Mid City DC Magazine – February 2023

& Dining P PRING

KING LEAR AT SHAKESPEARE

Caught in a carousel of memory, the head of a dysfunctional royal family grapples with power-hungry children and the threat of losing the empire he created. Real and imagined worlds coalesce, creating a political and personal horror that threatens to swallow the mind of the monarch. The incomparable Patrick Page returns to STC as the once-revered king caught in an emotional hurricane ravaging his home, head, and heart. $35 to $130. King Lear is at Shakespeare’s Klein Theatre from Feb. 23 extended to April 2. shakespearetheatre.org.

WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON

IMPORTANT CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL EVENTS

The National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC, and celebrates the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. Here are the main events this year, so far: March 25, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Blossom Kite Festival on the Washington Monument Grounds; April 8, 1 to 9 p.m., Petalpalooza (music festival) with fireworks at Capitol Riverfront at the Yards; April 15, 10 a.m. to noon, Cherry Blossom Parade on Constitution Avenue NW. Peak bloom? So far, no one knows. Get Cherry Blossom email alerts at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/join-email-list/.

ONE WITH ETERNITY: YAYOI KUSAMA AT THE HIRSHHORN

Extended through spring, One with Eternity showcases the Hirshhorn’s permanent collection of works by Kusama, including two of her Infinity Mirror Rooms—her first and one of her most recent—that create a dazzling sensation of never-ending space. These transcendent rooms are exhibited alongside an early painting; sculptures, including Pumpkin (2016) and Flowers— Overcoat (1964); and photographs of the artist. This exhibition honors Kusama’s distinctive vision of self-obliteration by exploring its development across media while also underscoring the Museum’s mission: to present the most exciting art and ideas of our time. Free, timedpasses are required to experience One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection. hirshhorn.si.edu.

“SEVEN METHODS OF KILLING KYLIE JENNER” AT WOOLLY

When Forbes Magazine declares Kylie Jenner a “self-made” billionaire, Cleo takes to Twitter to call out white women who co-opt and profit from Black culture. Soon online discourse spills into reality, blurring the tenuous lines between internet personas and who we are IRL. On the internet, actions don’t always speak louder than words. Tickets start at $29 and pay-whatyou-will tickets are available for each performance. Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner is at Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW, from Feb. 4 to 26. woollymammoth.net.

Patrick Page as King Lear.

Photo: Patric Shaw

& Dining

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BANDAT THE WARNER

Tedeschi Trucks Band is a Grammy Award-winning 12-piece rock and soul powerhouse that holds a well-deserved reputation as one of the best live acts touring today. From sold-out multinight residencies across America to barnstorming tours through Europe and Japan to their flagship Wheels of Soul annual summer tour, the band’s shows are an eagerly anticipated highlight of the live music calendar. Tedeschi Trucks Band performs at the Warner Theater, 13th and E streets. NW, at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), on Feb. 16, 17 and 18 and March 2, 3 and 4. livenation.com.

“POUR, TEAR, CARVE” AT THE PHILLIPS

“Pour, Tear, Carve” explores the role methods and materials can play in evoking personal memories, conveying time and place, and stimulating the senses. Presenting 65 works from the permanent collection–spanning paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, prints, textiles, and mixed media, and including some works on view for the first time–this exhibition considers how artists have utilized historic and contemporary art materials to act as conduits of meaning.

“Pour, Tear, Carve” is at The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, from March 18 to May 14. The Phillips is open daily except Monday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission is $16; 18 and under, free. phillipscollection.org.

Dindga McCannon, Charlie Parker and Some of the Amazing Musicians

He Influenced, Painting from 1983, mixed media quilt from 2010, 54 x 44 in., The Phillips Collection, Director’s Discretionary Fund, 2022

LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO AT THE BARNS AT WOLF TRAP

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, one of South Africa’s premier vocalharmony groups has warmed the hearts of audiences worldwide with their rich, uplifting vocal harmonies, signature dance moves, and charming onstage banter for over 50 years. They’re at the Barns at Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA on Tuesday, March 21 and Wednesday, March 22, 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). $42 to $47. wolftrap.org.

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

JOHN AKOMFRAH: FIVE MURMURATIONS AT THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART

Internationally renowned artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah addresses the global COVID-19 pandemic, murder of George Floyd, and worldwide protests in support of Black Lives Matter in this visual essay of our times. Drawing upon an extensive archive of images that mix iconic works of art with scenes shot and gathered in the globally fraught 18-month period between 2019 and 2021, Five Murmurations considers Akomfrah’s insights into post-colonialism, diasporic experience, and memory. Five Murmurations opens at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art on April 20. Africa.si.edu.

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: The 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/mellonlectures for further details.) nga.gov.

Photo: David McClister

& Dining

M3 ROCK FESTIVAL AT THE MERRIWEATHER POST PAVILION

M3 Rock Festival turns 14 this year. The internationally renowned festival of hard rock and heavy metal is ready to celebrate that school’s out for the summer with a full weekend of performances on Merriweather Post Pavilion’s legendary main stage, May 6 and 7. This year’s festival, kicks off with performances from Styx, Extreme, Winger, Slaughter, Lita Ford, Quiet Riot, local favs Child’s Play and more. Sunday, May 7, features Warrant, Great White, Loudness, Steven Adler (of Guns N’ Roses), FireHouse, Riley’s L.A. Guns, Vixen, and Mike Tramp (of White Lion), with everyone’s favorite hometown heroes KIX closing out the weekend. Tickets start at $75 (lawn seating). m3rockfest.com.

JO KOY AT THE CAPITOL ONE ARENA

As one of today’s premiere stand-up comics, Jo Koy (real name, Joseph Glenn Herbert) has come a long way from his modest beginnings performing at a Las Vegas coffee house. The comedian, who pulls inspiration from his family, specifically his son, sells-out arenas and theaters around the world. Saturday, March 11, 7 p.m. Tickets are $43.50 to $390. Jokoy.com.

BALTIMORE OLD TIME MUSIC FESTIVAL

On March 10 and 11, Creative Alliance convenes some of the brightest old-time musicians, singers, and dancers in the country to celebrate where this music exists today. Join host artists Ken and Brad Kolodner on Friday as they welcome a lineup of musicians for two days of brilliant musicianship, shimmering vocal harmonies, and hot flatfoot dance. Saturday is packed with hands-on workshops from many of their headline performers, jamming, intimate performances in the Marquee Lounge, afternoon concerts in the theater and a wild square dance to close out the festival on Saturday night. The Baltimore Old Time Music Festival is at the Patterson Theater in the Highlandtown neighborhood of Baltimore. Kids 12 and under, free. Weekend pass, $90; Friday night, $33; Saturday day-pass, $25 for 13 to 18, $65 for adults; Saturday night dance and evening concert, $20. baltimoreoldtimefest.com.

CHIARINA CHAMBER PLAYERS AT ST. MARK’S

With the new year brings four opportunities to hear Chiarina Chamber Players, widely considered to be one of the most compelling chamber programs in town. On Sundays at 7:30 p.m.—On Feb. 5, experience the solo concerto up close, with a chamber version of Chopin’s Piano Concerto in F minor, a reconstructed “Haydn” concerto for double bass, and a new work by Anna Clyne. On March 12, this musical power couple—the Schumanns—and their close friend Brahms composed some of the most enduring music in the German Romantic tradition. With Nurit Bar-Josef, Abel Pereira, and Chiarina artistic directors. On April 16, with the collective power of two pianos side by side, pianists Efi Hackmey and Adrienne Kim perform Messiaen and Mozart. On May 21, composers whose voices are singular--Gabriel Fauré’s beloved Piano Quartet in C minor meets music for piano and strings by Rebecca Clarke, Carlos Simon, and Reinaldo Moya. $25; 18 and under, free. Concerts are at St. Mark’s, 301 A St. SE. chiarina.org.

Saturday night square dance.

Jo Koy. Photo: Mike Miller Photography

& Dining

IN-PERSON DC ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS

DCEFF has been the premier showcase of environmental films since 1993. Each March, they bring the world’s largest green film festival to massive in-person audiences. Since 2020, they have focused on extending their reach beyond DC to the entire world with their virtual festivals and ever-growing Watch Now catalog. From March 16 to 26, they are returning to venues across the DC Metro for in-person screenings and events—in addition to continuing to offer virtual programming for international audiences. To celebrate Earth Day, from April 18 to 23, the DCEFF also offers a virtual schedule of encores that were only available on screen in-person. dceff.org.

BEER, BOURBON AND BBQ FESTIVAL

Tickets are on sale now for the 16th annual Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival at the Cow Palace on the Maryland State Fairgrounds on Friday, March 24, 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, March 25, noon to 6 p.m. They’re featuring two great days of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’, and barbecue eatin’ (their words, not ours). Your admission buys you a glass so you can enjoy an all-you-care-to-taste sampling of beer and bourbon. Food options are a la carte. Admission is $39 to $179. The Cow Palace on the Maryland State Fairgrounds is at 2200 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium, MD. timonium. beerandbourbon.com.

SYNETIC’S “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”

Take a page from the book of fairy tales this spring with the return of Synetic Theater’s Beauty and the Beast, first premiered in 2014. However, this is no ordinary fairy tale. Synetic’s adaptation of this storybook classic draws on the darkness and sensuality of Villeneuve’s original French novel. Told through Synetic’s unique stage effects, expressionistic design, puppetry and movement, Beauty and the Beast is a sparkling and inspiring Gothic romance full of wonder, mystery and redemption. $35 to $65. PLEASE NOTE: This production of Beauty and the Beast contains fantasy violence and may be scary to younger children. This is not the Disney musical (no talking teacups). Parental guidance is advised. “Beauty and the Beast” is on stage at Synetic Theater, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington, from March 3 to April 2. Synetictheater.org.

OUR WORK UNFINISHED: HAILSTORK & OBAMA AT NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

American composer Adolphus Hailstork is one of the most important composers working today. In Done Made My Vow he calls upon words from President Barack Obama’s early speeches to share his perspective as an African American with his students. On Sunday, May 14, 4 p.m., at the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Thurston leads the combined forces of the Cathedral Choral Society and the Heritage Signature Chorale in this and other works by African American composers. $20 to $85. Pay-what-you-wish livestream is also available. cathedral.org.

Path of the Panther, directed by Eric Bendick. A wildlife photographer finds himself on the front lines of an accelerating battle that has pushed the Everglades to the brink of ecological collapse.

Irina Kavsadze as Belle and Vato Tsikurishvili as the Beast. Photo: Johnny Shryock

& Dining

SCOTTISH BALLET: THE CRUCIBLE AT THE KC

On May 24 to 28, Scotland’s national dance company returns to the Kennedy Center with The Crucible, bringing Arthur Miller’s classic play about the Salem witch trials to the ballet stage. The Crucible had its world premiere in August 2019 at the Edinburgh International Festival, and Washington audiences will enjoy the production’s east coast premiere as Arthur Miller’s classic play about the Salem witch trials celebrates its 70th anniversary. Watch as a tight-knit society unravels into chaos, and ask yourself: when everything is at stake, what price are you prepared to pay for the truth? Six performances only. $39 to $129. kennedy-center.org.

TEMPLE AT DANCE PLACE

TEMPLE shines the spotlight on the fraying of public life and the growing reality that people participate in institutions less and less. Through the languages of Indian dance and hip hop culture, Chitra Subramanian explores the experiences and stories of her South Asian immigrant journey through the lens of the major institutions that were powerful anchors in her life. From the Hindu Temple in Pittsburgh to the temple of the DC Club, Chitra showcases the limitless ways in which hip hop and dance continue to inspire and transform. TEMPLE, on March 18 at 7 p.m. and March 19 at 4 p.m., describes itself as a deeply family-friendly performance geared to an intergenerational audience. $25 general admission; $20 for seniors; $15 for college students and artists; and $10 for kids 17 and under. Dance Place is at 3225 Eighth St. NE. danceplace.org.

MY FAIR LADY AT THE NATIONAL

Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture Pygmalion, My Fair Lady premiered on Broadway in 1956. The legendary original production won six Tony Awards including Best Musical and ran for 2,717 performances making it, at the time, the longest-running musical in Broadway history. Boasting a score that contains such now-classic songs as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Get Me to the Church on Time,” “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” Lincoln Center’s revival has been hailed as better than it ever was. My Fair Lady is at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, for six shows from April 6 to 9. Tickets start at $60. broadwayatthenational.com.

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS AT THE 9:30 CLUB

On the title track to Welcome 2 Club XIII, Drive-By Truckers pay homage to the Muscle Shoals honkytonk where founding members Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley got their start: a concrete-floored dive lit like a disco, with the nightly promise of penny beer and truly dubious cover bands. The 14th studio album from Drive-By Truckers—whose lineup also includes keyboardist/guitarist Jay Gonzalez, bassist Matt Patton, and drummer Brad Morgan—Welcome 2 Club XIII looks back on their formative years with both deadpan pragmatism and profound tenderness, instilling each song with the kind of lived-in detail that invites bittersweet reminiscence of your own misspent youth. $35. Drive-By Truckers is at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW, on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30. 930.com.

Madeline Powell as Eliza Doolittle.

Photo: Jeremy Daniel

Scottish Ballet’s production of Helen Pickett’s The Crucible.

Photo: Andy Ross

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& Dining

Insatiable

by Celeste McCall

city near Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. Lunch for two came to $55.52, including tax.

Service was friendly and helpful. Proprietor Niberet, who eagerly answered our queries, poured us a sample of tej, a potent mead-like honey wine. From the full bar selection, I also sipped a pleasant Oyster Bay (New Zealand) Sauvignon Blanc.

Abuare is open daily for lunch and dinner. For hours and more information, visit www.abuarerestaurant.com

Presidential Burgers

Inspired by President Biden’s and Veep Harris’ phoned-in carryout orders from Ghostburger, Peter and I checked out the Shaw restaurant. On a dreary winter Sunday, we traipsed over to Ghostburger, 1250 Ninth St. NW, across from the Washington Convention Center. From the burger listing, I went for the signature Ghostburger (“smashburger),” o ered as a single or double patty. I settled for a single. e moist burger was layered with American cheese, red onion, pickles and Spooky sauce. What’s in the sauce? “ ousand Island dressing, fresh dill and other herbs,” responded manager Mario Guzman. “But we’re not revealing all our secrets.”

We recently savored a delightful lunch at Abuare, the three-month old, moderately priced Ethiopian restaurant at 1524 U St. NW. As Peter and I entered the cozy, lower-level space, we were greeted by wafts of incense and soothing Ethiopian music. Salmon walls are punctuated by colorful African paintings. A basket of co ee beans—symbolic of Ethiopia— graces the bar.

e brief but comprehensive menu encompasses beef (or lentil) lled sambusas, yeleg kibil (lamb soup simmered with onion, ginger and turmeric), kitfo (seasoned lean steak tartar), awaze tibs (sizzling ribeye) and spicy lamb stew.

Among plant-based o erings are spicy chickpea stew, yellow split pea curry and vegan platters. I chose the latter, a colorful palate of collard greens, carrots, cabbage, pureed chickpeas, and several hues of lentils. Resting on a plate of injera (Ethiopia’s signature fermented pancake-like atbread), the dish tasted as good as it looked. Pe-

ter supplied our protein by ordering chicken tibs, tender cubes of gently scented white meat paired with greens. We found the berbere spicing just hot enough to titillate our palates without torching our tastebuds.

Not surprisingly, Abuare’s kitchen, headed by “Emu,” also serves Italian fare; Ethiopia was occupied by Italy during World War II. e

pasta dish comes with choice of beef, chicken or tilapia. Abuare, by the way, is a

Peter chose the BBQ burger, with zippy sauce, crispy onions, smoked Gouda and coleslaw. You’ll also nd veggie burgers, “crinkle fries,” Philly cheesesteak, fried chicken, Fresno wings, and a mean wedge salad. e latter is replete with Applewood smoked bacon, chunky bleu cheese and spritzed with e limited drink menu is con ned to a few beers and cocktails on draft (no wine). Peter and I shared a very good Mexican Victoria beer. Lunch for two with one beer came to

Family-owned Ethiopian restaurant Abuare (U Street), presents a colorful vegetarian medley atop injera, the fermented pancake-like flatbread.

tangy ranch dressing.

A basket of coffee beans, symbolic of Ethiopia, rests on the restaurant bar.

$49.34, including a 15 percent service charge. Employee Brittany Spaddy, who took Biden’s phone call, had recovered from her astonishment. “Yes, I recognized his voice right away,” she said. Ghostburger is open daily. For hours and full menu, visit www.ghostburgerdc.com.

From Russian to Seafood

In the Atlas District recently, we stumbled upon Brine, 1359 H St. NE. Created by Aaron McGovern and Arturas Vorobjovas, the nearly threeyear-old year-old oyster palace has spawned an o spring in Northwest. Called Brine Dupont, the newcomer is located at 1800 Connecticut Ave. NW, where Russia House used to be. (Ensconced in a 1908 Romanesque Classical Revival building,

that restaurant departed after 30 years.)

e H Street Brine sports an attractive décor, with a faux tree surrounded by oyster shells. ere’s a raw bar in front. For our recent lunch, we savored zesty bloody marys, New England clam chowder and oysters Rockefeller. e Dupont o shoot will also showcase large and small seafood towers, lobster risotto, whole Maine lobster, grilled branzino and catch-of-the-day. For more information, visit www.brineoysterdc.com

Return to Laos In town

We recently returned to one of our favorite Southeast Asian restaurants, Laos in Town, at 250 K St. NE, in NoMa. A small shop o ering Asian spices, cookbooks and other items greeted us. Our delicious, exotic meal seemed to blend ai, Burmese, Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisines.

e savory Kang Gai chicken soup warmed my lingering sore throat, washed down with my sweetened ai iced tea; My companion sipped a pleasant pinot grigio. We opted to try out two appetizers: crispy rice salad with sour pork sausage and calamari salad. My rice and pork salad was laced with red onions, scallions, peanuts, cilantro and ginger. e camalao (deep fried squid) was long on ery red peppers, but short on tentacles. at appetizer dish was also laced with red onions, scallions and cilantro. e avorful salads and soup were a meal in themselves

Lunch for two came to $70, including tax and tip. Service was excellent. Laos in Town is open daily. For hours and more information, visit www. laosintown.com.

Moving

City Winery, 1350 Okie St. NE in Ivy City, is closing and relocating due to “safety concerns.” Farrah Spruill, marketing director for City Winery in DC, stated: “While we have tried hard since 2018 to be part of the resurgence of Ivy City, we need to be responsible to our sta , customers and the many musicians regarding their safety.”

We’re sad to see City Winery go. Over the past few years, we’ve enjoyed a rooftop brunch—including lovely music—and several bottles of excellent local wine from the retail shop. City Winery plans to relocate elsewhere in the District later this year. We wish City Winery the best, wherever they end up. For updates, visit www. citywinery.com.

Ciao for now

As we do every winter, we’re headed for the warm and sunny (we hope!) climes of Southwest Florida. See you in April! ◆

Working behind Ghostburger’s bar, Brittany Spaddy (right) recounts her surprise presidential phone order.

Atlas District’s Brine, which has spawned an offspring in Northwest DC, specializes in oyster dishes.

Ghostburger’s signature “smashburger,” is layered with a beef patty, American cheese, onion and pickles.

10 of the DMV’s Best Restaurants are in Shaw.

HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE YOU DINED AT?

Congratulations to the 10 Shaw restaurants that are included in Washingtonian magazine’s new list of the 100 Best Restaurants in the DMV.

And congratulations also go to four Shaw chefs and restaurants chosen as national semi-finalists for this year’s prestigious James Beard Awards.

Rob Rubba of Shaw’s Oyster Oyster is nominated for Outstanding Chef.

Causa is nominated for Best New Restaurant. Elias Taddesse of Shaw’s Doro Soul Food is nominated for the Emerging Chef award.

David Deshaies of Shaw’s Unconventional Diner, is nominated for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic.

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

©2023 Shaw Main Streets, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

#1: THE DABNEY #20: CONVIVIAL #8: CAUSA#18: KINSHIP

Dr. Carter G. Woodson and His Legacy Today

by Pleasant Mann

American history has always been contested. In the wake of the Civil War, its White losers invented the heroic myth of the “Lost Cause,” to justify their drive to reverse the political and social gains made by Blacks during Reconstruction across the South. They erected Confederate statues throughout the region, even in the nation’s capital, to provided physical testimony to their dominion. Slowly but surely they erased Black history from the American narrative.

The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a central part of my own family history, was erased and forgotten for nearly 100 years. This example was far from unique. However, in the early 20th Century, prominent Black historians worked diligently to recover the stories of Black Americans. In August of 2019, that effort culminated in the publication of the New York Times 1619 Project (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html). This project placed the Black American narrative, particularly chattel slavery, at the center of the American story.

Unfortunately, The 1619 Project generated a major reaction among conservative Republicans. Decrying the “woke agenda” as offensive to the sensibilities of White Americans and a violation of their deeply held mythology of our nation’s origins, they have moved aggressively

to legally circumscribe the teaching of American History to exclude the Black experience. Given these circumstances, it is important to revisit the life of The Father of Black History and DC resident, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, whose Shaw home will open as a national historic site in 2023 (https://www.nps.gov/cawo/index.htm).

Who Was Carter G. Woodson?

Dr. Woodson’s own early life is worthy of study during Black History Month. Poverty drove him at the age of 17 to move to West Virginia to work as a coal miner. At 20, he went to high school, eventually going on to progressive Berea College in Kentucky, where he received a baccalaureate degree in 1903. He later earned a master’s degree in history from the University of Chicago. He eventually entered Harvard University, doing most of the work on his doctorate while teaching in the segregated Colored DC public school system. After defending his dissertation on “The Disruption of Virginia,” he received his PhD in History in 1912, becoming the second African American to do so at Harvard.

The Father of Black History

In 1915, Dr. Woodson, with three other co-founders, established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) in Chicago. He said that the organization “proclaimed as its purpose the collection of sociological and historical data on the Negro, the study of peoples of African blood, the publishing of books in this eld, and the promotion of harmony among the races by acquainting the one with the other.” Most African Americans were unaware of the contributions and accomplishments of people of color to the nation’s history because the subject was intentionally suppressed and distorted, not taught in schools and not well researched or known. And publishers saw no potential market for books on the subject.

Dr. Woodson served as

the director of research and editor for the organization until his death in 1950. The presidents of ASNLH during this period included Shaw resident Mary McCleod Bethune, an important Black educator and civil and women’s right leader, who served from 1938 to 1952. But without Dr. Woodson’s passion, commitment and personal sacri ces, Black history might be even more poorly understood and rarely taught than it is today.

In the early years of the association, Dr. Woodson held a number of academic positions, including principal of Armstrong Manual Training High School, serving a year as the dean of Howard University’s School of Liberal Arts and as dean of the West Virginia Collegiate Institute. In 1922, he decided to devote himself exclusively to the operations of ASNLH. On July 22, 1922, he purchased his home at 1538 Ninth Street NW, which also served as the national headquarters of ASNLH and his publishing company, Associated Publishers. Eventually, the home’s rst oor was devoted to the clerical operations of ASNLH and the second to Dr. Woodson’s of ce, while he lived on the third oor. The basement was used for the storage of books and publications.

In 1926, Dr. Woodson made perhaps his most lasting contribution to American culture: his creation of Negro History Week. Woodson thought that a week in February, with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12th) and Frederick Douglass (February 14th), would be the most appropriate date to hold the event. The week “should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but a history of the world devoid of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”

The idea of Negro History Week immediately took hold, with annual celebrations in American cities. In 1932, 1,000 school children met in a caucus room of a House of ce building under the auspices of Representative Oscar DePriest and other Black congressmen. Black History Month, after almost a century, is still an important date on the American calendar. Woodson also started the Negro History Bulletin, a monthly publication aimed

Carter G. Woodson

Carter G. Woodson Park. Photo by Alexander Padro. Courtesy Shaw Main Streets

at high school teachers and students, to promote Black history throughout the year.

The Legacy of Dr. Woodson

In the late 1960s, there was a re-release of the 1939 lm “Gone with the Wind.” While my parents were not fans of the movie, they couldn’t easily explain why. So my sister and I went to see it for ourselves. During intermission in the theater, we compared notes with a classmate and did not see much objectionable in the lm. That was largely due to the fact that we were largely the product of integrated school systems, which carried the standard narrative that the slaves just sat around until Union forces freed them and that Blacks during Reconstruction were largely manipulated to drain the wealth of the South.

From the perspective that was given to us,

we were not aware of how important slavery was to the United States. As Yale University Professor David Blight summarized, by 1860 “the nearly four million American slaves were worth some $3.5 billion, making them the largest single nancial asset in the entire U.S. economy, worth more than all the manufacturing and railroads combined.” We also hadn’t heard that over 200,000 Blacks, representing 10 percent of the Union forces, served in the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War, including as we later learned, a great-grandfather of ours.

Dr. Woodson Today

“It will be fty years before the world appreciates what I am trying to do,” Woodson predicted. Things started to change with the rise of the Black Consciousness movement on college campuses in the late 1960s. The life of Blacks, after decades of being abstractly described by White sociologists, were now recognized as a subject worth studying. Dr. Woodson’s Negro History Week soon turned into Black History Month, commemorated by the White House every year since 1976.

Dr. Woodson’s work served an important foundation for the development of Black Studies. In college, when I wanted to write a geography paper on the phenomenon of all-Black towns that developed in the South and West, the only book length study of the subject I could nd in the library was written by Dr. Woodson.

This year the nation celebrates Black History Month, whose theme somewhat ironically is “Black Resistance.” With the whisper of Woodson’s voice in our ears, let us stand up and again demand our history’s central place in the American Story. We will never again be erased. May your rst act of resistance be a visit to the new Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site. ◆

Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site

by Pleasant Mann

The completion of the work by the National Park Service (NPS) on the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site this year will mark a milestone in the nation’s appreciation of Dr. Woodson’s work as the Father of Black History—the documentation of his life in Shaw.

Dr. Woodson’s life revolved around a tight circle in the Shaw community. Since his home of ce did not have a working kitchen, he walked over to the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA cafeteria for many of his meals, frequently conversing with the residents there after dinner. Shaw resident Gloria Anderson remembered him as “the Book Man,” regularly carrying piles of books and passing out candy to neighborhood kids. Dr. Woodson noted that “Shaw Junior High School, about two blocks from the national of ce in Washington, raises more money for the cause than any other school in the world.” His funeral was held at Shiloh Baptist Church, which is on the same block as his house.

Dr. Woodson’s house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. At the turn of the century, neighbors noticed that the Woodson home, now vacant, was falling into ruin. The structure had broken windows, and squatters were living there, using Sterno cans for heat and cooking. After enough media attention, there was an effort to preserve the Woodson home, with Congress voting in 2003 to establish the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.

There were other efforts to commemorate Dr. Woodson’s work. A triangle park near the home was designated Carter G. Woodson Park in 2001, with plans made to install new landscaping, paving and a statue to honor Dr. Woodson. Internationally known sculptor Ray Kaskey, famed for works such as Portlandia in Oregon and the lions gracing the National Law Enforcement Memorial, was commissioned to create a statute of Dr. Woodson. In 2015, the Woodson monument and restored park were of cially dedicated.

The NPS effort to open the Woodson National Historic Site to the public also began in earnest in 2015. The plan for restoration had three phases, with the third and nal phase now scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2023. The site will include the original Woodson home, plus two adjoining row houses. A full exhibition outlining Dr. Woodson’s work and the accolades he received during his life will be a highlight for visitors. Dr. Woodson’s of ce will be reconstructed and renovated to serve as a major focus of the historic home. The completed site will also have space for NPS to manage the site, as well as serving as the headquarters of the organization Dr. Woodson formed, now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The NPS will also sponsor tours, including a February 2023 walking tour with a Woodson reenactor, Darius Wallace, and a Shaw historian, Alexander Padro, describing the environment in which Dr. Woodson lived and worked. ◆

The Carter G. Woodson House National Historic Site.

Photo: Morgan Howarth - National Trust for Historic Preveration

The Greensboro Lunch Counter at the American History Museum

In Greensboro, hundreds of students, civil rights organizations, churches, and members of the community joined in a six-month-long protest. Their commitment ultimately led to the desegregation of the F. W. Woolworth lunch counter on July 25, 1960. americanhistory.si.edu.

Through the African American Lens: Afrofuturism:

The Origin Story

A Smithsonian Channel Documentary. Feb. 8, 7 to 9 p.m. This lm features insights from Kevin Strait, NMAAHC curator of the Afrofuturism exhibition, and contributor to its companion collection of essays. National Museum of African America History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. nmaahc.si.edu.

Emmett Till Exhibit at MLK Library

Through March 12. The Emmett Till & Mamie TillMobley: Let the World See exhibit is in the Great Hall of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Accompanying this work is a local exhibit, Mothers of the Movement, which uplifts the role Black women activists in our region have had, standing at the front lines to combat police lynching and police brutality for more than a century. MLK Library, 901 G St. NW. dclibrary.org/mlk.

Our Song, Our Story

Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m. A salute to African American operatic pioneers Marian Anderson and Jessye Norman, featuring rising-star vocalists Jacqueline Echols, so-

Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures

Opening March 2023. Gathering the voices of authors, artists, musicians, scholars and creatives, Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures with the use of interactives and the Smithsonian Hi digital ingallery guide investigates Afrofuturism’s growing global in uence and its dynamic impact on popular culture and beyond. National Museum of African America History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. nmaahc.si.edu.

“The High Ground” at Arena

Feb. 10 to April 2. A Black man in an army uniform stands his ground atop Tulsa’s Standpipe Hill, bearing witness to the destruction and desecration of Tulsa’s Greenwood District--but other forces, both friendly and hostile, conspire to remove him. A play in conversation with Tulsa, Oklahoma’s 1921 race massacre, The High Ground offers a complex portrait of what it means to bear witness, to resist and to move forward from devastation. $72 to $95. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. arenastage.org.

prano and Justin Austin, baritone. $30 to $75. kennedy-center.org.

Historically Speaking: Next Generation of Black Leaders in Geneticists

Feb. 23, 7 to 8 p.m. During this program panelists will explore the work of a new generation of African American biomedical scientists conducting groundbreaking research. Free; registration required. National Museum of African America History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. nmaahc.si.edu.

The Lion of Anacostia, Frederick Douglass

Feb. 23, 11 a.m. to noon. Frederick Douglass’ chosen birthday of Feb. 14 was once celebrated as a school holiday in Washington, DC, and was even known as Douglass Day. View materials related to Douglass and listen to an audio clip of civil rights activist Mary Church Terrell discuss her friendship with this remarkable statesman. Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. Registration recommended at anacostia.si.edu/events.

Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia

Feb. 11 through Nov. 26. This groundbreaking exhibition brings together—for the rst time—more than 100 historical artifacts to tell the inspiring story of free Black Philadelphian James Forten and his remarkable family, from the Revolutionary era through the Civil War and Reconstruction. The Museum of the American Revolution is open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online prices are adults, $21; ages

six to seventeen, $13; ve and under, free. Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third Street, Philadelphia, PA. AmRevMuseum.org

Alexandria’s Watson Reading Room

Located next to the Alexandria Black History Museum, the Watson Reading Room is a non-circulating research repository focusing on issues of AfricanAmerican history and culture. Black History Museum sta and volunteers are available (by appointment) to work with visitors of all ages who are researching African American history. Call 703-746-4356 for an appointment. Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA. alexandriava.gov.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free, timed-entry passes are still required. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is at 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. nmaahc.si.edu.

National Cathedral Replaces Confederate Stained Glass with Racial Justice Imagery

The Cathedral’s Light in the Darkness windows replacement project captures the resilience, faith and endurance of African Americans and our nation’s struggle with the original sins of racism and slavery. The Cathedral hopes these new installations tell a more inclusive story and re ect the dignity of each beloved child of God. Installation and dedication is tentatively scheduled for fall 2023. cathedral.org. ◆

Does Gray-Market Cannabis Breed Robberies? Crime Statistics Show Concentrations of I-71

Stores on Nightlife Corridors May Threaten Public Safety

by Kenneth V. Cummins, Sarah Payne and Andrew Lightman

got [my son] a cellphone

literally like a week ago,” a distraught father told the October 2022 meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C. “One of the first uses of his phone was to call 911 to report a shooting [outside] his window. It was across the street from our property.”

Violence and property crimes on the H Street NE corridor have increased significantly since marijuana retailers began proliferating, residents say. These “I-71 stores,” as the retailers are called from the 2014 public referendum that decriminalized possession of marijuana in the District, pair the sale of an item with a “gift” of weed. Many have set up shop without the required business licenses and registration. Many appear to be evading payment of DC sales taxes. (See: www. hillrag.com/2022/09/02/the-wild-west-of-unregulated-

of-cannabis-retailers/.)

While I-71 stores have popped up across all eight wards, they cluster in some of the city’s busiest commercial nightlife corridors. Examination of crime statistics appears to validate residents’ complaints.

In the second part of its investigation of the District’s cannabis retail gray market, funded by Spotlight DC, Capital Community News analyzed Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) crime statistics for three concentrations of I-71 businesses: H Street NE (14 shops), 14th and U streets NW (13 shops) and 18th Street/Adams Morgan NW (10 shops). This investigation found violent crime immediately surrounding these clusters has significantly increased in recent years when compared to other sections of the same corridors lack-

ing cannabis retailers. Large amounts of cash and weed, combined with DC’s emergence as a regional cannabis destination, fueled this increase, the investigation revealed.

Given the federal banking regulations regarding cannabis revenues as the fruits of felony transactions, I-71 retailers operate mostly on a cash basis. They also maintain significant inventories of weed. The combination makes them convenient targets for the criminally minded. Reflecting this threat, I-71s many maintain armed security on their thresholds and limit entry. At prime commercial times, I-71 security arrangements create exterior customer lines. Street dealers benefit, working the concentrations of waiting customers.

“I

Customers line up to purchase cannabis at a gray market retailer on H Street Street NE.

DC offers a nightlife center with lax regulatory enforcement nestled between Maryland and Virginia, both of which have yet to legalize the sale of recreational cannabis. The District has become a magnet for DMV weed “tourists,” who consult the Gentleman Toker (www.gentlemantoker.com) and other online guides to the I-71 merchants. Supercharged by the publicity, H Street NE, 14th & U streets NW and 18th Street NW have become regional cannabis destinations, whose growth has resulted in a significant deterioration of the quality of neighborhood life.

“I can tell you that marijuana, undoubtedly, is connected to violent crimes that we’re seeing in our community,” stated Robert Contee in 2021, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He blamed I-71 storefronts for the rise in violence and property crimes along nightlife corridors.

Were Contee’s concerns well founded? To ascertain the impact of I-71 shops on public safety, CCN gathered crime statistics for robberies and assaults with a dangerous weapon for three nightlife destinations: H Street NE, the intersection of 14th and U streets NW and 18th Street/Adams Morgan NW.

On each corridor, CCN reporters identified an area where at least four I-71 retail storefronts formed a cluster, and compared the cluster area with an adjacent control area that lacked such establishments. Reporters then examined the DC Crime Map (www.crimecards. dc.gov). Selecting an address in the center of each cluster and control area, they mapped the crime incidence in a 1,000foot radius of the address. Here are the addresses selected:

• H Street cluster – 510 H St. NE

• H Street control – 99 H St. NE

• U & 14th cluster – 2000 14th St. NW

• U & 14th control – 1726 U St. NW

• 18th Street cluster – 2420 18th St. NW

• 18th Street control – 1630 Columbia Rd. NW

Reporters gathered statistics from both cluster and control areas, beginning two years before the opening of each cluster’s first I-71 business, based on the issuance date of its certificate of

occupancy through October 2022. The results appear to con rm Contee’s contention and neighbors’ concerns.

H Street NE

Red ropes, bouncers, security guards, bright lights and long lines are customary components of DC’s nightlife. But the early birds at 3 p.m. on a Friday afternoon on the 500 block of H Street NE are not waiting to be the rst into a concert. They are in line for cannabis. Home to one of the largest clusters of cannabis businesses in the city, H Street NE draws signi cant crowds even between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

The H Street cluster houses ve I-71 retailers: Luxury Soil (775 H St. NE), Street Lawyer Services (409 H St. NE), Up in Smoke LLC (508 H St. NE), Relva (311 H St. NE) and New Leaf (416 H St. NE).

The rst I-71 shop opened in January 2018. Between 2018 and October 2022, the H Street cluster saw a total of 74 robberies and 21 assaults with a dangerous weapon (ADWs), as well as a single homicide. In contrast, the H Street control experienced a total of 28 robberies, 25 ADWs and three homicides. So, on its face, the cluster had more than double the robberies, while ADWs were about the same.

Annual comparisons of robberies between the H Street cluster and the control provide a more nuanced view of the impact of I-71 expansion. In 2016 and 2017, the two years before the rst cannabis store appeared, both blocks experienced a similar number of robberies.

In 2018, after the first I-71 store

opened, the robbery numbers began to diverge. There were four more robberies in the cluster than the control. By 2019, the difference had risen to 10. For the remaining period under consideration, the difference remained 9 or above, peaking at 13 in 2021. Since the opening of the rst I-71 establishment, the cluster has experienced 164% more robberies than the control area.

Residents on the tree-lined streets of single-family homes in the blocks north of H Street NE report frequently hearing gunshots. They have awakened to nd naked or disoriented men sleeping in their yards. They walk past intimidating sidewalk gatherings of people smoking pot on their way home at night. They discourage their children from playing outside because of the increasing number of strangers on the streets. Their neighborhood has more car break-ins, violent ghts, vandalism and property crimes.

“I have lived in this neighborhood [H Street NE] since 2000. And I think this year has probably been the worst year for deterioration of quality of life,” declared Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Joel Kelty (6C05) at the commission’s October 2022 meeting.

Maryland attorney and owner of Street Lawyer Services Lonny Bramzon counters these dismal assessments. According to him, H Street’s I-71s offer a peaceful environment where a diverse community can gather and associate. “I see lots of lonely people opening up on a personal level,” says Bramzon. “They come in and thank us for helping them get what they need.”

Outside on the street, it’s a different world.

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“There’s a lot more loitering and it attracts the wrong element,’’ says the owner of a childcare center, referring to an I-71 shop that opened one door away from her long-established business. The owner requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, a common reaction encountered during interviews for this series.

DC laws would bar a liquor store operating in close proximity to a school or daycare center. Weed stores, on the other hand, have been able to set up wherever they wish and operate with no such restrictions.

The childcare business owner has lost 30% of her customers since the I-71 store opened. “It’s pretty bad,” she says. “Parents are being heckled when they drop off or pick up their children. People are trying to sell them marijuana or whatever drugs they might have. It has really had a very negative effect on our population at the center.”

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C, which is responsible for the western portion of the H Street NE corridor, at its October 2022 meeting unanimously approved a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) on the subject.

“The recent increase in both property and violent crime … is having an unacceptable impact on quality of life,” the letter stated. The city’s inaction regarding the public safety problems posed by the proliferation of I-71 stores could have dire

economic consequences for the District, it warned, and it urged the mayor to “take concrete and immediate action to address a rise in crime in general and rearms and drug-related crimes in particular.”

Some residents attending the October meeting threatened to relocate their families out of the District if the public safety issues were not resolved.

14th and U Streets NW

At the intersection of 14th and U streets NW, the hovering cloud of cannabis smoke is omnipresent. Groups of eager customers gather outside Legacy (1937 14th St. NW) and Flight Pass (1338 U St. NW), smoking and chatting while commuters, families and children pass by on the way to the street’s many restaurants, tness studios and public schools and playgrounds.

The U Street cluster is home to four I-71 retailers: Flight Pass, Legacy DC, Dreamland Smoke Boutique (2001 14th St. NW) and Doobie District (1526 U St. NW). The rst I-71 retailer opened in August 2016.

Between 2016 and October 2022, the U Street cluster saw a total of 186 robberies, 95 ADWs and six homicides. In contrast, the U Street control area experienced a total of 60 robberies, 21 ADWs and no homicides. On its face, the U Street cluster had more than three times

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the robberies, three and a half times the ADWs and six homicides versus none for the control.

Annual comparisons of robberies between the U Street cluster and the control provide a more nuanced view. In 2014, both blocks experienced a similar number of robberies. In 2015, the cluster experienced 12 more robberies than the control. The difference in robberies between the two continued to grow, reaching a high of 48 in 2019.

During the COVID pandemic, when overall crime in the District declined, the control area experienced half the number of robberies as the cluster. Similarly, ADW numbers in the control, except for an anomalous spike in in 2015, have been signi cantly lower than in the cluster area. In 2019, for example, the control saw ve ADWs versus 15 in the cluster. During COVID, the control saw only two assaults in 2021 versus 14 in the cluster. The difference between the control and the cluster consistently exceeded 150% between 2016 and 2022.

Residents worry about being mugged near the cluster of shops, says Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Alan Kensak (1B05), who represents a portion of the 14th and U streets NW neighborhood.

18th Street NW

The 18th Street corridor, stretching from Dupont Circle to Adams Morgan, features bright lights, large store windows, airy spaces lled with art and an extensive menu of weed and cannabis-infused items.

The 18th Street cluster is home to four I-71 retailers: All American Gallery (2206 18th St. NW), Funky Piece (2116 18th

St. NW), Dreamland Smoke Boutique (2408 18th St. NW) and Gifted Curators (2469 18th St. NW).

The rst I-71 store opened in April 2016. Between 2016 and October 2022, the 18th Street cluster saw a total of 103 robberies, 95 ADWs and six homicides. In contrast, the 18th Street control experienced a total of 80 robberies, 21 ADWs and zero homicides. At rst glance, the 18th Street cluster had 23 more robberies, four-and-a-half times the ADWs and six homicides versus none for the control.

Again, annual comparisons of robberies provide a more nuanced view. In 2014, two years before the rst store opened, both areas experienced a similar number of robberies. In 2015, the cluster saw twice as many robberies as the control. In 2016, the cluster experienced seven more robberies than the control. The situation reversed in 2018 and 2019, when the control saw more robberies. In 2020, the numbers were even. In 2021 and 2022, during COVID, the cluster had over twice as many robberies.

ADWs had a more consistent pattern. Starting in 2016, there were at least twice as many ADWs in the 18th Street cluster as in its control. This pattern persisted through 2022.

“Adams Morgan has a long-standing problem of too many ABC establishments crammed into a small area,” explains a long-time resident. “It has become a destination for partygoers, which has had negative effects on residents, such as over-service of alcohol, rowdy behavior fueled by booze, including much violence, parking problems as visitors search for an open spot,

late-night disturbances from visitors returning to their vehicles where they play loud music and have loud conversations, as well as the phenomenon of illegal offroad vehicles, such as dirt bikes, loudly cruising neighborhood streets into the wee hours.”

As the resident notes, there are three “smoke shops” on 18th Street close to Belmont, as well as others in Adams Morgan. “I routinely see customers park in front of re hydrants, driveways and block public alleys to run into these shops and return within 10 or 15 minutes with marijuana, which is often smoked in their vehicles, on the public sidewalk or in alleys,” he continues. “Added to the alcohol-driven nightlife scene, the availability of illegal marijuana in the commercial areas further fuels the party scene, which disturbs residents, particularly those who live close by.”

However, other residents have a more positive impression of their I-71 neighbors. “What I have heard is that people would rather not see more of these shops in the neighborhood,” says Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Pete Wood (1C03), who represents a portion of 18th Street. “But given the choice of having vacant stores or more shops, they are willing to accept more smoke shops,”’ he adds.

Wood lives half a block off 18th Street, near a cluster of four or ve shops. “There are more around the corner on Columbia Road and one or two more are just about to open up. I don’t know when it reaches the point where it becomes a problem. Right now, it is neutral or positive,” Wood says. “I haven’t seen people congregate in front of these stores. They go in, make their purchases and come back out in a few minutes, and are gone.”

While their customers may have earned the ire of some neighbors, according to Kristen Barden, executive director of the Adams Morgan Business Improvement District, the impact of these storefronts has been a positive one. The businesses along 18th Street NW have been “good corporate neighbors and many have contributed through educational programs and event sponsorship,” she says.

“These stores have brought a lot of foot traf c to the neighborhood and

those same people spend money in other stores and restaurants,” Barden adds. “The I-71 stores in Adams Morgan also promote the neighborhood through their social media channels, host events and are very collegial towards the greater community.”

Commissioner Jake Faleschini (1C07) definitely had some concerns about public safety overall in the neighborhood. However, he does not find them to be “in any way associated” with the I-71 storefronts. Faleschini also echoed Barden’s comments.

“Several of these businesses have sponsored community events like our pedestrian zones over the past year and have been fantastic neighbors,” Faleschini says. “The demonization of these businesses feels kind of racist to me and to trying to attach them to some larger issue that may or may not be happening statistically also feels very racist,” he adds.

There is not publicly available data on the individual ownership of I-71 businesses. CCN’s earlier survey of corporate registrations, certificates of occupancy and basic business licenses (www.hillrag.com/2022/09/02/thewild-west-of-unregulated-of-cannabis-retailers/) found I-71 ownership difficult to ascertain. However, reporters did identify a number of such businesses owned by out of state residents, two of whom were identified through social media as White.

While the causation may be a matter of debate, CCN’s analysis of the crime statistics found that the proliferation of I-71 shops is associated with significant increases in crime over the measured time periods compared to neighboring areas that contain no such businesses. This conclusion is buttressed by the testimony of many neighbors. The root of the problem may lie in the explosive growth of an industry that attracts lots of “green.”

It’s a Green, Green World

Cannabis is big money. One estimate put the gross sales of the District’s grey-market cannabis at close to $650 million. This is not an exaggeration.

An email from the DC Office of Tax and Revenue to one gray-market retailer obtained by CCN reporters confirms the payment of approximately $47,000 in sales tax for the second quarter of 2022. The sales tax rate in DC is 6%. Simple math indicates that the establishment’s reported taxable quarterly sales totaled $783,333 or $261,111 per month. If this is typical, it would indicate the store reports $3,133,333 annually, quite a lot of revenue for a single retail storefront.

Entrepreneurs have taken notice. A Google map search paired with a consultation of the Gentleman Toker reveals over 200 I-71 businesses scattered throughout the District’s commercial corridors. These include storefronts, delivery services and tour companies.

The results of a police raid on a large gray-market retailer provide further insight. On August 20, 2021, MPD searched two locations of Mr. Nice Guy, a chain of gray-

market storefronts. At the first site, on the second floor of 1922 Ninth St. NW, officers found 22.46 pounds of weed, 56 marijuana cigarettes, 285 vape cartridges, a half-pound of kief and over $68,000 in cash. At the second store, at 408 Eighth St. NW, police found $6,289 of cash and 15 pounds of weed.

The amounts of cash and cannabis are no surprise. A typical medical cannabis dispensary, the CCN reporters found, maintains an inventory of at least 16 pounds of weed and weed products. Medical dispensaries also routinely keep large amounts of cash on hand, since federal restrictions confine them to debit card transactions or cash. The situation in I-71 establishments is analogous.

The combination of a mostly cash business with substantial amounts of cannabis inventory is explosive. Walk along H Street NE or step into one of the I-71s there and you may encounter burly, intimidating security guards wearing a shirt blazoned with “Police’’ and sporting what looks like tactical gear. Many of the guards are likely armed. The 2021 raid on 408 Eighth St. NW, for example, resulted in the seizure of a loaded Glockstyle semiautomatic handgun equipped with a high-capacity magazine.

Landlords are succumbing to offers to pay two or three times the going rent, states Anwar Saleem, executive director of H Street Main Street. “These businesses have more cash and they can pay higher rents,” he says. “We are losing our H Street vibe.”

Chief Contee concurred at a 2021 news conference. “When you have something where people get high reward ‒ they can make a lot of money by selling illegal marijuana ‒ and the risk is low, the risk for accountability is very low, that creates a very, very, bad situation because those individuals get robbed, those individuals get shot at, those individuals get involved in disputes all across our city.”

Local elected officials agree.

“Realistically, these things start to add up where people from the tristate area start coming in [to purchase cannabis],” says Commissioner Kensak about the situation on 14th and U streets NW. “Typically, there are guns and violence included. They bring in a whole slew of things that can happen here in DC.’’

The New Weed Mecca

“This place is awesome, I come here from Maryland often,” wrote one customer in an online review of an I-71 establishment in DC. “Great service and gifts.” His words are typical of the over 1,000 online reviews on the Gentleman Toker (https://gentlemantoker.com/). They point to the District’s emergence as the DMV’s mecca of cannabis.

“Let Gentleman Toker be your guide to cannabis in Washington, DC!” crows the site’s landing page. “I’ve spent the last five years hunting through the wide selec-

tion of marijuana available in our nation’s capital following the passage of Initiative 71 to help you find the very best.”

According to the landing page of 420DC.com (https://420dc.com/), another guide to DC’s cannabis market, “Marijuana is perfectly legal for adult use in Washington, DC, the nation’s capital, but it can still be pretty challenging to find it if you don’t know where to look. Without recreational access to dispensaries, figuring out how to buy safe, reputable weed can be extremely confusing.”

The Gentleman Toker advises that tourists can “absolutely” buy weed from I-71 smoke shops and delivery services while visiting the city’s historic monuments and acclaimed museums. “Many” of the District’s 24,000 annual cannabis tourists take advantage of the city’s lax cannabis laws, the website claims.

“DC cannabis stores are the closest you’ll get to a recreational marijuana DC dispensary without a medical card,” continues the Toker. “It’s no surprise they’re so popular ‒ this is what the city thought it was voting for when it legalized marijuana in DC.” The site assures readers that the brick-and-mortar retailers “typically make a great effort to remain I-71 compliant, too. They don’t require an appointment, so you may encounter a line, but you’ll have time to peruse the marijuana gift displays and ask questions.”

As the Toker explains, recreational DC weed stores operate through the “gifting loophole” in Initiative 71, which enables customers to buy a non-weed item and receive weed as a gift from the retailer.

The Gentleman Toker and 420DC.com provide FAQs that explain how to navigate the gray market. Touching on everything from avoiding fake cartridges and bad marijuana to sorting through DC’s many weed delivery services, they advise on choosing strains, rolling joints and cooking edibles. They review both legal medical marijuana and I-71 dispensaries.

Both the Gentleman Toker and 420DC.com are supported by advertising. In 2017, The Washingtonian reported the Toker site earned $3,000 a month in advertising revenue. (www.washingtonian.com/2017/08/22/ meet-the-local-weed-crusader-helping-washingtoniansnavigate-the-marijuana-industry/.) By 2019, the site produced enough income to fully employ its founder.

Publicity continues to fuel the District’s I-71 retailers. “I see all of these cars with Maryland and Virginia tags come off the highway, go down H Street and then go right back out again,” says former Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who lives two blocks south of H Street NE. Saleem, H Street Mainstreet’s executive director, confirms Silverman’s observation. The popular nightlife corridor has turned into DC’s version of Amsterdam. More than 15 smoke shops currently operate on H Street. They attract street drug dealers, Saleem says, who peddle their illicit wares or prey on patrons headed to the I71s or to legitimate bars, restaurants and other businesses.

Where Is Enforcement?

Many District government agencies are responsible for regulating businesses to ensure they operate legally, pay their taxes and do not become public nuisances. The Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA) regulates liquor and medical cannabis sales. The Of ce of Tax and Revenue (OTR) collects sales and real estate taxes. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) oversees business operations and enforces zoning restrictions. The Department of Health (DOH) monitors food safety.

Agency inspectors are backed by MPD of cers, who can bring complaints to the US Attorney for criminal prosecution. In addition, the Of ce of the Attorney General (OAG) can sue to enforce regulations, particularly in matters of consumer protection. MPD has raided I-71 retailers in the past, seizing cash and weed. However, there have been no major actions since August 2021.

“The police stopped the raids after the US Attorney’s Of ce said it would not prosecute these cases because it didn’t believe DC juries would convict,” a local business person involved with the District’s licensed industry commented on background.

The decision to cease enforcement resulted in an explosion of illegal cannabis businesses across the District, con rms Lisa Scott, president of the DC Cannabis Business Association. “Many more have opened up since then because they don’t think there’s going to be enforcement,” she says.

In early August 2022, however, ABRA Director Fred Mosally announced the creation of an eightagency task force to inspect the shops for compliance, supported by MPD. Just a few days before the inspections were scheduled to begin, the mayor’s ofce pulled the plug. (www.hillrag.com/2022/10/06/i71-enforcement-halted/). The presence of police ofcers during inspections had sparked resistance both from those strenuously opposing the inspections and those pushing for them. The pro-enforcement forces expressed concerns about possible clashes between police of cers and armed I-71 employees.

“This is why we don’t trust you, because they wanted to involve the police for a business compliance situation,” Scott told Mosally in a November meeting with cannabis advocates. “If they ever bring up the police again, we need you to say, ‘Do not do that!’”

Mosally said that his agency “doesn’t have any enforcement authority,” an answer that appeared to perplex and irritate some in the November meeting, since he was the coordinator of the shelved task force.

CCN reporters reached out to city regulatory agencies and MPD for comment on I-71 enforce-

ment. Agency of cials tossed questions about enforcement back and forth like hot potatoes. Queries to ABRA were de ected to business regulators at the DLCP, which passed the potatoes to the tax collectors at OTR, who referred reporters to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s communications of ce, which remained silent. The DC police refused to make any comment on the public-safety impact of the gray-market establishments. This is particularly ironic given Chief Contee’s 2021 public statements.

New Legislation

After struggling for more than a year to nd a solution, the DC Council approved legislation at the end of 2022 to provide a “transition’’ for the I-71s to become legally licensed medical dispensaries and growers. Councilmembers designated ABRA as the regulatory agency, providing it with new enforcement authority.

Enforcement, however, remains at least 12 to 18 months away, say those watching this new phase take shape. ABRA rst has to write the regulations. Then the agency must develop a process for I-71 retailers to become medical dispensaries and growers. Once the agency opens applications, later this year, these I-71 businesses will have time to come into compliance.

It remains to be seen whether ABRA’s regulations will curb the clustering of I-71 businesses in nightlife corridors or limit their nancial support of the online marketers, who are stoking regional cannabis tourism. DC liquor stores holding Class A Off-Premises Retailer licenses, for example, cannot locate within 400 feet of each other. ABRA and DOH also tightly regulate the marketing campaigns of medical dispensaries and growers. The development of legal recreational sales in neighboring Maryland and Virginia may ultimately redirect consumers away from the District.

In the interim, residents living near clusters of I-71 retailers will continue to be wary as they go about their daily business, darting through clouds of cannabis-scented smoke and the lines of patrons waiting to purchase weed.

Kenneth V. Cummins has been reporting on DC politics and issues for nearly 40 years. Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. Andrew Lightman is the Managing Editor of Capital Community News. ◆

Shaw Restaurants Come Out on Top

In another sign that things are getting back to normal after the pandemic, Washingtonian magazine has just published its first list of the 100 Best Restaurants in the DMV since 2020. Not only are 10 Shaw establishments on the list of 100, the top spot is taken by Blagden Alley’s venerable The Dabney. They explain: “Why do we love chef Jeremiah Langhorne’s ode to the Mid-Atlantic the most? For one, it’s soulfully rooted in this region and its history,” adding “And it hasn’t slacked after seven years of considerable accolades and popularity.” In Wash-

Shaw Streets

by Pleasant Mann

ingtonian’s rankings of the top 25 restaurants, The Dabney is joined by Shaw’s Causa (No. 8), Kinship (No. 18) and Convivial (No. 20). Shaw restaurants on the unranked portion of the list include AllPurpose, Haikan, Nina May, Oyster Oyster, Rumi’s Kitchen and Unconventional Diner.

Shaw was also well represented in the recently announced national semi-finalists for this year’s prestigious James Beard Awards. Rob Rubba, at the helm at plant-based restaurant Oyster Oyster, was nominated for Outstanding Chef. Causa, which has just recently opened, is nominated for

Best New Restaurant in the nation. Shaw chef Elias Taddesse is up for the Emerging Chef award, while David Deshaies is nominated for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic. The finalists for the awards will be announced on March 29, with the winners coming on June 5.

New Businesses Open in Shaw

New businesses continue to sprout in Shaw. The Pho House (634 Florida Avenue, NW) has opened, expanding the options for Vietnamese cuisine in the neighborhood. There is now an out-

Washingtonian magazine declared Chef Jeremiah Langhorne’s The Dabney the Best Restaurant in the DMV. Photo: Alexander Padro. Courtesy of Shaw Main Streets.

let of Insomnia Cookies (1924 8th Street NW) in Shaw, with very late night (3:00 a.m.) hours.

But wait, there’s more to come! Work is proceeding on the Little Gay Pub (1100 P Street NW). The pub, led by veterans of LGTBQ+ nightlife businesses, could open as early as March. Nearby, there are plans to convert the old Logan Laundromat to a tavern called Dog Daze (1100 Rhode Island Avenue NW) with a summer garden, a sidewalk café and live entertainment.

Plans for Kennedy Recreation Center Outlined

The Friends of Kennedy Playground, which supports the Kennedy Recreation Center at 1401 Seventh Street NW, met with Tommie Jones, Chief of External Affairs for the Department of Parks and Recreation on January 9th to go over plans for the renovation of the center. Although Kennedy had only recently reopened to the public, there are long delayed plans with funds set aside to make improvements to the facility. Jones started by saying that construction work would not start until the fall, since the neighborhood needed recreation programs throughout the summer. Then he outlined the scope of work for the project, which included renovations of the front desk, office and kitchen, improvements to the restrooms and basketball court and repartitioning of the rooms to create an expanded senior center and a music studio.

Jones said that while construction would take from three to six months, he hoped that they could continue some programming while the recreation center was closed. At this point, members of the Friends expressed their disappointment with operations at Kennedy. They said that the center did not seem welcoming to the Shaw community. They also pointed out that there were other DPR sites with better programming than Kennedy. Jones promised to improve the center’s connection to the community, while the Friends committed to working with DPR to get the word out on events and programs at the Kennedy Recreation Center.

Streetscape Redesign Begins at the Washington Convention Center

Events DC has begun work on the N Street side of the Washington Convention Center to initiate a long-planned redesign of its streetscape. The construction includes removal of existing trees, pavers and base materials and installation of new planters. New trees will be planted during the spring planting season. The renovation of the Convention Center streetscape will proceed until the entire perimeter is redone, probably by October 2023. Provisions will be made to allow pedestrian access during the construction period.

Councilmember Forms T Street Taskforce

Councilmember Brianne Nadeau has formed an informal taskforce to deal with safety issues on the 600 and 700 blocks of T Street NW. The area,

which is currently under redevelopment, has had problems of loitering, open air drug sales and drug use and at one time was a center for the fencing of porch pirated goods. The deteriorating situation was starting to wear on the businesses in the area. The Taskforce is made up of representatives of the Councilmember’s staff, the Metropolitan Police, local Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, Shaw Main Streets, Cleveland Elementary school, business owners and neighborhood residents working with property owners to mitigate problems on the street. So far, the Taskforce has been able to move a Capital Bikeshare stand that became a stage for loitering and drug sales, fenced off a grassy patch next to the vacant CVS that became a hangout spot, installed speed bumps on the 1800 block of Eighth Street and is working to secure a space in an alley that has been used for nefarious activities. The Taskforce meets once a month.u

The Little Gay Pub coming to Shaw at 1100 P St. Photo: Alexander Padro. Courtesy of Shaw Main Streets.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 1B held its monthly meeting for January on Thursday evening, January 5, 2023. This was the first meeting of the newly elected commission. The commissioners were Larry Handerhan (1B01), Sean Holihan (1B02), Jamie Sycamore (1B03), Santiago Lakatos (1B04), Alan Kensek (1B05), Ashleigh Fields (1B07), Sabel Harris (1B08) and Tucker Jones (1B09). The 1B06 seat is currently vacant.

Election of Officers

Commissioner Harris and Commissioner Kensek were nominated for the position of Chair. Harris was elected Chair with six votes, against Kensek’s two votes. Commissioner Handerhan was nominated for Vice Chair and elected without opposition. The position of Treasurer had two nominees, Commissioners Kensek and Lakatos. Lakatos became Treasurer with a vote of five to two. Commissioner Jones was unopposed for Secretary.

Election of Committee Chairs

After taking over as Chair, Commissioner Harris took up the assignment of committee chairs. Commissioner Houlihan became chair of the Alcohol Beverage Regulation Committee. There were three nominations for Community Engagement and Public Safety Committee, Fields,

ANC 1B

by Pleasant Mann

Kensek and Sycamore. Commissioner Fields was elected committee chair. Commissioner Handerhan was nominated to run the Economic Development Committee without opposition. Commissioner Lakatos was chosen chair of the Transportation Committee. Commissioners Jones and Kensek were nominated for the Zoning, Preservation and Development Committee. Jones won the vote for chair.

Zoning, Preservation and Development (ZPD)

1250 U Street NW. Planned Unit Development (PUD) discussed at past commission meeting. Commissioner Harris estimated that the commissioners, the developers and the community had spent over 100 hours of discussion on this case. The approval of the project was passed at the December ANC meeting. The developer said that there were $650,000 of community benefits in the PUD package. The developers were concerned that the Zoning Commission might require ratification by the new commission before their meeting in March. The ANC voted again to support the PUD.

621 Florida Avenue NW. Historic preservation review of plans to renovate building. The former Hall Brothers Funeral Home is being turned into a seven-unit apartment building. The ZPD is satisfied with the plans. A motion to support the project passed.

Economic Development

The biggest issue before the committee is the redevelopment of the Frank Reeves Center. The Request for Proposals for the redevelopment has been reissued with changes in project scope, with new proposals coming in soon. The ANC will have to review the proposals and make comments on them. The Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development wants a commission vote on the matter at the next ANC 1B meeting.

A question came up about the prospects for the redevelopment of the District-owned building at 17th and U Streets which houses the Third District police precinct and a fire station. This project is now in the jurisdiction of ANC 1B. The ANC is awaiting word from the Deputy Mayor’s office on plans for the redevelopment.

Transportation

There is a lot of interest in the proposed protected bike lane along 11th Street NW. A change of name for the committee is being considered to include its work on public space permits.

Alcoholic Beverage Regulation (ABR)

Cloak and Dagger, 1359 U Street NW. Voting on amendments to a tavern licensee’s previous settlement agreement. Changing the schedule for trash pickup was the most signif-

icant amendment. Also addressing queuing problems on the sidewalk and alley. A motion to approve the amendments passed.

Sports and Social, 1314 U Street NW. A restaurant license for a new establishment. Also applying for a sports gambling license, an interior entertainment endorsement and a sidewalk café. It is part of a chain of establishments in the DC region. Typically, the ANC votes to protest new licenses. A motion before the ANC to protest the license application based on adverse impacts on peace, order and quiet passed by vote of six yeas, one abstention.

Posh Lounge, 1924 U Street NW. A new tavern license request. The ABR Committee voted unanimously to protest the license. The community worries that there is a proliferation of liquor establishments in the area. Motion to protest based on peace, order, quiet, trash concerns, parking concerns and the number of liquor establishments in the area. The motion passed with six yeas, one no.

ANC 1B will hold its next meeting on Thursday, February 2 starting at 6:30 p.m. Plans are to hold this meeting as a virtual conference. Visit www.anc1b. org for more information. u

Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 2G held its first monthly meeting on Thursday evening, January 12, 2023. Due to the restrictions on public meetings caused by the Coronavirus crisis, the meeting was held as a virtual conference. All the newly elected commissioners including Anthony “Tony” Brown (2G01), Alexander M. “Alex” Padro (2G02), Alex Lopez (2G03), Steven McCarty (2G04), Sheena Berry (2G05) and Rachelle P. Nigro (2G06) were in attendance.

Election of Officers

For Chair, Commissioner Padro and Commissioner Nigro were nominated for the position of Chair. Padro became chair with five votes against Nigro’s one. Commissioner Nigro was nominated for Vice Chair, Commissioner Brown for Treasurer and Commissioner Lopez for Secretary. They were all elected with unanimous votes.

Commission Bylaws

After taking over as Chair, Commissioner Padro took up the issue of approving Bylaws for ANC 2G. Commissioner Lopez explained that the draft bylaws were based on guidelines from the Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions along with historical features from earlier commissions. Commissioner Nigro mentioned that some ANCs had term limits for officers. Lopez said that term limits were not in the draft, but that he would not object to having them. The edited version of bylaws with term limits added for the chair was approved unanimously.

ANC 2G

by Pleasant Mann

Third Police District Report

Captain Hong of the Third Police District said that there had been an increase in thefts, but violent crime had gone down. The previous month had seen four robberies and three assaults with a deadly weapon. There was a reported unlawful discharge of a gun in Blagden Alley, with the police reviewing video from establishments there to investigate the incident. There is a trend in 3D of robberies of high-end coats, such as the Canada Goose and Moose Knuckles brands.

Commissioner Nigro mentioned the problem of students loitering in the neighborhood during the day. Hong replied that the police have a truancy team to bring students to school. Padro asked about an incident where a cook was held up when opening their business. Hong said that he will respond when he gets more information on the incident. Commissioner McCarty mentioned concerns in Blagden Alley, including a shooting at Ninth and M Streets. Hong replied that the shooting was one of the assaults he reported and that the case was closed.

Lot 803 Presentation

Bua Binite, principal of Dantes Partners, came to present their plans for Lot 803, a small site separated by an alley from the Parcel 42 building under construction by the developer. Lot 803 is too small to be developed for commercial or residential use, so it will be turned into a park. Plans are to have a garden walkway and a wall bearing quotes from leaders who lived in Shaw. The site will also feature a large sculpture, entitled “Steel I Rise” by Idaresit Ekpuk, a young artist.

Commissioner Lopez said that he liked the plan, but that he objected to having a fence with gate at the site that would be closed at night. Binite replied that the gate was a concession that had to be made for reasons of security. He noted that the site is now private property and will be paying taxes to the District. Commissioner Brown made a motion to support the plans for Lot 803. The motion passed with five yeas and one abstention.

Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee (ABC)

La Jambe, 1550 Seventh Street NW. Request to support the addition of an entertainment endorsement to an existing tavern license. The establishment has been there for six years and did a trial of live entertainment during Art All Night 2022 that went well. There would probably be a live event once a month.

Commissioner Lopez asked if the endorsement would allow entertainment outdoors. The answer was no. He also asked if the windows of the establishment could be opened. The owner said that they could, but the use of air conditioning has meant that they have not been opened. Commissioner Padro made a motion to support the entertainment endorsement, which passed unanimously.

Northern Liberty, 1015 ½ Seventh Street NW. Support for renewal of a tavern license. Commissioner Nigro said that they are a recent addition to the community, but that they have been good neighbors so far. She moved to support renewal of their license. The motion passed unanimously.

The issue came up of liquor license protests inherited from ANC

6E (Rito Loco, Quattro Osteria) and ANC 2F (TG Cigar). Ordinarily, work on them would be assigned to the current commissioner, which for the 6E protests would be Commissioner Brown. Commissioner Lopez asked to be assigned the former 6E cases, since he has already done work on the protests, a proposal that Brown agreed to. Commissioner McCarty will work on the TG Cigar protest. The Commission voted unanimously to send a letter to ABRA formally acknowledging 2G’s role and the Commissioner assignments.

A resident asked what the commission could do about the establishments 18th Street Lounge and Never Looked Better. Commissioner McCarty responded by outlining the considerable number of District agencies he has contacted to resolve issues arising from neighborhood complaints about the bars.

Appointment of Committee Chairs

The commission approved the appointment of the following chairs to the committees of ANC 2G. Zoning, Planning and Historic Preservation Committee: Commissioner Nigro. Transportation Advisory and Public Space Committee: Alex Lopez. Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Committee: Alexander Padro. There are provisions for a Public Safety Committee, but there is not a chair currently designated to lead it.

ANC 2G will hold its next meeting on Thursday, February 9 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

Walk with Woodson Tour

Walk with Woodson, a walking tour of sites in the Shaw neighborhood that were familiar to the Father of Black History Dr. Carter G. Woodson, will be presented by the National Park Service on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 11 a.m. The tour begins at the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, 1538 Ninth St. NW and will be led by Shaw historian and ANC Commissioner Alexander Padro and Woodson reenactor Darius Wallace. Woodson lived and worked on Ninth Street from 1922 until his death in 1950. During that time, A. Philip Randolph, Mary McLeod Bethune and Elijah Muhammad lived or worked nearby, among other notables. Neighborhood institutions like Shaw Junior High School, Phyllis Wheatley YWCA and Shiloh Baptist Church were places he visited. The 90-minute tour is free but reservations are required at WoodsonNHS@nps.gov. For more information, visit nps.gov/cawo.

Join Ford Theatre’s Generation Abe

Generation Abe is a community of theatre and history lovers ages 21 to 40. Join Generation Abe and you can meet and mingle with museum staff, artists, curators and peers; attend special events and get discounted theatre tickets. It’s free. fords.org/ performances/generation-abe-events.

Chamber Music at Noon at MLK Library

On first Thursdays at noon through June, enjoy an hour of beautiful music in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library auditorium with their Performance Lab: Chamber Music at Noon concert series. Curated by Vasily Popov and Ralitza Patcheva, each program features different musicians and includes background discussions on the works being performed. MLK Library is at 901 G St. NW. dclibrary.org/mlk.

Legal Counsel for the Elderly at MLK Library

On Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Self-Help Office Legal Associate aids seniors with a variety of brief services such as getting answers to legal questions, completing small claims complaints, writing consumer complaint letters, assisting with small estate probate paperwork, obtaining a DC Real ID, checking for public benefits, requesting DC services, assisting with legal forms, and much more. Call 202-434-2120 to make an appointment. MLK Library is at 901 G St. NW. dclibrary.org/mlk.

FITDC HerStory 5k Runners/Walkers Sought

Mayor Bowser is inviting residents to celebrate the history-making women of our nation’s capital by

joining in the fifth annual FITDC HerStory 5K, which will be held in-person at Freedom Plaza, 1455 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, on Saturday, March 4. On-site registration begins at 9 a.m. and the 5k begins at 10 a.m. For those who want to grab their 5k materials in advance, FITDC will host shirt and bib pickup on Wednesday, March 1 and Thursday, March 2 from noon to 5 p.m., at these woman-owned businesses: SteadFast Supply, 301 Tingey St. SE; Hook Hall, 3400 Georgia Ave. NW; and Bourne2Fly Fitness, 3408 18th St. NE. Residents are encouraged to pick up their bib and shirts prior to the race to avoid lines on the day of the event. The FITDC HerStory 5K is a Women’s History Month tradition that routinely draws over 2,500 participants from all eight wards. Last year’s HerStory 5K was the largest to date, with over 3,000 DC residents running. herstory5k.com.

An over-life-sized statue of the Father of Black History Dr. Carter G. Woodson is a stop on the Shaw walking tour. Photo: Alexander M. Padro, Courtesy Shaw Main Streets

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

2023 - New Year, New Home

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

DCHFA, Your Homeownership Resource in the District.

Visit

DC Open Doors

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

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 or 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.

Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5k

Registration is open for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5k on March 18, 7:45 a.m. for the 5k and 8 a.m. for the half marathon. Current prices are $65 for the 5k and $119 for the half marathon--they may increase. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5k also features a two-day Health & Fitness Expo prior to the race, which all participants must visit to pick up their race packets. Free and open to the public, this expo features the latest in running technologies, fitness apparel, health & nutrition information and interactive displays. All runners must visit the expo to pick up their race number, gear bag and t-shirt. runrocknroll.com.

Live at the Library Celebrates Black History Month

On Thursday, Feb. 23, the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center presents African Folk Music with Jake Blount at 6 p.m. in the Members Room of the Thomas Jefferson Building (Room 162). A gifted musician and scholar of Black American music, Blount sourced field recordings from the collections of the American Folklife Center for his latest album “The New Faith.” Blount will perform on voice, banjo and fiddle for this performance. Reserve a timed-entry pass at loc.usedirect.com/LOC. On view also is “Black History Month 2023: Black Resistance” through the end of February. Explore how African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression from America’s earliest days into the 21st century. Items featured are from the Rare Book and Special Collections, Manuscript and Prints and Photographs Divisions. loc.gov/live.

Petal Porch Registration Started

The National Cherry Blossom Festival invites DC residents to celebrate springtime by decorating their homes. Registration for Petal Porches is through March 20. Registration is free. All registered participants receive a downloadable sign to print and include in your display. Once registered, you will be added to the official Petal Porches Map. Make sure to register before March 13 to get a free Petal Porch yard sign. No Porch? Feel free to decorate your yard, sidewalk, window, or something else visible from the street or sidewalk. Petal Porches should be decorated during the dates of the Festival: Monday, March 20 through Sunday, April 16. nationalcherryblossomfestival. org/event/petal-porch-registration.

HOTTIX and Pay Your Age at Arena

Arena Stage is committed to making theater accessible to persons for whom the regular cost of tickets would be prohibitive. For these members of the community, a limited number of half-price tickets are sold for most performances, subject to availability. HOTTIX go on sale 90 minutes before curtain in person at the Sales Office and are sold until all available HOTTIX sell out. Limit of two per person. Pay Your Age tickets are for the 30 and under crowd, and just like the name says, your age determines the price. Tickets become available about two months before the show’s first performance. Proof of age for each member of the party will be required at the time of ticket pick-up. Fees are not included in ticket prices. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted in the theater. Tickets are based on availability. Limit of four per household. arenastage.org/tickets/savings-programs.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon and 5k course map.

Community Forklift Seeks AC Donations

It may be a pleasant 45 degrees outside, but the DMV’s hot and humid summers will be back again in no time. Community Forklift needs your help to provide AC units to your neighbors in need. Many seniors and people with medical conditions risk serious health problems as the temperatures rise. An air conditioner can make a world of difference for an elderly neighbor, someone suffering from heart or lung problems, or a child with asthma. Community Forklift is at 4671 Tanglewood Dr., Edmonston, MD. communityforklift.org.

DC Public Library Launches Public Square

What are we talking about when we talk about equity and racial justice? How will leaders advocating for social change and the scholars who study it know that their ideas are meeting the moment?

The DC Public Library hopes to help explore the next frontier of equity through a conversation series called “The Public Square.” In celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library’s 50th anniversary, the Public Square will bring leaders and innovators to the Library to discuss the next phase of their work or scholarship. Traditional prepared and packaged speeches will be replaced by engag-

ing conversations designed to move their work or scholarship forward. The Public Square is presented in partnership with the DC Public Library Foundation and Pepco, an Exelon Company. For more information, visit dclibrary.org/publicsquare.

DC Living Wage Increases

As of Jan. 1, in accordance with the Living Wage Act of 2006, the living wage in the District of Columbia increased to $16.50. On July 1, the District’s minimum wage will increase to $17, triggering an increase to the living wage for non-tipped workers to the same rate. This increase is due to provisions of the amendment that tie DC’s minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index.

DC Community Emergency Response Team Training

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates families and individuals about preparing for disasters or hazards. CERT trains people in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Weekly Bird Watching Walks at Kenilworth Part and Aquatic Gardens

Join National Park Service rangers for their weekly Tuesday bird walks at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Anyone interested in walking the gardens and identifying birds is welcome, including advanced birders though people with no birding experience are also welcome. Bring water, sunscreen and binoculars if you have them. Meet in front of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens visitor center at 8:30 a.m. nps.gov/keaq.

Ribbon Cut on Bard High School Early College

On Jan. 5, Mayor Bowser and DC Public Schools

Chancellor Lewis D. Ferebee cut the ribbon on Phase I of the newly modernized Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) DC at 1351 Alabama Ave. SE. After three and a half years at the Davis School Building, students and staff returned from winter break this week to their permanent home. BHSEC DC is a District-wide high school program that offers students the opportunity to earn up to 60 transferable college credits and an associate degree from Bard College alongside a high school diploma, free of charge. The new BHSEC DC is approximately 108,200 square feet spread over four floors, including 32 classrooms. Phase II of the project, which includes additional work to the exterior of the building, an outdoor parking lot, and outdoor turf field and basketball courts, is scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2023-2024 school year. bhsec.bard.edu/dc.

Photo: Khalid Naji-Allah, photographer for Mayor Muriel Bowser

Great Blue Heron takes flight on a wintry morning.

Alexandria’s George Washington Birthday Parade

On Monday, Feb. 20, 1 to 3 p.m., the largest parade in the country celebrating Washington’s birthday marches a one-mile route through the streets of Old Town. The Reviewing Stand is on Royal Street at King Street. With nearly 3,500 participants, this community parade honors one of Alexandria’s favorite sons. The parade begins at the corner of Gibbon St. and S. Fairfax St., travels north on S. Fairfax St. and then turns west on Queen St. After one block, the parade continues south on S. Royal St., ending on Wilkes St. visitalexandriava.com.

Polar Plunge for Special Olympics DC

The DC Polar Plunge, on Saturday, Feb. 25, noon to 4 p.m., at Yards Park, 355 Water St. SE, is a very cool way for the community to come out and show support for Special Olympics DC. An above-ground swimming pool will be erected, and participants will “take the plunge” to the cheers of the crowd. To participate, raise at least $100 and receive the commemorative 2023 Polar Plunge t-shirt. Raise even more to receive other cool prizes. The Polar Plunge and ICE YARDS will be joining forces again this year to take the frozen fun to another level. The event will include an ice bar, live music, interactive ice activities and food vendors from neighborhood favorites. Everybody is welcome to attend, but you must raise at least $100 and pay the $10 registration fee to jump. specialolympicsdc.org.

Sweet Home Café Black History Month Chef’s Table

Chef Siatta discovered her love of food at the age of five when she accompanied her grandmother to the food market in Tanda, Abidjan (Ivory Coast). Raised by her grandmother, Chef Siatta spent hours in the kitchen learning the basics of preparing African cuisine. When her grandmother became ill, Chef Siatta began making soups and stews at the age of seven. As her culinary skills developed over the years, she became the go-to person to help execute most of the weddings and large events in her village. Meet West African Cuisine Chef Siatta on Friday, Feb. 24, noon to 3 p.m. at the Sweet Home Café Black (concourse level) at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. nmaahc.si.edu.

CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an incident until professional emergency responders and critical resources arrive. CERT members promote emergency preparedness, give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to survivors, collect disaster information to support first responder efforts and provide help in the period immediately following a major emergency or disaster. Read more and request training information at servedc.galaxydigital.com/dc-cert/.

New Ticket Alert Service for DC Residents

District residents can now enroll in the DMV’s Ticket Alert Service

(TAS) to get quick notifications on tickets. Previously, they had to already have a ticket on record before enrolling in TAS. Non-residents are still required to have received at least one ticket within the past 18 months to enroll in TAS. Enrollment in TAS is free and the online service provides users with near real-time notification of ticket-related activity on up to four vehicles and a single driver license. Once a driver has enrolled, they may log in to their account to check the status of tickets. Additionally, users may elect to receive notifications via text and/or email. Users may also access links to complete ticket payments and schedule hearings online. dmv. dc.gov/service/registration-ticketalert-service-tas. u

Photo: Courtesy of Special Olympics DC

Photo: Tisara Photography

West African Cuisine Chef Siatta

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

Kids & Family

by Kathleen Donner

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of The Lion King on Broadway

On Monday, Feb. 20; 10:30 a.m., the African American History Museum is hosting a Community Day celebrating the 25th anniversary of e Lion King on Broadway. e festivities include show-themed workshops led by Disney eatrical Teaching Artists (separate passes required) and other in-museum activities for the whole family. ey invite you to join them in this celebration of Black joy. Admission is free; however, registration is required at nmaahc.si.edu/events.

See the New Elephants at the Zoo

Two new female Asian elephants, 19-year-old Trong Nhi (trongnEE) and her daughter, 9-year-old Nhi Linh (nEE-lin), are now on public view at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo having completed quarantine following their Nov. 7 arrival. Visitors are most likely to see them in the Elephant Community Center or outdoors exploring their habitat from 10 a.m. to noon daily. ey will also rotate on view on the Elephant Webcam at nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/elephants. Trong Nhi and Nhi Linh are a gift from the Rotterdam Zoo in South Holland, Netherlands. ey join male Spike (41) and females Kamala (47), Swarna (47), Bozie (47) and Maharani (32) at the Elephant Trails exhibit, a habitat that includes space for socializing, training and playing while providing sta safe access to care for the animals. Free admission; $30 to park. nationalzoo. si.edu.

Download the Emancipation Proclamation Commemorative Coloring Book

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, announcing, “that all persons held as slaves. . . henceforward shall be free.” To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the signing of this document, download the Emancipation Proclamation Commemorative Coloring Book at archives.gov/ les/publications/kids/ emancipation-proclamation-coloring-book.

123 Andres at the KC (Move, sing, and play in Spanish and English.)

On Saturday, Feb. 11, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., join Andrés and Christina on an exciting cultural exploration of Latin America through an introduction of language, music, and dance. e Latin Grammy-winning music duo 123 Andrés, deemed “a rockstar for little language learners” by Billboard, is back by popular demand and on the heels of their recent Grammynominated release. eir catchy songs and lively, interactive concerts get the whole family dancing and learning—in Spanish and English. $20. Most enjoyed by ages three, up. e 11 a.m. performance is sensory-friendly. kennedy-center.org.

Circle of Life. Photo: Matthew Murphy

Photo: David-Rugeles

Story Time at La Cosecha

On Tuesdays, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., meet Northeast Library sta at La Cosecha, 1280 Fourth St. NE, on the second oor Balcón space for story time fun. eir 30-minute story times are packed full of books and songs designed to be enjoyed by children ve and under with their caregivers. Promoting language and literacy skills, these story times are a great way to further your child’s lifelong love of reading and learning. A free, three-hour parking garage is behind La Cosecha, on the block between Morse Street and Neal Street. dclibrary.org/northeast.

Culture Queen Kids

Hour at the ACM

On the rst Saturday of each month through June, 11 a.m. to noon, Grammy-nominated children’s entertainer, Culture Queen, holds court with live performances, interactive community building, stories, crafts, movement, and more. Kids’ Hour features monthly themed programs that encourage diversity, community and self-love. March 4--I’m A Tower of Royal Power!--Participants will identify their royal powers (innate abilities) and learn how to use them to help their peers, families, and communities. April 1—Create-a-Community--Participants will learn about community-building activities and design their own 2-D communities. May 6--Manners Matters--Participants will explore etiquette traditions from around the world and learn how to carry themselves royally in various environments. June 3—Create-a-Holiday--Participants will create holidays celebrating the people, milestones, and things that matter most to them. e Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community, Museum is at 1901 Fort Pl. SE. Free registration at anacostia.si.edu. ◆

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.