Hill Rag Magazine – May 2024

SELLING THE HILL…

A way of life for generations

Listing a family property is a real responsibility and I take that responsibility seriously!

119 8th Street SE • The Charlotte Lee

Rare investment opportunity: $3,850,000

6 units: 3 ones, 2 twos and a four bed.

Listing Agents: Topher Cushman (202) 327-4682

Don Denton (202) 256-1353

648 Masssachusetts Avenue, NE

SOLD: $2,000,000

Listing Agent: Don Denton (202) 256-1353

420 4th Street, SE

Unique Capitol Hill Jewel

Under Contract: $1,249,000

Listing Agent: Don Denton (202) 256-1353

Larry Hodgson (202) 236-5800

902 South Carolina Avenue, SE

SOLD: $1,300,000

Listing Agent: Don Denton (202)256-1353

730/730A/732 11th Street, SE

Incredible investment opportunity.

Under Contract: $1,999,000

SOLD: $1,610,000

Listing Agents: Don Denton (202) 256-1353

Topher Cushman (202) 327-4682

11 4th Street, SE

The General’s House

SOLD: $1,550,000

Listing Agent: Don Denton (202) 256-1353

Don Denton

Elizabeth O’Gorek

Rindy O’Brien

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Pattie Cinelli

IN THIS ISSUE May 2024 CAPITOL HILL

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Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert at the National Cathedral

On Sunday, May 19, 4 p.m., chorus meets big band: journey through jazz, blues, and choral music in Ellington’s Sacred Concert with the Cathedral Choral Society, Heritage Signature Chorale, and Pershing’s Own US Army Blues. Washington National Cathedral throws open its doors to welcome one and all to a free celebration of DC’s own Duke Ellington. The Cathedral Choral Society and the Heritage Signature Chorale are joined by Pershing’s Own US Army Blues for a journey through Ellington’s Sacred Concert, a work he considered to be his most important. This is a free concert but register in advance. PS – There are also always last-minute seats available. cathedralchoralsociety.org.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Bourbon and Bluegrass at President Lincoln’s Cottage

On Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 1 to 5 p.m., both days, President Lincoln’s Cottage, 140 Rock Creek Church Rd. NW, hosts its biggest annual fundraiser: Bourbon & Bluegrass. On Saturday, award-winning singer-songwriter Letitia VanSant opens the festival with her dulcet calls for social justice. VanSant’s performance will be followed by Hubby Jenkins, the Grammy-nominated multi-instrument sensation who has been a member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Rhiannon Giddens Band. The final act of the day will be Adeem the Artist, a fanfavorite last year, who will be back with their catchy, Appalachian-style tunes and lyrics that probe issues of faith, gender, identity, and self-acceptance. On Sunday, Afro-futurist performer Jake Blount will return to his native DC along with Mexican-inspired Charlottesville band David Wax Museum. The festival will conclude with a performance by Senora May, the experimental songstress who hails from Kentucky, just like Old Abe. One-day admission with drinks, $70; two-day, $115. lincolncottage.org.

Narrative Art of the Plains at the American Indian Museum

From June 1, 2024 to Jan. 20, 2026, Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains celebrates the full expression of narrative art among Native nations of the Great Plains. The exhibition juxtaposes historical hides, muslins, and ledger books with more than 50 contemporary works commissioned by the museum. Illustrating everything from war deeds and ceremonial events to family life, Native identity, and pop culture, the artworks are as diverse as the individuals who created them. During the 19th century elaborate scenes were painted on large canvas tipi liners, some documenting more than 100 years of history. When ledger books became available, artists filled their pages with narrative drawings. Native artists began reviving “ledger art” in the 1970s, creating a vibrant form that takes on contemporary topics, uses a variety of media, and is widely collected. americanindian.si.edu.

Martin E. Red Bear (Oglala/Sicangu/Lakota, b. 1947). Red Bear’s Winter Count, 2004. Canvas acrylic paint. 116.5 x 116 cm.

Jazz in the (Sculpture) Garden at the NGA

The National Gallery of Art’s beloved Jazz in the Garden concert series returns for the season on Friday, May 31, 6 to 8:30 p.m., with Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas. The series continues all Fridays, except July 5, through Aug. 9. To give everyone an equal chance of attending, they’ll once again offer registration through a lottery system the week before each concert. Free registration is required. nga. gov/calendar/concerts.

CiNoMatic Outdoor Movies at Alethia Tanner Park

On Wednesdays at sunset, May 8 to June 5, bring your own chair and blanket and get there early to grab your spot on the lawn. Enjoy dinner from a local DC food truck, sit back, and enjoy the show. Here’s the lineup: May 8, National Treasure; May 15, The Lost City; May 22, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou; May 29, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; June 5, The Goonies. Alethia Tanner Park is at 227 Harry Thomas Way NE. nomabid.org/annual-events/cinematic.

Art Enables Group Exhibition at Union Station

Art Enables has partnered with Amtrak through its Art at Amtrak public art program at Union Station for an exhibition that offers travelers a window into an exciting part of the DC’s rich arts community. Now on view through September, “Forward: A Group Exhibition” showcases the remarkable talent of the resident artists at Art Enables, Washington, DC’s only studio and gallery dedicated to helping artists in the disability community advance their craft, raise their profile, and earn income from their art. Curated by Art Enables’ Marissa Long, this exhibition features 30 pieces from 22 Art Enables resident artists and reflects the vibrant spirit of their community while inviting the public to explore, connect, and be inspired. If you would like to view the exhibition in person, you can do so by entering the hallways of Amtrak Gates G & L. You can also view the exhibition at art-enables.org/art-enables-at-union-station.

Amos Lee at the Warner

Amos Lee is an American singer-songwriter whose musical style encompasses folk, rock, and soul. He has recorded five albums on Blue Note Records and his music has appeared on the soundtracks of numerous TV shows and movies. Lee’s folksy, bluesy sound has been compared to that of John Prine and Norah Jones. His music recalls the low-volume, early-’70s acoustic soul of stars like Bill Withers and Minnie Ripperton. Amos Lee is at the Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW, on Friday, May 17, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $53. warnertheatredc.com.

Bonnie Raitt: Just Like That

Bonnie Raitt is an American blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter since 1971, when she released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk, and country. In 1989, after several years of limited commercial success, she had a major hit with her tenth studio album, Nick of Time, which included the song of the same name. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. It has since been selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Recording Registry. Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW, on Friday, May 31, 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 1, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $86.50. warnertheatredc.com.

Photo: Sam Kittner

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

DC Dragon Boat Festival

Dragon boating is based on the 2300-year-old legend of Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan was a Chinese poet and statesman, who in the ultimate form of protest, committed suicide in the Mei Lo River around 278 B.C. Local fisherman who witnessed the act quickly paddled their boats to the river and thrashed the water in order to scare the fish away from eating his body. This act of thrashing the water has now evolved into the sport of dragon boating which honors Qu Yuan’s sacrifice. On Saturday, May 18, (rain date, June 15), at Thompson’s Boat Center, 2900 Virginia Ave. NW, the Washington DC Dragon Boat Festival continues this tradition through cultural and athletic demonstrations. The festival aspect of the event includes eye dotting ceremonies, lion dances, and other cultural demonstrations. Schedule of races and other activities will be online about one week before the event. dcdragonboatfestival.com.

Featured artists and old-time musicians Rachel Eddy of Arlington, VA and Sophie Wellington of Boston, MA perform at Music on the Hill, 801 D St. NE, on Friday, May 31, 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.).

Music on the Hill’s Singer-Songwriter Series

Last year, as Music on the Hill prepared to celebrate its 10-year anniversary, plans for how the store might continue its success and grow its mission to provide quality musical instruments and instruction on Capitol Hill. To expand their offerings to the public, a new intimate, in-store performance series was created to focus both on local singer-songwriters and small music ensembles as well as visiting acts. Shows are typically once monthly, on a Friday or Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). $15 suggested donation—Venmo or cash at the door. Music on the Hill is at 801 D St. NE; use the side door on D Street. musiconthehilldc.com.

Tacos & Tequila at Nat’s Park

On Saturday, May 18, 4 to 7 p.m. (rain or shine), embark on an unforgettable culinary journey at Nationals Park with Tacos & Tequila as they showcase a diverse array of flavors, featuring renowned brands such as Casamigos, Casa Azul, Cincoro Tequila, Mijenta Tequila, Ana Maria, Tequila Rosa, Banhez Mezcal Astesnal, and many more. Savor tequila or cocktail tastings, delight in delectable taco samples from Pink Taco, Mission, El Teco, Surfside Tacos, and El Bebe, and witness fierce competition as vendors compete for the title of Ultimate Taco and Tequila Champion. Dance to live music and immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere bursting with flavor and excitement. General admission tickets are $75; no tasting ticket is $20. mlb.com/nationals/tickets/events/tacos-and-tequila.

Drunk Shakespeare at Sage Theater

The stage is set in a hidden venue. Five professional actors meet as members of The Drunk Shakespeare Society. One of them has five shots of whiskey and then attempts to perform a major role in a Shakespearean play. Hilarity and mayhem ensue while the four sober actors try and keep the script on track. Every show is different depending on who is drinking... and what they’re drinking! Craft cocktails are available for purchase throughout the show. Tickets are $49, up. Drunk Shakespeare is the Sage Theatre, 1100 13th St. NW. drunkshakespeare.com.

Brendan Canty

Up Close with Paul Cezanne at the Phillips

This exhibition unveils two recently conserved works by French Post-Impressionist Paul Cezanne, Mont Sainte-Victoire (188687) and Self-Portrait (1878-80), major paintings that are part of The Phillips Collection’s holdings by the revered artist. These paintings, together with five other works in the museum’s Cezanne “unit,” will be exhibited together for the first time in decades. The conservation of Mont Sainte-Victoire and Self-Portrait reveals details previously obscured by aged, discolored varnishes while also providing insight into the artist’s process. This special installation is on display through July 14. The Phillips Collection is at 1600 21st St. NW. phillipscollection.org.

Conservation of Mont-Sainte Victoire by Paul Cezanne.

Photo:

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Sunny War at the Hill Center

Los Angeles-based street singer, guitarist, and roots music revolutionary Sunny War has always been an outsider, always felt the drive to define her place in the world through music and songwriting. Her restless spirit, a byproduct of growing up semi-nomadic with a single mother, led her to Venice Beach, California, where she’s been grinding the pavement for some years now, making a name for her prodigious guitar work and incisive songwriting, which touches on everything from police violence to alcoholism to love found and lost. On Sunday, June 2, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Hill Center, 931 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, welcomes Sunny War as part of their free, outdoor American Roots Music Series. hillcenterdc.org.

DanceAfrica DC Festival at Dance Place

On Saturday, June 2, all day, get ready to sway your hips and move your feet at the 37th annual DanceAfrica DC festival. Dive into a festival bursting with the invigorating energy of dance, the rhythm of music, and the richness of tradition. Immerse yourself in the spirit of the African Diaspora through master classes and an epic outdoor festival at the 8th Street Arts Park. Picture this: live performances, an African market buzzing with excitement, and captivating oral histories. This year’s festival will have master classes and performances in the Cafritz Foundation Theater at Dance Place, 3552 Eighth St. NE, the Edgewood Arts Center, and the 8th Street Arts Park. danceplace.org/dadc2024.

The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence by Step Afrika

Using its hallmark style of percussive dance-theater, Step Afrika!’s The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence tells the story of one of the largest movements of people in United States history, when millions of African American migrants moved from the rural South to the industrial North in the 1900s to escape Jim Crow, racial oppression, and lynchings. Inspired by Jacob Lawrence’s iconic 60-panel “The Migration Series” (1940-41), this signature work from the award-winning dance company uses the images, color palette, and motifs in the painting series to tell this astonishing story through pulsating rhythms and visually stunning movement. $56 to $95. The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence is at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from June 6 to July 14. arenastage.org.

National Memorial Day Choral Festival at the KC

Designed to honor our nation’s veterans and fallen heroes through musical tribute, this grand concert on Sunday, May 26, 2 p.m., features 200 singers representing choirs from throughout the United States as they join with the United States Air Force Band to foster greater attention toward and observe the true meaning of Memorial Day as a National Holiday. The entirely American program will include traditional patriotic favorites including America the Beautiful, Who Are the Brave?, Danny Boy, Salute to the Armed Forces, and more. Tickets are required for this free concert. kennedy-center.org.

Step Afrika!’s company performs

The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence. Photo: Jati Lindsay

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Fiesta Asia Street Fair

Fiesta Asia Street Fair 2024 is Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between Third and Sixth. This annual event is known for its incredible multi-stage performance line-ups, food, unique arts and culture experiences and more. There are many ways to join them in celebrating Asian Heritage. They’re ready to welcome everyone back to the most prominent street in the nation’s capital to enjoy and celebrate Asian culture. fiestaasia.org.

Mosaic’s Mexodus at the Atlas History meets hip-hop in this groundbreaking theatrical experience that explores the often-untold stories of enslaved people in the United States who sought freedom in Mexico, rather than looking north. Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson use live-looping to create a musical in real-time, telling a unique story of the Underground Railroad that led south, highlighting the power of Black and Brown unity. $42 to $70. Mexodus is at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, from May 16 to June 9. atlasarts.org.

Killer Mike & The Mighty Midnight Revival

A never-before-seen concert experience! Killer Mike is more than a rapper–he’s a cultural icon. From his groundbreaking collaborations with Run the Jewels to his solo endeavors, Killer Mike’s music resonates with authenticity, raw energy, and a fearless commitment to speaking truth to power. On Tuesday, May 21, at 8 p.m., hear tracks from his newest, three-time Grammy-winning album Michael, and more, accompanied by the epic sounds of the Mighty Midnight Revival and the National Symphony Orchestra live in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $49 to $169. kennedy-center.org.

Gladys Knight, Courtesy of Wolf Trap

Patti LaBelle & Gladys Knight at Wolf Trap

On Saturday, June 8, 8 p.m. (gates at 6:30 p.m.), “Godmother of Soul” Patti LaBelle and “Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight hold court at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA, with a pairing of showstopping performances. Brimming with captivating voices and soulful melodies, don’t miss a night of timeless hits including “Lady Marmalade,” “You Are My Friend,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and “Every Beat of My Heart.” Tickets start at $49. wolftrap.org.

Dupont Kalorama Walk Weekend

The annual Dupont Kalorama Walk Weekend encourages everyone to get out and walk. Start at any museum and choose your stops along the way. The museums are all free admission and within easy walking distance of the Dupont Circle Metro Station. Visit Anderson House, Dumbarton House, Dupont Underground, National Museum of American Jewish Military History, O Museum in the Mansion, The Phillips Collection and The President Woodrow Wilson House. Alternatively, there are several buses that run near their sites as well as the capital bike share. This year the Walk Weekend is on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., (rain or shine), each day. Find a map and details at dupontkaloramamc. com/walk-weekend.

Visitors at Anderson House

Special Preview: Friday, May 10 @ 5:30 PM Kickoff Event: Friday, May 17 @ 5:30 PM Experience the joy of music under the open sky in a vibrant community setting. Immerse yourself in the rhythm of the city with live performances every Friday evening, weather permitting, from May 17 through September 27, 2024.

The Matchbox Magic Flute at STC

In her acclaimed signature style, Mary Zimmerman conceives a new theatrical adaptation of Mozart’s beloved opera. Playful and imaginative, it’s big music in a small space. This “matchbox” presentation of The Matchbox Magic Flute features a cast of 10 and an orchestra of five— following the fantastic adventures of Prince Tamino and Princess Pamina. With dragons, a man who is a bird, trials by fire and water, and underground corridors, Day and Night do battle. The Matchbox Magic Flute is at the Shakespeare Theatre Company Klein Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW, from May 21 to June 16. shakespearetheatre.org.

St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Spring Festival

Saint Sophia’s spring festival brings the best of Greek food, drink, and culture to the DC area. An annual tradition, this year’s festival will be held on May 17 to 19, on the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral grounds at 2815 36th St. and Massachusetts Ave. NW. Every evening under the stars, enjoy live Greek music played by local musicians. Spirited festival goers are welcome to join in and dance... OPA! There will be a marketplace showcasing vendors with wares including fine and costume jewelry, pottery and home goods, clothing, music, Byzantine icons, and a traditional Greek grocer. There will also be a variety of children’s games and activities. Festival hours are noon to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. saintsophiadc.com.

IN Series: Return of Ulysses

2024 is the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the start of official military action by the United States in Vietnam. The young souls that fought were wounded most acutely in ways that were invisible, and their return home was only the beginning of an epic struggle to live again. Monteverdi’s second opera sets the story of Trojan War hero Ulysses’ traumatic homecoming from the epic The Odyssey. IN Series will bring this rarely heard masterpiece to life with an expansive work that incorporates a new English text crafted from interviews taken with Vietnam veterans, and the Thai contemporary dance company 18 Monkeys, bringing their unique mix of modern and traditional South-East Asian Kohn dance to the production. From May 11 to 26 at Source Theater, 1835 14th St. NW, IN Series’ lauded Monteverdi Trilogy continues. $30 to $65. Tickets are free for Vietnam Veterans. inseries.org.

Jesus Christ Superstar at the National

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, a new mesmerizing production of the iconic musical phenomenon returns to the stage May 17-19. Originally staged by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and helmed by the acclaimed director Timothy Sheader and cutting-edge choreographer Drew McOnie, this production won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival garnering unprecedented reviews and accolades. Appealing to both theater audiences and concert music fans, this production pays tribute to the historic 1971 Billboard Album of the Year while creating a modern, theatrical world that is uniquely fresh and inspiring. Jesus Christ Superstar is at the National Theater, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets start at $59. roadwayatthenational.com.

Photo: Evan Zimmerman for Murphymade

(Front, L-R) Billy Rude and Marlene Fernandez in The Marchbox Flute. Photo: Liz Lauren

LOCAL CALENDAR

Nat’s May/June Home Games. May 3, 4 and 5 vs. Blue Jays; May 7 and 8, vs. Orioles; May 20, 21 and 22 vs. Twins; May 24, 26 and 26 vs. Mariners; June 3, 4 and 5 vs. Mets; June 6, 7, 8, and 9 vs. Braves; June 14, 15 and 16 vs. Marlins; June 18, 19 and 20 vs. D-backs. mlb.com/nationals/schedule/2024-05.

St. Marks Players present Love Labours Lost. Through May 18. This musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy brings together the language of the bard with fresh contemporary pop-rock. The King and his best buds decide at their five-year college reunion to swear off the joys of women. But when four cute, clever girls from their past show up, they’re forced to reconsider all of that nonsense. $25 for adults; $22 for seniors and students. St. Mark’s is at 301 A St. SE. stmarksplayers.org.

Prologue Theatre: Marjorie Prime at the Atlas. Through May 19. Marjorie Prime follows octogenarian Marjorie, battling dementia, as her daughter Tess and son-in-law Jon introduce cutting-edge technology to their household called a Prime. $25 to $35. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.

CHAL: Open Call Show “Layers”. Through May 24. This is the Art League’s annual Open

Brought to You by Schneider's of Capitol Hill

Call show which seeks entries from artists throughout the area. This year’s jurying includes 26 pieces representing a wide range of media. CHAW, 545 Seventh St. SE. chaw.org.

DC Defenders Football at Audi Field. May 5, 4 p.m., vs. San Antonio Brahmas; May 12, noon, vs. Michigan Panthers; June 2, noon, vs. Arlington Renegades. The DC Defenders are a professional American football team based in Washington, DC. Audi Field, 100 Potomac Ave. SW. audifield.com.

Live! at the Library: PUBLIQuartet with Vijay Iyer, piano. May 9, 8 p.m. Embark on a sonic adventure as the groundbreaking PUBLIQuartet and Vijay Iyer converge in a concert experience that defies convention, including the premiere of a new Library of Congress commission by Iyer. Loc.gov/live.

SW Night Market. May 10 and 24; June 7 and 21; July 5 and 19, Aug. 2, 16 and 30; and Sept. 13 and 27; 4 to 10 p.m. Fourth and M streets, SW. marketswdc.com.

SE/NE Library Book Sale. May 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Most books are $1. The new book sale location is NE Library, 330 Seventh St. NE (corner of Seventh Street and Maryland Avenue NE). dclibrary.org.

DC United at Audi Field. May 15, 7:30 p.m., vs. New York Red Bulls; May 25, 7:30 p.m. vs. Chicago Fire FC; June 1, 7:30 p.m. vs. Toronto; June 19, 7:30 p.m. vs. Atlanta United FC; June 22, 7:30 p.m. vs Houston Dynamo. dcunited.com.

DC United (in black) playing CF Montreal in a Major League Soccer regular season match on May 31, 2023, at Audi Field, Washington, DC.

of the US

National Memorial Day Concert (and dress rehearsal) at the Capitol. Sunday, May 26, 8 p.m. (gates at 5 p.m.), on the West Lawn of the Capitol. The public is also welcome at the dress rehearsal on Saturday, May 25, gates at 5 p.m. capitalconcerts.org.

Sing Out Piano Bar and Open Mic with Gay Man’s Chorus. May 15, 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.

Music in the Meadow. May 17, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Enjoy a spring evening at the National Arboretum listening to music from @cumbiaheightsdc, a local band with alt-tropical vibes. Registration required. The suggested ticket price is $25, but you can also pay what you can. fona.org.

The Drive-in at Union Market on Fridays. May 10, Grease, 8:45 p.m.; June 14, Momma Mia, 9:10 p.m.; July 12, Ratatouille, 9:05 p.m.; Sept. 13, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 7:45 p.m.; Oct. 4, Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, 7:45 p.m. $20 per car. For those on foot, pack your chairs and blankets and set up shop in front of Union Market for great views and picnic-style entertainment at no charge. Union Market is at 1309 Fifth St. NE. unionmarketdc.com/events.

Members

Navy Band, Sea Chanter’s Chorus, perform with the Washington, DC Inter-service Chorus and the National Symphony Orchestra during the Memorial Day Salute to the Armed Services dress rehearsal.

Washington Spirit Women’s Soccer at Audi Field. May 18, 7:30 p.m. vs. Angel City FC; May 24, 7:30 p.m. vs. Seattle Reign; June 15, 7:30 p.m. vs. San Diego Wave; June 29, 7:30 p.m. vs. North Caroline Courage. washingtonspirit.com.

Hero Dogs 5k9. May 18, 8 a.m. $40 registration. Add-on registration for pups is $10 and includes a camo Hero Dogs Bandana. Only Hero Dogs are permitted at the event (service dogs, therapy dogs, skilled home companions and service dogs in training). Other dogs may register to receive the bandana giveaway but will not be allowed at Congressional. congressionalcemetery.org.

Washington Spirit Women’s Soccer at Audi Field. May 18, 7:30 p.m. vs. Angel City FC; May 24, 7:30 p.m. vs. Seattle Reign; June 15, 7:30 p.m. vs. San Diego Wave; June 29, 7:30 p.m. vs. North Caroline Courage. washingtonspirit.com.

DC Front Runners 5k Pride Run. June 7, 7 p.m. Join over 1,200 runners at Congressional Cemetery as they kick off Pride weekend 2024 with a running start. $55. congressionalcemetery.org.

Atlas Arts Lab: Rex Daugherty’s The Well. June 7, 7:30 p.m. The Well is a musical memoir that explores addiction and the hope of forgiveness. Rex Daugherty shares the hilarious and the heartbreaking in this intimate story and song cycle of all original singer-songwriter material. $25. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org. ◆

CAPITOL HILL MONTH

Capitol Hill Village Having Fun and Helping Out

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Cynthia Whittlesey has lived on the Hill since the late 80s. An officer in the Foreign Service, abroad for long periods, Whittlesey appreciated her wonderful community but scarcely knew her neighbors. Approaching retirement on Capitol Hill, she pondered, “How on earth would her life unfold without the 9 to 5 routine?”

coordinates the Theater Group.

“It sounds really corny, “ she remarked, but CHV “has really been life-changing for me.”

It Takes a Village

According to the organization’s executive director, Judy Berman, “CHV is an investment in your future self. We’re all about helping people live their best life.” Many members have experienced a significant change, said Berman, either moving to be near their grandchildren, having their long-term friends move away or retiring from paid employment. “They find their network is getting smaller,” she said. “Capitol Hill Village is a great way to grow your network based on your current situation.”

Whittlesey decided it was time to get to know her community. She attended the annual Volunteer Capitol Hill event at the Hill Center to look for opportunities to connect. Capitol Hill Village (CHV, www.capitolhillvillage.org) had a table. She joined on her 60th birthday.

That was seven years ago. Since then, Whittlesey has participated in numerous CHV affinity groups, “picking and choosing to my heart’s delight,” she explained. She currently

Founded in 2007, CHV is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to helping older adults on Capitol Hill age in place. It is one of 74 “villages” in the DMV. It runs on a small, dedicated staff leavened by hun-

dreds of volunteers. Members receive access to 25 “affinity groups,” programs and events. Services range from Goodwill and hazmat pickups to various types of eldercare, which is provided on a feefor-service basis.

CHV offers education, resources and referrals through a dedicated staff and volunteers who help members live independently and thrive. Neighbors, including older adults, get together and support one another to help live fulfilling lives. Members and volunteers design and coordinate 90% of activities and programs, most of them free and open to the public. And, as in Whittlesey’s experience, the village is changing lives.

Membership can be calibrated to need (https://capitolhillvillage.org/membership/). To avoid turning anyone away, help is available for the fiscally challenged.

Volunteers

Are the Glue

Volunteers are CHV’s glue, said Berman. “And, that goes both for offering help and asking for it,”

Ann Geracimos hoists the oar as she kayaks on the Anacostia. Photo: Courtesy CHV

Hand Dancing with a CHV affinity group. Photo: Courtesy CHV

she explained. Needing one another and being able to fill those needs is a renewal of connection. “It reinforces the idea that we can help each other, we’re not alone in this crazy world.”

Newly retired Ken Morris, who moved to the Hill early in 2020, was introduced to CHV by a friend. Morris began playing both mahjong and petanque with fellow members. The activities widened his friendships.

Affinity groups take members into the wider community. The Board Game Affinity Group meets at Labyrinth Puzzles & Games at 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; Mahjong is played at Mr. Henry’s at 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. CHV Travel Club has taken trips to Tudor Place in Georgetown and out to the Gettysburg battlefield.

Hearing about CHV from neighbors, Sarah Jackson began volunteering in the organization’s office in 2016. “I like helping people and encouraging people,” Jackson said.

That’s an understatement. Jackson took on significant projects. She helped build the telephone tree that kept members connected through COVID-19. She checked in on them, often dropping notes. She still keeps in touch.

Jackson looks forward to the annual CHV Gardenpalooza. At this May event, volunteers spend a day helping members with outdoor spring yard cleaning. They weed, prune and plant.

CHV is a blessing for seniors in winter as well. When it snows, the organization sends volunteers to clean members’ sidewalks. That’s a significant concern, according to Jackson, because DC

requires property owners to clear sidewalks within eight hours of snowfall or face fines.

Volunteers are the key to services. They help people get to the doctor or to do grocery shopping, advocate on policy and issues in the community and lead instruction sessions on topics from wellness to current affairs to technology.

“A lot of people don’t realize what CHV can provide for them,” Jackson said, the organization offers “a wide variety of things.”

Membership

CHV recently revised its multiple levels of membership. General membership includes all the social events, services like monthly pick up of items for Goodwill and hazmat items and others. The next level, Membership Plus, adds care services. A subsidized membership is available through the Jon Genderson Fund to ensure that fees are not a barrier to belonging.

Soon to celebrate her 80th birthday, Jackson has been a fulltime member for the past two years. It was about time to open the door

to some of CHV’s care options, she said. Those range from rides to and from a doctor’s appointment ‒ or having someone come and take notes ‒ to help with pre- and post- procedural care and caregiver support. The village has a 24/7 emergency contact that facilitates assistance.

The decision paid off for Jackson when she had surgery in January. “When I went into the hospital, they were there,” she said. “I mean, to me it is like a family.”

“Ultimately,” Berman said, the village “is about building a resilient community, about people being connected and feeling known, about having support and knowing where to go for additional support.” “It’s about belonging and knowing.”

“You can have a good time,” she noted, “but we’re going to be there when things are not good. That’s what real friendship is.”

Get more information or become a CHV member today! Volunteers are always needed and welcome. It is a great opportunity for parents to volunteer with children. Visit www.capitohlhillvillage.org or call 202-5431778 for more information. u

The CHV Bike Affinity Group. Photo: Courtesy CHV

Keller and Franzén Grants - 2024

Sasha Bruce and Mosaic Theater Build Community

by Barbara Wells

Through two major grants, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation is investing in organizations that cultivate outreach networks to enhance our neighborhood’s quality of life. While the recipients of these $25,000 grants have distinct missions and constituencies, both are deeply rooted in local partnerships that strengthen the fabric of our community.

Sasha Bruce Youthwork will receive the Arnold F. Keller, Jr. Grant, created to fuel new initiatives or expand existing programs. The Franzén Award for the Arts, honoring John Franzén’s dedication to making our neighborhood a cultural hub, will help Mosaic Theater Company expand and deepen its relationships across Capitol Hill.

“The Foundation aims to do more than just provide funding,” said Mark Weinheimer, chairman of the Foundation’s grants committee. “These grants enable us to help create and sustain connections among key community organizations and resources.”

Sasha Bruce: Early Intervention for Youths in Crisis

As Sasha Bruce celebrates 50 years of providing housing, counseling, job training, and other services for thousands of young adults experiencing homelessness, the Keller Grant will support its new program to help prevent youths from becoming arrested in situations when providing family support and respite would produce better results. “We know that once young people are exposed to the juvenile justice system, they are more likely to be involved with it in the future,” said Deborah Shore, Sasha Bruce founder and director. “This program can help avoid that by reaching young people and their families at the earliest point of the rupture—the moment of crisis.”

Sasha Bruce is piloting the program in partnership with the District’s

Connections

Metropolitan Police Department, Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and Department of Human Services (DHS) to respond to 911 calls involving intra-family conflict that have often been resolved by arresting the child. Instead, through the program, two Sasha Bruce crisis intervention specialists will respond alongside the police and immediately offer respite for the youth as well as family counseling services for as long as necessary.

Shore said there’s been an increase in the number of families calling the police in moments of conflict, which then requires the OAG to help determine whether to make an arrest. In many cases, the family later declines to press charges against the teenager, leaving the factors that led to the crisis unaddressed. In addition, even when the juvenile justice system becomes involved, it has traditionally focused on youths outside of the context of their families.

Through the new program, Sasha Bruce will introduce family-oriented social services for young people who have run into trouble at home or at school. Working with law enforcement, Sasha Bruce crisis intervention specialists will identify these youths early and, with the parents’ consent, take them to Sasha Bruce House on Capitol Hill—the city’s only shelter for people under age 18. There, skilled family counselors will provide support to resolve the conflicts, provide case management, and connect the youths and their families with an array of services, including family counseling at their home and help in accessing public benefits.

Shore notes that the youth crime rate is exacerbated by the same factors that contribute to chronic homelessness among young people, including conflict with a parent, guardian, or a non-related adult living in the household, as well as poverty, housing insecurity, and behavioral health issues. “This new program is a logical extension of the work we’ve been doing for years to address home-

Reginald L. Douglas, Ifa Bayeza, and Phylicia Rashad at Reflection Series post-show discussion of “The Till Trilogy.” Photo: Tony Powell.

Sasha Bruce Youth Program Manager Pam Lieber in front of the drop-in center on Barracks Row at 741 Eighth St. SW. Photo: Elizabeth O'Gorek

lessness,” said Shore. “It’s a wonderfully innovative way to direct these families in crisis to the services they need and help families to stay together and be stronger”

And for some teenagers, it could mean staying in school, pursuing their dreams, and avoiding involvement in the juvenile justice system for good.

Mosaic Theater: Multifaceted Outreach for the Arts

At a time when countless theater companies nationwide have succumbed to financial strains and diminished audiences following the pandemic shutdown, the Mosaic Theater Company has thrived. Much of its success stems from its partnerships across Capitol Hill and the entire city, which attract and cultivate new audiences for Mosaic’s productions of new plays and world premieres. Each year, the company collaborates with over 40 partner schools and organizations that are deeply connected to Washington’s multifaceted communities and cultures.

aging director. “In theater, there have always been co-productions, but the idea of cross-promotion that un-silos organizations is a new and wonderful thing.”

As Mosaic celebrates its 10th season, the Franzén Grant will provide additional resources for hosting discussions and events in collaboration with partners such as The Hill Center, Folger Theater, Capitol Hill schools, and the Smithsonian Institution. “These partnerships are mutually beneficial,” said Serge Seiden, Mosaic’s man-

From its inception, Mosaic has used its productions to engage the community in meaningful dialogue, learning, and action through its Reflections Series, including concerts, readings, panel discussions, and symposiums. Most recently, the Museum of the American Indian hosted an interview by Theater J Artistic Director Haley Finn with Rhiana Yazzie, the Navajo playwright who penned “Nancy,” a play produced at Mosaic in April. “This was an opportunity to showcase our artists while bringing new audiences to the museum,” Seiden said.

In fact, in just 10 years Mosaic has programmed over 700 panel discussions and conversations in-person and online. For example, Mosaic followed every performance of “Confederates” with a post-show discussion featuring Black women talking about what freedom means to them and introducing audiences to various nonprofits, such as the Georgetown Racial Justice Institute, Arts Administrators of Color, the Student Internet Equity Coalition, and numerous area museums and theaters.

“We have seen how the arts

can be a powerful tool for bringing people and communities together,” Seiden said. “We intentionally work across the H Street and Capitol Hill communities because they are distinct yet interconnected neighborhoods.” For “Monumental Travesties,” Mosaic partnered with The Hill Center to delve into the history and controversy surrounding the Emancipation Memorial—a statue of Lincoln standing over a cowering formerly enslaved man that is familiar to anyone who has crossed Lincoln Park. The play unfolds when a Black performance artist removes Abraham Lincoln’s head from the statue in an act of protest. Mosaic and The Hill Center hosted a walking tour at the memorial and a discussion with the playwright, Psalmayene 24, Mosaic Artistic Director Reginald L. Douglas, and Dr. Kay Wright Lewis, a Howard University history professor.

In addition, Mosaic’s free Intergenerational Matinees for high school students and older adults contribute to the Reflections Series. These performances include pre-show study guides and post-show conversations with Mosaic’s staff, actors, and audience members of all ages, bringing various experiences and perspectives to the discussion. (The next Intergenerational Matinees will be held on May 23 and 30 at 11 a.m.)

“The effort to produce the Reflections Series is significant,” Seiden said. Douglas conceptualizes the series, but it takes hours of staff time to coordinate the program and make it work. The Franzén Grant will support hiring a dedicated engagement consultant as well as providing honoraria for the participants. “The Foundation has been an early partner and believer in our vision to cultivate new audiences, foster community partnerships, and spark conversation, learning, and action around critical issues facing our community and our world,” Seiden said. “We are excited to continue to strengthen and expand that work.”

To learn more, visit CapitolHillCommunityFoundation.org, SashaBruce.org, and MosaicTheater.org u

“Confederates” actors with residents of Aspenwood Senior Living Community and high school student participants after an Intergenerational Matinee performance and post-show discussion. Photo: Chris Banks.

“Monumental Travesties” Reflection Series event with Mosaic and Hill Center staff at the Emancipation Memorial with Howard University Professor Dr. Kay Wright Lewis. Photo: Sabrina Garland Sash.

Happy 80th Birthday, Susan Jacobs!

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Lived for a while on the Hill? Local potter Susan Jacobs is undoubtedly a familiar figure. Long-time Hill resident Chuck Burger can’t remember when he met Jacobs. “She was just always there with her work and her witty repartee,” he said. The artists at Eastern Market Pottery (EMP) “were always scrapping together,” Burger said laughing.

Jacobs “is kind of someone who holds your perception of the Hill together,” Burger added. She “helps make sense of everything in some way. I mean, you meet her on the street and you know you are on Capitol Hill.”

The Hill has grown over the 55 years that Jacobs has been there, Burger noted, but despite her small stature, “Susan still has wide enough arms to embrace us all.”

On April 17, Susan Jacobs turned 80, celebrating an extraordinarily colorful, interesting life with her chosen Capitol Hill family.

Early Life

An only child, Susan Jacobs was born in New York on April 17, 1944. A slight woman, she describes her infant self as a “butterball.” After high school, she attended Vassar College and then spent about two years working as a social worker in New York City.

Jacobs quit her job in 1969 to camp across the country for eight weeks. Broke at the end of her travels, she crashed with a college roommate in DC. A year and a half later, she moved into an apartment house on the Hill with a different set of friends. Jacobs lived there for the next 40 years.

Becoming a Master Potter

Jacobs had barely been in the District, selling postcards at the National Gallery of Art, when a coworker introduced her to the owner of EMP, then located upstairs in Eastern Market’s Center Hall. By 1973, Jacobs went to work crafting little pottery owls. The studio sold them for 50 cents each. Jacobs got 20 cents an owl.

Shortly after beginning lessons at the studio, Jacobs became an apprentice, eventually rising to manager. It was never a lucrative position, but she loved it. By the end of her career she could look across the room and tell you who had made a pot.

Jacobs told the Capitol Hill Oral History Project in 2009 that the early

days in DC were “a very ‘70s situation.” She recalled that “it was quite relaxed, let’s put it that way.” There was a pay phone on the wall, “and we just took clay and we threw it at the phone, and so for a week the phone would ring but you couldn’t get to it because it was encased in clay. And no one seemed to really worry about it.”

After 50 years, Jacobs and the studio parted ways in January 2024. It was time to go in a different direction, explained Jacobs. She still isn’t sure what she’s going to do next. Wanting to broaden her options, she considered a former student’s offer to pay for a computer course. “I might do it,” Jacobs told me. “But I might do it in Italian, to keep it interesting.”

Neighbors Become Family

Nancy Metzger often saw Jacobs selling her pottery at Eastern Market. However, they had never really spoken. One day, while returning with her spouse on the Metro, Metzger noticed Susan asleep on a nearby seat. When the train pulled into Eastern Market Station, the two decided to wake her up. Afterwards, Susan started visiting for frequent dinners. “You get to know people over dinner,” Metzger said.

Dinner is a sort of a joke among Susan’s closer friends. She rarely cooks. However, she has a standing dining invitation almost nightly with a different friend. Friends are her chosen family.

Elizabeth Murray and her family dine with Susan most Thursdays. Murray and her husband, who moved to the Hill in 2005, met Susan through a mutual neighbor. Their friendship really developed during COVID, Murray said. They made a pact to have weekly outdoor dinners, heaters blazing.

“I hope she never has grandiose ideas of inviting me for dinner, as the horror stories she has openly shared when she has prepared a dinner party for

Susan Jacobs and Elizabeth Murray. Photos: Elizabeth O’Gorek

Susan celebrates her 80th birthday with friends on 11th Street SE. Photos: Elizabeth O’Gorek

friends are hysterical,” said Murray.

Murray is grateful for Jacobs’ friendship, valuing her spirit. “Cooking is not her forte, but her warmth, kindness and fun spirit make her a friend and neighbor everyone would want to have,” she said.

An adventurous approach to life de nes Jacobs for many, but her imperturbable attitude is not her whole person, say friends. “I don’t think she’s really carefree, because she cares so much,” Metzger said. Jacobs adapts to changing circumstances in her own life, but at the same time she is deeply concerned about other people.

“She nds beauty and friendship in people who others don’t stop and talk to,” Metzger said, people who others don’t even see. “I think she’s always had that,” Metzger said. “It’s why she does the things she does.”

Serving Her Community

During her 55 years on the Hill, Jacobs has given back to the community in countless ways. She volunteers nearly everywhere, serving lunches to unhoused friends at Capitol Hill United Methodist and at the Church

of the Brethren, acting as docent for the Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s (CHRS) annual house and garden tours as well as at Capitol Hill Village (CHV), Hill Center and the Southwest Duck Pond. Jacobs can regale listeners with architectural historical facts, identify a duck ying by and describe the District’s great poets and artists.

Volunteering has integrated Jacobs multigenerationally into her community. When they were nine years old, the youngest of Murray’s three daughters began visiting the Southwest Duck Pond with Jacobs to feed the ducks. Rising at 5:30 a.m., the three would make the nearly twomile journey from 11th Street SE, often dragging a 40-pound bag of feed in the wagon.

Jacobs considered moving back to her hometown or relocating to Dupont Circle, which seemed a bit more like New York City. However, Jacobs has fallen in love with her neighborhood, a community she helped to build. “The Hill,” she remarked, “seems to me to combine the best of every world.”

It does, largely because of people like Susan Jacobs. ◆

Monday, May 20, 2024

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Susan Jacobs in her studio ca. 2009. Photo: Andrew Lightman

The Capitol Hill Home

CHRS Photo Contest Winners

by Elizabeth Nelson

There were four winners in the Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s 2024 Capitol Hill Home Photo Contest. Robert Henry’s aerial view of a snow-dusted alley took first place, followed closely by two more wintry scenes: Jon Golinger’s photo of a book box on East Capitol Street and Matt Jex’s image taken a few blocks to the west. Marilyn Saks-McMillion received an honorable mention for her colorful photo of brightly painted rowhouses and autumnal foliage. Each will receive two tickets to the House and Garden Tour, May 11 & 12. All finalists are posted at chrs.org/photo-contest-2024/.

Robert Henry

913 East Capitol St SE. 2nd-3rd Place tie - Jon Golinger

329 East Capitol St SE. 2nd-3rd Place tie - Matt Jex

200 Blk F St NE. Honorable MentionMarilyn Saks-McMillion

29 G St NE. Jeanne Crump – Finalist

410 5th St NE. Patrick Serfass – Finalist

500 blk Constitution Ave NE. Marilyn Saks-McMillion – Finalist

700 Constitution Ave NE. Ragnar Thoresen – Finalist

CAPITOL STREETS

Ten Candidates Vie to Succeed Vincent Gray in 2025

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

In December 2023, incumbent Councilmember Vincent Gray (D) announced he would not seek re-election to represent Ward 7.

The race to succeed him is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested on the 2024 ballot, with ten candidates in the Democratic primary set for June 4.

Ambrose Lane, Jr., who moderated an April 13th forum held by Million Man Vote, says this is a unique election for Ward 7.

“This is a transition in leadership for the first time,” he said. “For the last almost thirty years, there’s really only been three councilmembers—and the last two have been around for quite some time.”

“Most of the leadership who are running are younger,” Lane said of the 2024 race. “The person who ends up winning—if they do well, they’ll probably end up being a councilmember for a long time.”

It’s also the first time Ward 7 will select a leader since the 2020 redistricting process. And it comes at a time of tremendous pressure, as residents of Ward 7 say there needs to be more focus

on public safety, education and economic development. The last remains prominent as the future of RFK Campus remains at the forefront of debate even as residents want to see full plans for development at the Fletcher-Johnson development.

Crowded Field

The ten candidates include:

• educator Ebbon A. Allen;

• bus inessman and former family support worker Dwight Sinclaire Deloatch, Jr.;

• former DC Council staffer and Shadow Representative to Congress Nate Fleming.

• Hillcrest Community Civic Association Vice President and former ANC 7B Commissioner Villareal “VJ” Johnson II;

• businessman Roscoe Grant, Jr.;

• retired Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) employee and former DC Council Staffer Denise Reed;

• Secretary for Friends of Kingman Park and ANC 7D Commissioner Ebony Payne;

• ANC 7B Chair and Marshall Heights Com-

munity Development Organization Board Member Kelvin Brown;

• current Chair of ANC 7D Wendell Felder;

• Attorney and former ANC 7E Commissioner Veda Rasheed;

• Ward 7 State Board of Education Representative and former ANC 7F Commissioner Eboni-Rose Thompson.

An endorsement from incumbent Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent C. Gray could really move the needle in the race. But so far, he has not come out publicly in support of a single candidate, although his Director of Communications Chuck Thies says Gray has been paying careful attention to the election. “At present, Gray has not reached any conclusions about an endorsement,” Thies said. “He believes it is important for Ward 7 voters to pursue a similar, contemplative process about the election.”

Most agree that as of late April, there is no clear leader in the race, although Felder emerged as winner of a March 23 straw poll held by the Ward 7 Democrats. Felder had 126 votes, followed by Thompson with 81, Rasheed with 47, Payne with 35 and Brown with 18. All other candidates pulled in less than 10 each. Felder is the former chair of the Ward 7 Democrats. He took a leave of absence a few weeks after declaring his candidacy.

A Question of Interference

However, the Ward 7 Democrats straw poll happened before publication of Felder’s responses to a question about Congressional oversight on an American Civil Liberties (ACLU) candidate questionnaire.

“If a bill were passed by DC Council that diminishes the quality of life experienced by residents or poses an undue burden or threat I would advocate for Congress to overturn it,” he wrote.

Nathan Fleming, Ebbon A. Allen, Villareal “VJ” Johnson II, Denise Reed (standing) and Roscoe Grant, Jr. during the second panel of the Hill East Ward 7 Candidates Forum.

Social media backlash came quickly.

In a statement published on social media April 7, Felder said that his answer actually underscores the need for statehood. He would consult with constituents, he said, but he would ask Congress to intervene if a bill threatened the well-being or rights of DC residents.

But six days later at the Hill East forum, Felder appeared to back away from Congressional intervention. “Under no circumstances would we support that,” he said. “Over the last ten years I’ve been fighting for statehood and I will continue to do so. It was a reflective response to a hypothetical question.”

RFK and Development

Development at RFK Campus has been a main discussion point at nearly every forum. Payne and Thompson were both a hard “no” when asked whether the NFL should return to RFK Campus. Thompson tsaid he NFL at RFK was a proposal, “not a plan,” and that all the possibilities for the campus should be.

Of the ten candidates, only Rasheed and Reed said yes to the NFL, with Reed saying that the stadium could be a potential DC destination.

Felder equivocated. “It’s too early in the process,” he said.

Johnson opposed the NFL but said there was power and potential in developing the site, saying the difficulties must be negotiated or the community will lose the opportunity. Allen opposed the NFL, saying he had heard families want a “St. James-style facility” at the site. Fleming pointed out that there is already $25 million in the budget for a St. James-style facility at RFK and that council must keep that in the budget. Fleming did not come out in support of the NFL at RFK at any forum, saying Ward 7 needs should come first.

“The campus is too big for small ideas,” he said, arguing that there is space for affordable

housing, restaurants, retail and recreation as well as a Ward 7 Innovation Hub.

At the Hill East forum, Payne pressed Felder on his non-response to the RFK question. “Part of the issue that I have with your candidacy is that we cannot get a firm yes or no answer from you on whether you are for or against building a new football stadium.”

Felder said that he wouldn’t make decisions that impact thousands of lives without all the facts. “We’re not there yet,” he said. “If there was a conversation happening about RFK going to a community like the Palisades there will be at least a year worth of community meetings and the families in Ward 7 deserve the same.”

But other candidates said that RFK was only one cog in the development machine.

“I keep getting this question about RFK stadium, but we don’t think about all of the development that’s going to occur in Ward 7 as a whole,” Rasheed said, pointing to a need to ensure infrastructure such as transportation is in place.

Allen said that on the other side of the river, the slow pace of development on the 15 acres at Fletcher Johnson is as significant a concern as RFK. Candidates such as Rasheed, Allen and Brown said they were pleased with the March announcement that an emergency services unit was

in the works but wondered about progress on a promised 817 rental units and retail with community and recreational spaces.

Education

On the topic of education, all of the candidates said that schools need additional resources and more targeted programming. They all advocated for safe travel to and from school.

Johnson in particular argued that the city needs to do more to ensure educational funding gets into the schools, calling the system “top heavy.”

Most pointed to a need for DC Council to work on teacher retention and to allow schools greater autonomy in spending and teaching strategies.

Addressing DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D) as he walked into the Hill East Forum, sitting SBOE Chair Thompson said that the Community School Initiative had proven to address concerns with programming, family stability and student needs. Despite that, funding has been cut to the OSSE program. She called for reinstatement of the program and a push back on budget cuts.

Payne cited the stability of school leadership, arguing that the 12-year tenure of the principal at Friendship’s Benning campus accounts for higher scores versus those at Miner, where the past several years have seen tremendous principal turnover.

Rasheed pointed to the role of parents, saying that parent organizations provide pressure and additional funding. She said when she was at Eastern High School, parents would monitor the community and intervene with students out of class.

Fleming pointed out that 50 percent of Ward 7 students leave the ward to attend school, a transportation challenge that can exacerbate truancy. He called for more attractive school programming in Ward 7 schools, citing his work as legislative director at DC Council in bringing BARD Early College High School to Ward 7 (it has since re-

Kelvin Brown, Wendell Felder, Veda Rasheed, Eboni-Rose Thompson and Ebony Payne listen to moderator Andrew Lightman, General Manager of Capital Community News, during the first panel of the Hill East Ward 7 Candidates Forum.

located to Ward 8) and again referenced his plans for a Universal After School program, which would put 100 percent of kids into after-school activities of their choice.

Public Safety

Public safety is also a key issue and one that is linked to truancy and education. Again, nearly all candidates said that there should be increased investment in families, calling for increased out of school programs for kids and for the District to help families meet their basic needs.

Reed said that the District needs to implement better interagency cooperation at a formal level, saying that the Department of Behavioral Health, DC Health and DC Public Schools (DCPS) should work to address mental illness and domestic violence in student homes.

Many called for cadet programs as a pipeline to a larger Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) force, proposing expansion into high schools and even universities. Payne emphasized a need for more Black female MPD officers to be “sure that our police department reflects the vibrancy of our communities.”

Thompson suggested that District residents need to see officers as part of the community, which would be helped if officers were seen on the streets and in the schools. The latter would also increase officer familiarity with youth, she said.

Felder went a step further, suggesting that the District partner with universities to cover cadet tuition in exchange for a fiveyear term of service in the District and work to convert security officers in public buildings. “Nine times out of ten, [security officers] are from the community [and] understand the needs of the community,” he said. He also proposed professionalizing violence interrupter roles to allow for proper resourcing and centralizing them in the Mayor’s Office of Community Relations.

Some candidates took a harder line on public safety at the Hill East forum. Grant said that he would introduce legislation that would provide stiff penalties to adults get -

ting youth involved in carjacking and send a strong message. “We need more officers,” he added.

Reed agreed that minors need to have higher charges instead of being sent home after they commit crimes. He also agreed that adults need to be held accountable but also cited the role of parents. “I believe that if you see more parents being reprimanded or charged with certain offenses that their children have [committed] there would be better outcomes.”

Allen said that he spoke to officers who tell him that young people aren’t taking the system seriously because penalties for youth are relatively light. “I believe in pretrial detention because it allows youth to have to think about some of the crimes that they have committed,” he said.

Fleming said the lack of charges is linked to constitutional issues during arrest and officers need better training. Fleming, who has been carjacked at gunpoint twice, said not all young people who use a gun during a crime are required to go before a judge; “that’s a legislative change that I would make,” he said.

More Opportunities to Hear

Many of the Ward 7 Candidate forums took place in two separate panels in an effort to accommodate a crowded field. While some candidates had concerns with the format, attendees said it allowed them to consider each as individuals.

“It highlighted points of difference across the candidates,” Andria said after attending the Hill East forum, adding that she had reconsidered a candidate she had previously ruled out. Amy thought it allowed for a deeper dive on key issues, although she wished there were a candidate forum focused on public safety. But these panels allow her to take a closer look at individual candidates, she said.

The general election takes place Nov. 5. But DC is largely a blue city, so the June 4 primary elections often function as the main event.

ARECOGNIZING THE PROMISE OF WARD 7:

Wendell Felder’s Commitment to Our Community

s we stand at the crossroads of change in Ward 7, the upcoming Democratic Primary Election presents us with a critical decision about the future of our Ward. With just a month until election day on June 4, it’s time to consider not just what Ward 7 is but what our community could be. This election is more than a choice on a ballot—it’s a decision about building the kind of community where we are proud to live, work, and play.

I am Wendell Felder, a proud fourth-generation Washingtonian and your neighbor here in Ward 7. My roots run deep in Southeast Washington, D.C., where I was born and raised. My journey is not just a political one, but a deeply personal one, intertwined with the fabric of the

Ward 7 community. From growing up in public housing and being the child of a formerly incarcerated parent to currently living in Ward 7’s Parkside community, where I am raising my family, my story is like so many others.

As a proud graduate of McKinley Technology High, Bowie State, and Georgetown University with a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, I have dedicated my life to understanding and enhancing our community. My entire professional life has been dedicated to serving our community too. From my early days working in local government, fighting for everyday families here in Ward 7, to my time at Sibley Memorial Hospital and Johns Hopkins, addressing healthcare inequities East of the Anacostia, and even now as the Director of Regional Affairs at Howard University, my commitment to service is not just a duty—it’s personal. I am fighting for the future of my family and for every families who calls our community home.

I am not just running on promises; I am running on a proven track record of leadership and effective governance. I envision a united community where every voice is heard, and every challenge is met with meaningful solutions. As outlined in my Ward 7 Recovery Plan, I see a future

where every child has access to high-performing neighborhood schools, where our streets are safe, and where quality healthcare is accessible. My campaign slogan, “This Is Our Ward and We’re in This Together,” is not mere rhetoric.

It embodies my belief in the power of collective effort and shared responsibility. I believe that our neighborhood boundaries do not divide us—they strengthen us. As your next Ward 7 Councilmember, I will take a holistic approach to not just improve individual aspects of life in Ward 7, but to enhance our quality of life on every front.

As we approach the June 4th primary, we face critical times and numerous challenges— from economic recovery post-pandemic to the urgent need for inclusive growth and addressing public safety challenges. I am a leader with a deep understanding of these issues and the expertise and dedication required to address them. Whether you are a lawyer, doctor, principal, small business owner, returning citizen, senior citizen, high school graduate, college graduate, young professional, or feel like you are the least, last, and forgotten, Ward 7 has a place for you. Together, we will build a stronger, safer, and healthier community to call home and reinstate the hope and promise for a brighter tomorrow. u

My name is Wendell Felder, I’m number 1 on the ballot , and I humbly ask for your vote for Ward 7 Councilmember on June 4, 2024.

The Race is On in Ward 8 More of A Walk Than A Run

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Three candidates are challenging incumbent Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. (D) in the June 4 Democratic , 2024 Primary Election.

Lining up against himWhite are two Democrats: former Ballou High School Principal Rahman Branch, who also served as Executive Director of the DC Office on African Affairs, and Chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 8C Salim Adofo. Republican Nate Derenge is runningns unopposed in the GOP Primary, reprising his 2020 run.

There hasn’t been much chatter about the Ward 8 race since White confirmed his intent to seek re-election in last fall amid rumors that he might step down.

But the 2024 Ward 8 election is still one to watch. It is the first to take place since the decennial redistricting process concluded in 2020, chang-

ing the shape of the ward. Some of the challengers come with experience in community organizing and government and they each bring their own perspective to key issues for voters, including public safety, economic development and the future of the ward.

A Different Landscape

The general election takes place Nov. 5. DC is largely a blue city, so the June 4 primary elections often function as the main event. However, the 2024 election is the first that will select a representative for the new cross-river wards since redistricting. In 2020, Ward 8 was expanded to include about 6,700 voters in Navy Yard. In 2021, the DC Council Redistricting Subcommittee estimated that as much as 10 percent of the voters in the Ward 8 Democratic Primary are living west of the river.

It’s not clear if that will impact the election but residents have expressed concern. Navy Yard has a reputation as a conservative part of the city; in 2020, 14 percent of Navy Yard voters cast their vote for Donald Trump. That doesn’t seem high, but it is in DC, which overall gave Trump just 5.4 percent of the vote.

The other concern is that Ward 8 has historically had a low voter turn-out relative to the rest of DC. In the June 2022 primary, 20.7 percent of eligible Ward 8 voters cast their ballot; that’s compared to 32.2 percent in DC overall. Ward 8’s new voters are being moved from Ward 6, which in 2018 had a 50 percent voter turn-out.

Will that matter? It remains to be seen. In 2020, White carried the Democratic primary with 4,050 votes of the 6,712 cast. As an attendee at a recent public meeting said, “there are 3 SMDs [Ssingle Mmember Ddistricts] on the west side of the

Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. At the opening of Cedar Hill Urgent Care.

Photo: E’Gorek Salim Adofo at an April 30th candidate forum. Photo: E’Gorek

Rahman Branch. Courtesy the campaign

Nathan “Nate” Derenge. Courtesy the campaign

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river. That’s at least 6,000 voters. You try to get that many out on this side. Think about it.”

Development

White leans on his record. He said the District needs to infuse capital in order to keep businesses in Ward 8, citing the struggle to keep the Giant open on Alabama Avenue and the 20 new businesses opening at Sycamore & Oak (1110 Oak Dr. SE).

Republican Nate Derenge said the government shouldn’t subsidize failing businesses. “We should let businesses die and let other businesses who can provide better goods and services because of a pro t incentive move into those areas,” he said, also calling for the District to auction lots for development to the highest bidder.

At recent forums, Derenge has acted as a foil to White, whom he used as representative of DC Council decisions. White said the District needs to be involved in economic development. “Developers are in business to make money so DC needs to make sure they are good for communities,” the incumbent said, citing Community Bene t Agreements (CBA) which ensure developers invest in the community.

Branch said development is itself an economic driver, linking it to both household economics and amenities. “We’re building up and developing the workforce of our ward with folks who have the money to now have the taxable income that brings big box stores here,” he said.

Adofo agreed, saying development needs to guarantee resident participation. But, he said, that means across multiple skillsets, from plumbers to engineers as well as policy experts. Pointing to the new Bridge District (Colombian Quarters) and the nascent Congress Heights BID, Adofo said there’s opportunity, “but we also have to develop the people who even understand what it means to build up the economy,” starting with high school programs.

Food Desert Grocery

Asked about healthy food options, Adofo cited the closure of Good Food Markets, say-

ing that stores need to re ect neighborhood needs and sell what people want at prices they can a ord. He called on the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) to fund new supermarkets and scale up farmer’s markets that already exist. White said he was disappointed in the closure of Good Foods but pointed to the Fresh Food Factory opening at Sycamore Oaks and his work with food justice non-pro t DC Greens. Branch suggested the ward leverage healthy food grants to motivate smaller stores to add to their selection, arguing that businesses already in the ward should be supported. He emphasized that improvements in the workforce would lead to additional amenities, including grocery stores. “I can’t stress enough developers make decisions on where they’ll do business based upon the tax base in that community,” he said.

Meanwhile, Derenge said that reducing crime would motivate businesses to move into the neighborhoods, linking a lack of fresh food options to the low federal prosecution rate.

Public Safety

How to get guns o the street was a question posed in multiple forums. White said the guns come from other cities. He argued that DC has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, pointing to stricter legislation targeting ghost guns passed by council in 2022. White said that the District needs to work with federal o ces, referencing the US Attorney, to improve prosecution rates.

Both Branch and Adofo called for greater collaboration among law agencies. Branch focused on the more than 20 law enforcement agencies operating in the District, saying they need to work together across jurisdictions to identify who is selling and tra cking guns. Adofo pointed to Maryland and Virginia, saying “we don’t manufacture guns in DC or sell them at Walmart,” and arguing that loose gun laws there lead to more guns in the District. He called for more stringent enforcement in the District, praising a recent increase in trafc stops that led to recovery of illegal guns but also noting this requires a balance with ensuring o cers aren’t violating civil rights.

In terms of wider public safety, White said the District needs a comprehensive plan. “Every other month there’s something new,” he said, referencing Building Blocks, a program intended to provide intense wraparound services for 151 city blocks identified as high need. “We haven’t heard about it in four years,” he said.

On the topic of public safety challenges, Adofo said that the District needs to address truancy and chronic absenteeism. “Staying in school will help kids develop critical thinking skills and improve the community and keep it safe,” he said.

But Branch cited his experience in teaching, arguing that while youth are linked to safety issues, the city needs to identify where challenges come from and what alternatives look like to set them up for success. He proposed a youth council to work with DC Council.

White’s Performance

For all the discussion and debate, in the end the election itself may boil down to a referendum on White’s performance since he was first elected in 2016.

“He could simply go on vacation between now and the primary and he’d be fine,” one wag wrote on social media in March. White hasn’t done that, appearing at most of the forums he’s been invited to. So far, none have asked him questions about how he is running his campaign after shutting down his campaign finance committee in the face of more than $80,000 in fines from the DC Office of Campaign Finance linked to both his 2020 reelection run and his unsuccessful 2022 run for Mayor.

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At an April 12 forum, White credited himself with getting funding for Ward 8 schools back after deep cuts in the 2020 budget, working with then Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyon McDu e to get violence prevention programs in Ward 8. He also took credit for new recreation centers in Ward 8 (including Ferebee-Hope, Anacostia, Congress Heights, Fort Greble).

White said he had been working in the community since he was 17, saying he was the only candidate with the experience to get things done on council.

”I’m not just talking the talk but I’m working each and every day to ful ll those promises here in our ward,” he said.

Adofo cited White’s tendency to vote “present” or absent on DC Council, saying “I want to thank him for a service but it’s time we move in a di erent direction. I am somebody who will make decisions,” in particular saying that rather than voting “present” on the Secure DC bill he would have come out to the communities to talk to them “and I would have got up on the dais and voted yes.”

Branch urged voters to look back at the incumbent’s record, telling voters to see if they’re happy with roads, youth violence, education, and a ordable housing.

“Those are the things that you get to look at and determine if you want to try an alternative to what you had,” he said.

The Ward 8 Democrats hold their Ward 8 Councilmember Candidate Forum May 18. Time and location were not nalized at press time. Get information at www.ward8dems.com

OAG Sues Ward 6 Vacant Property Owner

ANC 6A REPORT

by Sarah Payne

plication for a new two-story and basement rear addition to an existing row house at 216 11th St. NE;

DAdvisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 6A) met via Zoom on April 8. Commissioners Keya Chatterjee (6A01, vice chair), Roberta Shapiro (6A03), Amber Gove (6A04, chair), Dave Wethington (6A05), Commissioner Robb Dooling (6A06) and Steve Moilanen (6A07) were in attendance. Commissioner Mike Velasquez (6A02) was absent.

C Assistant Attorney General Jason Jones briefed the commission on the legal action taken by his agency against George Papageorge and his 10th and C Streets LLC for the evasion of District vacant property taxes on his property at 1000 C St. NE.

“Anyone who lives in the neighborhood knows about that house and that it has been sitting vacant for some indeterminate amount of time,” Jones said, noting that it has likely been sitting unoccupied for more than 40 years.

The lawsuit orders Papageorge to pay the outstanding property taxes in addition to “signi cant damages, civil penalties and interest” to the District in the amount of $1.8 million.

For neighbors, this is a victory, said Commissioner Shapiro. The property has been a source of unresolved concern for decades, she pointed out. Commissioner Shapiro congratulated the O ce of the Attorney General (OAG) for “ nally slaying this dragon” and expressed gratitude for enforcement of District law.

Chair Gove acknowledged the work current and former members of the commission who participated in their “long running e ort” to address the vacant property through letters and testimony. She echoed Shapiro’s gratitude to the OAG.

Vacant properties are often brought to the attention of the Department of Buildings (DOB) as a direct result of resident complaints, Jones reported. He encouraged residents aware of vacant

properties or tax evading property owners to report the locations. The commission took no vote on this matter.

Other Matters

The commission voted to write to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) requesting the restoration of a crosswalk at Florida Avenue and M Street NE for west bound bicycles and pedestrians to access M Street NE and the NoMa/ Gallaudet metro station. T

The commission further requested that the tra c signal division review and adjust signal timing to help slow driver speeds to the existing speed limit along Florida Avenue NE.

The commission voted to:

• approve a grant for the Miner Elementary School PTO in the amount of $1,000 to fund the renovation of the turtle habitat;

• support the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) ap-

• support the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application for a special exception from lot occupancy requirements to construct a twostory with cellar rear addition to an existing, attached, three-story, principal dwelling unit at 235 10th St. NE;

• protest the Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) license application of Verg Enterprises LLC at 1230 H St. NE.

The next meeting of ANC 6A is at 7 p.m. May 9 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. ◆

Commission Supports Second Story Additionon

ANC 6B APRIL REPORT by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6B held a hybrid meeting via Zoom and in-person at 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE on April 8. Frank Avery (6B01, treasurer); Jerry Sroufe (6B02); Da-

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A

AMBER GOVE, CHAIR, 6A04@ANC.DC.GOV

vid Sobelsohn (6B03, secretary); Frank D’Andrea (6B04); Chander Jayaraman (6B06, vice chair); Vince Mareino (6B07); Edward Ryder (6B08, Chair); and Matt LaFortune (6B09) were present, either online or in the room. Kasie Durkit (6B05) was not present.

The owner of 633 E St. SE asked the commission to support an application to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) to add a second story to an existing warehouse located on an alley lot behind his home as part of a residential conversion of that property.

The building is currently 17 ½ feet in height. However, the addition would exceed the 20-foot matter of right height requirement.

The ANC supported a Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application by a vote of 5-3 to add a second story to an existing warehouse on an alley lot behind 633 E St. SE as part of a conversion to a family home. At their March meeting, the commission’s ANC Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Committee supported the applicant’s was briefed on the Historic Preservation Application (HPA) as part of their and support-

ed it the on consent agenda.

The second story addition is permitted by right but would require an area variance as the building is currently 17 1/2 feet; the addition would mean it would exceed the by-right height of 20 feet.

The hour-long discussion on April 8Commissioners’ concerns largely largely centered on the need to preservation ofe the warehouse’sa historic cement roof. Without zoning relief, the applicant would be forced to have to remove the historic structureroof. However,The applicant stated that the absence ofwithout a second floor, the applicant stated, makes it it would be difficult to create private and code-compliant bedrooms on the ground floor, the owner stated..

The second story addition is permitted by right but would require an area variance as the building is currently 17 1/2 feet; the addition would mean it would exceed the by-right height of 20 feet.

Neighbors relayed raised concerns about addition’s impacts on theto light and, privacy of adjoining residences and the size of the proposed project. At itstheir April 4th meeting, the ANC P&Z Commit-

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, May 9, 7:00 p.m.

Community Outreach Committee meeting 2nd Monday, May 13, 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting via Zoom

Economic Development and Zoning Committee meeting

3rd Wednesday, May 15, 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting via Zoom

Transportation & Public Space Committee meeting

3rd Monday, May 20, 7:00 p.m.

Virtual Meeting via Zoom

Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee meeting 4th Tuesday, May 28, 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.

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.

Join us for our Next Virtual Public Meeting Tuesday, May 14, 2024 - 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

How to participate:

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

DO YOU LIVE IN THE MAYFAIR COMMUNITY?

We are looking for a Commissioner to serve for 2024!

Interior rear 633 E St. SE, showing the historic cement roof. ANC 6B voted to support a variance allowing a second story to be built as part of a renovation into a residence. Image: Sullivan & Barros, Screenshot: Zoom/ANC 6B

Vacancy in Single Member District 7D02

tee concludedfound that thosee impacts, while not non-existent, would beere minor. r and that Cconditions were met to grant the variance. The committee advised but provided time for the applicant to have additional conversations with the neighbors. Neighbors argued there had been inadequate communication from the applicant. He had contacted all the n The applicant said the neighbors had all been contacted, but only a handful reached out to him, the applicant stated. The neighbors, disagreeing, characterized his efforts as minimal. about the project.

Commissioner D’Andrea There said he thought there was a fundamental impasse between neighbors that could not be resolved through discussion, stated Commissioner D’Andrea. But, D’Andrea said, “f “From my point of view, what the applicant is doing is not unlike many other projects that we have approved, so I think it would be not fair to say to them, they are causing an [undue] impact,.” he said.

The commission voted 5 to 3 to support the BZA application.

Councilmember Allen Talks Budget

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) appeared to discuss the briefed commissioners on the District’s FYfiscal year 2025 budget. The District DC Chief Financial Officer’s (CFO) has interpreted interpretation of District budgetary requirements for its reserves gulations in a way that differsis at variance from that of both Mayor Bowser and DC Council, Allen said. The dispute has delayed at means the the process has been delayed by two weeks as the mayorcity works to figures out how to cut an additional $250 million from the budget to replenish a reserve fund.

Allen said that in the 18 years he has been through the process as a staffer and then council member, “I don’t think I’ve seen a budget as hurtful as the one we have in front of us,.” stated Allen.

The proposed FY 2026 budget cuts 200 employees at DC Public Schools, eliminates the DC Circulator, reduces the Pay Equity Fund, which increases income for early childhood educators, and cuts funds to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), Allen stated.

Allen says the mayor’s proposal leans on

lower income workers to shoulder the burden and council is working to address some of these concerns, Allen stated. Agency directors are looking for ways to tighten their budgets, such as by eliminating vacant and extraneous positions, he said. Allen encouraged attendees to attend his April 29 Ward 6 Budget Town Hall at the Northeast Library (330 Seventh St. NE) to share their views.

On the bright side, Allen said, the budget provides for public safety investments including pathways to additional Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and fills the hole in WMATA funding, Allen stated. The District’s Capital Budget had beenis preserved, he said, including funding for all planned Ward 6 school modernizations and the renovations of Southeast Library (403 Seventh St. SE) and William Rumsey Aquatic Center (625 North Carolina Ave. NE).

In Other Business

The commission ANC Voted to:

• Deferred consideration of the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) for Alley Closing in Square 762 as negotiations are still ongoing. An agreement will likely be presented to the Committee in May.

• Change the date of the Public Safety Committee Meeting to April 24 because of a conflict with Passover.

ANC 6B next meets in-person (700 Penn Ave. SE) and via Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 14. ANC 6B usually meets on the second Tuesday of each month. Find details at anc6b.org u

ProposedCuts to DPW Budget Cause Concern

ANC 6C REPORT

by Sarah Payne

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C met on April 10 via WebEx. Commissioners Christy Kwan (6C01), Leslie Merkle (6C02, secretary),

Commissioner Jay Adelstein (6C03), Mark Eckenwiler (6C04, chair), Commissioner Joel Kelty (6C05, treasurer) and Tony Goodman (6C07, vice chair) were in attendance. Commissioner Patricia Eguino (6C06) was absent.

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) briefed commissioners on Mayor Muriel Bower’s (D) FY25 budget. Inflation, collective bargaining agreements and an overall decrease in the city’s revenue are the main culprits for the “tight budget,” said Allen. “Overall, our economy is actually growing and doing well, it’s just not growing at the same pace that it was previously.”

While Allen acknowledged the importance of Bowser’s budget priorities including improvements for Capital One Arena and funding WMATA’s shortfall, the commission’s discussion centered around the cuts, particularly those to the Department of Public Works (DPW).

Commissioner Kwan expressed concern about the “already scarce resource” of parking enforcement, noting that many residents are already pushing the agency to be “more proactive” in enforcement of certain “problem areas.”

“I hear constantly from constituents that there is a need to have parking enforcement come out and ticket or boot cars,” Kwan said. “Especially the repeat offenders.”

Chair Eckenwiler echoed these concerns noting the “chronic” residential parking permit (RPP) violations in his single member district (SMD). “I just don’t understand the logic behind cutting DPW enforcement that actually brings in revenue,” Eckenwiler said.

Allen acknowledged that “some very troubling cuts” were made and noted a need for the prioritization of enforcement for both parking enforcement and dangerous driving.

Rats, Treasurer Kelty said, have also created many problems for neighborhood residents. Due to the “horrible state of disrepair” of residential garbage cans, he encouraged the Council to “consider a waste receptacle replacement program as a means of reducing the rat problem” in the budget.

The commission took no vote.

Other Matters

The commission voted to write to the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting immediate safety improvements, including ADA access and signage for existing elds, for Brentwood Hamilton Park (1300 Sixth St. NE) be included in the FY 25 budget. The commission also requested the initiation of the public process to make future upgrades for the park in a future budget cycle. The commission also voted to:

• support the public space application for exterior commercial and residential space improvements at 420 H St. NE to create new entrances and install new planters, stairways and handrails;

• request that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) install a pedestrian crosswalk at M Street to cross Florida Avenue between 6th and 7th streets NE and adjust signals to allow more time for pedestrians to cross and slow driving speeds to the 25 mile per hour limit along the corridor;

• support the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application of the Heritage Foundation for zoning relief to continue operation of nonadjacent parking lots in the alley complex bounded by 3rd, 4th, D and E streets NE on the condition that the renewal be limited to a term of 10 years;

ANC 6C will meet next on May 8 at 7 p.m. via WebEx. Visit anc6c. org to learn more about the commission and register to attend the meeting.

Keith Roofing

TOPP Redux

ANC 6D REPORT

by Andrew Lightman

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D met on April 8 via Zoom. Commissioners Bob Link (6DO1, vice chair), Ronald Collins (6D02, treasurer), Gail Fast (6D03), Andrea Pawley (6D04), Chearie Phelps-El (6D05), Bruce Levine (6D06, secretary), Fredrica (Rikki) Kramer (6D07, chair) and Rhonda Hamilton (6D08) were in attendance.

The commission discussed testimony to be given at the DDOT performance hearing about the Traffic and Parking Operations Plan (TOPP) for the Nationals and DC United Stadiums. Chair Kramer listed the plan’s deficiencies:

• it does not really address the impact of The Wharf as a destination;

• its focus is primarily on visitors rather than residents;

• the list of events given in the plan is not comprehensive and ignores those at The Wharf;

• it does not address the non-existence of parking and traffic enforcement on Buzzard Point;

• the granting of residential access to Buzzard Point during events is disorganized;

• the deployment of Traffic Control Officers is not responsive to incidents on the ground in real time;

• the 2024 draft TOPP was given to the commission after the commencement of the soccer season;

• there is no working group convened to adjust the plan during the soccer and baseball seasons;

• the 74 Bus, the only public transit serving Buzzard Point, is often interrupted by events and games inconveniencing residents.

Commissioner Fast asked for a “hard statement” against the elimination of the Circulator route. She also advised requesting more funds for Traffic Control Officers (TCOs).

Either insufficient funding or supervision is the culprit, stated Vice Chair Link, referring to the deployment of TCOs. Southwest is one big transportation ecosystem, he pointed out, if it is con-

strained in one place it breaks down in another.

“I suggest we make it very plain and very clear about the need for additional TCOs,” stated Treasurer Collins. “If we don’t ask, we will never get them.”

Commissioner reiterated the importance of the 74 Bus to seniors for accessing Safeway, stated Commissioner Phelps-El.

The commission authorized the chair to deliver the testimony at the Council’s DDOT performance hearing.

1700 Half St. SW

MRP Realty Principal John Berget asked the commission’s report for a two-year extension for its planned development at 1700 Half St. SW, which is on one of the parcels occupied by a concrete plant.

Berget cited economic factors and DDOT’s new request for an area-wide approval process. The hearing on the extension has been scheduled with the Zoning Commission on April 25.

Commissioner Hamilton recommended supporting MRP’s request. The commission voted her recommendation.

Other Matters

Metropolitan Police Dept. (MPD) Captain Hrebenak briefed the commission on public safety. There has been a substantial decrease in violent crimes due to an increase in aggressive deployment. There was one shooting on March 15 near the Greenleaf Recreation Center and a robbery in the early morning hours on the Unit block on M St. SW. Also, there has been 50% decrease in thefts from autos. There have also been a substantial increase in gun recoveries. Hrebenak committed to continuing aggressive deployment near Safeway and clearing out the grounds of the Greenleaf Rec Center after hours.

Chair of the ANC 6D Transportation Kirk Sander provided a summary of the group’s immediate objectives, which are to examine the issues surrounding the Wharf.

The commission heard presentations about no-cost solar power from Solar Options, cybersecurity and CISA Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Assessments (CISA), the Office of People’s Counsel and Project Pipes.

Commissioner Pawley confirmed that the CVS Safeway is scheduled to close on May 15.

Chair Kramer nominated Anthony Chase as the 6D07 representative to the ABCA Committee.

Commission voted to:

• support a liquor license and community agreement for the Merchant Marina at 635 Wharf St. SW;

• support renewal of the liquor license and community agreement for Capitol Liquors at 1301 St. SW;

• support a a liquor license and community agreement and withdraw the prior protest for Company Doughnuts at 1000 Fourth St. SW;

• continue the employment of Donna Purchase as the commission’s administrative officer.

ANC 6D meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month. The next meeting is May 13, 2024. For more information, visit www.anc6d.org. u

Commission Supports Lane Re-Configuration for Dangerous Intersection

ANC 7D REPORT

by Sarah Payne

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met April 9 via Zoom. Commissioners Siraaj Hasan (7D01), Commissioner Mike Davis (7D04), Ebony Payne (7D05), Marc Friend (7D06), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, vice chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09), secretary) and Brianne Eby-Stockert (7D10) were in attendance. Commissioner Wendell Felder (7D03, chair) was absent. Single Member District 7D02 remains vacant.

Several traffic safety incidents, including one resulting in severe injury, have taken place at the intersection of 16th Street, North Carolina Avenue and C Street NE. As a result, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) plans to reconfigure the intersection to help improve traffic safety along the corridor.

The current lane configuration on the roadway “confuses drivers” and has caused vehicle crashes. DDOT plans to implement a new lane config-

uration by removing the outer right turn lane to 16th Street NE and designating the middle lane for traffic continuing through to C Street. The agency has notified the commission of its plans to designate the inner lane for left turns to North Carolina Avenue NE.

These changes will not impact any of the bike lanes or parking spaces along the road.

Vice Chair Alcorn expressed support for the project noting its importance for public safety along the corridor. He emphasized the importance of additional signage to help drivers see more clearly where the road will split.

The “dangerous intersection,” Treasurer Astmann said, would benefit from the proposed changes. “I think DDOT’s proposal seems like a good one, and I think our suggestion that they add some additional early signage really strengthens the design.”

The commission voted to write to DDOT in support of the project and request additional signage in advance of where the roadway will split to provide drivers sufficient warning.

Other Matters

Sean Moore of DC Water briefed the

commission on the Lead Free DC program plans to eliminate all lead service lines from the District. ElliotHine Middle School student, Vivian, shared her community project, focused on spreading awareness to residents living in homes that have been identified as potentially having lead pipes, with the commission.

ANC 7D will meet next on May 14 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

Zero Parking Affordable Development Questioned

8F REPORT

by Andrew Lightman

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 8F (ANC 8F) met on April 23. Com-

& INSTALLATION

Flat Roofing

Slate Roofing

Shingling

• Skylights

• Gutters & Downspouts

• Siding • Chinmeny

Direct Support Professionals

Wholistic Services, Inc. is looking for dedicated individuals to work as Direct Support Professionals assisting intellectually disabled adolescents and adults with behavioral health complexities in our group homes and day services throughout the District of Columbia..

Job Requirements:

• At least 1 year of experience working with intellectually disabled Adults with behavioral health issues is preferred

• Valid driver license

• Ability to lift 50-75 lbs.

• Ability to complete required trainings prior to hire

• Ability to become DDS Med Certified within 4 months of hire

• Ability to complete a security background check prior to start date

Associates degree in human services or a related field is preferred. High School Diploma is required. Valid Drivers license and CPR / First aid certification are needed.

Contact the Human Resources (HR) Department at (202) 347-5334 to schedule an appointment. No walk-ins accepted. www.wholisticservicesinc.com

A photo from the DDOT website of the project. Photo credit to DDOT.

missioners Nic Wilson (treasurer, 8F01), Rick Murphree (vice chair, 8F02), Brian Strege (secretary, 8F03) and Edward Daniels (chair, 8F04) and Clayton Rosenberg (8F05) were in attendance. This was the commission’s second hybrid meeting. was absent

NRP Group (www.nrpgroup.com)and the Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO, www.mhcdo.org) plan to build an apartment building on the corner of Tingey Street and New Jersey Avenue SE, behind the US Dept. Transportation. The 12-story structure will house 127 units and 2,5000 square feet of ground floor retail. It sits directly to the west of an existing historic structure slated for retail development. 32 percent of the apartments will be three-bedroom units appropriate for families. The project is 100 affordable with a mix of units reserved for renters whose incomes qualify at 80, 50 and 30 percent of Area Medium Income (AMI).

The parcel is governed by the terms of the 2003 Planned Unit Development (PUD), which foresaw a one-story 4,000 square foot retail structure, which was never built. NRP and MHCDO asked the commission’s support for a change of the PUD that would rezone the parcel MU-9 to allow high-density, mixed-use development. In addition to the zoning change, the developers are asking for relief from several regulations. First, the project will provide zero parking for residents and no onsite loading, both usually required. Lastly, the site yard will only be five rather than the 21 feet.

NRP and MHCDO plan to seek the approval of the DC Zoning Commission for the project in June or July.

The District’s budget crunch has made the development of affordable housing much more financially challenging, stated NRP Vice President of Development Chris Marshall. The elimination of parking significantly reduces the project’s cost, making it fundable. Moreover, the parcel has no curb cuts. The developers are currently in conversations with DDOT to resolve loading issues, he stated. They are asking for a Pickup Drop Off (PUDO) be provisioned next to the adjacent historic building. The project will provision substantial onsite bike parking.

Vice Chair Murphree loved the project, considering it a good use of space. However, he remained concerned about the zero parking. Where are residents going to park given the absence of curbside parking on the surrounding streets? he asked. Family units generate more vehicles, he pointed out. “Love the family units, but this is a complex one to figure out,” he stated.

The transportation aspects of the project are a challenge, Chair Daniels agreed. How are For Hire Vehicles (FHVs) going to drop off residents? Where does a US Mail or UPS truck pull up? he asked. “There is absolutely no place to stop in that area,”

he pointed out, delivery services currently park in the travel lanes.

Strege was not as concerned about the transportation challenges as his colleagues, citing the future availability of Nats lots for residential parking needs.

Commissioner Rosenberg advised the developers to give serious attention to their building’s future security arrangements, given the issues in other Navy Yard buildings. He suggested they “think out of the box.” NRP and MHCDO have a great deal of experience in property management of affordable residential communities, Marshall replied. They are planning community building amenities including an indoor playground and a career training center on the ground floor.

No construction traffic plan has been finalized with DDOT, stated Marshall.

Marshall pledged to return to the commission’s May meeting with more details about the project’s parking and loading. The commission took no vote on the matter.

TOPP Continues to Spin

Commissioners commented on the Dept. of Transportation’s (DDOT) Traffic Op-

erations and Parking Plan (TOPP, www. ddot.dc.gov/page/traffic-operations-andparking-plan-baseball-park), which governs traffic on game and event days at both stadiums. Chair Daniels asked colleagues for their general observations, which he proposed to gather into a memo to be sent to DDOT.

Chair Daniels began with his observations. Given the District’s and DDOT’s commitment to encouraging alternatives to automobiles, he did not understand the practice of Traffic Control Officers (TOCs) employing government vehicles to travel to from DDOT’s Navy Yard headquarters to their game day assignments. Those cars are typically parked illegally in bike lanes obstructing traffic.

Three of the intersections traversed by the new protected bike lanes on M Street SE still lack controlling signals, Chair Daniels pointed out. This creates dangerous conflicts between car drivers and cyclists.

The Thompson Hotel’s valet operations are creating chaos on game days, Chair Daniels stayed. The issue is the illdefined PUDO.

Chair Daniels requested the “stre -

A rendering of the 100 percent affordable apartment building planned for the corner of Tingey Street and New Jersey Avenue SE. Rendering: Courtesy of NRP Group.

etery” DDOT licensed in front of Blue Jacket be removed, since it blocks a loading zone. Trucks are parking in the travel lane to unload, creating dangerous road congestion, he stated. At the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and H Street SE, he suggested adding ashing lights to the stop signs to increase their visibility.

Vice Chair Murphree objected to the lack of planning for deliveries on Vann Street SE. He suggested the road be made a one-way and provisioned with a PUDO and a loading zone. He also requested the assignment of TCOs to the street. Murphree also complained about the blocking of the alley next to the Public Storage facility at 1230 S Capitol St. SE, which is forcing residents to make a complicated detour to enter their parking garages.

Secretary Strege advised the replacement of the ex posts protecting two-way bike lanes with concrete bollards. Cars are running over the ex posts to illegally park, he stated.

Lastly, the Chair complained about event manager Live Nation. The firm is ignoring the TOPP completely in provisioning its support trucks, he stated.

The commission unanimously voted to empower the chair to send a memorandum to DDOT incorporating their concerns.

Public Safety

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Lieutenant Kenneth Taylor and Captain McCall Tyler briefed the commission on public safety. Crime is in general substantially down, the two reported. Police are following up the ransacking of the CVS by teens and adults, they said. Police will be organizing Apple Airtag and club giveaways.

Chair Daniels complained about the failure by property management companies to x broken garage doors in large apartment buildings. Police are also concerned, stated Captain Tyler. Ofcers are conducting conducting safety assessments of apartment buildings, starting with the Harlow.

The commission supports Brook eld Properties for Parcel F time extension for developing an o ce building. The o ce market is contracting. So it is hard to get a tenant.They are asking for a two year extension.

Other Matters

Commissioners met with the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) to explore interim uses for their vacant land. DCHA believes no development will take place on the three parcels, Strege stated. Commissioners requested DHA open the two surface lots currently employed as Nats and event parking to residents and workers for daily and monthly parking. They also urged DHA to adequately maintain the third fenced parcel. The Capitol Riverfront BID is exploring alternative uses for that land, Strege reported. The commission voted to:

• support the MS Walk on April 28;

• write to the new ambulance company Emergility advising them to respect parking regulations.

ANC 8F’s next meeting is scheduled for May 14 DDOT Headquarters at 250 M St. SE at 7 p.m. For more information, visit anc8f.org. ◆

ANC 6C01

Christy Kwan 6C01@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C02

Leslie Merkle

6C02@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C03

Jay Adelstein 6C03@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C04

Mark Eckenwiler

6C04@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C05

Joel Kelty

6C05@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C06

Patricia Eguino

6C06@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C07

Tony Goodman

6C07@anc.dc.gov

Next meeting Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Information will be posted on the ANC 6C website.

Alcoholic Beverage Licensing

First Monday, 7 pm Contact: drew.courtney@gmail.com

ANC 6C usually meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm via Webex video conference. Please check our website for dates.

Last Thursday, 7 pm Contact: torylord@gmail.com Twitter: @ANC_6C_Grants Transportation and Public Space First Thursday, 7 pm Contact: anc6c.tps@gmail.com

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

CAPITOL ST.s

Capitol Hill Classic 10k

The 43rd annual National Capital Bank Capitol Hill Classic is on May 19. Washington’s largest and oldest 10k brings runners through the roadways of historic Capitol Hill, winding past the US Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, the Folger Shakespeare Library, Lincoln Park, East Capitol Street, and the Fields at RFK. They also have a 3k race and kids’ fun run that will follow the 10k. The 10k ($50) starts at 8:30 a.m.; the 3k ($40) immediately following the conclusion of the 10k and the fun run ($15) immediately following the 3k. Registration is open now at capitolhillclassic.com/registration.

Bulletin Board

DC DPR Outdoor Pools Open for the Season

DC DPR Outdoor Pools open for the season on Memorial Day weekend and will remain open for weekends only until school lets out. Pools that reach maximum capacity will follow a “one in, one out” policy. All DPR pools are free for DC residents and require a paid membership for non-DC residents. Non-DC residents may purchase a daily outdoor pool pass or a pass that will last the entire 2023 season. DPR pools remain open if it rains, as long as lifeguards can see the bottom of the pool. Pools close immediately at the first sign of lighting. Locate an outdoor pool at dpr.dc.gov/page/outdoor-pools.

Mosaic Announces 2024-2025 Season

Mosaic Theater Company celebrates its 10th anniversary with a season centering on iconic artists and new plays. At the core of the 2024-2025 Season are four mainstage productions, including a world premiere created in collaboration with Georgetown University’s Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, and the Mosaic debut of award-winning writer Erika Dickerson-Despenza. The season also features the development of new work from Trish Vradenburg-Commissioned artist and DC superstar Paige Hernandez. Here’s the lineup: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill by Lanie Robertson, Sept. 5 to Oct. 6; The Art of Care by Derek Goldman, Oct. 31 to Nov. 24; cullad wattah by Erika Dickerson-Despenza, April 3 to 27; Andy

Warhol in Iran by Brent Askari, May 29 to June 29. mosaictheater.org.

Folger’s 2024/2025 Theatre Season Announced

The Folger Shakespeare Library’s 2024-2025 season theme is of Whose Democracy? The season opens on Oct. 1 to Nov. 10 with Shakespeare’s iconic romance Romeo and Juliet, directed by Raymond O. Caldwell (former Artistic Director of DC’s Theater Alliance). The third year of The Reading Room Festival, featuring new works and conversations inspired by or in response to the plays of Shakespeare, will take place in January 2025. A Room in the Castle by Lauren Gunderson, one of the most produced contemporary playwrights (The Book of Will; I and You) is from March 4 to April 6. The sea-

CHRS Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour

The Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s Mother’s Day House & Garden Tour is on Saturday, May 11, 4 to 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 12, 1 to 5 p.m.

This two-day event features nine homes and gardens and three semi-public buildings, all within the Capitol Hill Historic District. A refreshment break is included with treats from local vendors at the historic Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital. In addition to the tour of the homes, gardens, and buildings, an architectural tour of the Hill Center is offered on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 during the event. Purchase tickets at chrs.org.

son concludes with Shakespeare’s music-filled, gender-bending comedy, Twelfth Night from May 13 to June 29. folger.edu.

On the tour – 813 Massachusetts Ave. NE

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

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 int city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust

DC Open Doors

homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.

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.

www.DCHFA.org

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.

how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

100 Years of Eastern High School: Virtual Preservation Cafe

The Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s May Preservation Café features 100 Years of Eastern High School. Learn about the amazing history, preservation, student archivists and the exhibition of Eastern High School on Tuesday, May 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m. The history that will be shared in this virtual presentation is a collaborative effort between Eastern High School, Eastern Alumni, area residents and local archives. Read more and register at chrs.org/easternhs100-pc.

Lives, Loves, and Loss: Remembering the Families

On Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., explore the lives, loves, and loss of the enslaved families at George Washington’s Mount Vernon with a special guided tour (free tour ticket required), family activity, and ceremonial remembrance. Bring your own family stories of love and loss that connect your family to the past, and learn about the families of Boatswain and Myrtilla, Hercules and Alice, and other families who suffered the loss of loved ones. Tour included with admission. mountvernon.org.

Fantasy Book Night at the LOC

On Thursday, May 16, 5:30 to 9 p.m., wander to the Great Hall for a night of magic and myth. Enjoy events with beloved fantasy writers, wondrous characters and Happy Hour food and drinks. Feast your eyes on fantastic treasures from the Library’s collections, embark on a quest throughout the building, create D&D characters, and more. Join a night of imaginative Library quests, tarot readings, and Dungeons and Dragons character sheet creations. Here’s the lineup: 6 p.m.: “Stories Seen and Unseen: Seanan McGuire and Travis Baldree” in the Coolidge Auditorium; 7 p.m.: “The Familiar, The Loving, and the Dark: Roshani Chokshi and Lauren Blackwood” in room LJ-119; 7:15 p.m.; “Secret Societies and Forbidden Knowledge: Olivie Blake” in the Coolidge Auditorium. If you wish to attend any of the three author panels, ensure you select the option from the pop-up after you make your reservation on the ticketing link. loc.gov/live.

Unique Eats and Eateries of Washington, DC

On Thursday, May 23, 7 p.m., JoAnn Hill discusses her newest book, The Unique Eats and Eateries of Washington, DC, which introduces you to the talented and tenacious individuals behind the comforting plates, indulgent sweets, blissful bites, and thirst quenching beverages that satisfy our cravings and nourish our bellies. JoAnn Hill is in conversation with Hollis Wells Silverman and Micheline Mendelsohn Luhn via Zoom and in-per-

EU Open House 2024

On Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the European Union and its Embassies open their doors to the public for a day of culture, food, music, and more. No registration, tickets, or passport required. This event falls every year on the first Saturday after Europe Day on May 9. The embassies celebrate Europe Day by opening their doors to the public so that Americans can catch a glimpse of the European cultures that make up the European Union. eeas.europa.eu/delegations/united-states-america/euopen-house-2024_en.

son at East City Bookshop, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. eastcitybookshop.com.

Bike to Work Day

Bike to Work Day is on Friday, May 17. Join Bike to Work Metro DC at more than 100 pit stops in DC, MD, and VA for this free event for a fun and healthy way to start your day. The first 16,000 who register and attend at a pit stop receive a free T-shirt. There are giveaways, food, and beverages at participating locations, while supplies last. Register at biketoworkmetrodc.org.

First Time Homebuyer Fair

On Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., join the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, for a free, day-long fair to learn about the steps involved in purchasing a home. nbm.org.

Tuesday Night Trivia at Atlas Brew Works Navy Yard

Starting last month, the Capital City Showcase brings their high-flying, knowledge-dropping trivia action to Atlas Brew Works Navy Yard, 1201 Half St. SE, every Tuesday night at 7 p.m., except for Nationals home games. The game is free and

Eastern Students, 1965 Image: DC Public Library

Caro,

Here’s to the beauty and contentment of reaching this milestone. Happy 50th Birthday! On this day, we celebrate not just your age, but a life richly lived, the wisdom you’ve gained, and the love you’ve shared throughout the years with us.

You’ve inspired us all by showing what it means

You’ve inspired us all by showing what it means to live passionately and gracefully. Here’s to the exciting years yet to come!

– Love and respect from the Ashabranner Fagon family.

Wreath Laying at Arlington Cemetery

The US Army Military District of Washington conducts a Presidential Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony on Monday, May 27 at 11 a.m., at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to be followed by an observance program in the cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater. A musical prelude by the United States Air Force Band will begin in the amphitheater at 10:30 a.m. Both the wreathlaying ceremony and the observance program are free and open to the public—no tickets needed. Space is standing room only for the wreath-laying ceremony and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the amphitheater. Attendees are encouraged to be at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or seated in the amphitheater by 9:30 a.m. Parking is free. arlingtoncemetery.mil.

seating is on a first come, first served basis. The winning team receives a $50 Atlas gift card; second place is a six-pack of Atlas beer. atlasbrewworks.com/pages/half-street.

Overbeck Lecture: A Forgotten Hero in Slavery’s Borderland

Thomas Smallwood has been a “lost” hero of the US abolition movement for over 100 years. Born into slavery in 1801, Smallwood bought his freedom, educated himself and became a shoemaker living near the Navy Yard. Then in 1842, Smallwood along with a young white partner began organizing es-

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania

Through March 17, 2025, at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania presents both realized and unrealized projects Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the region from the 1930s through the 1950s. The exhibition examines how his vision of the future might have impacted urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. Realistic animated films provide a virtual exploration of five unrealized Wright projects for Southwestern Pennsylvania. These include a monumental reimagining of the Point (1947), a self-service garage for Kaufmann’s Department Store (1949), the Point View Residences designed for the Edgar J. Kaufmann Charitable Trust (1952), the Rhododendron Chapel (1952), and a gate lodge for the Fallingwater grounds (1941). Viewers will take a journey into Wright’s creative mind, exploring architecture from an artistic perspective, with emphasis on his intended materials, textures, light and shadow. nbm.org.

capes from slavery for wagonloads of people. Adding insult to the financial loss inflicted on slave owners by the escapes, Smallwood wrote extraordinary satirical dispatches about the escapes for an Albany, NY, abolitionist newspaper. The story of this remarkable man and the perilous times in which both free and enslaved black people lived will be related by Scott Shane, author of Flee North: A Forgotten Hero and the Fight for Freedom in Slavery’s Borderland, at the Overbeck Capitol Hill History lecture on Monday, May 13, 7:30 p.m., at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave.

SE. Admission is free but a reservation is required at hillcenterdc.org or 202-549-3172.

Capitol Hill Community Achievement Awards

Each spring, Capitol Hill residents come together to honor individuals whose distinguished service to our community has benefited us all. The Capitol Hill Community Foundation raises funds to support its grants and projects with the awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 22,

6:30 p.m., with a garden party and awards presentation at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. The 2024 honorees are Vera Oyé Yaa-Anna, storyteller and educator; Jane Lang, founder of the Atlas Performing Arts Center; and Michael Witmore, director of the Folger Shakespeare Library. At this year’s event, they will also honor the recipients of the Foundation’s two annual $25,000 grants. Mosaic Theater Company is receiving the John Franzén Award for the Arts, and Sasha Bruce Youthwork is receiving the Arnold

Civic Center at Point Park for the Allegheny Conference, 1947, digital illustration, 2021. This image was prepared with material kindly made available by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Courtesy of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. All rights reserved.

F. Keller, Jr., Grant. Reserve your tickets or sponsorship at capitolhillcommunityfoundation.org.

Ribbon Cut on MPD’s Real-Time Crime Center

On April 8, Mayor Bowser and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Smith unveiled MPD’s Real-Time Crime Center and launched CameraConnect DC. CameraConnect DC is a new initiative that will allow residents and businesses to e ciently share security camera footage with the Real-Time Crime Center to support MPD with investigating crimes and closing cases. The Real-Time Crime Center collects and analyzes data from various sources, such as CCTV cameras and emergency calls, to enhance situational awareness, facilitate quick decision-making, and improve the overall e ciency of crime prevention and response efforts. The Real-Time Crime Center will play a crucial role in identifying patterns, coordinating resources, providing timely information to o cers on the ground, and contributing to a more proactive and e ective approach to policing. mpdc.dc.gov/ cameraconnectdc.

The Hill Rag Bulletin Board includes event notices, volunteer opportunities and other community news. Do you have a notice for the Bulletin Board? Send it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com.

GARDENS

Another Round of Pink

Azaleas Rule in May

article and photos by Rindy O’Brien

Washington is known around the world for its Cherry Blossoms. The National Cherry Blossom Festival now runs for a month with pink tie parties, parades, a neighborhood decorating contest, and much more. Pink is everywhere one looks. Keeping the pink preoccupation going, our azaleas have followed the early timing of this year’s cherry blossoms by arriving a month early. Suddenly, we are seeing pinks, reds, purples, and white flowering shrubs everywhere.

Azaleas and Rhodendrums

Most of us have seen the strikingly beautiful golf course where the Masters golf tournament is played each spring in Augusta, Georgia. The abundance of pink blooms is stunning. The 13th hole of the course is called Azalea and there are 1,600 plants surrounding this hole.

Experts said that this year, the azaleas bloomed a little early, so they were past peak bloom for the televised event, but were beautiful nonetheless. Azaleas are native to the southeastern part of the US and, after decades of breeding, are now available in a great variety, shape, and color.

First, it is important to note that while it is often hard to distinguish an azalea and a rhododendron, they are two different kinds of plant. The American Rhododendron Society says it this way, “all azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are azaleas.” One of the easiest ways to tell, if you can wait until fall, is that most azaleas lose their leaves while rhododendrons are evergreens. Although in today’s plant world, many azaleas have also been bred to be evergreen.

Growing conditions are similar for both and are ideal for Capitol Hill home gardens. The plants like morning sunlight, and dappled

ABOVE: The Azalea Collection attracts thousands of visitors to the US National Arboretum every spring. The collection covers 40 acres including trails to the top of Mt. Hamilton, one of DC’s highest places. The blooms are early this year, but late bloomers go through mid-May.

LEFT: White rhododendron shrubs make a striking fence between two Massachusetts Avenue front yards in the 1000 block NE.

afternoon shade. They thrive in acidic soil, so improvement of the Hill’s clay soil helps the shrubs along. Local nursery experts seem to agree that azaleas are a little more adaptable than the rhododendron. Size is always a factor for Hill gardens and azaleas grow to a height of five feet and can be just as wide. Rhododendrons can get up to twenty feet in width.

The National Arboretum Azalea Collection

The best proof that azaleas love the Hill climate is the famous azaleas collection at the US National Arboretum just two miles from the Capitol. The collection covers 40 acres of hillside that leads to one of the highest points in DC, Mt. Hamilton. The mountain is 240 feet tall. For the past few years, sections of the trails were blocked to protect the bald eagles, Mr. President and Lotus, who had made a nest in the trees near the top of Mt. Hamilton. A year ago, the eagle pair moved nearer the Anacostia River down by Langston Golf course. All trails are now open.

In 1946, B.Y. Morrison, a horticulturalist and landscape architect, had planted over 15,000 azaleas on the south-side of Mt. Hamilton. The azaleas are known as the Glenn Dale hybrids. Glenn Dale azaleas are prized plants, and the Azalea Society lists 454 hybrids in this collection, https:// azaleas.org/glenn-dales/.

In addition to the Morrison Garden and Mt Hamilton overlook, there is the Henry Mitchell Walk named for the Washington Post’s Garden writer in 1999. Along the path there are four groups of cultivated azaleas that are well known in the mid-Atlantic area. The groups offer a range

of colors, shapes, sizes, and bloom times. It is often suggested that revisiting the collections several times during blooming season lets you appreciate the many different colors and styles of the azaleas.

And, just off the main trail, there is the Lee Garden that features Japanese azaleas.

There are over 100 selections in this part of the garden, The garden is named for Frederic Lee, a lawyer and azalea collector who served on the National Arboretum Council from 1946 to 1968. The Japanese azaleas are often used in bonsai and are late bloomers in our area. The Lee Garden has a nice sitting area and is a great place to meditate in the quiet of the forest.

Glenn Dale Azaleas for Sale

Meadow Farms in Falls Church, Virginia is one of the nursery companies that have a large variety of azaleas and rhododendrons for sale including the Glenn Dale azaleas, although they are not available in the Falls Church site. Sarah, a manager at Meadow Farms for the last 13 years, says that most specialty plants like the Glenn Dale would be handled through their Richmond greenhouse and the specialty buyers there. “Not impossible to get,” she says, “just not currently at our store.”

There were plenty of encore azaleas, bred to bloom in three seasons, at the Falls Church nursery. Sarah says that they really haven’t caught on yet, and it may be because in the DC region, they really don’t bloom three times, only two. “We are just not warm enough a climate to work here.” Sarah advises that, if you do your homework, you

can probably find the azalea you are looking for somewhere in the DMV.

Another suggested nursery is Whites Nursery at 22531 Wildcat Road in Germantown, Maryland. Mike White, owner, supplies many of the arboretum and parks in the DMV, and would be worth checking for a special azalea.

Other Azalea Displays in the Area

While we are spoiled by having the Arboretum collection so close, there are great azalea blooming viewing sites that are near and worth a spring outing. One that is close is the Franciscan Monastery near Catholic University. It features a hillside planted in azaleas on its 40-acre gardens. Hillwood Estate and Gardens (admission charged) includes hundreds of azaleas throughout its gardens. And the Rachel Carson Conservation Park in Olney, Maryland features wild azaleas that are late bloomers.

The further south you travel, there are great collections including the Lewis Ginter Gardens in Richmond and the Norfolk Botanic Gardens where the first azaleas were collected and planted in 1938.

More pink please. Once you treat yourself to the beauty of the azalea and rhododendrons you will be hooked. Whether you just put a shrub in a corner of your garden, or plant an entire wall of spring bloomers, you will not regret it.

Spring is a great time to check out the many different garden plant sales in our area. In May, one of the biggest flower sales is the Washington National Cathedral’s Flower Mart. The festival began in 1939 and continues many of the original activities including an antique carousel and arcade games. The front lawn is set up to sell plants, herbs, bonsai, orchids, and fabulous cut flower arrangements. The Washington Cathedral is at 3101 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, and will be open May 3rd, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 4th 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Rindy O’Brien loves the meditative trails of the National Arboretum’s azalea collection and hopes to find you there this spring. To contact Rindy, rindyobrien@gmail. com u

The bright pink shade of the azaleas can create a stunning design in a garden, as seen at the corner of 7th and East Capitol Streets, N.E.

A section of the Azalea Collection is the Lee Garden that specializes in Satsuki azaleas from Japan. These azaleas are late-blooming and are often used in bonsai. Seating in the area makes for a great place to meditate.

Revitalizing Your Kitchen A Post-Pandemic Guide

by Christopher Barson

In the 1990s the kitchen firmly established itself as a pivotal element of home design. It emerged as the heart of daily life even more so in the aftermath of the global pandemic. As we navigate through the process of remodeling these essential spaces, the blend of design and utility has never been more imperative. We invite you to have a seat at our table discussions as we share post pandemic client requests. Our clients wished to refine their kitchens, not just as a place of culinary endeavor, but as versatile, functional hubs.

The Ask: “My kitchen must have functionality and style.”

Wentworth: Post-COVID, the kitchen has as -

sumed multiple roles—it’s a place for meal prep, remote work, and a pseudo classroom at times. When deciding on what your kitchen needs, reflect on what’s paramount for your lifestyle. Is it state-of-the-art appliances facilitating gourmet cooking at home, or perhaps an expansive island that offers a versatile workspace and a casual dining area? The allure of high-end appliances, while tempting, should be weighed against the overall utility and versatility of the space. Opt for elements that enhance the kitchen’s functionality—thoughtful lighting solutions, durable yet elegant countertops, or an artistic backsplash that an -

chors the room’s aesthetic. Under cabinet lighting and plugs…lots of plugs.

The Ask: “My kitchen needs to feel and look clean, even when my house is hectic.”

Wentworth: This is a conversation around quality and durability. In a post-pandemic world, where the durability of surfaces and cleanliness have taken center stage, settling for buildergrade materials is a missed opportunity. Highquality surfaces, antimicrobial countertops, and fixtures that withstand the rigors of daily use not only elevate the kitchen’s functionality but also ensure its longevity. These elements become especially significant in a space that now serves multiple purposes—from cooking to conferencing.

The Ask: “I have some ideas – but what are some of the useful trends you’re seeing.”

Wentworth: Our clients want to elevate their kitchen with professional insight. Embarking on a kitchen renovation requires a judicious balance between aspiration and affordability. Collaborating with design professionals will uncover innovative features, avant-garde ma -

The dated kitchen before renovation.

This 3-level rowhouse on Capitol Hill was renovated with the future in mind. The clients wanted a space they could agein-place. There are accessible elements throughout the home. In this picture is the entrance for the kitchen, the couple wanted lots of sunlight and easy access to their courtyard. All Photos: Geoffrey Hodgdon

terials, and sophisticated nishes that you might not have considered or known about, but now nd indispensable. The intricacy of kitchen renovations—replete with plumbing, electrical, and structural alterations—necessitates the expertise of seasoned professionals. A design/build rm that resonates with your aesthetic and functional aspirations can transcend mere ideas into a tangible, living space, perfectly tailored to your needs. You can trust our research and experience to navigate the complexities of construction, ensuring a seamless, e cient transformation of your kitchen.

The Ask: “I want to save time and money by creating a kitchen where I will want to cook more and where we can enjoy eating as a family.”

Wentworth: As the world has begun to adapt to living with COVID-19 and restrictions have lifted, the question arises: Are people cooking more at home post-COVID, or has there been a reversion to pre-pandemic habits? The extent to which people are cooking more or less varies widely and depends on several factors, including personal preferences, lifestyle changes, and economic circumstances. However, creating a space that is comfortable and custom to you and your family’s habits and aesthetic can almost guarantee that you will want to spend more time as home chef.

The Ask: “I need practical and intentional storage solutions.”

Wentworth: Our clients want things o the counters and tucked away unless it is open shelving that will allow for the display of favorite dishes, plants, recipe books. As we reshape kitchens to cater to a broader scope of activities, incorporating adaptable design features becomes imperative. Consider innovative storage solutions that can easily be recon gured to suit changing needs—from a bustling cooking area to a serene workspace. Here are a few popular asks:

• One of the most common trends is the shift towards pull-out and roll-out cabinets and shelves. This makes it easier to

access items stored in the back of cabinets, reducing the need to reach or stoop.

• Custom drawer organizers have also become a staple in modern kitchen design. They allow homeowners to tailor storage spaces to their speci c needs, whether for cutlery, utensils, or even larger items like pots and pans.

• The desire to keep countertops clean and clutter-free has led to the popularity of appliance garages. These storage areas conceal small appliances like toasters, blenders, and co ee makers, keeping them accessible but out of sight when not in use.

• Vertical Storage including tall pantry cabinets and pull-out spice racks, allow homeowners to utilize kitchen height and maximize storage space without occupying additional oor space.

• Hidden storage solutions include hidden pantry spaces, concealed dishwashers, and refrigerators that blend seamlessly with cabinetry.

The Ask: “I want a sustainable kitchen.”

Wentworth: Sustainability is a growing concern among homeowners, in uencing kitchen storage trends. Eco-friendly materials, such as bamboo and recycled wood, are being used for cabinets and shelves, re ecting a commitment to sustainability in kitchen design.

Your kitchen’s remodeling journey is an opportunity to craft a truly multifunctional haven, re ecting both your personal style and the evolving dynamics of home life. With thoughtful planning, a collaborative approach, and an emphasis on quality and functionality, the result will be a space that not only meets the culinary demands of the modern family but also stands as a testament to resilience and innovation in design—making every moment spent in it genuinely enjoyable.

Christopher Barson is an interior designer and the sales manager for Wentworth, a home remodeling design/build rm. Contact him at cbarson@wentworthstudio.com to learn more about the rm’s design/build services. ◆

Over 30 years assisting clients in residential, multi-family & probate estate sales in the DMV.

EVELYN BRANIC ® REALTOR

(202) 741-1674

Ebranic.cbintouch.com

Ebranic@cbmove.com

350 7th St SE, WDC 20003

Experience Matters When it Comes to FINDING YOUR DREAM HOME

Photo by Lis Wackman

PLAY BALL! Capitol Hill native Sidney Hais lived by those words. In his oral history he recounted lobbying to bring major league baseball back to DC and relived his thrill attending the 1924 World Series at the old Griffith Stadium. Hais loved baseball and the Capitol Hill that gave his immigrant father a home in 1913. Read the oral histories of Sidney Hais and so many others at CapitolHillHistory.org. Play a part in preserving Capitol Hill history by becoming a volunteer.

Dear Garden Lady,

by Capitol Hill Garden Club

In the Weeds

Is white clover a weed or a bene cial plant?

White clover, Trifolium repens, is considered both a weed and a bene cial plant. A member of the legume family, the leaves consist of three rounded lea ets, with a white or pink tinged ower. Clover grows about four to six inches high and spreads aggressively from stem joints. Native to Europe and Central Asia, it is used as a forage crop, and is common plant in North American lawns. Clover prefers sun to light shade; it does not grow as well in deep shade or when temperatures are over 85 degrees. White clover is just one of many clover species, but the only one recommended for lawns.

On Capitol Hill, a white clover lawn may be a good choice for the harsh environment of a tree box, or a small, low-maintenance yard. It will not hold up to heavy foot trafc, and is not a good choice for people with bee allergies.

Clover lawns are increasing in popularity, requiring little mowing and less inputs than grass. Clover only needs water during the initial seeding and periods of drought; once established deep roots sustain it. Clover grows in poor and compacted soils and improves them by taking nitrogen from the air and adding it to the soil. Clover is a ro-

bust grower, keeping other plants from establishing themselves and is not bothered by insect pests. Clover attracts bees and other pollinators. Dog urine does not create brown spots in clover.

The drawbacks to clover lawns are they are less resilient to foot trafc than turf, stinging insects (pollinators) are more common, clover stains are more difficult to remove than grass stains and clover may spread to areas where it is not wanted.

White clover may also be used as one component of a lawn, suppressing other lawn weeds and providing some nutrients for grass.

‘Pirouette’ and ‘Pipolina’ are smaller varieties of white clover, called microclover. These expensive and hard to nd seeds produce shorter plants with smaller leaves and fewer owers compared to the

White clover, Trifolium repens

Photo: Library of Congress

standard white clover. Microclover testing by the University of Maryland showed that the plants are less robust than white clover and recommended against using them exclusively as a ground cover.

Clover is considered a weed in the garden.

Is it possible to grow four-leaf clover?

Some people believe that the four-leaf clover brings luck. The four-leaf clover is an infrequent variation of white clover occurring once in every 5,000 clovers. Scientists are uncertain of all the causes of the variation; it is believed to have both a genetic and environmental component, but the interaction of the two is not yet understood. Even more rarely, clovers can have more than four leaves. The Guinness World Records has several lucky clover records: the most leaves on a clover stem are 56, discovered in Japan in 2009, and the most four-leaf clovers collected in one hour by an individual is 166. Four-leaf clover seeds available online produce plants more likely to have the four-leaf variation, but most will be the common three-leaf variety.

This column contains gardening advice, information and commentary from the Capitol Hill Garden Club. Send your questions to capitolhillgardenclub@ gmail.com

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. ◆

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.

ARTS& DINING

Theater Night A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV

by Matthew McClure

Where do you come from? What stories does your grandma tell at the weekend family barbeque? Heritage, history, and what we choose to remember or forget about our past can reveal a lot about who we are. The month of May marks Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month and National Preservation Month, so this column examines theater that deconstructs heritage, history, identity, and what we inherit from those that came before us. Read on for our curated selection.

In The Spotlight

Metamorphoses, Folger Theatre

Showing May 7 – June 16 www.folger.edu

It’s hard to believe that anything positive could come from the brutal slaying of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Tennessee police in January of last year. To Director Psalmayene 24, this tragic event was yet another example of the disregard for Black life prevalent in American society, but inherent in this act of violence was the potential for creativity.

Heritage and history are slippery concepts. They are weaponized by politicians but can also be sources of pride. Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses – a modern interpretation of Ovid’s classical poem by the same name – is a lesson in how we are all much more alike than we are different. Themes of struggle, triumph, tragedy, and transformation touch all of us, regardless of our different heritage and histories. We laugh and cry together, Metamorphoses teach-

es us, and the opportunity for Psalmayene 24 to carry this important message into the world after Nichols’ death through his exegesis of Zimmerman’s work at the Folger Theatre was too irresistible to pass up.

“The police killing of Tyre Nichols was the impetus behind how we decided to interpret this production, working with an all-Black ensemble. It’s how we chose to frame the piece, but I didn’t want grief to overshadow the production. It’s proved a rich starting point in terms of the

Metamorphoses: Cast of Folger Theatre’s Metamorphoses. Photo: Peggy Ryan. Amm(i)gone:

casting.” Psalm elaborates. “Black culture is being inserted into every element of the design of the play. The costumes are inspired by clothing from the African Diaspora. The music is a survey of Black music; tipping our hats to the origins of Black music. It shows up in the scenic design and setting of this world.” The all-Black cast of 11 (a first in Folger’s history) was chosen purposely by Psalm to emphasize the inherent value of Black culture and as a celebration of life rather than a meditation on death. “We’re transcending grief. This is a celebration of Black culture and the African Diaspora.”

One of the key themes in Metamorphoses is transformation. It’s sprinkled liberally throughout the 11 vignettes in various forms, both literal and metaphorical. In this election year, there’s never been a more important time to remind ourselves that transformation and change is always possible.

On Right Now

Mexodus, Mosaic Theater Company

Showing May 16 – June 15 www.mosaictheater.org

Did you know that in the mid 19th Century about 10,000 enslaved African Americans chose to head south to Mexico to seek their freedom, instead of north? Men, women and children fled plantations in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, braving the arid conditions of the Nueces Strip and risk of capture or attack to seek refuge through Mexico’s anti-slavery laws, passed in 1821. They were helped along the way by sympathetic Mexicans from all walks of life that believed in equality, freedom and protection

from unjust persecution.

This month, Mosaic Theater Company has partnered with Baltimore Center Stage to interpret this littleknown chapter of AmericanMexican history through a live-looped hip-hop musical.

Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson’s Mexodus shakes the dust off what we think we know about our history and heritage. “This show is about the untold story of the Underground Railroad that went south to Mexico. The overarching theme is Black and Brown solidarity and using this story to talk about all the ways we’re in solidarity with one another.” says Robinson.

Historians like Alice Baumgartner, Mekala Audain and Kyle Ainsworth have started excavating the archive of collaboration between Black and Brown people on what’s called the “Southbound Underground Railroad,” and Mexodus is a contemporary, intensely personal and vitally important contribution to this field of study.

Quijada explains that Mexodus’ subject matter is close to his heart both creatively and spiritually. “I write a lot about the border, about immigration, about my parents crossing the southern border. This is an immigration story I’m familiar with, it’s just a reverse border story.” Both he and Robinson have worked hard to avoid any stereotypical representations of enslaved people, or what Quijada refers to as “trauma porn.” They do this through the collaborative act of contemporary music-making (which underscores the spirit of co-operation that inspired the play) and via a raw, heartfelt exposition by Robinson that sets the scene for the action.

Why don’t we know more about this shared heritage between America and Mexico? Perhaps, as Robinson points out, it’s because those that fled and created new lives were so successful at integration that their narratives are like well-guarded family secrets; retold around the dinner table at spe-

cial occasions or during celebrations like Día de los Negros, the Mexican version of Juneteenth.

If after watching Mexodus you’d like to learn more about the Southbound Underground Railroad, read Alice Baumgartner’s South to Freedom: Runaway Slaves to Mexico and the Road to the Civil War.

Catch before Closing

Amm(i)gone,

Woolly Mammoth Theater Company Showing April 20 – May 12

www.woollymammoth.net

Director, Playwright and Performer Adil Mansoor’s new play Amm(i)gone – presented in asso-

ciation with Kelly Strayhorn Theater and co-directed by Lyam B. Gabel - asks a fundamental question many of us have grappled with: What happens when who you are is at odds with your family’s heritage and history?

Antigone is a play by the ancient Greek Tragedian Sophocles, written around 441 BCE within a cultural context of ancient Greek heritage and early democracy, so themes of morality, honor, duty, and love abound. Of course, there’s much more under the surface, Mansoor says, who has reimagined this classic work to tell an intimate story about himself and his Pakistani-born mother. “The play is attempting to complicate what it means to come out and what coming out can look like. The ways in which ‘silence’, ‘veil’ and ‘closet’ function. I love Sophocles’ Antigone. I brought it up with my mom and she loved it.”

Through various ephemera connected to a dialogue about Antigone with his mom (old childhood photos, audio recordings, pieces of text), Mansoor lays bare the vulnerability of both mother and eldest child through the tracing of an evolving journey of both growth and acceptance. “The play itself is the project. My mom started wearing a hijab in the late 90s. In photos from my early childhood, she isn’t veiled, so we had to come up with ways of sharing those photos in the play that still respect her faith. It’s become an artistic launching pad for much of the project.”

I ask Mansoor whether his mom has watched it. “She hasn’t officially seen the work. The invitation is there though.”

Amm(i)gone has been incarnated in various forms since 2019, when Mansoor first began experimenting with it, but this will be the first large-scale production so be sure to catch it before it closes. u

Playwright Adil Mansoor as a child. Photo courtesy Adil Mansoor.

Mexodus: Brian Quijada (L) and Nygel D. Robinson (R) in the Baltimore Center Stage production of Mexodus. Photo: J Fannon Photography.

Capitol Cuisine

by Celeste McCall

Joey’s: Barracks Row Revival

Remember Marty’s, the down-home Barracks Row restaurant/bar at 527 Eighth St. SE? We used to watch football games there, munching on Marty’s popcorn or chowing down on homemade chili. Marty’s folded years ago, replaced by the Greekthemed Cava. That restaurant also departed. Now, Joey’s, a family-friendly spot, has opened at that same address. The proprietor is restaurateur John Boyle, who operated Marty’s there and still owns the building.

Joey’s–which accommodates 180 plus patio seating–sports a light and airy décor with a handsome, expanded bar. Heading the spi ed-up kitchen is Rob Gilson, a former US Senate chef. Among

Joey’s eclectic lineup are risotto parmesan bites, spicy wings, homemade chili, Reubens, beef brisket and lots more, plus a kids’ menu. You’ve got to try the hot pastrami sandwich snuggled in toasted rye. Sourced from a Baltimore purveyor, the moist, succulent pastrami is about the best I’ve tasted. Mine was served with coleslaw and three kinds of mustard–Dijon, deli and whole-grain. The overstu ed New England lobster roll--escorted with fries, coleslaw and pickle–is a bargain at $24.95. Piled atop a grilled bun with a mayonnaise sauce, it’s one of the best lobster rolls we’ve consumed south of Maine. Marty’s spacious front patio and handsome roof deck are pet-friendly. Closed Monday. For hours and more information visit www.barracksrowjoeys.com.

New Navy Yard Deli

Beresovsky’s Deli has opened at 1201 Half St. SE, across from Nats Park. Part of Knead Hospitality + Design, the tiny, New York/Jewish style enterprise slings deli mainstays. You’ll nd Reubens, smoked white sh salad, beef brisket, bagels, Ivy City smoked salmon, black-and-white cookies. Plus beer, wine, plain and spiked milkshakes. Some items are sold by the pound or half pound.

On a blustery Saturday, Peter and I checked it out. Wedged next door to parent restaurant Gatsby, Beresovsky’s is mainly a carryout with only a few stools for dining-in. All were occupied, the wait was long, and it was far too cold to sit outside at a picnic table. We’ll try again soon. Beresovsky’s is open daily; on Nats game days get there EARLY. For hours and more information visit www.beresovskys.com. So, we repaired next door to the much larger, fullservice Gatsby. Diners might expect F. Scott’s iconic character to stroll into the handsome Art Deco space. The room is dominated by a four-sided bar, with umpteen TV screens hovering above. We were seated at a corner table, where we chatted with two ladies in town for a wedding. From the lunch/brunch lineup, we began with butternut squash soup. The tummy warming, slightly sweet montage was laced with what tasted like yogurt.

My hearty Greek omelet was lled with beef and lamb gyros, topped with tzatziki and escorted by fried potato cubes and peppers. Crispy calamari was tossed with cherry peppers and pickled onions, which added zip. Unfor-

tunately, some of the tentacles were rather rubbery. Among other options were chicken pot pie, shrimp-and-grits scampi, steakand-eggs. Sandwiches include Monte Cristo (deep fried ham and Gruyere); burgers, grilled chicken on a brioche. For lunch, I ordered a Bloody Mary, which our server assured me was “not too

TOP TO BOTTOM:

A Joey’s menu highlight is succulent pastrami, snuggled in toasted rye with coleslaw and pickle.

On Barracks Row, Joey’s, a family friendly restaurant/bar, opened last year in the former Marty’s space.

A Gatsby favorite is savory butternut squash soup, enlivened with a dollop of yogurt.

Gatsby’s kitchen features a generous Greek omelet filled with beef and lamb gyros.

Gatsby, parent restaurant to the new Beresovsky’s Deli, sports an Art Deco ambience, lively bar and eclectic menu.

spicy,” but the pre-mixed drink practically blew my head off. Instead, I settled for a pleasant Cote du Rhone (red) wine. (The Bloody Mary was subtracted from our bill.) Lunch for two came to $75 including tax and tip. Service was well-intentioned but somewhat discombobulated. We had to practically beg for silverware, and getting a printed receipt was cumbersome. For hours and more information visit www. gatsbyrestaurant.com.

Wine About It

Nearby, District Winery, 385 Water St. SE, now serves Saturday and Sunday brunch. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., folks chow down on blue crab stuffed arancini (rice balls), avocado toast, chicken and waffles, eggs Benedict, French toast and more, plus brunchy cocktails like mimosas and Bloody Marys. A working winery, District Winery operates a restaurant and bar on the ground floor. For reservations and more information visit www.districtwinery.com.

New on H

Beef nudged out fondue as Steak Frites DC arrived last month at 1324 H St. NE, formerly the Swiss-style Stable. The owners are the same: David Fritsche and Sylvan Kraemer, who decided on a menu change. Steak Frites DC is reportedly modeled after Entrecote Café de Paris, the century-old French restaurant. Serving premium steak, fries, salad and bread-and-butter, DC Frites will reportedly be a dressier version of the former Barracks Row steakhouse. Medium Rare, we’re told.

Gone

Sospeso, the cozy Mediterranean café at 1344 H St. NE, folded last month after seven years in business. Will miss the creamy hummus, spicy Turkish lentil soup, grilled lamb chops and lively bar scene.

RAMMY Nominees

Coming up: The 42nd annual RAMMY Awards gala is slated for July 21. Among RAMMY finalists are several Capitol Hill (and nearby) food professionals in various categories: New Restaurant of the Year: Hiraya (H Street NE) and I Egg You (Barracks Row); Rising Culinary Star: Matt Sperber (Any Day Now, Navy Yard); Casual Restaurant: La Famosa (Navy Yard); Upscale Casual Restaurant: Shilling Catering Company (Navy Yard); Pastry Chef (or Baker): Isabel Coss, Pascual (Maryland Ave. NE); Restaurateur of the Year: Jose Andres (multiple restaurants plus worldwide humanitarian aid), and Call Your Mother (nominees at several locations); Favorite Gathering Place: Mi Vida (District Wharf).

Sponsored by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), the RAMMY Awards Gala will be held at the Walter Washington Convention Center. For tickets and more information visit www. ramw.org.

Wharf Southern Charm

The District Wharf welcomes the long-awaited Kinfolk Southern Kitchen, 685 Wharf St. SW. Part of the Eaternity Hospitality Group, the newcomer is billed as a “Bourbon and Barbecue” restaurant. The menu focuses on “Americana” comfort foods including smoked pork shoulder with signature sauce, smoked ribs, shrimpand-grits, wings, fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, and a generous BBQ sampler. Check out the tandoori chicken, made from a 100-year-old family recipe. Plus Bourbon-based cocktails. For more information visit www.kinfolksouthern.com.

And…Nearby, coming soon to 515 Eighth St. SE: Jabwemet Indian Kitchen. Watch for updates. u

UPCOMING PROGRAMS STUDIO ARTS

Contemporary Watercolors Course

Saturday, May 4, 12:00pm-2:00pm

Introduction to Linocut Printmaking Workshop

Saturday, May 4, 2:30pm-5:00pm

Cherry Blossom Sip ’n Paint!

Saturday, May 4, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Contemporary Watercolors Course

Begins Monday, May 6, 6:30pm-8:00pm

Basic Drawing Techniques Course: Drawing From an Image Begins Tuesday, May 7, 6:30pm-8:00pm

CONCERTS

American Roots Concert Series: Viv & Riley

Sunday, May 5, 4:30pm

Masters of Irish & Cape Breton Fiddle Featuring Acclaimed Musicians Caitlin Warbelow and Troy MacGillivary Saturday, May 11, 4:30pm

Stone Room Concerts @ Hill Center Featuring Sam Raider & The Human Hands Friday, May 17, 7:00pm

Acclaimed Brass Supergroup Dupont Brass in Concert Sunday, May 19, 3:45pm COOKING CLASSES & TASTINGS

Master Chef: Blintzes and Borekas with Noted Jewish Chef Susan Barcas and Veteran Food Writer Bonnie Benwick

Saturday, May 4, 11:00am-2:00pm

Master Chef Featuring Famed Chinese Chef Peter Chang Sunday, May 5, 11:00am-1:30pm SOLD OUT

Wine Tasting Featuring Expert Janet Cam: Affordable and Fabulous? Trader Joe’s Has it All Thursday, May 9, 7:00pm-9:00pm

Thai Flavors with Chef Marianne Tshihamba

Saturday, May 11, 11:00am-2:00pm

Chen ou Jen, the National Dish of Senegal, with Chef Marianne Tshihamba

Sunday, May 12, 11:00am-2:00pm

Kitchen 101: Knife Skills with Chef Wendi James Tuesday, May 14, 6:00pm-7:30pm

Kitchen 101: Knife Skills with Chef Wendi James Tuesday, May 28, 6:00pm-7:30pm

LECTURES & CONVERSATIONS

Mapping Segregation in Washington, DC - Walking Tour Featuring Historian Sarah Jane Shoenfeld Sunday, May 5, 2:00pm

Take a Tour of Hill Center with David Bell, Award-Winning DC Architect Saturday & Sunday, May 11-12, 3:00pm-3:45pm

DISH! The Storytelling Cocktail Hour Wednesday, May 15, 7:00pm Award-Winning Author Dean King Discusses Guardians of the Valley: John Muir and the Friendship that Saved Yosemite in Conversation with John Grady

Tuesday, May 21, 7:00pm

The Life of a Poet Featuring Critically Acclaimed Poet Reggie Cabico in Conversation with Kyle Dargan Thursday, May 23, 7:00pm

LANGUAGES

French Language Course: Beginners Begins Tuesday, May 7, 6:00pm-8:00pm

French Language Course: Intermediate / Advanced Begins Thursday, May 9, 6:00pm-8:00pm

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

Addison/Ripley

Jonathan Monaghan

“Power Trip” Through May 25

addisonripleyfineart.com

Jonathan Monaghan’s latest exhibition at Addison/Ripley Fine Art, in collaboration with bitforms gallery, is a riveting exploration of art and technology. The show features Monaghan’s groundbreaking “Power Trip” series—photography and animation that blend Renaissance influences with modern digital aesthetics. In this collection, Monaghan reimagines historical portraits using elements from contemporary consumer electronics and furniture, presenting figures as modern aristocrats consumed by materialism and digital technology. These portraits merge the opulence of Raphael and Bronzino with the surreal, crafting a narrative about power and technological impact on human identity.

The visually lush and thoughtprovoking exhibition challenges viewers to reflect on the pervasive influence of digital culture. Monaghan employs cutting-edge generative algorithms to probe the intersections of technology, consumerism, and power which resonate with contemporary societal fears. “Power Trip” invites audiences to reconsider traditional artistic motifs in the context of today’s technological landscape. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in the dynamic between art, technology, and society. 1670 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and by appointment. 202-338-5180

Art and the City

by Phil Hutinet

The National Building Museum

“Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania” Through March 17, 2025 www.nbm.org

“Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania,” currently showcased at The National Building Museum, is a collaborative effort between The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Fallingwater, and curators Scott W. Perkins and Jeremiah William McCarthy. The exhibition offers a deep dive into Wright’s architectural designs from the 1930s to the 1950s, with a particular focus on Southwestern Pennsylvania. It highlights both his realized and unrealized projects, illustrating how Wright’s pioneering ideas

might have reshaped urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.

The display features an immersive multimedia experience created by Skyline Ink Animators + Illustrators. This element of the exhibition brings to life five of Wright’s never-built projects through advanced 3D rendering and cinematic techniques, offering a glimpse into what these structures might have looked like. Visitors are invited to an enhanced viewing experience in a theater setting, complete with a musical score by Daniel May and Marty Ashby, which deepens the exploration of Wright’s architectural vision.

Additionally, the exhibition places Wright’s work within a broader context, emphasizing his role as an urban planner and his influence on notable figures such as Edgar J. Kaufmann, Sr., a key proponent of Wright’s involvement in Pittsburgh’s architectural development. By presenting both completed and speculative projects, the ex-

The National Building Museum: Sketch-Point View Residences. Frank Lloyd Wright (18671959), architect, Point View Residences for the Edgar J. Kaufmann Charitable Trust (Scheme II), 1952, Ink, pencil, and color pencil on tracing paper, 34-1/2 x 29 in., The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives (The Museum of Modern Art | Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York), 5310.001

hibition aligns with the Museum’s themes of Wonder and Innovation, prompting visitors to contemplate the transformative impact of architecture. 401 F Street NW. Open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 202.272.2448.

Pazo Fine Art

Karin Davie and Caitlin Teal Price “The Reality Principle” Through May 25 www.pazofineart.com

The latest exhibition featuring artists Davie and Price transports audiences into a captivating realm where abstract art intersects the microscopic and cosmic. Dedicated to form and meticulous in process, the artists present immersive experiences that blur tangible and ethereal boundaries. Davie’s seven pieces showcase her expertise in rhythmic, wave-like forms across variously shaped canvases, exploring undulating patterns that play with edges and spaces. Her technique of col-

Animation Still -Point View Residences. Skyline Ink Animators + Illustrators, designers. Project for Point View Residences for the Edgar J. Kaufmann Charitable Trust, digital illustration, 2023. This image was prepared with material kindly

Addison/Ripley Fine Art: Jonathan Monaghan, “Soft Power VIII”, 2024, Giclée on Hahnemühle Photo Luster mounted on ragboard, 32 x 42 inches, ed. of 3. Image courtesy of bitforms gallery

made available by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Courtesy of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. All rights reserved.

or gradation and strategic wave arrangement around central voids mimics celestial phenomena, producing an effect similar to shimmering light.

Price contributes nine drawings that demonstrate her skill in intricate mark-making. She meticulously etches fine lines into photographs, capturing fleeting interplays of light and shadow. This labor-intensive process emphasizes the physicality of her artistic endeavor, embedding a tangible presence in each piece. Both artists display an athletic-like physicality in their work. Davie’s precise brushwork and Price’s detailed etchings require unfaltering precision and endurance, akin to an athlete’s controlled movements.

Titled “The Reality Principle,” the exhibition draws from psychoanalytic theory, symbolizing the artists’ disciplined approach to transcending immediate sensory experiences. This controlled practice invites viewers to oscillate between the microscopic and the infinite, engaging in a deeper contemplation of physical and metaphysical realms. 1932 9th Street NW, #C102, (Enter from 9 1/2 Street), Washington, DC. Gallery Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 571-315-5279.

The Phillips Collection

“Where We Meet”

Through August 15, 2024 www.phillipscollection.org

The Phillips Collection, in partnership with Howard University Gallery of Art, unveils ‘Where We Meet: Selections from the Howard University Gallery of Art and The Phillips Collection.’ This unique exhibition celebrates the longstanding bond shared by these iconic Washington, DC institutions, a bond that has flourished for nearly a hundred years.

Highlighting this exhibition are works by influ-

Loïs Mailou Jones,

ential artists who have shaped the early phases of both institutions. Among them are Howard University’s own Loïs Mailou Jones and James Lesesne Wells, whose works have left a profound imprint on the art community. The exhibit also includes pivotal works from each gallery, demonstrating the shared commitment to art collection, preservation, and public engagement.

This exhibit not only showcases significant artistic achievements but also illuminates the shared histories and mutual growth of The Phillips and Howard. It highlights their collaborative efforts in nurturing a space for art appreciation and education, reflecting their evolving partnership built on a mutual passion for the arts. 1600 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Reservations encouraged; members may walk-in. 202-387-2151

Phil Hutinet is the founding publisher of East City Art, DC’s visual art journal of record. For more information visit www.eastcityart.com u

Spargelzeit is here! White asparagus is in season and is now on the menu! Enjoy this German delicacy in our quaint biergarten or in our cozy dining rooms.

Open at Noon on Sunday, May 12th to celebrate Mother’s Day!

322-B Massachusetts Ave., NE Washington, DC 20002 www.cafeberlin-dc.com

Pazo Fine Art: Installation view,

“The Reality Principle”. Photograph by Kristofer Heng. Image courtesy Pazo Fine Art.

The Phillips Collection:

“Jennie”, 1943, Oil on canvas, 36 × 28 1/2 in., Howard University Gallery of Art

Erin Thompson Studio

Local Artist Captures Time in Artwork

Erin Thompson preserves memories. That makes her an artist for our time. Our world and our community have experienced a lot of loss lately: of people, of time with those people, of connection. She sees those gaps and fills them with her art.

Like many artists, she is an emotional person engaged in an intense process that drains her of emotion as she captures that of others. Videos on her Instagram depict a time lapse of her working on pieces, with pauses and hesitations edited out. She is best known for her images of people and places. Much of her work centers on people, preserving them as they were in a fleeting moment of time. She is also known for her depictions of buildings, homes full of happy memories, and businesses that were and are the locus of community, although her focus has shifted lately to the moments.

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

Thompson comes to her work from a personal perspective. After the loss of both parents in 2022, she and her sisters went to empty her parents’ apartment. Thompson came upon her father’s slippers, still askew where he left them.

They were a monument to his memory. “I was really hesitant to throw them out because I saw his presence in them, in his absence,” Thompson said. In the slippers she saw the indentations, the impressions, the wear of his daily life. “It made me just so aware of his absence but his presence at the same time,” she remembered. “So I think it’s kind of that essence of there’s something still there to hold on to.”

Thompson has a gift: she can see that space. Her art often depicts the memory that fills it. She has made that skill her business through Erin Thompson Studio, her home studio near Lincoln Park where she depicts memories of individuals and communities through commissioned works in ink, graphite and watercolor.

Her business has grown quickly. You’ve probably seen her work. She has donated her artwork to promote the 2023 Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) annual House and Garden Tour; designed adapted logos for neighborhood blog The Hill is Home and her drawing of a home an Christmas tree appeared on the cover of the December 2022 issue of the Hill Rag. These days, her work is now available on towels, holiday ornaments and cards online and at shops throughout the Hill. She is an official weekend

vendor, appearing about once a month at Eastern Market.

But Thompson’s journey to work as a fulltime artist was less direct.

A Path Back to Creativity

After finishing college in Delaware in 2000, she came to DC to take a job with the Federal Trade Commission as she considered whether or not to enter law school. The verdict: law was not for her. She then took a position with the FTC’s Office of Consumer and Business Education where she was asked. to do “creative things,” reconnecting her to her artistic side. In 2009, she went back to school, picking up a career in graphic and web design. As her youngest child reached preschool age in 2019, she decided to go into business for herself, just before COVID-19 hit the District.

Opening a business with so much uncertainty in the background, , Thompson decided to

Erin Thompson works from her home studio near Lincoln Park. Courtesy: Erin Thompson Studio

Thompson‘s work started with a focus on fleeting family moments, such as this one between two brothers.

make her first Mother’s Day promotion in part a fundraiser for some of the organizations working to bridge gaps created by the pandemic, such as Ward 6 Mutual Aid and the DC Diaper Bank. She asked patrons to pay what they could. “It was pretty popular,” she said. “I did lots and lots of pieces for people.”

Emotional Roots

Thompsons’ work is rooted in emotion —hers, and that of her patrons. She struggled emotionally as her son went to school, realizing that her last child was no longer a baby.

It was very therapeutic, she said, as she created images of herself nursing her son, or with her daughter when the latter was young. “So, I started thinking: well, maybe other people would find having images of them comforting,” Thompson remembered.

She started by capturing those fleeting magical family moments. But soon she branched out into capturing a sense of home, when tenants of a multi-family apartment asked her to draw an architectural portrait for a retiring building manager as a thank you gift. It was her first attempt, but she enjoyed it and the residents were pleased with it.

“That sort of spiraled,” Thompson said. “Buildings have meaning to people; [they’re]

people’s childhood homes.” When she heard Capitol Lounge was closing, she went to photograph it, wanting to capture the feeling before it was gone, sensing it would be important to neighbors. “And it was,” she said. Those works were extremely popular, and she depicted several other businesses over the years following.

As she worked, Thompson heard stories of people pulled away from their homes, particularly during the pandemic. Many didn’t expect to leave so suddenly; they did so having loved the homes they were leaving. They wanted a way to preserve the memory of the space where they’d brought their children home, or of the fond memories of the family time spent at that house together. For many, Thompson said, the depiction is “somehow like the holder of all these memories, and I think when they see it, they see all the little details that are specific to that home and that place and that time.”

Making Time

Thompson has a long wait list, and she grapples with how to handle it. “It’s wonderful, it’s gratifying,” Thompson said of the wait list. “It shows the need, I guess, that’s out there that people have for ways to capture these things that are meaningful for them.”

By March 2024, she had com-

pleted her 120th commission. Thompson usually has two or three simultaneously on the go, so that she can keep her approach fresh or allow for drying between stages.

Recently she put a temporarily pause on accepting new commissions for these architectural works. But she is still making time for art capturing the human moments. It’s never too early to plan a gift full of loving memories, so Thompson encourages interested parties to email her with ideas and reference photos.

Her prices vary and depend on size, style and complexity of subject matter. Works start at around $1,500 and increase from there. Art as a business is difficult, she said. She doesn’t want to restrict art to those who are affluent. At the same time, she has to make a living.

Over the last few years, her business has evolved to include prints, cards, wooden ornaments and even kitchen towels. You can see the full collection at www.ErinThompsonStudio.com where you can place an order and then pick up from her home near Lincoln Park.

This summer she opens her first show in the office of Dr. Nisham Halim (27 Sixth St. NE).

You can subscribe to her newsletter at erinthompsonstudio.com. Select items are available at local businesses such as Frager’s Hardware, Frame of Mine, East City Books, Sweet Crimes Bakery and Groovy DC.

Want to know when she’ll be at Eastern Market? Follow her on Instagram @erinthompsonstudio. View her portfolio at ErinMalickThompson.myportfolio.com. u

Scan this QR code to watch an Instagram time lapse video of Thompson working on the East Capitol piece from startto-finish. Courtesy: Erin Thompson Studio

Thompson’s work is now available on towels, ornaments and cards online and at shops throughout the Hill, at her website and at her pop-up at Eastern Market. Courtesy: Erin Thompson Studio

Although she has paused architectural commissions, she still makes time for these types of works as she builds her business. Courtesy: Erin Thompson Studio

the LITERARY HILL

A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events

by Michelle LaFrance

Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th

For this month’s column, I interviewed Kitty Felde, author of Losing is Democratic, a book that teaches children about the January 6th insurrection in 2021. Felde also shares information about her other books featuring young detective, Fina Mendoza, below.

Literary Hill: Why did you decide to write this book?

Kitty Felde: I covered Capitol Hill for nearly a decade as a public radio reporter. I was in California on January 6th, where I watched TV in shock as a mob of unhappy voters overran my old office: the U.S. Capitol. I knew those members of Congress who were trapped in the House Gallery, the staffers who spent six hours locked in office bathrooms, the police officers who used to give me a hard time about forgetting to put my phone through the metal detector. The insurrection felt like a home invasion.

In my post-journalism career, I’d produced the Book Club for Kids podcast where I’d go into schools to talk to kids about books. Many of those schools are on Capitol Hill. As I watched the violence unfold, I thought of the kids I’d met. Their parents worked on the Hill. What were they feel -

ing? How did their teachers talk to them about January 6th? I wanted to do something to respond. I asked Capitol Hill teachers what they said in their classrooms. And after some reflection, I realized the larger question was about winning and losing and how important those two concepts are in just about anything: spelling bees, baseball games, as well as elections. All require both winners and gracious losers.

I’d been writing a series of mysteries about the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman who solves mysteries on Capitol Hill. It seemed important that I write about January 6th through the eyes of Fina Mendoza. That became the novella Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th.

LH: Why is it important to help children understand what happened on January 6th, 2021? KF: We’d like to wrap our children in cotton to protect them from the dark things in the world. But all we can really do is help them understand them. With all the disinformation floating around about January 6th, it’s vital that children know the truth about what happened and why. Kids are our future voters and future members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, even presidents. If we want a healthy democracy, we can’t let them become cynical or turned off by our system of government. I write the Fina Mendoza novels to inspire them to think about public service or at least about casting a ballot.

LH: Will we find other mysteries starring the intrepid Fina Mendoza in print? Are there new mysteries, starring Fina, yet to come?

KF: Yes indeed! The first two full length Fina Mendoza mysteries are available in print: “Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza” (about the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill) and “State of the Union” (about the bird that pooped on the president during the State of the Union address.) The books are also available in Spanish. “Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza” is out now, and “Estado de la Unión” comes out in July. Book three is called “Snake in the Grass” (spring 2025 - Chesapeake Press) and it’s about the bitter partisanship on Capitol Hill.

FYI, Fina has no interest in running for office herself. She doesn’t like asking for money to campaign, knocking on strangers’ doors to ask for their vote, or sitting through meeting after meeting. Her older sister Gabby might be the next politician in the family. All the books are designed to introduce civics to elementary age students.

There is also a free curriculum that accompanies Losing is Democratic, available at: https:// drive.google.com/file/d/1HuYAlm0DR6t49bS2 oFivJSGoGkqzGdY2/view

Reviews

Losing is Democratic

When Fina’s congressman father is caught in the events of January 6, 2021, she must set aside her investigation into the missing 5th grade pizza to confront the realities of a divided nation. Fina, her sister, Gabby, and their grandmother, Abuelita, watch in horror as a mob breaches the Capitol, where her father works. As the story progresses, Fina and her classmates must reflect on the significance of being able to lose. A compelling tale that highlights the electoral process and the impact of political events.

Kitty Felde

The Waterman’s Widow

Carol McCabe Booker dives into a real-life murder mystery that shook Maryland in 1900. The story follows the investigation into the shooting death of Littleton (“Lit”) Condiff, revealing the harshness of life as a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay. Booker, a journalist and lawyer, meticulously pieces together the case through historical documents and newspaper accounts. Not simply a whodunit, but a painstakingly researched window into the past, readers will find themselves questioning the motives of Bessie Condiff, the victim’s wife, as they are engrossed by rich detail surrounding Lit’s murder.

Unique Eats and Eateries of Washington, DC

JoAnn Hill takes you on a foodie adventure through D.C. More than just a guide, Hill celebrates the passionate individuals who create DC’s unique flavors, uncovering the stories behind the chefs and dishes. Readers will find familiar comforts, mouthwatering indulgences and exotic delights—iconic half-smokes, barbeque, and sweets to Ethiopian stews, crispy dosa crepes, and Lox’d and Loaded Bloody Marys.

NOVA Bookstore Crawl

Feeling adventurous? This bookstore crawl features fifteen independent bookstores in NOVA, MD, and WV. Stores have partnered to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day and will continue to stamp passports and offer special events through May. Why not start with a special visit to WordPlay in Wardensville, WV? More information: https://events.humanitix.com/nova-bookstore-crawl

Michelle LaFrance is Associate Professor of English at George Mason University. She teaches creative nonfiction, life writing, and civic writing at the Hill Center and blogs about writing, her upcoming writing classes, and writing retreats at writinglostriver.org. u

Poetic Hill María Fernanda

by Sandra Beasley

María Fernanda (she/hers) is an award-winning poet whose work “invokes sea crossings with... the breaking and making of family” (OkayAfrica). Awarded the Norma Elia Cantú Award in Creative Writing, she has received literary appointments from the National Endowment for the Arts, Arizona Commission on the Arts, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, and the Academy of American Poets. Of DC origin, she performs her poetry in service of locally rooted initiatives and conversations across the country, including at Healing Verse Poetry Line in Philadelphia, PA; Denton Black Film Festival in Denton, TX; and The Bronx is Reading: The Bronx Book Festival in The Bronx, NY, as well as for the Youth Leadership Foundation in Washington, DC.

María Fernanda's literary works have appeared in publications such as Cheryl Clark's “born in a bed of good lessons: inspired by works by Lucille Clifton,” Cynthia Manick's “Soul Sister Revue,” Cave Canem's “Dogbytes” blog, Library of Congress' “Presidential Campaign Posters” book, and elsewhere. María Fernanda is a Program Partner of the District of Columbia Public Library. For more, visit mariafernandapoet.com.

The Art of Inflorescence for my grandfather

My brain tissue curls each year tighter like everyone else.

Visiting the tidal basin for the first time, I see why the cherry-blossom tourist visits: a blush abstraction

stirs overhead; gossamer lace drapes every branch;

a desire to flicker; perhaps people find themselves here. Time leaves

lines on people —the tree rings of a good time, of another hour, of an ancestor arising.

Sandra Beasley is the curator of “Poetic Hill,” a resident of Southwest, and the author of four poetry collections. If you live in D.C. and you’re interested in being featured, you can reach her at sandrabeasley@earthlink.net for questions and submissions (1-5 poems). u

Carol McCabe Booker

JoAnne Hill

Custom Beauty Med Studio

Non-Surgical Treatments to Enhance Natural Beauty

by Pattie Cinelli

One day, my reading glasses firmly planted on my nose, I looked into the mirror. Where skin once flowed smoothly from one side of my chin to the other, I saw actual drooping jowls framing a crevasse on each side of my nose and mouth. Yikes!

Plastic surgery might rectify the situation.

However, I am understandably reluctant to go under the knife, as well as hesitant to spend my savings on an elective operation not covered by my health insurance. Then I learned about Morpheus8 from Chelsea Samo-Lipman, the owner of Custom Beauty Med Studio (www.custombeautymedstudio.com), located at 660 Pennsylvania Ave SE.

“Morpheus8 tightens the skin,” Samo-Lipman told me.

Morpheus8

Morpheus8 is an FDAapproved radio frequency (RF) microneedling device. During the treatment, ultra-thin needles plated in gold that emit radio-frequency energy are stamped into the skin to create a controlled injury, which in turn prompts the body to produce collagen and elastin.

It doesn’t produce as radical results as a facelift but it’s one of the most powerful RF treatments on the market, Samo-Lipman said.

Morpheus8 is just one of the minimally invasive treatments Samo-Lipman offers that she says can turn back your body clock.

Custom Beauty Med Studio

When Samo-Lipman moved to the Hill in 2017, she wanted to be able to walk to work.

It’s a perfect location for her business. “Most of my clientele are in the neighborhood,” she said. “I like having close relationships with my clients

Chelsea Samo-Lipton

An intense pulsed-light procedure uses a strong wavelength of light to break up hyperpigmentation.

2024 CAPITOL HILL COMMUNITY GUIDE

and I like that they can come in easily for checkups and an occasional tweak.”

Samo-Lipman, a physician assistant, had worked in an emergency room. That stress, combined with personal loss in her life, caused her hair to fall out. The only treatment that worked for her was PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections. “They were so expensive. I decided to buy the machine to do the treatments myself.” At Custom Beauty Med Studio, Samo-Lipman offers PRF (platelet rich fibrin) treatments, which are an improvement on PRP. PRF contains no heparin or sodium citrate, so no added chemicals or added burn on injection. “It’s more effective and natural.”

Samo-Lipman broke several fingers and couldn’t work in the ER. Recovering, she visited her aunt, a nurse practitioner. Her aunt taught her how to administer most neuromodulators like Botox, Jeuveau and Daxxify. “I wasn’t planning on opening my own shop, but started offering treatments to nurses at work. It snowballed from there.”

During COVID, in addition to her job in the ER, Samo-Lipman owned a mobile med spa for two years. Masked, she traveled to homes, offices and a few gyms, administering treatments before she opened Custom Beauty Med Studio.

Samo-Lipman offers three tips to stave off the impact of aging. “Always use SPF 50 or greater daily, no matter what, even if you think you will be inside all day or it’s winter. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself. Drink lots of water. Do not smoke. I pride myself in helping everyone bring out the best version of themselves, which is what you looked like 10 or 15 years ago, and not look like someone else.”

“I called it Custom Beauty because everybody is different and every treatment needs to be customized,” she explained. “It depends on your goals, the condition of your skin and your lifestyle.”

Custom Beauty Med Studio has been open for about two years.

All types of clients visit. Botox is popular with men. “I have male clients who have been sent in by their wives.” Samo-Lipman also does body contouring that tones muscle and removes fat to shape different areas of the body. She offers non-invasive pelvic-floor treatments and dermal fillers for lips.

Hill resident Maria Lopez tried out a few treatments. “I wanted to look like I had a good night’s sleep but not look like I’ve had any treatments. Chelsea did exactly what I needed.” Lopez received Botox. She was also concerned about her dark circles which had not responded well to other treatments. Samo-Lipman suggested a filler and a laser treatment.

“It was incredible,” said Lopez. “I saw results right away. She explained how to take care of my skin. She told me I didn’t need to come back for seven months. I find her so honest and ethical.”

For more information, visit www.custombeautymedstudio. com.

Pattie Cinelli is a health and fitness professional and journalist who has been writing her column for more than 25 years. She focuses on nontraditional ways to stay healthy, get fit and get well. Please contact her at: fitmiss44@ aol.com. u

Chelsea Samo Lipman MSHS, PA-C

The District Vet Cats Need Annual Wellness Visits

by Dan Teich, DVM

Over the past two years we have noted a marked decrease in wellness visits for our feline friends. While it is true that dogs seem to have a knack for getting into more trouble than cats, this does not mean that cats are immune from Father Time. But cats are somewhat shy when discussing aging or discomfort issues with their people.

As pet parents/guardians/servants (we are talking cats, after all), our main duty is the comfort and happiness of those in our charge. Feeding a nutritious diet, along with providing shelter, exercise and environmental enrichment, are essential, as is a physical examination by a veterinarian.

We humans are recommended to see a physician annually, with a full physical examination, annual lab tests and a questionnaire about our overall health and well-being. (More on human medicine later: it’s terrible.) The same should be for your cat!

Considering the average domestic feline lives 1418 years, it ages much faster than us, necessitating more frequent exams as they age.

Simply being an indoor housecat does not negate the need for preventive medicine. Many cat parents feel that since their cat is indoors, it does not need to be examined unless a problem emerges. This philosophy is false. Consider that people who spend much of their time indoors age and develop arthritis, diabetes and cancer. The cat may not encounter other cats, decreasing the incidence of certain infectious disease

or bites, but simply being indoors does not insulate them from the usual ills of aging.

Like grass growing, small incremental changes are virtually imperceptible, especially over time. This is where an unbiased and outside observer is essential. We veterinarians may see your cat a few times per year, but we do not see them daily. A twopound weight loss, if achieved over a period of a few months, most likely will be missed by the pet parent but will be obvious to the veterinarian. Such a scenario is common in the examination room, with clients being surprised that their cat had lost weight, especially if the client was not aiming for such a reduction in pounds.

At a veterinary examination, the doctor or staff member will ask a variety of questions, attempting to glean how your cat is feeling and performing overall. While the client may believe that after 10 years the cat finally learned not to jump on the counter, the veterinarian may conclude that the cat simply can’t do it anymore! There’s no learned behavior, arthritis has set in, and this can be helped.

During an appointment, the veterinarian will perform a physical examination (cat willing), listening to the heart and lungs, palpating the abdomen, examining the oral cavity (dental disease is very common and quite painful), feeling limbs for arthritis, assessing the skin for lesions and so on. Yes, our examination is much more thorough than the one you just received from your own physician.

A thorough history and questioning is also essential, but the cat can’t tell us that something is a bit off or that they are urinating more than normal. We humans can explain potential changes in our well-being, habits, pain-tolerances or whatever, but the cat cannot. This is where annual lab testing helps fill in gaps from the history and physical examination.

Early detection of problems leads to better outcomes. If we can catch kidney disease, diabetes or hyperthyroidism before they result in massive weight loss, we can formulate a plan to extend the life and quality of life of our friends.

Being indoors or simply being a cat does not negate the need for routine care. Waiting until a problem is readily apparent, unless a sudden illness, is waiting too long. Annual or even semi-annual examinations will lead to a happier and longer human-cat relationship.

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

Wabi-sabi –Flawed Beauty At Hill Center

by Elizabeth Nelson

Celebrating classical beauty comes easily. Finding beauty in the mundane requires a little more work, but the artists at Maury Elementary (1250 Constitution Ave. NE) are equal to the task. This spring, art teacher Lauren Bomba introduced her kindergarten and first grade classes in Studio Maury to the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi—an aesthetic sensibility based on the concept that both life and art are beautiful not because they are perfect and eternal, but because they are imperfect and fleeting. “Nothing lasts; nothing is finished; and nothing is perfect” — a message that resonates with children who began life during the dislocation and disruption of the pandemic. Ms. Bomba cited “Stumpy,” the Tidal Basin cherry tree; she and her students adopted him as their “Wabi-sabi icon of resilience and beauty in the imperfect.”

The students were outfitted with digital cameras and sent out in teams, roaming the streets and alleys (chaperones in tow) to capture images of delight in spaces where it might be least expected. The artists zoomed in and out, finding balance within their compositions and capturing the imperfect beauty of their school neighborhood: a broken tail light glinting in the sun; the stark geometry of a chain link fence, heroic weathered pickets, richly-rusting metal pipes, a decaying paper bag, moss covered concrete, water dripping from a plastic trash can, nails encrusting a light post like barnacles on the hull of a ship. The results are truly stunning.

A selection of the work is now on display at the Young Artists Gallery (ground floor, east of the main staircase) at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. It’s hard to believe that the collection was created by such young children; it would be impressive, even from adults. Ms. Bomba invites you to “come see for yourself what this Wabi-sabi thing is all about!” The show will hang through the middle of June. u

Girls on the Run and DC Community 5k

The Girls on the Run and DC Community 5k at Anacostia Park on Sunday, May 19, is a non-competitive and inclusive gathering welcoming individuals of all ages and fitness levels. The event kicks off with pre-race festivities at 7 a.m., followed by the 5k starting at 8 a.m. Participants can enjoy a supportive atmosphere and scenic trails while supporting a meaningful cause. Registration is $45, and day-of registration is $50. Registration is now open at gotrdc.org/5k.

DC DPR Outdoor Pools Open for the Season

DC DPR Outdoor Pools open for the season on Memorial Day weekend and will remain open for weekends only until school lets out. At DC’s outdoor pools, safety breaks occur on the 45th minute of every hour for 15 minutes. All children and guardians must exit the pool during safety breaks. This requirement lowers the risk of the spread of germs and recreational water illnesses. Additionally, pool goers can hydrate, use restrooms, reapply sunscreen, and seek shade. During periods of excessive heat and peak utilization, DPR may require all pool patrons to get out of the water, regardless of age. Find a pool and read the pool rules at dpr.dc.gov/page/outdoor-pools.

Capitol Hill Classic Kids’ Fun Run

The National Capital Bank Capitol Hill Classic, on May 19, is an annual 10k, 3k and Fun Race—the only race run exclusively on the roads of Capitol Hill. Funds raised through the event benefit the Capitol Hill Cluster School, a DC public school serving over 1,100 students. This event is now in its 43rd year, and the 10k is the oldest and biggest in Washington, DC. The 10k ($50) starts out in front of Peabody Primary School, just a few blocks from the US Capitol. Runners traverse Capitol Hill, passing Stanton Park, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, Lincoln Park, the RFK stadium campus, and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. The 3k ($40) course also begins at Peabody Primary School. Runners head to East Capitol Street and trek to Lincoln Park and back. The Fun Run ($15) is a single lap around Stanton Park (approximately a third of a mile). capitolhillclassic.com.

DPW’s Annual Truck Touch

On Saturday, June 1, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the DC Department of Public Works holds their annual Truck Touch at RFK Stadium in Lot 8. The event features a variety of free activities for kids and adults. A host of DC government agencies will present and demonstrate nearly 30 vehicles used to clean and repair streets, change traffic lights, collect refuse, clear snow, provide emergency services, administer mobile health care, and more. The Department of Energy and Environment is holding its annual Electric Grand Prix race in that same location, starting at 4 p.m. This race features electric go-carts put together by kids. dpw.dc.gov.

Polite Piggy’s

JUNE

26th – JULY 31st

Children ages 3-10 (PK3-5th Grade)

Kids love us; parents trust us. Discover the difference that Polite Piggy’s makes.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

Whether you are looking for the morning, full-day, or all five weeks, we have you covered with top-notch programming.

Why Choose Polite Piggy’s This Summer?

Your child will find joy, friendships, and caring team members daily. In addition, we offer unique classes like art, music, sciences, Stemovate, chess, fitness, sports, cooking, Legos, and a hiking club with Aunt Lizzie.

P.S. We forgot to mention there are weekly water play sessions and plenty of popsicles!

HOURS:

Full Day: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Half Day: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Half Day: 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM

2024 SUMMER CAMP FEES

Full Day: $87 per Day       $435 per week

Half Day: $67 per Day      $335 per week

Sibling Discount: 15% discount for each child after the first.

$150 per week scholarship rate

* Family households earning $60,000 or less are welcome to apply and must submit proof of income at registration.

Non-Refundable Registration Fee (Per Child):

Three weeks or more: $150

Two weeks or less: $75

* Includes a t-shirt and transportation for field trips.

Family Fishing at Kingman Island and the Arboretum

Friday Night Fishing takes place along the Navy Yard on the Anacostia from June to August each summer. In 2024, they expanded their fishing programs to include events at Kingman Island and the National Arboretum as well. Kingman Island fishing is on Fridays, May 3, 10 and 17, 5 to 8 p.m. National Arboretum fishing is on Saturday,

Music Class with Mr. Rob at President Lincoln’s Cottage

The Lincolns, including their young son Tad, spent quality time together at the Cottage. The President Lincoln’s Cottage staff encourage you to come and make memories here as well. Spend some quality time with your little one at the free Music Class with Mr. Rob held at the bandstand. The cottage staff will kick off the morning with a story followed by an interactive concert with Mr. Rob. Music Class with Mr. Rob is on Saturdays, May 8 and June 11, 10 to 11 a.m. and is great for babies and toddlers. Free parking on-site. Families who come to Music Class with Mr. Rob will receive 10% off in the Museum Store located in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center. President Lincoln’s Cottage is at 140 Rock Creek Church Rd., NW. lincolncottage.org.

May 11, 4 to 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 2, 4 to 7 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 13, 4 to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 15, 1 to 4 p.m. Anacostia Riverkeeper provides fishing gear, safety vests, and a mini demo on fishing, fishing safety and fun facts about the fish in the river. Adults need DC fishing licenses to actively fish. Registration is recommended via the Anacostia Riverkeeper Eventbrite page. Every participant must fill out and complete the Anacostia Riverkeeper Liability Waiver. Wear closetoed shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring water to drink. anacostiariverkeeper.org/friday-nightfishing.

Infant and Child CPR at Hill Center

Pride Family Day at SAAM

On Saturday, June 1, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., celebrate Pride with your chosen family at SAAM. Start the day with a performance by DC’s Different Drummers, followed by GenOUT, the youth chorus of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC. Then move your body to the Brazilian beats of Batalá Washington. Attendees can make rainbow-themed crafts, and face painting will be available for visitors ages 12 and under. Enjoy special treats from the Courtyard Café and explore the galleries with a scavenger hunt to learn more about the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to American art. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is at Eighth and G streets NW. americanart.si.edu.

On Sunday, May 19, 1 to 3 p.m., learn the skills that could save your child’s life. During this class you will learn Infant and Child CPR, AED and what to do if your child or infant is choking. The class applies to infants and kids up to the age of 12. This is the perfect class for parents, nannies, babysitters, or family members who might be caring for your child. Laura Punaro, the owner of Frontlines CPR, was a Pediatric Intensive Care Nurse for eight years and is now working as a Public Health Nurse. She graduated from The University of Virginia School of Nursing in 2005. Laura trained in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s National Medical Center in DC and later became a charge nurse at Georgetown University Hospital in their PICU for six years. The class repeats on June 16, July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. This class is for adults only. $85. For more information, email lpunaro@frontlinescpr.com or

visit frontlinescpr.com to sign up for the class. Space is limited and classes generally sell out weeks in advance.

Galapagos George with Barefoot Puppets

On May 30 and 31, at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m., both days, the true story of “Lonesome George,” the last tortoise to be found on Pinta Island in the Galapagos archipelago, delightfully unfolds as you watch him grow up among sea turtles, lizards, hungry goats, sea lions, and dancing birds with blue feet. This engaging and uplifting ecofable shares an important lesson about human impact on the environment. Recommended for ages four through eight. Shows are $8 for adults; $7 for kids; $3 for kids under two. Discovery Theater’s Ripley Center is at 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW (on the National Mall). discoverytheater.org.

Photo: Norwood Photography

CHART YOUR COURSE TO EXCELLENCE

Apply today for School Year 2023-2024. Seats are limited. Complete the application online through MySchoolDC.org

#ChoosePaul and we’ll choose you back! Increase your chances of being matched with Paul PCS by making us your #1 selection

WHY PAUL PCS FOR 5-12 GRADE?

• Tier 1 High School and a 2022 Bold Performance School for the Middle School

• Guaranteed seat for Paul 8th grade families into 9th grade at Paul IHS

• SAT Prep, Tutoring, Honors AP Classes, Dual Enrollment, and In-House College Assistance

• Over 20 competitive middle school, junior varsity, and varsity athletic teams

• Free daily breakfast and lunch

• Extended day after school programs including tae kwon do, cooking club, dance, and tutoring

• Wraparound services, counseling, and student support resources for families with IEPs

Drop in the Ocean VR Experience

Immerse yourself in the thrill of the deep in stunning Virtual Reality. Enjoy the American History Museum’s new experience “Drop in the Ocean” where you can ride a jellyfish to the ocean’s surface and interact with fascinating sea creatures and microscopic wonders such as tiny plankton. Meet a leatherback turtle and come face-toface with a whale shark. Explore the ocean in stunning virtual reality and learn about the urgent threat pollution brings to our planet’s ecosystems. The cost is $12 per person. Cash and credit cards accepted. Participants must be at least five years old. Located on 2 East. americanhistory.si.edu.

DPR Ward Six Spray Parks

DPR Spray Parks have standard operating hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., daily, from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Each spray park is offline for a few hours each week for maintenance: Eastern Market Metro Park, 701 Pennsylvania Ave, SE. Monday hours are 3 to 8 p.m.; King-Greenleaf Rec. Center, 201 N St. SW. Wednesday hours are 3 to 8 p.m.; Potomac Avenue Triangle Park, 1216 Potomac Ave. SE; Watkins Spray Park, 420 12th St. SE. Friday hours are 3 to 8 p.m. dpr.dc.gov/sprayparks.

Tour the Oxon Hill Farm

Every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., take a 45-minute tour of Oxon Hill Farm and learn about the animals and the farm’s history of the farm. Meet the Ranger at the Visitor Barn. This program is great for visitors of all ages. It consists of a half mile walk along gravel paths. Your experience at the park will be most enjoyable if you are comfortably dressed. Make sure that

you wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Closed-toe shoes are recommended, sneakers or comfortable boots are best. If you are visiting the park with children, it is often helpful to read a book or two with them about agriculture, nature, wildlife, or early American History. nps.gov/oxhi.

DC Sail Youth Programs

DC Sail’s greatest goal is to allow DC kids to interact with and experience the waterways that surround their city. Through Kids Set Sail and the High School Racing Program, DC Sail can provide fun and educational sailing programs to area children. Each of their youth programs follows the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) curriculum and use the exciting sport of sailing to develop self-respect and sportsmanship, foster teamwork, as well as cultivate sailing skills and an appreciation for maritime-related activities. Read more at dcsail. org/youth.

Anacostia Park Skating and Late Skate Saturdays

Skate anytime at Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion--the one and only roller-skating rink in the National Park Service. Skate rental is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Rentals are free with a government issued ID. Socks are required to rent skates. On the last Saturday of the month from June to October (Late Skate Saturdays), skate until 10 p.m. and enjoy the featured DJ and local bands. Events last throughout the day and include double dutch, lawn games, job fairs, boat trips and more. nps.gov/anac.

Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park

Kids ages four to ¬twelve can run the bases after every Sunday day game throughout the season. This year’s remaining dates are May 5 and 26; June 9 and 16, July 7 and 21; Aug. 4 and 11; and Sept. 1 and 15. Kids Run the Bases begins immediately following the game, weather permitting. An adult must accompany runners to the field. Once the game has ended, it takes the grounds crew approximately 20 minutes to prepare the field. Kids and parents/guardians can begin lining up at the end of the seventh inning, however fans who would like to stay and watch the entire game will still be able to line up once the game has ended. Participants must exit the ballpark through the Right Field Gate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First St. washington.nationals.mlb.com.

Observe the Sun at the Eisenhower Memorial

On Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m., become an astronomer and observe the sun safely with a filtered telescope. Join Air and Space at the Eisenhower Memorial, located across Independence Avenue from the Museum entrance, to view a variety of features on the sun. Knowledgeable staff will be there to answer questions and guide observing. No reservations are necessary to participate. This program generally takes place on Fridays and Saturdays but will be cancelled in the case of inclement weather. For last-minute updates, call the Astronomy Education number at 202-633-2517. airandspace.si.edu.

Courtesy of Pulseworks, LLC.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure

In this free planetarium show, on Thursdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m., join Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from “Zhima Jie,” the Chinese co-production of Sesame Street. Together they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon, where they discover how different it is from Earth. They also journey to Zhima Jie to learn about the similarities in our view of the sky. This program runs 25 minutes and is appropriate for families with young children. Tickets are free and only available in person at the planetarium box office. One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure is at Air and Space, 600 Independence Ave. SW. airandspace.si.edu.

Saturday Morning Live! at the National

Fun takes center stage at the National Theatre for Saturday Morning Live. Kids are invited to the Helen Hayes Gallery space on select Saturday mornings at 9:30 and 11 a.m. for wow-inspiring children’s entertainment of all sorts, from interactive performances, puppets, dance, and music. Saturday Morning at the National shows are best enjoyed by ages three to six, but anyone is welcome to join in the fun. Tickets are free, but they request that you register in advance. Walk-up tickets are subject to availability. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. nationaltheatre.org/ saturday-morning-live.

It’s Go-Kart Time!

At the Bladensburg Go Kart Track, 4300 Kenilworth Ave., you’ll experience the rush of speed, adrenaline and friendly competition on a top-of-the-line go kart racing track where $9 gets you eight laps--for a total of 1 ¼ miles of racing. The racing action includes single karts (one person) and double karts (two people). Bleachers are available to watch the action and you can bring food and drinks to enjoy at their picnic tables. The track is open from noon to 6 p.m., weather permitting, when the temperature is 50 degrees or higher. gocarttrack.com.

Flying Circus Airshow Kid’s Day

Every Sunday, May through October, gates open at 11 a.m. for the Flying Circus Airshow just off Route 17, at 5114 Ritchie Road (Route 644) in Bealeton, VA. On Kid’s Day, May 19, kids under 18 are free. Vendors and special activities are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pre-show starts at 2 p.m. Airshow is from 2:30 to 4 p.m. flyingcircusairshow.com.

Family-friendly Live Music at Occoquan

Music on Mill is a free summer concert series featuring family-friendly entertainment. Concerts are held one Saturday evening a month at River Mill Park, 458 Mill St., from 7 to 9 p.m. Guests are invited to bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy live entertainment as well as stunning views of the Occoquan River. Here’s the summer schedule: May 18, Mystery Machine DMV; June 15, Hand Painted Swinger; July 20, The 257th Army Band; Aug. 17, Side Piece. Free. occoquanva.gov/summer-concert-series.

Sing Down the Moon: Appalachian Wonder Tales

Through May 26, journey into the Appalachian Mountains in this award-winning musical that deftly weaves four traditional tales and original mu-

Drag Storytime Returns to Adams Morgan

Drag Storytime, presented by the Adams Morgan BID, The Line DC and DC Public Library, returns to Unity Park, 1771-1795 Columbia Rd. NW, on Sundays, June 2 and 30, July 28, Aug. 25, Sept. 29 and Oct. 27, at 11 a.m. Storytimes are free and open to children of all ages (and perfect for the entire family). The goal of Drag Queen Storytime is to inspire a love of reading, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love and an appreciation of others. The DC Public Library will be in attendance with additional books, information about local libraries, their famous “book bike” and more. In case of inclement weather, the Storytimes will be held in the LINE DC’s Community Room, 1770 Euclid St. NW. admodc.org/storytime.

sic into a keepsake quilt of mountain lore and wisdom for the whole family. Jack who lands himself a job despite his foolishness. “Catskins” is a spunky Appalachian Cinderella. “The Enchanted Tree” is a beautyand-the-beast love story between a lost girl and a frightening crow. And in a zany, sung-

GRADUATION ISSUE

through “Sow and Her Three Pigs” plucky Nancy the pig outsmarts the hungry fox. This play with music incorporates singing, mountain dances, music, and puppets to create a highly theatrical storytelling style. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at adventuretheatre-mtc.org or by calling 301-634-2270. Sing Down the Moon is at Adventure Theatre, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD. adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

Imagination Stage’s

Miss Nelson is Missing!

The fth graders of Smedley Elementary School’s Room 207 are not just badly behaved–they’re the “worst kids of all!” No matter what their sweet and caring teacher Miss Nelson tries, they simply won’t listen (or stop throwing paper airplanes across the room). Fed up with their behavior, Miss Nelson leaves her class in the hands of dreaded substitute teacher Miss Viola Swamp, infamous for bringing “woe to those who misbehave.” Terri ed of “the Swamp,” the kids must work together and with Detective McSmogg to find their kindhearted teacher and win her back. Tuneful and hilarious, this Imagination Stage original has been a hit at theatres from coast to coast. $12, up. “Miss Nelson is Missing!” is at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, from June 20 to Aug. 10. imaginationstage. org.

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0031-2024

TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE STAFFING SERVICES AGENCY WIDE

The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires qualified professional temporary staffing agencies to supply the DCHA with Temporary Employee Staffing Services Agency Wide.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available beginning Monday, April 22, 2024 on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org under “Business” and “Solicitations”.

SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM.

Email Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist lwashing@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.

CROSSWORD

In-words and phrases

by Myles Mellor

Across:

1. One way to go

4. Formally give up

8. Dawn

13. Unsmiling

18. Winter and summer have them

21. Totaled

22. Links legend, informally

23. Put up a picture

25. Fine, in millennial slang: fashion house to others

26. 1973 World Series stadium

27. Indian flat bread

28. Scottish social unit

29. What skateboarders use to get “air”

34. Tangelo varieties

38. Ciao

40. Triangle types

44. Many moons

45. Cordoba cash

49. Bull’s-eye, abbr.

50. Barton who founded the Red Cross

51. Flat boat

53. __ Moines, IA

54. N.F.L. stat, abbr.

55. Looking perfect, to Kylie Jenner

57. Closest pals

59. Sorry

61. Southern mosquitoes

64. Europe’s highest active volcano

65. Ward off

67. Praised

69. Prying

70. Military quarters on a British warship

73. “Parsley, sage,____and thyme”

75. Oscar winner Paquin

76. Fail

80. Some hospital procedures

81. Greatest of all time in sports lingo

82. Multi media messaging app where posts only appear briefly

85. On fire, like a party in millennial slang

86. Submerge

89. “C’est magnifique!”

91. Thither

94. Virgo’s predecessor

95. Tar

98. “You’ll never ___!”

100. Ball carriers, abbr.

101. Pie or dog preceder

103. Shakespeare title starter

104. “Cinderella” stepsister

106. Catch a few Z’s

107. Cat noises

109. Heat measure

110. Purposes

113. Spanish for bear

115. Seventh Greek letters

119. Agitated and bitter, in millennial slang

121. Social media request

129. “Friday Night Lights” actress Teegarden

130. Christensen of TV’s “Parenthood”

131. Italian mathematician, featured in “The Da Vinci Code”

132. Take on

133. Condescend

134. Glow

135. Outfielder Mel

Down:

1. Deadly biters

2. Eeyore’s friend

3. “Nothing ___ Matters” (Metallica song)

4. Corp. exec.

5. Article in Die Zeit

6. BBC show detective, abbr.

7. Dusk, to Donne

8. Zest

9. Bother

10. Elder

11. LAX abbreviation

12. Cruise around Hollywood

13. Actor’s guild award (abbr.)

14. Ceasefires

15. Abbr. at the bottom of a business letter

16. Costa ___

17. Düsseldorf denial

19. Celebrities

20. Fig. in identity theft

24. Letter from Greece

30. N.C. State is in it

31. Small keyboard organ

32. Health choice

33. Lord’s workers

35. Direct one’s hopes

36. What a keeper may keep

37. Mach 1 breaker

38. Lodge letters

39. Cravings

40. Inimical

41. Norm, abbr.

42. Places for some MDs

43. Polio vaccine developer

46. Blue-pencil wielders

47. Itsy-bitsy

48. Test, as ore

52. Dwell

56. Brain scan, for short

58. Landlord’s need

59. Capitol group

60. Diamond birthstone mo.

62. ___ on the side of caution

63. Where the girl from Ipanema came from

65. Go wild

66. Freed

68. Far from elite

70. Fairy tale dwarfs

71. Range part, abbr.

72. Stress relief location

74. May, in Montmartre

75. Active

77. Spacecraft

78. Lassie

79. Quiet!

83. Primitive aquatic organism

84. Tease mockingly

87. Capital of Italia

88. Pig food

90. Steven’s Spielberg’s mother who gave her last name to the Princess in Star Wars

91. Calendar spans, abbr.

92. Waist sash

93. Government security agency, abbr.

96. Favorite uncle

97. Brew

99. Series

102. Stance section

105. One-celled sea protozoa

108. Compass point

110. Insurer for military personnel

111. Expressed

112. “Tickle me” doll

114. Butterfingers

116. Meal in a shell

117. Billing abbr.

118. Burlesque bit

120. “Are we there ___?”

121. Educational certificate

122. Boiling blood

123. Roman 7

124. Hosp. test

125. Fish story

126. Technology giant

127. Lucky fish

128. Med. specialty

The Smith Brothers Have been selling Real Estate in DC, Maryland and Virginia for the last 25+ years. And enjoyed it!

It’s true, we have been around for awhile. We’ve seen High Interest Rates, Wide-spread Crimes, International Tensions, even times of ”Less than Statesmanlike” Politicians at local and national levels. But, we learned a lot; maybe not everything, but a lot.

We’re here to tell you, that we believe that Real Estate is STILL the best way to grow your personal financial security.

4110 1st St, North Beach, MD

Idyllic 2+ bedroom, renovated cottage on the Bay has a large yard, and street presence nr the Bay. A home near the water where the light salty air tickles a thought, A winner in curb appeal. The front porch is the ideal place to watch the sun rise and set. Formal LR & DR, extra Parlor, and an enclosed wrap-around den, w/ laundry and designer kitchen, in St0ne & Stainless. with lots of room for the Chef. Upstairs, 2 BRs plus office, bath and walk-in closet for sleeping, working & storing. The fenced landscaped rear yard and the spacious patio offer potential space for croquet, bocci, pickle etc. PLUS a 2-story accessory building w/ ~2000sf water & septic partially roughed in w/ a bay view. Close proximity to major cities & quaint towns & haunts. 35-50 minutes TREE LINED RIDE from DC!

DC Homes: 3945 Penn., Ave, Unit A Fairfax Village 2 story, 2 BR Condo

516.5 8th St, SE 1/2 of Residential Bldg, ~ 900 sf $500K