hillrag.com • December 2014
Est. 1981
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CAPITOL HILL
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December 2014 H 3
IT’S ONLY WEEKS TO SNOW AND ICE! IS YOUR ROOF READY? CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE INSPECTION!
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December 2014 H 5
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What’s Inside?
Holiday Special 28
Holiday Calendar
Kathleen Donner
42
Hill Holiday Traditions
48
Black Nativity: A Stirring Theatrical Event
50
Books for Cooks
Annette Nielsen Phil Hutinet
Annette Nielsen
capitol streets 57
Bulletin Board
In every issue:
68
Annual Village Gala Set to Sail
70
The Numbers: Is the District’s Homeless System Ready
14 What’s on Washington
for Winter?
72
Plans to Turn Imani Temple into Residential Units Being
Considered
74
ANC 6A
Denise Romano
76
ANC 6B
Jonathan Neeley
78
ANC 6C
Damian Fagon
80
ANC 6D
Roberta Weiner
82
ANC 6E
Steve Holton
83
EMCAC Report
16 Calendar
Mike Canning
Ed Lazere Charnice A. Milton
dec.
86 Hill Rag Crossword
Kathleen Donner
162 Classified Ads
168 Last Word 170 The Nose
28
Charnice A. Milton
community life
94
87
E on DC
E. Ethelbert Miller
88
In Memoriam: Steve Cymrot
90
The Anacostia: Our River
92
South by West
94
H Street Life
96
Barracks Row
98
Capitol Riverfront
101
A Call For Remembrance
102
Three Turn 30
Andrew Lightman Bill Matuszeski
William Rich Elise Bernard Sharon Bosworth Michael Stevens, AICP Steve Holton
Annette Nielsen
real estate 105
The District Source: Pop-Up Proposal Not Perfect,
But a Start
108
Changing Hands
Shaun Courtney Don Denton
Meg: 202.329.4068 | George: 202.203.0339
115 THANKS FOR DONATING TO THE CAPITOL HILL GROUP MINISTRY THANKSGIVING BASKETS! MOTH donated Thanksgiving meals to over 240 people in need! CHGM donated meals to almost 1500 people! TO GIVE ANYTIME, VISIT • www.chgm.net! on the cover:
Poster Artwork for Fiddler on the Roof. Illustration by Jody Hewgill. Courtesy Arena Stage. Until Jan. 4, 2015. For more info go to www.arenastage.org
F
ALE OR S
M , 1-3 P 7 / 2 1 OPEN
arts and dining 115
Anatevka Is Reborn at Arena
118
Dining Notes
120
Wine Guys
Barbara Wells
Celeste McCall Lila Coffin Mike Canning
122
At the Movies
124
Art and The City
126
Decoding Shakespeare at Folger Library
128
The Literary Hill
Robert S. Pohl
Karen Lyon
130
The Poetic Hill: Laurie Brown Jazz Project
Karen Lyon
Jean Keith Fagon
1833 Burke ST SE
Corner 3BR, 1.5BA, Historic Thomas Market
3 levels, 3 BR, DEEP backyard, METRO
T TRAC N O ER C UND
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2 6th ST NE
312 C ST SE
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Jim Magner
131
252 10th ST NE
$639,000
health and fitness 133
Acupuncture for More Than Just Pain
138
Guess What? Your Dog or Cat is Really Normal!
Pattie Cinelli
Dr. Heather McCurdy
Castle on the Corner!
kids and family 141
Kids & Family Notebook
146
School Notes
Kathleen Donner
Susan Braun Johnson
homes and gardens 155
Enjoying DC’s Winter Landscape
158
Winter beauty in your landscape: Texture, Color and Pop in the Winter Garden
160
$1,659,000
3 levels, 3 BR, 2 BA, Location. BRENT!
$849,000
SOLD: 614 9th ST NE • $820,000
Cheryl Corson
Derek Thomas
Dear Garden Problem Lady
Wendy Hill
Look Us Up on Facebook! The Norris Group
Need a Ride to the Airport Use Tad Dipatch (TD) to book a taxi to:
DCA IAD BWI (Reagan National)
(Dulles)
F A G O N
MIDCITY
GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
(Balt-Wash)
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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com Publisher: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2014 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.
Editorial Staff
M������� E�����: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO � A�������� E�����: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com S����� N���� E�����: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com K��� � F����� E�����: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com F��� E�����: Annette Nielsen • annette@hillrag.com
Arts, Dining & Entertainment A��: D�����:
L���������: M�����: M����: T������: W��� G���:
Accepting applications for January 15th Session
Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com
Calendar & Bulletin Board
C������� E�����: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com
General Assignment
U.S. Tae Kwon Do College CLASSES ONGOING, SIGN UP ANYTIME MEMBER: WORLD TAE KWON DO FEDERATION Master Erica Gutman 7th Degree Black Belt
222 8TH St NE
mastergutman@gmail.com 202.546.6275
Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Elena Burger • elena96b@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Jonathan Neeley • neeley87@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com
BEAUTY, Health & Fitness
Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Jazelle Hunt • jazelle.hunt@gmail.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com
KIDS & FAMILY
Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com
Homes & Gardens
Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com Cheryl Corson • cheryl@cherylcorson.com
COMMENTARY
Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com T�� N��� • thenose@hillrag.com T�� L��� W��� • editorial@hilllrag.com
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We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com. 12 H Hillrag.com
How to Open a Small Business by Navigating through DCRA’s Regulatory Process
A Comprehensive Guide for Small Business Planning Date:
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Date:
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Time:
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Time:
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: 1100 4th Street SW,
Location: 1100 4th Street SW,
4th Floor (E-4302),
2nd floor (E-200),
Washington, D.C. 20024
Washington, D.C. 20024
To Register: http://goo.gl/GmVJmT
To Register: http://goo.gl/9DwW01
DCRA FREE WORKSHOPS FOR EXISTING AND ASPIRING DISTRICT BUSINESSES
Money Smart for Small Business - Financial Management and Credit Reporting Date:
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Time:
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
SBRC’s Navigating through Business Licensing and Corporations Process
Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302),
Date:
Monday through Thursday
Time:
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: 1100 4th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20024
Washington, D.C. 20024
To Register: http://goo.gl/zb6r6H
To Register: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com/
For further information, please contact: Jacqueline Noisette (202) 442-8170 jacqueline.noisette@dc.gov • Claudia Herrera (202) 442-8055 claudia.herrera@dc.gov • Joy Douglas (202) 442-8690 joy.douglas@dc.gov December 2014 H 13
CHAW Winter Performance Festival On Saturday, Dec. 13 (all day), CHAW presents its annual Winter Performance Festival. Throughout the day, there will be music, theater and dance performances; exhibitions from their visual arts, ceramics, and photography classes; gingerbread-house-making; an art sale; and the opening reception of the CHAW Adult Student show from 5-7 p.m. There will also be family fun, winter sweets, and opportunities to watch, appreciate, and create art. It’s free. For more information, visit chaw.org or call 202547-6839. The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop is at 545 7th St. SE. chaw.org
Adult dance class at CHAW. Photo: CHAW Photography Chair and Education Coordinator Leslie Mansour
A Renaissance Christmas-Music of Flanders and Italy circa 1500 In the courts of Renaissance Italy, princes vied with each other in filling their chapels with the famous singers and composers from the North. As learned polyphony helped the rulers of Florence and Ferrara display their erudition and good taste, glimmers of a more popular native Italian style started appearing, first at the court of the Sforzas in Milan. Many of these new style works honored Mary, the most popular of all saints. From Dec. 16-23, the Folger Consort explores the contrast between these styles in this program of seasonal music by Josquin, Ockeghem, Obrecht, and Compère. $35-$50. Folger Shakespeare Theater, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-7077. folger.edu
The Folger Consort. Photo: Teresa Wood
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Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon On Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:30-9 p.m., Mount Vernon will, for the first time, open its doors for an evening of holiday-themed fireworks and special programs. Before the fireworks show at 8:45 p.m., Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon offers guests a chance to step back in time and experience a festive holiday evening at the first president’s estate. Stroll through the historic area while being serenaded by local choirs. Watch as colonial artisans demonstrate the 18th-century process of creating chocolate. Visit a winter encampment and meet re-enactors from the First Virginia Regiment. $30, adult; $20, ages 6-11, children five and under are free. mountvernon.org
Courtesy of George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence at National Cathedral On the cusp of the two-year anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, on Thursday, Dec. 11, 3 p.m., the Newtown Foundation and Washington National Cathedral will host a vigil service of mourning and loving remembrance for all who have fallen victim to the ongoing epidemic of gun violence in America. This interfaith vigil will honor all victims of gun violence across the country, about 32,000 annually. Solo Pianist Doug Hammer and Velleda Miragias, who is the Principal Assistant Cellist with the Boston Philharmonic along with the Mosaic Harmony Choir, will perform. All are welcome. There will be a live webcast from on the Cathedral home page. The Washington National Cathedral is at 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. nationalcathedral.org
Newtown Organizer Bishop Mariann Budde (far left) with other vigil participants. Photo: Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral
NHL Winter Classic at Nat’s Park Blackhawks vs. Capitals January 1, 2015 is a perfect day to shrug off the blues, rug-up and enjoy professional hockey as it should be enjoyed--in the snow, wind and cold. Nat’s Park is being re-cast as a hockey venue for the 2015 Bridgestone Winter Classic and it seems to be a great way to start the New Year. The game is at 1 p.m. As part of the event, the NHL is hosting Spectator Plaza, a free outdoor hockey and entertainment festival for fans of all ages located just outside the left field entrance to the ballpark. Open to all, the event runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and will feature live music; interactive hockey-themed attractions, prizes and giveaways; food and beverages; and an extensive selection of hockey collectibles. capitals.nhl.com
Caps-Blackhawks Preseason: L-R Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson in a celebratory hug during a Capitals game. Photo: Courtesy of the Washington Capitals
December 2014 H 15
DECEMBER CALENDAR
Canal Park Ice Rink is open for season.
Canal Park Ice Skating
Monday and Tuesday, noon-7 PM; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, noon-9 PM; Saturday, 11 AM-10 PM; and Sunday, 11 AM-7 PM. $9, adults; $8, children, seniors and military. $4, skate rental. Canal Park Ice Rink is at 202 M St. SE. 202554-6051. canalparkdc.org
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MUSIC Music at Ebenezers. Dec. 10, Daryl Shawn; Dec. 11, Tenia Mackall CD Release Concert; Dec. 17, The Brilliance--Advent Tour at The Miracle Theatre. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Music at the Corner Store. Dec. 13, 7 PM, Song of Solstice; Dec. 21, 5 PM, Vox Pulchra Holiday Concert. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. 202-544-5807. cornerstorearts
December 2014 H 17
{december events calendar}
“Notes from the Crypt” Chamber Music Concert Series at Congressional Cemetery. Dec. 14, 4 PM. These one-hour concerts are held about once a month on Sunday, usually at 4 PM, in the historic 1903 Chapel. The program is followed by a wine and cheese reception. Admission is free, and seating is first come, first served. Historic Congressional Cemetery is at 1801 E St. SE. 202543-0539. congressionalcemetery.org Thomas Circle Singers “Sing We All Nowell”. Dec. 14, 4 PM. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4900 Connecticut Ave. NW.
THEATER
Faction of Fools Theatre Company Presents “The Great One-Man Commedia Epic” at CHAW. Through Dec. 20. In this comic tour de farce, a single actor, Matthew R. Wilson, brings to life an entire town of squabbling parents, dim-witted servants, and young lovers whose wedding plans are ruined until love prevails and comedy triumphs. $10-$20. Appropriate for ages 3, up. Tickets available at door, 1-800-838-3006, and gomce. brownpapertickets.com. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE. chaw.org Bad Jews at Studio. Through Dec. 21. The night after their grandfather’s funeral, three cousins engage in a verbal battle royale over a family heirloom. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202332-3300. studiotheatre.org
The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures runs through Dec. 21. Photo: Courtesy of Theater J
The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures at Theater J.
Through Dec. 21. When retired longshoreman and lifelong Communist Gus summons his three adult children to their Brooklyn home to explain why he’s selling the family brownstone and ending his life, things don’t go exactly as planned. Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. 800-494-8497. washingtondcjcc.org
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Fiddler on the Roof at Arena. Through Jan. 4. More than just a poor milkman, Tevye is a humble Jewish father who finds his devotion to God severely tested by his headstrong daughters, who want to be their own matchmakers, and the increasingly ruthless government forcing him from his land. Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org Famous Puppet Death Scenes at Woolly. Dec. 9-Jan. 4. The Old Trouts promise to cure any fear of death; no
December 2014 H 19
more anxiety about difficult choices, no more dreading birthdays, no more desperate pleas for immortality through fame, art, or progeny. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939. woollymammoth.net Diner at Signature. Dec. 9-Jan. 25. Christmas, Baltimore: 1959. A circle of childhood friends reunite for the upcoming wedding of one of them. Well, only if his fiancée passes a football trivia test..Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave. off I395 at the Shirlington exit (#6). signaturetheatre.org
sPorts And fitness
Washington Wizards Basketball. Dec. 8, 12, 14, 16, 23 and 27. Verizon Center. nba.com/wizards Washington Capitals Ice Hockey. Dec. 11, 13, 22 and Jan 1. Verizon Center. capitals.nhl.com Washington Capitals Practice Schedule. Non-game day, 10:30 AM; game day, 10 AM; and day after game, 11 AM. All practices are at Kettler Capitals Iceplex, 627 No. Glebe Rd., Suite 800, Arlington, VA. They are free and open to the public. kettlercapitalsiceplex.com
Delivery• Takeout • Catering Order Online!
www.mannyandolgas.com elicious rence Is D The Diffe 9 1 ince 83 Famous S 20 H Hillrag.com
H STREET GRAND OPENING! 1409 H ST. NE • 202-397-2222
Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Through mid-March. Monday–Thursday, 10 AM–9 PM; Friday-Saturday, 10 AM– 11 PM; Sunday, 11 AM-9 PM. Skating is over at 5 PM on Christmas Eve. No skating on Christmas or New Years. Two hour sessions begin on the hour. $8, adult; $7 seniors over 50, students with ID and kids, 12 and under. $195, season pass. $3.00 skate rental (ID required) and $.50 locker rental with $5 deposit. 7th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202216-9397. nga.gov
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All Credit Cards Accepted December 2014 H 21
“Black Nativity” at Anacostia Playhouse
Dec. 8-Jan. 4. “Black Nativity” is the retelling of the Christmas story from an Afro-centric perspective, infused with rich gospel, blues, funk, jazz music and dance with griot style story telling from an ensemble cast. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. theateralliance.com Public Ice Skating at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Fridays, noon-1:50 PM and Saturdays, noon-1 PM. $5, adults; kids 2-12 and seniors, $4. Skate Rental, $3. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. 202-5845007. fdia.org
MARKETS DC Big Flea Market. Jan. 10, 9 AM-6 PM; Jan. 11, 11 AM-5 PM. Over 600 booths featuring a diverse mix of antiques, collectibles, art, jewelry, mid-century, etc. $8 admission, parking free. Dulles Expo Ctr, Chantilly, VA. 757-961-3988. thebigfleamarket.com H Street FRESHFARM Market. Saturdays, 9 AM-noon, through Dec. 20. SNAP (EBT/
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Food Stamps) accepted. 13th and H Sts. NE. freshfarmmarket.org U Street Flea. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 AM-5 PM. The market is in the parking lot, next to Nellie’s Sports Bar (three blocks east of U Street Metro), at 912 U St. NW. ustreetflea.com Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays, year-round (weather permitting). Set up after 10 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Every Tuesday, 3-7 PM. Tuesday afternoon farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of 7th St. SE. 202698-5253. easternmarketdc.com Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11 AM-8 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8 AM-8 PM. Union
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS WITH YOUR STYLISH NEIGHBOR ON THE HILL We offer exclusive neighborhood rates, which are 15% OFF our Best Available Rate. Complimentary Continental Breakfast, Wi-Fi and use of our Hotel Facilities are always included. All of our spacious guestrooms feature a kitchen or kitchenette. Book directly at our website: www.capitolhillhotel-dc.com and use the code: HILRAG CAPITOL HILL HOTEL 200 C Street SE Washington D.C. 20003 capitolhillhotel-dc.com
202.543.6000
December 2014 H 23
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Market is an artisanal, curated, year round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 5th St. NE. 301652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays (rain or shine), year round, 9 AM-1 PM. 20th St. and Mass. Ave. NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8:00 AM4:00 PM. 1819 35th St. NW. georgetownfleamarket.com Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year. 7 AM-9 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722.
CIVIC LIFE
Congresswoman Norton’s NW District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM-6 PM. 529 14th St. NW, suite 900. 202783-5065. norton.house.gov ANC 6A. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Meeting at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. 202-423-8868. anc6a.org ANC 6B. Second Tuesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-543-3344. anc6b.org ANC 6C. Second Wednesday, 7 PM. Meeting at Heritage Foundation, 214 Mass. Ave. NE, first floor conference room. 202-547-7168. anc6c.org ANC 6D. Second Monday, 7 PM. Meeting at 1100 4th St. SW, DCRA meeting room, 2nd floor. 202-554-1795. anc6d.org ANC 6E. First Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Meeting at NW One Library, 155 L St. NW. anc6e.org u
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H o l i d a y forming signature holiday classics and exciting new arrangements of seasonal favorites. $25-$39. Tickets are available by calling 1-877-435-9849 or visiting GMCW.org. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202-328-6000. thelincolntheatre.org
Edward Gero as Ebenezer Scrooge and James Konicek as the Ghost of Jacob Marley in “A Christmas Carol” at Ford’s Theatre. Photo: Scott Suchman.
Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree Farms in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Visit pickyourownchristmastree. org for farms and directions. Then follow the prompts.
The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s “A A Christmas Carol at Ford’s. Through Jan. 1. Join the Christmas Carol”. ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they Through Dec. 20. lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of The family-favorite transformation and redemption. Ford’s Theatre, 511 classic by Charles Dickens, equipped 10th St. NW. 202-347-4833. fordstheatre.org with special effects, Victorian carols and Donation Drive at Ford’s for Thrive DC. DurTiny Tim returns to ing the curtain calls for performances of A Christthe Little Theatre of Alexandria. $15. The mas Carol, the company will collect donations Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St. on behalf of the Washington-based non-profAlexandria, VA. 703-683-0496. thelittletheit Thrive DC. Patrons also can make donations atre.com through the Ford’s Theatre Box Office. All donation checks should be made payable to “Thrive St. Marks Advent Lessons & Carols. Dec. DC.” In the past four years, the acting company 7, 5 PM. St. Mark’s Chancel Choir, Boys & has raised more than $375,000 for local charities, Girls Choir, and Handbell Choir will presincluding Covenant House Washington, Martha’s ent seasonal music. St. Marks, 301 A St. SE. Table, Miriam’s Kitchen, So Others Might Eat (SOME) and Bread for the City, to help sustain Mount Vernon by Candlelight. Through Dec. their work with thousands in the D.C.-area who 21 (Saturdays and Sundays except Dec. 20), 5-8 struggle with hunger and homelessness. PM. Join “Mrs. Washington” as she hosts an enchanting evening of candlelight tours, fireside Gay Men’s Chorus Rockin’ The Holidays at the caroling, and festive treats. Timed tickets are Lincoln. Dec. 6, 13 and 14. Rockin’ The Holi$22 for adults and $15 for children 11 and undays features the full chorus of 220 singers perder. George Washington’s Estate & Gardens,
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3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. 703-7802000. mountvernon.org Season’s Greenings at the Botanic Garden. Through Jan. 4, 10 AM-5 PM (Tuesdays and Thursdays, open until 8 PM with live entertainment). Botanic Garden invites visitors to remember that the best things in life are free--the fragrance of a freshly cut fir tree, the magic of holiday lights and sumptuous decorations, and the delight of a child discovering the make believe world of model trains. Free. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov Downtown Holiday Market. Through Dec. 23, noon-8 PM. More than 150 exhibitors and artisans (rotating on a weekly basis) selling an array of high-quality gift items including fine art,
Photo: Alice Rose
Capitol Chrismas Tree. Lit on Dec. 2, it will be up through New Years Day. Considered by many to be the most beautiful tree in town. Visit anytime.
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crafts, jewelry, pottery, photography, clothing, tasty treats, and hot beverages. Market at F St. NW, between 7th and 9th. downtownholidaymarket.com Alexandria’s Holiday Market. Through Dec. 24. While shopping for unique art and craft items for loved ones, at this unique holiday market, visitors can enjoy live entertainment, traditional European food and sweets, wine and beer. John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, VA. alexandriaholidaymarket.com The Nutcracker. Through Dec. 28. Set in Georgetown and replete with swirling snowflakes, cher-
ry blossoms and historical characters, including George Washington as the heroic nutcracker, The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker has become a tradition for generations of family and friends to celebrate the holidays. Warner Theater, 513 13th St. NW. 202-783-4000. warnertheatredc.com Festival of Lights at Mormom Temple. Through Jan. 1. Lights are on from sunset-11 PM. 9900 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, MD. 301-5870144. dctemplelights.lds.org Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park. Through Jan. 1, 5-10 PM. $14 per car. Enjoy from inside a car. Sandy Point State Park, 1100 East Col-
lege Pkwy., Annapolis, MD. visitannapolis.org Christmas at Mount Vernon. Through Jan. 6, 9 AM-4 PM. Holiday visitors will enjoy themed decorations, chocolate-making demonstrations, and 18th century dancing. George Washington’s Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. $17/adult, $8/child, 5 and under free. 703-780-2000. mountvernon.org NGA Holiday Concerts. Dec. 6, 13, 20 (caroling) and 21 (Hanukkah concert). All concerts are at 3:30 PM in the West Building, West Garden Court. National Gallery of Art, 4th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. nga.gov Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market. Dec. 5-7; 12-14; and 19-21. Market features handcrafted work from local artists; handmade ornaments to benefit Del Ray Artisans; plus a Bake Sale to benefit Alexandria Tutoring Consortium. Colasanto Center, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. TheDelRayArtisans.org The Christmas Revels. Dec. 6-7 and 1214 (eight performances (matinees and evenings). Celebrate the winter solstice and start celebrating the holidays with this fully staged performance at Lisner Auditorium. revelsdc.org Winternational at the Ronald Reagan Building. Dec. 10, 11 AM-2 PM. Everyone is invited to experience the holiday traditions from a global perspective. Free and open to the public. Pennsylvania Ave. at 15th St., NW. itcdc.com
Photo: Jim Jenkins/Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Zoolights. Through Jan. 1, 5-9 PM nightly except Dec. 24, 25 and 31. Don’t miss a chance to meander through the Zoo when it is covered with thousands of sparkling lights, attend special keeper talks, and enjoy live entertainment. Free. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu
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Style and Festivities-Holidays at the White House. Dec. 11, 7 PM. Tim Gunn star of Project Runway leads a panel discussion on White House holiday decorations through history. National Archives McGowan Theater, 700 Constitution Ave. NW. archives.gov Georgetown GLOW Light Art. Dec. 1214, 6 -10 PM. The weekend includes an innovative exhibition of light-art installations and lighting of major structures.
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Holy ComforterSaint Cyprian Roman Catholic Church Reverend Monsignor Charles E. Pope, Pastor
A Welcoming, Embracing And Joyful Faith Family ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE Feast of the Immaculate Conception Monday, Dec. 8th - Mass at 7:00AM, 10:00AM & 7:00PM Anointing of the Sick Mass and Penance Saturday, Dec. 13th – 11AM (Confessions heard in the Church beginning at 10AM) 257th U.S. Army Band Holiday Concert Monday, Dec. 15th – 7:00PM – FREE Christmas Family Mass & Youth Pageant Wednesday, Dec. 24th – 6:00PM Christmas Choral Praise Service Wednesday, Dec. 24th – 11:00pm Midnight Mass Wednesday, Dec. 24th – Midnight Mass on Christmas Day Thursday, Dec. 25th – 10:00AM Watch Night/New Year’s Eve Mass Wednesday, Dec. 31st – 11:00PM Solemnity of Mary/New Year’s Day Mass Thursday, Jan 1st – 10:00AM Weekend & Daily Mass Schedule Sunday: 8:00am, 11:00am & 7:00pm • Saturday: 8:00am & 4:30pm (vigil) Weekdays: 7:00am (chapel)
1357 East Capitol Street, SE Washington, DC 20003 www.hcscchurch.org • 202-546-1885 32 H Hillrag.com
For a map, visit georgetowndc. com/map. Celebrate Kwanzaa at Dance Place. Dec. 13, 8 PM and Dec. 14, 4 PM. Kick off the holiday season with Dance Place as Coyaba Dance Theater hosts their annual Kwanzaa Celebration, displaying the excitement and vibrancy of the holiday with their work based around the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. 202269-1600. danceplace.org Daughters of the American Revolution Christmas Open House. Dec. 10, 5:30-8 PM. Live holiday music, tour 31 period rooms, cider, hot chocolate and cookies, Santa (bring a camera). Visitors are encouraged to bring new and lightly used children’s books to donate to their DAR Open House book drive. DAR Memorial Continental Hall, 17th and D sts. NW. 202-572-0563. dar.org Capital City Symphony Annual Community Carol Sing Concert. Dec. 14, 4 PM and 7 PM. Presented with the Congressional Chorus, the American Youth Chorus and the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Free. capitalcitysymphony.org Thomas Circle Singers “Sing We All Nowell”. Dec. 14, 4 PM. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 4900 Connecticut Ave. NW. thomascirclesingers.org Marine Big Band Holiday Concert. Dec. 14, 2 PM. The Marine Big Band will feature standards such as Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,”
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“Count Your Blessings,” and “Blue Skies” and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite. John Philip Sousa Band Hall, 7th and K Sts. SE. The program is free and tickets are not required. marineband.marines.mil Italian Holiday Market at La Casa Italiana. Dec. 15 and 16, 9:30 AM-4 PM. Market features handmade art, fashion, pottery, costume jewelry, homemade sweets, and more...Exclusively made by Italian women living in the DC Metropolitan Area. La Casa Italiana, 525 3rd St, NW, Washington DC. Capitol Hill Menorah Lighting. Dec. 16, 5 PM. Join the Capitol Hill BID and Hill Havurah at the NE corner of the Eastern Market Metro plaza for the inaugural lighting of new public space menorah dedicated to BID Past Board Chairman Paul Pascal. Hot chocolate, coffee, potato latkes and jelly donuts will be served by the BID’s “Men in Blue.” capitolhillbid National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony. Dec. 16, 4 PM. Event features musical performances and hot latkes and donuts. The menorah will be lit each night of Hanukkah. The Menorah is on the Ellipse, near the White House. whitehouse.gov Trans-Sibe rian Orchestra Rock Opera The Christmas Attic. Dec. 17, 7:30 PM. Verizon Center St. Mark’s Carols & Cocktails. Dec. 17, 6:30 -9:30 PM.
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Please bring a drink or snack to share or $5. Social time begins at 6:30 PM with the singing going from about 7-9:30 PM. St. Mark’s, 301 A St. SE. Hanukkah Lights Reading with NPR’s Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz at Hill Center. Dec. 18, 7 PM. Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz bring their immensely popular NPR holiday broadcast to life with readings of specially commissioned stories. Free. Register online at hillcenterdc.org or call 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org/home/programs/1449 Community Candle Lighting on the Hill with Hill Havurah. Dec. 20, 6 PM. Bring menorahs and candles to the Fellowship Hall of the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 212 E. Capitol St. for candle-lighting, dreidel-spinning, song-singing, latke-eating (salads and beverages, too), and fun. All are welcome. Donations accepted at the door or online at hillhavurah.org. Kennedy Center Messiah SingAlong. Dec. 23, 8 PM. Features the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, a 200-voice choir, professional soloists, and a very enthusiastic audience in a glorious “sing-along” of Handel’s beloved masterpiece. Free. Tickets will be given away two (2) per person in line in front of the Concert Hall beginning at 6 PM, day-of. kennedy-center.org Waterskiing Santa Comes to Old Town Alexandria. Dec. 24, 1 PM (Pre-show at 12:45 PM). Now in its 29th year, this
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Boutique on the Hill
Trends Fade but ! Style is Eternal
Unique Handcrafted Papier-Mâché Mirrors Made by Artist Tuesday Winslow since 1995
favorite DC-area Christmas Eve event comes to Old Town Alexandria for the very first time. Alexandria’s Waterfront between King and Oronoco Sts., Alexandria, VA. waterskiingsanta.com Celebration of Christmas at the National Shrine. Dec. 24, Children’s Mass with Gospel Pageant, 5 PM; Musical Meditations on the Nativity, 10 PM; Solemn Vigil Mass, 10:30 PM. Dec. 25, Masses, 7:30 AM, 9 AM, 10:30 AM and 4:30 PM; Solemn Mass, noon; Spanish Mass, 2:30 PM. 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-526-8300. nationalshrine.com Christmas at Washington National Cathedral. Dec. 24, Lessons and Carols, 6 PM, Midnight Eucharist, 10 PM. (Both services require free tickets but there will be a standby line that usually gets in.). Dec. 25, Festive Eucharist (televised), 9 AM; Festive Eucharist, noon; Christmas vespers (Evensong). 4 PM; Christmas organ concert, 5 PM. Intersection of Wisconsin and Massachusetts Aves. NW. 202-5376200. cathedral.org
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Christmas Dinner For Those Who Are Alone or In Need. Dec. 25, 12:15-2 PM. Dining Room of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This is a walk-in meal. Just show up. To volunteer, call 202-5268300. 400 Michigan Ave. NE. nationalshrine.com Kennedy Center Christmas Day Jazz Jam. Dec. 25, 6 PM. Join in the All-Star Christmas Day Jazz Jam, a Millenni-
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J. Chocolatier
Small Batch Chocolates * Handmade on the Hill
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A diverse product line of quality beverages from all over the world One of the largest and most unique wine selections on Capitol Hill A friendly and knowledgeable staff Located just minutes form Downtown, DC and Alexandria, VA 1 block south of Eastern Market Metro on the vibrant Barracks Row Owned by the Williams Family since 1978; established before 1919
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321 7th St. SE (2nd Floor) WDC 20003
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NEWMAN GALLERY & CUSTOM FRAMES Serving Capitol Hill since 1984
“High quality design and preservation framing are our top priorities” Custom designed mats • Wide selection • Work done on premises Rotating exhibits of local artists 513 11th St., SE (Eastern Market Metro) • Tue.-Sat. 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 202.544.7577
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um Stage tradition, with host/ vibraphonist Chuck Redd, drummer Lenny Robinson, trumpeter Tom Williams, bassist James King, and vocalist Delores Williams. Free. Kennedy Center. 202-4168340. kennedycenter.org Chinatown Restaurants are Open Christmas Day. Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa! at the Anacostia Community Museum. Dec. 26 and 27, 10:30 AM-noon and Dec. 29. 10:30 AM-2:30 PM, celebrate Kwanzaa with arts, crafts, and music in the museum’s popular three-day event honoring this traditional African American holiday. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu Keegan Theatre’s An Irish Carol at Theater J. Dec. 26-28. The Keegan Theatre brings back its beloved holiday show, An Irish Carol, for five performances at Theater J. All proceeds from these performances will go to the company’s capital campaign, with a special emphasis on finishing the basement level, or “artist space.” keegantheatre.com First Night Alexandria. Dec. 31, 7 PM-midnight. This annual New Year’s Eve bash takes over Old Town Alexandria with more than 100 performances at 22 indoor venues, with live music, dancing, children’s face painting and games. Fireworks at midnight on the river. $15 before Dec. 17; $20, after. Kids under 12 and active military, free. firstnightalexandria.org
Give A Unique Gift This Season!!!! Since 1995 on Capitol Hill
Gifts and arts from every country along the Silk Road, including jewelry, clothing, antique furniture, musical instruments and more. View Our Entire Selection On Our Web Site
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We also offer: • Cleaning • Repairing • Restoring • Appraising • Acquiring
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Want the PERFECT GIFT for your children this Christmas?
H
ow about giving them the Bill of Rights and their liberties as Americans!
Download free copies of the Bill of Rights at www.National-Education-Project.org Then, at 8:30 p.m. EST, on Monday, December 15, 2014, the 223rd anniversary of the Bill of Rights, we cordially invite you and your family to come to our website (www.National-Education-Project.org) and join us for the National Education Project's “Second Annual, Live National Read-Along of the Bill of Rights over the Internet,” led by children from elementary schools on Capitol Hill and in Maryland and Virginia. Afterwards, your children can sign the Bill of Rights on page 2, add their school picture (the kids love that part!), and then post the document on the family's refrigerator door, where it will serve as an enduring reminder to everyone in the home of the rights and liberties of all Americans.
For complete information about the national read-along of the Bill of Rights on Bill of Rights Day at 8:30 p.m. EST, Monday, December 15, 2014, please see our ad on page 151. - Norman Manasa, Director | www.National-Education-Project.org
Rated One of the Best Wine Shops by Washingtonian Magazine July “Best & Worst” Issue Listed in the Wall Street journal as one of the most enjoyable places to shop for wines nationwide. “Best Website Award”, 2008 by the Wine Spectator’s Market Watch
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New Years Swing Dance at Glen Echo. Dec. 31, 8 PM12:30 AM. Beginning swing lesson at 8 PM is followed by dancing from 9 PM-12:30 AM. Light refreshments served. glenechopark.org New Year’s Eve at the Kennedy Center with Ozomatli. Dec. 31. Usher in the New Year with Grammy-winning band Ozomatli and the National Symphony Orchestra led by Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke. After the concert, enjoy dancing, a countdown to 2015, and a balloon drop, all included with a ticket. $55-$120. Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. 202416-8000. kennedycenter.org Ring in the New Year at President Lincoln’s Cottage. Dec. 31, 9:30 PM-12:30 AM. President Lincoln’s Cottage hosts Freedom’s Eve, a New Year’s Eve party. At the stroke of midnight, Jan. 1, 1863, thousands of men, women and children celebrated as the Emancipation Proclamation finally took effect. For ticket sales or more information, contact Hilary Malson at 202-829-0436 x31228 or HMalson@savingplaces.org. Entrance is at the intersection of Upshur St. and Rock Creek Church Rd. NW. Event features live music, a dessert buffet, and an open bar. Admission to Freedom’s Eve is by advanced ticket purchase only. lincolncottage.org Annapolis New Year’s Eve Celebration. Dec. 31, 7:30 PM-midnight. Free. Susan Campbell Park, Annapolis, MD. 410-263-7940. visitannapolis.org ◆
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Lalalu Mexican Art Launch Party Sunday, December 14 2:00PM – 5:00PM @ El Camino Mexican Restaurant Unique Handmade Mexican Art including:
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LAS PLACITAS RESTAURANT
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23 Years on Capitol Hill
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Hill Holiday Traditions by Annette Nielsen
An array of sweet treats baked by the hostess, Dana Carstarphen and brought by her neighbors, line the table at the Carstarphen-Malley home for the annual Cookie Swap, a tradition kept for many years.
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ll over Capitol Hill you’ll find holiday traditions – from menorah and tree lightings to cookie swaps and decorated storefronts. Unified in geography, these events take place as a way to solidify community, offering a way to reconnect with our neighbors while we slow down the pace – pausing even for a moment or two, reflecting on the past year and anticipating the new one to come.
Sweet Cookie Swaps When her two girls were very young, Dana Carstarphen would gather up a group of kids after school on the last day before the holiday break. As it was typically a half-day, she’d get gingerbread kits and each child could create their own
so than putting up the tree – and it’s a good way to get to see friends that live nearby.” Says Carstarphen, “I really enjoy opening the door and seeing how proud kids and adults are of their homemade treats and I love the idea of people feeling welcome in our home.”
Capitol Hill BID Annual Big George Tree Lighting & Inaugural Menorah Lighting
Neighborhood kids help decorate cookies for the annual Cookie Swap at the Carstarphen-Malley home.
bit of holiday magic. It’s a tradition that started when she was growing up in Alabama. “My mom would make epic old-fashioned gingerbread houses for my class around Christmas. She’d bake sheets of gingerbread from patterns she’d cut out of paper bags – they were magical.” Carstarphen says they also had a family tradition of picking out trees on their land that her dad would groom over the summer months, and then they’d chop down after Thanksgiving. “My girls now walk through the “forest” at Eastern Market to choose a tree usually the first weekend in December.” As her daughters have grown (they’re both in high school), the gingerbread house tradition has transitioned into a cookie swap that still takes place on the last day of school before break. Carstarphen always makes at least a couple of varieties of biscotti, a few versions of cookies, popcorn balls and persimmon bread. The girls make cookies to share and decorate with the younger neighborhood children and Carstarphen invites neighbors to this multigenerational gathering that showcases family favorites. She also has a large supply of beautiful packaging in which the sweet treats are placed. Helen, Carstarphen’s younger daughter says, “The cookie swap really marks the beginning of the Christmas season for me – more
Back in early 2007, the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District (BID) planted an 8-foot evergreen tree at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza to honor their founding President, George Didden III. Days before the dedication ceremony, George faced a devastating illness. In light of his condition, the BID Board decided that George deserved a more monumental tree and identified one that was 20-feet tall and affectionately known as “Big George” – with both trees being planted on the plaza. As of press time, the eighth annual lighting of (the now 27-foot) “Big George” will have taken place on November 29th with hot chocolate, coffee and donuts as Joyous Voices and the Washington Youth Choir sing favorite carols. The Big George Tree Lighting in 2011 where the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District (BID) “Men in Blue” take responsibility for lighting the large tree in the large circle garden at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza’s northwest quadrant to honor the founding BID president, George Didden III. Photo courtesy of BID.
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Also, the BID has dedicated a large menorah to honor past BID Board Chairman, Paul Pascal. The inaugural lighting of the menorah at the northeast quadrant of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza (corner of Pennsylvania Ave and 8th St SE) will take place on the first night of Hanukkah, Tuesday, December 16th at 5 p.m. In conjunction with Hill Havurah and served by the Capitol Hill
BID’s “Men in Blue” those in attendance will enjoy hot chocolate, coffee, traditional latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). For information visit hillhavurah.org or capitolhillbid.org.
Hill Havurah Hill Havarah (from haver, meaning friend) started on Capitol Hill approximately 15 years ago. An
Menorah unveiling at a February 2014 Capitol Hill Business Improvement District (BID) meeting. The Menorah is to honor Paul Pascal, Esq., who served as the BID chariman of the board from 2007-2014. The Menorah will be lit at the start of Hanukkah this year on December 16th at 5 pm, located at the northeast quadrant of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza. Photo courtesy of BID.
independent, lay-led Jewish community based on Capitol Hill, it serves over 350 individuals representing about 150 families from across the District. Hill Havarah is inclusive and welcomes members from a variety of religious backgrounds. While it’s not based in a synagogue, Hill Havarah is a member of the Capitol Hill Group Ministry and gathers in five different church spaces, depending on availability. Hanukkah is one of the upcoming seasonal holidays and it takes place over eight days. The first night of Hanukkah is celebrated this year on December 16th (see the Capitol Hill BID inaugural menorah lighting on the first night). Hill Havurah started a tradition of community lighting of menorahs over a decade ago, and this year it takes place on Saturday, December 20th at 6 pm at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol Street). People are encouraged to bring their personal menorahs to this neighborhood event. With many folding tables set up (covered with tin foil), the menorahs are placed and the candles are lit creating a spectacular show of lights. Blessings are recited, songs are sung (even some parodies) and a variety of latkes (regular and sweet potato pancakes), corn fritters, vegetable pancakes, along with jellied donut holes are served. Hill Havurah will also have chocolate gelt (coins) and dreidels (a four-sided spinning top) to add to the traditional Hanukkah activities. This year, you can purchase beautiful Israeli-made Hanukkah candles through their website. For further information, visit hillhavurah.org.
Coldwell Banker’s Festive Winter Windows and Business Support of the Season
Community Menorah Lighting by Hill Havurah has been taking place each year on a Saturday during Hanukkah. This year, it takes place on December 20th at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol Street) at 6 p.m. Hillhavurah.org.
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It was the summer of 2001 when Phyllis Jane Young was visiting Rehoboth and happened upon a store with a lot of whimsy. “There was an entire room devoted to a company called Department 56 – a maker of thematic pieces – like a Dickens-styled village and the North Pole.” Young found herself returning home with a carload of items, knowing she had the perfect place to stage a festive winter wonderland – the windows of the Coldwell Banker office on Pennsylvania Avenue, where she worked. “I received full support from the office, we just needed to identify someone to put it all together.”
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It wasn’t until the beginning of September when Young was on a house tour and saw some beautiful woodwork and tracked down the craftsman, Bruce Starr. Starr has been the set designer ever since. “After 9/11, it was critical that the windows come together,” Young said, “and the community really appreciated the gesture.” Each year since, the windows have seen additions like a Santa’s Lookout, a Peppermint Factory, tobbagons and ice skaters as well as buildings with recognizable names from the neighborhood. You’ll see a train installation (with technical assistance from a friend who works for Amtrak) and Young is constantly looking out for pieces to add to the display. It was while Young was at the Biltmore that she found a ‘snowing tree’ that made its window debut last year. Capitol Hill resident, Catherine Held recalls some earlier holiday initiatives also supported by local merchants. “Trees used to be set up in front of Hine Junior High School, and there also was a Santa House so that children could have their photos taken with Santa,” she says. “Kitty Kaupp and others encouraged donations from businesses to purchase large snowflakes about a decade ago to hang on street poles on 7th and 8th streets as well as on Pennsylvania and Massachusetts avenues.” Held Deborah and Michael Charlton (below) in Deborah’s legendary Santa Room says that the Capitol Hill BID now has the responsibility of hanging the festive includes about 300 Santas – ranging from light-up Santa Clause heads from decades ago to hand-carved and stuffed versions – miniature to over twosnowflakes each year. feet tall. Photos: Andrew Lightman Starr is scheduled back again this year to stage the Coldwell Banker windows at the end of November. “I’m so grateful he has agreed to another year,” says Young of this tradition that brings joy each year to youth of all ages.
The Santa Room
The Coldwell Banker bay windows have been a Capitol Hill Tradition for 13 years, transforming this Pennsylvania Avenue storefront into a captivating winter wonderland. Photo: Andrew Lightman
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Deborah Charlton has lived in DC for 11 years and in her current home since 2004 – and she’s been decorating in a big way for the holidays, no matter where they’ve lived. “I’m wild about decorating for Christmas – it’s something I inherited from my father and started with a light-up Santa Claus head that was given to him probably 40 years ago.” When her parents moved to Florida, she inherited the Santa Claus piece – and that started her mantra of “you can’t over-decorate – and if you love it, you’ll find a place for it.” Each year near Thanksgiving, one of Charlton’s friends, Cathy Zeljak, a library employee at George Washington University, stops by in the morning. As they have coffee and breakfast, they start the decorating process and work through the day, typically for about twelve hours. Her friend has taken photos of the room) so they know each year where the decorations are placed. Other rooms in the house are decorated as well — each with a holiday theme. An avid flea marketer, Charlton estimates that she now has probably 20 to 30 Santa Claus heads that light up – and in her Santa room, she has around 300 San-
tas, ranging from carved to stuffed, miniature to over a couple of feet tall. The tradition of adding to her holiday collection is one that is sure to continue as she says, “I may actually be at capacity now, but I probably won’t stop just yet.” Part of her collection also involves photos – she particularly likes the ones that show her as a young girl or her husband, Michael as a young boy, sitting on Santa’s lap crying. She has more recent photos, of her son as a child or her godchild at a young age with similar expressions. The decorating is enjoyed by many of her friends and family, too as Charlton hosts a big Christmas party each year. “It’s great to see the children – they’re especially in awe of the Santa room.” ◆
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Black Nativity
A Stirring Theatrical Event reflects the Birth of American Black Consciousness by Phil Hutinet
heaters in major cities across the United States put on annual productions of Black Nativity, a musical which celebrates the story of the birth of Christ. The Tremont Temple in Boston has produced a version of Black Nativity every year since 1969. Here in DC, the Theater Alliance in collabPhotos courtesy of C. Stanley Photography
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oration with the Anacostia Playhouse and Bowie State University will stage their own production this holiday season. This retelling of the Christmas story from an Afro-centric perspective is infused with rich gospel, blues, funk, jazz, and dance with griot style story telling from an ensemble cast. Embracing the original spirit of Hughes’ work, Black Nativity serves as a deep exploration of cultural identity, pride, and unity within the African-American community while also bringing a fresh voice to this holiday classic. Directed by Eric Ruffin, with music direction by e’Marcus Harper-Short and choreography by Princess Mhoon, Black Nativity will feature a talented ensemble cast of DC based performers. While the birth of Christ and religious themes feature prominently in Black Nativity, the musical, written by Langston Hughes and first performed off-Broadway in 1961, radically breaks with the theatrical traditions of the past and embodies the zeitgeist of the emerging “Black Consciousness” of the 1960s.
Langston Hughes Breaks the Tradition In the fifty year span since Hughes wrote Black Nativity, American society has grown more tolerant of multiculturalism. American audiences have seen more complex roles depicted for traditionally stereotyped groups like African Americans, Latinos, and Asians. Langston Hughes came from a family that valued education and racial pride above all else. His grandmother was part Native American and part African American. She had wed an African American man who died during John Brown’s raid at Harper’s Ferry. Hughes’ other grandfather was white and lived
openly with an African American woman and their children. Scholars have argued that Hughes’ multiculturalism coupled with his exposure to different races and cultures, gave him keen insight into his own “Black Identity.” While considered a secular intellectual by biographers, Hughes always respected people of faith. He understood the importance of the religion to African Americans and the role the church played in creating community while also providing identity and a refuge from life’s hardships. Originally called Wasn’t it a Mighty Day, Black Nativity consists of two acts centered on Christian themes. The first act, well known to Christians, recounts the story of Joseph and his pregnant wife Mary seeking a place to stay, eventually finding shelter in a manger where Mary gives birth to Jesus, the son of God. The second act takes place present day in an African American church. Hughes’ genius in Black Nativity lies in his ability to introduce readily identifiable cultural elements from the African Diaspora while recounting of one of the defining moments of Western Civilization. Gospel music, honky-tonk, quartets, trios and other traditionally black music form the core of the musical. Other elements such as drums, African patterned costumes and backdrops all intimate a radical departure from the demeaning racial stereotypes that dominated American theater in Hughes’ lifetime. Some of Hughes’ early co-creators (Alvin Ailey for one) actually broke rank with him when he decided to change the name from Wasn’t it a Might Day to Black Nativity, highlighting the division within the African American community of the early 1960s over Hughes interpretation of “Black Identity.” The introduction of elements from the African Diaspora into Black Nativity marks a major milestone in reclaiming the culture of the African American community. By adding traditionally black music, dance and symbols, Hughes was among the first to propose an African American aesthetic in an era when black playwrights strove
to expand the lexicon of European-originated theater in order to demonstrate their creative prowess and ability to assimilate.
A Link to Divinity So why use the birth of Christ as a means of exploring identity and reclaiming one’s culture? For Theater Alliance Director Eric Ruffin the answer is simple, “[Hughes] links [Black Nativity] to divinity which does great things for the psyche. Gospel music is inspiring and can be transformative and ecstatic; through this ecstasy, this out-ofbody experience, you become closer to God. ” For Ruffin, Black Nativity aligns with his philosophy that theater should do more than just create empathy between the audience member and the cast. Theater should nurture people spiritually, intellectually and provide a “transformative” experience. Black Nativity does all of this. Even if you have seen a production of Black Nativity before, no two productions are alike. In fact, Hughes intended for the performance to transcend space and time. He provided an allowance in the script giving the director full discretion to select contemporary music to ensure that the spirit of Black Nativity resonated throughout the ages by adapting to an ever-changing African American aesthetic. Black Nativity performances take place at the Anacostia Playhouse December 11, 2014 – January 4, 2015 and at Bowie State University November 29, 2014 – December 7, 2014. For more information and to purchase tickets go to: www.theateralliance.com/ project/black-nativity-2014 ◆
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Books for Cooks by Annette Nielsen Local Flavors The District now has nationally recognized culinary talent, as well as a growing farm and artisanal food scene. It’s reflected in more cookbooks by local chefs and food-inspired publications. This year, Washington became the happy recipient of the re-introduction of “Edible DC” (edibledc.com, free at select locations, $32 annually for
Award-Winning chef and Dupont Circle restaurateur Luigi Diotaiuti’s “The Al Tiramisu Restaurant Cookbook” (altiramisu.com, $45) celebrates the chef’s rich Italian heritage with recipes like Placido Domingo’s Antipasto Platter, Cream of Chestnut Soup and a classic Tiramisu. The Italian-born chef is a DC’s Who’s Who, honored as part of the American Chef Corps, an elite group of 80 culinary ambassadors affiliated with the US Department of State.
Spirits Merry and Bright
mailed print edition). Part of the national Edible brand, the metro area is primed for this – and Kristen Hartke, Edible DC’s editor, lives on the Hill. The Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, offers an array of programs and a mobile market (you’ve probably seen the bright green school bus). “The Arcadia Mobile Market Seasonal Cookbook” by Arcadia Culinary Educator, Juju Harris, with photography by Molly M. Peterson (arcadiafood.org, $20) is a resourcefully written cookbook featuring well-tested recipes drawing on seasonal, costeffective ingredients. A gift that gives twice – sales support distribution of the cookbook to SNAP and WIC Mobile Market customers. Alexander Justice Moore’s “The Food Fighters: DC Central Kitchen’s First Twenty-Five Years on the Front Lines of Hunger and Poverty” (iUniverse, $20.95) takes a look at an institution started by Robert Egger in the 1980s. Written by an insider, it’s an inspirational book explaining Egger’s approach to combating hunger while creating opportunity (culinary training) – and how it’s become a national model in the process. “New Latin Flavors” by award-winning chef Richard Sandoval (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $29.95), offers recipes for vibrant Latin dishes inspired by his restaurants. A native of Mexico City, this ‘Top Chef Masters’ personality has opened restaurants not only in Washington, DC, but NYC and Dubai.
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Becky Sue Epstein’s “Brandy: A Global History” (Reaktion Books, $19.95) tells the tale of this spirit that’s made from distilled wine has been produced and consumed since the Middle Ages This book joins others in the series, new titles released annually – and they’re the perfect size for a stocking stuffer. “Sherry: A Modern Guide to The Wine World’s Best-Kept Secret with Cocktails and Recipes” by Talia Baiocchi (Ten Speed Press, $25) showcases a wine that is now in a renaissance. You’ll find recommendations for producers, food preparations and pairings, and this editor-in-chief of online magazine ‘Punch’, Baiocchi offers up a list of sherry-friendly cocktail bars – in the District visit Jaleo, The Passenger and Mockingbird Hill. “Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails” by David Kaplan and Nick Fauchald pays homage to its East Village namesake, ranked one of the top ten bars in the world since opening. Amateur or expert will complete a cocktail education with this comprehensive collection of the bar’s best drinks. With a section on tools and ingredients, this might just replace “Old Mr. Boston” for chapters on the philosophy of drink-making.
Vegetarian & Vegan Bryant Terry, a national leader in the healthful eating movement brings together flavor-packed African, Caribbean, and Southern food in “Afro-Vegan” (Ten Speed, $27.50). Whatever the season, this beautiful collection will have you coming back to recreate these recipes sure to become a part of your repertoire. Take a look at Aglaia Kremezi’s “Mediterranean Vegetarian Feasts” (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, $35), even if you love meat. These plant-based seasonal dishes provide master recipes inspired by eastern
Mediterranean and north African flavors, whether feta skillet pies with spinach and herbs or a hearty Tunisian chickpea soup. “Vegan Without Borders” (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $40) by Robin Robertson, by this longtime vegan and author of 20 cookbooks puts a global spin on vegan cooking. Try the Sizzling Saigon Crepes, Black Bean and Butternut Tortilla Bake or Korean-inspired Sweet Potato dessert. A name synonymous with vegetarian cooking, Deborah Madison brings us “The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone” (Ten Speed, $40). With greater emphasis on tempeh rather than tofu, and adding ingredients like farro, smoked paprika, curry leaves, coconut oil and dairy substitutes, this book only improves on the classic.
ons & Za’atar” by Rawia Bishara (Kyle Books, $30) is based on the chef’s offerings at her muchacclaimed Brooklyn restaurant Tanoreen. Stunning photography accompanies enticing recipes and stories. Joumana Accad’s “Taste of Beirut” (HCI Books, $19) combines Mediterranean flavors with global influences. Accad grew up in Beirut, has lived in Paris and the United States, and returned home to write this cookbook with variations on classics like falafel loaf and hummus to pomegranate and milk pudding. “Mexico the Cookbook” by Margarita Carrillo Arronte (Phaidon, $49.95) is sure to be your comprehensive go-to cookbook for Mexican home cooking. One of Mexico’s most respected in the culinary world, Arronte, a leader of the Slow Food Movement in Baja, offers up 650 authentic recipes from regional snacks and street food to drinks and desserts. As Ireland’s best-known food ambassador, television personality
Around the World If you’re a fan of Middle Eastern cooking, there are a couple of cookbooks out this year worth your time. “Olives, Lem-
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and bestselling author Darina Allen brings you culinary expertise in “30 Years at Ballymaloe: a Celebration of the World-Renowned Cookery School” (Kyle, $35. In this tribute to her cooking school located on her 100-acre farm you’ll also learn about foraging and fishing – all with the Irish knack for telling a story. As part of Ten Speed Press’s best-selling slow cooker series, Neela Paniz brings “The New Indian Slow Cooker” (Ten Speed, $20) with more than 60 fix-it-and-forget-it recipes for favorite curries, chutneys and more. A Bombay native, this winning ‘Chopped’ contestant, provides three decades of cooking experience in classic and innovative recipes.
(Houghton Mifflin, $35) gives those with busy schedules some short-cuts and game plans for becoming a more intuitive cook, with his trademark commonsense advice. You could be reading Jenny Rosenstrach’s “Dinner the Playbook” (Ballantine, $20) on the metro each day –a smart way to keep the dinner menu rotation out of the pasta, pizza burgers rut. You get weekly meal plans for a month, with organizing tips and kid-vetted recipes. Even if you only get through a week of recipes, it’s an inspired start. “The Family Cooks” by Laurie David (Rodale, $28) was devised to give parents a roadmap for healthful eating habits. Celebrating the flavors of each season, you’ll find clever recipes for ravioli cupcakes, oven-grilled corn, and crispy tofu and broccoli stir-fry – with a section on DIY condiments and prep that can be done on Sundays for the week ahead – even without children, you’ll appreciate this book.
Chef-Inspired If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, one of the best parts of the shift is the family (staff) meal. “Eating with the Chefs: Family Meals from the World’s Most Creative Restaurants” by Per-Anders Jorgensen (Phaidon, $60) offers recipes from 18 top-rated restaurants like Noma, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, and The French Laundry, all handpicked by the author for unique staff meal traditions, that develop a team and encourage friendships. “North: The New Nordic Cuisine of Iceland” by Gunnar Karl Gislason (Ten Speed, $40) is an up-close look at Iceland’s food scene with indigenous ingredients. Chef Gislason‘s Dill restaurant’s debut in 2009 coincided with Iceland’s banking collapse – but he persevered and has honored Iceland’s culinary heritage to international acclaim. This book serves double duty – on your coffee table and in your kitchen. The lauded London-based chef, Yotam Ottolenghi is back with “Plenty More” (Ten Speed, $35), sharing his vegi-Renaissance. Bringing out the best flavors, he champions vegetables, grains and legumes in recipes like root vegetable pies and ricotta fritters with orange and honey.
Family Time “Food, Family and Tradition: Hungarian Kosher Family Recipes and Remembrances” by Lynn Kirsche Shapiro (The Cherry Press, $35) is a celebration of the resilience of Holocaust survivors through stories and food. Original recipes from potato kugel to brisket to blintzes and plum preserves, this book looks at the family traditions
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Food is Fun Judith Jones, a longtime Knopf editor, is known for her work with Julia Child as well as other notables like James Beard, Edna Lewis, Joan Nathan and Jacques Pepin. Now, her “Love Me, Feed Me” (Knopf, $24.95) shows how to cook for man’s best friend, explaining the nutritional benefits of supplementing or substituting store
and richness of Jewish life in Eastern Europe prior to the Holocaust. David Venable’s “Back Around the Table” (Ballantine, $30) brings his on-screen infectious energy to this book with his favorite recipes for comfort food. With quick recipes for entertaining to slow braised meats, you’re bound to find your own favorites to add to your repertoire. The annual round-up of Books for Cooks wouldn’t be complete without a Mark Bittman offering and “How to Cook Everything Fast”
December 7
2nd Sunday of Advent Worship - 11:00 a.m. Alternative Christmas Giving Sunday
December 14
3rd Sunday of Advent Lessons and Carols - 11:00 a.m. (with Choir and Orchestra)
December 21
4th Sunday of Advent Worship with Children and Youth Pageant - 11:00 a.m.
Christmas Eve 2 Candlelight Communion Services 6:00 & 11:00 p.m.
December 28
1st Sunday after Christmas Christmas Stories and Songs – 11:00 a.m. (An Old Fashion Carol Sing and Storytelling)
visit www.capitolhillpreschurch.org for more information. 201 4th Street, SE (at Fourth and Independence Ave SE) Washington, DC 20003 • 202-547-8676
A More Light Presbyterian Congregation December 2014 H 53
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bought kibble with home-prepared ingredients – and heartfelt stories of life with her own dogs. “Food Truck Road Trip: A Cookbook” by Kim Pham and Philip Shen (Page Street Publishing, $22) takes you on a road trip sampling cuisines from street food vendor offerings, as diverse as the melting pot of America, whether Chocolate Chip Espresso Cookies from La Bella Torte in New York or Sam’s Famous Lobster Roll from Sam’s Chowdermobile in California. To go with the new blender on a holiday wish list is “The Blender Girl” by Tess Masters (Ten Speed, $20), a self-professed blendaholic. With a popular recipe blog, Masters’ solution to time-starved lives is the blender, with versatile recipes for everything from smoothies to a flourless triple-pecan mousse pie and artichoke white bean dip. Food Writing takes center stage with “Best Food Writing 2014” edited by Holly Hughes (Da Capo Press, $16) in this collection that is as much about food as it is people. Hughes has been editing this series since its inception in 2000, and in this rendition you’ll find something for everyone by notables like Dan Barber, Monica Bhide and Adam Gopnik.
Just Desserts In one of the most anticipated cookbooks of the year, Dominique Ansel’s “The Secret Recipes” (Simon & Schuster, $35) you’ll get more than the cronut, (the croissant-donut hybrid) with recipes that offer bakery expertise, whether amateur or professional. One of the most beautiful books with some charming stories, you’ll see the magic he makes in New York, the city he now calls home. “Let Us All Eat Cake: Gluten-free Recipes for Everyone’s Favorite Cakes” by Catherine Ruehle (Ten Speed, $25), shows you how to recreate classic cakes, cupcakes and other sweet treats with recipes modified for a gluten-free diet. You’ll also find modifications for vegan, sugar-free, dairyfree and nut-free diets. Dorie Greenspan’s “Baking Chez Moi: Recipes from My Paris Home to Your Home Anywhere” (Houghton Mifflin, $40) will be an instant classic for your kitchen library. With nearly two decades of living in France, Greenspan assembled treats from the 17th century (frozen chocolate mousse and profiteroles) to her own creations like a Gingerbread Buche de Noel, just in time for holiday preparations. ◆
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{capitol streets}
BULLETIN BOARD
Photo: Courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
Anacostia River Festival Scheduled for Spring
New in 2015, the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Anacostia River Festival will take place in Anacostia Park on Sunday, Apr. 12. The event merges the arts, health, environment, and recreation, with activities including canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, bike riding, and nature walks. The 2015 National Cherry Blossom Festival is Mar. 20-Apr. 12. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
Brethren Nutrition Program Needs Volunteers The Brethren Nutrition Program, 337 No. Carolina Ave. SE (access the Soup Kitchen via the 4th St. door) is looking for volunteers. The Soup Kitchen is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Help prepare, cook, serve and clean up; organize volunteers; participate in a work night chopping vegetables, baking casseroles and desserts, preparing for holidays, or doing heavy cleaning projects; spend time in the dining room eating, visiting and answering questions. Volunteers can just show up or sign-up online at vols.pt/sYUgFG or via email at bnp@washingtoncitycob.org. With its open door policy, the Soup Kitchen welcomes everyone to join in the meals. There are no eligibility requirements. Many of the guests are unemployed and homeless; others are employed, but reside in shelters while they search for permanent, affordable housing. A meal at the Soup Kitchen has also become one way that a number of guests are able to stretch severely limited incomes.
Cold Emergency Hotline To request transportation to a shelter for the homeless, contact the Shelter Hotline at uposh@upo.org. An e-mailed report should include the time when the person was seen, their spe-
cific location, and a description of the person’s appearance. Individuals who are homeless who don’t have a cell phone or change for a pay phone should call the Shelter Hotline toll-free at 1-800-535-7252.
NPS and the Francis Marion Memorial Project Seek Public Comment on Location of Memorial The National Park Service and the Francis Marion Memorial Project (FMMP) are conducting an Environmental Assessment to evaluate the impacts of establishing a permanent memorial honoring Revolutionary War General Francis Marion. The first phase of of public scoping focuses on site selection, and the NPS and FMMP are accepting public comments through Dec. 10, 2014 on possible locations for the Congressionally authorized memorial. The FMMP, in coordination with the NPS, has identified Marion Park and other federal
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Moms On The Hill
2014 School Information Night
[ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7TH ] [ 2:00–5:00 PM ]
[ CAPITOL HILL DAY SCHOOL ] [ 210 SOUTH CAROLINA AVENUE SE ] The closest Metro stop is Capitol South on the blue and orange lines
Photo: Judith May
Preschool, Public, Charter, Private, Catholic/Parochial, Middle Schools, High Schools and other programs. Come see all of your options! More Info:
[DOWNEYSCHOOLCONSULTING@GMAIL.COM] ALL PARENTS (including non-members) ARE WELCOME Organized by MoTH (Moms on the Hill) Capitol Hill Village Hosts Japanese Foundation for Senior Citizens’ Housing As part of an exploration of approaches to aging and housing in the United States, Capitol Hill Village hosted a delegation from the Japanese Foundation for Senior Citizens’ Housing. Japan, like the United States, faces an “avalanche of aging” as Executive Director Roberta Shapiro noted, and the group was fascinated by the Village concept. Villages now operate in 40 states, Canada, Australia, and The Netherlands, with the highest U.S. concentration in the Washington metropolitan area. The visitors were curious as to whether there might be too many people needing assistance and not enough people to help. That has not been the case with the Capitol Hill Village as 90% of its services are provided by volunteers. The dialogue will continue after the Japanese visitors return home as they promised to stay in touch and share information on their respective activities. capitolhillvillage.org parcels along South Carolina Ave. SE as possible locations for the memorial. Marion Park is bound by 4th, 6th and E Sts. SE. The preferred manner to comment is online at parkplanning.nps.gov/marionmemorial. Select “Open for Comment” from the menu on the left side of the page. Comments may also be submitted in writing, by mail or fax to Glenn DeMarr, National Park Service, National Capital Region, 1100 Ohio Dr. SW, Washington, DC 20242, ATTN: Marion Memorial or Fax 202-4010017. Comments must be entered into the website or postmarked by Dec. 10.
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Canal Park Ice Rink Opens The 10,000 square foot Canal Park Ice Rink opened for the season on Saturday, Nov. 15. The rink is open daily and offers private skating lessons for children and adults. Ice skating rink hours are as follows: Monday and Tuesday, noon-7 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, noon-9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults and $8 for children, seniors, and military. Skate rental is $4. The rink also has daily programming and events: Monday and Wednesday, DC After School Youth Skate Workshop, 3:30-5 p.m.; Tuesday, 2 for Tuesdays (get 2 admissions for the price of 1),
noon-7 p.m.; Thursday, College Night, 6-9 p.m.; Friday, Rock & Skate featuring DJ, 7-9 p.m.; Saturday, Learn to Skate: 9:45-10:45 a.m. and Cartoon Skate, 11 a.m.1 p.m. More information can be found at canalparkdc.org/icerink/public-skating.
Capitol Hill Village’s Gala Jan. 24 Capitol Hill Village’s annual party extraordinaire, the Gala, will take place on Saturday, Jan. 24--this time at a new venue, the Washington Navy Yard’s Catering and Conference Center. This year’s gala is entitled “Let Your Dreams Set Sail” and will incorporate a nautical theme in its new surroundings overlooking the Anacostia River. It will honor Medstar Washington Hospital Center and its President John Sullivan and CHV’s founding executive director Gail Kohn and founding Board President Geoff Lewis. To learn more, contact the CHV office at 202543-1778 or info@capitolhillvillage.org.
Cove Capitol Hill Relocated Effective Dec. 1, cove Capitol Hill has moved from 910 Pennsylvania Ave. SE to 611 1/2 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The new location will have the same cove feel as the rest of their locations, with different styles of seating, wifi, beverages, and printing and scanning. There will be one 4-seat conference room and two call boxes. cove.is
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Third Street Tunnel Project for utility relocation work along Massachusetts Ave. and H St. NW, between 2nd St. and 4th St. The related work, involving removal, relocation and replacement of existing underground utilities, will impact both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and is expected to last six months. Construction activities during this phase will generally occur Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-midnight. Saturday and Sunday work, scheduled only as needed, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Third St. will be closed north of H St. and traffic will be redirected around this intersection (to utilize 4th and I Sts.) for the full duration of Phase 2. H St. will be re-opened westbound, allowing traffic to travel directly through the Massachusetts Ave. intersection from 2nd to 4th Sts.; eastbound traffic will remain as currently configured. Temporary lane closures should be expected between 7 a.m.-midnight.
Library of Congress to Host Emily Dickinson Day The Library of Congress Poetry and Literature Center, in conjunction with the Folger Shakespeare Library, will celebrate Emily Dickinson’s 184th birthday by hosting a marathon reading of the poet’s work. Local and non-local poets, writers, critics and the general public will read chronologically from Dickinson’s poems. The event will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8 in room 119 on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. The program is free and open to the public. Tickets are not needed. For information about signing up to read, visit folger.edu/template. cfm?cid=555. The day-long reading expands the tradition of the Folger Shakespeare Library’s annual Emily Dick-
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inson Birthday Tribute, which will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 8 in the Folger Elizabethan Theatre. The reading will feature poet Rafael Campo and other award-winning poets who will read Dickinson’s work and discuss the great significance of her legacy. Tickets are needed for the evening program, which is co-sponsored by the Poetry Society of America.
Harris Teeter Grocery Store Opens in Capitol Riverfront Harris Teeter grocery store in The Yards, 401 M St. SE, opened its doors to the public on Nov. 5. The opening of Harris Teeter is being celebrated by Capitol Riverfront residents and employees in addition to several newly opened restaurants and stores in the neighborhood.
AARP Chapter #4751 Holiday Luncheon The SWWF AARP Chapter #4751 invites all to its holiday luncheon on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Ft. McNair officers’ Club-McNair Room, 4th and P Sts. SW. It is wheelchair accessible. Onsite parking is available. Picture ID is required. $30 per person. For reservations, contact Evelyn Dorsey at 202-488-9685.
December Quaker Potluck and Dialogue The December potluck on Sunday, Dec. 7 starts at 6:30 p.m. with the program starting at 7:30 p.m. The subject is “Corruptive Influences on Congress and How Do We Address It?” This is an opportunity for fellowship among Quakers, attenders and fellow seekers. Bring a dish to share; family members, neighbors and friends are always welcome. William Penn House is at 515 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-543-5560. WilliamPennHouse.org
Brad Linde Ensemble
Great Noise Ensemble
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December 6 Sweet and Homegrown Airs
Step off the beaten path as Great Noise Ensemble plays the best of new music by David Lang, Armando Bayolo, Mark Sylvester and others!
BRAD LINDE ENSEMBLE December 6 A Post-Cool Yule
This 10-piece jazz ensemble will fill your stocking with re-imagined holiday classics!
STEP AFRIKA!
December 11–22 Magical Musical Holiday Step Show
SHOWCASE
December 9, 6-9 p.m. Wilson High School 3950 Chesapeake St NW, Washington, DC 20016 Join Humanities DC, the DC Historic Preservation Office and local non-profits and residents in celebrating DC community heritage and history. The showcase will feature a keynote address by Washington Post Columnist John Kelly, film and Q & A with 2014 DCCHP grantees and a showcase of the latest community preservation work.
Make music with DC’s internationally-known step dance company, their furry friends from the Arctic Kingdom and DJ Frosty the Snowman! Featuring the Frosty Shuffle and March of the Nutcracker.
ARTS ON THE HORIZON December 17–22 Snow Day
This world premiere production celebrates the fun of snow days with the help of a jolly elf! For ages 2–6.
RSVP: DCCHPShowcase.eventbrite.com December 2014 H 61
Stanton Park Resident Vincent Morris Named to DCPL Board of Trustees
In Loving Memory of Mark Noecker Mark passed away unexpectedly on October 26, 2014. He loved the Hill and was a fixture at Capitol Hill Bikes, Hoopla, Cosi and Packer List. He is lovingly survived by his partner Ken, his mother Lauryne, his sisters Lauryne, Deborah, and Penelope, his brothers John and Morgan and many friends and family. He was a lover of animals and always found the positive in every person and situation. He will be missed deeply.
Longtime library advocate and Stanton Park resident Vincent Morris was recently confirmed by the DC Council for a four year term as a member of the District of Columbia Board of Trustees for the public library system. Mayor Gray nominated Morris to replace DCPL Trustee President John Hill, who had led the board for 11 years. The 9-member board of trustees works with the DCPL Executive Director to set policies and plan for the future of the city’s 25 branches and the main flagship library, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Morris, who served as spokesman for Mayor Williams and now works in the Senate, has been involved in city libraries and especially the Northeast branch library for nearly a decade. He was an advocate for the branch before the renovation and helped work on the design with the contractor and the architect. He has also served for many years as the President of the Friends of the Northeast Library and has advocated for more city investments in public libraries, longer hours and the restoration of Sunday hours. Vincent Morris
MOM’s Organic Markets Opens First DC Store
stocked with wine and local artisan and Italian specialty items. Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. radici-market.com
MOM’s Organic Markets has opened it’s first DC store at 1501 New York Ave. NE. It offers quality organic and gluten free foods and an affordable selection. MOMsOrganicMarket.com
New Regulations to Streamline Inclusionary Zoning Program Announced
Radici Opens The long awaited Radici at 303 7th St. SE has opened with their house made treats and Italian fare. The chef-driven Radici boasts daily, fresh pasta and mozzarella. They also offer house pastries, breads and the famous Italian coffee illy. All of this in addition to their carefully curated market,
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Mayor Gray and DC Department of Housing and Community Development Director Kelly have announced new regulations for the District of Columbia’s Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Program that will help strengthen the city’s efforts to provide quality affordable housing. The regulations streamline the regulatory process, address building permit issues, enhance the
outreach to qualified residents, and make it easier for developers to build affordable housing units. The regulations cover various aspects of the IZ program, in particular, the process of occupying IZ units. The regulations are open for public comment until Dec. 17 before becoming final. To view the regulations and the full IZ report, visit dhcd.dc.gov.
DC Recycling Trucks Wrapped with Original Art in Time for Earth Day 2015 The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the DC Department of Public Works will collaborate to wrap 10 DPW recycling trucks with artwork created by local artists. The project was developed to increase awareness and education about recycling in the District and enliven the streets of the District with mobile public art works. The trucks will be unveiled in April 2015 in celebration of Earth Day, which will be recognized on April 22.
Development Team Selected for DC Housing Authority Headquarters The District of Columbia Housing Authority Board of Commissioners selected the MRP Realty/ CSG Urban team as its developer for the DCHA Headquarters, at 1133 N. Capitol St. NE. The redeveloped site in NOMA will include office, residential, and retail space. DCHA’s headquarters, bounded by N. Capitol St., M St., a parking lot about 420 feet from N. Capitol St., and Pierce St., translates to more than 1 million gross square feet of developable property due to transferable development credits.
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2014-2015 Leaf Collection Season Begun Leaf collection runs through Jan. 10. Residents should note that the same crews that collect leaves also remove snow, so leaf collection may be interrupted for snow removal duties. Leaves will be removed from neighborhood treeboxes at least twice, following the schedule that can be found at Find the Leaf Collection Schedule for Your Neighborhood on the DPW Website, dpw.dc.gov. DPW asks residents to place their leaves in the treebox space the Sunday before each collection cycle. Loose leaves raked into the treeboxes will be composted. Bagged leaves placed in the treebox space or where trash and recycling are collected will not be composted. During the last two weeks of leaf collection season (Dec. 28-Jan. 10), DPW will collect Christmas trees and other greenery from residents whose trash is collected by DPW. Trees and greenery should be placed where the resident’s trash is collected. Remove all ornaments and lights and do not put trees and greenery in a bag.
DDOT Launches Online Public Space Occupancy Map The District Department of Transportation has launched an online tool that will help residents, visitors and businesses view activities that impede pedestrian, cyclist and vehicular traffic in the District. DDOT’s Public Space Occupancy Map at dcgis.maps.arcgis.com displays existing construction projects, emergency utility work and special events. Icons that represent activities which temporarily affect public space, show more details when selected, allowing users an opportunity to examine these activities for more information. For instance, the public can view public space permit numbers, and beginning and end dates for a project or special event.
Monthly Reverse Mortgage Workshops Announced Housing Counseling Services, Inc., a HUD approved non-profit housing counseling agency, is one of the few housing counseling agencies in the DC metro area that has certified reverse
mortgage counselors on staff. Housing Counseling Services has added a new workshop for homeowners who need a refresher on the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), also known as a reverse mortgage. HECM Workshops will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. at 2410 17th St. NW. Workshops are available in English and Spanish. Other languages are available with advance notice. For more information call 202-667-7006 or info@housingetc.org.
Community Meetin on Frgers Redevelopment Dec. 10 Roadside Development will host a community meeting about the redevelopment of the Frager’s Hardware Store site, 1101-1117 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, at 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 at The Hill Center. The purpose of the Dec. 10th meeting is for the community to provide input, offer ideas, and ask questions about the future development of the Frager’s site. The proceedings will include a brief update from Richard Lake, founding partner, Roadside Development, and John Weintraub, owner of Frager’s Hardware. The Hill Center is located at 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Ideas or comments in advance of the meeting may be emailed to fragers@ roadsidellc.com or by phone at 202-375-7942. - See more at: http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/developer-host-meeting-redevelopment-fragers-site#sthash.uRPOWIuH.dpuf
New Traffic Ticket Adjudication Laws in Effect There are new adjudication laws in effect under the Traffic Adjudication Amendment Act of 2014, which changes the process for how customers adjudicate tickets. On Oct. 1, 2014, the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles implemented two changes to the adjudication process: submitting requests for reconsideration and filing a motion to vacate. Customers who contest a parking, photo enforcement ticket, or a minor moving violation, and are held liable now have 30 days to submit a request for reconsideration and include new evidence\documentation to support their case. The hearing examiner will evaluate
the new evidence and make a final decision. If the liable decision is upheld, then customers have the option to appeal the decision. A request for reconsideration is required before an appeal can be filed. If a ticket has not been answered within 60 days and a deemed admission has been entered, or the ticket was answered and the customer failed to appear at an in-person hearing and a default judgment was entered, the customer may file a Motion to Vacate. Customers have 60 days from when the deemed admission was entered to file a Motion to Vacate unless the violation falls under one of the three categories: i) distracted driving, ii) operating without insurance, and iii) the vehicle is not theirs, or the tags were lost or stolen when the ticket was issued. Then, they will have 365 days to file a Motion to Vacate.
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Washington Area National Parks Make Unprecedented Investment in Energy Conservation The National Park Service is investing $29 million in 81 individual energy efficiency and water conservation projects at national parks throughout the greater Washington region. This unprecedented commitment to reducing energy use and generating energy from renewable sources is the largest to-date among the nine bureaus in the Department of the Interior. The 23-year Energy Savings Performance Contract awarded at the end of September to Siemens Government Technologies, will allow the NPS to conserve energy and water with no upfront costs and to accrue cost savings
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THE HI LL'S CLO S E ST HORSE FARM FOR SALE
into the future. The project is funded by savings generated through the new energy conservation measures. Savings are guaranteed by Siemens and will allow the NPS facilities to generate 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Specific projects include installing intelligent lighting and water controls that regulate themselves to be most effective and efficient for the conditions, replacing outdated and high energy use heating and air conditioning systems, and installing photovoltaic solar arrays. Project installation is expected to begin in January 2015.
Potomac River parkland surrounds the closest private farm to the Capitol Building’s dome. Tucked in a wooded historic district 9.7 miles from the Hill, this 3 bd/3.5 bath cedar farmhouse offers Georgetown interiors, a masterpiece staircase, underground utilities, open-space kitchen/ living area, and a multitude of porches, decks and brick patios. The large bedrooms are en suite. Library, dining room and 1st floor areas offer spaces for lovers of modern and colonial. The easy-keeper 1992 tidewater home and its sturdy board/batten 3-horse barn are on 4.5 acres surrounded by 700-acres of walking and bridle paths in the region’s earliest colonial settlement (see Broad Creek Historic District). The secluded Potomac River neighborhood is 2.5 miles from 21st century National Harbor’s dining and shopping. See http://virtualtours.katzvirtualtours.biz/66002. $895,000
Realtor , Laur a Lee Jones : ( 410) 707-7246 or C ontac t Owner : (301) 292-6130
District Snow Team Holds Preparedness Dry Run On Oct. 24, the District Snow Team prepared for the upcoming snow season by participating in a dry run. Crews from the Department of Public Works and the District Department of Transportation staged the emergency fleet in Lot 8 behind RFK Stadium prior to being deployed across the District. More than 250 pieces of heavy equipment were used during this exercise. u
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Annual Village Gala Set to Sail
C
by Mike Canning
apitol Hill Village’s annual party extraordinaire, the Gala, will take place on Saturday, January 24, 2015—this time at a new venue, the Washington Navy Yard’s Catering and Conference Center. This year’s edition, the seventh, is entitled “Let Your Dreams Set Sail” and will incorporate a nautical theme in its new surroundings overlooking the Anacostia River. In “Celebrating a Community of Caring,” this year’s Gala will honor Medstar Washington Hospital Center and its President John Sullivan and CHV’s founding executive director Gail Kohn and founding Board President Geoff Lewis.
experiences and adventures. Finally, the party will offer a buffet dinner and beverage service, good companionship, and dancing to the music of the versatile Night Rhythms band. The Gala is the Village’s principal annual fundraising event, supporting more than 20 percent of the organization’s operating budget, based on revenue from sponsors, reservations, and auction revenues. Gala proceeds will support CHV’s social services team as well as memberships and emergency funds for lower income members. Sponsorships will be offered ranging from $7,500 to $500, and individual reservations will cost $125 per person ($70 tax-deductible).
From Left to Right: Photo: Revelers at last year’s gala... Design Theme for the 2015 Capitol Hill Village Gala
A key element of the Gala has been the silent auction with a myriad of items and experiences to bid on. This year a live auction will provide special offerings with noted local actor David Sabin as auctioneer. Chief among the auction items are the Salon Dinners— conversational gatherings in Hill homes with the wellknown and the well-informed making guest appearances. Among this year’s Salon guests are civil rights leader Julian Bond and ex-mayor Anthony Williams, along with other noted personages. Besides the salon dinners, attendees will be able to bid on stays at fabulous vacation homes in the U.S. and Europe, restaurant meals, and a variety of unique
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Established in 2007, Capitol Hill Village (CHV) is a non-profit membership organization based on “neighbors helping neighbors.” It is an inclusive community that offers unique social, educational, and cultural opportunities. Village members belong to an extensive network of volunteer and preferred vendor services that support a full life in the community. CHV is the second oldest of some 145 ”villages” in the US and has grown to more than 400 individual members assisted by more than 300 volunteers and a small professional staff. To learn more about the Gala please contact the CHV office at 202-543-1778 or info@capitolhillvillage. org. u
T H E LO S S O F A F R I E N D
Steve Cymr ot
With Gratitude and Respect Your friend, Jean-Keith Fagon December 2014 H 69
{capitol streets / the numbers}
Is the District’s Homeless System Ready for Winter?
T
he first cold weather of the season has arrived, and believe it or not, that is good news for DC’s homeless families. That’s because this is when families with children have the legal right to shelter. From April until November, the city turned away most homeless families, leaving them to sleep in cars, return to living with an abuser, or some other unstable situation. As families start coming into shelter again, memories of last winter are still fresh – a city caught flat-footed with little capacity to provide shelter and even less ability to help families move from shelter. A little girl disappeared after being in DC General for more than a year. It is a situation that no one wants to repeat. But have the District’s leaders learned from last year’s problems and responded adequately? A report card on DC’s homeless services gives the city mixed grades -- mostly C’s and D’s -- but notes signs of improvement. A new program to keep families from becoming homeless was launched, new funds for affordable housing are available, and the District secured additional shelter space by renting an entire motel. And the city released a plan to replace DC General with smaller shelters, but a lot will be needed to make that plan a reality. Amidst these gains, however, tremendous problems remain. The city is not moving families out of shelter fast enough, due to flaws in its “Rapid Re-housing” program. Little has been done to address the unique needs of very young homeless families, who are half of the families coming into shelter. These parents have almost no experience with adult
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by Ed Lazere responsibilities -- running a home or balancing work and child care or school on their own. That means Mayor-elect Bowser and the new DC Council have their work cut out for them. They will need to finalize a plan for a new shelter system,
strengthen programs that keep families out ofshelter, and create more affordable housing to address the underlying cause of growing homelessness in DC.
Doing More to Keep Families Out of Shelter The District recently launched a new homelessness prevention program, modeled after successful programs in New York City and Massachusetts. The city will devote $2 million and partner with five community-based organizations to provide services. The
District also has begun efforts to help families reconnect with relatives and friends, while avoiding asking them to go back to unsafe or unhealthy situations. This is modeled on a successful Cleveland Mediation Center. DC is better prepared to shelter families this winter. Last winter, the District responded to the increase in families seeking shelter by placing some families in rec center gyms, with flimsy partitions that did not offer privacy or quiet. The District’s homeless services leaders also chose to offer families shelter just one night at a time, requiring them to reapply each day. It looks like things will be different this winter. Two courts ruled that recreation centers pose risks of harm to children, and the DC Council adopted legislation clarifying that families should be sheltered in a private room and allowed to stay until they find safe housing. In addition, the Department of Human Services is actively seeking additional shelter space. In late November, the city announced that it would lease an entire motel for the winter – the Days Inn on New York Avenue, NE. This will make it easier to provide case management and keep children connected to their schools. It is not clear whether this will be enough space, however.
DC Is Creating More Affordable Housing, But More Is Needed Efforts to move families out of shelter quickly depend on having a supply of affordable housing. The 2015 DC budget includes funds to provide
rental assistance to 200 very low-income families. And the city’s housing department established preferences for construction of new affordable homes with enough bedrooms to meet family needs. These small, incremental investments will need to continue, especially to create more low-cost housing than what is lost in the private market to rising rents.
In October, the Gray administration released a plan to close DC General and replace it with a series of smaller shelters. Yet it is a plan without a lot of details or timelines, and it doesn’t appear to call for enough shelter capacity. Mayor Bowser and the DC Council will need to take the next steps to flesh out the plan and identify the needed funding.
find suitable apartments. Also, the District has not finalized important rules, such as how to help families who start to falter once on their own. And it is not collecting data to see how well the program is working and what kind of improvements are needed. Finally, the District is not doing enough to help young families. Nearly half of families in shelter are headed by a parent 24 or younger, many of whom lack a high school diploma or GED, have limited work experience and have never had their own home. Helping these families requires special case management and a longer timeline to get to stability. While some communities across the country offer specialized services for young homeless families, DC uses a onesize-fits-all approach.
DC Gets Poor Grades for Efforts to Get Families Out of Shelter
How DC Can Get a Better Homeless Services Report Card Next Time
A Plan to Replace DC General
While the District’s leaders deserve credit for addressing some major shortcomings in homeless services, fundamental flaws remain in the programs to help families get out and stay out of shelter. The DC General Shelter will need to be used for at least 18 months until a replacement shelter system is ready. So services should be improved there, rather than waiting for new shelters. The DC Council allocated funds to add 10 case managers at DC General, but the hiring process has not started. The District also has not responded to requests to make unused space at the shelter available to nonprofits who want to provide play space and family programming. It took months to get a playground built, despite early offers from the business community. Also Rapid Re-housing, the key program to move families from shelter, remains troubled. To prevent shelter over-crowding, the District needs to be able to move 100 families out of shelter each month, yet it currently helps closer to 60. Rapid Re-housing provides 4-12 months of rental assistance and supportive services, at which point families are expected to pay market rent on their own. The program remains understaffed – without, for example, a dedicated person to
A great deal of work needs to be done to avoid a repeat of last winter’s family homeless crisis. The most urgent needs are to finalize a plan for a new shelter system, strengthen Rapid Re-housing, and improve conditions at DC General. For both the short-term and long-term, Mayor Bowser and the DC Council need to shift increasing energy and resources to creating affordable housing. Most low-income households already spend more than half of what they take in each month to keep a roof over their head. And housing prices in DC are only going in one direction. Homelessness is the extreme manifestation of the challenges faced by thousands of DC residents struggling to cope with the rising costs of living. Expanding the city’s role in affordable housing is critical not only to reducing homelessness, but also to ensuring that the District remains home to a diverse population. Lazere is executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia, and to increase the opportunity for residents to build a better future. u
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Plans to Turn Imani Temple into Residential Units Being Considered by Charnice A. Milton
H
ome to the Imani Temple, 609 Maryland Avenue NE was put up for sale in 2012. “We’re in a Catch-22 situation where we cannot grow this ministry,” founder George A. Stallings, Jr. told the Washington Post at the time. “We are limited by parking regulations as well as that the constituency that we are trying to attract does not live on the Hill.” After a proposed public charter school failed to lease the church and its adjacent row house, the Temple’s community and leadership are evaluating a developer’s plan to turn the church into as many as seven residential units.
History In 1994, the Imani Temple African American Catholic Congregation, a church that blended Catholic, African,
and evangelical elements, bought the former Presbyterian church, built in 1891. “In our 23-year history, we were never able to anchor our ministry in a predominantly African American community,” Stallings told the Washington Post in a 2012 Q&A. “It was just a coincidence that led to [being at our current] location. The congregation that had occupied that space had to move out because the bank had foreclosed on them, and we were in need of a physical location to have a full-fledged ministry. We knew when we purchased the property back in July of 1994 that it wasn’t the ideal property.” While the church still uses the space, they are looking to relocate; “Jesus said cast your net upon the waters,” Stallings said, “and we are saying that the fish have moved.”
Washington Leadership Academy In March, the Washington Leadership Academy (WLA), a civics-focused college-preparatory charter school, proposed bringing a school to DC after successfully opening locations in New York and New Jersey. In its application, WLA listed Imani Temple as a potential dormitory space for its “Upper Academy,” or junior and senior students. Had it been approved, WLA would have brought up to 200 students to the area. However, residents pointed out multiple issues with WLA’s proposal. First, with a close proximity to the University of Georgia’s new dormitories, adding a large group of teenagers to a residential area would crowd it. Second, limited parking spaces would make it difficult for parents to pick up and drop off their children. Also, with limited outdoor space, WLA students would share Stanton Park with the nearby Peabody School, which raises safety issues. Despite plans to work with ANC 6C03 Representative Scott Price on a community agreement, WLA withdrew its proposal.
Who Will Buy Imani Temple?
The Imani Temple as it stands today. Morningstar Community Development, LLC currently has the building under contract, with plans to turn the church into up to seven residential units. Photo: Morningstar Community Development
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After the matter with WLA was settled, Commissioner Price and a group of residents met on April 30, discussing possible community-friendly tenants for Imani Temple. However, as Commissioner Price pointed out during the November ANC 6C meeting, the process was not simple. “All the trade associations and lobbying firms said, ‘Great location, but it’s just too religious,’” he explained. “All the churches and synagogues and other organizations we went to said, ‘Great structure, but we can’t afford the $5.8 million asking price.’” Currently, Morningstar Community Development, LLC has Imani Temple under contract to purchase, with plans to convert it and its adjoining townhouse into six to seven residential units. To do this, the firm is seeking concept approval for replacing some of the windows. “For an adaptive reuse project, one must be able to look out of a window in a residence,” said Casey Klein, Morningstar’s Managing Partner. “You certainly don’t need the entire window,
but we can selectively replace... some of the stained glass with ‘vision glass.’” The Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) will review Morningstar’s application on December 4.
Residents weigh in Residents had the chance to comment on the plans during the November ANC 6C meeting. Those protesting the window removal drew comparisons to a similar case from 2012, in which the World Mission Society Church of God proposed replacing 28 stained glass windows with wood windows with clear glass. While the church argued that the change was based on their religious beliefs, ANC 6C opposed the project and HPRB determined that the proposal “...to be inconsistent with the preservation act and with its window standards...” While some believe that approving the partial window removal could be seen as discriminatory, the Commission argued the two proposals are different, as Morningstar’s proposal asks to remove some glass, but retain the pattern. ANC 6C’s Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee voted to not recommend the project for approval, stating that the project violated DC Regulations. Commissioner Price argued against this recommendation because he felt that the project will have the lowest impact on the community. “In my emails to folks...I actually sent out a vote,” he addressed the Commission. “And I said, ‘There’s a poisoned pill here. There’s going to be seven units and no off-street parking. Are you willing to settle for that?’” According to those emails, Commissioner Price stated that he received no negative responses and the Commission voted to support the project. u
Thank you for an amazing 2014!
We’re ready to help make your real estate a success story in 2015!
The GranT, ryall & andrew Group Grant Griffith 202.741.1685 Ryall Smith 202.741.1781 Andrew Glasow 202.741.1654 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE • 202.547. 3525
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{capitol streets / anc news}
ANC 6A by Denise Romano
Anacostia River Sediment Project Update Richard Jackson, deputy director of community outreach at the District Department of Environment (DDOE) gave an update on the Anacostia River Sediment Project. The DDOE is still doing testing of the river to see what contaminants are there and what can be done to address them. The process is scheduled to last until 2015. So far, 336 samples have been pulled from the river, including sediment, surface water, shellfish, fish and crayfish. The final stage of the first round of sampling was completed on October 30, a couple of months ahead of schedule The second round should be done by the end of this coming spring. The remediation remedy record of decision should be made by June 30, 2018. The sampling is being paid for by $24 million in capital funds set aside by the DC Council and $2 million has already been spent. For any questions, contact Jackson at Richard.Jackson2@dc.gov or by calling 202-654-6017.
Single Member District Reports Commissioner Calvin Ward has been getting complaints from residents about a lot of break-ins and burglaries along F and E Sts. between 16th and 17th Sts. NE. He said he would like to see increased police patrol and is setting up a meeting with police. Commissioner Sondra Phillips-Gilbert attended a hearing on the future of the former Gibbs School. One bid is for the school to be a foster home, housing 160 children and the other is for an adult vocational school. Commissioner PhillipsGilbert stated that she and many other residents are hoping the vocational training school’s application will be approved. Commissioner Chris Ward met with residents and police regarding homeless and health-related is-
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sues near the Clinic Care Pregnancy Center. They have since been resolved.
Community Outreach Committee Business Commissioners unanimously voted to approve a recommendation that ANC 6A send thank you letters to organizations providing meeting space for ANC 6A activities. In a 6-1 vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that www.anc6a.org be moved to a content management system and committed funds to do so. Commissioner Sondra Phillips-Gilbert voted against the recommendation because she said she had serious concerns with the way the COC does business and would rather have the new commission take care of the matter next year. However, when asked, the new commissioners present at the meeting – as well as current commissioners – said they were comfortable with the current COC putting out the RFP to get the ball rolling.
Alcohol, Beverage and Licensing Committee business Chair Alberti recused himself from voting on any motions due to his work with the ABC Board. In a 6-1 vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC consider and approve the nomination of Christopher Seagle as co-chair of the ABL Committee. He would be helping with the day-to-day heavy workload of outgoing Chair Commissioner Jay Williams, who will continue to co-chair the ABL Committee. Commissioners voted 5-0-1 to approve the following recommendations:1) that ANC 6A take no action regarding the Class B retail license renewals for 1101 Convenience Mart (1101 H St. NE), The Cupboard (1504 East Capitol St. NE), Economy Market (1804 D St. NE), and Me and My Supermarket (1111 H St. NE); 2) that ANC 6A not protest the requested changes in the entertainment hours and addition of Sunday hours at Red Rocks (1348 H
St. NE); 3) that ANC 6A protest the license application of Pizza Parts and Service (1320 H St. NE) unless there is a signed settlement agreement between the two parties prior to the Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) Committee to represent the ANC in this matter. In an unanimous vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that ANC 6A not protest the addition of an entertainment endorsement to the license of Impala Cantina y Taqueria (1358 H St. NE) and that the ANC write a letter in support of the stipulated endorsement.
Transportation and Public Space Committee Business The TPS Committee will again be meeting at it’s previous space, Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G St. NE In an unanimous vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC send a letter to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) asking them to evaluate the traffic and safety at intersections of 14th St, and Tennessee Ave. NE; Tennessee Ave. and F St. NE; Tennessee Ave. and E St. NE and Tennessee Ave. and 15th St. NE; and that the ANC would support a stop signs (for the directions that don’t currently have stop signs) and additional signage such as “cross traffic does not stop”; with a friendly amendment that nearby
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schools, such as Myrtilla Miner Elementary, will also send a letter in support of ANC 6A requesting these safety measures. Commissioners unanimously voted to approve a recommendation that ANC 6A send a letter to DDOT in support of a resident petition requesting traffic calming analysis and improvements in the 800 block of 7th St. NE.
Economic Development and Zoning Committee Business EDZ Committee member Charmaine Josiah is resigning. Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve a motion by Commissioner Sondra Phillips-Gilbert that the committee send her a letter of thanks for all of her work over the years. In an unanimous vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that ANC 6A write a letter of support to the Bureau of Zoning Authority (BZA) for the request of a variance for 1802 D St. NE, or Growth Spurts, LLC, from the off-street parking requirements provided that the applicant, who will be operating a daycare business at the location, agree: to ensure that cars will not idle or double park outside; that on-street parking will occur in legal parking spaces only; that the alley will not be blocked by cars; that children’s hands be held when crossing the street; and that the applicant approach the ANC to discuss additional restrictions should more than eight children or employees regularly arrive or depart by car. In a 7-0 vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC adopt the H St. signage guidelines developed by the committee. Commissioners unanimously voted to approve a motion by EDZ Committee Chair Omar Mahmud that the ANC send a letter of support to the Zoning Commission for Gallaudet University’s planned construction of a replacement dormitory at the north end of campus. ANC 6A meets on the second Thursday of every month at Miner Elementary School. The 6A committees meet at 7 p.m. at the following dates: Alcohol Beverage and Licensing, third Wednesday Tuesday of every month at the Sherwood Recreation Center. Community Outreach, third Monday of each month, Maury Elementary School. Economic Development and Zoning, third Wednesday of each month, Sherwood Recreation Center. Transportation and Public Space, third Monday of every month, Capitol Hill Towers. Please visit www.ANC6A.org for the latest information regarding meetings u
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ANC 6B by Jonathan Neeley
Bayou Bakery is moving in at the Hill Center At its November meeting, ANC 6B voted 5-3 to approve a liquor license for Bayou Bakery, which is moving into the Hill Center’s carriage house. Concerned with potential pollution, odor, noise, and rats from outdoor trash storage, a number of neighbors asked Bayou Bakery to withdraw its application and consider a compromise in the lead up to December’s meeting. They argued that without much trouble, Bayou Bakery could work a better venting system for its kitchen and sound-proof fencing for its HVACs into its settlement agreement. The neighbors also said the restaurant hadn’t exhausted its options for finding a way to store trash inside, which is the best guarantee for keeping rats away. A Bayou Bakery representative, however, said that the restaurant had met the bar for a liquor license and that remaining concerns were beyond ABC jurisdiction. Without a Bayou Bakery withdrawal, the commission had to vote one way or the other. (It’s worth noting here that Bayou Bakery modified its proposed settlement agreement just before the meeting, leaving commissioners no room to amend it.) A majority of the commissioners agreed that the Hill Center would be a more vigilant landlord than most and that a restaurant there shouldn’t be scrutinized the same way as one on Barrack’s Row, where the rats are out of control. 6B chair Brian Flahaven also pointed out that with liquor licenses up for review citywide in 2016, Bayou Bakery would essentially have a two-year trial period that he felt it deserved.
6B will Consider its Stance on Exelon’s Takeover of Pepco at its December Meeting With Midwestern energy giant Exelon’s purchase of Pepco looming, ANC 6B considered sending a letter to city council asking that they urge the Public Service Commission to make the deal contingent on certain guarantees for DC customers. Drafted by the 2.0 Working Group, a collection of environmental advocates, the letter asks that Exelon commit to assisting low-income customers in paying their electric bills, to exceeding the Commission’s targets for reducing power outages, and to working toward renewable energy in the District. Ultimately, the 6B voted to wait on deciding whether or not to sign the resolution, with a number of commissioners saying that another month would
give them time to get a more complete picture of the issue. 6B will take the matter up at its December meeting. Ivan Frishberg (6B02) did not hold back his disdain for Exelon at the 6B meeting, saying the company has a bad track record on renewable energy and that it uses its influence over state lawmakers “not sparingly.” “Many people oppose this,” Frishberg said. “We should aggressively push to get what we want from this deal.” Later, Frishberg commented, “there’s a point at which a fair deal for us looks like no deal for them.” A Pepco representative present at the meeting urged the ANC to hold off, charging that it would be premature for an ANC to chime in given that testimony before the Commission had only just begun. For his part, Frishberg said that Pepco only wanted ANCs to hold off so they wouldn’t affect the Council.
6B is Open to the Olympics in DC, But Wants Details From Organizers 6B invited Russ Ramsey, the chair of DC 2024, the group that hopes to bring the Olympics to DC, to its next regular meeting. “Before our commission can consider supporting your efforts,” the commission said in a letter, “we need an opportunity to learn more about your plans.” The letter then went on to list concerns about which venues are being planned for the land surrounding RFK, Reservation 13, and the DC Armory, plans for how spectators will travel through the city, how much DC will have to invest in the bid and the breakdown of public vs. private dollars, and how DC 2024 will engage with Capitol Hill neighbors. Bob Sweeney, a DC 2024 representative who was at the meeting, said his organization had reached out to incoming councilmember Charles Allen and that it welcomes a long conversation with the community.
Plans to Expand Boathouses on the Anacostia’s Western Bank The Historic Anacostia Boating Association plans to renovate boating facilities along Boathouse Row, as well as add a recreation area that will give the community better access to the waterfront. “We have history that we would like to maintain,” said HABA chairman Steve Ricks at the 6B meeting. He spoke on behalf of four boating clubs, two of which have been operating for over 100 years. He also said that HABA wants to provide “affordable, recreational boating for the community.”
ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A NICK ALBERTI, CHAIR, 202-329-1193 Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and Stanton Park communities ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE.
www.anc6a.org Next ANC 6A meeting is 2nd Thursday, December 11 Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee
3rd Tuesday, December 16, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th & G Streets, NE • Chair, Jay Williams, 906-0657
Transportation & Public Space Committee
3rd Monday, December 15 , 7pm • Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G St. NE Photo ID Required Co-Chairs, Omar Mahmud, 546-1520; Todd Sloves, 347-735-8633
Economic Development & Zoning Committee
3rd Wednesday, December 17, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th and G Streets, NE • Chair, Dan Golden, 641-5734
Community Outreach Committee
3rd Monday, December 15, 7pm Maury Elementary School • 13th Street & Constitution Ave NE Chair, Elizabeth Nelson, 543-3512
Please check the Community Calendar on the website for cancellations and changes of venue.
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Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C P.O. Box 77876 • Washington, D.C. 20013-7787 • www.anc6c.org • (202) 547-7168 ANC 6C generally meets the second Wednesday of each month. 214 Massachusetts Ave NE
ANC 6C COMMISSIONERS ANC 6C01 Daniele Schiffman Daniele.Schiffman@gmail.com
ANC 6C04 Mark Eckenwiler 6C04@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C02 Karen Wirt (202) 547-7168 6C02@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C05 Mark Kazmierczak 6C05@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C03 Scott Price (202) 577-6261 6C03@anc.dc.gov scott.price@anc.dc.gov
ANC 6C06 Tony Goodman (202) 271-8707 tonytgood@gmail.com
ANC 6C COMMITTEES Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee First Monday, 7 pm Contact: (870) 821-0531 anc6c.abl.committee@gmail.com
Transportation and Public Space Committee First Thursday, 7 pm Contact: (202) 641-4264
Grants Committee Last Thursday, 7 pm Contact: ducotesb1@gmail.com
Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee First Wednesday, 7 pm Contact: zoning@eckenwiler.org Twitter: @6C_PZE
Parks and Events Committee First Tuesday, 7 pm Contact: Caroline.crenshaw@gmail.com
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Ricks outlined a proposed facility that includes a 228-slip marina, office, picnic, and sand volleyball space, parking, and a pier for water taxies. Its boat ramp will also allow boats to enter the water from somewhere other than the National Harbor or National Airport. Ricks also noted that an updated Boathouse Row will go well with the apartment complex planned for 1333 M Street SE as well as the Southeast Boulevard project. HABA is now moving from design concept to fundraising,
6B Updates its List of Vacant and Blighted Properties 6B’s Outreach and Constituent Task Force updated its list of vacant and blighted properties, adding four to its list of homes that fit the definition and four to its watch list. 6B then sent a letter to the city’s Vacant Building Enforcement Unit, listing all eight new properties as well as ten others that were already on one of the two lists. It also sent letters of notice to each property owner. According to Outreach and Constituent Services chair Brian Pate (6B05), sometimes a letter from the ANC has been enough to get a property owner to fix their home so it is no longer in violation. It’s certainly worth it to avoid the city deeming a property as vacant or blighted: vacant houses have to pay an additional 5% property tax, and blighted ones have to pay an additional 10%.
Officials are Getting Closer to a Final Plan for the SE Boulevard The Office of Planning will present its final concepts for the Southeast Boulevard at 7 p.m. on December 11 at the Friendship School. Final plans will very likely emerge from one of the three proposals that the Office of Planning is going to present, and a number of commissioners said they look forward to the community giving input. Ward 6 councilmember Tommy Wells and representatives from DDOT will be at the meeting. Meanwhile, the Southeast Freeway is set to temporarily re-open in early 2015. Next Meeting: ANC 6B’s next regular meeting is on Tuesday, December 9th at 7pm at the Hill Center. u
ANC 6C by Damian Fagon
NoMa Underpass Art Project The Transportation and Public Space Committee discussed design proposals for the NoMa Business
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Improvement District (BID) underpass art project. The D.C. City Council authorized $50 million in its budget for parks, playgrounds and green space in the NoMa neighborhood in May. At a previous Transportation Committee meeting, community members expressed concerns regarding how the plans would impact public safety, specifically the intensity of the lights proposed and the narrowness of sidewalk space. The committee proposed to write a letter to DDOT to review all plans and ensure that the improvements do not distract drivers or impair bicycle infrastructure and that they enhance ambient lighting under the underpasses and provide sufficient sidewalk space for pedestrians. Caroline Crenshaw, Chair of the Parks and Events Committee, expressed disappointment at a “lack of transparency and accountability” in regard to the NoMa underpass art project proposals. Accordingly, the Parks Committee will ask DDOT to not move forward on any underpass projects until all the various parties involved are made aware of the safety and accessibility issues raised in the committee meetings. Curtis Clay, Director of Park and Public Realm Development for NoMa BID, addressed the ANC by saying that they have met with DDOT Management and Safety Division and are aware of the issues being raised in the committees. Mr. Clay said that due to specific timelines and performance measures for the $50 million set aside for public spaces in NoMA, a vote now to delay the proposed projects could ultimately prevent them from moving forward entirely. Commissioner Eckenweiler responded by stating that Mr. Clay’s comments before the committee “amply illustrate a failure of outreach”. Commissioner Goodman added that these plans “are a real problem because you’re starting with the art and then saying that we’ll incorporate these concerns about lighting, safety and sidewalk width afterwards.” “This is parks money, not art money, and I don’t see anything in here that creates public space,” continued Commissioner Goodman. The ANC moved to adopt committees recommendations and request that DDOT not move forward with any of the current proposals until such a time as all parties can get together to plan the projects from the ground up. The motion was approved unanimously.
Request for Stained Glass Replacement on Imani Temple The Commission discussed an application for a series of window alterations for the Imani Temple at 609 Maryland Ave. NE. Casey Kline, Managing Partner with Morningstar Community Devel-
opment, was in attendance to provide the commission and community members in attendance with further information regarding the application. The application seeks to replace several stained glass windows in the Imani Church with clear vision glass in order to facilitate the buildings conversion into mixed-use residences. The Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee (Mark Eckenwiler, chair) voted 6 – 0 in opposition of the application. Subsequent to this vote, the applicant has provided more detailed description of the affected windows along with the history of the property. Mr. Kline informed the ANC and community members present that the proposed window alterations are at the very least 16-18 months away. Furthermore, the Historic Preservation Office (HPO) has not yet allowed Morningstar to build a physical mock up until the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) approves the concept. Mr. Kline continued by stating that just building a mock up, independent of HPO and HPRB, wouldn’t provide an appropriate and accurate representation. According to Morningstar, the new glass windows will not be clear and shiny but will more closely mirror the texture and waviness of the original stained glass windows of the Imani Temple. Joel Kelty, Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee member, articulated his opposition to the application by stating that these proposed changes will have a significant impact on the public because these windows are experienced not just from the interior but also from the street outside. Mr. Kline responded to this critique by stating that “the lights inside the Church have to be on, which is vacant except for an hour on Sunday morning, in order to see anything from the street.” Commissioner Price interjected to detail the long and challenging history of finding an organization friendly to the community and interested in buying the temple for the $5.8 million asking price while also maintaining the original religious structure. “We did a lot of due diligence to try and find a friendly organization that would come in and buy this,” continued Commissioner Price. According to Commissioner Price, the window proposal is the only time the community will have a chance to provide input as this is the only external change Morningstar is proposing for the temple. “I think it is a good deal for the community and I recommend that we support the application with the provision that HPRB and HPO work with the ANC and CHRS on the final designs of the windows,” concluded Commissioner Price. “When you allow these sorts of things to civic buildings, you distort the real estate market,” stated Mr. Kelty. “There are religious groups who would very much like to be in that building but cannot af-
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ford the price that a developer of condominiums can afford. By acknowledging and facilitating the residential conversion of a public building you’re actually changing the valuation of the building and bringing it out of the realm of the possibility for other uses. At some point, everything will be condos and there won’t be any churches or auto repair shops in the neighborhood,” concluded Mr. Kelty. The motion to approve the proposed window alterations is approved by a vote of 3 – 2.
645 Maryland Ave NE / Capitol Hill Garage Development The Planning, Zoning and Environmental Committee addressed an application for a two story addition, with a penthouse on top of the third story and a roof deck, to be located at 645 Maryland Ave NE. The vote in the Committee was 7 – 0 to recommend support for this application conditioned on elimination of the proposed roof deck and penthouse. Applicant intends to continue with the proposed roof deck with the caveat that it will not be visible from the street. Several neighbors of the proposed development, standing at approximately 40 feet, expressed strong opposition in front of the ANC stating that the sight line of the adjoining houses will be limited. The overall size of the proposed project will be discussed at a subsequent PZE Committee meeting. Motion to support concept was approved unanimously. The December meeting is at Dec. 8, at 7 p.m., not the second Wednesday as usual. Heritage Foundation, 214 Mass. Ave. NE. u
ANC 6D by Roberta Weiner
Commission Calls for Delay in Soccer Stadium Plans Saying that substantial pieces are missing from the soccer stadium proposal as it has been presented, the ANC voted unanimously to express its misgivings in a letter to the City Council urging it to delay any action on the project until there is action on the local community’s needs. Among the outstanding issues outlined in a motion presented by Commissioner Andy Litsky are an inadequate transportation plan for an area currently isolated from most public transportation; formal assurances that current housing will be preserved; and the absence of an environmental impact statement, despite the fact the proposed location is among the most polluted on Buzzard Point.
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Further, the questions surrounding the Reeves Center land swap have a direct impact on the residents of the Buzzard Point area, and there a major questions that need to be resolved. The Commission is still awaiting consultation with the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development on the project and calls on the Council to act in resolving these issues.
4th Street SW Apartments… and More! Todd Anderson, the Property Manager for Vornado, Charles E. Smith which controls the property and buildings on 4th Street SW that contain the Safeway and Station 4 and Masala Art restaurants, came to the ANC to discuss long-awaited plans for a proposed apartment building on the open land north of the CVS. The developers plan a 13-story building with 366 studio, one- and two-bedroom units, which will be ready for occupancy in September 2016. What Mr. Anderson didn’t bargain for was another installment in the on-going discussion about filling the long-empty stores on 4th Street. Where, asked Mr. Litsky, is the bank, the hardware store, the neighborhood-serving retail the Southwest community so sorely needs? Mr. Anderson responded that he is working hard on seeking tenants for the spaces, and had, in fact, been working with Ford on an auto display for the block. Mr. Litsky was not mollified by that news, and asked for a more satisfying outcome.
Baseball Square Is On Its Way
ilies will move to the neighborhood. This was said in response to a request from the Commission at a previous meeting to explore the possibility of adding larger apartments to the proposed development because, according to Mr. Litsky, they are important and needed, a thought seconded by Rhonda Hamilton, who represents many families with larger numbers of children. Despite their disappointment, and a request to keep working on increasing the number of larger apartments, the ANC voted unanimously to approve supporting the text amendment the developer was there to request
From “Wreck” Back to Rec Center – Changes May Be Coming to Randall Along with a new apartment development and museum, the rundown Randall Recreation Center at South Capitol and I Streets SW may be modernized if sufficient funding can be found. In a presentation by the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the focus would be not on the pool or the playing fields, but would turn the park area into a skate park and a water spray. The plan would resurrect the tennis courts and a large grassy area, and restore the park-like environment. Most importantly, the proposal calls for replacing the windows and doors of the historic building that provides the centerpiece of the center.
In Other Actions… •
The developers of Baseball Square—the new project on 1st Street SE between M and N Streets SE appeared before the Commission last month to describe their project, which will consist of two buildings, a 170-room hotel, and a 325-unit residential rental building. There will also be a two-story retail structure on the ground floor. The project is “shovel ready” and construction will begin in December, once they have Zoning Commission approval, as well as a sign-off from the ANC—which gave its unanimous approval at the meeting. They continue to work with DDOT on transportation issues for the streets surrounding the project.
Not Yet Time for Large Apartments in Southeast Comparing the current state of development at Southeast’s Navy Yard neighborhood to early days at Gallery Place, David Avitable, attorney for Forest City Washington’s Yards West project said projects are just getting underway and there’s no way of knowing whether there’s a market for apartments larger than two bedrooms, and whether larger fam-
•
Expressed unanimous support, in a letter to Mayor-Elect Muriel Bowser, and Tim Sheckler, Director of the General Services Administration Office of Real Property Utilization and Disposal, for a proposal to transfer a long-vacant federally-owned warehouse at 43 L Street SE from the federal government to the District in exchange for “infrastructure services” near St. Elizabeth’s Hospital that the District would transfer to the Federal government. The letter expresses the hope that the District will then undergo a “thoughtful and prompt” process, with community input, to determine the best use for the building to incorporate it into the neighborhood. Approved a letter to the National Gardening Association supporting the Southwest Community Garden’s application for the Association’s Kid’s Gardening Initiative’s 2015 Youth Gardening Grant. The Garden, opened in 2013 in Lansburgh Park, and previously recognized with the national Fiskars Project Orange Thumb Garden Makeover, which supported the Garden’s construction, has emerged as a successful project for local gardeners of all
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generations who have made highly productive use of its space. • Agreed to a resolution introduced by Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton concerning the proposed new Pepco substation at Buzzard Point. The resolution proposes sending a letter to the DC Public Service Commission and the Zoning Commission requesting an Environmental Impact Statement and further consultation with the community surrounding the new site before the project moves forward. • Unanimously approved a renewal of the liquor license for the Capitol Yacht Club. • Heard from The Wharf’s Bob Rubenkonig that demolition and construction were about to begin on the residences and church sanctuary at the St. Augustine’s site. He reported that the transplanted copper beech tree appears to be flourishing at its new site. Finally, he again reminded the Commission that the annual Parade of the Boats will take place on Saturday, December 6th and will include at least 45 boats from Alexandria and Southwest. DIY ‘S’mores and hot chocolate will be on the menu, Santa will be available for photos, and there will actually be snow! The next meeting of ANC 6D will be held on Monday, December 8th, 7 PM, at 1100 4th Street SW, 2nd floor conference room. u
ANC 6E by Steve Holton
Renovation Request For Dacha Beer Garden Representatives for Dacha Beer Garden appeared before the commission to request support for Historic Preservation Approval for Renovation and Addition to a Historic Building located at 1602 Seventh St. NW. After Dacha representatives gave their presentation of the historic preservation project, the commission was asked to comment on the addition to the building. Plans call for restoring the Seventh St. façade by putting in original arch wood windows and rebuilding the historic balcony. Dacha representatives have consulted with a historic preservationist who has studied the building and is making recommendations for the modifications to make the building more historically accurate. The proposal will clean up the side of Q. St. NW by giving it a face to that portion and presence that speaks to the neighborhood and scale of the original building. The outdoor beer garden will
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also be enhanced by hanging plants down from the bar. A large mural will also be put in place that will span the entire length of the restaurant space. Representatives said that the project will rid the property of temporary facilities, enhance the beauty of the outdoor garden and make a positive contribution to the corner. The commission and Shaw residents raised concerns over the design being a mismatch between modern and historic and the building being on a long-term lease and not being owned by the applicants. “This new addition should have some level of character definition that relates to the historic portion of the building and this is not it,” said ANC 6E01 Chairman Alexander Padro. Other residents felt that the design is uncharacteristic of the neighborhood and believe the proposed new roof deck is historically inaccurate and has never existed in its proposed new form. The ANC 6E motioned to not communicate support of the concept design to the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) with the following considerations: 1) There is no objection to the preservation of the structure portion on 1602 Seventh St. NW. 2) The objective should be to have structures keep with existing characteristics of the historic district. 3) Any structure on the lot of 1600 Seventh St. NW should have as many historic characteristics that were previously approved by HPRB. 4) There are concerns of renovation plans of the façade. The motion to not support the new designs failed by a vote of four to two.
New Family Residential Homes Supported Representatives from Reatig Architecture were on hand to request support for Historic Preservation Approval for Construction of Four New Two-Family Residences located at 448 Ridge St. NW. Plans call for a large project with four separate lots and residents on Ridge and the adjoining M. St. NW had previously requested more details that would outline any setbacks in the project. ANC 6E04 Commissioner Rachelle Nigro noted that she had contacted the developers prior to the November meeting for more project details to give to the community for their input and there was no response. The developers noted that they showed plans at an unofficial meeting on Oct. 1 and have worked all month to revise them. “We did listen to our neighbors and we have revised our plans,” said a representative of Reatig Architecture. The request is for support of the concept review of the façade for historic preservation. Reatig representatives noted that this is a project that HPRB shows as an example in terms of designing contemporary architecture in a historical context. Each lot will be 20 feet wide and units, which are 13 feet wide, will
be set back to the same line as other row homes. The housing units will be 30 feet high, with the first two floors having contemporary architecture and the third floor being mostly glass to differentiate the stories. Landscaping will be introduced and there will be passage ways to the units through the back. Gated entries to a courtyard will be created and wood siding will be used to compliment other homes in the area. “We are not against new development on this block but we asked that you come before us earlier and go through the plans with area residents. It would have been a homerun for everyone,” said Commissioner Nigro. Two motions were made in regards to the historic preservation request. 1) The motion to postpone the HPRB hearing to December in order to give the developers extra time to speak with area residents failed. 2) The motion to support the HPRB application for the project passed.
6E Crime Watch Auto theft around the K St. NW corridor has gone down but DCPD Officials noted that other areas tend to spike in crime when they concentrate on one location. DCPD is being mindful and proactive of this concept. Illegally parked cars on Fourth and K St. NW are now being ticketed after several complaints. DCPD reminded everyone that mobile phones are a hot commodity over the holiday season and encourages everyone to be careful when using them. If you notice any suspicious activity in the area, Lt. Bedloin of DCPD, urges you contact him at (202) – 299-3381.
Other Topics Third Street Tunnel Update: On November 18, construction will begin between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and midnight, Monday through Friday, between the 200-300 blocks of Massachusetts Ave. NW. The project could take up to eight months. Motion passes to support construction of a third-story addition of a single family residential home located at 1811 Wiltberger St. NW. Motion passes to support Modification of Planned Unit Development for City Market at O Parcel C located at the 1400 block of Ninth St. NW. The request was made Roadside Development. Motion passes to support Zoning Relief from Parking Requirements for Completion of Construction of a Semidetached Flat. The request was made by Portofino, LLC. ANC 6E will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 at the Northwest One Library, located at 155 L St. NW. Visit www.anc6e.org to view the ANC 6E newsletter. Follow on Twitter, @ANC6E, and on Facebook by searching ANC6E u
EMCAC Report
Thomas Landscapes Over 20 Years of Experience
by Charnice A. Milton
THANK YOU Capitol Hill for your Support
Dues for 2015 During the November 19 meeting of Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC), Independent Community Representative Tom Kuchenburg announced that the Finance Subcommittee will meet during the first week in December to discuss restoring dues in 2015. He also motioned to forgive outstanding dues going into 2015. In the past, participating organizations and vendor communities would pay $100 a year; however, the practice was suspended during discussions of a possible new governing body for Eastern Market. The dues go toward EMCAC administration. EMCAC Co-Chair and CHAMPS Representative Chuck Burger stated, “The past history of the payment of these dues has ranged from ‘never making a payment’ to ‘different organizations putting several thousand dollars over the years.’... If we gave everyone a clean slate...and these parties won’t pay again...it’s probably a moot point.” He suggested that the sub-committee meet with the participating organizations to discuss whether they want to pay and the amount they would like to pay. Kuchenburg suggested researching each organization’s payment history ahead of the discussion. EMCAC ultimately dropped the motion until after the sub-committee receives enough information for discussion.
Hine Construction During the Market Manager Report, EMCAC Chair Donna Scheeder asked about parking issues, especially with the upcoming construction at the old site of Hine Middle School. Barry Mar-
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geson, Eastern Market’s manager, stated that while there was nothing to report, off-site parking for vendors is a possibility. He also stated that he met with Stanton EastBanc to begin a table top exercise in order to discuss what the south of C Street portion of Seventh Street would look like during construction; they found that a big constraint would be including a 20-foot fire lane for the weekend market. They are currently waiting on sidewalk measurements to see how much space is available for the weekend markets. Barring an unfavorable Court of Appeals decision, the next steps include a HAZMAT cleaning and demolition, which Commissioner Frishberg stated would be the toughest part of the process.
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Non-food Representative Erika Rubel discussed the changes made to the Application Advisory Review score sheets. “The governing principle behind all of the changes that have been made is to make the application process accessible, efficient, and transparent,” she wrote in her explanation. “We are not judging whether one applicant is better than another, but rather whether they meet our basic requirements.” For instance, potential Ethnocentric vendors must import their product themselves and have a good relationship with the crafters in their country of origin. Also, Rubel reported that the reviewers for each applicant come from the group he or she wants to join; this means that Arts and Craft applicants are reviewed by market crafters. Since Rubel and the Application Advisory Review Committee implemented those changes, Scheeder asked for a vote to justify them. Burger stat-
ed that he felt that some of the reasoning behind the changes were arbitrary and would like the changes to be justified. Kuchenberg suggested holding a Committee of the Whole meeting to go over the application review process and potential changes; that meeting will take place on January 14, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the second floor Conference Room.
Other Information •
EMCAC is looking for a new independent community represent ative. For more information, visit the Eastern Market website (dc-easternmarket.org). The election will be during EMCAC’s January 28, 2015 meeting. • Annette Nielson is leaving her position as Marketing Manager. Margeson praised Nielson for her work on social media, the monthly newsletters, events like Hilloween, and building relationships with the press. While there are no plans to replace her, Margeson suggested hiring different people for different events. • This was Commissioner Ivan Frishberg’s final meeting as ANC 6B representative. Scheeder gave a motion of gratitude for his work with EMCAC. EMCAC meets every last Wednesday of the month at Eastern Market’s North Hall, starting at 7:00 pm. There will be no EMCAC meeting in December due to the holiday season; the next meeting is January 28, 2015. u
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December 2014 H 85
Crossword Author: Myles Mellor • www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com
Iconic Couples by Myles Mellor Across:
1. Artist Bonheur 5. Terza rima, e.g. 9. Showy shooter 12. Break down 17. School text 19. Web site feature 21. Jewish teacher 22. TV couple 25. Beat handily 26. Launch site 27. Kind of crime 28. Mischief 29. Stetson, e.g. 31. Intended for southpaws 34. 4.9 milliliters 37. Strip a ship of ropes, chains and tackle 39. Present 40. Kind of diagram 41. Ancient writing materials 45. Treeless zones 49. Job 50. Political couple 54. Settles 55. National ___ 56. Form of ether 57. Chemical ending 58. Naysayer 59. Swizzle 60. Needle 62. Made shallow 64. Spites 67. Even smaller 69. Lockjaw 72. Velvet finish? 74. Blind segment 75. Somersault 79. 1969 Peace Prize grp. 80. Research facil. 82. Less of a mess 84. Olive-gray songbird 85. Movie couple 89. Beelike 90. Like leftovers 91. Rates of return 92. Depression 93. Kind of salad 95. The New Yorker cartoonist Edward 97. Bit of work
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98. Implement holders 102. Lowe or Reiner 103. During 107. Persian spirit 108. Gaucho’s weapon 110. Transport to Oz 112. Political couple 118. Bedim 119. Wife of Orpheus 120. Flute sound 121. Akin and Cassius 122. Biology class abbr. 123. Singer Phoebe 124. Hordeolum
Down:
1. Sharp edge 2. Ignominy 3. Espied 4. Spider 5. University conferral 6. Crowd sounds 7. In-box contents 8. Blackbird 9. Chi preceder 10. Epoch 11. Counter for mixing drinks 12. Be reluctant 13. Trattoria entree 14. “Amazing Race” network 15. Blood-typing letters 16. Hankering 17. “Portnoy’s Complaint” author 18. Cornell of Cornell University 20. College denizen 23. Intimate 24. Prime-time time 30. Huge 32. Ethnic cuisine 33. “Steppenwolf” author 34. Dig 35. Collected 36. Looked 37. Garden decorations 38. Eucalyptus, e.g. 40. Howe’er 41. Galileo’s birthplace 42. Parallel 43. Confined 44. Washington town
Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 46. Fed. agency 47. Big game 48. Send 49. Daphnis’s love 51. Leading fauvist 52. Tangle up 53. Some games 59. Cast 61. In addition 63. Pull in 65. Electrolysis particle 66. Bristles 68. “___ Rigby” 69. Philippic 70. Vegas visitor, maybe 71. Trifling
73. One of three vessels 76. Like some surgery 77. Furnish 78. Sacrifice 81. Dumper, for one 83. Banned insecticide 84. Cover 86. Kind of race 87. High-hatter 88. Looped fasteners 93. Of two minds 94. More sere 96. University mil. group 98. Taxes 99. With skill 100. Precious metals
101. Struck down 103. Needle 104. Photo finish 105. Murti 106. Ready to serve 107. Latitude 109. With the bow, in music 111. Donnybrook 112. “Monty Python” airer 113. Calamity 114. Grassland 115. Barbarian 116. Roth ___ 117. Churchyard tree in “Romeo and Juliet”
{community life} E on DC
Dancing To Barry’s Blues When Others Would Prefer You To Waltz by E. Ethelbert Miller
M
aybe Marion was our Mugabe. As my friend Jonetta Rose Barras recently wrote, “If he was an addict, as he admitted, he was also addictive.” Maybe only Shakespeare could explain a person like Marion S. Barry, Jr. Was Barry a tragic figure? I suspect no more than the average human being. When he was caught using cocaine in a hotel room in 1990, I felt he was almost representative of other middle class blacks who were letting their wealth go up their nose. Before crack – the poor man’s drug hit the urban streets; a lifestyle of the few had sacrificed the dreams of the many. I prefer to look at Marion Barry the way history should judge him. Before Washington, DC, we have to remember the man who was a young activist in Nashville and McComb. We have to place Barry’s name next to James Forman, Diane Nash, Ella Baker, Bob Moses and John Lewis. These individuals changed the South and the conscience of America. Because of Marion Barry, young people were taught the importance of nonviolence in the Mississippi that Nina Simone sang about and where some would give their lives. Think of Barry back in the state where he was born, trying to get people to vote. Think of this man talking one night to the ghost of Emmett Till. By the time Barry came to Washington, DC, in 1965, he was changing like many young people in America. When the slogan “Black Power” entered our vocabulary it became more than an afro and dashiki to him. Barry saw Black Power as the road leading to economic empowerment. The man who encouraged people to vote in Mississippi would himself run for public office as he became older. So, perhaps it might be best to compare the life of Barry to that of Adam Clayton Powell. Powell and Barry both had style. “The people” loved them. If Barry abused his political power after becoming Mayor of a chocolate city it might be best understood by turning one’s attention to the
work of Pan Africanist C.L.R. James. James was concerned with how black people handled power, the mistakes they made. One could look at Kwame Nkrumah, Burnham and today – Mugabe. Do these leaders exploit us? Do they fail us? In the case of Marion Barry there are too many things to praise. There is too much history to ignore. One might talk about Barry in the abstract, but his name is on the Reeves building located at 14th and U, NW. After the riots following King’s assassination in 1968, this part of Washington was destroyed. Today, if one walks down U Street, it appears to be ground zero for gentrification. Did anyone expect this part of the nation’s capital to rise from the ashes? Barry did. He was our visionary. It’s ironic that at the time of Barry’s death, debate now focuses on the future of the Reeves building. If we believed Marion was ‘mayor for life’ – then how many of us will believe in his resurrection? There is an unfinished agenda in our city and it’s now linked to Barry’s legacy. The poor still remember Barry’s Pride organization. They remember the man who represented Ward 8.They remember the man who was an advocate of the Free DC Movement and the push for self-government. I will remember Marion Barry reading the poetry of Sterling A. Brown with passion and conviction. Barry understood the resiliency of the Mississippi and Memphis blues. Look for him yesterday,
Photo: Andrew Lightman
here he comes today. Your mouth is wide open but what you got to say – I say color Barry not just Black but Brown and Sterling: One thing they cannot prohibit – The strong men…coming on The strong men gittin’ stronger. Strong men… STRONGER… (Excerpted from rom ‘Strong Men’ by Sterling A. Brown) E. Ethelbert Miller is a literary activist. He is the board chairperson of the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS). He is a board member of The Writer’s Center and editor of Poet Lore magazine. Since 1974, he has been the director of the African American Resource Center at Howard University. Mr. Miller is the former chair of the Humanities Council of Washington, D.C. and a former core faculty member of the Bennington Writing Seminars at Bennington College. u
December 2014 H 87
Steven L. Cymrot A Life of Giving by Andrew Lightman
Photo: Elizabeth Dranitzke
IN MEMORIAM
W
alking by Riverby Books on a late weekday afternoon, I would often glimpse a group sitting by the front window having tea. When I became Managing Editor of the Hill Rag, I discovered that this informal gathering, led by the bookstore's owner Steve Cymrot, was Capitol Hill's oldest, informal salon. So once or twice a month, I would find myself at Riverby, munching on cookies talking politics, birds or history with whoever else chose to visit Steve that day. It might be a friend, a councilmember, a neighbor or just simply a stranger who had wandered in to browse. All were welcome. Steve extended a simple, gracious hospitality. While we sipped tea, Steve would speak about the various civic projects he and his wife, Nicky, were involved in. One day, it might be the rebuilding of a public school library. On another, he might talk about their vision for a dilapidated historic hospital. By the end of the conversation, almost without realizing it, I often found myself agreeing to contribute in one form or another. Like many others, Steve roped me into his grand conspiracy of neighbors dedicated to the improvement of Capitol Hill. Led by the Cymrots, this informal group renovated school libraries, supported those displaced by the tragic fires at Eastern Market and Frager's Hardware, organized the Ruth Ann Overbeck Capitol Hill Oral History Project, brought The Bard into Capitol Hill schools and rebuilt The Hill Center. Well-meaning people acting in concert without fuss or drama could transform a community, Steve often pointed out while downplaying his own involvement. On Nov. 19 at 8:43 a.m., Steve was crossing East Capitol St. on the way back from getting his newspaper. He was struck by a truck making a left hand turn from southbound Fourth St. SE. He sustained traumatic injuries. On Nov. 30, Steve died at George Washington University Hospital of complications resulting from his injuries, and Capitol Hill lost a beloved neighbor and important civic leader.
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Early Life Steven L. Cymrot was born on August 10, 1942, in Brooklyn, NY. He grew up in modest circumstances in Bay Ridge and Flatbush and attended public schools. In 1958, at age 15, Steve moved to Washington, DC, to serve as a Congressional page in the House. Rooming at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Binden on Third St. NE, he attended the Page School. After finishing high school in 1959, Steve moved to Providence, RI, to attend Brown University. Graduating in 1963, he moved to Cambridge, MA, to attend Harvard Law School. While Steve was at law school, a fellow student wanted to attend a prom at nearby Wellesley College. Unfortunately, this friend did not know how to drive. So, he offered to set Steve up with a blind date in return for a ride. The date was Nicky, his fu-
ture wife. The two spent the remaining years of school together.
From Law to Real Estate and Books In spring of 1966, Steve graduated Harvard and moved to Pearl River, NY, where he taught in a public school. Nicky, however, moved to Washington, DC, to work in Congress for Senator Ralph Yarborough (D-Texas), moving into a group house with six classmates. Steve found himself commuting most weekends down to DC to see her. On Aug. 6, 1967, the two were married, moving into 413 Constitution Ave. NE. A year later, they purchased their current home on A St. SE. At first, Steve taught school in Falls Church, while Nicky continued her Congressional career. Always the creative one, she began designing neckties in her spare time. Steve sold them to retailers. While selling neckties and occasionally interviewing with prospective law firms, Steve went to work for Millicent Chatel Real Estate. He worked with Margot Kelly, the woman responsible much later for the revival of Eighth St. SE, now known as 'Barracks Row.' “Each time, Steve came home and said “Oh, my gosh, what if they offer me a job? Wouldn’t that be awful?” So that was the end of the legal career,” Nicky said in the couple's August 1, 2010, interview for the Ruth Ann Overbeck Capitol Hill History Project. In 1971, when Yarborough went down to defeat, Nicky and Steve went into clothing manufacturing full time, alongside his real estate work. The business continued for about five years. “I was selling houses. I think the first, perhaps the only, house I sold was to Mary Treadwell, who was a former wife of Marion Barry,” Steve said in the Overbeck interview. “And then once, I was showing property on Seward Sq. to a woman who just couldn’t make up her mind. It was four apartments for $51,000 or something. And I said, “Look, this is a really great job [i.e., deal]. If you don’t call by noon tomorrow, I’m going to buy it myself.” And she didn’t and I did. Or we did,” Steve continued. With the aid of his law school classmates, Steve and Nicky bought 508 Seward Sq., SE. This would
be the first in a series of purchases of small and large apartment buildings the couple would make. They held onto the buildings, renting out apartments. Over time, the Cymrots became significant residential and commercial landlords with holdings not only in the District, but also in Fredericksburg, VA. Steve, the licensed real estate agent, did the property deals, while Nicky managed the day-to-day rental operations. In 1996, Steve began buying and selling secondhand books in an antique mall in Fredericksburg with the help of his son, Paul, who had acquired a love of old books and bookbinding at Brown University. The business expanded, and in 2001, they turned the property next to the family’s real estate office on East Capitol St. into Riverby's DC branch. “It was one of Steve’s greatest joys to create a business with Paul. They competed in their search of the rarest books. They loved to compare sales data between their respective operations,” Leah L. Daniels, owner of Hill’s Kitchen, who also worked for six years in Riverby’s DC location, said. For many, building two businesses would be a sufficient life testament. Steve and Nicky, however, used the bounty and leisure afforded by the success of their commercial ventures to give back to Capitol Hill. “(The) Hebrew word for charity (tzedaka) is the same as the word for justice. And I think there, there’s an underlying sense that the good life includes helping others, giving away money, supporting things in your community…. It feels good,” Steve stated in the couple’s Overbeck interview. Embracing tzedaka, righteous charity, the Cymrots made giving a way of life
Giving As a Way of Life Like many Capitol Hill residents, Nicky and Steve's initial civic activism initially centered on their children: Paul, born in 1974, and Helen, born in 1977. Doting parents, Steve and Nicky became involved with Peabody Elementary School. This sparked their thirty-year interest in the improvement of local public education. Taking a larger public role, Nicky served as President of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) during the formation of the Capitol Hill Cluster program. The two also became active supporters of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW). Steve's civic activism soon branched out beyond the schools. In 1983, he attended a small
meeting of Capitol Hill business people organized by Jean-Keith Fagon, the publisher of the Hill Rag. The subject was the creation of a neighborhood business association. This meeting proved to be the genesis of the Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals (CHAMPS). Steve served a two-year term as the first CHAMPS president. The organization quickly became a social hub fostering deep, personal connections among small business owners and professionals. Working with his contemporaries in the real estate community, Frank Reed, Margot Kelly, Don Denton and many others too numerous to name, he helped lay the foundations for modern Capitol Hill, which is best distinguished by its vibrant small businesses. At a 1989 board meeting, Steve proposed that CHAMPS use a portion of its dues to make community grants. With the help of realtors Linda Barnes and Don Denton; lawyers Jack Mahoney, Rick Halbertstein and Steve Daniels; and developer Frank Reed, he launched the CHAMPS Community Foundation, the mission of which was to raise charitable funds to improve Capitol Hill. Steve served for five years as the Foundation’s first president. He continued to be a member of both its executive committee and board until his death. Eventually separated from CHAMPS as the Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF), it has raised over $6.8 million dollars since its inception entirely from donations of neighbors and friends of the community. The organization functions with zero overhead, administrative costs being borne by board members. One hundred percent of these monies are directed to grants. “Steve was interested, not only in making small grants, but also in using the Foundation to create new institutions or fund substantive neighbor improvements. Steve also believed that the Foundation should serve as an incubator for new philanthropic ventures. Steve was the big idea guy,” Steve Daniels, CHCF Treasurer and longtime board member, said. Under Steve’s guidance, The Foundation embraced several large projects. In 2005, Suzanne Wells of The Capitol Hill Public School Parents Organization (CHPSPO) approached the CHCF with the idea of improving local public school libraries. Under the management of Todd Z. Cymrot, Steve and Nicky’s son-in-law, eight schools had their libraries completely renovated. The Foundation continues to provide funds for
their maintenance. When the Eastern Market burned down in a tragic fire in 2007, CHCF stepped in to raise $550,000 to aid those displaced by the fire. I remember many weekends when either Steve or Nicky sat at the Foundation tent next to the ruined building collecting donations. In 2001, the Cymrots became interested in the disposition of the Old Naval Hospital, a derelict, historic federal property located at 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. “This was a magnificent, old, handsome, historic building that was sitting virtually empty right in what was now the center of our community, and this seemed like such a shame. Because there is a crying need for space for doing all sorts of things here in this community, and this seemed like a wasted asset,” Nicky said in their Overbeck interview. The couple believed the building should be preserved and restored for community use. In 2002, the Cymrots led the creation of the Old Naval Hospital Foundation (ONHF) by bringing together other community leaders to join the effort. ONHF’s plan for the Hospital’s renovation and rebirth as the Hill Center was accepted by the District government in 2007. “Steve and Nicky worked with other board members to gain support in the Congress and City (congress contributed $2 million, DC $6 million). Then, they led neighborhood fundraising that provided the balance of the monies needed for the renovation. It was their idea to get people to fund sections of the historic fence’s repair,” Melissa Ashabranner, longtime CHCF board member and Executive Editor of the Hill Rag, said. Opening to great acclaim in 2010, The Hill Center has become a vibrant center of Capitol Hill community life.
In Memoriam While we may no longer have the pleasure of afternoon tea with Steve at Riverby, he will never disappear from our consciousness. We will see him on every visit to the Hill Center. We will remember him when we shop at our beautifully restored Eastern Market. Our children will read with him every time they open a book in their school library. Let us continue to honor his memory by embracing the art of giving in our own lives, and join his conspiracy of neighbors working for the greater good of Capitol Hill. u
December 2014 H 89
{community life / our river}
Our River
Proud Histories And Pollution Legacies Industry on the Anacostia by Bill Matuszeski
P
icnicking on the lawn enjoying live music at Yards Park, biking the Anacostia Riverfront Trail or kayaking past the Arboretum, we think less and less these days about the industries that once consumed much of the river’s edges. While their remnants are being cleared away (the last of the Benning Road PEPCO Powerplant gets taken down this month), we will be dealing with the pollutants left behind on their sites and in the river for many more years. And while that does not prevent recreation of many types, swimming in the river and consuming the fish we catch there are still well off in the future. The full list of toxic cleanup sites in the District includes Kenilworth Park, which was a city dump for decades; the PEPCO plant; the CSX Rail Yard; Washington Gas; the Navy Yard; and Poplar Point. Each of these has an interesting story to tell; this month let’s take a look at two adjacent sites that meet under the 11th Street Bridge, Washington Gas and the Navy Yard.
Washington Gas This site is located south of M St SE to the river and from under the 11th Street Bridge for several hundred yards north along the river. Water Street splits the site. Much of the area north of Water Street has been developed into office space and parking lots (Maritime Plaza on the chart). The production facility came down in 1986, and the storage tanks in 1997. The remainder of this part has the old buildings of the gas works, which operated for nearly a century from 1888 making gas from coal and oil to use for lighting and heating. The main contaminant from the operations was coal tar, which contains arsenic, lead and other toxins. This part of the site is undergoing cleanup of the wastes and pumping and treating of groundwater. The focus is on groundwater and its contamination of the river and its sediments. The part of the site south of Water Street to the river is of greater interest to the public, since it is government property that will eventually be-
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come open space shoreline along the river. Here the solutions are different. Because the contamination here is in the soils and riverbank, the soil and subsurface soil down to as much as three feet will be removed and replaced with clean fill and topsoil. There will also be an on-going Institutional Controls Program to monitor for potential future risks. Although the land is owned by the city, the National Park Service, which manages much of the land along the River, is responsible to ensure that Washington Gas carries out all of the remedial actions on schedule. The removal and replaceMap of Washington Gas Site. Credit: District Department of ment of soil means that the site may the Environment be closed to the public for up to two years after completion to assure that ing ships in 1799. After the War of 1812, when the vegetation has taken hold in the new topsoil. Work Commandant set fire to the place to prevent it from on the soil removal on the part near the river will falling into British hands, it shifted its mission to begin this month. ordnance and technology and was even renamed The last part of the Washington Gas cleanup the US Naval Gun Factory in 1945. Today the is still in the planning stage. This involves an evalold factory buildings have either been converted uation of the extent of contamination from the site to or replaced by offices, as the (renamed again) of the sediments entering and settling on the botNavy Yard serves as a large consolidated administom of the River and as well as the impact of all this trative center for Naval District Washington. The on the River water. Investigations will begin once USS Barry is open to tourists as a museum ship tied there is agreement on a work plan, which often to the wharf along the Riverside Walk , which runs takes many months. In this case the schedule may from Yards Park to the 11th Street Bridge. need to be speeded up, since the project will need But all this past activity and the current role as to be coordinated with the District’s overall study a major office complex have left the need to clean and plan to remediate contaminated sediment up a lot of toxic pollution from nearly two centuthroughout the water and the bottom of the River. ries of manufacturing, guns, torpedos, turrets and This study has been underway since summer and all manner of munitions. Even the first shipboard must develop a remediation plan by 2017. Updataircraft catapault was tested in the Anacostia in ed information on the Washington Gas site is avail1912. The toxic legacy from these industrial activable at: www.nps.gov/nace/parkmgmt/apecp.htm. ities included lead, arsenic, mercury, iron, beryllium, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), petroleum hydrocarbons and pesticides. Many of these were Washington Navy Yard in the groundwater and as well as the soils, migratDownstream of Washington Gas and nearly a cening to the river and its sediments and fish. In short, tury before, the Washington Navy Yard began build-
the Navy Yard was DC’s first fullfledged Superfund site. After several decades of effort, nearly all of about two dozen toxic sites on the property have been cleaned up to the point that it is safe for the thousands who now work there. The movement of toxics through the groundwater to the river and the sediments is a different story, and has taken much longer to pin down. An early experiment to cap some of the sediments had inconclusive results, and there is still not agreement among EPA, the city and the Navy on how to proceed to fill data gaps from earlier studies in the water column and sediments. Like the situation at the Washington Gas site, agreement needs to be reached soon so the data can be factored into the District’s overall study and plan to clean up the sediments in the entire nine mile stretch of the river. And unlike Washington Gas, the Park Service has no role here, so there is no easy way to keep up to date. Neither the city nor the Navy provides regular updates on a readily accessible site, and the most recent update on the EPA Superfund website is (believe it or not!) August 2011. The best way to keep abreast of progress is through a blog at the Anacostia Watershed Society at: http://www.anacostiaws.org/news/ blog/toxics-cleanup-efforts-reviewpast-and-present-activities. The best thing we can all do is to firmly support the overall sediment clean-up effort being led by the DC Department of the Environment, making sure they stay on schedule and incorporate the water and sediment quality studies from these and other sites along the river. After all, though the Anacostia is looking better and better every month, it still needs a lot of work so our children’s children can swim in it. u
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December 2014 H 91
{community life / south by west}
South by West by William Rich Riverside Baptist to be Redeveloped Over the past seven years, Riverside Baptist Church and Wharf developer PN Hoffman have been in discussions about redeveloping Riverside, located along 7th Street SW from Eye Street to Maine Avenue SW. Riverside has been in Southwest since 1857 and in its current building since 1968. Its current congregation has about 125 members with about a third of them being Southwesters. The building has about 12,000 square feet of space on two levels, including the basement, with a large setback from Maine Avenue SW. Its main entrance faces a parking lot. It is an aging property where maintenance costs now outweigh costs for ministry services, so the church began exploring their options back in 2007. The redevelopment of the church property will allow Riverside to remain in Southwest, but in a new building and with an endowment. This arRendering of the future Riverside Baptist Church. Courtesy PN Hoffman
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rangement is not new in the neighborhood. In addition to Riverside, other houses of worship have partnered with developers, include St. Augustine’s, St. Matthew’s, and Westminster Church is starting the process now. Riverside and PN Hoffman took their seven–year relationship to the next level in October and began the public engagement process, starting with a meeting in the basement of Town Square Towers with residents of the condo building. Town Square Towers is located across Eye Street SW from Riverside and will be impacted by the redevelopment of its neighbor. Present at the meeting were representatives from PN Hoffman, Riverside, and architects from Geier Brown Renfrow (GBR) Architects and Studios Architecture. Currently on the table is a mixeduse development with a new Riverside Baptist Church designed by GBR on the southern por-
tion of the site closer to Maine Avenue SW and a 150-175-unit rental apartment building on the rest of the site, designed by Studios Architecture. The new Riverside has been designed with two levels – the first floor will have a fellowship hall and office space while the second floor will contain the worship center for a total of about 11,400 square feet. At the corner of Maine Avenue and 7th Street SW, the main entrance will be transparent so passersby will be able to see some of the activiRiverside Baptist Church is the latest house of worship in Southwest to enter an agreement with a developer to redevelop its property. Photo: William Rich
ty occurring inside of the church. This area serves as a threshold between the street, the parking garage, and the church. Materials used in the construction of the current church building, including stone, stucco, slate shingles, and stained glass will be carried over to the design of the new facility. There will be 40 garage parking spaces available for the church on Sundays and five spaces on other days.
Meanwhile, the apartment building has been designed as “elegant and simple” to not take the focus away from the church building, which has been positioned on the prominent corner of Maine Avenue and 7th Street SW. The apartment building will step back in height from nine stories to seven stories closer to Eye Street SW and will serve as a “gateway” to the waterfront. Units will be designed to attract families, so no micro units are not planned; however, unit sizes will be only slightly larger than what is currently being built in the District. More one bedroom with den and two bedroom units will be built. In addition, an affordable component is planned as mandated by Inclusionary Zoning. On the ground floor there will be space for a daycare center or other community-oriented use, but PN Hoffman feels that traditional retail would not be appropriate at that location. At the corner of 7th and Eye streets SW, the building will be pulled back further from the street to create space for a public plaza with a water feature, trees, and benches. The intersection will also be simplified by removing the island that separates traffic making a right turn onto Eye Street from 7th Street SW. A change of zoning will be required in order for the project to move forward as designed. A Planned Unit Development (PUD) application will be submitted in the next few months once the Small Area Plan has been completed by the Office of Planning, which has recommended upzoning the church parcel. After going through the PUD process, it is expected that construction may begin sometime in 2016.
Southwest Circulator Service to be Restored DC Circulator service to Southwest will be restored and enhanced if proposed changes by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) are approved. In addition, the DC Council already approved funding for a 1.4-mile westward extension of the Union Station – Navy Yard route along M Street SE/SW to the Waterfront Metro to begin operations in FY 2015. In October, DDOT released the DC Circulator Transit Development Plan for the next 10 years that shows a total of three Circulator lines that could service Southwest by 2024. Aside from the aforementioned extension, the Convention Center –
Southwest Waterfront route would be restored in Phase II by FY 2020 (it was discontinued in 2011 and replaced by the 74 Metrobus) and a new route would connect Dupont Circle to Southwest via 17th Street NW and Maine Avenue SW during Phase III by FY 2024. These new (and restored) lines would coincide with the opening of The Wharf and other planned development in Southwest. It is estimated that ridership will increase by nearly 14% with the Southwest extension of the Union Station – Navy Yard route; however, ridership along this route is currently the lowest of the five existing Circulator routes. This route extension (along with two others) did not meet several key Circulator performance metrics, but it will still move forward since it was already funded by the DC Council. DDOT will be evaluating whether the Capitol Riverfront area can support year-round Saturday service and year-round service after 7pm on the Union Station – Navy Yard route, which would benefit Southwest once this line is extended to the west. Currently, service hours vary depending on the time of year; there is no plan to offer Sunday service on this route. Of the three lines proposed for Southwest, ridership projections for the new Dupont Circle – Southwest Waterfront route are highest. Over 1.2 million annual riders are expected on the new route, compared to 762,000 riders for the restored Convention Center – Southwest Waterfront route. During the public engagement process earlier in the year, there were six pop-up events across the city where surveys were collected, in addition to online surveys. Of the six pop-up events, the most responses were collected at the Waterfront Metro station pop-up, garnering 15% of all survey responses. More than half of the respondents to the survey indicated that the Southwest Waterfront should be served next by the Circulator – the most of any location, followed by U Street Corridor/Shaw/Howard University. Other new routes are planned as well in other parts of the city – one would connect Columbia Heights to Brookland and NoMa, while another would go from the National Mall to Union Station, as well as extensions of existing lines. Circulator fares would increase to $1.50 on SmarTrip and $2.00 cash from the current fare of $1.00. William Rich is a blogger at Southwest the Little Quadrant that Could (www.swtlqtc.com) u
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December 2014 H 93
{community life / h street life}
H Street Life
Street NE), however, remains solely for those 21 years of age or over. Biergarten Haus is an exceptionally good choice for an after-party this time of year because its outdoor fireplace, heaters, and firepits can help keep away the chill. If you haven’t attended Krampusnacht on H Street before, I highly recommend this event. Many, but not
article and photos by Elise Bernard
F
rigid temperatures might tempt you to hibernate at home, but those who do so will miss out on exploring new local businesses and taking part in cool seasonal celebrations. Krampusnacht and Capital City Symphony’s Annual Holiday Concert and Sing-Along are two events that are fun for folks of all ages.
Nomad Yard Collectiv Moves in North of Union Market A new vintage shop called Nomad Yard Collectiv (411 New York Avenue NE) has opened its doors just to the north of Union Market (1309 5th Street NE). They held a soft opening in late September, with a grand opening at the end of October. Nomad previously had a pop-up space on 14th Street NW, but are happy to have settled into a permanent home. As the name suggests, Nomad is indeed a collective effort. The members all have different focus and interest areas. You might find 1980s vintage men’s and women’s clothing alongside pieces from the 1920s. In addition to clothing and jewelry, Nomad Yard Collectiv also has a large amount of furniture, accent items, and fixtures. While many items are vintage, some items are newer handmade selections. Rather than segregate items by collective member, Nomad has chosen to mix the selections, meaning you might visit
Nomad Yard Collectiv deals in vintage clothing, accessories, and furnishings.
in search of one thing, but fall in love with a completely different treasure.
Celebrate Krampusnacht and Raise Money for a Great Cause on H Street NE
Krampus returns to H Street NE this year and the event organizers are going big. Krampus is a mythical beast-like creature who annually descends upon the towns of alpine countries, and for the past two years, upon H Street. Here he seeks out ill-behaved children he might spirit away to serve as his dinner later. He can be readily identified by his horns, hairy body, and goat-like appearance. He sometimes adorns himself with cowbells, or chains, so prick up your ears if Krampusnacht on H Street NE. you have cause to avoid him. In years past Krampusnacht (“Krampus Night”) on H Street has consisted of a kick-off celebration, a procession down a portion of H Street NE, and an after-party. Aside from the parade, it’s been an event mostly geared towards adults. This year the organizers are adding some children’s activities to the mix, and stressing that this is a family friendly occasion. The afterparty at Biergarten Haus (http:// biergartenhaus.com, 1355 H
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Nomad Yard Collectiv co-creators Desirée Venn Frederic and Tara Papanicolas.
all, participants dress in costume. Some of these costumes are quite impressive, and the sight of revelers dressed as Krampus roaming the H Street NE Corridor cannot be adequately described in words. The fun starts at 6 p.m. with a Santa’s Cause DC (http://www.santascausedc.org) Benefit Reception at Gallery O on H (http://www.galleryoonh. com, 1354 H Street NE) with live entertainment and children’s activities. Attendees are asked to donate $10, or to bring a new and unwrapped child’s toy. All proceeds go directly to Santa’s Cause DC, a Family Matters of Greater Washington project that helps to provide holiday and birthday gifts and school supplies to DC foster kids. At 7 p.m. participants will take part in a procession west down H Street NE to 11th Street before turning around and heading east to 13th Street. The after-party kicks off at 9 P.M. at Biergarten Haus (http://biergartenhaus.com, 1355 H Street NE) with a fine selection of German beers,
Bringing natural, healthy food to Capitol Hill and perhaps even a little schnapps.
Non-Profit HIPS Headed to 906 H Street The harm-reduction based non-profit HIPS (http://hips.org) has held many fundraisers along H Street NE over the years, so it comes as no surprise that they would choose a location along our own little strip for their new headerquarters. They recently signed a five year $120,000 (annually) lease for 906 H Street NE. HIPS’ mission is to “[promote] the health, rights, and dignity of individuals and communities impacted by sexual exchange and/or drug use due to choice, coercion, or circumstance. HIPS provides compassionate harm reduction services, advocacy, and community engagement that is respectful, non-judgmental, and affirms and honors individual power and agency.” The 906 H Street location is particularly notable because it was actually acquired in 2013 using money crowdfunded by 355 individual investors under Fundrise (https:// fundrise.com). These investors contributed anywhere from $100 to $10,000. They are projected to receive a 7% gross annual return on their seven-year equity investment. According to Ben Miller, CoFounder and CEO of Fundrise, the “tenant became interested in the property after speaking with members of the local community who had invested in the offering.” Copycat Co Brings Craft Cocktails and Asian Street Food to H Street NE The long-vacant space at 1110 H Street NE is now Copycat Co (http://www.copycatcompany.com), a restaurant downstairs, and a bar upstairs. Both are small spaces, so you’ll have to be lucky to snag a seat while you enjoy your dumplings, bao, and skewers. Upstairs you can relax over
a rickey, a sour, or another classic cocktail. Both levels will be open and serving until 2 A.M. on weeknights and 3 A.M. on weekends.
Capital City Symphony 9th Annual Holiday Concert and Sing-Along at the Atlas The Capital City Symphony’s (http:// www.capitalcitysymphony.org) Annual Holiday Concert and SingAlong is a can’t miss event for many in our neighborhood. Though it is a completely family friendly event, you certainly don’t need to be a youngster or parent to enjoy it. There are two shows (4 P.M. and 7 P.M.). Both take place December 14th. Tickets were distributed in November, but you can call (202) 399-7993 ext. 2 and asked to be placed on the waiting list. 30 minutes before showtime tickets for unclaimed seats will handed out. This event takes place at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (http:// atlasarts.org, 1333 H Street NE)
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Dumbcloud E-Cigarette Store and Vapor Lounge Coming to H Street NE With the rising popularity of e-cigarettes it was probably only a matter of time before H Street NE saw its first vape lounge where electronic cigarette aficionados can puff away in a friendly setting. That time has come, and Dumbcloud Vapor E-Cigarette Store & Vape Lounge (http://www. dumbcloudvapor.com) is headed to 405 H Street (above Georgetown Valet). You can peruse many of Dumbcloud’s products through their online store. In addition to smoking accessories they will also sell t-shirts. For more on what’s abuzz on, and around, H Street NE, you can visit my blog http://frozentropics.blogspot. com. You can send me tips or questions at elise.bernard@gmail.com. u
December 2014 H 95
{community life / barracks row}
Transformation Begins on Lower 8th Street
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by Sharon Bosworth
he lower two blocks of Barracks Row below the freeway have languished over recent years while the upper three blocks have prospered dramatically. Finally, in November, a slate of new projects was announced that will animate the southern end of the Row. Over the years, the building at 1100 8th St, SE, (southeast corner 8th and L St, SE) has been the address of a series of eateries as well as Fuller’s Barber Shop, operating to the rear of the building with an entrance on L St, SE. Ken Johnson, of Blake Dikson Real Estate, confirmed recently that 1100 8th St, SE has been leased to an investor group affiliated with several successful DC area restaurants. The project will become a new concept neighborhood-oriented restaurant that is slated to open in the spring.
of the economic downturn followed by sequestration, the project did not move forward. This week the owners of the site announced plans to break ground shortly on a scaled down version. The revised project will include space for food trucks as well as the long awaited beer garden dubbed, The Brig. It is slated to open in spring 2015. The Blue Castle at 8th & M St. SE, formerly a streetcar barn, was sold in 2008 just as the recession turned ugly. Purchased by a mid-Atlantic lifestyle shopping center developer, local fans of the Blue Castle were eager to see it repurposed as a retail destination and to see the original red brick restored. But due to the recession, the new owners shelved the project. In mid-November, the National Community Church, 535 8th St, SE, the owner of several nearby parcels, entered into a contract to
Culinary Crawl Students Consider flavors at DCanter
Fuller’s Barbershop will remain in place, continuing to share the 1100 8th St, SE address with the new enterprise.
The Brig and the Blue Castle Four years ago, the owners of the property at corner 720 L St, SE/ 1007 8th St, SE, (northwest corner of 8th and L Streets, SE) announced plans to develop a beer garden, in what is now a parking lot. Seeing this project as possibly the beginning of the end to the blighted conditions in that area, ANC 6B commissioners voiced no objections. Permits were applied for and issued. But due to the lingering effects
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purchase the Blue Castle. There are currently two tenants in the building. Finally, the Federal Highway Administration released its Record of Decision on the project to rebuild the CSX tunnel that runs beneath Virginia Avenue, SE, between 2nd and 11th Streets, SE. The ROD is the final component of the Environmental Impact Statement and is available at www. virginiaavenuetunnel.com.
Salons A-Plenty A few doors away at 749 8th Street, SE, there is an entirely different type of service business, Skin
Beauty Bar. Formerly located in an upper suite on the 400 block Skin Beauty Bar was established in 2004. After ten years there, Meka Mathis who purchased the business in 2009, longed to re-brand and expand to more spacious quarters. With loyal clients coming from as far away as Reston, she was searching for parking, too. The newly renovated 749 building was the solution. Still very walkable to and from Metro, this building is less than one half block from the large DC parking lot under the freeway. “Clients love it,” says Mathis, “almost as much as they love our new online booking service!” Not the only beauty service provider on the Row, Mathis marveled that each of 8th Street’s salons has its own specialty with little real competition among them. One of Skin Beauty Bar’s primary services is massage followed by waxing and brow shaping. Mathis just added ear candling to reduce sinus pressure and congestion. And then there is eyelash extension. Did you know women’s eyelashes replace themselves naturally and gradually every 28 days? Extensions can really only last for a month. Priced from $60 - $250 depending on how many extensions one desires, they are the perfect way to make a natural appearing vavoom statement. ( 20% discount on any Skin Beauty Bar’s Meka service with this article) Mathis in new location
Hunt Doughnuts, Cook with the Chefs and Here’s Santa! Downstairs at District Doughnut consumer enthusiasm continues. Recently Chef Christine Schaffer began to bake all night to keep up with demand. We felt sad for Christine but happy that customers would never again go home without doughnuts. Then we noticed the sign: “Out of doughnuts – come back tomorrow.” Finally, we got it. The hunt is part of the mystique. Besides, most everyone will actually be back on the Row tomorrow or the next day. Coming back is not out of the way - it’s part of local sport. This brings up the question of how often we
Santa Arrives
actually need to leave our neighborhood? Adding to what anchors us all here--the growing assortment of services, retail shops, restaurants, --Barracks Row Main Street brings one more ingredient, events. Culinary Education Crawl 2014 this year blended learning with food. The result? 25 cooking classes held on Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16. Students got to know their professors, our local chefs and, in the end, toasted those chefs as well as restaurant owners and wait-staffs whose everyday presence defines our neighborhood. Next up on the events calendar, Santa Arrives on 8th Street. On Saturday, December 13, while en-route to pick up your dry cleaning and snag a doughnut, watch out for the man in red. He’ll be in his workshop at 1:30 PM at 8th and G Street, SE, waiting to hear what you want in your stocking. BRMS will have a photographer on hand and we’ll upload photos of kids, dogs and grown-ups visiting with Santa. After Santa we say goodbye to 2014 - see you next year with more reports from Barracks Row. u
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December 2014 H 97
{community life / capitol riverfront}
Capitol Riverfront BID – A 2014 Recap
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article by Michael Stevens, AICP and photos by Melissa Ashabranner
as we enter the holiday season and the close to 2014, I want to revisit the past year’s accomplishments in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. Many notable projects, events and retail openings have occurred, and there is certainly more to come. Our seasonal ice skating rink at Canal Park is open for business for the next three months so come down and have a skate! There are weekly specials at the rink, and there will also be a seasonal market in the upper two blocks of Canal Park. The Parcel Market will make its debut the weekend of December 12-14 and will feature foods and vendors from across the city. Curated by Meet Market, Parcel Market will be a festive gathering place to shop and eat during the weekend of the 12th and the ice rink will be open on the southern block. Some come for a visit on the 12th, 13th or 14th of December and experience Parcel Market. Hopefully by now you have had an opportunity to shop at the new Harris Teeter grocery store at 4th and M Streets, SE that is part of the Yards development. This 50,000 SF store brings a high quality grocer to our neighborhood, as well as a place for residents to meet and interact. It has become a popular place to shop but also a new lunch
spot with its hot bar and other offerings. A second Starbucks coffee shop has also opened in the store. The Harris Teeter is representative of the list of new neighborhood retail and restaurants that have opened in the Capitol Riverfront over the past year: • Unleashed by Petco in the Boilermaker Shops • TaKorean & Sweet Green restaurants in the Twelve12 project • VIDA health club and pool deck in Twelve12 • Aura Spa and Bang Salon in Twelve12 • Jubilee Ice Cream in the Lumber Shed Building • Willie’s Brew & Que in the Boilermaker Shops The VIDA health club is also significant for our neighborhood as it is symbolic of the active lifestyle that can be found in the Capitol Riverfront. It is a beautiful 28,000 SF facility and they were involved in programming a variety of fitness classes in Yards Park throughout the summer. The Ballpark Boathouse at Diamond Teague Park & Piers also opened in the summer of 2014, offering kayak and canoe rentals on the Anacostia River, an up close and personal way to explore the river. From a restaurant standpoint, the Capitol Riverfront currently has over 25 restaurants open and
offering choices from fast casual to fine dining. But more openings will occur in the next six months: • 100 Montaditos at the Boilermaker Shops • Navy Yard Oyster Company & Due South in the Lumber Shed Building • A second Subway Sandwich shop and Big Stick in 20 M Street • Bon Chon in 1015 Half Street • Red Oak at 909 New Jersey Avenue Banfield Pet Hospital will also be opening at the Twelve12 project for all of you pet lovers. This current development wave is not confined to retail and restaurants alone. Our residential development pipeline is experiencing dramatic growth as well. Over 4,200 people currently live in the Capitol Riverfront, and more will be moving in over the next two years as approximately 2,200 residential units deliver during that time. Most of the construction cranes populating our skyline are for our current residential projects: • River Parc – a 287 unit apartment building adjacent to Velocity condos. (Delivery 4Q 2014) • Park Chelsea – a 432 unit apartment building at New Jersey & I Street. (Delivery 3Q 2015)
The water features at Yards Park are a popular draw for families.
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• 800 New Jersey Avenue – a 336 unit apartment building anchored by the 35,000 SF Whole Foods Grocery. (Delivery 3Q 2016) • Arris – a 327 unit apartment building adjacent to the Foundry Lofts. (Delivery 1Q 2016) • The Lofts at Capital Quarter – the next phase of the Arthur Capper rebuild includes 195 residential units on L Street, SE between 5th & 7th Street, SE. (Delivery 4Q 2015) • The Gallery at Capital Riverfront – a 324 unit apartment building underway with the site undergoing excavation. (Delivery 3Q 2016) • The RiverFront – a 305 unit apartment building adjacent to Diamond Teague Park is also under construction with its official groundbreaking on December 9th. (Delivery 2Q 2016) The 168 room Hampton Inn & Suites located near Nationals Park at 1st & N Streets, SE has “topped out” and is anticipated to deliver in 2Q of 2015. Two other hotels are gearing up for construction starts in 2015 – the 195 room Homewood Suites at 50 M Street, SE and a 170 room hotel that is part of the Ballpark Square mixed-use project with frontage on 1st Street and M Street, SE. Two public projects are a part of this latest development cycle and will add to the civic infrastructure of our neighborhood. The Arthur Capper Carrollsburg Community Center: The new 28,000 SF Capitol Quarter Community Building designed by Torti Gallas and Partners is expected to open in October 2015. The new building will include a
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7,000 square-foot gymnasium, a 3,600 square foot day care center with an outdoor playground, and multi-purpose rooms for community meeting space, classrooms, and fitness equipment. In October, DCHA released a Request for Proposals to identify an operator for the community center when it opens. The Van Ness Elementary School: Van Ness Elementary school will open in the 2015 school year with Pre-K classrooms for three and four-year old children. Van Ness has been selected by DCPS to participate in a new pilot program that will guarantee spots for neighborhood families in Van Ness’s PreK classrooms. This program will contribute to Van Ness’s opening as a great neighborhood school for our community. In addition, the Van Ness Parents Group is working to add a kindergarten classroom to the school when it opens. The office market received a boost with the lease signings of two major tenants for the 1015 Half Street office building – the National Labor Relations Board at 143,000 SF and CBS Radio at 34,000 SF. CBS Radio will also be opening six radio broadcast studios on L Street at their offices at 1015 Half Street. Our next office building should be a new 225,000 square foot Class A building by Skanska at 99 M Street, SE as part of the Ballpark Square mixed-use development. The BID continues to support the proposal to build a new DC United soccer stadium in Buzzard Point in Southwest. The proposed stadium could be an anchor for future land use patterns and leverage additional investment in the area – housing, access to the river, commercial development, and retail/restaurants. We also hope that 2015 will see the start of construction on the proposed 16-screen IKON movie theater project by Forest City Washington on land near the DC Water pump station. The zoning has been approved and the theater complex would be an anchor to a new mixed-use neighborhood
The water features at Yards Park are a popular draw for families.
near the ballpark that Forest City refers to as the “Yards West”. 2014 saw the Capitol Riverfront firmly established as an outdoor parks and festival neighborhood by the Anacostia River. Yards Park had its highest attendance ever for our Friday night concert series, with approximately 2,500 people attending each Friday night. The park also hosted DC Jazz Fest at the Capitol Riverfront one weekend in June and a highly successful Tour de Fat and the Dinner en Blanc. Both Snallygaster and VegFest held their annual festivals in the neighborhood, and families celebrated an early 2014 at the Noon Year’s Eve’s day celebration in Yards Park. The park remained popular with children’s birthday parties, corporate picnics, and state society dinners, and the water features at Yards Park and Canal Park have branded our neighborhood as family friendly. That festival space will be enhanced by the recent demolition of the National Geospatial Agency building at M Street and New Jersey Avenue, SE. This large block will ultimately be developed by Forest City Washington as 1.8 million SF of commercial space. In the interim it will have 200 surface parking spaces and a large green space that we can use for additional programming and outdoor festivals. The Capitol Riverfront community, BID staff and BID board of directors wish you all a wonderful holiday season with your family and friends. Michael Stevens is president of the Capitol Riverfront BID. u
A Call For Remembrance
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by Steve Holton
lbert (Al) E. Mitchler, Jr., a longtime resident of Capitol Hill, was only four years old when his father, Albert E. Mitchler, Sr., died in the line of duty as a firefighter in Sept. of 1947. In 2007, after years of trying to persuade the city to dedicate one of the several hundred vacant fireboxes that dot DC street corners to his father, Al got his wish. Over the course of five years Al submitted a drawing and plan to the city for the firebox memorial that came with many roadblocks along the way. “We had a really tough time with the city getting this done and had several unreturned calls from the mayor’s office,” said Al. If it wasn’t for the help of Al’s daughter, Erica Streibe, this project may never would’ve gotten off the ground. *Erica contacted the Retired Firefighter Association and a local DC Fire Station and the project was approved in three weeks. “Erica made herself a complete pain in the rear and it worked. She doesn’t understand the word no,” said Al. The memorial’s location was chosen at Third and Constitution Ave NE and the street had to be closed on the day of the ceremony due to the high volume of attendees. “There were four fire trucks and must have been 50 firefighters present for it. DC Fire Chief Dennis Rubin was there to speak as well,” said Al. He gave a closing speech by speaking of his father’s bravery and the courage of the current men and women who risk their life to save lives today before unveiling the memorial. Al told one particular story about his sister June Ann Moore and it was an emotional one at that, “All I can remember shortly after the time of my father’s death was a nine yearold, little blonde haired girl, who would get dressed up every day and wait for her father to come home.”
Harp Shaped Box City fireboxes started popping up in the mid 1800’s cables were placed underground and the city starting using ornamental iron posts to mount the boxes. They were discontinued in the mid 1970’s when the 911 emergency system was incorporated. To alert the fire department in the event of a fire, citizens would break the glass, turn a key to open a door and pull the handle down inside of the box. A red signal light would then flash and trans-
mit an alarm to the central alarm office by sending out a code number for the box location on a paper tape register, which could compare to a stock ticker. Fire boxes were initially painted black and later changed to red once police call boxes were installed and painted blue. Call boxes were usually illuminated by a light on top to aid the public and firefighters in locating the boxes at night. According to a historical account by Paul Williams of Kelsey & Associates, Inc., there were once two brass-polished call boxes located at Union Station and the White House that early 20th century presidents would use to signal a motorcade when arriving to DC from their destination by train. The cast iron boxes remain due to the difficulty and cost of taking them out of the ground. Some of them weigh several thousand pounds and are rooted as far as five or six feet in the ground. In the late 1990’s residents could claim the boxes through the city to later restore them with art work upon city approval but only a fraction were claimed due to difficulty of the process.
Refurbished Fire Call Box in remembrance of Albert E. Mitchler, Sr. Photo courtesy of Al Mitchler.
Call For Art Left on Hold There have been attempts through various organizations to revive these street fixtures to their original form with an added touch of art décor. The call boxes are a mystery to tourists and even most of the newer DC residents. There have been recent inquiries and actions from citizens and small groups to revive the unfinished fixtures that are still out there. Even though they are a part of public property, the city is only responsible for painting over them and not adding any special art features. Groups have mobilized in the past such as the Mt. Pleasant Organization who adopted nine call boxes from the city and outfitted them with bronze sculptures by artist Michael Ross in July of 2004. Since that time many other call boxes have stood dormant and untouched in DC neighborhoods leaving some residents to wonder where to start if they would like to bring these furniture-like pieces of the neighborhood to life while showing off artistic skill. One obvious place to start would be to contact the DC Department of Transportation at 202-673-6813 or online at ddot@dc.gov with inquiries. As lengthy or difficult as it may be, “It was worth it and I would do it a thousand times over if I had to for my dad,” said Al. u
Al Mitchler and his wife Linda shake hands with then DC Fire Chief Dennis Rubin on the day of the memorial ceremony. Photo courtesy of Al Mitchler.
December 2014 H 101
{community life}
Three Turn 30 by Annette Nielsen Fairy Godmother
moved to the Hill from New York in the mid-70s, Blanchard says she was originally inspired by the Cheshire Cat, a children’s bookstore that used to be based in Chevy Chase, DC. She started working out of a residence, but then a realtor told Blanchard about a property for sale on the in the 300 block of 7th Street, SE. Since then, Fairy Godmother has been the Capitol Hill neighborhood go-to store for children’s books and toys, carrying great games, puzzles, and trucks in addition to arts and crafts offerings. Blanchard has a real passion for books, and her extensive selection includes a range of fiction and non-fiction for infant to teen, spanning art, history, and even a number of books written in French and Spanish. “Publishers send us boxes of proofs about Michele Newman of Newman Gallery & Custom Frames on six months before the 11th Street has been a mainstay on Capitol Hill for 30 years. In publication date, then addition to providing conservation-quality framing services, Newman has staged around 50 solo and group art shows. we order those that we think will be suitable for our customers,” says gin right away to foster the love of reading. Blanchard, who enjoys offering inBlanchard notes, “Over the years there have dividualized service. been more biographies being written for a young“We like to work with each er audience, and there’s definitely more diversity in customer and help select a book or authors as well as subject matter.” toy that relates to the background Since she opened her doors on the Hill, she’s of the family or the child’s interwatched businesses like a Safeway (now Med Star est.” She says she also has many Health), a laundry (now Radici), and other busicustomers without children who nesses transform. might stop by to get recommen“We’ve been here a long time – the children dations for a nephew or new addithat came here as toddlers when we first opened are Jack and Roberta Blanchard at the Fairy Godmother, the Capitol Hill tion to the family. Blanchard has now moving back to Capitol Hill – they’re adults neighborhood store for children’s books and toys for 30 years. They a particularly large selection of incoming into the store with their own kids.” are now serving children of the toddlers once served in the first years of operation on Capitol Hill. fant books so that parents can beFairy Godmother, 319 7th St SE, 202.547.5474 Whether baby or teen, everyone needs a fairy godmother, and it’s especially important that you have one that’s easily accessible. For thirty years, Capitol Hill has lucked out with its very own, Roberta Blanchard. Blanchard opened up her shop in November of 1984, right before Thanksgiving. Having
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Newman Gallery & Custom Frames
over a weekend, set up and be ready for business that Monday. “This is what I’m hired to do – Opening her doors on November decorate and design – so logistical17, 1984, Michele Newman had a ly I can get things done. The clienbit of work to do to get the vacant tele that I’ve been working with are building in shape for her opening typically pretty busy, so my work has day. However, she was excited to to be timely. It also helps that I have start her own business, located across the street from Frager’s Hardmy go-to people for work like paintware. While she didn’t purchase her ing or electricity that I know I can building until 1994, she had already count on.” established a substantial following. Crowder grew up all over the “This building went up for world, one of seven children in a milsale, so I had this opportunity to not itary family. only work for myself, but own my “As a teen, I loved to be in anown place, says Newman. tique shops and book stores, hanA Maryland native who atdling old books,” says Crowder. tended the University of Maryland When she moved to the District to study fine art with a minor in art in 1983, she worked in Falls Church history, Newman had worked at the performing appraisals and was doing Smithsonian, also at an art gallery some decorating work on the side. and for Ted Gay at Capitol Hill Art She also has a retail component in and Frame before starting out on her shop with lamps, mirrors, chairs. her own. She’s careful to use propShe loves her work, whether advising er conservation materials like archicustomers on upholstered furniture, val mats that are acid-free and UVcustom carpets, window treatments filtering glass, all to protect the art or headboards. or artifacts being framed. She’s built on her design ex“I’ve framed some really interpertise and the ability to “transterpesting things beyond paintings and ulate– my word I came up with for photographs,” says Newman, “some being able to listen to someone and that are three dimensional, like unidistill what they’re saying into what forms, a Christening dress, medals, they are looking for in a design or Two Lions Antiques & Interiors’ Janet Crowder has provided design and decoratfavorite tee shirts and needlework ing services for three decades on Capitol Hill at her 11th Street location, across their décor. Usually if I ask someone – even a piece of cracked molding the street from Frager’s Hardware. to show me their favorite painting or from a San Francisco earthquake piece of art, I can glean what their mounted with a related news article.” for the sense of community. style might be.” Newman spends a lot of time helping her “I have always loved this neighborhood,” says A resident of Capitol Hill, she enjoys Saturcustomers identify the appropriate frame for the Newman, “it’s always been good here. days at her place when she sees many of her friends pieces – whether a very delicate engraved frame Newman Gallery & Custom Frames, 513 who stop by, either to chat or look for a fabric or that plays off a part of the painting’s detail, or a 11th St SE, 202.544.7577, newmangallery.com decorative item. bold statement frame to offset a piece that can “It’s such a great community, and it’s fantasbalance its weight or heft. Two Lions Antiques & Interiors tic to be a part of this,” says Crowder who was an Over the years, Newman’s Gallery has also Janet Crowder started her business on the Hill on early member of CHAMPS, the Hill’s chamber held close to 50 shows of local and international August 4, 1984, originally opening at 621 Pennsylof commerce. artists’ work from solo to group shows representvania Avenue, where Pound the Hill is now based. “People really thrive here in the diversity – ing talent like Pat Barron, Martha Tabor, Norma More recently, in 2001, she purchased and moved Strike, Ilia Petkov, Barry Moyer – even a unique anything you’d like to do or see, you can find it to her current location on 11th Street, a couple of show of political art assembled by Bob Bedard here on Capitol Hill.” doors from Newman’s Gallery & Custom Frames. of Art Pac. Two Lions Antiques & Interiors, 507 11th St Adept at transforming any sort of space, Through her time on the Hill, Newman has SE, 202.546.5466. u built friendships and deepened her appreciation Crowder worked her magic and was able to move
December 2014 H 103
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{real estate} The District Source Pop-Up Proposal Not Perfect, But a Start
I
by Shaun Courtney
t is hard to drive around Hill East or greater Capitol Hill for long before coming across a former two-story, brick rowhouse that has been added onto with often mismatched brick or siding and that now houses three or more units, instead of one family or a family and their English basement renter. These so-called “pop-ups” are the source of much consternation among neighbors at community meetings and in online discussion forums. The D.C. Office of Planning has proposed a solution that could at least reduce the practice of building large additions and converting traditionally two-unit family-sized homes into condominiums and apartments. The Zoning Commission (ZC) will consider the changes on Jan.15.
The Pop-Up Proposal
"An example of pop-up construction at 1701 Independence Ave. SE."
The Office of Planning (OP) has proposed changes to regulations that govern additions to and conversions of homes in rowhouse neighborhoods in the District--areas largely zoned as R-4. The new regulations would apply to neighborhoods zoned under the R-4 classification because it is those neighborhoods that have been most impacted by pop-ups and condo conversions. “Many if not most, inappropriate upper additions are in the R-4 zone,” the OP states in its letter to the ZC. Under current regulations, homes within the R-4 can be converted to a multi-family structure as long as there is a minimum lot area
December 2014 H 105
{real estate}
of 900 square feet per unit; so homes on deep lots or combining two neighboring properties can result in a large, multi-unit structure on an otherwise low-density street. This has created an environment in which developers compete with residents for family-sized housing, pushing up prices for single family homes, especially those with three or more bedrooms. In the last three years the price of three-bedroom units has risen at almost three times the rate as one-bedroom units, according to OP. New regulations would remove the ability to convert rowhouses to apartments or condos, would allow by special exception the conversion of non-residential buildings like churches or schools to multifamily units and would generally create a process for community input in a way that is not currently possible. The regulations also restrict the height of buildings in the R-4 zone to 35 feet, a reduction from the current 40-foot limit. To build up to 40 feet, a developer or owner would need to seek a special exception, which requires zoning review.
The Problem with Pop-Ups Not all pop-ups are equal, but many members of the greater Capitol Hill community agree that the new regulations could go a long way toward preventing unsightly or out-of-character additions that impact the look and feel of neighborhood streets. The proposal does not rule out all pop-ups, instead
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it requires more input from the neighborhood by way of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) and the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA). “Unfortunately we’ve had developers who have no regard whatsoever for the architecture. They just put a rectangular blob on top without matching the color of the brick or the window rhythm. It’s almost like they go out of their way to put something ugly on the block,” Capitol Hill Restoration Society Zoning Committee Chair Gary Peterson said about popups around greater Capitol Hill. “I don’t think people are concerned about the pop-ups that are done well. They are concerned about the pop-ups that are done poorly,” said Ward 6 Councilman-elect Charles Allen.
Are these the regulations we’re looking for? The proposal before the ZC in January received mixed reviews from community leaders in Capitol Hill. Allen said he is open-minded about the proposal, assuming it garners approval. If the ZC does not act on the new regulations, Allen is prepared to legislate the creation of conservation districts, an additional level of design oversight that does not have the same strict limitations found in historic districts. ANC 6B commissioner Francis Campbell said he is concerned the new zoning requirements will not sufficiently address the aesthetics of pop-ups. The regulations offer a few comments on architecture--an area generally not under the BZA’s purview. The proposal stipulates that additions should not “have a substantially adverse effect on the defining architectural features of the building or result in the removal of such features” and should not “visually intrude upon the character, scale and
pattern of houses” nearby. Nick Alberti, chair of ANC 6A, said while he appreciates the R-4 proposal, he considers it an “imperfect” solution to managing unattractive pop-ups. He wants more of greater Capitol Hill to fall under an historic district. The expansion the Capitol Hill Historic District and creation of a new historic district are at the center of another ongoing community discussion following the release of a recent architectural report commissioned by CHRS. Peterson worries about the BZA becoming “architectural critics or arbiters of taste and grace,” a role generally reserved for the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). Peterson also thinks an historic district subject to HPRB oversight is a better way to address architectural concerns. “Pop-ups are not a problem in historic districts” noted Peterson. Though he has concerns about the architecture of pop-ups, Campbell said he is opposed to expanding or creating new historic districts. He sees the value in pop-ups when they allow families to grow and stay in their homes or older residents to live on the property while renting out a second unit. “Some people don’t want the strictures that have been [put in place] when you have a historic district,” said Campbell. The goal as Allen sees it is to find a balance between making sure a homeowner has the flexibility that to have their home meet their needs, while preserving the character of the neighborhood. “The only way to be sure how well it works is of course to put it into practice and see what happens,” said Peterson.
Onward to Zoning The Zoning Commission will consider the amendments to the R-4 zoning provisions when it hears case 14-11 beginning Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at One Judiciary Square, 441 4th St. NW, Ste. 200S. The full proposal from OP is available online by searching case 14-11 in the Office of Zoning’s Interactive Zoning Information System (IZIS). Shaun Courtney is the co-founder and editor-inchief of District Source, a D.C. real estate and neighborhood news blog, co-founded and supported by Lindsay Reishman Real Estate. Shaun has been a local reporter in DC since 2009 and has called the city home since 2002. She currently lives in Kingman Park. Read more from District Source. u
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{real estate / changing hands}
Changing Hands Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. NEIGHBORHOOD
CLOSE PRICE BR
FEE SIMPLE 16TH STREET HEIGHTS 5006 PINEY BRANCH RD NW 1208 GALLATIN ST NW 1312 BUCHANAN ST NW 1521 UPSHUR ST NW 5324 COLORADO AVE NW 1515 GALLATIN ST NW 1140 BUCHANAN ST NW 1355 MONTAGUE ST NW 1232 HAMILTON ST NW
ADAMS MORGAN 2317 17TH ST NW
$1,100,000 $737,500 $729,900 $706,500 $686,750 $684,900 $675,000 $590,000 $525,000
5 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 3
$625,000
2
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4901 ALBEMARLE ST NW 4706 49TH ST NW 4910 BRANDYWINE ST NW 4347 FESSENDEN ST NW 4433 BURLINGTON PL NW 4466 TINDALL ST NW 4452 BURLINGTON PL NW 4505 YUMA ST NW 4427 FESSENDEN ST NW
ANACOSTIA
1708 R ST SE 1347 MAPLE VIEW PL SE 1416 RIDGE PL SE 1618 GOOD HOPE RD SE 1438 W ST SE 2243 PROUT ST SE BARRY FARMS 1327 TALBERT TER SE
BERKLEY
4933 MACARTHUR BLVD NW 4643 MACARTHUR BLVD NW
BLOOMINGDALE 34 SEATON PL NW 1923 2ND ST NW
BRENTWOOD 1009 BRYANT ST NE 2315 13TH PL NE 2212 13TH ST NE 1376 W ST NE
BRIGHTWOOD
859 VENABLE PL NW 6729 PINEY BRANCH RD NW 6514 7TH PL NW 1254 VAN BUREN ST NW 617 FERN PL NW 5914 2ND ST NW 709 TUCKERMAN ST NW 7433 BLAIR RD NW 5804 4TH ST NW 6008 7TH ST NW 425 MARIETTA PL NW 6407 9TH ST NW 6409 7TH ST NW 520 SHERIDAN ST NW 1512 VAN BUREN ST NW
BROOKLAND 1410 IRVING ST NE 1301 IRVING ST NE 513 REGENT PL NE
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$1,237,500 $1,110,000 $955,500 $950,000 $930,000 $919,000 $849,000 $849,000 $764,000
4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3
$420,000 $390,000 $320,000 $292,000 $242,000 $159,000
8 3 3 3 2 3
$222,500
2
$4,250,000 $2,150,000
6 5
$895,000 $699,000
5 3
$710,000 $430,000 $390,000 $387,500
5 3 3 3
$768,000 $740,000 $565,500 $559,000 $477,500 $465,000 $420,000 $369,900 $360,000 $347,680 $310,000 $300,000 $275,000 $275,000 $845,000
5 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 5
$935,000 $795,000 $790,000
6 5 4
1351 OTIS ST NE 1601 NEWTON ST NE 2915 NORTH CAPITOL ST NE 2706 12TH ST NE 1220 JACKSON ST NE 524 EDGEWOOD ST NE 14 BRYANT ST NE 201 ASCOT PL NE 2420 4TH ST NE 1612 KEARNY ST NE 619 GIRARD ST NE 1002 DOUGLAS ST NE 3825 17TH PL NE 2328 2ND ST NE 15 EVARTS ST NE 709 DECATUR PL NE 708 DECATUR PL NE 1721 MONROE ST NE 657 EMERSON ST NE
BURLEITH
4115 PARKGLEN CT NW 3813 T ST NW
CAPITOL HILL
526 12TH ST NE 515 C ST NE 208 A ST NE 225 9TH ST SE 329 9TH ST NE 137 NORTH CAROLINA AVE SE 420 SOUTH CAPITOL ST SE 315 5TH ST SE 813 C ST SE 807 C ST SE 331 6TH ST SE 507 D ST SE 531 10TH ST SE 447 12TH ST NE 326 12TH ST SE 1126 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 333 6TH ST SE 502 1ST ST SE 1250 C ST NE 1238 MARYLAND AVE NE 431 15TH ST SE 708 8TH ST NE 1620 G ST SE 7261/2 11TH ST SE 634 MORTON PL NE 1368 G ST SE 1125 7TH ST NE 404 8TH ST NE 603 BROWNS CT SE 514 G ST SE 1214 G ST SE 1526 GALES ST NE 1631 D ST NE
CHILLUM
25 KENNEDY ST NE 5609 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NE
CLEVELAND PARK 3528 QUEBEC ST NW 3649 VEAZEY ST NW
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 3527 HOLMEAD PL NW 720 QUEBEC PL NW 950 SHEPHERD ST NW 1304 SHEPHERD ST NW 608 QUINCY ST NW 720 HARVARD ST NW 3518 PARK PL NW
$735,000 $710,000 $695,000 $650,000 $640,000 $629,900 $615,000 $600,000 $575,000 $571,000 $560,000 $539,000 $475,000 $470,000 $424,000 $345,000 $335,000 $310,000 $272,000
4 4 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 4 4 3 3 3 2
3823 13TH ST NW 762 IRVING ST NW 3624 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 1521 OAK ST NW 762 MORTON ST NW 1419 SHEPHERD ST NW 1408 SPRING RD NW 759 HARVARD ST NW 3527 WARDER ST NW 520 KENYON ST NW 1344 OAK ST NW 421 COLUMBIA RD NW
$3,250,000 $1,070,000
6 3
CRESTWOOD
$747,000 $3,000,000 $1,775,000 $1,673,000 $1,579,000 $1,390,000 $1,200,000 $1,077,000 $1,061,500 $987,500 $963,000 $960,000 $922,000 $910,000 $875,000 $875,000 $875,000 $874,250 $825,000 $811,500 $780,000 $700,000 $685,000 $685,000 $660,375 $652,000 $600,000 $599,900 $575,000 $560,000 $499,900 $455,000 $677,000
4 6 4 4 4 3 2 3 4 3 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 3
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 1207 CONGRESS ST SE 447 ORANGE ST SE #1-4 452 NEWCOMB ST SE 1118 BARNABY TER SE 626 ALABAMA AVE SE 606 ELMIRA ST SE 4419 17TH ST NW 4516 BLAGDEN AVE NW 4301 17TH ST NW
DEANWOOD
5582 JAY ST NE 4909 MEADE ST NE 1021 51ST ST NE 3977 BLAINE ST NE 4207 CLAY ST NE 114 49TH ST NE 4243 CLAY ST NE 5441 BASS PL SE 221 44TH ST NE 836 52ND ST NE 50335039 SHERIFF RD NE 810 46TH ST NE 3972 BLAINE ST NE 316 DIVISION AVE NE 4614 CLAY ST NE 4417 JAY ST NE 321 56TH ST NE
DUPONT
1735 Q ST NW 1518 T ST NW
ECKINGTON
225 FLORIDA AVE NW 1842 CAPITOL ST NW 45 Q ST NE 59 R ST NE 1936 SUMMIT PL NE 1927 SUMMIT PL NE 55 TODD PL NE
FOREST HILLS $575,000 $470,000
5 4
$1,159,000 $925,000
3 3
$775,000 $766,350 $765,000 $745,000 $699,900 $680,000 $665,000
4 3 4 4 4 4 4
3400 BROAD BRANCH TER NW
FORT DUPONT PARK 1131 CHAPLIN ST SE 4436 ALABAMA AVE SE 1520 FORT DAVIS PL SE 4025 D ST SE 3811 BAY LN SE 1614 FORT DAVIS PL SE 4230 H ST SE 4230 SOUTHERN AVE SE 4254 SOUTHERN AVE SE
FORT LINCOLN
3272 THEODORE R HAGANS DR NE
$655,000 $650,000 $650,000 $647,000 $632,000 $585,000 $535,000 $529,750 $525,900 $495,000 $475,000 $425,000
3 2 3 5 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 3
$280,000 $257,000 $254,900 $201,500 $190,000 $120,000
3 4 3 3 2 3
$809,000 $729,900 $655,000
3 4 4
$325,000 $320,000 $315,000 $300,000 $280,000 $275,000 $238,500 $229,000 $227,000 $222,000 $203,500 $186,000 $185,000 $173,000 $158,000 $145,000 $73,000
4 5 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 2 4 6 3 3 3 2 3
$1,900,000 $1,325,000
5 2
$730,000 $685,000 $655,000 $618,000 $500,000 $415,000 $370,000
4 4 2 3 4 3 2
$867,500
4
$399,800 $394,000 $307,000 $299,000 $290,000 $213,610 $183,000 $170,865 $74,900
4 4 4 3 3 3 2 3 3
$515,000
3
GARFIELD 2132 CATHEDRAL AVE NW
$1,390,000
5
GEORGETOWN 1231 31ST ST NW 1633 31ST ST NW 3127 DUMBARTON ST NW 3007 P ST NW 3032 O ST NW 3614 PROSPECT ST NW 3717 WINFIELD LN NW 1659 34TH ST NW 2710 OLIVE ST NW 3246 JONES CT NW
$5,200,000 $3,625,000 $3,200,000 $2,295,000 $2,150,000 $1,910,000 $1,290,000 $1,110,000 $945,000 $800,000
5 4 5 4 3 3 2 3 2 3
GLOVER PARK 3728 BENTON ST NW 2119 HUIDEKOPER PL NW 3804 W ST NW 2123 TUNLAW RD NW
$970,000 $959,000 $882,500 $880,000
4 4 2 3
H STREET 825 8TH ST NE 225 PARKER ST NE 1225 I ST NE
$1,150,000 $522,500 $650,000
4 2 3
HAWTHORNE 3235 CHESTNUT ST NW
$1,345,000
6
HILL CREST 2804 33RD ST SE 1208 34TH PL SE 2842 FORT BAKER DR SE 2946 M ST SE
$430,000 $377,400 $376,000 $149,000
3 3 4 2
HILL EAST 1510 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE
$470,000
2
KALORAMA 2405 TRACY PL NW 2121 R ST NW
$2,830,000 $1,950,000
6 6
KENT 5027 GLENBROOK RD NW 2814 BATTERY PL NW #2814 5009 MACARTHUR CT NW
$1,475,000 $1,335,000 $1,330,000
LEDROIT PARK
32 U ST NW $799,900 153 ADAMS ST NW $481,500 LILY PONDS 4251 NASH ST NE $270,000 3450 DIX ST NE $207,000
4 4 4 4 3 3 3
LOGAN 1336 CORCORAN ST NW 1322 VERMONT AVE NW 1213 W ST NW
$1,880,000 $3,900,000 $865,000
MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5035 B ST SE 5133 D ST SE 5539 CENTRAL AVE SE 207 53RD ST SE
$320,000 $305,000 $239,900 $165,000
MICHIGAN PARK 4131 18TH ST NE 3810 22ND ST NE
$440,000 $210,000
MOUNT PLEASANT 1730 PARK RD NW 3108 18TH ST NW 1750 KENYON ST NW 1733 HARVARD ST NW 2207 ONTARIO RD NW 2443 ONTARIO RD NW
$1,515,000 $1,305,000 $825,000 $789,500 $660,000 $963,000
OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 75 OBSERVATORY CIR NW
$2,415,000
4 11 2 4 4 2 2 3 3 6 7 4 3 2 5 5
December 2014 H 109
2812 34TH ST NW 2812 36TH PL NW
$1,675,000 $1,150,000
OLD CITY #1 229 12TH ST SE 608 G ST NE 512 12TH ST NE 401 12TH ST SE 245 10TH ST NE 925 9TH ST NE 1321 EMERALD ST NE 1125 PARK ST NE 1357 EMERALD ST NE 631 ORLEANS PL NE 831 11TH ST NE 1011 MARYLAND AVE NE 1128 8TH ST NE 684 4TH ST NE 614 MORTON PL NE 1600 F ST NE 1625 A ST SE 1223 I ST SE 1234 C ST NE 1210 5TH ST NE 1020 11TH ST NE 1619 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 544 25TH PL NE 116 16TH ST NE 1716 E ST NE 548 25TH PL NE 1710 A ST SE 1531 D ST SE
$1,460,000 $825,000 $788,000 $785,000 $770,000 $750,000 $710,000 $690,000 $669,500 $655,000 $644,500 $615,000 $613,700 $609,000 $607,850 $607,000 $595,000 $579,900 $575,000 $572,000 $551,500 $525,000 $505,000 $499,000 $490,000 $425,000 $399,999 $470,000
OLD CITY #2 1715 Q ST NW 1431 R ST NW 1435 R ST NW 1325 11TH ST NW 1606 7TH ST NW 1848 8TH ST NW 1606 6TH ST NW 1514 NEW JERSEY AVE NW 403 R ST NW 1837 6TH ST NW
$2,855,000 $1,400,000 $1,250,000 $960,000 $850,000 $675,000 $625,000 $555,000 $457,000 $825,000
5 5 4 3 4 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 4 3 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 1 3 3 3 4 2
PALISADES 4816 HUTCHINS PL NW 2302 CHAIN BRIDGE RD NW
$2,150,000 $1,375,000
PETWORTH 4209 ILLINOIS AVE NW 413 QUINCY ST NW 4808 ILLINOIS AVE NW 237 FARRAGUT ST NW 5325 5TH ST NW 900 CRITTENDEN ST NW 5417 KANSAS AVE NW 328 FARRAGUT ST NW 4620 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 312 EMERSON ST NW 5407 ILLINOIS AVE NW 428 EMERSON ST NW 842 DELAFIELD PL NW 827 CRITTENDEN ST NW 725 QUINCY ST NW 326 MISSOURI AVE NW 721 QUINCY ST NW 5731 9TH ST NW 5202 5TH ST NW 5223 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 38 FARRAGUT PL NW 432 RANDOLPH ST NW 5027 4TH ST NW 5419 8TH ST NW 5027 5TH ST NW
$816,000 $715,000 $702,000 $634,000 $628,000 $625,000 $610,000 $605,000 $599,900 $599,000 $575,000 $570,000 $545,000 $490,000 $450,000 $440,000 $425,000 $420,000 $416,000 $410,000 $399,990 $395,000 $370,000 $365,000 $360,000
RANDLE HEIGHTS 2205 RETTA GILLIAM CT SE 2710 KNOX TRL SE 1912 VALLEY TER SE
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$435,000 $274,900 $261,000
5 4
2228 R ST SE 1922 TRENTON PL SE 1438 CONGRESS PL SE 3205 BUENA VISTA SE
$225,000 $215,000 $207,000 $160,000
RIGGS PARK 657 KENSINGTON PL NE 719 JEFFERSON ST NE 5121 12TH ST NE 6034 EASTERN AVE NE 707 KENNEDY ST NE 606 KENSINGTON PL NE
$430,000 $348,500 $339,000 $315,000 $265,000 $265,000
3 3 3 8 3 3 3 3 3 3
SHAW 1507 8TH ST NW 607 Q ST NW 610 R ST NW 1508 5TH ST NW 1403 NEW JERSEY AVE NW
$1,230,000 $1,110,126 $878,000 $670,000 $615,000
SPRING VALLEY 4949 HILLBROOK LN NW 3729 COREY PL NW 4835 VAN NESS ST NW
$1,720,000 $1,330,000 $1,045,000
SW WATERFRONT 609 G ST SW
$850,000
3 5 5 3 3 6 4 3 4
TAKOMA 6109 3RD ST NW 6625 HARLAN PL NW 43 SHERIDAN ST NE 11 UNDERWOOD PL NW
$595,000 $750,000 $449,000 $350,000
3 4 4 3
TRINIDAD 1327 WEST VIRGINIA AVE NE 1661 MONTELLO AVE NE 1006 18TH ST NE 1700 M ST NE 1264 PENN ST NE 1608 TRINIDAD AVE NE 1417 TRINIDAD AVE NE 1739 LYMAN PL NE 1708 L ST NE
$639,900 $490,000 $474,000 $459,000 $431,000 $385,000 $376,000 $310,000 $235,000
WATERFRONT 609 4TH ST SW
$650,000
4 4 3 4 3 4 3 2 2 3
WOODRIDGE 4 5 4 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 2 3 3 1 4 3 4
3002 FRANKLIN ST NE $560,000 5 2214 RANDOLPH ST NE $544,500 4 1923 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE $535,000 4 1820 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE $464,000 5 2801 26TH ST NE $390,000 3 2129 CHANNING ST NE $310,000 3 3032 THAYER ST NE $300,000 0 2714 22ND ST NE $280,000 3 3040 CLINTON ST NE $256,000 4
CONDOs ADAMS MORGAN 2200 17TH ST NW #210 1658 BEEKMAN PL NW #5L3 2200 17TH ST NW #208 1701 KALORAMA RD NW #401 1701 KALORAMA RD NW #206 1830 CALIFORNIA ST NW #2 2510 CLIFFBOURNE PL NW #102 1701 KALORAMA RD NW #209
$950,000 $801,658 $780,000 $590,000 $580,000 $410,000 $378,500 $292,478
ANACOSTIA 1352 TALBERT CT SE #14A
$181,000
BLOOMINGDALE 3 3 4
2015 FLAGLER PL NW #2
$625,000
BRIGHTWOOD 921 BUTTERNUT ST NW #301
$360,000
2 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 3 2 2
710-712 SHEPHERD RD NW #5 301 WHITTIER ST NW #203 5885 COLORADO AVE NW #210 6645 GEORGIA AVE NW #109
$317,500 $254,000 $249,500 $82,500
BROOKLAND 3127 HAWTHORNE DR NE #3127 3139 HAWTHORNE DR NE #3139 101 HAWTHORNE CT NE #101
$301,000 $279,900 $235,000
CAPITOL HILL 1456 CAPITOL ST NE #1456 440 12TH ST NE #104 440 12TH ST NE #308 106 TENNESSEE AVE NE #3 249 14TH ST SE #B 410 11TH ST NE #5 27 14TH ST NE #27 401 13TH ST NE #406 103 2ND ST NE #103B 315 18th PL NE #6 315 18TH PL NE #3 305 C ST NE #206 1124 E ST NE #B 1820 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE #4 1820 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE #3 524 15TH ST SE #B
$569,000 $550,000 $490,000 $489,500 $469,000 $462,500 $379,900 $375,000 $359,000 $305,000 $294,900 $259,000 $375,000 $750,000 $749,000 $737,000
2 1 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 3 3 3
CENTRAL 1177 22ND ST NW #4-E 2425 L ST NW #415 1155 23RD ST NW #N2D 2425 L ST NW #516 701 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1101 912 F ST NW #1100 616 E ST NW #851 1155 23RD ST NW #NPH1J 777 7TH ST NW #1126 1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #909 1140 23RD ST NW #303 2113 N ST NW #5 1150 K ST NW #802 2425 L ST NW #423 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1112 616 E ST NW #719 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #803 1111 25TH ST NW #610 616 E ST NW #906 1121 24TH ST NW #103 1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #509 1312 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #807
$1,208,000 $1,180,000 $955,000 $739,000 $702,500 $670,000 $634,900 $620,000 $620,000 $610,000 $579,000 $565,000 $540,000 $515,000 $486,500 $474,900 $440,000 $435,000 $319,906 $315,000 $590,000 $415,000
CHEVY CHASE 4301 MILITARY RD NW #403 4301 MILITARY RD NW #514 4301 MILITARY RD NW #306 5410 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #702
$953,000 $900,000 $545,000 $299,000
CLEVELAND PARK 3863 RODMAN ST NW #A49 3872 PORTER ST NW #F360 2733 ORDWAY ST NW #4 3026 WISCONSIN AVE NW #202 3850 39TH ST NW #E 101 3941 LANGLEY CT NW #F582 2710 MACOMB ST NW #405 3770 39TH ST NW #138 3024 WISCONSIN AVE NW #101 3028 WISCONSIN AVE NW #401 3446 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #305 3824 PORTER ST NW #C393 3010 WISCONSIN AVE NW #309
$590,000 $520,000 $476,225 $467,500 $439,500 $439,000 $365,000 $320,000 $320,000 $297,500 $284,000 $281,400 $249,900
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1233 EUCLID ST NW #3 3542 13TH ST NW #2 2550 UNIVERSITY PL NW #5 3004 13TH ST NW #2 1441 FLORIDA AVE NW #4A 1104 EUCLID ST NW #1
$867,000 $775,500 $746,900 $720,000 $710,000 $705,000
1 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 4 3 2 3 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 2 2 2 3
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
to our wonderful clients and friends from the Kristof Realty Group CURRENT LISTINGS
1322 KENYON ST NW #4 3226 13TH ST NW #C 737 IRVING ST NW #2 3517 13TH ST NW #101 1390 KENYON ST NW #814 1119 HARVARD ST NW #R 1449 HARVARD ST NW #5 1233 EUCLID ST NW #1 701 LAMONT ST NW #PH-58 1417 CHAPIN ST NW #408 1435 CHAPIN ST NW #1 1300 TAYLOR ST NW #104 754 PARK RD NW #6 1356 KENYON ST NW #2 3221 11TH ST NW #100 3318 SHERMAN AVE NW #104 610 IRVING ST NW #T-01 1437 SPRING RD NW #15 1020 MONROE ST NW #203 3534 10TH ST NW #310 430 IRVING ST NW #107 1441 EUCLID ST NW #201 1457 PARK RD NW #108 1439 EUCLID ST NW #204
CONGRESS HEIGHTS 3211 8TH ST SE #12 310 ATLANTIC ST SE #202-A
DEANWOOD
320 61ST ST NE #201 4929 FOOTE ST NE #11
DOWNTOWN
1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #410
DUPONT
1841 16TH ST NW #1 1731 T ST NW #5 1801 16TH ST NW #111 1624 CORCORAN ST NW ##G 1801 16TH ST NW #709 1801 16TH ST NW #509 1801 16TH ST NW #109 2001 16TH ST NW #206 1801 16TH ST NW #303 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #632 1816 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #402 1621 T ST NW #601 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #721 1916 17TH ST NW #414 1731 WILLARD ST NW #501 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #723 1414 22ND ST NW #34 1916 17TH ST NW #205
ECKINGTON
1716 3RD NE #A 75 R ST NW #1 23 TODD PL NE #1 36 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE #1 147 R ST NE #11 1921 2ND ST NE #102 212 T ST NE #3 1831 2ND ST NE #304
FOREST HILLS
3883 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #703 3883 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #301 2727 ORDWAY ST NW #5 4007 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #2
GEORGETOWN
1015 33RD ST NW #603 3225 GRACE ST NW #222 2603 O ST NW #2 1080 WISCONSIN AVE NW #2004 2500 Q ST NW #703 2500 Q ST NW #P-105
$699,000 $675,000 $635,000 $569,000 $566,000 $540,000 $518,000 $505,000 $500,058 $476,000 $452,000 $450,000 $440,000 $435,305 $435,000 $399,900 $375,000 $358,000 $335,000 $310,000 $280,000 $277,000 $201,000 $182,500
2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0
$125,000 $51,000
2 2
$210,000 $98,500
3 1
$838,000
2
$1,069,000 $761,500 $741,300 $599,000 $546,360 $529,000 $481,000 $444,000 $325,000 $265,000 $209,500 $567,500 $439,000 $425,000 $372,500 $258,500 $1,200,000 $399,900
3 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 2 2 1 1 1 2 1
$571,400 $539,000 $539,000 $519,900 $379,900 $375,000 $264,000 $171,000
3 2 3 3 2 2 1 1
$395,000 $380,000 $362,000 $295,000
1 1 1 1
$890,000 $720,000 $405,000 $389,700 $335,000 $40,000
2 2 1 1 1 0
Petworth 622 Delafield Pl NW $495,000
Randle Heights 2402 24th St SE $279,999 Licensed in DC, MD & VA
December 2014 H 111
Law Offices Of
James m LOOts, Pc Serving the Capitol Hill Community Since 1984 General Litigation and Arbitration Franchising and Business Organizations Commercial Leasing and Development Labor and Employment Issues Contract and Licensing Matters
GLOVER PARK
2323 40TH ST NW #5 2323 40TH ST NW #6 2323 40TH ST NW #3 2320 WISCONSIN AVE NW #310 2220 40TH ST NW #3 3925 DAVIS PL NW #202 4000 TUNLAW RD NW #1024 4029 BENTON ST NW #303
HILL CREST
2139 SUITLAND TER SE #201
TOP “AV” RATED BY MARTINDALE-HUBBELL
634 G Street SE, Suite 200 | Washington DC 20003 (202) 536-5650 • Fax: (202) 315-3515 www.lootslaw.com
Harper-Simon Associates
&
202.554.0573 ghs919@gmail.com DC & Maryland Mobile Notary Public Services by Appointment Licensed DC & MD Notary Signing Agent/Title Insurance Producer Independent Contractor
JOHNSON LAW GROUP Services to individuals and businesses since 1985... Wills, Estates and Trusts • Commercial and Business Law Property Transactions and Disputes • Government Contracting • General Civil Litiga Litigation
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202-544-1515
Capitol Hill • 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003
KALORAMA
1820 KALORAMA SQ NW 1806 KALORAMA RD NW #4 1908 KALORAMA RD NW #1044 1867 MINTWOOD PL NW #3 2107 S ST NW #J 21151/2 S ST NW 2456 20TH ST NW #306 1840 VERNON ST NW #207 2456 20TH ST NW #409 2009 COLUMBIA RD NW #3 1863 KALORAMA RD NW #2B 2310 ASHMEAD PL NW #301 2311 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #104 1900 BILTMORE ST NW #1
LEDROIT PARK
155 V ST NW #8 151 V ST NW #1 2108 1ST ST NW #PENTHOUSE
LOGAN
1324 14TH ST NW #5 1300 13TH ST NW #601 1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #510 1444 CHURCH ST NW #205 1515 11TH ST NW #1-2 1314 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #606 1245 13TH ST NW #513 2125 14TH ST NW #416 2100 11TH ST NW #205 939 M ST NW #B 941 M ST NW #PH-B 941 M ST NW #UNIT A 1408 Q ST NW #31 1400 CHURCH NW #405 1400 CHURCH ST NW #204 1425 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #12 1400 CHURCH ST NW #610 1515 15TH ST NW #427 1307 R ST NW #1 1245 13TH ST NW #904 1300 N ST NW #614 1300 N ST NW #302 1326 VERMONT AVE NW #7 1117 10TH ST NW #809 1312 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #504
MOUNT PLEASANT
2357 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #402 2301 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #303 1623 LANIER PL NW #101 3155 MOUNT PLEASANT ST NW #106 1615 KENYON ST NW #34 1661 PARK RD NW #205 1615 KENYON ST NW #28
MOUNT VERNON
1106 5TH ST NW #2 1106 5TH ST NW #1 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #509 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #418 1111 11TH ST NW #802
OLD CITY #1
1341 MARYLAND AVE NE #104 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #527
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$635,000 $612,000 $367,500 $357,000 $325,000 $285,000 $282,500 $210,000
2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
$83,500
1
$2,475,000 $815,000 $749,000 $679,000 $638,000 $574,900 $488,000 $465,000 $397,200 $395,000 $361,000 $355,200 $319,000 $219,000
5 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
$865,000 $750,000 $704,000
2 2 3
$929,000 $825,000 $803,500 $557,500 $475,000 $407,000 $384,900 $681,500 $660,000 $1,449,000 $1,375,000 $1,075,000 $975,000 $925,000 $915,000 $912,500 $900,900 $805,000 $562,000 $505,000 $439,900 $429,900 $405,000 $415,000 $460,000
2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 4 4 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2
$695,000 $595,000 $530,500 $375,355 $329,000 $305,000 $300,000
2 2 2 1 1 1 1
$517,500 $494,000 $445,000 $482,000 $422,000
2 2 1 1 1
$760,000 $479,900
3 2
523 8TH ST NE #101 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #502 520 E ST NE #304 1305 EAST CAPITOL ST SE #302 1443 A ST NE #A 1412 A ST SE #1 1412 A ST SE #4 2 17TH ST SE #205 1815 A ST SE #306
OLD CITY #2
1127 6TH ST NW #300 1736 18TH ST NW #404 1935 17TH ST NW #5 1441 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #810 475 K ST NW #525 1441 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #712 2000 16TH ST NW #601 425 M ST NW #F 1718 P ST NW #915 1207 N ST NW #A 475 K ST NW #912 86 O ST NW #1 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #317 811 4TH ST NW #715 1939 12TH ST NW #202 811 4TH ST NW #914 1407 W ST NW #101 1390 V ST NW #408 2008 16TH ST NW #402 1916 17TH ST NW #2 1916 17TH ST NW #5 1741 T ST NW #203 1245 13TH ST NW #415 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1102 1239 VERMONT AVE NW #810 1822 15TH ST NW #1 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #P50 460 L ST NW #G2-112 460 L ST NW #G2-96
PENN QUARTER 616 E ST NW #850 912 F ST NW #500 616 E ST NW #1221 915 E ST NW #1212
PETWORTH
5405 7TH ST NW #102 513 JEFFERSON ST NW #1 513 JEFFERSON ST NW #2 4800 GEORGIA AVE ST NW #105 5401 9TH ST NW #201 5041 1ST ST NW #11 3811 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #2 3811 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #1
RLA (SW)
320 G ST SW 239 G ST SW #119 705 3RD ST SW #603 350 G ST SW #N-501 1101 3RD ST SW #312 800 4TH ST SW #S-123
SHAW
440 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #102 1117 10TH ST NW #708
SW WATERFRONT 800 4TH ST SW #N-221
TRINIDAD
1018 FLORIDA AVE NE #301 1306 CHILDRESS ST NE #7
U STREET
2110 10TH ST NW #4 2110 10TH ST NW #1 2120 VERMONT AVE NW #401
$435,000 $433,250 $370,000 $349,000 $349,000 $340,000 $334,450 $253,500 $246,800
2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1
$740,000 $675,000 $645,000 $589,000 $575,000 $569,000 $550,000 $524,000 $500,000 $497,000 $463,000 $443,000 $440,000 $434,900 $420,000 $415,000 $399,999 $399,999 $397,000 $372,000 $365,000 $358,000 $330,000 $291,500 $265,000 $219,000 $50,000 $17,500 $15,000
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
$622,500 $532,000 $475,000 $415,000
2 1 1 1
$539,000 $495,000 $435,000 $380,000 $258,800 $230,000 $660,000 $599,900
3 3 3 2 1 1 2 2
$590,000 $559,000 $550,000 $489,000 $282,000 $235,000
2 3 3 2 1 0
$524,900 $485,000
2 1
$435,000
2
$535,000 $238,000
2 2
$831,000 $549,900 $454,000
3 2 1
1390 V ST NW #322 2125 14TH ST NW #331 1744 U ST NW #F 2004 11TH ST NW #239 919 FLORIDA AVE NW #703 1415 CHAPIN ST NW #503 2532 11TH ST NW #1
WEST END
1155 23RD ST NW #8A 1155 23RD ST NW #N7A 1111 23RD ST NW #S4C 1260 21ST ST NW #415
$417,000 $339,000 $572,000 $537,000 $524,900 $445,500 $837,500 $2,160,000 $2,018,750 $1,750,000 $215,000
1 0 2 2 2 2 3 3 2 2 0
3025 ONTARIO RD NW #106 1669 COLUMBIA RD NW #306
CLEVELAND PARK
3601 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #519 3930 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #203-H 3020 TILDEN ST NW #203 3601 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #405/405A 3039 MACOMB ST NW #20 4514 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #206
DUPONT
1701 16TH ST NW #329 1701 16TH NW #612
KALORAMA
2122 CALIFORNIA ST NW #352 1835 PHELPS PL NW #21 1875 MINTWOOD PL NW #42
MOUNT PLEASANT
2853 ONTARIO RD NW #406 1669 COLUMBIA RD NW #204
NAVY YARD
1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #1024
NORTH CLEVELAND PARK 3020 TILDEN ST NW #201
OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 3900 WATSON PL NW #B4G 4101 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #307
OLD CITY #1
1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #212
OLD CITY #2
1701 16TH ST NW #444 1701 16TH ST NW #201 1514 17TH ST NW #310 2039 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #309 1440 W ST NW #106
RIVER PARK
1311 DELAWARE SW #S644
RLA (SW)
550 N ST SW #S-402 1301 DELAWARE AVE SW #S731
SW WATERFRONT
560 N ST SW #N505 326 N ST SW 1301 DELAWARE AVE SW #N-324 480 M SW
WATERFRONT 530 N ST SW #S-510 520 N ST SW #S113 u
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
It’s all about finding a good home.
Search listings at cbmove.com/steve.hagedorn Licensed in DC & MD
COOP ADAMS MORGAN
Steve Hagedorn
$458,000 $300,000
2 1
$509,000 $475,000 $475,000 $455,000 $399,900 $422,000
2 2 2 1 2 1
$325,000 $207,000
1 0
$485,000 $423,000 $277,000
2 1 1
$397,500 $195,000
1 1
$339,000
1
$698,250
3
$387,000 $238,000
2 1
$450,000
2
$530,000 $520,000 $370,000 $187,500 $35,000
2 2 1 0 1
$160,000
1
$900,000 $265,000
3 2
$500,000 $460,500 $124,900 $481,000
2 3 0 2
$225,000 $190,000
1 0
Direct: Cell: Office: Fax: Email:
Gibbs. Rescued 1/2011
202-741-1707 202-841-1380 202-547-3525 202-547-8462 shagedorn@cbmove.com
Specializing in all aspects of Real Estate Settlements
We Guarantee Attention to Detail & Personalized Service 650 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Suite 170 Washington, DC 20003-4318 202-544-0800
Peter Frias
Own a Piece of History!
“Your Connection to Capitol Hill and Beyond” I’ve been representing buyers and sellers on the Hill for over 15 years, and I can help you too! 1% of my commissions are donated to Habitat for Humanity DC
Looking to Buy or Sell? Call Me Today! www.peterfrias.com Peter@johncformant.com (202) 544-3900 | (202)744-8973
“We are part of Capitol Hill, We don’t just work here... We live here, too. Let our neighborhood experience work for you...”
202.546.3100 210 7th Street, SE. #100. WDC 20003 www.monarchtitle.net
Historic Manor of Truman’s Place, circa 1770, has been meticulously restored with modern features while maintaining the original grandeur. The main house boasts 6 bedrooms, 5 full baths and 7 fireplaces in keeping with period features of the era. The property consists of 40 acres with a historic tobacco barn, horse stables, a 2-bedroom carriage house, a 1-bedroom guest cottage, a 3-car detached garage, brick-walled gardens, and a koi pond - all just under 40 miles from Washington, DC! Don’t miss the opportunity to seize this once-in-a-lifetime property! $1,250,000
Bonnie Baldus Grier Associate Broker bonniegrier@gmail.com
301.807.1400
December 2014 H 113
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{arts & dining}
Anatevka Is Reborn at Arena A Haunting Fiddler to Savor
S
article by Barbara Wells & photos by Margot Schulman
hakespeare said “All the world’s a stage,” but with every Arena production I become more convinced of the opposite: The Fichlander Stage is all the world. From the plains of Oklahoma to the drawing rooms of London, there’s no place on Earth that Arena artistic director Molly Smith can’t conjure in this deceptively compact space. With Fiddler on the Roof, she works her magic again, transforming Fichlander’s humble boards into a Russian shtetl and transporting both actors and audience from 2014 to 1905 and then, most profoundly, back to the present again. It all begins with Joseph Stein’s endearing book, Jerry Bock’s stirring mu-
Jonathan Hadary as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.
sic and Sheldon Harnick’s spot-on lyrics that so vividly capture the culture, religion, humor, ethic and history of the tiny village of Anatevka, in a show that feels as fresh today as when it opened 50 years ago. Realized in Todd Rosenthal’s evocative set, Anatevka is encircled by a path with no beginning or end, leading deep into the bowels of the stage and soaring overhead in a floating platform where the ever-present fiddler (Alex Alferov) is perched. It follows with the introduction of our appointed ringmaster, host and hero: Jonathan Hadary as Tevye the dairyman. While the lumbering, larger-than-life Zero Mostel originated the role, Hadary claims it for his own, lending a sprightly, whimsical, almost elfin quality that he brilliantly blends with the gravitas of “the Papa.” As his more practical wife Golde, Ann Arvia is the perfect counterbalance to Hadary, bringing just the right mix of sternness and sentimentality that illuminate how each spouse anchors the other. “In our little village of Anatevka,” Hadary says, “every one of us is a fiddler on the roof, trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck.” Then he leads the audience on a journey that takes him from the security and timelessness of a life founded on “Tradition!”—trum-
December 2014 H 115
(L to R) Hannah Corneau as Hodel, Dorea Schmidt as Tzeitel and Maria Rizzo as Chava in Fiddler on the Roof.
peted by a cast of villagers confident in their preordained roles as a papa, mama, son or daughter—to the complete dissolution of his home, community and Anatevka itself. Along the way his three eldest daughters, sweetly but willfully embodied by Dorea Schmidt, Hannah Corneau and Maria Rizzo, chip away at this foundation, maintaining love and respect for Tevye while taking charge of their futures in unthinkable ways. As Tzeitel, Schmidt cracks the mold of the dutiful daughter by choosing her own husband, but still pleads affectingly with Tevye for permission to do it. As Hodel, Corneau stops short of asking permission to marry the revolutionary Perchik (Michael Vitaly Sazonov), but still seeks Tevye’s blessing. It’s Rizzo as Chava who smashes the mold altogether, stealing away with the Russian Fyedka (Kyle Schliefer) to marry outside her faith. Under Smith’s direction, these romances are subtly and skillfully revealed, with furtive glances and brief exchanges that signal when each daughter has found her soul mate. As these domestic developments unfold, the songs of Harnick and Bock overlay multidimensional meanings: in the rethinking of mar-
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riage from a girl’s dream come true to a high-stakes gamble in “Matchmaker, Matchmaker”; in the contemplation of affluence that a poor man can never hope to have in “If I Were a Rich Man”; in the epic significance of becoming engaged to the woman you love in “Miracle of Miracles,” beautifully rendered by Joshua Morgan. There’s a reason for generations Fiddler’s songs have left an indelible impression on its audiences, and in the expressive singing of this cast they are as inspiring as ever. Now add the choreography of Parker Esse, who has become a singular expert in converting classic two-dimensional choreography into circular dances that make the Fichlander’s nosebleed seats some of the best for viewing the masterfully integrated movements of the cast. His work retains Jerome Robbins’ signature bracketed arms, finger clicking, kicking and stomping adapted from authentic Jewish and Russian folk dancing, while infusing them with athleticism and grace that mesmerize audiences watching from every side of the stage. Still, Fiddler would be almost quaint were it not for the ominous undercurrent of more dangerous social change, evinced in Perchik’s rebel-
lion and ultimate imprisonment in Serbia, and the local constable’s warnings to Tevye about the pogrom and eventual eviction to come. When the constable asks Tevye, “How much time do you need to sell your house and all your household goods?,” Tevye replies, “Why should I sell my house? Is it in anybody’s way?” Of course not; nor does it have any value. And this is what makes the play so intensely relevant no matter when it’s produced. Instead of focusing on a more notorious genocide that can so easily be placed in a time capsule with a label of “Never again!,” Fiddler is about the kind of oppression that barely earns a footnote in American history books. It’s gone on for thousands of years, and it goes on today, whenever innocent people without money or power are driven from their homes for no other reason than because of who they are. As they pack their bags and begin their separate journeys, all of the villagers pay tribute to their shtetl, singing lovingly of “underfed, overworked Anatevka.” But finally, in a declaration of both resignation and hope, Golde brings herself to say, “Eh, it’s just a place.” By showcasing the particular charms and universal qualities of this village and the people who made it their home, Arena movingly recreates every home ever lost, and all of the homes yet to be found. Fiddler on the Roof, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater through January 4, 2015 Barbara Wells is a writer and editor for Reingold, a social marketing communications firm. She and her husband live on Capitol Hill. u
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{arts and dining / dining notes}
Garlic Grater & Olive Oil Gift Set $39.95 at Sapore
Dining Notes article and photos by Celeste McCall
Cinnamon Pear Balsamic Vinegar, $16.95 at Sapore
Proprietor Jane Morris displays favorites from J. Chocolatier which is open weekends.
J. Chocolatier, upstairs from Groovy, offers delicious gift ideas.
Ocopa, in the Atlas District, serves roast chicken made famous at the former Chicken Tortilla.
Bubbly Cheer
Ocopa’s Cebiche Classico is a mÈlange of halibut, red onions, and cilantro.
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ot everybody leaves town for the holidays; many prefer to celebrate right here on Capitol Hill. And there are many festive possibilities and gifting opportunities: Sapore, 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, carries an assortment of upscale goodies, including a 4-bottle olive oil gift pack ($39.95). Delicious on apples, pork and sweet potatoes is Sapore’s cinnamon-pear balsamic vinegar ($16.95 for a 13-ounce bottle); and a 13.5-ounce jar of turkey brining spices will season a bird weighing up to 18 pounds ($10). Call 202-544-4133 or www. saporeoilandvinegar.com. J. Chocolatier (upstairs from Groovy), 321 Seventh St. SE, is hawking holiday chocolates, some hand-crafted by proprietor/Hill resident Jane Morris. Gift ideas: a dark chocolate Fossil bar dusted with 24-carat gold ($6 for a 1 ½-ounce bar); Fleur de Sel Caramel, dark chocolate morsels sprinkled with sea salt. Three sizes range from $16 to $48; a “Figgy” nut bar is studded with figs, cocoa nibs and walnuts, a fun addition to a cheese board ($8.50). J. Chocolatier is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Call 202-333-4111 or www. jchocolatier.com. At Radici, formerly Silver Spork, a wooden communal table and polished counter greet customers who browse Italian wines, vinegars, olive oils, and packaged pastas and risottos. Radici also sells dairy products including cream, half-and-half and egg nog from South Mountain Creamery in Middletown, Maryland. The small produce selection (some organic) includes oranges, apples and squash. Located at 303 C St. SE (Seventh and C), across from Eastern Market, Radici is open daily. Call 202-7580086 or www.radici-market.com.
For a unique gift, Chat’s, 503 Eighth St. SE, suggests a bottle of Andre Clouet Champagne encased in straw. Made from pinot noir grapes, the bubbly comes from France’s Bouzy region. Price is $120. Less extravagant
wines are showcased Chat’s complimentary Saturday tastings from 3 to 6 p.m. Call 202-544-4660 or www.chatsliquors.com.
Turkey Talk Market Poultry (Eastern Market) is accepting orders for turkey (and other fowl) Dec. 2-20, with pickup Dec. 23 or 24. Call 202-543-7470.
Dining Out Most Hill restaurants are open Christmas Eve, and a few on Dec. 25. Among them: La Plaza, 629 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, will serve its regular Tex-Mex/Salvadoran menu, plus specials. Call 202-546-9512…Café Berlin, 322 Massachusetts Ave. NE will present a traditional German repast of roast goose and trimmings Dec. 24 and 25. Prix fixe is $39 per person. Call 202-543-7656 or www.cafeberlindc.com.…Cafe 8, 424 Eighth St. SE, will offer its regular menu all day (202547-1555)...Station 4, 1101 Fourth St. SW, will serve its regular menu from 4 to 11 p.m., with bar food ‘til midnight. Call 202-488-0987 or www.station4dc.com.
More Party Plans Montmartre, 327 Seventh St. SE, will prepare holiday party platters (with mini quiches, pates, smoked salmon, pate, etc.). Prices vary, but are “affordable.” Moreover, Montmartre will be open New Year’s Eve, and for brunch Jan. 1. Call 202544-1244 orwww.montmartredc.com... Béarnaise, 315 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, is offering three New Year’s Eve seatings. 5:30, 7:30 and 10 p.m. For reservations and more information call 202450-4800 or www.bearnaiserestaurant.com.
Holiday Knishes The other day, after stocking up on Italian essentials at Litteri’s, we wandered over to nearby Union Market. We were browsing there when the irresistible aroma of sizzling bacon lured us to Buffalo & Bergen, Gina Cheresvani’s popular soda shop. (Gina is also the celeb mixologist for Hank’s Oyster Bar on Capitol Hill.) At Buffalo & Bergen, named for a Long Island intersection where Gina’s Mom grew up, we perched on old fashioned counter stools. I tried a Reuben knish, drizzled with melted butter, garlic and parsley, accompanied by an “artisanal” green salad napped with vinaigrette dress-
Weekend Brunch!
ing. Peter chowed down on a toasted wheat bagel heaped with lettuce, tomato and that seductive bacon. Gina’s libations range from house-made herbal-infused sodas to craft cocktails to beer and wine. Bagels and knishes, with various fillings, are available all day; breakfast bagels go from 9 to 2. Open daily except for Monday, Union Market is located at 1309 Fifth St. NE; call 202-543-2549.
Watch this Space By now everyone knows celeb chef David Guas plans to unveil his second venture: Bayou Bakery Coffee Bar & Eatery, in the restored carriage house at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Look for it this spring. David’s menu will be similar to his New Orleans-themed Bayou Bakery in Arlington, with beignets, gumbo, muffalettas, salads, pralines, and a full bar.
Chicken Delight In the Atlas District, we’ve checked out Ocopa, 1324 H St. NE. While casual, Ocopa is dressed up with exposed ceiling pipes, dark paneling and matching wooden tables. Light fixtures are upside down pails. From the brief but comprehensive luncheon menu, Peter chose Cebiche Classico, normally $16, but priced at $12 as a special. Artfully arranged on a square blue dish, the mélange encompassed firm halibut, red onion rings, tiny cubes of sweet potato and fragrant cilantro. I had to try Peruvian-born Carlos Delgado’s famous roast chicken (also available for carryout). A quarter chicken was flanked with a trio of dipping sauces: mild, medium and incendiary. Tagged at $10, the bird arrived on an earthen hued plate, escorted by fat spears of yucca, the quintessential Latino starch. (A half chicken is $16, whole $25.) Ocopa is open daily; call 202-396-1814.
More Latino on H Speaking of Latino eateries: Slated for 1358 H St. NE is Impala Cantina y Taqueria, the creation of Troy Hickman and Erik Bruner-Yang of Toki Underground. Their future enterprise will feature a lavish carved bar, custom-made cabinets and benches, hickory flooring (Hickman is a carpenter) plus colorful tiles and a lower-level cantina that opens out into a courtyard. The menu will showcase house-made corn tortillas, assorted tacos, chicken wings, shrimp with pumpkin mole and posole, a hearty hominy stew. On Tuesday nights, you can sample Impala’s tacos at the Pug, 1234 H St. NE, available at the bar for $2 apiece.
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New in the Yards Decided to do our bi-weekly food run at the new Harris Teeter at the Yards, the first full-service grocery to arrive in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood. The 50,000 square foot supermarket—located at 401 M St. SE—somewhat overwhelming, but we loved it. The seafood display is gorgeous.
And… Next spring, look for a “European style” café at 1247 E St.SE, the corner of 13th and E. Similar to Bloomingdale’s Big Bear Café, the project will be part of a mixed-use development with apartments upstairs.
Also coming soon? Celeb chef Eric Ziebold, late of CityZen (which closes Dec. 6), is eying a spot in Mount Vernon Triangle for his next enterprise. No word on exactly when, or what will replace CityZen, the Mandarin Oriental’s flagship restaurant for a decade. Celeste McCall is a long-time food, restaurant and travel writer. She can be reached at celeste@us.net. Blog: Celestial Bites. u
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December 2014 H 119
{arts and dining / wine guys}
Scotch Whisky A Gift Giving Guide by Lila Coffin
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here are two types of people that buy scotch; the connoisseurs, who have collections of fine single-malt and rare blended malt scotch and only want more, and everyone else, who maybe have tasted a scotch or two, but stare at the wall of possibilities in quiet disbelief, going home with one they recognize. It’s finally that happy gift-giving time of year, though, when the connoisseur, or connoisseur-in-training, in your life needs a present to impress or at least one they’ll actually enjoy drinking. And, as they will tell you, there is an endless list of Scotch whiskies in a variety of styles, each uniquely defined by the maker, region, barrel, and year it was born from. Below, just the basics:
Quick History Ancient Celtic Tribes drank a “cure all” they called uisgue beatha or “water of life.” This drink spawned all the whisky in the world since. Scottish records first show fairly large production coming out of the home distilleries of rich landowners dating back to the 15th C., and apparently selling and trading made for good quiet business. Then the English found out what the Scots had going, they predictably reacted by taxing it both in 1644 and in 1823, the first tax creating a huge illicit whisky industry (400 distillers vs eight legal ones) and the second destroying it, by legitimizing some distilleries and shuttering others. In 1831, the column still made for cheaper and quicker distillation, boosting production, and in 1880, the wine and brandy shortage caused by phylloxera gave scotch the spotlight it needed to storm the market. Popularity has been high ever since, increasing more after the 1823 tax was lowered for the first time in 1995.
To Peat or not to Peat Peat is the dense moss, earth and grass that coats the British Isles. With few trees, it was the main source of fuel for the early scotch makers, and, when used in distilling to cook the malt, the rich
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smoke flavored the whisky. With more options for fuel now, peated whiskies mainly hail from the islands, especially Islay, but those that do use it can vary greatly in both intensity and flavor profile.
Single Malt, Blended Malt, and Blended Scotch Single malt Scotch whisky means a Scotch whisky was produced from only water and malted barley at a single distillery. The most popular and often the best scotches are single malts. A blended malt, or vatted malt, means a blend of two or more single malt Scotch whiskies from different distilleries. These can often be amazing, and some independent bottling brands, like Cadenhead and Blackadder, have blended and aged big name single malts into new, unique creations. Blended scotch, on the other hand, is a single malt blended with grain whisky for a sweeter easier drinking style. It accounts for 90% of all Scotland whisky production and includes Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, Dewar’s, Bank Note and many, many others. When buying a gift, if in doubt, choose a single malt.
Regions Technically, as long as a whisky is distilled entirely in one place in Scotland, it can be labeled for that place. For example the islands of the Highlands are not recognized as sub regions but a whiskey from Arran, Jura, Mull, Orkney and Skye - with their respective distilleries: Arran, Jura, Tobermory, Highland Park and Scapa, and Talisker - could be called a Jura Single Malt Whisky, for example, instead of a Highland Single Malt Whisky. There are five major sub regions for Single Malt Scotch. The Highlands is the largest region housing some of the most popular distilleries, including, to name a few, Aberfeldy, Balblair, Ben Nevis, Dalmore, Dalwhinnie, Glen Ord, Glenmorangie, Oban, Edradour, Kilkerran, and Old Pulteney. The Highlands include most of the north of Scotland, all of the islands except for Islay, and
produces smooth, rich, floral, and heather-scented whiskies. The maritime influence presents itself clearly in the briny notes of West Highland whiskies, while the Central Highlands are more honeyed. The islands, however, often share more of the peaty, briny notes of Islay. Speyside, encompassing the Spey river valley in north-east Scotland, is part of the Highlands, but houses over half of all of Scotland’s distilleries just in its little corner, including some of the very biggest names, such as Aberlour, Balvenie, Cardhu, Cragganmore, Glenfarclas, Glenglassaugh, Glenfiddich, Speyburn, Macallan, Glenlivet, and Glenrothes. The scotch of Speyside has dried fruit and vanilla notes that intensify with age. If any peat is used in a Highland Scotch, it is usually minimal. In the south-east, we find the soft, floral, and delicate whiskies of Lowland, though only three distilleries remain in operation: Auchentoshan, Bladnoch, and Glenkinchie. To the southwest, Campbeltown, once home to over 30 distilleries, also currently has only three distilleries operating: Glen Scotia, Glengyle and Springbank, which also produces Longrow. The island of Islay, pronounced ee-lah, has eight producing distilleries: Ardb regions use peat gen-
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erously, but Islay also has the direct maritime influence and tends to show distinct sea salt and brine notes. If trying to find the right balance between sweet and smoky, rich and delicate is still daunting, there’s a great cheat sheet at http://www.malts.com/ index.php/en_us/ChoosingWhisky/A-World-of-Flavour/ The-Single-Malt-Whisky-Flavour-Map
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Cask Aging and Finishing It is easy enough to understand, without tasting, that aging a Scotch in barrel for a number of years enhances and enriches the notes already present. Older is better, more expensive, and often more rare, because the whisky has spent years developing, softening, and taking on flavors influenced by the barrel (and the care of the distiller). In cask-finished Scotch, the whiskey spends part of the time aging in a cask used previously, often for Bourbon or Sherry, but also for Port and Barolo, and adopts some of traits of the barrel’s previous inhabitant. Cask strength Scotch is Scotch (or any whiskey) that has been taken straight from the cask and not filtered or adjusted to lower the alcohol level. Many distillers have varieties of age statements, cask finishes, and cask strength editions available, either produced by the distillery or by an independent bottler. With all of these basic distinctions and a few familiar names, it should be a little easier to shop for the Scotch lover on your list, and maybe for yourself, too! Happy Holidays! u
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December 2014 H 121
{arts and dining / at the movies}
Two Striking True Stories:
A Very Special British Scientist and a Very Committed Iranian Journalist by Mike Canning The Theory of Everything
widower and choir master, Jonathan Hellyer Jones ble Woman”) is just as impressive in its measured (Charlie Cox), who befriends the family but whose calm delivered in grave circumstances, its poignanFew scientists can claim the renown of the British presence brings complications with serious implicy in sacrifice, its earnest devotion to her man. She theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, in part for cations for the marriage. is tested not only by her husband’s physical detehis singular scientific work (popularized in his inAdvance critical assessment of the film has rioration but by their differences in faith and international best seller “A Brief History of Time” ), highlighted the singular performance of Eddie tellectual focus (she’s Church of England while but the more so for his almost superhuman dogRedmayne (last seen warbling in “Les MiseraStephen is a confirmed non-believer; he’s the comgedness in confronting his devastating case of mobles”), including his staggering physical transformitted scientist, she’s the earnest literary scholar). tor neuron disease (ALS) over five decades. A mation from a gawky youth flying on a bicycle In fact, in some ways Jane’s character claims more new film, “The Theory of Everything,” directed to the remarkable genius crumpled in a twirling prominence in the movie than Stephen’s, perhaps by James Marsh (“Man on Wire”), offers the stowheelchair. His muscular breakdown is beautifulnot surprising since the script, by Anthony Mcry of Hawking’s triumph over his malady, soft pedCarten, was fundamentally aling the physics and emphabased on her memoir “Travelsizing the human dimension ing to Infinity – My Life with of that triumph, much of it Stephen.” In what on the surexemplified by the support face may be a less spectacuof his wife Jane. Structured lar turn, Jones is just radiant. as a fairly conventional biopic showing the dutiful conquest of adversity, this film Rosewater resonates most through the Out of left field comes a meaperformances of its two leads sured treatise on freedom and (The film runs 123 minutes its suppression envisioned by and is rated “PG-13”). “The Daily Show’s” funn“The Theory of Everyyman anchor, Jon Stewart. thing” (the name comes from The comedian, taken with another one of his books) covthe testimony on his show of ers a fateful arc in Hawking’s an embattled journalist Malife (Eddie Redmayne), from ziar Bahari, has adapted that when he was a brilliant docman’s frightful experience at toral candidate of 21 at Camthe hands of the Iranian aubridge University in 1963, thorities in 2009 to confect when his disease was diaga taut and fraught meditanosed, through the grim, intion on the price and value Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones) is courted by Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) in “The exorable closing down of his of freedom. Stewart, at 52, a Theory of Everything,” a Focus Features release. Photo Credit: Liam Daniel/Focus Features body, to his worldwide fame first-time writer/director, has with his landmark book in conceived of and crafted a ly choreographed throughout the film, heightened 1988. Standing firm through all these trials is the most effective narrative for Bahari’s story, with an by Redmayne’s spare facial gestures which still sigredoubtable Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones), whom he immense assist from his lead, Mexican actor Gael nal Hawking’s wit and brightness of mind. It is the meets cute, who marries him despite his grim diagGarcia Bernal (rated “R”, the film runs 103 min.). kind of impersonation of against-the-odds characnosis (he’s initially given two years to live), and who Bahari, based in London in 2009 representters that award givers love, such as Cliff Robertcompletely devotes herself to him and their family ing Newsweek, was covering the popular protests son in “Charly,” or Daniel Day Lewis in “My Left (they eventually have three children). The relentthat erupted in Iran in the aftermath of the conFoot” or Tom Hanks in “Philadelphia.” less demands of Hawking’s care come to wear on tested presidential election of June 2009. Some To this reviewer’s eye, however, the more deJane, the constant pressures leading her to look for days after the election, he was inexplicably demure work of co-star Felicity Jones (“The Invisiassistance, physical and emotional, from a sweet tained by the government’s Revolutionary Guards
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have the Ahmadinejad government free him). Keeping him sane in captivity are his own inner strength and imagined conversations with his activist father and his beloved older sister, both of whom were jailed by pre- and postrevolutionary Iranian regimes. Personifying Bahari, Bernal is winning first as the curious and avid journalist (Tehran-born, but a Canadian citizen), then agKim Bodniaas “Rosewater” threatens Gael Garcia Bernal as Maziar onized yet contained Bahari in “Rosewater;”Open Road Films, photo by Nasser Kalaji as the cowed prisoner, able to deflect the very and jailed as a spy in the notorious Evin prison worst from his keeper by always addressing the in Tehran, where he was isolated and tortured brute as “sir” and never revealing his class confor more than 100 days (standing in for Iran in descension. When word of a possible release the picture is Jordan, where an actual prison comes (Bahari was eventually bailed out with was used for some scenes). Each day, he sufa payment of $300,000), the prisoner foretells fers both the blows and personal indignities of his freedom with a lithe and swooping dance his guard, christened by Bahari as “Rosewater,” in his cell. from the man’s cologne. Rosewater (played to Rosewater, meanwhile, is wonderfully stunning effect by Danish actor Kim Bodnia) incarnated by the strapping Bodnia, almost is both a menacing and a near-comical presmanic in his switching from threatening vilence, adept at physical abuse but clueless in lain (he tells Bahari he will be killed) through the mother-wit department. limp obeisance to his imperious boss to naIn fact, it turns out that the journalist’s ïve credulity (believing every element of Maziwhole ordeal was founded on a ludicrous misar’s bizarre tall tale of Western “massages”). In take: Bahari had appeared on an earlier 2009 a small role as Bahari’s mother Moloojoon— episode of “The Daily Show” where he was whom he visits in Iran—Iranian émigré acmock interviewed by one of the show’s corretress Shohreh Aghdashloo proves a wise and spondents, Jason Jones, doing a series of piecelegant figure. es from Tehran. Bahari’s mere presence on a It’s hard to know whether this effort will satanic American news outlet—no matter how change the track of Jon Stewart’s career from tongue-in-cheek—singled him out as a suspimock anchor to film auteur, but even if it cious agent of the West. A lovely ironic note doesn’t portend future films, he has contributof Stewart’s film is a straight re-creation of just ed one excellent piece of committed cinema. that interview between his henchman Jones and Bernal. A nice slice of dark comedy. Hill resident Mike Canning has written on Bahari, splendidly embodied by Bernal, movies for the Hill Rag since 1993 and is a displays a gamut of emotions, shock and wonmember of the Washington Area Film Critics Asder, fear and puzzlement, and, ultimately, a sociation. He is the author of “Hollywood on the desperate feeling of abandonment (kept away Potomac: How the Movies View Washington, DC.” from all media and information, he knows His reviews and writings on film can be found online at www.mikesflix.com. u nothing about an international campaign to
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December 2014 H 123
{arts and dining / art and the city}
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he big, mean, hungry Capitalsaurus is chasing a frightened feathered Falcarius across F Street in a very probable Cretaceous moment. Of course, at that time, 100 million years ago, Capitol Hill was simply a sunny savanna. Charles Bergen captures it in the street sign that he created for the Alphabet Animal Art Project. He used an aluminum plate and cut the figures out with a water jet. It’s at First and F Street, SE. He chose the dinosaurs after he discovered that their bones were actually discovered in the area…there may be more right there beneath the playground in Garfield Park. Charles Bergen is a DC native and Yale-educated architect. A few years ago he began to turn more to his first love, sculpture, and last year he moved into a studio and became a full time artist. He works in all sorts of materials: wood, metals and anything he can get his hands on. His favorite subject is wildlife, usually with a light touch—he wants you to smile. His series of herons are assembled from golf clubs, sheet metal and bicycle parts. He used a chainsaw to fashion a standing bear out of a sycamore tree from the national mall (it was already dead.) His cast-iron fish are not just realistic; they
have dignity, and they make you smile. His largest piece so far is the “Coppa Lobsta,” a copper and wood 12-foot lobster that kids really love. Also, he was a finalist in the competition for the Chuck Brown Memorial. He didn’t get the commission, but he is proud that his proposed eight-foot figurative piece was seriously considered. Charles Bergan wants to bring a smile to public spaces. But there is also a private dimension to his work—he makes smaller pieces for the sake of art and just because they’re fun. csbergen@gmail.com www. charlesbergenstudios.com.
Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art Many years ago, I found myself teaching bad boys—big bad boys. High school-aged. A recent law had been passed with the label “Emotionally Disturbed,” and they were it. These guys had been kicked off of places like Indian reservations and military bases. Some, out of whole states. They were gang members, drug dealers and killers. Some were just plain crazy. Psychotic. I didn’t have a teaching degree, I was hired because I was a combat vet, had a karate belt, and I really needed a job.
Coppa Lobsta by Chrles Bergen. Photo: Fatime Martins
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by Jim Magner
artandthecity
Artist Portrait: Charles Bergen
Classrooms at this private school near Tucson could suddenly become a combat zone, and serious academics didn’t have much of a chance. So I tried art. “Outdoor Art.” This wasn’t arts and crafts; these were structured projects that required planning—with design and budget approval from the school owner. The more we got into the projects, the tough-guy resistance eroded and they took ownership. Our main idea was this: if it’s public art—benches, statues, murals, walkways with river stone designs—it has a responsibility to the public. They were proud of what they discovered they could do and nobody would dare “disrespect” what they did. And guess what? They had a new reverence for the buildings…and themselves. Public art is a cousin of architecture. Both have a responsibility outside of their own skin. That came up in a conversation with Charles Bergen (see Artist Profile.) As an architect, it is not surprising that he has turned to sculpture, public art, and how he can complement and improve an urban environment, liven up parks, delight children and make us smile. He even makes small pieces for private gardens and homes…could be the ideal holiday gift. Actually, all art would make an ideal holiday gift. Have a wonderful holiday and a peaceful New Year.
periods, including Botticelli, Dürer, and Michelangelo, and four women masters, Gentileschi, Anguissola, Caccia and Sirani.
Capitalsaurus. Photo: Greg Staley
At the Museums El Greco (1541–1614) National Gallery of Art – West Bld. 7th and Constitution NW – Feb 16 The soaring silver-blues and the gleaming, room-dominating whites are stunning, even after four centuries, but it is the emotion, the mystical force of the figures that reach out and pull you in. There are only eleven paintings in this NGA exhibition marking the 400th anniversary of El Greco’s death, but his work, his late paintings in particular, are as new and timeless as anything in the history of art. “Picturing Mary: Woman, Mother, Idea” National Museum of Women in the Arts 1250 New York Ave, NW Dec. 5 – Apr 12 This is a monumental show. It’s a complex, fascinating story of how a young girl from “humble circumstances” became the most famous woman in history. Certainly she is the most frequently depicted in art. Sure, being identified as the Mother of Jesus had a lot to do with it, but, because very little is actually known about her, artists have had a virtual open season on how she should look…and in what surroundings. Ironically, she sometimes appears very queenly, decked out in the finest with brocade gowns, gold and pearls. But more than a religious icon, Mary also represented womanhood, either nursing a baby, or quietly distraught, suffering the cruel death of her son. The NMWA has pulled together over 60 paintings, sculptures and textiles from the Vatican museum and other major public and private collections. Some of the most important male artists from the Renaissance and Baroque
“Voluptuous Experiences” – Homebody 715 8th Street, SE Rec: Dec 6, 7-- 10 “Voluptuous Experiences” is a collaborative art show by Christopher Alvear and Ward Orem. Chris is known for his unique use of color and extensive detail in his “surrealistic portrayal of spirituality.” Ward “has a passion for color and geometric themes, focusing on the blending of color and form.” They have worked individually and collaboratively to create this series to “stimulate both the eye and the mind.” chris.alvear@ gmail.com. Peter Kephart – Zenith Gallery 1429 Iris St., NW Dec. 12– Jan. 31, Rec: Fri, Dec 12, 5--8. Rec: Sat. Dec. 13, 2--6 Peter Kephart uses “firepainting” to create the landscapes of our dreams. The controlled use of fire gives a sense of flowing movement on the surface, which comes from the material used, experience with the process and unexpected effects. There is more color than you might expect – the applied pigments are clear, and often intense, but still complex. Go to either opening and watch a demonstration. www.zenithgallery.com. “Pixel Quotes” – Eno Wine Bar 2810 Pennsylvania Ave, NW to Dec 30 Rindy O’Brien, Capitol Hill fine arts photographer, pairs familiar written quotes with transformed photographs, collages, and illustrations to create large humorous art prints. “Pixel Quotes” is at the Eno wine Bar, adjacent to the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. It’s fun, check it out. Jim Magner is A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim can be reached at Artandthecity05@aol.com. Jim’s award-winning book, “A Haunting Beauty” can be acquired through www.ahauntingbeauty. com u
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{arts and dining}
Decoding Shakespeare
When the United States government decided to set up its own cryptology service, it sent Army officers to Riverbank to train under William Friedman, by then the chief cryptologist at Riverbank. The Friedmans subseyour own secrets from becomquently moved to Washinging public. They then used this ton and William became the skill to debunk the theory that chief cryptanalyst for the War the real author of Shakespeare’s Department and later led the work was Sir Francis Bacon. Signals Intelligence Service (SIS) and following World Becoming Cryptographers War II became chief cryptolWhen William and Elizebeth ogist for the National Security Friedman moved to Capitol Agency. Elizebeth worked for Hill after the Second World The Friedman’s house on Capitol Hill the Coast Guard and the Treaat 310 2nd Street, SE.. It was raided in War, right around when their sury Department deciphering 1958 by the NSA, concerned that Wilchildren were heading liam Friedman had papers in it that correspondence between drug off to college, they almight compromise national security. and alcohol smugglers leading Photo: Robert Pohl ready had long and ilto the arrest of many of them. lustrious careers in crypDuring the Second tology behind them. They had met outside World War, William devised an encryption system of Chicago at Riverbank Laboratories, which far more secure than the German Enigma machine, had been the de facto office of cryptology durand became famous for breaking Japan’s Purple Cying the First World War. William worked in pher. Over 18 months, he and his team reverse-engithe Department of Genetics and Elizebeth neered the machine that the Japanese thought was was the assistant to Elizabeth Gallup who unbreakable. While the problem was solved before was researching the theory that Sir Francis the attack on Pearl Harbor, no messages indicating Bacon had written Shakespeare’s work and any imminent attack were captured; nonetheless, hidden encrypted messages therein. FriedFriedman’s work remained important throughout man became fascinated with Elizebeth and the war, especially in its ability to decypher messagwith cryptology, and they were soon married. es sent by Japan’s ambassador to Berlin, which gave the Allies a good sense of what the Axis and specifically the Germans were up to.
Folger Library Exhibit Looks at Work of a Cryptological Couple by Robert S. Pohl
W
hile some people feel like they might need a cryptologist to decipher Shakespeare, that is not the focus of the Folger Shakespeare Library’s exhibit “Decoding the Renaissance: 500 Years of Codes and Ciphers.” Rather the exhibit displays cipher machines, music scores, and lots of books to explain how the art of secret writing came into its own. The new science of codes and ciphers produced some of the period’s most brilliant inventions, most beautiful
William and Elizebeth Friedman in their home on Capitol Hill. (Photo: Walter Bennett)
books, and most enduring legacies. It left its mark on every aspect of Renaissance culture, including the development of diplomacy and the waging of war, the creation of a postal system, the invention of sign language, and the search for hidden meanings in literature and the visual arts. The exhibit offers the first introduction to this intriguing subject, featuring the best collection ever assembled of early works on codes and ciphers. The most important connection, and the thread that binds the whole exhibit is the Capitol Hill couple, William and Elizebeth Friedman. Together, and separately, they worked to make cryptology an exact science, one that could be used to find out what your enemy was up to, while keeping
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Shakespeare’s Codes
The Friedman’s 1928 Christmas card, which revealed a message – in rhyme, no less – when the red overlay was placed over the text block in four directions. Courtesy of the George C. Marshall Foundation, Lexington, Va.)
After settling down on Capitol Hill, William and Elizebeth returned to two conundrums that had puzzled them for years. The first was the problem over which they had originally met: Whether or not there was a code in Shakespeare’s First Folio which indicated that the plays had been written not by the Bard of Avon, but rather by his contemporary Sir Francis Bacon. One of the people who was convinced of the truth of this was George Fabyan, and it was he who had assembled a team at his estate in Riverbank to find the proof. They had been unable to do so, but the team did plant the seeds for modern cryptogra-
Single page of the Voynich Manuscript. Courtesy Beinecke Library, Yale Univ.
phy, while bringing William and Elizebeth together. Now, as William’s work at the NSA wound down, he found himself with time to work on the subject again. Together with Elizebeth, and using the vast resources of both the Folger Library and the Library of Congress, they got to work. By 1954 they had delivered their masterpiece, a book they named The Cryptologist Looks at Shakespeare. Both the book – and the title – were shortened before being published in 1957, however, the conclusions were exactly the same: There was no code, there was no reason to believe that Bacon had anything to do with the writing of the plays. Furthermore, the ‘code’ that people thought they could see in the First Folio stemmed simply from the enormous variability in type that was used at the time, not due to any attempt to hide a message within the plays.
A Final Mystery With this project finally completed, the Friedmans took on another monumental task: The Voynich Manuscript. Rediscovered in 1912 by Wilfrid Voynich, a rare book dealer, the manuscript, which was made in the early 15th Century, consists of 240 pages of vellum, covered with an un-
known script, as well as a wide variety of drawings. None of the writing is in any known human language, and all attempts to decipher it had failed. It was, thus, the perfect challenge for two such talented cryptologists. Working from photocopies (the original was in private hands, and later in the Yale Library) they set to work on decoding the characters. In doing so, they were building on work that had been done previously, including some work by William and a few friends that had been done towards the end of the Second World War. In that case, they had used computers for the first time. Now, some twenty years later, the hope was that further improvements in both hardware and cryptology would assist them. Unfortunately, they were not successful. The difficulties began with the simple question of what, exactly, the alphabet being used was. Was each symbol a distinct letter? Were the symbols combined to make letters, with each symbol having a distinct meaning? There was no way to find out. To the end of their lives, the Friedmans insisted that there was some meaning behind what looked at first glance like the scribbles of a madman. However, without some further information or decoding mechanism, there is no way of finding this meaning. William died in 1969, Elizebeth in 1980. They are both buried in Arlington Cemetery. Together, they left a legacy of code-making and breaking that is still in use today. The exhibit will be at the Folger Shakespeare Library until 26 February, 2015. Among the items displayed is the Voynich Manuscript itself, on loan for the first time from the Beinecke Rare Book Library at Yale University. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street, SE, 202-5444600. Decoding the Renaissance: 500 Years of Codes and Ciphers on exhibit through February 26, 2015. u
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the
LITERARY HILL
A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events
by Karen Lyon
A local reporter reveals how US Presidents over the years have kicked back.
Getting Away from It All
history, and telling glimpses into the personalities of our leaders outside the Oval Office. With hundreds of vintage photographs and a foreword by Brian Williams, this handsome book would be a welcome gift for anyone interested in US history. It’s available at Riverby Books, 417 E Capitol St SE, or through the White House Historical Association, http:// shop.whitehousehistory.org/bookstore/. Lawrence Knutson had a 37-year career as a reporter with the Associated Press, where he covered the White House, Congress, State Department, and national political campaigns, and wrote a regular column on the history of Washington, DC.
Children’s Book Event
Taft was an inveterate golfer, Coolidge took up Reach Incorporated, a local organization that trains fishing, and Reagan cleared brush. From George teens to help youngsters improve their reading skills, Washington on, American presidents have sought will be at the Hill Center on Dec. 6, 1-2 p.m. In adways to decompress from the pressures of the job. dition to tutoring, the teens write books reflecting In “Away from the White House: Presidential Esthe experiences of the kids they tutor, which they capes, Retreats, and Vacations,” veteran reporter will read from and offer for sale and signing. All proLawrence L. Knutson provides a fascinating historceeds go toward Reach’s Summer Program. ical perspective on presidential get-aways. Titles include “A to Z: The Real DC,” an alFinding the hot DC summers “unsupportphabet book in photographs that offers some reable,” chief executives over the years have moved freshing choices: “A” is for Anacostia, “B” is for the temporary seat of government from Mount VerBen’s Chili Bowl, and “C” is for Carry Out. Other non to the Jersey Shore, and Hyde Park to Key Bisbooks feature kids facing difficult circumstances— bullying, blindness, bickering parents—and show cayne. Happily, transportation and communication how they deal with their challenges. Learn more at have greatly improved from the days when letters reachincorporated.org. took several days to reach Monticello, allowing Harry Truman to declare, “Wherever I happened to be, that’s where the ofJ.P. & Meet the teen fice of the President was.” Associates authors from Reach Congressional criticism of Incorporated at the If your parents named Hill Center on Dec. 6. presidential absences, however, has you Juris P. Prudence, changed little. Starting with John what could you possiAdams, disapproval on the part of bly be when you grew lawmakers (who, by the way, take up except a lawyer? frequent recesses) prompted the use In J.P.’s case, though, of the term “working vacation” to deshe’s not waiting to scribe those times when, as was said grow up. Thanks to of Richard Nixon, “He goes away, a special program but never gets away.” at her DC school, More than an assemblage of the Kids Leadership presidential trivia, “Away from the Academy, she and White House” is packed with colher friends are alorful anecdotes, beautifully written ready lawyers—and,
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In a new novel for kids, some very young lawyers challenge voting laws.
at only 11 years old, they’re about to take on a case that could change history. In “The Briefcase of Juris P. Prudence,” author J.N. Childress assembles a superstar team of smart, engaging girls incensed by a DC mayoral candidate who harbors some nasty attitudes toward children. They resolve to ensure that he is not elected—which they can only do by giving kids the right to vote. It’s an uphill battle, fraught with discouragement and even danger, but the girls pool their considerable skills and, fortified by Granny’s peanut brittle and apple pie, throw themselves into the cause. Without revealing the ending, it’s safe to disclose the lesson learned: that you don’t have to “be older, wiser, or have more gray hairs to do something magnificent.” J.N. Childress is a DC attorney who has fulfilled her childhood dream of using the law to help people. “The Briefcase of Juris P. Prudence” is her first novel, but she’s already thinking about J.P.’s next case. Keep tabs at www.jurispprudence.com.
Of Local Literary Interest Hill author Louise Smith’s book of interlocking family stories, “One Hundred Years of Marriage,” has been rereleased by The Upper Hand Press, which calls it “a substantial addition to the literature of American identity and especially to the social history of American women.” The History Press has published four new books on DC history: “Carter G. Woodson in Washington, D.C.: The Father of Black History” by Pero Gaglo Dagbovie, “Outbreak in Washington, D.C.: The 1857 Mystery of the National Hotel Disease”
by Kerry Walters, “African American Medicine in Washington, D.C.: Healing the Capital During the Civil War Era” by Heather Butts, and “Slave Labor in the Capital: Building Washington’s Iconic Federal Landmarks” by Bob Arnebeck. Eight of The rerelease of Louise Quintin Peterson’s Smith’s book of stories is noir tales are now cause for celebration. available on Audible Audio and iTunes Editions. Be sure to check out “Guarding Shakespeare,” the story he wrote about nefarious (but happily, fictional) doings at the Folger Shakespeare Library.
This Month on the Hill The Hill Center presents a reading by the teen authors of Reach Incorporated (see above), Dec. 6, 1-2 p.m., and a Hanukkah Lights reading with NPR’s Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz, Dec. 18, 7 p.m. www.hillcenterdc. org, 202-549-4172 The Library of Congress, in conjunction with the Folger Shakespeare Library, hosts Emily Dickinson Day on Dec. 8, with marathon readings from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.loc.gov, 202-707-5394 The Folger Shakespeare Library presents an Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute with poet Rafael Campo, Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., and a PEN/Faulkner Malamud Prize Celebration with past winners Edward P. Jones, Lorrie Moore, and Tobias Wolff, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. www.folger.edu, 202-544-7077 The Smithsonian Associates celebrates Robert Frost: An American Poet, Dec. 2, 6:45 p.m., and presents A New Journey through “A Christmas Carol”: Dickens’ Message for 19thCentury America, Dec. 9, 6:45 p.m. www. smithsonianassociates.org
The Lyon’s Share Dear readers, I’m delighted to divulge two early holiday presents for local book lovers. The first is that D.C. has a new independent bookstore, the first to open in the District in years. In mid-November, entrepreneur Paul Ruppert announced the opening of Upshur Street Books, where he promises not only to offer a full selection of popular titles and DC authors, but also to host readings, book club meetings, exhibitions, and other free public events. Stop by at 827 Upshur St. NW to support this brave new effort or check it out at upshurstreetbooks.com. The second is that Ward 6 can now claim its own member on the DC Board of Library Trustees. Last month, the DC City Council confirmed Mayor Vincent Gray’s appointment of Hill resident Vincent Morris to the board. With his long history of library advocacy, Morris is the perfect choice to help work on issues at local branches as well as the central MLK Library. A former spokesman for Mayor Anthony Williams and now the Communications Director for the Senate Appropriations Committee, Morris has been involved with the Friends of the Northeast Library since 2001 and served as an advisor for that branch’s 2012 renovation. He has frequently testified before the Council in favor of library investments on Capitol Hill and across the city, and helps support community events such as book signings and discussions. Morris is a familiar presence at DC Public Library branches across Capitol Hill, which he visits frequently “to borrow books, to read, and to learn.” If you would like to share your thoughts on library matters, e-mail him at BoardofLibraryTrustees@dc.gov. u
Vincent Morris is the Hill’s new representative on the DC Board of Library Trustees.
December 2014 H 129
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THE POETIC HILL
L
aurie Brown is a semiretired licensed clinical social worker who has worked as a personnel management specialist for the Navy Department, a mental health services manager, a director for an international social work association, and a private therapist. She has 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren and, while she loves to write, does not consider herself a writer— “although I still dream of being one.” She wrote the first poem below for a great granddaughter after she ate three of Baileigh’s lemon cupcakes, “which she loves above all things.”
Dear Baileigh, I ate your cupcakes I swallowed them whole I ate your cupcakes Your cupcakes I stole I just couldn’t help it They tasted so good I forgot to remember to do what I should Now I’m so sorry I’m feeling so sad I hope you still love me I hope you’re not mad? Love GG
Lost Time Time waits for no one So sad, yet a fact Careful, don’t waste it You can’t wish it back If you would like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@ literaryhillbookfest.org (There is no remuneration.) u
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{arts and dining / music}
P roject by Jean-Keith Fagon
The Annual Music Gift Guide Recuerdos •••• Manuel Valera Sr, Mavo Records
The Beat ••• Boney James, Concord Records
A fine example of jazz for dining and entertainment, especially in the comfort of one’s home. Warm and tender, and full of beautiful mementos, Manuel Valera’s rendition of Duke Ellington’s “Solitude” is flawless. In fact, when heard together with “La Tarde,” “Longina,” “Tres Palabras,” and “Solamente Una Vez,” Recuedos is the perfect gift for any jazz lover looking to give thanks at the end of year.
Boney James is a smooth jazz performer whose most recent album, The Beat, was one of this summer’s best encores. Of the ten songs from The Beat almost all of them are about romance and the morning after. From “Sunset Boulevard” to “Missing You,” you see Mr. James strutting on stage, or just strolling down the beach serenading the crowd with his wondrous saxophone, relishing every moment of it. “Missing You,” “Mari’s Song,” “Acalento” (Lullaby), and “You Can Count On Me” can still be that special summer’s tonic for winter’s night. And for the evening game changer, “Maker Of Love,” and “The Midas” (This Is Why) will do.
Silver Soul ••• Kim Waters, Red River Smooth jazz is cool, hip, chic, and sexy with a touch of uptown sophistication. The narrative here is urbane. Silver Soul will take you uptown sans date on “Anything You Need” featuring the unbridled passion of vocalist Dana Pope, followed by another solid dosage of love potion from vocalist Zendaya on “Fireflies,” and then get lucky on “Laying Beside Me” with the blissful saxophone romping over the lavish and flirtatious voice of Eric Roberson. End your summer on “All Of Me,” “Stay Together,” “Let’s Make Love,” and “A Song For Dana,” and then embraced the winter with one last fling.
Can You Feel It ••• Rick Braun The latest release in five years from trumpeter Rick Braun has all of his trademark sounds. The taut rhythms and grooves on the ten original songs are sculpted from blocks of funk, R&B and contemporary jazz while the collection’s lone soul singer, Yamin, gives a rollicking rendition of the soul classic “Take Me To The River.” Other highlights include: “Mallorca,” a sultry and exotic contemporary jazz tryst; the stunning “Another Kind Of Blue,” is a gorgeous yet somber reflection that captures Mr. Braun’s evocative flugelhorn; keyboard pioneer Mr. Lorber join forces on “Delta,” a punchy R&B-funk-jazz hybrid; and finally there is “Radar,” “The Dream” and “Silk.”
Sunrise ••• Masabumi Kikuchi Trio, ECM Somewhere along life’s journey we all at sometimes face that question: Why are love and death such powerful and controlling forces in our lives? Even more perplexing is that all this is what makes us human. In Sunrise from the Masabumi Kikuchi Trio the presence of love and death is beautifully presented in perfect harmony by Mr. Kikuchi (piano), Thomas Morgan (double-bass), and Paul Motian (drums). There is “New Day,” “Short Stuff,” “Sunrise,” “Sticks And Cymbals,” “Uptempo,” and finally the “Last Ballad,” the album’s finest performance.
Slam Dunk ••• Gerald Albright, Concord Music The new album, Slam Dunk, from smooth jazzman Gerald Albright begins with “True Colors,” making the music a kind of pied piper for everyone. “Because Of You” flows with that loving, trademark sweetness of Mr. Albright’s saxophone, followed by a poignant and powerful rendition of “It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World.” From “Where Did We Go Wrong?,” we get the full story about love from the rich, soft-rock ballad-style voice of Peabo Bryson.
“Fiesta Interlude” is cause for celebration and dancing. The final cut, “Gospel,” is Mr. Albright reminding us that in the end we have only ourselves to trust and be kind to each other.
Spark of Life •••• Marcin Wasilewski Trio with Joakim Milder, ECM “Do Rycerzy, do Sziachty, do Mieszczan,” “Three Reflections,” “Spark Of Life,” and “Sleep Safe and Warm?” are music to cry, laugh, hug, dream, and love. The notes of the piano make the blood flow with the pulsating beats of the double bass and the cascading ripples of the saxophone.
Smile ••• Peter White, Concord Music This is the time of the year when the thought of vacation on some exotic island is not unusual for many of us. And that’s where guitarist Peter White’s latest album, Smile, comes in. The music is subliminally magical and full of romantic sensualities. This is strictly vacation music and it’s all in the sound of Mr. White’s guitar. Start with the title track, “Smile,” and then travel over to “In Rainbow” and “Head Over Heels.” Get the picture? Now ask yourself “Where would I like to be now?” Cool, start packing; life is good. All CDs and DVDS reviewed in this article are heard through Bowers & Wilkens Nautilus 801 speakers and ASW 4000 subwoofer, and Rotel Preamp 1070, amplifier 1092 and CD player 1072. B&W speakers are now available at Magnolia, Best Buys (703.518.7951) and IQ Home Entertainment (703.218.9855). CDs are available for purchase through amazon.com For more information about this column, please email your questions to fagon@ hillrag.com. u
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{health & fitness} Acupuncture for More Than Just Pain by Pattie Cinelli
I
was shocked. Acupuncture can help lift my droopy eyebrows, lessen lines between my eyes and help lift my sagging jowls? That’s what Allison Bower, Lavender Retreat’s acupuncturist, told me. I always knew acupuncture was an effective treatment for pain, but I never imagined it can be used in lieu of a face lift. I wondered what else it can be used for. I talked to five practicing acupuncturists on the Hill. All are trained and treat patients for all kinds of issues. “Acupuncture is such big picture work,” said
December 2014 H 133
{health and fitness}
said that digestion and diet is always part of the protocol. “I never think of someone with one thing wrong. I look at the whole person. While I make no promises, a new patient after just one treatment was able to sleep through the night.” Marilyn also sees many patients who have allergies. One woman had retired and looked forward to playing golf, but found when she went on the course her allergies were so bad she couldn’t enjoy the game. After acupuncture the woman’s symptoms dissipated so she could play golf allergy-free. Marilyn is also helping to support a patient through the effects of the
Marilyn Adams
Allison Bower Lic. Ac M.A.
Mary Rieger, owner of Healing Arts of Capitol Hill who has been practicing for 20 years. “The Chinese didn’t separate out the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical body. It’s not just for pain. We do ourselves a disservice if we just focus on a specific area of treatment. We have to get a sense of what the person’s whole life is like.” Marjorie Shovlin, an acupuncturist on the Hill since 2001, has treated a number of clients
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through their cancer treatments and then helped make their end of life transition easier. “Acupuncture treatment pre- and post-surgery often results in a quicker, more comfortable recovery. I’ve had patients whose doctors were amazed by how easy their surgical recovery was with acupuncture included in the post-surgery plan.” Marilyn Adams, owner of Capitol Hill Acupuncture, who has been practicing for 20 years,
rigorous pharmaceutical protocol to treat Lyme disease. Aurora Raiten, who practices at Freed Bodyworks, has been an acupuncturist since 2006. She started out as a massage therapist and is also a doula. She treats patients with all kinds of reproductive health issues. “I work with older moms who are trying to conceive, women with menstrual issues or menopausal issues. I also work with men to increase sperm function and correct erectile dysfunction as well.” She has worked with patients to induce labor and pregnant women to help turn breech babies.
What is Acupuncture? According to Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., a Harvard medical school graduate who is a world renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, acupuncture is a complete medical protocol focused on correcting imbalances of energy in the body. From its inception more than 2500 years ago it has been
December 2014 H 135
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used to prevent, diagnose and treat disease and improve general health. Dr. Weil notes that it became popular in the United States during the early 1970s after President Richard Nixon opened relations with China. Besides pain, acupuncture treats a myriad of issues including digestive complaints, emotional disorders, neurological issues such as Parkinson’s or migraines; post-traumatic stress disorders, respiratory issues (allergies, asthma), fatigue, sleep disorders, reproductive issues, ill-effects of cancer medications and stress. People get acupuncture treatments as a preventive measure to decrease stress, improve energy and boost immunity. People also use acupuncture in conjunction with traditional Western medical practices.
How does Acupuncture Feel? I decided to take the plunge and undergo the treatment for facial rejuvenation. The protocol is two treatments for three weeks then one treatment a week for up to six weeks. “Tune ups” can be from once a month, one every three or six months or once a year depending on an individual. I was both pleased and surprised by the results. After my second treatment I saw a lift in my eyebrows. After several more treatments my eyes looked more open and brighter. I saw a brightness and felt a smoothness in my skin tone. What I didn’t expect was the elimination of dryness in my left eye or the effect on my sinuses which has been a problem for years. Needles were placed in my feet, my arms, hands, legs, feet, head, face, eyebrows and
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Give the gift of better health to yourself and your loved ones the corners of my eyes. My sinuses drained for weeks until the 10th session when I felt amazingly cleared and energized. People unknowing of my treatment tell me I look good. The effects of acupuncture for facial rejuvenation can take months to fully realize according to Virginia Doran, the acupuncturist with whom Allison studied. I look forward seeing the results that she speaks of -- improved muscle and skin tone, increased collagen production, improved hormonal balance, increased skin moisture, tightened pores and overall improved health and wellbeing. Each treatment I had felt different both during and after treatment. I felt nothing from most of the more than 30 needles Allison used. When she inserted some needles I felt a momentary sharp or stinging sensation. From others I felt a dull ache that dissipated after a short period of time. Allison said the needles are about the thickness of two strands of hair. Even though each session she inserted the needles into the same places, it always felt different. In the beginning I was nervous but after several sessions I began to look forward to the session and seeing what effects it would have on me. At first it was difficult to lie still for 20 minutes, but after several sessions I relaxed more. By my 11th session I dozed during that time. All the acupuncturists I spoke with emphasized how different each person’s reaction will be to treatment. Because of my aversion to needles I started acupuncture apprehensive and tense. As time elapsed I learned how to relax and feel my body. I learned a lot about myself and my energy. Sometimes I felt a needle inserted in my cheek on my arm. Another time I felt a needle inserted in my foot in my stomach. Allison, who has been practicing for 12 years, told me that all of the needles are placed in strategic points and have a reason for be-
ing there. “For example, needles inserted in the feet, legs, hands or arms are pulling heat down from the head so my blood pressure didn’t go up. Other needles are bringing chi (energy) into the face or drawing heat from the head.” Allison pointed out that studies at the National Institute of Health have confirmed the health benefits of acupuncture --reducing blood pressure, relieving stress, improving the immune system. Perhaps that is why more insurance companies are reimbursing patients for their treatments. Acupuncture can help most everyone. “It’s not about fixing or curing. It’s about helping bodies minds and hearts to function better. We are helping people have a little more awareness of their bodies and how they work.”
Learn gentle and effective ways to feel better and get fit. Partner with Pattie Cinelli to get in shape
• Feel and look good • Learn how to lose weight without dieting • Find an exercise program you enjoy and that works • Learn techniques to release stress • Schedule a wellness consultation to learn your options • Schedule a single, partner or group session in your home, office, Results the Gym or Lavender Retreat
Gift Certificates Available. Call Pattie at 202-544-0177 or email her at fitness@pattiecinelli.com Pattie has 30 years in the fitness business. Her knowledge, her experience and her caring will help you meet your health and fitness goals.
Pattie Cinelli is a fitness consultant who emphasizes exercise as a gateway to overall health and wellbeing. She has been writing her fitness column for more than 25 years. Please email her with fitness questions or column ideas at: fitness@pattiecinelli. com. u
Marilyn Adams capitolhillacupuncture.com 202-543-1911 Allison Bower allison@lavender-retreat.com 202-450-2329 Aurora Raiten aurora@freedbodyworks.com 240-600-7139 Mary Reiger maryreiger320@gmail.com 202-544-9389 Marjorie Shovlin marjorieshovlin.com 202-547-4234
Tracy & Company a unique salon
Welcoming our new Massage Therapist Holiday Gift Massage 428 8th Street SE • 202.546.4887 December 2014 H 137
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Guess What? Your Dog or Cat is Really Normal! by Dr. Heather McCurdy
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ooking carefully at Louie’s face I identified the small nodule that concerned his owner. At the base of the whiskers on his cheek there was a bump. It wasn’t bothering Louie and it hadn’t grown in the last month since they noticed it. I nodded and patted Louie on his harlequin head. The bump was found on the white half. I carefully turn his head to show a similar bump on the dark half, much less noticeable because of the black fur. “Those are his whisker follicles,” I announce, pleased with myself for being able to name the anatomical feature. “The white fur made the bump look more pronounced on this side. It’s an optical illusion. “Louie’s owner smiles and looks sheepish. I quickly assuage their embarrassment. I am asked about whisker follicles often. Cats have them too. It is not the main reason for the exam, but the bump has been worrying the owner more than they let on. I prefer to tell clients that their pets are healthy and doing well. It is no fun to tell them that I think the nodule may be cancerous and needs to be surgically removed, or that despite my needle biopsy I still don’t know what it is. No, I much prefer a whisker follicle. However, it has occurred to me that while I enjoy reassuring owners about normal features or benign behaviors, I may save someone worry and a veterinary exam fee if I covered a few common questions in this article. As Louie demonstrated, variations in fur color make normal features on a face look uneven--one eye may appear more weepy
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than the other due to tear staining on light fur, one side of the head may look swollen, one lip may appear more inflamed. I have been tricked by this illusion more than once so remember to keep it in mind if you have a multicolored pet. I am also asked about callouses on the elbows of dogs. Callouses form on the skin at pressure points. The skin of a callous is hairless, pigmented, raised, bumpy and dry. The bigger the dog and the harder the sleeping surface the more likely they will form a callous, sometimes just on the one side they prefer to lay. Callouses can get dry and crack, on rare occasions they get infected, but in general they are benign- the dog’s way of providing cushion for its joint. We can attempt to prevent them by offering the dog soft places to sleep, but you know how that goes, they will sleep on the hard
floor regardless. Does your dog have a hard boney object poking out of its side at the end of the ribcage? The 13th rib does not wrap around and connect to the sternum, giving it the term “floating”. Some dogs have floating ribs that are not aligned with the others and protrude out. They may become apparent if you have successfully implemented a weight-loss plan in your previously overweight dog. The good news is that the funky rib is not a tumor and requires no action. When examining a kitty’s front limb for limping or an injury an owner may come upon a small area of thickened skin on the back of the cat’s front foot, above the last pad (the carpal pad) found furthest up the paw. This small bump is called the carpal gland, which is used for both touch and scent marking. I have reassured many owners that this is a normal feature on the cat paw and found on both feet. It was not until researching this article that I learned what this feature is called! The first digit on the foot of a cat or dog is the dewclaw and is the equivalent of our thumbs. They are absent in some dogs and a fully jointed toe in others, with a range in between. Many breeders remove dewclaws when puppies are young, either to meet breed standards or prevent injury. However two breeds, the Briard and Beauceron, are expected to have not one but two dewclaws on their back feet. Removing dewclaws is not necessary. Most dogs live fine with them. Noses can be wet or dry, cold or warm. There is no universal way for noses to be. A dog or cat will feel warm when it gets a fever,
but they often feel warm anyway. The normal temperature for a dog or cat is about 101.5. Behaviors can confound us as well. Dogs and cats, including their wild cousins, eat grass and love it. Sometimes it makes them vomit. Sometimes they pass large wads in their stool. No one really knows why they eat it, although one convincing theory proposes that grass-eating works as a mechanical dewormer. The grass wad acts as a net and catches the intestinal worms as it moves through. I have had so many clients tell me that their pets only eat grass when they are nauseated that I have to believe it’s true. However, every dog and cat I’ve owned has regularly ingested mouthfuls of the stuff. Puppies get hiccups. It’s cute. They may get them often, but they almost always grow out of them. Dogs eat poop. Females more than males but both sexes partake. It’s gross and I don’t know why they do it. Dogs and cats dream. Dog dreams tend to be more active. Their faces quiver, their lips draw back, feet paddle. They whimper or bark. If they are asleep, they can be woken up, and if they do not urinate and defecate while this is happening there is no need for alarm. When in doubt, ask. I have probably heard the question before and may have had the same one myself.
“The Capitol Hill Psychiatrist”
Joseph Tarantolo, MD BOARD CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST CERTIFIED GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPIST HERBALIST, NUTRITION COUNSELOR
Specializing in: • Individual, Couples, and Group Psychotherapy • Patients with the Diagnosis of Cancer • Self Exploration without Psychotropic Drugs: “Talk Back to Prozac”
202-543-5290
Dr. Heather McCurdy is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She currently works at AtlasVet in Capitol Hill, located at 1326 H St. NE. She lives with her husband, two daughters and assorted animals in the northeast Washington DC neighborhood of Brookland. u
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{kids & family} N O T E B O O K Give a Child a Coat: Share the Warmth at Rosedale Library Rosedale Neighborhood Library invites visitore to join “Give a Child a Coat, Share the Warmth” coat drive. They are collecting donated gently used or new coats and other winter accessories at the Rosedale Neighborhood Library during regular operating hours. Rosedale Neigborhood Library, 1701 Gales St. NE. 202-727-5012. dclibrary.org/rosedale
by Kathleen Donner
Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show. Photo: Jati Lindsay
New Year’s Day Hockey and Entertainment Festival at Nat’s Park As part of the NHL Winter Classic at Nat’s Park (Blackhawks vs. Capitals), the NHL is hosting Spectator Plaza, a free outdoor hockey and entertainment festival for fans of all ages located just outside the left field entrance to the ballpark. The event runs from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (the game begins at 1 p.m.) and will feature live musical performances; interactive hockey-themed attractions, prizes and giveaways; food and beverages; and an extensive selection of officiallylicensed collectibles. capitals.nhl.com
“Season’s Greenings” at the Botanic Garden Despite the cold winter outside, the US Botanic Garden Conservatory boasts a tropical paradise, one of the largest indoor decorated trees in Washington, DC, a poinsettia showcase and a grove of conifer trees. It wouldn’t be the winter holiday season without the fantasy train display in the East Gallery, which chugs along a track through imaginative structures created with plant materials. Many of DC’s landmark buildings, all made from natural materials, will be on display in the Garden Court. Open daily, through Jan. 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with extended hours and live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 8 p.m. US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov
Tiny Skaters Classes at the NGA Sculpture Garden Ice Rink
Step Afrika! Magical Musical Holiday Step Family Fun Pack Step Afrika! is back, on Dec. 11-22, to delight audiences young and old with their magical musical holiday step show. Audiences are invited to make music with DC’s internationally-known stepping company and their furry friends from the Animal Kingdom in this annual holiday tradition. Come ready to bring in the festive season with a bang featuring the electrifying artists from Step Afrika! and special guest DJ Frosty the Snowman. Tickets are $25-$38. The Family Fun Pack is $88 and includes 4 tickets, 1 snack and 1 drink each; 2 patrons must be between ages 2-16. The Atlas performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org
Classes introduce children ages 3-6 to the basics of skating through interactive on-ice games. Skaters will learn the basics of balance, marching, and gliding. Registration for classes are held in December and January at the entrance of the Pavilion Café. Visit nga.gov for details.
body Italian culture, and festive arts and crafts. Free. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. americanart.si.edu
Italian Holiday Family Festival at the American Art Museum
On Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 20 and 21, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., the Washington National Opera brings to life all the joy and wonder of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s storybook for its annual family holiday production. The show stars the WNO Orchestra, current and former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists and the WNO Children’s Chorus. Tickets from $45. Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center. kennedy-center.org
On Saturday, Dec. 13, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., celebrate the holiday season with the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Embassy of Italy. Enjoy seasonal music and costumed performers that em-
Holiday Family Opera: The Little Prince at the Kennedy Center
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Family-Friendly First Night Alexandria First Night Alexandria, held on Dec. 31 from noon until midnight, is a celebration of the new year through the performing arts. Local shops, restaurants and buildings in Old Town Alexandria turn into performance venues to showcase local talent. It’s fun, affordable, safe and family-friendly. Performers at First Night Alexandria include clowns, face painters and magicians for children. The price of a badge is $15 until Dec. 18. To gain admission to all First Night Alexandria venues one badge is needed per adult. Kids 12 and under and active military are free. Fireworks on the river at midnight. firstnightalexandria.org
Critical Healthy Start Funds Restored
The Joy of Christmas Family Matinee at the National Cathedral A perennial holiday favorite from the opening procession with the great organ to the Cathedral carillon and the beloved carols old and new, this festive concert has long been a Washington family tradition and is often sold out. The Joy of Christmas Family Matinee is on Saturday, Dec. 13, noon. $15$25. Washington National Cathedral, 101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. nationalcathedral.org
HillEast Crew Youth Rowing Team Seeks Support Serve Your City is a Capitol Hill based non-profit that partners with the DC Strokes Rowing Club to expose youth to after-school fitness and health activities on the Anacostia River. Many of the children have had no prior experience with the river that abuts their neighborhood. In addition to developing a relationship with the natural environment, they acquire a skill that could lead to college rowing scholarships. The HillEast Crew Rowing program has received financial support from ANC 6A, the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, and individual donations. Serve Your City is accepting donations and recruiting sponsors for its winter season program. If interested, visit serveyourcitydc.org.
The District has received a Healthy Start grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funds have been restored after news in September that federal budget cuts would negatively affect the District’s grant. The DC Healthy Start program is free and provides vital perinatal services and resources that help mothers, infants and families thrive. The program is intended for pregnant and parenting mothers and fathers in Wards 5, 6, 7 and 8. HHS has awarded up to $7.95 million to the District for the program over the next four-and-a-half years, with $1.8 million in each of the first four years.
Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa! at the Anacostia Community Museum Friday and Saturday, Dec. 26 and 27, 10:30 a.m.noon and Monday, Dec. 29. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., celebrate Kwanzaa with arts, crafts, and music in the museum’s popular three-day event honoring this traditional African American holiday. On Friday, entertainment will be provided by Nabeeh Bilal and “Winston”, his Caribbean puppet character from the children’s book Callaloo, a Jazz Folk
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fireworks begins at 7:30 p.m. and the evening concludes with midnight fireworks. Free. Susan Campbell Park, Annapolis, MD. visitannapolis.org
Coach Patrick Johnson with the HillEast Crew.
tale. Winston will teach visitors the seven guiding principles of the holiday. On Saturday, enjoy a special performance by the KanKouran West African Dance Company. This second day of the program takes place at the Fort Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie St. SE (located one block from the museum next to the recreation center pool). On Monday, families can spend the entire morning participating in three different Kwaanza-themed arts and crafts workshops. All materials and supplies provided. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu
Annapolis New Year’s Eve Celebration 2014 On Dec. 31, family activities fill the day and dancing fills the night. Traditionally, a first round of
The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s “A Christmas Carol”
Through Dec. 20, the family-favorite classic by Charles Dickens, equipped with special effects, Victorian carols and Tiny Tim returns to the Little Theatre of Alexandria. The story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly Victorian humbug, who travels with ghostly guides through Christmas past, present and future to find the true meaning of the holidays. $15. The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St. Alexandria, VA. 703-683-0496. thelittletheatre.com
National Children’s Museum To Return to DC in 2015 The National Children’s Museum has announced that it will relocate to Washington, D.C. from its location at National Harbor in 2015. The new location is not yet determined. ncm.museum
Civil War Christmas in Camp at Fort Ward On Saturday, Dec. 13, noon-4 p.m., this Holiday event interprets how Christmas was observed during the Civil War. Features a patriotic Santa Claus, living history interpreters, a Victorian tree, the Officers’ Hut decorated for the season, readings of
Accepting Applications for the 2015-2016 School Year Grades PS/PK-5th Apply for admissions after Dec. 15 at: www.myschooldc.org Application deadline March 2, 2015
With a French and Spanish immersion program and a dual focus on academic excellence and community service, Stokes School prepares culturally diverse elementary school students to be leaders, scholars, and responsible citizens who are committed to social justice.
2015 Open Houses: 9:30 am – 11:00 am January 29th • February 26th RSVP to Ms. Jo-Anne Hurlston, Parent Coordinator, jo-anneh@ewstokes.org School tours every other on Wednesday from 9:00 am -10:00 am. Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS 3700 Oakview Terrace, NE | Washington, DC 20017 | 202.265.7237 www.ewstokes.org December 2014 H 143
“The Night Before Christmas,” kids activities, and light refreshments. There will be soldier-guided tours of the fort at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., weather permitting. $2 suggested donation. Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 West Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA. 703-746-4848. oha.alexandriava. gov/fortward
Daughters of the American Revolution (family-friendly) Christmas Open House On Wednesday, Dec 10, 5:30-8 p.m., enjoy live holiday music, cider, hot chocolate and cookies, take a picture with Santa (bring a camera), and tour 31 period rooms at the DAR Christmas open house. Visitors are encouraged to bring new and lightly used children’s books to donate to their DAR Open House book drive. DAR Memorial Continental Hall, 17th and D sts. NW. 202-572-0563. dar.org
Christmas Pageant at the National Cathedral On Saturday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m., children of all ages come to the Cathedral to participate in this annual pageant celebrating the Nativity. Children dressed as shepherds, angels, and animals help tell the story of the Messiah’s birth. On the day of the event, families arrive in costume for a 1:30 p.m. brief rehearsal prior to the pageant. The pageant begins at 2 p.m. and lasts approximately one hour. Halos are available for herald angels in need of a little costume assistance. Bring family, friends, and cameras for this lively telling of the true meaning of Christmas. Washington National Cathedral, 101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. nationalcathedral.org
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“Fiddler on the Roof” Family Fun Pack “Fiddler on the Roof” is at Arena Stage through Jan. 4. With the Family Fun Pack, purchase four seats for only $125. The family group must include a minimum of two patrons between ages 5-17 per Fun Pack; cannot be combined with any other offer or applied to previously purchased tickets; limit two Fun Packs per household. All standard fees apply. Must be purchased by phone or in person. arenastage.org
Gift to Fund Education Initiatives and Learning Space at the American History Museum Philanthropist and education advocate Phyllis Taylor has donated $7.5 million for education outreach and a new learning space to be named the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation Object Project at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Object Project, opening July 2015, will focus on “everyday things that changed everything” and will encourage visitors of all ages to discover American history through games, activities and authentic touchable objects. A portion of the gift will be used to fund an endowment to serve K–12 student and teacher outreach and programming. Object Project, an almost 4,000-square-foot space, will allow visitors to learn how new technologies and social changes affected each other and influenced American life. Visitors can explore how bicycles, electric refrigerators, ready-to-wear clothing and household items, ranging from window screens to light bulbs, transformed the lives of Americans in ways that shape people’s lives today. americanhistory.si.edu u
Friends Community School Progressive Quaker Education Kindergarten - Grade 8 Experience the Joy of an Extraordinary Education!
OPEN HOUSES
9:00 a.m. sharp - 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 10 Thursday, January 15
Application Deadline Jan. 16, 2015 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD 20740 Tel: 301.441.2100 www.friendscommunityschool.org Only 15-20 minutes up the Baltimore-Washington Parkway!
Open House
First Thursday of every month October - June 10 am - 11 am The Hill Preschool is a non-profit corporation that provides high quality education and nurturing care for young children. The Hill Preschool also provides parent support to facilitate the growth of healthy families.
Where Kids Learn To Love School. Cooperative preschool for 2 to 4 year olds
APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR Pre-K to 3rd grade
Building on our strong foundation as an early childhood program
Open Houses on the following Thursdays, 9:30 am-10:30 am*:
January 22 &29 February 19 & 26 March 19 & 26 * You must register to attend. Call (202) 726-1843, limit of 20 people per session.
Apply for admissions at: www.myschooldc.org • Application deadline March 2, 2015.
Full and part-time schedules Convenient Location Dynamic staff Play-based curriculum
Over 40 Years on Capitol Hill 337 North Carolina Ave, SE | 202-543-5372 www.thehillpreschool.org | thehillps@verizon.net
Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Voted Best Preschool in DC,City Paper Readers Poll 2013! • Before & After Care • Small classroom size and well trained staff • Individual planning for each student • Hands-on and project-based curriculum Free and open to all DC residents.Tuition paid by non-residents.
Bridges PCS is an expanding elementary school growing to serve grades Pre-K–5th by 2017-2018.
www.bridgespcs.org 1250 Taylor Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011 p: 202.726.1843 e: info@bridgespcs.org
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School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson
know people in the neighborhood. Others looked forward to having “adult conversations” instead of long hours of pretend play and babbling! Earlier this month, a group of parents whose children belonged to the “Eaters and Sleepers (birth – 6 months)” group, 2004-2005, got together for a 10-year reunion at Stanton Park. Most of these parents had been in touch with one another over the years. They reminisced about their children’s early years and the valuable support they received from one another. Over the past ten years, the children have shared common activities or schools, and have maintained friendships. A good time was had by all. - Nelle Fonseca
1/2 MoTH kids all grown up enjoy a reunion.
13th Annual School Information Night Don’t miss the 13th Annual School Information Night organized by MoTHers on the Hill (MOTH) on Sunday, December 8th from 2 - 5 pm. Several area schools will be on hand to answer your questions and provide information about their schools. The event will be held at Capitol Hill Day School, located at 210 South Carolina Ave SE. The closest Metro stop is Capitol South on the blue and orange lines. Parking is available on the street in the surrounding neighborhood.
Eaters and Sleepers Reunion For new parents, the best part of living on the Hill has not only been the easy access to museums and other cultural treasures, but also to MOTH, or MoTHers on the Hill, a neighborhood social network. MOTH has helped parents stay connected to one another, through social gatherings and through the MOTH website where parents share and discuss child and parenting issues. The group has been invaluable to both parents and to the children. As a new parent in D.C., Nelle Fonseca was glad that she could connect with other parents to learn about kid-friendly activities around town, good parks, the local schools, and to just get to
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301 North Carolina Ave. SE on December 6-7 to shop our enormous sale. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Brent PTA and the students at Brent Elementary School. –Denise Diggs. Brent, at 301 North Carolina Ave. SE.
Waterfront Academy Children’s Spanish Book Fair Waterfront Academy hosts several events each month. The next event is the Children’s Spanish Book Fair - just in time for the Christmas gift-giving season. Portico is helping with this event by giving Waterfront Academy a portion of each book sold. This book fair is unique because Portico curates all its books from Spanish-speaking countries. Authentic Spanish books are hard to find in the United States, with translated books being made more widely available. The book fair will take place from December 8 - 9 at the Waterfront Academy between 3 and 5 pm. A nice follow up to the book fair will be the next Family Night. Each month Waterfront Academy hosts a family night open to all in the community. For a small $5 donation, your child will get a popcorn and pizza movie night while parents par-
Shoppers getting their Christmas Trees at Brent last year.
Brent Elementary Christmas Tree & Holiday Sale The Brent Elementary School PTA is holding its Fourth Annual Christmas Tree and Holiday Sale on December 6th and 7th. There will be a huge selection of fresh Christmas trees, wreaths, garland, poinsettias, winterberry and other holiday decorating items. Brent has partnered with an award-winning Christmas tree grower who provides the highest quality trees, delivered within 2-3 of being cut. One happy customer last year wrote to say: “Absolutely the most perfect tree we have ever had.” Online pre-orders of Christmas and Hanukkah items are now being accepted at www.brentstore.org. Please visit www.brentstore.org for more information and to place an order. Also please be sure to visit the Brent Elementary School playground at Students enjoy reading at Waterfront Academy.
ticipate in a short lecture. This month’s lecture will cover reading to children and language acquisition. The next session of enrichment activities will be starting up again in January. These activities are available for anyone to sign up for, but space is limited. Mondays offers Tippi Toes; Tuesdays is Good Moves Game Club; Thursdays is Super Soccer Stars and Fish and Rocks Science Labs; and Fridays is Children’s Art Expression. Recruitment season for the 2015-16 school year is coming to a close. If you are interested in Waterfront Academy for your child next year, applications for children through 8th grade are still being accepted. Waterfront Academy is a dual immersion (Spanish and English) faith-based Montessori school with emphasis on charity and stewardship in the Catholic tradition. For more information www.waterfrontacademy.org. -Melissa Rohan. Waterfront Academy, 60 I St. SW.
St. Peter School The Great Balloon Debate The St. Peter School fourth-grade class participated in a Great Balloon Debate as part of their recent social studies unit, “Out of Many, One,” during which students learned about citizenship through primary and secondary sources. A Balloon Debate is a lively discussion among speakers, each of whom attempts to win audience approval
Eliot-Hine students Anna Robinson, Alicia Epps, and Olivia Schoell perform at the Kennedy Center!
through persuasive argument. The audience was invited to imagine that the speakers were famous Americans flying in a hot air balloon that was rapidly sinking. To keep the aircraft afloat, some people had to abandon the balloon in order to save the others. Each student assumed the identity of a famous American, and presented their American to the audience, trying to persuade the viewers that they should remain in the balloon. A unique and engaging twist on a traditional balloon fight!
Sixth-Graders Shine on Safety Patrol
St. Peter School fourth graders participate in the Great Balloon Debate.
There they are – every morning and afternoon – a dedicated corps of sixth graders who arrive at school early and stay late to assist fellow students as members of the St. Peter School Safety Patrol. They are posted at each entrance of the school and at the corner of 3rd and E Streets, as well as throughout the school building, to assist students who walk to school, help those who are in the carpool line, and direct them safely to and from their classrooms. Under the direction of Mary Forr, Middle School Social Studies, Religion and Latin teacher, members of the safety patrol must maintain good grades and set a good example for the en-
tire St. Peter School community. Hat tip to each patroller!
Team Turkey Trot For the fourth year in a row, St. Peter School fielded an impressive team of runners and walkers for the annual Turkey Trot for Hunger to benefit SOME (So Others Might Eat). Members of the St. Peter’s community gathered on Thanksgiving morning for the 5k run and family walk to raise funds for food, clothing and medical services for the homeless and hungry in the District.
Winter Open House The St. Peter School Winter Open House will be held on January 16 from 9-11:00 a.m. Prospective families are invited to tour the school and meet with faculty and parents. If you are interested in learning more, please contact the school: info@stpeterschoolD.C..org, 202-544-1618 or visit www.stpeterschoolD.C..org.- Sally Aman, St. Peter School, 422 Third Street, SE, www. stpeterschoolD.C..org
Eliot-Hine School EH Students Perform at Kennedy Center! Eliot-Hine students performed at the Kennedy Center with the D.C.PS City-Wide Orchestra on Nov. 15! Maury alumnae Anna Robinson (on trumpet in the back) and Olivia Schoell on flute (all over the recording, much to her chagrin), along with Payne alumna Alicia Epps (in front on clari-
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net) made a huge commitment to be part of this orchestra; they had less than three weeks to learn four pieces, and practices were held all the way up at Columbia Heights Education Campus. The EliotHine students were joined by students from other middle schools, including Kelly Miller and Deal, which was a great opportunity for students to meet. They all did a phenomenal job! To see the Millennium Stage performance, go to www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M6105&type=A.
E-H Roundup The Eliot-Hine PTO meets potluck-style on Dec. 10 at 6pm – all are welcome. Last meeting the possibility of the Challenger Center (as in NASA) calling Eliot-Hine’s campus home was discussed. Stay tuned for more on this. IB candidacy is on track. There will be a walkthrough by IB officials in Jan. Eighth-graders are entering into the first stages of their IB community project. Learn more about IB Middle Years Programme at ibo.org/myp. From Eliot-Hine staff and students, have the best of holidays! -EH parent Heather Schoell. Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Const. Ave. NE. 202-939-5380, eliothinemiddleschool.org, @EliotHine, and facebook.com/EliotHineMS.
School-Within-School at Goding SWS Gives Thanks Last month staff members, students, and their families gathered at School-Within-School for the annual Thanksgiving potluck. Classes celebrated by singing songs, performing plays, and eating the delicious food brought in by families. (Kale salad all around!)
Bentornato, Teachers! Three SWS teachers spent Thanksgiving break in Reggio Emilia, Italy, but it was no vacation. Erika Bowman, Laura McCarthy, and Katherine Walsh traveled to the region to learn more about the Reggio approach that has guided SWS since its earliest days. They were able to meet with top Reggio educators and observe classrooms where Reggio principles—such as giving children some control over the direction of their learning and allowing them to learn through touching, moving, and observing—are put into practice.
18th Annual SWS Jazz Gala and Auction Sure, it’s not even winter break yet. But it’s never
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too early to plan for the party of the year: the 18th Annual SWS Jazz Gala and Auction. This year’s gala will be held March 7, at the National Press Club. Each year, the school relies on the event to help pay for technology, teacher development, and invaluable teaching assistants. It is also a blast— and a great way to score deals on auction items from art lessons to beach vacations.
SWS at School Information Night Want to learn more about SWS? Be sure to stop by the school’s table at School Information Night on December 7, 2-5 p.m. which will be held at Capitol Hill Day School, 210 South Carolina Ave SE. –Hannah Schardt. School Within School at Goding, 920 F St NE., -- schoolwithinschool.org.
Capitol Hill Cluster School More than 250 Cluster families attended Game Night Nov. 6 at Stuart-Hobson, where they found dinner in the cafeteria and 24 tables of games and puzzles set up for team-play in the gym. More than 50 adults volunteered, helping with everything from set-up to game tutorials. Kathleen Donahue and the whole staff at Labyrinth Games, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. S.E., made the night possible. Peabody Primary Campus On Election Day, Peabody students had voting day, too: Students participated in activities to foster learning and excitement about voting and elections. All classes rotated among four votingrelated stations. Students voted for which field day bounce house they preferred, decorated their own D.C. flags and learned the song “Grand Old Flag.” They even practiced a few speed votes for their preferred snack, favorite animals to visit at a Voting Day at Peabody.
farm, and who would be a better principal, Clifford or Curious George. Kindergartners were treated to a performance by musicians from the Kennedy Center Nov. 5: Elizabeth Pulju-Owen on viola, Karen Lowry-Tucker on violin and Drew Owen on cello performed “The Case of the Vanishing Viola,” a story featuring a magician and a detective. Throughout the story students learned about tempo, dynamics, various musical genres, and more. Peabody, 425 C St NE. Watkins Elementary School Watkins fourth-graders spoke to a national audience Nov. 14 about the school’s FoodPrints program. National Public Radio featured the school and the program on “All Things Considered.” FoodPrints uses garden activities such as planting, harvesting and cooking to teach concepts in science, math, social studies, physical education and writing. The story is here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/ ed/2014/11/14/361740667/why-these-kids-love-kale Watkins students meanwhile are also diving into First in Math: They are ranked No. 1 in D.C. public schools and No. 55 nationally. Four out of five of the school’s grades are ranked nationally. Fourth grade is tops at No. 44 nationally. The school has one student at the Grand Champion level, with three more close behind. Students who are reading above grade level started their literature circle groups. They will be reading a Newberry Honor book with their peers, learning new above-grade-level skills, and learning how to discuss books like adults. Some of the books include “Tale of a Fourth Grade Nothing,”, “Hatchet” and “A Wrinkle in Time.” Watkins, at 420 12th St SE. Stuart-Hobson Middle School The Capital Jazz project has returned to StuartHobson. Sponsored by Washington Performing Arts, the project brings professional jazz musicians to the school’s band students as artists in residence. The resident professionals work with the sixth- and seventh-grade bands. Students not only learn about jazz, but they also learn how to play it, including how to improvise. Students also had their first opportunity in November to use the schools newly renovated auditorium. They took to the stage to rehearse for the fall play in beautifully restored space. Stuart-
Hobson, 410 E Street NE, Capitol Hill Cluster School’s Web site: capitolhillclusterschool.org.
J.O. Wilson Elementary The Arts in Action Academics are very important at J.O. Wilson, and so are the arts. In addition to weekly music and visual art classes, third graders take ballet. Twice a week, instructors from the Washington Ballet come to the school to teach classes in the third-floor dance studio. Students are learning the basics of ballet along with general movement techniques. The lessons build toward a final performance for parents. In the spring, second graders will get the chance to participate in the ballet classes.
Hard Work Will Bear Fruit There are some new attractions at J.O. Wilson! In collaboration with Casey Trees, students planted seven new fruit trees right outside the main entrance of the school. The pawpaw and fig trees should begin bearing fruit in two years. This project advances Casey Trees’ mission of enhancing the tree canopy of Washington, D.C., along with beautifying the school grounds and teaching students how to care for the trees. It is a great addition to the already productive school garden that students help to maintain.
A Recycling Community The new fruit trees fit in well with J.O. Wilson’s commitment to the environment. This year, the school implemented a new recycling and composting program in the cafeteria to reduce waste from school lunches. After
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{kids and family / school notes}
JO Wilson students learn ballet.
giving. Older and younger students met in their buddy groups to share snacks or lunch before the holiday break. Middle-schoolers have been busy, too. The undefeated Soccer Team won the ABC League Semifinals; the results of the League Championship game were not available at press time. On December 7, CHDS is again hosting the MOTH School Information Night from 2-5 p.m; and the final CHDS Admissions Open House is January 6 at 9:00am. - Jane Angarola, Capitol Hill Day School, 210 South Carolina Avenue, SE, 202-3869919, jangarola@chds.org.
eating, students separate their discards into three bins: recycling, garbage and compost. J.O. Wilson was selected to be one of the first schools to implement this program, building upon the school’s award-winning recycling program from last school year. -Kate Sweeney, Librarian, J.O. Wilson Elementary School, 660 K Street NE, www.jowilsonelementary.org.
Capitol Hill Day School
Maury Elementary
Sharing Food and Expertise November began with 22 CHDS alumni from 12 high schools giving eighth grade families an insider’s perspective on how high schools ease the transition for 9th graders with bonding trips, peer leaders, advisors, pre-season sports, and time management instruction. Alumni described themselves as well-prepared for high school, which they found challenging but fun, with more freedom to choose classes and extracurriculars, and more responsibility to manage homework and reach out to teachers for help. Faculty and staff joined their peers at a Capital Area Progressive Schools conference, leading seven workshops, including Building Green, Diversity Dialogue, Arts Integration at CHDS, Self-Paced Learning in Middle School Math, Daily Reflection: A Powerful Second-grade Routine, Collaboration between Counseling and Human Development and Sexuality Programs, and a Multicultural Literature Resource Swap. CHDS fourth- graders organized the annual Thanksgiving food drive, collecting donations from families and faculty, and then delivering them to a nearby food bank just prior to Thanks-
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qualify for the state championship in December. Friendship Public Charter School is pleased to be hosting the event as an extension of their own STEM - science, technology, engineering, and math- based curriculum. Students are able to apply skills learned in the classroom to the competition, in a creative and innovative way and compete with other students who come from less disadvantage neighborhoods. Friendship Public Charter Schools has four of its campuses participating as teams: Friendship Chamberlin Elementary with its Robotics Stars 2.0, Friendship Woodridge Elementary and Middle with the Eagles, Friendship Blow Pierce Junior Academy with the RoboKnights, and Friendship’s newest addition, the Friendship Tech Prep Academy, who will be joining this year with an as yet unnamed team. Friendship’s new state-of-theart campus in Ward Eight, Friendship Tech Prep academy is an $18 million investment in a college-preparatory secondary school that has a strong emphasis on STEM disciplines and environmental sciences. More information about Friendship’s other schools can be found at http://www.friendshipschools.org. - Amy Benson
Literacy Night
ABC League Semifinal Win for Undefeated CHDS Soccer Team
First Lego League Tournament Held at Friendship’s Collegiate Academy Friendship Collegiate Academy is the only D.C. location this year to host a FIRST Lego League (FLL) Qualifying Regional Tournament in the VA/ D.C. Region. Using a Lego Mindstorms Robot Set, students in grades 4-8 work in teams using their science, technology, and engineering skills to problem solve and present their solution to a challenge. Twenty teams from across the D.C./VA region have already registered and will be competing at Friendship Collegiate Academy on Saturday, November 22. Winners of regional tournaments
Cookies and milk and a bedtime story – enjoyed in pajamas at school? It must be Literacy Night. This annual celebration of books and reading featured theatrical performances including “Little Red Riding Hood” (performed by the faculty) and “Hats for Maury students perform “Caps for Sale” at Literacy Night
Want the PERFECT GIFT for your children this Christmas?
H
ow about giving them the Bill of Rights and their liberties as Americans!
Download free copies of the Bill of Rights at www.National-Education-Project.org
Then, at 8:30 p.m. EST, on Monday, December 15, 2014, the 223rd anniversary of the Bill of Rights, we cordially invite you and your family to come to our website (www.NationalEducation-Project.org) and join us for the National Education Project's “Second Annual, Live National Read-Along of the Bill of Rights over the Internet,” led by children from elementary schools on Capitol Hill and in Maryland and Virginia.
The National Education Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit, non-political organization, and the Project does not recommend or encourage any particular interpretation of The Constitution of the United States or the Bill of Rights.
Afterwards, your children can sign the Bill of Rights on page 2, add their school picture (the kids love that part!), and then post the document on the family's refrigerator door, where it will serve as an enduring reminder to everyone in the home of the rights and liberties of all Americans.
And you figure it out.
The Founding Fathers made it clear over 200 years ago: If you did not have a printed copy of the Bill of Rights actually in your hands you could not possibly know your liberties as an American. And, if you did not know your rights, it was only a matter of time before you would certainly lose those rights (e.g., freedom of speech, freedom of religious practice, due process of law – in fact, all of them). I have a friend who was teaching her young son to floss his teeth. The boy wanted to know how many teeth he had to floss. “Just the ones you want to keep,” his mother said. - Norman Manasa Director
We just give you and your family free copies of the Bill of Rights.
Please consider sending $10 to support the national read-along of the Bill of Rights at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2014, a wonderful patriotic event for all Americans. Tax-deductible contributions can be made at www.National-Education-Project.org. Or donate at the Combined Federal Campaign: CFCNCA # 30578
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Sale” (performed by the students) based on the beloved children’s classics. The kids had a variety of hands-on activities to choose from: making book marks or character masks, trivia games, and a scavenger hunt in the library to find such items as a “nonfiction book about another country” and a “fiction book with a dragon on the cover.”
D.C. Landmarks
WHAT: WHERE: DATES: WHO: TIMES: COST:
Winter Break All Sports and Games Camps Stuart Hobson Middle School Session 1 Dec. 22 - 26 (no camp Dec. 25) Session 2 Dec. 29 - Jan. 2 (no camp Jan. 1) Boys & Girls ages 5 - 13 9:00am - 3:00pm, after care available until 5:30pm (after care not available on December 24th or 31st.)
$205/$250 with after care
PARTIAL WEEK REGISTRANTS ACCEPTED For more information or to register online go to
WWW.HOOPEDUCATION.COM 152 H Hillrag.com
(Dupont Circle). Commissioner Maltz is a member of the Ward 2 Ed Network advocating for Ward 2 Schools and participated in the day’s events to support AmidonBowen in Ward 6. Ward 6 Council Member Elect Charles Allen attended to show his support, chatted with parents, teachers and enjoyed some of the fun. In other news, AmidonBowen’s Artist-in-Residence Sculpture was completed and is on display in front of the building.
Third-grade students are exAmidon-Bowen displays their new tending their learning about Artist-in Residence Sculpture the District’s landmarks and memorials through art. After creating informaOpen House tive pamphlets about locations around our hisOn December 15th, there will be a school Open toric city, students each selected a neighborHouse. Parents will have the opportunity to obhood landmark that has influenced or helped serve classes, meet teachers, tour the school, shape aspects of their personal identities, inand ask any questions that might help them cluding the Argonaut, RFK Stadium, Rosedale make this important decision about their child’s Park, Eastern High School, the Arboretum and schooling. Meet in the lobby at 9 a.m. - Bruce Lincoln Park. They then applied line drawDarConte, Near Southeast Community Parting techniques using colored slip on ceramners, Amidon-Bowen PTA - Director of Corpoic tiles – which were fired to create a permarate Partnerships. Amidon-Bowen Elementary, nent memento of the places that hold special 401 Eye Street SW; http://profiles.D.C.ps.D.C.. meaning for them or their families. Finally, gov/amidon-bowen+elementary+school. the students created artist statements. Adding a written component to their art making helped students develop their ideas and comPayne municate the significance of their work. As Elementary Ms. Bomba, the art teacher, says “Art is not Green Thumbs at about making something beautiful, but more Payne ES so about making something meaningful.” ElizPayne’s going green abeth Nelson, Maury Elementary, 1250 Conand the 28 students stitution Ave., NE. 202-698-3838; mauryeleof the Green Team mentary.com. each have the “green thumb” to prove it! Amidon-Bowen Family Fun Day This October, students On November 1st, Amidon-Bowen held a on the Payne ElemenFamily Fun & Open House. Activities includtary School Green ed soccer out on the new field, computers in Team had the privthe library, and imagination foam blocks in ilege of teaming up the cafeteria and basketball in the gym. In with Casey Trees. This addition, there was a bake sale to benefit the charitable corporation Amidon cheerleaders coached by Ms. Young headquartered in the and a raffle held by Brookland Collaborative. Brookland neighbor Mr. Wells and Mr. DarConte conducted a Payne students display hood of D.C. has as its their ‘green thumbs’ tour of the school to parents and visitors includmission is “to restore, with the help of Casey Trees! ing ANC 2B03 Commissioner Stephanie Maltz
ful! -Rachel Walker, Special Education Teacher & Green Team Staff Sponsor. Follow us! Facebook: PayneES | Instagram: PayneD.C.PS | Twitter: @payneD.C.ps @ payneprincipal www. payneD.C.ps.org. For more information on Casey Trees: www. caseytrees.org
Students at Friends Community School enjoy a Spanish class. The school will host two open house receptions next month. Photo Sharon Natoli
enhance and protect the tree canopy of the nation’s capital.” In addition to their usual duties of encouraging classmates and staff to reduce, reuse and recycle, Green Team members learned first-hand how to plant and care for young trees from Priscilla Plumb, the Youth Program Manager at Casey Trees. The students divided up into groups of four to plant a total of seven trees along the 15th Street side of campus. Payne Parent, Suzanna Dennis thought the event was a huge success and said, “Casey Trees expertly led the event, the kids did a great job and had a ton of fun, and our volunteers were wonderful!” The Green Team decided to name each of the trees after colleges and/or universities in honor of College Awareness Month, which was also observed in October. The “Howard” tree is planted right by the school’s steps to pay tribute to the many teachers at Payne who attended Howard University. The students have since been caring for their trees by watering them every week with twenty-five gallons of water per tree! Seven more trees will be planted this spring, making the newly modernized Payne Elementary School even more beauti-
Friends Community School Open House Receptions
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It is admissions season at Friends Community School, a kindergarten through 8th grade Quaker school that educates students of all beliefs. Open houses for prospective families are scheduled for January 10, and January 15, from 9 – 11 am sharp at the school, which is located in College Park, MD. About 25 students from Capitol Hill attend Friends. Friends has a student-teacher ratio of 8:1 and an average class size of 12 in kindergarten and about 18 in other grades. The school is in the process of growing to 240 students after adding a lower school science lab, an art studio, performing arts space and more classroom and office space to its LEED-certified building last year. -Eric Rosenthal More information about the school and the admissions process is available by contacting Connie Belfiore, Director of Admissions and Outreach, at connie@friendscommunityschool.org or 301-441-2100 x129 or at www.friendscommunityschool.org. 5901 Westchester park drive, College park MD. u
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{home & garden}
Enjoying DC’s Winter Landscape
W
by Cheryl Corson, RLA, ASLA
ashington D C ’s w i n ter landscape is green and lush thanks to its broad-leaved evergreens. This was a striking impression my first winter here 20 years ago, coming from New England. The Mid-Atlantic straddles northern and southern plant zones, providing mild enough, yet cold enough weather to support many of these iconic local winter favorites.
Broad-Leaved Evergreens Abound Conifers are one thing, the needleleaved trees like pine, spruce, hemlock, and fir that we decorate as Christmas trees (Hanukkah bushes in my family). The broad-leaved trees and shrubs offer something more. Sunlight reflecting on wide dark green leaves gives a warm feeling that the needle-leaved evergreens, though lovely, just don’t offer. Their red berries and sheltering foliage attract birds. Fresh snow accumulates on their leaves in rounded Dr. Seuss snowballs.
Now is the time to notice and celebrate our broad-leaved companions. Here is a subjective list for your treasure hunt. For trees, check out Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) and our many hollies, including American holly (Ilex opaca) and Fosters holly (Ilex x fosteri). There are so many holly cultivars now. Ilex x Xanocarpa has yellow-orange winter berries, and the 2011 Holly of the Year Ilex x ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ which has existed for over 100 years, is known for its later ripening orange-red fruit and dark green, glossy leaves. Visit the Magnolia and Holly collection at the U.S. National Arboretum to see great examples. The broad-leaved evergreen shrubs are numerous, and my favorites include most Camellias, in particular the late fall, red blooming ‘Yuletide.’ Then there are the shrub hollies like the spineless Japanese varities (Ilex crenata), including the cultivars ‘Convexa,’ ‘Stokes,’ and ‘Helleri.’ Let’s not forget the native Inkberry holly (Ilex glabra) with its
Cartier inspired Christmas tree at the Hillwood mansion. Photo: Hill Wood Estate
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{home and garden / hill gardener}
Dressing Nature Up for the Holidays Although it would be enough to simply enjoy our local DC winter flora, being the Capital City, many institutions take holiday decorating very seriously. You will find no shortage of free or low cost festive horticultural events not far from home. Here are some highlights.
United States Botanic Garden
Hillwood’s serene Japanese garden in winter. Photo: Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens
black fruit and smaller round leaves. The cultivars ‘Compacta,’ ‘Shamrock,’ and ‘Nordic’ are great for Capitol Hill gardens and will remain bushy when occasionally pruned. For patient gardeners, there is the boxwood relative Sweetbox (Sarcocca hookeriana), which is great for dry shade. Native to the Himalayas yet oddly suited to our climate zone, it grows 18” tall and slowly spreads via underground stolons. Sweetbox gives us fragrant white flowers in late winter, hence its name. Other broad-leaved evergreen shrubs include ubiquitous azaleas, boxwoods, daphnes, and acubas, the coarse yet reliable Leather leafed viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum), and the friendlier Prague viburnum (Viburnum x Pragense), though their leaves are not shiny. Others like Rhododendron and Skimmia are iffy in our area and though I love them, I have not specified them for my designs in years. Strolling through any neighborhood park or public garden in winter will offer soothing sheltering green, contrasting to the glorious architecture revealed at this season by our deciduous trees. Now is the time of year to observe and appreciate nature without feeling obliged to interfere.
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It wouldn’t be the winter holiday season without visiting the USBG to see the model train display and replicas of iconic DC monuments and buildings created with plant materials. This year explore the seven seas, using lighthouses to navigate the way through the scenic wonderland. Also see one of Washington’s largest indoor decorated trees. Exhibits run from Thanksgiving until January 4th. The USBG is tropical and warm, and open every day from 10:00am – 5:00pm. However, on Tuesdays and Thursdays in December the displays are open until 8:00pm with live music! Parking is tricky, but most Hill residents can walk to this site just downhill from the Capitol building. For details, see: http://www.usbg.gov/planyour-holiday-visit
Zoo Lights The Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park (NZP for short) dresses up big time for the holidays. From November 28 to January 1, every night from 5:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. (except December 24, 25, 31), you can join thousands of visitors attending the free display of over 500,000 environmentally friendly LED lights, transforming the Zoo into a winter wonderland. New this year will be a dazzling light show set to music. ZooLights includes live music performances, train rides, tasty winter treats, tubing and (of course) holiday shopping opportunities. For $3, you can ride the new Speedwell Foundation Conservation Carousel, one of the only solar powered carousels in the world. (If it’s raining, check out the new rain garden in front of the carousel too.) Also at the Zoo you can tube down Lion and Tiger Hill for $3, or ride the Zoo ChooChoo through the Kid’s Farm exhibit for $3 more. You may also see certain animals after
dark. These include the Small Mammal House, Great Ape House, Reptile Discovery Center, and Think Tank, which will be open every night for free. There is also a “Gin-GRR-Bread Contest” whose winners will be revealed on Friday, December 5 during ZooLights. The theme this year is “Bao Bao’s Blizzard Bash.” See what the area’s creative bakers come up with! To travel to the Zoo, either drive up Rock Creek and park for $22, or metro on the Red Line to Woodley Park/Zoo/Adams Morgan stop or the Cleveland Park stop. The Zoo entrance is halfway between these two stops, though it’s an uphill walk from Woodley Park to the Zoo, while level from Cleveland Park. See: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Visit/metro.cfm for travel details, and http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ActivitiesAndEvents/Celebrations/ ZooLights/ for more on ZooLights.
A Cartier Christmas at Hillwood We tend to forget the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, tucked away off Rock Creek Park north of the Smithsonian Zoo. Former home to Marjorie Merriweather Post, this 25 acre site has 12 acres of formal gardens including an over-the-top Japanese garden, a rose garden, and French parterres. On Tuesdays in December Bill Johnson, Hillwood’s horticulturis, will lead short tours of the gardens. It’s his favorite time of year, not only because there’s
After-dark animal fun at the Smithsonian National Zoo’s annual holiday ZooLights. Photo: National Zoological Park
The Clean You Expect. The Service You Deserve.
less work, but because what people call “the bones of the garden” are most evident. These tours are first-come-first-serve with a maximum of ten people, so see the website, www.HillwoodMuseum.org, and plan to arrive at 10 a.m. to be included. Also at Hillwood are Serene Sundays, where for a suggested donation of $5 to $15, visitors can stroll the gardens. These dates are by reservation, so check the website for availability and book your visit in advance. On December 13-14, Hillwood hosts its Russian Winter Festival, an annual favorite in Old Russian style. See a play based on traditional Russian stories of Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden, and listen to lively Russian folk music. Shopping and dining in the café round out the festival (admission applies). If you’d like to make your own holiday wreath, Hillwood is hosting workshops, two on Friday, December 5 and two Saturday, December 6th. When you get cold, it’s time to go inside the mansion and see the Cartier-inspired Christmas trees scattered throughout. In addition to the exhibit of Ms. Post’s Cartier jewels, themed trees inspired by diamonds, pearls, emeralds, and aquamarine will be on display. Though we may seek our tree-decorating inspiration elsewhere, we can spend an afternoon at Hillwood and pretend, can’t we? Happy Holidays and remember to get outside! Cheryl Corson, RLA, ASLA, is a licensed landscape architect working on the Hill and beyond. She reminds those hoping for new gardens next spring to plan ahead and beat the rush! www.cherylcorson.com u
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{home and garden / garden spot}
Winter beauty in your landscape Texture, Color and Pop in the Winter Garden. photos and article by Derek Thomas
A
utumn’s exciting show of brilliant reds, yellows and orange is nature’s way of readying for winter’s dormancy, a time when our gardens for the most part become an after thought. But this doesn’t have to be the case. There’s a silent and beautiful show to be had in late fall and winter in our garden and it’s all about the texture of trees, magnificence of evergreens, and the A river birch’s peeling bark is stark and beautiful in the winter landscape.
Kousa Dogwood has an abstract marbled bark in winter.
pop of berries. Trees shed their leaves and their barks rough texture and delicate tones become ghostly attractive. Red berries pop in the late day sun against clear crystal blue skies. Evergreens, often the stagehand of our summer garden, get a leading role in the cast of winter’s minimalist production. The following trees, shrubs, and evergreens are some of my favorite plants for the winter. Plant them know and enjoy for years to come in your winter garden.
River Birch, Betula Nigra This is perhaps the toughest of all birch species. Found natively throughout the Northeast, the South and in parts of the Midwest, it is very tolerant of poorly drained soil, heat, humidity, and an array of pests. River birch can be found along riverbeds in our area. They thrive in the very moist, silty soils. With a beautiful cinnamon to creamy brown flaking bark that becomes darker with age, this birch will get to be large and is a great shade tree in the summer garden.
Kousa Dogwood, Cornus kousa This dogwood blooms about three weeks later than the native dogwood. The blooms are just as memorable and give Acuba japonica is green and colorful all winter long.
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quite a different show since they emerge after the tree’s leaves have opened. Both species are known for their showy flowers, colorful fall display and red berries. The Kousa has a habit of forming a more multi-bough, umbrella shaped, medium canopy that is very attractive when planted as a specimen tree. The most striking aspect of the Kousa is its beautiful flaking bark that displays various shades of tan, gray and brown. The picture-perfect growth habit and beautiful flaking bark make the Kousa Dogwood a memorable addition to the winter landscape.
American Beech, Fagus grandifolia Beeches are perhaps the most elegant and noble of the deciduous trees. Their smooth silver-gray to white bark, which can be compared to an elephant’s skin, will brighten even the darkest of winter landscapes. A native to North American forests, it was known as the ghost tree to native Americans.
Gold Dust Plant, Acuba japonica ‘Variegata’ This shrub is a good example of the beauty that broad leaf evergreens add to the landscape. This variety has dark green shiny leaves with irregular splotches, freckles, and splashes of gold to yellow. The patterns are reminiscent of a painter’s canvas. The green stems are thick and smooth. The gold dust plant will easily reach six to 10 feet high with a spread that is slightly less. Plant in partial shade in
well-drained soil and add ample organic matter annually. Placing it in full sun will cause bleaching or scalding of the leaves. Cuttings can be harvested and used for decorations during the holiday season.
Camellia, Camellia sasanqua Camellias are close relatives to the tea plant (Camellia sinensis); the beautiful, glossy, darkleaved, evergreen shrubs that have many different flower colors and types to choose from. The flowers range from white to pink to red and some have two colors on the same flower. The flowers are single, semi-double, and double and can mimic other flowers like peonies or roses. The species sasanqua blooms in the late fall to early winter. In our Washington gardens you can have blooms in mid to late December depending on the mildness of early winter. Plant all camellias in well-
protected areas since winter winds can burn the leaves. They will thrive in moist well-drained acidic soil high in organic compost.
Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina domestica The common name that has been give to this native of China may deter many gardeners from planting it. However, rest assured that this plant is not related to the aggressive bamboo plants many of us have a love-hate relationship with. In fact this plant forms a rather neat clump as it matures. The dark shiny green leaves are sets of leaflets and the appearance is graceful and fern-like. The foliage is evergreen and changes color to beautiful shades of reds in the winter. The white clusters of springtime flowers mature into grape-like bunches of red berries in fall. The berries provide a dramatic display on the plant or can be used in holiday arrangements. If left on the plants the berries will last the entire winter. The culture of this plant makes it a must for anyone looking for a low maintenance attractive addition to the landscape. It will grow in many soil types and light exposures and is very tolerant of dense shade. Regular pruning by removing the entire oldest cane will help to keep young shoots coming. Pruning can be done in late winter.
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Western Arborvitae, Thuja plicata ABOVE: Camellias are great for owers in the winter landscape. LEFT: Winterberry holly is the show stopping pop your winter garden needs in December.
This arborvitae has a wonderful pyramidal growth habit. It is evergreen, and has an emerald green to golden cast on its leaves. This large shrub is perfect for use in screening and can mature to 50 feet tall. It responds quite well to pruning and can be sheared it (continued from pg. 161)
December 2014 H 159
The Capitol Hill Garden Club presents
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I have heard that it is wise to cut roses back for the winter. Why? By how much? And How? To protect dormant canes from windy, cold weather, and also to prevent legginess when spring warmth brings new growth, first remove entirely any dead, diseased, damaged or thin canes. Cut species roses back to about two feet above the ground, cutting just above a leaf bud. Shrub roses, which need no pruning unless you wish them smaller, can be pruned later, after blooming. My potted flowering quince looked pale a month ago. Now its leaves look greener. Neglected it in all seasons, every year it has rewarded me by blooming its glorious head off. If I ask your advice, I hope I will follow it. What is the best care for a quince? Quince blooms (on previous years’ growth) best after at least eight weeks of cold weather. You have hit the perfect treatment – neglect. Flowering Quince thrives in almost any well-drained soil, and likes sun or partial shade. We are lucky here that it can start blooming as early as New Year’s Day! How should I store my hoses in winter? The main thing is to make certain they contain no water. How long will my Amaryllis bulb take to bloom? It has one shoot two inches long today, November 17. Six to eight weeks – with luck, by Christmas week. Speed up the
160 H Hillrag.com
process by watering with warm (not hot) water, and placing the potted bulb in a warm place, such as on a heating pad or radiator top, in your sunniest window. Do you have any ideas for low cost but thoughtful, worthwhile gifts for gardeners? If you have the time, give something homemade. Gardeners love eating, have you noticed? It’s a bit late for fig, tomato or apple relishes from your garden, alas. You could hand-write a book of your own favorite recipes. Or create a photo, picture, painting, poem! From a local thrift or hardware store find implements (even ones for the lefthanded), kneeler pads, pails, work gloves, sun hat, vases, insect repellants – much more. Library book sales sell gardening books. And there are magazine subscriptions and specialist horticulture society memberships. Forget anything you yourself would not want – such as a potholder. Start the New Year Green! On Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 7 pm The Capitol Hill Garden Club considers repurposing harmful water pollutants. Meetings are free. Chris Peot, Director of Resource Recovery at DC Water, will describe DC’s program of nutrient and carbon re-use. We meet at the NE Library, corner Maryland Ave. and 7th St. NE. We are Washington area residents interested in gardening, landscaping and the environment – become a member at capitolhillgardenclub.org. u
Standard Cleaning Services (continued from pg. 159) to a very attractive hedge. During the winter it is quite durable to the damaging weight of snow. It is also very tolerant of either full sun or shade. This is a great replacement for the often over used Leyland Cypress. Give this shrub moist well-drained fertile soil and watch it thrive.
Winterberry holly Ilex verticillata, the winterberry, is a species of holly native to eastern North America. The American Winterberry is a wonderful ornamental plant for our Capitol Hill gardens, adding a bright splash of color when it is needed most, then providing food for our feathered friends in late January. It is a tough plant which is easy to grow, with very few diseases or pests. At least one male plant must be planted in proximity to one or more females for them to bear fruit. Now is time to explore the Hill and see the beauty after the leaves are gone. Stroll out on a brisk day and see all the beauty the landscape has for us in the late fall and winter if we just take the time to look closely. Enjoy. Derek Thomas is principal of Thomas Landscapes. His garden designs have been featured on HGTV’s Curb Appeal, and Get It Sold. His weekly garden segment can be seen on WTTG/Fox 5 in Washington. He can be reached at www. thomaslandscapes.com or 301.642.5182. You can find and friend us on Facebook at Facebook/Thomas Landscapes. Follow us on Twitter @ ThomasGardenGuy For Great Garden Tips. u
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166 ★ Hillrag.com
CHIROPRACTIC
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{the last word}
Like Thoreau The ring-tone on his phone was a bird call. Returning from a family vacation, he was thrilled to report the number of new species he had spotted; I wish I had listened more carefully. Dropping me off at our house after an early morning Hill Center Board meeting, he heard bird-song and excitedly waded into the ivy to look closer and report with delight: “a Carolina wren!” Harvard lawyer, shrewd real estate investor, generous philanthropist and kind friend, Steve seemed to live in a Walden bubble. No matter how our Capitol Hill neighborhood grew in a dynamic he helped start and shape, Steve preserved his Walden -- the farm in Fredricksburg and Riverby Books. Like Thoreau, Steve saw books as “the treasured wealth of the world.” He searched for special books as he searched for new bird species, not with an Ahablike obsession, but with the thoughtful diligence of a Diogenes. And Riverby Books, just a few blocks from the often bitter and divisive discourse under the dome of the Capitol, became a quiet refuge for a cup of tea in late afternoon among friends who shared a love of books and their neighborhood. There was much of the contemplative about Steve. He was above all thoughtful. In meetings (and he was in countless numbers of them), Steve was almost never among the first to speak; rather, he sat, listened carefully, and then made suggestions that were invariably simple and sensible. Thoreau said: “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” Those of us fortunate enough to call him a friend know Steve was always building castles in the air -- not imposing and imperious, but welcoming and sheltering. Steve’s castles were organizations built to nurture the life of the community. We will remember Steve as we continue to shore up the foundations of community. And we will so miss his quiet counsel. Sharon Ambrose sharonambrose@verizon.net
Losing A Giant The Capitol Hill community has lost a giant. Steve Cymrot, who unexpectedly passed away on Saturday due to injuries sustained in a traffic accident, was much more than a dear friend and good neighbor. Steve was a visionary philanthropist who saw our community’s enormous potential and, with his gifted wife Nicky, led the Capitol Hill Community Foundation to drive its transformation.
168 H Hillrag.com
Steve was a close advisor to candidates and elected officials of Ward 6, volunteering his time, donating meeting space, and providing the coffee for local leaders and neighbors to work together on improving our neighborhoods. All of our local schools and nonprofit organizations, along with generations of leaders who were mentored by Steve, bear the imprint of his generosity and wisdom. Steve had a keen understanding of what made Capitol Hill a special place to live and devoted his formidable talent and boundless friendship to making it even more so. From raising funds in the aftermath of the devastating fire at Eastern Market to providing key support for the Hill Center, Steve was instrumental in Capitol Hill’s metamorphosis into one of the best places to live in America. Steve will be missed by so many, like me, who have always counted on him to be there with sage advice, gentle humor, or even a good book to help us make it through the next day, week, or year. I will always cherish the times I spent with Steve and regret their ending too soon. My heart goes out to his wife and family, who I know will so ably sustain his memory and great work. Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells wellsthos@aol.com
A Foundation for Our Community Nearly 35 years ago, I had the honor and privilege of meeting Steve and Nicky Cymrot (you really couldn’t meet one without the other). At the time, they were both heavily involved in helping to create and grow the Capitol Hill Cluster Schools. They fought tirelessly to help create a network of schools that would enable more of our families to stay in our neighborhood. Champions of educational opportunities here on the Hill, the results of their efforts have been and are still being felt by generations of Capitol Hill families. In the early 1980’s, it seemed to be the right time for a business association that would represent all of Capitol Hill. Out of this effort came the Capitol Hill Associations of Merchants and Professionals (CHAMPS). Steve stepped up as our inaugural president for the first two years, once again tirelessly devoting himself to a great community organization. In true Cymrot spirit, Steve and Nicky convinced the CHAMPS board of the value (and responsibility) of “investing” in the building blocks of our community. Through voluntary member contributions the CHAMPS Foundation was born. Several years later, again through Steve and Nicky’s efforts, the CHAMPS Foundation gained its independence
and became the Capitol Hill Community Foundation. And, as they say, the rest is history. Serving with Steve on various boards (many boards), I would always sit next to him. Never one to compromise on principle, Steve would always be raising his hand and challenging and pushing. In short, he was doing what a good board member should be doing. After a while, I did stop sitting next to him. I was getting a bit of a reputation just by association! Today, I’d give anything to sit next to him at one more board meeting. As my role model for more than 30 years, I can only hope that I can be half the business leader, community leader and husband and father that Steve was. Don Denton ddenton@cbmove.com
The Lessons I Learned From Steve Steve Cymrot taught me how to be a business person and a neighbor, and made me realize that to be great in business, you have to be both. Steve hired me at Riverby Books as a naive college grad in 2002 and I stayed with him until 2008 when I finally had the gumption to open Hill’s Kitchen. I had no intention of being in the world of retail until I started learning what it means to be in business, or at least how Steve interpreted and presented retail business. Steve loved books and the bookstore and was proud to do business with his son Paul, but for me what made Riverby distinct was that it felt like Steve’s living room and was a special extension of himself. Steve would welcome friends, neighbors, and strangers to enjoy a cup of tea every afternoon to discuss the community, books, and local politics. He always encouraged me to pause to engage with customers --people were the center of his vision of Riverby. The business side would come, but if someone walked in, it was more important to help them than to list books on the internet. I always thought that it was strange that Steve would let his life and his business bleed together so much, until I realized that that is why business was so much fun for him. The bookstore was a chance for him to be part of the Capitol Hill community even beyond his previous work at CHAMPS, the Community Foundation, and his other business ventures. His bookstore living room was always open and was ready to welcome people to the neighborhood. I have tried to model myself and my business after Steve and will continue to remember that Hill’s Kitchen is about serving the neighborhood and that people are always the priority. If you walk into my store and feel that it
2 0 1 4 CHAMPS WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE 2014 HILLY AWARDS: Platinum Sponsers: Gold Sponsers:
Silver Sponsers: Nishan Halim, DMD DCanter Metro Mutts Loots Law Michael Anthony Salon Beuchert’s Saloon Howl to the Chief Claster Educational Services SpeakEasy Spirits William H Phillips & Co.
Jessica Wilkie–M2 Real Estate Claudia Holwill Marketing Capitol Hill Arts Workshop Sona Creamery and Wine Bar PGN Architects Capitol Lounge Lavender Retreat Medium Rare Ciao Chow
Congratulations to all of this year’s Winners and Runners- up, too! Check out the CHAMPS website (capitolhill.org) the week of December 8th for a complete list!
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is like my home, then I will take that as a compliment and an honor to Steve. Leah Daniels leah@hillskitchen.com
Unconventional Thinkers Who Gave Us Big Ideas Capitol Hill as we know it today was created by Steve and Nicky Cymrot. Steve’s unconventional thinking generated big ideas that helped form neighborhood institutions like the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, the Hill Center, and CHAMPS. Better schools on the Hill, with much better responsiveness to parental needs, including much better libraries, are in large measure the result of Steve’s efforts – and they are the necessary precursor to the wonderful influx of new families to the Hill. Our excellent succession of city councilmembers in Ward 6 have also benefited greatly from Steve’s encouragement and support. Steve was never satisfied with the way things had been, and he consistently developed constructive means of improving them. He was irreverent and sometimes cantankerous, but always for the purpose of challenging us to make the community a better place in which to live. Steve was a close friend of my family – and we are hardly unique in feeling that way. This community he fostered will miss him greatly. Steve Daniels danielssm@comcast.net
A True Capitol Hill Hero Steve Cymrot was a true Capitol Hill hero. He and Nicky gave unselfishly and without wanting anything in return. From pulling the community together after the fire destroyed Eastern Market to the creation of the Hill Center, to all the many other endeavors, they helped make Capitol Hill a much better community, all with grace and smiles. The loss of Steve is a community loss. Our thoughts go to Nicky and their wonderful children and grandchildren. Steve will be terribly missed on Capitol Hill. Jean Marie Neal and Greg Farmer jnmneal@aol.com
Imagining The Hill Without Steve What a loss! Imagining Capitol Hill without Steve Cymrot is like imagining Washington without the Washington Monument. Many of us are at that age where we are losing dear friends and they all leave a hole in our lives. Some we are reminded of when we see their loved ones, but for us walking the streets of the Hill every day will be a reminder of Steve. We
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were never surprised to run into Steve on the street. Mark walks to the Eastern Market Metro every day to go to work. He always looked forward to encountering him in the morning, drinking a latte at one of the coffee spots on 7th. The last time Mark saw Steve sitting at one of the tables reading the New York Times, he looked up with a warm smile. Mark had on a suit and was on the way to work. With a tinge of friendly sarcasm, Steve quipped, “Hi Ambassador (he knew Mark didn’t like the pretension). Don’t you think you should be retired by now?” Mark smiled back and thought, “Only another year or so and I’ll be able to afford to join Steve for a long leisurely coffee and fascinating conversation.” Alas that is not to be. We both remember his friendly smile and his dedication to the neighborhood we love. We both were particularly taken with the grace and humor with which he emceed the Capitol Hill Honors dinner, from reciting the whole “It must be Santa” Christmas song familiar to every CHDS parent to the touching introduction of any one of a dozen honorees. To Nicky and family, we offer our profound condolences. To all of Capitol Hill, we share your loss. Love, Mark and Libby Gitenstein mgitenstein@mayerbrown.com
Steve, A Mentor For Political Leadership Like many, I was shocked and devastated by the sudden passing of Steve Cymrot. He was one of the kindest and most honest people I knew and I am proud I could call him my friend. Those of us in Ward 6 know what a legacy he leaves from the many lives and institutions he touched throughout our community, but his quiet and informal way of mentoring political leadership has also left a lasting mark on our whole city. Stopping by Riverby Bookstore was never a quick visit and frequently involved a cup of coffee and conversation around the table. I will always remember and cherish those talks, which mixed a healthy dose of story telling with frank honesty. Steve once asked me why I cared so much about what he thought – he quipped his time was up and young leaders needed to take over. I joked back that I cared about his thoughts so much because he never missed an election day. But it was obviously so much more than that. Steve had an innate ability to work with the next generation of leaders – both civic and political – to help them appreciate and understand the history upon which they stood in order to help shape the vision of their path ahead. Like you, I will miss him dearly and will keep
the entire Cymrot family in my thoughts and prayers. Charles Allen, Ward 6 Councilmember-Elect
The North Hall: Too Expensive For The Community How wonderful it would be if the Mayor -- the current one, the next one--would take action in light of the insightful comments about the operation of the North Hall of the Eastern Market made recently by Tom Rall. The occasion was the unveiling of the long overdue plaque to commemorate the invaluable work and influence the late John Harrod had over the creation of what used to be known as Market 5 Gallery. Tom, who worked closely with John for over 30 years and is now a consultant to the weekend Flea Market he founded in 1984, was one of the speakers at the event. His poignant remarks sadly highlighted how since John’s death, followed by the fire and the subsequent rebuilding of the Market, the activities and events of Market 5 Gallery, have disappeared. Tom’s comments --recalling the many years the North Hall was put to good use for the benefit of individuals, groups and the community generally --will have come as a shock to anyone who has no memory of how this public space was used. Gone are the art exhibitions, the shows staged by local groups, the dance classes, the poetry readings, the dances, the social event fund-raisers. Not to mention the monthly movie shows put on by Capitol Classic Cine. (I have to mention the latter, as I was one of the handful of people who organized it!) The reason all these wonderful and stimulating events have gone is quite simple: the hefty cost of hiring the hall. And even those who might consider renting the space, despite the big bucks involved, say for a special personal occasion - such as a wedding or a big birthday - are thwarted by the fact there is no kitchen, so self-catering is not an option. And let’s not get started about the lousy acoustics! During the ceremony (October 3rd) Ward 6 Councilor Tommy Wells described how, under the leadership of John Harrod, Market 5 Gallery became “the heartbeat of Capitol Hill.” Well, it now needs a pacemaker. Mayor Vincent Gray said something on the lines of John Harrod being responsible for “what the North Hall has become today.” How wrong is that statement! John would be mortified at the state of its non-use -- as so many Hillites, like me, are as well. Maggie Hall C Street, SE. whitby@aol.com u