Hill Rag Magazine January 2018 by Capital Community News

hillrag.com . JANUARY 2018

Sales · Rentals · Commercial Leasing Property Management · Investments

Est

1981

1218 28TH STREET NW

222 G STREET NE

Nantucket Holdings Renovation 4BR 3.5BA · $1,224,500 Genie Hutinet · 202.413.7661

Three bedroom three bath three level Federal style townhouse steps to M Street with enormous rear patio. · $1,295,000 Pete Frias · 202.744.8973

734 3RD STREET NE

Gorgeous Nantucket Holdings Renovation 4BR 3.5BA Genie Hutinet · 202.413.7661

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“Where Washington shops for a new address! ™”

One bedroom condo with balcony, extra storage and parking Pete Frias · 202.744.8973

CO SOMIN ON G

3209 WARDER STREET NW 3 bedroom plus den w/rear deck and garage · $839,000 Pete Frias · 202.744.8973

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Open 2BR 1BA Just blocks from Barracks Row Genie Hutinet · 202.413.7661

743 10TH STREET NE 3 level, 3 bedroom, 2 bath $999,500 Genie Hutinet · 202.413.7661

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“WINTRY CHILL, WET AND WHITE.” THAT’S THE DC-AREA WINTER WEATHER FORECAST! CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE ROOF INSPECTION BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!

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JANUARY 2018 H 5

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Thanks for a Great 2017!

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todd.bissey@compass.com

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Compass is licensed as ‘Compass Real Estate’ in the District of Columbia

STAN BISSEY 2 02 .8 41 .1 43 3

stan.bissey@compass.com

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Bringing back the Art of Sushi to its minimalist roots, Steve Yoon and his highly talented team of chefs bring innovative creativity to the table. Plates are adorned with thick cut slices of fresh fish that is flown in daily, and rice that is prepared with the utmost care. Experience a premier dining experience like never before with Sushi Hachi!

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JANUARY 2018 H 9

IN THIS ISSUE January 2018

ENERGIZE YOUR 2018! BEAUTY HEALTH AND FITNESS SPECIAL 36 Let’s Get Physical: Bad Axe Throwing by Stacy Peterson 38 Let’s Get Physical: Off-Season Training by Stacy Peterson

42 The Case for Practicing Mindfulness by Pattie Cinelli

Attorney General Karl Racine: DC’s Legal Hammer by Jonetta Rose Barras

Farewell to the Banana Cafe: After 25 Years, Jorge Zamorano Moves On by Elizabeth O’Gorek

119

46 The District Vet: Foot Care by Dan Teich

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

CALENDAR

capitol streets 49

Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner

Attorney General Karl Racine: DC’s Legal Hammer by Jonetta Rose Barras

OP-ED: We Are Empowering Voters by Charles Allen

ANC 6A Report by Andrew Lightman

ANC 6B Report by Elizabeth O’Gorek

ANC 6C Report by Virginia Avniel Spatz

ANC 6D Report by Andrew Lightman

ANC 6E Report by Steve Holton

Eastern Market Report by Peter J. Waldron

community life Dining Notes by Celeste McCall

Got Too Much Stuff? Call 1-800-Got-Junk by Catherine Plume

Hill Rag Crossword

Farewell to Banana Cafe by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Capitol Hill Presbyterian Welcomes Rev. Keys by Elizabeth O’Gorek

H Street Life by Elise Bernard

Our River: The Anacostia: Welcome To 2018 by Bill Matuszeski

Robert J. Cerullo: “A Friend to All... An Enemy to None” by Frank Pietrucha

real estate 85

Real Estate Matters by Heather Schoell

Changing Hands by Don Denton

arts and dining 93

Dining Notes by Celeste McCall

98 Capitol Roots: Eaglesmith Soars Where Few Songwriters Go by Charles Walston 100

Art and The City by Jim Magner

102

At the Movies by Mike Canning

104

The Wine Girl by Elyse Genderson

106

Literary Hill by Karen Lyon

108

Poetic Hill by Karen Lyon

kids and family 111

School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

homes and gardens 119

Got Too Much Stuff? 1-800-Got-Junk Will Take It Away And Recycle What They Can! by Catherine Plume

122

Garden Spot: Winter beauty in your landscape by Derek Thomas

123

Dear Garden Problem Lady by Wendy Blair

124 CLASSIFIEDS 130

THE LAST SHOT

ON THE COVER: Power, by Katherine Kronick, from the Live Model Series. Mixed media on paper, 20” x 29”. Image provided courtesy of Studio Gallery. Studio Gallery is Washington D.C.’s oldest and most successful artist cooperative. Featuring contemporary art in a wide variety of media by emerging and established artists, Studio Gallery is a haven for the arts, always free and open to the public. More than two thousand artists have exhibited work with Studio Gallery, from internationally recognized artists to those just emerging onto the DC arts scene. Join us this January for two new exhibitions, highlighting the significant contributions of two important members of the DC arts community: Steven Krensky and William Christenberry. Visit www.studiogallerydc.com for more information. Studio Gallery. 2108 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 www.studiogallerydc.com • director@studiogallerydc.com • Instagram: @studiogallerydc

Next Issue: February 3rd

Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300. Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com • www.hillrag.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissa.ashabranner@gmail.com

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 • cmccall20003@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

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General Assignment

R. Taylor Barden • taylor@hillrag.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Karen Cohen • kcohenphoto@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Tom Daniel • tom@rthomasdanielrooﬁng.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 Elizabeth O’Gorek • Liz@hillrag.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Christine Rushton • christine.m.rushton@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 Rindy 0’Brien • rindyobrien@gmail.com

Commentary

T�� N�� • thenose@hillrag.com T�� L�� W�� • editorial@hilllrag.com

Production/Graphic/Web Design

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Advertising & Sales

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Deadlines & Contacts

A��: sales@hillrag.com D�� A��: 15th of each month C�� A��: 10th of each month E��: 15th of each month; editorial@hilllrag.com B�� B�� C��: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

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

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W A S H I N G T O N

1 FIRST FRIDAY DUPONT

A longstanding Dupont Circle tradition, First Friday Dupont offers the ability to connect with modern and contemporary artists. Enter the heart of DC’s art scene on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. Discover new artists and meet fellow art enthusiasts. With more than a dozen galleries and attractions within walking distance, almost everything’s free except dinner. Parking, as always, is tricky. Find out where to go at firstfridaydupont.org. Graffiti Parties happen every First Friday Dupont at ArtJamz, 1728 Connecticut Ave. NW. $15 Artjamz Graffiti Party ticket is at app.getoccasion.com/p/n/a1hs4sic.

1 2 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY OF SERVICE

Each year, Americans honor Dr. King’s life and legacy through service. The MLK Day of Service is part of United We Serve, the President’s national service initiative that calls on Americans to work together to solve the country’s most pressing problems. Learn more about national MLK Day initiatives at mlkday. gov. The 2018 MLK Day of Service is Jan. 15. Serve DC commemorates this day by connecting residents with volunteer opportunities and community organizations with resources and volunteers. To register a service project or for a listing of volunteer opportunities, visit volunteer.dc.gov. Leading by example, Mayor Bowser encourages all to join the Resident Snow Team. To sign up for the Resident Snow Team, visit snow.dc.gov. Photo: Courtesy of Serve DC

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Photo: Courtesy of Cupid’s Undie Run Photo: Andrew Lightman

4 3 CUPIDS UNDIE RUN

On Feb. 10, Cupid’s Undie Run, a “brief” fun run, takes place in the middle of a big party. That’s right: party. The run supports finding a cure to Neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that affects one in every 3,000 children. Undies and costumes are encouraged. Start a team with friends. Join a team. Run solo. Just come out. Nave a blast and raise some money. The party starts at 1 p.m. The run is at 3 p.m. Then the party continues. $30 to run. The Park on 14th, 920 14th St. NW. cupids.org/city/ washington-dc.

4 ICE RINK OPENS AT THE WHARF

The new Wharf Ice Rick is open daily through late February. On Tuesdays, Jan. 9, 16, 23 and 30, watch a fun game of broomball. Cheer on the teams while sampling winter brews. Adult skating is $10 with a $2 discount for active military, seniors; $8 for children 12 years and younger. Skate rental is $6. The Wharf Ice Rink is on Transit Pier, 960 Wharf St. SW. wharfdc. com/wharf-ice-rink.

5 OUTLIERS AND AMERICAN VANGUARD ART

Outliers and American Vanguard Art is the first major exhibition to explore key moments in American art history when avantgarde artists and outsiders intersected. The exhibition brings together some 250 works by more than 80 schooled and unschooled artists. Spanning more than a century, there are paintings, sculptures, works on paper, photographs, books and mixed-media assemblages.Outliers is on view in the East Building of the National Gallery of Art from Jan. 28 through May 13, 2018. nga.gov. Horace Pippin, Dog Fight over the Trenches, 1935-1939, oil on canvas, overall: 45.72 84.14 cm (18 33 1/8 in.). Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, DC. Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1966.

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VISIT THE MLK MEMORIAL. Open daily to visitors, all hours. 1964 Independence Ave. SW. nps.gov/mlkm.

J A N U A R Y CALENDAR MLK EVENTS 2018 MLK Holiday DC Parade. Jan. 15, 10 AM. The parade will assemble at 2500 Martin Luther King Jr Ave. SE. and end at the Barry Farm Recreation Center. mlkholidaydc.org. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast. Jan. 11, 8 to 10:30 AM. Proceeds raised from

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this annual event are to help provide scholarships for low-income DC high school students. National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW. Tickets $125 and up at upo.org. Fourth Annual MLK Birthday Celebration. Jan. 14, 10 PM. Featuring Rare Essence, Sugar Bear & EU and Trouble Funk. $25 to $65. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. thehowardtheatre.com.

Let Freedom Ring! at the Kennedy Center. Jan. 15, 6 PM. The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University present Vanessa Williams and the Let Freedom Ring Choir in a musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Free. Tickets will be distributed, up to two per person, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are reserved seats. Limited seating availability. Seating will begin at 5:15 p.m. All patrons are asked to be seated by 5:40 p.m. kennedy-center.org.

Museum March for MLK Day. Jan. 15, 10 AM to 1 PM. March in the annual Anacostia Martin Luther King Jr. Parade. It begins at St. Elizabeth’s East and ends at the Barry Farm Recreation Center in SE. Walk behind the museum’s vehicle and banner. Sign up online or call 202-633-2844. acostia.si.edu.

MUSIC Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. Jan. 6, Dream Syndicate; Jan. 12, Go Mod Go; Jan. 13, Bleach Bones; Jan.

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19, Yacht; Jan. 20, Wanted Man; Jan. 26, Mystery Friends; Jan. 27, Object Collection; Feb. 1, Jen Cloher; Feb. 2, Genocide Pact; Feb. 3, Beauty Pill; Feb. 6, High On Fire; Feb. 7, Tiny Moving Parts; Feb. 9, Young, Lean & Sad Boys; Feb. 10, John Muas. Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. rockandrollhoteldc.com. Music at Pearl Street Warehouse. Jan. 6, Jacob Joliff Band; Jan. 17, An Evening with Anthony Gomes; Jan. 18, Western Centuries; Jan. 20, Dan Burn; Jan. 21, Charlie Mars; Jan. 26, Justin Trawick and The Common Good Album Release; Feb. 2, Black Masala; Feb. 10, The Lil Smokies. Pearl Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl St. SW. pearlstreetwarehouse.com.

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Sunday Concerts at the Phillips. Jan. 7, Vadim Gluzman & Angela Yoffe; Jan. 14, Jason Vieaux & Julien Labro; Jan. 21, Goldmund Quartett; Jan. 28, Shai Wosner. Concerts are at 4 PM. $40, $20 for members and students with ID; includes museum admission for the day of the concert. phillipscollection. org/music. Visit phillipscollection.org/music for details. Blues Night in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. Jan. 8, Mark Wenner Presents McKinley James; Jan. 15, Queen Aisha Blues; Jan. 22, Eddie Jones & the Young Bucks; Jan. 29, Melvin Taylor Blues Band. $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.

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NSO at Dance Place. Jan. 8, 7 PM. NSO musicians Jane Bowyer Stewart (violin), Denise Wilkinson (viola) as well as guest musicians Susan Midkiff (violin) and Kerry van Laanen (cello) perform classical works. Free. To reserve a seat, visit danceplace.org or call 202-269-1600. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. danceplace.org. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Every Tuesday, 12:10 PM. Jan. 9, Mark Wanich, baritone, & Jeremy Filsell, piano; Jan. 16, Natalia Kazaryan, piano; Jan. 23, Carlos Rodriguez, piano, & Ralitza Patcheva, piano; Jan. 30, Joy-Lelani Garbutt, organ, & Rebecca Kellerman, soprano; Feb. 6, Sophia Subbayya Vastek, piano; Feb. 13, Wayne Jennings, tenor, Pamela Simonson, soprano, Louis Davis, baritone, & Lester Green, piano. 1317 G St. NW. epiphanydc.org. Music at The Anthem. Jan. 10, The Killers; Jan. 12, Walk The Moon; Jan. 13, The Disco Biscuits; Feb. 1, Justin Moore; Feb. 3, Greensky Bluegrass. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. theanthemdc.com.

welcome to the

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Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. Jan. 12, Lionel Lyles Quintet; Jan. 19, 19th Jazz Night Anniversary Celebrating Our Jazz Heritage; Jan. 26, Chris Grasso Presents Shacara Rogers. $5 cover. Children are free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-4847700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org.

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F A G O N

GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL

Concerts at the Miracle Theater. Jan. 14, Choir! Choir! Choir!; Jan. 18, DC

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Photo: Courtesy of The In Series: Opera & More

The In Series: All The Things You Are: Jerome Kern. Jan. 20 to Feb. 4. Fish gotta swim. birds gotta fly. Everyone gotta hear favorite Kern tunes. Come to their cabaret of his stage and screen hits from the father of American Musical Theatre. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. MOTH Storyslam. Miracle Theater, 535 Eighth St. SE. themiracletheatre.com. Music at Mr. Henry’s. Thursday Night Bluegrass: Jan. 18, By & By; Jan. 25, Justin Trawick. Friday Night Jazz: Jan. 12, The Kevin Cordt Quartet; Jan. 19, Lionel Lyles; Jan. 26, Aaron L. Myers, II. Saturday Night Ladies of Jazz: Jan. 6, Nina Casey; Jan. 13, Shacara Rogers; Jan. 20, Julia Nixon (tick-

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eted show); Jan. 27, Eddie Anderson. Capitol Hill Jazz Jam 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. Free Cafe Concert: Capital City Symphony. Jan. 20, 7 PM. A chamber performance by members of Capital City Symphony.

Happy New Year, Neighbors! The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. DC Concert Orchestra Concert. Jan. 21, 3 PM. Free, but donations accepted. The Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. dcconcertorchestra.org.

Have a new year’s resolution for a new state of mind? How about a new house on Kentucky Avenue or a condo on Pennsylvania Avenue?

1345 Pennsylvania Avenue SE #6 2BR, 2BA top floor unit in boutique 6 unit building. Soaring ceilings, filled with light, open kitchen with marble counter tops feels a little like Paris!

Groupmuse Concert House Parties. Attend a concert for a $3 registration fee and a $10+ per person donation to the musician(s). Concerts are BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage) and welcome all ages. Read more and sign up to host or attend at Groupmuse.com. Concerts added continuously.

THEATER AND FILM Crazy For You at Signature. Through Jan. 14. Danny Gardner and Ashley Spencer star as Bobby Child and Polly Baker. Bobby Child, a musicalloving banker sent to foreclose on a small-town theatre decides to revive it instead with the magic of the Follies, some slapstick comedy and a whole lot of charm. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Shirlington, VA. signature-theatre.org.

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Wishing you a wonderful 2018!

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202.246.0931 crystal.crittenden@compass.com SEE OUR REVIEWS ON ZILLOW Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 660 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 | 202.545.6900

Mosaic Theater: Queens Girl in Africa. Through Feb. 4. Mosaic’s first commission brings the world premiere sequel to Caleen Sinnette Jennings’ “sweet-spirited solo show” that the New York Times described as one of the breakout hits of DC’s first Women’s Voices Theatre Festival in 2015. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. The Jewish King Lear. Jan. 8, 7:30 PM. Jacob Gor-

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din’s masterpiece is a free adaptation of Shakespeare’s familiar classic that ushered in the first golden age of Yiddish theater in New York. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. edcjcc.org. Scena’s Guilt at the Atlas. Jan. 8 to Feb. 4. This exciting play tells the powerful story of a philandering priest named Grandier (1590-1634). The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. scenatheatre.org. Constellation’s Skin of Our Teeth at Source. Jan. 11 to Feb. 11. In this timetraveling tragicomedy by Thornton Wilder, the Antrobus family lives an ordinary life in suburban New Jersey. Except that the couple have been married for 5,000 years. The maid is constantly threatening to quit the play. The family pets are a baby dinosaur and a woolly mammoth. Source, 1835 14th St. NW. ConstellationTheatre.org. Sovereignty at Arena. Jan. 12 to Feb. 18. Sarah Ridge Polson, a young Cherokee lawyer fighting to restore her Nation’s jurisdiction, must confront the ever-present ghosts of her grandfathers. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org. Hamlet at Shakespeare. Jan. 16 to Feb. 25. In the wake of his father’s abrupt death, Hamlet returns home from university to find his personal and political world changed. His mother is remarried. His uncle is on the throne. The world has seemingly gone insane. Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. shakespearetheatre.org.

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In anticipation of the 61st anniversary of the Mothers Day House and Garden Tour (May 12 & 13), the Capitol Hill Restoration Society is sponsoring a photo contest –

Entries due March 2, 2018. Details at chrs.org/photo-contest/

4,380 Nights at Signature. Jan. 16 to Feb. 18. For the last 12 years, or 4,380 days, Malik Djamal Ahmad Essaid has been held without charge by the US government at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Shirlington, VA. signature-theatre.org. The Wolves at Studio. Jan. 17 to March 4. Part of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival, Soccer and adolescence in their teamwork and violence…a group of 16-yearold girls turn into warriors on the field. Join the pack. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. studiotheatre.org. Jefferson’s Garden at Ford’s. Jan. 19 to Feb. 11. Playwright Timberlake Wertenbaker explores the contradictions between our founding fathers’ ideals and the realities of freedom in America. Christian, a Quaker pacifist, he defies his family to fight in the American Revolution. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. fords.org.

If you think your home should be on the tour, give us a shout. Or suggest a neighbor’s home or garden.

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Visit www.chrs.org to learn more. Email info@chrs.org or call 543-0425.

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100% of all donations go directly back into neighborhood initiatives.

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Unnecessary Farce at Keegan. Jan. 19 to Feb. 10. Two cops. Three crooks. Eight doors. Go. In a cheap motel room, an embezzling mayor is supposed to meet with his female accountant. Next door, two undercover cops wait to catch the meeting on videotape. Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. keegantheatre.com. Convergence Theatre: This is All Just Temporary. Jan. 19 to Feb. 10. Lauren, a recent college grad, moves back in with her parents while she looks for a job. However, the behavior-

Unsigned Haitian “iron sculpture.”

Haitian Art & Handcraft Sale at St. Marks On Feb. 2, 3 and 4, the Vassar Haiti Project will host a sale of Haitian paintings and handcrafts at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. All funds raised will help support relief efforts in the northwest village of Chermaitre in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. The weekend starts with a free reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 2. Enjoy lively Haitian kompa music, hors d’oeuvres and wine. The sale continues, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Over 200 original Haitian paintings and a vast array of unique handcrafts will be on sale. In late 2017, a succession of hurricanes hit Haiti causing widespread damage and interrupting the rhythms of daily life. While the initial shocks have long passed, the difficult job of rebuilding continues. In Chermaitre this means revitalizing farming plots of 50 and more families, continuing with education efforts and learning from and supporting the morale of the community. thehaitiproject.org. al aggression of Lauren’s autistic younger brother is severely increasing. $15 to $18. Anacostia Arts Center, 1231 Good Hope Rd. SE. anacostiaartscenter.com. La Foto at GALA. Jan. 31 to Feb. 25. Two families are changed forever when a selfie is sent to one person but shared by another. In this highly technological world

it is easier to connect intimately with one another… but at what cost? GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. galatheatre.org. The Great Society at Arena. Feb. 2 to March 11. Robert Schenkkan’s The Great Society, the second half of the epic drama about President Lyndon Baines Johnson, makes its DC debut at Arena Stage.

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Image: Courtesy of Rock & Roll Hotel

Boozy Bingo at Rock & Roll Hotel. Thursdays in January; first game, 8 PM. Win concert tickets, food & drink vouchers and more. Free to play. Must be 21. Drink specials during bingo. Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. Rockandrollhoteldc.com. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org. Familiar at Woolly. Feb. 5 to March 4. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winter in Minnesota. An immigrant Zimbabwean family is preparing for the wedding of their eldest daughter, a first-generation American. But, when the bride insists on observing roora, a traditional bride-price ceremony, it opens a deep rift in the household.

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Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. woollymammoth.net.

DANCE Swing Dancing with Gottaswing (Beginners). Jan. 7 to Feb. 25, Sundays, 3:30 to 4:30 PM. In the beginner class, learn the

St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on Capitol Hill celebrates with great joy the

150th Anniversary of the founding of our Parish. Throughout the coming year, we will be rejoicing with a special day of service, a gala dinner and a Mass of Thanksgiving with our former pastors, clergy, ministers and parishioners. Other events are planned please stay tuned!

313 2 nd Street N E www.st-josephs.org

JANUARY 2018 H 31

three basic footwork patterns that are the basis of all styles of swing dancing (6-count, 8-count Lindy Whip and Circle, both side-byside and Back Charleston). No partner necessary All ages welcome. $120 for eight sessions. hillcenter.org. KanKouran West African Dance Company at Dance Place. Jan. 12 and 14. KanKouran West African Dance Company returns to Dance Place for their annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. danceplace.org.

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Cynthia Oliver Co. Dance Theatre at Dance Place. Jan. 20 and 21. An eveninglength, dance theater work by Cynthia Oliver navigating black masculinities. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. danceplace.org. Devi Dance Theater at Dance Place. Jan. 27 and 28. Devi Dance Theater of Sutradhar Institute of Dance & Related Arts presents their new work. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. danceplace.org. 10 Hairy Legs at Dance Place. Feb. 3 and 4. Featuring works by Stephen Petronio, Doug Elkins, Doug Varone and more! Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. danceplace.org. Kei Takei & Maida Withers at Dance Place. Feb. 10 and 11. Two international icons come together in an exchange of ideas and movement. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. danceplace.org. Hip Hop, Dance Hall and Salsa at Joe’s Movement Emporium. Hip Hop Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.; Dance Hall, Tuesdays, 8L30 p.m.; Salsa, Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Ten Class Pass: adults, $110; seniors, $80. Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Rd., Mount Rainier, MD. joesmovement.org.

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Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Jan. 7, 9, 11, 19, 21 and 31; Feb. 4 and 9. Capital One Arena. capitals.nhl.com. Canal Park Ice Skating. Sundays, 10 AM to 10 PM; Mondays to Thursdays, noon to 10 PM; Fridays, noon to 11 PM; and Saturdays, 10 AM to 11 PM. Special hours on holidays. Skate fees are adults, $9; kids and seniors, $8; skate rental, $5. 200 M St. SE. canalparkiceskating.com. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink. Through March 11, daily except Christmas and New Year’s Day, weather permitting. Open Mondays through Thursdays, 10 AM to 9 PM; Fridays, 10 AM to 11 PM, Saturdays, 11 AM to 11 PM; and Sundays, 11 AM to 9 PM. Skating fees for a two-hour session are $9, adults; $8, seniors, students with ID and children 12 and under. Skate rental, $3.50. nga.gov. Wharf Ice Rink. Through late February, depending on weather. Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 7 PM; Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to 9 PM; Fridays, noon to 11 PM; Saturdays, 11 AM to 11 PM; Sundays, 11 AM to 7 PM. Live DJ, Fridays, 8 to 10 PM. Adult admission, $10 with $2 discount for active military, seniors; $8 for children 12 years and younger. Skate rental is $6. Wharf Ice Rink is on Transit Pier 960 Wharf St. SW. wharfdc.com/wharfice-rink. Fort Dupont Ice Arena Public Skating. Public indoor ice skating, noon to 2 PM on Jan. 5, 12, 15 and 26; 1 to 3 PM on Jan. 6, 13 and 20; 2:30 to 4:30 PM on Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28. $5 for adults; $4, 12 and under and seniors 60 and over; $3 for skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE. fdia.

MARKETS AND SALES

SPORTS AND FITNESS

Friends of SE Library Book Sale. Jan. 13, 10 AM to 3 PM. Most books are $1. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh St. SE. dclibrary.org/southeast.

Washington Wizards Basketball. Jan. 6, 10, 12, 13, 15 and 30; Feb. 1, and 8. Capital One Arena. nba.com/wizards.

Haitian Art & Handcraft Sale. Reception, Feb. 2, 6 to 9 PM; Feb. 3, 10 AM to

4 PM; and Feb. 4, 9 AM to 2 PM. Over 200 original Haitian paintings and a vast array of unique handcrafts will be on sale. The Vassar Haiti Project hosts this sale of Haitian paintings and handcrafts at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. thehaitiproject.org. Goodwill Store and Donation Center. Mondays through Saturdays, 9 AM to 8 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 6 PM. Donations accepted Mondays through Saturdays, 9 AM to 6:30 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 5:30 PM. Weekly half-price specials based on price tag color. 2200 South Dakota Ave. NE. dcgoodwill.org. Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 6 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open weekends, 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. easternmarket-dc.org. Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market. Sundays, 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. 20th St. and Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org. Union Market. Tuesdays to Fridays, 11 AM to 8 PM; weekends, 8 AM to 8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com. Have an item for the Calendar? Email calendar@hillrag.com. ◆

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BEAUTY H E A LT H & FITNESS NU

Y S ON PECI AL SECTI

JANUARY 2018 H 35

B E A U T Y, H E A LT H

& FITNESS SPECIAL

LET’S GET PHYSICAL

BAD AXE THROWING article by Stacy Peterson, MS, CNS, CHHC, CSCS photos by Acceleration Sports

ooking for a fun outing to engage in during the colder months? Whether you want to enjoy a night out with your friends, host a work team bonding event (with a little competition) or drop in for a casual round of axe throwing, Bad Axe Throwing has something for all. It’s the world’s biggest urban axe throwing club, on a mission to “bring the thrill of a traditional Canadian backyard pastime to urban communities,” according to one of its advocates, Nick Jahr, who runs the DC venue at 2419 Evarts St NE. Bad Axe Throwing has nine locations in Canada and now, with the DC venue, seven in the US. Many of us have seen or heard about axe throwing on the “Lumberjack Show.” Or maybe you caught a glimpse of the September episode of the “Tonight Show”

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our accuracy. feeling Will’s hesitation is due to the My first throw was fact that he wants to keep his winStacy and Will’s first just an inch from the ning record. I can’t blame him. official, non-practice throws. Let the “We’ve had all sorts of groups bullseye – not bad for a competition begin! first-timer. Will quickly book axe throwing events,” statupped his game, knowed instructor Nick. “One group ing my friendly yet comof guys asked ahead of time if they petitive nature. In a close could hang a few ex-wife’s belongings that were left behind after a dibattle, going neck and neck vorce. Needless to say, the divorce the whole way, Will beat me by party at Bad Axe Throwing was two points. with Jimmy Fallon, We’ve come to the conclusion successful on multiple levels. Not where Fallon clearly had that we’ll be back for another round only were they able to get rid of her the upper hand in his axe throwing of competition – though I have the things, they were able to enjoy time skills against Jennifer Lawrence. In this episode (also a YouTube clip) you can see that even the novice can partake in a friendly game. If you are concerned that you’ve never thrown an axe before, no worries. A coach is provided to instruct you how to properly throw an axe and aim for the bullseye. It’s more than just great for hand-eye coordination and utilizing the arms, as the back, core and feet play critical parts in throwing too. Will Phillips and I, local Hillians who are open to trying new activities, engaged in an eventful evening of axe throwing. Instructor Nick resourcefully taught us to throw the axe. Axe throwing is easy to pick up, though Will and I quickly escalated the game into a challenging yet friendly competition. Nick gave us pointers to adjust our form, further helping with Nick Jahr and Will Phillips demonstrating their first axe throws.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR Stacy Peterson and instructor Nick Jahr in a practice round at Bad Axe Throwing.

with friends and let off some steam.”

The Rules Group events at Bad Axe Throwing last about two and a half to three hours, giving everyone a chance to throw numerous times. Three lanes divided by chain-link fences provide each group with a designated area to “play.” Each lane consists of two targets. Before the competition begins, the rule book states, the group is split in half, pairing each person with a person from the opposing team. Standing 12-15 feet in front of the lane and team target, each paired competitor throws one axe at a time – five throws on one target and five on the other. Children are welcome to participate, provided they are able to throw the axe in a safe manner and their guardian is present. Wearing comfortable clothes and closedtoed shoes is highly recommended. All you need to do is reserve and show up, since Bad Axe Throwing provides all the materials and equipment, including the axes. While cheering on your teammate, you can taste and sip on your own food and non-alcoholic beverages. Just be sure to stand in the

safety zone that’s located eight feet away from the throwing zone. If not everyone in your party would like to participate, they are welcome to watch and cheer at no cost. For more information about Bad Axe Throwing and to book your event, visit www.badaxethrowing.com/locations/axe-throwingwashington-dc/#. Located at 2419 Evarts St. NE, Bad Axe Throwing is open seven days a week by appointment only and can be reached at 1-888-435-0001. Stacy Peterson, M.S. human nutrition and functional medicine, CNS, CHHC, CSCS, is a functional nutritionist, holistic health, wellness and strength and conditioning coach practicing wholefoods nutrition and physical training to individuals of all ages on Capitol Hill. She provides an integrative approach, critical to everyone’s healthcare and performance team, helping individuals reach their health goals. For recipes, nutrition ideas and exercise tips sign up for her monthly newsletter at www. accelerationsports.net. Connect with Stacy by email, stacy@accelerationsports.net, or by calling 805-704-7193 for a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions and discuss how she can help you achieve your digestion, overall health and fitness goals. u

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Be a part of our community. JANUARY 2018 H 37

B E A U T Y, H E A LT H

& FITNESS SPECIAL

OFF-SEASON TRAINING

VA R I E T Y K E E P S T H E S PA R K IN YOUR TRAINING ROUTINE

by Stacy Peterson, MS, CNS, CHHC, CSCS

ove being active during the spring, week and daily deep-diaphragmatic breathing. quires muscle strength and balance.” summer and fall but find yourself slowShirley says her dedication to live a life that Emily, a Hillian and client who is an avid ing down over the winter and doing is health promoting year-round was “a life-changtriathlete, spends her winter months focused on less physical activity? Slowing down healing her body by eating nutrient-dense, healthing experience.” When spring comes, she feels can be a good thing, as it’s a great time promoting foods, strength training three times that “the consistent strength training and flexibilfor reflection, healing and inward thinking. Howity make the race. I feel much more prepared and per week and being more mindful by meditating ever, the movements and exercise our bodies love stronger for my 5k’s, which allows me to enjoy the and listening to her body’s needs. to engage in should not go by the wayside. A good activity at hand.” The training “helps to prepare “I have removed foods that I was sensitive to way to prevent the drag of exercise is to add varime for the things that come up in life too – such as and cleaned up my diet – I didn’t even know I was ety to your off-season plan while helping to build sensitive! Yet, my body was giving me the signs, friends who want to go on a spur-of-the-moment your in-season performance, starting now. I just had to listen to it,” she explained. “Now bike ride or a hike on a rocky, uphill trail that reHere are five ways to add variety to the winter off-season exercise regimen so you can hit the ground running once warmer weather is upon us. 1. Incorporate strength training at least twice a week 2. Stretch daily (foam roller too!) 3. Add balance exercises into the weekly routine 4. Consume nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory and health-promoting foods 5. Take mental breaks and improve your deep breathing Shirley, a busy, middle-aged executive who lives and works on Capitol Hill, is a client of mine who has done an amazing job at making her health a top priority. Over the past several years, she has participated in 5k runs during the warmer months. Though Shirley has found that running outside in the cold weather is not something that she adores, she makes it a priority to incorporate two weekly strength training workouts that focus on balance, with stretching most days of the Stacy performing a hybrid of the balancing stick pose. Photo: Acceleration Sports

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Learn gentle and effective ways to feel better and get fit. NEW ON THE HILL

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that I have focused on nutrition,” she added, “I have more energy, sleep better, don’t have monthly cramps (amazing!) and my skin has cleared up. I can’t wait to see my performance improvements skyrocket starting this spring! I feel less swollen and bloated, which is such a great feeling.” When Emily first came to see me, her nutrition plan lacked health-promoting foods. Based upon her signs and symptoms, I knew we could improve her diet so she would feel more powerful and energized, limit inflammation and help her recover properly from workouts. Emily’s effort to fine tune her nutrition, strength training and mental rejuvenation has paid off with more to come in-season. Michael, an outdoor intramural soccer player and client who lives on Capitol Hill, is focusing on flexibility, balance, strength training and nutrition this winter season. “I love playing outdoor soccer,” he shared, “but find I need a break, and the winter time is the best time for me to push the reset button.” Giving the body a break from the regular exercise routine can provide improvements that are refreshing and new, while still allowing great gains. “Last year, I tried to focus on my flexibility, strength training and nutrition on my own. It was good, but nowhere near the amount of gains I have made so far this season since working with Stacy for just one month.” The body is designed to move and appreciates physical activity throughout the

week. With fewer hours of sunlight, the cold season can make it more challenging to find the right workout regimen. Finding something new this winter will help you continue your personal in-season gains. Stacy Peterson, M.S. human nutrition and functional medicine, CNS, CHHC, CSCS, is a functional nutritionist, holistic health, wellness and strength and conditioning coach practicing whole-foods nutrition and physical training to individuals of all ages on Capitol Hill. She provides an integrative approach, critical to everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s healthcare and performance team, helping individuals reach their health goals. For recipes, nutrition ideas and exercise tips sign up for her monthly newsletter at www.accelerationsports. net. Connect with Stacy by email, stacy@accelerationsports.net or by calling 805-704-7193 for a free 15-minute consultation to ask questions and discuss how she can help you achieve your digestion, overall health and fitness goals. u

on THE

Hill

Sharon L. Bernier RN, PhD Psychotherapy Individuals & Couples

202-544-6465 JANUARY 2018 H 41

B E A U T Y, H E A LT H

& FITNESS SPECIAL

THE CASE FOR

PRACTICING MINDFULNESS by Pattie Cinelli

ave you ever left your house and gotten half-way to your destination and wondered, ‘Did I lock my door?’ only to return home to find the door locked. Have your ever not remembered where you put the keys you had in your hands just a few minutes ago? You most likely were operating on automatic – your mind was one place and your body was in another place. “Most of the time our minds are somewhere else,” explains Ronald Siegel, a clinical psychologist and professor at Harvard Medical School. “Yet, the moments that matter to us are all situations in which the mind shows up. We spend an inordinate amount of time lost in memories of the past and fantasies of the future.” Practicing mindfulness can greatly reduce those seemingly absent-minded times. Mindfulness practice can also help everything from anxiety and depression to the challenges of intimate relationships, aging and raising children.

What is Mindfulness? Mindfulness practices have been around for thousands of years. We have welldocumented testimony from monks and nuns who have successfully used these practices to find peace, fulfillment and happiness. Yet the pracTim Pineau, tices didn’t become Ph.D. mainstream until scientists began researching and finding changes in brain tissues

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or shifts in EEG activity in people who practice mindfulness regularly. According to Dr. SieKarin gel, mindfulness is awareEdgett ness of present experience with acceptance. He says many people wrongfully that involves developing a blank mind. Nor is it sitting in lotus and chanting ‘Om’. “It is, however, about developing a different relationship with our thoughts so we can observe them coming and going and not believe in or identify them so much.” Dr. Siegel lists in the Great Course titled, ‘The Science of Mindfulness: A Research-Based Path to Well-Being, three skills we need to develop: First, focused attention which helps us observe things clearly. Second is what neurobiologists now call ‘open monitoring’ which is used to see how the mind creates suffering for itself. Finally, is acceptance and loving-kindness, which is used to soothe and comfort. His course, which can be taken on line or on DVD, has 24 half-hour lectures. The amount of scientific research about the effects of mindfulness is overwhelming. Dr,

Siegel’s lectures include topics about the science of compassion; seeing sadness and depression in a new light, transforming chronic pain; overcoming traumas large and small, and placebos, illness and the power of belief. It also includes a lecture on how mindfulness modifies brain structure and function. Dr. Siegel includes exercises for students in several of his lectures.

Who Can Benefit from Mindfulness? Everyone from children through seniors can benefit from practicing mindfulness techniques. A long-distance runner is competing in a race. It’s important that she keep her pace and stay ahead of the pack. A fierce competitor pulls ahead of her. She thinks, ‘Oh no, I’m going to lose.’ Her thoughts continue, ‘My coach is going to be so disappointed I didn’t win.’ Her negative thoughts make her more likely to lose the race. “If athletes are worried about making a mistake, that worry is pulling their attention away from what they are doing in the present, and they are more likely to make a mistake” said Tim Pineau, clinical psychologist practicing in

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DC and Virginia. “It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and creates a cycle that takes them away from the present moment.” Dr. Pineau and two colleagues have authored a book, Mindful Sports Enhancement: Mental Training for Athletes and Coaches that presents an empirically supported program rooted in the traditions of mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. The book emphasizes incorporating mindfulness practices into workouts, practices and competitions as well as everyday life. “Being mindful can help people see an event as it is happening and pull themselves out of it. If they recognize that they have a choice to come back to the present moment and see the event for what it is – an anxious moment and not reality,” said Dr. Pineau. The reality for the runner was another runner passed her. She did not lose the race. “Mindfulness provides people a different way to experience their world. It’s a way of being and interacting,” said Dr. Pineau. “I think so much of our stress and anxiety is worrying about the future and ruminating about the past. We spend so little time in the present.” Being mindful actually opens you up to being more spontaneous. When you see events with awareness and acceptance you are more open to an array of options available at any moment. When you approach something with expectations you limit what you will see. If you are non-judgmental to whatever the moment brings it actually encourages spontaneity.”

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Middle aged male suffering serious gastric reflux. He had had bad reactions to meds; and didn’t want to take them anyway. His posture was compromised. We used methods to adjust and strengthen his posture. The acid reflux disappeared once we had reduced the pulling on the spinal cord and the nerves serving stomach and diaphragm, causing it to lose its tone.

Preventive, Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry • Children’s Dentistry • Periodontics

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B E A U T Y, H E A LT H

How to Get Started The best way is through meditation. You can begin meditating as little as five or 10 minutes a day. Use a timer. Download an app. I like the Insight meditation app but there’s plenty other free ones available. Experiment with different ways of meditating. • Breathing – Your breath is always available. Carve out some time to observe your breathing. Inevitably your mind will wander. That’s ok. Bring your thoughts back to your breath. If it helps say to yourself, ‘In’ as you breathe in; and ‘Out’ as you breathe out. • Count your Breath – Any time you lose count you can go back to one. The number’s not important • Walking – There are several ways: walking deliberately and feeling the sensations of the ground as your feet touch, feel the air on your face as you walk through it, listen to the sounds around you. I often do walking meditation with my dog. It’s a great way to start my day. • Showering – Be present as you cleanse every part of your body. Notice how the water and soap feel on your skin. • Exercising – Many talk about the ‘zone’ while running which becomes form of meditation. Any type of experience can become a mindfulness practice. • Eating – Be aware of how the food you put into your mouth feels, tastes and smells. How does it feel to chew, to swallow? • Yoga – Feel your way through poses instead of thinking about them. Release comparison to others.

Another Approach to Mindfulness Karin Edgett, artist and nutritional cook, has been practicing mindfulness for years. While in Mexico last fall, she attended a seminar sponsored by the HeartMath Institute. “HeartMath studies the synchronicity among our hearts, brains, bodies, each other and the rest of the world,” she explained. “HeartMath research has shown that when people are in a state of meditation that involves breathing from the heart, they become ‘coherent’ or in a higher vibration,

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& FITNESS SPECIAL

and their heart rhythms become even. They see a positive impact in how they naviMany articles and books focus on the connecgate through their lives.” tion of science with mindfulness. The following are a HeartMath has developed few that have resonated with me, but the list is by no tools to help you connect with means complete. your inner guidance, and techInto the Magic Shop by James R. Doty, M.D. nologies to help you be still All is Well: Heal Your Body with Medicine, Affirenough to listen. One of the mations and Intuition by Louise L. Hay and Mona tools, the inner balance app and Lisa Schulz, M.D., Ph.D. sensor, showed me how I could The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of shift my mood in the moment. Consciousness, Matter and Miracles by Bruce H. LipWith a sensor attached to my ton, M.D. ear, I breathed deeply for five E Squared by Pam Grout (any of Grout’s books) minutes. “Once you are relaxed, The Science of Mindfulness: A Research-Based you can evoke a feeling of joy, Path to Well-Being, given by Professor Ronald Siegratitude, love or any other upgel, a clinical psychologist who is a professor at Harlifting thought and hold it for as vard Medical School and author of the Mindfulness long as you can,” explained KarSolution: Everyday Practices for Everyday Problems. in. “The goal is to train yourIf you’d like free audio recordings of variations self to stay in that higher vibraof the practices presented in the Great Courses Mindtion state of ‘coherence’ longer fulness lectures log onto: mindfulness-solution.com. and longer. Eventually you will To learn more about the course on mindfulness be able to get into it anywhere log onto: thegreatcourses.com. in order to improve all areas of To learn more about how Dr. Pineau and his colyour life.” leagues work with athletes log onto: MindfulsportsAccording to the Heartperformance.org. Math website, the Institute, If you want to contact Dr. Pineau: timpineauwhich was founded in 1991, has phd@gmail.com or call: 202-670-9636. developed scientifically-based tools that bridge the connection between the heart and the mind a few – but, “When you begin to understand it’s and deepen people’s connection with the hearts of the non-striving, letting go of the anxiety, it makes others. This empowers people to greatly reduce the anxiety go away. It helps you navigate life betstress, increase resilience and unlock their natuter,” said Dr. Pineau. It’s not unmindful to have ral intuitive guidance for making better choices. goals, but become aware of how you approach Studies conducted with more than 11,500 people those goals. Practicing mindfulness doesn’t mean have shown improvements in mental and emotionyou give up your goals. Instead you free up mental al well-being in six to nine weeks using HeartMath space to focus on what you care about right now.” training and technology. To learn more about HeartMath long onto: You can bring mindfulness into any activiheartmath.com. and heartmath.org. ty. The more you practice the more your benefits grow. However, Dr. Pineau says even a brief Pattie Cinelli is a writer and holistic fitness profesexposure to mindfulness can have an impact. sional who has been pursuing the practice of mind“My sleep got better after meditating for a few fulness for many years. Pattie incorporates mindfulmonths,” he said. ness practices into her class instruction and private People come to mindfulness for the benefits training sessions with her clients. To learn more long onto: pattiecinelli.com or email her at: fitness@pat– lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, improve tiecinelli.com u sleep, reduce suffering and chronic pain to name

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B E A U T Y, H E A LT H

& FITNESS SPECIAL

THE DISTRICT VET

FOOT CARE by Dan Teich, DVM

hat does your dog or cat step on every day? Humans have podiatrists and take care of their feet, and so we must also do with pets. Common sense, simple foot examinations and routine paw/nail care can help keep your furred friend motoring on in comfort.

Avoid areas with broken glass or other hazards on the ground. When out for a hike or in a field, try to avoid areas with foxtails (grasses with seeds that can penetrate feet). If hiking on excessively rocky areas, try small booties.

for swelling, discharges, masses or other problems. Be sure there are no objects stuck between the toes and the paw pads. I have personally pulled acorns, pebbles, tar, gum, small pine cones, hard candies, poop, Jelly Beans and other things out of these areas! Look for signs of infection, including redness, odors or discharges. Be sure the pads look normal. If the pads are dry and cracked, ask us what kind of moisturizer to use.

Avoid Hot Pavement

Nail Trimming

If it’s too hot for you to place your hand on the ground, it’s too hot for your dog to walk on! In the summer avoid asphalt and other very dark ground types. Grass is best, dirt is second-best. Heat can burn feet, resulting in blisters. These can appear as mushy pads, sloughing of the paw pad and red patches. If noted, apply a small amount of an antibiotic ointment and give us a call.

Nails are designed to naturally wear down with use. Small problem: many dogs live in carpeted areas or do not get enough exercise to properly cause natural nail wear. If you hear the nails clicking when walking, they may be too long. This is especially true in smaller dogs, as their nails grow quickly but they lack sufficient weight to cause decent wear. Routine nail trims may be needed. Discuss with your veterinarian or groomer.

Watch Where You Walk

Winter Isn’t Great Either Prolonged exposure to cold can lead to drying out of paw pads and subsequent cracking or chapping. Salt and many other products used for deicing can cause localized burns, lead to discomfort and be toxic if licked off the pads. After walking during winter, wipe down your pup’s feet with a moist cloth. For extra-sensitive animals, consider small booties. They may look silly but can protect against the cold and salt. If you need to use salt on walkways, we have pet-safe salts at both hospitals.

Take It Slow

Foot Inspections

Cats

On a weekly basis, look at your pup’s feet and nails. Inspect where the nails meet the toes. Look

Inspect your cat’s feet routinely as above. Be sure there isn’t caked up litter. Look at the

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Wanting to exercise your sedentary dog? Work up to running or jogging. Too much exercise in a short period of time can lead to excessive wear on the pads and nails and cause bleeding and ulcers. The ulcers are painful and can take several weeks to heal. Also, your dog may not be physically fit enough to exercise at an intense level so quickly. Excessive wear can also happen quickly on tennis-court-type surfaces.

nails and have them appropriately trimmed. As cats age, they do not wear down nails well, and nails can even grow in a circle, penetrating the paw pad. If this happens it’s time to see us. Always have a clean litterbox. If your middle-aged or older cat is accumulating litter on the feet, it may be a good idea to have a veterinary exam. Some conditions, including diabetes, can cause urine to be very sticky, leading to clumped-on litter. See if the pads have ulcers or have a mushy feel or appearance. Several autoimmune conditions can cause the pads to swell and become uncomfortable.

Getting Used to Foot Exams For both cats and dogs, routinely play with their feet so that they become accustomed to your examining them and trimming nails. My advice is to rub the feet several times per day as an adult and 30 times per day as a puppy or kitten. Few animals like when you simply grab their feet, but if they have been desensitized to foot exams, they usually go without a hitch. Happy paws from all of us at District Vet Eastern Market and District Vet Brookland! Dan Teich, DVM, is the medical director of The District Veterinary Hospital, 240 Seventh St. SE, desk@ districtvet.com. u

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WHAT CAN YOU GET FOR A MILLION ON CAPITOL HILL In 2000, the first sale for over a million on Capitol Hill warranted a headline in the Washington POST. If you will remember, only 6 years before, the POST headline had read “Hill In A Handbasket.” Four years before, 1996, the average sales price had been $150,000. You could get pretty much anything on the Hill for less than $350,000. What a difference in 2017. Over 200 hundred sales exceeded a million. A sampling of those sales follows: 1008 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE 101 DUDDINGTON PL SE 1016 G ST SE 1016 MASSACHUSETTS AVE 104 5TH ST NE 111 10TH ST SE 1113 D ST SE 1209 CAPITOL ST SE 123 5TH ST NE 124 11TH ST SE 127 12TH ST NE 129 NORTH CAROLINA AVE SE 130 13TH ST SE 1302 MASSACHUSETTS AVE 133 13TH ST NE 1335 E ST SE 1336 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE 1371 POTOMAC AVE SE 139 E ST SE 158 12TH ST SE 20 5TH ST SE 214 A ST NE 217 15TH ST SE 219 5TH ST SE 221 12TH ST SE 224 C ST NE 225 12TH ST NE 229 10TH ST SE 231 8TH ST NE 231 8TH ST SE 231 TENNESSEE AVE NE 240 KENTUCKY AVE SE 27 7TH ST SE 310 8TH ST SE

$1,020,000 $1,275,000 $1,010,000 $1,560,000 $1,245,000 $2,000,000 $1,137,500 $1,420,000 $1,330,000 $1,500,000 $1,425,000 $1,450,000 $1,150,000 $1,112,500 $1,350,000 $1,350,000 $1,515,000 $1,075,000 $1,272,000 $1,173,000 $1,350,000 $1,192,000 $1,035,000 $1,630,000 $1,100,000 $1,500,000 $1,525,000 $1,610,000 $1,062,776 $1,200,000 $1,400,000 $1,385,000 $1,140,000 $1,052,500

Lessons above: Markets can go up and they can go down. If you think you will need to sell your home in the next few years, it is sometimes wise to take advantage of a market like this. Call one of our many experienced agents and explore the possibilities. We make the selling experience painless and profitable. Don Denton 48 H HILLRAG.COM

312 L ST SE 317 MARYLAND AVE NE 318 7TH ST NE 405 SEWARD SQ SE 409 6TH ST NE 416 13TH ST SE 436 NEW JERSEY AVE SE 513 EAST CAPITOL ST SE 520 5TH ST SE 530 F STREET TER SE 549 4TH ST SE 600 E ST NE 601 3RD ST NE 604 EAST CAPITOL ST NE 619 A ST SE 619 NORTH CAROLINA AVE 622 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 630 EAST CAPITOL ST NE 632 A ST SE 639 EAST CAPITOL ST SE 640 A ST NE 645 SOUTH CAROLINA AVE 651 MARYLAND AVE NE 656 EAST CAPITOL ST NE 702 MARYLAND AVE NE 712 F ST NE 714 4TH ST SE 716 11TH ST SE 807 D ST NE 808 C ST SE 810 G ST SE 812 EAST CAPITOL ST NE 819 D ST NE #34PH 820 C ST SE

$1,190,000 $1,200,000 $1,170,000 $1,400,000 $1,060,000 $1,250,000 $1,734,000 $1,335,000 $1,400,000 $1,310,000 $1,006,000 $1,300,000 $1,140,000 $1,585,000 $1,100,000 $1,487,000 $1,075,000 $2,950,000 $1,600,632 $3,000,000 $1,035,000 $1,525,000 $1,375,000 $1,925,000 $1,800,000 $1,090,000 $1,075,000 $1,410,000 $1,017,500 $1,190,000 $1,025,000 $2,335,000 $1,525,000 $2,150,000

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Capitol Hill Office 605 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003 202.547.3525 I N F O R M AT I O N D E E M E D R E L I A B L E B U T N O T G UA R A N T E E D

capitol streets BULLETIN BOARD Little Lights Founder Recognized Georgetown University has announced that it will award Steve Park, executive director and founder of Little Lights Urban Ministries, the John Thompson, Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award during its annual Let Freedom Ring Concert on Jan. 15. The free concert will take place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It honors the life and legacy of the civil rights leader. Since 2003 Georgetown has awarded the John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award to civil rights icons, children’s rights advocates and other humanitarians. Since 2012, it has recognized emerging local leaders. Under Park’s leadership Little Lights has

grown into a multi-site organization that serves about 900 children and families in the under-resourced Potomac Gardens, Hopkins and Benning Terrace public housing complexes. Previous recipients of the Legacy of a Dream Award include Rosa Parks, Colin and Alma Powell, Mary Brown of Life Pieces to Masterpieces and George Jones of Bread for the City.

Maury on the Move Maury Elementary is moving to its temporary location on the fields at Eliot-Hine. Beginning Jan. 4, classes will take place in the Maury “Village” trailers on the east side of the middle school campus, located in the 1800 block of Constitution Ave. NE. To minimize additional traffic, Maury’s

Safe Routes to School Committee is helping to organize Walking School Buses and Bike Trains. Under this model, the parents of one or two families escort all of the families’ children to and from school one day a week, limiting the daily impact of the new commute on families. Please watch out for these additional little feet (and wheels) around the neighborhood. The Committee is also working with DDOT to improve safety in the area, and was successful in securing plans and a Notice of Intent for two raised crosswalks and three curb extensions. Earlier this year DDOT also installed a sidewalk on the south side of Constitution across from Eliot-Hine. For the latest on design and construction plans, visit mauryelementary.com/mod. Commissioner Am-

Special Olympics DC Polar Plunge at Nat’s Park On Feb. 10, noon to 4 p.m., Special Olympics will host its annual Polar Plunge at Nationals Park. Jump into above-ground swimming pools. Enjoy the party in the ballpark including music, refreshments and a special appearance from and photo op with the Nationals racing presidents. To participate, raise at least $100 and receive a 2018 Polar Plunge t-shirt. Raise more than the required $100 to qualify for exciting prizes, including Nationals game tickets, entry to the Nationals batting cage and a behind the scenes tour of Nationals Park. Ages 12 and up can plunge. Those under 18 need parent/guardian permission. Everyone is welcome to attend for free. There is free parking at the park or arrive by the metro, Navy Yard Station. Read more and register at give.specialolympicsdc.org.

Athlete James Black takes the plunge in 2017s Special Olympics DC Polar Plunge. Photo: Courtesy of Special Olympics DC

JANUARY 2018 H 49

ber Gove (6A-04) from The January Buzz.

NCB Elects Two Board Directors Kathleen (Kate) Walsh Carr and Harold C. (Harry) Rauner have joined the Board of Directors of The National Capital Bank of Washington (NCB). Both are seasoned community bankers, most recently with Cardinal Bank. Carr was the president of Cardinal’s Washington market. Rauner was Cardinal’s regional president in the Fairfax market, following his tenure as president and chief executive officer of The Business Bank. nationalcapitalbank.com.

Year of the Anacostia Launched A group of local organizations, District and state agencies and the National Park Service have joined forces to launch the Year of the Anacostia! In 2018, Anacostia Park, a national park turns 100 years old. This year is the bicentennial of the birth of Frederick Douglass, whose historic home lies in the heart of the Anacostia neighborhood. It will witness completion of DC Water’s Anacostia River Tunnel that will substantially improve the water quality of the river. The DC Department of Energy and Environment and the National Park Service will make a final decision this year on the most effective way to clean up the Anacostia riverbed. Lastly, this year Major League Baseball hosts its All-Star game at Nationals Park on the banks of the Anacostia. For more infor-

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mation, visit yearoftheanacostia.com. Anacostia Waterfront Trust, Anacostia Watershed Society, DC Department of Energy and Environment, Groundwork DC, Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Anacostia Coordinating Council, DC Water, Earth Conservation Corps, 11th Street Bridge Park, Prince Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s County City Council, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, Council of the District of Columbia, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership and the National Park Service are the organizations working together to plan and promote the Year of the Anacostia.

J.O. Wilson Summer Camp Fair The J.O. Wilson Summer Camp Fair takes place on Jan. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. With more than 45 camps in attendance, there will be something for everyone ages 3 through 18. There will be art, music, sports, overnight and theater camps. Attendees can take advantage of early-bird registration rates and try their luck at the camp drawing. Admission is free; refreshments available for purchase. For more information visit dccampfair.com or email jowilsonpta@ gmail.com. J.O. Wilson Elementary is located at 660 K St. NE.

Eastern Branch Developer Selected The District has selected Century Associates, Capitol Hill Village, and partners as development team for Eastern Branch of Boys and Girls Club in Hill

JANUARY 2018 H 51

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East. The Century Associates project will bring dedicated senior cohousing and assisted living in partnership with Capitol Hill Village to the 11,000-square foot site. The site will offer 29 for-sale units and 10 affordable units at 50 and 80 percent area median income. The project will incorporate sustainable design features, as well as work with the community to program the use of nearly 2,000 square feet to serve the broader neighborhood.

Juggling Workshop with Christian Kloc at CHAW The CHAW Juggling Workshop with Christian Kloc is back by popular demand. Conquer the thrilling challenge of juggling with veteran juggler Christian Kloc. This workshop begins with a short demo, moves into some goofy warm-ups. After practicing controlled chaos, put on a show with fellow jugglers. All ages are welcome. Equipment is provided. Wear comfortable clothes that allow relaxed movements. The workshop will take place on Jan. 19. 6 to 7:30 p.m., at CHAW, 545 Seventh St. SE, and is open to all experience levels. Payment is donationbased, with a minimum of $5; all proceeds will go to CHAW’s tuition assistance program. For information, visit chaw.org or call 202-547-6839.

Vegan Cooking Class This class, Feb. 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Hill Center, includes sciencebased nutrition information, live cooking demonstrations and samples to taste. The recipes use commonly available ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. This class will also offer information on making tasty food choices that can help participants maintain a

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healthy weight and reduce the risks of chronic disease. $35. Register at rooteddish.com.

Goodwill Seeks Donation Bin Locations Goodwill is placing new donation bins in the community. Revenue from the sale of the donated goods help them provide free job training and supportive services to people with disabilities and disadvantages. It needs locations. Interested? Contact Brendan Hurley, Goodwill CMO, at brendan.hurley@dcgoodwill.org.

Swampoodle Park After crowdsourcing dozens of possible names for a new park at the corner of Third and L Streets NE, the NoMa Parks Foundation (NPF) put three of the best options to a public vote. NPF has announced that “Swampoodle Park” will be the name of the community playground and dog park, currently under construction. Swampoodle was the name of an Irish neighborhood DC in NoMA in the second half of 19th and early 20th century. More than 1,500 votes were cast for a name in a three-week online poll, with 67 percent of respondents selecting “Swampoodle Park” over “Old City Corner” (21 percent) and “3rd and L Park” (12 percent). Swampoodle Park was designed by District landscape architecture firm Lee and Associates. Now about midway through the construction, the space will open in early 2018. Swampoodle Park will be owned by the District and managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Friends of NoMa Dogs (FOND), a neighborhood nonprofit that launched in early 2017 in response to the park’s cre-

ation, will maintain the dog park portion of the space.

DC Mandates Sexual Harassment Training Mayor Bowser has signed a Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Order requiring all 30,000plus DC Government employees to complete sexual harassment training by Feb. 28. The measure also mandates that all 1,500 supervisors complete advanced training to ensure that any complaints are handled thoroughly and efficiently. For more information on sexual harassment, how to file a complaint, and the protections and resources available to all employees and managers, visit dchr.dc.gov/sexualharassment.

Music on the Hill Adult Classes These beginner classes are the perfect way to get started on an instrument in a relaxed and supportive environment. The teacher will introduce songs, chords and tips and techniques you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find in online forums. Eight week instrument rentals are available to all students. Starting the week of Jan. 8. All classes will run for eight consecutive weeks and cost $200. Adult Beginner: MandolinMonday; Ukulele-Tuesday; Banjo-Wednesday;Guitar-Thursday. All classes are at 8 pm at 801 D St. NE. To register call 202-7333158.

Obamacare Open Enrollment Continues District residents can continue to sign up for DC Health Link coverage through Jan. 31, 2018. Visit DCHealthLink.com.

JANUARY 2018 H 53

.capitol streets.

Photo: Courtesy of Lutheran Church of the Reformation

2018 Indoor Pool Maintenance Schedule The District’s indoor aquatic centers will undergo yearly scheduled preventative maintenance to deep clean pools and facilities. They will temporarily close in phases except for Dunbar, Ferebee-Hope, HD Woodson, Marie Reed and Therapeutic Aquatic Centers. During each respective closure, all programs, permits and classes will be suspended at that facility. Contact the Aquatics Division at 202-671-1289 if you have any questions. Wilson Aquatic Center, 4551 Fort Dr. NW, will be closed Jan. 7 through 14. Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW, Jan. 13 through 21. Turkey Thicket Aquatic Center, 1100 Michigan Ave. NE, Jan. 28 through Feb. 4. Barry Farm Aquatic Center, 1230 Sumner Rd. SE, Feb. 4 through 11. William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center, 635 North Carolina Ave. SE, Feb. 11 through 18. Deanwood Aquatic Center, 1350 49th St. NE, Feb. 18 through 25. Please note that re-open dates may be subject to change. dpr.dc gov.

Lutheran Church of the Reformation Wins National Preservation Award The National Fund for Sacred Places, a program of Partners for Sacred Places and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, have selected the Lutheran Church of the Reformation as one of 17 congregations nationwide to participate in a national historic grantmaking program that supports capital building projects. The congregation will use awarded funds for its “Reformation Anniversary Campaign,” a capital effort to restore the church’s 1934 Art Deco building. Projects will address infrastructure needs such as interior and exterior lighting, façade restoration, fire and electrical safety, ceiling repair and accessibility. Reformation shares its building with many Capitol Hill institutions including the Folger Shakespeare Library, Capitol Hill Chorale, DC Different Drummers, River Park Nursery School and Hill Havurah. It also hosts three Scout troops, four weekly AA meetings and a variety of other small groups. Reformation ministers to youth and adults. It runs own Food Pantry that serves about 3,000 people a year. ReformationDC.org.

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Theater J Announces Yiddish Theater Lab Theater J, the nation’s largest and most prominent Jewish theater, has launched Yiddish Theater Lab. This program is dedicated to preserving and reviving the forgotten literature of the Yiddish Theater. Through this initiative, Theater J will uncover and re-interpret nearly-forgotten Yiddish classics in new English language readings, workshops, commissions and eventually productions. Yiddish theater was once among America’s most popular art forms, thriving in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The artists who worked in Yiddish plays and musicals drew from their experience and artistry to become major influencers on early works in film, musical theater and comedy. In its initial year, the Lab will consist of a series of public English-language readings of some of the greater works of the Yiddish theater. The Yiddish Theater Lab will also commission award-winning writer Alix Sobler to write a free adaptation of Peretz Hirschbein’s Miriam, which will

have an initial reading in the summer of 2018. All readings will be free and open to the public. edcjcc.org.

Meditation at SE Library On Jan. 30, 7 p.m., join David Newcomb, a longtime meditator, for this engaging workshop. Newcomb will offer effective techniques that can reduce stress, enhance relaxation, promote inner growth and improve physical mental and spiritual health. There will be a short meditation sitting. Begin the New Year with meditation. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 Seventh St. SE. dclibrary.org/southeast.

Aspiring Writers Circle Aspiring Writers Circle, on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., is a place for peer support and networking for new and emerging writers. The Circle is open to playwrights and poets, bloggers and freelancers, children’s authors and graphic novelists, fiction and non-fiction writers. Southwest, Neighborhood Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW. dclibrary.org/southwest.

SW AARP 25th Anniversary Luncheon The Southwest Waterfront AARP Chapter will hold its 25th Anniversary Year Anniversary Luncheon Business Meeting on Jan. 17, at noon. Guest speakers are Laura Newland, executive director, District of Columbia Office on Aging and Julia Irving, communications specialist, Office of the Inspector General. Current AARP members, prospective members, visitors, neighbors and guests are welcome. River Park Mutual Homes-South Common Room, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. Lunch is $5. For further information, contact Chapter President Betty Jean Tolbert Jones at bettyjeantolbertjones @yahoo.com or 202-554-0901.

Community Stormwater Solutions Grant District Department of Energy and Environment (DDOE) is accepting proposals for the Community Stormwater Solutions Grant. This program provides start-up funding for com-

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munity-oriented projects that improve the District’s waterways. Ideal projects should raise awareness and lead to behavior change around the impacts of storm water runoff on the District’s water bodies. There is $200,000 available. DOEE anticipates awarding multiple grants of up to $20,000 each. Applications must be submitted online by Jan. 26, 2018, 6 p.m. The Request for Funding Availability (RFA) contains a link to the online application. DOEE is hosting informational meetings to give the community and organizations the opportunity to learn about the grant before submitting a proposal: Jan. 8, 6:30 p.m., Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd SE; Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m., Watha T. Daniel Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW; and Jan. 11, 1 p.m., DOEE Headquarters, 1200 First St. NE. For more information and to download the RFA, visit doee.dc.gov/release/community-stormwater-solutions-rfa. For questions, email community.stormwater2018@dc.gov

THANK YOU Capitol Hill for your Support Best Wishes for a Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

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No Negative SmarTrip Cards Beginning Jan. 8, Metro’s fare system will no longer allow customers to carry a negative balance on a SmarTrip card for Metrobus and Metrorail. Previously, customers would be permitted to complete certain trips even though there were insufficient funds on the SmarTrip card to pay the appropriate fare. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email bulletinboard@ hillrag.com. u

JANUARY 2018 H 55

.capitol streets.

ATTORNEYGENERAL

DC’s Legal Hammer by Jonetta Rose Barras

AG Racine presents the Second Annual Right Direction Awards to District youth.

istening to Attorney General Karl A. Racine (D) during a recent interview in his 11th-floor office at One Judiciary Square, it is easy to mistake the city’s chief prosecutor for a passionate social worker. He is deep in the juvenile justice advocacy weeds, discussing a program he and Hilary Cairns at the DC Department of Human Services (DHS) created to keep 1,300 youth off probation, out of juvenile detention or worse. “The overwhelming number of juvenile offenses are in our bailiwick,” Racine explained. After taking office, Racine said he looked for “innovative” ways to pull youth off the incarceration track. He discovered ACE (Alternative to Court Experience), run by Cairns. “We married up almost immediately with [her],” continued Racine. “We gave Hilary what she didn’t have: kids. We started diverting young people coming into us fresh from arrest for mostly non-serious, non-violent cases.” AG Racine meets constituents at the H Street festival.

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At least 80 percent of the juveniles who have completed ACE have not been rearrested. About 72 percent of those youth have come from Wards 5,7 and 8. Some District residents have said the prosecutor should be prosecuting, not molly-coddling bad kids. It’s all about public safety, Racine explained. Further, “people appreciate when there is a well-thought-out program that tries to give kids better opportunities to go in the right direction.” Serious felony crimes are prosecuted by the US Attorney – a fact many in the city want to change. Despite its status as a ward of the US Congress, DC aggressively fought for an elected attorney general. Racine won the post with nearly 36 percent of the 117,377 ballots cast in the 2014 general election. He took office in 2015, assuming leadership of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). With

more than 600 employees and a fiscal 2018 budget of $74 million, the OAG is responsible for all things legal, from civil litigation to child support to public safety. It is the only entity authorized to represent the District in court. Racine knows something about District jurisprudence. In 1992, he became a staff attorney with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. He later served as an associate White House counsel in President Bill Clinton’s (D) administration. Racine eventually jumped back into private practice, becoming managing partner of Venable LLP in 2006. He left the high life to run for attorney general.

Facing Voters Racine will know soon enough whether he has accurately assessed what residents want or don’t want in an attorney general. He is up for reelection. The primary is scheduled for June 19. The general election follows on Nov. 6. While a Washington Post poll released last summer found that 74 percent of the respondents

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had no opinion of the attorney general, most of the folks I spoke with for this article who pay close attention to Racine and his office praised his work.” I have seen greater sensitivity to the priorities of citizens, especially with the Consumer Protection Act,” said DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D), who was a force behind establishing an elected attorney general. “His integrity is unquestioned. He is very easy to work with. He’s open to ideas, and where there is disagreement he is willing to listen.” Will Merrifield, a staff attorney with Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, who has worked closely with the OAG over the past three years, called Racine a “good manager. I think he is doing a great service for the city.” At-Large Councilmember Robert White (D), who worked for a short time as Racine’s director of community outreach, echoed those sentiments. White didn’t support Racine in the 2014 race, but he said both as an employee and later as a councilmember he has “developed the highest respect for Karl,” and lauded his juvenile justice work. “Look at the people he has appointed. You see them not as prosecutors but public defenders.” “Incarceration is not always the way to improve public safety. It has to be both preventative and restorative, balanced against people’s desire to feel safe,” added White.

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in 2008 when he raised concerns about contracting irregularities. He subsequently was fired and blackballed, leading him to file a lawsuit against the DC government. He said he was disappointed by Racine’s handling of his case. “I thought he would mitigate the damages. Instead, he decided to prosecute the case while persecuting my family.” Racine’s decision not to settle was political, said Payne, noting the case involved actions taken by former CFO Natwar Gandhi, former Council Chair Vincent Gray, who later became mayor, and then Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham. “The chief lawyer for the District of Columbia should be beyond reproach and not get down in the pigsty, choosing to appease various political constituencies.” Even after a jury ruled in Payne’s favor, “It took seven months for the District of Columbia to fully resolve the case, which again was political,” added Payne. Racine said he disposed of Payne’s case in the best interest of the District. Dorothy Brizill, head of the government watchdog group DC Watch, said she has followed Racine since he was a candidate in 2014. She has had numerous interactions with him and his office. She has made requests for information, including some through the Freedom of Information Act, but has yet to receive much of what she sought. Her dealings with the attorney general have caused her to conclude that neither he nor his operation are open or transparent. Most egregious, she said, is the absence of a strategic plan and his frittering away of agency resources for need-

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AG Racine is interviewed by young student journalists.

less travel. “He’s taken this scattershot approach. He’s all over the place and all over the country,” she continued, citing as an example a trip to Africa to participate in a conference on sex trafficking on that continent. She further complained about his work around national issues. “There are so many other issues that cry out for attention from the attorney general,” continued Brizill. “I am appalled at what Racine has done. [The OAG] is one of three agencies I am most concerned about.” “Modestly speaking,” said Racine, “I think my colleagues and I have done a pretty good job of delivering on the promise of establishing an independent attorney general.” Mildmannered, often garbed with impeccable K Street panache, he has never publicly displayed emotional reaction to criticism of his work or his office. “It’s incredibly important to create an environment and culture where we’re not only doing a good job for the District, but we’re also standing up for DC values on a national level.” It’s important to contextualize the criticism. One person bashed the OAG for his handling of an individual lawsuit. Another accused the attorney general of being distracted and running around like a chicken without its head. How do those complaints stack up to Racine’s record?

Additions & Basement Experts BUFFALO COMPANY, LLC www.buffalocompanyusa.com For all your Construction Needs ADDITIONS Let the Record Speak Beyond his public safety work, during the interview Racine cited his accomplishments, including creating a “stand alone” Office of Consumer Protection. The 11-lawyer operation has aggressively prosecuted local violators and joined other attorneys general in legal actions, some of which have garnered multimillion-dollar settlements. Closer to home, the OAG took on a catering company that overbilled the District for school lunches and a local strip-club owner guilty of fraud. It pressured storefronts to stop selling dangerous synthetic drugs, cutting into a lucrative illegal industry. He brought funeral home owners to his office, warning them that trying to circumvent the law could bring them a world of trouble. More recently, the office filed suit against JD Nursing and Management Services, including Chief Executive Officer James N. Ibe, for alleged wage theft. Racine has asked for $250,000 in back wages and damages for 27 former employees. His litigation around affordable housing has garnered him the “champion of the people” label. He has hit the wallets of developers, landlords and management companies attempting to circumvent the city’s rent control laws or those whose violations of the housing code cause low-income and working-class residents to suffer squalid living conditions. In at least one case, the court supported his demand for receivership of a private apartment complex. Additionally, former and current residents of Terrace Manor apartments in Ward 8 could receive as much as $10,000 each as restitution for rent they paid when their units lacked heat or hot water and were filled with malfunctioning appliances, rodents

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and other code violations. “I do believe the OAG enforcement actions have had a real, and rather immediate, impact on the lives of vulnerable residents,” said Racine. Prior to his office’s assault, tenants were left few choices; either they had to move out or, absent sufficient resources, continue living in squalor. “Now the choice is different,” added Racine. Merrifield knows what the terrain was like for tenants and their advocates before Racine. He was on the frontline as they fought well-financed landlords and a disinterested local government. “Mr. Racine and his office took meaningful and practical steps,” said Merrifield, adding the attorney general has been respectful of the work already done by people like him and the tenants themselves. The OAG “has really sent a message to the broader community, to people investing in what they call distressed assets who are not putting any money in them and leaving them to fall down – that this is not an investment strategy.” Slumlords are learning they can either turn over the buildings so tenants can exercise their rights or they can spend millions to repair the properties, said Merrifield. At a Congress Heights apartment complex where he and the OAG sued the owner, tenants are poised to purchase their building and renovate it in partnership with a reputable nonprofit developer. Standing Up to the Federal Bullies Racine also hasn’t been shy or apologetic about pushing back against a federal executive branch running roughshod over states and local governments and perhaps causing irreparable harm to the country’s democracy. He and his office have fought against President Donald Trump’s various orders, including a ban on Muslim immigrants entering the country; efforts to limit abortions for young immigrant women; and a decision to kick out of the country the children of immigrants known as “Dreamers.” With Maryland State Attorney Brian E. Frosh, Racine filed a lawsuit accusing Trump of violating the emoluments clauses of the US Constitution, which prohibit the president from accepting gifts or payments from foreign or state governments. A court appearance has been scheduled for Jan. 25. Contradicting Brizill’s assessment, Council Chair Mendelson said he believes the AG’s work around national issues reflects “our values,” and be-

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AG Racine answers questions after a court ruling impacted the Districtís gun laws

cause the cases are done with other attorneys general the cost is not fully borne by the District. Racine’s peers have indicated their evaluation of his work. They elected him chair of the east region of the National Association of Attorneys General. “Should I be in good health and remain as AG, in 2020, I’m slated to be president of the NAAG. I think it’s important to play a thoughtful and meaningful role in those types of organizations. It can only enhance DC’s profile and future. When these folks are governors or senators, there may come a time when these relationships are important.” Battles to Come If he wins reelection, Racine may expand his alternative public safety programs like ACE and build on his consumer protection achievements, including providing “a layer of protection for senior citizens,” borrowing ideas from places like Kansas and Georgia. He has pledged to be “more emphatic” about the need to have the OAG take on more of the local prosecutorial role. “We really want to get to a place where we are talking about transferring more criminal attorneys to the Office of the Attorney General. That’s what residents in DC want. They don’t want a third party who doesn’t answer to them to be their local prosecutor,” added Racine. Mark Tuohey, head of the Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel (MOLC), said the OAG should forget about that. “In this current climate that is going nowhere.” The biggest challenge awaiting Racine could be the one he faced during the early months of his tenure: a turf scrimmage with Mayor Muriel Bowser. When the Council debated creating an inde-

pendent AG, then Mayor Vincent Gray and his appointed attorney general, Irv Nathan, persuaded the legislature to establish a new legal office under the executive. The MOLC would have oversight of all the general counsels in agencies under the executive’s control. There was some fear that the new attorney general either would not be competent or might be overly political. The move to handicap the incoming attorney general was seen also as an attempt to protect mayoral territory. Gray didn’t win reelection. The benefit of his executive branch restructuring and maneuvering inured to his successor. Bowser pushed not only to solidify the powers of the MOLC but to snatch additional authority. Racine fought her efforts, although he did not persuade the Council to repeal the legislation creating the MOLC. Tuohey acknowledged the early tension. “We didn’t dance around it. We talked to each other.” He credited Council Chair Pro Tempore Kenyan McDuffie, then chair of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, with helping to resolve the conflict. “We worked it out.” After four years, there is recognition problems still exist. “In this new structure, there are levels of decision-making that need to be resolved. There has been talk about tinkering with the structure,” said Tuohey. Mendelson agreed the legislation should be revisited. “The OAG should be the office from which all of the city’s lawyers except those lawyers who work for independent agencies report,” said Racine. “The current situation, where we have the general counsels of agencies reporting to agency heads then having the MOLC navigate that, is not ideal.” Further, “those lawyers don’t get the day-to-day supervision, training and other benefits that come from interacting with a full-fledged law office.” Some people predict the attorney general won’t win the rematch. Unlike 2015, however, Racine now has a record; he has a potential army of residents, including low-income tenants, young adults rescued from the criminal justice system, senior citizens and homeowners, who have benefited from his work. Any bets on how many of them would be willing to stand with him in battle? Jonetta Rose Barras is producer and host of “TheBarrasReport,” aired on UDC-TV, a 24-hour educational cable program service. u

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OP-ED

WE ARE

EMPOWERING VOTERS by Charles Allen

C, like nearly every governing body in America from city to federal, has a problem: only a fraction of constituents are engaged in the government. There are plenty of reasons for this is, but one of the main culprits is that too many people have lost trust that their voice matters. Since being elected to the DC Council in 2014, I have been working to overhaul, modernize and open up our elections to ensure more people can vote, more candidates can run and less big money is muddying the waters. The way money has influenced politics, even in perception, has made many people cynical about the system. You can see this play out in elections for local offices. In the last mayoral race, only 27 percent cast a ballot in the primary election and 38 percent in the general. We don’t have to accept this as inevitable. The fundamental changes I’ve been working on can help us restore trust and increase participation in elections. One of my first efforts was to bring automatic voter registration. When many parts of our country were putting up barriers to voting and keeping people away from the ballot box, we went the other direction and made voter registration easier and smarter. Now, when you get a DC driver’s license or update your information with the Department of Motor Vehicles, you are automatically registered to vote and your information is updated with the Board of Elections (BOE). This means our voter file will be remarkably cleaner and residents from neighborhoods with lower voter registration rates will see their numbers increase dramatically. I also wrote and funded the law that brings our petition process into the 21st century. Now, those folks you see out at Eastern Market on a cold weekend, trying to collect petitions to get on the ballot, can use an e-tablet to record your information and connect it directly to your voter file for verification – with BOE’s final approval for quality control. This will speed up the process and eliminate many issues around bad signatures or inaccu-

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rate voter information. It’ll also let voters know that their record may be out of date and they should update it before Election Day. And most recently, I’ve shepherded through the Council the Fair Elections Act, a bill creating a public-financing option for candidates running for mayor, councilmember or State Board of Education. This is a big deal, and it’s going to change how candidates run for public office by changing whom they spend most of their time with: you, their constituent. How does it work? Candidates who qualify can agree to take a lower maximum donation (for mayor, $200 instead of $2,000, for ward-based councilmember, $50 instead of $500), and receive a 5-to-1 match on every dollar given by an individual DC resident. They’ll also receive a base grant to help kick-start their campaign. In exchange for all of this taxpayer money, they agree to take no money from corporations or traditional PACs. The common critique against public financing usually revolves around this: “Why should taxpayers pay for incumbents who already raise tons of money?” This is looking at the question the wrong way. The amount of money isn’t the big problem. It’s where that money comes from that creates such distrust from voters. And that matters a lot. Ask yourself – if you only have $10 to give to a candidate, do you believe that the money gets your voice heard? In many cases, people don’t believe so. But under the Fair Elections Act, candidates are going to try hard to earn your donation because that $10 now becomes $60. I’ve been working on these issues since before I ran for office. I came very close to getting a ballot initiative through that would ask DC voters to consider banning all corporate gifts outright, but we fell short at the last moment. Four years ago, when I ran to be the Ward 6 councilmember, I won without taking any corporate or PAC money – along with my at-large colleague Elissa Silverman. We were the first to do so successfully in the city’s history.

These policies will re-energize Ward 6 and District residents. I can’t do as much to give you faith in what’s happening in the halls of Congress or in Trump’s White House, but as chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, I am doing a lot to help you trust and believe in your voice in our system. I’m not done. In the next few months, we’re going to work on legislation that addresses pay-toplay politics and contributions from city contractors. I want to address overcrowding at polling locations where population density has soared. And I want outreach from the Board of Elections to be modernized so voters can get information the way they got lots of other things: electronically. All of these little and not-so-little changes will help more residents believe in their own voice to shape a government of the people, by the people. Charles Allen (D) has served on the DC Council representing Ward 6 since 2014. He chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, which has oversight over government ethics and election law. u

photo: Andrew Lightman

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 Next ANC 6A meeting is Thursday Jan 11th, 7pm Miner E.S 601 15th St NE. Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee - Tuesday, Jan 16th

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: torylord@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

7pm at Sherwood Recreation Center • 640 10th St., NE Jay Williams - Co-Chair (906-0657) / Christopher Seagle - Co-Chair

Transportation & Public Space Committee - Monday, Jan 15th 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, Jan 17th 7pm at Sherwood Recreation Center • 640 10th St., NE Brad Greenfield - Chair (Brad.greenfield@gmail.com 202 262-9365)

Community Outreach Committee - Monday, Jan 22nd

7pm at Maury Elementary School • 1250 Constitution Ave., NE Multi-purpose Room (enter from 200 Block of 13 Street) Veronica Hollmon - Chair (roni2865@aol.com)

Please check the Community Calendar on the website for cancellations and changes of venue. JANUARY 2018 H 63

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ANC 6A REPORT by Andrew Lightman dvisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A Chair Phil Toomajian called the meeting to order at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE, with Commissioners Calvin Ward, Sondra Phillips-Gilbert, Marie-Claire Brown, Patrick Malone, Stephanie Zimny and Amber Grove in attendance. Following a community presentation by Monument Academy Public Charter School, Emily Bloomfield, its founder and CEO, briefed the commission on the recent arrest of a student for carrying a BB gun to the Capitol Hill campus on Dec. 11. According to Fox 5 News (www.fox5dc.com/news/299640714-video), two students were involved in the incident. Both have been removed from the institution. One of the students has been charged with making threats. Police recovered the gun on the lawn of a neighborhood row house. Community members at the meeting registered many general concerns with the security situation at the school. Students, they said, were throwing trash and rocks over the schoolyard walls. There was also concern over the admittance of uniform police to the campus. Monument representatives discussed the measures the school is taking to tighten security. In response to

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comments from the audience, they explained that the DC fire code prevents them from locking the building’s exterior doors to prevent student egress. They promised to institute better procedures for monitoring the playground.

Transportation and Public Space Report The Transportation and Public Space Committee held extensive discussions concerning traffic safety on the 400, 500 and 600 blocks of 10th St. NE. Concerns include speeding, traffic volume, honking and the narrowness of the roadway. In addition, the presence of a signal at 10th Street and Maryland Avenue has prompted motorists to speed up to make the light. Possible solutions include speed humps, raised crosswalks, making sections of 10th Street NE one-way, limiting the road to local traffic, reaching out to companies that maintain traffic guidance apps to request they exclude the road, “No Trucks” signs, curb bump outs and placing a mirror at the alley in the 400 block. Chair Toomajian expressed his readiness to organize a petition of 10th Street neighbors to move matters forward. He thinks the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) is ready to conduct a traffic study. The study will result in a proposal of traffic measures that the community will have 30 days to comment on. The commissioners approved the committee’s report. Pointing out there had been a recent pedestrian death, Brown requested the addition of the 700 block to the traffic study. Toomajian suggested a separate meeting on matters concerning that block. An audience member commented that the committee meeting had convinced him that speed humps were not the right answer.

Commissioner Reports Ward stated he had received several emails about abandoned vehicles in his single-member district. He has reached out to DDOT and the DC Department of Public Works. “They are doing a good job towing,” he said. He also cautioned residents to be vigilant about package theft. Toomajian offered praise for the UPS deliveryman. Ward mentioned that thieves were driving down streets and jumping out to snatch packages. Grove asked residents to phone 311 to register complaints about neighborhood alleys. Such requests are used by the city to target repairs and

improvements. She briefed the commission on the new rat abatement legislation and asked residents to register their support with the DC Council. The commissioner has been working on rodent issues involving Linden Court. She also mentioned complaints that Airbnb renters had been using DDOT visitor parking passes. Grove reminded everyone that there would be new student pedestrian patterns when Maury School moves into its temporary quarters near Eliot-Hine Middle School in January. She advised parents to walk. The school is trying to establish a kiss-andride on C Street NE; and there are 10 dropoff spots on Constitution Avenue, she added. Brown has organized a traffic calming petition for the 900 block of 10th St. NE. She also reported on working with a local developer to prevent staging work from disrupting the neighborhood before 7 a.m. Toomajian reported on discussing 10th Street traffic calming measures with constituents. He expressed concerns about School Within a School’s not locking exterior doors. This is a simple measure that protects against active shooter situations, he said. Phillips-Gilbert reported on the successful Hood Basketball Classic. Amazing Love Health Clinic had donated 70 turkeys. She promised to hold community meetings about the issues at Monument Academy and the 17th Street NE traffic circle. Malone called Maury’s move the biggest issue facing his constituents. He reiterated that package theft was a major prob-

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lem. He had a package of pillows with his dog’s photo on them stolen. He managed to recover them after a neighborhood canvass. “If you order terrible presents, look in nearby garbage cans and you will probably find them.”

Other Reports The commission approved its November minutes. Zimny delivered the fiscal year 2017 fourthquarter treasurer’s report. A check was reissued to the DC Department of General Services for meeting security costs when it appeared the original remained uncashed. The beginning balance was $6,656.83. There was $2,655.09 of disbursements. The ending balance was $4,001.74. The District’s disbursement has been received. The commission approved the report. The commission approved the Community Outreach Committee’s November report. According to the report, the committee spent time sharing memories of Dana Wyckoff. It discussed its next meeting dates: Jan. 22, Feb. 26, March 19, April 23, May 21, June 25 and July 23. It also discussed the Eliot-Hine Middle School modernization schedule. The Community Outreach Committee will next meet on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Eastern Senior High School Parent Center at 1700 East Capitol St. NE. The Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee did not meet in November. Its next meeting was held on Dec. 19. The Economic Development and Zoning Committee did not meet in November. Its next meeting was held on Dec. 20. ANC 6A meets on the second Thursday of every month, usually at Miner Elementary School. The 6A committees meet at 7 p.m. on the following schedule: • Alcohol Beverage and Licensing, third Tuesday of each month, Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE • Community Outreach, fourth Monday of each month. New venue: Eastern Senior High School, 1700 East Capitol St. NE • Economic Development and Zoning, third Wednesday of each month, Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE • Transportation and Public Space, third Monday of every month, Capitol Hill Tow-

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ers, 900 G St. NE Visit anc6a.org for calendar of events, changes of date/venue, agendas and other information. u

ANC 6B REPORT by Elizabeth O’Gorek he December meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B was brief, taking less than two hours and consisting of votes on motions presented, all of which were supported unanimously by the commissioners. The quorum: Jennifer Samolyk (6B01), Diane Hoskins (6B02, vice-chair), Kirsten Oldenburg (6B04), Steve Hagedorn (6B05), Nick Burger (6B06, treasurer), Aimee Grace (6B07), James Loots (6B03, parliamentarian), Chander Jayaraman (6B08, chair), Daniel Ridge (6B09, secretary) and Denise Krepp (6B10). Readings were dispensed with for the following reports: Alcohol and Beverage Control Committee, Transportation Committee, Hill East Task Force and Finances. The meeting began with a short discussion on the roles of commissioners serving in leadership positions. Commissioners discussed ways to maximize attendance of leadership at executive meetings, including the use of virtual means. Hoskins agreed to research the possibility of livestreaming meetings and of conference calling that could be joined by the public. Acting in his role as chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee, Burger presented a motion in support of a letter he had written to the District Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) regarding proposed agency guidelines for “habitable space.” The guidelines would apply to buildings that are arranged in such a way that one portion could be used as a rental unit. Burger said that the agency had been following these guidelines prior to the closure of a period calling for public comment, and that the

guidelines were being used in lieu of the more complicated process required to change the regulations for certificates of occupancy. He said DCRA has been refusing to issue permits for renovations if the building appeared to be designed as a unique rental unit, that is, with a bathroom and kitchen on one floor, but had no separate certificate of occupancy. These guidelines, said Burger, were intended to reduce instances of illegal rental units in homes. Burger argued that while DCRA has the right to regulate how building space is used, it has no business regulating how it was designed, and that the guidelines as enforced impose an undue burden on homeowners who may have no intention of using their space as illegal rental units. Ridge said that in the course of his own renovations he had been denied permits under these guidelines. He said the guidelines caused a kitchen that was already in his basement to be deemed illegal, forcing him to remove it from his basement before proceeding with unrelated renovations. Ridge added that the guidelines as written, especially the section dealing with a bathroom on the same floor as an entrance, could work against the needs of residents wishing to age in place. Krepp noted one more negative consequence, pointing out that some religions required the use of a separate kitchen to prepare certain foods in different seasons. The letter was unanimously endorsed by the commission. The ANC also discussed a bill, B22-0272, which would symbolically designate the 200 block of Second Street SE as “Richard Rausch Way.” Rausch was a lobbyist and activist in the local and national Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community who lived on the block prior to his death in 2005. The discussion focused on the responses of neighbors. Samolyk, who lives on that street, noted that there was not a great deal of support among neighbors for the naming. After discussion of the standards by which such a request could be evaluated, the commission voted unanimously to endorse a motion opposing the naming. Commissioners discussed their position on the closure of Seventh Street SE, management of the Eastern Market advisory area, and representation of the ANC on the Eastern Market Com-

munity Advisory Committee (EMCAC) currently provided by Hoskins. They determined that they wanted to hear further information from the city and from the Department of General Services, which manages the market and adjacent plaza, relating to the recent assessment of rental prices for the South Hall merchants and to the lease on the 300 block of Seventh Street SE, site of the weekend flea markets. This testimony will be requested in January. The commissioners next discussed their responsibilities with positions on other community committees. They agreed that if the ANC has voted on something, a commissioner should represent that view as far as possible. If there are questions raised that have not previously been voted on by the ANC, trust in the discretion and comportment of each commissioner would be sufficient. The commissioners voted unanimously to accept the 2018 calendar of meetings. Modifications are possible in January or February, after the election of commissioners to executive positions. The calendar is available at the website, www.ANC6B.org. The commissioners discussed the fulfillment of the obligations of the developer of the Hine School Project to provide office space to the ANC. The developer had offered a place in the co-working space The Yard, located on the second floor of 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, in lieu of a separate, smaller office space elsewhere in the building. The commissioners decided that further discussion was necessary with the developer and in executive session. Chair Jayaraman presented Oldenburg with a portion of the ribbon that was cut at the Tuesday, Dec. 12, ceremony for the opening of the Hine development, in recognition of her dedication and work on the project as the former chair of ANC 6B, as Transportation Committee chair, and as commissioner. Hagedorn, chair of the Hine Community Advisory Committee Report, dispensed with the reading before noting that the meeting concerned was the last of the committee meetings, as the development was now complete. This was greeted with applause from the commissioners. Finally, Commissioner Grace informed the commissioners that she would be announcing her resignation from the ANC on the following day,

Wednesday, Dec. 13. She said she regretted that she would be unable to fulfill her term, but that she would ensure that the triangle park project that she has undertaken together with the community, the District Department of Parks and Recreation and the District Department of Transportation would be on the road to completion before her departure. Grace said a change in her husband’s employment as of March 2018 and a mutual desire to be with their aging parents, who live in Hawaii, had compelled her to make this very difficult decision. The next meeting of ANC 6B will take place at 7 p.m., Jan. 10, at the Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. u

ANC 6C REPORT by Virginia Avniel Spatz NC 6C met on Dec. 14 to consider several zoning, transportation and public space issues, as well as one liquor license and one grant. The quorum: Christine Healey (6C01), Karen Wirt (6C02, chair), Scott Price (6C03), Mark Eckenweiler (6C04) and Heather Edelman (6C06). Chris Miller (6C05, treasurer) was not present, and there was no treasurer’s report.

Heritage Foundation Public Space The expanding Heritage Foundation properties in the 200 block of Massachusetts Avenue NE presented streetscape plans. Brian Stephenson & Co. Landscape Architects plan to unite the public space outside the foundation’s current headquarters, 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE, with the buildings on either side, as part of redevelopment of the block. The new public space design, explained Brian Stephenson, is meant to increase visibility, reducing the hedge and making the lobby larger and more obvious for visitors; to create seating and more usable outdoor space for guests and to better integrate the foundation’s streetscape with the neighborhood.

In addition to addressing comments from the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) and District Department of Transportation (DDOT), the revised plans are designed to provide security without creating a “bollard farm” or other “hard security features,” Stephenson added. In response to questions, he said that the corner property, 236 Massachusetts Ave. NE, when redeveloped, will include some street-level retail space but that the current project does not. The Transportation and Public Space (TSP) Committee recommended support of public space plans for 208-214-226 Massachusetts Ave NE. After discussion, the full commission voted, 4-1, Eckenweiler opposing, to support the committee recommendation.

Storey Park Curb Cut The TSP Committee reported on a 35-foot-wide curb cut in conjunction with redesign of Storey Park, 1005 I St. NE. Mark Kazmierczak, chair of the committee, explained particular needs of the property, situated at the train tracks, that warrant a wider than usual curb cut. The committee saw no other options and asked for additional lighting and mirrors, which the applicant added. The committee recommended support, and the commission voted unanimously to support that recommendation with an amendment asking the TSP Committee to look into the sufficiency of the one-car lay-by.

Breitbart Fence Opposition As part of the consent agenda, ANC 6C voted to oppose HPA 18-071, an application for a security gate and fence on top of a retaining wall at 210 A St. NE. Eckenweiler, chair of the Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development (PZE) Committee, reported that the committee unanimously (7-0) opposed the application “on various grounds,” including the way the application was presented and “its merits.” The commission’s vote included authorization for Eckenweiler and Healey, whose single member district (SMD) encompasses the property, to represent the ANC’s position at the HPRB.

Allure Lounge Protest Also as part of the consent agenda, the commission agreed to protest a new Class C tavern license for Allure Lounge, 711 H St. NE. The applicant

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plans a sports bar with a kitchen, two floors and possibly a roof deck as well. The Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee recommended protesting the license on the grounds of traffic, property value and noise.

Two Rear Additions The remaining item on the consent agenda was HPA 18-108, an application for a rear addition at 518 Sixth St. NE. The commission agreed to support this application. In a separate agenda item, the ANC voted to support BZA 19622, special exceptions to add a third floor and a four-story rear addition to an existing one-family dwelling, 1121 Abbey Place NE. Eckenweiler reported that the PZE Committee had concerns about the project but that the applicant responded to those concerns, filing additional sightline studies and plans for materials with the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). Edelman, whose SMD encompasses the property, said she still had concerns about the aesthetics of the rooftop as presented. The ANC agreed to recommend support for the special exceptions, as long as visibility of the rooftop was addressed.

Elementary School Grant Victoria Lord, chair of the Grants Committee, reported on an application from J.O. Wilson Elementary School for $2355.12 to purchase equipment for movie presentations. The school has been holding an annual movie night as a fundraiser for several years and wants to purchase the necessary equipment, rather than renting each year. Owning the equipment will allow the school to expand to several film events per year plus other uses in the school. Lord said the movie nights, in addition to garnering funds, help build relationships within neighborhood and encourage people to become active in the PTA. The committee recommended support, and the ANC voted unanimously to approve the grant. Lord also reported that the committee is hosting a spring seminar to explain how the ANC’s grants process works, and encourages those associated with nonprofits in the neighborhood to send a representative.

Other Matters In addition to voting items, the agenda included

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several informational items. The TSP Committee shared news from DDOT on environmental assessments for the Benning Road extension of the streetcar and for a possible car barn at Union Station. The TSP Committee shared information about new color signage expected in 2018 as a result of the Metropolitan Branch Trail Wayfinding Study. Cameron Windham, community engagement coordinator (Wards 2 and 6) for the DC Office of the Attorney General, introduced himself and shared information from his office about various issues of concern, including scams related to funeral and burial contracts and human trafficking. Contact him at cameron.windham@dc.gov or 202-724-5503. Doug Klein, of the US Attorney’s Office for DC, spoke about the importance of community impact statements in sentencing and encouraged neighbors to work with ANC commissioners or other leaders to submit such statements when relevant criminal cases arise. He also introduced Stephen Rickard, new supervisor for major crimes in the First District. Contact him at douglas.klein@ usdoj.gov or 202-660-2150. ANC 6C regularly meets at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at the Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. The next meeting is on Jan. 10. u

ANC 6D REPORT by Andrew Lightman Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on Dec. 11. Commissioners Gail Fast (6D01), Andy Litsky (6D04, chair), Roger Moffatt (6D05), Ronald Collins (6D03), Rhonda N. Hamilton (6D06) and Meredith Fascett (6D07) were on the dais. Commissioner Cara Shockley (6D02) was absent.

Thumbs Down for The Bard Erkiletian Development and The Shakespeare The-

ater Company, joint developers of The Bard, a project designed by Shalom Baranes at 501 I St. SW, have requested a “set down” with the DC Office of Planning (OP). Under the new zoning regulations, the opinion of advisory neighborhood commissions must be accorded “great weight” by the agency on its decision whether to grant such a review. Commissioner Fast introduced a motion to oppose the granting of a set down for The Bard. More than 240 neighbors signed a petition against the project and 13 members of the community immediately surrounding the site testified against the project. Their objections included: • the impact of the project’s shadows on Amidon School and the adjacent townhouses; • uncertainty about exact ownership of the project; • the alleged appropriation of school land by the developer along the joint boundary that would result in removal of recreation-field lighting; • variance with the terms of the Southwest Small Area Plan; • the small size of the loading dock; • undersized parking accommodations; • the developer’s failure to uphold its commitments under an amenities agreement earlier with the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly; • complaints about the interim maintenance. “They are trying to cram something into an inadequate space,” stated one neighbor. Fast stated that she had prepared a report for OP summarizing these objections. “The project is at variance with the Southwest Small Area Plan,” she stated while outlining her opposition. The commission voted unanimously to oppose any set down.

One Hill South Phase II Representatives from Ruben Companies presented plans for One Hill South Phase II, located at 950 South Capitol St. SE. This is the parcel just south of the demolished McDonald’s that abuts the developer’s existing rental apartment building. The 697 square foot structure is projected to include 300 rental apartments and 190 parking spaces in a three-story, below grade garage. The first floor will either be retail or house a building amenity depending on market demand. There will be a rooftop pool. The developer is not requesting exceptions or

variances. No new curb cuts are planned. A key feature will be a monumental vaulted entry to the courtyard between the two buildings accessible from K Street. The amenities planned for the second floor are contiguous to those of its sister building. It is really one building built in two phases. The commission was perplexed by the design. Moffatt opined that the new structure was “too blocky.” “It is like a big block of ice,” he added. Fascett agreed. “It appears heavy and looks like a wall,” she said. Neither she nor Fast liked the design’s rounded corners. The developer pointed out the use of stone on the building and an in-and-out playful rhythm created by three-foot setbacks every two stories. There is also a change in both material and color bands every two floors. The commission took no action. A vote is scheduled for the commission’s January meeting in advance of the Zoning Commission’s deliberations on Feb. 5.

3 Capt. Michael Pulliam briefed the commission on crime in Police Service Areas (PSAs) 105 and 106. Asked about a recent Southwest shooting, the captain stated that police had detained some juveniles based on information from the community with the cooperation of DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, but that no further progress had been made. Pulliam stated that there had been a recent robbery on Fourth and M streets SW. He also said that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle that very evening in the right-of-way at the corner of M and Fourth streets but was expected to survive. Hamilton requested that Pulliam ask MPD Carrier Services to deploy enforcement officers in the residential streets adjacent to the King Greenleaf Recreation Center to discourage illegal cutthrough traffic by construction vehicles. Collins commended the First District on its annual holiday party for neighborhood children.

Buzzard Point Road Closures

Dr. Coralee Farley, chair of the commission’s Alcohol and Beverage Committee, expressed her exasperation at the recent, unanimous decision of the Alcohol Beverage Control Board not to sanction the Anthem. She also stated her concerns about the coming Nog Fest at The Wharf. She asked that any consideration of Requin’s (100 District Square SW) request for a 40-seat expansion to its summer garden await clarification about its impact on the adjacent firepit. Litsky agreed, declaring that this Wharf amenity would not be allowed to disappear. Farley asked that any consideration of a license for Officina, 1120 Maine Ave. SW, be tabled until the applicant provided adequate drawings of its summer gardens. Litsky agreed. Complaining about the document’s handwritten notes, he stated that “it resembled the Republican tax bill.” “We need proper drawings of the lower level,” he added, to access its impact on the flow of pedestrian circulation near the Fish Market.

Representatives from the DC Department of General Services (DGS) gave an update on road construction surrounding the new DC United Stadium on Buzzard Point. Half Street SW will reopen by Jan. 1. The first week of that month will see the closures of Second Street from R to T streets and R Street between First and Second streets SW. This will continue for 45 days. The closures are to facilitate the total reconstruction of Second and R streets SW. The streets have no base and need to be fully rebuilt. Commissioners raised concerns about access to Buzzard Point for emergency vehicles during the road closures. DGS representatives stated that half of Second Street will be drivable throughout the reconstruction. This is necessary to provide site access for their own construction vehicles. Litsky and Hamilton raised concerns about concrete trucks cutting through neighborhood streets near the Greenleaf Recreation Center. “To the extent that those trucks are yours, fix it! We are going to have people in Southwest block the streets if this in not handled,” Litsky stated.

Public Safety Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Sector

ABC Matters

Other Matters Fast stated that the issue of pedestrian safety at the intersections at Seventh and Ninth streets and Maine Avenue SW adjacent to the Wharf had been brought to her attention by multiple

constituents, one of whom had drafted a resolution. Fast stated that she planned to raise the issue at the next meeting of the Transportation Strike Force. She may also offer a resolution in February addressing signage, traffic-light timing, rightturn prohibitions and road striping. Litsky agreed with her decision to give the matter more thought. Dr. Jennifer Smith, director of the DC Department of Forensic Services and a Southwest resident, briefed the commission on the work of the Consolidated Forensic Lab at 401 Fourth St. SW. The facility houses the city’s crime-scene investigators, the public health lab and the forensic science lab. It is an independent agency answerable to a stakeholder council. Smith reported that the lab’s DNA department was back online and that it had cleared any backlogs in testing sexual assault kits. In response to a commissioner’s question, she stated that the facility houses the city’s mosquito laboratory. While Zika does not have a presence in the District, Smith stated, West Nile is here. DC Reinvest, a coalition of DC-based grassroots groups, asked the commission to endorse its campaign against Wells Fargo. Citing the bank’s poor record as a community lender, the organization is asking the District to transfer its accounts to other financial institutions. The commission voted with a majority of five to endorse a resolution offered by ANC 4C in support of the Leaf Blower Amendment Act of 2017. The bill encourages a transition from gasoline- to battery-powered leaf blowers. Collins abstained on the vote. After first rescinding a September vote, the commission voted to oppose the design for 1900 Half St. SW on Buzzard Point. The vote was five in favor with Fascett abstaining. The project was the subject of extensive discussions during the November meeting. The commission agreed to send a letter supporting the DC Public Library’s request for a parking variance for the new Southwest Library. Three commissioners voted in favor with Fascett and Hamilton abstaining. The commission decided not to vote on a sidewalk cafe public-space application for Shake Shack, 900 Maine Ave. SW. The commission voted with an abstention by

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Collins to request a traffic control plan for the construction project at 1000 First St. SE, which is adjacent to Eagle Academy Public Charter School. The issue is truck traffic through the alley that abuts the school. The commission voted unanimously to: • oppose giving the intercity Morning Sun Bus Line a permit for pickup on the 400 block of Seventh Street SW; • send a letter to the DC Department of Transportation requesting that the federally mandated environmental impact statement for the CSX railroad’s Long Bridge include data collected on the frequency, weight, length and speed of trains transiting the existing bridge as well vibration studies that separate the impact of locomotives and rail cars; • support extending DGS’s lease at 955 L’Enfant Plaza and expanding its footprint another 30,000 square feet; • request a 30-day delay in the hearing on the application by Superior Concrete scheduled for Dec. 18 as well as authorizing Hamilton to speak for the commission at that hearing and submit comments; • support Unity Healthcare’s temporary relocation of its Southwest Clinic to 555 L St. SW during the construction of the new Southwest Family Shelter. • approve the November minutes and the December amended agenda. There was no treasurer’s report. The next ANC 6D meeting will be held on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. at 1100 Fourth St. SW. Visit www. anc6d.org/ for more information.

ANC 6E REPORT by Steve Holton ommissioners Alex Padro (6E01, chair), Frank Wiggins (6E03, vice chair), David Jaffe (6E04), Alvin Judd (6E06) and Kevin Rogers (6E07) made up the quorum to con-

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duct official business at the November meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E.

Gonzaga College High School Requests ABC License Gonzaga representatives spoke before the commission and requested support for a Class C tavern license for the school’s 800-seat auditorium to hold special events and fundraisers. The school is located at 19 I St. NW. A maximum of three events will be held per year and alcoholic beverages will only be offered to those who are 21 years of age or older. The representative also requested an entertainment endorsement to provide live entertainment during events. The commission motioned to support both requests, 4-1, with Wiggins voting against.

DC Water Explains Main Breaks DC Water representatives Emanuel Briggs and Marley Franson addressed a number of water main breaks that happened on Nov. 20 at 555 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Concerns were raised by Commissioner Marriott in an email in which he asked why the break happened twice over an eight-day period, why it took responders more than three hours to address the problem and why the water had an off-color following the resumption of service. Franson said that age played a role due to many of the pipes being 120 years old. She also noted that the particular location has been flagged and data has been sent to DC Water’s engineering department. The typical response time, Franson said, is 45 minutes, but the problem has to be isolated before personnel are dispatched, which takes up to an hour. In regards to the off-color water, it is due to air being trapped in the pipe during the break. The off-color water can be fixed by running cold water faucets for 15 minutes.

Pepco Presents Mount Vernon Substation Design Pepco Public Affairs Manager Chris Taylor spoke about the Capital Grid Project. If approved, three substations will be upgraded in the District and Maryland (Harvard, Champlain and Mount Vernon substations). A new substation will also be built to serve areas of projected high growth, and

a 10-mile underground transmission line will be built to connect substations. Additionally, a networked system will be created to deliver electricity to customers. Based on community feedback, Taylor created two renderings of what the upgraded Mount Vernon Substation will look like. He said that regulatory approval must be granted from the Public Service Commission (PSC) before construction can begin. Pepco filed a proposal with PSC in May 2017 and is awaiting approval from the Board of Zoning Adjustment as well.

Overview on the Department of Forensic Sciences Dr. Jenifer Smith, director of the DC Department of Forensic Sciences, gave the commission an overview of DFS. Created in 2012 and located at 401 E St. SW, DFS is one of only two forensic laboratories that is not under the direction of a law enforcement agency. DFS does however support the District’s criminal justice process. The laboratory has three components: Forensics Science Laboratory (FSL), Public Health Laboratory (PHL) and Crime Scene Sciences (CSS). FSL consists of the Forensics Biology Unit, Forensics Intelligence Unit, Firearms Examination Unit, Latent Fingerprint Unit and Digital Evidence Unit. PHL tests a wide variety of materials for toxins, infectious organisms, illicit narcotics and other threats to public health. CSS collects and preserves evidence from crime scenes. DFS has 200 employees and an unpaid internship program.

Contract for New Website The commission received three proposals from web designers to design a new site for ANC 6E. Proposals were submitted from ArtDriver LLC, Cold Smoke Solutions Inc. and 80Port. The commission reviewed the designs and proposals and rated them on a scale of one to three with three being the highest score. 80Port took the top spot followed by ArtDriver and Cold Smoke Solutions respectively. The commission motioned to approve the proposal submitted by 80Port for design of a new ANC 6E website in the amount of $6,595. The motion passed unanimously.

CIVIC CALENDAR Congresswoman Norton’s NW District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 5:30 PM. 90 K St. NE. 202408-9041. norton.house.gov. ANC 6A. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Meeting at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. anc6a.org.

ANC 6B. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. anc6b.org. ANC 6C. Second Wednesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Heritage Foundation, 214 Mass. Ave. NE, first floor conference room. anc6c.org.

ANC 6E will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 2 at the Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library located at 1630 Seventh St. NW. Steve Holton can be contacted at ssholton@gmail.com. u

EASTERN MARKET REPORT by Peter J. Waldron

The Fog of Financials The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) meeting on November 25th was an exercise in EMCAC members’ frustration. EMCAC which is tasked by law as an advisory body on all matters having to do with the Eastern Market had asked Market Manager Barry Margeson to provide them with answers to a number of budgetary questions and how costs are allocated. The responses by Margeson only served to perpetuate the decade-long fog that has permeated the Eastern Market finances. Among the Margeson’s responses that EMCAC members found perplexing were that the Market had lost $19,410 in FY14, made a profit of $233,503 in FY1 and then in another wild swing, a lesser profit of $25,857 in FY16. According to Margeson the FY15 profit “is made up largely of PSD (Protective Services Department) and Facilities costs that were not reclassified. This means that PSD and Facilities were not reimbursed for services that they provided to Eastern Market.” No explanation was offered for why this reclassification did not occur. Among the EMCAC Finance Committee questions directed to Margeson in advance of the meeting were those whose answers might offer some illumination on the precise costs of line items repairs and maintenance. Margeson responded: “We don’t have a precise breakdown of Repairs and Maintenance but I can tell you that a higher percentage of the work is repairs.” Asked

ANC 6D. Second Mondays, 7 PM. Meeting at 1100 Fourth St. SW, 2nd floor. anc6d.org. ABC Committee, ANC6D. Jan. 25, 6:45 PM. Alcohol license applications, renewals, enforcement, and other issues. Meeting at 1D MPD building, 101 M St. SW. To be add-

about a breakdown of outdoor costs and indoor costs, Margeson continued: “I will have that by the next meeting.” Margeson stated that it would likely be the case that these previously reclassified expenses to other agencies would once again not be reclassified in FY17, again providing no rationale in response to a query of Jonathan Pag , the Mayoral representative : “ If this year there won’t be reclassification will it be a similar number ( the $233, 503 in unclassified profit) “ ? Margeson responded: “It will be pretty close. Two hundred.“ Asked about the complexity of this reconciliation and budgetary process, Margeson again responded: “It is not extremely complex. Rather it is highly scrutinized. It is kicked back by the CFO who rejects it. The reclassification is extremely complex. It is not done very often and it is highly scrutinized by both the auditors and the CFO.” Page asked: ”You have other years when this has happened?” To which Margeson responded: “It will happen this year. It is budgeted. And that is why you have a large sum because it was budgeted to go to PSD. It was budgeted to go to Facilities. “ Chair Donna Scheeder asked: “Where did the two hundred and thirty three thousand dollars go at the end of the year? What happens to the money?” Margeson responded: “It sits there. It doesn’t do anything. And then it is either sweeped or then it is................goes to the General Fund.” The Eastern Market Act of 1999 (dc code 37103) states that the Enterprise Fund is the legal repository of “all revenues proceeds and moneys from whatever source” at the Market and those revenues shall be deposited in the Enterprise Fund and not “at any time be transferred to, lapse into or be commingled with the General Fund of the District of Columbia.” EMCAC does not receive monthly or regular reports on finances and does not participate in the DC budgeting process as the budgets go forward. EMCAC members spent the entire discussion unsuccessfully trying to untangle the District’s budget process as well the allocation of costs leaving the membership as unenlightened as they were when the discussion began. Richard Layman, an EMCAC member, stated: “No organization would not have this information. “ ANC 6B02 commissioner Diane Hoskins add-

ed to email list for agenda and notifications contact Coralie Farlee, Chair, ABC Committee at 202-5544407 or cfarlee@mindspring.com. ANC 6E. First Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Meeting at Watha T. Daniel Library. anc6e.org. u

ed: “These numbers do not tell us anything at all.” Tom Kuchenberg, Chair of the Finance Committee, continued, “It strikes me that until we understand the metaphysics of the reconciliation process that we can’t make any rational recommendation to keep profit in the Market funds. I would love to have a deeper understanding of this whole process.“ Vice Chair Burger added: “I am tired of these circuitous talks about the budget. We never have timely information. We have a committee and we sit here and try to make common sense out of it.” Scheeder concluded the discussion, stating EMCAC was going to do two things: “We are going to request a briefing from a representative of the budget office as to how this process works. And we are going to refer these answers and numbers on the budget to the Finance Committee and they will report back at our next meeting as well.“ The last Market audit which was made public was July 29, 2014 and was conducted for the fiscal years 2010-11. Margeson has a strong history of sharing Market financial information when it is available to him. As Scheeder wrapped up the discussion she added, ”Part of the problem here is that we used to get excellent financial information every single month. The comment has been that working with the government we are in a larger financial system that doesn’t necessarily respond in detail that makes sense of what is good for the running of Eastern Market. That is an issue that we must take a look at.“

Manager’s Report Margeson reported there is no progress on the leases. Addressing the ongoing parking issue, Margeson reported that he had spoken to the Colonial Parking representative about the triangular surface lot on the 600 block of C St SE behind the US Post Office. According to Margeson Colonial is willing to do a Saturday/Sunday validation program where participating merchants or vendors pay the standard fee that Colonial charges of a $10 flat rate for customer parking. October revenues $96,896.32 with North Hall revenue surging to $29,462. There were twenty five events, some pre-scheduled for the community, in the month of November. u

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XWORD

www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

“Oscar Winners” by Myles Mellor Across:

1. Settle a debt 6. Places for makeovers 12. Credit card rate 15. James Cameron movie that outgrossed his own “Titanic” 17. The educational community 20. Breakfast staple 22. Oscar winner 24. A Honda 26. Supplement, with “out” 27. Braveheart hillside 28. Serb, Croat, et al 29. Maître d’s offering 30. Lunch counters 33. Eagerness 36. Helm heading 37. Person that’s past recovery 38. Buddhist monument 40. Untamed area 43. O’Neill’s “The ___ Cometh” 46. Previously 47. Assume the Lotus position 48. Oscar winner 56. Baseball’s Maglie 57. Folded corner 58. Golf starting location 59. Seeker of attention 61. Snappish 62. Ketch cousin 64. Fluster 65. On the line 70. Biblical pronoun 72. Deep sleep 73. Kind of steak 77. Kind of orange 80. Eligible for Mensa 81. Sport 82. Indicate 84. Catechize 87. Oscar winner, with The 92. Very long time 93. Level, across the pond 94. Vexed 95. Units of volume 99. Battery terminal

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101. Upper body 103. Altar vow 104. Spanish cloak 106. Olympic swimmer Janet 110. Biz bigwig 111. SA monkey 113. Little bit 115. Shoe part 116. Scottish whiskey distiller 118. Oscar winner 123. Malay palm 124. Praised in a poem 125. Least wild 126. Like some prices 127. Put emphasis on 128. Fixes

Down:

1. Went ballistic 2. Conjure up a spirit 3. Wall division 4. Absorbed, as a cost 5. Deviation 6. “The English Patient” setting 7. Took steps 8. “Well ___-di-dah . . .” 9. Canticle 10. The latest 11. Showed pleasure 12. “___ it’s easy as 123” Jackson 5 song 13. Piano duet parts 14. Super Bowl XXXV champions 16. Needle 18. Stupid 19. Unfavorable 21. Prime-time hour 23. Police sting 25. Scoundrel 31. Ideology suffixes 32. Composed 34. One side in baseball negotiations 35. US racketeering law (abbr.) 37. Brief vacation 39. Open the door

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 41. Southpaw 42. Valueless 43. ___ a good plan! 44. Chinese tea 45. Scaleless fish 46. Perennial plants of the Andes 49. White heron 50. Conservative beginning 51. New York’s Russian ___ Room 52. Chop down 53. Certain ‘60s teens 54. Presage 55. Trade

60. Whistle blower 63. No. 2 in the statehouse 65. Knucklehead 66. Pyramid, sometimes 67. Fight with 68. Aaron Spelling’s daughter 69. 1920s design style 71. Prefix with -genous 74. Amateur video subject, maybe 75. Sister or mother 76. Cavern, in poetry 77. Ukraine seaport 78. Desertlike 79. “Red Letter Year” singer

DiFranco 83. Undermine 84. Tool 85. Return envelope, abbreviation 86. “The Karate ___” (1984) 88. Territory of India 89. Engages for service 90. Mischief 91. European capital 95. Attracted 96. Jail outbreak 97. Popular potato 98. Fares, at times 99. Butting heads 100. Intl. defense gp. 101. Bill’s “excellent adventure” cohort 102. Some team members 105. Half courses, in golf 107. Perplexed 108. Deafening 109. Small denominations 112. Negative question 114. Toward the stern 117. “King ___” movie 119. The Who song “Love, Reign __ Me” 120. Salt Lake tribesman 121. May celebrants 122. Decision maker, abbr.

FAREWELL TO THE BANANA CAFE

After 25 Years, Jorge Zamorano Moves On orge Garcia-Meitin Zamorano has no firm plans now that the Banana Café and Piano Bar (500 Eighth St. SE) has closed. “I couldn’t tell you for certain what I’m going to do,” he said. “The only thing I can think of is sitting under my favorite tree, and thinking.” He says he’ll be glad to have the time to travel, see friends and go back to school. He wants to learn more about computers — and cooking. That’s right, cooking. Despite a successful career in the hotel hospitality industry and twenty-five years operating four of his own restaurants, Zamorano has never been to cooking school. Born in Cuba, he and his extended family moved to Puerto Rico when he was just a year old. There, he learned how to Jorge Zamorano sits at the bar downstairs in cook from his grandmother, a “wonderful the Banana Café and person” and fabulous chef who cooked Piano Bar (500 Eighth St. SE). After 25 years, for the whole family. Zamorano is moving on. “As a kid, I never wanted to eat,” he said, “I hated eating.” He mimes pushing food around his plate. “My punishment Zamorano learned something from his punwas to go sit in the kitchen with my grandmother ishment –two things, in fact. At around sevenand watch her cook, so I could realize how much teen, he went to school at Loyola in New Orleans work it was.” A strict disciplinarian, he said she and began his career in the food service industry. would sit him at the small table in the corner in And he demonstrated the Cuban and Puerto Rithe kitchen, raising one eyebrow as she turned to can recipes that his grandmother had showed him demonstrate recipes to him, “as if to say, ‘See how to Walter Gutierrez, his chef for the last 25 years. much work I’m doing?’ And that’s how I picked Together they put them on the menu of the Capiup on cooking.” tol Hill restaurant together with the Tex-Mex cui-

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

sine already on offer when he took over the Lonestar Cantina in the early 1990s.

A Restaurant Is Born Zamorano became the owner of that restaurant, which became the Banana Café, almost by accident. An artist by inclination, in 1990 he decided to quit his job as the Director of Food and Beverage Services at the Henley Park Hotel (926

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. community life .

Zamorano poses in the window of the Café, c.1994. An artist, Zamorano used to do a painting annually for a Christmas card. This was that year’s painting. Photo: Jose Varela

Massachusetts Ave. NW) to focus on painting full-time. As he was painting in his Fifth Street SE house a few months later, his friend Jaime Vargas called him from his restaurant, the Lonestar Cantina, located at Eighth and E St. SE, and asked him to come have a cup of coffee. Zamorano put down his paintbrushes and went over. As the restaurant grew busy, Vargas asked him to help out. So Zamorano climbed behind the bar in his paintspeckled sweatpants, beginning a year or so of work with his friend that would ultimately change the direction of his life. When Vargas announced that he was going to sell the restaurant, Zamorano first bought half, then six months later, all of it. He thought he’d run the restaurant for a few months and then go back to painting or traveling. Instead, he ended up staying for twenty-five years and running four other restaurants during that time, including the Starfish Café down the street and two more in Cumberland, Maryland. “It’s hard to believe that it really happened twenty-five years ago,” he said.

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“When I first got here, people used to say, ‘Why do you want to have a restaurant on Eighth Street? That’s crazy!’” he said, recalling how in the early days of the Banana Café he would have to chase away sleeping people from the front of the restaurant and clean empty bottles and trash from the perimeters before he could open the doors. He said in the days before the internet, people would call to inquire about the restaurant. “When I used to tell them where it was, as soon as I said it’s on Eighth Street SE, people said, ‘Oh my God, no; it’s very dangerous.’ “I used to tell them, listen, come over, have dinner; when you’re finished, I’ll walk you to your car. But before I knew it, I spent all night walking people to their cars,” he said. “That’s how I got people at least to come here. And then little by little people started coming here, and they were less afraid of coming to the area.” “And then time went by and we turned Banana Café into what it is now, the art, the music, we had the piano bar upstairs. And it has been amazing.”

A Beloved Local Icon

special place in his heart and on the path of his life. He had his first date and his first kiss with Alena Vauter at the Banana Café’s piano bar on October 25, 2012. Two years later to the day, a party already in progress in the upstairs piano bar suddenly quieted down as the Banana Café’s bartender filmed John as he proposed marriage to Vauter on the exact spot of their first date. As he dropped to one knee, the party attendees started chanting, “Say yes! Say yes!” She did say yes. The two have now been married for a little over two years and have a son, Liam. “There’s a few moments in your life you can almost still see or touch in front of you,” Chu said. “So, it certainly is a memorable place for us.” Zamorano smiles when he hears the story. “We get a lot of that,” he says. “We have a lot of people who have met and fallen in love here.” Zamorano has built more than one part of his life here, as he met his own partner of twenty-five years, Darren Love, in the early days of the café. “It’s a great community, and I’m excited to see everything that has happened.” So why walk away? “When you start getting to my age, the reality hits you,” he said. “You realize that you have a certain amount of time left.” He said that as a restaurant owner, he really needed to be constantly present. “I know

He said the employees and the restaurant are like his own family. His family lives in Florida, so it might be a year or more between visits with them, but he sees his staff and customers every day. He gets somewhat emotional recalling the relationships he has built over the last twentyfive years together. “I’m very proud of what we did in the area, of how many people I employed. I’m thrilled about the great people we met. I’ve seen so many kids grow up and now they’re bringing their kids here, and that for me –it blows my mind.” The announcement that the neighborhood landmark was closing resulted in an outpouring of emotion from the community, many of whom recalled the importance of the café in their lives. John Chu proposes to Alena Vauter October 25, 2014 at the John Chu says the Café holds a exact spot of their first kiss two years earlier in the Piano Bar

of the Banana Café. Courtesy: John Chu/BaoMeetsBagel.com

that for the things I want to do, I need time.” He adds that he realized he would need to make some renovations to the restaurant in the near future. If he did that, he would want to commit to a few more years. It was the impetus he needed. “Internally I have a lot of conflict in letting go of it and saying goodbye to all the people that I’ve met and all the employees,” he said. “I had a lot of restless nights. It’s big –I’m letting go of my baby.” The building was sold to Whitestar Investments in midNovember. The company owns two other buildings in Northwest DC, and took possession after closing on December 16th, the final day of the Banana Café. “We are long term holders of quality assets and believe strongly in DC as a major metropolitan powerhouse,” said company Principal Reuban Bajaj. “We intend to be long term holders and re-lease the space to another user.” Zamorano believes they will renovate for another restaurant. “I’m excited somebody’s going to take it and fix it up,” he said, “because I feel it is the best location on the street.” But it is the end of an era for Zamorano, and for the Capitol Hill community. Zamorano’s Banana Café family seems torn between grief and best wishes. “Thanks for 25 fabulous years, Jorge, Darren, and you all!” one wrote on social media, accompanied by several heart emojis. “We’ll miss you so much, and wish you all the best!” u

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. community life .

CAPITOL HILL PRESBYTERIAN WELCOMES REV. KEYS A New Pastor on Capitol Hill article by Elizabeth O’Gorek | photos by E.M. Keys apitol Hill Presbyterian Church (201 Fourth St. SE) will welcome a new minister in January, Rev. Erin M. Keys. “I could not be more thrilled to be moving to Capitol Hill,” Keys said. “Everything I hear about it is that it is a wonderful community, and I know that DC is rich in culture and history.” Church leadership is also enthusiastic. “We are so pleased that not only we called her, but she came to us and decided this would be her home as well,” said Sally Stoecker, co-chair of the church’s Pastor Nominating Committee. For the past six years, Keys has been associate pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Greenwich, Conn. Prior to that she served as associate pastor at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. Though Keys lived in New York for a few years and loves the city, she felt a draw toward the District and the church. “I was drawn to the Capitol Hill church for many reasons. It is a warm community, an energetic and vibrant community poised to move into a new chapter together.” She also “felt a particular calling to be in Washington in light of everything happening in our country.” Keys received her master of divinity degree at Columbia Theological Seminary in 2008, having taken a bachelor of arts with honors from Elon University in North Carolina in 2005. In 2014, Elon recognized her work with its Service to Church and Society Award, one of the university’s highest honors. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church has been without a pastor for almost two years, since Rev. Andy Walton departed for Clearwater, Fla. “It was hard,” said Stoecker of Walton’s departure, “because he was a very energetic pastor. But change is good.” Interim Rev. Scott W. Wilson has been work-

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ing with the church to facilgations and leaders whose itate the transition to new work promotes God’s transleadership. formation of our communiStoecker said that Capties for the common good. itol Hill Presbyterian was She is a board member of looking for three factors in a Educating Haiti, a nonprofit new pastor: leadership abilorganization that is building ity, work with children and a school in St. Marc, Haiti. excellent preaching. Out of Keys is in her first term a pool of hundreds of canin the postgraduate prodidates, Keys was one of gram at the Bowen Center three selected by the sevfor the Study of the Famien-person committee to visly in Georgetown. She says it in September and Octothat the family system theber. “She had those three ory formulated by Murray things,” said Stoecker. “The Bowen, for whom the center Rev. Erin M. Keys will join the Capitol Hill [search] committee found is named, helped to inform Presbyterian Church (201 Fourth St. SE) in mid-January. her sermons outstanding. her ministry even before And we just loved the fact she went into the program. that she grew up in a Presbyterian church and re“This theory is particularly useful for ministry, for ally enjoyed it and was active herself.” the work we do,” she said. Keys was raised in the First Presbyterian Although Keys accompanied the Youth Church in Asheville, N.C., by parents who read Group of the Connecticut church to the District Bible stories and prayed nightly with her. Literaon a trip last summer to work among the homeless, ture provided during Keys’ candidate sermons at and has visited friends in the District, she says her the Capitol Hill church described how these formove here will be a new experience. But she seems mative influences “invited her to grow in her love set to fit right in. Not only is she an avid jogger, she of God and her neighbor.” plans to get a puppy shortly after her arrival to jog Stoecker noted that the work Keys has done alongside her. “I’m also hoping a dog will help me with children, leading youth groups and recruitmeet people,” she said in good humor, adding that ing teachers is especially valuable in a Capitol Hill she is looking forward to jogging on the National community that is increasingly filled with chilMall. She also enjoys hot yoga and reading and is dren. Her administrative experience, especially at a skilled photographer. First Presbyterian, where she ably negotiated staff “I’m excited to make my home here and be changes, including the departure of five staff mempart of not just the next chapter of the church, but bers during her first five years, was also a trementhe wider Capitol Hill community,” she said. “I dous asset. look forward to getting to know all my neighbors, Keys currently serves on the advisory board both within the church, the community and the for NEXT Church, a network of leaders across the wider District.” Presbyterian Church that seeks to cultivate congreStoecker is also excited. “Rev. Keys said that

Rev. Erin M. Keys is an avid and skilled photographer of the beauty in the world around her.

she felt something, some sort of a ‘spark’ when she saw our announcement,” she said. “I’m just so glad that she followed up on that spark and is coming to Capitol Hill.” The Capitol Hill community will have an opportunity to meet Rev. Keys when she attends the third annual St. Valentine’s Concert and Sparkling Wine Tasting. The event takes place on Feb. 10, at 6:30 p.m., and benefits Capitol Hill Presbyterian service partners programs at Capitol Hill Group Ministry that help the homeless as well as programs at Good Neighbor Capitol Hill that support the refugee community. The concert will be conducted by the church’s music director, Caitriona McEniryRoschke, and will feature love songs from the 1920s. The wine tasting is hosted by Chani Wiggins, DC Wine Wonk. Free childcare and parking are available. Tickets and sponsorships are available at www.capitolhillpreschurch.org. u

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. community life .

H STREET LIFE by Elise Bernard very year promises fresh changes along the H Street NE corridor. This past year we saw the opening of a Whole Foods in the 600 block, and in 2016 we witnessed both the launch of passenger service on the streetcar and the sudden closure of neighborhood fixture The Argonaut. What will this new year bring? Below is a quick peek at some of the news that closed out 2017 and welcomes us into 2018.

NoMa’s Swampoodle Park offers big fun in a small package. Image: NoMa Parks Foundation

A Nod to History with Swampoodle Park The NoMa neighborhood’s newest park finally has a name, and it’s a catchy one that harkens back to a time before the construction of Union Station. The NoMa Parks Foundation (http://www.nomaparks. org) solicited name ideas through a crowd source process and then allowed online voting for the top three suggestions. Swampoodle Park handily defeated Old City Corner and 3rd and L Park with 67 percent of over 1,500 respondents choosing it. The name works for a few reasons. It has a playful sound to it, such as might appeal to the kids who will scramble around on the park’s vertical play structure. The name seems fitting for a recreation space that includes a rather prominent dog park component. Swampoodle is also the historical monicker of a predominately Irish neighborhood that occupied the eastern portion of modern day NoMa in the 19th century. Once completed, Swampoodle Park will stretch over roughly 8,000 square feet, a significant portion of that extending into the public right-ofway. To maximize the available play area, the park will include a Wallholla, a vertical play structure like a more compact jungle gym. The NoMa version, designed for children ages five years and up, will be 16 feet high by 44 feet long by 4 feet wide.

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Beyond the Wallholla will be a dog park, complete with small hills and a canine agility ramp, ringed on two sides by areas with plantings and seating. Construction, due to be completed in November, has been delayed slightly. The new park should open at Third and L streets NE early this year.

Mythology Shifts Gears to Focus on Lounge The owners of restaurant and lounge Mythology (816 H St. NE, www.mythology-lore.com) decided to vacate the first-floor restaurant space in order to focus their efforts fully on the second-floor lounge. The restaurant ceased first-floor operations Dec. 3. The second floor is currently hosting a “Star Wars”-inspired popup called The Darkside Bar (https://www.facebook.com/thedarksidebars), which will thrill guests from around the galaxy through Jan. 15. If you have gift certificates for Mythology, hang on to them. You’ll be able to use them once the colorful clouds and famous fries retake the second-floor space in early 2018. Clean Eatz (www.cleaneatz.com), a fast-ca-

sual restaurant that’s “on a mission to spread the good news of living a healthy lifestyle,” will open soon on the first floor. Clean Eatz opened its first store in Wilmington, N.C., in 2011. It has locations in the Carolinas and surrounding states, but this will be the first outpost in the District. Clean Eatz offers a variety of options for those trying to make healthy choices. The menu is packed with wraps, bowls, burgers, flatbreads, smoothies and energy bars. Clean Eatz also offers meal plans for those who might not have a lot of time to cook or just want a little help figuring out portions and variety. You can try one of the meal plan meals ready to grab at the shop, or order ahead on the website and pick up a week’s worth of meals on a designated day. New England sports-fan bar Dirty Water will continue to occupy the third floor.

Shawafel Closes, But May Reopen Near Eastern Market After more than six years serving shawarma and shish taouk on H Street NE, Alberto Sissi, own-

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GREENLEAF HOUSING COMMUNITY CO-DEVELOPER The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires a Co-Developer for the Greenleaf Housing Community. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services/ Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Monday, December 18, 2017 and on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, February 01, 2018 at 2:00 PM EST. Contact Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at (202) 535-1212 or by email at lwashing@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information. Khepra’s Raw Food Juice Bar in the current space. Photo: Elise Bernard

er of the casual Lebanese eatery Shawafel (1322 H St. NE), closed the doors of his shop in the 1300 block for the last time. The H Street corridor has attracted many new businesses in the years since 2011, and Sissi’s landlord recently proposed a large rent increase that would take effect in 2018 if Shawafel remained at its original location. Sissi made the decision to relocate the shop near Farragut North, where he might cater to the busy downtown lunch crowds. In the next few months he should be up and running at 818 18th St. NW. Sissi told me that he’s “very sad” to leave H Street but that he’s simply been priced out of the market along the corridor. He “really appreciates ... everyone that supported Shawafel and it’s been a great pleasure serving this wonderful community.” Local Shawafel devotees take heart. Sissi told me he’s also working on opening a location near Eastern Market.

Khepra’s Raw Food Juice Bar’s Moves Down the Block The success of Khepra’s Raw Food Juice Bar (402 H St. NE, http://kheprasrawfoodjuicebar.com) led to a search for a larger space, a search that ended just a few doors down at 408 H St. NE. Chef Khepra Anu opened his restaurant in 2011 and has drawn casual diners in search of healthy fare, vegetarian options or simply a very fresh juice. While Khepra’s has many fans who grab one of the limited seats or pick up lunch to go, the restaurant also offers a meal program where you can sign up for one raw meal a day for a one week, two weeks, or a 28-day period. Variations allow for the addition of juices or a juice-only offering. You can also purchase Khepra’s juice cleanse packages, available in durations of 3, 5, 7 or 14 days. For more on what’s abuzz on and around H Street NE, 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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OUR RIVER: THE ANACOSTIA

WELCOME TO 2018: THE YEAR OF THE ANACOSTIA! by Bill Matuszeski fter all the years of work, all the community organizing, and all the progress, we now can celebrate and enjoy 2018 as “The Year of the Anacostia”. How has this come about? It started with an anniversary – the 100th since the designation by Congress of Anacostia Park in 1918. From there it grew to become a year-long celebration with four purposes: to honor the history, celebrate the progress in its recovery, enjoy the River and its surroundings, and envision the future. Under the leadership of the National Park Service, the partners in the effort include the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the DC City Council, the DC Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE), the Prince Georges County Council, the Prince Georges County Department of the Environment, DC Water, the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, the Anacostia Watershed Society, Groundwork DC, Anacos-

Out for a Paddle. Photo: National Park Service

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tia Riverkeeper, Friends of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Anacostia Waterfront Trust, Earth Conservation Corps and Aerial View of the Anacostia. Photo: National Park Service the 11th Street Bridge Project. Bridge into a multipurpose park and entertainWow! That’s an impresment center running from bank to bank. sive list of people to lead the effort, but the things Tara Morrison, Superintendent of Nationto celebrate go far beyond the century of parkal Capital Parks – East, sums it all up: “There land. It is also the 50th Anniversary of the Wild is great energy and excitement around the Year and Scenic Rivers Act and the National Trails of the Anacostia, and we are fortunate to have a System Act. Closer to home, the year will siggrowing number of organizations and agencies nal completion of the DC Water Anacostia Rivcollaborating to offer a year-long celebration in er Tunnel, which will nearly eliminate overflow 2018 to connect our communities to the parks, from our combined sewers into the River. In fact, places and endless opportunities that the AnacosI have been telling folks that starting in March, the tia River watershed provides.” cleanest body of water in the metropolitan area afThe National Park Service has taken the lead ter a storm will likely be the Anacostia, because and produced a strategic plan for the Year of the Rock Creek, the Potomac and all the others will Anacostia. Goal 1 focuses on enjoying the river still be experiencing the sewage overflows. and its surroundings by calling on the public to Other signs of progress in 2018 include revive community events popular in the past and closure on the Proposed Plan for cleanup of the build on events in place now to raise awareness contaminated sediments in and along the River, of the Year of the Anacostia. Meanwhile the Park something in the works Service commits to improving signage in the park for years. It is also the and to use NPS branding to promote the park as bicentennial of the birth of national importance. of Frederick Douglas, Goal 2 is to honor the history that surwho lived in Anacosrounds the river and its use. It calls on commutia and crossed the Rivnity groups metro-wide to provide 100 programs er every day coming to during 2018 for the 100 years, both in and along and from work. Major the river. Working with schools on the river’s League Baseball’s Allhistory and ecology and celebrating historic moStar Game will be held ments with diverse programming for all ages are along the River in Naother parts of this goal. Another aspect is to protional’s Park. And work mote the health of the river by increasing litter is likely to begin to concleanups and improving community awareness vert the old highway of plans to deal with toxics and other pollutants piers of the 11th Street

Park Service Signs along the River. Photo: National Park Service

where they exist in the River and along the shoreline. Goal 3 is to envision the future Anacostia River and work with groups, especially children, to interest them in volunteer projects, internships and job opportunities to provide education and connections to the river and park. Another part of this goal is to establish “adopt-an-area” programs for existing community groups to help maintain the attractiveness of the park, as well as have them host events or participate in watershed-wide events. The strategic plan also proposes sets of projects that groups could organize and carry out along the River. These could include travelling exhibits, bicycle and hiking tours, oral history projects to interview and record memories of long-time Anacostia area residents. Others could focus on the need for equitable development that benefits both sides of the river with parks, housing, transportation, etc., and finding ways to engage communities in upcoming projects. Finally, the plan proposes a process to design and fund popup installations to carry information about the history and future of the River and the Park to surrounding communities. To help organize the participation, the Park Service and other participating organizations have established three working groups which are open to anyone who has an interest in being involved in the Year of the Anacostia. The chairs of the groups will serve on the Steering Committee. The three groups and their lead contacts are:

Events and Programming Group – Organizes and coordinates the calendar of events; reviews and shares event ideas. Lead Contact: Pya Langley (pya_langley@nps.gov), National Park Service. Youth Engagement Group – Develops creative ways to engage youth, e.g., educational activities, volunteering, internships. Lead Contact: Ronda Chapman (ronda@ groundworksdc.org), Groundworks DC. Marketing and Outreach Group – Implements messaging through strategic placement and outreach to diverse audiences. Lead Contact: Erin Garnaas-Holmes (egh@ anacostiatrust.org), Anacostia Trust. So everything is ready to go! As Superintendent Morrison sums up, “With the centennial of Anacostia Park and the bicentennial of Frederick Douglas’s birth in 2018, the National Park Service extends the invitation to everyone who lives in or visits the District of Columbia to enjoy our parks and become stewards to insure these special places thrive and are here for future generations”. All you need to do is think about how you want to participate in the Year of the Anacostia, and let the appropriate group or individual know. You will be part of something big, uplifting and probably a lot of fun! Bill Matuszeski writes monthly about the Anacostia River. He is the retired Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program, a DC member 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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IN MEMORIAM

ROBERT J. CERULLO

“A Friend to All... An Enemy to None” by Frank Pietrucha true Capitol Hill character, Robert. J. Cerullo died at his North Carolina Avenue SE home on December 7, 2017, following a long battle with cancer. Bob fought valiantly against his illness to the end, rarely admitting to friends the extent of his struggles nor complaining about his discomfort. He was 74 years old. A kind, gracious and thoughtful person, Bob will be best remembered for his warm personality and generous spirit. During his five decades in Washington, he amassed a network of lifelong friends through his professional and social affiliations. On any given week, he would be busy attending weddings, bar mitzvahs and birthday parties for his friends and associates, their children, and even their grandchildren. His social obligations were so many, they seemed like a full-time job in his retirement. Everyone thought of Bob like a best friend. He was such a kind person; you just had to invite him to your celebration. Bob’s Rolodex included a broad range of people ranging from Washington’s elite to a ragtag collection of locals he hung out with at Peregrine Espresso. Bob socialized in many different circles, but rarely introduced one group of friends to another. His compartmentalized social life created a mystique about Bob as many of friends often wondered about who his other friends were and what they were like. Bob’s sometimes acerbic, but always witty, humor helped him win many of his friends. His use of sarcasm was brilliant. Acting as a curmudgeon, he often pretended to be irked

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by any inconvenience or imposition; but that was all a part of his daily comic routine. In his heart, he was a kind soul, quietly striving to make the world a better place. He did what he could to help people. Bob and a business partner, for example, made a generous loan to an entrepreneur to help him buy a restaurant from his uncle. After making the deal, Bob confided in his partner that it was a risky investment. He never expected to be re-paid in full. Bob was right; the restauranteur stopped making payments shortly thereafter and compensated their investors instead with crab cake dinners for life. Bob understood the risks, but provided the capital nevertheless and never complained about the bad investment. Crab cakes from a greasy spoon, however, were not Bob’s ideal cuisine choice. Bob was a lover of fine dining. No discussion of his life would be complete without acknowledging his love for food – really good food. Through his

network of contacts, Bob often attended restaurant openings and had first-hand knowledge of the city’s top chefs and restaurants. Many people relied heavily on Bob’s reviews and recommendations more so than Zagat’s or Michelin. Upon learning of his death, one woman close to Bob sighed saying “there goes the source of all good food knowledge in Washington and New York.” Bob also enjoyed fine living. He cherished the time he spent with friends at his beach house in North Bethany, Delaware and at vacation destinations in places like St. Bart’s, St. John’s, North Carolina, Lake Cuomo and Bordeaux. Born in Masontown, a small crossroads in rural Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh, Bob came to Washington in the 1970s after graduating from the University of West Virginia and serving in the Air Force National Guard to work at the U.S. Census Bureau. He earned his law degree from American University and practiced real estate law with Houlon Berman for several decades. In retirement, Bob enjoyed renovating and re-selling houses throughout DC. The son of John and Lucy Cerullo, Bob was devoted to his family. He is survived by his sisters, Dolores Cerullo Santella and Carol Cerullo Del Grosso as well as his aunt Violet Schnatterly and seven nieces and nephews, their spouses, children and grandchildren. Bob’s brother, Richard Cerullo, predeceased him. A DC memorial service will be planned for some time in the new year. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or a charity of your choice. u

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DC Open Doors is a DCHFA program that offers fully forgivable second trust loans on a buyer’s minimum down payment requirement, in addition to below market interest rates for first trust mortgages for the purchase of homes anywhere in the District of Columbia. Program Highlights • Open to first-time and repeat home buyers • Open to all, no D.C. residency requirements • Maximum Income limit $132,360 DCHFA’s Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program provides qualified borrowers the ability to claim a federal tax credit of 20 percent of the mortgage interest paid during a calendar year with the purchase of an MCC.

2018 is the Year of Homeownership with DC Open Doors and the Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

Guidelines • Borrowers must be first time homebuyers • Maximum borrower income is based upon household income, currently $132,360 (family of two or less) and $154,420 (family of three or more) • Acquisition costs (sales price) may not exceed program limits, currently $585,713 (non-targeted area) and $715,872 (targeted area) • MCCs are valid for Single Family residences, only (no 2-4 unit properties or co-ops) • DC’s MCCs can be purchased in conjunction with a DC Open Doors loan program product or other loan program products not offered through the DC Open Doors loan program

Learn more about both programs at the next DC Open Doors Informational Session on January 17th 6:30- 8:00 p.m. at DCHFA (815 Florida Avenue NW) Register to attend the FREE seminar at https://dcodnewyearnewhome2018.eventbrite.com 815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW WASHINGTON, DC 20001 202.777.1600 • DCHFA.ORG 84 H HILLRAG.COM

DCHFA has FREE parking in the Agency’s garage (V Street entrance) and is a short walk from the U Street Metro Station. Homebuyers’ Informational Sessions are held twice monthly on the first and third Wednesday at DCHFA.

real estate

REAL ESTATE MATTERS by Heather Schoell

How Will the Tax Plan Affect Homebuying? I was asked how the new tax plan will affect homebuying, and the short answer is that I don’t know. No one knows what it’ll do to the market. I do know that in some states with high state taxes, it could affect purchasing power as the standard deduction for households is $10,000. Not all properties will exceed this in the District, so at least we have that going for us. The National Association of Realtors is not happy with the tax plan, so I’m inclined to go with the experts on this, but whether this will cause home prices in the District to deflate is a wait and see. I think not, as the District is insulated from much of homebuying across the nation, and our taxes really aren’t too bad for a metropolitan area. But I know this has some people spooked – people who are thinking of selling, as well as renovators who think they may not get what they’ve been getting on the resale.

Here’s what I think – things are going to go on as normal for the next few years, because the changes in the tax returns aren’t even going to kick in until we’re doing our 2018 taxes in 2019. By then, who knows what other changes could’ve occurred – interest rates could’ve come down, there could be someone else in the White House … In the meantime, business as usual, I say!

When to Hold ‘Em, When to Fold ‘Em Another question was from a couple who holds a rental property in another market. It had belonged to a family member, purchased by them two years ago. The couple doesn’t see themselves ever moving to this area to live, and it’s been difficult to find a new renter. The guy who has just given notice that he’s moving made it easy on them by doing everything that needed replacing or fixing himself and just charging them for the Home Depot run.

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Now they’re on assignment a half a world away and feeling like maybe they should just sell rather than having the mortgage and the hassle. There are many parts to this. First, I can only talk about the market where I’m licensed, and I’m not licensed in the state where this property is located. Just in general, I think the market there is pretty strong with a major university nearby, and with a lot of people moving to that area, so I would hate for this couple to let the property go too early. They can make it easy on themselves by hiring an accountable property management company to find a renter and take care of necessary repairs if the next occupant isn’t handy. I’m not a financial advisor, so not knowing their interest rate makes it hard for me to calculate against the income from the rental. I would also advise against selling too soon after the purchase – they just bought two years ago. So, I would say, hold it if you can, get a good property manager and give the property time to appreciate.

A January Refresher What are you going to do with your house this year? Is it time to paint, remodel or sell? The new year is a great time to reassess your home. Try to look at it with objective eyes as you walk through. Are there dusty decorations that you don’t even see any more? How long have the slats been falling out of that bifold door? You deserve to be surrounded with beauty and functionality, so if it’s not working, then it’s not working for you. You don’t have to have money to throw at it – sometimes just a reconfiguration of furniture will make a huge difference in the

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flow and feel of a room. If you want big impact for a small cost, paint color is huge. Do a charcoal wall hung with art to make a statement, or cozy things up with a warm gold. Make your bedroom a tranquil oasis with a calming sea blue (also blackout drapes are a must for sleeping in on weekends). And if you’re able, maybe it’s finally time to bite the bullet and fix the bathroom or kitchen like you’ve always wanted to. Yes, construction can be a nightmare – the dust, the picking out every little detail, but the end result should make you feel so happy to be there. People often wait until they’re moving to make upgrades. Don’t do that – you’re worth fixing things for! Do it now so you can enjoy your efforts. Bathrooms and kitchens are where it’s at for resale, by the way, where you’ll recoup your expense. Cheers to you to a happy, healthy and fabulous 2018!

LOVE! For February, I would LOVE to know what you LOVE about your home. Drop me a line.

Questions? Is there anything real estate-related that you’d like for me to explore? Email me about it and I’ll work it in. Please indicate if you wish your identity to remain a mystery. 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 202-608-1882 x111-175, or by cell at 202-321-0874. u

EVELYN

EBBRANIC

REALTOR ®

Evelyn’s FallHCollection A P PY N E WEvelyn’s YEAR! Fall Collection Evelyn’s Fall Collection SOLD

Evelyn’s Fall Collection Waterfront Townhome-1257 Carrollsburg Pl SW

Hyattsville-2018 Sheridan St Waterfront Townhome-1257 Carrolls Amazing 3BR, 1.5BA end-unit townhome with parking. 4BR, 2.5BA Colonial with updated Walk to Navy Yard metro. DC10046510 $869,000 Amazing 3BR, 1.5BA end-unit townho & garage. Near Metro . PG10090 Waterfront Townhome-1257 Carrollsburg Pl SW Walk to NavyHyattsville-2018 Sherida Yard metro. DC1004651

CONTRACT Bloomingdale Beauty—1835 1st St NW

Two BR suites + 1BR in-law unit. Zoned MU-4. MRIS DC10024403 $869,000 Bloomingdale Beauty—1835 1st St NW Two BR suites + 1BR in-law unit. Zoned MU-4. MRIS DC10024403 $869,000

COMING SOON

SOLD

605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, 202-741-1674

Washington, DC 20003 Capitol Hill/Old City Ebranic.cbintouch.com #1-1704 D St NE Hyattsville-2018 Sheridan St 202-547-3525 Ebranic@cbmove.com Amazing 3BR, 1.5BA end-unit townhome with parking. 4BR, 2.5BA Colonial with updated kitchen,Three master suite 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Estate Sale. level TH w/rear addi& garage. Near Metro . PG10090012 $398,800 Walk to Navy Yard metro. DC10046510 $869,000 tion, 3BR, 1.5bA, bsmt & OSP. $499,000 Bloomingdale Beauty—1835 1st St NW Washington, DC 20003 Two BR suites + 1BR in-law unit. Zoned MU-4. Estate Sale. Three level TH w/rear addiMRIS DC10024403 $869,000 202-547-3525 tion, 3BR, 1.5bA, bsmt & OSP. $499,000 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Evelyn Branic,®Realtor COMING SOON

Hyattsville-2018 StTownhome-1257 Carrollsburg Pl SW Estate Sheridan Sale.Waterfront Three level TH w/rear addiAmazing 3BR, 1.5BA end-unit townhome with parking. 3BR,with 1.5bA, bsmt &kitchen, OSP. $499,000 4BR, 2.5BAtion, Colonial updated master suite Walk to Navy Yard metro. DC10046510 $869,000 Capitol Hill/Old City #1-1704 & garage. Near Metro . PG10090012 $398,800 D St NE

EVELYN BRANIC REALTOR

Capitol Hill/Old City #1-1704 D St NE

Evelyn Branic, Realtor 202-744-5419

COMING SOON

COMING SOON! Evelyn Branic, Realtor

Capitol Hill/Old City #1-1704 D St NE

Waterfront Townhome-1257 Carrollsburg Pl SW

Two BR suites + 1BR in-law unit. Zoned MU-4. MRIS DC10024403 $869,000

4BR, 2.5BA Colonial with & garage. Near Metro . P

Evelyn B Waterfront Townhome-1257 Carrollsburg Pl SW 202-741-1674 Hyattsville-2018 Sheridan St 202-741-1 Amazing 3BR, 1.5BA end-unit townhome with parking. 4BR, 2.5BA Colonial with upd Ebranic.cbintouch.com Evelyn Branic, Realtor Walk to Navy Yard metro. DC10046510 $869,000 & garage. Near Metro . PG10 Ebranic.cbi Bloomingdale Beauty—1835 1st St NW Ebranic@cbmove.com 202-741-1674 Ebranic@cb Two BR suites + 1BR in-law unit. Zoned MU-4. Ebranic.cbintouch.com MRIS DC10024403 $869,000 Ebranic@cbmove.com Evelyn Branic, Realtor

Evelyn’s Fall Collection

Bloomingdale Beauty—1835 1st St NW

Amazing 3BR, 1.5BA end-unit townhome Bloomingdale Beauty—1835 1st St NW with parking. Walk to Navy Yard metro. DC10046510 $869,000 Two BR suites + 1BR in-law unit. Zoned MU-4. MRIS DC10024403 $869,000

COMING SOON

Evelyn’s Fall Collection

202-741-1674 Ebranic.cbintouch.com Ebranic@cbmove.com

Capitol Hill/Old City #1-1704 D St NE

The Grant, Ryall & Andrew Group Estate Sale. Three level TH w/rear addition, 3BR, 1.5bA, bsmt & OSP. $499,000

202-741-1674 Estate Sale. Three level TH w/rear addiEbranic.cbintouch.com tion, 3BR, 1.5bA, bsmt & OSP. $499,000 Ebranic@cbmove.com

Ebranic.cbintouch.com Ebranic.cbmove.com

Capitol Hill/Old City #1-1704 D St NE

Estate Sale. Three level TH w/rear addition, 3BR, 1.5bA, bsmt & OSP. $499,000

Washington, DC 20003 202-547-3525

605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE Washington, DC 20003 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003 202-547-3525

605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20003 202-547-3525

Wishing You the Best of Everything in 2018 Grant Griffith, Ryall Smith, Andrew Glasow, Fred Saddler

Team Line:

202.741.1654

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Don Denton, VP Broker 605 Pennsylvania Ave SE, WDC 20003 - Main: 202.547. 3525

JANUARY 2018 H 87

. real estate .

CHANGING HANDS Changing Hands is a list of residential sales in Capitol Hill and contiguous neighborhoods from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. NEIGHBORHOOD

PRICE

FEE SIMPLE ANACOSTIA 2236 NICHOLSON ST SE 1353 RIDGE PL SE 1316 W ST SE 2340 GREEN ST SE 1631 R ST SE 1440 T ST SE 1423 19TH ST SE 1431 19TH ST SE 1322 RIDGE PL SE

CAPITOL HILL 131 11TH ST SE 702 MARYLAND AVE NE 1119 SOUTH CAROLINA AVE SE 400 13TH ST SE 402 13TH ST SE 1331 GUETHLER CT SE 520 6TH ST SE 222 G ST NE 812 KENTUCKY AVE SE 214 A ST NE 221 12TH ST SE 1352 SOUTH CAROLINA AVE SE 152 11TH ST NE 1234 D ST SE 529 7TH ST NE 242 11TH ST SE 231 17TH ST SE 305 9TH ST SE 425 5TH ST NE 827 KENTUCKY AVE SE 925 G ST SE 1225 MARYLAND AVE NE 312 14TH PL NE

DEANWOOD 5602 CLAY PL NE 6121 DIX ST NE 5328 GAY ST NE 121 56TH ST SE 239 57TH ST NE 4243 CLAY ST NE 911 47TH ST NE 29 46TH PL NE 4525 FOOTE ST NE 300 47TH ST NE 611 49TH ST NE 4014 BLAINE ST NE 4615 JAY ST NE 22 ANACOSTIA RD NE 4515 EADS PL NE 3974 E.CAPITOL ST NE 3800 CAPITOL ST NE

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$445,000 $427,500 $375,000 $350,000 $310,000 $297,350 $265,000 $260,000 $250,000

3 3 3 3 2 4 3 2 2

$2,340,000 $1,800,000 $1,400,100 $1,370,000 $1,322,000 $1,299,000 $1,256,000 $1,210,000 $1,200,000 $1,192,000 $1,100,000 $955,000 $930,069 $910,000 $899,000 $865,000 $789,950 $785,000 $775,000 $759,000 $735,000 $655,000 $654,000

6 4 4 3 3 5 3 4 4 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 3

$420,000 $415,000 $399,999 $399,900 $399,700 $390,000 $380,000 $360,000 $343,000 $340,000 $335,000 $310,000 $275,000 $252,500 $237,000 $215,000 $200,000

4 4 3 3 4 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 2 3 4

5111 JAY ST NE 907 44TH ST NE 620 44TH ST NE 5082 JAY ST NE 5105 JUST ST NE

$185,900 $185,000 $185,000 $165,000 $130,000

ECKINGTON 161 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE 34 T ST NW 175 UHLAND TER NE 2129 4TH ST NE 1706 1ST ST NW

$929,000 $906,000 $739,000 $735,000 $685,000

FORT DUPONT PARK 4630 HANNA PL SE 300 34TH ST SE 3436 CROFFUT PL SE 4437 ALABAMA AVE SE 1161 46TH PL SE 3301 E ST SE 4347 C ST SE 1531 FORT DUPONT ST SE 4016 E ST SE 438 BURBANK ST SE

$331,000 $425,000 $385,000 $377,000 $359,900 $357,500 $356,000 $315,000 $296,000 $295,000

FORT LINCOLN 2432 BALDWIN CRES NE 2456 BALDWIN CRES NE 3109 35TH ST NE

$659,500 $645,000 $467,000

H STREET CORRIDOR 915 9TH ST NE 1026 7TH ST NE

$995,000 $975,000

HILL CREST 808 30TH ST SE 3723 BANGOR ST SE 3017 PARK DR SE 2127 BRANCH AVE SE 2637 30TH ST SE 2717 BRANCH AVE SE 3645 ALABAMA AVE SE 3410 NASH PL SE 2315 BRANCH AVE SE 3119 G ST SE 3006 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE

$615,000 $564,900 $550,000 $460,000 $426,000 $399,900 $370,000 $363,500 $325,000 $300,000 $300,000

LEDROIT PARK 1883 3RD ST NW 45 W ST NW 78 U ST NW 231 FLORIDA AVE NW 21 U ST NW 2012 2ND ST NW

$1,855,000 $1,369,900 $1,349,999 $1,200,000 $950,000 $720,000

OLD CITY #1 1116 CONSTITUTION AVE NE

$1,375,000

2 3 3 2 2

4 3 4 4 3 3 4 3 2 4 3 3 4 3 2 4 3 3 3 4 5 4 6 3 2 3 3 4 4 3 3 6 5 5 4 5 3 4

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. real estate .

614 G ST NE 223 12TH ST NE 1010 K ST NE 217 15TH ST SE 823 4TH ST NE 314 16TH ST SE 505 14TH ST NE 330 18TH ST NE 1366 G ST SE 816 8TH ST NE 1347 G ST SE 531 12TH ST NE 741 3RD ST NE 1021 6TH ST NE 211 15TH ST NE 612 9TH ST NE 639 MORRIS PL NE 624 14TH PL NE 1505 C ST SE 1514 GALES ST NE 1434 A ST NE 1656 ROSEDALE ST NE 1815 BAY ST SE 918 15TH ST SE 750 13TH ST SE

$1,301,000 $1,191,600 $1,065,000 $1,035,000 $876,000 $835,000 $818,100 $800,000 $780,000 $767,900 $765,000 $762,000 $748,000 $715,000 $713,000 $705,385 $695,000 $681,075 $670,000 $659,900 $630,000 $565,000 $540,000 $470,000 $290,000

OLD CITY #2 1441 W ST NW 1708 3RD ST NW #1 AND 2 602 M ST NW 2127 15TH ST NW 1609 MARION ST NW 1813 WILTBERGER ST NW

$1,099,000 $988,000 $900,000 $895,000 $780,000 $450,000

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1523 TUBMAN RD SE 3146 15TH PL SE 3473 23RD ST SE 1847 S ST SE 3243 15TH PL SE 3446 24TH ST SE 1826 VALLEY TER SE 3419 25TH ST SE 3436 24TH ST SE 1443 ALABAMA AVE SE 3447 25TH ST SE 3105 20TH ST SE 3445 23RD ST SE

$355,000 $341,000 $340,000 $339,500 $306,850 $265,000 $265,000 $255,900 $226,000 $190,000 $165,000 $150,000 $136,000

4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 4 4 6 3 2 2 4 3 3 3 2 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 2

SHAW 1405 5TH ST NW 403 R ST NW 1833 6TH ST NW 1809 6TH ST NW 131 P ST NW

$1,090,000 $1,055,000 $815,000 $615,000 $1,122,500

TRINIDAD 1112 ORREN ST NE 1168 NEAL ST NE 1281 OWEN PL NE 847 20TH ST NE 1429 MONTELLO AVE NE 1219 17TH ST NE 1705 MONTELLO AVE NE 1247 PENN ST NE 1672 MONTELLO AVE NE 1748 LYMAN PL NE

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$940,000 $770,000 $685,000 $650,000 $640,000 $620,000 $620,000 $620,000 $545,000 $525,000

3 3 3 2 4 4 4 4 4 2 4 4 4 3 3

1729 LANG PL NE 1048 BLADENSBURG RD NE

$520,000 $475,000

WOODRIDGE 3015 DOUGLAS ST NE 2600 30TH ST NE 3725 26TH ST NE 2713 17TH ST NE 2823 NEWTON ST NE 2416 HAMLIN PL NE

$733,000 $545,000 $525,000 $505,000 $400,000 $300,000

3 4 5 4 4 3 3 2

2865 31ST PL NE #2865

H STREET 1350 MARYLAND AVE NE #313

BARRY FARMS 2605 DOUGLASS RD SE #302

$262,000

BLOOMINGDALE 1804 1ST ST NW #2 1722 1ST ST NW #2 30 FLORIDA AVE NW #7 30 FLORIDA AVE NW #2 70 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #103 70 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #403 1812 CAPITOL ST NW #301

$895,000 $774,000 $616,000 $499,000 $469,000 $415,000 $540,000

CAPITOL HILL 644 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NE #506 1529 E ST SE #B 518 14TH ST SE #1 220 4TH ST SE #4 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #371 308 CAPITOL ST NE #7 1447 EAST CAPITOL ST SE #3 1427 A ST NE #1427 1125 MARYLAND AVE NE #5 101 NORTH CAROLINA AVE SE #203 225 20TH ST NE #3 225 20TH ST NE #4 96 15TH ST NE #96

$280,000 $949,000 $750,000 $618,000 $555,000 $539,000 $459,955 $379,000 $295,000 $280,000 $634,001 $615,000 $385,000

CENTRAL 2425 L ST NW #204 631 D ST NW #1139 1133 14TH ST NW #PH5 2301 N ST NW #606 2555 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #901 1150 K ST NW #1010 916 G ST NW #706 916 G ST NW #802 631 D ST NW #929 2141 P ST NW #705 801 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1012 601 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1104N 1280 21ST ST NW #708 1330 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #220 1260 21ST ST NW #600

$1,050,000 $859,000 $750,000 $693,500 $690,665 $580,000 $518,000 $518,000 $455,000 $454,000 $399,999 $395,000 $305,000 $268,000 $249,000

ECKINGTON 27 QUINCY PL NE #1 15 R ST NE #B

$683,000 $425,000

FORT LINCOLN 2508 HURSTON LN NE #J 3113 BERRY RD NE #13

$455,000 $210,000

2 4 3 2 2 2 1 2 0 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 0 2 2 1 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 3 3

$404,000

HILL CREST 3922 SOUTHERN AVE SE #202 2006 FORT DAVIS ST SE #201 2026 FORT DAVIS ST SE #302

$72,000 $72,000 $60,500

HILL EAST 1815 A ST SE #102

CONDO

$205,000

$331,600

LEDROIT PARK 2020 FLAGLER PL NW #F104 2121 2ND ST NW #2

$450,000 $299,999

3 1 1 1 1 2 1 1

MOUNT VERNON SQUARE 406 M ST NW #1 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #317 301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #405

$925,000 $515,050 $630,000

4 1 2

NOMA 911 2ND ST NE #605

$520,000

OLD CITY #1 518 14TH ST SE #2 440 12TH ST NE #6 520 E ST NE #203 901 D ST NE #8 1018 13TH ST SE #3 1018 13TH ST SE #1 1301 SOUTH CAROLINA AVE SE #6 1350 MARYLAND AVE NE #108 1025 1ST ST SE #1208 513 12TH ST NE #3 1815 A ST SE #204

$835,000 $600,000 $539,000 $499,900 $492,000 $475,000 $430,000 $409,000 $368,000 $320,000 $275,000

OLD CITY #2 216 MORGAN NW #2 1819 6TH ST NW #A 1441 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #601 910 M ST NW #330 1117 10TH ST NW #304 1413 5TH ST NW #200 1750 16TH ST NW #61 1312 FLORIDA AVE NW #2 1801 16TH ST NW #210 1106 5TH ST NW #2 435 R ST NW #101 1111 11TH ST NW #605 910 M ST NW #309 475 K ST NW #930 1205 N ST NW #F 605 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #3 475 K ST NW #323 426 M ST NW #E 1314 W ST NW #B 1930 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #53 475 K ST NW #1128 1420 N ST NW #612 2004 11TH ST NW #231 1616 11TH ST NW #PH2 1700 17TH ST NW #308 80 NEW YORK AVE NW #101 1245 13TH ST NW #715

$810,000 $775,000 $765,000 $760,000 $760,000 $735,000 $720,000 $647,000 $633,000 $630,000 $619,000 $603,000 $600,000 $599,900 $575,000 $574,999 $570,000 $550,000 $549,000 $539,000 $510,000 $459,500 $459,000 $422,000 $400,000 $393,000 $384,500

1 3 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 0 2 1 3 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 1

811 4TH ST NW #222 1 SCOTT CIR NW #213 437 M ST NW #5

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1310 CONGRESS ST SE #101 3074 30TH ST SE #304 3074 30TH ST SE #104

RLA (SW)

800 4TH ST SW #N320 800 4TH ST SW #S818 355 I ST SW #114 350 G ST SW #N111 700 7TH ST SW #322 1250 4TH ST SW #W105 240 M ST SW #E207 240 M ST SW #E102

SHAW

469 RIDGE ST NW #1 SW Waterfront 355 I ST SW #620 240 M ST SW #E513 226 G ST SW #109

TRINIDAD

1149 OWEN PL NE #1

WOODRIDGE 2302 18TH ST NE #2302

$359,500 $272,500 $239,000

1 1 0

$89,016 $21,000 $20,000

3 2 2

$470,000 $383,000 $382,500 $380,000 $320,000 $280,000 $249,000 $225,000

2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0

$364,000

$399,999 $247,500 $665,000

1 0 3

$380,000

$290,000

2018

WARM WISHES FOR A JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

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Pam Kristof 202.253.2550

Licensed in DC, MD & VA

RESIDENTIAL SALES AND LISTINGS COMMERCIAL LEASING AND SALES

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COOP CAPITOL HILL 115 2ND ST NE #15

OLD CITY #1

1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #814

OLD CITY #2 1915 16TH ST NW #602 1701 16TH ST NW #334 1701 16TH ST NW #607 1440 W ST NW #305

RLA (SW)

1239 4TH ST SW 1301 DELAWARE AVE SW #N603 1301 DELAWARE AVE SW #N204

WATERFRONT 520 N ST SW #28 510 N SW #319 u

$299,000

$549,000

$500,000 $479,900 $220,000 $163,000

2 2 0 1

$799,000 $261,800 $212,000

2 1 1

$319,900 $177,000

1 0

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JANUARY 2018 H 91

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arts ining d and

DINING NOTES By Celeste McCall

Little Pearl Arrives Last month, Aaron Silverman unveiled his long-awaited Little Pearl in the Hill Center’s historic carriage house. The newcomer replaces Bayou Bakery. Located at 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Silverman’s coffee house/wine bar joins his fancier sister restaurants—Pineapple and Pearls and Rose’s Luxury--on nearby Barracks Row. Heading the sandwich agenda is gravlax (cured salmon) on sourdough—honoring Silverman’s Jewish heritage and San Francisco’s famous bread. “The Touchdown” dresses corned beef with Thousand Island dressing. The menu also showcases other sandwiches, salads, housemade pastries and gelato. There’s also a lengthy coffee list, along with beer, wine and cocktails. Pearl is open 6 days a week (closed Monday). Call 202595-7375 or visit www.littlepearldc.com.

Seafood on the Wharf On a frigid Friday night, Peter and I joined another couple for dinner at Del Mar. Located at the Wharf, this stunning seafood palace is the latest creation of Fabio and his Spanish-born wife Maria Trabocchi. First thing we noticed: no tablecloths. This absence gave the bustling restaurant a casual, bistro feel. The seafood display, circular bar and display kitchen added to the ambience. From the wine list, we ordered a bottle of Spanish red: Prado Rey La Mina Reserva ($70). It’s cost-effective to spring for a bottle instead of wines by the glass, which are priced in the high teens to mid-twenties. Bread does not appear automatically; you will need to order it. As we sipped vino, we began with tapas: pulpo Gallega (tender octopus with mashed Yukon Gold potatoes), presented in a handsome wooden vessel. Other standout tapas are charcoal-grilled beets with sheep’s cheese, and creamy croquetas jamon (fritters swathed with Iberian ham). But paellas are the star at Del Mar. We opted for arroz calamari in su tinta—rice with squid stewed in its ink. The dish was served tableside. Some squid rings were slightly rubbery, but otherwise the dish was superb. Reservations are almost essential, and the decibel level is high. We could barely hear ourselves think, much less carry on a coherent conversation. Del Mar’s lofty prices make it a speAt Little Pearl, a server hoists a tray of over-stuﬀed sandwiches.

JANUARY 2018 H 93

. arts and dining .

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Del Mar’s display kitchen is especially busy on Friday night. Grilled beet salad is a popular appetizer at Del Mar. Octopus is a tender, flavorful seafood at Del Mar.

cial occasion place. Dinner for four came to $250, before tip. Service was excellent, although a diner had to request bruschetta several times, but management removed the item from our tab. Located at 791 Wharf St. SW, Del Mar is open daily, including weekend brunch. Call 202-525-1402 or visitdelmardc.com.

Indian Delight In the Navy Yard, Rahul Vinod and Sahil Rahman have unveiled Rasa Indian Grill, a fast-casual eatery at 1247 First St. SE. Customers are transported to India even before they enter the 2,300-squarefoot space, designed by HapstakDemetriou+. An ornate door was created by Rahman’s aunt in India and shipped here in pieces. Inside, the cavernous space emits a whimsical vibe — starting with a three-seat swing set behind the main window. Wall shelving is filled with books, plants, spices, and typewriters. Lifelong friends, Vinod and Rahman grew up in the restaurant business. Rahul’s father is chef K.N. Vinod, co-owner of Cleveland Park’s Indique and Bombay Bistro in Rockville. Vinod’s partner Surfy Rahman, is Sahil’s dad. Rasa is open daily for lunch and dinner; call 202-804-5678 or visit www.rasagrill.com.

Lebanese in Navy Yard Haidar Karoum, who has cooked at Proof, Estadio and Doi Moi, is launching Chloe, showcasing his Lebanese roots and extensive travels through Europe and Asia. For his eclectic menu, Karoum will tap local ingredients. The 3,200-square-foot space will include an open kitchen with a “green herb wall,” outdoor patio and light fixtures. Chloe is named after Karoum’s niece, as well as the Greek goddess of agriculture.

Beyond Pop Tarts Move over, pop tarts. You might get replaced. Restaurateur Steve Salis, who purchased the Ted’s Bulletin chain from the Matchbox Food Group, is reportedly tapping an award-winning pastry chef to spiff up its baking. The doughy upgrade will involve more than the popular pop tarts created in the window of the original Ted’s. Salis also plans to beef up the rest of the menu. Salis also cofounded the &pizza chain, which has outlets on

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Barracks Row, plus the original on H street NE and elsewhere.

Eat your Veggies Northeast is getting more healthy options, thanks to a Shouk spinoff. Operated by founder Ran Nussbacher, Shouk is unveiling its second outpost—this one near Union Market. The original Israeli-inspired eatery, which opened last year at 613 K St. NW (Mount Vernon Triangle), dishes out vegetable and legume-filled pita bread, salads, black bean/ chickpea/cauliflower burgers and other plant-based options. There’s also a small wine and beer selection, plus house-made “market drinks.” The new Shouk will be ensconced in the Edison development in the “Union Market District,” a fast-developing area that’s also getting a Politics and Prose bookstore. For updates visit www.shouk.com.

Cava Rolls into Union Station The ever-expanding Mediterranean chain Cava plans to open two more restaurants this year, including a spinoff in Union Station. The D.C.based company has recently added numerous offshoots, plus a new production kitchen in Laurel, a corporate office in Chinatown, and a home base to test products like its signature sauces. Recently opened: Cavas in Navy Yard and in the Atlas District (H street NE). Speaking of Union Station: the bustling travel hub has also added a sweet option for travelers, the French confectioner Ladurée. Based in Paris, Laduree operates shops in London and elsewhere, including one in Georgetown. Some say Laduree’s macarons are the best outside of France.

Bye Bye Banana After almost a quarter century serving ropa vieja, mofongo and frosty margaritas, Barracks Row’s Cuban/Puerto Rican/Tex-Mex mainstay Banana Cafe, closed last month. “After 25 wonderful years of great memories and good times at Banana Cafe and the upstairs Piano Bar, it is time to say farewell,” said Banana Café owner Jorge Zamorano. He sold the restaurant building to White Star Investment for an undisclosed sum. Cuban-born Zamorano had joined the Long Star Cantina in 1992, and eventually transformed the space into the Banana Café.

JANUARY 2018 H 95

Union Market’s Gorsha dishes out spicy Ethiopian fare.

“I’ve given this a lot of thought and decided it was time to move on,” said Zamorano, 59, who lives in Cheverly. “Twentyfive years is a long time…I’d like to go back to school, travel and get back into painting. An accomplished artist, Jorge decorated Banana Café with his colorful works. “I’ve made many friends,” he added. “They are almost like family.

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We’ve checked out Gorsha, the Ethiopian-inspired pop-up Kwame Onwuachi opened in Union Market with fellow chef Hiyaw Gebreyohannes. Kwame has gone on to unveil his highly touted Kith and Kin at the Wharf, but Gorsha remains. For lunch, we ordered a “big bowl,” full of braised lamb, beets, kale, cukes and other vegetables, piled atop a mound of rice and ringed with injera. The $13 portion easily fed both of us. Other protein options are short ribs, berbere chicken and yellowfin tuna, unusual for Ethiopian dishes. You can also get “injera pockets,” crammed with meats and veggies; three for $9. Union Market is closed Monday. u

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CAPITOL ROOTS

EAGLESMITH SOARS WHERE FEW SONGWRITERS GO by Charles Walston red Eaglesmith grew up on a farm in Ontario. His family’s life was hard, but when they finally got a TV and he watched an Elvis Presley special from Hawaii, he saw a way out. “I said, ‘There’s an escape. That’s what I’m going to do.’ But I’ve still never been to Hawaii.” Eaglesmith has, however, performed just about everywhere else, and he’ll come to Hill Country on Jan. 7 with his wife and musical partner, Tif Ginn. Eaglesmith started writing songs when he was in sixth grade, and hopped a freight train out West as a teenager. He made up stories about drifters, drunks, truckers and other folks who struggle, usually finding humor in their rough lives.

He released his first album in 1980 and has made 21 more since then. Along the way, Eaglesmith’s songs have earned him a modest but devoted following. “Wherever I go there’s probably 100 people. They’re true fans. This isn’t a good time for artists, but I have managed to squeak through. I feel real fortunate that I can play stuff that in the modern world isn’t relevant.” In fact, a song like “Kansas” always seems relevant: It’s always Kansas, that’s where I always break down That’s where my world tumbles to the ground. It’s always Kansas, it’s where I fall apart It’s where my broken heart catches up with you.

Donna the Buffalo brings a groove-driven brand of Americana to The Hamilton on Jan. 19. Photo: Bill Davis

Eaglesmith is a stage name (he was born Frederick John Elgersma), and intentionally or not, it provides an insight into his approach: studious craft in the service of lofty ambition. It took him a while to accept his gift for humor in storytelling, as in lines like “Me and the missus were fresh out of kisses.” “When I was 23, maybe I wasn’t brave enough to show it,” he said. “But when I understood what my quirk was, and that people actually liked it, I got to be the biggest class clown. In performance, Eaglesmith’s humor bubbles up in his songs and also in his stage patter, which can range from riffs on comb-overs to accordions. He’s not above repeating a good story, because “it’s easier to find a new audience than a new joke.” At a recent show he went on a tirade against tribute bands. Informed that there is such a group in Baltimore that performs his songs, he said, “I’m not even dead yet! But I guess I don’t mind a tribute band that pays homage … covering somebody’s songs because you like the songs.” www.fredeaglesmith.com www.hillcountry.com/ dc/music-calendar

Donna the Buffalo, Greensky Bluegrass Bill Monroe would probably call it bluegrass blasphemy (he did that

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Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn perform at Hill Country on Jan.7. Photo: Hill Country

a lot), but some old-time musicians like to play rock music. Donna the Buffalo, which started almost 30 years ago as a fiddle-based group, has become a reliably groovy mainstay at music festivals. The band recently released a catchy video for its song “Across the Way,” and will perform at The Hamilton on Jan. 19. The members of Greensky Bluegrass apply their serious chops in a jam-band way. They’ll be at The Anthem on Feb. 3 along with Billy Strings, who plays acoustic guitar like a cross between Doc Watson and a heavy metal shredder. www.donnathebuffalo.com www.thehamiltondc.com www.greenskybluegrass.com www.theanthemdc.com/calendar Charles Walston writes songs and sings in The Truck Farmers, which will perform at Mr. Henry’s on Feb. 8. u

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ARTIST PORTRAIT: MICHAEL FORD ichael Ford goes by feel. He’s a “Zen photographer.” It’s about trying to find “the zone—not thinking about what you’re doing…just doing.” It’s the feel that comes from experience and the confidence of instinctively knowing. The photos from his “HOMEPLACE” project are from his 16mm documentary now in the collection of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress. The place is northern Mississippi in the early 1970s. It could be the 1920s or 30s. Not much had changed. The people and places tell the story. It was slower then—more deliberate. There was little sense that it was all drifting away—leaving only the shadows of memories with a few old folks—relics from a simpler time…but maybe from a more honest time. Michael Ford was New York raised with a B.F.A. in Photography and Film. He traveled to Mississippi hill country for his Masters’ thesis and found Mr. M.R. Hall, the local blacksmith. And found a way of life. And a way of thinkin’ ‘bout things.

He became an apprentice to Mr. Hall— learning the trade of a blacksmith and the ways of a small town. People needed to have things fixed—everything. It was a maintenance shop as well as a smith. They came to Mr. Hall, who was “…magic in his person and as a blacksmith.” Michael took pictures and nobody minded. The pictures speak in that same backcountry manner. They are non-pretentious testimonies to a lost era, yet they have the same sense of touch—color, composition and light—that you find in his recent work. And a delicate, deep awareness of story. Michael Ford started Yellow Cat Productions in 1972. Yellow Cat, headquartered on Capitol Hill, has produced award-winning documentaries on cultures around the world. www.yellowcat.com

Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art The “Old South” was a way of thinking that found its way into literature, music and of course, art. Not very sophisticated—raw— but it came from deep inside the artist. They

Aubrey Jefferies at his homeplace, Chulahoma, Miss, 1972. We called Jefferies’ home “Circle Stacks” because of the way he piled his firewood into round beehive-looking stacks.

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by Jim Magner

A study in blue. Winrer at the forge. Oxford, Miss. 1973. OSHA probably wouldn’t have liked the Little Giant trip hammer but we never hurt ourselves in that particular way.

used whatever was leftover, and not much was—just the scraps of a meager existence. Life was harder—you see that in the art of the time and place—but daily life was more interdependent. Closer. Friendlier. People needed each other. There was more satisfaction with less because everyone had less. Professional photographers usually came from the outside—voyeurs from the north—trying to capture the rustics in their native habitat. Michael Ford (see: Artist Profile) knew that to really understand the people of northern Mississippi, he had to become one. This was also a place and time disappearing, just as your world is now. You’re only sort of aware. It’s somewhere in the back of your mind, where concepts are hazy, like dust clouds where stars are born. When you’re young, you think everything is static…the way things have always been and always will be. You are not necessarily aware that you are living in a mere moment of change—change that is accelerating unevenly, but inexorably. If you take the time to look, to really see, your

Tallahatchie River railroad bridge. Lafayette County. 1973. Built in 1908 Part of the Illinois Central Line. It always seem to have fishermen, boaters, loafers and lovers about.

world is disappearing before your eyes. That is where art comes in. It’s the observation of the way things are, not just appearance, but the essence of it. Documentaries are about the way things are, but they end up being about the way things change, whether it’s the American South, a village in Senegal, or a tribe in Northern Thailand. It’s not just the fact of the place, it’s the feeling. That’s what Michael Ford is after. Art is at its best when it comes from deep inside.

At the Galleries Hill Center 921 Pennsylvania. Ave. SE Jan 4 – Feb 25 Opening reception: Wed., Jan. 10, 6:30 – 8:30 The Hill Center is welcoming 2018 with three new exhibitions running concurrently: “Stitched! Stories told in Clay, Fiber, Textiles, and Paints.” Five local artists give new looks to something very old: the quilt. Some approaches are woven into a visual narrative while others go beyond traditional patterns and colors to find a personal expression. It’s a terrific show.

• Kasse Andrews-Weller draws upon her Southern rural roots to interpret great quilt patterns and color compositions with clay. • Paula Cleggett’s oil paintings of daily life [have] the comfort and often the patterns of the home-made quilt. • Lillian Fitzgerald’s layered encaustics capture the richness of memory and the beauty of living. • Sandy Hassan’s quilts sing with color harmonies and hypnotizing patterns. • Desiree Sterbini’s oil pastel paintings are inspired by her grandmother’s quilts—stitched together from the family’s “fabrics of life.” “Cool Guy Alert! By Charlie Visconage” Charlie Visconage comes at you with guns blazing, firing primary colors at your crazy undecipherable world. But look out—there are some very serious ideas under the comic cover. Laughs, too.

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Capitol Hill Art League Juried Invitational The “Invitational” includes thirty-one artists from the Capitol Hill Art League, a visual arts program featuring members from the DC area. You’ll discover a great range of topics, media and techniques. The only commonality is the dedication and skill of the artists. Jurors Nicky Cymrot and Alan Braley of the Hill Center Galleries will announce five “Best in Show” awards during the January 10 opening reception. hillcenterdc.org/galleries. All Member Exhibit Foundry Gallery 2118 8th St. NW Jan. 3 – 28 Opening reception: Sat., Jan 6, 5 - 8 This is first Foundry show of the new year. It’s an all-member exhibit and introduces several artists who recently joined the longtime members. This is truly quality work. A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim can be reached at Artandthecity05@aol.com. Jim’s award-winning book, “A Haunting Beauty” can be acquired through www.ahauntingbeauty.com u

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. arts and dining .

AT THE MOVIES

TWO STEADFAST LADIES SHINE

One Changing the Newspaper Game and One Running a Poker Game by Mike Canning

‘The Post’ Steven Spielberg’s last DC-based movie was a triumph: “Lincoln” in 2012. It featured a stirring historical moment, showing, in the battle for the 13th Amendment, the best ever cinematic treatment of legislative process. Come 2017, and Spielberg presents another DC movie with historical import, this one more current but also momentous. “The Post,” just arrived for Christmas, dramatizes the decision by The Washington Post to publish the Pentagon Papers, an act threatening the paper’s very existence. The movie recreates that moment with consummate skill and suspense. (Now in theaters, the film is rated PG-13 and runs 116 minutes.) Co-written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, “The Post” begins with a Vietnam War episode, wherein young RAND consultant Daniel Ellsberg (Matthew Rhys) comes face-to-face with the real-

ities of the war and makes the crucial decision, together with other colleagues, to purloin a copy of a classified Pentagon study on American involvement in Vietnam – later named the Pentagon Papers – then to duplicate it and then seek to have it published. The document eventually finds its way to The New York Times, which publishes excerpts on June 13, 1971, only to be served with an injunction from the Nixon administration from publishing further. The Post, exasperated by The Times’ coup, seeks out its own copy of the papers, and, through a connection Post reporter Ben Bagdikian (Bob Odenkirk) has with Ellsberg, comes into possession of the collection. For a time, the dilemma whether to publish or not vexes publisher Katherine (Kay) Graham (Meryl Streep), executive editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), their staff and their legal team, presenting the possibility of contempt of

Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep star in “The Post.” Photo: Niko Tavernise, courtesy of 20th Century Fox (2017)

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court charges and even jail time. On their decision hangs the fate of the newspaper – and the truth. This First Amendment thriller plays out in roughly a week of June 1971, and Spielberg and company keep the tension up, even though the action is mainly people hollering at each other in offices and pressrooms. Luckily, that hollering consists mostly of swift and smart dialogue delivered by a bunch of seasoned players like Odenkirk, as well as Tracey Letts, Carrie Coon, Bradley Whitford, Sarah Paulson, Michael Stuhlbarg, David Cross, among others. Bruce Greenwood, a stalwart in political dramas (he played JFK in “Thirteen Days”), is a forceful yet conniving Defense Secretary Bob McNamara, trying, through his good friend Kay, to quash the papers, which he commissioned. The true dynamic, of course, is the interplay between Graham and Bradlee, the latter urging the former to give the OK for journalistic, legal and even personal reasons. It’s the crusty, inkstained scribe testing his retiring, aims-to-please boss thrown into a role for which she has been little prepared. Hanks doesn’t much look like Bradlee, but he gets the man’s energy and growl right and delivers his lines with pungency and urgency; a big cat on a chain. The contrast with Streep’s Graham is stark. We see her first in sweet hostess mode, a woman allergic to confrontation and censure. The dramatic arc Streep must undertake to become a decision-maker is glorious to watch, achieved in timely increments and facial signals rather than with fancy flourishes. One perfect example of her evolution comes in an intimate sit-down with the irascible McNamara. He pleads against The Post’s publishing, to which she responds: “I’m asking your advice, Bob, not your permission.” Typical of DC movies these days, “The Post” barely uses our city (most of it was shot in White Plains, N.Y., and a Brooklyn studio).

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Jessica Chastain (standing left) in “Molly’s Game,” an STX Entertainment release.

Local shooting basically incorporated the standard monuments as backdrops to show the dramatic delivery of the papers. Thus, we see bound copies of The Post being curiously dumped off trucks at sites where no papers are ever delivered, like the front of the Capitol, at the White House gates on Pennsylvania Avenue and random sites near the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. For Capitol Hill locals, the strangest drop is right onto East Capitol Street flanking the Folger Library, just to get that Capitol dome in! (Note: Spielberg adds a lovely homage at the end, which shows the discovery of the Watergate break-in in a sequence that imitates the opening shots from that other great journalistic DC movie, “All the President’s Men.”)

‘Molly’s Game’ The first directorial effort by screenwriter extraordinaire Aaron Sorkin could hardly be anything but a word-fest. Sorkin is singular in his screenplays and teleplays for displaying a torrent of dialogue, often delivered on the run (nicknamed

the “walk and talk” style). More, he is able to produce logorrhea on arcane subjects such as baseball statistics, social media, TV journalism or legislative conundrums. In his latest film, “Molly’s Game,” his subject is high-stakes poker – as practiced among celebrities, multi-millionaires and members of the Russian mob – and as usual he can sweep you along even if you understand little. (Opened at Christmas, the film is rated R and runs 140 minutes.) What Sorkin has up his sleeve or in the hole (can’t resist the card cliches) is Jessica Chastain as his Molly. She is Molly Bloom, a real-life figure who, in a memoir, wrote about her running high-stakes poker games for a decade in Los Angeles and New York. The film opens with Molly being rudely arrested by the FBI in the middle of the night. Her supposed mob “connections” are the trigger for the arrest, and she promptly hires criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Idris Elba), who hears Molly’s story as played out in flashbacks. Unlike other Sorkin scripts, this one depends greatly on a narra(contunied on pg. 105)

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WINE GIRL

by Elyse Genderson

TOAST-WORTHY SPARKLING WINES Make 2018 Your Best Year for Savoring Luxurious Bubbles

ew Year’s resolutions can be hard to keep. We all strive to make lifestyle changes like getting more exercise and dieting, and even self-care considerations like taking more vacations and long weekends. Some of us will attempt to accomplish personal or career goals. However, many of these resolutions can slip through the cracks come February. So how about creating a resolution that is actually fun actually. Make 2018 the year to drink well and learn more about wine!As bubbles are the classic drink to ring in the New Year, put together a mixed case of these outstanding sparklers at a variety of price points and styles. You don’t need to spend a ton to enjoy wonderful sparkling wines and you shouldn’t be discouraged by low priced bottles ether. Just because sparkling wines are affordable does not mean that the quality will suffer. In fact, outstanding sparklers come from great grape-growing regions like Spanish Cavas, Italian Proseccos, Alsatian Crémant, and even Australian Shiraz. These wines offer serious value for money and most importantly, they are delicious. So drink well and Happy New Year! NV Bleasdale Red Brute Sparkling, South Australia $19.99: This wonderful sparkling Shiraz comes from Langhorne Creek, a town in South Australia less than an hour’s drive from Adelaide. The Red Brute offers notes of blueberry, raspberry, and violet. The sweet fruit and elegant effervescence pairs perfectly with cheesecake, and even roasted red meats.

Cava Spain has been producing Cava for more than one hundred years. Cava wines are made in the same, Traditional Method as French Champagne where the second fermentation happens inside the bottle, giving it its bubbles. However, they have completely different characteristics as they’re made with indigenous Spanish grapes, Macabeo, Xarello, and Parellada, and are affected by the distinct Mediterranean terroir. NV Gran Gesta Cava, Spain $13.99: Aromas of butterscotch, green apple, and toast. You’ll find crisp acidity, elegant tiny bubbles, and a long finish. Only native yeasts are used in the fermentation process. In fact, the winery pioneered the use of native yeast in Cava and continues to lead research in this field though a partnership with the University of Barcelona.

Prosecco Prosecco is produced in the hills of the Vene-

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to region in Northeast Italy. Vineyards here are planted to Prosecco grapes on steep terraced slopes. Produced in the Charmat method, Prosecco wines have a fresh, bright, and fruity quality, leaning towards the sweeter end of the spectrum. This is because of the grape, and that the second fermentation happens in a large stainless steel tank prior to bottling, rather than in the bottle like in Champagne and Cava production. Additionally, Prosecco does not have long aging minimums contributing to the fruity, flowery quality. NV La Tordera Alne Millesimato Prosecco Extra Dry, Veneto, Italy $15.99: The Alnè vineyard where this Prosecco comes from is very rare in Treviso as it has clay soils. This gives the wine an especially fruity nose of green apple, pear, melon, and honey, along with a round palate. Alnè’s fruity characteristics make the wine an ideal pairing with spicier foods.

Cremant Crémant is the French word for any sparkling wine that is made in the Traditional Method outside of the Champagne region. There is also a minimum aging period of nine months on the lees (dead yeast cells) which gives the wines a creamy texture. NV Polo Club Cremant d’Alsace, France $15.99: The Polo Club offers a tremendous value with

bright aromas of citrus and apple and has an assertive weight on the palate. The piercing acidity makes it a lovely aperitif or brunch sparkler.

Champagne Champagne - the benchmark for sparkling wines - are more expensive than other bubbles, but the complexity, quality, and terroir makes them unique. These classic examples come in under $40 and once you take the first sip, you’ll understand why you’re spending the extra dough. There is a minimum of 12 months aging requirements for non-vintage Champagne prior to disgorgement on the lees. This is called aging “sur lie.” Most producers do age for much longer than the minimum. This is essential to creating the earthy, yeasty, biscuit aromas of Champagne. NV Poilvert-Jacques Brut Champagne, France $35.99: The Poilvert family’s winemaking history can be traced back to 1663 near Epernay in the heart of the Marne Valley. Jacques Poilvert owns 9 acres of prime vineyard sites. Together, he and his daughter produce a full range of Champagne. The nonvintage Brut is assembled from two red grape varieties, 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Pinot Meunier. Kept on the lees for 3 years before disgorgement, it is big, toasty and yeasty. This wine is mature but still has bright acidity that keeps it from being heavy. Despite the maturity of this wine, it still has ripe youthful apple and pear fruit. NV Montaudon Grand Rose Brut Champagne, France $39.99: Pink bubbles are always festive and this Champagne is rich and balanced with lovely notes of strawberry, candied cherry, and watermelon. Pair with tuna sashimi. Visit Elyse Genderson at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill to discover wines you love. u

welcome to the

(contunied from pg. 103) tor, Molly, who in measured tones tells the story of her gambling life. That story emphasizes that Molly was ever and always legal, never pocketing table winnings but only receiving tips from players and duly reporting all her earnings to the IRS! Where the walk and talk comes in “Molly’s Game” is in the fencing back and forth between Jaffey and Bloom, where the exchange is in legal jargon, and the dialogues with her poker colleagues, where the language is often that of seven-card stud. Just let the words pour over you and enjoy the actors’ handling of them. Chastain handles the dialogue and the character with cool self-possession, presenting a woman under pressure who radiates confidence. Hollywood smoothies like Player X (Michael Cera) or lovable moon dogs like Douglas (Chris O’Dowd) try to manipulate her, but she is too clever to be waylaid. Her assured demeanor echoes much of her role in last year’s “Miss Sloane” but substituting poker for lobbying. Chastain has already earned two Oscar nominations during this decade (for “The Help” and “Zero Dark Thirty”). Don’t be surprised if she nabs another this month.

Awards Time: Best Films of the Year Early last month, the Washington Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) voted for its best films and performances of the year. The horror-comedy “Get Lost” won as Best Picture, and Frances McDormand (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”), Gary Oldman (“Darkest Hour”) and director u

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readers to follow along, the book traces the two trajectories that would end in tragedy in Memphis fifA Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events ty years ago next April. by Karen Lyon Complete with period documents and photographs, chronologies and an extensive bibliography, “Chasing King’s Killer” teaches an invaluable history lesson, especially for those who were not around to live it. As Congressman John Lewis states in his foreword, “This is a book that every young American should read.” But the book can also serve as a reminder to all of us, not only of the terrible loss America suffered, but also of how far James L. Swanson, the best-selling author of we still have to go. “Manhunt,” tracks Martin “James Swanson Luther King’s assassin in his new book. Photo: Lisa Nipp has told the story,” writes Congressman Lewis, “and now I say to you: Tell the Story Tell the story, tell the story, and tell it over and over How could such a “ten-cent white man” pull again.” What better way to commemorate the 50th off the murder of a “million-dollar black man?” anniversary of King’s assassination than to reviswondered one of Martin Luther King’s associit—and learn from—the leg acy of this towering civates. That’s the question that historian James L. il rights leader who changed the course of history. Swanson’s addresses in his new book, “Chasing Swanson has also written the award-winning King’s Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, young adult books, “Chasing Lincoln’s Killer” Jr.’s Assassin.” and “The President Has Been Shot!: The AssasThe New York Times bestselling author of sination of John F. Kennedy.” Follow him on Twit“Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killter @JamesLSwanson. ers” now turns his journalistic skills to the King assassination. His well-researched and thoroughCity of Magnificent Intentions ly documented account follows the trajectories of Ever since Washington, DC, was carved out of the two men—the civil rights icon and his killer, two slave-owning states in the late 18th century, James Earl Ray— in the days leading up to the the city has been a cauldron of racial contradicmurder, creating suspense even as he conveys a tions. Unable to shed the impact of slavery, DC doomed sense of the inevitable. nonetheless became an early haven for free blacks While most readers will be familiar with the and ground zero for the abolitionist cause. Even story, Swanson fills in fresh details, fleshing out the in the first majority-black city in the US, though, life of the courageous visionary and of the petty the promise of full equality remains elusive. criminal who ended it. Told in clear, concise prose In “Chocolate City: A History of Race and with enough historical background to allow young

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Democracy in the Nation’s Capital,” historians Chris Myers Asch and George Derek Musgrove explore the ongoing struggle to secure rights not only for the capital city’s black citizens but for the disenfranchised of all races. At nearly 500 pages, “Chocolate City” offers an exhaustively researched yet thoroughly accessible account of DC history. The authors provide a complete chronology, from DC’s earliest days through the Civil War and emancipation, Jim Crow laws and the legal challenges for suffrage and civil rights, the riots and conflicts over segregation that dominated the turbulent 1960s, the ongoing struggle with the federal government over home rule, and the rise and fall of controversial mayor Marion Barry. In some ways, Asch and Musgrove con-

Historians Chris Myers Asch (left) and George Derek Musgrove analyze more than two centuries of race and democracy in DC.

Author E.J. Wenstrom continues her Chronicles of the Third Realm War with the science fiction fantasy “TIDES.”

clude, what Charles Dickens called “the City of Magnificent Intentions” continues to reflect the country’s tensions between its democratic ideals and its racial realities. But the authors are keeping the faith. “We hope that this book will inspire Washingtonians to take up the challenge of black and white abolitionists, of former slaves and Radical Republicans, of civil rights and home rule activists, of freeway protesters and cooperative organizers, to build a more just, egalitarian, and democratic nation’s capital.” Chris Myers Asch is editor of “Washington History” and teaches history at Colby College. George Derek Musgrove is associate professor of history at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the author of “Rumor, Repression, and Racial Politics: How the Harassment of Black Elected Officials Shaped Post-Civil Rights America.”

The Fate of the Realm Rona is back from the Underworld and she’s spoiling for a fight. “The idea of a fight makes me feel more alive,” she thinks. “And I have a feeling I will get my fight in good time.” In “TIDES,” the third book in E.J. Wenstrom’s Chronicles of the Third Realm War, Rona gets her battle—and then some. Despite being weakened by her ordeal in the Underworld, she insists on accompanying Jordan, the charismatic leader of Haven, and

Adem, the golem who brought her back from the dead, on a diplomatic mission to a nearby town. It does not go well. In fact, all hell breaks loose—literally—with dark forces unleashed into a magical maelstrom of war that pits good against evil. “If I had known all the pain and disaster that lay ahead when we left, would I still have demanded that they bring me along?” she wonders. “The Gods alone know what waits ahead.” As if her quest weren’t challenging enough, Rona must also overcome her own fears and help lead the people out of theirs. “We live in a time where angels fall from the sky and holes tear open between the realms,” Jordan tells the townspeople. “These are troubled times and there are good reasons to be scared. But we cannot be ruled by fear.” In the end, Rona not only faces her worst terrors, but she also comes to rediscover a cause worth fighting for. She and her band of flawed but fierce warriors must take on nothing less than the task of saving their world from annihilation. Award-winning fantasy and science fiction author E.J. Wenstrom is also the author of “MUD” and “RAIN,” the two previous books in the series. Find her at ejwenstrom.com.

On the Hill in January East City Bookshop presents a discussion with Celia Wexler (“Catholic Women Confront Their Church”) and Simone Campbell (“A Nun on the Bus”), Jan. 11, 6:30 p.m.; Saving Family Memories: A Writing Workshop with author Louise Farmer Smith, Jan. 14., 3:005:00 p.m.; Melodie Winawer (“The Scribe of Siena”), Jan 18, 6:30 p.m.; Samira Ahmed (“Love, Hate and Other Filters”), Jan 23, 6:30 p.m.; and Maud Casey in conversation with Josh Tyree on “The Art of the Mystery,” Jan. 29, 6:30 p.m. www.eastcitybookshop.com. Norman Metzger will discuss “Separating and Remaining: Families in Nazi Germany” (available on Kindle), at the Friday Night Book Group, Christ Church, 620 G St., SE, Jan 5, light supper 6:30 p.m., discussion 7 p.m. All are welcome. http://washingtonparish.org/events-2/announcements/ or 202-547-9300. u

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Last Call on Capitol Hill Perched on marble steps with a clove cigarette and forehead sweat, listening to cicadas — Tony’s day stretches forth like a shadow. Flashback to thunder from an earlier storm, the reveille of a backyard firework booming between the columns. These are the last legs of summer: luxurious days, filled with iced tea and toothaches.

THE POETIC HILL

by Karen Lyon

Have You Liked Us Yet? The Most Up-to-Date Capitol Hill News!

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eading Jonathan Lewis’s new book, “Babel On,” is like spending time in the company of a very observant and literate friend. Spanning the year, his poems present glimmering impressions of time and place, character sketches limned with a few well-chosen words, and stories that take on a life beyond the economy of their precise, telling details. Jonathan’s poems have been published in five countries and written in English, French, and Spanish. “Babel On” is the winner of the 2017 L+S Press Mid-Atlantic Chapbook Series competition, and Jonathan was also the 2017 winner of the Southeast DC Library’s Haiku Contest and a runner up in the Golden Haiku Contest. He lives in Washington, DC, where he is a member of the Federal Poets, and co-hosts the Poets’ Corner@Tunnicliff ’s reading at the Literary Hill BookFest.

Pushing oﬀ the step, the body braces to lift itself. Now strolling, his metal limb scrapes the bricks that pave Eastern Market. He searches for his wallet which has the prescription from the VA– loses something every day– while a fire still burns in the knee. Mockingbirds scoop up fireflies in the dusk. Tony emerges from the CVS with a plastic bag — out come the bottles of pills. He pauses: the bugler down on Barracks row is kulning “Taps” in jaundiced light. The bag rustles in his fingertips, the ring long gone; he hasn’t spoken to her in sixteen years. A halo forms beneath the sodium lamp. And then the world is twilight: a humming choir, shades of gold-dust. All that remains is the hollow face, a window, an allostatic load. Tony glows softly among the rowhouse shadows. If you would like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@literaryhillbookfest.org. (There is no remuneration.) u

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kids &family SCHOOL NOTES by Susan Braun Johnson

Northeast Stars In November over forty families donated to the Carpenters Shelter for Thanksgiving meals. The children brought in cans of goods, pastas and nonperishable meals. They discussed the meaning of Thanksgiving. Northeast Stars Montessori (NES) promotes active participation to help the community. The parents, kids and staff all participated in a family style meal and party to celebrate all the things they were grateful for in 2017. For the past 15 years, NES is a sponsor for Child Fund working with eight families located in India, Asia and Africa. This is an inCHCNS invited Santa on the Hill for everyone to enjoy.” ternational program that NES. The children write letters about their interest in school, tours will be held Jan. 24 at the DC Campus and farming, fishing and sports. NES staff read the Jan. 25 at the Alexandria Campus at 9:30 a.m. letters. They show the pictures of the families to Call the office to sign up. The Capitol Hill camthe children. The practice helps keep everyone pus of NES is located at 1325 Maryland Ave.NE. connected on a global scale. Visit www.nestars.net. u For those interested in admission, school

Capitol Hill Cooperative Nursery School

SWS fifth-graders appear in Stuart Hobson’s production of Willie Wonka.

Bringing Santa to East City Books Capitol Hill Cooperative Nursery School (CHCNS) parents arranged for Santa to DC for a photo shoot with Capitol Hill children. East City Bookshop agreed to host the event,

which also served as a school fundraiser. Any family could get their picture done on the spot. The umbrella lights, the glittery backdrop, the high-resolution camera and professional photographer, plus a bunch of cheering parents extracted the children’s best smiles. While Santa was busy, Ms. Frances entertained the kids, reading holiday-themed stories, handing out jingling bells and singing carols with the families. Application Time The application period for the 2018-2019 school year has started on Jan. 3, and will end on March 1, or until enrollment is full. CHCNS is located within the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church at 421 Seward Square, SE. Email info@chcns.us or visit www.chcns.us. Stephane Ramet u

School Within School Principal Honored with a Rubenstein Award The SWS Community is immensely proud of

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Payne robotics Team hard at work.

Principal John Burst, who was one of the DC educators honored with a Rubenstein Award! Winners will gather at the annual “Standing Ovation for DC Public Schools” event on Feb. 8 for an award ceremony.

Northrop Grumman Foundation’s 2017 World’s VEX IQ competition in Louisville, KY. Payne’s Robotics Team earned the “Excellence Award” qualifying them do battle with prestigious teams from different countries. Local event partner Randy McCain worked with the robotics league for the students in DC to complete the challenge. Through participation in the VEX IQ Challenge Washington, leagues provide multiple opportunities for teams to learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). They involve three or more Ranking Sessions plus a championship session. The DC VEX IQ Kickoff took place Dec. 9 at Deal Middle School. This year Payne fielded two teams! The boys team, “Golden Savages” with Quiron Davis, Erick Dickerson and Justin Proctor. The “Shooting Stars”, fully girl-powered, with Madison Williams, Makayah Smith, Safia Tahon, Makiyah Cox, Kodi Jones and Cadence Robinson. Hopefully both

will make it Kentucky again this year! Learn more about Payne Elementary School, “Where genius lives!” is located at 1445 C St. SE. Learn more at paynedc.org. Shanita Henson, & Monich Brown. u

Capitol Hill Cluster School Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory In December audiences at Stuart Hobson Middle School received a golden ticket for a magical tour behind the walls of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Under the tutelage of Director Tori Pergerson and Choreographer Danyelle Kensey, student performers acted, sang and danced their way through a world of oompa-loompas and everlasting gobstoppers. Art students, working with Set Designer Claire Smullen, transformed the Stuart Hobson auditorium into the fabled factory. Crew members brought it to life. The production proved that Willy Wonka’s famous statement right: in-

Little Hats Big Hearts The fifth grade is busy running a coat drive. They are also knitting tiny red hats for “Little Hats, Big Hearts.” This is a program sponsored by American Heart Association for the preemies and newborns who are in neo natal intensive care units. The fifth-grade winter gear drive collects gently worn coats, hats, gloves, scarves, mittens and boot for Central Union Mission. The Washington Nationals donated 15 pairs of tickets to the Nat’s Winterfest for 15 students who donated. This month the fifth-grade joined in Stuart Hobson’s production of Willy Wonka, singing “Candy Man.” School Within School is located at 920 F St. NE. Visit schoolwithinschool.org. Carolyn Banfalv u

Payne Elementary Robotics Competition Last year, Payne Elementary’s Robotics team competed in

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Stuart Hobson students perform the grand finale. Photo: Samuel Payne.

Sophia Di’Giorgio celebrates Charlie’s golden ticket with Peabody Kindergarteners. Photo: Samuel Payne.

vention is “93 percent perspiration, six percent electricity, four percent evaporation and two percent butterscotch ripple.” Parent volunteers, including Jane Hellewell, Laura Takacs and Beth Bacon, spent countless hours helping to prepare for the show. Stuart Hobson Principal Kristofer Comeforo even appeared for a cameo. Students from Peabody, Watkins and School Within a School student sang and danced alongside the Stuart Hobson Drama Players for three extraordinary performances. From kindergarten through eighth-grade, the children of Capitol Hill were indeed “the musicmakers and the dreamers of dreams.” Peabody is located at 425 C St. NE. Watkins Elementary School is located at 420 12th St. SE. Stuart-Hobson is located at 410 E St. NE. Learn more about the Capitol Hill Cluster School at www.capitolhillclusterschool.org. Sean O’Brien u

Miner Elementary Fifth Graders Get Giving Miner’s fifth graders are getting the whole school involved in their service project! The students, after brainstorming, settled on collecting supplies for two centers that help families who are in need. They are donating goods to: The Father McKenna Center that runs a day shelter for men experiencing homelessness and a food pantry for low-income families; and the Coalition for the Homeless that provides direct support to men and families with children. The students made collecting goods for the centers a competition. The pre-K3 or preK4 class and the K5 grades that donate the most items will get a holiday party with hot chocolate, juice, popcorn and a holiday movie or music. Miner Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) wants to thank the community for the great sup-

port of its second annual holiday greenery and bake sale. The PTO raised $4,000 to support students and teachers, selling nearly 200 trees and dozens of wreaths and gardens. Not only did lots of parents and staff come out to bake and help people find their perfect tree, but the PTO donated a tree to the school that was setup on the school’s stage and decorated by students and teachers. Miner is holding three remaining open houses on Jan. 9 at 9:30 a.m.; Jan. 24 at 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.; and Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m. The school is located at 601 15th St. NE. Visit www. minerelemntart.org. u

Brent Elementary In-Boundary Kindergarten Info Session Brent Elementary is hosting an information session on Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. for families who are new to Brent, live within the school’s boundaries and

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Tameka Faison, parent of an eighth grader. Learn more about Community Showcase at tworiverspcs.org/showcase. Two Rivers Public Charter School is located at 1227 Fourth St NE; 1234 Fourth St NE; and 820 26th St NE. Questions? Call 202-546-4477, email info@tworiverspcs.org or visit www.tworiverspcs.org. Serena Simpson u

Eliot-Hine Middle School Thanks Partners! Eliot-Hine extends a huge “thank you” to its partners. Firstly, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF) once again made it possible for wonderful things to happen at the school. Its generous fall grants to the art deA Two Rivers eighth-grader presents his project about resident engagement in DC public spaces to his parents partment, the science department and the uniduring Showcase. form bank are appreciated. All this in addition to the mini grants throughout the year. CHCF plan to enroll their child(ren) into kindergarten is a true blessing to the Capitol Hill neighborhood! for the 2018-2019 school year. Please RSVP to Secondly, Elliot-Hine thanks Companies for Brent’s Registrar Denise Diggs at denise.diggs@ Causes, Serve Your City and the DC Civic Indc.gov or call the school at 202-698-3363. novation Council for their leadership in identifyBrent Elementary is located at 301 North ing problems in the community. In this case, they Carolina Ave. SE. Visit brentelementary.org. helped students who didn’t have coats. Working Denise Diggs u with DCPS, they got those specific students just what they need for the cold. Two Rivers Public

Charter School

Community Showcase Two Rivers Public Charter School hosted its annual Community Showcase in December. Students shared their projects during a public showcase. Community Showcase is a particularly special time at Two Rivers because it’s an opportunity for families, parents, teachers and students to celebrate learning. It culminates their fall expeditions that began in October and problem-based, long-term learning projects. Students performed original skits, music and dances. They displayed visual art and led presentations. “Showcase is one of the most exciting times of the year for my husband and I. My son is usually a young man of few words. So, we get super excited to see him stand in front of the room and articulate the steps they (the students) took during their expeditions that lead up to showcase,” said

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Finally, the Anacostia Watershed Society awarded $750 to Eliot-Hine’s Junk Art Club for the storm-water drain project, which the club has paid forward to the school’s parent-teacher organization. Thanks for the tremendous support! California Bound The school’s Broadcast Network is taking its show on the road. Students will cover the NAACP Image Awards live from the red carpet! This amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is happening mid-January, courtesy of the Washington Teacher’s Union, Pepco and other partners. Open Houses Maury Elementary on Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. Payne Elementary on Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. School Within a School Elementary on Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. All Schools on Feb. 17 at 4:30 p.m. Eliot-Hine IB Middle School is located at 1830 Constitution Ave. NE. For more information, call 202-939-5380 or visit www.eliothinemiddleschool.org. The Eliot-Hine blog is at dcpsplanning.wordpress.com/category/eliot-hine. Heather Schoell u

Ludlow-Taylor Elementary Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School is bolstering student social-emotional health by implementing

Tyler STEAM 2 students learn about physics with a spinning top.

ed in past years have noted a marked increase in confidence, focus and teamwork. Any person or organization interested in supporting the kids’ efforts can get more information from Sam Hauslohner sam. hauslohner@dc.gov. Donations can be made directly to the Maury Parent Teacher Association. Many thanks to realtor Kitty Kaupp for her assistance in securing a sales/busking venue. Maury Elementary is located at 1250 Constitution Ave. NE. Call 202- 698-3838 or visit www.mauryelementary.com for more information. Elizabeth Nelson u

St. Peter School

Maury Space Campers busking at Eastern Market.

“The Look for the Good Project.” The program, founded less than a decade ago in Connecticut, is aimed at creating “school programs and awareness campaigns around the core belief that gratitude changes mindsets, reduces violence and improves everything.” It has already had significant impact. In November, the school launched the initiative with an enormous “gratitude wall.” Students, staff and families were invited to record on colorful post-it notes the people and things for which they are grateful. Last week the school introduced the “You Matter” necklaces, which are small cards on yarn that children wear and then pass on to each other as they see one another being kind, thoughtful and caring. “By paying it forward, kids are practicing recognizing the good in each other,” said Ludlow-Taylor Assistant Principal Kristen Addison. Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School is located at 659 G St. NE. For more information visit www.ludlowtaylor.org. Tom Sellevaag u

Tyler Elementary Just before Thanksgiving, Tyler Elementary hosted its first Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) night of the year. Mrs.

Swift, Mr. Burno, and Mr. Reichlen organized the event. Stations included getting up close to nature thanks to Mr. Burno’s magniscope. Have you looked at a fly’s leg magnified by 8? How about your own hair? It is amazing! Mrs. Swift had the families making mesmerizing circle art. Mr. Reichlen took the kids on a slime making adventure Parents watched at a distance happy that the mess was in the art room and not their living rooms! Other activities included snap circuits to learn about electricity, making machines using Little Bits kits and creating/decorating/launching drinking straw rockets. Tyler Elementary is located at 1001 G St. SE. Elsa Falkenburger and Elizabeth Latham u

Maury Elementary Fundraising for Space Camp Maury Elementary fifth graders want to attend Space Camp in Huntsville Alabama in June. And, they want all of their classmates to attend together, regardless of ability to pay. So, they are working hard to raise the $40,000 needed for the excursion. The Space Camp is certain to make a lasting impression. The families of the kids who attend-

Canned Food Drive Students from St. Peter School collected over 2,000 canned and other non-perishable food items to support the 30th Annual Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive This is a Catholic Charities affiliated outreach event held each year by parishes around the Archdiocese of Washington, DC. The food drive, the only event of its kind, and is the most direct way of addressing food insecurity. This year over 60 shelters, food pantries and local organizations in the benefitted from the fruits of the students’ labor of love. St. Peter School is located at 422 Third St. SE. Call 202-544-1618 or email: info@stpeterschooldc.org for more info. Anthony Militello u

Eastern High Winning Awards Taylor Williams-Palmer won first place for Respondent at the 2017 Moot Court Competition! She will represent Eastern at the national level and compete against 25 high schools from across the country. Congratulations to Eastern’s finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition! With the help of advisors Mr. Hall, Mr. Sholtas and 2018 Standing Ovation recipient Mr. Farah, students Regan Amponsah, Randy Barrett, Nya Lee, Joseph Soltani and Ronald Weary have had their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) projects proposals

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Eastern Senior High School is located at 1700 East Capitol St. To learn more call 202-698-4500 or visit www.easternhighschooldc.org. Saudia Staten and Heather Schoell u

Richard Wright Public Charter School Rainbow Push Coalition Recently Richard Wright students had the opportunity to take part in the two-day, Rainbow Push Coalition. Students met Symone Sanders, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D), Reverend Jesse Jackson and other government and church officials. They also met with people in the fields of media, journalism and social action. As a surprise, Richard Wright received a $5,000 award from the Rainbow Push Coalition and the Motion Picture Association of America to advance the school’s media department. Posse Foundation Scholarship December brought additional honor to RichEastern students and teacher Ms. Lee volunteered at Martha’s Table, where they prepared and delivered meals to senior citizens.

recognized as state finalists. They will go on to compete for the grand prize in the competition. Volunteering Students Betty Luther, Amirah Mimiko, Nehemiah Lightfoot, Therena Griffin and Erin Ferguson helped spread holiday cheer by preparing and delivering meals to senior citizens in the U Street/Cardozo neighborhood with Martha’s Table. Cheering an Alumus Rambler Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball teams attended Georgetown v. NC A&T University at the Capital One Center to cheer for the Class of 2016 student Jamorko Pickett. Jamorko is a starting forward for the Georgetown Hoyas and finished the game with 12 points! Scholarships! Thus far, Eastern students have been offered $1.5 million dollars in scholarships/institutional aid. Huge congratulations to the four the Posse Scholarship recipients. Three of them are full International Baccalaureate (IB) students! They will attend Bucknell University, Lafayette College and the University of Rochester.

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Joshua Mitchell received college scholarship.

Blyth-Templeton Academy’s student leads Film Club.

ard Wright. Senior Joshua Mitchell became the school’s first recipient of the Posse Foundation scholarship. The award recognized for Mitchell’s outstanding academic and community service achievements throughout his tenure at Richard Wright PCS. He will receive a full ride to the University of Wisconsin Madison. Richard Wright Public Charter School for Journalism and Media Arts is located at 770 M St. SE. Akia Poge, Class of 2019 u

Blyth-Templeton Academy Film Club The Blyth-Templeton Academy (BTA) Film Club is entirely designed and operated by the school’s students. It involves members watching and discussing a film. Students explore questions such as, “Are there any political or social messages in the film?” or “How does the cinematography affect the theme of the movie?” Exhibitions Term 2 Final Presentations/Exhibitions will be held on Jan. 26. This event is open to the public from 12:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. Blyth-Templeton Academy is located at 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE in Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital. Contact them at info@blythtempleton.org, visit www.blythtempleton.org or call at 202-847-0779. Have an item for School Notes? Email it to schools@hillrag.com. u

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home garden and

GOT TOO MUCH STUFF? 1-800-Got-Junk? Will Take It Away And Recycle What They Can!

Gregory Frank and his team. Photo: 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

by Catherine Plume y house doesn’t have enough storage space.” Sound familiar? Capitol Hill houses are notorious for being small with a dearth of closets. Hill residents are adroit at using every nook and cranny – installing storage pockets next to air-conditioning ducts and under stairs. But sometimes “stuff ” just has to go away. If it isn’t yard-sale-worthy, or if you just don’t have time to deal with the goods, what do you do? 1-800-GOT-JUNK? provides an answer. And you may be surprised to learn that this multinational chain has both a local and an

environmental bent. Brian Scudamore, a university dropout, started hauling “junk” in 1989 in Canada. He hit on a niche market. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has grown exponentially and now operates over 200 locations in the US, Canada and Australia. His business has become so successful that Scudamore has expanded his operations to three new companies: Wow 1 Day Painting, You Move Me and most recently Shack Shine, and a $350 million dollar annual empire. Gregory Frank is the co-owner of the 1-800-GOT-JUNK? franchise that serves parts of Maryland and Washington, DC. He came up

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1-800-GOT-JUNK? at work. Photo: 1-800-GOT-JUNK?

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through the company’s ranks and has owned his franchise for several years. He’s enthusiastic about the company and its environmental efforts. “We recycle the recyclables and donate the donatables to local organizations. In the DC area, we partner with a host of organizations from A Wider Circle to Community Forklift and many local nonprofits in between.” Items that are truly trash are sent to facilities that ship to a powerplant in Dickerson, Md., where they are burned to generate the steam to power the facility for waste-to-energy (WTE) conversion. Taking anything to the landfill is the last resort. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? advertises that it has kept more than 5.8 million pounds of junk out of landfills. The company aspires to a recycling goal of 75 percent but averages 6065 percent. From an environmental perspective, it’s worth noting that any materials used as WTE are not considered part of the company’s recycling rate. Company staff are trained to pack the truck according to its des-

tination. There’s no central sorting center; once the truck leaves your home or business, it’s on its way to a donation or recycling center. Given this business model, customers need to be certain that they’re ready to part with an item, as the likelihood of being able to retrieve it is very slim. (Frank regrets those phone calls!) The 1-800-GOT-JUNK? website provides easy scheduling for pick up, or you can call the 24-hour call center to speak with a company representative. Fees are based on the space the junk takes up on the truck. The company’s business model includes a no-obligation, onsite quote. Per Frank, “Once the client is happy with the price, we take our hats off, put our gloves on, and start making the junk disappear.” But Frank and the company as a whole recognize that they’re often being called into a home at an awkward and even sad transition point. “When we’re called to a home, we’re walking into people’s lives, removing items that may have belonged to a deceased or ailing parent or into a

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household that’s going through a move. Removing belongings can be very emotional for people. Our staff is very sensitive to this reality, and we try to help people work through the situation.” And what sort of junk does the service take? Per the website, it takes anything “non-hazardous that two strong, ablebodied crew members can lift.” This includes appliances, mattresses, bicycles, yard waste, construction material and even food. Frank notes, “We need any food to be prepped for composting. Here on the East Coast, we find ourselves educating clients about how to prepare food for composting, whereas on the West Coast, clients tend to be more attuned to the process.” According to Frank, over the years, the company has picked up many “interesting” items including John Wayne’s personal Bible, 50 garden gnomes, 18,000 cans of expired sardines, a trophy from a nudist colony and a truckload of denture molds to name a few. In DC, they’ve even come across bags of foreign money. “We’ve found some very interesting – and even unprintable things in those Capitol Hill rowhouse nooks and crannies! You’d be surprised to see some of the stuff people hold onto.” Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer and a blogger for the DC Recycler: www. DCRecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter: @DC_Recycler. She is also a board member of the DC Chapter of the Sierra Club, but the perspectives expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the positions of that organization. u

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GARDEN SPOT

WINTER BEAUTY IN YOUR LANDSCAPE Color, Texture and Contrast In The Winter Garden Photos and article by Derek Thomas

A River Birches peeling bark is stark and beautiful in the winter landscape

Acuba japonica is green and colorful all winter long

rost has withered even our toughest annuals. Our show-stopping perennials have had their final encore and the ghostly silhouettes of stark leafless trees have replaced the beautiful fall foliage. There are many things to keep a gardener busy during the late fall and early winter; planting bulbs, amending soils, final pruning, and the last clean up of the season. While performing these maintenance tasks, there are many reasons to remain inspired as you put you garden to rest. One thing to consider as you plan to install new plants is that there are trees and shrubs that are beautiful all year long. Plant beauty does not only come in the form of lush green foliage. You can add plants that will provide you with everything from wonderful peeling bark to attractive evergreen foliage and red berries. These plants shine and glow in our otherwise quiet, wintry gardens. The following list is some of my favorite picks for winter beauty. River Birch, Betula Nigra This is perhaps the toughest of all birch species. It is very tolerant of poorly drained soil, heat, humidity, and an array of pests. This birch has a beautiful cinnamon to creamy brown flaking bark that becomes darker with age. It will get to be large and is a great shade tree in the summer garden. But, due to is ease of care, it is one of the best birches in the winter garden.

Nandina’s red berries are colorful and decorative in the winter landscape Western Arborviate is a hardy evergreen that makes a great natural screen

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American Beech, Fagus grandifolia Beeches are perhaps the most elegant and noble of the deciduous trees. Their smooth silver gray bark, which can be compared to

an elephants skin, will brighten even the darkest of winter landscapes. A native to North American forests the silvery gray to nearly white bark of the American beech was known as the ghost tree to native Americans. Gold Dust Plant, Acuba japonica Variegata’ This shrub is a good example of the beauty that broad leaf evergreens add to the landscape. This variety has dark green shiny leaves with irregular splotches, freckles, and splashes of gold to yellow. The gold dust plant will easily reach 6 to 10 feet high with a spread that is slightly less. Plant in partial shade in well-drained soil and add ample organic matter annually. Cuttings can be harvested and used for decorations during the holiday season. Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina domestica The common name that has been given to this native of China may deter many gardeners from planting it, but this plant is not related to the aggressive bamboo plants many of us have a love-hate relationship with. In fact this plant forms a rather neat clump as it matures. The foliage is evergreen and changes color to beautiful shades of reds in the winter. The white clusters of springtime flowers mature into grape-like bunches of red berries in fall. The berries provide a dramatic display on the plant or can be used in holiday arrangements. If left on the plants the berries will last the entire winter. Western Arborvitae, Thuja plicata This arborvitae has a wonderful pyramidal growth habit. It is evergreen, and has an emerald green to golden cast on its leaves. This large shrub is perfect for use in screening and can mature to 50 feet tall. However it responds quite well to pruning and can be sheared into a very attractive hedge. During the winter it is quite durable to the damaging weight of snow. Derek Thomas is principal of Thomas Landscapes. His garden designs have been featured on HGTV’s Curb Appeal. His weekly garden segment can be seen on WTTG/Fox 5 in Washington. He can be reached at www.thomaslandscapes.com or 301.642.5182 u

Pipes freezing? Is your home cold in winter & hot in summer? 90% of DC Homes are under-insulated!

The Capitol Hill Garden Club presents

Dear Garden Problem Lady, by Wendy Blair A Christmas cactus arrived at my house, in full bloom, just before Christmas. It is still blooming. What care does it need? Our town house has limited light exposure. I do hope I don’t have to throw it out when it fades. I love it, and I love the person who gave it to me. I want to keep it as long as I can. Tricky. Christmas cactuses want cool temperatures; best around 60 degrees F, and no direct sunlight – just bright indirect light, such as from a skylight or north window. They must have high humidity, so put your cactus on a bed of water-immersed pebbles. Do not overwater the plant itself. Do not

underwater. Err on the dry side. They also need long dark nights. Summer outside in a shady, cool spot. When is too late to plant spring bulbs? It is not easy to plant bulbs in soil that is frozen. That said, because DC weather at this time of year can be – let us say “variable” – much of a garden’s soil may remain “unfrozen” from time to time. So, if you can

dig through your soil to the depth needed by your bulbs (about three times the vertical height of the bulb, six inches or more) then go for it. Bulbs need about three months of cool dormancy in order to bloom. Yours will not have had a great start. On the other hand, bulbs want to live and bloom more than anything. Like us. Settle an argument please. My wife thinks that orange roadside lilies are tiger lilies. I think they are ordinary day lilies and that tiger lilies are the ones shaped like a so-called Turk’s cap and have black spots or speckles. You are correct. Take your wife out to dinner to celebrate.

Experienced Residential Insulation Contractor Air Sealing Radiant Foil Barrier Blown-in Insulation Spray Foam Insulation Batt & Roll Insulation Sound Barrier Insulation 5-STAR YELP RATED LICENSED. BONDED. INSURED.

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Somewhat in despair, I’ve been gazing at my garden this autumn and thinking how unkempt it looks. Somehow it has stopped working. What to do? Without more details, the Problem Lady believes you are doing the best possible thing already. Just staring at your garden is most helpful – a good, hard look. Should this garden be edited? Even if some things do well, are you tired of them? Does the garden need revving up? Or calming down? What would make you like it again? Walk around your neighborhood to get new ideas. Remember that colorful summer annuals can often transform the blahs. The right answers will come from you alone. Members will discuss their own gardens at the next public meeting of the Capitol Hill Garden Club on Jan. 9 at the Northeast Public Library, corner of Maryland Avenue and Seventh Street NE. Meetings start with refreshments at 6:45 p.m. and are free and open to all. Membership details: www.capitolhillgardenclub.org. u

JANUARY 2018 H 123

Classifieds HOME SERVICES

OTHER SERVICES

PET SERVICES

AIR & HEATING

APPLIANCES REPAIR

BASEMENT SERVICES

MISCELLANEOUS CARPET CLEANING WOVEN HISTORY

We wash carpets in the traditional manner- by hand, using no chemicals or machinery. No preheated room for drying. We dry in the sun and the wind. Free pick up an delivery for Capitol Hill Residents. Call 202-543-1705. More info at info@wovenhistory.com or www.wovenhistory.com. Located at 311-315 7th St, SE. Your neighborhood carpet store on Capitol Hill since 1995

Appliances Appliances Pro, Inc. Pro, Inc.

No Extra Charge Weekends, Evenings & Holidays

“We Repair It Right The First Time!”

ALL MAKES & MODELS / SERVICE & INSTALLATION

CLEANING SERVICES

Let Us Chase Out the Dust Bunnies Refrigerator ••Refrigerator •- Service Range/ Stove within 3 hours ••Washers/Dryers Oven • Wall Ovens • Dishwasher • Ranges Washer & Dryer ••Garbage Disposals ••Microwaves Garbage Disposal • Icemakers • Freezers • Dishwashers • Sub-zero Specialists

All Major Brands We Service, SAME DAY SERVICE Repair, and Install FREE NO EXTRA CHARGE WEEKENDS, SERVICE $ EVENINGS & HOLIDAYS

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Licensed, Licensed, Bonded Bonded & Insured & Insured

contact CAROLINA at 202.400.3503 BOX CLASSIFIEDS (QUARTERLY)

2”x 2” 2.5” 3” 4” 5” 7”

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STANDARD CLEANING SERVICE INC. Commercial & Residential

LINE CLASSIFIEDS (MONTHLY) $25 for the first 15 words, 25¢ for each additional word. Bold heading (25 characters max) is free.

SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES!

202.399.3090 www.maidpro.com/capitolhill 1100 H Street, NE • 2nd Fl YOUR LOCAL CLEANERS

• Ad design free of charge with one revision. • Rates are per publication.

*Prepayment by check or credit card is required.

Ana Julia Viera 703.719.9850 • 703.447.9254 Days Free Estimates • Bonded & Insured References Upon Request 15% Discount New Customers

hand, room ck up 1705. enhishbor-

A Cleaning Service, Inc.

E D D I E

FLOORS

Complete Residential Cleaning, including Laundry & Ironing CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE

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a c le a ning s e rv i c e i n c .c o m

· · · · · ·

Licensed & Insured Free Estimates 202-247-0104

CONTRACTORS

15% off all jobs over $1000

Contracting & Handyman Capitol Hill Specialists

- Great Rates - Warranty on all work - References - Insured

STRUCTURE SPECIALISTS

Windows & Doors

Roofing & Guttering Brick & Stone Re-pointing Plumbing & Electric Service

Cabinets & Moulding

Plaster & Drywall

Wood & Engineered Floors

Painting & Decorative Finishes

202.965.1600

www.jfmeyer.com

Free Estimates • Insured

• References

Free Estimates • MHIC #120190

301-855-3006 888-227-2882

DOORS & WINDOWS

EVG CONTRACTORS

301-237-1748

EVGcontractorsLLC@msn.com LICENSED IN DC

Residential Floors Dedicated to Perfection • Sanding and Refinishing • Installation • Repairs • Cleaning & Waxing

No Job too Small

Renovations & Remodeling Painting Interior/Exterior Drywall & Tile Harwood Floors Carpentry & Cabinets

Carpentry

Installation • Sanding • Refinishing • Hardwood Mouldings

Kitchen & Bath Remodel Interior & Exterior Painting Carpentry · Molding Floors · Hardwood Plumbing · Doors & Windows Brick Pointing · Patios

satisfaction guaranteed serving DC, MD & VA since 1985 licensed, bonded & insured

Restoration & Historical Preservation

Heritage Wood Floors, Inc.

CONSTRUCTION

a clean house, a clean mind.

t s

NC .

ELECTRICIAN

cares about the environment in which you live

hill

Over 10 years of Experience on Capitol Hill

Windows Craft, Inc. Specializing in HistoricWindows & Doors

7 days a week - Free Estimates Reasonable Rates Residential & Commercial

(301) 990-7775 Family owned and operated 3 Generations of Experience

HANDYMAN

202.288.6660 info@windowscraft.com

Licensed, Insured and Bonded License # 69006200

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WWW.FCIMPROVEMENTS.COM ADDITIONS, KITCHENS, BATH AND INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PAINTING EXPERT NO JOB TOO SMALL! • 12 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Craftsmanship and Expertise

Renovations and Remodeling including Plumbing & Electrical

JANUARY 2018 ★ 125

IRON WORK

A Handyman You can Trust Everything from “Honey Do” Lists to Finishing Your Basement • Kitchen Remodeling • Painting • Concrete / Masonry • General Repairs • Bathroom • Renovations & more

571.437.4696

Suburban Welding Company

P ®

Repairs of Original Cast Iron Staircases Window bars and door security gates Handrailings & Stair Railings Fences, Sidewalk Gates, Tree Box Fences DC code approved bedroom window security bars • Excavating, back hoe services and tree stump grinding • Certified welding

202-544-4484

www.michaligamasonry.com THE CAPITOL FROM 1989 - 1996.

Reasonable Prices : Hill Resident Licensed • Bonded • Insured

703-765-9344

www.suburbanweldingcompany.com

MASONRY CHIMNEY REPOINTING, LINING & REPAIRS!

Historical Preservation Specialists

GEORGE HALLIDAY

MASONRY CONCRETE & BRICKPOINTING Historic Masonry Repointing & Repairs

LANDSCAPING

Reasonable Rates • Free Estimates

Restoration Cleaning on Historical Brick and Stone Basements & Waterproofing Experts in New and Traditional Masonry

Call Ty • 703.615.7122 HOUSE HISTORY

Call Tom for a Free Estimate

FORMER HEAD MASON OF THE ARCHITECT OF

HANDYMAN EXPRESS

No job is too small!

Custom Masonry • Stone • Brick Work Point Up • Restoration • Patio & Water Gardens

24-hours, 7-day service Free estimates

Free estimates • No job is too small Affordable rates • Licensed, insured and bonded

jkhuynh@cox.net

SPECIALIZING IN:

• • • • •

www.lgmhomeimprovements.com

• Painting • Plumbing • Drain Service • Kitchen Disposal • Carpentry • Ceiling Fan • Electrical • Caulking • General Repairs

Historic Renovation & Artisan Stonework

Award-Winning Mason with over 30 years of experience

Welding & Ornamental Iron Work

Preserving Capitol Hill BRICK BY BRICK since 1985 FREE ESTIMATES

202-544-9301 www.brickmasonrywashingtondc.com Bricklands@msn.com

NO Job Too Small! We Do it All!!

Thomas Landscapes

202.637.8808 Licensed, Bonded & Insured

DEREK THOMAS / PRINCIPAL

Do You Know the historY of Your home?

contact CAROLINA at 202.400.3503 BOX CLASSIFIEDS (QUARTERLY)

Over 20 Years of Experience Let us create a coffee table book on the history of your home.

nmhousedetectives.com

nmhousedetectives@gmail.com

REDEFINING BEAUTY ONE CLIENT AT A TIME!

Full-Service Landscape Design & Maintenance • Installation, arbors, retaining walls, walkways, lighting, water features • Patios, roof top gardens, townhomes, single family homes • Formal and informal gardens • Certified tree maintenance and removal • Custom Masonry, fencing and iron work

CELL: 301.642.5182 OFFICE: 202.322.2322 WWW.THOMASLANDSCAPES.COM

126 ★ HILLRAG.COM

SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES!

2”x 2” 2.5” 3” 4” 5” 7”

$150 $180 $225 $300 $360 $400

LINE CLASSIFIEDS (MONTHLY) $25 for the first 15 words, 25¢ for each additional word. Bold heading (25 characters max) is free.

20 ww

Fre

MOVING & HAULING

Peach Moving Services

When was the last time your expectations were SURPASSED!

When Trust Matters Most Residential, Office & Commercial

202.543.1914

Little Peach in Training

Short Term Notice Moves Local & Up to 300 mile Radius Expert Packing & Unpacking Temporary Storage by the Day Hourly Rates

Imagepainting.com

• Professional Craftsmanship • Interior & Exterior Painting • Clean, prompt and friendly service with a history of repeat customers

Michael Pietsch (aka Peach) Capitol Hill Resident

PROPERTY MGMT.

202.368.7492

www.peachmoving.com

PEST CONTROL

F L K Termite, Pest &

Rodent Control More than just killing bugs, we take care of your home • Babies, children, pets, no worries, customized treatments • Latest environmentally sound methods and products • One time, monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, yearly LICENSED & INSURED

On staff contractors for best pricing in maintenance & repairs • All-inclusive rental management services • Extensive property marketing • Tenant vetting and selection • Offering the most competitive rates in the market (80% first month rental fee, 8% single family homes and 7% family condos) • 24 hours emergency call service

Free Estimates

7600 Georgia Avenue NW Suite 304 DCozyhomes@gmail.com

301.273.5740 301.576.3286

PAINTING

Property Management + Design

www.Dc-cozyhome.com

202 882 0100

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PLUMBING

ROOFING / GUTTERS

Just Say I Need A Plumber®

Dial A Plumber, LLC®

Painting Division Interior & Exterior Custom Painting Drywall & Plastering

• Licensed Gas Fitter • Water Heater • Boiler Work • Serving DC • References John • Drain Service • Furness Repair & Replacement

202.965.1600 www.jfmeyer.com Free Estimates • Insured • References

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Licensed Bonded Insured

Kenny

202-251-1479 DC PLUMMER’S LICENSE #707

JANUARY 2018 ★ 127

WELDING

ALL TYPES OF ROOFING REPAIRS

Suburban Welding Company

Star Roofing Company

Welding & Ornamental Iron Work • • • • •

RELIABLE

Specializing in Residential & Commercial Flat Roof Systems

202-543-6383 All work done by owner • Free Estimates Insured • Licensed • Bonded

Keith Roofing EXPERT WORKMANSHIP AT REASONABLE PRICES! Residential/Commercial Over 40 years in Business Chimney Repairs Storm & Wind Damage Repair

Fully Insured • Licensed • Bonded “No Job Too Large or Small” Senior & Military Discounts Available!

202-486-7359 All Work Inspected by Owner...Deals Directly with Customers! All Work Fully Guaranteed

FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST WE STOP LEAKS! • Roof Repairs • Roof Coatings • Rubber • Metal • Slate

24-hours, 7-day service Free estimates

G G ROOFING

LIC. BONDED. INS

BBB

202-223-ROOF (7663)

AWARDED BEST WASHINGTON, DC CONTRACTOR OF 2012 BY ANGIE’S LIST FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED • “50 YEARS EXPERIENCE” • Flat

Roof Specialists • Modified Bitumen • Skylights • Shingles • Slate

Chimney Repairs Roof Coatings • Gutters & Downspouts • Preventive Maintenance • Metal Roofs •

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Licensed & Insured | All Work Managed & Inspected by Owners

WOOD &

240-305-7132 Earl & Dennis

OTHER SERVICES

WHITACRE

ROOFING CONTRACTORS 30 years on the Hill Slate – Tile – Copper Specializing in all Flat Roof Systems and Leaks FREE ESTIMATES • Work Guaranteed

cell

•

301.674.1991

www.wood-whitacre.com

CHIROPRACTIC

Living on & serving the Hill since 1986 Living on & serving the Hill since 1986 Living on & serving the Hill since 1986

Dr. Dr. David David Walls-Kaufman Walls-Kaufman Dr. David Walls-Kaufman

Chiropractor Chiropractor 411 East Capitol St., SE Chiropractor 411 East Capitol St., SE

All are East welcomeCapitol to Dr. Walls-Kaufman's 411 St., SE All are welcome to Dr. Tai Walls-Kaufman's free Saturday morning Chi class at Saturday morning Chi class at 8freeam inwelcome Lincoln All are toPark Dr. Tai Walls-Kaufman's 8 amSaturday in Lincoln Park Tai Chi class at free morning

202-544-6035 8 am in Lincoln Park 202-544-6035 Because Optimal Health202-544-6035 is Impossible Without Optimal Posture! Because Optimal Health is Impossible Without Optimal Posture!

Member

128 ★ HILLRAG.COM

www.suburbanweldingcompany.com

Because Optimal Health is Impossible Without Optimal Posture!

years in service

Tro

WIRING

We Do Everything!

BOYD CONSTRUCTION INC.

703-765-9344

STORAGE

JEFFREY WOOD

• Tiles • Chimneys • Gutters • Waterproofing • Roof Certifications

Our website just got a whole lot better! capitalcommunitynews.com

COMPUTER

FITNESS PILATES FOR EVERY BODY AND LIFE-STAGE

I have been helping people lose weight since 1996!

ANCHOR

Troubleshooting, Repairs & Upgrades

SMALL GROUP CLASSES Pilates Mat & Springboard Classes Unlimited Monthly Membership New Student Intro - One Month Unlimited Mat $80

Personalized sessions taught on a mix of Pilates apparatus

New & Existing Computer Setup

RANDI MOORE, PMA®-CPT

Data Recovery, Transfer & Back-up TV & Phone Configuration Webpage Development

645 Penn Ave., SE upstairs M-F 8:30-7 • Sat 9-6

PRIVATE & SEMI-PRIVATE INSTRUCTION

Virus & Spyware Removal Network & Wireless Installation

Eastern Market Shoe Repair • Shoes • Boots • Purses • Luggage

C O M P U T E R S

On-site Service for Homes & Businesses Since 1994

SHOES

OWNER & TEACHER

www.rootedpilates.com Randi@rootedpilates.com

511 11TH ST SE | WDC 20003 | 202.681.6755

Visit my website to learn more about Online Weight Loss Coaching!

www.dlffitness.com

David L. Franklin

202-543-5632 PET SERVICES

CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER EAT, MOVE & BE HEALTHY!

INTERNET LARRY ELPINER

202.543.7055

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RADIO/MEDIA

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contact CAROLINA at 202.400.3503 carolina@hillrag.com

contact CAROLINA at 202.400.3503 carolina@hillrag.com JANUARY 2018 ★ 129

. last shot.

photo: Jason Yen