hillrag.com • February 2017
Sales · Rentals · Commercial Leasing Property Management · Investments CO SOMIN ON G Est
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1520 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE Perfect Hill starter home Terrace level 1BR 1BA · $259,000 Pete Frias · 202.744.8973
NOMA TWO UNIT Pete Frias · 202.744.8973
4BR 3.5BA $848,500 Genie Hutinet · 202.413.7661
NANTUCKET HOLDINGS RENOVATIONS
COMING EARLY 2017 1301 MARYLAND AVE NE
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HUGE 5 BR 4.5BA · Multi car parking Genie Hutinet · 202.413.7661
“Where Washington shops for a new address! ™”
14 SHERMAN CIRCLE NW
4BR 3.5BA Pete Frias · 202.744.8973
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4BR 3.5BA w/3rd story addition Genie Hutinet · 202.413.7661 Heart of Spring Valley · 5BR 4 Full Baths 2 Half Baths Genie Hutinet · 202.413.7661
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418 CRITTENDEN ST NW 4BR 3.5BA · $767,500 Genie Hutinet · 202.413.7661
1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE 1BR 1BA · Unit w/Great Views Pete Frias · 202.744.8973
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The Grant, Ryall & Andrew Group
Partner with our full-service real estate team‌there’s no substitute for success the first time around! Grant Griffith, (202) 741-1685 | Ryall Smith, (202) 741-1781 Andrew Glasow, (202) 741-1654 | Fred Saddler, (202) 746-5738 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Don Denton, VP Broker | 605 Pennsylvania Ave SE, WDC 20003 - Main: 202.547. 3525
February 2017 H 9
Go local with Meg & George We know your home, your neighborhood, and your market
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Renovated & expanded 4BR/3.5BA w/ Pkg. by C&S Builders.
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds...” - Shakespear's Sonnets The Inaugural is OVER! The WOMEN (and men) have marched! Valentine’s Day is approaching. Let us help you find a house to LOVE, If you're coming or going we can help. Neighbors and new neighbors are our specialty.
310 EAS T C AP I T OL ST , N E CO MI N G S O O N
Top floor front-facing condo w/ walk-in closet & Pkg.
Megan Shapiro
Vice President, Realtor® 202.329.4068 mshapiro@compass.com
George Olson
Vice President, Realtor® 202.203.0339 golson@compass.com
Buy Local, Sell Local, Support Local Businesses Like TODD BISSEY
STAN BISSEY
todd.bissey@compass.com
stan.bissey@compass.com
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6 6 0 P E N N S Y LVA N I A AV E , S E Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.
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202.545.6900
Compass is licensed as ‘Compass Real Estate’ in the District of Columbia
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In this issue... February 2017
35 Spring Arts and Dining Special 36
Spring into Museums: 8 Not to Miss Exhibitions by Kathleen Donner
46
Dining Notes by Celeste McCall
52
Capitol Roots: Kaia Kater at Hill Center; Los Lobos at The Hamilton by Charles Walston
16
What’s on Washington
54
NMUSN and Cold War Gallery Bring History to Life by Bridey Heing
18
Calendar
56
The Wine Girl
28
Black History Month Events
58
At the Movies: And the Oscar Goes To... by Mike Canning
32
Hollywood on the Hill: Glam Up For the Capitol Hill Village Gala by Mike Canning
62
Art and the City: Artist Revisit Profile, Bruce McNeil by Jim Magner
64
The Literary Hill by Karen Lyon
65
The Poetic Hill by Karen Lyon
102
capitol streets
35 Uniting Our Community: ‘Unity on the Hill’ Campaign Thrives After the Election by Christine Rushton
Functional Fitness: Training for Day-to-Day Life by Pattie Cinelli
121
74 Photos from The Women’s March on Washington by various
67
Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner
74
Photos: The Women’s March on Washington
76
The Numbers: The Wrong Choice for DC Workers by Ilana Boivie
78
Maury Has Good Options for Modernization: Debate Focuses on Capacity and Timeline by Christine Rushton
80
Keeping Their ‘Feet to the Fire’: Local Leaders Want Action, Engagement on the RFK Redevelopment by Christine Rushton
82
Shotgun House Deconstructed: A 165-Year-Old Structure Gets A New Life by Peter J. Waldron
84
Our River, The Anacostia: Just How and When Is This River of Ours Going to Get Clean? by Bill Matuszeski
86
South by West by William Rich
88
ANC 6A Report by Elizabeth Nelson
90
ANC 6B Report by Christine Rushton
90
ANC 6C Report by Christine Rushton
92
ANC 6D Report by Andrew Lightman
94
ANC 6E Report by Steve Holton
community life 96
Hill Rag Crossword
97
Heard on the Hill by Jen DeMayo
99
Volunteering on the Hill: Preserving the Historic Beauty of Capitol Hill by Quentin Wodon
100
Living Below the Tower: A Note from a Poet in Its Shadow by E. Ethelbert Miller
102
Uniting Our Community: ‘Unity on the Hill’ Campaign Thrives After the 2016 Election by Christine Rushton
104
Bill Phillips: Capitol Hill’s Good Neighbor by Andrew Lightman
106
H Street Life by Elise Bernard
108
Capitol Riverfront BID Annual Meeting: Green Line Leads Growth in the District by Michael Stevens, AICP
real estate 111
Real Estate Matters by Heather Schoell
114
Changing Hands by Don Denton
health and fitness 121
Functional Fitness: Training for Day-to-Day Life by Pattie Cinelli
124
Let’s Get Physical: District Combatives – Critical for Everyone by Stacy Peterson
126
The District Vet: Take Your Pet to the Dentist by Dan Teich
kids and family 129
Kids & Family Notebook by Kathleen Donner
136
School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson
homes and gardens 149
The Hill Gardener: Capitol Hill Women Launch Garden-Friendly Businesses by Cheryl Corson
154
Dear Garden Problem Lady by Wendy Blair
–––– 156 C L A S S I F I E D S 162
The Last Shot by Andrew Lightman
on the cover: Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de. French, 1864-1901 Le Missionnaire, 1894 4-color lithograph on wove paper. sheet: 30.7 x 24 cm (12 1/16 x 9 7/16 in.) Wittrock 1985, no. 16, State (1894 (theatre programme ed.) Gift of The Atlas Foundation. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art. www.nga.gov
EST.
1976
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
PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com • Copyright © 2017 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.
Editorial Staff
M������� E�����: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO � A�������� E�����: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com S����� N���� E�����: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com K��� � F����� E�����: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com
Arts, Dining & Entertainment A��:
D�����: L���������: M�����: M����: T������: W��� G���:
Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Phil Hutinet • phutinet@yahoo.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • steve@jazzavenues.com Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Elyse Genderson • elyse@cellar.com
Calendar & Bulletin Board
C������� E�����: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
General Assignment
Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Karen Cohen • kcohenphoto@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com
Beauty, Health & Fitness
Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com Stacy Peterson • stacy@accelerationsports.net
Real Estate
Don Denton • DDenton@cbmove.com Heather Schoell • heathersdo@gmail.com
Kids & Family
Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com
Homes & Gardens
Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Cheryl Corson • cheryl@cherylcorson.com Tom Daniels • tom@rthomasdanielroofing.com Rindy 0’Brien • rindyobrien@gmail.com
Commentary
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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.
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All Credit Cards Accepted February 2017 H 15
Steve Raskin of Fort Knox Five Photo: Courtesy of the DC Public Library Foundation
1 1 DC Public Library Local Music Compilation and CD Release Party
The DC Public Library Foundation is set to release a compilation album featuring several luminaries of the DC music scene entitled ALB’s Rock the Stacks. The release will come in both vinyl and digital format. The vinyl version of the album, which has 14 mostly original tracks, is being produced by local vinyl pressing company, Furnace. A digital download of ALB’s Rock the Stacks will also be available and will include additional songs. Some of the bands and musicians appearing on the album include Thievery Corporation, Deathfix, Fort Knox Five, Shortstack and Small Doses. The release party will feature many of the bands on the album, including Elmapi, Furniteur, Warm Sun and The ALB Allstars (a supergroup of members appearing on Rock the Stacks). More information can be found at dcpls.org/rockthestacks. The Foundation is hosting a local music festival and release party at MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. The proceeds of the album and all events surrounding it will go to the DC Public Library Foundation.
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2 Della Robbia: Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence at the NGA
More than 500 years after their creation, Della Robbia terracotta sculptures endure as some of the most innovative and expressive examples of art from the Italian Renaissance. Some 40 examples illustrate the range of sculptural types produced by the workshop, Madonna and Child reliefs, architectural decoration, portraits, household statuettes and large-scale figures in the round. While drawn chiefly from American collections, this exhibition also includes six major loans from Italy, among them Luca’s masterpiece, The Visitation (c. 1445). On loan from the church of San Giovanni Fuorcivitas in Pistoia, the work is traveling to the United States for the first time. Della Robbia: Sculpting with Color in Renaissance Florence will be on view in the West Building of the National Gallery of Art, from Feb. 5 through June 4, 2017. nga.gov.
“Born and Reared: screens on March 3 with Director Henrietta Norton in attendance. It is a moving documentary that explores contemporary Northern Ireland, through the lives of four men living in the aftermath of violent conflict; a story about reimagined identity of place and the fragility of masculinity. Still: Courtesy of Hot Feet London Ltd.
Robbia, Andrea della, Prudence, ca. 1475 (glazed terracotta). Lent by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1921
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The Jane Franklin Dance performs “The Big Meow” on Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m. and March 4, 10:30 a.m. Photo: Courtesy of Jane Franklin Dance
Marsha Mason as Fanny Farrelly in Lillian Hellman’s Watch on the Rhine. Photo: Tony Powell
4 3 CaPital irish FilM FestiVal
Capital Irish Film Festival showcases films about subjects pertaining to all of Ireland, Irish identity and culture or that are examples of Irish artistry. Entries are invited for feature-length or short films, including comedy, drama, documentary, animation, experimental and musical. The festival, March 2 to 5, has moved from the E Street Cinema to the AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD. solasnua.org/ciff/. Editor’s note: As we go to press, the Solas Nua website has not been updated. Please check back as the festival draws near.
4 atlas interseCtions FestiVal
The eighth annual INTERSECTIONS Festival, Feb. 24 to March 5, will feature more than 100 performances in dance, music, theatre, family programming and youth development. An audience of over 7,000 patrons and arts lovers is expected. The Atlas Performing Arts Center’s INTERSECTIONS Festival was founded in 2009 as a multi-day festival that brings artists and audiences alike to the developing H Street NE corridor. The Festival engages audiences and artists alike by sparking conversation, deeper connection and community transformation. The full Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival schedule is in the Calendar section of this paper. Kids’ performances are in the Kids and Family Notebook in the back of the paper. The Atlas is at 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993 ext. 2. atlasarts.org.
5 watCh on the rhine at arena
Four-time Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Marsha Mason (The Goodbye Girl) leads an ensemble cast as Fanny Farrelly in Lillian Hellman’s suspenseful masterpiece “Watch on the Rhine.” With America on the brink of entering World War II, Fanny’s daughter escapes to the DC suburbs with her German husband, a man deeply involved in anti-fascist movements. But with an Eastern European guest with ulterior motives also living in their midst, tensions rise as it becomes clear that no one’s safety can be guaranteed at home or abroad. Watch on the Rhine is at Arena Stage, Feb. 3 to March 5. arenastage.org.
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F E B R U A RY CALENDAR The cast includes Lindsay Alexandra Carter as Rosalind, Lorenzo Roberts as Orlando, Tom Story as Jaques, Antoinette Robinson as Celia, Aaron Krohn as Touchstone, among others. Photo: T. Charles Erickson
As You Like It at the Folger
Through March 5. Rosalind is banished from court and flees to the Forest of Arden, where she discovers Orlando and a world of passion and possibility in one of Shakespeare’s most cherished romantic comedies. folger.edu.
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CAPITOL HILL VILLAGE CORNER
Capitol Hill Village – helping the community navigate the future.
The Key to Your Community
A Greater Capitol Hill for Long Life We know the qualities about Capitol Hill that we like: social activities, activities for youth, fantastic neighbors, community amenities, walkability. The list goes on. If you are designing the Capitol Hill of your future, what do you want to see? How can Capitol Hill evolve to become a greater place to live? More recreation facilities, safer sidewalks, more housing alternatives, different social service amenities . . . PRESIDENT’S DAY Revolutionary War Reenactment at Fort Ward. Feb. 19, 10 AM to 3 PM. Historic camp and tactical demonstrations throughout the day at Fort Ward Park, 4301 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA. At 2 PM view a Revolutionary War skirmish between the Redcoats and the Colonial Army. Free. washingtonbirthday.com. George Washington Birthday Parade in Old Town. Feb. 20, 1 to 3 PM. This is the largest parade celebrating Washington’s birthday in the US. washingtonbirthday.net/parade. President’s Day Library of Congress Main Reading Room Open House. Feb. 20, 10 AM to 3 PM. Twice each year, the Library of Congress opens its magnificent Main Reading Room for a special open house to share information about how the public can access the Library’s resources yearround. Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. loc.gov. Free Admission to Mount Vernon. Feb. 20 and 22, 9 AM to 5 PM. Feb. 22, is George Washington’s actual birthday. mountvernon.org.
ATLAS INTERSECTIONS FESTIVAL Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival 2017. Feb. 24 to Mar. 5. The lineup follows. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org. Sound. Feb. 24, Soli Vocal Ensemble: Ode to Shakespeare; Feb. 24, Fractal Cat: Live in Concert; Feb. 24, Jahn Rome: An Intimate Show; Feb. 25, Andre Veloz; Feb. 25, Flo
What are the possibilities? How do we become the greatest community in the world to celebrate long life? These are the questions that we are answering through our Greater Capitol Hill for Long Life symposia and conversations with city agencies including DC Office of Planning, Events DC and more. If you love Capitol Hill for what it is today – then participate in creating the Capitol Hill of tomorrow.
Let’s Talk.
February Events – Free and Open to the Public February 2nd. CHV Online Auction Opens—bid on fabulous vacation homes, restaurants, services and one-of-a-kind adventures! www.capitolhillvillage.org/gala February 2nd and 16th. Games and Puzzle Group, Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 2-4pm, 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE February 9th. Age-Friendly DC Community Meeting, 2-4 pm, NE Public Library: 330 7th St NE. February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th. Tai Chi: 2-3pm, Townhomes Community Room, 750 6th St. SE, corner of I St. February 14th. CHV’s Wise Guys Present: Decoding Dementia: What it is; How to Care; Where’s Support? 1:00 pm. NE Public Library: 330 7th St NE. February 16th. Purls of Wisdom: Needlework Group. 4-6pm, East City Bookstore. 645 Pennsylvania Ave SE. February 17th. Balance Class, 12:30-1:30, Southeast Neighborhood Library, 7th and D Streets SE February 21st. Reclaim Your Space by Decluttering, 12-2pm. NE Public Library: 330 7th St NE. February 21st. NE Public Library: Village Voices: Moving with Wisdom, Making African American History, 7-8pm, NE Public Library, 330 7th St NE. Call or email CHV Office to register for the events: (202) 543 1778 or info@capitolhillvillage.org
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{february events calendar}
See Kids and Family Notebook in the back of the paper for INTERSECTIONS family programming schedule.
Taffety Punk Riot Grrrls: The Trojan Women. Photo: Teresa Castracane
MUSIC Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. Feb. 4, Steve ‘N’ Seagulls; Feb. 7, Every Time I Die; Feb. 8, Shy Girls; Feb. 10, Aztec Sun; Feb. 14, Common Kings; Feb. 17, Sean Narna; Feb. 18, Lee Fields & The Expressions; Feb. 19, Tash Sultana; Feb. 22, Hamilton Leithauser; Feb. 28, Dorothy; March 3, You Blew It!; March 4, Ben Sollee. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com.
The Trojan Women by Euripides at CHAW
Feb. 15 to March 4. More than all other works in classical literature, this play is the first form of anti-war activism. Euripides unique script focuses not on the heroes of war but on their victims. These are the people who are too often lost, even now, in our coverage of war. $15. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE. Tickets are at taffetypunk.com. Anito: Jazzy Pop for the Masses!; Feb. 25 and March 4, Pavel Urkiza & Congrí Ensemble (The root of the root); Feb. 25, Capital City Symphony: Jazz up the Symphony; Feb. 25 and 26, The Snark Ensemble: The Comic Roach: A Roadhouse Picture Show; Feb. 25, Amadou Kouyate; Feb. 26, Abigail Palmer & Eric Selby; Feb. 26, inHALE; March 3, Sopranessence: Affairs of the Heart; March 5, REP Music/The Robert E Person Quintet: Classic Covers; March 5, Lori Reckling: A Know Tapestry. Movement. Feb. 24, Prakriti Dance: Amba Shikandi: A Journey of Courage; Feb. 25, Joy of Motion Dance Center: Alight Dance Theater: Stargazing; Feb. 25 and 26, The Circus Collective of San Diego: Specific Gravity; Feb. 25, Jane Franklin Dance: Trek; Feb. 25 and 26, Motion X Dance DC: Concrete Devotion & Other Works; Feb. 25 and 26, Dissonance Dance Theatre: Mahogany Strings; Feb. 25 and 26, Rebollar Dance/Erica Rebollar: Tri-City Tour: Rebollar Dance, Deep Vision, and Real Live People present Impacting Spaces; Feb. 26, Aura Curiatlas Physical Theatre: A Life With No Limits; Feb. 26, Company Danzante: On this Road; Feb. 26, Helanius J. Wilkins: A
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Bon Coeur; Feb. 27, Semilla Cultural Bomba!: Sounds of the Soul; March 3 and 4, FRESHH, Inc. Theatre Company: MOAN; March 3, I.C. Movement Project: Through the Glass Ceiling; March 3, Rich Potter: God: The One-Man Show; March 3 and 4, Across the Board: Black, Don’t Crack; March 4, MLDP: 1001; March 5, Trajectory Dance Project/Alice Howes: IDENTITY: Dancing the Self; March 5, Furia Flamenca Dance Company: Amalgamas. Story. Feb. 24 and 25, Spitball Theatre: Normal/Magic; Feb. 24, Contradiction Dance: Objects of Hope: The America Project; Feb. 25, Annalisa Dias: The Salima Project; Feb. 25, New Millennium Howard Players Theatre: For the Love of Oscar, A Dramedy; Feb. 25 and 26, W. Allen Taylor: In Search Of My Father…Walkin’ Talkin’ Bill Hawkins; March 3, Three Gaijin Films; March 3 and 4, Itai Yasur: Rabbitette; March 5, Vital Alternatives for Healthy Minds Program (VAMP): Dare to Dream; March 5, Lori Reckling: A Know Tapestry; March 5, Serge Zenoun/D’un Rêve à L’autre: Bigoudi; March 5, City at Peace; March 5, Conscience Drama Directive: THE LAST WILL–Robert Brustein’s Dramatic Homage to Shakespeare’s Twilight.
Music at Mr. Henry’s. Saturday Night Ladies of Jazz: Feb. 4, Renée Tannenbaum; Feb. 11, Kim Scudera with Batida Diferente; Feb. 18, Julia Nixon; Feb. 25, Renee Georges’ A Portrait of America Through Songs by Great Jazz Ladies. Thursday Night Bluegrass: Feb. 9, Truck Farmers with Atlantan guests The Skylarks; Feb. 16, By & By; Feb. 23, Justin Trawick. Friday Night Jazz: Feb. 10, The Kevin Cordt Quartet; Feb. 17, Reginald Cyntje; Feb. 24, Aaron L. Myers, II. Capitol Hill Jazz Jam is hosted by Herb Scott and Aaron Myers of the Capitol Hill Jazz Foundation every Wednesday. Shows run 8 to 11 PM.; doors open at 6 PM; no cover; two items per person minimum. Henry’s Upstairs, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-546-8412. mrhenrysdc.com. Blues Night in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. Feb. 6, Midnight Blue; Feb. 13, Moonshine Society; Feb. 20, Full Power Blues; Feb. 27, Scott Ramminger; March 6, Electrified Blues Band w/Charlie Sayles; March 13, Clarence Turner Blues Band; March 20, Lou Jerome Band; March 27, Tom Newman Blues Band; April 3, Shirleta Settles & Friends. $5 cover. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Tuesdays, 12:10 PM. Feb. 7, The Heritage Signature Chorale; Feb. 14, Rebecca Kellerman Petretta, soprano, Roger Isaacs, countertenor, & Jeremy Filsell, continuo; Feb. 21, The Shepherd Trio; Feb. 28, Daniel Heagney, marimba; March 7, Washington Bach Consort. 1317 G St. NW. 202-3472635. epiphanydc.org. Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. Feb. 10, Kristine Key Jazz Ensemble; Feb. 17, Todd Marcus’ Low Tones; Feb. 24, Tribute to Nat King Cole; Feb. 25, Thinking About Jazz, Nat King Cole; March 3, Wash-
CO M I N G S O O N 2 2 9 1 2 T H ST R E E T S E
ington Women in Jazz All-Stars. $5 cover. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org. Evensong Choral Service at St. Marks. Feb. 12, 5 PM. Join them for a contemplative service that exemplifies the magnificent heritage of Anglican choral music. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. 202543-0053. stmarks.net. Music at Hill Center. Feb. 14, 7:30 PM, The Sharón Clark Trio; Feb. 18, 7 PM, Dounouya: Global Sounds on the Hill with Amir Vahab & Ensemble; Feb. 23, 7:30 PM, American Roots Concert Series: Kaia Kater; March 1, 7:30 PM, Washington Women in Jazz Festival. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
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SMART
Over 2200 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths.
Gourmet Kitchen with Waterfall Marble Island.
Fully Integrated Smart Home Automation.
First Floor Family Room.
Luxury Appliances including Built-In Thermador Cappuccino Machine.
Indoor and Outdoor Custom Storage.
Stacked Limestone Gas Fireplace.
Control entertainment system, indoor and outdoor lighting, heating and cooling, window treatments from your cell phone and home control panel.
Serene Master Bath with Heated Floors and Steam Shower.
Dual Zone HVAC. Heated Gutters.
2017 Festival of Sacred Music. Feb. 25 and 26. This two-day Festival of Sacred Music features choral, organ and conducting master classes led by Cathedral musicians. Join them for a day of study on Saturday, and a day of worship on Sunday. $25 for adults over 18. Washington National Cathedral. cathedral.org.
JACKIE SINK
202-352-5793 jackie.sink@compass.com
LIBBY CLARKE
202-841-1812 libby.clarke@compass.com
CRYSTAL CRITTENDEN
202-246-0931 crystal.crittenden@compass.com
theAter AND FiLM Mack, Beth at the Keegan. Through Feb. 11. Mack, Beth is set in the modern tech business world. Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. 202265-3767. keegantheatre.com.
SEE OUR REVIEWS ON ZILLOW
The Hard Problem at Studio. Through Feb. 19. Bristling with intellectual energy and searing wit, The Hard Problem explores the complexities of consciousness, the nature of belief and how to reconcile hard science with lived experience. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org. I Wanna Fucking Tear You Apart at
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Studio. Through Feb. 19. Samantha and Leo are a team — best friends and roommates, fat girl and gay guy against the world — until a new friend upends their cozy co-dependent diet of mutual selfloathing and Grey’s Anatomy marathons. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202332-3300. studiotheatre.org. Mosaic’s Hooded (or being Black for Dummies) at the Atlas. Through Feb. 19. A dark comedy/satire set in an around Baltimore about growing up black in America, riffing on the Trayvon Martin case, mistaken identity, incarceration, and being black on a privileged college campus. atlasarts.org. Roe at Arena. Through Feb. 19. The lawyer: a young, brilliant, courageous woman arguing Roe v. Wade before the Supreme Court. The plaintiff: a complex, single woman seeking to end an unwanted pregnancy. The landmark 1973 case legalized abortion, but also began their separate journeys that would come to mirror the polarization in American culture. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf at Ford’s. Through Feb. 19. In this American theatrical masterpiece and Tony Award-winning play, George and Martha invite Nick and Honey to their home after a faculty party. What awaits their late-night guests is not a welcoming nightcap but tempestuous verbal sparring fueled by alcohol and 20 years of marital dysfunction. and illusion blur. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. 202-347-4833. fords.org. Baby Screams Miracle at Woolly. Through Feb. 26. A small house is besieged by an apocalyptic storm. Great trees crack and splinter, garbage shatters windows, a deer impales the car windshield and the wind hurls a trampoline into the living room. While their family home collapses all around them, a prodigal daughter and her zealous relatives try to pray their way to safety. Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW. 202393-3939. woollymammoth.net. Yo también hablo de la rosa/I Too Speak of the Rose at GALA. Through Feb. 26. In
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this searing look at poverty and society’s response to it, two poor teens who accidentally derail a train while skipping school become the subject of a media frenzy. Performed in Spanish with English surtitles. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. galatheatre.org. Novels into Film: Like Apples and Oranges at Hill Center. Feb. 6, 7 PM. Mike Canning, movie reviewer for the Hill Rag, will offer a lecture comparing US literature and motion pictures entitled “Novels into Film: Like Apples and Oranges.” The discussion examines several significant American novels that have been converted to major Hollywood films and speculates on what has been lost and gained in the transition. Free. Reserve a seat at hillcenterdc.org. King Charles III at Shakespeare. Feb. 7 to March 12. he Queen is dead. After a lifetime of waiting, Prince Charles ascends the throne with Camilla by his side. As William, Kate and Harry look on, Charles prepares for the future of power that lies before him…but how to rule? Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org. The Uncivil Civil War Film Series at Hill Center. Feb. 12 to 26, 4 PM. Feb. 12, Ride with the Devil; Feb. 19, Freedom Road; Feb. 26, Slavery by Another Name. Free. In celebration of the Old Naval Hospital’s 150th anniversary, Hill Center and Tom Zaniello will screen and discuss three films that explore American society beyond the battlefields How uncivil, dangerous and beyond the reach of the law were many individuals were who did not wear uniforms. These films all tell terrifying but true stories of freedom lost and brutality. Read more at hillcenterdc.org/ home/programs/3002. The How and the Why at Theater J. Feb. 15 to March 12. By the writer of hit TV shows In Treatment and The Affair, this exhilarating and keenly perceptive play about science, family and survival of the fittest grapples with the choices faced by women of every generation. Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. 800-494-8497. washingtondcjcc.org.
Very Last Days of First Colored Circus at the Anacostia Playhouse. Feb. 15 to March 5. The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus is a redemptive new story of love, loss and family set against the backdrop of the 1927 Charles County Fair. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon PL. SE. theateralliance.com. anacostiaplayhouse.com. Avant Bard’s The Gospel at Colonus. Feb. 23 to March 26. A soaring celebration of transcendence and the fragility of life, The Gospel at Colonus was a global sensation when it premiered in 1983. The story combines Greek tragedy and African American heritage. Gunston Arts Center, Theatre Two, 2700 South Lang St., Arlington, VA. avantbard.org. Intelligence at Arena. Feb. 25 to April 2. A covert operative is racing to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq when the unthinkable happens. With the country at war, her cover is blown and she must
navigate a media frenzy, the CIA’s search for answers and her diplomat husband’s dogged pursuit of the truth. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org. Hamilton’s America with Filmmaker Alex Horwitz at Hill Center. Feb. 27, 7 PM. This is a conversation with the director of the critically acclaimed documentary, “Hamilton’s America,” which recently aired on PBS’s Great Performances. The film is a behind-the-scenes look at Lin-Manuel Miranda’s pop-culture and Broadway phenomenon, “Hamilton.” $10. Purchase tickets at hillcenterdc.org. Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing at Signature. Feb. 28 to March 26. Based on the reallife story of Elva Miller, this touching and funny portrait offers Monk the role of a lifetime as the devoted, warbling songstress whose operatic, off-key singing became an unlikely pop phenomenon in the 1960s. Signature Theatre, 4200 Camp-
Chiarina Chamber Players’ season finale: Intimacy and Brilliance is on Sunday, April 2, 7:30 p.m. at St. Marks.
Chiarina Chamber Players Presents “Voyages in Song”
Feb. 18, 4 PM. Featuring the music of Robert and Clara Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Richard Strauss and André Previn. Tickets are $15 online, $20 at the door, $10 for students. St. Mark’s, 301 A St. SE. chiarina.org.
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A Capitol Hill Insider’s Guide: Civic Life Real Estate Home Services General Services Retail
Health & Fitness Arts & Dining Kids & Family Pets Maps and More!
to Your Doorstep
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2017
Dedication, Energy & Enthusiasm,
Working for You bell Ave., Shirlington, VA. signaturetheatre.org. Mnemonic at the Anacostia Playhouse. March 16 to April 9. Through potent physicality, inventive design, and striking visuals, Mnemonic reminds the world’s interconnectedness where people are still moving, whether by choice or circumstance. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon PL. SE. theateralliance.com. Miracle Theater. Movies shown Fridays, 4 PM, 7 PM, and 10 PM; Saturday, 8 PM and 10:30 PM; Sundays, 4 PM and 7 PM. Movies before 6 PM are $6. Movies 6 PM and after are $8; $6 for children, students, military and seniors. Advance schedule not possible here. Visit themiracletheatre.com for what’s playing. Miracle Theater, 535 Eighth St. SE. 202-400-3210. themiracletheatre.com.
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Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating. Public ice skating is on Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 and March 4, 11, and 18, 1 to 3 PM; Feb. 5, 12, 19 and 26 and March 5 and 12, 2:30 to 4:30 PM; Feb. 10 and 17 and March 10 and 17, noon to 2 PM. $5 for adults; $4, 12 and under and seniors 60 and over; $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena is at 3779 Ely Pl. SE. 202-5845007. fdia.org. Canal Park Ice Skating. Through Feb. 26; Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 7 PM; Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 9 PM; Fridays, noon to 10 PM; Saturdays, 11 AM to 10 PM; and Sundays, 11 AM to 7 PM. Open all holidays but with different hours. Adults, $9; children, military and seniors, $8; skate rental, $5. Canal Park Ice Rink, 200 M St. SE. canalparkdc.org. NGA Ice Rink. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 AM to 8 PM; Fridays, 10 AM to 11 PM, Saturdays, 11 AM to 11 PM; and Sundays, 11 AM to 9
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PM. Skating fees for a two-hour session are $8.50, adults; $7.50, seniors, students with ID and children 12 and under. Skate rental is $3. nga.gov. Washington Harbor Ice Rink. Through mid-March. Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 7 PM; Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 9 PM; Fridays, noon to 10 PM; Saturdays, 10 AM to 10 PM; Sundays, 10 AM to 7 PM. Skating is $9 to $10. Skate rental is $6. Washington Harbor is at 3050 K St. NW. 202-706-7666. thewashingtonharbour.com.
MArkets AND sALes Friends of SE Library Book Sale. Feb. 11, 10 AM to 3 PM. Most books are $1. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary.org/ southeast.
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Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 5 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM to 6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 and 300 blocks of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com. Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays, 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. 20th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW. 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org. Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Tuesdays, 3 to 7 PM. Farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh Street SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com. Union Market. Tuesdays to Fridays, 11 AM to 8 PM; Saturdays and Sundays, 8 AM to 8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-6527400. unionmarketdc.com. Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays, 8 AM to 4 PM. 1819 35th St. NW.
CiViC LiFe Congresswoman Norton’s NW District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 6 PM. 529 14th St. NW, suite 900. 202-783-5065. norton.house.gov. Southwest Waterfront AARP February Luncheon Meeting. Feb. 15, noon. Dr. Crystal A. Kuykendall gives a compelling discussion of her national best seller: From Rage to Hope: Strategies for Reclaiming Black and Hispanic Students. $5 for lunch. River Park Mutual Homes-South Common Room, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. For more information, contact Chapter President, Betty Jean Tolbert Jones at bettyjeantolbertjones@yahoo.com or 202-554-0901. ABC Committee, ANC6D. Feb. 23, 6:30 PM. Alcohol license applications, renewals, enforcement, and other issues. Contact Coralie Farlee at 202-554-4407 or cfarlee@mindspring.com to be added to e-mail list for agenda and notifications. Meeting is at King Greenleaf Rec Center, 201 N St. SW. ANC 6A. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Meeting at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. 202-423-8868. anc6a.org. ANC 6B. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-543-3344. anc6b.org. ANC 6C. Second Wednesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Heritage Foundation, 214 Mass. Ave. NE, first floor conference room. 202547-7168. anc6c.org. ANC 6D. Second Monday at 7 PM. 1100 Fourth St. SW, Second Floor, DCRA meeting room, at 7 PM. 202-554-1795. anc6d. org. ANC 6E. First Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Meeting at new location, Watha T. Daniel Library at meeting room one on lower level, 1630 Seventh St. NW. Have an event for the Calendar? Email it to calendar@hillrag.com. u
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National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Open daily, 10 AM to 5:30 PM. A limited number of walk-up passes on weekdays are available starting at 1 PM. No walk-up passes will be available on weekends. Same-day, online, timed passes are available only through the museum’s website, nmaahc.si.edu/ sameday, beginning at 6:30 a.m. nmaahc.si.edu.
Black History Month Events
Lives Bound Together: Slavery at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Through Sept. 30, 2018. Through household furnishings, art works, archaeological discoveries, documents and interactive displays, the exhibition, demonstrates how closely intertwined the lives of the Washingtons were with those of the enslaved. mountvernon.org.
of African American History and Culture. nmaahc. si.edu. The Blood of Emmett Till. Feb. 8, noon. In 1955, a group of white men murdered fourteen-year-old black man, Emmett Till committing one of the most notorious hate crimes in American history. National Archives, 700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. archives.gov.
The Rosa Parks Papers at the Library of Congress. Tarzan to Tonto: Stereotypes as Obstacles to ProgThe papers of Rosa Parks (1913-2005) span the years ress Toward a More Perfect Union Symposium. 1866 to 2006, with the bulk of the material dating Feb. 9, 6 to 8 PM. As early Americans sought to defrom 1955 to 2000. The collection, which contains fine their identity in a new country, race became a approximately 7,500 items in the Manuscript Dimajor fixation. National Museum of African Amervision, as well as 2,500 photographs in the Prints ican History and Culture. nmaahc.si.edu. and Photographs Division, documents many aspects of Parks’s private life and public activism on behalf of civil rights for African Americans. Access the collection at loc. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad gov/collections/rosa-parks-papers. Visitor Center at sunrise. Photo: NPS Mosaic’s Hooded (or being Black for Dummies) at the Atlas. Through Feb. 19. A dark comedy/satire set in an around Baltimore about growing up black in America, riffing on the Trayvon Martin case, mistaken identity, incarceration and being black on a privileged college campus. atlasarts.org. Historically Speaking: Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge. Feb. 8, 7 PM. NMAAHC will present Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Professor of History, University of Delaware, in a discussion of her new book entitled “Never Caught: Ona Judge, The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of their Runaway Slave.” Free. National Museum
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C. R. Gibbs Presents a Lecture on The Assault on Jim Crow Education: Black Teens in the Civil Rights Movement. Feb. 9, 7 PM. Southeast Library and Feb. 23, 7 PM at Cleveland Park Interim Library. dclibrary.org.
Very Last Days of First Colored Circus at the Anacostia Playhouse. Feb. 15 to March 5. “The Very Last Days of the First Colored Circus” is a redemptive new story of love, loss and family set against the backdrop of the 1927 Charles County Fair. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon PL. SE. theateralliance.com. anacostiaplayhouse.com. Human Rights Heroes: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr. Feb. 15; 10 AM, 10:45 AM, 2 and 2:45 PM. Ranger talk. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. nps.gov/nama. Cultural Expressions: NMAAHC Fashion Collection-Iconic Looks. Feb. 21, 7 to 9 PM. Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion writer, Robin Givhan interviews haute couture designers among NMAAHC’s collections including B Michael, whose beautiful designs have been worn by such renowned actresses Cicely Tyson, and Phylicia Rashad. National Museum of African American History and Culture. nmaahc. si.edu.
Photo/Beth Parnicza
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. Opens March 11, 2017. The woods and wetlands of Maryland’s Eastern Shore shaped Harriet Tubman’s early life in slavery. Using her skills as an outdoorswoman, Tubman navigated the landscape for multiple return journeys to bring friends and family north to freedom. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, 4068 Golden Hill Rd., Church Creek, MD. nps.gov/hatu.
Thurgood Marshall Remembered. Feb. 22; 10 AM, 10:45 AM, 2 PM and 2:45 PM. Ranger talk. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. nps.gov/nama. Avant Bard’s The Gospel at Colonus. Feb. 23 to March 26. A soaring celebration of transcendence and the fragility of life, “The Gospel at Colonus” was a global sensation when it premiered in 1983. The story is both a Greek tragedy and a part of the African American heritage. Gunston Arts Center, Theatre Two, 2700 South Lang St., Arlington, VA. avantbard.org. Harry T. Burleigh: From the Spiritual to the Harlem Renaissance. Feb. 23, 7 to 9 PM. Jean E. Snyder traces Bur-
Frederick Douglass’s 199th Birthday. Feb. 17 and 18. Programming and activities will explore the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass through his connection to the arts. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE. nps.gov/frdo. leigh’s life from his Pennsylvania childhood through his fifty-year tenure as soloist at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan. Montpelier Room, sixth floor, James Madison Building, Library of Congress. loc.gov. Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok-Best of friends? Feb. 24, 6 PM and 6:45 PM; and Feb. 25, 4 PM and 4:45 PM. Ranger talk. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. nps.gov/nama. Taking the Stage: A Celebration of Black Composers and Chamber Music Performed by Pershing’s Own. Feb 26, 3 to 5 PM. Join the US Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” in a performance of chamber music works by esteemed African American classical music composers. NMAAHC. nmaahc.si.edu. Rhythm Cafe: Oh Ella! Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Ella Fitzger-
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A curator installs a copy of Sepia from September, 1966, in the Newseum’s newest exhibit, “1966: Civil Rights at 50.” Photo: Courtesy of Newseum
1967: Civil Rights at 50 at Newseum. 1967: Civil Rights at 50 tells the dramatic story of the growing militancy of the struggle for racial justice in 1967. It tells the dramatic story of the growing militancy of the struggle for racial justice in 1967. Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. newseum.org. ald. March 11, 2 to 4 PM. The Anacostia Community Museum features a special tribute to one of jazz music’s most distinctive voices known for her scat style of singing, diction and perfect pitch. Anacostia Community Museum, 901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. Alexandria’s Watson Reading Room. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 AM to 4 PM. Located next door to the Alexandria Black History Museum, the Watson Reading Room is a non-circulating research repository focusing on issues of African-American history and culture. Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA. 703746-4356. alexandriava.gov.
Call Laura Vucci 202-400-3510 or laura@hillrag.com for more information 30 H Hillrag.com
Visit the MLK Memorial. Open to visitors all hours, every day. 1964 Independence Ave. SW. nps.gov/ mlkm. u
oto:
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Hollywood on the Hill
Glam Up For the Capitol Hill Village Gala by Mike Canning
T
he 2017 Capitol Hill Village Gala glistens with the theme of “Lights! Camera! Action!” and offers the chance to experience “Hollywood on the Hill.” This year the event offers a lively sound track for dancing and listening, craft services of hors d’oeuvre and sweets, and selected short subjects in the form of attractive auction items– all to benefit this prominent Hill organization. The event takes place on Saturday, March 4, 2017, from 7:00 pm to 10:30 pm, fresh after the awarding of the Academy Awards the Sunday before. Again this year the CHV Gala offers a new venue, this time on the campus of Gallaudet University at its Kellogg Conference Center and Hotel (800 Florida Avenue NE). Parking is free and plentiful at the site. This year’s gala marks the beginning of the Village’s 10th Anniversary celebration (the Village was launched October 1, 2007). Ten community members will be honored at the event. CHV Executive Director Molly Singer characterizes the gala as “the Hill at its best. It brings together all sorts of people, businesses, and creative types who are invested in
CHV Executive Director Molly Singer (second from left) celebrates with family and friends at the 2016 Gala
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supporting seniors and celebrating life. This year will be no different--and we can expect sightings of John Wayne, Mae West, and other great Hollywood celebrities. We are so grateful for all of the community’s enthusiasm and support!” The evening’s entertainment will feature a lively DJ spinning music with both a Hollywood flavor as well as an eclectic mix of vibrant dance numbers. Decorations will evoke a movie night premiere, right down to the klieg lights and red carpet. A parade of classic film clips is to be expected. Catering, provided by the Kellogg Center, will feature hearty appetizers, varied buffet stations, and sweet delicacies. A new aspect this year is that most silent auction items will be offered online in advance so interested bidders can assess and bid on a broad selection of items. This will expand the bidder pool and make items available to those who are not able to attend the gala. “We’re going to have as many auction items as there are stars on Hollywood’s ‘Walk of Fame,’” promises Auction Chair Bruce Brennan. “And we hope to get as many bidders too!” Brennan adds that there will be “gift certificates for restaurants across the Hill, theater tickets from all over town, and musical outings far and near.” There will also be behindthe-scenes tours of the Smithsonian, the Arboretum, and the Newseum. To cap the offerings, Brennan enthuses about “great getaway vacation homes from Victorian castles to cozy cottages, with additions this year on properties on Fire Island and Cape May.” The online auction site
The Village’s Programs and Services Coordinator Tamara Coln (second from left) enjoyed last year’s gala at Union Market with her family
is expected to be available in early February and will remain open until just before the March 4 party. The only major silent auction items that will be available during the evening will be the signature “Salon Dinners,” wherein winning bidders can dine and interact with special guests both informed and celebrated, at welcoming Capitol Hill homes. Among some of the salon dinner guests already confirmed are: Francisco Aragon, director of “Letras Latinas,” an organization cultivating Latin American poets; opera singer Mandy Brown; a “Yappy Hour” for pet fanciers featuring a prominent veterinarian; Peggy Pridemore, a local film location manager who has worked on films such as “Forrest Gump” and “Argo,” and a panel of prominent women reporters including Kasie Hunt, Susan Page, and Susan Davis. The gala will again include a live auction extravaganza with six to eight especially enticing offerings, including a spectacular Manhattan getaway and some major gourmet meals. Besides presenting a fabulous party, the gala serves as the major annual fundraiser for CHV’s expanding programs. A principal part of that fund-
raising comes from area sponsors and donors. Phil Guire, president of the CHV Board, who is principally responsible for lining up sponsors, hopes to surpass last year’s take. “Moving into a smaller, more intimate venue means we have to have a higher rate of return (from each sponsor). We’d like to raise at least $75,000 in sponsorships, and we are 60 percent of the way there.” Some of those businesses already committed to supporting the gala are National Capital Bank, contributing at the highest level of “Best Picture Nominee,” and Home Care Assistance, Insight Property Group, Tom Faison Real Estate, and Gary Michael Real Estate, all labeled as “Producers.” Other donors at the “Director” level are Phil and Jeanne Real Estate, Coldwell Banker/Don Denton, Collington Continuing Care, and Schneiders Liquors. “Lights, Camera, Action” calls for evening wear “suitable for the red carpet,” and the organizers encourage attendees to present wardrobe dazzle in addressing this theme. Black-tie is optional. Individual reservations for the gala will cost $150, and donor and sponsor levels range from $1,250 to $10,000. Capitol Hill Village supports its members through education, resources and referrals, coordinated by the office staff headed by Executive Director Singer, and by the hundreds of volunteers who serve with tasks like driving, friendly visits, and household tasks--as well as organizing the gala itself. Balancing its service mission, the Village also offers a wide range of social activities to motivate and inform its members, whose number recently passed 500 individuals. u
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Spring into Museums by Kathleen Donner
1.
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“Frédéric Bazille and the Birth of Impressionism” at the NGA Despite his contributions to the birth of impressionism, Frédéric Bazille (1841-1870) remains relatively unknown. A thematic presentation of 75 works including paintings by contemporaries such as Claude Monet and Auguste Renoir will bring to light Bazille’s place as a central figure. Several examples from the Gallery’s collection, which houses the largest group of Bazille’s works outside of France, will be featured in the first major American exhibition on the artist in almost 25 years. Paintings by his predecessors, Gustave Courbet and Théodore Rousseau, compared with those of Bazille, explore the sources and influences on this limited but visionary painter. “Frédéric Bazille and the Birth of Impressionism” is at the National Gallery of Art, East Building, from April 9 to July 9. nga.gov.
Frédéric Bazille, Family Reunion also called Family Portraits, 1867, oil on canvas, Musée d’Orsay, Paris. Courtesy of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection
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“Boom! Artillery in the American Revolution” at Anderson House This oil painting executed by William Joseph Weaver ca. 1806 depicts Alexander Hamilton, the most famous of the radical young men who helped create the American artillery. He helped seize British cannon on Manhattan at the beginning of the war and served in a New York artillery company at Brooklyn, Trenton, and Princeton. Image: Courtesy of The Society of the Cincinnati
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To win their independence, Americans had to create an effective artillery service able to challenge the British on the battlefield. They had to do all of this with little experience or preparation, while fighting a war with a major European power with a well-trained professional army, the world’s largest navy, factories to manufacture munitions, craft facilities to build and maintain equipment and a well-established system for recruiting and training artillerists. “Boom! Artillery in the American Revolution” is on exhibition at Anderson House through March 26. It races the development of the Continental Artillery during the Revolutionary War, a process shaped by broader technological and organizational changes in artillery that transformed it into a dominant force on European and American war battlefields. Henry Knox is the central character in this story. Appointed colonel and given command of the Continental Artillery at the age of twenty-five, Knox drove the development of the artillery service for the entire Revolutionary War. Anderson House is at 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. societyofthecincinnati.org.
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@NatGeo: The Most Popular Instagram Photos National Geographic Museum’s new exhibition “@NatGeo: Popular Instagram Photos” captures and curates the most liked, commented on and favorited photos from National Geographic’s iconic Instagram account. As the world’s top media brand on Instagram, National Geographic, or @natgeo, has more than 62 million followers and over 1 billion likes on its 12,000+ posted images. Experience the diversity of this innovative and eye-popping content firsthand. Simultaneously digital and tactile, the exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to interact with National Geographic photography in a whole new way. From avid photo buffs to cellphone novices, “@NatGeo” is a not-to-be-missed look at the magic and influence of photography in the digital age. “@NatGeo: The Most Popular Instagram Photos” is at the National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th Street, NW, through April 30, 3017. nationalgeographic.org. These candy-colored homes in Port-auPrince exemplify both the vibrancy and poverty of Haiti. Photo by Ed Kashi/ National Geographic
660 Pennsylvania Ave SE 1718 14th St. NW Union Market www.peregrineespresso.com February 2017 H 39
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“Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” at the Hirshhorn “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” is a celebration of the legendary Japanese artist’s sixty-five-year career and promises to be one of 2017’s essential art experiences. Visitors will have the unprecedented opportunity to discover six of Kusama’s captivating Infinity Mirror Rooms alongside a selection of her other key works, including several, never-before-shown paintings from her most recent series, “My Eternal Soul.” From her radical performances in the 1960’s, when she staged underground polka dot “Happenings” on the streets of New York, to her latest Infinity Mirror Room, All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins, 2016, the Hirshhorn exhibition will showcase Kusama’s full range of talent for the first time in DC. Don’t miss this unforgettable sensory journey through the mind and legacy of one of the world’s most popular artists. “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirrors” is at the Hirshhorn, Feb. 23 to May 14. Timed-timed tickets are required. hirshhorn.si.edu. Installation view of Infinity Mirror Room — Phalli’s Field, 1965, in Floor Show, Castellane Gallery, New York, 1965. Sewn stuffed cotton fabric, board, and mirrors, Courtesy of Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo/Singapore; Victoria Miro, London; David Zwirner, New York. © Yayoi Kusama. Photo: Eikoh Hosoe
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“The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture” by Jacob Lawrence at the Phillips This exhibition features 15 rarely seen silkscreen prints created by American artist Jacob Lawrence (1917–2001) between 1986 and 1997. The series portrays the life of Toussaint L’Ouverture (1742– 1803), the former slave turned leader of Haiti’s independence movement. L’Ouverture led the fight to liberate Saint-Domingue from French colonial rule and to emancipate the slaves during the 1791 Haitian Revolution, the first successful campaign to abolish slavery in modern history. Lawrence had explored the same subject more than 40 years earlier — when he was only 20 years old — in a series of paintings of the same title (now in the Amistad Research Center, New Orleans). The celebrated paintings, which were featured prominently at the Baltimore Museum of Art in 1939, laid the groundwork for Lawrence’s lifelong interest in the human quest for freedom and social justice. “The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture” by Jacob Lawrence is at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, through April 23, 2017. phillipscollection.org.
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Jacob Lawrence, Toussaint at Ennery (print based on painting from The Life of Toussaint L’Ouvertureseries), 1989. Silkscreen on rag paper, 22 x 32 1/8 in. Printed by Workshop, Inc., Washington, DC. Image: Collection of Di and Lou Stoval
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“Louder Than Words: Rock, Power and Politics” at Newseum Through iconic artifacts, compelling images and multimedia experiences, the exhibit examines how music has influenced issues ranging from political campaigns to civil rights. Included in are John Lennon’s acoustic guitar from his 1969 Montreal and Amsterdam “Bed-Ins for Peace” with Yoko Ono, the Fender Stratocaster Jimi Hendrix used to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Woodstock, stage costumes worn by the Village People and original handwritten lyrics to Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” Chuck Berry’s “School Day,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” and Green Day’s “American Idiot.” The exhibit also features artifacts related to the Vietnam War, the May 4, 1970 shooting at Kent State University, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Black Lives Matter movement. “Louder Than Words: Rock, Power and Politics” is at Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, through July 31, includes exclusive video interviews with Bono, David Byrne, Dee Snider, Tom Morello, Lars Ulrich, Gloria Estefan, Gregg Allman, Ann Wilson and others. newseum.org. Bruce Springsteen wore this outfit on the cover of “Born in the USA.” Photo: Collection of Bruce Springsteen
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“The Face of Battle: Americans at War, 9/11 to Now” at the National Portrait Gallery
The Reader by Stacy L. Pearsall, aluminum print 2007. Photo: Courtesy of the artist © Stacy L. Pearsall
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Since September 11, 2001, the United States has been engaged in multiple wars, varying in intensity, locale and consequence. After fifteen years, this warfare has become normalized into America’s social and cultural landscape; it is ongoing, yet somehow out of sight, invisible. “The Face of Battle: Americans at War, 9/11 to Now” explores and assesses the human costs of ongoing wars through portraiture. The exhibition title is drawn from John Keegan’s classic military history, which reorients our view of war from questions of strategy and tactics to its personal and individual toll. Featuring fifty-six works by six artists, the exhibition includes photographs by Ashley Gilbertson, Tim Hetherington, Louie Palu, and Stacy Pearsall; site-specific installation of drawings by Emily Prince; and paintings, sculpture, and time-based media by Vincent Valdez. “The Face of Battle: Americans at War, 9/11 to Now” is on exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and F Streets NW, April 7 to Jan. 28, 2018. npg.si.edu.
Construction of the Inka Road stands as one of the monumental engineering achievements in history. A network more than 20,000 miles long, crossing mountains and tropical lowlands, rivers and deserts, the Great Inka Road linked Cusco, the administrative capital and spiritual center of the Inka world, to the farthest reaches of its empire. The road continues to serve contemporary Andean communities across Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile as a sacred space and symbol of cultural continuity. In 2014, the United Nations cultural agency, UNESCO, recognized the Inka Road as a World Heritage site. “The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire” explores the foundations of the Inka Road in earlier Andean cultures, technologies that made building the road possible, the cosmology and political organization of the Inka world, as well as the legacy of the Inka Empire during the colonial period and in the present day. “The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire” is at the American Indian Museum through June 1, 2020. nmai.si.edu.
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“The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire” at the American Indian Museum A llama caravan travels the Inka Road. Warautambo, Peru, 1990. Photo: Ramiro Matos Mendieta, National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution.
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Dining Notes by Celeste McCall !Viva Espana! Wow, what a classy intro! The eagerly awaited Joselito Casa de Comidas arrived early last month at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. We enjoyed a sneak preview featuring an elegant reception and sit-down dinner. After nibbling hors d’oeuvres and sipping oloroso sherry, we sat down at richly appointed tables as oversize mirrors gleamed over the marble-topped bar. Spanish tiles, vintage posters, and family photos enhanced the warm ambience. “We did not have the budget for an interior decorator,” co-owner Christiana Campos explained. They didn’t need one. Among Chef David Sierra’s classic Spanish dishes we sampled were consome de pollo con chorizo (elaborately presented chicken broth with chorizo), jamon Iberico (Spanish ham), chicken liver pate, habas con chocos (lima beans with cuttlefish, a family favorite), fork-tender Wagyu beef with chimichurri sauce, Andalusian torrijas (similar to bread pudding only better). Spanish wines flowed. Joselito’s regular menu offers these dishes (and more) in three sizes: tapas (appetizers), media racion (half-portion), racion (full size, ideal for sharing). Created by Javier Candon, the 70-seat charmer celebrates Javier’s late father Jose, who enjoyed leisurely repasts in a similarly casual, inviting ambiance. “Joselito” was Jose’s childhood nickname, as well as the moniker of a favorite bullfighter, Joselito el Gallo, and a popular Spanish child actor in the 50s (Jose Jimenez Fernandez). Joselito’s “Hemingway Hour” goes daily from 4 to 7 p.m., when
Jamon Iberico – Spanish ham – appears on Joselito’s innovative menu. Photo: Celeste McCall
Joselito’s charming dining room feels authentically Spanish. Photo: Under A Bushel Photography
Joselito co-owners Javier Candon and Christiana Campos chat with dinner guests.
guests may enjoy everything on the menu with a 20 percent discount. (The famous American writer spent many hours in Madrid’s restaurants and watering holes.) Joselito is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday-Thursday, and 11:30 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday. For more information call 202-930-6955 or visit www.joselitoDC.com.
Winter Warming Le Grenier, the popular Gallic bistro at 502 H St. NE, continues its winter traditions. Wednesday through Sunday, cocktails, glasses of wine, and beer are 50 percent off. Wednesday brings half-priced bottles of (selected) wines. On Thursday, $18.95 gets you all-you-can eat mussels. On Sunday Le Grenier waives its usual $15 per bottle corkage fee. Le Grenier is open daily, including weekend brunch. For more information call 202-544-4999 or visit www. legrenierdc.com.
Mardi Gras Mardi Gras is coming up on Feb. 28, and Bayou Bakery, 901 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital) is gearing up. In honor of the festive season, which kicked off on Jan. 6 with Epiphany (Feast of the Three Kings), Bayou chef/co-owner David Guas – a New Orleans native – is baking traditional king cakes. The ring-shaped confections, similar to coffee cakes, are filled with cream cheese and frosted with purple, green, and gold symbolizing justice, faith and power. A small plastic baby is baked inside each. The cakes are served at parties, and whoever gets the toy infant has to host the next
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An elegantly appointed table awaits Joselito dinner guests. Photo: Celeste McCall
Joselito’s busy kitchen crew takes a time out to greet visitors.
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fete. Guas’s king cakes (which serve 12-14 each), along with tricolored Mardi Gras beads and a postcard describing the cake’s history, are $39.95. Order 48-hours in advance (72 hours for Mardi Gras day) by calling 202-6645307. Pick up the order at Bayou Bakery. Across the Hill at Union Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE, at chef Guas’s popup Mardi Gras Headquarters, you may purchase king cakes whole or by the slice, as well as pralinetopped sugar cookies with purple, green, and yellow sprinkles. There’s also his own GrasNola (honey-sweetened granola). Bayou’s popup goes through Feb. 28.
Gator Aid Speaking of the Pelican State, here’s a tidbit for Super Bowl festivities (the big game is on
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Feb. 5). Ivy City Smokehouse, that lively restaurant/seafood market in the Hecht Development, often sells alligator morsels. Priced at $18.12 per pound, they come from Louisiana, where the deepfried critters are a popular bar snack. Yes, they taste like chicken. Located at 1356 Okie St. NE (off New York Avenue), Ivy City is closed Monday. Call 202-529-3300.
Turkish Delight Just around the corner from Ivy City Smokehouse, Pidzza arrived last month at the Hecht Warehouse at Ivy City. Created by Koray Bozkurt, Pidzza showcases “gourmet pizza with Turkish flair.” Guests may choose to compose a salad or pizza with fresh ingredients, or else order from the menu. Two kinds of handmade dough (one is gluten-free) are shaped into signature oval pie shapes and stacked with the likes of ground Angus beef, tomatoes, onions, and a “special spice blend.” Pidzza’s alcohol license is reportedly in the works; meanwhile guests may quaff housemade sodas or ayran, a refreshing, carbonated mint and yogurt drink.
Pidzza has created a givingback bank, where patrons and management leave extra money for someone’s meal later. Located at 2000 New York Ave. NE (entrance on Okie Street), Pidzza is open daily for lunch and dinner; call 202635-0890 or visit www.pidzza.com.
er, spaghetti squash, and sweet potatoes. Starting at 4 p.m. you can sip a $4 glass of wine, or a special cocktail or beer for $5. Regularly priced victuals and potables are available as well. Beuchert’s is open daily. For more information call 202-733-1384 or visit www.beuchertssaloon.com.
Veggie Hour
Valentine’s at Hank’s
Just across the street from Joselito, Beuchert’s Saloon, the former speakeasy at 623 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, offers a happy hour for those once-illegal alcoholic beverages, plus healthy vegetarian dishes. Monday through Friday, from about 5:30 to 10 p.m., you can order assorted veggie small plates for just $5 each. On a chilly Monday evening, our friends Patrick and Marilyn enjoyed roasted cauliflow-
Hank’s Oyster Bar (on the Hill) is taking reservations for a special Valentine’s Day menu on Feb. 14. Starting at 5 p.m., the lineup might encompass chilled seafood, heads-on shrimp and cheddar grits, key lime pie, and much more. Hank’s is at 633 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; for more information call 202-733-1971.
Tribute The food world mourns Michael
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Chef Daniel Sierra plates a chicken dish in the restaurant’s efficient kitchen. Photo: Under A Bushel Photography
202-543-5906 500 8th Street, SE www.bananacafedc.com February 2017 H 49
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Birchenall, editor/publisher of regional trade magazine Food Service Monthly, who died on Jan. 9. He was 68. He succumbed to complications following a lung transplant about three years ago. I was privileged to know him and occasionally contribute to his publication.
Nutmeg Man An old friend of ours, former Hill resident Ed Riner, died of cancer last month in California. He was 78. Ed and neighbors Dan Rumelt and Tony Capaccio were fellow journalists, but Ed moved to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. A gourmet cook, he loved nutmeg. During the holiday season he threw eggnog parties in his Capitol Hill home. He would personally grind the pungent spice on every cup of the rich (and heavily spiked) drink. He even had a collection of nutmeg graters. When his beloved cat Bingo turned 16, Ed made a “tuna cake” of white bread topped with tuna fish and the appropriate number of candles. Dan Rumelt and wife Kathie Klass (Ed’s DC lifeline for years) flew out West to collect Ed’s things, and we hope they retrieved his nutmeg graters. Ed and his spicy culinary expertise will be missed.
We give to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation because… we believe this is an investment in our neighborhood’s future: our children. Jason Gray, Capitol Hill Day School & Rachel Skerritt, Eastern High School
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‘Bye for Now As we do every winter, Dining Notes is heading to warm and sunny (we hope!) Florida. We’ll be back in April. u
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Capitol Roots
Kaia Kater at Hill Center; Los Lobos at The Hamilton
K
by Charles Walston aia Kater smashes every stereotype about banjo players. A 23-year-old woman of color from Canada, she plays traditional oldtime tunes, but also writes beautiful original songs. She sings about Black Lives Matter and stalkers. Her playing style derives from African American string bands and old-time country music, rather than harddriving bluegrass. Kater is part of a new generation of musicians who are bringing banjos into the pop mainstream. Although the banjo has its origins in Africa, she admits that she had to shed her own preconceptions about the instrument before she picked it up.
“It was so male-dominated that I had trouble seeing myself in that world,” said Kater, who comes to the Hill Center on February 23. “But oldtime music in my opinion is a little Los Lobos, now in their fifth decade, perform at The more accepting.” Hamilton on March 3. Photo: Drew Reynolds Kater got exposed to old-time music after her mother, who has worked as an administrator for arts ortime clawhammer style (more strumming than finganizations, was drawn to the songs in the film, “O ger-picking.) She loved the sound of the instrument, Brother, Where Art Thou?” She took Kater to the and took lessons at Grey Fox from Ira Gitlin, a DC Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in upstate New York, area musician. which offers lessons for children while the artists Kater had been playing cello since an early age, are performing. and she made fast progress on the banjo. Around the Kater’s ideas about the banjo began to change time that she started playing, she met members of when she saw Abigail Washburn play in the oldthe Carolina Chocolate Drops, who draw on early 20th Century African-American string bands that used guitars, fiddles, banjos, and other instruments. Kaia Kater plays songs from her new record They helped Kater realize that there could be a “Nine Pin” at the Hill Center on February 23. place for her in old-time music. Since then, ChocPhoto: Polina Mourzova olate Drops guitarist Dom Flemons has become something of a mentor to her, and she will share a bill with him in Raleigh the night after her show at the Hill Center. “He’s been instrumental in helping me get to a point as an artist where I’m not afraid to take risks,” said Kater. “I look up to him not only as a musician, but as a person.” Kater recorded her new CD, “Nine Pin,” mostly in one day. She plotted the sessions during her last year as a student at Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia, where she studied Appalachian music and dance. The arrangements on the record are stark but effective, the lyrics expressive: It poured down from the mouths of babes Locusts in a land of grey I am wild-eyed and gone astray Brother dear, bear me away Brother dear, bear me away One of the most powerful songs is a traditional
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hymn, “White,” on which a choir accompanies Kater and her banjo. It is a shape-note song, socalled because the notes were delineated by different shapes for churchgoers who didn’t read music. “To me, those shape-note songs have such rich language, I’ve always been fascinated with them,” said Kater. “Nine Pin” earned Kater a mention from Rolling Stone magazine, on a list of new country artists who bear watching. “That was a real good surprise,” she said. “But I was the same thing before Rolling Stone as I am after.” www.kaiakater.com www.hillcenterdc.org
Los Lobos While Kaia Kater is a youthful prodigy, Los Lobos are prodigiously durable. They’re now in their fifth decade as a band, touring behind their newest record, “The Gates of Gold,” which celebrates the stories of immigrants and other Americans. The tour brings them to The Hamilton on March 3. Although one of their records was titled “Just Another Band From East LA,” Los Lobos is in fact our greatest American roots rock band, stirring blues, country, rockabilly, Mexican music and folk songs together into a luscious melting pot, and serving up scorching live shows. They don’t try to reinvent the wheel, but when a band is this good it never gets old. “We’re proud of what we feel is an honest body of work,” said saxophone and keyboard player Steve Berlin. “We just want to keep finding new ways to say things.” www.loslobos.org www.thehamiltondc.com u
A prime destination for dining, large or small private events, late night dancing & drinking, and weekend bottomless mimosa brunch!
134 8 H ST. N E 202.621.7300 W W W.REDR O CK SDC.CO M February 2017 H 53
Preserved military aircraft and technology make up a large part of the collection open to the public.
Recreations like this one help bring naval history to life.
The NMUSN is the only naval museum to include items from the Navy’s entire history.
NMUSN and Cold War Gallery Bring History to Life
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article by Bridey Heing | photos by National Museum of the U.S. Navy
ashington is known for its wealth of museums and cultural offerings, providing educational and recreational opportunities to visitors and residents alike. With so many history, science, and art museums to choose from, it can be easy to overlook institutions off the beaten path. One such is the National Museum of the US Navy (NMUSN), located here in Capitol Hill at the Navy Yard. The NMUSN is also home to the Cold War Gallery, which provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of the Navy in the defining conflict of the later 20th century.
Telling the Navy’s Story Established in 1961 and opened to the public in 1963 in Building 76 in the Navy Yard, the NMUSN is one of 14 museums maintained by the Navy to share its history and celebrate its accomplishments. It is the Navy’s flagship museum, home to a large permanent collection of artifacts as well as tempo-
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rary exhibits. The museum is currently honoring the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor with the exhibit “Valor in the Pacific,” and recently extended an exhibition of artwork by Tom Freeman, who paints scenes from naval history. “The museum collects, preserves, displays, and interprets historic naval artifacts and artwork for the information, education, and inspiration of naval personnel and the general public,” says museum director Jim Bruns, who oversees both the NMUSN and the Cold War Gallery. The collection moved several times as it continued to grow, opening in Building 76 in 1963. The Navy Yard’s role in preserving and sharing the Navy’s history stretches back to the early 19th century, when the first commandant, Thomas Tingey, began collecting key items. What began with a French gun cast in 1793 expanded quickly, and by 1865 a building was devoted to storing the artifacts. The Museum of Naval Relics and Weapons, as it was then called, was one of the first federal museums in the country and a popular destination for visitors to the city. The NMUSN is a priceless resource for un-
derstanding the way the Navy has shaped the history of the United States, and how technology has changed the way we respond to threats. The museum also illuminates how the Navy aids US interests, many of which visitors may not be familiar with. “There are several important takeaways,” Bruns says. “Among them is that America’s sailors are the best trained in the world. Another is that America’s Navy is always at the cutting edge. And another is that our nation is a maritime nation which relies on the Navy to keep the sea lanes open for American commerce.”
The Cold War at Sea The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was the defining conflict of the later 20th century. Taking place between 1947 and 1991, it shaped international politics and domestic policy, and in many ways continues to do so. The conflict was named for the lack of largescale “hot” or direct fighting between the United States and the Soviet Union, a fact that can obscure the important role of the military, including the Navy.
The Cold War Gallery brings visitors face-to-face with the way the Navy helped fight the decades-long conflict.
“Many Americans, especially the youngest, have little understanding of the contributions made by the Navy’s Cold War veterans,” Bruns says. Bridging that knowledge gap is a core goal of the Cold War Gallery. Opened in 2011 as an annex to the NMUSN, the gallery features displays of Cold War-era technology, information on the role of the Navy in the conflict, and interactive exhibits. These offerings and others weave a complex political and military history that is accessible for visitors. But the gallery is focused on more than just conflict. “There were multiple facets to the Cold War – the side that reflected crisis and confrontation, the side which was covert, and the side that was humanitarian,” Bruns says. “The Cold War Gallery examines all three facets. All too often visitors expect to learn only about crisis and confrontation.” The Cold War Gallery was also established to honor a group of servicemen and women that the Navy hopes to keep from being overlooked. Bruns describes their story as “inspiring but little-understood,” perhaps due in part to the complex role the Navy played in the conflict. While the Navy engaged in a number of confrontations with Soviet and
Communist forces at sea, they were also on the forefront of deterrence, both by maintaining technological supremacy and ensuring adherence to maritime rules of engagement. Capitol Hill has always had a close relationship with the military, due in part to the Marine Barracks and the Navy Yard. For Bruns, this highlights the importance of the NMUSN and Cold War Gallery in helping the neighborhood understand its own history and the history of some of its residents. “Cold War sailors are your maturing neighbors, acquaintances, friends, and co-workers,” he explains. “Without asking, many of your readers may never know the role that these sailors played in winning the Cold War.” The National Museum of the US Navy and the Cold War Gallery are located in Building 76 at the Navy Yard. Both are open to the public on weekdays, and admission is free. More information can be found at www.history.navy.mil. Bridey Heing is a freelance journalist and book critic living on Capitol Hill. Her writing has been published by The Daily Beast, The Economist, The Times Literary Supplement, and others. You can find her on Twitter @brideyheing. u
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Food Friendly Wines to Match Winter Cuisine
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the wine girl
By Elyse Genderson
aby, it’s still cold outside. But despite the gloomy days and colder temperatures, there are plenty of seasonal delights to enjoy. In fact, beautiful root vegetables like beets, parsnips, and celery root are so delicious when roasted with olive oil, sea salt, and fresh pepper, they should not be relegated to mere side dishes. These veggies make gorgeous ingredients for your main course as well. Pairing wine with winter vegetable dishes can be tricky, but there are a few pairings that really sing.
Erste + Neue Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige, Italy Explore savory pumpkin dishes like pumpkin ravioli in brown sage butter with a crisp, mineraldriven Pinot Grigio. With this wine, the grapes are grown on steep terraced slopes in Alto Adige, a region nestled within the Italian Alps on the border between Austria and Switzerland. Erste + Neue Pinot Grigio is far more complex than many of its siblings. Dramatic day-night temperature swings in the Alps create bracing acidity and crisp freshness not often seen. The bright notes of lemon, apple, and pear complement the savory, spicy pumpkin flavors. The bright acidity also cuts through the creamy butter sauce.
2015 Las Bas Gewürztraminer, Somontano, Spain Another great example is creamy butternut squash soup with fresh nutmeg paired with Gewürztraminer. Nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountain range in Somontano, the Las Bas vineyards are some of the northernmost in Spain. Rich sweet ginger, white flowers, spice, and lychee notes explode from the glass. This zesty and fragrant wine with it’s tropical notes and spice matches beautifully with the spicy nutmeg and sweet, nutty taste of the butternut squash.
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2013 Worthy Chardonnay, Calistoga, Napa Valley Winter is also a terrific time to experiment with roasting and puréeing different root vegetables for complex and comforting flavors. Root vegetables typically pair well with Chardonnay. A purée of celery root with a bit of cream makes a decadent side dish and is a wonderful accompaniment to scallops pan seared in butter. Pair this delightful seasonal dish with an American Chardonnay: 100% Chardonnay from 25-year-old vines featuring 80% French oak, 50% of it new. The remainder is stainless steel aged. Offering aromas of brioche, peach, apple, and pear, with hints of orange, this wine will complement root veggies perfectly.
2015 Cuvee de Penya Viognier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France Viognier works well with sweet root vegetables especially carrots and parsnips roasted with a pinch of curry spices. Viognier’s original home is in the Rhône Valley, and its exotic floral and fruity character is the perfect partner for winter cuisine. This Viognier shows lighter fruit notes like tangerine, mango and honeysuckle. A hint of clove and nutmeg comes through on the back end. At only $10 per bottle, this is an incredible value that is sure to elevate your winter veggie roasts.
2011 Sons of Eden Zephyrus Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia Savory sweet potato dishes are so simple and versatile this time of year. Make it the star of your meal and cook up some sweet potato and black bean quesadillas, or simply roast them with brown butter and rosemary for a delicious side dish. Pair with a Shiraz from Barossa as the wine’s natural sweetness and bold, lush fruit is an ideal complement to the sweetness in the potatoes.This lavish wine has aromas of purple flowers, spice, ripe blackberry, and dark plums on the nose and palate. Big and soft, you’ll love the long, elegant finish on this hedonistic wine.
2013 Toluca Lane Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon While most mushrooms are available year-round, many are at their peak in fall and winter. Try pairing an oyster, shiitake, and wild mushroom crostini with an earthy Pinot Noir. Toluca Lane is a family owned boutique wine operation in Yamhill County, Oregon. The 2013 is a light, elegant, and refined Pinot Noir featuring notes of bright Rainier cherries, and hints of forest floor. The mushrooms will pair beautifully with the polished earthy undertones in the wine. Let’s not forget the hearty, comforting, and warming meat dishes and slow-cooker stews of the season. These delicious staples are much easier to pair with wine as well. Experiment with fresh, seasonal herbs like rosemary, sage, and thyme, all crushed and made into a rub with a pinch of lemon zest and a healthy serving of olive oil. It’s so simple and delicious! Add fresh black peppercorns and bay leaves to the mix for an extra kick. Smother all over a tenderloin steak and partner with a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon for a heavenly pairing. Get inspired with winter produce at the Eastern Market this coming weekend and treat yourself and your family to a healthy and warming meal paired with a great bottle of wine. Visit Elyse Genderson at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill at 300 Massachusetts Avenue, NE. For more information, visit www.cellar.com. u
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300 Massachusetts Ave., NE • www.cellar.com 1-800-377-1461 • 202-543-9300 • fax: 202-546-6289 February 2017 H 57
At the Movies
And the Oscar Goes To...
Three Foreign Films Contending for the Movie Prize
T
by Mike Canning his column is being published just after the Academy Awards nominations have been announced, and your reviewer wanted to signal a few foreign films likely to be recognized.
di, it’s time to relish his current film, “The Salesman” (Forushande), which echoes his earlier works with a wholly contemporary Iranian setting, a discursive yet intriguing plot featuring an outof-the-blue domestic trigger, and finely calibrated performing from an ensemble of his favorite actors. (The film, which opens Feb. 3, runs 125 minutes and is rated PG-13.) ‘The Salesman’ Emad Etesami (Shahab Hosseini) and his Ashgar Farhadi is on a roll. The Iranian director wife Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti) are a middle-class came to worldwide attention when his film “A Sepcouple in Tehran. He is a literature teacher, and aration” won the 2012 Oscar for Best Foreign Lanboth he and his wife are rehearsing lead roles in guage Picture. Its positive critical reception led ina local production of “Death of a Salesman.” Afternational film distributors to scope out Farhadi’s ter their apartment almost collapses around them, they rent a new place owned by one of their acting colleagues, Babak (Babak Karimi). They are unsettled when they discover that the previous tenant, a woman of ill repute, has left her belongings in the place, yet they try to cope. In a nasty turn of events, one of the Shahab Hosseini (left) and Tareneh Alidoosti are an estranged couple in “The Salesman.” Photo: Habib Majidi, courtesy of Cohen Media Group ex-renter’s clients comes to the apartment while Rana is alone at home taking a bath. backlist, and two earlier works of his surfaced in Thinking it is Emad coming home, she invites him the West: “About Elly” (2009), released in 2015, in, only to be knocked unconscious in the shower. and this past year, “Fireworks Wednesday” (2006; Rana avoids serious injury, but the incident see my take in the April 2016 Hill Rag). leaves her shaken and Emad outraged. The quesNow that the West has caught up with Farhations then become how the couple will find the as-
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sailant and what action to take. The halting, disagreeable effort to answer these questions, at home and during play rehearsals, transforms the peaceful life of the Etesamis into growing tensions between themselves and within their acting troupe. Eventually the play is performed, the culprit is found, and a kind of recompense is exacted – in an extraordinary confession sequence – but the film ends with uncertainties facing a now strained marriage. “The Salesman” is an excellent bet to be one of the five films nominated for Best Foreign Language picture. I would argue rightly so, because Farhadi has again tapped his country’s Zeitgeist to produce a thoughtful, ruminative drama fraught with plausible dilemmas that allow his stable of actors to shine. Farhadi fans will recognize his leads. The sturdy Hosseini was featured in “A Separation” and was a co-lead in “About Elly.” The delicate Alidoosti was a lead in “Fireworks Wednesday” and had the title role in “About Elly.” Both are used splendidly as a striving couple who are slowly, remorselessly driven to question each other and themselves. They personify a marriage not so much breaking apart as exhibiting hairline cracks that may be hard to seal.
‘Toni Erdman’ Another Oscar prospect is the German “Toni Erdman,” a drama filtered through farce that has earned accolades from international critics. Written and directed by Maren Ade, the film was the consensus best movie of the year in the January
Sandra Hueller (left) as Ines and Peter Simonischek as Winfried masquerading as Toni Erdman. Photo: @ Komplizen Film, courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
“Sight and Sound” annual magazine poll, voted on by more than 100 film writers. Whether Americans appreciate its humor is anyone’s guess, but it is a distinctive work. (The film, with German subtitles, is rated R and runs a lengthy 162 minutes.) The story introduces shambling Winfried (Peter Simonischek), a music teacher from Aachen whose worldview could hardly be more different from that of his daughter Ines (Sandra Hueller), a workaholic corporate executive who is estranged from her cutup father and involved in a major deal in Bucharest. At loose ends after the death of his dog, Winfried flies to Bucharest to surprise Ines, but his timing is bad since she is at a crucial stage in delicate corporate negotiations. Winfried tries to loosen his daughter up with goofy pranks, chides her stuffiness, and mocks her barren business lifestyle. Yet, just when Ines thinks Winfried has left for Germany, he returns as the flamboyant Toni Erdman, barely disguised in a rumpled suit, a bizarre wig, and grotesque fake teeth, claiming to be her CEO’s “life coach.” As Toni, Winfried is surprisingly bold and wheedles his way into Ines’ circle. He’s impossible to ignore, but through his mischief Ines begins to see some of the absurdities of her own life, to the point of bonding with dad. Wags have cracked that German comedy is a contradiction in terms, and I fear many in the US may not get many laughs from “Toni Erdman.” The lead character, especially in disguise, is so ludicrous as to be unbelievable – not the best premise for comedy. When he shows up, he appears more freaky than
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free spirit. The fact that anyone would pay him any attention, much less believe his ruse, seems preposterous. Not helping, perhaps, is that the daughter is so expertly chilly that much of the humor is banked. What does work for this reviewer is director Ade’s overall smart yet snarky take on international corporate life. The airless meetings and cocktail parties, the vapid business talk (it is never clear in the film what kind of “business” is being done), the stale hotel life – all are valid reasons why Winfried wants Ines free of them. And while the film works awfully hard, and at sobering length, to make us chortle at this world, the fact that it is depicted at all in a movie is singular.
‘Julieta’ The great Spanish director Pedro Almodovar has been nominated four times for Academy Awards and won once with “All about My Mother.” His latest, his 20th feature film, could place him in the category again. After misfiring with the lurid farce “I’m So Excited” (2013), Almodóvar returns to drama and, surprisingly, takes as his source three short stories of Alice Munro published in her collection “Runaway.” (The film, now in theaters, is rated R for mature themes and runs 99 minutes.) “Julieta” stars Emma Suarez and Adriana Ugarte, playing the older and younger versions of the film’s titular character. The film opens with the older Julieta (Suarez) learning, after many years, of the whereabouts of her long-estranged daughter Antia from
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the daughter’s old school friend. As Julieta begins to write a journal about her life, we flash back to the days when Julieta (now played by Ugarte) encountered a young fisherman, Xoan, on a train and eventually came to live with him on the coast. The couple have a daughter, but Julieta loses her Xoan in a storm. The film then shifts time, in a wonderfully staged two-shot, into Julieta’s life years later in Madrid, when she finds her daughter has abandoned her for reasons that mystify her. The finale details Julieta’s effort to find and reconcile with Antia. As it turns out, Almodovar radically transforms the understatedness of Munro’s brothlike prose into his own pungent gazpacho cinema. He does this using some of his signature elements: striking shot selection within a rich color palette, dashes of melodrama (here moderated somewhat) within intricate plotting, and intense, credible performances from his female leads. Suarez and Ugarte may not look very much like one another (the blonde hair is consistent), but their performances still mesh splendidly through a similar sensibility and tone. “Julieta” is a relatively muted Almodovar but a fertile one. 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. He is the author of “Hollywood on the Potomac: How the Movies View Washington, DC.” His reviews and writings on film can be found online at www. mikesflix.com. u
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The best weekly wine tastings on “The Hill”- Sat (3-6pm)
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by Jim Magner
ruce McNeil photographs the Anacostia River. He is in love with the drifting, mysterious energy that both separates and unifies a city. It flows through the dreams of a people and the passions of the photographer. The result is the difference between a snapshot and a work of art. I wrote that six years ago. The river, the land, and the sky still glow as one enveloping cloak of possibility in each photograph. It’s more than a picture of a place, it’s a state of mind: a subconscious bonding of the real and the mys-
tical. It’s a euphoric trip to both the idyllic past and conceivable future. Bruce uses his enhanced “painterly” photography to express the “extravagant poetic and lyrical beauty of the natural world.” He has been capturing the possibilities of the Anacostia River for over 30 years and has expanded his vision to its 13 tributaries, starting at the headwaters in Sandy Spring. Backyard streams feed the river that flows into the Potomac and, in a short distance, the Chesapeake. His message is that the water in each creek has the same value as the water in the main channel. To him that value is inherent in all of our country’s rivers and lakes. Bruce says he is now “busting loose,” expanding to all rivers in the area, the Patuxent and Severn … and from the St. Lawrence to the lower Mississippi. He’s not trying to shame people to change their ways. He never photographs debris or garbage to make you feel guilty. He wants you to envision how pristine the river was once, and how it might be again if we care enough.
TOP: Bruce McNeil. Bladensburg Waterfront Park, MD, 2013. Digital Paper Print. 24 x 38 RIGHT: Bruce McNeil. John Phillips Sousa Bridge.
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artandthecity
Artist REvisit Profile: Bruce McNeil
Photo by Linda Davidson of the Washington Post
Visit the permanent exhibition of his river photographs in the historic George Washington House in Bladensburg. Next month, you can see his work in the Art and the City show of “REvisit” artists at the Hill Center. That opening is on March 8, 6-8 p.m.
Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art
I once wrote that the only thing more important than water was information about water. I believed then, and still do, that if we could understand how and where we use it, we could better protect it. I said, Hey, we need to consolidate not only geologic and hydrologic data, but also include water law, local zoning, and the other major human activities. We need to look at the big picture and recognize water as an interrelated vascular system that feeds the earth. That was 30 years ago. I drafted legislation and we had very prominent sponsors in the House and Senate. I got to testify before Congress. Alas, the bill didn’t get far. Too much turfguarding and political nearsightedness. Now I think the only thing more important than water is our attitude about water. Our
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“OFFICIAL NATIONALS BAR OF 106.7” belief system is a prelude to collecting information and acquiring knowledge, not just data. We have to be ready to admit some real problems. And hurry up about it. That’s the message that Bruce McNeil is trying to get across by showing us what rivers looked like before the machine age, and endowing them with as much beauty as possible. It’s not an attempt to gloss over the damage humans have done. Nor is it about making pretty pictures, although they certainly are that. Here is the message: aesthetics is critically important but usually takes a second, or third, seat to engineering. Why? We humans evolved with a sense of what a healthy environment looks like. That’s how we survived. Much of that was lost because we ignored our instincts, which are based on something we call beauty. We forgot that a beautiful landscape is a healthy one for both man and beast.
At the Galleries Hill Center Galleries Old Naval Hospital 921 Pennsylvania. Ave. SE Through Feb. 26 This terrific Hill Center event continues through February and features a group show of 37 artists from the Capitol Hill Art League, plus three solo exhibits. “Phantasize” by Karen Cohen takes everyday images and creates “mythological visual stories” by employing digital manipulation tools, layering textures and colors. The recreated photographs “reflect what lies within, by viewing what is on the outside.” “Time Tradition Exhibition,” Winston W. Harris’ newest show, combines three separate series into a conceptual theme to experiment in printmaking. He recognizes the importance of time as an event in itself. He “introduces two disciplines into one format, transforming twodimensional prints, and reinventing the image by recycling past artwork into a new identity.” “Searching for Home” is a journey in search of the source of the emotional feeling of home. Marite Vidales, a native of Costa Rica, features three series of acrylic and mixed media paintings: “Huacas of Peru”; “Transitions in America”; and “Costa Rican Landscapes.” www. hillcenterdc.org
“Vessels” Capitol Hill Art League 545 Seventh St. SE Feb. 4-28 Reception: Sat., Feb. 4, 5-7 p.m. “Vessels” is the theme of the Capitol Hill Art League’s exhibit. You will see “2D and 3D vessels of all kinds – from ships to bowls to blood vessels!” As always, expect a wide range of ideas and themes, styles and techniques. The show is juried by potter Chris Cooley. The Feb. 4 reception is, of course, open to the public. And as always there will be wine and cheese and conversation with the artists. www.chaw.org.
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Coming in March “The Hill Rag’s Art and the City” Hill Center Galleries Old Naval Hospital 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE March 8-April 30 Opening: March 8, 6-8 p.m. For the past year I have revisited artists whom I first profiled years ago. I wanted to catch up with what they have been working on and see how they have progressed in their ideas about art and life. What I found was wonderful. Works by these 12 artists will show at the Hill Center in March and April, opening on March 8. All are top professionals and recognized leaders in their fields: Alan Braley, Tom Bucci, Tati Kaupp, Matt Sesow, Jan Kern, Andrei Kushner, Anne Marchand, Ellen Cornett, Dana Ellyn, Patrick Campbell, Barbara Nuss, and, Bruce McNeil. My “REvisit” profiles will accompany each artist’s exhibit, as well as my “Thoughts” about the themes and subjects of their work. The range of ideas, theories, and techniques is truly exciting. You won’t see a show of this quality and stunning professionalism again. If you are thinking about buying, get there early because each has an extended collector base and wide following. The show is sponsored by the Hill Rag. Also in March, I begin the 15th year of this column. I will profile new artists and occasionally revisit a previously profiled artist. A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim Manger can be reached at Artandthecity05@aol.com. His awardwinning book, “A Haunting Beauty,” can be acquired through www.ahauntingbeauty.com. u
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LITERARY HILL
A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events
The Kid in the Capitol When we first meet Boot, he’s being chased through the Senate chamber after lacing the lawmakers’ candy dish with dead cockroaches. It’s not exactly a fair fight. His pursuer is burdened down by the security hardware on his belt as well as by “an extra seventy-five pounds (at least) that he can’t blame on his uniform.” Boot, on the other hand, is a wiry 13-year-old who knows every escape cranny in the US Capitol. Why? Because he lives there. “Capitol Kid,” Bill Gourgey’s new youngadult novel, offers a compelling blend of adventure, technology, politics, and social issues all in one thrilling ride. Our homeless hero, Boot, has fled his house in Southeast after fighting back against his mother’s drug dealer. Threatened and desperate, he finds his way into the Capitol and holes up in an abandoned room in the basement, where he takes up his favorite pastime—hacking. When his surveillance reveals a sinister plot to push through a bill that would turn the nation’s schools into workhouses for the poor, Boot is forced to take on the powers that be—thereby putting his life at risk on both sides of the Anacostia. In the course of his high-stakes game, Boot comes to learn that the Capitol and the area where he grew up may not be as different as he’d thought. “Now that I’ve seen them in action,” he says, “members of Congress are a lot like gang members: sticking to their turf, taking bribes, selling votes, spying, sabotage…” Happily, Boot is one brilliant, brave, and sassy kid who can hold his own anywhere, whether on the street or in halls of the US Capitol.
In a new YA novel, a homeless young hacker finds himself embroiled in a political conspiracy at the US Capitol.
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by Karen Lyon
Bill Gourgey frequently writes about science and technology and is also the award-winning author of “The Glide Trilogy.” Find him at https:// gourgey.com
Hoofing It in DC Ken Wilcox thinks Washington is a great place for “itchy feet.” He should know. The author spent two years walking hundreds of miles in and around the Metro DC area, taking notes and photos. The result is “A National Jaunt: Footster’s Guide to Washington, D.C.” A handy size to tuck into your backpack, the book is an ideal walking companion. For hardy Tuck this new guide into your backpack and take a walking tour of the National Mall—or Capitol Hill. souls, Wilcox sets out a 12-mile loop around the National Mall, helpfully broken up into seven secnealogical articles for journals and lecturing around tions, offering detailed descriptions, pictures, and the country. In 2015, he published an expanded edihistory lessons on every building, memorial, and park tion of “Only a Few Bones” that includes his artiyou’ll pass on the way. For the less energetic, he ofcles on how to tell your own family’s history—“so fers a gentler series of four shorter loops that can be the book is no longer just an historical narrative,” he spread out over several days—or, as he suggests, exexplains, “but instructive as well.” He also updated plored through different seasons. his research and added new information to reflect Wilcox also presents walking tours of more than changing sensibilities, demonstrating that “exploraa dozen sites in what he calls “the National Nearby,” tion of the past is an ongoing, never-ending process.” including Georgetown, Embassy Row, and the AnaIn addition, Colletta’s lectures are now availcostia Riverwalk. His Capitol Hill loop begins at the able as audio or video recordings in “Discovering Library of Congress and includes such sites as the old Your Roots: An Introduction to Genealogy,” part Christ Church, the boyhood home of John Phillip of the “Great Courses” series, and he has been reSousa, Barracks Row, Lincoln Park and, of course, searching a new book that takes place in WashingEastern Market. ton in the 1850s, 60s and 70s (“Lord, help me!” Packed with maps, information, and resourche writes). es, “A National Jaunt” sets forth flexible game plans On Feb. 11, Colletta will present “Researching both for first-time visitors daunted by the monumental Your Genealogy: A Journey of Self-Discovery,” a dayvistas of the nation’s capital and for seasoned natives long Smithsonian Associates seminar at the Ripley who want a fresh perspective on our magnificent— Center (www.smithsonianassociates.org). And in the and highly walkable—city. fall, he’ll offer a program about writing up the stories Ken Wilcox has worked for many years as an revealed through that research. outdoor recreation planner, with a specialty in trail Colletta is also the author of “They Came in planning and design. For more, visit www.anationalShips: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancesjaunt.com. tor’s Arrival Record” and “Finding Italian Roots.” Visit him at www.genealogyjohn.com. Family Matters When we last caught up with Hill writer John Philip Colletta, he had just finished a new book, “Only a Few Bones: The True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy.” In it, he told the story of his great great grandfather, who owned a plantation in Mississippi and was killed in a tragic fire as a result of a slave revolt. Colletta has been busy since then, writing ge-
On the Hill in February East City Bookshop presents the first installment of “Book by Its Cover,” a new series of literature-inspired rock shows produced by Goldpants Rentals, with the Proper Pets and Tom Caiazza, Feb. 3, 7pm (tix $12 online or $15 at the door); the ECB Fiction
The Poetic Hill D
by Karen Lyon
Book Club, discussing “We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves” by Karen Fowler, Feb. 6, 6:30pm; a reading by award-winning alumni of the Key West Literary Seminar workshop Paula Whyman, Amina Gautier, Jay Desphande, Sam Slaughter, and Theodore Wheeler, Feb. 8, 6:30pm; “Outwrite Presents an Evening of Queer Readings,” with Everett Maroon, Risa Denenberg, David Eye, and Craig L. Gidney, moderated by Joe Okonkwo, Feb. 10,
Genealogist and Hill author John Colletta presents a day-long Smithsonian seminar on discovering your roots, Feb. 11.
6pm; a multi-author event featuring Liz Kay (“Monsters: A Love Story), with Amy Hassinger (“After the Dam”) and Seema Reza (“When the World Breaks Open”), Feb. 11, 2pm; a coffee tasting and talk by Michaele Weissman, author of “God in a Cup,” Feb. 16, 6:30pm; a reading and discussion with Margaux Bergen, author of “Navigating Life: Things I Wish My Mother Had Told Me,” Feb. 23, 6:30pm; and a wine tasting and talk with Stephen Mackey, author of “Dream, Build, Believe: The Founding of Notaviva Vineyards,” Feb. 25, 4pm. eastcitybookshop.com Folger Shakespeare Library presents an O.B. Hardison Poetry tribute to Chilean poet Pablo Neruda featuring Forrest Gander and Javier Zamora, Feb. 14, 7:30pm, and “Cli-Fi,” a PEN/Faulkner reading by novelists Nathaniel Rich (“Odds Against Tomorrow”) and Kate Walbert (“The Sunken Cathedral”), Feb. 21, 7:30pm. Tickets and information at 202-544-7077 or www.folger.edu. The Hill Center offers “Novels into Film: Like Apples and Oranges,” a presentation by Hill Rag movie reviewer Mike Canning, Feb. 6, 7:00pm; and, in partnership with the Library of Congress,
“The Life of a Poet: Conversations with Ron Charles” featuring Brenda Shaughnessy, Feb 7, 7pm. Free, but register at www.hillcenterdc. org or 202-549-4172. The Library of Congress presents a reading and discussion with poet and translator Forrest Gander, author of “Then Come Back: The Lost Neruda,” Feb. 14, 4pm; and “The Original Black Elite: Daniel Murray and the Story of a Forgotten Era,” with author Elizabeth Dowling Taylor, Feb. 14, noon. www.loc.gov Smithsonian Associates begins a fourpart series, “Reading the Gilded Age Authors,” starting with Edith Wharton’s “The House of Mirth,” Feb. 13, 6:45pm; and presents “Researching Your Genealogy: A Journey of Self-Discovery,” a day-long seminar with John Colletta, Feb. 11, 9:30am; and “Rumi: The Sound of One Soul Speaking,” an exploration of the 13th-century Persian poet, March 1, 6:45pm. www.smithsonianassociates.org u
C poet Kim Roberts coedits two literary journals, “Beltway Poetry Quarterly” and the “Delaware Poetry Review,” and teaches at the Folger Shakespeare Library. She is the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities DC, and the DC Commission on the Arts, as well as grants to be a writer-in-residence at 15 artist colonies. Her fifth book of poems, “The Scientific Method,” combines poems about Thomas Edison’s laboratory and Carl Sagan’s turtleneck with her rich and unique impressions of art, history, and nature. From ruminations on clams and T-cells to impressions of an after-hours kindergarten class, she turns what one reviewer calls her “passionate microscope” on a breathtaking array of subjects. In the poem below, she zeroes in on a familiar landmark. Visit her at www.kimroberts.org. If you would like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@literaryhillbookfest.org. (There is no remuneration.) u
Sonnet for the U.S. Capitol Dome Driving down North Cap some afternoons that vista looks so fake, a cardboard dome pasted on a summer album’s page. When Congress is in session, winter nights they light the topknot, called the lantern—bright and merry as a party. Dante wrote: “Cut off from hope, we go on in desire.” Picabia once said, “The head is round so thoughts can change direction.” Every Fall, a plague of crows like freshmen senators ascends the Hill in dancing shrouds. They roost among a palisade of narrow spikes placed evenly amid the cast iron ribs, and oil their squeaky wings for a new season.
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{capitol streets}
Bulletin Board Capitol Hill Community Foundation Achievement Awards
diately across the river. By turning surplus highway spans into spaces for people to walk, play, learn and gather; for art to be exhibited; for views of the city to be admired; its Executive Director Scott Kratz is leading a crucial effort to stimulate community and urban growth while uniting Wards 6 and 8. CHCF’s Gala on Wed., April 26, honors Lewis, the contributions of Lewis, the Parks and Kratz. The 34th Gala, which takes place at the Folger Shakespeare Library, is a fundraiser for CHCF and is open to the public. For more information, call Dee Seward at 202-547- 3742; or visit www.capitolhillcommunityfoundation.com.
This spring the Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF) will honor Geoff Lewis, founder of Capitol Hill Village; and Steve and Mary Park, founders and leaders of Little Lights Urban Ministries at Potomac Gardens Public Housing, with its Community Achievement Awards. CHCF will bestow the second annual Steve Cymrot “Spark” Community Achievement Ricardo, a Special Olympics athlete. Photo: Courtesy of Special Olympics DC. Award on Scott Kratz, executive director of the Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Nats Park 11th Street Bridge Park This annual event is one of Special Olympics’ biggest fundraisers. It sustains their many programs Project, which will also that provide recreational and lifestyle support to those with disabilities. Individuals or teams register receive CHCF’s 2016 Arat specialolympicsdc.org/event/polar-plunge-2017, set up a Personal Plunge page where their supnold B. Keller, Jr. award of porters can donate. Then on Feb. 11, noon to 4 p.m., jump in a giant pool of ice water to the de$10,000 light of hundreds of spectators and fellow plungers. SW’s Waterfront The Capitol Hill VilVillage Launches lage celebrates a decade of Mark your calendar for Feb. 13, 4 to 7 p.m., when the full launch of Waterfront service to Capitol Hill’s older residents, helping them remain in their homes Village coincides with the 15th anniversary of the senior village movement. and in our community. It was Geoff Lewis whose vision and energy brought The event will include an Aging-in-Place Expo, a live national broadcast of Dr. the Village into being (www.capitolhillvillage.org). His fellow honorees, Steve Atul Guwandi from Boston’s Beacon Hill Village and a champagne reception and Mary Park, have been improving conditions at Potomac Gardens and Hopto toast the launch of the District’s 12th senior village. The Aging in Place Expo kins Public Housing for twenty years. Their organization, Little Lights Minisis at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 555 Water St. SW. Read more at dcwatry (www.littlelights.org), organizes volunteers to provide an array of programs terfrontvillage.org. from after school tutoring and summer camps to a choir and quiet mentoring. Senior villages typically offer services to area residents aged 62 or older to The 11th Street Bridge Park will soon become a tangible link between allow them to remain in their homes. These services go from the mundane to Capitol Hill and the neighborhood of Historic Anacostia neighborhood imme-
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Former Jan’s Tutoring House (JTH) tutor Maura Kennedy catches up with program graduate Janice Springer at the organization’s 2016 Red Carpet Benefit. Springer graduated from Smith College in 2006 and works as an associate at the American Federation of Teachers. Kennedy, who also joined the JTH board in 2016, is a long-time Capitol Hill resident. Photo: Amy Hubbard
Jan’s Tutoring House Holds Sixth Annual Red Carpet Celebration Jan’s Tutoring House will hold its sixth annual Red Carpet Celebration on Oscar Night, Sunday, Feb. 26, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. “Spotlight on Students!” is the theme for the celebration which is held while Hollywood celebrities walk the red carpet into the Academy Awards. All proceeds support the organization’s work. JTH has provided educational services, mentoring and tutoring to local underserved children and youth in the Capitol Hill and Hill East area for more than 25 years. Suggested donations start at $25 but higher levels of sponsorship are also available: Tickets are available at janstutoringhouse.org. For more information, call 202-547-1345. the professional. Senior villages rely on a volunteer staff who provide home maintenance, assistance with shopping and medical appointments, health and fitness counseling and social events.
Buzzard Point-From Indians to Soccer On March 6 at 7:30 p.m., local historian and professional tour guide Hayden Wetzel examines Buzzard Point SW in an Overbeck Lecture at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave.
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SE. After the Indian habitation of the area, Buzzard Point attracted the attention of early 1800s speculators, city planners, market gardeners, numerous small industry owners and a small residential community. Wetzel’s PowerPoint presentation will cover the soccer stadium and other plans for the area. Register at hillcenterdc.org/ home/programs/2511 or call 202549- 4172. Seating will begin at 7 p.m. for those who hold reservations. Available seats will be released to guests on the waiting list beginning at 7:15 p.m.
Free Tax Help at Southwest Library
Homebuying 101
Water Wizards Senior Swim Open House
On Feb. 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m., join Joel Nelson and Ned Kraemer of Keller Williams Capital Properties for an informative seminar on buying a home. These veteran guides to Capitol Hill’s real estate market will map out the steps of buying a first home, from loan pre-approval through settling in to a dream home. Tips will be provided for refining a location search, evaluating property specifics, negotiating a successful contract, executing terms and conducting a smooth and stress free closing. Free. Register at hillcenterdc.org.
My Brother’s Keeper
Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has launched DC’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative (MBK-DC) to provide programming for boys and young men of color in four key areas: education, justice, health and job opportunities. Seeking to develop coalitions with public and private sector leaders, MBK-DC is part of President Obama’s MBK Community Challenge. Upcoming MBK-DC events include a series of community roundtable discussions, summer programming and a summit. For more information on how to get involved, contact MBK-DC coordinator Kendrick Jackson at kendrick.jackson@ dc.gov.
On Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. through April 12 meet with a qualified AARP tax aide at Southwest Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW, to help answer tax questions and prepare a 2016 income tax filing. For more information and to find other sites offering tax assistance, visit dclibrary.org/incometax.
DC DMV Adjudication Services Relocated Effective, Monday, Feb. 13, DMV Adjudication Services is moving from 301 C St. NW to 955 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Suite P100. Their hours of operation will remain the same. dmv.dc.gov.
50+ DC residents want to learn to swim, improve water skills or compete in local and national events are invited to meet the Water Wizards on Feb. 9, 9 to 11 a.m. at Rumsey Aquatic Center, 635 North Carolina Ave. SE. Water Wizards work with an amazing coach to have fun and improve health, all at the same time. It’s free. Please wear deck shoes.
The CHRS Capitol Hill Home Photo Contest In anticipation of the 60th anniversary of the Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour (May 13 & 14), CHRS is sponsoring a photo contest. Take an exterior shot of what you think makes a home a Capitol Hill home and email it to houseTourCHRS@ gmail.com. Submissions are du February 25, 2017. Winner will receive House Tour tickets; finalists will be published in the Hill Rag. For more info visit chrs.org/photo-contest.
Valentine’s Skate Night at Canal Park Ice Rink On Tuesday, Feb. 14, 5-10 p.m. enjoy a romantic skating evening for Valentine’s Couples at Canal Park. The rink will be romantically decorated, acapella groups will perform, and couples can take the memories with them by snapping photos at a photo booth. For a $60 (+ tax & tip) package deal, couples can enjoy a pre-fixe dinner for two at il Parco including a bottle of sparkling wine and skate admission. Call il Parco to RSVP at 202-484-0699. capitolriverfront.org/canal-park.
Thomas Landscapes Over 20 Years of Experience
REDEFINING BEAUTY ONE CLIENT AT A TIME!
Author Events at East City Bookshop On Feb. 7, 7 p.m., poet Brenda Shaughnessy will read and discuss her work at The Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. On Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m., join a panel of Key West Literary Seminar alumni for a reading and discussion featuring local author Paula Whyman alongside Ted Wheeler, Jay Desphande, Amina Gautier, and Sam Slaughter. On Feb. 10, 6 p.m., OutWrite and East City Bookshop present an evening of readings by queer authors featuring Everett Maroon, Risa Denenberg, David Eye & Craig L. Gidney, moderated by Joe Okonkwo. Feb. 11, 2 p.m., Liz Kay, author of Monsters: A Love Story, will read and discuss her work alongside Amy Hassinger (After the Dam) and Seema Reza (When the World Breaks Open). On Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m., Michaele Weissman, author of God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee, will read and discuss her work, with a free coffee tasting provided by Peregrine Coffee. On Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m., Margaux Bergen will discuss her self-enrichment book, Navigating Life: Lessons I Wish My Mother Had Told Me. Feb. 25, 2 p.m., Stephen Mackey will discuss Dream, Build, Believe: The Founding of Notaviva Vineyards, with a free wine tasting. East City Bookshop is at 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. eastcitybookshop.com.
EMULSION—East City Art Regional Show EMULSION 2017, March 3-16, is an exhibition open to artists who reside or work in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan
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area within a 50 mile radius of East City Art’s offices on Capitol Hill. This year’s exhibition is at PEPCO Edison Place Gallery, 702 Eighth St. NW. Here’s the schedule of events: March 3 (March 10, snow date), Opening Reception and Award Announcements; March 7 and 9, 6 p.m., Artist Talk; March 16, Closing Reception. eastcityart. com/emulsion.
Jill Strachan, CHAW’s Executive Director, Retires The Board of Directors of The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) have announced the spring 2017 retirement of CHAW’s long-time Executive Director Jill Strachan, who has led the organization since 2007. The Board has appointed Amy Moore and Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld as Co-Executive Directors to succeed her. As she transitions to retirement, Strachan will serve CHAW in a support role. Simultaneously, Amy Moore, CHAW’s director of Education and Programs since February 2008, and Hannah Jacobson Blumenfeld, CHAW’s director of Marketing, Development, and Strategy since September 2014, will take on new roles. They will be jointly responsible for the management, oversight and future of the organization. chaw.org.
Nerds in NoMa Returns The District’s favorite, nerdy speaker series, “Nerds in NoMa,” returns with a new set of fresh, DC-centric topics. This free panel discussion takes place every third Tuesday through April 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1200 First St. NE. Every month, bring a happy hour crowd to Nerds in NoMa for drinks and discovery. Learn more about current events, and the city from DC specialists and gurus. Wine, beer and snacks are available. Here’s the line-up: Feb. 21, DC Visual Arts: the reasons it is important for DC to have an arts identity and how to keep artists in the city; March 21, City. Smarter. Neighborhood Spotlight: NoMa-based think tanks and non-profits making NoMa and the world a better place; April 18, Greening the City: the importance of having green space in the urban landscape. All Nerds events are free and open to the public. nomabid.org/nerds-in-noma.
ANC6C Accepting Grant Applications The ANC6C Grants Committee is accepting applications for grants from non-profits on four dates
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in 2017. Grant applications are due to the Committee on Feb. 9, May 11, Aug. 17 and Nov. 2. Any non-profit organizations with a 501(c)(3) determination from the IRS can apply. Those organizations do not need to be located within the ANC 6C boundaries, however, projects do need to provide services that are public in nature and benefit persons who reside or work within the commission. A complete application must have a cover sheet using the approved form, project description, budget, project outcome and supporting documents. More information on how to apply can be found at anc6c.org or by writing to the Committee at anc6c.grants@gmail.com.
Valentine Concert & Wine Tasting On Feb. 11, 7 to 9 p.m., Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church is having their second annual “Sparkling Wine Tasting & Valentine Pop Concert.” The event features area singers and musicians performing the great love songs from each decade of the past 100 years followed by a sparkling wine tasting led by the DCWineWonk. Music, wine and childcare are included in the price: $30 for one; $55 for two and $100 for four. The Valentine Concert & Wine Tasting raises funds to provide meals for those in need. Sponsors this year are Marsh Strategies, Tightline Strategies, AH Publications, Schneider’s of Capitol Hill and DCWineWonk. Capitol Hill Presbyterian is at 201 Fourth St. SE. Call 202-547-8676, for more information. Tickets are at capitolhillpreschurch.org.
The Highline at 320 Florida Ave. NE The Highline, a $100 million apartment community is being developed at 320 Florida Ave. NE. The project includes 318 luxury apartments including four penthouse units and approximately 10,000 square feet of first floor retail space. Inspired by New York’s meatpacking district and the elevated park known as the High Line, the 12-story, modern-industrial architectural design integrates warehouse-style windows with industrial-framed glass cubes that weave in and out of its Florida Avenue façade at varying depths. Other unique elements of the design include materials reminiscent of rail cars and steel columns that echo the riveted steel supports of the nearby railroad underpass. Located one block from the NoMa/Gallaudet Red Line Metro Station, The Highline will also provide a significant pedestrian connection between the NoMa
and Union Market neighborhoods through the construction of an adjacent park. Thirteen 3-bedroom townhomes will be built off-site in ANC 5B in conjunction with DC Habitat and set aside for households earning no more than 50 percent of the area median income (AMI). In addition, four percent of The Highline’s units will be set aside for households earning no more than 80 percent of the AMI.
Free Small Business Legal Advice The DC Bar Pro Bono Center holds a small business clinic aimed at meeting the needs of the deaf entrepreneur and small business population on Feb. 15 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the I. King Jordan Student Academic Center at Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave. NE. Existing or an aspiring small business owners can meet one-on-one with an attorney at this free advice clinic. There will be American Sign Language interpreters available for the deaf entrepreneur community but this clinic is open to all. Those with questions may contact Darryl Maxwell at dmaxwell@dcbar.org or 202-7374700, ext. 3369.
DC Goodwill Free Local Donation Pickup Service Goodwill of Greater Washington has launched a pilot program that allows donors to mail their donations to Goodwill through the US Postal Service for free. Donors must place their gifts of clothing, shoes, and accessories into a box. Then they can visit DCGoodwill.org to schedule a pick-up through the US Postal Service. They can print and affix a mailing label and then place the box on their front porch for pick up. Upon receipt, Goodwill will email the donor an IRS compliant donation receipt.
Allen to Chair Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary Councilmember Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) has been named the chair of the Council’s Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary. The Committee oversees the Metropolitan Police Department, the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, Office of the Attorney General, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the Office of Unified Communications, the Board of Elections and the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability. In addition, Councilmember Allen will also
serve on the committees on Education, Health, and Transportation & the Environment.
Allen Announces Additions to Staff Councilmember Allen has named Andy Le his new Director of Communications. Le served as Senior Director of Digital Strategy at the US Department of Education. He also led digital engagement at DC Water and DC Public Schools. Le is a graduate of James Madison University. Allen has named Kate Mitchell as his Committee Director for the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. She is a graduate of Smith College and University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. Chanell Autrey was named Deputy Committee Director for the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety. A District native, Autrey attended Ward 6’s Jefferson Middle School, before graduating from School Without Walls High School, Pennsylvania State University and The George Washington University Law School.
Valentine’s Day with City Wildlife Fall in love with City Wildlife at the third annual Valentine’s Day Open House Feb. 12, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once a year, City Wildlife is open to the public for a familyfriendly behind-the-scenes look at the District’s first and only wildlife rehabilitation center. For a suggested $10 donation, visitors will get a tour of the facility, meet and talk with the staff and enjoy light refreshments. RSVP to info@citywildlife.org or call 202882-1000. citywildlife.org. City Wildlife, 15 Oglethorpe St. NW, is a non-profit orga-
INSTRUMENT RENTALS, LESSONS & CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS 801 D St, NE
(202) 733-3158 m usiconthehilldc.com February 2017 H 71
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nization dedicated to the care of sick, orphaned and injured native wildlife with the goal of releasing animals back to the wild. Last year, City Wildlife cared for over 1400 animals including small mammals such as squirrels, opossums, dozens of species of birds, as well as reptiles and amphibians.
Anacostia Sewage/ Tunnel Completed
On Feb. 25, 1 p.m., Southwest Library hosts a discussion of “The Hemingses of Monticello” by Annette Gordon Reed. Copies are available for checkout at the information desk. Southwest Library is at 900 Wesley Pl. SW. dclibrary.org/southwest.
On Jan. 5, DC Water pulled “Nannie,” the 1,200ton tunnel boring machine, from the ground now that she has completed her 12,384-linear-foot journey. The boring machine has been underground since November 2015 digging an enormous tunnel from near RFK Stadium to Poplar Point. The tunnel is part of the Clean Rivers Project and connects to a different tunnel dug by ‘Lady Bird’ two years before. The work is part of DC Water’s ongoing efforts to improve water quality by eliminating most combined sewer overflows in the District of Columbia.
11th Street Bridge Park Tour
Mayor Signs GPS Monitoring Legislation
The Hemingses of Monticello
On March 30, 5:30 to 7 p.m., learn about the 11th Street Bridge Park, a project of Ward 8 based nonprofit Building Bridges Across the River at THEARC. The project puts inclusivity and equity first. It will provide meaningful and rich cultural programming to District residents seeking the improvement of the lives of residents in some of DC’s most underserved communities. The tour starts with a presentation inside the Miracle Theater, 535 Eighth St. SE, followed by a site tour giving an insider’s perspective on the park’s history, design and updates. RSVP at bridgepark.org/event/bridgepark-tour-march.
Mayor’s Arts Awards Call for Nominations Nominations for individuals and organizations are being accepted for awards in the following categories: Excellence in Visual Arts; Excellence in Performing Arts; Excellence in Arts Education; Excellence in Creative Industries; Excellence in the Humanities; The Larry Neal Writers’ Award for Adults and Youth. Only online applications will be accepted no later than Friday, Feb. 24, 4 p.m. (EST). For more information, contact Ebony C. Brown, Special Events Manager at ebony.brown@ dc.gov or JaKenna Martin, Special Events Associate jakenna.martin@dc.gov or 202-724-5613. Read more at dcarts.dc.gov/page/MAA2017. The Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors conferred by the District on individual artists, teachers nonprofit organizations. The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities will present the 32nd Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards at the Historic Lincoln Theatre in September 2017.
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Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has signed legislation that makes it a criminal offense for persons on probation or parole to tamper with GPS monitoring devices. The legislation, part of the Mayor’s Safer Stronger DC initiative, closes a critical loophole that allowed individuals on supervised release who were ordered to wear electronic monitoring devices to go unpunished after removing, disabling, or tampering with the device. Under the new law, any agency that can order a person on supervised release to wear a GPS monitoring device, such as the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, the Pretrial Services Agency and the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, can enforce attempts at tampering with the device. Individuals found guilty of tampering with their GPS monitoring devices can face up to six months in jail.
Financially Fit DC Initiative Launched The District government has launched “Financially Fit DC.” a comprehensive financial literacy program designed to empower all District residents to take control of their financial health. Financially Fit DC is driven by a web-based financial assessment tool that guides participants through the process of creating a workable budget, checking credit, purchasing a home and planning for retirement. The tool helps participants identify short-term needs and set lifetime goals through a personalized financial roadmap. This innovative approach aims to foster behavioral changes that will positively impact individuals and families over the long-term. Throughout the year, the District will host community-focused clinics that connect residents
to financial services. These clinics will address a variety of topics including: gaining access to financial resources by using the federal Earned Income Tax Credit program, building a savings account, preventing financial fraud, preparing for retirement, and utilizing DISB’s Bank on DC program, a collaborative effort to create greater access to mainstream financial services in order to avoid potential high costs and fees. For more information, visit financiallyfitdc.com.
DC Solid Waste Diversion Progress Report The Department of Public Works has released the District’s first-ever Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Solid Waste Diversion Progress Report. The report, available at dpw.dc.gov/wastediversionreport, provides an overview of the District’s waste diversion programs and initiatives. It also provides waste generation and diversion rate data to assist District stakeholders in working together to achieve its waste diversion goals.
New Veterans Housing Program Opens On Jan. 12, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro; US Secretary of Veteran Affairs Bob McDonald; and DC residents to celebrate the ribbon cutting and opening of the John and Jill Ker Conway Residence at North Capitol Commons, 1005 North Capitol St. NW. Named after the late World War II veteran and his wife, the John and Jill Ker Conway Residence includes 60 units of permanent supportive housing for veterans experiencing homelessness and 64 units for District residents who meet the income requirements for affordability. The building has 12 floors and 124 efficiencies, 60 of which are fully furnished. Residents will receive assistance with health needs through case managers. District landlords with available, affordable housing are encouraged to partner with the District to help sustain the work that has been accomplished thus far for veterans. For more information, contact newleaseonlife@dc.gov. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email bulletinboard@hillrag.com. u
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Submission deadline extended to
February 25
For more info: chrs.org/photo-contest Winner will receive House Tour tickets; finalists will be published in the Hill Rag
We welcome nominations of houses for the tour. Please let us know if you or a neighbor would be willing to consider opening your homes
MEDIA SPONSOR:
Visit www.chrs.org to learn more. Email info@chrs.org or call 543-0425.
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This is what democracy looks like. Photo: KarenCohen
Tru
BELO Brid and
Larry Bower and Susan Eubanks
Photos: Andrew Lightman
s n e m The W n o h c M ar n o t g n i Wash
Lookalikes.
Congress (D-Calif.) Roy Mus
People Gather to March to the White House for Women's Protest. Photo: Karen Cohen Pussy Hats: Noreen Banks, Leyla Gungor and Rindy O’Brien
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Photo: Andrew Lightman.
Photo: Laura Vucci
had a great fall. Trumpty-Dumpty Realtors BELOW: Capitol Hill Wilson Bridgette Cline, Reece l. and Joan Carmichae
Margaret Moo Jackie Parker k and
Photo: Norm Metz ger Monica, Greg and Stephanie Cavanaugh: The family that marches together....
Kira Means, Rebecca Harris, Gini King, Joan & Jessica Means Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Kris Swanson, and Roy Mustelier.
Marchers move down 14th St. to the White House. Photo: Jim Dougherty
Photo: And
rew Lightm an
Photo: Todd Bissey
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The Numbers
The Wrong Choice for DC Workers
D
onald Trump famously campaigned on promises to “make America great again” by fighting for working people. Yet his nominee for Secretary of Labor, Andrew Puzder, has a long history of fighting against workers’ rights, both at his own companies and from a policy standpoint. He is the wrong choice for Labor Secretary. Puzder’s nomination would be confirmation that the District needs to continue charting its own path to helping workers, especially the least powerful. That includes a strong minimum wage, paid family and medical leave, and protections against workplace abuses.
by Ilana Boivie an age, sex, or race discrimination case.” Yet perhaps most telling are the abuses of workers’ rights at Puzder’s own companies. Department of Labor investigations uncovered violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act at 60 percent of Carl’s Jr. restaurants (whose parent company, CKE, is owned by Puzder) over the last seven
Puzder’s Awful Record as an Employer The US Department of Labor’s mission is to “foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.” Puzder’s own record on these issues has been the exact opposite. His actions and policies have served to undermine workplace standards, rights, and benefits. Puzder has voiced opposition to raising the minimum wage, providing paid sick leave to employees, and expanding overtime rules. He has expressed almost overt disdain for lower-wage work, stating that replacing workers with automation makes sense because machines are “always polite, they always upsell, they never take a vacation, they never show up late, there’s never a slip-and-fall, or
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group of restaurant workers and supporters. Onethird faced situations where they were not fully paid – “wage theft” – including not receiving required breaks or overtime pay. And 79 percent reported preparing food while sick. Since 2000, when Puzder became CEO of CKE, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s have been served with more employment discriminations lawsuits than any other hamburger chain in the country. The lawsuits include allegations of racial and gender discrimination, as well as sexual harassment. When asked about disrespectful depictions of women in Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s advertising, Puzder was unapologetic, stating, “I like beautiful women eating burgers in bikinis. I think it’s very American.” A company release claimed, “We believe in putting hot models in our commercials, because ugly ones don’t sell burgers.”
DC Should Continue Taking the High Road
years. Two-thirds of women working at CKE restaurants have experienced unwanted sexual behaviors at work, according to a survey by Restaurant Opportunities Center United, a membership
In recent years the District of Columbia has passed laws and policies to protect and advance workers’ rights and benefits, including many of those opposed by Puzder, such as providing paid sick and safe leave, increasing the minimum wage, expanding wage-theft prevention, and providing paid family and medical leave. These policies will help to better the lives of tens of thousands of lower-income DC residents. They are likely to come with little or no drag on the DC economy, as years of research on these policies has found. Yet more needs to be done to serve the city’s most vulnerable. Income inequality in the Dis-
trict of Columbia is among the highest in the nation and continues to grow. In a booming economy, average income for the poorest DC residents actually fell to $9,300 in 2014, from $10,800 in 2007. Since 1980 wages have fallen, adjusting for inflation, for DC workers with less than a bachelor’s degree, while increasing for those with the most advanced education. Meanwhile the cost of living continues to rise, making it harder and harder for families to make ends meet. While the District of Columbia has been a leader in providing stronger workers’ rights and benefits, Department of Labor rules and regulations are still important to residents. For example, former President Obama’s proposed overtime rule would have boosted the pay of some 29,000 working DC residents, nearly onequarter of the city’s total salaried workforce. Puzder has been publicly critical of the overtime rule, stating that “it will be another barrier to the middle class rather than a springboard.” We need a Labor Secretary who will push for policies that advance the mission of the Department of Labor and put working Americans first. Puzder is not that person. Ilana Boivie is senior policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect lowand moderate-income DC residents. u
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Maury Has Good Options for Modernization Debate Focuses on Capacity and Timeline
F
rustrations over a lack of vision for the modernizations of Ward 6’s public schools bubbled over after a meeting on Jan. 12 updating the status on projects at Maury Elementary (1250 Constitution Ave. NE) and Jefferson Academy (801 Seventh St. SW). Jefferson’s renovation is straightforward. DC Public Schools (DCPS) has planned small fixes around the school as the building waits for construction to start in 2020. Those fixes include updated science labs, outside door replacement, and HVAC repair. Maury is a feeder school for Jefferson. Its renovation is scheduled to finish in August 2018. But Maury faces a significant sizing and capacity problem after DCPS failed to update enrollment estimates following unanticipated rapid growth in the surrounding neighborhood. At the meeting, DCPS and Department of General Services (DGS) representatives proposed four scenarios. Two would keep the construction dates on track; the third and fourth would expand the building’s capacity and push back the completion date. The fourth option would also require demolishing millions worth of already completed renovations and increase the budget by about $15 million.
by Christine Rushton Growth of Enrollment Not Foreseen Enrollment estimates at Maury were off the mark in the planning process for modernization, so the capacity projections are not compatible with the estimated future enrollment, said Ward 6 State Board of Education representative Joe Weedon. Enrollment projections increased to 513 in 2020, more than the building’s current capacity of 457 students, DCPS spokesperson Janae Hinson said. This increase, while it shows positive support from the community, requires amendments to the modernization plan set to start in late summer 2017.
impact the programming at each site and logistics for families.
Option Two: New Boundaries DCPS offered to redraw the boundaries set in 2014 to shrink the area the school serves. Current students would remain in school, but it would alter future enrollment. This plan doesn’t change the timeline or budget for the current project, but it leaves no room for future growth at Maury and disrupts families with siblings who may not be able to attend the same school.
Option One: Cluster Model
Option Three: Expanding the Current Building
The first approach is to create a cluster between Maury and Miner Elementary (601 15th St. NE). The in-bounds families would be in a combined boundary area, and the buildings would split by grade, Maury taking the upper grades, Miner the lower of the preK-3 to fifth-grade levels. While this solves the capacity problem and keeps the construction timeline on track, DCPS’s representative did warn that it would significantly
One idea would increase the enrollment capacity to 539 by building out several parts of the existing 1886 and 1961 structures. This would include a larger kitchen, a small two-story addition for classrooms, a three-story addition to the multipurpose room for classrooms and a lobby, and new playgrounds on the west side of the addition. It would remain on the same budget and timeline. DCPS warned that the final project would eliminate play space, wouldn’t meet certain educational specifications, and still has a large number of students in a limited space.
Option Four: Demolishing One Building, Expanding The other suggestion demolishes the 1961 building; puts up a new three-story addition with appropriate classroom sizes and office space; adds a one-story addition for the media center, adds a oneand-a-half-story building for the cafeteria, kitchen, and stage, and reassigns the parking lot. The drawback: it would push the project completion date back to August 2019. It would also require approval from the DC Council and the mayor to add roughly $15 million to Maury’s current $18.5 million capital improvement plan (CIP) budget.
What the Parents Want Most parents and staff at Maury want a school that is the right size and includes the current boundaries, according to a DCPS survey sent out to parents
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and staff. Complications in the process have frustrated many, but they want the project done right. Reducing the boundary area doesn’t seem fair to families, the budget isn’t guaranteed through the CIP process, and expanded capacity would also impact the school’s current operations, said Max Kieba, a school improvement team (SIT) coordinator and Maury parent. “We talked about clustering with Miner or shrinking the boundaries back from the extension, but we didn’t want that,” he said Instead, they are interested in the most radical plan, option four. Kieba admitted it poses a challenge for swinging out of the school for two years to a temporary location or even moving two times in two years, but they want a school that fits the community’s growing needs. Maury Principal Carolyn Albert-Garvey agrees and wants people to understand that a potential increase in the budget is not a request for money on the current plan; it’s to address the number of new local families. “If there is a way for us to do a two-year renovation and get a building that fits our needs, that would be wonderful,” she said, adding that increased enrollment is a good problem to have. But Weedon questions the teardown of the 1961 building in option four. The city has already spent money renovating parts of that building, and an increase in money for one school could potentially take away funds from another school that lacks basic needs like HVAC systems that work and windows that open. “I’d like to see a bigger-picture view of how the investment in Maury supports a vision that creates a sustainable system of schools from early education to graduation for the entire neighborhood, puts more students in a position to achieve, and closes the achievement gap,” Weedon said. u
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Keeping Their ‘Feet to the Fire’
Local Leaders Want Action, Engagement on the RFK Redevelopment
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by Christine Rushton
vents DC revealed ambitious plans for the redevelopment of the 190 acres surrounding RFK Stadium in DC’s Ward 7 on Jan. 5. But while community leaders showed support for some of the proposals, they see the twoto-five-year plan as just a start to a broader conversation about the site’s future. With the DC United soccer team moving to its new stadium in Southwest, the city and community are developing plans on how to reimagine and reenergize the space. Plans currently include multipurpose fields, a market hall, a sports and recreation complex, pedestrian bridges connecting the west and east banks of the Anacostia River as well as to Heritage and Kingman Islands, and a new memorial site for RobAn overview plan of the Events DC’s short-term plan for the RFK redevelopment. (Photo: Events DC) ert Kennedy, brother of President John Kennedy. feet of the space toward the north end and middle and paths to the rivers. But with the budget currently estimated at of the site will host three fields and amenities: 3. Sports Complex. A 350,000-square-foot $489.6 million for this short-term plan – which ex• one youth soccer field with two lighted sports complex will support activities like bowling cludes any estimates or plans for RFK Stadium it baseball diamonds and other all-season options and will also include self – and lingering questions over how Events DC • two soccer and lacrosse fields a 30,000-square-foot fitness center, possibly indoor plans to renegotiate an extension for the 22 years • a 2,900-square-foot bathroom and support skydiving, and transparent walls. remaining on its lease with the National Park Serbuilding 4. Pedestrian Bridges. Three pedestrian bridgvice (NPS), local representatives and community • a concession area and a picnic area es taking up about 25,000 square feet will connect leaders want full participation in the upcoming de2. Market Hall. Events DC wants to put in west of the Anacostia to the east in Ward 7: cisions. And as quickly as possible. a 47,000-square-foot market hall that will offer • a wooden beam bridge on the north end space for urban gardens, farmers, specialty pre• a suspension bridge in the middle of Breaking Down the Plan pared food vendors, and other fresh food options the site across the river Events DC assembled the short-term master plan for the local community. Though the lease be• a steel bridge toward the south that will to get the site’s redevelopment started. It could tween the NPS and the District allows for “en connect to Kingman Island even finish before the demolition of RFK, said tertainment” and “sports” activities, Brown said Events DC responded to community requests Max Brown, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s appointment the food hall falls under the umbrella of concesto provide better connections between the riveras chair of the Events DC board. Events DC and sions when paired with the sports and recreation fronts and the two islands, Heritage and Kingman. the community have yet to decide what will fill complexes. The design will resemble other large The spaces will also allow for access to outdoor classthe RFK space. The short-term plan includes five markets like Pikes Place Market in Seattle and rooms. main projects. the Ferry Market in San Francisco. It will have 5. Memorial for Robert Kennedy. About 1. Multipurpose Fields. About 217,000 square open garage style shops, upper dining terraces, 10,000 square feet will also go to a new interactive
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Neighbors Want More Conversations
posed components. Why can’t the DC Department of Parks and Recreation run the sports fields? Why can’t DC run the market hall, like the one at Eastern Market? He wants to see more “natural” agencies or groups partner with different aspects of the redevelopment. “By putting Events DC in charge of this project, we bias the outcome that Events DC will run everything,” Ridge said. Brown said his Events DC team is working with the Reservation 13 developers. He didn’t address that at the meeting because he wanted to present the plans to the community first for feedback.
Residents in Ward 7 across the river asked Events DC to think more about the challenge of connecting the east and west banks via pedestrian bridges. One community member explained at the meeting that with the Anacostia freeway dividing the east and west sides of the Ward 7 community, that limits access for pedestrian visitors. Reconciling a Reasonable Residents of the KingBudget, Lease Extension man Park community said The site will cost nearly a half a billion dollars to comA rendering of the proposed market hall in Events DC’s short-term plan for the Events DC’s plan isn’t perplete, and Events DC anticipates roughly 49 percent of RFK lot. (Photo: Events DC) fect, but the team factored in the money coming from its own budget (largely from much of what the commutaxes paid by DC’s hotels and restaurants), 17 percent memorial for Robert Kennedy. The memorial is not nity asked them to considfrom the city’s budget for roads and infrastructure, and yet designed and will take at least 10 years to finish, er, said Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) about 34 percent from private funds, likely for the RFK the Events DC team said. member Bob Coomber (7D01). He wants the planmemorial and the recreation center. Allen called the ners to ensure people from all economic backgrounds investment “worthwhile.” Brown said the DC Council Support … So Far and ages can use the site. Coomber also wants the has also voiced support for the plan and budget. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and Ward 7 DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) Events DC is renegotiating the lease with the Councilmember Vincent Gray both praised the shortto conduct environmental safety evaluations as workNPS, which Brown said has gone well. The current term plan as a way to build out the growing communiers start to rip up the asphalt and pave trails or roadlease, which expires in 2038, would leave the longty along the Anacostia. “It’s a wonderful horizon, but ways on the two islands. “Overall we’re pretty happy,” term project on the main RFK Stadium unfinished it’s really one that’s overdue,” Gray said. He added that Coomber said. “We just have to make sure we keep without an extension. There’s also a chance the NPS he thinks it could have a strong and badly needed ecotheir feet to the fire.” would offer the city administrative control over the nomic impact on his ward. Commissioner Dan Ridge (6B09) wants to know site, which wouldn’t require action or approval from Allen expressed pleasure at seeing the proposed why Events DC needs to run the entire site and its proCongress. u community green spaces and activities. “A priority for me is ripping up those asphalt parking lots and turning them into green spaces,” he said. “And that doesn’t take 10 years.” He supports keeping dollars spent on sports and recreation within the District, he said. He and his family, like others in the District, have to drive out of the city for some of the recreation options this site could offer. For all the benefits Events DC proposed, Allen and others have reservations. Many don’t like the idea of having a vehicle road paralleling the river along the waterfront. Others want a Metrorail station closer to the site. Some questioned Events DC at the Jan. 5 meeting on the flexibility of deciding what kind of activities the complex might offer. “We want the feedback from the community on that, but I wouldn’t be focused on the programming right now,” Allen said, reiterating his call for continued community engagement from Events DC as the details solidify. A rendering for the proposed sports and recreation complex for the RFK redevelopment. (Photo: Events DC)
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Shotgun House Deconstructed A 165-Year-Old Structure Gets A New Life
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he decades-long dispute over the shotgun house is over. In January what remained of this historic structure, built sometime before 1853, was dismantled as part of an agreement forged with the owner-developer SGA properties, the Office of Planning’s Historic Preservation Review Board and the powerful Capitol Hill Restoration Society. What gives this agreement its glue is the condition that what remained of the historic house would be “disassembled” and carefully preserved for use in the two-unit residential development piece of the new 120 units under development at 12th and Pennsylvania Ave SE. A shotgun house is a narrow rectangular domestic house usually no more than thirteen feet wide with one room behind the other. It was the most popular style of house in the southern United States from the Civil War until the 1920s. One version for how the Shotgun House got its name: you can fire a shotgun straight through the front room and out the back door without hitting a wall. A previous owner, Larry Quillan, tried repeatedly to tear the Shotgun House down and develop the property. CHRS stood in opposition to his plans (a view which was supported by the District government’s Historic Preservation Review Board), and the matter remained in stalemate until its recent sale to developer SGA. SGA subsequently negotiated a package that satisfied the community, with CHRS occupying the principal role in these conversations. In August
by Peter J. Waldron 2016, HPRB approved a settlement that has allowed the development to go forward that is linked to the Frager’s development project on Pennsylvania Ave SE.
TOP: Existing elevation. BELOW: Proposed plan.
The Agreement As part of this agreement, what is salvageable of the deconstructed shotgun house will become a part of two residential units being restored with the salvaged material being used wherever viable. Asked about why the shotgun house is and was so important, former HPRB member Nancy Metzger said, “We will learn how the less affluent lived in the days when this house was built” at what was once was the edge of Capitol Hill. Metzger also points to the valuable “dig” that is currently ongoing at the property, supervised by City Archaeologist Ruth Trocolli now that the house is dismantled. Elizabeth Nelson, currently the President of CHRS, notes that “the house has been carefully disassembled and inventoried so that it can be restored on the site.” Asked if the resolution of this long standing community issue has come to a good outcome, Nelson responded: “I would think so.” In response to the promises made by the new developer-owner SGA and their trustworthiness, Nelson said: “They are upholding their end of the agreement. There is nothing that I have seen that tells me they are not going to do what they promised to do. “ CHRS promises to continue to have an interest in the shotgun house project. According to Nelson: “We will certainly be watchful during the next phase of its life. As far as we know it is in good hands and things are proceeding as they should. “
The Dig
Shotgun house NE corner.
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Ruth Trocolli, City Archaeologist for the Office of Planning, enthusiastically describes a potential treasure trove of mid to late 19th century findings, among them broken dishes and glassware as well as animal bones with butcher’s cut marks on the bones. Trocolli has set up a special Facebook site, DC Archaeology, for those interested in updates.
She points out that the real work did not begin until shortly after Christmas when the property was safe to begin the excavation or what are Trocolli calls “ground disturbing activities.” Trocolli suggests that the work, which will cover the three periods of construction of 1850, 1887 and 1923, is expected to uncover a well or privy, as well as a large amount of unintentionally disposed trash, considered archeological crown jewels, that fell through the floor boards. According to Trocolli, the first owner sold the shotgun h ouse in 1857. The seller was a Germanmerchant with a shop on 12th St. He sold the property to an illiterate German immigrant peddler as listed in the city directory. There was a brewery in the area by 1850. The dig site currently has a trained working group of five pro bono workers as well as volunteers. In explaining the dig’s purpose, Trocolli says: “What we are looking at is discovering what the daily life of immigrants on Capitol Hill was like. There were row houses and shotgun houses. These were not where the rich and famous lived. These were the working class people who built ships, who coal and who brewed beer. We hope to find evidence of what they ate, what they did in the house.“ Stay tuned for updates on the new structure and the findings from Trocolli’s dig. u
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Our River: The Anacostia
Just How and When Is This River of Ours Going to Get Clean? A Primer on Toxic Sediments
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ne of the most complex and confusing undertakings of our environmental agencies is the cleanup of urban rivers. It is very important that we know what is going on and what the results are likely to be and when. It’s not that we can’t trust our public agencies to do a job. It is whether or not that job meets our expectations and our desires, since every person can have a different idea what “clean” is. Let’s dive in and see what we can learn about cleaning up the Anacostia. The Anacostia, like many urban rivers, has
by Bill Matuszeski
a problem with trash, a problem with sewage and stormwater, and a problem with toxic substances. Some of these are easier to deal with than others, and there has been more progress on some of them than on others. In the case of our river, a great deal of progress has been made on trash reduction through traps and regional agreements on reducing sources such as charges for plastic bags. More can be done, but we know what to do and it is a question of will. Likewise, the massive DCWater project to build tunnels to handle combined sewer overflows will reduce discharges during storm events up to an estimated 98 percent. The main remaining problem is toxic pollutants from chemicals that have entered the river and in many cases settled into the sediments along shore and in the bottom. These toxics have three origins. The first is upstream sources. Most of the upper watershed is residential. Efforts to reduce loadings from streets and industries have limited the need, it is thought, for a lot more attention except in specific cases, but additional effort is needed to investigate possible upstream sources. The second is industrial sites along the tidal river, many of which are no longer in use but have residual toxics in the soils and groundwater. The Navy Yard, where munitions were manufactured for over a century, is the only official Superfund site along the river and is involved in an ongoing effort to clean up its industrial sites, as well as the soils, groundwater, and shorelines. The Anacostia shoreline. Photo: Department of Energy Pepco recently signed a consent & Environment
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decree with the Justice Department and EPA to pay $1.6 million and take remedial actions with respect to metals-contaminated stormwater runoff from its Benning Road service center, the former site of a powerplant. Pepco is cleaning up soils and other parts of the property under a consent decree with the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE). The company has invested over $2 million to control onsite sources of contamination. It has agreed to pay penalties for any future violations, as well as $500,000 if it fails to get its stormwater control project in operation. Farther downriver on Buzzard Point, a rock and gravel operation, Recycled Aggregates and John Driggs Company, settled recently with EPA and paid a $32,400 penalty for discharging contaminated stormwater into the Anacostia without a permit. There are also ongoing cleanup activities at the Washington Gas Company site above the 11th Street Bridge, and an action is likely to start soon on Poplar Point on the Anacostia side above the South Capitol Street Bridge. The third set of sources are the sediments in the river itself which either arrived with toxics attached or have absorbed them from the water above or the groundwater below. They are the focus of a major undertaking by DOEE and the National Park Service, which owns the river bottom. Known as the Anacostia River Sediment Project, it is critical to restoring the river to be swimmable and fishable. This is the undertaking that it is most important to watch, to understand, and to weigh in on. The project aims to characterize the sediment contamination, investigate historic and current sources, assess the risk to humans and the river, develop cleanup alternatives, provide for public comment, and choose a remedy and implement it. The Anacostia River Sediment Project has many parts and is an alphabet soup of reports and documents. The process unfolds something like this, with estimated times for each stage.
1. Remedial investigation, called the RI for and provide information repositories. Speaking of short, is intended to identify the contaminants, which, the community involvement plan as well as where they are, how they got there, and how to many of the documents discussed above and othget at the sources. In the case of the Anacostia the ers are now available, or will be when completRI is being done in two phases. Phase 1 was comed, through the Anacostia River Sediment Project pleted in October 2016 and covered the “what” page noted above. Check it out. and “where” issues. Phase 2, underway now, will What are the likely critical issues with the be completed in fall 2017 and will identify where public as this process moves forward? I foresee four. the toxics are coming from and how to capture How Clean Is Clean? them. The findings of each phase will be availThe law requires that the river be cleaned to a able for public review and comment. The project clearly identified background level, but there is work plans, Phase 1 RI Report, and response to no easy answer to what the normal background levcomments are posted on DOEE’s website at www. doee.dc.gov/AnacostiaSediment. 2. A feasibility study sets out a range of possible ways to address the contamination. It arranges tools, techniques, and processes as alternatives which are then evaluated according to effects on human and river health, time, and cost to meet cleanup goals and expectations. This is to be completed by late 2017. 3. A proposed plan will lay out a cleanup schema and a set of alternatives for how to carry it out. Scheduled for completion in January 2018, it attempts to balance technical, social, and economic considerations. It is critical that it receive close public review. 4. The record of decision, or ROD, is the most important of all these documents because it sets out the final decision of the agencies on the alternative remediation plan that will be implemented. It includes site history, characteristics, community participation, enforcement activity, extent of contamination, and the remedy. Part of Drawing a sediment core from the river bottom. Photo: Departthe ROD will analyze how quickly a remement of Energy & Environment dy will meet cleanup objectives. It is to be ready in June 2018. el should be for an urban river surrounded by a lot 5 and 6. Remedial design and remedial acof human activity. The level identified by the projtion are the steps to implement the ROD. The deect is a bit unclear, but it seems to be the Potomac sign is to be finished by June 2018 and the action River above any influence by the DC metropoliis to then get underway. Everything is to be comtan area. While this seems reasonable, some think pleted by 2024, which may seem a long time, but the goal should be for a more pristine river or some six years to deal with the amount of sediment and combination of relatively clean East Coast rivers. degree of contamination may be what is needed. The DOEE has prepared a community inHow Is ‘Fishable and Swimmable’ to volvement plan to engage the public throughout Be Defined and When? the process outlined above. The idea is to encourThis is closely related to the issue above, since the age comments on the documents, provide access background level will determine the acceptable to social media sites, undertake stakeholder interlevels of toxics still in the river. There is also the views, provide fact sheets, hold public meetings,
question of how often swimmers should expose themselves to the water and how often the fish can be safely eaten. The law is flexible on these points. The goal is to complete the cleanup by 2024. This is the date that environmental groups have set for a fishable and swimmable river, but the city claims that it will take some time for the river to recover from the restoration work and any additional work needed to run clean throughout.
How Can We Be Sure the Sources Will Be Cleaned Up on a Similar Timetable? The nature and extent of tributary sources of toxics is an issue over which there seems to be some disagreement. The pace of cleanup of the industrial sites along the tidal shoreline, especially with respect to nearshore sediments and groundwater, is also a factor. Will all these pieces be coordinated so there is some assurance that once the river is clean it will stay that way?
Will Contaminated Sediments Be Capped or Removed? This is a key question and the one most likely to run into resistance from the city and the Park Service. Removal is substantially more costly than capping in place, so the bias will be to cap. Yet we are dealing with a very dynamic tidal system with frequent and substantial flushes of stormwater. Is it safe to say the clean sediment caps will stay in place? Many of the candidate areas for capping are shallow, and once capped could interfere with recreational boating. This is likely to be the main area of contention with the public as the effort moves toward its record of decision. Stay tuned as the effort moves toward resolution. The Anacostia River Sediment Project is in good hands and has the right goals. But it does require constant public alertness to assure that the right options are chosen for the long-term health of the river and its users. Bill Matuszeski writes monthly about the Anacostia River. He is the retired director of the Chesapeake Bay Program, a DC member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Anacostia River, and a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River. u
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South by West by William Rich Anchor Tenant for New L’Enfant Plaza Building The Urban Institute will take 121,000 square feet of space in the first six floors of the 12-story office building to be built at 500 L’Enfant. The research nonprofit founded by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 will relocate its headquarters and over 400 employees from the West End to L’Enfant Plaza by March 2019. After the podium for 500 L’Enfant was built, work stopped about a year ago for lack of an anchor tenant. Now that one has been secured, construction is expected to resume in February. Upon completion, 500 L’Enfant will be a LEED Gold-certified, 215,000 square-foot building with a direct connection to the shops at L’Enfant Plaza and the L’Enfant Plaza Metro station. A free shuttle will be provided from L’Enfant Plaza to The Wharf, which is scheduled to complete its first phase in October 2017. “We envision opening our doors to new audiences and serving as a hub for innovative programming that advances Urban’s mission,” said Urban Institute President Sarah Rosen Wart-
The relatively low-density Greenleaf public housing complex will become more dense and mixed-income under a plan by the DC Housing Authority. Photo: William Rich
A new office building will move forward at L’Enfant Plaza now that the Urban Institute has been secured as the anchor tenant. Rendering: ZGF Architects LLP
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ell in a statement. “With research conferences, regular sunset seminars, policy debates, decision-maker interviews, and film screenings, we aim to bring together myriad voices committed to advancing America’s families and its communities large and small.” She continued, “In particular, we hope Urban’s facilities will serve as a locus for discussion of DC and regional policy. With immediate access to five Metro lines, bike facilities, and the city’s largest parking garage, it will be easier than ever for people from across the region (as well as the thousands of nearby federal and city employees) to attend Urban events and gatherings.” The former L’Enfant Plaza Hotel is undergoing renovation and will reopen in 2018 as the 367-key Hilton Washington DC National Mall hotel. Also scheduled to be completed in 2018 at L’Enfant Plaza is the new home of the International Spy Museum, which will be located along 10th Street SW. The recent office tenant signings at L’Enfant Plaza and at The Wharf signify a shift in the tenant base within Southwest, which has been dominated by the federal government and contractors. Now joining those traditional tenant types are a law firm, a lobbying firm, and a shared work-space provider.
‘Build First’ in Greenleaf Redevelopment The DC Housing Authority has made a commitment to using a build-first model for the redevelopment of the Greenleaf public housing complex to avoid displacing existing residents. City leaders and neighborhood activists have been advocating a build-first model, especially since many publicly owned sites in the vicinity of Greenleaf could potentially be used. Two nearby sites have been identified as candidates to build the initial phase of the redeveloped Greenleaf. One is the parking lot adjacent to the Metropolitan Police Department’s First District headquarters at the northeast corner of Delaware Avenue and M Street. The other is the DC FEMS Engine 7 repair shop at Half and M streets. Preliminary development plans by the consultant HR&A Advisors involve the construction of a mixed-income building at the selected buildfirst site. Some of the residents could move there to allow for a phased demolition of the existing Greenleaf buildings, starting with the townhouses closest to M Street. Preliminary development plan calls for a mix of housing types and heights, generally highest along M Street and tapering down to the north and south. The redevelopment of the 15acre site is split into four blocks: Block A is bounded by Third Street to the west, Delaware Avenue to the east, M Street to the south, and L Street to the north. An affordable seniors/disabled 11-story apartment building with 272 units would be built along M Street with about 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. The northern portion of the block would be developed with a mixed-income, nine-story multifamily building with 214 units. Block B is bounded by Third
Street to the west, Delaware Avenue to the east, L Street to the south, and K Street to the north. The west portion would have about 37 townhouses, and the east side of the block would have a seven-story multifamily building of about 207 units, with some townhouses on the lower floors. Block C is bounded by Third Street to the west, Delaware Avenue to the east, K Street to the south, and I Street to the north. The west portion would have about 37 townhouses, and the east side of the block would be a midrise multifamily building with about 340 units, with some townhouses on the lower floors. Block D is bounded by Delaware Avenue to the west, KingGreenleaf Recreation Center to the east, King Greenleaf Ballfield to the south, and M Street to the north. On the northwest portion of the block, an 11-story building would be constructed along Delaware Avenue with about 320 units and 7,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. A second 11-story multifamily building would be constructed on the northeast portion of the block. It would have about 420 units, with some townhouses on the lower floors. The south portion of the block would include 42 townhouses. Excluding the build-first phase, nearly 1,900 units would be erected, replacing the current 493 units and adding a significant amount of market-rate housing. The next step is to come to an agreement with the District on a site to do build-first. Following that, the redevelopment plan needs to be finalized, and then the Housing Authority will issue a request for proposals to select a developer partner. William Rich is a blogger at Southwest … The Little Quadrant that Could (www.swtlqtc.com). u
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ANC 6A Report by Elizabeth Nelson
A
dvisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A Chair Phil Toomajian called the meeting to order, with Commissioners Calvin Ward, Sondra Phillips-Gilbert, Marie-Claire Brown, Mike Soderman, Patrick Malone, and Stephanie Zimny in attendance. Matt Levy arrived shortly thereafter. Chair Toomajian began the meeting by welcoming Marie-Claire Brown, the only first-term commissioner, representing ANC 6A01. The first order of business was the annual “housekeeping,” including the election of officers, establishment of committees, and announcement of the 2017 ANC 6A meeting schedule. Toomajian will continue as chair, Stephanie Zimny as treasurer, Calvin Ward as secretary; Mike Soderman will take over the vice-chair position vacated by Omar Mahmud. The commissioners will continue to meet on the second Thursday of each month at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE, except for an August recess and a change of venue in July. The committees are as follows: • Economic Development and Zoning, Brad Greenfield (chair), Jake Joyce, Missy Boyette, Justin Thornton, Michael Hoenig, Stephanie Zimny • Transportation and Public Space, Omar
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Mahmud (co-chair), Todd Sloves (co-chair), Jeff Fletcher, Andrea Adleman, Lara Levison, Hassan Christian, Elizabeth Nelson • Alcohol Beverage Licensing, Jay Williams, Christopher Seagle, Roger Caruth, Michael Herman, Justin Rzepka, Mark Samburg • Community Outreach, Dana Wyckoff (chair), Roni Hollmon, Gladys Mack, Joyce West Contact information for the commissioners and committee chairs is posted at www.anc6a.org.
RFK Campus Update Max Brown, chair of Events DC, gave a presentation on the RFK Campus Redevelopment Project. The site is large, 190 acres. The plan is focused mostly on short-term upgrades to areas adjacent the stadium. These will include recreational fields, a market hall, gardens, and access bridges to Kingman and Heritage islands. When the stadium is torn down in 2018 it will clear the way for additional development. Toomajian expressed disappointment that housing was not in the mix, but the terms of the current lease allow only sports, recreation, and entertainment uses. Unlike the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), Events DC must generate its own funding and is therefore pursuing public-private partnerships to build the facilities. When completed, there will be a charge for their use. Events DC hopes to keep it affordable. Details (including the slide show that was shared at the ANC meeting) can be found at rfkcampusfuture.com.
Alcohol Beverag Licensing Actions The commissioners gave unanimous support to the following: • Settlement agreement (SA) with Bespoke 1337 LLC, t/a Hill Prince (1337 H St. NE). • SA with Ben’s Chili Bowl/Ben’s Upstairs (1001 H St. NE). Toomajian noted that this was the last liquor-serving establishment on H Street not to have a settlement agreement with 6A, and thanked the owners for their cooperation. • SA with Naomi’s Ladder II LLC (1123 H St. NE). This is the location formerly occupied by XII, and there are ties between past and current owners. As there were problems with the business, the commissioners insisted on more stringent language than what they would ordinarily require. For example, a provision requires that if there are continued, substantiated noise complaints, the hours of operation for the roof-top will be reduced.
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A PHIL TOOMAJIAN, CHAIR, PHILANC6A@GMAIL.COM Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and H Street communities ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE.
www.anc6a.org A recommendation to support a stipulated license for Naomi’s Ladder II was tabled. The establishment was not placarded until Dec. 31, giving the public little opportunity to express concerns, especially given XII’s track record.
Transportation and Public Space Actions ANC 6A will provide a letter of support for the 2017 Rock and Roll Marathon and Half-Marathon, contingent on Events DC (the race organizer) making provisions for public notification, including a door-hanger campaign, a notice on affected bus routes, and the advance posting of signs noting street closings and crossing points. Events DC must confirm that the residents of Capitol Hill Towers will have access to their parking lot entrance on 10th Street during the race. Department of Public Works trucks will be at RFK Stadium and not on neighborhood streets. The Metropolitan Police Department is to reopen street closures as soon as runners and marathon staff have cleared an intersection. Additionally, ANC 6A declared support for keeping the marathon on H Street NE. Events DC has received notice that it may not be allowed to use H Street, as in the past, due to streetcar operations. In that case the race course will be forced onto a residential street. That would be problematic for neighbors and runners, and many H Street business owners would prefer to keep them on H Street.
Other Business The commissioners voted unanimously to send a letter of support for FreshFarm’s H Street Farmers’ Market at 12th Street NE to operate on Saturdays in 2017 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The commissioners considered a response to The Washington Post “Youth Rehabilitation Act” investigation. Commissioners pointed to the lack of a “rehabilitation” component in the act and noted that residents had been seriously harmed by individuals abusing the leniency they had been granted. By a unanimous vote, a letter will be sent to the mayor and the DC Council requesting revisions to the act.
Reports and Announcements Commissioner Ward announced that the Kingman Park Citizen Association is sponsoring the area at 19th and C streets NE (most of which is in Ward 7) for historic district designation. Ward, who represents the portion within Ward 6, said he “doesn’t object, if the community wants it.” He also noted that there have been a great many car breakins and counseled that drivers should use steering-wheel locking devices and leave nothing in their cars. Commissioner Zimny continues to work with the owners of Chikfil-A (formerly Checkers, in the triangle on the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue and G Street NE) and Laura Marks from Councilmember Allen’s office to address traffic flow concerns. Chik-fil-A proposes having the main entrance/exit onto G Street, which is a residential street. Zimny is hoping for a more community-friendly solution. Commissioner Brown noted that the Sherwood Recreation Center (640 10th St. NE) is currently serving as a women’s hypothermia shelter. Consequently there has been a serious problem with debris on the property, including evidence of drug use. Commissioner Phillips-Gilbert expressed disappointment that a homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth
Next ANC 6A meeting is February 9th, 7pm Miner E.S 601 15th St NE. Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee - Tuesday, February 21st 7pm at Sherwood Recreation Center • 640 10th St., NE Jay Williams - Co-Chair (906-0657) / Christopher Seagle - Co-Chair
Transportation & Public Space Committee - Monday, February 27th 7pm at Capitol Hill Towers Community Room • 900 G St., NE J. Omar Mahmud - Co-Chair / Todd Sloves - Co-Chair
Economic Development & Zoning Committee - Wednesday, February 15th 7pm at Sherwood Recreation Center • 640 10th St., NE Brad Greenfield - Chair (Brad.greenfield@gmail.com 202 262-9365)
Community Outreach Committee - Monday, February 27th 7pm at Maury Elementary School • 1250 Constitution Ave., NE Multi-purpose Room (enter from 200 Block of 13 Street) Dana Wyckoff - Chair (571-213-1630)
Please check the Community Calendar on the website for cancellations and changes of venue.
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787 www.anc6c.org • (202) 547-7168 ANC 6C meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm, 214 Massachusetts Avenue N.E., except August, when there is no meeting.
ANC 6C COMMISSIONERS ANC 6C01 Christine Healey 6C01@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C04 Mark Eckenwiler 6C04@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C02 Karen Wirt (202) 547-7168 6C02@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C05 Christopher Miller 6C05@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C03 Scott Price (202) 577-6261 6C03@anc.dc.gov scott.price@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C06 Heather Edelman heatheraedelman @gmail.com
ANC 6C COMMITTEES Alcoholic Beverage Licensing First Monday, 7 pm Contact: anc6c.abl.committee@gmail.com
Transportation and Public Space First Thursday, 7 pm Contact: mark.kaz.anc@gmail.com
Grants Last Thursday, 7 pm Contact: lesliebarbour.dc@gmail.com
Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development First Wednesday, 6:30 pm Contact: 6C04@anc.dc.gov Twitter: @6C_PZE
Parks and Events First Tuesday, 7 pm Contact: ptahtakran@gmail.com
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had been opened in her single-member district without her input. Naomi Mitchell from Councilmember Allen’s office attended the meeting to thank the commissioners on his behalf. She presented each with an unused ballot from the November election, with his or her name on it. Councilmember David Grosso will attend the February ANC meeting. A presentation by Doug Klein, community prosecutor, originally scheduled for the January meeting, has been postponed until February. Councilmember Charles Allen will attend the March ANC meeting. ANC 6A meets on the second Thursday of every month (except August) at Miner Elementary School. The 6A committees meet at 7 p.m. on the following dates: Alcohol Beverage and Licensing, third Tuesday of each month, Sherwood Recreation Center. Community Outreach, fourth Monday of each month, Maury Elementary School. Economic Development and Zoning, third Wednesday of each month, Sherwood Recreation Center. Transportation and Public Space, usually third Monday of every month, Capitol Hill Towers. It met on the fourth Monday in January due to a federal holiday. Visit www.anc6a.org for a calendar of events, changes of date/venue, agendas, and other information. u
ANC 6B Report by Christine Rushton
A
t the January meeting, commissioners in Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B argued for more than an hour over a resolution supporting a key change in the District’s 1985 Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA). Commissioner Denise Krepp (6B10) proposed changes that would exclude violent crimes from the YRA, which currently gives District offenders under age
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22 the chance for a shorter sentence and a clean record when they finish their sentence. Commissioners Kristen Oldenburg (6B04), James Loots (6B03), and Diane Hoskins (6B02) opposed what they considered the resolution’s narrow scope. Commissioner Chander Jayaraman (6B08) put forth a substitute resolution that called for several DC entities, including the DC Council and the mayor’s office, to conduct a “comprehensive” review of the legislation. His version omitted the call to exclude violent crimes from the YRA allowances. Against the objection of Krepp, the commissioners voted 7-2 in favor of sending the revised resolution. The quorum: Jennifer Samolyk (6B01), James Loots (6B03, parliamentarian), Aimee Grace (6B07), Chander Jayaraman (6B08, chair), Denise Krepp (6B10), Diane Hoskins (6B02, vice chair), Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04), Steve Hagedorn (6B05), and Daniel Ridge (6B09, secretary). Nick Burger (6B06, treasurer) was absent.
New Officers Commissioner Kristen Oldenburg stepped down as chair, and the ANC voted in Chander Jayaraman in as chair for the 2017 year. The commissioners also voted for Diane Hoskins as vice chair, Dan Ridge as secretary, Nick Burger as treasurer, and James Loots as parliamentarian.
Additional Comments on Krepp’s YRA Proposal Before the commissioners voted to send a revised resolution of Krepp’s YRA proposal, neighbors at the meeting argued both for and against Krepp’s proposal. Those in support praised the proposed crackdown on violent crimes, while those in opposition cited the need to look at the YRA’s benefits of reducing incarceration from the city’s recidivism rates. Former commissioner Daniel Chao supported a review but said he wants to know more about the successes and whether the problem is actually city agencies failing to properly enforce the law. “I think that you can be in favor of reforming the YRA as it pertains to rehabilitation and enforcement,” he said. The commissioners plan to continue addressing the issue.
Neighbors Oppose Carriage House Addition Neighbors of a home at 202 Ninth St. SE strongly opposed the addition of a two-story carriage
house. The owner’s historic preservation application (HPA) won 6-3 support from the ANC at the meeting, but not before neighbors expressed their distress at plans that would put a wall abutting their own residence. They argued it would block a key window that helps ventilate the house. The commissioners explained that walls bordering the property line aren’t supposed to have windows, so those are at risk anyway. The case will come back before the commissioners later for a zoning variance request.
Other Actions Commissioners unanimously supported the addition of an extra 5,000 square feet for a loading dock and added parking for the mixed-use development at-1338 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Commissioners unanimously supported the reinstatement of Cava (527-529 Eighth St. SE) and its tavern license after finishing a settlement agreement. At the completion of the CSX tunnel project in 2018, Virginia Avenue Park will be renovated. The first community meeting is on Feb. 4. New ANC 6B07 Commissioner Aimee Grace has started a community email. To join it for updates, email her at aimeemgrace@gmail.com. ANC 6B regularly meets on the second Tuesday of the month at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The next meeting is on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. u
ANC 6C Report by Christine Rushton
N
ew methods of sector policing will change the way DC police and the First District handle community engagement. At the January meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C, Capt. Jonathan Dorrough of the First District explained that three captains, including himself, will take responsibility for a group of police service areas (PSAs) on a 24/7 basis. The goal is to streamline and keep consistent the information the community needs and receives
about police activity in each PSA. Commissioner Scott Price (03) said he hopes this new method will also encourage community members to revive local PSA meetings. The quorum: Karen Wirt (6C02, chair), Heather Edelman (6C06), Mark Eckenwiler (6C04), Christine Healey (6C01, secretary), Scott Price (6C03, vice chair), and Christopher Miller (6C05 treasurer).
Election of Officers New commissioners joined the ANC in January. The commission elected its officers for the coming year. The ANC reelected Wirt (6C02) to chair, elected Price (6C03) as vice chair, reelected Miller (6C05) as treasurer, and elected new commissioner Healey (6C01) as secretary.
Redevelopment of Stanton Park Highrise Developers submitted requests to raze and redevelop one of three row structures that skirt Stanton Park at 504 C St. NE. The ANC’s Planning, Zoning and Economic Development Committee (PZE) had questions about the developer’s plans to build the three-story house with an overhanging porch on the top floor. The developer decided to remove the porch before the ANC meeting, so commissioners voted unanimously to support the historic preservation application (HPA) design.
New Lights for Metro Branch Trail The Washington Gateway mixed-use development buildings by New York Avenue and Florida Avenue NE will include a roughly $1.2 million public bicycle storage area, a site just off the Metropolitan Branch Trail. The developers said they plan to add extra lights for safety along the stretches of the trail nearest their buildings.
Letter on Youth Rehabilitation Act Commissioners voted unanimously to support a letter of concern over the efficacy of DC’s Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA). Commissioner Price suggested the ANC add a request to look into better methods of data collection on issues of juvenile offenders. The commission voted down the addition. The letter will go to
Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and the DC Council.
Grant Approvals The ANC approved three grants at its January meeting: one for Serve Your City, an organization that helps educate underserved students; another for Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School’s (659 G St. NE) Parent Teacher Association (PTA); and a third for Capitol Hill Montessori @Logan (215 G St. NE). • Serve Your City received $1,080 for a college preparatory workshop for students at Stuart-Hobson Middle School (410 E St. NE) and Two Rivers Public Charter School (1227 Fourth St. NE). This will help 12 students in the workshop. • Ludlow-Taylor received $586 for reading materials, funds ANC 6A also matched. The school had an unexpected number of third-grade students enroll in the 2016-17 school year and needed extra supplies for the Read Across American Read-A-Thon in March. • Capitol Hill Montessori @Logan received $2,400 for garden supplies. The school plans to give students the opportunity to plant crops in its garden and eat the produce. The committee announced the quarterly deadlines for grant applications in 2017: Feb. 9, May 11, Aug. 17, and Nov. 2.
Other Action Items The ANC approved funds up to $5,000 to hire a lawyer in case further help is needed in putting together a settlement agreement with the Whole Foods Market at 600 H St. NE. The site needs a license to sell alcoholic beverages in its market cafe section. Commissioners opposed the historic preservation application for a third-floor addition at 732 Fourth St. NE because of its visibility from all angles of the building. The Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee is working on a settlement agreement with We Work, a communal working space at the new Apollo building on Sixth Street NE. The business wants to offer its users access to a keg of beer during certain hours of the day. The NoMa Business Improvement District (BID) updated its ideas on the streetscape
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{capitol streets}
in the growing northeast region. These included addressing zigzagging crosswalk patterns and the possibility of creating sitting areas for potential sidewalk cafes and food trucks. ANC 6C has a new website at anc6c.org. ANC 6C regularly meets on the second Wednesday of the month at the Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The next meeting is on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. u
ANC 6D Report by Andrew Lightman
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dvisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on Jan 9. Newly elected commissioners Gail Fast (6D01), Cara Shockley (6D02), and Ronald Collins (6D03) joined returning commissioners Andy Litsky (6D04), Roger Moffatt (6D05), Rhonda N. Hamilton (6D06), and Meredith Fascett (6D07) on the dais.
More on Peninsula 88 The commissioners heard a presentation by Buzzard Point LLC, the developers of Peninsula 88, located on Buzzard Point at the intersection of First and V streets SW. The site, adjacent to National Park Service (NPS) land and the shuttered Pepco power station, is currently occupied by a flower garden. Developers are proposing to an eight-story apartment building containing 110 units of housing as a matter of right. Under inclusionary zoning, eight of the units will be set aside for affordable housing. The apartments will offer a combination of one- and two-bedroom units, the former of 800 square feet and the latter 1,500 square feet. There is room for a small retailer on the ground floor’s northwest corner. A hundred parking spaces will be built on two levels. The developers committed to creating a small dog run on the V Street side of the property and promised to build 50 bike storage spaces. They are petitioning the city to extend the route of the No. 74 bus to the property as well as exploring options for watertaxi service. They said they had been unable
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to interest the NPS in an extension of Half Street through their neighboring property. The developers asked the commission to provide a letter of support of their project as it undergoes design review under the terms of the Capitol Gateway zone. “I can’t vote in favor of any project in Buzzard Point, period,” stated Chair Litsky, citing the absence of a comprehensive transportation plan for the area. Commissioner Fascett joined him in his opposition. The commissioners voted 5-2 in favor of supporting the project. With Commissioner Shockley abstaining, the commissioners voted to authorize Moffatt and Hamilton to testify on their behalf before the Zoning Commission on the project.
Buzzard Point Park The commissioners discussed two concepts put forward by the NPS for the renovation of Buzzard Point Park on the site of the former marina. Representatives from DC Sail and others in the audience objected to the lack of a public boat ramp and marina in either plan. There is now no public boat ramp in Southwest, they stated. Litsky pointed out that both proposals contain kayak docks. The commissioners endorsed Concept One with Commissioners Shockley and Fascett in opposition. For more information visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=62603.
Short-Term Family Housing Facility Deputy Director Jay Melder of the Mayor’s Office of Policy & Legislative Affairs (MOPLA) presented plans for a short-term family housing facility at 850 Delaware Ave. SW, the current site of the Southwest Unity Healthcare Clinic. (For a look at details visit www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/familyshelter-moves-forward-southwest.) The city will be applying to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for relief to allow the building to be 88 feet in height and reduce the required parking from 26 to 13 spaces. Commissioner Moffatt asked why no retail, other than a new health clinic, could be provided on the first floor of the new facility. The city would have to apply for a planned unit development, a much more involved and expensive process, to permit such commercial usage, replied Melder. This would significantly delay the project. Commissioner Fascett reminded Melder of the commission’s longstanding demand that there be no
shared bathrooms at the new facility. Cautioning that the project was still at the zoning stage, Melder stated that the architects were trying to maximize the plumbing space. Every room would have a fridge and there will be two microwaves per hall, he stated. Commissioner Fast questioned whether 13 spaces would provide enough parking for both the clinic and the short-term housing facility. The facility’s residents are extremely unlikely to have cars, explained Melder. Commissioner Hamilton remained concerned that the medical clinic was undersized. Southwest needs a state-of-the-art urgent care facility, she said. Five thousand square feet has been reserved for the medical clinic, Melder responded. Another 2,000 square feet of storage could be repurposed, he added. Hamilton asked whether the city had found a swing space to house Unity’s existing clinic during the construction. There is no District-owned swing space provisioned, stated Melder. “We have not gotten to that point in our discussions.” Litsky interjected, “I am concerned that there is no firm answer on what is happening in the interim. We can’t wait two years without a health clinic.” The commissioners took no vote on the shortterm family housing proposal.
Public Safety Report Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Bredet Williams introduced her replacement at PSA 105, Lieutenant Darryl Robinson. The First District saw a significant increase in the past 30 days in robberies, assaults with deadly weapons, and car breakins. In PSA 105 police closed 53 percent of aggravated assault cases. Williams warned drivers not to leave anything visible in their cars. “There is a ring of people stealing cell phones and selling them,” Williams stated. They are targeting white females and riders awaiting Uber pickups. She reminded pedestrians to remain aware of their surroundings.
Other Matters The commissioners elected a slate of new officers by acclamation: • Andy Litsky (6D04), chair • Cara Shockley (6D02), vice chair • Gail Fast (6D01), secretary • Meredith Fascett (6D07), treasurer The commissioners took the following actions: • approved the meeting’s agenda
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•
approved the December minutes with Commissioner Shockley abstaining • approved unanimously a resolution in support of permits for the Women’s March on Washington • approved sending a letter in support of the Rock and Roll Marathon scheduled for March 11, with Commissioner Shockley abstaining • approved sending a letter of support to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for application by Shake Shack, located at 50 M St. SW, for a D/R license, with Commissioner Shockley voting against • approved the new membership of the commission’s ABC Subcommittee under the continued leadership of Chair Coralie Farlee • unanimously approved $2,000 for the purchase of office supplies • unanimously approved the commission’s 2017 meeting schedule • unanimously approved participating in the ANC Security Fund ANC 6D will meet on Monday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m., at 1100 Fourth St. SW, Second Floor. Visit www.anc6d.org/ for more information. u
ANC 6E Report by Steve Holton New Year and New Look for the Commission Last November, residents from each single-member district cast their votes to determine who would serve as an Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E member. Alexander Padro 6E01 and Frank Wiggins 6E03 remain as commissioners and are joined by new members Anthony Brown 6E02, Lily Roberts 6E04, Alex Marriott 6E05, Alvin Judd Sr. 6E06, and Kevin Rogers 6E07. The first order of business for 2017 was to nominate and elect officers. Padro was elected chair, Wiggins vice chair, Roberts secretary, and Marriott treasurer. Preceding the election of officers, commissioners sent out a call to area residents to volunteer and
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serve on individual committees. The committees are Grants, ABC Licensing, Communications, Economic Development and Housing, Transportation and Zoning, and Public Housing. Chair Padro explained that resident participation will be very valuable to the 6E area. Those interested in serving can contact the commission by phone at 202-670-1732 or by email at padroanc@gmail.com. The commission has $25,725 available for grants, community programs, and social media outreach throughout 2017.
Commission Supports Landmark Application PGN Architects representatives Sean Pichon and Jeff Goins spoke at the meeting on the subject of restoring the Holzbeierlein Bakery building by converting it into mixed office, residential, and retail units. The building is located at 1815 Wiltberger St. NW, which is between T and S streets and adjacent to the Howard Theatre. Holzbeierlein Bakery produced most of the bread and other baked goods bought by Washingtonians in the early 20th century. The building is currently being used as a warehouse to store vending machines. Pichon and Goins presented concept plans for the building and requested approval for a landmark application before meeting with the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) in late January. The plans call for preserving the interior walls and warehouse facade all the way around the building. The ground floor will have 8,000 square-feet of retail space and two entrances. The second and third floors will be used for office space, and fourth and fifth floors will be constructed for residential use. The three floors of office space could accommodate 300 people, and the residential units would have 1,300 square feet on average. The third, fourth, and fifth floors will be set back from the building’s original edges. Only the third and fourth floors will have a rooftop deck. A three-story tower addition will face the Howard Theatre. Pichon and Goins said the goal was to have their architectural style meet HPRB criteria. They have contacted retail brokers to bring in business that will complement the building and neighborhood. Traffic and shadow studies are underway. PGN plans to share the results at a future meeting. The building’s original carriage parking will be converted to nine parking spaces, and alleyway parking will be available as well. “The concept plans are appropriate in charac-
ter and material, and I feel that it is moving in the right direction,” said Chair Padro. The commissioners voted in favor of conveying support for the landmark application to HPRB and advised PGN to explore means of minimizing the volume of additions due to the narrowness of Wiltberger Street.
HPRB Support for Hoagie House Running Dog Architects representatives Warren Wick and Eric Carle presented the first round of renovation plans for the Hoagie House at 1251 Fourth St. NW. The structure sits on a large and oddly shaped lot, which they have gotten approval to divide into three lots. The plan is to renovate the structure and add four residential units and three parking spaces. The home’s corner has an old retail space, and HPRB asked that they retain the look and presence although there are no plans for future retail use. The Hoagie House has a residential unit in the basement and another on the two upper floors. Both units will have rooftop decks on the rear side of the property that will be set off the street. There will be a six-month build time. Commissioners advised Wick and Carle not to begin construction before 8:00 a.m. during the week. They also advised them to complement the neighborhood with a design that is historic, and recommended that they reconsider a more appropriate look or treatment for the ground floor. Wick and Carle plan to revisit the commission with a revised design.
Protest Vote on ABRA License Queen of Sheba restaurant, 1503 Ninth St. NW, has reapplied for a Class C Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) license due to noise concerns raised by the neighborhood. The commission has worked out a settlement agreement, but the restaurant’s owner is out of the country and hasn’t had a chance to accept it. The commissioners voted to protest the ABRA license until a settlement can be reached and to advise ABRA and the ABC Board of their actions.
Next Meeting at New Location ANC 6E will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library located at 1630 Seventh St. NW. Visit www.anc6e.org to view the newsletter; follow on Twitter @ANC6E and on Facebook by searching ANC6E. Steve Holton can be contacted at ssholton@gmail.com and followed on twitter @ssholton. u
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“Singer Partners”
Crossword Author: Myles Mellor • www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com
by Myles Mellor Across:
1. Coaches on the Voice 6. Organ ___ 11. TV network north of the U.S. 14. “Star Trek” android 18. Musical exercise 19. Big to-do 20. Parseghian of football fame 21. Cyrus or Bieber, perhaps 22. Singer on the court? 24. Socialist singer? 26. Dimes 27. QB cry 28. Me followers at the drive-thru 29. Add sugar to 30. Small units of length, abbr. 31. Federal health agency 32. Eye abnormality 33. Parties 36. Helm heading 37. Ground grain 39. Bumpkin 43. Surrealist sculptor 44. NATO member, abbr. 45. Stool pigeon 46. Home of the Oracle 51. Extract with effort 52. Deplete 53. Aries constellation 54. Keyboard instrument 55. Grief 56. David’s weapon? 61. Fragrant singer? 63. Chinese hard-liner 64. Corn 65. Terminate 66. Despicable sort 68. Body part 69. Solids that come to a point 73. Newton’s first name went wrong? 74. “___ we there yet?” 75. Arbors 76. Armstrong to Parton? 81. Swift sewing? 85. Blood classification system 86. Cringe 87. W.W. II heroes, for short 88. Pastor, for short 89. Coat 90. Mother’s sister, e.g.
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91. Pumpkin pastry 92. 007, for one 95. Roman welcome for Mariah? 96. ___ terrier 98. Female swimmer 100. Ground breaker 101. Musician’s measure 102. Birth place 106. He would be a Boone at any party 107. Bad word for a pinball wizard 108. Certain pitch 111. Lennon’s partner 112. Pitching measure 113. Ben Franklin’s baby 117. Bruno in linguistics? 118. Katy in a drink? 121. “Art for Art’s ___” 10cc 122. State leader (abbr.) 123. Martians and such 124. Car rental giant 125. Organic radical 126. Medium ability, for short 127. Spikes 128. Measuring tube
Down:
1. Snoop Dogg song 2. Suffer continuous dull pain 3. Bread of India 4. Reindeer kin 5. Muumuu go-with 6. Soils with chimney grime 7. Ship capacity measure 8. Bowler’s disappointment 9. Enthusiastic thumbs-up 10. Verde and fresca 11. 2006 Disney/Pixar film 12. Makes java 13. Military student 14. Calorie counter 15. Farm division 16. Of two minds 17. Whatever you want 19. Truck 23. Horned zoo beast, informally 25. Ottoman governor 30. Rooks or pawns 33. Slap on 34. About 35. Expel 37. Transplant skin
Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 38. Big drinker 40. Safe from a skunk, say 41. Worries 42. Looker 47. A million bucks 48. Black cuckoo 49. Chief layer 50. Went to “McDonalds” 53. Ascend 54. Fast one 57. Urge forward 58. Have a cow? 59. Like a goldfish, like a carp 60. Zilch 62. A belief in God 64. Before, to Byron 66. A running shoe was name after it 67. Speech of praise 68. Organic radical
69. Salon creation 70. Too wit too woo bird 71. ___-natal 72. John Boyd __ 74. Unfamiliar 75. Pleaded to a ram? 76. Roles, in metaphor 77. Vein contents 78. Cub’s home 79. Edible tuber 80. Portion of land 81. Having a valence of 3, in chemistry 82. Kuwaiti or Qatari 83. Hindu god 84. At all times 91. Automated ivories 92. Bakes in a way 93. Certain bear 94. “Is it soup ___?”
97. Crown covering 99. Footless 103. Can be Dutch 104. Set up 105. Root vegetables 107. Parenting challenges 108. Overfeed 109. Tasting like certain wood 110. Event alert card 113. Unappealing fruit? 114. No problem! 115. Fleshy fruit 116. Arrogant person 117. Cookie-selling org., formerly 119. ___ wee Herman 120. Pound sound
{community life}
Heard on the Hill
F
ebruary can be a blah and blustery month. It starts out with that weird groundhog shadow-spotting ritual, and honestly I think he’s full of it. While it is a short month, it’s a long slog until March. The lone bright spot for some is the candycoated Hallmark holiday in the middle. Before you start in, hear me out! I know that many smart and sophisticated people proclaim to hate Valentine’s Day because it seems insipid, and the candy-heart approach to love is a little too junior-high-school. They are not wrong necessarily, and yet … I love it! If a holiday that nearly mandates the gifting of chocolate is wrong, I don’t think I want to be right. The greeting card industrial complex has done us all a favor in pushing something to look forward to in the bleak mid-winter. Life is hard and sometimes boring, so I see no reason to hate an excuse to bestow a sweet or a thoughtful note on a beloved. Sure, we all should be doing this year-round, but let’s be real. Modern life has expanded the rituals of Valentine’s Day beyond the usual chocolate and flowers and dinners out between romantic partners,
Jen DeMayo
Photo: Elizabeth Nelson
and people have begun to treat friends and other loved ones as well. Valentine’s Day has become a way to celebrate female friendship, and I fully support this. As long as we keep those Valentine’s Day dollars local, I say lighten up. Besides, chocolate is a known mood lifter and possible health food if you read the right websites.
Oh, you need gift ideas? Fine.
Heart shaped jewelry and other treats can be found at Boutique on the Hill
Hill’s Kitchen sells boxes of caramels by Maryland chocolate maker Chouquette. The five-piece Message hearts leaves those chalky candy hearts in the dust and will please even the grouchiest V Day hater. J. Chocolatier offers sea salt truffles to soothe a broken heart, fuel a burning romance, or simply escalate a chocolate obsession. Jewelry is never a bad idea. If you want to bestow a beloved with baubles you can do so with local merch. Clothes Encounters is an excellent place to
find a vintage, one-of-a-kind piece that comes with a backstory. The Forecast is a great stop for a signature piece, and the folks at Boutique on the Hill have some on-theme heart-shaped pendants and rings. The gift of touch can be a healing surprise. Lavender Retreat, Spa on the Hill, Healing Arts of Capitol Hill, and Freed Bodyworks all offer options for massage and other body treatments. A gift certificate for one is an excellent way to counter the winter blues. Couples massage, anyone? Experience gifts are always a win. Go ahead and make that reservation at a local favorite or find a new one. Many restaurants will offer a Valentine’s Day menu which may or not appeal to you, so check with the restaurant first. Show your Valentine your poetic side at the Folger, which is celebrating the recent publication of Pablo Neruda’s “lost poems” in “Then Come Back” on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Pulitzer Prize fi-
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nalist Forrest Gander and emerging poet Javier Zamora will read their favorite Neruda pieces and from their own works, followed by a reception and book-signing. If you prefer to observe Valentine’s Day on a weekend, treat yourself to a concert by Chiarina, a musical trio consisting of cellist Carrie Bean Stute, pianist Efi Hackmey, and soprano Laura Strickling. They will perform a concert entitled Voyages in Song, Saturday, Feb. 14, 4 p.m., at St. Mark’s Church. Tickets are $10-$15 and available via www.chiarina.org.
Martin Luther King Junior Sign Project
Heart shaped jewelry and other treats can be found at Boutique on the Hill
Speaking of love. In the aftermath of the recent presidential election, Hill resident Meg Sabar despaired over the increased divisiveness and hateful words and actions of some people. Instead of doing something idiotic and hopeless, like downing shots of Fireball while yelling at strangers on The Washington Post’s “Comments” section, she took a different and more positive approach. One evening in December she was struck by Dr. King’s famous quote, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” She remembered how she and her family used to live in an apartment on East Capitol Street, and her young son and his friend made lots of money selling hot chocoloate to the crowds arriving for Barack Obama’s first inauguration. The inaugural crowds walk along our neighborhood streets from the bus parking in RFK stadium, and she thought about greeting them with wave after wave of quotes about love, justice, and tolerance. She ordered 300 signs featuring several of Dr. King’s most well-known quotes, posted on local Listservs and Facebook, and even created a Facebook group dedicated to the project. With her kids and friends she began handing out signs door to door. More people came over to pick up
signs and put them in their yards, and some made donations to the cause. What began as one woman’s idea became a movement. My Facebook feed began to be filled with photos of signs as neighbors snapped pictures to share with friends and family around the world. Just taking the dog for a walk became an emotional event as people stopped and gave thanks for the good fortune to live where they do. One Hill resident, Lou Ivey, who lives in the 800 block of North Carolina Avenue, was deeply moved, noting that his block was very well represented with signs. “Happily, she distributed many of them before the MLK holiday, so my eyes filled with tears that morning when I
opened my door. The project has not ended. People who visited for the inaugration and Women’s March are interested in replicating the idea in their own communities. Sabar is researching a way for folks to have signs printed and mailed directly to them. To keep up with the project you can follow www. facebook.com/MLKsignscapitolhill.
News Bites Claire Portolese, owner of the youth dance school Tippi Toes Dance, has released a fourth CD, entitled, “On Top of the World.” It offers upbeat, kidfriendly music with confidence building lyrics. The CD is available at www.tippitoesDC.com. Look for a spring article featuring all of the many youth dance opportunities in the neighborhood. Jill Strahan is retiring as executive director of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. She has been director since 2007 and was a board member prior to that. The organization will now be led by co-directors Amy Moore and Hannah Jacobsen Blumenfeld, both of whom have worked for the organization for some time. Despite the change in leadership we assume the CHAWsomeness will remain unchanged. u
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Volunteering on the Hill
Preserving the Historic Beauty of Capitol Hill
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by Quentin Wodon
ne of the largest and oldest civic organizations in our she explained. “The Society stepped in, applied the needed nudge, and neighborhood is the Capitol Hill Restoration Society the sign was taken down.” That got her interested in the CHRS. “I’ve (CHRS). It has close to a thousand members. Founded volunteered in several different ways, as webmaster, organizing the Presin 1955, it aims to protect the neighborhood’s historic arervation Cafes, managing docents for the Mothers’ Day House and Garchitectural and residential character. Thanks to its effort, den Tour. I love the Hill to bits and it gives me great satisfaction to proCapitol Hill was recognized as a historic district in 1976, a designation tect it and preserve it for future generations to enjoy. And it’s a ton of fun provided through the US Department of the Interior under the auspices to get to work with such lively and committed people.” of the National Park Service. The designation protects more than 8,000 Michelle Pilliod Carroll, another volunteer, explained that she historic buildings, some of which might have been destroyed or signif“wants to be an active participant in an organization that believes so icantly altered without strongly in preservthe designation. ing the integrity of our The CHRS angreat neighborhood.” nually holds its popuShe volunteers each lar House and Garden year for various events Tour each Mother’s including the annual Day. This is also a prihouse tour, selling admary opportunity to volvertising and tickets, as unteer as a house tour well as overseeing the docent or to help sell tea/refreshment break. tickets for the tour. Oth“I have served as tour er community events chair in the past, using at which CHRS parmy professional experiticipates include the ence as the owner/operFourth of July parade ator of a meeting-planand the Barracks Row ning company,” she Festival. said. “Helping to put Additional optogether events such portunities to volunas the House Expo, the teer include speaking CHRS birthday party, at CHRS Preservation various receptions, and Cafes and membership the Dick Wolf Memomeetings, writing for its rial has been a great joy newsletter, working on and pleasure.” its website, or helping If you would like out with the Dick Wolf to get involved or to doCHRS Board member Beth Purcell gives a walking tour of Emerald Street NE Lecture. Dick Wolf was nate, visit http://chrs. a tireless advocate for org/ and contact one of historic preservation and neighborhood development on the Hill. The the officers. To remain in the loop about what’s happening, especially third annual Dick Wolf Lecture will be held on March 24 at the Hill in terms of neighborhood development, don’t forget check out the SociCenter. Those interested in serving the community can also apply for ety’s newsletter, published 10 times per year. membership on the CHRS board. Quentin Wodon is president of the Rotary Club of Capitol Hill, which meets Elisabeth Nelson is president of CHRS. She joined the society more every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at the Dubliner than a decade ago, after observing an illegal sign on her block sporting an on F Street. To contact Quentin, or to learn more about the Rotary Club of offensive anti-gay message. “The neighbors couldn’t find anyone in the Capitol Hill Pro Bono Initiative, please send him an email through the Contact District government willing to enforce the law and remove the eyesore,” Me page of his blog at www.rotarianeconomist.com. u
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Living Below the Tower A Note from a Poet in Its Shadow
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he month before Donald Trump was elected president of the United States the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAHC) opened its doors. This newly built institution should serve as a watch tower from which to view the next four years. Too often we read history books while suffering from amnesia. Our eyes read words and photo: Jason Yen
paragraphs but we fail to comprehend the narrative that can grab ahold of us like a ball and chain. After the November election many could be seen openly weeping as if another young black boy had been killed in the street. There are many types of crimes, and too many are never solved. Will we ever truly know how or why Trump won? Speak too much Russian to me and I’ll begin to write my notes from the underground. It might be too easy to believe our nation has moved from reality to becoming a reality show. I would prefer to believe we’ve simply embraced science-fiction as a way of life. When do the aliens arrive? Will they laugh when they say, “Take me to your leader”? If you visit the NMAHC on the corner of 14th and Constitution be prepared to stay for a
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by E. Ethelbert Miller spell. Make this place your temporary home or tied hands. Congress should not have the final shelter. There is no way you can weave from the say over the desires and dreams of DC residents. ground floor to the top without being moved, anWe must refuse to be ruled from any tower which gry, encouraged, inspired, and hopeful. You will is not our own. leave this museum empowered and ready to conDuring the next four years Washington could tinue the struggle waged by our ancestors. lose the luster of being the political capital and Now is the time to hold high the torch of become a “Palin” runner-up to the Trump Tower freedom and feel the heat of righteousness. It in New York. What’s a presidential White House would be foolish to think an entire movement if the president is never home? Meanwhile, how can be derailed or stopped by one many District residents will not miss the speedman with a Tweet. Yes, Trump was ing limo, the police cars, and the diverted traffic? elected, and we wish him well, but Somehow, I can’t see President Trump stoplet us not forget what Bernie Sandping in at Politics and Prose or even the nice liters mentioned in his book “Our tle East City Book Shop on the Hill. Oh, and Revolution: A Future to Believe what will happen to Washingtonian societal life? In”: “This campaign was never just Who will we gossip about? Will there still be a about electing a president of the need for a guest list? How many of us now reside United State – as enormously imin the shadows of the Trump Tower and eat with portant as that was. This campaign was about transforming America.” The American Oven Stand anywhere in So what is this greatness that I smell? the National Museum Is it the smell of fresh warm bread, the sweetness of African American Hisfrom flowers, the seductive smoke of cigarettes, tory and Culture and be the print of newspapers and newly published reminded of how African books? What is this odor of greatness swirling Americans transformed around our nation’s sky? Does it touch the workers America. Stand near the in stores and factories, the children in locker rooms new plaque at the Williams Slave Pen after games, the women bowed in churches and you morph into Solomon Northrop before the caskets of the dead? What smell pondering how many more years of reembraces the earth of things, blue, brown and maining a slave. Free a man, free a colin between? This American greatness, this burning, ony. this terrible thunder, this smell so unsettling Change must be for the many and to the ear, this blinding pride and arrogance, not just the few. We must expand the this hollow victory over dissent, which we cover American living room, a struggle which with flags, pious gestures and salutes, this burial comes after years of fighting to open of being first. What must be great again is what schools, restaurants, and housing opis found that wasn’t lost. This smell so invisible portunities. As a new Republican govto the poor, so tasteless to the rich, this fragrance ernment begins to rule with a ruler for of freedom once inhaled by slaves, this smell cutting the federal government – let us of hope, this endless hunger for tomorrow, push for statehood in the District hardso choking and undefined. er than ever before. If states’ rights are back in vogue, let us be a state. Citi– E. Ethelbert Miller zenship requires a free mind and not
the help? Meanwhile the blues remind us of the need to be resilient, to find ways to live and cope, or maybe it’s time to play Duke Ellington’s sacred music. At the end of the week comes Sunday and we must be believers. Our nation can survive another Reconstruction and the backlash blues Langston Hughes wrote about. America is a complex nation of beautiful notes. I still hear America singing – not just the poetry and melody of Walt Whitman but the complicated compositions of Thelonius Monk. Yes, Tweet Thelonius, for this is the 21st century, and we are a city on the move. Just a few weeks before Donald Trump was to place his hand on a Bible, I wrote the poem “American Oven.” I walk the streets and speak to friends and strangers about the strange politics of now. I take comfort in believing the changing weather is always an omen for goodness, and that our city is witness to another chapter in history, a chapter in which our differences don’t bend or tear the pages. The city of Washington is great, as is our nation. It has always been this way. Writer and literary activist E. Ethelbert Miller hosts “On the Margin” every Thursday morning at 9 a.m. on WPFW (89.3 FM). He was awarded the 2016 George Garrett Award for Outstanding Community Service in Literature by the Association of Writers & Writing Programs. “The Collected Poems of E. Ethelbert Miller,” edited by Kirsten Porter, was published by Willow Books in 2016. u
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Stuart-Hobson Middle School seventh grader Jamie Morris works on her Unity on the Hill project in Ms. Claire Smullen’s art class on Jan. 11.
Uniting Our Community ‘Unity on the Hill’ Campaign Thrives After the 2016 Election
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article and photos by Christine Rushton
eventh graders in Claire Smullen’s art class hunched over posters, tracing the lines of color on the stock paper as their pencils and crayons filled in the details. During a mid-morning class on a Ms. Claire Smullen helps a student in her seventh Wednesday in January, the Stuart-Hobson grade art class with their Unity on the Hill assignment on Jan. 11. Middle School students were intent on finishing the posters that they had designed to show symbols and pictures of unity, tolerance, respect, diversity and community. They would later walk each of their posters to local businesses and ask the owners to place them in their windows as a show of support for the grassroots Unity on the Hill movement in the Capitol Hill community. “A lot of new people will be coming to DC, and our artwork shows what we stand for in our community,” said Jamie Morris, a seventh grader in Smullen’s class. Morris and other sixth, seventh and eighth grade art students created their posters as a part of the Unity on the Hill campaign, which started in early January. Stickers with the words “Unity in the Community” started popMetro Mutts on H Street NE owner Kelly ping up in the windows of Capitol Hill shops, restaurants, Hartshorn puts up students’ artwork in her schools and residences on Jan. 13. The idea: to share with store’s window Jan. 13 for Unity on the Hill. DC residents and visitors what the local — nonpolitical — community believes in.
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Giving a Voice to Those Who Couldn’t Vote
There’s been a lot of violence on the news lately, said Stuart-Hobson student Nyela Brown. Back in her art class with Hill resident Laelia Gilborn and former Hill Ms. Smullen, the seventh grader paused as she picked up resident Soyun Park started Unity on the Hill another pencil to fill in her unity poster. She and her classto give neighbors a way to show what they valmates were excited to put them up for everyone to see what ue in a post-2016 presidential election envithey — students — think of the community. ronment. Gilborn started the effort after hear“It’s a way to express ourselves,” Brown said, “so we aren’t afraid.” Smullen doesn’t tell her students Smullen gives feedback to Stuart-Hobson seventh grader Alexis what she personally believes. In her Davis on her Unity on the Hill project Jan. 11. art class, what they believe comes out in the work they complete each day. Students in middle school aren’t old enough to vote in the United States, but that can’t stop them from expressing what they truly feel. And these posters are their way of getting that message
A Grassroots Beginning
Smullen and the Stuart-Hobson Middle School art students walk along H Street NE asking shop owners to put their Unity on Hill posters on display.
ing about the incidents of hate in the news and in the neighborhood following the November election. In one case, a black worker at a construction site on the Southwest waterfront found a noose hanging from the building. On Dec. 13, other Southwest neighbors found leaflets filled with hateful comments toward Democrats on their parked cars. Gilborn decided to ask local organizer Park to help her bring community members together and find a way to give a voice to the community. “It’s for anybody already living in our community feeling threatened and vulnerable,” Gilborn said, “to know that we have their backs and will stick together as a neighborhood.” The effort has continued to gain supporters since they announced it and began handing out posters and stickers. The effort has extended to churches and schools like Stuart-Hobson. But Gilborn and Park remained clear on one fact to community members — it’s a non-partisan campaign. “This is not about anti-Trump; it’s about making sure this neighborhood continues to be the neighborhood it’s been for awhile,” Park said. “And to become even more understanding.”
Metro Mutts on H Street NE owner Kelly Hartshorn and her employee tape students’ artwork in her store’s window for Unity on the Hill on Jan. 13.
out to their neighbors. “This is a good opportunity for them to participate and to feel like they’re a part of the process,” Smullen said. She added: “At this age, they want to move, get out, have their voice heard.” They succeeded in doing so. Each of their posters got a spot in a business’s window or on the windows and walls at Stuart-Hobson. The community now knows how those sixth, seventh and eight graders view their home.
Businesses Place Unity Stickers in Their Windows Stores like Metro Mutts (508 H St. NE), The Cupboard (1504 East Capitol St.) and the Pretzel Bakery (257 15th St. SE) joined in the efforts to unite the Capitol Hill community under those shared values of peace, tolerance, diversity and respect. Most put up the light blue and orange stickers before the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, but some said they hope the movement continues. It’s a chance to show people visiting or new comers to the District that the community values its diversity, said the owner of Metro Mutts Kelly Hartshorn. “We understand it’s a very diverse community, but that’s also what makes us strong,” she said. Metro Mutts opened on the Hill in 2009, and Hartshorn said she wants people to know that they stand behind the local community to ensure everyone is respected. For her, it’s not OK to tolerate discrimination. “It’s to show the nation that we’re more
than just ‘Capitol Hill’ as far as politics goes,” she said. “We are a community that is not going to tolerate any sort of hate.” Across the Hill at The Cupboard (1504 East Capitol St. NE), owner Mary Ann Brazell stickered her windows in time for the thousands of inauguration attendees and Women’s March on Washington supporters that streamed past her business on Jan. 20 and 21. “Capitol Hill is a really special place and I want our beliefs and things we value to be respected,” she said.
Looking Beyond Jan. 20, Growing Support President Trump’s unexpected win in November left many in the District shocked and adrift, especially the roughly 94 percent of residents who voted for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Though the election results sparked the Unity on the Hill campaign, it gives the Hill’s and City’s residents a chance to speak up for their community that people often mistake as an extension of the federal government. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) has voiced his support of Unity on the Hill, calling the movement an “important” and “visible” expression of the Hill’s values. “For those feeling vulnerable or fearful in the face of hatred and violence, the Unity signs in storefronts, residences and places of worship across the neighborhood will be a powerful message to both residents and visitors that all are welcome here,” Allen said. Many DC locals have expressed anxiety over Trump’s incoming administration and how it has presented itself so far, he said. This movement gives neighbors the chance to reinforce the values in their lives, and he said he hopes to see it continue beyond the inauguration. Smullen, Park, Gilborn and several other participating businesses agree — the significance needs to live past Jan. 20. “That’s a message that we should be saying in every corner of our community every day,” Allen said. u
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my Hill Rag Published Daily Online & Monthly in Print Capitol Hill’s News Source Since 1976!
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Bill Phillips
Capitol Hill’s Good Neighbor by Andrew Lightman
Religious Roots Bill was born on Nov. 20, 1944, to Mary Patricia Smyth and William H. Phillips Jr. in Baltimore, where he spent the first 15 years of his life. A devoted Catholic, he joined the Christian Brothers during his freshman high school year. He attended Calvert Hall, the brethren’s local school, until his family’s relocation to Florida in 1959. After graduating, Bill spent a “novitiate year” of spiritual formation with 33 other young men. He then attended La Salle College in Philadelphia, another Christian Brothers institution. Ultimately Bill choose not to become a Christian Brother, transferring to Fordham University in New York City, where he took a bachelor’s degree in political science. Bill continued to volunteer in affiliated Lasallian organizations, and in 2016 the order recognized him as an Affiliated Member of the Institute. The order had a profound influence on Bill’s life. He lived by their golden rule. “It’s do good, avoid evil. It’s, you know, be a good neighbor,” he stated in a Jan. 17, 2013, interview with Stephanie Deutsch for
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the Ruth Ann Overbeck Capitol Hill History Project.
A Career in Banking After a year at Fordham, Bill returned to Orlando for health reasons. He worked in a variety of jobs, including insurance sales. Bill was no salesman, but he discovered a flair for finance and decided to pursue a career in banking. A go-getter, he canvassed the trust departments of Orlando’s financial institutions for opportunities. He was hired as a trust officer at the Commercial Bank of Winter Park in 1970. This began a nearly 46-year career in banking that took him from Orlando to Birmingham, Ala., and eventually to Washington, DC. In 2002 Bill founded William H. Phillips & Company, a trust and investment consulting practice. At the time of his death the firm had $24.6 million under its management for 41 private clients.
A Love of Politics While in Orlando, Bill became interested in politics. In 1970 he volunteered for Lawton Chiles, who was walking across Florida waging a poorly funded senatorial campaign. “I was on the volunteer staff and I would drive him around, pick him up, do this, do that, because he would walk for a while and then stop and do some other things and go back to where he left and pick up and walk some more. But he did, he walked every step of the distance,” Bill recalled. Chiles won. Bill volunteered for Bill Gunter’s successful congressional campaign and worked on Gunter’s later bids for the US Senate in 1974. His political work brought him attention. Bill was appointed
Photo: Andrew Lightman
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n any given evening you could always find Bill Phillips in Garfield Park accompanied by his St. Bernard. I often encountered him as I walked home after a day at the Hill Rag. As we watched our dogs play, Bill and I would talk about the neighborhood, the city, and national politics. In an age when many of our titans of industry exhibit an Olympian disdain for the less fortunate, his comments always combined business acumen and a strong dose of civic responsibility, leavened with a wickedly dry, understated sense of humor. The paper and I benefited from his advice as a devoted reader. As my knowledge of the neighborhood deepened, I came to appreciate how this quiet, understated man had helped to shape Capitol Hill, the neighborhood he loved. William “Bill” H. Phillips III died on Dec. 31, 2016, at George Washington University Hospital after a stroke. He was 72.
to Orlando’s Board of Zoning Adjustment, which he chaired from 1974 to 1977. In 1977, after his career led him to Birmingham, Bill continued his civic engagement. Falling in love with his new town, he got involved with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, the Alabama Bankers Association, and the city’s Industrial Development Board. When an unarmed African-American woman was mistakenly shot by a white police officer, Bill joined a delegation that worked with local civil rights leaders to keep the city calm. “So,” Bill recalled, “the six guys go in the room, and we talk, and essentially the African-Americans tell us, ‘Look, we can take care of this. But we’re telling you, this is the last time we’re going to do it. Taking care of this means keeping a lid on it.’” When Bill was let go from his banking position in 1986, he turned to full-time political work, moving to Chattanooga, Tenn., to campaign for incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Marilyn Lloyd. After Lloyd’s reelection he took a position as legislative director for Ben Erdeich, Birmingham’s Democratic congressman. When Erdeich was elected chair of the banking subcommittee of the House Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs Committee, Bill became its staff director. Leaving congressional work in 1992 after Er-
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deich’s defeat, Bill joined his political and banking experiences as a lobbyist at the American Bankers Association. For a decade he focused on deepening the organization’s relationships with its state affiliates. Most importantly, however, the job kept him in the District.
A Faithful Parishioner When Bill arrived in Washington he settled on Capitol Hill at the suggestion of a co-worker. He joined St. Peter’s, a local Catholic congregation, where he came under the charismatic spell of its pastor, Rev. Michael J. O’Sullivan. Bill attended Mass daily, often assisting as a lector, Eucharistic minister, altar server, or sacristan. At O’Sullivan’s urging he started a parish endowment, serving as chair of its financial council for many years. “It will be months before the community comes to grips with just how much Bill did for all of us on the Hill. His spirit is woven into the fabric of our parish. His physical presence was everywhere – as an altar server and reader and as a guiding force in our parish financial stewardship,” stated Lynn Marsh Freeman, St. Peter’s rectory manager. “He worked tirelessly on social justice issues, especially as they affected our neighbors. I think of him scheduling events for Capitol Hill Village and seminars for the parish. I think of him helping our senior parishioners with the tricky issues of managing their finances or moving out of their homes and into assisted living,” Freeman recalled. “But most of all I think of his smile and his cheery ‘Well, hello’ greeting. May his spirit of service live in all of us.” In 2014 the Archdiocese of Washington awarded Bill its 75th Anniversary Medal in recognition of his many years of service to St. Peter’s. Perhaps most importantly, St. Peter’s is where Bill met his wife, Monica C. Sullivan. “We met through a program called Renew, which consisted of small groups of people discussing their faith in their homes. After a few weeks I got up my nerve and asked him out to a lecture at St. Peter’s,” recalled Sullivan. “We started sitting in the same pew and that’s how it got started.” They married in 1993, after purchasing a home a few blocks away across from Garfield Park.
The Good Neighbor In his Overbeck interview, Bill described Garfield Park as his “front yard.” “You don’t want
trash in your front yard. So you go out and pick up trash,” he said. Bill joined his neighbors in monthly cleanups. “We found a lot of needles and other things that you don’t want to find,” Bill recalled. When the organizers retired or left the Hill, Bill took over responsibility for cleanups. He formed Friends of Garfield Park (FGP), a nonprofit, to support the effort and was its president. Bill would prove a tenacious fundraiser. He began by partnering with neighboring Capitol Hill Day School. To this day the school, which uses the park as a recreational space for its students, contributes annually to FGP. However, Bill had his sights on deeper pockets. Whether it was the DC Department of Transportation or the railroad giant CSX, if a construction project bordered Garfield Park, Bill made sure they contributed to the improvement of his “front yard.” Under Bill’s watchful eye Garfield Park was transformed from a dilapidated, overgrown, trash-filled eyesore into an important community amenity. The tennis and volleyball courts were repaired and bocce courts built. Gardens sprouted. Pet waste stations were installed. An extensive playground was constructed and the space under the freeway was repurposed as a skate park. On any given day, the park throngs with strollers, dogs, students, sports enthusiasts, and skaters. “Bill’s presence on the Hill will be missed greatly, perhaps nowhere more than at Garfield Park,” stated Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen. “The park has had no better friend, and Bill cared for it as if it were his own front yard. There was no detail too small. He knew if the grass was cut too high, if the playground gate was locked, and if the swings needed more mulch. His vision and passion for this special park and space is one that we all have a duty to continue.” Bill’s work with Garfield Park connected him to the larger Capitol Hill community. After becoming acquainted with the work of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF) while securing grants for FGP, he joined its board of directors and served as its secretary. As a member of the Community Grants Committee, he visited applicants across the neighborhood to evaluate requests for funds. “Bill was passionate in his view that the foundation should be as generous as possible in helping to meet the needs of our community, especially in supporting the safety net provided by the
Capitol Hill Group Ministry and other social service organizations. We miss his good judgment, good cheer, and friendship, and we always will,” stated CHCF President Nicky Cymrot. Bill joined the efforts of the Capitol Hill Group Ministry in assisting the Hill’s less fortunate residents. There he met Martha Huizenga, another ministry volunteer, who was the president of the Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals (CHAMPS). Huizenga asked him to serve as her vice president. Together they transformed the organization into the neighborhood’s chamber of commerce. Bill served as CHAMPS president himself from 2009 to 2011, when he helped develop Celebrate Capitol Hill, the organization’s nonprofit foundation, and served as treasurer. “Bill loved Capitol Hill. He saw CHAMPS as a way of uniting the community’s small-business sector. He was instrumental in CHAMPS’ efforts at communicating with the District leadership, and in honoring outstanding businesses through the Hilly awards,” stated Mark Weinheimer, former president of CHAMPS. In more recent years Bill lent his financial talents to Capitol Hill Village, an organization devoted to helping senior residents age in place. There he created and managed the group’s endowment. In 2013 CHCF honored him with its prestigious Capitol Hill Achievement Award. “Everything I do comes from the core values I learned from the Christian Brothers. You have got to give back,” Bill told his Overbeck interviewer. As you stroll through the sylvan grounds of Garfield Park, or gaze up at St. Peter’s newly repaired spire, think of Bill’s gift for giving back and how it transformed the neighborhood in which we dwell. Bill is survived by his wife, Monica C. Sullivan, children Kate Hosmer (John) and William H. Phillips IV; grandchildren, Benjamin, Matthew, Joseph, and Isaac Hosmer; and sister Mary Feeney (Michael). Contributions in Bill’s memory can be made to St. Peter’s Endowment Trust Fund, 313 Second St. SE; Capitol Hill Community Foundation, 419 East Capitol St. SE; and Lasallian Volunteers, Hecker Center, Suite 300, 3025 Fourth St. NE, Washington, DC, 20017. u
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H Street Life
Pidzza offers gourmet pizzas with a Turkish nod.
by Elise Bernard
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ven in the midst of winter there’s plenty to see and do in the neighborhood. Our neighbor to the north, Ivy City, is experiencing a revival of its own with new businesses opening on a frequent basis. Allow me to make a few suggestions of places to visit.
Pidzza Serves Pizza with a Turkish Twist
JO Wilson PTA to Hold Silent Auction The JO Wilson Elementary PTA (http:// jowilsondc.org/jopta) will hold a silent auction Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (https:// w w w. 3 2 a u c t i o n s . c o m / J O W i l s o n Au c tion2017). Tickets are $45, which includes two drink vouchers. The auction will take place at Anthology (625 H St. NE, http://anthologydc.com). Grab a seat by the fire or face off against a friend at the pool table or dart board. Enjoy light appetizers with your cocktails, and remember that it’s all for a good cause. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event and silent auction go to the PTA to support school needs such as technology in the classrooms. JO Wilson (http://jowilsondc.org), located at 660 K St. NE, serves a diverse student body with a range of academic, social, and wellness needs. It’s a Title I school, with
Pidzza (http://www.pidzza.com, 2000 Hecht Ave. NE), a fast-casual restaurant serving “gourmet pizza with a Turkish flair,” opened its doors last month in Ivy City. The name Pidzza comes from combining the names of two delicious dishes, the Turkish pide and the more familiar pizza. The menu features six signature pizzas, including the cauli, which comes topped with chicken, roasted curried cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, caramelized onion, shredded mozzarella cheese, chopped fresh chives and a roasted garlic cream cheese. I was impressed by the artichoke pizza, which includes its namesake, plus baby spinach, jalapeño, fresh mozzarella and a spinach artichoke cream. Patrons can also create their own pies from a generous selection of toppings such as roasted brussels sprouts, pineapple, curried cauliflower, a Turkish beef sausage called sucuk, and vegan beef crumbles. The menu is vegetarian and vegan friendly, and even includes a gluten free dough. Salads come with dressing options like pomegranate-sumac lemon juice and cucumber tahini yogurt. Those with a sweet tooth might want to order a dessert pizza. They offer one with a chocolate crust, Nutella, shaved white chocolate, almonds and seasonal fruits. All pizzas and salads run about $10. Pidzza is open 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily. This is Pidzza’s first location, but they have others in the LEFT: Ari’s Diner brings a classic diner vibe to Ivy City. RIGHT: Adult milkshakes at Ari’s Diner offer a little grown up fun for kids at heart. works, including one on H Street NE.
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photo: Andrew Lightman
over 90% of the student body qualifying for free or reduced price meals. Enrollment is on the rise, as are test scores, but the school still faces a number of challenges. They need your help to keep J.O. Wilson a beacon of opportunity for its students and families for years to come. You can also donate funds outright, or sponsor the auction. JOWPTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all gifts are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
ASL Trivia at the Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse Local fans of pub quiz nights would be well advised to check out ASL Trivia (https://www.facebook.com/ ASLTriviaDC) nights at the Tavern at Ivy City Smokehouse Tavern (1356 Okie St. NE). It’s every second and fourth Monday of the month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., but teams are advised to arrive half an hour early to secure a good table. The wheelchair accessible space is well lit, and has round tables that make it easy to confer with teammates. Questions are delivered in American Sign Language, but voice interpretation is provided so everyone can play. Play consists of four rounds, with eight questions per round. It’s a chance to test your knowledge, and maybe win a prize or two along the way. On a recent night the prizes included a round of free shots for the winning team, a $50 gift card, and the option to have your team’s tab covered for the night.
Geek Out with Nerds in NoMa The popular free speaker series Nerds in NoMa (http://www.nomabid.org/events/nerds-in-noma) is back for another season. Upcoming topics for this season include a dis-
cussion of the role of the visual arts community in the District (Feb. 21), a look at NoMa-based think tanks and how they improve the neighborhood (March 21), and an examination of the importance of green space in the urban landscape (April 18). The series runs from now through April every 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the speaking program begins at 6:30 p.m. Nerds in NoMa events take place at 1200 First St. NE.
Support The Renovation of Potomac Gardens and Hopkins Housing Developments ICP Partners INC, a non-profit organization that focuses on providing affordable assets in urban and emerging markets through the applications of real estate and infrastructure development assets such as Potomac Gardens and Hopkins, Carthagerea, petitioners at 1229 G Street SE, Capitol Hill residents, and various other Americans are creating and advancing the attached 300,000 plus petition at Change.org. Please join our efforts by signing the petition for reforming affordable housing in Washington, DC, etc, specifically at Potomac Gardens and Hopkins.
“Life begins with Loving Nature and Mankind”.
Ari’s Diner Expands Hours Ivy City’s newly opened Ari’s Diner (http://www.arisdiner.com, 2003 Fenwick St. NE) has added dinner service, expanding its hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. I stopped by to check the place out on a recent Saturday afternoon and I definitely plan to add it to my regular rotation. Ari’s offers your standard diner fare like monte cristo sandwiches ($12), and plates of pancakes with eggs, hashbrowns, and bacon or sausage. You can also order an adult milkshake ($11). I opted for a cookies and cream version with Bailey’s. It hit the spot, and was gone before I could tackle my eggs benedict ($13). My dining companion selected the crabcake sandwich ($17), accompanied by seasoned fries. Our friendly server made sure everything arrived promptly, and a cook alerted us to the chicken and waffles special that he said will soon appear on the regular menu.
Call Kira Means 202-400-3508 or kira@hillrag.com for more information
For more on what’s abuzz on, and around, H Street NE, you can visit my blog at http://frozentropics.blogspot. com. You can send me tips or questions at elise.bernard@gmail.com. u
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{community life}
Riverfront BID Annual Meeting Green Line Leads Growth in the District by Michael Stevens, AICP Capitol Riverfront BID The Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District (BID) held its Annual Meeting Luncheon on Thursday, Jan. 12, at Nationals Park to celebrate our ninth year of BID activities and the accomplishments of our Clean Team and public and private partners. Over 250 attendees heard a summary of the BID’s activities over the past year, including new development that is occurring in all four market segments. It was also noted that the civic side of the neighborhood is growing, with the recent opening of the Arthur Capper community center and the continued growth of the Van Ness Elementary School. Residential growth continues to exceed expectations, with over 2,400 units under construction and approximately 3,800 units in the immediate pipeline. Residential buildings delivered in 2016 include the Park Chelsea, Arris, Ore 82, Dock 79, and the Bixby. Based on this residential surge, the neighborhood will increase its population from today’s 6,400 residents to 14,400 by the end of 2019. Numerous condominium projects slated to break ground in 2017 will add needed for-sale inventory to our product mix. The residential growth is fueling retail expansion as well, with approximately 200,000 square feet of retail and restaurants under construction and another 100,000 square feet being readied for construction along Half Street. More than 10 new restaurants will deliver in 2017 as will the new Whole Foods store at New Jersey and H Streets SE (part
Peter Harnik delivers keynote on the value of urban parks.
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of the Agora residential building). Orange Theory Fitness and Conte’s Bike Shop will deliver in 2017, adding to the outdoor recreation ethos of the Capitol Riverfront. Two new hotels delivered in 2016 – the Hampton Inn & Suites on First Street and the Homewood Suites by Hilton at 50 M St. SE. The next hotel delivery will be the Marriott Residence Inn at the end of February 2017 on First Street, bringing the number of hotels to four with a total of 737 rooms. At the annual meeting, the BID recognized two recipients of its Foundation Awards. The Public Sector Partner award went to the DC government and the Private Sector Partner award went to the DC United team ownership group. With these awards the BID recognized the catalytic nature of the new soccer stadium for Buzzard Point and how the stadium and new development will fill the “gap” between the Capitol Riverfront and the Southwest Waterfront and Wharf project. We also recognized our Clean Team members for their invaluable contributions throughout the public realm that make the Capitol Riverfront an inviting and attractive place to live, work, and visit. Three members received special accolades for their outstanding performance in 2016. Peter Harnik, the former director of The Trust for Public Land’s Center for City Park Excellence, gave the event’s keynote address on the value of urban parks in a densifying US cityscape. Harnik spoke to design and programming qualities that make parks special and well-used, citing numer-
Clean Team member Bernard Bynum named Employee of the Year, pictured with Councilmember Charles Allen & Clean Team manager Jerry Carcamo.
ous best practices from across the country. He noted that a park’s success is measured not only by simple usage but also by the range of activities provided, the diversity of users in age and ethnicity, the common ground it creates, and the real estate value it can leverage. He cited Yards Park and Canal Park as two world-class parks that have defined and helped create the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood and its sense of community. The BID also released new research conducted by RCLCO Real Estate Advisors as an update to the 2012 “GreenPrint of Growth” study, which pronounced the Green Line corridor as the District’s preferred location for new households and development. We at the BID were suspecting that the findings from 2012 had improved and even accelerated, and the updated study findings did not disappoint. Simply put, the Green Line has captured more housing along its Metro stations than any other line in Metro’s system since 2000. Significant findings of the “GreenPrint of Growth 2.0” study include the following: • In 2012, the study called the Green Line the region’s growth driver; today it is the region’s corridor of choice for young professionals. • The Green Line is the strongest growth corridor for young professionals, attracting one of two new households under age 35 in DC since 2000. • One out of four new apartments built in DC since 2000 has been built within the Green Line corridor. During that time the Navy
Capitol Riverfront Foundation Award ñ Public Sector winners, pictured with Michael Stevens and Councilmember Charles Allen.
GreenPrint of Growth 2.0 data shows Green Line as the strongest growth corridor for young professionals.
Yard/Ballpark station has added more units than any other Green Line corridor station, and more than twice as many as Shaw or U Street. • Based on the average resale prices of condos built after 2000, the average income for new Green Line households has increased since 2012 by nearly 50 percent to $121,600. For the Navy Yard/Ballpark station new household incomes have increased over 80 percent to $108,600. • Green Line stations have captured 50 percent of DC’s retail development since 2010. The Navy Yard/Ballpark station area alone will add the equivalent of 1.5 CityCenters worth of retail by 2019. • The number of jobs located on the Green Line corridor grew by 50 percent between 2010 and 2016, to 76,000 jobs, with highwage sectors representing the majority of the growth. • Residential growth and development activity along the Green Line corridor is anticipated to generate $3.66 billion in tax revenue to DC over the next 20 years, with 22,500 permanent jobs. What does this all mean? New growth, and particularly residential development, is following the Green Line corridor as young professionals seek the “one-seat ride” to employment centers and destination neighborhoods. It also speaks to the compelling nature of water as a neighborhood amenity. The Navy Yard/Ballpark and Waterfront stations saw more residential development than the Mt. Vernon Square, Shaw, U Street, and Petworth stations combined. The preferred growth corridor is shift-
ing from Northwest to Southeast and Southwest, and this should be good news for our office-attraction efforts in the Capitol Riverfront. The next generation of employees is clustering along the Green Line corridor, which may cause a shift in office locations and further enhance the retail and entertainment destination qualities of neighborhoods along the corridor. The Capitol Riverfront office market is seeing positive response to this trend, with two new office buildings having started construction in 2016, a third starting in early 2017, and the possibility of a fourth in 2017/18. The Green Line has become a series of destination neighborhoods, but it also provides accessibility to other entertainment and retail activity centers that professionals desire. And it brings the region to the Washington Channel and Anacostia River as waterfronts play an increasingly important role in our city. Both the full report and the executive summary of the “GreenPrint of Growth 2.0” study, the 2016 BID Annual Report, and the “State of the Capitol Riverfront” presentation from the BID’s annual meeting are available on our website at www.capitolriverfront.org. For the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood and the BID, 2016 was quite a year, as we experienced the largest development cycle in the neighborhood’s history and continue to be the District’s fastest growing neighborhood. Please visit us over the next few months as new restaurants open, more residential is added, baseball begins play in April, and our outdoor concerts and movies begin in late spring and early summer. It is compelling and interesting to see city-building occurring on such a large scale. u
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{real estate}
Real Estate Matters by Heather Schoell
Let’s Make a Deal! When I was eight years old, my great-grandparents gave me a book entitled “Now You Are 5!” Soon after, I held a yard sale. I really wanted to get rid of that book. A little kid came with his mom, and I went over and asked him how old he was. “Five.” Boy, did I have a book for him! That was my first intentional, pointed sale. The stakes are higher now, of course – houses, not 25-cent-books – but the mindset is the same. Eyes and ears wide open, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there to make a deal.
Try this ploy to attract attention from the seller, “Here’s our baby, Max. He would love to have your yard to play in!” Cheesy, but it might work.
No Offense! Making deals is in my DNA. My ancestors have lived and died by deals (Armenians and Russian Jews – I’m not hyperbolizing), and it’s something that comes naturally to me. The last home I sold, I countered an offer that came in a bit low with an amount over the asking price. The agent was surprised and wanted to make sure he heard me right, but it worked. I got my seller the bottom line he wanted. It wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t asked. You have to go for what you want. Don’t be shy, and don’t be afraid of offending the other party. You won’t, if you do it right. You don’t offer Safeway $5 for a $4 box of cereal, so why would you pay more than you have to in buying a property? In a word, emotions! Buying and selling homes, it’s easy to get caught up in the feeling, the place you’ve made memories in, or the intense need for that particular home, but don’t lose sight that it is a financial transaction. In a non-super-competitive situation (maybe where a property has been on the market for a while), if you want to buy a place for less than top dollar, you have nothing to lose when you go to a seller with a lower offer. There are nice ways to do that. With a smile, for example. Don’t be disparaging. Your agent can have a list of comparable sales to make your case, but maybe also play up the “young people just starting out” thing or the “just had a baby” thing. Don’t
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be disingenuous, but market yourself as someone they should sell to for less. Take this example. Buyer’s agent emails seller’s agent. My clients, they’re new parents, and they absolutely love the home, the street, the neighborhood. They do have some concerns about that soft spot in the kitchen floor and the hole in the roof, though, and with that new baby, they don’t have a lot of extra cash for repairs. We’d like to offer $X with a $X credit to get those things fixed up. Now you’ve gotten hopes up for a sale, painted a lovely family into the house, pointed out the things that might jeopardize the deal, and then offered a way to make it still happen. Does it always work? Of course not, especially if there’s a higher offer. But if there’s no other offer, you’re at a good starting point for friendly negotiations. Will people be offended at an offer lower than the asking price? Would you be? Say you had your house listed for $875,000, and an offer came in for $870k. How about $860k? Let me know when you’re getting offended. $850k? It’s hard to say, right? A lot of factors go into the equation, like how fast you need to sell, or if it’s a cash offer, or if it’s the only offer after 45 days on the market, or if you are secretly willing to go to $800k. The point is, a buyer can’t know exactly what the seller’s situation and motivation are, so it’s better to ask and not receive than to assume the seller wouldn’t want to entertain your offer. If your offer is way too low, though, negotiations may start on a sour note or won’t happen at all, in which case you’re not getting that home. Obviously all bets are off when a property is like chum in the water. Sorry, but there’s probably not going to be too much negotiating, not downward anyway. Your best tools are throwing money at it and having the cleanest offer, which means the fewest contingencies possible, meaning it’s less likely to fall through. Having to sell a current property first is pretty much sudden death in a multiple-offer situation. Then there’s cash vs. financing, and the inspection contingency. (I’ve said this before: do not skip the inspection, but you could inspect it before you submit the offer, in which case you can skip the inspection con-
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tingency, thus making your offer that much more attractive.)
Look Out, Listen Up Let me preface this by saying that the following tactics are not necessarily needed (unless you feel like they might be), and they didn’t sound psycho until the words were in black and white. The intention here is not to be creepy but to have more information to make a more informed offer and edge out the competition. Your agent should be asking questions of the seller’s agent, and gleaning information to help write a successful offer. You can go to an open house and notice if the sellers own a pet or if they have kids. Don’t be a stalker about it, but note any obvious likes, or that a cat or dog lives there. Also, listen up – neighbors might be there. What do they have to say about the house or the block, or the reason the owners are selling? Maybe they’re being relocated, in which case they’ll likely want to want to wrap things up quickly and cleanly, in which case you don’t put in your offer that you want items fixed. (You can ask for a credit toward repairs, but the repairs are on your time, not theirs.) If you think it’ll help your case, and if you can live with the cheesiness, add a personal note to the seller with your offer. (“Our dog will love playing in the yard! Our cat would love to curl up in the sun of the bay windows!”) Their agent is certifiably crazy if he or she actually passes that stuff to the client, but it doesn’t hurt to try. You could also circumvent said agent and send something directly to the seller, like a small gift for them or their pet. It’ll make you stand out as either an awesome person whom they should sell to, or in a competitive situation it might give you an edge if all other terms are equal. Bottom line here, folks: if he looks like he’s in the ballpark of age five, don’t be afraid to walk up to that kid and ask him how old he is. Go get ‘em! Heather Schoell is a Capitol Hill REALTOR with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices PenFed Realty and can be reached at heathersdc@gmail. com, at the office at 202-608-1880, or by cell at 202-321-0874. u
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{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. NEIGHBORHOOD
Close Price BR
FEE SIMPLE 16th Street Heights 1428 MADISON ST NW 5001 13TH ST NW 1205 DELAFIELD PL NW 1469 OGLETHORPE ST NW 1620 UNDERWOOD ST NW 1319 DECATUR ST NW 1423 MANCHESTER LN NW 5206 13TH ST NW
$1,295,000 $855,000 $784,900 $719,000 $710,000 $670,000 $660,000 $555,000
American University Park 4702 YUMA ST NW 4436 45TH ST NW 4416 WINDOM PL NW 4624 43RD PL NW
$1,381,000 $1,126,000 $962,000 $850,000
Anacostia 1536 RIDGE PL SE 1635 R ST SE 1436 BANGOR ST SE 1336 RIDGE PL SE 1215 MORRIS RD SE
$449,000 $280,000 $260,000 $170,000 $140,000
Asheford Court 1038 COOK DR SE 1020 COOK DR SE 1022 Cook Drive SE
$539,915 $404,610 $427,060
Barry Farms 1455 BANGOR ST SE 1345 TALBERT TER SE
$350,000 $323,000
5 4 3 3 6 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 3 3 4 3 4 3 3
Berkley 4450 DEERFIELD RD NW 4636 KENMORE DR NW 1825 47TH PL NW 4483 SALEM LN NW
$3,500,000 $1,760,000 $1,535,000 $1,309,000
Bloomingdale 134 THOMAS ST NW
$829,000
Brentwood 1811 PROVIDENCE ST NE 962 MOUNT OLIVET RD NE
$415,000 $350,000
Brightwood 55 VAN BUREN ST NW 516 ASPEN ST NW 6423 8TH ST NW 521 ROXBORO PL NW 1223 ROCK CREEK FORD RD NW
$795,000 $700,000 $499,950 $437,500 $430,000
Brookland 613 LANCASTER ST NE #832
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$939,900
6 5 5 4
3317 9TH ST NE 1311 IRVING ST NE 3328 7TH STREET ST NE #838 637 FRANKLIN ST NE 1825 JACKSON ST NE 4201 12TH ST NE 828 CRITTENDEN ST NE 1520 TAYLOR ST NE 1222 ALLISON ST NE 904 HAMLIN ST NE 11 HAMILTON ST NE 82 ALLISON ST NE 2952 13TH ST NE 234 ADAMS ST NE 821 CRITTENDEN ST NE 2606 4TH ST NE 1347 FRANKLIN ST NE 127 HAWAII AVE NE 138 WEBSTER ST NE
$861,500 $820,000 $772,000 $690,000 $660,000 $640,000 $585,000 $577,000 $507,500 $500,000 $480,000 $455,500 $455,000 $455,000 $447,000 $404,000 $370,000 $341,000 $326,400
Capitol Hill
5 3 3 5 5 4 3 3 3
526 5TH ST SE 632 A ST SE 220 3RD ST SE 224 C ST NE 600 E ST NE 141 NORTH CAROLINA AVE SE 517 7TH ST SE 537 7TH ST SE 506 G ST SE 146 DUDDINGTON PL SE 415 D ST NE 418 6TH ST NE 517 14TH ST NE 156 DUDDINGTON PL SE 927 E ST NE 1820 BAY ST SE
$2,500,000 $1,600,632 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,300,000 $1,300,000 $1,100,000 $925,000 $889,999 $883,550 $870,000 $865,000 $852,000 $830,000 $745,000 $709,000
4 5 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 12 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 3 3 3
531 TENNESSEE AVE NE 1715 BAY ST SE 1519 NORTH CAROLINA AVE NE 1441 DUNCAN ST NE 2030 E ST NE
$659,031 $550,000 $474,500 $425,000 $429,000
Chevy Chase 3725 HUNTINGTON ST NW 3221 OLIVER ST NW 5717 32ND ST NW 4111 INGOMAR ST NW 5315 NEVADA AVE NW 6340 UTAH AVE NW 3922 LIVINGSTON ST NW 6000 34TH PL NW 5724 OREGON AVE NW
$1,887,500 $1,650,000 $1,640,000 $1,540,000 $1,415,000 $1,350,000 $981,000 $845,000 $809,000
3 4 2 3 2 5 5 5 4 5 4 4 4 3
Chillum 5915 3RD ST NW
$450,000
Cleveland Park 3525 WOODLEY RD NW 3095 ORDWAY ST NW
$4,500,000 $1,165,000
Columbia Heights 1349 SPRING RD NW 1006 FAIRMONT ST NW 603 KENYON ST NW 1430 PARKWOOD PL NW 773 HOBART PL NW 753 GIRARD ST NW 718 HARVARD ST NW 520-522 HOBART PL NW 790 IRVING ST NW 3200 PARK PL NW 749 HARVARD ST NW 3306 OXON RUN RD SE
$1,075,000 $820,000 $740,000 $716,000 $685,000 $630,000 $628,000 $580,000 $515,000 $450,000 $425,000 $495,000
3 6 4 4 3 3 3 2 3 3 4 2 4 2 5
YOU’LL FALL IN LOVE WITH OUR SERVICE! 3315 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE 404 NEWCOMB ST SE 4279 CAPITOL ST SW 1332 BARNABY TER SE 430 CONDON TER SE 110 ELMIRA ST SW 851 MONTERIA CT SE 4135 4TH ST SE
$399,000 $375,000 $325,000 $309,000 $257,400 $215,000 $206,850 $160,000
Crestwood 4120 18TH ST NW
$925,000
Deanwood 282 56TH PL NE 308 56TH ST NE 4909 FITCH PL NE 5419 E. CAPITOL ST SE 4019 BLAINE ST NE 821 52ND ST NE 5078 JUST ST NE 17 53RD PL SE 5531 JAY ST NE 27 53RD PL SE 4436 BLAINE ST NE 1310 EASTERN AVE NE 4203 DIX ST NE 841 51ST ST NE 5322 JAMES PL NE 820 46TH ST NE
$432,000 $430,000 $375,000 $320,000 $308,000 $303,000 $299,000 $298,000 $285,000 $268,000 $260,000 $212,000 $200,000 $200,000 $185,250 $154,000
Eckington 44 R ST NE 54 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 142 U ST NE 216 SEATON PL NE 143 V ST NE
$915,000 $800,000 $799,900 $746,500 $620,000
Edgewood 213 DOUGLAS ST NE
$541,000
Fort Dupont Park 1125 44TH PL SE 3331 B ST SE 732 BURNS ST SE 4224 HILDRETH ST SE 4455 C ST SE 1611 FORT DAVIS PL SE 4321 BARKER ST SE 4502 TEXAS AVE SE
$425,000 $350,400 $341,700 $339,500 $325,000 $260,000 $246,000 $150,000
Fort Lincoln 3230 THEODORE R HAGANS DR NE 3601 HANSBERRY CT NE 2533 HURSTON LN NE
$540,000 $500,000 $495,000
Georgetown 1417 33RD ST NW 1514 30TH ST NW 1655 AVON PL NW 2808 R ST NW 3524 RESERVOIR RD NW 3069 CANAL ST NW 3322 PROSPECT ST NW 3745 WINFIELD LN NW 1033 31ST ST NW 3300 Q ST NW 3316 RESERVOIR RD NW 1324 29TH ST NW 2916 O ST NW 1247 35TH ST NW
$3,725,000 $2,150,000 $1,950,000 $1,900,000 $1,795,000 $1,658,000 $1,640,000 $1,595,000 $1,535,000 $1,480,000 $1,230,000 $1,169,000 $965,000 $750,000
Glover Park 2414 OBSERVATORY PL NW
$730,000
3 5 3 3 3 3 3 3
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742 13th St. SE $1,075,000 $85k ABOVE LIST! 5BR/3.5BA
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909 14TH St. SE $839,000 3BR/2.5BA
This exquisite Connell & Schmidt renovation offers thoughtful details in every corner. An enormous 5 BR/3.5 BA three story home OR owners’ residence UP with 2 BR/1BA DOWN – perfect for guests, full time rental, or Airbnb. But wait, there’s more! Two rear decks, a real back yard, and secure off-street driveway. The craftsmanship, finishes, and spacious interior make this home a stand out! Perfectly positioned steps from Metro and a short stroll from the restaurants, bars, and shops of Barracks Row and Pennsylvania Avenue.
Beautifully restored Semi-Detached Capitol Hill Victorian. Wide, 3 story w/finished Basement + kitchenette. Renovated kitchen, large dining room, two gas fireplaces w/orig. stone mantels, two rear sunrooms, restored original HW floors throughout, clawfoot tub, newly repointed brick. Classic, Spacious, and Convenient! One block to Potomac Metro & Harris Teeter. Stroll to Eastern Market and Lincoln Park.
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116 6th St. NE #202 $594,000 2BR/1BA
One of The Hill’s GRANDEST Pre-war apartment homes, The Linville features a coveted location and classic dimensions – nothing cramped here! This bright condo home has great flow, original HW floors, fixtures, and much more! A gracious entry foyer leads to the large central living room, separate dining room, and guest room/den - all bathed in morning sun. The renovated kitchen has a great layout and boasts a Thermador cooktop w/built-in grill, new stainless appliances, and breakfast bar. Owner’s bedroom features a wall of built-in drawers and cabinets AND a walk-in closet!
1420 K St. SE 3BR/2BA $770,000
Just 2 blocks from Potomac Ave Metro and the renaissance of Penn. Ave. shops and cafes, #1420 stands tall alongside its fellow Federal-front homes and sleek new loft condos. A classic foyer welcomes you to 2,000 sf of finished living space over 3 levels. Large wide-open living and dining room with exposed brick and oak floors leads to an expanded, renovated eat-in kitchen. And just beyond, a low-maintenance deck and private parking garage! Don’t miss this opportunity for the complete package for convenient and stylish city living!
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Capture your chance to call East Cap home! The latest transformation by Quest Home Builders delivers superior construction and attention to every detail. From the front porch through 3 levels, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and beyond to the rear deck and private parking. Entirely rebuilt inside and out: new roof, structure, systems, plumbing, mechanicals, wiring, and windows. The fully finished lower level offers bonus living space - den/media room, bed, and full bath. All perfectly placed 3 blocks from both Lincoln Park and the Metro escalator.
5 5 4 4 5 3 2 2 2 7 3 3 3 3 2 3 4
1605 E. Capitol St. SE $949,000 4BR/3.5BA
YS R DA DE - 6 N U CT A TR N
G
!
N
O
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IN
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YOUR HOME HERE
We work to prepare and present ONE BEAUTIFUL NEW LISTING each week. If you are considering a sale anytime in 2017, NOW IS THE TIME to have us visit for a free consultation on the steps to success!
joel@joelnelsongroup.com 202.243.7707
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February 2017 H 115
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Hill Crest 3710 SOUTHERN AVE SE 1242 ANACOSTIA RD SE 2928 M PL SE 2612 33RD ST SE
$475,000 $360,000 $326,510 $288,000
Kalorama 2449 TRACY PL NW
$5,500,000
5 4 3 3 6
Kent 2939 ARIZONA AVE NW
$935,000
Ledroit Park 2225 FLAGLER PL NW 525 U ST NW 152 U ST NW
$815,000 $800,000 $600,000
Lily Ponds 3716 FOOTE ST NE 3445 EADS ST NE 3451 EADS ST NE 3319 BLAINE ST NE 3334 BAKER ST NE 3748 Foote Street NE
$441,741 $372,500 $359,900 $351,000 $270,000 $444,784
Logan Circle 1410 15TH ST NW 1820 13TH ST NW 1337 VERMONT AVE NW 946 T ST NW
$2,299,000 $2,213,000 $1,477,500 $2,325,000
Marshall Heights 5215 BASS PL SE 45 47TH ST SE
$325,000 $185,000
Mass. Ave Hts 2850 WOODLAND DR NW 3208 CLEVELAND AVE NW
$10,750,000 $1,875,000
Michigan Park 4749 QUEENS CHAPEL TER NE
$529,000
Mount Pleasant 1852 INGLESIDE TER NW 1730 IRVING ST NW 1810 IRVING ST NW 2337 CHAMPLAIN ST NW ##303
$1,100,000 $937,000 $832,000 $650,000
Observatory Circle 2820 BELLEVUE TER NW
$1,150,000
Old City #1 523 F ST NE 808 L ST NE 445 15TH ST NE 317 I ST NE 619 MORTON PL NE 1024 8TH ST NE 728 6TH ST SE 1702 D ST NE 1229 LINDEN PL NE 715 12TH ST NE 1371 EMERALD ST NE 220 17TH PL NE 829 6TH ST NE 725 11TH ST NE 1603 E CAPITOL ST SE 511 14TH ST NE 345 KENTUCKY AVE SE 1649 GALES ST NE 1727 F ST NE 1306 C ST NE 1420 C ST SE
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$900,000 $880,000 $855,000 $819,000 $771,000 $755,000 $750,000 $750,000 $715,000 $700,000 $680,000 $673,000 $655,000 $650,000 $600,000 $600,000 $599,000 $569,900 $526,000 $500,000 $467,500
4 4 3 3 3 4 3 2 2 4 5 5 3 5
541 24TH ST NE 502 21ST ST NE
$448,500 $440,000
Petworth 406 KENNEDY ST NW 312 VARNUM ST NW 5 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW 620 FARRAGUT ST NW 4321 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 5500 4TH ST NW 4004 ILLINOIS AVE NW 5411 5TH ST NW 5224 1ST ST NW 5102 7TH ST NW 4023 5TH ST NW 412 BUCHANAN ST NW 5103 5TH ST NW 839 DECATUR ST NW 541 QUINCY ST NW 838 VARNUM ST NW
$800,000 $780,000 $780,000 $776,000 $775,000 $735,000 $715,000 $700,000 $617,500 $599,900 $527,500 $500,000 $462,500 $445,000 $380,000 $330,000
Randle Heights 1506 MISSISSIPPI AVE SE 2402 17TH ST SE 1866 ALABAMA AVE SE 3245 STANTON RD SE 3452 21ST ST SE 1909 T ST SE 2355 SKYLAND TER SE
$605,000 $435,000 $354,500 $330,000 $284,900 $282,500 $190,000
Riggs Park
8 3 4 4 6 5 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 2 3 3
5 1
5512 4TH NE 803 GALLATIN ST NE 412 OGLETHORPE ST NE 5215 11TH ST NE 5042 12TH ST NE
7 5
Shaw
4
Shepherd Park
1907 8TH ST NW 1907 8TH ST NW
1550 HEMLOCK ST NW 5 3 3 2
$715,000 $574,500 $495,000 $475,000 $342,000
3 3
$835,116 $835,116 $775,000
Spring Valley 5100 VAN NESS ST NW 3816 49TH ST NW
$1,950,000 $1,800,000
Takoma Park 3 3 3 4 4 3 5 3 4 2 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 3 3
515 FERN PL NW 16 WALNUT ST NW
$647,000 $350,000
4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 6 6 4 3
Trinidad 1125 OATES ST NE 1018 17TH PL NE 1610 TRINIDAD AVE NE 1701 LANG PL NE 1242 SIMMS PL NE 1348 LEVIS ST NE 1643 L ST NE 1701 MONTELLO AVE NE
$780,000 $692,500 $645,000 $450,000 $390,000 $375,500 $365,000 $358,000
U Street 1913 11TH ST NW
$1,635,000
Wakefield 3609 CUMBERLAND ST NW 3742 CUMBERLAND ST NW 3722 CHESAPEAKE ST NW
$1,200,000 $1,195,000 $873,000
Wesley Heights 2501 49TH ST NW 4525 KLINGLE ST NW
$3,070,000 $2,450,000
4 4 2 3 3 3 2 2 4 5 4 4 5 6
Woodridge
2850 MYRTLE AVE NE $700,000 5 2800 BRENTWOOD RD NE $670,000 5 2619 NEWTON ST NE $649,900 3 2843 MYRTLE AVE NE $575,000 3 2813 26TH ST NE $390,000 4
CONDO 16th Street Heights 1320 MISSOURI AVE NW #403
$221,000
Adams Morgan 2550 17TH ST NW #504 2550 17TH ST NW #404 2464 ONTARIO RD NW #3
$300,000 $279,000 $725,000
Brightwood 523 BRUMMEL CT NW #523 301 WHITTIER ST NW #303 6645 GEORGIA AVE NW #201
$510,000 $300,000 $209,500
Brookland 2724 12TH ST NE #3 3205 12TH ST NE #102 3209 12TH ST NE #102 3207 12TH ST NE #102 2724 12TH ST NE #7 1202 JACKSON ST NE #103 1202 JACKSON ST NE #105 3205 12TH ST NE #101 3213 12TH ST NE #102 1200 JACKSON ST NE #101 3219 12TH ST NE #101 18 HAWTHORNE CT NE #18 3006 GENTAIN CT NE #3006 401 EVARTS ST NE #403 3000 7TH ST NE #320
$574,900 $559,000 $519,000 $519,000 $514,900 $462,050 $459,000 $447,000 $434,000 $427,000 $417,000 $368,000 $332,000 $270,000 $169,000
Capitol Hill 440 12TH ST NE #306 1200 EAST CAPITOL ST NE #7 116 6TH ST NE #202 1007 MARYLAND AVE NE #204 637 3RD ST NE #B3
$750,000 $700,000 $594,000 $354,000 $270,000
1 0 0 2 3 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 3 2 2 2 1
Central 1511 22ND ST NW #32 1150 K ST NW #209 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #717 2301 N ST NW #207 701 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1012 1325 18TH ST NW #1012 616 E ST NW #706 631 D ST NW #838 1301 20TH ST NW #401
$480,000 $450,000 $425,000 $415,000 $407,000 $350,000 $350,000 $334,555 $257,500
Chevy Chase 5109 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #4 4301 MILITARY RD NW #303 5410 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #402 5410 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #902
$1,040,000 $870,000 $307,500 $296,000
Cleveland Park 2902 PORTER ST NW #30 3310 27TH ST NW #6 3446 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #500 3888 PORTER ST NW #D346 3024 WISCONSIN AVE NW #202 3028 WISCONSIN AVE NW #105 4301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1006
$679,000 $375,000 $330,000 $329,000 $295,000 $274,500 $168,000
1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 0
DUPONT CONDO
COlUMBIA HEIGHts 1336 PARKWOOD PL NW #2 1343 NEWTON ST NW #2 3112 13TH ST NW #3 1524 OGDEN ST NW #2 600 HARVARD ST NW #1 1343 NEWTON ST NW #1 3815 14TH ST NW #6 1012 HARVARD ST NW #10 1012 HARVARD ST NW #9 3615 11TH ST NW #A 3112 13TH ST NW #2 1012 HARVARD ST NW #6 762 PARK RD NW #2 1451 BELMONT ST NW #105 1390 KENYON ST NW #305 1390 KENYON ST NW #724 1012 HARVARD ST NW #2 1012 HARVARD ST NW #1 2750 14TH ST NW #306 3815 14TH ST NW #2 4120 14TH ST NW #B2 1321 FAIRMONT ST NW #404 3900 14TH ST NW #121
DUPONt
2000 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #R-4 1414 22ND ST NW #31 1622 19TH ST NW #4 1727 R ST NW #102 1821 RIGGS PL NW #1821 1545 18TH ST NW #204 1601 18TH ST NW #615 1754 WILLARD ST NW #1 1736 19TH ST NW #3 1833 S ST NW #44 1301 20TH ST NW #609 1260 21ST ST NW #409 1 SCOTT CIR NW #405 1414 22ND ST NW #25 1933 18TH ST NW #101 1325 18TH ST NW #607
ECkINGtON
310 TODD PL NE #1
FOGGy BOttOM 800 25TH ST NW #401 955 26TH ST NW #106 2141 I ST NW #812 522 21ST ST NW #P27
FOREst HIlls
4007 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #107 3701 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #608 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #609 3701 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #516
FORt lINCOlN
3156 BANNEKER DR NE #3156
GARFIElD
2725 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #208 2737 DEVONSHIRE PL NW #9
GEORGEtOwN
3030 K ST NW #PH 106 2516 Q ST NW #Q-204 1517 30TH ST NW #C1 3120 R ST NW #207
GlOvER PARk
4000 TUNLAW RD NW #423
$1,150,000 $960,000 $925,000 $925,000 $774,900 $760,500 $709,900 $700,000 $700,000 $690,000 $629,000 $599,000 $587,500 $582,500 $557,500 $545,000 $510,000 $485,000 $361,000 $349,900 $284,000 $281,000 $240,000
3 3 2 2 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1
$1,900,000 $1,630,000 $862,500 $575,000 $460,000 $435,000 $250,000 $650,000 $595,000 $349,500 $338,000 $320,000 $276,500 $1,445,000 $385,000 $368,000
2 2 2 2 2 1 0 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1
$340,000
2
$994,000 $425,000 $215,000 $40,000
2 1 0 0
$373,000 $270,000 $265,149 $235,000
1 1 1 1
$285,000
3
$550,000 $407,500
2 1
$3,850,000 $985,000 $615,000 $482,500
3 2 1 2
$280,000
1
During my home buying process, Hub was present and attentive… I cannot say enough about him and my experience. It was easy and stress free and I credit it all to Hub. Dyan, DC Buyer
Wonderful wood floors Remodeled kitchen with granite and SS appliances Condo fee includes utilities $304,900
Coming Soon - Capitol Hill Recently renovated 4BR, 3.5BA home Freshly painted throughout Off street parking for two cars Upper $900s
Hub Krack 202.550.2111
Pam Kristof 202.253.2550
Licensed in DC, MD & VA
RESIDENTIAL SALES AND LISTINGS COMMERCIAL LEASING AND SALES
www.hubkrack.com
Real Estate
Management Full service property management offering monthly/quarterly reports, budgeting, funds management & special accounts, delinquent notice & collections, building inspections, project & maintenance bidding, project planning, contract monitoring, renting/leasing & tenant screening, and more. Se habla espanol.
734 Seventh Street, SE
Office: 202.547.2707 Fax: 202.547.1977 joeltruittmanagement.com
February 2017 H 117
4114 DAVIS PL NW #201
$245,000
H Street 628 I ST NE #2 1110 STAPLES ST NE #2
$808,000 $665,000
Hill Crest 2059 38TH ST SE #101 3939 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #302
$95,500 $69,900
Kalorama 1837 WYOMING AVE NW #A 1829 CALIFORNIA ST NW #PH3 1811 WYOMING AVE NW #24 2127 CALIFORNIA ST NW #603 2032 BELMONT RD NW #304
$960,000 $689,000 $679,000 $460,000 $210,000
Ledroit Park
you saw them in
46 CHANNING ST NW #1 2035 2ND ST NW #GL09 345 OAKDALE PL NW #203 519 FLORIDA AVE NW #1
$686,750 $549,900 $340,000 $303,500
Logan Circle 1300 N ST NW #808 2125 14TH ST NW #703 502 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #1 1311 13th ST NW #102 1440 CHURCH ST NW #504 1400 CHURCH ST NW #404 1311 13TH ST NW #PH-5 1450 CHURCH ST NW #601 1311 13TH ST NW #401 1311 13TH ST NW #201 1311 13TH ST NW #406 1515 15TH ST NW #231 1311 13TH ST NW #504 1311 13TH ST NW #505 1311 13TH ST NW #305 1311 13TH ST NW #PH-3 1311 13TH ST NW #105 1311 13TH ST NW #204 1311 13TH ST NW #503 1311 13TH ST NW #507 1311 13TH ST NW #407 1625 15TH ST NW #1 1311 13TH ST NW #302 1308 12TH ST NW #A 1311 13TH ST NW #308 1311 13TH ST NW #T02 1311 13TH ST NW #T04 1311 13TH ST NW #408 1441 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #114 1001 L ST NW #503 1001 L ST NW #405
$302,000 $495,000 $520,000 $474,900 $2,000,000 $1,225,000 $1,104,900 $1,020,000 $859,900 $829,900 $819,900 $810,000 $789,900 $769,900 $749,900 $744,900 $695,900 $689,900 $559,900 $514,900 $504,900 $491,000 $484,900 $479,000 $429,900 $429,900 $409,900 $399,900 $354,000 $604,000 $615,000
Marshall Heights 50 49TH ST SE #B2
$25,000
Mount Pleasant 1613 HARVARD ST NW #413 2611 ADAMS MILL RD NW #104 2440 16TH ST NW #206 1636NW ARGONNE PL NW #1
$568,500 $337,000 $335,000 $396,900
Navy Yard 1025 1ST ST SE #602
$455,000
Observatory Circle 4100 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #PH 2 2801 NEW MEXICO AVE NW #1421 3901 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #107A
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$825,000 $624,500 $179,800
1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 3 2 2 1 0 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 0
Old City #1 1026 8TH ST NE #C 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #543 401 13TH ST NE #204 315 G ST NE #302 1007 MARYLAND AVE NE #304
$1,198,250 $599,000 $410,000 $378,500 $310,000
Old City #2 1117 10TH ST NW #W6 1304 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #5 1511 11TH ST NW #201 1300 N ST NW #705 44 N ST NW #B 1726 U ST NW #3 1405 W ST NW #203 910 M ST NW #1002 18 BATES NW #A 1620 CORCORAN ST NW #D 1916 17TH ST NW #303 1727 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #802 1731 WILLARD ST NW #204 1727 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #705 1727 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #309
$840,000 $799,000 $717,000 $679,000 $575,000 $555,000 $525,000 $521,000 $517,900 $415,000 $381,000 $380,000 $348,500 $234,000 $220,000
3 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 0
Palisades 4597 MACARTHUR BLVD NW #3 4545 MACARTHUR BLVD NW #207
$262,500 $237,000
Park View 3542 WARDER ST NW #204 3542 WARDER ST NW #104
$695,000 $642,900
Petworth 603 KENNEDY ST NW #4 4126 8TH ST NW #5 4126 8TH ST NW #4 603 KENNEDY ST NW #3 4126 8TH ST NW #1 4710 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #1 4226 7TH ST NW #201 4800 GEORGIA AVE NW #404 700 JEFFERSON ST NW #406 5611 5TH ST NW #15 700 JEFFERSON ST NW #205 604 LONGFELLOW ST NW #304
$606,900 $560,000 $549,000 $505,000 $489,900 $351,900 $346,000 $300,000 $280,000 $241,500 $181,100 $150,000
Rla (SW) 67 G SW #106 355 I ST SW #202 355 I ST SW #121 700 7TH ST SW #524
$700,000 $527,000 $394,000 $365,000
1 1 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 3 2 1 2
Shaw 1501 4TH ST NW #2 440 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #302
$1,300,000 $559,000
Southwest 525 WATER ST SW #101 525 WATER ST SW #325 525 WATER ST SW #223 525ST WATER SW #304
$674,900 $439,900 $389,900 $374,900
SW Waterfront 350 G ST SW #N320 800 4TH ST SW #S207
$330,000 $271,000
3 2 2 1 1 1 1 0
Trinidad 1239 SIMMS PL NE #4 1239 SIMMS PL NE #1 1280 RAUM ST NE #201 1210 HOLBROOK TER NE #104 1653 TRINIDAD AVE NE #3
$425,000 $386,250 $310,000 $299,000 $257,000
3 2 2 2 1
U stREEt COORIDOR 1111 W ST NW #2
wAkEFIElD
4700 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #309 4740 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #1008 4600 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #916
wEslEy HEIGHts
3263 SUTTON PL NW #C 4200 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #504 3279 SUTTON PL NW #D
wEst END
2501 K ST NW #8B 1230 23RD ST NW #705
wOODlEy PARk
2660 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #4A
$809,900
2
$549,000 $452,500 $212,000
2 2 0
$810,000 $744,199 $640,000
3 2 2
$499,000 $412,000
1 1
$4,024,000
3
$125,000
1
$875,000 $720,000 $352,800
2 2 1
$365,000
1
$544,000
2
$915,000
3
$399,000
2
$585,000 $165,000
2 0
$530,000 $498,000 $334,000
2 2 1
$655,000 $319,000
3 1
$640,000
2
$142,000
1
$299,000 $349,000 $339,900
2 1 1
COOP BRIGHtwOOD
6445 LUZON AVE NW #502
ClEvElAND PARk
3601 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #804 3601 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #106 3600 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #206
DUPONt
1701 16TH ST NW #856
FOREst HIlls
3001 VEAZEY TER NW #1432
GEORGEtOwN
1657 31ST ST NW #405
kAlORAMA
1901 WYOMING AVE NW #2
MOUNt PlEAsANt
1736 COLUMBIA RD NW #406 1801 CLYDESDALE PL NW #516
NAvy yARD
1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #913 1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #511 1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #1017
OBsERvAtORy CIRClE 4101 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #604 4101 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #1107
OlD CIty #2 1734 P ST NW #38
PEtwORtH
250 FARRAGUT ST NW #104
sw wAtERFRONt
1311 DELAWARE AVE SW #S131 490 M ST SW #W500 520 N ST SW #S518 u
Have You Liked Us Yet? Angie Vereen Realtor - ABR, SFR, 203K
The Most Up-to-Date Capitol Hill News!
202-643-9481 571-233-6395 | Direct www.angievereen.com angievereen@gmail.com
Licensed in DC, Maryland & Virginia
February 2017 H 119
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{health & fitness}
Functional Fitness Training for Day-to-Day Life By Pattie Cinelli
An example of a functional fitness exercise: Ben Fidler squats to pick up a weighted ball, lifts it over his shoulder, then lets it drop.
Y
esterday you had a great workout. You pressed and pulled more weight with perfect form than you ever had on the circuit machines. In fact, you’ve been consistent in getting in your gym workouts all month. However, when you got home that evening you reached into the closet to get a box down. Now your neck hurts. How could that happen? You’re probably not doing enough of
the type of exercises that prepare your body to perform your daily activities with ease and efficiency. You’re not doing enough functional exercise.
What is Functional Fitness? “Functional exercises are series of movement patterns,” said Ben Fidler, fitness director at Sport & Health Capitol Hill. “They involve pushing, pulling, bending, stepping, sitting twisting and stabilizing –
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all movements the body is designed to do every day.” They focus on building a body capable of doing real-life activities in real-life positions, not just lifting a certain amount of weight in an idealized posture created by a gym machine. Functional fitness is not a new method of training. It’s been around for several decades. It got its origin in rehabilitation. Therapists use it to retrain patients with movement disorders so they can return to normal life activities after injury or surgery. “Fitness professionals have been talking about and using functional fitness exercises for years,” said Ben. “Conventional weight training isolates muscle groups, but it doesn’t teach the muscle groups you’re isolating to work with others,” says Greg Roskopf, MS, a biomechanics consultant with a Muscle Activation Techniques. “The key to functional exercise is integration. It’s about teaching all the muscles to work together rather than isolating them to work independently.” I’m working with a client who is returning to exercise after an illness. He wants to get back onto the squash court. Twice a week we combine exercises using weights to give individual muscles strength, with exercises that involve balance, twisting, reaching, bending and pushing – all movements he will need on the squash court.
Functional exercises help stabilize your spine and improve posture. They also improve balance, and they create toned muscles and allow you to stay upright and stand strong. For example, I was walking my dog on a warm summer evening. Suddenly I tripped on an uneven part of the sidewalk. I lunged forward. My chest was parallel with the sidewalk. To my horror, I was sure I was going to eat some
What are the Benefits? Functional exercises can help anyone - injured, overweight, baby boomers, millennials or athletes. They are adapted to an individual’s specific needs and goals. Functional exercises are challenging and fun. They provide variety to workouts. “You’ll have healthier joints and stronger musculature which means denser and more active muscle fiber – muscles that are more likely to turn on when needed and can produce more force when required,” explained Ben. “It can be a simple as being able to open up a jar, lift a suitcase or get up from a chair.” The benefits are many. They are more neurologically demanding than machine exercises.
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concrete. Instead, still holding the leash, my core muscles activated. I lifted my torso up and stood on the sidewalk once again, shaken but relieved. Functional exercises can also help you become more aware of subtle irregularities in your body allowing you to correct the imbalances quickly.
Incorporating Functional Exercises into Your Routine There’s no need to abandon the weight machines at the gym. A combination of weight-bearing activities with functional exercises can create balance in the muscular structure of your body. Functional exercises can be done anywhere – at home, outside or in a gym. At Sport & Health Capitol Hill at 3rd and G Sts. SE (formerly Results Gym), a former basketball court has been redesigned into a functional fitness space. “The goal is to create more functional space for members,” said Ben. “We want members to be able to incorporate modes of exercise in one room instead of going up and down looking for equipment in different places in the gym.” The large space has weight machines lining one side that allows for neuromuscular activation and an Astroturf lane on the other for functional movement such as sprinting, jumping or lunging. “We also have two skill mills which is a kinetic-powered treadmill with resistance,” said Ben. Instead of you keeping up with the speed of a traditional treadmill you actually create the speed through your own force on the skill mill. The room also has other popular tools that promote functional exercise such as stability balls and Bosus which force you to work your core to keep your body balanced while you’re lifting a weight. A multifunctional, circular exercise workstation called, “Hoist” in the center of the room gives several members the opportunity to work out at the same time on functional fitness equipment such as the TRX. Sport & Health is also in the process of building a small group training program called, ‘Explosive Performance’ held in that room that will incorporate functional movement patterns into the training.
Where to Start? You could take a class or hire a personal trainer, or you could start rethinking the way you are
Allen A. Flood, M.D. DERMATOLOGY
working your muscles. For example, if you are used to using a leg press machine, try a two-legged squat with proper form or a single-legged squat from a seated position. If you usually use the pull-down machine or seated row to work your lats, try a bent-over row. Lean over a bench, hold the weight in one hand with your arm hanging straight down. Then pull the weight up as your elbow points towards the ceiling. Finish with your upper arm parallel to the ground. Compare that exercise to lifting a suitcase or bending over to pick up something, tasks most of us do regularly. Functional exercises can be more tiring and challenging than weight machines. You can’t do functional exercise with the same levels of intensity as machine exercise. But, just like weight lifting, functional exercise can be performed every other day. Functional exercises are a way to make your workouts more interesting. It’s also a practical way to begin to get stronger and more flexible and help your body to work better. To learn more about Sport & Health’s functional fitness programs, contact Ben Fidler: bfidler@sportandhealth.com. Pattie Cinelli is a holistic personal trainer, yoga and Pilates instructor who has been teaching and practicing functional fitness for 20 years. To contact Pattie with fitness questions or column ideas email her at: fitness@pattiecinelli.com. u
• • • • •
DISEASES OF THE SKIN, HAIR AND NAILS SKIN CANCER SCREENING NARROW BAND UVB PHOTOTHERAPY -Psoriasis -Vitiligo BOTOX JUVEDERM FILLERS
• • • • • •
HAIR REMOVAL HAIR RESTORATION SPIDER VEINS SPIDER VEINS LEG VEINS LEG VEINS SKIN REJUVENATION SKIN REJUVENATION HYPERPIGMENTATION
LASER TREATMENTS
650 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Suite 420 Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-9090 (O) • (202) 547-9092 (F)
Why Live With Joint Pain? A middle aged woman from the neighborhood came in with longstanding knee pain and physical therapy and pain killers had not gotten rid of the situation. X-rays and chiropractic exam confirmed that her pelvis, leg and foot - a complete chain of movement - was slightly buckled inward. Gentle chiropractic work to all three joint components fixed the pain.
For the better health and life experience of you and your family Dr. David Walls-Kaufman Capitol Hill Chiropractic Center 411 East Capitol St., SE | 202.544.6035
Read More About This Subject On www.capitolhillchiropractic.com Serving The Capitol Hill Community Since 1984 February 2017 H 123
{health and fitness}
Let’s Get Physical
District Combatives – Critical for Everyone by Stacy Peterson
I
f you were violently attacked, how would you respond? This question was asked at a class I attended at District Combatives located in District Crossfit on Half Street SW. I thought to myself, “Well, I know I’m in good physical shape, but I also know that’s not enough.” My answer quickly became, “I don’t feel I would be able to get myself out of a sticky situation.” This got me thinking I need to do something about it. Maybe you have been in a violent confrontation where it was critical to defend yourself, but you didn’t have the tools to get to safety. Or maybe you did and felt lucky to have escaped. When
Theo & Alex. Pre-contact Cues. Theo (hands up) assuming a submissive posture in response to Alex’s aggressive posture. Practice keeping danger at a distance. And don’t be caught with your hands down. Photo credit: Ben Drader of District Combatives.
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walking to work, down the street a few blocks to a friend’s house, or to the grocery store, do you feel concern about knowing how to safeguard yourself? Don’t get stuck feeling helpless. Now is the perfect time to let those worries go by the wayside by engaging in District Combatives.
What Is Combatives? Combatives is a practical, no-nonsense self-defense method that can be used by individuals of all ages and abilities to help them to identify, de-escalate, protect, and disengage from a threatening or violent situation. Law enforcement agencies across the US embrace it. The pre-qualification requirement identifies your selfdefense objectives and helps tailor your training sessions. “Violence and threats are physical, psychological, and emotional,” explained District Combatives founder and chief instructor Ben Drader. “Typically the psychological aspect is present first. If you find yourself in a physical altercation, what is your motivation to continue the fight when you’re out of breath, your muscles are fatigued, and you feel like you have nothing left?” District Combatives brings out the best in you, he says.
Crystal & Frank practicing during the scenario fight class. Learn how to get out of though situations, creating space for you to be able to get away to safety. Photo credit: Stacy Peterson of Acceleration Sports.
My First Class Written on Drader’s shirt was “Be Your Own Bodyguard.” This statement reappeared again and again throughout the class. After a warmup geared to prepare for the workout, the seven members of our group, from various backgrounds, ages, and physical sizes, paired up with a partner and practiced collarbone taps and punches, switching partners every few minutes. I soon realized I had to adjust my tactics from person to person, based on height, size, and techniques. I am a female standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 145 pounds. Therefore, being paired with a 350-pound man was intimidating and extremely different than my strategies with a female weighing 130 pounds. Crystal, a mother of two, has been attending District Combatives for six weeks and loves it. “I was working out three days a week in the weight room but wanted something different that would provide me with a challenging workout, yet leave me mentally stimulated,” she said. Practicing the techniques with different people was eye opening.
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work. Footwork allows you to put yourself in a balanced and powerful position so you don’t slip or fall. Number four, carry a small handheld flashlight or car Crystal & Frank attacking Daniel. Multiple Attacker Scenario. If attacked by key. If you multiple people, remember, mobility is key to getting home safe! (two attackers don’t want to and one victim). Photo credit: Ben Drader of District Combatives. carry pepper spray, a knife, “One of the girls was really quick getting in or other weapon, a handheld flashlight or car and out with her punches, and I tried to adjust key can give you enough space to get away. to that. Whereas the bigger guys have the lonMany associate a flashlight with the police or ger arm reach and were taller, so something I military, disrupting their attack. A light shined tried to do was bring them down to my level.” into the eyes can give you a few moments to Drader explained that “most risk facrun away. In a pinch, a flashlight or a car key tors can be mitigated with minimal training.” can become a weapon when held firmly and Knowing these key training aspects will help targeted at soft and sensitive parts of the body. you deliver the right message to an aggressor. Drader offers weekly classes designed to I recommend you learn these skills, practice work against real attacks, giving you the physithem, and encourage your loved ones to parcal tools to defend yourself. Classes are personticipate as well. able, held in a friendly environment and small District Combatives does not only imgroup setting. For more information or to atprove your ability to minimize and defend a tend a class at District Combatives visit www. physical altercation, it teaches you tools valuDistrictCombatives.com. You can also contact able in other areas of life as well. The training Ben Drader directly at Ben@DistrictCombatmethod is based on how the body operates, ives.com. District Combatives is located inside functions, and moves when under duress, not District Crossfit at 1525 Half Street SW. just in a physical confrontation but in any I learned that I have a lot to gain, which is type of confrontation, such as asking for a why I’ve joined Drader’s regular weekly classraise at work. es. Hope to see you there!
Four Important Concepts Number one, establish eye contact. If you feel someone is following you, establish eye contact to let them know you know they’re there. Failure to establish eye contact may encourage an aggressor. Also, if you show you are aware of their presence, it takes away the possibility of a surprise attack. Number two, create space. Allowing extra physical space between you and your aggressor limits their ability to physically harm you. Number three, pay attention to your foot-
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Stacy Peterson, MS, CSCS, CHHC, is a functional nutrition educator, holistic health coach, and strength and conditioning coach practicing whole-foods nutrition and physical training for individuals of all ages and activities on the Hill. She offers an integrative aspect to everyone’s healthcare and performance team. For recipes, nutrition, and exercise tips sign up for the monthly newsletter at www.accelerationsports.net. To see how we can help you achieve your health and/ or fitness goals contact Acceleration Sports by emailing stacy@accelerationsports.net or calling 805-704-7193. u
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The District Vet
Take Your Pet to the Dentist
I
t is recommended that we humans see the dentist at least once per year. The same can be said for your dog and cat. Dental health is an important aspect of your pet’s overall well-being. We brush several times per day, decreasing the amount of plaque that builds up on our teeth. Our dogs and cats do not have this capability. Ancestral dogs and cats used to have a rougher diet, leading to less build-up, but even they had dental disease. While your pet should be examined by a veterinarian once per year, you should see your vet earlier if you note any of the following problems: •
broken or loose teeth
•
baby teeth that have not fallen out by
eight months of age
•
bad breath
•
pain in or around the mouth
•
swellings on the face or in the mouth
•
masses or growths in the mouth
•
heavy tartar on teeth or discolored teeth
•
unusual drooling, dropping of food
when eating
•
atypical chewing and discomfort
when chewing
Pets may have dental problems that are not readily apparent. Remember that a tooth is like an iceberg: most of it is invisible, under the gumline. If a pet is uncomfortable, not eating well, and simply not themselves, they may be experiencing oral pain. Regular cavities, as seen in people, are less frequent, but periodontal disease is common in pets by age three. If not addressed early, it will worsen and cause discomfort and tooth loss. Poor dental hygiene may also lead to other systemic problems such as kidney disease, heart problems, urinary infections, and overall poor health. Veterinary dentistry is much more than simply removing visible tartar. It includes having trained individuals examine and clean teeth, remove damaged teeth, evaluate the oral structures,
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by Dan Teich, DVM assess overall health, and form a plan to keep your pet healthy. In certain cases even root canals can be performed. After an examination of your pet’s mouth, the veterinarian may recommend a sedated oral examination and cleaning. Sedation is frequently necessary. Your dentist will administer techniques to minimize pain and will ask you routinely if you are comfortable. You are also capable of understanding what is happening and will hold still for procedures. Your furry friend does not understand what is happening and may move, be in discomfort, hurt themselves, or even bite. Anesthesia, applied safely, allows the veterinarian to perform efficiently, safely, and effectively. The benefit of a sedated exam far outweighs the risks in most patients. After a thorough visual examination of the mouth, the veterinarian will take x-rays of the teeth and may find that a tooth’s root has been broken, decayed, or otherwise compromised. The tooth usually needs to be removed. Any other affected teeth will be identified and repaired if possible or removed if too diseased to be saved. Pets are not vain and will not miss an extracted tooth. It is better to be missing a tooth than to have a diseased tooth remain in the mouth! Sutures may be placed to close any defects. The doctor will then clean the teeth, polish them, rinse the mouth, and perform one last inspection. Pain medication and antibiotics may be sent home as well. Your pet will wake up quickly but may be a bit groggy for the remainder of the day. In an article last year I discussed home care for keeping teeth as clean as possible. A quick rehash follows. Daily brushing is the best way to prevent plaque and tartar buildup. Having the
groomer brush the teeth once every few months is not effective. Slowly accustom your furry friend to tooth brushing. This is not something that most readily accept, so it may take some patience. Use dog/cat-safe toothpaste (human toothpaste contains too much fluoride). Giving dogs and cats chew toys also helps limit tartar buildup, but hard bones can lead to tooth fractures. We have seen many dogs and cats with chronic illnesses and bad teeth. Once we address the periodontal or tooth disease, we find a dramatic improvement in quality of life. Teeth are an important part of the body and should not be neglected. See your veterinarian once a year for an exam and remember to discuss oral and tooth health. As always, please let us know how we can be of help. Dan Teich, DVM, is at District Veterinary Hospital, 3748 10th St. NE, Washington, DC 20017; 202-8271230 and desk@districtvet.com. u
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202-827-1230 • districtvet.com District Vet is an independent, locally owned veterinary hospital focused on the needs of you and your pet. We believe that no two pets are the same and that each deserves individualized love and attention. It’s our philosophy. It’s just who we are.
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NOTEBOOK
{kids & family}
by Kathleen Donner
First-ever Space Dedicated to Children at the National Portrait Gallery
Photo: Courtesy of Explore! Children’s Museum of Washington, DC.
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in partnership with Explore! Children’s Museum has opened its first-ever space dedicated to children. “Explore! with the Portrait Gallery” will expand experiences of portraiture by allowing kids to do hands-on activities with portraiture to answer questions such as “What is a portrait?” “How do I see myself?” and “How do others see me?” Located on the first floor of the museum, this space represents the Portrait Gallery’s first exhibition with an interactive bilingual gallery for visitors with children ages 18 months to eight years. Visitors will be able to trace each other’s silhouettes, strike a pose for a projected video art piece and experiment with expression and emotion by building faces out of illustrated blocks. It is open daily, except Mondays, 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The National Portrait Gallery is at Eighth and F Streets NW. npg.si.edu.
Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival Family The eighth annual INTERSECTIONS Festival, Feb. 24 to March 5, will feature more than 100 performances in dance, music, theatre, family programming and youth development. INTERSECTIONS was founded in 2009 as a multi-day festival that brings artists and audiences alike to the developing H Street corridor. The Festival engages audiences and artists alike by sparking conversation, deeper connection and community transformation. The Atlas is at 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993 ext. 2. atlasarts.org. Here’s the family programming lineup: Jane Franklin Dance-The Big Meow, Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m. and March 4, 10:30 a.m. Sepia Works/Callaloo-The Legend of The Golden Coqui, Feb. 25, 9:45 a.m. Clown Cabaret-The Heist, Feb. 25, 10:45 a.m. and March 4, 11:45 a.m. The
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Photo: Courtesy of the National Building Museum
Discover Engineering Family Day On Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., kick off National Engineers Week with a fun-filled day at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Drop in to meet real engineers and to test out your ideas with over 20 hands-on engineering activities. You can launch rockets, meet an astronaut, make slime, pop popcorn, and more. Visit engineeringfamilyday.org.
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In Series-Duke Ellington’s Neighborhood, March 4, 9:45 a.m. Capitol Tap and House of Tap-Feel the Beat Through Your Feet, March 4, 10:30 a.m.
National Geographic Family Day On President’s Day, Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., National Geographic, 1145 17th St. NW, is hosting a free, family-friendly event where a group of six can see award-winning films, visit their museum, and spend a day exploring the world at Nat Geo! Meet National Geographic explorers including ocean legend Sylvia Earle, submersible pilot Erika Bergman, biologist and photographer Chris A. Johns, herpetologist Jonathan Kolby and others. Spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is free, but attendees must register to attend. Read more and RSVP at nationalgeographic.org/dc/events/family-day.
Library of Congress Young Readers Center Extends Hours The Young Readers Center in the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE, room LJ G29 on the ground floor, is now open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in addition to weekdays. Read more at read.gov/yrc.
Talking About Adoption to Young Children
This presentation at Hill Center, given in partnership with the Barker Adoption Foundation, will provide adoptive parents with perspective and tools on how to talk to their young children about adoption in an age-appropriate manner. Topics to be covered include: common parental concerns in discussing adoption with children, typical development stages of young children and how they may impact an adopt-
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teamwork, the pups show that “no job is too big, no pup is too small” as well as sharing lessons for all ages about citizenship, social skills and problem-solving as they make several heroic rescues on their race to the finish line. $22 to $68. March 11, 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 6 p.m.; and March 12, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., at National Theater, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. thenationaldc.org.
Photo: Courtesy of Canal Park Ice Rink
East City Bookshop Storytime Cartoon Skate at Canal Park Saturdays through Feb. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids can skate with cartoon characters at Canal Park Ice Rink. Adults skate for $9; children, military and seniors, $8; skate rental, $5. Canal Park Ice Rink is at 200 M St. SE. canalparkdc.org.
ed child’s thinking on his/her adoption, empowering a child to view his/ her adoption from a healthy perspective and providing tools on how to respond to questions from others, and when (and if) to explain unique circumstances of the adoption in ways a child can best understand. This class, on Feb. 22, at 7 p.m., is geared toward parents whose adopted children are eight years old or younger. Tickets are $30 per person; $45 for couples. If cost is prohibitive, contact Martha Dantzic at martha. dantzic@gmail.com about scholarship opportunities. Purchase tickets at hillcenterdc.org.
Art Adventurers Studio Art Adventurers Studio classes, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., begin with a children’s story based on an artist’s life or a book that will help introduce the day’s project and techniques. One main guided project will be based on the story and
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appeal to a range of ages. Additional exploration stations will be set up to complement the main project. These additional stations will reinforce technique and introduce new materials and tools. These classes are recommended for ages 2 to 4 and are drop-in only with a $5 donation per child to CHAW tuition assistance. Classes take place at CHAW, 545 Seventh St. SE. For more information contact education@chaw.org or call 202-547-6839.
PAW Patrol Live! It’s the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race between Adventure Bay’s Mayor Goodway and Foggy Bottom’s Mayor Humdinger, but Mayor Goodway is nowhere to be found. PAW Patrol to the rescue! Ryder summons Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Rocky, Zuma and Everest to rescue Mayor Goodway and to run the race in her place. Using their unique skills and
Tuesdays at 11 a.m., kids and their caregivers can visit East City Bookshop, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, for storytime. This weekly event is free, open to the public and for kids through four years. eastcitybookshop.com.
GenOUT Chorus Performance On Feb. 11 at 8 p.m., the GenOUT Chorus takes the Atlas Performing Arts Center stage in their first fulllength concert. Joining them is the Arlington Children’s Chorus under the direction of Kevin Carr. Songs include “I Am What I Am,” “Beautiful,” “Be Like the Bird” and “Shut Up and Dance.” Come join the young people of GenOUT as they sing out and proud. The Atlas Performing Arts Center is at 1333 H St. NE. For tickets, call 202-399-7993. gmcw.org.
Valentine’s Day Card Workshop On Feb. 11, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Postal Museum will have pretty papers, vintage stamps from around the world and lots of other supplies to inspire children’s creativity as they create one-of-a-kind valentines.
Visit the museum’s stamp store to send cards to loved ones with a special National Postal Museum postmark. The National Postal Museum is at 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. 202633-5533. postalmuseum.si.edu.
African American Aviation Pioneers On Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the National Air and Space Museum celebrates the significant contributions African Americans have made to flight and space exploration. Enjoy presentations, hands-on activities and stories. Learn about African American astronauts, pilots and scientists of the past and present and their accomplishments. airandspace.si.edu.
DPR Summer Camp Reduced Rates DC Department of Parks and Recreation has announced procedures for DPR’s Summer Camp Reduced Rate Policy. DPR is now accepting reduced rate applications for its 2017 summer camp season. To qualify, an applicant must provide proof of DC residency and proof of income below the poverty level required by Federal guidelines. DPR can only accept applications for reduced rate in person and applications must be approved for reduced rate prior to registering for camp. To apply, customers must visit the Summer Camp Office at Columbia Heights Recreation Center, 1480 Girard St. NW, with correct documentation to qualify for the discount. Summer Camp Office hours are Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. DPR will also accept reduced rate applications at Barry Farm Recreation Center, 1230 Sumner Rd. SE, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and Deanwood Rec-
reation Center, 1350 49th St. NE, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Camp registration opens on Feb. 27. For more information, contact the DPR Summer Camp office at 202671-0372 or DPR.Camps@dc.gov.
River Park Nursery School’s Sock Hop and Silent Auction The annual River Park Nursery School’s Sock Hop and Silent Auction is on Feb. 25, 4 to 7 p.m., in the Lutheran Church of the Reformation Parish Hall, 212 East Capitol St. NE. Bring the whole family and enjoy pizza, drinks, live music by Mr. Skip and silent and live auctions. Let the little ones out on the dance floor, participate in arts and crafts activities and socialize while you relax and sample the deluxe silent auction. Tickets are $40 per family or $15 per individual and can be bought at riverparknurseryschool.org. A special thank you to the River Park Sock Hop sponsors: The Rob and Brent Group of TTR Sothebys; John Smith and Peter Grimm of The Smith Team; Tom Faison Real Estate; Meg Shapiro, Meg and George, Compass Real Estate; Jeanne Harrison and Phil Guire of Compass Real Estate; Eagle Bank; The Lutheran Church of the Reformation
Imagination Stage’s “Blue” at the Atlas Imagine a world where the only color is blue. Blue flowers, blue grass, even blue cereal! Inky and Pale live in such a world until they discover something RED! In this interactive show, two friends find fun in every color of the rainbow! Tickets are $6 to $10. Blue is for ages 1 to 5. Feb. 16 to 20 at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993 ext. 2. atlasarts.org.
Discovery Theater’s “How Old is a Hero?” Everyone can make a difference! In this uplifting play, audiences meet young people who helped change the nation by their heroic actions during the Civil Rights era: Ernest Green of the Little Rock Nine; Claudette Colvin, who stayed seated on a bus before Rosa Parks; and brave sixyear-old Ruby Bridges. Their inspiring stories demonstrate that courage begins with our young. This Discovery Theater play is shown Feb. 21 to 24 at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Ripley Center, Smithsonian. It is recommended for ages 6 to 11. Individual tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for children, $3 for children under two. The Ripley Center is at 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW, on the National Mall. discoverytheater.org.
NSO Family Concert: Joshua Bell in The Man with the Violin A world-renowned violinist once played anonymously in DC’s subway. His experience inspired an acclaimed children’s book. Now this world premiere concert by the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) brings together sensational music, an engaging narrator and colorful imagery from the story. The Kennedy Center performance on Feb. 12 at 2 p.m., is for ages 5 and up. $29 to $49. kennedy-center.org. Starting one hour before the concert, hands-on activities let children get up close with the instruments they’ll see played on the stage. Following the concert, young audience members can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with some of the artists.
NSO: Follow That Fiddle In this home-run performance, NSO musician Glenn Donnellan will introduce the Electric Slugger, an
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electric violin that he custom made from a baseball bat. Have a ball as he plays a wide range of musical styles on this and a variety of violins from around the world. The Kennedy Center performances on Feb. 18, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., are for ages 3, up. $20. kennedy-center.org.
Transitional Housing for LGBTQ Youth
On Jan. 7, SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) opened a transitional housing facility for LGBTQ youth at 746 19th St. NE. It provides safe accommodations, case management and additional supportive services to the LGBTQ youth community. SMYAL has provided services to LGBTQ youth in the District for over 30 years including a telephone hotline, educational outreach programs, aftercare and LGBTQ youth awareness trainings for professionals in schools, runaway shelters, local government agencies and hospitals. In the summer of 2015, the first Homeless Youth Census counted 330 homeless youth and 215 housing insecure youth. Of the 330 homeless youth, 43 percent self-identified as LGBTQ. Recognizing the need, the District is seeking to expand the availability of LGBTQ homeless youth beds and accompanying services. In FY17, the District allocated an additional $2.3 million in funds to specifically support additional shelter, transitional housing beds and homeless prevention services. For more information, visit www. smyal.org.
DAR Museum Family Events On Feb. 11, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., make a Victorian valentine to give to a sweetheart! On March 4, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., learn how scientists and discoverers of the past used special tools to learn about the world around them. Look through a real 18th century microscope and navigate the seas using an octant. On April 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., there is a Colonial Career Day. Try out different careers from the colonial days. Make a good carpenter? Or a weaver? Or an apothecary? Come learn some new skills and figure out to make money living in the time of George Washington. These are walk-in events. Daughters of the American Revolution Headquarters is at 1776 D St. NW. 202628-1776. dar.org.
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Locals for Locals Good-bye Winter 5K “Locals for Locals 5K,” March 19, supports Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASADC) for Children of DC help for foster children here in the District of Columbia. CASA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, promotes court appointed volunteer advocacy so that every abused and neglected child in the DC foster care system can be safe, establish permanence and thrive. This mission is carried out through the recruitment, training and support of volunteer advocates. Register for the run at localsforlocals5k.com. For more information about CASADC, visit casadc.org.
New Director at DC Child and Family Services Agency Brenda Donald has served as Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services since January 2015. Most recently she worked as both Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and interim Director of Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA). She now returns to CFSA as its full-time director. Donald brings an extensive background to her new position having previously served as the agency’s first Chief of Staff from 2001 to 2004 and then as Director until 2005. She later returned as the agency’s Director in 2012, a role she stayed in until she became Deputy Mayor.
Pre-K-Eighth Grade MySchoolDC Lottery Closes March 1 March 1 is the lottery deadline for School Year 2017-18 spaces at participating District of Columbia public charter schools, and out-of-boundary places at D.C. Public Schools. District charters can accept any student resident in the District of Columbia. DCPS schools participating in the out-of-boundary program also accept applications for places for all D.C.-resident students. Additionally, parents can automatically enroll in inboundary DCPS schools in their neighborhood.
Drawn into Nature at the NGA On Feb. 5, 1 to 3 p.m.; Feb. 12, 1 to 3 p.m., Feb. 18, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.; Feb. 19, 1 to 3 p.m.; 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.; and Feb. 26, 1 to 3 p.m., explore paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe and learn about her interest in nature, color, and abstraction. Then, ex-
periment with different drawing techniques using soft pastels and conté crayon. These National Gallery of Art Family Workshops provide the opportunity to explore artists’ thinking and studio practices. Taught by museum educators, each workshop includes a conversation in the galleries followed by a hands-on studio session. Family Workshops are designed for children, ages 8 to 11, and adults to participate in together. All workshops begin in the Education Studio, located on the East Building Concourse. Workshops are free but preregistration is required. Register at nga.gov.
The Freshest Snow Whyte Fans of past Hip Hop shows at Imagination Stage will love this radical update of a familiar fairytale. Set in the year 3000, we meet Snow Whyte — a graffiti-artist locked in competition with her arch rival, Kanye East, over which of them makes the “freshest” images in the universe. Both depend on a Simon Cowell-type celebrity called Mira to decide which of them is the best. Snow Whyte discovers that talent is shared equally among all people and not the exclusive property of anyone. Best for ages 5, up. Tickets are $15 to $35. The show runs Feb. 11 to March 18 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD. 301-280-1660. imaginationstage.org. Here’s the season’s remaining lineup: The Jungle Book, April 22 to May 28; Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, June 21 to Aug. 13.
Ella Enchanted Based on the Newberry Honor book by Gail Carson Levine, Baby Ella of Frell is given the “gift” of obedience by Lucinda, a misguided fairy and thus cannot disobey any direct order. Then when tragedy strikes, Ella is reduced to an obedient servant in her new home with Dame Olga. Can Ella find a way to rid herself of the troublesome curse? An Adventure Theaterproduction for all ages and is on stage at Glen Echo, through March 19. Tickets are $19.50. adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Here’s the season’s remaining lineup: Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, April 7 to May 21; and Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook, June 23 to Aug. 14.
Read with a Kenilworth Ranger Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon, join a Park Ranger for a fun and educational story time and craft
activity. The program will include the reading of a short colorful book and conclude with an arts and crafts activity based on the story. This program is for ages 4 to 7. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1900 Anacostia Ave. SE. 202692-6080. nps.gov/keaq.
Fort Ward Civil War Winter Drill Day Reenactors from the Third US Regular Infantry, Company K, will interpret the military life of the Union soldier at Civil War Winter Drill Day at Fort Ward on Feb. 25, 1 to 4 p.m. (snow date, March 4). The Reenactors will present drill demonstrations, explain the unit’s equipment and talk about the popular field of Civil War reenacting. The program is free with no advance registration required. Fort Ward is at 4301 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA. visitalexandriava.com.
Imagination Bethesda: A Children’s Arts Street Festival On June 3 (save the date), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Imagination Bethesda celebrates children, art and all things fun. The 22nd annual children’s festival takes place on Woodmont Ave. and Elm St. in downtown Bethesda. Activity tents line the streets, face painters bring butterflies and pirates to life, a stage of live entertainment will have the whole street dancing, and more. Free. bethesda.org. Have an item for the Kids and Family Notebook? Email bulletinboard@hillrag.com. u
Scholars, Faith, and Community
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School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson Maury Elementary Art Meets Engineering – Survival Shoes Amanda Mentzer (Maury’s Think Tank Coordinator) and Lauren Bomba (Art Teacher) collaborated on a combined project for second and third grade students. Each child was given a sneaker and challenged to customize it to suit specific environmental conditions. During Think Tank, students learned about some of the ways animals are adapted to survive. They focused on four categories: camouflage, protection, food, and locomotion. Then students worked with a partner to study the animals and plants in specific “extreme” environments; Amazon rainforest, African Savannah, Sahara Desert, and Arctic. In art class, they executed their designs, creating footwear that would help them survive in one of these environments, using what they learned about how the animals do it. The final step was self-evaluation; students considered all the proposed design solutions, decided which modifications were the most successful, and realized that the challenge could
be solved in multiple ways. The shoes are now hanging in the hallway for the entire school to admire.
Open House Interested in learning more about Maury Elementary School? Prospective families are invited to meet the principal, teachers and parents who work together to make Maury a community school. Visitors will see classes in action, have the opportunity to talk with current Maury families about their experience, and attend a Q&A with the principal to learn about the curriculum, before and aftercare programs, extracurricular activities, and community partnerships. Tuesday, February 14, 9 - 10:30 a.m. No reservation required. Brent Elementary 2017 Spelling Bee Winners
Maury Elementary is located at 1250 Constitution Ave., NE. Call them at 202-6983838 or learn more at mauryelementary.com. – Elizabeth Nelson.
Brent Elementary Spelling Bee Winners
Maury ES students eyeing the Survival Shoes project
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This year 28 students from grades three, four and five, (four from each classroom) competed in the Brent Annual Spelling Bee on January 13. Nadia Wheelock won the 2017 Brent Spelling Bee Championship. Like many Brent students, Nadia studied her word lists with friends and family every chance she got. This helped her to succeed through 16 rounds as she spelled difficult words such as obsequious, exuberant, soliloquy and the championship word- “precocious”. The competition was quite intense. Nadia and Jude Martin, the 2nd place win-
ner, challenged each other alone for 8 rounds almost exhausting the total word list. The Top Winners were: 1st Place-Nadia Wheelock, Age 9, 2nd Place-Jude Martin, Age 10, 3rd Place – Karli Bryant, Age 9 Alternate-– Ella Turner, Age 9, Gr. 4. Brent’s three top winners will now advance to one of the Cluster Competitions to be held during the week of February 21. There they will face top spellers from other DCPS schools. Winners from all the Cluster Competitions will advance to the City-wide Competition. Good Luck to the Brent Spelling Bee Team! Brent Elementary is located 301 North Carolina Ave SE. For more info: www.brentelementary.org. – Denise Diggs
Capitol Hill Cluster School Chancellor Wilson Visits Peabody The Capitol Hill Cluster School community came together on January 26 for Family Fun Night, a dinner and dance party that serves as a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and reconnect with other Cluster families. Hosted at Stuart-Hobson, this party had students of all ages, faculty, and parents getting down on the dance floor, having fun with board games, and enjoying dinner together.
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ALL GRADES: 5th-7th Chancellor Wilson Visits Peabody.
On January 5th Peabody Early Childhood campus received a very special visit from the new DCPS Chancellor of schools, Mr. Antwan Wilson. Chancellor Wilson spent his time touring the early childhood building and greeting teachers and staff. Students gave Chancellor Wilson a very warm welcome and shared their learning centers with him. The Chancellor’s visit supported his learning about early childhood programming throughout DCPS. Stuart-Hobson’s reading intervention teacher, Beth Dewhurst, was surprised in her classroom by Superintendent Kang, who recognized her as the
District’s 2017 Teacher of the Year. Ms. Dewhurst was selected for increasing skill levels through her unique reading intervention courses and her efforts to build literacy school-wide. She will now represent the District in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
APPLY AT monumentacademy.org
A weekday boarding school providing small class sizes, social and emotional supports and enrichment activities. 500 19th St, NE Washington, DC 20002 202-545-3180 MONUMENTACADEMY.ORG
The Capitol Hill Cluster School’s website is www. capitolhillclusterschool. org. Peabody is located at 425 C St. NE. Watkins Elementary School @ Eliot-Hine is located at 1830 Constitution Ave. NE. Stuart-Hobson is located at 410 E St. NE.Facebook. com/CHCS.DC; twitter.com/CHCSPTA –Katharine Kaplan.
Ludlow-Taylor Ludlow-Taylor Comes Together for PTO’s Potluck Dinner Ludlow-Taylor closed out 2016 with three events that reaffirmed the value of the school’s instructional program and the vibrancy of its community. In late-November, the entire community came together for the
Ludlow-Taylor staff and community members hard at work carving turkey for the PTO’s Potluck Dinner.”
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fore being selected and assigned to a trip. This summer the two students will travel to Paris for a week to study the French language, culture, art and history. Congratulations!
Four CHML seventh graders who participated in the Think It Up Conference with their Empathy Award
PTO’s Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner. Children, families, teachers, and staff packed the school’s multipurpose room to enjoy turkey and a seemingly endless supply of side dishes and desserts, plus karaoke and an impromptu singalong courtesy of Dean Thomas. A few weeks later, the school gathered again for the annual Winter Concerts, under the direction of Ludlow-Taylor’s music teacher, James Levy, as well as assorted faculty who lead dance groups and provide logistical support. As students in each grade took the stage to perform, they displayed their considerable musical talents. Finally, the school held its Fall Awards ceremonies, where students in each grade were honored for academic performance, strong improvement, good citizenship, and perfect attendance. Students clapped and cheered enthusiastically as their peers received certificates and congratulations from their teachers and Principal Smith. The wide variety of awards and award winners showed the school’s commitment to honoring the process of learning, not just
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Think It Up Conference
the outcome, as well as its belief that success looks different for each student—and that all successes are worth celebrating. LT is located at 659 G St NE. Learn more at www.ludlowtaylor.org. Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/LudlowTaylor/. Twitter: @ LTPrincipSmith. – Tom Sellevaag
In November, CHML science teacher Alicia Chambers accompanied four seventh graders to the Think It Up Conference. The conference is a student powered, teacher led, and crowd funded workshop for students to present their ideas for funding. Think It Up invites students to work with their teachers to develop projects that draw on their passions and connect to the futures they want to pursue. The seventh graders presented their ideas to write, produce, and perform an interactive play about Henrietta Lacks. Lacks played important role in history as an African American woman who was the progenitor of the HeLa cell line, one of the most
important cell lines in medical research ever discovered. The students participated in workshops and presented their project. The students will distribute video copies of their performance, as well as activities for teachers to use with their students to D.C. area middle schools. The CHML seventh graders won the Empathy Award for their project idea and a $1,000 kickstart grant to make it happen! CH Montessori is located at 215 G St NE. Learn more at www.capitolhillmontessorischool.org.
Eliot-Hine School Notes Junk Art Club wins OSSE Health and Wellness Award The Eliot-Hine Junk Art Club was selected as a winner of the Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE) Health and Wellness Award. The Junk Art Club won the award for their efforts to create art out of materials that would normal-
Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan Eighth Graders Study Abroad Two CHML eighth grade students have been selected to travel abroad this summer as part of the DCPS Study Abroad program! DCPS Study Abroad helps ensure that our students have access to global experiences, so that travel becomes the expectation rather than the exception for students. It is a competitive process with more than 1,200 area students applying for approximately 500 positions. Students submitted several essays and sat for a personal interview with DCPS staff be-
Eliot-Hine Junk Art Club members receive OSSE Health and Wellness Award.
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Jefferson Academy Feed the Feeder Near Southeast Community Partners, JMA-Solutions and the Association of American Railroads hosted the first-ever “Feed the Feeder” reception for Jefferson Academy, Brent, Amidon-Bowen, Tyler and Van Ness at Agua 301. Guests included over 135 teachers, principals, staff, CHPSPO, PTA’s, Council Members and the State Board of Education Representative for Ward 6. As the Adopt-a-School Partner to Jefferson (& Amidon), the goal was to bring all five schools together, show appreciation for the teachLittle Lovelies enjoying last year’s Sock Hop at the River Park ers, highlight the great things that Nursery School are happening at Jefferson, work to ensure that we hire and retain qually be considered trash. The school received $500 ity teachers and help increase enrollment into our for the award. middle school. NSCP President Bruce DarConte addressed Hazel Wartchow wins DC Environmental the guests, shared the purpose for the event and what Essay Contest NSCP has done for our schools and the communiSixth-grader Hazel Wartchow was one of ten stuty. Mr. DarConte then introduced Councilmemdents from across the city recognized by the Disber Robert White who shared his passion for edutrict Department of Energy and the Environment cation and appreciation for our teachers and what (DDOEE) for her essay on invasive species in the Anacostia River. The DC Environmental Essay Contest challenged students to think critically and write creatively about a local environmental issue of concern. As part of the award, Hazel’s class will receive an educational boat tour of the Anacostia River in the Spring.
being elected to the Council meant to him. Councilmember Elissa Silverman was also in attendance and her support for our local schools was evident as she chatted with teachers from each school. Jefferson Principal Greg Dohmann highlighted the wonderful learning environment at Jefferson. A special thank you to the Brent PTA and Amidon PTA for their sponsorship. Jefferson Academy is located at 801 7th St SW. Learn more at http://www.jeffersontrojans.org. – Bruce DarConte, info@nscpartners.org
River Park Nursery School River Park Nursery School’s Sock Hop and Silent Auction - Feb 25 Bring the whole family and enjoy pizza, drinks, live music by Mr. Skip and a fantastic silent and live auction. Let the little ones shake their sillies out on the dance floor, participate in arts and crafts activities, and socialize while you relax and sample a deluxe silent auction! The party starts at 4 p.m. in the Parish Hall of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol Street NE. Tickets are $40 per family or $15per individual and can be bought through Eventbrite at riverparknurseryschool.org River Park wishes to send a special thank you to its sponsors (as of this printing): the Rob and Brent
Eliot-Hine receives OSSE Farm Field Trip Grants Eliot-Hine was awarded two OSSE Farm Field Trip Grants. These grants will fund trips for the sixth and seventh grade students to visit a local farm this Spring. The grant funds have also been used to purchase a GrowLab for the school. Please visit the new Eliot-Hine website at www.eliothinemiddleschool.org! Eliot-Hine IB Middle School is located at 1830 Constitution Ave. Check out their new website at: eliothinemiddleschool.org. Tweet @EliotHine; FB Eliot-Hine. – Suzanne Wells.
CHDS Sixth-Graders work on social justice issues. Photo: Sara Driscoll
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Y Y A A W W D D A A O the RO B BR on
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Students, staff and parents from Friends Community School leave the school for a march in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Group of TTR Sotheby’s, John Smith and Peter Grimm of the Smith Team, Jeanne Harrison and Phil Guire of Compass Real Estate, Meg Shapiro and George Olsen of Compass Real Estate, Tom Faison Real Estate, and the Lutheran Church of the Reformation. River Park Nursery School is located in the Lutheran Church of the Reformation at 212 East Capitol Street NE. Call 202-546-7767 or visit www.riverparknurseryschool.org. – Anne Thomas.
Capitol Hill Day School CHDS: New Year, New Website! Capitol Hill Day School celebrated the new year by rolling out a new website and a refreshed logo. Please visit www.chds.org, and check back frequently as new content is added. Later this month, upper graders will celebrate the arts at Kresh Fest, a coffeehousestyle evening of performance, food, and fun that will be followed by the eighth-grade LockIn. Kresh Fest is named for the School’s former Poet-in-Residence, the late David Kresh whose children graduated from the School in 2002 and 2006. As part of their focus on criminal justice, sixth-graders are making children’s books for one of the early childhood classrooms. The goal is to move children away from seeing the world as “bad guys” and “good guys,”
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where the only punishment for a crime is jail. Sixth-graders began to see that sharing their learnings about justice with others, especially younger students, is an essential step towards building a more just society. Students generated many ideas of how they could share or model concepts of justice with younger students, and decided that sharing stories in the form of picture books would be a meaningful way to connect young children to some of the facets of justice that the older students explored this year. Read the sixth-grade social justice blog here: https://chds6authenticlearning.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/justicefor-all-ages/. Capitol Hill Day School is located at 210 South Carolina Ave, SE. Call 202-386-9919 or go to www.chds.org to learn more. Connect via Facebook @CapitolHillDaySchool and Twitter @explorewithCHDS. – Jane Angarola.
Friends Community School FCS Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Friends Community School marked the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with study and activities in honor of the prominent civil rights leader. More than 250 students, staff and parents marched through the College Park neighborhood around the school in commemoration of Dr. King. In advance
Progressive Quaker Education Kindergarten - Grade 8
Experience the of the march, students made signs, studied Dr. King and discussed his ideas and their applications to today. In addition to the march, eighth grade students performed a play called “King in Montgomery: Ten Years in the Nonviolent Civil Rights Movement,” an original production directed by middle school teacher Annie Boggess that included freedom songs and excerpts from Dr. King’s writings. The play tells the story of nonviolent tactics used in the civil rights movement that Dr. King led. The school community also held a Quaker Meeting for Worship in honor of Dr. King. The Friends Chorus participated in the Annual Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the University of Maryland. Students performed “Kumbaya” and “Cooroo Cooroo” led by performing arts
teacher Kiersten Whitehead and accompanied by pianist Debbie Jacobson. Friends Community School is a Quaker school and the Quakers had a close relationship with Dr. King from the mid-1950s until his death in 1968. Quakers helped arrange the pilgrimage he took to India with his wife Coretta Scott King to visit the people and places associated with the non-violent leader Mahatma Gandhi. The American Friends Service Committee, itself a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, nominated Dr. King for the award, which he received in 1964. Friends Community School is located at 5901 Westchester Park Drive. College Park, MD. For more info go to www.friendscommunityschool.org. – Eric Rosenthal.
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St. Peter’s Students Kicking off Catholic Schools Week
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St. Peter School Catholic Schools Week Students from St. Peter School helped kick off Catholic School Week, which runs 29 January through 4 February, by participating in morning mass at the local parishes of St. Peter’s Church, St. Joseph’s on Capitol Hill and St. Dominic Church. Students in their school uniform participated by greeting congregants, doing the readings, bringing up the gifts, and passing out bulletins and thank you notes. After the mass at St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s, students shared their catholic identity and school pride by hosting a Welcome Reception, where families and children could learn more about St. Peter School, enjoy games, coloring, and a fun hot chocolate bar! ... but the fun was just beginning! During Catholic Schools Week, St. Peter School faculty, staff and student council design and sponsor a variety of activities for students and parents. The annual Geography Bee, Science Fair, and Career Day provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their academic excellence, which is a natural byproduct of the school’s rigorous academic programs. Meanwhile, Crazy Hat Day, a Door Decoration Contest, Trivia Tuesday, Get up and Dance Party, and Sports Theme Day give the students an opportunity to show off their creativity and individuality! but the fun was not just for the students! Catholic School Week festivities will conclude with the St. Peter School annual auction and gala. Themed A Night in
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IS FROM
Encouraging Empowerment and Imagination in a Safe and Caring Environment For Children Ages 3-10
JUNE 19 to AUGUST
4
2017 TYLER ES
PENDING DCPS APPROVAL
Old Havanna, the event take place on February 4 at The Sphinx Club on K Street. To order tickets online, visit the action webpage at: https://stpis. ejoinme.org. The event will be complete with live and silent auctions, seated dinner with Cuban cuisine, complimentary cocktails, and salsa dancing. The day may be cold, but the night will be HOT! HOT! HOT! St. Peter School is located at 422 Third St, SE. To learn more call 202-544-1618. email: info@stpeterschooldc.org or log on to www. stpeterschooldc.org. – Tony Militello
Blyth-Templeton Academy Mini Documentaries on the American Dream in English 11 Term 2 at Blyth-Templeton Academy concluded with English 11 students creating and presenting mini-documentaries on the American Dream. They learned to schedule, conduct, and film interviews, create a storyline with an overarching question, and edit videos for a specific audience. Each student’s Mini-documentary project asked students to use primary research and secondary research to explore how the American Dream is defined today and what obstacles interfere with achieving the American Dream. In this course, the American Dream was defined according to James Truslow Adams: “that one can be successful according to one’s own standards regardless of circumstance or background.” One student who focused on women’s
Younger children (ages 3-5) will engage in creative play, field trips, amazing classes, performers, the arts, language, movement, plenty of outdoor time and waterplay each week. Older ones (ages 6-10) will enjoy camp mornings focused on the arts, sports, critical thinking, sign language and cultural experiences. In the afternoon, there will also be a host of field trips, classes, performers, swimming and more.
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ability to attain the American Dream met with Chloe Schwenke in D.C. after watching her TedTalk, “The Unexpected Champions of Human Dignity.” Schwenke described the struggles and the discrimination she faced as a transgender woman. Another student conducted research on educational opportunities for African-Americans and the connection to achieving the American Dream. His examination looked at what education was like before and after integration as well as today through interviews with his grandmother, father and college-bound sister. A third student explored the American Dream through the eyes of his “Generation Z” classmates. After interviewing four peers in each grade, he found that though his generation is pessimistic about the American Dream, they still remain hopeful about being catalysts for redefining success in America. Through this re-imagining of the traditional research paper, Blyth-Templeton Academy students continue to learn new skills, apply those skills to real issues, and find
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ways to positively impact the world through their academic pursuits. Blythe-Templeton is located at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Learn more: blythtempleton.org; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blythtempletonacademy; Twitter: https://twitter.com/blythtempleton; YouTube: https://www.youtube. com/channel/UC7l3zIcm6JLyccg_ECOIlWA; Instagram: https://instagram.com/blythtempleton/ – Sarah Richards
Two Rivers PCS Parents and Staff Go Back to Class In response to an increase of hate speech and crimes in America, Two Rivers Public Charter School took parents and staff back to school for “Share Your DC,” an adult expedition. In the classroom, Two Rivers students use expeditions, in-depth semester-long problembased investigations, that compel them to find answers in hard-to-solve situations by engaging with case studies, field work, experts, and the
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Two Rivers Chief of Staff, Khizer Husain, looks at the Photo Book product from the Share Your DC Expedition with a guest
arts. Using the same model, Two Rivers gave adults an opportunity to try an expedition for themselves. They learned about photography, and discussed their unique experiences as Washingtonians. Jessica Wodatch, Executive Director, helped design the expedition. “We’re thrilled to offer a chance for Two Rivers adults to make connections across differences, and confront assumptions and biases,” she said. “These discussions strengthen our community.” During the first night of the expedition, parents and staff discussed their personal communities, the effect of bias, and the impact of stereotypes. For their second class, the participants learned about photography, identity, and the process of telling a story. In the third session, the group shared their perspectives
of DC through pictures and stories. The group reunited one last time at a final event in January, where they celebrated their time in the class, premiered a group photo book, and discussed what they had learned. “I’m really grateful to be part of a community that would take the time and money to put something like this together,” said one participant. “We just need to expand this now to accommodate a hundred million people.” Two Rivers Public Charter School has three schools located at 1227 4th St, NE (elementary school); 1234 4th St NE (middle school); and 820 26th St, NE (elementary school). Follow @ TwoRiversPCS on Twitter and Facebook. Questions? Call 202-546- 4477, email info@tworiverspcs.org, or visit www.tworiverspcs.org. – Katie Voorman. u
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{home & garden} The Hill Gardener
Capitol Hill Women Launch Garden-Friendly Businesses by Cheryl Corson, RLA, ASLA
T
wo local entrepreneurs now offer gardening help to residents of the Hill and beyond: Laurie Gillman, owner of East City Bookshop, and Amanda McClean, co-owner of Izel Native Plants. Both businesses opened fairly recently and each one integrates the best practices of analog and digital worlds in refreshing and contemporary ways.
East City Bookshop On a recent shopping trip, I stopped into East City Bookshop at 645 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, and was thrilled to discover the largest collection of high quality new garden and landscape books south of Politics & Prose. This independent bookstore, now approaching its first anniversary, has already become an active partner in community events with author talks, hosting book clubs, story time for kids, and even a knitting and audio book club. The store’s founder, Laurie Gillman, was one of many folks disappointed by the 2009 closing of Trover Books, also on Pennsylvania Avenue. After doing some research, she found that indie bookstores are making a comeback, and she opened East City Bookshop in April 2016. Gillman is proud of the shop’s mission to “provide friendly and warm service, community-oriented events, and support for the literary arts at every reading level.” The garden section contains books about ferns, fruit, and flowers, and books about gardening edibles with titles including, “Carrots Love Tomatoes,” “Grow All You Can Eat in 3 Square Feet,” and “The Rooftop Growing Guide,” all handy for Capitol Hill gardens. A garden design section features books by and about contemporary designers such as Bunny Williams, Piet Oudolf, and Arne Maynard, as well as treatises such as, “Modern Garden Design,” “Paradise Gardens,” and “Virginia: The Romance of Flowers.” Truly, there is something for everyone, including, “Gardening for Butterflies,” and one that we keep near our bar at home, “The Drunken Botanist,” by Amy Stewart. If you can’t spare half an hour to browse the shelves in person, East City Bookshop offers a well-designed, homey website with easy subject searches, audiobook ordering, and even a Staff Picks section listed by staff Native Plants co-owner and Hill resident, member, similar to the friendly hand-written notes Amanda McClean. Photo courtesy of Amanda McClean
Laurie Gillman, owner of East City Bookshop. Photo courtesy of Laurie Gillman
Native Pachysandra is evergreen and shade tolerant. Photo: Amanda McClean
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plant list generated by designers. Contractors drive to wholesale nursery site(s), and load their truck themselves, following the grower’s minimum order requirements. They deliver the plants to the project site on installation day, and plant them for the wholesale price plus a markup for travel, labor, materials, and profit. If you are a homeowner and garden geek, you may not always be able to find exactly what you want at a retail garden center, and if you aren’t working with a professional landscape contractor, Izel Native Plants might be just what you need. Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans) blooms in early spring. Started in April 2014, Izel Photo: Amanda McClean is an online-only retail clearinghouse offering primarily found in the store. The website’s calendar of Mid-Atlantic native plants in smaller sizes to events is full of gatherings of all kinds: http:// retail customers by mail. Several local wholewww.eastcitybookshop.com/event. The shop’s sale growers, carefully vetted by Izel owners 400 square foot lower level can also be rented Amanda McClean and Claudio Vazquez, ship out for private parties, fundraisers, and other your order to your door, carefully packing your special events. A weekly newsletter and Faceplants for the journey. You place one order on a book page (https://www.facebook.com/eastcityuser-friendly website, and the plants are packed bookshop/) are designed to keep you up to date and shipped to you by whichever grower(s) are on special offerings and events. With spring responsible. A single order may involve severaround the corner, make the most of indoor al shipments to your address, but the shipping reading weather now. cost is included in the price of the plants. You should be available to receive your plants and Izel Native Plants care for them as soon as they arrive. It’s a short stroll from Izel co-founder Amanda Amanda McClean’s background in phoMcClean’s home to Port City Java, where we tography, marketing and website user experichat outside on a balmy January day. Izel (proence design (UX) makes her the perfect pernounced “eye-Zel”) is an Aztec word meaning son to shepherd Izel’s website, https://www. unique, which gets at the heart of the compaizelplants.com/. There are many ways to search ny’s business model of shipping plants directthe site, filtering results for garden conditions ly to gardeners. such as sunlight and moisture. Once selected, There has always been a divide between a plant’s characteristics and ordering availabilipurchasing plants wholesale and purchasing ty are shown in great detail in a visually unclutthem retail. Typically, retail garden centers tered screen. You can add the plant to a wish sell what’s in season directly to home gardenlist or a shopping cart, and you can track your ers, in quart or gallon sized pots for perenniorder using the site’s easy interface. als, and larger ones for shrubs and trees. GarMcClean usually stays behind the scenes, den centers purchase from wholesale growers, enjoying the convenience and flexibility of her selecting what’s in bloom in quantities they home office. But she will be out in person on feel they can sell. Those who purchase plants March 25, 2017 at the U.S. National Arborewholesale, such as contractors, work from a
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The impressive garden section at East City Bookshop. Photo: Cheryl Corson
tum’s annual Native Plant Sale, held on the same day as the 31st annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium. See http://www.fona. org/lahr-symposium/ for more information as it becomes available. Admission to the plant sale is free, and the Symposium has a modest registration fee.
Some Native Plants for the Hill Because Izel Native Plants sells only what’s native and grown locally, current limited availability will soar in March and April. However, some choice species are available now. McClean recommends these natives for our Capitol Hill gardens: • Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans). This creeping part-sun woodland perennial boasts lavenderblue flowers from AprilJune (depending on conditions) and grows up to 16” tall. https://www.izelplants. com/polemonium-reptansgreek-valerian.html?___ SID=U. • Allegheny Spurge (Pachysandra procumbens). This low growing evergreen native Pachysandra has spikes
152 H Hillrag.com
LOOK FOR THE
of white or pink, fragrant, bottle brush-like flowers that emerge in early spring before new leaf growth appears. Interestingly, it is in the boxwood family. https:// www.izelplants.com/pachysandra-procumbens-allegheny-spurge.html?___ SID=U. • Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) is a two foot tall, clump growing evergreen noticeable in our gardens at this time of year. It prefers low light settings. https://www.izelplants.com/ polystichum-acrostichoideschristmas-fern.html?___ SID=U. Other favorites Amanda mentions for Capitol Hill gardens are Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense), Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum). Try searching https://www.izelplants.com and see which you might like to try. There are probably great native plant books at East City Bookshop, and if there is something they don’t have that you want to order, owner Laurie Gillman would be happy to help. Then Amanda McClean can track your online Izel Native Plant order so you can plant small tender perennials in early spring while the weather is still cool. “Plant Native!” says Amanda, and happy gardening. Cheryl Corson is a licensed landscape architect practicing on the Hill since the Clinton administration. She is author of Sustainable Landscape Maintenance for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, http:// cblpro.org/downloads/CBLPMaintenanceManual.pdf. For more, see: www.cherylcorson.com. u
2 0 1 7 S P R I N G I S S U E / M A R C H 4 TH Home Improvement / Gardening Advice / Design Ideas & Inspiration
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We forgot to prune our beautiful lacecap hydrangeas and are now wondering whether we should still do it this late. Or have we missed the boat as far as expecting any beautiful flat blue blooms in 2017? I always get lacecaps mixed up in my mind with the snowball and oak leaf varieties of hydrangea. You are not the only one. Some hydrangeas can be cut back anytime because they bloom on “new” (this year’s) wood. But a lacecap blooms on “old” wood. Its buds are already “set.” So wait – if it needs pruning – until just after it blooms this summer. Instead of a bouquet, my dinner guest arrived with two pale yellow orchid plants in pots. I was speechless with gratitude – and fear. How must I care for these exotic things? Their name is Phalaenopsis. I want to be worthy of this flattering gift. With almost no effort you can be worthy. Read up on Phalaenopsis care on the internet. The essentials are: bright, indirect light – no direct sun – and not very much water, but high humidity. Fill a dish or tray with pebbles and water to the top of the pebbles. Place the or-
HOT in Summer, COLD in Winter?
chid pots on top of the pebbles near a southern window. Be sure sun does not directly reach the leaves. Water only once a week, most sparingly. They like night temperatures of no less than 62 degrees F and daytime temperatures of no more than 80. An average of 70 will work. Some recommend feeding. Use a special orchid food or a general 20-10-20 fertilizer – one half teaspoon per gallon of water. I am considering writing a crime novel set on Capitol Hill. Are there ordinary garden plants whose toxicity would be sufficient to cause the death of an adult? You would be surprised. While some cause mere stomach upset or skin abrasions, many are lethal – horse chestnut, hydrangea, lupine, the seeds of the sweet pea. Look online for a longer list. Your problem, however, will be easy detection by forensic toxicologists, combined with implausibility. Victim must not suspect, and neither must all but your canny detective. We have no water source in our backyard. How can we garden? We do not wish to have to install a tap there yet. Try a rain barrel, hooked up to a downspout from your roof. They are quite popular. However, you will be as dependent on the arrival of rain as any old-fashioned farmer. On Tuesday, Feb. 14, novice and experienced gardeners will receive a primer on how and when to prune trees and woody bushes. Find membership details at capitolhillgardenclub.org. We meet at the Northeast Public Library, corner of Seventh Street and Maryland Avenue NE. Meetings start at 7 p.m. and are free and open to all. u
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ROOM WANTED $550 CAPITOL HILL
Friendly, respectful woman 50s, non-smoking. Longtime Resident. Can exchange for helping hands. References available. Pet sitter* singer* photographer. NO Face Book or Roomster please!!! Ellen, workerbeez3@yahoo.com, 202-446-7975.
HOUSEKEEPER-NANNY Our housekeeper/nanny of 7+ years is looking for extra work on Saturdays. She helps us with light housekeeping, picking our 7 year old from school, taking her to her lessons, caring for pets, folding laundry and organizing. I highly recommend her. For more information please call 202-213-6941. February 2017 ★ 161
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by Andrew Lightman