Mid City DC Magazine – August 2024 by Capital Community News

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at Nat’s Park

Nicknamed “The Boss”, Bruce Springsteen is known for his lyrics and energetic concerts, with performances that can last more than four hours. Beginning in 1973, he has released 21 studio albums which include such iconic songs such as Born to Run, Streets of Philadelphia, Thunder Road, badlands, and Blinded by the Light.

The Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band concert scheduled for Sept. 29 at Nationals Park has been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7, 7:30 p.m., at Nationals Park. All tickets for the original show will be valid. Tickets are $59 to $299+. mlb. com/nationals/tickets/events.

DC Jazzfest at The Wharf

The 20th Annual DC JazzFest takes place on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 2 to 10 p.m., both days, on The Wharf’s District Pier, with 20+ concerts, interviews and exclusive events featuring international superstars and homegrown talent. This year, seated and VIP ticket holders get access to performances at The Wharf, Union Stage and Arena Stage throughout Labor Day Weekend. Here’s a partial lineup: Stanley Clark N3Ever; Emmet Cohen Trio; Carmen Lundy, Nicholas Payton, David Murray Quartet, Michael Thomas Quintet, Steven Arnold, Masar Abadeyand Supernova, Joe Block Open Heart Trio, Paola Fresu… Standing tickets are $25; seated, $150. For the complete JazzFest around-town lineup, visit dcjazzfest.org/ lineup. wharfdc.com.

National Book Festival

The 2024 Library of Congress National Book Festival is at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Allen Y. Lew Pl. NW, on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (doors at 8:30 a.m.). Featured authors are Sandra Cisneros, Tamron Hall, James Patterson, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Max Greenfield. The event is free and open to the public. For those who cannot attend in person, a selection of programs will be livestreamed, and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the Festival. loc.gov/events/2024-national-book-festival.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Around the World Cultural Food Festival

On Saturday, Aug. 24, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Oronoco Bay Park in Old Town Alexandria, enjoy a celebration of cultures from every corner of the world. Indulge your taste buds in a world of avors. This free festival features over 20 ethnic food vendors, each one of them representing a country and serving authentic food. You can also immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions with performances that showcase the rich tapestry of global cultures and explore vendors offering unique treasures, from handmade crafts to cultural artifacts, creating a market re ecting the beauty of our interconnected world. visitalexandria.com.

Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment at the NGA

From Sept. 8 to Jan. 19, 2025, discover the origins of the French art movement in a new look at the radical 1874 exhibition considered the birth of modern painting. A remarkable presentation of 130 works includes a rare reunion of many of the paintings rst featured in that now-legendary exhibition. Revisit beloved paintings by Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir and meet their lesser-known contemporaries. Don’t miss the unique chance to immerse yourself in the dynamic Parisian art scene of 1874—the National Gallery of Art is the only American stop for this historic exhibition. nga.gov.

Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872, oil on canvas, Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, Gift of Eugène and Victorine Donop de Monchy, 1940. Photo: © Musée Marmottan Monet / Studio Christian Baraja SLB.

DC State Fair at Franklin Park

The DC State Fair, Saturday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Franklin Park, 1332 I St. NW, is a free showcase of the District’s creative talents and a daylong celebration of all things homegrown. Inspired by time-honored state fair traditions—growing and gardening, contests, and deepfried foods—the Fair honors the things that make DC unique such as competitions to nd the tastiest mumbo sauce, best honey, and the top photographers with a creative eye. Among many activities, the 15th Annual DC State Fair includes 50+ exhibitors including local makers, community organizations, food vendors, government agencies, universities, live performances, children’s activities, arts, demonstrations, and blue-ribbon presentations for 30+ contests. Those wishing to enter a competition must do so by 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16. dcstatefair.org.

Soft Power at Signature

After the 2016 election, when a Chinese American playwright is attacked by an unknown assailant, he hallucinates a Golden Age musical comedy about a Chinese theater producer and Hillary Clinton falling in love. Hilarious and biting, this political satire dares to ask: Does American Democracy still work? And is it worth believing in? An exhilarating ride through political absurdity with a faceoff between Chinese and American exceptionalism, from Aug. 6 to Sept. 15, Soft Power makes an electric debut at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets start at $40. sigtheatre.org.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at Wolf Trap

On Thursday, Aug. 15, 8 p.m. (gates at 6:30 p.m.), the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis brings the brass—plus piano, drums, and bass—to Wolf Trap for an evening of improvisation and inspiration. A nine-time Grammy winner, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and Pulitzer Prize recipient, Marsalis is the artistic director for the 15-member big band and one of the most prominent jazz musicians today. The tight-playing ensemble shares their works and interprets the classics in this can’t-miss show. Jazz singer, composer, and MacArthur “genius grant” recipient Cécile McLorin Salvant opens the show with her captivating voice. Tickets start at $35. wolftrap.org.

Art Enables’ Sayonara Summer Market

Art Enables, 2204 Rhode Island Ave. NE, is an art gallery and vocational arts program dedicated to creating opportunities for artists with disabilities to make, market, and earn income from their original and compelling artwork. In addition to earning income from art sales, artists build the skills, relationships, and experience necessary for a successful career in the arts. Art Enables’ artists are largely self-taught and tell powerful stories through their artwork. Art Enables’ Sayonara Summer Market is on Saturday, Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at their gallery on Rhode Island Avenue. The Market which will also feature a DJ and face painting, will highlight the work of 15+ DMV artists for browsing and/or buying. art-enables.org.

Capitol Hill Art Walk

On Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8, noon to 4 p.m., both days, local artists and artisans display (and sell) their work in their own micro-galleries, in Capitol Hill home-studios, on porches or in yards. Artists provide a venue on Capitol Hill that is not a commercial gallery or frame shop. Most will have it at their own home or studio, inside, or outdoors on a porch or in the yard, but they may also team up with a friend at a shared or “borrowed” location. The event is free for artists and attendees; no fees, commissions or tickets. For artists who want to participate, the registration deadline is Aug. 17. For a current listing of the walk locations, visit hillrag.com/2024/07/10/art-walk-2024.

Road to Revolution at the National Archives

Road to Revolution is an exhibition series highlighting National Archives records that document major milestones and critical historical context to the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Augmenting the well-known sequence of events in the two years preceding July 4, 1776, are displays that focus on the diverse experiences and perspectives for members of the Founding generation whose stories are less well known—including Native Americans, free and enslaved African Americans, and women. “Roots of Rebellion,” which is the first display in the larger series, will be up through Aug. 28. The full series, called Road to Revolution, will end on August 6, 2026. 701 Constitution Ave. NW. museum.archives.gov.

The First Blow for Liberty. Battle of Lexington, April 1775. National Archives, John K. Hillers Collection.

Wynton Marsalis

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Flying Circus Hot Air Balloon Festival

On Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11, hot air balloons launch in the early morning hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and late afternoon hours of 6 to 8 p.m. (Ballooning requires very light winds and an absence of thermal activity to be safe and enjoyable, therefore, most balloons fly in the early morning and late evening hours.) Tethered balloon rides are $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Free flight rides are $300. (Most balloon baskets will hold a pilot and two or more passengers.) Airplane rides will also be available during the balloon launches. Admission is $20 for adults; $15 for military; and $10 for kids five to twelve. The Flying Circus Aerodrome is located 14 miles from Warrenton, VA at 5114 Ritchie Rd. (Route 644) in Bealeton, VA. flyingcircusairshow.com.

Dom Flemons on the Millennium Stage

As a resolute preservationist, storyteller, and instrumentalist, Dom Flemons has long set himself apart by finding forgotten folk songs and making them live again. He has branded the moniker The American Songster since his repertoire of music covers over 100 years of early American popular music. Dom Flemons is on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center on Friday, Aug. 16, 6 p.m. Free. A limited number of advance reservations are available. Advance reservations do not guarantee a seat, and patrons are encouraged to arrive early. Seating is also first come, first served. Standing room is available behind the seated area as space allows. kennedy-center.org.

The War and Treaty at The Hamilton

Founded in 2014 by the husband-and-wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, The War and Treaty has emerged as one of the most electrifying new acts in American music. Recently earning their first ever GRAMMY nominations for Best New Artist and Best American Roots Song for “Blank Page,” they also received this year their first ever Duo of the Year nomination from the Country Music Association, Vocal Duo nomination from the Academy of Country Music, plus recognition by the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, and Americana Music Association including earning AMA Duo/Group of the Year for the second straight year. The War and Treaty is at The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW, on Thursday, July 22, 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). Tickets start at $25. live.thehamiltondc.com.

Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter.

Maryland Renaissance Festival

Unique among most festivals, including renaissance festivals, the Maryland Renaissance Festival utilizes a story line and progresses each year forward in the timeline of Henry VIII, through all his reign. This season is set in the year 1537. The king is married to his third wife, Jane Seymour. The royal couple and select courtiers are visiting Revel Grove to enjoy the Harvest Festival. In honor of the royal visit, the Revel Grove Dance Company will perform a lively dance, the Tourdion. And it isn’t only the dancers who will be twisting. All in Court must bend and twist to stay in the King’s favor. Even his recent bride Jane. She makes a tactical error by pleading for mercy for the participants of the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion. Henry coldly reminds her of the fate of her predecessor when she meddled in his affairs. The 2024 Festival is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 24, 25, Labor Day Weekend and every other weekend through Sept. 20. Adults are $26 to $32; kids, $14 to $18; seniors, $23 to $28. Online purchases only and bring cash to the Festival. rennfest.com.

Maryland Renaissance Festival Jousting.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Turandot: Opera in the Outfield

Color… pageantry… spectacle… there’s a reason why Turandot is at the top of the opera canon. Puccini’s final work mesmerizes with its sumptuous music, from the alluring overture to Prince Calaf’s passionate “Nessun dorma,” one of the world’s most famous arias ever written. On Saturday, Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m. (gates at 4:30 p.m.), the Washington National Opera continues its partnership with the Washington Nationals with an Opera in the Outfield free presentation of Puccini’s beloved Turandot which is performed in Italian with projected English titles. Arrive early to enjoy entertainment and activities including photo opportunities for kids of all ages and performances by local artists. Free seating is available on the outfield grass (weather permitting) and in the stands. Nationals Park is at 1500 South Capitol St. SE. Parking is available in Garage C for $25 per car. You can enter the garage at First Street SE. kennedy-center.org.

Voting by Mail: Civil War to Covid-19

The presidential election year is the appropriate time to reflect on past examples of national voting by mail. An exhibition to this effect at the National Postal Museum includes objects from its collection, including a mailed tally sheet from 1864 recording the votes of soldiers from Highland County, Ohio; an absentee ballot request postcard for an Alabama soldier during World War II; a 5-cent postage stamp reminding citizens to register and vote; a complete absentee ballot kit and instruction sheet from the last presidential election in 2020, and others. Voting by Mail: Civil War to Covid-19 is at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE., from Aug. 24 to Feb. 23, 2025. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. postalmuseum.si.edu.

Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures

Embark on a unique adventure through the life of King Tutankhamun and the discovery of his tomb with fascinating audio content and never-before-seen artwork. You can explore replicas of the king’s treasures and tomb in one place. The originals are currently housed in separate locations, but this exhibition features exquisite true-to-life replicas, making it the most complete collection of the Egyptian king’s life and legacy. Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures is at Rhode Island Center, 524 Rhode Island Ave. NE, through Aug. 31. The one-and-a-half-hour experience is available every day but Tuesday. Tickets start at $33.90 for adults; $25.90 for kids. All ages welcome. tutankhamunexpo.com/washington-dc.

WWE Friday Night Smackdown at Capitol One Arena

As in other professional wrestling shows, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) shows are not true contests but entertainment-based performance theater, featuring storyline-driven, scripted, and partially choreographed matches; however, matches often include moves that can put performers at risk of injury if not performed correctly. WWE markets its product as sports entertainment, acknowledging professional wrestling’s roots in competitive sport and dramatic theater. Capitol One Arena, 601 F St. NW, on Friday, Aug. 23, 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $45 to $175. capitalonearena.com.

Ewa Plonka. Photo: Corey Weaver

Absentee ballot request postcard, 1944

Day-long Local Theater Festival at the REACH

On Saturday, Aug. 24, starting at 10 a.m., join the Kennedy Center for their second annual Local Theatre Festival at the REACH campus. This free day-long festival celebrates the vibrant theater community of the DMV, showcasing the creative works of local theater companies and playwrights. Theatre fans, professionals, and students will experience works-in-progress readings from previous Kennedy Center Local Theatre Resident artists; engage in workshops and panels led by industry professionals; and explore a curated resource session tailored for DMV theater fans and professionals, offering valuable information for all. Registration opens about 10 days prior to the festival. Registration is required for all panels, workshops, and events. Doors open 15 minutes before each event. Walkups will be allowed to participate, pending available space. kennedy-center.org.

Adams Morgan Day

For 46 years, Adams Morgan Day has been a family-friendly celebration with music, art and activities for all ages. Adams Morgan Day is DC’s longest running neighborhood festival, welcoming residents and visitors alike to meet their neighborhood businesses, artists, and service organizations. This years’ Adams Morgan Day is on Sunday, Sept. 8, mostly along 18th St. NW. Find the schedule of events, timing and locations as the Festival draws closer at admoday.com.

Rumours of Fleetwood Mac at the National

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair

The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair “Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow” is celebrating its 75th year on Aug. 9 to 17. Grandstand events include: Red Eye Rodeo; Truck & Tractor Pull; Demolition Derby; Monster Truck Tour. Animal exhibits open each day at 3 p.m. Carnival hours are Aug. 9, 3 p.m. to midnight; Aug. 10, 16 and 17, noon to midnight; Aug. 11 through 15, noon to 11 p.m. General admission is $15 ($12, online); kids 11 and under are free. The Fair is at 501 Perry Pkwy., Gaithersburg, MD. mcagfair.com.

Personally endorsed by Fleetwood Mac founding member, Mick Fleetwood, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac is the ultimate tribute to one of rock and roll’s most remarkable groups. Channeling the spirit of Fleetwood Mac at their very best, Rumours of Fleetwood Mac offers a unique opportunity for fans, both old and new, to rediscover the songs and performances that have ensured Fleetwood Mac’s place as one of the most loved groups of all time. National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, on Friday, Aug. 9 and Saturday, Aug. 10, at 8 p.m., both nights. Tickets are $55 to $130+. broadwayatthenational.com.

The Gaslight Anthem at The Anthem

Since coming together in 2007, The Gaslight Anthem has forged its own powerful, populist sound, marrying their punk roots with rich craft and raw emotional power to create a soulful, exhilarating, and utterly unique vision of American rock ‘n’ roll. After releasing their debut album, SINK OR SWIM, and then the SEÑOR AND THE QUEEN EP, 2008’s THE ’59 SOUND of cially saw the New Jersey-based band break out on a global scale, with songs like “Great Expectations,” and “Old White Lincoln.” At The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW, on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). Tickets are $45 to $75. Theanthemdc.com.

Peter and I had not visited the bustling U Street corridor for quite a while, so we decided to check out Enigma, 1330 U St. NW. is stylish hot spot is essentially a lounge with pulsating music during brunch (regular and “bottomless”), happy hour and evenings. But the snazzy cocktails and food— small plates, entrees and interesting sides—provide a good reason to visit. e décor is night-clubby dark, with neon accents, handsome, glittering mirrors and sparkling bar area and even a wine vault. Enigma is a friendly, festive place, attracting regulars who greet each other. If the U Street address seems familiar, Enigma opened this past February in the former Fainting Goat restaurant space.

lars who seems in brunch, the we’ve ages. as the served bowl--were perfectly soned gooey

At a recent Sunday brunch, we savored the best grits we’ve tasted in ages. O ered as a side dish, the grits— served in a bowl--were perfectly seasoned with lots of gooey cheese. Spoons ew as we shared the delicious dish.

Insatiable

by Celeste McCall

Avocado toast on marbled rye was nicely perfumed with tru e oil. e dish was tasty and lling, but was almost too busy, with a micro green salad studded with grape tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, red onions and “breakfast” potatoes.

Other brunch options include chicken and wafes, a brunch burger topped with hollandaise, cheddar and a sunnyside-up egg; crab meat Benedict. Belgian wa es can be ordered as a side, accompanied by syrup, melted butter and fresh fruit.

Brunch for two including my glass of fragrant Albariño (Spanish white wine), came to $68.08 including a 20 percent service fee. Service, rendered by the personable AbdulKarim, was excellent. He greeted us at the door, escorted us to our table and ipped on a light to enable us to read the menu. He even lowered the music’s decibel level to accommodate our senior ears.

Among other menu options are duck fat fries with harissa ketchup; mushroom and Manchego cheese croquettes; PEI mussels; grilled octopus with olive tapenade and ngerling potatoes. For Enigma hours, more information and reservations (recommended), visit www.enigmadc.com.

blueberry co ee cake. e Navy Yard original has since closed, but the Georgetown location is still going strong. An early NoMa Yellow visit revealed a packed house, with patrons queued up awaiting a table.

Served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Yellow’s brunch o ers wood- red pitas topped with kefta kebabs, smoked lamb shoulder, coal- red cauli ower. Homemade hummus selections include “classic,” red shatta (fermented chili), summer squash, eggplant

and more.

Mellow Yellow

Award-winning chef Michael Ra di has unveiled Yellow, a stylish Levantine café at 417 Morse St. NE, ensconced in a former NoMa meatpacking warehouse. e café rst appeared four years ago at the Navy Yard and was soon joined by a Georgetown spino . Yellow is known for exotic co ees and teas, cardamom-scented pastries, hazelnut pecan croissants and

Later this summer, Chef Ra di will unveil a dinner menu showcasing additional kebabs, entrees and more. For updates visit www.yellowthecafe.com.

Meal Deal

In Mount Vernon Triangle, dLeña by chef Richard Sandoval has unveiled its “express lunch” menu. O ered from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, the three-course repast is tagged at a reasonable $28. Located at 476 K St. NW, the “modern Mexican” hot spot will showcase chipotle glazed pork belly, ceviche Amarillo, barbecue tacos, salmon “zarandeado” (split in half and grilled); pastel de elote; crabmeat guacamole, burgers. Desserts include sorbet and gelato. Leña means “ rewood,” as many dishes are cooked over a woodfueled re. e “express meal” will be served in less than one hour, we’re told. For more information, visit www.dlenadc.com/lunch.

On U Street NW, Enigma is a festive gathering place o ering “bottomless” brunch and a lively bar scene.

Belgian wa es, escorted by melted butter, syrup and fresh fruit, can be ordered as a side.

Watch this Space Nearby, also in MVT, look for Proper Bar at 300 K St. NW, in the luxury Crosby complex. But don’t rush over there right away: the snazzy restaurant/lounge is not slated to arrive until next year. Expect “craft cocktails and savory entrees in an elegant atmosphere.” The future bar is the latest enterprise of Will Strozier and Rob Zahn, who operate two Proper 21 bars in downtown DC. For updates, visit www.proper21.com.

Almost Here…

…is Summer Restaurant Week, slated for August 12-28. Sponsored by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), the tasty promotion celebrates the Washington region’s spirited restaurant industry. Participating establishments—including many in and near Shaw and Mount Vernon Square-will again offer multi-course brunch and lunch menus priced at $25 or $35 per person. Multi-course dinner menus are $40, $55, or $65 per person for on-premises dining. Many restaurants will also offer cocktail, wine, and non-alcoholic pairings.

The official Restaurant Week website is www.rwdmv.com. Diners should visit the site to view participating restaurant menus, hours, and to secure reservations, which are highly recommended.

Congrats!

And speaking of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington: Congratulations to Mid-City restaurants which took home 2024 RAMMY Awards: Favorite Gathering Place: Mi Vida (14th Street NW); Hottest Sandwich Shop: Colada Shop (14th and T Streets NW); Best Bar Scene: Le Chinois (Mount Vernon Triangle); Best Formal Fine Dining: Causa/Amazonia (Blagden Alley in Shaw). The awards were presented July 21 at a black-tie gala at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Established in 1920, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the Washington metropolitan area. u

A chef is busy preparing lunch at Yellow, the hot new Levantine café in NoMa.

Sp o tli ght on Shaw

Sushi-forward Japanese

Cuisine at Zeppelin

Named for the great airships of the early 20th century, Zeppelin at 1544 Ninth St. NW is central Shaw’s only Japanese restaurant.

Opened in 2019, Zeppelin spans two floors, with a bar and booth seating on the

first floor and a sushi bar and additional accommodations on the second, along with an outdoor patio. While delivering an authentic Japanese dining experience, Zeppelin also serves as a neighborhood hangout. Friends gather for a night of drinks and karaoke. The establishment’s retro, art deco design gives it an upscale, yet comfortable feel. Large mirrors are a focal point to the

by Sarah Payne

space, but on evenings and weekends, they transform into karaoke screens for endless music and fun. The patio has a retractable awning. A Japanese movie monster mural looms overhead, featuring Godzilla, Mothra and friends.

Zeppelin’s menu is focused on Edomae (Edo-style) sushi preparations of

sashimi and nigiri, along with charcoal grilled yakitori. The fish is sourced from Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji Market and flown in from Japan several times per week to ensure freshness. Chef and Co-owner

Minoru Ogawa, a veteran of both Kalorama and Philadelphia’s Sushi Ogawafame, is a second-generation sushi chef

Ari and Micah Wilder are two of the owners of Zeppelin in Shaw.

Photo: Courtesy Zeppelin.

Chef Santos Campos prepares Zeppelin’s Sashimi Special Premium.

Photo: Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets

with decades of experience. e à la carte menu includes 25 sashimi and nigiri options, over 20 varieties of maki rolls, almost 20 zensai (appetizers) kushiyaki (skewers) prepared on a Japanese charcoal grill and deserts.

Zeppelin also o ers the neighborhood’s rst Omakase bar. e Japanese term “omakase” literally translates as “I leave it up to you,” a menu-free experience which gained popularity in the 1990s. At Zeppelin, omakase is a chef-curated dinner, where the sushi master talks to his diners while preparing their meal. Omakase service is o ered at the second- oor sushi bar on Wednesdays thru Saturdays at 6:30 pm

Co-owner Ari Wilder, along with his brother Micah and best friend Adrian Williams, rst collaborated to create the popular Chaplin’s ramen house at 1501 Ninth St. NW. Everybody wanted a sushi place that wasn’t too highbrow and expensive, but also wasn’t too American. And so, Zeppelin was born.

Sharing a background in bartending, the three crafted a unique beverage program to compliment Ogawa’s creations. e drink program features selections of sake, champagne, wine and specialty cocktails, including several nonalcoholic options.

Zeppelin is open Sundays through Wednesdays from 4 to 10 p.m. and ursdays through Saturdays, 4 to 11 p.m. Happy hour is Mondays thru Sundays, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Karaoke reservations are available starting ursdays at 9:30 p.m. and Fridays through Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. Takeout and delivery are available. Visit www. zeppelindc.com to reserve a table and learn more.

Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com. ◆

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Tepid Enforcement May Doom Medical Cannabis Legal Operators Struggle to Compete With Unregulated Stores

by Elizabeth O’Gorek, with additional reporting from Sarah Payne

We’re just losing money every month,” said Grace Hyde, director of operations for District Cannabis, a licensed cultivator, manufacturer and cannabis retailer. Five such businesses have closed in DC since June— three cultivation centers and two retailers.

According to Frontier Data, there is a $600 million illegal cannabis market in the District. In contrast, legal cannabis sales only amount to $35 million. In the third quarter of 2024, medical dispensary sales were down by more than $1.5 million compared to 2023, according to the Alcohol and Cannabis Administration’s (ABCA) statistics.

Owners of the 10 legal medical cannabis dispensaries blame the losses on unregulated competitors. e solution, they say, is e ective enforcement. “If we don’t see serious action here, in the next month or two, we’re going to continue to see businesses closing,” stated Hyde.

Boom Times

A huge unregulated cannabis market operates alongside its regulated medical counterpart. ese so-called I-71 businesses are named for the DC referendum legalizing private marijuana consumption.

Despite the wishes of District voters, Congress blocked the creation of a regulated consumer cannabis market. Marijuana sales are illegal, but the terms of the I-71 referendum permit private citizens to gift up to one ounce to another adult. A plethora of cannabis businesses seized on this loophole to include a “gift” of marijuana along with sale of another retail item.

ese so-called I-71 businesses are not exploiting a legal loophole, said DC Council mem-

ber Charles Allen (Ward 6-D), who introduced legislation to increase enforcement. “ at’s madeup thing.”

In 2022, the District expanded its medical market to allow I-71 businesses to participate. e result has been a boom in license applications.

As of July, a review of the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board (ABC Board) proceedings shows ABCA received more than 200 applications for cannabis business licenses. e ABC Board has approved only 14 licenses. Another fty or so applications are scheduled for hearings.

In the meantime, dozens of unregulated, I-71 cannabis businesses continue to operate in the District. Just type “cannabis” or “weed” into Google maps for a sampling.

Medical Cannabis Remains Expensive

Linda Greene is the founder of Anacostia Organics, the rst medical dispensary to open east of the river. She said it is di cult for customers to know if they are walking into a legal business or not. “We’ve

Green Theory founders Ian Tsang, Jonathan Crandall and Caroline Crandall in front of their new shop (4828 MacArthur Blvd. NW). Courtesy: Green Theory

asked the city repeatedly to give us some type of official sign to put on our door,” she said. Many customers don’t even realize they are patronizing an unregulated, illegal business, she said, because there is no way to visually differentiate.

Medical cannabis businesses must implement Metric, ABCA’s seed to sale tracking system. They also must buy product from licensed DC cultivators, who test the product for potency and contamination by mold or chemicals. “When you are legally licensed, you are inspected, regulated, tracked,” Greene said. “It’s very regulated and extremely expensive, because we’re still federally illegal,” she added. For example, cannabis dispensaries are required to carry multiple insurance policies, she said, which are expensive since cannabis is federally a Schedule One substance.

Caroline Crandall, her husband Jonathan Crandall and partner Ian Tsang were one of the first successful applicants for a medical dispensary license under the 2023 law. They opened in April 2024 after investing hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own savings to renovate a location, install Metric and pay the $16,000 licensing fee.

“One of our biggest problems right now is that when someone comes into our store, we are a medical store, so they have to have a medical card,” Crandall said. Many customers, Crandall said, are federal employees reluctant to have their name tied to substance use, however legal. So many of them choose to take the risk and turn to the illegally operating I-71 retailers.

Crandall appreciates the quality of the product she buys from licensed manufacturers and farmers. However, it comes with a cost that is double what I-71 retailers typically pay for unregulated weed, she said.

No Enforcement

As of July 25, Alcohol Beverage Cannabis Authority (ABCA) had

issued 55 warnings and eight cease and desist orders to illegally operating cannabis retailers in the District of Columbia. The latest, dated July 10, order retailers to quit selling cannabis or face shut down within 15 days.

ABCA is empowered to padlock non-compliant cannabis businesses. As of July 28th, more than 15 days after the last of these notices were issued, ABCA had not locked a business.

Yet enforcement has been shown to be effective. In May, New York City Mayor Eric Adams initiated “Operation Padlock to Protect,” empowering police to padlock smoke and cannabis shops operating without a license. By late June, City Hall spokeswoman Amaris Cockfield said the mayor’s joint task force had padlocked 450 illegal shops and issued more than $33 million in penalties.

Legal dispensaries located near the shuttered illegal shops have since seen a 27 percent rise in sales, Governor Kathy Hochul told CBS news in July.

Yet DC has yet to padlock a single business.

According to board testimony, ABCA enters businesses for inspection with a cross-agency team. The team includes representatives from the Department of Health (DOH) who can verify and impound illegal edibles, representatives of the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, (DLCP) which verify business licenses as well as officers from the Metropolitan Police Department

(MPD). The latter secures the door during inspection to prevent entry by customers and ensure safety throughout.

Board documents indicate that an ABCA inspector will visit an establishment multiple times. If they find unregulated cannabis on first inspection, ABCA issues a warning. On the second inspection, the agency submits a report to the board, which can issue a cease-and-desist order. The parties to the order are both the business owner and the property owner. Either has the right to ask for hearing before the Board at which the facts are reviewed and the Board either revokes, sustains or reissues the order with different terms. If the investigated business does not request a Board hearing, the order becomes final within 10 days. If cannabis is found for sale on a third visit from ABCA, the agency has authority to shut the businesses down.

ABCA lacks sufficient resources to investigate the dozens of I-71 businesses that dot the District, Hyde said. “They have the authority that they need,” Hyde said of ABCA, “but they need more support,” she said.

ABCA did not respond to inquiries regarding inspection staffing. However, the agency appears to have a single Supervisory Investigator (SI), Jason Peru, conducting cannabis inspections. Peru is the only ABCA representative referenced in the eight issued cease-and-desist orders.

Despite this, ABCA enforcement appears to be ramping up. There were two inspections in April, three in May and six in June, agency records reveal.

Hyde is not hopeful about increased enforcement. “It’s not going to happen,” she said. “We’re coming up on a tenuous election cycle, so [MPD] availability to help is only going to become more scarce.” DC officials, Hyde said, don’t have the same kind of will to get it done that NYC has shown, pointing to the role of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser in getting ABCA inter-agency support.

“The mayor has been silent on this issue forever,” Hyde said. “We’ve been talking to her about this for three years. It’s not like she’s been unaware of what’s going on. She knows how much this is harming us, and she has done nothing to solve the problem.”

“DC is conducting a sustained multi-agency enforcement strategy to shut down illegally-operating cannabis operations and protect the legal marketplace in accordance with DC law. The Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration is currently expanding its cannabis enforcement team and investing in new tools to aid investigations. Our continued goals for DC’s medical cannabis program are to serve patients, create pathways to entrepreneurship and employment, and ensure safety for DC residents,” stated the Executive Office of the Mayor.

Under the law, ABCA can fine landlords renting to illegal cannabis shops $10,000. The amount can increase if an identified issue remains unaddressed. There are 200 to 300 commercial property leases with illegal marijuana businesses, one legal source familiar with the cannabis industry estimated.

ABCA issues its cease-and-desist orders letters to both the business owner and the property owner. Enforcement efforts to date have only proceeded against business owners. The Hill Rag found no evidence that ABCA has fined a single landlord.

Confusion at the ABCA Board ABCA enforcement has yet to yield much fruit. To date, the agency has ordered eight companies to cease operations. A number exercised their right to a Board hearing. As of July 24, the ABC Board only held two such proceedings. In both cases, confusion about both the law and gathered evidence

Screenshot: as of July 30, cannabis product appeared to be offered for sale on a website associated with a business called All the Buzz; the address given is 3232 Georgia Ave. NW. Screenshot: allthebuzzdc.com/shop 1:50 p.m. July 30, 2024.

apparently led to the Board either lifting or further investigating the cease-and-desist orders.

Co-owners Princess Mirabal and Davina Hale operate two businesses at 825 Upshur St. NW. The first, Cannabis Karma, sold consumable cannabis products. The second, “Life Luxee” is a cannabis lifestyle store selling t-shirts, glasses and pipes. Peru found cannabis at the address during a March inspection. Based on his evidence, ABCA issued the owners a warning. During a followup inspection on July 2, Peru found hemp-derived CBD on their premises. ABCA issued the cease-anddesist order eight days later.

At the July 24th hearing, the owner’s attorney Amber Maiden objected to the cease-and-desist order. A closure, Maiden argued, would prevent them from operating their legal business. Moreover, owners believed they were operating legally given the 2018 Federal Farm Act, which removed hemp from the federal schedule of controlled substances, she said. This, despite a 2021 opinion by the DC Office of the Attorney General that stated the law does not require the District to permit sales of hemp-derived CBD, which is considered cannabis and so regulated under District law.

Maiden argued against the Attorney General’s finding. Larger chain stores such as Walmart and YES Organics are selling hempderived substances without interference from ABCA, she pointed out. ABCA’s action had made it difficult for Hale and Mirabal to continue to operate Life Luxee, though it remained open, she said, “But it’s doing so under severe economic distress.”

“It is a small minority own women-owned business and it has [us] concerned that these new District laws were passed specifically to harm small independent businesses and to prevent them from competing with larger corporate interests where CBD products are frequently sold without any legal repercussions from

ABCA,” said Maiden.

Owners had taken the product off the shelf, locking it into a cabinet and taping it closed, owner Mirabal said. “I don’t know what else you want us to do. We’ve taken out the product and contacted our retailers,” she said.

The Board took the matter “under advisement,” meeting with lawyers in closed session. Final disposition of that matter remains unclear.

On July 10, The Board lifted the cease-and-desist order against All the Buzz at 3232 Georgia Ave. NW. At issue was the evidence provided by Peru. There was no cannabis onsite on the date of inspection, argued owners James and Gina Goldring. The evidence the inspector produced was gathered next door, they said. The Board rescinded the order to allow All the Buzz to continue operations as a t-shirt making company. The owners have applied for a medical retailer’s license.

However, as of publication the website associated with a business of the same name and address is still operational, selling t-shirts and face masks online with the “gift” of flower and edibles, all for pick-up at the store. This appears to be a potential oversight. On July 22, Peru pointed out that as of the hearing date, Cannabis Karma also continued to offer online sales. At that time, Mirabel said that she was working with her web developer to remove those offerings; by the time of publication, she had done so.

Representatives from Cannabis Karma could not be reached. All the Buzz did not respond to requests for comment.

Real action needs to be taken, said Crandall. “Giving paperwork to people, in my opinion, especially in this industry…” Crandall trails off. “A lot of people are just going to ignore it and keep operating until the police come to the store and take their product. u

Shaw Streets

Shaw at the RAMMY Awards

The experience of Shaw’s restaurants at the RAMMY awards, the premier award show for excellence in the DMV’s hospitality industry, was somewhat disappointing this year. After receiving 13 nominations for awards in restaurant and professional service, Shaw only won one award, although the biggest one. Causa/Amazonia, a previous winner of a RAMMY (New Restaurant of the Year) and recipient of a Michelin one-star rating, won this year’s RAMMY for Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year, beating out two other Shaw Michelin starred restaurants, The Dabney and Oyster Oyster. Chef Carlos Delgado gave an acceptance speech, in Spanish, for the restaurant team, declaring that the win was a milestone for the Latino community.

Changes at Shaw Hotel

Cambria Hotel, a cornerstone of the City Market at O development since 2014, is no more. The hotel has changed hands along with its flag. The hotel at 899 O Street NW has been acquired by Frontier

by Pleasant Mann

Development & Hospitality Group LLC and its joint-venture partner Basis Investment Group (BIG). The new owners have changed the hotel’s hospitality flag, with the 182-key hotel being rebranded to Hyatt Washington DC/Convention Center, joining the World of Hyatt portfolio. The hotel features a fitness center, bar and lounge, meeting rooms and a rooftop terrace.

Both Frontier and BIG are blackowned businesses. The acquisition was awarded the NABHOOD Deal of the Year at last month’s International African American Hotel Ownership & Investment Summit & Trade Show.

Redevelopment Plans for 801 R Street

Lincoln Westmoreland Housing made a presentation at ANC 2G’s June 16 meeting outlining their redevelopment plans for the garden apartment units at 801-811 R Street NW. The organization is devoted

to providing affordable housing in the District, having built, among other projects, the Lincoln Westmoreland Apartments and the Channing Phillips Apartments on Seventh Street. They became involved when the units at 801 R were proposed for sale, and the tenants invoked the provisions of the District’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act to make a matching offer. The tenants overwhelmingly chose Lincoln Westmoreland Housing to manage the redevelopment of the property.

The project will start when the sale of 801 R closes in October. Then the developers have to go to the DC Housing Authority and the DC Housing Finance Agency for funding. Construction will start by October 2026. The new building will have 230 units, all of them affordable. The mix of units is family-oriented with 30 percent of the units having three bedrooms and 20 percent of them two bedrooms. There may be some walkup units in the building, and there will be a courtyard amenity. Plans

Cambria No More: Now the City Market at O hotel is the Hyatt Convention Center. Photo: Pleasant Mann

The team at Causa accepting the RAMMY award for Formal Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year.

Photo: Pleasant Mann

are to have the main entrance facing the Shaw-Howard Metro stop. e developers made a presentation to the ANC in their e ort to rezone the area to RA-4, which would allow them to redevelop the site as a matter of right.

Two questions came up. One question was what happens to the current tenants in the redevelopment. e answer was that they would be relocated during construction to units comparable to their current units at their current rents. ey are guaranteed the right to come back after the redevelopment is completed. e other question was on the number of parking spaces provided. Regulations require one parking space for every six tenants, which will be a minimum of 35 spaces.

Save the Dates

Two major events are coming up in the fall in Shaw. First, the 12th annual Art All Night Shaw will be held

on Saturday evening, September 28, presented by Shaw Main Streets. Expect to see the traditional mixture of art exhibitions and live music this year, most of which will be centered at the Carnegie Library. Indoor and outdoor locations will host activations, including businesses. For more information, visit www.artallnightdcshaw.com. e following Saturday, October 5, there will be another Open Streets event from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Seventh Street NW between Rhode Island Avenue NW and E Street NW. e event was last held on Seventh Street in June 2022. is time, one mile of 7th Street will be closed to vehicles so people can safely walk, run, bike, and play. e event will also include hourly classes and demonstrations, such as yoga and dancing. Open Streets is free and suitable for all ages and abilities. See https://openstreets.dc.gov/ pages/7th-street-nw-fall-2024 for details. ◆

801 R Street Redevelopment: Proposed Massing. Graphic courtesy of Lincoln Westmoreland Housing

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B held its meeting for July on ursday evening, July 11, 2024. It was held as a virtual meeting. e commissioners attending the meeting were Sabel Harris (1B08, Chair), Larry Handerhan (1B01, Vice Chair), Frank Chauvin (1B02), Jamie Sycamore (1B03), Alan Kensek (1B05), Miguel Trindade Deramo (1B06), Ashleigh Fields (1B07) and Tucker Jones (1B09). ere was a quorum to conduct business.

Public Safety and Community Engagement Committee

Lieutenant Hawkins of the ird Police District reported on the safety situation. She said that U Street was a focal point of police attention. MPD was trying to get more lighting installed on Hobart Street. Five guns were taken o U Street during the previous weekend.

Commissioner Fields asked about a reported shooting at 17th and U. Hawkins replied that she had not heard anything about it. Commissioner Chauvin asked about enforcement of the teenage curfew and the problem of juveniles congregating around the African American Civil War Memorial. He noted that there was a shooting there.

Commissioner Fields reported that the ird District Citizens Advisory Council has put out a survey asking for opinions on the use of MOPEDs and ATVs in the community. Chavin also complained that the police focused on city wide crime statistics instead of the numbers for PSA 305. Commissioner Harris responded that the statistics for the ANC 1B area were available in the Crime Cards on the MPD website.

Transportation Committee

e committee presented two resolutions that it wanted the commission to approve. In their testimony on the FY 25 budget, the Department of Public Works said they would be purchasing smart composting bins and trash compactors to distribute throughout the city. e two resolutions were guidance on where the bins and compactors should be installed. e Smart Composting Bin Resolution identi es ve locations for the composting bins. e resolution passed by a vote of 7 in favor, 0 against

ANC 1B

by Pleasant Mann

and 0 abstentions. e Public Trash Compactor Resolution called for the installation of 10 solarpowered trash compactors in the ANC. e resolution also passed, 7-0-0.

e next committee meeting will discuss the proposed plans for a U Street Performance Parking Zone.

Zoning, Preservation and Development Committee

Baldwin House, 2570 Sherman Avenue NW. Seeking a zoning special exception from the Board of Zoning Adjustment to construct two additional units and a service center to the apartment building. Community members gave positive feedback to the plan. A motion to support the request passed, 7-0-0.

1834 13th Street NW. Requesting commission support for a project going before the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) to add a third story to an existing building. A motion to support the project passed 7-0-0.

Christian Tabernacle Church, 2033 11th Street NW. Seeking HPRB support for a mixed-use project in the U Street Historic District. It will have new a ordable housing and a new child development center. A motion to support the application passed by a vote of 7-0-0.

Alcoholic Beverage Regulation (ABR) Committee

Yolo Restaurant and Lounge, 2005 14th Street NW. Renewal of license. Commissioner Harris noted that there had been problems with the previous owner. e commission decided not to protest the license renewal.

Whitlow’s, 901 U Street NW. Commissioner Chauvin announced that they had reached an agreement with Whitlow’s to expand their morning operating hours. Whitlow’s had requested to be allowed earlier serving hours to accommodate customers coming to watch international soccer matches, as well as breakfast customers. e agreement allows them to open at 7:00 a.m. and serve alcohol beginning at 8:00 a.m. e agreement was approved by the commission in a vote of 6-0-1. Chauvin noted that they now had three separate agreements with Whitlow’s.

Commissioner Kensek expressed his frustration

with the noise situation at urst Lounge. e commission passed a resolution to send a letter to the owners of the establishment, but nothing has gone out. ere have been e orts to get the Alcohol Beverage and Cannabis Administration and the Mayor’s O ce for Nightlife and Culture involved, but nothing has been done to relieve su ering residents. Commissioner Harris responded that the commission had to at least send a letter to the owners.

Economic Development Committee

e commission passed a resolution at its June 27 Special Meeting supporting the revised rezoning proposal for the 1617 U Street site. Commissioner Harris reported that she had attended the Zoning Commission meeting held earlier in the day and that they approved the new upzoning for the site.

Seventh Street Curb Cut

As part of new business, Commissioner Trindade Deramo introduced a resolution to remove a curb cut on the 1900 block of Seventh Street. He explained that on that troubled block, there is problem with criminals illegally parking there. e Department of Public Works has declared that, as a result of their personnel being violently attacked whenever they tried to enforce the law, they will no longer write tickets on the block. To discourage nefarious activities on the block, the District Department of Transportation proposed installing ex posts to close o the parking lane. e problem with the plan is that there is a curb cut accessing an unused, vacant lot that would not have ex posts, allowing a gap that could still be used to cause trouble. Trindade Deramo’s resolution called for taking out the curb cut to discourage illegal activity on the block. Commissioner Chauvin pointed out that the parking lane closure is a major initiative of the T Street Task Force to stabilize the block. An amendment to the resolution was added, calling for the use of concrete barriers where appropriate. e resolution passed unanimously, 8-0-0.

ANC 1B will hold its next meeting on ursday, August 1, starting at 7:00 p.m. Plans are to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc1b.org for more information. ◆

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2G held its monthly meeting for July on July 11. e meeting was held as a virtual conference. Commission Chair Rachelle Nigro (2G06) called the meeting to order. Commissioners Anthony “Tony” Brown (2G01, Treasurer), Alexander M. “Alex” Padro (2G02), Sranda Watkins (2G03, Secretary), Steven McCarty (2G04, Vice Chair) and Sheena Berry (2G05) were in attendance. e commission had a quorum to conduct business.

DDOT Open Streets

Representatives from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented their plans for Open Streets on Seventh Street NW. On Oct. 5, they will close Seventh Street from Rhode Island Avenue down to E Street NW at 9 a.m. ere will be a number of activities set up along the route during the day, including some presented by businesses. e event will end south of New York Avenue at 2 p.m., and at 3 p.m. north of New York Avenue. ere will also be a giveaway of 50 bicycles that can be applied for online prior to the event. DDOT is looking for volunteers to help during the day. More information is available at https://openstreets.dc.gov/pages/7th-street-nwfall-2024.

Mid-City Development Project

A representative of Mid-City Development gave an update on the status of its project at 1201 Sixth St. NW. is development was permitted back in 2020, but still has yet to start. It consists of two four- and ve-story buildings with central atria on the site. Between the buildings is an amenity space, parallel to Ridge Street NW that will have a waterfall and serve as a residential gathering area. e project will consist of 360 units, 12 percent of them being a ordable.

e project has been delayed due to high construction costs and high interest rates for nancing. Plans are to start construction in the summer of 2025 when it is expected that these conditions will be more favorable.

Some residents asked why the trees on the site

ANC 2G

by Pleasant Mann

were removed. e developers said that a number of the trees were in bad shape and that there will be replacement trees planted with the new construction. ere were also questions about the effect of the project on parking. e response was that during construction, the developers will try to prevent workers from parking on the street. e completed project will have 100 parking spaces underground.

501 New York Avenue Cellblock

Representatives from the Department of Corrections and the Department of General Services explained their e ort to establish a temporary cellblock at 501 New York Ave. NW to serve as the District’s holding site, while the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Daly Building is under renovation. ey have applied to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for a special zoning exception for the project. For which, they requested the commission’s support.

Commissioner Nigro gave a timeline of what has gone on so far with the project. In March 2023, she learned from the Department of Buildings website that there were plans to establish a temporary central cellblock at 501 New York Ave. NW. No District agency had provided any advanced warning of the move. After trying to communicate with various District agencies about the project and getting no response, the ANC decided to appeal the issuance of building permits for the project. In March 2024, the ANC won the appeal, and the permits were withdrawn, requiring the process for the project to start over.

Nigro reminded everyone that the agencies were only at the meeting because the ANC’s appeal was successful. She focused on their contention that no arrestees would be released at the temporary cellblock. She said that attorneys at the O ce of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (OANC) said that such a provision for release could not be enforced except by a judge’s order. Nigro also complained that Corrections would not let her look at the current underground holding cell operation, which she understands is a huge and is not easily transferred to New York Avenue.

e other commissioners also questioned if the temporary site could handle the same number of arrestees as the current Daly cellblock. e commission unanimously voted to not support the application for zoning relief for the 501 New York Avenue NW temporary cellblock.

Cannabis Regulation

Commissioner McCarty introduced the “Resolution for Restoring Community Rights in Medical Cannabis Licensing” to correct an issue he had with the current rules for protesting cannabis distribution licenses. Currently, only ANCs are able to protest the issuance of a cannabis license. is is unlike the rules for liquor licenses, which can be protested by neighbors and community groups. His resolution calls for regulations that would allow property owners and resident groups to protest cannabis licenses like they can with liquor licenses. e commission passed the resolution unanimously.

Positronics at 1209 10th Street NW requested for support for their application for a medical marijuana retail license in Blagden Alley. Commissioner McCarty related that a canvass of the community revealed solid opposition to giving a license to the shop. When one of the owners asked for a reason, McCarty said that it was largely a problem of overconcentration of cannabis shops in the neighborhood and the impact on the infrastructure of Blagden Alley. e owner was offended, saying that he has been part of the Blagden Alley community for 50 years and that he has made provisions for parking and other amenities to avoid congestion around the store. A motion for the ANC to protest the issuance of a cannabis license to Positronics passed unanimously.

ANC 2G will not hold a meeting in August. Its next meeting will be on Sept. 12. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Plans are to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc2g.org for more information. ◆

BULLETIN BOARD

PARK(ing) Day 2024

Applications Open

DC PARK(ing) Day returns on Friday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Initially started in San Francisco in 2005, PARK(ing) Day is an event in which residents, businesses, and community organizations re-think the use of public space by converting metered on-street parking spaces into temporary parks. Since its inception, the event has spread to cities around the world. The application window is open until Aug. 23. If you’re interested in participating, familiarize yourself with all event requirements before designing your pop-up park or beginning the permitting process. Reach out to Kimberly Vacca at kimberly.vacca@dc.gov for any questions about the event. publicspace-activation.ddot.dc.gov/pages/parking-day.

DPR’s Historic Investment in Recreation

DPR’s #RecforALL is an investment of $17 million that will fund a new agency-wide action plan to expand recreational offerings and provide all District residents, particularly young people, with more safe, high-quality events, programs, and opportunities for spontaneous play. The goal of #RecforALL is to expand access to their most sought-after programs, services, and facilities, level the playing field by eliminating barriers to traditionally cost prohibitive programs and leverage the latest in recreational

trends that open new doors for District youth. Read more at recforall.com.

The Keegan Theatre’s 2024-2025 Season

The Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW, has announced its 28th season in 2024-2025, featuring six mainstage productions in its theater on Church Street in Dupont Circle. Here’s the lineup: The Woman in Black, Oct. 12 to Nov. 17; An Irish Carol, Dec. 4 to 31; Hand to God, Feb. 1 to March 2; #Charlottesville, March 22 to April 13; Falsettos, May 10 to June 15; Apropos of Nothing—A comedy, July 12 to Aug. 10. The 2024-2025 season will also feature special events and performances from the Boiler Room Series—Keegan’s initiative for

new works and unique performances—as well as social offerings to bring their community of artists and arts lovers together to celebrate and connect. keegantheatre.com.

Take 5: Jazz at SAAM with Alex Hamburger

On Thursday, July 18, 5 to 7 p.m., celebrate a uniquely American art form with Take 5: Jazz at SAAM, a series of free, live performances in the Kogod Courtyard. Enjoy a performance by Alex Hamburger, a flutist, vocalist, and composer from the Washington, DC, area. Last year, her sophomore album What If? debuted, exploring the ideas of perception, transition, and the boundaries of human experience. The Smithsonian American Art

Let’s Paint the (Logan Circle) Streets

DC is filled with blank canvases ripe for artists to make their mark. Washington’s creative community has turned alleyways into urban art galleries and transformed building walls into vibrant murals. A new art initiative in Logan Circle, Let’s Paint the Streets, was developed with the same objective in mind— to create beauty in the unexpected. The public art project commissioned 16 local artists to transform 20 utility boxes into magnificent art installations. The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities awarded a grant to the Logan Circle Community Association for the project. Logan Circle Main Street and ANC 2F helped to support the project from conception. The project’s theme of transformation and rebirth evokes the community’s past, present, and future. logancircle.org.

Self Embrace at 13th and Q NW, by Jeremiah Edwards.

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DC4ME

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DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees.

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Museum is at Eighth and G streets, NW. americanart.si.edu.

Public Voting for Mayor’s Arts Awards is year’s Mayor’s Arts Awards features 15 distinct categories including new honors such as the “Award for Excellence in Philanthropy” and the “Award for Excellence in Go-Go Music.” Nominations and awardees, except for the “Award for Distinguished Honor,” are chosen by DC residents. Public voting will take place from Monday, Aug. 26 through Friday, Sept. 6. Winners will be announced at the 39th Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Venue TBD. Residents are invited to attend this free annual event. For updates and details, visit dcmayorsartsawards.com.

Volunteer at the H Street Festival

Held on Sept. 21, the H Street Festival is located between ird and 15th streets NE. Responsible adults are necessary to be the eyes and ears of the festival. As a volunteer, you are pledging a commitment to be a part of the action and excitement. Currently, opportunities are restricted to individuals above the age of 18. Please note that the service and duration of all present and future volunteers is accepted at the discretion of the H Street Festival Committee. Check this website and keep an eye on social media as youth community service hours may become available. hstreetfestival.org/volunteer.

Weekly Financial

Consultation with DISB

Need help ling a complaint about your insurance claim? Want to get a jump on your savings goals? e DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking is at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help you with your nancial services issues and empower you in your nances. e

On Saturday, Sept. 7, starting at 8 a.m., enjoy DC on car-free streets while enjoying countless photo ops by iconic historical landmarks, live music, snack and refreshment breaks, and joyful surprises along the way. Cross the finish line and enjoy an epic festival by the US Capitol Building. DC Bike Ride invites you to the city’s only car-free and social bike ride, designed for riders of all ages—from three, plus—and from all ability levels. Whether you own a bike or not, all are welcome to join in the fun. The Finish Festival with live entertainment, fun activities and food trucks is between the Capitol and the Mall. Event proceeds benefit community partners working towards safer streets for all and growing our bicycle community. Passes are $189 to free; with rates increasing closer to the ride. dcbikeride.com.

location will alternate between MLK Library’s first and second floor. dclibrary.org.

Inaugural Capital Hockey Classic at Capital One Arena Monumental Sports & Entertainment has announced that the inaugural Capital Hockey Classic—a college hockey double header at Capital One Arena—will debut this winter. This celebration of hockey talent from two United States

military academies and the Big Ten’s Penn State University will take place on Thursday, Dec. 12. The first game of the event will feature a contest between Army and Navy’s club hockey teams, followed by a matchup between Army and Penn State’s Division I program. Game times, ticketing information, and additional details about the Capital Hockey Classic will be available in the coming months at capitalonearena.com.

Improv for All! at MLK Library

On Saturday, Aug. 31, 1 to 2:30 p.m., join the MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, in partnership with the Washington Improv Theater (WIT) for a free, introductory, high-fun, low-stress workshop designed to share the ideas and spirit of Improv. This is a free inperson workshop that will last approximately 90 minutes. dclibrary.org. u

Changing Hands is a list of most residential sales in the Midcity DC area 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.

The DC Bike Ride

Photo by Victoria Pickering

Photo by Sydney Buffalow