Mid City DC Magazine – October 2021

OCTOBER 2021

CONTENTS OCTOBER 2021

NEXT ISSUE: November 6th

18

05 what’s on washington 14 Insatiable • Celeste McCall 16 Shaw Celebrates 10th Art All Night • Pleasant Mann

ON THE COVER:

your neighborhood 18 Expanding Bike Lanes: Understanding the Role of The Public in DDOT’s Public Engagement • Elizabeth O’Gorek

24

Photo: Robin Bell’s colorful video projection was once again a highlight of the Art All Night Shaw Art Market.

Photo by Victoria Pickering.

22 The ABC’s of Redistricting: Ward Borders To Be Redrawn • Elizabeth O’Gorek 24 Shaw Streets • Pleasant Mann 26 ANC 6E • Pleasant Mann 28 Bulletin Board • Kathleen Donner

at home 33 Changing Hands • Don Denton

kids and family 34 Notebook • Kathleen Donner

28

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Fall

D N A s t r A

g n i n Di l issue

specia

WHAT’S ON WA S H I N G TO N

DEAD MAN’S RUN AT CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY

MOSAIC’S BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA AT THE ATLAS Caitlyn and her father John watch birds in their suburban Maryland backyard.

Over the course of a decade, climate change slowly shifts the world; birds disappear and John and Caitlyn struggle to say the things they need to say. Mosaic’s Birds of North America by Anna Ouyang Moench is on stage at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, Oct. 27 to Nov. 21. mosaictheater.org.

Dead Man’s Run returns to Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE, on Friday, Oct. 29, 6 to 8 p.m. Dead Man’s Run is a bare bones race for dead serious runners who want to stay one step ahead of the ultimate Repo Man. The race starts with a toll of the funeral bell, continues throughout the cemetery and onto the Anacostia Trail for a ghostly evening run full of spooky music. Costumes encouraged; prizes awarded. $35. No kids’ run this year. Register at congressionalcemetery.org.

Photo: Courtesy of Historic Congressional Cemetery

Ryan Sellers as Edgar in Synetic’s The Madness of Poe. Photo: Johnny Shryock Photography

THE MADNESS OF POE AT CRYSTAL CITY’S SYNETIC THEATER The Madness of Poe is a terrifying trilogy of tales from Edgar Allan Poe woven into one 90-minute heart-pounding thriller.

Featuring a re-imagining of their 2007 hit adaptation of The Fall of the House of Usher plus two more gothic tales from the inventor of American horror, it is classic Synetic in every way. The Madness of Poe runs from Oct. 11 to 31 at Synetic Theater, 1800 South Bell St., Crystal City. $25 to $60. Masks and full vaccination (or recent negative test) required. Parking is free after 4 p.m. and weekends. The theater is adjacent to Crystal City Metro Station on the yellow and blue lines. synetictheater.org.

“CRITICAL DISTANCE” AT NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM Through June 2022, the Natural History Museum hosts a free, augmentedreality experience emphasizing the intrinsic connection between people, orcas and the ocean. Critical Distance immerses visitors in a holographic orca pod and allows them to witness this endangered species’ daily obstacles. Visitors will see firsthand how the orcas, including six-year-old Kiki, must overcome marine noise pollution and vessel disturbances to effectively hunt for food—and, ultimately, survive. To complement the experience, museum educators have created hands-on activities that help visitors learn more about orcas’ family structure, conservation and biology. The Natural History Museum is currently open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. naturalhistory.si.edu.

FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL AT THE FARM AT MOUNT VERNON On Saturday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities and demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon.

You can explore the farm; meet General Washington; learn about Washington’s fisheries and how fish were salt packed; see spinning wheels; hear about 18th century textiles and how they were dyed; and watch cooking demonstrations in the Slave Cabin yard. This event is included with admission.

Adult admission is $28; kids six through eleven, $15; five and under, free. mountvernon.org.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

Come join for a fall celebration featuring 18th-century farming demonstrations.

ALMA W. THOMAS: EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL AT THE PHILLIPS Alma W. Thomas: Everything Is Beautiful provides a fresh perspective on the artist’s dynamic long life (18911978) and multifaceted career that was defined by constant creativity. This major retrospective at the Phillips traces her journey from semi-rural Georgia to Washington, DC, to becoming the first Black woman given a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art at age 81. This exhibition demonstrates how Thomas’s widereaching artistic practices extended far beyond her studio, shaping every facet of her life—from community service, to teaching, to gardening. Everything Is Beautiful is at the Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, from Oct. 20 to Jan. 23. Open daily, except Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Timed tickets at $16 for adults; $12, seniors; free for 18 and under. phillipsscollection.org.

Alma Thomas, Pansies in Washington, 1979, acrylic on canvas, 50 x 48 in., National Gallery of Art, Corcoran Collection (gift of Vincent Melzac)

CELIA AND FIDEL AT ARENA Can one woman change the mind of a man and the fate of a nation? Fidel Castro’s most trusted confidant and political partner, Celia Sánchez, is never far from his side as he grapples with how to move his country forward. It’s 1980 and a failing economy has led 10,000 Cuban citizens to seek asylum at the Peruvian Embassy in Cuba. Castro must decide what kind of a leader he wants to be: merciful or mighty. Imbued with magical realism, Arena Stage’s Celia and Fidel imagines a conversation between Cuba’s most influential female revolutionary and its most notorious political leader in a contest between morality and power. On stage at Arena, 1101 Sixth St. SW, from Oct. 8 to Nov. 21. arenastage.org.

Heather Velazquez (Consuelo) and Andhy Mendez (Fidel Castro) in Celia and Fidel running Oct. 8 to Nov. 21 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Photo: Margot Schulman.

U.S. OYSTER FESTIVAL AT ST. MARY’S COUNTY The 55th annual U.S. Oyster Festival at St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds is on Saturday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cook-offs are on Saturday and shucking contests are on Sunday. The festival features good food; live music; and Professor Horn-Punch & Judy shows both days. Octoberfest music, Middle Eastern dancing and acrobatic dancers are on Saturday. Gary Rue and the Dance Hall Ghosts play 3 to 5 p.m. during all shucking contests. $10 admission; free for 12 and under.

St. Mary’s County Fairground is about 50 miles from DC. usoysterfest.com.

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The U.S. Oyster Festival amateur shucking competition.

Photo: E. Stone Photography

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BOHEME IN THE HEIGHTS BY IN SERIES

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

The long-awaited animated Spanish-language Afro-LatinX reimagining of Puccini’s classic opera comes to the big screen, with live music performed by the original cast. This film, created by young animators and set in Washington, DC’s Columbia Heights neighborhood through the winter and spring of 2020, tells of the exuberant creative power of youth, the transcendence of love, and the heartbreak of first loss. IN Series’ BOHEME in the Heights is at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, on Saturday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 31, 2 p.m. (It is also at the Patterson Theater in Baltimore on Friday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.) inseries.org.

Baritone Alex Alburqueque as Marcelo on a background by Emma Ayala

CAPITAL CITY GO-GO AT ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS ARENA The Capital City Go-Go, the Washington Wizards’ NBA G League affiliate, have announced their six priority home dates for the 2021-22 season, with the home opener slated for Nov. 6 at the Entertainment & Sports Arena, 1100 Oak Dr. SE. These early dates are also highlighted by regular season Fan Appreciation Day and a mid-season STEM & Basketball Education Day. Capital City has introduced a Go-Go season pass for the 2021-22 season, which includes a ticket to each home game, allowing fans to enjoy the entire season for one low price. 202-864-4350 or email ticketsales@capitalcitygogo.com.

POP-UP DISC GOLF AT RFK Novices, beginners and pros are welcome at DC’s free, first and only disc golf course. The course, open daily, 8 a.m. to dusk, is on Oklahoma Ave. at RFK Campus.

You can borrow discs (with photo ID), scorecards and pencils at The Fields office in Lot 7, open 4 to 10 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. Disc golf is much like golf, with players trying to reach the hole (“basket”) in the fewest strokes possible. The stroke, in this case, is a throw with a modified frisbee. The six-hole pop-up course is a project of the nonprofit CRYSP DC, which operates The Fields and advocates for sports and recreation spaces in the District. Read more at cryspdc.org/disc-golf.

DRAFT OF “I HAVE A DREAM” SPEECH ON EXHIBITION Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s original draft of the I Have a Dream speech from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom is now on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom gallery. “This artifact is one of several drafts of the speech written by King and his advisors hours before the march began,” said Kevin Strait, curator at the museum. “The speech was slotted to be a four-minute closing to the march; however, it became a powerful 16-minute rallying cry for the entire civil rights movement.” The National Museum of African American History and Culture, open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., is at 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. Timed passes required. nmaahc.si.edu.

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WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

MATTHEW WHITAKER QUARTET AT THE LINCOLN A blind from birth former child prodigy, profiled on 60 Minutes and The Today Show, 20-year-old jazz pianist-organist Matthew Whitaker has wowed audiences from LA’s Playboy Jazz Festival—where he inspired spontaneous dancing and a standing ovation—to the Apollo Theatre and a (pre-COVID) 2020 Washington Performing Arts performance. On Friday, Oct. 15, 8 p.m., he brings his irresistible virtuosity back to the Lincoln Theatre with a special guest appearance by DC’s Children of the Gospel Choir.

Tickets, $25 to $50, are available only at thelincolndc.com.

Photo: rr jones

CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE BARNS AT WOLF TRAP On Sunday, Oct. 24 at 3 p.m. (doors at 1:30 p.m.), Artistic Advisor Wu Han joins Arnaud Sussmann, Paul Neubauer, and David Finckel in an afternoon of works that showcase the friendship and musical influences between composers. Featured works include Dvorak’s Sonatina in G Major for violin and piano, Suk’s Quartet for Piano and Strings in A minor Op.1, and Brahms Quartet for Piano and Strings in G-minor, Op 25. $50.

Wolf Trap is at 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA. wolftrap.org.

REMEMBER THIS: THE LESSON OF JAN KARSKI AT SHAKESPEARE In a tour-de-force solo performance, Academy Award nominee David Strathairn portrays World War II hero and Holocaust witness Jan Karski, a messenger of truth who risked his life to carry his harrowing report from war-torn Poland to the Oval Office only to be disbelieved. Standing tall in the halls of power, Strathiirn captures the remarkable life of the self-described insignificant, little man whose forgotten story of moral courage can still shake the conscience of the world. On stage at Shakespeare Theatre’s Michael R. Klein Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW, from Oct. 6 to 17. Vaccinations required. shakespearetheatre.org.

David Strathairn as Jan Karski in Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski.

Wu Han

THE REALISTIC JONESES AT SPOOKY ACTION Spooky Action Theater begins its season, Oct. 7 to 24, with the return of The Realistic Joneses, by critically acclaimed playwright Will Eno. The show was presented for a couple of weeks in March 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In this “humane, literate and slyly hilarious” play (New York Times), two couples find they share a lot more than their last names. Ever stumbling towards meaningful relationships, humor caps their encounter with an unsettling truth that lies just below the surface. $30 to $40. Spooky Action Theater performs in the downstairs auditorium of the Universalist National Memorial Church at 1810 16th St. NW. Use church main entrance. spookyaction.org.

Todd Scofield and Lisa M. Hodsoll in The Realist Joneses by Will Eno. Photo: Teresa Castracane

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CAPITAL CITY SYMPHONY RETURNS TO THE ATLAS WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

EXPATS THEATRE’S PANKRAC’45 AT THE ATLAS

On Sunday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m., the Capital City Symphony opens their season, Who Are We, DC?, with Carlos Simon’s Elegy, A Cry from the Grave “dedicated to those who have been murdered wrongfully by an oppressive power,” followed by his piece This Land, lifting hope and unity. The world premiere of Adirondack Autumn, by one of their own members, Daniel Lu, follows, featuring flutist David Lonkevich. Other pieces include Hector Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4, Prelude, and William Grant Still’s Symphony No. 2. The Atlas Performing Arts Center is at 1333 H St. NE. atlasarts.org.

When the world turns upside down, and the unthinkable happens, how far would you go to survive? Prague 1945. The war is over, but the revenge against Nazis and traitors has just begun. In Prague’s Pankrác prison, five women accused of Nazi collaboration share a cell. Each keeps a secret. Each knows the gallows await. Join us for a gut-wrenching play about human relationships, exploring questions of guilt, responsibility, betrayal, and survival. Pankrac’45 is on stage at the Atlas, Oct. 28 to Nov. 21. $20 to $35. expatstheatre.com.

NSO POPS: MARVEL STUDIOS’ BLACK PANTHER IN CONCERT In 2018, Marvel Studios’ Black Panther quickly became a global sensation and cultural phenomenon, showing a new dimension of what superhero films could be. Now, you can relive the excitement of T’Challa becoming king and battling Killmonger as the National Symphony Orchestra performs Ludwig Göransson’s Oscar-winning score live to film for the very first time on Oct. 14, at 7 p.m., and Oct. 15 and 16, at 8 p.m., at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. $39 to $99. kennedy-center.org.

THE WALL/EL MURO: WHAT IS A BORDER WALL? The Wall/El Muro: What Is a Border Wall? exhibition at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, examines the border wall from the perspective of architecture and design. It is a prime example of the potential of the built world to affect peoples’ lives, as we now see thousands of migrants crossing the border in the midst of changing federal policies. The exhibition, which opens Nov. 6, addresses the ways in which the architecture and landscape of security surround us and challenge us as we imagine America. The border is a place, but it also looms large as a symbol of both America’s vulnerability and state power. Open Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. $10 for adults; $7, youth. nbm.org.

Baja California border wall with names of those who died on the journey. Photo: Sarah A. Leavitt

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Washington DC Electronic Recycling Events All events are 10am - 2pm Nov. 6, 2021

Dec. 11, 2021

Ward 5: WoodRidge Library 1801 Hamlin St. NE

Ward 2: Georgetown Library 3260 R St NW

Nov. 20, 2021

Dec. 18, 2021

Ward 4: Takoma Park Library 416 Cedar St NW

Ward 1: Mt. Pleasant Library 3160 16th St NW

Dec. 4, 2021 Ward 3: Cleveland Park Library 3310 Connecticut Ave NW

Find more events at:

For more information visit: https://doee.dc.gov/node/1239526

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A&D Fall

Insatiable

by Celeste McCall

H

usband Peter and I recently enjoyed a great 14th St. NW, in Logan Circle. You’ll find the lunch at CR NoMa, 140 M St. NE. The two850-square-foot newbie in the mixed-use Liz deand-a- half-year-old restaurant is a spinoff velopment. Co-owners are Ralph Brabham and of its Mount Vernon Triangle parent, The Jean Paul Sabatier. Sabatier is a culinary school Carving Room. The meaty monigrad who has managed Rappahannock ker might sound like a steakhouse Oyster Bar, Maydan and Compass name, but CR is much more Rose. He’s in charge of food and than that. Chef/co-owner drinks. Sabatier, who goes by Oded Weizmann grew up “JP,” is co-owner alongside in a Moroccan-Israeli Brabham and Drew Porterhousehold (his partner field, a married couple who is Rachel Steiman). own Shaw’s Beau Thai and Such a culinary backthe nearby, noodle-centric ground explains CR’s BKK Cookshop. vibrant, “inspired” MedThe bar’s short menu of iterranean/Middle Eastfinger foods includes mixed Andy’s Pizza, which took first place in the “traditional” division at the International Pizza Expo. ern menu, with Sephardic nuts spiced with rosemary Jewish flourishes. and cayenne; caramelized onbeers and wines from Europe, South Africa and OrAlthough CR’s stylish inteion dip and Jane’s caviar, the lategon. For hours and more information, visit www. rior looked inviting, we opted for ter a mixture of trout roe and creme janejanedc.com. a small outdoor table. Our personable fraiche, to be scooped up with potato server, Ty, took my order for a lip-tingling At CR NoMa, a roasted beet chips. Gouda and sharp cheddar pimento appetizer is a colorful mosaic Bloody Mary, which he presented in a of pureed beets, yogurt and cheese offer a nod to Brabham and PorNearby, restaurateur Med Lahlou has unveiled spice-encrusted glass and garnished with terfield’s North Carolina roots. The ownfeta and goat cheese.

Lupo Pizzeria at 1908 14th St. NW, practically next an olive and lime wedge. ers plan to add a weekend brunch that door to sibling osteria Lupo Verde. The interior is a For starters, we shared an appetizer of roasted will bring pastries and quiches from Shaw’s Butterfeast for the eyes, a vision of colorful hand-painted beet dip ‒ a colorful mosaic which tasted as good cream Bakeshop. tiles, ceramic plates, Italian flags, blue-cushioned as it looked ‒ concentric circles of pureed beets, yoJane Jane’s homey decor captures the feeling of chairs and a handsome marble-topped bar. There’s gurt and feta and goat cheese, all accompanied by Mom’s living room. In fact, Jane Jane is a reference also outdoor seating. delicious garlicky pita and healthy cucumber and to Brabham’s mother’s nickname. “She is just Emerging from the open kitchen: carrot spears. a super outgoing, friendly, life-of-thecarbonara pizza topped with pecoriCovering two international culinary bases, cusparty type of lady,” he said. “She no cream, guanciale (cured pork tomers may choose the pastrami Cuban sandwich loves to have people over at her cheeks), black pepper and eggs. house and can entertain at of “griddled” marble rye piled with house-cured We ordered this deconstructpastrami, grilled onions, Swiss cheese and mayo. An the drop of a dime.” ed version of spaghetti caralternative is the traditional pastrami Reuben, where Jane Jane organizes its bonara. While the overall pickles sub for the usual sauerkraut, Russian dressing cocktail menu by types creation was flavorful, we for mayo. of spirits, listing classics found the eggs a little too Among other seasonal temptations are tumlike gin-based Negronis runny, and we would have my-warming matzo ball soup, “classic” cigars and martinis along with liked more pork, which tast(fried spring rolls filled with Moroccan-spiced lesser-known drinks like ed more like regular bacon. an Air Mail, built with aged ground brisket); hearty meatball subs; lamb rib Another pizza choice is Lupo rum, honey syrup, lemon juice, flatbread with mint and yogurt; beer, wine and Marino, a melange of prawns, Angostura bitters and cava. A rococktails. For exact hours and more information, mussels, and dashi tomato passata tating selection of seasonal cocktails visit www.carvingroom.com. (thick tomato paste), all heaped atop includes a Pink Corvair, made with Also at Lupo Pizzeria, tiramisu house-made, squid-ink-infused dough. vodka, Curacao, homemade grenadine is presented in a small flowerpot and crowned with strawberries Diners may also build-their own pies. and lemon juice. Also flowing are craft and shaved chocolate.

Other options encompass “classic Jane Jane, a cozy cocktail bar, has arrived at 1705

More Pizza

Logan Lowdown

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Lupo”: fried artichokes and arancini (fried squid-ink risotto balls stuffed with calamari ragu). The trio of coal black globes was tasty but a bit dry.

Panuozzo are hefty sandwiches with various fillings snuggled in bread made from pizza dough. Burrata is plunked next to melon chunks topped with a ribbon of aged prosciutto. A deliciously refreshing salad is a montage of watermelon chunks, cucumbers and sliced black olives, perfumed with mint and sprinkled with taralli ‒ crunchy Italian cracker crumbs.

Tiramisu soars to new heights here. Served in a small flowerpot, the classic, coffee-flavored dessert is made with spongy cake and mascarpone, crowned with grated chocolate and strawberry slices.

Lupo Pizzeria is open daily. For more information, visit www.lupopizzeriadc.com.

Pizza Prize

Congrats to Andy’s Pizza, a regional chain that took top honors in the Traditional division of the 2021 International Pizza Expo & Conference. Held in Las Vegas, the bakeoff had three divisions: Traditional, NonTraditional and Pan. Each competitor had to create a signature pie on the spot for a panel of accredited chefs. Andy’s concocted its “classic” cheese pizza.

“I believe we won because we care about every ingredient in our pizza,” said proprietor Andy Brown.

“It didn’t feel right to compete with something we don’t sell or pride ourselves on. We won with the exact same cheese pizza that’s available by the slice at all of our pizzerias.”

Andy’s Pizza is a New York-style shop with outlets in McLean (Tysons Galleria), Shaw (2014 Ninth St. NW), Navy Yard (1201 Half St. SE), NoMa (51 M St. NE), Atlas Brew Works’ Half Street Brewery & Tap Room, adjacent to Nationals Park, and Streets Market in Northwest. To place an order or make reservations, visit www.eatandyspizza.com. ◆

The Congressional Chorus returns to the stage with a

Halloween extravaganza!

es a unique blend of song The 50-minute choral performance includ ge Halloween hits like vinta ing cover , band and dance, set to a live Ghostbusters. In addition, Monster Mash, Time Warp, Thriller, and from the underworld and s voice s eriou myst guests will encounter ing Woman”). hear the lament of La Llorona (“The Weep

pm and 9:00 pm Friday, October 29, 2021 - 7:30 pm and 9:00 pm Saturday, October 30, 2021 - 7:30 At the Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW

*Buy Tickets at

lchorus.org www.congressiona ionalchorus.org tickets@congress the door 202.629.3140, or at

is limited to *Show seating et holders for the first 100 tick r showtimes. each of the fou d 100% vaccinate *The Chorus is The audience g. arin we skand ma of of vaccination must show pro t. or a negative tes

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A&D Fall

Shaw Celebrates 10 Art All Night th

Sept. 25 th Event A Tremendous Success

by Pleasant Mann

A

rt All Night, the District’s free annual overnight arts festival, returned to Shaw on Saturday night, Sept.

25. Art All Night started in Shaw in Jennifer Stevens 2011. It has since beset soap bubbles come a city-wide traaflame at the Shaw Art dition. This year’s Art Market. Photo by All Night, held in 18 Alexander Padro different commercial districts around the city, marks the return of a live, in-person festival after the District was forced to make it a virtual event last year due to the pandemic.

Shaw’s Art All Night focused on a vacant lot, known as Parcel 42, on the southeast corner of Seventh and R Streets NW. It served as the festival’s welcome center, art market for local artists and a performance stage for live acts. The stage saw performances from Art All Night Shaw veterans, Grammy-nominated, human beatbox Christylez Bacon and Team Rayceen held a dance off for prizes during Art All Night pyrotechnic soap bubble blower JenShaw. Photo by Pleasant Mann nifer Stephens, as well as first-timers vocalist Ace Ono and her band and martial arts and dance performances by the Brazilian American Cultural Center’s Capoeira Barro Vermelho and the Vava Samba School.

Renowned video artist Robin Bell projected a new work commissioned for the festival on the five-story white wall behind the stage, celebrating that the District is once again open for business. Creative Junk

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Food’s #LoveShaw animation was also projected. A crowd surrounded muralist Aniekan Udofa as he completed a minimural with the theme “Welcome Back” featuring the festival’s owl mascot.

Across the intersection, the Watha T. Daniel Library was another hive of activity. On the first floor were youth-oriented activities, including an Evil Laugh contest. In the basement, artist Sydney Buffalo led a “Paint In,” where anyone could get a canvas and paint to do their own artwork. Would-be artists

Robin Bell’s colorful video projection was once again a highlight of Art All Night Shaw Art Market. Photo by Victoria Pickering

The DIY paint party at the Watha T Daniel Library drew wannabe artists of all ages Photo by Pleasant Mann

The Washington The drummers of Batala Convention Center Washington DC led the offered a guided tour #Love Shaw Parade down of its distinguished Seventh Street. Photo by Pleasant Mann art collection, which includes works of famed artists Sol LeWitt and Carrie Mae Weems, along with a wall devoted solely to art works depicting Shaw.

Nearby at the Sunoco Gas Station, Maggie O’Neill, Nia Ketura Calhoun and Lisa Marie Thalhammer, the artists completing the giant mural “Together” there, live painted large panels in their signature styles.

Lee’s Flower and Card Shop played dance music and held a flower fashion show. The shop also provided flowers for festival goers to create their own floral leis and crowns, which could be seen along U Street and at festival venues.

Other businesses presenting art and entertainment included Shaw’s Tavern and the Urban Athletic Club.

The DC Housing Finance Agency building at Ninth Street and Florida Avenue NW once again served as the venue for Team Rayceen, which presented “Shaw Shakes and Shimmies,” offering music, burlesque acts and an audience dance off contest, with the winners receiving gift bags from erotic emporium Bite the Fruit.

“The pandemic made it necessary to reduce the size of the crowds and insist that masks be worn indoors and outdoors, but it was a small price to pay for being able to welcome everyone back to Shaw, where Art All Night began,” remarked Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander Padro, who cofounded the festival in 2011.

“The festival has spread throughout the city, but Shaw will always be Art All Night DC’s home.” ◆

lined up during the night to get a seat to get to work.

Performance artist Shanna “Shae” Lim marched down Seventh Street NW in a dress made of carpet until she got to the library entrance plaza. Then she dropped the dress and became a human canvas, inviting bystanders to paint messages on her as a drummer provided a background beat. WeActRadio projected “Resilient Together,” a revolutionary visual and audio mixtape southward across Rhode Island Avenue NW. The most excitement was provided by Batala Washington DC, the women’s drumming group. They started with a performance at T Street NW, moved south with the #Love Shaw Parade along the west sidewalk, drawing a crowd that overflowed onto Seventh Street NW, ending up in front of Watha T. Daniel to perform a rousing percussion set.

Almost the entirety of the south side of the 600 block of T Street NW was taken up by the Right Proper Brewing Block Party, which featured a night of live music, art displays and drinking. Of note was the Black Beer Garden near the Duke Ellington statue, which featured African American brewing companies: Sankofa Beer, Soul Mega, Joyhound Beer, Patuxent Brewing and Urban Garden Brewing.

Around the corner, Wanda’s on 7th salon presented paintings by Reggie Gilliumo and free henna tattoos, with music provided by DJ Candikrush. At the Lee on 11th, formerly known as Lincoln Temple, the Shaw Community Center presented a lineup of motivational speakers, music, youth fashion shows and Visitors to Lee’s Flower and Card Shop created their own even a professional wresfloral necklaces and crowns. Photo by Stacie Lee Banks. tling demonstration.

Muralist Aniekan Udofa live paints for Art All Night Shaw.

Photo by Alexander Padro

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NEIGHBORHOOD

Expanding Bike Lanes

Understanding the Role of The Public in DDOT’s Public Engagement

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

T

he District is installing a citywide, interconnected bicycle network. To meet District-mandated environmental goals, The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) must shift 75 percent of intra-city trips to transportation modes other than single-occupant cars by 2032. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) Vision Zero Plan, begun in 2015, commits DDOT to creating traffic conditions that reduce fatalities and serious injuries to zero by 2025. These mandates guide all DDOT decision making.

Bike lanes, according to DDOT, not only get cars off the road, but also have a calming effect on traffic, thus meeting both environmental and safety goals. The agency has constructed 94 miles of bike lanes since 2001 of which, as of 2020, 16.6 miles are “protected” from cars using bollards and other elements of road infrastructure. It plans to construct another 20 miles of protected bike lanes (PBLs) over the next three years.

Many residents are frustrated with DDOT’s push to expand the District’s bike network of protected bike lanes. They say their views are not being heard.

“This is an issue of competence and public engagement,” said Allan Ebert, Executive Director of the Ninth Street Association. “DDOT has tunnel vision. It only sees bike lanes, not the impact of the design on the residents, businesses, and community in general,” he said.

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“The transparency of this process is just so awful,” said 18-year Hill resident Christine Mullens at a recent public meeting on bike lanes proposed for the 1300 block of North Carolina Ave. NE. “This is being shoved down our throats.”

DDOT is driven by environmental mandates to improve bike lanes over the next decade. Yet residents have high expectations for significant community input. What is the agency process for creating protected bike lanes? How can the public engage? How does the agency incorporate resident feedback?

The Network Expands

Expanding the city’s network of protected bike lanes is required according to the DDOT Engineering and Design Manual. “The Project Manager should include bicycle and pedestrian facility options on new construction and reconstruction projects,” the guide states. So, whenever a District street is torn up, the DDOT engineers must determine if it is a good location for bike lanes.

In making that determination, DDOT planners are primarily guided by MoveDC, a centralized map for the “big picture” of bike planning in DC, said Acting DDOT Director Everett Lott. It is the District’s long-range transportation plan, encompassing not only bike lanes but all modes of transit, including walking, vehicle and rail. If a street is indicated as suitable on the MoveDC plan, planners are more likely to pursue bike infrastructure there.

The type of bike lane chosen, protected or not, is also not random.

DDOT engineers and planners consult a variety of metrics to assess what kind are installed on a street including the daily volume of cars and the road’s classification according to standards set by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Association of City Officials (NACTO). So, when the agency solicits public feedback, it is principally looking for local insight on design. The question is not usually “if ” but “how” bike lanes should be installed.

“We use our best judgement to determine what streets should have the different types of facilities,” Lott said, “and it requires a pretty strong reason not to install them.”

There is one explicit legal requirement governing public engagement. The Administrative Procedure Amendment Act of 2000 requires that, 30 days before beginning a project, DDOT must issue a written Notice of Intent (NOI) to modify traffic and/or parking requirements to both Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) and councilmembers

impacted. The agency is required to make the NOI “accessible for the purpose of notification and solicitation of comments on the intent to implement modifications within the District,” the statute states. The law also mandates that the agency conduct an on-site investigation at the impacted location to determine whether any traffic and parking related revisions are “deemed necessary.”

The DDOT manual requires the agency develop a Public Involvement Plan (PIP) for every project. However, there are no specific guidelines for public engagement. On a large project, such as a corridor redesign, the agency typically presents 30, 60 and a 90 percent designs to the public for comment before initiating construction.

However, the agency does not publish its PIPs. So, it is difficult to evaluate the plans other than by examining the agency’s behavior in specific instances.

This article examines four such instances: Ninth Street NW, North Carolina Avenue SE, P Street SW Alabama Avenue SE and 17th Street NW.

G G ROOFING

The Long Saga of Ninth Street

The first meeting for the Eastern Downtown PBL Project was held in 2015. In an effort to enhance northsouth cycle connectivity, DDOT examined multiple corridors on which to construct new protected bike lanes.

In 2017, the agency selected Ninth Street NW as its preferred route.

Public engagement, begun in 2018, stalled for three years without official explanation.

A bill introduced by Ward 1 Councilmember Brienne Nadeau (D), intended to move the project forward, led to debate about race and gentrification. Prominent African American churches had resisted the plan for years, arguing that congregant parking was necessary for their continued survival.

But in May 2021, the mayor funded the project in her FY22 budget. DDOT held a public meeting on July, 29, 2021.

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NEIGHBORHOOD

Delancy Gustin stands with her bike on 15th Street SE, where standard painted bike lanes are installed. E.O’Gorek/CCN

Business owners on the 1900 block of Ninth Street NW, known as “Little Ethiopia,” feared DDOT’s plan would reduce parking, exacerbate rush hour congestion, create loading safety hazards and fail to comply with ADA protections. They united in protest.

Not enough thought has been put into the project, stated Executive Director of the Ninth Street Association Allan Ebert. “The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) continues its efforts to move forward, fast and furious, without community engagement.”

Colin Browne, Director Of Communications at Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) disagrees. “That project in particular has had just extensive, extensive public input over the course of dozens of hours of meetings,” he said. Plans are still in the initial stages; a 60 percent design was seen by the public in July and DDOT is looking at the integration of streeteries.

Part of the problem is that plans change with that feedback, said Browne. “The process is iterative, which is part of the point, but sometimes it is hard for people to know what design we’re on or what stage of the process.” Stakeholders can come and go over time, missing the chance to opine on aspects of the project that are important to them, he added.

While the iterative nature of the process can present challenges, another issue is DDOT’s reliance on ANCs to funnel public input.

Who Speaks For The Neighborhood?

Currently, DDOT is installing a protected cycle track on the 1400 through 1600 blocks of North Carolina Ave NE as part of the C Street Project,

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served to also manage engagement on large projwhose initial designs date to at least 2010. The projects directly. ect is designed to link the RFK Campus to Lincoln “Yes, we are the default community engagement Park and improve overall safety for pedestrians, process,” Grove said. “The irony of that is we’ve, motorists and cyclists. what? Got $1.25-ish per person, per year in our anIn 2021, prompted by the planned completion nual budget?” The C Street NE project has a $16 of the C Street project, the agency decided to initimillion budget. ate design conversations for the 1300 block of North Acting Director Lott said DDOT project manCarolina Avenue NE, omitted from the finalized C St agers read all public comments they receive. But they Project design,into the tail end of this new network.At don’t use them to determine outcomes because they recent meetings of ANC 6A’s Transportation and cannot be sure they represent the community. “It is Public Space (TPS) Committee, the agency preimportant to rely on elected officials in these matsented a choice of seven possible alternatives. Eiters. ANCs have a duty to weigh lots of competing ther the street would lose parking, or it would lose interests,” he said. a lane of traffic.

However, even when a commission opposes Delancey Gustin, a resident of the 1300 block, DDOT’s proffered designs, the agency may simply developed her own alternative designs in consultation with neighbors concerned about the rerouting ignore the feedback. of traffic and possible loss of curbside parking. A petition posted by a group of neighbors calling themThe Weight of the ANC selves ‘Neighbors 4 NC Ave’ (www.neighbors4nIn September, 2019, DDOT issued a NOI to install cave.com) had more than 300 signatures by late a two-block protected bike lane to close a gap along September, and Gustin hoped ANC 6A would rally the Anacostia Trail between Second and Fourth behind these ideas and advocate them to DDOT. Streets SW. The route had been served by road At the committee’s Sept. 21, Gustin presented markings, or sharrows. her proposals to the T&P Committee. However, she ANC 6D objected. At their October meeting, was disappointed, she said. Gustin pointed to two commissioners complained that the project’s reissues. First, the ANC committee said their commoval of 26 parking spots would threaten residents ment had to be limited to the options presented by of neighboring affordable housing. Citing the lack DDOT; to reject them was to risk losing the opporof local transit options, they argued that these resitunity to influence the project at all. dents are dependent on vehicles for access to jobs Second, some commissioners said they had to with hours outside of the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shifts. take into account not only “the loudest voices in “Installing a new bike lane must not be a zerothe room,” but also the wider community and the sum game,” said Vice Chair Andy Litsky (6D01).

District. ANC 6A Chair Amber Gove (6A04), who After the ANC unanimously voted to oppose directly represents the block in question, interpreted DDOT’s P Street plan, Litsky hoped the vote would her obligation as both to represent her constituents, lead to a real conversation that would create a bike but also to consider the effect of decisions on the solution that served all. wider District.

DDOT rejected these arguments, pointing out That means that the voice of residents on the that the lanes have appeared on plans since 2005, instreet wasn’t prioritized by the ANC the way some cluding in the 2014 MoveDC plan. A bike lane netresidents felt it should have been.

“I think anger rises when people feel powerless,” Gustin said.

Commissioners are also frustrated with both the acrimony and the pressure. While pleased that ANC decisions are afforded great weight by DDOT, Gove says the agency does heavily depend on the commission in its public engagement efforts.

She believes there is no issue with the commission funneling DDOT outreach on smaller tasks such as speed bumps but Alan Ebert, Executive Director of the 9th Street Business Association, speaks at an Aug. 11 event said the agency would be better intended to draw attention to issues with a proposal for bike lanes. Photo: Courtesy Pleasant Mann

NEIGHBORHOOD

work, the agency argued, is only as safe as its weakest block. Encountering such conditions, people either get off the road onto the sidewalk or do not ride. DDOT completed the P Street lanes in 2020.

Yet, positioning bike lanes does enter the larger world of District politics. At least in one instance, the agency dismantled its bike lanes in the face of determined political opposition.

Removal of Bike Lanes

As a Vision Zero initiative, DDOT studied methods to make a four-mile stretch of Alabama between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Southern Avenues SE safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. In 2018, the project took on new urgency after three people lost their lives. After three public meetings and extensive consultation with the impacted Ward 8 commissions, DDOT installed the protected bike lanes on southbound Alabama Avenue SE in spring of 2019.

The lanes generated a huge community outcry centered largely on the removal of 12 curbside parking spots and complaints of lack of public engagement.

“We need bike lanes like a hole in the head,” said one resident.

Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White (D) bolstered this opposition.

“How do bike lanes make streets safer?”

White asked in a social media post. The removal of parking spots was insensitive to the needs of senior residents, he contended.

After a series of public meetings during the summer of 2020 involving the councilmember and the director of DDOT, the agency removed one of the protected bike lanes on Alabama Avenue SE. Why didn’t that message come through before installation? A different approach than weeknight meetings could have been a better tool to get community feedback, WABA’s Browne said.

“Not every public input mechanism works the same across the region,” Browne said, adding that both DDOT and WABA need to do more outreach to ensure Ward 7 and 8 residents are meaningfully involved in the transportation planning process overall.

Neighborhood Consensus Shattered

But even when DDOT does extensive public engagement, some people still aren’t happy. The 17th Street NW bike lanes opened late this summer to tremendous controversy.

The project started in 2017 when Dupont Circle ANC 2B requested that DDOT study options to implement bike lanes on the 17th Street corridor between Florida and Constitution. The commission wanted to relieve congestion on existing 15th Street protected bike lanes.

After four years of traffic analysis, DDOT fashioned a design for bike lanes. The agency held at least six public meetings with ANC 2B and area citizen’s association to look at designs—but not to debate whether bike lanes were going on 17th Street NW. Some neighbors consider the fact that they

Commissioner Amber Gover (6A04) with her dog Opal at the busy intersection of Constitution and North Carolina Aves, with 14th Street NE. E.O’Gorek/CCN

didn’t get to opine on whether lanes should be installed to be the very problem. “Our concern about DDOT is, they’re proceeding without community engagement and they don’t care. This is here, and it’s going to go in, the Mayor has a mandate,” President of Dupont East Civic Association Nick Delle Donne said of the agency’s engagement.

The two protected bike lanes on 17 Street NW eliminate a vehicular travel lane. There are now one lane of traffic and one painted bike lane in each direction. Parking remains on both sides of the street.

Public reception has been decidedly mixed.

The bike lanes “play Russian Roulette with the vitality of the community,” said Donne. Delivery trucks parked on sidewalks and on intersections create chaos, he pointed out. This is dangerous for pedestrians and snarls traffic, he said.

Richard Wetzell lives on 17th Street NW. Not only does that description not match his experience on the street, he said, it also places cyclists and other road users unnecessarily in opposition. “The

assumption that the interests of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers are in conflict should be questioned,” said Wetzell, a pedestrian, resident, cyclist and driver in his 60s. “It’s not a zero-sum game. If scooter riders can now use the new bikes lanes, then they’re off the sidewalks and that’s better for pedestrians,” he pointed out.

Often, the complexity of road planning can erode public engagement. Planning for 17th Street NW, for example, took over three years.

Putting the Public in Engagement As the examples above demonstrate, there is little consistency to DDOT’s public engagement process relating to the installation of protected bike lanes, other than the issuance of an NOI thirty days prior to construction. The agency’s internal mandates and nonpublic PIPS make it difficult to evaluate their engagement efforts.

Moreover, the agency’s overreliance on advisory neighborhood commissions to funnel neighborhood feedback can leave it blind to the concerns of those living on impacted blocks.

However, in many ways, focusing on the public engagement process alone betrays a larger fallacy in understanding on the public’s role. DDOT only grants residents a very limited voice. The agency consults them for feedback on choosing among its internally generated designs.

Alternative plans offered by residents are not given consideration. Criticism is treated as merely advisory. Driven by the mayor’s mandate, DDOT’s installation of protected bike lanes is not an “if ” but a “when.”

“There will be a lot of change coming for many neighborhoods. Not every street will get bike lanes, but a lot of them will,” said DDOT Bicycle Specialist Will Handsfield.

DDOT planners say protected bike lanes must happen to successfully confront societal issues like traffic safety and global warming. The agency is obligated to find the right balance between the goals the city is achieving and the issues on the ground.

That will impact neighborhoods, whether residents like it or not.

The extension of the District’s bike network will have a huge impact on residents, businesses and traffic congestion. Given the outcry the provision of protected lanes has generated, their installation could be a messy affair. u

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The ABC’s of Redistricting Ward Borders To Be Redrawn

D

C Council is gearing up for the start of the often-contentious redistricting process, undertaken by every state (and DC) every ten years. Normally, redistricting begins in April, but a five-month pandemic-related delay in the release of 2020 Census data means the process officially kicked off in September.

The US Census Bureau reported that the population for the District of Columbia was 689,545 persons in 2020. The Council has to make sure each of the eight wards will have a roughly equal population, about 86,193 residents, with a permitted deviation of plus or minus 5 percent.

That works out to between 81,883 and 90,503 people in each ward.

Only three of the eight wards currently have populations outside those limits. Wards 7 and 8, with populations of 76,255 and 78,513 respectively, are slightly below the permitted range. On the other hand, Ward 6 has a population of 108,202. That means the ward lines must be redrawn to place at least 17,699 Ward 6 residents in another ward, without pushing any other ward’s population over 90,503.

The Rules

According to legislation governing the process, in addition to being of relatively equal population, the wards must be “compact and contiguous [touching]” and should conform as much as possible to the boundaries of the US Census tracts.

The boundaries must also be in place at least 180 days before the next general election, in November 2022, with ward boundaries to be finalized by the June 2022 primary election.

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To conform with the law –and avoid court challenges --the redistricting plan also needs to be above any challenge that it “has the purpose and effect of diluting the voting strength of minority citizens.” There is some debate about whether keeping certain Ward 7 and 8 neighborhoods together is the best way to balance equity with this consideration.

During the redistricting process that followed the 2010 census, Ward 7 was further extended across the Anacostia River, claiming The DC Jail and Reservation 13. At the time, some also argued for Ward 8 to also reach across the river to include portions of Navy Yard, a neighborhood of about 32,000 people, or Southwest, currently home to 14,000, with another 1,000 in Buzzard Point.

The Process

DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson has appointed a Redistricting Subcommittee to direct the Council’s work. It consists of three at-large members: Elissa Silverman, who will chair the subcommittee, Anita Bonds, and Christina Henderson. Silverman has created a one-stop website with all the facts and links to the census data and a new online mapping tool (dcredistricting.esriemcs.com) that allows members of the public to draw their own ward and ANC boundaries using the new Census data.

“Redistricting ensures that residents have an equal voice in our elected government, and this mapping tool now gives the public even more of a say in the process of shifting our ward boundaries to reflect the change in our population,” said committee Chair Elissa Silverman. “My goal is for this to be the most transparent, accessible redistricting process the District of Columbia has ever seen.”

Using data from the 2020 Census, the subcommittee will make recommendations to the full Council on redrawing ward and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) boundaries to ensure balanced ward populations and representation in the legislature.

• Late September through late October 2021: Subcommittee will hold eight hearings on ward redistricting, one specific to each ward The committee will also conduct extensive public hearings, some of which will be held in the most impacted wards. The first of these was held on Sept. 29.

The Final Decision

The Council will consider a wide range of factors when drafting the new ward and ANC lines. It will look at population levels, age, race, voter turnout, income, education, geographic continuity, and many other data points.

Here is the timeline: • Mid-November: Subcommittee markup of the ward redistricting bill (technically a subcommittee of the Committee of the Whole) • Dec. 7: First vote by the full Council on the ward redistricting bill • Dec. 21: Second vote on the ward redistricting bill • December: Ward Task Forces that provide recommendations on ANC redistricting start meeting • February 2022: Ward Task Forces report out recommendations • May 2022: Subcommittee mark-up of the ANC redistricting bill • June 2022: Council votes on the ANC redistricting bill The Council’s final decision, as Chairman Phil Mendelson noted during the 2011 process, will be contentious. There were large protests in Ward 6 just before the first vote in 2011.

The public can participate in the process in multiple ways. First, residents can try to meet redistricting challenges themselves by using a new mapping tool (dcredistricting.esriemcs. com) that allows members of the public to draw their own ward and ANC boundaries using the new Census data, and to submit these maps to the Council subcommittee for consideration.

Residents can also express their views to the Redistricting Subcommittee. The committee will hold hearings on redistricting in each ward from Sept. 29 through late October.

Residents can testify before the subcommittee or submit testimony via email or voicemail.

Finally, since each Councilmember will vote on the new ward boundaries, residents can also contact their representative.

Learn more about redistricting by visiting https://www.elissasilverman.com/ redistricting#FAQ. Find your ward and see detailed ward maps at https://planning. dc.gov/whatsmyward. You can email Councilmember Silverman at esilverman@dccouncil. us, or the redistricting subcommittee at redistricting@dccouncil.us. ◆

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NEIGHBORHOOD

Shaw Streets

by Pleasant Mann Mayor Bowser and the community cut ribbon to open new Banneker Academic High School. Photo: Pleasant Mann

Ribbon-Cutting for Banneker Academic High School in Shaw

Mayor Muriel Bowser along with councilmembers, educators and residents gathered on Saturday morning, Sept. 28, to cut a ribbon celebrating the opening of a new home for the Benjamin Banneker Academic High School. One of the most academically rigorous schools in the DC Public School (DCPS) system, Banneker had been located on Euclid Street in a Depression-era building.

“For 40 years, Banneker students and educators have made DC proud. Today, we deliver on our promise to the Banneker community with a world-class facility that embodies their decadeslong commitment to academic excellence,” said Mayor Bowser. “We recognize that our community now has this stunning school because our Banneker Achievers refused to settle for anything less than what they deserved. The best part of all of this: we can now deliver the highest quality Banneker education to even more young people in our city ‒ and that should make us all proud.”

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The $135 million project produced a 175,000-square-foot, four-story building, with more than 30 classrooms and specialty labs for science courses, lab spaces with the latest technology, resource rooms that include spaces for small group projects and instruction, as well as gym and cafeteria spaces. Exterior sculpture and murals by local artists decorate the building. The school has its own regulation-sized running track and recreational field.

Banneker is DCPS’ first Net Zero Energy Ready building, producing as much energy as it uses. Its energy-generation suite features an underground, geothermal-water-source heat pump, and solar panels installed on the roof of the building and on the canopies located above the athletic field bleachers and staff parking lot.

The Banneker project also provides improvements for the neighborhood, such as a new skatepark, an improved dog park, a tennis court, two basketball courts, an outdoor fitness area and outdoor seating areas. The Department of Parks and Recreation opened these amenities on October 2, with a formal ceremony coming later.

RAMMY Awards Return to Shaw

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) brought the RAMMY awards, celebrating excellence in the restaurant and hospitality industry, back to the Washington Convention Center on Sunday evening, Sept. 19. Entitled “A Night among Bright Stars,” the 2021 RAMMYs were the first in-person version of the event since the pandemic started. This year’s format differed from past years, with all attendees required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccinations and with a list of award categories that expressed some of the stresses of the past 18 months on the restaurant industry.

Shaw establishments got a lot of nominations, but only a few awards. DC Ghostburger, based at Espita Mezcaleria, won for Outstanding Ghost Kitchen or Pop-up Concept. In accepting the award, Espita Chef Rob Aikens credited the pop-up with allowing the restaurant to rehire its employees during the pandemic crisis. Oyster Oyster won the award for Most Innovative To-Go Packaging Game.

Oyster Oyster Chef Rob Rubba also got a Good Neighbor Award for his work with Willa Pelini and

NEIGHBORHOOD

Paola Velez in Bakers against Racism last year.

In a surprise move, all the nominees for the Manager of the Year and Employee of the Year categories got awards. Autumn Harriger of Espita and Tylyn Mallon of Right Proper Brewing got the award for Manager of the Year, while Adrian Godinez of RPM Italian and Alicia Ramos of Convivial were designated Employees of the Year. The RAMMY judges added two special honorable mention categories this year.

One, for Best Wine to Go program, included Shaw’s Grand Cata, La Jambe and Maxwell Park. Honorees in the second category, entitled Sweet Relief, included Baking and Pastry to Go, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken and Buttercream Bakeshop.

One Shaw restaurant did not have to wait for the RAMMYs to get a major award. Andy’s Pizza, which has an outlet on Ninth Street, won the top prize for Best Traditional Pizza at the International Pizza Expo & Conference in Las Vegas at the end of August. The prize-winning pizza is available in Shaw seven days a week.

Shaw Home to New Murals

Any observer of Shaw streetscapes will probably notice a recent explosion in the number of murals and public art. Perhaps the biggest new mural is “Together,” going up in the 1300 block of Ninth Street.

The mural, by local artists Maggie O’Neal, Nia Ketura Calhoun and Lisa Marie Thalhammer, was funded

Espita Mezcaleria chef Rob Aikens accepts RAMMY award for Ghostburger, the year’s Best Restaurant Pop-up. Photo: Pleasant Mann

by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) Public Art Building Communities grant program and managed by Shaw Main Streets. It depicts citizens demonstrating for their rights in the nation’s capital. Other murals from Shaw Main Streets and DCCAH will be painted on the 1600 block of Seventh Street and the 1200 block of Ninth Street this fall. Noted muralist Aniekan Udofia is painting a Department of Public Works Murals DC program design devoted to the theme of DC statehood. It features recently deceased Broadway star and perennial candidate for DC Mayor Faith Dane.

The mural enlivens the rear wall of The Shay’s east building, along with a mural

by Kaliq Crosby.

Working on the “Together” mural in Shaw. Photo: Big N Toasty, courtesy of Shaw Main Streets

Eat. Drink. Shaw. Nov. 4

Shaw Main Streets is bringing back its popular event Eat.Drink.Shaw. on Thursday night, November 4, 2021.

Last year’s event, which planned to have neighborhood restaurants serving examples of their food options at the Howard theatre, along with a lot of drinking, dancing and conviviality, had to be cancelled when pandemic restrictions were in effect in the District. This year’s event has a new format. “Eat.Drink.Shaw. ...Reimagined” participants will purchase a ticket and pick up a box at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The box will contain certificates redeemable for food and beverage samples at 30 Shaw bars and restaurants during the following two weeks. The boxes will also contain other surprises. A streaming video will introduce the chefs and mixologists and the items to be enjoyed at each location. “We thought about having the samples in the boxes, but decided the reheating and other preparation steps would take the fun out of the experience,” said Shaw Main Streets Executive Director Alexander Padro. “This way, instead of a one-night event, guests can enjoy two weeks of dining and drinking and visiting each bar and restaurant on the list.” Proceeds support Shaw Main Streets’ commercial revitalization and historic preservation activities. Tickets are $100, with a maximum of 300 available. For more information, visit eatdrinkshaw.com. u

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NEIGHBORHOOD

ANC 6E

by Pleasant Mann Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E held its monthly meeting for September on Tuesday evening, Sept. 7. Due to restrictions on public meetings caused by the pandemic, the meeting was a virtual conference.

Commission Chair Rachelle Nigro (6E04) called the meeting to order with Michael Eichler (6E01, vice chair), Alex Lopez (6E02, secretary), Frank Wiggins (6E03, treasurer), Patrick Parlej (6E05), Denise Blackson (6E06) and Kevin Rogers (6E07) in attendance. There was a quorum to conduct official business.

M

etropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Robert Contee briefed the commission on the crime situation in the District. New types of crimes, like kidnappings and robberies of ATMs, were occurring in the District, he stated. The homicide rate, he observed, keeps him up at night. The number of people shot in the District, so far, he noted, is 10 fewer than at this point last year. The chief is committed to having more officers on mountain bikes and scooters. The MPD workforce is down 200 officers since last year. When the next class of recruits graduates, in December, there will be more community patrols.

Slow Mail Delivery

Nigro stated that residents have complained about slow mail deliveries. She has invited the postmaster for the District to explain the problem. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) has written a letter bringing up neighborhood complaints, she stated.

Sherry Harper, executive postmaster for the DC branch of the US Postal Service, stated that she had been out of the office for five months. Until recently, there was an acting manager on call.

During the pandemic, Harper noted, a number of people took leave and there has been a high turnover of mail carriers and a recent hike in retirements. Some degradation in service occurred when employee levels fell, Harper stated. Now the post office is recruiting, she said, hiring 135 staff

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since April.

One resident complained of receiving only two deliveries of mail over the previous two weeks.

Harper promised to investigate the problem.

Message from Councilmember Allen

Naomi Mitchell from Councilmember Allen’s office described three big issues coming up. The first is redistricting. After release of the final results from the 2020 Census, the DC Council will have to start the redistricting process. Ward 6 has about 20,000 more residents than any other ward, so its boundaries will have to change.

The second issue she raised is the timing of the reopening of DC Council offices. They have been officially closed since March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. The council may return as early as October.

Last, the Kennedy Recreation Center in Shaw has gotten a special appropriation in the last District budget. Councilmember Allen’s office is monitoring the situation to track the funds. A resident asked how to get involved with the recreation center. Mitchell suggested contacting the Friends of Kennedy Recreation Center and its president, Alexander Padro.

Zoning and Development

The Zoning and Development Committee presented the following requests for support: • 310 M St. NW. A project needing approval from both the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) and the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA).

• 111 Massachusetts Ave. NW. A large office building being sold to Georgetown University. Its new owner will need a modification of the planned unit development (PUD) agreement, since the uses outlined in the existing PUD do not include higher education.

• 1112 Sixth St. NW. Seeking approval of

plans before the HPRB. • 1521 and 1521½ 11th St. Support for a byright project for a first-floor restaurant with two residential units above, going before the HPRB. Committee Chair Tony Brown mentioned that some neighbors objected to having a restaurant in the space, but that was not relevant to the HPRB decision.

• 1708 10th St. NW. A project on 10th Street between French and R requiring HPRB approval.

• 1251 Fourth St. NW. Need for approval of a conceptual renovation plan for the Hoagie House, before the HPRB. The commissioners approved all the requests for support.

Alcohol Beverage Licensing

The Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee brought two requests: • Bar Chinois (455 I St. NW ). Request for a substantial change to the license from a restaurant to a tavern, largely to ease reporting requirements.

• Jake’s Tavern (1606 Seventh St. NW ). Request to add a sports wagering endorsement to its liquor license. Plans are to partner with a third-party wagering app so that no cash transactions would be involved in the establishment.

The commissioners approved both requests for licensing support.

Transportation

The Transportation Committee brought the following issues: • Request of support for a notice of intent (NOI) issued by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to establish “No Turn on Red” at the intersection of North Capitol Street and Massachusetts Avenue, and to expand the no-parking zones.

• Request of residents to install speed bumps

on the 200 block of Morgan Street. Nigro said she had gotten a request from residents on nearby Kirby Street for speed bumps. The Kirby Street bumps were added to the request.

• Support for a NOI to convert the 900 block of Four and a Half Street from a two-way to a one-way street.

• Support for a traffic calming proposal for Four and a Half Street from the Mount Vernon Triangle Community Improvement District.

• Support for a proposal to reduce the speed limit on New York Avenue from 30 to 25 miles an hour.

• Support for installation of a traffic signal at New Jersey Avenue and O Street.

• Support for installation of a traffic light at Pierce and North Capitol streets.

The commissioners approved all seven proposals.

Grants

The ANC received a request from the Judah Project, a youth development group in Shaw, for a grant of $5,000 to help at-risk youth recognize how they could become valuable members of the community. The commissioners approved the grant request unanimously.

ANC 6E scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 6:30 p.m.

Plans were to hold the meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc6e. org for more information. ◆

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BULLETIN BOARD Choose from apple, pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan and a sea salt chocolate chess pie. Photo: Abigail Seiler

Food & Friends’ Pie Sale

Now in its 15th year, Slice of Life has become a District tradition. Pie sellers and Pie teams come together to raise money to ensure neighbors facing serious illnesses can enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal complete with two delicious pies. Each is baked fresh by gourmet bakery Whisked and picked up on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving at conveniently located sites. Choose from apple, pumpkin, sweet potato, pecan and a sea salt chocolate chess pie. There is no easier way to give back during the holidays. www.sliceoflifedc.org

Shaw’s Outdoor Family Story Time

On Nov. 13 and 27, at 10:30 a.m., enjoy stories and songs with the wee ones at family story time for ages birth through five. These 30-minute story times are full of books, songs, rhymes and finger plays. They are a great way to introduce your child to language skills in a positive and fun environment. Meet at the garden at Seaton Elementary School. Enter behind the school via P Street between Ninth and Tenth streets NW. Bring blankets or chairs. No advance

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signup is needed. In case of inclement weather, the event will be cancelled. www.dclibrary.org/watha

Constellation’s Mysticism & Music

Award-winning musical duo Tom Teasley and Chao Tian compose and perform a propulsive new soundscape powered by a cross-cultural fusion of exuberant percussion and Chinese dulcimer. Singers and dancers join this multidisciplinary group of collaborators to take audiences on a transcen-

dent journey, awakening the senses with spectacular sound, imagery and light. $10 to $49. Mysticism & Music is on stage at Source Theater, 1835 14th St. NW, Oct. 23 to Nov. 21. www.constellationtheatre.org

Franklin Park Reopens

On Sept. 24, Mayor Muriel Bowser reopened the newly modernized Franklin Park, 1332 I St. NW. Improvements to the space include a reimagined

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

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HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down serves as a co-administrator of this DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) first-time home buyer program.

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage.

Qualified District homeowners can receive up to

DC4ME provides mortgage assistance with optional down payment assistance to D.C. government employees. DC4ME is offered to current full-time District government employees, including employees of District government-based instrumentalities, independent agencies, D.C. Public Charter Schools, and organizations, provided the applicant/borrower's employer falls under the oversight of the Council of the District of Columbia.

COVID-19 DC MAP COVID-19 provides financial assistance to those affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 per month to put toward their mortgage for up to six months.

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fountain, improved seating, widened pathways, new trees, a children’s garden and a maintenance program supported through economic resiliency.

Rock the Park DC!

The Downtown DC Business Improvement District (Downtown BID) hosts Rock the Park DC, a concert series in the newly redeveloped Franklin Park on Saturdays in October from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. This free, all-ages outdoor music series features a diverse lineup of internationally renowned DJs and live musicians. Rock the Park DC is curated

by Adrian Loving and Abby O’Neill. Here is the remaining lineup: Oct. 9, Afrofuturism Meets JazzBrad Linde Ensemble’s Tribute to Sun Ra, Adrian Loving and Ron Trent; Oct. 16, The Originals Present DJ Clark Kent, Stretch Armstrong and Tony Touch; Oct. 23, Kiss n Grind x HU Homecoming Featuring DJ Jahsonic, Just Blaze and Vikter Duplaix, hosted by KG Superstar; and Oct. 30, Eaton Radio Presents Les the DJ, Samantha Francesca, Martin Miguel, Rissa Garcia and Black Rave Culture. www.downtowndc.org

DC’s Haunted Houses Tour

Violent quarrels, vicious attacks, murder and suicide! Why are such turbulent historical events concentrated around the seven acres of Lafayette Park? During the day, the park bustles with White House staff, visitors and office workers. As evening descends, however, so does an almost tangible

Cast (l to r): Kevin Thorne, Lolita Marie, Jared Graham.

Photo: Mike Kozemchak

“N” at the Keegan

Eugene O’Neill’s “The Emperor Jones” was the first American play that featured an African American actor in the lead role on Broadway. Charles S. Gilpin’s portrayal of Emperor Brutus Jones in 1921 was hailed as “revelatory.” The opening, O’Neill’s first commercial success, made the two men the toast of the theater world. But by 1926, O’Neill was a legend and Gilpin was lost to history. Adrienne Pender’s “N” explores the challenging relationship between the men and how it hinged on a word that lifted one of them to the heights of American theater and destroyed the other. “N” is on stage at the Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW, Oct. 23 to Nov. 20. $50. www.keegantheatre.com

New Go-Go Mural

A new go-go mural by Kaliq Crosby is a throwback to the genre’s early roots when local youth would beat out rhythms on empty five-gallon plastic jugs.

On Sept. 14, Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled a new mural at the District’s “go-go music corner” at Seventh Street and Florida Avenue NW. The artwork is directly across from the cellphone store where go-go music plays daily. Painted by local artist Kaliq Crosby, it features a young boy on percussion. The mural portrays the genre’s roots, when local youth would beat out a go-go rhythm on empty five-gallon plastic jugs.

It is the first of three distinct works. Artist Aniekan Udofia is painting another section of the wall. The installation is made possible by Shaw Mainstreets and MuralsDC. www.muralsdcproject.com

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Photo: Courtesy Historic Congressional Cemetery

of stillness. How the ghosts and spirits came into being is the subject of this eerie perambulation. See the home of Navy hero Stephen Decatur, hear about man of letters Henry Adams and his troubled wife Clover, and relive the night of April 14, 1865, when the Grim Reaper stalked more than Abraham Lincoln. The walk begins at the house considered the most haunted home in the city: The Octagon. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30, 7:30 p.m., $25. www.washingtonwalks. com/tours/most-haunted-houses

DC Circulator Fares Reinstated

Soul Strolls

On Oct. 15, 16, 22 and 23 (rain or shine), trespass into the past and discover the secrets of Congressional Cemetery’s “residents.” Soul Strolls explores the stories of individuals buried there through guided tours and costumed interpreters. The hour-long tour departs every 15 minutes between 6 and 10 p.m.

Adult tickets are $35; children 12 and under, $15; beer, wine and cider for purchase. Comfortable shoes are encouraged, as are flashlights. Tours will not stay on the paths, so be prepared for uneven terrain. Congressional Cemetery is at 1801 E St. SE. www.congressionalcemetery.org

NoMa Outdoor Movies

The NoMa Business Improvement District (NoMa BID) revives its free outdoor movie series. Renamed CiNoMatic, in a new location at Alethia Tanner Park, 227 Harry Thomas Way NE, it takes place Wednesday nights at sunset through Oct. 27. Here is the remaining lineup: Oct. 13, “Moana”; Oct. 20, “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”; Oct. 27, “Coco.” Lawn seating opens one hour prior to showtime.

Bring blankets, chairs and picnic dinners.

Food and drink will be available from food trucks. For more information and weather-related schedule updates, visit www. cinomatic.org.

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As of Oct. 1, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has reinstated fares on the DC Circulator. The base fare is $1. The DC Circulator also offers reduced fares of 50 cents for seniors and mobility-impaired individuals. Children under five ride free with a paying adult. DC students between five and 21 who are eligible for the Kids Ride Free Program can use their KRF SmarTrip card. www.dccirculator.com

District Entertainment Network Launched

The DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) has launched a streaming network, District of Columbia Entertainment Network (DCE). The 24-hour on-demand service delivers free lifestyle, music, live event, sports, arts, variety show, talk show and educational and entertainment programming via ROKU, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Viewers can also watch on iPhone and Android mobile devices by downloading the DCE Network and at www.dcenetwork.com. Expansion is planned to Samsung, LG and Android TV platforms. www.dcenetwork.com

Outdoor Book Sale

On Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown DC’s outdoor pop-up bookstore reappears on Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, for the last time this season. Shop thousands of gently used books, CDs and DVDs, for $6 or less. Books are provided by Carpe Librum, a local used bookstore, and benefit nonprofit Turning the Page (www.turningthepage.org). The book sale is cancelled in the case of inclement weather. www.downtowndc.org Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email bulletinboard@hillrag.com. u

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Changing Hands is a list of most residential sales in the Midcity DC area from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill.

The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms.

Neighborhood

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Trick or Treating at Mount Vernon Tickets are on sale now for Trick or Treating at Mount Vernon on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2 to 6 p.m., rain or shine, where kids can celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities such as Punch & Judy Shows, chocolate making, live music, and pictures at a straw-bale selfie station. $25 for adults; $15 for kids. Face masks are recommended indoors for all persons, vaccinated or unvaccinated.

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Photo: Courtesy of George Washington’s Mount Vernon

“My Lord, What a Night” Student Matinees

Girls on the Run 5K The Girls on the Run 5K is on Sunday, Nov. 21 at Anacostia Park. It is a 3.1-mile loop around the park.

Registration will stay open until Monday, Nov. 15 at midnight for Community Buddy Runner registration and until Sunday, Nov. 20 at noon for families and community runners. But if you register before Oct. 17, you will receive early bird pricing. At Girls on the Run, they inspire all girls to buildconfidence and make intentional decisions, while fostering care and compassion for self and others.

Read more at gotrdc.org.

After performing in Princeton, New Jersey, acclaimed contralto Marian Anderson is denied lodging at the Nassau Inn because she is Black. Physicist Albert Einstein invites her to stay at his home, and the two form a profound friendship based on their love for music and their commitment to human rights.

Based on true events, My Lord, What a Night takes us into Einstein’s home and imagines the conversations and circumstances that led to Anderson’s historic concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Don’t miss this remarkable new play about courage, justice and our shared humanity.

Teachers can bring their students to a free matinee performance on Oct. 14 and 21 at 11 a.m. at Ford’s Theatre. Ford’s provides free group tickets and transportation to DC public schools and other qualifying schools. There is a limit of 40 tickets per teacher. Read more at fords.org/for-teachers/programs/student-matinees.

Healthy Kids Running Series at Anacostia Park Healthy Kids Running Series is a five-week running program in the spring and fall for kids pre-k through 8th grade. Each HKRS Series takes place once a week and offers age-appropriate running events including the 50- and 75-yard dashes, the quarter mile, the half mile and the one mile run. Kids compete each week for a chance to earn points.

At the end of the Series the boys and girls who accumulate the most points in their respective distances are awarded trophies. All participants receive a medal on Week 5. This fall’s series is Oct. 2 to Nov. 7. $40. Races are at Anacostia Park, Playing Field #1, Anacostia Dr. and Good Hope Rd. SE. Read more and register at healthykidsrunningseries.org/race-locations/anacostia-kenilworth-dc/.

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Photo: Courtesy of Healthy Kids Running Series

DC Prep campuses now accepting applications for the 21-22 school year in ward 5, 7 & 8.

We’re the highest performing public charter schools serving PK3 – 8th grade.

Call 202-780-5126 for more information or visit:

dcprep.org

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annual Halloween event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Participate in creepy crafts, spooky science experiments, and other Halloween-themed activities. Arrive in costume to get into the Halloween spirit and enjoy safe indoor trick-or-treating. Be aware of high-volume attendance and allow for additional time for parking and security screening.

Free; parking is $15. airandspace.si.edu.

Fort Dupont Public Ice Skating in October

Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. SE, has reopened for public skating. October hours are Sundays, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 1 to 3 p.m.; Fridays, noon to 2 p.m. Adult admission is $5; kids, $4.

Skate rental is $3. fdia.org.

Jake Blount: Performance for Young Audiences at the KC

Washington, DC-native Jake Blount fell in love with the banjo a decade ago after stumbling upon a performance in an Ethiopian restaurant on DC’s U Street. The banjoist, fiddler, singer, and scholar is a specialist in the folk traditions of Black and indigenous Americans—and a recipient of the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Prize. Blount blends his charismatic and limber voice with blues, bluegrass, and spirituals for an awe-inspiring musical experience. Jake Blount is on stage at the Kennedy Center on Oct. 17, at 1:30 and 4 p.m. and most enjoyed by ages seven and older. Tickets are $20. kennedy-center.org.

National BookFestival Children’s and Teens Authors Online

The 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival, Sept. 17 to 26, included an extraordinary lineup of authors for children and teens—all now featured in videos on demand at loc.gov/bookfest. The theme of this year’s festival, “Open a Book, Open the World,” was a starting point for many conversations with authors, often discussing how their own books open up new worlds for their readers.

Imagination Stage’s Balloonacy runs Jan. 15 to Feb. 20.

Some of the children’s authors and their featured books are: Derrick Barnes, I Am Every Good Thing; Kacen CalImagination Stage welcomes audiences back to in-person perforlender, King and the Dragonflies; Kate mances in December, while continuing to offer digital programDiCamillo and Sophie Blackall, The ming. First up is Corduroy, Dec. 11 to Jan. 23, for ages three and Beatryce Prophecy; Rep. Sharice Daolder. We all need a friend, and Lisa is instantly drawn to the pervids of Kansas, Sharice’s Big Voice: A fectly imperfect teddy bear on display at the department store. If Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman; only she can convince her stressed-out mother to buy Corduroy for Nikki Grimes, Legacy: Women Poets of The Museum of Natural History is Maher! Meanwhile, Corduroy is determined to find his missing button the Harlem Renaissance; Dan Gutman, son’s favorite place to visit and he can’t wait and become worthy of going to a real home. The rest of the season Houdini and Me; Brayden Harrington, to celebrate his birthday with a sleepover Balloonacy, Jan. 15 to Feb. 20; P.Nokio, Feb. 23 to April 10; Mother and Brayden Speaks Up: How One Boy there, but first he has to scout for the best Goose, March 11 to April 10; and Mr. Popper’s Penguins, June 22 to Inspired the Nation. place to spend the night. On Sun. Oct. 31, Aug. 7. Prior to the start of in-person performances, an immersive, Some of the teens authors and their at 2 and 4 p.m., join Mason and his friends interactive online show S.P.I.E.S. & the Lost Treasure of Atlanfeatured books are: Traci Chee, We Are for a musical and scientific scavenger hunt tis (formerly Spy Academy) returns for an encore run from Nov. 13 Not Free; Jay Coles, Things We Couldn’t through the many exhibits in this concert to 28. 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda, imaginationstage.org.

Say; Sharon G. Flake, The Life I’m In; with music from and based on the book of Tahereh Mafi, An Emotion of Great the same name by Karen LeFrank. The 2 Delight; Trung Le Nguyen, The Magic p.m. concert is a sensory-friendly perforFish; Jason Reynolds, Look Both Ways: the pumpkin patch to pick your perfect pumpkin mance designed to create a performing arts experience A Tale Told in Ten Blocks; and Katie Zhao, How and see draft horses, cows, goats, llamas, sheep, pigs, that is welcoming to all families, including those with We Fall Apart. chickens and other farm animals. Entry fee is $10 children with autism or other sensory sensitivities. which includes a pumpkin. Open daily through Sleepover at the Museum is most enjoyed by ages five, Oct. 31, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At door tickets only— up. Tickets are $18 to $20. kennedy-center.org. credit preferred. novaparks.com/events/templehall-fall-festival.

Imagination Stage 2021-2022 In-Person Season

NSO Family Concert: Sleepover at the Museum at the KC

Temple Hall Farm Pumpkin Patch

Enjoy a safe family outing at Temple Hall Farm, 15855 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg, VA, picking pumpkins. You can take a wagon ride over to

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Children’s National Hospital Partners with UHS

Air & Scare at Udvar-Hazy

On Saturday, Oct. 30, noon to 5:30 p.m., explore the spooky side of air and space at Air & Scare, their

Mayor Bowser, Universal Health Services (UHS) and Children’s National Hospital have announced a Letter of Intent for Children’s National pediatricians, nurses, physician assistants, and other medical

staff to operate and provide professional services at the new hospital at St. Elizabeths East, which is scheduled to open in late 2024. Specifically, Children’s National staff will operate the pediatric emergency department and neonatal intensive care unit. This agreement is another step in establishing a robust system of health care in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River and will ensure that children and mothers can receive the highest quality of care without leaving their communities. newhospitals.dc.gov.

The new $375 million full-service community hospital will support 136 beds, with the ability to expand, will provide a complete range of inpatient services to all District residents, and include maternal health and newborn delivery services, normal and neonatal intensive care, a verified trauma center, an ambulatory office building for outpatient and community health services, and a 500-space parking garage.

The facility is expected to open in late 2024. In addition to the new hospital, UHS will open two urgent care facilities, one in Ward 7 and one in Ward 8.

Find a Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch or Hayride

Find pumpkin patches, pick-yourown pumpkin farms, hayrides and corn mazes in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia at pumpkinpatchesandmore.org. The site claims to have the world’s best pumpkin pie and pie crust recipes as well. It also has home canning, preserving, drying and freezing directions. Yes, we’re sending you to a website. Most pumpkin patches and corn mazes open by mid-September; some earlier. In winter, you’ll find cut-yourown Christmas tree farms at pickyourownchristmastree.org.

La llamada de Sylvia Mendez (Separate is Never Equal)

A world-premiere commission, this family-friendly bilingual play explores the life of Sylvia Méndez, who

at eight years old became instrumental in the 1946 Mendez v. Westminster decision, a landmark case focused on the desegregation of Mexican and Latinx students in California. Sylvia Méndez has been a champion for civil rights ever since. $12 for adults; $10 for kids. On stage at GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW, Oct. 16, 17, 23 and 24. galatheatre.org.

Children’s Environmental Health Day

Each year on the second Thursday of October (Oct. 14), the children’s environmental health community commemorates Children’s Environmental Health Day (CEH Day).

This day anchors the overall Children’s Environmental Health Movement and is a rallying point for education, and for individuals and organizations to take action on behalf of children’s environmental health. Organizations, communities, and families can organize their own CEH Day activities or join existing ones. Read more at cehday.org.

Black & Latino Student Fund School Fair

The Black Student Fund & Latino Student Fund Annual School Fair is on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2 to 5 p.m., at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt Vernon Pl. NW. Tickets are free. The Fair is one of the largest school fairs of its kind in the region, providing a networking opportunity for thousands of families to meet with representatives from more than 60 independent schools. Parents and prospective students get firsthand knowledge about each school’s programs, community, admission requirements and financial aid process. In addition, the fair features interactive seminars focused on the admissions process, the financial aid process and personal/family financial management. Read more and register at blackstudentfund.org. u

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SHAW’S FOOD AND BEVERAGE SHOWCASE IS BACK…WITH A TWIST! Originally a three-hour in-person food and drink showcase, we’re reimagining this year’s EAT.DRINK.SHAW. event as a progressive experience to be enjoyed by visiting the participating restaurants and bars.

Photo: Pleasant Mann

Ticket holders will pick up their participant packages on Thursday, November 4, 2021 between 6:00 and 8:00 PM at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Inside will be vouchers valid for a food item or beverage at 30 participating establishments, which can be enjoyed in any order beginning November 4th.

Also included will be additional surprises. Each $100 ticket entitles the bearer to approximately $300 worth of food and drink.

Ticket holders get to enjoy a streaming video hosted by local TV personality and influencer Tommy McFly, featuring our chefs, mixologists and brewers.

Proceeds support Shaw Main Streets’ commercial revitalization, historic preser vation and neighborhood beautification activities.

Tickets are $100, on sale now.

For more information or to order tickets, visit eatdrinkshaw.com.

Shaw Main Streets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor. ©2021 Shaw Main Streets, Inc. All Rights Reserved.