAPITOL ST NW
$3,995,000.00 $3,663,000.00 $2,600,000.00 $1,515,000.00 $1,095,000.00
8 10 4 6 6
$790,000.00 $615,000.00 $580,000.00 $525,000.00 $500,000.00 $400,000.00 $370,000.00 $367,000.00 $350,000.00 $325,000.00 $235,000.00
5 3 4 4 5 5 3 5 3 3 4
$139,700.00
2
$860,000.00
3
$275,000.00 $180,000.00 $174,900.00 $42,599.00
3 4 4 2
$388,000.00 $375,000.00 $355,000.00 $279,000.00 $220,000.00
4 5 4 3 3
$585,000.00
3
$1,059,000.00 $740,000.00
5 3
$1,570,000.00 $825,000.00
4 3
$709,000.00 $645,000.00 $625,000.00 $599,999.00 $565,000.00 $495,000.00 $494,000.00 $469,900.00 $444,300.00 $420,400.00 $405,000.00 $375,000.00 $370,000.00 $365,000.00 $300,000.00 $290,000.00 $265,000.00 $230,000.00 $220,000.00 $135,000.00 $125,000.00 $1,750,000.00 $855,000.00 $789,000.00 $715,000.00 $515,000.00 $399,900.00
4 4 2 3 2 3 5 3 2 3 4 2 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 2 3 5 4 3 3 6 2
$2,499,900.00 $2,495,000.00 $1,205,000.00 $940,000.00
5 6 5 3
LILY PONDS 3350 CLAY PL NE
DUPONT 1720 16TH ST NW 1730 S ST NW 1744 V ST NW
2431 KALORAMA RD NW 76 KALORAMA CIR NW 2136 BANCROFT PL NW 1926 BILTMORE ST NW 1947 BILTMORE ST NW
LEDROIT PARK
CONGRESS HEIGHTS
GEORGETOWN
CLEVELAND PARK
ANACOSTIA 2213 RETTA GILLIAM CT SE 2211 RETTA GILLIAM CT SE 2237 14TH ST SE 2320 PAYNE TER SE 1603 FAIRLAWN AVE SE 1245 V ST SE 1340 TALBERT TER SE 1605 FAIRLAWN AVE SE
204 5TH ST SE 131 D ST SE 514 D ST SE 616 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 916 G ST SE 211 8TH ST SE 16 10TH ST NE 236 10TH ST NE 318 G ST NE 329 7TH ST NE 115 10TH ST NE 603 ACKER PL NE 1358 NORTH CAROLINA AVE NE 1448 C ST SE 443 5TH ST NE 1220 D ST NE 252 14TH ST SE 502 4TH ST SE 1012 10TH ST NE 1387 F ST NE 1412 D ST NE 242 14TH ST NE 1338 CORBIN PL NE 813 L ST NE 1535 D ST NE 1512 D ST NE 913 4TH ST NE 241 17TH ST SE 1911 D ST NE
3603 WARDER ST NW 648 MORTON ST NW 619 OTIS PL NW 420 IRVING ST NW 780 IRVING ST NW 639 KEEFER PL NW
LOGAN 1715 11TH ST NW
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5120 BASS PL SE 5345 D ST SE 5008 BASS PL SE 5347 BASS PL SE
MICHIGAN PARK 1614 VARNUM PL NE 4031 SOUTH DAKOTA AVE NE 1928 VARNUM ST NE 2008 PERRY ST NE 2010 SHEPHERD ST NE
MOUNT PLEASANT 3330 17TH ST NW
NORTH CLEVELAND PARK 3546 ALBEMARLE ST NW 3819 VEAZEY ST NW
OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 2820 34TH PL NW 2813 38TH ST NW
OLD CITY 113 13TH ST SE 658 L ST NE 609 7TH ST NE 303 11TH ST NE 548 14TH ST SE 726 6TH ST SE 1134 PARK ST NE 929 7TH ST NE 223 K ST NE 200 17TH ST NE 815 K ST NE 1358 C ST NE 1311-1/2 SO CAROLINA AVE SE 1134 4TH ST NE 1429 D ST SE 111 P ST SW 338 19TH ST NE 1424 DUNCAN ST NE 1448 D ST NE 1624 F ST NE 1629 ROSEDALE ST NE 1717 RIGGS PL NW 1305 WALLACH PL NW 2133 15TH ST NW 1912 10TH ST NW 805 T ST NW 80 O ST NW
PALISADES 5811 POTOMAC AVE NW 5311 CATHEDRAL AVE NW 5403 MACARTHUR BLVD NW 5531 SHERIER PL NW
5626 MACARTHUR BLVD NW
$715,000.00
3
$469,900.00 $430,000.00 $415,000.00 $389,000.00 $385,000.00 $375,000.00 $359,000.00 $328,500.00 $291,000.00 $265,000.00 $250,000.00 $223,000.00 $210,000.00 $205,000.00 $196,000.00 $175,000.00 $175,000.00
4 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 5 3 3 3 3 4 3
$494,000.00 $199,900.00
5 5
$214,000.00 $144,500.00
4 2
$170,000.00
3
$399,000.00
2
$700,000.00 $465,000.00 $420,000.00
3 4 3
$575,000.00 $419,000.00 $350,000.00
3 4 4
$358,000.00 $214,000.00 $203,500.00 $170,000.00 $165,000.00 $155,000.00 $150,000.00 $148,000.00 $115,000.00 $49,000.00
4 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 2
$729,000.00 $495,000.00
3 2
$900,000.00
3
$535,000.00 $300,000.00 $195,000.00 $176,500.00 $130,000.00 $130,000.00
4 2 3 3 4 4
$200,000.00
2
$240,000.00 $210,000.00
1 1
$755,000.00 $665,000.00 $540,000.00 $540,000.00 $512,000.00 $480,000.00 $465,000.00
3 2 2 1 2 2 2
PETWORTH 4105 4TH ST NW 4626 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 4119 3RD ST NW 928 INGRAHAM ST NW 5306 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 512 JEFFERSON ST NW 5112 7TH ST NW 426 ALLISON ST NW 5520 4TH ST NW 128 HAMILTON ST NW 711 SHEPHERD ST NW 605 DELAFIELD PL NW 4906 7TH ST NW 5025 7TH ST NW 4904 3RD ST NW 5417 5TH ST NW 915 KENNEDY ST NW
RANDLE HEIGHTS 1524 MISSISSIPPI AVE SE 1707 MINNESOTA AVE SE
RIGGS PARK 4611 DAKOTA AVE NE 247 OGLETHORPE ST NE
RIVER TERRACE 137 ANACOSTIA AVE NE
SHAW 404 RICHARDSON PL NW
SHEPHERD PARK 1508 PORTAL DR NW 1332 HEMLOCK ST NW 7608 ALASKA AVE NW
TAKOMA 905 ELDER ST NW 704 UNDERWOOD ST NW 6609 5TH ST NW
TRINIDAD 1407 ORREN ST NE 1923 BENNETT PL NE 1236 OATES ST NE 1219 ORREN ST NE 1924 BENNING RD NE 1155 SUMMIT ST NE 1756 LYMAN PL NE 1811 H ST NE 1145 OATES ST NE 1607 MEIGS PL NE
U STREET CORRIDOR 1309 FLORIDA AVE NW 2224 12TH PL NW
WOODLEY 2212 CATHEDRAL AVE NW
WOODRIDGE 2839 MYRTLE AVE NE 2205 NEWTON ST NE 2805 BRENTWOOD RD NE 2711 24TH ST NE 2620 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE 2802 CHANNING ST NE
CONDO 16TH STREET HEIGHTS 1322 MISSOURI AVE NW #301
BRIGHTWOOD 6425 14TH ST NW #201 422 BUTTERNUT ST NW #TERRACE # 3
CAPITOL HILL 748 7TH ST SE #C 310 EAST CAPITOL ST NE #D 410 5TH ST NE #11 1315 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE #LOFT 1 22 15TH ST NE #22 504 G ST NE #1 141 12TH ST NE #15
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 73
Gorgeous
Row House For Rent
:PVS /FJHICPS 0O 5IF )JMM “The road to success is not always straight; let me help you through the real estate maze to a happy and successful destination”
On a Quiet Street in Central Capitol Hill
MAIN LEVEL - 3BR/1 BTH
$2,950 per month plus utilities.
615 3RD ST NE #3 1100 7TH ST NE #3 1424 EAST CAPITOL ST NE #1424 218 3RD ST NE #218-A #29 11 2ND NE #305 1007 MARYLAND AVE NE #104 414 SEWARD SQ SE #403 412 19TH ST NE #103 1038 5TH ST NE #1
10-15 minute walk to Eastern Market and Union Station.
Contact Dru at 202-543-8773 or dtallant@aol.com
Deborah Charlton Realtor - Long & Foster
(202) 415-2117 (202) 944-8400 DC.DC@LongandFoster.com www.yourneighboronthehill.com
202.546.3100 210 7th Street, SE. #100. WDC 20003 www.monarchtitle.net
3901 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #318 2425 L ST NW #231 1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1207 1150 K ST NW #1004 2007 O ST NW #504 915 E ST NW #1006 4025 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #701 4025 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #102 2818 CONNECTICUT NW #14 3851 NEWARK ST NW #462 2818 CONNECTICUT NW #11 2730 ORDWAY ST NW #3 3010 WISCONSIN AVE NW #211
COMING IN APRIL! 918 Independence Avenue, SE
919 FLORIDA AVE NW #405 1435 CHAPIN ST NW #209 1354-1356 EUCLID ST NW #B-402 1300 TAYLOR ST NW #101 1436 OGDEN ST NW #3 1613 HARVARD ST NW #214 701 LAMONT ST NW #47 1103 HARVARD ST NW #1103F 3318 SHERMAN AVE NW #106 2656 15TH ST NW #301 1340 FAIRMONT ST NW #21 1417 NEWTON ST NW #204 3656 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #5 3318 SHERMAN AVE NW #108 1420 HARVARD ST NW #203 907 EUCLID ST NW #102 3318 SHERMAN AVE NW #107 4120 14TH ST NW #31 210-212 OAKWOOD ST SE #108
$700,000.00 $624,500.00 $375,000.00 $360,000.00 $275,000.00
2 2 1 1 0
$701,000.00 $660,000.00 $479,900.00 $474,000.00 $449,900.00 $412,000.00 $285,000.00
2 3 1 3 1 2 1
$470,000.00 $454,000.00 $419,000.00 $399,900.00 $380,000.00 $360,000.00 $358,482.00 $320,000.00 $320,000.00 $299,000.00 $290,000.00 $285,000.00 $285,000.00 $270,000.00 $269,000.00 $235,000.00 $215,000.00 $96,000.00 $72,000.00
2 2 2 2 2 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1
$55,000.00
2
$717,500.00 $639,500.00 $302,500.00 $236,000.00 $50,000.00
2 2 1 0 0
$625,000.00 $491,000.00 $485,000.00 $458,500.00 $373,000.00 $365,000.00 $364,000.00
2 2 2 2 1 1 1
$289,900.00 $145,000.00 $121,000.00
2 2 3
$293,000.00 $250,000.00 $200,000.00
1 1 0
$405,000.00 $270,000.00
2 1
$9,000.00
1
$1,496,000.00 $625,000.00 $392,000.00
2 2 2
DEANWOOD
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(between G & I)
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DUPONT 1735 JOHNSON AVE NW #E 1520 16TH ST NW #201 1721 21ST ST NW #T3 1545 18TH ST NW #401 1545 18TH ST NW #P36
DUPONT CIRCLE 1801-1803 SWANN ST NW #401 1801-1803 SWANN ST NW #201 1525 Q ST NW #6 1735 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #2 1929 16TH ST NW #201 1749 CHURCH ST NW #2 1830 17TH ST NW #407
ECKINGTON 1810 1ST ST NW #1 212 T ST NE #2 1921 LINCOLN RD NE
FOGGY BOTTOM 922 24TH ST NW #621 2401 H ST NW #501 522 21ST ST NW #311B
FOREST HILLS 2738 ORDWAY ST NW #5 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #931
FORT DUPONT PARK 512 RIDGE RD SE #107
202-547-2707 Q u a l i t y S i n ce 1 9 7 2 74 ★ HillRag | April 2011
1
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
200 43RD RD NE #203
cbmove.com/grant.ryall.andrew
$240,000.00
CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS
CLEVELAND PARK
“We are part of Capitol Hill, We don’t just work here... We live here, too. Let our neighborhood experience work for you...”
Virtual tours:
2 2 1 1 1 2 0 1 2
CENTRAL
• 3BR with an additional office space and screened rear porch overlooking landscaped brick patio. • Large living room, separate dining room and spacious kitchen. • Beautifully maintained with plenty of closet space and traditional inlaid oak flooring. • Central A/C, front-loading washer/dryer, etc. • Garage for small car plus large storage area under porch.
Flexible, happy, open space! 3/4 BR, 2BA updated kit, cute back patio! all in that sweet spot near E Market, Lincoln Park, & Metro!
$365,000.00 $360,000.00 $350,000.00 $340,000.00 $217,000.00 $215,000.00 $200,000.00 $148,400.00 $352,500.00
FGEORGETOWN 3303 WATER ST NW #E-3 1015 33RD ST NW #603 2500 Q ST NW #234
1045 31ST ST NW #202 3237 N ST NW #15
$390,000.00 $355,000.00
1 1
$241,000.00 $201,000.00
1 1
$725,000.00 $325,000.00 $225,000.00 $199,000.00
2 1 0 0
$340,000.00 $235,000.00
2 1
$1,005,000.00 $679,000.00 $575,000.00 $522,000.00 $479,000.00 $465,000.00 $355,000.00 $1,190,000.00 $890,000.00 $735,000.00 $650,000.00 $464,000.00 $320,000.00
3 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 2 2 2 1 1
$483,000.00 $471,000.00 $408,000.00 $372,000.00
2 2 2 2
$515,450.00 $350,000.00 $330,000.00 $373,000.00 $599,000.00 $460,000.00
2 1 1 1 2 2
$438,000.00 $496,000.00 $453,500.00 $326,000.00 $284,000.00 $84,900.00 $559,000.00 $549,900.00 $496,000.00 $447,000.00 $390,650.00 $375,000.00 $365,000.00 $362,000.00 $325,000.00 $319,000.00 $208,000.00 $100,000.00
2 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
$430,000.00 $342,000.00 $160,000.00
3 2 1
309 A STREET NE $825,000
$415,820.00
2
$429,000.00 $445,000.00 $610,000.00 $575,000.00 $555,000.00
1 2 2 2 2
SUPREME LOCATION!! Steps to Senate Ofc Bldgs, U.S. Capitol, & the Supreme Court. Only a Short walk to stores, restaurants, Mass Ave & Penn Ave & Eastern Market. All-brick, 3BR, 2.5BAs, natural oak flrs, wood frpl, great eat in kit, custom buits, garden/patio plus private master BR area.
$385,000.00 $205,000.00
2 1
$380,000.00 $794,900.00 $694,900.00
1 2 2
GLOVER PARK 2600 TUNLAW RD NW #6 4000 TUNLAW RD NW #118
KALORAMA 2123 CALIFORNIA ST NW #D9 2032 BELMONT RD NW #108 2003 ALLEN PL NW #201 2456 20TH ST NW #501
LEDROIT PARK 161 RANDOLPH PL NW #01 2020 FLAGLER PL NW #FL04
LOGAN 1433 R ST NW #4 1401 CHURCH ST NW #402 1004 N ST NW 1133 14TH STREET, NW #804 1300 13TH ST NW #503 1406 T ST NW #1 2125 14TH ST NW #405 1401 CHURCH ST NW #521 1413 P ST NW #204 1111 M ST NW #7 1411 N ST NW #3 1225 13TH ST NW #112 1515 16TH ST NW #4A
MOUNT PLEASANT 1801 CALVERT ST NW #501 3220 17TH ST NW #407 1855 CALVERT ST NW #102 1673 PARK RD NW #303
MOUNT VERNON 907 N ST NW #2 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #422 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #322 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1107 1232 4TH ST NW #1 1232 4TH ST NW #2
OLD CITY 2120 VERMONT AVE NW #510 315 12TH ST NE #302 401 13TH ST NE #PH-4 1435 A ST NE #1435 1134 6TH ST NE #2 420 OKLAHOMA AVE NE #101 2020 12TH ST NW #608 811 4TH ST NW #518 1390 V ST NW #405 910 M ST NW #1030 811 4TH ST NW #1014 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #220 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #910 1127 6TH ST NW #200 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #216 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #210 1 SCOTT CIR NW #520 420-422 M ST NW #A
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RLA (SW) 130 G ST SW #130 355 I ST SW #S-401 300 M ST SW #N502
SHAW 440 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #203
U ST 2125 14TH ST NW #606 2535 13TH ST NW #401 2212 11TH ST NW #2 2212 11TH ST NW #3 2020 12TH ST NW #507
WATERFRONT 725 3RD ST SW #413 1250 4TH ST SW #W403
WOODLEY 2829 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #114 2818 CONNECTICUT NW #12 2818 CONNECTICUT NW #10 ★
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Visit www.chuckburger.com capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 75
Arts D ining & Entertainment Special
ARTSDining&EntertainmentSpecial
Bart Vandaele D.C.’s First Ambassador of Belgian Cuisine by Amanda Abrams
D
on’t call Bart Vandaele the granddaddy of Barracks Row. “Oh, no—there’s people who’ve been here much longer than me,” he protests. But the Belgian-born chef can’t deny that his establishment played a key role in the regeneration of a street that’s become Capitol Hill’s restaurant row. “Yes, we kind of made it a destination,” he concedes. When he first considered setting up shop in the neighborhood, Vandaele remembers, “everyone thought I was crazy. They’d say, ‘You’re going to go to Southeast to open?’ We couldn’t find any cabs to come here at night.” That was six and a half years ago. These days, his restaurant, Belga Café, melts seamlessly into the fabric of the community; with its cheery tablecloths, warm lighting, and outdoor seating, it’s equal parts cozy neighborhood bistro, upscale Eurofusion eatery, and reliable purveyor of Belgian comfort food. Like all good endeavors, though, the restaurant’s current success belies the strenuous efforts that went into developing it—and that the chef and his staff still invest in order to keep it running smoothly. Vandaele, 40, didn’t start out as a restaurateur: eight years ago, he worked as the personal chef for the Dutch ambassador to the U.S. But one night, he and his girlfriend, a Hill resident, were hanging out at Tunnicliff ’s by Eastern Market, and he started talking about the future. “I’d reached a plateau and wanted to do something else; I was thinking, ‘What am I going to do with my life?’” says Vandaele. “I started talking about maybe opening up a place.” And out of the blue, a few days later, he got a phone call from a realtor who’d heard about his musings and was offering to show him a potential space. The very next day, they checked out the spot at 514 8th Street, and it just clicked. “I said, ‘Ok, I 78 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Courtesy of 2911 Productions, Inc.
can do something with this,’” remembers Vandaele. “I saw myself having a terrace, and the brick wall [inside] seemed very Belgian.” Within two weeks, he’d written a business plan; soon after, he found several investors willing to chip in. And a year later, after doing massive renovations that transformed the space from top to bottom, Belga Café opened. But there’s a reason chefs tend to be known as temperamental. “It’s all about focus: this is a business where there’s not much room [for error],” explains Vandaele. “You know exactly how much everything costs, how much you’re losing at a given time. And if you don’t pay attention, something can be burned or overcooked.” The stress of dealing with bills, investors, and customers was one thing. Another was the pressure of standing behind a chef-driven Belgian restaurant, the city’s first: it meant that Vandaele’s reputation was on the line all the time. But it turns out that Washingtonians really, really like Belgian food. These days, there are at least four other popular restaurants in town featuring the cuisine. Each one is a little different, and Vandaele says he tries to emphasize Belgian comfort food at his place, with an emphasis on an eclectic brunch, a vast beer and wine selection, and a sense of neighborhood hospitality that leaves customers smiling. The only downside to that formula—which seems to be a winning one; online customer reviews consistently rave about the food—is that Vandaele isn’t necessarily showcasing his full talents. After all, the man was rigorously trained in a Belgian system starting at age 12; he and his peers were taught how to wait tables, evaluate a range of alcoholic beverages and different types of water, create menus, and even develop a plan for a mock restaurant that laid out its operating details from A to Z. “I grew up in the old school world; I worked in the toughest restaurants in Belgium, 16 hours a day,” explains Vandaele. “It’s sometimes diffi-
COMING THIS SPRING! Featuring: The Finest Selection of Oysters & Chops on The Hill A Fifty-Foot Long Marble Oyster Bar Twenty-Four Wines by the Glass Sixteen Fine Ales on Draft
cult [for me] that people don’t always understand what I’m capable of. I love to cook very elaborate meals, but if I start to cook at a high level, will it stand out as ‘Belgian’?” Here and there, he’s created opportunities to really show off his talents. On Valentine’s Day or at scheduled wine dinners, for example, he and his staff cook more creative, involved meals. But a big part of being a restaurateur is learning when to let the business side lead. And in this case, that means slightly adapting his native cuisine to American tastes. Sitting at a table on the sidewalk, Vandaele—not working, for once—seems relaxed as he greets passersby, many of whom are also business owners in the neighborhood. He’s reluctant to brag about the restaurant’s popularity, but admits that it’s grown quite a following. “We’ve created something that other people enjoy,” he says simply. “We do things differently, and people respect that we were pioneers.” Vandaele glances around him at 8th Street, which, on one of March’s first warm days, is teeming with folks eager to eat outside. He’s not one to begrudge the neighborhood’s newfound success. “I love it— the more the merrier,” he says with a smile. “I’m very happy with what’s happening here.” Belga Café, 514 8th St SE, Washington, DC, 202-544-0100. For hours and special events go to www.belgacafe.com. ★
Senart’s is Proud to Welcome
Executive Chef Brian Klein Formerly of Brasserie Beck & the Four Season Hotels of Berlin and Philadelphia
Senart’s • 520 8th St. SE (202) 544-1168 • www.SenartsDC.com
7th St and Pennsylvania Ave, SE • www.peregrineespresso.com capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 79
ARTSDining&EntertainmentSpecial
Z E ST Bringing Great Food and Cheer to the Neighborhood by Celeste McCall
C
apitol Hill couple Amanda and Stephen Briggs had long dreamed of creating a hip yet family-friendly dining destination, one where they could go with their two young sons, Brady and Benjamin, and not feel out of place. That might sound impossible, but Zest proves that it’s not. The restaurant, which debuted in 2009 at the south end of Barracks Row, is a very popular favorite. Zest is pretty to look at. Designed by Barbara Hawthorne Interiors of McLean, the lofty, cheery interior was designed with “green” principles in mind. Assisted by master craftsman Peter Kerschbamer, the firm fashioned the space from demolition materials recycled from the structure. Glossy blond wooden tables are crafted from spruce and inlaid with oaken insets. Bamboo flooring and resin panels are crisscrossed with natural fibers. Paint is non-toxic; the hot water heater, sinks and toilets are
Spicy Ahi Tartare, avocado & mango salsa, fried ginger, wonton chips. Photo: Andrew Lightman 80 ★ HillRag | April 2011
highly energy efficient. Zest accommodates 74 patrons inside, plus eight sidewalk seats. On a nippy Friday evening, a warm, cozy space welcomed us to Zest. The place was packed, but since we held 8 p.m. reservations, we were promptly led to a table. As we settled in, our server Candace took our drink orders. I began with a pleasant Malbec from South America ($10 a glass) and Peter ordered a pinot grigio ($8). Warm crusty bread soon arrived, which always poses a temptation. However, we managed not to fill up. We passed up the caramelized beet and squash salad for an evening special, a Garlic Breast of Chicken, sauteed spinach, pine nuts, raisins, green melange of lots of greens topped with apples, shallots. Photo: Andrew Lightman shredded duck confit, tangy citrus secin lieu of the traditional graham cracker pie crust. tions and tiny matchsticks of watermelon radishes, Spoons flew as we shared the delicious closing act. a crunchy vegetable we had not encountered before. Presiding over Zest’s gleaming, open kitchen is The hefty dish was big enough to share. Another Chef Dot Steck, who has served as Zest’s top toque appealing starter was a plate of ginger-glazed fried since last May. Assisting her is Sous-Chef Erin calamari enlivened with assorted hot peppers. Prop- Baehman. erly cooked, tender and not rubbery, the generous If we had a complaint–-and this problem appears serving could have served as an entree. to be rampant in newer restaurants these days--the On to entrees: Peter’s miso cod was moist and place is just too loud. Zest’s brick-and-wood inteperfectly cooked, beautifully presented on a nest rior, while easy on the eyes, is hard on the eardrums. of thin noodles and napped with flavorful miso Few soft surfaces muffle the clatter, especially on a broth. busy Friday night. Nevertheless, we had an enjoyLess successful was my spinach fettuccine able dining experience, and dinner for two came to with asparagus and eggplant (topped with choice $91.63, before tip. of grilled shrimp or chicken; I decided on shrimp). A totally different experience–which produced I thought the veggies were scarce, and I could not even better cooking--was a recent luncheon with a discern the promised orange-butter sauce. But a large group of friends. Rather than the dark coziness few spoonfuls of Peter’s miso broth helped moist- of evening visits, we were greeted by a bright ambien the concoction somewhat. (However, on an- ence, as sunlight streamed in the front windows. other occasion this same spinach fettuccine dish Since it was the day before Mardi Gras (which was chock-full of vegetables and sauce, a vast im- fell on March 8 this year), we chose a muffaletta, provement.) a Big Easy-inspired sandwich of smoked chicken, For dessert, Florida met Italy with a tart rendi- provolone, arugula and nicoise olives. Zest’s rendition of Key Lime panna cotta, a quivery mixture of tion was different from the traditional New Orleans milk, cream, sugar and gelatin, escorted by a crunchy version, but very tasty, with plenty of moist chicken graham cracker cookie. The latter embellishment is breast nestled between grilled flatbread. The two-
fisted sandwich was so generous I took half of it home for the next day’s lunch. I had passed over a midday favorite–pieces of roast leg of lamb nestled between slices of grilled
Zest tabs are reasonable if not cheap, with most appetizers in the $5 to $9 range, while entree tags hover around $15 to $20. The restaurant’s bartenders pride themselves on house made drinks including fresh fruitinfused cocktails. An example is a signature potable called a French Belgian Wedding, concocted with Courvoisier, Chambord and lemon juice. The drink is tartly refreshing, not cloyingly sweet like so many mixtures. Not surprisingly, Zest has a kids menu, with bow tie pasta with meat sauce; chicken tenders with fries; grilled or fried chicken Parmesan with a side of pasta. Dishes are just $4.95 each. Saturday and Sunday brunch is a treat, with eggs Benedict (poached eggs on ciabatta with housecured bacon, spinach Chef Dorothy “Dot” Steck dresses a dessert special. Photo: and basil hollandaise); Andrew Lightman banana-stuffed brioche with warm bourbon flatbread with caramelized onions, maple syrup; buttermilk pancakes crumbled feta and pomegranate sprinkled with powdered sugar; steak chutney. I’ve ordered this sandwich and scrambled eggs; ham, cheddar, in the past and I have never been onion omelettes served with hash disappointed. Therefore, I was not browns and toast. surprised to learn that the roast lamb Zest also offers a two-course sandwich is one of Zest’s top sell- lunch Monday though Friday, availers. (Zest’s menu has changed little able from noon to 2 p.m. Cost: A since its opening, just a tweak now mere $12. and then.) A “meatless Monday special” Zest–A Neighborhood Bistro (appropriate as Lent was looming) 735 8th St. SE (Barracks Row) was a filling risotto studded with 202-544-7171 a colorful confetti of spring veg- www.zestbistro.com etables, including asparagus and red Zest is open Sunday through bell peppers. Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Zest’s kitchen and servers are Thursday through Saturday from 11 properly attentive to patrons’ al- a.m. to 11 p.m. Happy Hour goes lergies and other culinary restric- from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday-Wednestions. A fellow diner who adheres day, with bar bites starting at $2.95. to a gluten-free diet informed our For bar patrons, happy hour is from waiter, who steered her to the gar- 9 p.m. to closing. Tuesday evening licky grilled chicken breast perched brings half price bottles of wine. atop a bed of sautéed spinach, stud- Monday through Friday, Zest offers ded with pine nuts and raisins in a a $12, two-course lunch for $12. ★ reduction sauce. capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 81
ARTSDining&EntertainmentSpecial
Burgundy in the News by Jon Genderson
W
hen long time personal friend Alex Gambal purchased Domaine Brenot of Santenay early this month, he became the first non-Frenchman to own land in a Grand Cru Montrachet site. The Grand Cru parcel is in the esteemed Batard-Montrachet vineyard and is part of his purchase of approximately eight acres of vines in Pulingy-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet and Santenay. His former professor at the wine school in Beaune, Philippe Brenot, made the decision to sell the land after it had been in his family’s care for generations. Gambal uses biodynamic techniques for all of his vines, and the Grand Cru site will be certified “Agriculture Biologique” after a three-year process. The parcel will produce 75-85 cases annually and Schneider’s will be lucky enough to have a small amount starting with the 2011 vintage.
Beaujolais, the Other Burgundy Beaujolais has for a long time suffered from an ailing reputation, not a wine commonly associated with quality and sophistication. This is in part a result of mass production and intensive marketing of the now unfashionable Beaujolais Nouveau; however, the region is now experiencing a welcome turn around. Thanks to the terrific 2009 vintage and the hard work of a few exceptional producers, Beaujolais is now more noteworthy than ever. Beaujolais, like most of the wine producing regions of France, is divided into legally designated geographic areas. Half of production comes from the basic appellation Beaujolais situated on low, flat land to the west of the region. It is the grapes from these vineyards that go into making most of Beaujolais Nouveau. While these wines once benefitted from the hugely successful marketing campaign led by George Deboeuf and others, its following waned rapidly as educated consumers found better, inexpensive wines elsewhere. Beaujolais-Villages is the next step up in quality, its grapes must come from the hillier, northern part and contributes about a quarter of the regions output. Lastly there is Beaujolais Cru, by far the most interesting part of Beaujolais, composed of ten of the best communes or villages from the superior Beaujolais-Villages, including Moulin a Vent, Fleurie and Morgon. The Gamay vine is traditionally grown in a “goblet” or bush trained style with five branches arranged around the central vine. This training allows for larger bunches of grapes which are fermented as whole 82 ★ HillRag | April 2011
clusters, not crushed, in a process known as carbonic maceration. The weight of those bunches in a tank or barrel crushes the bottom grapes while those on the top begin fermenting in their own skins. This process allows large-scale producers to create lighter and fruitier wines than traditional pressing. There is a new group of small production growers who want to bring back the quality that Beaujolais was known for before the rise of Beaujolais Nouveau. They are replanting vineyards to the guyot method, with only one or two branches trained horizontally to the ground, as is done with Pinot Noir in the Cote d’Or. These vines yield less and produce more flavorful fruit. The following selections represent three outstanding producers of Cru Beaujolais that are making wines well worth drinking. They are all from the highly regarded 2009 vintage.
Chateau de Chenas The beautiful cellars were built in the 17th century and the winery became a coop in 1934 producing a range of Cru Beaujolais as well as a very good Beaujolais Village. The finest growers with the best vineyard sites have their wines bottled as “Selection de la Hante” named for the first owner of the Chateau. The three finest wines under this label are their Chenas, Moulin-A-Vent, and Fleurie.
Chateau de Chenas Beaujolais-Village 2009 ($12) This is classic Beaujolais-Village with good color, bright raspberry and strawberry aromas that continue onto the palate. A very approachable light and supple wine; perfect for a picnic.
Chateau de Chenas, Selection de la Hante Chenas 2009 ($16) This is a medium bodied wine from the smallest appellation of the Cru’s. It possesses a vibrant, classic nose of roses, raspberry and red cherry. The fruit persists in the mouth with good structure and balance. Fresh, zesty, and extroverted, this is delicious!
Chateau de Chenas, Selection de la Hante Moulin-A-Vent 2009 ($18) Spicy black cherry and some oak flow out of the glass in this elegant wine. Medium-to-full-bodied with a velvety-texture, this scrumptious wine coats
the palate with intensely ripe red cherries and supple tannins.
Chateau de Chenas Selection de la Hante Fleurie 2009 ($20) \Considered the most feminine of the Beaujolais Cru, this exciting Fleurie is medium-bodied, broad and luscious. It is brimming with soft, super-ripe cherries leading to a luxuriously decadent fruity middle.
Domaine de Gueret Moulin-A-Vent 2009 ($20) Produced by Laurent Delaunay, this is a truly special wine. It is expressive, harmonious, wonderfully balanced and seductive. This silky-textured beauty is packed with candied cherries, raspberry and some oak flavors, is well structured and possesses a long, sweet raspberry and mineral-filled finish.
Thibault Liger-Belair Moulin-a-Vent Vielles Vignes 2009 ($26) This is Thibault’s first offering from Beaujolais. A descendant of Burgundy aristocracy, he makes wines predominantly from the Cote de Nuits where he is based. This delicious wine is made from vines over 60 years old. It is very atypical and seems more like a Pinot Noir from the Cote d’Or with a gorgeous pronounced flavors of cassis and blackberry accompanied by toasted pecan and even a hint of dark chocolate. What a wine.
Thibault Liger-Belair Moulin-a-Vent La Roche2009 ($35) As much as I liked the Vielles Vignes, this wine was outstanding. La Roche is one of the most highly regarded vineyards in the region, situated on a rugged, exposed slope with hardly any topsoil. This wine appears to be on steroids. Almost inky purple in its youth, it has a big bouquet of blackberry and exotic sweet cherry. It is breathtakingly rich and concentrated on the palate, with a glorious, long finish. Simply delicious! Good now but definitely worth stashing a case away for a few years to let it develop. Jon Genderson is the co-proprietor of Schneider’s of Capitol Hill. ★
RATED ONE OF THE BEST WINE SHOPS by Washingtonian Magazine July “Best & Worst” Issue Listed in the Wall Street journal as one of the most enjoyable places to shop for wines nationwide. “Best Website Award”, 2008 by the Wine Spectator’s Market Watch Voted “Best Liquor Store” and “Best Wine Selection” two years in a row by the City Paper
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300 Massachusetts Ave., NE • www.cellar.com 1.800.377.1461 • 202.543.9300 • fax: 202.546.6289 capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 83
Lola’s Adds Two Floors Plus Ping Pong by Celeste McCall
Lola’s famous fish tacos. Photo: Andrew Lightman
I
t was a busy early Friday evening at the Chesapeake Room when I caught up with Barracks Row restaurant mogul Xavier Cervera. But we were here to talk mainly about sister restaurant Lola’s Barracks Bar. The cozy, narrow restaurant/pub, located at 711 Eighth St. SE, is about to add two stories (formerly offices), almost doubling Lola’s present 49-person capacity. The second level will have a 30-foot-bar, while the third story will be an “adult” game room. No, not THAT kind of adult game. It will be a grown up playroom equipped with antique billiard tables, shuffleboard, a dart board, foosball, and ping pong. Peter and I are partial to ping pong. We often play it while on vacation, and are looking forward to playing right in our neighborhood. “Lola’s attracts a more mature crowd,” Cervera said, adding that DC police chief Cathy Lanier stops by occasionally. Lola’s is especially jam-packed during football season, when fans crowd around the bar to watch the Redskins on large, flat-screen TVs. “The renovation is challenging,” Cervera elaborated. “The upstairs offices are modern– contemporary, and we want them to look like Lola’s--classic 1940s. I’ve already ordered 19,000 pounds of mahogany to match the downstairs. The wood will go on the ceilings, walls and floors. I’ve also bought 100 vintage photos from all over, which are being framed 84 ★ HillRag | April 2011
by (nearby) Frame of Mine. “Everything is going well with the expansion,” added bartender Shawn Case, who shuttles between The Chesapeake Room, Lola’s and Molly Malone’s. Cervera’s approximately 100 employees also work at his various venues. “They help each other out,” he said. Good news for patrons: Lola’s will remain open during the expansion. “We’ll be working upstairs,” Cervera said. Cervera, 49, who lives on Capitol Hill, remodeled and operated several restaurants in Miami Beach (most notably Norman’s Tavern) before returning to his native Washington. He is executing Lola’s remodeling himself. “I’m the designer, architect and general contractor,” he said. Formerly a martini-and-tapas bar called Tapatinis, Lola’s–named after Cervera’s late mother--opened in 2008. Serving about 150 meals a day, Lola’s kitchen produces food several notches above typical pub grub. A recent al fresco lunch brought a sizable bacon/cheddar cheeseburger and a turkey Reuben, both accompanied by generous green salads. Lola’s cooking has gotten even better with the arrival of Chef Brendan Tharp, a Washington area native who recently returned from San Diego. Tharp has already added a couple of items to Lola’s all-day menu, including a well-received Italian sandwich. Other customer favorites are the
“Badass Baja” fish tacos and Old Bay wings. Biermeister/beverage director Jay Davis also plans improvements, adding more beers to Lola’s already impressive lineup. Lola’s is just one of Cervera’s growing family of restaurants on Barracks Row. Others are Molly Malone’s (next door to Lola’s), the Chesapeake Room at 501, and soon to arrive Senart’s Oyster Bar and Chop House, across the street at 520 Eighth St. SE. Overseeing Senart’s gleaming display kitchen will be Executive Chef Brian Klein, who previously wielded his whisk at the highly-regarded Brasserie Beck (near Mount Vernon Square). Due to open in 10 months or so is Pacifico, 514 Eighth St. SE, in the building presently housing Capitol Video Sales. Pacifico will dispense Latin-style tapas prepared on an open grill. Other amenities will encompass a back patio and sidewalk café. Across the street at Eighth and G SE, formerly a phone store, Xavier plans a gourmet shop with pates, cheeses, bread and the like. He is in negotiations with Stanton Development Corporation to open BoxCar, a “high end neighborhood gathering place” in the building now housing Petite Gourmet, at 224 Seventh St. SE across from Eastern Market. Cervera will build a sizable first-floor addition to the structure, and the casual menu will showcase a charcuterie, cheeses, bread, wine. And there’s even more in his culinary sights: along the Southeast waterfront near Nationals Park, Cervera has leased half of the glass-andsteel Boilermaker building (1100 New Jersey Ave. SE) for a classy, 450 seat sports bar. As for Lola’s lofty improvements: “Xavier really sees the need for something like this on the Hill,” says Shawn Case. “We want people to keep coming here after work, to relax, maybe play some pool, and just enjoy themselves.” Open daily, Lola’s Barracks Bar is at 711 Eighth St. SE. Call 202-547-5652. ★
Seasonal Sustainable Responsible Chef Robert Wood is inspired by seasonal offerings from the waters of the Mid-Atlantic and farms and vineyards of the Virginia and Maryland hinterlands. Visit his restaurant to truly taste the bounties of spring. Serving Lunch & Dinner Daily 11 AM to 10 PM Weekend Brunch 10 AM to 3 PM Late Night Dining Available Until 1 AM Daily Patio Open Daily – Available for Private events!
LAS PLACITAS RESTAURANT SALVADORIAN/MEXICAN FOOD ON CAPITOL HILL
THE CHESAPEAKE ROOM 501 8th Street SE On Barracks Row (202) 543-1445 www.thechesapeakeroom.com
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ARTSDining&EntertainmentSpecial
D I N I N G
N O T E S
by Celeste McCall
Pounding the Pavement
Cupcakes Coming
As spring arrives, much been happening around the neighborhood: Pound the Hill arrived March 15 at 621 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. (The original Pound, in NoMa, has closed.) The renovated space was designed by architect Alex Crawford of Northwest Washington. The granite counter is trimmed with burlap coffee bags; exposed pipes cross the faux pressed tin ceiling. A comfortable sitting room is popular with laptop users, and a patio will accommodate a dozen more customers. Brick walls are punctuated with vintage photos of Washington, and an image of downtown Beirut. This international theme fits in with Pound’s world-wide soup-and-sandwich menu, with Asian, Indian, Latino, American fare, composed of ingredients gleaned from nearby markets. Grilled pesto chicken with mozzarella is a winner, so is Tevolution honey-flavored ice tea. Eventually, wine and beer will flow. Operated by Frank Rinaldi, Karl Johnson, Khalil Ghannam and general manager John Klisz. Pound is open daily. Call 202-329-9784. or visit www.PoundCoffee.com
Also on Barracks Row: Hello Cupcake (formerly Capitol Hill Bikes, which has moved nearby) will arrive at 707 Eighth St. SE...Across the street at 404 Eighth St. SE, look for Sweet Lobby, selling–what else? Cupcakes, plus Parisian macaroons, shortbread cookies, hot chocolate and loose leaf teas.....nearby at 703 Eighth St. SE, look for 32 Below, a frozen yogurt shop. And (perhaps), at the far end of Barracks Row, in a now vacant lot, look for a Bavarian Beer Garden at 720 L St. SE.
Juiced up Next to Frager’s Hardware is B Spot Art Gallery and Juice Bar. Here since last November, the second-story space is a juice bar, tea room and art gallery. Stairs are lined with colorful paintings by local artists. A stage presents live jazz Saturday evenings, and health lectures some Sundays. B Spot’s congenial co-owner is New York native John Woods. As we chatted (we both love the Yankees), he poured me a “cell support,” a healthful concoction of carrot, beet and cucumber juice. Besides dispensing coffee, tea, and fruit smoothies, B Spot makes sandwiches daily. Located at 1123 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, B Spot is closed Sundays, except for special events. For more information call 202-546-7186 or visit www.TheBSpotDC.com 86 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Starfish Goes Italian Jorge Zamorano, who helped spearhead the Barracks Row renaissance with his Banana Café, 500 Eighth St. SE, nearly 20 years ago, has sold his second enterprise, Starfish (across the street at 539) to Danny Cheung of Fusion Grill, 515 Eighth St. “I want to thank all our Starfish customers...we’ve had a great time over the past 10 years,” said Zamorano. “Our lease at Starfish was up, and now I want to concentrate on the Banana Café.” The Starfish building is owned by Danny Cheung and son Stephen Cheung. Until August, the Cheungs will keep Starfish “as is,” before unveiling a “family friendly, neighborhood” Italian restaurant. Stephen will operate it, and heading the kitchen will be Fusion executive chef Lance Hanan, who has spent 17 years in Baltimore’s Little Italy and knows the cuisine. While we will miss Starfish’s salmon and scallop ceviche, we wish everyone the best.
Market Watch Customers queue up on weekends for Uncle Fred’s Barbecue Smoke Shack. Emerging from the real smoker are Carolina-style pulled pork and chicken (slow-cooked on site), Italian sausages, beef brisket and other victuals. You’ll find Uncle Fred’s–a spinoff of a Winchester, Virginia enterprise–Satur-
days and Sundays on the North Carolina Avenue side of Eastern Market’s outdoor vendors. We preferred the smoked half chicken to the pulled pork sandwich (both are $8). Sauces range from sweet to spicy to incendiary. Coleslaw is a sweet-tangy confetti-like melange of cabbage and carrots. Call 540-313-2222 or visit www.unclefredsbbqsmokeshack.com. At a nearby stand are Miguel’s Magnificent Mini Donuts, where 12 ounces of the tasty little morsels– cooked right on the spot--are just $2. The confections are served with Zeke’s organic, fair trade coffee. Or–buy whole beans to brew at home.
Union Pub Brunch Bet Union Pub now offers Saturday AND Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Choose from 50 microbrews, or one of the five kinds of bloody Marys– each made with a different vodka infusion, garnishes and other ingredients. Menu: eggs Benedict (or eggs Chesapeake, with crab cakes); stuffed french toast; shrimp and grits; chicken with waffles and a delicious sounding Tuscany egg white omelette with chicken, onions and spices, topped with pesto and tomato sauce. Union Pub is at 201 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Call 202-546-7200 or www.unionpubdc.com.
Feeding Your Senses From April 12 through May 22, Artisa Kitchen’s executive chef/ founder Byron Brown will present Sensorium, a dining extravaganza at the Capitol River Waterfront, in the shadow of the Nationals Park. On the scene since January 2010, Artisa Kitchen is a nomadic supper club which travels to art galleries throughout Washington. Among other accomplishments, chef Brown has worked with Jose Andres in Washington’s MiniBar in Penn Quarter. Enhancing Sensorium’s 12-course repast (with wine pairings) will be costumes, lighting and music.
The lavish production will take place in a 36-foot geodesic dome on the east lawn of Yards Park. Sensorium seating times are 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Each seating is limited to 30, and tickets are $125 April 12-13; $150 the rest of the time. For tickets and more infor visit www. sensoriumdc.com.
Buon Viaggio There’s still time to sign up for Schneider’s of Capitol Hill’s wine lovers trip to Tuscany. Co-sponsored by nearby Toscana Café, the excursion departs May 24 and returns May 30 (Memorial Day). Price is $8,500 per couple, which includes airfare, lodging at the Locanda le Piazze (on a Tuscan hilltop between Florence and Sienna), meals, transportation, winery visits, cooking classes and great wines. Host Daniele Catalani of Toscana Café will provide fabulous meals, and Schneider’s Rick and Jon will guide participants through Tuscan vineyards. Schneider’s is located at 300 Massachusetts Ave. NE; for more information call 202-543-9300 or visit www.cellar.com.
Viva Africa Coming up April 30 in the Nave at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Palaver Hut/Liberian-born story teller Vera Oye Yaa-Anna–who conducts after-school cooking classes at Watkins Elementary School--will present Echoes of the African Sound. Starting at 7 p.m., Palaver Hut’s event will encompass drummers, African dance, stilt walking, story telling and an international banquet. Tickets are $35 per person, $15 for children 12 and younger. St. Mark’s is at 118 Third St. SE; call 202-547-4899 or visit www. oyepalaverhut.org.
NoMa News In NoMa, Roti Mediterranean Grill dishes out fire-roasted meats, falafel, hummus, chicken roti sandwiches and chopped chicken salad. Roti also rewards customers with loyalty programs, while supporting the nonprofit Common Threads, an organization which educates children on the importance of physical well-being through cooking. Roti is at 1275 First Street, NE, in Constitution Square. ★
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ARTSDining&EntertainmentSpecial
TH E ATE R Studio’s New Hand At The Tiller David Muse Gets A Full Season Under His Belt by Brad Hathaway
W
hat stretches from the bayous of Louisiana to a donut shop in Chicago, from Korea to Ireland and from the underground club scene of London to a community center’s acting class in Vermont? That would have to be David Muse’s first season of productions at Studio Theatre where he has taken over the Artistic Director slot vacated by the company’s founder, Joy Zinoman. Muse made his name as a director and an administrator here in the Washington theater community over the past decade. He was an Associate Artistic Director under Michael Kahn at the Shakespeare Theatre Company where he was involved in the expansion of the company from a single-theater company putting on plays at the Lansburgh to a multihouse company with the addition of the Harman Hall. He didn’t actually come to Washington to get involved in theater. His journey from Yale, where he majored in ethics, politics and economics, brought him here to teach calculus to inner-city youngsters. He took classes, however, at Studio Theatre’s Acting Conservatory and eventually returned to Yale - this time to study directing. Studio provided him his first opportunity to direct when its 2ndStage unit, the experimental wing of the company, selected him to direct a cutting edge drama “The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow” which became a major hit. It earned Muse his first Helen Hayes Award nomination for outstanding director. Since then, he 88 ★ HillRag | April 2011
has directed at Arena Stage (“Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune”), Source (“The Mnemonist” for the Source Festival) and, of course, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (“Henry V” and “Julius Caesar”). However, it was his work at Theatre Alliance at the
hadn’t been absent from the building in the days before his first day as Artistic Director. By prior arrangement, that first show of the season was one he was directing. “Circle Mirror Transformation” by Annie Baker was a slight piece
David Muse
H Street Playhouse that I loved the most. He made the stage adaptation of Toni Morison’s “The Bluest Eye” a memory to treasure. Muse stepped into his new post on September 1 of 2010. That was just eight days before the opening of the first show of the company’s season. He
that took a deft touch and he brought it off nicely. It was set in a community center in Vermont where an amateur acting class is going through the various exercises in self-expression that actors professional and amateur put themselves through. It wasn’t a highpowered start for the Muse years but it
was a fine ensemble piece nonetheless. Later that first month came Young Jean Lee’s strange and strangely structured view of feminism as seen through the eyes of Korean women. The playwright’s unorthodox script included placing cast members in the audience so the paying customers didn’t know for sure where the play began and where it ended. Parts of the play were very funny while others were highly disturbing, including a sequence of the beating of a young woman by three of her seniors. The season settled into more traditional Studio Theatre fare when Associate Producing Artistic Director Serge Seiden took up directing duties for Tracy Letts’ thoroughly enjoyable human drama of life in a Chicago donut shop owned by a crotchety former hippie who takes a on a young black man who needs a job. “Superior Donuts” provided the deeply satisfying theatrical experience audiences expect at Studio. “Superior Donuts” came to Studio from a successful run on Broadway. The next play came from farther away. “Mojo” won the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in London. That was over a decade ago, however. The play either didn’t age quite as well as you might expect or perhaps it didn’t make the crossing over the Atlantic quite as well. Whatever the reason, the play caught the imagination of some in the audience and some critics while others seemed to scratch their heads trying to figure out what
was going on. I happened to fall in the later category. The season continued with the third of Terell Alvin McCraney’s three Brother/Sister plays, each of which has been given a fine staging at Studio. “Marcus: Or The Secret of Sweet” saw the young Marcus deal with his homosexuality as a young man in rural Louisiana in a time that McCraney called “The Distant Present.” Then Philip Goodwin portrayed the title character in a stage adaptation of the diaries of critic Kenneth Tynan. Now, Muse has launched a minifestival with three plays by one of Ireland’s hot young playwrights who can give actors some of the most marvelous lines to deliver while portraying some strange characters indeed. Enda Walsh came to local attention with “Disco Pigs,” a one act, one hour high energy romp of two teenagers in Cork who speak in a peculiar argot of the Irish streets. More recently, the Druid Theatre of Ireland commissioned him to write a play for them and he came up with a rumination on a subplot of the classic Greek myth of Odysseus. Remembering that when Odysseus returned from the Trojan wars he found (and had to overcome) four men wooing his wife, Penelope. Walsh wrote a sometimes funny, sometimes troubling piece of nearly absurdist theater, not about Odysseus but about those four suitors - who they were and why they were still wooing Penelope after years of rejection. The play takes place entirely in the empty swimming pool of the dilapidated Odysseus estate where the four disport themselves in speedo bathing suits entirely unsuited to their physical conditions. Muse begins his Enda Walsh festival not with a new production of “Penelope” but with the Druid pro-
duction itself, direct from the stage in Galway. While Druid performs in the newest of Studio’s four performance spaces, the Metheny, through April 3, two new Studio productions of other Walsh plays open on other stages in the complex, both directed by New York based Matt Torney whose career started in Northern Ireland. Ted van Griethuysen will open April 6 in “The Walworth Farce,” in which he plays a father forcing his sons to face up to their pasts through a regime of “cross-dressing, slapstick and denial” while, beginning April 13 in “The New Electric Ballroom” Nancy Robinette and Sybil Lines will play older sisters revisiting their youthful adventures. Muse says this is the beginning of “an initiative to present and produce works from around the world. Of course, it wasn’t exactly as if Irish theater has been given short shrift in our town over the years. “Disco Pigs” was introduced here in a production of the Irish arts company Solas Nua directed by Eric Lucas of the Keegan Theatre, a theater with Irish roots. It will be fascinating to see what other nations Muse taps in his new initiative. Still to come this year? The focus seems to shift to the erotic as Muse directs David Ives’ comedy “Venus in Fur” opening May 25 and actor David Cole premieres his play “The History of Kisses” about a writer of erotic stories on June 15. Last up will be a bio-play about Andy Warhol titled “Pop!” which opens July 13. For tickets, call 202-332-3300. Brad Hathaway reviews theater in Virginia, Washington and Maryland as well as Broadway and writes about theater for a number of national magazines. He welcomes feedback from those he writes about and those he writes for. He can be reached at brad.hathaway@verizon.net. ★
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ARTSDining&EntertainmentSpecial
ATTHE MOVIES
Two Winners An Intelligent Domestic Comedy and a Poignant French Drama by Mike Canning yer Eleanor (Margo Martindale) who presses Mike, who brings all these pieces together is what is probTom McCarthy makes his living as a busy, finding key court documents that prove he used ably a labor of love, depicting a world he knows by Leo’s status for his own remuneration. Karl’s learning heart and offering it to us as a gift. journeyman actor (recent of this drives him to a crucial roles include “Fair Game,” match meltdown that wrecks Of Gods and Men “2012,” and the last season of Mike’s best-laid schemes and HBO’s “The Wire”), but he Feature films that seriously treat religion--or exposes him to the opprobrium faith--are rare: the subject is too risky, too etheearns accolades as a proven of family and friends. writer/director of intelligent, real, too personal to assure entertainment, which While the story so outlined is, after all, the purpose of most movies. This well-crafted, droll movies sounds dour, it is anything but. doesn’t mean that they cannot succeed, as dramatabout contemporary life. What with Giamatti’s like- ic inspiration if not exactly entertainment. WitHe debuted splendidly with able schlubness, Bobby Can- ness, the splendid new French film “Of Gods and “The Station Agent” (2003) navale playing his best friend Men” (Des Hommes et Des Dieux) which opened and followed it up with the and hedge fund manager Terry, March 18 in the DC area. (The film is rated “PGmuch-admired (including and veteran Jeff rey Tambor, as 13” and runs 120 minutes.) by this reviewer) “The VisiStephen “Vig” Vigman, CPA tor” (2007). Well, he has hit The narrative follows a true story: the fate of a and Mike’s assistant coach, small group of French Cistercian monks in 1996 the director’s trifecta with there is much to guffaw about. living in the monastery of Tibhirine outside an Alhis latest effort “Win Win,” Paul Giamatti (Mike) preps young wrestler Alex Add to the mix a quirky nerd gerian village during that country’s grim civil war. a film both full of feeling and Shaffer (Karl) in “Win Win.” Photo: Kimberly Wright and would-be wrestler Stem- The monks, long established in the community and TM; © 2010 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp humor (released in the DC ler (David Thompson) who interwoven into its humble life, become—as Chrisarea March 25, it is rated “R” befriends the competent Karl, tians—targets of an Islamic terrorist band and are and runs 106 mins.). and you have a quartet of considerable comic po- first threatened, then rounded up to be slaughtered “Win Win” introduces us to attorney Mike Flatential. Tambor—known best from TV’s “Arrested (seven of the remaining monks die, two escape). herty (Paul Giamatti), his wife Jackie (Amy Ryan), Development”—behaves and looks like a clueless and their two young daughters living in New ProviBut “Of Gods and Men”—while it does depict sea lion. Cannavale, comic relief in McCarthy’s “The the threat to the group—focuses much more fully on dence, New Jersey (where McCarthy himself went to high school and wrestled). Mike’s practice is strug- Station Agent,” provides that role again here, crack- the daily life of the men. The threat is that of a tergling, the office furnace may blow any time, and his ing wise to Giamatti. And the latter actor, unsur- rorist cell led by Ali Fayattia (Farid Larbi), which, at real passion, volunteering as the high school wres- passed in playing conflicted, mildly desperate figures, one point, bursts into the serenity of the monastery tling coach, is souring as his team loses every match. fits in this role of a decent man going off the rails. seeking medical assistance, knowing that one of the To leaven, but not weigh down, the ensemble monks, Brother Luc (an unimpeachable Michael He then secretly takes on the personal guardianship of an incapacitated elderly client, Leo Poplar (Burt is the estimable Amy Ryan (“The Office”) as Jack- Lonsdale) is a healer. While that invasion is headed Young), which comes with a monthly stipend from ie Flaherty. She plays a mother leagues away from off, the group senses that their time is short, and they the court which he quietly uses to help keep his prac- her standout role as a crass lowlife in “Gone Baby tice and his family afloat. Then the client’s 16-year Gone.” Excellent, too, in old grandson, Karl Timmons (Alex Shaffer) shows his fi lm debut, is young up on his grandfather’s doorstep, having run away Alex Shaffer, who plays from home and a drug-addicted mother in Ohio. Karl just right: as a Mike grudgingly takes him in and then discovers the platinum-haired, blankkid is a top-notch wrestler, one that can inspire his faced, taciturn teen team and transform his luck, and he signs him up to whose mind suggests a attend the school. It’s a nice win-win arrangement. vacuum, but who, you Things come apart, however, when Karl’s mom, Cindy (Melanie Lynskey) shows up after a rehab eventually learn, has stint, looking to gain access both to Leo (and his both common sense and money) and to her estranged son. She gets a law- a sense of responsibility. In “Of Gods and Men,” the monks, led by brother Christian (Lambert Wilson, in center with glasses) It is McCarthy, though, vote on their fate. © Why Not Productions, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Win Win
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must consider whether to flee--to go home and survive--or to remain-and probably die. The decision is wrenching, and some of the men clearly desire to leave. The leader of the group, Brother Christian (a beatific Lambert Wilson), applies no pressure on his small flock but rather asks each to plumb the depths of his soul to make his own decision. In the end, the weight of their communal experience, their commitment to their faith--and the practical fact that the monastic life defines their very being—leads them all to stay. Their end comes swiftly as the local fanatics raid the monastery again and, rudely, march the monks off. The film, demure to the end, does not show us their grisly assassination but fades to white. The film is as contemplative, as restrained as the days of the monks themselves. The director, Xavier Beauvois, gives us both precise and sedate vignettes of the men at work, study (including the Koran), and, especially, prayer. We catch the rhythms of what a monastery commitment demands: giving oneself over to God and to man. Those rhythms are exquisitely captured by Beauvois and his crew-without being precious. Though potentially claustrophobic, the movie avoids it by the offhand tours around the monastery which define its space and make the moviegoer identify with the monks even more. Tellingly, the music of “Of God and Men” comes mostly from the monks themselves, chanting in French, not as some heavenly chorus but in the actors’ own firm voices. Recorded music does, however, make one indelible appearance. After the contingent has finally decided to remain at Tibhirine, they gather for a modest evening meal. Brother Luc, at 80, more worldly than the others, brings out two bottles of the best wine, and, wordlessly, turns on the cassette player. The last strains of “Swan Lake” cascade over the scene as the monks eat and reflect. It’s a Last Supper that breaks the heart. Long-time Hill resident Mike Canning has written on movies for the Hill Rag since 1993 and is a member of the Washington Area Film Critics Association. His reviews and writings on film can be found at www.mikesflix.com. ★
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the LITERARY HILL A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events by Karen Lyon
T
federal investigation of congressiohe Literary Hill nal wrongdoing, feeling besieged by BookFest is coming prosecutors and a blood-thirsty press, soon! More than 30 and isolated from my professional local writers are expected to world…My dream job turned into a be at the May 15 event at nightmare.” Eastern Market, along with In dire need of a sea change, Lifset Riverby Books, Fairy Godopted for “wildlife, wine, a whim and mother, Capitol Hill Books, a prayer — it was the ultimate escape the Library of Congress, the from my working world Hell.” The anFolger Shakespeare Library, imal sanctuary was only the first stop the Southeast and Northeast on her attitude-changing adventure. Neighborhood Libraries, “Battered, bruised and bloodied” – but and many more. refreshed by her encounters with the Enjoy talks by authors animal kingdom – she then undertook and opportunities to chat an enthusiastically besotted tour of with your favorite writers, as South African wineries. well as story times and crafts Former Hill staffer Nancy Lifset trades wild life of politics for the real With the motto, “Wining is enfor the kids. Stay tuned next the thing in Southern Africa. couraged; whining, strictly prohibitmonth for a complete roster of participating authors and a schedule of activities. ed,” she spent weeks reveling in the glorious wines To volunteer or for more information, visit www. and vistas of the Western Cape. Should you wish to stagger in her footsteps, she thoughtfully includes literaryhillbookfest.org. her field notes. Sassy, irreverent, self-mocking, and profane, Going Wild “Back to the Wildlife” is as fresh and funny as an Don’t be fooled by the salacious-looking bae-mail from your craziest friend; you can’t wait to boon on the cover of Nancy Lifest’s new book. open it to see what she’s up to now. Or as Lifset The only sex in “Back to the Wild Life” involves a herself wonders when she inadvertently wades into pair of lions who awaken our intrepid reporter one a shower stall full of baboon poop, “How in the hell night “practicing their Kama Sutra.” Otherwise, did I end up here, anyway?” Lifest’s ten weeks on a wildlife sanctuary in NaLifset is now back on Capitol Hill, where mibia seem relatively tame – except perhaps when she lives with her husband Kevin and dog Margo she’s chucking bloody horse heads from a Land – though who knows for how long? “I’m ready to Rover for the big cats. “There could be a future for rock again,” she writes at the end of “Back to the me in ‘The Godfather’ sequels,” she observes. Oh, Wildlife,” “the fun has only just begun…” Visit her and of course, there are the baboons. blog at www.backtothewildlife.com. “Simply put,” she declares, “baboons are evil incarnate. [They] are totally lacking in charm and they certainly don’t make up for their shortcom- A Shameless Romantic Ariel Sabar will ings with good looks.” She reserves special acid for the matriarch of the pack. “The devil was absolutely read from his new at the tiller when Big Mama’s ass came onto this book, “Heart of the green earth,” she declares, noting that the baboon City,” at the NorthNeighborhood has “the most bulbous hairy butt I have ever laid east eyes on.” Suffice it to say that critters with the “ra- Library on April 27 at zor-sharp teeth” and “hot pink” derrieres did not 7 p.m. Called “shamelessly romantic” by the win her heart. Even nasty baboons, however, were a relief to New York Times, SaLifset after the rigors of D.C. An aide to Repre- bar was inspired by his Ariel Sabar sentative randy “Duke” Cunningham, she went own parents’ meeting down with the ship when her boss got snagged in in Washington Square a bribery scandal. While not involved herself, she Park to investigate and relate the true stories of was “tagged as a witness, sucked up in a very public nine couples who met at well-known landmarks
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in New York City. “The results have the power to make saps out of all of us,” says the Times reviewer. Sabar will also appear at the Literary Hill BookFest on May 15.
A Page from History Darryl J. Gonzales has done a great service by rescuing the history of a little-known corps of federal workers who have kept the U.S. government humming since its inception. An early job description reveals the rigors that await these unsung servants: “Acute memory and quick coordination of brain and limb are essential to his success. He must combine in his makeup the functions of an animate congressional directory, a fleet-footed library catalogue, a prancing menu card, a fast-stepping base ball score, a smooth buffer between the impatient lobbyist and the busy lawmaker and the expert translator of Senatorial chirography.” All of this and he was often only eight or nine years old. “The Children Who Ran for Congress: A History of Congressional Pages” provides an exhaustive history of the boys (and girls) who have served Congress for more than 200 years. “In 1774, Messengers surely were needed so that dignitaries around Philadelphia could be kept informed of what was going on inside Carpenters’ Hall,” writes Gonzalez, but the first documented (and celebrated) Senate Page was nine-year-old Grafton Dulaney Hanson, who assumed the post in 1829. Thousands more have followed in his wake. Young boys were chosen for the work because, being small and quick, they could “dart in between the desks to hand a bill to a Member” or make a quiet exit to call a Senator back for an important vote. Their duties also included tending the fireplaces prior to the installation of electric heat, supplying water (or sneaking in the occasional mint julep), and filling the Senate snuff boxes – a tradition that continues to this day despite the lack of demand. For this they were fairly well paid, learned a great deal about the workings of government, and enjoyed the prestige of being a Page boy. On the down side, Congress lagged far behind
when it came to complying with their own legislation regarding child labor and compulsory schooling laws. Until well into the 20th century, Congressional Pages were exempt from the age restrictions that applied in the rest of the country, and it wasn’t until 1946 that the Page School, which had been established in the 1920s but run in a scandalously desultory fashion by Congress, came under the official aegis of the D.C. Board of Education. Gonzalez sees the story of the Congressional Pages in part as a study of “an institution protecting itself and its traditions,” making only marginal efforts to balance self-interest with token compliance. But his real purpose is to shine a light on this neglected corner of American history. Despite “a significant body of work on Congressional history,” he writes, few authors have given more than a passing reference to Pages “because there were always so many higher-profile subjects available to write about.” In “The Children Who Ran for Congress,” the Pages finally get their due. ★
Meet Brendan Tharp The New Executive Chef at Lola’s Lola’s welcomes Executive Chef Brendan Tharp, formerly of Blue Hill Tavern. Chef Tharp is introducing a new exciting menu of a new seasonal offerings that will include Charcuterie, local salads and a variety of daily specials. Don’t worry regulars! The Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos are staying with the addition of Brendan’s homemade Salsa Verde. Lola’s is expanding! Look for an intimate upstairs bar and game room.
Lola’s Barracks Bar & Grill 711 8th Street, SE (202) 547-5652 www.lolasdc.com
Celebrate our local authors at Eastern Market on May 15! literaryhillbookfest.org
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 93
Artist Portrait: Jorge Garcez-Rocha
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A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim can be reached at ArtandtheCity05@aol.com
f color were a country, it might be Brazil. Its flag is green, blue, yellow and white, but it would be impossible to include all of the colors of this huge and magnificent land, its incredible tropical wildlife and, most of all, its people. Jorge Garcez-Rocha is not only from that land, he is very much a part of it. He left his small village of Santa Rita de Cassia at a young age for Rio de Janeiro, but his cultural soul is still there. The colors, religion and traditions are from the heart of his home state of Bahia. Those arts and emotions are not just embedded in Jorge, he cherishes them and makes them the center of his own vision. He lived in Italy for a while where he was introduced to European art and returned to Rio as an Italian language instructor. There he met the brilliant painter and designer Burle Marx and began to paint. With much encouragement, he had his first successful exhibition of his work, which now includes sculpture and photography. After coming to DC with his wife, Chantal Dalton, he again began to connect with his birthplace and is even more aware of how much his view of life has been shaped by its religious traditions, history and the hardships of everyday life. Although his skills incorporate a variety of styles, it is the art of the people, the Naïve – or Naïf – folk art style
94 ★ HillRag | April 2011
that best allows that expression. It also provides a way for others – you – to understand and connect emotionally with Northeast Brazil. Jorge will exhibit his work at the DC Brazilian consulate later this year. It will be an opportunity to get to know the art of Jorge Garcez-Rocha and connect with the heart and soul of an ancient people. Jlgarcez68@ hotmail.com.
Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art A recent Time magazine cover story reminded me that the artificial intelligence people are still working like busy little bees to replace humans with machines…very smart machines…in whatever physical properties that might be convenient to this new species. All of this, called the “Singularity,” is just around the corner. We’re told that in 30 years the human era will be ended. These folks are, ironically, the brightest brains in the history of the race, not a bunch of goofy dreamers. They are very serious and not to be dismissed. Question: Is it possible for geniuses to be colossal fools? Another reminder came recently on Jeopardy, which had been my favorite TV show up till then. The IBM computer, Watson, made mincemeat of the two superstars of the program. Curiously, the audience applauded the computer. It was like the Aztecs cheering Cortez. Montezuma mistook the guy for a god…until it was too late. At least that takeover resulted, eventually, in a merging of Spanish and native cultures that has produced incredible art. But those people were all of the same species, with the same human nature. Jorge Garcez-Rocha (see Artist Profile) comes from that blend of imagination, emotion, hopes and beliefs. He is able to express it from the heart because it’s who he is. It’s him. It’s us. That’s why we connect so quickly… why it’s so easy to understand. So what, exactly, do Homo Sapiens have to gain by replacing themselves with a vastly superior model? Better art? More efficient beliefs? Less messy emotions? Frankly,
artandthecity
BY JIM MAGNER
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“Art That Moves” Capitol Hill Arts Workshop 545 7th St. SE Apr. 9 – May 6 CHAW rolls out its spring all-media juried exhibit, Art That Moves. It is being held in con-
“Food, Glorious Food” The Art League 105 North Union Street Alexandria, VA April 7 – May 2 Cindy Packard Richmond is a novelist and food writer turned painter…and she paints what she writes: food-scapes. She is “drawn to the bulbous shapes of food: the sweeping curves, tightening spirals, rounded edges, plumply ovate and corpulent.” Ultimately, however, it is about composition, color, and strong design. She’s a resident artist in studio 3 at the Torpedo Factory and an active member of The Art League. Recep: Apr. 14, 6:30 – 8. www. theartleague.org ★
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Pablo Caviedes’ first solo show in DC, “Mannequin,” aims at the dichotomy between the natural and the artificial. The imagery in his work, such as the mannequin, symbolizes “fakeness.” His target is society’s obsession with virtual, artificial life that mimics natural human forms. You’ll find both humor and serious insight in his paintings and sculptures. www. studiohdc.com.
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You still have few weeks to take in the not-to-be-missed experience of Alexis Rockman. Both his large and small paintings are monumental in technique and impact. He can paint wall-covering canvases that overpower an imposing space with a cast of a thousand creatures that flow as one – or compact, intense expressions of raw nature that jolt your imagination and make you cringe…or smile.
Pablo Caviedes Studio H 408 H St. NE Apr 2 - May 29
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Alexis Rockman Smithsonian American Art Museum F St. NW (between 7th and 9th) – May 8
Thirty members of the WSLP present their personal interpretations of the landscape for the spring show in Pepco’s Edison Place Gallery. The entrance is on 8th St between G and H. These are very accomplished American Scene painters and work in oil, pastel, acrylic, and watercolor. The reception is Apr. 28, 6 - 8. www. wslp.org.
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George Ault (1891 – 1948) may be the most emotionally affecting painter you have never heard of. He was known early as a “Precisionist,” but his paintings, on exhibit here with a few famous contemporaries, touch your heart, not your mind. His work, and this exhibit, is a story of personal grief, loneliness, and the dark fears and bright hopes that define the 1940’s. But his work is not a melodramatic display of despair. Just the opposite. They capture the beauty of Woodstock NY, painted with exacting observation and the skillful manipulation of lights and darks. Works such as “Brook in the Mountain,” and “January Full Moon” are quietly stunning.
“The Illuminated Landscape” Washington Society of Landscape Painters Edison Place Gallery 701 9th St. NW Apr. 19 - May 27
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Monday Nights – 5 to 11 PM; Buy 2 Entrees, Get Bottle of Wine at Half Price
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*Not valid with other discounts. 2nd entrée must be of equal or lesser value.
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Anniversary Special FREE APP or DRINK Please enjoy The Old Siam Anniversary Celebration with Free Appetizer or Drink
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• Dine-In Only. Coupon required at the time of purchase • App Choices: Ginger Salad, Crab Wonton, Chicken Curry Puff, Steamed Mussel, or Veggie Puff. • Drink Choices: House Wine, Beer, or Cocktail Mixes. Expires: April 30, 2011
C O U PO N
At the Museums
junction with the region-wide “Dance Is The Answer” festival. The opening reception is Sat. Apr. 9, 5-7:00. Check the website for more information. www.chaw.org.
C O U PO N
we will probably never know; “Humans” will suddenly be gone. What will it prove? Simply my father’s thesis that the smartest man in the world is an idiot. But it will be too late.
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Thoughts of a Jazz Lover! Jazz can be enigmatic, an alchemy of mysterious sounds and moods that is spontaneous and yet deliberate in its free flowing creativity. The music can be complex, but good jazz feels as simple as first love—it goes straight to the heart and rests there, beating gently. At times, the music can be so life-like that it speaks to you with honesty and love. One still gets a keen sense of understanding of the complexity of the music. There is such a high note of haughtiness, perhaps a sort of natural aristocracy from a kind of inbred austerity about jazz that puts it in a class by itself, elevating one to a higher ground of one’s consciousness. It almost borders on elitism, and yet jazz strikes one as a beautiful music for everyone. And it is, especially for those of us who not only enjoy but truly love the music. True, most good jazz musicians more than likely think of jazz as the arbiter of modern music. And on a good day, I think they are correct. You can walk in your door after a hard day’s work and a harrowing Metro ride, put on Sarah Vaughn and your world is transformed. Your mind clears, your body relaxes and suddenly life is pretty good. There’s no drug in the world that can do that. Jazz is beautiful music.
by Jean-Keith Fagon
Under The Sun ••• Patrick Bradley, Producer Jeff Lorber Patrick Bradley’s latest release, “Under The Sun,” contains 11 songs of hope, adventure and spiritual surrender, thanks to the masterful performances of saxmen Dave Koz and Eric Marienthal, flugelhorn and trumpeter Rick Braun, guitarists Dwight Sills and Michael Thompson, bassists Alex Al and Nate Phillips, drummers Tony Moore and Dave Weckl, horn section work from David Mann, and the sultry voice of Irene B. With the genesis of the collection coming from Ecclesiastes, Mr. Bradley harnessed a variety of influences and inspirations for “Under the Sun,” on which he played piano, keyboards, organ and Moog synthesizers. As for the album title, Mr. Bradley explained, “The idea behind this record is to enjoy life and celebrate all it offers during the brief time we have under the sun. These songs were written in times of joy, sorrow and triumph, yet with an eye on eternity. My hope is that we all will take the time to prioritize and tend to the important things and important people and relationships, and not just chase the mad pursuits of this life.” Mr. Bradley refers to the deep-pocketed “Straight Path,” as his “life verse” as it is about trusting the Lord for guidance. A lilting and joyous celebration of love with a cascading piano hook, “Into the Sunset” was written for his wife, Lisa. Mr. Koz and Irene B. add seductive elements to the R&B ballad “Just Let Go.” Mr. Bradley is a passionate road cyclist and he offers a taste of the adrenaline rush experienced while descending in a pack on “Slipstream,” which includes a lead-out from Mr. Braun’s horns. The unpredictability of life is the focus of “Time and Chance,” which delivers the message to live life to the fullest while being unafraid to take chances. “Crows
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on the Lawn” swings. The poignant “Tears from the Sky” was written after his father’s passing and it’s an expansive, emotional piece both mournful and celebratory. “Rush Street”and the majestic “The Empress of Dalmatia” explode into aggressive progressive rock-jazz fusion jams ignited by Sills’ incendiary guitar pyrotechnics.
Love and Sax ••• Elan Trotman The sensual and seductive souljazz grooves from Elan Trotman’s “Love and Sax” is a mood-setting soundtrack for intimate evenings of passion and romance. This is the second contemporary jazz album from Mr. Trotman, a talented young musician who plays tenor
and soprano sax and flute with a suave, silky smooth style. Creating the vibe for love, his songs are intoxicatingly inviting, beautifully melodic and soulfully inspired R&B instrumentals. After a brief tryst with the opening title track, “Intro – Love and Sax,” Mr. Trotman goes straight for the heart on “Last Dance,” a mid-tempo foray tastefully adorned with tenor sax, acoustic guitar and piano. On the only cover on the collection, he pleads his case via extended soprano sax soloing on the chestnut “When I Fall In Love.” “Rain” is cozy and chill while “Love and Sax” is bigger and brighter, frequently vacillating in tone and tempo. R&B crooner Tony Terry steps into the spotlight on “Midnight Serenade,” the album’s lone vocal number. Mr. Trotman’s tenor sax lights the incense and candles on “Turn Down The Lights” before “Cancion de Amor” transports the listener to paradise and mystery aboard exotic, Latin-flavored guitar riff s. Brian Simpson lends his formidable keyboard artistry to the cinematically sweet “Heaven In Your Eyes.” Flugelhorn player Cindy Bradley dialogues with Mr. Trotman’s soprano sax on the otherworldly “Oasis.” Closing the collection, the late bassist Webster Roach goes for broke on a “Can I Play 4 U?” reprise. All CDs and DVDS reviewed in this article are heard through Bowers & Wilkens 802D Speakers and ASW 4000 subwoofer, and Rotel Preamp 1070, amplifier 1092 and CD player 1072. CDs are available for purchase through amazon.com. For more information about this column, please email your questions to fagon@ hillrag.com. ★
Health & Fitness Helping You Deal With Heart Pain by Dr. John Maguire
F
rom the hospitals on Capitol Hill to the emergency departments I manage in Fairfax, one of the most common complaints that we ER doctors see is the patient who looks up at us with big, scared eyes and asks, “Am I having a heart attack?” The honest truth is that despite medical advances, too often doctors are unable to answer that question at the initial visit.
Here’s why: 1. Chest pain is a very difficult symptom to pin a diagnosis to because it can be a sign of several other problems, including a broken rib, a blood clot, pneumonia, or a tear in the aorta, among other conditions. 2. That is why most physicians make a diagnosis based on the patient’s medical history. For instance, we know that if the patient smokes, has high cholesterol, and has a family history of heart disease, he or she is more likely to have a heart problem than the healthy triathlete. 3. Physicians are trained to create a differential diagnosis, which is a list of the possibilities that could be causing the symptoms. With chest pain as the presenting complaint, we care less about making a diagnosis; rather, we care about ruling out something that is life threatening.
Women and diabetics There are two groups of patients that will commonly have unusual symptoms when they are actually having a heart attack: Women: Heart disease is a big threat to women’s health. Believe it or not, statistics show that about 267,000 women die of heart attacks each year — six times more than those who die of breast cancer. The reason it’s such a big threat
is that women who are having a heart attack often have atypical complaints, such as shortness of breath, nausea and / or vomiting, and back or jaw pain. They also experience flu-like symptoms, fatigue, extreme weakness, lightheadedness, and cold sweats. In addition, women tend to be about 10 years older than men when they have a heart attack. About 82 percent are 55 or older. They also tend to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and / or diabetes (see more on that below). And they are likely to be smokers, overweight, and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Unfortunately, women are often less likely than men to believe they’re having a heart attack, so they delay seeking emergency treatment. Obviously, this is a lethal combination and one that needs to be paid more attention to. Diabetics: Another group of patients that has atypical complaints when having a heart attack is diabetics. In fact, I wish I had a nickel for every diabetic patient who is having a heart attack with no chest pain, but is complaining of significant nausea. That is why physicians must be masters of pattern recognition, and be able to see outside the “normal” patterns to minimize the possibility of missing the tough case.
Signs of a heart attack Doctors agree that chest pain capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 97
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Pressure, fullness, or tightness in your chest Crushing or searing pain that radiates to your back, neck, jaw, shoulders, and arms, especially your left arm Pain that lasts more than a few minutes, goes away and comes back, or varies in intensity Shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or nausea Chest pain related to noncardiac problems
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A burning sensation behind your breastbone (sternum) A sour taste or a sensation of food re-entering your mouth Trouble swallowing Pain that gets better or worse when you change your body position Pain that intensifies when you breathe deeply or cough Tenderness when you push on your chest
If you think you are having a heart attack: 1. Call 911 and the EMTs will take you to the nearest emergency department. While urgent care centers are great for a lot of things, the ED is where you want to be if you are having a heart attack. Please do not drive yourself to the hospital, unless you have no other choice, as your condition could worsen and you risk putting yourself and other drivers in danger. 2. Once at the ER or urgent care center, explain the problem and expect to be seen immediately. 3. In most cases, an EKG
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will be done quickly. This recording of the electrical activity in your heart is the first screen for heart attack. It also identifies patients who need to have other heart-related procedures done, including an angioplasty, where the clogged blood vessel is opened with a balloon. 4. Unfortunately, a relatively small percentage of patients have EKG changes when they are having a heart attack or angina. So an EKG is not always helpful. That is why doctors will also ask to draw blood to look for cardiac enzymes, which improves the possibility that we will quickly identify the problem.
In addition to owning Simplicity Urgent Care in Arlington, VA, Dr. John Maguire is the medical director for three of INOVA’s freestanding emergency rooms in Fairfax, VA where he is responsible for clinical operations and other administrative duties, and annually oversees more than 75,000 patient visits. A 1997 graduate of Georgetown University Medical School, Dr. Maguire graduated magna cum laude from Radford University with an undergraduate degree in Biology. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, PA, and he became boardcertified the following year, in 2001. Dr. Maguire’s professional affiliations include American College of Emergency Physicians, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, Air Medical Physicians Association, the American Medical Association, and the Urgent Care Association of America. Questions? Contact him at john.maguire@simplicityurgentcare.com, and visit www.simplicityurgentcare.com. ★
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African Sound and Food Experience Saturday April 30, 7:00 PM at St. Marks Episcopal Church - 118 3rd St SE Palaver Hut invites you to feast on International Cuisine. Savor the taste of Jerked Turkey, Jollof Cous, Cous, Garlic Collage’ (collard greens) and much more, prepared with Alkaline Ionized Hexagonal Water.
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capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 99
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Daydream Believer Creative Breakthroughs From Our Daydreams By Ronda Bresnick Hauss, LCSW
S
pring on Capital Hill is one of the loveliest seasons of the year. It’s a perfect time for a stroll in the neighborhood to take in the beautiful emerging gardens and the pear and cherry blossom trees, and to enjoy the sunshine and warm breezes. In fact, springtime is perfect for daydreaming. It turns out that daydreaming or mind wandering occupies a large proportion of our waking life. In fact, recent neurobiological research shows that daydreaming is so fundamental to our thinking that it is considered our “default” mode of thought. Daydreaming is also now considered an important tool for promoting creative ideas because it allows the brain to make new connections and associations, rather than focusing only on our immediate surroundings. When the mind is allowed its imaginative wanderings, it is capable of creating solutions that the conscious mind does not have access to. New research has show that when we daydream we engage the brain’s “executive network,” which is associated with complex problem solving and is considered the command center of the brain. In addition, scientists have discovered that the default network of the brain -- where daydreaming occurs -- actually works in parallel with the executive network. Until now, scientists thought that when one network was activated, the other was dormant. So, when the problem solving part of the brain works in parallel with the default network where daydreaming occurs, you have the possibility of creative ideas and solutions arising.
Pay Attention to Your Daydreams Many creative people have credited their imagination as the source of their creativity, most famously, Albert 100 ★ HillRag | April 2011
“When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come close to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.” – Albert Einstein
Einstein. Einstein was said to have done his best thinking while taking long, meandering walks. Daydreaming involves a more relaxed style of thinking which allows for ideas that may at first seem silly or impractical, but can often become the source of creative insights. It’s not enough, however, to daydream -- letting your mind wander is not the difficult part. The challenge is to maintain enough self-awareness so that while you are daydreaming you can notice that it is occurring and become aware of a creative idea or association. Studies show that when we daydream, we are often performing tasks that require little conscious attention
such as driving. We can go into a mental trance, but the brain is in fact very active during this state. Instead of focusing on the outside world, the brain begins to work in the internal landscape where creative connections can be made.
Giving Ourselves Permission To Daydream Traditional myths about daydreaming may keep us from using this valuable and creative tool. Consider these views about daydreaming: it is a sign of laziness, it can be the cause of traffic accidents, it shows a lack discipline, it is a sign of procrastination, it is counter-productive, and
it produces under-performers. None of these views however, appear to be grounded in the most recent research on the brain. In fact, one of the easiest ways to encourage creativity may be to take our daydreams more seriously. When we are feeling stuck, it may be that daydreaming is the most productive thing we can do. It is valuable to make time for daydreaming. It is also important to practice becoming aware of when this relaxed state of mind is present and when it has produced an insight. Take a few minutes to consider which situations or activities trigger your daydreams. Allow yourself to take some unstructured time to encourage daydreaming. In fact, consider taking your daydreams more seriously. Daydreaming is actually an important feature of a healthy human brain. While it might seem that our minds are empty of thought, the mind is really never empty -- it is actively making connections and ideas. Sometimes new and creative connections are being made when we least expect it. If your mind has wandered while reading this article -- don’t be surprised. Daydreams have a way of doing that. And don’t let anyone tell you that you are being “absent minded” or that you are “lost in thought.” - You are neither lost nor absent from your mind, but in fact deeply within it. Ronda Bresnick Hauss is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of the Quiet Waters Center for Trauma, Stress and Resilience, on Capitol Hill. She uses an integrative & holistic approach to psychotherapy – addressing the connection between the mind, body and spirit through the use of traditional talk therapy, meditation, visualization, and creative, nonverbal techniques. She can be reached at: 202544-5050 and is on the web at: HYPERLINK “http://www.quietwaterscenter.com ★
Kids & Family notebook home games start at 1:35 PM. 202-6756287. washington. nationals.mlb.com
Brent Elementary gets Whole Foods Grocery Salad Bar
Courtesy of Capitol Riverfront BID
Yards Park Family Fun Day During the National Cherry Blossom Festival On Saturday, Apr. 2, 11:00 AM4:00 PM, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will feature the Yards Park Family Fun Day. Some of the activities will include: lantern making, Trapeze School demonstrations and performances, and kids activities including boat making kits and a moonbounce. For the adults, there will also be sake tasting and Japanese beer garden by Mie N Yu, as well as a variety of sushi and Japanese cuisine from Nooshi Sushi. Yards Park, one block south of N and Third sts. SE. 202-465-7080. capitolriverfront.org
Kids Run the Bases at National’s Park Immediately following every Sunday home game, kids 12 years and younger get to run the bases at Nats Park. Sunday home games this season are Apr. 3 and 17; May 1, 15, and 29; June 19; July 3, 10 and 31; Aug. 21; Sept. 4, 11, 18 and 25. All Sunday
Brent Elementary School rang in the first week of spring by launching a new salad bar in the school cafeteria. The salad bar was donated through the Whole Foods Great American Salad Bar Project, a competitive salad bar grant program, and is currently available to third, fourth, and fifth graders. Students can take fresh fruits and vegetables from the bar as a part of a reimbursable meal or purchase a side salad a la carte. Seven DCPS schools were awarded salad bars through the Whole Foods grant, including all Capitol Hill Cluster Schools. DCPS has plans to open reimbursable salad bar lines in middle schools and high schools throughout the District in school year 2011-12 to increase students’ access to healthy meals. For more info on Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools go to saladbars2schools.org
Boy Scout Troop 380 and Summer Camp St. Peter’s Troop 380, for fifth grade and higher, provides leadership and character development for boys of all faiths and backgrounds on Capitol Hill and beyond. They meet Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 PM, and have monthly outings that include camping, hiking, rafting, rock climbing, and skiing. Troop 380 will go to summer camp at Goshen Scout Reservation in southwestern Virginia, June 25-July 2. A week of room and board and outdoor fun costs $290 (by April 29) or $330 (by June 3). For more information, contact Hank Brothers, Scoutmaster at 202-457-7081 (ofc) or hank.brothers@hklaw.com.
CHAW Hosts Annual Art & Go Seek Scavenger Hunt The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) will host its fourth annual Art & Go Seek, a fun scavenger hunt and fundraising event for children and adults, Saturday, April 9, 8:30
Free Dollmaking Workshop at CHAW Saturday, Apr. 16, 10:15-11:15 AM, CHAW hosts Sugarfoots Dollicious Making Workshop. Create miniature replicas of the renowned Sugarfoots multi-cultural dolls. All materials supplied. Ages 6 and up. Registration is required at 202-5476839. 545 Seventh St. SE. chaw.org
Brent Kids enjoying theWhole Foods salad bar. Photo: Courtesy of DCPS capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 101
kidsfamily notebook AM-1:30 PM. Art & Go Seek is an interactive scavenger hunt that sends teams of two-to-six people racing around Capitol Hill searching for answers to questions about art, history, and notorious people and places in the neighborhood. Wacky hands-on art challenges will be featured along the course and the team with the most points at the end of the hunt wins a prize. Proceeds from Art & Go Seek support CHAW’s tuition assistance and outreach programs. Highlights of Art & Go Seek include a light breakfast, the scavenger hunt, and an after-pARTy at CHAW with lunch and entertainment. Adults, $25 ($40 after Mar. 29); ages 13-18, $10; 12 and under, free. There is a special track for families with young children who want to participate. To register, call 202-547-6839 or email victor@ chaw.org. Early registrants receive bonus points and opportunities to rack up additional points before the hunt begins! 545 Seventh St. SE. chaw.org
Spring “Camporee” Adventure Weekend On the weekend of Apr. 8-10, the Washington DC District of the Boy Scouts of America, the Federal Government and the DC Government will partner for a rare DC camping and emergency preparedness adventure. Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Webelos, and Venturers & Explorers will gather for a Spring Camporee on the grounds of the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, West Campus. This will be a wonderful opportunity for all participating Scouts and visitors to learn and have fun. $5$12. Contact Richard Lambert with questions at 202-553-7010 or lambertra@gmail.com. dccamporee.info
The Bishop John T. Walker School Open House and Admissions Sessions The Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys, 3640 MLK Ave. SE, a tuition-free Episcopal private school currently serving junior-kindergarteners through second graders living east of the Anacostia, will be holding an Open House and Admissions Session on Apr. 3, 2:30-4:30 PM. Prospective students 102 ★ HillRag | April 2011
and families can learn more about the advantages of an all boy’s private school, and teaching and learning at the Bishop Walker School. The sessions will feature a panel discussion with current parents, teachers and administrators, a tour of the school, and an explanation of the admissions process. Application materials will be available. The Bishop Walker School seeks to nurture the development of each student in a Christian community of learners that welcomes boys of all faith traditions. For inquiries about the Open House and Admissions Session, contact DeChelle Harris at 202-678-1515 or dharris@ bishopwalkerschool.org.
Two Rivers Students Plant Trees in Their School Neighborhood On Mar. 24, Two Rivers fourth graders joined forces with Casey Trees to plant six trees along Fourth St. NE as part of the students’ study on ecology. This tree planting at Two Rivers is one 47 sites across the District this spring where more than 750 trees will be planted through the Casey Trees Community Tree Planting program. 202-546-4477. tworiverspcs.org
Explore the Universe: Everyone Looks Up! Family Day Discover the universe! Observe the sky through telescopes. Experience how different cultures see the sky. Enjoy stories and activities for all ages. Saturday, Apr. 16, 10:00 AM3:00 PM. National Air and Space Museum, National Mall building. Free, no tickets required. nasm.si.edu
Pendragwn Youth Film Festival April 11 Deadline On May 15, the first Pendragwn Youth Film Festival will be held at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. The festival will feature short films in 4 categories; documentary, music video, narrative and a super short (public service announcement). All films are created by students ages 11-18. It’s free and easy to enter. Submissions must be postmarked by Apr. 11. Get details on pendragwnyouthfilmfest.org.
$1 Kids Days at National’s Park Purchase up to four baseball tickets for children ages 3-12 for $1 each, with the purchase of one full-priced adult ticket on Apr. 16 vs. Brewers, June 23 vs. Mariners, Sept. 8 vs. Dodgers or Sept. 11 vs. Astros. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the box office on the day of game. Select seating areas and subject to availability. Online sales will begin in April. 202-675-6287. nationals.com
2011 Septima Clark Oratory Contest for Teenage Girls Teenage girls in the DC metro area have an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of some of the world’s great public speakers (Septima Clark, Mary McLeod Bethune, Barbara Jordan, Dorothy Height, Ella Jo Baker, Frederick Douglass, and Barack Obama to name a few) by participating in the African American Women’s Resource Center’s 2011 Septima Clark Oratory Contest for Teenage Girls. This competition provides contestants with the opportunity to exercise not only their public speaking skills but their skills in research and analysis. The application deadline is May 9. Please pass the information to teenagers and organizations that work with teenagers. The date of the contest is Saturday, May 21, at Howard University. In addition to the three cash prizes in each division, a special award for the most creative topic will be given. 202-450-5327. aawrc.org
National Gallery of Art High School Summer Institute Each June, a select group of high school students spends two weeks exploring the National Gallery of Art from the inside out. The High School Summer Institute introduces students to a variety of art careers through behind-the-scenes tours and job shadows, fosters discussions about art in the Gallery’s collection, and includes work on a public art project. The program is designed for students with a genuine interest in art and museums and a desire to work collaboratively with teens from across Washington, DC. Participants are chosen through a competitive application process. Students enrolled in
grades nine through twelve in a school located in the District of Columbia are eligible to apply. For more information, e-mail highschoolinstitute@nga. gov. The 2011 High School Summer Institute will take place June 20–July 1. The application deadline is Apr. 8. 202737-4215. nga.gov
Free IT Training for Minority Youth If you know anyone with a high school diploma or a GED who is between the ages of 18-24 yrs old with an interest in IT, refer them to yearup.org to learn more about this free program. The program asks for a 1 year commitment between the hours of 8:30 AM5:00 PM. They provide the student with a stipend and after six months, internships at companies such as Freddie Mac and AOL. Year Up is a one-year, intensive training program that provides urban young adults 18-24, with a unique combination of technical and professional skills, college credits, an educational stipend and corporate apprenticeship. yearup.org
Smithsonian Sleepovers: Spend the Night at the National Museum of Natural History A night of adventure awaits you as you enter the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, just as the doors are closing, the lights dim, and the crowds shuffle out...the wonders of the museum’s Hall of Dinosaurs, Mammal Hall, and new Sant Ocean Hall are yours to explore. Follow Indiana Jane on a tour of the exhibits, search for clues on a scavenger hunt, create your own fossil and coral reef, and view the IMAX film Galapagos 3-D. Then roll out your sleeping bag and dream away in the darkened halls of one of the world’s most famous museums... sleeping with the dinosaurs, whale, and the giant squid! Fridays, May 13, June 17, July 8 and 22, Aug. 5 and 19. $125. 202-633-3030. smithsoniansleepovers.org
Credit Union Cherry Blossom Kids Run The Cherry Blossom Kids’ Run is a 1K (5/8 of a mile) fun run for kids ages 5 to 12. The run starts after the
Cherry Blossom Ten Mile is under way and is on a loop course, closely monitored by sentries. Race registration is the race site on the morning of the run. The Kids Run is free. Parents or legal guardians must be present to sign a waiver. All finishers receive a custom-made medal. Sunday, April 3, 8:15 AM. 301-320-3350. cherryblossom.org
Summer Jobs in America’s Great Outdoors The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the country’s 553 national wildlife refuges, hopes to hire more than 2,000 young people this year, as it did in 2010. Apply online now for a job this summer on a national wildlife refuge or other public land. Most internships include a stipend, and others are volunteer positions. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. fws.gov.
Youth Engagement through Science Internships The 2011 Youth Engagement through Science (YES!) program is currently accepting applications. The National Museum of Natural History is committed to helping youth from communities underrepresented in Smithsonian science research areas to develop the science skills necessary to be competitive in today’s knowledge-based society. Rising 10th & 11th grade students from the Washington,DC, area with an interest or aptitude in science are invited to apply for this unique, paid internship. The goals are to help participants to build their science and communication skills, explore careers in science by working side by side with scientists, and to prepare for the next step in their education through a college preparation course. 202-633-0815. mnh. si.edu/education/yes ★ capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 103
kidsfamily
All Apologies The Embarrassment of the Public Tantrum by Anna Cranage Conathan
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or parents, even a quick trip to the grocery store can be touch and go if your kids are in tow. What with the pitfalls of the anklebiting kiddie shopping carts, the happy dragon’s free crap-o-la cookies and the low-hanging candied fruits of the check-out aisle, it’s a wonder grocery stores aren’t trashed wastelands of weeping toddlers and parents in the fetal position. On a recent afternoon, I discovered with great dismay that our cupboards were bare. I saddled up The Boy, my pint-sized assistant, now 3, and headed to the Harris Teeter. Aisle by aisle, with my adorable offspring in the cart’s seat, we conquered the place, singing as we rolled, sharing kisses and bad knockknock jokes. Other shoppers smiled at us. “What a Good Mom,” they seemed to be saying with their eyes as they passed by. As we turned onto the cereal aisle, we encountered a full on breakfast breakdown. A little princess had popped her tart and was angrily tearing cereal boxes off the shelves. Her desperate mother was trying to keep her from going completely cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. I felt for the mother with her futile attempts to regain control. But mostly I felt relieved that it wasn’t my child. As we sped away from the tempest, I leaned in and asked The Boy, “Was that girl making good choices or bad choices?” “Bad choices,” the Boy responded, still stunned by what he had seen. I smiled at my Perfect Child as 104 ★ HillRag | April 2011
we moved onto the final leg of our adventure: The Frozen Food section. Overflowing with love and parental pride, I felt good. Accomplished. “Veni, vedi, vici,” I thought to myself. Lost in my maternal hubris, I grabbed a box of frozen waffles and, without thinking, asked The Boy to toss them in the cart. Immediately an alarm sounded in head: “Amateur move made by over-confident parent!” The Boy, you see, is a waffle-obsessed freak. “I want a waffle,” he whined, hugging the box. “Not now,” I quickly quipped, trying to hide my panic. I cursed myself for being so careless. I had to handle this carefully. I couldn’t let him smell my fear. Louder, he persisted: “I. WANT. WAFFLES!!!” Speaking in an even and peaceful tone, I tried to calm him. I told him that if he was good, he could have one after dinner. At home. The Boy no likey this option. He thrashed wildly, crushing the waffle box as I tried to pry it from his vice grip. He began to emit an escalating series of noises that sounded vaguely like “no,” but in dolphin speak. He began to throw items from the cart. “That’s enough,” I hissed. “Stop that…” I hurried to pick up the groceries, diving to rescue the eggs before they had an intimate encounter with the linoleum. The other shoppers weren’t smiling now. Brows furrowed. The beercarrying, twenty-somethings steered clear. A Professional Woman with a
cart full of Lean Cuisine shot me the hairy eyeball. I saw judgment in her eyes. “Do you know how much sodium is in that, Ms. Nosey Pants?” I wanted to snipe at her. “How’s your high blood pressure? Try cooking a meal sometime, lazy!” Then, a light bulb! (ding!) I remembered a tactic I’d read about in a respected parenting book. I told him: “I understand. You’re frustrated because you want a waffle, is that right?” He nodded, surprised. For a beat, the tantrum stopped. Misconstruing the message of this popular parenting tactic, he thought he had won. So, imagine his fury when I told him that, while I empathized, he still couldn’t have a waffle. The Boy’s confusion and unmet demands incited a series of his famous shrill, spine straightening, head splitting, shrieks; musical scales of auditory agony. Hulk no follow logic. Mostly because he’s three and his little caveman brain hasn’t evolved that far yet, but also because he was trying to escape the shopping cart and one of his legs was caught. He hung half in, half out. We were now a full-on sideshow with committed viewers. They stared at us, open-mouthed from the tatter-tot/fish stick aisle. Sweat formed on my brow. My armpits became very hot. I considered just giving him the flipping waffle. Ripping the stupid package open, tearing the inner-bag with my teeth and throwing the frozen hockey puck at his little blonde head. “HERE!” I would scream,
“Take it! Have it! I don’t care if you eat waffles every day for the rest of your life!” But that would be giving in. And to give in would be allowing the Boy to violate my parental force field and allow him access to my fuse box. And then it’s flip, flip, flip… he’s got me. I was tired. So tired. Frustrated. Angry. Embarrassed. I wanted to click my heels and be home. I wanted to walk – no, run! – away, leaving the Boy’s evil doppelganger dangling from the cart. To let the inevitable debris be someone else’s problem. Let them bring in the manager and see if he can tame the beast gnawing through waffle boxes in frozen goods. “Clean up on aisle twelve!” I’d hear as I sprinted for the exit. At this point I wondered if I needed professional help. Super Nanny? Dr. Phil? Dr. Kevorkian? So I stopped, and took a breath. Gently cupping the Boy’s beautiful face in my hands, I looked him in the eyes and said: “We’re outta here.” Abandoning cart and crisis I scooped up the Boy and, with as much grace as I could muster, fled the scene. The path of least resistance always leading home, where the bottom stair awaited a time out and three minutes of toddler brain reboot. Groceries are always available, tantrums are finite (though they feel infinite while in the midst of them), embarrassing public episodes dissolve into distant memories, and as Scarlett would say: “Tomorrow is another day.” ★
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kidsfamily
Summer Camp Fun! There is a camp for every interest, schedule and pleasure Burgundy Farm Summer Day Camp Burgundy Summer Day Camp (June 20 – Aug. 12) gives campers ages 3 ¾ - 15, 25 acres full of grassy hills, an amazing pond full of life and learning, a garden, and a barn with awesome animals just waiting for campers to study and learn amazing facts about them. An amphitheater in the woods is the perfect site for daily camp meetings and humorous performances, and we have state-of-the-art gym and indoor stage facilities, too. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Extended day and bus transportation available. Visit our website www.burgundyfarm.org, 703.960.3431, summercamp@ burgundyfarm.org.
Camp Horizons ACA accredited, co-ed residential summer camp, located on 300 acres in the Shenandoah Valley, bordering the National Forest. Conveniently located 2 hours from Washington, DC (about 10 mi north of James Madison University). Welcoming children, ages 6-17. Offering adventure trips, aquatics, high/low ropes courses, climbing wall, performing arts, horseback riding, and much more. Also featuring three different specialty camps: Equestrian Camp (horseback riding/ stable management intensive for girls ages 9-14, 1 week); Leadership Camp (co-ed, 4 weeks, for rising high school seniors); and Camp Up With People, a performing arts intensive camp (coed, 3 week session ages 14-17). www. HorizonsHospitality.com, 540-8969947.
Arts Adventure Camps from June 20 to August 12, 2011. Each two-week camp will focus on the arts and culture of a particular island including Indonesia, Crete, Canary Islands, and Hawaii. Camps are for students ages five to thirteen (additional one-week Jr. Arts Adventure Camps are available for students ages four and five). For a full-day experience, CHAW hosts afternoon specialty camps. Recreation Camp option with trips to the swimming pool, parks, museums, local attractions, and more. Afternoon Specialty Camps take an in-depth look at artistic mediums and include two different Musical Theater Camps, Photography Camp, Rock n’ Roll Camp, Ceramics Camp (full), and Visual Arts Camp. Tuition assistance and payment plans are available. For more info, visit www. chaw.org or call 202-547-6839.
trees for eight weeks. The 2011 session runs June 20-August 12. Students earn $9 an hour and work 35-hours a week, M-F; gain employment skills; and get exposure to “green” careers. Eligibility requirements: Be 16+ years of age; enrolled in or a recent graduate of a DC-area high school; willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions; and a team player. No experience necessary. For information and to apply, visit www.caseytrees.org/education. Applications are due May 1.
Arts Education. The core of Fillmore’s philosophy is a belief that all children should receive a skill-based, quality arts education. In addition, Fillmore teachers work with each other and classroom teachers to plan lessons and integrate the arts and academic disciplines. Visit our website at www.fillmoreartscenter. org or contact 202.465.2810 to learn more.
DAR Museum Summer Camps
Friends Community School is a K-8 Quaker School that nurtures young people to be lifelong learners, courageous risk-takers, and joyous peacemakers. We welcome students of all backgrounds, and offer developmentally appropriate, experiential, interdisciplinary, and vigorous curricula. Our students love to learn, know how to learn, and succeed in leading high schools area-wide. During the year, we also offer an Extended Day Program, Enrichment Activities, and Instrument Lessons. In the summer, we run specialty Summer Camps featuring Science & Art, Robotics & Technology, and Sports & Recreation. See our website for details: www.friendscommjnityschool.org.
At the DAR Museum’s Quilt Camp, your child can learn the art of hand-quilting through the use of appliqué and other sewing techniques. It’s a fun creative outlet with a beautiful keepsake to take home. At the Colonial Camp, children wear period costumes as they learn about Colonial life through foods, crafts, dance, and re-enactors. Camps are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., and include special tours and hands-on activities. Quilt Camp (ages 10-17) is July 18-29, and a Colonial Camp (ages 812) is August 1-5. Registration closes May 2, but spaces fill up fast. Contact 202-879-3240, museum@dar.org or go to www.dar.org/museum for more information.
DC Youth Orchestra Camp
No one does music classes better than DCYOP!! We’ve been teaching music for 50 years and it’s TIME FOR Having fun at CHAW’s summer camp. Photo: Courtesy Capitol Hill CAMP at DCYOP! Arts Workshop Band Camp – String Camp, All day, two-week session. Free t-shirt for Camp participants! Camp Rimrock Capitol Hill Martial Arts + Indoor performance on July 3 – Outdoor perFor 60 years, Camp Rim Rock has provided a formance in the Capitol Hill Fourth of July Fitness Summer Camp place where girls from around the world spend celebration/parade on July 4! DCYOP is also a summer filled with fun, friendship and new The Capitol Hill MAFA summer camp is a fun, offering beginning level classes for students safe, and exciting way for your child to spend opportunities. During a 2 or 3 week session, the girls will participate in Horseback Riding the summer. The age range is from 4 to 13 years age 8 and above. Early Registration discount old. The students not only learn martial arts available through May 1st. Please contact us (80 horses, 6 rings, trail and river rides, stable management), Performing Arts (dance, drama, but are also engaged in educational activi- at info@dcyop.org or 202-698-0123 with any questions. Check out our website at www. chorus, stagecraft), Arts & Crafts (including ties. We strive to help develop positive thinkdcyop.org for more details about summer acing skills and self-esteem within the children. pottery), Sports (tennis, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball, softball archery, volleyball) MAFA Campers will participate in weekly field tivities!! trips such as Day at the Park with Washingand Aquatics (swimming and kayaking in 2 acre pond and 2 heated pools, kayaking, tubing). ton Nationals, Outdoor Plays and Movies, Six Fillmore Art Center Camp Specialty camps in Riding and Sports. One week Flags America, Local Martial Arts Tournaments Fillmore Arts Center is an award-winning DisMini Camp for 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. We are and much more. MAFA Campers will also get a trict of Columbia Public School program prochance to increase martial arts developement accredited by the ACA and located less than 2 viding training in dance, music, theater, visual and technique with the ability to train up to 3x arts, creative writing and media arts. Fillmore hours from D.C. on 600 beautiful acres. a day! Hours 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 1443 D St. also serves the greater metropolitan area SE, DC 20003; 202-455-4662. through its after-school classes and summer Capitol Hill Arts camp at the Fillmore West site. The curricuWorkshop Camp lum is child-centered and sequentially strucCasey Trees Summer Crew Grab your passport and join the Capitol Hill Casey Trees’ Summer Crew is a high school jobs tured in accordance with the goals of the NaArts Workshop (CHAW) for its summer Island program where students care for the District’s tional and District of Columbia Standards for
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Friends Community School Summer Camp
Hill Preschool “Kids’ Space” Summer Program “Kids’ Space” is a summer program that provides educational and community experiences for children aged 3-1/2 years through five years. “Kids’ Space” continues to promote the philosophy and mission of The Hill Preschool by continuing to recognize that children learn best through play and socialization. June 6 - August 19, 2011, There are five 2-week twoweek session and one 1-week session from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. or from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. The sessions are theme-based with children participating in craft activities, cold cooking activities, creative movement, swimming, as well as numerous field trips. www.hillpreschool.org, 202-543-5372.
Living Classrooms’ Discovery Creek Summer Camps Living Classrooms’ Discovery Creek Summer Camps offer over 20 camp themes designed to instill and nurture a passion for nature and the outdoors in children from age 4 to 14. Our Camp Season runs from June 20 to August 26, 2011. The camp also hosts a Teen Volunteer Program for age 13 to 17. Camp hours are from 9 am to 4 pm, with some overnight options. Spring Camp for campers age 4 to 6 runs from April 18 to April 22. Transportation from the Navy Yard available upon request. Scholarships available for families in need. www. livingclassroomsdc.org, 202-488-0627
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Polite Piggy’s Day Camp Polite Piggy’s Day Camp provides a safe and loving environment for children almost 3 to 7 where curiosity is encouraged, friends are made and children can be who they are. We enjoy trips, performers, unstructured play, outdoors time and popsicles! Flexible scheduling allows families to use us when needed. We will operate from June 22-August 12, 2011 (8 am to 6:30 pm) at $50 whole day, $30 half day (5 hours) and $250 per week (sliding scale, sibling and referral discounts available). Contact us, politepiggysdaycamp@ yahoo.com or 240-396-8957 and ask for VDT (VanNessa Duckett-Thomas).
St. Mark’s Dance Studio Children’s Summer Classes This is a great time for students who wish to go to a higher level and need preparation to qualify for that class. It is also a good time for students who have dropped out of class for a while to give them time to refresh their memories and physical skills. The student over 12 years of age who wishes to start “pointe” is encouraged to take the summer program. When fall sessions start she will be able to hold her own in the scheduled class. Adult Classes are available. 202-543-0054; stmarksdancestudio.org
Shannon Dunne Camp
Ms. Shannon Presents
Summer Camps 2011
For elementary and middle schoolers FILM SCHOOL – June 20 to 24 The week explores the art of film and will culminate with a movie screening! Camp includes: camera work, photography, story boarding, pantomime, and music scoring.
RUNNING AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS – June 27 to July 1 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Camp includes: acrobatics, drama, clowning, and juggling. With guest Cirque du Soleil artist, Elena Day!
For More Information Visit:
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A Play in a Day with Ms. Shannon is a fun and engaging child-centered day camp that teaches children how to develop their own ideas to create and execute a staged performance. Inspired and informed by the Reggio Emilia Approach, each camp explores a story or theme through games, activities and art, and then builds a performance based on the children’s ideas and inspirations. Camps are either day long (all DCPS days off) or week long (winter, spring and summer breaks). Each camp includes: Literacy development, drama, movement, visual art, outside explorations and public performance. Located at St James Church, 222 8th Street NE, 301672-6020, http://shannondunne.com
Summer Horizons Camp For over forty years, Summer Horizons Camp has offered its campers a safe and exciting program. Guided by an enthusiastic staff, campers develop self-confidence as they explore the world around them, create, investigate, play, try new things, and make new friends. The teachers have full use of the facilities of National Presbyterian School during our 7-week program. Campers may sign up for one week, a combination of weeks, or the whole summer. New this year, we will be offering sports, enrichment and specialty camps in addition to our traditional day camp program. 202-537-7579, summerhorizons@ nps-dc.org, ★
kids&family school notes compiled by Susan Braun Johnson then everyone dug into an eight-layer, caramel vanilla cake shaped like the cheeky feline’s infamous hat.
Summer Camp
River Park Sock Hop Was a Smashing Success! The River Park Sock Hop and Silent Auction was a smashing success! RPNS wants to thank everyone in the community who made the day so memorable, particularly their lead sponsors: Signature Theatre, Aesthetica Art Consulting, Fitness Together, Belle Meade Bed & Breakfast, Coldwell Banker, Georgetown Cupcakes, Harris Teeter and South Mountain Creamery. A fun time was had by all! Next on the RPNS agenda: everyone is looking forward to a springtime visit to the National Zoo. www.riverparknurseryschool.org -Suzanne Nelson.
If you‘re still without summer plans or would like to check out The Hill Preschool, why not try one of their summer camps? They will be offered to 3.5 to 5-year-olds in two-week sessions all summer. Children will explore the city; enjoy music, Spanish and art in themed camps that range from international week to water fun. See HPS website at www.hillpreschool.org for information and application. - By Glen Justice, Hill Preschool Parent.
Capitol Hill Learning Group News Hybrid Kindergarten Program Coming to Capitol Hill
Hill Preschool News HPS Plans to Expand! For more than three decades, caterpillars, butterflies, bumblebees and grasshoppers have been growing into wonderful young students at Capitol Hill’s oldest preschool. But this year, for the first time in 32 years, The Hill Preschool itself will grow. Plans are underway to expand the school’s space inside the Washington City Church of the Brethren to host a whole new class – the katydids. Architects are putting the final details on plans for a brand new space carved out of the ground level of the church. They are expanding to accommodate one of
the Hill’s fastest growing populations, children 18 to 24 months. Hopefully by September the space will be ready, in time for katydids to join the new crop of children coming in for the new school year.
HPS Spring Fair The preschool will hold a Spring Fair on May 14. Come see the school, get to know the students and of course, have some fun! More details to follow. If we’re lucky, HPS director, Valerie Young, will reprise her role as the Cat in the Hat. The school celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday in style on March 2, with Ms. Valerie donning the striped hat to read favorite Dr. Seuss books,
You’ve heard the term “hybrid” used to describe cars and fruit, but a hybrid schooling option? Hybrid schooling is one of the newest trends in education and is played out in a couple of different venues. One such venue cross-breeds the best aspects of educating in a classroom setting with the added benefits of one-on-one instruction at home. Capitol Hill Learning Group (CHLG), a faith-based preschool and pre-K program, is seeking families who would be interested in such a model, and hope to begin with kindergarten in 2011-2012. The program allows children to learn alongside peers while also providing the abil-
ity to work at their own pace at home with a parent as tutor. Children will attend classes three mornings per week, using the additional weekday hours to work on schoolwork at home, pursue extracurricular activities and explore the learning opportunities that living in DC affords. Because the model allows for more time with and influence from the family, this option could also be described as a cross between traditional schooling and homeschooling. While most parents would feel overwhelmed at the idea of full time homeschooling, a hybrid provides parents with curriculum plans as well as a regular teacher who knows their child’s learning style and academic strengths and weaknesses. In addition to providing instruction in the classroom, the teacher working at a hybrid school also guides parents in how to best work with their child at home to achieve optimal learning. Those involved in hybrids attend class fewer hours than their traditional schooling counterparts, but thrive academically both because of a more efficient system and because of high parent involvement. “Because most traditional schools have large student/ teacher ratios there is a lot of inefficiency bound up in the learning process,” says Martha Herndon, CHLG’s director. “CHLG will offer a very small class size for kindergarten, ten children at most, and will use parents as volunteers in the classroom to assist the teacher and ensure that learning can be tailored to the individual needs of the children.” For more information on this hybrid schooling option for kindergarten 2011-2012 see the CHLG web-site: www.capitolhilllearninggroup.com. Martha Herndon, Director, CHLG, 433 9th St. NE; www.capitolhilllearninggroup.com. capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 109
kidsfamily school notes Two Rivers Charter School News Beauty And The Beast
CHDS 6th graders raising the rafters in Guys and Dolls. credit: Liza Anderson.
Capitol Hill Day School News CHDS and Safe Schools As part of its Human Development & Sexuality Education curriculum, Capitol Hill Day School sent three teachers and twelve 7th & 8th graders to a recent conference to explore how schools and families can make life better for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students. Over twenty schools were represented by 100 students in grades 5 through 12 at this Association of Independent Schools of Maryland event. Faculty and students started the day learning how family attitudes affect the well-being of LGBT youth, including powerful statistics from the Family Acceptance Project establishing a clear link between family acceptance of LGBT children and significantly increased health and decreased risks in adulthood. In small crossschool groups, students and faculty discussed the considerable impact that acceptance, ambivalence, or rejection has on drug use, depression, and suicide attempts among LGBT children. Students finished the day discussing their perceptions of the effectiveness of their schools’ programs, and goals for improvement. One CHDS student described his school as an “accepting place,” where students know that “It’s okay to be yourself.” He noted that LGBT families at CHDS recently helped organize an admissions event to familiarize other LGBT 110 ★ HillRag | April 2011
families with the school. Studies have proven that tolerance is not enough; acceptance is an essential element in raising and educating children who are physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy. Happily, CHDS students and parents see themselves as part of an extended family that accepts them for who they are. - Submitted by Luis CorreaPower and Jane Angarola;210 South Carolina Avenue, SE; www.chds.org.
Stars Are Born Among Local Middle School Students
The spotlight shined on Two Rivers Public Charter School middle school students when they performed the beloved songs and dialogue of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” on Mar. 17 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. They delighted an audience filled with proud parents, family members, and staff. This is the school’s fourth theatrical production and has proven to be one of Two Rivers’ premiere events. Over 50 students have been preparing for their stage debuts since January by participating as actors, stage crew, and set and costume designers. The Middle School Musical is the creation of Ms. Tonia Vines, Arts Coordinator for Two Rivers. Ms. Vines has taken her artistic talent, dedication, and invaluable experience in drama and shown students everything it takes to bring a theatrical production to the stage. They learn this not only acting as performers, but also serving as members of the stage crew, working on publicity for the musical, and assisting with set and costume design. “As a school that uses expeditionary learning as its educational model it is important to provide an opportunity to learn with every activity that
takes place at Two Rivers. The Middle School Musical teaches our students the collaborative nature of theatre and how everyone, from the actors on stage to those behind the scenes, contributes to a production’s success,” says Ms. Vines. In addition to student involvement, a number of parents, staff, and members of the community have provided their services and expertise to the musical. Two Rivers art and music teachers, Ms. Kali Haney and Ms. Janet Gilmore provided set and music direction, respectively. Mr. Bill Doggett, who has worked on movie sets in Hollywood and is a parent of a Two Rivers alumnus, brought his extensive experience in costume design to the show. Troy-Jon Sets served as the musical’s professional set design consultants and Ms. Laurie Anderson joined the Two Rivers team as choreographer.
Maury Elementary News Maury Ski Club wins 3rd place On March 3, ten students of the 5th grade ski team who qualified to compete in the DCIAA Alpine Ski Championship went off to Ski Liberty resort to show their stuff. The team came home with the 3rd place Elementary School trophy for Maury
Now Enrolling for 2011-2012 School Year ABOUT US: •
Founded in the fall of 1999
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Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
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3 year old Pre-K– Grade 5
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Independently run with a strong Board of Trustees
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Recognized by US Department of Education as Outstanding Charter School
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Challenging Curriculum
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Exciting Creative Arts and Technology Program
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Positive school culture
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Open to all DC Residents
Pre-school 3 – 5th Grade Open to all DC residents April 15th deadline
5300 Blaine Street, NE Washington, DC 20019 202-398-6811
Please visit us at www.artstechacademy.org A Great Way For Children To Learn - Grades Pre k - 8
The William E. Doar, Jr. Public Charter School for the Performing Arts (WEDJ PCS)
2011 Open Houses NE Campus: All at 1:30 pm Saturdays: May 21, Jun. 4 Grades Prek 3 - 8 (accepting applications through 11th grade) 705 Edgewood Street, NE • Washington, DC 20017 (202) 269-4646 • (202) 269-4155 fax
NW Campus: All at 1: 30pm Saturdays: May 21 Grades Prek 3-8 Armed Forces Retirement Home 3700 N. Capitol St. NW • Washington, DC 20011 (202) 882-1980 • (202) 882-1936 (fax) Lottery forms are available on our website for both campuses and all grades
www.wedjschool.us Public Lottery - Multi purpose room 705 Edgewood Street, NE
April 8, 2011 at 5pm Attendance at lottery does not affect outcome Enrollment Info:
(202) 269-4646 • wedjenrollment@wedjschool.us
WEDJ PCS CFC # 76494 United Way # 9485 Friend WEDJ PCS on Facebook and Follow WEDJ PCS on Twitter! capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 111
kidsfamily school notes ing teams: Ms. Melissa Smith with assistant teacher, Ms. Claudette Williams and teacher Ms. Selma White with Ms. Angela Smith as assistant teacher. It was developed to respond to the need of families for a high quality preschool in their neighborhood and to benefit the Cluster by getting families in early, building community spirit, increasing parent volunteerism, and retaining families as their students’ progress through Peabody, Watkins and on to StuartHobson. The Pre-K 3ers learn essential social skills and develop strong relationships with their teachers at Peabody who enjoy watching them grow from young toddlers to confident responsible kindergartners. Those skills and experiences provide the students Maury’s Ski Team: Destiny Crowder (Medal, 7th place), Joaquin Hill (Medal, 5th place), Keveon Jackson, Ronique Kinard, Sean Marshall (Medal, 4th place), Sydny McCloud, Xavier Prescott (Medal, 6th place), Camille Spurlock, Keith Williams, Breanna Wright. Ski club with the ability to build community even while that community is growing and changing as they advance and several students won medals. This then work to emulate the artists’ work, watkinsmontessorischool.org/aucthroughout the Cluster. is only the third time any of these kids culminating in an exhibition put on by tion-action/ Parents have a hard time letting go had skied but they looked like pros out the gallery. of their little ones and so are naturally there on the slopes! Celebrating Pre-K 3 at the Cluster inclined to volunteer in their classStudents of Peabody’s inaugural rooms. That early start creates a habit Early Childhood Classes Clean Up Pre-K 3 class will soon complete first of volunteerism benefiting all famigrade at Watkins making it a great lies in the Cluster. -Molly Dewsnap Lincoln Park time for the Cluster to celebrate its Meinhardt and Julie Somers, www. As part of the Creative CurricuPre-K 3 program and all the benefits it capitolhillclusterschool.org (Camlum, preschool and prekindergarten Montessori Program at Watkins provides to students, parents, and the puses: Peabody Early Childhood students from Maury Elementary Elementary Hosts Fundraiser Cluster community. Center and School Within a School, studied recycling for six-weeks. On Looking for a fabulous evening The Pre-K 3 program began four 425 C St. NE; Watkins Elementary March 11, the students celebrated the out? Help support the Montessori years ago with one class of 20 students and Montessori, 420 12th St. SE; end of the unit with a Lincoln Park program at Watkins Elementary by and has grown to two classes of 15 Stuart-Hobson Middle School, 410 Beautification Day. Ranger Jamie joining them for a night of delicious taught by two highly qualified teach- E St. NE) from the National Park Service was hors d’oeuvres, an open wine/beer on hand to instruct the children on bar, live music by the band Side how to clean up the park area safely. Dish, and a live auction hosted by The preschoolers were then paired one of Washington’s most electriwith kindergarteners to pick up and fying auctioneers. Items up for bid sort recyclables and trash from around include tickets to Disney World, the park. About 60 students partici- spectacular weekend getaways, pated in the event, which culminated and gift certificates to local resin a picnic celebration at Maury. taurants and retail establishments. Auction proceeds will be used for Montessori materials as well as an Art Around the Corner ‘Art Around the Corner’ is an on- affordable, quality aftercare progoing collaboration between Maury gram, which is not currently supand the National Gallery of Art. This ported within the DCPS budget. year the fourth-graders focused on Need someone to watch the kids painting, studying Pollock, Picasso, that night? Babysitting will be Monet and Thomas Cole; fifth-grad- available for a fee at the Family ers focused on sculpture by Brancusi. Room. The event will be held in The children visit the gallery weekly the North Hall of Eastern Marfor their lesson, exploring art through ket, April 30th 7:30p.m. Tickets critical thinking and sketching, and are $25 and may be purchased at Peabody’s Pre-K 3ers listen to a story about Peter Rabbit.
Capitol Hill Cluster School News
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Van Ness Elementary News Decision to Re-Open Van Ness Deferred to 2015 The Capitol Riverfront Community learned the decision to re-open Van Ness ES would be deferred until 20152017. DCPS began a feasibility study last July to determine whether there would be sufficient school age population to reopen the Van Ness property as an elementary school. They studied population estimates, including school age children, birth rates, housing projections as well as the capital expenditure needed to ready the building for use as an elementary school. Although all these factors point to growth in the area between now and 2015, it is not enough to warrant and sustain opening of a new school before the school year beginning in 2015. There are estimated to be between 350 and 400 school age children in the district served by Van Ness. However, DCPS has enrolled only about 43 per cent of the eligible population for the past two years. Another factor is how many single family and multi-family units will be built in the area as it continues to develop. Also the fact that two nearby elementary schools, Tyler and Amidon-Bowen, are not at capacity contributes to the decision. If the demographic and funding conditions are right, DCPS will be prepared to open Van Ness for the 201516 school year. DCCPS is currently exploring revising the old boundary for Bowen ES, closed in 2007, to give families in that area a preference for Tyler ES. The decision must be made by fall 2011 to be in effect by 2012-13. - Meg Brinckman.
Free Preschool Enrolling for 2011-2012 Bridges is a small, public preschool and pre-kindergarten program for children 3-5 years old. Program Features: • School Day 8:00am-3:00pm, Before Care 8:00-8:30am, After Care 3:00-6:00pm. • Small classroom size and well trained staff. • Individual planning for each student. • Thematic and project-based curriculum. Now accepting Applications for the 2011-2012 school year. Applications accepted January 1, 2011 – April 15, 2011. Applications received after April 15 will be placed on our waiting list. Applications are available at the school or on our website, www.bridgespcs.org. OPEN HOUSE / INFORMATION SESSIONS AT THE SCHOOL ON THE FOLLOWING THURSDAYS: Thursday, April 7, 2011 from 9:30-10:30 am Bridges Public Charter School 1250 Taylor St. NW Washington, DC 20011
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Now Enrolling Grades 6-12 Call 202-547-1028 today! to schedule an interview and tour of the school. 1375 E Street NE Washington DC 20002 www.optionsschool.org capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 113
kidsfamily school notes future: From Here We… The assembly opened with everyone singing Lift Every Voice and Sing, the African-American National Anthem. Rhythmic drumming of percussion instruments brought to life by students in the special education classes accompanied Abiyoyo, a traditional South African tale set to music. Students sang and danced to Waka Waka, the song chosen as the official anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Fourth and fifth-graders reenacted the lunch counter protests and the Montgomery Bus Boycotts of the Civil Rights Era. The program ended
with poems and personal testimonies of learning. But the celebration extended beyond the vibrant assembly. Arts integration activities related to Black History Month were displayed throughout the school. An alphabet series of posters featuring famous African-Americans was on display in the main hallway of the school. Other artwork included African masks made in Ms. Madden’s art class and an African-American story quilt made by Mr. Rose’s pre-K students -Suzanne Wells, m.godec@att.net and Ryan Cree, rscree@yahoo.com.
Amidon-Bowen News St. Peter School News Middle School Wins DC Science Bowl The St. Peter’s Middle School Science Bowl Team recently won the DC Science Bowl, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. The St. Peter School team edged out Washington Latin Public Charter School in an exciting final round. As winners, the St. Peter School science department received $1,000, each student received $100 dollars, and the team is eligible to advance to the national round of the Science Bowl. Congratulations to middle school science teacher Barbara Marks, Julia Schillo (8th), Courtney Hardy (7th), and 6th graders Ethan Johnson and Heran Tateck.
Supplies Flown To Haiti St. Peter Church parishioner and licensed pilot Peter Sloan personally flew supplies collected by St. Peter School and community to twin parish, Our Lady of Grace, in Fort San Michel, Haiti. St. Peter School students collected playground equipment, letters describing games to play with the equipment, student photos and disposable cameras for the Haitian students. Catholic Medical Missions Board graciously donated $18,000 in medical supplies and a local scout troop donated pots, pans and running shoes. Fr. William Byrne and officers of the St. Peter School student council 114 ★ HillRag | April 2011
were on hand for the blessing of the plane and supplies. - Sally Aman. St. Peter School, 422 Third St.SE; 202544-1618, www.stpeterschooldc.org.
Tyler Elementary School News Tyler Lifts Every Voice and Sings It was a performance of brilliant colors, and traditional African dances and songs as the Tyler students celebrated Black History Month with a school-wide assembly. Kindergarten teacher Ms. Patricia Wilkins organized the program which celebrated black history by looking at the past: Once Upon a Time, the present: Then We Came Together and the
Commemorating Black History Month; African American Legends Third, fourth and fifth grade students began their exploration into the rich history of blacks in America with a visit to Baltimore’s “Blacks in Wax” museum, where they saw an exhibition of African American Legends, past and present. The fourth and fifth grade students used that experience to choose an African American icon as the subject of their own research and to learn through their Dr. Raymond Jackson and Amidon-Bowen students make music together. contributions of living and past African Americans. Each student wrote a composition as though they spoke as the historical figure, found pictures or period artifacts to display and emulated that person in dress and attitude in the Feb. presentation. Parents were invited to attend and enjoy the presentation by each student as they moved around the room being greeted by legends, past and present.
Music tells the story of Black History
Tyler students performing an African dance during school-wide assembly.
In February, Dr. Raymond Jackson, from Howard University, took the children though history as it is told by the music of Blacks in America. He showed how farm workers used “call and response” to communi-
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cate on plantations, how music was inspired by Church and bible stories, and used just for telling stories. -Meg Brinckman. 401 Eye Street SW; 202-724-4867.
Friendship Collegiate Academy PCS News Friendship Students Receive Scholarships Recently, D.C.’s Mayor Vincent Gray introduced five students from Friendship Collegiate Academy Public Charter High School who are newly named recipients of Posse Scholarships, a four-year full-tuition prize worth up to $140,000 per student over the course of their undergraduate education. Friendship Collegiate Academy had more students who earned these prestigious scholarships than any school in the Washington metropolitan region. This year’s award winners are heading to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Bucknell and Pepperdine Universities and Lafayette College—three with grade point averages of 3.98. Another student graduating this year is headed to Columbia with a 4.1 GPA.
J. O. Wilson Elementary News Artists-in-Residence Students at J. O. Wilson invited their families to participate in the second annual Art Night, on March 3, 2011 sponsored by the National Gallery of Art’s Art Around the Corner (AAC) program. The evening activities included performances by the Dream 116 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Dancers and chorus followed by an overview of the AAC program. The school commons area was transformed into a gallery space, with fourth and fifth grade works. Student work included self-portraits (Picasso), oil pastels (Monet), clay figures (Degas) and abstract sculpture (Calder), just to name a few of the featured artist works. This year, as an added attraction, fourth graders wrote haikus to accompany their oil paintings. The interactive features of Art Night included a gallery walk and Model Magic Clay. At the end of the evening, students and their families enjoyed a dessert reception. On March 5th a group of over 80, students and their families, were hosted at the National Gallery of Art for a buffet breakfast reception and divided into gallery groups, led by museum guides. Attendees visited the East and West Wings of the Gallery, as well as the sculpture gardens, exploring work of various artists studied over the course of the program. The Family Day at the gallery ended in a closing art activity. All student participants received sketchbook and pastels. The Art Night and Family Day events were the culminating activities of this year’s AAC program at J. O. Wilson, led by Mrs. Wyrsch Ba, Art teacher. Students engaged in six field trips with pre-/post-visit activities that incorporated research-based approaches to art literacy such as ‘see, think, wonder,’ and encompassed role-playing, writing, sketching and art-making. Upcoming events: May 25-26, spring musical production, Beauty and the Beast Jr. -Samantha Caruth. 660 K Street NE, www.dcps.dc.gov/jowilson, 202-698-4733. ★
Homes & Gardens the hill gardener
Beware: When Local Critters Come a Calling Article and photographs by Rindy O’Brien
W
inter is finally over, and we can let out a big sigh of relief that our local wildlife decided not to take up residence in our homes, sheds, or garages. Unless, of course, you are one of the unlucky ones who spent the last few months trying to oust the local critters from your home. In that case, you may just be recovering from the trauma and financial setback caused by these uninvited animals.
What kind of wildlife do we have? Capital Hill isn’t the Serengeti. But, it has its own plentiful urban
wildlife. Some of the growing population of raccoons and possums may be the result of our growing Capital Hill neighborhood pushing closer to the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. The wildlife are hungry and migrating into our yards and home spaces. The possum is nocturnal so we don’t see it much, but sometimes we can sense possum scurrying about when we take the trash out at night. Bats have been spotted hanging from high places on the Hill. They can be very helpful in the overall balance of bug life. But, a bat can be very disturbing when hanging
around your front door emitting high squealing noises. What’s more, if you see a bat in the daytime, chances are it is not well. And then, there are the squirrels. The eastern grey squirrel is the most dominant of the American squirrels and the one we see most often on the Hill. It is also the one that most often invades homes and structures when things starts to get cold. While tourists find them cute as they pose for pictures all over the Capitol grounds, homeowners that have had squirrel damage might be far less amused. A nest of squirrels can cause
The gray squirrel looks cute when posing outside, but can be a real meance if it nests indoors. capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 117
Fleurie Kamga started FLK Pest Control in 2006 and traps squirrels, raccoons, and rodents for many hill residents.
thousands of dollars of damage and can claim hours of time trying to get rid of them. The most unpopular Hill wildlife may be the smaller rodents, mice and rats. Animal Control says that Washington’s old sewer system with its many different side tunnels is just about the most perfect breeding ground in the world for the rats. So, even if you have the cleanest yard and alley, the rats may be coming above ground for food from their cozy home down below. The most common rat in our area is the Norway rat which can grow very large. Rats have been known to come up through the bathroom toilet and invade Hill homes, as well.
What happens if the wildlife invades your home?
Open trash cans may attract some unwanted wildlife, and DC Animal Control recommends making sure cans shut tightly.
Frager’s Hardware has a number of products that can help you control pests, bugs, like this fruit fly catcher. Frager’s even sells humane traps of different sizes. 118 ★ HillRag | April 2011
The advice from all the experts is to quickly discover how the squirrels, rats, or bugs are getting into your home or property. It doesn’t matter the size whether they are mice or raccoons, knowing where the point of entry is essential. In DC, it is illegal to kill a squirrel or raccoon. They must be trapped and released. Fleurie Kamga, owner of FLK Pest Control, says that he takes trapped animals for release at least two miles away from the home. One New Jersey study went so far as to suggest that squirrels should be taken ten miles away and driven in a zigzag pattern to guarantee that they do not return. If you are a do it yourselfer, Frager’s Hardware sells array of devices for reversing a squirrel invasion. One product emits ultrasound to drive the wildlife or bugs away. Some of the ultrasound products claim to work on roaches as well. A number of animal control folks express skepticism as to the effectiveness of these products. There are also pellets that can be used to drive rats, and mice away. The most effective method for squirrels is the humane trap and it is sold for about $40. The downside of
the trap is once caught you have the job of releasing the squirrel or raccoon. Mr. Kamga also says that getting rid of squirrels usually takes several steps. If a homeowner has found and sealed the hole, they may not be done. Often the squirrels have nested in the attic or home and several days or weeks later there will be the now familiar sounds and signs of them prancing around the attic. It isn’t that they returned, but more that some of them stayed behind. “Even as a professional, I am not always able to find the nests. I can trace the trails but actually locating the nest is really hard,” said Mr. Kamga.
Spring brings new kinds of threats With Spring on its way, it means that we will move from the larger kinds of wildlife seeking shelter to the smaller bugs like silverfish, roaches, ants, and even bedbugs invading our homes. It is important to regularly inspect your home for cracks and crevices and seal them up. Most of these uninvited guests are drawn to moisture. We all know that standing water in the garden will draw mosquitoes, but moisture around the wood outside your home can also bring termites. Mr. Kamga said that the last two years for some unknown reason termites have not been swarming in the spring. Often it is the swarming termites that alert us to the problem, so he advises to carefully search for tunnels left by the termites around your home. Sometimes homeowners see wood damage and think termites. But, wood shavings may really be the sign of carpenter bee or ants. The carpenter bee works like a screwdriver and bores perfectly round holes into your wood. It then takes up residence and a colony of such bees can do amazing damage. The urban legend that carpenter bees return year after year is actually true, unless at the end of the season you have successfully rid all of them from the site. The frustrating problem
of ridding your home of carpenter bees is that every single hole must be treated for it to be effective. Carpenter ants operate in a similar manner just on the ground.
City Animal Control can help DC government also can come to your rescue. The Animal Control Division is under the Health Regulation and Licensing Administration. If you see wild animals that are acting strangely, you are urged to call 24-hours a day (202) 567-6664. Animal control also suggests that homeowners regularly inspect their property, including making sure that, if you have a fireplace, the chimneys are capped so animals cannot get in. Also keeping trees well trimmed and away from houses can eliminate an easy path for animals to gain access to your attic or home. Squirrels have an amazing range when jumping from tree to tree and on to your house. Keeping our neighborhoods clean is also a very important factor in keeping unwanted wildlife from coming inside our homes. We must make sure we keep trash secure at all times. Trash should be kept tightly closed and the further you can keep your cans away from your house, the better chance you will not see critters at your front door. The Hill’s wildlife is controllable and there are many resources available to help. You can seek advise at Frager’s Hardware, calling one of the many certified pesticide and animal removal companies, or call DC Animal Control. Keeping a step ahead of the pests with regular home inspections is really the key to avoiding close encounters with the wild ones. Rindy O’Brien has confronted most of the pest and wildlife mentioned over her 30 some years of living on Capitol Hill. Her advice – call a professional. Comments contact her rindyob@mac. com. ★
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homesgardens
@ Your Service by heather schoell
A
pril, people – hurray! Buds are popping, smiles abound, and feet tread lighter. Why? Because it’s April – time to lighten up! Go get a new haircut and color, huh? Create a proper garden, freshen your walls, or move from your dingy old space to a place with windows. So long, brown sticks, it’s time for color!
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Garden Arts Gary Hallewell 17 8th St. NE 202- 213-5002 hallewell.com Gary Hallewell, with his linear and artistic sides working together, weds form and function to extend living space to the outdoors. As an English civil and structural engineer with a passion for garden spaces, Hallewell recognized a void in the US for “outdoor room” garden design. So that is what he brings to homes – a room outside. In some instances, it has led to kitchen or addition design, when clients want to make changes to the home, but don’t want to ruin their favorite room – the garden that Gary has created for them. As an engineer, Hallewell knows structure; as a garden designer, he knows that “a successful interior design will consider the exterior.”
120 ★ HillRag | April 2011
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Peach Moving Services 814 9th St. NE 202- 368-7492 mypeachmoving.com How many movers do you know
have a Top Secret security clearance? Mike Pietsch of Peach Moving Services is good enough for US Senators moving house or office; he can handle your couch without question or compromise. In fact, he and his crew once
Peach Moving: One of Peach’s clients, not naming names…
hoisted a couch five stories up the outside of the building. He is admittedly not the cheapest mover, but the tradeoff is knowing that Peach’s movers are above board. Mike lives on the Hill – he and his family are part of this community, and he knows the quirks of navigating Capitol Hill switchback staircases and narrow doorways. He can move your things to a secure location while you redo your floors, or he can move you in and out completely. “@ Your Service” is a compendium of what’s happening in the service and consumer industry on the Hill (food and drink excluded). Know something really cool and new for sale or for service? Let us know! Heather Schoell is a regular contributor to Capital Community News and can be reached at hschoell@verizon.net. ★
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 121
homesgardens
?
Ask Judith
Time to Get the Lead Out by Judith Capen, RA
L
ast fall my eight-inches-away neighbor said she got a DC WASA announcement of lead service pipe replacement on PUBLIC PROPERTY (WASA’s caps). Prominently featured was the hard-to-resist offer for replacement
of the balance of her lead pipe once it crossed the property line for $100/ ft. plus $500 to make the inside connection. Pipe replacement explained the three blue spray paint lines on the sidewalk in front of my house last
spring. WASA surveying. Except my three cast iron water valve covers, salvaged from the conversion of cast iron to fiberglass, that I now use as stepping stones in my yard had apparently confused the wielder of blue spray paint. The painter must have
Hardly a clear representation for row houses on Capitol Hill…(credit: District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority) 122 ★ HillRag | April 2011
thought our house has three water lines. After that I moved some of the lids to the back yard in paranoid fear that The (WASA) Man would confiscate them even though my possession is completely legitimate. I asked the guy with pickup truck full of cast
iron covers nicely if I could have a couple. He said sure, he was just hauling them to a field in Prince Georges County. Anyway, my neighbor was puzzled. “How do I know how much pipe is on my property?” she asked. I told her since our property lines are right at the face of our houses, the extent of pipe from public space to her interior water connection is the thickness of her front wall, eight to twelve inches, plus a bit from the pipe coming in (“service pipe”) to the connection to her house water. “So maybe a foot or a foot and a half,” I speculated. “For $700. you could get rid of MAYBE eighteen inches of lead service pipe after WASA replaces the eighteen feet of lead pipe from the street. If, indeed her water service pipe is lead. I told her we replaced our water service line in the early ‘80s when we dug out a window well in front. I know we didn’t put lead back in so imagined we probably have copper water service at least from the house to our meter. “Besides, we’ve gotten our water tested for lead a few times over the last thirty years and it has always been way lead-free,” I told her. “I personally am not very worried about lead in our water, since the tests have shown we don’t have any.” “How do I know if MY water pipe is lead?” she wanted to know. “Got a nickel?” I asked. We went down to her basement to the area of the service entrance where the water pipe comes through the front wall. We actually got to the pipe after shifting some boxes, a suitcase, and the communal little red wagon. “You should be so grateful you don’t have a basement,” she said. “Because it fills up?” I asked. “Yes!” she said gesturing, “All this stuff…”)
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Once we found the water service entrance, next to the little painted wood cabinet, I scratched it with our nickel and it was clearly copper: the exposed metal was new-penny copper color. I explained that lead pipe would have scraped silver. When new, lead is shiny and blue-white. With exposure to air, it acquires a dull, gray layer of what turns out to be “basic carbonate.” That coating, possibly not corrosion, but similar, protects the lead from further carbonate production. It’s a soft metal so scraping off the carbonate layer is easy, revealing the silvery metal underneath. Besides the scratch test, you can often tell at a glance if your service is in lead because after the pipe emerges from the wall it turns in a continuous curve to run up the wall to the house cut off where the house piping, sometimes galvanized steel, takes off. Copper, on the other hand, changes direction in right angles at elbow fittings.
Lead: A Valuable Material
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Today, the reaction to the four letter word beginning with “L” is generally panic, but the material has a venerable construction history. It has been used in pipes since antiquity for its corrosion resistance, its softness and ease of working, and its low melting point. Lead is really a terrific material. Add some to paint and the paint becomes amazingly durable. It’s a wonderful roofing material, and figures in Victor Hugo’s poignant The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which has, by the way, the best architectural description of Paris’ Notre-Dame cathedral anywhere. (Lead roofing sheets that were stockpiled on the spires for some re-roofing melt and run out the gargoyles during the fires set by the mob to drive Quasimodo out.) Lead was especially favored
for complex and curved roofs because it’s so easily worked. On the next visit to Istanbul, note the lead roofing on all the Byzantine domes and cascades of semi-domes on the mosques. Closer to home, if you poke around at the base of your 19th century hairpin fence you’ll probably find it is set into granite foundation blocks, in lead. With all its useful characteristics, it’s too bad lead is a systemic poison and, as one source put it, “children are extra sensitive to lead, which makes them stupider than they would otherwise be.” When my neighbor and I headed back outside, still talking about the whole lead thing, another neighbor observed that he was surprised our block was scheduled for lead service pipe replacement since he remembered checking a WASA map showing streets with lead services and our block wasn’t on it. (I haven’t been able to find that map on the WASA website so I can’t reflect on that…) The bulk of the nicely printed material (“Get Ready! We’re Replacing the Pipes on Public Property,” “Getting the Lead Out,” “Private Property Service Line Replacement”) encourages the property owner to replace private side lead service pipe including an idiotically inapplicable little diagram, appearing a bunch of times in the package. Now it is spring and we haven’t seen the WASA guys or their contractors digging holes in our front yards, but now that it’s on my mind again, I think I will return my cast iron water valve tops to the back yard in case someone does show up one day. And now I will also need to get started worrying about my little, recently planted, serviceberry, on top of the water line. Judith Capen, the “I” in the article, can be reached with questions at Judith. capen@architravepc.com. ★
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126 ★ HillRag | April 2011
by Tom Daniel
H
istorically, almost all the original and original-replacement flat and low slope roofs on Capitol Hill were made of standing-seam tin. Tin was one of the most common metal roofing materials used throughout the 19th century, when most Capitol Hill homes were built. Today, you will still find many roofs in the area that are 40+ years old that are standing-seam tin. In recent years though, roofs have been replaced with “built-up” asphalt or rubber-based roof systems. These roofs are less expensive than tin, copper or other metal roof systems and are of better quality than earlier builtup roofing materials, but metal roofs will last two to three times longer than a traditional asphalt roof. There is a recent trend to go back to tin or metal-based roof systems on Capitol Hill because of an historical interest in restoring roofs to their original materials. I will discuss some of the installation components, benefits of metal roofing systems and some of the concerns regarding metal roofing. Metal roofing systems can generally be constructed of copper, zinc, tin, terne, stainless steel and aluminum. While most of these types of roofs can be found on Capitol Hill, the most common new roof installations on flat and low slope roofs are standing-seam copper and tin. Standing-seam is a hidden fastener metal roofing system. Panels
overlay in side-by-side fashion with each overlapping panel hiding the fastener that holds the previous panel in place. Penetrations of the fastenerholder are below the metal surface directly onto the roofing deck and thus protected from leaking entry points. Most standing-seam roof systems are fastened in a way that allows for expansion and contraction of the metal. The panels are roll-formed at the job site or roofing supply warehouse or can be pre-cut and delivered by the metal roofing company manufacturer. Panels are usually made from 16 to 20 ounce copper or 24-gauge galvalume coated steel. The installation methods and the composition of the materials offer a longer lasting and more reliable roofing alternative to other roofing systems. Metal roofing is also an environmentally safe building material. Metal roofs contain a significant proportion of recycled metal content. When the time comes to replace your metal roof, the removed roof materials are fully recyclable and the recycled materials can be readily reused for other purposes. Metal roofs reflect solar radiant heat and reduce your cooling costs. Metal roofs are also impervious to rot and mildew and insect damage, such as termites.
Concerns Regarding Metal Roofing There are some concerns that have
been expressed by homeowners about metal roofing systems such as noise levels, danger in lightning storms and cost. It is true that metal roofs can be noisier than other types of roofs, but new metal roofing systems are typically installed over a solid substrate. Additionally, the attic and proper insulation levels provide a sound barrier. Metal roofs do not attract lightning any more than a conventional roof does. If the metal roof does get struck by lightning it is less combustible than conventional roofing materials. Copper roofs are fire and spark resistant and resistant to hail and wind. Cost considerations do come into play when you are considering replacing your existing roof with a new metal roof. Initial costs of a metal roof are unquestionably higher, but the cost becomes considerably lower in the long run. As mentioned previously, metal roofs last two to three times longer than asphalt-based roofs, maintenance expenses are minimal (tin roofs need to be painted every few years, copper roofs never need to be painted), and it is reasonable to assume that the value of a home is increased with a new metal roof. The investment depends on your outlook and time frame. As customers Joe and Vicki Smith of Capitol Hill explained of their investment in a new copper roof; “This was a long term investment in our home that was consistent with our long term outlook.” With the renewed interest in metal roofs on Capitol Hill and the historically and aesthetically appealing charm of metal roofs, we are reminded that “the old is new again.” Tom Daniel is the owner of R. Thomas Daniel Roofing and specializes in working on flat and low slope roofs on Capitol Hill. He and his family have been in the roofing business on the Hill for more than 90 years. He can be reached at 443-968-0311 (Maryland #) or by email at tom@rthomasdanielroofing.com. Please check his website www.rthomasdanielroofing.com ★
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202.528.0621 HandymanMastersllc.com A+ Rating
Licensed • Bonded • Insured
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 127
Keith Roofing
KITCHENS, BATHS & WINDOWS
Windows & Doors replaced or restored -- historic ones made in our shop, refinishing and painting, storm windows in wood or metal. Additions and porches: third floors, side or rear additions and basements. Visit our office / show room.
10% Discount to Village members
Joel Truitt Builders, Inc. 734 7th Street, SE 202-547-2707 www.joeltruittbuildersinc.net
Quality since 1972
Weekdays: 8 AM to 6 PM | Saturdays: 8 AM to Noon
As a design & build firm, we will create to your needs and budget well designed & beautiful spaces: from cabinets by Kraftmaid or Merillat (They have 3 cost levels.) or made in our shop, counter tops, floors, appliances, lights, plumbing fixtures to tile and whatever is needed. We buy wholesale and pass on the savings.
EXPERT WORKMANSHIP AT REASONABLE PRICES! Residential/Commercial • Over 40 years of Experience Chimney Repairs • Storm & Wind Damage Repair
• New or Re-Roofing • Tear-Off & Replacement • Flat Roof Specialist • Copper, Tin, Sheet Metal & Rolled • Seamless & Flat Roofs • Re-Sealing • Tar, Asphalt, Gravel, Hot Coats • Modified Bitumen Insurance Claims • Free Estimates • 24Hr. Service
Fully Insured • Licensed • Bonded “No Job Too Large or Small” Senior & Military Discounts Available!
202-486-7359 “The Capitol Hill Psychiatrist”
Joseph Tarantolo, MD BOARD CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST CERTIFIED GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPIST HERBALIST, NUTRITION COUNSELOR
Specializing in: • Individual, Couples, and Group Psychotherapy • Patients with the Diagnosis of Cancer • Self Exploration without Psychotropic Drugs: “Talk Back to Prozac”
202-543-5290
$
5
1740 Mst NW, Washington DC 20036 ..................202-955-5660 911 N. Quincy St, Arlington VA 22203 ......................703-841-0111
128 ★ HillRag | April 2011
4/30/2011
Dear Garden Problem Lady,
Do Azaleas like manure?
All Work Inspected by Owner...Deals Directly with Customers! All Work Fully Guaranteed
600 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington DC 20003 ..................202-544-7273
The Capitol Hill Garden Club presents
marc1125
Azalea roots are shallow and tender. A sprinkling of well-composted manure might help when you are first planting them, but manure tends to make the soil too alkaline for Azaleas. They need acid soil. Hollytone is a good commercial fertilizer for acid-loving plants like azaleas. Remove any mulch and sprinkle several handfuls over the top of the soil. It will get watered into the soil over time. Add the mulch back. Note that composted bark and decayed pine needles are good as both mulch and slow acting fertilizer. We need an evergreen shrub that is dark green, and will not grow much taller than 8 feet, to supply architectural interest and balance beside the front door of our town house. The spot we need it for has no morning sun at all -- only afternoon sun, in limited quantities due to very tall street trees 30 feet out front. The spot is also hit by icy and very drying winter winds from the northwest. What can you suggest? Most conifers need a lot of sun. So do hollies. The trouble with Washington’s afternoon sun is that during the summertime it tends to be too hot. Any shrub receiving only afternoon sun must be watered very frequently. That hot summer sun, combined with those prevailing winter winds, make it tough to
pick one of the shade-loving broad-leaved evergreens such as Pieris (Andromeda) or Camellia. Boxwood might be a candidate. Box grows so slowly, you would need to begin with a rather tall specimen. Cryptomeria, flowering Indian Hawthorn or Pittosporum are three tentative ideas. Apparently camellias come in colors besides white, pink, red, orange and yellow – there are beautiful striped red and white varieties. Could you give any names of the latter? Yes, hybridizers have been monkeying to create striped camellias for centuries. There is a fine red and white Governor Mouton in the digit block of Seventh Street, SE. Other names to look for are Carlota Papudoff, Gay Chieftain, Lady Vansittart, La Peppermint, Laura Walker and Mabel Bryan. CORRECTION: Last month the Problem lady suggested planting carrots in treeless tree boxes. Several readers point out that tree box soil contains lead and arsenic from car exhaust fumes – to say nothing of the constant application of dog urine and feces. Best cancel plans to grow any food plant next to a city street. Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to The Problem Lady, at Andrew@hillrag.com. Your problems might even prove instructive to others, and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. Capitol Hill Garden Club programs are free and open to all, at the Church of the Brethren, 4th St. SE entrance, corner of North Carolina Ave. SE. At the April 12, 2011, meeting at 7 p.m. award-winning University of Maryland entomologist, Dr. Michael J. ‘bug of the month’ Raupp will show ways to identify and fight destructive garden pests without harming the environment. Membership details: 202543-7539. ★
Historic Renovation & Artisan Stonework Award-Winning Mason with over 30 years of experience
SPECIALIZING IN: Custom Masonry • Stone • Brick Work Point Up • Restoration • Patio & Water Gardens
Call Tom for a Free Estimate
202-544-4484 www.michaligamasonry.com FORMER HEAD MASON OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL FROM 1989 - 1996.
Reasonable Prices : Hill Resident Licensed • Bonded • Insured
24–HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE
★
New Roofs ★ Preventive Maintenance Repairs ★ Re-roofing ★ Fascia/Soffits ★ Roof Coating ★ Chimney Repairs ★ Skylights ★ Gutters/Downspouts ★ Rubber ★ Metal ★ Copper ★ Shingles ★ Slates ★ Shakes
★
NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL F R E E E S T I M AT E S “40 YEARS EXPERIENCE” F A M I L Y O W N E D & O P E R AT E D
202 ★ 271 ★ 4377 L I C E N S E D
★ B O N D E D
★ I N S U R E D
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 129
CLASSIFIEDS HOME SERVICES ADDRESS NUMBERS
OTHER SERVICES
To place a classified in HILL RAG, please call Carolina at 202.543.8300 x12 or email: Carolina@hillrag.com.
PET SERVICES
AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING
ROSARIO’S CLEANING
Service, repairs, installations, replacement on furnaces, a/c, water, heaters. Residential Boiler Specialist. 40years experience. Free estimates. Call John Fulcher at 202258-6158.
I clean houses, apartments, small offices. 25 years experience. Honest and dedicated. Please call Rosario at 703581-0769. Free estimates.
a clean house... a clean mind...
Cares about the environment in which you live
Traditional 23 Carat Gold Transom Address Numbers with black drop shadow installed at your home.
• Complete residential cleaning, including laundry & ironing • Eco Friendly Clean • Customized services to fit your needs • Pet Friendly • Commercial & janitorial special rates
MONUMENTAL GRAPHICS
202-251-7980 www.monumentalgraphics.net
Call us for your free estimate
AIR & HEATING
BASEMENT EXCAVATION
703.892.8648 www.acleaningserviceinc.com
AIR CONDITIONING
R . W. E N T E R P R I Z E
satisfaction guaranteed serving DC, MD & VA since 1985 licensed, bonded & insured
BASEMENT EXCAVATION Capitol Hill Specialists Come and see the work we have done!!!!!
Polar Bear
202-333-1310 www.polar-bear-hvac.com
Get ready for a new basement apartment also new kitchen, new bath, new bedroom and more • Basement Dig-Out • Up to 8 Foot Ceiling • All New Groundwork Plumbing • All New Underpinned DC HIC 6477-6478
LICENSED BONDED INSURED FALL & WINTER SPECIALS FREE ESTIMATES
Call 202-674-0300 • 301-929-0664
CLEANING SERVICES DOYE CLEAN TEAM Will clean your office or home. All you do is phone 240715-7648. Dependable affordable, experienced and flexible. Own supplies. Currently servicing your area. Bonded and insured.
LESLIE CLEAN AND GO House/office cleaning flexible move in/ move out. 301915-6177. Free Estimates, Experienced, dependable and affordable. Email: lesliecleanandgo@yahoo.com. Bonded/insured. Will bring own supplies. 130 ★ HillRag | March 2011
STANDARD CLEANING SERVICE INC. Commercial & Residential
A Cleaning Service, Inc.
The Affordable finishing touch to your home restoration.
AIR CONDITIONING PLUMBING & HEATING, INC.
MISCELLANEOUS
Ana Julia Viera 703.719.9850 • 703.447.9254 Days Free Estimates • Bonded & Insured References Upon Request 15% Discount New Customers
RAMOS
HANDYMAN
CONSTRUCTION
HANDYMAN EXPRESS
carpentry, painting, roofing, plumbing, weatherizing
CLEANING SERVICE, INC.
Agmar Raymundo R e s i d e n t ia l & Co m m e r ci a l Customized cleaning according to your needs and budget References Available • Free Estimates Licensed, Bonded & Insured
No job too small. References available.
Call Victor at 301-996-5541
ELECTRICIAN THE HILL’S ELECTRICIAN www.wilcox-electric.com
202-546-1010
703-864-7634
• • • • •
One-time, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly Move in – Move out Residential and Offices Work Guaranteed Supplies & Equipment Provided
Bonded & Insured For Free Estimates
202-543-0087
• • • • • • • •
Home Improvement Kitchens & Baths Flooring & Tile Plumbing • Electrical Carpentry • Renovations Landscaping • Painting Windows & Doors And Much More
CONTRACTORS
H
ODGSON DESIGN/ BUILD, LLC
R
Painting, Carpentry & Renovations
Residential & Commercial New Work • Rewiring • Repairs Interior/Exterior Lighting
Awarded the Super Service Award from Angie's List in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010
References Available Licensed - Insured - Bonded
RENDEROS
Kitchens & Basements Panting & Drywall Ceramic & General repair
Larry Hodgson H0kilian@aol.com
Distinctive Kitchens Historic Restoration Additions Master Suites
202.236.5800
202-370-7902 www.jimzinn.com • Free estimates • No job is too small Affordable rates • Licensed, insured and bonded
Home Improvement
FLOORS
Free estimates
240-281-0900 301-942-1548
· Painting Interior & Exterior · Carpentry · Drywall · Moulding · Floors · Hardwood · Kitchen & Bath Remodel · Plumbing · Doors & Windows · Brick Pointing · Patios
Free Estimates
Heritage Wood Floors, Inc. Installation • Sanding • Refinishing • Hardwood Mouldings Free Estimates • MHIC #120190
301-855-3006 888-227-2882
Cell
202-247-0104
15% off all jobs over $1000
NWM COMPANY GENERAL CONTRACTORS & HANDYMEN
Property Management’s General Contractor Since 1971 K Kitchen Cabinetry and CounterTops K Flooring: ceramic, vinyl tile, linoleum, marble and quarry tile K Door and Window Repair and Replacement K Locks and Emergency Repairs K Plaster, Drywall and Painting
Dedicated to Perfection ill ol H
Installation of Electrical Fixtures and Appliances • Window Treatments & Furniture Assembling • Fix Plumbing & Change Locks • Hang Pictures & Repair Cabinets • Painting
E D D I E
REMODELING
Residential Floors it Cap
Call Ty • 703.615.7122
Stephen D. Wilcox Master Electrician
Award - winning Quality
ce on f servi 25 years o
No job is too small! Reasonable Rates • Free Estimates
Too busy to do it yourself?
Licensed, Bonded & Insured
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER
Painting Plumbing Drain Service Kitchen Disposal Carpentry Ceiling Fan Electrical Caulking General Repairs
Jim's Handyman Service, LLC
info@palomascleaningservice.com www.palomascleaningservice.com
Maid for a Day Cleaning Services
jkhuynh@cox.net
Since 1990
• • • • • • • • •
• Sanding and Refinishing • Installation • Repairs • Cleaning & Waxing
Please call to discuss your needs
301-277-9292 Fax 301-209-8248
7 days a week - Free Estimates Reasonable Rates Residential & Commercial
(301) 990-7775 Family owned and operated 3 Generations of Experience
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 131
KITCHEN
IRON WORK
Handyman Masters 20 years experience working in fine homes like yours
Bathrooms • Kitchens Masonry • Handyman • Roofing
· Comprehensive Design and Maintenance Services · Installation, arbors, retaining walls, walkways, lighting, water features · Patios, roof top gardens, townhomes, single family homes • Trees & shrubs, formal & informal gardens • Custom Masonry, Fencing and Iron work · Restoration and Enhancement
A+ Rating
“I have worked with Masters over the years and have been extremely happy with the workmanship. They are very professional”. - Georgetown Resident
202.528.0621 HandymanMastersllc.com Licensed • Bonded • Insured
Home Improvement, LLC Kitchens, Bath and Interior & Exterior Painting Expert
202.492.9513 Renovations and Remodeling including Plumbing & Electrical
No Job too Small! 12 years experience licensed • bonded •
insured
•
10% off any job over $1,000
F&C
START HAVING THE YARD OF YOUR DREAMS
Suburban Welding Company
Redefining Beauty One Client at a Time ®
301.642.5182 www.thomaslandscapes.com
THOMAS LANDSCAPES
Welding & Ornamental Iron Work • Repairs of Original Cast Iron Staircases • Window bars and door security gates • Handrailings & Stair Railings • Fences, Sidewalk Gates, Tree Box Fences • DC code approved bedroom window security bars • Excavating, back hoe services and tree stump grinding • Certified welding
24-hours, 7-day service Free estimates
703-765-9344 www.suburbanweldingcompany.com
JACKS
references
INTERIOR DESIGN
LANDSCAPING
W.F. Bowman Landscaping 202-234-6282
Specializing in urban landscapes since 1989 Derek Thomas / Principal - Certified Professional Horticulturist, Master Gardener. Member of the MD Nursery and Landscape Association & the Association of Professional Landscape Designers
REGINALD’S LANDSCAPING Specializing in perennial gardens, landscape design, yard maintenance, seasonal contracts-free estimates for major cleanups, spring/fall cleanups, mulching, pruning, trimming, weeding, debris removal, leaf removal, light hauling, planting and much, Call today! 301-420-7027, 301-908-8331.
Yard Clean Up • Sodding Mulching • Trimming Shrubs Aeration • Dethatching Planting Leaf Removal Mowing Seeding & Fertilizing Hauling
MASONRY
T.R. Sellheim Construction, Inc. All Masonry Work New & Restoration Historic Pointing Over 30 years of Experience Free Estimates • Work Guaranteed Licensed • Bonded • Insured
202-362-1700
JHI
Open a Window of Possibilities
CONTRACTING Masonry & Concrete Contractor LOWEST RATES ON THE HILL GUARANTEED!
Create a home that nurtures you
• Tuckpointing - Historical Restoration • Pavers & Patios • Driveways • Basement Excavation • Garages & Waterproofing • Retaining Walls • Paint Removal
With the assistance of
Kathleen Soloway Interior Designer/Psychotherapist
Design for Change 202 543-7040 ksoloway@designforchange.net www.designforchange.net 132 ★ HillRag | March 2011
Licensed • Bonded • Insured
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER
Free estimates with picture portfolio Speak Directly to Owner, John
202-544-1813 www.jhicontractinginc.com
PAINTING
P. Mullins Concrete
HANDYMAN & HAULING CO Handyman Hauling
Specializing in Masonry & Concrete
Painting Blinds Lights Ceiling Fans Furniture Drywall Labor
• Concrete Steps • Flagstones, Pavers & Patios • Driveways & Walkways • Basement Excavation • Retaining Walls • Interior & Exterior Demolition • Tuck & Brick Pointing • Historical Restoration Specialists • Power Washing • Small Jobs
Junk Removal Demolition Yard Cleanup Estate Cleanup Light Moving
202.396.0105
202-270-8973
license # 1948 • MD DC VA
Bonded, Licensed & Insured
CONTINENTAL MOVERS FOR A STRESS FREE MOVE
PEST CONTROL
Owner Operated since 1982
F L K Termite, Pest &
Historic Renovation & Artisan Stonework Award-Winning Mason with over 30 years of experience
Rodent Control
SPECIALIZING IN:
More than just killing bugs, we take care of your home
Custom Masonry • Stone • Brick Work Point Up • Restoration • Patio & Water Gardens
Call Tom for a Free Estimate
202-544-4484 www.michaligamasonry.com FORMER HEAD MASON OF THE ARCHITECT OF
• Local Moving • Long Distance
• Babies, children, pets, no worries, customized treatments • Latest environmentally sound methods and products • One time, monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, yearly
All East Coast cities from Florida to Maine
• Packing Services • Pianos and Big Objects
THE CAPITOL FROM 1989 - 1996.
202-438-1489 • 301-340-0602
Reasonable Prices : Hill Resident Licensed • Bonded • Insured
www.continentalmovers.net Cmora53607@msn.com
JUNK / BULK TRASH REMOVAL 20% TO 40% OFF SCHEDULED SATURDAY PICK UPS 5% TO 10% OFF EVERYDAY PICKUP • • • •
Same Day Service Available We demo, load and haul concrete, brick, dirt, and trash. Handyman Services Bobcat Loader for Hire
LICENSED & INSURED
• Residential • Commercial • Insured • DC LIC 4748 • Established 1974
202-965-1600 www.jfmeyer.com
PLUMBING
Ricardo Ramos
When Trust Matters Most Residential, Office, Commercial
BOYD F. GRAY 202-561-0498 202-210-7439 (cell) BULK TRASH PICK UP STARTING AT $60.00!!!
S H O RT N O T I C E M O V E S
ROUTE TRASH PICK UP SPECIAL ON WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY.
Local & Up to 300-mile Radius Expert Packing & Unpacking Temporary Storage by the Day Packing Materials Available
$60.00 FIRST ITEM PICK UP , $20.00 EACH ADDITIONAL ITEM & $10.00 SMALL ITEM . 2 DAY NOTICE REQUIRED FOR DISCOUNT. SAME DAY SERVICE AVAILABLE
202.368.7492 Licensed & Insured Hourly Rates
301.273.5740 301.576.3286
Interior & Exterior Custom Painting Restoration & Repair Services
WE ARE THE GOOD GUYS
MOVING & HAULING
Free Estimates
WAIT NO MORE PLUMBING 24 hour plumbing service. Master plumber. No job too small. DC license # 1164. Darrell White. 202-575-1885 or 202-812-7115 (tf)
Just Say I Need A Plumber®
Dial A Plumber, LLC®
• Licensed Gas Fitter • Water Heater • Boiler Work • Serving DC • References John • Drain Service • Furness Repair & Replacement
Free Estimates Insured • Licensed
Remodeling • Painting General Repairs Inquire about our cleaning company
CALL BOYD F GRAY
RamosPainting1956@live.com
202-561-0498 202-210-7439(C)
301-661-3515 301-680-2065
Licensed Bonded Insured
Kenny
202-251-1479 DC P
L U M M E R
’
S
L
I C E N S E
#707
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 133
ROOFING / GUTTERS
Stopping leaks has been our specialty since 1962!
Family Owned & Operated 30 Years Experience!
WE DO IT ALL
WHS PLUMBING & HEATING Superior Service and Quick Response
We are Repiping & Drain Cleaning Specialists · Competitive On The Spot Pricing · Same Day, Nights, Weekends & Emergency Service · Licensed Plumbers and Gasfitters · Underground Domestic Water and Sewer Line Leak Detection · Underground Pipe Locator
RUBBER ROOFS FLAT ROOFS SLATE ROOFS METAL ROOFS SHINGLE ROOFING WATER PROOFING LEAK REPAIRS GUTTER REPAIRS CHIMNEY REPAIRS ROOF COATING
202
271 4377
ALL TYPES OF ROOFING REPAIRS
NO JOB TOO SMALL!!
HORN&COMPANY
“Stopping Leaks is our Specialty” Licensed, Insured & Bonded
202.637.8808 20% OFF WITH THIS AD
Star Roofing Company RELIABLE Specializing in Residential & Commercial Flat Roof Systems
Hill Family Owned & Operated Call William at
202-543-6383
(202) 255-9231 20 years of experience Licensed, Bonded and Insured LSDBE Certified
OSEPH C. BAUER, INC. Plumbing and Heating Licensed and Insured
DC 202.547.3477 MD 301.420.3200
SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES!
Our Prices Won’t be Beat!
DANIEL PARKS Roofing & Gutters NO JOB TOO SMALL!!! “Stopping Leaks is Our Specialty”
EMERGENCY REPAIRS WE DO IT ALL RUBBER & FLAT ROOFS WATER PROOFING SLATE ROOFS LEAK REPAIRS METAL ROOFS GUTTER REPAIRS SHINGLE ROOFING CHIMNEY REPAIRS FACIAL/SOFFITS ALUMINUM ROOF COATING
202-489-1728 Licensed, Bonded & Insured Free Estimates Senior and Government Discount 10% SPECIALIZING IN SEAMLESS GUTTERS
134 ★ HillRag | March 2011
◆ New roofs ◆ Metal ◆ Rubber ◆ Copper ◆ Slate ◆ Shingle ◆ Roof repairs ◆ Roof coatings
◆ Roof decks ◆ Gutters ◆ Skylights ◆ Masonry work ◆ Tuck pointing ◆ Waterproofing ◆ Chimney repairs ◆ and more
All work done by owner • Free Estimates Insured • Licensed • Bonded
◆ Free estimates ◆ Family owned & operated
Keith Roofing
202.696.3560
EXPERT WORKMANSHIP AT REASONABLE PRICES!
FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST
www.whsplumbingandheating.com
Serving Capitol Hill for 50 Years
ROOFING and GUTTERS
Residential/Commercial Over 40 years in Business Chimney Repairs Storm & Wind Damage Repair
• New or Re-Roofing • Tear-Off & Replacement • Flat Roof Specialist • Copper, Tin, Sheet Metal & Rolled • Seamless & Flat Roofs • Re-Sealing • Tar, Asphalt, Gravel, Hot Coats • Modified Bitumen • Ask about our gutter specials Insurance Claims • Free Estimates • 24Hr. Service
Fully Insured • Licensed • Bonded “No Job Too Large or Small” Senior & Military Discounts Available!
202-486-7359 All Work Inspected by Owner...Deals Directly with Customers! All Work Fully Guaranteed
Call now mention this ad and save 20% Licensed, Bonded & Insured
WE STOP LEAKS! • Roof Repairs • Roof Coatings • Rubber • Metal • Slate
• Tiles • Chimneys • Gutters • Waterproofing • Roof Certifications
We Do Everything!
BOYD CONSTRUCTION INC. LIC. BONDED. INS
75 years in service
BBB Member
202-223-ROOF (7663)
Johnston & Johnston Roofing
Gabriel Roofing From Small Repairs and Coatings to Entire Roofing Systems
Specializing in: Slate / Tile / Flat Roofs Trusted Name for Three Generations
202-276-7531 Licensed, Bonded & Insured
We are a family-owned and operated business with three generations of expertise in Capitol Hill. Our customers have trusted us for more than 90 years with their roofing needs. You can too!
• New tin, copper & built-up roof systems • Inspections & repairs • Roof painting • Gutters, spouts & skylights
“Try a new coating vs. a roof replacement.” • FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST • WATERPROOFING • BASEMENT LEAKS • ALUMINUM ASPHALT COATING • SLATE REPAIRS • SHINGLE REPAIRS
ISAAC HOLDEN Roofing, Gutters & Painting OVER 30
• CHIMNEY REPAIR • BRICK POINTING • GUTTER REPAIR/GUTTER REPLACEMENT • INQUIRE ABOUT OUR SPECIALS • FREE ESTIMATES
2010 ON THE INSIDE Replacement Window & Door Installation Group Historically Accurate Replacement of Exterior Window Casings The Best Installation Crew Wood, Fiberglass Framed & Vinyl Windows, Replacement & Full Tear Out Installation, Wide Range of Custom Moldings
Specializing in historic buildings
Licensed • Bonded • Insured Family owned & operated 40 Years Experience
DC Lic. 7610
19 D Street, SE
1880 ON THE OUTSIDE
Windows Craft, Inc.
FREE MAINTENANCE!
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
WINDOWS
202-288-6660 alex@windowscraft.com www.windowscraft.com
Licensed, Insured and Bonded DC Home Improvement License # 69006200
202-607-4038
www.JohnstonandJohnstonRoofing.com
• New Roofs & Maintenance • Seamless Gutters • Waterproofing • Chimney • Brick Pointing • Interior & Exterior Painting
STORAGE
OTHER SERVICES
202.486.7184
BEAUTY/HEALTH/FITNESS
15% off with Ad LICENSED & INSURED
Burn Over 700 Calories in one class
24 Hour Emergency
WE OFFER 40 CLASSES A WEEK!
Recommended roofer of Capitol Hill Village Licensed-Insured-Bonded
Call now for a FREE ROOF INSPECTION
443.968.0311 tom@rthomasdanielroofing.com www.rthomasdanielroofing.com
Family Owned & Operated
WE DO IT ALL
30 Years Experience!
Gutters & Downspouts p Repairs p & Cleaning g All Types of Roofing
NO JOB TOO SMALL!! “Seamless Gutters Experts”
WELDING
Licensed, Insured & Bonded
202.637.8808 20% OFF WITH THIS AD
Introduction Offer $29 for 7 days of unlimited yoga!
Suburban Welding Company
®
Welding & Ornamental Iron Work • • • • •
WOOD & WHITACRE
Alex Williams Seamless Gutters • Box Gutters • Gutter Guards • Gutter Repairs • Gutter Cleaning • Flat Roof Repairs • Water Proofing Free Estimates
(202) 256 6981 (301) 858 6990 Licensed • Bonded • Insured
HISTORIC RENOVATIONS 20 years on the Hill Slate - Tile - Copper Specializing in all Flat Roof Systems and Leaks
Repairs of Original Cast Iron Staircases Window bars and door security gates Handrailings & Stair Railings Fences, Sidewalk Gates, Tree Box Fences DC code approved bedroom window security bars • Excavating, back hoe services and tree stump grinding • Certified welding
24-hours, 7-day service Free estimates
703-765-9344 www.suburbanweldingcompany.com
• Reduce stress • Increase Strength + Flexibility
Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill 410 H ST. NE 202-547-1208 www.BikramYogaCapitolHill.com Look better, feel better and change your body! Living on & serving the Hill since 1986
Dr. David Walls-Kaufman
Free Estimates • Work Guaranteed Licensed Bonded Insured
ALL LEVELS WELCOME! No reservations required!
JEFFREY WOOD cell
301-674-1991 202-828-0713
www.wood-whitacre.com
R.W. ROOFING We offer the most competitive price in town. All Roofing & Rubber Roofs. We do everything: replacements, repairs, maintenance and coatings. See our ad under general contracting. 202-674-0300 or 301-929-0664.
SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES!
Chiropractor 411 East Capitol St., SE All are welcome to Dr. Walls-Kaufman's free Saturday morning Tai Chi class at 8 am in Lincoln Park
202-544-6035 Because Optimal Health is Impossible Without Optimal Posture!
capitalcommunitynews.com ★ 135
COMPUTERS/SOFTWARE
LOGOS COMPUTER SERVICE
Computer Set-up • Computer Tune-up Email • Back Up Software Installation • Hardware Installation Technology Consultation Virus and Spyware Removal Security and Performance On-site Service • Reasonable Rates
logos.comtech@gmail.com • 202-250-1215
PET SERVICES
SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES!
Pet Sitting & Dog Walking • Mid-day dog walks • AM/PM/Weekend Walks • House visits for kitties Insured and Bonded Pet first aid certified
INSTRUCTION Professional Tennis Instruction
Hilly Award Retailer of the Year Voted City’s Best Pet Culture
 MAC ONLY 
Best of Yelp Award – 5 Star Rated
Take the puzzle out of operating your computer
• Expanded retail section with over 20 brands of premium foods & many local products • Knowledgeable and friendly staff • Now Offering Dog Walking! – SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 63 FOR DETAILS • Proud partner with Spot On Training (now located in Metro Mutts lower level)
 Software Installation
Bailo Ba
 Troubleshooting
Davis Cup Veteran
 Upgrades
202-415-2807
 Reasonable Rates
fagon@hillrag.com 202-250-1217
4ZOP 1$ 8J[ Desktop & Laptop Repairs Specialists
Home or Office
• Troubleshooting & Upgrades • Virus Removal, Data Recovery & Back Up • New Computer Set Up • System Tune Up and Clean Up • Networks and Wireless Installation • System and Memory Upgrades • Hardware & Software • Instruction
4UFQIPO 4LJQQFS
www.synopcwiz.webs.com synopcwiz@gmail.com Friendly • Reliable • Affordable
Computer Weenies On-site Service for Homes and Businesses
Larry Elpiner
• Troubleshooting, Repairs & Upgrades • Virus and Spyware Removal • New and Existing Computer Setup • Network and Wireless Installation • Data Recovery, Transfer and Back-up • Webpage Development
301.767.3355
202.543.7055
bailoba@verizon.net
dogdotcatdc@yahoo.com www.dogdotcat.com
202-388-8111
dot
“They have everything you could ever need for your dog—and your cat, too. It makes me really happy I don’t have to haul myself to Petco.�– Robin Givhan, The Washingtonian
zoolatry (zoo-ahl’-uh-tree) the worship of animals – especially a pet
All Skill Levels $62 private $35 semi-private $26 group lesson Lessons on Capitol Hill Professional Tennis Registry
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thelastword and dismissed accordingly. As Stanton/Eastbanc knows, meetings with EMMCA resulted in design and usage changes that helped to secure the bid for them in the first place. It is in all of our interests to see the best possible project go forward. Eastern Market Metro Community Association Barbara Riehle, President EMMCABlog@org
Sekou Biddle for City Council The outcome of the special election on April 26th for the open atlarge seat on the City Council will have an enormous impact on the future direction of our city. Our City Council must continue to substantially improve our public schools, create the next generation of mass transit to connect the region and our neighborhoods and ensure that we hold our public officials to the highest standards of accountability. While there are a few well-qualified candidates in the race, Sekou Biddle has shown outstanding potential to deliver the leadership and integrity our city requires. I have watched him cut his own independent path in his term as the interim at-large member of the council. He has not only confronted the status quo on several fronts, but also endorsed initiatives that are critical to the quality of life for residents of Ward 6 and our entire city. And he has earned not only my support, but the endorsement of trusted civic organizations including the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club and DC for Democracy, representing citizens concerned about a progressive future for DC. I need a strong partner for implementing a vision for building a livable, walkable city. I will have one in Sekou Biddle.
Councilmember Tommy Wells EMMCA Weighs in on Hine In February, nearby neighbors of Hine School and members of EMMCA (Eastern Market Metro Community Association) met at Stanton Development Corporation, above Marvelous Market, to view plans for the much anticipated redevelopment of the historic school site to a smartgrowth, mixed use development. That night, Stanton revealed a change in the original concept of the plan, reorienting it from a largely commercial office space project to a largely high-end residential project. The new plan divided the original concept into four distinct buildings, reducing the overall size of the project by 15 percent. As with any draft, there was room 138 ★ HillRag | April 2011
Hine Development Good for Seniors View north to the Hine School site. Rendering courtesy Esocoff & Associates
for improvement, but, for the most part, the plans weren’t bad. The residential nature of 8th Street across from the development was preserved and protected. The building height on 8th and D Streets was a bit too high, and 8th Street neighbors urged variations in the facades of the residential building. The toughest issues were with the aesthetics of the residential building set aside for affordable housing north of the re-opened C Street, between 7th and 8th Streets. I left thinking, a few tweaks and I can live with this. Fast forward one very short month to the March plans submitted by the developers for formal review by the City’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) and ANC6B, and the expected happy ending vanishes. Instead of reflecting the concerns voiced by nearby neighbors and other Hillites, Stanton’s March plans further deconstructed the project, creating two buildings facing Pennsylvania Avenue, no longer linked by a bridge and of such disparate styles that they seem unrelated to each other or to a common project. The façade of the 8th Street residential building became more monolithic and imposing, apparently with a single central entrance. There was little indication that Victorian references had inspired an attempt to integrate the building into the fabric of the neighborhood. Retail creep had rounded the corner at D Street and started marching north on 8th.Street. The Bard Plaza turned
into a splayed piazza and a vaguely disquieting central courtyard had emerged. I hope when the developers go before ANC6B and the public on April 26, they’ll tell us how these wrong-headed changes came about. In the meantime, EMMCA, a group of just over 100 households between 5th and 12th Streets and Independence and G Streets, SE waited until after Stanton-Eastbanc’s presentation to ANC6B to meet and try to come to a consensus opinion on the project to present to ANC6B and HPRB. EMMCA has three major areas of concern: the general aesthetics (one member referred to it as “Soviet-style architecture”), height and massing, and its effect on the historically family-friendly, education-oriented nature of the site. This could be a great project for everyone in the neighborhood with destination retail (think Apple Store), fun shops and cafes, apartments and condos for seniors and young families, an educational component that retains the cultural integrity of the site as a place where schools flourished, a small hotel, and an office building. None of these is mutually exclusive, and all of this can be accomplished without sacrificing what we love most about living on the Hill. As EMMCA and other groups continue to engage this development project, I hope that our suggestions for improvement will not be construed as anti-development
Capitol Hill Village is a neighborhood organization, composed of 360+ members, who want to stay in their neighborhood, even if they choose to leave their long-time homes for stepfree alternatives. The Hine Development offers the best opportunity for our members to remain where the action is. Members of all incomes want to consider residence in the Hine Development because they envision simplifying their lives. Capitol Hill Village members will like residing among persons of all ages and backgrounds in close proximity to the market, public transportation, shops, restaurants, etc. Much has been accomplished by Stanton and its architectural team to address the concerns of neighbors, which include members of Capitol Hill Village. We applaud the dialogue and the changes that have been made. Overall we want the project to proceed. There will be few opportunities to create residences, like those proposed in this development, so close to so much. Gail Kohn Executive Director Capitol Hill Village 202.543.1778
Don’t Squander Hine The redevelopment of the Hine School site presents an ideal opportunity to showcase our architectural design and urban planning creativity in what is one of the most prominent neighborhoods of our nation’s capital. Unfortunately based on the current designs we have seen so far, that op-
Ward 6 Community Forum portunity may be being squandered. What we have is a plan that will provide a commercial stimulus wrapped in a monolithic building that is totally out of scale to the neighborhood’s historical character and what the architects have described as “a digital age interpretation that echoes the neighborhood’s historical Victorian character and values” i.e. an upper scale Jenkin’s row. What is needed is a more balanced development that benefits the community as whole. It should indeed provide a commercial stimulus but should also enhance the residents’ quality of life and amenities by providing more open space as an example. It should also show a healthier respect for the guidelines set by the Historic Preservation Office for new construction and to resolutions 10 and 11 adopted by the ANC6B in their June 30 2009 meeting that state. “Require that architectural design of the complex blend in with surrounding historic district to the extent possible; avoid design approaches that may dominate or overwhelm the surrounding blocks;” “Restrict building heights to 60 feet along Pennsylvania Avenue SE, 40 feet along 8th and C Streets SE, and 50 feet along 7th Street SE”. Derek Farwagi derekfarwagi@gmail.com
In Favor of Current Design for Hine Site As a resident of the 200 block of 8th St. (244) I have a direct view of the Hine property from my front windows, and walk past it every day. I have done so virtually every day of the 35 years I have lived in this house. The closing of Hine Jr. High was a welcome event to many of us on 8th street, not only because it meant the closing of the school, but also because it opened up great potential to repurpose the site in such a way as to continue the revitalization of our neighborhood. Inevitably, as with all projects on the Hill, the redevelopment plans have created controversy.
Some of the residents of the 200 block (by my count less than 25%) are demanding significant changes in the design proposed by StantonEastbanc, which would substantially down-size the project, a project which has already been subject to over two years of neighborhood scrutiny, debate and planning. During that process, Stanton-Eastbanc has already made significant alterations in its design to accommodate neighbors’ concerns. I am worried that further adjustments to the plans for the site could render the project not economically viable, or at the very least, add to the already very long time before the project is completed. Therefore I am opposed to the imposition of any additional changes that could further delay or impair the economic viability of the redevelopment project. James Wright
At-Large Special Election Candidates Tuesday, April 19th 6:30 - 8:00 pm North Hall of Eastern Market Moderated by WTOP’s Mark Segraves Co-sponsors: • Ward 6 Democrats • CHAMPS • North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association • Capitol Hill Public Schools Parents Organization • Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association and many more
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Scratching Our Heads Over Hine We reside at 8th Street and C Street SE. Since learning that Hine Middle School was being shuttered, we’ve wondered how the proposed development would co-exist with the neighborhood’s assets we value for our family. Plans and potential tenants, both retail and residential, have come and gone. While change happens, we scratch our heads at the size and scope of the proposed development when newly constructed apartments sit vacant nearby and Barracks Row retail space remains empty. Eighth Street is busy throughout the day. Opening C Street, SE between 7th & 8th Streets, and intentionally directing more traffic down 8th Street to the proposed parking garage opening, will only exacerbate the situation. Meanwhile, 7th Street is retail focused, and increasing its traffic does not impact livability as it does on 8th Street. Opening up C Street SE will worsen the situation. Drivers treat the three-way stop as a “rolling stop,” often continuing through at the peril of pedestrians. Adding traffic from a fourth direction will undoubtedly increase traffic and pedestrian accicapitalcommunitynews.com ★ 139
dents. As for the development, the proposed height is inconsistent with the neighborhood, and a hulking structure will detract from the surrounding homes and historic nature of the area. As adjacent residents, we will lose the light and airiness we love about our home. Our hope is that the developers and the city will take these considerations into account and endeavor to strike a balance that benefits both sides. With some collaboration, this development can enhance the community rather than detracting from it. Thank You, Misty Belles mewing@virtuoso.com
Keep Public Land Open The entire block where the ugly Hine School currently sits is public land. What are we the public getting out of Eastbanc’s Development? Currently a very tall, ugly, too-dense monolith faced with faux Victorian gimcrackery which the architect calls “excitingly 21st century and yet respectful of historic norms.” So much for respect. Are there any public amenities being offered? Yes, two: C Street will be “re-opened” between 7th and 8th Streets. And there will be some below-market rentals for Shakespeare Theatre students and visitors. Who asked for C Street to be opened? The Capitol Hill Restoration Society. Did CHRS ask our permission? Hardly. To have our air and light cut off –I am getting nothing good in return. I want to be able to see the beautiful Eastern Market building from the Metro plaza. I paid for that wonderful Market renovation with my tax dollars. I do not want a behemoth “anchoring” (architect speak) the block on the Pennsylvania Avenue side. I want some truly open space there. Anchors sink until they stop you cold. We need a building that looks like the rest of our neighborhood – raises our spirits, and does not arrogantly dwarf its neighbors. Wendy Blair wblair@npr.org
Come On Community, Get Involved in Hine The coalition of residents along 8th Street, S.E., look forward to de140 ★ HillRag | April 2011
velopment of the former Hine School site, but are united in concern about the size, massing, and scale of the proposed buildings, and believe that construction along 8th Street should conform to the historic context and be solely residential. Because the proposed community benefits have changed so dramatically from what they were when the city awarded the contract, we also believe that the entire Capitol Hill community must be engaged in determining those benefits. The residents along 8th Street rather naturally became involved early. We will be affected by demolition, construction, and use of the site and the developers themselves invited us to meet with them. But we see the hundreds of commuters walking past our houses every day and believe that they, and the families with strollers who love coming to Eastern Market on the weekends, must also weigh in. How will this project affect their quality of life and what public benefits will they receive from the conversion of public land? We believe that smart growth and density can be compatible with sensitivity to historic preservation. What happens here will define Capitol Hill for decades to come. Even the Historic Preservation Review Board staff have acknowledged that this is a project of unprecedented size and density in an historic district. We need to get the entire community involved -- for all should benefit from what is built. Marcel Chotkowski LaFollette for “Eyes on Hine” Scicompol@aol.com
No to Walmart The question of the impending arrival of Walmart comes down to the question of “and” or “or”. The idea of the addition of Walmart to the retail community seems great. But unfortunately, Walmart’s modus operandi is not to join a retail community, but rather to replace it. Low priced consumer goods and low-threshold employment opportunities are worthy goals, but Walmart is known to be a retail killer and to depress wages and benefits for retail employees. According to the testimony of Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance before the New York City Council Public Hearing on Walmart on February 3, 2011 (http://
www.newrules.org/retail/news/ walmart-wants-colonize-new-yorkcity-our-response), studies have shown that when Walmart opens, nearby local businesses close. It uses predatory pricing, keeping prices down until competitors are gone, and then raises prices. Its sales are offset by sales lost at existing local retail stores, actually resulting in a net loss of jobs, in part because Walmart employs fewer people relative to its sales than its smaller competitors, eliminating 1.4 retail jobs for every job it creates. Furthermore, the new jobs do not compare favorably in quality, in terms of pay, benefits packages, longevity and opportunities for advancement. The benefits packages for which Wal-mart employees may be eligible are actually unaffordable to their pay scale, and consequently its employees come to depend upon public assistance to supplement their food and health care costs. Additionally, as Walmart displaces nearby businesses, effectively reducing and homogenizing retail options, it makes them less appealing to visitors and impairs their ability to attract tourist dollars. And Walmart does not invest in the community. Unlike independent local retail businesses which hire other local businesses for goods and services and buy from local suppliers, Walmart purchases no local goods or services. Money spent at Walmart leaves the community, instead of recirculating in the local economy where it can nurture other businesses and jobs, and support local charitable and community organizations. The impact of the role that retailers play in consumption and spending, and the environmental and social consequences of buying goods that are transported from overseas sweatshops and sending our money to the world’s largest retailers, can effectively prevent it from producing economic benefits to our community. Would Walmart support the Hill Rag, CHRS, CHCF, Main Street projects and other community resources to the extent that our local businesses do? Would they sponsor parades, street festivals, seminars, photos with Santa, and draw a flea and farmers’ market? Proponents say opponents are free to choose not to shop there, or not to work there, but urban retail is like
any environmental ecosystem, where the synergy is complex, the balance is fragile, and the tipping point can occur without warning, subjecting the whole community to the risk of becoming a retail wasteland. Just look at the small towns across the nation where Walmart has gone. Do we really want to take a chance on losing the Florida Avenue Market, Eastern Market, and our other local businesses to gain Wal-mart? Bobbi Krengel bobbi.krengel@ prudentialcarruthers.com
Heroism, Catastrophe and Everyday Lives -- Now and Then During the ongoing nuclear disaster in Japan, we’ve seen nuclear workers struggling to prevent far larger radiation releases, risking great pain and lingering death. “Heroism” doesn’t do full justice to their efforts to save their countrymen and women, and others, from multiple meltdowns. A phone conversation with a stranger this week revealed a story from WW II which strikes similar emotional chords in me. I was ordering a specialty clothing item from a small enterprise in New England. I don’t know how WW II came up, but the man on the other end of the line -- Bill -- was saying that his father flew in bombers over Europe in WW II, but would never say anything to his children about his experiences. The numbers of airmen in bombers in Europe in WW II who never came back was extraordinarily high, Bill’s father must have seen close friends die, and have lost many others, flying different planes. Bill said that although his father would never open up to his children, at one point he overheard his dad (now deceased) tell Bill’s son about a particular incident. Is it easier to talk when there is so much distance in time, when telling your grandchild? Bill’s dad was a tailgunner. In one sortie, the captain radioed him to get to the blister gunsight on the bottom of the plane, where the gunner was severely injured. Bill’s dad, 17 at the time, had become accustomed to calling the injured gunner, age 16, “the kid.” Bill’s dad struggled to pull himself out of the tight quarters of the tail turret, then pulled the injured gunner from
the blister turret. This turret was clear hard plastic, and was pretty ripped up. But Bill’s dad had to squeeze himself into it, because German fighters were attacking from below. There he was, a large teenager, in a clear structure that could simply drop away from the plane at any minute, even if it wasn’t shot up again. It was the scariest moment of his wartime life. Heroism from another time and place. I could hear that Bill was tearing up as he told me. Was it the connection he finally had to that part of his dad’s life? Was he thinking of how close his dad came to not making it through that flight? Did you know that when a WW II bomber returned, without having dropped all its bombs on targets, that they released the remaining bombs on the way back (since they couldn’t land with them)? They chose farmland, to minimize casualties. Bill’s wife is from from a Jewish family who lived in Austria at the outbreak of WW II. They had taken a non-Jewish family name many decades previously, their religion wasn’t known, so her uncle was drafted into the Nazi army. He found a way to escape and join the Allied army. The Nazis came for his family, but they managed to escape Austria just ahead of their pursuers. Bill later asked his fatherin-law whether they had witnessed the dropping of unused bombs, and if so, did they resent it? His answer was that since the Allies were going to free them from the Nazis, any side effect that was part of the effort could not be resented. So now I wonder: how much do ordinary Japanese, waiting to know how much radiation will again fall on their country, have in common with Bill’s wife’s family, never knowing when bombs might fall, never knowing if their attempted escape will be discovered? Tom Grahame tgrahame@ mindspring.com ★
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the NOSE
by Anonymous
Sometimes A Trout is Just a Fish When the Trout Report swam into his inbox on a mournful Monday, The Nose squirmed in his seat with excitement. Finally, all would be revealed. The Wizard would step out from behind the curtain. The Nose never considered Mayor Blackberry to be personally venal. Rather, much as President Ronnie had left the details of governance to Nancy’s psychic friend, he was convinced that Blackberry had abandoned the District to the Machiavellian machinations of Peter “Darth” Nickles. After all, a guy’s got to exercise. To keep his own body in peak condition, The Nose prefers to take the stairs to his eighth-floor perch. How else could he show his face at Remington’s weekly karaoke night? The Nose was not so certain about the physical fitness or ethics of Omar “Developer Über Alles” Karim and Sinclair “Not Licensed” Skinner, Mayor Blackberry’s fraternity BFFs (Best Friends Forever). Given the faultiness of their memories under oath, it is a wonder that either can find their car keys in the morning, much less remember the names of their pets. However, as our loose lipped friend at Washington’s City Paper recently pointed out, Skinner and Karim leveraged a cozy personal relationship with Mayor Blackberry into a position of valued minority partner at a major suburban construction firm. Then, working with a BFF in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development (DMPED), they got the inside scoop on lucrative contracts for renovating the District’s parks. Strangely, in the absence of a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) that would have established a price for the job, DMPED let Karim have millions of dollars in construction work on an unusually favorable basis. Karim hired Skinner’s firm to do the engineering work. Farming out jobs to suburbanites, Skinner inflated the cost of the projects by something in the order of $500,000, according to some estimates. Surprisingly, none of this mischief was caught by Karim’s minders at DMPED, an agency that under inattentive Blackberry’s tutelage seemed to have trouble tying its own shoelaces. In point of fact, had the DC Council not turned off the spigot, Karim and Skinner might 142 ★ HillRag | April 2011
have siphoned several million dollars out of the city’s coffers. Our esteemed journalistic brethren on 15th Street, however, clearly never made it beyond the first few lines of Trout’s executive summary. How else could they have printed the headline, “Fenty Cleared in Parks Contracts Investigation”? Yes, The Nose knows that headline writing is beyond the pay grade of humble reporters such as himself. It requires the heavenly red pen of a true editor. Compounding inattention with incredulity and taking leave of their collective wits, the editorial page in that same publication thundered against the Trout report’s late debut. In the Alice in Wonderland world on 15th Street, an earlier release would have tipped the mayoral contest to Blackberry by exonerating him of corruption charges. Dear Readers, have my esteemed brethren forgotten who was running Blackberry’s reelection campaign? OK. The Nose has a few questions for 15th Street crew.
Who appointed the clowns at DMPED? Answer: Mayor Blackberry. Who hired Karim and Skinner? Answer: Blackberry’s DMPED clowns Dear Readers, exercise your judgment. While his compatriots over on 15th Street may have found the Trout Report to their emerald-hued political taste, The Nose found it scintillating reading. On behalf of his fellow citizens, he would like to thank its author, attorney Robert P. Trout. Having had the dubious pleasure of listening to A. Scott “The Go-To Guy” Bolden drone on during many political debates, The Nose knows that the experience of sparing with him across a conference table no doubt proved unpleasant. It certainly earns Trout, in The Nose’s humble opinion, a space on the Pope’s short list for canonization. Have a sanguine observation for The Nose? Email him at thenose@hillrag.com ★
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