The Institute for Musical Traditions’ Hank Williams Tribute
Hank Williams was an American singer-songwriter who is regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century. Williams recorded 55 singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western bestsellers chart, five of which were released posthumously, and 12 of which reached No.1. On Friday, Dec. 27, 7:30 p.m., at St. Mark Presbyterian Church, 100701 Old Georgetown Rd., Rockville, MD, the Institute for Musical Traditions’ presents a Hank Williams Tribute. Tickets are $32. imtfolk.org.
Step Afrika’s Musical Holiday Show at Arena
As the world’s first holiday show highlighting the African American tradition of stepping, Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is a feast for the eyes and ears. Furry friends from the Arctic Kingdom—Popper the Penguin and Polo the Polar Bear—along with DJ Nutcracker ensure a fun and exciting experience for the entire family. $59 to $99. Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Dec. 13 to 22. arenastage.org.
OSGEMEOS: Endless Story at the Hirshhorn
Through Aug. 3, 2025, the Hirshhorn Museum presents the first US museum survey and largest US exhibition of work by identical twin brothers Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo (b. São Paulo, Brazil, 1974), known globally as OSGEMEOS—Portuguese for “the twins.” The yearlong, full-floor presentation brings together approximately 1,000 artworks, photographs, and archival materials to highlight the trajectory of their collaborative multidisciplinary practice, including the roots of their fantastical artistic language, inspired by their upbringing in urban Brazil. The exhibit spotlights the artists’ playful combination of universal themes with magical elements drawn from their heritage, urban art and graffiti traditions. Free timed-passes are distributed online three weeks in advance on a rolling basis. hirshhorn.si.edu.
“A Winter Day” by Sarah Quartel “Wintergrace” by Kevin Siegfried “Stars Over Snow” by Matthew Nielsen
1815.
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain
Dubbed “The villain of Broadway” Tony Award-nominee and Grammy Award-winner Patrick Page has never shied away from exploring his dark side. He now turns to the twisted motivations and hidden humanity at the heart of Shakespeare’s greatest villains. Moving swiftly through the canon, Page illuminates Shakespeare’s evolving conception of evil by delving into more than a dozen of his most wicked creations, offering a thrilling masterclass on the most terrifying subject of them all: human nature. All the Devils Are Here is at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theater from Dec. 6 to 29. Tickets are $35 to $119. shakespearetheatre.org.
CulturalDC Mobile Art Gallery at the ACM
& Juliet at the KC
Created by the Emmy Award–winning writer from Schitt’s Creek, this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & Juliet asks: What would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way. & Juliet is in the Kennedy Center Opera House from Dec. 17 to Jan. 5. Tickets are $45 to $229. kennedy-center.org.
Murjoni Merriweather’s installation in the Mobile Art Gallery is an immersive experience exploring the artist’s personal experiences with growth, patience, and self-care. Connecting with the spiritual and symbolic nature of our planet, Murjoni covers the gallery floor in soil. Her clay sculptures will be lifted, appearing to grow from mounds of earth. The space includes an interactive area with an opportunity to dig in the dirt and discover hidden items to inspire self-reflection. This exhibition is a story of growth. The Mobile Art Gallery at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, is open Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. (closed for lunch, 1 to 1:30 p.m.) until Dec. 22. There is a hands-on clay workshop led by Merriweather on Saturday, Dec. 14, noon to 2 p.m. anacostia.si.edu.
Rt. 123 Comedy Ft. Chris Alan at Capital One Hall (The Vault)
Chris Alan is a stand-up comic, writer, podcaster, content creator based out of Washington DC. He’s toured with Mark Normand, opened for headliners such as Neal Brennan, Janelle James, SNL alum Colin Quinn and Sam Jay. At comedy clubs across the country, Chris delivers material about growing up a nerd in the inner city, going to therapy, marriage, his time in the military and becoming a father. Be sure to listen to his podcast Negro Please Radio in which he talks about fatherhood, marriage, comedy, life on the road and figuring out his life after the military. Chris Alan is at Capital One Hall (The Vault), 7750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons, VA, on Friday, Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20. capitalonehall.com.
IN Series’ Rigoletto
Voted as an audience choice for IN Series’ 2019-20 season, this circus version of Rigoletto, complete with a circus band and bawdy new text by Bari Biern, became a victim of COVID-19, but before that, victim to 19th-century censors that found its exploration of the misdeeds of the powerful too dangerous for the public eye. The production finally roars to life on Dec. 7 and 14, at 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 8 and 15, at 2:30 p.m., at the Goldman Theater DCJCC, 1529 16th St. NW. At once darkly devilish, toe-tappingly infectious, and horrifically funny, Verdi’s masterpiece is made intimate, in-yourface, and inescapably enjoyable under the big top. Tickets are $35 to $72. inseries.org.
Patrick Page. Photo: Julieta Cervantes
Juliet and the nurse.
Murjoni Merriweather
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Dan Rodricks’ Baltimore, You Have No Idea at the BMA
“You Have No Idea” is a one-man play…with a cast of seven. On Dec. 8, 14, 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m.; and Dec. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m., award-winning journalist Dan Rodricks brings to stage some of the many fascinating people he’s encountered while writing more than 6,000 columns over 44 years for The Baltimore Sun. Dramatic, hopeful, sobering and uproariously funny, Dan’s play is an onstage memoir from more than 45 years as a Baltimore Sun columnist. While documenting a city seemingly in perpetual recovery, he discovers one-of-a-kind Baltimore stories and characters that come to life from the page to the stage. $35. Performances are at the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Meyerhoff Auditorium, 10 Art Museum Dr., Baltimore, MD. youhavenoidea.org.
The ’70s Lens: Reimagining Documentary Photography at the NGA
The 1970s was a decade of uncertainty in the United States. Americans witnessed soaring inflation, energy crises, and the Watergate scandal, as well as protests about the Vietnam War, women’s rights, gay liberation, and the environment. Activism and a growing awareness and acceptance of diversity opened the field to underrepresented voices. At the same time, artistic experimentation fueled the reimagining of what documentary photographs could look like. Through April 6, featuring some 100 works by more than 80 artists, the National Gallery of Art’s The ʼ70s Lens examines how photographers reinvented documentary practice during this radical shift in American life. nga.gov.
The Black Crows at MGM National Harbor
In a time where the art form is buried beneath the corporate sheen of its successors, The Black Crowes are biting back with the angst of words left unsaid penned on paper and electrified by guitar strings, revealing stripped, bare-boned rock & roll. No gloss, no glitter, just rhythm and blues at its very best - gritty, loud, and in your face. The Black Crows are at MGM National Harbor on Thursday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $93. mgmnationalharbor.mgmresorts.com.
Downstate at Studio
Downstate is a button-pushing play from provocateur Bruce Norris that looks at the limits of compassion, the desire for retribution, and what happens when society decides some acts are unforgivable. In downstate Illinois, at a group home for registered sex offenders, four men are living with the realities of post-incarcerated life: ankle monitors, no internet, and no shopping at stores closer than 2,500 feet from playgrounds. When a man shows up to confront the piano teacher convicted of molesting him as a child, events begin to build to an explosive conclusion in this riveting play. Tickets are $40 to $95. Performances begin on Jan. 8 at Studio Theatre, 1501b 14th St. NE. studiotheatre.org.
Sunil Gupta Untitled #22, 1976, printed 2023 gelatin silver print image: 61 x 91.5 cm (24 x 36 in.) sheet: 67.7 x 99.7 cm (26 5/8 x 39 1/4 in.) National Gallery of Art,
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
MOSAICO: Italian code of a timeless art at the Dupont Underground
The Dupont Underground, 19 Dupont Circle NW, has announced the arrival of MOSAICO: Italian Code of a Timeless Art, a world-renowned exhibition organized by The Embassy of Italy, the Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The exhibition explores the beauty and history of Italian mosaic art. This multimedia and immersive experience transforms the space under Dupont Circle into a vibrant journey through centuries of artistic tradition, from ancient Rome to the treasures of Sicily. The exhibit is open through Feb. 2, Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10; $8 for military, seniors and students. magister.art/en/exhibitions/mosaico-italian-code-of-a-timeless-art/world-tour.
Indigo Girls at Strathmore
Released in 1989, Indigo Girls’ eponymous major label debut sold over two million copies under the power of singles “Closer to Fine” and “Kid Fears” and turned Indigo Girls into one of the most successful folk duos in history. Over a 35-year career the multi-Grammy-winning duo of Emily Saliers and Amy Ray has recorded sixteen studio albums, sold over 15 million records, and built a dedicated, enduring following across the globe. Their latest record, Look Long is a stirring and eclectic collection of songs that finds the duo reunited in the studio with their strongest backing band to date. Tickets are $29 to $129. Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD, on Thursday, Dec. 12, 8 p.m. strathmore.org.
Puddles Pity Party at The Atlantis
Deftly combining melancholy with the absurd, Puddles has received endorsements and accolades from musical comedy legends like Jack Black, Michael McKean, Weird Al Yankovic, Drew Carey, Nick Offerman and Paul Reubens. His one-of-a-kind textured voice laced with melancholy has been hailed as operatic and his show both life-affirming and funny. Puddles Pity Party is at the Atlantis, 2047 Ninth St. NW, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, doors at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 to $105. theatlantis.com
The Axelrod String Quartet: Stradivarius and Amati
On Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., enjoy The Axelrod String Quartet playing Stradivarius and Amati at the National Museum of American History, Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music. Smithsonian Chamber Music Society audiences can hear two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicoló Amati. Tickets are $36. smithsonianassociates.org.
Indigo Girls Emily Saliers and Amy Ray.
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder at the Birchmere
Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder is the band that plays with American country and bluegrass singer Ricky Skaggs. Bandleader Ricky Skaggs plays mandolin and is the lead vocalist. The group has won the Instrumental Group of the Year award from the International Bluegrass Music Association multiple times, as well as seven Grammy Awards. On Friday, Jan. 3 and Saturday, Jan. 4, 7:30 p.m., Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder will perform at the Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA. Tickets are $55. birchmere.com.
Theater J’s Out of Character
Tony Award-winner Ari’el Stachel’s one-man show brings to life a full ensemble of characters from his past, availing uproarious laughter, insight, and transformative performance to illuminate what it means to pursue— and accept—our complex identity. From hilarious sweat-gland cures to earnest investigations, Out of Character weaves an expansive autobiographical tale of his Yemeni Jewish mixed ethnicity, mental health, and success—all to the tune of relentless humor and extraordinary talent. Tickets are $39.99 to $49.99. Out of Character is at Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW, from Jan. 8 to 26. edcjcc.org/theater-j.
Inaugural Capital Hockey Classic at Capitol One Arena
The inaugural Capital Hockey Classic, an exciting college hockey double header at Capital One Arena, in downtown DC, is set to debut this winter. Taking place on Thursday, Dec. 12, the first game of the event features a 5 p.m. contest between Army and Navy’s club hockey teams, followed by a matchup between Army and Penn State’s Division I programs at 8 p.m. The matchups mark the return of college hockey to Capital One Arena. Ticket prices start at $20 and are available at ticketmaster.com/capital-hockey-classic-washington-district-of-columbia-12-12-2024.
Bollywood Night: Best Bollywood Beats at Union Stage
Bollywood refers to the film industry based in Mumbai engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood is a combination of “Bombay” (former name of Mumbai) and “Hollywood”. The industry is a part of the larger Indian cinema, which also includes South Indian cinema and other smaller film industries. On Friday, Dec. 27, at 9 p.m. (doors at 8 p.m.), You Had To Be There presents DJ Sounds by Two Sisterzz of Best Bollywood Beats at Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW. Tickets are $10 to $25. unionstage.com.
Little Books, Big Gifts: The Artistry of Esther Inglis at the Folger
Esther Inglis, a middle-class FrancoScottish refugee artisan, a working mother of eight, and a contemporary of Shakespeare, earned her living by her pen, combining her artistic skills and her religious beliefs to create over 60 miniature handwritten and hand-illustrated books. Four hundred years after her death, this exhibition explores Esther’s life and work as an early modern influencer and as the first woman in Britain to preface her works with selfies. The Little Books, Big Gifts: The Artistry of Esther Inglis exhibition is at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE, through Jan. 19. folger.edu.
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder in Mt. Vernon, KY on Oct. 21, 2022.
Penn State at Wisconsin, 2023
Miel Wellness - 727 8th St SE
Lola’s - 711 8th St SE
Chat’s Liquors on Capitol Hill - 503 8th St SE
DCanter - A Wine Boutique - 545 8th St SE
Belga Cafe - 514 8th St SE
Valor Brewpub - 723 8th St SE
Trattoria Alberto - 508 8th St SE
The Joint Chiropractic - 721 D St SE Suite B
Miracle Theatre - 535 8th St SE
White Ford Bronco: DC’s All ‘90s Band at the Lincoln
Long a mere dream kicking around in the overactive imaginations of its founders, White Ford Bronco officially came into being in 2008. Since then, the five-member ensemble has been sparking bouts of flannel-laden, slap-bracelet-snapping, pog-playing nostalgia across the DC area. On NYE, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 10:30 p.m. (doors at 9 p.m.), White Ford Bronco: DC’s All ‘90s Band will perform at the Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. The Evening will be capped off with a complimentary Champagne toast at midnight. Tickets are $55. thelincolndc.com.
Jane Monheit at Blues Alley Jazz
Jane Monheit is a jazz and contemporary vocalist with a deep passion for the Great American Songbook. With many highly acclaimed solo albums, countless awards and accolades, and over two decades of international touring experience, Jane has not only been an extremely successful bandleader, but has had the privilege of making music with some of the greatest musicians, arrangers, and producers in jazz. Jane Monheit is at Blues Alley, 1073-rear Wisconsin Ave. NW, on Dec. 19 and 20, at 7 and 9:30 p.m., both nights. bluesalley.com.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at the 9:30 Club
If you ever wondered what seizing-the-moment sounds like personified, look no further than Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, the four-piece musical powerhouse known for their headturning high-energy psychedelic funk shows. Infectious energy is an understatement. With a devout audience, affectionately known as “The Flock,” and a trail of sold-out tours behind them, the band takes a major step forward once again on their seventh full-length offering, Day In Time, released on April 26, 2024. 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, on Dec. 12 to 14. A threenight pass is $95.
Club Quarantine Live wit D-Nice at the KC
After making history as the first DJ and hiphop artist to headline the Kennedy Center Opera House in 2022 and launching his three-day Club Quarantine Live Residency in 2023, legendary artist, DJ, photographer, and Kennedy Center Hip Hop Culture Council Member, D-Nice brings Club Quarantine Live back for another year—this time in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Club Quarantine Live with D-Nice is at the Kennedy Center on Saturday, Jan. 11, 8 p.m. Ticket price range is $90 to $287. kennedy-center.org.
EL CANUTO DEL ROCK at GALA
Canuto, an old Salvadoran rocker from Mount Pleasant (a neighborhood surrounding GALA in Washington, DC) has a radio show where he only plays the music he loved as a teenager. Suddenly, reminiscences of the past take him on a journey back in time to his childhood and the war in Central America. With humor and lightheartedness, rock merges with the landscape of his Salvadoran town and to the music of his ancestors. Tickets are $32. EL CANUTO DEL ROCK is at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, on Dec. 13 and 14, 8 p.m.; and Dec. 15, 2 p.m. galatheatre.org.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Photo: Gabriela Barbieri
LOCAL CALENDAR
Wharf Ice Rink Reopens for Season. Wednesday through Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. $25 including skate rental, $18 without, for adults; 12 and under, $20 including skates, $15 without. The rink is at Transit Pier outside The Anthem, 970 Wharf St. SW. wharfdc. com/wharf-ice-rink.
Data at Arena Stage. Through Dec. 15. Data is Matthew Libby’s intriguingly suspenseful and relevant new play that takes you behind the locked doors of Silicon Valley. Tickets start at $75. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org.
District’s Holiday Boat Parade. Dec. 7, 6 to 8 p.m., activities throughout The Wharf; 7 p.m.,
Brought to You by Schneider's of Capitol Hill
boats arrive in Washington Channel; 8 p.m., fireworks. wharfdc.com.
Carpe Librum Pop-up at Canal Park. Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Browse through thousands of books all under $6 in a beautiful setting, 200 M St. SW. Weather dependent. turningthepage.org.
Black Leaves Dance Company: A Chocolate City Nutcracker. Dec. 7, 6 p.m. and Dec. 8, 4 p.m. A Chocolate City Nutcracker is Black Leaves Dance Company’s retelling of The Nutcracker story as we follow a young, gay man at his HBCU’s holiday party, who is searching for his Prince, and travels to the Land of Dreams, where we explore a variety of African diasporic dance genres. $18.25 to $20.25. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting. Dec. 10, 6 p.m. The annual Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting, presented by Washington Performing Arts in partnership with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, kicks off the holiday season with festive music from artists including Norwegian singer Lisa Stokke, the voice of Elsa in the Norwegian language-version of Frozen and Frozen II; Washington Performing Arts’s Children of the Gospel choir, Roz White as well as an appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus; and the lighting of the Norwegian Christmas Tree.
Dissonance Dance Theatre: Winter Stories. Dec. 8, 5 p.m. During a time when many enjoy The Nutcracker, Dissonance Dance Theatre presents Winter Stories. Winter Stories is an intimate evening of dance surrounding stories inspired by the cold of winter. $29.25 to $45.25. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Congressional Cemetery’s Holiday Market. Dec. 8, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. They will have a diverse array of vendors, who offer distinctive gifts, artisanal crafts, and delicious holiday treats against the enchanting backdrop of the historic cemetery grounds. 1801 E St. SE. congressionalcemetery.org.
Award-Winning Singer/Songwriters Halley Neal and Sam Robbins. Dec. 8, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Halley Neal is an award winning folk singer and songwriter whose live shows center on themes of positivity and peace. Sam Robbins is a nationally touring musician whose music evokes classic singer songwriters like James Taylor and Jackson Browne. $20. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Worldwide Candle Lighting (with The Compassionate Friends). Dec. 8, 7 to 8 p.m. Families in the community who have suffered the loss of children of any age deserve attention and care. At Congressional Cemetery they know the importance of remembering,
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Enjoy a selection of 12 exceptional wines from around the world, including:
honoring, and speaking the names of those we have lost. compassionatefriends.org/wcl.
Chiarina Chamber Players’ Imani Winds. Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m. This trailblazing, 2024 Grammy Awardwinning woodwind quintet performs works written or arranged for their ensemble--and joins pianist Efi Hackmey in a quintet by Mozart. $30; free for ages 18 and under, Mark’s Capitol Hill, 301 A St. SE. chiarina.org.
Our City. Our Music. Our Writers., Featuring Daniel Boomhower and Carol Oja. Dec. 10, 7 to 9 p.m. The December 10 session of this series presents two outstanding speakers who will discuss their path-breaking scholarship on the performance history of classical music in Washington, DC. $10. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Sing Out Piano Bar and Open Mic with Gay Man’s Chorus. Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Feb. 5 and 12; 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.
NE Library Book Sale. Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most books are $1. At the NE Library, 330 Seventh St. NE (corner of Seventh Street and Maryland Avenue NE). dclibrary.org.
Navidad Flamenca (Flamenco Holidays) 2024. Dec. 14, 4 and 7 p.m. This festive program will take you on a journey of some of the most festive holiday traditions as celebrated in Spain and Puerto Rico. $34.25 to $40.25. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
EdFEST 2024. Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ed Fest explores the city’s many public school options (PK312) for your child. Representatives from more than 180 DC public schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools will showcase their programs. Free admission. EdFEST 2024 is at the DC Armory. eventsdc. com/venue/dc-armory.
Eight Nights of Festive Eating for Hanukah Featuring Chef Susan Barocas and Veteran Food Writer Bonnie Benwick. Dec. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Whether you want new ideas for your Hanukah celebrations or just want to enjoy learning some delicious dishes, join chef Susan Barocas and food writer Bonnie Benwick for this hands-on class with lots of eating. Complimentary beer and wine will be served. $89.
Death on the Nile. Through Dec. 29. In Ken Ludwig’s thrilling adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, Hercule Poirot becomes entangled in a web of deceit and desire aboard a cruise ship on the Nile River. $79 to $99. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org.
Strange Tales VI: The Strangest Holiday Special (N)Ever at CHAW. Dec. 6 to 21. Our host, The Spirit of Holidays Yet to Be, is serving up four original tales of the macabre centered around the holiday season, with stories featuring hapless space explorers, a makeup influencer, a home invasion, and the ghost of First Lady Dolley Madison. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE. chaw.org.
Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Reverb at the Atlas. Dec. 14, 7 p.m. Come experience the sounds of the season with DC’s very own Reverb, an African American a cappella vocal group that features gospel, soul and pop music and for December-songs that celebrate joy, love, peace, harmony, togetherness, hope, and community. $29.25. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Community Menorah Lighting. Dec. 28. The Capitol Hill BID and Hill Havurah co-sponsor the menorah lighting held on the front steps of the Church of Reformation, 212 East Capitol St. NE. Contact hillhavurah.org for more information. u
Hill Holiday!
2024 Holiday gift guide
Afriend once told me you could find everything you need here on the Hill – all your holiday gift giving done walking or biking to stores run by your neighbors. No need for big box stores or drone drops, as here you’ll be assisted with personal attention and a smile when looking for a hard-to-choose teacher gift, a sweet treat for your dentist or something special for a loved one. And
don’t forget to stop in for lunch, a relaxing beverage or dinner at any of the great local restaurants – knowing you aren’t facing a long drive home.
Holiday Markets
Eastern Market (225 7th St. SE, easternmarket-dc. org) boasts not only a great food emporium inside the more than 150 year-old brick building in the heart of the Hill, but the many talented artisans and vendors outside the Market. As well as the outdoor weekend market vendors, you’ll find the Flea Market at Eastern Market (easternmarket.net) operating on C Street. There isn’t much you won’t find here year-round on Saturdays and Sundays from dog accessories to vintage boots to kimchi.
photos
Annette Nielsen
and article by
The Downtown DC Holiday Market runs this year from November 22 through December 15 (closed Thanksgiving Day, November 28), on two blocks of F Street NW, from 7th to 9th Streets NW. (downtownholidaymarket.com) With its main grand entrance located on the sidewalk in front of the National Portrait Gallery, this year you’ll find more than 40 local artists, crafters and small businesses.
Unique World: Holiday Pop-Up Market at Union Market (Dock 5 Warehouse, 1309 5th St. NE, unionmarketdc.com/series/unique-worldholiday-pop-up/, tickets required) takes place this year on Saturday December 14 and Sunday December 15, each day from 11 am to 5 pm. Treat yourself and browse everything from clothing to gourmet snacks, jewelry and home goods. If you’ve
Weekends on Seventh Street are bustling with vendors offering everything from wooden cutting boards to fun children’s clothing, t-shirts, artwork, crafts, jewelry, and gift items from around the globe.
Indoors at Eastern Market find busy merchants and happy customers leaving with great food offerings.
LEFT: Weekends on Seventh Street near the farmers’ line, around the North Hall or underneath the shed, will find vendors with unique clothing, specialty olive oils, baked goods, art work, artisanal soaps and jewelry.
got your 2025 calendar at the ready, put down the DC Big Flea Market taking place indoors at the Dulles Expo Center, January 4 and 5 (thebigfleamarket.com/ dc-show).
Gifts and More
Groovy DC Cards and Gifts (321 7th St. SE, groovydc.com) is celebrating close to two decades in business. They’ve got everything you need from holiday cards, balloons and gifts including wrapping paper and all the ribbons and bows. Their selection of holiday cocktail napkins and fun Christmas crackers adds a festive air to the holiday table. A short stroll across the street from Eastern Market on C Street you find, Relume (760 C St. SE, relume.co). They carry a wide selection of new, re-purposed, upcycled and vintage candles, ornaments, earrings and artistic clothing. If you want to create a handmade gift this year, sign up for classes like Clay Flower Menorah, Rug Tufting or DIY Disco Candles! At Woven History
& Silk Road (315 Seventh St. SE, wovenhistory.com) with around 5,000 rugs 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 of all ages! Hunny Bunny (311 8th St. SE, hunnybunny. boutique) is a boutique manufacturer of madeby-hand natural beauty products like moisturiz -
er, deodorant, body and shampoo bars. Every product must pass the mom test – with healthy ingredients good enough for the owner’s two children to use. Find Diament Jewelry at the Wharf (51 District Sq. SW, diamentjewelry. com) and beyond jewelry, you’ll also see fun socks and skin care (for men, too) – and clothing that will make you smile, in this woman-run business. While you’re at the Wharf, you can also stop at Shop Made in DC (10 District Sq. SW, shopmadeindc.com) with over 500 mak-
ers represented on their shelves featuring great food items like mambo sauce, cocktail sauces, specialty canvas bags featuring riffs on the DC Flag and more. At Frame of Mine (545 8th St. SE, frameofminedc.com) bring in that favorite movie poster, kid art or treasured object and present to someone special. For any special orders of frames or materials, there’s a December 10th deadline – or give a gift certificate to use in the upcoming year. For the cyclist in the family, stop by Daily Rider (600 H St
thedailyriderdc.com) for accessories, tune up
At Groovy DC Cards and Gifts (321 7th St. SE) you can wrap up your gifts with the most lovely selection of paper and all the bows, and find Christmas crackers to add a festive touch to your table.
You will find thoughtful and creative gifts at Diamont Jewelry, a womanowned store at the Wharf.
At Shop Made in DC you get an upbeat shopping experience that supports over 500 makers and creators of food and candles to DC-banded bags, t-shirts and more.
NE,
Frame of Mine makes a favorite movie poster or object extra special with a matt and a frame.
Houseplants all 25% off Tools & Watering Supplies 25% off Gifts/Windchimes 30% off Pottery 30% off (excluding terra cotta) Sale
and runs through Dec. 24th
Perennials & Shrubs 30% off Trees 40% off Garden Furniture 40% off (Merchandise priced under $10.00 not included in sale)
gift certificate or even a new ride like the Tern models you may be eyeing ridden by parents transporting their kids to school on the Hill.
Kids
There’s hardly a better gift than a class fostering a young one’s creativity whether art, dance, music or drama. CHAW’s (Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE, chaw.org) very popular after school programs can be booked for one day or more each week, with special offerings dur -
ing spring and summer breaks taught by a friendly and talented staff – what could be better? (And a nice side note: Dep. Dir. Brian Washington says that no child is ever turned away for inability to pay.)
Labyrinth (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, labyrinthdc.com) is a communityfocused, family-friendly store featuring a wide selection of non-electronic, specialty games, puzzles, and mazes for kids of every age. You’ll find expert staff ready to offer personal recommendations or go online using the Labyrinth Personal Shopper, to see lists of top-sellers, stocking stuffers or local designers – as well as events like game nights and tournaments.
For over 60 years, youth have gathered to meet new friends and have fun learning creative movement, ballet, pointe, jazz and more at St. Mark’s Dance Studio (301 A St. SE, stmarksdance.org) with beginning to advanced classes for all ages. Music on the Hill (801 D St. NE, musiconthehilldc.com) is the perfect place to find that right-sized guitar for your budding rocker or a digital piano to encourage the next Mozart.
Sheet music, lessons and a wide range of instruments will set you up for a musical 2025. Private and group lessons, as well as music camps found here, too.
Books
East City Bookshop (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, eastcitybookshop.com) is the perfect place for a gift for absolutely everyone on your list, particularly if you are start -
ing an Icelandic holiday tradition of gifting a book to everyone on Christmas Eve. They have you covered from fiction to cookbooks, board books and noted DC authors, and they also carry a selection of toys, gifts, art supplies and literary-inspired items. If you’re searching for out of print or needing inspiration. A literary treasure, Capitol Hill Books (657 C St. SE, capitolhillbooks-dc.com) serves up everything from well-loved paperbacks to first editions. The store has three floors of quality used books along with a selection of 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.
On Barracks Row, Little District Books (737 Eighth St. SE, littledistrictbooks.com) sells books representing the spectrum of LGBTQIA+ identities and independent publishers, curated subscription boxes, as well as fun pins and buttons for stocking stuffers.
Shopping at the Daily Rider gives you environmentally friendly gift options and exercise at the same time.
CHAW after-school classes in drama, music art and ceramics are a favorite for children on the Hill.
At Labyrinth there are games for every age and their team of experts always have recommendations for the top sellers of the season, seen here.
Capitol Hill Books is a book lovers treasure – where you can find recent releases, best sellers and even first editions.
Treats
Any experienced cook will agree, Hill’s Kitchen (713 D St. SE, hillskitchen.com) is about the best culinary emporium around – where there’s pretty much everything for cooking and baking. Through the holidays, Hill’s Kitchen has a special promotion on Staub casseroles in a variety of colors, and for sweet treats, there are custom Capitol Hillinspired specialty chocolates and delicious upscale gelt for Hannukah. Jane Thomas, aka J. Chocolatier, will pop up December 19-24 (weather-dependent) in front of Groovy DC (321 Seventh St. SE, jchocolatier.com), offering artisan hand-made chocolate wrapped up with a bow— the fleur de sel caramels are a stocking staple. Paste & Rind Cheese Co. (904 H St. NE, pasteandrind.com) offers up a tasting bar (with wine) in-house, as well as curated cheese boards as perfect to take to a gathering with friends and family. Or give a gift of a monthy cheese selection or the advent cheese calendar —the 8 Cheeses of Hannakah or the 12 Days of Cheesemas! Spirits are merry and bright at these local shops and delivery options are available at all. Classy Corks (801 Virginia Ave. SE, classycorksdc.com) has a wide selection of Japanese rice wines and you will find an extensive selection of spirits, wines, mixers and beer from all over the world. Exotic Wines and Spirits (801 Maryland Ave.
Paste & Rind Cheese Co.
(Holly) Go Lightly into the New Year with a resale ensemble from Chanel for holiday celebrations at Clothes Encounters.
NE,
Show up with some bubbly from an extensive selection at Classy Corks (or serve at your own holiday party) and you’ll be everyone’s favorite.
The cool duds for cool dudes can be found at A Ma Maniere, with offerings representing innovative collabs with sought-after brands.
Hill’s Kitchen has everything to perfect savory to sweet culinary artistry – even a Staub promotion through the holidays.
EXPERIENCE HOLIDAY SERVICES ON THE HILL!
A welcoming and affirming church
capitolhillpreschurch.org/advent
Join us for lighting the star you can see from afar!
Starlighting and Singing
Sunday, December 8, 5pm
String Quartet and Choir Carols
Sunday, December 15, 11am
CHPC a welcome and affirming church. 4th and Independence, SE
washingtoncitycob.org
Join us for Advent services
Sundays @11am as we look to Jesus Immanuel and seek to follow God’s call for peace on earth.
337 North Carolina Avenue, SE
www.chumc.net/advent2024
Stocking Project Day
Saturday, December 14, 9:30am-2pm
Help us fill gift bags for 49 families that Everyone Home DC will hand out.
Children’s Christmas Party For Jesus Sunday, December 15, 4pm-6pm
A birthday party for Jesus for children ages 4-fifth grade.
Christmas Caroling
Sunday, December 22, 11:30-12:30
We will sing Christmas carols at our neighbors homes.
421 Seward Square, SE
www.reformationdc.org
Blue Christmas Service
Wednesday, December 4, 7:30pm
Advent Evensong Service Wednesday, December 11, 7:30pm
Space for Grace Jazz Service and Advent Pageant Sunday, December 15, 11am
Family Christmas Eve Service 4pm & “Traditional” Christmas Service Tuesday, December 24, 7pm 212 East Capitol Street, NE
www.stmarks.net
Advent Lessons & Carols Sunday, December 8, 5 pm
Christmas Carol Sing-along, drop in anytime December 10th, 6:30pm
Tuesday December 24
4 pm, Family Christmas Pageant & Service 8:30 pm, Congregational Caroling 9 pm, Festival Eucharist
WORDS FOR THE BEGINNING
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS AT CAPITOL
HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Christmas Eve
4pm Family Service -
Carols and Christmas Story
7pm Candlelight ServicesCarols & Candles
Carols & Readings
Sunday, December 15, 10:30 AM
Sunday Worship 9:00 and 10:30 AM
Blue Christmas Monday, December 18th 7PM
Christmas Day Holy Eucharist Wednesday, December 25, 10 am
Christmas Lessons & Carols Sunday, December 29, 10 am 301 A Street, SE
WIDE SHOE OUTLET
exoticwinespirits.com) for a wide array of wines, beers, bubbles, liquors and bitters. They o er seasonal sales and discounts by the case. exoticwinespirits.com. The well-known beverage consultants at Schneiders of Capitol Hill (300 Massachusetts Ave. NE, cellar.com) draw on 70 years of experience to help you nd the perfect bottle for meal, stocking or under the tree.
The treat of a prepared meal is always appreciated and La Dinette (ladinettedc.com) They provide delivery for meal subscriptions, one-o family meals for that challenging week as well as cakes and party favors for a wee one.
Fashion
Have a person on your gift list that has a great fashion sense and also appreciates being environmentally friendly? Clothes Encounters (202 Seventh St. SE, clothesencountersdc. com) carries resale high-end store brands and haute couture from labels like Chanel and Prada, giving beautifully cared for items a second life. A Ma Maniere (1214 H St. NE, a-ma-maniere.com) o ers luxu-
ry men’s street style. French for “my way,” the boutique is designed to represent and inspire a fashion forward clientele with thoughtful collabs with brands like Jordan and great gift items like a Balenciaga passport case for the world traveler on your list.
Head to the attic atelier, Paris Bleu (321 Seventh St. SE, 2nd Fl.— above Groovy DC-parisbleudc@ gmail.com) you’ll nd stunning patterned wool gloves, silk scarves and jewelry as well as gifts appropriate for hosts such as candles, ne soaps and tree ornaments.
Furry Friends
At Howl to the Chief (719 Eighth St. SE, howltothechief.com) there is great selection of supplies for pets – from natural food, toys, beds and coats to leashes and collars that match. Check out the array of dog treats and birthday party kits for the pooch! If you are going out of town for the holiday you can give your dog a holiday, too at Dogtopia Navy Yard (900 M St. SE, dogtopia.com), where they also o er doggy spa services like nail trimmings, ear cleanings, bath massages and furry blowouts. ◆
A young customer picks out some favorite gifts for a new puppy, like a warm jacket, Kong toy and collar at Howl to the Chief.
holiday Calendar
Gospel Christmas Service at the National Cathedral.
Dec. 21, 11 a.m., gather with the National Cathedral as they tell the story, through music, poetry, and scripture, in their annual Gospel Christmas service. Due to capacity concerns, passes are required at cathedral. org/calendar/gospelchristmas-service-2.
Holiday Pop-up Market at Union Market. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 22, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. unionmarketdc.com.
DowntownDC Holiday Market. Through Dec. 23, daily from noon to 8 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving). On F Street NW, between Seventh and Ninth. downtowndc.org.
The Washington Ballet’s DC-Themed Nutcracker. Through Dec. 29. This DC-themed production features dancing cherry blossoms, cardinals, and famous figures like Betsy Ross, Harriet Tubman, and George Washington as the Nutcracker. Amidst the charming streets of Georgetown and cherry blossom trees, stunning dance performances and nods to DC’s rich history make this an unforgettable experience for all ages. Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW. Tickets start at $62. warnertheatredc.com.
A Christmas Carol at Ford’s. Through Dec. 31. Originally conceived by Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Dickens’s Yuletide classic, with familiar characters, ghosts and a children’s ensemble in the spirit of the holidays. $44 to $189. fords.org.
National Cathedral Guided Spotlights Tour: Christmas Edition. On Dec. 9 to 11, 16 to 21, 26 to 28, and 30 and 31. Admission includes an hour-
First Night Alexandria (Celebrating 30 Years). Dec. 31, from 2 p.m. until after fireworks (encore) at midnight. There are also 6 p.m. fireworks. First Night Alexandria is the largest family-friendly, budgetfriendly and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event in the region. firstnightalexandria.org.
NGA’s Fra Angelico’s The Adoration of the Magi Gallery Talks. Dec. 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21; 1 to 1:45 p.m. Join the National Gallery of Art in the West Building, Main Floor-Rotunda for a discussion of The Adoration of the Magi by Fra Angelico. Explore the biblical symbols and rich colors in this depiction of the birth of Jesus. nga.gov.
LEFT: Fra Angelico, Fra Filippo Lippi, The Adoration of the Magi, c. 1440/1460, tempera on poplar panel, Samuel H. Kress Collection, 1952.2.2.
1952.2.2.
long tour with an expert guide and features the stories behind must-see Cathedral favorites on the main and lower levels such as the Space Window and the Canterbury Pulpit. See the art and building features that celebrate the story of Christmas. $20 for adults; $15 for kids. cathedral.org.
Heurich House Museum’s Annual Christmas Markt. Dec. 10 to 13, 4 to 8 p.m. The weekday market features local small-scale makers, holiday movie screenings, food from Fava Pot, special nightly activities, a free craft station for the whole family, a mini history display on the Heurich House, winter biergarten, and decorated house tours. Tickets online at $8, adults and $2, kids. Heurich House Museum, 1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW. heurichhouse.org.
Mayor Bowser’s Fresh Start 5k. Jan 1. This New Year’s tradition is a great way to get a head start on those fitness resolutions. For location and time, visit FITDC.com
Photo: Griffin Vision Media, Elijah Walter Griffin Sr.
The National (White House) Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Dec. 5, 5 p.m. The lottery ticket distribution has been completed. Visit the tree anytime from Dec. 6 through the holiday season. thenationaltree.org.
Harris, Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff attend the 100th National Christmas Tree Lighting on November 30, 2022, on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Cameron Smith)
US Navy Band Holiday Concert at DAR Constitution Hall. Dec. 21, 3 and 8 p.m.; Dec. 22, 8 p.m. DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. Free. Reserve Tickets at usnavyband.ticketleap.com/ seasonsgreetings.
Don McLean: A Starry Starry Christmas-A Night of Hits and Holiday Favorites. Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. $79.50. birchmere.com.
Air Force Band Season of Hope Holiday Concert. Dec. 14, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Dec. 15, 3 p.m. This concert features the Concert Band and Singing Sergeants performing timeless renditions of holiday favorites with special guests and a visitor from the North Pole at DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW. Free tickets at usafband.ticketleap. com/holiday24/details.
Joy of Christmas Concerts at the National Cathedral. Dec. 14, 2 and 7 p.m. and Dec. 15, 4 p.m., celebrate Christmas at the Washington National Cathedral with classic carols, a dazzling brass quintet, and the 120-voice Cathedral Choral Society. Tickets are $25 to $110. cathedral.org.
Coyaba Dance Theatre: Kwanzaa at Dance Place. Dec. 14 and 15, 4 p.m. Immerse yourself in the powerful rhythms and movements of Coyaba Dance Theater as they bring the spirit of Kwanzaa to life. $10 to $30. Dance Place, 3225 Eighth St. NE. danceplace.org.
UNIQUE WORLD Holiday Pop-up at Union Market. Dec. 14, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Treat yourself and browse everything from clothing to gourmet snacks, jewelry to home goods--all while meeting the designers and small business owners themselves. Dock5 Warehouse. unionmarketdc.com.
Tara Hoot: A Hoot for the Holidays! Dec. 14, 8 p.m. Join DC drag queen Tara Hoot for a night of stories, songs, and feel-good winter merriment to get you in the holiday spirit. $31.25. The Atlas, 1333 H ST. NE. atlasarts.org.
Jingle 5k and 15k. Dec. 15, 5k ($55), 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 15k ($75), 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. This flat and fast course will take runners through the streets of downtown Washington, DC, taking in gorgeous views of famous Monuments and the Potomac River. The start and finish lines for both races are located on 15th Street NW, directly next to the Washington Monument. runsignup.com/Race/DC/Washington/Jingle15K5K.
Wreaths Across America at Arlington Cemetery. Dec. 14, 9:30 a.m. Opening ceremony is at McClellan Gate, near the main entrance. Volunteers will receive a short briefing then move to the designated areas of the cemetery to participate in the laying of wreaths at headstones. wreathsacrossamerica.org.
DowntownDC Holiday Skate Spectacular. Dec. 16 to Jan. 4. The DowntownDC Holiday Skate Spectacular, hosted at the National Building Museum, 401 F St.
NW, is an indoor synthetic ice rink featuring themed skating days, including disco and glow nights, as well as specific times for young children. The rink is open daily, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from noon to 8 p.m. There are specific skate-time-periods. Generally, toddlers from noon to 1:45 p.m.; families from 2 to 3:45 and 4 to 5:45 p.m.; and open-themed skate from 6 to 7:45 p.m. Skating is free but registration is required. You are welcome to bring your own ice skates. Skate rentals are $5. Skate sizes and availability vary. nbm.org.
“SONG OF SOLSTICE” A Celtic Christmas Celebration. Dec. 15, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The OCEAN Celtic Quartet transports you to the Yuletide celebrations of yore in a program featuring traditional carols, foot-stomping Celtic fiddle tunes, 19th century broadside songs, original seasonal compositions, and even an appearance by Father Christmas of the old mummers plays. $20. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. hillcenterdc.org.
Leslie Odom, Jr. The Christmas Tour. Dec. 15, 8 p.m. Leslie Lloyd Odom, Jr. is an American actor, singer and songwriter. He made his acting debut on Broadway in 1998 and first gained recognition for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the musical Hamilton. The Leslie Odom, Jr. The Christmas Tour is at the MGM National Harbor. $82 to $296. mgmnationalharbor.mgmresorts.com.
Capital City Symphony’s Annual Holiday Concert. Dec. 15, 3 and 5:30 p.m. Bring your family and friends and sing along, as the orchestra takes you on a whirlwind tour of seasonal favorites. $40.25. The Atlas, 1333 H ST. NE. atlasarts.org.
Blue Christmas Service at the National Cathedral. Dec. 18, 7 p.m. At a time of year when so many experience feelings of grief, loss, and hardship, this service of prayer, music, and reflection invites us into hope and healing. Passes not required. Livestream available. cathedral.org/calendar/blue-christmasservice-2.
Masaaki Suzuki Conducts Handel’s Messiah at the KC. Dec. 19, 7 p.m.;
RIGHT: President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala
Classic Christmas Movies on the Big Screen. Home Alone, Dec. 6, 8 and 28; National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Dec. 13 and 14; Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Dec. 14 and 28; It’s A Wonderful Life, Dec. 20, 21 and 28; Elf, Dec. 15, 21 and 27; The Polar Express, Dec. 21, 22 and 27; A Christmas Story, Dec. 21, 22, 27 and 29. Miracle Theatre is at 535 Eighth St. SE. Tickets are $6. There is a public parking lot on Eighth Street, SE between I Street and Virginia Avenue. themiracletheatre.com.
Dec. 20 and 21, 8 p.m., Dec. 22, 1 p.m. Since its debut nearly three centuries ago, Handel’s Messiah reigns unchallenged as the ultimate celebration of holiday joy. $17 to $107. kennedy-center.org.
Hip Hop Nutcracker at the National. Dec. 20, 21 and 22, 7:30 p.m.; and Dec. 21 and 22, 2 p.m. A holiday mash-up for the whole family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker comes to The National for the very first time. $50 to $120.The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. broadwayatthenational.com.
The Dance Institute of Washington: The Spirit of Kwanzaa. Dec. 20 and 21, 6 p.m.; and Dec. 22, 3 p.m. This production highlights the holiday’s principles with dance, song, live drumming, and spoken words. Im-
Sharon L. Bernier RN, PhD
Psychotherapy Individuals & Couples 202-544-6465
Winter Glow at Mount Vernon. Dec. 15 to 19 and Dec. 23; 5:30, 6 and 6:30 p.m. entry times. You will select your entry time at the checkout. Join them for an enchanted evening of festive lights set to holiday music. Visit an 18th-century winter encampment, and meet their holiday guest, Aladdin the Camel. $54 for adults; $35 for youth. mountvernon.org.
merse yourself in this life-changing experience, by exploring this year’s theme—For the Culture. $34.25. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.
Voices of Motown “Christmas Concert” at the Birchmere. Dec. 26, 7:30 p.m. A magical night in music celebrating the greatest musical icons of Motown with your favorite songs and dancing the night away. $39.50. birchmere.com.
Kwanzaa at the Anacostia Community Museum. Dec. 26, Umoja (Unity) Kwanzaa Opening Program; Dec. 27, Kujichagulia (Self Determination) with the Culture Queen; Dec. 28, Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility) Honoring Our Village with Verbal Gymnastics; Dec. 29, Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) Creating Family Memory Boxes; Dec. 30, Nia (Purpose) African Dance Workshop with Khepera Wellness; Dec. 31, Kuumba (Creativity) Creating Family Kwanzaa Bags; Jan. 1, Imani (Faith) Mime & Spiritual Dance Workshop with Crazee Praize. All programs are free and from noon to 2 p.m. The Anacostia Community Museum is at 1901 Fort Pl SE. anacostia.si.edu.
New Year’s Eve Forest Bathing at the Arboretum. Dec. 31, 9 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m. The suggested ticket price is $35, but please pay what you can to attend. Register at eventbrite.com/cc/forest-bathingwalks-219409.
Moving Mindfully into the New Year. Dec. 31, 9:30 a.m. The National Cathedral New Year’s retreat returns to Bethlehem Chapel. Join them in-person as all reflect on the year that has passed and look forward to 2025. Guided meditation, individual reflections and shared ritual invite us to move mindfully into the new year in community. Registration required. $30; $22.50 for students, seniors, and limited income. cathedral.org/calendar/moving-mindfully-into-the-newyear-in-person-2.
A Jazz New Year’s Eve: SuperBlue at the KC. Dec. 31, 7 and 9 p.m. Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and visionary hybrid guitarist Charlie Hunter reignite their funk, soul, and fusion–inspired partnership in SuperBlue—a fierce collection of new songs and surprising covers. $90.85. kennedy-center.org.
125th Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Dec. 14 to Jan. 5. Since the Christmas Bird count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteers. Read how to participate at audubon.org/conservation/ join-christmas-bird-count.
DANG! A Soulful Electronic Dance Night (New Years Eve Edition). Dec. 31, 10 p.m. Celebrate NYE with only the best music, spanning from house to R&B. Dancey, bouncey, and transcending genres, DANG! is the ultimate dance party for fans of left of center electronic with soulful and rhythmic influences. $20 to $30. Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW. unionstage.com.
DC Improv’s NYE Showcase. Dec. 31, 7:30 and 10:15 p.m. Spend the final hours of 2024 laughing with top comedians from the DC area. 7:30 p.m. show is $35; 10:15 p.m. show is $75. Either way, you’ll enjoy a round of champagne, charcuterie and a ticket for free admission to another show in 2025. 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW. dcimprov.com.
New Year’s Eve Swing Dance at the Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom. Dec. 31, 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Beginner swing lesson, 8 to 9 p.m.; bands play, 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. $40 admission. Praline Snack Bar will be open, serving wine, beer, and more is not included in the price of admission. gottaswing.com. u
Charges Dropped Against HIll Arson Suspect
Neighbors Seek Ways to Protect the Neighborhood
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
At around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 29, a loud noise woke A Street resident Joy Pohl. It was the paper being delivered, she thought at first. Then, the sound repeated and the phone rang.
“Are you looking out your window?” a neighbor asked when Pohl picked up. “A car is on fire.” Pohl ran downstairs, followed by Fran Tomilson, her wife.
The two discovered a blazing inferno outside their front door. Flames climbing ten feet high engulfed a parked vehicle.
Tomilson and Pohl knew the car. It was the pride and joy of neighbors Gene Berry and Jeff Campbell. The two had purchased the white Porsche 911 six months earlier.
The fire quickly spread to a tree above and the dry, fallen leaves below the car. Then to another car parked behind. Neighbors pulled out garden hoses, dousing the grass and the tree to prevent the blaze spreading to adjacent houses. As sirens signaled the arrival of DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (DCFEMS), they watched the vehicles burn.
“It still took them forever to get the fire out, I guess because of the gasoline or something,” Pohl said.
As the fire burned, a preliminary assessment by the DC Fire Inspector deemed it accidental, due to a possible battery malfunction. Berry was very doubtful. He and Campbell had recently taken it on a multi-day road trip, with no issues.
Neighbors Investigate
Berry started investigating, canvassing the neighborhood. He posted flyers. He then walked the street, stopping wherever he saw a camera, leaving flyers and knocking on doors.
At least three neighbors provided him with security footage. Their cameras catch images of a man wearing a long dark coat, jeans and a very long white scarf. One
captured him throwing an object, followed by a blast of light off-screen. Another video showed the same figure walking across the screen. Moments later, there was a burst of light.
Berry shared the videos with the fire inspector. The official assessed the now cold car at a city lot. He then reclassified the fire as incendiary, in other words deliberately set.
More Questions Than Answers
The inspector’s conclusion raised more questions for Berry and Campbell. Who would bomb their car? Were they targeted because of their same-sex relationship? Was the neighborhood targeted due to the presence of various political organizations? they wondered.
The following Sunday, Berry and Campbell decided to clean up their street. As they swept, Berry looked up to see a man walking by, holding a book in one hand and a plastic water bottle in the other. He was wearing a long dark coat and jeans. He had wrapped a white blanket around his neck like a scarf.
The two re-watched the surveillance video from the morning of the fire.
“None of the videos show his face,” Campbell said. “But his outfit was so distinctive. When we saw him walking by the other day, we just knew: that is the guy.”
The two men shadowed the individual from a distance. Eventually, they called the police to report the man and the direction he was traveling, sending a photo they discreetly took.
Police caution civilians against engaging in this kind of behavior. However, Pohl and Tomilson are typical of their proactive, tight-knit community. ”Sometimes you’ll hear somebody yell, “help” on the street, or just yell,” Pohl said, “[and] people go charging out of their houses.”
After Campbell’s call, MPD sent a patrol car to Campbell’s home and they went in search of the man Campbell had reported seeing. Campbell spotted him
TOP: Flames from the fire lick the tree above as DC Fire approaches at around 2:25 a.m. Oct. 29.
Photo: Courtesy G. Berry/J. Campbell
ABOVE: This is all that remained of the Porshe 911 as the sun rose Oct. 29. Photo: Courtesy G. Berry/J. Campbell
on H Street NE and, after letting Campbell out of the car, the officer arrested the man. The suspect appeared to be suffering from mental health issues, officers later informed Campbell.
The man identified in the police report lives within walking distance of the fire. An individual with the same name has a profile on Facebook. However, the account has been inactive since last year. [The Hill Rag does not use the names of people who have not been charged or convicted of the crime.] Many of those posts reference Biblical imagery, the devil and his family.
“ADAM AND EVE, EVE AND THE SERPENT, JESUS JESUS JESUS, MOTHER EARTH, AND THE SPIRIT ANGELS AMEN,” reads the last post dated Oct. 29, 20223, exactly a year before the fire.
The arrested man has since been released. The US Attorney’s Office (USAO) found insufficient evidence to prosecute, it stated in an email to DC Fire Investigators.
“Unfortunately, the only “ID” we have of the perpetrator is video that is distant and grainy, not “ID quality” video,” the USAO emailed stated.
“Because the parties do not know each other, there is no way for us, at this point with what I have been provided, to prove that the person arrested is the person in these videos.”
The USAO did not respond to the Hill Rag’s request for comment.
Insufficient ID
In order to arrest a suspect, officers need probable cause. In other words, they must have the reasonable belief that a person has committed a
crime. In order to secure a conviction, USAO prosecutors must prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, a much higher standard. The USAO requires an iron-clad level of proof before they charge, stated US Attorney Matthew M. Graves.
“We are not ever going to charge a crime that we do not believe in good faith we have the evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt,” Graves said at a 2024 panel on carjacking.
The outfit worn in the video is itself unique enough to identify the man, say Berry, Campbell and their neighbors. In other cases, clothing has been singled out as an identifier. For instance, court documents from the Sept. 5, 2023 shooting at 222 M St. SW employed clothing to link a shooting and robbery to patients who later entered a hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds.
That evidence would be insufficient to stand on its own, stated a witness identification expert and practicing defense attorney. Research shows that humans are notoriously bad at identification, especially across races, the attorney stated. Prosecutors should obtain independent corroboration before charging someone with
A still from Nest camera footage showing an individual walking on the block at the time of the fire. Although the video is slightly clearer, US Attorneys say the image is too blurry to warrant a positive identification despite what neighbors see as the unique clothing worn by this person and the suspect identified a few days later.
a crime–even where there has been a positive identification, the expert said.
Once a week, Berry and Campbell’s block gathers to socialize, referring to themselves in jest as the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC). The incident has dominated their discussions. Is there a mentally unhinged arsonist loose in the neighborhood? neighbors wondered.
There is sufficient cause to get a protective order against the man, police told neighbors.
Mental Health Should be Addressed
Keeping the suspect out of the neighborhood does not address the true nature of the problem, Berry said. “Our main thing is to get him off the street and to get him the help he needs,” he said.
The community brainstormed ways to help. Having read the police report, Berry and Campbell know the arrested man lives close by. Working with church outreach groups, neighbors begun efforts to provide the man with support and assistance. In the meantime, Berry and Campbell alerted nearby schools and landmarks, such as Eastern Market, of the situation.
DCFEMS considers the incident still under investigation. Until an arrest is made, an arsonist is wandering the streets, said Berry. Just in case, he and his neighbors have purchased new fire extinguishers.
“It could happen again, that’s what we fear,” Berry said. “Next time, it could be a house and someone could be really hurt. Or worse.” u
Soccer on the Hill Founder Bryan Cassidy
by Tim Burn
As the story goes, my fate was sealed weeks before I ever set foot on Capitol Hill. A brief conversation between two strangers and the wheels set in motion for a truly interesting and wonderful future.
My mother, an Atlanta native who’d arrived on the Hill ahead of her two sons to begin work for Jimmy Carter, was standing one evening in the checkout of Shelton’s Market Basket at 12th and E Streets SE. She glimpsed a curious fellow with tussled hair, gym shorts, and a tee shirt that said “Soccer on the Hill.” Mom hurried over and, with her big magnolia smile, said, “Hi, I’m Marthena! My son plays soccer!”
A true gentleman, Bryan told her all about the fledgling league he had helped start a few years back. He welcomed such conversations as players were needed in all age groups.
Weeks later, I, all of 90 pounds with knobby knees, lost in this new urban neighborhood so unlike my old Ansley Park, spotted a sheet of paper on the dining room table. Something about name, age, shirt size, practice times, eight games a season, buy your own cleats, shin guards recommended.
The rest is history – a woven tapestry involving countless children and their families and shared over decades. Soccer was my social life from 11 on through 17.
Teams, usually two per age group, comprised a glorious mix of private and public school kids. Some had played before. Many had not, and some joined with their nominal fee waived. “No experience is necessary. We’ll find you some cleats. Just show up Tuesday at 6 p.m., and we’ll get you sorted.”
The practices at Watkins, or on the Mall, or across at Anacostia Park became essential weeknight oxygen for all of us, jogging, running, triangulating (don’t ask!) past sunset, and as often in my case running laps for mild hyperactive infractions. Game days were epic unless we lost. Bryan Cassidy stands alone, not just as an original soccer dad, before “Soccer Mom” was even a thing. His legacy must be remembered as a builder of community, phone call by phone call, carpool by carpool, Saturday by Saturday, skinned knee by knee. Season after season, fall and spring, Bryan Cassidy seeded and tended one of the most important shoots of my life. Without that chance encounter at dusty old Shelton’s, I would not have met Mr. Cassidy’s son, who remains my best friend, or any of the dozens of forever friends I remain in touch with on Facebook. This is not just my story. Legions of us Hill rats can trace threads of our Capitol Hill experiences back to Bryan Cassidy
Bryan Cassidy (front right) at a Soccer on the Hill Reunion in 2016.
Bryan, his son Padraic and unknown boy watching soccer
A young Bryan Cassidy in front of his home at 810 D Street
and the many other soccer dads and moms who spent precious free time building Soccer on the Hill and forging a lasting community.
Bryan and Marie Cassidy arrived in Washington from Ireland in the early 1960s with Grainne, their rst child of four. Marie, a truly brilliant woman, had secured a teaching job at the George Washington University Medical School, and Bryan was an architect. Like many architects who tend to see things in a di erent light, Bryan saw great possibility nestled around the blighted streets of Capitol Hill. The grid of rowhouses had a special charm, and real estate was cheap back then.
The growing Cassidy family bought a beautiful old row house at 810 D Street, Southeast. As that tale is told, they had just settled in when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, and Capitol Hill’s main corridors lled with rioters. Still, a neighborhood full of potential. All it needed was some community, something for the kids to do. Bryan and a handful of others built Soccer on the Hill into something much more than soccer, more than something to do.
At the time and in the thick of it, we soccer rats thought quite a bit about our teams. (Note to the Rowdies: we Cougars, Panthers, Pumas, and Brazilians also thought quite a bit about you, badass and beautiful on and o the eld!) We ranked all of us in our heads by obvious skill. You’d want Carl Rosenberg, Jonathan Rafuse, Vincent Turner, Frankie Servaites, Hans Tresolini on your team. On game mornings, Bryan Cassidy would pack as many kids as possible into his AMC Hornet and carry us across the river into Alexandria, where we played our games. There were not enough Hill kids back then to form a full league.
Games were epic dramas back
then, each an enticing story that ended 2-0, 3-2, 10-0. Some wonderful person dutifully tallied these games, with brief summaries in the pages of this Rag. The scores and details have misted away over time. I can tell you countless epic yarns have been recounted over the years across bar stools at Tune Inn, often with added color.
I could tell you of those freezing night games, us Pumas pitted against an Alexandria team, 2-2 until the last second when Padraic Cassidy kicked a low stinger past the opposing goalie for the win. Several of us could tell the story, now 40 years gone, about the game against an Alexandria team peppered with oddly aggressive Vietnamese dudes that ended in a brawl, halted only by the rm hands of moms grasping shirt collars.
Then there was the game along the Anacostia, halted when a distressed prop plane landed on the eld. Bryan Cassidy was the ref. We like to remember Bryan giving the pilot a red card. Did that happen? Sure. There are many stories, some still hanging on the thinnest fact. One last one: dozens of us, thanks to the community-building spirit of Monica Servaites, shared a Soccer on the Hill reunion back in 2016 at the American Legion Hall, where we took pictures, had a kickaround, and revisited the old tales. Importantly, we honored those parents and coaches who made it all happen: Tim Temple, Ed Sower (triangulate! If you know, you know.), Roger Foley, the cab driver coach Dele Akinsiku, and Bryan Cassidy. I’m told it meant a lot to him. Bryan Cassidy meant a lot to us, and I am so thankful for the community he created for us, one that ourishes to this day. Tim Burn, a former journalist and avid soccer rat, grew up on Capitol Hill and considers it his spiritual home. timothyeburn@ yahoo.com
Live It Learn It Taking Experiential Learning Out into the City
by Michael Stevens
School field trips were a highlight of my childhood—venturing beyond the classroom to explore museums, enjoy symphony performances, and dive into hands-on learning experiences. These moments weren’t just a break from routine; they were windows to a world of possibilities outside the classroom. Imagine if every student could have access to such transformative adventures.
school year, Live It Learn It averages eight field trips per week to cultural institutions like the Smithsonian Zoo, the National Portrait Gallery, the Frederick Douglass Historic House, the Anacostia River, and Planet Word. I recently had the good fortune to participate in a field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian and see the LILI team in action.
These field trips are truly a remarkable experience for students and teachers alike and are a turn-key operation by LILI. They take the lead on all of the logistics which in turn allows teachers to also focus on the power of the learning experience.
They have developed a unique learning program model in that LILI’s field trips occur over a three-day period. This model of “bookending” the field trip excursion with classroom pre-and postlesson plans sets the context of what the students will visit, and then offers the chance to reflect on what they experienced and what it means to them
• The day before each field trip LILI provides an in-classroom lesson or briefing to prepare students for the next day’s field trip.
• The day of the field trip LILI coordinates bus travel for the students and teachers, and an onsite student learning experience by LILI staff.
• The day after the field trip ihere is another inclassroom lesson with a creative component to allow students to connect to learning back in the classroom.
These field trips are illustrative of LILI’s mission: Live It Learn It partners with schools and cultural institutions to create and deliver experiential learning opportunities for students in order to increase their self-efficacy, build on their intrinsic motivation, and support their scholarly achievements.
I think a quote from LILI Co-Executive Director Maryam Trowell describes them best:
“Our field trips unlock learning for students in a different way from classroom learning - they break barriers for students as they learn about themselves through experiential learning.”
The LILI program and mission began when Matthew Wheelock, a DC public school teacher, and current Capitol Hill resident, saw his students struggling and found a way to make a difference. Determined to share the power and joy of experiential learning with more students, he left the classroom in 2005 to launch Live It Learn It. Since its inaugural pontoon trip with 23 students down the Anacostia River, the organization has grown to encompass thirty different programs at two dozen sites across the DC area.
Nineteen years later, LILI has worked with over 25,000 students in two dozen Title I schools and 24 partner destinations across Washington, DC. The program has had remarkable impacts on the students, schools, and institutions over the past 19 years:
• 100% of DC wards have been served by LILI.
• On 65% of the trips, students are firsttime visitors.
• 83% of students want to return to the field trip destination.
• LILI Educators delivered 226 units reflecting the diversity and culture of Washington, DC and elevating lesser-told stories.
• 78% of students report increased knowledge of core content from our programs in art, science, history, and culture.
• 93% of students self-report feeling confidence about sharing their newfound knowledge with their peers.
• 93% of teachers agree that their students
A student observes the many details on the Lakota model tipi, circa 1890 - believed to be used by Lakota children as a toy.
LILI Educator, Ben Lasso, introduces students to the history and culture of the Algonquian people of the Chesapeake region during their visit.
walked away with a better understanding of the content covered in the unit.
Joy of Learning
During a recent field trip to the National Museum of the American Indian, I saw firsthand how the program and lesson plans operate at a high level. Two 4th grade classes from C.W. Harris Elementary School in southeast DC arrived by bus and entered the museum in two separate learning groups. The students and teachers visited three different learning stations which focused on aspects of American Indian life and culture. After each lesson, the students were asked to visit the exhibits and make drawings and notes of the exhibits and what impacted them. The field trip educator then asked the students to share their notes and insights on what they experienced.
It was obvious that the students were enjoying this experiential learning – they were excited, engaged, curious, and willing to share their thoughts. The LILI curriculum that was developed for this museum came to life for the students.
LILI will be celebrating their 20th anniversary next year. This is a highly effective organization with a vibrant and engaged team that has lasting impacts on the District’s elementary school children. They are one of our many nonprofit neighbors on the Hilla group that may have hosted one of your children on a field trip experience in DC.
If you would like to learn more about Live It, Learn it, and to learn how you can support this dynamic organization, please visit www.liveitlearnit.org. u
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New & Noteworthy
by Madi Koesler
Piloting National Capital Bank’s Future
National Capital Bank (NCB), a revered Hill institution, celebrates its 135th anniversary this year. Led by President and CEO Jimmy Olevson, the bank is giving back to its neighborhood.
Olevson started at NCB in 2022. He had large shoes to fill. The bank was founded by the Didden family, who are still very active in its leadership. After the passing of Richard Didden in 2013, Randy Anderson assumed the helm, continuing bank’s community focus.
Looking to the future, Olevson looks to continue the Didden legacy.
Before NCB, Olevson lived throughout California and worked for larger, more traditional banks. He got his start as a bank teller in high school because the bank paid $0.50 more than the sporting goods store. From there, he rose in the ranks and worked in commercial banking for over 15 years, experience that informs Olevson’s work to this day.
When comparing this experience to his time at NCB, Olevson continually used the word “fun.” Being able to connect with the hyper-local community is a true joy for him.
“You can’t just put a branch there and say, ‘Yes, we’re involved in the community,’” Olveson said. “It comes down to the volunteerism.”
Receiving help and donations from NCB is as easy as an email. Seeing the strict policies and hurdles that come with requesting community help from larger banks, Olveson wants to be more accessible. This is his favorite part of the job.
While pursuing this community-focused mission, Olveson has found home in the DMV. His wife and two kids are some of his most important motivators. Photos of his family and notes from his kids can be found in his office. Part of giving back to the community was becoming a part of it.
The first moment Capitol Hill started to feel like home to Olveson was while jogging on his lunch break in 2023. This was the first
time he ran into someone he knew from the Hill—Tony T. from CHAMPS. He described this as an “oh. my. Gosh!” moment.
Olveson couldn’t do this alone though. He continually credits the people around him for the bank’s success and community connections. From the retail clerks to Kathy Didden at the tree lighting ceremony to Chief Community Banking Officer Debra Keats and so many more - running NCB is a team effort.
“I don’t think there’s ever any one individual that is responsible for the success of an organization,” Olveson said. “It’s absolutely [a] team effort.”
President and CEO Jimmy Olevson in his office at National Capital Bank. Photo: Madi Koesler
Outside and Inside of Capitol Hill Joint Chiropractic. Photos: Mel Mason.
The Joint Chiropractic
Visiting the chiropractor in under 10 minutes might sound suspiciously fast, but The Joint Chiropractic is a safe and a ordable option. The Joint Chiropractic opened its newest location in Capitol Hill earlier this year along the Eastern Market metro plaza. The national chain has four locally operated o ces across the DMV area. The other three locations are in Logan Circle, Columbia Heights and Alexandria.
What makes The Joint different from a traditional chiropractor is its focus on a ordability and convenience. Getting care with The Joint starts with an intake session where patients sit down with a licensed chiropractor to discuss their needs and history—similar to a traditional doctor’s appointment. Depending on a patient’s needs, they’ll move forward with The Joint or discuss referral options to more appropriate care options like orthopedics.
Next, the doctor talks you through your first adjustment, explaining what each stretch and movement does. This typically takes under ten minutes. Once the rst adjustment is nished, a doctor will suggest further treatment and assign home thereapy. This could be stretches, icing or a referral to physical therapy. Adjustment sessions after this aim to have patients in and out in seven minutes as they continue to work on their therapy outside of the o ce.
Dr. Brandon Tran, one of the chiropractic doctors at the Eastern Market location, explained this process as a “tune-up” to “decrease pain and increase optimal wellness in the body.” The
FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS
biggest thing for him during this process is nding and treating the root of the issue. Not only is The Joint fast, but it is affordable. Dr. Tran stressed that The Joint is a lot cheaper than other chiropractic options purposely. This is to “allow accessible care for everybody.”
$29 is the cost of an initial visit which includes a consultation, exam and adjustment. Additional visits are $55 each if bought individually. However, The Joint o ers monthly memberships and appointment packages that help decrease this amount to as low as $24.95 an appointment depending on the deal. The Joint also o ers generous additional discounts to Medicare-eligible patients, teachers and veterans.
This accessibility mission expands into their community outreach as well. The Joint currently sponsors sports teams at the University of Maryland and Virginia Tech. Their Operations Manager Mel Mason hopes The Joint can continue to reach out to the community and is aiming to sponsor a team at Howard University in the future.
Information on how to schedule an appointment with The Joint Chiropractic can be found online at thejoint.com or on their Instagram @thejointchiro_capitolhill.
Madi Koesler is a reporter for MidCity DC and the HillRag. She can be contacted at madikoesler@ gmail.com or on Instagram @madikoesler. ◆
Maury Stern
Newly-Elected Chair of Capitol Hill Village
by Jane Lang
Capitol Hill Village, founded in 2007, has elected Maury Stern to lead the non-pro t’s board at a time when growing numbers of Capitol Hill residents are facing both the challenges and opportunities of aging.
Stern, a principal at Insight Property Group where he is responsible for all facets of development of multifamily and mixed-use projects in the rm’s pipeline, has served on the CHV Board for over four critical years. He helped see CHV through the pandemic, membership growth, and development of a strategic plan. Three new Board members were also added to the board—attorney Hank Brothers; Stan Soloway, Celero Strategies CEO; and Nkosi Bradley, Quadrant Partners Director of Real Estate.
Stern
“These new members bring valuable strengths and connections to the Board,” Stern says. His own nancial management expertise helps advance CHV’s goal of sustainability.
munity-wide interests that CHV champions.
“These issues impact all of us,” he says, “And they are priorities for CHV, along with member service through its sta and volunteers.”
Looking ahead, Stern will work with Executive Director Judy Berman and the board to assure that program o erings re ect what the membership—over 400 strong and growing—wants and needs, and to articulate the vision for the next iteration of CHV’s mission. To accomplish these goals, Stern wants to strengthen connections, community engagement, and communication among CHV members through a nity groups, member events and programs. These are also key strategies for reducing social isolation and loneliness among older residents.
Stern joined CHV because he wanted to “be involved with my community.” Although older residents are the focus, “the Village does a lot for the Capitol Hill neighborhood as a whole,” he points out. “The organization plays an important role as advocate for the interests of all residents.” He cites sidewalk safety and comprehensive planning as examples of com-
The annual CHV gala, scheduled for March 15, 2025, is the highlight of this social agenda. “It’s a great event for bringing together CHV members and others in the community, especially businesses aligned with members’ interests and needs,” Stern enthuses. “I’d like to see more synergy between CHV and those businesses,” he adds, “And the gala certainly provides that opportunity.”
March 15, 2025, is the highlight of this sogether CHV members and others in nesses aligned with members’ enthuses. “I’d like to see nesses,” he adds, “And the gala certainly provides that opportunity.” With the accelerating growth of the elulation, Capitol Hill merchants als should be marking that
With the accelerating growth of the elder share of the population, Capitol Hill merchants and professionals should be marking that date on their calendars! ◆
Sherwood Recreation Center Concerns
ANC 6A REPORT
by Sarah Payne
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 6A) met via Zoom on Nov. 21. Commissioners Mike Velasquez (6A02), Roberta Shapiro (6A03), Amber Gove (6A04, chair), Dave Wethington (6A05), Robb Dooling (6A06) and Steve Moilanen (6A07) were in attendance. Single Member District (SMD) 6A01 is currently vacant.
Dshould not require all of this continuous nagging.”
elays in scheduled improvements and unresolved maintenance issues have left the Sherwood Recreation Center at 640 10th St. NE with “dangerous failures” in the center’s facilities and limited programming, commissioners stated, citing its physical state of disrepair and dearth of programming.
Why was the improvement work, scheduled to begin earlier this fall delayed? Why do several maintenance repairs to the center’s facilities remain incomplete? commissioners asked.
Commissioners were perplexed by the center’s apparent exclusion from “special programming,” such as holiday events and movies, frequently o ered at other sites. They also pointed to the “continual” consumption of alcohol and drugs on site. Sherwood is “not alone in DPR dragging its feet on other spaces” within the community, Chair Gove stated.
The commission voted to send a letter to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, the DC Council, the City Manager, DPR and DGS highlighting their concerns about Sherwood and requesting plans and a timeline to address repairs and programming issues both in the center and for the neighborhood as a whole.
“This set of motions comes from two years of frustration,” Commissioner Shapiro said, noting that the center could “potentially” be a “very rich resource” for the Ward 6 community. “This
Other Matters
The commission voted to:
• support the substantial change to the Class C tavern license to increase occupancy from 66 to 198 at Dirty Water at 816 H St. NE;
• protest the Class C restaurant license application with sidewalk cafe, entertainment and cover charge endorsements for DC Capitol Square Bar and Grill at 1402 H St. NE, citing concerns about the outdoor seating plan and the close proximity of the restaurant to residential areas, unless a settlement agreement is reached;
• protest the Class C restaurant license application with sidewalk cafe, alcohol carry out and delivery endorsements at Alero at 1301 H St. NE unless a settlement agreement is reached;
• authorize an ANC 6A representative to testify to the DC Council Committee of the Whole regarding the Vacant to Vibrant Amendment Act of 2024.
ANC 6A will meet next on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. 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. ◆
Plans to Replace Brent Elementary Building
ANC 6B REPORT
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B held a hybrid meeting via Zoom and in-person at 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Attending were Frank Avery (6B01, treasurer); Jerry Sroufe (6B02); David Sobelsohn (6B03, secretary); Chander Jayaraman (6B06); Vince Mareino (6B07, vice chair); Edward
Ryder (6B08, chair); and Matt LaFortune (6B09). Frank D’Andrea (6B04) was not present. 6B05 is currently vacant.
The DC Public Schools (DCPS) and The DC Dept. of General Services (DGS) have retained DLR Group (DLRG) to design a replacement for Brent Elementary School at 301 North Carolina Ave. SE. DLRG Architect Erica Lehman briefed the commission on her firm’s design, which will be presented to the DC Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) on Nov. 21.
Brent Elementary School is a high-demand school that currently serves approximately 421, pPre-K3 to grade 5 students and is located on the corner of North Carolina Avenue at Third Street SE. Currently, the building is at capacity with temporary buildings located throughout the playground and fields. The new building is being designed for a projected enrollment of 563 students in School Year 2028-29.
DLRG’s plans to replace the current buildingThe existing structure would be demolished over about four months starting in fall/winter 2025. It with will be replaced with an L-shaped three-story building plus basement., Lehman stated.
On the outside, the new building would define the street corridor, wrapping around the corner with the main entrance located at the intersection of North Carolina Avenue and Third Street SE. The play area will be moved to the interior space along D Street, tucked away from the street by a service area. Dumpsters and generator will be enclosed there by a masonry wall with a sliding gate. The ear-
ly childhood playground will be tucked behind a streetscape park along North Carolina Avenue SE. There are staggered green terraces on the roof, which provide the opportunity for students to go outside on different levels, Lehman stated.
The center of the building will be located where the two wings of the building meett, called the column. The lower level consists of mechanical spaces and a gymnasium, with light coming from ground floor windows. On the main floor are administrative offices and a dining room. The dining room can be closed off for use as community space. Specials classrooms are located on the next level, and on the top floor, the library. Regular classrooms will be located along the two wings in grade-level “neighborhoods,.” Lehman stated.
The Brent community is expected to move out of the school in summer 2025 using Meyer Elementary at 2501 11th St. NW as swing space. Construction is scheduled to begin in fFall 2025 and end in Fall 2027.
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) has determined the existing school building is non-contributing to the Capitol Hill Historic District.
The CommissionANC voted to support the new concept designs. for Brent Elementary School (301 North Carolina Ave. SE) to be presented to the District’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) Nov. 21. Erica Lehman from DLR Group presented plans, which call for the demolition of the current building and replacement by a new, three-story school.
Brent Elementary School is a high-demand school that currently serves approximately 421 Pre-K3 to grade 5 students and is located on
Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, and H Street communities
ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, virtually on Zoom. www.anc6a.org
ALL ARE WELCOME
**The next meeting is 2nd Thursday, December 12, 7:00 p.m.**
Transportation & Public Space Committee meeting 3rd Monday, December 16, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting via Zoom
Economic Development & Zoning Committee meeting 3rd Wednesday, December 18, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting via Zoom
Community Outreach Committee meeting 5th Monday, December 30, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual meeting via Zoom
Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Licensing Committee meeting 3rd Tuesday, December 17, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting via Zoom
We seek community-minded 6A residents interested in joining ANC 6A committees. Visit anc6a.org or email 6A06@anc.dc.gov for more information.
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.
Join us for our Next Virtual Public Meeting Tuesday, December 10, 2024 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
How to participate: 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 and the RFK Stadium Complex.
By computer: https://dc-gov.zoom.us/j/9162864
7160?pwd=NVdldTZiRitFODdSUVJZQVBGdHk5UT09
Passcode: anc7d Or by phone: 1-301-715-8592
Webinar ID: 91628647160 Passcode: 776540
Wendell Felder Parkside – 7D03 7d03@anc.dc.gov
Chairperson
Brian Alcorn Capitol Hill/Hill East – 7D08 7d08@anc.dc.gov
Vice Chair
Brett Astmann Rosedale – 7D07 7d07@anc.dc.gov
Treasurer Ashley Schapitl Hill East – 7D09 7d09@anc.dc.gov
Secretary
Siraaj Hasan Eastland Gardens/ 7d01@anc.dc.gov Kenilworth – 7D01
Mike Davis River Terrace – 7D04 7d04@anc.dc.gov
Ebony Payne Kingman Park – 7D05 7d05@anc.dc.gov
Marc Friend Rosedale – 7D06 7d06@anc.dc.gov
Brianne Hill East – 7D10 7d10@anc.dc.gov
Eby-Stockert
Vacancy in Single Member District 7D02
DO YOU LIVE IN THE MAYFAIR COMMUNITY?
We are looking for a Commissioner to serve for 2024!
the corner of North Carolina Avenue at Third Street SE. Currently, the building is at capacity with temporary buildings located throughout the playground and fields. The new building is being designed for a projected enrollment of 563 students in School Year 2028-29.
The Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) has written a letter stating that the existing school building is non-contributing to the historic district. The existing structure would be demolished over about four months starting in fall/winter 2025. It will be replaced with an Lshaped three-story building plus basement.
On the outside, the new building would define the street corridor, wrapping around the corner with the main entrance located at the intersection of North Carolina Avenue and Third Street SE. The play area will be moved to the interior space along D Street, tucked away from the street by a service area. Dumpsters and generator will be enclosed there by a masonry wall with a sliding gate. The early childhood playground will be tucked behind a streetscape park along North Carolina Avenue SE. There are staggered green terraces on the roof, which provide the opportunity for students to go outside on different levels.
The center of the building will be located
where the two wings of the building meet, called the column. The lower level consists of mechanical spaces and a gymnasium, with light coming from ground floor windows. On the main floor are administrative offices and a dining room. The dining room can be closed off for use as community space. Specials classrooms are located on the next level, and on the top floor, the library. Regular classrooms will be located along the two wings in grade-level “neighborhoods.”
The Brent community is expected to move out of the school in summer 2025 using Meyer Elementary (2501 11th St. NW) as swing space. Construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2025 and end in Fall 2027.
More information on the project can be found at https://sites.google.com/dc.gov/dcpsfacilities/modernizations/brent-es
New Guidelines for Streateries
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is rolling out new permanent streetery guidelines. Under the new arrangement Advisory Neighborhood Commissions will Basically, the changes mean the ANC will not pass resolutions in favor of individual Streateries but will review them individual Streateries through the Transportation Online Permitting System
(TOPS), rather than submitting resolutions to the DDOT Committee on Public Space (CPS). The Public Space Committee CPS will hold a hearing on the new guidelines Dec. 5. DDOT devised tThe original streetery program was put in place during the COVID pandemic. The new program will address traffic, pedestrian and infrastructure concerns that have subsequently arisen as well as issues with ADA compliance. The new standards also address issues with safety as well as aesthetics. The ANC asked DDOT to provide clarity on the ANC role in the application and approval process. The ANC voted to empowerinstructed ANC TransportationTransportation Committee Chair LaFortune to attend the hearing and to ask DDOT whether there are changes or differences in how ANCs provide input and respond to streetery applications versus sidewalk areas for sidewalk cafes. If there are differences, then LaFortune will ask on behalf of the ANC that DDOT align guidelines around ANC input.
Other Matters
The ANC voted to: support:
• A resolution requesting that the Council of DC initiate a legislative process for a beverage container deposit law;. Following a presentation from a coalition in October, the ANC suggests the bill would require consumers to pay 10 cents per beverage container at the time of purchase to be refunded when empties are returned.
• to support theAn application to the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) for a retailers grocery license for Union Kitchen at (430 Eighth St. SE), set to open in the former Subway Sandwich shop;. The ANC has a signed Settlement Agreement (SA). The establishment will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will make sandwiches, hot breakfasts and will sell various grocery products as well as wine and beer.
• to support aAn application from Folger Theatre at (201 East Capitol St. SE) to amend the existing settlement agreement for The Crumb and Quill SA to change their café operations, allowing additional hours and the issueance of a stipulated license for those
Image: Concepts call for the current Brent Elementary building (301 N. Carolina Ave. SE) to be demolished and replaced with a three-story L-shaped new buildinging with a main entrance at the corner of North Carolina Avenue and Third Street SE. Image: DLR Construction/Screenshot ANC 6B Nov. 12 meeting (Zoom)
hours;. The Folger plans to open the Crumb and Quill in the Great Hall by the end of November. Hours are 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. At a later date the ANC will discuss an application for a sidewalk café on the plinth terrace on East Capital Street to facilitate outdoor programing.
A Historic Preservation Application (HPA) to raze an existing two-story building and construct two new three-story buildings with cellar at 609 Independence Ave. SE.. The current building sits on two lots and will be replaced by two family flats separated by 14 feet.
ANC 6B generally meets the second Tuesday of each month except August. The next regular meeting of the full ANC will be a hybrid online and unperson meeting held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. See calendar and get information on how to join at anc6b.org u
New Medical Cannabis Retailer Raises Concern
ANC 6C REPORT
by Sarah Payne
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C met on Nov. 13 via WebEx. Commissioners Leslie Merkle (6C02, secretary), Jay Adelstein (6C03), Mark Eckenwiler (6C04, chair), Joel Kelty (6C05, treasurer), Patricia Eguino (6C06) and Commissioner Tony Goodman (6C07, vice chair) were in attendance.
Single Member District (SMD) 6C01 is currently vacant.
Owners of Kae LLC at 312 Massachusetts Ave. NE have applied for a new medical cannabis retail license with endorsements for delivery and onsite consumption.
Through use of the GIS mapping tool, there appears to be no “obvious statutory prohibition,” citing the proposed location’s distance from schools, daycare centers and other cannabis retailers, Commissioner Eckenwiler reported. Location alone, however, “obviously doesn’t dispose of the question of appropriateness,” he added.
Commissioner Merkle worried about the establishment’s proximity to residential neighborhoods. “I’m just generally not excited about having this type of business in my SMD,” she said.
Public safety concerns, Commissioner Kelty emphasized, also extend to the products the establishment plans to sell. Kelty encouraged the commissioners planning to negotiate a settlement agreement (SA) with the business to utilize “very controlling language” about the packaging of edibles and quality control of the product being sold. “Because we don’t have a testing facility in DC, a lot of the product is contaminated with pesticides, and, in some cases, amphetamines,” Kelty said.
“We’ve got 21 of these establishments within probably a mile of this place, and they’ve done absolutely horrible damage to H Street,” Kelty added. “I see no reason to allow the same thing to happen on Massachusetts Avenue.”
The commission voted to protest the license.
Other Matters
The commission voted to:
• support the amended Historic Preservation Application (HPA) to remove existing rear additions, construct a new addition and basement, renovate the interior and replace the front door and windows at 16 Third St. NE on the condition that the rear addition be two stories, not three, and that the additions will not rise above the base of the mansard;
• protest the new class C restaurant license application of Willow Tree (303 Massachusetts Ave. NE) citing concerns about how the con-
figuration of the alley will impact the establishment’s waste collection and management.
ANC 6C will meet next on Dec. 11 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
Making Sense of Streateries
ANC 6D REPORT
by Andrew Lightman
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on Nov. 12 via Zoom. Commissioners Bob Link (6DO1, vice chair), Ronald Collins (6D02, treasurer), Gail Fast (6D03), Andrea Pawley (6D04), Chearie Phelps-El (6D05), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D07, chair) and Rhonda Hamilton (6D08) were in attendance. Bruce Levine (6D06, secretary) was absent.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has a Streatery Program that permits restaurants to occupy Public Space with outdoor dining facilities. More specifically, parking lanes, travel lanes and alleys, which are all elements of the public realm regulated by DDOT. The program started during the COVID pandemic to support restaurants.
The Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) regulates the Streateries through an endorsement permitting restaurants to serve alcohol in these approved public spaces.
DDOT is now considering making its Streatery Program permanent.
Vice Chair Link provided a letter stating the commission’s concerns with the current program and suggestions for improving it for permanent status.
To begin with, the letter pointed out the considerable confusion created when two regulator agencies, DDOT and ABCA, are asked to regu-
late different elements of Streateries. “Inconsistent approvals have caused significant confusion in the definition, review and approvals of sidewalk cafes, summer gardens and Streateries,” the letter stated. When the permanent program is put in place, the commission requested all Streateries reapply for permission to operate.
Moreover, the new regulatory process should better distinguish definitionally between “summer gardens,” which are outdoor sidewalk cafes typically located in front of restaurants and Streateries, which are located in alleys, road travel lanes and parking spaces, the letter stated.
Lastly, the commission advised the agencies to create buffer spaces around all Streateries to ensure the safe flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Chair Kramer supported the letter despite concerns about addressing Streateries’ noise and egress. Commissioner Fast concurred on the former issue.
Streateries have not been subject to ANC review, Fast said. “ANCs need to have great weight in how these Streateries are operated,” she stated. The commission approved the letter.
Other Matters
The commissioners collectively vented their frustration at the DC Public School Chancellor’s failure to attend its meetings despite four invitations. Commissioners pondered how to attract the Chancellor’s attention. After much discussion, they decided to extend an invitation for their December meeting.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Captain Paul Hrebenak briefed the commission on public safety. There was a recent armed robbery on School Street SW, he stated. Police caught one juvenile robber at the Duck Pond. There have been burglaries of businesses on The Wharf in the last couple of months, mostly at night. MPD is deploying overtime units down in the Greenleaf Rec Center area to head off any future violence.
The commission is filing three active protests at the next scheduled meeting of the Alcohol & Cannabis Board (ABC Board). Two of them may be withdrawn if the commission concludes its negotiations over community agreements governing their operations. In addition, Club Volo, the open air amateur sports facility located as a temporary
use on an undeveloped parcel adjacent to Audi Field, has o ered to reduce its capacity to 2500 from 5000 without making any other concessions, Link reported. Negotiations are ongoing, he said. The commission approved Third and Fourth Quarter Financial Returns and its 2025 budget.
ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is Dec. 9. For more information, visit www.anc6d. org.
Issues With the Proposed Bottle Bill
ANC 7D REPORT
by Sarah Payne
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met Nov. 12 via Zoom. Commissioners Siraaj Hasan (7D01), Commissioner Mike Davis (7D04), Commissioner Ebony Payne (7D05), Marc Friend (7D06), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, vice chair) and Ashley Schapitl (7D09), secretary) were in attendance. Commissioner Wendell Felder (7D03, Chair) was absent. Single Member Districts 7D02 and 7D10 are vacant.
nacostia Watershed Society President and Chief Executive O cer Christopher E. Williams briefed the commission on how a proposed bottle bill might improve recycling and decrease lo-
cal pollution. A bottle bill is a container deposit law that aims to incentivize recycling through the addition of a small, refundable deposit to beverage containers such as cans or bottles.
Typically, bottles can either be returned to the point of purchase, or private companies can set up redemption centers. Often, Williams reported, redemption centers are established and funded through the beverage manufacturers directly with “little or no” funding from the local government. “While they don’t love it, they do have an interest in it, because it will bring more and more high quality recycling materials back to the bottlers,” Williams stated.
The legislation will “make a big dent” in the pollution Williams believes. “The trash problem is so bad in the Anacostia that the federal government felt compelled to put the entire watershed on a trash diet,” Williams said.
What about “unintended consequences?”
What lessons can be learned from the implementation of bottle bills in other areas? asked Commissioner Payne. It is critical to set the bottle deposit at “the right level” to incentivize their return, and making the return process as “easy and convenient” for customers as possible, Williams replied.
These requirements could be “quite onerous” for small, locally owned businesses who lack the infrastructure, or funding to implement necessary infrastructure, to accept bottle returns, stated Commissioner Astmann. Small stores would be exempt from the regulations noting that “the very small mom and cop Mom and Pop corner places won’t be required to be collection centers,” Williams said.
While in general agreement with the proposal, “I think there have been a lot of frustrating examples of things being passed by the council that have not been implemented effectively,” Commissioner Shapitl stated.
The commission took no vote on this matter.
Other Matters
The commission voted to:
• support a two year extension of the existing planned unit development (PUD) for Parkside’s parcel 12 on Kenilworth Avenue NE with the request that the developer, CityInterests Development Partners, provide
monthly updates for the community. • support a r esolution, aimed at improving public space, in response to community concerns surrounding Reservation 239 to outline broad proposals to improve the accessibility, cleanliness, safety and the recreation potential of the park.
ANC 7D will meet next on Dec. 10 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
Theft From Autos Up
ANC 8F REPORT
by Andrew Lightman
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 8F met on Nov. 19. Commissioners Rick Murphree (8F02, vice chair), Brian Strege (8F03, secretary) and Edward Daniels (8F04, chair were in attendance. Nic Wilson (8F01, treasurer) was absent. SMD 8F05) is vacant.
Muphree apologized for public comments made during the commission’s proceedings regarding At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds (D) and At-Large Councilmember Robert White. “These meetings are not a place to air personal grievances…The point of this forum is to get the work done for the people of the Navy Yard,” he said.
Chair Daniels recalled being “skeptical” of former Commissioner Clayton Rosenberg (6/8F05) from day one. In August, Rosenberg pled guilty in the Eastern District of US Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to one count of wire fraud after being accused of stealing from multiple coronavirus business relief programs. Rosenberg has been sentenced to prison for five years and three months by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Other Matters
Secretary Strege extoled the passage of the recent I-83 Initiative as a positive. In future elections victors will garner the majority of the votes, he said. The initiative is not a done deal, because the Council must still fund it, he observed. “When the voters tell you they want a change in their electoral systems, elected officials should listen to them,” said Strege, stating his support for funding the I-83.
The commission voted to support The DC Office of Planning’s (OP) text and related map amendments to accommodate Navy Yard East development. The support would be subject to community input. Commissioners plan to solicit public input at a Dec. 2 Zoom meeting and then testify at the DC Zoning Commission hearing on the matter on Dec. 12. The commission also plans to invite stakeholders to attend the Dec. 2 meeting.
Commission voted to approve the 2025 budget and Quarterly Financial Reports for the third and fourth quarters of FY24.
Also...
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Lieutenant Kenneth Taylor and Captain Adam Crist briefed the commission on public safety. Crime is down with the exception of theft from autos up eight percent and six percent increase in general thefts, Taylor said. Police are focusing on Half Street SE from I to L Streets as a hotspot, particularly on Sundays, stated Taylor.
Is the youth curfew year round? asked Chair Daniels. Yes, said Taylor. The only difference from summer is that truancy officers are involved during the daytime, he said.
Drug free zones still being enforced and the First District usually gets one per month, Taylor said. “Things are moving in the right direction citywide,” he added, citing a 39 percent year-todate decline in robberies citywide.
ANC 8F’ s next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 17 at DDOT headquarters, 250 M St. SE, at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.anc8f.org. u
US Capitol Tree Lighting
The lighting of the US Capitol Christmas Tree, a time-honored tradition celebrating 60 years in 2024, takes place during a ceremony on the West Front Lawn beginning at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The public is invited to attend the lighting. The tree will then be lit from dusk until 11 p.m. each evening through Jan. 1. The tree’s 4,000-mile journey from Wrangell, Alaska, to the West Lawn of the US Capitol building kicked off on Oct. 30. Over three weeks, the tour traveled to the “Lower 48” by sea and then by truck from the Pacific coast of the United States all the way to the eastern seaboard. At each stop along the way, people had the opportunity to sign the side of the uniquely Alaskan trailer with markers and learn about Alaska’s national forests and the 54-year tradition of the USDA Forest Service providing the “Peoples Tree.” uscapitolchristmastree.com.
Bulletin Board
Brent Elementary’s Annual Holiday Sale
The Brent Elementary School Parent Teacher Association holds its 14th annual Holiday Sale on Dec. 5 and 6, 4 to 7 p.m.; and Dec. 7 and 8, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 301 North Carolina Ave. SE. Proceeds are used to provide resources to students at this public elementary school on Capitol Hill. Beautiful fragrant Fraser fir trees, greenery, Hanukkah items, and more are available for pre-sale until Dec. 3 at brentholidaysale.org. In addition to trees, the outdoor on-lot sale will include wreaths, garland, poinsettias, winterberry, and Hanukkah items. You can have your trees delivered on the day of purchase and there is an option for inhome setup. Brent is also partnering with Everyone Home DC--a local nonprofit working to ensure everyone has access to a safe, affordable, and comfortable home. The Donate a Tree program delivers trees, ornaments and lights to approximately 40 families in need this holiday season. Donation trees may be purchased online at brentholidaysale.com/collections/donate-a-tree-program-1.
DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.
DCHFA,
DC Open Doors
DC Open Doors
DC Open Doors
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership i city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust
homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia Visit www.DCHFA.org
DC Open Doors
homebuyer or a D.C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust
homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.
DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust mortgages.You are not required to be a first-time homebuyer or a D.C. resident to qualify for DCOD. You must, however, be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.
HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) rst-time home buyer program.
years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to
DC4ME
years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees.
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
COVID-19
DC4ME is offered to current fulltime District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower’s employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
COVID-19
DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is o ered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.
DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.
COVID-19
DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.
DC MAP COVID-19 provides nancial assistance to those a ected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quali ed borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.
Friday ARTnights: Working from the Figure at CHAW
On Fridays at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 Seventh St. SE, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., work on drawings or paintings in front of a live model in a session without formal instruction but facilitated by local teaching artists. $15. You can pay in advance with a credit card. If you want to pay in person, you must bring exact cash. Bring your own drawing materials. Easels are available, first come first served. Call (202) 547-6839 or email cathedrine@chaw.org to register in advance. Drop-in/walk-in spots are available as well. chaw.org.
Wharf Ice Rink Reopens for Season
Come to Transit Pier right outside The Anthem, 970 Wharf St. SW, and lace up your skates—bring your own or rent some rink-side—to glide over the ice and enjoy amazing views of the water and monuments. Hours of operation are: Wednesday through Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. Rink admission is $25 with skates, $18 without skates; 12 and under $20 with skates, $15 without skates. The Wharf Ice Rink does not accept cash. Figure skates and hockey skates are available. The Rink operates on a first come, first served basis— reservations are accepted. Read more at wharfdc.com/ wharf-ice-rink.
Historic Congressional Cemetery at Hill Center Dec.16
Over 200 years ago, in a new city, a group of residents looked around and saw that there was a need for a burial ground in the eastern section of the city. So began what we now call Historic Congressional Cemetery (HCC), designated a National Landmark in 2011. On Monday, December 16, at 7:00 p.m. at Hill Center, Old Naval Hospital, the president of HCC, Jackie Spainhour, will highlight the stories of the cemetery and some of the more than 65,000 people buried there, including notables in both national and city life. Added to those stories will be the vision of how the nonprofit organization which operates the cemetery has responded to social changes and continues to innovate to serve as a community gathering space for its neighbors and the District at large. Free but a reservation is required due to limited capacity. Reservations can be made at https://www.hillcenterdc.org/ event/historic-congressional-cemetery-avision-through-the-centuries/
Goodwill Store on South Dakota Avenue Closes
The Goodwill Store at 2200 South Dakota Ave. NE closed on Oct. 31. Visit their new store located at 1403 New York Ave. NE. Store hours are Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Donations will continue
to be accepted at the South Dakota location. dcgoodwill.org.
Better Together Holiday Shopping on the Hill
This holiday season, Capitol Hill small businesses have come together to help spread holiday cheer and support one another. During the Better Together promotion—Nov. 29 to Dec. 1—shop at one of the participating small businesses and get a gift card to another local spot. If you make a qualifying purchase at all the participating locations, you could collect multiple gifts from more than 30 unique vendors. Better Together vendors are: Caruso’s Grocery; Hill East Burger; as you are. DC; Little District Books; Ginkgo Gardens; Frame of Mine; CHIKO; La Casina DC; Good Stuff Eatery; East City Bookshop; Barrel; We, The Pizza; Valor Brewpub; Cafe Berlin; Relume; Music on the Hill; DCanter-A Wine Boutique; Hill’s Kitchen; Granville Moore’s; The Queen Vic; Labyrinth Games & Puzzles; La Collina; Pure Barre; Eastern Market Pottery; Clothes Encounters DC; Mr. Henry’s Restaurant; City Dogs H Street NE; Jade Fitness; Peel Haus Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery; and The Pug. capitolhillbid.org/bettertogether.
Signature Theatre Accepting Musicals Submissions
Signature Theatre is accepting new submissions for the SigWorks: Musical Theater Lab, a developmental workshop program for musical theatre writers. Via an open submission process, Signature Theatre invites writers from across the United States to submit their new musicals
Capital City Go-Go at Entertainment & Sports Arena
The Capital City Go-Go is the NBA G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards. The Go-Go play 50 games every year in a league of 30 teams across North America. The Go-Go were one of three teams in the league to earn a spot in both the Winter Showcase and the NBA G League Playoffs in 202324. Here’s the upcoming Capital City Go-Go at the Entertainment & Sports Arena schedule through January: Dec. 6, 7 p.m. vs. College Park Skyhawks; Dec. 15, 3 p.m. vs. Long Island Nets; Dec. 29, 3 p.m. vs. Grand Rapids Gold; Jan. 4, 4:30 p.m. vs. Indiana Mad Ants; Jan. 5 and 7, 2 p.m. vs. Cleveland Charge; Jan. 13, 2 p.m. vs. Maine Celtics; Jan. 16, 1 p.m. vs. San Diego Clippers; and Jan. 17, 7 p.m. vs. Delaware Blue Coats. Tickets are $15. The Entertainment & Sports Arena is at 1100 Oak Dr. SE. eventsdc.com.
Crafts of Cairo Sale at St. Mark’s Start your holiday shopping with local Capitol Hill nonpro t Hands Along the Nile, which will be selling one-ofa-kind handicrafts made from clean recycled scraps of paper, fabric, soda can tabs and Nespresso co ee pods. All the items are created by female artisans in Egypt’s garbage recycling community. Proceeds enable more women from this underserved community to receive job-skills training along with continuing education classes. The sale is on Sunday, Dec. 8, 1 to 5 p.m., at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. handsalongthenile.org.
to be chosen for development in the summer of 2025. One musical will be chosen for a two-week workshop at Signature Theatre. The project will receive a public presentation at the end of the workshop. Signature Theatre brightens the region’s cultural landscape with its bold productions of challenging new and established works and engaging education and outreach programs. cognitoforms.com/signaturetheatre1/musicaltheaterlab.
The National Shrine’s Christmas Dinner
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception provides meals for hundreds of poor, homeless, elderly, and needy individuals living in the District of Columbia and surrounding areas on Christmas Day. More than one thousand Christmas dinners are served each year in the National Shrine Cafeteria and another thousand are delivered to shut-ins. To request a Christmas Day dinner, call 202526-8300. All meal requests must be received by Sunday, Dec. 15. Volunteers are needed to fill many different positions. nationalshrine.org/event/2024-christmas-dinner.
Permanent Visible Vault Exhibition Opens at NBM
Visible Vault: Open Collections Storage showcases some of the significant historical artifacts from the National Building Museum’s collection ranging from the 1800’s to the present day. Most of the items featured in the exhibition have never been on public display. Visible Vault will initially display 3,000 artifacts, representing highlights from the Museum’s massive collection of 500,000 artifacts including architectural blueprints and models, bricks, plaster molds, photographs, building fragments, toy collections, souvenir buildings, drafting tools and historical building equipment. The Museum will regularly rotate artifacts on display to share more of its collection with the public. The exhibition will open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is a free community day. 401 F St. NW. nmb.org.
Tuesday Bird Walks at Kenilworth Park
Every week on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., join park rangers and expert volunteers at Kenilworth Park, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE, on a special Lotus and Water Lily Festival Bird Walk. Bring your binoculars or an ID to borrow a pair from the visitor’s center. The walk is one hour and 30 minutes. nps.gov/keaq.
Wreaths Across America at Congressional Cemetery
On Saturday, Dec. 14, 11 a.m., join Congressional Cemetery and the District of Columbia National Guard (DCNG) for the Wreaths Across America Wreath Laying Ceremony to commemorate the service of veterans interred or memorialized at Historic Congressional Cemetery. At the conclusion of the ceremony, attendees and volunteers will assist with the placing of wreaths at veteran graves. Attending the ceremony is free but they ask that anyone interested RSVP at congressionalcemetery.org. In addition, chairs are provided for the ceremony and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A Day of Action at the Portrait Gallery
On Sunday, Jan. 26, from 1 to 4 p.m., get inspired and find your voice. Art is activism and portraiture is powerful. Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to community action by joining the Portrait Gallery and their partners for A Day of Action. Geared toward mobilizing teens and young adults, but
Folger Quill & Crumb Café Opens
The Folger Shakespeare Library is ready to welcome guests to its brand new café, Quill & Crumb, which opened on Nov. 22. The new café is housed in the Folger’s Great Hall and will offer lunch, baked goods, snacks, and savory bites alongside coffee and tea service. A bar offering beer, wine, local cider, and assorted seasonal cocktails is also a part of the menu. Quill & Crumb is open to the public, and no timed-entry passes or event tickets are needed. Quill & Crumb keeps the same hours as the rest of the Folger Shakespeare Library. The café is open on Tuesday to Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, the café will close at 6 p.m. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday it will stay open until 9 p.m. On evenings when there are performances in the theatre, the café will stay open through intermission. folger.edu.
Quill & Crumb opens to the public at the Folger. No tickets are needed to enter and enjoy a menu of snacks, baked goods and beer, wine and cocktails.
Whitman-Walker’s Walk to End HIV
Whitman-Walker holds its 38th annual Walk and 5k to End HIV on Saturday, Dec. 7, 8 to 11 a.m., in Anacostia Park, adjacent to the skating pavilion. Roads into the park will be closed. The walk and 5k is more than just a fundraiser at Whitman-Walker. It symbolizes their continued e orts to nd a cure for HIV and to stop the stigma surrounding HIV. This ght will take the entire community’s support and commitment. When you donate or raise $35 for the Walk to END HIV, you qualify for their signature T-shirt. Registered runners will receive a t-shirt and timed running bib included with their registration. Register at walktoendhiv.org.
open to all, this event featuring local social justice organizations and community groups will empower visitors. Learn from changemakers who are doing the work and be inspired by the activists highlighted in some of the Portrait Gallery’s exhibitions. Free but registration is encouraged. The National Portrait Gallery is at Eighth and G streets NW. npg.si.edu.
DC Hypothermia Alerts
Hypothermia alerts are activated when the National Weather Service forecasted temperature, including wind chill, is or will be 32° F
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN BY THE ASSOCIATIOIN FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY (HEREINAFTER “HCC”) THAT HCC INTENDS TO RECLAIM THE RIGHT TO INTER FOR THE BELOW LISTED PLOTS. SHOULD ANY OWNER (OR SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO THE OWNER) WISH TO MAINTAIN HIS OR HER RIGHT TO INTER, THEY MUST NOTIFY HCC IN WRITING WITHIN 6 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE INITIAL PUBLICATON OF THIS NOTICE.
or below; or, when the temperature is forecasted to be 40° F or below, and the forecasted chance of precipitation is fty percent or greater. Transportation to shelter is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you see someone outside in need of shelter or a welfare check, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-3997093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety call 911. dhs. dc.gov/extremeweather.
Do You Have a Notice for Bulletin Board?
The Bulletin Board includes event notices, volunteer opportunities and other community news. If you have a notice send it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. ◆
IF HCC DOES NOT RECEIVE NOTICE FROM THE OWNER (OR SUCCESSORIN-INTEREST TO THE OWNER) THAT THE OWNER INTENDS TO MAINTAIN THEIR RIGHT TO INTER WITHIN THE REQUISITE SIX MONTHS, THE RIGHT TO INTER WILL BE CONSIDERED ABANDONED AND THE CEMETERY WILL TRANSFER THIS RIGHT TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL.
NOTE: PURSUANT TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF HCC, THE RIGHT TO INTER CAN BE RECLAIMED BY HCC IF UNUSED FOR A PERIOD OF 75 YEARS. IT IS STILL AN ACTIVE CEMETERY. OWNERS OF THE RIGHT TO INTER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT PROOF OF OWNERSHIP OF THE RIGHT TO INTER. THIS NOTICE SHALL BE PUBLISHED ONCE A MONTH FOR THREE MONTHS IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES.
SIGNED, THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY, 1801 E STREET S.E. WASHINGTON DC 20003 (202-543-0539). STAFF@CONGRESSIONALCEMETERY.ORG
1. Range 3 / Site 223 – Kennett
2. Range 53 / Site 186 – Whelpley
3. Range 53 / Site 187 – Whelpley 4. Range 59 / Site 324 – Scott
5. Range 59 / Site 326 – Scott
6. Range 81 / Site 264 – Estep 7. Range 81 / Site 265 – Estep 8. Range 109 / Site 254 – Daugherty
Range 125 / Site 219 – McKinley
Range 125 / Site 220 – McKinley 11. Range 127 / Site 237 – Wedgworth
12. Range 127 / Site 238 – Wedgworth
13. Range 128 / Site 237 – Wedgworth
14. Range 128 / Site 238 – Wedgworth
15. Range 131 / Site 194 – Hurdle
16. Range 156 / Site 257 – Hind
Courtesy Whitman Walker
Holiday Gifts for the Gardener
by Annette Nielsen
With or without a green thumb, you may know someone who appreciates all things green. Maybe they admire and identify the plantings in their street’s tree boxes, subscribe to podcasts on growing or might be the person excited about next season’s seed catalog as soon as they’ve harvested the last tomato from their backyard garden. Others might be raising a family of plant babies and always finding space to adopt one more. Or maybe you’re at a loss for what to give that person who seems to either have everything or is very par -
ticular – but a gift card doesn’t seem like the right thing.
Plants provide a host of benefits, indoor and out. They clean the air we breathe, and their presence is known to lower stress levels, put your mind at ease and boost your mood – a positive side benefit, especially in winter months. They’re also the evergreen present. You don’t really need to get the right size (unless you’re bringing a mature ficus tree into a small space) and the style is unlikely to offend a picky in-law or co-worker, needing a post-holiday store return or exchange. (Although, be sure to ask about various plant appropriateness if the greenery
will be sharing space – some plants can be toxic for pets or young children.)
Where to go for the perfect plants, accessories, tools and books? There are so many options nearby. Visiting these welcoming spaces and chatting with plant enthusiasts will provide some joy and offer a true respite during the hectic holiday season. See the people who work around plants – they’re in pretty good spirits.
If you’ve lived on or near Capitol Hill for any amount of time, you’re already familiar with Frager’s Hardware, although you may not have visited Foliage by Frager’s, their
Foliage by Frager’s has great plant babies to gift your bestie, mini tools for indoor gardening, a water meter and a plant mat that doubles as a mouse pad.
Photo: Annette Nielsen
You’ll find expert staff and a plant emporium at Ginko Gardens, from orchids to preserved moss wall hangings and winter bulbs for indoor enjoyment. Photo: Annette Nielsen
plant boutique, where you can also find seasonal home decorations, birding supplies and extensive gardening essentials. Throughout the plant arena, assistance is found whether picking out the perfect plant for a favorite teacher, a special plant pot or small garden tools for indoor re-potting projects. Know someone with a propensity to over-water? They have a gauge to monitor moisture in your plants, too. Wander out the back door and you will find the year-round garden center, for further inspiration.
For over 30 years Ginko Gardens has brought together passionate horticulturists and landscape architects to create sustainable gardens for your home or office. The indoor plant store covering two floors provides ample opportunity to find the perfect orchid, hanging air plant (pretty forgiving for those who need a low maintenance or an easy way to start), winter indoor bulb (think of the aromatic paperwhite or the showy and beautiful bright red amaryllis) or
even a wood-framed and preserved moss assembly to hang on the wall, bringing green into a space with no caretaking required.
On the corner of East Capitol Street and Lincoln Park you’ll find Surroundings (1023 East Capitol St. SE, surroundingslandscapings.com). In addition to small potted cedars and substantial rosemary plants that can do double duty as your holiday tree or Hannukah bush, they have cut holly branches, and lucky bamboo that’s perfect to usher in a good New Year. Pick up a grouping of pussy willows or bouquet of beautiful cut flowers to bring as a hostess gift for a holiday dinner – particularly those lush hydrangeas – and you’ll be on the permanent guest list.
WS Jenks (910 Bladensburg Rd. NE, wsjenks.com) has been around for over 150 years and their robust offerings in the garden department included classes. Check out upcoming educational offerings (here at eventbrite.com/o/ws-jenks-52340767503) with classes like Plant Your own Succulent Arrangement, Planning and Starting your Garden from Seed and even Fermentation for Beginners: Sauerkraut and Kimchi. Their AeroGarden kits are particularly great for someone wanting to grow some edible greenery – like lettuce or herbs on a counter indoors, particularly good for a space without a lot of light. WS Jenks carries kid-sized gardening tools and water pails, and you might consider a plant for a teen like mint that is easy to grow and has a nice aroma.
Books are the perfect gift for practically everyone on your list, and East City Bookshop (645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, eastcitybookshop.com) has a section dedicated to home and garden. Whether you’re looking to beauti-
fy your private garden patio, start a container garden (great for the front stoop), plant herbs on a window sill or need a garden notebook to track each season’s plantings, they have plant- and flower-themed items to provide inspiration for the experienced or budding grower on your list.
Lucky are we to live in the same town as the US Botanic Garden (100 Maryland Ave. SW, usbg.gov) where you can step into a stunning conservatory space offering many ecosystems and corresponding plants. Gift a membership or become a friend and depending on membership level, receive a variety of benefits like hard-to-get tickets to the annual holiday exhibit or discounts at the gift shop. And if there’s a particularly cold, gray day in February, a visit to their tropical exhibit will transport you to a biodiverse, warm and lush environment to recharge until cherry blossom time.
Annette Nielsen, a writer and food systems advisor, returned to Capitol Hill from New York where she served as the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center. u
At Surroundings you’ll find Lucky Bamboo, a plant signifying friendship, thought to bring prosperity, good fortune and positive energy in Feng Shui – something we all might need this year.
Photo: Annette Nielsen
East City Books is a great place for books on a wide array of topics, and their Home and Garden section is robust – with a variety of topics like vegetable gardens, container planting, and cooking from the harvest. Photo: Annette Nielsen
Gby the Capitol Hill Garden Club
ardening advice, information and commentary from the Capitol Hill Garden Club. Send your questions to capitolhillgardenclub@gmail.com
As winter approaches with shorter hours of daylight, continue your connection to nature around the family game table. Board games are back, and wildlife-themed games provide all ages an opportunity to learn about plants and animals in a fun way.
I have preschoolers. Are my kids too young for board games? Cooperative board games where all players work together are ideal for young children. In Wildcraft - An Herbal Adventure Game, players (ages 4+) gather huckleberries and herbs for Grandma. Along the way, they may face trouble, obstacles like a bee sting or scraped knee, and need to nd an herbal remedy for their ailment. Players collect cards of edible plants and healing herbs. Icons on the trouble cards match up with icons on the plant cards so even a non-reader will know what plant can be used for healing. Sliding down waterfalls, crossing logs, and following deer trails add to the adventure. The game includes access to a digital story that will take players deeper into safe and sustainable harvesting of wild plants. Check out learningherbs.com for more resources on this game and wildcrafting, that is gathering herbs, plants and fungi from the wild.
My grandson enjoys birding on Kingman Island. Are there any games that could help him learn more about his favorite birds?
The award-winning game Wingspan, designed by local resident Elizabeth Hargrave, has sold over two million copies worldwide. Players create a wildlife preserve by placing birds in forest, prairie and wetland habitats. Richly illustrated bird cards feature food preference, nest type and factual tidbits. “It’s amazing to me. I’ve heard over and over from people that they have seen birds in the wild and they actually know what they were because they played enough Wingspan to remember,” stated Hargrave at a Smithsonian event earlier this year. An avid fan created the free app, Wingsong. Just hold the card in front of a smartphone camera and listen to the bird’s song. Wingspan is popular for ages 10+. It also contains rules for one player.
My family loves hiking at the Arboretum. Is there a game about trees? The player who has taken the most recent walk in the woods goes rst in the game Forest Shu e. Turns are very fast and simple as 2-5 players (age 10+) gather trees and create a balanced habitat of animals, plants and mushrooms. The cards have di erent costs and powers and the strategies to win the game change every time it is played. Points are scored for a variety of outcomes such as growing a forest with all eight tree species, collecting a set of di erent butter ies or the num-
ber of cards the hibernating bear has stored in its cave. When the third winter card is played, the game ends immediately. The nature theme, beautiful art and eco friendly (no plastic) design make it a good choice for families.
I’m hosting game night for friends and want an easy game. What do you suggest?
A game with simple rules, fastpaced and ideal for your gardening friends is Planted. Players collect and nurture their favorite houseplants, 42 popular ones to choose from, by providing appropriate amounts of water, light, and plant food. Well-illustrated cards with high quality wood and plastic playing pieces add to the game’s appeal. Plant people will enjoy its replayability. Green thumb optional!
Nature-themed games make wonderful holiday gifts and are available at independent game stores and online. Labyrinth Games & Puzzles in Eastern Market o ers expert help and demo games to play. Have fun!
Want to learn more about gardening or spend time with people who like plants? Join the Capitol Hill Garden Club, more information on the club website at capitolhillgardenclub.org.
Ebranic.cbintouch.com
Ebranic@cbmove.com
7th St SE, WDC 20003
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.
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ARTS& DINING
Theater Night
A curated review of theater in the DMV
by Matthew McClure
The year is almost over. It’s finally time to snuggle up against the cold and hygge with family and friends, as Oaken sings in Disney’s Frozen. This month’s column has gifts for everyone, from A Christmas Carol for Jews to a circus-opera featuring a duke and a jester. Sit back, relax and read on for our curated selection.
On Right Now
Disney’s Frozen, Olney Theatre Center Showing through Jan 5 www.olneytheatre.org
If you’re looking for something festive, fun and family friendly this December, take the kids to see the very first licensed, regionally produced musical version of Disney’s Frozen, directed by Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka at the Olney Theatre Center in Sandy Spring, MD. Loosely based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, this popular fable explores themes of family, identity, loyalty, love and – of course – magic.
The secret sauce of this production is undoubtedly the inti macy of Olney Theatre Cen ter’s stage space. The action is right on top of you. We attended on a weekend, so the audience was filled with little Elsa and Anna lookalikes resplendent in sparkling gowns, spellbound by a cast that clearly reveled in their roles. Ruth Eloise Benson and Aliza Cohen (as a young Elsa and Anna) and Gabriela Hernan dez and Alex De Bard (as their older counterparts) do a stellar job of conveying the
intimate, irrevocable bond that sisters share, and ultimately – as Olney’s Artistic Director Jason Loewith reminds us – Disney’s Frozen is all about the power of sisterhood. Additional kudos go to Kennedy Kanagawa and Alex Mills, who conjure Olaf the Snowman and Sven the reindeer to life before our very eyes.
You’re never too old for magic, and what can be more bewitching than seeing the world through the eyes of a child again? So, head to Olney Theatre Center and immerse yourself in the icy world of Disney’s Frozen while comfortably ensconced in your cozy seat with something warm to drink.
In the Spotlight
A Hanukkah Carol, or GELT TRIP! The Musical, Round House Theatre
Showing Nov 20 – Dec 29 www.roundhousetheatre.org Helen Hayes Award nominated playwright, actor and puppeteer Harrison Bryan first made the news in December 1997, when the New York Post published their letter lamenting the lack of Hanukkah-themed decorations in their Brooklyn neighborhood and around the city. Little did Bryan know then that this letter – and the ‘Hanukkah fairy’ that would adorn their parent’s home in glittering blue and white dreidels, me-
norahs and Magen Davids for the Festival of Lights every year – would inspire the creation of A Hanukkah Carol, or GELT TRIP! The Musical.
With music by Aaron Kenny, a book and lyrics by Bryan and Rob Berliner, and direction and choreography by Marlo Hunter, A Hanukkah Carol, or GELT TRIP! The Musical is what Bryan and their creative team lovingly refer to as A Christmas Carol for Jews. “Rob and I are two nice Jewish boys who grew up loving Christmas, and A Christmas Carol has been part of our lives forever. We never felt the need to celebrate Christmas to enjoy it.” Bryan says. The story: Chava Kanipshin (played by Samantha Sayah) has an unhealthy obsession with social media. Likes, followers and constant scrolling is the currency she trades in, and it takes a journey through Hanukkah Past, Present and Future –guided by the ghost of influencer Mimi Marley – to jolt her back to reality.
The message of this zany comedy laden with Fiddler on the Roof references is, Bryan says, close to their heart. “The more light we can shine in the world right now the better, and this story is about bringing goodness into the world. What we’ve really enjoyed is making the show not only an adaptation, but also a parody. It’s not only a comedy. It’s also a morality tale. It exists inside the structure of A Christmas Carol, but it’s about Hanukkah.” Be part of a new holiday tradition and take the whole family to see this one.
A Hanukkah Carol, or GELT TRIP! The Musical. L-R - Samantha Sayah (Chava Kanipshin), Nicole Halmos (Hanukkah Past), Bekah Zornosa (Barb Kratzyt) and Katrina Michaels (Past Chava) in rehearsal for A Hanukkah Carol, or GELT TRIP! The Musical. Photo: Kent Kondo.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
STUDIO ARTS
Contemporary Watercolors Course Course begins Monday, December 2, 6:30pm-8:00pm
Basic Drawing Techniques: Drawing From an Image Course begins Tuesday, December 3, 6:30pm-8:00pm
Contemporary Watercolors Workshop
Saturday, December 7, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Introduction to Linocut Printmaking Workshop
Saturday, December 7, 2:30pm - 5:00pm CONCERTS
Stone Room Concerts @ Hill Center Featuring Halley Neal and Sam Robbins
Sunday, December 8, 4:30pm
“SONG OF SOLSTICE” A Celtic Christmas Celebration Featuring: OCEAN Celtic Quartet
Sunday, December 15, 4:30pm Holiday Music Spanning the Centruries Fearturing Vox Pulchra and Tina Chancey
Friday, December 20, 7:00pm
COOKING CLASSES & TASTINGS
Kitchen 101: Knife Skills with Chef Wendi James
Tuesday, December 10, 6:00pm
Holiday Side Dishes with Marianne Tshihamba
Wednesday, December 11, 6:00pm
12 Days of Cooking Christmas: Duck & Andouille Gumbo with Chef Mark Haskell
Thursday, December 12, 6:00pm
Master Chef: Featuring Hiraya’s Paolo Dungca & 9-Time Award
Nominee Pichet Ong
Saturday, December 14, 11:00am
Eight Nights of Festive Eating for Hanukkah Featuring Chef Susan Barocas and Bonnie Benwick
Programmatic support provided by the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities.
Catch before Closing
Rigoletto, IN Series Opera Showing Dec 7 – Dec 15 www.inseries.org
When was the last time you went to the circus? This holiday season, IN Series Opera brings you Giuseppe Verdi’s classic opera Rigoletto like you’ve never seen it before: Under the Big Top, and accompanied by a circus band. Featuring a duke, a jester, a jilted lover and an assassin in a tragicomic portrayal of mistaken identity and the fatal power of a curse, Rigoletto was picked as part of an IN Series audience survey and intended to be performed as part of the company’s 2019-2020 season. The Covid-19 pandemic nixed the original production, but ringmasters Timothy Nelson and Emily Baltzer (read Stage and Music Directors) have resuscitated it for us to enjoy.
Two-time Helen Hayes Award nominated actress, playwright, lyricist and librettist Bari Biern composed the libretto for Nelson’s Rigoletto. She’s worked on the librettos for Don Pasquale, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, staying faithful to the original scores but tweaking them to reflect the idiosyncrasies of both the singers that perform them and the settings they’re staged in. “Timothy’s concept of setting such an emotional and passionate tragedy in a circus is remarkable.” Biern explains. “We’ve
been faithful to the original intent of the libretto, but to see how that fits into a circus setting where people go to be entertained and to laugh, but there’s this tragedy playing out in front of them, it’s a great way to turn it on its head.”
Rigoletto will be performed both at the Goldman Theater DCJCC and the Baltimore Theatre Project this month as part of IN Series’ Illicit Opera 2024-2025 season, with Brian Arreola as The Duke, Teresa Ferrara as Gilda and Chad Louwerse as the eponymous Rigoletto.
Don’t Miss!
Joy of Christmas at the Washington National Cathedral Dec 14, 2pm & 7pm. Dec 15, 4pm www.cathedralchoralsociety.org
What can be more magical than listening to the uplifting, celebratory notes of your favourite Christmas carols – sung by a 120 voice choir accompanied by brass - echoing through Washington’s National Cathedral? Conducted by Steven Fox, this year’s Joy of Christmas by the Cathedral Choral Society will premiere Sounds of Stardust by Alexander Campkin for the first time in the US. Our insider tip? Get a seat in the galleries, where you can fully appreciate the powerful acoustics and the beauty of the cathedral’s clerestory and rose window. Buy your tickets now before they sell out! u
Joy of Christmas: The Cathedral Choral Society performing in Joy of Christmas at the Washington National Cathedral. Photo: Colin Johnson.
As the holidays swing into full gear, much is happening in the restaurant world. First, the good news: Chef/restaurateur Matt Baker is joining the growing steakhouse family with the unveiling of Lucille’s Modern Chophouse. The upscale steak palace will slide into the ground oor of the Kimpton George Hotel, 15 E St. NW. That’s where restauranteurs Je and Sallie Buden operated Bistro Bis for 26 years.
“It’s a new market, neighborhood and genre that we haven’t tapped into yet,” Baker told Eater DC. Baker’s citywide 101 Hospitality group encompasses Michelinstarred Gravitas and Baker’s Daughter, both located in Ivy City; French-themed Michele’s (downtown) and catering company CMB at Home.
Capitol Cuisine
by Celeste McCall
Lucille’s will dry-age its meats—including Japanese and Texas wagyu plus homegrown prime beef—in a locker displayed in the dining room. The plan is to showcase four or ve cuts at any given time. To accompany all that protein: twice-baked potatoes and other sides. Adding to the vibe will be martini carts delivering drinks tableside. For Lucille’s updates visit www. hotelgeorge.com.
On the Avenue...
Butterworth’s, a classy café/restaurant/bar, has opened at 319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, where Coastline Oyster Company used to be. We’ve peeked inside; the décor is gorgeous yet funky: Victorian-style furnishings, including comfy sofas, mirrors and paintings, all pointing toward an open kitchen.
The open kitchen offers a daytime menu with smoked salmon, avocado toast, crepes, oysters, smoked lamb shoulder on sourdough. Dinner brings steak tartare, skate wing, ratatouille, veal shank. An innovative cocktail, beer and wine list enhances the eclectic menu o erings. Watch for details. For more information visit www.butterworths.club.
Adios Joselito
Now the bad news: We were dismayed to learn that Joselito Casa de Comidas, the cozy Spanish restaurant at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, is closing. According to Eater DC, Spanish-born Javier Candon’s 70-seat charmer “is up for lease.” (Full disclosure: Joselito is our favorite local restaurant. Not only is the food, wine and ambience wonderful, Joselito is only two and a half blocks from our home.)
Replacing a former creamery/cheese shop, Joselito debuted in 2017. Chef David Sierra soon wowed diners with gazpacho Andaluz, grilled octopus, cod fritters, seafood paella, enjoyed with Spanish wines. We loved the stylish, whitetiled décor, bistro chairs and even the cramped, marbletopped tables.
“Unfortunately, despite its great reputation, Joselito never recovered from COVID,” Candon
told Eater DC. (We remember the darkest days of the pandemic shutdown when Joselito was selling household supplies.)
“This is especially sad for what Joselito represents for my family,” Candon said, adding that he will determine the closing date once someone signs a new lease. That should take two to three months. Joselito—a homage to Candon’s late father whose favorite bull ghter was named Jose—will probably depart early next year.
Ser, Joselito’s sister restaurant in Ballston (Arlington) is “still going great” and will remain open. For updates and more information visit www.joselitodc.com.
Next Year on H...
Aldi, the popular German-based supermarket chain, is slated to open an outlet at 801 H St. NE in the sprawling Rappoport Avec complex. Don’t rush over right away; the much-needed grocery store won’t arrive until early next year. For updates and more information visit www.stores.aldi.us.
Brussels Mussels
Speaking of H street: Peter and I recently revisited an old favorite, Granville Moore, 1238 H St. NE. After attending a performance at the nearby Atlas Performing Arts Center, our group of six enjoyed a delightful supper at “DC’s original Belgian Tavern.” The dark, cozy atmosphere, with roughhewn tables and benches, is reminiscent of an 18th century tavern.
Granville Moore is famous for mussels. Diners may choose from the classic mariniere (steeped in white wine, garlic and herbs); bleu cheese with pork belly and onions; spicy
Butterworth’s, an upscale café/bar showcasing French-influenced cuisine, has opened on “The Avenue.”
On H street NE, mussels are the star attractions at Belgian-themed Granville Moore.
Thai curry. Peter and I shared the mariniere, along with an order of piping hot fries, which come with mayo-based sauces: tru e, Old Bay, chipotle, curry. (Everybody loves those crunchy fries; the kitchen goes through more than 1,400 pounds of spuds a week.)
To wash down those mollusks (1,200 weekly), the bar pours a rotating selection of beers, mainly Belgian brews, plus a few wine and cider choices. Granville Moore is open daily, including for brunch and happy hour. For more information visit www.granvillemoores.com.
I Scream for Ice Cream
Finally, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has opened at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (Seventh Street entrance), near Eastern Market. The upscale ice cream parlor is the latest in the nationwide chain. For more information visit www.vanleeuwenicecream.com.
Good Company
You’ll nd more than doughnuts and co ee at Good Company Doughnuts & Café, which opened in May at 1000 Fourth St. SW (Waterfront Station). “It seems like a shiny, new yet old-fashioned diner offering sandwiches, bagels, egg dishes, salads, soups and more,” observed Peter. He recently sampled a bowl of
delicious, piping-hot butternut squash soup with Natalie’s Lemonade for only $14. Customers place their orders at the front counter, take a number and sit comfortably at the full bar or tables in the attractive dining area where wait sta serves your selections including beer, wine and mixed drinks.
The comfy eatery offers such breakfast dishes as egg and cheese burritos, chorizo, pork belly, brisket, as well as lox and bagels, avocado toast, oatmeal, quesadilla and fruit cups. For lunch or dinner, you can order Cubano, roast beef, chicken pesto, BLT, and “worth the wait” spicy grilled cheese on sourdough bread. Or settle for a Cobb or Stella’s artisan salad, pasta Carmellata, macand-cheese. Oh yes, the doughnuts are delicious.
Good Company is open daily. For hours and more information visit www.gocodough.com.
And...
As always, La Plaza, our beloved neighborhood Tex-Mex/Salvadoran restaurant at 629 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, will be open for business on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, as well as New Year’s Eve and Day. For menus, hours and more information visit www.laplazaWashington.com.
Gone?
Joey’s, 527 Eighth St. SE, has closed, at least temporarily. A sign in the window read: “Closed for Vacation.” We miss their homemade chili, pastrami, zesty Bu alo wings and convivial atmosphere. We wish proprietor John Boyle the best and hope Joey’s reopens soon. ◆
Specializing in CHEESE from all parts of the World!
Regular hours except:
Open Monday December 23
Closing Early December 24
Closed December 25 & 26
Open Monday December 30
Closed January 1 & 2
TUNNICLIFF’S TAVERN
OPEN FROM 11AM-2AM M-Th 10AM-2AM Sat & Sun
Serving brunch every Saturday and Sunday. 10AM-3PM
Besides doughnuts, Good Company Doughnuts & Café, in Southwest, also serves tummy-warming butternut squash soup.
HEMPHILL Artworks
TWO X
November 9-December 21
www.hemphillfinearts.com
HEMPHILL presents “TWO X”, a group exhibition exploring the interconnectedness of art across generations. Running through December 21, this show invites viewers to reflect on how the dialogue between works by artists from different times can illuminate the shared essence of artistic expression.
Art and the City
by Phil Hutinet
Instead of adhering to conventional categorizations like period or style, “TWO X” focuses on pairings that highlight the personal and communal resonance of art, asking visitors to consider the broader narrative of creativity that connects us through time and across cultures. The exhibition aims to foster an appreciation for art’s
enduring role in human experience, regardless of its context or origins.
Featured artist pairings include Benny Andrews with Melvin L. Nesbitt Jr., Alma Thomas with Julie Wolfe, and Norman Lewis with Robin Rose, among others. Each pairing encourages viewers to contemplate the harmony and contrast
between differing approaches, techniques, and perspectives. HEMPHILL Artworks is located at 434 K Street NW. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment. 202-234-5601.
Hill Center Galleries
Through January 4
African American Fiber Arts Guild “A Celebration of Fiber and Heritage” www.hillcenterdc.org/galleries
African American Fiber Arts Guild (AAFAG) unveils its inaugural exhibition, showcasing the artistry and cultural expression of African American life, history, and identity through fiber art. Founded in 2023, AAFAG is a collective of independent fiber artists based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Though rooted in this region, the guild is poised to expand its reach as interest grows.
Dedicated to elevating fiber arts as a medium of fine art,
AAFAG serves as both a platform and a resource. Members explore diverse methodologies, blending traditional techniques with contemporary approaches to create works that resonate deeply with African American heritage. Through education, collaboration, and exhibitions, the guild fosters an environment where ideas are exchanged, skills are honed, and the stories of African Americans working in fiber are amplified.
Visitors to the Hill Center exhibition will witness the transformative potential of fiber as a medium, as well as the guild’s commitment to innovation and storytelling. This debut exhibition marks a significant step in preserving and advancing African American cultural narratives through fiber art. Hill Center is located at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Hours: Monday–Friday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. 202-549-4172.
International Art & Artists at Hillyer
Exploring Connection, Resistance, and Legacy: Three Exhibitions at IA&A at Hillyer Through December 29 athillyer.org/exhibitions
IA&A at Hillyer presents three distinct yet thematically resonant exhibitions, each engaging with
Andrea Cullins “Facing the Rising Sun.” Image courtesy Hill Center Galleries and the artist.
concepts of connection, resilience, and the enduring power of art.
Xenia Gray “The Great Silence”
In “The Great Silence,” Xenia Gray delves into humanity’s innate yearning for connection—both with one another and with the larger cosmos. Through gurative mixed-media works created in acrylic and graphite, Gray evokes a contemplative quietude. Her use of emotive colors and shadow invites viewers to explore the mysteries of silence and self-discovery. This series suggests that true understanding emerges in the spaces where words fail and the manner in which the universe’s vastness speaks.
Alexander D’Agostino “An Index of Fire”
Alexander D’Agostino confronts the history of book burnings in “An Index of Fire.” Using cyanotype prints on textiles, “bleached” with ashes from burned books, his work transforms destruction into creation. By turning the remnants of censorship into records of resistance, D’Agostino critiques the futility of silencing knowledge. His exhibition serves as both a warning and a testament to the resilience of free thought, illustrating that even in ashes, books remain symbols of human curiosity and de ance.
Collecting Community: “The Millennium Arts Salon at 25”
Celebrating 25 years of artistic dialogue, “Collecting Community” showcases the Millennium Arts Salon’s rich history. Curated by Lauren Davidson and Jarvis DuBois, this exhibition features a diverse array of works from emerging and established artists. Alongside paintings, sculptures, and mixed media, archival materials trace the evolution of the organization, highlighting its enduring impact.
Programming, including artist talks, invites visitors to connect with the creative legacy of the Salon. IA&A at Hillyer is located at 9 Hillyer Court NW. Hours: Tuesday–Friday: 12 –6 p.m., Saturday & Sunday: 12–5 p.m. Closed Monday. 202-338-0680.
The Silva Gallery x Latela Curatorial
Through February 28, 2025
Anne Hanger “Wanderings” www.latelacuratorial.com/the-silva-gallery
Anne Hanger’s solo exhibition, “Wanderings”, invites viewers to explore the quiet beauty of natural cycles through 14 new abstract paintings. On view at The Silva DC, the show re ects Hanger’s meditative practice of observing the sun rise over the Blue Ridge Mountains and set behind the Appalachians near her home. Using geometric minimalism, Hanger distills these moments into contemplative compositions that mimic the rhythms of the natural world.
Drawing on principles of the Minimalist movement, Hanger carefully reduces each scene to its essential elements, emphasizing simplicity and balance. Her works pair striking, emotive colors with clean shapes and textured surfaces, such as sand, gloss, and matte nishes. By extending the painted forms across the edges of each canvas, she envelops viewers in a sensory experience akin to immersing oneself in nature.
Hanger’s thoughtful approach is as much about process as it is about outcome. Her deliberate layering and disciplined gestures evoke the patience and order found in nature, o ering a space for re ection and connection. As she describes, her works aim to transport the viewer to a place of silence and joy, mirroring the awe and mystery of the landscapes that inspire her. The Silva Gallery is located at 1630 Columbia Road NW. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m-5 p.m. and Sunday: noon-5 p.m. 202-449-4580.
Phil Hutinet is the founding publisher of East City Art, DC’s visual art journal of record. For more information visit www.eastcityart.com ◆
December 6–29, 2024 Opening Reception: Saturday, December 7th 4–6pm
2118 - 8th Street NW Hours: FRI-SUN, 12pm-6pm foundrygallery.org 202.232.0203
Silva Gallery – Install view of Anne Hanger “Wanderings.” Photo: Albert Ting
the LITERARY HILL
A
Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events
Silent Night, Book Lover’s Night
by Michelle LaFrance
Looking for a really good read for the holidays? Need a perfect gift for a friend? Read on to see books suggested by local authors...
Alma Katsu, author of Red London and The Vanishing Man: Horror Movie , Paul Tremblay. “Perfect for brainy, literature-loving friends who also like to be scared.”
The Peacock and the Sparrow , I.S. Berry. “This debut has won a bunch of awards, and rightly so.”
The Swimmers , Julie Otsuka. “A great gift for a friend who has lost a parent to dementia.”
John Copenhaver, author of Hall of Mirrors and The Savage Kind: You Know What You Did, K.T. Nguyen (local author). “Explores the complex dynamics of a Vietnamese immigrant mother-daughter relationship.”
Rough Pages , Lev AC Rosen. “A poignant narrative given today’s resurgence of book bans targeting queer stories.”
Shadow Men: The Tangled Story of Murder, Media, and Privilege That Scandalized Jazz Age America, James Polchin. “Intersections of crime, media sensationalism, and privilege while shedding light on marginalized voices in history.”
Georgina Warren , author of Tales of Virtuous Stepmothers:
A Mole in One, Theresa Lynch. “How a little hero found his place in the world of golf.”
Ghosted: Dating & Other Paramoural Experiences , Jana Eisenstein. One part memoir, one part dating handbook, one part reflection on finding a love that will last.
Matt Fitzsimmons, author of The Slate: The Last House on Needless Street, Catriona
Ward. Described as shocking, immersive, and psychological.
Everybody Knows, Jordan Harper. The New York Times Book Review refers to this mystery as “dazzling.”
Mercury Pictures Presents, Anthony Marra. Epic historical fiction, set in 1940’s fascist Europe.
Alison Bass, author of Rebecca of Ivanhoe:
The Excitements, C.J. Wray. A witty story about two British women veterans of WWII.
James, Percival Everett. On everyone’s list this year: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn reimagined from Jim’s POV.
The Marriage Portrait , Maggie O’Farrell . In 1550 Florence, Duchess Lucrezia de’ Medici makes her way in a troubled court.
Bruce Gregory, author of American Diplomacy’s Public Dimension: Practitioners as Change Agents in Foreign Relations: Behind the White House Curtain: A Senior Journalist’s Story of Covering the President and Why It Matters, Steven L. Herman. The title says it all.
Phantom Orbit: A Thriller , David Ignatius. “An unsolved puzzle in the writings of the 17th-century astronomer Johannes Kepler.”
Richard Scott , author of Tripping Toward Mars (reviewed below):
Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir. “A sci-fi master who excels at weaving together hard science, drama, and humor.”
The Great White Bard , Farah Karim-Cooper. Written by the director of the Folger.
December Book Reviews
Tripping Toward Mars: A Deep Space Love Odyssey Fans of smart, satirical, and tech-rich space opera will enjoy this witty, original read. Richard Scott’s debut novel is set in a not-too-distant future, where NASA missions, billionaire-backed colonization schemes, and messy love triangles collide. Addy Johnson, his wife Bria, and their friends Sally and João join a race to Mars, each driven by their own ambitions. A page-turning narrative that balances the absurd, themes of self-discovery and the search for meaning, with quirky characters. Visit richmondscottauthor. com for details.
Shakespeare Was a Woman and Other Heresies: How Doubting the Bard Became the Biggest Taboo in Literature
Elizabeth Winkler’s page turner might just have you second guessing your favorite English
Richard Scott
professors. Opening with the case Miss Evelyn May Hopkins, who left her sizable fortune to the Francis Bacon Society to fund a search for the original Shakespeare manuscripts (Hopkins believed they were written by Bacon), Winkler’s book dives into the centuries-old question of Shakespearean authorship with intrepid determination and a zest for an excellent story. Deftly handling historical detail and controversy alike, Winkler takes on several academic debates, arming herself with thorough and compelling research.
If We Were Villains
Fusing dark academia, Shakespearean drama, and campus intrigue, M.L. Rio crafts a tale as twisted as any Shakespearean tragedy. Protagonist Oliver Marks, just released from prison for a crime that is not at all in keeping with his kind and re ective nature, narrates this suspenseful, beautifully emotive narrative. Oliver shares his memory of being a fourth-year theatre student, whose life spirals into chaos when an unexpected casting decision upends the delicate power dynamics of his classmates. As friendships inevitably fracture, tragedy strikes. Rio’s knowledge of theater shines—the book is divided into acts and scenes like a play—including Shakespearean allusions and dialogue styled straight from the First Folio. The unforgettable ending will stay with even the most jaded readers of mysteries and thrillers.
December is for Book Lovers
The Phillips Collection Museum Shop Featuring unique home décor, accessories, toys, puzzles, books, jewelry, art supplies, and more available in person or online. Browse the gift guide: https://shopphillipscollection.org/
Thursday and Saturday Story Time at Solid State Books, H Street
Join visiting authors, illustrators, and Solid State sta for story time, every Thursday & Saturday at 10:30 am until 11:00 am. On Thursdays stories are for babies & toddlers. On Saturday’s stories are for children, 2-6 years.
Michelle LaFrance is Associate Professor of English at George Mason University. Writers of all experience levels are invited to join her at the Hill Center for two writing classes, Writing DC and Writing Your Life. Classes provide a supportive, fun afternoon of writing practice and neighborhood connection. See the programming calendar at hillcenterdc.org for more details or check out Michelle’s site: writinglostriver.org. ◆
Poetic Hill
Kristin W. Davis
Kby Sandra Beasley
ristin W. Davis (kristinwdavis.com) has lived 41 years in the DC area, including the past 27 years in Cleveland Park in Northwest DC. She is a graduate of American University, worked as a writer and editor for 20 years with Kiplinger’s Magazine, and recently earned an MFA from the University of Southern Maine, Stonecoast. Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in The Southern Review, Nimrod, and other journals, and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. She is a 2024 and 2025 grantee of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Fellowship Program.
Awaiting Bent Light
There is a kind of seeing that stumbles in the dark, stubs a toe, hurries on before eyes can adjust,
a kind of seeing that wears a hood to hide its face, loses its peripheral vision,
a kind of seeing that sits stispined, back not touching the chair.
A kind of seeing that goes grayscale, that intensi es both shadow and light,
like the rst shiver of leaves, the rst thickening of sky that will snu sun,
fragile, like a soap bubble, you watch the refraction, hoping it will last.
There is a kind of seeing that hovers like rst notes, a song you might sing along to,
a kind of sudden seeing that upends everything, that even after the clarity,
evaporates. A kind of seeing that anticipates, that smells of hard rain, that swirls like snow
in a globe, that stills in the eddy of the centrifuge. That seeing, it turns its palms upward and waits.
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). ◆
Elizabeth Winkler
M.L. Rio.
Photo:Cait Brady
The Memory Studio Comes to Capitol Hill
by Pattie Cinelli
Almost three years ago, long-time Hill resident and massage therapist Patrick McClintock received a dreaded diagnosis. He has frontotemporal dementia. He and his spouse, Marilyn Goldberg, dove deep into research, consultations and possibilities. They found a program in Congress Heights at an Iona Senior Services location through which McClintock discovered a talent he never knew he had – making art. That discovery was in part fostered by program facilitator Nephelie Andonyadis. When the program changed, McClintock traveled almost an hour to a similar program at another Iona Senior Services location. But he wanted a program close to home.
McClintock used his connections on the Hill to connect Andonyadis, Capitol Hill Village Executive Director Judy Berman and CAG (Community Action Group) Executive Director Janice Gordon who joined together to establish a Memory Studio fourweek pilot program on the Hill.
Because of the success of the pilot and because
it received a grant from the Creative Respite Caregiver Center which is a part of the Alzheimer’s Association, a Memory Studio for adults experiencing some kind of cognitive decline and their caregivers is opening at CAG at 124 15th St SE next month. For four hours on Saturdays, participants can experience a multidisciplinary approach to creative expression that doesn’t require memory but is inspired by imagination and creativity. The program is designed not only to offer a positive experience for those diagnosed, but also to give caregivers a respite from the daily stress of coordinating care.
The Memory Studio, free to participants, is a collaborative effort between Capitol Hill Village and Andonyadis, project designer and facilitator. “The program includes art, movement, music, and creative story-telling,” said Andonyadis, who is a theatre artist, educator and gerontologist. “All of this is founded on the fact that we continue to have creative capacity even if we lose other cognitive skills.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, in 2024 more than 11 million Americans provided
unpaid care for people with all kinds of dementia. Seventy percent of those providing care feel stressed. The stress of dealing with the disease, plus the stress from societal reactions and from navigating the health care system can be overwhelming for both the person with the disease and the caregiver. The Memory Studio can offer a unique, positive expe-
Patrick McClintock showing some of the art work created at the Memory Studio.
LEFT: The Memory Studio photos are on exhibit at the Phillips Museum until the end of January.
rience for both.
Caregivers can choose to participate, can observe, or as Goldberg did in the pilot, take time for themselves. “The Memory Studio makes me completely free to be without Patrick because I know he is totally being taken care of. It gives me both freedom and relief.” Goldberg said it provides something for them to talk about even though she’s not there. “You don’t have to do it together. You can both appreciate it. It puts us on equal footing. It’s not only good for the brain but also good for the spirit as well.”
She said the Memory Studio offers her a much-needed respite. Diminishing stress can help rede ne the way a caregiver and the person being cared for relate to each other.
“It’s so wonderful experience that this is happening in our Capitol Hill community,” said McClintock. “I’m glad with how things are turning out. I enjoy being a part of turning a terrible disease into a positive. The Capitol Hill community is amazing in helping to make it not as bad as it might be. It’s good to see things come together.”
Berman agrees. “There’s such a stigma around a dementia diagnosis. There are so many activities a person can no longer participate in. The Memory Studio takes o some stress and creates a positive experience for participants and caregivers.” She and the others hope the Memory Studio can be a step in changing the narrative surrounding memory loss. “People can live well with the diagnosis and disease.”
Poking a Hole in the Stigma
According to Andonyadis, McClintock is exceptional because he shares his diagnosis and freely talks about it. “People are reluctant to re-
veal their disease,” she said. “Society often looks at it as a tragedy. Patrick is helping to change the narrative of fear and loss. He’s showing how he is a vital member of his community.”
“The disease is very individual. We want to build on strengths of the individual,” said Andonyadis. “I believe we are the ones that need to adapt to someone who has dementia, not the other way around.”
Eight pieces of art created at the Memory Studio pilot program are now on exhibit at the Phillips Museum until the end of January in the community gallery. Andonyadis explained that the art work is on display at the Phillips because during the art portion of the pilot she used art from the Phillips collection to inspire the Memory Studio participants. “The fact that the art is being shared with the community is helping to shed the bias and helps to validate participants’ artistic capacity. We can start to change our perception of people with memory loss.”
Berman has personal experience that has shifted her perspective. “My father’s dementia got worse after my mom died. However, he seems happy. He’s enjoying being taken care of for the rst time in his life. I never thought about the possibility of nding joy in living with the disease.”
Berman said she often thinks about the quote from Maya Angelou when contemplating dementia. “People won’t remember what you said but will remember how you made them feel.”
To try the Memory Studio on Saturday Dec.7, 3 p.m., CAG, 124 15th St., SE, or to join in January 2025: Email to register at info@capitolhillvillage.org or call 202-5431778.
Pattie Cinelli has been writing her column for more than 25 years. Contact her at: tmiss44@aol.com. ◆
Pattie Cinelli is a writer and holistic fitness professional who focuses on how to get and stay well and thrive.
Photo by Lis Wackman
The District Vet Looking Back on 2024
by Dan Teich, DVM
Here we are at the end of 2024. I’m always a bit wistful in December, not because of the holidays, due to the resetting of a new calendar year. It allows for reflection. What did we accomplish this past year? Where did we not meet our goals? Did we leave animal and pet care a bit better than the previous 365 days? What should we redouble down on in the coming year? And what made us most thankful during the year?
In the pet world, we saw the introduction of a new arthritis medication for dogs, called Librela. Many have seen a significant improvement in mobility, one of the greatest gifts you can give an aging dog. Along the mobility line, Dr. Raftery at our Brookland location is performing acupuncture with our furry friends. In some arthritis cases, it may help. I recommend discussing with your regular veterinarian if they think a consultation with her is appropriate.
In addition, many hospitals are changing
their main joint supplement to Movoflex, a product manufactured by Virbac Animal Health. This supplement contains eggshell membrane and appears to help our creaky canines regain some mobility and comfort. It can be used with glucosamine-based supplements, which although popular, may not be as effective. When in the exam room, I want to always discuss mobility with the owners of our arthritic patients. Pain-free movement is the best gift.
City Dogs and City Kitties Rescue celebrated a full year in their new building. For our homeless pets, the greatest gift possible is a loving home. Last year the rescue placed approximately 1,000, cats and dogs with a new family. Consider adopting a new friend, or if that’s not possible, give a donation or volunteer at myriad pet adption events. You can even foster. The past year had many uncertainties, but one definite trend was a significant decline in donations to all non-profits. Passion is important in rescue, but funds are essential to help
provide transportation, medical care, and operating costs.
In January 2025, the District’s shelter will have a new contractor overseeing animal care and control. Brandywine Valley SPCA manages several other animal shelters and will bring a wealth of experience to our city. The Department of Health is busy setting up a new temporary animal shelter and is working diligently to implement the new agreement. In the future I will provide more updates, including how to volunteer and assist our city’s pets.
At District Vet we are reconfiguring our space to accommodate a new dental center within the Eastern Market location. It will enable us to provide more care for your pet’s teeth. Oral care is very important, as discussed in prior articles. Healthy teeth means less discomfort and possibly a longer life! The new dental suite should be finished in time for the new year.
2024 has had its fair share of rollercoaster events, and we go into 2025 with uncertainty. Remember that every day there are innumerable small miracles all around you. And your best furry friends will be there for you. It is the mission of all veterinarians to partner with you for the health and wellbeing of your best friends. And to provide belly rubs. Treats, too. Best wishes for a healthy, safe, non-dramatic, New Year.
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 20th Anniversary to Two Rivers PSC
by Theo Weller with Elizabeth O’Gorekw
14 Fourteen years ago this past September, an anxious little boy walked into Two Rivers Public Charter School for his first day of school. Over the next 10 years, he would come to love learning and find some of his closest friendships, even discovering new passions through clubs, like Dr. Meniculosis, the school’s rock band.
That little boy was me, Theo Weller. I am now a senior at School Without Walls High School (SWW HS), deep into my college application process. In researching this article, I have come to realize that aspects of Two Rivers and its approach to learning made it an optimal setting for me to grow and learn.
When you’re young, you think everything inside your school’s brick building has been there
since history began. But, as amazing as the school has become, Two Rivers has humble beginnings.
The Beginning
The scene: Capitol Hill resident Jen DeMayo’s living room. It is 2002. The tiny rowhouse is packed—people are stacked two deep in her living room, flowing into the dining room and kitchen. On the floor above is the thunder of children, playing together as the parents meet below. This is the first meeting of the community that will become Two Rivers Public Charter School.
“I asked people to close their eyes and imagine the school that they hoped for their own child,” said Jessica Wodatch, who would go on to become founding executive director and first principal, “and then we opened our eyes and starting talking about what we had seen.” These visions became the four pillars of Two Rivers.
In the early aughts there was an explosion of babies born on the Hill but not enough spots in nearby schools for them. Moms on the Hill (MoTH) had created an education committee, which looked at ways to support DC Public Schools and learn about education options. Gradually, the idea of creating another school that they could take a hand in, creating it from the ground up, took root. Out of these discussions on Moms on the Hill (MoTH), Becky Skinner became Two Rivers’ Founding Board President.
“It was a daunting task for a group of volunteers,” said Wodatch.
She and other founding parents pulled their first all-nighters since college and received con -
ditional approval from the DC Public Charter Board in 2003. They began hiring the 20-25 initial staff members and recruiting students even before they had a building.
“There was a little bit of anxiety,” said Jeff Heyck-Williams, who became the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, “but there was a lot of energy.” They believed in the school mission, Heyck-Williams added.
DCPS allowed Two Rivers to co-locate in the underenrolled Eliot Junior High in 2004. Two years later, Two Rivers had a student body of 200 and a wait list twice that long. In 2007, the school found a permanent location at 1227 Fourth St. NE, later expanding to a middle school campus across the street. By 2015, the school had added a new preschool and elementary school in the historic Charles E. Young building (820 26th St NE). This school quickly expanded, as well, opening a new middle school (830 26th St NE) —also at the Young campus—in 2020. The school has served more than 3,400 students since 2004.
Currently a PhD student in Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Kansas, Calissa Jo Leslie-Miller was one of the founding students. She says that Two Rivers shaped her academic trajectory and ignited a lifelong passion for learning.
“I discovered a love for reading and critical thinking that has carried me through my academ-
Councilmembers Charles Allen (Ward 6-D), Two Rivers Executive Director Belicia Reaves and Zachary Parker (Ward 5-D) as Reaves receives a Ceremonial Resolution celebrating Two Rivers’ achievements over twenty years. Courtesy: Two Rivers PCS
Kansas University PhD Student Calissa Jo Leslie-Miller (right) with her mother Jana Leslie at the Oct. 19 Twentieth Anniversary Gala. Courtesy: Two Rivers PCS
ic and professional journey,” Calissa Jo said. She also participated in the middle school musicals. “[Performing] helped me transform from a shy child into a con dent public speaker, preparing me to present research at national and international conferences,” she said. “Two Rivers taught me to value relationships, community, and curiosity, all of which continue to in uence my personal and professional growth.”
Core Ideas Hold Strong
The school has held the same beliefs since its founding. DeMayo said it o ered an alternative education option, o ering Spanish classes and a pre-K3 program. The latter was a signi cant bene t for the community and inspired other schools to add similar programs.
To this day, the curriculum places a high value on expeditionary and project-based learning, arts integration, social-emotional learning and diversity.
DeMayo remembers when the physical education curriculum was temporarily structured to replicate an astronaut training program
to align with the space-themed academic “expedition” the students were working on. DeMayo said watching expeditionary learning done well was “just so fun.”
“Incorporating that kind of stu , I think, is the thrill of it,” she said. “It doesn’t always happen, but when it works, it really clicks.”
Arts integration is also key to the program. Two Rivers has put on 15 years of musicals. After a temporary move to the Young campus stage, students resumed performing at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, giving students the opportunity to bring their performances to the community as well as work alongside professionals to stage the show. This year, the middle school will perform Moana Junior at Atlas.
Alice Wodatch, daughter of the former executive director is now a Senior in the theatre department of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. “I grew up inside those buildings and so there are so many great memories,” she said. In addition to the musicals, she remembers activities like a vocabulary fashion show, in which students walked the run-
2024 Anchor Award Winners (L to R): Jeff Heyck-Williams, Elaine Hou, Carolina Riveros-Ruenes, Cody Encarnacion, Tarik Cranston. Courtesy: Two Rivers
MMBDA’s Dual Immersion Program follows the 50:50 Two Way Dual Immersion model for students in PreK3 through Grade 5. In this model, students spend 50% of their instructional time in English and 50% of their instructional time in Spanish.
RIGOROUS INQUIRY-BASED ENGAGING INSTRUCTION
10:1 Student to Teacher Ratio
50/50 Spanish Language Immersion Program for Early Childhood and Elementary students
Free School Bus Transportation
Robust Academic and Afterschool Programs
S.T.E.A.M. Program including Coding and Robotics
way in costumes they created based on a word.” Getting to play and let my imagination run free as an elementary student introduced me to my love for acting, which I’m pursuing now,” she said.
Community is key within and outside of the school walls. In 2016, as the nation watched an explosion of political and racial violence, parents at Two Rivers drew on the idea of being a diverse community of learners and expeditionary learning to form Share Your DC.
“It was their own expedition that connected them across lines of di erence, whatever those are,” said Khizer Husain, Two Rivers’ Director of External Relations., “to be able to see that level of humanity and essentially strengthen the community so that we are a beacon in our city.”
The Future
In the summer of 2024, the sta and parents of Two Rivers came up with a strategic plan. First on the list is an increased focus on accelerating individual student academic performance.
The school has always been committed to what they call a “culture of crew,” the idea that everyone is steering the ship and nobody is a mere passenger. The community wants to refocus on this concept to ensure that everyone entering the space feels their needs are being met together with a sense of belonging and joy.
Finally, there is a focus on sustainable growth. With more than 230 students on the waiting list for 2021-22, the last year for which data is available, Two Rivers wants to ensure they have the nancial support and physical space to support a growing student body.
Two Rivers has shaped my
own life, past present and future. Over the past few months, I’ve had to think about what kind of college I want to go to. I’ve landed on a vision of a liberal arts college where I am encouraged to explore topics in depth. While writing this article, I’ve realized that the university I’m describing is essentially the college version of Two Rivers. Diving deep on subjects is what expeditionary learning is at its core. I am very thankful for Two Rivers— the school that made me fall in love with learning.
With a focus on the future, there is much to celebrate for Two Rivers as well. On Sept. 7. 2024, Councilmembers Charles Allen (Ward 6-D) and Zachary Parker (Ward 5-D) read a ceremonial resolution at the school’s 20th Anniversary Festival, recognizing and celebrating the school’s milestone. There was also a gala at the school on Oct. 19, emceed by students and alumni. . And alumni from the class of 2022 and earlier will gather for an alumni night at Middle School on Friday, Jan. 10, 6-8pm. The school also has several open houses in December and January where you can see the schools in action for yourself. Learn more about open houses and Two Rivers PCS by visiting tworiverspcs.org. Support a sustainable future by visiting https://www. tworiverspcs.org/tr20beyond/ ◆
• Redefining student achievement and educating the whole child through EL Education
• Sports and extracurricular activities, before and aftercare programming
• Free campus-to-campus shuttle for all students
• 77% of Meridian 8th grade students accepted into Tier 1 or selective
Northeast Stars
S chool N otes
by Susan Braun Johnson
Northeast Stars students recently worked with knobbed cylinders. The direct goal of this lesson is to develop visual discrimination of diameter and height. The indirect goal is to develop fine motor movement of the thumb and primary fingers and introduce mathematical concepts such as diameter and height. Cylinders will not fit into holes with a smaller diameter and cylinders are flush with the block when placed correctly. The vocabulary words that were practiced were thick, thicker, thickest, thin, thinner, thinnest, tall, taller, tallest, short, shorter and shortest. Each child must use their thumb and primary fingers to remove the cylinders which helps improve their pincer grasp.
From December 6-8, the Stuart-Hobson Middle School Drama Players will perform Matilda the Musical. The show, based on the classic Roald Dahl children’s novel, will be the last in StuartHobson’s storied theater before an exciting renovation this winter.
“Student artists have tapped into new levels of talent, commitment, and artistic excellence in anticipation of creating theater magic and joy within our community,” said Tori Pergerson, the show’s director. Tickets are available at capitolhillclusterschool.org/shms-musical.
Van Ness
The Van Ness Otters had an unforgettable field trip to the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, made possible by a DC Collaborative grant. Students engaged their senses to explore the stunning gardens, imagining seasonal changes and discovering the essential needs of plants. They also had the opportunity to meet local author Ann McCallum, who wrote “Eat Your Math Homework.” The Otters enjoyed learning how to combine reading and math skills while creating delicious recipes inspired by the book.
Saint Peter
Saint Peter School students collected 186 boxes of food for the 37th Annual Greg Gannon Canned Food Drive (up from 117 boxes last year)! Donations will benefit Ward 6 neighbors served by The Father McKenna Center. SPS families, friends, and neighbors—as well as parishioners from Saint Peter’s and Saint Joseph’s churches—all donated to this important cause.
Saint Peter School, 422 3rd St SE; www.stpeterschooldc.org.
Friends Community School
Van Ness Elementary, 1150 Fifth St SE vannesselementary.org.
Earlier this month, our Lower School Math Specialist led a subitizing activity in her fourth-grade math class to help students grasp the magnitude of place value. The class was given a large box of loose popsicle sticks and were asked to organize them into subitized sets, teaching them to find the quantity based on recognizing the patterns instead of counting each stick. This activity reinforced their understanding of subitizing with small sets, while also challenging them to apply the concept to larger patterned sets, such as one hundred and even 1,000.
Friends Community School, 5901 Westches-
Northeast Stars
Capitol Hill Cluster
Van Ness
Saint Peter
ter Park Dr, College Park, MD; www.friendscommunityschool.org.
Maury
On a perfect autumn day, the entire first grade class at Maury (and their chaperones) made a field trip to the Nature Center and Planetarium in Rock Creek Park. They hiked, folded paper airplanes, enjoyed the presentation and exhibits, and ate lunch al fresco. Food tastes best when eaten with friends in the great outdoors, especially after a workout. Maury Elementary, 1250 Constitution Ave. NE; mauryelementary.com.
Mundo Verde
The launch of the Calle Ocho campus kitchen represents an important step forward in providing fresh, nutritious meals directly to Mundo Verde students. With this new facility, the school strengthens its commitment to student well-being by offering meals prepared on-site, designed to support learning and growth. The kitchen also enhances community engagement, creating more opportunities for students to learn about food and healthy eating habits.
J.F. Cook Campus: PreK - 5th Grade;
30 P St. NW; Calle Ocho Campus PreK5th Grade; 4401 8th St. NE; www.mundoverdepcs.org.
DC Prep
Congratulations to DC Prep’s Anacostia Middle Campus and Edgewood Middle Campus for being recognized as 2024 Empower K12 Bold Performance Schools. Since the pandemic, Bold Performance Schools have collectively improved student achievement 3-4 times faster than the DC average.
DC PREP, 2330 Pomeroy Road, SE. www.dcprep.org.
Templeton Academy
Templeton Academy recently visited the National Building Museum, where they explored urban design and city planning concepts. This visit was part of their preparation for an upcoming Future City Competition, where they will apply their learning to create innovative city models.
Templeton Academy, 921 Pennsylvania Ave SE; templetonacademy.org u
Mundo Verde
Friends Community School
DC Prep
Templeton Academy
NORAD Tracks Santa at noradsanta.org
NORAD tracks everything that ies 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, CO, 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
See the Trains at Season’s Greenings
The Botanic Garden’s popular annual holiday display “Season’s Greenings” features model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, festive lights throughout the Garden, and the poinsettias, holiday decor, and DC landmarks made from plants inside the Conservatory. On the lawn in the gated outdoor gardens, G-gauge model trains circulate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, through displays of pollinators made from plant parts. The Garden is closed on December 25. The outdoor train display may not run during inclement weather. The Botanic Garden is at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds. Free admission. usbg.gov.
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 fteen 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.
Free Skate Fridays at Canal Park
From Dec. 6 to Feb. 28, on all non-holiday Fridays, all kids ages ve to 18 can skate for free (skate rental included) between 4 and 8 p.m. at Canal Park Ice Rink, 200 M St. SE. Preregistration is required, and a parent or guardian must check children in and out. Adults accompa-
Dia de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) at GALA
Family Christmas Service at the National Cathedral
On Sunday, Jan. 5, 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 LatinAmerican tradition to the streets of DC. This festive end to the holiday season features the story of the Magi, performances by local musicians and dance troupes, a street parade, and free gifts for children. Only one adult allowed for every three children. Every family will be given a maximum of four tickets for the event. No RSVP necessary. Free tickets must be picked up at the Box O ce. GALA Theatre is at 3333 14th St. NW. galatheatre.org/post/ threekingsday.
Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Anacostia Community Museum
On 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 welcome the Holy Family in the festively decorated Cathedral nave. ASL interpretation is o ered for this service. Due to capacity concerns, passes are required at cathedral.org/calendar/family-christmas-service-3.
nying kids are required to stay in the rink area and are also welcome (but not required) to skate. Register at bondsports.co/activity/programs/CO_ED-youth-ICE_SKATING/5425.
Family Days at the LOC
On Thursday, Dec. 26 to Saturday, Dec. 28, create holiday cards, bookmarks and more using beautiful imagery from Library winter- themed collections as inspiration. Drop in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. SE. visit@loc.gov.
The Holiday Kwanzaa is a product of creative cultural synthesis. It is rooted in both the cultural values and practice of Africans on the Continent and in the US with strict attention to cultural authenticity and values for a meaningful, principled and productive life. Kwanzaa places emphasis on children because they are in fact the hope and future of African people in both the biological and cultural sense. All Kwanzaa programs at the Anacostia Community Museum are free and from noon to 2 p.m. Here’s the schedule: Dec. 26, Umoja (Unity) Kwanzaa Opening Program; Dec. 27, Kujichagulia (Self Determination) with the Culture Queen; Dec. 28, Ujima (Collective Work & Responsibility) Honoring Our Village with Verbal Gymnastics; Dec. 29, Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) Creating Family Memory Boxes; Dec. 30, Nia (Purpose) African Dance Workshop with Khepera Wellness; Dec. 31, Kuumba (Creativity) Creating Family Kwanzaa Bags;
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Ice & Lights: The Winter Village at Cameron Run Ice & Lights o ers a fun, outdoor family experience to see unique light displays, take family pictures or sel es with a variety of displays, and take a spin on the outdoor ice rink. Tickets are available for the Village or Village and Ice Skating daily through Jan. 5. $10.50 for Village only; $21 for Village and skating. Ice Skating tickets must be purchased online due to limited capacity. The Winter Village at Cameron Run is at 4001 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria VA. novaparks.com/ events/ice-lights. IDEA offers a unique, hands-on learning experience, including:
Jan. 1, Imani (Faith) Mime & Spiritual Dance Workshop with Crazee Praize. The Anacostia Community Museum is at 1901 Fort Pl SE. anacostia.si.edu.
Capital City Symphony: Sing! (CCS’s Annual Holiday Concert)
On Sunday, Dec. 15, at 3 and 5:30 p.m., at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, the Capital City Symphony’s annual holiday concert lls the air with joyous music once again. Bring your family and friends and sing along, as the orchestra takes you on a whirlwind tour of seasonal favorites. Tickets are $40.25. Children are welcome at all of their concerts, and they o er free
tickets for those aged 16 or younger. (Note that all concertgoers, regardless of age, must have a ticket.) capitalcitysymphony.org.
NMAAHC Kids Connect: Celebrate Kwanzaa
On Dec. 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., come connect with history and culture through art and play at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, and celebrate Kwanzaa. Learn about the seven principles of the holiday and create art inspired by African and African American stories. NMAAHC Kids Connect programs are designed for ages three to eight. Email
• Career Academies in Child Development, Construction, Computer Science, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality & Tourism;
• Small class sizes and personalized attention from teachers and support staff;
• Work-based learning experiences, including paid apprenticeships;
• Dual enrollment courses and college prep support
the NMAAHC Kids team at NMAAHCEarlyChildhood@ si.edu.
Zoolights
Zoolights allows you to meander through the National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, when it is covered with thousands of sparkling lights, attend special keeper talks and enjoy live entertainment. This year Zoolights runs through Jan. 4; 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays; and 5 to 8 p.m., on Sundays. Zoo members only on Dec. 5 and 12 and Jan. 2. $6 admission. Each attendee, including children over the age of two, needs a ticket. $30 to park. nationalzoo.si.edu.
Discovery Theater’s Seasons of Light
The People’s House: A White House Experience
The People’s House: A White House Experience, at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is a cutting-edge educational experience that tells the story of the Executive Mansion, its inhabitants and the people who have dedicated their careers to its functions. Through innovative exhibits, objects, and interactive media, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the White House’s role in American history. It is operated by the White House Historical Association, a private, nonpro t organization founded in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with a mission to protect, preserve and provide public access to the rich history of America’s Executive Mansion. The People’s House is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with some exceptions. Admission is free, with a suggested $15 donation to support the museum’s mission-driven programs, exhibits, and educational outreach. thepeopleshouse.org.
Joy, warmth and community illuminate seasonal holiday celebrations the world over. This signature Discovery Theater show celebrates the history and customs of Diwali (Devali), Chanukah, Las Posadas, Ramadan, Sankta Lucia Day, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and the First Nations’ tradition of the Winter Solstice in an interactive event
that bridges communities and cultures. Seasons of Light is at Discovery Theater on select weekdays from Dec. 2 to 20, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m.;
Washington National Opera’s Jungle Book
From Dec. 13 to 15, step into the jungle, where adventure awaits. Orphaned child Mowgli seeks refuge with a group of wolves deep in the jungle. Should the pack accept Mowgli as its own, even if it makes an enemy of the dangerous tiger Shere Khan? WNO’s holiday opera returns for all ages with a new take on the Kipling classic from Kamala Sankaram and Kelley Rourke. The beloved story gets a contemporary twist with music from South Asian and Western music traditions and mesmerizing Bollywood dance from Indian classical dance company Taal. Join Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera, and more animal characters for a heartwarming tale about friendship, compassion, and forgiveness. The jungle may be lled with dangers but there is strength in chosen family. Performances are Dec. 13, 7 p.m.; Dec. 14 and 15, noon and 5 p.m.; $25 to $49. kennedy-center.gov.
and an additional performance on Dec. 6, 11, and 13 at 1 p.m. It is recommended for grades K through fth. Individual tickets are $8 for children and $9 for adults. This show always sells out. Discovery Theater’s Ripley Center is at 1100 Je erson Dr. SW (on the National Mall). discoverytheater.org.
Little Red and the Gingerbread Man with Barefoot Puppets
Two tales rolled into one! This show mixes a pair of well-loved classic tales to create an original, fun-filled romp through fairy tales. Join Little Red as she pursues a mischievous gingerbread cookie through the woods to Grandma’s house. Original music, snowy scenery, and everyone’s favorite Big Bad Wolf are all part of this seasonal double delight. Little Red and the Gingerbread Man is at Discovery Theater’s Ripley Center, 1100 Je erson Dr. SW (on the National Mall) on Wednesday, Dec. 18 and Thursday, Dec. 19, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. It is recommended for ages four to eight. Tickets are $8 for adults; $6 for kids. discoverytheater.org.
Photo: Courtesy of The White House Historical Association
• 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
Holiday Traditions at Mount Vernon
On Dec. 28 and 29, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., celebrate the season by exploring 18th-century holiday traditions at Mount Vernon. Make a pomander ball to ll your home with holiday scents, listen to the music of the season and try your hand at popular card games of the period. Admission is $28 for adults; $15 for ages six to eleven; ve and under, free. mountvernon.org.
Petite Rouge (A Cajun Red Riding Hood)
Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood updates the classic tale, sending the plucky heroine—now a red-robed little duck—and her ‘fraidy cat friend Te Jean on a perilous journey through the bayou. Along the way the pair tangle with a Big Bad Gator. Petite is no sitting duck, though, and leads her nemesis on a merry Mardi Gras chase through New Orleans. A chorus of swamp dwellers sings backup to the Zydeco-driven score in this foot-stomping musical. Petite Rouge is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. MD, from Dec. 11 to March 7. Ticket prices start at $12. Imagination Stage uses dynamic pricing, so prices may be higher for more popular performances. imaginationstage.org.
She Persisted Cast Recording Released
Following a run of She Persisted, Adventure Theatre MTC (ATMTC) has announced the release of the She Persisted, the musical is based on the New York Times Best Seller by Chelsea Clinton. Under the music direction of composer Deborah Wicks La Puma, this album brings the show’s inspiring songs to listeners everywhere. Featuring powerhouse performances by Ariana Caldwell, Jordyn Taylor, Edima Essien, Sarah Chapin, Victoria Gomez, and Chelsea Majors, the album is available for purchase and streaming on all major music platforms. Adventure Theatre MTC will share samples of the album on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
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, a ordable and safe. From 2 to 5 p.m., there’s Kids Celebrate Day Party Dancing, live performances from 7 p.m. until midnight. Fireworks are now at 6 p.m. and repeat at midnight. All access passes are ages three to 19, $10; ages 20 to 64, $35; ages 65+, $20. rstnightalexandria.org.
Christmas in Camp at Fort Ward
On Saturday, Dec. 14, noon to 4 p.m., get in the holiday spirit and learn how Christmas was observed during the Civil War at this popular family-oriented event. Enjoy a patriotic Civil War Santa Claus, reenactors in winter camp settings, period decorations, fort tours and kids’ activities. Free admission. Fort Ward is at 4301 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA.
NYE (family hour) Fireworks over the Annapolis City Dock
Annapolis o ers two reworks displays over Susan Campbell Park at the City Dock on New Year’s Eve: a family-hour edition at 7 p.m. and another at midnight. Get there early to stake out a spot. visitannapolis.org.
Calling Young Playwrights: Submit Your Script
Mosaic Theater is hosting their annual High School Playwriting Contest for ninth through twelve grade students at public and charter schools in the Washington, DC metro area including, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Northern Virginia. The winning plays will be presented at the High School Playwriting Contest Play Reading on Saturday, March 22, at 2 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown DC. The rst-place winner will receive a cash prize of $300. The second-place winner will receive $200 and the third-place winner will receive $100. Submissions are due by Jan. 24 and winners will be noti ed by Feb. 7. Read more at mosaictheater.org/playwriting-contest. mosaictheater.org/playwriting-contest.
NPG Teen Portrait Competition is Accepting Submissions
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s 2025 Teen Portrait Competition is open to students between the ages of 13 and 17 residing in the US and its territories. Teens are invited to submit original digital photography to this national competition hosted by the Portrait Gallery’s Teen Museum Council. Artwork by the winners for each of the two age groups (13–15 and 16–17) will be displayed near the museum’s upcoming The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today exhibition. Opening May 3, 2025, The Outwin 2025 showcases portraits from artists ages 18 and older selected from the museum’s triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. There is no fee to enter the teen competition and submissions are limited to one per person. Work must be submitted via email to NPG-TeenPortraitCompetition@si.edu by Dec. 23. npg.si.edu/learn/teens/teen-portrait-competition. ◆
In 1787, George Washington paid 18 shillings to bring a camel to Mount Vernon. Stop by the 12-acre field to visit Aladdin, Mount Vernon’s Christmas camel.
CROSSWORD
“Good
Eats & Drinks”
by Myles Mellor
Across:
1. Anaconda kin
4. Ready to pick
8. Room access
12. Backbone
17. Most inadequate
20. Halo, e.g.
21. Made of wood
22. Veggie that’s commonly red, yellow or green
24. Bakery buy
25. “___ in Love With You”
26. iPad buy
28. Easy marks
29. See red
34. Sirs’ counterparts
38. One of the Clanton brothers
40. Makes small adjustments
44. “Out!”
45. Sweet stuff
49. Winning tic-tac-toe row
50. Good ___
51. Amercian Top 40 song that holds the record for the most weeks at number one
53. Chemical suffix
54. Hot dog holder
55. Bagel seed
57. Hot stuff
59. IRS negotiator
61. Environmental watchdogs
62. Educator Bill
64. Goes with oohed
65. Asian snake
67. South American cowboy
71. ___ Music (Bryan Ferry group)
72. Take in again
73. Grooming tool
75. Spot for an event
77. Drop a line?
78. Blows one’s top
80. Some painted vessels
81. “Ulysses” star Milo
83. Small guitar, for short
84. Hunter’s quarry
87. Maroon
88. Cape Cod course
90. Fruit that provides milk
93. It’s a chick thing
96. One in Madrid
97. Repudiate
100. “Peanuts” boy
102. Mo.
103. Glossy cloth
105. “Veni, vidi, ___”
106. One that charms
108. Rap doctor
109. Surrounded by 111. “Crime and Punishment” heroine
112. Dutch cheese
115. One-horse carriage
117. Lake of Lombardy
121. French wine
127. Sweet spread
132. Gas-X rival
133. Water carrier
134. Some Italians
135. Garden tool
136. ___ gin fizz
137. Honeyed drink
138. Publicity
Down:
1. Both, in combinations
2. Come across as 3. People to hang with 4. Certain theater, for short
5. Wrath
6. Gusto
7. Paranormal ability, abbr.
8. Butter blob
9. “Days of ___ Lives”
10. Guadalajara gold
11. Unprocessed
12. Howl
13. Equivalent to 3.26 light years
14. Big furniture retailer
15. Certain tide
16. Leaves off
18. Shakespeare’s theater
19. Tax that led to a party in Boston
23. Tach reading
27. Macaroni or manicotti
30. Airport posting, abbr.
31. Sweet wine
32. Oscar winner Paquin
33. Tractor maker
35. Bruised
36. West of Hollywood
37. A Cadillac model
38. “Young Frankenstein” woman
39. Nairobi’s land
40. Watch pocket
41. Note
42. ___ negotiable
43. Switch
46. It would be a long drive! (2 words)
47. New wings, maybe
48. Like an oboe in sound
52. Bakery employee
56. Gareth Bale and Dylan Thomas come from here
58. Part of ERA
59. Kind of nut
60. Cobbler, for example
62. Compass point
63. “___ durn tootin’!”
65. Indian deity
66. Fire again
68. Wreath
69. Old pyramid builder
70. Upset the apple cart....
73. “For shame!”
74. Lilliputian
76. Mrs. sheep
77. Ford model
79. Not theirs
82. Accountant, in a way
85. 1970 hit for The Kinks
86. Needles a sweater
89. Article in Die Zeit
90. Chanel, fashion designer
91. In the red
92. ‘’Do ___ others . . .’’
93. Clean one’s plate
94. Fed’s publisher
95. Growling sound
98. Top-10 baby girl name since 2005
99. High spirits
101. For instance
104. Sir Hillary, of mountain-climbing fame
107. Prickly plants
110. Role for Angelina
112. Declines
113. Profoundly philosophical
114. Excellent report card marks
116. Position tracker
118. Resort town near Santa Barbara
119. “Buddenbrooks” author
120. Russian city
122. Cuppa coffee
123. CD predecessors
124. Trouble
125. Dot-commer’s dream, for short
126. “When will I __ you again?”
Three Degree song
128. Confines
129. Cap material?
130. Spy org.
131. Used
H I L L w i t h t h e S u b u r b s !
May you live in Interesting Times
Hey Congratulations fellow ‘Hillites’!
A new year awaits, a new administration, a new direction and a new future. Are we ready? Are YOU?
Many of us have aged, and our large multi-level homes have more stairs than our knees, hips, and sense of balance appreciate. Not to mention our home’s ongoing fight against entropy & obsolescence!
Downsizing in this market is a great idea for many. Cash out your tax-free equity and use it to buy a new, more accessible home for the future; Condos where the association does the exterior maintenance, one level apartments without stairs; Even independent or assisted communities for when our Health & DNA finally runs down. As we, unfortunately, recently had pointed out,
PLAN YOUR FUTURE BEFORE IT PLANTS YOU!
217 5th St, SE
Not the typical renovation/removal/ destruction of all historical detail, sacrificed for ease & profit of investors, instead preserved or repurposed to add charm and style to this huge home close to Eastern Market. A historic Victorian Bay from the 1880’s, with 3BR + 1 Guest rm + 1 Flex rm, this is not just a unicorn, but a lovely one! 4 FULL baths, 2400+ sf! Private wired patio, 2nd floor Sunning deck, nr. 2 Metro’s on a shaded, cooler, tree-lined street! CAC, Plentiful ceiling fans, Radiator heat, tank-less Hot water, and other modern touches, but original floors, bricks, layout and facade! Party Animals convey if wanted! $1.675M
3945 A Penn., Ave, SE
Two level, 2BR Town-home, w/ updated & renovated utilities, fixtures, floors, and more! This lovely home faces shaded Pennsylvania Ave, for a straight shot into DC & Capitol Hill! Fairfax Village I is professionally managed by EJFlynn. 998 sf (per public Records). Big Attic! $225K
