Hill Rag Magazine November 2015 by Capital Community News

hillrag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November 2015

Est. 1981

1101 & 1103 9th Street, NE CAPITOL HILL

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

112 Kentucky Ave., SE 2-Unit Property

1128 Columbia Road, NW #2 $998,500

Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

Colin Johnson 202-536-4445 www.1128columbiacondos.com

4 NEW 2-LEVEL 3BR/3.5BA CONDOS IAL ERC M COM

This has the single greatest roof-deck that I have ever seen for an individual condo.- Dan G., Realtor

IAL ERC M COM

CAPITOL HILL

508 H Street, NE 3rd Floor Office Space

804 H Street, NE 790 sq.ft. - $1,895

Stan Bissey 202-841-1433 www.BisseyTeam.com

CAPITOL HILL

1101 9th Street, NE #2 $898,500

Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 www.BisseyTeam.com

CAPITOL HILL

1327 D Street, NE

Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661

CAPITOL HILL 119 5th St, NE

Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

SHAW

1717 New Jersey Ave, NW $879,500

Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661

CAPITOL HILL

1101 9th Street, NE #1 $748,500

Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 www.BisseyTeam.com

“WHERE WASHINGTON SHOPS FOR A NEW ADDRESS!”® 225 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003

Tel: 202-544-3900 www.johncformant.com

Sales • Rentals • Commercial Leasing • Property Management • Investments

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“El Niño is on its way this winter! Severe weather is in the forecast!

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PROUD TO BE A SPONSOR OF CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION’S LITERARY FEAST 4 H Hillrag.com

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COLDWELL BANKER

RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE Your Strong Local Brokerage With Deep National & International Roots

656 Massachusetts Ave NE Victorian elegance meets 21st Century functionality at every turn in this 4,100+ square foot well maintained and fully upgraded Capitol Hill Home with garage parking! Entertain family as well as friends from the eat-in chef style kitchen, host a dinner party in the formal French country dining room and spacious formal living room complete with fireplace, retreat to the wine cellar for an afternoon tasting or lounge on the sofa in front of the expansive media center/family room. This property has been meticulously maintained and cared for since it was built in 2003. The house is perfectly positioned within the Historic District to provide close-in access to all of the Capitol Hill neighborhood amenities. With this address you will live comfortably and conveniently.

Topher Cushman

Associate Broker Coldwell Banker Capitol Hill office 202-327-4682 www.tophercushman.com Topher@tophercushman.com

202.547.3525 - Main Office INFORMATION DEEMED RELIABLE BUT NOT GUARANTEED

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Possibly once in a lifetime. Bryan School Lofts Penthouse 32 Grant Griffith, (202) 741-1685 Ryall Smith, (202) 741-1781 Andrew Glasow, (202) 741-1654 cbmove.com/grantryallandrew Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Don Denton, VP Broker 605 Pennsylvania Ave SE, WDC 20003 - Main: 202.547. 3525

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Real Estate Broker

0,000 N $35 G SOO COMIN

00 269,0 STED $ JUST LI

N G SOO COMIN

ALE FOR S

0 68,50 ALE $3 FOR S

00 $469,5

11004 Valley Brook Drive 3BR/2.5BA

Capitol Hill / Gallaudet U.

1710 West Virginia Avenue NE, #202 1BR/2BA

NoMA / O St Market

1710 Gales Street NE 6 Residential Units

9,500 ct $41 Contra Under

00 $539,5 TRACT R CON E D N U

00 $795,0 TRACT R CON E D N U

00 $339,5 TRACT R CON UNDE

Alexandria, VA

NoMA / O St Market

Capitol Hill / Kingman Park

4210 Alcott Street 4BR/2BA

00 614,0 ACT $ ONTR C R E UND

Fort Washington, MD

16 O Street NW, #16-A 2BR/2BA

$434,5 GONE

20 O Street NW, #20-A 2BR/1.5BA

Columbia Heights / Howard U.

Falls Church, VA

2719 Westford Court 5BR/3.5BA

907 Euclid Street NW, #102 1BR/1BA

,0 $1,525 GONE

0 $337,0 GONE

Cheverly, MD

6016 Hawthorne Street 4BR/2BA

00 $819,0 TRACT R CON UNDE

Capitol Hill / H Street 615 Orleans Place NE 3BR/3BA/2HalfBA

$ $$$$,$ GONE

COULD BE YOUR HOME Capitol Hill / Kingman Park 409A 17th Street NE 3BR/3.5BA

Alexandria, VA

385 S. Pickett Street 3BR/2BA/2HalfBA

Capitol Hill / Eastern Market 6 7th Street SE 6BR/4.5BA

Mount Rainier, MD 4530 34th Street 1BR/1BA

Call Us to Get Your Home Sold or Find a New One!

“In addition to helping Buyers and Sellers on greater Capitol Hill & DC for over 14 years, we are committed to building community in Arlington, Alexandria & close-in MD.”

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What’s Inside?

capitol streets 35

Bulletin Board

The District Beat

The Numbers: We Don’t Need Big Tax Incentives to Attract Wes Rivers

Businesses 48

Jonnetta Rose Barras

DC Public Library’s Strategic Plan Sets New Goals for Christine Rushton

Ward 6 Libraries

In every issue:

50 52

18 What’s on Washington

64 Hill Rag Crossword 146 Classified Ads 152 Last Word 154 The Nose

Educating the District: Educational Meetings Must Be Suzanne Wells

Open to the Public

22 Calendar

Catherine Plume

DC Is Going Foam Free!

Jonathan Neeley

ANC 6A Report

ANC 6B Report

Jonathan Neeley

ANC 6C Report

Virginia Spatz

ANC 6D Report

Andrew Lightman

ANC 6E Report

Steve Holton

Eastern Market Management Report

Nov. Peter J. Waldron

community life

E on DC

E. Ethelbert Miller

Opinion: Trifecta of Fear

Heard on the Hill

Jen DeMayo William Rich

South by West

H Street Life

The Capitol Riverfront

Our River: The Anacostia

Elise Bernard Michael Stevens, AICP Bill Matuszeski

Mark Veterans Day with the American Legion

Jonetta Rose Barras

Maggie Hall

GIVING LOCALLY: The Combined Federal Campaign

Sam Tabchnik

real estate 85

The District Source: Development Means Positive Attention for the Anacostia Riverfront

Changing Hands

Shaun Courtneyl

Don Denton

arts and dining 95

Politics and Pillsbury: Deconstructing the Cake Off

Barbara Wells

Thanksgiving on the Hill

Jen DeMayo

102

Dining Notes

Celeste McCall

105

The Wine Girl

Lilia Coffin

106

At the Movies

Mike Canning

108

Art and The City

110

The Literary Hill

112

The Poetic Hill

113

Jazz Project

Jim Magner Karen Lyon Karen Lyon

Jean Keith Fagon

health and fitness 115

Health and Wellness as a Lifestyle Choice

117

The District Vet: Choosing Tasty Treats

Pattie Cinelli

118

You Don’t Need a Reason to See a Therapist

120

Small, But Big: Kalani Takamura

Dan Teich, DVM Paul Rivas

Paul Rivas

kids and family 123

Kids & Family Notebook

130

School Notes

Kathleen Donner

Susan Braun Johnson

homes and gardens 139

“This Garden Changed My Life”

142

Dear Garden Problem Lady

Cheryl Corson

143

Christ Church Spires Renewed

144

Home Appliances: When to Tune Them Up – And When to

Buy New

Wendy Hill Meredith Baker

Catherine Plume

120

on the cover: The Inside. Drew Ernst. oil on linen, 86” x 81”, price request: 202-783-2963. Visit or contact Zenith Gallery Space, 1111 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004 or Zenith Salon Gallery at 1429 Iris Street, NW, Washington, DC 20012. art@zenithgallery.com. On Exhibit at Zenith: Voyages on Earth and in Space. For the past two decades husband and wife design team, Ken & Julie Girardini, have been manipulating metals to their utmost imaginable limits, and continue to produce works that simply amaze! While the Girardini’s work primarily in steel and aluminum they both have their own identity when selecting what comes next. Ken takes a more photographic and painterly approach using the metals as a canvas. Julie takes a more sculptural direction, shaping the metals into such symbolic objects as; boats, houses, nest and pods. She says of her work, “…these forms hold the essence of where we are coming from and our history, but at the same time are all vessels of new beginnings”. Meet the Artist reception, Thursday, November 5, 4:00-8:00 P.M. at Zenith Gallery 1429 Iris Street NW, Washington, DC 20012. Exhibit dates are November 5th–November 28th, 2015.

Chiropractic Relieves Stiffness Associated with Aging

F A G O N

MIDCITY

Two months ago the son of an elderly Hill resident asked if chiropractic could help his father who’s body had frozen stiff two months before. I told him we could try it and see. Last week, three weeks after starting care, nine adjustments, the elderly gentlemen walked into my office. We adjusted the area around his skull because this pulls adversely on the upper spinal cord. For the better health and life experience of you and your family Dr. David Walls-Kaufman Capitol Hill Chiropractic Center 411 East Capitol St., SE | 202.544.6035

Read More About This Subject On www.capitolhillchiropractic.com Serving The Capitol Hill Community Since 1984

WIDE SHOE OUTLET Men’s and Women’s sizes up to 15 EE Brands: Naturalizer • Soft Spots Ros Hommerson • Propet Walking Cradles • Easy Street Slingshots are Back

GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Capital Community News, Inc. • 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com PUBLISHER: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2015 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

Editorial Staﬀ

M�� E��: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO � A�� E��: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com S�� N�� E��: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com K�� F�� E��: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com

Arts, Dining & Entertainment A��: D��:

L��: M��: M��: T��: W�� G��:

Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • steve@jazzavenues.com Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com

Calendar & Bulletin Board

C�� E��: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

General Assignment

Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Jonathan Neeley • neeley87@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com

Real Estate

Don Denton • DDenton@cbmove.com

Beauty, Health & Fitness

Patricia Cinelli • ﬁtmiss44@aol.com Jazelle Hunt • jazelle.hunt@gmail.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@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

Commentary

Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com 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

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Marlow Heights Shopping Center 4123 Branch Ave. Marlow Heights, MD

301-702 1401 www.simplywide.com

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

DCRA FREE SEMINARS

FOR EXISTING AND ASPIRING DISTRICT BUSINESSES Senior Entrepreneurship Program Date: Thursday, November 5, 2015 Time: 10:15 am – 11:45 am Location: Hattie Holmes 324 Kennedy Street NW Washington DC 20011 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ ConferenceDetail.action?ID=41353

The Regulatory Process of Starting a Business Date: Monday, November 16, 2015 Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Location: Southwest Neighborhood Library 900 Wesley Place SW Washington DC 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ ConferenceDetail.action?ID=41340

Money Smart for Small Business - Insurance and Banking Services

SmartStart Integrated Licensing and Money Smart for Small Business Program

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2015 Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington DC 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ ConferenceDetail.action?ID=41243

Date: Monday, November 16, 2015 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (E-268) Washington DC 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ ConferenceDetail.action?ID=41340

How to Open a Small Business Navigating Government by Navigating through DCRA’s Contracting with DC Procurement Regulatory Process Technical Assistance Center Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (E-200) Washington DC 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ ConferenceDetail.action?ID=41232

Date: Thursday, November 19, 2015 Time: 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington DC 20024 To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/ ConferenceDetail.action?ID=41230

For further information : Jacqueline Noisette (202) 442-8170 jacqueline.noisette@dc.gov Claudia Herrera (202) 442-8055 claudia.herrera@dc.gov Joy Douglas (202) 442-8690 joy.douglas@dc.gov

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Black Nativity 2015 Ensemble. Photo: Courtesy of C. Stanley Photography

Black Nativity at Anacostia Playhouse

This retelling of the Christmas story from an Afrocentric perspective is infused with rich gospel, blues, funk, jazz, and dance with griot style story telling from an ensemble cast. Embracing the original spirit of Hughes’ work, Black Nativity serves as a deep exploration of cultural identity, pride, and unity within the African-American community while also bringing a fresh voice to this holiday classic. It’s at the Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE, from Nov. 25 to Jan. 3. Tickets are $35, adults; $20, military, students and seniors; $10 for children 12 and under. Order tickets online at theateralliance.com. Black Nativity originally premiered at New York City’s Lincoln Theatre in December 1961. It was the first play by an African American playwright to be produced at the venue. This production is recommended for audiences of all ages.

Canal Park Ice Skating Lessons

Canal Park Ice skating lessons begin on Nov. 21. Children are accepted into classes from age three, up. The rink offers a class for adults as well. All learn-toskate classes last 30 minutes. Skaters are assigned to an instructor and class time based on skill level and experience. Private and semi-private lessons are also available. Canal Park Public Ice Skating begins for the season on Saturday, Nov. 7. Hours are Monday and Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m.; Wednesday to Friday, noon to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Adults are $9; children/seniors/military are $8; and skate rental is $4. It’s open every day including all holidays but the hours vary. Canal Park is at 202 M St. SE. canalparkdc.org. Photo: Courtesy of Canal Park Ice Rink

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Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K

Please join So Others Might Eat in supporting the hungry and homeless in the District by participating in the Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger at Freedom Plaza (corner of 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW). Proceeds from the 5K benefit thousands of homeless families and single adults, include the elderly and people suffering from mental illness, by providing much-needed food, clothing and healthcare. The only turkey trot in the District, the Trot for Hunger is a tradition for thousands of area residents and a meaningful way to remember people in need on Thanksgiving Day. The kids one mile fun run is at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K run/walk is at 9 a.m. Register at soome. convio.net. P.S. You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to run, or even walk, to enjoy this event. Just show up at the start, hand over a donation and let others do the work. Very satisfying! Costumes are encouraged at the Trot for Hunger, and the event features a Little Turkey One Mile Fun Run for young Trotters. Photo: Skewed Patella Photography by Derek Parks

Torpedo Factory Art Center Holiday Open House

On Saturday, Dec. 5, 4 to 9 p.m., Torpedo Factory artists keep their studios open late for their annual Holiday Open House. Visit 82 artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; studios, seven galleries, two workshops, and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. The Alexandria Choral Society performs seasonal favorites throughout the evening. Founded in 1974 in an old munitions plant, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is home to the largest collection of publicly accessible working artist studios in the country. And it really once was an actual torpedo factory. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is at 105 N. Union St., Alexandria, VA. torpedofactory.org Photo: Courtesy of the Torpedo Factory Art Center

Iconic Lone Sailor statue with Veterans Day wreath, 2014. Photo: US Navy Memorial Photo by Jeff Malet

Veterans Day Wreath Laying at the Navy Memorial

The United States Navy Memorial will honor Veterans Day with a wreath laying ceremony with special guest speaker Vietnam War Medal of Honor Recipient Sen. Bob Kerrey and author presentations on Navy and Marine Corps history, and readings by the Veterans Writing Project. On Wednesday, Nov. 11, author talks begin at 11 a.m. for Combat at Close Quarters and noon for They Were Heroes. The wreath laying is at 1 p.m. and Veterans Writing Project at 2 p.m. The Naval Heritage Center is at 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. navymemorial.org. November 2015 H 19

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All Credit Cards Accepted November 2015 H 21

NOVEMBER CALENDAR

Veterans Day Wreath Layingat Arlington

Nov. 11, 11 AM. President Obama will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. The public is invited to watch this ceremony. There is standing room at the wreath laying and seating in the adjacent amphitheater for the President’s subsequent speech. Get there early. Leave umbrellas and backpacks at home. Parking and the ride to the ceremony site are free. arlingtoncemetery.mil.

VETERANS DAY In Honor of Our Veterans: Caring for Our Heroes Panel. Nov. 5, 7 PM. Panelists will discuss Congress’ role in the veteran programs, lessons that can be learned from returning military personnel, and what unique challenges lie ahead. National Archives, Seventh St. and Constitution Ave. NW. archives.gov. Veterans Day 10K & Tidal Basin Walk. Nov. 8, 8 AM. Honor America’s veterans with a run through West and East Potomac Parks along the Potomac River. Fast, flat course. T-shirts, refreshments, random prizes. 301-840-2042. runwashington.com. Mount Vernon Salutes Veterans. Nov. 11, 9 AM to 4 PM. In honor of our nation’s veterans, Mount Vernon admits all active duty, former, or retired military personnel free of charge. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA. mountvernon.org.

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CAPITOL HILL VILLAGE CORNER

Village Voices – Experts and Neighbors on Your Front Stoop

his fall and winter you can meet and learn from some of your illustrious and illuminating Capitol Hill neighbors in informal, free, public discussions about a range of social, economic and political topics.

Wreath Laying at World War II Memorial. Nov. 11, 9 AM. 17th St. between Constitution and Independence Aves. NW. 202-619-7222. wwiimemorial.com. Veterans Day Observance at The Wall. Nov. 11, 1 PM. Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 202-393-0090. vvmf.org. Wreath Laying at Air Force Memorial. Nov. 11, 11 AM. Wreath laying ceremony and a two-minute moment of silence will be observed to commemorate those members of the US Armed Forces who were killed during war. Air Force Memorial is at One Air Force Memorial Drive in Arlington, VA. airforcememorial.org. Women’s Memorial at Arlington Cemetery Veterans Day Observance. Nov. 11, 3 PM. The ceremony will include formal military honors, a keynote address, veterans’ remarks, and wreath layings. womensmemorial.org.

Capitol Hill Village is sponsoring a series for the community to meet and learn from each other. The series is free, open to the public and does not require (but does prefer) registration. To register, call (202) 543 1778 or email: info@ capitolhillvillage.org with your name and number attending.

Upcoming talks include: Why You Should Care About Greece Today’s political and economic turmoil stand in contrast to iconic images of Greece as the center of democracy with temples dedicated to justice, governance and intellectual pursuits. Learn about the Greek economic crisis, its elections and the refugee crisis. Explore Greece’s context and the role that the US and Europe has played in it and why it matters to the US. One underpinning of the

crisis may be a loan that Greece made to Germany during World War II. James Edward Miller, professor in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and chair of European and Greek Studies at the Foreign Service Institute will provide a thought-provoking discussion of recent Greek events and their ties to world history. November 3, 2015 7:00 pm. Northeast Library, 330 7th St NE. Yes Virgina (and DC) there is a Santa Claus – and he arrives earlier each year In time for the holiday season, we will learn about merchandizing, advertisements and the secrets of the retail industry. Explore branding, marketing, displays, sales and gain insight into the changing world of retail sales. Frank Guzzetta worked for Woodward and Lothrop (Woodies), Hecht’s, Macy’s Ralph Lauren and other major retailers across the heyday of department stores and centralized shopping. He started as a management trainee and became president and CEO of Marshall Fields (which became Macys) and later President of the Ralph Lauren Home Division. December 8th,

The Key to Your Community

2015 7:00 pm. Northeast Library, 330 7th St NE. Were all the Monuments Men as Handsome as George Clooney? The Monuments Men true adventure story began in Washington, D.C. and continued in battle zones in Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany during and after the war. Learn about the amazing story of saved art works and historic artifacts and the heroics on the front lines in Europe and the behind-thescenes strategies. Listen to stories and see rich illustrations about the real Monuments Men (and women), the military officers who saved art, archives, libraries and cultural monuments in Europe during World War II. Maygene Daniels, long-time archivist at the National Gallery of Art, is a world renowned archivist and worked at the intersection of the Monuments Men activities. Coming in January.

THANKSGIVING

Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade. Nov. 21, 10 AM to noon. 50 foot balloons, floats and marching bands. Downtown Silver Spring on Georgia Avenue from Sligo to Silver Plaza. silverspringdowntown.com. Capitol Hill Group Ministry Interfaith Thanksgiving Service. Nov. 22, 4 PM. Join others to celebrate Capitol Hill Group Ministry’s ever expanding services to neighbors in need, the Capitol Hill community, and many of the congregations and volunteers that help make our neighborhood such a wonderful place to call home. Lutheran Church

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{november events calendar}

late, coffee, donuts and holiday spirit. Tree is in the park on the northeast corner of Penn. Ave. and Eighth St. SE. capitolhillbid.org. Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. Dec. 5, 6 to 8 PM. More than 50 illuminated boats start at The Wharf construction site and cruise the Potomac River at Alexandria’s Historic Waterfront at the foot of Cameron St., Alexandria, VA. 703-838-5005. visitalexandriava.com.

The US Capitol made from plant materials. There will be many other DC landmarks made from plant materials as well throughout the Garden Court. Photo: Courtesy of the US Botanic Garden

“Season’s Greenings” at the Botanic Garden

Thanksgiving Day through Jan. 3, daily, 10 AM to 5 PM. The best things in life are free: the fragrance of a freshly cut fir tree; the magic of holiday lights and sumptuous decorations; and the delight of a child discovering the make believe world of model trains. The train show, “Pollination Station,” features sculptures of pollinators like butterflies, bees, and bats, as well as flowers and plants – all made from plants. Free. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov. of the Reformation, 212 East Capitol St. NE. capitolhillgroupministry.org. Practicing Gratitude through Poetry at the National Cathedral. Nov. 24, 6 PM. An evening of contemplative practice on the last Tuesday of each month; free and open to the public. nationalcathedral.org. Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger. Nov. 26, 8:30 AM, Kids’ One Mile Fun Run; 9 AM, 5K Run/Walk. Turkey Trot at Freedom Plaza (corner of 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW). soome.convio.net. Christ Church Thanksgiving Service and Luncheon. Nov. 26, 11 AM, service; noon, dinner. Christ Church, 620 G St. SE. washingtonparish.org. Holy Eucharist with Hymns at the National Cathedral. Nov. 26, noon. This 35-40 minute service includes prayers, Scripture, a homily, and Holy Eucharist. All are welcome. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200. nationalcathedral.org.

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George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation at Mount Vernon. On view through Jan. 6, 2016, in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center, this important document was drafted after a contentious 1789 debate in Congress calling upon the President to “recommend to the people of the United State a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed.” This historically significant document marks the first national celebration of Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, 1789. mountvernon.org. Small Business Saturday. Nov. 28. This day encourages people to shop at small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. americanexpress.com

EARLY CHRISTMAS Capitol Hill George Didden Holiday Tree Lighting. Nov. 28, 5:30 to 6 PM. This lighting of the 25 foot evergreen tree celebrates the season and honors Capitol Hill BID Founding President and beloved community member George Didden, III. There will be plenty of hot choco-

Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church “Living” Christmas Tree. Dec. 4, 7 PM; Dec. 5, 4 PM and 7 PM; and Dec. 6, 4:30 PM. This unique worship experience is highlighted by a replica Christmas tree that stands over six tiers tall. Among the “decorations” adorning the tree, will be 50 men and women from area churches who will sing the best of the season’s sacred music while standing within its structure, thus bringing the tree to ‘life.’ $15. Purchase tickets at the church office. 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-581-1500. The Capitol Christmas Tree. Although not confirmed, The Capitol Tree will almost certainly be lit on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 5 PM. The public is invited and no tickets required. Subscribe to the Hill Rag ebulletins and we’ll let you know as soon as we can confirm. Go to capitalcommunitynews. com, hit “Hill Rag” and go to SUBSCRIBE on the left side of the front page of our online local news service. Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree Farms in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Visit pickyourownchristmastree. com.for farms and directions. Then follow the prompts. A Christmas Carol at Ford’s. Nov. 19 to Dec. 31. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. 202-347-4833. fordstheatre.org. Black Nativity at Anacostia Playhouse. Nov. 25 to Jan. 3. Langston Hughes chronicles and celebrates the birth of Jesus, while also celebrating the birth of Blackness. This classic story told through gospel, blues, funk, jazz, and dance asks you to look inward and find the wonder in life. $10 to $35. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. 202-290-2328. theateralliance.com. Mount Vernon by Candlelight. Nov. 27, 28, Dec. 4, 5 and Dec. 20, 5 to 8 PM. Join “Mrs. Washington” as she hosts an enchanting evening of candlelight tours, fireside caroling, and festive treats. Timed tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for children 11 and under. George Washington’s Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. 703-780-2000. mountvernon.org.

Frederick Binkholder Artistic Director presents

Faithful Friends The Capitol Hill Chorale welcomes back an old friend, David Jellema, and his sextet to reprise a jazzy Christmas. Join us as we swing our way into the holidays with vocal jazz favorites.

Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. Lutheran Church of the Reformation: 212 East Capitol St. NE $25 preferred seating, $20 general admission, $15 ages 13 to 30, Free for 12 and younger

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Christmas at Mount Vernon. Nov. 27 to Jan. 6, 9 AM to 4 PM. Holiday visitors will enjoy themed decorations, chocolate making demonstrations, and 18th Century dancing. George Washington’s Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. $17/adult, $8/child, five and under free. 703-780-2000. mountvernon.org. Zoolights. Nov. 27 to Jan. 1, 5 to 9 PM nightly, except Dec. 24, 25 and 31. Don’t miss your chance to meander through the Zoo when it is covered with thousands of sparkling lights, attend special keeper talks, and enjoy live entertainment. Free. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu. New in 2015 at Zoolights. Dec. 3, Brew Lights; Dec. 10 and 17, Date Nights. There is paid admission, adult drinks, photo opps, carousel rides. All three nights are for ages over 21 only. nationalzoo.si.edu. The Nutcracker at THEARC. Nov. 28 and 29. Set in Georgetown and replete with swirling snowflakes, cherry blossoms and historical characters, including George Washington as the heroic nutcracker, The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker has become a tradition for generations of family and friends to celebrate the holidays. THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202-889-5901. The Nutcracker at the Warner. Dec. 3 to Dec. 27. See description above. Warner Theater, 513 13th St. NW. 202783-4000. warnertheatredc.com. Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park. Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, 5 to 10 PM. $14 per car. Enjoy from your car. Sandy Point State Park, 1100 East College Pkwy., Annapolis, MD. visitannapolis.org. Festival of Lights at Mormom Temple. Dec. 3 to Jan. 1. Lights are on from 5 to 11 PM. 9900 Stoneybrook Dr., Kensington, MD. 301-587-0144. dctemplelights.lds.org. Holiday Jam at the Verizon Center. Dec. 3, 7 PM. Featuring Jill Scott, New Edition, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Black Alley Band. $75 to $150. Tickets available at Verizon Center box office and at ticketmaster.com and via Phonecharge at 1-800-745-3000. White House Christmas Tree Lighting. Dec. 3, 5 PM. Tickets required. Visit the tree any time after the show and ceremony. Christmas Concert for Charity at the National Shrine. Dec. 4, 7:30 PM, but arrive earlier. This annual Christmas Concert for Charity features the voices and sounds of the Basilica Choir and the Catholic University of

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Sue Parrotte (2093) and Sue Parker (2360) join in the festive costume atmosphere as they finish their 2014 Jingle All the Way 5K. Photo: Courtesy of Pacers Running/SBR Photo

Jingle All The Way 5K

Dec. 6, 9 AM. Prance, dance, or just be a vixen. The 11th running of the Jingle All the Way is complete with holiday spirit, costumes, hot coffee, and photos with Santa. Race starts at Freedom Plaza. No race day registration. $40. Register at runpacers.com/race/jingle-allthe-way-5K. America Choir and Orchestra. There will be a free will offering to benefit a charity. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-5268300. nationalshrine.com. US Army Band “Pershing’s Own” American Holiday Festival. Dec. 4, 8 PM; Dec. 5, 3 PM and 8 PM; Dec. 6, 3 PM. Joy to the World! The annual kick-off concert for the holiday season will be at DAR Constitution Hall. Free tickets online at usarmyband.com. If sold out, there are usually some empty seats on stand-by. “A Christmas Carol” at The Little Theatre of Alexandria. Dec. 4 to 19. The family-favorite classic by Charles Dickens, equipped with special effects, Victorian carols and Tiny Tim returns to the Little Theatre of Alexandria. $15. The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria, VA. 703-683-0496. thelittletheatre.com. NPR’s A Jazz Piano Christmas at the Kennedy Center. Dec. 4. Join the Kennedy Center and NPR as top jazz pianists

perform their favorite holiday songs. This Washington tradition continues to bring new twists to holiday classics with world-class musicians. $49. kennedy-center.org. Gay Men’s Chorus “Rewrapped” at the Lincoln. Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13. Not your grandmother’s carols! Your favorite holiday songs as you’ve never heard them before. Tickets are at GMCW.org. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202328-6000. thelincolntheatre.org. Holidays through History Open House. Dec. 5, 4 to 8 PM. Celebrate the holidays at Anderson House, Dumbarton House and Woodrow Wilson House. Stroll through the three festively decorated mansions and learn about historical Christmas traditions. Shuttle bus transportation provided between museums. Reservations recommended. $10 to $20. societyofthecincinnati.org Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Concert. Dec. 5, parade 11 AM to 1 PM; massed band concert, 1 PM. Parade route begins at the corner of Wilkes and South Saint

Asaph Streets in Old Town and ends at King and Royal Streets Concert at King and Royal Streets in front of City Hall at Market Square. Alexandria, VA. scottishchristmaswalk.com. “Christmas in the Castle” by The Christmas Revels. Dec. 5 to 13. Celebrate the winter solstice and start your holidays with this fully staged performance at Lisner Auditorium at GWU. $12, up. revelsdc.org. Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long. Dec. 5, 4 PM. “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and members of local choirs and vocal groups perform. Free. wolftrap.org.

SPECIAL EVENTS

John Philip Sousa’s Birthday at Congressional Cemetery. Nov. 6, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. The volunteer awards ceremony begins at 10:30 am at Sousa’s grave site, and the Marine Band will arrive between 10:45 and 11 AM. Birthday cake served for as long as supplies last. Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE. 202-5430539. congressionalcemetery.org. First Annual DC PodFest. Nov. 6, 7 and 8. Podfest is a weekend podcast intensive for podcasters and podcast fanatics. They will focus on the business, creativity, and diversity in podcasting in various ways. Prepare to be engaged, entertained, and productive. Wonderbread Factory Event Space, 641 S. St., NW. dcpodfest.com. Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Gaithersburg. Nov. 20 to 22, 10 AM to 6 PM. Lovers of fine crafts and art will find more than 400 top artisans displaying and selling their unique creations in pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, home décor, furniture and home accessories, items for the garden, and photography. Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg, MD. sugarloafcrafts.com.

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Artomatic 2015. Through Dec. 12. Artomatic returns for its signature free art event to be held this year in Hyattsville, MD. Artomatic draws over 1000 artists and performers throughout the area to showcase their talents for a six weeks free exhibition that routinely attracts more than 75,000 visitors. 8100 Corporate Drive, Hyattsville, MD. Artomatic.org.

MUSIC

Jazz 101 with Veteran Jazz Broadcaster Rusty Hassan. Nov. 3, An Introduction to Listening to Jazz; Nov. 10, It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing; Nov. 17, Bebop, Cool and Hard Bop; Nov. 24, The Modernists; all 6:30 to 8 PM. Cost: $12, session or $40, series. Register online at hillcenterdc.org. Concerts at the Library of Congress. Nov. 4, Bach Collegium Japan; Nov. 7 (2 PM), Michelangelo String Quartet;

Nov. 13 (7:30 PM), Ensemble Intercontemporain; Nov. 17, Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano; Jonathan Cohen, organ/harpsichord; Thomas Dunford, lute/theorbo; Nov. 19, Apollo’s Fire, Jeanette Sorrell, artistic director; Amanda Forsythe, soprano. These free concerts are at 8:00 PM (unless otherwise noted) in the Coolidge Auditorium located on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. loc.gov. Hill Center Jazz Ensemble led by saxophonist Marshall Keys. Nov. 5, 7:30 PM. The Ensemble presents original repertoire by its members that gives a living picture of the current state of jazz in Washington, DC. $15, advance; $20, day of. Purchase tickets online at hillcenterdc.org. Music at Ebenezers. Nov. 7, Rob Williams; Nov. 12, Russell Howard; Nov. 13, Rachel Levitin (Full Band) EP Release; Nov. 14, Dara Sisterhen; Nov. 28, Matthew Fowler; Dec. 3, Acoustic Guitar Project; Dec. 5, Davis Bradley Duo. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com.

Magic & Miracles Benefit for Ready, Willing & Working

Dec. 2, 6 to 9 PM. WAMU 88.5 FM’s Kojo Nnamdi as MC. Features an open bar, food from top local restaurants, a silent auction and an inspirational program. Buy tickets at rwwdc.org. The Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE.

Ready, Willing & Working Participant Damon Robinson shares his story of success with the audience at the Seventh Annual Magic & Miracles Benefit in 2014. Because of his job with the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District and supportive services through Ready, Willing & Working, Damon, an involved father to his five year-old daughter Amia, is on the road to self-sufficiency. Photo: Courtesy of Ready, Willing & Working

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DC’s Different Drummers Concerts. Nov. 7, 7 PM. “la musique des femmes” - A concert by DCDD’s Capitol Pride Symphonic Band at Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. Nov. 8, 5 PM. “Heroes Among Us: A Tribute to the Music of WWII” - presented by DCDD’s DC Swing at Church of the Reformation, 222 East Capitol St. NE. Tickets are $21. dcdd.org. Music at the Corner Store. Nov. 8, 5 PM, Trans Atlantic Duo Guitar and B a l a l a i ka , V l a d i m i r Fridman and Alexander Paperny. Nov. 15, 5 PM, Sean Lane & Seth Kibel Present “Lush Life” Billy Strayhorn at 100. $20 advance donation, $25 walk-in. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. 202-5445807. cornerstorearts.

Congressional Chorus in Living, Laughing & Loving: Celebrating the Circle of Life Through Song, Poetry and Dance. Nov. 14, 7:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased online at congressionalchorus.org. The price is $33 for general admission. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. 202347-2635. epiphanydc.org. Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington: The S* Show at the Atlas. Nov. 14, 5 PM. Sondheim. Sinatra. Streisand. Celebrating three of the greats in one evening. $20 to $35. atlasarts.org. “Notes from the Crypt” Chamber Music Concerts at Congressional Cemetery. Nov. 15, 4 PM. Program is followed by a wine and cheese reception. Admission is free, and seating is first come, first served. Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE. 202-543-0539. congressionalcemetery.org. Society of the Cincinnati Concerts. Nov. 28, 1:30 PM, David Pedraza, viola, and Anna Nizhegorodtseva, piano; Dec. 12, 1:30 PM, Alexander Barnett, classical guitar. Free. Anderson House, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-7852040. societyofthecincinnati.org. Jazz in the Sanctuary at Ebenezer United Methodist Church. Nov. 29, 12:15 PM. All are welcome to this jazz service which happens on the Fifth Sunday of every month that has a Fifth Sunday (next time, Jan. 31). Free will offering taken. 400 D St. SE. 202-554-9117. Jazz Night and Blues Night in Southwest. Jazz is every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. Blues is every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. Expect a large, fun and friendly crowd. The cover is $5. Children are welcome and free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW (Fourth and I, south side of intersection). westminsterdc.org. Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Every Tuesday, 12:10 PM. Free but offering taken. 1317 G St. NW. 202347-2635. epiphanydc.org.

THEATER AND FILM Angelika Pop Up Movies at Union Market. Nov. 2 and 7, The Anthem of the Heart; Nov. 3 and 4, Royal Opera House: The Marriage of Figaro; Nov, 9 and 14, Ronaldo World Premier; Nov. 10, 11 and 16, Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie; Nov. 15 and 17, Jewels - Bolshoi Ballet; Nov. 18 and 24, Henry V - Royal Shakespeare Company; Dec. 6 and 15, The Lady of the Camellias - Bolshoi Ballet. Angelika Pop Up at Union Market, 550 Penn St. NE. 571512-3311. angelikafilmcenter.com/dc.

Washington Improv Theater: HOWL at the Atlas. Through Nov. 7. HOWL features WIT’s improvised slasher movie Die! Die! Die! plus performances by its amazing company ensemble. $12. The Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org.

HAPPY HOUR

Salomé at Shakespeare. Through Nov. 8. A tale as provocative as the Dance of the Seven Veils. According to the New Testament tale, Salomé, Princess of Judaea, danced for Herod Antipas and asked for the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org.

TUES - THUR | 5:00 - 6:30 P.M. Half-price on selected wines, beers and cocktails. Featuring a special food menu!

The Magic Tree at Keegan. Through Nov. 13. On a stormy night, they shelter in an abandoned summer home and tentatively discover what it is they have in common. But just when it seems something beautiful might emerge, the opposite appears. Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. 202-265-3767. keegantheatre.com. The Dealer of Ballynafeigh at Keegan. Through Nov. 14. The boss’s niece is in a coma and Billy’s job is simple: scare the dealer who sold the girl the bad stuff. Billy is prepared for his bad-ass torture mission, except he has to bring his Ma along (it’s her night for the car, after all). Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. 202-265-3767. keegantheatre.com. Gimme a Band, Gimme a Banana! The Carmen Miranda Story. Through Nov. 14. Gimme a Band, Gimme a Banana will utilize Pointless’s signature brand of multi-disciplinary, ensemble-driven artistry and puppetry to tell the story of the legendary Brazilian performer Carmen Miranda. Logan Fringe Arts Space: Trinidad Theatre, 1358 Florida Ave. NE. capitalfringe.org.

“COME & SEE OUR NEW RENOVATION” BRUNCH | SAT - SUN LUNCH & DINNER | TUES - SUN

327 7TH ST SE

202.544.1244

/ MONMARTREDC

CHECK OUR DAILY SPECIALS AT MONMARTREDC.COM

Creative Acts Learning Center LLC ACTING CLASS WHEN: 11/3-12/15 6:30-8PM COST: $160 SCREENWRITING, PLAY-WRITING, SPOKEN WORD WORKSHOPS WHEN: ONGOING TIME: VARIES | COST: VARIES CONTACT: WWW.CREATIVEACTSLEARNINGCENTER.COM 202.810.3816

10 th Street Auto repAirS

Serving Capitol Hill for over 25 years Owner Kevin Ehrman and his dedicated staff will treat your car as they would their own. 518 10th St., NE (MD & 10th St., NE) Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m – 6 pm • 544-1110

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Winners and Losers at Woolly. Through Nov. 22. Is Kanye West a winner or loser? What about the Berlin Wall? Or goat cheese? Old friends Marcus and James spare nothing and no one in a seemingly harmless drinking game that separates the champions from the chumps. But what begins as a playful exercise slowly reveals itself as a dangerous unpacking of privilege, status symbols, and class divisions. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939. woollymammoth.net.

gmail.com. $10 donation at door. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. 202544-5807. cornerstorearts.

This is Rwanda: The Beginning and the End of the Earth. Through Nov. 29. Mosaic Theater launches its inaugural season with a world-premiere epic about the madness and majesty of Rwanda. Raymond, an African film student at NYU enthralled with the mysteries of Alfred Hitchcock, is compelled by a mentor’s death to return to Rwanda to uncover a deeper horror story: the roots of violence that have destroyed his family. $20-$60. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org.

Storytelling Hour at Corner Store. Nov. 10, 6:30. This is a monthly, inter-generational Storytelling Guild event whereby professionals, semi- professionals and lovers of stories preserve the ancient oral tradition of storytelling. Five minute limit. This month’s theme “What Happened to Thanksgiving Dinner?” $15 Donation. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. 202-544-5807. cornerstorearts.

Scena Theatre’s The Cripple of Inishmaan at the Atlas. Through Nov, 29. When a Hollywood director visits a remote Irish island to make his latest film, the locals clamor for their oncein-a-lifetime shot at stardom. A young outcast and “Cripple” named Billy is desperate to escape poverty and gossip—so he vies for a role against all odds. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org.

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The Coil Project Presents “Strange Tales II: A Little Stranger”. Nov. 7, 8 PM. The Coil Project theatre group returns to CHAW to present another year of four Halloween-themed works by local writers. $15 for the evening of horror and suspense! Tickets at thecoilproject.org. CHAW, 545 Seventh St. SE. 202-5476839. chaw.org.

Pericles at the Folger. Nov. 13 to Dec. 20. Pericles, Prince of Tyre, sets sail on an extraordinary journey through the decades and is blown from the coasts of Phoenicia to Greece and to Turkey. Chased by the wicked King of Antioch, Pericles finds his true love in Thaisa and loses her and their daughter Marina on the rough seas. Folger Theater, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-5447077. folger.edu.

Oliver at Arena. Through Jan. 3. Artistic Director Molly Smith blends the chaotic worlds of Victorian London with 2015 London to infuse a modern edge to the classic story about an innocent orphan living among double-dealing thieves and con men. arenastage.org.

A Lesbian Belle Tells... at Corner Store. Nov. 14, 3 PM and 7 PM. This powerful solo performance by E up lizabeth McCain rightly won the Best of the 2014 DC Fringe. Settle back and hear true stories about growing in Mississippi, coming out in DC, and experiencing family estrangement, love, and healing. $20 advance donation, $25 walk-in. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. 202544-5807. cornerstorearts.

OpenStageDC at Corner Store. Nov. 6, 6:30 PM. Open mic event providing writers and performers a casual setting to present new work. Five one acts or excerpts from longer plays are presented in 10 minute segments for one hour. Space is limited, so sign in at openstagedc@

Sons of the Prophet at Theater J. Nov. 18 to Dec. 20. This dark comedy centers on Joseph, a young Lebanese-American man in Nazareth, Penn. After Joseph’s father dies in the wake of a freak accident involving a plastic deer decoy, he’s pretty sure lightning won’t strike twice.

Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. 800494-8497. washingtondcjcc.org. Jerusalem 3D at National Geographic. Saturdays and Sundays through Mar. 31, 2016 at noon, 1 PM, 2 PM, and 3 PM. Unprecedented access to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s holiest sites, as well as rare aerial footage of the Old City and the Holy Land, combine to make Jerusalem 3D a unique and stunning cinematic experience. $7. National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. 202-8577700. nationalgeographic.com.

SPORTS AND FITNESS

Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Nov. 5, 7, 13, 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27. Verizon Center. capitals.nhl.com. Washington Capitals Practice Schedule. Non-game day, 10:30 AM; game day, 10 AM; and day after game, 11 AM. All practices are at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, 627 North Glebe Rd., Suite 800, Arlington, VA. They are free and open to the public. kettlercapitalsiceplex.com. Washington Wizards Basketball. Nov. 4, 10, 14, 17, 24 and 28; Dec. 2, 4, 6 and 9. Verizon Center. nba. com/wizards. Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. MidNovember through mid-March. Monday-Thursday, 10:00 AM-9:00 PM; Friday,Saturday, 10:00 AM11:00 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. Skating is over at 5:00 PM on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve. No skating on Christmas or New Years. Two hour sessions begin on the hour. $8, adult; $7 seniors over 50, students with ID and kids, 12 and under. $195, season pass. $3.00 skate rental (ID required) and $.50 locker rental with $5 deposit. 7th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202-216-9397. nga.gov

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Canal Park Ice Skating. Nov. 7 through mid-March. Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 7 PM; Wednesday to Friday, noon to 9 PM; Saturday, 11 AM to 10 PM; and Sunday, 11 AM to 7 PM Adults are $9; children/seniors/military are $8; and skate rental is $4. It’s open daily including all holidays, but the hours vary. Canal Park is at 202 M St. SE. canalparkdc.org. Public Skating at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Fridays, noon to 2 PM and Saturdays 12:45 to 1:45 PM. Public Skate, $5 for adults (13 to 64); $4 for seniors and children (five to 12); $3, skate rental. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Place SE. 202-584-5007. fdia.org. Free public tennis courts in Ward Six. King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St. SW; Garfield Park, Third and G Streets SE; Randall Park First and I Streets SW; Rosedale Recreation Center, 1701 Gales St. NE; Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis for one hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr. dc.gov/dpr.

MARKETS Downtown Holiday Market. Nov. 27 to Dec. 23, noon to 8 PM, daily. More than 150 exhibitors and artisans selling an array of high-quality gift items including fine art, crafts, jewelry, pottery, photography, clothing, tasty treats, and hot beverages. Market is located on F Street NW, between Seventh and Ninth. downtownholidaymarket.com. Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market. Dec. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20. Market features handcrafted work from local artists; handmade ornaments to benefit Del Ray Artisans; plus a Bake Sale to benefit Alexandria Tutoring Consortium. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. TheDelRayArtisans.org.

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Parcel Market at Canal Park. Dec. 5 and 6. This is a holiday market featuring a 10,000 square-foot ice rink, an interactive art installation, a large-scale retail tent and food area showcasing a curated list of talented local designers, artists, food artisans, and restaurants and small businesses, with live and local musical performances. Canal Park, 202 M St. SE. canalparkdc.org. National Museum of the American Indian Native Art Market. Dec. 5 and 6, 10 AM to 5:30 PM. The NMAI Art Market offers one of a kind, handmade, traditional and contemporary items directly from the artisans. More than 35 Native artists from North and South America will participate in this annual weekend market featuring a wide selection of items for purchase including handmade jewelry, beadwork, pottery, prints and sculpture. Free. Fourth St. and Independence Ave. SW. 202-6331000. nmai.si.edu. Alexandria’s Holiday Market. Dec. 5 to 24. While shopping for unique art and craft items for loved ones, at this unique holiday market, visitors can enjoy live entertainment, traditional European food and sweets, wine and beer. 300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, VA. alexandriaholidaymarket.com. Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 5 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM to 6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202698-5253. easternmarketdc.com. H Street NE Farmers Market. Saturdays, through Dec. 19, 9 AM to noon. Located at H St. and 13th St. NE. freshfarmmarket.org. Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Tuesdays, 3 to 7 PM. Farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com.

Union Market. Tuesday to Friday, 11 AM to 8 PM; Saturday to Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com. Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year, 7 AM to 9 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722.

CIVIC LIFE

Southwest Waterfront AARP Meeting. Nov. 18, noon. Subject is Improving Schools and Education by Engaging Families and Communities. Speaker is Shenita Burney, Deputy Chief, Community Engagement, District of Columbia Public Schools. AARP members and prospective members are welcome. $5 for lunch. River Park Mutual Homes Community Room, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. For more information, contact Chapter President Betty Jean Tolbert Jones, bettyjeantolbertjones@yahoo.com or 202-554-0901. ANC 6A. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Meeting at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. 202-423-8868. anc6a.org. ANC 6B. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-5433344. anc6b.org. ANC 6C. Second Wednesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE, First Floor Conference Room. 202-547-7168. anc6c.org. ANC 6D. Second Monday, 7 PM. Meeting at 1100 Fourth St. SW, DCRA meeting room, Second Floor. 202-554-1795. anc6d.org. ANC 6E. First Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Meeting at Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW. anc6e.org. If you have an item for the Calendar, email calendar@hillrag.com. u

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Bulletin Board Women, Arts and Social Change Project Women, Arts and Social Change (WASC) addresses the social and political issues relevant to women through provocative programming that inspires dialogue and action. The National Museum of Women in the Arts—as a champion of women through the arts—is the first museum to offer an ongoing platform highlighting the power of women as advocates for solutions to society’s significant issues. WASC will present programming such as FRESH TALK that brings together prominent women in the arts with individuals outside their fields for creative conversations on art, activism, race, gender, equity, identity, social and economic opportunity. Carrie Mae Weems – Can an artist inspire social change? is on Nov. 15. Reservations are required at nmwa.org/ events. $25 for general admission; $15 for members, students, and seniors. Ticket price includes museum admission and Sunday Supper. Seating is first-come, first-served. Also coming up are: Jan. 27, Change by Design—Can design be genderless?; and Mar. 2, Change by Design—Can an artist use science and technology to heal the environment? nmwa.org.

Carrie Mae Weems speaks on the role of artists in inspiring social change. Photo: Photo courtesy of John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

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Emily Edson Briggs of The Maples

Arrest Made in A Street SE Burglary The Metropolitan Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division Sexual Assault Unit have announced that an arrest has been made in the Burglary I and First Degree Sexual Abuse that occurred in the 1800 block of A St. SE, on Tuesday, Oct. 13, between 2 and 3 p.m. The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and is being held as a fugitive in an outside jurisdiction, pending charges in the District of Columbia.

Boy Scout Annual Coat Drive Boy Scout Troop 500’s annual Coat Drive will be held across from Eastern Market on Saturdays, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Clean coats of all sizes are needed. These coats go to people in need. If you have questions, contact Scout leader Daniel Herman at dherman@dragonwork.com. They will also pick up your coats at any time.

Thanksgiving Basket Program Underway The holiday season is right around the corner, and the Capitol Hill Group Ministry (CHGM) is doing its part to make it a joyful season for the less privileged. CHGM has hundreds of families to support

Overbeck Lecture: Emily Edson Briggs of The Maples In the late nineteenth century, visitors at The Maples, the grand old home at 630 South Carolina Avenue SE, would have been greeted by the indomitable Emily Edson Briggs. A leading hostess of the day, Briggs won fame and fortune by writing a colorful, irreverent newspaper column under the pen name ‘Olivia.’ She portrayed the Washington political scene skewering inflated egos and pushing for women’s suffrage some fifty years ahead of its achievement. The Maples was Briggs’s home during her last decades in Washington. It was built in 1796 for the wealthy tobacco planter William Duncanson and later owned briefly by Francis Scott Key. On Monday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at Hill Center, US Senate historian emeritus Donald Ritchie will present an Overbeck History Lecture on Briggs’s life and times. Admission is free. To reserve seating, go to HillCenterDC.org or 202549-4172.

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ATLASWINTERFEST All the best holiday performances right here at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Fresh Holiday Takes Brad Linde: A Post Cool Yule 12/4 Great Noise Ensemble: Gathering 12/5 Fantastical Movement Sweet Spot Aerial Productions: ‘Tis the Circus! A Holiday Party on High 12/4–6 Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show 12/10–22 Powerful Theater The Gospel of LovingKindness: Mosaic Theater Company of DC 12/9–1/3 Klecksography: Rorschach Theatre 12/19

facebook.com/atlasarts @atlaspacdc

Holiday Fun for All Snow Day: Arts on the Horizon 12/12–20 10th Annual Holiday Concert & Sing-Along 12/13

November 2015 H 37

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through the CHGM annual ThanksGIVING Food Basket Program. Supporters can register to provide a basket through mid-November valued at about $50 for a family of four. For more information, contact Shelah Wilcox at wilcox@chgm.net.

Rumsey Pool Closed for Maintenance William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center at 635 North Carolina Ave. SE will close from Nov. 15 through Nov. 22. DCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s indoor, year-round aquatic centers undergo yearly scheduled maintenance to deep clean the pool and facility. Pools close in phases. The facility is expected to re-open on Monday, Nov. 23.

Join the CHGM Homeless Assistance Team Capitol Hill Group Ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Homeless Assistance Response Team is a street outreach program made up of volunteers who are trained to offer basic outreach and emergency services to our homeless neighbors. Training will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 421 Seward Square SE. For more information, contact Abby Sypek at sypek@chgm.net or call 202544-0631, Extension 200.

Cookbook Author Raquel Pelzel Speaks On Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., Hill Center welcomes Raquel Pelzel, author of Toast, for a discussion with food writer Bonny Wolf. Grilled, pan-fried or broiled, toast is the perfect vehicle for endless fun and creativity in the kitchen. Toast features 50 seasonal recipes from savory to sweet with innovative combinations of simple ingredients that easily found in the supermarket or farmers market. Following the discussion, there is a book signing and reception sponsored by David Guas at Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eat-

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ery. Free. Register online at hillcenterdc.org or call 202-549-4172

CSX Looks for Local Businesses in SE CSX has sponsored a new mobilefriendly web app, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Neighborhood Guide,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; to support local businesses nearby the Virginia Avenue Tunnel. The app lists nearby shops and recreational areas, provides special promotions from local merchants, and identifies convenient places to park. To access the app, visit theneighborhoodguide.com.

Home Maintenance Tips at Preservation Cafe Cliff Kornegay, owner of Capitol Hill Home Inspections, will discuss Home Maintenance Tips, with an emphasis on decks and deck inspections, at a Preservation Cafe, Wednesday, November 18, 2015. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. at the Kaiser Permanente building, at 700 2nd St. NE. Free, accessible and no reservations required.

Capitol Hill Neighbor Assistance Fund Capitol Hill residents have been shocked at the violent crime in our community, and in particular a violent attack on one of our neighbors in the Hill East area in mid-October. People have come together to support the victim and help her and her family. To help facilitate this effort, a partnership has been formed with the Celebrate Capitol Hill Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization created by Hill businesses and merchants, to create a Neighbor Assistance Fund. Capitol Hill is a community where neighbors care about one another, and where people come together to support one another in times of crisis. This Neighbor Assistance Fund is designed to help do exactly that.

Contributions to the Neighbor Assistance Fund are used to provide emergency financial assistance for families and individuals experiencing severe hardship; to help neighbors get back on their feet after a severe blow. And just as important, to give all of us a mechanism to ensure our donations go directly to our neighbors that need it in a transparent and accountable fashion. Be a good neighbor. Make your gift now. http://capitolhillneighbors.org/

Pacers Opens at Navy Yard On Oct. 21, Pacers Running opened the doors to their sixth retail location in the Navy Yardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boilermaker Shops at 300 Tingey St. SE. Paying homage to the historical 1919 former Navy Yard building, the store sports various fixture elements salvaged from old ships. Dedicated to providing high quality fitness services, the 2,016 square foot store serves as a community hub for running enthusiasts of all levels hosting weekly fun runs. runpacers.com

Music on the Hill Relocates Music on the Hill is moving. The storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new location is 801 D St. NE. There is a grand opening planned for Saturday, Nov. 21. It will feature sales on all instruments and accessories, lesson registration specials and product raffles. 202-733-3158. musiconthehilldc.com

Hill Center Galleries Opening Reception On Wednesday, Nov. 18, 6 to 8 p.m., Hill Center Galleries is holding an Opening Reception

November 2015 H 39

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for their exhibitions. Meet the artists. Learn the inspiration behind their work. Meet other art enthusiasts. Complementary wine, beer and sparkling water served. All works are available for sale. A portion of those proceeds supports free programs at Hill Center. hillcenterdc.org

Traffic Lane Shifts on Mass and H NW Traffic pattern shifts and detours on Massachusetts Avenue and H Street NW are expected to last eight months, The DC Department of Transportation announced. The shift is needed to facilitate excavation activities for the new southbound portal to I-395. This work includes removal, relocation and replacement of existing underground water and electric utilities. For more details, contact the project’s public outreach office at 202-719-0196 or visit 3rdsttunnel.com.

Draft Bikeshare Development Plan Released The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has released a draft of its first Bikeshare Development Plan for public feedback. The plan establishes a set of goals, measures, expansion plans, and financial projections for the next six years for the District of Columbia’s portion of the Capital Bikeshare program. Under the proposed plan, Capital Bikeshare in the District would expand by 99 stations over the next three years, doubling the number of stations east of the Anacostia River. By 2018, approximately 65 percent of residents, 90 percent of jobs, and 97 percent of all transit entry and exit points in the District would be within a

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Questions about Distribution? Email distribution@hillrag.com or call 202-400-3512 42 H Hillrag.com

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quarter mile walk of a bikeshare station. DDOT is soliciting feedback. Anyone can comment on dcforms. dc.gov/webform/capital-bike-shareform until Nov. 15, 2015.

Circulator Launches New Website The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has launched a new DC Circulator website. The new website features refreshed visual elements, enhanced functionality and improved navigation that allows users to quickly access important bus and route information with ease. Built on a modern platform featuring responsive design for all screen sizes, the new site offers visitors timely, relevant information and an improved user experience on any device. Visit dccirculator.com.

New DC Health Link Plan Match The DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority (HBX) has launched the DC Health Link Plan Match on DCHealthLink. com. It is designed to aid customers in making more informed decisions by comparing plans based on a current and a future medical need. A person simply enters their age, health situation and anticipated medical needs. The Plan Match then estimates the total out of pocket costs that include premiums, deductibles, co pays and coinsurance and provides the information for each of the 31 health plans currently available to individuals. District residents shopping for coverage during open enrollment (Nov. 1, 2015 to Jan. 31, 2016) will see all plans and premiums available for 2016 beginning Nov. 1, 2015. Have an item for the Bulletin Board, email bulletinboard@hillrag. com. ◆

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November 2015 H 43

{capitol streets / district beat}

District Beat

It Is Time for The Council Freshmen to Graduate by Jonetta Rose Barras

f a consultant created a PowerPoint org-chart of the current DC Council committees, it would resemble a mass of ill-defined squiggles. That design, seemingly lacking rhyme or reason, is the brainchild of the legislature’s chairman, Phil Mendelson (D). The council may say, for example, the key to solving the city’s homeless crises is preserving and constructing affordable housing. But neither homeless issues nor the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) come under the purview of the legislature’s Committee on Housing and Community Development. Instead they are within the Committee of the Whole (COW), headed by Mendelson. The COW is mess. It controls the University of the District of Columbia and its associated community college, although there is a Committee on Education. Mendelson has jurisdiction over the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, despite the fact there is a Committee on Transportation and the Environment. Interestingly, the transportation committee does not oversee Metro. It does, however, have oversight of the Department of Recreation and also the Department of General Services, a multimillion dollar agency concerned with the management and operations of the city’s real estate holdings and school modernization. The Committee on the Judiciary is responsible for 40 agencies, offices, or commissions, including the DC Board of Elections and the Commission on Fathers, Boys and Men. Is there a message in that latter connection? Equally troublesome is that the committee composition erodes transparency. What new resident, hoping to connect with the District government regarding the state of its vacant property, for example, would think to reach out to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment? Some city hall insiders say the committee structure reflects the chairman’s need to control as much of the legislative terrain as possible. His decision not to give chairmanships to any of the freshman legislators is consistent with his desire to dominate. “The committees are too broad and disparate,” says Dorothy Brizill of DC Watch, a good-government group.

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“There are issues not getting the attention they deserve.” She cites, among others, elections reform, contracting and procurement where the city spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and Metro, to which the District provides a sizable subsidy. Brizill is not alone in her criticism. Some advocates and civic leaders assert oversight is adversely affected. They say Mendelson’s failure to assign committees to freshmen misuses the legislature’s human capital and the public’s money. Those and other concerns have some people calling the council ineffective.“This has to be the weakest city council in memory. There is a dearth of real leadership,” says longtime civic leader Terry Lynch. None of that fazes Mendelson, who says this is an old and settled issue. “I am not planning any changes of the committee structure. It’s hard for the council to reorganize in the middle of the council period. It sets us back.”

The Past Should Be Prologue When Mendelson created the committees at the start of the new council period last January, he claimed that he wanted to give new members time to get acclimated to the council. The freshmen went along with his decision, although most were not new to District government. Ward 1’s Brianne Nadeau (D) had been an advisory neighborhood commissioner, an elected post. Ward 6’s Charles Allen (D) worked for eight years as chief of staff to then-Councilmember Tommy Wells; many council staffers help drive their bosses’ legislative and public policy agendas. At-large Councilmember Elissa Silverman (D) reported and analyzed council actions when she worked for the Washington City Paper, The Washington Post, and later the DC Fiscal Policy Institute. “[They] didn’t suddenly get born and decide they wanted to be elected to the council,” says Brizill. The freshmen, including the more recently elected Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd (D), knew their way around the block, down the stairs, and into the basement where secrets may be buried. “I voted [in January] against the committee structure,” says Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Ev-

ans (D). “It concentrates way too much authority in the chairman’s hand. It concentrates way too much authority in a couple of committees that don’t have the personnel or the expertise to deal with issues.” Mendelson refuses to even assign the newcomers subcommittees or special committees as his predecessors did. Consider that in 2005 then-Chairman Linda Cropp appointed freshman Councilmember Vincent Gray to lead a special committee on the prevention of youth violence. She also named Marion Barry to head a subcommittee on statehood and self-determination.

Committee Overload As a result of Mendelson’s adherence to an illogical structure, the council is operating with eight standing committees, the lowest number in more than a decade. During Council Period 14, for example, there were 10 committees; in period 16, there were 11 members. The reduction during this Council Period 21 means more work for committee chairmen, although additional funding was provided to increase staffing levels, according to the secretary of the council. Nevertheless, those who spoke with the District Beat say they are seeing adverse effects. “There has been a lack of effective oversight, monitoring of programs and seeing how the dollars are being spent,” says Brizill, who for the last 20 years has been a frequent presence at the John A. Wilson Building. “If we had 13 committees people would still complain about oversight,” counters Mendelson. “More or fewer committees don’t speak to the quality of oversight. The dissatisfaction with oversight isn’t necessarily addressed by reorganization.” But it couldn’t hurt. Additional training for councilmembers on how to conduct effective oversight could improve the quality of their work. During February, each standing committee conducts a performance oversight of agencies under its charge. In April, the council switches focus to examining the mayor’s budget proposal, agency by agency. But generally the council’s public hearings or roundtables are related to legislative proposals. For example, the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, chaired by Ward 1’s Mary Cheh (D), held only one oversight hearing on the Department of General Services unrelated to the budget. That took place in July and focused on City Auditor Kathy Patterson’s report on school modernization, which revealed several highly irregular fi-

Heather Schoell Capitol Hill Real Estate

nancial transactions. Cheh has scheduled for this month a joint public hearing with the education committee on school modernization. But she has not yet to conduct a pure oversight of the DGS to examine in greater detail management and operations problems exposed by the auditor’s report. The judiciary committee, chaired by Ward 5’s Kenyan McDuffie, may have held 30 public hearings or roundtables thus far. But based on the District Beat’s analysis, it appears 12 of those were related to performance oversight, a precursor to budget hearings, or actual budget hearings. Another 16 were related to specific legislative proposals or confirmation of mayoral appointees. Only two could be characterized as pure oversight, examining the internal operations of an agency including programs, personnel, and outcomes. As Brizill mentioned, there has been little attention to elections issues. “It is impractical for anyone to think that every measure that is referred to a committee would, or should, move forward,” responds McDuffie.He says he has “focused significant [oversight] time and attention on community policing, violent crime, and fire and emergency medical services.” No one expects McDuffie to ignore crises. But both crime and elections are important to government operations. In the past, when an agency has required an intense drill down, council chairmen have elected to create subcommittees. When there was a problem with the Metropolitan Police Department under then-Chief Larry Soulsby, a joint special committee was created and chaired by Evans and Ward 3’s Kathy Patterson; Mark Tuohey was hired as special counsel. Why wasn’t a special committee on fire/ emergency medical services established before the council approved the executive’s privatizing plan? Could another solution have been developed through a more intense process?

Who Benefits Councilmembers without chairmanships are not subjected to the heavy lift that McDuffie and his staff endure. They do not have to deal with striking balances on legislation between what may have been introduced and what can be passed, after comment from citizens and the executive. They do not have to file reports, and when the budget comes back around this spring, they will not have the tedious task of matching the mayor’s proposal

with public expectations and available funds, and the certification that must be provided by the chief financial officer. In other words, their days can be fairly easy.Council members without chairmanships receive the same pay as those with committees, however. Wilson Building sources told the District Beat that some councilmembers, including Nadeau, were complaining privately about the structure, arguing they wanted to get in on the action.But Nadeau declined to be interviewed for this article. She also did not respond to questions submitted to her via email. Silverman says she is happy with the current arrangement. “Having a committee right away means you have to focus on issues.”She says time away from the gavel during the past 10 months has given her staff the opportunity to “gel” and to “see where I can add value to the council.” She continues, “We’re getting a sort of liberal arts [education] curriculum track as opposed to a professional curriculum track.” She has the ability, she says, to meet agency directors when she is “not their overseer,” which allows “the opportunity to develop good, rich relationships.” Having cordial relations with agency managers is a good thing. But that isn’t more important than strong oversight that ensures an honest and effective government, serving the needs of residents. Silverman predicts that next year, “The council will be stronger,” and she and her staff will be better able to determine “where[we]can add the most value.” District voters had some expectation that Silverman and other council freshmen were ready to hit the ground running. Lynch says, “Councilmembers don’t want to be in the line of fire of either the chairman or the mayor. Some councilmembers are dependent on the mayor, others are cautious to a fault; they are concerned that one false step could derail their reelection, imperiling the perks of the job.” He cites as example the recent proposal to build a practice facility for the Wizards and have the government pick up the tab. There is no context for how that facility might connect with the “whole development pattern,” continues Lynch. “So many opportunities for council oversight and engagement have been missed.” Jonetta Rose Barras is an author and freelance writer based in DC. She sometimes blogs at jonettarosebarras.com ◆

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November 2015 H 45

{capitol streets / the numbers}

DC’s Got It Going On

We Don’t Need Big Tax Incentives to Attract Businesses

he District of Columbia has become a magnet for a young and increasingly skilled workforce. With DC’s vibrant nightlife and cultural landscape, a comprehensive public transportation system, great new libraries and parks, and school choice options, it is not surprising that young people want to begin their careers here and stay. That gives businesses a large pool of talent to tap and supports a thriving restaurant and retail sector. That’s why Mayor Bowser’s $60 million proposed tax break for the Advisory Board Company – one of DC’s largest corporate subsidies in recent memory – doesn’t make sense. The proposal, like many before it, raises the question of whether tax incentives are needed to maintain a strong economy and keep businesses in an already attractive market. The Advisory Board tax subsidy threatens to set a bad precedent for business tax breaks that are not needed and in fact make it hard to continue investing in the things that have made DC attractive to a talented workforce, like schools and parks.

by Wes Rivers breaks end. Finally the Advisory Board would have to invest in a variety of community benefits, including volunteer hours at schools and mentorships, and training and workforce development activities for DC residents. In the world of corporate tax subsidies this one goes a long way to being a performance-based incentive. The Advisory Board would only get tax abatements if it stays in DC for a considerable amount of time and hires more District residents. But what if

What Would DC Get for a Big Tax Break to the Advisory Board? On the face of it, Mayor Bowser’s proposal has a lot going for it. In return for $60 million in tax breaks over 10 years, the Advisory Board would have to lease a brand-new building in the District and add 100 District residents to its payroll every year for 10 years – 1,000 residents in total. In addition the Advisory Board’s lease would last five years longer than the tax abatements, so that the company could not leave DC as soon as the tax

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the Advisory Board really wanted to stay in DC anyway, and was already on a path to expand? In that case even the best-structured tax abatement would be a bad deal for the city. If tax abatements are not needed to keep the Advisory Board here, then the $60 million subsidy is simply less money for the city to invest in schools, parks, or healthcare.

Taxes Don’t Matter Much for Business Location Decisions Companies locate where it makes the most sense in the long-term. That usually means places with a skilled workforce and a good quality of life. State and local taxes usually are not major factors, because taxes are a small part of a company’s expenses. This is not mere speculation. Business leaders frequently note that taxes are not high on the factors that affect where they locate. Companies seek tax incentives because they can – not because they are essential to a location decision. A look at the Advisory Board deal suggests that they would like to stay in DC. The mayor’s proposal requires the company to sign a commercial office lease this year. With that deadline it is likely that lease negotiations have been underway for some time. Beyond that, a $6 million/year tax break would offset only part of the higher rent the company would pay in DC compared with the suburbs. And $6 million is less than 1 percent of the Advisory Board’s annual revenue. Is that really enough to keep them some place they don’t want to be? Seems doubtful. In other words, even though the Advisory Board says it needs a tax break, every other indication is that they want to stay in the city. That probably is because the company’s client base is here – and because the young talented people who work there want to live in DC. Is it possible the tax incentive is needed for the company to stay financially viable or to hire District residents? The answer is no, according to DC’s chief financial officer. The CFO point-

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ed out that the tax abatement would be relatively small in the scheme of the company’s overall taxes and expenses. It is likely that the Advisory Board will hire 120 new residents a year with or without the abatement, based on their recent growth.

The Best Corporate Attraction Strategy

If the DC Council agrees with the mayor that the risk of the Advisory Board leaving the city is too great, it should make changes to ensure DC gets the best deal possible. Most important, under the proposed deal, the Advisory Board could get a large share of the tax

Wes Rivers is a policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi. org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia and to increase the opportunity for residents to build a better future. ◆

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EN 4PM OP 1/8 11

If the Tax Break Survives, Make it Better

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EN 4PM OP 1/8 11

The fact that DC has become very attractive to millennials, many of whom are staying once they have children, is worth exploring. If educated and skilled workers want to live in the District, more companies needing skilled workers will want to be here, as will retail businesses. There is no hard evidence on why young people are flocking to DC, but public investments matter. The opening of Metro’s Green Line about 15 years ago spawned development in areas like U Street, Columbia Heights, and Petworth as more residents gained quick access to downtown and other parts of the city. Beyond that the District has invested heavily in DC Public Schools and in a robust charter school sector. Add the investments in playgrounds, sports fields, and libraries and you have a recipe for a city that will keep residents and draw restaurants and other retail amenities. That means that tax subsidies are the wrong approach to creating a business climate because they don’t work that well and because they take away money from things that really do matter, like schools.

breaks even if it does not meet the hiring goals. For example, if the Advisory Board increases DC resident employment by 500 in five years and then stops growing, it could claim 82 percent of the tax-break package – even though it only met half of the hiring goal. Instead the formula should be adjusted so that the share of the $60 million received matches the share of the 1,000-job goal met. In addition nothing prevents the Advisory Board from terminating the newly created positions after the end of the 10-year tax breaks. DC should have some protections built into the deal ensuring that residents are hired for the term of the lease. That could be accomplished with a “clawback” provision to reclaim a portion of the tax breaks if net DC hiring growth falls below 1,000 after the tax breaks end. There is always the risk that the Advisory Board will leave the city if it does not get additional tax breaks. But the District faces that risk every day and is still doing well. Despite the higher cost of office space the District consistently has lower office vacancy rates than the suburbs. With limited resources and growing needs in the city, DC’s leaders need to be thoughtful about how tax dollars are used. A large business tax abatement that really is not needed sets the expectation that other companies can get the same, a standard that will mean less and less money for other priorities.

EN 4PM OP 1/8 11

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{capitol streets}

Neal Gregory, President of Friends of the Southeast Library.

DC Public Library’s Strategic Plan Sets New Goals for Ward 6 Libraries by Christine Rushton

own the stairs and into the Anacostia Library meeting room a group of patrons gathered. At the center sat an Eastern High School junior. Nathaniel Howard knows he wants to go to college. He wants to study journalism and English and he wants to succeed. His goals depend in part on the resources he uses five days a week at his neighborhood library branch. “My vision for the library is to have more technology, more tutors for help getting into college, and community outreach for young teens,” Howard said. At an Anacostia Library community meeting on Oct. 8, patrons like Howard, Army veteran Larry O’Quinn, and president of the Friends of Anacostia Library Kathy S. Williams voiced their opinions of where the library succeeds and where it needs change. “If the library is not integrated into the needs of the community, then it’s just a building,” Williams said. A library should also help adults and elderly breach the digital gap and learn how to work with technology, said O’Quinn. Several others in the group of about 15 attendees stood behind the idea that libraries today can and should offer more than just the traditional book collections.

Thinking about the Future Looking ahead at the next phase of development, administrators of the DC Public Library surveyed 2,171 people through three community meet-

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ings, an online survey, and phone calls to prepare the upcoming strategic plan. This will help decide how DCPL’s $57 million budget supports its patrons. Participants asked administrators to consider more programs for adult literacy, after-school teen tutoring, reading with babies and mothers, and even fitness groups. They all agreed that each branch should tailor what it offers to the demographics of that community. DCPL put together a capital plan for the 26 libraries that started with the historic renovation of the Takoma Park Library in 2009. But leaders last drafted a full strategic plan for the library’s overall mission nearly a decade ago. The blue ribbon task force made changes that increased computers from 100 to 700, started online training for job seekers, and designed programs for children from birth to graduation. The new plan, 2016 through 2020, will continue developing the library as a resource for all community members, said Judi Greenberg, DCPL’s director of strategic planning. “We want to make sure that we’re offering and are responding to what is important to the community,” Greenberg said. “We want to fine tune what we’re doing to make our services relevant.” It will include some continued capital planning as well.

A Local Perspective Since the Rosedale Library opened in October 2012, moms, children, and caretakers continue to fill the space to capacity at free programs, said Dana Wyckoff, president of the Friends of Rosedale Library. The librarians of the neighborhood meeting spot turn people away at times dur-

ing events because they can’t fit any more. “All libraries have become community centers over time,” she said, “But you have to balance the needs, everything can’t be focused to the opinions of one area.” Wyckoff said she wished DCPL could have offered more community meetings to discuss the plan. She hopes that while the administrators look forward, they will continue to deal with the current issues, such as patrons who have to wait on a holding list of 300 for the book they want to read. Programming at the Rosedale Library has also changed from teen-focused to adult-focused based on the availability of certain librarians, which Wyckoff said leaves gaps in the diversity of events for library-goers. “I’m critiquing priorities. The rationale is that the libraries would take one percent of the city budget for 100 percent of the people,” she said. “Schools are closed over breaks, but libraries are open seven days a week and they serve all age groups.” But the basic function of the community system still stands: readers get access to the books. Wyckoff passionately supports that mission. “Books in the hand are worth the grade points,” she said. “Growing up with books in hand is so important as a support for the education.” The library’s original dark wood trim has been restored, and new furniture was selected to match the building’s Georgian Revival architecture.

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Nathaniel Howard, a junior at Eastern High School, works on ﬁlling out his suggestions for the new District of Columbia Public Library strategic plan at the Anacostia Library on Oct. 8, 2015.

A New Plan Neighborhood librarians should focus their programming on individual region’s needs, not a “cookie cutter” model, said DCPL’s executive director, Richard Reyes-Gavilan. The budget plans in the past distributed funds based on previous-year models with similar staffing, book-buying, and programming allocations. A new plan will help funnel that money to what people actually ask for, he said. The surveys and community meetings gave the library administrators input on what resources they offer well and which need more attention. Balance is crucial, though, ReyesGavilan said. “More and more people feel we should be leading or filling gaps in service from adult education to early childhood literacy to digital readiness to support for schools. There is so much for libraries to be doing,” he said. “I don’t want to be the jack of all trades where we do all of these services but none very well.” DCPL hired Reyes-Gavilan for the executive director position in January 2014. He knew from the start he wanted a set plan of services the community can rely on. “Any organization of this size - 600 staff, 26 buildings, 800,000 square feet of real estate, $57 million annual budget - it’s irresponsible for an institution of this

size not to have a well-articulated plan of service,” he said. It all comes back to community need. “As much as humanly possible, we are making it our plan.” Discussing what the community appreciates and wants more of helps keep the library on the edge of technology and services, said Vince Morris, president of the Friends of the Northeast Library. All branches need to continue evolving in the next five to 10 years. The habits children and adults develop through reading and other educational programming will transfer to their future school and work lives, he said. The Northeast branch sits in a densely populated area of Capitol Hill. “People come to the library as a place to gather and to hold meetings, to have a central community point. They come to rely on the library for access to the Internet,” Morris said. “But libraries are also the first stop for almost everybody to read, check out a book, and learn new things. The key is figuring out what the right balance is.” At the Southeast branch services and programs aren’t the problem - space is, said Neal Gregory, president of the Friends of the Southeast Library. “For children and story hours, I joke that they have to have a bouncer to turn these three- or four-year-olds out,” he said. “They have story hours and people have to have a ticket to go.” Children’s story times and teen afterschool tutoring help educate the growing number of families in the library’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Mayor Muriel Bowser approved a $23.5 million capital budget for the 2019-20 Eastern Market Metro Park Master Plan, which includes an expansion of the Southeast Library separate from DCPL’s budget. Gregory said he supports DCPL’s new strategic plan but knows these separate plans for 2019 will give the library the space it truly needs. u

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here’s some good news coming for the Anacostia River – and for all waterways in the region! Legislation banning the use of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), commonly known by the brand name Styrofoam, goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2016. The legislation applies to all DC businesses and organizations that serve food including restaurants and carry-outs, cafes, delis, grocery stores, bars, pubs, food trucks, and cafeterias. While non-EPS such as clear plastic “clamshells” and plates will initially be allowed under the legislation, by January 2017 businesses will be required to switch to compostable or recyclable containers as well as straws, lids, and utensils. The DC Department of Energy and Environment’s (DOEE) “Foam Free DC” campaign has been conducting outreach about the upcoming requirements for the last several months. Part of that effort is asking the public to report businesses that are still using foam on the DOEE website and on Twitter (www.doee.dc.gov/foam and @FoamFreeDC) so they can contact these establishments to ensure that they’ll be ready for the ban starting Jan. 1. A recent and informal survey of Capitol Hill restaurants that have long used foam found that many of them have already complied with the regulation.

Why Is This Legislation Needed? The accumulation of plastics in waterbodies around the world is of growing concern. According to the 2015 Ocean Conservancy report, “Stemming the Tide: Land-Based Strategies for a Plastic-Free Ocean,” the quantity of plastic estimated to enter ocean environments in 2025 is double that of 2015. So, why is DC focusing on EPS? Resourcefulschools.org reports that Americans use 25 billion plastic foam cups every year. Foam doesn’t readily decompose, and it will remain intact in landfills for hundreds of years. Left outdoors it breaks down into small pieces which wildlife often mistake for food. With their light weight, foam cups, plates, and clamshells are easily carried by wind and rain and end up in storm drains, creeks, rivers, and eventually the ocean. Foam litter is one of the most common types of trash found in the Anacostia River. DOEE Director Tommy Wells has been a

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DC Is Going Foam Free! by Catherine Plume longtime advocate for the Anacostia, and as Ward 6 Councilmember crafted the much lauded DC Bag Bill that went into effect in 2009. He notes, “We are excited about the District’s upcoming ban on EPS and the important positive effects the ban will have on our urban environment. Over time, EPS breaks into smaller and smaller pieces, and other pollutants – like oil, grease, and heavy metals – can adhere to them. These pieces are then consumed by fish and wildlife and bio-accumulate in the food chain. It’s encouraging to see three major jurisdictions – the District and Prince George’s and Montgomery counties – embracing legislation that will further reduce the amount of harmful pollution consistently found in the An-

acostia and Potomac Rivers.” According to Trash Free Maryland, Prince George’s County will ban the use of foam food packaging at restaurants and the sale of foam food packaging and foam packing peanuts as of July 2016. A similar law will go into effect in Montgomery County in January 2016, with restaurants required to use recyclable or compostable materials for disposable food ware as of 2017. Seattle, Albany, Portland, and San Francisco have also adopted legislation on EPS, but the road to these bans is not always easy. In New York City a ban on foam products was implemented in July after the Sanitation Commissioner determined that foam could not be recycled in an environmentally effective and economically feasible manner. A group of foam manufacturers, recyclers, and commercial users sued, and in September the ban was revoked when a state judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The city will likely appeal the decision. A DC DOEE spokesperson explains, “New York City’s law differs from the District’s ban in two crucial ways: (1) the New York ban was created through agency rulemaking and (2) the ban was preconditioned on the unavailability of recycling programs. The District’s ban is statutory and was passed by the City Council. While no recycling companies operating in the Washington metropolitan area accept foam, DC’s EPS ban is not tied to the availability of recycling programs.” DC’s EPS legislation is part of the Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2014. It contributes to the “Sustainable DC Plan” which was developed through a Districtwide consultative process in 2011-12 under the Gray administration, and is now being continued under Mayor Bowser. The plan seeks to improve the quality of life for all residents by 2032 by working toward ambitious (but attainable) goals for buildings and housing, climate, energy, food, nature, transportation, waste, water, and the green economy. The District’s foam ban was passed by the DC Council to reduce foam litter in the Anacostia River and its tributaries. Think of it as a gift to our rivers and wildlife, and perhaps even a pathway to a swimmable Anacostia! Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer, and a blogger for the DC Recycler: www.DCRecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter @DC_Recycler. u

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{capitol streets / opinion}

Educating the District Educational Meetings Must Be Open to the Public

by Suzanne Wells

he Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education (DME) recently announced the formation of a Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force. According to an Aug. 19 frequently asked questions (FAQ) document prepared by the DME’s office, the task force is charged with “developing clear and fair recommendations on how to improve the coherence and collaboration across and among public schools to improve effectiveness and efficiency. The task force will focus its efforts on recommending strategies and solutions for priority issues that will have the most impact on improving student outcomes for all public schools throughout the District.” That’s an important charge when today 56 percent of the city’s students attend DC public schools, 44 percent attend privately managed, publicly funded charter schools, and one in five of our tax dollars goes to support education. At the bottom of the third page of the FAQ document I notice a curious statement: “The Task Force meetings are closed to the public.” The reason given for having closed meetings was that, without the public observing the meetings, participants would be able to establish a “safe and productive environment for Task Force members to have an open and honest dialogue with each other.” The Office of the DME said public input was going to be critical, and they would share summaries of the discussions with the public and let the public attend focus groups, fill out an online survey, and

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testify at a public roundtable. None of that sat too well with Fritz Mulhauser, a Ward 6 resident, who is on the board of directors of the DC Open Government Coalition. Mulhauser knows a lot about the DC Open Meetings Act, which very clearly says, “All meetings (including hearings) of any department, agency, board, or commission of the District government, including meetings of the Council of the District of Columbia, at which official action of any kind is taken shall be open to the public. No resolution, rule, act, regulation, or other official action shall be effective unless taken, made, or enacted at such meeting.” The mission of the DC Office of Open Government (OOG) is “to ensure that government operations at every level are transparent, open to the public and promote civic engagement.” The OOG ensures citywide compliance with the DC Open Meetings Act. It has an online complaint form that can be completed by anyone who believes the Open Meetings Act is being violated. And that’s just what Mulhauser did. He filled out a complaint form asking that the OOG investigate whether the Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force is a public body subject to the DC Open Meetings Act. On Oct. 7 Traci Hughes, director of the OOG, issued a binding opinion determining that, given the task force’s “potential far reaching impact on education policy, the only plausible determination” is that it is a public body under the DC Open Meetings Act, and that its meetings must be held in public. Now that it has been decided the

Additions & Basement Experts BUFFALO COMPANY, LLC www.buffalocompanyusa.com For all your Construction Needs Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force meetings must be held in public, I hope all members will have open and honest discussions with each other because the issues they discuss are critical for the future of public education in DC. For far too long we’ve had two different sectors managing our public education resources, and it is past the time when DC Public Schools and the Public Charter School Board should be collaborating and planning for the education of all children in DC. Now, thanks to Mulhauser, who filed the complaint, and Traci Hughes, who issued a very reasonable opinion, the task force meetings will now be held in public. But wait! The story is not over. I happened to check the DME’s website on Oct. 20 and noticed that it and the FAQs still said the task force meetings would be held in private. I thought surely the DME’s office just hadn’t had enough time to update their website to reflect the OOG’s binding opinion. I was wrong. At a Capitol Hill Public Schools Parent Organization meeting the evening of Oct. 20, a representative from the DME’s office said they are in the process of reviewing the opinion, and planned to talk with Traci Hughes. The representative said the DC Open Meetings Act was very vague, and they felt further discussion was needed to determine if the Cross-Sector Collaboration Task Force meetings were covered by the Act. Stay tuned. More to come.

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November 2015 H 53

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ANC 6A Report by Jonathan Neeley Talking with Police Officials About Crime To address this year’s spike in crime of all kinds, Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Diane Grooms, along with First District Captain Tony Charland (parts of ANC 6A are in both the First and Fifth districts) and Detective Sergeant Andrew Struhar, who oversees the Narcotics Enforcement Unit, visited Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6A’s October meeting to speak and answer questions. They addressed different facets of local crime, saying that burglaries in 6A are down while robberies are up. Both the H Street corridor and the area at Starburst Plaza and Hechinger Mall are key crime spots, and since June there have been 44 arrests for drug distribution along Benning Road, mostly for synthetics. The department has shifted focus away from street buyers and toward finding the source of drug distribution. The officers also said that while Police Chief Kathy Lanier has authorized overtime pay for all eight of the department’s districts, most resources are going to Districts Five, Six, and Seven; in Seven in particular murders are way up from last year. Finally Grooms, Charland, and Struhar touched on ways for residents to stay safe and help police do their job. For safety, avoid walking alone at night, and if you have to do it walk

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in the street and don’t cut through alleys. Also, the more neighbors get to know one another and keep an eye out, the better. People can report drug activity to NSID.drugcomplaints@dc.gov, which goes directly to Struhar. When reporting an incident or suspicious activity, provide as much detail as possible: When? Where? What did you see? Were people on foot or driving?

Events DC Is Considering a New Playground on C Street ANC 6A wrote a letter to Events DC, the organization that manages many of DC’s public spaces, urging it to build a playground on the empty land it owns on the south side of C Street NE between 20th and 21st streets. Some nearby residents oppose the plan, saying a playground would be unsafe for families who live on the other side of C Street because it sees so much car traffic. At the prospective playground site C Street is five lanes wide and referred to by some as a “de facto highway.” However, the area’s only public playground is on Oklahoma Avenue, north of C Street, meaning those who live south of C must cross it. Events DC also owns the Oklahoma Avenue playground, and while removing it to make room for new development is not in the plans, opponents say building a C Street playground would make removing the Oklahoma one more likely. If the Oklahoma Avenue playground were to go and there was none on C Street, the area would not have any public playground at all. The commissioners suggested that Events DC might build and/or maintain playgrounds at both sites.

Work to Clean Up the Anacostia Richard Jackson, associate director of the Toxic Substances Division of the District’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), visited 6A’s regular meeting to give an update on the status of the Anacostia River Sediment Project, whose goal is to identify contaminants (and their origins) in the river and clean them up. DOEE finished collecting river samples in May and now has over a thousand pages of raw data, which it will use to compile a report, by the end of December, on what kinds of contaminants are in the Anacostia’s sediments. Next DOEE will study ways to clean the river. The agency is sup-

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A PHIL TOOMAJIAN, CHAIR, PHILANC6A@GMAIL.COM Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and Stanton Park 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 2nd Thursday, November 12th 7 p.m, Miner E.S., 601 15th St. NE Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee - Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 7pm at Sherwood Recreation Center • 640 10th St., NE Jay Williams - Co-Chair (906-0657) / Christopher Seagle - Co-Chair

Transportation & Public Space Committee - Monday, Nov. 16, 2015 7pm at Capitol Hill Towers Community Room • 900 G St., NE J. Omar Mahmud - Co-Chair (594-9848) / Todd Sloves - Co-Chair

Economic Development & Zoning Committee - Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015 7pm at Sherwood Recreation Center • 640 10th St., NE Andrew Hysell - Co-Chair

Community Outreach Committee - Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 NOW HELD EVERY 4TH MONDAY OF THE MONTH

7pm at Maury Elementary School • 1250 Constitution Ave., NE Multi-purpose Room (enter from 200 Block of 13 Street) Dana Wyckoff - Co-Chair (571-213-1630) / Raphael Marshall - Co-Chair

Please check the Community Calendar on the website for cancellations and changes of venue.

HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS CHRS’s Preservation Cafe Wednesday, November 18 at 7 p.m. At the Kaiser Permanente Building at 700 Second Street NE Cliff Kornegay, owner of Capitol Hill Home Inspections, will discuss Home Maintenance Tips with an emphasis on decks and deck inspections at November’s Preservation Cafe. The event is free and handicapped accessible and the public is encouraged to attend. No reservations are required.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787 • www.anc6c.org • (202) 547-7168 ANC 6C generally meets the second Wednesday of each month. 214 Massachusetts Ave NE

ANC 6C COMMISSIONERS ANC 6C01 Daniele Schiffman Daniele.Schiffman@gmail.com

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 Tony Goodman (202) 271-8707 tonytgood@gmail.com

ANC 6C COMMITTEES Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee First Monday, 7 pm Contact: (870) 821-0531 anc6c.abl.committee@gmail.com

Transportation and Public Space Committee First Thursday, 7 pm Contact: mark.kaz.anc@gmail.com

Grants Committee Last Thursday, 7 pm Contact: ducotesb1@gmail.com

Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development First Wednesday, 7 pm Contact: zoning@eckenwiler.org Twitter: @6C_PZE

Parks and Events Committee First Tuesday, 7 pm Contact: christinehealey100@gmail.com

Capitol Hill is a special place. We promote, preserve, and enhance the character of our historic neighborhoods.

Join Us Today at 202-543-0425 info@chrs.org; www.chrs.org; @CHRSDC November 2015 H 55

{capitol streets / anc news}

posed to have a plan by June 2018, and Jackson says it’s on pace to meet that. The project is looking at nine miles of the Anacostia (plus its shorelines) from Bladensburg, Md., to the Washington Channel. It is collaborating with the US Geological Survey and upstream jurisdictions in Maryland to make sure contaminant sources there stay out of the river. You can learn more at http://doee.dc.gov/anacostiasediment.

Grant Money from 6A ANC 6A has a grant program for events and projects that enhance public life within the community. About $2,000 is available this year to any nonprofit organization, and the amount will likely increase in 2016. Examples of past projects include outdoor benches, band uniforms, instruments, sports equipment, library books for schools, flower bulbs for Cub Scout troops, and construction materials for an outdoor puppet theater. The application should describe the project and its anticipated timeline, the benefit for the community, and a budget that outlines what portion of the funding would come from the 6A grant and how that money would be used. After the project is complete, the grant recipient has to provide a final report that includes a summary of the outcome, photos, and documentation of the costs. Applications, along with more information on the process and its rules, are available at http:// www.anc6a.org/ on the “Other Documents” page. ANC 6A’s next full meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 12, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. u

ANC 6B Report by Jonathan Neeley Problems with the Hine Development Construction Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B sent a letter to Stanton-Eastbanc, the developer in charge of construction at the former Hine School site, voicing concerns about noise, unauthorized weekend and early morning work, and workers

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parking in spaces they agreed not to, all of which are among the nuisances that the Hine development work is bringing. As evidence that Stanton-Eastbanc is not complying with the terms of the planned unit development (PUD) it signed in 2014, the letter names specifics, among them: using a jackhammer and working on Saturdays without giving proper notice, using a generator at night, starting work before 7 a.m., having workers park on neighborhood streets near the project, and construction trucks parked with engines idling. “ANC 6B asks that the developer greatly increase efforts to achieve compliance with the long negotiated construction management agreement,” reads the letter. It also asks that Stanton-Eastbanc share plans for addressing all of the concerns it raised.

Mayor Bowser and 6B Disagree over the NFL at RFK In early September Mayor Bowser told ANC commissioners from all over the District that she would like to see NFL football return to RFK Stadium. ANC 6B wrote a letter to her office voicing strong opposition to such a move. The letter expresses a common feeling among residents that using public land and money to host an NFL team would be a waste. It also cites an ongoing Events DC study (Events DC is taxpayerfunded) on what to do with the property, saying Bowser’s comments were particularly irresponsible in that light. “Before making any more statements concerning professional football, please meet with 6B neighbors,” the letter reads.

Mayor Bowser’s Resolution on Homelessness The mayor’s office has recently been circulating its Pledge to End Homelessness in DC and asking residents and elected leaders to sign it. The main points are that homelessness is a problem that can be solved, that homelessness negatively affects the entire community so all neighborhoods and residents have a stake in ending it, that DC can be a nationwide leader in this realm, and that the homeless shelter at DC General should close in favor of smaller shelters across the city. ANC 6B passed its own resolution of support for the mayor’s actions, making sure to detail the problems with DC General. “When it opened, the DC General Emergency Family Homeless Shel-

ter was meant to be temporary,” it reads. “[But] instead of working to find suitable housing and shelter options … city leaders have chosen the politically expedient approach of housing hundreds of families in a deteriorating, depressing building totally separated from the surrounding neighborhood and city. 6B views housing so many incredibly needy families at DC General, including a large number of families with children, as an outrage and embarrassment to our city and as completely counterproductive to the ultimate goal of ending homelessness.”

East Capitol Bus Stop The Metrobus stop on East Capitol at 15th Street SE might be removed. At 6B’s October Transportation Committee meeting commissioners and residents spoke with a representative from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and principals from Center City Public Charter and Eastern High School about removing it. The reason for considering the move, according to the meeting report, is that Center City’s principal says “unruly students from Eastern High and other schools” gather at the stop on weekday afternoons. Eastern’s principal is not against the move, but said police officers assigned to the school leave too early in the day and there is less supervision for students once the school day is over. Transportation Committee members are not convinced that removing the bus stop would make a difference, and are also concerned that doing so would bring requests to close other stops that face the same issue. The committee voted to defer making a recommendation to DDOT and WMATA, the organizations that will make the ultimate decision.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Needs Better Crowd Management The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, which took place on Capitol Hill in March, was a disaster. Organizers were unprepared for the large crowds, as evidenced by their neglecting to bring in portable toilets, and street closures were not announced and did not run as planned. Among 6B commissioners the biggest issues were problems related to Metro, namely the huge backup at the StadiumArmory station, which exacerbated crowd control problems and required that residents walk to Potomac Avenue and Eastern Market, spreading the problem to more streets.

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In anticipation of 2016’s marathon 6B has postponed its approval of the race until the organizer and WMATA present a clear plan for how to move people out of the area once the event ends and for a contingency plan in case of inclement weather or Metro delays. The letter also calls for more clarity on how residents will be able to cross East Capitol Street during the race. ANC 6B’s next full meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. u

ANC 6C Report by Virginia Avniel Spatz

NC 6C’s 11-item agenda, with little disagreement but much discussion, extended to two hours. All 10 Oct. 14 votes were unanimous. All commissioners were present: Daniele Schiffman (6C01), Karen Wirt (6C02), Scott Price (6C03), Mark Eckenwiler (6C04), Chris Miller (6C05), and Tony Goodman (6C06). There was no community comment.

H Street Concerns Po Boy Jim, 709 H St. NE, seeks a liquor license entertainment endorsement allowing karaoke and live music. The Alcohol Beverage Committee, noting ongoing issues with garbage and noise, however, asked owners to show “they can manage the existing settlement agreement” before extending it. Commissioner Miller also related conflict incidents with Po Boy Jim employees. The commission voted to retain an attorney and authorized up to $5,000 to pursue this case. 6th & H St. Bar & Grill, 523 H St. NE, seeks to create a fenced outdoor seating area. Due to change of staff, the establishment did not respond to Transportation and Public Space Committee communications and did not ap-

pear at the October TSP meeting as scheduled. The ANC voted to oppose the application if 6th & H is still a no-show in November.

General Litigation and Arbitration Franchising and Business Organizations Commercial Leasing and Development Labor and Employment Issues Contract and Licensing Matters

Protest of Bus Service Change, Process The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) plans to remove the D3 Ivy City-Dupont bus route, which runs from Ivy City to K Street, through Judiciary Square, Metro Center, and Farragut North and then to Dupont Circle and Georgetown Hospital. Before the ANC could be heard, the public comment period closed, but a WMATA representative agreed to attend the TSP meeting. The route provides access to the courts and other key points for Northeast residents, according to the TSP report. Moreover, the committee explored criteria and data WMATA uses in decision-making and found the D3 “very close” to the cut off on ridership and revenue/mile figures. Following TSP committee recommendation, the ANC voted to protest the removal of the D3 bus route. Noting that WMATA had twice in one year failed to communicate with ANC 6C about a change to a bus route, the commission also voted to protest the feedback and decision process, copying the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and DC Councilmembers.

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NoMa Developments NoMa Business Improvement District seeks to enliven NoMa Metro station underpasses, including an art installation under the tracks at M Street NE near the south entrance. The TSP Committee opposed the permit, requesting several changes. In response the BID adjusted plans to include a cycle path, requested seating elements, and a process for adjusting lighting if required. Given these changes – as described in a brief presentation by the BID’s director of parks projects, Stacie West, and President Robin-Eve Jasper – the ANC voted to support the permit. Following related discussion, the commission also voted to write DDOT, copying adjacent ANC 6E, regarding needed improvements at North Capitol between K and L streets NE, including changes to traffic lights,

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particularly the push-to-walk crossing, and pavement re-striping. Planned Parenthood is redeveloping the warehouse in the 1200 block of Fourth Street NE, next to Two Rivers Charter School. The organization presented the new facility and its public space elements at the October TSP meeting. Concerns remain about sidewalk size and loading zone, aiming to balance organization and school needs and reduce the impact of any clinic protestors. The organization will return to the TSP Committee in November.

Other Actions Support of a full liquor license, stipulated pending settlement agreement, to replace an existing beer/wine license for Toscana Cafe, 601 Second St. NE. Support for labeling the currently unidentified alley between Second and Third, C and D streets NE, “Walter Way” to honor a former cottage industry in the area. The Office of Planning recommends such naming for community character and ease of emergency access. Opposition to zoning relief for converting a two-story carriage house to an art studio at 400 K St. NE; this follows applicant’s failure to abide by previous agreements, according to Commissioner Eckenwiler. Approval of Grant Committee recommendation supporting three grant requests: a garden project at Peabody Elementary and another at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary, and a library database tailored to younger children and special needs students for J.O. Wilson PTA. A fourth request was rejected, the committee reported, on the grounds that it amounted to a tuition subsidy, which is outside the grant guidelines; the program was encouraged to reapply.

Non-Voting Reports Parks and Events: Chris Shaheen, from DC Office of Planning, joined the committee to discuss the inventory and improvement of small parks. Topics included Reservation 84 (Seventh Street at Constitution Ave. NE) and area dog parks. Planning, Zoning, & Economic Development: presentation by Foulger-Pratt Companies of a PUD application for 301/331 N St. NE and related HRPB concept.

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ANC 6C meets regularly on the second Wednesday of each month. However, a November holiday necessitates change of day. NEXT MEETING: Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m., 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE. u

ANC 6D Report by Andrew Lightman

t its meeting on Oct. 19, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D entertained a packed agenda. Commissioners Marjorie Lightman (6D01), Stacy Braverman Cloyd (6D02), Rachel Reilly Carroll (6D03), Vice Chair Andy Litsky (6D04), Chair Roger Moffatt (6D05), Rhonda N. Hamilton (6D06) and Meredith Fascett (6D07) were present.

Reading The Portals The Riot Act In their September meeting, commissioners had heard from representatives of The Portals, the set of large developments that surround Maryland Avenue SW. They asked for the commission to support their application for curb cuts designed to facilitate the development of a large residential building in the fifth phase of this mixed-use project. At that time, commissioners had queried Portals representatives on the fulfillment of a substantial community benefits agreement that the developer had agreed to as part of the project’s initial phase. They requested the applicant provide a complete accounting at the commission’s October meeting. In the interim, Commissioner Lightman had found signed originals of both the initial and subsequently amended agreements. Under their terms, the community was to receive annual payouts of roughly $150,000 for ten years. Lightman could only find evidence of payments for the initial 18 months. “There are very few ways in which an ANC can take any effective action to demand a developer in fact fulfill the conditions of a community benefit agreement,” stated Lightman addressing the representative of the Portals at the October

meeting. “It is really not clear that a court of law would uphold it. So, one of the ways it can act out in its own defense to secure the adherence to a community benefit agreement is when the developer comes next before the commission and asks it to support a further project. You unfortunately are in that position,” she continued. “It is not personal. It is not your curb cut that we are discussing. It is whether or not you have paid the last eight years due of a one hundred and some odd thousand dollars per year in community benefits since the early 1990s. For that we need your people to engage in some hard forensic accounting.” Speaking for the entire commission, Lightman stated there would be no action on any requests until either The Portals provided evidence of payment or a plan of how they would fulfill the terms of the community benefits agreement going forward.

Waterfront Station Northeast Parcel Commissioner Litsky warmly endorsed P.N. Hoffman’s bid for the city-owned parcel at 1000 Fourth St. SW citing its strong combination of neighborhood retail, affordable housing, cultural amenities and the firm’s commitment to longterm ownership and community participation. Litsky proposed the commission send a letter to the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development in favor of the project citing the following rationales: • it provides a higher number of residential units at lower AMI levels, one quarter of them at 30 percent and three quarters of them at 50 percent; • it provides 22,500 square feet of neighborhood serving retail, twice that offered by the competing bids, including a plan to incorporate a major community gathering place designed by the restaurateur behind The Diner; • it ensures that any neighborhood serving retail will be effectively coordinated by that offered at The Wharf; • it provides a 10,000 square-foot black box for the Forum Theater in partnership with Arena Stage and Georgetown University; • it is in partnership with a developer demonstrated a commitment to long-term ownership and community engagement. The commission voted unanimously to send

the letter putting its great weight behind Hoffman’s proposal.

Riverside Baptist Church PUD Representatives of P.N. Hoffman presented plans for the redevelopment of the Riverside Baptist Church at 681 I St. SW. Hoffman plans an apartment building of 170 units along with 7,900 square feet of space for a possible daycare center or other retail use. Benefits to the community from the project include: the redesign the traffic intersection at Seventh and I Streets SW; the retention of the church with a healthy endowment; and affordable housing. The community supports the project and the developer has closely engaged neighboring residents in its planning, stated Commissioner Lightman. “It is well-designed and well thought out.” The project requires the filing of an application for a Planned Unite Development (PUD) to change the site’s underlying zoning from category 3-C-A to R-5-D, which “permits matter-of-right medium/high density development of general residential uses, including single-family dwellings, flats, and apartment buildings, to a maximum lot occupancy of 75 percent (20 percent for public recreation and community centers), a maximum FAR of 3.5 and a maximum height of ninety (90) feet (45 feet for public recreation and community centers). Rear yard requirements are not less than fifteen (15) feet.” The project’s design also edges slightly into public space on the corner of Seventh and I Streets. This requires approval from the DC Department of Transportation. Hoffman requested letters in support from the commission for both its PUD and also a Public Space application. Hoffman’s project sparked a lively debate among commissioners on the merits of the proposed daycare center. After expressing their dissatisfaction about the uncertainty of its provision, there was significant disagreement on how a community benefits agreement might be structured with the developer to ensure a minimum number of seats be reserved for less-well off residents. Commissioners also expressed concerns over the terms of the affordable housing proposed by Hoffman.

There was also considerable discussion of the Maine Avenue setbacks proposed by Hoffman. Commissioners questioned the accuracy of the map presented by the developer. “The bottom line is that it is not correct,” stated Chair Moffat. Lastly, commissioners expressed concerns about the management of the project’s construction traffic. Commissioner Lightman requested that Hoffman present a construction traffic management plan before the commission voted on the project. The commission voted unanimously to send a letter in support of Hoffman’s public space application, but table any vote on the PUD.

1000 South Capitol Alley Closing Lerner Properties made their first presentation to the commission regarding their 320,000 square-foot residential project at 1000 South Capitol St. SE. While the project is being developed as a ‘matter of right,’ the developer has asked the commission to support the partial closing of an alley that runs between the site and 1015 Half St. SE. In addition, developers asked the commission to support variances to standard sideyard and loading requirements as well as a special exception for its roof structure. Representatives of the developer stated that the project would adhere to the 15foot setback required by the Capitol Gateway Overlay (CGO). The site abuts, but is not a part, of the CGO. The developer promised to consider incorporating two units of affordable housing even though it is under no obligation to do so. The commission deferred any vote on supporting the project.

Wharf Update Representatives of The Wharf updated the commission on its progress. The principals have just closed their construction financing. 90 percent of the piles have been driven into the earth. They expect to be at grade by Thanksgiving. Demolition continues on the site of the new waterfront park. They are wrapping up the building of the marine piers.

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Police under private contract have substantially increased ticketing illegally parked cars near The Fish Market. There are new parking signs. The project has exceeded its Certified Business Enterprise contracting and East of the River hiring goals.

Pepco Substation and Stadium Cleanup Pepco has received approval from The Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) and The Public Service Commission for the construction of a new Southwest substation. The new facility will be located on four acres that comprise the sites of the old Lyon Bakery and A&A Towing yard bounded by Q, First, R, and Second Streets, a representative reported. Demolition is nearly complete, but they are still securing building permits. Commissioner Hamilton expressed concern about the impact of electromagnetic radiation generated by the station and its associated power lines on nearby residents. There would be no impact, the Pepco representative replied. Later in the meeting, the commission turned its attention to a discussion of the voluntary cleanup effort involved in the construction of the new soccer stadium. Hamilton again expressed her concerns about the impact of electromagnetic radiation on residents’ heath. The commission voted to unanimously to send the mayor a letter asking that Pepco pay to install protective shielding on its lines; and also requesting the DC Department of Health conduct a community health assessment in effected area. Concerned residents can call 855-226-5800 if there are issues with the construction or if they would like to join the working group that meets monthly about the project. There are also ongoing community meetings held by DMPED and the DC Department of Energy and the Environment on the voluntary cleanup of the stadium site. For more information, call the commission at 202-554-1795.

Supporting Build First at Greenleaf In an effort to prompt the DC Housing Authority and the DC Department of Housing and Community Development towards a transparent process in planning the rebuilding of the Greenleaf Gar-

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dens Public Housing, Commissioner Reilly Carroll asked the commissioner to send these agencies a letter reiterating its strong support for a Build First option for the complex. Under the Build First approach, new housing is built and existing public housing residents relocated before redevelopment commences on their existing residences. The letter requested the formation of an inter-agency task force aimed at identifying build-first locations within 30 days. The commission gave its unanimous approval the measure.

Other Actions Seth Shapiro from the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations and Services spoke about the mayor’s initiative to end homelessness in five years. He asked commissioners to sign a pledge to help. Metropolitan Police Officers from the PSA 105 presented their report. They noted an increase in car break-ins and thefts from the Wharf construction site. There had been a sexual assault in the stairwell at the Southwest Safeway. The culprit has been apprehended. They promised an increased presence at the corner of Fourth and M Streets SW to control illegal turns and other traffic violations. In a change in policy, MPD officers will no longer issue zone parking violation tickets. That task is now assigned solely to workers from the Department of Public Works. $100,000 in funding has been secured to renovate the Amidon Park at Fourth and G Streets SW, a representative from the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) reported. Based on community input at a May 30 meeting, DPR plans to restore the park’s lighting, install fitness elements, fix the broken benches and restore the plantings. The work will commence this coming spring. DPR plans another public meeting on the renovation later this month at a date and location to be determined. The commission unanimously agreed to send a letter to the DC Public Charter School Board urging it to force Washington Global Public Charter School located at 525 School St. SW to make a greater effort to engage the community in their expansion plans. After a wide ranging discussion on the impact of the proposed changes to the Alcohol Beverage Control laws, the commission took no action to its previous authorization of ABC Com-

mittee Chair Coralie Farlee to speak in her role as chair of its ABC Committee at future DC Council hearings on such matters. The commission also endorsed unanimously Farlee’s plan to handle 2016 license renewals. The commission gave its unanimous support to the ‘Jingle All the Way’ 5K run organized by Pacers Running scheduled for Dec. 6. The run will result in the temporary closing of Independence Avenue SW. The commission voted six in favor with two abstentions to send a letter to the BZA in support of variances for Square 700 at 10 Van St. SE. The matter was discussed extensively at its September meeting. The commission voted unanimously to authorize Commissioner Reilly to offer its testimony before the Historic Preservation Review Board on the proposed addition to Capitol Park Towers at 301 G St. SW. The commission approved its October minutes unanimously. ANC 6D will next meet on Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at 200I St. SE. u

ANC 6E Report by Steve Holton Monumental Realty Requests T Street Development A representative from Monumental Realty appeared before the commission to get support for a zoning request for a development project that takes up four properties starting with 608 to 618 T St. NW. The property will be seven stories tall, house 50 to 60 units, and provide up to 38 parking spaces. A proposal was previously drafted and submitted to the commission before the meeting with three separate requests. The first request asked to restore and preserve the front and sides of two of the buildings that have historical elements indicative of the area. The second request asked for zoning variances, with one being for the height of the building. Under current DC rules each structure

must have a parapet under its roof, and the request is asking that measurements are taken from the top of the roof and not the parapet. The other zoning variance request asked for a loading dock since the city requires buildings with units numbering up to 49 and over to have a loading dock that can accommodate a 30-foot moving or delivery truck. The third request asked for parking spaces, and the representative noted that they are supplying 50 percent more than what zoning rules require. In order to not aggravate an existing traffic issue, a limit on residential and visitor parking permits was included in the draft proposal. The project representative said that construction would start at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and during the week to alleviate noise concerns from residents. The front of the building features a plaza with a Duke Ellington statue that has not been taken care of by the city for years. The development group said that they will maintain the plaza going forward and also noted that the project calls for retail space in the plaza as well. ANC 6E unanimously voted to support the project and proposed zoning variances including loading and height metrics subject to a developmental agreement as the parties have discussed.

251 H Street Development

Bibleway Church Development Presentation A representative of the Mission First Development Company, which is a partner of Bibleway Church, attended the meeting to present building development plans and ask ANC 6E to send a letter of support to DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). The development project will be located at Fourth and K streets NW. The building will stand on K Street, which runs along Interstate 395 to New York Avenue. There will be a total of 223 units which will all be a part of affordable housing. Fifty of the units will be set aside for grandparents to raise grandchildren. Greenspace will be provided at the top of the building with a playground and amenity spaces for residents. There will be a separate ground floor entrance for the grandfamily units on the Fourth Street side with its own lobby, elevator, and amenity spaces. There will also be one level of parking and loading on that side of the building. A general occupant entrance with separate amenities will be located on the K Street side. Assuming everything goes right with permitting, construction can start as early as December with project completion expected to be 23 months. The commission expressed displeasure with the lack of response that the city has shown to questions about this particular development. They noted that it is a wonderful project but prefer that the development not be 100 percent affordable housing and believe that they weren’t given the proper notice to express their views. The commission moved to send a letter of disapproval to DHCD with the mayor’s office copied on the letter. ANC 6E will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library located at 1630 Seventh St. NW. Visit www.anc6e.org to view the ANC 6E newsletter. Follow on Twitter @ ANC6E and on Facebook by searching ANC6E. u

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The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has had an office on the north side of H Street, between Second and Third streets NW, since 2008. AIPAC is now employing more people and needs extra work space. Planned unit development (PUD) plans call for adding two stories to an existing building which is currently 90 feet high. Additionally a 110-foot building will be erected on an adjacent air shaft parcel. In 2008 AIPAC employed 125 people but has grown to 202 and plans to open 20 additional spots in the near future. AIPAC representatives said most of the growth has occurred in the last three to four years and is expected to continue. The representatives also noted that 42 percent of AIPAC staff reside in the District. Once development plans are finalized, the group plans to return to a future ANC 6E meeting and present them. Building plans may possibly conceal the air-shaft portion, and the PUD will

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Eastern Market Management Report by Peter J. Waldron Rapid Market Assessment The Eastern Market management team is planning a Rapid Market Assessment Survey (RMA). This public market survey technique produces information about who customers are and how many customers shop at the Market as well as what customers want to see offered, all of which is useful when making decisions that will grow the Eastern Market. At the September Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) meeting, Market Manager Barry Margeson and intern Garima Jain offered a detailed presentation of how this process would unfold. A ten-minute count is made hourly at each entrance to the Market to determine how many visitors were in attendance that particular day. “Dot” surveys , a technique which least inconveniences Market shoppers, gathers information on who its customers are and how often they shop and when. At the end of an engaged discussion among members of EMCAC who heartily embraced this proposal, Margeson pressed for a start date and said that he “would need to talk about this more with the Department of General Services (DGS).“ Margeson is supervised by J. Forest Hayes, Associate Director of Portfolio Management.

No Parking No Access Following Margeson’s manager’s report Bill Glasgow, proprietor of Union Meats and an EMCAC representative, raised the ongoing and unresolved issue of parking for merchants and their customers. There is a growing tension as a result of the increasing success of booked North Hall events which are often three to four hours long and freeze

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valuable parking spaces, preventing their use by other Market customers and merchants who have spaces reserved for their business use. Glasgow pointed to a recent business day with a major North Hall event as “being the worst Tuesday we have had in a long time.” North Hall bookings have been growing each year (up 150%) and are projected to bring in an all-time high gross revenue of $300,000.00 although the three most recent months show a dramatic drop-off in revenue. In addition, there is a simmering dispute over the access of the South Hall merchants to their own businesses which remain relatively unsecured. These merchants no longer have keys to the Eastern Market building and according to Glasgow the business owners often have to wait outside in the early hours of each business day for the arrival of market management employees to arrive. And according to Glasgow, merchants have arrived to find Market doors unlocked from the previous evening.

South Hall Leases Glasgow continued his litany of concerns as he raised yet again the issue of the merchants not having leases. He has been relentless in pointing out the difficulty of operating a business with no lease, emphasizing that no lease means no access to credit.The South Hall merchants have been without leases for decades and most recently since they resumed business in the summer of 2008 after the $22 million renovation following the fire of 2007. These merchants remain in limbo, clearly unable to sell their businesses if they wished and at a fair value. They are month-to-month with their landlord, the District government, leaving them

in a perpetual state of uncertainty. Glasgow contrasted the unfairness of their situation, citing the weekend privately owned flea market securing leases in a matter of days in response to the community outcry in favor of the displaced Hine playground operators. He also added that the arts and crafts vendors have the security of permits for their vending and added: “We got nothing.” Margeson’s brief response : “We are currently developing a process to go forward with the lease negotiations.”

Capital Improvements Monte Edwards, Chair of the Capital Improvements Committee, asked about the cost of an assessment for the large brownstones pieces that are falling away from the building adjacent to the Pottery Studio, viewed as a serious safety hazard. Margeson responded that “the assessment would cost $30,000 and $300,000 for the repairs” and after further discussion said: “ I will discuss this with my supervisors.” This work was not part of the restoration of the Market in 2008. The issue of maintenance or lack of it and capital improvement reserves are beginning to parallel the neglect of the Market pre-fire as the District government and the DGS have turned their attention away from the Market. Edwards added that a generator is needed to tackle the occasional power outages with their consequent loss of product in the South Hall as well as a PA sound system.

Financials EMCAC members have asked for financial information on a monthly basis in order to meet their legal obligations as an ad-

visory body and as required by the 1999 Eastern Market legislation. These “financials,” made available to EMCAC members for FY 2015 through July, were described as substantially incomplete if not obfuscating, and fail any test of real time information, strongly curtailing EMCAC’s ability to make recommendations on the management of the Market. Total revenues through July ( FY ends 9/30) are $717,085. Total (but incomplete) expenditures posted are $448,339 leaving an unlikely running surplus of $269,000. Budgeted expenditures are $893,451. Payroll or personnel services as a percentage of revenue are 14% or $103,651.87 There are vaguely defined entries for Professional Services Fees and Other Services and Charges that total $137,023. According to the financial statement made available by DGS, there have been zero dollars spent on maintenance and repair for the entire year. No money is listed as part of security services expenditures even though security is clearly provided on weekends. Advertising costs constitute a total of $3,900. All surplus funds by law are earmarked for a Market Enterprise Fund, but there is no indication this fund has held reserves of any kind since the District took over market management in 2008. u

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“X Marks the Spot”

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by Myles Mellor and Sally York Across:

1. Big do 4. Iron hooks, in fishing 9. Attention getter 13. Uneasy feeling 18. Swift fly 19. “Be-Bop-___” (Gene Vincent hit) 20. Reverberate 21. Leaf 22. Loyal, in Scotland 23. Plot again 24. Coconut fiber 25. Eccentric 26. Surpasses requirements 30. Aquatic South American rodent 31. Miami players 32. Snares 35. High point 36. Soak up 39. Hot sandwich 41. Bank offering, for short 42. “If only ___ listened ...” 43. Irate 45. “Laughable Lyrics” writer 47. Scale notes 48. Urgent crises 54. Reredoses 58. In a strongly attracted manner 59. Capital on the Dnieper 60. Peruvian tuber 61. Spoon handle 63. ___ nouveau 64. Fancy tie 66. Seabirds 68. Castaway’s place 71. Hajji’s destination 75. When repeated, a dance 77. Gave the once-over 79. Online magazine 81. Kaput 82. Dress ___ 87. Erase, in a way 90. Trip to the Mayan sites of Copan, e.g. 92. Entreat 93. Not yet final, at law 94. Beach souvenir 95. “The ___” (Uris novel)

98. Some degs. 99. Withdraws, with “out” 101. Sampler 104. Lower in rank 106. Some solvents 108. Filly’s father 109. Carve 110. Thrilling happenings 116. Anger 118. Met solo 119. Kitchen counter? 120. Circular course 121. Large lemur 122. Egyptian Christian 123. Give forth 124. Confused 125. Twangy, as a voice 126. ___ pads 127. Loser to Lewis 128. Compass reading

Down:

1. Crease 2. Flipped out, maybe 3. Lewd ones 4. Lake of northern Italy 5. Pub potables 6. Stew 7. Linen fabric 8. Poetess of ancient Greece 9. Liable to sin 10. Brit. balladeer 11. Islam denomination 12. Civil wrong 13. Solvent 14. High times? 15. Inﬂammation of the tongue 16. Not guzzle 17. Part of a Happy Meal 18. Jaw action 27. “Take your pick” 28. Musket ending 29. Malicious 33. Cantilevered window 34. Flippant 36. New York prison 37. News ofﬁce 38. On ___ (without a contract) 39. Hurt

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 40. As a result 44. Really big show 46. Tests 49. Having entanglements 50. Time zone 51. Horse-and-buggy ___ 52. Standard 53. Most adorable 54. Wanted-poster letters 55. Sue Grafton’s “___ for Lawless” 56. Private eye 57. Long-legged bird 62. Pillow ﬁller 65. Ethnic cuisine 67. Seaweeds 69. Abominate 70. More jittery

72. Vital force of Chinese medicine 73. Child of your unc 74. Had a little lamb 76. Missile’s path 78. Old Tokyo 80. Hydroxyl compound 82. Jewish teacher 83. College leave 84. Barrels 85. Elated 86. Line of symmetry 88. It’s rigged 89. Intertwine 91. Go to court 95. Idyllically tranquil 96. Malign 97. Frequent ﬂiers

99. Cudbear 100. Letter before omega 102. “Earth Girls ___ Easy” (Julie Brown song) 103. Hexad 105. Boo-boo 107. Bonus 108. Marsh bird 109. Kind of call 111. Bulletin board fastener 112. ___ Maiden 113. Sprite 114. Outback birds 115. Start from scratch 116. Take the gold 117. Biology class abbr.

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{community life}

Make Me Strong and Wise at Sixty-Five by E. Ethelbert Miller

’m running short of days. It’s November and another year is coming to an end. This month I turn sixty-five. When I was a child this was the number my parents looked for in their horoscopes along with fortune cookie advice. It would mean retirement; sixty-five was an end to backaches and swollen ankles. It was a time when rumors disguised as whispers would talk about returning to the South or the West Indies. But around dusk each night the dreams faded and paradise and comfort was reduced to quoting a psalm from the Bible. My parents taught me about the importance of work and the paying of bills. In spring of this year I went to work only to discover there was no work. Like many Americans each year I was given a white envelope filled with severance pay instructions and how to pay for my health benefits. Also included were instructions about resume writing which looked somewhat like the order forms from a cheap carryout. This was the year I went for a regular eye exam only to discover I had cataracts. Cataracts and arthritis were always part of my mother’s vocabulary. During her last days I looked at her hands and remembered how they sewed buttons and served meals. Her hands one day unable to open a can, her legs preventing her from seeing what was on the top shelves in the kitchen. My father never looked his age. He was forev-

E DC

er young. When my sister and I went to the funeral home to arrange for his burial, someone mistook her for his wife. I think of my father as this year prepares to wear its winter coat. This Thanksgiving I will give thanks, knowing in a few months I will be a grandfather. It’s amazing how one’s life can change in a span of months. We count daily our blessings. My mother often repeated a short prayer whenever my father went off to work and when he returned home. I finally understand her faith, this belief in the unseen, this way of making sense out of nonsense, of finding one’s way in the dark when it appears there is no way. It’s easy to say the world has gone crazy after turning off the news. Still we cannot turn our backs to the future. It’s coming and it just might be fierce. What I cherish about being an artist is the ability to create beauty and construct bridges of hope. Last month I gave a talk about the writer June Jordan who died in 2002. She was fighting cancer when I was completing my memoir, “Fathering Words.” I sent her the excerpt about how we first met in the 1970s. She wrote back a beautiful letter about how she was happy to be alive. Sixty-five is just a number that will get me a senior citizen Metro card and some Medicare. It does not define the artist in me – a person moving forward, walking these city streets. Let us not be defined by desks and offices, by computers and conference rooms, by the packages we deliver, the food we prepare, the rooms we clean, or the buildings we construct. Let us embrace the love which speaks the language of trees, wind, and rain. To go on loving means not to forget. Even as memory fails we must not love less. At sixty-five I want to live more. E. Ethelbert Miller is a writer and literary activist. His “Collected Poems,” edited by Kirsten Porter, will be published by Willow Books in March 2016. Miller was inducted into the Washington DC Hall of Fame in April 2015. u

November 2015 H 65

{community life / opinion}

Trifecta of Fear

Blame the Message and the Messengers

ee something, say something. Young black men are prime perpetrators of crime in the District of Columbia. White police officers are waging a war on African-American males. Those three messages are distributed daily by the media. They are also repeated ad nauseam in the public square by many elected officials, civic leaders, public intellectuals, and average citizens. Combined, the messages translate into a single word: fear. That became clear during a recent encounter between two sets of District residents and police officers at a commercial bank in DC’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Reacting in fear to the uptick in violent crime in her community, a

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by Jonetta Rose Barras white woman saw a black male who made her uncomfortable. To her he may have been a proxy for those the media claim responsible for crime. Following the see-something-saysomething directive, she, unsurprisingly, called the police. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department raced to the scene believing a robbery to be in progress. Jason Goolsby, the young, black male who was the object of the woman’s fear, possessed his own anxieties. Conditioned by the many media images of contemporaries suffering grievously at the hands of law enforcement, he ran from the police officers, possibly believing he would be the next African-American man to die on a city street. A palpable fear is eating at the

core of America, even as most citizens are desperately trying to bury the vestiges of racial hatred that has affected blacks – and whites. Many of the current presidential candidates are helping to exacerbate phobias. As are some books like “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, an African-American male who writes to his son: “We are captured, brother, surrounded by the majoritarian bandits of America. And this has happened here, in our only home, and the terrible truth is that we cannot will ourselves to escape on our own.” Coates misrepresents the full narrative of black men in America while stripping his son’s generation of its hope. Black men are cast as both bogeymen and victims, unable to chart their own destinies. Closer to home, some DC elected officials sell and resell the “usagainst-them” doctrine, determined to improve their political standing at any cost. “Very seldom, if ever do they put anything on television or in the paper about what young black men are doing that is positive. Every time it’s about something negative, and therefore the belief [held by much of the public] is that it must be indigenous to the entire race,” says Francis Campbell, a Activists from Black Lives Matter block former advisory neighPennsylvania Avenue SE in protest over borhood commissionpolice treatment of Jason Goolsby. Photo: Andrew Lightman er, third generation

Washingtonian, and Capitol Hill resident with whom I spoke recently about the Goolsby episode. The father of five sons, one of whom still lives in DC, Campbell has a special interest in the flawed narrative of black men advanced by far too many people. “There is an element that is going to do wrong,” says Campbell. “But [there is] a blanket attitude toward young men of color. My sons have never been arrested, never used drugs. They are successful.” “It’s insulting,” Campbell continues. “We’re not all doctors and lawyers, but we’re good people.” It may be that everyone at that Capitol Hill bank was a good person. Fear produces illogical, sometimes knee-jerk, reactions. Consequently I empathize with Goolsby and the telephone caller. When my daughter occasionally calls me concerned about a group of African-American men she has seen around her apartment, I try to assuage her worries. But I also understand the story from the perspective of those black men. Sometimes they are homeless. Sometimes they have simply congregated to chat with friends. A few times they may be up to no good. It’s the latter that causes my daughter consternation. How to know the difference? If I am unsuccessful, I regurgitate the see-something-callthe-police mantra. “It’s tough,” says Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, taking my point and reflecting on the telephone caller’s predicament. “It’s hard to put ourselves in her shoes and judge whether what she saw was suspicious or not.” “There is a heightened sense of fear,” Allen continues, talking

about the hike in violent crime in that community that the press conveniently failed to mention in reports about the Goolsby affair. On Oct. 21, 2015, the MPD reported six robberies on Capitol Hill in a span of 30 minutes, including at 9th and F Sts. NE; 3rd and G Sts SE; 1300 E SE. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes when I take the dog out at night, I find myself looking over my shoulder. A guy was murdered a block from my home.â&#x20AC;? Still, Allen says, Goolsby may be due an apology. He was thrown to the ground by police believing they were in pursuit of a robber; but he had done nothing wrong. Why didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Goolsby remain calm, stand firm, and proclaim his innocence to the police? Why did he run? Trust can be a risky business, particularly when there is history that whispers in your ear advising against it. In the District there are more than 3,000 police officers. Despite reports about excessive use of force by law enforcement, most follow the rules as they perform their duties. We know only a few of them have been fired or reprimanded for questionable actions while on the job. That reality rarely makes it to the headlines. Still, I understand the fear of police. I have my own troubled history of encounters, including one in Jackson, Miss., decades ago. I remember images of my mother going to the funeral home flashing before me. Chokwe Lumumba and I were driving downtown when we heard the police siren. As they approached he cautioned me not to antagonize anyone- a natural tendency. Lumumba was an attorney representing several young African-American males. I was a (continued on 69)

November 2015 H 67

{community life}

Heard on the Hill

by Jen DeMayo his month we are covering more relocations, openings, and a closing. Change. It’s what makes the Hill the Hill. Well, that and arguments about parking.

Welcome Back, Las Placitas! This issue should hit the stands just in time to welcome back Las Placitas. When the much-beloved Salvadoran-Mexican casual family restaurant lost its lease, cries of despair were heard all over the Hill and on the Internet. While the Hill does not lack for restaurants slinging margaritas and chips, Las Placitas has pleased both Hill staffers and desperate parents with young children for almost 25 years, and many a Hill resident has fond memories. It was the first restaurant my husband and I ate at after moving to the Hill almost 16 years ago. We have taken unruly toddlers, nosein-book kids, and now sullen teens there. Las Placitas will be reopening farther down on Barracks Row, beyond the highway. The new location will offer more outdoor seating than the original, though it’s doubtful we will be taking advantage of that immediately. Here’s to many more years of happy times for them and their grateful customers.

A Goodbye for Now… Plus Another Move Curbside Cafe announced it was closing on Oct. 25, and the company’s signature pink trucks will be taking the winter off as well. The owners have left the future open, but in the meantime the Pretzel Bakery will move into their location. The small but mighty bakery has been wowing crowds and racking up fans in its short life. Anyone who has had the privilege of eating a pretzel warm from the oven knew that it was destined for greatness. The new location will feature seating and an expanded menu, though owner Sean Haney is still in the planning stages. The thought is to keep the current menu and gradually expand offerings to include lunch items and possibly more. The new location will protect patrons and staff from the elements. The Dutch door, charming as it is, does a terrible job keeping the staff from sweltering

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or freezing. The larger space will also enable the bakery to continue to accommodate wholesale clients. The tiny current spot does not offer enough room to store ingredients at any significant capacity. The bakery hopes to avoid any disruption in service and to transition smoothly to the new location. The plan is to begin renovating in November with perhaps a winter opening at the new location. The bakery’s renown frequently drew patrons from far off the Hill, who often were surprised that they were not able to find a seat inside. When the opportunity for more space presented itself, Haney felt he had to make the jump. When I mentioned my sadness at the loss of that adorable door, Haney understood. He was “hanging onto that door with both hands” but ultimately will have to leave it behind. The opportunities afforded by the new space are exciting, but leaving that original space is bittersweet. When he opened the business in 2011 he had no idea his salty creations would create such a cult following. His friends, who own the current space, will reclaim it as studio space. I wonder if they will miss the yeasty, blissful aroma of baking pretzels? Luckily for them and for us the new location is a half-block walk from the original, and the few extra steps will surely allow us all an extra pretzel.

Rumor Has It Instagram has it. Followers of Rose’s Luxury’s Instagram feed were privy to a prophecy a few weeks back. A video of construction of the new fine dining venue, to be called Pineapple and Pearls, from the nationally renowned team, was posted on Rose’s feed with the tantalizing tell, “Hopefully she’ll be a Capricorn.” The stars are aligned for the sign of the goat, Dec. 20-Jan. 20. Perhaps the Hill will have a new hotspot for the New Year? The little sister to Rose’s Luxury, the Barracks Row restaurant that was named Bon Appetit magazine’s Best New Restaurant in America in 2014, will surely be in demand from the get-go. But unlike the elder sib, the new place will take reservations, which will please those who chafe at the idea of standing in a line. Speaking of that line, it has proven to be

a cottage industry in and of itself. Those who don’t have the time or inclination to wait are using proxy services like Task Rabbit to do the waiting for them. Apparently you can pay someone $15-20 to do your standing and waiting for you. Of course this deprives you of taking and posting a picture of yourself in the line, which is part of the Rose’s experience.

New Location for Music on the Hill This month will see another Hill business shift location. Music on the Hill, which has been at 14th and Pennsylvania for years, has been searching for a new location all summer. The new home will be at 801 D St. NE. It will be larger and have more studio space, enabling Music on the Hill to offer more lessons to more kids and grownups. Music on the Hill plans to have a grand reopening celebration on Saturday, Nov. 21. Visitors are encouraged to stop by and check out the new digs. They will be offering sales on instruments, lesson registration specials, and raffles for instruments. Music on the Hill has quickly become an integral part of Hill life. With classes, lessons, summer camps, and playgroups it is another great option for arts education for local families. The store also sells and rents instruments, so you don’t have to invest in that flugelhorn for junior if he is just going to turn around in three weeks and decide to be a drummer. No word on whether or not the new location will encourage students to practice more between lessons. That is still on you parents. Jen DeMayo has been a waitress, actor, and puppeteer. She worked for many years for the Atlas Performing Arts Center and is a relentless H Street booster/Streetcar apologist. Originally from the New York-New Jersey area, she is one of the many who whine endlessly about DC’s lack of good bagels and pizza. She is the mom to two boys who attend DCPS (off the Hill). No matter what she may end up accomplishing in her life, she is sure that her obituary headline will say she was the founder of Moms on the Hill. Contact Jen at jendemayo@ gmail.com. u

Thomas Landscapes Over 20 Years of Experience

REDEFINING BEAUTY ONE CLIENT AT A TIME!

(continued from 67)

community organizer trying to drum up local support for them. The officers surrounded our vehicle with guns drawn. A sawed-off shotgun was aimed at my head. As Lumumba had advised, I complied with every order, including subjecting myself to a search. We were told subsequently that there had been a report of two armed men circling the courthouse. I laughed at that tale, especially as a female officer had also been dispatched. There have been other frightening episodes in my lifetime. A couple of years ago Lumumba was elected mayor of Jackson. Unfortunately he died suddenly while in office. Still I took solace in that shift. Equally important, however, I refuse to permit negative historical situations to redirect my entire life, dictating how I interact with people who don’t share my skin color. Allen scheduled last month a meeting to discuss the rise in crime. Council Chairman Pro Tempore Kenyan McDuffie, who oversees the Committee on the Judiciary, also held town halls and summits. Was that enough? I don’t think so. We are all responsible for ending the dangerous and exploding fear plaguing the city, and the country. District leaders- the mayor, council, and others - can help. It’s possible that the network of advisory neighborhood commissions could take the lead, however, instigating conversations among small groups of residents with the aim of nurturing community, building greater trust, and shining a bright and lasting light on the good in us, all of us.

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Jonetta Rose Barras is a DC-based writer. Her opinions have appeared in numerous publications including The Washington Post and Washington Examiner. u

November 2015 H 69

{community life / south by west}

South by West By William Rich Developers Vie for Waterfront Station Parcel Three different visions for the District-owned parcel at Waterfront Station were presented at a community meeting on Sept. 10 held by the office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). All three proposals contain multifamily buildings with unit sizes ranging from studios to two bedrooms, ground floor retail, and a new private drive on the north end of the site, which are included in the stage one planned unit development (PUD) approval for the site. Each team approached the proposed development differently. The developer teams that presented were: • MRP Realty with Taylor Adams Associates, Blue Skye Development, McCullough Construction, Kettler, and HOU • Republic Properties with the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) and Bozzuto Management • PN Hoffman with AHC Inc., Paramount Development, E.R. Bacon Development, and CityPartners

Emphasis on Affordable Housing First up was MRP, which highlighted their commitment to a larger share of affordable housing units than the 30 percent mandated by new legislation for Districtowned land dispositions. Their proposal calls for an 11-story LEED-Silver building designed by MV+A with 421 rental apartment units and 9,000 square feet of ground floor retail. Of the 421 units, 168 (or 40 percent) are affordable – 31 units at up to 30 percent of area median income (AMI), 95 units at up to 50 percent of AMI, and 42 units at up to 80 percent of AMI. In addition 5 percent of the affordable units will be designated Permanent Supportive Housing in an effort to get homeless people off the streets. The retail space will be along Fourth Street with the main entrance to the building at the corner of Fourth Street and a new private drive at the north end of the site. The District-owned parcel at Waterfront Station SW was transformed last fall into Nonuments Park during a citywide arts program. Photo: William Rich

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PN Hoffman’s proposed mixed-use building at Waterfront Station, looking northeast on Fourth Street SW. Rendering: PN Hoffman.

Some target tenants for the retail space include a hardware store, bank, arts space, or other uses currently lacking in the neighborhood. Other commitments include a $175,000 community improvement grant, jobtraining program through HOU, hiring only DC residents for all permanent jobs, and 50 percent of all contracts going to CBEs.

Smaller Building Footprint The second team to present was Republic Properties, which decided not to build up to the maximum square footage permitted on the site. Republic’s proposal includes 378 rental apartment units in a LEED-Silver building designed by WDG Architecture and 8,000 square feet of retail. Two-story, walk-out duplex units with two bedrooms designed for families would be built along the new private drive and the northern portion of Wesley Place. Of the 30 percent set aside as affordable housing, half would be for up to 30 percent of AMI and the other half for up to 60 percent of AMI. These affordability levels are not in line with the recently passed DC Council legislation, so Steve Grigg of Republic stated the percentages will change. The courtyard space on the ground floor of the building could potentially be used by the community for events such as movie screenings, while the rooftop space with a pool, jogging trail, and BBQ grills would be reserved for building residents. Along the private drive the developer would allow neighboring Christ United Methodist Church to use the space to park cars on Sundays. In addition the area could be blocked off on Saturdays for a farmers’ market or other events. Retail will be along Fourth Street with four storefronts at 2,000 square feet each. These spaces have been designed for use by community-oriented retailers such as a bike shop, yoga studio, pet supply store, plant/flower shop, or gift/stationery shop. This proposal has the highest parking ratio, with 258 parking spaces, bike racks, Zipcar spaces, and electric car-charging stations. A total of 320 construction jobs will be created, and 40 permanent jobs – 50 percent of all jobs – will be filled by DC residents. The development team will also work with the Office of Apprenticeship Programs and the DC Apprenticeship Council for job-training opportunities for residents.

More Retail Space PN Hoffman’s presentation was unique in that the amount of proposed retail space was more than double the amount proposed by the other teams, and prospective retail tenants were announced. The development plan includes 443 rental apartment units, 22,500 square feet of community-oriented retail, and a 10,000 squarefoot, 200-seat black box theater, all in a LEED-Gold building designed by Torti Gallas. The 133 units of affordable housing include 34 units at up to 30 percent of AMI and 99 units at up to 50 percent of AMI. Retail would be located on Fourth Street, wrapping around to the new private drive. A letter of intent has been signed by Constantine Stavropoulous, the owner of Tryst, Open City, The Diner, and The Coupe, to open a diner at the corner of Fourth Street and the private drive. Other retail uses such as a daycare center and artist space could be located on the north side of the development along the private drive, which serves as a connector between the Southwest branch library and the Southwest Duck Pond. The private drive could be closed off at times for arts-focused events. Forum Theatre would return to the District from its current location in Silver Spring to operate the black box theater, which began 12 years ago on H Street NE. The theater would be located on the south side of the site below the courtyard, which would allow the theater space to be without columns. The PN Hoffman team would use the model they implemented to engage the community during The Wharf’s development process, with a community-benefits group and a constructionissues group. During the question-and-answer period it was mentioned that a hardware store was not considered by the development team for this proj-

ect because they are in negotiations to bring one to The Wharf along Maine Avenue SW. The public comment period was open through Oct. 9. At the Oct. 19 Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D meeting the commissioners unanimously passed a resolution strongly recommending that DMPED choose the PN Hoffman/ AHC proposal for the parcel. The resolution cited four principles by which the ANC guided its recommendation: • Broadening the amount of affordable housing in Southwest and deepening the number of affordable units at lower AMI levels. • Meeting or exceeding the amount of retail space that was on the old Waterside Mall footprint. • Creating more neighborhood gathering spaces for residents. • Establishing Southwest as a cultural and creative destination. Based on these four principles the resolution states that the PN Hoffman proposal “most completely addressed the hierarchy of needs consistently articulated by ANC 6D over time and supported in the responses of the members of the Southwest Community through the Small Area Plan process.” In addition the commissioners felt that PN Hoffman has demonstrated a commitment to long-term ownership and community participation through the development process of The Wharf. DMPED is likely to make a final decision on which proposal to choose in November. The winning team will then need to take the proposed development through the second stage PUD process (with ANC support), and the DC Council will need to approve the terms of the proposal before any construction can begin. William Rich is a blogger at Southwest … The Little Quadrant that Could (www.swtlqtc.com). u

Moms On The Hill

2015 School Information Night

[ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH ] [ 2:00–5:00 PM ]

[ CAPITOL HILL DAY SCHOOL ] [ 210 SOUTH CAROLINA AVENUE SE ] The closest Metro stop is Capitol South on the blue and orange lines Preschool, Public, Charter, Private, Catholic/Parochial, Middle Schools, High Schools and other programs. Come see all of your options! More Info:

[DOWNEYSCHOOLCONSULTING@GMAIL.COM] ALL PARENTS (including non-members) ARE WELCOME Breathing Space Yoga, Busy Bees Music & Art Playgroup, and Fulcrum Properties Group are pleased to be providing high quality, low cost babysitting during the event. Sign up at www.BreathingSpaceDC.com. Organized by MoTH (Moms on the Hill)

November 2015 H 71

{community life / h street life}

H Street Life by Elise Bernard

ou might be tempted to hide under the covers once the temperature starts to drop, but those who choose to hibernate will miss out on a lot of fun along the H Street NE Corridor. From puppets, to Roman statesmen, to Peruvian fare you’re sure to find something worth braving the cold.

Pointless Theatre Tells the Tale of Carmen Miranda at Capital Fringe

Nov. 14, is designed to appeal to all ages. Tickets are $20-$25 and available on the Fringe website.

Transformer FlatFile at Fringe Highlights Emerging Artists

The Capital City Symphony’s Family Concert draws happy crowds. Photo: Barrie Homer eight23 photography

Want to learn more about the local visual art scene but aren’t sure where to start? Make your way to Capital Fringe (1358 Florida Ave. NE, https://www.capitalfringe.org) for an upcoming Transformer FlatFile at Fringe event, where you can see new two-dimensional works by emerging local artists. The events are the result of a partnership between Capital Fringe and Transformer (1404 P St. NW, http://www.transformerdc.org), a Districtbased nonprofit that supports local artists. The November and December events are part of a threesession project that began in October. The events will take place on the first Thursday of November and December from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. There you’ll find works priced between $50 and $500, along with some of the artists who created them. The atmosphere is a relaxed happy hour with a chance to enjoy the art and mingle with other “Gimme a Band, Gimme patrons. FlatFile works are available a Banana” for purchase at Transformer’s P Street from Pointless NW space or online (http://www.transTheatre. Photo: Navid Azeez formerdc.org/artsale/overview).

Things take a turn for the slightly surreal when Pointless Theatre (www.pointlesstheatre.com) borrows the Capital Fringe (1358 Florida Ave. NE, https://www.capitalfringe.org) space for their performance of “Gimme a Band, Gimme a Banana.” The samba spectacular incorporates live music, dance, and puppets to tell the story of Carmen Miranda in 1940s Hollywood and examine how the Brazilian beauty became a household name. Enjoy the songs of the “Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat” while Pointless Theatre takes you on an exploration of cultural commodification and mainstream America’s introduction to Brazil. The show, which runs through

Capital City Symphony Family Concert at the Atlas Capital City Symphony’s (http://www. capitalcitysymphony.org) popular Family Concert returns to the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NE, http:// www.atlasarts.org) on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Each year

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the concert attracts families for fun, educational, and participatory programming. This year’s concert features Bruce Adolphe’s “Three Pieces for Kids and Chamber Orchestra,” an interactive journey through the orchestra; Benjamin Britten’s Soirees Musicales (1933), an energetic romp that references themes by the composer Rossini; and Brahms’ Hungarian Dances Nos. 5, 6, and 7, brief and lively works likely to appeal to all ages. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students, and free for children. An instrument petting zoo for 30 minutes prior to each performance will allow kids to discover a new favorite instrument. Tickets are available through the Atlas website or at the box office.

Dr. Granville Moore’s Now Serving Lunch on Wednesdays Local Belgian favorite Dr. Granville Moore’s (1238 H St. NE, http://www.granvillemoores.com) is expanding its repertoire with a recently added Wednesday lunch service that runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. While some favorites from the dinner menu do make an appearance (the burger and mussels mariniere, for instance), lighter items such as a wedge salad and a chicken salad on grilled rye rule the lunchtime hour.

Ocopa Could Add Latin Dancing and Live Music H Street Peruvian restaurant Ocopa (1324 H St. NE, http://ocopadc.com) recently sought an entertainment endorsement from the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration that would allow it to

Joan Carmichael Realtor

offer Latin dancing and occasional live music alongside its much praised Peruvian cuisine and cocktail program.

‘Julius Caesar’ at Gallaudet University Gallaudet University’s (800 Florida Ave. NE, https://www.gallaudet.edu) Theatre and Dance program presents Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” Nov. 12 through 24. This is the first time the play will be performed by a deaf cast in American Sign Language at either the university or professional level. Directed by the Theatre and Dance program’s Ethan Sinnott, “Julius Caesar” is a classic tale of political intrigue, conspiracy, and betrayal. The production runs about two hours with one intermission. The event listing notes that owing to its content the play is not appropriate for patrons under 14 years of age. Those five years and younger will not be admitted to the theatre. All performances will feature voice interpretation, except for the 2 p.m. shows on Nov. 14 and 21. Adult tickets are $15 online or $20 at the door (http://gallaudet.ticketleap.com/julius-caesar/details). Students who attend schools other than Gallaudet are eligible for $10 student discount tickets. Groups of 10 or more patrons should email theatre.tickets@gallaudet.edu regarding tickets. All performances will be held on campus at the Gilbert C. Eastman Studio Theatre located in Elstad Annex 131. Free on-campus parking is available. For more on what’s abuzz on, and around, H Street NE you can visit my blog at http://frozentropics. blogspot.com. You can send me tips or questions at elise.bernard@ gmail.com. u

202.271.5198 joanvcarmichael @gmail.com

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November 2015 H 73

{community life / capital riverfront}

The USS Barry docked at the Navy Yard.

The balloon drop at Noon Year’s Eve at Yards Park.

Skaters enjoying the ice rink in Canal Park.

The Capitol Riverfront The Riverfront Hums This Winter by Michael Stevens, AICP

ith fall officially underway and the winter season rapidly approaching, the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood enters a cycle of activities different from those of the spring and summer. Our parks, open spaces, and the riverwalk trail take on different rhythms, and as the vegetation changes so does the level of outdoor activity after a busy summer full of concerts, movies, fitness classes, and festivals. But there will be outdoor winter activities in the Capitol Riverfront! Once again Canal Park will host a four-month season of skating at the ice rink in the southern block of the park. The ice-skating season officially begins on Nov. 14, so lace up those skates and join us at the rink during the day or in the evening, seven days a week. The rink will have a Cinderella-themed soft opening on Nov. 7. Hours of operations for the four-month season are: • Monday and Tuesday, 12-7 p.m. • Wednesday-Friday, 12-9 p.m. • Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. • Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Also on Nov. 7, Forest City Washington will host the Side Yards carnival and festival at Yards Park, an outdoor event open to all ages. The festival will feature performers, foods and beverages, children’s activities, and other carnival-themed ac-

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tivities. Visit the community calendar on our website and read our newsletter for more information on the exact hours and a full listing of programs. The second annual Parcel Market, an outdoor holiday celebration and vendor market, will occur again at the second and third blocks of Canal Park on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6. Featuring independent vendors selling all kinds of goods, as well as unique food and beverage offerings, the initial Parcel Market was a fun-filled weekend for our residents and visitors to the neighborhood. Saturday will feature the lighting of a holiday tree for the neighborhood, and the ice rink will be in full operation for everyone. Dec. 31 will feature the return of the always popular Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at Yards Park, an annual family favorite that begins the celebration of the New Year. Activities include a moon bounce and other outdoor play inflatables, musical performers, food and beverage, a trackless train for rides in the park, and the ball drop. In January 2016 Forest City Washington will again host Ice Yards, an outdoor event with heated tents and hot tubs that is geared toward millennials, but all are welcome. Live music, food and beverage, and ice sculptures will complement the outdoor seating around fire pits and the indoor activities of the heated tents. A date has not yet been set so watch our calendar and newsletter for the full

Children playing in the vendor tent at Parcel Market.

event announcement. While the parks experience decreased activity level throughout the winter, they are still beautiful open spaces to visit during these months and over the holidays. On warm days it is always nice to have a stroll or run on the riverwalk trail and view the Anacostia River in the winter sunlight. Take your families and friends to Yards Park, Canal Park, and Diamond Teague Park for a walk and outdoor exercise during the upcoming holidays. November brings the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Harris Teeter grocery at Fourth Street. The 50,000 square-foot store has performed well and become a social gathering place as well as a popular lunch destination for take-out or instore dining. Our shopping patterns are changing as our living spaces change in size – smaller apartments and condos geared to more urban living and smaller storage areas. As a result many residents of the neighborhood shop three to five times a week for the freshest ingredients that might be prepared that evening for dinner. When combined with the VIDA health club in the same block, these activity centers almost function as the new “agoras” or additional gathering spaces of the neighborhood. Ancient markets were historically where the populace could gather not only to purchase goods but to discuss politics and issues of the day, or simply to visit with neighbors. Today’s grocery stores in urban neighborhoods such as the Capitol Riverfront are beginning to play similar roles. From a retail standpoint the neighborhood continues to add more restaurants and services. You may have already visited two of our newest restaurants – Scarlet Oak at 909 New Jersey Ave.

or Due South at 301 Water St. – and they offer wonderful cuisine in well-appointed dining spaces. Pacer’s Running store has opened in the Boilermaker Shops on Tingey Street, providing our running and exercise community with an independent store that offers shoes and athletic apparel. And for your furry friends Banfield Pet Hospital is open on Tingey Street as part of the 1212 Fourth Street project. The new 168-room Hampton Inn & Suites on First Street is now accepting reservations for holiday and business travelers alike for arrival on Nov. 19. The hotel will have a rooftop lounge with excellent views of the Anacostia River, Nationals Park, and the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. Construction is proceeding at a rapid pace for our two other hotels under construction – the Marriott Residence Inn and the Homewood Suites – and construction cranes are up for both projects. At the southwest corner of First and M streets site preparation is underway for construction of the new Skanska office building located at 99 M Street. This 227,000 square-foot, Class A office building has already signed a new restaurant for the neighborhood – Circe. Directly south of this project, on Potomac Avenue at the Anacostia River, the Dock 79 residential building by MRP Realty has “topped out” at nine floors. It will be delivering 305 market-rate apartment units in the third quarter of 2016. Planning for the new DC United soccer stadium in the Buzzard Point section of our neighborhood continues, as does coordination among DC agencies for infrastructure upgrades and the relationship of the stadium to Potomac Avenue and the new Memorial Ellipse. The DC Government is to deliver an environmentally clean and infrastructure-ready stadium site to the team’s owners by the fall of 2016. Planning is also proceeding for the new South Capitol Street/Frederick Douglass Bridge and Memorial Ellipse. The most recent timetable from the Distrct Department of Transportation (DDOT) suggests that construction should start in early 2017 with delivery of the new bridge and ellipse in 2021. Finally, a bit of sad news from the neighborhood regarding the USS Barry. The closing ceremony for this display ship occurred at the Washington Navy Yard on Saturday, Oct. 17. Over 160 attendees at the ceremony, including approximately 30 former Barry crew members, heard a wonderful overview of the Barry and the service it has provided this country through the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War. It was very moving to see the crew members pose for photographs one last time in front of the Barry. Commissioned in 1956, the Barry served 26 years in the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, earning two battle stars. It was decommissioned in 1982 and began its new career as a display ship at the Washington Navy Yard in 1983, where it has served as part of the Navy Museum and a landmark on the Anacostia River for more than 30 years. The Barry will be towed from the Navy Yard in either late December or early January for dismantling. She will be missed. Come enjoy the changing seasons and the ever-changing cityscape of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood over the next few months. Join us for a skate at the ice rink, for holiday fun at Parcel Market, for a stroll through our parks or along the Anacostia, or for a warm meal on these cool nights. Best wishes for the Thanksgiving holiday to all! Michael Stevens is the president of the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District. To learn more about the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, visit www.capitolriverfront.org. u

November 2015 H 75

{community life / our river}

Our River: The Anacostia

‘Paradigm,’ ‘Signature Urban Park,’ and ‘Anacostia’ in the Same Breath? Are We Ready for This?

by Bill Matuszeski

f you had to name the “landlord” for the Anacostia River and the lands along and even under it, it would be the National Park Service (NPS). Here in the District, with a few exceptions like the Navy Yard and the adjacent Yards Park, the Park Service is responsible for the management of the riverfront. And we should consider ourselves lucky that nearly all that land is preserved forever as parkland open to the public. While the Park Service built its reputation with places such as the Grand Canyon and various national seashores, more and more of its work is focused on urban areas – Independence Hall, the Great Falls of the Passaic in industrial Paterson, and our own National Mall. Plus thousands of homes and workplaces of famous people. And Our River, at least to the Maryland line, where the Maryland National Park and Planning Commission (MNPPC) takes over. This shift to an urban focus is reparts with two other superintendents north and flected in recent changes to the management south reporting to him, thereby allowing him structure of the Park Service. A year ago, Gopaul to focus on the Anacostia and the city neighborNoojibail was named the new hoods adjacent. All this is superintendent of Nationgood news for us, because he al Capital Parks-East, a vast has a desire to make things area that ranges from the Balhappen in and along the rivtimore-Washington Parkway to er. “We need to establish a sites along the lower Potomac, vision and create an action and includes the Anacostia plan to advance all our efforts parklands. He joined five otharound the river – a road map er superintendents in the refor NPS and its partners,” he gion covering the Nationsays. “We can’t do everything, al Mall and memorial parks, but we can go further faster if the White House, Rock Creek we agree to advance the right Park and northwest, the C&O things at the right time.” Canal, and the George WashNoojibail grew up in urington Memorial Parkway. National Park Service Superintendent ban Chicago, the son of an More recently Noojibail’s Gopaul Noojibail. Photo: National immigrant from southern region was divided into three Park Service India, where his family has

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Gopaul Noojibail on the River. Photo: Tyrone Eaton, Anacostia Watershed Society

a farm up against the forests in a very remote region, and where he developed a personal connection to preserving natural areas. He feels like he has land management in his blood. His previous Park Service assignments include the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, and the National Mall and Memorial Parks in DC. The Park Service is preparing to celebrate the centennial of its founding in 2016. There will be much talk of the mission and relevancy of the agency in coming years. Noojibail sees it as an opportunity to present the Anacostia River restoration as a paradigm for Park Service activities in urban areas, overcoming historic neglect and building pride, economic success, natural resource protection, education, physical exercise, and a stewardship ethic into a comprehensive sense of what urban parks can do for the quality of life. And there is already a lot to build on along the Anacostia and in the historic parks and houses of our neighborhoods.

Noojibail realizes that the Park Service cannot do it alone and has a great many partners to work with. There are citizen-based groups like the Anacostia Watershed Society, Anacostia Riverkeeper, and Groundwork Anacostia River DC, as well as smaller groups in neighborhoods and along tributaries. There are city agencies like the Department of Transportation, which is building the trails, and the Department of Energy and Environment, which is cleaning up the toxics. There is the MNPPC upstream in Maryland. There are key federal agencies like the Navy, the EPA, and the National Arboretum (part of the Agriculture Department). There are special sites and projects like the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (part of NPS) and the 11th Street Bridge Project (part of THE-ARC). And there are numerous groups in place that try to coordinate all that is going on, such as the multilevel Anacostia Watershed Restoration Partnership and the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia. It can be downright bewildering. But there are certain things that are clearly in the Park Service’s realm and others where it has a major role to play. Noojibail believes that completion of the trail system next year with the closing of the three mile gap from Benning Road to the Bladensburg Marina will fundamentally change the access and use of the parklands on the east side of the River. The same is true of the 11th Street Bridge Project following along a couple years later. And he has completed the planning and compliance aspects for the proposed 400-foot hiking and bicycling bridge from the trail and the Aquatic Gardens to the arboretum, a $25 million partnership undertaking that will soon enter the design, funding, and building stages. It will connect through the arboretum with a new trail coming out New York Avenue from Union Station. Engaging youth will be another part of the urban strategy, once again building on many programs that are operating on and along the river. Rowing the water trails, recreation opportunities on the land, youth gardens, and job-training programs should all be part of the mix that Noojibail sees – and he is open to more ideas from the public. As more progress is made on water quality, new options related

to a fishable and swimmable river open up – the goal for that is 2024 in the eyes of the Anacostia Watershed Society, which may seem distant but is only as far ahead of us as 2008 is behind us. The cleanup of the toxics in the river will also be on the Park Service agenda, since it owns now or owned in the past a number of contaminated sites. In fact, Noojibail says he has more Superfund sites under his jurisdiction than any other superintendent in the Park Service. These include the Kenilworth Park playing fields, which were once a DC dump, the Washington Gas site near the 11th Street Bridge, and Poplar Point. In addition the bed of the tidal river is officially Park Service property and is filled with contaminated sediments that will have to be capped or preferably removed, something for which funds will need to be found. But the opportunities for the river are better than they have ever been, with new players and new connections coming with the new trials and bridges and boathouses. Add to these the array of NPS neighborhood parks and historic sites like the Frederick Douglass House, and there seems to be a basis for the “common vision” Noojibail is seeking – mapping out the assets and working with others in ways the Park Service has not done before. He sees the Anacostia as a potential “signature urban park,” showing the way for the Park Service to deal with these kinds of areas as it starts its next century. Can we achieve this together? For Noojibail “the Park Service is in the perpetuity business, but we need to work with others to develop entrepreneurial attitudes; we cannot be the agency of ‘no’; we must be the agency of ‘let’s talk.’” He’s finding there are a lotta folks to talk to about Our River. By the way, who would have thought 10 years ago that the Anacostia would be touted as a “signature urban park” by the National Park Service? Congratulate yourselves, readers, but keep at it!

www.hillrag.com

Bill Matuszeski writes monthly about the Anacostia River. He is the retired director of the Chesapeake Bay Program, DC vice-chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Anacostia River, and a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River. u

November 2015 H 77

{community life}

Remember Our Veterans Mark Their Day with the American Legion

The Marines play before the wreath-laying.

by Maggie Hall

o one is going to say, “Forget about Arlington.” However, if you’re keen to mark Veterans Day with the appropriate pomp and ceremony, but the logistics of getting to the National Ceremony makes attending that stirring event out of the question, there is a solution right here on our doorstep. Capitol Hill has its own annual commemoration of the significance of the 11th of November. Staged by American Legion Post 8 in Folger Park, opposite the post’s building on the corner of Third and D streets SE, it has all the hallmarks one expects in the traditional service to honor and thank those who have served in the armed forces. The Post 8 event might lack the setting of the Tomb of the Unknowns and the presence of the President, but its military trappings make it a very special and moving gathering. The Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, known affectionately as “The Commandant’s Own,” will showcase its legendary talents with well-known military pieces. A lone piper will play “Amazing Grace” and a bugler will perform taps. Along with the wreath-laying by officers of the post these performances will underscore the solemnity of this important day, reminding us that Nov. 11 is more than just a day off when the stores have special sales. The music in Folger Park, at the behest of the American Legion, will This Year’s have hearts swelling Guest-Speaker, Major Genwith pride. Not just eral Errol R. for those who served Schwartz in wars past, but for those engaged in today’s conflicts. Another highlight will be the guest-speaker, Major General Errol R Schwartz, commander of the DC National Guard. A graduate of the National War College and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, he’s an expert in

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cyber warfare defense. The service of the younger generation will be recognized with the presence of Boy Scouts from the troop attached to Bolling Air Force Base. They will distribute programs and help the elderly, or anyone who need assistance, to their seats. After the ceremony everyone, whether a member of the American Legion or not, is invited to the lunch reception in the post. There will be chance to meet and chat with those who have taken part

as well as find out more about the post’s varied social activities and community-oriented services. The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. For further information call 202-5439163 or go to www.legiondc8.org. Notice that in this article there is no apostrophe in Veterans Day. The website of the US Department of Veterans Affairs explains that there is no apostrophe because it is not a day that “belongs” to veterans but rather honors all veterans. u

the t hannual e a n nhill u arag l

c o m i n g

Don't forget to pick up your copy! For advertising contact your Sales Representative now! 202.543.8300 Laura x22 | Kira x16 | Andrew x19 | Carolina x12 or email sales@hillrag.com November 2015 H 79

{community life / giving locally}

The Combined Federal Campaign

The number of participatcome families in the DC area. Many ing charities has grown signifnonprofits, according to Cunningicantly in the last decade. Naham, get the vast majority of donational federations taking part in tions in the final quarter of the year, the CFC have increased from a combination of CFC donations three to 27, while the number of and individual contributions. “Evby Sam Tabchnik national and international charery dollar we get is an important dolities has grown to over 1,600, aclar,” Cunningham said. “Whether cording to OPM data. it’s $10 or $1,000, that money deterAlong with participating mines whether we can fulfill requests charities, contributions have for Thanksgiving food, warm supplies also grown steadily over the past for folks in the winter, or whether we 15 years. Despite considerable need to conserve our resources.” downsizing in the federal workFederal offices and sub-deforce during the 1990s, roughpartments hold CFC kickoff events ly half of the nearly $5 billion where leadership from various orraised since 1964 was received ganizations will come and speak. in the last 10 years. Following Charities may set up tables to inthe Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist atform employees about the partacks, federal donor contributicipating organizations. Tracy tions rose by 8 percent from the Jefferson, marketing and communiprevious year, reaching a high of cations director for So Others Might $256 million in 2004. Eat (SOME), a local organization Across the nation’s capidedicated to providing food, shelter, tal, local charities count on the and healthcare for needy DC resiCombined Federal Campaign dents, said SOME sets up info taA CFC event at the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Employees donated season for critical funding. “Evbles as often as three times a week shoebox gifts (toiletries, hat, gloves, scarf; underwear, and socks) for individuals eryone in this region is aware during the heat of the CFC seaserved by So Others Might Eat (SOME). The first person to the left of the sign is of CFC,” said Karen Cunningson. The kickoff and tabling events SOME employee Vera Butler-Smith; the others are ACL employees. ham, executive director of the help get federal employees engaged Capitol Hill Group Ministry, a in the fundraising campaign, Jefrior to the 1950s charitaAccording to the US Office of nonprofit dedicated to providing soferson added. “I saw one campaign ble fundraising at federPersonnel Management (OPM), cial services to homeless and low-inevent earlier this year where differal agencies was a chaotwhich oversees the effort, the misic free-for-all. Agencies, sion of the CFC is to “promote and employees, and charisupport philanthropy through a proties had little uniformity on how and gram that is employee focused, costwhen to give, and workplace funefficient and effective in providing draising suffered. Something needall federal employees the opportued to change. In response President nity to improve the quality of life John F. Kennedy created the Comfor all.” bined Federal Campaign (CFC), Pledges made by federal ciwhich condensed the vast network vilian, postal, and military donors of federal fundraising efforts into a during the campaign season (Sept. single and simple once-a-year solic1 to Dec. 15) support eligible nonitation campaign. profit organizations that provide Fifty years later the CFC is now health and human service benefits the world’s largest and most successthroughout the world. Donors have ful annual workplace charity camthe opportunity to choose from over paign, raising millions of dollars each 20,000 nonprofit organizations, year through nearly 200 campaigns from big and well-known to small across the country and overseas. and local. Volunteers from the CFC who served in SOME’s dining room for the homeless.

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SUPPORT A SMALL, LOCAL CHARITY! The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project brings the joys of childhood to 800 children each year. Did you know that family homelessness rose by 74% in the past 5 years? The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project aims to nurture healthy child development and reduce the effects of trauma among children living in emergency family shelters in the District of Columbia. www.playtimeproject.org

Veterans Day 11/11/2015 Bill of Rights Day 12/15/2015

On Veterans Day, we honor those who -- from the very beginning of this nation -- have freely given their lives so that Americans may live as a free people. Although unknown to most of us, these men and women are still remembered by their families and by those who loved them, who to this day miss them, who grieve at their loss, who laugh at the old stories, who softly and slowly run their fingers over the worn photographs, who call their names in the quiet of the night, and who still weep at their memory. The National Education Project, Inc. is honored to provide to you and your children in this issue of the Hill Rag a free copy of the Bill of Rights, the great statement of liberty for which so many sacrificed so much (“the last full measure of devotion,” as Abraham Lincoln once said). And we cordially invite you and your family to come to our website (www. National-Education-Project.org) and join us for the “Third Annual, Live National Read-Along of the Bill of Rights over the Internet” at 8:30 p.m. EST, on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, the 224th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. You would be most welcome. Norman Manasa Director, The National Education Project, Inc.

CFCNCA # 30578

November 2015 H 81

(Continued from Page 80)

Lincoln Parks annual pet costume contest sponsored by Howl to the Chief. Photos: Andrew Lightman

ent staff members volunteered to serve breakfast to their colleagues,” Jefferson said. “That one was very well attended. In general, people are very interested. They really want to take the opportunity to give back, and it’s great to talk to different people and enjoy being part of the campaign.” Suzanne Lightman, a federal employee in the Department of Commerce, has been contributing to the CFC for 15 straight years. Lightman said she likes giving with the CFC because, unlike some campaigns, CFC doesn’t take a chunk of the donation for overhead costs, leaving all the money for the charity. “When you’re young and not so rich, it allows you to contribute significant money to a cause,” she said. Lightman got her first cat through the Washington Humane Society as part of CFC and prefers to donate to local rather than national charities. At her office, Lightman said, there is a friendly rivalry between departments over how much money each can raise. Big donation thermometers are hung on the wall to tally the total amount raised, and employees are encouraged to help the department beat the previous year’s total. “I’ve always liked the CFC,” Lightman said, “and I know, when I talk to the local charities, how valuable it is to them.” To browse participating charities and contribute, donors can use the CFC campaign locator and search by state, campaign name, or campaign code number. For more information on the CFC, visit www.cfcnca.org. u

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THANKSGIVING, 2015 ... to our clients, friends, neighbors, and business colleagues for making this another great year in real estate. We think ourselves fortunate for having helped so many people settle into our wonderful neighborhood. Thank you for letting us be your GO-TO real estate team on Capitol Hill.

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{real estate}

The District Source

Development Means Positive Attention for the Anacostia Riverfront

A rendering of Dock 79 just south of Nationals Stadium.

by Shaun Courtney

arinas with several hundred boat slips, docks with access for paddlers, and several miles of boardwalk promenades will increasingly spot the Anacostia River in the coming years, bringing with them a renewed vigor for the waterfront as thousands gravitate toward DCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eastern river. Even with the recently announced year-end closure of the Buzzard Point Marina, the Anacostia River will have nearly 1,000 boat slips spread across The Wharf DC mega development, a new marina at Yards Park, and existing facilities like James Creek and the Gangplank Marina. Developers building along the Capitol Riverfront in Southeast and at The Wharf in Southwest are looking not just to land but also to water as they design and program their new residential and mixed-use projects. Yards developer Forest City Washington announced that their 50-slip

Kayaks arrive at the new Kingman Island docks. Photo: Tyrone Eaton, Anacostia Watershed Society

November 2015 H 85

Another rendering of Dock 79 just south of Nationals Stadium.

marina, designed by Moffatt & Nichol, should deliver by spring 2016. The marina will include space for short-term and long term slip usage for boats as large as 125 feet in length. “The development of the marina will put The Yards more in touch with one of its best assets, the river,” said Deborah Ratner Salzberg, president of Forest City Washington, in a prepared statement. The Wharf is slated to offer 550 boat slips, an increase of more than 200 slips. As developers turn to the Anacostia, river enthusiasts see a positive impact from the influx of new buildings and people. “People who live [near the river] have a lot more vested interest in it,” said Trey Sherard, outreach coordinator/program assistant for the Anacostia Riverkeeper (ARK). “It may be a counter-intuitive example of development actually helping drive conservation.” Marinas and boat slips are not the only alterations. Boardwalks and promenades are also bringing people right to the river’s edge. “There’s literally thousands more people walking that stretch of the river than used to,” said Sherard. The Yards Park, completed in 2010, is the product of a public/private partnership between developer Forest City Washington, the General Services Administration, and the District government. In addition to green space, concessions, and land-based water features, the Yards includes a boardwalk and an award-winning sculptural bridge that continues the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail along a 1.5-mile stretch of the river. Seizing on Forest City’s success, development by MRP Realty and Florida Rock Properties is also providing connectivity to the river. The develop-

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ers expect to deliver the first phase of a four-phase project at a site south of the Nationals Ballpark adjacent to the South Capitol Street Bridge on the waterfront by early summer 2016. The first building to deliver, Dock 79, will feature access to a boardwalk that connects to the riverside promenade that already stretches from the Yards Park to Diamond Teague Park. When the entire master development is complete, MRP’s Riverwalk will be 800 linear feet. The riverwalk will be accessible for paddlers from the river; no formal kayak or canoeing concession is planned. Later phases may include boat slips, though the idea is very much in its infancy, according to Kristian DeMeo, a project manager at MRP realty. MRP is also working with the Anacostia Watershed Society toward the goal of a swimmable Anacostia by 2025. “We are doing our part to make sure that our project is safe and clean,” said DeMeo. Getting people from land and onto the water is critical and increasingly possible, according to Sherard. The concession at Diamond Teague, run by the same company operating kayak and canoe rentals in Georgetown and National Harbor, has opened water access to the other side of the city, according to Sherard. There are also access points like the Anacostia Community Boathouse where area crew teams practice and new public kayak and canoe docks at Kingman Island, “christened” in October by the Anacostia Watershed Society, the National Park Service, and the DC Department of Energy and Environ-

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ment. “It’s great to get people walking next to the river. It’s a whole other thing to get people actually on the river,” said Sherard. “It really hits people what an asset it is when they can get physically on it.” Change does not come without cost. Live-aboard communities like those at Buzzard Point Marina have been told they will have to move their homes elsewhere. “Closing the marina is not a decision that was made lightly,” National Park Service Superintendent Gopaul Noojibail said in a statement announcing the marina’s closure. Live-aboards at the Southwest waterfront worked out an agreement to keep their slips when the new Wharf development opens, but anticipated rent increases could have some owners looking for friendlier waters. The return to the river is gradual, as projects like The Wharf and the MRP/ Florida Rock development deliver in phases, but also immediate as new residents gather in waterside parks or rent kayaks for an afternoon. The Anacostia River is ready, beyond ready, for the attention it has long-deserved. Shaun Courtney is the cofounder and editor-in-chief of District Source, a DC real estate and neighborhood news blog supported by Compass real estate. Shaun has been a District reporter since 2009 and has called the city home since 2002. She lives in Kingman Park with her husband and son. u

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November 2015 H 87

{real estate / changing hands}

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

CLOSE PRICE BR

FEE SIMPLE 16TH STREET HEIGHTS 4713 PINEY BRANCH RD NW 1214 DELAFIELD PL NW 1427 CRITTENDEN ST NW

$799,000 $768,500 $699,000

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4124 WARREN ST NW 4340 WINDOM PL NW

ANACOSTIA 1330 T ST SE 1642 U ST SE 1509 U ST SE 1726 13TH ST SE 2210 16TH ST SE 1628 Q ST SE 1756 W ST SE

BARRY FARMS 1466 MORRIS RD SE

BERKLEY

4502 FOXHALL CRES NW

BLOOMINGDALE 77 V ST NW 9 ADAMS ST NW

BRENTWOOD

1351 DOWNING ST NE 2217 15TH ST NE 1306 W ST NE

BRIGHTWOOD

6514 LUZON AVE NW 519 OGLETHORPE ST NW 704 UNDERWOOD ST NW 5814 6TH ST NW 1247 VAN BUREN ST NW 6407 9TH ST NW 526 ONEIDA PL NW 604 QUINTANA PL NW 7121 GEORGIA AVE NW 7441 7TH ST NW 6522 7TH PL NW 1468 SHERIDAN ST NW 608 NICHOLSON ST NW 1383 RITTENHOUSE ST NW

BROOKLAND

1349 OTIS ST NE 1359 MONROE ST NE 1618 NEWTON ST NE 1014 MONROE ST NE 1322 NEWTON ST NE 3521 17TH ST NE 544 REGENT PL NE 20 GIRARD ST NE 2507 NORTH CAPITOL ST NE 4702 10TH ST NE

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5 3 6

$1,350,000 $1,100,000

5 4

$470,000 $399,000 $368,000 $365,000 $299,000 $268,025 $178,500

5 4 3 4 2 3 3

$294,000

$1,500,000

$1,290,000 $665,000

5 2

$489,000 $280,000 $250,919

3 3 3

$681,000 $680,000 $675,000 $608,000 $550,000 $530,000 $530,000 $525,000 $517,000 $495,000 $488,000 $470,000 $439,000 $300,000

3 4 4 6 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3

$1,000,000 $999,999 $897,900 $879,000 $861,000 $803,000 $783,000 $727,500 $710,000 $499,000

5 5 5 6 4 4 4 4 4 3

1047 TAUSSIG PL NE 708 EMERSON ST NE

BURLEITH

3946 GEORGETOWN CT NW 1918 35TH PL NW

CAPITOL HILL

142 12TH ST NE 1332 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE 6 7TH ST SE 208 9TH ST SE 118 4TH ST SE 440 4TH ST NE 422 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE 139 E ST SE 125 D ST SE 402 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 302 NORTH CAROLINA AVE SE 1413 SOUTH CAROLINA AVE SE 1340 SOUTH CAROLINA AVE SE 1010 NORTH CAROLINA AVE SE 713 10TH ST SE 421 9TH ST NE 643 D ST SE 1301 MARYLAND AVE NE 115 DUDDINGTON PL SE 1350 D ST SE 1314 L ST SE 707 7TH ST SE 1326 E ST NE 624 PICKFORD PL NE 763 3RD ST NE 711 A ST NE 628 BROWNS CT SE 1512 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE 1227 I ST NE

CENTRAL

1508-1512 21ST ST NW

CHEVY CHASE

3310 RITTENHOUSE ST NW

$434,000 $371,500

2 2

$1,239,000 $725,000

3 3

$1,588,100 $1,550,000 $1,525,000 $1,450,000 $1,260,000 $1,250,000 $1,250,000 $1,175,000 $1,000,000 $981,000 $950,000 $935,000 $901,000 $883,500 $859,000 $801,000 $775,000 $761,750 $730,000 $725,000 $719,000 $700,000 $700,000 $692,000 $684,000 $649,900 $620,000 $525,300 $485,000

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

$6,500,000

$1,700,000

3707 INGOMAR ST NW 3913 MCKINLEY ST NW 3709 LEGATION ST NW 6348 31ST PL NW 2717 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 5333 CHEVY CHASE PKWY NW 3412 OLIVER ST NW 2716 NEWLANDS ST NW 5336 CHEVY CHASE PKWY NW 5225 NEBRASKA AVE NW 4112 ELLICOTT ST NW 6428 BARNABY ST NW

CHILLUM

201 OGLETHORPE ST NW 26 LONGFELLOW ST NE

CLEVELAND PARK 3225 HIGHLAND PL NW 3306 PORTER ST NW 3414 NEWARK ST NW 3604 MACOMB ST NW 3611 NORTON PL NW

COLONIAL VILLAGE 1652 ROXANNA RD NW

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

717 HOBART PL NW 1411 TAYLOR ST NW 1471 GIRARD ST NW 1332 SHEPHERD ST NW 3525 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 1314 SHEPHERD ST NW 819 OTIS PL NW 3300 WARDER ST NW 3816 10TH ST NW 1458 SPRING RD NW 1435 PERRY PL NW 621 KEEFER PL NW 3550 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW 1428 SHEPHERD ST NW 3651 WARDER ST NW

$1,262,000 $1,190,000 $1,100,000 $949,000 $879,000 $859,000 $855,000 $829,900 $805,000 $765,000 $745,000 $940,000

3 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 4 3

$475,000 $255,000

3 3

$4,250,000 $1,650,000 $1,450,000 $1,425,000 $1,060,000

7 4 5 4 3

$835,000

$1,175,000 $923,111 $841,000 $833,550 $825,000 $770,000 $750,000 $735,000 $721,000 $710,000 $707,000 $659,000 $625,000 $600,000 $600,000

3 4 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 5 4 4 4 4

G IV IN G T H ANK S FO R G R EAT HILL HO M ES !

1434 MONROE ST NW 521 COLUMBIA RD NW 1017 EUCLID ST NW 3786 1ST ST SE 877 BARNABY ST SE 617 MALCOLM X AVE SE 3525 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE 84 DARRINGTON ST SW 1002 BARNABY TER SE 252 OAKWOOD ST SE

$575,000 $527,500 $75,000 $327,000 $299,900 $279,000 $264,000 $230,000 $210,000 $124,500

CRESTWOOD 4508 BLAGDEN AVE NW 1617 WEBSTER ST NW

$985,000 $955,000

DAKOTA CROSSING 3818 HANSBERRY CT NE

$514,950

DEANWOOD 4632 HUNT PL NE 101 56TH ST SE 830 46TH ST NE 4624 HAYES ST NE 1054 48TH ST NE 918 46TH ST NE 332 58TH ST NE 919 45TH PL NE 5216 CLOUD PL NE 5354 AMES ST NE

$355,000 $315,000 $310,000 $288,000 $282,000 $282,000 $175,000 $170,000 $144,000 $132,500

3 4 0 3 3 3 4 3 3 3

E BL A IL W! A AV NO

-5

YS DA

$2,150,000 $1,875,000

ECKINGTON 221 SEATON PL NE 46 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 152 UHLAND TER NE

$661,000 $660,000 $565,000

FOGGY BOTTOM 938 24TH ST NW 919 HUGHES MEWS NW

$665,000 $599,000

FORT DUPONT PARK 730 HILLTOP TER SE 4230 SOUTHERN AVE SE 470 BURBANK ST SE 3934 C ST SE 4001 D ST SE 4336 DUBOIS PL SE 1155 44TH PL SE

$308,000 $300,000 $278,000 $275,000 $265,000 $246,000 $110,000

FORT LINCOLN 3235 THEODORE R HAGANS DR NE 2525 HURSTON LN NE

$545,000 $437,500

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

1532 North Carolina Avenue NE 2BR/1BA $499,000

651 8th St NE 2BR/2.5BA $789,000

Just steps to all of your favorite spots on the Hill and the vibrant H Street corridor! Step UP to DEEP front gardens to the porch front façade and swinging bench w private patio out back. Inside, renovated kitchen w crisp wht cabinets butcher block and bathroom with subway tile surround. Restored heart pine floors and solid brick construction! YS R DA DE -4 N U ACT TR N

Perfect location at the intersection of The Hill and H Street renaissance! Outstanding balance of historic detail, classic style, and crisp renovations throughout. Giant owner’s suite and spacious second BR book-end bright center hall and bath. Renovated kitchen overlooks private courtyard, plus BONUS flex space on the lower lvl!

DUPONT 1708 SWANN ST NW 1616 S ST NW

E BL A IL W! A AV NO

A New Hill Classic is BORN -- Brand New Construction built to standards second to NONE! 20 ft wide with tall ceilings, open layout, central stairs, and kitchen to stay home for! Giant owners’ suite and lower rec and guest zone. The best of clean modern and timeless - EVERY detail considered and well-crafted of marble, oak, steel to last a lifetime. Savor your visit!

4 3

3 4 5 2 3 3 4 3 3 2

706 15th Street SE 4BR/3.5BA $1,200,000

! LD

1235 Duncan Place NE 2BR/1.5BA $649,000 Farmhouse style front porch and EXPANSIVE brick patio/gardens in rear! Hardwood flooring throughout open living/ dining areas w sleek wood-burning fireplace column, powder room tucked under stairway and smart chef’s kitchen. On the upper sky-lit level, 2 BRIGHT bedrooms with central bath and laundry.

1302 South Carolina Avenue SE 3BR/3BA $820,000 Just 4 block stroll to Market, Metro, or Lincoln Park! Proud row of deep gardens on wide South Carolina Ave - ready to welcome you home! Smart renovation feat. restored historic details plus creative upper layout with 3BR/2FB and LL guest suite. Southern sun over rich oak cherry and stone, and sweet flow all the way through to private deck!

YOUR HOUSE HERE!

In times of market shift, homebuyers and sellers are finding our energy, creativity, and direct experience more vital than ever. For the BEST RESULTS, put us to work today! Call Joel for a free consultation on market values, smart improvements, and more!

4 2

FOXHALL 1636 44TH ST NW 4422 RESERVOIR RD NW 4412 RESERVOIR RD NW

$987,500 $910,000 $862,500

GEORGETOWN 3338 DENT PL NW 2812 DUMBARTON ST NW 1321 33RD ST NW 3261 O ST NW 1610 33RD ST NW

$2,080,000 $970,000 $950,000 $932,900 $860,000

GLOVER PARK 2301 40TH ST NW 3931 BENTON ST NW

$925,000 $846,500

5 3 4 4 2 2 2 2 4 3

November 2015 H 89

{real estate / changing hands}

2334 HUIDEKOPER PL NW

$800,000

H STREET 1007 8TH ST NE

$710,000

HILL CREST 3631 TEXAS AVE SE 1712 28TH ST SE 3104 Q ST SE 2823 R ST SE 1339 28TH ST SE 2904 M PL SE

$382,000 $345,000 $319,070 $290,000 $285,000 $216,000

HILL EAST 1611 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE

$495,000

KALORAMA 2319 20TH ST NW 1909 23RD ST NW

$1,695,000 $1,605,000

4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 3

KENT 5032 FULTON ST NW 5188 PALISADE LN NW 5028 KLINGLE ST NW 2839 HURST TER NW

$3,010,000 $2,200,000 $1,123,000 $855,000

LEDROIT PARK 1901 3RD ST NW 615 U ST NW 603 U ST NW 13 V ST NW

$1,310,000 $810,000 $745,000 $680,000

LILY PONDS 3344 BAKER ST NE 3311 BAKER ST NE 3461 EADS ST NE 145 ANACOSTIA AVE NE 3344 CLAY ST NE

$280,000 $266,500 $225,000 $195,000 $175,000

6 5 4 4 7 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 2

LOGAN 1337 WALLACH PL NW

$1,300,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5503 BASS PL SE 116 53RD ST SE

$165,000 $135,000

MASS AVE HTS 2221 30TH ST NW

$12,250,000

MICHIGAN PARK 4009 SOUTH DAKOTA AVE NE

$595,501

MOUNT PLEASANT 1813 MONROE ST NW 1621 IRVING ST NW 1742 KENYON ST NW 2317 ONTARIO RD NW

$1,300,000 $1,220,000 $1,065,000 $999,500

NAVY YARD 418 L ST SE

$1,199,000

OLD CITY #1 224 7TH ST NE 714 G ST NE 408 4TH ST NE 919 4TH ST SE 1357 SOUTH CAROLINA AVE SE 514 F ST NE 445 15TH ST SE 643 11TH ST NE 1507 A ST NE 437 11TH ST NE

90 H Hillrag.com

$1,595,000 $1,200,000 $1,155,000 $965,000 $949,900 $899,900 $791,100 $780,000 $776,500 $758,000

3 2 3 9 4 5 4 5 4

907 11TH ST NE 1216 POTOMAC AVE SE 922 6TH ST NE 1118 5TH ST NE 217 15TH ST SE 1115 4TH ST NE 651 16TH ST NE 1768 GALES ST NE 1417 F ST NE 404 21ST ST NE 423 23RD PL NE 1811 GALES ST NE

OLD CITY #2 1723 WILLARD ST NW 1225 V ST NW 1617 NEW JERSEY AVE NW 2212 12TH PL NW 2244 12TH ST NW

5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 3

$1,250,000 $1,120,000 $875,000 $682,000 $546,000

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

PALISADES 5417 SHERIER PL NW

$1,233,000

PETWORTH 814 BUCHANAN ST NW 4509 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 609 LONGFELLOW ST NW 5025 8TH ST NW 5019 7TH PL NW 717 UPSHUR ST NW 5218 5TH ST NW 409 DELAFIELD PL NW 5417 ILLINOIS AVE NW 509 KENNEDY ST NW 618 INGRAHAM ST NW 5417 9TH ST NW 241 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW 4214 7TH ST NW

$828,000 $790,000 $700,000 $665,000 $659,000 $637,500 $592,500 $560,000 $552,000 $480,000 $464,500 $450,000 $420,000 $418,000

RANDLE HEIGHTS 2412 SKYLAND PL SE 3461 23RD ST SE 1942 GOOD HOPE RD SE

$335,000 $255,000 $175,000

RIGGS PARK 5614 EASTERN AVE NE 616 NICHOLSON ST NE 5217 12TH ST NE 404 QUACKENBOS ST NE 704 HAMILTON ST NE 844 OGLETHORPE ST NE

$396,000 $385,000 $375,000 $355,000 $300,000 $220,000

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

SHAW 1536 6TH ST NW 432 S STREET NW

$857,000 $849,000

SHEPHERD PARK 7527 12TH ST NW

$735,000 $724,900 $650,000 $563,000 $551,000 $540,000 $522,000 $515,000 $475,000 $422,500 $325,000 $318,000

$839,000

SPRING VALLEY 4929 GLENBROOK RD NW 4984 ROCKWOOD PKWY NW 4822 RODMAN ST NW 5001 SEDGWICK ST NW

$3,700,000 $1,550,000 $1,520,000 $1,407,000

TAKOMA PARK 6244 EASTERN AVE NE 226 RITTENHOUSE ST NE 106 TUCKERMAN ST NW

$615,000 $450,000 $350,000

2 3 5

5 3 3

$660,000

$590,000 $432,500 $431,000 $339,950 $325,000 $290,000 $265,000

TRUXTON CIRCLE 1635 4TH ST NW

$787,817

WESLEY HEIGHTS 4208 EMBASSY PARK DR NW 4325 EMBASSY PARK DR NW

$727,500 $725,000

WOODCREST VILLAS 431 WOODCREST DR SE 425 WOODCREST DR SE

$432,000 $407,977

WOODLEY PARK 3106 CATHEDRAL AVE NW 3323 CLEVELAND AVE NW 2744 WOODLEY PLACE NW

$1,300,000 $1,250,000 $1,272,000

WOODRIDGE 3008 20TH ST NE 2732 CENTRAL AVE NE 3401 24TH ST NE 2022 MONROE ST NE 3204 CENTRAL AVE NE 1833 CHANNING ST NE 1455 CHANNING ST NE 3103 CHANNING ST NE

$600,000 $599,900 $575,000 $448,000 $399,999 $370,000 $349,999 $305,000

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

CONDO 14TH STREET CORRIDOR 1412 CHAPIN ST NW #302 1412 CHAPIN ST NW #206 1412 CHAPIN ST NW #101 1412 CHAPIN ST NW #103 1412 CHAPIN ST NW #105 1412 CHAPIN ST NW #6 1412 CHAPIN ST NW #3

$660,000 $599,900 $513,000 $457,900 $449,900 $399,900 $399,900

ADAMS MORGAN 1700 KALORAMA RD NW #405 2328 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #309 2550 17TH ST NW #607 2301 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #214 1842 CALIFORNIA ST NW #4B 2550 17TH ST NW #215 2550 17TH ST NW #501 2298 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #A 2550 17TH ST NW #511

$790,000 $640,000 $499,900 $489,900 $486,000 $434,400 $419,900 $299,900 $299,900

2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 0

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4101 ALBEMARLE ST NW #533

6 4 5 6

TRINIDAD 1302 FLORIDA AVE NE

1245 RAUM ST NE 1245 OATES ST NE 1829 L ST NE 1939 BENNETT PL NE 1261 16TH ST NE 1731 L ST NE 1714 LYMAN PL NE

$469,000

ANACOSTIA 1810 MINNESOTA AVE SE #301

$210,000

BRENTWOOD 1326 DOWNING PL NE #4 1326 DOWNING PL NE #3

$299,950 $295,000

BRIGHTWOOD 422 BUTTERNUT ST NW #T-6 1000 RITTENHOUSE ST NW #22

$317,900 $294,500

1 2 2 2 2 2

FIRST OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1 ST 1-3PM HOT BROOKLAND LOCATION

BROOKLAND

1041 MICHIGAN AVE NE #1041 3111 HAWTHORNE DR NE #3111 3043 HAWTHORNE DR NE #3043 315 EVARTS ST NE #104 2615 4TH ST NE #B-3 1031 MICHIGAN AVE NE #1 613 HAMLIN ST NE #11

CAPITOL HILL

520 13TH ST SE #B 725 5TH ST SE #24 913 14TH ST SE #2 1818 C ST SE #2 308 EAST CAPITOL ST NE #8 263 14TH ST SE #B 414 SEWARD SQ SE #401

CAPITOL HILL EAST

1712 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE #2 1311 K ST SE #2

CENTRAL

2555 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #904 920 I ST NW #710 1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1202 2301 N ST NW #115 1133 14TH ST NW #701 616 E ST NW #220 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #909 1150 K ST NW #1303 2201 L ST NW #714 915 E ST NW #304 2201 L ST NW #606

CHEVY CHASE

4301 MILITARY RD NW #309 5201 WISCONSIN AVE NW #102 5410 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #805 5201 WISCONSIN AVE NW #106 5315 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #406

CHILLUM

31 KENNEDY ST NW #303

CLEVELAND PARK

2926 PORTER ST NW #201 2926 PORTER ST NW #206 3680 38TH ST NW #F246 3961 LANGLEY CT NW #B590 2711 ORDWAY ST NW #103 3804 RODMAN ST NW #101 3551 39TH ST NW #D514 3024 WISCONSIN AVE NW #210 4301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #5010

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

1128 COLUMBIA RD NW #UNIT 1 3039 16TH ST NW #PH1 3612 PARK PL NW #PH-B 1414 BELMONT ST NW #207 2539 13TH ST NW #1 3612 PARK PL NW #2 3543 WARDER ST NW #1 732 GIRARD ST NW #1 3619 14TH ST NW #5 1200 EUCLID ST NW #1 1465 COLUMBIA RD NW #301 1435 CHAPIN ST NW #104 1451 BELMONT ST NW #102 1435 CHAPIN ST NW #108

$385,000 $292,000 $290,000 $233,000 $205,000 $204,000 $160,000

3 2 2 1 1 1 1

$874,500 $810,000 $620,000 $599,000 $505,000 $487,400 $304,900

2 2 3 2 2 2 1

$575,000 $556,000

3 2

$2,150,000 $1,100,000 $730,000 $658,313 $470,000 $465,000 $445,900 $435,000 $411,000 $330,000 $291,000

2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 1

$587,500 $385,000 $380,000 $320,000 $239,832

2 1 2 1 1

$220,000

$703,500 $510,000 $499,500 $492,385 $373,000 $337,500 $329,000 $297,000 $260,000

2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

$849,500 $820,000 $750,000 $746,000 $675,000 $675,000 $646,500 $625,000 $620,000 $550,000 $525,000 $515,000 $432,500 $412,000

2 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1

Light and bright semidetached, 3BR, 3BA with enclosed front porch, den, wonderful wood floors, central air, glorious garden room, finished basement, potential in-law suite, parking. $419,900.

Hub Krack 202.550.2111

Pam Kristof 202.253.2550

Licensed in DC, MD & VA

Want to buy or sell you home on the Hill? Let me help you put together a game plan for success! As a long-time Hill denizen, I know where to find the best value if you’re looking, or get the best value if you’re showing.

Ann Robertson

Your “House on the Hill” agent 202-986-3132 ann@wasingerco.com DC Broker Mega Realty (703) 642-6342 Licensed agent in DC and Virginia

Steve Hagedorn

Property Management

At Its Best

Over 80% of our condominium and coop associations have been with us for over 9 years. Compare our services and fees - high quality at a very fair cost. We will be happy to provide a quote and references. Switch to us now and we will wave first month’s fee.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Search listings at cbmove.com/steve.hagedorn Licensed in DC & MD

Direct: Cell: Office: Fax: Email:

202-741-1707 202-841-1380 202-547-3525 202-547-8462 shagedorn@cbmove.com

734 Seventh Street, SE

Office: 202.547.2707 Fax: 202.547.1977 joeltruittmanagement.com

November 2015 H 91

Here Is What My Clients Are Saying... ... every aspect of this transaction went smoothly and professionally. I would unequivocally recommend Dare to handle the sale of your property Testimonial provided by my clients’ reviews on Zillow See more at: www.zillow.com/profile/Dare-Johnson-Wenzler

DARE JOHNSON WENZLER

3318 SHERMAN AVE NW #203 1514 NEWTON ST NW #302 1514 NEWTON ST NW #102 1020 MONROE ST NW #303 3900 14TH ST NW #422 1436 MERIDIAN PL NW #LL06 3534 10TH ST NW #320 2600 SHERMAN AVE NW #101 1451 PARK RD NW #119

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3872 9TH ST SE #303 748 BRANDYWINE ST SE #B-1 120 DANBURY ST SW #5

Realtor, Compass

CONVENTION CENTER

202.957.2947

DUPONT

660 Penn Ave SE 202.545.6900 Dare@RealEstateOnTheHill.com Check out my blog for a weekly Capitol Hill open house update.

RealEstateOnTheHill.com

5-Star Premier agent

910 M ST NW #120

1801 16TH ST NW #104, 106, 108 1407 15TH ST NW #2 1756 CORCORAN ST NW #1A 2007 O ST NW #301 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #717 1621 T ST NW #701 1621 T ST NW #T2 1619 R ST NW #104 1731 T ST NW #2 1280 21ST ST NW #810 1920 S ST NW #101

ECKINGTON

204 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #2 2004 3RD ST NE #202

FOGGY BOTTOM

3 WASHINGTON CIR NW ##1001 1001 26TH ST NW #501

FOREST HILLS

4007 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #109

FORT LINCOLN

3104 BERRY RD NE #20

GARFIELD

2737 DEVONSHIRE PL NW #101

GEORGETOWN

1209 28TH ST NW #1209 1080 WISCONSIN AVE NW #3007 3020 DENT PL NW #30W 1613 30TH ST NW #1N 2500 Q ST NW #342 3020 DENT PL NW #6W

GLOVER PARK

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING WITH US? Call Kira Means 202-400-3508

or kira@hillrag.com for more information on advertising.

92 H Hillrag.com

2339 40TH PL NW #101 2320 WISCONSIN AVE NW #102 4114 DAVIS PL NW #218

HILL CREST

2000 FORT DAVIS ST SE #101

KALORAMA

2127 CALIFORNIA ST NW #804 1882 COLUMBIA RD NW #303 1800 BELMONT RD NW #3 1901 KALORAMA PL NW ##1020 2014 KALORAMA RD NW #3 2012 KALORAMA RD NW #7

$397,000 $379,900 $359,900 $349,900 $315,000 $314,500 $285,000 $275,000 $207,500

2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 0

2404 19TH ST NW #64 21152117 S ST NW #2B 2415 20TH ST NW #36 2014 KALORAMA RD NW #6 2014 KALORAMA RD NW #1 2014 KALORAMA RD NW #5 \1831 BELMONT RD NW #204 1840 VERNON ST NW #405 2022 COLUMBIA RD NW #516 1835 CALIFORNIA ST NW #A

$82,000 $66,000 $43,500

2 2 1

LEDROIT PARK

$545,000

$1,230,000 $672,000 $667,000 $395,000 $259,500 $620,000 $475,000 $466,950 $399,999 $399,000 $355,000

3 2 2 1 0 2 2 2 1 1 1

42 W ST NW #3 42 W ST NW #2 2103 2ND ST NW #1 155 V ST NW #7 143 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #8 2201 2ND ST NW #12

LOGAN

1312 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #309 1229 12TH ST NW #3 1444 CHURCH ST NW #104 1715 15TH ST NW #E 1211 13TH ST NW #T4 1313 VERMONT AVE NW #10 1425 11TH ST NW #203 1420 N ST NW #216

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5009 D ST SE #302

$490,000 $285,000

2 1

$560,000 $270,000

2 1

$357,500

$225,000

$435,000

$1,737,500 $565,000 $560,000 $517,500 $415,000 $300,000

3 1 2 2 1 1

$319,000 $315,000 $275,000

1 1 1

$66,000

$1,950,000 $1,210,000 $930,000 $900,000 $774,000 $755,000

5 2 2 2 2 2

MOUNT PLEASANT

1646 BEEKMAN PL NW #C 1640 BEEKMAN PL NW #A 2301 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #201 1613 HARVARD ST NW #206 3426 16TH ST NW #105 1701 KALORAMA RD NW #309 2412 17TH ST NW #403 2440 16TH ST NW #323 1708 NEWTON ST NW #304

MOUNT VERNON

115 NEW YORK AVE NW #5 460 NEW YORK AVE NW #407 500 M ST NW #4 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1212

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 4100 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #609 4100 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #712 2111 WISCONSIN AVE NW #315 3051 IDAHO AVE NW #409 2800 WISCONSIN AVE NW #704

OLD CITY #1

249 14TH ST SE #A 401 13TH ST NE #211 2000 D ST NE #5 2000 D ST NE #3 2000 D ST NE #1 1438 CAPITOL ST NE #1438

OLD CITY #2

1447 SWANN ST NW #A 1801 16TH ST NW #512 1603 16TH ST NW #3 1740 18TH ST NW #301 1440 CHURCH ST NW ##103 1737 WILLARD ST NW #7

$752,500 $750,000 $735,000 $665,000 $550,000 $500,000 $447,000 $421,000 $315,000 $624,900

3 2 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 2

$745,000 $670,000 $625,000 $622,500 $500,000 $239,900

2 3 2 2 2 0

$585,000 $559,000 $685,000 $534,900 $419,000 $408,000 $439,900 $249,900

2 2 2 2 1 1 1 0

$60,000

$747,500 $685,000 $625,000 $550,000 $536,769 $499,950 $425,000 $335,000 $324,900

2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

$521,000 $599,000 $685,000 $415,000

2 2 2 1

$715,000 $423,000 $299,000 $290,000 $289,000

2 1 0 1 1

$724,000 $583,000 $467,000 $450,000 $434,000 $417,000

3 2 2 2 2 1

$940,000 $930,550 $879,000 $750,000 $720,000 $660,500

2 2 2 2 2 2

2125 14TH ST NW #230 2119 11TH ST NW #2 910 M ST NW #609 1830 17TH ST NW #606 1127 6TH ST NW #200 1918 18TH ST NW #21 475 K ST NW #1223 1505 8TH ST NW #1 1445 N ST NW #202 475 K ST NW #327 2120 VERMONT AVE NW #201 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1216 313 R ST NW 1925 16TH ST NW #401 1401 17TH ST NW #104 500 FLORIDA AVE NW #3 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1305 1200 Q ST NW #202 1239 VERMONT AVE NW #503 624 Q ST NW #2 1754 CORCORAN ST NW #52B 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #301 1300 N ST NW #102 907 N ST NW #A2

$639,900 $610,000 $573,000 $570,000 $529,900 $525,000 $515,000 $515,000 $504,000 $479,900 $453,000 $452,500 $440,000 $425,000 $415,000 $405,000 $390,000 $379,000 $362,000 $340,000 $338,000 $287,500 $260,000 $670,000

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

PALISADES 4870 MACARTHUR BLVD NW #3

$234,000

PARK VIEW 3612 PARK PL NW #3 703 NEWTON PL NW #1

$599,000 $530,900

PENN QUARTER 715 6TH ST NW #602 631 D ST NW #843 616 E ST NW #1222

$705,000 $655,000 $475,000

PETWORTH 4012 KANSAS AVE NW #1 738 LONGFELLOW ST NW #307

$359,900 $208,000

RANDLE HEIGHTS 2472 ALABAMA AVE SE #A102

$65,000

RLA (SW) 128 G ST SW #164 700 7TH ST SW #514 225 G ST SW #126 350 G ST SW #N420 1435 4TH ST SW #B506 700 7TH ST SW #725 410 O ST SW #310 800 4TH ST SW #N408 240 M ST SW #E709 800 4TH ST SW #S305 800 4TH ST SW #N405 240 M ST SW #E505

$505,500 $483,000 $482,000 $350,000 $329,000 $325,000 $315,000 $314,500 $303,000 $275,000 $273,525 $250,000

3 2 1

$210,000 $748,000

SW WATERFRONT 800 4TH ST SW #S502

$404,000 $393,000 $208,000

U STREET CORRIDOR 2030 8TH ST NW #P06

$668,500

3101 NEW MEXICO AVE NW #544 4201 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #420W 4201 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #513E

$620,000 $280,000 $269,500

WEST END 1177 22ND ST NW #4D 2501 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #3A 1111 23RD ST NW #5G 2301 N ST NW #406 1010 25TH ST NW #302

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{arts & dining}

t i i l c o s P & Deconstructing the Cake Off

by Barbara Wells Sherri L. Edelen (Rita Gaw) in Cake Off at Signature Theatre. Photo by Margot Schulman.

n the last century, the Pillsbury Bake Off was among the few almost exclusively female domains, and from 1949 to 1994 only women claimed its grand prize of $50,000. But in 1996, the size of the prize jumped to $1 million — and guess what? The winner was a man. Playwright Sheri Wilner has a curiously brilliant ability to elicit layer upon layer of social conflict and political nuance from these bare facts. The result: Cake Off, a new musical premiering at Signature Theatre as part of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival. Together with co-writer Julia Jordan, Wilner teases out betrayal, intrigue and the aching pain of dreams deferred in the stories of fragile contestants and a deliciously sleazy emcee. Together they endure a marathon of competitive baking in the ballroom of a Florida hotel. From the moment she takes the stage, Sheri L. Edelen, as thirdtime contestant Rita Gaw, leaves no doubt of the competition’s monumental significance. As she meticulously arranges her ingredients and takes an inventory of her equipment, she fairly genuflects to the “Millberry Cake Off” sign beaming above her oven. Rita might be dismissed as a somewhat obsessive compulsive foodie, but as the story unfolds, her symbolism becomes clear: In 1996, she is among the last vestig-

November 2015 H 95

Jamie Smithson (Jack DeVault) and Todd Buonopane (Paul Hubbard) in Cake Off at Signature Theatre. Photo by Margot Schulman.

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es of America’s middle-aged, middle-class women who passed up college and career 30 years before to support their husbands, raise their children and lovingly nourish the whole family with home-cooked meals and yummy baked goods. The Cake Off is the ultimate validation of her life’s work and, since her bitter divorce, a chance for financial independence, too. Enter Paul Hubbard, as warm as Rita is frigid; as affable as she is tense. As this novice baker, Todd Buonopane has all the guile of a Lab puppy. He practically bursts with excitement when the emcee stops to chat, dotes on his surly young son who inspired his passion for baking and makes relentless attempts to befriend Rita despite her cool rebuffs. Stationed at their juxtaposed ovens, it might appear these two are pitted against each other in Cake Off’s “battle of the sexes,” but Paul and Rita are not fighting at all. Their

mutual enemy is a shifting social order, one that has forced Rita to search for herself in the wake of her pre-feminist existence, and has left Paul reeling from the modern cliché of his wife taking off with her personal trainer. Jamie Smithson leavens this mix, first as Jack DeVault, the ambitious emcee who, like his employer Millberry Sugartrust Incorporated, aims to milk the novelty of a male contestant to boost their TV ratings. Following a couple of somewhat monotonous songs that open the show, Smithson gets to sing the first of several real winners — a tribute to Millberry with wickedly witty lyrics by Julia Jordan and Adam Gwon. Smithson keeps ratcheting up the chuckles in two more roles: As Lenora Nesbit, another veteran Cake Off contestant, he goads Rita to loosen up in a humorous number called “Fun.” Then he returns as legendary Cake Off champion Nan-

cy DeMarco, a savvy competitor who clues Rita in that the judging is about more than producing the tastiest treats. In “Be a Little Sweeter,” she warns Rita to turn on the charm, leaving her with a pair of earrings and pink lipstick to wear. Jordan and Gwon, who wrote the show’s songs in just six months, are at their best when pairing lively tunes and clever lyrics tinged with an edge of hostility. They find less success in expository songs about the baking process and Paul and Rita’s disappointments and insecurities, which feel more labored and a little contrived. Their writing peaks in “You Can’t Have This” — Rita’s last stand against male encroachment on the baking bastion, which Edelen belts out in a delightfully outrageous performance. It’s Rita’s final release after a slow simmer throughout the show, and so infectious that even Buonopane’s Paul joins in. Under Joe Calarco’s surehanded direction, Edelen and Buonopane navigate their characters’ emotional highs and lows, even as they mix, measure and bake their cakes in an incessant flurry of motion. Along with Smithson, they enjoy an easy chemistry that creates a wellpaced, fluid production, despite a few detours for songs and speeches that don’t quite gel. In the end, Cake Off brings a smile along with a dash of something to think about. Cake Off is at Signature Theatre’s ARK Theatre through Nov. 22. Barbara Wells is a writer and editor for Reingold, a social marketing communications firm. She and her husband live on Capitol Hill. u

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Get your turkey brining spices at Sapore.

by Jen DeMayo

Shoppers line up to get their turkeys at Eastern Market’s Market Turkey.

ovember can be a dreary time for many of us. The days are shorter and colder. The brightly colored leaves that dappled our cheery October sidewalks are now brown and crunchy and remind us of their need to be raked and bagged. While we can be reasonably assured the mosquitoes are finally gone for a few months, that minor respite is cold comfort for those missing fireflies, cookouts, and frosty drinks on roof decks. I sympathize with this sense of loss in theory but I can’t share the sense of despair. November for me is all possibility! Yes, yes, the boots and sweaters and the pumpkin-spiced mania are all fine but my focus is

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that fourth Thursday. Thanksgiving. This all-American holiday, which is often the butt of jokes about crazy uncles, travel delays, and hideous traffic, is my absolute favorite holiday. My never-ending recipe-collecting habit takes on a sense of purpose and urgency. I plan menus for weeks, swapping out old standbys, contemplating new dishes, balancing yum factor, colors, and textures. My goal each year is to honor tradition and seasonality but I also like to stay open to new ideas. Regardless of what recipe makes the final cut for the Big Day, one reassuring factor is that I do not need to leave the Hill to procure what I need, and you may not have to either. Our neighborhood boasts so many options for sourcing ingre-

Hill Kitchen owner Leah Daniels shows off her exclusive DC Flag napkins to patron Chuck Burger.

dients there is very little need make a trek across town or to the ‘burbs.

Gear Up Is this your first time hosting the big meal? Your 15th? Either way you will want to head over to Hill’s Kitchen (713 D St. SE) to chat with owner Leah Daniels and her crackerjack staff about the must-have basics you will need to prepare the meal. Roasting pans, carving knives, and cutting boards for the birds will keep everything in order and help you reach your full Thanksgiving potential.

While there you can grab a pie dish, and don’t forget the vegetable peeler! Not quite your first rodeo and you want to step up your Friendsgiving game? A potato ricer. It may not be my mother-in-law’s method of mashing potatoes but I am a convert. The ricer ensures fluffy and not-gummy potatoes. For the bakers you can find rolling pins, Silpat, and crust shields to ensure pie-fection. Salt- and peppershakers shaped like turkeys? Candleholders shaped like turkeys? Turkeycovered dish towels? For those who

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The Bird It is starting with the obvious, I guess, but I also just like getting it out of the way. Folks who know me know that I am a longtime vegetarian and a passionate believer that Thanksgiving can still be Thanksgiving without Tom Turkey. That being said, I live with meat eaters and frequently host them, so my husband takes on the task of bird wrangling. We have bought turkeys from a number of places over the years. One favorite Hill tradition is to order turkeys from Capitol Hill Poultry inside Eastern Market. The turkeys arrive just before Thanksgiving, and pick-up lines can be long, but that experience itself is also part of the tradition. The deadline to order for the holiday is Sunday, Nov. 15. The owners need to give the farm enough advance notice. While it is possible to call in your order, the owners strong-

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ly suggest you do it in person. Farmer Kip Kelley of Full Circle Farms is also taking orders for turkeys. He makes a weekly stop at the H Street Freshfarm Market on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 13th and H streets NE. Kelley is anticipating a range of birds on the smaller side this year. Think 6 to 12 pounds. His livestock is grass-fed and free-range. This year he will offer two breeds, a Bourbon red wild turkey, which is a thinner bird, and a more traditional broadbreasted white. Stop by and see him to chat about your poultry needs. Yes! Organic Market (410 Eighth St. SE) will also be taking orders for both organic and natural turkeys. And should you wish to try one, they will be selling Tofurkeys as well. The Tofurkey is not my thing but I know some devotees. Ask me about the time I made a tofu turkey from scratch. Actually, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. I had suppressed that memory and prefer not to talk about it. Brining is a popular way to preseason a turkey. Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen sells brining bags, and Sapore has jars of brining spices on hand. From what I hear, the turkey is not the most flavorful of creatures and brining adds flavor and moisture. No matter where you procure your turkey you will eventually have to cook it. Or do you? Medium Rare at 515 Eighth St. on Barracks Row is offering to deep-fry your bird for you on Thanksgiving Day. Just bring in your unseasoned bird and the staff will carefully lower it into one of seven deep fryers on hand that day. You can sample cider and drinks while you wait. Frying times will vary according to size, though they can only accommodate turkeys that are 20 pounds and under. The charge for the frying service? Gratis. Manager Fenton Graham says they want to offer the service to the community and share the spirit of the

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day. This non-meat eater is touched and impressed. I wonder if a Tofurkey would benefit from deep-frying?

Sides Now that we have the turkey taken care of (or not) we get to the fun part! The turkey gets all the hype but the sides are where the meal is at. Are you a stuffing or a dressing person? Stuffing goes inside the bird, though if you are taking Medium Rare up on their frying offer, leave it outside and call it dressing. Try making your own with some cubes of delicious breads from Radici, 303 Seventh St. SE. While it seems insane to let good bread get stale, it is for the higher purpose of the stuffing. The denser sourdough-based breads from Le Pain Quotidien, 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, would also work well with the strong flavors of the holiday such as sage and thyme.

Vegetables I only have one rule and that is, Thanksgiving is no place for salad. This may be controversial coming from a leaf-eater like me, but I like taking the opportunity to do fun things with vegetables that turn them into stars. Root vegetable gratins, tarts with greens and cheeses, corn puddings, the legendary green bean and mushroom casserole, and Brussels sprouts are where my heart is. Meatless centerpiece dishes are not necessary but lovely, should you have a veg guest or two. This is a good opportunity to purchase one of those winter squashes at Eastern Market and scoop, bake, and stuff it. With what, you ask? How about a light stuffing made from the Autumn Harvest Orzo I found at Sapore. Cut some of that scooped squash into cubes, roast it, and then toss with some sage, dried cranberries, and pecans and you have a lovely centerpiece dish that will leave no one feeling deprived.

If I were grilled by the vegetable enforcement team I would have to confess that really, deep down in my heart of hearts, this holiday is about potatoes. Sweet and mashed. Mashed sweets even. Kip Kelley from Full Circle Farms will be bringing loads of sweet potatoes, baking potatoes, and all kinds of hearty greens like collards and kale in the weeks before Thanksgiving. Next to his stand at the H Street Market Richfield Farms will have squashes, cauliflower, broccoli, and stalks of Brussels sprouts.

Pies Tradition mandates that apple pies and pumpkin pies grace the sideboard. Alternatives can include pecan and perhaps a pear tart. One year I made an amazing pumpkin tiramisu that was not fully appreciated, so now I stick closer to the basics. My favorite source for apples is Quaker Valley Orchards at the H Street Market. Each fall they bring a wide variety of apples for baking and eating. Pick up some of their cider for mulling and see why we fall lovers are so gaga for the season. Should you wish to outsource the pie making, Dangerously Delicious Pies is here for you. You must order ahead of time. Their pre-holiday pick-up line rivals Capitol Hill Poultry. Get that order in the Friday before Thanksgiving if not earlier if you want to ensure you get that apple crumb your roomie loves. They will take orders only via their website, http://www.dangerouspiesdc.com. Happy Thanksgiving! Among other things Jen DeMayo is currently one of the aforementioned crackerjack staff advising cooks at Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen. u

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{arts and dining / dining notes}

Dining Notes

gus steak, crabcakes, lamb shanks, or croissant bread pudding. Jazz goes until 11. There’s also live music Wednesday-Saturday. More good news: Mr. Henry’s weekend a la carte breakfast-brunch has a new choice: chorizo sausage hash. For more information call 202-546-8412 or visit www.mrhenrysdc.com.

article and photos by Celeste McCall From the Bayou Bayou Bakery Coffee Bar & Eatery at Hill Center is in the news this month. On Veterans Day, Nov. 11 (all day), the neighborhood favorite will offer a 15 percent discount to all veterans and active military. Congrats to Bayou for being chosen for an Excellence in Historic Resources Design Award by the DC Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Adaptive reuse/restoration of the circa 1860s carriage house, which once housed ambulance horses, was designed by architect David Bell. Known for authentic Louisiana cooking (you gotta try the beignets, gumbo, and pralines), Bayou Bakery is the creation of New Orleans native David Guas, who also operates a sister enterprise in Arlington. Bayou Bakery at Hill Center is open daily including weekend brunch. Call 202-664-5307.

Night at the Yards Last month, Living Classrooms, the education and job-training program for at-risk young adults, held its annual Night at the Yards fundraiser. The setting was the scenic Capitol Riverfront near Nationals Park. Among festivities was a culinary competition involving more than a dozen local restaurants, brewpubs, and food trucks. Most participants, who also dispensed their creations to guests, represented Capitol Hill, NoMa, and the nearby riverfront. Judges were Rausa Aziz (Edible DC), Laura Wainman of Washington Life, and moi. We sampled a lot of tasty vittles, and the winners were -- food: Ice Cream Jubilee; cocktail: Blue Jacket & Arsenal; presentation: Caddies on Cordell (Bethesda); booth setup: Agua 301.

Jazzy Facelift Don’t be alarmed by the construction in front of Mr. Henry’s, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The popular saloon is just getting a facelift and there’s a lot going on inside. For starters, Henry’s has unveiled a new weekend jazz menu in its cozy upstairs dining area. On Friday and Saturday, from 6 to 10 p.m.(reservations are accepted from 6 to 8 p.m.), guests may order the likes of wild mushroom risotto, grilled shrimp, An-

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Barracks Row Update

Agua 301’s pinata display took top honors for Best Booth Setup at the Night at the Yards culinary competition. Sapore Artisanal Oils & Vinegars offers spicy gourmet treats for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Barracks Row restaurants are on the move. The neighborhood welcomes Ziaafat Grill & Restaurant, which arrived last month at 1102 Eighth St. SE. Operated by Tony Khan, the bare-bones Pakistani newcomer dispenses halal fare (permitted under Islamic law). The daily buffet is laden with lentils, vegetables, meat, and naan (bread). Get there early; the buffet sells out. So far we’ve sampled chicken kebabs, spicy ground beef, veggies, and naan – zesty and delicious. Virtually everything is made from scratch, we’re told. Ziaafat is open daily; carryout is available. Call 202-546-0000. Soon Las Placitas, which lost its original space to Matchbox expansion, will reopen in its new digs at 1100 Eighth St. SE, and it looks like a Potbelly Sandwich Shop will replace Capitol Hill Tandoor Grill at 419 Eighth. Zest Bistro, 735 Eighth, has “closed until further notice.” Partners Stephen and Amanda Briggs and David Bonier still operate Agua 301, their spiffy “modern Mexican” restaurant at 301 Water St. SE.

New off Lincoln Park Soon, if not already, Lincoln Park Kitchen & Wine Bar, just east of the park, will open in the spot formerly occupied by the Italian-themed Ninnella. The new enterprise is the creation of Gambia-born executive chef/owner Howsoon H.O. Cham, who operated the short-lived Newtown Kitchen on U Street NW. Expect the kitchen to showcase cheese/ charcuterie selections, shrimp and “geechie boy” grits, mussels with lemon grass/Thai basil, beef short ribs, and pastas (a holdover from Ninnella?). Located at 106 13th St. SE, Cham’s restaurant will be open (dinner only) six days a week plus weekend brunch; closed Monday. Call 202-543-0184.

Holiday Spice Gourmet goodies to spice up holiday dishes: Sapore Artisanal Oils & Vinegars, 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, now carries pumpkin seed oil. The Austrian import complements Pappardelle’s Au-

tumn Harvest Orzo (chestnut, pumpkin, sage). For the big bird: turkey brine, a 15½ ounce jar will do an 18-pound gobbler or several smaller birds. Sapore is closed Monday (until December when it’s open seven days); call 202-544-4133.

New Cookbook In plenty of time for the holidays, fellow Hill Rag culinary scribe and chef extraordinaire Jonathan Bardzik has come out with a new book, “Seasons to Taste,” a 326-page hardcover with more than 100 yummy recipes, photos, and cooking tips. Visit JonathanBardzik.com/the-books.

Fall Fare On Barracks Row, 527 Eighth St. SE, Cava Grill has unveiled its fall menu. Chef Dimitri Moshovitis’ summer gazpacho has made way for fall Greek minestrone, jam-packed with carrots, celery, onion, chickpeas, and Hellenic spices. Other newcomers are black lentils with charred octopus and green harissa, oven-roasted Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and cauliflower quinoa tabbouleh. Besides the Barracks Row spot the new menu is available at all 11 Washington-area locations. For more information, visit www. cavagrill.com. Also showcasing an autumnal menu is Le Grenier, the Atlas District French charmer. Offerings include crepes picarde (red cabbage, poached figs, feta), sea scallops St. Jacques, mussels with andouille and cider, and blanquette de veau (veal). Le Grenier (“The Attic”) is at 502 H St. NE. For more information visit www.legrenierdc.com.

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Fellow Hill Rag writer and chef Jonathan Bardzik presents his weekend cooking demo at Eastern Market. His new cookbook is out in time for the holidays. Photo: Pete McCall

Pre-Theatre Deal Bistro Cacao, 320 Massachusetts Ave. SE, now offers a three-course, pre-theatre menu. Tagged at $29.95, the prix-fixe repast goes from 5:00 to 6:30 daily. Call 202-546-4737.

New Address, Same Street From the West Wing to the Avenue? John Renninger, who retired after eight years in the White House Food Service, has moved from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW to the third block of Pennsylvania SE. As director of operations for Sunnyside Restaurant Group, Renninger will oversee the group’s three Hill restaurants: Good Stuff Eatery, We, the Pizza, and Béarnaise. Renninger is also an executive team member for domestic and international expansion. To his new job Renninger brings 20 years of culinary experience, including service in the US Navy.

Turkey Trot Have you ever tasted fried turkey? It’s delicious, but do NOT try this at home. Instead, on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, bring your own turkey to Medium Rare, 515 Eighth St. SE. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., chef Fenton Graham will deep-fry your bird for free. Gobblers must be fresh (not frozen) and unseasoned, weighing no more than 8 to 10 pounds. Also please bring a

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container. While your birds sizzle in peanut oil, hang around, sip hot cider, and watch the Macy’s parade on TV. Call 202-601-7136. At Café Berlin, 322 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Thanksgiving seatings are at 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, and 8:00 p.m. Diners may choose from a threecourse prix-fixe menu, or wild game dishes. For reservations and more information call 202-543-7656. Station 4, 1101 Fourth St. SW, is serving dinner from 1 to 11 p.m. The three-course prix-fixe menu, starting with amuse bouche, is $38 per person, not including drinks and tip. Besides turkey, options are salmon, pumpkin ravioli, and New York strip steak. Plus sides. Call 202488-0987. Tunnicliff’s, 222 Seventh St. SE, presents a three-course repast of turkey and the trimmings in addition to the regular menu. For details call 202-544-5680. Muse, at the Mandarin Oriental, 1330 Maryland Ave. SW, is also offering Thanksgiving dinner. For details call 202-554-8588.

New Dim Sum Maketto, the high-end boutique/ café/restaurant at 1351 H St. NE, now serves Sunday dim sum brunch. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. First come, first served. Call 202-838-9972 or www.maketto1351.com. u

{arts and dining / the wine girl}

An Evening with Jancis Robinson by Lilia Coffin

s we take our seats in the Rasmusen Theatre of the National Museum of the American Indian, at an event hosted by Smithsonian Associates, the lady beside me exclaims that the book she is carrying “weighs a ton” and slides it under her chair. The massive violet tome she’s referring to is the “Oxford Companion to Wine,” in its revised fourth edition. The “Oxford Companion” is an astounding achievement in wine education, an incredibly in-depth, encyclopedic standard for any oenophile’s library. As Dave McIntyre, the Washington Post wine columnist, puts it, “It has the answer to everything.” And well it should, as its editor has written about wine for nearly 40 years. She started work on the first edition in 1988, pre-internet, and finally published in 1994. The first non-winemaker to earn a master’s of wine degree, she lectures worldwide and advises no less than Queen Elizabeth. In the wine world Jancis Robinson is a rock star. She looks the part too, with a sleek silver bob and straight bangs, a crisp pair of cat’s eye glasses, and a slim black pantsuit accented with a brooch that glimmers under the stage lights. Tonight, to a house full of wine lovers in and out of the industry, she and McIntyre discuss the many developments in winemaking in the nine years since the third edition, all extensively detailed in the fourth. Robinson graciously, and with great humor, explains how there’s been a “heck of a lot going on,” covering the many developments in the technology, geology, economics, and language of wine. She points out three new entries in the fourth edition in particular: “minerality”; “Hong Kong”; and “Cellar Tracker.” “Minerality” she defines as a loose term, and says that she prefers describing the silty note in many wines as “wet stones.” She shies away from using minerality, which has become more widespread in recent years (including by me, often), because of new findings by geology experts. The experts she has consulted are convinced there is

the wine girl

Jancis Robinson, editor of the Oxford Wine Companion, signing copies at a wine discussion and tasting event hosted by Smithsonian Associates, Oct 13th.

no way you can taste the actual minerals or bits of soil in any wine; there are no minerals making their way up the vines and into the grapes. This indicates that something else is creating the crisp texture, and also that the study of the soils and rocks used in winemaking is always evolving our understanding of wine. China’s domination of the fine wine market in recent years put Hong Kong ahead of London and New York in terms of wine auction sales, and is an excellent indicator of shifting tastes. As America turned away from French wines in favor of California and New World, France, especially Bordeaux, turned east and courted China, to great success. China’s rate of wine consumption saw rapid growth, and Bordeaux maintained its fine wine supremacy. Cellar Tracker, the website and app that allows wine lovers to rate and share what they are drinking, has “democratized” wine writing. As Robinson jokes to McIntyre, “They don’t need us anymore.” The discussion of wine has become based more in consumer tastes than in a deep understanding of the appellation or wine-growing or -making practices. Robinson does not see this as a

negative; her philosophy is that wine should be enjoyed unpretentiously. As wine review writers are pushed out of formal journalism and onto blogs, she does note that she is happy not to be starting out in her chosen profession in such a climate. The discussion keeps turning back to the trends in winemaking that Robinson has recognized in almost every region: “fresher,” “whole stem,” “single vineyard” wines being produced in underutilized regions with underutilized, often rediscovered, grape varietals. She is impressed by the industrious new wave of young winemakers, especially in places like South Africa and Chile, who seek out farmers in these unclaimed areas to sell them great, old-vine grapes on the cheap. Even in Bordeaux they are bringing back old practices for better results. The return of horses to the field, for example, aerates the soil better than heavy tractors. Again, she sees this as a boon for the wine lover: “The overall quality of wine, all over the world, is increasing rapidly.” More interesting events like this can be found at www.smithsonianassociates.org. The Wine Girl can be found at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill. u

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{arts and dining / at the movies}

At The Movies

Two Spirited Dramas: A Journalistic Demise and a Disquieting Confinement by Mike Canning Truth Hollywood periodically dips into journalism as a theme, more often for drama than for comedy. The best exemplars have a lasting impact, landmarks based on real events like “All the President’s Men” (1976) and “The Insider” (1999). The latest film to take on this cinematic challenge is James Vanderbilt’s “Truth,” a docu-drama about one of the most potent political stories of this century. On September 8, 2004, in the middle of a fevered presidential campaign, the CBS newsmagazine “60 Minutes II” aired an explosive investigative report, narrated by the network’s news anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford), which purported to reveal evidence proving that President George W. Bush may have shirked little relief after the story plays, however, his duty as a Texas Air National Guard pilot from 1968 to 1974. as its troubled aftermath—led by conserThe piece asserted that Bush had not only exploited family and vative bloggers--quickly sets another time political connections in joining the Guard, but he may have even bomb as to whether the story can be conbeen AWOL. CBS News producer Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett), firmed or must be denied (now in generin charge of the report, believed that she and her team had proal release, “Truth” is rated PG-13, the film duced a milestone in broadcast journalism that could even affect runs 125 minutes). the campaign outcome itself. Working from Mary Mapes own Mapes and her team of researchers, including military conchronicle “Truth and Duty,” Vanderbilt sultant Marine Lt. Col. Roger Charles (Dennis Quaid), freebuilds real urgency with tight, no-nonsense lancer Mike Smith (Topher Grace), and researcher Lucy Scott scripting, smart cutting, and propulsive mu(Elizabeth Moss), had both on-air eyewitness testimony and newsic. Known previously as a screenwriter, this ly-disclosed documents that made their case solid, but within is Vanderbilt’s first attempt at directing. If his days after the story broke, questions were raised about the vefilm has a flaw, it is in his casting and hanracity of their evidence dling of his actors. and, quickly, “60 MinPerhaps the film’s utes” itself became the pace does not really allow focus of media and for nuanced performancpublic scrutiny, leades, but several seem thin ing to personal disaster or stereotyped. Most egrefor Mapes, Rather, and gious is Topher Grace as the others. Mike, a jejune and petuThe whole of lant “leftist” whose every “Truth” is played as line seems telegraphed. clock-ticking suspense, Here he plays the stanfirst as Mapes and Co. dard wiseacre he has emstruggle with tight bodied since he played deadlines, run down the vile high-school drug leads, and breathlessly dealer in “Traffic” 15 confirm sources almost Jacob Tremblay and Brie Larson in “Room.” Photo credit: years ago, but not as efCaitlin Cronenberg, courtesy of A24 Films up to air time. There is fectively. An actor capable

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of quality work, Elizabeth Moss here has a featureless role as an earnest drone. Several other roles of CBS suits are predictable and interchangeable (with the exception of Rachael Blake as the chilly Betsy West, CBS senior vice-president at the time). Which brings me to Robert Redford as Dan Rather. This Hollywood icon delivers some of the anchor’s wryness, congeniality, and decency, but lacking Rather’s cornpone side and a true Texas accent, it is hard for me to see past him as Redford rather than the famous newsman. Above all is Blanchett as Mapes, the fulcrum and core of the film. Blanchett wonderfully captures the itchy, driven side of the natural newshound, thriving on pressure and salivating for the scoop. She also portrays splendidly Mapes’ famous candor, her inability to fudge a story. This outspokenness is displayed most effectively in the final scene where, after being told by counsel to tone it down before a CBS investigative panel, she fervently defends her journalistic ethics against insinuations of poor judgment. Splendid work.

Room The 2010 novel “Room” by Irish-Canadian writer Emma Donoghue was a critical and popular success in its grim narrative of an abducted woman and her young son, told

entirely from the point of view of that boy. Just as unsettling, the film version of “Room,” whose screenplay Donoghue also wrote, overrides its bleakness through the stirring convictions of its lead actors (now in theaters, “Room” is rated “R” and runs 118 mins.). The “room” of the title is a windowless 10-by-10-foot storage shed where Ma (Brie Larson) looks after 5-year-old son Jack (Jacob Tremblay), a spirited child whose mother dedicates herself to keeping him healthy and safe. However, they are prisoners, Ma having been kidnapped by Old Nick (Sean Bridgers) at 17 and having fathered Jack after being raped by her abductor. Ma (real name Joy) has created an entire universe for Jack within “Room” (her nickname for the space), and it is his whole world, except for glimpses of the outside on television. When Ma comes to suspect that Old Nick aims to get rid of them, she conceives a plan to sneak Jack out of “Room” through feigning his death. Jack first, then his mother, do finally escape and, after a hospital stay, return to Joy’s family. There, the hideous pressures of her long captivity have riven the family: her father Robert (William H. Macy) and her mother Nancy (Joan Allen) have divorced and she lives with another man. Thus begins another kind of test for Joy and Jack, as she tries to re-connect with her previous life, and he must cope with the whole wide—and terrifying-world for the first time. “Room” is directed by Irish director Lenny Abrahamson (“Frank”) who has mastered the material in two contrasting acts. The first is in the claustrophobic “Room” where the camera is as cramped as the room’s inhabitants, but where Ma’s diligence and concern shine and where young Jack blossoms with intelligence and playfulness. This first act ends in a marvelous suspense scene, where Jack, pre-

sumed dead, has been wrapped in a rug in Nick’s truck and must escape from his rolled-up cocoon and find help for Ma. The film’s second act offers a drastic change in tone. Joy and Jack are in a comfortable suburban environment yet very uncomfortable within it. Robert cannot get past Joy’s bearing of her child, and the more empathetic Nancy is thwarted trying to comprehend her daughter’s experience. Joy comes to resent her family while Jack, in his most troubled moments, even asks to go back to “Room,” his only harbor from strangeness. Now we are in an earnest family drama, played out in worried looks and quiet asides. It is a delicate balancing act, which “Room’s” creators pull off. Brie Larson, at 26, has become one of our best, if lesser known, screen actors. She is a casual beauty, with a girl-next-door quality, but she can play with a natural demeanor that is riveting (see her in “Short Term 12”). Here her range goes from protective, hyper-alert Ma to wan, resentful Joy—and much else in between—but never any less than convincingly. Then there is Tremblay, an eight-year-old playing Jack at five: he is a wonder. While the film cannot replicate the original point-ofview of the novel, young Jacob’s overvoicing fully establishes Jack’s naïve, yet perceptive, view of “Room,” and his gradual awakening to the wider world is utterly persuasive, presented as naturally as breathing. Hill resident Mike Canning has written on movies for the Hill Rag since 1993 and is a member of the Washington Area Film Critics Association. He is the author of “Hollywood on the Potomac: How the Movies View Washington, DC.” His reviews and writings on film can be found at www.mikesflix.com. u

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{arts and dining / art and the city}

Artist Portrait: Jon Meadows

by Jim Magner

ouch. It’s all about touch. Fingers in clay. Emotions in contact. Hands gripping and kneading, sculpting forms and faces that cry or sing or look out in wonder. The brain above the hands wrestles with itself, or opens up to let the monsters loose, or just turns inward to see the world left behind, reformed and rebuilt with laughs and smiles among the tears. Staff Sergeant Jon Meadows was hit by a blast in Afghanistan. Actually several. At first he tried to shake them off, but his legs were going numb, his vision got too blurry to focus, and he couldn’t remember things. Small motor skills deteriorated. Back here at Walter Reed Hospital he heard the words, “traumatic brain injury,” TBI. His next stop was in the Warriors in Transition unit at battered but not beaten. Ft. Belvoir, waiting to be transitioned out from the Army. Jon envisions his subjects with He drifted into an emotional and physical no-man’s-land, all their complexities in three dimendisconnected from caring or doing until he was “dragged” sions. He couldn’t do that before he into the IMPart program (Injured Military Personnel + was injured, and the ideas and themes art) of the Art League in Alexandria. He resisted, but beemerge fully realized and recognized. gan making simple animals, and the phenomenon of creThe TBI theme permeates, but it is not ativity just took over. He beall dark and brooding. There is also regan making ever more covery and hope - new life feeding on complex figures, until the tragedy of combat. It’s art, creativione day he “suddenty, and Jon wants to explore everything: ly” started making solpainting, poetry, and music … without diers. Not toy soldiers, losing touch. but real people in uniFind more images of Jon’s form, people with work at www.flickr.com/photos/ thoughts and theartleague/albums. feelings, …

Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art

I hate to say it, but there seems to be a significant connection between combat and creativity. You would think the opposite, that combat would dull the senses - that you would be dead emotionally: never able to find the passions … those raging fires or soft delicate touches that are so damned necessary to create. But no, the passions seem to intensify. Maybe it’s taking the ultimate risk. Maybe it’s about seeing life and death up close and personal. Whatever it is, it seems to be there, clawing to get out. At least for some people.

“Headache” media: clay with iron oxide

Jon Meadows (see Artist Profile) came close to dying in Afghanistan, and then found himself back in the US, in “transition,” alive, but dead emotionally. He languished until his wife Melissa “dragged him kicking and screaming” into the Art League’s IMPart program. Once he started modeling in clay - creating art - something happened; there was another explosion. This time it was creativity. Now he can’t stop. It’s a raging fire and he wants to try everything: sculpture, painting, poetry … everything. I recently listened to poet Brian Turner read from his remarkable collection of works, “Here, Bullet,” at the Hill Center and heard both raging passions and soft delicate touches. Ten years or more after his combat tours, his poems are born from visions and sensations that demand words, sent out like scouts on reconnaissance, searching for understanding. Vietnam was only one year of my life. Other years have been just as transitional and intense, if not more so, but I can find no reason to write about them. My memoir, “A Haunting Beauty,” is not a diary; it’s not about me so much as the time, place, and people. It’s like I want us all to stay alive, just as we were, but I’m not sure why. Maybe that’s the key connection between

“Contemplation: Soldier Sitting on Rock” media: clay with iron oxide by Jon Meadows

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1025 FIRST ST SE 202.652.1009 IN THE VELOCITY CONDO BUILDING “The Band” media: acrylic on canvas by Jon Meadows

for holiday gifts. The Capitol Hill Art League (CHAL) has its annual small works show juried from its artist members. You’ll find a very wide range of subjects and styles, excellently done. They tend to sell out pretty fast so get there early. www.caphillartleague.org or www.chaw.org combat and creativity - the eternal balance between life and death.

Hill Center Galleries Old Naval Hospital 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE Nov. 2 -Jan. 2 The Hill Center reaches for the holidays with a seven-artist show: M. Alexander Gray captures the fine-arts tradition of printmaking - woodcuts, relief engraving, and copper engraving - with keenly observed and expressed images of places with historical references and scenes from personal experiences. Barbara Brennan’s seemingly straightforward paintings of familiar places and things take you to another depth through color complexities. Noah Williams gathers stuff we all toss away bottle caps, nails, car parts - and makes art, sculptures. His masks are fun, imaginative, and have an environmental upside. Gwendolyn Aqui-Brooks brings you into a world of wonder and wondrous color. Stories are told with fantasy and mystery. Paula Cleggett’s striking oils are strong on graphic composition and intense coloration, like frozen moments in time. Carol Reed’s predominantly black and white compositions reach for your intellect as well as your eye. They are a search for logic among apparent truths and reclusive impressions. Kasse Andrews-Weller’s ceramic “paintings” are playful but seriously capture the sense of a place and time. www.hillcenterdc.org

Small Works Capitol Hill Art League 545 Seventh St. SE Nov. 7-Dec. 5 Reception: Nov. 7, 3-7 p.m. This is that time of year to pick up great little presents

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Gordana Gerskovic Foundry Gallery 2118 18th St. NW Nov. 4-29 Reception: Nov. 6, 6-8 p.m. With “Metamorphosis: From Decay to Display,” Croatia-born experimental photographer Gordana Gerskovic looks for that certain thing we usually pass by but don’t see, or don’t want to see. “Images appear behind every corner, posing only for me. I don’t question.” These are not objects so much as the surfaces that record time and conversion. www.foundrygallery.org

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or laura@hillrag.com for more information on advertising.

ARTomatic 2015 8100 Corporate Drive Hyattsville, Md. Oct. 30-Dec. 12 ARTomatic is always a wildly unpredictable and audacious visual encounter. It is one big circus of art, performance, film, music (and everything else under a full moon) from high-end pros to the wild imaginings of first-time exhibitors and players. This year it’s in PG County in a 90,000 squarefoot space in which a thousand visual artists hang, construct, and improvise thousands of works of art and art-like things. It is the antithesis of a gallery show. It’s first-come, first-hung, and no credentials are necessary. This is truly a people’s event, and therein lies its real strength. Also, several hundred poets, actors, and musicians will perform continuously while thousands of people from all over the area stream through and party. There are special events planned for almost every night, and performances are constantly changing during the whole six weeks. It’s always free and always fun. Check the website, www.artomatic.org, for updates. A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim Magner can be reached at Artandthecity05@aol.com. Jim’s awardwinning book, “A Haunting Beauty,” can be acquired through www.ahauntingbeauty.com. u

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the

LITERARY HILL

A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events

by Karen Lyon Politics, It’s Murder The last thing Senate staffer Kit Marshall expected when she reported for work that morning was to find her boss dead in his chair, stabbed in the chest with a model helicopter. And the very last thing she anticipated was to be accused of the crime. “The only thing worse than having a murdered boss,” she observes, “was being named the prime suspect.” While the police focus on Kit, she and her officemate, Meg, decide to take matters into their own hands and find the real murderer. As Kit points out, the Capitol Hill rumor mill could easily ruin her career – but she fears that more is at stake than just her reputation. “It wasn’t only about clearing my name,” she says. “It was about catching the killer before I became the next victim.” Colleen J. Shogan’s new novel, “Stabbing in the Senate,” features loads of inside scoop about the workings of Senate offices – complete with all the gossiping, back-stabbing, and procedural maneuvering – plus an appealing young sleuth, sprightly pacing, and an edge-of-your-seat showdown on the HartDirksen underground train. Apart from joining Kit on one of her Hill happy hours, how much more fun could you want? “Stabbing in the Senate” is Shogan’s first novel. A political scientist by training, she has taught at George Mason University, Georgetown, and Penn, and is currently the deputy director of the Congressional Research Service at the Library of Congress. Connect with her at www.colleenshogan.com.

A Tail of Intrigue When Mooky the black Lab comes trotting out of the woods with a big bone in her mouth, her owner gulps in horror. As a retired Secret Service agent, Vivien Szabo knows a human femur when she sees

A Senate aide turns sleuth when she’s accused of murdering her boss.

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one. And her dog has definitely got hold of somebody’s leg bone. In “Life and Death at the Dog Park,” Scott Sowers convincingly creates a social circle of dog park regulars – “all, in their own way, social misfits” – who meet every day to exercise their canine companions – and their tongues. They chat, bond, bicker, and snipe at each other. And, quite possibly, one of them may have A former Secret Service committed murder. agent and her dog unearth It seems nobody has seen Phyllis, “the skeletons in a local queen bitch of the dog dog park. park,” for weeks. Not surprisingly, just about everybody’s got a reason for wanting her dead. Is it the gay psychotherapist she so rudely dissed, the elderly ex-wife of a British diplomat with whom she may have been having an affair, the insulted caterer who once threatened her with a chef’s knife, the “chubby-schlubby, bad-haired” writer she propositioned – or could it be her chiropractor husband, who seems suspiciously blasé about her disappearance (and overly fond of his pretty young assistant)? Aroused by the mystery – as well as by her mutual attraction to the Metro Police detective assigned to the case – Vivien sets out to solve the case. Also on the trail is Mooky, whose perceptions of the situation may not always be on point, but who is eager to leap into the fray whenever she hears the word “go.” They make a formidable team in this lively tale described by its author as a “cozy-style mystery-thriller.” Scott Sowers lives near the Navy Yard, where he works as a freelance television producer and print journalist. “Life and Death at the Dog Park” is his first novel. Visit him at www.scottsowers.com.

Avenger on the Hill Have you run into Capitol Hill’s crime-solving reporter? Guy with a limp and scars from that shrapnel blast he took while covering the Bosnian war? Talks with a rasp and a trace of a “Nawlins” drawl? Lives on 6th St NE just a few blocks from Jimmy T’s? No? Well, meet Sully Carter. The creation of Neely Tucker, a staff writer at The Washington Post Sunday magazine, Carter made his debut in 2014’s “The Ways of the Dead.” In that outing, Sully investigated the death of a young woman stuffed into a dumpster behind a convenience store on Georgia Avenue. But the victim was not just any young woman. “What kind of a death wish do you have to have,” he asks, “to kill the daughter of the chief judge of the federal court at the foot of Capitol Hill?” In his dogged pursuit of the story, Carter discovers a wider, seamier, and more twisted web of crime than even a hard-boiled cynic like him might have imagined. In the new book, “Murder, D.C.,” Carter comes up against the entrenched and insular world of Washington’s black elite, those powerful, socially-connected families who, in the early 20th century, were dubbed “The Talented Tenth.” When the scion of one such family is found murdered in a desolate area of Southwest known for drug gangs, Carter risks beatings – and worse – from thugs on both sides of the social divide to get to the truth. When he’s not chasing down leads, wresting interviews from the families of the dead – or being pummeled, spit on, or shot at – Carter can be found knocking back shots of bourbon on the back step of his Capitol Hill townhouse, swim-

Meet Sully Carter, Capitol Hill’s bourbon-drinking, crime-solving reporter.

ming a few stress-relieving laps at the natatorium, or picking up the fixin’s for a shrimp remoulade at Eastern Market. I’m surprised you haven’t seen him around. If you do, say hey. Neely Tucker is also the author of a memoir, “Love in the Driest Season,” which Publishers Weekly named one of the 25 Best Books of the Year. Find him at neelytucker.com.

On the Hill The Hill Center’s “Life of a Poet” lecture series features Bobbitt Prize winner Alice Fulton in conversation with Washington Post Book World editor Ron Charles, Nov. 4, 7 p.m. Free, but register at www. hillcenterdc.org or 202-549-4172. The Folger Shakespeare Library presents a PEN/Faulkner fiction reading with best-selling novelist Jane Smiley, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m., and an O.B. Hardison Poetry Series reading with Julianna Baggott and Laura Kasischke, Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m.; www.folger.edu or 202-544-7077 The Library of Congress offers discussions and readings with Joseph Urschel, author of “The Year of Fear: Machine Gun Kelly and the Manhunt That Changed the Nation,” Nov. 3, noon; Richard Moe, author of “Roosevelt’s Second Act: The Election of 1940 and the Politics of War,” Nov. 5, noon; and Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of “The Sympathizer,” Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. www.loc.gov The Smithsonian Associates presents “The World According to John Irving,” Nov. 2, 7 p.m., and “Write a Novel in a Month,” a day-long workshop on Nov. 7, 9:30 a.m. www.smithsonianassociates.org.

The Lyon’s Share Dear Readers, are you as delighted as I am to see that Riverby Books is back in business? It’s not only wonderful to have our beloved bookstore back, but it’s also heartening to know that it’s still “in the family.” Be sure to stop by to stop by 417 East Capitol Street and give Paul Cymrot and Lori Grisham a big welcome... u

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Too Late

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The best weekly wine tastings on “The Hill”- Sat (3-6pm)

LAS PLACITAS IS STAYING! We are relocating to

1100 8th St. SE Thank you for your support and patronage during the last 24 years

STAY TUNED FOR OUR GRAND OPENING!

THE POETIC HILL Tom Hamilton is a Chicago native who has lived on Capitol Hill since 1985. Originally an artist whose paintings have been featured on the cover of the Hill Rag, he has also written novels, short stories, plays, book reviews, and human interest pieces. He turned to poetry when his wife, Nadine, “began her heroic bout with cancer.” He calls himself “a freelancer in anything and everything,” and says he’s “devoted to the Hill,” where he plans to die in the house that he and Nadine bought together. “Just,” he adds, “not right away.” If you would like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@literaryhillbookfest.org. (There is no remuneration.) u

In a couple years, Not many now, I’m going to die. Who’s going to notice? Who will call? Not the gentle folk Who bring the mail, Who say hello when I’m at home, Then go about their business. Not my neighbors, Who really are good neighbors, Kind and thoughtful, Raised a family here. They had their floors refinished And sent their mice next door To us To die. Not them. But someone, Sometime, Will sense the smell of me And call too late. Too late for what?

Life Is a Comedy

Twenty Years are lost With one audition Of stutters and stumbles “The Glass Menagerie” is shattered The unicorn unhorned “The Winter’s Tale” is cold or colder Than the hapless queen Hermione Well there are other things to do That I have never dreamed of Because I dreamed of this And set my sights And then I blew it Watched my dreams Come all apart in all the scenes At all the seams

24 Years ol Hill! on Capit The FinesT salvadorian & Mexican cuisine

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But now the funny part – Although the parts I played weren’t played for laughs Intentionally – I stood buck naked on that stage For I had quite forgot Along with all my lines My motley clothes My pantaloons and sagging hose

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{health & fitness}

ealth and wellness is personal. As a fitness trainer for 20 years, every one of my clients work with me because they believe getting fit will help them feel better and stay well. While exercise is certainly part of the picture, it is just one of several components that help us to live well. Clients have asked me how I manage to stay healthy. Over the years, through experimentation and an open mind, I have discovered what works for me. Exercise, sleep, relaxation, massage, reflexology, fascia release, meditation, acupuncture, energy work, and regular fun are all part of my prescription for keeping my mind, body and spirit in balance. I don’t focus on the “expense” of the treatment but look upon my expenditure as an investment for my future health. During my journey I have been treated by many amazing holistic practitioners. When several years ago a chiropractor friend invited me to a meeting of wellness professionals in northern Virginia I dreamed of bringing together the practitioners I used on the Hill in a similar gathering. Last year my dream became a reality. Jaime Bohl, owner of Lavender Retreat, and I invited about 30 health and wellness professionals who live and/or work on Capitol Hill to meet and exchange ideas. I named the group “Hill Healers.” Last month we gathered again at Lavender Retreat and discussed health and wellness as a lifestyle. Among those who attended were massage therapists, physical therapists, chiropractors, healing touch practitioner, a past life regression practitioner, acupuncturists, a yoga therapist, yoga instructors, a physician who practices alternative medicine and aesthetics, a professional organizer, a yoga studio owner and a nutritional cook. The issue for discussion was how do we handle making health and wellness a lifestyle for ourselves and our clients? “Schedules are tight in DC and people are busy – we all get that. But at the end of the day your job is not going to repay you for time you did not spend on yourself. It isn’t going to prevent you from getting ill. Your job is not going to be what carries you through this very long life. Only a commitment to your well-being will do that. If you have time to brush your teeth, you have time to factor in yourself every day. It needs to be that compulsory!” said Pam Fierst, owner of M Street Yoga Studio in Southwest.

How to Make the Shift “Practice makes perfect,” said Jaime Bohl. “In order to

Health and Wellness as a Lifestyle Choice Holistic Wellness Professionals Share Their Insights and Personal Experiences by Pattie Cinelli create wellness as a lifestyle you have to continue to use the services on a regular basis.” She said when she gets an ache or feels ill she tests the waters. “When I have sore throat or a cold I use acupuncture and discuss with the acupuncturist how to fix it. She has a solution. When I had a sty I used acupuncture and it went away. When I have an ache I get a massage.” Jaime said she believes when she gets regular treatments she is building up her “health savings bank.” Emily Brown, massage therapist and director of movement education at Freed Bodyworks agrees. “Investing in wellness services is a personal commitment to your continued well-being. All have a cumulative benefit, so the more frequently you attend to your body’s need for movement, touch and healing, the better and more balanced you will be.” Dr. Wanda Dyson, director of Change for Life

Wellness and Aesthetics who is a conventionally trained MD who practices medicine from an alternative point of view said it’s important to realize our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual balance is not static. “We have to continually bring ourselves back into balance.” She said our immune system must operate optimally to stay well. “Anything can throw us off – travel, lack of sleep, a big event, eating too much, exercising too much. Our bodies are always changing. We are continuously interacting with our environment.”

Making Wellness a Priority When Allison Bower, acupuncturist at Lavender Retreat, treats clients she talks about the decisions they make and the way those decisions fit positively or negatively into their lives. Those decisions include

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what they eat, how they love, how much they rest, how active they are and if they know how to silence their mind to connect back to themselves. “I might talk about how their headaches could be related to stress and maybe their insomnia. To say that the focus should be on avoiding disease or correcting an imbalance may be missing the point. Instead I focus on the behaviors that keep us happy, healthy and enjoying life.” Christine Brahmi Romero, yoga therapist and instructor, reminds her private clients who may feel discouraged because they have not been compliant with their ‘homework’ that there are many ways they have, in fact, been using their practices, which encourages their commitment to continue. Over time, practice becomes as much a part of daily life as breathing, not something they have to “go and do” It shifts their focus of thought. “Focusing on the mindfulness used in the practice of yoga serves us in daily life, when burdens and challenges can upset us.” Acute pain and desperation can be extreme motivators for someone seeking alternative care. About half of Renata Maniaci’s clients seek her healing touch services at Freed Bodyworks because conventional medicine didn’t work. Often those clients turn into regulars. “Clients see the value because they are not getting sick or having major events. Healing touch is keeping them healthier in the long run.”

feel like I’m doing acupuncture in a space.” She listens and watches her clients in relation to the space. She notices barriers and stuck places, and places where relaxation and joy is evident. “I help to shift clogged energy to encourage a more healthy flow.” After organizing many clients’ own energy shifts – they ran a marathon, recovered from cancer, lost weight, broke up with a negative partner and even got their dream job. The cost of treatmets can be perceived as an obstacle. When Henry Jenkins, chiropractor and owner of Paradigm Chiropractic speaks to patients he compares their investment in chiropractic care to a short term investment that pays long term dividends. “The cost of missing work, trips, headaches, not being able to lift children out of the bathtub are all things that can be corrected with this investment.” After treatment, once clients realize that their once debilitating episodes are only minor bumps in their lives and they feel the difference, regular treatments become a priority. Frances Lutz, acupuncturist at Lavender Retreat sums up the tone of the evening. “Good health isn’t a luxury, it is a necessity. To truly live life, you need to maintain a certain quality – a state of being that allows you the freedom to fulfill your goals and dreams. Your most precious treasure is your body. Be grateful and worship it in a way that allows you to be balanced and complete.”

Eliminating Obstacles

Pattie Cinelli, a holistic health and fitness consultant, has been writing her column for more than 20 years. She is a personal trainer to clients in their homes, teaches yoga, Pilates, meditation and stress relief techniques. Email her with column ideas or fitness questions at: fitness@pattiecinelli.com. u

Being a Hill Healer isn’t just about body and energy work. Jill Lawrence, professional organizer and owner of Jill-of-all-Trades Organizing Services, takes a holistic approach to her work. “I look at how the ‘stuff’ effects the environment and how that impinges on the safety, health and happiness of clients. In some ways I

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The District Vet Choosing Tasty Treats

by Dan Teich, DVM

s cooler weather descends and the holidays sneak up on us, our pups will be getting less exercise and more treats. We can avoid adding winter weight and continue to show happy love to our dogs and cats. It is imperative to give healthy treats and to avoid choices that may be unsafe or even toxic. A good place to turn is the local farmers’ markets, such as at Eastern Market. Many fruits are tasty and nutritious for pups. A few are not. Sliced peaches are yummy and nutritious. We sampled a few this past weekend at Eastern Market. Be certain that the dog does not eat or have access to the pit. Peach pits will get stuck in your dog’s intestines and may need to be surgically removed. Apples are also in season and a few slices will be loved by most dogs. Again, avoid the seeds, but this is because they contain a small amount of cyanide. Eating an entire apple’s worth of seeds will not be toxic, but large quantities can cause serious medical problems. Watermelon, without the rind, is cherished, as are strawberries, oranges, kiwis, pineapple, and blueberries. On the vegetable side, carrots, sliced sweet potato, and broccoli are low in calories and taste great. Be certain to have them in bite-size pieces. Being at the farmers’ market does not guarantee that an item is safe, though. Always steer clear of grapes, raisins, and all grape products. They are toxic at any level and should always be avoided. Never feed your dog onions, garlic, avocado, chocolate, or other items that contain caffeine. Many dogs like chewable treats. Use these with care. Hooves, bones, and antlers are hard and can break teeth. In some cases dogs swallow larger chunks of these items and cause an intestinal blockage. If your dog gnaws them slowly and will not swallow whole pieces, these may work for your pup. There are a few safer options for chewers. The Big Bad Woof in Old Takoma has tasty Earth Animal products. One of their favorites is a rawhide that is made from chicken which is readily digested. Regular rawhides digest very slowly, which can cause problems if dogs eat larger pieces; these do not have that problem. Many dogs have allergies to specific proteins but still like to chew. Howl to The Chief on Eighth Street SE maintains a large selection of Barkworthies single-ingredient products, such as lamb chews and even kangaroo chews. These may be good alternatives for our food allergic canines. Our feline friends are more discerning regarding their treats. Some like cat grass, others will eat dried fish flakes. Both are available at Metro Mutts, along with dog treats. Even if you are using healthy and natural treats be mindful that they all contain calories. Too many will lead to excessive weight gain. Although it’s the winter, remember to get your dog or cat regular exercise. It’s good for you and them.

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Dan Teich, DVM, is at District Veterinary Hospital, 3748 10th St. NE, www.districtvet.com and desk@districtvet.com. u

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You Don’t Need a Reason to See a Therapist by Paul Rivas

herapy is really for everybody,” says Dr. Samantha Sweeney, a psychologist with Family Psychological Services of Capitol Hill (www.fpsch. com). “Just because you’re seeking therapy doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you.” Therapy is so worthwhile, and so prevalent, that if you personally don’t know anyone who goes to therapy it’s probably because you’ve been isolating yourself, and thus may need therapy. Just kidding! “I find it unfortunate and frustrating that our society has put such a stigma on behavioral health, but if it’s your teeth, or if it’s your heart, it’s fine,” says Dona Paknejad, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) with Mind and Body Solutions, also on the Hill (www.mindandbodysolutionsdc.com). “My hope is that it will change, because therapy is health. It’s just health.”

Rethinking Therapy

Dona Paknejad, LPC

Dr. Samantha Sweeney

uals feeling inadequate. Capitol Hill therapists cite lots of good reasons to seek therapy, such as not feeling like yourself, wanting to share something with an impartial listener, or moving to the suburbs, to name a few. There are also lots of kinds of therapy, such as therapy for kids, adolescents, adults, or couples. Every therapist has her or his areas of expertise, but ultimately the efficacy of the therapy will be determined by the quality of relationship between the client and therapist. “There is a lot of research that says nothing is more important than that interaction,” says Gilborn. “It doesn’t matter how that therapist has been trained, what theories they’re using, or what techniques. What really matters is the connection between the two people.” Paknejad thinks therapy should be “a helpful relationship in your life that is not judgmental and that brings some support and implements some goals that you want to work on.”

Historically people waited to see Look for a Personal Referral a therapist until their physician Laelia Gilborn, LICSW Melissa Kilbride, LICSW Referrals from friends are always or psychiatrist referred them to a good way to find a therapist, but one due to a specific medical you get out of hanging out with a close friend or the websites www.psychologytotrauma. Nowadays anyone who a partner.” day.com and www.goodtherapy.org also make it has benefitted from therapy will describe it much Licensed independent clinical social workpossible to search for therapists by ZIP code, spelike Capitol Hill therapist Laelia Gilborn, LICer (LICSW) Melissa Kilbride explains that many cialties, or other traits, like gender or whether SW (www.psychologytoday.com) describes her people do seek therapy for specific purposes, parthey take insurance. Most therapists provide free own experience with therapy. “It’s sort of like goticularly in Washington, whose “culture of having 15-20-minute phone consultations, which tends ing to the gym or good nutrition: it’s good selfto overachieve or perform at a certain level, that’s to be ample time to get a sense of what the theracare,” reasons Gilborn. “I don’t see it as, ‘Oh, defined by making a certain amount of money or pist is like and whether they can help you in the no, this is the beginning of the end, I’ve lost my having a certain title,” can leave even the most ways that you want to be helped. Interview three mind,’ I see it as a very normal human experience pedigreed, accomplished, and successful individto five therapists in this way to be sure you have that still offers something very different from what

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Sharon L. Bernier RN, PhD Psychotherapy Individuals & Couples

202-544-6465

found a good match. You may even want to ask whether your prospective therapist has a therapist. “It’s considered a standard of good quality therapy that a therapist should be in therapy at least some of the time, because otherwise there’s too big a risk that you’re bringing some of your own stuff into the relationship,” Gilborn explains. “It kind of keeps you honest. Are you doing the introspection, and the work, and the thoughtfulness about life that you’re inviting someone else to do?” Everyone should go to therapy. I resisted for years but, with the demise of my first marriage imminent finally agreed to go. I got a lot out of it. I even convinced my two most recalcitrant friends each to see my therapist, and they got a lot out of it too. Five months later my estranged wife died suddenly. Not only did I continue going to therapy, I began to look forward to it. Therapy helped me let go of much of the guilt that I was carrying. I went monthly, right up until I drove across the country to move to DC. Lately I’ve been thinking maybe I should look for a local therapist. “Here’s the thing,” says Dr. Sweeney. “If you are considering seeing a therapist, you probably need to go. Even if that means that you only go once.” Paul Rivas is the founder of Smith Rivas Academic Coaching & Consulting and can be reached at paul@smithrivas. com or 202-615-7791. u

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Small, But Kalani Takamura Represents Capitol Hill Soccer on National Stage

Always seeking to improve, Kalani Takamura says his left foot “needs work”. Photo credit: W. Scotte MacQueen, Capital FC

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here are currently 48 soccer players around the United States who are in contention for a spot on the next Under-15 Boys National Team. One of the smallest, Kalani Takamura, is an eighth grader from Capitol Hill, where he plays for the up-and-coming Capital Futbol Club (https://capitalfc.org/). An honors student at Basis DC, Takamura played soccer with Sports on the Hill (SOTH) for several years before joining the youngest team of the then brand-new Capitol Hill-based Capital FC in 2008, where club co-founder Mike Barrette has been his coach for six years. “The interesting thing is that he doesn’t really let his size impact how he plays,” Barrette said of Takamura. “He plays big. He’s really kind of a powerful runner. He’s very fast, and he has a low center of gravity.” At five feet and 95 pounds, Takamura combines the strength of a longtime parkour enthusiast with the work ethic and love of learning typical of champions. “He’s always really just had a great work rate. He’s always the first kid to practice, he’s working on his own, and he’s all business once he gets out there. He just wants to learn,” explained Barrette. Capital FC co-founder and director of coaching Whitney Minnis nominated Takamura for one of the regional identification camps from which the national team pool was selected. The group of 28 players performed drills and played one

game at the one-day event in Maryland in August. “Tactically, he was pretty sharp. Good speed, good quickness, good ideas, movement off the ball,” recalled Minnis. “When it got to the game, he scored one and accounted for the other two. At that level, it’s about making an impact.” The standout performance got Takamura a ticket to the 48-player national team training session in California. He flew there alone on the US Soccer dime for a four-day training camp in September, where he played against kids who were as good as he was or better and spent his free time doing homework. “I had fun and I learned a lot and I think I performed fairly well,” Takamura reckoned. That’s fairly well against the best soccer players in the country, some of whom, at his age of almost 14, are as big and powerful as grown men. “The moral is: don’t get hit, and be quicker than they are,” Takamura acknowledged. “I usually approach it with more energy in how quick I play and move the ball.” One of the things Takamura likes about soccer is that, “It’s not all about how strong or fast you are. There are those aspects, but you have to be in control. Conditioning and fitness are important.” Takamura practices three times per week with Capital FC, which is adequate but nowhere near enough to become as good a player as coaches around the world think he can be. As his coach Barrette says, “The key to making it to the next level is to put in the extra effort.

Kalani Takamura moves faster and makes quicker decisions than most players. Photo credit: W. Scotte MacQueen, Capital FC

We try to motivate the kids to at least double the amount of practice time they get by working on their own, even just pickup soccer, playing with friends, in the backyard with a buddy, going out to Lincoln park just knocking it around.” Takamura does all of the above, as well as pepper his goalie younger brother with shots in the living room. If anything prevents him from fulfilling his potential, it will be the lack of field space available for soccer. Barrette, who is on the board of Friends of Capital Riverside Youth Sports Park, which seeks to rip out the parking lots at RFK stadium and put in a youth sports complex, explained the bottleneck local soccer is facing. “As the demand has exploded for soccer, we’ve kind of run out of space to put kids. DC really needs to step up and do this project, because if we’re going to be successful, we can’t be having nine- and ten-year-old kids practicing at 8:30 or 9 at night, which is when the football fields become available.” As their parents fight for field space, Takamura and Capitol Hill kids like him who want to get better at soccer more than a few months out of the year know they are extremely fortunate to have a professionally coached soccer club right here in the neighborhood. Previously, those players would

have had to commute to the suburbs to join such a team, which would really cut into their free time for extra practice, not to mention homework. “To be good at what you want to do, you just have to practice. And then practice. And be patient, and then practice,” assured Takamura, who is a student not only of soccer, but also of the human condition. Reflective, soft-spoken, but firm, Takamura is an old soul who credits soccer with teaching him “patience and control” that he can apply to other areas of life. Kalani Takamura sounds like the real thing. It’s too early to know whether he’ll play in college, or professionally, or split the Washington scene entirely and join a professional team youth academy in Europe, but for starters we should not be surprised if he is invited to the next U-15 national team camp in December, or if he makes the final cut there and goes on to represent the United States in international competition next summer. Paul Rivas is the founder of Smith Rivas Academic Coaching & Consulting and can be reached at paul@smithrivas.com or 202615-7791. u

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N O T E B O O K

by Kathleen Donner

Winter Holiday Events for Families The White House Christmas Tree will be lit by President Obama and family on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. If you don’t have tickets, there’s no chance of seeing the lighting and the show except on TV. Thereafter, you may visit the tree at any time. The evening music program will begin with performances on Wednesday, Dec. 9 and continue through Tuesday, Dec. 22 (with no performances on Monday Dec. 14). Visit nps.gov/ whho for the schedule. There’s also a model train display at the base of the tree that kids will love. The Capitol Christmas Tree will almost certainly be lit on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. The time and date are not yet confirmed. It’s a big secret that will be announced when the tree is harvested. The House Speaker’s office makes the official announcement. The public is invited and no tickets required. Subscribe to the Hill Rag ebulletins and we’ll let you know as soon as we can confirm. Go tocapitalcommunitynews.com, hit “Hill Rag” and go to SUBSCRIBE on the left side of the front page of our online local news service. Here are a few other activities and events that work well for kids: Season’s Greenings at the Botanic Garden; Zoolights; “Oliver” at Arena Stage; “Joy of Christmas” at the National Cathedral; DAR An-

nual Christmas Open House; Mount Vernon at Christmas and Candlelight Tours; “A Christmas Carol” at Ford’s; National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at the White House (date TBA); Caroling at the National Gallery of Art; Waterskiing Santa Comes to Old Town Alexandria; First Night Alexandria. The Hill Rag Calendar in the front of this paper has times, dates, place, costs, ticket information and a brief description of tons of things to do with the kids to celebrate the season.

Pinocchio! at CHAW This new adaptation for young audiences follows a marionette’s wild adventures in becoming a real boy. Five actors bring Carlo Collodi’s classic tale to life in a flurry of masks, music and merriment! Originally penned as a serial in 1881, Le avventure di Pinocchio was the birth of a rascally wooden character who would grow to be a time-honored favorite. Written in the tradition of the wily servants of Commedia dell’Arte, Pinocchio is always getting himself in and out of scrapes, running into colorful characters, and trying his best even at his worst. Bring the whole family as they combine Fac-

tion’s bold theatricality with this fantastical story of foxes, fairies, high-strung puppet-masters and underwater beasts. Pinocchio! is at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE, Fridays at 6:30 p.m.; and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., from Nov. 27 through Dec. 19. Tickets are $20, adults; $15, students, seniors, and military; and $10, children under 12. Purchase at brownpapertickets.com/event/2267073 or 1-800-838-3006 or at the

A Charlie Brown Christmas is being issued as a First-Class Mail Forever booklet of 20. Each stamp features one of 10 stills from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Charlie Brown Christmas Stamps The US Postal Service has issued a set of stamps depicting 10 scenes from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” On Dec. 9, 1965, millions of Americans learned what Christmas is all about. That evening, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the first animated special featuring characters from Charles Schulz’s comic strip Peanuts, aired on CBS. Over the years, the beautifully understated ode to the holiday season has become a tradition. The program now airs annually on ABC.

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Akeelah and the Bee at Arena Based on the beloved film, Akeelah and the Bee tells the story of an independent 11-year-old from the Chicago projects whose razor-sharp mind keeps her one step ahead of the game in the neighborhood. Is it enough to get her to the top? Akeelah must turn to family, friends and a few unlikely mentors, if she’s going to survive the final round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Playwright Cheryl L. West and director Charles Randolph-Wright bring this spirited adaptation to life this holiday season. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org. Johannah Easley as Akeelah in Children’s Theatre Company’s Akeelah and the Bee at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater Nov. 13 to Dec. 27. Photo: Dan Norman

ages. Visit chaw.org or call CHAW at 202547-6839 for more information.

Southwest Neighborhood Association Scholarships The Scholarship Fund of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly is seeking students eligible to apply for scholarships in the spring of 2016. The scholarship fund is open to residents in the 20024 zip code wishing to pursue, or is pursuing, any course of study at any accredited undergraduate college or post secondary technical institution. Interested in applying? Complete the online early interest form at swdc.org/swna/task-forces/ youth-task-force.

Infant & Child CPR at Hill Center It takes two hours to learn skills that could save your child’s life. During this class you will learn infant and child CPR, AED and what to do if your child is choking. These are skills anyone caring for an infant or child should have. The class is Sunday, Nov. 22, 1 to 3 p.m. $65 per person. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org.

Kids’ Music: Rainbow Rock Band

door. factionoffools.org. On Saturdays, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, there is a Mask-Making Workshop for Kids with Faction of Fools. Come 1:15 to 1:45 p.m., before the 2 p.m. performance and decorate a mask to take home—just like the ones the actors wear. Free and open to all

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On Saturday, Nov. 7, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., the Rainbow Lady (Kate Moran), joined by some of her friends, Guitarmony Gus (Derek Evry), Sgt. Bam Sam (Sam Carolla), Captain Toe Tappin (Kevin de Souza), Princess Fiddlesticks (Lynn Rovelli), Bassious Berry (Matt Berry) or Prince Pop & Walk (Ryan Walker), will entertain your little ones with a combination of classic and original children’s songs. These talented tunesters will keep you bopping in your socks until you just can’t rock anymore! Inside the box of fun, tambourines, shakers, and more are always on hand for your little one to join in the fun. And, if they are feeling like completing their rock star appearance, they can get a nice little temporary Rainbow tattoo from, none other than, Pattycake Patty (Patty Moran) or the lovely Rockin Rox Anna (Anna Goist)! Are you ready to rock the rainbow? The suggested age range is

infants to eight-year olds. $6 in advance and $8 at the door (everyone 1 year and older). Stroller parking available. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com.

Stroller Strides Stroller Strides is a total fitness program for new moms that they can do with their babies. It includes power walking and intervals of body toning using exercise tubing and the stroller. Taught by nationally certified instructors, it’s a great workout for any level of exerciser. In 60 minutes, you will get a total body workout improving your cardiovascular endurance, your strength and your flexibility. The classes are equally beneficial for babies as instructors will weave songs through the workout and incorporate activities to make it fun. In addition to the classes, FIT4MOM Our Village coordinates playgroups and mom’s night out, giving women an opportunity to socialize and further relationships. FIT4MOM Capitol Hill celebrated the grand opening of its Canal Park location on Sept. 19 and its Union Market location on Sept. 22. Since the grand openings, FIT4MOM Capitol Hill has been holding five stroller classes each week. For more information on FIT4MOM and the Stroller Strides program, contact Michelle Cain at 703-6248601 or at michellecain@fit4mom.com.

Game it, Euro Style at Southeast Library On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 4 p.m., learn about traditional European games from England, France, Romania, and Italy. Kids will learn the history behind these pastimes and play them. For ages six to 12 and caregivers. Southeast Library, 403 Seventh St. SE. 202-6983377. dclibrary.org/southeast.

Arts on the Horizon at the Atlas It’s just another day at the Lab, but today’s particular assignment has the two employees scratching their heads: a ball keeps appearing from a spot labeled ‘Point A’ and needs to travel to ‘Point B.’ The catch is that the ball can never travel the same way twice! As the two

Friends Community School Progressive Quaker Education Kindergarten - Grade 8 Experience the Joy of an Extraordinary Education!

OPEN HOUSES

co-workers – one a careful scientist, the other an athletic risk-taker – begin to solve the puzzle together, they explore different modes of transportation in new, wonderful, and exciting ways. This world premiere, nonverbal production is inspired by the America on the Move exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Best for ages two to five. Point A to Point B is at the Atlas from Nov. 11 to 15. $9. atlasarts.org.

Thanksgiving Day Little Turkey Fun Run The only turkey trot in the District, the Trot for Hunger is a tradition for thousands of area residents and a meaningful way to remember people in need on Thanksgiving Day. The Fun Run begins at 8:30 a.m. at Freedom Plaza, (corner of 13th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW). To participate, each child and/or adult must be registered for the Official 5K. Fun run is $30. The run benefits So Others Might Eat. soome.convio.net.

Capital City Symphony Family Concert Bruce Adolphe’s Three Pieces for Kids and Chamber Orchestra is an interactive journey through the orchestra that is sure to be fun for all. Benjamin Britten’s Soirées Musicales (1933) reference themes by Rossini and are full of energy and fun. It’s no wonder they are popular additions to children’s concerts around the world. Johannes Brahms’ Hungarian Dances Nos. 5, 6, & 7 are short and sweet works with lots of personality. The concert is on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2:30 p.m. There is an Instrument Petting Zoo for 30 minutes before the performance. $15 to $25. atlasarts.org.

College Night at the Folger Pericles, Prince of Tyre, sets sail on

an extraordinary journey through the decades and is blown from the coast of Phoenicia to Greece and to Turkey. Chased by the wicked King of Antioch, Pericles finds his true love in Thaisa, but loses her and their daughter, Marina, on the rough seas. One of the most popular plays of its time, Pericles expands on the notion of the “romantic play” to encompass life’s dramatic scope— birth, separation, healing, resurrection, and death—amid storms, shipwrecks, and pirates. College Night is on Friday, Nov. 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, with a valid student ID. Folger Theater is at 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-7077. folger.edu.

9:00 a.m. sharp - 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 7 Thursday, November 19 Friday, December 4 Saturday, January 9 Thursday, January 14 Application Deadlines: Dec. 1 (Early); Jan. 15 (Reg) 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD 20740 Tel: 301.441.2100 www.friendscommunityschool.org Only 15-20 minutes up the Baltimore-Washington Parkway!

“Oliver” Family Fun Pack “Oliver” is at Arena Stage through Jan. 2. With the Family Fun Pack, purchase four seats for only $125. Your group must include a minimum of two patrons between ages five to 17 per Fun Pack; cannot be combined with any other offer or applied to previously purchased tickets; limit two Fun Packs per household. All standard fees apply. Must be purchased by phone or in person. arenastage.org.

A Crew of Pirates! at the Folger Pirates roam the seas of Shakespeare’s plays. Will they rescue or capture you? A Crew of Pirates! is on Saturdays, Nov. 7 and Dec. 5, 10 to 11 a.m. for ages five to nie and 11 a.m. to noon for ages 10 to 14. Free. Advance online registration is highly encouraged at folger.edu or 202-548-8779.

Flamenco en Familia at GALA Theatre Flamenco en Familia, free family interactive demonstrations in flamenco zapateo, castanets, and fans, takes place on Saturday, Nov. 14. Members of the Spanish Dance Society will lead two sessions from 11 a. m. to

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12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 3 p.m. at GALA Theatre. GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. galatheatre.org

Renwick Gallery Family Festival On Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., experience the Renwick Gallery as never before, with craft making, artist demonstrations, musical performances, games, and more. Come see the new contemporary art installations of the WONDER exhibition and enjoy a fun- Lily meets a strange dog at the Fulcrum Properties annual Halloween party held at Congressional filled day with activi- Group Cemetery. Photo: Kira Means ties for all ages. The Renwick Gallery is at Pennsylvania Ave. at ence. The National Children’s The17th Street NW. americanart.si.edu atre dignifies and celebrates children while exposing them to the diversity Learning through of our nation’s culture, and instilling Theatre, DC in them both the creativity to forge This November, The National Chiltheir own identities, and the courage dren’s Theatre, DC Public Schools, to build the world they dream of. inand DC Public Charter Schools unite ternationalization. to launch Learning through Theatre, DC. In celebration of the inaugural Free Performances at partnership, 10,000 DCPS and DC the National Public Charter School students will On Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 receive free transportation and ticka.m. there are free live performances ets to see a live theatre performance of for children in the National Theatre Ronald Dahlia’s award-winning The Helen Hayes Gallery. Tickets are reBFG (Big Friendly Giant) at The quired and distributed first come, National Theatre, Nov. 2 to 13. The first seated. Tickets are distributed a National Children’s Theatre will also half an hour prior to performance. provide teaching materials and proOne ticket per person in line. The fessional development opportunities National Theatre is at 1321 Penngeared towards STEM and STEAM sylvania Ave., NW. 202- 783- 3372. learning to accompany the theatrical Here’s the remaining fall line-up: performance to enhance the experi-

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Oct. 31, Sleepy Hollow; Nov. 7, Single Carrot; Nov. 14, Barnyard; Nov. 21, Tales as Tall as the Sky; Dec. 5, Virginia Ballet Company & School, The Nutcracker Selections; Dec. 12, Dickens Tale. Read more at denationalization.

Newsmen Provides Free Access NeWSes has launched a new online educational resource called Newsmen, which gives teachers and students free access to curated, standards-aligned content from the Newsroom’s vast collection of more than 35,000 newspapers, magazines and other artifacts. The website offers lesson plans that use primary sources and historic artifacts to make history relevant today and to help educators shed new light on current debates about the First Amendment and media ethics. The resource is designed to meet the needs of elementary, middle and high school classrooms, as well as college students and lifelong learners. Visit newspaperwomen.

Elephant & Biggie’s We Are in a Play! In this vaudevillian romp of a musical based on Mo Willemstad’s children’s books, Elephant Gerald and Biggie sing and dance their way through plenty of pachyderm peril and swine suspense, backed by nutty backup singers The Squirrels. For ages three and up. Elephant & Biggie’s We Are in a Play! from Nov. 25 to Jan. 3. $20. Kennedy-center.org.

Free Girls’ Ultimate Frisbee Clinics Learn to play ultimate Frisbee. Girls’ Ultimate Clinics are on Sundays, Nov. 1 and Nov. 15; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at West Potomac Park Polo Fields (West Basin Dr. SW).

Master Erica Gutman 7th Degree Black Belt

MEMBER: WORLD TAE KWON DO FEDERATION

222 8TH St. NE • 620 G St. SE mastergutman@gmail.com 202.546.6275

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING WITH US? Call Laura Vucci 202-400-3510

or laura@hillrag.com for more information on advertising.

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To register, email Laura at lperkins. letitbe@gmail.com. These Girls Ultimate Movement clinics are free and open to girls in grades five to eight. No experience necessary. Each twohour clinic will introduce the basic skills and concepts of Ultimate Frisbee, one of the fastest-growing team sports in the country. Attend one clinic or both. Clinics are led by experienced players from the DC area.

Girl Scout Brownie Program “My Family Story” On Saturdays, Nov. 14, 10 a.m. to noon and Jan. 9, 1 to 3 p.m., discover how objects help you learn about your family story. Tour the DAR Museum’s Period Rooms. Interact with objects from the Museum’s collection. Make a memory box and family tree. Share stories about your family with other Brownies. An adult chaperon must be present with children at all times. Siblings welcome, but a gentle reminder the program is for Brownie participants. If a parent wants a younger sibling to participate in art activities, they ask that you register the sibling. Non-Girl Scouts may register for this program, but they are unable to receive the Girl Scout badge. The cost is $10 per child (includes badge and supplies). DAR Museum, 1776 D St. NW. 202-6281776. dar.org.

Step Afrika! Holiday Family Fun Pack

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Sesame Street Live

With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this hilarious and romantic Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella combines the story’s classic elements--glass slippers, pumpkin, and a beautiful ball along with some surprising twists. More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living

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in a fairy tale setting. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn’t let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too. At the National Theatre, Nov. 18 to 29 . Tickets at thenationaldc.org.

Step Afrika! is back, Dec. 10 to Dec. 22, to delight audiences young and old with their magical musical holiday step show. Audiences are invited to make music with DC’s internationally-known stepping company and their furry friends from the Animal Kingdom in this annual holiday tradition. Come ready to bring in the festive season with a bang featuring the electrifying artists from Step Afrika! and special guest DJ Frosty the Snowman. Tickets are $15-$39.50. The Family Fun Pack is $100 and includes four tickets, one snack and one drink each; two patrons must be 16 and under. Step Afrika! Magical Musical Holiday Step is at the Atlas performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org.

No matter where you’re from or where you’ve been, everyone is special--so join in. Elmo, Grover, Abby Cadabby, and their Sesame Street friends welcome Chamki, Grover’s friend from India, to Sesame Street. Together, they explore the universal fun of friendship and celebrate cultural similarities, from singing and dancing, to sharing cookies. Sesame Street Live “Make a New Friend” will visit EagleBank Arena from Friday, Dec.

11, through Sunday, Dec. 13. Tickets are $18 to $40. For more information, call 703-993-3000. To charge tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at 800-7453000. Tickets may also be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.

Afterschool Volunteers Sought For 40 years Higher Achievement has made lasting impacts in students’ lives by providing them with the confidence and skills to succeed. On average, 95 percent of scholars who complete Higher Achievement advance to top academic high school programs and 93 percent advance to college. Higher Achievement is accepting new academic mentors to volunteer one night a week from 6 to 8 p.m. at one of their eight locations. For more information, or to apply online, visit higherachievement. org/volunteer.

Imagination’s First Bilingual Early Childhood Production Imagination Stage kicks-off the 20152016 Season of My First Imagination Stage with ¡Ratón en Movimiento!, a new bilingual version of the popular Mouse on the Move from Nov. 10 to Nov. 29. Developed by Imagination Stage, ¡Ratón en Movimiento! follows two adventurous mice ready to explore the world beyond their little mouse-hole. They decide to go to La Luna, since it is cat-free and made entirely of delicious, mouth-watering queso (so they have heard). ¡Ratón en Movimiento! is best for ages 1 to 5. Tickets are $14, with a $5 lap seat for children under 12 months. Tickets may be purchased online at imaginationstage.org, at the Imagination Stage box office, or by calling 301280-1660. Have an item for the Kids & Family Notebook? Email bulletinboard@ hillrag.com u

WE’RE MOVING! 801 D St, NE Join us for our Grand Opening

November 21st

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School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

Maury Elementary School Mayor’s Arts Awards: The Mayor’s Arts Awards are the most prestigious honors conferred by the city on individual artists, teachers, nonprofit organizations and patrons of the arts. Maury’s art teacher, Lauren Bomba, is a finalist in the “Excellence in Teaching Visual Arts” category. Winners will be honored in a gala celebration at the Historic Lincoln Theatre.

Making Mobiles Maury fourth and fifth-graders recently rounded out a high-flying partnership with artist Kevin Reese of School Sculptures that began in the spring of last year and culminated in a grand opening of a show called “Mobilizing Our Community” at The Atlas during the H Street Festival. Maury students and other citizens of the Capitol Hill community collaborated to create over 50 mobiles for the big event. Students made their own unique mobile mar-

quees of various shapes and colors in order to learn the skill of balancing from the bottom up; a technique pioneered by mobile artist Alexander Calder. Students spent an entire day at The Atlas, helping Reese and his team with the many stages of the installation process. They sanded, added fire retardant, painted and attached pieces of wood to help ensure all the mobiles would be ready to fly above the crowds of attendees the day of the opening. Be sure to stop by the lobby of the Atlas Theater before these whimsical works of art find their permanent homes throughout the community. Elizabeth Nelson. Maury Elementary, 1250 Constitution Ave. NE. mauryelementary.com.

Capitol Hill Day School Community Conversations

Capitol Hill Day School is excited to introduce Community Conversations: Raising Kids in a Rapidly Changing World. Deborah Roffman holds the first of these parent discussions on Nov. 12 from 6:30 to 8:30pm. She will discuss children’s Maury student learns how universal needs around to balance a mobile healthy sexual development. This event is free, but attendees must register with Kristin Pillay at kpillay@chds.org. Future conversations will focus on promoting racial literacy in school, and addressing anxiety in children. In October, sixth to eighth graders led the conversation in parent-teacher conferences, reflecting on an “essential question” and presenting a work sample for each academic class. Student-led conferences help students gain important insights about the nature of learning, as well as the

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CHDS Seventh Graders dissecting fish in Science class. Photo: Liza Esser

motivation to set goals and work towards them. By answering the same question for each class, patterns emerge about a student’s overall strengths and challenges. Students also discussed the social and emotional aspects of school, skills they need to be successful, and goals for the rest of the year. Strong classroom communities are fostered with overnight field trips. Last month, sixth and eighth graders traveled to the Sheridan School Mountain Campus to develop problem-solving skills and promote teamwork and trust. Seventh graders learned about the Bay’s ecology during a two night stay on Port Isobel Island as part of their science curriculum. Learn more about the CHDS middle school program on Nov. 10 from 2 to 4p.m. at an Admissions Open House especially for students entering grades five through seven. Please RSVP to Sara Catherine Corbett at scorbett@chds.org. Jane Angarola. CHDS,210 South Carolina Avenue, SE; 202-386-9919.

Cesar Chavez Schools Capitol Hill Scholars Create Mural In partnership with the 11th Street Bridge Park, The Risa Fund, Artolution and ArtReach, Chavez Schools Capitol Hill Scholars had the opportuni-

Peabody will host its first Open House of the school year on Nov 9. The school is located at 425 C St. NE.

Watkins Elementary School Watkins students have begun field trips and are actively participating in FoodPrints this year. Third grade students took a trip to Lincoln Park on Oct. 8, and fourth and fifth graders visited Stuart-Hobson on Oct. 21. Watkins also kicked off its first-ever WATCH D.O.G.S.® program—a new innovative father involvement program for students, fathers and father figures. Watkins and Peabody students continue to show their Cluster P.R.I.D.E for “Rock the Red” day, which takes place on the first Friday of each month to promote school spirit and fun. Students and staff also celebrated Book Character Day at the end of October. The school is located at 420 12th St. SE.

Stuart-Hobson Middle School

Chavez Scholars pose with 11th Street Bridge Park Mural inside the Atrium Gallery at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center

ty to spend a portion of their summer at THEARC connecting with students from schools in Wards 7 and 8. Together, they created a mural that represents the spirit of DC living on either side of the Anacostia River. The mural depicts from the perspective of the students their vision of a healthy city, community and neighborhood On Oct. 13, these scholars were celebrated at reception in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, for their contribution to the creation of the new mural that will be permanently erected at the 11th Street Bridge Park. The mural will remain on display in the Atrium Gallery for the rest of this month until being moved to its next gallery tour home.” Ashlee Lawson, Chavez Schools, 709 12th Street, SE; www.chavezschools.org.

The Capitol Hill Cluster Schools The Cluster celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 13 with special performances from Peabody, Watkins, and Stuart-Hobson students; and a special performance from Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Georgetown. Cluster parents, students and staff also celebrated Walk/Bike to School Day on

Oct. 7. The Cluster PTA also held its 15th Annual Renovator’s House Tour on Oct. 17, which featured 10 new beautifully renovated homes and recently renovated Stuart-Hobson.

Peabody Elementary School

Stuart Hobson has kicked off its football and volleyball season this year. The school’s active Booster Club engaged with the community in support of its athletes. Students also celebrated Spirit Week in October. Eighth-grade students welcomed the National Black Law Student Association and discussed various routes to post-secondary education and the United States Constitution. Seventh-graders had the opportunity to hear from authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Keily to discuss their book, All American Boys. Students had the opportunity to ask the authors’ questions and they all received an autographed copy of the book. – The school is lo-

Peabody celebrated Hispanic Heritage in October with a new Spanish video, “Amigos, Amigos,” that included a special feature with Principal Bell singing. Spanish is integrated into Peabody’s school curriculum with different songs each month. Peabody Friendship Day was celebrated on Oct. 26. Students participated in activities that helped them demonstrate how to be a good friend and how friends work together. Peabody also spent a day at the playground on Oct. 29 to give a belated welcome to Assistant Principal Angry. The Capitol Hill Cluster School celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.

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Watkins third grade take a trip to Lincoln Park.

In addition to snacking on the seeds, kindergarteners worked in small groups on a life sized depiction of the flower, a work of art that is more than twice as tall as the students. They each also drew and colored their own detailed sunflower. The Heart of the Sunflower Exhibit will be on display at the Hill Center. Allison Klein. SWS, 920 F St NE; schoolwithinschool.org.

Payne Elementary School

cated at 410 E St. NE. Bernetta Reese, www.capitolhillclusterschool.org.

The Sweet Life at Payne

Being the neighbor of a cupcake Shoppe certainly has its perks and Payne’s pre-K3 class recently exSchool within a School perienced that first hand. Located at the corner of School-Within-School (SWS) students created two 15th and C Streets SE, Curbside Café is the neighnature-based art projects inspired that are on pubborhood home of “Pinky” the now famous Curbside lic display this month. Cupcakes delivery truck. They bake up many deliThe first, a chick mural created by last year’s cious treats for breakfast and lunch and of course kindergarteners, is based on the many chickens that many flavors of yummy cupcakes. were living both inside and outside the school. The Payne’s pre-K3 class received a visit that was students painted the mural as they got to know the both educational and fun. Each student was given habits and personalities of the chicks, some of which a plain cupcake and was able to experiment with a hatched and lived in their classrooms. The chicks variety of colors to create different colors of icing to went home with students on weekends so their fambe used for decorating their cupcake. There was also the sensory experience of exploring different shapes, ilies could care for them, deepening their conneccolors and textures as they decorated. In this handstion to the baby birds. on experience, these fuThe mural is hanging ture bakers not only got on the construction fence to spread the icing on at Eastern Market along their cupcakes and decwith other murals created orate them with sprinby Capitol Hill students. kles, but also got to eat Across the street at their tasty creations! the Hill Center hangs the The owners of next art exhibit, this one Curbside Café, Mr. and inspired by the 10 and 12Mrs. Whitfield, should foot tall sunflowers that get ready… soon they greet the school commumay have some new nity in the SWS garden. employees behind the Students had planted the counter, in the kitchseeds in the spring, not exen or even on the road, pecting the flowers to turn helping to spread the into towering stalks that “Cupcake Bliss” to a look like they’re straight Art, created by SWS students, on exhibit at curb near you! out of a fairy tale! Eastern Market

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Juanita Stokes, pre-K3 Teacher, Payne Elementary School – 1445 C St, SE. Facebook: PayneES; Twitter: @PayneDCPS and @PrincipalPayne Instagram: PayneDCPS.

St. Peter School Embracing Common Good Values On the heels of the Papal visit, St. Peter School students are striving to live by Pope Francis’s prescient words, “We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world.” An integral part of St. Peter School life is developing thoughtful concern for others and embracing the common good values that anchor the Catholic faith. Each month students engage in at least one community-centered activity designed to foster social awareness. St. Peter School “student families” – comprised of learners in each grade and led by an eighth grader – gather throughout the school year to engage in community service. The student’s first charity project was collecting and packaging toiletries, medical supplies, and items for recess for the school’s sister parish in Haiti, Notre Dame D’Altagrace. Student families gathered to make individual care packages, along with translated notes of prayer, for the students. In early November, St. Peter’s parishioner Peter Sloan will deliver the packages to the school through Archangel Airborne, a humanitarian special operations organization. The student council also sponsored a “dress down” day to raise funds for Catholic Charities, In the Name of the Mother, a program created to assist single mothers diagnosed with cancer by providing financial assistance with rent, utilities, medical needs, housecleaning, food and wigs. Di ou mèsi, St. Peter School Student families are proud to be fostering a school community that embraces acts of kindness, empathy, selflessness.

Fall Open Houses St. Peter School Fall Open Houses will be held on November 4 from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., November 6 from 9 – 10:30 a.m., and December 4 from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Prospective families are invited to tour the school and meet with faculty and parents. If you are interested in learning more about the school, please contact Mrs. Deirdre Schmutz at dschmutz@stpeterschooldc.org; 202-544-1618. Sally Aman. St. Peter School, 422 Third Street, SE, 202-544-1618, www.stpeterschooldc.org.

momentum dance & fitness studio Do something youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always wanted to:

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Jazz Hip Hop Nutcracker Comes back to the Hill! December 19-20 at Stuart Hobson Middle School Also December 13-14 at Wilson High School. momentumdanceandfitness.com momentumdancetheatre@verizon.net

Facebook: Momentum Dance Theatre Twitter: @momentumdancedc November 2015 H 133

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Student Families preparing care packages for sister school in Haiti.

att ain International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme certification. Representatives from IB will conduct their walk-through and examination of the school. They will review lessons and student work, conduct interviews with staff, students, and parents, and check Eliot-Hine’s course offerings for compliance with the IB framework. Results are expected early 2016.

Thank You!

Eliot-Hine Middle School Trips-Learning Beyond the Classroom Students at Eliot-Hine regularly go on experiential field trips as part of the IB approach to learning about the world beyond the classroom. Already this year they’ve visited Mt. Vernon, Howard University, the Newseum, and to see He Named Me Malala. The biggest trip is that the eighth grade will end their year with an educational and culturally-focused adventure in Puerto Rico!

Service-Projects: Eighth Grade Last year, Eliot-Hine was the only International Baccalaureate (IB) middle school to implement the newer IB standard of an eighth grade community project as a graduation requirement. This is an in-depth, year-long project that each student must present to a review board. This year, a select group of highly motivated students from Eliot-Hine and Eastern will be guided by Ph.D. candidates with the Brilliant Club (thebrilliantclub.org) in doing their project research, courtesy of Companies for Causes.

IB Certification- Eliot-Hine is Ready! Eliot-Hine has worked for years to

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Eliot-Hine wishes to thank their partners in education. Companies for Causes has brought to EliotHine Code4Live to teach computer programming, Rocketry Club to expose students to aeronautics, Levine School of Music for small group and private lessons, and HeyMath! to bring innovation (an instructional platform used in Singapore) to middle

school using highly-effective retired math teachers. Eliot-Hine also thanks the Capitol Hill Community Foundation for their monetary support of the lunchtime book club and grants to teachers. Thank you to the DC Office of Motion Picture and TV Development for their grant to the Eliot-Hine Broadcast Network for purchase of a teleprompter and an additional camera. Thank you!

Upcoming Events Nov. 12 at 6 p.m., Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen will speak at the PTO meeting. All are welcome to attend. On Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m., there will be an Eliot-Hine Open House. See the changes happening, and learn about the great things happening at Eliot-Hine! Eliot-Hine parent Heather Schoell. Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution Ave. NE; @EliotHine; FB Eliot-Hine

Tyler Elementary School Growing Leaders! Older Tyler students have many opportunities to grow as leaders. One example is through the safety patrol. Tyler is offering “Curbside Convenience” drop off for families who drive their children to school. This program, now in its second year, is supported not only by Tyler staff but also by a select group of fourth and fifth graders who have trained as Safety Patrols. We congratulate these students, who are great examples of responsibility and safety at Tyler! Tyler also encourages active lifestyles for its students and provides opportunities for peer mentoring. The national program Playworks partners with Tyler, making recess time organized, fun, and active for all. Trained Playworks Junior Coaches from grades four to five assist during recess, serving as activity leaders, conflict mediators, and role models. This October, Tyler students Stone Simpson and Jr. Coach Elizabeth Godec along with Mariam Abdullah (“Coach Mo”) appeared on WUSA9’s Great Day Washington to demonstrate how Playworks

Tyler Safety Patrol at work, helping fellow students and serving as role models!

Companies for Causes to Help Build Classroom Libraries Companies for Causes, a philanthropic organization led by DC business leaders focused on strategic change, is piloting a classroom library program at Miner where small businesses can invest in whole classroom libraries. For around $1,500, any company or organization passionate about literacy can come together and fund a Miner classroom library. For information contact jweedon@ CompaniesforCauses.org.

Field Trips

Middle school students at Friends Community School learn to play the ukulele. Photo: Sharon Natoli

makes a difference in student lives. The Tyler students demonstrated a recess game and were interviewed on camera about making healthy choices and how school leadership opportunities build confidence. We are proud of our upper elementary students. Go Tyler Tigers! Meredith Baker. Tyler Elementary, 1001 G St SE www.tylerelementary.net.

Friends Community School Admissions Kick-off Friends Community School, a Quaker kindergarten to eighth grade school located in College Park, MD, has opened its admissions season for the 2016–17 school year. Nearly 30 children from Capitol Hill attend Friends. The school will host a Capitol Hill reception Nov. 16, at the home of a school family. There also will be several admissions open houses at the school from 9 to 11 a.m. (sharp) on the following dates: Nov. 7, 19, Dec. 4. The early application deadline is Dec. 1, and the regular application deadline is Jan. 15. More information about the school and the admissions process, including the Capitol Hill reception and the open houses, is available by contacting Connie Belfiore, Director of Admissions and Outreach, at connie@friendscommu-

nityschool.org or 301-441-2100 x129. The school is located 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park MD; www.friendscommunityschool. org. Eric Rosenthal.

Students are getting out and learning around the area! Third-graders studying local landmarks made neighborhood excursions to Lincoln Park, the Capitol, the Supreme Court and surrounding sites. In late September, the fourth graders toured Ford’s Theater and will attend Imagination Stage’s “When She Had Wings.” In early October, Miner’s PK programs made a day trip to Cox Farms in Centreville, Virginia, to pick pumpkins and take a hay ride! More than $1,800 was raised to send all 110 Miner preschoolers to the farm for the day. Miner third graders participate in a landmark walk, wrapping things up in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Miner Elementary School New Academic Programs for Advanced Learners At Miner’s October PTO meeting, Matthew Rief of DCPS introduced two new programs being implemented at Miner: Junior Great Books, a national curriculum program aiming to bring critical thinking, inquiry, and engagement to literature studies; and M-Cubed/MSquared, a national curriculum and research study aimed at nurturing math talent in elementary schools. These programs involve teacher training that will allow for small groups or individual students to receive differentiated instruction, focusing on advanced learners.

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Glee Club Sings for the State Department Miner’s Glee Club made a trip across town to sing for members of the United States Department of State. The Glee Club sang for the public again at Hilloween at Eastern Market on Oct. 29!

tween work and play. That’s why the school offers over a dozen after school sports and clubs. DCI athletics have been especially active this fall with soccer, cross-country, and volleyball teams to get kids up and moving.

The school is located at 601 15th St NE. www. minerelementary.org Holly Harper.

Learn More

DC International School

DCI will be hosting information sessions for parents of prospective students at 6p.m. the following dates: Nov. 18, Dec. 9 and Jan. 12.

1:1 Technology to Student ratio proves to be successful! At DC International School (DCI), students beat summer learning loss thanks to the use of interactive technology and personalized learning. Every student that walks through the doors is given a Chromebook, giving the school a 1:1 technology to student ratio. On average, American students lose one month of learning over the summer. But at DCI students grew by five percentile points in math and two percentile points in reading from June to September. What is the key? Over the summer months DCI students continued to learn. Students kept their Chromebooks and were asked to complete an hour of personalized math on TenMarks, take part in the Curriculet/USA Today summer challenge, and hone their reading skills with Achieve3000. All of these are personalized learning platforms that kept DCI kids sharp over the summer without bogging them down with tedious traditional homework.

DCI, 3220 16th Street NW, www.dcinternationalschool.org

Friendship Public Charter Schools Teacher of the Year Friendship Public Charter Schools has announced the finalists for its annual Teacher of the Year event. Nominees include Teoshi Edwards at the Woodridge International Baccalaureate, Claire Holdipp at the Southeast Academy, Joscelyn Reed at the Chamberlain Campus on the Hill, Ashley Smith at the Technology Preparatory Academy, Celecia Robinson at the Collegiate Academy and Yvonne Tackie at Blow Pierce. Barnaby Towns, 120 Q Street N.E., Suite 200. friendshipschools.org.

BASIS DC BASIS DC Students Shine in AP exams

The results are in. BASIS DC AP exam takers are winners! In May, 48 DC students in ninth and DCI Fall Athletics Are In Full Swing 10th grades took 105 AP exams across nine subDCI understands that students need balance beject areas. AP exams are rigorous multiple-component tests administered in high schools each spring. In DCI beat summer learning loss thanks to personalized, a majority of the nine subtechnology-driven learning. ject areas in which students took AP exams, BASIS DC students outperformed the national average. The class of 2017 has taken, on average, four AP exams by the end of their sophomore year of high school, with some students having taken as many as eight exams before the 11th grade. After only their sophomore year, over 10 percent of the class of 2017

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has earned the title AP Scholar with Distinction, which is equal to the percentage of graduating seniors across the country earning the same title. After only their freshman year, approximately 10 percent of the class of 2018 has earned the title AP Scholar or AP Scholar with Honor; globally, 0.3 percent and 0.1 percent of ninth graders holds these titles, respectively. Eighth Grader Kalani Takamura is one of 48 soccer players nationwide who received an invitation to train with the Under 15 Boys National Team in Carson, CA, September 20-27. Kalani, who plays for the Capital Futbol Club’s United Red boys Under 14 team, was the only player selected from Washington, DC. Kirsten Mitchell, parent. BASIS DC, 410 8th Street N.W.; basisdc.org.

Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Inside and Out of the Classroom The Carlos Rosario School celebrated Hispanic heritage this month with discussion panels, interactive workshops, arts displays, and a recognition ceremony in honor of School Founder and President Emeritus, Sonia Gutierrez, who was awarded the American Dream Medallion of Excellence by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. With more than 70 percent of the school’s adult learner population hailing from Latin America, Hispanic Heritage Month is an important time to recognize the valuable contributions from their cultures. Festivities kicked off with a panel of Latina trailblazers who shared secrets to success with a packed audience of more than 400 students. Local leaders from business, education, health, and government gave students advice on following their passions, giving back, and never giving up on their goals. Other panels included a roundtable discussion hosted by Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Latino vote and a community roundtable moderated by Amando Trull, Senior Reporter at WAMU, about the far-reaching impacts of the El Salvador crisis. In the classrooms, visiting musicians helped integrate the arts into language-learning lessons. For example, Elena Lacayo visited a beginning intermediate ESL class to talk about her bilingual folk rock music, her Nicaraguan roots, and song writing in Spanish and English. Students enjoyed

songs and learned new music-related vocabulary. Other arts collaborations included an art display of works from Guatemalan student artist Fidel Brito and a workshop about the immigrant experience through music presented by Carlos Rosario graduate Lilo Gonzalez. On Oct. 22, the month-long festivities will culminate in a student-led celebration of dance, music and culture honoring both Hispanic Heritage Month and Ms. Gutierrez. Mandy Toomey. Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, 1100 Harvard St NW; www.carlosrosario.org.

Dubbed the “Oscars of Teaching,” the Milken Educator Awards were established in 1987 by the Milken Family Foundation to award top educators across the country. Under Jessica Cunningham’s leadership, KIPP DC College Preparatory has become the highest performing, open-enrollment high school in the District of Columbia. 100 percent of her seniors are accepted to college each year and they have earned over $8 million in college scholarships. Her graduates include four POSSE scholars, three Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholars, one Gates Millennium Scholar, and numerous

DC Prep DC Prep is Growing

Meridian Opens its Doors!

At the start of the current 2015-16 academic year, DC Prep opened its newest school, Anacostia Elementary Campus in Ward 8. Consistent with DC Prep’s awardwinning model, the campus opened with –pre-K3 and preK4 and will grow a grade each year through third grade. The fifth campus in DC Prep’s growing network of public charter schools, the Anacostia site is off to a strong start, as are DC Prep’s Benning and Edgewood sites in Wards 7 and 5, respectively. Founded in 2003 and serving pre-K3 to eighth grade, DC Prep is the number one performing network of public charter schools citywide with a dual focus on rigorous academics and character education from the earliest years. For more information, visit www.dcprep.org. DC Prep PCS, 707 Edgewood St NE.

KIPP DC College Prep KIPP DC College Prep Principal Wins $25,000 Milken Educator Award KIPP DC College Preparatory principal Jessica Cunningham received the surprise of a lifetime on Oct. 8, when she was honored with the prestigious Milken Educator Award and $25,000.

Meridian Public Charter Middle School Meridian’s newest campus, the Middle School, 14th Street Campus, opened its doors to begin a successful school year on Aug. 24.

Mentoring Meridian PCMS started the year off with a mentoring program. Selected boys and girls are invited to participate in “Guys with Ties” and “Girls with Pearls.” These programs support academic success, as well as social/emotional growth and life skills. Meridian PCMS rewards students who are consistently displaying exemplary behaviors. The student wears a badge, and is awarded special privileges.

IB MYP Candidacy

other full scholarship recipients. Jessica is relentlessly focused on ensuring that her students are ready to succeed not only in college, but also in competitive careers and as engaged members of their communities. She does not accept anything less than excellence, and she continues to raise the bar each year to ensure that her students can compete with the best and brightest across the country. KIPP DC is thrilled to see Principal Cunningham honored for her hard work! KIPP DC College Preparatory PCS, 1401 Brentwood Pkwy NE. www.kippdc.org.

The middle school is embarking on a journey to become an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program Candidate School. This exciting academic program will allow students to become global learners, more conscientious and responsible citizens, as well as critical thinkers who take responsibility for themselves and their learning. The move from home to pre-K can be one of the most important transitions a child will make. Meridian Public Charter School hosted a meet and greet August 24th. This effort gave families an opportunity to exchange contact information and in turn provided children an opportunity to interact with their peers. Meridian Campuses; 3120 13th St; 3029 14th St. meridian-dc.org; Twitter: Meridian PCMS. Ms. Josalyn Filkins and Dr. Thomas Williams. Have an item for School Notes, email School Notes Editor Sue Johnson at dcjohnsongypsies@yahoo. com. u

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{home & garden} “This Garden Changed My Life” by Cheryl Corson, RLA, ASLA

he National Building Museum has a new exhibition important to all garden lovers and designers, “The New American Garden: The Landscape Architecture of Oehme, van Sweden.” Organized by the DC-based Cultural Landscape Foundation (www.tclf.org), the exhibition runs through May 1, 2016. Oehme Van Sweden & Associates (www.ovsla.com), a world renowned firm, was founded in 1975 as a partnership between German immigrant, landscape architect, and plantsman Wolfgang Oehme and Michiganborn architect and landscape architect James van Sweden. The firm’s studio has occupied the repurposed bank at the corner of Eighth and G streets SE since 1987. Although Oehme and van Sweden died in 2011 and 2013 respectively, the firm continues as OvS at the same location, with three partners who worked for decades with the founders, plus a staff of nearly 20.

Gardens and Landscapes on Display

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: In these Southeast townhouses continuity of perennial plantings, such as these salvia in bloom, help create an identity for the development. Photo: OvS Dense perennial plantings, such as those at this Capitol Hill residence, are a signature style developed by Oehme van Sweden. Photo: OvS

The exhibition includes dozens of sumptuous largescale landscape images of the firm’s work by 18 notable photographers, including DC’s Roger Foley. Also on display are many design drawings, including some very early ones, showing a distinctly mid-century Modernist signature. This early work has an affinity to landscape architects and contemporaries Brazilian Roberto Burle Marx, and American Dan Kiley. Kiley worked locally on projects ranging from 100 Hollin Hills backyard designs in the 1940s to the 1963 Dulles Airport landscape. Both men are cited as early influences by Oehme and van Sweden.

Penstemon “Husker’s Red” thrives at the Hill Center on Pennsylvania Avenue. Landscape plan is by Oehme van Sweden and Associates. Photo: OvS

Anyone who has designed a garden on paper will enjoy seeing these landscape plans, which will not travel with the photos when the show hits the road next spring. Some garden art, including a Henry Moore sculpture, outdoor furniture, and a line of organic formed oversized planters designed by van Sweden for Siebert & Rice, are included, plus video displays featuring interviews with the designers and others. A 66-page catalog available from the Cultural Landscape Foundation rounds out the exhibition, curated by Charles Birnbaum and Nord Wennerstrom of the foundation, in collaboration with the National Building Muse-

November 2015 H 139

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um’s senior curator, G. Martin Moeller Jr.

Horticulture an Equal Partner Together, Oehme (pronounced “ooma”) and van Sweden set off a horticultural revolution from their Capitol Hill studio. First they championed many North American native plants, and through collaboration with local wholesale growers like Kurt Bluemel (www.kurtbluemel. com) helped make some of them commercially available again or for the first time. Maryland’s state flower, the blackeyed Susan (Rudebekia fulgida), is one example of such an overlooked native. Next they made laborious planting plan studies in the studio to assure that their landscapes would have seasonal interest throughout the year. Says OvS partner Eric Groft, “They felt that all color was good, and they made horticulture an equal partner in all we do.” Oehme and van Sweden can also be credited with popularizing mass plantings of native grasses. Says exhibit curator Birnbaum, “They used an enormous plant palette and planted in huge quantities.” Densely planted drifts of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) may seem common in our area today, but its popularity, commercial availability, and winter beauty (if not chopped down in November by over-eager maintenance crews) can be traced right to the doorstep of the OvS building at Eighth and G. Oehme and van Sweden were also known for being a strong presence at job sites during planting, adjusting the layout, directing contractors, and

Standard Cleaning Services bringing landscape architect staff outside and “getting our hands in the soil,” as Groft says. The National Building Museum exhibit coincides with the 25th anniversary of the publication of “Bold Romantic Gardens: The New World Landscape of Oehme and van Sweden.” This book helped garner acceptance and popularization of a wilder, more expressive garden style. That van Sweden published his work and ideas in this and numerous other books, says Birnbaum, gave the work a platform that helped bring the firm to national prominence, and laid out the firm’s philosophy and aesthetic of horticultural exuberance.

Scalability and Longevity In 1962, before partnering with van Sweden, Wolfgang Oehme designed a Baltimore backyard that flipped the customary spatial relationship of lawn and plant beds on its head, employing masses of perennials and hardly any lawn, to create intimate outdoor rooms. Amazingly this garden survives, true to its original design, under the loving care of its now 99-year-old original owner, Mrs. Vollmer. “This garden changed my life,” she says today. A similar pattern of longterm relationships between designer and client is in evidence with Ovs’s work on Capitol Hill. Begun in 1995, another repurposed bank at Ninth and East Capitol Street also reverses the typical figure-ground relationship of lawn and plantings, employing masses of grasses (Panicum virgatum), astilbe, hosta, rudebekia, and more to provide privacy and create outdoor rooms for seating and sculpture.

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November 2015 H 141

The Capitol Hill Garden Club presents

Dear Garden Problem Lady, Jokes OvS partner Groft, “You’d better like us because we’re going to be together for a long time.” A generation earlier, landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, designer of Dumbarton Oaks, maintained similar lifelong client relationships. As anyone who has lived somewhere a long time knows, gardens and landscapes mature slowly and benefit from ongoing design direction and refinement. The design model developed by Oehme and van Sweden at the residential scale was successfully employed on larger projects, starting with the firm’s 1977 breakout project for the US Federal Reserve Board. This scalability is in evidence at the Hill Center on Pennsylvania Avenue and at the Townhomes on Capitol Hill, southwest of Seventh and G streets. According to Groft, “We love working at all scales – it keeps the work exciting.”

Legacy and Evolution Oehme van Sweden and Associates, now OvS, is a successful design firm by many measures. It has thrived beyond the tenure of its founders. It has mentored many young landscape architects now reaching their own professional maturity. It maintains visibility and relevance with the help of numerous books written by its founders in collaboration with others, and with exhibitions such as the current show at the National Building Museum. Several local landscape architects spent formative years at Oehme van Sweden and Associates, including Ryan Moody (www.moodyla.com/), Sandra Clinton (www. clinton-la.com/), and Thomas Ranier, whose recent book, “Planting in a Post-Wild World,” co-authored with another Oehme protegee, Claudia West, advances the planting paradigm to encourage natu-

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rally occurring plant communities (http://landscapeofmeaning. blogspot.com/2015/09/the-collaboration-teaming-with-claudia.html). In this way OvS’s work evolves and remains current. But what about the landscapes themselves? More than a pretty picture, they are meant to be experienced, and for that they must survive. Nearly half of the 21 projects featured in “Bold Romantic Gardens: The New World Landscape of Oehme and van Sweden” have already been lost. Others, like Pershing Park on Pennsylvania Avenue just east of the White House, whose planting plan was designed by the firm, face demolition by neglect. Unlike sculpture or paintings, landscape architects do not sign their work, nor does the public often realize that outdoor spaces were designed just as architects design buildings. An undercurrent of warning of the need for recognition and preservation runs through the current Oehme van Sweden exhibition. The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s founder, Charles Birnbaum, a tireless landscape preservation advocate, has created the Landslide program (http://tclf.org/landslide/) to highlight at-risk designed landscapes across America. Promoting Oehme and van Sweden’s legacy beyond the local design community will hopefully be one outcome of the retrospective now on display at the National Building Museum. Cheryl Corson, RLA, ASLA, is a landscape architect in private practice serving Capitol Hill and beyond (www. cherylcorson.com). She learned a great deal about historic landscape preservation as an intern to Charles Birnbaum over 20 years ago. u

by Wendy Blair

ou warned us that dahlias were a lot of trouble. I forget how I’m supposed to overwinter them. Hang them upside-down in the garage? We don’t have a garage. First carefully dig up each dahlia bulb. Shake off all soil. Lay them down for about a week on dry newspapers not touching one another, until they are completely dry. Layer the bulbs in a cardboard box, again not touching, between layers of crumpled newspapers. Place the box in a cool (40 degrees F) dark place away from any possibility of freezing. Check every six or so weeks. If any bulb looks desiccated, spritz gently then dry and return to storage. Remove them only after any danger of frost has passed. If in doubt, plant first indoors in pots. After three leaf sprigs have sprouted, snip growth back to one sprig. Plant soon in good soil. Dahlias are divine and, you now see, worth it. I am new to Capitol Hill from Alexandria, Va., where swarms of Japanese beetles consumed my roses to such an extent that I will never even attempt roses again unless I can be sure to find a way to prevent those beetles. Ideas? Integrated pest management (IPM) principles say we must anticipate and foil the life cycle of the beetle. This means either preventing the beetle’s eggs from existing – or killing the grubs (larva) that hatch and over-winter in the ground. Kill the eggs by killing each beetle by hand (soapy water) in the morning. Kill the grubs by watering with nematodes or in-

secticide in the fall and spring. But neither will work if the beetle onslaught is heavy. Some localities seem to be free of beetles (also known as chafers, chiggers, or thrips) – and roses do proliferate here on Capitol Hill. Let’s hope yours survive. What are nematodes? Beneficial nematodes are a kind of tiny worm that kills a variety of pests, including weevils, clearwing borers, cutworms, sod webworms, chinch bugs, and white grubs. Buy the right kind for your purpose – grubs. Follow application directions carefully. “Water, water – but never on the foliage.” Please tell me why directions for watering always say not to water plant foliage and NEVER water in the evening. A twilight rain shower – or even a deluge – is not deemed harmful – but they call me and my garden hose killers in the evening! Damp leaves attract planteating slugs. If we water in the morning, leaves get all day to dry in the daylight. The Capitol Hill Garden Club’s Nov. 10 program on DC’s Master Gardener Program convenes at 7 p.m. at the NE Library, corner Maryland Ave. and Seventh Street NE. For more information about the Capitol Hill Garden Club please visit capitolhillgardenclub.org. Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to th1e Problem Lady c/o dearproblemlady@gmail. com.Your problems might prove instructive to others and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. u

{home and garden}

Christ Church Spires Renewed

Historic Hill Church Replicates and Replaces Damaged Spires and Finials by Meredith Baker, Christ Church Vestry

apitol Hill residents have passed Christ Church Washington Parish on its grassy knoll at 620 G St. SE for nearly 210 years, although many structural changes have been made throughout its decades of ministry. Built as a simple and utilitarian structure surrounded by meadows and farmland in 1806, it was later enlarged into a Gothic-Revival style church to serve the growing population of the Capitol City. By the end of the 19th century, stained glass windows were added, the church was topped with a steeple and eight spires, and the exterior was given a stuccoed finish. The first spires for this Episcopal church were made of tin and put in place in 1849, and more were added in the 1890s. These spires are nearly seven feet tall and are topped with decorative finials. Occasional cleaning and repairs of the spires have occurred in the past one hundred years, most recently in the 1970s. However, extensive damage in the past few years—some due to age, some perhaps to the 2011 earthquake--forced the church to consider replacing them completely. Drivers may have noticed while passing Capitol Hill on highway 295 that one finial was knocked sideways and another was completely gone. That loose finial was found smashed on the path alongside the church one morning by two members. After extensive research,

Christ Church contracted with Wagner Roofing to replicate and replace the damaged spires. Wagner is a regional expert on historic preservation, renovation, and repair, with a client list that includes the Washington National Cathedral, the Smithsonian Castle, Lincoln’s Summer Cottage, and local fixtures like the Capitol Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church. Wagner will cast new replicas from the original tin spires. The new spires will be made of 20 ounce lead-coated copper and have a life expectancy of over 100 years. Scaffolding was erected in late September of this year and work quickly began to remove the aging and damaged finials. The new spires and finials are expected to be in place by early November, 2015. These will be a welcome addition to the church, which is on the National Historic Register. Along with Christ Church’s call to ministry on the Hill and beyond comes a responsibility to maintain and preserve the historic structure with which it has been entrusted. Christ Church is embarking this month on a Capital Campaign to raise nearly one million dollars to further improve the infrastructure. This includes replacing an aging organ (which is held together in places with duct tape) to enhance the worship life, and renovating the Parish Hall, built in 1876, where education programs, parish gatherings take place. Also many community groups from

The Church Sanctuary: The organ shown in one image will be part of the spring renovations but is not currently undergoing renovation. The spire project is a standalone repair this fall.

Christ Church with scaffolding erected in October, 2015

AA to the G Street Co-op meet regularly in the parish hall. The core of Christ Church’s ministry happens inside this beautiful historic building where people gather in community to worship and grow spiritually. Community members

Removed spires in a truck. These will be used to cast the replicas.

interested in the Capital Campaign and updates about our other projects, service work, children’s programs, and ministries may wish to visit the Christ Chur h Washington Parish facebook page or website, www.washingtonparish.org. u

November 2015 H 143

{home and garden}

Home Appliances

When to Tune Them Up –And When to Buy New

The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (www.dcseu.com) provides rebates to District residents and businesses for a wide variety of Energy Star appliances. Photo: DC SEU

by Catherine Plume

ost of us take our home appliances for granted. The refrigerator, stove, microwave, hot water heater, washer, and dryer are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready at our beck and call. We depend on them but we don’t give a lot of thought to their maintenance. What can you do to prolong the life of your appliances and ensure that you’re maximizing energy efficiency? I asked two well-known Capitol Hill appliance repair experts, Skip’s Appliance Service (301-864-7493) and Advance Appliance Repair (703-961-1800), a few questions about today’s appliances. The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) (www.dcseu.com) also had some interesting information. 1) What can people do to prolong the life of their refrigerator, washer, or dryer?

Refrigerators: •

•

Door seals should be wiped down with mild soap and water once a month to prevent them from drying out, cracking, or getting sticky. To ensure door seals are airtight, close the door over a piece of paper. If you can pull the paper out easily, you’re losing energy. The latch may need adjustment, the seal may need replacing, or you may want to consider buying a new unit. For maximum efficiency and food safety the refrigerator temperature should be between 37 and 40 degrees F and the freezer should be 0-5 degrees F. Lint around refrigerator condenser coils can cause the compressor to overheat. To prevent this vacuum the coils every 6 to 12 months. If the coils on a refrigerator are not exposed, call an appliance service company to do the job.

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Washers and Dryers: •

•

For maximum efficiency, clean the filters on dryers (and some washers) after every load. Dryer lint can cause blockage in the vent leading to the outside of house. This can prevent the dryer from heating appropriately. Lint in dryer vents is a major cause of house fires. Wipe down the seals of your washer and dryer regularly to prevent lint accumulation and mold build-up. Clean sneakers and other heavy/hard-sided goods by hand as they can damage the drum of the washer and dryer. Leave washer lids and front-loading washer doors ajar to prevent mold or mildew from forming. Mold build-up is a common complaint with front loading washers.

Gas Ranges: •

Check for blue flames. In natural gas appliances, like your gas range stove, yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed.

2) What’s the average life span of each of these pieces? Units made today last about 10-15 years. After that it’s usually better to replace rather than repair. 3) What about Energy Star appliances (vs. those that don’t have this rating)? Energy Star is a good rating and can save you considerable money in the long run. You may pay a bit more in upfront costs for this rating on certain appliances, as you’re paying for extra insulation and efficiency over the long term. 4) What resources do you recommend when determining which appliance to purchase? The Internet has a wealth of information on appliances, brands, and models. Look at different brand web-

sites and read the information and customer reviews to determine the appliance that best fits your needs. 5) What’s the advantage of having an appliance maintenance company maintain my appliance? Can’t I do this work myself? Regular maintenance on almost any appliance can save you money in the long run. A licensed appliance technician can do maintenance required for any appliance. They have tools that give access to hard-to-reach places and have special sprays for deep cleaning. They can also check for wear and tear and thereby possibly avoid future breakdowns. When it is time to replace an appliance, the DCSEU provides financial incentives as well as energy- and money-saving technical assistance and advice. Importantly, they also provide rebates for all DC residents and businesses for a wide variety of qualifying Energy Star appliances. Appliance rebates for the FY16 fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2015, through Sept. 30, 2016) have just been announced and include: • • • • • • •

$300-$750 for home cooling systems; up to $1,000 for home heating systems; $100-$500 for hot water heaters; $50-$75 for clothes washers; $50-$250 for clothes dryers; $50-$75 for refrigerators; $25 for dehumidifiers.

You can find more information on how to receive these rebates at https://www.dcseu.com/formy-home/appliances/appliance-rebates. Remember to treat your appliances nicely, and they’ll keep running and keep you happy for a long time to come. Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist, a writer, and a blogger for the DC Recycler: www.DCRecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter @DC_Recycler. u

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150 H Hillrag.com

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November 2015 H 151

The

LastWord The federal lease restricts usage on the RFK campus to recreational facilities, open space, public outdoor recreation opportunities and other uses as approved by the National Park Service (NPS). NPS is guided in its decisions by the Comprehensive Plan for federally owned parks and open space developed by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). So, the term and constraints of the existing federal lease make it difficult for either the city or a private entity to make a large investment in a new stadium. Rebuilding RFK for a football team would require both the cooperation of NPS, NCPC and possible Congressional action. Even if all these stars aligned by some miracle, the physical constraints of the site still make it impossible.

A Question of Space

What To Do With RFK?

he 190 acres that comprise the RFK campus include the massive parking lots to the north and south of the stadium, the soccer practice fields, RFK itself and the DC Armory. All these facilities are District owned. The land underneath, however, is not. The entire campus is National Park land leased to the District by the federal government under a 1986 agreement that expires in 2036. At that time, the land will revert to NPS jurisdiction unless there is Congressional action.

152 H Hillrag.com

Thirty years ago, the District explored how to upgrade RFK so the Redskins would continue to play in the City. In 1988, Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly proposed building a new facility adjacent to the existing stadium. They planned to use Kingman and Heritage Islands for another 40 acres of surface parking. In their search for space, they even considered paving the Langston Golf Course. Due to the opposition of then Secretary of the Interior, the expansion of the parking lots was later dropped. In 1993, the question became moot when Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke pledged to build his stadium in Maryland. In Aug. 1997, FedExField opened in Landover, Maryland. This new facility can accommodate as many as 91,000 fans in contrast with the old RFK’s 56,000 capacity. In 2010, Congress permanently transferred Kingman and Heritage Islands to the District under the terms of the Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan of 2003. The city has since constructed pedestrian trails and the wooden footbridges connecting Kingman and Heritage Islands to the Anacostia’s western shore converting them into a popular nature preserve. Further protecting the natural settings is the new zoning of the islands as W-0, that encourages park, open space and waterfront-enhancing uses, with vehicular parking prohibited, except for handicap spaces. The transformation of Heritage and King-

man Islands into parkland considerably complicates any future return of the Redskins. Modern stadiums require acres of surface parking to accommodate the tailgating demands of fans. The RFK campus no longer has sufficient space to accommodate these needs and an enlarged stadium.

Where Do We Go From Here? Given the fact that the RFK campus is not large enough to accommodate the return of the Redskins, perhaps it is time to consider its redevelopment in a manner consistent with policies of the Parks and Open Space section of the federal elements of the current (2004) Comprehensive Plan. The document embraces the following imperatives: • “Protect, restore, and enhance the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers as great open space resources and as recreational amenities, including shorelines and waterfront areas along rivers.” • “Improve the quality of water in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers to allow for both restored natural habitats and increased recreational use.” • “Retain shoreline areas in their natural condition or appropriately landscape the water’s edge.” • “Manage all lands along the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers in a manner that encourages the enjoyment and recreational use of water resources, while protecting the scenic and ecological values of the waterways.” • “Encourage swimming, boating, and fishing facilities, as well as water-oriented tourist activities, on the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers.” • “Ensure that the shorelines and waterfronts of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers remain mostly publicly owned and that privately owned parks provide shoreline continuity through parks and promenades.” • “Discourage large paved parking areas and other non-water-related development along the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. Where large paved areas are required, preference should be given to using pervious surfaces. Existing large parking areas, such as the Pentagon’s north parking lot along

{last word}

Boundary Channel [and the parking lots at RFK], should be removed as soon as feasible and restored to a landscaped condition with active or passive recreational uses.” These mandates dovetail nicely with DC’s Anacostia Waterfront Framework Plan, the Anacostia Waterfront Trust and NCPC’s own plans that govern NPS’s policies in the National Capitol Region. Given the time constraints of the city’s federal lease for the RFK campus, the easiest approach is to redevelop the RFK campus in a manner consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, the existing federal lease and DC and NCPC’s guidelines into an urban park. Creating this new oasis of green space on the shores of the Anacostia is sure to enlist the support of neighboring jurisdictions, NPS and NCPC. Moreover, as witnessed in recent community meetings, it is the clear choice of the site’s neighbors. The fiction of the Redskins return should not be allowed to stand in the way of transformation of the RFK Campus into such a recreational and ecological amenity. The article was prepared by Monte Edwards, Chair of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) City Planning Committee. Since its founding in 1955, CHRS has worked continuously to make Capitol Hill the desirable location it has now become. Today, that legacy of standing up for the community continues with our work in planning, zoning, historic preservation, and public safety. CHRS is a volunteer organization, made up of Hill residents who love their historic neighborhoods and want to ensure that the unique character of the Hill is around for future generations.

Apologize to Mr. Goolsby

he recent story in the Washington Post of the false characterization of black teenagers Jason Goolsby and Michael Brown as potential robbers by a white woman sharing a bank ATM lobby with them was hard to read. Until recently Capitol Hill was one of the success stories for racial integration in the country. As housing prices have increased, however, the neighborhood has become less racially diverse, and also, it seems to us, less committed to inte-

gration. Having lived on Capitol Hill for almost fifty years, we have been discouraged to see this. If the woman in the bank lobby had simply exited a situation where she felt uncomfortable, no harm would have been done. However, calling “911” to characterize Mr. Goolsby and Mr. Brown as possible robbers was ill-considered. Perhaps an apology by the woman to the young men is in order. Racially prejudiced alarmist calls to “911” targeting young black men for suspicion makes it harder for our city police to act impartially in protecting all members of the community from harm. Jim and Sandra Herbert Capitol Hill residents September 1967 – June 2015

The Power of the Quiet Man

t began with the man sitting for hours in the 6th & Pennsylvania S.E. bus shelter. With all his bags. It became uncomfortable to stand for a city bus on limited space, amidst his personal paraphernalia. Over the summer the man shifted a few yards to C Street, alongside the drive-in for Citibank. Into the fall, the slug line of crates, large black thrash bags and bundles multiplied. He sat among his possessions with tenacity and peacefulness as if in a Capital Hill living room. Suddenly in February’s inhospitable cold, somehow — and to wondrous relief — the umpteen bundles with their winter blankets disappeared; either thrashed by the city, or relocated. Walking on the pavement of 6th block C Street was so refreshing. And as rapidly again, in two weeks of 40s warmth, the stealthy movement of those chess pieces restarted. The ambiance was soiled by numerous grey hypothermia blankets thrown over bags. Who was, and now is, responsible for the pathetic accretion at the corner of C and 6th S.E.; its surplus property wedged within the hedges of Citibank, also scattered in the green triangle to resemble a minor flea market on weekends when the bank closed and its managers were away. The City Council safeguards his right to live on the street, as do the police. ANC 6, and the blue-suited DC Public Works crew also respect his rights. What then is the role of the DC Public Health System, or the Outreach sector of DC Department of Behavioral Health?

Consider the generosity of the residents of this one block of C Street S.E: Residential street parkers who capture a parking spot in the west end of C Str., cannot open their passenger doors; his heap of bags block exits out of the cars; the residents in those red-bricked rowhouses overlooking the area must shutter out the unfavorable view of District homelessness —one man’s tenacity to resist reason and take shelter, his bold affront to our visual aesthetics, his patience or phantasies for a benefactor’s door to open. The problem is twofold: One is that the man lacks the exact shelter he seeks. And the other problem is the psychological impetus of this odd collection which might qualify as Hoarding Disorder, code 300.3; minus the strident ideology and the tents of Occupy DC on Freedom Plaza some months ago. Our man does not panhandle, does not solicit interaction, and as an entity is harmless. Last summer he sat under the meagre shade of the tree with his property settled in some semblance of order, this fall he nuzzles against the grey mechanical box of circuitry. He eschews a ‘shelter’ and perhaps he cannot separate from the ever-enlarging acquisitions of bits-and-bags that represent the extension of his psyche. He visits the S.E. Library three blocks away, rummages through the Eastern Market Metro newspaper-bin, and checks the table of Capitol Hill Books. He is not seemingly eligible for an emergency psychiatric intervention, nor is he overtly dangerous. But he is due a humanitarian solution. The city and its forces need to allow him his rights, with a life better spent off the tiny block of C Street whose residents surely want to reclaim it. Will he continue 2015 into 2016 on 6th and C Street, and attract others to encircle Citibank at night and on the weekends? Our quiet man exerts much power over Eastern Market. Margaret Roberts Drucker mangoeschappaties@yahoo.com u

November 2015 H 153

{the nose}

Developers Are a Mayor’s Best Friend by Anonymous

hen Mayor Muriel trod the boards as a poor supplicant in the Democratic Primary, she touted herself as a “Fresh Start.” “Me thinks she is extoling her love for crispy veggies,” The Nose pondered as he first listened to her perform at the hustings. Meet Muriel Bowser: Fresh Princess of Ward 4. Well, the breeze has changed direction. Now, members of the Green Team are working hard to take shadow campaign tactics out of the closet. Why hide one’s contributors when one can glory in their strictly legal $10,000 donations? This Fresh Start requires the services of a FreshPAC, whose independent election expenditures will no doubt aid Bowser in her quest to win friends and influence councilmembers. After all, DC politics is a simple game of counting to seven. Inspired by our mayor’s audacious political savvy, The Nose has decided to form his own fundraising organization, StalePac. Dedicated to the supposition that politics is best when it resembles reality television, StalePac will fund the return of such prized personalities as Kwame “Bulletproof” Brown and Harry “The Player” Thomas. Of course, StalePac will always keep a “piece of a piece” for Michael “Son of” Brown. Sometimes sitcom reruns make the best couch suffering material. In the meantime, The Nose has authored a tune for our esteemed lady mayor set to the strains of Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend:

154 H Hillrag.com

Developers are glad to dig in the dirt. They delight in biding duels But I prefer those who live to donate like expensive fools. A kiss on the hand May be regally continental, But developers are a mayor’s best friend. A kiss may be grand But it won’t pay for air-time rentals Or subsidize your campaign’s humble flat Or help you take your opponent to the mat. Political allies grow cold As mayors grow old, And we all lose our popularity in the end. But green-backed or rectangular-shaped, Donated Benjamins don’t lose their shape. Developers are a mayor’s best friend. There may come a time When a pol needs a Lawyer, But Developers are a mayor’s best friend. There may come a time When a hard-boiled legislative Boyar Thinks you’re not so nice, Make him a deal or else no dice. He’s your guy When your favorables are high, But beware when they start to descend. It’s then that those political louses Go public with their grouses. Developers are a mayor’s best friend. I’ve heard of public affairs That are not strictly economic, But Developers are a mayor’s best friend. And I think affairs That you must keep plutonic Are better bets If them come with big checks. Time rolls on, And the honeymoon is gone, And you can’t straighten up when you politically bend. But stiff backed Or in a stiff breeze You can always put them in a squeeze. Developers! Developers! I don’t mean CBEs! Developers are a mayor’s best friend.

THE NOSE

Even the editorial mandarins of the august Washington ComPost are starting to notice a fresh odor drifting across town. u