MidCity DC Magazine January 2019

JANUARY 2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS JANUARY 2019

16 25

6 What’s On Washington / 8 Calendar / 30 Classifieds out and about 16 Depeche Art • Phil Hutinet 18 Insatiable • Celeste McCall

your neighborhood 20 Bulletin Board • Kathleen Donner 22 A Traumatic Failure: DC Public Schools Neglect Mental Health • Jonetta Rose Barras 25 Bloomingdale Bites • Taylor Barden Golden 26 Shaw Streets • Pleasant Mann 28 East Side News • Taylor Barden Golden 29 ANC 6E • Steve Holden

kids and family See ‘Education Special Issue’ Center Fold

26

at home 29 Changing Hands • Don Denton

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Parents helping children with homework. Photo by Rido

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JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 0 5

WASHINGTON

1

FROM U STREET TO THE COTTON CLUB

This original work by local playwright Sybil Williams and directed by KenYatta Rogers, uses DC music from gospel to jazz (Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller) to tell the story of the rich cultural heritage and the importance of music in the life of Black Broadway, and of DC’s role in shaping the sound and soul of the Harlem Renaissance. It explores a life in music, moving out of Reconstruction south to the vibrant cultural pulse of U Street, taking tunes and tales north from DC’s Home of the True Reformers to New York’s famed Cotton Club, and back again to the District--all the while holding up in celebration the fiber with which this dynamic community is woven. A project of the In-Series, on stage at Source Theater, 1835 14th St. NW, Jan. 5 to 20. inseries.org.

From U Street to Cotton Club 2009. Photo: Courtesy of In-Series

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FIRST CHEFS: FAME AND FOODWAYS FROM BRITAIN TO THE AMERICAS AT THE FOLGER

Just like today, getting food from farm to table in the early modern British world was hard work. And just like today, most of that hard work went unrecognized. First Chefs tells the stories of the named and unnamed heroes of early modern food culture, and juxtaposes the extravagance of an increasingly cosmopolitan and wealthy upper class against the human cost of its pleasures: the millions of enslaved women, children, and men, servants, gardeners, street criers, and laborers who toiled to feed themselves and many others. Pick up recipe cards which will help you “make history tonight” by preparing adaptations of early modern recipes found in the Folger vaults.

Pull up a chair at their recreation of Shakespeare’s childhood hearth and peruse cookbooks written hundreds of years ago.

First Chefs: Fame and Foodways from Britain to the Americas is on exhibition at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE from Jan. 18 to March 31. folger.edu.

Firs Chefs at the Folger. Photo: Courtesy of Folger Shakespeare Library

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TWELVE ANGRY MEN AT FORD’S

Behind closed doors, tensions run high as a lone juror argues the innocence of a teenager accused of murder. In this provocatively resonant American drama, 12 jurors from all strata of society revisit the evidence, debate the issue of reasonable doubt and confront each other’s personal biases. In it, Broadway director Sheldon Epps ignites a conversation about how prejudice can shape the quest for justice.

Twelve Angry Men is on stage at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10TH ST. NW, Jan. 18 to Feb. 17.

It is recommended for ages twelve and older.

Ford’s Theatre has many opportunities for free and discounted tickets--for under 35s, seniors, military, teachers, Penn Quarter residents, groups and preview patrons. fords.org.

(Front row:) Sean-Maurice Lynch, Michael Russotto, Christopher Bloch, (Back row:) Elan Zafir and Craig Wallace for Ford’s Theatre production of Twelve Angry Men. Photo: Scott Suchman

4

LET FREEDOM RING! CONCERT AT THE KC

On Monday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m., the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Georgetown University celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a free, ticketed musical tribute titled Let Freedom Ring! The annual program features Tony, Emmy, and Grammy-winning artist Audra McDonald, Tony-winning artist Brian Stokes Mitchell, and the Let Freedom Ring Choir. Georgetown University will present the 17th annual John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award to Hawah Kasat, co-founder and executive director of One Common Unity, an organization which breaks cycles of violence and builds compassionate communities through the power of arts and education. Free tickets—up to two per person—will be distributed on a first-come, firstserved basis at the entrance to the Hall of Nations, beginning at 4:30 p.m. on January 21. Overflow seating will be available at Millennium Stage North. kennedy-center.org.

Audra McDonald. Photo: Allison Michael Orenstein

5

THE WOOD BROTHERS AT THE 9:30 CLUB

Indie roots music/Americana band The Wood Brothers return to the 9:30 Club on Jan. 17 and 18 for a two night stand in support of their latest album, One Drop of Truth. “Often, when you’re making an album in the traditional way, there will be a unifying concept, whether that be in the approach to the music stylistically or lyrically in terms over the overall narrative. And even though there are some themes that revealed themselves later, this one is all over the place,” explains Oliver Wood. “What I really love about this record is that each one of these songs has its own little world. There are diverse sounds and vibes from one track to the next.” 9:30 Club, 815 V ST. NW. 930.com.

Photo: Alyssa Gafjken

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01/19

CALENDAR

Awake and in Motion: Celebrating 50 Years of MLK. Jan. 14, 4 to 6 PM. Doors open at 3:30 PM. Music begins at 3:45 PM. In his final Sunday sermon at Washington National Cathedral 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, preached on “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.” The program celebrates Dr. King’s sermon through song, prayer, movement and dance. Washington National Cathedral. cathedral.org.

MLK Let Freedom Ring! Jan. 21, 6 PM. First-come, first-served free ticket distribution starts at 4:30 PM. Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell and the Let Freedom Ring Choir. kennedy-center.org.

MLK Peace March and Parade. Jan. 21, 10 AM to 1:30 PM. The one and a quarter mile parade route begins at the corner of MLK Jr. Avenue and Good Hope Road SE in Anacostia and ends at the Barry Farm Recreation Center. mlkholidaydc.org.

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Photo: Courtesy of the Washington National Cathedral

MLK

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Take an Intimate, Guided Tour of Ford’s Theatre. Select Sundays at 5 PM. Stops include: the balcony and orchestra levels of the theatre, entrance to the President’s Box where Booth waited to shoot the president, the stage and the back alley, which served as Booth’s escape route. Tours are limited to 20 and led by a Ford’s Theatre guide. $28. One hour. Recommended for 8 and above. fords.org.

Photo: Scott Suchman

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Jan. 21. Find MLK day-of-service opportunities at serve.dc.gov/service/martin-luther-king-jrday-service.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Political Legacy.

Jan. 23, 6:45 to 8:45 PM. Brandon Terry of Harvard University examines the ethical and political thought Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. smithsonianassociates.org.

Visit the MLK Memorial. Open to visitors all hours, every day. 1964 Independence Ave. SW. nps.gov/mlkm.

SPECIAL EVENTS Winter Restaurant Week. Jan. 14 to 20. 250 restaurants in metropolitan Washington offer affordably priced prix fixe menus. Visit www.rwdmv.com for a list of participating restaurants.

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Chocolate Festival. Feb. 9 and 10, 10:30 AM to 5 PM. Enjoy tastings, cooking demonstrations and hands-on activities while listening to songs played on a traditional wooden harp at the American Indian Museum. americanindian.si.edu.

MUSIC Music at Hill Country. Jan. 12, The Allman Others Band: DC’s Tribute to The Allman Brothers Band 2 Year Anniversary Show; Jan. 19, Jonny Grave; Jan. 20, Amanda Anne Platt & The Honeycutters; Jan. 26, Wylder; Jan. 30, Tim Reynolds and TR3 CD Release Party; Feb. 1, Mo Lowda & the Humble; Feb. 7, Sam Burchfield, Pierce Edens; Read Southall Band, Kody West. Hill Country Live, 410 Seventh St. NW. hillcountry.com/dc.

Music at U Street Music Hall. Jan. 12, Deep Sugar DC; Jan. 17, Psymbionic; Jan. 19, gnash and The Glitch Mob; Jan. 24, Windhand; Jan. 25, The Brummies and Orchard Lounge; Jan.

26, Let’s Danza! ft. Allen Aucoin of Disco Biscuits; Jan. 31, Danger and Article.002; Feb. 1, Cautious Clay and BAYNK; Feb. 2, KONGOS-1929 TOUR and Luttrell; Feb. 6, Ripe; Feb. 9, REV909: Daft Punk/French House tribute and Indie Dance Classics. U Street Music Hall, 1115 U St. NW. ustreetmusichall.com.

Music at 9:30 Club. Jan. 12, Jumpin’ Jupiter and The Grandsons; Jan. 15, Mo; Jan. 17 and 18, The Wood Brothers; Jan. 19, Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven; Jan. 20, A Tribute to Frankie Knuckles; Jan. 24, Super Diamond; Jan. 25 and 26, Custer; Jan. 27, King Princess; Jan. 28 and 29, Rainbow Kitten Surprise; Jan. 31, Poppy and Amen Dunes; Feb. 1, Daley & JMSN; Feb. 6, Sharon Van Etten; Feb. 7, Mandolin Orange; Feb. 8, COIN; Feb. 8, Space Jesus; Feb. 9, Spafford.

815 V St. NW. 930.com.

Music at Black Cat. Jan. 12, Jon Spencer & The Hitmakers; Jan. 17, Mineral 25th Anniversary; Feb. 13, Current Joys. Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. blackcatdc.com.

Music at Rock and Roll Hotel. Jan. 12, Got My Own Sound; Jan. 18, Furball DC Mal 2019; Jan 19, The Soft Moon; Jan. 24, Still Woozy; Feb. 5, The Band Camino; Feb. 9, Feeder.

Rock and Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. rockandrollhoteldc.com.

Music at Pearl Street Warehouse. Jan. 12, Sail On with the Love Boat; Jan. 19, The New Orleans Funk & Soul Night; Jan. 24, Funk & Soul Night; Jan. 25, the Walkaways; Jan. 26, John Trawick’s Ninth Annual 29th Birthday Show; Jan. 12, Elise Davis. Pearl Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl St. SW, pearlstreetwarehouse.com.

Music at The Howard. Jan. 12, Carnival Baby; Jan. 25, Jon B. Howard Theatre, 620 T St. NW. thehowardtheatre.com.

Music at Union Stage. Jan. 12, Roamfest ‘19 Show #1; Jan. 16, Free Acoustic Open Mic; Jan. 17, Main Source; Jan. 18, the Last Rewind; Jan. 20, Spin; Jan. 23, Grails; Jan. 25, The Lil Smokies; Jan. 26, Bronze Radio Return; Jan. 28, Jimmy Gnecco and LEEDS; Feb. 1, Brasstracks-The Vibrant Tour; Feb. 2, El Ten Eleven; Feb. 4, Cody Ko & Noel Miller: Tiny Meat Gang Live; Feb. 5, RKCB & ShoffySee For Yourself Tour; Feb. 7, David Garibaldi-Art Life Tour; Feb. 8, Bryce Vine; Feb. 9, David August. Union Stage, 740 Water St. SW. unionstage.com.

Music at City Winery. Jan. 12, EagleManiaThe World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band; Jan. 13, Denny Laine Of Wings; Jan. 15, Alejandro Escovedo With Don Antonio (Band); Jan. 18, Vertical Horizon; Jan. 19, Marcus

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JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 1 1

Photo: Courtesy of Capitol Riverfront BID

Canal Park Ice Skating. Open Sundays, 10 AM to 10 PM; Mondays to Thursdays, noon to 10 PM; Fridays, noon to 11 PM; and Saturdays, 10 AM to 11 PM. Adults, $9; children and seniors, $8. Skate rental, $5. Canal Park, 200 M St. SE. canalparkiceskating.com.

Johnson; Jan. 20, The Legendary Chi-Lites Featuring Marshall Thompson and Louis York; Jan. 23 Peter and Jeremy; Jan. 24, Danny Burns: “North Country” Album Release Party; Jan. 25 and Feb. 12 and 13, Steve Earle’s Annual Winter Residency W/ Special Guests Meet & Greet; Jan. 26, Ella Nicole; Jan. 27, Richard Lloyd (Of Television) Solo; Jan. 29, JD Simo Album Release Show; Jan. 30, Robert Gordon with Chris Spedding; Jan. 31, Chi-Town Transit Authority: The Music Of Chicago; Feb. 1, The Fleshtones; Feb. 2, Algebra Blessett; Feb. 4, Hudson Taylor; Feb. 7, Colin Blunstone; Feb. 8, Michael Henderson Valentine Love Concert; Feb. 9, Drivin N Cryin. City Winery, 1350 Okie St. NE. citywinery.com/washingtondc.

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Music at the Phillips. Jan. 13, Calidore String Quartet; Jan. 20, Baritone Benjamin Appl and pianist James Baillieu; Jan. 27, Trio Solisti; Feb. 3, Saxophonist Jess Gillam. Reservations are recommended. Online reservations are available until 12 hours before each concert.

Tickets are $45; $25 for members; $20 students with ID, and $5 for ages eight to 18.

Museum admission is included. The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. phillipscollection.org.

Blue Monday Blues in Southwest. Every Monday, 6 to 9 PM. Jan. 14, Queen Aisha Blues; Jan 21. Eddie Jones & the Young Bucks;

Jan. 28, Full Power Blues. $5 cover. Children under 16 are free. Reasonably priced meals offered. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org.

Jazz Night in Southwest. Every Friday, 6 to 9 PM. Jan. 18, 20 Year Anniversary Celebration; Jan. 25, Remembering Buck Hill. $5 cover. Children under 16 are free. Reasonably priced meals offered. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW. westminsterdc.org.

Music at the Lincoln. Jan. 25, The Disco Biscuits; Jan. 26 and 27, Neko Case; Feb. 8, Fred Armisen; Feb. 9, Joe Jackson-Four Decade Tour. The Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. thelincolndc.com.

THEATER AND FILM

Music at The Anthem. Jan. 20, A$AP ROCKY; Jan. 24, Kacey Musgraves; Jan. 26, The Disco Biscuits; Feb. 1 and 2, Greensky Bluegrass; Feb. 8, Drive-By Truckers; Feb. 9, Old Dominion. The Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW. theanthemdc.com.

Judy Garland: A Star is Born at. Through Jan. 26. A cast of Signature favorites sings some of her most famous songs including “Over the Rainbow,” “Get Happy” and “The Man That Got Away.” Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Shirlington, VA. sigtheatre.org.

Music at Sixth and I. Jan. 22, Mick Jenkins with Special Guest Kari Faux; Feb. 9, Valerie June. Sixth and I, 600 I St. NW. sixthandi.org.

Visions of Love. Through Feb. 10. An original adaptation of Charlie Chaplin’s 1931 film City

Lights. Dance Loft on 14. 4618 14th St. NW. pointlesstheatre.com.

Takes on The Fourth Estate. Jan. 12, 18, 19, 20, 25 and 26, 7:30 PM. With a cast featuring members from The Washington Post and FOX News, WIT takes on the media while providing a respite from the news. $15, advance; $18 at the door. Atlas Theater, 1333 H St. NE. witdc. org/ensembles/the-fourth-estate.

Admissions. Jan. 16 to Feb. 17. Bill and Sherri are the white, progressive-and-proud headmaster and dean of admissions at Hillcrest, a mid-tier New Hampshire boarding school. Over the last fifteen years, they’ve worked tirelessly to diversify the school’s mostly white population. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. studiotheatre.org.

School of Rock. Jan. 16 to 27. A hilarious new musical, School of Rock follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. TheNationalDC.com.

Twelve Angry Men. Jan. 18 to Feb. 17. Behind closed doors, tensions run high as a lone juror argues the innocence of a teenager accused of murder. 12 jurors from all strata of society revisit the evidence, debate the issue of reasonable doubt and confront each other’s personal biases. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. fords.org.

Ain’t Misbehaving. Jan. 23 to March 10.

Step into Harlem for a swinging, dancing celebration of big band and the songs of Thomas “Fats” Waller. Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Shirlington, VA. sigtheatre.org.

Nell Gwynn. January 29 to March 10. A lowly orange-seller from the streets of Drury Lane employs her charm and wits to become the darling of the Restoration stage. Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. folger.edu.

The Screwtape Letters. Jan. 29 to Feb. 3.

Set in an eerily stylish office in Hell, one of Satan’s senior tempters, Screwtape, schemes meticulously to capture the soul of an unsuspecting human on earth. Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. shakespearetheatre.org.

Shame. Jan. 30 to Feb. 17. A blistering documentary portrait of the challenges facing Israelis and Palestinians who decide to work together against formidable opposition. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. mosaictheater.org.

BLKS. Feb. 4 to March 3. After a bad health scare, Octavia decides to put off her troubles

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and blow off some serious steam with her friends June and Imani. Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW. woollymammoth.net.

HISTORY IN OUR MIDST Influenza: The Hundred Year Hunt to Cure the Deadliest Disease in History. Jan. 22, noon. William G. McGowan Theater at the National Archives. archivesfoundation.org.

Oh, Shenandoah: Landscapes of Diversity.

Through Sept. 1, 2019. The Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond is displaying a selection of landscape paintings by DC artist Andrei Kushnir. VirginiaHistory.org.

Work Continues on Historic Ships In Alexandria. Archaeologists are working on the excavation of three ships found in 2018 at the Robinson Landing site in Alexandria. The site developer has a team of contract archaeologists and experts working with city support.

Experts believe the ships are from the 1700s or 1800s and were used to help fill the river’s shoreline. alexandriava.gov/archaeology.

NGA Sculpture Garden Ice Rink. Daily through March 10, Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 9 PM; Fridays, 10 AM to 11 PM; Saturdays, 11 AM to 11 PM; and Sundays, 11 AM to 9 PM. Skating fees for two 45-minute sessions (beginning on the hour): $9 for adults and age 13, over; $8 for ages 50 and over, 12 and under, and students with ID. Skate rental fee, $4; lockers are $.50 ($5 deposit required).

Season passes are $195. pavilioncafe.com/ ice-skating.

Washington Wizards Basketball. Jan. 13, 21, 24 and 30. Capital One Arena. nba.com/ wizards.

Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Tuesdays, 3 to 7 PM. Farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh Street SE. easternmarketdc.com.

Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market. Sundays, 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. 20th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW. freshfarmmarket.org.

SPORTS AND FITNESS Washington Capitals Hockey. Jan. 12, 14, 18 and 22. Capital One Arena. capitals.nhl.com.

open weekends, 9 AM to 6 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. 200 and 300 blocks of Seventh Street SE. easternmarket-dc.org.

MARKETS AND SALES Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7 AM to 7 PM; Saturdays, 7 AM to 6 PM; Sundays, 9 AM to 5 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market

Union Market. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays, 8 AM to 8 PM; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8 AM to 10 PM. Union Market is an artisanal, curated, food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. unionmarketdc.com.

Photo: Courtesy of Cupid’s Undie Run

Cupid’s Undie Run. Feb. 9, noon to 4 PM. Check-in and party, noon to 2 PM at Penn Social, 801 E St. NW. Run in your underwear at 2 PM. Return for the after party. Start a team and start fundraising to earn open bar, undies and more or run solo. Registration is $40; $45 on Feb. 4 and $50 at the door. Read more and register at cupids.org/city/washington-dc.

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CIVIC LIFE Congresswoman Norton’s NW District Office. Open weekdays, 9 AM to 5:30 PM. 90 K St. NE. 202-408-9041. norton.house.gov.

Convention Center Community Association. Last Tuesday, 7 to 8:30 PM. Kennedy Rec Center, 1401 Seventh St. NW. facebook. com/pages/Convention-Center-Community.

East Central Civic Association of Shaw.

First Monday, 7 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 to 8:30 PM. Harry Thomas Recreation Center, 1743 Lincoln Rd. NE. eckingtondc.org.

Logan Circle Citizens Association. Visit logancircle.org/calendar for meeting dates and times. logancircle.org.

Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association. Third Tuesday, 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Yale Steam Laundry, 437 New York Ave. NW. lifein.mvsna.org.

U Street Neighborhood Association. Second Thursday, 7 to 8:30 PM. Source (Second Floor Classroom), 1835 14th St. NW. ANC 1A. Second Wednesday, 7 PM. Harriet Tubman Elementary School, 3101 13th St. NW. anc1a.org.

ANC 1B. First Thursday, 6:30 PM. DC Housing Finance Agency, 815 Florida Ave. NW. anc1b.org.

Do you remember what good old-fashioned corn tastes like?

ANC 1B11. Second Monday, 7 PM. LeDroit Senior, 2125 Fourth St. NW. anc1b.org.

ANC 1C. First Wednesday, 7 PM. Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Health, 2355 Ontario Rd. NW. anc1c.org.

Extra sweet, tender & juicy.

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ANC 2C. First Wednesday, 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW. anc2C.org.

Available at

ANC 6E. First Tuesday, 6:30 PM. Meeting at Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW. anc6e.org.

IN THE FROZEN VEGGIES SECTION

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JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 1 5

OUT AND ABOUT

Depeche Art

by Phil Hutinet can glaciers. Her work uses actual data which she translates into artistic forms such as drawings, paintings and installations. The resulting effect juggles representational elements, such as observed data, and abstract elements which she carefully layers during her creative process.

Jowita Wyszomirska was born in Poland and moved with her family to Chicago in the early 1990s. She has a BFA from Illinois State University and a Master’s degree in Fine Art from University of Maryland. She has exhibited nationally in solo and two-person exhibitions.

Her honors include residency fellowships at the Jentel Foundation, Wyoming; Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska; and International School of Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture in Umbria, Italy.

Foundry Gallery

Foundry Gallery opens the 2019 exhibition year with a group exhibition of its member artists titled “Winter Light”. The exhibition centers loosely on the theme of “attenuated light,” according to the gallery’s press release, and a period of time when one finds “introspection and odd cheer.” Audiences can expect a wide array of work including painting and photography in both representational and expressive forms.

Amy Bar Wilson’s expressive “Two Rivers Meet” captures the energy of merging waters in a contrasting warm palette of oranges and yellows offset by slight punctuations of cool grays and cerulean blues which creates the impres- Jowita Wyszomirska - Changing Matter 1 (61°31’13.08”N 142°55’14.59”W), 2018, sion of movement. In contrast, Sheila Blake’s Mixed media, 26 x 34 1/4 inches. Image courtesy Gallery Neptune and Brown. “#9 Pine Avenue”, a house portrait of a small conifers provide the only verdant elements in the cottage in Takoma Park, Maryland, captures the composition. “Winter Light” will provide viewers region’s winter months by highlighting the home’s with an overview of the gallery’s member artists. garden. Barren deciduous trees and browned orTory Cowles “Hard Wired” solo exhibition at namental grasses reflect the dormant growing seaTouchstone Gallery, brings to life many of the son while an errant evergreen vine climbing up a discarded items that she finds on the organic farm Jowita Wyszomirska’s work centers on fleeting large tree trunk, a patch of lawn and two smaller where she and her husband live. Cowles describes phenomena which one catches for a her initial impetus for creating sculptures and inmoment only to discover that it has stallations from found material as similar to the disappeared just as quickly as it manispontaneity abstract expressionist painters employ fested. The artist quotes the following when composing their work. She explains that, examples of such ephemera: “a cloud from this “abstract expressionist process,” the end casting a shadow as it crosses the sun, result “depends on the rawness of the materials, the ever-changing the unexpectedness of shoreline where land the composition, and the and water meet, the mystery of how materials sensory experience are transformed.” Her of the wind, and the work “expresses how she warmth of a shimsees the world – dangermering light touching ous, ancient, raw, out of the skin.” Wyszomircontrol – but also inska has used satellite teresting, unexpected, imagery from NASA new and magnificent.” to observe the ever Cowles interdisciplinary changing Chesaapproach to art-making peake Bay region. includes a performance More recently, her component.

Through work has focused on dance, worn sculptures the effects of climate fuse with the artist, bechange by observing coming one. In so dothe ever retreating ice Tory Cowles - #990: Three kinds of metal roofing-copper, ing, Cowles brings levof the North Ameri- corrugated, and steel, burned wire, metal fencing, 76”x ity to that which once Sheila Blake - “#9 Pine Ave”, 50 x 45, oil on linen. Image courtesy Foundry Gallery

Touchstone Gallery

Gallery Neptune and Brown

50”x 22”. Image courtesy Touchstone Gallery.

1 6 M I D CI T Y D C N EWS . C O M

Vote for 2018’s Best New Shaw Businesses!

In the Galleries

Gallery Neptune & Brown 1530 14th St. NW 202-986-1200 | neptunefineart.com Hours: Wed. to Sat., 12-7 p.m., Sun. 1-4 p.m.

Through March 2019 Jowita Wyszomirska Foundry Gallery 2118 Eighth St. NW 202-232-0203 | foundrygallery.org Hours: Wed. to Sun., 1-7 p.m.

Through January 27, 2019 “Light in Winter” Group exhibition Hamiltonian Gallery 1353 U St. NW 202-332-1116 | hamiltoniangallery.com Hours: Tues. to Sat., 12-6 p.m.

January schedule TBD Hemphill Fine Arts 1515 14th St. NW 202-234-5601 | hemphillfinearts.com Hours: Tues. to Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

January schedule TBD Long View Gallery 1234 Ninth St. NW 202-232-4788 | longviewgallerydc.com Hours: Wed. to Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

January schedule TBD Touchstone Gallery 901 New York Ave. NW 202-347-2787 | touchstonegallery.com Hours: Wed. to Fri., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Weekends, 12-5 p.m.

Through January 31, 2019 Artist Talk: Saturday, January 19, 4-6 pm “Hard Wired” by Tory Cowles

appeared heavy or rough, like steel wire or corrugated metal, rendering the materials light and to a certain extent, humorous. Cowles, a resident artist of Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory also teaches abstract painting at Glen Echo Park’s Yellow Barn.

Phil Hutinet is the publisher of East City Art, DC’s alternative art source.

For more information visit www. eastcityart.com. u

Show your appreciation to your favorite new Shaw business.

Vote in Shaw Main Streets’ 14th annual Best New Shaw Business of the Year contest!

New businesses that opened in 2018 are eligible.

Businesses that relocated within the Shaw Main Streets service area or changed names and service businesses not located in retail locations are not eligible.

The three businesses that receive the most votes will be recognized as the Best New Shaw Businesses of 2018 at the Shaw Main Streets Annual Meeting in March 2019.

Here is the list of eligible businesses: &Pizza/Broccoli Bar, 1817 7th Street, NW

Morris American Bar, 1020 Seventh Street, NW

The Capital Burger, 1005 7th Street, NW

Nicecream, 1924 8th Street, NW #125

Cortez DC Restaurant & Rooftop Bar, 1905 9th Street, NW, Second Floor

Petropolis, 1408 9th Street, NW

Cosmo Beauty Bar, 1911 9th Street, NW

PO Boy Jim Bar & Grill, 1934 9th Street, NW

Courtyard by Marriott & Residence Inn by Marriott, 901 L Street, NW

Rewild, 1924 8th Street, NW #100

The Delegate, 901 L Street, NW

San Lorenzo Restaurant & Bar, 1316 9th Street, NW

F45 Training, 1020 U Street, NW

Secret Lounge, 1928 9th Street, NW

Gaslight Tavern, 2012-14 9th Street, NW

Shebelle Ethiopian Restaurant, 1924 9th Street, NW

Glass House Gallery DC, 1527 9th Street, NW

The Shop at Shaw, 1924 8th Street, NW #145

Green Almond Pantry, 1314-1/2 9th Street, NW

Tobacco & Vape King, 1537 7th Street, NW

Mason Dixie Biscuit Company, 1819 7th Street, NW

Turning Natural, 1933 9th Street, NW

ModCloth, 1924 8th Street, NW #130

Violet Boutique, 1924 8th Street, NW #115

To cast your vote, send an email to BestinShaw@gmail.com with the name of your favorite new business of 2018 in the subject line and your name in the message no later than 12:00 PM on Monday, March 18, 2019, in order for your vote to be counted. Only one entry per email address will be accepted.

Be sure to let your favorite business know you voted for them. And then plan to attend the Shaw Main Streets Annual Meeting to see which new businesses won the awards.

Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor.

30,000 HILL RESIDENTS COULD BE SEEING YOUR AD RIGHT NOW! To advertise, contact Kira 202.400.3508 or Kira.Hillrag@gmail.com

JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 1 7

OUT AND ABOUT

Insatiable

O

article and photos by Celeste McCall

n a cold, blustery evening, husband Peter and I enjoyed a warming dinner at Silo restaurant, in the Mount Vernon Triangle/Shaw neighborhood.

Atmosphere is rustic/industrial, with exposed brick and pipes overhead.

Locals love Silo’s “bottomless” weekend brunch. Weekday options encompass a raw bar, “handhelds” (i.e. burgers and sandwiches), fisherman’s stew, spicy PEI mussels, buttermilk fried chicken. Some dishes are sharable, like the crispy Brussels sprouts, so tasty that I experimented at home with a similar recipe.

A hefty portion of deepfried calamari arrived with standard marinara sauce. The squid was tasty but a tad rubbery. The ultimate comfort food is the chipotle-glazed meatloaf – well-seasoned ground beef flanked with zesty, jalapeno-queso macand-cheese. A few green spears of asparagus provided a welcome reminder that spring is coming.

Dinner for two with a drink apiece came to around $60, before tax and tip. Silo’s bar, with its lively happy hour, pours umpteen kinds of beer, plus other potables.

Located at 919 Fifth St. NW, Silo is open daily. Call 202-290-2233 or visit www. silodc.com.

Named after the Buddhist monkey god, the casual Hanumanh will hunker next to Dacha Beer Garden in Shaw. Chefs Seng Luangrath and Bobby Pradachith (her son) will serve rustic, country-style dishes inspired by their Laotian heritage. The cooking is similar to more familiar Vietnamese, but with its own flair.

The menu will showcase Southeast Asian flavors like lemongrass,

More Laotian Cuisine

Attention, Laotian food fans!

The talented team behind Thip Khao (in Columbia Heights) and Padaek (Falls Church) is set to unveil its third venture, Hanumanh.

1 8 M I D CI T Y D C N EWS . C O M

The ultimate comfort food, meatloaf (served with spicy mac-and-cheese) is a favorite winter dish at Silo, in the Mount Vernon Triangle/Shaw neighborhood.

ginger, shrimp paste and galangal root. Herb salads are made in a mortar and pestle. Meats and seafoods might be steamed or charcoal grilled. Many dishes can be eaten with the fingers.

Hanumanh will seat about 40; the exposed brick dining area, reminiscent of Laotian alleyways, is anchored by a long bar. A large, vibrant mural depicts the restaurant’s namesake, a Hindu and Buddhist monkey god splashing

in a river. Hanumanh will be located at 1604 Seventh St. NW.

More from Shaw

Chef Ryan Ratino, seeking to enhance inventive cooking that garnered a Michelin star within two years of opening Bresca, will unveil a tasting menu restaurant and bar.

Where: the renovated second-floor space in his bistro at 1906 14th St. NW. The 18-seat addition is called Jont, a word-play on “jaunt” in French. The progressive menu of eight to 11 courses will be priced at $84 to $97 per person. Like Bresca, Jont will be carbon-neutral.

For decor, designer Amber Kendrick is collaborating with Ratino. Kendrick has In the Mount Vernon been traveling throughout Triangle/Shaw neighEurope, studying the design borhood, Silo offers a warm, cozy respite from of top restaurants. For upwinter’s chill. dates call 202-518-7926 or visit www.brescadc.com.

Rooftop respite El Techo (located above Rito Loco) now sports a Latin vibe. Moreover, the menu is updated with soups, sizzling platters and hot mezcal cocktails. Until spring – when El Techo’s top comes off – the expanded covered rooftop will be renamed Selva (“jungle” in Spanish). There’s new weatherproof siding, insulated flooring and 40 lanterns from a village outside Mexico City.

Warming cocktails are infused with coffee, tequila, mezcal, cinnamon and cloves.

To bring groups together, a five-person tequila cocktail and a sharable sizzling, cast At Silo, crisply deep-fried calamari is escorted by marinara iron skillet features filet tips, sauce and a lemon wedge.

shrimp, chicken, peppers, onions and yuca. Another sharable dish is seafood paella with mussels, crab, shrimp, clams and squid. El Techo is located at 606 Florida Ave. NW. Call 202-8364270 or visit www.ritoloco.com.

And...

Arlington bar owner Scott Parker is opening his first DC restaurant, Roy Boys, serving fried chicken and oysters in the Shaw space vacated by Tasty Burger. In October, Parker revealed his plans to open his 60-seat enterprise in the Atlantic Plumbing building at 2108 Eighth St. NW. Chef Will Sullivan, formerly with Clarendon’s Green Pig Bistro, will spearhead Roy Boys’ kitchen. Tending bar is Frank Mills, a Jack Rose alum, who will man the bar with Bloody Marys and oyster shooters.

Tasty Burger’s take-out window is revived at Roy Boys, slinging fried chicken sandwiches and buckets until 5 a.m. Eventually, Parker plans to add lunch and brunch. Along with oysters on the half shell, the bivalves will appear in fried oyster sandwiches. Happy hour will run daily from 3 to 7 p.m.

Thompson Hospitality’s Delegate

Yet more from Shaw: family-run Thompson Hospitality, the nation’s largest minority-owned food service, has unveiled another culinary enterprise, The Delegate, near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The 200-seat newcomer dispenses “a new American menu with a modern twist.” Among appetizers are black sesame ahi tuna, fried green tomatoes with Firefly goat cheese and jalapeno fig jam; beef short ribs with sweet potato puree and green beans; wild salmon with succotash and crispy lemon pepper chives. Check out the weekend chef ’s table brunch buffet.

Connected to the dual-branded Courtyard and Residence Inn Washington Downtown/Convention Center by Marriott, The Delegate is open

weekdays for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The 40-seat bar pours local spirts and brews, a 50-bottle wine list and creative twists on classic cocktails. Exposed brick, a three-inch-thick glass countertop and a dynamic abstract sculpture enhance the interior. Come spring, a rooftop lounge.

The Delegate is at 901 L St NW. For more information call 202-5676645 or visit https://www.thedelegaterestaurant.com/.

Meatball Mania

Logan Circle’s popular New York import, The Meatball Shop DC, has added another winter selection, ramen meatballs, formed with ramen noodles and swimming in a savory broth. While Santa has returned to the North Pole for another year, The Meatball Shop’s holiday grilled cheese balls will be available as a special off-menu item all winter long.

These delicious, melt-in-your-mouth morsels are made with three types of cheese, leftover bread (no waste!) and lots of butter, then baked and plopped atop creamy tomato soup.

Regular mainstays encompass crabcake balls, veggie balls, sandwiches, sides and, as the piece de resistance, “classic spaghetti ‘n’ meatballs” – three giant meatballs draped with tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese and pesto.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, The Meatball Shop is at 1720 14th St. NW; call 202-684-8564 or visit www.themeatballshop.com.

Winter Restaurant Week

Coming up Jan. 14-20 is Metropolitan Washington’s Winter Restaurant Week, presented by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW). More than 250 area restaurants will offer multicourse $35 dinners, $22 lunches and $22 brunch menus. For the list of participating restaurants and menus, plus links to book reservations, visit www.rwdmv. com. u

JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 1 9

NEIGHBORHOOD

BULLETIN BOARD

Adult Learning Lab at Shaw Library

On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 4 p.m., adults who want a GED can come to Shaw Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW, for skill assessment and tutoring. Assessments take place on Wednesdays only.

The assessment is required to qualify for tutoring. dclibrary.org/watha.

confidence in speaking. Participants should have at least a working knowledge of English. Shaw Library, 1630 Seventh St. NW. dclibrary.org/ watha.

Photo: Courtesy of Casey Trees

DC SEU Recognizes Externs

On Dec. 12, the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) Workforce Development Program recognized its Summer/Fall 2018 cohort of externs with a commencement ceremony On Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m., there is a that focused on the importance of green energy drop-in group for adult speakers of other languages jobs in the District. While participating in the to improve their oral skills in English and gain more program, six DC residents worked on sustainability and energy efficiency efforts at organizations such Those looking to help re-tree DC can find open plantings as Howard University, DC by visiting caseytrees.org/events. While all are welcome, Water and the Washington advance registration is required. Registration for their Metropolitan Area Tran- Spring Volunteer Season (community tree plantings and sit Authority (WMATA). park inventories) opens on Monday, Feb. 25. Casey Trees They also received career is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit established in 2002 coaching and access to cer- committed to restoring, enhancing and protecting the tree tifications to help them ob- canopy of the nation’s capital. To learn more about Casey tain a green job in DC. The Trees, visit caseytrees.org. ceremony, which took place at DCSEU’s office in Navy Yard, featured remarks from Dr. Taresa Lawrence, deputy director of DC Oral History Collaborative is a partnership energy for the District’s Departproject of HumanitiesDC, the Historical Society of ment of Energy and EnvironWashington, DC, and the DC Public Library. Like ment (DOEE) as well as DCSEU Free Life Guard Training. Photo: Courtesy of the DC Department of Parks last year, the DCOHC will offer grants for new oral and Recreation Managing Director Ted Trabue. history projects, but they will also offer grants for pubThe externs were also acknowllic programs and events that elevate or make use of edged by DC City CouncilDPR lifeguard training certification courses are now open and will be members Kenyan McDuffie and existing oral history collections. There are DCOHC available until July. DPR will waive all fees for those who enroll in life- Brandon Todd. Councilmember Grants Webinars on Fridays, Jan. 4, 11 and 19, at guard training before March 1. The courses will be provided at multiple McDuffie sent a member of his noon. Click on gotomeet.me/HumanitiesDC at the recreation centers across the District. DPR employs the International staff to commemorate the occaappointed meeting time to join. For more information Lifeguard Training Program (ILTP), an objective driven program that sion and Councilmember Todd about these grant opportunities or the DC Oral Hisproduces high level lifeguards, to train and certify lifeguards to work both wrote a congratulatory letter to tory Collaborative, visit dcoralhistories.org. indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities. Candidates must successfully pass Ward 4 constituent and graduatthe written exam, demonstrate skill competencies to the instructor dur- ing extern Kiersten Washle. Hising practical scenarios, attend all scheduled class sessions, and maintain torically, more than 85 percent of professionalism all times. The starting rate for DPR lifeguards is $13.95/ externs have gone on to full-time hour. Starting March 1, the courses will be available for a nominal fee. positions after completing the The Greater Washington Urban League and its young For additional information on the International Lifeguard Training Pro- DCSEU Workforce Developprofessionals’ auxiliary, Thursday Network, is now acgram (ILTP), visit jellis.com. To register for an upcoming certification ment Program. cepting 2019 Scholarship Applications. GWUL has course, visit dpr.dc.gov. For questions concerning lifeguard training, confacilitated the distribution of more than $2 million tact Brandon Vahey at Brandon.Vahey@dc.gov.

English Conversation Circle

Help Re-tree DC

DC Oral History Collaborative Grants Webinar

DPR Offers Free Lifeguard Training

Greater Washington Urban League Accepting Scholarship Applications

2 0 M I D CI T Y D C N EWS . C O M

2019 is Your Year of Homeownership.

The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency is your homeownership resource in the District from buying a home to retaining your home; we have a homeownership program to assist you.

DC Open Doors DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers first-time and repeat buyers fully forgivable second trust loans to cover a buyer’s minimum down payment requirement in addition to below market interest rates for first trust mortgages for the purchase of homes.

Mortgage Credit Certificate The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) provides an additional incentive for first-time homebuyers to purchase a home in the District of Columbia.

An MCC provides qualified borrowers the ability to claim a Federal Tax Credit of 20 percent of the mortgage interest paid during each calendar year.

Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)

DCHFA serves as a co-administrator of the DC Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD) first time home buyer program, HPAP, which provides interest free deferred loans for down payment and closing cost assistance up to $84,000 combined. DCHFA administers HPAP applications for households meeting very low to low income criteria.

HomeSaver Restore Assistance Program DCHFA now offers a Restore Assistance Program. – A one-time payment, up to $60,000, to “catch-up” on delinquent property related expenses. Applicants must have suffered a qualified financial hardship due to unemployment or underemployment, own a home in the District and be able to sustain future payments going forward.

Visit www.DCHFA.org for full qualification guidelines and information on how to apply to any of DCHFA’s homeownership programs.

815 FLORIDA AVENUE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20001 • 202.777.1600 • WWW.DCHFA.ORG

JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 2 1

NEIGHBORHOOD

The Impact of Trauma on District Youth, Part 2

A Traumatic Failure DC Public Schools Neglect Mental Health

by Jonetta Rose Barras

I

have to meet this guy and have sex with him. If I don’t, then he and his friends are going to rape my little sister,” a student at Frank Ballou High School in Ward 8’s Congress Heights told her teacher. The teacher was trying to persuade her to stay after school, so he could help her improve her grades.

“She said that effortlessly, without any real emotion,” recalled the teacher, who requested anonymity.

There wasn’t any reason to disbelieve her. “I wanted to call the police [but] she was worried about repercussions for her. So, I didn’t do anything.”

Inside Ballou’s gleaming $140 million structure, there are hundreds of stories from students who could be modern-day models for Edvard Munch’s “The Scream.” Situated among private homes and rental apartments, Ballou’s ecosystem is marked by stunning toxicity: high poverty, double-digit unemployment, gun violence, domestic violence and child neglect.

“Wearing a uniform is probably the best attempt at normalizing the environment for them; outside of that, none of the students has normal childhoods,” the teacher observed. “They live by trauma. There is nobody in their world to help them process all of that.”

Ballou is no outlier. It is exemplar, an illustrative tale about the effects of unresolved childhood trauma on DC’s public schools and how education leaders, government officials, parents and students are grappling with associated challenges.

(For more, see Part 1 of this series at www.hillrag.com/2018/12/03/the-cost-of-juvenile-trauma.)

Two documents – an independent investigative report and a student survey – underscore the similarities while exposing the ties that bind students and the issue of trauma without regard to race, class or geography.

Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) was hired in 2018 by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to examine allegations that most students who graduated from Ballou in 2017 had not met es-

2 2 M I D CI T Y D C N EWS . C O M

tablished attendance and academic requirements.

A&M found that 34 percent of the entire citywide 2017 graduating class of 2,758 students had, in fact, received diplomas in violation of mandatory attendance and academic rules. The consulting team also made this confession: “DCPS [DC Public Schools] students face many challenges in maintaining regular attendance … including high rates of poverty, homelessness, work and childcare responsibilities, interaction with the court system, and many others.” The team acknowledged that while the challenges “contribute to absenteeism in DCPS” they were not factored into the analysis.

The other document is “The Youth Risk Behavior Survey of 2017,” which was completed voluntarily and anonymously by more than 16,000 District middle school and high school students. Many respondents – 11 percent of Hispanic, nearly 9 percent of black, 8.3 percent of Asian and 4.5 percent of white high schoolers – admitted they had missed school at least one or more days prior to the survey.

The unanimous reason: they felt unsafe.

Equally troubling, 11.8 percent of high school males and 19.1 percent of females thought of killing themselves. “High school females were more likely than males to feel so sad or hopeless every day for two weeks or more in a row that they stopped doing some usual activities, at a rate of 33.1 percent to 20.8 percent,” according to the survey.

Digging Deeper

Janice, a petite and reserved 18-year-old who graduated high school in 2018, has known the kind of depression captured in the youth survey. As we spoke during a recent interview, her low self-esteem was palpable, and her voice was laced with pain. “It started in elementary school when my best friend passed

away. We were in the second grade; she had asthma.”

“In middle school the boys started teasing and bullying me because I was skinny,” Janice explained.

Experiencing the trauma of parental abandonment by the absence of her father, she began looking for love in all the wrong places. She subjected herself to abu- sive relationships. “Emotional and verbal abuse can be worse than physical. I went through rage and wanting to compromise with [that] person,” she said. “It was terrible. It was very stressful.”

Troubling romantic relationships and toxic stress at home caused her grades to plummet. With a 2.69 grade point, she was rejected by the college of her choice. These days, she attends classes at a local university, hoping to reset her academic career.

“People talk about trauma, but they don’t go deep enough. The services don’t go to the core; it’s [mostly] on the surface,” said Marco Clark, founder and chief executive officer of Richard Wright Public Charter School for Journalism and Media Arts.

“Also, we have to address the long-range impact. We can’t stop at 18 years old. The trauma is still there.”

Judith Sandalow, executive director of the DC Children’s Law Center, wrote in a 2015 white paper, “Children with traumatic histories are more likely to be referred for special education, have higher rates of school discipline referrals and suspensions, lower test scores and grades and are less likely to graduate.” She has been on a crusade ever since, pushing for more trauma-informed schools.

Citywide, more than 66 percent of publicschool students – traditional or charter – who took the English Language Arts portion of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) standardized test in 2018 scored

below proficient, according to OSSE. More than 70 percent of the students scored below proficient in math.

“In a classroom setting, our systems are too often set up to punish children for not being able to stay focused in classroom and adhere to behavioral standards,” said Rose Shelton, a therapist who has worked with adults and children. “For children dealing with trauma or a mental health disorder, this is especially difficult.”

Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, director of the DC Department of Health and interim director of the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), didn’t disagree. “Children begin to internalize things that happen on the outside of school and it affects their ability to learn.” She continued, “If those things are happening repeatedly and the child is in a constant state of agitation where they cannot concentrate, they cannot self-regulate, those issues need to be addressed because the child is in a state where they are never able to fully engage in their educational attainment.”

Failed District Policies

Despite that compatibility in assessing the problem, there is a clear line of demarcation. Advocates, students, parents and education leaders have argued that trauma among the city’s children and youth has reached epidemic level; swift and comprehensive action is needed. The government has not provided it, however.

“One in six District youth suffer from emotional, behavioral, or developmental conditions,” the DC Fiscal Policy Institute’s Jarred Bowman wrote in an August 2018 report. “Yet only one-third of DCPS and public charter schools have full-time mental health clinicians, despite the goal that all schools be staffed with at least one by the 2016-2017 school year.”

That goal was established in the South Capitol Street Memorial Amendment Act of 2012, which was passed by the DC Council in response to one of the deadliest mass

shootings in DC. The killing spree on South Capitol Street was triggered by a missing bracelet that the owner believed stolen. As retaliation, he gathered his five-member posse and on March 30, 2010, opened fire on a crowd of people just returning from a funeral. Four people were killed in that drive-by, including 16-year-old Brishell Jones.

David Catania, then an at-large councilmember, said that while working on the legislation with Nardyne Jeffries – Jones’s mother – they realized “overwhelming evidence pointed to unmet behavioral health needs” as “one of the most significant contributors to later delinquency and antisocial or violent behavior.” Consequently, the law mapped a course of action, mandating that DBH “implement a program to inform teachers, principals and staff at child development facilities of common signals exhibited by youth with unmet behavioral health needs.”

It further required the mayor to submit a “comprehensive plan” for the expansion of early childhood and school-based behavioral health programs and services by the 201617 school year. The executive was to “establish a strategy to enhance behavioral health services” in all public schools and public charter schools, including programs that provided “interventions for families of students with behavioral health needs; reduce aggressive and impulsive behavior; and promote social and emotional competency in students.”

The law’s timeframe required that by the 2014-15 school year, mental health services would be available to 50 percent of all traditional and charter school students. By the 2016-17 school year, mental health services were to be universally available in all public schools.

Eight years after that bloody March day on South Capitol Street and six years after passage of the legislation, DC still has not fully implemented the law. More egregious, the murders of young people have continued.

The Fix Is Not In

Multiple Bowser administration officials have defended the city’s actions.

“Every DC public school has mental health services through the social workers and psychologists that are assigned. [With] the charter schools, it varies,” stated Dr. Tanya Royster, then director of DBH. “School-based mental health actually began 17 years ago. It’s been a very slow growth, but growth still.”

Dr. Nesbitt, who temporarily assumed direction of DBH on Nov. 30, didn’t stray far from that script.

“The executive branch and the legislative branch are committed to acting quickly in the best interest of our children.” She said that over the past several years the administration has been “reimagining” in-school health programs and considering how to accelerate mental health services.

The mayor’s task force on mental health calculated that at the rate the District was proceeding, “It would take us a decade or more to get resources in the schools.”

Consequently, the government decided to ramp up services, beginning this year. The mayor and council have set aside $3 million for a threeyear expansion of in-school mental health services that would include screening and assessment “across the spectrum,” early intervention to prevent a child from possibly requiring a higher level of services and treatment where appropriate. Those services would be provided by a network of nonprofit community-based organizations and private-practice providers. The specific scope and design could vary from school to school and would be determined by a team of mental health experts working collaboratively with school-based leaders, teachers and parents in what is being called a community of practice.

Schools would be added to the program in phases. The first year there would be only about 52 institutions considered the neediest that would be in the program.

That means essentially it would

take another three years before the 2012 South Capitol Street Memorial Act is fully implemented. Dr. Nesbitt cautioned that people should not complain because without this plan it likely would take “a decade using the old model” to address the mental health needs of children.

At-Large Councilmember David Grosso, who chairs the DC Council’s Committee on Education and Libraries, has blasted the administration’s approach. In a letter dated Nov. 29, he wrote that eight months after receiving the March 2018 final report of a mental health task force, “A comprehensive needs assessment has still not been completed, and it seems the department is even less clear about how to implement this program with fidelity.”

Dr. Nesbitt said that after conducting a review the administration realized it needed 48 new clinicians, not 33 as originally projected. She said the funds will be in place to cover the additional personnel. “We won’t be pushing the program off for another year or anything like that.”

That assurance has brought little comfort to many advocates, parents and others concerned about trauma and its growing effect on the academic success of the city’s children. “I am not one for window dressing. The first step toward solving this is to acknowledge we are not doing enough,” said Elizabeth Davis, president of the Washington Teachers’ Union.

Questions also have been raised about placing decisions in the hands of administrators, principals and teachers, many of whom have not received appropriate training. And then there is the issue of legislation the council may pass that competes with trauma reduction efforts. Davis is most concerned about the Fair Access to Schools Act. Approved by the legislature in July 2018, the law requires the establishment of in-school suspension policies and programs aimed at reducing the number of students expelled from school. Requiring disruptive stu-

JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 2 3

NEIGHBORHOOD

in scholarships to more than 300 young adults to financially support their freshman year at an accredited 4-year college or university in the United States. Applications must be submitted by Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. For questions, contact the Scholarship Committee by emailing scholarship@thursdaynetwork.org. gwul.org/gwulscholarships.

NGA Sculpture Garden Seeks Volunteers

The Sculpture Garden plantings are maintained by the National Gallery of Art horticulture staff. The division of horticulture is currently accepting applications for volunteers. For more information on volunteer opportunities, candidates should submit a letter of interest including all vital contact information to gardens@nga.gov.

Arena Stage Civil Dialogues Dates Announced

Arena Stage continues to host Arena Civil Dialogues to engage the DC-area residents on topics important to our civil discourse. Scholar, professor and intellectual Amitai Etzioni will curate and moderate a series of discussions focused on topics and questions in today’s headlines. The next Arena Civil Dialogue will be in celebration of Professor Etzioni’s 90th birthday and will explore the role of community in our personal and collective future. The dialogue will be held in the Molly Smith Study at Arena Stage from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14. There will be a reception before the discussion, at 5 p.m. in the Grand Lobby. This event is free and open to the public; reservations are required. The next Arena Civil Dialogues is Feb. 16, How democracies are lost—and saved. For more information and to register for future Arena Civil Dialogues, visit arenastage.org/civildialogues.

DC Hypothermia Hotline

Call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 when you see a homeless person who may be impacted by extreme temperatures. You can also reach the hotline at 211 or uposh@upo. org. Families seeking emergency shelter should go to the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center (VWFRC) at 920-A Rhode Island Ave. NE. VWFRC operates between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Thursdays (except for holidays and days on which the District government is closed). After 4 p.m. and on Fridays and weekends, families should call the Shelter Hotline.

DC Health Link’s 2019 Open Enrollment

DC Health Link’s open enrollment period runs through Jan. 31, 2019. Residents are encouraged to sign-up for highquality, affordable health insurance at DCHealthLink.com, the District’s online state-based health insurance marketplace established under the Affordable Care Act. Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Email it to bulletinboard@hillrag.com. u

2 4 M I D CI T Y D C N EWS . C O M

dents to be retained in class could hasten teacher burnout, asserted Davis, noting that DC has one of the highest teacher turnover rates.

Mary Levy, a recognized expert on DCPS, recently conducted a study at the behest of the State Board of Education on teacher turnover over three- and five-year periods. She found that during a five-year period, the city’s traditional public schools lost 70 percent of their teaching staff.

Most neighborhood high schools lost 80 percent or more of their staff within five years. Ballou, for example, witnessed a five-year turnover rate of 83 percent.

Davis argued that teachers were not receiving adequate professional development to deal with the myriad issues that had been thrust upon them. OSSE has established an online training program that focuses on creating trauma-informed schools. It’s unclear, however, whether the course is mandatory. State Superintendent of Education Hanseul Kang did not respond to repeated requests for an interview. DCPS Interim Chancellor Amanda Alexander initially agreed to an interview but never provided a date and time for the conversation.

A Contagion?

Insufficient in-school mental health resources and inadequately trained teachers could exacerbate the problem, creating an environment where traumatized children affect other students and the academic success of those students. Shelton, an African-American therapist and mother of twin daughters who were enrolled in a DC charter school, provided some insight into that dynamic.

Shelton told me that one of her daughters seemed to be adjusting to the school environment. The other had “checked out” and was “begging me to home-school her.”

“I didn’t know what was going on,” continued Shelton. She visited her daughter’s class and saw students sitting on the carpet most of the day. “There was a lot of pushing and regurgitating information. When a kid would get in trouble, [my daughter] would get this anxiety on her face.”

Meanwhile, school officials informed her that they wanted to hold her oth-

er daughter back a grade. Shelton was shocked. “I asked for an assessment.” Officials refused. Shelton pushed back. As the fight continued, she worried that delays could make matters worse. She had both her children assessed privately.

“They were fine,” but her apprehension about the school environment heightened.

She visited more frequently. “I started seeing a level of fear that was being created in the school and in the classroom.” She transferred her children to a traditional public school.

“Sometimes children are being traumatized in the classroom by a teacher,” added Shelton, who has been advocating through Parents Amplifying Voices in Education (PAVE) for more in-school mental health counselors, comparable to academic counselors.

“We need to do a deeper dive to understand how students who experience trauma are affecting teachers who teach them,” added Davis. “We teach students who are traumatized, and teachers are also traumatized.”

The mayor’s mental health expansion program didn’t just happen because health professionals wanted to do something different, said Dr. Nesbitt. “It was born out of the need that school leadership and education leaders want to have better things in place.”

There is one problem. Not every school will get those better things this year.

This series was produced as part of the University of Southern California Annenberg Center for Health Journalism Fellowship with a grant from the Fund for Journalism on Child Well-Being.

Jonetta Rose Barras is a DC-based freelance journalist. This series was produced as part of a University of Southern California Center for Health Journalism Fellowship with a grant from the Fund for Journalism on Child Well-Being. u

NEIGHBORHOOD

Bloomingdale Bites

by Taylor Barden Golden

about McCauley’s life entitled “Living and Dying with Tricia Earlier this month, Spark at Engine Company 12 McCauley,” and Venus has dediannounced that its final dinner service would be cated its entire season to her. held before the end of the year, leaving neighbors One of McCauley’s true shocked at word that their new, award-winning local It has been two years since the passions was as a nutritionjoint would be no more. They wondered why such tragic murder of Bloomingdale ist and herbalist working with a popular and successful restaurant, which had reresident Tricia McCauley on Common Good City Farm cently received the Bib Gourmand distinction from Christmas Day, which contin(CGCF) at the Park at LeDroit.

Michelin, would suddenly close its doors. ues to rock the community to its The LeDroit Park Community The truth is, the venue isn’t closing but will no core. The trial is over, with the Garden organization has partlonger be providing dinner service as a regular resdefendant being sentenced to 30 nered with CGCF to create the taurant. It is a victim of its own success, although years in prison, but those whom Tricia Lynn McCauley Public that’s a negative connotation to what has happened.

McCauley touched throughout Herb Garden, in conjunction Owner Jenna Mack started her career as an event her life still feel her loss and have with the existing memorial garplanner. Her experience, coupled with the successes made great effort to pay tribute Tricia McCauley at Common Good City Farm. den within the farm. The park is of chef Peter Prime in Spark’s unique and intimate to her life and spirit.

Friends and neighbors are ensurbeing funded by the Tricia Mcvenue, skyrocketed the requests for private functions.

McCauley was heavily ining that Ms. McCauley’s spirit and Cauley Memorial Fund, which “We started to book up with so many events that volved in many aspects of her values remain alive in the commuwas set up last year by CGCF would rent out the entire space on a weekend evecommunity. She was a nutrinity. Contribute to the Tricia Mcand is taking donations for the ning,” explained Prime. “It got to the point where we tionist and frequent volunteer Cauley Memorial Fund at: www. public garden in McCauley’s were shutting our doors to the public so often that it of Common Good City Farm. mightycause.com/organization/ name. Additionally, CGCF just was no longer sustainable.”

She was a yoga instructor and an Common-Good-City-Farm put out a request for a resident Prime has also been splitting his time between actress, most frequently with the herbalist program for 2019 that Spark and his new restaurant Cane, set to open Washington Stage Guild. Voices from each comwill use both the herb garden in CGCF and the on H Street in 2019. With the change of pace at munity have paid lasting tribute to the life cut short new public herb garden.

Spark, Prime is now able to devote full attention by tragedy.

“Tricia was crucial to the founding of the to the needs of each venue and is excited about the The Washington Stage Guild has established LeDroit Park Community Garden and one of prospects. “We are now going to be able to use the the TLM FUND in McCauley’s name to help it the core garden leaders,” explained LPCG’s Chris [Spark] space for ‘fully curated’ dinners tailored to make its payments to the Equity League Health Wagner. “The LPCG leadership had several prione group of diners. That’s when we get to play Trust Fund, which provides medical coverage to orities for 2018, including honoring Tricia’s legacy around with new stuff, explore new flavors and have qualified theater artists. “As an independent freeand creating more spaces open to folks that did a lot of fun. I really enjoy cooking lance performer, yoga teacher, not have a plot in the community garden. That’s this way.” gardener and artist, Tricia was where the idea for the Tricia Lynn McCauley The private events at Spark acutely aware of how difficult it Public Herb Garden was born. We’re excited to are anything from corporate funccan be for those who do not have partner with Common Good City Farm to finish tions and parties to small wedtraditional jobs to obtain and raising funds for the new herb garden and plan dings and showers. Mack has also keep health insurance. She often herbalism events for 2019. We think the new garshown interest in doing pop-up struggled to work enough weeks den will be a great addition to the community.” concepts in the space, though to qualify for Equity health covFriends and neighbors are ensuring that Mcthere is no set plan for that as of erage, as many of us do,” WashCauley’s spirit and values remain alive in the comyet. For now, the space is booked ington Stage Guild Board Presimunity, most importantly during this holiday season. every weekend for the first two dent Laura Giannarelli told the months of the year, necessitating blog DC Theatre Scene. “Tricia Taylor Barden Golden is a real estate agent with the the change in operations. touched many, many lives. She Stokes Group at McEnearney Associates Inc. A former So, they’re not closing their was such a sunny, friendly person, Hill staffer, Taylor lives in Brentwood with her husband, doors for good, but if you want to exuding good will and serenity.” two dogs and a cat. She’s always on the lookout for new taste Prime’s flavors of the Carib- A note explains that Spark has closed its Venus Theatre Artistic Direcplaces to explore and ways to spend time outside. Get in doors for dinner and is now a private, eventbean at this North Cap location, only space. Photo: Taylor Barden Golden tor Deb Randall has written a play touch: taylor@midcitydcnews.com; @rtaylorb. u

The Spark Is Out...Sort Of

you’ll have to plan in advance and get your friends to join.

Tributes for Tricia

JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 2 5

NEIGHBORHOOD

Shaw Streets

by Pleasant Mann

‘Save Shaw Middle School’ Campaign Continues

The campaign to reestablish a middle school for the Shaw community, using the Facebook and Twitter hashtag #SaveShawMS, is continuing to gain momentum. Bright red “Save Shaw Middle School” signs are popping up in neighborhood

ernment and DC Council to get the plan reversed and allow a new Shaw middle school to be built on the site.

Kennedy Recreation Center and Metropolitan Police Team Up for Christmas

The Kennedy Recreation Center and Friends of Kennedy Playground teamed up with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Third District to hold a Christmas party for the children of the Shaw neighborhood. District Commander Stuart Emerman kicked off the event by welcoming a crowd of 50 children to the party. Coordinated by Lieutenants Dawn AnuA community meeting at Watha T. Daniel Library Amen Ra and Nicole Lindsey and strategizes on how to save Shaw Middle School. Photo: Alexander Padro Sergeant Jurithia Gibson, the event yards, the online pehad food, drink, tition supporting the cookies and presents movement has over for the children pro1,200 signatures and vided by members there is a banner anof the Third District. nouncing the camThanks also to Brock paign on the fence at Shaw Middle School” yard signs Thompson, who dothe old Shaw Junior “Save are popping up in the neighborhood. nated a portion of Photo: Pleasant Mann High School site. the toys.

On Dec. 20, the community met at the Watha T. Daniel Library to plan the next steps in the campaign. Besides members of the parent and teacher organizations for neighborhood elementary According to the Williams Institute schools, attendees included repreat the UCLA School of Law, the sentatives from the Logan Circle District’s population has a higher Civic Association, Advisory Neighpercentage of gay people than any borhood Commission 6E and New other US state. Shaw has been recogBethel Baptist Church. The discusnized in various reader polls as DC’s sion reviewed the weaknesses in the gayest neighborhood. But Shaw’s current plan to use the Shaw Junior cachet was weakened with the cloHigh site for a new high school, and sure of Town Danceboutique, the tried to determine who should be city’s largest gay venue, last year. The lobbied in the community, DC govneighborhood did get XX+, a new

LGBTQ Dance Forum Opens in Shaw

2 6 M I D CI T Y D C N EWS . C O M

Kennedy Recreation Center and the Third Police District hold a Christmas party. Photo: MPD Third District

women’s bar at 1926 Ninth St. NW, in the fall.

But now, in an effort to amp up Shaw’s gayness, the 9:30 Club on Jan. 5 inaugurated a new dance party, BENT, oriented toward the LGBTQ community. A quarterly event, BENT will invite all elements of the LGBTQ community and involve both dancing and performance art, taking up both floors of the 9:30 Club, according to impresario Steve Lemmerman.

Grand Cata Wine Shop Among Nation’s Best

Julio Robledo and Pedro Rodriquez are owners of Grand Cata, VinePair’s choice for Best Wine Shop in the MidAtlantic. Photo: Alexander Padro

Grand Cata, the Latin-oriented wine shop at 1550 Seventh St. NW, was declared to be among the 10 Best Wine Shops nationwide in December by VinePair magazine. In a survey including the publication’s staff, readers and industry professionals, the candidates on the list had to be independent stores that were a cornerstone of the local wine-drinking

community. In declaring Grand Cata the best wine shop in the MidAtlantic, VinePair said that in a city with an increasing selection of quality wine shops “Grand Cata is at the forefront. Forward thinking with easygoing service, Grand Cata is perfectly placed to serve a city starting to take wine very seriously.”

880 P St. Wins Architectural Award

The last component of Shaw’s City Market at O project, 880 P St., has

won an architectural award from the DC Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The high-end apartment building on the corner of Ninth and P streets NW won the 2018 Merit Award in Architecture/Washingtonian Merit Award for Multi-Family Housing. Designed by Shalom Baranes Associates, the apartment building is described as “a sibling, not a clone,” of the other structures comprising City Market at O. Much admired was the effort to have the building’s western facade mimic the massing and rhythm of the rowhouses across the street.

The AIA noted that the completed City Market at O “offers much-needed retail to both oldtimers and new arrivals in the surrounding community, increases neighborhood connectivity via the reopened Eighth Street, and accomplishes the neat trick of fitting in while standing out.”

Impact of Shaw’s Art All Night Measured

While people have been impressed by the crowds drawn to Shaw’s annual Art All Night festival, there has not been a good estimate of the actual impact of the event. Until now.

A study from Jon Stover and Associates, commissioned by Shaw Main Streets, found that the one-night Art All Night festival in September 2018 brought over 24,000 visitors to Shaw, generating an additional $1.6 million in spending that would be unexpected if not for the event. Among the attendees, 40 percent were DC residents outside the Shaw neighborhood, while 43 percent came from outside of the District of Columbia.

The one-night event even generated an extra $159,000 in tax revenue for the District government. u

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JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 2 7

NEIGHBORHOOD

East Side News

by Taylor Barden Golden

A Nama for the Ages?

It’s no surprise there is a new restaurant in the small piece of real estate next to Alta Strada on K Street NW. But this one might stick around for a while. Restaurateur Michael Schlow, of pop-up conceptions Conosci, Calle Cinco and Adachi, has designed his newest concept, sushi restaurant Nama, to last. Nama has been open now for over two months, a recent record for the space and its chef-owner.

Although from the outside Nama could look like your neighborhood sushi joint, the inside is just as warm and chic as the previous incarnations.

There truly hasn’t been much, if any, change to the vintage yet modern feel.

The back bar has been repurposed, at least in part, to act as a sushi bar.

Not much about the space screams sushi except the menu, which is of course the most important part. The offerings are entirely sushi or sushirelated small plates. Raw fish is a clear feature of the menu, which makes a lot of sense considering the space once housed pop-ups due to the incredibly small kitchen.

“Having prior experience in the space with pop-ups like Conosci, Calle Cinco and Adachi, we knew what was possible and what type of dishes we should stay away from. We didn’t have to compromise when we designed the menu at Nama, and we’re really happy with what we are able to offer our guests,” explains Schlow.

“When I was thinking about the different concepts that could be executed in the space, Japanese was always at the top of my list. We have a Japanese restaurant in Birmingham, Michigan, called Adachi, so creating Nama seemed like a natural progression and a smart move given there is no sushi in the neighborhood.”

Nama is certainly filling a neigh-

2 8 M I D CI T Y D C N EWS . C O M

tory. “It is a great experience for our members that volunteer. You truly learn that no person and no story is the same and that everyone deserves the dignity of a delicious meal and a warm welcome,” says Michael Matthews, vice president of the local Alpha Phi Alpha chapter.

Asbury UMC is located in a growing part of the city that is increasingly affluent, yet many in the neighborhood struggle with homelessness and hunger. The church had been providing a Christmas meal for the homeless but did not have an organized program in place. That changed in 1998, when Sandra KingShaw, a longtime Asburyan and a respected lay leader in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, advocated for a dediVolunteers from the fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha serving breakfast to cated Sunday breakfast program. the homeless at Asbury UMC. Photo: Taylor Barden Golden Founded in 1836, Asbury UMC is the only black church plates and beverages by volunteers in the city that is still located where it who are coordinated by church memFor the past 20 years, the members was established.

The church was orgaber Carlotta Jones. and volunteers of Asbury United nized by members of Foundry UnitIn addition to the breakfast, parMethodist Church have been suped Methodist Church upset by that ticipants can “shop” for needed toiletporting the homeless in their local church’s practice of racial segregation ries, all provided by the church. This community. While the milestone during services and church operations, part of the program appears to have came and went with no fanfare at the and is on the District of Columbia the largest draw as there are few like December breakfast, the occasion proRegister of Historic Places because it in the city. On average, the breakfast vided an opportunity to reflect on the of its connection to the Underground program feeds well over 300 people. long-running Sunday Breakfast ProRailroad and the civil rights moveThe church pays for the breakfast and gram and the effect it has had on the ment of the 20th century. the toiletries. congregation and the volunteers.

Fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha The event takes place on the fourth Taylor Barden Golden is a real esjoined forces with Asbury UMC in Sunday of every month. Not only is tate agent with the Stokes Group at early 2017 and has become the driving a warm and hearty breakfast served, McEnearney Associates Inc. A former spirit of the breakfasts. Its members there is a presentation by renowned Hill staffer, Taylor lives in Brentwood provide a majority of the volunteers surgeon Dr. Clive Callender on good with her husband, two dogs and a cat. who serve the stomachs and hearts of health practices, and a prayer and She’s always on the lookout for new places the homeless participants, bringing a mini-sermon from Pastor Matthew to explore and ways to spend time outside. lively sense of joy to the festivities.

Wilke. Adding to the welcoming feelGet in touch: taylor@midcitydcnews.com; Service has been a pillar of the ing of the event, homeless neighbors @rtaylorb. u fraternity throughout its 112-year hisare seated while they are served their borhood void in a city that loves its raw fish. Schlow continues, “At Nama, we have the freshest sushi, sashimi and maki rolls, but we offer so much more.

There’s a little something for everyone, including vegetarian sushi for people that may not be into raw fish.”

Schlow is committed to bringing great food to Mount Vernon Triangle, as he also owns the adjacent Italian restaurant Alta Strada. “I believe that Mount Vernon Triangle will continue to be an interesting, growing, diverse neighborhood, and as a member of the community, I want us to be part of the culinary scene there and bring our friends and neighbors delicious, approachable experiences.”

Warm Meals, Warm Hearts at Asbury UMC

ANC 6E

by Steve Holton

C

ommissioners Alex Padro (6E01, chair), Anthony Brown (6E02, secretary), Frank Wiggins (6E03, vice chair), Alex Marriott (6E05, treasurer) and Kevin Rogers (6E07) made up the quorum to conduct official business at the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6E December meeting. The 6E04 seat once held by David Jaffe is vacant.

ABRA License Request

Bobby Pradachith, owner of Hanumanh restaurant, requested support from the commission for an Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) Retailer’s Class C Restaurant Alcohol License. The restaurant serves Laotian cuisine and is located at 1604 Seventh St. NW. Hours of alcoholic beverage sales both inside and on the sidewalk cafe will be Sunday through Thursday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., and Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. to 1 a.m. Padro noted that an agreement has been reached that pertains to hours of operation, entertainment/noise, the establishment’s exterior and trash and recycling.

The commissioners motioned unanimously to support the request.

Request for Property Addition

Tim Baird requested two special exceptions for a property located at 410 Franklin St. NW. The request was for an increase of lot occupancy and to construct a third floor and rear addition on the property. Once the building is converted, it will contain two units. Brown stated that the ANC 6E Zoning Committee had discussed the project and supported it. The applicant received six letters of support from his neighbors.

The commissioners motioned unanimously to support the request.

Request to Increase Lot Occupancy

Jefferson Parke requested a special exception to increase lot occupancy for a property located at 1227 Fourth St. NW. The exception will give the property sufficient space to create two three-bedroom units. The plans will also include a basement and setback third story at the rear of the house that will not be visible from the street. The request was

for ANC 6E to support a conceptual review by the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB), for renovations to convert an existing historic home to a two-family unit.

The commissioners motioned unanimously to support the request and to communicate their decision to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA).

Request for Property Addition

Martin Hardy requested support for a BZA variance relief for his property at 1000 Rhode Island Ave. NW. The relief will enable the owner to add a third unit to the home and convert the existing basement into an apartment. Commissioner Brown noted that the ANC 6E Zoning Committee had met and supported the project since there will be no construction on the building’s exterior.

The commissioners motioned unanimously to support the request.

‘Save Shaw Middle School’ Campaign

At the end of the meeting, Padro said that a coalition of parents would like to print “Save Shaw Middle School” signs, and a contribution of $1,000 will be needed to help cover the costs of the signs.

The contribution is dependent upon approval by Gottlieb Simon, who is the executive director of the neighborhood advisory commissions.

The commissioners motioned unanimously to support the contribution request.

November Crime Stats

In November, the 6E area saw a sharp increase in theft, theft from auto and burglary. The total number of cases involving property crime rose from 61 to 76. The increase is mostly due to the holiday season, and police officials are asking individuals to be aware of their surroundings, keep car doors locked and conceal items inside the vehicle.

ANC 6E will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at the Shaw/Watha T. Daniel Library located at 1630 Seventh St. NW. Steve Holton can be contacted at ssholton@gmail.com. u

Changing Hands

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

PRICE BR

14th Street 2125 14th Street NW Unit#229 2125 14th Street NW Unit#906

$430,000 $1,525,000

Adams Morgan 1820 Clydesdale Place NW Unit#311 1840 Vernon Street NW Unit#104 3025 Ontario NW Unit#406

$180,000 $449,000 $485,000

1 2 0 2 2

Bloomingdale 117 U Street NW 83 R Street NW 2029 Flagler Place NW 135 W Street NW

$832,000 $900,000 $1,229,000 $1,349,900

4 4 3 3

Central 1330 New Hampshire Ave NW Unit#211 $310,000 1124 25th Street NW Unit#T1 $330,000 616 E Street NW Unit#407 $349,000 675 E Street NW Unit#440 $369,000 2311 M Street NW Unit#802 $399,000 777 7th Street NW Unit#821 $405,000 1314 Massachusetts Ave NW Unit#601 $485,000 616 E Street NW Unit#1110 $489,000 400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Unit#316 $535,000 1150 K Street NW Unit#905 $600,000 715 6th Street NW Unit#1102 $850,000 1155 23Rd Street NW Unit#7L $1,025,000

Columbia Heights 809 Otis Place NW Unit#2 39023902 14th Street NW Unit#522 1443 Chapin Street NW Unit#103 811 Otis Place NW Unit#205 1465 Harvard Street NW Unit#302 1465 Harvard Street NW Unit#402 1458 Columbia Road NW Unit#110 609 Newton Place NW Unit#B 1427 Chapin Street NW Unit#202 422 Kenyon Street NW 448 Irving Street NW 1216 Girard Street NW Unit#1 1462 Harvard Street NW Unit#3 3529 14th Street NW Unit#3 1462 Harvard Street NW Unit#4 1449 Harvard Street NW Unit#2 1323 Clifton Street NW Unit#31 1435 Parkwood Place NW 1230 Fairmont Street NW Unit#2 736 Kenyon Street NW Unit#1 1328 Park Road NW Unit#H 1327 Spring Road NW Unit#1 2311 15th Street NW Unit#4 2807 11th Street NW 1422 Monroe Street NW 3481 Holmead Place NW 1327 Fairmont Street NW

$309,000 $317,000 $350,000 $353,000 $425,000 $435,900 $453,500 $474,999 $515,000 $522,500 $545,000 $563,025 $575,000 $615,000 $685,000 $700,000 $725,000 $730,000 $765,000 $775,000 $799,000 $825,000 $880,000 $909,000 $945,000 $1,095,000 $1,200,000

1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 5 4 4 9

Dupont 1816 New Hampshire Ave NW Unit#702 $215,000

0

JANU ARY 2 0 1 9 2 9

REAL ESTATE

AIR CONDITIONING

ELECTRICIAN

CLEANING SERVICES

1727 Massachusetts Ave NW Unit#316 1601 18th Street NW Unit#807 1701 16th Street NW Unit#809 1526 17th NW Unit#301 2039 New Hampshire Ave NW Unit#305 1325 18th Street NW Unit#905 1830 17th Street NW Unit#204 1761 P Street NW Unit#RESIDENCE 2 2101 N Street NW Unit#205 1843 Corcoran Street NW Unit#C 1524 18th Street NW Unit#4 1724 17th Street NW Unit#51 1328 22Nd Street NW 1414 NW 22Nd Street NW Unit#26 2013 N Street NW

Eckington

330 Rhode Island Avenue NE Unit#307 224 T Street NE Unit#1 126 Todd Place NE 30 Todd Place NE 142 Uhland Terrace NE 111 Quincy Place NE Unit#3

Ledroit Park

151 V Street NW Unit#2 138 U Street NW 1907 3Rd Street NW Unit#402

Logan Circle

1300 N Street NW Unit#303 1419 R Street NW Unit#43 1529 14th Street NW Unit#604 1117 10th NW Unit#W7 1440 N Street NW Unit#812 1332 15th Street NW Unit#24 1701 16th Street NW 1300 N Street NW Unit#509 1111 11th Street NW Unit#801 1307 R Street NW Unit#4 1210 R Street NW Unit#211 1709 13th Street NW Unit#2 1325 13th Street NW Unit#24 1823 Vermont Avenue NW 1813 13th Street NW Unit#1 1833 12th Street NW 1107 P Street NW 1427 Rhode Island Ave NW Unit#PH2 1310 Q Street NW Unit#6 1515 15th Street NW Unit#708

$318,000 $340,000 $377,500 $645,000 $829,000 $463,000 $467,000 $480,000 $530,000 $536,000 $630,000 $645,000 $1,150,000 $1,250,000 $1,495,000

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

$347,000 $570,000 $610,000 $625,000 $750,000 $1,050,000

2 2 2 4 3 2

$849,000 $870,000 $419,000

2 4 1

$419,000 $645,000 $770,000 $865,000 $200,000 $387,000 $395,000 $424,900 $655,000 $730,673 $785,000 $860,000 $900,000 $917,000 $949,000 $1,072,000 $1,480,000 $1,499,900 $2,525,000 $2,800,000

1 2 2 2 0 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 6 2 3 2

3 0 M I D CI T Y D C N EWS . C O M

1324 Vermont Avenue NW

Mount Vernon

460 New York Avenue NW Unit#201 475 K Street NW Unit#819

Old City #2

55 M Street NW Unit#307 1125 12th Street NW Unit#84 1759 T Street NW Unit#G 1225 13th Street NW Unit#407 1401 17th Street NW Unit#908 555 Massachusetts Ave NW Unit#509 1441 Rhode Island Ave NW Unit#105 440 L Street NW Unit#808 1320 13th Street NW Unit#33 1203 N Street NW Unit#G 6 Logan Circle NW Unit#1 444 M Street NW Unit#7 505 O Street NW Unit#2 1447 Swann Street NW Unit#B 555 Massachusetts Ave NW Unit#403 1715 15th Street NW Unit#22 1425 11th Street NW Unit#304 920 P Street NW 432 Warner Street NW 1316 Florida Avenue NW 1329 Q Street NW

Shaw

1215 11th Street NW Unit#3 1653 New Jersey Avenue NW Unit#2 1320 8th Street NW 82 P Street NW 1526 5th Street NW 1526 6th Street NW Unit#1 928 O Street NW Unit#3

U Street

1390 V Street NW Unit#413 1327 V Street NW 2214 11th Street NW Unit#4 1223 W Street NW 1719 U Street NW Unit#4 1719 U Street NW Unit#2 2020 12th Street NW Unit#T13 2100 11th Street NW Unit#301 u

$3,100,000

8

$468,000 $585,000

1 2

$205,000 $309,000 $347,900 $385,000 $405,000 $455,000 $480,000 $500,000 $515,000 $520,000 $550,000 $564,500 $600,000 $614,000 $615,000 $622,000 $670,000 $840,000 $885,000 $1,225,000 $1,300,000

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 4 7

$489,000 $650,000 $666,000 $835,000 $1,030,000 $1,150,000 $2,550,000

1 2 2 2 3 3 3

$539,900 $881,000 $1,156,250 $1,200,000 $605,900 $625,000 $629,750 $930,000

1 3 3 3 1 2 2 2

LANDSCAPES Thomas Landscapes DEREK THOMAS / PRINCIPAL

Over 20 Years of Experience in Capitol Hill FULL-SERVICE LANDSCAPE DESIGN & MAINTENANCE

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Licensed & Insured | All Work Managed & Inspected by Owners

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Shaw Main Streets is a designated DC Main Streets program and is funded in part by the Department of Small and Local Business Development, Muriel E. Bowser, Mayor.