An Urban Lifestyle Magazine
MIDCITY MAY 2014
May Seminars Money Smart for Small Business Presents: Recordkeeping & Time Management Presented by: DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer & DCRA’s Small Business Resource Center Date: May 15, 2014 Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Location: DCRA; 1100 4th Street, SW Room E-4302 Washington, DC 20024 To Register, Go To: http://bizdc.ecenterdirect.com For More Information: Call (202) 442-4538 or email us at Jacqueline.Noisette@dc.gov or Claudia.Herrera@dc.gov
A Comprehensive Guide for Small Businesses Planning Why develop a business plan? The purpose for which you write a business plan is almost as important as the content of the plan itself. Writing a well-thought-out and organized business plan dramatically increases your odds of succeeding as an entrepreneur. This workshop covers the basics of business planning and why it’s important for business success. Topics include starting-up a successful business, the important linkages between the marketing, sales, and your financial projections, and gaining a competitive advantage. Date: Monday, May 12, 2014 Time: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (Room E-200) Washington, DC 20024
How to Open a Small Business in DC DC Government Economic Cluster’s Building Bridges to Success • Licensing Process (DCRA) • Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grant (DMPED) • Small Business Assistance and Façade Improvement (DHCD) • Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) Program (DSLBD) • Green Financial Incentive Grant Program (DDOE) Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (Room E-200) Washington, DC 20024
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Senior Day The DCRA Small Business Resource Center takes great pride in launching its first Senior Day Program! The objective is to provide seniors with information that may benefit them in their day-to-day lives. Establishing a small business | Vacant property Family rentals | The DCRA regulatory process Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (Room E-200) Washington, DC 20024
Interested in opening a small business in the District of Columbia? At this training session, DCRA staff will walk you through everything you need to do to open a new business: • Benefits of incorporating or creating an LLC • Types of business licenses and how much they cost • How to apply for a business license • Zoning requirements for types of businesses • Obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy • What building permits are needed to do renovations • How to apply for a building permit Date: Thursday, May 15, 2014 Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Location: 1100 4th Street SW 2nd Floor (Room E-200) Washington, DC 20024
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CONTENTS MAY
MIDCITY
08 What’s on Washington 10 Calendar out and about
20 26
20 24 26
Insatiable • Jonathan Bardzik Retail Therapy • Mariessa Terrell Women Who Speak Through the Streets • Anthony J. Rivera
your neighborhood 28 30 32 34 38 39 40 41
The Nose • Anonymous District Beat • Andrew Lightman The Numbers • Soumya Bhat Bulletin Board Logan Circles • Mark F. Johnson Bloomingdale Bites • Jazzy Wright Shaw Streets • Pleasant Mann ANC 6E • Steve Holton
kids and family 42
Kids and Family Notebook • Kathleen Donner
at home 47 48
50
The Garden Fairy • Frank Asher Changing Hands • Don Denton
Classifieds
47 COVER: Near the District’s U Street corridor in Northwest street artist QUILL left a wheatpaste of a woman with a cat in her hair and a cat in her arms. Photo: Anthony J. Rivera
THREE AFRICAN COUNTRIES IN ONE TRIP!
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(p) 301-390-5835 (f) 301-249-8607
www.yearntolearntours.com Barbara@yearntolearntours.com Midcity DC | May 2014 u 5
Hill Rag • Mid City DC • East Of The River • Fagon Community Guides Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com
Publisher: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2013 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.
Look for Next Issue of MCDC on JUNE 7 Editorial Staff Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Notebook Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Food Editor: Annette Nielsen • annette@hillrag.com Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Dining: Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com General Assignment: Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Literature: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Movies: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Music: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Retail Therapy: Marissa Terrell • mterrell@sbclawgroup.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com The Wine Guys: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com Calendar & Bulletin Board Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com General Assignment Martin Austermuhle • martin.austermuhle@gmail.com Maggy Baccinelli • mbaccinelli@gmail.com Dana Bell • dana@hillrag.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Stephen Lilienthal • stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Linda Samuel • lindabsamuel@yahoo.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 Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Society & Events Mickey Thompson • socialsightings@aol.com Homes & Gardens Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com Production/Graphic/web Design Art Director: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Designer: Lee Kyungmin • lee@hillrag.com Web Master: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com Advertising & Sales Account Executive: Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Account Executive: Dave Kletzkin, 202.543.8300 X22 • Dave@hillrag.com Classified Advertising: Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.8300 X12 • carolina@hillrag.com Billing: Sara Walder, 202.400.3511 • sara@hillrag.com Distribution Distribution Manager: Andrew Lightman Distributors: MediaPoint, LLC Distribution Information: distribution@hillrag.com Deadlines & CONTACTS Advertising: sales@hillrag.com Display Ads: 15th of each month Classified Ads: 10th of each month Editorial: 15th of each month; submissions@hillrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 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. 6 u midcitydcnews.com
g the United for allowin Thank you to share in rganization Planning O .C.’s journey to self,D Washington ce 1962. sin sufficiency ars of Com brate 50 ye e celebrate le ce e w y Toda ww oon. Tomorro munity Acti of moving forward. D s ur ar yo ye d e an or O m P 50 . Support U er te an lu rm fo Vo nate. ore in today. For m community .upo.org. w w tion visit w
United Planning Organization 301 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20001 (202) 238-4609
Our Mission: Uniting People with Opportunities! Visit us at http://www.upo.org/ United Way # 9881 / CFC # 90524 / DC One Fund Campaign # 9881
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Green Festival at the Convention Center
Green Festival is a vibrant, dynamic marketplace, America’s largest and longest-running sustainability and green living event. They bring together the world’s most trusted companies, innovative brands, national and local businesses, pioneering thinkers, and conscious consumers in one place to promote the best in sustainability and green living. Green Festival offers something for everyone, with the widest selection of products and services to work green, play green and live green from food, fashion and health to energy, construction and design. People can shop and enjoy vegan, vegetarian, organic foods, hands-on demos, educational activities and inspirational speakers. May 31-June 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (both days) at the Convention Center. greenfestivals.org/wdc
Bike-powered music at the 2013 Green festival. Photo: Balance Photography
Lamb Jam
On Monday, May 19, 6-9 p.m. at Eastern Market North Hall, top DC area chefs will ewe-night for the fourth annual American Lamb Jam produced by the American Lamb Board. This ultimate taste-off will feature top chefs and their creative preparations of lusty lamb dishes accompanied by several wineries, breweries and more. This year’s chefs are Michael Costa-Zaytinya; Wes Morton-Art & Soul; Dylan Fultineer-Rappahannock River Oysters; Ian Boden-The Shack; Jay Comfort-The Lebanese Taverna; George Pagonis-Kapnos; Frederik de Pue-MBK; Erik BrunerYang-Toki; Bryan Voltaggio-Volt; Victor Albisu-Del Campo; Dimitri MoshovitisCava Mezze Restaurant; Ed Witt-8407 Kitchen Bar/The Partisan/Red Apron; Aaron McCloud-Cedar; Lee Gregory-The Roosevelt; Billy McCormick-Virtue Feed & Grain; Franck Loquet-The Sofitel; Brian McPherson-Jackson 20 & The Grille; Anthony Lombardo-1789 Restaurant; Tucker Yoder-The Clifton Inn; RJ Scruggs- Occidental Grill; Tim Ma-Water & Wall; and Bertrand Chemel-2491 Restaurant. $60 general admission. $90 for 5-6 p.m. specialty cocktails, American lamb charcuterie and sheep cheeses. Must be 21. A portion of the proceeds benefit DC Central Kitchen. dc.fansoflamb.com
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Picnic at President Lincoln’s Cottage
This Memorial Day, consider the calm beauty of a picnic at President Lincoln’s (summer) Cottage on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home overlooking downtown Washington. During the Civil War, President Lincoln lived here to escape the heat and distractions of life at the White House. The tranquil surroundings at the Soldiers’ Home offered refreshing breezes and relative privacy during a period when the President confronted all-consuming decisions about military strategy, domestic policy, and foreign relations, and could not escape Washington or his responsibilities. There will be a wreath laying at 10 a.m. and special tours at 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. If you can’t make Memorial Day, President Lincoln’s Cottage welcomes you to picnic on the grounds anytime when the Cottage itself is open, 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m (Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). The entrance to President Lincoln’s Cottage is through the Eagle Gate, located at the intersection of Rock Creek Church Rd. and Upshur St. NW. 202-829-0436. lincolncottage.org
Photo Courtesy of President Lincoln’s Cottage
Brandywine River Museum of Art and Andrew Wyeth Studio Tours
Often called the “Wyeth Museum” for its extensive collection of works by grandfather N.C., father Andrew and son Jamie, the Brandywine River Museum is housed in a converted 19thcentury grist mill on the banks of the Brandywine in Chadds Ford, Pa. The reference address is 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road on U.S. Route 1. Open daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission is $12, adults; $8 seniors (65+); $6, students with ID and children ages 6-12. It’s about 2 hours from DC. brandywinemuseum.org. April through November, the Chadds Ford studio where Andrew Wyeth painted many of his most important works of art is opened for tours. Wyeth painted in the studio from 1940 until 2008. Thousands of works of art are associated with this studio, including those inspired by the farms and open space of the Brandywine Valley, and the Brandywine River that runs through Chadds Ford and the surrounding countryside. A shuttles depart from the Brandywine River Museum Tuesday through Sunday at 10, 10:45, and 11:30 a.m. and 12:15, 1, 1:45, 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. Purchase tickets online or call 610-388-2700. No kids under six.
Andrew Wyeth studio. Photo: Carlos Alejandro
“Andrew Wyeth: Looking Out, Looking In” at the National Gallery of Art
In celebration of the recent gift of Andrew Wyeth’s “Wind from the Sea” (1947), the National Gallery of Art presents an exhibition focused on Wyeth’s frequent use of the window as the subject of his art. Andrew Wyeth: Looking Out, Looking In will showcase some 60 watercolors, drawings, and tempera paintings completed after Wind from the Sea—the artist’s first fully realized exploration of the theme. Wyeth returned to windows repeatedly, producing more than 300 works that explore not only the formal but also the conceptual richness of the subject. Spare, elegant, and abstract, these paintings are free of the narrative element associated with the artist’s better-known figural compositions. The resulting images are often rigorous in their formal construction but deeply personal in subject. “Andrew Wyeth: Looking Out, Looking In” is on exhibition May 4-Nov. 30 in the West Building, Main Floor. nga.gov
Wind from the Sea, 1947, tempera on hardboard © Andrew Wyeth. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Gift of Charles H. Morgan
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calendar ★ ★ ★
MAY
“FLAGS-IN” AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY Memorial Day Weekend. Each year for the past 40 years, the 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard) has honored America’s fallen heroes by placing American flags before the gravestones and niches of service members buried both at Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldier’s and Airmen’s National Cemetery just prior to Memorial Day Weekend. Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia end of Memorial Bridge). 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.org
Soldiers from the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) place flags in front of the gravesites in Arlington National Cemetary, Va. during Flags In. Photo: U.S. Army photos by Klinton Smith
PATRIOTIC AND MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EVENTS Marine Barracks Evening Parade. Friday evenings through Aug 29 (no parade July 4). Guests admitted starting at 7:00 PM. Guests should be seated by 8:00 PM. Program begins at 8:45 PM. The Evening Parade has become a universal symbol of the professionalism, discipline and Esprit de Corps of the
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United States Marines. The ceremony begins with a concert by the United States Marine Band. Free. It is wise to have reservations that can be made online at mbw.usmc.mil. Marine Barracks (front gate), 8th and I sts. SE. 202-433-4073. 2014 Twilight Tattoo at Fort Myer. Wednesdays (except July 2), through Aug 20 , 7:00 PM with pre-ceremony pageantry starting at 6:45 PM. Members of the 3rd US Infantry
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(The Old Guard), the US Army Band “Pershings Own,” Fife and Drum Corps and the US Army Drill Team will perform an hour-long sunset military Pageant. Over 100 Old Guard soldiers dressed in period uniforms will provide a glimpse of Army history from colonial times to the soldier of the future. Summerall Field on historic Fort Myer in Arlington, VA. twilight. mdw.army.mil Semper Fi 5K. May 10, 8:00 AM. All proceeds will benefit the Semper Fi Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides crucial medical and financial assistance to US servicemen and women wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as to their families. Race held at Anacostia Park. semperfi5k.com 14 Names Added to Vietnam Veterans Memorial. May 11, 10:00 AM. Please join the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in honoring the 14 new names and status changes that will be added to The Wall in 2014. vvmf.org/2014-nameadditions#sthash.8ckufYMO.dpuf Washington Monument Reopens. May 12, 1:00 PM. The Monument will be open from 9:00 AM-10:00 PM until the end of summer. Reserve your time to take the elevator to the top at recreation.gov. Armed Forces Day at Nat’s Park. May 17, 4:04 PM. Nat’s vs. Mets. washington.nationals.mlb. com Soldier-led Tours of Fort Ward in Honor of Armed Forces Day. May 17, 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Tours of the historic fort led by an interpreter in Union uniform highlight the history of Fort Ward and army life in the Defenses of Washington. Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA. 703-7464848. alexandriava.gov/FortWard
National Symphony Orchestra performs the first of three outdoor holiday concerts. The concert is free and is broadcast live on PBS. Memorial Day is a day to remember the sacrifices made by so many … and a day for healing. On the eve of Memorial Day, come out and enjoy the National Memorial Day Concert, a deeply moving and reverential tribute to the men and women who have given so much to preserve America’s freedoms. Free. West lawn, US Capitol. Marine Band Concert at Wolf Trap. May 25, 8:00 PM. The concert kicks off Wolf Trap’s summer performance season and includes Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s popular 1812 Overture as well as music by John Philip Sousa, George Gershwin, and Meredith Willson. The performance will conclude with A Salute to the Armed Forces of the United States of America and a fireworks display. Filene Center, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, Va. 703-255-1900. wolftrap.org National Memorial Day Choral Festival at the Kennedy Center. May 25, 3:00 PM. Music Celebrations International presents an uplifting tribute to America’s fallen heroes, with a special commemoration for those who fought in WWII on this 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. The program features Ralph Vaughan Williams’s A Song of Thanksgiving alongside classic favorites like “Hymn of the Fallen” from Saving Private Ryan, “America the Beautiful,” and the march from The Longest Day. Free. Tickets at 800-395-2036 or musiccelebrations.com/may25kc. Memorial Day Wreath Laying at Arlington. May 26, 11:00 AM. Arrive much earlier. Expect heavy security. There is free parking and a free bus ride to and from the ceremony. Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia end of Memorial Bridge). 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.org Memorial Day at the World War II Memorial. May 26, 9:00 AM. Wreaths will be placed in honor of our veterans. Guest speakers will give remarks. World War II Memorial, 17th St. between Constitution and Independence aves. NW.
National Memorial Day Parade. May 26, 2:00 PM. Beginning at Fourth St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW and ending at 15th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. Expect a lot of music, color and old-fashioned patriotism. nationalmemorialdayparade.com Memorial Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. May 26, 1:00 PM. This year’s Memorial Day observance pays tribute to those who served and died in Vietnam. The ceremony will include Presentation of the Colors, and remarks by a special guest. The observance also includes a laying of wreaths by several patriotic organizations. Each year on Memorial Day veterans and their families congregate at “The Wall” to remember and to honor those who served in the US Armed Forces. On this special day prominent Americans from all walks of life come to the Memorial to deliver thoughtful and patriotic speeches. Women in Military Service Honors Memorial Day. May 26, 4:00 PM. The program includes formal military honors, remarks from servicewomen representing each of the services and the Women’s Memorial traditional Rose Petal Ceremony with personal tributes to departed comrades. Members of the public are invited to join in the personal tribute segment of the program. The Women in Military for America Memorial is the nation’s only major memorial honoring all servicewomen, past, present and future. Ceremony at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA. womensmemorial.org Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedon. May 26, noon. “Rolling Thunder” is an annual motorcycle rally held in Washington, DC during the Memorial Day weekend. Thousands of motorcycles will depart from the Pentagon at noon and will roar across Washington, DC on their motorcycles as a tribute to American war heroes. Assemble at Pentagon north parking lot. The True Glory: in commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of DDay. June 6, noon. The True Glory is the epic filmed record of the June 6, 1944 Invasion of Normandy and the Allied push across Europe. (85 minutes.). National Archives, McGowan Theater, 700 Constitution Ave. NW. archives.gov
GI Film Festival. May 19-25. The GI Film Festival is the nation’s only film festival dedicated to celebrating the stories of our nation’s armed forces. The GIFF will present films from new and established international and domestic filmmakers that honor the heroic stories of the American Armed Forces and the worldwide struggle for freedom and liberty. Some of the films screened will be fan favorites. Others will be screened for the first time. All will in some way express the courage and selflessness of our fighting men and women and the value of their work. Festival at several locations in DC and Virginia. gifilmfestival.com Sunset Celebration at Mount Vernon. May 24 and 25, 6:00-9:00 PM. This event offers a rare opportunity to visit Mount Vernon after the daytime crowds have departed. Visitors may take evening tours of the Mansion, relax and enjoy wine and desserts available for purchase, and delight in 18th-century music, dancing, games, and wagon rides. Stroll the lantern-lit grounds and immerse themselves in the 18th century as the sun sets on the plantation. $18, adults; $12, children ages 6-11; and free for five and under. Mount Vernon, VA. mountvernon.org National Memorial Day Concert. May 25, 8:00-9:30 PM (gates open at 5:00 PM). The
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MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL AT THE WARNER June 13-15. Four women at a lingerie sale with nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more! Warern Theatre, 513 13th St. NW. warnertheatredc.com
Menopause the Musical at Warner Theatre, Washington, DC, June 13-15 for 4 performances. Photo: Courtesy of GFour Productions
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Smithsonian Celebrates the Star-Spangled Banner Bicentennial. June 14 (save the date). The National Museum of American History’s keystone celebration will take place on Flag Day, Saturday, June 14, when the Smithsonian invites Americans around the globe to join Raise It Up! in a worldwide commemoration of the flag and the anthem. Raise it Up! Anthem for America will be a call to millions of Americans to participate in singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” simultaneously, led by a celebrity artist on the National Mall, steps from the original flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814. For more information, visit anthemforamerica.si.edu.
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Trinidad Art in the Alley. May 10, 6:0010:00 PM. Art in the Alley is a one-day art festival celebrating local art in local places. It is held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall in the alley behind 1200 block of Florida Ave. NE, Trinidad, DC. Natasha Trethewey Presents Final Lecture as US Poet Laureate. May 14, 7:00 PM. Natasha Trethewey will conclude her tenure as the 19th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress with an evening lecture in the Coolidge Auditorium of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Tickets and reservations are not required, but early arrival is strongly recommended.. loc.gov ZooFari. May 15, 6:30-9:30 PM. ZooFari is back with more than 100 of the area’s finest restaurants. Join them for a delicious evening of gourmet food, fine wines, celebrity chefs, and conservation. nationalzoo.si.edu National Gallery of Art 3,000th Concert of Its Free Weekly Series. May 18, 6:30 PM. Launched in 1942, the Gallery’s program is one of the longest-running concert series of its kind in the United States, and one of the few that is still open to the public, free of charge. The program—played by Irish pianist Míceál O’Rourke—includes compositions by Beethoven, Chopin, and John Field. The event also represents Ireland in a series of concerts associated with the Month of European Culture, presented in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. nga.gov Peirce Mill Open for Season. Open Wednesday-Sunday, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM (except July 4) until Nov 1. Peirce Mill, completed in 1829, is the only surviving grist mill on Rock Creek. The mill has been restored to working condition and milling demonstrations are conducted Apr.-Oct. on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Peirce Barn and Peirce Mill are located on Tilden St., across from Picnic Area 1 in Rock Creek Park. 202-895-6070. nps.gov/pimi DC Vote’s first Annual 3 Star Ball. Held on Thursday, May 22 atop the National Associa-
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tion of Realtors building (NAR) in downtown DC. Honoring the founders of DC Brau (beer) and, Washington Life’s Nancy Bagley, the rooftop soiree will feature live music by a DJ, an open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres and more. Event is all in the name of Taxation Without Representation. Tickets will be $75. Event is from 6:30 to 9:30.
MUSIC Music at The Howard. May 10, Balkan Beat Box; May 11, Ashnati; May 13, Robben Ford; May 14, Mumu Fresh; May 15, Lori Williams; May 16, Roy Ayres; May 18, Melanie Fiona and Black Alley; May 21, Extended Happy Hour Celebrating the Notorious B.I.G.;p May 22, Koan Sound & Minnesota; Mat 23, Mobb Deep; May 24, Chante Moore and DC Black Pride Explosion; May 25, Drag Salute to the Divas and Ultra White Party; May 28, Jesse Boykins III; May 29, Capelton; May 30, Drop Electric The Walking Sticks The Raised by Wolves; May 31, Tarras Riley; June 4, WPGC Birthday Bash; June 7, Mixtape Pride Weekend Party. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com Music at 9:30. May 10, Papadosio; May 11, Elbow; May 12, The 1975; May 13, Mastodon; May 15, Reckless Kelly; May 16, Panda Bear; May 17, Animals As Leaders; May 19, Augustana; May 20, The Faint; May 2122, Tegan and Sara present the Let’s Make Things Physical Tour; May 23-24, Conor Oberst; May 27, Michael Ian Black; May 28, Yann Tiersen; May 29, Rusted Root and The Wailers; May 30, Zomboy; May 31, Old 97’s; June 3, Jamie Cullum; June 4, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls; June 7, Jenny Lewis. 9:30, 815 V St. NW. 877-435-9849. 930.com Music at Sixth and I. May 11, Keren Ann with Bonzie; May 14, Amen Dunes; May 24, Art Garfunkel; May 31, Tom Goss with The North Country; June 7, Sephardic Songs and Stories with Dan Saks. Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St. NW. 202-408-3100. sixthandi.org Music at Black Cat. May 11, Metronomy; May 14, Swans; May 15, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard; May 16, Titus Andronicus and Zou Zou Burlesque Revue-Le Funk; May 17, Super Art Fight: The Greatest Live Art Competition in the Known Universe and Butch Queen; May 18, Highasakite; May 19, Walter Schreifels; May 20-21 Deer Tick; May 22, Trans Am; May 23, Jonny Grave & the Tombstones; May 25, Cass McCombs; May 28, Teen Mom; May 29, Vic and Gab; May 30, Story League Sings 3: Bad Boys; May 31, Futurebirds; June 2, Priests; June 4, Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray; June 6, Booty Rex Pride Party. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com Music at the Lincoln. May 14, Morcheeba; May 20, Wolfmother; May 24, Ingrid Michaelson; May 31, Eels; June 3, Patty Griffin; June 9, Andrew Bird & The Hands of Glory. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 202328-6000. thelincolntheatre.org
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Music at the Atlas. May 17-18, David T. Little’s Soldier Songs; May 29, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). Atlas performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993. atlasarts.org Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Every Tuesday, 12:10 PM. Free but free will offering taken. 1317 G ST. NW. 202-347-2635. epiphanydc.org Sunday Gospel Brunch Featuring the Harlem Gospel Choir. Every Sunday, 12:30-2:00 PM. $30-$45. The Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. 202-803-2899. thehowardtheatre.com
THEATER AND FILM
Smokey Joe’s Café at Arena. Through June 8. Let Broadway director Randy Johnson, (One Night with Janis Joplin), transport you to the golden age of Rock, Rhythm and Blues with the hits of Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame legends Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arena-stage.org Things You Shouldn’t Say Past Midnight at the Keegan. Through May 24. Ever been racially slurred in the sack? Ever been subjected to strangers yelling at you at 3am about the most intimate details of your life? Ever been to New York? Peter Ackerman’s screwball bedroom comedy follows three pairs of lovers trying to enjoy a night of romance. Keegan Theater, 1742 Church St. NW. 703-892-0202. keegantheatre.com Fiasco Theater’s Cymbeline at the Folger. May 28-June 1. Voted one of the top 10 theatrical productions of 2011 by New York magazine and winner of the 2012 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for “Best Revival”. Folger Shakespeare Library, E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-7077. folger.edu
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Ford’s. Through May 17. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee follows six awkward adolescents through their daunting and hilarious championship quest. As they navigate the tournament’s pressures, the eccentric coterie finds a new sense of belonging. Along the way, they learn that there is more to life than winning a trophy. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street NW. 202-347-4833. fordstheatre.org
EXHIBITIONS, OPENINGS AND GALLERIES
One Destiny at Ford’s. Through May 17. Learn about Lincoln’s assassination from two men who were there. Actor Harry Hawk and Ford’s Theatre co-owner Harry Ford revisit the events of April 14, 1865. As they reconstruct the sequence of events, they grapple with the question: Could John Wilkes Booth have been stopped? Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street NW. 202-347-4833. fordstheatre.org
(in)Visible & (dis)Embodied : Repositioning the Marginalized at DC Arts Center. Through June 1. (in) Visible & (dis)Embodied examines and reclaims the bodies of people who are often marginalized in mainstream American and Caribbean societies, such as immigrants, domestic workers, black and/or gay men, and women. DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St., NW. 202-462-7833. dcartscenter.org
Henry IV, Part 1 at Shakespeare. Through June 7. A young prince must decide between tavern roughhousing and the burden of his father’s legacy, in the coming-ofage story of heroism, corruption and war. STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn directs the masterful Stacy Keach (King Lear, Macbeth) who plays Shakespeare’s beloved character, Falstaff. Shakespeare Theatre Company, Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org
Reconstructing Nature, Sum of its Parts and Experiments in Color at Studio Gallery. Through May 24. Studio Gallery, 2108 R St. NW. 202-232-8734. studiogallerydc.com Linda Lopez, Michael Fujita & John Cole at Cross Mackenzie Gallery. Through May 31. Cross Mackenzie Gallery, 2026 R St, NW. 202-333-7970. crossmackenzie.com
Henry IV Part 2 at Shakespeare. Through June 8. Continuing from Henry IV Part 1, Young Prince Hal seeks to prove to his father, King Henry IV (Edward Gero), that he’s ready to the throne by leaving his lowlife behavior behind him. The King’s sudden illness and a bloody war force Hal into action. Shakespeare Theatre Company, Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org
Judy Rushin: Between us: Variance Invariance Project at Flashpoint. May 16-June 21. Opening reception, May 16, 6:00-8:00 PM. Between Us: Variance Invariance Project by Judy Rushin & treats paintings as things in motion rather than inert artifacts. With a focus on the vernacular of quick-assembly housing and furniture, Rushin created a system in which artworks are assembled, dismantled and shipped in small boxes. Flashpoint Gallery, 916 G St. NW. 202-315-1305. culturaldc.org
Fiasco Theater’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Folger. Through May 25. New York’s inventive Fiasco Theater has established its reputation for bringing Shakespeare’s most whimsical and timeless tales to the stage. This dizzying romantic adventure is a comedy filled with bandits, mistaken identity, and also the “sourest-natured” dog Crab. Folger Shakespeare Library, E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-7077. folger.edu
Shakespeare’s the Thing at the Folger. Through June 15. Explore Shakespeare’s influence on visual art, performance, and scholarship through treasures from the Folger collection hand-picked by Folger staff, including a special look at how fans have celebrated Shakespeare from his time to ours. Marking Shakespeare’s 450th birthday. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-4600. folger.edu
Living Out at the Gala. Through May 18. Ana, a Salvadoran nanny and a mother of two. Nancy, a lawyer challenged by fulfilling both personal and professional goals. Two working mothers who make difficult choices so they can provide a better life for their children. A funny and touching play that explores the shared humanity between a nanny and her. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. 202-234-7174. galatheatre.org
Ralph Fasanella: Lest We Forget at American Art Museum. Through Aug 3. Ralph Fasanella (1914-1997) celebrated the common man and tackled complex issues of postwar America in colorful, socially-minded paintings. American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. 202-633-7970. americanart.si.edu Pop Art Prints at American Art Museum. Through Aug 31. In the 1950s and 1960s, pop art offered a stark
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contrast to abstract expressionism, then the dominant movement in American art. The distinction between high art and popular culture was assumed until artists like Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol and others of their generation challenged a whole range of assumptions about what fine art should be. American Art Museum, 8th and F Sts. NW. 202-633-7970. americanart.si.edu “Peruvian Gold” at National Geographic. Through Sept 2. “Peruvian Gold: Ancient Treasures Unearthed” will showcase extraordinary objects from Peru’s pre-Inca heritage, including gold ceremonial and funerary masks, textiles, ceremonial ornaments, ceramics and jewelry. National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW. ngmuseum.org American Cool at the National Portrait Gallery. Through Sept 7. What do we mean when we say someone is cool? Cool carries a social charge of rebellious self-expression, charisma, edge and mystery. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Sts. NW. npg.si.edu “A Thousand Years of the Persian Book” Exhibition. Through Sept 20. An exhibition at the Library of Congress will explore the rich literary tradition of the Persian language over the last millennium, from illuminated manuscripts to contemporary publications. The exhibition will bring attention to the literary achievements of Iran and the greater Persian-speaking regions of Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Central and South Asia and the Caucasus. Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 E. First St. SE. loc.gov ASCAP: One Hundred Years and Beyond” Exhibition. Through Feb 14, 2015. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers exhibition features 45 objects, including sheet music, photographs, pamphlets, posters and more. Some highlights include the first ASCAP license, which was issued to Rector’s Restaurant in New York City (Broadway and 44th Street) in 1914; the original manuscript of “The Pink Panther,” in the hand of composer Henry Mancini; Paul Williams’ lyrics for “The Rainbow Connection”; and the original lyrics, including drafts and revisions, for “The Way We Were” by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Performing Arts Reading Room Gallery on the first level of the James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE. The exhibition is free and open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. loc.gov Cool & Collected: Recent Acquisitions. Through May 25, 2015. The National Building Museum presents an exhibition dedicated solely to the objects and documents in the Museum’s permanent collection. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. 202-2722448. nbm.org First Fridays in the Dupont Circle Neighborhood. First Friday of every month, 6:00-9:00 PM. First Friday openings are a collaborative effort to strengthen arts and culture in the beautiful, multi-cultural neighborhood of Dupont Circle. On the first Friday of every month,
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galleries in the neighborhood host simultaneous openings for art enthusiasts from all walks of life. They encourage all come to the openings and to circulate between neighboring galleries, which host an ever-changing array of styles and media. $5 suggested donation. Third Thursday Open Studios (Brookland). 6:00-8:00 PM. Meet the artists, peruse the art and join in activities and events. Arts Walk at Monroe Street Market, 716 Monroe St. NE.
SPORTS AND FITNESS Pups in the Park. May 17, June 22 and Sept 7. Purchase a discounted ticket for you, your family and your favorite family pet and support the Washington Humane Society. $10 of every dog ticket purchased will benefit the Washington Humane Society. $25 for you; $10 for your dog. washington.nationals.mlb.com Mothers Day 8K. May 11, 9:00 AM. Fletcher’s Cove, 4940 Canal Rd. 240-706-0098. safetyandhealthfoundation.org/eafna The Water Gun Run (adventure racing). May 17, 9:30 AM. They have shortened the hardest 5K course in DC and will provide each participant with their very own big water gun for this event (feel free to bring back up). You will navigate through 2 miles of trail in the heart of DC in Ft. DuPont Park, 3600 F St. SE. dcrunningclub.com BKB Annual 5k Run/Walk. May 17, 8:00 AM (rain or shine). West Potomac Park. 703-5772344. bkbfoundation.com/annual-5k Capitol Hill Classic 10K, 3K and Kids’ Fun Run. May 18, 8:30 AM. The event includes a 10K, a 3K, and a kids’ fun run, all of which start and finish in front of Peabody Primary School on Stanton Park. The 10K course goes out around RFK Stadium and back, while the 3K goes to Lincoln Park and the fun run is a lap around Stanton Park for kids of all ages. All proceeds from the Classic go to the Capitol Hill Cluster School. For more information, register, or volunteer to, visit capitolhillclassic com. Tidal Basin 3K Monthly Run. Third Wednesday of each month at noon. This run is free and informal. West Potomac Park (meet on Ohio Dr. at West Basin Dr., near the Tourmobile stand). 703-505-3567. dcroadrunners.org Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon. Oct 5. Registration now open. 703-587-4321. wilsonbridgehalf.com Marine Corps Marathon Registration. Register online at marinemarathon.com. Marathon is Sunday, Oct 26.
SALES AND MARKETS Grant Avenue (flea) Market in Takoma Park. May 11, June 8, Sept 14 and Oct 12, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. The market is at the in-
tersection of Grant Ave. and Carroll Ave. in Takoma Park, MD with antiques, collectibles and funky finds. grantavenuemarket.com NLPNA Yard Sale. May 17, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM. The North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association yard sale is in the triangle park between the 1300 blocks of North Carolina Ave. and A St. NE (between 13th and 14th streets). This annual event is our primary source of funding for community building activities including tree plantings and Buzz distribution Donations may be dropped off from 8:00-10:00 AM on the day of the sale. . For more information or to volunteer, call 202-543-3512 or email elizabeth_knits@yahoo.com, with “yard sale” as the subject. Lions Flea Market in Palisades. June 1 (rain or shine), 10:00 AM-4:00 PM in the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot at MacArthur Blvd. and Arizona Ave. NW. The PalisadesGeorgetown Lions Club raises funds from this event and others such as the Christmas Tree sale to support organizations ranging from charities to schools to the Lions Foundation. This community flea market is sponsored by Palisades-Georgetown Lions Club. Rent table space for $35 and remove items promptly at end. Contact Mary at 202-363-6122 for more information. Aya Community Markets @ SW Waterfront. Saturdays, through Nov 22, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM at 900 4th St. SW on the grounds of Christ United Methodist Church. dreamingoutloud.net H Street FRESHFARM Market. Saturdays, 9 AM-noon, Apr 19-Dec 20. The H Street Market is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year. SNAP (EBT/Food Stamps) accepted. 13th and H Sts. NE. freshfarmmarket.org Penn Quarter FRESHFARM Market. Thursdays through Dec 18, 3:00-7:00 PM. North end of 8th St., between D and E, NW. freshfarmmarket.org RFK Stadium Farmers’ Market. Open Saturdays, year-round (weather permitting), 8:00 AM-3:00 PM. The market also has merchandise vendors. It can be seen in the RFK parking lot from the interestion of Benning Rd. and Oklahoma Ave. NE.
Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; Saturdays, 7:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sundays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. On weekends the market area comes alive with farmers bringing in fresh produce, craft and flower vendors, artists, a flea market and street musicians. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com Anacostia Big Chair Flea Market. Saturdays, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. The market features a diverse mix of art, crafts, imports, antiques, collectibles and furniture every Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The market will also feature local specialty food items such as fruits and vegetables, flowers, preserves, prepared foods and beverages. 2215 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE. bigchairmarket.com Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays year round (rain or shine), 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times of London named the market one of the top farmers’ markets in the country. During the peak season, there are more than 30 farmers offering fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, cheeses, fruit pies, breads, fresh pasta, cut flowers, potted plants, soaps and herbal products. 20th St. and Mass. Ave. NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202-362-8889. freshfarmmarket.org Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM. The crowd is as diverse as the items for sale! Antiques, collectibles, art, furniture, rugs, pottery, china, jewelry, silver, stained glass, books and photographs are an example of the available items. 1819 35th St. NW. 202-775-3532. or georgetownfleamarket.com Maine Avenue Fish Market. Open 365 days a year. 7:00 AM-9:00 PM. 1100 Maine Ave. SW. 202-484-2722.
CIVIC LIFE
Branch Avenue Pawn Parking Lot Flea Market. Saturdays. Set up (depending on the weather) after 10:00 AM. 3128 Branch Ave., Temple Hills, MD
Congresswoman Norton’s NW District Office. Open weekdays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. 529 14th St. NW, suite 900. 202-783-5065. norton.house.gov
Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Every Tuesday, 3:00-7:00 PM. Tuesday afternoon farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com
All-Ways Mount Pleasant. First Saturday, noon-2:00 PM. LaCasa. All-Ways is a citizen’s association primarily for the tenants of the larger apartment buildings of Mount Pleasant. 3166 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. aa-ss.org
Union Market. Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 AM8:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, yearround food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com
Chinatown Revitalization Council. Fourth Monday, 7:00-8:00 PM. 510 I St. NW. Chinatown Revitalization Council (CRC) promoting the Chinatown renewal and the preservation of its cultural heritage. The public is welcome. Convention Center Community Association. Last Tuesday, 7:00-8:30 PM. Kennedy Rec Cen-
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Help for Homeless Families in DC This year’s harsh winter brought into sharp focus the fact that DC’s system for sheltering homeless moms, dads and kids is broken. Today, families can get into shelter only on cold nights and otherwise are turned away. Shelter conditions are deplorable. And many families have been in shelter for too long. No one wants this to happen again next winter. DC can and should do more for parents and children struggling to find safe and adequate shelter. Ask the DC Council to adopt “Helping Families Home: A Roadmap for the District” at www.helpingfamilieshome.org. The plan puts DC on a path to provide families access to decent shelter when they need it, while helping families to quickly move from shelter to a safe and stable home. www.helpingfamilieshome.org
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ter, 1401 Seventh St. NW. www.cccaonline. Downtown Neighborhood Association. Second Tuesday, 7:00-9:00 PM. US Naval Memorial Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. miles@dcdna.org. dcdna.org East Central Civic Association of Shaw Meeting. First Monday, 7:00 PM. Third Baptist Church, 1546 Fifth St. NW. Contact: Al Hajj Mahdi Leroy J Thorpe Jr, 202-387-1596. Eckington Civic Association. First Monday, 7:00-8:30 PM. Harry Thomas Recreation Center, 1743 Lincoln Rd. NE. www.eckingtondc.org Edgewood Civic Association. Last Monday, 7:00-9:00 PM. Edgewood senior building, 635 Edgewood St. NE, nineth floor7-9pm. They encourage all Eckington and Edgewood residents to come out and take part in the lively civic life of our communities. www. theedgewoodcivicassociationdc.org Logan Circle Citizens Association. Please contact Jennifer Trock at jennifer.trock@logancircle.org for meeting dates and times. logancircle.org Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association. Third Tuesday, 7:30-9:30 PM. Yale Steam Laundry, 437 New York Ave. NW. lifein.mvsna.org U Street Neighborhood Association. Second Thursday, 7:00-8:30 PM. Source (second floor classroom), 1835 14th St. NW ANC 1A. Second Wednesday, 7:00 PM. Harriet Tubman Elementary School, 3101 13th St. NW. 202-588-7278. anc1a.org ANC 1B. First Thursday, 7:00 PM. Reeves Center, 2000 14th St. NW (second floor). 202-870-4202. anc1b.org ANC 1B11. Second Monday, 7:00 PM. LeDroit Senior Building (basement community room), 2125 Fourth St. NW. 202-481-3462. www.anc1b.org ANC 1C. First Wednesday, 7:00 PM. Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Health, 2355 Ontario Rd. NW. 202332-2630. anc1c.org ANC 1D. Third Tuesday, 7:00 PM. 3166 Mount Pleasant St. NW. 202-4628692. anc1d.org ANC 2C. First Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 PM. Watha T. Daniel Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW (new location). 202682-1633. anc2C.org ANC 6E. First-Tuesday, 6:30 PM. NW One Library, 155 L St. NW. u
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by Jonathan Bardzik
What Is Good Food?
Standing around my kitchen island, eating a late dinner with our fingers, my husband Jason and our friends Nancy and Sam discussed what defines good food. Is it the elegant plating, unusual ingredients, and complex preparations we’ve been enjoying as one new restaurant after another seeks to top the increasing competition in DC? Can well-done comfort food place in this culinary race? It took two delicious and very different dining experiences to answer the question.
Carolina Kitchen Opens in Rhode Island Row
Licking our fingers, finishing off re-heated leftovers from our dinner the night before at Carolina BELOW: Elegant and rich, the atmosphere in the dining room at Carolina Kitchen’s new location on Rhode Island Avenue is warm, welcoming, and delicious. RIGHT: Carolina Kitchen’s owner, Chef Lance London, elevates light, crisp frying to a culinary art.
Kitchen’s (thecarolinakitchen.com, 2350 Washington Place NE) new Rhode Island Row location, we decided the question deserved a broader answer. Chef/owner Lance London’s catfish was still crisp and light a full day later. The cornflake coating on the fried chicken remained light, crackingly crunchy, and seasoned as perfectly as the tender, juicy meat inside. We fought over the oysters, which had nearly melted inside their coating. As someone who fries miserably and has suffered through too many soggy, greasy plates of wings and fish and chips, I recognized the talent in this flawless execution. The night before our stand-up feast Jason and I were treated to Chef London’s cooking in Carolina Kitchen’s far more elegant, luxurious dining room. We were warmly welcomed into this rich, Sunday-
best environment where diners were casually enjoying a weeknight dinner. Before our menus had even arrived, a 5-year-old was treated to a candlelit slice of cake accompanied by singing that rivaled a gospel church on Sunday. From simple to spectacular, Chef London’s food was exceptional. His collards, sweet and rich with smoked turkey instead of pork, had an unfussy complexity, cooked for hours with 42 different ingredients. His mac and cheese, free from short ribs, truffles, or French cheese, may have actually set the Platonic ideal. The Creole salmon arrived, recommended independently by every member of the restaurant staff we asked. I have to admit I am lukewarm on salmon. It is the rubber chicken of the ocean, typically dry and a bit fishy. Chef London, however, served
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it up moist and fresh, topped with shrimp and crab and an unapologetically rich, well-seasoned cream sauce. Our only regret at the end of the meal was that we were too full to taste our way through the home-style barbecue menu which includes something called Mama stew chicken we’ve been assured is well worth a return visit. We needed no convincing, and Sam
asparagus was crisply blanched and dressed with sauce gribiche, a cooked-egg mayonnaise with a sharp, horseradish-like bite. It was topped with flakes of clean, bold smoked trout, with all of the salt and richness of imported prosciutto but none of the sweet gaminess of pork. Ancho chile-glazed baby back ribs, with a light red cabbage slaw and bread and butter pickles,
and Nancy are hoping for another round of leftovers.
delivered the taste of a deconstructed Cuban sandwich, rich and sweet. Again, as at Carolina Kitchen, I took the advice of literally every member of the staff we asked and ordered the roasted hake with a coconut milk sauce, unmistakably spiced with kaffir lime. It was perfect, crisp skin over clean, sweet fish. Purple Peruvian potatoes, both starchy and light, balanced the sweet coconut milk with the slight bitterness of young chard and earthy broad beans. Jason, surprising no one, ordered the hanger steak and frites. Conveniently we have tried this on the menu of nearly every restaurant in DC that serves it, providing a reasonable point of comparison. The steak was tender and rich, lightly gamey with a smoked mustard sauce. Bright, peppery, lightly dressed arugula balanced the steak and crisp fries. Despite our bold refusal, we somehow found ourselves in front of a plate of nopa’s red velvet cheesecake. Paired with devil’s food cake and raspberries and both fresh and in-house-made ice-cream, it was decadent without being heavy. A perfect share on a plate we nearly licked clean.
nopa Kitchen+Bar Turns One
I’ve come up with a new way of choosing dining locations. Start by attending a reception. Get so wrapped up in conversation that after two drinks you leave, forgetting to close your tab and retrieve your credit card. Three weeks later, after a vacation, a visit from your parents and a business trip, finally return to the restaurant feeling guilty enough by now to make a pre-theatre reservation. Yeah, that’s how we ended up at nopa Kitchen +Bar (nopadc.com, 800 F St. NW). Admittedly, after scanning the early online reviews I was a little nervous. A sentiment echoed in response to my first Instagram pic of the meal. “I’ve heard mixed reactions,” our friend said. Whatever reservations early reviewers had about the food have certainly been worked out over a year of business. The dining room matches Carolina Kitchen’s bold, rich elegance with perfect reserve. The rich, bloodred, tufted leather banquets offer a measured pop of color in a comfortable supper club atmosphere. Our first course of fresh spring
LEFT: The season’s first fresh asparagus at nopa Kitchen+Bar is delicious, topped with egg and clean, smoky flakes of trout. BELOW: Recommended by literally everyone on staff, nopa hake arrives crisp-skinned and tender in a delicate coconut milk broth, fragrant with kaffir lime.
Fresh Strawberries Arriveat Dolcezza
Admittedly I am jumping the gun. With this year’s long winter, every farmer I speak with assures me that spring produce is a full month behind. That has only increased Dolcezza (dolcezzagelato.com, 550 Penn St. NE) coowner Robb Duncan’s eager anticipation for the arrival of fresh strawberries from Virginia’s Westmoreland Berry Farm. “They’re usually ripe in Virginia around Mother’s Day. This year I think we’ll be two to three weeks later than that,” Duncan tells me. With a menu including strawberry tarragon sorbet and strawberry tequila sorbet, I can’t wait for the first fresh berries to arrive either. “After a winter of eating root vegetables, pears, and apples, when May arrives I’m ready for the sugary sweetness and burst of acidity of strawberries,” Duncan says. When the first strawberries arrive Dolcezza spins out a strawberry sorbet. “We’re dialing Midcity DC | May 2014 u 21
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Sweet and fresh local strawberries return to Dolcezza with three seasonal flavors.
into the fruit to see where the flavor is at,” he tells me. Once they hit their stride roasted strawberry gelato hits the menu. “The rich milk fats can cover up the flavor of strawberries,” Duncan says,” so we roast them at around 400 F for 15 minutes or so to concentrate the flavor.” From the arrival of the first strawberries, these seasonal flavors are only around for five to six weeks. Dolcezza extends the season with a Maryland supplier. “When it’s over, it’s over,” says Duncan. What’s up after that? Opal basil sorbet and blueberries with lemon thyme. It’s going to be a sweet summer.
Farm Fresh
ChefNeilWilson@aol.com | 301.699.2225 ChefJasonLawrence@hotmail.com | 202.549.7422 22 u midcitydcnews.com
Though late, fresh produce is returning as DC’s farm markets open for the season. With the first sweet, tender, local asparagus of the year spotted last week, the Bloomingdale Farmers’ Market can’t return soon enough. It reopened May 4 for a season of Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., extending to November 23. If you want to find out if my cooking is as good as my eating, swing by on Sunday, May 11, and check out my live cooking demo, part of the chef ’s series happening throughout the year.
J t K d f l a r “ i a o t “ s B
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Jonathan Bardzik is a cook, storyteller, and author living in Eckington. Known for his weekly live cooking demos at Eastern Market (Saturdays from March to November), Jonathan loves cooking fresh ingredients as much as seeking them out in DC’s growing restaurant scene. His first cookbook, “Simple Summer: A Recipe for Cooking and Entertaining with Ease,” is available now. Grab a copy and find out what Jonathan is cooking at jonathanbardzik.com or his Facebook page, “What I Haven’t Cooked Yet.” Need some foodporn? Follow @JonathanBardzik on Twitter and Instagram u Midcity DC | May 2014 u 23
out and about
+ Shopping
RETAIL THERAPY IslandDreamin’
M
ay is such a flirt, really. She beckons us with her sunny disposition only to coyly disappear behind a nimbus cloud at whim. When she is really riled up I prefer to admire her technique via the Weather Channel from points south along the East Coast. But invariably, despite the arsenal of graduation invites, escape via Reagan National is often delayed until after Memorial Day. Lucky for me, my ability to ferret out style with a twinkle and a twirl has only improved since downgrading my cable package from all-access to Internet only. With an extra three hours a week, why not put my newly sharpened fashion investigator abilities to the test? Surely I can disregard May’s antics and find full frontal summer in DC before June. As always, I confine my search to the Midcity section of the District. At 1318 14th St. NW I snag a sheer ruffled white
blouse, jovial printed trapeze cotton skirt, and a translucent canary Lucite earrings/brooch set, all for less than $30, at Buffalo Exchange. Then at 2104 18th St. NW I come upon a juicy multicolored vintage shopping bag at Meeps, sprinkled from front to back with what look like enlarged Skittles candies. Last, at 1428 U St. NW I scout an entire collection of Blouse, skirt, and earrings from Buffalo Exchange; beaded necklaces from Nepal oversized Tibetan bead- and India by Tibet Craft; set design courtesy of Good Wood DC. ed necklaces in various stages of escape from a series of wooden drawers. The scene, perfectly imagined by the team at Good Wood (Dan, Anna, Aaron, Justin, and Rachel), looks remarkably like an island
Multicolored vintage shopping bag from Meeps.
article by Mariessa Terrell, photos by Angela Heath Canary earring and brooch set from Buffalo Exchange.
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girl’s personal treasure trove. How can the smallest Ward (1) in the city boast such an eclectic mix of independent retail? Its magic, darling! Fashion attorney Mariessa Terrell, aka Simone Butterfly, Fashion Investigator, does her sleuthing at simonebutterfly.com and @SimoneBtrfly. u
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out and about
+ Art
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Female Graffiti and Street Artists Get Their Message Up In A Subculture Dominated By Men
B Near the District’s U Street corridor in Northwest street artist Quill left a wheatpaste of a woman with a cat in her hair and a cat in her arms. 26 u midcitydcnews.com
through the
By Anthony J. Rivera
lack, yellow, and blue graffiti decorate a gray electrical connection box at a street corner in Northwest. Several of the tags are old, but the blue one is fresh. It is the letter “D” painted in one stroke. The D stands for Decoy, a 35-yearold street artist who has been scattering her tags and wheatpastes on the walls of Washington for 10 years. Many in the graffiti and street art community know who she is. “It’s been a really unique and fun way to share my heart,” says Decoy, who prefers not to give her real name, fearing arrest. Women have long fought to find equality with and respect from men. They have sought a space to find a distinctive voice, and their journey toward those goals has been neither smooth nor speedy. Some have sought acceptance for what they can accomplish on their own in a particular
field, free of gender labels. Others have aimed for a clear feminist identity to accompany their work. Women embedded in the graffiti and street art subculture face similar struggles and weigh corresponding choices. In a community bent on defacing public space, the message gets complicated. Sometimes that message is unmistakably defiant. “You cannot stop me,” says Quill, 25, who did not want her real name to be published. “I don’t want to stare at, you know, your Pepsi ad. I want to cover the bus stop with my art. This is my city.” Nancee Lyons, public affairs specialist for the DC Department of Public Works, says the volume of graffiti fluctuates year to year. In 2013 the department had 5,600 cases of graffiti abatement. In 2012 there were 8,500. Lyons expects more graffiti this year. She does not have data to supports this idea, “but in general the warm
Bronx-based graffiti writer Nea left her mark on the bottom of a lamp post in Manhattan. Her tag lies over a piece of street art depicting a young Japanese woman in traditional garb.
weather brings out more illicit activity, and that would include graffiti,” she writes in an email. Female writers and artists like Decoy and Quill decorate the District’s streets any time, day or night. They move among us like ghosts, unseen, eluding authorities and slipping past surveillance. Unlike ghosts they are very real and burdened with risks. “I am a woman and I can do this just as much as anyone else can. And I can do it better I think,” Quill says. “Why not?” For her the impulse to thumb her nose at authority goes hand in hand with her identity as a woman. The anti-establishment ideology of graffiti neither supersedes nor drowns in Quill’s feminism. It is a dichotomy found in many of these artists. “The fact of the matter is that these women lead double lives because (again, depending on context related to criminalization) they are mothers ‘by day’ and criminals ‘by night’; they are CEOs making a living off of private property and artists who make it a point to paint private property,” writes Jessica Pabón, expert in feminism and graffiti, in an email. Pabón is a
postdoctoral fellow at New York University in Abu Dhabi. She is preparing a study, “Graffiti Grrlz: Performing Feminism in the Hip Hop Diaspora.” “Their dexterity in navigating social/subcultural roles and expectations comes from their social positioning as women in a mostly sexist, numerically male-dominated subculture,” she writes. Jenevieve Reid is a 28-year-old New Yorkbased artist who goes by the graffiti name Nea. Reid’s work, like Decoy’s, was featured in the “Ladies First” exhibit last March at The Fridge, the Capitol Hill art gallery managed by former graffiti writer Asad “Ultra” Walker. “Your art becomes your propaganda” says Reid. On the street that propaganda faces push-back. Surfaces are limited in the District because of its size. Women compete for space with men. The ladies suggest there are generally few confrontations between them. For instance, since moving to the city Decoy says she does not recall any disrespect toward her artwork that she considers gendermotivated. Still, Quill says one of her pieces was tagged in her own studio by a male graffiti writer called Voyer. Instead of using aerosol paint or a big marker he simply slapped a sticker with his name onto her work. She is fuming. Quill knows her art might be tagged over on the street but that is fine, she says. “I’ll go back over you dude,” she says. “And I know it’s a dude because it always is.” OCB, a graffiti writer who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, says he knows women who put a lot of work into graffiti and street art. It
Near the Washington Convention Center street artist Decoy bombed an electrical box in blue with her infamous “D” tag.
can be hard for females in the scene because some men blatantly disrespect them, he says. These women are not standing on the sidelines. He says they are helping male counterparts over barriers and up walls to reach a spot to tag. Male writers who disrespect female writers are “messing up the game,” according to OCB. Doing graffiti is about expressing oneself, and Decoy is purely motivated by a need to do so. She sees herself as an artist who could not find her place in the formal art world. “I was doing it out of, like, desperation,” she says. “Just to have somebody see something – a drawing, a painting, or something.” Quill’s reasons deviate slightly from Decoy’s. She seems to draw less on how she feels and more on her place in society. Both women, however, share a desire to reach underprivileged communities in the city. “Presenting beautiful street art in Washington is one of my goals,” says Quill. Maybe people in a particular neighborhood “don’t even see a lot of art in their lives.” Decoy and Quill also differ in their view of how the world sees them. Some women doing graffiti and street art feel they enjoy a level of cover from authorities because of gender. DC’s Metropolitan Police Department says there is no profile they use to look for graffiti artists or taggers on the streets. They say officers are simply looking for individuals who are caught in the act of vandalism. Still, some say the initial assumption police have when seeing graffiti is that the perpetrator is likely a young, African-American male. “I’m the last person they’ll think of to stop,” says Quill. Females, she says, are far more complex than men give them credit for, and men assume much in what women are doing. Male police officers are no different. Other women feel their gender grants them no significant protection when they are out getting up on the streets. Reid thinks she may have a slight advantage in graffiti as a female, but she is not convinced. She says there are plenty of situations where New York City police are not fooled. Carrying out graffiti and street art in the District is more difficult than in other cities. Even if taggers cover as many surfaces as possible with their mark, graffiti removal is aggressive here, at least in some areas. “Who does graffiti really hurt?” asks Quill, scoffing the city’s abatement program. “I don’t know what they are afraid of, frankly.” u Midcity DC | May 2014 u 27
the nose
THE NOSE
The Mayor Presumptive
W
by Anonymous
hat if The Nose threw a party and nobody came. Would he drown his sorrows in brown liquor? Overdose on chocolate cake? Would he be forced to dance the electric slide in the company of his shadow? This precisely is the situation Muriel “Divine Miss M” Bowser (D-Ward 4) found herself in on April Fools’ Day. In the days leading up to the primary, The Nose, along with other members of his fast fading fraternity, spent hours prognosticating, slicing and dicing the polls. Unfortunately, much of their time and attention was expended on likely voters. In 2014, however, it was the stay-at-homes who really mattered. Despite mailboxes overflowing with campaign mailings, land lines dunned by robo calls, 73 percent of registered Democrats, located overwhelming in the city’s eastern wards, chose not to vote. In fact, the 2014 primary election witnessed the lowest turnout of voters since the advent of home rule. Meet “Non-Voters,” the District’s new, vast “Silent Majority.” What did non-voters do on April Fools’ Day, The Nose, wonders? Were they eating bonbons and watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? Had they paid so much attention to Game of Thrones that they could not name any of the candidates? Had the cut and thrust of the endless mayoral debates led them to slit their wrists? Whatever the reason, the historically low primary turnout has denied Divine Miss M any claim to the type of popular mandate enjoyed by her mentor, Adrian ‘Apple’ Fenty. This has opened the door to an independent challenge by David ‘L’Enfant Terrible’ Catania (I-At-large). To ward off Catania ‘The Terrible,’ Divine Miss M will be singing the
28 u midcitydcnews.com
following tune from now to November, cribbed from a Groucho Marx ditty *, Democratic voters have had their say, November makes no difference anyway, Whoever runs, I’ve been elected. Let’s keep the general election in perspective I’ve been elected. My opponents may be good, But let’s have one thing understood, Whoever they may be, I’ve been elected. The Democratic choice will never stand corrected, I’ve been elected. For nine months until I am sworn, I’ll be yelling from night to morn, Whatever the polls say, I’ve been elected. As I’ve kept repeating since first selected, I’ve been elected! As a famous man once pointed out, if one repeats a statement often enough with sufficient authority, fiction becomes fact. Repetition is the key to political victory. *“I’m Against It,” from Horse Feathers. Have a comment for The Nose? Email thenose@hillrag.com. u
OUR MISSION: To Strengthen Families and Build Vibrant Communities in Washington DC RISE uP client employed for more than six months.
Come join the Edgewood/Brookland Family Support Collaborative’s Employment Services programs: Readiness, Individualized Support Employment Program (RISE uP), serves DC residents 18 and older who meet program eligibility guidelines Fatherhood, Education, Empowerment and Development (FEED) Program, serves fathers 18 and older who reside in Ward 5 or 6 Both Programs offer: • Resume and interviewing skills preparation • Job placement assistance • Job retention support • Case Management services
Call 202-832-9400 x 127 to sign-up and energize your career search RISE uP is funded by the United Planning Organization (UPO) and is part of UPO’s Community Services Block Grant FEED is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (Grant #90FK0054-01-00) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Edgewood/Brookland Family Support Collaborative 200 K Street, NW, Suites 1 & 3 Washington, DC 20001 202-832-9400 (phone) 202-216-9263 (fax) | www.ebfsc.org
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY SOLICITATION NO.: 0027-2014 Land Development Planner
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY (DCHA) is seeking a qualified professional Land Development Planner to assist DCHA in the full range of services to the planning and possible redevelopment of Lincoln Heights/Richardson and Greenleaf properties. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available at the Issuing Office at 1133 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300, Administrative Services/Contracts and Procurement, Washington, DC 20002-7599, between the hours of 9:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, beginning on Monday, April 28, 2014; and on DCHA web site at www.dchousing.org SEALED PROPOSALS RESPONSES are due to the Issuing Office by 11:00am on Wednesday, May 28, 2014. Contact the Issuing Office, LaShawn Mizzell-McLeod on (202) 535-1212 or by e-mail on or lmmcleod@dchousing.org for additional information. Midcity DC | May 2014 u 29
your neighborhood
+ District Beat
Shadow Boxing by Andrew Lightman
T
he long road to November’s general election began with the Democratic primary on April Fools’ Day. Muriel Bowser handily won her party’s nomination with a plurality of 43.38 percent (42,045 votes). In a reversal of fortune largely engineered by US Attorney Ronald C. Machen, the incumbent, Mayor Vincent C. Gray, trailed her by a more than 10,000-vote margin.
Candidate None of the Above
Muriel Bowser announces her candidacy. Photo: Andrew Lightman 30 u midcitydcnews.com
The real story, however, was not those who voted but rather those who stayed home. With the election results now certified, it appears that 73 percent of registered Democrats failed to visit the polls. Only 99,395 ballots were cast. This, according to Mike DeBonis of The Washington Post, is fully 5 percentage points below the previous record low turnout (32.1 percent) set in the September 1998 contest between Anthony “Tony” Williams and Kevin P. Chavous. As reported in last month’s District Beat and confirmed by DeBonis, the severity of the drop in voter turnout in the April Democratic primary increased from west to east. In particular it mirrored a substantial collapse in support for Gray across the city’s eastern wards. The vast majority of Democrats in Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8 voted with their feet for Candidate None of the Above. Yet, it remains to be seen whether the April Fool’s Day primary will prove a harbinger for November’s general election. Here, history may provide prove a guide. In both 2010 and 2006 there was a drop of 5 to 10 percentage points in voter participation between the Democratic primary and the general election. While the primaries were by definition limited to party members, and the generals were unrestricted, these differences do signal a reduction of interest on the part of the electorate. In contrast, the 1998 and 2002 contests saw 3 to 4 point increases of voter participation in the general elections as compared to the Democratic primaries.
These increases in voter interest undoubtedly resulted from the campaigns mounted against the Democratic nominees by Republican Carol Schwartz. So history offers two lessons. If voters perceive a November general election as uncontested, their already low level of engagement may drop again. Alternatively, if the candidacy of David Catania (I-At Large) gains traction, it will likely increase voter participation by a few percentage points. In neither case will the large number of non-voting former Gray supporters in the eastern wards turn out to support the Democratic mayoral nominee.
Courting the Blues
Common wisdom holds that in District politics the Democratic primary is THE election. No Republican or independent has ever been elected mayor of Chocolate City. Solid Democratic support from the eastern wards (4, 5, 7, and 8) has been the bedrock of this Democratic hegemony. Wards 4, 5, 7, and 8 are among the city’s “bluest,” containing the fewest Republicans and independents. With the exception of Ward 8 they encompass many of the city’s highestvoting precincts such as the much storied 110 in Hillcrest. In the 2002 general election victory over Republican Carol Schwartz, Anthony “Tony” Williams garnered 47.95 percent of his support from the District’s eastern wards (38,284 votes). In the 2006 general election Adrian F. Fenty collected 52.35 percent of his support from these precincts (55,933 votes). In 2010, with opponents writing Fenty’s name onto the ballot, favorite son Vincent C. Gray drew 60.73 percent of his total from the east (59,500 votes). On April Fool’s Day of this year Muriel Bowser drew only 23 percent of her support (9,650 votes) from Wards 5, 7, and 8. Ward 4 gave her 8,223 votes. Ward 3 awarded her the largest haul, 8,730 votes. Interestingly, Wards 3 and 4 together contributed 40.32 percent of her total support. If history repeats itself Democrats will flock to their standard-bearer in November’s general election. Therefore, Bowser should be able to increase her total take from the eastern wards. However, by the same token the historically low voter engagement demonstrated in the April Fool’s Day primary is likely to continue. So the pickings are likely to be slimmer than usual: somewhere between 25,000 and 28,000 additional votes. Two things stand in the path of an eastern expansion in Bowser’s support. First, many in these neighborhoods still consider “Fenty” a four-letter word. Bowser will have to convince this population that she is not “Fenty in a dress.”
Second, many of the possible additional voters cast ballots for Gray in spite of Machen’s corruption investigation. They are among his staunchest loyalists. Without a firm nod from the mayor these voters may join their peers to vote with their feet for Candidate None of the Above in November’s general election. Absent the typical strong eastern Democratic voting bloc, especially in Wards 5, 7, and 8, the election will be fought in Wards 3, 4, and 6. Perhaps a low-turnout western contest is precisely what Bowser wants. Such a scenario would enable her to effectively employ her proven ability to raise funds, her strong support from The Washington Post, and her well-tuned GOTV (Get Out The Vote) machine. Some clues to her strategy may be gleaned from her behavior since the election.
Radio Silence
Since making the victory rounds immediately after the election, Bowser has been uncharacteristically quiet. For example, from April 17 to 28 she went silent on Twitter. During this same period her campaign largely ceased its daily volley of press releases. It also refused to make her available for a recent interview with Washington Post columnist Emma Brown on the specifics of her education platform. The Washington Post reports that the campaign has declined to commit to schedule any debates with Catania before the August 6 deadline for the submission of nominating petitions. Bowser’s low profile and refusal to share a platform with Catania other than the council dais accomplishes three things. It reinforces the notion that the November general election is a ratification rather than a contest by treating it as a non issue. It denies her opponent any opportunity to further legitimize his candidacy by facing her as an equal on stage. Finally, her silence denies Catania any fodder for political attacks or policy disagreements. Keeping to the shadows for the next several months, Bowser can amass cash by courting former Gray contributors anxious to earn a place in the Democratic nominee’s good graces. If the recent primary is a predictor of her campaign style, Bowser will hoard her resources to the end. Then, in the weeks immediately preceding the election, she will conduct a blitzkrieg campaign of advertising and direct mail. This will be quickly followed by a well-orchestrated ground game designed to bring out her supporters. Bowser’s silence has removed much of the daily drama of a normal campaign, leaving Catania to box at shadows. u Midcity DC | May 2014 u 31
your neighborhood
+ The Numbers
Making Sure New School Funding Goes to All Students Who Need It
DC
’s school reform won’t be successful without dramatic improvements in test scores and graduation rates for the city’s low-income students. These children come to school with many challenges, but extra resources can help level the playing field at high-poverty schools – by supporting things like longer school days, more social workers, and access to extra-curricular activities that middle class children take for granted. High-poverty schools in the District get no special treatment in local education funding. But that will change next school year. Both Mayor Gray and the DC Council endorsed the idea of adding more resources to serve low-income students. And the mayor’s proposed budget for the 2014-15 school year adds more dollars to the city’s per pupil funding formula for students considered to be “at-risk.” Big questions remain, however, over whether these new investments will be used well and reach the DC students most in need.
Proposed Changes to the School Funding Formula for FY 2015
Both DC Public Schools (DCPS) and DC public charter schools get most of their resources from local funds, which are based on a per-pupil funding formula. The formula has a base level per student, and there are supplemental amounts for students with extra needs – such as special education and English language learners. Total funding for DCPS and each public charter school is calculated by multiplying the per-student funding amounts by the number of students in each category. 32 u midcitydcnews.com
by Soumya Bhat In recent years, the formula has not included a supplement for poor or at-risk students. But this year, an education “adequacy study” commissioned by Mayor Gray recommended, among other things, adding one-third to the base funding formula for each at-risk student. The DC Council also blessed the idea of a new supplemental weight for “at-risk” students, with legislation adopted late in 2013. The new supplement for at-risk students reflects nearly 37,000 students – including those who are homeless, in foster care, or eligible for food stamps or welfare benefits. Altogether, that is nearly half of the students in both DCPS and the public charter schools. This will mean lots of good things for many schools. But it’s also true that DCPS did not allocate these dollars to schools in a transparent way. And it appears that some schools with large concentrations of need will not see their share of the city’s enhanced educational investments next school year.
How DCPS Will Spend At-Risk Funds
Some of the initiatives DCPS says will be supported include new guidance counselors, staff for social and emotional supports, and additional instructional time through a longer school day at several low-performing schools. But the list also includes things that seem to have nothing to do with at-risk students or lowperforming schools. Chancellor Henderson called for new “Proving What’s Possible” student satisfaction grants, to support field trips or anti-bullying efforts, but these grants will go to all schools. DCPS says some of the new at-risk funds will go for special education, but those services should be
funded out of the special education component of the funding formula. Importantly, these initiatives will not guarantee that schools with a large number of at-risk students will get added help. About 73 percent of the city’s at-risk students are in high schools and elementary schools, yet the bulk of the at-risk dollars were focused on middle grades, including middle schools in low-poverty neighborhoods. In particular, high schools with significant atrisk populations, such as Anacostia High School, would see only minimal increases in local resources next year.
A Disappointing Lack of Transparency
The budget released by DCPS did not initially detail how the at-risk funds will be used next year. At the same time, the budgets for individual schools – which parent-teacher advisory teams are asked to review and approve – do not list the number of students deemed at-risk and do not identify how much at-risk funding they will receive. This makes it impossible for parents and other stakeholders to assess whether their school will receive a fair share of the new educational resources being provided next school year. This happened despite the fact that the Council’s legislation (the Fair Student Funding Act) required at-risk funding to follow the student, with 90 percent of these funds going directly to schools. The school budget is now in the hands of the DC Council. Funding should not be taken away from one school to give to another, but the Council should look for ways to create some equity for the schools that were left out by DCPS before the budget is finalized.
WIDE SHOE OUTLET Men’s and Women’s sizes up to 15 EE
Looking Forward
The 2014-15 school year budget only partially funds the at-risk weight recommended by the funding adequacy study. So there may be another round. That would give DCPS another chance to implement at-risk funding in a fairer and more inclusive way. DCPS could start its budget planning early next school year, and find ways to engage parents and experts in a dialogue over the best ways to spend at-risk funds. This should include plans for a fair allocation of funds – such as making sure that at-risk dollars match the number of at-risk students at each level – elementary school, middle school, high school,
or education campus. And it should include plans to make sure that information on the use of at-risk funds is clear and accessible to everyone. Having new resources to improve the educational outcomes of poor students is a great opportunity. Let’s hope the chancellor, mayor, and Council make the most of it. Bhat is an education policy analyst at the DC Fiscal Policy Institute. www.dcfpi.org, which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderate-income DC residents. u
Brands: Naturalizer • Soft Spots Ros Hommerson • Propet Walking Cradles • Easy Street Slingshots are Back
Marlow Heights Shopping Center 4123 Branch Ave. Marlow Heights, MD
301-702 1401 Free Gift With Ad Midcity DC | May 2014 u 33
your neighborhood
+ Bulletin Board
BULLETIN BOARD
Photo: Courtesy of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation
DC Outdoor Public Pools Open Memorial Day Weekend U Street Rooftop Club Opens
The Penthouse U Street location on the rooftop of VIDA Fitness, 1612 U St. NW, kicked off its 2014 pool season on May 1. The 12,000-square-foot member-only pool club and lounge features a highly stylized atmosphere that includes a 60-foot pool, private sun deck, ten private resort cabanas and one VIP cabana, communal fire pits and a membership lounge. The Penthouse Pool & Lounge is designed to look and feel like an urban oasis where guests and members can socialize and unwind in a sophisticated setting while appreciating panoramic capital views. At night the Penthouse mood is enhanced with glowing stone fire pits and changing colored lighting that illuminate the pool waters. For more information, visit penthouse34 u midcitydcnews.com
poolclub.com. For membership inquiries, email info@ penthousepoolclub.com or call 202-939-2577.
NoMa Parks Foundation To Create Spectacular Art Parks
The NoMa Parks Foundation announces an international design competition to transform four railroad underpasses in NoMa. The long hoped-for initiative will turn the underpasses at Florida Ave. and K, L and M Sts. NE, into stunning contemporary art installations, and further strengthen east-west connections in NoMa and to Capitol Hill. Qualifications are due May 9, 2014 and will be followed by a formal RFP issued to qualified entrants. Neighborhood residents could begin to see installation start as early as
DC Outdoor Public Pools Open will be open weekends only until school is out. On Thursday, June 18, pools will be open six days a week through summer. All outdoor pools are open weekends, noon-6 p.m. Weekday hours are 1-8 p.m. Every pool is closed one day a week for cleaning and maintenance. One pool will not open on Memorial Day Weekend. Barry Farm pool is still currently under renovations, and is scheduled to open mid-summer. All pools are free for DC residents. Have picture ID. Nearby outdoor pools are Francis Pool, 2435 N St. NW; East Potomac Pool, 972 Ohio Dr. SW; Randall Pool, S. Capitol and I sts. SW. dpr.dc.gov
2015. Details about the competition can be found at NoMaUnderpasses.org. The NoMa Parks Foundation seeks artists and designers who will envision bold, creative approaches to the underpasses. Finalists will receive stipends to refine their ideas prior to final selection. The selected artists/designers will be responsible for final design and oversight of installation. This design competition is the first project to be funded by the $50 million grant from the District of Columbia government to improve parks and public spaces in the NoMa neighborhood.
Immaculate Conception Church 150th Anniversary Block Party
On Saturday, May 17, noon-4 p.m., all are invited to come and enjoy free food and beverage, snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn, craft vendors, children’s activities, clowns, face painting, a puppet show, live music and live entertainment at Immaculate Conception Church at 8th and N Sts. NW on Mundell Way. Immaculate Conception Church has been serving the Shaw neighborhood since 1864. For more information, call 202-332-8888 or visit immaculateconceptionchurchdc.org.
Designing Dreams: 2014 Pitch Competition
In their first-ever Pitch Competition, one local DC organization or group with a socially or environmentally responsible initiative will receive $20,000 of professional design services from MakeDC to help “realize their dreams.” Pitch Night takes place on Saturday, May 17, from 5-8 p.m. (door open at 4:30 p.m.) at the District Architecture Center, 421 7th St. NW. Competition finalists will present their projects and needs to the jury in a Pecha Kucha-style format. Once all of the presentations have been made, the jury will deliberate and announce a winner that night. Pitch Night finalists are Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, the DC Youth Orchestra, the Anacostia BID, Kid Power, the Latin American Youth Center, Joseph’s House, and the Georgetown BID. Light fare and a cash bar will be part of the event. But this isn’t a private, closed-door gathering. They’re inviting the public to join them, meet the finalists, jurors, and the
MakeDC team, as well as participate in the competition. Everyone will have a voice toward the People’s Choice--giving the audience a full vote at the jury table. Tickets are $15. makedc.org
National Cathedral Evensong and Food Bank Volunteering
On Sunday, May 11, 4 p.m., join the Cathedral 20&30s Group for Evensong/Evensocial. A fellowship reception follows in Sayre House. Every month young adults and young professionals (or those who just feel young at heart) gather for the Cathedral‘s Sunday service of Choral Evensong followed by a time of fellowship. For additional information and questions about the Cathedral 20s&30s Evensong and Evensocial, please e-mail 20sand30s@cathedralcongregation.org. On Saturday, May 24, 9 a.m., join 20s&30s members for a morning of community service at the Capital Area Food Bank and assist with the sorting and packing of food. The food bank is at 4900 Puerto Rico Ave. NE, near Fort Totten/Catholic University. RSVP to Ryan Zalaskus at 20sand30s@ cathedralcongregation.org and advise if you need a ride. (The location is Metro accessible, but driving is suggested). nationalcathedral.org
Dress for Success Women’s Clothing Drive
Between May 15-28, drop off interview-appropriate suits and related separates, solid color blouses, coats, shoes suitable for the workplace, unopened hosiery, tote bags and unopened cosmetics at the Embassy Row Hotel, 2015 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Dress for Success Washington, DC promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. The non-profit organization is designed to assist clients to find jobs and remain employed. Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when a job interview has been scheduled, and can return for a second suit or separates when a new job is started. Since 1997, Dress for Success has served more than 700,000 women around the world.
Nortons Small Business Fair: Access to Capital
The fair is on Thursday, June 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the DC Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Pl. NW. Free for DC residents and businesses only. Participants must pre-register by May 23. norton.house.gov
New Group to Support DC Archives
At a recent meeting in historic Ben’s Chili Bowl on U St. NW, a group of individuals interested in DC government and history came together to form the Friends of the District of Columbia Archives (FDCA). The attendees shared a deep concern that the physical and digital records of the Nation’s Capital are at risk due to the poor physical conditions at the DC Archives and District-wide inattention to record-keeping. The FDCA agreed to three immediate goals: Bring public attention and support for the DC Archives though activism in the District government and with the general public; offer direct support the $44 million the District Government committed last year for a new Archives, including for more funding if needed to create a world-class facility; and potlight the Archives’ treasures, the dangers posed by current conditions, and the importance of saving the digital records of the city government. For more information, contact Bill Rice at 202-4377787 or ricebill@aol.com.
Art Enables Second Saturday Free Arts Workshop
All are welcome to attend a free community art workshop on the 2nd Saturday of every month, 1-4 p.m., at Art Enables, 2204 Rhode Island Ave. NE. All materials are provided. Art Enables is a studio and gallery for emerging artists with developmental disabilities. Reach them at 202-554-9455. Read more about Art Enables at art-enables.org.
La gran gala de GALA, 2014 Noche de Estrellas
On Tuesday, May 13, 6:30 pm, GALA Hispanic Theatre will host its annual Noche de Estrellas benefit event honoring arts, community, and philanthropic leaders from the Washington region and celebrating GALA’s rich artistic vision and youth Midcity DC | May 2014 u 35
your neighborhood
+ Bulletin Board
Adams Morgan Summer Concert Series
Photo: Kristen Barden
education programs. The 2014 honorees are: Michael Kappaz (posthumous) for Arts & Business; Malan S. Strong for Philanthropy; and QuinTango for Artistic Excellence. Proceeds from the event will support GALA’s Paso Nuevo program, a year-round arts and academic enrichment program for at-risk Latino teens in the District of Columbia that was recognized with a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award bestowed by First Lady Michelle Obama. Paso Nuevo students recently served as Youth Ambassadors to Latin America through a program with Partners for the Americas and the Department of State. In addition to the Honoree Awards, Noche de Estrellas will also feature performances by mesmerizing QuinTango artists, internationally acclaimed soprano Elisa Córdova, and the talented performance artist/ youth instructor Alina Collins Maldonado and Paso Nuevo students. Their silent and live auctions will offer up spectacular trips and exotic vacation packages. Tickets are $150 per person, and $275 per couple. For more information about the event or sponsorship opportunities, call 202-234-7174, e-mail development@ galatheatre.org or visit galatheatre.org. 36 u midcitydcnews.com
The free Annual Adams Morgan Summer Concert Series is back! They showcase local artists on Saturdays from 5-7 p.m. at the corner of Columbia and 18th NW on the plaza in front of BB&T Bank. Their lineup has something for everyone whether it’s Brazilian jazz, bluegrass or rock-n-roll. Back by popular demand--HULA HOOPS. They will have a dozen hula hoops each Saturday for adults and kids of all ages to shake your groove thang! They will have a limited number of chairs for audience members. Please feel free to bring your own beach chair. In the event of rain, the concert will be canceled for that day. Due to the nature of the series, there will not be a rain date. Here’s the lineup: Rochelle Rice, May 17; Jelly Roll Mortals, May 31; Batida Diferente, June 7; Clarence Buffalo, June 21; and Colonel Josh and the Honky Tonk Heroes, June 28.
Morrison Clark Inn Expansion and Restoration
Forrester Construction Company has been working on the addition to the Morrison-Clark Inn, 1015 L St. NW. Originally built in 1864 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Victorian era hotel is being expanded by 43,000 square feet, incorporating neighboring historic structures into the overall design. The new addition to the inn has required preservation of a 1700s carriage house, one of the oldest buildings in Washington, DC, keeping the exterior intact while completely renovating the interior. The hotel addition will be six stories with 56 guest rooms featuring high-end finishes, a central courtyard connecting the buildings and an expansion of the below grade parking garage. The expansion buildings are due to open set mid-Sept. The restoration of the existing buildings will be ongoing, likely through the end of 2014.
Nighttime Lane Closures on Florida Avenue NW
DDOT is conducting a milling and paving operation on Florida Ave. NW, between Georgia Ave. and
No. Capitol St. This project requires daily nighttime lane closures on Florida Ave. NW in this corridor from 7:30 p.m.-5 a.m., which will last through midMay. Initially, at least one lane of traffic will be maintained throughout the construction area. Access to the adjacent businesses and houses will be maintained. Curbside parking is restricted during construction hours. “No Parking” signs will be posted 72 hours prior to the commencement of construction. Temporary signs and traffic control measures are in place to alert and guide the traveling public through the work zone. DDOT encourages all motorists to stay alert. For additional information, contact Project Manager Delante Toyer at 202-391-8236.
Make an LGBTQ Pride Button at Northwest One Library
For the first two weeks of June, drop by Northwest One Neighborhood Library and tell them what makes you proud to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, or an ally and get a button to show off your Pride. Get one early enough and you can wear it during Capital Pride week! All ages welcome. Northwest One Neighborhood Library, 155 L St. NW. 202-939-5946. dclibrary.org/northwest
CROP Hunger Walk and Food Drive
The Annual District of Columbia CROP Hunger Walk and Food Drive to be held on May 17, 11 a.m., at Franklin Square Park, 950 13th St. NW, with the closing ceremony to follow at Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. This year’s DC CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk encourages walkers to “start where they are,” wherever they are in the District and meet up with neighbors at Franklin Square Park at 11 a.m. to raise money and food for local feeding programs. Walkers should register online at cropwalk.org to start raising money now, and bring canned goods the day of the walk. This year’s beneficiaries are DC Hunger Solutions and Capital Area Food Bank. Canned goods will be donated to the Capital Food Bank.
Save the Bees
It’s finally spring and beekeepers are at least as happy as you are about that. The weird weather has
created a situation where, now that it is warm, that survivor bees in the wild are likely to build up quickly and swarm. If you see a swarm of bees, or even think you might, call 202-255-4318 or email dcbees at dcbeekeepers.org. They can get an experienced beekeeper to help you out. Insecticides truly will not take care of your situation, but they can. Beekeepers are fighting climate, pesticides, pests, habitat loss, pollution and lots of the things that challenge human health, also. Honeybees are under extreme threat, and swarms represent the unique populations that have not only figured out how to survive pests, pesticides, and climate change, but thrive. Beekeepers can grab those bees, give them safe homes somewhere else, and help ensure a healthier future where honeybees can continue to make our food supply and green spaces grow.
New Traffic Patterns on 900 Block of L St. and 1000 Block of 10th St. NW
There are new traffic patterns on the 900 block of L St. NW and the 1000 block of 10th St. NW. On L St. NW between 9th and 10th, the direction of traffic was changed from a one-way operation to a two-way operation. On 10th St. NW between Massachusetts Ave. and L St., the direction of traffic was also changed from a one-way operation to a twoway operation. Variable message signs are in place to guide travelers in the corridor around the new traffic pattern. For more questions about these changes, contact Community Development Advisor James W. Harper III at Jharper@henselphelps. com or 202-717-8420. u Midcity DC | May 2014 u 37
your neighborhood
Logan Circles article and photos by Mark F. Johnson
The Day U Street Got Funky
If you missed it, it could mean you’re just not cool! DC held its first annual Funk Parade the first Saturday of the month and, given that it was a beautiful day, tons of folks came out to dance and party to the sound of the funky beat! There was a fair from noon till 5 p.m. with music and dance performances, art and workshops in an area along U Street from 9th to 16th. The parade itself which stretched from Vermont Ave to 14th and U included the marching band from Ballou High School, lasting about two hours. But the party didn’t stop then. Afterwards came the music festival which lasted till after dark at various U/14 clubs including U Street Music Hall, Busboys and Poets and Patty Boom
Boom. The neighborhood has never seen anything like the Funk Parade before and certainly not since the days, back in the 60s and 70s when DC was a major stop for Funkadelic bands, like Parliament. Organizers hope to roll out the funk on an annual basis and it is important to note that they got a lot of support from local businesses who just want to bring a little funk and flavor back to these Midcity streets!
14th and U Farmers Market Returns
April showers bring May hours, for the annual 14th and U Farmers Market, that is. No doubt that all the recent rain has been helpful to local vegetable and fruit growers, many of whom sell their bounty at local farmers markets that have popped up all over the city in recent years. One of the oldest and most popular of these markets that sell locally produced items, including baked goods and plants, is the 14th and U market that resurfaced the first weekend in May and tra-
Scenes from the First Annual Funk Parade 38 u midcitydcnews.com
ditionally goes right up to Thanksgiving. The market sets up every Saturday morning on the northwest corner of 14th and U in front of the Reeves Building. Of course, these days there are so many more places to buy fresh produce than when the market was first established, including the brand spanking new Trader Joes which just opened directly across the street. But for those who like to support small independent local businesses there really are few alternatives.
Room and Board Raises the Roof and Attendees Raise the Umbrella
To say that popular furniture store Room and Board had a splash recently would be one way to put it! The three level store, located at the corner of 14th and T Streets, “raised the roof ” the last day of April, a day of the heaviest rain in a spate of rainy days. The title of the party held to showcase the new outdoor collection was “Raise the Roof ” but of course on such a rainy day that wasn’t really a good idea. However, the rain didn’t keep folks from enjoying the inside of the massive space and the drinks and snacks provided.
West Elm Raises the Furniture Store Stakes
West Elm is moving into the neighborhood just about two blocks south. The West Elm chain is taking a space in a building that is under construction in the 1700-block of 14th Street. The multi-story building offers at least two floors of retail space as well as floors for offices. West Elm, which lived a short life downtown in the old Woodward & Lothrop department store building on G between 10th and 11th NW, also has a location in Georgetown. No word on whether the Georgetown location will stay in business once the 14th Street store swings its doors open. Right now the building is currently under construction and has a ways to go before completion.
Millennium to close after Years on U Street?
Word is that Millennium, the small basement-level shop that sells Mid Century Modern on U near 16th Street may be closing soon due to lease non-renewal. The store, which sells mid-century modern furniture, lighting and art pieces, often consigned, has been in the area since the 1990s and had enjoyed a twenty year lease on its space, according to sources. If Millennium closes or moves, it will be the fourth vintage furniture store that U/14 loses in the past three years. Ruff and Ready, Hunted House, and most recently Foundry which was in the same block on U, have all relocated to other parts of town. According to what we hear, Millennium isn’t looking to relocate. u
Bloomingdale Bites by Jazzy Wright
Tree Carver Nabbed
In late April DC police arrested a suspect who may be responsible for carving crop circles into hundreds of street trees in the Shaw and Bloomingdale neighborhoods. The perpetrator, Jose Villacorta, used a brick to carve circles into the trunks of more than 750 oak, sycamore, cherry, and ginkgo trees in the area. The suspect wounded and damaged the bark of the trees, making them vulnerable to disease, pollution, and insects. A forest of damaged trees stretches from the northern tip of 2nd and W streets to 5th and M streets NW. The tree damage spreads east from 9th Street to North Capitol Street. According to a police report, officers caught Villacorta, 46, in March damaging sidewalk trees on the southwest corner of 9th and P streets NW. When police arrested Villacorta and charged him with destruction of property, he falsely told police that his name was Bonerje Hernandez. Weeks after being arrested, Villacorta failed to appear in court for a hearing at the DC Superior Court, and the city subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest. On April 26, 2014, police caught Villacorta in the Logan Circle area and arrested him a second time for failing to appear in court. How should the community prevent crimes of this magnitude from happening? “Be aware of your surroundings, and if you see something say something by calling 911,” said police spokesman Hugh Carew.
Bloomingdale Home Prices Skyrocket
Bloomingdale homes can’t sell fast enough, according to new real estate data released by RealEstate Business Intelligence. According to the market research agency, total home sales have increased 80 percent in the past year, jumping from $4.6 million to $8.4 million. Bloomingdale is such a hot place to live that home prices have increased 20 percent over the past year. In the just the first quarter of the year 15 condos and houses were sold in the area. “Buyer demand is high in Bloomingdale,” said Suzanne Des Marais, the president-elect of
Smallest tree victim. Photo: DC Urban Forestry Administration Most egregious example of tree vandalism. Photo: DC Urban Forestry Administration
the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors and an associate broker with the 10 Square Team at Keller Williams Capital Properties. Des Marais has sold homes in the neighborhood since 2001. “Whereas 10 years ago people looked in Bloomingdale because they could get more space for their dollars, with the recent increase in commercial development Bloomingdale has become a destination of choice for many buyers.” As a realtor who lives and sells property in the neighborhood, Des Marais has witnessed the area’s dramatic transformation first-hand. “When I started listing houses in the area, and even for many years after, I would deliberately advertise them as being in LeDroit Park because it was a more recognizable name,” she said. “Many real estate agents at that time were unfamiliar with the area. Bloomingdale has become a specific destination for many buyers. We also get a lot of traffic at our Bloomingdale open houses from people who currently rent or own condos in the neighborhood and want to stay and buy or buy larger.” Des Marais said that a variety of factors are responsible for the increase in demand for Bloomingdale property. The demand is driven first by “the architectural stock, which is primarily late 1800s/early 1900s solid brick construction, much of it classic Victorian bayfront. A second factor is that “many of the homes in the neighborhood have income-producing English basement apartments or the potential for such, which somewhat offsets the rising prices.” As a third factor she cited “commercial development, which includes a great local coffee place, several sit-down restaurants, a yoga studio, an awesome farmer’s market, and access to transportation options such as Bikeshare.” She adds that Metro is “about a ten minute walk, and there are several bus lines.” Sales figures for Bloomingdale are projected to increase as potential sellers thaw out of this year’s defiant winter cold. Home inventory in the area will increase, predicted Des Marais, once the weather gets a bit warmer. u
Midcity DC | April 2014 u 39
your neighborhood
Shaw Streets
Shaw Wins in Best of DC 2014
article and photos by Pleasant Mann
on Outside while also wining the nod for Best Mural for its portrait of Elizabeth Taylor by Byron Peck. Shaw winners in the more unusual categories were A&D Bar for Best Place to Drink Classy and Eat Trashy, and Flash with the Best Dancefloor for not Dancing. Two additional businesses coming to the 7th Street corridor in Shaw, Beau Thai (Best Thai Restaurant) and SiTea (Best Tea Shop), also won top honors in the City Paper poll. In addition Shaw businesses and locales were declared runners-up in 34 other categories, including Shaw itself coming in as runner-up for Best Neighborhood. See the complete list of winners on Shaw Main Streets’ Facebook page www.facebook.com/shawmainstreets).
If you’ve wondered whether Shaw is a major commercial destination in the District, wonder no more. The Washington City Paper has Shaw businesses and venues winning 22 categories in its readerdriven poll to determine the “Best of DC.” Nellie’s Sports Bar won in three categories as Best Neighborhood Sports Bar, Best Gay Bar/Club, and for having the Best Drag Show in DC. Among the other Shaw winners were Right Proper Brewing Company (Best New Bar), Pekoe Acupuncture & Wellness (Best Med Spa), Wagtime (Best Pet Spa), BicycleSPACE (Best Place to Get Your Bicycle Fixed), and 9:30 Club (Best Music Venue). Among the purveyors of alcohol The Passenger won for Best Old-Fashioned, while the Satellite Room came in first for Best Shaolin-Themed Cocktails. Eat the Rich had the Best Brunch Dish. Dacha Beer Garden was declared the Sherman Outhuok of Thally Restaurant accepts the award Best Place to Get your Buzz for Best New Shaw Business.
Shaw Fills Up
What remains of commercial space in Shaw continues to be taken up. Beau Thai, the best Thai restaurant in DC, just signed a lease for space in Jefferson Marketplace
on the west side of the 1500 block of 7th Street. It plans to move and expand its operation, currently at New Jersey Avenue and R Street, to the Jefferson in the fall. At Progression Place (1800 block of 7th Street) the Uprising Muffin Company has opened its seven-day-a-week, freshly baked muffin and coffee operation. Next door Fishnet, known for its build-your-own fish sandwich offerings, plans to open its new Shaw venue at the beginning of May. Also in May, Dino’s Grotto, led by Dean Gold, formerly of Dino’s in Cleveland Park, will be opening its new Shaw location at 1914 9th St. NW. Finally Saied Azali and Chef Cedric Maupillier, the team behind the celebrated Mintwood Place restaurant, have just announced the signing of a lease to put a new restaurant at City Market at O. The as yet unnamed restaurant will be located at 801 O St. NW and should open in 2015.
Shaw Main Streets Annual Meeting
Shaw Main Streets held its annual meeting on April 29 at the Rooftop Lounge of the soon-to becompleted west building of the City Market at O
Shaw Main Streets Gala by Pleasant Mann
O
n April 16 Shaw Main Streets, celebrating a decade of achievement in commercial revitalization, held its annual fundraising gala at the Long Gala honorees with Shaw Main Streets board chair and execuView Gallery on 9th Street NW. The gala theme this year tive director. Photo: Pleasant Mann was “A Toast to Shaw,” with 11 local businesses offering their signature cocktails and alcoholic beverages. The host committee for the gala consisted of Ward 6 Council candidate Charles Allen and Theresa DuBois of Events DC. Photo: All Souls Bar, Baby Wale, Beau Thai, Bistro Bohem, Dacha, Eat the Rich, La Colombe, MockPleasant Mann ingbird Hill, Right Proper Brewery, Southern Efficiency, and Thally. The gala also saw the presentation of significant awards from Shaw Main Streets to community leaders. Mayor Vincent Gray received a Shaw Champion award for his budgetary support of the city’s Main Streets programs and major investments in the neighborhood such as the Convention Center hotel and the City Market at O project. Tim Mack, a former board chair of Shaw Main Streets, also got a Shaw Champion award for his guidance of the organization through its early years. Retiring Shaw Main Streets board member Yeshimebet T. “Tutu” Belay, owner of the Ethiopian Yellow Pages, was declared a Shaw Star for her work in representing the interests of the Ethiopian-American business community. u Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and constituents. Photo: Pleasant Mann
40 u midcitydcnews.com
complex. In welcoming the community to the roof, Roadside Development principal Richard Lake noted that 105 units of the City Market at O apartments are already leased. At the Hodge at Seventh, a building devoted to affordable housing for seniors, about 50 percent of the units have been claimed. Starting the meeting, Alexander Padro, the executive director of Shaw Main Streets, said that the theme of the night would be “What a difference 11 years makes.” Starting with a slide that
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compared a photo of the O Street Market after it lost its roof in 2003 with a current one showing its status as part of City Market at O, Padro reviewed the notable Shaw Main Streets activities over the past year. Then he announced the organization’s major initiatives for 2014. First off, Shaw Main Streets this year will install banners along the 7th and 9th Street business corridors with the theme the “Legends of Shaw.” Each banner will have the portrait of a notable personage from Shaw’s history, figures such as Duke Ellington, Carter G. Woodson, and Helen Hayes. There will be 13 legends altogether, along with three thematic banners and a brochure profiling the legends. Shaw Main Streets will also issue an updated dining and entertainment guide for Shaw and will repeat major events such as the “Art All Night” festival held last fall. Padro estimated that at least 20 new businesses planned to open in Shaw during 2014. Then the meeting moved to the announcement of the Best New Businesses in Shaw in 2013, as determined by votes from the community. Thally restaurant won the title of Best New Business, while Reformation Fitness came in as first runner-up, with Pekoe Acupuncture & Wellness garnering second runner-up. The meeting ended with the election of new members of the Shaw Main Streets board of directors. Annual meeting attendees unanimously approved the slate of Buwa Binitie, Andrea C. Gourdine, Mary M. Porterfield, Henok Tesfaye, and new board member Ali Kianersi of Columbo Bank. u
ANC 6E by Steve Holton
Tunnel Vision
Representatives from the DC Water and Sewer Authority were on hand to give a presentation on the Northeast Boundary Tunnel and the future impact it may have on the community. The purpose of the tunnel will be to protect surrounding Northeast neighborhoods from flooding after heavy storms. The project calls for a pipe 100 feet underground and 23 feet in diameter for rain water when it collects in the sewer. The water will then be pumped into a facility where it is treated before it is released into the Anacostia River. The current design allows rain water combined with raw sewage to be pumped into the river before treatment. Currently work is underway in the neighborhood area of Ledroit Park and by 2016 there will be a capacity to store 12 million gallons of water. The final stage of this project will be to bring the Northeast area up to par by constructing the Northeast Boundary Tunnel. Due to other area projects currently underway, Northeast area construction is not expected to start until 2017 and could be completed by March of 2022. The project will be mostly constructed underground, hardly visible to residents. Flooding in the Northeast area has been a long-standing problem and the current sewer, which is not big enough to handle large storms, has caused water back-ups in the past. When the Northeast portion is completed, combined sewage and rain overflows being dumped into the Anacostia River will be reduced from 2.1billion to 54 million gallons a year which is an overall reduction of 98 percent. The specific construction zone area of Rhode Island Ave NW will be at the intersections of R and 6th St. NW which is also known as the Cooper Park area. It is in a city contract that developers have to restore the park into its original form upon completion of the tunnel. The board motioned to send a letter to DC Water and Sewer Authority and DDOT to outline community concerns of the project which will include sound ordinance and tracking of traffic concerns. Visit www.dcwater.com to view a power point presentation of the project.
Cambria Suites Set To Open
The Cambria Suites Hotel, set to open in early May, appeared before the board to make a request for a Permanent Retailer’s Class C Hotel License which will permit them to sell alcohol in the lounge area of the hotel. The hotel will be at the corner of 9th and O St. NW and will have 182 rooms for guests. “The lounge area will be on the second floor and is intended for guests, but we welcome area residents to visit and make a purchase,” said Steve O’Brien who serves as the hotel’s legal council. Outdoor seating in the property’s Summer Garden will cease at 11:00 p.m. every evening to alleviate noise con-
cerns. Cambria Suites has also made a discount available for Shaw residents who would like to provide a room for visiting guests. The hotel still has a handful of open positions available and they can be viewed by visiting www.concordhotels.com and doing a search for DC job listings. The board passed a motion to support the Class C License.
Possible Cafe Addition On P St. NW
A representative from Maggot Funk, LLC appeared before the board to make a Request for Zoning Relief to Allow Nonconforming Restaurant Use. The unit located at 621 P St. NW has traditionally been used as office space but is now looking to change to a neighborhood cafe. The applicants have received support from the community and believe the location is ideal for a neighborhood cafe. The board supported the request.
Residential Parking
Last year ANC 6E04 Commissioner Rachelle Nigro sent a survey to area constituents to have parking available only to residents on one side of the street in four of her district blocks. Nigro collected signatures from citizens of the 200 block of N St., 300 block M St., 1100 block of 5th St. and Kirby St. NW supporting the request and submitted it to the city. Over the course of a year the city managed to create “Residential Parking Only” signs for the designated areas but recently put the request on hold. Nigro requested and passed a motion to send a letter to the city.
Other Topics •
Dacha Beer Garden located at 1600 7th St. NW requested support from the board before it goes before the Alcohol Licensing Committee to allow the establishment to remove restrictions on when it opens, equate holiday closing hours to weekend closing hours and consider allowing amplified music and entertainment on the patio. The board supported removal of restrictions on opening hours and closing hours during the holidays but did not support the request for amplified entertainment. • The board supported a Request for Support for Public Space Permit for Unenclosed Sidewalk Cafe by the Hampton Inn located at 901 6th St. NW. • The ANC 6E board will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on May 6 at the Northwest One Library which is located at 155 L St. NW. Visit www.anc6e.org to view the ANC 6E newsletter. Follow on Twitter, @ANC6E, and Facebook by searching ANC6E. u Midcity DC | April 2014 u 41
kids and family
+ Notebook
n Donner
by Kathlee
NOTEBOOK President’s Park Celebrates Opening of TRACK Trail
On Apr.26, The National Park Service and Kids in Parks program celebrated the grand opening of a new TRACK trail at President’s Park. The TRACK Trail program encourages youth to get outside and explore President’s Park. A booklet helps kids and their families go on a “scavenger hunt,” discover the treasures within the park and then log their hike to earn free prizes. Visit the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion near the intersection of 15th and E Sts. NW. For more information on Kids in Parks and TRACK Trails, visit kidsinparks.com/trails.
Play Golf America Family Festival at East Potomac Golf Course
On May 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the largest public golf festival in DC is back with free lessons, contests, retail specials, prize drawings and equipment demos by leading manufacturers. There will be a food and beverage tent located near the putting and the driving range. Free lessons include PGA 10-minute lessons held on the left side of the lower level of the driving range; full swing clinic at the grass tee driving range for all skill levels; short game clinic on the putting green in front of the driving range; and a junior clinic hosted by The First Tee of Washington, DC located on Practice Hole #3. The contests include a mini-golf challenge, beat the pro challenge and a hole-in-one shootout. golfdc.com/-play-golf-america-day
Jazz Family Day and Performance by the Jazz Academy of Music at the National Archives
On Saturday, June 7, noon–2 p.m., get ready to get in the groove with the Jazz Academy of Music! Bring your family to enjoy an afternoon of jazz including a performance by an ensemble from the academy. Learn what jazz has to do with the National Archives, meet the youth musicians, visit an instrument petting zoo, and try other hands-on activities. The noon performance in the McGowan Theater is followed by activities in the Learning Center. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Ave. at 7th St. NW. 202-357-5000. archives.gov
Is That Shuttle Smiling? Space Shuttle Toys at Air and Space
On Wednesday, May 21, noon, Ask an Expert Series presenter Dr. Margaret Weitekamp talks about Space Shuttle toys at the National Air and Space Museum on the Mall. The Ask An Expert lecture series at the National Mall building is presented every Wednesday at noon. A Museum staff member talks to the public about the history, collection, or personalities related to a specific artifact or exhibition in the Museum. airandspace.si.edu
Summer Reading Kickoff Party at Northwest One Library
On Thursday, June 5, 5 p.m., start your summer off right at Northwest One’s Summer Reading Kickoff Party. You can learn about this year’s Summer Reading theme: Spark a Reaction! Learn about the brand new format of this year’s DC Public Library Summer Reading program-badges! Sign up for the DC Public Library Summer Reading program and get a small sign-up prize! Play an ex42 u midcitydcnews.com
Photo: Kevin Allen Photography
LEGO Build at the National Building Museum
On June 1, 2-4 p.m., join the museum and staff from Play-Well Teknologies for an exciting LEGO Build as you discover how to make strong, tall towers. Design buildings that you think should be added to our nation’s capital. Cost per child is $25. Purchase tickets online. The program is for ages ages 6, up. Prepaid registration is required. Tickets must be purchased by the end of the day Thursday, May 29. Adults are free but must be accompanied by a child. The National Building Museum is at 401 F St. NW. 202-272-2448. nbm.org citing new Wii game as part of their Wii Game Night! And don’t forget, it’s a party, which means there will be tasty snacks. Ages 6-18 welcome. Northwest One Neighborhood Library, 155 L St. NW. 202-939-5946. dclibrary.org/northwest
Smithsonian Sleepovers at the Natural History Museum
On Saturdays, June 21 and 28; July 12; and Aug. 1, 8, 15 and 22; go on an interactive exploration of the museum, participate in hands-on crafts projects, and view an IMAX film. Then roll out your sleeping bag and dream away in the darkened halls of one of the world’s most famous museums! For ages 8-12. $135 per per-
son for non-Smithsonian members. This is a telephone registration only event because the program requires them to collect extra information about the participants. Call to register at 202-633-3030, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. These sleepovers sell out quickly. smithsonianassociates.org
Rineke Dijkstra’s ‘The Krazyhouse’ at the Corcoran
This spring, the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design presents Rineke Dikstra: The Krazyhouse, a spectacular fourchannel video installation and a series of large-format photographs. The exhibition will remain on view through June 15, 2014. Created in
Midcity DC | May 2014 u 43
Photo: M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County
Dinosaur Park Open Houses
Dinosaur Park is a 41-acre park in Laurel, MD, featuring a rare deposit of fossils from the Cretaceous Period (144 to 65 million years ago). On the first and third Saturdays of the month, noon-4 p.m., you’re invited to join paleontologists and volunteers on-site to interpret fossil deposits. Programs start every twenty minutes, are free and appropriate for all ages. Dinosaur Park is on the 13200 block of Mid-Atlantic Blvd. in Laurel. The fenced-in fossil area is only accessible during Open Houses and special events, but the interpretive garden is open every day from dawn to dusk. Admission is free. Dinosaur Park preserves one of the most important dinosaur fossil sites east of the Mississippi River. Visitors can explore a garden of Cretaceous-era plants and view interpretive signs which describe Maryland’s dinosaurs, the prehistoric environment, and the African American history of the area. history.pgparks.com 2009 at a popular dance club in Liverpool, Dijkstra’s video installation The Krazyhouse (Megan, Simon, Nicky, Philip, Dee), Liverpool, UK, presents in sequence a group of five young people in their teens and early twenties dancing and sometimes lipsyncing along to popular tunes they selected themselves. Dijkstra met her subjects at the club and invited them to dance in a white box studio she had built on one of the dance floors. They perform for Dijkstra’s camera while a DJ plays live mixes of their selections and friends watch. The Krazyhouse is a recent acquisition to the Corcoran’s renowned collection of photography and new media. Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW. 202-639-1700. corcoran.org
Teens DIY Rubber Band Bracelets
On Thursday, May 29, 4 p.m., make your very own rubber band loom 44 u midcitydcnews.com
bracelets. Basic instructions and supplies will be provided. Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library, 1630 7th St. NW. 202-727-1288. dclibrary.org/watha
ImaginAsia: Cranes and Clouds at the Sackler
On May 10, 11, 17 and 18, at 2 p.m., explore the intricate inlays of cranes, clouds, fruit, and flowers on Korean celadon ceramics. In the classroom, use gold and silver inks to print a folding fan with Korean inlay designs to take home. ImaginAsia programs are for ages 8-14 and their adult companions. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Programs begin promptly at 2 pm with introductions and a question-andanswer session. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. 202-633-4880. asia.si.edu
Mozart’s Magificent Voyage
In this concert from Classical Kids
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(Re)Searching an American Slave Ship
This program, which is appropriate for all ages, will highlight the history and people that lived the experience of the Middle Passage and explore the research that the Smithsonian is currently doing in recovering these stories. Visitors will interact with facilitators in a hands-on environment of early 19th century American maritime material culture—specifically, the material culture that helped anti-slavers identify slave carrying ships—and connect this with the stories of those people who would have lived this experience. Additionally, it will showcase the research that curators at the museum are doing, connecting the stories and tactics used by 19th century anti-slavers to the very similar methods employed by Smithsonian researchers to find slave ships today. Go to the “On the Water” exhibition at noon or 2 p.m. on May 13, 15, 16, 20, 22, or 23 at the National Museum of American History, 14th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. americanhistory.si.edu
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LIMITED SPACE SIGN UP NOW! markturgeonbasketballcamp.com Phone: 301-314-7029 Fax: 301-314-9092 46 u midcitydcnews.com
Live! conducted by Ankush Kumar Bahl, Mozart’s young son Karl longs to leave boarding school and spend more time with his famous father. When he stumbles upon a magic traveling trunk, his wish comes unexpectedly true as he’s swept back in time to Mozart’s childhood! For ages 5, up. Come early for the Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo,” a project of the Women’s Committee for the NSO. Immediately following the 3 p.m. performance, meet concert artists for a free Kids’ Chat. Sunday, June 1, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Tickets from $15. Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. 202-416-8000. kennedy-center.org
As every family with youngsters in the DC area knows, Rocknoceros (pronounced like rhinoceros) is three guys: Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie. They have been making award-winning music for the whole family since 2005. The three Rocknoceros bandmates “grew up” (if they ever did) in Northern Virginia. Boogie and Coach, best friends since they were four years old, remember endlessly spinning Beatles records in Boogie’s suburban bedroom while “waiting for Williebob” who appeared on the scene in high school. The three have been making music ever since, although it wasn’t until 20 years later in 2005, when Coach Cotton was raising young’uns of his own, that the inspiration for Rocknoceros finally crystallized. Rocknoceros has since dominated the Washington, DC children’s music scene and gained significant national recognition with performances at Lollapalooza, Austin City
Limits, Wolf Trap, and The Kennedy Center. $10 (everyone 1 year and older). Rocknoceros perform at Ebenezers Coffeehouse on Saturday, May 17, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Ebenezers Coffeehouse is at 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com
Marine Jazz Orchestra Young People’s Concert May 11
The Sunday, May 11, 2 p.m., concert features a musical trip through the evolution of American jazz and a collection of some of the most beloved songs from the classic TV series “Schoolhouse Rock!” in brand new versions for jazz orchestra. The concert is at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center. 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA. 703845-6156. schlesingercenter.com
$1 Hot Dogs and Kids’ Socks Giveaway at Nat’s Park
On May 19, 7:05 p.m., at the Washington Nationals vs. Cincinnati Reds game, $1 hot dogs will be available for purchase at select Nats Dogs stands until the start of the 6th inning, while supplies last. On June 1, 1:35 p.m., at the Washington Nationals vs. Texas Rangers game, kids’ socks will be given to the first 10,000 fans, 12 years and under. washington. nationals.mlb.com
The Washington Ballet:Who Cares? & Green Eggs and Ham
Set to the music of George Gershwin, this exuberant ballet captures the best of Broadway! This captivating ballet performed by The Washington Ballet Studio Company in the intimate THEARC Theater, will delight audiences of all ages. Performances are on Saturday May 17 and Sunday, May 18, 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (both days) at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. Adult tickets are $50; children’s tickets are $35. Get the EOR discount if you reside in Ward 7 or 8 and pay only $15. 202-889-5901. thearcdc.org
Learn the Address
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, documentarian Ken Burns, along with numerous partners, has launched a national effort to encourage everyone in America to video record themselves reading or reciting the Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech. Visit learntheaddress.org and learn how to participate and “Share Your Gettysburg Address” by following three simple steps. Your video will be included among presidents, politicians, entertainers, journalists, and hundreds of others who have taken the challenge to LEARN THE ADDRESS. u
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+ Garden Fairy
The Garden Fairy
T
he Edgewood Recreation Center and community garden were vandalized by a group that calls itself Dreams Never Die (DND), “don’t chase liquor, chase dreams.” DND was established by Howard University students but it is not affiliated or supported by Howard University. The Edgewood Community Garden’s (sponsored by the Friends of Edgewood Recreation Center, Inc.) volunteers gathered on April 12th to plant seedlings and seeds in 8 beds. That evening, DND had an illegal party (DPR was not notified in advance, nor were the police) in the area surrounding the rec center and specifically, where the garden beds are located. In the wake of the party, copious amounts of broken glass, plastic cups, condoms, and baggies were found. I believe this was an act that was not consciously malicious. However, damage was done. The following day, the Friends of Edgewood Recreation Center, Inc. emailed the Department of Parks and Rec, which also included another Edgewood community organization, Boston Academy, to alert them to DND’s party. Boston Academy responded to the email and tried to downplay the destruction by saying, “Well, we were all young once.” This is where it gets really chaotic. Everyone has a role in this. I think Howard University does because of their indirect relationship with DND. So does the Police Department for allowing a party to happen without the proper permits, and I think Boston Academy has played a part in dismissing the party as harmless. Boston Academy received $1,000 from the ANC to beautify the Edgewood neighborhood.
by Frank Asher Co-creating A Common Reality by Gardening
In my opinion, the money could have been partially used in support of the bigger community and in a gesture to help replace plants. DND needs to acknowledge its wrong doing and raise money to donate to the Edgewood Community Garden. DND should be offering up a few volunteers every weekend for the summer to show what dreams really can do. DND may have not caused the damage on purpose, but they can offer up some regret.
The problem is convoluted. The players involved include gardeners dedicated to enriching a community by teaching adults and children how to grow things in the garden; an organization that promotes partying and having fun; another local organization that is not demonstrating model behavior; and two government entities, DPR and MPD, that allowed this event to take place well after neighbors called to complain to the police.
Gardening nurtures and generates community on many levels. You have the neighbor who is constantly working in her front yard. Her plants and flowers are beautiful. Everyone in the neighborhood knows who she is. They even stop and chat with her while she is fully immersed in the dirt. We have many community gardens around DC. City Blossoms is a great example of a garden that teaches kids the beauty of growing things. Sometimes a neighborhood organization organization takes over space that has been a defacto community garden for decades and this can cause some issues with long-time neighbors. But shouldn’t there be plenty of space for all to play in the dirt? Those not interested in gardening should at least respect to those spaces that are tended to. Shouldn’t we all agree to what serving community really means? Until next time, smell the peonies, taste the herbs in your cooking, walk under the trees on your street and remember, someone planted those so you could appreciate their beauty. Many people have come together over the years to make this city what it is for its lushness and color. A big thank you to all our gardening groups, organizations, and community organizers who believe in the power of nature and what it does for people. Frank Asher is owner of Fairies’ Crossing: A landscape gardening company Est 2000. “Inspiring your dreamer”. www. oldcityfarmandguild.com. u Midcity DC | May 2014 u 47
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+ Changing Hands
Changing Hands
CLEVELAND PARK
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 BLOOMINGDALE
137 T ST NW
$845,000
CLEVELAND PARK 3464 MACOMB ST NW 3305 39TH ST NW
$2,195,000 $1,676,000
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 762 PARK RD NW 3551 13TH ST NW 3619 14TH ST NW 1452 OGDEN ST NW 629 HARVARD ST NW 536 NEWTON PL NW 3532 WARDER ST NW 436 KENYON ST NW 773 KENYON ST NW 3725 KANSAS AVE NW 3627 10TH ST NW 639 MORTON ST NW 615 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW 642 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW
$1,200,000 $940,000 $825,000 $716,600 $655,000 $635,000 $620,000 $582,500 $547,500 $525,000 $475,000 $368,000 $350,000 $340,000
4 5 4 4 5 5 4 4 2 3 4 2 3 3 2 3 1
DUPONT 2019 HILLYER PL NW 1720 U ST NW 1455 SWANN ST NW 1745 S ST NW 1737 SEATON ST NW
$1,905,000 $1,300,000 $1,155,000 $1,175,000 $755,000
KALORAMA 2206 DECATUR PL NW 2324 19TH ST NW
$2,049,000 $1,625,000
LEDROIT PARK 17 W ST NW 21 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 2102 2ND ST NW 152 U ST NW
$750,000 $699,500 $597,000 $565,000
3 6 3 3 2 2 6 3 3 3 3
LOGAN 1304 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW 1314 RIGGS ST NW 2011 13TH ST NW
$2,425,000 $1,210,000 $1,040,000
MOUNT PLEASANT 3228 19TH ST NW
$1,250,000
7 5 5 6
PETWORTH 4108 5TH ST NW 617 WEBSTER ST NW 415 UPSHUR ST NW 833 DECATUR ST NW 641 GALLATIN ST NW 5329 ILLINOIS AVE NW 822 EMERSON ST NW
$752,500 $730,000 $685,000 $680,000 $680,000 $659,900 $620,000
48 u midcitydcnews.com
4 4 3 4 3 4 4
3961 LANGLEY CT NW #E-593 3880 RODMAN ST NW #215 3010 WISCONSIN AVE NW #310 3883 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #503 3850 39TH ST NW #99 4301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #6012 2711 ORDWAY ST NW #14 4301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #A302 3616 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #402
$441,000 $430,000 $429,000 $399,900 $391,000 $389,000 $375,000 $330,000 $330,000
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS
2 2 2 1 1 2 1 2 1
CONDO
2311 15TH ST NW #5 $1,437,500 1330 OTIS PL NW #1 $830,000 2725 13TH ST NW #4 $760,000 1414 BELMONT ST NW #310 $739,000 1221 KENYON ST NW #3 $725,000 3538 13TH ST NW #3 $700,000 1451 BELMONT ST NW #201 $653,100 762 PARK RD NW #7 $650,000 1352 MONROE ST NW #B $640,000 1221 KENYON ST NW #2 $630,000 3417 SHERMAN NW #1 $629,900 1105 PARK RD NW #3 $625,000 1478 HARVARD ST NW #2 $592,500 1308 CLIFTON ST NW #408 $590,000 1390 KENYON ST NW #401 $576,000 1237 SHEPHERD ST NW #B $565,000 1613 HARVARD ST NW #315 $520,000 929 FLORIDA AVE NW #6004 $485,000 2725 13TH ST NW #1 $475,000 1323 CLIFTON ST NW #3 $460,000 3511 13TH ST NW #501 $359,900 1237 KENYON ST NW #1 $350,000 2656 15TH ST NW #303 $336,000 1401 COLUMBIA RD NW #403 $330,000 3900 14TH ST NW #706 $314,000 3540 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW #203 $305,000 3602 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW #7 $302,000 3900 14TH ST NW #605 $294,900 809 OTIS PL NW #FLAT 3 $294,900 3534 10TH ST NW #420 $279,000 610 IRVING ST NW #T-03 $265,000 2600 SHERMAN AVE NW #301 $250,000 1519 PARK RD NW #302 $247,000 1451 PARK RD NW #507 $245,000 945 RANDOLPH ST NW #945B $220,000 1451 PARK RD NW #107 $214,900 1457 PARK RD NW #408 $210,000
ADAMS MORGAN
DUPONT
5219 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 803 DECATUR ST NW 5804 8TH ST NW 204 VARNUM ST NW 5009 4TH ST NW 5311 5TH ST NW 811 MARIETTA PL NW 639 INGRAHAM ST NW 5132 7TH ST NW 5105 5TH ST NW 4917 KANSAS AVE NW 729 GALLATIN ST NW 4519 GEORGIA AVE NW 522 BUCHANAN ST NW 212 JEFFERSON ST NW 113 WEBSTER ST NW 714 MADISON ST NW 4110 3RD ST NW 4209 ILLINOIS AVE NW
$598,000 $589,000 $575,500 $575,000 $549,000 $539,000 $499,000 $499,000 $497,000 $495,000 $492,000 $490,000 $450,000 $435,000 $432,500 $422,745 $385,000 $350,000 $335,000
4 3 3 3 3 2 4 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 3 3 3 3 5
SHAW 1714 5TH ST NW 453 Q ST NW 67 P ST NW
$1,090,000 $749,000 $590,000
U STREET CORRIDOR 1618 V ST NW 2225 12TH PL NW
$780,000 $615,000
4 3 3 3 2
WOODLEY 2848 27TH ST NW 2758 WOODLEY PL NW
2328 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #401 2360 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #4.1 2360 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #1.3 1806 BELMONT RD NW #5 2360 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #1.2 2305 18TH ST NW #304
$1,450,000 $1,155,000
$1,800,000 $838,000 $664,400 $635,000 $498,900 $284,500
BLOOMINGDALE 145 ADAMS ST NW #2 145 ADAMS ST NW #1 2119 FLAGLER PL NW #1 158 BRYANT ST NW #1 125 T ST NW #3 1700 2ND ST NW #4 150 V ST NW #V206 115 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #3
$675,000 $625,000 $575,000 $575,000 $550,000 $350,000 $295,000 $432,000
5 3
3 2 2 2 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 1 1 2
CENTRAL 777 7TH ST NW #726 601 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1402 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #715 1260 21ST ST NW #500
$570,000 $500,000 $470,000 $245,000
2 1 1 0
1813 16TH ST NW #1B 1625 S ST NW #3 1625 S ST NW #2 1615 Q ST NW #308 1325 18TH ST NW #R-806 1825 T ST NW #706 1301 20TH ST NW #710 2012 O ST NW #33 1816 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #707 1 SCOTT CIR NW #709 1825 19TH ST NW #2 1816 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #1002 1714 S ST NW #S-A 1545 18TH ST NW #206 1715 15TH ST NW #103 1822 15TH ST NW #303
4 22 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
$540,000 $508,500 $459,000 $440,000 $437,000 $385,000 $355,000 $318,000 $279,500 $250,000 $768,500 $439,000 $388,000 $363,000 $575,000 $264,000
KALORAMA 2022 COLUMBIA RD NW #401 2126 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #25 1929 19TH ST NW #3 2205 CALIFORNIA ST NW #301
$1,500,000 $1,295,000 $995,000 $828,500
2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 1 2 0
1929 19TH ST NW #5 1812 WYOMING AVE NW #304 2022 COLUMBIA RD NW #612 1812 WYOMING AVE NW #303 2032 BELMONT RD NW #502 1949 CALVERT ST NW #1949E 2227 20TH ST NW #502 1851 COLUMBIA RD NW #605 1934 CALVERT ST NW #1 2410 20TH ST NW #9
$755,000 $665,000 $563,500 $469,000 $451,000 $430,000 $399,000 $348,000 $289,000 $262,550
LEDROIT PARK
1869 3RD ST NW #B 149 W ST NW #36 149 W ST NW #14
$474,500 $349,900 $305,000
LOGAN CIRCLE
1503 12TH ST NW #3 2125 14TH ST NW #308-W 2125 14TH ST NW #328 1511 11TH ST NW #PH1 1324 14TH ST NW #1 1300 13TH ST NW #PH-906 1618 11TH ST NW #301 1511 11TH ST NW #PH2 1325 13TH ST NW #206
$790,000 $899,000 $741,000 $742,000 $710,000 $705,000 $670,000 $650,000 $562,300
MOUNT PLEASANT
1622 BELMONT ST NW #C 1720 NEWTON ST NW #B 1701 KALORAMA RD NW #214 3430 BROWN ST NW #1 2435 ONTARIO RD NW #2 3430 BROWN ST NW #3 1750 HARVARD ST NW #3C
MOUNT VERNON TRIANGLE
1133 6TH ST NW #2 440 L ST NW #1003 301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #703 440 L ST NW #703 475 K ST NW #821 401 M ST NW #1 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #219
2 1 1 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
$690,000 $675,000 $635,000 $630,000 $625,000 $544,900 $327,500
2 2 2 3 2 3 1
$555,000 $569,900 $745,000 $545,000 $520,000 $610,000 $725,000
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
PENN QUARTER
777 7TH ST NW #806 1125 11TH ST NW #101
2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 1
$549,900 $529,900
2 2
PETWORTH
4226 7TH ST NW #204 54015407 9TH ST NW #107 807 VARNUM ST NW #3 608 JEFFERSON ST NW #304
$420,000 $260,000 $240,000 $240,000
2 1 1 2
SHAW
1612 5 NW #2 16 O ST NW #A
$589,000 $475,000
U STREET CORRIDOR
2101 11TH ST NW #201 2101 11TH ST NW #503 2125 14TH ST NW #613 929 FLORIDA AVE NW #4002 2020 12TH ST NW #T-10 2020 12TH ST NW #305
$684,900 $646,900 $772,137 $475,000 $384,000 $475,000
2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1
WOODLEY
5 3 2 2
2725 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #405 2818 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #12 u
$325,500 $640,000
1 2
G G ROOFING
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Midcity DC | May 2014 u 49
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