Mid City DC Magazine – April 2023

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

SPRING EXTRA

NSO CIRQUE DE LA SYMPHONIE AT THE KC

Back by popular demand, on ursday, May 4, at 7 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, May 5 and 6, at 8 p.m., the Kennedy Center Concert Hall o ers a high- ying display of jugglers, aerialists, contortionists, strongmen and more, bringing the music of the symphony to life in unique and delightful ways. $29 to $99. Most enjoyed by ages ve and up. www.kennedy-center.org

CITY GIRLS WHO WALK DC

City Girls Who Walk DC is a walking club, founded in March 2022, that provides a platform for women to connect and form friendships, explore the DMV and focus on inclusion and accessibility for all. City Girls holds weekly walks and happy hours throughout the city and curates a GroupMe channel of over 130 groups. No sign-up required; join any event at any time. Every walk is free and Metro accessible. Dogs are welcome to join as long as they are allowed at the walking location and remain leashed. www.citygirlswhowalkdc.com

AROUND THE WORLD EMBASSY TOUR

On May 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Around the World Embassy Tour participants travel the world as they experience food, art, dance, fashion, music, innovations and goods from di erent countries. More than 50 embassies will open their doors to visitors. is is a free public event. No registration or tickets required. Find embassy locations at www.eventsdc.com/passport-dc. At the Embassy of Haiti.

Photo: Samantha Heeley

Photo: Courtesy of Cirque de la Symphonie

“LA VALENTIA: VALOR” – A SPOOKY SPECTACULAR AT GALA

“La Valentia (Valor)” is an expertly constructed comedy brimming with family feuds and supernatural secrets. Sisters Trini and Guada battle over whether to sell their beloved family summer home next to a bustling highway. ey encounter mysterious visitors who provide hilarious twists and turns. At GALA eatre, 3333 14th St. NW, ursdays to Sundays, from April 20 to May 14. Tickets $48; discounts for seniors and military. www. galatheatre.org

IAN

SMITH ON “MAKING BLACKNESS”

Recently, more scholars have become interested in examining early modern “blackface,” emphasizing the kinds of cosmetics used to create or make blackness on the early modern stage. In this lecture, Ian Smith use Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labor’s Lost” as a dramatic point of departure in expanding our knowledge of early modern race. “Making Blackness” is at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, April 22, at 5:30 p.m., with a reception at 6:30 p. is event is part of Searching for Shakespeare: Celebrating 400 Years of Shakespeare’s First Folio, a festival in partnership with the Folger Shakespeare Library and the Folger Shakespeare eatre. Free registration required at www.events. folger.edu/7972/7973.

CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY HISTORICAL SPEAKER SERIES

Congressional Cemetery has teamed up with historians, experts and organizations for a monthly series of historylled talks on the cemetery grounds. e opening features Jake Flack, deputy director of education at Ford’s eater, speaking about the Lincoln Assassination, on Saturday, April 15, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. e following month, May 13, Blake Lindsey, a Ward 6-based writer, speaks about the Capitol Police. Tickets are $5. Read more and sign up at www. congressionalcemetery.org/cemeteryspeaker-series.

JE T’AIME GEORGETOWN!

From Friday, April 28, to Sunday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., more than 25 local boutiques, antique stores, restaurants, salons and galleries will display wares for up to 75% o . Neighborhood restaurants will o er items from an outdoor grill, a sale on French wines and pastries from Patisserie Poupon. On Saturday and Sunday, the Georgetown French Market will feature live music, a caricature artist, roaming stilt-walkers and more. e Georgetown French Market has become a DC tradition and one of the biggest shopping events of the year for the small businesses of Book Hill. www.georgetowndc.com/event/ georgetown-french-market

Dr. Ian Smith of Lafayette University.

Photo: Chris Chern for the Georgetown BID

Illustration: Jonathan Olivares

NSO AT THE ANTHEM: LIVE MUSIC TRIVIA!

Ever wanted to play trivia backed by a live orchestra? On Tuesday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.), play trivia at e Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW, with the National Symphony Orchestra. Teams of any size are encouraged to aunt their knowledge across all genres. is is a general admission seated event. $30. www.theanthemdc.com

MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL AT STRATHMORE

e Monterey Jazz Festival is the longest continuously running jazz festival in the world. To celebrate its 65th year, the festival has put together an ensemble featuring some of the best that jazz has to o er. is stellar band will be directed by visionary pianist Christian Sands and anchored by longtime rhythm section bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn. $38 to $78. At the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland, on ursday, April 20, 8 p.m. www.strathmore.org

“LIGHTS OUT: RECOVERING OUR NIGHT SKY”

More than 80% of people worldwide live under some degree of light-polluted skies. e Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum has opened “Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky,” a 4,340-square-foot exhibition about how the night sky and its disappearance owing to light pollution a ects life, from natural ecosystems to human cultures. e exhibition will remain on view through December 2025.

www.naturalhistory.si.edu

IN SERIES’ “I WAS LOOKING AT THE CEILING AND THEN I SAW THE SKY”

With a libretto by poet June Jordan, John Adams’ “song-play” dramatizes the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake, exploring issues of race, gender and migration in Los Angeles. “I Was Looking at the Ceiling and en I Saw the Sky” is at the Atlas, 1333 H St. NE, on Saturdays, April 22 and 29, at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, April 23 and 30, at 3:00 p.m. www.inseries.org/post/ceiling-sky

Artist: Richshaad Ryan

FILMFEST DC, A FESTIVAL OF STORIES

From April 19 to 30, the Washington, DC, International Film Festival, aka Filmfest DC, brings 65 lms from 35 countries in 11 days. Filmfest DC is an annual festival presenting feature premieres, restored classics and special events to the general public. It is one of the longest running (37 years) major cultural events in Washington and credited with thought-provoking, insightful and entertaining programming. www. lmfestdc.org

In the opening night lm, “Chevalier,” the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, complete with a love a air and falling out with Marie Antoinette.

Australian green tree frog, Litoria caerulea. About 60% of invertebrates and 30% of vertebrates are or active at night.

The Monterey Jazz Festival celebrates its 65th year with an ensemble featuring NEA Jazz Master vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater alongside vocalist Kurt Elling and saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin. The band is directed by pianist Christian Sands and anchored by bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Clarence Penn.

PHILIP GUSTON NOW AT THE NGA

“Philip Guston Now” charts the 50-year career of one of America’s most in uential modern artists through more than 150 paintings and drawings. Guston’s work resonates, attracts and provokes, raising crucial questions about the relationship of art to beauty and brutality, freedom and doubt, politics and the imagination. On view in the National Gallery of Art East Building through Aug. 27. www.nga.gov

“THE JUNGLE” AT SHAKESPEARE THEATRE’S HARMON HALL rough April 16, come to “ e Jungle,” where cultures collide and thousands of refugees dream of crossing the English Channel to the possibility of freedom. e Shakespeare eatre Company teams up with Woolly Mammoth eatre Company to bring this theatrical experience to Washington after sold-out runs in the West End in New York. e “Jungle” is an immersive experience with non-traditional seating and staging. Patrons seated nearest to the stage could be asked to interact with the action. $64 to $130. Harmon Hall is at 610 F St. NW. www.shakespearetheatre.org

TO HAVE AND HAVE ANOTHER: THE LIFE AND COCKTAILS OF ERNEST HEMINGWAY

Although he probably never drank Dos Equis, Ernest Hemingway was perhaps a prototype for the brand’s Most Interesting Man in the World ad campaign. He lived an adventurous life that took him from summers in northern Michigan to the Spanish Civil War. On ursday, May 4, from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m., at the S. Dillon Ripley Center on the Mall, Smithsonian Associates presents writer and attorney Philip Greene, who examines the life, prose, travels and adventures of Hemingway through the lens of his favorite drinks, watering holes and drinking buddies. Enjoy light snacks and four cocktail samples and raise a toast to Papa. $70. www.smithsonianassociates.org

“THE NOSEBLEED” AT WOOLLY MAMMOTH

rough a series of absurd autobiographical vignettes, Aya Ogawa’s “ e Nosebleed” delves into parenthood, as both a parent and a child. A trip to the home country of Japan, a child’s nosebleed and a hit reality TV show come together in this theatrical tribute to Ogawa’s father, with surprises like a healing ritual for the audience and a transcendent appearance by a 20th-century icon. At Woolly Mammoth eater, 641 D St. NW, through April 23. www. woollymammoth.net

Philip Guston, “Bombardment,” 1937, oil on Masonite, framed diameter 121.9 cm (48 inches). Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gift of Musa and Tom Mayer, 2011. Estate of Philip Guston. Photo: Philadelphia Museum of Art/Art Resource, New York

Elham Ehsas in the 2018 St. Ann’s Warehouse production of “The Jungle” by Teddy Wol .

Aya Ogawa as youngest son Kenya.

Photo: Julieta Cervantes

Ernest Hemingway and his wife settled in a Cuban plantation named Finca Vigía. They lived in the village outside of Havana for more than a decade.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

SPÆLIMENNINIR AT THE INSTITUTE OF MUSICAL TRADITIONS

Spælimenninir’s music of the Nordic countries is as familiar as an old-time barn dance and as exotic as the landscape of the Faroe Islands, the band’s home. Kristian, Sharon Ívar, Erling Lars and Charlie, traveling and performing together for more than 45 years, inspire and elate multigenerational audiences. At the Institute of Musical Traditions, Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, Maryland, on Monday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. www.imtfolk.org

“I strive to achieve comfort and elegance through design and sculpted details. My chairs combine contrasting North American hardwoods with attention to grain and wood tone. No one who knows of Sam Maloof’s contributions can mistake his in uence on my work though I have also been in uenced by several other contemporary woodworkers.” - Robert Wing

SMITHSONIAN CRAFT SHOW

At the Smithsonian Craft Show, see and buy hand-crafted work from leading contemporary artists, including an outstanding selection of Native American and indigenous work. Also on display: pieces from this year’s Smithsonian Visionary Award and Delphi Award winners. At the National Building Museum and open to the public, May 4 to 6, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and May 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. General admission, May 4 to 7, $20; preview party, May 3, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., $270. www.smithsoniancraftshow.org

SAM MACPHERSON AT SONGBYRD

Sam MacPherson is an LA-based singer-songwriter and musician who writes music with honesty and a relentless attention to detail. At the Songbyrd Music House, 540 Penn St. NE, on Monday, April 17, from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $18. www.songbyrddc.com

THE KENNEDY CENTER’S ROLLING ON THE RIVER FREE POP CONCERT AT THE WHARF

On Wednesday, April 12, at 5:30 p.m., a free, 60-minute outdoor pop concert on the oating stage at the DC Wharf Transit Pier celebrates life on the Potomac River with music, storytelling, and Broadway and Helen Hayes Award-winning musical stars perform favorite “river songs.” All are welcome, seating rst-come, rst-served. No tickets required. www.wharfdc.com.

SIGN UP FOR YOUR FREE SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP TODAY

Are you an aspiring or existing business in the District?

The Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) is here for you!

202-262-4168 I hstewartroofing.com

WEBINAR: LEARN HOW TO BECOME A CERTIFIED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (CBE)

Wednesday, April 5, 2023 10:00 am

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MEET ONE-ON-ONE WITH A LAWYER FOR FREE!

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm

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WEBINAR: ALL THINGS NON-PROFIT

Thursday, April 13, 2023

10:00 am

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WEBINAR: BUSINESS FOUNDATIONS SERIES: THE BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS

Thursday, April 13, 2023

2:00 pm

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WEBINAR: BUSINESS FOUNDATION SERIES: THE LEAN BUSINESS PLAN

Thursday, April 27, 2023

2:00 pm

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SBRC ONE-ON-ONE CALL SESSION: STEPS TO OBTAINING A BUSINESS LICENSE

Monday – Friday by appointment between 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Register: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events

SBRC ONE-ON-ONE CALL SESSION: “TALK BUSINESS AFTER HOURS”

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Miercoles con cita de 12:00 pm a 1:00 pm Registro: dlcpsbrc.ecenterdirect.com/events

Small Business Resource Center (202) 442-4538 | dlcp@dc.gov

CAROUSEL DAY AT GLEN ECHO

Glen Echo Park’s 102-year-old Dentzel Carousel opens for the season on Carousel Day, Saturday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to riding the carousel, families can enjoy other free activities throughout the park, including live music, open art galleries and arts and crafts. e carousel season runs from April 29 to Aug. 27, Wednesdays, ursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Aug. 28 to Sept. 25, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is also open on Memorial Day and Labor Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every person, including babies and accompanying adults, must have their own ticket. Children under six must be accompanied by a paying adult to ride. $2 per ride; $5 for all-day pass. Glen Echo Park is at 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, Maryland. www.glenechopark.org/carousel

“BLOCK BY BLOCK” AT THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

e National Portrait Gallery explores the namesakes of Washington’s streets, avenues, neighborhoods and other public spaces in the exhibition “Block by Block: Naming Washington.” Featuring reproductions of 16 portraits, drawn mostly from the museum’s collection, the exhibition presents the faces and biographies behind some of the city’s most familiar locations. On view in the second- oor Riley Gallery through Jan. 15, 2024. e National Portrait Gallery is at Eighth and G streets NW. www.npg.si.edu

“DEEP: IN THE WAKE OF DREXCIYA WITH AYANA V. JACKSON”

For her rst monographic exhibition, photographer Ayana V. Jackson was inspired by the Detroit-based 1990s techno band Drexciya, whose albums imagined a mythical aquatopia populated by descendants of African women thrown (or who jumped) overboard during the Middle Passage. In this exhibition, Jackson expands her practice to include animation, immersive video, installation, sound and scent. “Deep: In the Wake of Drexciya with Ayana V. Jackson” opens at the National Museum of African Art on April 29. www.africa.si.edu

SNARKY PUPPY AT THE WARNER

After over a decade of touring and recording in all but complete obscurity, a Texas-bred quasi-collective found itself held up by the press and public as one of the major gures in the jazz world. At its core, the band represents the convergence of black and white American music with accents from around the world. Tickets start at $45. At the Warner eatre, 13th and E streets NW, on Wednesday, April 19, at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.). www.livenation.com.

FRUIT BATS AT 9:30 CLUB

“A River Running to Your Heart” is the Fruit Bats’ latest release. Lead single “Rushin’ River Valley” is a love song about the songwriter’s wife, who clings to the borrowed imagery of the place where she grew up in northern California. e wistful “It All Comes Back” is a blend of tone and lyricism that taps into shared apprehensions and hopes for a postpandemic life. $25. See Fruit Bats at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, on Saturday, April 22; doors at 6 p.m. www.930.com

Installed at Glen Echo Park in 1921, the canopy and the carved gures were made by the Dentzel Carousel Company of Germantown, Pennsylvania. Now fully restored, the carousel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo: Courtesy of Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture

Photo: Courtesy of Live Nation

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

“ANYANG: CHINA’S ANCIENT CITY OF KINGS”

e National Museum of Asian Art is presenting “Anyang: China’s Ancient City of Kings,” the rst major exhibition in the United States dedicated to Anyang, the capital of ancient China’s Shang dynasty (occupied ca. 1250 B.C.–ca. 1050 B.C.), the source of China’s earliest surviving written records, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the birthplace of Chinese archaeology. Composed of objects exclusively from the museum’s collection, “Anyang” is on view in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery from Feb. 25 to April 28, 2024. e exhibit brings together more than 200 artifacts—including jade ornaments, ceremonial weapons, ritual bronze vessels, bells and chariot ttings—to examine the Shang state and artistic achievements of those who lived in its capital some 3,000 years ago. 1050 Independence Ave. SW, is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. asia.si.edu.

LES MISERABLES AT THE KC

In 1986, the Kennedy Center hosted the pre-Broadway run of what has become one of the world’s most popular musicals. Now, they are bringing her home. Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacri ce, and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. e score includes the songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” “Master of the House” and many more. is epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history. Les Miserables is at the Kennedy Center Opera House from April 11 to 29. $45 to $199. Kennedy-center.org.

A.W. MELLON LECTURES IN THE FINE ARTS AT THE NGA

Stephen D. Houston, Dupee Family Professor of Social Science at Brown University, will give the 72nd annual National Gallery of Art’s A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts this spring. Houston’s lecture series, entitled Vital Signs: e Visual Cultures of Maya Writing, will take place in the East Building Auditorium on Sundays from April 16 through May 21, at 2 p.m. Over six lectures, Houston will explore Maya writing (“glyphs”) of ancient Mexico and Central America, uncovering the essence of a system of script and picture that never quite split apart yet never quite fused. Recent decipherments of glyphs enable us to probe how language intersected with visual experience, who devised these innovations, by what means, and for what reasons. (Visit nga.gov/press/mellon-lectures for further details.) nga.gov.

DISCOVER THE WORLD OF ORCHIDS AT THE BOTANIC GARDEN

e 27th annual joint orchid exhibit between the United States Botanic Garden and Smithsonian Gardens is “Discover the World of Orchids” which is on display in the USBG Conservatory through April 30. e exhibit shares stories of the diversity of orchids and how technology advances their conservation. One of the largest plant families in the world, orchid shapes, sizes, colors, and scents vary greatly. roughout the Conservatory, thousands of orchid blooms showcase the USBG and Smithsonian Gardens’ extensive orchid collections. e gift shop features o erings such as live plants and other botanical gift items. e Botanic Garden Conservatory is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. usbg.gov.

Stephen D. Houston of Brown University will deliver the 72nd A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, in spring 2023. Photo: Courtesy of Stephen D. Houston

Photo: Johan Persson

Ritual wine containers (you) with masks (taotie), dragons, birds, and owls, middle Anyang period, ca. 1150-1200 BCE, bronze, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment. Photo: Courtesy of the National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution

Casey Tree Sets Tree Planting Record

50,000 Trees Enhance the DC Tree Canopy

Article and photos by Rindy O’Brien

April is the best gardening month of the year. Cherry blossoms, da odils, tulips, and so much more pop up after the colder months of winter. It is the perfect time to plant seeds and start up plants you can enjoy all summer long. It is also the month of two key national celebration days—Arbor Day and Earth Day. Earth Day always falls on April 22nd, and Arbor Day, celebrated on the last Friday of April, falls on April 28th this year. e Arbor Day Foundation is one of the largest membership groups of its kind.

Every day is Arbor Day at the DCbased foundation, Casey Trees. Started by the late philanthropist and longtime area resident Betty Brown Casey in 2002, the group’s mission is to restore, enhance and protect the tree canopy of the nation’s capital. e city was designed by Pierre L’Enfant to have many tree-lined boule-

Casey Trees Nursery in Berryville, VA grows 5,000 trees a year to give to DC residents for free. Over 40 varieties are planted and are carefully tended to by Casey Tree sta .

The farm was donated by Betty Casey when she founded the Casey Tree Foundation to enhance the tree canopy of DC.

GREEN DC

vards and green spaces, but over time the tree canopy has declined to just over 35 percent. anks to Betty Casey’s foresight, the city is working hard to plant more trees, and on April 22nd this year, Casey Trees will plant it’s 50,000th tree. at is an astounding record to celebrate on Earth Day.

e 50,000th tree will be part of a community planting at Fort Stanton Recreation Center in Anacostia. Casey Trees has added a focus on environmental justice and planting trees in traditionally underserved Wards 5,7, and 8. Tree decline in DC has increased in the last year especially in these areas. Why? Andrew Schichtel, Chief Operating O cer of Casey Trees, says climate change, development, and some hesitancy by residents to plant trees have all contributed.

Casey Trees plants at least 5,500 trees a year in DC. Its goal is to increase that number to 8,000 trees a year. e group hopes to attain 40 percent canopy by 2032. Casey Tree works closely with DC’s Urban Forestry Department, the National Park Service, and many other partners including residents, schools, and community groups. Just like the Arbor Day Foundation, which will plant 25,000 trees on Arbor Day around the United States, the trees planted are free.

Where Do All These Trees Come From?

In the early days, Casey Trees outsourced its tree inventory by purchasing them from nurseries around the country, with many coming from tree farms in Oregon. Today, the group grows its own at a tree nursery on the former estate of Betty Casey near Berryville, VA in the Shenandoah. e facility is a two-hour drive from Capitol Hill o Interstate 66. e trees are nestled along the Shenandoah River with a 100-acres of trees, row after row, staked to stand up straight, and cared for a sta of 13 full time employees. Schichtel oversees the operation.

“I grew up in Walla Walla, Oregon and my family actually supplied Casey Trees with some of our family trees as I was growing up,” Schichtel says. He had a chance to track a batch of trees shipped to DC and was introduced to the sta of Casey Trees while attending Catholic University. Upon graduation, he joined the growing organization and thirteen years later he is the Chief Operating O cer and manages the beautiful farm.

Imagine 5,000 trees in various stages of growth lined up in neat rows, with information tags on each tree and signs at the end of each row. Casey Trees grows 40 di erent species of trees that take 24-36 months to mature to the point they are ready to be placed on a truck and brought to their new homes. Andrew says the annual audit shows the trees are worth a half of million dollars.

“I am not sure people realize how much human touch goes into growing these trees,” Andrews reects. “From the time the young trees are shipped to us, to planting the trees in the ground in circular pots, to staking them, pruning them, watering, checking for disease, there is sta caring for them.”

Currently, the sta is concerned about the redbud trees. A fungus creates open wounds on the tree’s limbs and trunk that cuts o the ow of nutrients, eventually killing the tree. Red buds, often more purple than red in its owers, are a native tree to our area. Red buds and dogwoods bloom simultaneously creating a lovely array of colors in the spring.

Andrew says the disease is so prevalent, they will probably not ship any of their trees for planting this year. “Our sta are very diligent in educating themselves about the

trees and current conditions,” says Andrew, “and we also work with others like Bartlett Tree experts to share information.”

How Do I Sign Up For A Tree?

Casey Trees works with both individual residents, community groups and the city Urban Forestry operation to plant tree boxes. e easiest way to apply for a free tree or up to 25 trees is to go to the Casey Tree website, https://caseytrees.org/plant/freetrees. A Casey Tree arborist will get back to you and help you decide what kind of tree ts your property the best. “It is really helpful if the resident has a type of tree, for instance maybe wanting a owering tree, in mind, but we also are good at educating the owner on all kinds of possibilities,” says Schichtel.

When I was there, the farm has just gathered 25 trees to bring to DC to plant, and the variety of trees from a magnolia to oaks demonstrated the variety of trees that get planted.

If you’ve already purchased and planted a tree on your property, you can get up to $100 back through Casey Trees’ Tree Rebate Program. e program is only extended to DC residents or trees that will be planted at Washington, DC addresses.

On April 28th, Arbor Day, Casey Trees will celebrate by honoring volunteers and professionals in the tree eld that have demonstrated outstanding service. It is an annual event that began in 2014. As Schichtel noted, it really takes a lot of human care to keep the trees and the city canopy growing and thriving. e awards remind us of the professional and personal passion of our DC residents to keep our city green and healthy.

Rindy O’Brien was one of the rst volunteers with Casey Trees. To contact her: Rindyobrien@gmail.com

Andrew Schichtel is Chief Operating O cer of Casey Trees and manages the 100-acre nursery farm. He grew up in the tree business with his family in Oregon and has worked for Casey Trees for the last 13 years.

24 trees are lined up ready to transport by truck to DC to be planted for free to area residents and community spaces.

Curbside Compost Pilot Program Launches Sign Up for DPW Program Begins April 22

by Elizabeth O’Gorek

DC Department of Public Works (DPW) has announced that sign-up for their pilot Curbside Composting Program will begin at 9 a.m. on Earth Day, April 22.

DPW Zero Waste Program Analyst Rachel Manning said the precise date has not been set for pilot collections to begin, but DPW is planning for summer of this year.

“ is is something that residents have really been asking for,” Manning said, “and programs we’ve seen in other cities have been really successful. We are excited to launch it here in the District and hopefully down the line, expand it to all DPWserviced households.”

The Pilot

Up to 12,000 households will participate into the program, about 1,500 from each of the eight wards. at’s a bit more than eleven percent of the 105,000 households served annually by DPW, which provides services including trash and recycling collection to single family dwellings and buildings with three or fewer apartments (larger residential buildings, which have private collection, will not be eligible for the pilot).

Participants will receive a starter compost kit, including a curbside collection bin, a countertop kitchen compost caddy and a set of compostable liner bags. DPW estimates that the project could capture up to 6,000 tons of food waste over the year of the pilot.

Composting has an important environmental impact. When food waste is put in the dump, all the nutrients are lost for future growth. But when food waste is composted, essential nutrients are

captured and can be returned to the soil. Composting also reduces emissions: food waste releases methane and other greenhouse gases as it decays. But when food waste is composted, it can be aerated, adding oxygen which prevents the microbes from producing methane. Instead, waste becomes a nutrient-rich soil amendment, or fertilizer.

to facilities such as the Balls Ford Composting Facility in Manassas, Va.

In part due to land limitations, the District does not have a composting facility, or any plans to build its own. Now, DPW is in the process of securing a contractor to haul away the waste and bring it to the composting facility, Manning said. So the destination of DC’s food waste is wrapped up in the solicitation process.

Composting Now

Preparing for Pick Up

e program has been a long time coming. Impetus for the curbside program was provided by the Sustainable Solid Waste Management Amendment Act of 2014. e bill set a goal to divert 80 percent of District waste through reduction, reuse, recycling and composting.

In 2016, DPW brought on a consultant to develop an analytical model to address the feasibility of curbside composting. In 2017, the analyst found that area composting facilities were not large enough to accept waste from the District. However, it has since become feasible due to expansions

DPW currently facilitates some District-based composting. For instance, DPW composts collected leaf and yard waste. Residents have been able to drop o their compost at weekly Food Waste Drop-O program sites, o ered on Saturdays at Farmer’s Markets throughout the District. ose have been extremely successful, Manning said. Between 5,000 and 7,000 tons of collected yard waste are composted annually. 32,152 participants have dropped o food waste at the Food Waste Drop-O sites in 2022, sending 919,687 pounds (or nearly 460 tons) of food waste back to the soil. ese programs will not be interrupted by the pilot.

DPW has also o ered Home Composting lessons, teaching residents how to compost successfully and o ering a rebate on composters purchased. ose are being revised but will reopen later this year, Manning says. And DC residents have bene ted: DPW will ll up to ve 32-gallon bags with free compost on weekdays from 1-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fort Totten Transfer Station (4900 John F. McCormack Dr. NE, bring your own bags!).

e end goal for the curbside program is for APRIL

GREEN DC EARTH MONTH CALENDAR

every one of the 105,000 DPWserviced households to participate. at’s a big task. According to Biocycle, in 2021, 181 communities o ered curbside food waste pickup in the United States. In Howard County, 30,000 households have access to curbside collection. Nearby, that includes Prince George County, University Park and Takoma Park, MD, nearly 6,000 households participated.

at’s altogether about a third the size of the operation the District is contemplating — and one reason why a pilot is needed, Manning said. “It’s not as easy as collecting trash or recyclables,” Manning noted of curbside composting. “It’s a material that can’t be left on the street for a long period of time, because people would have to deal with the smell and rodent problems.”

ere’s a lot to work through, from determining proper bins and collection strategies as well as educating residents on how to properly compost. Education is key, Manning said. “ ings like trash and recycling have been happening for years and years, so people are used to those services, but something like this could be a huge learning curve for a lot of folks,” she cautions. Testing the program out in a smaller subgroup that opted into the program gives the city a group that is interested in this and perhaps educated on it to some extent. is will help DPW get a sense of challenges and ways to improve the program before it is launched to all DPW-serviced households. e investment will be worth it if it helps meet the District’s zero waste goals, according to DPW Acting Director Timothy Spriggs. “DPW continues to invest in the DC’s

sustainability e orts,” said Spriggs. “By launching a new curbside compost pilot, unveiling a comprehensive zero waste plan for DC that re ects the diverse perspectives and priorities of our community and adding two new food waste drop o sites, we are empowering residents and businesses to take meaningful action towards reducing waste and building a more sustainable future.”

Composting in the Future

e pilot will run from Summer 2023 to Summer 2024. After that, DPW will assess lessons learned, Manning said. What happens next will depend on what those lessons are, DPW o cials said. DPW may nd they need additional resources, or di erent equipment, such as bins or liners. Manning said it is possible that the program will step up in increments of larger samples, rather than jump to serving the entire residential community that receives DPW services.

Sign up for the Curbside Composting Pilot begins online at 9 a.m. April 22. Selected households will receive a con rmation email from the Department of Public Works’ O ce of Waste Diversion via zero. waste@dc.gov and will be informed when weekly collection will begin as soon as that information is available. Kits will be received by families a week before collection begins.

Learn more about the pilot by visiting zerowaste.dc.gov/ curbsidecomposting. Learn more about food and yard waste initiatives at zerowaste.dc.gov/ page/food-yard-waste-residents

National Arboretum Azalea Peak.

Peak bloom can vary by two weeks or more, depending on the weather, but usually takes place around the end of April. e earliest peak date reported in the last decade was April 15; the latest was May 4. www.usna.usda.gov

Fort Stanton Park Monthly Volunteer Days.

On the rst Saturday of every month, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., help remove trash and invasive plants from Fort Stanton Park. Volunteers meet in front of the Fort Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie St. SE. Register at www. ward8woods.org/fort-stanton-park.

Shepherd Parkway Monthly Volunteer Days.

On the second Saturday of every month, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., help remove trash and invasive plants from Fort Shepherd Parkway. Volunteers meet at 555 Newcomb St. SE. Register at www. ward8woods.org/shepherd-parkway.

Potomac River Watershed Cleanup.

Since 1989, the Alice Ferguson Foundation has spearheaded the Annual

Potomac River Watershed Cleanup to connect people to their local watershed through stewardship and volunteerism. On April 15, lend a hand at the agship cleanup event along the shoreline of Piscataway Park in Accokeek, Maryland. Read more and sign up at www.fergusonfoundation.org.

Clean Waterways

Kenilworth Park Earth Day Cleanup.

Saturday, April 22, from 9:00 a.m. (8:30 a.m. registration) to noon, help clean up Kenilworth Park Bandalong Litter Trap. All equipment is provided; wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Register at www.anacostiariverkeeper.org.

Earth Day Shoreline Cleanup at Oxon Cove Park. April 22, noon to 2:30 p.m., help re-

Earth Day Invasive Honeysuckle Removal on the Mount Vernon Trail. April 22, from 9 to 11 a.m. e Friends of Mount Vernon Trail will be celebrating Earth Day by removing invasive bush honeysuckle from the trail near the 14th Street Bridge. Read more and register at www.mountvernontrail.org.

Spring Landscape Beautification Day at President Lincoln’s Cottage. April 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring friends, family and gardening gloves and spend Earth Day morning at President Lincoln’s Cottage for the annual spring cleanup. Free landscape tours are o ered to all volunteers. For more information and to sign up, email jlarry@lincolncottage.org.

move single-use plastics and trash along the shoreline of Oxon Cove Park. Contact rebecca_george@ partner.nps.gov.

Notes from the Crypt Earth Day Concert.

April 22, noon to 1 p.m., join Congressional Cemetery in its historic 1903 Chapel for a special Earth Day-themed concert featuring some of DC’s best musicians. Seating free but limited. 1801 E St. SE. www. congressionalcemetery.org

Celebrate Earth Day with Poetry.

Peter Coppelman reads from his collection “A Life of Service,” April 22, 4 to 5 p.m. Coppelman explores an exemplary life devoted to environmental protection. $10. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. www.hillcenterdc.org

City Nature Challenge: Washington DC Metro Area.

April 28 to May 1, join others in this global e ort to explore biodiversity. During May 2 to 7, upload and identify observations; collective global results will be announced on May 8. Read more and sign up at www.citynaturechallenge.org.

Mount Vernon Spring Plant and Garden Sale.

April 29 and 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., shop for heirloom vegetables, herbs and annual owers in the over ow parking lot, plus native perennials, trees and shrubs grown in Mount Vernon’s greenhouses. www. mountvernon.org

National Arboretum

Garden Fair and Plant Sale.

On April 29 (rain date, April 30), 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., celebrate spring with the Friends of the National Arboretum and their plants, expert gardening advice, dozens of local vendors and outdoor activities. e sale is at the arboretum’s visitor center. Enter at the New York Avenue entrance and park at the New York Avenue parking lot, R Street parking lot or Grove parking lot. A free shuttle will transport visitors between the parking lots and the event. FONA members get early access – 9 to 11 a.m. Become at member at www.fona.org/membership.

Flower Mart at the National Cathedral.

May 5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and May 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. e annual Flower Mart is the largest fundraiser for the cathedral’s gardens and grounds. It features a white-elephant tent, an international oral display, plants and gifts for sale, tower climbs, free live entertainment and food. www.allhallowsguild.org

Trail Riding Basics with WABA.

WABA’s Trail Riding Basics class on April 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Kenilworth Park, teaches bicyclists of all ages to ride safely, condently and considerately on trails and multi-use paths. Free. Register at www.waba.org/blog/2023/03/ fokag-waba.

The Bike How You Like Ride.

May 6. Whether you rode all winter, are just coming out of hibernation, learning how to ride or already use your bike as the primary mode of transportation, this familyfriendly ride is for bicyclists of all ages and experience levels. Twomile fun ride; 10-mile cruiser ride; 30-mile explorer ride or 50-mile road warrior ride. All rides start and nish at Franklin Park, 1332 I St. NW. Register at www.waba.org/ bikehowyoulike.

DC Urban Farm Tax Abatement Program.

DC o ers up to a 90% property tax abatement for individuals whose property is being used as an urban farm, pursuant to DC Code §47868, “Reduced tax liability for certain

urban farms,” for a maximum annual property abatement of $20,000. www.doee.dc.gov/node/1592086

Waste Less –Recycle More.

To learn more about ways to reduce waste, sign up for periodic updates at www.zerowaste.dc.gov.

Anacostia Watershed Society Earth Day Cleanup.

On April 22, from 10 a.m. to noon, thousands of volunteers will collect trash at dozens of sites around the watershed and enjoy the Anacostia River. Registration at www.anacostiaws.org is strongly recommended. You will receive a con rmation email from earthday@ anacostiaws.org with details. T-shirts for participants. Some sites accept walkups. Children can participate when accompanied by an adult. www. anacostiaws.org/earthday2023

Vive la France!

French cuisine seems to be staging a comeback in our nation’s capital. About time.  A recent Gallic arrival is Petite Cerise, 1027 Seventh St. NW, in Shaw. Ensconced in a longvacant 130-year-old building, Petite Cerise (“little cherry”) is across the street from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. e main oor is casual, with dressier dining upstairs. Created by chef Jeremiah Langhorne and partner Alex Zink—who brought us the acclaimed Dabney—this 90seat charmer is a slice of Paris. For breakfast, customers nosh on croissants (try the delicious, aky chocolate version) and other pastries with their co ee.

Later, Petite Cerise dispenses small plates, including assiette de rillette--(meat slow-cooked in fat,

Insatiable

by Celeste McCall

similar to con t), perched on baguette rounds with mustard and a cornichon. When they say “petite,” they mean it; the rillette was only two or three bites. Peter ordered grilled mussels; six mollusks arranged on a bed of rock salt. More lling was the wellseasoned side of green lentils. Entrees include grilled artichokes, coquilles St. Jacques (scallops with white asparagus), and braised lamb with spring vegetables. On the all-French carte du vin, my glass of Grenache/ Cinsault rosé was a breath of spring.

Petite Cerise is a bit pricy; our light lunch came to $70 before tip. Service was excellent. For hours and more information, visit www.petitecerise.com.

More French

At 1602 U St. NW, “modern” Parisian fare meets sushi at sleek twostory newcomer Baby Shank. e space formerly housed Local 16. On the Gallic front, you’ll nd New York strip steaks, rack of lamb draped over Parmesan risotto, and steamed mussels. Chef “Noriaki” Yasutake of Chinatown’s departed Sei resurrects his acclaimed sushi rolls, including the “S.O.S.” with salmon and strawberry, beet tartare, spicy tuna beignets, and his “Fish and Chips” creation. For more information, visit www. babyshankdc.com.

Crooked

While wandering around the jumble of warehouses, wholesale markets and restaurants near Union Market, we stumbled upon an oddly named enterprise: Crooked Run Fermentation, 550 Morse St. NE. Naturally, we had to investigate. e DC spino of two Virginia restaurants, Crooked Run’s kitchen

ferments everything: pizza dough, bread, beer, wine and cider. e brewery is in Leesburg.

Crooked Run—named after a creek in Leesburg-is di erent. For “pan” pizzas, chef Chris Morgan ferments the Virginia-milled our naturally. e result resembles thickly sliced bread. From umpteen kinds of pizza varieties, we chose Sicilian anchovy; the personal size pie was topped with tomato sauce, sliced garlic, roasted onions and boquerones (marinated anchovies). Other pizzas include the standard pepperoni, as well as o beat concoctions like “Reading Terminal,” topped with porchetta (roasted pork), mozzarella and broccoli rabe, and the “Delmar,” capped with fried calamari and vodka sauce.

From Crooked’s appetizer, salad and sandwich listings, we opted for crunchy, deep-fried calamari, paired with incendiary cherry peppers and a pair of sauces. Delicious.

Besides locally fermented beers, the bar pours draft wines and a few bottles. Since the kitchen was out of draft wines, we sipped a natural—sans sultes—slightly zzy Pet-Nat. Coming soon are cocktails made with locally distilled spirits.

Operational manager Jose Flores, who was also bartending, took good care of us. Lunch for two came to $49 including tax and tip. For more

information, visit www.crookedrunfermentation.com.

Scream for Ice Cream

Ready for dessert? Across the street from Crooked Run, look for the Van Leeuwen ice cream parlor, which opened last month at 418 Morse St. NE. e sweet shop is the rst DC o shoot of the New York based company. Visit www.vanleeuwen.com.

Viva Mexico!

Nearby, in the bustling La Cosecha Latino marketplace at 1280 Fourth St. NE, Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana holds court. e exciting menu matches the vibrant décor, with tiles and colorful wall hangings. Among authentic specialties are ceviche, chile rellenos, Yucatan-style braised chicken, corn (or our) tortillas lled with shrimp, pork, or huitlacoche ( avorful Mexican fungus that grows on corn). e drink listing is equally impressive, o ering numerous mezcals, tequilas, sangria, and exotic cocktails. Beers are Mexican, while most wines

Among Petite Cerise appetizers, six grilled mussels are arranged on a bed of rock salt.

Near Union Market, Crooked Run ferments beer, wine, bread and pan  pizza.

At Shaw’s Petite Cerise, a aky, buttery croissant is a delicious breakfast item.

ow from Spain and Argentina.  For more information, visit www.lacosechadc.com.

Japanese Love

Love Makoto, an enormous Japanese food hall, is due to arrive at Capitol Crossing, 200 Mass. Ave. NW. For this ambitious, 9,000 square-foot enterprise, Chef Makoto Okuwa and Eric Eden are joining forces to create this “love letter” to Okuwa’s homeland. While nal plans are still in the works, guests can expect a ramen shop, bakery, robata grill, and dining room serving myriad sushi creations and other Asian delights. Watch for details.

To the two Shaw chefs and restaurants chosen as national finalists for this year’s James Beard Awards.

Mexico meets Lebanon

Coming soon to Ivy City: Vera, 2002 Fenwick St. NE. e stylish two-story newcomer will showcase the bold and avorful cuisines of Mexico and Lebanon. e brainchild of Nayef Issa, co-founder of Dupont Circle’s Residents Café & Bar, and partner Nour Chaaban, Vera is named for Veracruz, Mexico’s historic port city that welcomed Lebanese immigrants in the late 1880s. Vera strives to honor these Lebanese cooking traditions by using ingredients like chickpeas, sumac and tahini. ese Mediterranean items meld with chili peppers and tortillas to create marriages like falafel tacos, shawarma al pastor and other Latino dishes.

Vera’s exact menu and chef will be announced soon. For updates, visit www.veradc.com.

In La Cosecha Latino marketplace, Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana sports colorful wall hangings and vibrant cuisine.

Visit Unconventional Diner for Comfort Food with an Elegant Twist

Located on the west side of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Unconventional Diner (1207 9th St. NW) serves gourmet renditions of comfort classics all day long. Owner Eric Eden has been in the District since 2001 and when he opened the diner five years ago, he knew it was the “perfect place” to bring his business partner chef David Deshaies’ modern comfort food.

Classic diner favorites are served here, each with a unique twist. The meatloaf, for example, is coated in a sriracha glaze and served with a morel mushroom gravy. The shrimp and grits includes plantains and pineapple.

“We set out to kind of identify some of the staples on traditional diner menus, and then sought to bring in some international influences and interesting tweaks on old school diner recipes,” Eden said.

With a multitude of vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a family friendly and date-night worthy ambiance, the fusion of refined and casual is apparent in every component of the diner. The décor includes original murals, framed artwork and Andy War-

Business Briefs

by Sarah Payne

hol wallpaper. Unconventional Diner also boasts one of the largest outdoor dining ‘streateries’ in the city, open year-round.

The diner is well loved by the community and has won several RAMMY Awards, including Chef of the Year, Upscale Brunch of the Year and Pastry Chef of the Year. The brunch menu is offered every day. Eden said one of the highlights has been establishing relationships with their neighbors.

“It’s been terrific,” Eden said of the community response. “We’ve developed so many relationships with locals and the local support has really defined our business.”

Unconventional Diner is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Brunch is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner is available from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The menu is also available for carryout. Visit www.unconventionaldiner.com for details.

Enjoy an Intimate Dining Experience at Kinship and Metier

Kinship (1015 7th St. NW) features contemporary American cuisine in an intimate setting. Created by acclaimed chef Eric Ziebold, diners will enjoy the fresh flavors of his unique creations.

Ziebold got his start in the culinary space growing up in Iowa, where he worked in a small restaurant owned by a Culinary Institute of America graduate.

“When I was

in high school, I started as a dishwasher, then became a prep cook, and then worked my way up to the working line,” Ziebold remembered. “I went to college for two years, and then ultimately dropped out to go to culinary school.”

The menu, featuring a variety of meat, fish, and vegetable dishes, can be read two ways: vertically as a sort of tasting menu or horizontally in categories of appetizers, entrees and desserts. All items on the Kinship menu are à la carte.

“The idea of breaking the menu into those categories was to give people an idea of what we were thinking about when we came up with that dish,” Ziebold explained.

Fresh ingredients and local sourcing, Ziebold said, have been an important part of his cuisine. The restaurant has its own garden in northern Virginia and sources much of its produce and meats from local farmers.

The James Beard Award-winning chef also owns Métier, located on the restaurant’s lower-level space, which features a more intimate dining experience with a seven-course tasting menu. Both Kinship and Metier have been awarded the coveted Michelin one-star rating.

“Kinship is like coming over and having dinner at my house and Métier is having dinner at my restaurant,” Ziebold said. “It’s really showcasing a lot of the things from a professional standpoint that just take too long and you would never do at home.”

Kinship is open Wednesday

through Sunday, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Métier is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Metier also offers occasional special menus highlighting specific ingredients and international destinations. For more information and reservations, visit www.kinshipdc.com and www.metierdc.com.

Savor Modern Hong Kong Cuisine at Tiger Fork

Acreative blend of classic Chinese dishes, dim sum and Hong Kong street food await at Tiger Fork (922 N St. NW, Rear (Blagden Alley)). Owner Greg Algie fell in love with Hong Kong in his early 20s and wanted to bring his cultural and culinary experiences there to the District.

“When I visited Hong Kong, it was an incredible city with so much culture, it was just vibrant…and the food is just incredible,” Algie recalled. “We try to pay homage to that and respect the traditions and then bring in a new, modern approach to it.” Dragon-festooned wall murals and redfringed hanging lanterns contribute to the Hong Kong vibe.

The restaurant’s menu changes seasonally, but fan favorite dishes like

Restaurateur Eric Eden is the co-owner of Unconventional Diner in Shaw. Photo by Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets.

James Beard Award-winning chef Eric Ziebold owns Kinship and Metier, two Michelin starred restaurants in Shaw. Photo by Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets.

Greg Algie owns Shaw’s Hong Kong style restaurant Tiger Fork. Photo: Courtesy Bladgen Hospitality Group.

whole steamed bass for two and Beef Chow Fun are always available. Dumplings, noodles, and pork dishes are also popular.

“We make a lot of seasonal changes,” Algie remarked. “ ere are certain items that stay on, like our fried rice, but we will mix up what’s in the fried rice and, seasonally, change the vegetables and different things.”

Tiger Fork’s beverage program is unique in that it utilizes Chinese spirits and incorporates traditional tonics and tinctures aimed at alleviating fatigue, anxiety, pain and other ailments. ey also feature a variety of wines and sake.

“I don’t think people take medicinal cocktails that seriously, but they’re intrigued by it,” Algae opined. “ ey look at them and say ‘oh, that’s cool’, and it’s fun for folks to kind of understand what it is.”

Algie feels the neighborhood and community within the secluded alley are unique and special.

“It’s a great space,” Algie observed. “Blagden Alley is just incredible and it’s unique to the city. We’ve got some great neighbors; both some of the residential folks that we’ve become friends with over the years and some of our fellow restaurants.”

Algie said the community has been very receptive to the restaurant and that they have enjoyed hosting events with their neighbors.

“I think they’ve received us well, and we try to be great neighbors to the neighborhood,” Algie explained. “We do some events like Chinese New Year, where we invite the community to come down and be a part of it.”

Tiger Fork is open Tuesday through ursday, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. e menu is also available for carryout. Visit www.tigerforkdc.com for details.

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

Bowser Stumbles Into Her Third Term

Falchiccio Scandal Derails Administration

by Kenneth V. Cummins

John Falchiccio, then-Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) and chief of staff to Mayor Muriel Bowser (D, left) stands behind the Mayor as they listen to Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen (D) at a press conference held March 28, 2022 near RFK Stadium.

Photo: Elizabeth O’Gorek.

John Falchiccio held unprecedented power in District government as Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) chief of staff while doubling as her Deputy Mayor for Economic Development. His resignation in the wake of sordid allegations threatens to derail Bowser’s third term at its inception.

During the first two terms of the Bowser administration, Falchiccio earned a reputation as the most powerful DC bureaucrat since Anthony Williams served as the DC’s first Chief Financial Officer in the mid-nineties. Never in the half century of Home Rule has a mayoral aide wielded such power and influence. His position rapidly unraveled in the face of accusations of sexual harassment, which forced his sudden departure this month.

Who is Falchiccio

Falchiccio (43) has been at Bowser’s side since both joined then Ward 4 Councilmember Adrian Fenty’s (D) “Green Team.” This shoe-leather campaign executed a stunning upset of the District’s Democratic establishment electing Fenty mayor. The candidate won every precinct.

During the 2006 campaign, Falchiccio got an inside look at the nexus between politics, power and money in DC. He sat next to Fenty as the soon-to-be-mayor called potential donors, soliciting large contributions. He joined the candidate on fundraising runs when Fenty picked up checks. This marked the beginning of his long-lasting relationship with District developers and the moneyed class, which still fuel DC elections.

In 2007, immediately after Fenty’s election, Falchiccio managed Bowser’s successful campaign to become the mayor’s successor as Ward 4 councilmember. Afterwards, he joined the Fenty administration as a political adviser, message bearer and and jack of all trades for “the boss.”

Mayor Fenty squandered his enormous political capital over the

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next four years. He was unceremoniously unseated by then Council Chairman Vince Gray (D) in 2010. Falchiccio then took a brief respite from DC to return to national politics. In 2014, he returned to advise Bowser on her 2014 successful challenge to Gray’s re-election. After Bowser’s victory, he became her rst and only chief of sta . In Bowser’s second term, she appointed Falchiccio Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, signi cantly expanding his role in her administration.

Falchiccio added to his power by being the hardest working, most loyal member of the Bowser team.

The Curse of the Third Term

Falchiccio’s exit shattered the Mayor’s inner circle. It blew a huge hole in her administration that is not easily lled. is blow has compounded the mounting problems she faces at the start of her third term which already promises to be much more challenging than her rst two. e time is past when DC ofcials and Council members could be heard proclaiming: “the city has more money than it can spend.”

at euphoria has vanished as the infusion of federal pandemic funds has started to evaporate. Moreover, federal agencies have not and may never recall their employees back to work, leaving downtown empty. Lastly, federal agencies, corporations and law rms are likely to need less space in the future. Recognizing this dire situation, the mayor has made the revival of DC’s o ce core the major focus on her third term.

In this environment of postCOVID scal austerity, Bowser must revitalize and reimagine downtown. She hopes to turn vacant o ces into a ordable residential town centers.

Falchiccio was the mayor’s point person on downtown revitalization, possessing singular skills and experience to deal with the crisis. He held the administration’s relationships with developers, who will play key roles in any future revitalization. However, as one of the Mayor’s most loyal sup-

porters lamented last week, there is no Falchiccio 2.0 to serve in Bowser’s 3.0 administration.

Downtown woes are not Bowser’s only major headache. She also faces:

• dismal city revenues due to declining value of commercial ofce properties;

• a rise in violent and property crimes;

• reigning in the illegal cannabis gray market;

• aggressive oversight from increasingly hostile Congressional Republicans;

• di cult relations with the progressive-dominated DC Council;

• a DC Housing Authority slipping into federal receivership;

• public demand for increased affordable housing;

• a destabilized operation at DMPED.

e mayor’s rst move was to shift Keith Anderson from the troubled General Services Administration to the helm of DMPED. Anderson also has served in the past as both the Director of Parks and Recreation and Director of the Department of Energy and Environment during the Bowser and Gray administrations. Many expect the move to be temporary while she conducts a national search for a permanent replacement.

Bowser then appointed Lindsay Parker as her new chief of sta . Parker has served in the past as Bowser’s deputy chief of sta , assistant city administrator and the city’s Chief Technology O cer.

Both Anderson and Parker are regarded as competent “implementers.” However, they are not strategic thinkers in the mold of Falchiccio. ey also lack the deep personal relationships with the city’s business community which made him so invaluable.

Despite these swift moves, many see an administration that remains out to sea. “ ere is no one who can ll John’s shoes,’’ a longtime supporter observed.

The Mayor’s Shadow

When Bowser lost Falchiccio, she lost “her brain, her xer, her enforcer,’’ DC employees, District political cognoscenti and Council sta ers all say. More importantly, Bowser, a notoriously guarded politician, lost the person she trusted most among her surprisingly small circle of insiders.

“ ey had a symbiotic relationship,’’ says former Bowser campaign adviser Tom Lindenfeld. “When talking to John, people assumed they were talking to Muriel. And, when talking to Muriel, you assumed you were talking to John.’’

“She might nd it hard to trust anyone, now,’’ Lindenfeld said.

Regardless of whether this scandal involves one woman – or ten -coming forward, Bowser politically and personally could not su er the consequences of such a scandal, and had to distance herself from it immediately.

Women -- and particularly young white professionals and women of color -- form the hard core of her support, and standing up against this type of misconduct and treatment of women is central to her image and brand.

e reason for Falchiccio’s disappearance was nally revealed by civil rights attorney Debra Katz. In a March 20 press release, Katz disclosed allegations of Falchiccio’s sexual misconduct involving an unnamed female DC employee.

Katz urged other women to come forward. She advised them to contact Deputy Legal Counsel Vanessa Natale at the Mayor’s O ce of Legal Counsel, who is conducting the investigation. is may signal possible criminal violations, such as providing favors or rewards to subordinates in return for silence.

Bowser, no doubt, hopes her quick moves to replace her consigliere will allow her administration to quickly move forward. However, Falchiccio’s ghost may yet haunt her footsteps. Only time will tell.

Kenneth V. Cummins has been reporting on DC politics and issues for nearly 40 years. ◆

Shaw Main Streets Holds Annual Meeting

Shaw Streets

by Pleasant Mann

tember and Small Business Saturday in November. It has also completed three major murals in the neighborhood. Shaw Main Streets has also been able to support businesses affected by the construction of the Northeast Boundary Tunnel by DC Water, a project that should end in the fall of 2023.

The meeting ended with an election of members to the organization’s board. The slate of candidates included a new member, Dr. Robert Johns of Howard University. The slate was elected unanimously.

Chase Bank Opens

New Branch in Shaw

Shaw Main Streets held its annual meeting on Tuesday evening, March 21. The annual meeting is the public forum for the organization to review its work and outline its plans for the future. Due to the Covid crisis, this was the first annual meeting that Shaw Main Streets has been able to hold since 2019. Even so, the meeting was held virtually as a Zoom session this year. After Shaw Main Streets Board Chair Gretchen Wharton greeted attendees, there were messages of welcome from Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau; Kristi Whitfield, Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development; Salah Czapary, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture; and Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto.

Then Alexander Padro, Executive Director of Shaw Main Streets gave a presentation on the state of Shaw businesses. He said that Shaw lost 34 businesses since the outbreak of the pandemic, but that there has been a rebound since most vacant restaurant spaces have since been leased to new tenants. There were 23 new business openings in Shaw in 2022, with the neighborhood getting 53 new businesses since January 2020. Over the past year, the Shaw Clean + Safe Team has expanded to 11th Street and Shaw Main Streets has been able to bring back the Shaw Open House in June, Art All Night in Sep-

Chase Bank opened a new branch at Georgia Avenue and W Street at the Howard University Research Building at 2201 Georgia Ave. NW on March 23. The opening was the second branch for the bank in Shaw and the 20th in the DMV. Besides JPMorgan Chase Bank leaders, celebrants included Howard University President Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick and DC Member of Congress Eleanor Holmes Norton, along with entertainment from a Howard University band and cheerleaders. The bank took the opportunity to announce that they were awarding a $3.5 million grant to the Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation. The grant will support the organization’s work to establish a small business incubator hub for Black female innovators, as well as its employment readiness program, which provides economic stability for at least 400 Ward 7 and 8 residents. The new Chase branch will be managed by Presley Nelson, Jr., a graduate of Howard University.

Shaw Cleanup with Councilmember Pinto April 22

Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto is inviting volunteers to support a cleanup effort to com-

memorate Earth Day. After a successful cleanup last year in Dupont Circle, this year’s cleanup will be in Shaw. The Shaw Clean Up will be conducted on Saturday morning, April 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Councilmember Pinto will host the effort, partnering with Shaw Main Streets and the group District Cleanups to help organize the event. The Shaw cleanup will start at the Bundy Dog Park on the 400 block of P Street and work its way to Dacha Shaw, at Seventh and Q, where there will be a social event for participants. Check with shawmainstreets. org for more information on the cleanup.

Mayor’s Budget Includes Seaton Elementary

While the austere Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 District Budget that Mayor Bowser has proposed missed some Shaw priorities such as a new environmentally friendly truck for the Shaw Clean + Safe Team and a new Circulator route to serve the neighborhood, it did include one improvement. The modernization of Seaton Elementary School (1503 10th St. NW) will be moved up a year. Pre-design for the project will now start in FY 2025, design in FY 2026, and construction in FY 2027 and 2028, with completion of modernization in FY 2029.

T Street Taskforce Meets

The T Street Taskforce, a group of DC agency personnel, local businesses and Shaw neighborhood leaders devoted to arresting the deteriorating environment on the 600 block of T Street, held its monthly meet-

The Howard University Marching Band and Cheer Leaders celebrate the opening of the Chase Bank branch at Howard University. Photo: Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets.

Eat. Drink. Shaw 2019 at the Howard Theater. Photo: Pleasant Mann

ing on Thursday morning, March 30. Originally formed by Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau, the group will now be managed by Salah Czapary, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture.

Czapary announced that he wanted to do a walkthrough of the area to develop a list of issues before he brought the relevant DC agencies to work on problems with the group. This disappointed some of the taskforce members, who thought that they had already spent months identifying problems on the block. One developer noted that the valuation of his property has gone down by $20 million and that some commercial tenants were trying to get out of their leases because their employees were being assaulted by miscreants from the street.

There are still some hopes for improvement. A niche at the rear emergency exit of the Dunbar building, which has been used for questionable activities in the alley, is now secured by a steel door. There are also discussions to activate the vacant city-owned lot at the east end of the block as a miniature golf course to encourage more positive activity on the street.

Eat. Drink. Shaw.

Scheduled for June 14 Shaw Main Streets will resume holding its annual food and beverage showcase, Eat. Drink. Shaw., on Wednesday evening, June 14 at the Howard Theater. At Eat. Drink. Shaw., the neighborhood’s renowned restaurants and bars show off what they do best, allowing ticketholders to eat and drink to their stomach’s content. This is the first time this event has been held since 2019, as result of the Covid pandemic. This year, 300 attendees will be able to enjoy unlimited samples of food and drink items from at least 25 Shaw drinking and dining establishments for two-and-one-half hours. For more information, visit www.eatdrinkshaw.com. u

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B held its meeting for March on Thursday evening, March 2, 2023. The commissioners are Sabel Harris (1B08, Chair), Larry Handerhan (1B01, Vice Chair), Sean Holihan (1B02), Jamie Sycamore (1B03), Santiago Lakatos (1B04, Treasurer), Alan Kensek (1B05), Ashleigh Fields (1B07) and Tucker Jones (1B09, Secretary). The 1B06 seat is currently vacant. There was a quorum to conduct business.

Censure Motion

Commissioner Kensek brought up an opinion by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) that the procedures used by the ANC to censure him last year were not proper. A censure should have been issued for violating a Code of Conduct, a provision that the ANC 1B bylaws does not have. Kensek also said that he was not allowed to defend himself and that the opinion said that the procedure should have been conducted under Roberts Rules of Order. Kensek wanted the censure rescinded.

Commissioner Sycamore said that he supported the OAG opinion to rescind the censure. The opinion said that rescission could be made just by having a commissioner calling a Point of Order, but the Chair noted that there was already a motion to rescind on the floor that had to be dealt with. A motion to rescind the censure of Commissioner Kensek passed with two yes votes and six abstentions.

Police Report on Violence

Police from the Third District joined the meeting to discuss a homicide that occurred the night before. Ward 1 Councilmember Brianne Nadeau also joined the meeting. Captain Riley Hong said that a nightlife officer was nearby when he heard the sound of gunfire. A male and a female were shot, with the male later dying. It appears that he was the target of the shooting. Commissioner Harris said that she knew the victim..

Hong said that the 1400 block of V is a known hotspot. He noted the success in reducing violent crime last summer with the deployment of officers in the area. For now, a crime camera

ANC 1B

by Pleasant Mann

will be set up. He has also asked DDOT to do a safety study to see if speed tables can be set up to slow down traffic.

Public Safety and Community Engagement Committee

The committee drew up a resolution requesting updates from WMATA and the OUC on their responses to safety incidents impacting MetroRail in the ANC 1B area. The resolution was passed by the commission.

The committee also got a sponsorship request for a grant to the Vermont Avenue Gardens group. The request was for $500, largely to buy new plants and fertilizer. The ANC approved the grant.

Economic Development Committee

Discussion on 1617 U Street NW. The Office of Planning has submitted a zoning Map Amendment to allow increased density on the site currently occupied by District police and fire stations. ANC 1B will offer its opinion on the map amendment at its April meeting.

Reeves Center Redevelopment. The committee also reviewed the two proposals being considered by the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development for the redevelopment of the Frank Reeves Center. The two proposals are similar. One of the items that threw off the schedule was the last-minute revision of the Request for Proposal to require that the redeveloped center include a hotel. The committee presented a resolution arguing that the ANC should support the proposal of Reeves CMC Ventures, a group that includes MRP Realty, CSG Urban Partners and Capri Investment Group. The ANC passed the resolution supporting the Reeves CMC Venture bid.

Transportation Committee

Tatte Bakery and Café requested support for a public space permit it had applied for at 14th and W Streets NW. Commissioner Kensek said that the space was not ideal, but that it would work, having measured the area himself. The ANC voted to support the public space permit.

The committee also had written a resolution to increase parking enforcement at night. It also had

a resolution for DDOT to establish a procedure to request public benches. Currently there is no means to request new benches. Both resolutions were passed by the ANC.

Alcoholic Beverage Regulation (ABR) Committee

Owl Room, 2007 14th Street NW. Occupying the space formerly occupied by Marvin, the establishment is seeking a renewal of the license. The committee recommended filing a protest. They are working on a settlement agreement, but there are still issues with trash and noise. A motion to protest the license passed.

Slice and Pie, 2221 14th Street NW. Adding an entertainment endorsement to the existing tavern license is proposed. There is a problem when there is entertainment with the windows open. A motion for the commission to protest the change passed.

DNA Social House, 1102 U Street NW. Licensee is requesting to change the seating capacity on the license from 30 to 81, allow a cover charge and change of hours for live entertainment. A motion to protest the change passed.

Andy’s Pizza, 808 V Street NW. New license for existing establishment moving to new space. Application is for 59 seats inside, 75 seats in summer garden. The applicants are also asking for a stipulated license. The ABR supported the settlement agreement reached with the establishment, on the condition that existing issues were addressed. A motion to support the agreement and license passed.

Pho House, 637 T Street NW. Seeking stipulated license for a Class D Tavern. The ABR recommended that the full ANC support a stipulated license on condition that issues in the settlement agreement with the establishment were met. The ANC voted to support the license request.

ANC 1B will hold its next meeting on Thursday, April 6, starting at 6:30 p.m. Plans are to try to hold this meeting as hybrid physical/virtual conference. Visit www.anc1b.org for more information.u

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2G held its monthly meeting for March on Thursday evening, March 9, 2023. The meeting was held as a virtual conference. Commission Chair Alexander M. “Alex” Padro (2G02) called the meeting to order. Commissioners Anthony “Tony” Brown (2G01, Treasurer), Alex Lopez (2G03, Secretary), Steven McCarty (2G04), Sheena Berry (2G05) and Rachelle P. Nigro (2G06, Vice Chair) were in attendance. The commission had a quorum to conduct business.

Third Police District Report

Lieutenant Steven Miller of the Third Police District started his report by saying there were no homicides and no sexual assaults reported during the previous month. The number of incidents in all categories was down from last year, except for thefts from vehicles. He also reported the apprehension of a neighborhood tire slasher.

Department of Parks and Recreation Briefing

Tommie Jones, Chief of External Affairs for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) provided an update on some of their facilities in ANC 2G. He pointed out that the agency was hiring for the summer, with DPR being the biggest participant in the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program. They are also preparing to run summer camps.

In terms of capital projects, Kennedy Recreation Center is scheduled to have improvements made. DPR is still working out a project schedule with the Department of General Services (DGS), but the hope is to start construction in the fall. Work is continuing on the restoration of the park at New Jersey Avenue and O Street.

Commissioner Lopez said that there was an issue of the scheduling of the field at Bundy Park between soccer teams and asked if DPR managed this. Jones replied that scheduling for Bundy was actually the responsibility of DGS. A resident brought up that when Banneker High School opened, the track was open to the public. Now it was closed. Jones noted that there have been some issues with the openness of the high school grounds and that he would come back to the commission later with an answer.

ANC 2G

by Pleasant Mann

District Department of Transportation Briefing

Stephen Hanrahan of DDOT reported on a walkthrough the agency conducted with Commissioner McCarty, DC agencies and local businesses to address some of the traffic and parking issues in Blagden Alley. He said there is already a service request for “No Outlet” signs to inform trucks that they might get stuck in the alley. The agency might also be able to issue a public space permit for a trash compactor for the businesses there.

In going over possible improvements, Hanrahan brought up the idea of geofencing, where rideshare drivers would be directed to a specific location to pick up passengers, rather than the actual address where the passenger made the call from. There could also be an expansion of the Pick Up/Drop Off (PUDO) zone on Ninth Street at the expense of public parking spaces.

Zoning, Planning and Historic Preservation Committee

1515 Ninth Street NW. Request for support for a zoning Map Amendment and concept approval by the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). The developer said that the map amendment was to consolidate two lots with different zoning, something that was consistent with the District’s Comprehensive Plan. The proposed building would have 45 residential units.

Commissioner Nigro said that a majority of the Zoning committee supported the project. Commissioner Berry said that she did not support the project since in her opinion, it does not have sufficient parking. She also thought that the building was too dense for the neighborhood. Commissioner Lopez said that if it met the Comprehensive Plan, the commission should support it. A resident objected to the height of the building and lack of space. A motion to support the project passed by a vote of 5-1.

1322 Ninth Street NW. Request for support for concept approval by the HPRB. Commissioner McCarty said that a number of residents came to the Zoning committee meeting and that they largely supported the project. He made a motion to support the proposal. The motion passed 5-1.

Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee (ABC)

1503 Ninth Street NW, Queens Bar and Lounge. Commissioner Padro explained that the establishment had a previous liquor license that was lost when they closed for the pandemic. The owner wants a new license with an entertainment endorsement. Motions to support the new license and settlement agreement passed unanimously.

1301 Ninth Street NW, The Urban Grape. A new establishment asking for a Class A license with a tasting permit. The Urban Grape started in Boston. Besides promoting minority winemakers, it also has a career development program for students of color. Padro said that the ABC committee supported the license and that they had developed a settlement agreement. Commissioner Berry made a motion to support the license, which was approved unanimously. The settlement agreement was also approved.

901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, STK Steak House. Support requested for a restaurant license that would include outdoor seating. Commissioner McCarty was concerned that the traffic caused by take-out pickups would increase the problems of the dangerous intersection at Massachusetts and 10th Street. The owners said that they would encourage pickup drivers to use the hotel driveway. Padro added that the ANC 2G Transportation committee could work on the problem. Motions to support the license and settlement agreement passed unanimously.

Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

1018 Rhode Island Avenue NW, The Roasted Boon. Request for support for Public Space permit. The establishment has been open since 2020 and has had a patio operating under a mayoral emergency order, which is expiring. The new permit would cover the outdoor space they are already using. A motion to support the permit application passed unanimously.

ANC 2G will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, April 12, adjusting its normal schedule of meeting on the second Thursday of the month to accommodate religious observances. The meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Plans are to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc2g.org for more information. u

BULLETIN BOARD

organization that offers transformative play experiences for children experiencing family housing insecurity in DC shelters. www.districtfray.com

Join

the Shaw Cleanup April 22

Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto is inviting volunteers to support a cleanup effort to commemorate Earth Day. The Shaw Clean Up will be on Saturday morning, April 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Councilmember Pinto will host the effort, partnering with Shaw Main Streets and the group District Cleanups to help organize the event. The cleanup will start at the Bundy Dog Park on the 400 block of P Street and work its way to Dacha Shaw, at Seventh and Q, where there will be a social event for participants. Check with shawmainstreets.org for more information on the cleanup.

Apply for Public Art Building Communities Grant

The Blessing of the Fleet at the Navy Memorial

The blessing of the fleet dates to ancient times and is meant to safeguard ships and their crew members. Each year, starting in 1987 when it was dedicated, the US Navy Memorial blesses the water in its outdoor fountains with water from the seven seas and the Great Lakes. This year’s ceremony is on Saturday, April 15, from 1 to 2 p.m., at Navy Memorial Plaza, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. No registration required. www.navymemorial.org

9th Street NW Protected Bike Lane Plan Unveiled

Mayor Bowser, officials from the District’s Department of Transportation and local and federal partners have unveiled the completion of the 9th Street NW two-way protected bike lane and announced the addition of nearly 700 nextgeneration e-bikes to the Capital Bikeshare program. The recently completed 9th Street bike lane spans 1.5 miles and provides a continuous route from the U Street corridor to Pennsylvania Avenue NW. DC now has 108 miles of bike lanes, more than 30 miles of them protected. The additional e-bikes will bring the total e-bike fleet in DC to around 1,000 e-bikes. www.ddot.dc.gov/ page/9th-street-nw-protected-bike-lane-project

NoMa Nights: Tuesday Concert Series

Enjoy live acoustic performances, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., by local bands, and familyfriendly games on the second Tuesday of each month, April through September. Here’s the schedule: April 11, David Thong Duo; May 9, Cecily Duo; June 13, Junior Bryce Band; July 11, Pebble to Pearl; Aug. 8, Darcy Dawn; and Sept. 12, Andy B Music. Alethia Tanner Park, between Harry Thomas Way NE and the Metropolitan Branch Trail. www.nomabid.org

Market Madness Table Tennis Showdown

Join Union Market District, DC Fray and Playtime Project for the second annual Market Madness Table Tennis Tournament on April 15 from 2 to 6 p.m. Free to watch; $50 for two players. Players of all skill levels and enthusiasts of all ages are welcome to test their reflexes to benefit Playtime Project, a nonprofit

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is soliciting applications from individual artists or organizations for its 2024 Public Art Building Communities Grant Program (PABC). Multiple awards may be made under this RFA. Award amounts vary. Submission deadline is July 17, 9 p.m. There is a Public Art Building Communities Workshop at the Anacostia Art Center,

Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival

The Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival is the largest celebration of Japanese culture in the United States. It features over 24 hours of Japanese cultural performances on four stages (J-Pop, traditional Japanese music and martial arts) and cultural exhibitors, artisan and commercial vendors and Japanese and other foods and beverages. The festival, on Pennsylvania Ave. NW, between Third and Seventh streets, is on Saturday, April 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 16, 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. One-day tickets available through April 14, $12 (plus booking fee). www.sakuramatsuri.org

Photo: Courtesy of the US Navy Memorial

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors

Visit

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust homebuyer or a D C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership inthe city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust homebuyer or a D.C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia

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

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership in the city. This program offers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on first trust mortgages. You are not required to be a firsttime homebuyer a D.C. resident to qualify for DCOD. You must, however, be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia.

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership int city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust homebuyer or a D.C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia

DC Open Doors is your key to homeownership int city. is programo ers competitive interest rates and lower mortgage insurance costs on rst trust

homebuyer or a D.C. resident , be purchasing a home in the District of Columbia

Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)

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

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

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

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

HPAP provides interest free deferred loans for down payment and closing cost assistance up to $202,000 combined. DCHFA 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. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

DC4ME

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

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

years or older who have fallen behind on insurance and tax payments as a result of their reverse mortgage. Quali ed District homeowners can receive up to

COVID-19

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

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

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.

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

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

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

COVID-19

COVID-19

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

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

1231 Good Hope Rd. SE, on Saturday, April 15, 12:30 to 2 p.m. CAH staff contact is Kerry Kennedy, Public Art Program Coordinator at kerry. kennedy.dc.gov.

“State of the Arts Night” at the Hirshhorn

On Friday, April 21, from 6 to 10 p.m., the European Union, in partnership with the Hirshhorn, presents “State of the Arts Night,” an afterhours event celebrating the importance of artistic expression in a postpandemic society. Artists from 10 European Union member states will present recent work and share their creative and philosophical responses to pressing issues of the post-COVID era. The Hirshhorn’s outdoor plaza will offer interactive performances, music, projection and augmented

Air and Space Spring Lecture Series Resumes

The 2023 Exploring Space lecture series examines the realities of living and working in space for years at a time. It is presented in-person at the National Air and Space Museum in DC and will be streamed live on YouTube. Remaining spring lectures are: Tuesday, April 11, at 8 p.m., “Life Support: What the International Space Station Teaches Us about Our Changing Earth.” Wednesday, May 24, 8 p.m., “Exploring the Moon and Mars: Learning to Work and Live in Space.” And Thursday, June 29, at 8 p.m., “The Habitability of Worlds in the Outer Solar System.” Reserve seats at www.airandspace.si.edu/event-series/exploring-space-lectures.

reality. Visitors can also experience exhibitions on view throughout the museum until 10 p.m. Complimentary hors-d’oeuvres; cash bars available. Free registration required at www.hirshhorn.si.edu.

Stronger Teams by Hiring Returning Citizens

a valid ID at the door. $25. Registration required at www.americanart. si.edu/events/person-handi-hourapril-27-2023. Tickets are available beginning April 10. Renwick Gallery is at 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. www.americanart.si.edu

“A Tale of Two Studios” Art Exhibit

From April 7 to 29, Del Ray Artisans and the Art Enables Gallery & Studio will offer an open-themed showcase of art to convey a story about creative expression. On display at Del Ray Artisans, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. The opening reception is Friday, April 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. Open Thursdays through Sundays, noon to 6 p.m. (closed April 30). www.delrayartisans.org/exhibits

DC Medicaid Campaign for Medicaid Renewals

The Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), the District of Columbia’s state Medicaid agency, has begun a public awareness campaign to update beneficiary contact information and renew health

“Our Verse in Time to Come” @ DC Public Libraries

Inspired by the works and words of Shakespeare, “Our Verse in Time to Come” bridges the past with the present through verse, song and memory. An aging emcee gets out of prison after 25 years only to be diagnosed with early onset dementia. He engages a family friend to arrange his estate and ensure that his grown children accept it before his memory slips away for good. The siblings uncover more than they bargained for. Free tickets at www.folger.edu. “Our Verse in Time to Come” is at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, on April 18 to 20 at 7:00 p.m.; April 21 at 3:00 p.m.; April 22 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; and April 23 at 3:00 p.m. Ninety minutes; suitable for ages 13, up. www.folger.edu.

Learn best practices for hiring returning citizens at an upcoming event, UPWARD: An Employer Symposium on Second Chance Hiring, taking place virtually and in-person on Thursday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is hosted by ACT (A Chance to Thrive) Initiative, a coalition of DCbased organizations working to erase the stigma of reentry. ACT Initiative invites hiring managers, DEI professionals and human resources staff from all industries to explore best practices for hiring and inclusive workplaces. The event is hosted on Zoom and at the ACT Initiative offices, 1919 North Lynn St., Suite 1500, Arlington. Registerd at www.eventbrite.com/e/upward-an-employer-symposium-onsecond-chance-hiring-tickets-585885197397.

In-Person: Handi-hour at Renwick

On Thursday, April 27, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., prepare your green thumb for spring planting in your own terrarium. Glass containers, sand and real and faux plants will be provided along with instructions. Enjoy libations from ANXO and light snacks while you work. Explore the upstairs galleries with an art scavenger hunt. Must be 21 or older and present

Bryant Street Market Food Hall Opens in NE

Bryant Street Market food hall, 680 Rhode Island Ave. NE, has opened in DC’s Edgewood neighborhood on the ground floor of The Chase residential building. It will also be hosting popups for local businesses and providing spaces for visitors to buy goods from local artisans and entrepreneurs. Hours are Sun. thru Thurs., 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday - Sat., 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. www.bryantstreetdc.com

Residents on 10th Street NE in Brookland are winners of this year’s Petal Porches Competition. The block’s theme is “Statehood.” Hidden within the decor are the state birds of the 50 states.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavor approaches the space station.

A bird’s-eye view of Gettysburg battlefield reveals the positions of armies during the battle. A map of Soldiers National Cemetery shows the arrangement of graves, presents facsimile signatures of generals and verifies the accuracy of troop positions. Artist: John B. Bachelder (John Badger), 1825-94.

Beyond the Battle Museum Opens at Gettysburg

REAL ESTATE

CHANGING HANDS

Theodore Sapp as Shepard Mallory and Stephen Patrick Martin as Maj. Gen. Ben Butler.

Photo: DJ Corey Photography

“Ben Butler” at Washington Stage Guild

Union general Ben Butler, a lawyer before the Civil War, commands a fort in not-yet-seceded Virginia. When a runaway enslaved man arrives, making an eloquent plea for sanctuary, whose laws must the general follow? “Ben Butler” by Richard Strand, based on a true story, is at Washington Stage Guild through April 16. All tickets are general admission and are $50 on Thursday and Saturday/Sunday matinees; $60 Friday and Saturday evenings. Admission is halfprice with a valid student ID. Seniors 65 years and up get $10 off. Washington Stage Guild is at 900 Massachusetts Ave. NW. www.stageguild.org

families. This Medicaid renewal process will be accompanied by sustained public engagement efforts. www.dhcf. dc.gov/medicaid-restart u CONDO 14TH ST. CORRIDOR 2617 University Pl NW #4 $775,000 2 1421 Florida Ave NW #8 PH $699,000 2 1343 Clifton St NW #105 $350,000 1 ADAMS MORGAN 1706 Euclid St NW #4 $875,000 2 2363 Champlain St NW #26 $790,000 2 1842 California St NW #20B $384,500 1 2627 Adams Mill Rd NW #405 $374,000 1 BLOOMINGDALE 2108 1st St NW #2 $899,000 3 2035 2nd St NW #G205 $450,000 1 CENTRAL 1155 23rd St NW #PH3E $5,000,000 3 1133 14th St NW #402 $449,900 1 2130 N St NW #210 $235,000 0 925 H St NW #507 $680,000 1 1133 14th St NW #309 $385,000 0 CHINATOWN 809 6th St NW #65 $530,000 2 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 3904 Kansas Ave NW #2 $869,900 4 3320 New Hampshire Ave NW #2 $855,000 2 1221 Shepherd St NW #1 $815,000 3 751 Columbia Rd NW #1 $758,000 3 731 Fairmont St NW #1 $749,000 3 2803 Sherman Ave NW #1 $732,000 2 929 Florida Ave NW #1005 $710,000 2 1215 Park Rd NW #2 $690,000 2 2556 University Pl NW #201 $399,900 1 2535 13th St NW #203 $390,000 1 1225 Fairmont St NW #301 $336,000 1 4120 14th St NW #31 $312,500 2 2639 15th St NW #203 $245,000 0 1321 Fairmont St NW #301 $245,000 0 430 Irving St NW #105 $215,000 0 1401 Columbia Rd NW #412 $200,000 0 DOWNTOWN 920 I St NW #710 $1,060,000 2 DUPONT CIRCLE 1801 16th St NW #106 $1,850,000 3 1632 S St NW #22 $1,010,000 2 1747 T St NW #5 $789,000 2 1918 18th St NW #42 $400,000 1 2120 N St NW #201 $350,000 1 1 Scott Cir NW #616 $250,000 1 1711 Mass Ave NW #130 $245,000 1 1615 Q St NW #T2 $699,000 2 1325 18th St NW #804 $595,000 2 1514 21st St NW #6 $565,000 1 1619 R St NW #405 $562,000 2 1603 16th St NW #4 $440,000 1 1545 18th St NW #619 $430,000 1 2141 P St NW #306 $415,000 1 2001 16th St NW #202 $395,000 1 1332 22nd St NW #2 $325,000 0 1260 21st St NW #804 $300,000 1 1279 21st St NW #6 $1,360,000 3 u

On April 15, Beyond the Battle Museum opens to the public, telling the story of eyewitnesses and their experiences before, during and after the Civil War. The museum’s premier exhibit is an immersive experience that uses cuttingedge technology to place visitors inside a meticulously reconstructed farmhouse during the Battle of Gettysburg. $15 admission for adults; $10 for K-12. The museum is at 625 Biglerville Rd., in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, about 85 miles from DC. www.achs-pa.org/visit/beyond-the-battle-museum

Kids & Family

“Rocco at the White House Easter Egg Roll!”

e White House Historical Association has released a new children’s book, “Rocco at the White House Easter Egg Roll!” Eight-year-old Rocco Smirne was among the lucky children who’ve had the opportunity to attend White House Easter Egg Rolls, and in 2022 Rocco was invited by President and Dr. Biden to read his book, “Rocco Travels with the Presidents,” at the event. In this book, Rocco shares the many activities at the White House grounds on Easter Monday, including rolling and hunting for eggs, listening to music of the Marine Band, decorating cookies, taking drawing lessons and gathering around authors as they read their books aloud. Purchase the book for $9.95 at www.whitehousehistory.org/ products/rocco-at-the-white-house-easter-egg-roll. www.whha.org

Rocco and the book “Rocco at the White House Easter Egg Roll!”

Drag Queen Storytime Returns to Adams Morgan

Drag Queen Storytime, presented by the Adams Morgan Business Improvement District and DC Public Library, returns to Adams Morgan at Unity Park, 1771-1795 Columbia Rd. NW, on the last Sunday of every month from April through October, at 11 a.m. Storytimes are free and open to children of all ages (and perfect for the entire family). e goal is to inspire a love of reading, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, selflove and an appreciation of others. e DC Public Library will attend with additional books, information about local libraries, their famous “book bike” and more. www.admodc.org/storytime

“Aladdin” at the National

From the producer of “ e Lion King” comes the story of Aladdin, a new production lled with beauty, magic, comedy and spectacle. “Aladdin,” at the National eatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from April 19 to 30, is recommended for children six and older. Tickets start at $35. www.broadwayatthenational.com

Revolutionary War Weekend at Mount Vernon

On Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (both days, rain or shine), Mount Vernon’s 12-Acre Field transforms into a battleground as Continentals, Redcoats and Hessians conduct military drills and perform 18th-century cavalry demonstrations. Meet the soldiers and greet General Washington. Walk through the Museum of the American Revolution’s replica of Washington’s War Tent, his o ce and sleeping quarters as the commander of the Continental Army. Admission is $35 for adults; $21 for kids. www.mountvernon.org

Photo: Courtesy of George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Family Happy Hour with King Bullfrog

On Friday, May 12, from 5 to 7 p.m., enjoy an evening filled with live music perfect for little ones to run, dance, laugh and play to the beat of their favorite songs. Mr. Jeremiah and Mr. Steve ‒ both Capitol Hill-based dads and music teachers ‒ offer roots-and-blues tunes tailored to get children dancing while delighting grownups. $10 per child two and older; $5 per grownup. Beer, wine and pizza for purchase. Hill Center is at 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. Tickets at www.hillcenterdc.org.

Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Youth Invasion

On Saturday, April 29, at 1 and 4 p.m., the GenOUT Youth Chorus returns for its annual concert, Youth Invasion. Under the direction of C. Paul Heins, this free concert gives voice to the identities and experiences of LGBTQ+ and allied youth. Youth Invasion is at THEARC Theatre, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. Free tickets are at www.gmcw.org/youth-invasion.

Hello, Museo

Join educators from the National Postal Museum (Byrne Classroom, third floor) every other Tuesday,

Marine Corps Marathon Kids’ Run Registration

The MCM Kids’ Run will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28, in Arlington. Children ages five to 12 can participate in the one-mile run. Pre- and post-event hospitality, activities, entertainment, games and mascots make this an unforgettable event. The Kids’ Run offers nine start-time options between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Registration opens on April 5. www.marinemarathon.com

10:30 to 11:30 a.m., for a bilingual (English and Spanish) program featuring music, stories, crafts and gallery exploration. Upcoming dates are April 4 and 18; May 2, 16 and 30 ‒ and on. Designed for children ages two to five and their caregivers. All are welcome, registration not required. The Smithsonian National Postal Museum is at 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE. www.postalmuseum.si.edu

“The Ice Cream Truck Is Broken!” & Other Emotional Arias at the KC

range of human emotions in a way audiences new and old can appreciate and enjoy. A special bonus is the world premiere performance of a WNO commission, “Don’t Let the Pigeon Sing Up Late!” composed by the Kennedy Center’s composer-in-residence, Carlos Simon, and featuring the Pigeon’s dramatic operatic debut. $20 to $45. Most enjoyed by ages five and up. www. kennedy-center.org

CityTutor DC

CityTutor DC is a coalition of schools, community organizations and city leaders aiming to overcome the educational impacts of the pandemic by expanding access to high-impact, accelerated learning for 10,000+ K-12 students. High-impact tutoring is an evidence-based approach that takes place in a one-on-one or small-group setting. Tutors and students meet frequently and consistently, usually with a focus on math or literacy. Learn more at www.citytutordc.org.

On Saturday, April 22, at 1 and 4 p.m., and Sunday, April 23, at 2 p.m., join a family-friendly event exploring our strongest emotions through opera. Hosts Renee Fleming, the Kennedy Center’s artistic advisor, and Mo Willems, inaugural education-artist-in-residence, together with the Washington National Opera Cafritz Young Artists, present famous arias exploring the

Saturday Morning Live! at the National Fun takes center stage at the National Theatre for Saturday Morning Live. Kids are invited to the Helen Hayes Gallery space on select Saturday mornings at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. for entertainment of all sorts, from interactive performances to puppets, dance and music. On May 13, see “Mangos to Apples Tumbling Tumbling from a Filipino Rainbow” by slam poetry performer Regie Cabico.

Young poets will also have a chance to perform their spoken-word poems. Shows are best enjoyed by ages three to six, but everyone is welcome. Tickets are free, but register in advance; walkup tickets are subject to availability. Masks are optional but highly recommended. The National Theatre is at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. www. nationaltheatre.org/saturday-morning-live

Bobbleheads and Kids’

Giveaways at Nats Park

Bobbleheads to the rst 20,000 fans on April 15, Josiah Gray; June 6, Screech Night OUT; June 17, Racing Presidents Bobblehead: Teddy and Abe; July 22, CJ Abrams; Aug. 12, Racing Presidents Bobblehead: George and Tom; and Sept. 22, Keibert Ruiz. Kids’ Giveaways on April 30,

Kids Opening Day, and Rally Cap to the rst 10,000 fans 12 and under; on May 21, Kids’ Teddy Handmade by Robots Vinyl Figure to the rst 10,000 fans ages three to 12; on June 4, Kids’ Arm Hug Doll to the rst 10,000 fans 12 and under; on July 23, Kids’ Water Bottle to the rst 10,000 fans 12 and under; on Aug. 13, Kids’ Book Bag to the rst 10,000 fans 12 and under. www.mlb.com/nationals

Three DPR Indoor Pools

Now Open Sundays

Barry Farm Aquatic Center, 1230 Sumner Rd. SE; Deanwood Aquatic Center, 1350 49th St. NE; and Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren St. NW are now open Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. dpr.dc.gov/page/indoor-pools. ◆

BEST Kids Superhero 5k & Fun Run

e BEST Kids Superhero 5K & Fun run celebrates the everyday heroes who make a positive impact in the lives of kids in DC’s foster care system. Ways to participate include running/walking the race, becoming a sponsor or volunteering. is family-friendly and stroller-friendly race is on Saturday, May 6, at 8 a.m., and begins in Bluemont Park, 601 N. Manchester St., Arlington. e 5k registration is $30; youth 5k, $15; kids fun run, free. www.bestkids.org

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.