Hill Rag Magazine – December 2023 by Capital Community News

HILLRAG.COM DECEMBER 2023

Brokerage • Development • Investments

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December 2023 H 3

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preciated it! iously your help getting the perty ready was above and �� ree� �� ond any of our expectations. �� o�e�e� �ar�arn �on�o one could have done more on��o�e��o� us.” a �a��l� �ro�er�� s a real s��l�� an� � �a�e �ha� TIME TO SELL s��l�� ser�ousl�� h � ��ree� �� ou�h �arol�na ��e General’s House ��e ��s��n�� did a fantastic job and �� d us like family. We really ciated it! sly your help getting the Call me today at 202-256-1353! rty ready was above and ’ Don Denton �� n� de��any of our expectations. �� on�ra�� e�could have done more � �� ”

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Listing Agents: Don Denton (202)256-1353 & Sam Pastore (202)441-9823 SOLD - $1,535,000

Listing Agents: Don Denton (202)256-1353 & Topher Cushman(202)327-4682 Under Contract - $1,999,000

946 14th Street SE

Sweet front porch for rockin the evenings away! Listing Agents: Don Denton (202)256-1353 & Topher Cushman (202)327-4682 SOLD - $785,000

1225 C Street SE

Selling Agent: Don Denton (202)256-1353 SOLD - $800,000

If you are a prospective seller and plan to sell in the next two weeks or the next two years, it is time to sit down and map out your sales strategy. What is the local market looking for. Staging? Absolutely. Today it makes all the difference. It is a big mistake to put your property on the market empty or with your own old comfortable furniture! A little market fluff? Essential! $15,000 to freshen up the look! Will make all the difference. I can make the process easy, painless and affordable.

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Listing Agent: Don Denton (202)256-1353 SOLD - $432,000

902 South Carolina Ave

Listing Agent: Don Denton (202)256-1353 SOLD - $1,300,000

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648 Mass Ave NE

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11 4th Street SE The General’s House

Listing Agent: Don Denton (202)256-1353 SOLD - $1,550,000

December 2023 H 5

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The waterfront: Wharf Rink. DC’s over-water iceonly skating rink is open Wednesday skating rinkIce isskating open Wednesday rinkonly is open to Wednesday Sunday from to November Sunday from Novemberspots on the the The Wharf Ice Rink. DC’s over-water ice coolest During the colder months, enjoy one of the to Sunday from November throughto Feburary. through Feburary. Feburary. skating rink isthrough open Wednesday Sunday from November waterfront: The Wharf Ice Rink. DC’s only over-water ice skating through Feburary. Come toTransit Transit Come Pier toand Transit lace Pier up your and skates—bring lace upyour yourown skates—bring your own Come to Pier and lace up your skates—bring or own rent someyour rink-side—to rink is open Wednesday to Sunday from November or rent some or some glide rink-side—to over theskates—bring glide ice while over the ice and while enjoying through Come to Transit Pier and lace up your your ownmonuments. glide over the rink-side—to icerent while enjoying amazing views of theenjoying water amazing views amazing of the water views and of the monuments. water and monuments. Feburary. or rent some rink-side—to glide over the ice while enjoying amazing views of the water and monuments.

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December 2023 ★ 7

For hours & information

I N THIS ISSUE

g a R l l i H ! y a d i l Ho

December 2023

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S P E

L C I A

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

LOCAL CALENDAR

HOLIDAY GIFTS: IT’S A BIG DEAL TO SHOP SMALL by Elizabeth O’Gorek

College Bound Needs Mentors! A Small Time Commitment Can Make a Big Difference

Season’s Greenings at the U.S. Botanic Garden

capitol streets 45

Carjacking is “No Big Deal”: No Deterrent to Youth Criminal Behavior by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Unlocked: Failing Security at DCPS Unsecured Doors Put Students At Risk by Rachel Royster

College Bound Needs Mentors!: A Small Time Commitment Can Make a Big Difference by Stephanie Deutsch

Jim Toole: Capitol Hill’s Legendary Bookseller Dies by Larry Janezich

Our River, The Anacostia – Coming Up Fast in 2024: Projects From the Stadium to New York Avenue by Bill Matuszeski

Objections to Repairing Gas Lines – ANC 6A Report by Sarah Payne

Support for Harsher Penalties for Historic District Violations – ANC 6B Report by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Clash Over Rear Addition – ANC 6C Report by Sarah Payne

Lead Water Pipe Replacement – ANC 6D Report by Andrew Lightman

Henderson Talks Health and Safety – ANC 7D Report by Sarah Payne

Councilmembers Talk Public Safety and Transportation – ANC 8F Report by Andrew Lightman

Bulletin Board by Kathleen Donner

by Rindy O’Brien by Stephanie Deutsch

Theater Night: A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV

Peel Haus Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery: A Deep Dive Into Self Care on the Hill

by Matthew McClure by Pattie Cinelli

homes and gardens 77

Season’s Greenings at the U.S. Botanic Garden by Rindy O’Brien

Dear Garden Problem Lady by Wendy Blair

Changing Hands by Don Denton

arts and dining 87

Theater Night: A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV by Matthew McClure

The Jazz Project by Jean Keith Fagon

Capitol Cuisine by Celeste McCall

Art and The City by Phil Hutinet

Literary Hill by Karen Lyon

Poetic Hill by Karen Lyon

family life 97

Peel Haus Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery: A Deep Dive Into Self Care on the Hill by Pattie Cinelli

100

The District Vet: The Continuing Adventures of Calvin by Dan Teich

102

School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

106

Kids and Family Notebook by Kathleen Donner

114

CLASSIFIEDS

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CROSSWORD

on the cover: Edward Penfield, Harper’s Christmas, ca.1898, color lithograph on paper, sheet: 17 1⁄4 x 12 7⁄8 in. (43.9 x 32.8 cm). Smithsonian American Art Museum (Not on view). www.americanart.si.edu 8th and G Streets, NW Washington, DC 20004 Mon - Sun: 11:30 am-7:00 pm

Next Issue: January 6

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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. 10 ★ HILLRAG.COM

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photo: Jason Yen

December 2023 H 13

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Christmas Day Organ Recital at National Cathedral

On Monday, Christmas Day, 1:30 p.m., all are invited to the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW, for a program of festive music performed by organists Thomas Sheehan and Rebecca Ehren. No tickets are necessary to attend in-person. Livestream is available. cathedral.org. The West Rose Window of the Washington National Cathedral

Zoolights

ZooLights will take thousands of visitors into a winter wonderland lit by more than half a million environmentally friendly LED lights and illuminations. Visitors can stroll through immersive lantern displays showing rainforest, grassland, desert, ocean and polar habitats and the animals that call them home. Live musical performances, delicious treat offerings and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping make this special event a dazzling and immersive experience for families and nature aficionados. This year’s Zoolights are 5 to 9 p.m. (Sundays, 5 to 8 p.m.); with remaining dates of Dec. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Admission is $6 per person; free for age two and under. $30 for parking. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu/events/zoolights.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker at Strathmore

Photo: Tim Norris

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This holiday mash-up is back by popular demand. Follow Maria-Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on a magical adventure set in modernday New York City. The Hip Hop Nutcracker features a combination of Tchaikovsky’s classic score and all-star contemporary and hiphop dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and Kurtis Blow, one of hip-hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set. Using innovative visual effects, the production transforms the traditional 19th century German landscape of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s beloved story into a vibrant and diverse representation of modern urban life. This remixed and reimagined version of the classic holiday tale takes audiences on an unforgettable journey celebrating love and community. $28 to $68. The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, from Dec. 19 to 22. strathmore.org.

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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Adam Bradley, “Furies”, 2023, wood, steel, and ceramic. Photo: Courtesy of Anne Kim

“Still Something Singing” Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition at Kreeger Museum

Wordplay Wednesdays at Planet Word

The Kreeger Museum and the Washington Sculptors Group present Still Something Singing, on view through Saturday Jan. 27, 2024. Sited throughout the grounds of the museum, this exhibition of outdoor sculpture and temporary installations reflects the role of art in our contemporary moment. The exhibition was juried and curated by Betsy Johnson, Assistant Curator, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, presenting the work of eight DC-area artists: Adam Bradley, Donna Cameron, Roger Cutler, Hyunsuk Erickson, Barbara Liotta, Donna McCullough, Maryanne Pollock, and Steve Wanna. Admission is $10 for adults; 18 and under, free. The Kreeger Museum is at 2401 Foxhall Rd. NW. kreegermuseum.org.

Visit Planet Word on the first Wednesday of each month for after-hours wordplay from 5 to 7 p.m. All three floors of the museum stay open late, including the “Unlock the Music” karaoke gallery and the “Joking Around” humor gallery. Guests can explore the museum, play word-based puzzles and games, and indulge in retail therapy at the Present Perfect gift shop. Free admission. Planet Word is at 925 13th St. NW, entrance on K Street. planetwordmuseum.org.

Photo: Aaron Fenster

“How to be a Korean Woman” at Theater J

Holiday Markets

Downtown Holiday Market which runs daily through Dec. 23, noon to 8 p.m., on F Street NW, from Seventh to Ninth, allows for wide aisles for shopping, browsing and enjoying food and live entertainment. downtownholidaymarket.com. The Flea Market at Eastern Market, Seventh and C streets, SE, operates Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. BZB Holiday Art & Gift Show, Shiloh Baptist Church, 1510 Ninth St. NW, is open on Dec. 2, 8, 16,22 and 23; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. bzbinternational.com. Unique Markets in DC, Dec. 16 and 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., operates inside Union Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE. Admission is $10 to $15. uniquemarkets.com/washingtondc. At Season’s Greenings at the Botanic Garden, a gift store run by the Friends of the US Botanic Garden offers a variety of botanically themed gifts for purchase. usbg.gov/holiday. 16 H HILLRAG.COM

How to Be a Korean Woman is a hilarious, heartfelt, and personal telling of Korean-American adoptee Sun Mee Chomet‘s search for her birth family in Seoul, South Korea. This poignant one-woman show—told from the perspective of an adult Jewish adoptee—uses text, music, and movement to explore themes of family, love, adulthood, and the universal longing to know one’s past. Chomet’s award-winning play has been presented to sold-out audiences in the United States and Seoul, South Korea. $49.99 to $90.99. Theater J’s production, from Jan. 4 to 14, marks the regional premiere of the piece. 1529 16th St. NW. theaterj.org.

FESTIVE FUN IN EASTERN MARKET Holiday Sip & Shop on

December 4th,

5PM - 8PM

Annual Menorah Lighting, co-hosted by the BID and Hill Havurah,

December 7th,

6PM

Caroling Marathon

December 16th,

11AM - 3PM

More holiday fun at thehollydays.com! December 2023 ★ 17

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Madonna at Capitol One Arena

Madonna has been widely recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting, and visual presentation. With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is the best-selling female recording artist of all time. Madonna’s Four Decades Celebration Tour is at Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW, on Monday, Dec. 18 and Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 8:30 p.m. Tickets start at $94. capitalonearena.com.

Step Afrika’s Magical Musical Holiday Show at Arena

The world’s first holiday show incorporating the African American tradition of stepping, Step Afrika!'s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is a feast for the eyes and ears. You’ll laugh, you’ll sing, and you’ll dance—yes, dance, along with Step Afrika!’s award-winning dancers on Arena’s Fichandler Stage as “DJ Nutcracker” sets the tone for a joy-filled, toe-tapping evening that’s a family-friendly holiday “stepstravaganza” like no other. $56 to $95. For ticket discounts, visit arenastage.org/tickets/savings-programs. Step Afrika’s Magical Musical Holiday Show is at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Dec. 8 to 16. arenastage.org. LEFT: Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show at Arena Stage. Photo: Margot Schulman.

Photo: Courtesy of DC Murals Archive

To the East: The Rise of Murals East of the River

To the East: The Rise of Murals East of the River is a retrospective exhibition curated by Cory Lee Stowers, Executive Director of DC Murals, that dives into the roots and purpose of the movement. The exhibition presents 40 photographs that feature the work of the artists who created the earliest documented murals on the east side of Washington, DC. The show draws from the extensive archive of DC Murals, as well as recently uncovered materials from the Anacostia Community Museum and DC Public Library archives. The exhibition is on view on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Phillips@THEARC, 1801 Mississippi Ave. SE. No reservations required. phillipscollection.org.

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December 2023 H 19

Celebrate Kwanzaa at Anacostia Community Museum WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

From Tuesday, Dec. 26 to Monday, Jan. 1, at 1 p.m., join the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, as they celebrate Kwanzaa. Each day visitors will learn about the principles of Kwanzaa and have the chance to participate in a hands-on activity including storytelling, Unity Cup design, and family card making. Check out the full schedule by visiting: anacostia.si.edu/kwanzaa. Registration is requested. anacostia.si.edu.

Courtesy Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum

The Kennedy Center Messiah Sin

Dwellings. Francesca Duguarte, Patric Palkens and Julia Erikson. Photo: Eduardo Patino

Chamber Dance Project’s “ON THE EDGE (new year, new works)”

On Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., get ready to kick off the new year with a spectacular blend of artistic innovation and breathtaking performances as Chamber Dance Project presents “ON THE EDGE: New Year, New Works” at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Audiences will get a preview of the new ballets in the works for their 2024 June Season and a new perspective on their most iconic repertoire works, Journey, Dwellings, and Sur. The 2 p.m. matinee comes with a 20-minute onstage workshop for people of all ages. The 7:30 performance comes with a pre-show talk with choreographer Christian Denice about his new work followed by a post-show reception. Tickets are $40 to $100. chamberdance.org.

In the Spirit of Kwanzaa: Every Girl Has a Story

In the Spirit of Kwanzaa: Every Girl Has a Story is a compilation and celebration of the Black experience through the eyes of the young women of Coyaba Dance Theater. Along with Coyaba’s signature live drumming and dance, various stories will be told that honor and highlight the Seven Principles of the Nquzo Saba: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. In the Spirit of Kwanzaa is a holiday festival of heritage and Black culture filled with love, excitement, and tradition. Tickets are $10 to $30. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE, on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 17 at 4 p.m. danceplace.org. 20 H HILLRAG.COM

g-Along On Saturday, Dec. 23, at 6 p.m., be part of Washington’s most popular free holiday event, the Ken nedy Center’s Messiah Sing-Along. Back by popular demand, the evening concert features conductor Nancia DAlimonte as she leads members of the Washington National Opera Orch estra, guest soloists, a chorus of 150, and a very enthusia stic audience in Handel’s masterpiece—a family and commun ity tradition since 1971. Patrons who make advance reservat ions can pick up their tickets at the Hall of Nations Box Office starting two hours before their performance time. There is a four-ticket limit for your order. Read more at kennedy-center.or g/whats-on/millenniumstage/2023/december/messiah-sin g-along.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS STUDIO ARTS

EAST: Winter Wonderland with Edmond Wilson

Sunday, December 3, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Contemporary Watercolors Course Monday, December 4, 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Basic Drawing Techniques: Drawing From an Image

Tuesday, December 5, 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Local Makers Workshop: Soy Candle Making with Defined Elegance Candle Company

Tuesday, December 12, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Introduction to Linocut Printmaking Workshop

Saturday, December 16, 3:30pm - 5:00pm

Snow Day Sip ’n Paint!

Saturday, December 16, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Duck Bootcamp with Chef Mark Haskell

Tuesday, December 12, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Long Lunch: Pizza and Flatbreads Workshop with Chef Mark Haskell

Friday, December 15, 11:00am - 1:00pm

LECTURES & CONVERSATIONS

Overbeck Lecture: Capitol Hill’s Inhabited Alleys

Monday, December 4, 7:30pm - 9:00pm SOLD OUT

Juvenile Carjacking Motivation & Accountability: A Town Hall with Councilmember Charles Allen

Tuesday, December 5, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

The Life of a Poet Featuring Celebrated Poet and Editor of Poetry Magazine, Adrian Matejka in Conversation with Kyle Dargan

Thursday, December 7, 7:00pm

CONCERTS

Hill Center Presents: DISH! The Story Telling Cocktail Hour

Friday, December 1, 7:00pm

ONGOING PROGRAMS

Global Sounds on the Hill: Iranian Classical Singer Roxana Sarrafi

Tuesday, December 19, 7:00pm

Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) Basic Drawing Techniques Busy Bees: Music & Art Playgroup Sunday, December 17, 4:30pm Contemporary Watercolors French Courses: Various Levels COOKING CLASSES District Flow Yoga & TASTINGS Frontlines: Infant and Child CPR Master Chef: Korean - American Cuisine Featuring Magpie and Tiger Chefs Caleb Gottaswing Meditation in Capitol Hill Jang and Roren Choi Sunday, December 3, 11:00am - 2:00pm Mr. Mike’s Music Together SOLD OUT Opera Starts with Oh! - Opera Lafayette Sausage Making with Chef Mark Haskell Piano Lessons with Gordon Tenney Wednesday, December 6, 6:00pm - 8:00pm Profs & Pints DC Shakespeare Theatre Company Bonnie Benwick’s Annual Cookie Baking Class Spanish Courses: Various Levels Saturday, December 9, 11:00am - 2:00pm Studio One Dance SOLD OUT Super Soccer Stars Master Chef: Featuring Chef Jerome Tai Chi Chuan Grant, Inaugural Chef, Smithsonian Tippi Toes Dance National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Sweet Home Cafe Warrior Fusion Karate Song of Solstice: A Celtic Christmas Celebration Featuring Ocean Celtic Quartet

Sunday, December 10, 11:00am - 2:00pm SOLD OUT

Programmatic support provided by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.

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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Christmas with the Thomas Circle Singers

On Saturday, Dec. 16, 5 p.m., at the Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW, revel in the warm melodies of the Christmas season, sing along to favorite carols, and create holiday memories to last for years to come. From the captivating beauty of Philip Stopford’s “Lully, Lulla, Lullay” and the tenderness of Robert Harris’s “Love Came Down at Christmas” to the joyful sounds of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “The First Noel” complete with brass quintet, you’ll be filled with the Christmas spirit. Tickets are $25 to $30. thomascirclesingers.org.

Folger Consort’s A Baroque Christmas Story

Folger Consort, the early music ensemble-in-residence at the Folger Shakespeare Library, features, as part of its 46th season, four concert programs of Baroque, Renaissance, and Medieval music ranging from the 13th through the 18th centuries. On Dec. 15 to 22, celebrate the season with Folger Consort performing Heinrich Schütz’s grand retelling of the Christmas story along with German holiday favorites by Michael Praetorius and others. Tickets are $60, with discounts available for Folger members and subscribers, seniors, students, educators, military and their families, and groups. This concert will be performed at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. folger.edu.

Photo: J. Cliﬀord for Visit Alexandria

First Night Alexandria

First Night Alexandria (FNA) is the largest family-friendly, budget-friendly and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event in the region. FNA began in 1994 as a celebration of the New Year through the performing arts. Coffee shops, retail stores, hotels, museums and public buildings are turned into performance venues to showcase a variety of talent. First Night celebrations take place around the world, having been founded in 1976 by a group of civicminded artists in Boston as a meaningful alternative to traditional New Year’s Eve revelry. This year’s First Night Alexandria includes more daytime events with kids, families and seniors in mind. There is also an early evening block party at Market Square and fireworks are now at 6 p.m., not midnight. Pricing has been rolled back to pre-pandemic levels. firstnightalexandria.org. 22 ★ HILLRAG.COM

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WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Kwanzaa & Watch Night: Visions of Freedom Community Day

On Saturday, Dec. 30, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, discover how Afrofuturism creates a link between Kwanzaa and Watch Night, two cultural holidays that encourage African Americans to envision their own freedom. Kwanzaa is a celebration created in 1966 to provide a cultural grounding in ’s and a reaffirmation of African American culture. During the museum of es principl three last the honor that event, participate in activities Kwanzaa—Kuumba (creativity), Imani (faith) and Nia (purpose). Watch Night marks the time when African Americans across the country watched and waited for the Emancipation Proclamation to take effect on January 1, 1863. The museum will also have special activities that focus on the history of the Civil War and the role of the Black Colored Troops in the Civil War. Free but registration required. nmaahc.si.edu.

Handel’s Messiah at the KC

Washington, DC’s favorite holiday tradition returns to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Thursday, Dec. 14, at7 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. Laurence Equilbey makes her debut conducting the NSO, the University of Maryland Concert Choir, and an all-star lineup of soloists in Handel’s greatest oratorio celebration. Composed in 1741, Messiah is as potent today as it was more than 280 years ago, inspiring joy and wonder from both first-time listeners and those who return every year. $19 to $99. kennedy-center.org.

Image: Ambrotype of Frederick Douglass, 18551865, Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Capital City Symphony: Sleigh Ride!

On Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 and 5:30 p.m., celebrate the joy and magic of the season with Capital City Symphony and their special guest, renowned soprano Amber Monroe. Together, CCS and Monroe, with a voice rich and clear, will delight you with heartwarming holiday classics. Grab your family, friends, and neighbors and join them for a concert filled with holiday music and sing-along fun. Tickets are $35; free for ages 16 and under. Capital City Symphony’s Sleigh Ride! is at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. 24 ★ HILLRAG.COM

Cécile McLorin Salvant Quintet at the LOC

Cécile the deal with a memorable night out with the incomparable vocal stylings of Cécile McLorin Salvant and her quintet, who will take you on an otherworldly journey with their “Ghost Song” program. Cécile McLorin Salvant is “one of the most daring and resourceful vocalists in jazz— or any other genre, for that matter” (Uncut). A MacArthur Fellow and recipient of the Doris Duke Award, Salvant is a visionary performer and composer, a master storyteller inspired by visual art, whose first three recordings each earned a Grammy Award for jazz vocals. The Cécile McLorin Salvant Quintet is at the Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium, 10 First St. SE, on Friday, Dec. 15, 8 p.m. Tickets are free but registration is required. loc.gov/item/event-410070/cecile-mclorin-salvant-quintet/2023-12-15/.

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December 2023 H 25

WHAT’S ON W A S H I N G T O N

Visionary Film Installation “Lessons of the Hour” by Isaac Julien

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum have jointly purchased the tour de force “Lessons of the Hour” (2019) by artist and filmmaker Sir Isaac Julien. The moving image installation interweaves period reenactments across five screens to create a vivid picture of 19th-century activist, writer, orator and philosopher Frederick Douglass (1818–1895). Through critical Installation view, Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour, SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, September 24– December 15, 2019. research, fictional reconstruction and a Copyright Isaac Julien, Courtesy the artist and Victoria Miro. Image Courtesy of SCAD marriage of poetic image and sound, Julien asserts Douglass’ enduring lessons of justice, abolition and freedom that remain just as relevant today. The 28-minute work debuts for Washington audiences Friday, Dec. 8, and remains on public view through the United States Semi-quincentennial in 2026. It coincides with the National Portrait Gallery’s “One Life: Frederick Douglass” exThe Magical Medieval Tale of Sir hibition, on view through April 21, 2024, and “J.P. Ball and Robert S. Duncanson: An African American Artistic Collaboration” at Gawain and the Green Knight the Smithsonian American Art Museum through March 24, 2024. This 41st production of Christmas Revels whisks americanart.si.edu. audiences to the time of Camelot, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, weaving the ancient tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight with English and French medieval music, delightful Revels favorites, and many opportunities for the audience to join in the fun. This year’s Gospel Christmas: The Light Has production features a multigenerational cast, Come at the National Cathedral ages 8 to 92, portraying the legendary ladies and On Friday, Dec. 22, 6 p.m., we gather to hear the good gallant knights of Camelot and the mysterious news as it comes to life in the Washington NationGreen Court of the Lord and Lady Bercilak—as al Cathedral’s annual service of Gospel Christmas, told Sir Gawain’s adventure unfolds, filled with beauthrough music, poetry, and readings from Holy Scripty, magic, and celebration. This year’s production ture. ASL interpretation is offered for this service. Due will be performed at GWU’s Lisner Auditorium to capacity concerns, passes are required and are on Dec. 15 to 17 and will be followed by a virtual available now. Livestream is also available at catheencore streaming option. revelsdc.org. dral.org/calendar/gospel-christmas-service.

Drawing on the Right Side of Your Brain

Popular theory on right-side brain activity holds that the right brain is primarily responsible for the intuitive understanding of visual and spatial relationships. Designed to improve the way people see and record objects on paper, a set of visual exercises helps build the ability to draw. If you doubt your artistic ability or were told as a child that you could not draw, this is your opportunity to challenge that perception. Students begin the course by completing a drawing as a record of initial skill. In subsequent sessions, the instructor guides students through drawing exercises on understanding edges and space, relationships between objects, and light and shadow. This new way of seeing and working becomes second nature with practice and can be used to pursue further development in the arts. $265. This is an eight-session evening studio arts course—Tuesdays, Jan. 16 to March 5, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. smithsonianassociates.org. 26 ★ HILLRAG.COM

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LOCAL CALENDAR

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Schneider's of Capitol Hill

NSO at The Anthem: Ugly Sweater Holiday Concert. Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. ’Tis the season to break out your most festively heinous knitwear— the ugly Christmas sweater! $25 to $40. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. NW. kennedy-center.org.

The Winter’s Tale at the Folger. Through Dec. 17. With the magic and fantastical elements of a fairy tale, Shakespeare’s astonishing romance is a thrilling journey filled with emotional depth, extreme behavior, complex relationships—and a bear in pursuit. Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu. VOCA presents ISM II. Through Dec. 17. The new VOCA Ensemble of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HoH) BIPOC individuals will share their true stories and experiences in American Sign Language at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, when exposed to societal “isms”, discriminatory practices, and oppression. $30 to $35. atlasarts.org. Live Music Thursdays with Hi-Lawn at Union Market. Thursdays, 7 to 9 p.m., through Jan. 25. Join Hi-Lawn for live music from local musicians on the roof. No cover, make a reservation or just walk in and grab a spot on the lawn. unionmarketdc.com.

Swept Away at Arena. Through Dec. 30. When a violent storm sinks their whaling ship off the coast of New Bedford, Mass., the four survivors face a reckoning: how far will they go to stay alive? And can they live with the consequences? Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org. Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra: A Bohemian Christmas 2023. Dec. 4, 8 p.m. Celebrate the holidays at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, with performances of cool classics by Shorty Rogers, Thad Jones, Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn, Stan Kenton, and a handful of arrangements by BCJO Ghosts of Christmas Past. $30. atlasarts.org. Capitol Hill Menorah Lighting. Dec. 7, 6 p.m. The Annual Menorah Lighting, co-hosted by the BID and Hill Havurah, celebrates the start of Hanukkah on the front steps of Reformation, 212 East Capitol St. NE. The nine-foot Menorah was gifted to the Capitol Hill Community in 2014 by the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District in honDecember 2023 H 29

Holiday Movies on the Big Screen. At Miracle Theatre: Dec. 3 and 10, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; Dec. 4 and 8, Home Alone; Dec. 8 and 10, Miracle on 34th Street (1946); Dec. 9, The Polar Express PJ Party; Dec. 15 and 16, The Polar Express; Dec. 15, 16 and 23, White Christmas; Dec. 16, 17, 22 and 23, Elf; Dec. 21 and 22, It’s a Wonderful Life; Dec. 29 and 30, Last Holiday; Dec. 30, A Christmas Story. 535 Eighth St. SE. Tickets prices are $6 before 5 p.m.; after 5 p.m., $8; $6 for kids, military and seniors, always. themiracletheatre.com.

In 1990, It’s a Wonderful Life was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being deemed as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

or of past Chairman of the Board and Community Leader, Paul L. Pascal, Esq. The Capitol Hill BID “Men in Blue” will serve jelly donuts and hot cocoa. capitolhillbid.org. Carpe Librum Book Sales. Saturday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join Carpe Librum in the middle block of Canal Park, 200 M St. SE, for an outdoor popup, nonprofit used-book sale. Browse through thousands of 30 H HILLRAG.COM

books all under $6. capitolriverfront.org/canal-park. Friends of SE Library Book Sale. Dec. 9, 10 to 3 p.m., join the Friends of Southeast Library to shop a range of titles with prices starting at $1. Proceeds supplement library programs. 704 Seventh St. SE. dclibrary.org. Sing Out Piano Bar and Open Mic with Gay Man’s Chorus. Dec. 13; 7:30 to 11 p.m. Come out to sing with live piano

accompaniment or just enjoy the music. Free admission. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. SHORTidotes 2.0 Film Festival. Dec. 15, 6 to 8 p.m. SHORTidotes 2.0 features a selection of experimental, fictional and nonfictional short films by Latin American, Afro/ Latinx DC area-based filmmakers on the theme of endof-the-year holiday celebrations. $5 to $10. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE. chaw.org. A Night of 1,000 Santas at Wunder Garten. Dec. 15. Join them for the holiday madness. Put on your Santa hat and let’s boogie. 1101 First St. NE. wundergartendc.com. Song of Solstice: A Celtic Christmas Celebration. Dec. 17, 4:30 p.m. Jennifer Cutting’s OCEAN Celtic Quartet with a program featuring traditional carols, foot-stomping Celtic fiddle tunes, 19th century broadside songs, and even an appearance by Father Christmas of the old mummers plays. $20. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org. Washington Arts Ensemble presents Gabriel Cabezas and Jordan Dodson. Dec. 17, 4 p.m. The Washington Arts Ensemble’s debut performance at the Atlas will showcase a dynamic collaboration between two exceptional international soloists: cellist Gabriel Cabezas and classical guitarist Jordan Dodson. $20 to $35. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. u December 2023 H 31

y a d i l o H ! s t f i G

orek

’G by Elizabeth O

olidays on the Hill are special. There’s a real small-town greeting card feel to holidays on the Hill. It’s the way the community comes together to light the Hill Holiday tree and the Community Menorah. It’s the pleasant glow the Washington Globes cast on the brick sidewalks. It’s the little shops throughout our village with shopkeepers behind the counter who are also our neighbors. They ask about your family, suggest the perfect gift and go the extra mile to help you choose. It’s a big deal to shop small and shop local. You can complete all your holiday shopping right here on the Hill and support your community at the same time.

It’s a Big Deal to Shop Small

Gifts Brand new on C Street near Eastern Market, Relume (760 C St. SE) carries a wide selection of new, repurposed and vintage candles, ornaments, earrings and artistic clothing. The eclectic shop also offers workshops and crafts from fake cake making to real wreath making and a DIY candle bar. relume.co Groovy DC Cards & Gifts (321 7th Street SE, groovydc.com) is celebrating 17 years in business. They’ve got it all: home accessories, cards, balloons and gifts from delicate silver candle holders to wipes that eliminate red wine from your smile. They also carry all the tissue, wrap and bows needed to dress the holiday up right! Woven History & Silk Road (315 Seventh St. SE) owner Mehmet Yalcin keeps around 5,000 rugs in his shop. They’re on display with over 200 gift items from along the silk road, including hats, intricately embroidered boots, tiles and bowls in beautiful Turkish patterns. Don’t miss the little camels of various sizes, loved by Hill children! Wovenhistory.com Over at The Wharf, Diament Jewelry (51 District Sq. SW, www.diamentjewelry.com) sells rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces. But they also have a wide collection of other gifts, from candles and candy to mugs, clothing, games and puzzles, ornaments, cards, wrap and bows. Check out Glass Stache (1111 H St. NE) which has an extensive collection of high quality, American made smoking equipment for the modern smoker. Also iincredible glass jewelry, drinkware, and collectible borosilicate marbles. With six locations throughout the District, including Union Market (325 Morse St. NE), The Wharf (10 District Sq. SW) and The Roost LEFT: Shoppers check out the wide selection of greeting cards at Groovy DC (321 Seventh St. SE)

32 H HILLRAG.COM

A colorful wall of gifts at Relume (760 C St. SE)

Owner Mehmet Yalcin outside of Woven History and Silk Road (315 7th st. SE)

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Kids can explore the gift of song at Music on the Hill (800 D St. NE). The store celebrated their ten year anniversary in 2023.

ADVENT: Sunday, December 3rd: 11am Advent Service 3pm Christmas Decorating Party 5pm Starlighting and Carols Sing-a-long Sunday, December 10th: 11am Traditional Lessons & Carols Service (with strings) Sunday, December 17th: 11am Advent Service with Children’s Pageant Sunday, December 24th: 5pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service We are a church committed to serving Christ through serving our neighbors on the Hill and beyond. Join us in worship and collecting clothing for migrants this Advent Season!

201 4th St SE (4th St and Independence Ave)

capitolhillpreschurch.org | 202.547.8676

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A shopper browses gifts at Ginkgo's (911 11th St. SE)

(1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, www. shopmadeindc. com), Shop Made in DC has products from 200 makers including apothecary, apparel, art, jewelry, home decor and stationery. The Hill is rich in gift shops – but don’t sleep on the hardware stores. You can find everything you need for the gardener on your list at Ginkgo’s (911 11th St. SE) but also glassware, art and even a clay chimenea. Locally made products are marked with a green dot. Frager’s (1115 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, acehardware.com) carries Union Market shop Three Littles (1260 Fourth St. NE) sustainable, thoughtfully-designed children’s goods a wide variety of sweets, toys, dedesigned to stand the test of kids and time cor items, decoration, culinary tools and gardening tools – check out the holiday cards by local artist Erin Kids Thompson(erinthompsonstudio.com) and Labyrinth (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, labthe treats by Capitol Candy Jar. Jenk’s Hardyrinthdc.com) is a family-friendly, commuware (910 Bladensburg Rd. NE, wsjenks. nity-focused store featuring a wide selection com) carries holiday decor, and big gifts like of non-electronic, specialty games, puzzles, the Green Egg. Check out Little Wild Things and mazes. Or go online to get personal recFarm upstairs at 906 Bladensburg Rd. NE (litommendations from the Labyrinth Personal tlewildthingsfarm.com), where you can gift a Shopper, or to see lists of top-sellers, stocksalad share membership. ing stuffers or local designers.

Labyrinth Sales Associate Shawn says cooperative game Sky Team is a hot holiday item. Players cooperate to land their plane at airports all over the world.

The Union Market shop Three Littles (1260 Fourth St. NE, threelittles.co) carries thoughtfully-designed children’s goods. The shop offers a selection of necessities and gifts, making an effort not to overwhelm shoppers. Or choose from several thousand figures displayed in antique showcases at The Toy Soldier Shop (503 11th St. SE, toysoldiershop. com). Toy soldier books, wooden castles and a re-

markable selection of original WWI posters round out the offerings. Open Saturdays. Help artists beginning and seasoned build on their talents with a class from Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW, 545 Seventh St. SE, chaw.org). Classes are available in arts, ceramics, photography and dance. Or do you have a budding dancer? Studio One Dance (511 11th St. SE, studioone-dance.com) offers creative ballet to kids from two to eight years. Joy of Motion Dance (1333 H St. NE; joyofmotion.org) offers hip hop, jazz, modern and tap dance students starting at 2 years old. Arts are central to St. Mark’s Studio (301 A St. SE); you can gift your child music lessons, singing or dance lessons in a variety of styles ( stmarks.net/music, www.stmarksdance.org). And when you want to give a perfect, kid-sized guitar, music sheets and instruction to your budding rock star? Go to Music on the Hill (800 D St. NE), which celebrated their ten year anniversary in 2023.

Books Is there a book lover on your list? East City Bookshop (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) is an independent, woman-owned and community-focused bookstore for children and adults. In addition to books, they also carry a selection of toys, gifts, art supplies and literary-inspired items. eastcitybookshop.com On C Street SE, Capitol Hill Books (657 C St. SE, capitolhillbooks-dc.com) serves up everything from well-loved pocketbooks to first editions. The store has three floors of quality used books along with a selection of December 2023 H 35

Let’s Celebrate Eastern Market’s 150th Anniversary!

East City Bookshop (745 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) oﬀers it all for the small set, from gifts like stuﬀed friends to books full of new characters

ly serve the smallest readers. You can visit Politics and Prose at Union Market (1270 Fifth St. NE) or The Wharf (70 District Sq. SW, www.politics-prose.com). The DC-based business carries an extensive selection of books for adults and children, games, apparel, gifts and stationery. Staff are known for their knowledge of literature. P&P offers a subscription service that will send customers a book every month.

Give A Unique Gift This Season! Tribal, Village, and Urban Rugs and Gifts from Along the Silk Road including jewelry, clothing, antique furniture, musical instruments and more.

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Health and Wellness

Gifts for readers are in the bag at Capitol Hill Books (357 C St. SE)

new titles, first editions, and rare and collectable books. You can shop online, but there are way more books in the store than could possibly be listed on the website; they also offer a surprise book box. On Barracks Row, Little District Books (737 Eighth St. SE, littledistrictbooks.com) sells books that represent the spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities and independent publishers. They offer a monthly subscription box as well as a curated gift box –you give them a theme, and they fill it up. Over on H Street, Blackowned Solid State Books (600F H St. NE, solidstatebooksdc.com) has a deep and diverse selection with a café for a pit stop. Solid State Books has an extensive children’s book and young adult section to ful-

Strength and flexibility are gifts of health. Sport & Health has been renamed OneLife Fitness (315 G St. SE, onelifefitness.com) and offers gift memberships, personal training packages and spa services. Boutique fitness studio Jade Fitness (1310 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; jadefitnessdc.com) offers small group and one-on-one training and studio fitness and yoga classes. Want a flexible gift? Hot Yoga Capitol Hill (410 H St. NE, hotyogacapitolhill.com) offers an all- inclusive new student special to local

Pacer's Navy Yard oﬀers clothing and shoes for men and women

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Conte’s Bike Shop (contesbikes. com) in Navy Yard (1331 Fourth St. SE) oﬀers bikes, racks, baskets and everything from helmets to socks as well as maintenance.

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residents, from pilates and yoga to fusion for kids and adults. District Flow Yoga (410 Eighth St. SE, districtflowyoga. com) offers outdoor classes on District Pier at The Wharf in addition to in-studio, with unlimited memberships, single classes and intro specials. But with all that hustle, they’ll need new shoes, socks and clothes! Check out Pacer’s Navy Yard (300 Tingey St. SE) to get the fit. #BikeDC! To truly impress a

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Peel Haus Co-Founder Sonya LoweryYoung is a licensed Medical Aesthetician and can help you achieve that holiday glow.

December 2023 ★ 37

LEFT: Jane Morris of J Chocolatier pops up outside Groovy DC during the holidays Wide range of spices and bitters line the counter at Hill's Kitchen (713 D St. SE)

offers massage, and body scrubs in addition to intuitive and medical massage. What gift could beat a retreat to a 3-in-1 Infared Sauna? Mustardseedspa.com

Treats Get the holidays done DC-style with a stop at Capital Candy Jar (201 15 St. NE, capitalcandyjar. com). Jane Thomas, aka J. Chocolatier, will pop up in front of Groovy DC (321 Seventh St. SE) Dec. 1418,19-22, 23 and 24, offering artisan hand-made chocolate in classic brown wrap with red ribbon–the figs are amazing and the fleur de sel caramels a stocking staple. Or order online: jchocolatier.com cyclist, put your gift where their heart is: the If your sweets are best baked, check out bike. At Daily Rider (600 H St. NE, thedaithe decadent and beautiful cupcakes by Cake lyriderdc.com) get gift certificates for a tuneTheory (325 Seventh St. SE) which can be up or find the perfect accessory or clothing stuffed, topped and loaded in multiple flavors. item. Conte’s Bike Shop (contesbikes.com) Or opt for croissants, madeleines, shortbread, in Navy Yard (1331 Fourth St. SE) offers macarons and cookies from Souk (705 Eighth bikes, racks, baskets and everything from helSt. SE, dcsouk.com). Gluten not your thing? mets to socks as well as maintenance. Sweet Crimes Bakery (1238 Pennsylvania Give the gift of glow! Peel Haus mediAve. SE) does it with cal spa (1105 Penntheir pies, cakes, cooksylvania Ave. SE) Bubbles on display at Exotic Wines and ies and pastries. Pre-orSpirits (801 Maryland Ave. NE) opened this year and der at sweetcrimes.com offers popular servicM ayb e yo u ’ r e es like the Hydrafacial shopping for someone and chemical peels for who loves to make the face and body. Or pair treats, rather than retreatments like Microceive them! You’ll find derm abrasion and reeverything you need for surfacing to bring out the patisserie and chef your holiday glow. Proon your list at Hill’s viders also offer Botox Kitchen (713 D St. and plastic surgery. Gift SE). There’s nonpacertificates are available reils and cocktail bitpeelhaus.com. Or give ters, quality crockery her a treatment at Musand linens as well as tard Seed Spa (405 cookie cutters shaped Eighth St. NE), which like the District and the 38 H HILLRAG.COM

50 states. They’re open 7 days a week til Christmas. www.hillskitchen.com But a treat is as a treat does, so don’t forget the adult beverages. Check out Exotic Wines and Spirits (801 Maryland Ave. NE) for a wide array of wines, beers, bubbles, liquors and even bitters. They offer seasonal sales and discounts by the case. exoticwinespirits.com Why not toast with a little sparkling sake this holiday? Classy Corks (801 Virginia Ave. SE) has a wide selection of Japanese rice wine available. You can also find spirits, wines, mixers and beer from all over the world, delivered to your door for a flat $7 fee. www.classycorksdc.com The consultants at Schneiders of Capitol Hill (300 Massachusetts Ave. NE) can draw on 60 years of experience to help you find the perfect bottle for meal, stocking or under the tree. cellar.com

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Blooms The holidays are a time for foliage, so check out these new florists. H Street’s Seven Petals (408 H St. NE, sevenpetals.co) offers flowers done differently – the infinite rose collection is a boxed bouquet of specially preserved roses that can last up to three months. Or preorder the Champagne Christmas Tree, a real tree that opens to reveal a champagne bottle. She Loves Me (721 Eighth St. SE, shelovesme.com) opened last year and offers holiday wreath and centerpiece workshops, unique bouquets and a full selection of gifts such as puzzles, confetti cannons, candles and the “surprise orange.” Or go with tradition. Blue Iris has been selling gorgeous

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The Flea Market at Eastern Market (200 & 300 blocks Seventh St. SE; 700 block C Street SE, https://easternmarket-dc.org/ouroutdoorvendor) has something for everyone. Kids will see themselves in Jacq’s doll’s; grown ups will love how they look in jewelry by vendors like Enise or a t-shirt from Hero Heads. Art, finely-crafted furniture, imported crafts and vintage and antique furniture, art, records and clothing –you can find something for everyone every Saturday and Sunday at the flea market. This year’s DC Holiday Market operates from Nov. 17 to Dec. 23 on two blocks of F Street NW, from 7th to 9th Streets NW. With its main grand entrance located on the sidewalk in front of the National Portrait Gallery, more than 70 exhibitors and six food vendors will provide tasty treats. Note: they’re closed Dec. 4. downtownholidaymarket.com

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CAPITOL STREETS

Carjacking is “No Big Deal” No Deterrent to Youth Criminal Behavior

earing a commotion one evening in 2021, Kevin McGilly opened the back door of his Bloomingdale home to discover police arresting his 15-year-old foster son, who this article will refer to as “Shawn” The teen and his accomplices had pulled an Uber driver out of his vehicle and driven away in it. Shawn “was trying to scramble back into the house,” McGilly recalled. Police arrested the teenager and carted him away. Overnight, McGilly researched restorative justice. He was torn. On one hand, he was upset over his foster child’s arrest. On the other, Shawn might finally suffer the consequences of his illegal actions. It could be a new beginning, McGilly hoped. The next morning, McGilly got a phone call from the public defender. The teen was being released; all charges dropped, the lawyer said. Shawn told his friends how nothing happened after his arrest, McGilly said. Worse, he introduced other kids living in the house, one as young as 13, to the world of carjacking, which his contemporaries refer to as “free cars.” “Kids were showing it to each other and so it exploded,” McGilly said. “We have three times the carjackings in [20]23 than we had last year and it’s just because more and more kids were being introduced to it.” “We weren’t doing anything about it,” McGilly said. Those working with DC juvenile say the goal of the system is to address the factors motivating youth criminality and preserve public safety, rather than deterring the behavior itself. Moreover, the odds of getting caught committing a carjacking are one in six. Then, even if the perpetrator is arrested, prosecutors face significant evidentiary challenges making their case. And, even if convicted, the juvenile justice system’s sanctions are lenient, designed to reform rather than deter.

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Hard to Catch

In 2023, a plague of carjackings exploded across the District: 873 were reported as of Nov. 15, an average of nearly three a day. However, police have made only 173 arrests. At a Nov. 13 press conference, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) declared juvenile crime a public emergency. Kids under 18 have consistently accounted for roughly two-thirds of those arrested for carjacking. So it’s not surprising that the public attributes the crime to youth. However, the tsample size only accounts for about 17 percent of cases, hardly sufficient to definitively term carjacking a juvenile plague. It could be that given their poor driving skills and general judgement, kids are more likely to get caught. Apprehension does not always result in criminal charges. To be charged with carjacking requires prosecutors prove that the accused made a physical threat and as a result took a car. Linking individuals to specific incidents is difficult when they dress alike–black hoodies and skinny jeans–and are masked. Even when multiple youth are found in a carjacked vehicle, police sometimes only find sufficient probable cause to arrest at most one of them for that offense. Often, the remainder will be charged with the lesser crime of “Unauthorized Use of A Vehicle (UAW)” say attorneys from the DC Office of the Attorney General (DC OAG), responsible for juvenile prosecution. The inability to link crime to perpetrator is exacerbated by the practice of passing stolen cars from one juvenile to another as “free cars.” The low probability of apprehension is not lost on carjackers. Deterrence “is much more about the likelihood of getting caught, which implicates policing, rather than punishment or response in the juvenile legal system as its set up,” said Edward Ferrer, policy director of the Georgetown University’s Juvenile Justice Initiative, citing national research.

The District cannot arrest its way out of the crisis, said Mayor Bowser (D) at her Nov. 13 press conference. However, she added, youth do need stronger boundaries and increased interventions. Truancy is a primary warning indicator of incipient juvenile criminal behavior, national research says. So one of the strongest interventions we can make to keep down juvenile criminal behavior is to keep kids in school. However the system to do so is woefully lacking here in the District.

Support System Down

Kids who have an average number of 13.6 unexcused absences were more than three times as likely to become justice involved, according to a study by The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CCJC). Under DC Law, schools must refer chronically truant youth to Child Support Services (CSS), an arm of the DC OAG. CSS is supposed to evaluate each case, submitting an action plan. After judicial approval, the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) is responsible for its implementation. Unfortunately, there is a problem. In the absence of a direct court order, CSS remains unable to directly access student records to verify attendance due to juvenile privacy protections, the DC OAG recently testified to the DC Council. Inability to access this basic metric puts the agency at tremendous disadvantage when supervising its young charges. Yet, this is only one factor standing in the way of supporting truant youth. The public thinks about the juvenile criminal justice as a “system.” We think about it as judges, prosecutors and the prisons,” said Ferrer. However, in fact, multiple agencies and bureaucratic processes play huge roles in the adjudication and treatment of youth offenders. One percent of justice-involved youth were homeless, a Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) report found. 64 percent were enrolled December 2023 H 45

CAPITOL ST.s

SECTION 1: JUVENILE ARREST THROUGH INITIAL HEARING SECTION 2: INITIAL HEARING THROUGH TRIAL OR PLEA

in Medicaid. 50 percent had prior contact with child welfare agencies before arrest, according to the study. These unfulfilled needs are often part of the reason kids end up involved with the justice system in the first place, Ferrer said. As a kid journeys through the legal bureaucracy, CSS and later DYRS connects them with necessary city services at other agencies. These could be behavioral health professionals, housing, educational or family supports. Sometimes, judges predicate release from DYRS commitment on successfully reaching goals with these agencies. “So, it’s the whole ecosystem around young people and their families that is supposed to exist to support them,” Ferrer points out. A judge might require a juvenile offender to attend school, counseling or abide by a curfew. However, often the agencies fail to deliver. For example, 33.5 percent of justice-involved youth are subject to Individualized Educational Programs (IEPs). If a school is too under-resourced to implement them, however, a kid might end up roaming the halls. If DYRS discovers the infraction, it may punish the child by imposing more restrictive custody, when it is the system that has failed the child. 46 H HILLRAG.COM

Similarly, the Access Help Line is provided by the District to connect children and adults to services. However, intake normally takes three to four weeks, Ferrer said. Provisioning services usually requires another six. If the goal of the juvenile system is to prevent recidivism, Ferrer said, perhaps the focus should be on the places where the system fails kids as much as changing juvenile behavior. “This is the very definition of systemic failure,” he added. So, what happens after the youth responsible for a carjacking who is placed in DYRS custody?

The Consequences

If it is the yuth’s first interaction with the justice system and the offense was unarmed, DYRS may release them to their families or other in-community guardians, police say. However, most carjackers remain under DYRS supervision; many are committed to its custody. More kids should be held securely, the administration believes. “If they’ve been arrested for robbery after robbery, they shouldn’t be in a group home,” Bowser said. “They should be in a secure detained space.” But one problem is DYRS’s

SECTION 3: POST-TRIAL OR PLEA

custodial facilities remain overcrowded with beds in short supply. In December of 2022, a DC Superior Court Judge ordered DYRS to provide more shelter space for girls. This has not yet happened. On the morning of Nov. 13, 2023 according to WUSA, the same court threatened DYRS with contempt for not adding more beds. Space was not an issue until recently, DYRS Director Sam Abed assured reporters at a press conference later day. But judge’s orders tell a different story. In October, a surge in the arrests of adolescent girls generated a waitlist for pretrial accommodation. That month, citing DYRS’s lack of secure housing, DC Superi-

or Court released a 15-year-old girl charged with robbery to the custody of her parents with GPS monitoring. Having allowed the batteries to die on her ankle monitor, the young teen was later involved in an accident involving two carjacked vehicles which killed a 16-year-old. The mayor’s Nov. 13 emergency order specifies additional beds for youth at secure facilities and shelter homes. DYRS is adding a 10bed unit at its Youth Services Center (YSC). It also provides financial incentives for private providers to open additional placements. The mayor’s approach may be intuitively obvious, but confining kids to DYRS’s secure facilities is

not a recipe for success, according the agency’s own statistics. DYRS is currently under scrutiny for conditions at both the YSC facility, where youth are held pre-trial, and at New Beginnings, which houses kids who are sentenced to secure confinement. Both are currently short-staffed and frequently over-capacity. That’s resulted in conditions that are problematic. This summer, parents of detained youth told DCist that their children were being confined to their cells for 23 hours of the day. DC law says that kids should only be confined to cells for safety reasons and not for a period longer than six hours. Frustrated youth do act out violently. In October 2023, two detainees at YSC attacked a guard, stealing her ID badge and using it to release other detainees. Five security guards were injured in the incident and about 20 youth were involved in what City Administrator Donahue called a “melee.” Kids committed to secure facilities are more likely to reoffend compared to those diverted out of the system, according to DC OAG statistics. Diversion is a pathway out of the justice system. DC’s Department of Human Services runs the OAG diversion program, alternatives to the court experience (ACE). DHS evaluates the youth and develops a program of services to help address their needs and hopefully avoid recidivism. The DC OAG charged 981 “matters” in FY 2022 and early 2023. Of those, 226 cases were diverted. 17.9 percent of these youth committed another crime within six months compared to 33.6 perDecember 2023 H 47

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cent of those prosecuted. Historical data indicates that nearly 75 percent of participants who complete the ACE program avoid re-arrest and 62 percent improve school attendance. Not all of the youth who are prosecuted are confined. But this data does indicate that either prosecution and its consequences are a less effective strategy than diversion or those selected for prosecution are inherently more dangerous. So, while a frustrated public calls for confinement of young carjackers, it is not clear such a policy would increase public safety. Nor does confinement serve as a much a deterrent.

Ineffective Deterrence

Kids do not consider consequences before committing crimes, said Ferrer. So, a juvenile justice system built around using confinement as a deterrent “is not going to be effective.” A recent viral Instagram video posted by @dc.artists.tv and evidently filmed by an older male is a case in point. The video shows two adolescent boys roughly 12 years of age chatting while they case cars to steal. “He’s saying rather commit murder than commit armed robbery… You are the dumbest f--k. Armed robbery is what we’re doing!” “No, it’s not!” responds the other. “It’s armed robbery and armed carjacking, dummy.” “It’s the same thing. That’s lower than murder!” “It’s both of them combined…that’s higher than murder.” “You’re taking a human life!” says the first child [walking away in exasperation]. [An older voice, filming, says that murder can involve up to eight charges.] “Well, whoever’s the driver, if I know that they know how to get away from 12 [police], then I’m bending [shooting] with them. If I figure that the [expletive] not gonna get away, then I’m not hopping in with them. No doubt. He calling me dumb!” “You did say you’d rather take a human’s life and get life than rob someone and get 10 to 12 years.” Clearly, the two adolescents were aware that there are steep consequences to getting

caught carjacking, if not the specifics. At least one youth appears to believe the solution is to leave no witnesses regardless of the risk of additional imprisonment —because that reduces the probability of being identified. If the threat of imprisonment is not a viable solution, what can the District do to deter carjacking?

Changes Needed to Ensure Public Safety

Legislative changes are needed to address crime overall in the District, said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Lindsay Appiah, who previously served as DYRS general counsel for nine years. “Having worked with young people, maybe that’s all the more true for [them],” said Appiah. “Because young people need clear boundaries and clear messages about what is right and wrong and what’s acceptable.” Foster dad McGilly agrees. Most kids don’t consider consequences the way adults do, he believes. Getting caught was “no big deal,” his foster son told his friends. “If we say that because kids aren’t great at thinking about consequences and deterrents, we’re just going to pretend that is no longer a consideration. What happens is 900 carjackings,” McGlly said. “I would like something more than nothing; I think that’s a starting point.” A year after the carjacking, police charged Shawn with assault. He spent about two months in a group home. While McGilly appreciated the services Shawn had access to, the environment was not perfect. Shawn spent his “time” with other troubled kids, receiving a different kind of education. “So, it kind of goes both ways,” McGilly said. Today, Shawn is back living with relatives. McGilly is still in touch. The teen is on track to graduate from high school and plans to join the armed forces. He’s an impressively bright kid, McGilly said. If he’d grown up in Cleveland Heights, Ivy League schools would be after him. “That’s the thing, he’s (Shawn) trying to get on track. This is a potentially good news story at the end of the day,” McGilly said. ◆

December 2023 H 49

CAPITOL ST.s

Unlocked:

Failing Security at DCPS Unsecured Doors Put Students At Risk by Rachel Royster

he DCPS second grade teacher knows the work order for the computerized lock on her classroom door was marked “completed.” But she doesn’t trust it. It was complete on the first day of school last year, when it malfunctioned again and locked out her entire class. She had to turn to her fellow teachers for materials. Eventually, she was forced to teach 22 students in a hastily found empty spot in an otherwise crowded school. Over a year and many work orders later, this teacher now resorts to holding the lock open with duct tape to ensure she won’t have to spend yet another day of school locked out of her own classroom. What will she do if she needs to lock it in an emergency? “Rip it off,” she said. That precarious possibility is what a single teacher faces at this one DCPS elementary school. But the issue of malfunctioning locks is far more widespread, extending from computerized locks to traditional mechanical locks in multiple school buildings. And malfunctioning locks are more than a nuisance. Lockdowns are common in schools in DC, usually because of some dangerous or criminal activity happening nearby. However, a “lockdown” in a school with bro-

ken door locks can hardly be effective. But while DCPS runs the schools, they do not manage or repair the school buildings. That is the responsibility of the Department of General Services (DGS) which maintains District real estate, including DCPS schools. School staff issue a work order for broken locks and submit it to DGS to be addressed. These work orders are being met with “band-aid” fixes, say parents and teachers. Many parents wonder if their children will be safe when they are dropped off in the morning. The first installment of this twopart Capital Community News investigation of door security at DCPS elementary schools, funded by a grant from Spotlight DC: Capital City Fund for Investigative Journalism, examines both the extent of the issue and efforts underway to address it.

Unlockable

The issue is three-fold. Some doors do not have keys. Some mechanical locks do not function. In addition, computerized locks installed during modernization have proven unreliable. In some cases, door locks do not engage, whereas other locks do not unlock. As of Sept. 21, lock and door issues made up 14 percent of all open DCPS work orders, the highest por-

Some DCPS teachers have gotten to such a point of distrust with their door locks that they keep tape over the door latch so that the lock cannot engage. Photo: Liz O’Gorek

50 H HILLRAG.COM

tion of all work order types. In the same data set provided to DC Council for an October 12 hearing regarding work order integrity, DGS reported there were 758 open lock and door work orders and only 30 of those were “high priority.” The highest number of outstanding work orders for locks were in Ward 6, where 173 door issues were outstanding, followed by Wards 8 and 4, with 97 each; and Ward 7 with 95 incomplete door and lock work orders. To be high priority, the issue must be an interior door impacting daily operations or programming. These also include doors that should be secured for safety reasons, such as an electrical or technology closet not securing properly, according to DGS. The remaining 728 open work orders are “routine,” meaning DGS defines these as interior doors with “minimal risk for intrusion.” Those include teachers lounges and interior closets. Classroom doors do not appear in any of the three definitions. As of Sept. 30, DGS reported 1,708 resolved lock and door work orders. Though these work orders say “completed,” school communities say the issue is ongoing. Scott Goldstein, executive director of the DC education advocacy organization EmpowerEd (www.weareempowered.org), hears about the door and lock issue routinely from teachers. “It just seems like a major vulnerability,” Goldstein said. “...[teachers] are concerned that if there was an emergency, like an active gunman situation or something and they weren’t able to actually close off their room, how terrifying that would be.”

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Computerized Locks

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When DCPS schools undergo modernization, the DGS, as the facility operator, replaces old mechanical locks with computerized ones under a contract with Vision Security Solutions. These devices are opened and closed using a FOB. At the end of each day though, all of the locks are engaged through a centralized system. Even those with a FOB associated with the lock cannot disengage it. The Vision-installed locks have posed an array of problems. They run on batteries, but there is no display for when the power is running low. The locks simply stop working. Generally, this results in a work order being placed into the DGS system, but DCPS handles computerized locks through contracted out work with Vision. The company sends a tech to change the battery or to diagnose any additional issues hindering the mechanism. After the second grade teacher had spent her school day coming up with a lesson plan with no access to her materials, Vision arrived to change the batteries in her computerized lock. They marked the work order “complete,” but it was still not functioning correctly. “I come in the second day, and it’s locked again because somebody closed the door when I said to leave it open, but they closed the door and it locked so I was locked out again,” the teacher said. “And then we had to wait another three hours for somebody to come out and fix the door.” When the lock to her classroom remained engaged despite efforts to unlock it with the correct FOB, she taped over the lock in a way that it wouldn’t engage. Unmodernized schools do not face these issues since their locks are mechanical. However, there are simi-

lar unresolved problems with the traditional lock and key.

Mechanical Locks

For the DCPS schools still waiting for their turn in the modernization line, mechanical locks are used in each classroom door. These doors use a traditional lock and key. In her walk-throughs of schools, Eboni-Rose Thompson, DC School Board of Education president and Ward 7 representative, discovered cases where door handles were not working properly. In these cases, Thompson said the onsite foremen did not have the appropriate tools to repair them. It is discouraging, Thompson said, to witness the custodial foremen lacking the proper training or necessary equipment to solve these situations. “I’ve heard that DGS is looking into creating some type of loaner program for schools to be able to access some of the tools they need for frequent types of requests like this,” Thompson said. This is a step in the right direction, Thompson said, along with providing training so the custodial staff can quickly address these security issues. “I would be encouraged to see DGS think about how do we empower and support people in the schools to address some of the immediate concerns and not relying on external contractors for those things, which also seems to be something they’re interested in.” In some cases, teachers simply do not have keys to their classroom doors. Thompson discovered replacing the keys can take weeks due to the bureaucratic DCPS approval process. “Because you want to make sure that the people who are approved to have keys have keys, like you can’t

just have anyone and everyone with that access,” Thompson said. “And so that often takes much longer than anyone would anticipate.” The current work order system does not give schools a time estimate for when they can expect issues to be resolved. Thompson said the response times she has heard from schools varies greatly. She would like to see DGS give schools a time estimate to keep everyone accountable.

The public doesn’t need to know the exact locations of broken locks, but they do need to know that there is an issue with classroom security in the District’s schools, said Weedon. “I get the safety concerns, but I think that’s a red herring to keep people from knowing,” Weedon said. Legislative efforts are underway at the DC Council to address the situation.

School Safety

Key to the Problem?

On the topic of accountability, former Ward 6 Representative to the State Board of Education (SBOE) Joe Weedon finds a problem with the lack of public data surrounding this issue. In 2022, DC Council passed an amendment to Law 24-270, called the Protecting SecuritySensitive Dashboard Data Temporary Amendment Act of 2022, which pulled work orders relating to security off of the public work order dashboard. Work orders that relate to campus locks and doors or broken windows which have “the potential to impair lockdown of a campus space” are now exempt from having to be public. A spokesperson from the office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (D), who chairs the council committee that oversees DGS, said there’s a concern that putting an explicit list of where the District’s public school security vulnerabilities are would bring unintentional harm to teachers and students. But studies have shown that most school shootings are perpetuated by insiders of the targeted school, including employees and students. A study by the Government Accountability Offices (GAO) of school shootings from 2009-2019 found that 65 percent of shootings were committed by students or people within the school community — only 12 percent were perpetuated from outside the community, although 19 percent were unknown. That means that those most likely to endanger students are likely to be aware of deficiencies in security. The spokesperson from George’s office said research like this is helpful, adding that the DC Council “does not want to undercut that.” George has raised the issue of responding to work orders with urgency to DGS and DCPS internally and in response, DGS has raised their output, the staffer added.

In March, Councilmember George, chair of the DC Council Committee on Facilities and Family Services, introduced Bill 25-218, the “Work Order Integrity Amendment Act of 2023.” The bill “requires the Department of General Services Facilities Management division receive affirmative approval from a school-level staff member before marking maintenance or repair requests as complete in the Department’s internal work order system.” The aim of the bill is to mitigate the amount of work orders that are currently being marked as “complete” from being band-aid fixes or not being fixed at all. Director of DGS Delano Hunter said he supports “the spirit” of the proposed legislation at an Oct. 12 DC Council hearing on the legislation. But he is concerned the legislation would burden school personnel, corrupt the data DGS examines and harm the businesses contracted by DCPS and DGS, who are paid upon completion of the work order. Hunter prefers more time be given to the strategies recently put into place. At the hearing, he provided details of the FIRST and LAST teams, which will remedy the problem the legislation addresses. “The Facility Intake Response Service Team (FIRST) monitors the ‘Completed and Not Closed’ work order stage through reports,” Hunter testified. “This monitoring assists work team support groups such as the newly created Liaison for Accountability, Service, and Trust (LAST Team) that are laser-focused on closing the work order lifecycle by supporting work team supervisors and craftspersons with data input.” It is unclear when or if the legislation will pass. However, Councilmember George is confident the council and DGS can work together to

solve the current issue with work orders in DCPS, she stated at the hearing. Ely Ross, DCPS’s chief operating officer, and Shilpa Khatri, DCPS deputy chief of Schools Facilities and Planning, declined to comment for this story. For elementary school parent Adam Kron, security is a point of anxiety when he drops his daughter off at school. He wonders what would happen if the lock in her classroom door broke when the school was in a state of emergency. Kron, who testified at the Oct. 12. hearing, remains concerned that DGS is not taking seriously the full efforts that the issues deserve. There’s a certain amount of trust that comes with parents dropping their kids off at school, he said. “It’s vastly important. DGS has this trust, and they are responsible for taking care of our facilities,” Kron said. “If they are unable to do that in a reliable and transparent way, that’s just a violation of that trust.” Parents are not informed about security issues, but when they do express concerns, they are often dismissed. Weedon said when he was in conversation with DCPS and DGS about one modernization, he brought up the need for school security best practices. One option that comes with computerized locks is the ability to “lockdown” classrooms with the press of a single button in the administrative office. He was told that “was too expensive” and it is “not a high enough priority to incorporate in the modernizations going forward.” Weedon worries the builders and architects are not considering security as much as they need to be when thinking through school modernizations. “That should be thought of in the plan from the architects, and it’s not.” Weedon says much of this is about the budget. Cheap and easy fixes result in repeat work orders, because there is not enough money to make needed replacements. He cites the example of an exterior door in a District high school that can be opened with the right “jiggle.” It often is, setting off an alarm that has been subsequently disabled, doubling security issues. The door, he said, has been repaired eight times in seven years. These failures say a lot about the city’s priorities over all, Weedon said. The responsibility falls on DCPS and DGS. “But where does the buck December 2023 H 53

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stop? It stops with the Mayor.” The issue of locks and doors in DCPS is definitely one on the mind of Mayor Muriel Bowser as well as the council, the spokesperson for Councilmember George said. This is reflected in their $1.1 million proposed and sustained budget allotment to repair efforts in FY24. In addition, the council passed Act 25-172, Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2023, which outlined in subtitle D “School Security and Transparency” a new comprehensive assessment of certain security objectives, including locks and doors, on all campuses at least once per year. Parents and teachers won’t sleep well until the issues are resolved, said EmpowerEd’s Goldstein. “When DGS doesn’t get around to fixing a broken lock on a door, it may be another item on their long to-do list,” he told DC Council, “but it gives that classroom teacher nightmares every night thinking about what might happen if an intruder were to enter the school.” The grade two teacher who opened our story agrees. One day, she worries, there might be an incident. Then she will have to rip that duct tape band aid off, locking her door permanently. On that day, the teacher can only hope whatever trouble comes into her school is on the other side. This article was supported by a grant from the Spotlight DC: Capitol City Fund for Investigative Journalism. Spotlight DC encourages the submission for proposals by independent journalists. For more information, visit www.spotlightdc.org. ◆

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College Bound Needs Mentors! A Small Time Commitment Can Make a Big Difference by Stephanie Deutsch gram, he says, are made not financially but by the ly white public schools. This meant that men and women who serve as volunteer mentors, young Kenneth often felt isolated and put many of them maintaining relationships with stuon the spot but, even so, he discovered that dents throughout their four years of high school he was happiest when learning. He graduand then beyond. Some go to see their mentees ated from high school as class valedictorian graduate from college, attend their weddings and went on to the University of North Carand remain friends. Kenneth remembers years olina on a full scholarship. Again encourago hearing then Secretary of Education Arne aged by family, this time by a grandmother Duncan speak about the importance of mentorwho unexpectedly offered him the money ing relationships, affirming that everyone models to attend summer school between his freshhis or her behavior on someone. Positive menman and sophomore years, he graduated in 1984, the first member of his family to earn a college degree. It was these experiences, plus the years he spent as a classroom Kenneth Ward greets a student at the Sherwood Recreation teacher in D.C. schools and earnCenter College Bound site. photo: David Deutsch ing a Master’s Degree in Education from Trinity College, that helped to enneth Ward’s enthusiasm for eduprepare Kenneth for his role today as Excation began many years ago, when ecutive Director of College Bound, a lohe was a child in rural Enfield, North cal non-profit that offers young people the Carolina. His mother, seeing access mentoring relationships and enriching to high quality education as an esexperiences that enable them to not only sential step towards success, signed him up to be complete high school but to go on to colpart of a small minority of African American chillege and to succeed there. The organizadren voluntarily de-segregating predominanttion serves over 200 students each year offering not only weekly mentoring meetings but college tours, SAT College Bound Executive Director Kenneth Ward works with student Khalya Johnson at the Sherwood Recreation Center. photo: prep classes, assistance in applying David Deutsch for scholarships and financial aid, as well as opportunities for internationtors, he said, can make a tremendous difference al travel. For the last three years 100% of in the lives of young people. those who complete College Bound have College Bound mentors are asked to commit graduated from high school and been acto serving for at least a year (though ideally they cepted into college. The program also supmaintain a relationship with one student for the ports alumni, staying in touch with them four years of high school). They meet one-onat college and offering virtual mentoring. one with their mentees one evening a week for two The money to support these programs hours at one of the program’s five sites. Mentors comes from foundations, grants and indialso make a commitment to getting together once vidual donors so fundraising is a signifia month for an activity outside of the classroom – cant part of Kenneth’s work. But by far the a ball game, a movie, a meal out or just a walk and most significant contributions to the proDaniela Romualdo works with student Melia Phillips at College

Bound Sherwood Rec site. photo: David Deutsch

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talk. In essence, Kenneth Ward says, a mentor is someone who believes in a young person and feels that he or she can go to college. It’s someone who shows up regularly and is willing to both listen and to give honest feedback. At Sherwood Recreation Center on 10th Street NE, College Bound meets on Mondays from 5:30 – 7:30. Currently there is a need for at least eight more mentors there. On a recent Monday evening mentors worked with their regular mentees while site coordinators from Sherwood and other sites and Kenneth Ward himself filled in for the needed mentors. Daniela Romualdo, site coordinator for two other College Bound sites, one at Shaw Library and the other at Walker Memorial Baptist Church, was there to help and reflected on her own experiences. As a student at Banneker High School, she attended College Bound which, she said, pushed her not only academically but personally. “It just helped me to be more active,” she said. “I am a huge advocate of giving back and mentoring. I enjoy sharing experiences that can help others, especially women and the Latin community, to obtain opportunities.” Another graduate of College Bound who returned to be part of the program as a site manager and coordinator of on-line aspects of the program, Zion Kelly attended Thurgood Marshall Academy in DC and went on to college at Florida A&M in Tallahassee. “College Bound helped me get scholarships and it also prepared me for life after high school,” he says. Two trips to Ghana with the program opened his eyes to a lot of history he hadn’t known.

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thankful for all of the mentors I’ve had over the years and continue to have today.” Watching the young man he mentored graduate from College Bound and head off to college has been deeply satisfying. “We still talk regularly,” he says, “and I’m excited to watch him thrive.” An added benefit has been feeling more connected to this community through meeting other mentors and the families of the young people they Site director Andre Cox works with a new student, Bryan Martir, at the Sherwood Recreation Center of College Bound. Photo: mentor. David Deutsch They have a saying at College Bound -- “There is Andre Cox is in his second year as site no elevator to success. You have to take the coordinator at Sherwood. He did not attend stairs.” By providing structure, opportuniCollege Bound but he did have an importies and, most importantly, mentors, College tant experience with a mentor. At his high Bound makes climbing those stairs so much school, Uncommon Charter in Brooklyn, less daunting than it might otherwise be. And N.Y., one of the gym teachers took a spefor those who volunteer their time and talent as cial interest in young men and boys who he mentors, the rewards are immeasurable. thought might be struggling. He started a Anyone interesting in learning more group called “Men of Tomorrow” which about College Bound or in becoming a menwould meet in the mornings before school tor should go to info@collegebound.org or and offer opportunities for students to talk consult www.collegebound.org. You may also about their lives and the challenges they were call 202-842-0858. Requirements for menfacing. A college graduate and a veteran, he tors include a B.A. degree, having a backset an example of someone who had done ground check and attending training. u well and who was willing to invest time in young men. “At College Bound,” Andre says, “we like to say that everybody has mentors. It’s important to have a good one.” He went on from high school to Lafayette College where he studied economics and met the woman who became his wife; she is a graduate of College Bound. Matt Aksamit, a tax attorney, eloquently sums up why he mentors and what the experience has meant to him. “I mentor,” he says, “because in my personal life and in my career, each ‘lucky’ moment came from another person taking an interest in me and showing me how to use my own tools to help Students and mentors at College Bound site at Sherwood Rec myself when I got stuck. I am Center. Photo: David Deutsch

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Jim Toole

Capitol Hill’s Legendary Bookseller Dies by Larry Janezich

Jim Toole. Photo: Andrew Lightman

he shock of the death of Morton “Jim” Toole – legendary former owner of Capitol Hill Books – on Saturday, November 11 spread through the Capitol Hill community during the following days. Toole collapsed and died of a heart attack on his way home after having dinner with friends at Tunnicliff ’s Tavern. He was 86. Earlier in the evening, he had attended the monthly free Second Saturday Wine and Cheese event at the bookstore. Toole was a retired Navy rear admiral and three weeks earlier had attended a reunion of some 30 former Navy shipmates at Tunnicliff ’s. His friends and employees called him The Admiral.

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Toole was commissioned as a second lieutenant out of the Naval ROTC at UCLA in 1957. In 1966, he served in Vietnam, commanding river patrol boats in the Mekong Delta. He later commanded a destroyer and a guided missile cruiser. He retired from active duty in 1987. One of Toole’s longtime friends noted that his death on Veteran’s Day was a fitting and poetic way to go. In retirement, Toole lived on Capitol Hill and in the early 1990’s was a regular customer at Capitol Hill Books. The used book store was opened in 1991 by Bill Kerr, a graduate of Wayward Books – another beloved used bookstore located at 725 7th Street, SE, which relocated to Maine in 1990. Kerr lived on the second floor of the building, and died there in 1994 of a heart attack in his bedroom which is now the store’s Mystery Room. Toole reportedly had no intention of running a bookstore in retirement, but bought the store in 1995 – according to a long time friend– “to save it for the neighborhood” since there were no other used book stores on the Hill and he believed there should be one. Capitol Hill resident and author Tim Krepp says one of the things that he respected about Toole was that he recognized when it was time to provide for a transition to a new generation of booksellers. In July of 2018, Toole sold the business to long-time employees and friends of the store. According to their website, the new owners vowed to preserve the fiercely independent spirit of the bookstore and ensure it maintains its place as a literary hub of the community. Toole was still working there when he died. Much has been written about Toole’s wit (acerbic) and curmudgeoness (carefully cultivated), his posted admonishments (dictatorial), his posted advice (irreverent), and his management style (quixotic), all of which enlivened the struc-

tured disorganization that characterized the nationally known eclectic bookshop. In retirement, he found a new ship to command, though one which appeared to be the antithesis of the taut ships he ran in the Navy. Still, there was no question of who was in command. One of his rules was, “Rule number 1: The customer is not always right. I am.” Capitol Hill author and longtime member of Friends of Southeast Library Jack Wennersten remembers Toole as a library book sale patron who would “come with his employees and buy up a bunch of books and take them back to his shelves. He had a mystique about him as a grumpy old soldier but he wasn’t – he had a heart. Once he sold the shop, he seemed bereft – it was his baby – he was no longer captain of the ship.” Evidence of the size of his heart was expressed in his generosity toward friends and especially toward children. Krepp recalled taking his children into the store and his daughter finding a book which she took to Toole at the front desk. “Where’d you get this money?” he asked. “I earned it,” was the reply. “You earned it, huh? Half price!“ Another longtime friend, Robert Bateman, author, sailor, and retired US Army Colonel recalled similar experiences when he took his own daughter to the store. He said, she’ll cry when she hears about this. Bateman saluted Toole for his knowledge of military history and his sense of where to find a specific volume among the tens of thousands in the store. Much of the character of Capitol Hill Books as it was when Toole owned the store is missing now. Gone for the most part is the quirky signage that reflected Toole’s personality. The store is tidier and has a table of new releases – including the formerly forbidden romance novels – and background music is piped through wall-mounted speakers.

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One part of the store which has not changed is the stairwell to the second floor. Among the random collection of posters, clippings, advertisements for music classes, etc., is a framed photo of store founder Bill Kerr and a commitment from Toole. Entitled, “In Memoriam,” it reads in part: “The torch has again been passed. Our ‘village’ on the Hill once again has at least one Good Used Book Store, open and available. In the memory of Bill Kerr we are dedicated to continue not only the name of his store with which we can all identify but also his inspiration: buy GOOD Used Books in order to sell GOOD Used Books so we can enjoy GOOD Used Books.” In the second floor Mystery Room – formerly Bill Kerr’s bedroom – a large white stretched canvas rests atop a bookcase. Printed in black letters, a quotation from The Clocks by Agatha Christie reads: “It was clear that the books owned the shop rather than the other way about. Everywhere they had run wild and taken possession of their habitat, breeding and multiplying and clearly lacking any strong hand to keep them down.” Asked how the canvas came to be there, a staffer said, “We think it was sent to us by mistake…about six months ago.” Asked who had sent it, the staff said, “We don’t know. It’s a mystery.” A mystery, yes. But not likely sent by mistake. In addition to his wife, June, of Washington, survivors include a daughter, three stepchildren, a brother, and six grandchildren. ◆

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/ Our River: The Anacostia /

Coming Up Fast in 2024 Projects From the Stadium to New York Avenue

here is a lot planned for the Anacostia and its watershed in 2024. It is important that we be aware of these proposals and their effects on other projects, as well as ongoing management efforts throughout the River to make it fishable and swimmable. There is some evidence that the earlier project advocates are not always taking those effects into account. Also, there is a concentration of projects between the RFK stadium and New York Avenue; the area above Benning Road is the most natural in the DC watershed with a special feel of wilderness; and some of these new projects threaten to upset that rural feeling. The project perhaps most advanced is the one that appears to be taking the least interest in its surroundings. This is the proposed bridge over the river connecting Kenilworth Park to the National Arboretum. It is crossing the river at a point where the landscape is remarkably natural and the bridge will be the only visible intrusion. However, in addition to the bridge itself, the Park Service appears to want the bridge to carry park vehicles, which would require roads up to the bridge and supports in the river. These would make the bridge more prominent in the landscape and more dangerous for people learning to control canoes and other vessels coming downstream. There is also no clear plan for extensions north and south of the bridge on the west side which would have a range of effects on the natural areas north to New York Avenue and south to the golf course and Benning Road. Perhaps a commitment now to avoid vehicle capacity on the bridge would make the project compatible with a wider range of future options on both sides of the River.

by Bill Matuszeski

RFK Stadium—to be replaced by a new stadium or a new neighborhood.

built over a city dump. The National Park Service is holding onto the Aquatic Gardens, but preparing to turn over the fields and adjacent lands to the City. The NPS will also keep the overgrown areas to the south with plans for trails along the water. The DC Department of Transportation is working with them on the trails and is planning to connect them up with the new bridge. If the DC Department of Energy and Environment gets the current Park lands under the contract, they may have different ideas of what to do with them. Right now it is difficult to see how this will turn out, but citizens may have a role in deciding the ultimate use of the land. Meanwhile the parklands coming to

The Fields at Kenilworth Park

That leads to another set of issues related to the future of the fields in Kenilworth Park. There are differing opinions about where to go with these open acres with remnants of the old soccer fields 62 H HILLRAG.COM

Proposed Bridge Site, connecting two natural shore areas – the Kenilworth Park and the National Arboretum.

the City are in need of soil and field upgrades. It could become a place in Anacostia for folks to gather outdoors or play games or sports. And it should be the folks in Anacostia who decide what they want. Moving downstream a bit, the area between the RFK Stadium and Benning Road from the river to the streets of Capitol Hill is about to become an area of considerable conflict. Some of the nearby areas on both sides of the River are doing well, but the area around the stadium is in a struggle between the Mayor, who wants to bring professional football back to the city with a new stadium, and the neighborhood who want more housing and commercial properties. It would also be nice to celebrate the recovery of the Anacostia with a small museum that shows what has been done to rehabilitate the river and what more is possible; that could be part of whichever group gets their way with football or housing. The best move would be to start now with the Smithsonian to plan a way to make our museum on Our River part of whichever group eventually gets their way on the stadium. And we should pursue ways that a museum could join up with those carrying out the variety of recovery programs underway just a short walk down to the islands in the River. So those are some actions underway or about to start in the areas above. Of course, there are other activities under way or planned along other parts of the river, such as the 11th Street Bridge Project, which can also use volunteers. But the overlaps and challenges of doing a lot at the same time are most evident up north, where nature is still in control most of the time and we have to set the projects in order to make them work together. Bill Matuszeski is a member of the Mayor’s Leadership Council for a Cleaner Anacostia River, and the retired Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. He also serves on the board of Friends of the National Arboretum and on Citizen Advisory Committees for the Chesapeake and the Anacostia. u

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Objections to Repairing Gas Lines ANC 6A REPORT by Sarah Payne Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 6A) met via Zoom on Oct. 12. Commissioners Keya Chatterjee (6A01, vice chair), Roberta Shapiro (6A03), Amber Gove (6A04, chair), Dave Wethington (6A05), Robb Dooling (6A06) and Steve Moilanen (6A07) were in attendance. Commissioner Mike Velasquez (6A02) was absent.

aomi Cohen-Shields, DC campaigns manager for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), briefed the commission on the climate, construction and financial implications of Washington Gas’s plan to replace its 40-year-old pipes. Cohen-Shields encouraged commissioners to urge the utility to explore alternative options for repairing the pipes in the worst condition. It would be better to move away from natural gas towards cleaner energy sources, she stated. The Washington Gas project had already caused “untold amounts of damage,” Commissioner Chatterjee stated. It has significantly delayed the implementation of the traffic calming measures along Florida Avenue NE, she pointed out. Washington Gas contractors have verbally abused local residents and ANC commissioners, she said. There has been property damage near the construction sites, she reported. Washington Gas construction has severely damaged the foundation of one resident’s home due to the intense vibrations after metal plates were dropped onto the street, Chatterjee reported. “It would be great if we could use these experiences to stop this project expanding to the rest of DC,” she said. The damage to cars from the” terrible roads” as a result of this project have made Florida Ave NE “not drivable,” chimed in resident Morgan Giddings.

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The commission took no vote on this matter.

Other Matters

The commission voted to: • protest the Class C restaurant license application for Jerk at Nite, Inc., 1100 H St. NE, unless a settlement agreement is reached prior to the protest deadline; • request the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) modify its K St. NE Bike Lane Extension by removing the turn lanes in support of reducing vehicle speed; exploring options for pickup and drop-off areas on the 700 block of K Street NE, reviews the turn radius at the intersection of Eighth and K Streets NE; and install flex posts at intersections along the south side of K Street NE to prevent blockages. • write to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA), endorsing a special exception to permit a financial services firm on the ground floor of an existing, six-story, mixed use building located at 650 H St. NE; • write to BZA in support of a use variance relief to expand an existing restaurant use to the second floor of a semi-detached, two-story with basement, commercial building located at 106 13th St. SE; • support DDOT’s notice of intent (NOI) to lower the speed limit from 25 to 20 mph on the 800-1400 blocks of East Capitol St., on North Carolina Ave. NE between 13th Street NE and Constitution Ave. NE and on Eighth St. NE between Florida Ave. and East Capitol. • appoint community member Paul Spires to the commission’s Community Outreach Committee (COC). The next meeting of ANC 6A is at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 via Zoom. Get details on committee meetings and how to join online at anc6a.org. Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u

Support for Harsher Penalties for Historic District Violations ANC 6B REPORT by Elizabeth O’Gorek Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B met via Zoom on Nov. 14. Frank Avery (6B01, treasurer); Jerry Sroufe (6B02); David Sobelsohn (6B03, secretary); Frank D’Andrea (6B04); Kasie Durkit (6B05); Chander Jayaraman (6B06, vice chair); Vince Mareino (6B07); Edward Ryder (6B08, Chair); and Matt LaFortune (6B09) were present.

he commission wrote a letter in support of a bill proposed by Ward 6 Commissioner Charles Allen (D) that increases protections for historic homes from unauthorized destruction or demolition and also raises fines for violations. Two homes have been destroyed in ANC 6B in the past four years by contractors who exceeded the limitations of permits issued by the Department of Building (DOB), both located on A Street SE. The bill is based on an examination of past cases that appeared to indicate the existing penalty system did not function as a deterrent. Fines rarely exceeded $3,000 and did not discriminate between small-scale damages and full demolition. It addresses this issue by scaling fines to severity, raising the ceiling to $100,000 per violation from $4,716. The legislation was introduced to DC Council on Nov. 15 and was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The ANC letter supports Allen’s bill but also requests a hearing to help the public understand the process by which fines are assigned and collected. It also asks that the Office of Planning (OP), responsible for DOB, provide annual data on types of violations and the penalties assigned to each.

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A AMBER GOVE, CHAIR, 6A04@ANC.DC.GOV Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, and H Street communities ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, virtually on Zoom.

Safety Around Watkins Elementary

The commission supported a letter requesting that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) analyze traffic safety around Watkins Elementary School (420 12th St. SE). It also asks the school to reverse recent policy changes around pick up and dropoff and requests Department of Public Works (DPW) staff to be at the school to proactively prevent violations until these concerns are addressed, arguing “if the current situation continues “someone is going to get hit by a car.” Watkins has a large out-of-boundary student population, meaning that many students arrive by car. Commissioners say that recent changes in pickup and drop-off have increased double parking and idling, in particular the decision by Watkins Principal Scott Berkowitz to move parent pick up from the DDOT-designated zone on 12th Street SE to an area nearer to the field on E and 13th Street SE. The commission said these changes induce parents to double-park on E Street SE, creating unsafe roadway conditions. A version of the letter was addressed to Watkins Principal Scott Berkowitz, DC Public Schools (DCPS), State Board of Education (SBOE) Representative Brandon Best, Councilmember Allen and DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D).

Protest of Harris Teeter Licenses

The commission supported a letter to relevant ANC Commissions and the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Authority (ABCA) voicing opposition to renewal of any existing liquor licenses for all District Harris Teeter stores, three of which are located in the District (401 M St. SE, 1201 First St. NE and 1631Kalorama Rd. NW). Residents of the adjacent Jenkins Row condominium say Harris Teeter has refused to relinquish the lease on the space at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave SE since the grocery store at the site

closed in January 2022. They told the ANC that neighbors deal with issues from rodents and pests to encampments in the retail parking garage. The letter argues that Harris Teeter’s refusal to allow another tenant to take the space has violated two ABCA standards and notes that residents of Jenkins Row condominiums have tried many avenues to get the space put to use to no avail.

In Other Business

The ANC voted to: • Support a substantial change to the existing liquor license for Café 8 (424 Eighth St. SE), allowing for an entertainment endorsement to permit a DJ and to allow for later hours of service, up to 1:30 a.m. weeknights and 2:30 a.m. weekends. To address concerns with noise, ANC 6B conducted a sound test and the applicants have taken mitigating measures. • A resolution to DDOT asking that they address concerns with parked dockless scooters and bikes impeding access to sidewalks and crosswalks and to consider violations before extending permits for shared fleet devices beyond the current timeframe. • Support the renewal of a Retailer’s Class “B” Grocery Liquor license for Trader Joe’s (750 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) as well as a letter expressing concern about security on the escalators and asking the company to install cameras that monitor the entry level and escalators. Representation for Trader Joe’s said the company supported the idea in principal but wanted to ensure the grand floor vestibule fell within their lease lines. • Support a historic preservation application (HPA) to construct a new, three-story rear addition, and penthouse with roof deck, to an existing, detached, three-story apartment at 630 G Street SE.

www.anc6a.org

ALL ARE WELCOME The Next meeting is 2nd Thursday, December 14, 7:00 p.m. Transportation & Public Space Committee meeting 3rd Monday, December 18, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Economic Development and Zoning Committee meeting 3rd Wednesday, December 20, 7:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting via Zoom Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meeting To be announced on anc6a.org/agendas Community Outreach Committee meeting Canceled for December Call in information will be posted under Community Calendar at anc6a.org 24 hours prior to the meeting. Instructions for accessing the meeting via Zoom have been posted under Hot Topics at anc6a.org. Call in information will be posted under Community Calendar at anc6a.org 24 hours prior to the meeting. You will be able to enter the meeting no earlier than 15 minutes prior to its scheduled start time.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 7D “Uniting Communities East and West” Representing the Capitol Hill/Hill East, Eastland Gardens, Kenilworth, Kingman Park, Mayfair, Parkside, River Terrace and Rosedale neighborhoods

Join us for our December Virtual Public Meeting Tuesday, December 12, 2023 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm How to participate:

By computer: https://zoom.us/j/99188271171 Passcode: anc7d Or by phone: 1-301-715-8592 Webinar ID: 991 8827 1171 Passcode: 412631

YOUR COMMISSIONERS ELECTED TO SERVE YOU Who

Where

How to Contact Me

Wendell Felder Chairperson Brian Alcorn Vice Chair Brett Astmann Treasurer Ashley Schapitl Secretary Siraaj Hasan Commissioner Mike Davis Commissioner Ebony Payne Commissioner Marc Friend Commissioner Brianne Eby Commissioner

Parkside - 7D03

7d03@anc.dc.gov

Capitol Hill/Hill East – 7D08

7d08@anc.dc.gov

Rosedale – 7D07

7d07@anc.dc.gov or 202-630-1632 7d09@anc.dc.gov

Hill East – 7D09 Eastland Gardens/ Kenilworth – 7D01 River Terrace – 7D04

7d01@anc.dc.gov

Kingman Park – 7D05

7d05@anc.dc.gov or 202-427-2068 7d06@anc.dc.gov or 202-455-6238 7d10@anc.dc.gov

Rosedale – 7D06 Hill East – 7D10

7d04@anc.dc.gov

Volunteer Opportunities!

We are now recruiting community volunteers to build our five Commission committees. Our committees include: Community Outreach/Grants, Economic Development/Housing Justice, Environment, Public Safety, and Transportation/Public Space. Contact any Commissioner or 7d@anc.dc.gov for more information.

December 2023 H 65

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•

The applicant has changed materials and windows after feedback from the historic preservation office (HPO). Support the hiring of an ANC administrative assistant.

ANC 6B next meets 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14. See the agenda and information on how to join at anc6b.org u

Clash Over Rear Addition ANC 6C REPORT by Sarah Payne Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C met on Oct. 11 via WebEx. Commissioners Christy Kwan (6C01), Leslie Merkle (6C02, secretary), Jay Adelstein (6C03), Mark Eckenwiler (6C04, chair), Joel Kelty (6C05, treasurer), Patricia Eguino (6C06) and Tony Goodman (6C07, vice chair) were in attendance.

lisabeth Kidder and Daniel Spurlock have applied to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) for special exception relief from the rear addition and lot occupancy requirements for their home at 425 Fourth St. NE. The couple plans to construct a three-story with cellar rear addition to an existing attached two-story principal dwelling unit to add additional bedrooms for their children and an in-law suite in the basement for their growing family. Nearby homeowners expressed concern about the scale of the project and its impact on their residences. They are worried about privacy, light exposure, historic preservation and public safety. The proposed addition will permanently alter airflow and their family’s use and enjoyment of the upstairs deck and the lower patio, stated neighbors Andy and Lynn Seymour. These two outdoor spaces were a “primary” factor in their decision to purchase their home, Seymour added. “We use this space constantly,” he said. “It is like an extension of the interior of the house.” Due to its scale, sunlight will also be limited by this project, said Carbery School resident Monica Gonzales. There is also a potential public safety implications of fire truck accessibility due to its far extension back, she said. “People care about the character of the neigh-

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borhood and those that really love it think that it should stay the way it is,” another neighor said. Neighborhood residents “made a very deliberate decision to live in a historic neighborhood where drastic changes wouldn’t be made to the homes,” said one Commissioner. Commissioner Goodman expressed his sympathy as well. However, the request for relief was not out of the ordinary, he pointed out. “Being in a historic district does not mean that things don’t change,” he observed said. “It means that when things are changed, it’s a thoughtful change.” The commission voted four to three to support the homeowner’s application and authorized Commissioner Eckenwiler to serve as a witness in the Dec. 20 hearing.

Other Matters

The commission voted to: • support a permit application for an outdoor dining space at Chopsmith, 300 M St. NE; • support a BZA application for a modest rear addition to a residential property located at 648 Acker Pl. NE; • support a BZA application for a rear addition and a carport to a residential property located at 107 Sixth St. NE; • appeal a construction permit issued for 622 I St. NE to construct a single apartment building across two recorded lots and authorize Commissioner Eckenwiler to represent the commission; • write to the Department of General Services (DGS) asking its Director to accept the transfer of Reservation 315, a parklet located at Fifth & I Streets NE, from the National Park Service (NPS) to the District; • write to the District objecting to commercial use of residential properties due to their adverse impacts of traffic, trash, illegal parking and loading, damage to neighborhood cohesiveness and loss of tax revenue. ANC 6C will next meet on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. via WebEx. Visit anc6c.org to learn more about the commission and register to attend the meeting. Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u

Lead Water Pipe Replacement ANC 6D REPORT by Andrew Lightman Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on Nov. 13 via Zoom. Commissioners Bob Link (6DO1, vice chair), Ronald Collins (6D02, treasurer), Gail Fast (6D03), Andrea Pawley (6D04), Ashton Rohmer (6D05), Bruce Levine (6D06, secretary), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D07, chair) and Rhonda Hamilton (6D08) were in attendance.

Water briefed the commission on its plans for eliminating residential lead and galvanized water piping in the District. The program started in 2019. As of Nov. 2023, the utility has replaced 4,660 lines. These lines typically run from the water main in the street to each home. The cost of replacing a section of lead pipes in public space is the DC Water’s responsibility, while the remainder is paid for the homeowner. DC Water has programs to help with this cost. Homeowners can consult a map at https//geo. dcwater.com/Lead/ to see if their water line has an issue. Advice is also available by phone at 202787-4044 or at www.dcwater/leap. There are 785 homes impacted in Southwest. The utility is currently working on 143.

I-695 Bridge Rehab

The DC Dept. of Transportation (DDOT) briefed commissioners on the I-695 Freeway Bridge Rehabilitation Project. The agency plans to rebuild all highway bridges and ramps from Second Street SE to Second Street SW. The design is currently 65 percent completed. It will be finished by February 2024. The agency plans to hold a public meeting on the project shortly afterwards. Recent revisions have added the New Jersey Avenue Bridge and the pedestrian underpass from Randall Field to the project. The whole highway deck will have to be rehabilitated, stated DDOT’s project manager. Two travel lanes will be maintained at all times. Lighting underneath the bridges is slated for replacement, he said. The project is not yet funded, so there is no firm date for its commencement. However, construction is likely to begin in 2025. The project’s estimated duration is 24 to 36 months, he said. The manager promised commissioners a detailed traffic

and construction plan taking into account stadium and special events before construction starts. More details can be found at www.seswbridges. ddot.dc.gov.

Other Matters

Metropolitan Police Dept. (MPD) Sector 3 Captain Kevin Harding and PSA 105 Lieutenant Elias Danho led the public safety briefing for the commission. The captain mainly focused on October robberies. On Oct. 16, patrons of the Phillip Chow restaurant, 635 Wharf St. SW, were robbed as they left the establishment by a group of armed men, who fled in a vehicle. On Oct. 27, a teen was attacked by five other youth on the 500 block of School Street SW. On Oct. 31, police recovered a gun from a room at the Intercontinental Hotel on The Wharf. Officers arrested a set of carjackers and recovered a stolen vehicle by tracking it with an AirTag. Otherwise, both officers stated crime was down generally compared to the same period in 2022. DC Sentencing Commission Outreach Specialist Brittany Bunch provided an overview of her agency’s role and its annual report. The commission creates voluntary sentencing guidelines for judges for DC Code offences, not federal laws. Commission voted unanimously to approve liquor license renewals and cooperative agreements for The Cambria Hotel, The Friendly Food Market, The Hilton Washington, Simply Smiles, Suns Gallery, Officina and The Holiday Inn. The commission has supported the application filed by the DC Preservation League (DCPL) for the historic designation of Landsburgh Park Historic Preservation. The Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) has asked DCPL for clarification, reported a commissioner. The commission also voted to protest the Southwest Safeway’s renewal on the grounds of Peace, Order and Quiet. Commissions cited safety concerns about is-

sues around the entrance and requested a revised cooperative agreement to clarify the store’s responsibilities. The commission voted to send the new Director of DDOT a restatement of its general concerns with the agency including the maintenance of the 74 bus route, the creation of a pubic parking inventory on Buzzard Point, concerns about the 2024 Transportation Operations Parking Plan (TOPP) which governs events and stadium traffic and continuing adjustments to the Protected Bike Lanes (PBLs) to reduce visual obstructions. The commission also asked to receive a full review of the proposed South Capitol Avenue Redesign and an update on PBLs plans for M Street SW. The commission also voted to write Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) about their concerns about DDOT’s use of a little publicized survey to gather public comment related to the TOPP. Kurt Sanders was appointed the chair of commission’s new Transportation Committee. The commission approved FY23 Q3 and Q4 reports prepared by Treasurer Collins as well as its FY24 Budget. ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is Dec. 11, 2023. For more information, visit www.anc6d.org. ◆

Henderson Talks Health and Safety ANC 7D REPORT by Sarah Payne Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met Oct. 10 via Zoom. Commissioners Siraaj Hasan (7D01), Wendell Felder (7D03, chair), Commissioner Mike Davis (7D04), Ebony Payne (7D05), Marc Friend (7D06), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, vice chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09), secretary) and Bri-

Read his story at CapitolHillHistory.org

Photo by Lis Wackman

John Mann’s great-great-grandfather George Beckert arrived on Capitol Hill from his native Germany in 1844 looking for a new life. Beckert realized his dream, opening a brewery and beer garden at 13th and D Streets SE, where the Safeway market and aptly-named Beckert’s Park apartments now stand. Read John Mann’s oral history at CapitolHillHistory.org. Help preserve Capitol Hill history by becoming a volunteer.

AN INITIATIVE OF THE CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787

www.anc6c.org

Next meeting Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Information will be posted on the ANC 6C website.

ANC 6C COMMISSIONERS ANC 6C01 Christy Kwan 6C01@anc.dc.gov ANC 6C02 Leslie Merkle 6C02@anc.dc.gov ANC 6C03 Jay Adelstein 6C03@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C04 Mark Eckenwiler 6C04@anc.dc.gov ANC 6C05 Joel Kelty 6C05@anc.dc.gov ANC 6C06 Patricia Eguino 6C06@anc.dc.gov ANC 6C07 Tony Goodman 6C07@anc.dc.gov

ANC usually meets the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm, 214 Massachusetts Ave, N.E. Please check the ANC 6C website for dates.

ANC 6C COMMITTEES Alcoholic Beverage Licensing First Monday, 7 pm Contact: drew.courtney@gmail.com

Transportation and Public Space First Thursday, 7 pm Contact: anc6c.tps@gmail.com

Grants Last Thursday, 7 pm Contact: torylord@gmail.com Twitter: @ANC_6C_Grants Environment, Parks, and Events First Tuesday, 7 pm Contact: jgmccann@gmail.com

Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development First Wednesday, 6:30 pm Contact: 6C04@anc.dc.gov Twitter: @6C_PZE

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anne Eby (7D10) were in attendance. Commissioner Siraaj Hasan (7D01) was absent. Single Member District 7D02 remains vacant.

C Councilmember Christina Henderson (IAt Large), the chair of the DC Council Committee on Health, briefed commissioners on key legislative issues focused on public health and safety. She expressed gratitude for DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) declaration of an opioid public health emergency. The District is “certainly at a crisis point” and emphasized the need for all of the District government agencies to collaborate on a solution. One part of the solution, said Henderson, is vending machines containing Narcan and fentanyl strips which test for the presence of fentanyl. Some machines are located on the St. Elizabeth’s East Campus and fire stations. The city is still searching for other businesses and organizations willing to host these machines outside of their properties, she reported. Crime, Henderson said, is connected to the issue of drug use and sales as well. “If you attack one, you can definitely impact the numbers of what you’re seeing with the other,” she said, noting that public safety and health campaigns work in tandem. While she is “not looking to criminalize substance use disorder,” Henderson noted a need for accountability for criminals selling and distributing these lethal drugs in the District’s communities. Commissioner Schapitl pointed out the relationship between crime and chronic absenteeism in the DC Public Schools (DCPS). Henderson acknowledged the problem, which she attributed to multiple causes. Medical and targeted social outreach are needed to “reconnect” with students to combat truancy, she stated. There is a need for an individualized approach to addressing the root causes of truancy with someone the students trust as opposed to a law enforcement approach alone, Henderson stated. Alternative schools may better meet the needs of some students, she stated.

Other Matters

Michael Halvin, president of Friends of the DC Streetcar (www.friendsofdcstreetcar.wixsite.com), briefed the commission on the delayed extension of the streetcar project. The organization serves as an advocate for transportation equity and environmental justice. It lobbies to reconnect underserved communities through extensions of the streetcar framework. Streetcars possess unique advantages over other modes of public transportation includ68 H HILLRAG.COM

ing providing a smoother ride, higher capacity and level boarding which makes transit more accessible for individuals with disabilities. It is importance to fund the eastward extension of the existing H Street line, Halvin said. Kelly Jeong-Olson, community engagement manager for the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) explained the agency’s new Traffic Safety Input (TSI) dashboard to commissioners. The dashboard, located at ddot.dc.gov, can be used to submit a new TSI, track progress on pending requests and learn more about DDOT initiatives in the neighborhood. There is a submission and tracking process for community feedback, she said. The commission voted to: • approve several community members to serve on the commission’s Transportation and Public Space and Public Safety Committees; • request Verizon Wireless address the issues of trespassing, trash, alcohol and drug use, fighting and loitering on their property located at 580 23rd Place NE; • write to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) in support of the renewal of the alcohol license for Economy Market, 1804 D St. NE; • support DDOT’s Notice of Intent (NOI) to reduce the posted speed limit from 25 to 20 miles per hour on East Capitol Street NE between Eighth and 19th Streets NE; and on 19th Street NE between Benning Road and East Capitol Street NE with an additional request to have posted speed limits in the school zone, which are under 20 miles per hour, remain in place. ANC 7D will meet next on Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. You can learn more about the commission and register to attend at 7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1. Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. u

Councilmembers Talk Public Safety and Transportation ANC 8F REPORT by Andrew Lightman Present: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8F (ANC 8F) met on Nov. 28. Commissioners Nic Wilson (8F01), Brian Strege (secretary, 8F03) and Ed-

ward Daniels (chair, 8F04), Clayton Rosenberg (vice chair, 8F05). Rick Murphree (treasurer, 8F02) was absent.

ard 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) and At-Large Councilmember Robert White (D) visited the commission to hear community concerns regarding public safety and transportation. The commission had solicited questions in advance by email. What was the origin of the current crime wave? queried Chair Daniels starting the discussion. The roots of the current crime wave lie in the pandemic, responded Councilmember Allen. COVID shuttered rec centers and schools, limiting resources available to at-risk youth. These young people both engage in criminal activity and are traumatized by it, he continued. Having said that, when the violence occurs, there has to be “accountability,” he stated. Building on Allen’s remarks, Councilmember White pointed out the very real “structural inequities” in the District in regards to housing, healthcare and education. These spawn criminality, he stated. The overarching goal is to make the city safer, he said. Whenever a juvenile commits a crime, we have to hold them accountable, he continued. Detaining youth does not necessarily have the desired outcome because they often emerge more violent, he pointed out. OAG prosecutes a higher percentage of crimes than the US Attorney’s Office, Allen said. However, the youth detention centers are also over capacity often, he added, by as much as 110 percent. The public perspective believes apprehended juveniles are given a slap on the wrist, Chair Daniels stated. If a young person commits violence, there has to be certain and swift accountability, Allen responded. Prosecuting consistently and fairly is the key, said White. Neither is now true. How can the city create interventions before a juvenile commits a violent act? Allen asked rhetorically. For example, rec centers are not currently open on weekends. Yet, this is precisely when youth need their services. Council has passed legislation to address this, he said; and the Dept. of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has now moved to add Saturday hours. Turning to particulars of policing, White called out the District’s Office of United Communications (OUC), which administers the 911 system. Its operators are not effective in directing police, he said. There are also defects in evidence processing, he continued. “If the foundation is broken, it’s not going to work,” he said. There must be an expectation

that if you commit a crime, you should be prosecuted, he stated. Chair Daniels and Councilmember Allen echoed these criticisms, relating personal experiences with 911 failures. Allen witnessed a fire in Southwest. He called 911 only to be put on hold for five minutes. He then watched a bystander enter the building to check on residents at great personal risk. “OUC is broken,” Allen stated. It is short staffed and poorly run, he continued. The Council has not sat idly by, he said. It forced out the last OUC director and awarded the agency more resources. Unfortunately, the extra funds were not spent quickly or effectively, he said. What about the competing public safety proposals offered by councilmembers and the mayor? Strege asked. No one can afford to be an ideologue on these issues, White responded, outlining generally his own proposals on the subject. Effective legislation will require discussion and compromise, he added. Allen suggested using a couple of metrics to evaluate the competing legislative proposals, offered by councilmembers and the mayor. Will they be effective and equitable? Do they address the faults in the public safety structure? For example, if the US Attorney’s Office is “not papering cases,” how will changing the sentences resolve that? Allen asked. The key, he said, is to create a feedback loop between MPD and the prosecutors that allows consistent arrest defects to be resolved over time. Allen remains skeptical about the mayor’s proposal for drug free zones. Neighbors have requesting agencies blanket problem areas for years, he pointed out. Chair Daniels raised the issue of the L Street Courtyard, which has seen groups of up to 100 persons partying on the sidewalk. Anti-loitering laws are not constitutional, Allen said. But, the intent behind the drug-free zones is to address these issues, he added. What is the status of the crime lab run by the Dept. of Forensic Science (DFS)? asked a resident. The destructive impact of DFS’s loss of accreditation “cannot be understated,” Allen responded. Evidentiary defects are one of the primary reasons cases are not prosecuted by the USAO. The council’s job is to provide funding and oversight over DFS, he continued. Its administration, however, is duty of the mayor, he pointed out. Are guardians being held accountable for the actions of their charges? asked one resident. We have to hold parents accountable, I just have not figured out what that looks like, White responded.

Transportation

Protected Bike Lanes (PBLs) are creating more issues than they are solving, particularly when used as a “road diet” to slow vehicular traffic, stated Chair Daniels. Allen, who chairs the council’s Committee on Transportation and the Environment, pushed back. The city has to do a better job of civic engagement, he said, but the objective is to get people where they need to go safely, no matter what mode of transportation they use. To be multi-modal, we need connected networks across the city, White concurred. The key is engaging the public, but no constituency can have a veto, he continued. White cited the example of an elderly resident, who could not get to Metro Access due to a protected bike lane in Ivy City. In that instance, a tiny Pickup-Dropoff (PUDO) was provisioned in front of her apartment, after his office intervened. Some of what we see from DDOT are not commonsense solutions, stated Chair Daniels. When such arrangements are queried, DDOT ignores the residents, since the agency believes it is expert and needs no advice. Both White and Allen agree more community engagement is warranted in transportation planning. In response to Commissioner Strege, Councilmember Allen defended his bill creating pedestrian corridors. The legislation directs DDOT to find three locations by 2026. Half Street SW is a good example, he said.

M Corridor Safety Project Update

Chair Daniels began by pointing out the project has not been completed. The right turns across the M Street protected bike lanes (PBL) have not yet been signalized, he continued. Moreover, the project has been extended without community engagement to South Capitol, which was not originally in the plan, he said. “We are solving one issue and creating a host of others,” said Daniels, pointing out the congestion on 11th and M Street SE. The project, not yet done, includes dedicated lanes for right, left turns as well as highway and 11th Street straight ahead access, DDOT representatives stated. DDOT Bicycle Specialist Will Handsfield responded to the chair’s concerns. First, DDOT is closing a lot of the intersections where signals are not planned to eliminate lefthand turns, he stated. It is also working to improve sightlines using signals, flex posts and setbacks. Safety for all types of transportation is the main

agency mandate, Handsfield said. Arterials require protected bike lanes. “Our delivery time table is still too slow,” he said. Protected bike lanes encourage more types of riders. I Street will be completed once the utility work is done, he added. “This is the first night I understand why you are doing this,” stated Wilson in appreciation. The agency must closely track safety metrics in these projects, he emphasized. Crash rates are the primary agency metric. They are significantly down on New Jersey Avenue SE, Handsfield responded. Add five times more barrels and cones during the remaining construction, suggested Secretary Strege. At South Capitol and M Streets SE, there is a tapered intersection, which separates turning from straight through traffic, Handsfield said. It is a normal part of reconfiguring intersections to increase safety, not a part of the project. The bike corridor, he continued, will be extended to The Wharf. It serves as an important bypass for the Anacostia Trail, which is plagued by uneven pavement due to riding on 100-year-old piers.

Other Matters

A representative from the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) listened to the commission’s concerns about the agency’s vacant parcels 739, 767, 768 and 8829, which primarily serve as Nats parking lots. DCHA is open to ideas for temporary uses, he stated. Lots 67 and 68 should be used as residential parking lots and employee parking, Daniels suggested. The commission voted to protest an entertainment endorsement for Tom’s Watch Bar at 1250 Half St SE, pending the successful negotiation of a cooperative agreement to accommodate its exterior garage doors. The commission took no action on a license renewal for the Courtyard Marriot Hotel at 140 L St. SE. Metropolitan Police Dept. (MPD) Lieutenant Kenneth Taylor and Captain Kevin Harding briefed the commission on public safety. They reported a sharp increase in carjacking and thefts from autos. Most stolen autos are recovered by the police, said Taylor. Both Harding and Taylor encouraged residents to put electronic trackers in their cars such as AirTags. ANC 8F generally meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 19 at DDOT Headquarters at 250 M St. SE. For more information, visit anc8f.org. u

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Bulletin Board DC’s 10th Annual FITDC 5k Fresh Start

On Monday, Jan. 1, join fellow DC residents at Freedom Plaza, 1455 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, for the 10th annual Fresh Start 5k. They are inviting people of all ages to this fun and free fitness initiative. Whether you want to run, walk, or just cheer folks on, there’s no better way to ring in the New Year than to join them for this DC tradition. Registration opens at 10 a.m.; race warm-up at 10:45 a.m.; and the race begins at 11 a.m. Registering for the Fresh Start 5K is free and easy. Bib and shirt pick up will be available on Thursday, Dec. 28 and Friday, Dec. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Columbia Heights Community Center, 1480 Girard St. NW; Edgewood Recreation Center, 300 Evarts St. NE; Deanwood Community Center, 1350 49th St. NE; and Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW. Shirts and Bibs will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. Arrive early to ensure that you get your desired shirt size. Can’t make it to the live event? You can still sign up and run on your own on New Years Day! fitdcfreshstart5k.com.

Canal Park Ice Rink Opens for Season

Canal Park, 200 M St. SE, has everything you need for the perfect afternoon and evening out with your friends and family. Hours of operation are Mondays to Thursdays, 2 to 10 p.m.; Fridays, 2 to 11 p.m.; Saturdays, noon to 11 p.m.; and Sundays, noon to 10 p.m. A limited number of rental skates are available (from toddler size 8 to adult size 15) on a first come, first served basis. Skating sessions are 90 minutes long, with a break at the half-way point to resurface the ice. Each 90-minute session is separated by a 15-minute intermission to allow time for rental skates to be returned and disinfected before the following session. Online pre-registration rates are $13 for adults; $10 for kids; $6 for skate rental. Walk-up rates are a bit higher. skatecanalpark.com. 70 H HILLRAG.COM

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rates lower mortgage city. Thisand program offers competitiveinsurance interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust costs on first trust mortgages.You HPAP provides interest free deferred loans forloans downfor down HPAP deferred homebuyer or a D.C.interest resident are not provides required to befree a first-time , be purchasing a home in the as a co-administrator of homebuyer orserves a D.C. resident serves as a co-administrator of District of Columbia. this DC Department of Housing and Community this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer toDevelopment’s qualify for DCOD. You must, (DHCD) first-time home buyer program. program. however, be purchasing a home in HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down the District of Columbia.

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with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME mortgage assistance optional years or provides older who have fallen behindwith on insurance down paymentisassistance totoD.C. government DC4ME offered current full- mortgage. and tax payments as a result of their reverse employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with Qualified District homeowners can receive up to optional time District employees, District government employees, employees down paymentgovernment assistance including to D.C. government of District government-based instrumentalities, employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time including employees of District independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools,employees District government employees, including and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's government-based instrumentalities, of District government-based instrumentalities, employer falls under the oversight of the Council of independent agencies, Publicwith Charter Schools, DC4ME provides mortgageD.C. assistance optional the District of Columbia. independent agencies, D.C. Public andpayment organizations, provided applicant/borrower's down assistance to D.C. the government employer falls under theorganizations, oversight the Council of employees. DC4ME is offered to currentoffull-time Charter Schools, and the District of Columbia. District government employees, including employees the applicant/borrower’s COVID-19 ofprovided District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance employer falls under the oversight ofto and organizations, those affected by the provided impacts ofthe theapplicant/borrower's COVID-19 employer falls under the oversight of pandemic. Qualified can receive aCouncil loan of of COVID-19 the Council ofborrowers the District ofthe Columbia. thetoDC District ofCOVID-19 Columbia. up $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage MAP provides financial assistance to for up to six months.

those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage COVID-19 for up to six months. DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of Visit www.DCHFA.org up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage tomonths. apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs. forhow up to six

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CAPITOL ST.s

The Brickies Return to H Street, Dec. 6

The Brickies are returning to H Street NE this year and will be at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE, on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 6 to 8 pm. These are the 17th Annual Brickie Awards, which are Ward 6’s annual get-together. The awards event will have some great food and drink from local businesses, great conversation, and yes, they give out literal bricks as a fun way to recognize some of the best neighbors, organizations, businesses, and happenings in our community. Register for attendance at charlesallenward6.com in upcoming community events with Charles Allen.

Southeast Library Closing for Modernization

The Southeast Library, located at 403 Seventh St. SE, closes for modernization on Thursday, Jan. 4. This closure paves the way for a $33 million modernization of the historic Carnegie library. The new library will feature expanded space for children, teens, and adults; more space for books, computers, and seating; preservation and restoration of the building’s historic elements; a universally accessible entrance and maintenance of the original historic entrance; restoration of the exterior landscape; environmentally sustainable design; improved sight lines; and more meeting, collaboration, and study spaces. During the modernization, the Interim Library for the Southeast Library is the Northeast Library, 330 Seventh St. NE. The Arthur Capper Community Center, 1000 Fifth St. SE, will also serve as an express location. Services available at this location include Holds Pick-Up; Item Return; Wi-Fi Access; Public Computers for Children, Teens, and Adults (Desktops and Laptops); Printing and Copying. dclibrary.org/news/southeast-library-modernization-project.

The Annual Senior Holiday Celebration

On Wednesday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., join the Department of Aging and Community Living for the 25th Annual Senior Holiday Celebration at the DC Armory, 2001 East Capitol St. SE. The annual celebration brings together seniors, 72 H HILLRAG.COM

Evening Hours at Season’s Greenings

On three Thursdays in December – Dec. 14, Dec. 21, and Dec. 28 – the US Botanic Garden’s Conservatory and outdoor train display will have extended hours, staying open until 8 p.m. There will be live holiday music during these evenings. usbg.gov/holiday.

sixty and older, from across DC to enjoy music, dance, performances, food, and more! RSVP at mayorbowsersseniorholiday2023.splashthat. com.

Chaw’s Community Dark Room

The Capital Hill Arts Workshop’s darkroom is one of the only darkrooms in the Washington, DC area available for public use. The facilities are designed for black and white film only. CHAW’s Photography Facilities require an initial orientation to cover general information and policies about space use and equipment. This is not an instructional orientation as users must be familiar with general darkroom workflow. The darkroom is available for use on Mondays through Thursdays, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Come visit or inquire about usage at photography@chaw.org. chaw.org/community-darkroom.

CHRS Photo Contest 2024

In anticipation of the 67th anniversary of the Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society is sponsoring a photo contest entitled “The Capitol Hill Home.” Entries are due by Friday, March 8. The winning images will be awarded two complementary passes to the 2024 House & Garden Tour and will be displayed on the website. In submitting your photo to the CHRS House Tour photo contest, you agree that it will become the property of CHRS, which may reproduce, modify, and digitize and adapt the photograph. You retain the right to continued use of the image. chrs.org/ photo-contest-2024.

Pop-up Strength and Performance Workouts

On Mondays through Fridays, 6 to 8 a.m. and Saturdays, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., join Work Fitness for a free strength and performance workout at Union

Market. WØRK offers the most comprehensive performance-based training in DC, scientifically curated to help you achieve your personal goals with the support of an empowering, inclusive community. Sign up for free community classes in the plaza Saturdays at Union Market, or their weekday pop-ups on the rooftop. unionmarketdc.com.

New Year’s Eve Forest Bathing at the Arboretum

On Sunday, Dec. 31 at 9 a.m. noon, and 2:30 p.m., join a nature and forest therapy guide in this twohour program that encourages you to slow down and take in the National Arboretum through all your senses. Forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, is the simple practice of taking in the woods through the senses for health benefits. The benefits are immense: boosted immunity, lowered blood pressure and heart rate, improved attention and mood, and hitting the reset button on life. The Japanese have

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Music on the Hill’s 10th Anniversary Block Party

About 750 people attended Music on the Hill’s 10th Anniversary Block Party on Saturday, Nov. 11, where Councilmember Charles Allen presented a City Council Resolution honoring Lindy Campbell and Music on the Hill for service to the community. Six bands played—The French Champagne, The Timber Bridges, Right Chipper, Cal Rifkin, Brendan Land and the Sugar Packets, and GXB. All the bands featured at least one Music on the Hill teacher or staff member. Over $1,000 of product was raffled off, donated by MOTH vendors. There was also a guitar sidewalk sale which raised $1,378 with all proceeds going to Guitars 4 Vets. Music on the Hill is at 801 D St. NE. musiconthehilldc.com.

Courtesy: Museum of the American Revolution

Free Digitized Archive Connected to Black and Native American Revolutionary War Soldiers

enjoyed shinrin yoku for decades as a regular public health initiative. No pets or children. Once purchased, you will receive more information on how to prepare. Their suggested ticket price is $35 (or $28 for FONA members), but please pay what you can to attend. fona.org/events_programs.

Join the DC Volunteer Snow Team

The DC Volunteer Snow Program matches volunteers with senior residents and those with needs for snow removal services when it snows. DC Volunteer Snow Team members/volunteers adopt a resident that has submitted a Snow Removal Request. Volunteers will be deployed when there are four or more inches of snow impacting the District of Columbia to the adopted home of their selection. Volunteers will be expected to complete the volunteer service within 24-36 hours after the winter event has ended. Volunteers are not deployed when there is ice. 74 H HILLRAG.COM

For additional information, email dcvsp@ dc.gov or call 202-727-7925. servedc.galaxydigital.com/snow-volunteer.

Holiday Trivia at Atlas Brew Works Ivy City

The Capital City Showcase is having a special edition of Thursday Night Trivia at Atlas Brew Works Ivy City, 2052 West Virginia Ave. NE, all about the holiday season on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Play for free. capitalcityshowcase.com.

The National Shrine Christmas Dinner

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE, will provide meals for hundreds of poor, homeless, elderly, and needy individuals living in the DMV on Christmas Day. Meals will be available for pick-up or delivery only. To request a Christmas Day dinner, call 202-526-8300. All meal requests must be received by Friday, Dec. 15. Vol-

Nearly 200 rare documents bearing the names of Black and Native American soldiers who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War are now accessible online at no cost, thanks to a partnership between Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution and Ancestry, the global leader in family history. The Patriots of Color Archive was acquired by the Museum in 2022 from a private collector. The collection of original muster rolls, pay vouchers, enlistment papers, discharge forms, and other documents was assembled from auctions, rare manuscript dealers, and other collectors over the past two decades. As part of their commitment to preserving history that is at risk of being forgotten, Ancestry has digitized the collection and made it available. Now, everyone has the opportunity to explore the lives of hundreds of veterans of color and better understand their often-complex relationship to the American Revolution by visiting Ancestry.com/AmericanRevolutionBlackandIndigenousSoldiers.The Museum of the American Revolution is at 101 S. Third Street, Philadelphia, PA. AmRevMuseum.org

unteers are needed to fill many different positions. For more information, contact rsvp@bnsic.org or 202-526-8300.

How to Request Volunteer Snow Removal

If you are a DC resident who is a senior or has functional needs and needs help clearing your sidewalks this winter, you can request an exemption from the Department of Public Works (DPW) through the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program to be eligible for free snow removal services. Your exemption is valid for two years. Register at dpw.dc.gov/service/sidewalk-shoveling-exemption.

Nat’s Announce 2024 Home Game Times

The Washington Nationals start times for the team’s 2024 home games, highlighted by an earlier first pitch for evening contests. Evening games will now begin at 6:45 p.m., while the majority of day games will remain at 1:05 p.m., 1:35 p.m. or 4:05 p.m. The Nationals once again host their traditional Fourth of July game at 11:05 a.m., this season taking on division-rival New York Mets. Sundays at Nationals Park continue to be focused on families. The 2024 season welcomes the return of popular events like Signature Sundays, Kids Run the Bases and special giveaways, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m. Special Kids Giveaway Mini-Plans are now available at nats.com/5Packs.

Habitat Restoration Workday at Bladensburg Waterfront Park

On Dec. 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., join the Anacostia Watershed Society for a Habitat Restoration Workday along the riverside area of the Anacostia River in Bladensburg. They will focus on tree maintenance, which could include repairing tree shelters and fencing, and removing weeds/invasive plant species to allow the native trees to continue to flourish. anacostiaws.org. u

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HOMES& GARDENS

Season’s Greenings at the U.S. Botanic Garden by Rindy O’Brien are 22 DC landmark and monument replicas made entirely from plant materials. They are awe inspiring from an architectural, artistic, and naturalist viewpoint. You will also appreciate the 2,000 poinsettias tucked into many different corners of the glass Conservatory. They include new cultivars never shown before. This season there is also a gift shop run by the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden. As you can imagine, with all this to see your visit can be a holiday season highlight and a way to enjoy the season in a wholesome non-commercial setting.

Each building replica begins with a frame of acrylic based foam. The details are made from dried plant materials. Applied Imagination staff find most of their plants by scavenging lands near their shop and homes. For example, the Lincoln Memorial in the Conservatory’s Garden court is made from walnut shells, birch sticks, bamboo twigs, forsythia sticks, elm wood, and locust bark. It took over 600 hours to build the Capitol, one of the first made for USBG. Devin Dotson, Public Affairs Specialist for the United States Botanic Garden, says this year

DC Landmarks and Monuments

Since 2004, the Botanical Garden has collaborated with Applied Imagination, an Alexandria, Kentucky plant sculpture company. The firm’s installations are award-winning displays and are featured in many holiday displays including the New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, New York; the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina; Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio; and Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company combines G scale model trains with inventive settings, all created with botanical materials. It could be fun to organize a scavenger hunt to see if all the replicas can be found during your visit.

The train exhibit is one of the most popular features of the Season’s Greenings show at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Courtesy of USBG

Christmas holiday tradition for many Capitol Hill residents is a trip to the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) at the bottom of the Hill. Our neighborhood contingent is part of a massive quarter of a million people stopping by the oldest continuously operating public garden in the United States, established by Congress in 1820. Its annual holiday display is free to all and is an event enjoyed by all ages. The exhibition will run from Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, 2023 through January 1, 2024. It is closed on Christmas Day. It is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. One big feature especially loved by children is the toy model trains that travel through hill and dale in an outside exhibit. But that’s not all. There

The plant sculpture company Applied Imagination builds the 22 DC landmark replicas entirely from plant materials. It took 600 hours to build this model of the Capitol. Photo: Melissa Ashabranner

HOMES&GARDENS

The Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden operate a small gift shop that sells botanic garden objects and a few orchids and small plants. Photo: Rindy O’Brien

The U.S. Botanic Garden is beautiful at the end of a day. A quarter of a million people will visit during the holiday season. Courtesy of USBG

The Conservatory will be filled with 2,000 poinsettias in many different colors, shapes, and some new releases yet to be shown publicly. Courtesy of USBG

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“all 22 replicas will be on display, including the latest ones, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the USBG’s historic 1800’s Conservatory, the Palm House interior, and the National Gallery of Art East Wing.” Each year a few of the models need to be touched up, reglued, and prepped for the holiday season. Staff from Kentucky are deployed to the many different sites around the country to perform the restorations.

light the need for pollinators to protect our ecosystems. USBG does note that the trains may not operate during inclement weather. “The trains seem to be fine running outside,” says Devin, “but high winds can be problematic.” The pollinators are created by Applied Imagination and the Ggauge model trains are also part of the company’s inventory.

Trains Running on Time

Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden was established in 1991 and plays an integral role raising funds to support the gardens that supplement government funding. The non-profit supports over 200 public programs, organizes volunteers, and supports internships for both high school and college students. The garden shop in the holiday display is partnered with the local Rewild store, which has a store at Eastern Market. You can choose from a number of botanically themed gifts. The shop also features a collection of flower and plant books, art cards, towels, honey, and orchids and other small plants. Part of your purchase will support the Botanic Garden. During the special holiday season, Zeke’s Coffee will also sell coffee, hot chocolate, and

Devin says a change necessitated by COVID has now become a regular feature. That’s moving the train display from the inside exhibition halls to outside the Conservatory in the garden space. “Folks who came in past years will remember the long lines to get into the train exhibit,” Devin notes. “It was pretty tight and crowded.” For the past couple of years, the very popular exhibit has been operating outside, letting visitors circulate around the trains with greater space, and no lines. This year the theme of the exhibit is pollinators. The trains will pass by oversized butterflies, flowers, bats, and hummingbirds. About 75% of all flowering plant species need animal pollinators for reproduction. The trains will high-

Shop at the Gardens

snacks. Zeke’s will be set up near the train exhibit. Anyone can enroll in the membership-based “Friends” group. It costs $75 per individual or $150 for a family of four. Membership is available online at www.usbgfriends.org One benefit is the opportunity to attend a special night on December 8th where only members are invited. Devin also says public extended hours on December 14, December 21st and December 28th are usually a great time to attend. These evenings are open until 8:00 p.m. and include live seasonal music.

Tips for Visiting

Devin suggests that if Hill residents want to enjoy the gardens before the crowds arrive, coming between Thanksgiving and the first two weeks in December is ideal. “It can be somewhat empty these early days and a fun way to get to see everything up close. And the evening programs are a nice way to see the exhibit and get into the holiday mood and are not crowded.” Parking is always a challenge so if you can walk down the Hill rather drive, that is highly recommended. If you do so, you can also check out The Capitol Christmas Tree. This year’s tree is from West Virginia and is a. 38-year-old tree. The nearest Metro Stop is Federal Center SW on the blue, orange, and silver lines. It is about a four-block walk from the metro to the Conservatory.

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Everywhere on Capitol Hill I notice masses of red berries on Nandina bushes, getting a little redder every week. For what reason might our own Nandina have no berries at all? If your Nandina plant itself looks vigorous, it probably just needed more sun to make it flower during the late spring. Nandinas will tolerate some shade, but to make the beautiful berries in proliferation they must have a goodly amount of sun. Of course some dwarf Nandinas are sterile. They have nice red leaves, but no berries, so check the variety of your plant. May I share a small discovery with readers? Online you can find great prices for used books on gardening. I recently bought a beautiful glossy one on planning small gardens for $6.00,

and another that originally cost $19 for $2. Can you suggest other holiday gift ideas? • Anything you made yourself is good. Something to eat that came from the garden, perhaps. Something you baked, or a poem you wrote for the recipient. A pot pourri or dried lavender sachet.

IMPORTANT BULLETIN: On Nov. 15, 2023 the US Department of Agriculture changed the U.S. Plant Hardiness Zone Map. To find your zone, google “USDA PLANT HARDINESS ZONE MAP” and enter your zip code. Capitol Hill District of Columbia is now Zone 8a.

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Or a wreath you made for the table or door. Even mistletoe, if you can find some. A box or tin containing your fudge, shortbreads, icebox cookies, or favorite jam, jelly, preserves or spread, with the recipe and instructions to go with. Think of gardening or kitchen implements off the beaten path – a cherry pitter, say – apple-corer – lemon or lime squeezer – little holders for each end of the cob for serving corn on the cob. Your guesses are better than mine. SEEDS can cheer up a gardener friend. Seeds from an annual flower of 2023 that your neighbor admired might be just the gift to brighten his Christmas dreams. Certain articles of clothing – clogs to slip into for getting into the garden fast; disposable plastic gloves, or heavy pigskin or cowhide work gloves, an apron with many pockets or a sun-screening baseball cap. A flattering photograph of your friend’s front door, or of a prized possession of his, or of the man himself. Or a subscription to Fine Gardening.

In December the Capitol Hill Garden Club is having a members-only greens workshop. For information about joining the club and future programs, go to Capitolhillgardenclub.org. Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to www.hillrag.com/editor. Your problems might even prove instructive to others and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. ◆

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YOU NAME IT, CALL US. Quality Since 1972 December 2023 ★ 81

HOMES&GARDENS

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

PRICE BR

FEE SIMPLE

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ANACOSTIA 1123 Chicago St SE $400,000 1344 Valley Pl SE $440,000 1955 S S St SE $515,000 $595,000 2213 Retta Gilliam Ct SE

3 3 3 3

BARRY FARMS 1523 Morris Rd SE $405,000 $420,000 1525 Morris Rd SE $599,000 2527 Elvans Rd SE

3 4 3

BLOOMINGDALE 163 U St NW 1703 2nd St NW

$1,149,000 $650,000

4 3

CAPITOL HILL 104 4th St SE 1113 C St NE 1119 Park St NE 1121 C St NE 1213 Linden Pl NE 1221 D St NE 1233 C St NE 127 Duddington Pl SE 1309 E St SE #5 1312 D St SE 1330 Independence Ave SE 15 6th St NE 1637 Potomac Ave SE 209 C St NE 235 14th St SE 319 9th St SE 328 G St NE 335 6th St SE 427 12th St SE 431 3rd St NE 502 12th St NE 553 15th St SE 616 6th St NE 633 A St NE 707 E Capitol St SE 716 13th St SE 717 Massachusetts Ave NE

$1,695,000 $772,000 $675,000 $1,158,000 $845,000 $875,000 $820,000 $975,000 $875,000 $1,550,000 $1,265,000 $1,637,000 $585,000 $1,275,000 $825,000 $1,475,000 $987,000 $1,354,900 $800,000 $1,045,000 $1,249,000 $1,066,500 $1,295,000 $1,850,000 $1,800,000 $860,000 $1,965,000

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

CAPITOL HILL EAST 515 Kentucky Ave Ave SE $799,000 7 15th St SE $1,250,000

3 3

CARVER LANGSTON 811 20th St NE $380,000

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 1021 Sycamore Dr SE $629,000 1040 Southern Ave SE $525,000

3 4

HOMES F O R T H E H O L I D AY S !

RY ! U X ING U L ST LI

3338 Brothers Pl SE 98 Elmira St SW

$325,000 $211,500

5 3

DEANWOOD 310 57th St NE 3828 Blaine St NE 4214 Edson Pl NE 4541 Eads Pl NE 4609 Grant St NE 4713 Eads St NE 4840 Hayes St NE 6136 Banks Pl NE

$400,000 $450,000 $434,000 $399,500 $322,000 $300,000 $280,000 $455,000

3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3

DUPONT CIRCLE 1800 S St NW $1,585,000 1607 S St NW $2,295,000 1630 19th St NW #C $1,850,000 1735 19th St NW $3,300,000 1908 New Hampshire Ave NW $1,520,000

5 5 4 4 4

ECKINGTON 129 U St NE 140 S St NW 162 U St NE 181 V St NE 45 T St NE

$789,000 $1,250,000 $849,900 $650,000 $1,025,000

3 5 3 3 4

FORT DUPONT PARK 1559 Fort Dupont St SE $334,000 4224 Southern Ave SE $255,000 4448 Alabama Ave SE $610,000 704 Ridge Rd SE $320,000

3 3 4 3

H STREET CORRIDOR 900 8th St NE $1,515,000

HILL CREST 1811 29th St SE 2545 36th St SE 3214 W W St SE 1520 28th St SE 719 31st St SE

$410,000 $450,000 $515,000 $452,000 $300,000

3 4 4 3 3

KINGMAN PARK 1727 D St NE 412 21st St NE 519 23rd Pl NE 545 23rd Pl NE 549 24th St NE

$740,000 $849,000 $440,000 $760,000 $630,000

4 4 2 3 3

LEDROIT PARK 1905 4th St NW 64 Bryant St NW

$1,475,000 $1,400,000

5 4

LILY PONDS 315 Anacostia Ave NE 3378 Alden Pl NE 3424 Dix St NE

$365,000 $310,000 $309,000

2 2 3

LOGAN CIRCLE 1420 Corcoran St NW

$1,925,000

1332 Independence Ave SE 5BR/5.5BA/PARKING $2,699,000

! EW G N IN T S LI

HANDSOME VICTORIAN AT THE HEART OF THE HILL Victorian bay-front delivers all the right stuff for Capitol Hill living, just an idyllic 4-block stroll to nearby parks and amenities! Renovated top to bottom in 2008 and updated again in 2019 by attentive owners, enjoy wide-open modern main-floor layout, smart kitchen design, and walk out to private brick patio with intimate courtyard vibe for sunset serenity. Beautiful restored brick wall ascends the sun-splashed stairwell to three bedrooms, including the front primary bayfront suite with large stone bath. BONUS fully finished lower level!

GRACEFUL GIANT GRABS SOUTHERN SUN ON 4 STUNNING NEW LEVELS! Behind a rare bayfront brownstone facade FOUR FULL stories tall, this graceful GIANT grabs southern sunshine across 4200 STUNNING square feet! 3 LARGE levels above grade feature 4 BRs, 4.5 baths, and three separate living and lounge zones. Plus, BONUS lower level with 2 separate entrances and DEEP 3-room guest apartment with kitchenette offering endless flexibility! Outdoors, savor 4 spaces - roof deck, primary balcony, covered rear porch, and lower stone patio. Prominent position 1 block from Lincoln Park and a short stroll to Metro, Groceries, Roost, and more. 100% re-engineered to last the next century by SCHMIDT BUILDERS, with new structure + high-efficiency systems, yet inspired at every turn by timeless building traditions and techniques.

EW ! N ICE PR

208 6th St SE 4BR/2.5BA/SOLAR PANELS $1,475,000

EW ! N ICE PR

RICH HISTORIC ROW 1 BLOCK FROM EASTERN MARKET! Inside: a truly RARE curated collection of historic architectural features: original foyer, formal front parlor, GIANT 8’ pocket doors, + heart-of-pine floors. Marvel at the museum-quality faux-painted casework in the entry hall, central dining room with chestnut wainscot panels, and much more! Morning sun graces the rear kitchen, complete with second brick hearth and overlooking GLORIOUS private gardens! Turned iron staircase leads to your private sanctuary, with brick walls and mature plantings. Upstairs find 3 large bedrooms with soaring transoms, 7 smart closets, and updated bath. BONUS lower level English basement delivers classic Capital flexibility: guest suite, rental, or home office, complete with separate front entry, second kitchen, bedroom, and full bath + 3rd fireplace! Don’t miss this rare specimen for historic detail, smart systems updates, and savvy rental potential!

EW ! N ICE PR

1130 Maryland Ave NE #3 3BR/2.5BA/Parking $775,000

336 11th St NE 4BR/3.5BA $1,175,000

1825 Massachusetts Ave SE 4BR/2.5BA $975,000 SERENE SLICE OF CAPITOL HILL WITH SMART SET-UP! Just past Lincoln Park and steps to Metro and new cafes, a row of DEEP front gardens and proud porch fronts! Steps inside to a delightful balance of historic features - original oak floors, casing, doors, hardware -- and transformative interior updates, all basked in southwestern sunshine! Fantastic flow: Spacious living room leads to large central dining, open to fully custom kitchen of copious cabinets, plus stunning rear sunroom! Upstairs a skylit modern bath is book-ended by spacious front bedroom, and three rear rooms offering ultimate family flexibility. The lower level boasts a BONUS: second kitchen, separate entry, and full bath perfect for welcoming guests, or short term rental stays.

! ER T D C N A U TR N CO

COMPELLING CAPITAL CONDO CAPTIVATES INSIDE & OUT! Lives like a semi-detached house, but lowmaintenance like a condo, with really rare private outdoor spaces. Facing 12th Street to welcome morning sun, 602 12th is brand NEW from ground up and lives large over FOUR levels plus GIANT wrap-around driveway, patio, and back yard ! Wide plank floors, striking open kitchen and marble mosaic baths. Big windows and sliding glass doors welcome wonderful natural light across this open layout, lower den/living room, and top level penthouse suite, with plenty of room to spread out, huge walk-in closet, and spa-like tiled bath with glass shower.

1300 I St NE #1 2BR/2BA/ROOFDECK Unit 1: $699,000 ONLY ONE STUNNING BOUTIQUE CONDO LEFT! All new ground-up construction of unparalleled quality from Schmidt Development - maker of Hill mansions! Every unit is a grand corner at ‘Eye’ Street Condominium; Unit 1 delivers a private entrance, along with roof deck access. Fully custom kitchen and baths with Amish cabinets, Carrara marble kitchen and baths, plus wide oak floors. Easy stroll to H St/Atlas and Union Market District.

202.243.7707

info@joelnelsongroup.com December 2023 ★ 83

HOMES&GARDENS

1442 T St NW 1516 Swann St NW

$1,950,000 $1,580,000

4 4

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 4906 Capitol NE $522,000 601 51st St SE $475,000 $470,000 95 54th St SE

3 4 3

NOMA 211 K St NE 922 8th St NE

0 4

$820,000 $1,575,000

OLD CITY #1 1106 Constitution Ave NE 1341 Emerald St NE 414 15th St SE 635 Orleans Pl NE 906 C St NE

$1,650,000 $900,000 $1,265,000 $825,000 $1,350,000

5 3 4 3 4

OLD CITY #2 1303 Corcoran St NW 1424 10th St NW 2016 15th St NW 78 Q St NW

$2,080,000 $800,000 $1,625,000 $975,000

4 2 4 4

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1419-1421 Minnesota Ave SE $575,000 1423 Alabama Ave SE $330,000 1921 R St SE $340,000 $340,000 2208 R St SE 2505 Naylor Rd SE $300,000 $451,000 2706 Knox St SE

5 2 3 2 3 3

ROSEDALE 426 20th St NE

SHAW 1533 9th St NW 1819 8th St NW 1844 8th St NW 1909 8th St NW

$640,000 $1,425,000 $711,000 $850,000 $910,000

4 3 3 3

SW WATERFRONT 509 G St SW $1,182,000

TRINIDAD 1123 Owen Pl NE 1212 18th St NE 1285 Owen Pl NE 1330 Queen St NE 916 19th St NE

3 3 3 3 4

$460,000 $485,000 $610,000 $510,000 $1,100,000

U STREET CORRIDOR $1,365,000 1329 Wallach Pl NW 2265 12th Pl NW $807,500

3 2

CONDO 14TH STREET CORRIDOR 1320 Belmont St NW #302 $1,300,000 1334 Belmont St NW #301 $1,130,000

3 2

ADAMS MORGAN 1811 Vernon St NW #205 2024 16th St NW #C

1 2

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$420,000 $850,000

2305 18th St NW #402 2315 Ontario Rd NW #1 2328 Champlain St NW #306 2410 17th St NW #303 2466 Ontario Rd NW #1

$499,900 $785,000 $725,000 $840,000 $635,000

2 2 2 2 2

ANACOSTIA 2123 Young St SE #201

$265,000

CAPITOL HILL 649 C St SE #103 900 D St SE 522 13th St SE #B

$399,900 $469,000 $1,025,000

$615,000 $670,000 $911,000 $800,000 $1,000,000 $1,280,000 $399,000 $745,000 $490,000

2 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 1

1 1 2

MERIDIAN HILL 1471 Florida Ave NW #UNIT 7 $644,000 1638 Beekman Pl NW #D $975,000

1 3

CARVER LANGSTON 2001 I St NE #4 $450,000

MT VERNON SQUARE 426 M St NW #J $1,078,000

CENTRAL 1316 N. Hamps. Ave NW #703 $390,000 1409 21st St NW #3C $820,000

1 2

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 717 Brandywine St SE #T-1 $153,000

DUPONT 1625 16th St NW #103 1712 Corcoran St NW #3 1727 Mass. Ave NW #304 2012 O St NW #12 1601 18th St NW #918 1603 16th St NW #5 1724 17th St NW #74 1736 Willard St NW #302 1761 P St NW #1 1830 17th St NW #T1 1931 17th St NW #201 1933 18th St NW #202

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

ECKINGTON 1928 3rd St NE #5 1940 3rd St NE #2 221 Randolph Pl NE #1

$424,500 $568,000 $235,000 $425,000 $310,000 $1,200,000 $671,700 $420,000 $545,000 $475,000 $495,500 $450,000 $730,000 $528,000 $700,000

3 2 2

H STREET CORRIDOR 1205 Morse St NE #2 $710,000 1300 I St NE #3 $688,000 1300 I St NE #4 $685,000

3 2 2

HILL EAST 1323 K St SE #103

$354,000

HILLCREST 2118 Suitland Ter SE

$162,000

KALORAMA 1851 Columbia Rd NW #407 $451,500 1954 Columbia Rd NW #509 $198,000 2010 Kalorama Rd NW #404 $400,000 2129 Florida Ave NW #203 $385,000 2301 Connecticut Ave NW #6A $1,600,000 1910 Kalorama Rd NW #1 $340,000 2339 Ashmead Pl NW #4 $725,000

1 0 1 1 2 1 2

LOGAN CIRCLE 1415 T St NW #201 1 Scott Cir NW #501

1 1

$335,000 $340,000

1300 13th St NW #102 1320 13th St NW #44 1325 13th St NW #47 1325 13th St NW #53 1425 Rhode Is. Ave NW #71 1427 Rhode Is. Ave NW #404 1525 Q St NW #2 1634 14th St NW #403 910 M St NW #906

NOMA 50 Florida Ave NE #719

$515,000

$825,000 $259,900

3 1

TRUXTON CIRCLE 86 O St NW #2 $485,000

U STREET CORRIDOR 1390 V St NW #112 $774,500 2004 11th St NW #437 $760,000 2032 15th St NW #2 $315,000

2 2 1

COOP

OLD CITY #1 1211 Van St SE #408 1222 Maryland Ave NE #3 1900 Constitution Ave NE #1

$770,000 $590,000 $380,000

2 2 2

OLD CITY #2 1239 Vermont Ave NW #905 1328 Corcoran St NW #1 1545 18th St NW #807 1618 11th St NW #103 1727 R St NW #303 1824 S St NW #103 555 Mass. Ave NW #1118 7 Logan Cir NW #34

$585,000 $1,149,000 $300,000 $775,000 $585,000 $607,000 $690,000 $499,000

2 2 0 2 2 2 2 1

PENN BRANCH 2916 P St SE #VILLA-2

$560,000

PENN QUARTER 616 E St NW #418 631 D St NW #1033 631 D St NW #1141 631 D St NW #629 915 E St NW #905

$370,000 $680,000 $1,150,000 $464,000 $665,000

0 2 3 1 2

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1310 Congress St SE #201 $175,000 1907 Good Hope Rd SE #111 $126,500 2850 Hartford St SE #303 $150,000

2 1 2

RLA (SW) 213 G St SW #132

$699,900

SHAW 1427 5th St NW #3 817 S St NW #101 910 M St NW #329 910 M St NW #618 923 V St NW #301 941 S St NW #1

$740,000 $1,200,000 $700,000 $730,000 $140,300 $1,825,000

2 3 2 2 1 4

SW WATERFRONT 1101 3rd St SW #207 $300,000

TRINIDAD 1016 17th Pl NE #102

$227,000

1124 Morse St NE #1 1220 Holbrook Ter NE #204

ADAMS MORGAN 1661 Crescent Pl NW #303 1840 Biltmore St NW #32

$780,000 $602,000

2 2

CENTRAL 1300 Mass. Ave NW #305

$205,000

DUPONT CIRCLE 1514 17th St NW #605

$269,000

KALORAMA 2122 California St NW #352 2220 20th St NW #51 2100 19th St NW #306

$700,000 $1,121,000 $360,000

2 3 2

NAVY YARD 1000 New Jersey Ave SE #1008 $350,000 1000 New Jersey Ave SE #912 $600,000

1 2

RLA (SW) 1301 Delaware Ave SW #N316 $112,250

SW WATERFRONT 1301 Delaware Ave SW #N303 $133,800 1301 Delaware Ave SW #N106 $198,000 1311 Delaware Ave SW #S232 $170,000 510 N St SW #N-418 $199,000 u

1 2 2 1

JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE! LightHouse DC is dedicated to providing safe and welcoming homes for those who were once homeless, and they need our help to expand their impact. They’re aiming to purchase a used truck to increase their ability to reach more people and welcome more volunteers into their community. At this time of giving, we appreciate your consideration of this important organization.

Let us be the key to your next move. Jackie Sink

202.352.5793 jackie.sink@compass.com

Libby Clarke

202.841.1812 libby.clarke@compass.com

Cr ystal Crittenden

202.246.0931 crystal.crittenden@compass.com S E E O U R R E V I E W S O N Z I LLO W J LCTE A M .C O M

@ J LCTE A M

Compass is a licensed real estate brokerage that abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Compass is licensed as Compass Real Estate in DC and as Compass in Virginia and Maryland. 660 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20003 | 202.545.6900

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ARTS& DINING

Theater Night

A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV

t’s here. Bright lights and glittering tinsel adorn our streets and living rooms. Plans are in place for Christmas dinner and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the year! This month’s column reviews theater that encourages us to think about fate, family and what it means to be human as we close out the calendar, reflect on our choices and look ahead to 2024. Read on for our curated selection.

On Right Now

by Matthew McClure and tribulations of being human, according to Rilette. “What the play does is help us recognize that the small things, the things we often overlook, a sense of community; that is heaven in earth. If there’s a perfect holiday message, it’s to cherish the people in your life and enjoy the time you have together.” If you’ve come to love Round House’s reputation for staging

Bobby Smith (Tateh) and Emerson Holt Lacayo (The Little Girl). Photo: Daniel Rader

The Seafarer, Round House Theatre Nurney, Ariel Friendly, Keenan McCarter, Showing Dec. 6 – 31 Nkrumah Gatling, Jordyn Taylor, Theowww.roundhousetheatre.org dore Sapp, and Kara-Tameika Watkins. Photo: Daniel Rader Family reunions aren’t always the joyous occasions we see in TV and film. The Seafarer, a play written by Irish playwright, director and screenwriter Conor McPherson in 2006 and now being reinterpreted for DC audiences by Round House’s Artistic Director Ryan Rilette, brings this hard truth home in a visceral way. McPherson’s play tells the tale of Sharky who, after the catastrophic collapse of his personal and professional life, returns to Dublin on Christmas Eve to care for his ill-tempered and hard-drinking brother Richard. Enter a few characclassic stories with riveting storylines, then The ters from Sharky’s past—and a mysterious stranger Seafarer should be on your diary for December. with a fondness for poke—and you have the recipe for an intoxicating mix of human drama with a touch of McPherson’s penchant for the supernatIn The Spotlight ural thrown in. Ragtime, Signature Theatre “What I love about Conor’s writing is that he Showing 24 Oct – 7 Jan has a beautiful way of capturing people that are lost, www.sigtheatre.org sad or lonely, and doing it in a way that is still exThere’s nothing quite as energizing and uplifting traordinarily funny and human.” says Rilette, who’s as a musical, and you’ll get showtunes galore in Sigdirected a few of McPherson’s works during his nature Theatre’s rendition of the Broadway smash career. The Seafarer has been re-interpreted many hit Ragtime. times on various stages since it garnered a 2007 Signature’s Artistic Director Matthew GardinOlivier Award nomination for Best Play, but at the er and his team bring to the stage this toe-tapping core it’s a story of second chances and the triumphs Broadway hit based on the novel of the same name

by E.L. Doctorow. Published in 1975, Doctorow’s work serves as a warning to not repeat the mistakes of the past by forgetting our history, and his story is as relevant today as it was written. The action sweeps across the first few years of the early 20th Century— the socalled “Gilded Age”—before the outbreak of WWI and at the height of the Industrial era; a time of men, machines and money. A stellar lineup including Nkrumah Gatling, Awa Sal Secka and Bobby Smith along with a powerful ensemble cast don corsets, waistcoats and top hats to tell the stories of legendary historical figures from this period, and the fictional ways their lives intersect. All this is set to a lyrical Ragtime repertoire. There’s a strong theme of social justice that loops through the action, stitching the various narratives together and making the production easily relatable to contemporary audiences. In the grimy faces of European immigrants Tather and his waiflike daughter, it’s easy to see the plight of Palestinian refugees or migrants from Africa. Gatling’s Coalhouse Walker Jr., in his battle to be treated as equal, sets the tone for what will become the Civil Rights Movement, and Dani Stoller’s Emma Goldman and December 2023 H 87

P ROJECT

by Jean-Keith Fagon A New Chapter ••• Vahagn Stepanyan Jazz fusion keyboardist Lovers of jazz fusion keyboardists like Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea should take a listen to Armenian Vahagn Stepanyan’s latest album, A New Chapter with Grammywinning and world-class musicians, producers and engineers. Jazz fusion is a blend of elements of jazz with other genres, often using keyboards, synthesizers, saxophones, and pianos to create a range of textures, harmonies, and improvisational styles within the genre. The aesthetic of contrast, so central for jazz fusion, is inspired here on Mr. Stepanyan’s production of his album with Kitt Wakeley, who earlier this year won the Grammy for Best Classical Compendium for “An Adaption Story” to which he contributed to engineering and playing keyboards. Other performers include eleventime Grammy-winning trumpeter Philip Lassite, guitarists Greg Howe and Mark Lettieri, saxophonist Dave Koz, bassist Ida Nielsen, and drummer Eric Moore. On the track “Synergy,” Mr. Moore’s style showcased keen musical intuition with complex rhythms, rapid fills, and a strong sense of control, characterized by powerful and precise strikes on the drum kit. Mr. Lettieri’s sharp, cutting tones and expressive techniques make his electric guitar sound vibrant and penetrating. Mr. Koz showcased the soprano saxophone’s versatility, often achieving a wide range of tones, from smooth and lyrical to sharp and piercing. Mr. Stepanyan’s expressive and melodic vocals on “Without Limits” along with Anthony Crawford’s stratospheric bass solo leaps to the fore on an exploration featuring Mr. Lettieri’s fretwork. Mr. Nielsen’s dexterous bass is given star status on “Motion,” which 88 ★ HILLRAG.COM

packs powerful horn section blasts, a scorching and gauzy electric rock guitar solo by Roy Ziv, and Mr. Stepanyan’s otherworldly synthesizer expositions. Mr. Howe and Mr. Lassiter topline “Gravity,” floating above the intricate swatches of multiple guitars and horns. Throughout A New Chapter, Mr. Moore’s knockout drumming dominates in impressive fashion, but he’s officially featured on “So Good,” which is illumined Mr. by Stepanyan’s imaginative keyboards and a screaming and attention-grabbing guitar solo by Feodor Dosumov and Melvin Lee Davis’s elastic basslines. Brazilian drummer Cleverson Silva and Venezuelan bassist Isai Romero add Latin flavor to the playful “Toy.” Closing with a solo piece that was recorded in one take, Mr. Stepanyan exquisitely conveys the emotions of the challenges he’s faced in recent years on “Hold My Hand,” a contemplative, poetic and cinematic beauty. Although Mr.Stepanyan’s early training was in classical music, his muse has been jazz and gospel while incorporating world beat and global music. He produced and collaborated on three volumes of the multicultural “The Ethnos Project” that were released in 2013, 2015 and 2018, truly international compilations that include up to fourteen languages. As a solo artist, Mr. Stepanyan debuted in 2015 with Moonlight, an offering of jazz, R&B and funk that he produced. Amongst the talents from the US, Armenia, Brazil, Thailand, Israel and Germany that performed on the album were Billboard chart-topping guitarist Adam Hawley, six-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Eric Marienthal, bassists Mr. Crawford and Mr. Davis, and drummer Mr. Silva. In 2020, the artist collaborated with Grammy-winning gospel singer Percy Bady. ◆

her fiery denouncements of capitalism evokes our current economic and social disparities. Sal Secka and Teal Wicks’ performances (as Sarah and Mother respectively) administer a strong dose of fresh, female energy to a musical based on a traditionally masculine period in history. Sal Secka’s rendition of Your Daddy’s Son in Act One is particularly breathtaking as she showcases her impressive vocal range with pathos and passion in equal measure.

Catch Before Closing

Christmas Carol: Kimberly Gilbert, Ghost of Christmas Present in Ford Theatre’s A Christmas Carol. Photo: Carolina Dulcey

A Christmas Carol, Ford’s Theatre Showing 17 Nov– 31 Dec www.fords.org It wouldn’t be Christmas without Charles Dickens’ classic tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. This holiday staple has been a constant, in various iterations, at Ford’s Theatre for 40 years, and this year sees Kimberly Gilbert take to the stage as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the Michael Wilson adaptation of Dickens’ work. I sat down with this Helen Hayes award-winning actor to chat to her about being grateful, living in the moment and creating positive change. It’s been a tough year in terms of world news. How does A Christmas Carol uplift our spirits? Kimberly: We live in a present where data is king. We’re being sucked into this data hurricane where it feels insurmountable. I do find parallels right now about how we’re fearful and curious about AI and data. It’s very similar to the Industrial Revolution (when A Christmas Carol was originally written). But what this play can show is that when we’re in a time of crisis, we can really appreciate the small things, and you can do that all the time. Work the practice of being mindful. How is A Christmas Carol still relevant to audiences today? Kimberly: It’s the idea of being present, literally. That this moment on earth is all we have. We are only here for a short while. Making someone else feel good makes you feel good. It has a ripple effect. Has it been fun working with a team who’ve been part of A Christmas Carol for 40 years? Kimberly: Craig Wallace has been playing Scrooge for eight years. Tom Story has been slowly moving through the character ranks. The producers have been with it forever. Ford’s has allowed me to embrace the traditional side and they’ve been so patient with me. They know the topography of the entire production, but they acknowledge that I’m doing this in a way that hasn’t been done before and adding new layers. I’m being blown away by a traditional script that has the ability to be adaptable and changeable. I’m also having the time of my life with the kids. What’s the message you’d like to leave audiences with? Kimberly: I think we are in a furrowed brow, head down, in our phone phase. The act of looking up and giving someone a smile can create a moment of generosity. Take a moment and be generous in whatever capacity you have. ◆

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ARTS&DINING

Capitol

Cuisine

by Celeste McCall mustard, and arugula. Mashed burger patties can be single, double or triple; we settled for a single, which was plenty. As it was, we couldn’t finish our yummy fries. A 20 percent service fee is added to Hill East’s tabs. We added a little more. Service, rendered by Camilla, who doubled as bartender, was pleasant and efficient. Hill East Burger is located near the Potomac Avenue Metro and across the street from The Roost food hall. For hours and more information visit www.hilleastburger.com.

Limani at the Wharf

A recent District Wharf arrival is the upscale Limani, 670 Wharf St. SW. The spectacular, three-level newcomer offers sweeping vistas of the waterfront. Limani—Greek for “port”—is part of the Limani Hospitality Group, which showcases vibrant Greek-Mediterranean cuisine. Hellenic menu highlights include jumbo shrimp saganaki with feta and risotto, feta-stuffed calamari, Greek-style lobster roll, octopus, spanakopita, lamb chops and much more. For now, Limani serves dinner only. For hours and reservations visit www.limani.com.

Bartender Camilla greets patrons at Hill East Burger, which oﬀers breakfast, burgers, fries and tasty beverages.

hen a friend raved about Hill East Burger, 1432 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, we decided to investigate. What a pleasant surprise! At this casual, unpretentious eatery, we started with a bloody mary made with smoked tomato juice, house bloody mary mix and garnished with a smoked olive, pickle slice and a half-smoke coin. The smokiness was delicious. Moreover, guests may choose from vodka, rye, tequila, mezcal and bourbon. I opted for the usual vodka. By all means, spring for the curly-ish fries. Served with a tomato relish, the addictive fries tasted more like tater tots. They were positively addictive. You can also choose sauces: betonies (garlicy mayo), spicy sweet maple syrup, sweet chili mayo. Among breakfast sandwiches, I opted for the “first smoke of the day,” made with Sloppy Mama’s half-smoke sausage, poblano cheese, griddled onion and egg (I chose sunny side up, messy but yummy). A tasty vegetarian option is grits paired with a black-eyed pea patty and egg. Among brunch burgers, Peter went for the Puebla burger, heaped with smoked cheddar,

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Other lunch specials, all priced around $14, include General Tso’s, orange, and Kung Pao chicken, Szechuan and Hunan chicken or beef, Szechuan-style string beans, Moo Goo Gai Pan, and a vegetable combination. Hunan Dynasty specializes in Szechuan style or (curried) stone pot dishes, made with chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu. There’s also an array of hot and cold dim sum, seaweed salad, hot and sour soup, fish with pickled cabbage, Peking duck, Buffalo wings. In addition to Chinese, you can order dishes from Japan, Mongolia, Singapore and Thailand. For more info (or to order online) visit www.hunandynastytogo.com

Egging On

On Barracks Row, I Egg You has hatched at 517 Eighth St. SE. Created by Fried Rice Collective Chefs Scott Dweno and Danny Lee, the sprightly newcomer dispenses all-day breakfast and lunch/ brunch, specializing in—you guessed it—yummy egg sandwiches and other delights. Adding to the enjoyment is a full bar. There’s also takeout and delivery. Fried Rice Collective also operates Chiko at 423 Eighth St. SE. For more information visit www.ieggyou.com.

Hunan Dynasty turns 40

As the Hill continues to welcome new restaurants these days, we sometimes yearn to revisit old timers. So, Peter and I recently returned to Hunan Dynasty, 215 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, which debuted in 1983. I was warmly greeted by the hostess and promptly seated in the ornate and spacious upstairs eatery (and fish tank). I ordered my favorite Chinese dish, chicken in hot garlic sauce, served with spicy hot and sour soup, a crispy eggroll and white rice—a good deal for only $14. Service was polite and quick.

Hill East Burger’s irresistible “Curl-ish” fries are escorted by zesty tomato relish.

Limani (Greek for “port”), an upscale Mediterranean/Greek restaurant, has arrived at the District Wharf.

ked BBQ Sauce, Meat Mitch White Sauce, and, according to Frager’s employee Jay Keegan: top seller Meat Mitch Stay Hot BBQ sauce. What a fun, tasty idea for holiday stocking stuffers! Frager’s is open daily; visit www. www.acehardware.com.

Gone

On the “Avenue,” pleasant personnel and a ﬁsh tank greet customers at the venerable Hunan Dynasty.

Frager’s Holiday Cheer

Not all the news this month is good: Barracks Row has lost a pair of favorite businesses. Mason & Greens, the sustainable, zero-waste vegan store at 400 Eighth St. SE, has closed its doors. (The parent shop at 913 King St. in Old town Alexandria, remains open; visit www. masonandgreens.com.) Also, Crazy Aunt Helen’s, the fun, funky restaurant at 713 Eighth St. SE, abruptly closed last month. On the “Avenue,” Let’s Mix Bibla, the fast-casual Korean/Asian fusion eatery at 209 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, has also called it quits. And….as always, La Plaza Mexican (and Salvadoran) Cuisine, 629 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, will be open on Christmas Day, December 25. For menu and exact hours visit www.laplazadc.com. ◆

Here’s another Capitol Hill old timer, which has survived neighborhood changes, suburban big box competition and a devastating fire: Everyone knows that Frager’s Ace Hardware, 1115 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, carries everything you could possibly need for home and garden. Plus beaucoup holiday decorations. But while buying candles at Frager’s recently, I noticed food, and lots of it. Large and small bags of Dot’s Homestyle pretzel twists (regular seasoning and spicy Southwest), all kinds of candy, Old Fashion Claxton fruit cake, chips, peanuts, and an amazing array of sauces and seasonings. Barbecue buff Peter checked out the rows of tongue-torching condiments: Melinda’s Thai Sweet Best known for supplying home and garden items, Chili sauce and pizza hot sauce, HM Frager’s Hardware stocks edibles, including a line of Honey Mustard Rub, Meat Mitch Naspicy sauces.

Check out all of our happenings at

www.Mrhenrysdc.com LIVE MUSIC Wed through Sat evenings. Tickets at

Instantseats.com Every Wednesday Capitol Hill Jazz Jam 12/1 - Renee Tannenbaum

12/16 - Maija Rejman and Nanny Assis

12/2 - Batida Diferente 12/20 - Capitol Hill Jazz Orchestra 12/7 - Sarah Laven Jones 12/21 - TBA 12/8 - Kevin Cordt Quartet

12/22 - Ravita Jazz Group

12/9 - Lanah Koelle

12/23 - Bob Schwartz Quartet

12/14 - Cindy Moses

12/29 - Renee Georges

12/15 - Fran Vielma

12/31 - NYE with Steve Washington

Mon-Fri 11am – 1:30am Sat & Sun 10:30am – 1:30am

601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE December 2023 ★ 91

ARTS&DINING

Art and the City by Phil Hutinet The Kreeger Museum & Washington Sculptors Group “Still Something Singing” Through January 27, 2024 Currently on view on The Kreeger Museum’s expansive grounds, visitors will find a group sculpture exhibition titled “Still Something Singing,” a collaborative endeavor between the museum and Washington Sculptors Group. Betsy Johnson, Assistant Curator at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, guided this artistic exploration. Outdoor sculpture has been curated to capture “[...]the role of art in our contemporary moment,” according to the exhibition catalog. “Still Something Singing” introduces viewers to a captivating collection of eight artworks, each serving as a catalyst for a fresh perspective on our surroundings and our own viewpoints. These pieces encourage a shift in how we see the world, promote the practice of compassion, uncover the beauty found within life’s dissonance, and inspire a sense of unity and healing. They carry the profound message that art holds the power to empower individuals to effect change in the tapestry of our world, even in moments when we might feel powerless. Among the featured artists contributing their creative visions to this exhibition are Adam Bradley, Donna Cameron, Roger Cutler, Hyunsuk Erick-

son, Donna M. McCullough, Barbara Josephs Liotta, Maryanne Pollock, and Steve Wanna. “Still Something Singing” is a significant component of The Collaborative, an initiative initiated by The Kreeger Museum in 2021, aimed at supporting local artists from the Washington, DC region. “Still Something Singing” stands as a poignant reminder that, even in challenging times, art remains a source of inspiration and empowerment, capable of driving meaningful change. 2401 Foxhall Road, NW. Sun.-Mon.: Closed. Tue.- Sat.: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (Grounds close at 4:15 p.m.). 202-3373050. Ticketed entry required.

“Julie Packard” by Hope Gangloff Acrylic on Canvas, 2019. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; funded by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Board of Trustees. Copyright Hope Gangloff

National Portrait Gallery “Forces of Nature: Voices that Shaped Environmentalism” October 20, 2023 – September 2, 2024 “Forces of Nature: Voices that Shaped Environmentalism” at the National Portrait Gallery introduces a selection of influential individuals, including scientists, politicians, activists, writers, and artists, who have played pivotal roles in shaping American attitudes toward the environment. This exhibit offers a historical journey, tracing the evolution of the environmental movement in View of sculptures in The Kreeger Museum’s grounds. the United States from the late 19th century Photo: Anna Savino. to the present day. The exhibition explores the transition from early 20th-century conservationism to mid-20th-century environmentalism, the subsequent challenges faced, and the contemporary efforts focused on environmental justice, biodiversity, and climate change. Drawing predominantly from the National Portrait Gallery’s own collection, “Forces of Nature: Voices that Shaped Environmentalism” showcases over 25 portraits of individuals who have left a lasting impact on how the public perceives the natural world. Among the featured figures are well-

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known luminaries like Rachel Carson, George Washington Carver, Maya Lin, Henry David Thoreau, and Edward O. Wilson. The exhibition ingeniously combines portraiture, visual biographies, and, wherever possible, the subjects’ own words to delve into the intricate and multifaceted history of the environmental movement. Guest curated by Lacey Baradel, a science historian at the National Science Foundation, “Forces of Nature: Voices that Shaped Environmentalism” provides an insightful exploration of the individuals who have shaped America’s environmental consciousness. 8th and G Streets, NW. 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Closed December 25. The Phillips Collection “African Modernism in America, 1947-67” Through January 7, 2024 In the pivotal year of 1967, Fisk University received a transformative collection of modern African art courtesy of the Harmon Foundation, a prominent American organization dedicated to supporting and promoting African and African American artists. This significant gift marked a two-decade period during which African art-

ists, this exhibition is the first to explore the intricate connections between modern African artists and American patrons, artists, and cultural organizations. It unfolds within the intertwined histories of civil rights, decolonization, and the Cold War, revealing a rich network of transcontinental cultural exchange. 1600 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC. Tue.-Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Mondays. 202387-2151. Ticketed entry required. University of Maryland Global Campus Gallery “Eternal Paper” October 22, 2023–May 19, 2024 The Eternal Paper Exhibition at the University of Maryland Global Campus is a must-see event for Peter Clarke (1929-2014, South Africa), “That art enthusiasts and anyone interested in exploring Evening Sun Goes Down”, 1960, Gouache on paper, 21 1/2 x 17 in., Fisk University Galleries, Nashville, the creative boundaries of paper as a medium. This Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1991.313 © 2022 exhibition brings together 20 exceptionally talentPeter Edward Clarke / DALRO, Johannesburg / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy ed artists who have collaboratively crafted intricate American Federation of Arts. hand-formed art on and with paper. What sets this exhibition apart is the diversity of artistic approachists gained increasing visibility among es on display, ranging from representation to abAmerican audiences. This era unfoldstraction, and an exploration of pressing political, ecoed against the backdrop of profound logical, and social themes. social and political changes in Africa, The exhibition is curated by renowned artist Helthe United States, and the world. en C. Frederick, a master printmaker, educator, and the Following the upheavals of World visionary behind Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, a leadWar II, there was a renewed commiting Maryland organization specializing in contempoment to Pan-Africanism as a cultural rary printmaking. and political movement that fostered “Eternal Paper” is a remarkable exhibit that offers racial solidarity among people from Afa thought-provoking exploration of various perspecrica and its Diasporas. As independent tives, showcases the triumph of collaboration while reAfrican nations emerged from colonial imagining paper as both an art form and as a medirule, artists crafted new visual languagum. This endeavor could only have come to fruition es in response to the changing times. Orfrom a group of artists who come from incredibly difganizations and institutions such as the ferent backgrounds but who are all accomplished in Harmon Foundation, historically Black their own right. colleges and universities (including Fisk Artists in the exhibition include Maria Barbosa, University in Nashville), the Museum of Elsabé Johnson Dixon, Nicole Donnelly, Cheryl EdModern Art, and Merton D. Simpson’s wards, Susan Firestone, Helen C. Frederick, ClauNew York gallery provided fresh oppordia “Aziza” Gibson-Hunter, Alexis Granwell, Ellen tunities for engaging with African modHill, Ken Polinskie, Tongji Philip Qian, Randi Reernisms. Through their presentation of iss-McCormack, Tara Sabharwal, Soledad Salamé, African artists, they encouraged AmerPreston Sampson, Gretchen Schermerhorn, Joyce ican audiences to recognize shared aesJ. Scott, Buzz Spector, Mary Ting, and Anne Vilsthetic and political concerns. boell. 3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi, MD. 9 This vibrant period, marked by the a.m.–9 p.m. daily. Harmon Foundation’s gift, serves as the foundation for “African Modernism in Phil Hutinet is the founding publisher of East City Art, DC’s visual art journal of record. For more information visit www. America, 1947-67.” Featuring the works eastcityart.com u of 50 African and African American artDecember 2023 H 93

ARTS&DINING

the LITERARY HILL A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events by Michelle LaFrance

A Very Bookish Holiday Season

his column is for those who like to tuck something to read into holiday gift bags, stockings, and travel packs. Amir Y, shift lead, at Little District Books on the Hill met with me this month to discuss “bookish buys” for this holiday season. Little District Books is an independent bookstore that celebrates LGBTQ+ authors and stories. It’s located on Barracks Row at 737 8th St. SE. MLF: Any special books that you’re recommending for gifting this holiday season? Amir Y: I personally would recommend some more of our indie romances because I feel like they’re often difficult to find. I’d say that my favorite would be Sparks Fly, which is a magical romance between two wizard boys. It’s perfect for people who love enemies-to-lovers stories—they are academic riAmir Y, Shift Lead at Little vals. And it’s such a fun read. District Books. MLF: Any recommendations for folks who would like to give something more than a single book? Amir Y: Little District has a book subscription box. You can send a Googleform to a friend, if you’re gifting it to someone, and they can fill it out and send it back to us. The form asks them what genres that they like and if they’re okay with young adult books. If they want fiction, nonfiction, and what type of fiction—fantasy, scifi, romance. And they could also link their GoodReads or StoryGraph accounts if they’re interested. Then the Little District team will look at their interests and pick out books for them. And then, we also have a wide range of stickers, bookmarks, puzzles, and bookish gifts. MLF: How else might folks support Little District 94 H HILLRAG.COM

and other independent bookstores during this holiday season? Amir Y: It’s better to shop and order early, so that we can ensure that the product that you’re getting is the best and that you’re getting it in time. I’d also say that if there is a book that you want, and it’s not on your local bookstore’s website, reach out to them. See if they can special order it for you. And the last thing I would say is. Amazon is not our friend. If for some reason you need to order online, not directly from an independent bookstore, I would highly recommend Bookshop.org, Alma Katsu which is an online retailer. Part of the proceeds go to an independent bookstore of your choosing. shines through her sensitive handling of For gift ideas or to contact Little District Bookintelligence-work—keeps the pages turnstore, visit littledistrictbooks.com. ing. Lyndsey Duncan is an intriguing proDon’t forget our other favorite local, independent tagonist, sensitive, principled, highly cabookstores this holiday season: East City (eastcitypable, but down-to-earth. As the story’s bookshop.com/), Solid State Books (solidstatebookstension escalates it is sure to leave eager dc.com), and Capitol Hill Books (www.capitolhillreaders on the edge of their seats. books-dc.com). East of the City has two shopper-friendly holiday Christopher Catches a Fish gift buyers guides—one for adults and one for kids— Christopher Datta’s second children’s that are sure to help you find memorable bookish gifts. book, with illustrations by Christine VineWhether you are buying deliciously salacious books for yard, is the charming account of an unlikely a celebrity gossip or for teens and young adults—East friendship between Christopher, a boy who City has an excellent range of new reads in stock. fishes in a lucky hat given to him by his father, and the Great Blue Heron who knows December Reviews all the secrets of the lake. The two become Red London companions, then accomplices, in plotting For those who love spies and thrillers, Alma Katsu’s latest Red London is a thrilling detour into the fictional world of CIA agent, Lyndsey Duncan. Duncan finds herself tasked with gathering intel on Russian oligarch Mikhail Rotenberg and his ties to the newest Russian leader, Viktor Kosygin, post-Putin (and, yes, Ukrainian war). Lyndsey must infiltrate a world of intrigue and danger, as she befriends Emily, the wife of target Mikhail Rotenberg, Russian Oligarch and banker. Katsu’s masterful storytelling and skillful depictions of intelligence-gathering—Katsu herself served in the CIA, an expertise that Christopher Datta

Poetic Hill Sunu Chandy

Stephen Spotswood. Photo: Daniel Corey

to catch an enormous fish. Certain to win over even those, like Christopher, who might find fishing boring.

Murder Crossed Her Mind The fourth installment of the Pentecost & Parker Mystery series follows Lillian and Will as they sleuth the suspicious disappearance of a woman who might have known too much. Stephen Spotswood takes us on a journey to 1940s New York, where Vera Bodine, a former legal secretary, now-shut-in with a remarkable photographic memory, has disappeared. Forest Whitsun, a high-powered defense attorney, enlists the help of Lillian and Willowjean to uncover the truth behind Vera’s vanishing act. Despite the intriguing premise, an excellent historical eye, and a sharp first-person narration, it is the enduring camaraderie between Lillian and Willowjean that steals the show. Fans of the “hard boiled” will enjoy this pithy read that never takes itself too seriously.

If Your Next Read is a Listen

Libro.fm supports all your au-

dio book purchases. What’s more, like bookshop.org, which sends a portion of audiobook proceeds to the independent bookshop of your choice, Libro.fm allows you to choose a local bookstore to support via your audiobook purchases. Membership costs are comparable to other audiobook services; monthly membership allows you one credit toward the purchase of an audiobook. Members can purchase additional credits on demand and buy audiobooks à la carte. Canceling and/or pausing your membership does not erase your credits or audiobooks. Libro.fm can be found at https://libro.fm/ Should the public library be more your speed, check out Libby. Libby allows you to use your DC library card to check out and listen to the DC Public Library systems audio book collection. Available at overdrive.com/apps/libby. Michelle LaFrance is Associate Professor of English at George Mason University. She teaches creative nonfiction, life writing, and civic writing at the Hill Center and blogs about writing, her upcoming writing classes, and writing retreats at writinglostriver.org. u

by Sandra Beasley

unu P. Chandy (she/her) is a social justice activist including through her work as a poet, civil rights attorney, and LGBTQ+ rights advocate. She is the daughter of immigrants from Kerala, India, and has lived in the NW quadrant of Washington, DC for the last nine years. Sunu’s award-winning collection of poems, My Dear Comrades, was published by Regal House in 2023. Sunu’s creative work can also be found in publications including Asian American Literary Review, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Poets on Adoption, Split this Rock’s online social justice database, The Quarry, and in anthologies including The Penguin Book of Indian Poets, The Long Devotion: Poets Writing Motherhood and This Bridge We Call Home: Radical Visions for Transformation. Sunu has served in various civil rights roles for the past 25 years including as an EEOC litigator in NYC for 15 years, and here in DC as the Legal Director for the National Women’s Law Center until August 2023, and before that as Deputy Director of Civil Rights with the U.S. Health and Human Services, and as General Counsel of the DC Office of Human Rights. In addition to serving on the board of the Transgender Law Center, Sunu is currently a Senior Advisor with Democracy Forward, supporting work to fight the attacks on racial equity and inclusion, and working alongside partner organizations to help build a nation that does right by all of us. ODE TO THE BROKEN PRINTER, THREE PRINTERS AGO It’s almost like they need names. The broken printer from when we lived in the Argonne. The broken printer from the apartment by Ginger’s in Park Slope. The newly broken printer just bought during the global pandemic. The broken printer from East Flatbush, and this one, from the Fort Greene studio. E likes to repair things. She is pro-composting and anti-landfills. And when something breaks Photo: Sarah Sharaf-Eldien she keeps it, just to see what can be done. With a reluctant nod to her values, I had kept this broken printer much longer than planned. When she came over one evening I said, I was done. She had one more evening to fix the printer. In my studio apartment with a three-year-old, we had no space for broken things. One week before, our friend had stayed overnight with our daughter and we enjoyed our first weekend away after becoming parents. E had told my parents long ago that she was planning to marry me. I was utterly lost at why I hadn’t come back from the North Fork of Long Island, an engaged person. That didn’t help my mood and increased the pitch that the broken printer had to go. I gave her one last chance and fell asleep on the couch. One hour later she wheeled over on the office chair and woke me up. In jagged lines going all over the page, complete with messed-up lettering and too-light toner, printed over and over on the page, there it was. Her repeated test-print: Will You Marry Me? Sandra Beasley is the curator of “Poetic Hill,” a resident of Southwest, and the author of four poetry collections. If you live in D.C. and you’re interested in being featured, you can reach her at sandrabeasley@earthlink.net for questions and submissions (1-5 poems). u

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FAMILY LIFE

Patient receiving a hydra-facial.

Peel Haus Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery

Patient receiving wrinkle-relaxer injection.

A Deep Dive Into Self Care on the Hill by Pattie Cinelli

hirty years ago every time I looked into a mirror I cried. I saw the infamous double chin that plagued all the women on my mother’s side of the family. If that wasn’t bad enough, it seemed like every day someone would tell me I looked tired. I wasn’t! I tried to remedy the problems with a professional makeup artist who sighed and said, “I’m sorry. The only way you can fix the under-eye bags or double chin is through surgery.” Doing whatever it takes to feel good about the way you look is top priority for me. Coloring your hair, getting a mani/pedi, hiring a trainer, buying new clothes, relaxing wrinkles or enhancing physical features are all ways we can improve our outer selves that help us feel better inside as we navigate our lives. A new business recently opened at 1105 Pennsylvania Ave. SE that gives clients a range of premium medical-grade skincare services and cutting-edge cosmetic procedures. Peel Haus takes the best practices from a dermatologist’s office and from a spa. When I asked why the DC natives chose to locate on the Hill, Sorelle Cooper, president and CEO said, “The Hill chose us. We love this community. Many of our clients come from the Hill.”

Wendy Pittman, Peel Haus vice president of business development said,” I’m proud to be one of the co-founders and part of this venture alongside two amazing women dedicated to making Peel Haus the ultimate destination for all things related to facial and body aesthetics.” She said it is the first of its kind on the Hill. “What sets us apart is our commitment to provide our skilled skincare professionals, nurse practitioners and physicians with a state-of-the-art facility to deliver their expertise to patients.”

Wide Range of Treatments

Peel Haus has a wide range of latest state-ofthe-art treatments for face and body as well as in-office plastic surgery such as ear lobe repair, tummy tucks, breast or arm lifts and scar revision performed by plastic surgeons. It also offers a

medically-supervised weight-loss program using semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that assists in safe weight loss. Peel Haus has a wide range of the latest injectibles including Botox and dermal fillers as well as chemical peels, micro needling, laser hair removal and liposuction. The treatment that most intrigues me is using our own tissue to heal ourselves. I was familiar with regenerative medicine used to repair muscle and soft tissue but not for aesthetics. PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) is created from your own blood tissue. Blood is removed, cells separated, then it is injected back into your body. It becomes a natural filler which is 100 percent of donor tissue, explained Cooper. “It’s been used in dentistry and orthopedics for years.” She said injections of PRF are three sessions which are usually four weeks apart. Sorelle Cooper, FNP-BC, President and CEO December 2023 H 97

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Another service is the complimentary skin analysis that is digitally performed at Peel Haus. “We do a deep dive into the skin both on and under the surface. The system ranks clients against their peers and ranks wrinkles against their age and ethnic groups,” Cooper said. “The system also has a number of

el,” said Cooper. “We have anti-aging and preventive-targeted therapies to get the result desired.”

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simulators about how you will age. It also shows how, if you get treatment, how that will change.” Another treatment uses threads to relax wrinkles. “We insert threads under the surface of the skin and they dissolve over time,” Cooper said. “Collagen replaces the threads and continues to hold that tissue in place.” Peel Haus facials are not just feel-good treatments. They are based on evidence with proven results that “improve the activity and health of your skin on a cellular lev-

Cooper said, because homecare is how a client maintains a treatment, Peel Haus offers two skin care lines. “You wouldn’t go to a dentist then go home and not brush your teeth.” Treatments at Peel Haus can become a transformative journey that can enhance your confidence when presenting yourself in the world. For more information visit: www.peelhaus.com. Pattie Cinelli is a health and fitness professional and journalist who has been writing her column for more than 25 years. She focuses on non-traditional ways to stay healthy, get fit and get well. Please contact her at: fitmiss44@aol. com. ◆

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FAMILY LIFE

The District Vet The Continuing Adventures of Calvin

appy December. My family and the entire family of District Vet wishes everyone a joyous holiday season. Remember to deck the halls, light the menorah, keep the dog out of the trash and the cat away from candles. Over the past month I have been asked numerous times for a Calvin T. Dog update. Having discussed puppy training and the joys of raising a

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by Dan Teich, DVM pup, let’s return to reality with an assessment of the past month. As of this writing, Calvin is seventeen weeksold. We call him our little velociraptor. Housetraining has gone pretty well. He does not defecate in the house and very rarely urinates inappropriately, too. When there is a urinary oops, it is almost certainly our fault as we did not take him out soon enough or missed his signals that he had to go. At the office it’s a bit harder to monitor him all the time, but it’s a work in progress. Doctor Evans has said that we are lucky with Calvin as I have heard her say numerous times that a golden will somehow house-train itself. While I hope this is true, I do believe that our efforts have aided in compliance! Eternal vigilance, I say. You really can’t take them out enough. As for the velociraptor, those little teeth can hurt. He also likes to launch himself at us in fervent, happy play. We are definitely careful to not reward his gnawing our extremities with more play. I forgot how much puppies like to chew on us. While we do redirect to chew toys, there are times I simply give up and become the chew toy myself. Brian, our saint prior golden-esque sixty pound friend, would eat about three cups of food per day. This monster at only thirty pounds gobbles down about six! And he is lean. It is amazing to see how much protein and carbohydrates puppies require for growth. This should not be an unusual thought considering he was twelve pounds at eight weeks and is thirty at seventeen weeks. But it still amazes me. We feed Purina ProPlan Puppy. Oh, and they poop a ton. Food in, poop out.

He has done well with his vaccination series and only has Lyme left. We gave him bordetella, three rounds of distemper-parvo-lepto, a rabies, and two canine influenza vaccinations. Handled it like a champ. He is also on Simparica Trio. Crate-training has been a breeze. We have upgraded to a large crate, which sits directly next to my side of the bed. Crate rules are simple: once the dog is in the crate, you ignore him. We provide him with a large towel as he has gained our trust and doesn’t chew on it. He may stir during the night, but does not bark and now makes it through the night. We very early on stopped taking him out to pee once he was put to bed. Crating will be maintained until such time as we trust him in the house. No idea when that will be, but not for a number of months. Calvin is walked on a four-foot thick-rope leash. It gives us the most control and keeps him at our side. When it comes to things on the sidewalk, he is fast! Remember that marijuana butts are everywhere in the city and can cause significant disorientation in a dog! We never use a retractable leash as they do not allow control and can lead to serious issues! Please don’t use one in the city. I’ve also learned that he is a total social butterfly. He has made friends with the folks at Frager’s (Kat, George, etc.) and will pull me into the store and garden center for attention! We do not allow him to have treats and use attention as praise for good behaviors. Although he is tremendously food-motivated, we will save treats for later training. If you are considering welcoming a puppy into your family this season, remember that they are a joy and require quite a bit of work. It’s fun to watch this monster grow. Dr. Teich is the medical director for District Veterinary Hospitals in Navy Yard, Eastern Market and Brookland. Visit www.districtvet.com for more information. u

HAPPY ! R A E Y W E N

YOUR PET DESERVES THIS KIND OF LOVE FROM HER V E T ! CA PITOL HI LL OW NE D & OP

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District Vet is an independent, locally owned veterinary hospital focused on the needs of you and your pet. We believe that no two pets are the same and that each deserves individualized love and attention. It’s our philosophy. It’s just who we are.

Be a part of our community.

3 CONVENIENT LOCATIONS EASTERN MARKET NAVY YARD BROOKLAND 240 7th St., SE 20003 801 2nd St., SE 20003 3748 10th St., NE 20017 (202) 888-2090 (202) 964-5623 (202) 827-1230

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December 2023 ★ 101

FAMILY LIFE

School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

Northeast Stars Montessori Preschool

During circle time, the Northeast Stars students recently learned facts about the element, water. The children also learned about solubility. They practiced pouring ingredients in this classroom activity. Each student poured sugar, salt, flour, and oil into a cup of water to see if the ingredients dissolved into the water. They discovered that everything mixed into the water except for the oil! Northeast Stars Montessori Preschool, 1325 Maryland Ave NE, nestars.net.

Van Ness

Van Ness first and second-grade Otters had a special guest--author Meghan Wilson Duff read their new book, How Are You, Verity? with an engaging pre-

sentation, a creative activity and plenty of Q&A from inquisitive readers! Thank you so much, An Open Book Foundation, for bringing Meghan all the way down from Maine for a Van Ness visit! Van Ness Elementary, 1150 Fifth St SE. wwwvanness.org.

Mundo Verde

At Community Meetings, Mundo Verde students passionately delved into the spirit of appreciation, celebrating the school’s values, and fostering a warm, inclusive environment. J.F. Cook Campus, 30 P St NW & Calle Ocho Campus, 4401 8th St NE; www.mundoverdepcs.org.

Richard Wright PCS

At the U.S. Botanical Gardens, a Bumble Bee harvests nectar shortly before

hibernation. This picture was taken by 8th grader Marcus Hankley during a field trip for the 8th grade photography class. During these trips, students are encouraged to apply the techniques discussed in the classroom to explore and express themselves freely. This picture is the highlight of many great expressions that came from the students during these field trips. Richard Wright Public Charter Schools, 475 School St, S.W.; www.richardwrightpcs.org.

Waterfront Academy Van Ness

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Waterfront students took advantage of all DC has to offer and went to the Natural History Museum on November 15 to see

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DC Prep is accepting applications for SY24-25 beginning December 11th Contact us about how to apply

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FAMILY LIFE

Watkins

side, making a “joyful noise” to entertain their friends and neighbors. Maury Elementary, 1250 Constitution Ave. NE, mauryelementary.com.

Waterfront Academy

Cluster Schools

The Capitol Hill School Cluster (CHSC) Renovators Tour was a huge success because of generous donations from the Capitol Hill family. Thanks to sponsors, volunteers, and families that attended. Everyone did a great job revitalizing their homes in this beautiful community. Stay tuned for next year as the plan is to make this bigger and better than ever!

Watkins Watkins had a packed house at the library recently for author (and CHSC family alum)

Stuart Hobson

the Origin of Man to reinforce their current history class on Early Humans. Waterfront Academy, 222 M St. SW, info@waterfrontacademy.org.

Come and check out the Stuart-Hobson Middle School Drama Players as they star in the award-winning winter performance, The Addams Family. Experience the ghoulish characters who bring us a story of friendship through adversity. December 8-10 (Fri 6:30 PM, Sat 1:00 PM & 6:30 PM, Sun 3:00 PM) Tickets link is also in the bio: tinyurl.com/sh-drama-players. Stuart Hobson, 410 E St NE. Cluster Schools, communications@chcspta.org. u

Maury

Maury fourth graders are learning to play the recorder in Ms. Kaylee Mina’s music studio. For many of them, this is their first experience with a musical instrument. They are learning to read music and create their own compositions. Following the Recorder Karate curriculum, students achieve different belt levels; all of them have learned Hot Cross Buns. On a fine day, they can practice out104 H HILLRAG.COM

Sean O’Brien, who discussed his new book White House Clubhouse. Thanks to the East City Bookshop and Librarian Langley at Watkins Elementary School for making the event possible. Remember to shop at ECB for your books, even for a nice gift, with the holidays right around the corner. Shoutout to Mr. O’Brien for his amazing vintage Watkins tee-shirt! Watkins, 420 12th St SE.

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Snow Maiden at Synetic

In a frozen silver forest high in the mountains, a lonely boy builds a girl from snow. When she mysteriously comes to life, mischief, laughter, and enchantment abound. But what will happen when the ice begins to melt? Told through dazzling movement, dance, and acrobatics, Synetic’s magical take on beloved folktale Snegurochka is a story of hope, friendship, and the power of dreams. Snow Maiden comes to life in a 45-minute production set to an enchanting score to get us all in the holiday spirit. $35. Snow Maiden is at Synetic Theater, 1800 So. Bell St., Arlington (Crystal City), from Dec. 9 to Jan. 6. synPhoto: Johnny Shryock etictheater.org.

Zoolights

Photo of Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater by Margot Schulman.

Family-Friendly Step Afrika’s Magical Musical Holiday Show at Arena

The world’s first holiday show incorporating the African American tradition of stepping, Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is a feast for the eyes and ears. You’ll laugh, you’ll sing, and you’ll dance—yes, dance, along with Step Afrika!’s award-winning dancers on Arena’s fabulous Fichandler Stage as “DJ Nutcracker” sets the tone for a joy-filled, toe-tapping evening that’s a family-friendly holiday “stepstravaganza” like no other. $56 to $95. For ticket discounts, visit arenastage.org/tickets/ savings-programs. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Dec. 8 to 16. arenastage.org.

Now in its 15th year, ZooLights will take thousands of visitors into a winter wonderland lit by more than half a million environmentally friendly LED lights and illuminations. Visitors can stroll through immersive lantern displays showing rainforest, grassland, desert, ocean and polar habitats and the animals that call them home. Live musical performances, delicious treat offerings and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping make this special event a dazzling and immersive experience for families and nature aficionados. This year’s Zoolights are 5 to 9 p.m. (Sundays, 5 to 8 p.m.); with remaining dates of Dec. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. Admission is $6 per person; free for age two and under. $30 for parking. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu/events/zoolights. 106 ★ HILLRAG.COM

NORAD Tracks Santa at noradsanta.org

NORAD tracks everything that flies in and around North America in defense of our country. However, on Dec. 24, they have the special mission of also tracking Santa. NORAD has been tracking Santa since 1955 when a young child accidently dialed the unlisted phone number of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, believing she was calling Santa Claus after seeing a promotion in a local newspaper. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, the commander on duty that night, was quick to realize a mistake had been made, and assured the youngster that CONAD would guarantee Santa a safe journey from the North Pole. Thus, a tradition was born that rolled over to NORAD when it was formed in 1958. Since then, NORAD has dutifully reported Santa’s location on Dec. 24 to millions. Each year, the NORAD Tracks Santa website receives nearly fifteen million unique visitors from more than 200 countries and territories around the world. Volunteers receive more than 130,000 calls (phone number appears on the website on Dec. 24) to the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline. Children are also able to track Santa through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. noradsanta.org.

At NORAD, more than 1,200 volunteers answer phone calls and emails in seven diﬀerent languages from children around the globe asking about Santa on Dec. 24.

100 Gallatin St. NE Washington, DC 20011

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Scan this QR code to register for a building tour

The enrollment team can be reached at school for questions at (202) 545-0515 or by email at enrollment@bridgespcs.org

w w w. br i d g e sp c s . org I 2 0 2 . 5 4 5 . 0 5 1 5 Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. December 2023 ★ 107

The Other Side at the KC

Clover’s mom says it isn’t safe to cross the fence that segregates their AfricanAmerican side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But the two girls strike up a friendship and get around the grown-ups’ rules by sitting on top of the fence together. Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson’s simple yet powerful book The Other Side comes to life on Jan. 13 and 14 at 1:30 and 4 p.m. in a dance piece from choreographer and Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor for Dance Education Hope Boykin. When literal and figurative fences keep us apart, can we find the courage—and creativity—to knock them down? The Other Side is most enjoyed by ages five, up. $20. kennedy-center.org.

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Daisy Denicore, Tanasia Lane in The Other Side. Photo: Jati Lindsay

Grades 5-8

Polar Palooza at the Atlas

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On Saturday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m., celebrate the holiday season at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, in a Winter Wonderland--and bundle up for Polar Palooza with the best ever Hip-Hop dance party hosted by Elements Dance Company (elementsuac.com) together with a live DJ spinning “baby beats” to get the party started. Enjoy dance performances, a Frosty Funk Cypher, and their Chilly Willy Hip Hop Creation Stations while experiencing a host of other family-friendly activities. Kiddie snacks, hot chocolate--and a little something for adults as well at their Atlas Morning Café. Recommended for ages zero to ten. Free but registration recommended. atlasarts.org/events/polar.

Disney’s “Frozen” at the KC

An unforgettable theatrical experience filled with sensational special effects, stunning sets and costumes, and powerhouse performances, Frozen is everything you want in a musical: It’s moving. It’s spectacular. And above all, it’s pure Broadway joy. Frozen is at the Kennedy Center from Dec. 20 to Jan. 21. $35 to $185. (Visit kennedy-center.org/mytix for ticket deals.) Recommended for ages six, up. kennedy-center.org.

Family-Friendly First Night Alexandria

First Night Alexandria is the largest family-friendly, budget-friendly and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event in the region. This year’s First Night Alexandria includes more daytime events with kids, families and seniors in mind. It’s also fun, affordable and safe. There’s an early evening block party at Market Square and fireworks are now at 6 p.m., not midnight. Pricing has been rolled back to pre-pandemic levels. firstnightalexandria.org.

December 2023 H 109

Join the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count

A family holiday tradition for many, the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society, with over 100 years of citizen science involvement. It’s an early-winter bird census, where thousands of volunteers across the US, Canada and many countries in the Western Hemisphere, go out over a 24-hour period on one calendar day to count birds. To participate, you need to join an existing CBC circle by contacting the compiler in advance of the count day. All Christmas Bird Counts are conducted between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, inclusive dates, each season. Read more and sign up at audubon.org/conservation/ join-christmas-bird-count.

Storytime in NPG’s Explore! Space

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Storytime in the National Portrait Gallery’s Explore! Space immerses kids in tales of artists, presidents, inventors, athletes and more. On Mondays, Dec. 4, 11 and 18; Jan. 8, 22 and 29; and Feb. 5, 12 and 26; 1:30 to 2 p.m., visit their family space in the Education Center (E151) before or after story time to play and learn about portraiture. Free and no registration required. The National Portrait Gallery is at Eighth and G streets NW. npg.si.edu.

Away in My Airplane at Air and Space

On Thursdays in December at 11 a.m., join Air and Space, Sixth and Independence Ave. SW, for

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See the National Christmas Tree Trains

The National Christmas Tree is lit every day from approximately 4:30 p.m. to midnight as part of the America Celebrates display at President’s Park (White House). This display is free to visit and is open to the public starting on Dec. 2. You can then visit the tree, surrounding model trains and decorations throughout the season. thenationaltree.org.

Enrollment for 2024-2025 Opening January 2024

YEAR AGES 2 – 5

a story about flying away in your own airplane. Where would you fly and what would you see? Write and illustrate your own airplane story book. airandspace.si.edu.

Capital City Symphony: Sleigh Ride! Annual Holiday Concert and Sing Along (free for kids)

On Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 and 5:30 p.m., celebrate the joy and magic of the season with Capital City Symphony and their special guest, renowned soprano Amber Monroe. Together, CCS and Monroe will delight you with heartwarming holiday classics. Grab your family, friends, and neighbors and join them for a concert filled with holiday music and sing-along fun. Adults, $35; kids 16 and under, free. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.

Holiday Family Activities at the Library of Congress

Every day from Wednesday, Dec. 27 to Saturday, Dec. 30; 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., join the Library’s In-

formal Learning Office, in the Jefferson Building Great Hall, second floor (LJ-200-E), for a crafting activity to celebrate the holiday season and the coming New Year. Learn about the Library’s holiday collections while you make your own crafts including writing cards, creating countdown chains for upcoming celebrations and learning how to write thank you letters. loc.gov/ events/?q=holiday+family.

Family (all day) Game Day at SW Library

On Sundays, Dec. 10, Jan. 7 and Feb. 4, children and their families are invited to visit SW Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW, on Sunday afternoon to play a selection of games that will be made available. dclibrary.org.

Family Christmas Service at the National Cathedral

On Saturday, Dec. 23, 11 a.m., a menagerie of live animals helps bring the Nativity to life in this joyful service of carols and prayers. Gather loved ones of all ages to wel-

• Rolling Year-round Admissions • Top Rated Montessori Preschool • Small/Private Preschool with individualized attention • Certified Licensed Teaching Staff • Spanish Immersion • Kindergarten Readiness • STEM based academics • Potty Training • Enrichment Classes • AM Meals Provided

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See the Trains at Season’s Greenings

Open through Jan. 1 (except Christmas), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the popular annual holiday display at the US Botanic Garden features model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, festive lights throughout the Garden, and the Conservatory features poinsettias, holiday decor, and DC landmarks made from plants. On the lawn in the gated outdoor gardens, G-gauge model trains circulate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through displays of pollinators made from plant parts. Season’s Greenings is also open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Dec. 14, 21 and 28. usbg.gov.

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A Family Christmas at the KC

On Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 24, at 11 a.m., both days, bring the kids for an unforgettable holiday experience as the Choral Arts Chorus fills the concert hall with holiday classics just for them. They’ll take you on a merry tour of Christmas favorites that will have your family singing all the way home. Expect a visit from Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph. This one-hour concert is perfect for children ages five and up. Tickets are $20 to $45. kennedy-center.org.

Jungle Discovery at Imagination Stage

Jungle Discovery is an engaging and immersive interactive experience for children ages three to six and their adults. Participants enter a fantastical jungle world where 112 ★ HILLRAG.COM

they may dress up as exotic creatures and explore the beautiful flora and fauna. Led by Jungle Guides, participants may choose to play in the jungle leaves, add flowers, play with sound using a rain stick, draw on the Mirror Mural, and make a warm nest to hide in. There will be plenty of fun surprises in this multi-sensory environment. Jungle Discovery is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, MD, from Dec. 26 to Jan. 14. Tickets are $19.50. imaginationstage.org. ◆

Photo: Stan Weinstein

Dia de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) at GALA

On Saturday, Jan. 7, 1:30 p.m. (show inside the theatre at 2 p.m.), join GALA for this annual tradition, the celebrated Three Kings celebration which brings Latin-American tradition to the streets of DC. This festive end to the holiday season features the timeless story of the Magi, performances by local musicians and dance troupes, a street parade, and free gifts for children. Free/gratis. GALA Theatre is at 3333 14th St. NW. galatheatre.org/post/threekingsday.

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December 2023 ★ 117

www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

CROSSWORD Cities and Nations by Myles Mellor

Across:

1. Surprise win 6. English horse racing locale 11. Shirt part 14. Slider 18. End of a river 19. It makes quite a bang 20. Boy friend, in Bordeaux 22. That certain something 23. Caribbean capital 25. City that’s host to the Fringe (annual arts festival) 27. Stadium that hosted a 1965 Beatles concert 28. Complex dwelling 29. Some N.C.O.’s 31. Walrus features 32. Posterior 33. Forever and a day 34. Protein-full bean 35. Coupon clipper’s tool 39. “Grand” dam 42. Razz 46. ‘Twilight’ creature 47. ‘The Da Vinci Code’ author Brown 48. Unlucky 51. Major or Minor Bear 52. Puts down for the count 53. St Francis’ city 54. Temperature controls, briefly 55. Eastern Eurpean nation 61. Prefix with pathy 62. Qty. 63. Original manufacturer’s equipment, abbr. 64. Wailer 67. Jimmy 68. Not clear 72. Sale clause, abbr. 73. Billiard pusher 74. Rhode Island-based auto insurance company 75. African nations 84. Legal eagles’ org.

118 H HILLRAG.COM

85. 150 religious poems 86. Nice view 87. “It just disappeared!” 89. Furniture with folding legs, usually 91. Koppel or Danson 92. Confectioner’s offering 95. Robert Louis Stevenson villain 96. Panama port 98. Hearing-related 99. Meddlesome 102. Abbr. on a copier paper tray 103. Way up the mountain 104. Four-stringed instrument 106. Size up 108. Crawl 109. Stag 113. Mexican city 115. South American city 118. Loaded 119. Dermal dilemma 120. Gallic girlfriends 121. Maj.’s superior 122. NYSE banner events 123. Newspaper inserts 124. Largest Italian lake 125. Fundraising game

Down:

1. They cover all the bases 2. Literary honey lover 3. Positive 4. Singer portrayed by Beyonce 5. Notwithstanding, for short 6. Capture 7. Small songbirds 8. R.B.I., e.g. 9. Dwarf in ‘’The Hobbit’’ 10. Windy, rainy season 11. Assist a wrongdoer 12. Crimson colors 13. Half a cocktail 14. Link 15. Creep around 16. Energy output units

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 17. Morse code line 21. Gay Talese’s “___ the Sons” 24. Uproar 26. Pay for 30. Bearded beast 32. Penultimate Greek letter 33. Money in electronic form 34. Baseball exec Bud 35. Law and Order ___ 36. Low-___ diet 37. “___ Excited” (Pointer Sisters hit) 38. Luxury home features 40. Hungarian composer; Franz ___ 41. Otherwise 43. Comparatively cockamamie 44. Turned into 45. Actor Harris and others 47. Bygone bird

49. Spanish bear 50. Caesar’s 1004 52. Kind of pad 53. A multitude 56. Taboos 57. Suffix with bull 58. Downed a submarine 59. Like cornstalks 60. Promise of a payback 64. Now Mumbai 65. On the train 66. “__ any drop to drink”: Coleridge 67. Groaners 68. First name in bridge 69. Profession, casually 70. MIT course 71. California University football team 73. Saharan transport

74. Impressed 76. Get off the fence 77. Org. Lincoln opposed 78. Taxi driver 79. Mexican pot 80. Makeup problem 81. Datebook abbr. 82. Court plea, informally 83. Go-getter 84. German cry 88. Sear 90. Indicates 91. Carry-on 92. Da Vinci code clue 93. Early president 94. Defunct space station 97. Counter offering, abbr. 98. Made up (for) 100. Bullring cheer 101. Lee noted for baked goods 104. Digital phone system, abbr. 105. Data 106. Shred 107. The ___ have it! 108. Small stream dam 109. Crime scene 110. Black-and-white predator 111. Writer Uris 112. Ibsen Museum locale 113. Hosp. picture 114. Electronics group 116. “Pulp Fiction” star, Thurman 117. Vatican vestment

LOOK FOR OUR

WINTER/SPRING

EDUCATION ISSUE PREK-12

NEXT MONTH!

PROVIDING DC PARENTS WITH LOCAL EDUCATION NEWS, RESOURCES AND MORE!

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HILL RAG | 1/6 EAST OF THE RIVER & MIDCITY DC | 1/13

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? CONTACT YOUR SALES REP TODAY!

NOAH 202.400.3504 | KIRA 202.400.3508 ANDREW 202.400.3512 | CAROLINA 202.400.3503

Happy Holiday Homes! To HILL with the Suburbs!

4110 1st St, North Beach, MD

This historic Craftsman-style home has been preserved & renovated into a modern 3BR home, w/ fireplaces, hardwood floors, ceiling fans, & modern climate control, and chef’s kitchen! Lots of room, lovely grounds, and an extra dwelling unit in the rear! Just ½ block from the bay boardwalk, with a porch-front designed for sunrise and sunset viewing. A proud home with love and craftsmanship in every inch! Time to retreat from urban chaos? This may be your dream home!!

50+ YEARS; THOUSANDS OF HOMES!

THE SMITH BROTHERS Licensed in DC & MD

jsmithteam@gmail.com John Smith Aaron Smith Office Direct

202.262.6037 202.498.6794 202.608.1880 202.608.1887

1100 E St, NE

Perched high w/ timeless classic features that will never need restyling!

Luxurious division of rooms w/ large social kitchen warmed by a wood burning fireplace & hot water radiator heat. This semi-detached corner Wardman porch front is commanding, sited above the noise & clamor of a community in transition. A welcoming porch w/ rockers in place provide a contemplative view of parks & nearby landscape. An extra-wide, leaded glass door opensg to a bright lit foyer hallway & an ergonomic interior stair that leads up to 2-3 BRs or 2 large BRs + a BR-sized office. Complemented w/ ample closets, laundry nook, 2 baths, full large louvre shutters & screened Pella windows filled w/ South & West views, absorbing solar vitality. (Snow melts sooner on south and west facing corners!) The main floor charms w/warm oak & chestnut wood in light tones & complimenting wall colors. Downstairs has a newly created, luxurious 1BR unit, with sep laundry & entrances. Add 4-car parking off street & Professional Landscaping!

Wicomico Beach Rd

Two Parcels, One 4.9 acre residential lot, with a barn & power currently, near the Wicomico River. Land with potential for a getaway, or farming, or investment. Two, a 52.8 acres of undeveloped timberland, (well 12 are pasturage) with Turkey, deer, rabbit, etc. nice for hunting, or as an ecological investment!

Traditional Homes! Traditional Values!

THE SMITH BROTHERS

Hire Us, and We Will Put Our Experience and Skill to Work for YOU! KEEP IN TOUCH ABOUT HILL REAL ESTATE AT/ON: www.facebook.com/TheSmithTeam.DC

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705 North Carolina Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003

LICENSED IN DC & MD