Hillrag Magazine April 2015 by Capital Community News

hillrag.com â&#x20AC;˘ April 2015

Est. 1981

CT TRA N O C CAPITOL HILL

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Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661

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April 2015 H 5

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April 2015 H 9

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April 2015 H 13

What’s Inside?

capitol streets 46

The District Beat: Who Let The Dogs

The Numbers: Going, Going, Gone

Eyes on McMillan: The Long Strange Trip

Zoning Commission Makes Ruling on

Out?

Jonetta Rose Barras

1511 A Street, NE

In every issue: 18 What’s on Washington 22 Calendar 35 Bulletin Board 62

Hill Rag Crossword 150 Classified Ads 158 the Last Shot

Wes Rivers Jeffrey Anderson

Charnice A. Milton Denise Romano

ANC 6A Report

ANC 6B Report

Jonathan Neeley

ANC 6C Report

Charnice A. Milton

ANC 6D Report

Roberta Weiner

ANC 6E Report

Steve Holton

EMCAC Report

Charnice A. Milton

Apr. community life 54 66

In Memoriam: Skip Coburn

2015 Capitol Hill Community Achievement Awards

Stephanie Deutsch

Capitol Streets: Near Southeast Building Boom

Sharon Bosworth

Our River: The Anacostia Progress and Pitfalls in Paradise

Various

Bill Matuszeski

South by West

H Street Life

William Rich Elise Bernard

arts and dining SPECIAL 80

Revisiting Rose’s

Meghan Markey

The Notes Are the Notes: Pulling Back the Curtain on Justice Scalia

Barbara Wells

Dining Notes

Celeste McCall

A Real Treat: The Great Collector Series of Lectures at The Smithsonian Craft Show

Susan A. Vallon

The Wine Girl: Visit Provence

Lilia Coffin

At the Movies

The Literary Hill

Art and The City

102

Jazz Project

Mike Canning Karen Lyon Jim Magner

Jean Keith Fagon

145

on the cover:

Dandelion by Lila Asher, linoleum block print, 19x19 inches, $373 unframed. Visit: Washington Printmakers Gallery. 1641 Wisconsin Avenue NW. Washington, DC 20007. 202.669.1497 • washingtonprintmakersgallery.com Washington Printmakers Gallery Presents Jack Boul - Monotypes • April 1 - April 26, 2015 Opening Reception: Sunday, April 12, 3-5 pm. Reception and Artist Talk, April 18, 3-5 pm Washington Printmakers Gallery is pleased to showcase recent prints by master artist, Jack Boul. Boul’s works are included in the country’s foremost museums, including the National Gallery of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and in major private collections. His distinguished exhibition record stretches back 60 years, and he has served as teacher and mentor to countless younger artists. Boul is master of the monotype, a difficult process where the artist manipulates ink on a bare metal plate to print a single image Please join The Washington Printmakers Gallery in honoring this distinguished printmaker.

real estate 105

Capitol Hill’s Slums of Old

108

Changing Hands

Ryan Schuster

Don Denton

health and fitness 115

Feng Shui Creates a Harmonious Space

118

Aikido Brings Harmony to Life

120

Tick Season

Pattie Cinelli

Paul Rivas

Noon Kampani

kids and family 123

Kids & Family Notebook

130

Stuart-Hobson Middle School Addition

Completed 132

School Notes

Kathleen Donner

Maria Helena Carey Susan Braun Johnson

homes and gardens 141

Hill Gardner: Success Story

144

Garden Spot: A Long Transition to

Spring

Cheryl Corson

Derek Thomas

145

Eliot-Hine Tree Planting: A Giant Leaf Forward for Our

Urban Forest

146

Earth Day to-Do: Homeowners AND RENTERS Unite to

Buy Greener Energy

148

Garden Lady

Elizabeth Nelson Catherine Plume

Wendy Blair

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GUIDE TO CAPITOL HILL

YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

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

Editorial Staﬀ

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

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

L��: M��: M��: T��: W�� G��:

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

Government & Politics

Jonetta Rose Barras • jonetta@jonettarosebarras.com

General Assignment

Jeﬀ Anderson • byjeﬀreyanderson@gmail.com 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

Production/Graphic/Web Design

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Advertising & Sales

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Distribution

M��: Andrew Lightman D��: MediaPoint, LLC I��: distribution@hillrag.com

Deadlines & Contacts

A��: sales@hillrag.com D�� A��: 15th of each month C�� A��: 10th of each month E��: 15th of each month; editorial@hilllrag.com B�� B�� C��: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

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. 16 H Hillrag.com

DCRA FREE WORKSHOPS FOR EXISTING AND ASPIRING DISTRICT BUSINESSES

Money Smart for Small Business: Financial Management & Credit Reporting Date:

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Time:

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://goo.gl/DhyGDM

Understanding Business Structures

Senior Entrepreneurship Program

Date:

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

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Thursday, April 9, 2015

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2:30 pm – 5:00 pm

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1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

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Affordable Care Act and Third Party Payers

Regulatory Process of How to Open a Small Business in DC

The Regulatory Process of Starting a Business

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Friday, April 10, 2015

Date:

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

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Monday, April 20, 2015

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Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (E-200) Washington, D.C. 20024

Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Library 901 G Street NW, Room A-3 Washington, DC 20001

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Meet One-on-One with a Lawyer for Free! Date:

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

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5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (E-200) Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://goo.gl/Ifb5k4

Money Smart for Small Business: Banking Services and Insurance

The District of Columbia Procurement Technical Assistance Center (DC PTAC) Series

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Thursday, April 23, 2015

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Thursday, April 23, 2015

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4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

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1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington, D.C. 20024

To Register: http://goo.gl/zYuDQe

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Money Smart for Small Business: Organizational Types & Tax Planning and Reporting

A Comprehensive Guide for Small Business Planning Date:

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Time:

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://goo.gl/YMBL8s

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

Date:

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Time:

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Location: 1100 4th Street SW 4th Floor (E-4302) Washington, D.C. 20024 To Register: http://goo.gl/rKO7ir

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KINGMAN ISLAND BLUEGRASS AND FOLK FESTIVAL The Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival is on Saturday, Apr. 25, noon-8 p.m. The entrance is at the back of RFK Stadium Parking Lot 6, south of Benning Rd. NE. You can bring kids, dogs on leashes, soft-sided coolers, food, beverage, chairs and blankets. $10 suggested donation; free parking. kingmanislandbluegrass.com. The Kingman Island Bluegrass and Folk Festival highlights DCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s local bluegrass tradition and engages community with the revitalization of Kingman Island and the Anacostia. In the last five years, the event has grown to become the largest all-local music festival in the region, attracting over 13,000 attendees in 2014.

Crowds at last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festival

ARLINGTON FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS On Saturday, Apr. 18-19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., enjoy a weekend of true visual inspiration, as over 100 artists will showcase their works including glass, mixed media, paintings, jewelry, and pottery; providing all sorts of opportunities to appreciate--and purchase--art. The show and sale is located on North Highland Street, which runs over Clarendon Blvd & Wilson Blvd. in Arlington, VA. Admission is free. artfestival.com

Crowds at the 2014 festival held in September. Photo: Courtesy of Howard Alan Events

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MAN OF LA MANCHA AT SHAKESPEARE THEATRE A story of hope and idealism rises from the darkness and despair of a prison cell in Man of La Mancha, carried aloft by some of the most familiar and moving songs of the American theatre. As Miguel de Cervantes presents his tale of knight errant Don Quixote, his journey comes alive in a play-within-the-play, featuring loyal friends, troubled maidens, giant monsters and brave knights. Don Quixote’s quest--filled with humor and poignancy in equal measure--dares everyone to dream “The Impossible Dream.” Man of La Mancha is at the Shakespeare Theater Sidney Harman Hall through Apr. 26. shakespearetheatre.org

Anthony Warlow as Don Quixote. Photo: Scott Suchman

THE LINCOLN TRIBUTE AT FORD’S THEATRE This around-the-clock event will mark the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination. During the day on Apr. 14 and 15, Ford’s Theatre will present ranger talks, the one-act play One Destiny and panel discussions about the life, assassination and legacy of our 16th president. On the street outside, throughout the day and night, living historians will provide first-person accounts about the end of the Civil War, the experience of being inside the theatre at the moment of the assassination, medical reports from the Petersen House, and the impact of Lincoln’s life and death. Starting the evening of Apr. 14, Ford’s will host Civil War living historians on Tenth Street to recreate the vigil for Abraham Lincoln. The public will be able to visit the Ford’s Theatre campus throughout the night. Free tickets are available at fordstheatre.org. The morning of Apr. 15, Ford’s will mark Abraham Lincoln’s death at 7:22 a.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony; church bells will toll across the city, just as they did in 1865. fordstheatre.org

The Presidential Box at Ford’s just as it appeared the night Lincoln was assassinated. Photo: Alice Rose

ANACOSTIA RIVER FESTIVAL On Sunday, Apr. 12, noon-4 p.m., the first-ever Anacostia River Festival will celebrate the history, ecology and communities along the banks of the Anacostia River at Anacostia Park. The 11th Street Bridge Park and the National Park Service present the event, which will offer free kayaking and canoeing, musical performances, fishing and water filtration workshops, live birds of prey demonstration, a photography exhibition and a bike parade. The event will bring people from across the city and throughout the region to participate in hands-on art workshops, dragon boat rides, a community sing along, urban archaeology, community bicycle rides, boating and other fun activities to connect families with the natural world. bridgepark.org/anacostia-river-festival

The Anacostia River Festival is a new premier offering that culminates the 2015 National Cherry Blossom Festival. Photo: Courtesy of the National Cherry Blossom Festival

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A P R I L CALENDAR SPECIAL EVENTS Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom. Predicted to be April 11-14. The Peak Bloom date is defined as the day on which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin are open. The Blooming Period is defined as that period when 20 percent of the blossoms are open until the petals fall and leaves appear. Blessing of the Fleets. April 11, 1-5 PM. Passed down through generations of sailors and navies around the world, the centuries-old ceremony is intended to safeguard crews and

Parasol on the Folger front lawn during last year’s Shakespeare Birthday Bash at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Photo: Jeff Malet, maletphoto.com, and Courtesy of Folger Shakespeare Library

ships from the danger of the seas through a traditional blessing given by a clergyman at the water’s edge. United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. navymemorial.org Frederick Douglass NHS DC Emancipation Day Program. April 11, 2-4:30 PM. Frederick Douglass NHS, 1411 W St. SE. 2024265961. nps.gov/frdo National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. April 11, 10 AM-noon. Constitution Ave. NW, Seventh to 17th Sts. Giant colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival. April 11, 10:30 AM-6 PM. The Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival is the largest one-day celebration of Japanese culture in the U.S. with over 50 cultural groups, vendors and food booths, and over 30 hours of performances on 4 stages. $10, day of; kids 12 and under, free. Festival on Pennsylvania Ave. NW between Ninth and 14th Sts. nationalcherryblossomfestival.org

Shakespeare’s Birthday Open House at the Folger. April 19, noon-4 PM. Celebrate Will’s birthday with jugglers and jesters, music, song, dance, and more. Take the opportunity to perform famous lines of Shakespeare on the Folger stage, and enjoy tours and treasure hunts of the Folger’s reading rooms. Try out some crafty Elizabethan activities to take home. Plus, birthday cake for all, cut by Queen Elizabeth. Free. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. folger.edu

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Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day. April 18, 11 AM-7 PM. Featuring No Doubt, Usher, Fall Out Boy, Mary J. Blige, Train, and My Morning Jacket. Washington Monument Grounds. globalcitizen.org/2015earthday Arboretum Garden Fair & Plant Sale. April 24, 1-4 PM and April 25, 9 AM-4 PM. The annual Garden Fair & Plant Sale features new, rare, and hard-to-find plants, garden supply vendors, books, children’s activities, refreshments, entertainment, and more. Event is in the New York Avenue parking lot. usna.usda.gov

Anacostia Watershed Society 2015 Earth Day Cleanup and Celebration. April 25, 9 AM-noon (cleanup); noon-2 PM (celebration at Bladensburg Waterfront Park). Join 2,000 volunteers as they remove thousands of pounds of trash from neighborhoods, streams, and the Anacostia River. Cleanup is at approximately 20 sites around the Anacostia Watershed in Washington DC, and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. Registration is required at anacostiaws.org/ earthday2015. anacostiaws.org Riverdale ArtsFest 2015. May 3, 11 AM-5 PM. Enjoy a day of live music, see and meet local artists, meet local authors and enjoy food produced by local restaurants. 4650 Queensbury Rd. @Marc Station, Riverdale, MD. rpartscouncil.org

MUSIC Hill Center Jazz Ensemble. Apr 8, 7:30 PM. Leading the ensemble this year is drummer Sanah Kadoura. $15, advance; $20, day of. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202549-4172. HillCenterDC.org Music at Ebenezers. April 9, Zia Hassan and Tom Lieberman with Jacqueline Pie Francis; April 10, The 9 Singer-Songwriter Series; April 11, Glenn Roth; April 16, Annie Stokes (Full Band), Von Stratz, Hannah Aldridge; April 17, Amos Saint Jean & Friends CD Release & Listening Party; April 23, The Bachelor & The Bad Actress, Scott Barkan, Woodson Kelley, Arsena Schroeder; April 24, Rachel Levitin, Derek Evry, Jacqueline Francis, Emily Henry; April 30, Owen Danoff and Mike Squillante with Port Harbour; May 1, The 9 Singer-Songwriter Series; May 2, The Bumperyachts. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com

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{march events calendar}

American Scenes with the Washington National Opera. April 9, 7 PM. The Washington National Opera’s Domingo Cafriz Young Artists return for the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s twelfth annual presentation of American opera. Free. Smithsonian American Art Museum, McEvoy Auditorium, Eighth and F Sts. NW. americanart.si.edu

Dounouya: Global Sounds on the Hill Concerts. April 12, Cheick Hamala Diabate; May 10, Feedel Band; June 28, Amadou Kouyate. All concerts at 4 PM. Each concert will be preceded by a 30-minute conversation with the artists. Tickets for each concert are $12 (available online at hillcenterdc.org) and $15 at the door. Craft beers and wine will be available for sale. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. HillCenterDC.org

Concerts at Library of Congress. April 10, 8-10 PM, Chamber Music All-Stars; April 24, 8-10 PM, Mantra; April 25, 2-3 PM, Jory Vinokur. Free. Whittall Pavilion in the Thomas Jefferson Building. 202-707-5502. loc.gov

Cheick Hamala Diabate appears at the Hill Center on Apr 12. Photo: Courtesy of Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital

Man of La Mancha at Shakespeare. Through April 26. A story of hope and idealism rises from the darkness and despair of a prison cell in Man of La Mancha, carried aloft by some of the most familiar and moving songs of the American theatre. Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org

Music at the Corner Store. Patrick Coman “Reds & Blues”, April 11, 7 PM. $20 donation. Classical Sunday with Music from the Italian Renaissance with The NOVA Consort, April 12, 5-6 PM. $20 donation. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. 202-544-5807. cornerstorearts

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at Arena. Through May 3. Siblings Vanya and Sonia live out their days in an endless, bleak tableau in Bucks County, PA. All seems numbingly mundane until in sweeps hurricane Masha, their fading movie star sister, with her shiny new boy toy and a big announcement. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org

“Notes from the Crypt” Chamber Music Concerts at Congressional Cemetery. April 12, May 3 and June 14, 4 PM. These one-hour concerts are held about 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. Chamber music is small groups of string or wind players, ideally played in an intimate setting. Historic Congressional Cemetery is at 1801 E St. SE. 202-543-0539. congressionalcemetery.org Jazz Night and Blues Night in Southwest. Jazz is every Friday, 6-9 PM. Blues is every Monday, 6-9 PM. Expect a large, fun and friendly crowd. The cover is $5. Children are welcome and free under 16 years old. Reasonably priced meals offered. 202-484-7700. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW (Fourth and I, south side of intersection). westminsterdc.org Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Every Tuesday, 12:10 PM. Free but a free will offering taken. 1317 G ST. NW. 202-347-2635. epiphanydc.org Sunday Gospel Brunch Featuring the Harlem Gospel Choir. Every Sunday, 12:30-2 PM. $30-$45. The Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com

THEATER Laugh at Studio. Through April 19. The West. The 1920s. Mabel’s had a hard few weeks. A dynamite accident at a gold mine has left her wealthy but orphaned, and

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The Originalist at Arena. Through April 26. Four-time Helen Hayes Award winner Edward Gero (Red) stars as Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in a daring world premiere about the brilliant, but polarizing justice, his bright, new, liberal clerk, and their clash over one of the most incendiary cases ever to reach the nation’s highest court. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202488-3300. arenastage.org

Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War at Ford’s. Through May 20. This epic musical features the words of Abraham Lincoln and music inspired by the letters of those who lived through the Civil War. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. 202-347-4833. fords.org

she’s shipped off to a calculating aunt whose nephew is charged with seducing her to control Mabel’s fortune. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org G-D’S Honest Truth at Theatre J. Through April 19. It’s tough being the gorgeous woman desired by all but understood by none. Or the homely girl with a heart of gold. Or the middle-aged man insightful enough to see the depth of his own failings. In fact, Life Sucks for everyone in Aaron Posner’s poignant, hilarious new play about love and longing. Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. 800-494-8497. washingtondcjcc.org The Norwegians at Anacostia Playhouse. Through April 19. In this contemporary comedy, two women meet in a Minnesota bar and lament the struggle “to find a lover before the first freeze” as well as the not-so-nice men who have recently dumped them. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. scenatheater.org

Lights Rise on Grace at Woolly. Through April 26. In an inner-city high school, the daughter of Chinese immigrants falls for the son of a combative African-American family. But when he’s suddenly swallowed up by the system, their desires go in desperate new directions. Re-united six years later, can the lovers build a life together now that their innocence is gone? Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939. woollymammoth.net The Margins at DC Arts Center. Through April 26. Loosely based on the true story of The Philip Experiment in Toronto in the 1970s, five paranormal investigators and a skeptical reporter visit a haunted manor to create and raise a spirit as a psychic experiment--until that experiment goes horribly better than they imagined. $25. DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St. NW. molotovtheatre.org Soon at Signature. Through April 26. It is the hottest summer in human history and, in a few short months, all water on earth will evaporate. In response, twenty-something Charlie has taken to her couch with only her beloved possessions: peanut butter, Wolf Blitzer and Herschel, the

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Day of the Dog. Photo: Historic Congressional Cemetery

Day of the Dog at Congressional Cemetery. May 2, 10 AM-3 PM. Day of the Dog is an annual festival in celebration of man’s best friend. On this day, the cemetery is open to all dogs and is a special opportunity for dog lovers to experience this historic site along with local pet vendors and services. Congressional Cemetery is at 1801 E St. SE. congressionalcemetery.org

Day of the Dog 5K and Kids Fun Run. May 2, 11:30 AM (11:35 AM for the kids run). Walk it, jog it, or race it. 2015 brings the first annual Day of the Dog 5K and Kids Run. Anyone is welcome to run alone or with a beloved pup. Registration is $40 ($10 for kids run). congressionalcemetery.org fish. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave. off I395 at the Shirlington exit (#6). signature-theatre.org Swing Time--The Musical at the Naval Heritage Center. Through June 27. Swing Time brings back the sights and sounds of the World War II era with an authentic, “big band” recreation of a war bond radio broadcast. Burke Theater, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. swingtimethemusical.com Rorschach Theatre’s “Very Still & Hard to See” at the Atlas. April 10-May 10. Described as “a darkly funny mash up of Japanese ghost stories, Twilight Zone mystery and Stephen King horror.” The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts. org/events

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The Blood Quilt at Arena. April 24-June 7. Gathering at their childhood island home off the coast of Georgia, four disconnected sisters meet to create a family quilt to honor their recently deceased mother. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-4883300. arenastage.org

IMPORTANT EXHIBITIONS Piero di Cosimo: The Poetry of Painting in Renaissance Florence. Through May 3. Forty of the artist’s most compelling paintings will be on view, including beguiling mythologies and religious works, as well as one of his greatest works, the Madonna and Child with Saints Elizabeth of Hungary, Catherine of Alexandria, Peter, and

John the Evangelist with Angels from the Museo degli Innocenti, Florence. National Gallery of Art, West Building, Mail Floor Galleries. nga.gov Ships, Clocks & Stars: The Quest for Longitude at the Folger. Through Aug. 23. This award-winning exhibition, produced by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, celebrates the 300th anniversary of the British Longitude Act of 1714, which offered huge rewards for any practical way to determine longitude at sea. The longitude problem was so difficult that—despite that incentive—it took five decades to solve it. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-5447077. folger.edu HOT TO COLD at the National Building Museum. Through Aug. 30. HOT TO COLD: an odyssey of architectural adaptation, takes visitors from the hottest to the coldest parts of our planet and explores how BIG´s design solutions are shaped by their cultural and climatic contexts. More than 60 three-dimensional models will be suspended at the second-floor balconies of the Museum’s Great Hall in an unprecedented use of this public space. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. 202-272-2448. nbm.org How the Civil War Changed Washington Exhibition. Through Nov. 15. This exhibition examines the social and spatial impact of the Civil War on Washington, DC and the resulting dramatic changes in social mores, and in the size and ethnic composition of the city’s population. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. 202-633-4820. anacostia.si.edu “Spirited Republic: Alcohol in American History” Exhibition at National Archives. Through Jan. 10, 2016. “Spirited Republic” invites visitors to look at the government’s tolerance, oversight, and control of alcohol throughout our history. Na-

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BASIS DC Annual Stars Gala Saturday April 25, 2015 at 6:30 pm @ the Historic Wonder Bread Factory • 641 S St, NW Please join BASIS families and friends in celebrating BASIS teachers and a world-class education. All proceeds support the BASIS DC Annual Teacher Fund.

Ticket Price: $80

Open Bar • Hors d’oeuvres • Silent Auction contact: Basisdcgala@gmail.com Buy tickets or become a sponsor at: squareup.com/market/basisDCboosters

School Within School would like to thank our generous sponsors and guests for supporting the 18th Annual Jazz Gala and Auction on March 7, 2015. The evening was a great success and all proceeds benefit students at SWS, a Reggio Emilia inspired DC public school. Teacher’s Helpers:

Redux Garden + Home, National Capital Bank, Joel Nelson Group, The Phyllis Jane Young Group, Phil and Jeanne Team at Compass Real Estate on Capitol Hill, Colin Johnson at John C. Formant Real Estate, The Smith Team Realtors, Peter Grimm at The Smith Team Realtors, John Francomacaro at Intracoastal Mortgage

Students of the Day:

Megan Shapiro and George Olson at Compass Real Estate, Fulcrum Properties Group

Line Leaders:

Chris Cox at First Savings Mortgage, Seiden Real Estate Group, Fowler Architects, Tech Painting Co., Jason Martin Group

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tional Archives, Constitution Ave. at Ninth St. NW. archives.gov “Pointing Their Pens: Herblock and Fellow Cartoonists Confront the Issues” at the Library of Congress. Through March 19, 2016. This new exhibition will look at how editorial cartoonists, often with divergent viewpoints, interpreted the divisive issues of the 20th century—the U.S. intervention into World War II, McCarthyism, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal and events in the Middle East. Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. loc.gov

SPORTS, DANCE AND FITNESS Washington Nationals Baseball. April 6 (home opener), 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23. washington. nationals.mlb.com Free public tennis courts in Ward Six. King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St. SW; Garfield Park, Third and G sts. SE; Randall Park First and I sts. SW; Rosedale Recreation Center, 1701 Gales St. NE; Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis for one hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr. dc.gov/dpr Meditation in Capitol Hill. Mondays, 7:30-8:30 PM. $10 per class ($5 seniors/students/unemployed). Meditation in Capitol Hill is at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Read more at meditation-dc.org/ capitol-hill. Walk-ins welcome. Zumba at Southwest Library. Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. Instructor Roshaunda Jenkins will lead this one-hour fitness and dance class--all

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Photo: Tony Quinn

DC United. Apr. 11, 7 PM vs. New York Red Bulls; April 18, 7 PM vs. Houston Dynamo; May. 2, 7 PM vs. Columbus Crew SC; May 9, 7 PM, Sporting Kansas City. RFK Stadium. dcunited.com

GRANT MEMORIAL

@ THE APRIL PRESERVATION CAFE Conservator and Capitol Hill neighbor, Justine P. Bello will speak about the history, context, conservation and construction of various public monuments across Capitol Hill, including the Grant Memorial and the sculpture of Nathanael Greene in Stanton Park.

THURSDAY, APRIL 16 AT 7 P.M. At the Kaiser Permanente building, at 700 2nd St. NE. The event is free and handicapped accessible and the public is encouraged to attend. No reservations required.

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

Join Us Today at 202-543-0425 info@chrs.org; www.chrs.org; @CHRSDC 30 H Hillrag.com

fitness levels welcome. Southwest Neighborhood Library, 900 Wesley Pl. SW. 202724-4752. dclibrary.org/southwest Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Closed for season. It reopens July 4th weekend. fdia.org

MARKETS H Street NE Farmers Market. April 18Dec. 19, Saturdays, 9 AM-noon. Located at H St. and 13th St. NE. EBT/Food Stamps can be redeemed at the information table. All EBT customers and WIC/Senior coupon customers will receive “Double Dollar” coupons to match their EBT dollars or WIC/ Senior coupons redeemed up to $10. freshfarmmarket.org Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM-7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM-5 PM; Sundays, 9 AM-5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9 AM-6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarketdc.com Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays (rain or shine), year round, 10 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 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 Seventh St. SE. 202-6985253. easternmarketdc.com Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11 AM-8 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8 AM-8 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8 AM-4 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.

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Fashion Trucks on U. Sundays, noon-5 PM. Fashion Trucks offer a mix of crafts, clothes, accessories and jewelry at the former home of the Sunday U St Flea in the parking lot, next to Nellie’s Sports Bar at 912 U St. NW. ustreetflea.com

CIVIC LIFE SWWF AARP Luncheon Meeting. Apr. 15, noon. Financial Literacy: Savings and Investments. $5 for lunch. River Park Mutual Homes Community Room, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. For more information, contact Chapter President Betty Jean Tolbert Jones, bettyjeantolbertjones@yahoo.com or 202554-0901. Congresswoman Norton’s NW District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM-6 PM. 529 14th St. NW, suite 900. 202-783-5065. norton.house.gov ANC 6A. Second Thursday, 7 PM. Meeting at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. 202423-8868. 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. 202-5477168. anc6c.org ANC 6D. Second Monday, 7 PM. Meeting at 1100 Fourth St. SW, DCRA meeting room, 2nd floor. 202-554-1795. anc6d.org ANC 6E. First Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Meeting at Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW. anc6e.org u

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Bulletin Board Hine Development Construction Fence Art Project Stanton-Eastbanc has invited local Capitol Hill Schools to create a work of art to be displayed on the 7th Street side of Hine Development construction fence. The 4x6 canvasses were delivered to participating Capitol Hill schools in March and will be collected and displayed to the public in early summer when the construction fence is erected. Stanton-Eastbanc will provide an announcement in the Hill Rag to notify the public of the upcoming opening event for the children and art patrons to attend. For any questions regarding the art project please email: agolding@ stantondevelopment.com

“Volunteer Capitol Hill” Fair at Hill Center On Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., everyone can learn about ways to make a difference at the Volunteer Capitol Hill volunteer fair at Hill Center. This event showcases a wide variety of opportunities for volunteer services, featuring over 30 non-profit organizations that need assistance. This is a great opportunity for youth with service requirements for school as well.

Frager’s Opens New Garden Center Frager’s has opened a new garden center at 1230 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. It is open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The Frager’s garden center at Eastern Market has closed. fragersdc.com

Gilbert & Sullivan Show Auditions at CHAW Capitol Hill Arts Workshop seeks participants for a new (and always slightly twisted) production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury,” complemented by songs from “The Yeoman of the Guard.” Auditions will take place on Tuesday, Apr. 7, 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, Apr. 11, noon-2 p.m. Audition times are first-come, first served. Anyone unable to make any of the audition times listed, set up an alternate time by calling CHAW at 202-547-6893. Those auditioning should be prepared to sing 16 bars or a musical excerpt of one minute and to read from the script, and should bring a copy of the music for the accompanist. Rehearsals will occur over two-three intensive periods (April/ early May and July) for the production, which takes place July 30-Aug. 1 and Aug. 6-8. All are encouraged to try out. For more information, call 202-5476839 or email Brian Washington at bwashington@chaw.org.

Washington Nationals “Pups in the Park” Games Pups in the Park Games games this year are Saturday, Apr. 18, 1:05 p.m. vs Philadelphia Phillies; Saturday, May 23, 4:05 p.m. vs Philadelphia Phil-

A Capital Rowing Men’s Master 8 rac Club the last 200 meters es into home regatta, Cap of their Sprints, in 2014 Photo: Court esy of Capital Rowing Clu b

Capital Rowing Launches 27th Year with Rowing for All Ages The Capital Rowing Club began its 27th year of rowing in March. The community program, located on the Anacostia River, offers a variety recreational and competitive sweep and sculling opportunities for experienced rowers, as well as beginners. As a community program, Capital welcomes metro area residents with multiple opportunities to get out on the water. The club offers both sweep and sculling programs. Sweep rowing is four or eight person shells where each person has one large oar; sculling is double and single boats where each person has two small oars. The Capital Rowing Club is the home of community rowing for more than 400 area residents. As a non-profit 501(c)(3) founded in 1988, Capital offers sweep and sculling programs for all ability levels, ranging from learn to row programs for people of all ages to competitive programs for veteran rowers. Capital is managed solely by volunteers and is devoted to bringing rowing opportunities to youth, adults and families. For more information, visit capitalrowing.org.

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650 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Suite 420 Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-9090 (O) • (202) 547-9092 (F)

Hill resident Neil Glick (left) presents a rare book owned by the mother-in-law of Vermont-born President Chester A. Arthur to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders at his DC oﬃce in March. The book, which Glick bought at a Dupont Circle bookstore and donated to the State of Vermont’s Historic Preservation Oﬃce, will be displayed on President Arthur’s desk, which is being put on display at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth, Vermont.

lies; Wednesday, June 3, 7:05 p.m. vs Toronto Blue Jays; Sunday, June 21, 1:35 p.m. vs Pittsburgh Pirates; Thursday, Sept. 3, 7:05 p.m. vs Atlanta Braves; and Saturday, Sept 26, 4:05 p.m. vs Philadelphia Phillies. Purchase a discounted ticket for the entire family and favourite family pet to support the Washington Humane Society. $10 of every dog ticket purchased will benefit the Washington Humane Society. All those with tickets purchased for Pups in the Park must enter through the Right Field Gate. Before entering the gate all pet-owners must drop off a signed waiver for the dog’s upto-date shots. All Pups in the Park attendees must print, sign and bring the Waiver Form with them to Nationals Park. Tickets are $26 for owners and $10 per dog. For more information, visit washington.nationals. mlb.com.

International Tabletop Day at Labyrinth On Saturday, Apr. 11, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., join Labyrinth Games & Puzzles as they celebrate the joy of board games, card games, and tabletop roleplaying games along with stores and gamers across the world. This year, Labyrinth will be holding a special Carnival of Games. Visit them in the morning for family activities, and in the afternoon for a host of game and activity offerings from local game designers. Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-5441059. labyrinthgameshop.com

Women’s Self Defense Workshops On Thursdays, Apr. 9 and 16, 7-8 p.m., learn basic concepts in identifying and avoiding danger. In pairs, participants will practice simple selfdefense techniques in a safe, hands-

on environment. These workshops are at the Parish of St. Monica and St. James, 222 8th St. NE. The instructor is Meipo Martin. She holds a 4th degree black belt in Aikido, with over 26 years of experience in martial arts. She is the assistant chief instructor of Capitol Hill Aikikai. Suggested donation is $10. Proceeds go to Calvary Women’s Services. Space is limited. Register at CapitolHillAikikai.org or 202-509-1632.

Monthly Southeast Library Book Sales Southeast Library, 403 7th St. SE, holds a book sale on the 2nd Saturday of each month, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Their inventory varies widely from sale to sale. Most hardbacks and paperbacks are $1 or less. Coffee table books are $2, up. Book donations are accepted at the sale (no more than two boxes). Donate books without limit at other times by leaving them inside the D St. door during regular business hours or at any time in the donation bin.

Annual North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association Yard Sale (save the date) The NLPNA yard sale is on Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in the triangle park between the 1300 blocks of No. Carolina Ave. and A St. NE. This annual event is their primary source of funding for their community building activities. Anyone able to make a donation or work the event, call 543-3512 or e-mail elizabeth_ knits@yahoo.com, with “yard sale” as the subject.

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Monument to the twenty-one women killed in the Arsenal explosion at Congressional Cemetery. It was paid for with donations from the victims’ fellow workers. To find it, after entering through the main gate, proceed ahead toward the small chapel but turn right at the first brick walkway. The monument is at the far end of the path, near the brick wall, slightly to the left. Photo: Kathleen Donner

District Of Columbia Housing Authority Request for Proposals (RFP) for Professional Architectural & Engineering Services RFP NO. - 0018-2015 THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY (“DCHA”) is seeking to solicit sealed bids from qualified, professional Architectural/Engineering Firms to provide architectural and engineering services. The exact nature and extent of the services will vary as detailed within the above mentioned solicitation. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS will be available at the District of Columbia Housing Authority Procurement Office, 1133 North Capitol Street, N.E., Suite 300, Office of Administrative Services, Washington, D.C. 20002-7599 (Issuing Office); between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on the DCHA website at www.dchousing.org beginning Monday, March 23, 2015. SEALED PROPOSALS ARE DUE: Thursday, April 23, 2015 @ 11:00 a.m. at the Issuing Office identified above. Please contact Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at 202-535-1212 for additional information.

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Overbeck Lecture: The Washington Arsenal Explosion On Tuesday, Apr. 14, 7 p.m. at the Naval Lodge Hall, 330 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Erin Bergin Voorheis will deliver an illustrated Overbeck History Lecture based on her late father’s book on the Washington Arsenal explosion of 1864. The little-remembered conflagration that rocked the city on a sweltering day in June killed twenty-one women, most of them very young, as they assembled and packaged ammunition for the Union war effort in a gunpowder-laden building at the site of present-day Fort McNair. Washingtonians familiar with the Congressional Cemetery may have noted a stone monument there which commemorates the women who died in the Arsenal explosion. It was paid for with donations from the victims’ fellow workers and other working people throughout the city. Admission is free but a reservation is required due to limited seating. Email OverbeckLecture@CapitolHillHistory.org and indicate how many seats needed.

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New Photo Enforcement Speed Cameras Deployed The Metropolitan Police Department has announced the deployment of new speed camera locations. The locations for the new Photo Enforcement Units will be sites where speeding has been identified to be a problem. The 30 day educational phase, or “warning period” started on Mar. 23. During this period, violators will receive warning citations. After the warning period, MPD will begin issuing live moving citations to violators. The new photo enforcement locations are 6100 block of Eastern Ave. NE, southeast-bound; 3200 block of Fort Lincoln Dr. NE, southbound; 1900 block of Branch Ave. SE, southbound; 1400 block of So. Capitol St. SE, northbound; 1400 block of So. Capitol St. SW, southbound; 600 block of Kenilworth Ave. NE, southbound. All new camera locations have a 25 mph speed limit. For more information, visit mpdc.dc.gov/ page/dc-streetsafe-automated-traffic-enforcement.

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APTA Peer Review on DC Streetcars The District Department of Transportation has announced the reception of a letter from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), which conducted a peer review of the H Street/Benning Road Streetcar system. The peer review panel concluded that there are no fatal flaws that would prevent the DC Streetcar from starting revenue service on the H Street/Benning Road corridor. A draft report is due to be delivered in mid-April. DDOT is also undertaking maintenance and repairs to

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the system, including rail breaks and water drainage mitigation. This work requires that simulated service temporarily cease along the corridor.

Aspiring Writers Circle at MLK Library

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The Aspiring Writers Circle meets on the second Tuesday of every month in MLK Libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Digital Commons at 6 p.m. A place for peer support and networking for new and emerging writers, the Circle is open to playwrights and poets, bloggers and freelancers, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s authors, graphic novelists, fiction and nonfiction writers. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. 202-7270321. dclibrary.org/mlk

2015 Larry Neal Writing Competition The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has opened the 32nd Annual Larry Neal Writing Competition. The competition commemorates the artistic legacy and vision of cultural understanding of Larry Neal, a renowned author. The competition is open to emerging and professional writers of all ages who reside in the District of Columbia. Cash prizes are awarded for artistic excellence in unpublished poetry, short stories, or dramatic writing. Applications will be accepted through Friday, Apr. 17, 4 p.m. Application forms, submission guidelines and criteria can be found at dcarts.dc.gov.

Phase One of I-395/3rd Street Tunnel Construction Project Begun Two-lane traffic will be main-

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In Loving Memory Lt. Colonel Dick Edward “Skip” Coburn June 8, 1944 to March 18, 2015 Devoted Son of the late Dick and Pauline (Robideaux) Coburn Survived by his brother Dale “Peggy” Coburn of Orcus Island; his niece Traci Veteto of California and; his niece Kimberly Green of Utah. A Requiem Mass in honor of Skip will be held at St. Mary Mother of God Catholic Church located at 727 Fifth Street, NW, on May 2nd at 11 a.m.

Great Arboretum Cookout

Donations in Skips name to MPD 1D Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) at 101 M Street SW, Washington DC 20024.

10 th Street Auto repAirS

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tained in each direction during peak hours with limited closures during off-peak hours. This phase of the construction project will take approximately five to six months to complete, weather permitting. The District Department of Transportation has announced that Property Group Partners, the developer of Capitol Crossing, has begun construction in the I-395/3rd Street Tunnel. Work in northbound and southbound lanes will be performed between D St. and New York Ave. NW, and have no significant impact on traffic during daytime hours. Minor traffic impacts, which will be primarily overnight, will occur to accommodate this.

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Each year in June, when the Arboretum grounds are in full bloom, the Friends of the National Arboretum welcome guests to an evening overlooking the Capitol Columns. With a cocktail reception in the fragrant National Herb Garden and a feast in the meadow, the Great Arboretum Cookout is always a pleasure. Not another DC black tie event, the Cookout brings together people from business, government and the community to support the gardens and programs at the Arboretum. Each year a different state is honored--in 2015 they salute South Carolina. This year’s cookout is on Tuesday, June 9, 6 p.m., reception; and 7 p.m., dinner. Single ticket is $225 ($125 for under 35’s). Casual dress. The US National Arboretum is at 3501 New York Ave. NE. fona.org

Financial Strategies for Successful Retirement at Hill Center This informational seminar with Howard Pressman and Carmen Wu introduces attendees to concepts and practices that may help them spend their retirement comfortably and in control of their finances. Financial Strategies for Successful Retirement will focus on money management strategies and lifestyle issues facing retirees. Attendees will hear strategies that could help manage investments and retirement plans. The seminar will also discuss the effects of inflation and the possible cost of long-term care. Tuesdays, Apr. 28May 19, 6:30-9 p.m. $59 (spouse or guest at no additional charge). Register online at hillcenterdc.org

Agreement Signed for Development Project at Hill East Development Mayor Bowser, joined by Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Kenner, signed the first Land Disposition Agreement for a roughly 2 acre parcel of the Hill East District Development, a 67acre site located between the eastern edge of the Capitol Hill neighborhood and the western shore of the Anacostia River. The LDA for the sale of the Hill East District Development was a joint venture between Donatelli Development and Blue Skye Construction. This is a milestone for a project that will include 354 housing units, up to 40,000 square feet of retail and create a combined 120 construction and permanent jobs for District residents. A public village square and green space adjacent to the Stadium-Armory Metro Station is also planned. Once fully built, this new waterfront community will connect the surrounding Hill East neighborhood to the Anacostia waterfront via

tree-lined public streets, recreational trails, and accessible waterfront parklands.

Spring Cleaning Begins in the Regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Drinking Water Pipes Through May 4, the disinfectant in DC drinking water will temporarily switch from chloramine to chlorine. The annual switch in water disinfection is part of a routine program to clean and maintain drinking water systems in the District of Columbia, Arlington County and a portion of Fairfax County. Individuals and business owners who take special precautions to remove chloramine from tap water, such as dialysis centers, medical facilities and aquatic pet owners, should continue to take the same precautions during the temporary switch to chlorine. Most methods for removing chloramine from tap water are effective in removing chlorine. Local water authorities recommend running the cold water tap for approximately two minutes and refrigerating tap water to reduce the chlorine taste and odor. Water filters are also effective for reducing chlorine taste and odor. For more information, contact DC Water at 202-612-3440.

Residential Street Sweeping Resumes This seasonal sanitation program is scheduled to run each year from Mar. 1-Oct. 31. Signs are posted that identify the days of the week and hours of the day when parking restrictions will be enforced so the sweepers can clean the streets effectively. The fine for violating this restriction is $45. u

April 2015 H 43

{capitol streets / bulletin board}

Benjamin Drummond Emancipation Day Celebration Explores African American Life During the Civil War Featuring Prominent Scholars, Journalists, Poets and Musicians Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital will host the first annual Benjamin Drummond Emancipation Day Celebration - The First Freed: Exploring African American Life & Culture in Washington, DC during the Civil War from April 16-19, 2015. In commemorating the end of slavery in the nation’s capital, Hill Center will present four days of celebratory and unique scholarly programs. These free public events will bring together a diverse group of prominent scholars, artists, and public figures for programming that will engage attendees in a deeper understanding of the African American experience during the Civil War. In 1864, Abraham Lincoln commissioned a Civil War Naval Hospital near the Marine Barracks on Capitol Hill. The Old Naval Hospital opened its doors in 1866 and Benjamin Drummond, an African American seaman, was the hospital’s first patient. The series is named in his honor. Nearly 150 years later, the Old Naval Hospital, a landmark of the Capitol Hill neighborhood located at 921 Pennsylvania Ave SE, was transformed into Hill Center, a vibrant hub for cultural enrichment, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.

•

Friday, April 17 •

•

Thursday, April 16 Exhibit: The Emotional Toll of War, on loan from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine

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Reparations: A conversation with Johns Hopkins University professor Dr. N.D.B. Connolly, moderated by NAACP Legal Defense Fund Litigation Director Christina Swarns Emancipation and the Struggle Over Equality in the District of Columbia: A conversation with Northwestern University professor Dr. Kate Masur and University of Nebraska – Lincoln scholar Dr. Elizabeth Lorang, moderated by The Washington Post reporter Krissah Thompson

Saturday, April 18

Schedule of Events •

African Americans & the Civil War: A conversation with Dr. Daryl M. Scott, historian and President of the Association for the Study of African American History, moderated by Yoni Appelbaum, historian and Senior Editor at The Atlantic.

•

African Americans and the Meaning of Emancipation: A conversation with Howard University professor Dr. Edna Greene Medford and anthropologist Dr. Cheryl LaRoche, moderated by The Washington Post columnist Joe Davidson Sick from Freedom: African-American Illness and Suffering during the Civil War: A conversation with Connecticut College professor James Downs, moderated by Scott Stossel, Editor of The Atlantic Poems of the Anglo-African and

Statue of the Emancipation, Freedman’s Memorial to Abraham in Lincoln Park. Photo taken in 1876.

Anti-Slavery Standard: A conversation and reading featuring poets Nikki Giovanni and Kyle Dargan, and scholars Dr. Elizabeth Lorang and Dr. R.J. Weir, moderated by writer Dolen Perkins-Valdez.

Sunday, April 19 • •

•

Historic Walking Tour of Capitol Hill African American Foodways During the Civil War: A conversation with University of Maryland professor Dr. Psyche Williams-Forson, moderated by Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s The Chew. Closing concert of African American music from the Civil War era: Washington Performing Arts’ Men and Women of the Gospel Choir under the direction of Stanley J. Thurston (Note this performance will take place at Christ Church, 620 G Street, SE)

Although free, tickets are required for each event and will be available on April 1, 2015 at benjamindrummonddc.org. Additional program information is available online as well. For more information, interviews and media rsvp contact Jody Arlington, jodyarlington@mac.com or 202.316.4316 mobile u

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{capitol streets / district beat}

District Beat

Who Let The Dogs Out?

An Oversight Triumverate Takes Over to Guard the Public Interest

by Jonetta Rose Barras istrict residents remain concerned about government waste, fraud and abuse. They say that in recent years, agencies charged with preventing such behaviors have been asleep

at the gate. A bank clerk first alerted law enforcement to Harriett Walters’ $48 million embezzlement scheme. A political candidate raised questions about D.C. Council member’s Harry Thomas illegal nonprofit, which he used to steal thousands of dollars in grant funds that had been earmarked for disadvantaged youth. Reporters uncovered the unscrupulous dealings between two developers who misrepresented their relationship to win a multimillion-dollar school construction contract. “Residents have been left to find out what’s re-

Karl Racine

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ally going on versus what agencies are supposed to be doing,” says Terry Lynch, a civic activist. An $11 billion operation, the District government is a city that is also responsible for county and state functions. Tracking activities can be labyrinthine. However, as Lynch notes, a cast of residents and nonprofit advocates have traditionally functioned as a second tier of overseers, when traditional agents of the government seemed to have fallen short. Mary Filardo, executive director of the 21st Century School Fund, jokes that she’s developed “cataracts and macular degeneration, trying to follow things.” Now, some people feel things are changing. The days of lazy or ineffective government investigative agents may be over. “I feel so much better,” says Marie Drissel, a Kalorama resident who has monitored government agencies for decades. “There is much greater protection.” That rise in confidence is because there is a new team of watchdogs: Karl Racine is the city’s first elected attorney general; Daniel W. Lucas is the District’s independent inspector general. Kathy Patterson, a former Ward 3 D.C. Council member with a reputation for strong oversight, is the current D.C. Auditor. Some residents predict this new crew will be far more aggressive than their predecessors, and will better coordinate their efforts to rid the city of dodgy workers and incompetent contractors. If, as some residents believe, the government is rife with incompetence and corruption, then that trio may represent a

new municipal Cerberus--the three-headed figure in Greek mythology employed as Hade’s watchdog. And much as with this famed guardian, they may also prefer live prey. “There are plenty problems out there, waiting to be unveiled,” says Lynch. “We have a team that is going to really work together—and work hard to get things done,” says Drissel.

Putting The Bite in Oversight The triumvirate may not be salivating at the gate, but by law, they can do more than bark. Together, they are the city’s sharp-toothed system of defense against waste, fraud and abuse of government programs and taxpayers’ money. Racine leads a $55 million operation that could be compared to a well-financed law firm. His office handles mostly civil litigation--a brief that includes preventing the skimming of District resources through theft or unsubstantiated lawsuits against the government. He also protects the public, often taking legal action against unscrupulous businesses. He is pushing for more money for Fiscal Year 2016 to help strengthen his ability to protect consumers and more swiftly respond to problems in the bureaucracy Under his predecessor, the AG’s office helped to create the foundation for the criminal case against disgraced councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr., (D-Ward 5) and against the boards of two charter schools. It may have been the only office of the trio where the incumbent actually provided a satisfactory performance. Still, the AG mostly served as the chief legal officer for the city or more expressly the executive branch. Now, however, as an elected officer answerable only to voters, Racine has much more room to maneuver, scoping out a larger terrain while increasing opportunities to contain or confront wrongdoers. Except for being unable to prosecute criminal cases, his powers are like those of other state attorneys general. Racine says he will be guided by what

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voters told him they wanted during his campaign: “an independent third party they could rely on to just focus on the law and ethics.” With his sphere of influence, the IG, by law, serves a five-year term, and can only be removed for cause. His budget is much smaller than the AG’s—only about $15 million, onethird of which is earmarked for specific activities. Lucas supervises preparation of the city’s comprehensive annual audit, which details how government agencies spent the previous year’s budget, and the quality of the District’s internal financial management structure. Most residents eyes glaze over such reports—not Drissel. At a recent council public hearing where the audit was the subject, she says “I took notes when he was speaking. It was so good. I was riveted by his presentation.” Lucas’s office also can conduct management reviews, inspections, evaluations and investigations of any District agency he chooses. In 2014, the IG opened 74 criminal investigations; 63 were represented to the Office of the U.S. Attorney for pos-

sible prosecution, but it accepted only 29 of those cases, according to documents presented to the council. “ H i s t o r i c a l l y, the majority of previous [DC] IGs have had some type of legal background. I do not,” Lucas says. “What I do have is a strong and longstanding background in IG work. “What I am bringing to the District is a paradigm shift,” Lucas continues. “Instead of being fixed to a rigid plan or reacting only to deficiencies,” he wants his office to be proactive and flexible enough “to ward off immitigable risk or harm.” An effective IG certainly can alter the trajectory of an entire agency. Consider what happened when a report was issued about the shenanigans of presidential secret service agents during a trip to South America. The scrutiny led to agents being fired and the appointment of a new director. “The previous [DC] IG turned out to a dud,” says Drissel, adding Lucas “clearly knows his role.” That’s the same view many have about Patterson. The Office of the City Auditor is to the council what the Government Accountability Office is to Congress. In other words, the auditor acts as the investigative arm of the legislative branch, providing reports about issues that may assist members in better conducting oversight. Ward 8 activist Phillip Pannell remembers the office’s heyday in the 1980s when it operated at its optimum. Otis Troupe was in charge then. He was tough and often released scathing reports about the misadventures of then-Mayor Marion Barry’s

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administration. “[Troupe] went through things with a fine-tooth comb,” continues Pannell. “Patterson seems to be very impartial and fair. She says she intends to “coordinate as closely as possible” with the legislature “to see that the work we produce is relevant and impactful. “I would like us to be more nimble than we have been and to be more mindful of new developments,” she adds.

Sniff, Sniff, Chomp, Chomp The watchdogs already have begun sniffing around. “I intend to promote honest government, ensuring its integrity and transparency,” says Racine, noting he has met with the ethics commission headed by Darrin Sobin and with the IG. Lucas plans to create a “stand alone-division” that will among other things examine contracting and procurement procedures, always an area where fraud and favoritism can occur. He also intends to conduct what he calls “proactive data mining and predictive analytics” within the city’s financial management systems that could easily identify areas ripe for theft because of weak oversight. “My overarching goals are to more aggressively find and affect changes that improve the District’s effectiveness and efficiency of operations,” adds Lucas. Ditto says Patterson, who with only about $5 million has the smallest budget. But as a former council member, she knows the innerworkings of the government and has proved her ability to gather critical information. Working with council Chairman Phil Mendelson, she says she expects to reduce “statutory requirements” that intrude on her ability to swiftly chase down larger

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issues. “We’re trying to make sure we’re not just doing good work, but doing work that has more focus.” Patterson says she is establishing a program evaluation unit, revisiting the agency’s fiscal year 2015 work plan, to focus more on council priorities, including assessment of the efforts of the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services to meet the 2007 recommendations of the Task Force on Emergency Medical Services, better known as the Rosenbaum Task Force. Patterson is overseeing the final report by the National Academy of Sciences on the Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007. Later this spring, she expects to release a report on how the city has spent its capital dollars. That excites Filardo, whose organization estimates as much as $4 billion has been spent on school modernizations, and the city is only 50 percent into its renovation program. “It’s been like a money train,” she says, adding the funds haven’t been well spent. “There is room for a lot of heavy lifting that will help the council in its oversight,” says Patterson, adding that she expects to collaborate with her counterparts. The day after we spoke, she was meeting with the IG about an audit of the city’s housing programs. “‘We may want to make sure nothing is slipping between the cracks.” u

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April 2015 H 49

{capitol streets / the numbers}

Going, Going, Gone

How DC’s Vanishing Affordable Housing Is Affecting Us All

t’s getting harder and harder to afford an apartment in DC. Virtually no low-cost housing is available in the private rental market and rents continue to rise at a break-neck pace. This is squeezing the budgets for many residents, and it is putting an increasing number of families in desperate situations without a stable place to live. The lack of affordable housing not only affects the ability of residents to thrive, but it also affects the ability of the District to remain economically strong. When families put all they have toward rent, they cut back on food and spend less to support local businesses. When parents cannot afford bus fare, they lose their jobs. When children live in homes with mold or rodents, they can get asthma, the leading cause of school absences. When families who cannot afford to live in DC are forced to move, it is increasingly difficult to operate a strong service industry. This year the Mayor and DC Council can take steps to ensure that residents with a wide range of incomes can afford to live in this city and contribute to its vitality. They must develop a comprehensive housing strategy and find new resources to pay for programs that provide struggling residents a stable home.

Rents Continue to Surge The District has seen an influx of residents, including many college-educated young people, which has increased demand for housing and pushed up rents. While the population growth has expanded the city’s tax base and helped the economy recover from the recession, it is seriously crimping the ability of many residents to find a place to live. Rents have grown rapidly for nearly all residents – whether they live in low-cost, basement apartments or in luxury, high-rise lofts. But the impact has been greatest on low- and moderate-income households that heavily rely on low-cost units. The number of low-cost apartments was

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by Wes Rivers there are very few, if any, low-cost units in the private market. Without any private options, it’s no wonder that there are 70,000 households on the waiting list for the DC Housing Authority’s programs.

Household Budgets Strained

cut in half over the last decade. Apartments with monthly rent and utilities below $800 fell from 58,000 in 2002 to only 33,000 in 2013, according to DCFPI’s latest study of US Census Bureau data. The number of units remaining below $800 roughly matches the number of federally and locally subsidized housing units. This suggests that

On top of surging rents, the District’s economy is not producing the jobs or wages thousands of residents need to afford rent. About 40 percent of the District’s renters have had flat incomes since the beginning of the rental boom. Residents without a college degree faced declining wages and higher rates of underemployment, meaning they had to take part-time jobs when they would prefer to work full-time. Shrinking paychecks and higher costs mean that residents are putting larger shares of their incomes toward rent and cutting other necessities – like food and transportation – to make ends meet. Very low-income households are feeling the greatest pinch on their budgets. Two-thirds of low-income households spend more than half their income for housing. But they’re not alone. More and more, moderate-income residents are being squeezed. Even households with incomes up to

$54,000 have seen their rent increase dramatically, with one-third now facing a severe housing cost burden.

Housing Instability Is Bad for Everyone Families that spend the majority of their limited budgets on housing costs face instability that can lead to barriers to employment, education, and good health. More resources going toward housing means less for food, health care and transportation. High housing costs may force families to rent substandard housing with health hazards like mold and rodents. It may also force families to move a lot or double up with another struggling family. These situations can introduce toxic stress that may make it difficult for parents to hold down a job or kids to concentrate in school. What’s worse is that housing instability can add to the city’s growing number of families that are homeless. The limited affordable options have made it hard for the District to manage a skyrocketing number of homeless families, because transitioning out of shelter and finding homes is so hard. So what is a family to do? Many residents are forced to move in search of better wages and more affordable places to live. An exodus of workers out of the District can threaten the city’s economic vitality. Without a variety of workers with a wide range of incomes living here, the District will be unable to sustain certain parts of the economy, including our strong service industry.

The Mayor and DC Council Need to Do More To help residents maintain a stable home, policymakers need to develop a comprehensive strategy that produces more affordable rental units. This includes supporting programs

that build more low-cost apartments, preserving what few affordable units we have left, and providing resources to programs that help District residents pay the rent. An important component of this strategy will be Mayor Bowser’s commitment to put $100 million to the Housing Production Trust Fund. However, it will take more resources to make these promises a reality. The Mayor and Council should look for new revenue to meet housing needs while also maintaining investments in other critical services across the city. One way to do this is to spend some of last year’s $200 million surplus, rather than stick with current rules that require the city to save every penny. Not all of that money is available, but some of it could be used to provide temporary relief for what has become a crisis. Mayor Bowser and the Council also could raise revenue in a fair way. DC has the lowest taxes for residents in the region, including property taxes that often are thousands of dollars less than our neighbors in Virginia or Maryland. Additional tax rates at the high end of our income tax or raising property taxes on DC’s highest-value homes can raise significant revenue in an equitable way. The fiscal year 2016 budget will be released this month, and it is important that the Mayor and the Council take it as an opportunity to make significant investments in affordable housing. This would provide stability and opportunity for District residents and help DC maintain its growing economic vitality. Rivers is a policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org). DCFPI promotes budget and policy solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in the District of Columbia, and to increase the opportunity for residents to build a better future. u

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{capitol streets}

The Long Strange Trip How Developers Hijacked McMillan by Jeffrey Anderson

n 1989, the McMillan Sand Filtration Facility, used by the city to filter its drinking water for much of the 20th century, was a neglected expanse of land. That year some residents approached Tony Norman, a law student from Louisiana who had moved to First St. NW, about a city plan to build a K-Mart on the 25-acre site. “They had this unusual, passionate connection [to McMillan], and I got sucked into it,” said Norman, who spearheaded a federal court injunction that torpedoed the K-Mart deal. “But I’m glad I did.” In 1990, the District designated the 20th century water utility for mixed-use development. But the site languished until 2000, when the Office of Planning (OP) invited architects from Catholic University and Howard University to contribute a vision for its redevelopment. The resulting recommendations, made by OP in 2002, emphasized community input, historic preservation and re-use of the site’s underground sand cells. Directives included “Be Creative” and “Be Responsive to Community Needs and Concerns.” Jump forward to 2015. Developers are now poised to demolish all but two of the sand cells and build two million square feet of residential, retail and medical office space, and a six-acre park. Not surprisingly, Norman and other community members object not just to the density and commercial orientation of the plan, but also to the process of its adoption.

Hijacking McMillan Mayors and city officials have come and gone since DC bought the McMillan site for $9.3 million in 1987. The next year the city chartered The National Capital Revitalization Corporation (NCRC). This quasi-government agency was charged with developing public properties including McMillan. In 2006, NCRC sought a “Land Development Partner” for McMillan to share the task of creating a master framework for the site. From a field of five, the agency chose Vision McMillan Partners (VMP), a limited liability company comprised of three firms. The solicitation required VMP to “em-

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brace and adaptively reuse the historic nature and features of the site,” and called for additional rounds of bidding to select the actual site developers. In 2007, Norman, by then a land-use lawyer, and representatives from nearby communities formed the McMillan Advisory Group (MAG). The new group was authorized by the District to work with VMP on pre-development issues such as traffic, infrastructure, engineering and the environment. MAG members were eager to participate in that process, Norman said. Newly elected Mayor Adrian Fenty dissolved NCRC in March 2007, and transferred its real estate portfolio to the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED). At the same time, VMP sought majority development rights for the site. A July 26, 2007, email to the deputy mayor’s office by outgoing NCRC Development Manager McClinton Jackson III, strongly disagreed with the wisdom of that proposal. “The solicitation clearly sets forth that [site] developers will be selected in the future, after the master plan has been designed and approved,” wrote Jackson, who recommended further competitive bidding. In December 2007, Jackson, Norman and VMP consultant Tania Jackson signed a Letter of Commitment to “maintain a continual dialogue and cooperate with each other.” Without further bidding, the District instructed VMP to take over as master developer. The agreement committed the parties to using the OP’s 2002 recommendations “as a baseline and/or blueprint for revitalization.” With the determination of master developer made, the District prepared a Land Disposition Agreement granting VMP the right to purchase

and develop the site. DMPED would become “coapplicant” on VMP’s permit applications. “It was a serious mistake,” says Professor Miriam Gusevich, an architect from Catholic, of the decision to assign developers a master role in projects such as McMillan. “The city was begging developers to do their thinking for them. There was no independent agency advocating in the public interest.” Former DC planning director Harriet Tregoning, now director of HUD’s Office of Economic Resilience, defends the decision and sees a reverse dynamic. Early recommendations for McMillan came before the District began to experience rapid population growth and an improved financial outlook, she points out. “We no longer had to beg for development, we could be more demanding,” states Tregoning.

A New Deal: More Dense, Less Green Beginning in 2008, VMP met with MAG and near-

by Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) to explain its vision for McMillan. MAG pressed for low density, low-rise buildings, re-use of the underground sand cells and preservation of at least 50 percent of the land as open space, according to Kirby Vining, MAG’s chairman, who has lived across the street from McMillan for 35 years. When VMP sought a development permit that called for more density than conceived in the 2002 recommendations, higher buildings, demolition of almost all of the sand cells and less open space, Vining said the group “felt betrayed.” In a 2010 meeting, residents learned of VMP’s plan to offer just 2.3 acres of open space at the southern end of the site per an “Exclusive Rights Agreement” with the city, Vining recalls. (Current VMP plans call for a 6.2-acre park on the southern end of the site.) “We’d never heard of an Exclusive Rights Agreement,” Vining said. “It looked like they negotiated it in the back room.” Relations between VMP and MAG deteriorated. The developer did not permit MAG to review a planned use development application prior to submission, said Vining. The application failed to sufficiently address the group’s recommendations. Moreover, MAG did not review environmental or traffic studies prior to submission, he said. Stepping around MAG, VMP negotiated a community benefits agreement with ANC 5E, in 2014. The partnership also hired Baltimore-based Fontaine & Company, to “discredit” and “neutralize” opposition to the McMillan project, according to a “VMP Grassroots Plan.” Invoices show VMP initially billed the city for Fontaine’s services, but later reversed the payment.

Through The Lobbyist Looking Glass In May 2014, Vining wrote to the DC Inspector General expressing his concern about what he characterized as “unusual circumstances” surrounding VMP’s development of McMillan. In his letter, he objected to the District’s $6 million in payments for VMP’s pre-development costs, including architecture, engineering and legal. One of the partners, he pointed out, independently hired a lobbyist. Ethics filings show that from 2012 to 2014, Trammel Crow, a partner in VMP, paid the Carmen Group more than $220,000 to lobby the DC Council and at least

one member individually. The District reimbursed VMP $338,000 for the services of Project Manager Anne Corbett, according to invoices submitted to DMPED, and $236,000 for “outreach services,” Vining charged in his letter. Pointing out that Corbett routinely appears before District agencies on behalf of VMP, Vining said that city funds were paying a consultant who functioned as a lobbyist. TThe District also reimbursed VMP close to $90,000 for the services of Tania Jackson’s “development consulting” firm, Create Communitas, from FY2010 through FY2014, invoices show. While Jackson organized support for the project and represented VMP before the Council and in the community, beginning in 2012, she also served as a communications director for the DC Democratic State Committee and campaign manager for Ward One Council Member Brianne Nadeau. She was elected vice-chair of the Ward One Democrats in 2014 and now serves as Nadeau’s chief of staff. (Jackson also was a director of external affairs for Jair Lynch Development Partners, a partner in VMP, from 2004 to 2009, according to her LinkedIn page.) Jeff Miller, a former Trammell Crow executive who later served as interim deputy mayor for planning and economic development under Vince Gray, defended the selection of VMP as master developer, yet said he had nothing to do with it. “Any lack of transparency happened under a previous administration,” Miller said, laying the burden on the doorstep of one of his predecessors, Neil Albert, Fenty’s deputy mayor for planning and economic development. But while Albert negotiated the original terms with VMP in 2007, records show that former deputy mayor Valerie Santos negotiated the Exclusive Rights Agreement with VMP in 2010, and her successor, Victor Hoskins negotiated several amendments in 2011 and 2012. Miller served as Hoskins’ director of real estate from 2011 to 2014. Interestingly, Albert is currently a senior policy adviser to Holland & Knight. This law firm represents VMP on land use issues at McMillan. The District has reimbursed VMP $646,000 for Holland & Knight’s services from 2010 to 2014. Albert did not return calls. VMP referred all of this reporter’s questions to the mayor’s office. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office did not return calls.

Politicized Planning McMillan is an example of political appointees, such as the mayor’s deputy for planning and economic development, becoming too entwined with private business interests, states Jeff Soule, director of outreach and international programs with the American Planning Association. The problem is that planning thrives on continuity and predictability, and is best served when removed from politics, he said. His skepticism is shared by members of the city’s development community. Stan Voudrie, president of Four Points LLC, a real estate development company specializing in mixed-use and urban infill development, says that hiring a land developer to be the master developer is “like George Bush asking Dick Cheney to find him a vice president.” Asked about McMillan, Voudrie laughed and says, “I’m not touching that.” Political turnover can diminish effective oversight of a project like McMillan, according to Voudrie. “Having multiple administrations overseeing a deal can leave you with only a handful of lawyers who understand what is going on,” he observes. That’s one of the reasons, Soule says, that the APA supports having city planning agencies report directly to independent zoning commissions. In DC, the planning office is part of DMPED. This subordinates a community-based function to a city’s economic development goals, says Soule. “What can we learn from the ups and downs of a process that began two decades ago?” Soule asks of McMillan. “An independent planning agency provides continuity in spite of the politics of the day, as opposed to a site-specific approach that leaves people feeling disengaged.” Since Tony Norman first got involved, more than 25 years ago, he says he’s seen city officials and developers exploit that lack of agency-level independence, with the District picking up the developers’ tab along the way. “It’s a sweetheart deal, “Norman said. “And the deal drives the planning process.” This is the third part of a series on the development of the McMillan Sand Filtration Site. It was originally published online on www.hillrag.com. Jeffrey Anderson is a veteran, DC-based journalist. Reach him at byjeffreyanderson@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @jeffreyanders19. u

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Zoning Commission Makes Ruling on 1511 A Street, NE by Charnice A. Milton

ince 2013 a group of Kingman Park residents has protested plans by developer Taiwo Demuren of 57th Street Mews Inc. to replace the property located at 1511 A Street NE with a five-story, 18-unit condominium. The property is located in a C-2-A, or commercial, zone, but the residents claim that the area has for years functioned as an R-4, or residential, zone. “It’s apparent that there are loopholes and gaps that allow bad things to happen,” said Todd Sperry, a resident who acted as a spokesperson for the neighborhood. When he and his neighbors argued their case in front of the Zoning Commission (ZC) on March 19, they aimed to close those loopholes with an amendment to the Zoning Map. After hearing the case, theThe ZC voted 5-0 to approve the proposed map amendment and referred the case to the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) for review and comment. The ZC will make its final vote on the case on April 27.

A rendering of the proposed 18-unit condominium 1511 A Street. The property, which is located in a commercial area, could be re-zoned as residential thanks to neighborhood efforts. Rendering: Toye Bello

The Case The proposed amendment focuses on the northwestern quadrant of Square 1070, which is located along A and 15th streets and home to 14 properties. While the eastern half is zoned as R-4, the western half is zoned as C-2-A. “Due to the adjacency to the DC Transit Car Barn, a level of commercial use associated with that enterprise took place on 15th Street NE beginning in the 1920s,” Sperry testified. “However, over time, with the closing of the Car Barn as a trolley car maintenance facility in the early 1960s and its rezoning and conversion to residential condominiums in 1978, the commercial use on Square 1070 diminished and has been altogether extinguished within the northeastern quadrant of the square.” Sperry also argued that the area’s C-2-A zoning would allow for out-of-scale matter-of-right construction. The proposed condominium building would exceed the scope for a C-2-A zone, which includes a 50-foot height limit and 2.5 floor area ratio (FAR). He also discussed Sections 223.4 and 223.5 of the

2006 Comprehensive Plan, which focuses on Neighborhood Conservation Areas (like Square 1070) that “have very little vacant or underutilized land. They are primarily residential in nature.” The plan later states that “the guiding philosophy in Neighborhood Conservation Areas is to conserve and enhance established neighborhoods ... The diversity of land uses and building types in these areas should be maintained and new developments should be compatible with the existing scale and architectural character of each area.”

The Developer’s Response Demuren, who refused to be interviewed, also testified at the hearing. “Although I have had informal notice of the impending action,” he stated, explaining that he did not receive a formal notice from the DC Office of Zoning (DCOZ), “I have refrained from objecting to the proposed map amendment as it relates to my property on the basis of competent zoning advice, and lately Zoning Administrator [Matthew LeGrant] confirmation, that the downzoning does not retroactively apply to a proposed development on my property ...” When asked about the Zoning Administrator’s approval, Demuren referred to the DCRA website’s permit status update page, which states that LeGrant approved Demuren’s application on March 6. However, he did not submit any evidence of LeGrant’s approval. Later Demuren gave an account of his relationship with the neighborhood and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6A. In March 2014 he and his consultant, Toye Bello, attended an ANC meeting to discuss the project and made plans for a subsequent community meeting. “We already mentioned at the time that we were willing to go with what the neighbors are talking about, the character,” he recounted. “But at that particular day, nobody could definitely tell us what the character they’re looking for is.” While Demuren claimed that the community never told him or Bello what they wanted, an email from Bello dated May 28, 2014, stated that Demuren “has instructed that engagement with the community be suspended or held in abeyance until such time that he knows what project scope is in hand based on the issuance of a building permit.”

Current Status On March 20, DCRA Chief Building Inspector Rabbiah Sabbakhan sent a letter to Bello stating that

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For all your Construction Needs DCRA Director Melinda Bolling rejected the project’s building permit application because “the plans supporting that application were stamped by an engineer whose license had been revoked.” According to documents from the DC Office of Administrative Hearings, the engineer, Suresh Baral, had his license revoked in Virginia in 2013 and tried to renew it in DC. “As a result, any construction at this site will require a new building permit application ... including new plans stamped by the DC-licensed architect or engineer responsible for the preparation of the plans,” the letter continued. “Any such proposed construction,” noted the letter, “will have to comply with the zoning regulations applicable at the date of application.” “When I look at the merits of the case, I think a case has been made and it would be a strong lift for me to reverse what I see here as far as the merits of the record,” stated ZC Chair Anthony Hood before deliberations. “The government should be predictable, but the question is, how long, or how far down the pipe had this gone?” Commissioner Peter May agreed, adding, “I realize that there’s one property in question, but a permit has been applied for. If it’s a valid permit and it goes through, our action won’t have any effect on that.” “We’re sure that this unanimous support for the map amendment was a big win,” Sperry said of the decision. “The Zoning Commission agreed that the zoning designation was incorrect, especially for our portion and it needed to be remedied.” While waiting for the final vote he and his neighbors will continue monitoring this and similar cases in the community. “It doesn’t stop here,” Sperry said. “It’s a systemic issue and it needs to stop.” u

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ANC 6A by Denise Romano Charter School Contention There was some confusion regarding the process on future use of the Gibbs School building. Since the site is city building surplus, the surrounding community has no public input on its future use. The ANC was mistakenly under the impression that there would be an application and hearing process and was planning such meetings. However, Monument Academy and Community College Preparatory Academy were approved as new tenants for the building last May, signing a 20-year lease. In a 7-0-1 vote, commissioners approved a recommendation that the ANC write a letter to the Deputy Mayor of Education and Department of General Services, regarding public input process for deeming city building surplus and releasing them for use by charter schools. Representatives from the schools were present at the meeting. Emily Bloomfield, CEO of Monument, explained that the school would be a boarding school, free for DC residents, for grades 5-8, opening with 40 fifth graders in August. Students would remain in the building from Sunday until Friday evening, receiving social and emotional support while learning academics and life skills. There will be 22 employees for every 40 students. Connie Spinner, executive director of Community College Prep, added that her school will provide adult education classes, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in three hour segments, Monday through Friday. Classes include a Microsoft Office course. There will be two separate entrances to the schools and adult and children will not interact with each other at all. A bulletin board on the building

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will give the community updates on the construction timeline.

ANC 6A Supports the Streetcar Project Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a recommendation that the ANC write a letter to Mayor Bowser and the District Department of Transportation, requesting continued commitment to the completion of the streetcar line through downtown. Chair Phil Toomajian said that the project was so close to being completed, “At the 1st and goal,” adding that not having the streetcar running puts a strain on the corridor’s infrastructure.

Updates from Commander Jeff Brown Commander Jeff Brown visited the meeting, addressing high-profile crimes in PSA 104. There has been a 10 percent decrease in overall crime over the past 30 days, compared to the same time as last year, but a huge increase in robberies. At the same time last March, there were 6 robberies. This year there were 16. However, Brown said he is hoping to see a decrease since an arrest was made. The alleged perpetrator, who lives in Ward 7, was allegedly committing auto thefts in Ward 6 and then driving around the city with the stolen vehicles, committing other robberies in Wards 1 and 4. There were four stolen cars found in the back of his apartment complex. In the meantime, Brown and Lieutenant Cullen have put together a crime plan to increase visibility, with more officers patrolling on bicycles and cars. In addition, residents should be cognizant when exiting their cars and put their phones away. Most robberies are happening when it’s dark, between 5

p.m. and 11 p.m. Brown said that there are safety tips on the MPD’s website. If you see something out of the ordinary or are interested in relaunching the Orange Hat Patrol, contact Lieutenant Cullen at (202) 299-3381.

Economic Development and Zoning business Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a recommendation that the ANC write a letter to the Historic Preservation Review Board in support of the proposed design for 1102 Park St. NE: construction of a two-story rear addition to an existing singlefamily dwelling in the R-4 District.

Other Business The Washington, DC Community Needs Assessment Survey is available. The United Planning Organization urged residents to take it to help improve services and policies in DC. It can be found at tinyurl.com/UPO-CAN-2015. Commissioner Omar Mahmud announced

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A PHIL TOOMAJIAN, CHAIR, PHILANC6A@GMAIL.COM Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and Stanton Park communities ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE.

that the C Street Project is coming back, analyzing traffic calming and other pedestrian issues. He also noted that the issue with the abandoned properties on Florida Ave. NE will be resolved quickly by the office of the Attorney General and the MPD. Commissioner Stephanie Zimney will be holding a monthly meeting on the third Wednesday of each month beginning in April at the Sherwood Recreation Center, 6:15 to 7 p.m. Chair Toomajian announced that DDOT will be installing a signal at 10th St. and Maryland Ave. NE, as part of the Maryland Ave. Project. There have been reports of package thefts in ANC 6A03. The packages stolen are usually delivered by USPS, not UPS or FedEx. 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

ANC 6B by Jonathan Neeley Ugly Mug Reaches Settlement Agreement The Ugly Mug, located at 723 Eighth Street SE, is getting a second story with a retractable roof. After months of back and forth between neighbors and Gaynor Jablonski, the bar’s owner, ANC 6B 6-1-3 voted to withdraw its protest of a liquor license that will

permit the expansion. The Ugly Mug will now have a total capacity of 198 people, with an indoor second floor area, a second floor atrium, and a sidewalk cafe with combined room for over 100. The second floor will have to close at midnight on Friday and Saturday (and earlier on every other night), and the sidewalk cafe will always close down a half hour later. Neighbors continually pushed for more concessions from the Ugly Mug throughout the ANC’s process of deciding whether or not to protest the bar’s expansion. The Ugly Mug’s numerous noise and trash citations, they said, were ample reason to believe service on the sidewalk and rooftop would create a nuisance. They were also concerned about the precedent that would come from the ANC waiving its protest: thanks to a new law, when an ANC withdraws a protest against an establishment it nullifies those from any neighbors that don’t live immediately next door. But commissioners decided the Ugly Mug had agreed to enough to ensure it will be a good neighbor. Included in its settlement agreement are requirements that the roof deck’s walls and retractable roof be made of materials that reduce sound, that staff usher patrons with loud voices inside, that music be permanently fixed at a certain level, and that speakers both be installed to face inward toward the bar and include a meter to measure whether music exceeds that limit. In April, 6B will take up the Ugly Mug’s application to build an enclosure to house its trash bins in the alley behind the bar.

www.anc6a.org Next ANC 6A meeting is 2nd Thursday, April 9 7 p.m, Miner E.S., 601 15th St. NE Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee - Tuesday, April 21, 2015 7pm at Sherwood Recreation Center • 640 10th St., NE Jay Williams - Chair (906-0657) / Christopher Seagle - Co-Chair

Transportation & Public Space Committee - Monday, April 20, 2015 7pm at Capitol Hill Towers Community Room • 900 G St., NE J. Omar Mahmud - Co-Chair (594-9848) / Todd Sloves - Co-Chair

Economic Development & Zoning Committee - Wednesday, April 22, 2015 7pm at Sherwood Recreation Center • 640 10th St., NE Dan Golden - Chair (641-5734) / Andrew Hysell - Co-Chair

Community Outreach Committee - Monday, April 20, 2015

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

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

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

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

ANC 6C04 Mark Eckenwiler 6C04@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C02 Karen Wirt (202) 547-7168 6C02@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C05 Christopher Miller 6C05@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C03 Scott Price (202) 577-6261 6C03@anc.dc.gov scott.price@anc.dc.gov

ANC 6C06 Tony Goodman (202) 271-8707 tonytgood@gmail.com

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

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

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

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

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

Eastern Branch Boys and Girls Club Building Still in Flux The District’s Department of General Services has received two proposals for developing the now-vacant Eastern Branch Building at 261 17th Street SE, but 6B commissioners say both are insufficient because the city did a poor job with its request for proposals. In a

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letter to DGS, they suggest the agency revamp its offer to developers and reopen the Eastern Branch request for proposals. The biggest problem, commissioners say, is the city’s insistence on a 25-year lease for the building, which used to house the Boys and Girls Club. Most housing developments have much longer leases and thus it is difficult to attract competitive bids from developers. The city is currently considering a proposal from Dantes Partners/Mikinti Group that would create 49 senior housing units at an affordable $1,000 per month, using Federal Low Income Tax Credits. This proposal, 6B commissioners say, is not ideal because it doesn’t provide a mix of housing types and would require the addition of two new floors to the building. The other proposal that came in, from Century Associates, would build 25 senior apartments that would go for the market rate of about $3,000 per month. That proposal doesn’t work either because it doesn’t include any affordable housing. 6B commissioners say that for both proposals, DGS has withheld information that would help them gauge potential pros and cons for the community. In February, 6B asked how either developer plans to finance the initial building as well as ongoing maintenance, whether whoever develops the building will be eligible to pay lower taxes, and what happens at the end of the 25-year term. DGS replied with a letter saying that the proposals themselves weren’t the ANC’s concern. “DGS should have recognized that the RFP was flawed when it received only two responses to redevelop the building,” said a new letter from 6B to DGS. “Moving forward with one proposal based on an unnecessarily restrictive RFP is not in the best interests of the neighborhood and city.”

New York Pizza Lot May Soon House Apartments Developer CAS Riegler has proposed an apartment building with ground floor retail for the site that the now-closed New York Pizza occupies at 14th and Pennsylvania. As reported in District Source, the building would sit on 24,000 square feet of land and have between three and five bays of ground floor retail, along with between 150 and 180 units of residential apartments. There would be about 50 below-ground parking spaces (one for every three residential units). CAS Riegler plans to apply for a planned unit development variance so the project can have greater density than what’s currently allowed. CAS Riegler is the developer behind multiple

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residential and mixed-use projects around the District, including the WMATA land/developments at both Navy Yard and Brookland.

WMATA Preparedness Testimony On March 11th, 6B commissioner Denise Krepp testified before the DC Council’s Committee on Finance and Revenue regarding WMATA, the agency that runs Metro. She pointed out that WMATA has, for years, failed to conduct the quarterly safety and security drills mandated by the 9/11 Act (which she helped write), and called on the Council and Mayor Bowser to take a more active role in overseeing the agency. While Metro has been a crucial contributor to the DC region’s upward growth, Krepp’s testimony joined the many voices currently calling for a WMATA overhaul. Mayor Bowser recently appointed two new board members with the aim of tackling the agency’s personnel issues and financial challenges.

DC General Testimony On March 12th, 6B commissioner Brian Flahaven testified before the Committee of Human Services to encourage the mayor and DHS to continue pushing to close DC General. Such testimony has been a near-monthly occurrence over the past year, each time with Flahaven emphasizing the shelter’s deplorable conditions, that the shelter was never meant to be permanent, and the delayed development on Reservation 13, where the shelter sits. In his testimony, Flahaven urged the Health and Human Services Committee to ask DHS its plan for cutting the number of homeless families in DC General, and whether it has discussed its plans for DC General with the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Flahaven also said the committee should ask if mayor’s office or DHS has considered announcing a date for closing DC General, and if the mayor will include permanent supporting housing and small-scale shelters in the 2015 budget. ANC 6B’s next full meeting will be on Monday, March 20th at the Hill Center, which sits at 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Note that this is a change from the norm, which is for the meeting to hapen on the second Tuesday of the month. u

ANC 6C by Charnice A. Milton Invitation to Evian Patterson During the Consent Calendar portion of the meet-

ing, ANC Chair Karen Writ (6C02) motioned to send a letter of invitation Evian Patterson, the citywide parking programs manager, to the next Transportation and Public Space Committee (TPS) meeting to discuss parking issues. These issues include H Street bus stops, Logan School parking signage at Second Street, Ludlow Taylor School parking signage at Seventh and G Streets, as well as resident-only parking restriction policy, and H Street loading zones. According to Commissioner Writ, Patterson stated that an invitation is necessary; however, the Commission discussed whether the letter was needed and whether it would establish an unnecessary precedent. After Frank Maduro, a representative from Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office, stated that he would ensure that Patterson will attend the meeting, Commissioner Writ withdrew the motion.

Reservation 84 Christine Healey, chair of the Parks and Events Committee, announced that they will assist residents interested in improving green spaces, as well as pocket and triangular parks. One such project involves the Adopt-a-Park program, in which residents assist in gardening and maintain a park; one group plans to adopt Reservation 84, which is located at Constitution Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, and Seventh Street NE. However, the Committee does not know which agency has jurisdiction over the area. The Committee recommended sending a letter of inquiry the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), District Department of Transportation (DDOT), and other agencies, which the Commission supported with a 6-0 vote.

Addis Restaurant Addis, an Ethiopian restaurant located at 707 H Street, is seeking a settlement agreement and a stipulated license, which allows it to serve alcohol before receiving a liquor license. Approval for the stipulated license is contingent on the Commission accepting the settlement agreement’s terms. According to Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Committee Chair Drew Courtney, the Committee raised concerns about Addis’ hours and entertainment endorsement application. As a result, the Commission unanimously voted to send a letter of protest to the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) and designate Commissioner Chris Miller (6C05) as representative, with Courtney as alternate.

411-413 H St. NE and Nando’s Mary Carolyn Brown presented an application for

a special exception from H Street Overlay. Currently, Nando’s, a rotisserie chicken restaurant chain from South Africa, plans to occupy two rowhouses located at 411 and 413 Street. However, the Commission raised concerns about the noncompliance of non-waivable special exceptions and if a variance is required concerning separating fast-food restaurants from residential areas and trash enclosures. The Planning, Zoning, and Economic Development Committee recommended that the Commission support the variances if Nando’s met a series of conditions, including trash, recyclables, and grease removal, crowd control, and restoring the show window architectural feature at 413. The Commission unanimously supported the Committee’s recommendations.

Neal Place Update Commissioner Tony Goodman (6C06) shared an update on the Neal Place extension project and new amenities, which includes a temporary pocket park occupying the same space as a protected cycle track. The Commission discussed the track, a location for a possible Capitol Bikeshare, and a missing curb located at Fourth Street and Neal, which is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Committee recommended the following for amenities: funding for a DDOT Bikeshare station, as well as payment for construction and maintenance for a paved roadway, cycle track, and eight-foot sidewalks located west of the project between Morse Street and Neal, adding clear windows to the west façade, and a commitment to street cleaning and trash collecting on both sides of Fourth Street. The Commission voted unanimously to support the recommendations, which included a request for party status, with Commissioner Goodman as ANC 6C representative and Ryan McGuinness as alternate.

Other News •

•

The Commission voted unanimously to approve a request from Connie Tipton to name an alley between East Capitol, A, Seventh and Eighth Streets NW after her late husband, Tip. The request, which will be sent to Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, will honor Tip’s contributions to improving the neighborhood. Commissioner Mark Eckenwiler (6C04) nominated Tom Beiline to serve as his representative on the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Committee.

•

Maduro announced that a team of agency representatives are conducting city-wide walk-throughs to address what he called “fix-it” needs, like trash collections, lighting, and pothole repair. Maduro also asked for volunteers for high school spring cleaning. Contact hi at 202528-0786 or 202-538-0313. Courtney announced that the Alcoholic Beverage Committee will address pub crawls in future settlement agreements. The Commission voted five to one to send a letter to Mayor Bowser, nearby Commissions, DDOT, the Fire and EMS Department (FEMS) and the city council asking for DC Streetcar to extend east towards Minnesota Avenue and west towards Georgetown via the K Street transit way. Commissioner Goodman is serving as co-chair of the DC Pedestrian Advisory Council. u

ANC 6D by Roberta Weiner ANC Makes Plea for Randall Park and Rec Center Funding Plans to update and modernize the recreation center and park to the east of the Randall School were a topic of discussion at the ANC meeting. The rec center, which has been used for the last year for activities sponsored by the community and Sasha Bruce Youthworks, needs repair and renovation if its use is to be maximized. Money is also needed to fund the rec center’s programming The rec center sits in a small park south of the swimming pool and expansive playing fields which also needs updating. The Commission unanimously passed a resolution to send a letter to Mayor Bowser urging that funds be included in her budget request for both Randall’s renovation and programming needs. The resolution also includes a request to send letters to members of the City Council with the request to include the funding in the final budget,

Longtime Unity Health Care Clinic Threatened For many years, a primary source of health care services for people in Southwest’s public housing has been the Unity Health Care clinic at

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Half and I Streets SW, next door (to the west) to Randall School). It’s now threatened with closure, and Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton offered a resolution emphasizing the importance of the clinic to the residents of the community, and the hardship its loss would be to Southwest residents. The resolution passed unanimously.

Another Delay for 4th Street PUD Mark Bleyer of Forest City, developer of the buildings at 4th and M Street SW came before the Commission to ask for yet another extension for the PUD for 1002 4th Street SW, the residential and retail building to be built on the northeast parcel of land remaining for construction. Mr. Bleyer said that the reason for the delay is that they are seeking a development partner. The ANC voted unanimously to support the extension

A Plan for South Capitol and M St. SE Monument Realty presented revised plans for its project at the southeast corner of South Capitol and M streets, now called One M Street formerly, the site of Domino’s). This is the third version of the project. Instead of the very large office building originally planned, Monument is now proposing a 120,000-square-foot office building on the portion of the lot facing M Street, with a 175-unit residential building on the north side of the lot. The residential building might have, according to drawings prepared for the presentation, town house looking entrances along South Capitol Street, and there will be three-bedroom units included in the mix. The Commission voted 4-0-2 to support the project which is scheduled for a Capitol Gateway Overlay hearing in late May, with construction beginning in late 2016.

A Beer Garden at Florida Rock Representatives of MRP Realty and Bardo presented plans for a beer garden and neighborhood park to occupy their site until they’re ready to build. Members of the Commission expressed their concerns about previous attempts to do similar projects on the site. The presentation, which was not very well organized, revealed that discussions have not yet taken place with DCRA, MPD or other agencies that would have to be involved. In the end, the Commission took no vote.

In Other Actions… •

Approved a liquor license renewal for Harry’s

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• •

•

Liquors on New Jersey Avenue SE Agreed to support the Race to End Women’s Cancer, on Sunday, November 8th Supported the granting of a one-day license to the National Cherry Blossom Festival for the Saturday, April 4th Waterfront festival and fireworks. He festival will feature music on three stages, a beer garden, Japanese-oriented children’s activities, and food trucks Gave its permission to the Capitol Hill Little League to install temporary sanitary facilities at Amidon School’s field, as well as provide temporary storage facilities for equipment. Responded to a request from new restaurant Due South, scheduled to open at the Lumber Shed, to amend its liquor license application. After initially applying for a Class CT Tavern license, Due South, as part of the Settlement Agreement negotiated with 6D, changed to a CR license. However, ABRA apparently voted on March 4 to approve a CT license. After a lengthy discussion about process, 6D voted 4-21 to send a letter to ABRA saying that if Due South is given a CT license, the ANC wants to protest it, and also moves for reconsideration of the CT order. u

ANC6E by Steve Holton Interpreting DC Marijuana Law During the ANC 6E meeting’s monthly area crime report, DCPD officials fielded several questions from attendees on the legalization of marijuana and how to interpret it. There has been confusion about the guidelines and stipulations that accompany the legalized substance. Although it is not allowed to be sold or purchased, individuals can possess up to two ounces on their person for consumption in non-public areas. Any individual can also possess up to six plants in their own home but only three of the plants can be mature. Even though plant life stages are a component of the law, one DCPD official pointed out that they are not in the business of agronomy and it would be a difficult measure to enforce. With each individual allowed to possess up to six plants, it would be perfectly legal in the District for a group home of five people to grow a farm of 30 plants. Individuals are allowed to smoke in their home but are prohibited from smoking in public spaces and similar to alcohol laws, you must be 21 or over

to consume it. You are allowed to transfer marijuana from your home to someone else as long as no money, goods or services are exchanged in the process. Due to a heavy THC compound, it is illegal to sell or purchase seeds, which begged the question of how someone could legally grow plants. DCPD officials were quick to note that due to the law being recently enacted. In comparison, it works similar to alcohol laws in which citizens are encouraged to report public consumption of it. House smoking parties are legal and there is nothing that law enforcement can do if someone reports a marijuana odor in their complex or individual unit. Each property has their own bylaws for tenants, so some buildings prohibit smoking of any kind. The new law is expected to free up DCPD resources and enable law enforcement to be more effective in areas concentrated on violent crime. “We will be dealing with this new law going forward and expect it to be fluid. Quality of life is very important to us so we don’t want to see people smoking it everywhere. Officials will be ready to answer any call related to public marijuana activity, but we don’t foresee as many arrests,” said a DCPD Official.

Outdoor Cafe Permit For Beau Thai Representatives of the restaurant Beau Thai, located at 1550 Seventh St. NW submitted an application to the commission for an open sidewalk cafe. The cafe will be located on the P Street side of the property and will encompass 750 square-feet leaving nine feet clear between the edge of the cafe and the nearest obstruction, which is a tree box. The minimum space requirement is 10 feet but the establishment was granted a small reduction due to it already providing plenty of pedestrian passageway in a nondowntown area. There will be an occupancy of 50 people and the outdoor cafe will have chairs, tables and umbrellas. Outdoor hours are from 11:00 a.m. to midnight and furniture will be moved inside afterwards to deter vagrants from occupying the area. The commission voted to communicate their support for the outdoor public space to the District Department of Transportation’s Public Space Committee with a provision that the restaurant owners install exterior security cameras that will allow monitoring of the outdoor seating area.

Home Addition Request A tenant at 440 Ridge St. NW made a zoning relief request before the commission to make an addition to a town home in order to accommodate a growing family and provide a more sufficient living

EMCAC Report

by Charnice A. Milton Subcommittee for Marketing and Promotion space. The rendering submitted to the commission shows a slight enlargement of the property which brought the lot occupancy up from 60 percent to 68 percent and will only be visible from the back. It was also noted by the homeowner that renovation plans were previously approved by the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). The addition will be adding a story to the rear portion of the property and the owner said that it will remain a single family residence. If approved, construction on the property would not start until 8:00 a.m. in order to not distract neighbors. Although area residents expressed their support of someone expanding their home for a growing family, several were not in favor due to the large number of projects already underway and concerns were raised that this type of request would not stop. “If you approve one, you have to approve them all and residents do not want to change the character of the street,” said ANC 6E04 Commissioner Rachelle Nigro. The property owner said that the HPRB approval process was very tough and that she has done everything to address community concerns by keeping the scope of the project to a minimum and allowing the least amount of obstruction. She also noted that HPRB approved the project because the property is unusually small and it was a modest request. The commission motioned to support it.

6E Crime Watch DCPD officials reported a 17 percent decrease in violent crime compared to this time last year. Vehicle thefts are down 21 percent but personal theft is up by almost 50 percent with the majority of the activity happening at a Wal-Mart located at 99 H

St. NW. There was a robbery and assault at 425 I St. NW where an individual was beaten by a group of juveniles who dispersed once authorities arrived on location. A couple of suspects were apprehended but witnesses were not able to positively identify them as culprits. In late February, there was an aggravated assault at 1600 Ninth St. NW where a motorist fled after firing shots into another vehicle. No one was apprehended.

Other Topics The commission move to support a liquor license application for Ottamen Taverna located at Fourth and I St. NW. The restaurant will have a sidewalk café with a seating capacity of up to 74 people and will cease outdoor operations between 11:00 p.m. and midnight. There will be no live entertainment or recorded music so there are no concerns of the establishment turning into a nightclub. The commission motioned to communicate support to ABRA for Grand Cata located at 1550 Seventh St. NW to obtain an alcohol license. The establishment will have over 300 selections of wine from Argentina, Mexico, Spain and Portugal and will operate between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The commission moved to support design renovations at 801-811 N St. NW contingent upon plans being submitted to HPRB. It was also noted that any construction on the property will not occur before 8:00 a.m. ANC 6E will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on April 7 at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library located at 1630 Seventh St. NW. Visit www.anc6e.org to view the ANC 6E newsletter. Follow on Twitter, @ANC6E and on Facebook by searching ANC6E u

Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) Vice-Chair Chuck Burger (CHAMPS representative) reported that the Subcommittee for Marketing and Promotion held its first meeting with 15 participants. According to the meeting minutes the subcommittee’s goal is to recommend and assist the market manager and community in promoting Eastern Market and its businesses to the local neighborhood, general metropolitan area, tourists, and international clientele. The subcommittee plans to focus on three categories: a “buy local” campaign, advertising and branding, and event and programming in the North Hall, the Market, and its surrounding streets. In the following months the subcommittee will develop a strategic plan to accomplish goals within the three categories. The next meeting will be on March 5 at 7:00 p.m. in either the manager’s office or North Hall.

DDOT Meeting and Parking Burger also discussed what happened during the Feb. 11 meeting with DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) officials and other community leaders regarding parking at Eastern Market. “There seems to be a serious intent on addressing this in a very pragmatic fashion,” he said. DDOT plans to install cameras to study parking in areas such as behind Eastern Market and is considering concepts such as short-term parking. Burger also praised DDOT’s approach, saying that he was “encouraged” by how the department addressed the issue. During his market manager’s report Barry Margeson announced that he was looking at more parking options, especially for the weekend markets. He pointed out that there are up to 100 spaces of underground parking right at the end of the alley, located a block away from the Market. Since the structure is not open during the weekends, the Market will have to pay $1,100 a month, and those using the space will have to pay about $8 a day. The Market is also looking at 24 spaces at nearby Seward Square and on Pennsylvania Avenue (between 8th and 9th streets), and two adjacent to the Frager’s pad. Other EMCAC members made more suggestions to address the parking issue. Richard Layman, representative of Eastern Market Public Development Corporation, proposed using valet parking, while South Hall Merchants Representative Bill Glasgow advised Burger to meet with surrounding business owners to help pay for the underground parking

while letting them and their customers use it. Glasgow also suggested bringing back special parking permits for merchants to use the other 24 spaces during the weekdays. Layman suggested the Hine School developers might help pay for the underground parking.

Finances Margeson also discussed changes at the DC Department of General Services (DGS) that will affect his finance report for EMCAC. Earlier this year Jonathan Kayne was named DGS interim director and Perry Finney stepped into Kayne’s former position as associate director of the Portfolio Division. As a result, Margeson gives the Market’s finance report to Finney before presenting it to EMCAC. However, since EMCAC receives the finance report at a later time, the numbers may change, which affects EMCAC’s ability to advise the city on Eastern Market’s affairs. EMCAC Chair Donna Scheeder (Ward 6 Councilmember’s office representative) reported that she discussed the issue with Councilmember Charles Allen and they are looking into solutions.

Other News •

Hazmat remediation for the Hine School Project began on March 9. The weekend flea markets located at Hine will remain there until the end of the hazmat process. In the meantime Eastern Market, the weekend flea markets, and the developers will continue logistics planning sessions throughout the construction process. • The Market admitted four new vendors on a provisional basis: three artists (Mildred Baldin, Travis Lyons, and Curt Cunningham) and a Ugandan importer (Joy Nsabimana). • Freezing temperatures caused a water main to burst on Feb. 22, flooding most of the Market and forcing it to close. Since then the most affected area has been insulated and the Market has added temporary heaters to prevent a similar event. More insulation is coming soon. • EMCAC approved changes to the standard operating procedures for the Merchant Application Process (7-1 vote) and juror score sheets (8-0). • The Tenant’s Council worked on two resolutions: one focusing on additional parking for merchants during the construction process and another asking Margeson to review the new Eastern Market website with the Council prior to launch. • Speaking of the website, Margeson stated it needs more vendor information before it can launch. The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee will hold its next meeting on March 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the Market’s North Hall. For more information visit easternmarket-dc.org. u

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“State Mistakes”

Crossword Author: Myles Mellor • www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

by Myles Mellor Across:

1. Waste pipe 7. Self-images 11. Pack animals 19. Wakefulness 20. “The ___,” 1931 John Ford film 21. Pathologically thin 22. State specializing in outer garments? 24. State specializing in carpet? 25. Daytime serial 26. Changeable 28. Flexible ﬂyer 29. Parrot 30. New Jersey five 32. Confine 33. Sidelong glance 34. Ancient Lycian city in Asia Minor 36. Birthstone after sapphire 38. Sofia Coppola, to Talia Shire 40. Simplifies for easy use 45. Shipyard sight 50. State specializing in soft drinks? 53. Some consonants 55. State specializing in garden tools? 56. Set straight 57. Wished undone 59. ___ hero 61. Capital near Casablanca 62. Gaming table fabric 64. Closely linked series 65. Starﬂeet Academy grad. 66. State specializing in office supplies? 68. Zinger 71. Lederhosen 73. Chisels 74. Like saltwater taffy 76. Have another cup of coffee 79. Faineant 80. Schwarzenegger film 81. ___ terrible 82. Dive type 84. State specializing in clergy apparel? 87. State specializing in engineers? 89. Stew 91. Abscond 93. American sounding rockets 94. Dairy airs? 98. Be captured 101. Seat of Illinois State University

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104. Kon-Tiki Museum site 107. PC “brain” 108. ___ ferox 109. Depopulates 111. Close-mouthed person, slangily 113. State specializing in winter wear? 115. State specializing in optometry? 117. Witness 118. Warble 119. “Tell it to the ___” 120. Last 121. They, in Trieste 122. Winter coat

Down:

1. Having a throat ailment 2. More gimcrack 3. Ways to escape 4. Bloodless 5. Training group 6. Russell Cave Natl. Mon. locale 7. Like some piano keys 8. Willowy 9. Like Cheerios 10. Maze word 11. ___ Books, digital library 12. Seamless 13. Phobos, to Mars 14. ___ tempore 15. Breviloquent 16. Deportee 17. Allonge 18. Carangid fish 19. Indian state 23. Dog tooth 27. Perfect, e.g. 31. Foofaraw 33. Dutch cheese 35. Sleep ___ 37. Mushrooms 39. Black Sea peninsula 41. Cost of living? 42. Shakespearean suffix 43. Percussive group 44. Poet Hughes 46. Figures 47. “So that’s it!” 48. Intimidate 49. Boy toy? 50. Oliver’s request

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 51. Qom home 52. Tapered points 54. Meat cut 58. Compact weapon 60. Football’s Armstrong 62. “Lulu” composer 63. Chips in 64. Whorls of sepals 66. Entrance 67. Namely 68. ___ Verde National Park 69. Overdue 70. Apprentice 71. Literally, “king” 72. Grimm character 74. Outcropping

75. Zenana 76. Moisten ﬂax 77. Lansing-to-Flint dir. 78. Ozone depleter, abbr. 79. Neighbor of a Vietnamese 80. Antiquity 83. Invitation heading 85. Counter 86. Casualty 88. Boys 90. Congii 92. 20th century movement 95. High-___ 96. Kickoff 97. Irrational numbers 98. “Peter and the Wolf” bird

99. Main line 100. Early French cubist 102. 1962 and 1990 Tony winner Robert 103. Insect genus 105. Fast 106. Bond hearings 108. Winston Churchill’s “___ Country” 109. “___ the Fourth Generation” (Asimov story) 110. U2 guitarist 112. Buttonhole 114. Social suffix 116. Low-fat meat

{community life}

E on DC by E. Ethelbert Miller

aseball is back and so is National Poetry Month. I like it when the air turns warm like a sweet sonnet in one’s mouth. There is much to love about baseball including the pace of the game. During the off season there was much discussion about speeding up the game and making it more attractive to young people. I keep asking myself – why? I will be sixty-five this year. I want things to slow down. I watched more baseball games last year than perhaps any other year in my life. I no longer rush to do things and can’t remember the last time I ran to catch a bus. A walk will always get one to first base. The editor of “The American Book Review,” knowing I love baseball (and poetry), recently sent me a copy of “Heart of the Order: Baseball Poems,” edited by Gabriel Fried to review. A good poem (especially one about baseball) will slow you down and make you read it more than once. It requires the reader to step out of the box, make adjustments, think, and perhaps “mind-spit” into the air. I don’t want Major League baseball to change the rules. I want a hitter to step out of the batter’s box and take his blessed time before swinging at anything thrown his way. April rain will fall as players get off to hot starts or struggle to find their groove. Some pitchers and batters will pull muscles and find themselves sitting on the bench or facing season-ending surgery. Spring is always pregnant with possibilities. It’s the month when the World Series seems far away but also within reach. Watch any club that had a horrible season last year get off to a fast start, and suddenly everyone is a sports fan wearing a local cap. Talking about caps – how come there are so many Boston Red Sox caps being worn by people who work and reside in Washington? Too often I feel like Pumpsie Green wondering if his first at bat might open the door to gentrification instead of

integration. Green was the first African American to play for the Red Sox. I own two Nationals hats. I wasn’t a big fan at first of the curly W, or the Jheri curl for that matter. Remember when one felt the red hats made a political statement and were connected with the last US president from Texas? Those days are gone and the Nationals are quickly becoming America’s team. I thought Bryce Harper’s homer in the last playoff game against the San Francisco Giants was a statement. If there is one guy who can carry a club it has to be Harper. Yes, we might just make it to the World Series if he hits over. 300 and smacks 40 over the fence. The only hole in my dream comes from the fear that the defense of the Nationals might fall a notch. How many errors did Adam LaRoche save at first base last year? Will the Zimmer-mitt be a decent replacement? Will Denard Span and Jayson Werth have another great year? What about the bullpen? Well, I’m very happy to see the “untucked” reliever gone. Oh, and I would like to see starting pitchers complete more games. Another sad development in baseball is the pitch count and all the other numbers we now seem to fall in love with. Do we really care if a guy can throw a ball over 100 mph on the radar gun? It doesn’t matter if he can’t get it across the plate. Which brings me back to why I love this game that begins every April. Baseball is the poem I want to read as well as write. I want each word, line, and punctuation mark to be a moment as beautiful as a double-play or ninth-inning rally. I want the slowness of the game to embrace me like meditation and the sounds of silence. I want April to be the month that never ends, for what are beginnings unless they are forever? E. Ethelbert Miller is a literary activist. Author of two memoirs and several collections of poems, he is director of the African American Resource Center at Howard University. u

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{community life}

Skip Coburn

IN MEMORIAM

ick Edward “Skip” Coburn worked for Councilmember Sharon Ambrose from 1998 to 2002 as a Research Specialist and then for 12 years until his death as Executive Director of the DC Nightlife Association. Born in 1944 in Richmond, VA, he died unexpectedly while hospitalized with pneumonia on March 18, 2015 at the age of 70. Skip spent his young life traveling all over the world, going to grade school in Tokyo, Japan, high school at the American High School in Paris and one year of college at the University of Maryland in Munich, returning to finish his degree at the University of Colorado where he was in the ROTC and commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He then entered the Air Force where he served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict. He retired as a Lt. Colonel with 24 years of service, and then joined the office of Councilmember Ambrose. A Requiem Mass for Coburn has been scheduled to be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 2, at St. Mary Mother of God Roman Catholic Church, 727 5th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Following are remembrances.

Remembering Skip Coburn by Sharon B. Ambrose

Those who knew Skip know he was something of a character. Often his enthusiasm for an idea or a project was so intense it led to hours of research and investigation and reams of paper spilling out of printers and copiers to be shared with whomever he could buttonhole. Even if, for whatever reasons, he couldn’t raise a matching enthusiasm for a pet project, he remained willing to work with anyone who asked for his help, and he gave it generously. Skip came to DC after a career in the

photo: Andrew Lightman Our community lost a valued member with the sudden passing of Skip Coburn on March 18th. I was privileged to have United States Air Force that began in the UniSkip as a friend and member of my Ward 6 versity of Colorado Air Force ROTC program, City Council staff. and culminated with his retirement as a Lt. Skip was familiar to residents and busiColonel. He came from a military family, and nesses through-out Ward 6 and much of the grew up attending schools all over the world --city as the “go-to” guy on issues involving city he graduated high school in Paris! permits and regulations. In addition, he was His work at the City Council on issues inan active volunteer and supportive member of volving the relationship between the commuorganizations across our city, from the Anacosnity and the rapidly expanding restaurant and tia Co-ordinating Council to the Metropolitan bar business, led to his job as Executive DiPolice Department Citizen Volunteer Corps.

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rector of the DC Night Life Association. In that capacity, Skip continued to make himself available to the community and ANC Commissioners to mediate disputes and help smooth out the friction between our business and residential communities. The saying goes that a “rolling stone gathers no moss”. From his earliest days as a “military brat”, through his more recent semiretirement cruising with friends through the world’s oceans, Skip was a “rolling stone”. And wherever he lived or traveled, he gathered new friends. We will miss Skip’s enthusiasm for our city, and be always grateful for the generosity of his friendship. Sharon B. Ambrose served as the Ward 6 councilmember from 1997 to 2007.

Skip Coburn: Public Servant by David Gross I will miss Skip Coburn dearly and am so sorry that he is no long with us. I began working for Councilmember Sharon Ambrose in 2001 and that is when Skip and I first met. He immediately struck me as a dedicated, committed public servant. Every project that he tackled was done in a professional manner that included follow through until the very end. Skip and I worked together for more than six years and he taught me what it meant to be a strong advocate for District of Columbia residents. Skip had the uncanny ability to help government agencies come together to solve problems and facilitate events. He knew all the important players and knew how to engage them in a thoughtful and respectful way that always produced results. As recently as last month Skip and I met to discuss an issue that he was handling in the city. I feel lucky to be counted as a friend and as a colleague. I will miss seeing him in the community and meeting with him in my office. The District of Columbia lost a champion and friend when we lost Skip Coburn. Councilmember David Gross (I-At Large) u

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April 2015 H 65

{community life}

2015 Capitol Hill Community Achievement Awards

by Stephanie Deutsch

f you love the vibrant vibe on H Street NE, if you enjoy Sunday breakfast at Jimmy T’s, if your kids ever played Soccer on the Hill, if you look forward to reading about the houses of the Restoration Society’s annual house and garden tour, if you treasure the lively, neigh-

borly life of Capitol Hill – if you’ve done any of these things then you are indebted to one or more of this year’s Community Achievement Awardees. Anwar Saleem, the executive director of H Street Main Street; Paul Cromwell, neighbor and volunteer extraordinaire; and Cynde and John Foster,

John Foster, Cynde Tiches-Foster, Paul Cromwell and Anwar Saleem. Photo: Elizabeth Dranitzke, Photopia.

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who run Jimmy T’s Place on East Capitol Street, will be honored at a gala dinner at the Folger Library on Tuesday, April 29, for their many and varied contributions to our neighborhood.

Anwar Saleem Anwar Saleem grew up in Capitol Hill and went to local public schools – Goding Elementary, Stuart Junior High, and McKinley High. On an April morning in 1968 he was a seventh-grader in band practice when a voice came over the loudspeaker announcing that “Dr. King was shot last night.” After going home as he had been told to, he headed out, up to H Street, the area he knew well as the commercial heart of his community, where he had bought jeans, his first set of drumsticks, his good shoes. What he experienced there – chaos and looting, clouds of dark smoke, the National Guard arriving in trucks, and the loss of a friend who ran into a burning building and never came out – did not scare Saleem, but it did, in a way, set the course of his future life. He became engaged, more aware of the disrespect that African Americans could experience from the all-white police, and more conscious of the positive impact an individual’s actions can have on others. As a young boy pretend-boxing with his brother, he had admired Cassius Clay just when the boxer was converting to Islam and becoming Muhammad Ali. Saleem had also been powerfully impressed when he stood in a crowd near the Capitol and heard Malcolm X speak. Raised a Baptist, Saleem converted to Islam and changed his name. At the same time he was inspired by a teacher at McKinley High who taught black history, emphasizing the impact of education and the importance of self-reliance. After a brief time at Bethune Cookman College in Florida on a football scholarship, Saleem returned to Washington and went to work for the Post Office and later the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority where he was employed for 27 years. He married, had children, bought a house in Shaw, and became involved in local politics, running for Board of Education when he was 21 (he lost), serving as an ANC commissioner, working with the Ward 1 Democrats, and returning to his roots on H Street. He studied cosmetology

and in 1989 opened a beauty salon called Hair Rage. In 1996 Salon magazine named it the “Salon of the Year,” but didn’t want to print the address because of H Street’s reputation as a burnedout riot zone. In the years since then Saleem has become a constant presence on H Street, serving as chairman of the H Street Merchants and Professionals Board. In 1999 he invited newly elected mayor Anthony Williams to join him on a tour of the trash-strewn, mostly boarded-up street, and a few years later advised as the city’s office of planning began investing in redevelopment. Saleem personally encourages the owners of the small businesses which give character to the neighborhood and generate good will. He applauds the major anchors of the new H Street – the Giant food store at one end and the Atlas Performing Arts Center at the other. He eagerly awaits the streetcar that will bring folks from Union Station to the restaurants and shops farther down the street. He hopes that the REI store to be built nearby on the site of the U-Line Arena will bring shoppers from all over the city. Saleem is excited about the city’s program of summer internships and work possibilities for local young people and is already looking forward to next fall’s H Street Festival. And he dreams of the neighborhood’s someday expanding all the way to the Arboretum (an underappreciated “jewel” and an area where free blacks once had farms), incorporating the rich history of Bladensburg Road, creating a “garden district” on the city’s eastern edge. As one who overcame childhood tuberculosis, severe stuttering, and more recently a cancer diagnosis, Saleem knows that all things are possible. He loves what he is doing and is too full of ideas for the neighborhood to think about retiring.

Paul Cromwell The son of a college professor of electrical engineering, Paul Cromwell grew up in two very different places – the Bronx in New York City and Knoxville, Tennessee – and came to Washington in the early 1960s as a management intern in the office of the Secretary of Agriculture, an appointment that led to an extremely varied 40 year career with the federal government. He spent two years working for the Peace Corps as the Deputy

Director in Niger and came back to serve as the Director of Training for Africa. In 1968 Paul and his family were living on 12th Street SE where, like Anwar, he experienced the aftermath of the killing of Martin Luther King. As the eerie quiet that followed initial reports of King’s death gave way to fires and looting on H Street and elsewhere in the city, Paul responded to a call for volunteers from a local police precinct and helped process people arrested for violating the next day’s 4 p.m. curfew. A day later, one of his neighbors, an assistant district attorney, asked if Paul would like to join him for a tour of the riot-torn city along with a friend, a dean of Howard University Law School named Patricia Harris (who was later appointed to two Cabinet position under President Carter). Paul remembers that she accurately predicted which stores would be on fire, the ones towards which her students harbored negative feelings because of bad experiences they or their acquaintances had had there. The small group drove around with a police escort and ended up at Harris’s apartment in Anacostia from which they could see smoke billowing over the city and, through the fog, occasional flames. The mood was “somber,” Paul remembers, “very somber.” Of course, life in the neighborhood was going on anyway and about this time Paul was asked if he could come down and help with a fledgling youth soccer program that his children were playing in. Despite the fact that he knew “nothing” about the game, “helping” turned into a twenty year commitment to Soccer on the Hill and involved doing everything from serving as registrar to coaching to refereeing (“more fun than anything else”), to driving around to pick up players who were without transportation. Paul coached children but also the women who came together in the late 1970s as the Eastern Market Express. Following a divorce, Paul went to live on a houseboat at the Capital Yacht Club near the 14th Street Bridge. It was there that he met Marsha Crossley who also lived on a boat and was later Commodore of the Yacht Club. In 1986 they bought a large, hundred-and ten year old house at the corner of 5th and A streets Southeast that had once been home and office to a psychiatrist and since then had been divided into seven rental

April 2015 H 67

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FUN!

Thank You 2015 Hill Business Community

units. They brought with them the sociability of the wharf where boats are close together and visiting back and forth is common. Sitting on the porch and chatting with passersby, entertaining neighbors and friends with oyster stew on Christmas Eve or mint juleps in honor of the Kentucky Derby became an important part of their lives. (The Kentucky Derby party became such an institution that, a few years ago, it was transferred to neighbors with adjoining houses and a large side garden). Paul is the keeper of their street contact list and he and Marsha make a point of inviting newly moved-in neighbors to the annual Labor Day block party. Living in an historic house piqued Paul’s interest in restoration which led him to ten years as the primary researcher and writer for the booklet of house histories that accompanies the annual Capitol Hill House and Garden tour as well as serving as Chair or Co-chair of the Tour for five years. Should all this leave him any free time at all, Paul also has his role as commissioner of a long-lived fantasy baseball league, Monday afternoon pétanque games in Garfield Park and, just three blocks away, a baby granddaughter.

Cynde Tiches-Foster Six days a week Cynde Tiches-Foster is behind the counter at Jimmy T’s Place, scrambling eggs and greeting customers, while husband John Foster brings in the supplies (70 dozen eggs a week), shovels snow from the sidewalk, waits on tables, says hi to folks in the booths, and leaves at 3:00 to pick up the couple’s son from school. Policemen, tourists, and neighbors have been enjoying the warm welcome and diner food at

www.capitolhilllittleleague.org 68 H Hillrag.com

Jimmy T’s since the late 1960s when it was opened by Cyndi’s father, the son of a Greek immigrant family who for 40 years ran Tiches’ Tavern at 1521 14th Street downtown. Cynde grew up in Falls Church, where she lived with her mother, but as soon as she was old enough she started coming into town every weekend and during the summers to wait tables at her dad’s restaurant. “I’d bring a girlfriend with me,” she remembers. “We would come after the football game on Friday, spend the night upstairs at my dad’s, and earn some spending money waiting tables. It was fun.” When her father couldn’t find a cook, she started to do that too. In 1978, after graduating from Marshall High School and spending a few years at Northern Virginia Community College studying art, she started working full time at Jimmy T’s. John Foster grew up on a farm in south central Illinois, raised by an aunt and uncle and, later, by a brother after his mother died when he was an infant and, a few years later, his father was killed in a tractor accident. At Southern Illinois University he studied physics and, prompted by the questions raised in the turmoil of the late 1960s, philosophy. In the spring of 1970, a few weeks after the National Guard had been called in to quell a riot on campus, Foster was recruited “right out of class” into the military. He did system design for all four branches, and that brought him to Washington in the early 1980s. John used to come in regularly, early in the morning, to drink coffee and chat with Jimmy T. “I had heard all about Cynde long before I met her,” he says. When she walked in one morning he

knew just who she was. The first few times he asked her out, she refused, saying she didn’t date customers, but he persisted, pointing out that she had never actually waited on him so technically he wasn’t a customer. They were married in 1991 in a stone church in Airlie so tiny that the bride had trouble squeezing down the aisle in her mother’s 1950s-style wedding dress. Since then, Jimmy T. has retired to Florida and the couple have cooked and served thousands of meals while raising three children. Victoria is a recent graduate of Frostburg State University, Forrest is an art student at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and Garrett is in high school. The couple no longer offer dinners as Jimmy T. did but they still cherish their relationships with customers. “We have families where we’ve seen three generations come in here,” Cynde says. They’ve served senators and congressmen, Australian submariners stationed at the Navy Yard, John Kennedy Jr., and “a Supreme Court justice sitting next to a plumber talking about fishing.” They enjoy them all. As she notes, “this is an interesting neighborhood.” The April 29 dinner honoring Cynde and John Foster, Paul Cromwell, and Anwar Saleem is a fundraiser open to the public. For information or to buy tickets, call Buck Waller at 202-365-0534 or contact him at buckwaller3@gmail.com. u

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April 2015 H 69

{community life}

Capitol Streets

Near Southeast Building Boom

or the past ten years this column has been focused on Barracks Row. The Hill Rag aimed a spotlight on Eighth Street to lend support to the Barracks Row Main Street organization begun in 1999 by a local citizens group determined to save the corridor from blight. Once a vibrant business district linking the public wharfs (today’s Navy Yard) to Pennsylvania Avenue, by the 1970’s shopping on Eighth Street was considered risky business. The successful turnaround of the Row sparked national press coverage and inspired entrepreneurs to short-list many Hill sites for their start-ups. In the future this column, now called ‘Capitol Streets,’ will expand beyond Eighth Street to the burgeoning businesses and flourishing activities in Near Southeast, that fertile triangle of development south of Massachusetts Avenue, north of the Anacostia River, and east of Half Street, SE.

by Sharon Bosworth

site exercise facilities, dog wash area, and underground parking, the apartments, leasing for $1800 - $2800 per month, will be open for hard-hat tours by mid-April. www.1600pennavedc.com And 1660 Penn. Is not your usual bland DC building. Greg Selfridge, a partner in Novo Development, the company behind 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, recounts the day when his group ripped up the original, “safe” drawings. “We just couldn’t do it! That building is the first thing you see entering Capitol Hill from the east on I-695. With that address, our building had to be special!” The group collaborated with the local ANC and preservationists to generate a win/win design. The turret/clock tower is a beacon welcoming drivers to the Hill. From Left to Right: Three Egg Hunts on 4/4 The west wing (of course!) resembles 1310, and others who got in early. Look! Up in the Sky - A Clock Tower! a line of handsome three story brick row On the south side on Pennsylvania Avenue, Head over to Barney Circle and you will be greeted houses. The taller east wing is faced with red brick SE, at 1401, a Cas Reiglar mixed-use development, by a six-story turret/clock tower/viewing deck, part of interspersed with courses of stone block, a favorite is being proposed at the combined site of New York an Eric Colbert designed, 77-unit, five-story buildlocal combination. Pizza and adjacent vacant lots. At the end of that ing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Featuring onblock the renovation and expansion is well under More Great Shopway of a multi-story Douglas Development comping on the Avenue mercial building at 13th and Pennsylvania Avenue, Next door to Wisdom, SE. With Potomac Avenue Metro nearby, plus a 1432 Pennsylvania Avcore of existing stores, a Hill East shopping and serenue, SE, is a new vice destination is rapidly shaping up. smoked-glass fronted The old Domino’s Pizza at 1500 Pennsylvania Douglas Development Avenue, SE is now a giant hole in the ground. Howcommercial properever, soon you’ll be admiring a 41unit residential ty completed but not condo building with a 700+ square foot roof deck yet under lease, exand 21 underground parking spots. The developer, pected to attract shops the Goldstar Group, named the building, The One that appeal to the area’s Five, and characterizes its architecture as “contexchanging demographtual modernist.” theone-five.com ic. The north side of Pennsylvania Avenue, Bits and Pieces SE, east of 11th Street, • Frager’s Hardware co-owner, John Weintraub is already home to Cole just announced that the pending deal with Stevens Salon at 1210, Roadside Development to convert the burnt Lavender Retreat at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, a new apartment development at out site at 11th and Pennsylvania Avenue to Barney Circle, anchors Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 1236, Jade Fitness at

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condos above a rebuilt Frager’s will not go forward. That critical intersection leading to the new 11th Street Bridge will become the gateway route to Capitol Hill’s side of Bridge Park over the Anacostia opening 2018, pending funding approval. On April 12, Anacostia Park, the proposed entrance to Bridge Park in Anacostia, will host ceremonies concluding the Cherry Blossom Festival. Get there by shuttle from Eastern Market or Anacostia Metro. bridgepark. org/anacostia-river-festival.

Compass Comes to DC DC’s hot real estate scene has caught the attention of New York City real estate phenom, Compass. Two-year old Compass shot to the top ten in the NYC market by creating algorithms that match agents and buyers. Compass principals sometimes compare their company to Apple and employ forty+ engineers to bring speed and technology to real estate transactions. The new DC Compass office, led by veteran realtor, Phil Guire will be located at 327 7th Street, SE, above

Montmartre: https://dc.compass. com/agents/profiles/view/phil-guire. Real estate watchers expect Compass to go public this year.

Egg Hunting on April 4 On Saturday, April 4, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. the annual Capitol Hill Eggstravaganza at Lincoln Park, hosted by National Community Church, kicks off a day of local egg hunts. The Bunny Trail continues on the lawn at Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. From 2 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. the Bunny himself will be there to greet you. The Barracks Row Egg Hunt also runs from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm and begins at the Bunny Booth in front of Ted’s Bulletin, 505 8th Street, SE, where kids can find free baskets, cookies and lemonade!

Shakespeare Turns 451 At Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street, SE, it’s party time. To celebrate Will’s big day, on Sunday, April 19 from noon to 4:00 p.m. there will be birthday cake, sword fighting, witches brewing, and Fools acting like fools. u

April 2015 H 71

{community life / our river}

Our River: The Anacostia Progress and Pitfalls in Paradise article and photos by Bill Matuszeski

Site of the bridge to the trail under construction on the other side.

sk folks to name their favorite part of the Anacostia River and many will point to the stretch below the New York Avenue bridge, where the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on the east bank and the National Arboretum on the west create a sense of a faraway paradise filled with forests, water birds, hawks, owls, and even eagles. As you float along, it is difficult to believe that you are inside the city limits. Let’s take a look at a large part of that paradise, the 446-acre National Arboretum, and how what is happening there affects Our River. While the Arboretum is run by the US Department of Agriculture as a research facility, it also serves as a place for recreation, observation, and learning about plants, and as lungs for the city. For some it is simply a great place to get away to. Mike Stevens, executive director of the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District, calls it his “Zen space.” While it is often overlooked by tourists and even locals from other parts of the city and suburbs, that could begin to change with a great many things happening there. First and foremost, it is about to open to the public seven days a week. This is currently scheduled for April 15 and will surely occur by the end

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Hickey Run with warning sign.

of the month. After budget cuts by Congress last year, the Arboretum was forced to close to the public Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but the Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) has been able to raise the funds to re-open it and keep it open. To help celebrate, bald eagles have returned to nest there for the first time since the 1940s. Their nesting area is off limits to humans until June, which means if you want to see the azaleas in bloom this year you have to get out of your car and walk to those areas still open. No just driving through! A new dock being designed at the Arboretum River entrance will accommodate more and larger boats for those who want to visit or picnic on the shoreline. A new Arboretum director is about to be named and will team up with the new FONA executive director, Tom Costello, to add to these projects. The last segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is currently under construction between Benning Road in the District and the Bladensburg Marina in Maryland, on the east side of the River. It is scheduled to open in less than a year and will pass through the Aquatic Gardens. It will unify 70 miles of trails along the river and its tributaries, but it will not reach the Arboretum. To do that there is in design a 410 foot pedestrian and bicycle bridge con-

necting the trail over the river to the Arboretum entrance gate. At the same time, development along New York Avenue includes plans for a bike trail from the Metropolitan Branch Trail near Union Station to the Arboretum entrance. This will allow folks to start at Union Station and join the Anacostia trail system by going out New York Avenue through the Arboretum and over the new bridge, creating a range of trail options for riders and walkers. Consideration is being given to establishing a special “dawn to dusk” FONA membership to allow access before and after work hours for bikers, runners, and hikers within the Arboretum. Perhaps more important to the river itself is all the work being done to restore the streams on the Arboretum grounds. Most are essentially storm sewers when they enter the Arboretum under New York Avenue. Working with the City Department of the Environment, the Arboretum and the Friends have started to bring these streams back to life and to remove the pollutants that are choking them and the Anacostia. The focus is on the role of plants in bringing back water quality. Starting where the largest stream, Hickey Run, enters the property, a major facility was installed to remove trash and petroleumbased pollution. Once the city gets the maintenance

Spring bulbs in the Arboretum.

contracts in place to keep this facility operational, which has been an ongoing problem, we will see continued improvements. The first full stream restoration – on Springhouse Run – will start this spring. It will connect the stream to two ponds, one of which will become a cypress swamp, and will replace the current channeled waterway with a series of pools, riffles, Springhouse and meanders ending in acres of emerRun, showing signs of gent wetlands near where the stream ensewage in ters Hickey Run. There will be boardwalks the water. and educational signs; garden clubs have been trained and engaged in the collection and planting out of native grasses and flowers, which are being grown in the Arboretum greenhouses. It all promises to add a wonderful new area to enjoy and learn about streams and native plants. But all is not well with these old streambeds and the waters they are carrying. As the clean-ups have proceeded, a typical problem in urban streams has appeared in both Hickey and Springhouse runs: residual levels of raw sewage have emerged where they were hidden earlier by other pollutants. These “illicit discharges” to the storm sewers are caused when someone by error connects a line that should go into the separate sanitary sewer line. Now the city must determine where these connections have been made and force corrective action. This is not difficult or expensive technology; it simply requires the city to award the contracts for the studies, which continue to be delayed for reasons no one can explain. Even more serious, several years ago a large DCWater sanitary sewer broke where it ran along Hickey Run, and it took months for the agency to get the spill under control. Meanwhile, raw sewage ran down the stream into the Anacostia. Since then, the DC Department of the Environment and DCWater have been unable to agree on a settlement, which should provide

the funds to restore the stream and pay a penalty for Clean Water Act violations by both the city and DCWater. Instead they continue to stall and refuse to discuss options to redesign the routing of the pipe with the Arboretum. And they have left the scene of the crime in a mess for literally years. The lesson, my friends, is that even those who look like they are here to do good need to be constantly watched if we are going to restore Our River. What can you do? A number of things come to mind from the experience and efforts in the National Arboretum: • Provide strong support to complete expansion of the trail system, including the bridge to the Arboretum from the east side of the River. • Keep the pressure on the DC Department of the Environment to issue the contracts to build and maintain what they have committed to do. • Press DCWater to settle the sewer-line spill case, provide the funds to restore Hickey Run, and clean up the mess they have left. Finally, come out and enjoy the Arboretum seven days a week! And don’t forget this year’s Garden Fair on April 24 and 25. You can take home some spectacular plants for your garden, and your money will go to support the programs of the Friends of the National Arboretum to keep all these improvements coming to help Our River! u

April 2015 H 73

{community life / south by west}

South by West

VIO Begins Sales This Spring at The Wharf

Revised Planned Unit Development for The View at Waterfront

by William Rich

he luxury condominium building formerly known as Parcel 4B currently under construction at The Wharf now has a more official name. VIO, which derives from Latin for “I journey,” will be a 12-story building with 112 units facing The Wharf promenade between 7th and 9th streets SW. To the west of the project will be the planned Intercontinental Hotel, and another planned hotel will be to the east. Just to the north of VIO on Parcel 4A will be an apartment building which will face Maine Avenue. Designed by Handel Architects and WDG Architects, VIO will have a mix of studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom units, as well as penthouses. The units will feature high-end finishes including wide-plank hardwood flooring, European cabinetry, granite and quartz countertops, Thermador and Bosch appliances, custom closets, stone tile baths, and nine-foot ceilings. Amenities will be topnotch. According to the press release, VIO will offer amenities such as “a private lobby on The Wharf’s Yacht Club Piazza with covered drop-off, 24-hour front desk, concierge services, clubroom, fitness center with yoga studio, and an outdoor infinity edge pool overlooking the Potomac River.” The condominium will also have “secure underground parking” included with the purchase of most residences. Select

VIO residences will feature “private-access elevators that include direct access to the Wharf promenade, which will include an impressive mix of restaurants, bars, cafes, and other retail.” Most of the residences will have balconies with water views, and several penthouses will include private rooftop terraces. All of the units will be market-rate. As part of the development agreement with the city, two of the planned condominium buildings at both phases of The Wharf project are permitted to be all market-rate while the remaining residential buildings must have a mix of market-rate, workforce, and/or affordable housing. Limited pre-sales will begin this spring at VIO, and interested buyers can sign up on the project’s website for updates. Prices range from the $400,000s to over $1.5 million. VIO is scheduled to deliver in the second half of 2017. A second condominium building, under construction at 525 Water Street, across the street from Arena Stage, is farther along than VIO. Construction has already reached street level, and the project is scheduled to deliver in the spring of 2016. This building will have a mix of market-rate and workforce housing units. The building is located on land previously occupied by St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church. Developer PN Hoffman came to an agreement with the church to use part of their site to build the project. Adjacent to it will be a new St.

VIO is the luxury condominium building under construction at The Wharf. Rendering: Interface Multimedia/Hoffman-Madison Waterfront

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Augustine’s which will also deliver in 2016. Sales for 525 Water Street will be underway in the second half of 2015.

Back in late December, Mill Creek Residential Trust, the new owner of The View at Waterfront apartments at 6th and M streets SW, submitted a revised Planned Unit Development (PUD) application for construction of two new residential buildings on the parking lots fronting M and K streets. A PUD was approved several years ago when Fairfield Residential owned the property, but the proposed change reduces that from 324 to about 260 units. Additionally the height has been reduced from 112 feet to 85 feet. Parking has been reduced significantly from 569 total spaces for all four buildings to 290 spaces in three levels of below-grade parking; however only 175 spaces are required under zoning. The look of the proposed buildings has also changed since Fairfield retained Esocoff & Associates to design the previously approved project. SK&I Architecture has designed the new buildings with a grey and white color palette that resembles neighboring Lex at Waterfront Station. According to the PUD application each of the new buildings “is comprised of two volumes. The first is a taller, lighter box that is supported by a tall recessed ground floor with exposed columns along the primary streets and corners; the second is a more subdued, lower mass that meets the ground plane and also is pulled back and tapered from the corners between the proposed and existing buildings along the street edge.”

A two-building addition to The View at Waterfront apartments at 6th and M streets SW is planned by new owner Mill Creek Residential Trust. Rendering: SK&I Architecture

The north tower will have seven stories including a mezzanine on the top floor, and the south tower will have six stories including mezzanines on the ground and top floors. A two-story retail space is still planned for the new south tower at the corner of 6th and M streets, facing Arena Stage, but has been reduced from 8,900 to 5,200 square feet. One thing that has not changed is the amount of space set aside for affordable units. There will still be 6,500 square feet of affordable housing, evenly distributed on floors two through five of both new buildings, in addition to the 9,500 square feet of affordable housing that currently exists in the I.M. Pei buildings. Each of the new towers will contain amenity spaces as well as “vest pocket parks” between the proposed and existing buildings designed by Land Design. The vest pocket parks will contain amenities that can be used yearround throughout the day and night. Some of the planned amenities include lawn panels, flexible seating, grilling areas, outdoor fireplaces, and water elements, each designed in “rooms” with heavy landscaping. The south tower will have a two-level lobby and amenity space as well as loft units with mezzanines, while the north tower will have a two-level lobby and amenity space. The developers will go before Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6D later this year to seek their support before meeting with the Zoning Commission. If approved, Mill Creek would like to start construction in 2016. William Rich is a blogger at Southwest … The Little Quadrant That Could (www.swtlqtc.com). u

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lastregaindc@gmail.com April 2015 H 75

{community life / h street life}

H Street Life

by Elise Bernard

pring is finally here and it’s time to get out and enjoy the neighborhood and the (somewhat) warmer weather. Restaurants’ and bars’ patios are open again and our gardens are showing signs of life. We’ve got you covered whether it’s tacos and margaritas at brunch or working the soil that gets you going.

Sally’s Middle Name to Open at 1320 H Street NE The team behind Pizza Parts & Service set off a flurry of rumors recently when they suddenly shuttered the restaurant releasing only a cryptic statement expressing excitement over the new owners and saying the neighborhood was “in very good hands!” Neighbors gossiped and speculated about who might take over the space. One popular rumor had a We the Pizza from DC celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn setting up shop. This, however, was not to be. It’s not pizza in our future, but small plates served in a restaurant known as Sally’s Middle Name (1320 H Street NE, http://sallysmiddlename.com). Think lone vegetable dishes or plated proteins that you match up as you see fit. The menu will change on a daily basis depending on what local ingredients are freshest and available at the time. During a recent pop-up tasting held at Boundary Road (414 H Street NE) they served a variety of dishes including braised goat with roasted fairy tale squash and smoked pepper raita, and pan roasted radishes with cara cara oranges, nastur-

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tium leaves, walnut oil, and sunflower shoots. The team behind this new venture is chef Sam Adkins and his wife Aphra Adkins. You may remember that the Pizza Parts & Service guys recently obtained a liquor license, so expect that to be put to good use. The Washington City Paper recently reported that a beverage director from Boundary Road will join the Sally’s Middle Name team. I’d say that bodes well for fans of interesting cocktails. Head upstairs and you’ll find a marketplace that the Adkinses are opening up along with Toki Underground chef Erik Bruner-Yang and his wife Seda Nak. Among the offerings in the retail portion one can expect to find products showcasing the skills of Aphra Adkins who works in design and fashion (http:// aphraadkins.wix.com/aphra).

Chupacabra’s tacos are a welcome sign of spring A musical performance at Capital Fringe’s new Trinidad location.

Chupacabra Reopens for the Warmer Months Local taco stand Chupacabra (822 H Street NE, http:// chupacabradc.com) has risen from its seasonal slumber and is ready to once again delight you with all manner of fresh Latin fare. Fear not a light rain; Chupacabra may have only outdoor seating, but their patio is covered and they’ve invested in some heat lamps to chase away the lingering spring chills. They’ve tuned up the menu a bit, but you can still expect to find all the old standbys like tacos, arepas, and cubanos. They’ve added some new items you’ll want to test

Meet Life’s Challenges Get back to the things you love.

drive, including a hot soup or two. Early spring hours are 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. Once the temperature warms up a bit (maybe mid-April) they’ll expand to full operating hours/days.

W. S. Jenks Hardware Has Your Spring Gardening Supply Needs Covered Though they won’t sell plants this year (they’re still adjusting to the new location and focus on retail sales) W.S. Jenks & Son (910 Bladensburg Road NE, http://www.wsjenks.com) has just about everything else you might need for your garden and yard this year, as well as plenty of spring cleaning supplies. The shop is settling into its new role as Trinidad’s neighborhood hardware store, even hosting a Trinidad Neighborhood Association (http:// trinidadneighborhood.org) meeting the other night. They have a well-stocked garden and yard care section with freshly arrived bags of organic leaf mulch and other tools of the trade.

Ethiopic Celebrates Five Years on H St. NE It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since Samuel Ergete and Meseret Bekele opened Ethiopic (401 H Street NE) along the H Street Corridor. It was the first restaurant for the pair and it’s clear that they did their homework. Ethiopic’s uniformly excellent food has won it fierce loyalty among locals and accolades from the Washington Post, the Washington City Paper, and Washingtonian. The atmosphere is upscale and well tended, but still manages to feel comfortable and family friendly. To mark the occasion of the restaurant’s fifth anniversary the owners decided to offer special platters fea-

turing dishes one typically will not find on the menu at Ethiopian eateries. The meat platter featured lentil sambusa (a stuffed pastry) and katenga (toasted injera coated with a berbere spiced oil) as an appetizer and a main course of charred chicken liver, gored gored (spiced raw beef), dulet (a stew made with spiced beef, liver, and lamb tripe), milasna sember (a dish of beef tripe and tongue), and gomen besiga (a mix of beef and greens). Those choosing the vegetarian or vegan options feasted upon a colorful platter with roughly 15 selections. In the spirit of celebration and sharing the owners donated 50% of the proceeds from each platter to the non-profit Ethiopia Reads (http:// www.ethiopiareads.org).

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New Capital Fringe Space Offers More Than Just Festival Fun Capital Fringe (1358 Florida Avenue NE, https://www.capitalfringe. org) is best known for their annual Fringe Festival, which will run July 9-26 this year. But their recent move to Trinidad brings more than a festival to the area. Fringe is holding regular arts events and has become a bit of neighborhood hangout spot with a bar that’s open and serving drinks and light fare multiple nights a week (currently Wednesday-Saturday, and whenever they have an event) to locals in search of a laid back place to chat with friends over a beer. They offer reasonably priced craft brews as well as anything else you’d expect to find at a well stocked bar, and you don’t need to see a show to swing by for a quick visit. 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

April 2015 H 77

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RESTAURANTS, BARS, THEATRES, BALLETS, GALLERIES, MUSEUMS, SPECIAL EVENTS

April 2015 H 79

R o

evisiting

s e s

A year and a half later, Rose’s Luxury still at the top of its game

photos & article by Meghan Markey

assing the time at Lola’s, the Barracks Row casual bar and restaurant, my companion received a text alert for our main event -- a table for two at lauded Rose’s Luxury. My date had secured a place in line at 4:30 p.m. It was now about 7:30 p.m. Walking over, it was clear there was someone important dining. I was patted down by Secret Service in a way that would make the most aggressive TSA agent blush. Once inside, we guessed who it could be, but a cursory tour of the two-story new American eatery left us puzzled. I guessed Joe Biden or John Kerry. It was Michelle Obama. And yet, over two years since Rose’s Luxury opened in late summer 2013, its success isn’t that it draws celebrities and Washington elite (although not an indicator to sneeze at). Its success lies in the fact that it draws people that wouldn’t normally venture into the city for dinner. Although Bon Appetit named it Best New Restaurant in America, one doesn’t have to be a foodie to enjoy it. A lovely young married

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Rose’s proves you don’t need a ton of ingredients to pack a ﬂavor punch, as these tiny delicate smoked trout wafers prove.

couple drove from Roanoke to celebrate their first anniversary at the restaurant. A group of four women from northern Maryland sat down and immediately questioned what the deal was with that ridiculous line they had to stand in, and by the time they left, they were already planning the next time one of them could drive down to stand in it again. If Chef/Owner Aaron Silverman’s goal was to create a laid back, approachable dining experience that was also spectacular in cuisine and service, bravo. It’s hard to think of another dining establishment that has a deconstructed pork salad and beef crudo on its menu and comes off as charming, not intimidating. The menu has evolved since 2013, with favorites rotating in and out, while the team experiments with new dishes.

ness of the honey is a perfect complement to the savory meatiness of the vegetable. And yet the stars of the show continue to be the longloved cult dishes. Not currently on the menu, but indicative of Silverman’s crack team of geniuses: Lobster popcorn soup is a dish that seems born out of a drunken game of Mad Libs amongst chefs at 3:00 a.m. If slurping a creamy soup that tastes of blended, buttery popcorn topped with succulent chunks of lobster doesn’t sound like your thing, you may want to reevaluate what went wrong in your life. Chicken-fried oysters sit atop a dollop of tzatziki, in a pool of deep green dill oil. The result? A shot of something almost primal in its satisfaction. In other words, you’ll crave fifty of these before the second course. The deconstructed pork litchi salad should have its own Twitter account, YouTube channel, and Facebook profile. Between the pork sausage, peanuts, habanero, sliced red onion, sweet, juicy litchis, crispy garlic, Barracks Row hotspot Rose’s Luxury stands the test of time. and whipped coconut cream, and the necessiNew Experiments and ty of whipping it all together yourself at the table – it’s an Old Favorites umami explosion confined in a deep bowl. What’s new(ish) at Rose’s This offering could be a metaphor for the entire resLuxury? taurant –a slapdash amalgamation of colorful selections that There’s currently a shouldn’t work at all together. But stir it all up, and the regrilled pork blade with sult is flawless, and not one of the ingredients is “fancy.” It’s steak with miso and sauera bunch of stuff in a bowl, deliciously accessible yet unexkraut that had many a cuspected. tomer oohing. The server The Set-Up explains that it’s an unusuChicken-fried oysters are livened up The two story renovated rowhouse that Rose’s Luxury calls al cut of pork that isn’t seen with a bright green dill oil. home feels part hip Brooklyn brownstone if it housed both very often in restaurants – your grandmother and a frat house. I’ll explain: which is of course why they The design feels modern and fresh (graphic artwork, exdecided to use it. It’s high in marbling, which keeps the meat posed brick) while incorporating touches that seem to purtender while cooking. The slight crunch of the creamy sauposefully contradict – small crystal chandeliers hang over erkraut pairs well with the slightly charred flavor of the pork. the second story dining alcove, menu selections are served Eggplant gets the special Rose’s treatment, fried and up on mismatched antique-looking dishware that seems like stacked in a mound with feta, anchovy, and wildflower honit came from the armoire of an elderly aunt. Yet servers carey. The saltiness of the feta/anchovy combo with the sweet-

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Tables don’t receive boring old bread baskets - rather, Japanese milkbread arrives with whipped honey butter on a vintage-looking plate.

ry these dishes surrounded by cheeky “winks” to the customer: the “Awesome” neon sign, the lightly subversive dry erase board of quotes, and the “[Expletive] Perfect!” sign in the restrooms. It makes for an amusing experience, clearly reflecting the same playfulness that Silverman brings to the food he serves. But First… You Have to Get In

Can We Talk About The Line? Since Rose’s Luxury does not take reservations, desperate diners have been lining up beginning as early as 2:30 p.m. some days to wait for the 5:00 p.m. opening to secure a table. Sometimes there are lawn chairs involved. If it was bad before, it became insufferable after the Bon Appetit article came out. So many people were milling about outside, that management had to request its customers not block the doors of neighboring businesses. Is there a secret password to magically skip the line? Sadly, no. However, there are strategies that can shorten your wait time. First, a server clues me in to the fact that many of the first wave of people in line don’t actually want to dine right at opening. These are usually locals – people that can go back to their houses and wait for the text alert that their table is ready at 7:45 p.m. That means that if you’re somewhere in the middle of the line, and don’t mind dining on the early side, you may not have a wait at all, or only have a very short one. Speaking of wait times, The Line has had incidental positive effects on neighboring businesses. A bartender at neighboring Balkan restaurant Ambar tells me that not only has he seen an uptick in business from people waiting it out for their table at Rose’s Luxu-

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ry, sometimes they knick the customers all together – people get hungry waiting, and will just stay put once the text alert arrives. The story is likewise at local watering holes Lola’s and The Ugly Mug, steps from Rose’s Luxury. Third, while you can’t bribe the hostess, you can bribe a friend who doesn’t keep a 9-5 schedule to stand in line for you if you are chained to your desk during daytime hours. And if you don’t keep a normal schedule and are looking for some extra cash, I’m surprised I haven’t seen anyone offer Stand in Line services for $20 on Craigslist.

The Future While Rose’s Luxury may be a first love, Silverman has his eyes set on expansion. A new venture is in the works, and will be housed in the current space that Homebody occupies. A completely different concept, word is it will lean upscale at night and function as a coffee bar during the day. And it will take reservations. u

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The Notes Are the Notes

Pulling Back the Curtain on Justice Scalia by Barbara Wells

t begins with opera: Ed Gero, the embodiment of Antonin Scalia, cloaked in the elaborate robe of a Supreme Court justice, transported by the soaring chords of an aria from Verdi’s La Traviata, commanding the boards of the Kogod Cradle beneath the sparkle of two enormous crystal chandeliers. The grandiose moment aptly introduces a portrait of one of history’s most polarizing, and pivotal, members of the court. It’s an image framed by Scalia’s foundational conviction: “The notes are the notes. They are exactly what the composer composed, now and a hundred years from now.” In “The Originalist,” a world premiere production by renowned Arena resident playwright John Strand, this fascinating portrait of the man would be satisfying in and of itself. It’s not just Gero’s striking physical resemblance to Scalia. It extends to

capturing the halting, dogged walk; the pointed gestures; the panoply of facial expressions that amplify even the most fleeting thought. And it carries through to a deep affinity: Gero shares not only Scalia’s roots, from Italy to New Jersey, but also his fervent commitment to the text. Be it Shakespeare’s Richard III or the founding fathers’ U.S. Constitution, every interpretation must be firmly grounded in the words on the page and intent of the men who wrote them. But Strand raises the stakes. Within minutes of Gero’s entrance, an ostensibly fiercely probing intellectual powerhouse named Cat (Kerry Warren) chimes in from the audience, challenging Scalia’s pronouncements with a few time-honored arguments. For example, if the constitution prohibits favoring one race over another, why did the government do so for 200 years? At first Scalia tries to bat her away, but in short order he discovers that Cat is applying for a clerk’s position on his staff,

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and he’s going to hire her as a “counter-clerk,” the one who keeps him sharp with incisive liberal counterpoints to his conservative opinions. That’s a tall order, for both playwright and actress. While Cat’s character provides a valuable device for eliciting Scalia’s reflections, rationales and passions — along with several great stories drawn from his life and career — she never quite fulfills the promise of delivering a compelling case against Scalia’s originalist stance. Certainly legal arguments against Scalia’s rulings and dissents abound, but too often Cat relies on weak proclamations that practically validate the conservative view that liberals ignore the constitution altogether to legislate from the bench. Cat’s rebuttal of the court’s ruling to overturn D.C.’s handgun ban boils down to an assertion that there’s too much gun violence; she defends same-sex marriage by saying too many people have suffered for too long. Increasingly these arguments are delivered in a strident tone and peppered with insults. By the time Scalia wearily declares, “Anybody else, Cat, I wouldn’t even listen,” one has to ask, “Why?” The premise of Cat’s intellectual prowess is undermined further by her scene with Brad (Harlan Work), an ambitious, rightwing, Scalia-worshipping cartoon assigned to help her write a draft opinion for the justice on gay marriage. Perhaps just to show that everyone can fall prey to childish passion, their political bickering degenerates into a food fight. And maybe that’s the real reason why Scalia chose Cat, a self-professed “flaming liberal”: to help her see that her true adversaries are ideologues like Brad, not purists like Scalia. If she wants to change the world, she may need to take her fight to the political trenches instead of the halls of justice. After all, if Scalia had wanted a liberal constitutional scholar to spar with, he’s got (L to R) Edward Gero as Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and Kerry Warren as Cat. Photo by C. Stanley Photography.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg for that. Cat also enables Strand to occasionally take Scalia, and the play, away from the court, underscoring the characters’ emotional and spiritual connection and shedding light on Scalia as teacher, mentor and friend. She and Scalia visit a shooting range, where set designer Misha Kachman’s clever plexiglas lanes rise from the stage floor, so Cat can share the visceral excitement of firing a gun. And when Cat suffers the loss of her comatose father, Scalia lends paternal support and prays with her in Washington’s basilica, beautifully evoked by lighting designer Colin K. Bills’ stained-glass reflections that bathe the stage. Yet, ultimately, these embellishments feel like mere distractions from the main event: Gero’s illuminating performance. He’s a revelation, whether recounting Scalia’s exchange with Sen. Ted Kennedy at his confirmation hearing, his weekly poker games and cigars with Chief Justice Rehnquist or feeling like a “common whore” when he made the media rounds in hopes of becoming the next chief. With the gift of this remarkable synergy between a man and an actor, both of them larger than life, director Molly Smith needs nothing more to create an evening of powerful theater that her audiences won’t soon forget. The Originalist, at Arena Stage through April 26. 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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Dining Notes by Celeste McCall Cheese Classes Sona Creamery and Wine Bar, which debuted about a year ago, has launched its long-awaited classes. Conducted by co-owner Genevieve O’ Sullivan, students learn about various kinds of cheese, while exploring wine and cheese pairing. I chose a beginners’ class for making a fresh, un-aged cheese similar to ricotta. Tuition for the lively, 2-hour session was $75, which included a wine and cheese match-up plus our cheese to take home. Our group of eight assembled in Sona’s “cheese room,” where we paired off, reminiscent of college chemistry lab. In fact, Gen said, cheese-making is largely chemistry. After washing our hands and donning aprons, each couple poured three quarts of Trickling Springs goat milk into a large container which was immersed in a hot water bath. When the milk temperature reached 98.6 F, we added rennet (enzyme from an animal stomach) and culture. My partner and I took turns stirring the mixture until it coagulated. Then we strained the cheese through a colander, draining off the whey, and adding a smidgen of salt. Voila! “20-minute cheese!” While we waited for our milk to heat, Gen poured us each a plastic cup (no glass allowed in the cheese room) of Monastrell Roble, a lovely Spanish red, which we sampled with wedges of Coolea, an Irish cheese with a GoudaSona’s students heat and stir goat’s milk as they make cheese. Photo: Celeste McCall like texture.

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We all went home happy with our creations. I tasted mine the next day and it was delicious, with a fairly firm texture, almost like mozzarella. Sona is located at 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE; to sign up for a class and receive Sona’s newsletter, visit www.SonaCreamery.com, Email is cheese@sonacreamery.com or call 202-758-3556.

Cherry Blossom Cheer Now that winter is finally behind us, we’re enjoying the 103rd National Cherry Blossom Festival. Commemorating the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki to the city of Washington, this year’s festival began March 20 and continues through April 12. Following are Festival-related culinary promotions on or near Capitol Hill: Ambar, 523 Eighth St. SE (Barracks Row), features tapas of spicy crab, blue cheese, and cured salmon, served with lavash chips. Guests may also indulge in Podgorica, a heady mixture of grappa rakia, aji Amarillo, passion fruit, mango and lime. For reservations and more information, call 202813-3039 or www.ambarrestaurant.com. Near the Hill, the new Thai restaurant, Mango Tree, 929 H Street, NW, in CityCenterDC, is concocting red curry with cherry glaze and roasted duck breast served with plum and apricot. Call 202-4088100, or visit www. Mangotreedc.com. Nopa Kitchen + Bar, 800 F Street, NW, is pouring a cocktail created by bartender Jimmy Ponce. Called the Cherry Picker, the drink is a combination of rosemary-chocolate infused vodka, red currant syrup, lime juice, cherry herring, rose flower water and garnished with a brandy cherry and chervil. Call 202-347-4667 or www.nopadc.com. Daikaya, the izakaya and ramen shop at 705 Sixth St. NW, is showcasing a festive savory dish, dessert and cocktail during the Festival: Blossom Rice, a House-Made Caramel with salted cherry blossoms, or the Hanami, persimmon-infused shochu with salted cherry blossom foam. Call 202-589-1600 or

visit www.daikaya.com. Also in Chinatown at 781 Seventh St. NW, Zengo is serving dim sum platters with miso soup and shrimp lo mein. For dessert: cherry compote, or crema fresca mousse cake, made with graham cracker crust and yuzu marmalade. Zengo’s Hanami cocktail is composed of bourbon, ginger syrup, cherry hibiscus chutney and lemon juice. Call 202-393-2929 or www.richardsandoval.com/zengodc.

Brunch Bunch Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar, 223 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, now serves Sunday brunch. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., chef de cuisine James Marroquin creates banana bread from his Grandma’s recipe, biscuits, hangtown hash (fried egg and oysters atop potato hash), breakfast sliders (scrambled eggs Cheddar cheese bacon or sausage), stuffed French toast. Besides the ala carte menu, Sonoma’s “bottomless” brunch offers assorted small plates and unlimited mimosas, bloody Marys and sangria. Call 202-544-8088.

Spice is Nice On Barracks Row, Souk arrived in mid-February at 705 Eighth St. SE. The owner of this stylish, international gourmet shop is Winnette McIntosh, who also operates Sweet Lobby up the street at 404. Gone are the pink walls of Hello Cupcake, the space’s former occupant. In the transformed interior, a handsome wooden table and marble-topped bar greet customers. Folks browse through spices from around the world, pastries (baked in Souk’s or at Sweet Lobby’s kitchen, plus hard-tofind baking ingredients), color-

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APRIL PERFORMANCES Family Fun

Arts on the Horizon: Blossom’s Rainbow BLOSSOM'S RAINBOW

BISHOP/CLEAVER/FLOOD

through April 11

Innovative Jazz Bishop/Cleaver/Flood

April 10

Brad Linde Ensemble: A Night at the Bopera

April 17

Brad Linde’s Strange City plays the music of Herbie Nichols

April 22

B-FLY BACKSTAGE: Diverse Solo Shows from Women

April 18

urban agriculture and production. “My professional career revolves around food and healthy food choices in the home and in my restaurants,” said Mendelsohn. “If more families were educated on the impact of food choice, I think we could reduce obesity and other food-related illnesses.”

Kalanidhi Dance presents Chitra Kalyandurg in Leela: Play of the Divine

April 24

More Barracks Row Luxury

Global Rhythms Sin Frontera

April 23

Atlas All-Stars CHITRA KALYANDURG

WASHINGTON SOUND MUSEUM

Christylez Bacon: Washington Sound Museum: Hip Hop Meets Brazil

April 25-26 Souk owner Winnette McIntosh displays her international array of spices. Photo: Celeste McCall

ful baskets from Ghana, olive wood cheese and bread boards, honey pots and dippers, infused oils, candles, cookbooks and more. Guests may also sip Vigilante coffee and Souk’s own teas to accompany those yummy scones, buns and biscuits. Souk is open Tuesday-Saturday from 8:30 a.m. ‘til 6 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. Call 202-547-7685 or www. dcsouk.com.

And Stanton & Greene, a spinoff of Sonama and Beuchert’s Saloon, has opened down the street at 319, where Pour House used to be. Watch for a mini-review next month.

New Day Job Celeb chef Spike Mendelsohn, who operates Bearnaise, several locations of Good Stuff Eatery and We the Pizza, has a new day job: Mayor Muriel Bowser has appointed him to chair the District’s newly created Food Policy Council (FPC). As Chair, Spike will spearhead efforts to promote the food economy and entrepreneurship, improve food access and equity in all eight DC wards, and promote

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Good news and bad news: Barracks Row is getting yet another restaurant (actually an extension), while the street is losing a beloved retail store. Aaron Silverman of Rose’s Luxury is expanding into the ground-floor space of Homebody, located next door to Rose’s at 715. At night, the expansion will house a fine-dining establishment with a prix-fixe menu charging “at least $100 per person.” James Beard Award-winning Jimi Yui Design (based in Takoma Park), will design Aaron’s new kitchen. During the day, the 2,000 square-foot space will morph into a coffee shop and cafe. Expect the changes sometime this summer. We will miss Homebody (which is seeking another location), and other Capitol Hill retail we have lost over the last few years.

Coming Soon As the Southwest waterfront continues its extensive redevelopment, Jenny’s Asian Fusion remains shuttered. But look for Jenny’s Café & Bar at the Wharf soon, if not already, at 668 Water St. SW. For updates visit www.jennysdc.com....Attention Nats fans and others: Due to open this month, three blocks from the stadium, is Bonchon, a world-wide chain showcasing Korean style fried chicken and other Asian delights. You’ll find Bonchon at Half and K Streets SE. Watch for details. u

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A Real Treat: The Great Collector Series of Lectures at The Smithsonian Craft Show, April 23-26

By Susan A. Vallon

ollecting contributes to a life of exploration and intrigue. This year, at the annual Smithsonian Craft Show, a group of leaders in their fields will discuss collecting of all sorts.

Good, Better, Best Oscar Fitzgerald, Thursday, April 23 at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Fitzgerald’s expertise is decorative arts with a specialty in Studio Furniture. Have you ever wished that you had bought a piece of Memphis in the 1980’s, when one of Frank Geary’s cardboard chairs was $800? The auction price is currently through the roof. How to start or continue a collection. Dr. Fitzgerald will give an enlivened slide show with time to answer questions after the presentation.

A Taste for Splendor and Design Kate Markert of Hillwood Museum at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 23. If you don’t know Kate or have never heard her speak, take my word for it, she’s a dynamo. Her passion for the collection at Hillwood is contagious. How did Mrs. Post know to buy the objects from the Tsars ? Her trained eye let her see the value in these unique objects that now make up the best collection of Russian artifacts outside of Russia. Learn from this historical perspective.

Material/Nature

with what comes out of the earth. Her mentoring of young artists as well as her drive to make Mt. Pleasant a must-go for art hungry collectors is reason alone to hear her speak. Hearing her discuss how she stops at construction sites to gather dirt is an insight into the creative mind.

The Art of Collecting Great Design Sotheby’s will be represented by their East Coast Decorative Art’s representitive, Carolyn Nagy, who will speak on Friday at 2:00. Mrs. Nagy has seen it all. What do collectors collect? How is a collection valued, how is it sold? What legacy can you leave behind? Is it museum worthy, or just decorative? Her discussion of collecting good design may put you on the right track to collecting and appraising your collection.

Kate Markert from Hillwood

Mary Douglas Drys-

Rhode Island School of Art’s Glass program. She will discuss her invention of a glass system, complete with custom kilns, glass rods as thin a thread and a method of sculpting glass that is hers alone. Come early for seating. Toots Zynsky and one of her vessels.

Craft and Design On Saturday at 11:30, internationally known architectural interior designer Mary Douglas Drysdale will speak about incorporation of the craft pieces make her architectural interiors some of the most notable in the world. A presentation of photographs of her work showing a diverse representation of interiors and how the individual selection of craft ceramics, glass and sculpture make the rooms come alive with a personality that may only be achieved with one of a kind pieces.

dale, Interior Designer Red Dirt Studio’s Director Margret Boozer and ceramic artist Ani Kasten will present on Friday at 11:00. These are the Evolution of Ideas cool kids. Ani won the Exhibitor’s Choice Award Toots Zynsky will speak on Saturday afternoon at last year for her Japanese-inspired hand-built clay 2:00. If you’ve not heard of her work, prepare yourvessels. These inspired pieces have an earthy qualself to be awestruck by her talent and technique. ity that transcends standard pottery design. MarWorking with Dale Chihully, Toots founded the gret’s studio in Mt. Pleasant is an lab for creating

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Jewelry Now!

Gold! Silver! Diamonds! The Tiny Jewel Box has bejeweled prominent and everyday Washingtonians for generations. At Sunday at 11:00, Jim Rosenheim will conduct a panel discussion with jewelers from this year’s Craft Show about their jewelry creations and inspiration. Hearing about the inspiration for creating one of a kind pieces will certainly give you a new appreciation of what goes into a $5,000 bracelet. The Great Collector Series of Lectures is complementary with your paid admission ($20, $30 for a two-day pass)to the Smithsonian Craft Show which will take place at the National building Museum, 401 F Street, NW across from the Judiciary Square Metro stop on the Red Line. All admission proceeds go toward the Smithsonian Women’s Committee’s grant program giving money to the individual museums and the zoo. To date, over $11 million has been given back to our community. For more information and hours, go to wwwsmithsoniancraftshow.org u

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Wine Is But One Reason to Visit Provence by Lilia Coffin

s the weather gets warmer, we all start to long for our favorite vacation spots, and my own beloved blue-water paradise is still Provence, in the South of France. Lying between the Alps and Mediterranean, the Rhone River and Italy, the region benefits from mountain views, miles of beaches, a vibrant history you can still experience firsthand, and fantastic foods and wines that benefit from both the geographic and historical influences. The beautiful cities of Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez, Marseille, Toulon, and Avignon line the Mediterranean at the foot of the Alps and attract tourists from all over the world. In between lie the vineyards that produce some of the most delicious roses on the planet, as well as a few robust reds and delicate whites, that make a superb pair for the stellar seafood and shellfish dishes that dominate Provence dinner tables. The beaches and mountains, the lush fields of flowers and herbs, vineyards and farms, make Provence’s landscape both breathtakingly beautiful and abundant with life. Along with the grapes grown for wine production (predominantly Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache, for roses and reds, and Clairette for whites), Provence is known for its lavender fields, long stretches of land covered in light purple flowers, and the many other herbs that thrive in the warm climate, sheltered by the mountains and cooled by sea breezes. Basically, all the major ingredients in the famous spice blend “Herbes de Provence” grow happily in the region, and influence both the food and the terroir of the region’s vineyards. The fascinating history of Provence, however, is its most surprising pull. As France’s earliest cave drawings can be found in Provence, it seems apparent that French civilization was born here. The major city of Marseilles dates back to the Greek settlement of Marsallia in 600 BC. The Greeks were followed 500 years

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the wine girl

later by the Romans, who introduced France to Catholicism. Then, with the Roman Empire’s fall, Provence was ruled by various minor dynasties fading into and out of power, of both French and Italian origin, for much of the Middle Ages. Trade and war with Muslims from the Levant and North Africa influenced Provence food, culture, and architecture, as well as pushing the regional leaders to unite against a common foreign enemy. As France came together under the monarchy in Paris, Provence found its fortunes rising. Other major powers in the region wanted to be a part of Provence’s boom and left their mark. Pisa and Genoa, major trading powers, built their own port towns, and the powerful Grimaldi family claimed Monaco, holding power over the island to this day. Even the Pope chose Provence over Rome for 80 years in the 14th Century, living in decadence in Avignon. Due to such a colorful history with so many influences, the population of Provence by the end of the 1400s was eclectic, with various local dialects, cultural backgrounds, and regional influences. With the rise of the French Monarchy came a push for the dominance of French culture. The Act of Union was forced onto Provence in 1486 by Louis XI, effectively making French the only acceptable language and outlawing local customs. Otherwise, the farmers and fishermen of Provence were largely ignored by the Parisian elite for the next 300 years. Finally, it was Marseilles troops that joined with the poor of Paris to imprison Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette in 1792. The exploits of Napoleon, the Victorian Era, and the First World War left Provence generally unscathed. The introduction of a railroad in the region in the late 1800s brought tourists and trade from as far as London, Moscow, and Vietnam, direct to Marseilles, and insulated Provence from even the worst of the Great Depression. Farming, wine, food, and tourism proved recession-proof industries, and the French Riviera remained an insulated paradise that attracted everyone from Queen Victoria to F. Scott Fitzgerald. Until the Nazi takeover of France on June 14, 1940, the day of the inaugural Cannes Film Festival, it seemed as if the party might never end. It took a few years for Provence to bounce back to its pre-war glory.

host your next dinner party in

With the end of France’s colonization of Vietnam, Algeria, Morocco, and other countries, an influx of immigration from these locales settled in the temperate south. The influence on the region’s food and culture is readily apparent, with Vietnamese restaurants, Arab rap, and Roma nomad families to be found on every corner, especially in cities like Marseilles. This has also influenced the economy of the region. The south of France, in general, is poorer than the north. The immigrant populations here, in particular, see major financial disparities and higher than average unemployment and discrimination. Provence today is still a major tourist destination, for many of the same reasons that its wines are so beloved. Very little rain, endless sunshine, warm weather throughout the year, makes for grapes that, while they have to work a little harder, create wines, especially roses, with bold fruit notes, herbaceous acidity, crisp minerality, and even hints of salty sea air. Provence’s AOCs are very young compared to those of Burgundy and Bordeaux, and much smaller. The AOC of Bellet in Nice, for instance, consists of just two vineyards (47 hectares) and was only classified in 1946. Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, much bigger, was only classified in 1985. There are 3 major AOCs in Provence you need to know:

Rhone River to the west. Also hot, with little rainfall, some areas within the AOC are closer to the sea with more moderate seasons, while the inland vineyards, deprived of ocean breezes, see more temperature variance, colder winters and hotter summers. The reds and whites can be excellent, but here, the roses take center stage. They can vary in hue, flavor profile, and aroma, from deep pink to the lightest coral, and from notes of lychee and herbs, to ripe strawberry and flowers. As they grow in popularity, Cotes du Provence wines have improved in quality, with more focus on growing methods and care in production.

Bandol

•

While the roses of Provence generally, rightfully overshadow the reds and whites, Bandol’s wines are all excellent. Their whites are floral and fruity, though they make up only 5% of wines produced. The reds are robust with excellent tannins and hints of pepper, anise, vanilla and spice that make for perfect pairs to the lamb, rabbit, and red sauce dishes that Provence menus offer. The best wines they produce, though, are their roses. Provence’s Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Cinsault grapes make for roses with mouthwatering fruit and acidity, balanced by herbs, lavender, and floral notes. •

2013 Mas de la Rouviere Bandol Rose, $19.99.

Cotes du Provence

•

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2012 La Bastide Blanche Cotes de Provence Cuvee TwoB Rose, $19.99 2013 Miraval Cotes de Provence Rose, $24.99

Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence To the east of Cotes du Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence also covers a fairly large swath of the region, but takes special pride in the quality of its roses. They tend to be more uniform than Cotes du Provence, leaning more towards roses with acidity, minerality, herbs, and light coral hues, than juicy fruit. 2013 Bargemone Coteaux d’Aix-enProvence Rose, $19.99

The wines of the smaller AOCs of Provence can be much harder to find in the states, though, notably, the small area of Cassis produces notably delicious whites, and Coteaux de Baux-en-Provence is dedicated to organic growing practices. Just thinking about the Roman ruins, the Mediterranean towns popping out from coastal hillsides, the bright colors of the plentiful fields, the luxurious beaches, and, of course, the wine, make me long to plan a trip back to Provence. But if you can’t take your own trip to the French Riviera, you can always transport yourself there with a delectable glass of rose! Lilia Coffin is a wine consultant with Schneiders of Capitol Hill. www.cellar.com u

The region of Cotes du Provence encompasses much of the areas closer to the coast and the

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At the Movies

A Triptych of New Films: Great Art Restored, a Generational Mash-up, and a Master Rediscovered by Mike Canning Woman in Gold “Women in Gold” is another “based on a true story” film with a World War II backdrop, showing the war’s legacy of Nazi thievery being avenged, rather like last year’s (disappointing) “The Monuments Men.” It is a compelling story, told dutifully, but with a crucial flaw in casting. (Opening April 1, it runs 110 mins. and is rated PG-13). The film traces one woman’s effort to seek justice and reclaim her family’s heritage. In 1998, 60 years after she fled Nazified Vienna, an 80-something Jewish woman, Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), living in Los Angeles, learns that the Austrian government has instituted an “arts restitution” program on claims of art theft from displaced or murdered Austrians. Her family having lost major art works to the Nazis, Maria looks to claim them, especially Gustav Klimt’s famous painting of her aunt, “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” (later named “The Lady in Gold”). A friend’s recommendation leads her to hire an inexperienced but earnest young lawyer, Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), himself the grandson of an illustrious Viennese family. This odd couple launches a battle which takes them, much against Maria’s wishes, to Vienna, where they find a staunch ally in the Austrian journalist Humbertus Czerin (Daniel Brühl). This contemporary story is contrasted (via Maria’s remembrances) with the last days of the prosperous Bloch-Bauer family in Vienna, where the young Maria (Tatiana Maslany) grows up with her beloved aunt Adele (Antje Traue, a dead ringer for the painted Adele), uncle Ferdinand (Henry Goodman), and her parents, Gustav and Therese (Allan Corduner and Nina Kunzendorf). The flashback segments climax when Maria and her young husband, Fritz (Max Irons), escape to London and the United States just after the Austrian Anschluss. These scenes of a sumptuous pre-war Jewish life are finely mounted and touchingly directed by Simon Curtis. Early challenges to the Austrian authorities are thwarted, but Maria and Randy doggedly pursue their claim of the Klimt works, which have long since been housed in Vienna’s Belvedere Palace. Their fight for the paintings eventually takes them to the US Supreme Court and to a landmark arbitration hearing back in Vienna. The principal reason to see “Woman in Gold” is, no surprise, Helen Mirren. As Maria she again plays a woman older than herself (e.g., “The Queen”), dons a very serviceable Austrian accent, and easily shifts from genteel charmer to acerbic defender of her cause, with sundry nuances in between. You believe her as the sweet shop owner from LA just as much as the woman in high dudgeon challenging officialdom. You rejoice with her, too, when she revisits her old Viennese apartment in the film’s final redemptive scene, re-living her swirling wedding of golden memory.

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Helen Mirren (center) as Maria Altman embraces her lawyer, Randy Schoenberg (Ryan Reynolds), as Daniel Brühl (Czerin) looks on in “Woman in Gold.”

Mirren also too easily outshines her co-star Reynolds, veteran of action flicks and romantic comedies, who seems just callow and miscast as her attorney. It doesn’t help his character either when the script detours to exhibit his own tepid and “troubled” family life with wife Pam (Katie Holmes), which brings out forced histrionics. Curious thing about “Woman in Gold”: the credits indicate that the screenplay by playwright Alexi Kaye Campbell is “based on the life stories of E. Randol Schoenberg and Maria Altmann” but credits no written sources, this when the case has been the subject of several books, most notably “The Lady in Gold” by Anne-Marie O’Connor. An inexplicable omission that somewhat undercuts the project.

Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts are a couple seeking a revitalized life in “While We’re Young.” Photo: A24 Pictures

While We’re Young Contemporary New York City: Josh and Cornelia Srebnick (Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts) are a 40-ish married couple, members of the city’s “creative” class (both work in documentary film). They are resigned to not having kids after miscarriages, but Josh has hit a long dry spell trying to finish a highbrow film. Both are also seeking a new spark. When a free-spirited 20-ish couple, Jamie and Darby (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried), enters their lives, all four become best buddies, and the Srebnicks’ world, especially Josh’s, feels fresh again. Soon he and Cornelia are neglecting their contemporaries (most with new babies) and mimicking these young hipsters who seem so modish and cool. (Out April 3, the film is rated R and runs 97 mins.) Even cooler, while the Srebnicks have adapted to the latest gadgets and trends, the younger couple feeds on the retro, treasuring LPs, VHS tapes, real books, and cutesy archaic expressions like “Jeez, Louise!” Soon Jamie has so inveigled himself into Josh’s world with his own film projects that the older man begins to wonder if he is less a mentor than a pawn. “While We’re Young” may feel like a rerun of other films featuring literate, over-analyzing New Yorkers with cool jobs, from directors like Woody Allen and Nicole Holofcenter, as well as Baumbach himself (“The Squid and the Whale”). Here, however, with nuance and humor, his coiled plot treats a whole variety of real issues touching the last two generations: How does one escape the doldrums of midlife? How much can the young influence their elders? What really constitutes authenticity in our world of the new media? Where do children fit in our lives? This is probably the director’s gentlest, funniest film yet, leavened with dollops of harshness and reality too. All four principals are apt in their roles: Stiller as the tetchy, wellmeaning, but clumsy defender of the faith; Watts as his loyal partner who is looking for that something new; Brody as the wide-eyed faux naïf, angling for the main chance; and Seyfried as the grounded one, resigned but able to see things most clearly. Baumbach has deftly directed this well-rounded quartet, each

one playing their acting instrument with skill and fine tone.

Seymour: An Introduction No, this is not a filmed version of J.D. Salinger’s late novella. Rather it is a paean to a little-known but treasured member of the classical musical world, the 87-year-old pianist and piano teacher Seymour Bernstein. A Jersey boy long established in New York, Bernstein was a keyboard prodigy who had a solid concert career until 1977, when at 50 he gave up the stage to concentrate on composing and passing on his knowledge to talented pupils. (Rated PG, the film, which opened March 27, lasts 84 mins.) Enlivened by ample interviews with the charming Bernstein himself, the film was directed by his new best friend, actor Ethan Hawke, who met the musician at a dinner party a few years before and set out to tell his story. Hawke captures the pianist coaxing and challenging his (very skilled) pupils, ruminating about his life in music and on the arts generally, and winningly puttering around the tiny Manhattan apartment he has lived in for almost 60 years. A middle section, adorned with clips and clippings, gives a neat resumé of his concert career, narrates a sweet story of his successful concertizing during the Korean War, and shows Seymour’s more tart side through his caustic remarks about his great contemporary, Glenn Gould. A sweet finale is built into the documentary, with Hawke setting up Bernstein to perform in public for the first time in 35 years, when he plays a recital at Steinway Hall in New York. For classical music fans the multiple excerpts of works by Schubert, Chopin, Mozart, Schumann, and others will whet their appetites for more, while any moviegoer will be left with memories of a true talent and a graceful soul.

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Hill resident Mike Canning has written on movies for the Hill Rag since 1993 and is a member of the Washington Area Film Critics Association. He is the author of “Hollywood on the Potomac: How the Movies View Washington, DC.” His reviews and writings on film can be found online at www.mikesflix.com. u

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LITERARY HILL

A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events

by Karen Lyon Torn but Mending By all accounts, Scott Magnuson was a hot mess. He started drinking at 14 and, by the time he was in his 20s, had wrecked three cars and spent countless hours in jails and courtrooms. And it was only downhill from there. Working in the bar/restaurant business, where “[w]e all believed we could do anything and there would be no consequences,” led to more alcohol as well as every other kind of drug on offer. In “Torn Together,” Magnuson and his wife, Shaaren Pine, tell their individual stories of his addiction and her codependency in alternating chapters, from their childhoods to their meeting, marriage, and the birth of their daughter, Ara. Magnuson’s addiction and its impact on his family and the staff at the Argonaut on H Street, which he and Pine co-own, form the crux of the book. This searingly honest portrayal of his downward spiral—for which he offers no excuses—is by turns frustrating, painful, and ultimately hopeful. After 20 years of addiction, Magnuson finally admitted he had a problem and entered rehab. He continues to battle for his recovery, much as he and Pine struggled back from the 2010 fire that nearly destroyed the Argonaut. But given the strength they display in baring their lives—and with the support of the In a co-written memoir, the owners of the Argonaut tell of their personal trials with addiction in the restaurant industry.

H Street community—I’d say his prognosis is better than good. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of “Torn Together” goes toward Restaurant Recovery, the non-profit that Pines and Magnuson founded to help addicted restaurant workers and their loved ones get the support and treatment they need. For more, visit argonautdc.com/doing-good-and-givingback/restaurant-recovery/.

Melonhead Takes Florida School is on fall break, his mother is off on a trip to Vermont, and 10-yearold Adam Melon (a k a Melonhead) is ready for WOW (Week of Wonders) with his dad and best friend, Sam. “Wow” is right! Imagine a whole week of burping contests, hot dogs for breakfast, and—as a special surprise for his mom—the adoption of a real dog. Maybe. Then the Congressman his dad works for calls about a problem in Florida and all bets are off. Or are they? In Katy Kelly’s latest adventure for kids, “Melonhead and the Later Gator Plan,” the Capitol Hill boys travel to the Sunshine State to see what kinds of mischief they can get into in their grandparents’ retirement village. Never fear. There’s plenty to be had. Sam and Melonhead quickly discover the joys of face Top: Florida may never “tantoos” (created via the judicious application of sunscreen), be the same after a visit by two of Capitol Hill’s tree frogs that ooze poisonous snot, and, of course, alligators. favorite scamps. Which, come to think of it, would make a great pet—espeabove: Author Katy Kelly cially since their parents are not convinced that getting a dog is a great idea. But, as Sam points out, “Nobody said no alligator.” As always, the hijinks hide some fun facts and valuable lessons in making friends, being respectful, and taking responsibility. Not to mention tips on constructing an Alligator Distractor (who knew they liked marshmallows?). Gillian Johnson’s whimsical illustrations add an extra dollop of life to the already engaging characters and situations. “Melonhead and the Later Gator Plan” is Katy Kelly’s sixth book featuring Adam Melon; she has also written four Lucy Rose books. Visit her at katykellyauthor.com.

On the Hill The Hill Center hosts “On the Same Page: Voices of Incarcerated Youth,” an evening of poetry and community dialogue presented by Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop and PEN/Faulkner’s Writers in Schools program, Apr. 20, 7:00 p.m. Free but register at www.hillcenterdc.org or 202-549-4172. The Folger Shakespeare Library presents a PEN/Faulkner Fiction reading with authors Allan Gurganus (“Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All”) and Elizabeth Strout

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(“Olive Kitteridge”), Apr. 7, 7:00 p.m. www.folger.edu, 202-544-7077 The Smithsonian Associates offers the 2015 Benjamin Franklin Creativity Laureate Presentation with Azar Nafisi, author of “Reading Lolita in Tehran,” Apr. 10, 7 p.m.; and “William Butler Yeats: Western Ireland’s Poet Extraordinaire,” Apr. 21, 6:45 p.m. www. smithsonianassociates.org The Library of Congress presents Justin Martin, author of “Rebel Souls: Walt Whitman and America’s First Bohemians,” Apr. 21, noon; and a panel discussion with Poet Laureate Charles Wright, Poet Laureate Consultant Charles Simic, and Poetry magazine editor Don Share, Apr. 30, 6:30 p.m. www.loc.gov

In Other News Hannah Nordhaus, who grew up on Capitol Hill, has just published a new book, “American Ghost: A Family’s Haunted Past in the Desert Southwest,” which tells the story of her greatgreat-grandmother, who was a German mail-order bride. For more, visit www. hannahnordhaus.com. “Dream City,” the definitive local political history recently republished by Harry Jaffe and Tom Sherwood, now has its own website. Check it out at www.dreamcitybook.com/. Garrett Peck, author of the new “Walt Whitman in Washington, D.C.” (reviewed here next month), will speak at the Smithsonian Associates, Apr. 9, 6:45 p.m., at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., April 18, 11 a.m., and at Politics & Prose, Apr. 19, 5 p.m. www.garrettpeck.com. Also next month, “The Millionaire and the Bard,” by Hill author Andrea Mays explores Henry Clay Folger’s passion for

collecting Shakespeare’s First Folio. Upshur Street Books is now hosting writing workshops, classes, readings, and book groups. Find out more at www.upshurstreetbooks.com, (202) 726-0380

The Lyon’s Share Dear Readers, remember when your parents used to read with you? (I know, it’s been a while.) I was especially fond of my father’s renditions of childhood favorites, which, unbeknownst to my pre-literate self, sometimes featured dialogue not found in the original. Imagine my grandmother’s surprise when we got to the end of “The Little Red Hen” and, in response to the pig and cat offering to help eat the bread they did not help make, I supplied what I thought was the final line of the book: “‘Like hell you will!’ said the Little Red Hen.” While you may not be as creative as my dad, you, too, could have the opportunity to make a difference by reading with a local child. Reading Partners DC works with the DC Public Schools to pair students who are struggling with reading skills and volunteers who help them improve their comprehension and facility. The sessions are just 45 minutes long, you’re given a clear and concise lesson plan to follow, and there’s a site coordinator in the room at all times for guidance and questions. It’s an impressively organized program with a proven track record of helping students narrow the achievement gap. And there are several schools in need of volunteers right here on Capitol Hill. For more, e-mail volunteerDC@ readingspartners.org or call 202-7019110. u

by Karen Lyon

onathan Lewis’s poem, “Fireflies,” appeared in the Hill Rag in 2013. His work has been published in local literary magazines such as Poetica Magazine and the Northern Virginia Review, and in U.K. publications such as Dream Catcher, Obsessed with Pipework, Orbis, and forthcoming in Poetry Scotland’s The Open Mouse. A poetry-themed humor piece is also due to appear in The London Miscellany. He wrote the poem below when his grandmother died and he was stuck in London, unable to return to say good-bye. “What made an otherwise terrible moment a little better,” he writes, “was that she was born and raised in London, and so, even though I was thousands of miles away, I felt unexpectedly close to her in the city of her childhood. Whenever I used to visit her and we would say our good-byes, she would always say, ‘Love you, and leave you.’ Writing this poem was my way of finally saying it back.”

Grandma Heavy feet sweep through Hampstead streets searching for a younger you. Your body is in Los Angeles dissipating in hospice, but your mind might still be here peeking through the archways. The last time we spoke it was all about your childhood: when you were a schoolgirl giggling with her friends, before the long shadows of War. Now I too am here in London, stuck, and cannot reach you in time. Rounding every corner, expecting the face from a photo: a spectral girl in her coat and cap, skipping across the Heath. When you appear, I’ll walk beside you the whole way. You will not be afraid. So please tell me you made it back, that I had found you, grasped your hand and we took these last steps together. 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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ou don’t know why you find yourself standing in front of the picture. It’s a photo of something unremarkable—a storm over farmland, a tree, cherries on a table…but there is something special about it. Yes, it has a remarkable crispness, as if the air is a magnifying glass, yet there is something else. A story. Colleen Henderson is in the picture. You don’t see her but she is intellectually and emotionally there, telling a timeless narrative of the “lead actor,” the central focal point of the composition. You see the minute-by-minute evolution of the living thing, interrupted in it’s changing. It’s forever frozen in your mind in that thoughtfully intense moment. It’s happy you came along. Colleen’s academic life was all about finance; she earned a BA and MBA, and spent over 20 years in IT. As a child, she had become fascinated with photography. Her father took hundreds of slides on the family trips, and then everyone would pick favorites. The excitement stayed with her and she ultimately turned to photography full time. She joined the Multiple Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in the mid-90s. Colleen also took watercolor painting classes, becoming more consciously aware of composition, darks and lights, warms and cools

and the subtle washes of watercolor that were carried over to her camera work. She prefers a horizontal format, clean and calm, that allows that “lead actor” to take a bow, but keeps you interested, moving your eyes throughout the photo, catching the other actors in the picture that create the whole idea. Colleen’s work is on exhibit at the Multiple Exposures Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Art Center through April, to May 4. (See, at the Galleries.) You will find yourself standing in front of the picture, feeling that “something else.” www. colleenhenderson.com.

Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art

Anyone who has studied photography discovers that there is more to it than just snapping pictures and occasionally getting that one “great shot.” It used to be more deliberate when you had to buy film by the roll and had a limited number of tries to get something good. You had 24 exposures, or 36. When I was in Vietnam, I discovered a Fujica half-frame camera in a local wildcat shop. That way, I could get 72 exposures on

Big Hollow Storm by Colleen Spenser Henderson

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artandthe city

Artist Portrait: Colleen Spenser Henderson

by Jim Magner

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Still Life: Five Cherries and (top) Afternoon Thunderhead by Colleen Henderson

one roll. Incredible! It was small and fully automatic…just point and shoot. The images were only half the normal size, but with slides (remember those?) it didn’t matter. I was making a record of the people and the country, not trying for the perfect photo, although I did get lucky once in a while. Now, there are no limits. You can snap hundreds…thousands…of very sharp images with your very smart phone and they stay right there, inside that marvelous little sweetheart. So, alas, there is no need to be selective

in your subject or to carefully frame and compose a single shot. No need to worry about color or the subtle details that tell the whole story of that place, person or condition. Just keep pressing the button and magic might happen. But what’s the big idea? Ansel Adams, the famed photographer said, “There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.” The real pros know that. They tell a story, the whole story. Colleen Spenser Henderson does that. (See: Artist Profile.)

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Vintage Books by Colleen Henderson

At the Museums “Piero di Cosimo: The Poetry of Painting in Renaissance Florence.” National Gallery of Art – West Bld. 7th and Constitution NW – May 3 Piero di Cosimo, 1462 –1522, was reported to be as eccentric as his paintings are “imaginative.” These 44 major works are more than imaginative, they are mostly wild and wonderful…never dull or formulistic. This is an important show, and the NGA does it best with all the explanation and education you could possible want.

“Peter Paul Rubens: The Three Magi Reunited” National Gallery of Art – West Bld. 7th and Constitution NW – July 5 The Three Kings are coming. It’s been a while since they got together…about 130 years. These are not the original guys of course. These are the major Magi paintings of Peter Paul Rubens, the Flemish master of the 17th Century. They were commissioned by a rich guy, Balthasar Moretus, undoubtedly a wise man, who had brothers named Melchior and Gaspar. (All three names had been given to the Magi by biblical scholars over the centuries.) The paintings stayed together in Antwerp until “they made their way to Paris (perhaps on camel) where they were sold separately 1881.” This is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to see the kings together again.

At the Galleries Multi-Artist Exhibit – Hill Center Galleries, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE – May 3 The Hill Center continues with their six-artist show: Alan Braley’s haunting and alluring works, whether landscapes, seascapes

Foggy bottom Tree by Colleen Henderson

or people, emerge from his consciousness as emotional extensions and gradually acquire a subject that always remains at the confluence of dreams and the dramatic substance of our world. Peggy Fox continues to evolve with her fascinating works on aluminum. You can discover poetry and prose, psychology and physiology, and anything else you may be searching for in her magical mix of painting and photography. Saya Behnam unites abstract expressionism, Chinese “literati,” and Persian Calligraphy to find delicate watercolor images that sing and dance. Anne Bouie brings often discarded, lost and waiting materials together to find the universal themes of harmony, growth, beauty and transcendence of spiritual traditions. Kay Fuller brings her strong, often textured abstracts inspired by nature. Tilden Luna’s light, ghostly, otherworldly watercolors often include handwritten messages that compli-

ment the composition. www.hillcenterdc.org. Note to artists: The Hill Center is accepting entries, starting April 24, for their 2015 Regional Juried Exhibition. There are cash prizes, and a long exhibition period. For all the info, go to: www.hillcenterdc.org/home/callfor-entries.

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So what’s poppin? In your garden? In your Life? In your art? The overall theme here is spring, with a “Pop Art spin.” Sort of Roy Lichtenstein meets the Easter Bunny. Sounds like fun. This is a chance for CHAL members to get a little wiggy. The juror is Mary Ellen Vehlow, co-owner of Gallery O on H Street. www.chaw.org. 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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The Jazz Project by Jean-Keith Fagon Thoughts Of A Jazz Lover Jazz can be enigmatic, an alchemy of mysterious sounds and moods that is spontaneous and yet deliberate in its free flowing creativity. The music can be complex, but good jazz feels as simple as first love— it goes straight to the heart and rests there, beating gently. At times, the music can be so life-like that it speaks to you with honesty and love. There is the complexity of the music and yet jazz is a beautiful music for everyone. You can walk in your door after a hard day’s work and a harrowing Metro ride, put on Sarah Vaughn or Clifford Brown and your world is transformed. Your mind clears, your body relaxes, and suddenly life smiles at you. Jazz is beautiful music.

A Clear Midnight: Kurt Weill In America •••• Julia Hülsmann Quartet with Theo Bleckmann ECM Theo Bleckmann: vocals; Julia Hülsmann: piano; Tom Arthurs: trumpet, flugelhorn; Marc Muellbauer: double bass; Heinrich Köbberling: drums Although this album features the best of Kurt Weill’s works along with some of his lesser-known songs, credit should be given for the compositional structure and arrangement by these first-class musicians. Such performance usually comes from great respect and admiration from one artist to another. Mr. Weill has certainly earned his stripes, and for the Hülsmann group these recastings of his works open up new imaginative possibilities for the players. Bassist Marc Muellbauer brings his arranging skills to the fore on “Your Technique,” “September Song,” “This Is New,” and “River Chanty.” English trumpeter and flugelhornist Tom Arthurs is fully integrated on A Clear Midnight. Often his trumpet doubles or underpins Mr. Bleckmann’s singing, sometimes surrounding the vocals with a halo of sound. Mr. Bleckmann’s intimate delivery, Mr. Hülsmann’s sense for the bare-boned ballad, and the discreet arrangements put a well-deserved focus on the lyrics, including the very fine song texts of Langston Hughes, Ogden Nash, Maxwell Anderson, Ira Gershwin and Ann Ronnell ¬– as well as Marc Blitzstein’s brilliantly-vivid adaptation of Brecht, which gave “Mack The Knife” immortality. “The emphasis on slow tempos was made almost intuitively,” says Mr. Hülsmann. “These wonderful lyrics seem to me to demand that

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you give them space – and give the listener time to really follow the words.” And nowhere is this more apparent than with the beautiful and dynamic voice of Mr. Bleckman which helps moves the music with its rhythm and meter. This is his first ECM appearance in a jazz context.

Soul Stories ••• Blake Aaron Innervision Records Blake Aaron: guitarist; Derek Bordeaux: vocalist; Tom Zink, Rob Mullins, Lew Laing: keyboardists; Hussain Jiffry, Melvin Davis: bassists; Mike Whittaker, Craig Sharmat: strings arrangers; Ronnie Gutierrez: percussionist; Ricky Lawson, Winston Butts: drummers Blake Aaron’s fifth album, Soul Stories, featured three outstanding cuts — the salsa-singed “Encantadora” with Najee on flute, the retro funk-disco energizer “Groove-O-Matic,” and the urbane romantic duet with jazz crooner Spencer Day entitled “You’re the One for Me.” Weaving engaging narratives told through a triad of guitar voices, Mr. Aaron’s “Soul Stories” unfolds amidst a varied backdrop of contemporary jazz, R&B, Latin and funk settings. He approaches his compositions as a storyteller and elects to feature a different guitar – cool jazz electric, gentle acoustic or emotional nylon string – as the protagonist of each musical vignette. Often he provides a counterpoint by waging an expressive discourse using interpretive play between multiple guitars on the same song. Whether emoting on brisk jaunts or taking his time to elaborate on expansive improvised jams, his inspired fret work is crisp, clear, lyrical and skillfully performed. “As with my live performances, I like to make all of my records as if they are movies with all the emotional ups and downs, as if I am taking the listener through a story or a musical landscape. On ‘Soul Stories, there’s literally every part of me on this album – my heart, blood and sweat.”

Vintage Truth ••• DW3 Woodward Avenue Records Dave Koz: saxophonist; Brian Culbertson: instrumentalist; Paul Brown: guitarist; Greg Adams: trumpet; Elan Trotman: saxophonist DW3 pays “Tribute” to their late drummer-

The FinesT salvadorian & Mexican cuisine

mentor Ricky Lawson with assistance from Dave Koz, Brian Culbertson, Paul Brown, Greg Adams and Elan Trotman. At the untimely passing of the drummer Steely Dan’s Walter Becker described as having perfect timing, Ricky Lawson was only four songs into producing the sophomore album by R&B vocal group DW3. Over a year later, DW3’s “Vintage Truth,” dedicated to Lawson, was finally released. “We titled the album Vintage Truth because of the way we approached the recording process, like a live jam session where the core musicians – the guitarist, bassist, keyboardist and drummer – were in the room playing at the same time. Another vintage element we added that we absolutely love is the live horns – so much so that we recently added a horn section to our lineup so that we could perform these songs properly onstage.” The twelve-tracker Vintage Truth offers a blend of originals and fan favorites that the group has performed on stage for years such as Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed,” Luther Vandross’s “So Amazing” and The Mamas & The Papas’ “California Dreamin’,” the last of which won the California Lottery Powerball song contest. 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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1412 K Street, SE If you brought 1412 K Street, SE, home to your mother, she’d warn, “Be careful, this one could break your heart!” Handsome in finishes, smart in design, daring in flow & function. You’ll be swept off your feet! But, as Mom would say, “it’s not only looks that count.” You’re in luck. This semi-detached home has a great back yard, deck & parking with room to grow! True walking distance to metro, grocery, restaurants and even more future development!

$749,000

The JLC Team Jackie Sink - 202.352.5793 Libby Clarke - 202.841.1812 Crystal Crittenden - 202.246.0931 www.jlcteam.com 104 H Hillrag.com

Office: 202-547-3525 I N F O R M AT I O N D EEM ED R ELI A B LE B U T N O T G UA R A N T EED

{real estate}

“Untitled photo, possibly related to: [African-American] slum backyard, Washington, D.C.” Photo: Carl Mydans

t’s Saturday morning on a recent winter day in Capitol Hill. Children play in fenced areas, home owners tend their gardens, and shoppers purchase fresh produce from Eastern Market. Brick row houses fronted by meticulous landscaping are each an ode to the wealth confined in this small area. Occasionally one glimpses the U.S. Capitol or Senate buildings down alleyways used, nowadays, for parking and trash collection. Some alleys are more like small side streets where front doors open to brick courts. They all feel safe and quaint, a private shortcut from one busy road to the next. According to the Capitol Hill Restoration Society, a District of Columbia housing survey counted 3,337 alley dwellings in 1912, 108 of which survive today. Nearly half of them are found in Capitol Hill. D.C.’s Alley Dwelling Authority, established in 1934, sought to redevelop areas with substandard living conditions and demolished many alley structures, leading to the reduction in numbers. What circumstances led to the Authority’s creation? Why did it tear down so many homes?

Capitol Hill’s Slums of Old by Ryan Schuster

Summer, 1935 Several decades ago these alleys overflowed with detritus and human waste. Children ran barefoot among wood splinters and broken glass. Residents shared decaying outhouses with no privacy. Sagging row houses with holes and broken windows often had no heat, electricity, or plumbing. This unmonitored maze of human abjection spread from Union Station Main Centers of Alley Dwellings on Capitol Hill to the Navy Yard. The federal govRumsey Court: Entrances on 1st and 2nd Streets SE, between C and D Streets SE ernment’s Resettlement AdminisTerrace Court: Entrance on A Street NE, between 2nd and 3rd Streets NE tration tasked one employee, Carl Groff Court: Entrances on 3rd and 4th Streets NE, between E and F Streets NE Mydans, with investigating slum Millers Court: Entrance on A Street NE, between 3rd and 4th Streets NE conditions in America. He began Library Court: Entrances on A Street SE and Independence Avenue SE, between 3rd and 4th Streets SE by grabbing his camera and walkBrowns Court SE (there are two): Entrances on 6th Street SE and Independence Avenue SE, cornered by A and 7th Streets SE ing down the street. F St. Terrace SE: Entrances on E and G Streets SE, between 6th and 7th Streets SE Archibald Walk: Loop off of F Street Terrace SE Mydans’ photographs depict Gessford Court: Entrances between 11th and 12th Streets SE, between Independence Avenue and C Street SE women hand-pumping water into Walker Court: Entrance off 12th Street SE, between D and E Streets SE wooden buckets, children playing

April 2015 H 105

{real estate}

“Alleyway inhabited by black and white near the Capitol, Washington, D.C.” Photos: Carl Mydans

in dirt contaminated by outhouse overflow, and barefoot residents tending to clotheslines in trashed common areas. Despite the alley dwellings’ dilapidated nature, however, the people they housed shared strong social bonds. After the Civil War, demand for working-class labor boomed in D.C. along with the population. Many poor AfricanAmericans and immigrants (mostly Irish and Italian) moved into cheap structures hidden behind nicer street-facing residences. They created their own mini-universe of cramped backyards, clothes lines, and flooded walkways. Living outside the city was not an option as doing so would limit access to available jobs and community support. Starting in 1934 the Alley Dwelling Authority evicted residents and renovated or demolished their homes, causing rents to soar and forcing poor labor to the city’s outskirts. While many within the Authority sought improvement of health and safety, others may have responded to pressure from white locals to force out African-American tenants. Upon returning to their renovated dwellings, renters often found that they could no longer afford to live there.

Children in their backyard near the Capitol. This area inhabited by both black and white”

lic health and safety, and almost no one is impoverished. The Authority met regulations, improved the area, and displaced the neighborhood’s original inhabitants in favor of higher income households. Whether or not the city’s 1934 strategy had a net positive effect on low-wage workers is a matter for debate. Did improved living conditions and crime rates outweigh the effective deportation of poor labor from the city center? Was eviction,

demolition, and renovation the answer or could another system have been successful? Now, perhaps, we can use Carl Mydans’ images as a starting point to learn from past initiatives as longstanding D.C. communities disintegrate into an ever-expanding diaspora under the effects of gentrification and weak efforts to increase affordable housing in the city. u

A Comparison Capitol Hill’s slums existed well into the 1950’s (one newspaper warned enemy Communists might propagandize the slum’s proximity to the U.S. Capitol). Today’s inhabited alleys - few remain - are well maintained and lined by expensive homes with modern amenities. Little danger exists to pubView of Terrace Court today, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. Photo: Ryan Schuster

106 H Hillrag.com

Up-To-Date

Local Real Estate Listings Another great reason to visit www.hillrag.com April 2015 H 107

{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 5605 16TH ST NW 4414 14TH ST NW 1220 KENNEDY ST NW

ADAMS MORGAN 2604 MOZART PL NW

$1,100,000 $915,000 $375,000

5 4 3

$865,000

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4610 45TH ST NW 4318 WARREN ST NW 4919 ALBEMARLE ST NW 4907 44TH ST NW 4846 ALBEMARLE ST NW 4402 HARRISON ST NW

ANACOSTIA 1623 Q ST SE

BARRY FARMS 2409 SHANNON PL SE 1513 MORRIS RD SE

BLOOMINGDALE 112 SEATON PL NW 64 W ST NW 6 GIRARD ST NE 33 S ST NW

BRIGHTWOOD

530 QUINTANA PL NW 617 POWHATAN PL NW 810 SOMERSET PL NW 6215 7TH ST NW 715 SOMERSET PL NW 509 MADISON ST NW 5911 4TH ST NW 6208 5TH ST NW 1247 UNDERWOOD ST NW 6306 5TH ST NW

BROOKLAND

1252 EVARTS ST NE 649 FRANKLIN ST NE 572 REGENT PL NE 2013 KEARNY ST NE 1612 NEWTON ST NE 1830 NEWTON NE 3115 13TH ST NE 2416 3RD ST NE 5022 SOUTH DAKOTA AVE NE 832 DELAFIELD ST NE

BURLEITH

4036 MANSION CT NW 3706 S ST NW 3807 S ST NW 3733 R ST NW

CAPITOL HILL

228 7TH ST NE 902 MARYLAND AVE NE 509 7TH ST SE

108 H Hillrag.com

$1,239,000 $1,136,750 $983,000 $815,000 $795,000 $750,000

5 3 5 3 3 2

$227,500

$185,000 $155,000

4 3

$850,000 $803,150 $695,000 $628,000

3 3 4 3

$554,000 $525,000 $522,500 $499,900 $480,000 $449,000 $435,000 $430,000 $398,000 $380,000

3 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3

921 EAST CAPITOL ST SE 301 C ST SE 419 7TH ST SE 114 4TH ST NE 15 9TH ST NE 707 12TH ST NE 717 6TH ST SE 247 11TH ST SE 516 14TH ST NE 11 15TH ST SE 417 E ST NE 219 5TH ST SE 231 16TH ST SE 1442 E ST SE 1401 K ST SE 1126 F ST NE 537 9TH ST SE

CHEVY CHASE

3275 ARCADIA PL NW 5814 NEVADA AVE NW 3816 HUNTINGTON ST NW 4203 INGOMAR ST NW 3239 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 3609 LIVINGSTON ST NW 5344 41ST ST NW 6005 28TH ST NW

CHILLUM

52 MILMARSON PL NW 13 MADISON ST NW 229 QUACKENBOS ST NW

CLEVELAND PARK

$869,000 $745,000 $716,000 $660,000 $650,000 $608,000 $580,000 $569,000 $299,950 $279,000

5 6 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3

$1,400,000 $875,000 $861,000 $760,000

5 4 4 3

$1,607,000 $1,385,000 $1,350,000

5 4 5

3515 PORTER ST NW 3522 QUEBEC ST NW

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1219 GIRARD ST NW 1341 PARKWOOD PL NW 626 OTIS PL NW 722 QUEBEC PL NW 4013 13TH ST NW 773 COLUMBIA RD NW 3228 PARK PL NW 740 IRVING ST NW 751 PRINCETON PL NW

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 43 FORRESTER SW 843 XENIA ST SE 3219 6TH ST SE 506 BRANDYWINE ST SE 3786 1ST ST SE 832 YUMA ST SE

CRESTWOOD

4105 18TH ST NW 1734 UPSHUR ST NW 1907 QUINCY ST NW

$1,300,000 $1,175,000 $1,175,000 $1,150,000 $1,025,000 $870,000 $839,000 $830,000 $730,000 $711,500 $711,000 $700,000 $692,500 $679,000 $609,000 $559,000 $534,000

4 3 4 4 4 3 3 4 3 3 2 4 3 3 4 3 3

$1,385,000 $1,325,000 $1,295,000 $1,270,000 $1,069,000 $938,500 $937,500 $817,000

4 4 4 4 4 3 3 4

$625,000 $438,000 $410,500

4 3 3

$1,825,000 $1,081,000

5 4

$1,300,000 $860,000 $695,000 $693,225 $634,050 $625,000 $450,000 $413,500 $400,000

6 4 3 4 4 3 3 2 3

$320,000 $260,000 $256,000 $245,000 $135,000 $120,000

4 4 3 3 3 3

$1,325,000 $869,000 $650,000

4 4 4

2621 PATRICIA ROBERTS HARRIS PL NE $525,000 4715 CLAY ST NE 4410 FOOTE ST NE 3802 E CAPITOL ST NE

DUPONT

1750 T ST NW 1641 19TH ST NW

ECKINGTON

104 QUINCY PL NE 226 SEATON PL NE 1705 2ND ST NE 159 V ST NE 319 W ST NE 19 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE 13 Q ST NE

FOREST HILLS 4521 29TH ST NW

FORT DUPONT PARK

DAKOTA CROSSING DEANWOOD

4701 KANE PL NE 30 53RD ST SE 5085 SHERIFF RD NE 5020 JAY ST NE 4030 CLAY PL NE 5373 BLAINE ST NE 227 62ND ST NE 4809 SHERIFF RD NE 125 36TH ST NE 4704 BROOKS ST NE 5038 JAY ST NE 1045 47TH ST NE

$435,000 $320,000 $299,000

3 5 4 3

4121 STANLEY ST SE 3922 Q ST SE 4318 G ST SE 4336 G ST SE 4306 D ST SE 4409 C ST SE 1529 FORT DAVIS ST SE

GEORGETOWN 3310 N ST NW 3414 N ST NW

$275,000 $265,000 $260,000 $225,000 $203,000 $190,000 $182,450 $168,000 $162,500 $162,319 $155,000 $79,900

3 3 4 4 4 3 3 2 3 3 2 1

$1,550,000 $1,081,000

4 2

$835,000 $744,000 $625,000 $595,000 $540,000 $515,000 $501,000

4 3 3 3 2 4 3

$1,710,000

$360,000 $307,000 $272,900 $235,000 $225,000 $215,000 $195,000

5 3 3 3 2 2 2

$2,925,000 $2,385,000

4 4

SPRING INTO

A BLOOMING MARKET! 3530 WHITEHAVEN PKWY NW 3247 P ST NW 3136 Q ST NW 1517 34TH ST NW

$2,000,000 $1,656,350 $1,650,000 $870,000

GLOVER PARK 3741 W ST NW 2219 OBSERVATORY PL NW 2408 37TH ST NW

$975,000 $750,000 $671,000

HILL CREST 3194 WESTOVER DR SE 2142 BRANCH AVE SE 2948 M ST SE 1619 30TH ST SE 725 32ND ST SE 2346 Q ST SE

$525,000 $470,000 $165,000 $163,319 $135,000 $430,000

KALORAMA 1823 KALORAMA RD NW 2030 ALLEN PL NW

$1,725,000 $1,150,000

5 4 3 2 3 3 3

8 4

$4,500,000 $1,260,000 $650,000

LEDROIT PARK 2301 1ST ST NW 9 U ST NW 1846 2ND ST NW 513 FLORIDA AVE NW 426 OAKDALE PL NW

$935,000 $897,500 $860,000 $781,000 $440,000

LILY PONDS 1614 EASTERN AVE NE 3348 ALDEN PL NE 4327 POLK ST NE

$368,000 $230,000 $171,500 $1,181,000 $1,057,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5216 BASS PL SE 5402 CALL PL SE 192 54TH ST SE 5531 B ST SE 4636 A ST SE 4695 A ST SE 5044 CALL PL SE 5044 CALL PL SE 5623 B ST SE 221 54TH ST SE

$325,000 $265,000 $239,000 $183,500 $179,800 $149,000 $137,000 $110,000 $90,000 $53,000

MICHIGAN PARK 4125 18TH ST NE 4307 18TH ST NE 1925 BUNKER HILL RD NE 1740 WEBSTER ST NE

$515,000 $515,000 $490,000 $335,000

MOUNT PLEASANT 1654 HOBART ST NW 1748 IRVING ST NW 1616 NEWTON ST NW

$1,100,000 $770,000 $725,000

NORTH CLEVELAND PARK 3814 ALTON PL NW 3620 UPTON ST NW 3913 WINDOM PL NW

$1,275,000 $1,036,000 $900,000

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 3820 GARFIELD ST NW

$1,140,000

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

G IN ! M N CO OO S

512 13th St SE 2BR/1BA

! LDYS SODA 5

5429 41st St NW 3BR + STUDIO/4.5BA Adjacent to Chevy Chase Recreation Center and just 3 blocks away from Friendship Heights Metro! Fully detached Craftsman with DEEP lot buffering garage and carriage house w studio, bath and wet bar beyond. The open and bright entry flows to separate dining room and adjacent bright kitchen with windows all around. Don’t miss this great opportunity!

548 14th St SE 3BR/3BA Completely renovated Federal steps to Potomac Metro. Wide open layout on the main floor, bright kitchen at rear with fully finished lower level suite with full bath and laundry. On the top level, dual Master suites! All on DEEP lot with roll up garage door off public alley and gardens in between! Don’t miss this amazing opportunity for true City convenience.

! LD O S

Just one block from Potomac Ave Metro, Pennsylvania Ave, & Watkins Park! Open floor plan w/countless classic architectural details including tiled entry foyer & chestnut panels along central stair. 2 BRs plus central skylit den! Charming bath w/claw foot tub. Tall, flexible lower level rec room, deep back yard w/access to ally.

5 4 3 4 2

LOGAN 1420 12TH ST NW 1427 SWANN ST NW

R T! DE C N A U TR N CO

5 3 3

4 3 3

509 10th St SE $925,000 4BR+DEN/2.5BA THE prototype for hearth and home! Just 2 blocks from Barracks Row, WIDE semidetached wood clapboard Federal has witnessed Washington’s development since before the Civil War. 5 unique fireplaces, 4 BRIGHT bedrooms + Den and 2.5 baths across 3 levels. Master retreat on 3rd level with sliding door to roof and views of the Capitol Dome.

4 5 2 2 2 4

KENT 2950 UNIVERSITY TER NW 4852 LOUGHBORO RD NW 5120 FULTON ST NW

E BL A IL W! A AV NO

11 15th St SE LISTED $675,000 SOLD $711,500 3BR/2BA Just steps to Historic Car Barn and a stroll to Lincoln Park or Metro, this renovated Federal has it all - big bay window, smart layout, exposed brick and hearth, oak floors, granite and stainless, custom plantation shutters, PLUS MBR with new bath an 3 GIANT closets. Skylight, transoms above all BRs, stone patios in front+rear!

ST JU

! LD O S

307 13th St SE LISTED $714,000 SOLD $775,000 3BR/2BA Wide open living and dining w central hearth and ornate ceiling detail and fixtures. Original heart pine floors flow throughout. Bright updated kitchen in rear w access to patio and gardens. Upstairs, three REAL bedrooms, sky-lit central hall and bath. PLUS finished lower level with recessed lighting, half bath, rec room and laundry!

3 4 3 3 5 3 3 3 4 4 5

April 2015 H 109

A recent study showed that 90% of home buyers search online when purchasing a home. Without staging and professional photographs your home is at a disadvantage. The Kristof Realty Group uniquely stages and photographs our listings to achieve maximum profit and appeal… All at no additional cost to you!

Call us today to maximize your profit!

OLD CITY #1

613 3RD ST NE 902 11TH ST NE 715 7TH ST NE 1016 11TH ST NE 727 13TH ST NE 254 15TH ST SE 331 L ST NE 1425 D ST NE 29 17TH ST SE 1237 CARROLLSBURG PL SW 545 23RD PL NE 817 WEST VIRGINIA AVE NE 564 24TH ST NE 1210 POTOMAC AVE SE 538. 23RD PL NE

OLD CITY #2

1734 R ST NW 616 R ST NW 402 M ST NW 432 Q ST NW 506 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 1625 MARION ST NW 508 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 1423 3RD ST NW 1803 WILTBERGER ST NW

Licensed in DC, MD & VA

PALISADES

2319 NEBRASKA AVE NW 4441 MACARTHUR BLVD NW

PETWORTH

Gan Shalom Cooperative Preschool is Hiring!

Steve Hagedorn Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

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

Direct: Cell: Office: Fax: Email:

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

“We are part of Capitol Hill, We don’t just work here... We live here, too. Let our neighborhood experience work for you...”

4306 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 3910 5TH ST NW 440 RANDOLPH ST NW 4618 KANSAS AVE NW 5208 ILLINOIS AVE NW 4514 GEORGIA AVE NW 4722 9TH ST NW 712 DECATUR ST NW 320 WEBSTER ST NW 5411 2ND ST NW 4621 4TH ST NW 5211 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 5031 5TH ST NW 326 GALLATIN ST NW 5402 9TH ST NW 434 LONGFELLOW ST NW 5307 4TH ST NW 414 SHEPHERD ST NW 622 MADISON ST NW

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1832 VALLEY TER SE 3440 24TH ST SE 3421 25TH ST SE

RIGGS PARK

5039 11TH ST NE 223 QUACKENBOS ST NE 5612 EASTERN AVE NE 5062 8TH ST NE

RLA (SW)

611 I ST SW #NA

SHEPHERD PARK We are looking for a full time Assistant Director and a part-time Lead Teacher for the 2015-2016 school year. To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to AlexisYMTinsley@HillHavurah.org . Come join our wonderful community!

110 H Hillrag.com

7615 14TH ST NW

SPRING VALLEY 202.546.3100 210 7th Street, SE. #100. WDC 20003 www.monarchtitle.net

4615 RODMAN ST NW 3712 FORDHAM RD NW

$1,039,912 $899,999 $810,000 $787,000 $702,000 $625,000 $540,000 $540,000 $539,000 $450,000 $440,000 $419,000 $409,900 $405,000 $375,000

4 4 3 4 3 4 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 3 3

$1,755,000 $975,000 $942,000 $865,000 $830,000 $732,000 $650,000 $649,997 $409,000

5 6 4 3 3 3 1 2 1

$1,250,000 $915,000

4 4

$839,900 $800,000 $779,900 $725,000 $706,000 $695,000 $691,250 $685,000 $600,000 $585,000 $485,000 $469,000 $460,000 $460,000 $450,000 $435,000 $420,000 $400,000 $275,335

3 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 4 2 2 3 3 4

$245,000 $110,000 $88,350

3 2 2

$389,000 $349,000 $340,000 $300,000

3 3 3 3

$609,000

$700,000

$1,435,000 $1,150,000

4 3

Here Is What My Clients Are Saying...

Own a Piece of History!

Dare made us feel comfortable and made the process laid-back and less stressful than I imagined it would be. TAKOMA PARK

77 UNDERWOOD ST NW

TAKOMA PARK

1326 TRINIDAD AVE NE 1344 LEVIS ST NE 1301 STAPLES ST NE 1112 OATES ST NE 1107 16TH ST NE 1261 OWEN PL NE 813 20TH ST NE 1155 SUMMIT ST NE 1135 QUEEN ST NE 1835 L ST NE

$424,000

$635,000 $630,000 $585,000 $572,500 $430,000 $387,500 $350,900 $330,000 $300,000 $265,500

4 5 4 4 3 4 3 2 3 2

VILLAGES AT DAKOTA CROSSING 2418 BALDWIN CRES NE 3608 WRIGHT TRL NE 3610 WRIGHT TER NE

WESLEY HEIGHTS

2518 44TH ST NW 4501 CATHEDRAL AVE NW 4322 WESTOVER PL NW 4383 EMBASSY PARK DR NW

WOODLEY PARK

2919 CATHEDRAL AVE NW 2813 28TH ST NW

WOODRIDGE

2840 BELAIR PL NE 3905 22ND ST NE 3709 26TH ST NE 2232 QUINCY ST NE 3204 22ND ST NE 3812 26TH ST NE 3029 CLINTON ST NE 2603 HAMLIN ST NE 2732 CENTRAL AVE NE

$574,990 $553,805 $530,570

3 3 3

$1,820,000 $1,800,000 $900,000 $837,050

4 4 3 3

$1,300,000 $1,260,000

5 4

$805,000 $575,000 $542,500 $505,000 $482,000 $434,950 $325,000 $325,000 $275,000

5 4 3 4 6 3 3 4 3

$710,000 $679,000 $450,000 $395,000

2 2 1 1

$191,500

$585,000

$701,992 $607,000

3 3

$150,000 $390,000

1 2

$589,900

$685,750 $639,000 $630,000 $589,000 $559,000

2 2 2 3 2

Testimonial provided by my clients’ reviews on Zillow See more at: Zillow.com/profile/TopherAndDare

DARE JOHNSON WENZLER Realtor, Compass

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

202.957.2947 660 Penn Ave SE 202.545.6900 Dare@RealEstateOnTheHill.com Check out my blog for a weekly Capitol Hill open house update.

RealEstateOnTheHill.com

5-Star Premier agent

CONDO ADAMS MORGAN

1726 LANIER PL NW #PH8 2328 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #311 2357 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #201 2440 16TH ST NW #306

BARRY FARMS

2603 DOUGLASS RD SE #203

BERKLEY

4623 MACARTHUR BLVD NW #B

BLOOMINGDALE

22 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #2 22 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #1

BRENTWOOD

1348 BRYANT ST NE #4 343 CEDAR ST NW #104

BROOKLAND

728 LAWRENCE ST NE #B

CAPITOL HILL

649 C ST SE #407 401 15TH ST SE #404 1621 D ST SE #1 1606 A ST SE #1 611 2ND ST NE #5

Your Neighbor On The Hill

“The road to success is not always straight; let me help you through the real estate maze to a happy and successful destination”

Deborah Charlton

Long and Foster Realtors Christie’s Great Estates

(202) 415-2117 (202) 944-8400 DC.DC@LongandFoster.com www.yourneighboronthehill.com April 2015 H 111

401 15TH ST SE #302 1815 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE #1 1816 D ST NE #3 1816 D ST NE #1 1816 D ST NE #2 315 18TH PL NE #2 315 18TH PL NE #1 333 2ND ST NE #405

$549,000 $520,000 $477,000 $430,000 $415,000 $290,000 $279,900 $235,000

2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0

CENTRAL 1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1008 $705,000 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #206 $446,000

CHEVY CHASE 4301 MILITARY RD NW #703 4301 MILITARY RD NW #603 5201 WISCONSIN AVE NW #110 5410 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #216

$965,000 $945,000 $316,500 $239,000

CLEVELAND PARK 3450 39TH ST NW #F690 3100 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #122 3110 WISCONSIN AVE NW #302 3701 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #240 3701 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #623 3010 WISCONSIN AVE NW #307 3100 WISCONSIN AVE NW #B8 2710 MACOMB ST NW #301

$445,000 $340,000 $306,500 $300,000 $290,000 $245,000 $187,500 $183,000

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

ADVERTISE HERE. GET RESULTS. CALL KIRA

202.543.8300 X16 Steve Hagedorn Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

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

Direct: Cell: Office: Fax: Email:

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

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1354 MERIDIAN PL NW #2 $845,000 1107 KENYON ST NW #1 $725,000 3542 13TH ST NW #1 $690,000 1249 KENYON ST NW #4 $690,000 1249 KENYON ST NW #3 $637,000 3821 14TH ST NW #6 $629,000 3821 14TH ST NW #5 $605,000 2920 GEORGIA AVE NW #203 $559,900 3821 14TH ST NW #2 $550,000 3821 14TH ST NW #1 $507,000 1414 BELMONT ST NW #402 $425,000 1438 COLUMBIA RD NW #303 $332,570 3540 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW #104 $326,000 1304 FAIRMONT ST NW #2 $325,000 1458 COLUMBIA RD NW #402 $320,000 1451 PARK RD NW #210 $319,900 3902 14TH ST NW #414 $315,000 1038 LAMONT ST NW #1A $312,000 3916 13TH ST NW $299,000 3515 HERTFORD PL NW #22 $299,000 3900 14TH ST NW #104 $169,900 1451 PARK RD NW #419 $168,000 $1,356,000 $570,000 $463,500 $410,000 $385,000 $379,000 $315,000 $315,000

ECKINGTON 26 Q ST NE #1 224 R ST NE #1 1921 2ND ST NE #101

$584,000 $524,900 $399,900

FOGGY BOTTOM 900 24TH ST NW #L 1010 25TH ST NW #703 2515 K ST NW #602 2030 F ST NW #512

$820,000 $305,000 $230,000 $219,000

$215,000 $210,000

FOREST HILLS 2725 ORDWAY ST NW #5 4707 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #504 4707 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #613 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #1227 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #420

$484,500 $429,900 $399,000 $300,000 $260,000

0 1 1 1 1 1 1

2 1

GARFIELD

2 2 1 1

GEORGETOWN

2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0

2501 CALVERT ST NW #307 2501 CALVERT ST NW #404

2900 K ST NW #603 3251 PROSPECT ST NW #301 3251 PROSPECT ST NW #414 3299 K ST NW #404 1015 33RD ST NW #802 3222 CHERRY HILL LN NW #D3 2500 Q ST NW #549 2500 Q ST NW #406

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

4100 W ST NW #415

2 1 0 0

$3,570,000 $1,150,000 $1,145,000 $823,000 $800,000 $676,000 $430,000 $353,000 $275,000

H STREET CORRIDOR

$459,900

HILL EAST 732 15TH ST SE #4

$449,900

KALORAMA 2418 19TH ST NW #28 2038 18TH ST NW #404 1854 MINTWOOD PL NW #12 1845 KALORAMA RD NW #1 1843 MINTWOOD PL NW #103 2456 20TH ST NW #207

$680,000 $600,000 $450,000 $440,000 $365,000 $357,000

LEDROIT PARK 151 V ST NW #4 155 V ST NW #6

$780,000 $765,000

LOGAN CIRCLE 1300 13TH ST NW #905 1326 RIGGS ST NW #1 1431 CORCORAN ST NW #4 1325 13TH ST NW #29 1441 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #M01 1201 N ST NW #E 1420 N ST NW #708 1634 14TH ST NW #3 1225 13TH ST NW #310 1420 N ST NW #308 1312 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #608 1312 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #108 2004 11TH ST NW #121 1 SCOTT CIR NW #716

$825,000 $818,000 $799,000 $755,000 $675,000 $485,000 $475,000 $444,000 $410,000 $399,900 $390,000 $385,000 $377,000 $239,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 4800 C ST SE #301

3 2 2

$453,000 $419,000

GLOVER PARK

1123 STAPLES ST NE #AP 1

DUPONT 2119 O ST NW #2119 1615 Q ST NW #204 1605 16TH ST NW #1 14151/2 21ST ST NW #B 1931 17TH ST NW #305 1731 WILLARD ST NW #106 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #425 1301 20TH ST NW #902

2515 K ST NW #206 2030 F ST NW #407

$82,900

MOUNT PLEASANT 1636 IRVING ST NW #2 1615 KENYON ST NW #2

$390,500 $320,000

MT VERNON SQUARE 450 M ST NW #1 440 L ST NW #813 115 NEW YORK AVE NW #4 475 K ST NW #1122

$499,000 $460,000 $460,000 $449,900

2 2 4 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1

Experience. Integrity. Enthusiasm.

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 4100 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #620 2111 WISCONSIN AVE NW #602

OLD CITY #1

1452 CAPITOL ST NE #1452 1416 EAST CAPITOL ST NE #1416 1025 1ST ST SE #1114 661 MORRIS PL NE #6 420 16TH ST SE #B 334 14TH PL NE #3 1367 K ST SE #302

OLD CITY #2

1301 1ST ST NW #2 1119 O ST NW #3 507 O ST NW #5 1117 10TH ST NW #904 1224 4TH ST NW #1 1624 5TH ST NW #B 301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #701 1205 N ST NW #F 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #1108 1109 M ST NW #8 2001 12TH ST NW #102 1920 S ST NW #706 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #216 1900 S ST NW #101 2004 11TH ST NW #125 55 M ST NW #101 1245 13TH ST NW #716

PENN QUARTER 777 7TH ST NW #916

PETWORTH

837 SHEPHERD ST NW #3 3819 GEORGIA AVE NW #3 3819 GEORGIA AVE NW #1 3819 GEORGIA AVE NW #4 3819 GEORGIA AVE NW #2 837 SHEPHERD ST NW #2 516 SHEPHERD ST NW #A

RANDLE HEIGHTS 1819 24TH PL SE #103

RLA (SW)

446 M ST SW #5 350 G ST SW #N511 350 G ST SW #N-118 700 7TH ST SW #519 1101 3RD ST SW #407

SHAW

636 Q ST NW #2 1839 6TH NW #4

SW WATERFRONT 1435 4TH ST SW #B204 300 M ST SW #N115 700 7TH ST SW #326 300 M ST SW #N414 1425 4TH ST SW #A709

TRINIDAD

1123 STAPLES ST NE #AP 3 1220 HOLBROOK TER NE #205 1220 HOLBROOK TER NE #102 1220 HOLBROOK TER NE #200

TRUXTON CIRCLE 222 BATES ST NW #2

$840,000 $345,000

2 1

U STREET

2020 12TH ST NW #218 1318 W ST NW #3 919 FLORIDA AVE NW #404

$550,000 $540,000 $470,000 $436,000 $355,000 $295,000 $250,000

2 2 1 2 2 1 1

WESLEY HEIGHTS

$799,000 $781,000 $780,000 $720,000 $670,000 $660,000 $590,000 $486,000 $475,000 $434,000 $427,500 $399,999 $385,500 $385,000 $382,500 $270,000 $250,000

3 2 2 2 2 5 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 0

WEST END

$375,000

$580,000 $549,000 $525,000 $519,000 $510,000 $495,000 $455,000

3 2 2 2 2 2 2

$81,000

$690,000 $399,000 $345,000 $297,500 $290,000

4 1 1 1 1

$655,000 $409,000

2 1

$420,000 $320,000 $475,000 $340,000 $318,000

2 1 3 1 1

$579,900 $259,900 $229,900 $226,497

2 2 1 1

3255 SUTTON PL NW #3255-D 3265 SUTTON PL NW #C 3219 SUTTON PL NW #D 3269 SUTTON PL NW #B 3101 NEW MEXICO AVE NW #226 3101 NEW MEXICO AVE NW #238 3033 NEW MEXICO AVE NW #304 1111 23RD ST NW #S8C

WOODLEY PARK

2737 DEVONSHIRE PL NW #21

WOODRIDGE

1821 CHANNING ST NE #1821

ADAMS MORGAN

2707 ADAMS MILL RD NW #304 2707 ADAMS MILL RD NW #508 2707 ADAMS MILL RD NW ##208 1801 CLYDESDALE PL NW #611

CLEVELAND PARK 3018 PORTER ST NW #203

DUPONT

1701 16TH ST NW #121 1514 17TH NW #203

FOGGY BOTTOM 950 25TH ST NW #517-S

FOREST HILLS

HARBOUR SQUARE 530 N ST SW #S-105

MOUNT PLEASANT

2853 ONTARIO RD NW #108 1820 CLYDESDALE PL NW #410

NAVY YARD

1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #PH22 1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #PH04

RLA (SW)

1336 4TH ST SW #T-1336 1301 DELAWARE AVE SW #N501/502 429 N ST SW #S303 1311 DELAWARE AVE SW #S346 1311 DELAWARE AVE SW #748 S 1311 DELAWARE AVE SW #S548

WATERFRONT

$540,000 $511,000 $589,000

2 2 2

$667,900 $642,500 $640,000 $615,000 $595,000 $450,000 $285,000

2 2 2 2 2 1 1

$1,599,000

$325,000

$105,000

1245 4TH ST SW #E400

WATERGATE

700 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #1116 u

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Herb and I cannot thank you and Michael enough! I cannot believe the amount of service and professionalism you provided - on every detail - with the sale of house... Your experience and knowledge of the market helped us net more than we hoped for! What we miss most is the incredible people and professionals, like you and Michael, who were friends and neighbors.â&#x20AC;? Anne Marie K and Herb F.

COOP

3001 VEAZEY TER NW #917

$745,000

Shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t You Work With Someone Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d Come Back to Again and Again?

$344,500 $269,000 $256,500 $148,000

1 1 1 0

$285,000

$285,000 $220,000

1 0

$263,000

$480,000

$500,000

$367,500 $275,000

1 1

$360,000 $337,000

1 1

$531,000 $298,000 $177,000 $167,900 $125,000 $135,000

4 3 0 1 0 0

$263,000

$500,000

Michael @ 202-487-7206 Linda @ 202-276-3172 Mark @ 202-390-8083 www.pettietubbs.com Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE 202-547-3525

Let Our Reputation Work for You!

Looking to Buy or Sell on the Hill? I want to be Your Agent!

Let s get together to review the market and design a winning strategy!

Dee Dee Branand At

home on the Hill

605 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 Office: 202 547-3525 Cell: 202 369-7902 Email: dbranand@cbmove.com Web: www.deedeebranand.com

April 2015 H 113

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{health & fitness}

Feng Shui

Create a Harmonious Living and Work Space by Pattie Cinelli

ost of us want to live healthy and happy lives. We try to eat well, exercise regularly, get quality sleep and control our stress, yet we don’t often give much thought to how our living and work environment affects our health and well-being. Feng Shui can help make it easier to live the kind of lives we want. “Feng Shui is a science that integrates the mind, the body and the home,” said Michelle Ouimet, a Feng Shui designer. “It’s important to get all three in balance. Feng Shui is the connection to spaces and how they affect humans. I see more and more people recognizing how important their home and environment is to their overall well-being.” You may have visited the Bikram Yoga Studio on Capitol Hill (now called Hot Yoga). Michelle, who also teaches yoga there, helped create the design of that studio. “She coordinated color to enhance the energy flow and selected materials to enhance the mood that creates a balanced look and feel,” said Elizabeth Glover, director of the facility. “Clients often comment on the calm atmosphere of the studio. When Lady Gaga took a class here, as soon as she walked into the door she proclaimed, ‘My sanctuary!’

body of knowledge that reveals how to balance the energies of any given space to assure health and good fortune for people inhabiting it. Feng means wind and Shui means water. In Chinese culture wind and water are associated with good health. Feng Shui is based on the Taoist vision and understanding of nature, particularly on the idea that the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy. Feng Shui is one of the Five Arts of Chinese Metaphysics, classified as physiogomy (observation of appearances through formulas and calculations). The Feng Shui practice discusses architecture in metaphoric terms of “invisible forces” that bind the universe, earth, and humanity together, known as Chi. The theories of yin and yang, as well as the five Feng Shui elements – water, fire, metal, wood and earth - are some of the basic aspects of a Feng Shui analysis that come from Taoism. Feng Shui is not just about energy. It is also a science, and a Feng Shui analysis involves calculations with the land and the structure. A colleague of Michelle’s described Feng Shui as an early form of environmental science. The main tools used in a Feng Shui analysis are the compass and the bagua. The

What is Feng Shui Feng Shui is an ancient art and science developed more than 3,000 years ago in China. It is a complex

Before Staging: Michelle’s Feng Shui analysis shows that the living room furniture is not arranged in a conducive fashion for conversation. In addition, the chandelier is too small for the space and was intended for a dining area. The architectural features were lost because they were not highlighted with color and lighting.

After: Michelle used the art of feng shui to help improve the energetic quality and visual appeal of this condominium. Careful editing of the furnishings the owner currently had, streamlining the look with new paint to highlight the architectural features and the addition of accessories, this minimalistic style condominium is ready for the perfect buyer.

April 2015 H 115

An Interesting Case Male 54, has been everywhere with his left flank numbness. MRI, blood, nerve conduction tests, GI, all negative, but problem worsening. X-ray confirms twisted chest so that rib nerve is irritated. Three chiropractic adjustments - viola! Let’s not forget how the brain and nervous system are the master system of the body, and chiropractic uses the spine like a keyboard to enter and reset the system, like defracking an old computer. For the better health and life experience of you and your family Capitol Hill Chiropractic Center 411 East Capitol St., SE | 202.544.6035

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

Feng Shui energy map, or bagua, is an octagonal grid containing the symbols of the IChing, the ancient oracle on which Feng Shui is based. Knowing the bagua of your home will help you understand the connection of specific Feng Shui areas of to specific areas of your life.

Who Can Use Feng Shui? Feng Shui can be helpful for anyone who wants their home or work space to be a peaceful sanctuary. “I help all kinds of people create a welcoming environment,” said Michelle, who is also known as the ‘home whisperer.’ “When your surroundings nourish you and your work you will feel balanced and motivated. Consider the current state of your home. Is it a mess? Are there reoccurring problems that can’t seem to get resolved? Is it in need of a renovation or just minor cosmetic touches?” Michelle said many home

Easy Ways To Use Feng Shui This Spring • • • •

Declutter inside and outside your home Move something in your home Open windows Plant a tree

problems can manifest in your personal life. Michelle has worked with a relationship coach who wanted to better accommodate her clients in her home. She worked with a mother whose teenage son was unfocused, not sleeping well and doing poorly in school. By changing his bedroom color from black to blue, his attitude, his sleep habits and his grades improved. “I love doing home offices.” A writer Michelle worked with experiencing a writing block. The solution proved as simple as turning a wall-facing desk and chair toward the window. Looking outside at nature, she was able to write her book. Michelle has also worked with parents on the design of their newborn’s room. Recently she has been helping homeowners

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Michele Ouimet

prepare for the sale of their home, assisting homeowners in purchasing a new home using Feng Shui to determine the most auspicious purchase and working with real estate brokers staging homes using Feng Shui principles to elicit the best possible sale. Michelle was an interior designer whose favorite aunt who several years ago gifted her a book on Feng Shui by Sarah Rossback. It fascinated her so much she spent four years studying for her certificate. “No matter how limited the space there is always a solution with Feng Shui. A placement of mirror, the use of color, the arrangement of furniture will all make a difference. I love to make a positive difference in people’s lives.” To contact Michelle email her at: michelle@fengshuidesignstudios.com or call her at: 202-489-1611. Her website is: www. fengshuidesignstudios.com Pattie Cinelli is a fitness consultant who has been teaching health and fitness in the Washington DC area for more than 25 years. To contact Pattie for a consultation email her at: fitness@pattiecinelli.com. u

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{health and fitness}

Aikido Brings Harmony to Life

by Paul Rivas

space adds to the welcoming feeling you experience when you join this homegrown aikido community. Individuals young and old, novice and expert, are free to enjoy the mental relaxation that comes with exercise and the deep satisfaction that comes with growing a community. “To us, a healthy dojo is like a healthy family,” Michael Martin explains. “Our students really enjoy practicing aikido and enjoy spendMike Martin Sensei handles ing time with each other. an attack by student Amelia They also help each other Feliciano while in the background James Nachbaur dispatches out when necessary.” Michael Hancock. Although Michael and Meipo Martin, who met and not have it escalate.” in Hong Kong and who have been pracWhile any city-dweller can grasp the utiliticing aikido for 28 and 23 years respecty of such added awareness, aikido may actualtively, have trained with the best aikido ly be the perfect activity for Capitol Hill resiinstructors in the world, they are quick to dents, specifically. point out that aikido doesn’t require spe“In every single dojo that I have practiced in cial skills. or visited, you tend to have a lot of people who are “You don’t have to be big, you don’t very educated, with graduate degrees or more; a lot have to be strong, you don’t have to be of PhDs,” surmised Meipo Martin. “People who fast,” assured Meipo Martin. are overeducated and like to think too much, they The self-defense benefits of aikido tend to be attracted to aikido!” are evident as soon as the short, slight This may be why Martin spends so much time Martin throws an attacker to the floor. encouraging students to let go of their thoughts and “People are always shocked that aikido rely on how aikido feels. “Please, have fun! Move, works. It looks so pretty, they think it must move! Don’t think too much,” she reminds them. be fake,” she laughed. At Capitol Hill Aikikai, aikido feels fun. MarHowever, part of the beauty of aikido Capitol Hill Aikikai student Amelia Feliciano practices tin’s instruction is sprinkled with disarming humor. a move on fellow student James Nachbaur is that its benefits extend beyond the parish “I didn’t come up with it, so don’t ask me what walls of the dojo. Amelia Feliciano summait means,” she offers in explanation of a bit of JapaSelf-Defense Class for Women rized what her time with Capitol Hill Aikinese aikido jargon. “We have a fancy name for evApril 9 and 16, 7 p.m. kai has done for her. erything. Don’t worry about fancy names.” Learn how to remain calm when threatened, “I can translate aikido to my everyday A speaker of five languages, Martin also relies and how to avoid being hurt when attacked. life. It helps with everything from when on a dizzying array of metaphors to make her point. Register at www.capitolhillaikikai.org or you get road rage – or there’s a crazy guy In a one-hour class, she may refer to “willow-like call 202-509-1632 yelling at you on the metro – to a meeting strength” to explain the gentle firmness that aikiat work. It helps me deal with aggression

iven that the non-competitive, self-defense oriented Japanese martial art aikido is most frequently translated as “the way of harmony,” it’s fitting that the only aikido dojo on the Hill is in completely harmony with its surroundings, to the point of being entirely hidden from view. Nestled inside the Parish of St. Monica and St. James at 222 8th Street NE, Capitol Hill Aikikai is enjoying its sixth year as a non-profit, communityoriented dojo where students can practice this elegant martial art on Monday, Thursday, and alternate Wednesday nights. Founded by fifth-degree black belt Michael Martin and his wife, fourth-degree black belt Meipo Martin, the distinctly non-commercial dojo feels like one of those places that can only be found by those who’ve been there before. The unostentatious nature of the practice

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A Holistic Approach to Fitness Partner with Pattie Cinelli to: • Learn how to lose weight without dieting • Find an exercise program you enjoy and that works • Learn techniques to release stress

ELIMINATE PAIN RESTORE FUNCTION with EDUCATION • TREATMENT • EXERCISE Chiropractic Acupuncture Sports Medicine Massage Therapy

Choose a single, partner or group session in your home, office, Results the Gym or Lavender Retreat

do requires, “the universe and a booger” to describe the relationship between an individual and an attacker, and “a cheap action figure whose arms and legs only move up and down” to emphasize the simplicity of aikido movements. Beyond how fun classes can be at Capitol Hill Aikikai in particular, aikido in general appeals to individuals who are intrigued by martial arts but don’t like violence, for it seeks a win-win solution in which one doesn’t strive to destroy an attacker but doesn’t want to get hurt, either. Such will be the message in a special upcoming self-defense class for women that Martin will offer April 9 and 16 at 7pm. “Aikido teaches you how to remain calm when threatened, and how to avoid being hurt when attacked,” Meipo explained. “I hope this class will show women that they can take more control over their lives.” After all, it was a similar desire for control that led Michael Martin to aikido in the first place. “I was working in a wine and beer store and looking for something to help me regain some confidence and balance in my life,” he recalled. “I never imagined I would end up being a fifth-degree black belt and the chief instructor of a dojo.”

Pattie has 30 years in the fitness business. Her knowledge and experience will help you achieve your goals

703-671-6038 Clarendon

Schedule a wellness consultation to learn your options

571-295-3809 Courthouse

202.544.0177

Dr. Michael Moses, D.C. | Team Chiropractor for the Capitol Hill Running Club

fitness@pattiecinelli.com

WWW.ARLINGTONPAINANDREHAB.COM

Claire P. Cargill, DDS Capitol Hill family Dentist

We offer complete Dental Care for adults and children. Eastern Market Metro Stop 1009 E Street, SE • Washington, DC

202-547-2491

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Psychotherapy Individuals & Couples

202-544-6465

For more information, call Capitol Hill Aikikai at 202-509-1632 or visit www.capitolhillaikikai. org. u

April 2015 H 119

{health and fitness / pets}

Tick Season

unday, Nov. 9, 2014, my fiancée and I were walking in the National Arboretum. It was a beautiful, crisp fall day and we watched the sunset from a bench at one of its highest hills. Tuesday morning, upon rising, running my hands through my hair, I felt a tick attached to my head. My fiancée removed it, grasping it with finetipped tweezers as close to the skin as possible and applying steady upward force. It was still alive, crawling and bloodthirsty. I packed it in a plastic baggy to take to work for identification, as any good veterinarian would do. Ticks are common vectors of disease. Adult ticks have eight legs, but in the larval stage only have six and acquire the additional legs when they pass to the nymph stage. They must feed on blood to survive and grow from the larval stage to the next stage of life. Without a host to feed on they will die. They pick up diseases from their hosts and can pass these to the next host. Moreover it is possible for ticks to pass more than one disease at a time. Adult deer ticks, the ticks that spread Lyme disease, are generally about the size of a sesame seed until engorged with blood. A nymph is notably smaller, roughly the size of a poppy seed. Under the microscope at the clinic I identified the tick from my plastic bag as a deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, the type that spreads Lyme disease. The most common vector-borne disease in the United States, Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. The CDC reports 20,000 to 30,000 new confirmed human cases each year. Ninety five percent of confirmed cases in 2013 were from 14 states, including Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

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by Noon Kampani Lyme disease does not just afflict people; it can also afflict our dogs. I made an appointment with my doctor and I reexamined my dog Hobbs for ticks. Hobbs is on a tick preventative, but I still like to scan him for ticks after going to Lincoln

Park, the National Arboretum, or similar areas. Signs of Lyme disease in dogs can appear weeks after exposure, and 95 percent of dogs may not have symptoms. Early signs include fever, lameness, shifting-leg lameness, swollen joints, lethar-

gy, depression, or lack of appetite. More serious complications can be progressive arthritis, damage to the kidney, and rarely damage to other systems like the heart or nervous system. Sometimes these signs are subtle and difficult to discern. Ticks can spread multiple diseases, which may complicate diagnosis. Diagnosing the disease in dogs involves a thorough physical exam, reviewing the dog’s history for possible tick exposure, and a blood test. The common heartworm test used in most animal hospitals tests for Lyme disease as well. Of course prevention is the best way to avoid exposure. Options for prevention include avoiding tick-infested areas, performing frequent checks and removing ticks, vaccination for Lyme, and topical or oral medications and pesticides called preventatives. The Lyme vaccine does not protect against other tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, or babesia. Therefore other preventive measures against tick bites are still necessary. There are a myriad of preventatives that can repel or kill ticks. Topically applied products contain active ingredients such as Fipronil, pyrethroids, and Amitraz. Oral products contain active ingredients such as afoxolaner or fluralaner. It is important to discuss with your veterinary professional which is best for your dog. Luckily neither Hobbs, my fiancé, nor I contracted Lyme disease from our visit to the National Arboretum last fall. However, with spring here the tick season is upon us again. Noon Kampani is a veterinarian at AtlasVet and has lived in DC for over 10 years. She lives on Capitol Hill with her fiancée Joel, dog Hobbs, and cat Kaya. u

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{kids & family} N O T E B O O K by Kathleen Donner Birth & Babies Fair at Hill Center On Sunday, Apr. 26, noon-5 p.m., more than 40 exhibitors will present their services and products for new families in the Hill Center Exhibit Hall. The 2015 Birth & Babies Fair will feature three programming tracks: pregnancy and prenatal health; the first year and beyond; and caregiver self-care and emotional well-being. Attendees will enjoy and learn from classes, hands-on training and cooking demonstrations. A raffle with birthand-baby-related prizes will benefit local nonprofits. This event is sponsored by Midwives of MedStar Washington Hospital Center. The individual ticket is $25 ($40 for a family registration). Slightly higher at door. More information can be found at dcbirthandbabiesfair.com. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202549-4172. HillCenterDC.org

Children’s Art Exhibition on Hine Construction Fence There will be an exhibition of art by local school children on the construction fence at the Hine construction site. The exhibition will open in early summer.

“Day of the Dog” Kids’ Fun Run at Congressional Cemetery The kids’ Day of the Dog Fun Run at Congressional Cemetery is on Saturday, May 2 at 11:35 a.m. It’s $10 for the un-timed kids’ run (around a 2k distance). congressionalcemetery.org

Moms In Training for Capitol Hill Classic The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announces the return of Moms In Training: a division of their Team In Training program focused on busy moms in DC. This eight-week coach-led training program will meet on Saturday mornings in the Capitol Hill and Palisades neighborhoods, and in Arlington and Leesburg. Participants will prepare for the Capitol Hill Classic on May 17. To learn more

Photo: Courtesy of the Marine Corps Marathon

Marine Corps Marathon “Run Amuck” Registration Opens Registration opens on Apr. 8 for the June 13 Marine Corps Marathon Mini “Run Amuck” race for ages 8 and up. The two mile race is appropriately wild fun for rowdy runners, outrageous athletes an fun-loving families. Register at marinemarathon.com. or sign up, visit teamintraining.org/mit or call Jenny Walls at 703-399-2907. Registration is open now through early April for the spring session.

Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park Kids ages 4-12 can run the bases after select Nationals games. Kids Run the Bases begins immediately following the game, weather permitting. Dates this year are: Apr. 19; May 10 and 24; June 7 and 21; July 5 and 19; Aug. 9, 23, and 30; Sept. 6, 20 and 27. An adult must accompany runners to the field. One adult per child on the field. Starting at first base, kids will be directed to run around the bases as the adults contin-

ue along the warning track and meet the runners near home plate. Once the game has ended, it takes the grounds crew approximately 20 minutes to prepare the field. Kids and parents/guardians can begin lining up at the end of the 7th inning, however fans that would like to stay and watch the entire game will still be able to line up once the game has ended. Participants must exit the ballpark through the Right Field Gate. The line forms outside of the park on the sidewalk along First St. washington.nationals.mlb.com

Kids’ Night Out at Labyrinth On the third Saturday of the month, 5-9 p.m., Labyrinth will babysit kids, playing games of all kinds,

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doing puzzle crafts, maybe even a little game design, and provide pizza. $40 per child per night. This evening is open to children ages 6-10. To sign up for any or all of the sessions, visit labyrinthdc.eventbrite.com. All kids must be registered. Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-544-1059.

take home a special farm sticker. Visit the lion/tiger information booth to pick up the sticker. State Farm Day at the zoo is Saturday, Apr. 18, 10 a.m-1 p.m. There will be a variety of activities with arts and crafts throughout the day and giveaways for visitors to the Kids’ Farm exhibit. A special “Tend your Garden” program will feature ways to recycle used shipping pallets to easily create beautiful urban gardens. Special performances featuring children’s entertainment will take place on the lion/ tiger stage. Girl and Boy Scouts will receive a free Kids’ Farm patch. nationalzoo.si.edu

Kids’ Music: Rainbow Rock Band at Ebenezers On Saturday, May 2, 10:30 a.m., get ready to rock the rainbow! The Rainbow Lady (Kate Moran), joined by some of her friends, Guitarmony Gus (Derek Evry), Sgt. Bam Sam (Sam Carolla), Captain Toe Tappin (Kevin de Souza), Princess Fiddlesticks (Lynn Rovelli), Bassious Berry (Matt Berry) or Prince Pop & Walk (Ryan Walker), will entertain the little ones with a combination of classic and original children’s songs. This music is for ages, infant-8. $6 in advance; $8 at door for everyone 1 year and older. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com

Spring Break Camps at Hill Center

The Superhero 5K and Fun Run is an event for all ages.

BEST Kids Superhero 5K & Fun Run The BEST Kids 2015 Superhero 5K & Fun run is a celebration of the everyday heroes that make a positive impact in the lives of kids in DC’s foster care system. They invite everyone to join them for their annual run on a scenic course through East Potomac Park. There are many ways to participate including running/walking the race, becoming a sponsor, or volunteering. This family-friendly and stroller-friendly race is on Saturday, Apr. 18, 8 a.m. and begins at 972 Ohio Dr. (East Potomac Park). Due to Park Permits, there is no race day registration. $30. The half-mile fun run is free, however registration is required at bestkids. org. They ask that all participants arrive by 7:30 a.m. due to race road closures. There will be activities for kids throughout the morning and an awards ceremony afterward. The kids are also encouraged to greet and congratulate the 5K runners at the finish line. Parents can run with their children but they need to sign up individually. bestkids.org

MathTree Masterpieces and Masterminds for ages 7-12 is Monday-Friday, April 13-17, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Campers think, create, and develop their problem-solving skills through this unique art and puzzle combo camp. This camp is packed with brain food, creativity, and fun. $450. Register online at hillcenterdc.org Mad Science Eureka! Invention for grades 1-6 is Monday-Friday, April 13-17, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Children will overcome a series of challenges using basic materials, simple machines, tips from famous inventors and the most important of all-their mind. With a little bit of ingenuity, children will create catapults and forts, construct working light sticks to take home, and assemble a set of circuits with batteries and light bulbs. $315. Register online at hillcenterdc.org

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MUSICAL MOMENTUM Changing the World, One Song at a Time The American Youth Chorus performs on Saturday, Apr. 11, 7:30 p.m., at the Lutheran Church Of The Reformation, 212 E. Capitol St., NE. Tickets are $16 ($11 for seniors and ages 6-18). congressionalchorus.org

Kids’ Farm Month at the Zoo Celebrate Kids’ Farm, sponsored by State Farm, throughout the month of April with special activities and events. Every day, they’ll have special animal encounters, keeper talks, and demonstrations. Every weekend, the first 500 children can

Explore the Universe Day and Space Day at Air and Space

Explore the Universe Day is on Saturday, Apr. 11, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It takes a lot of hard work and innovation to go from Galileo’s early telescopic observations in the 17th century to NASA’s launch of the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit in 1990. This family day will explore the amazing accomplishments in astronomical observing from Galileo to Hubble. Through astronomy presentations, hands-on activities, and more, learn about telescopes and how different cultures see the sky. Space Day is on Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Space Day is an annual favorite at the National Air and Space Museum where visitors enjoy STEM-inspired hands-on activities, meet an astronaut, and learn about space from experts from the Museum and NASA. All of the activities take place amid the awe-inspiring collection of historic aviation and space artifacts. airandspace.si.edu

“Unleashed: Finding Your Purpose and Passion” Girls’ Conference A Bigger Picture, Inc. has announced its conference, Unleashed: Finding Your Purpose and Passion. The one day conference is for young wom-

CAPITOL HILL | NEW JERSEY AVENUE SE Eagle Academy Public Charter School – Capitol Hill fosters character development and builds a strong foundation for all students in a Tier1 learning environment for PreK3 – 3rd grade. Visit us today and apply online at www.myschooldc.org.

1017 New Jersey Avenue SE • Washington, DC 20003 (202) 459-6825 – Capitol Hill Campus www.eagleacademypcs.org • @eagleacademypcs

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Enc Empowouraging e Imagin rment and Safe anation in a d Enviro Caring For Chnment ild Ages 3 ren -9

From June 22 - August 14, 2015 Younger children (ages 3-5) will enjoy performances, trips, picnics in the park, water play. Older ones (ages 6-9) will enjoy science classes, field trips, Labyrinth games, fitness classes, arts, weekly visits to the pool, gardening, cooking classes and more.

Registration is OPEN!

Download applications at www.politepiggys.com Mail to PO Box 31215, WDC 20030 Flexible Scheduling: ages 3-5: ages 6-9:

Weekly $315 $345

Whole Day $60 $69

Early Bird Discount 5% OFF Sibling Discount - 25% OFF

Half Day $41 $46

Drop In $66 $71

(any week of camp paid in full by 5/8/15)

More Info: 240-396-8957 ask for VanNessa www.politepiggys.com politepiggysdaycamp@yahoo.com

en in grades 6-12 and will be held on Saturday, Apr. 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, 3600 Georgia Ave. NW. The conference will feature music, food, giveaways, spoken word performances and workshops. Admission is free with at least 3 cans of food that will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank. Register at unleashedconferencepresentedbyabiggerpicture. eventbrite.com.

will be held on Apr. 9, 4-7 p,m., at MLK Library, 901 G St. NW; and Apr. 15, 4-7 p,m, at Family Matters of Greater Washington, 1509 16th St. NW. Teenage girls can come and select free dresses, shoes and accessories. Each girl will have the opportunity to win professional hairstyles, manicures, and/or make-up applications. familymattersdc.org

United for DC becomes the DC United Foundation

Baby’s First Bite is a class designed to help parents feel confident in feeding their infants wholesome and nutritious foods from scratch. Jessie Lupo, RD, LDN and Emily Cleaves, RD, LDN, will use their passion for child nutrition and expertise as Registered Dietitians to help parents prepare an organic meal for the little one. Baby’s First Bite graduates will also walk away with a greater understanding of what’s best for their infant’s growing body, how and when to introduce solids, and ways to ensure food safety. The class is intended for parents only and is targeted for infants ages 4-6 months. Class is on Thursday, Apr. 30, 7-9 p.m. $80 per person or $120 per couple. Register online at hillcenterdc.org

DC United has announced that the club’s charitable arm has changed its name to the DC United Foundation, effective immediately. The name change is timed with the start of the club’s 20th season and coincides with a shift in community outreach efforts that will now focus on championing health and recreational programs and events that serve disadvantaged youth in the area. With an emphasis on empowering kids, improving lives and uniting communities, the DC United Foundation will continue to engage thousands of local area youth through initiatives and programs that help introduce them to the game of soccer and its many social, nutritional and health benefits. DC United will celebrate the foundation’s name change at the team’s home match on May 2, highlighting its programming and providing opportunities to donate directly. A portion of ticket proceeds from the game will benefit the foundation. To learn more about DC United’s community efforts and find detailed, upto-date information on all initiatives, programs and events, visit dcunited. com/community.

Dresses 4Dreams Boutique Dresses 4Dreams Boutique events

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Baby Food Making Class at Hill Center

Capital Rowing Club’s Capital Juniors Capital Juniors is a competitive rowing and academic program that builds in Washington, DC’s young people discipline, fitness, camaraderie, and stewardship for the Anacostia River. Through this program, DC kids have access to rowing and academic support and can apply the lessons they learn in excellence toward successful futures. Capital Juniors began in 2010 with a handful of athletes from one school in the District because a DC public school teacher wanted to give her high-school students the oppor-

Friends Community School Progressive Quaker Education Kindergarten - Grade 8

Experience the

Joy of Extraordinary

SUMMER CAMPS!

tunity to row. As a rower herself, she knew the profound outcomes of the sport (discipline, fitness, camaraderie, appreciation for the environment) and that it would take significant resources to start a team. Identifying the lack of public schools with rowing teams, she approached Capital Rowing Club to develop a program that would allow any student from any school--regardless of age, level of physical ability, or income--to row. Over the past four years, the program has grown to include five coaches, its first full-time Executive Director in 2014, and a roster of roughly 50 students from over 12 schools representing all of DC’s wards. capitalrowing.org

On The Same Page: Voices of Incarcerated Youth at Hill Center

For details: www.friendscommunityschool.org

5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD 20740 Tel: 301.441.2100

Only 15-20 minutes up the Baltimore-Washington Parkway!

geographic hands-on

“Fly By Light,” an award-winning documentary about District teenagers breaking cycles of violence, will premiere on Friday, May 1, 7 p.m., at the National Geographic The-

Dynamic teachers and age-appropriate groups Extended Day enrichment activities. Silver LEED “green” school, 17 acres, next to Greenbelt Park.

cooking

District Teenagers Shine in Documentary, “Fly By Light”

• • •

Early Registratio n Discounts!

arts & crafts

President Obama has signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Department of Education and other federal agencies to work across the federal government to do more to help borrowers afford their month-

On Saturday, Apr. 11, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Boy Scouts can complete the American Heritage Merit Badge. On site, Scouts will interview modern veterans about their United States military experience, as well as learn about the Declaration of Independence, the National Register of Historic Places, and American music. At registration, materials will be provided to aid the completion of the requirements that will not be addressed at Anderson House. To complete the badge on site, Boy Scouts should arrive prepared to report on the requirements they accomplished on their own. Merit Badge counselors will be in attendance to verify completion. This program is free, but reservations are required. Lunch will be provided. Anderson House is at 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202785-2040. societyofthecincinnati.org

SCIENCE, NATURE, ARTS, MUSIC, DANCES, APP DEVELOPMENT, CODING, FILMMAKING, LANGUAGE IMMERSION, POETRY, THEATER, SPORTS, ROBOTICS, HARRY POTTER, and more!

science

President Takes Action to Ensure Strong Consumer Protections for Student Loan Borrowers

Learning from Veterans: Boy Scouts American Heritage Merit Badge Day at Anderson House

June 8 through August 14, 2015

music

On Monday, Apr. 20, 7 p.m., join the neighbors for an evening of poetry and community dialogue brought on by Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop and PEN/Faulkner’s Writers in Schools program. Come hear formerly incarcerated youth share their experiences at the DC Jail and in federal prison and express their personal stories of change through poetry. A moderated discussion on the root causes of youth incarceration and community solutions will follow. Free. Register online at hillcenterdc.org or call 202-549-4172.

ly loan payments including: (1) a state-of-the-art complaint system to ensure quality service and accountability for the Department of Education, its contractors, and colleges, (2) a series of steps to help students responsibly repay their loans including help setting affordable monthly payments, and (3) new steps to analyze student debt trends and recommend legislative and regulatory changes. Read more at whitehouse.gov.

NORTHEAST STARS MONTESSORI How much fun are your kids having this summer? Register for Northeast Stars Montessori Summer Camp to find out. nestars.net — northeaststarsmontessori.nes@gmail.com — 703.945.0408 Alexandria, VA — Arlington, VA — Washington, DC

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The Baltimore Improv Group appears at the National Theatre on Saturday morning, Apr. 18. Photo: Theresa Keil

“Saturday Morning at the National” Free Performances for Children On Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. there are free live performances for children in the National Theatre Helen Hayes Gallery. Tickets are required and distributed first come, first seated. Tickets are distributed 1/2 hour prior to performance. One ticket per person in line. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. 202-783-3372. Here’s the remainder of the spring line-up: Apr. 18, Baltimore Improv Group--Life is Improvised; Apr. 25, Virginia Virtuosi--Rhythms Around the World. Read more at thenationaldc.org.

atre. The film follows four young people on an eight-day journey into the mountains of West Virginia, leaving the streets to participate in an ambitious peace education program. Tickets are $20. nationalgeographic.com

Every Kid in a Park Initiative Launched “Every Kid in a Park” is an initiative that will provide all fourth grade students and their families with free admission to National Parks and other federal lands and waters for a full year, starting with the 2015-2016 school year. In the lead up to the 100th birthday of the National Park Service in 2016, Every Kid in a Park initiative is a call to action to get all children to visit and enjoy America’s unparal-

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leled outdoors. Today, more than 80 percent of American families live in urban areas, and many lack easy access to safe outdoor spaces. At the same time, kids are spending more time than ever in front of screens instead of outside. A 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation study found that young people now devote an average of more than seven hours a day to electronic media use, or about 53 hours a week--more than a full time job.

DC Trust Launches Program to Create Positive Perceptions of DC Youth DC Trust, formerly the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, has launched cme4me, a city-wide social aware-

ness campaign designed to generate positive perceptions, promote holistic narratives and develop a pipeline of workforce development opportunities for youth in Washington, DC, primarily youth of color. Pronounced “see me for me,” this year-long effort powered by the DC Trust includes powerful and thought-provoking images from a cultural diaspora of DC young people demanding that adults view them differently by proclaiming “your perception is not my reality.” These images will be featured on select metro bus routes and shelters throughout the District, as well as on an Old Town Trolley and CitySights DC double decker tour bus for approximately twelve weeks. To learn more, visit cme4me.org.

New Study Shows Kids Eating More Healthy Food at School, Throwing Less Food Away A new study from the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut shows that children are eating healthier food at school and discarding less food since updated healthy school meal standards took effect in 2012. Updated healthy school meal standards were developed based on doctors’ recommendations to help ensure children would be able to get healthy food at school. This new study adds to a growing body of scientific research that shows these standards are working. u

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Stuart-Hobson Middle School Addition Completed article by Maria Helena Carey, photos by Vincent Morris

F The new side entrance to the arts addition. Still under construction.

The music/band rehearsal room

The drama wing with changing lights and space.

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rom the outside, the beautiful new addition to Stuart-Hobson Middle School, 410 E Street NE, appears to be nearly complete. The school has received over $40 million to update and retrofit the heating, cooling, and ventilation in its beautiful 1927 building, as well as to update its current north field facilities. The largescale modernization project, which will give the middle school building a Gold LEED certification, has been ongoing since the fall of 2013. Construction is expected to finish in summer 2015 with completion of the north field and the library’s modernization. The all-new addition will house the Museum Program and will also increase the area of the building by over 13,000 square feet. Recently, as reported by the Washington Post, over $4 million in additional funds were reallocated to the Stuart-Hobson modernization project. The additional funds will help address the renovation projects as well as any other minor items not already addressed, including landscaping and the installation of bike racks and signage. Unfortunately Capitol Hill Cluster school Watkins Elementary, which is one of the feeder schools to StuartHobson, lost over $7 million of upgrade funding in the same reallocation. An assessment in 2008 revealed that Stuart-Hobson was extremely lacking in almost all systems, from boilers to electrical, nor was it ADA-compliant. The first stage of construction was mostly internal work: upgrading heating and cooling systems as well as replacing toilets and addressing the electrical panel. During 2014 construction

focused on the building of the arts wing, which wraps around the west side of the school building, overlooking 4th Street. While construction proceeded mostly during the summer, so as not to disturb students, neighbors along 4th, 5th, and E streets were inconvenienced by builder Broughton Construction’s noise and weekend work disturbances, which were reported by neighbors and ANC 6C04 Commissioner Mark Eckenwiler. These violations were reported to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Department of General Services (DC DGS) by ANC 6C, with little to no result. ANC Commissioner Eckenwiler says that “the new Arts Addition is a much-needed, welcome improvement to Stuart-Hobson. Our Hill students deserve this sort of showcase facility. It’s just unfortunate that the contractor – Broughton Construction – inflicted so much illegal late-night construction noise on the neighbors, and equally unfortunate that DC DGS & DCRA condoned these and other violations instead of enforcing the law and protecting the public.” Part of the school’s north field is a parking lot and has a small playing field with artificial turf, but after completion of work slated for summer 2015 the area will become an athletic field for multiple sport practice. The projected field will reduce parking on campus, but parents and school personnel rallied in 2013 to express the community’s need to have a fully functional, full-sized field. While it is true that the staff need parking – especially those who commute from outside the District – it is hoped that the proximity to

Union Station and other public transportation routes around the school will address that problem. Stuart-Hobson has seen rising enrollment over the past years, and the new wing and facilities seek to accommodate the larger numbers in a beautiful, modern complement to the existing building. For parents with children enrolled in local DCPS elementary schools, it is exciting to see this middle school modernization project coming together so beautifully. Many of us hope our children will be attending and enjoying the fruits of so much planning, advocating, and unfortunate neighbor irritation. María Helena Carey is a freelance writer, blogger, and photographer. She’s been a Hill resident for almost a decade and hopes to send her children to Stuart-Hobson Middle School. You can read more of her writing at thehillishome.com and keep up with photos, snark, and ephemera on Twitter @TheMadameMeow. u

Music Store Instrument Rentals Private Lessons Group Instruction Summer Camps Providing the tools and expertise for musicians and music lovers of all ages

202.733.3158 info@musiconthehilldc.com www.musiconthehilldc.com 1453 Pennsylvania Ave. SE • 2nd Floor

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Rep. Paul Tonko with Maury Scientists

School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

Eliot-Hine School Major Tree Planting!

On March 18, Eliot-Hine partnered with Casey Trees to plant seven new trees in the front of the building. Sixth-grade students completed all of the steps necessary to plant the trees, including digging up the soil, chopping apart any rocks, placing the tree in the hole, replacing the dirt, and covering with mulch. The students had a great time and even found some worms. Casey Trees planted an additional 40 trees around the perimeter of Eliot-Hine on March 21, with outside volunteers. Mr. Tyner, an Assistant Principal at Eliot-Hine, was present for opening remarks. A big thank you to Elizabeth Nelson, community volunteer, and Casey Trees, for making this happen!

E-H Roundup Girls on the Run started its spring season at EliotHine the week of March 9. There are 6 girls on the team and they are learning about living a healthy lifestyle. The goal is for them to complete a 5K in May, along with hundreds of other girls in the DC area, and thousands of girls across the country. Eliot-Hine fundraised over $700 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society during the Pennies for Patients campaign. Mr. Hutson’s homeroom class raised the most, followed closely by Mr. Kane’s homeroom class. Great job to everyone who participated!

Eliot-Hine will be partnering with Higher Achievement, starting this summer. Rising 4th and 5th graders at any of the feeder schools are encouraged to apply to participate in this comprehensive program, which has a summer and after school component. Interest meetings for students and families will be held at the feeder schools this spring. - Eliot-Hine’s Community Affairs Director Tammy Whyte. 30 Constitution Ave NE. 202-9395380. www.eliothinemiddleschool.org.

Maury Elementary

Environmental Engineering Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) visited Think Tank for Engineers Week. Organized by Engineering is Elementary (EiE) out of the Boston Museum of Science, Rep. Tonko and members of his staff, EiE staff, Maury staff and third-graders addressed environmental issues in a fictional “Greentown”. The problem? All of the frogs and plants are dying and the Maury engineers must determine the cause. They tested the pH of soil and water samples and made recommendations on what needs to be done. This knowledge can be applied to reallife concerns around oil spills and other environmental disasters. Maury was chosen for the visit due to its implementation of the EiE curriculum and its engineering-intensive Think Tank program (maurythinktank.blogspot.com).

Science Expo Invitation The 4th Annual Think Tank and STEM Expo is coming April 28. Community members are welcome to attend this free family event. From Eliot-Hine students make Capitol Hill air cleaner with the addition of 47 trees around their school! Photo: E. Nelson

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6-7:45 p.m., children ages 3-11 can interact with live animals, explore 3-D printing, talk to scientists and engineers in many fields, and win raffle prizes. Congratulations! The Maury Cheerleaders placed fourth out of nine teams in the Novice Division of the DCIAAA City Championships at Coolidge HS in March. For the second year, the Maury Ski Team took first place overall in the DCIAA Elementary School Division at Liberty Mountain; all ten team members placed in beginning, novice, and advanced categories. Special congratulations to Aiden Herron, Malcolm Douglas, Robert Golin, Benjamin Garcia (1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th in Beginner category), Taleyah Evans, Samantha Garcia, Kerry Mullins (2nd, 4th, 5th in Novice), Julian Gutierrez, Dani Michaels and Martin Michaels (1st, 2nd, 3rd in Advanced). - Elizabeth Nelson. Maury Elementary, 1250 Constitution Ave., NE. 202-698-3838 or mauryelementary.com.

Payne Elementary

Payne’s Junior Cadets Go Spelunking in Luray Caverns Fifth-grade students at Payne Elementary were fortunate this year to be granted the opportunity to participate in the Metropolitan Police Foundation’s Junior Cadets Program. In the program, students learn about community policing directly from officers on the force. In addition, they get to experience some amazing field opportunities, which have included a visit to the pumpkin patch and viewing a retired space shuttle. One of their favorite experiences yet has been an adventure within Luray Caverns in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Students marveled at the naturally formed caverns and formations including Apollo’s Ghost, the “scrambled eggs”, and all of the fantastic stalagmites (formed from the ground up), and stalactites (formed from the ceiling down). They enjoyed playing a game of “that looks like …”. Many made wishes in the beautiful greenish blue waters of the Wishing Well. Quiet meditation was enjoyed when the natural organ played a beautiful hymn, which could be heard throughout the caverns. Mrs. Johnson’s students are looking forward to more adventures as they complete their final year of elementary school with the Junior Cadets. As one student put it, “It’s like having class out in the world!” - Mary FitzhughJohnson, 5th Grade Teacher. Payne Elementary School, 1445 C Street, SE. FOLLOW US! Facebook: PayneES; Twitter: @PayneDCPS and @PrincipalPayne Instagram: PayneDCPS New website coming soon... www.PayneDCPS.org.

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Tyler Elementary School

Tyler Elementary hosted its signature fundraiser, the 6th annual Alchemy of Great Taste on March 14th at Eastern Market’s North Hall. It was truly a night to remember. This fun-filled event featured delicious food from local restaurants paired with a range of beers and wines, which were provided by the following local restaurants and beverage stores: Radici, Agua 301, Chat’s Liquors, DC Central Kitchen, Trusty’s Tavern, DC Brau, Sona, Lagaria, Acqua Al 2, Bistro Cacao, and Beuchert’s Saloon. Live

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Check our Recipes at larrysweetcorn.com April 2015 H 133

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music was performed by Stop Thief and the dance floor was full. A silent auction was held and up for grabs were themed baskets, such as Treat Yourself, Movie Night, Anchors Away and Washington Nationals, which were prepared by Tyler parents and teachers as well as Tyler student artwork. A big thank you to the Alchemy sponsors for helping to make this event a huge success: Zeyno Kitchen & Bath Gallery, CSX, Akin Gump, Phil & Jeanne Residential and Commercial Real Estate, Fowler Architects, Element 47 Design, The Smith Team, and Fulcrum Properties Group. Alchemy of Great Taste is Tyler’s largest fundraiser. Since its inception, Alchemy has helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for the school. The proceeds are used for student enrichment programs, classroom materials, professional development for teachers and so much more. - Anika Wilson,Tyler Elementary, 1001 G Street, SE. TylerElementary. net or anikacd@yahoo.com.

Van Ness Elementary

Lottery Shows High Demand for Van Ness Elementary Plans for the 2015-2016 school year continue to move forward with the hiring of staff, the building redesign and the development of a student body. DCPS reported that Van Ness Elementary had a strong response for the early childhood programs in the school lottery. The Van Ness Parent Group in partnership with DCPS is planning for Parent Event for Van Ness lottery winners on April 7 at 6 p.m. to answer questions, meet the Acting Principal as well as meet and engage with other Van Ness parents. The location is still TBA but will either be held at Van Ness, if available, or the party room in Capitol Hill Tower. (New Jersey & K St, SE) Additionally, Van Ness Parent Group is planDesign of the new Van Ness Elementary School

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ning the first of several family friendly events shortly after the May 1st registration deadline for enrolled students and parents to get to know each other before the school reopens in August. SIT (School Information Team) meetings continue to progress for Phase 1 of the building renovations. A builder was scheduled to be introduced at the March 18 meeting of the SIT. Quinn Evans architects, which led the renovations for both Amidon-Bowen and Ludlow Taylor, has received an overwhelmingly positive response regarding their beautiful renovation designs for Van Ness. Themes for the school include the River and Shipbuilding and the color scheme incorporates tones of blues and greens to acknowledge the water and the environment. Notes and updated designs are posted after the SIT meetings at the following DGS website: http://dgs. dc.gov/page/van-ness-early-education-center DCPS, DGS, DPR and NPS are continuing to work out the details of the adjacent Joy Evans Park. The SIT is pushing for a collaborative decision as soon as possible so that funding can be used at the greatest benefit of the school, community and the city. -Kelly Finn Störmer, President, Van Ness Parent Group, Van Ness Elementary School, 1150 5 th Street, SE, vannessparentgroup@gmail.com, www. facebook.com/VanNessParentGroup, @VNPG2015

Friendship Tech Prep Academy Signs Agreement with the Coast Guard On February 27th, Friendship’s Technology Preparatory Academy hosted an Engineering Day. The event celebrated a new partnership between the United States Coast Guard and Friendship Tech Prep Academy. As part of the agreement, the Coast Guard will provide speakers and guest instructors, participate in tutorial services and class presentations and participate in mentor programs. There will also be an emphasis on career awareness, with job shadowing and tours of local Coast Guard units provided, in addition to the availability of summer internships. Located in D.C.’s Ward Eight, Tech Prep’s high school recently moved into a new $18.9m state-ofthe-art facility, which includes several science laboratories, and a purpose-built greenhouse. The campus also neighbors the new Department of Homeland Security headquarters and a Microsoft facility, presenting opportunities for further collaboration with other community and corporate partners, benefiting the learning and career opportunities of students.

Coast Guard’s Chief Engineer and Logistician, Rear Admiral Michael Haycock with Principal Doranna Tindle and Friendship founder Donald Hense.

The school prepares its students for the rigor of a college education and specializes in STEM-science, technology, engineering and math--disciplines and environmental sciences. Friendship serves nearly 4,000 pre-K through twelfth grade District students at multiple public charter school campuses. This year, Tech Prep graduates its first senior class. It is hoped that it will emulate the success of Friendship’s Collegiate Academy in D.C.’s Ward Seven, which has a 92 percent on-time—within four years—high-school graduation rate and 100 percent of its graduating class accepted to college. Friendship’s Tech Prep Academy, 620 Milwaukee Place SE, www.friendshipschools.org

Chavez School

The New Orleans & Back Program to Host Fundraiser May 7 for Service Learning The New Orleans & Back Program is currently celebrating its 8th year as an intensive service learning and leadership building initiative for students at Chavez Schools-Capitol Hill high school. In order to raise money for an annual service trip to New Orleans, Louisiana during which they work on rebuilding homes and schools devastated by Hurricane Katrina, student participants are holding a fundraiser at Po Boy Jim restaurant (709 H St NE) on May 7 from 6-8p.m. During this event, attendees will enjoy entertainment from renowned musicians and spoken word artists while learning more about the service learning program and being provided the opportunity to purchase student made functional artwork. Artwork that will be sold includes hand painted sketchbooks, holiday ornaments, “bookhook” coat hangers, phone cases and dog bowls. All proceeds from student art sales will go directly to travel expenses.

Boxes of Joy- April 11 In addition to this fundraising event, the program will be leading the “Boxes of Joy” service site for Global Youth Service Day on April 11 at Cesar Chavez PCS-Capitol Hill. Students will lead participants through an original lesson in which they will create care packages filled with stuffed animals, childhood games, cards of hope, and other created items for local children in the foster care system. For more information about the New Orleans & Back program and to purchase artwork from the online store, please visit the program website and follow the program’s social media accounts.- Michael Bolds, Chavez, 709 12th St SE; www.neworleansandback.com; twitter - @nolaandback, facebook - neworleansandback, instagram - @neworleansandback

St. Peter School

Egyptian Tomb Unveiled! Under the leadership of art instructor Mrs. Trish Blomquist, every St. Peter School student had a hand in creating a mesmerizing Egyptian tomb, including a life-size sarcophagus! Students began the project with a study of the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Inspired and excited, the students enthusiastically embraced the adventure of creating an Egyptian tomb, currently on display in the

multi-purpose room. While Kindergarteners created scarabs, first-graders designed funerary masks and second-graders designed cartouches and sculpted shabtis. Meanwhile, thirdgraders designed the sarcophagus, and fourth graders created canopic chests with Egyptian reliefs on each side. Fifth-graders made canopic jars, sixth graders created Egyptian self-portraits and seventh graders created plaster reliefs for the walls of the tomb. And the eighth graders? They constructed a life-size sarcophagus! The students used an old blanket wrapped in recycled black plastic sheeting, a long piece of plywood, and some screen from an old screen door to start the basic form of the sarcophagus. They used a variety of recycled materials and A LOT of masking tape to add the details like the crook and flail, the funerary mask and the upper body shape. The students then covered the entire form with plaster craft and joint compound to give it the smooth surface. The hieroglyphics on the front of the sarcophagus spell out St. Peter School. Using a gallon of gold paint and metallic acrylic paint, the students drew all details by hand. Wow, just WOW!

Academic and Athletic Accolades! Students in grades four through eight competed in the fifth annual school math bee, answering a host of math

St. Peter CYO JV Boys Celebrate Basketball Tournament Victory

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questions focused on mental math, estimation, measurement and more. Congratulations to seventh-grader Anna Ceballos, the 2015 Math Bee Champ! And a hat tip also to seventh-grader James Holladay, the 2015 Pi Champ who recited 301 digits of Pi from memory! Meanwhile, the St. Peter School Science Bowl Team brought home the third place trophy from the Department of Energy Science Bowl! Congratulations Nathaniel Rutledge (8th), Shu Yu Offner (8th), Robby Hickmott (8th), Gabriella Grimaldi (8th) and Kendal Wienecke (7th). On the courts, the St. Peter JV Boys basketball team triumphed with an undefeated season, topped off by a sweep at the 2015 Holy Redeemer Basketball Tournament at Georgetown Prep. Thank you to volunteer coaches Tommy Forr and Darren Dwyer for their time, patience, and commitment to the student athletes. Way to go Panthers!

Author Visit Inspires! Award-winning children’s author, Barbara Gowan, came to St. Peter School to visit with the school’s youngest learners and present her newest book, “R is for Rosary – A Catholic Family Alphabet.” Ms. Gowan read from her book to students in grades Pre K4 through 5th, explaining how each letter in the alphabet represents a facet of the Catholic faith. The books includes rhymes, text, sacred art illustration, and prayers written by children to capture the core elements of Catholicism in a concise, compelling way. The students were thrilled to walk away with signed copies of this inspirational book. Sally Aman St. Peter School, 422 Third St, SE, 202-544-1618, www. stpeterschooldc.org.

Gan Shalom Cooperative Preschool is Hiring!

Capitol Hill Cluster School

Starting next year the Cluster will have an additional principal to lead the Peabody Primary and Watkins Elementary campuses, DCPS has decided. Current Principal Dawn Clemens, who now oversees all three Cluster campuses, will lead StuartHobson Middle. Both DCPS and Clemens say they are committed to continuing the tight cross-campus collaboration that the Cluster School is known for. More details to come. The Cluster School held its annual Cluster Rocks! Auction on March 20 at the Atlas Theater on H Street N.E. It was a fun night of socializing, music and dance – and raised money that will go to support teachers and students at the Cluster’s three campuses.

Peabody Primary

Kindergarteners spent several weeks researching and preparing their Famous African-American Museum Showcases. Each student studied a black American and presented why his or her contribution to our country is important. Thanks to a new partnership with the Library of Congress, the students learned how to use primary source material as they did their research. Because of the suc-

cess of the project, the kindergarten teachers plan to incorporate more research projects and presentations for our rising kindergartners next year. Pre-K4 students meanwhile have been working hard on their first Creative Curriculum study. They are learning about trees, and teachers are working to facilitate thoughtful discussions with their students. Pre-K3 students are deep into their Buildings study, and the students are slowly becoming master builders. In March, they took a trip to the National Museum of the American Indian to look at different types of buildings. 425 C St. N.E.

Watkins Elementary

We are looking for a full time Assistant Director and a part-time Lead Teacher for the 2015-2016 school year. To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to AlexisYMTinsley@HillHavurah.org . Come join our wonderful community!

Watkins celebrated Black History Month in a big way with performances from Ms. Hanock and Ms. Kellogg’s fourth-grade classes and Ms. Jones’ third--graders, as well as an artwork wall, student speakers and special guests from the Washington Performing Arts. Videos of the event are available at the Cluster School YouTube channel: www. youtube.com/user/CapHillCluster. Meanwhile, the fifth-grade choir went to the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington field office to perform in the 2015 African-American

Watkins’ 5th-grade choir performed at a Black History Month ceremony at the DEA’s Washington field office. They’re joined here by Karl C. Colder, special agent-in-charge, and J. Byron Morris, past president of the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Inc.

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History Month Celebration. Watkins fifth-grader Nonie Shuford was one of 30 students participating in the 33rd Annual Washington Informer Spelling Bee. The bee, hosted by NBC4 news personalities Erika Gonzalez and Brian Culver, will air 2-3 p.m. Sunday, April 12.

Stuart-Hobson Middle School

Stuart-Hobson’s ski team came home with team and individual medals from March ski championships

The new, three-story arts addition is open, with new space for theater and drama, for pottery and art, and for music practice and performance. The school held a grand-opening last month to celebrate and show off the addition. The arts wing, visible on the 4th St N.E. side of the school, is part of extensive renovations at Stuart-Hobson. Stay tuned: This spring, students will put on a production of the musical “Fame” in the school’s newly renovated auditorium. Also in March, Stuart-Hobson students took second place in the 2015 D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association ski championships. The school also brought home eight individual medals. 410 E St. N.E. - Capitol Hill Cluster School PTA communications team. www.capitolhillclusterschool.org.

School Within School Children Are Citizens

Anyone who was at the National Gallery of Art in March and saw animated first graders performing plays in front of paintings may have thought: What? Are they allowed to do that at the museum? Answer: Absolutely. Katie Solli’s first-graders wrote stories about two paintings in the museum and then created plays about them, using the works of art as scenery. It was part of a program called Children Are Citizens in which the museum and Imagination Stage are partnering with School Within

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School and four other schools and early CHDS student learning centers across the city to deeplistens to Marsalis en young children’s connection to the nawhile researching tion’s capital. The exploration is different his music. in each classroom. Ms. Katie’s class examined the idea that being a citizen of the city means being citizens of the museums, as well. “We’ve visited so many times so that students grow accustomed to these great spaces that are built for them, as well as adults, and connected learning in the museum with our curricular goals at school: Writing imaginative stories about paintings,” she said. A book is being created by the students from all the schools that have been part of the program showing their perspectives on life in Washington, D.C. Jazz” research on the diverse cultural and geographThe program is part of Project Zero, an educationical influences reflected in Marsalis’s music. Seval research group at the Harvard Graduate School enth and eighth-grade music students showed off of Education. There will be a Family Day April 25 their jazz bona fides on Orff instruments. at the National Gallery of Art to exhibit and celeTo cap it off, CHDS was thrilled to receive a brate the work. handwritten note from Wynton Marsalis: “Much love and thank you for choosing to study jazz and me!” Faculty and student involvement in the month-long 18th Annual SWS Auction. Black History Month celebration represented proThank you! gressive education at its best, with learning that was This year’s gala was a big success and a great night cooperative and collaborative; engaging and authenout. Thank you to sponsors, organizers and everytic; creative and playful; challenging and joyful. one who donated items and attended the event. Your generosity is vital to the school. - Allison Auction in Reagan National’s Klein. School Within School 920 F St NE, 202-698-3283; schoolwithinHistoric Terminal -April 17 school.org Come fly with CHDS at the April 17 Auction in Reagan National’s Historic Terminal A! Enjoy dinner, dancing, and bidding on fabulous live auction items – vacation homes in Rehoboth, FloriCHDS Looks Back on Black History da, West Virginia, and New Mexico; tickets for the Month and Ahead to the Auction! Nationals and Taylor Swift; a Wii, the Pizza ParCapitol Hill Day School wrapped up its Black Histoty; and much more. Visit www.chdsauction.org to ry Month celebration of Wynton Marsalis with live buy tickets today, and bid on online auction items. jazz by Kenny Rittenhouse and his jazz quartet, and – Jane Angarola. 210 South Carolina Avenue, SE, student art and music. Early Childhood students dis202-386-9919 jangarola@chds.org played their mural depicting Marsalis’s life and music. First graders played banjos and percussion shakers they made after studying the physics of sound. Second through fifth graders presented a pictorial timeline of Marsalis’s life, photos from their “Jazz Engineering the Future Club,” Romare Bearden-style collages, and written Sixty-two watts. It’s the same amount of energy it responses to quotes by and videos of Marsalis. Midtakes to illuminate a standard light bulb. What dle-schoolers shared the results of their “Roots of else can be done with sixty-two watts? As students

Capitol Hill Day School

St. Anselm’s Abbey School

in St. Anselm’s Abbey School’s Dr. Herb Wood’s engineering classes have learned, one can propel a car or run a water pump to get clean water to a remote village, and the energy all comes from a solar panel that’s about the size of a beach towel. “Engineering, if you work for Boeing or something like that, is always in a team,” says Dr. Wood, who worked professionally as an engineer for 15 years. “It’s good for guys to know that and what engineering is before they spend a lot of time and money to study it. For example, when the students start, it’s fine and great to have a design, but if you start hammering nails and things don’t fit, you have to learn to understand why it doesn’t fit.” For six years, the school has offered four engineering electives each year: mechanical, civil, chemical, and electrical. Students are given a goal and a budget. They work together to design and build a model to achieve the goal by the end of the semester. Their creations, which have also included a freestanding staircase, a catapult, and a carbon dioxide scrubber, must be accompanied by a full writeup that documents the purpose, physical principles behind the design, and a technical description, and a presentation in front of fellow students, parents, and teachers. The class exposes students to all the skills required for a profession in science, beyond the ever-important formulas. - Kristin Hurd, St. Anselm’s Abbey School,4501 South Dakota Ave, NE, 202-269-2350 www.saintanselms.org.

Amidon-Bowen and Jefferson Academy

Teacher Appreciation Event Near Southeast Community Partners and Nando’s Peri-Peri in Yards Park

hosted its 2nd annual Teacher Appreciation Event on February 26th. This annual event was created as a way to show appreciation for the teachers and principals in our Ward 6 local schools, who work hard to provide the best possible education for the kids. It also allows teachers from both schools to mingle and talk about education and enjoy some great food. DC Council Education Committee Chair David Grosso was on hand to greet teachers as they arrived and thanked each for their dedication. NSCP President Bruce DarConte addressed the attendees with Amidon Principal Isabella Miller and Jefferson Principal Natalie Gordon and then introduced Ward 6 Council Member Charles Allen, who attended with his wife Jordi and daughter Cora. Council Member Allen updated everyone on the latest information on Committee Oversight, DCPS school information, and thanked the teachers. Ward 6 State Board of Education Representative Joe Weedon attended to show his support for the teachers. The event included appetizers, dinner and drinks for the teachers courtesy of Nando’s Peri-Peri in Yards Park. Amidon-Bowen and Jefferson Academy are schools with rising test scores and enrollment and that is due to the hard work of their principals, teachers and staff. Although only in its second year, this event is already becoming a new tradition. An autumn event is in the planning stage and look for Van Ness Elementary school teachers to join in on the fun in the future. Let’s work to create a vibrant riverfront community one bite at a time. - Bruce DarConte, President, Near Southeast Community Partners, 401 Eye St SE; www.nscpartners.org ◆

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{home & garden}

Success Story

Kingman Park Rosedale Community Garden Cheryl Corson, RLA, ASLA

ingman Park Rosedale Community Garden representatives happily paid the DC government $1 at a March 19 signing ceremony and received title to a quarter-acre vegetable garden that has become the heart and soul of the unusually large interior block bordered by D and E streets NE, between 20th and 21st streets. It took years, lots of community organizing, and hard work to reach this milestone, the first such land transfer in the District. Now nearly 100 gardeners of all ages, races, and incomes can continue growing food, knowing their patch of land won’t become a parking lot. On Feb. 19 the Friends of Kingman Park (FOKP) hosted a celebration at a local church (http://www.capitalcommunitynews.com/content/community-celebrates-their-garden%E2%80%99ssuccess). Cosby Washington, current president, explains that FOKP, now a nonprofit 501C3 organization, is an arm of the older Rosedale Citizens Alliance. Washington says the two groups are devoted to bringing the community together and enhancing this precious green space.

Kingman Park History A 1903 District of Columbia map shows only blank paper where this super block is now located. To the east is the Anacostia River, and East Capitol Street ends at the river where RFK Stadium now stands. Prior to 1928 when the first Kingman Park houses were built, the western shore of the Anacostia south of Benning Road consisted of mudflats near the city dump. Malaria and yellow fever were feared. Between 1898 and 1928 the future of this wetland was debated by Congress, the Army Corps of Engineers, and other national and local entities. In much the same

way that Kingman Park Rosedale Community Garden was slowly formalized, a host of government entities spent years creating what is now Anacostia Park, clearing the way for a new neighborhood. Construction of homes on the vacant land that is now Kingman Park began in 1928. One reason the community garden is so large is that 21st Street NE veers off toward the east, while 20th Street runs north/south. When you walk through the alley into the interior of that block the size of the space is striking. If it hadn’t been in the run-down condition it was in the early 2000s it would probably have been paved over long ago. Knowing that 21st Street was an early part of this building campaign could explain the astounding double row of enormous willow oaks lining those blocks between D and F streets. Nearly 100 years old, they are easily the largest willow oaks I’ve seen on a city street and well worth a visit. In 2001 the Ward Redistricting Act split Kingman Park, shifting 1,840 homes into Ward 7, moving this ward west of the Anacostia River for the first time. Unsuccessful lawsuits ensued, and although the change was upheld one concession was that Kingman Park residents receive prized Ward 6 parking stickers. See Wikipedia for more history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Kingman_Park.

Later in spring the beds are planted and paths are covered with cardboard and mulched. Photo: Bob Coomber

Blue sky with a lovingly hand-painted garden sign. Photo: Stacey Barton

Kingman Park Rosedale Community Garden History Ten years ago the garden site was a vacant lot littered with junk cars and just plain junk. Residents envisioning a garden started organizing in 2005. They received generous support from three community and city organizations: Washington GROW, Washington Parks and People, and the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.

Harvest celebrations and birthday parties are held in the garden. Photo: Bob Coomber

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Long-time 20th Street resident Robert Gregg with Midnight enjoy the garden and may have a plot someday. Photo: Cheryl Corson

On the first day of spring, onions and parsley emerge from a cleaned up garden plot. Photo: Cheryl Corson

What started out as five raised beds has now grown to 43. Current soil tests show safe, fertile ground. For more on the history including photos over time, see http://kprgarden.org. As nice as the new garden was, the threat of development loomed, especially as real estate pressure mounted following the 2008 recession. Rosedale Citizens Alliance and Friends of Kingman Park joined forces to protect what had become a vital community resource. The city owned the land on which the garden was located, but a larger adjacent parcel was privately owned. This piece, still a green open space, went on the market in 2008-09, but FOKP was unable to come up with the purchase price. The new owner now leases the land to the civic group while its future is explored. If developed this could literally cast a shadow on the garden. Hopefully a solution will evolve in the next few years during the current lease. Bob Coomber moved to the neighborhood in 2009 and by all accounts was instrumental in crafting the land transfer from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue to the citizens’ group. Now an ANC 7D01 member, he has a legal background that is an asset to the garden. He reaps what he sows in more ways than one: his family tends a garden plot and participates in gatherings and cookouts that occur in the space. Kingman Park, initially an African-American real estate development, is now multira-

cial as the city’s population is redistributed. FOKP President Washington is quick to point out that fears of displacement due to gentrification caused initial blowback against the garden. Now, he proudly says, “we’re moving forward with continuity and togetherness. We’re so blessed that we came through and the garden is now part of the community.”

How the Garden Grows Garden members pay annual dues plus a onetime application fee. There are detailed bylaws, and new member applications from the immediate neighborhood are given priority. See the garden’s blog for more information. About a quarter of garden members receive reduced membership rates or full garden plot scholarships due to low income. For these people the garden is a valuable and healthful supplement to their diet. According to Bob Coomber the space has also been an incubator garden for local school groups, who have since moved on to create gardens on school grounds. It is a great way for younger gardeners to learn from more experienced ones. When you see what tasks others do throughout the growing season it’s easier to get into the gardening rhythm. Last week, as the signing ceremony took place, the garden was quiet. A number of beds had been cleaned up for spring. Onions, parsley, chives, and fresh strawberry foliage were in evidence. Photos showing the garden in

full regalia reveal tomatoes, peppers, beans, herbs, and many other edibles. The group now plans to improve the space further by removing some weed trees, completing fencing around the perimeter, and arranging for water sources. For this they are consulting with DC’s RiverSmart Homes program as the space is in the delicate yet recovering Anacostia watershed. Two picnic tables in the garden have brass plaques commemorating members who have passed: Linda Hamilton Gilbert, garden founder and 40-year neighborhood resident, and Danny Hollander, who was beloved and “the embodiment of the transformative power of gardening,” according to his plaque. When real estate development is parachuted into a transitional neighborhood by outsiders strictly for profit, it shows. Kingman Park Rosedale Community Garden isn’t like that. It is literally a ground-up neighborhood development that has already attracted infill homes to its perimeter. Some realtor’s listings now show the garden as an amenity. But it is a neighborhood asset and green space that is helping feed people, unite people, and clean the Anacostia River, making it so much more than a simple vegetable plot. Cheryl Corson is a licensed landscape architect practicing on Capitol Hill and beyond. She finds great beauty in vegetable gardens and encourages everyone to grow something from seed this season. www.cherylcorson.com u

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A Long Transition to Spring

by Derek Thomas

very spring like clockwork it begins; the days get a bit longer, the suns glow gets a bit brighter and warmer, and the first daffodils and crocuses push us into spring. These harbingers of spring are noticeably late this year. Were the invites not received? Did they miss the email? We are weeks behind the normal flowery roll out that elevate us from the browns and gray of winter and catapult us into perennial planting frenzy.

A Long Trip to Spring

foxglove whose long spike are normally one foot tall by the end of march have just started to emerge.

This year March teased repeatedly with temperatures that struggled to be normal almost as if in a conspiracy with old Man Winter to keep us eternally shifted in a deep freeze. Plants like the very early daffodil “ice follies” which usually is in bloom in our region in late February have just begun to grow. Maple trees, which by now have started to contribute to the pollen in our region, have only begun to bud. Forsythia, the electric yellow exploding shrub that by early April is a distant memory, has yet to bloom. Crocuses were three weeks late. So what can we do with our plants that now look like the sad leftovers of a garden sale in late fall?

“Ice Follies”, daffodil whose blooms are usually spent by the first week of march have just began to emerge.

A Road to Recovery

Plants like pansies will look especially beautiful this spring due to the 3week ice pack that protected their crowns and the ample water we have after the snow melt.

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The first thing to pack into our gardening bags this spring is patience, followed by a steadfast commitment to our craft of gardening. Spring is coming. The snowpack that we had for over three weeks has actually been very beneficial because the earth is moist and ripe for supporting the vigorous growth that will take place this spring. The cold can also help by reducing the insect population. Though these are beneficial things to come out of a harsh winter we must now begin the work to make sure the season is not lost. • Amend your soils now by adding compost and organic fertilizer. This will do more to improve your plants chances of recovery than just about anything else. • If you have plants that have been burnt out by the winter wind, add a side dress of compost and soil amendments to improve its chances for recovery.

Daphne will bloom and fill us with that sweet, spicy aroma we love, only this year patience will prove to be a virtue.

Volunteers get their planting instructions.

•

Mulch, Mulch, and Mulch. Moisture will be your friend this summer to prevent plants that are recovering from undue stress from drying out this summer. If you have plant that looks unsavable, before you dig them out try cutting it back to the ground and give it a few weeks to see if it comes back from the root. Use a product like a transplant shock reducer to give plants a boost this spring. Go back to old school basics and add fish and kelp emulsions to give your plants a natural boost of energy and vitality. Take the time to rethink some of your plantings. This harsh winter and late spring is a great time to think about the balance of evergreens vs. herbaceous perennials. If your garden looks magnificent in late spring to summer, but then is stark and dreary in winter adding a border of evergreens as a backdrop or in a focal point will please even the most particular gardener in the darkest of winters.

The Eventual Spring When spring does come, the gardens of Capitol Hill will explode in an unparalleled crescendo of plants that normally would not bloom together. This masterpiece will emerge in a harmonic Timothy Leary inspired design. Bloom they will. Those plants that missed their late February bloom will emerge in unison with the early April beauties. Take the time to photograph this show as it may be a once in twenty year experience such as the winter we have just left behind was. Derek Thomas is principal of Thomas Landscapes. His garden designs have been featured on HGTV’s Curb Appeal, and Get It Sold. Know as “The Garden Guy”, his garden segments can be seen on Fox Five. 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

Eliot-Hine Tree planting

A Giant Leaf Forward for Our Urban Forest Eliot-Hine friends and neighbors.

By Elizabeth Nelson

he District Department of the Environment (DDOE) is on a mission to increase the tree canopy, and Eliot-Hine Middle School is one of the most recent beneficiaries. With funding from DDOE, Casey Trees orchestrated the planting of 50 trees on the school grounds in mid-March. The Students learning proper planting techniques. first group of seven was installed by the Eliot-Hine students themselves with the help of chaperones from Trees for Capitol Hill. They received classroom instruction from Casey Trees experts on the biology, environmental impact, and proper care of trees, and safe planting practices, then were sent to the front yard to translate their learning into action. The kids were fascinated by their discovery of insects and worms and old building materials, and they got quite the workout. The rest of the trees were planted on the following Saturday by a whole host of volunteers from across the city including Maury Elementary School, Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and the Shake Shack at Union Station (which also provided delicious frozen custard). After mulching and staking, each tree received a gray plastic trunk protector to safeguard the delicate bark from weed whackers and lawnmowers and was fitted with a watering bag. Eliot-Hine parent Heather Schoell extended her thanks to all involved in the greening efforts. “It was tremendous how so many people came out to plant,” she remarked. “The Eliot Hine community is truly grateful.” Casey Trees will oversee the first season’s watering, so there is every hope that the trees will thrive. A summer crew is being recruited to do the work; high school students in the neighborhood are encouraged to apply for these positions. The application will be available on their website (caseytrees.org) in early April. Information on their annual fundraiser/award ceremony on April 23 is also posted there. The trees are still dormant but will be dazzling in a week or two. And there is a huge variety of species including hickory, Kentucky coffee tree, redbud, oak, tupelo, horse chestnut, river birch, serviceberry, linden, and hornbeam. Swing by to admire the scene when you’re out for a run or walking the dog. u

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Earth Day to-Do

Homeowners AND RENTERS Unite to Buy Greener Energy. Sign up Now!

ith Earth Day coming on April 22 it’s the perfect time to sign up for competitively priced green energy for your home or apartment. In April and May Groundswell, a DC-based nonprofit, is signing up homeowners and renters to participate in a bulk purchase that will result in very affordable prices for wind energy. Any resident of the District, Maryland, Delaware, or Pennsylvania, whether homeowner or renter, may join the bulkpurchase group at www.groundswell.org/energy or by calling 202-630-5586. A great video on the website explains how the process works. Applications will be accepted through mid May, and your wind energy purchase should be effective by the June billing cycle. Even if you have solar panels on your roof, some of your electric energy comes from the grid. By signing up for wind energy you can ensure that Groundswell staff. Photo: Groundswell

by Catherine Plume all of your electricity is green. If you think you’re already on a wind-power contract but want to participate, send Groundswell an email at energy@ groundswell.org. Switching to wind energy is easy. There will be no change to the equipment that delivers electricity to your abode, and you’ll still receive just one bill from PEPCO. When you switch to wind, the winning company will work with PEPCO to move you to wind power. You won’t have to do anything. If you move you can cancel your contract with no fees. Groundswell vets all of the companies that bid for the group’s business. They collect information about the company (such as where their wind energy is produced, efforts to avoid production in bird migratory routes, etc) and pass it along to the bulk-purchase group. You’ll be at no greater risk for power outages, but the money you pay for electricity will go to a wind farm instead of a coal or (fracked!) natu-

ral gas plant. Wind energy is generated by capturing wind in the atmosphere and converting it into mechanical energy and then into electricity. Wind power has significantly lower carbon emissions than natural gas and coal and is a sustainable and renewable power source. Why is wind energy now an option for homeowners and renters? Deregulation of the electricity supply market means anyone can now choose to opt out of coal and opt for renewable energy as an electricity source. Unfortunately wind energy often comes at a significantly higher price than what PEPCO offers through its (largely coal) energy options. As bulk purchases, by definition, have a large number of clients, wind energy providers are willing to sell their electricity at a discounted price, making it a much more competitive option. Groundswell bulk purchases have saved participants an average of 15 percent compared to what they would pay to switch on their own. Switching to wind energy through Groundswell will likely cost you no more than $4 extra per month. Wind energy production is booming across the country. According to a March report in the Washington Post the US Department of Energy predicts that by 2050 wind could provide as much as one-third of the national energy supply. Elizabeth Lindsey, interim CEO of Groundswell, notes that “environmentalism is for all DC residents. By working together, we can make this city more sustainable and more inclusive.” Join the switch to wind energy now! Catherine Plume is a lifelong environmentalist and a writer and blogger for the DC Recycler: www. dcrecycler.blogspot.com; Twitter: @ DC_Recycler. u

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Dear Garden Problem Lady, by Wendy Blair

703-719-9850 703-447-9254 standardcleaningservicesinc.com aviera3939@aol.com

Why has my azalea turned yellow? If it’s a bad thing, what can I do to green it up? The cause could be too much rain or imperfect drainage. Azalea leaves should be a healthy dark green all winter. Generally, yellowing means iron deficiency – known as chlorosis. Either not enough iron is available in the soil for the azalea to use, or the soil pH is not low enough (acid enough) to release the iron that is there. Azaleas like light, friable soil with a pH from 4.5 to 5.5. Look for something with iron sulfate or iron chelate to add now. Feed with Hollytone in the growing season. What does “friable” actually mean? Our soil is clay. One of those code words gardeners use that means “perfect,” it comes from a Latin verb, “friare,” meaning to crumble. Friable earth crumbles so easily in the hand that you can dig it with your hands. To make clay friable you must add composted vegetable matter every spring, forever. Today as I spent hours on my hands and knees lightening clumps of stillclay soil, I worried about displacing all the worms and separating the worm parents from their babies. The Problem Lady does not begin to know about worm fami-

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ly life. For answers try a book called “The Earth Moved” by Amy Stewart ($25, Algonquin). It is entirely about worms, and fascinating.

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My camellia buds froze and turned brown. What hope is there? Japonicas, which as you know bloom around now, won’t show much bloom this year. It’s a waiting game for 365 days. Keep your plants watered during the dry summer months. And hope next winter will not bring freakishly hot days in December, followed by icy northwest sleet in February – to say nothing of March snow. What can I plant to hide dying daffodil leaves? And when my Virginia bluebells die back to nothing, as they do – and my white bleeding heart also disappears – do you have ideas for what to plant to hide the vacant places? Before they disappear, do make a note now of where these flowers are. Without interfering with underground bulbs try planting sunloving Rudbekia, Monarda, or autumn-blooming anemone – or bright annuals. If in part shade, instead of resorting to impatiens or begonias try daylily or Astilbe. The Capitol Hill Garden Club will hold a “Dish Garden Workshop” on Tuesday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the NE Library, corner Maryland Ave. and 7th St. NE. Observers and participants must register at capitolhillgardenclub.org. Please note that if you are making a dish garden, there is a $20 fee for planting materials and an optional pot and saucer. You will need to pay in advance so that we can order materials for you. Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to dearproblemlady@gmail. com. Your problems might prove instructive to others and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. u

G G ROOFING

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Classifieds hoMe services

other services

pet services

air & heating

appLiances repair

BaseMent eXcavation

MisceLLaneous a clean house... a clean mind...

A Cleaning Service, Inc. Cares about the environment in which you live

““Let Us Serve You In The

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Way!”

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satisfaction guaranteed serving DC, MD & VA since 1985 licensed, bonded & insured

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contact CAROLINA at 202.400.3503 carolina@hillrag.com 150 H Hillrag.com

202.399.3090 www.maidpro.com/capitolhill 1100 H Street, NE • 2nd Fl YOUR LOCAL CLEANERS

o FR

E D D I E CONSTRUCTION

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• References

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kitchen

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152 H Hillrag.com

2 w

Moving

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Little Peach in Training

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202.368.7492

www.peachmoving.com

painting Serving Maryland, DC & Virginia since 1974

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RS!

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Dial A Plumber, LLC®

• Licensed Gas Fitter • Water Heater • Boiler Work • Serving DC • References John • Drain Service • Furness Repair & Replacement

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L U M M E R

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MAKE YOUR BUSINSS SUCCESSFUL! contact CAROLINA at 202.400.3503 carolina@hillrag.com April 2015 H 153

FLAT ROOF SPECIALIST WE STOP LEAKS! • Roof Repairs • Roof Coatings • Rubber • Metal • Slate

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BOYD CONSTRUCTION INC.

75 years in service

LIC. BONDED. INS

BBB

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WHITACRE

ROOFING CONTRACTORS 30 years on the Hill Slate – Tile – Copper Specializing in all Flat Roof Systems ENT and Leaks NM

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AWARDED BEST WASHINGTON, DC CONTRACTOR OF 2012 BY ANGIE’S LIST FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED • “50 YEARS EXPERIENCE”

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154 H Hillrag.com

• Inside Ceiling Repair & Painting

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Ch ®

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SUPPORT YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES!

woodwork

Life Coaching

Yoga

software/Computers

Kevin J. Bliss Coaching for Personal & Professional Development

ARE YOU READY TO START GROWING AGAIN?

202.607.1174 kevinjbliss.com

LOOK AND FEEL BETTER WITH HOT YOGA!

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New Students Only $22 For 7 Days Of Unlimited Yoga!

WE HAVE: • 37+ classes per week • 90-minute Bikram method classes as well as 60 minute express classes • Children’s non-heated Hatha Yoga on Sundays • Fitness assessments including body composition (with RJL Quantum IV) • Discounted classes at 9:30am (M,W,F) and (M,T,W,Th,F) for all. Military, senior, and fulltime academic student discounts with valid ID for all of our classes ALL LEVELS WELCOME! No reservations required!

other services

www.hotyogacapitolhill.com 410 H ST. NE | 202-547-1208 info@bikramyogacapitolhill.com

chiropractic

pet services

Chiropractic and Performance, LLC Supporting Spinal Health

TAXI

Chiropractic Care • Manual and mechanical extremity adjusting • Spinal and postural corrections • Custom functional orthotics • Sports massage therapist on staff Insurances Accepted

Dr. Henry Jenkins Jr. DC, CCEP 650 Penn. Ave SE. Suite 470 202.546.0981 www.paradigmchiropracticdc.com

Living on & serving the Hill since 1986

Dr. David Walls-Kaufman Chiropractor 411 East Capitol St., SE All are welcome to Dr. Walls-Kaufman's free Saturday morning Tai Chi class at 8 am in Lincoln Park

202-544-6035

Need a Ride to the Airport

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April 2015 H 155

zoolatry (zoo-ahl’-uh-tree)

MisceLLaneous

the worship of animals – especially a pet

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I have 17 years of experience caring for adults and elders. As a caregiver I have assisted with their special needs and daily living such as: bathing, changing, cleaning, preparing nutritious meals, grooming, and taking them to and from the hospital for appointments and other activities. I am certified in Basic First Aid and CPR. I can also perform light housekeeping tasks. In addition to these skills, I also speak fluent Spanish. References available. I can be reached at (703) 868-8587 or Dorisefalcon@aol.com.

Meet Our Walkers Online at

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a five-minute walk from Eastern Market Metro.

Visit our Web site to view pictures and their engaging personalities at www.capitalcats.petfinder.com or www.homealone.petfinder.com Capital Cats is a non-profit cat rescue organization on the Hill that has many wonderful, personable cats and kittens available for adoption to good homes.

I have 17 years of experience caring for newborns, children and teenagers. As a babysitter I have prepared bottles, changed diapers, washed and ironed children’s clothes and planned and prepared meals and snacks for the children. I have also bathed babies and supervised baths and bedtime routine for older children. I can also transport children to and from school and to their extracurricular activities. I can also perform light housekeeping tasks. I am certified in Basic First Aid, CPR and child CPR. In addition to these skills, I also speak fluent Spanish. References available. I can be reached at (703) 868-8587 or Dorisefalcon@aol.com.

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Questions about Distribution? Email distribution@hillrag.com or call 202-400-3512 April 2015 H 157

{the last shot} photo: Andrew Lightman

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