Nw 12 14 2016

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The Northwest Current

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Vol. XLIX, No. 50

Serving Communities in Northwest Washington Since 1967

Comet sees burst of local support

RUSSIAN WINTER

■ Business: Extra security

in place after recent attack By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer

A week and a half after an unfounded online conspiracy inspired a gunman to fire shots inside Comet Ping Pong in Chevy Chase, the focus for activists and community members has shifted

to a longer-term fight against fake news and support of the neighborhood’s local businesses. The Dec. 4 incident and its aftermath have received persistent local and national attention about the conspiracy theory dubbed “Pizzagate.” In D.C., residents such as local activist Erick Sanchez have taken concrete steps in reaction to the threats and violence. The Eastern Market resident took to Facebook

just hours after the shooting to plan an event called “Stand With Comet,” encouraging supporters to converge at the 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW restaurant for pizza last Friday. The initiative, which Sanchez organized with the help of a food writer friend with connections in the city’s business scene, was by all accounts a success. More than 75 people were waiting in line at See Comet/Page 34

Superfresh project faces ANC opposition By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer

Brian Kapur/The Current

Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens hosted its annual Russian Winter Festival on Saturday and Sunday. It featured a play that showed Grandfather Frost, the Snow Maiden and Santa Claus. The weekend’s events also included folk music and dancing, art activities, fortune telling and more.

Ambitious plans to redevelop the vacant Spring Valley Superfresh site are now formally opposed by one local advisory neighborhood commission. Valor Development aims to replace the former grocery store and its large surface parking lot at 48th and Yuma streets NW with a much larger project. Dubbed The Ladybird, it would include 230 residential units — 25 of which would be designated as affordable — along with a large new supermarket, other retail space and underground parking. But some neighbors on both sides of Massachusetts Avenue have opposed the planned height — 88 feet at its highest point — as inconsistent with the surrounding community, and also have expressed concerns about traffic impacts. ANC 3D, which covers Spring Valley and other neighborhoods across Massachusetts Avenue from

Rendering courtesy of Valor Development

The Ladybird, seen from 48th Street NW, would redevelop the long-vacant Superfresh parcel.

the project site, agreed with the opponents. At its meeting last Wednesday, commissioners voted 6-1 to oppose the project on the grounds that the proposed See Superfresh/Page 22

With new site, pottery studio comes full circle

WIS alters planned addition on historic Tregaron campus

Current Staff Writer

■ Preservation: ANC still

By MARK LIEBERMAN

An established Northwest pottery studio hopes to open and host classes at its new Georgetown location next month, more than a year later than owners had planned thanks to utilities challenges and a contentious relationship with the property owner. Hinckley Pottery has been offering classes, workshops and events, along with a robust collection of handmade artwork, for more than four decades in Northwest D.C. — moving its one studio from Georgetown to Foggy Bottom, and then Adams Morgan. The studio hopes to begin its next chapter just a block away from its original Georgetown home, but the road to opening has been a long one. In late 2012, owners Jill Hinckley and Susan Weber learned they would have to move the studio

opposes school’s latest version

Brian Kapur/The Current

Hinckley Pottery has been working on its new 3132 Blues Alley NW space since July 2015.

from 1707 Kalorama Road NW. They had shared that building with the health care nonprofit Mary’s Center, which wanted to use the space to expand its behavioral health services. Several real estate agents and neighborhood visits later, the owners settled on a new home — bigger than their older one and less expensive than many alternatives — at 3132 Blues Alley NW in Georgetown. See Pottery/Page 30

By CUNEYT DIL

Current Correspondent

Washington International School has revised plans for a new building on its 3100 Macomb St. NW campus, but the local advisory neighborhood commission still finds the project’s scale and massing to be out of character with the historically landmarked property. The school is hoping to expand its science and technology facilities with 35,000 square feet of

new classroom space and other site upgrades on the historic Tregaron estate, changes that require approval from the Historic Preservation Review Board. But various iterations of the plans have faced criticism from Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3C (Cleveland Park, Massachusetts Avenue Heights, Woodley Park), most recently at ANC 3C’s meeting Monday night. The proposed new building would sit on a hill overlooking Macomb, which some residents have said would impact the character of the street. In addition, the See Addition/Page 22

NEWS

HOLIDAYS

SPORTS

INDEX

Nightclub closes

Candy Land

Ready to roar

Calendar/24 Classifieds/33 District Digest/4 Exhibits/25 In Your Neighborhood/10 Opinion/8

West End residents cheer end to Shadow Room after years of licensing battles / Page 5

Local architects present a sweet taste of London landmarks in Gingertown fundraiser / Page 16

Wilson boys basketball sees momentum for season after tournament victory / Page 11

Police Report/6 Real Estate/15 School Dispatches/13 Service Directory/31 Sports/11 Week Ahead/3

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The Current Wednesday, December 14, 2016

ANC member criticized for vote on grant By CUNEYT DIL

Current Correspondent

A Tenleytown advisory neighborhood commissioner violated District ethics rules when she voted to provide two grants to a nonprofit she’s involved in, according to a finding from the D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability. Anne Wallace of ANC 3E (Tenleytown, Friendship Heights) is also the president of Tenleytown Main Street’s board of directors. Under District law, Wallace was obligated to avoid a conflict of interest by recusing herself from ANC business pertaining to that organization.

The ethics board formally admonished Wallace last Thursday, though its ruling concludes that she didn’t intend to break any rules. In an interview, she vowed to recuse herself if future grant applications are brought before the commission by the Main Street organization. Tenleytown Main Street was established in late 2015 through a $200,000 start-up grant from the D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development and is meant to be self-sustaining. The group aims to help “attract new businesses, create a stronger retail presence and make Tenleytown a more desirable place to work and play,” according to its See Grant/Page 22

Murch traffic plans prompt continued debate By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer

Construction on the longplanned renovation of Murch Elementary School in Van Ness is now underway, but some neighborhood leaders have concerns about the project’s impact on local traffic. D.C. Public Schools announced on the Murch renovation website last month that construction crews are well into the process of demolishing the interior of the school’s north wing, and demolition has begun in the south wing as well. Trailers currently on the site were evaluated and will move to Garrison Elementary School until at least summer 2017, according to

Rendering courtesy of D.C. government

The Murch project is slated to wrap up in summer 2018.

D.C. Public Schools spokesperson Janae Hinson. In the coming weeks, contractors will continue the process of demolition as well as asbestos removal. Meanwhile, the school system is seeking D.C. Department of

Transportation approval for a host of planned changes for the campus at 4810 36th St. NW, including a new Reno Road curb cut to replace an existing one on Davenport Street; improvement and relocation of existing utilities; landscape refinements; and a new sidewalk ramp on 36th Street. Most of these plans will be carried out “at the tail end of the project” in 2018, according to Patrick Davis, the school system’s coordinator for facilities initiatives. The full $78 million project, which includes renovation and construction of a new addition, began this summer and is currently scheduled to wrap up in time for See Murch/Page 34

The week ahead Thursday, Dec. 15

The D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board will hold its monthly meeting at 9 a.m. in Room 220 South, One Judiciary Square, 441 4th St. NW. Agenda items include a revised concept for a four-story addition above a three-story non-contributing building at 2213 14th St. NW in the U Street Historic District; a new classroom building and site alterations by Washington International School on the landmarked Tregaron estate, 3100 Macomb St. NW; and renovation of a two-story house and construction of a three-storyplus-roof-deck addition in the rear yard at 1721 20th St. NW in the Dupont Circle Historic District. ■ The D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education will host a community meeting on recently published regulations for the licensing of child development facilities. The meeting will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 7th St. NW. ■ The Ward 3 Democrats group will elect 15 at-large delegates during a caucus at the Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Ave. NW. Any registered Democrat residing in Ward 3 can participate by making a nomination, voting or running for a position. Check-in will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the caucus starting 15 minutes later. Afterward, the Ward 3 Democratic Committee’s biennial meeting will feature the election of officers, including chair, first vice chair, second vice chair, third vice chair, treasurer, recording secretary, corresponding secretary and financial secretary. Delegates will then meet in four caucuses, each of which will elect an area coordinator. For details, contact Kurt Vorndran at kurt20008@gmail.com or visit ward3democrats.com.

Saturday, Dec. 17

As part of Wreaths Across America Day, a noon ceremony at the Battleground National Cemetery, 6625 Georgia Ave. NW, will feature the presentation of colors, remarks, a history of the cemetery, the laying of wreaths and recitation of the names of the veterans buried at one of the oldest and smallest military cemeteries in the United States. ■ The Chevy Chase Citizens Association will hold its annual holiday event, featuring cookie decorating and craft-making. The event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Chevy Chase Community Center, 5601 Connecticut Ave. NW.

Sunday, Jan. 1

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser will host her third annual “Fit DC Fresh Start” 5K Walk/Run at 9 a.m. at East Potomac Park on Ohio Drive SW. Registration is free; visit fitdcfreshstart5k.eventbrite.com.

3

4 Digest 4

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Current

District Digest Chevy Chase man murdered in his car

A 21-year-old man was shot dead near his Chevy Chase home Sunday night, Metropolitan Police Department 2nd District Commander Melvin Gresham said at a meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3/4G (Chevy Chase) Monday night. Police responded to the 6900 block of 32nd Street NW at about 9:30 p.m. Dec. 11 after receiving a call reporting destruction of property, according to a news release from the department. There they found Grant Copeland Dosunmu dead inside a car, with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers believe that the shooter had been in the vehicle with the victim and knew him previously, Gresham said. Dosunmu, an alumnus of Wilson High School, lived a couple of blocks away from the scene of

the shooting, according to Gresham. News footage from the scene shows officers surrounding a silver Jaguar S-Type sedan parked on the street with a shattered driver’s window. As of The Current’s Tuesday deadline, police had not announced any suspect or possible motive. Gresham said Monday night that police had not yet determined whether there was any connection between the homicide and a nearby carjacking, in which a motorist surrendered her vehicle at gunpoint in the 5600 block of Western Avenue NW, on the other end of Chevy Chase. That incident took place at around 7:20 p.m. Sunday.

Modified bus service set to begin Sunday

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will modify service along multiple North-

west Metrobus lines effective Sunday, including various adjustments related to reduced Metrorail hours due to SafeTrack, according to a news release. The L2 Connecticut Avenue route will expand late-night service on Fridays and Saturdays, including a northern extension to the Friendship Heights and Bethesda Metrorail stations. Buses will depart from Farragut Square every 30 minutes between midnight and 2 a.m. to provide connections due to the rail system’s earlier closing time, according to the release. The need to provide late-night connections will result in new late-night weekday and Saturday service between D.C. and Virginia on the 16E Columbia Pike route by extending the terminus from the Pentagon Transit Center to Franklin Square in downtown D.C. via 14th Street NW. On the D2 Glover Park-

Dupont Circle loop, Metro will pare back late-night service to correspond with reduced rail hours. On weekdays, the last trip will depart Glover Park at 12:21 a.m. and Dupont Circle at 12:44 a.m.; on Friday nights, the last trip will leave Glover Park at 1:01 a.m. and Dupont Circle at 1:24 a.m.; on Saturday nights, the last trip will depart Glover Park at 1:12 a.m. and Dupont Circle at 1:35 a.m.; and on Sunday nights, the last trip will leave Glover Park at 11:50 p.m. and Dupont Circle at 12:06 a.m. The adjustments also include an additional eastbound trip on the N4 Massachusetts Avenue line from Friendship Heights to Farragut Square at 7:41 a.m. on weekdays to reduce crowding. New timetables will reflect adjusted trip times on several routes serving Northwest: 62, 63 Takoma-Petworth; 90, 92 U Street-Garfield; L1, L2 Connecticut Avenue; and N2, N4 Massachusetts Avenue.

Nonprofits urge D.C. to offset federal cuts

Creekside is the Talk of the Town!

A group of D.C. nonprofits has signed a letter urging city leaders to protect the District budget against threats posed by the incoming presidential administration of Donald Trump. The effort, led by the DC Fair Budget Coalition, warns Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council of “the very real possibility that federal policy and budget decisions will threaten to destroy [the District’s] already shrinking social safety net for generations to come.” The nonprofits express concerns with Trump’s “racist, misogynist and xenophobic rhetoric” and his nominated cabinet appointees “with long, proven track records of oppressing marginalized people.”

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Holiday schedule

The Current will publish its last issue of 2016 on Dec. 21. It will include calendar listings for the following two weeks. The Current will resume its weekly publication schedule on Jan. 4. Their letter encourages city leaders to prepare to replace any lost federal dollars with local funds in order to protect vital services that include public housing and health care. The nonprofits suggest a variety of ways for the District to generate local revenue, such as raising taxes on highincome earners and multinational corporations, and also advise reconsidering non-essential development projects like the streetcar, the D.C. United soccer stadium and the Washington Wizards’ practice facility. The letter also urges District leaders to oppose spending any local funds toward “federal immigration enforcement that may break up families or that targets racial/ethnic groups or religious communities.” The 15 nonprofit signatories include the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, the Muslim American Women’s Policy Forum, La Clinica Del Pueblo and Jews United for Justice. A release from the DC Fair Budget Coalition states that the effort comes a week after Bowser’s meeting with Trump, “in which the Mayor discussed pursuing common ground with the incoming administration, though Trump has threatened to pull all federal funding from the District of Columbia because of the city’s status as a Sanctuary City.”

Sibley expands its oncology facility

An expanded medical oncology center has opened at Sibley Memorial Hospital, providing inpatient and outpatient care from experts with the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. With the expansion, the Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley has doubled the Palisades hospital’s capacity for delivering cancer treatment, according to a news release. The new 30,000-squarefoot facility includes 34 private rooms and three shared spaces for outpatient treatment. The oncology center, part of a larger new patient tower at Sibley, is adjacent to a radiation therapy treatment center for adults and children with cancer.

Corrections

As a matter of policy, The Current corrects all errors of substance. To report an error, call the managing editor at 202-567-2011.

5 5 n ch The Current W ednesday, December 14, 2016

5

Shadow Room surrenders ABC license amid legal battles By BRADY HOLT Current Staff Writer

Brian Kapur/Current file photo

The Shadow Room closed permanently at the end of November.

Residents near 22nd and K streets NW have fought for years to get peace and quiet from the Shadow Room nightclub. Last Wednesday, the club threw in the towel — surrendering its alcohol license amid accusations of underage drinking and patrons firing guns in the street. At a Dec. 7 hearing of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, the board unanimously accepted a compromise negotiated between Shadow Room’s ownership and

the D.C. Office of the Attorney General. The agreement terminated the license of Shadow Room or any other business to operate a nightclub at 2131 K St. NW, while dropping investigations into the establishment’s possible transgressions. Shadow Room, which opened in 2007, had announced a Nov. 30 closure on social media in mid-November in advance of the formal action on its license. “I think the neighborhood is really gratified that it came to this conclusion,� Patrick Kennedy, chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2A (Foggy Bottom, West End),

said in an interview. “Optimally it would have happened earlier — they were an ongoing nuisance, and a threat to public safety and quality of life.� Though the Shadow Room club operated out of a medical office building on a commercial stretch of K Street, it was around the corner from residents who have complained for years about rowdy behavior by patrons leaving the club late at night. Through a series of costly legal battles at the alcohol board and in court, neighbors won concessions that included a requireSee License/Page 30

Residents reprise concerns on Pennsylvania bridge repairs By DEVIN MITCHELL Current Correspondent

Residents of Georgetown and the West End expressed concerns last week over the potential consequences of a plan to rehabilitate the Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge over Rock Creek, following several rounds of negative community feedback for previous iterations of the project. At an informational meeting last Wednesday, the D.C. Department of Transportation and representatives from infrastructure engineering firm Volkert detailed plans to repair damage to the bridge: Beginning this Thursday and lasting for 15 months, construction will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays if the project falls behind schedule, according to Volkert project manager Ben Lineberry. Community members remain concerned by the length of the project, disruption of normal transportation options and additional noise. Most of the concerns expressed at the meeting — held at George Washington University — came from the Foggy Bottom/ West End side. The westbound lanes of Pennsylvania Avenue NW will be closed between 26th and M streets. Westbound traffic will be detoured to M Street, while an eastbound lane will also be closed. The detour will be in place for 200 days, Lineberry said. To accommodate detoured traffic, 26th Street NW will be converted from two-way traffic to one-way northbound, from Pennsylvania to M. Meanwhile, three parking spots on the west side of 26th Street and a Pennsylvania Avenue bus stop at the corner with 26th are also being eliminated during the 15-month project. Patrick Kennedy, chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2A (Foggy Bottom, West End), is most concerned about losing the bus stop. “With the stop at 26th Street being eliminated, the closest bus stop will be a block further down the road at 25th/L Street,� Kenne-

dy wrote in an email. “That walk can prove to be significant for folks who live in The Westbridge or who are otherwise trying to access the office/cultural buildings closest to the Park.� Lineberry also clarified that residents would be notified about occasional periods of night work between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Additional lane closures, such as on Rock Creek Parkway, would not occur at rush hour: between 6:30 and 9:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. John Williams, an outgoing ANC 2A member, thinks snow removal will be challenging on the project site, likely leading to particularly difficult conditions in inclement weather. “One of my concerns is that now that neither the city nor the National Park Service cleans snow off of that bridge, pedestrians are forced to walk in the street, traffic intensifies, and it’s going to be a safety hazard,� Williams said. Still, he supports the project overall. Though the bridge does not represent a safety risk, the Transportation Department deemed the project necessary in 2014, but permitting and scheduling challenges forced delays until this month. At last Wednesday’s meeting, Transportation Department project manager Rick Kenney was keen to emphasize the practical need for repairs on the bridge, which include structural and joint repairs, among other fixes. “There’s a real project need here,� Kenney said. “It’s a historic bridge and there’s going to be severe deterioration.� Though concerns remain, ANC 2A’s Kennedy thinks the agency is doing its best. “I’m satisfied that DDOT and its contractors have done and will continue to do all they can to mitigate the effects of a project that will be messy no matter anyone’s best attempts,� he wrote. “They don’t have an easy job trying to juggle the project management along with the concerns of various residential and business stakeholders, but I think they’ve tried to be proactive in their outreach.�

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WHAT MATTERS MOST TO

This is a listing of incidents reported to the Metropolitan Police Department from Dec. 5 through 11 in local police service areas, sorted by their report dates.

PSA PSA 101 101 â– DOWNTOWN

Robbery â– 900-999 block, F St.; 5:56 p.m. Dec. 6 (with gun). Sexual abuse â– 1000-1091 block, 11th St.; 6:10 p.m. Dec. 6. Theft â– 1000-1099 block, 14th St.; 4:20 a.m. Dec. 6. â– 1200-1299 block, G St.; 6:43 p.m. Dec. 6. â– 1000-1059 block, Massachusetts Ave.; 8:51 p.m. Dec. 6. â– 900-999 block, F St.; 11:06 a.m. Dec. 10. â– 1000-1099 block, I St.; 7:22 p.m. Dec. 11. Theft from auto â– 1200-1299 block, E St.; 9:27 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 1300-1399 block, G St.; 1:56 a.m. Dec. 6. â– 800-899 block, 9th St.; 5:53 p.m. Dec. 6. â– 900-999 block, New York Ave.; 9:18 p.m. Dec. 6. â– 1200-1299 block, New York Ave.; 11:13 a.m. Dec. 7. â– 1100-1199 block, K St.; 4:04 p.m. Dec. 9. â– 900-999 block, G St.; 9 p.m. Dec. 9. â– 900-999 block, G St.; 9:16 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 700-899 block, Pennsylvania Ave.; 3:32 p.m. Dec. 11. â– 900-999 block, New York Ave.; 7:31 p.m. Dec. 11.

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Motor vehicle theft â– 600-699 block, K St.; 2:32 p.m. Dec. 11.

Š2016 The Washington Home & Community Hospices

, with Community Hospice support team. Left to right: Renee, nurse; Aubrey, chaplain; Lutanya, social worker.

Theft â– 400-499 block, 8th St.; 8:19 p.m. Dec. 6. â– 400-457 block, Massachusetts Ave.; 8:34 p.m. Dec. 8. â– 400-457 block, Massachusetts Ave.; 7:52 p.m. Dec. 9. â– 700-799 block, 7th St.; 1:01 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 800-899 block, 7th St.; 11:49 a.m. Dec. 11. Theft from auto â– 600-699 block, I St.; 9:45 a.m. Dec. 5. â– 600-699 block, Massachusetts Ave.; 3:22 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 800-899 block, 9th St.; 10:16 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 400-443 block, K St.; 1:56 p.m. Dec. 6. â– 500-599 block, I St.; 9:38

p.m. Dec. 6. â– 444-499 block, K St.; 10:05 a.m. Dec. 7. â– 700-799 block, H St.; 11:56 a.m. Dec. 8. â– 444-499 block, K St.; 12:55 p.m. Dec. 8. â– 500-599 block, I St.; 2:03 p.m. Dec. 8. â– 400-497 block, L St.; 3:55 p.m. Dec. 8. â– 400-497 block, L St.; 12:33 a.m. Dec. 9. â– 600-699 block, I St.; 4:16 p.m. Dec. 10.

PSA PSA 201 201

â– CHEVY CHASE

Robbery â– 5600-5699 block, Western Ave.; 7:20 p.m. Dec. 11 (with gun). Burglary â– 3800-3899 block, McKinley St.; 9:45 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 3200-3299 block, Jocelyn St.; 6:07 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 3700-3799 block, Harrison St.; 5:18 a.m. Dec. 11. Theft â– 3700-3799 block, McKinley St.; 12:27 p.m. Dec. 6. â– 5500-5530 block, Connecticut Ave.; 5:36 p.m. Dec. 6. â– 3800-3899 block, Legation St.; 12:32 p.m. Dec. 9. Theft from auto â– 5400-5419 block, Connecticut Ave.; 3:02 p.m. Dec. 5.

PSA 202

â– FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS PSA 202

TENLEYTOWN / AU PARK

Theft â– 5300-5399 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 7:11 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 5300-5399 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 9:20 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 4530-4599 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 7:57 a.m. Dec. 6. â– 4100-4151 block, Brandywine St.; 8:48 a.m. Dec. 7. Theft from auto â– 4500-4537 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 4:28 p.m. Dec. 7. â– 4100-4199 block, Garrison St.; 8:55 p.m. Dec. 8.

PSA 203

â– FOREST PSA 203 HILLS / VAN NESS

CLEVELAND PARK

Theft â– 3000-3399 block, Porter St.; 3:20 p.m. Dec. 11. â– 3000-3399 block, Porter St.; 3:32 p.m. Dec. 11. Theft from auto â– 2500-2880 block, Porter St.; 9:32 a.m. Dec. 9. â– 2500-2880 block, Porter St.; 10:01 a.m. Dec. 9.

PSA 204

â– MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE

HEIGHTS / CLEVELAND PARK WOODLEY PARK / GLOVER PSA 204 PARK / CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS

Motor vehicle theft â– 3800-3819 block, Fulton St.; 9:04 p.m. Dec. 7. Theft â– 2600-2649 block, Connecticut Ave.; 9:15 a.m. Dec. 5. â– 3000-3199 block, Connecticut Ave.; 12:16 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 2500-2599 block, 41st St.; 6:32 a.m. Dec. 7. â– 2600-2699 block, Woodley Place; 8:50 a.m. Dec. 7. â– 3900-4099 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 1:26 p.m. Dec. 8. â– 2241-2318 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 6:32 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 4200-4349 block, Massachusetts Ave.; 3:58 p.m. Dec. 11.

PSA 205

â– PALISADES / SPRING VALLEY PSA 205

WESLEY HEIGHTS / FOXHALL

Burglary â– 4100-4199 block, Massachusetts Ave.; 3:51 a.m. Dec. 9.

PSA PSA 206 206

â– GEORGETOWN / BURLEITH

Robbery â– 3500-3599 block, R St.; 11:34 p.m. Dec. 7. Burglary â– 1000-1099 block, Thomas Jefferson St.; 2:43 a.m. Dec. 5. â– 1400-1499 block, 35th St.; 6:22 p.m. Dec. 7. â– 3500-3599 block, S St.; 9:21 p.m. Dec. 7. Theft â– 1336-1398 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 3:59 a.m. Dec. 5. â– 3100-3199 block, M St.; 10:01 p.m. Dec. 6. â– 3200-3299 block, Volta Place; 9:06 a.m. Dec. 7. â– 1200-1237 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 9:53 p.m. Dec. 7. â– 3200-3275 block, M St.; 1:01 p.m. Dec. 8. â– 3200-3299 block, R St.; 1:51 p.m. Dec. 9. â– 3000-3049 block, M St.; 12:48 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 1048-1099 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 5:43 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 1224-1299 block, Wisconsin Ave.; 8:11 p.m. Dec. 10. Theft from auto â– 1326-1399 block, 28th St.; 11:36 a.m. Dec. 8. â– 3400-3499 block, R St.; 6:50 p.m. Dec. 11.

PSA 208

â– SHERIDAN-KALORAMA PSA 208

DUPONT CIRCLE

Robbery â– 1200-1217 block, 18th St.; 1:57 p.m. Dec. 5.

Sexual abuse â– 1400-1499 block, N St.; 4:20 p.m. Dec. 10. Theft â– 1200-1249 block, 22nd St.; 12:42 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 1500-1599 block, New Hampshire Ave.; 2:17 a.m. Dec. 6. â– 2100-2198 block, Connecticut Ave.; 9:48 a.m. Dec. 9. â– 2120-2199 block, Massachusetts Ave.; 2:29 p.m. Dec. 9. â– 1218-1299 block, Connecticut Ave.; 4:39 a.m. Dec. 10. â– 1500-1520 block, 14th St.; 2:14 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 1300-1699 block, Connecticut Ave.; 4:02 a.m. Dec. 11. â– 1800-1899 block, M St.; 4:31 a.m. Dec. 11. â– 1400-1499 block, Rhode Island Ave.; 3:23 p.m. Dec. 11. â– 1300-1699 block, Connecticut Ave.; 6:20 p.m. Dec. 11. Theft from auto â– 1524-1599 block, 15th St.; 12:03 a.m. Dec. 5. â– 1700-1799 block, Massachusetts Ave.; 1:59 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 1200-1217 block, 18th St.; 6:11 p.m. Dec. 5. â– 1900-1999 block, R St.; 11:11 a.m. Dec. 6. â– 1400-1499 block, Q St.; 4:20 a.m. Dec. 9. â– 1700-1799 block, P St.; 7:29 p.m. Dec. 9. â– 1500-1519 block, 16th St.; 8:33 p.m. Dec. 9. â– 1300-1318 block, 19th St.; 6:02 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 2000-2007 block, N St.; 6:03 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 1300-1499 block, Massachusetts Ave.; 6:19 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 1500-1599 block, New Hampshire Ave.; 7:25 p.m. Dec. 10. â– 2008-2099 block, N St.; 10:32 a.m. Dec. 11.

PSA PSA 303 303

â– ADAMS MORGAN

Theft from auto â– 1646-1699 block, Columbia Road; 7:36 a.m. Dec. 5. â– 2400-2415 block, 19th St.; 7:10 p.m. Dec. 5.

PSA 401

â– COLONIAL PSA 401 VILLAGE

SHEPHERD PARK / TAKOMA

Motor vehicle theft â– 6900-7099 block, Georgia Ave.; 9:18 a.m. Dec. 8. Theft â– 700-799 block, Dahlia St.; 7:42 p.m. Dec. 6. Theft from auto â– 8147-8199 block, Eastern Ave.; 7:47 p.m. Dec. 7. â– 7500-7699 block, 9th St.; 8:56 p.m. Dec. 9.

The currenT

Wednesday, december 14, 2016 7

Legal Counsel for the Elderly helped 64-year-old Ms. T avoid eviction and found her a new wheelchair accessible home. If you’re in need of free legal assistance, please give us a call. 202.434.2120 Part of the Senior Service Network Supported by the DC Office on Aging.

Legal Counsel for the Elderly is affiliated with AARP.

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Wednesday, December 14, 2016

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The Current

ch

The Northwest

Current

Davis Kennedy/Publisher & Editor Chris Kain/Managing Editor

Unacceptable violence

Cyberbullying and fake news have both featured heavily in this year’s political scene — and both recently joined forces to terrorize a local business. Weeks of online harassment and threats against Comet Ping Pong culminated in a midday shooting on Dec. 4 at the 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW pizza restaurant, with the gunman — purportedly inspired by a bizarre conspiracy theory — travelling hundreds of miles to get here. Comet Ping Pong has been under discussion in recent months in dark corners of the internet, where hacked emails among top Democrats were under intense scrutiny. These discussions ridiculously claimed that references to “pizza” were actually a code for the sex trafficking of minors, and that Comet was the headquarters of this Democratic sex ring tied to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. The alleged gunman apparently entered the restaurant in an almost comically misguided attempt to save the children he believed were imprisoned there. Members of our Northwest community who had to run for cover as gunfire shattered a peaceful Sunday afternoon — Comet’s patrons and staff — aren’t laughing. Nor is anyone who’s been targeted with intensely personal online attacks related to the “pizzagate” nonsense, including businesses near Comet and reportedly as far away as Dupont Circle. Fortunately, D.C, police were able to respond quickly to last week’s incident, and we’re glad they were able to arrest the suspect peacefully. We’re also impressed with Comet’s staff, who selflessly helped evacuate the restaurant at what could have been great personal risk. And we’re proud to be part of a community that has rallied around Comet in the days after the shooting to protect and defend this small local business. Some community members have criticized law enforcement for failing to respond to the issue until it got the point where a gunman actually opened fire in Comet. We’re sympathetic to that argument — the vitriol and threats had reached a boiling point that might have been preventable — but at the same time we realize that it’s difficult for police to pursue high volumes of anonymous far-flung messages. We hope our elected officials will meet with police and community representatives to discuss the issue and any possible solutions.

Support the arts The Fillmore Arts Center is a fantastic resource for D.C. Public Schools. Currently serving five Northwest elementary schools, Fillmore provides students with state-of-the-art resources and top-notch staff to fully expose children to a wide range of fields in the arts. Fillmore’s students and their parents have been consistently enthusiastic about this program, and we’re strong advocates for it. Accordingly, we’d like to thank Mayor Muriel Bowser for reversing the latest plans to terminate Fillmore, which would have shifted its schools’ arts education solely in-house over the protests of parents. Besides the advantage of Fillmore’s superb amenities, Key, Ross and Stoddert elementaries simply don’t have the facilities or even the space to accommodate a replacement program. Terminating Fillmore would have been misguided, and the mayor was right to guarantee that it will last at least another year. Unfortunately — as has been the norm at Fillmore for years — uncertainties remain. Mayor Bowser’s plan takes out two of Fillmore’s five elementaries: Hyde-Addison and Marie Reed. She also doesn’t speak to the program’s survival beyond the 2017-18 school year. And Fillmore’s budget picture for the coming school year is also unclear, given that it’s heavily funded today by arts money from each participating school. With two of its five schools gone, either the program will need an extra infusion of cash from D.C. Public Schools’ central office — after such expenses were cited as a top reason for killing Fillmore in the first place — or it will suffer cuts that reduce its value to the students remaining there. Parents also haven’t seen plans for the in-house arts programs that Marie Reed and Hyde-Addison will have to create by August unless they are allowed to continue at Fillmore. We’d like to see the school system take greater advantage of what it’s created at Fillmore — not starve it of resources, not leave its staff with perpetual insecurity about their jobs, and not leave a sword perpetually hanging over its head for parents to fend off every year. The mayor and D.C. Public Schools officials must increase transparency about Fillmore. They ought to work together with all stakeholders to ensure excellent arts education for D.C. students — and ensure that we stop seeing unexpected, unpopular decisions foisted on school communities.

Our ‘American’ inaugural …

P

rotests are an American right. Sometimes they get out of hand, or are violent, illegally formed or disruptively executed. But the right to protest peaceably is not something that easily can be dismissed by authorities or curbed to the point of ineffectiveness. This is a major issue right now with the looming inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump less than six weeks away. You, your friends and your family may be planning to attend the peaceful transfer of power. Or, you may be spitting mad that Trump won and you won’t be caught within sight of the U.S. Capitol. It’s your choice, even your constitutional right to go or stay away. That’s the main issue for 20 protest groups. As of Monday, none of the groups had received a National Park Service permit to stage a gathering of any sort. And it was not clear when or if they ever would get an assigned space. It turns out the Park Service a year ago routinely reserved all the public land at and even near the inaugural site for the official Presidential Inaugural Committee, a private group whose members are selected by the winning candidate. (Hillary Clinton would have had the same opportunity.) Until Trump’s committee decides what sites it will use for its inaugural events, none of the land is available to be assigned to protesters. And, surprisingly, there is no deadline. If the official committee doesn’t release any of the reserved spots, the protesters are all out of luck. That’s the official Park Service policy that it says has been in place since 2008. Protest groups, naturally, are outraged. “That really goes to the heart of the problem,” said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard in an interview with NBC4. “The [U.S.] Constitution simply cannot tolerate what the Park Service is doing here. It violates the First Amendment. People have the right speak out. This is the nation’s capital.” Verheyden-Hilliard is executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice. That group sued the D.C. government several years ago over its handling and arrests of anti-war protesters. It won more than $10 million in the case, and the District radically changed how it responds to protests. The Partnership is in federal court right now seeking an injunction to force the Park Service to assign reasonable space for what may be tens of thousands of demonstrators against Trump. The Park Service declined to comment on the suit, but told NBC4 it is following its 2008 policy that governed the subsequent Barack Obama inaugurals in 2009 and 2013. But Trump is generating far more requests for protests than Obama did. The Trump inaugural committee — a private organization, not government — has told the

media it is deciding as quickly as possible which lands it will use for the inaugural week. But it doesn’t have to release federal lands to anyone. “Once those applications are submitted on [the committee’s] behalf,” said Park Service spokesperson Michael Litterst, “they essentially have permits for those areas unless they choose to relinquish areas they may not use. And there is not a deadline for them to make that decision.” So bottom line, all the protest groups are left hanging. They can’t advise participants when to come to D.C., where to go or what to bring. That — at its base — is illegal, according to the Partnership. It says the Park Service is supposed to be neutral, not an agent for one side or the other. “Groups are planning to come to Washington, D.C., to engage in free speech activities; and they are being told by the government that there is no ground under their feet on which they can stand,” Verheyden-Hilliard said. Another protest organizer said the federal government is creating potentially a more dangerous situation. He said the inaugural will attract thousands of protesters regardless of permits. If there is no legal management of them, he said, who knows what they might do to be heard and seen? ■ More than protests to watch. The D.C. police department is considered one of the best in handling public protests, organized and permitted or not. But now police and federal officials have to be aware of another problem — the growing hints and evidence of violence sparked by social media. A good example is the recent situation at Comet Ping Pong. A man traveled to the District and fired a rifle. He said he had been inspired by a story on social media — patently false — that the pizza joint harbored child sex slaves. “That’s scary,” interim D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham said of the Dec. 4 incident on the WAMU Politics Hour last Friday. “We’re going to be scouring the social media as well as our federal partners for any potential threats that could occur for the inauguration.” ■ Betting on the media. A different media story was playing out in suburban Maryland where Prince George’s County was welcoming the new MGM Casino. For weeks leading up to the official opening, the casino welcomed all sorts of media inside and out on its property to help feed the buzz. After the opening activities, several news organizations were taken aback when MGM declined to let their reporters on the property for follow-ups. Some said the casino was just managing the big crowds, while others thought the reams of free publicity apparently had served its purpose. Tom Sherwood, a Southwest resident, is a political reporter for News 4.

TOM SHERWOOD’S

NOTEBOOK

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR City should review Fillmore bus costs

No wonder “Doubts linger with Fillmore arts program,” as featured in The Current’s Dec. 7 front-page story. There is a reason that the “school system has declined to offer specifics on the budget allocation” and that residents still have doubts about the future of this program. The real costs that jeopardize this program are the transportation costs. Previously the city contracted with Capitol Enter-

tainment Services to transport the students from their schools to Hardy Middle School, where the Fillmore Arts Center is housed. (This is the same company that left ski trip students stranded in January 2014 because of a payment dispute.) Capitol Entertainment Services had been using full-size, 48-foot-long motor coaches to transport the students the short distance from Stoddert to Hardy/ Fillmore last year. These fullsize buses, which were too large for our communities’ small streets, were expensive — I was told $3,000 per bus. This is what almost doomed the Fillmore arts program for so many students.

Now D.C. Public Schools has decided to use D.C. school buses driven by school system employees at a fraction of the cost — maybe. Where Capitol Entertainment Services previously used three or four full-size buses, the city is now using 14 smaller school buses to transport the students to Hardy/Fillmore. It is a shame that two schools, Hyde-Addison and Marie Reed, have been left out of the plan for the 2017-18 school year. City officials must know what these transportation costs amount to, and this should be public information. Robert Hyman Glover Park

9 Op-Ed

The Current

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

9

Something’s very wrong with this picture VIEWPOINT

MEG MAGUIRE AND JIM DOUGHERTY

M

assive digital billboards — light-polluting, ad-spewing machines up to 1,200 square feet in size (40 feet by 30 feet or 52 feet by 23 feet) — will continue to be an officially sanctioned element of our nation’s capital. On Dec. 6 the D.C. Council gave initial approval to B21-919, the Nationals Park Graphics and Entertainment Regulatory Amendment Act of 2016, sponsored by Ward 6 member Charles Allen. Chairman Phil Mendelson improved this misguided legislation by removing two very permissive provisions. But the bill still causes harm: Five huge commercial advertising signs will hang on the exterior of our taxpayer-financed stadium for a total of 2,950 square feet burning tens of thousands of high-intensity LED bulbs. A block directly north of Nats Park, the councildesignated and curiously misnamed “Ballpark District Designated Entertainment Area� will allow developers Akridge and Grosvenor to plaster their new office buildings with 1,200-square-foot billboards that can cover up to 20 percent of the building wall as long as they are at least 2 feet apart. Far from being “entertainment� or “graphics,� these behemoths can be expected to blast ads for liquor and underwear 90 percent of the time from 6 a.m. to midnight. In response to mounting criticism, the council took steps to shield the most sensitive sight lines to the U.S. Capitol and the Anacostia River. Still, it will be of small consolation to tenants that billboards must be angled 15 degrees. What’s more, the effects will not be evaluated for 10 years. At-large D.C. Council member Elissa Silverman was the only “no� vote. “I heard the residents’ concerns,� she said. After decades of good billboard control laws, the council is granting exemption after exemption. In 2000, 32 “special signs� as large as 10,000 square feet were draped on walls downtown; in 2004, Gallery Place imposed constant flashing images on office workers and residents around 7th and H streets NW; and in 2012 the Verizon Center received unanimous council approval for nine enormous fullmotion video billboards. Condo owners and office workers report that the flashing lights are intolerable and have negatively impacted property values. The Verizon permit has expired, but the responsible city

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Retain ‘D.C.’ name for statehood push

In response to Ann Loikow’s Viewpoint article in the Nov. 30 issue, I agree that the “State of Washington, DC (Douglass Commonwealth)� is a stretch. I also believe the name New Columbia is absurd: Where is Old Columbia? And what about the confusion of having two NCs? Since we are all accustomed to referring to the political entity we live in as “The District,� why not make it simply the “State of the District of Columbia�? We would still live in the city of Washington, District of

agencies have failed to evaluate the effects, a requirement for re-permitting. There’s more: D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs director Melinda Bolling reported at the council’s Nov. 16 hearing on the Nationals Park legislation that the mayor plans other entertainment districts for the D.C. United stadium, the Wizards practice facility and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center — all venues with staggering taxpayer investments. Council members say they won’t let the mayor make billboard deals around the city without their approval, but their review hasn’t yet resulted in adequate controls. Council members had decided “to do something for the Nats� even before the initial hearing. Digital billboards are big business. Companies sense opportunity in our shortsighted city government. Digi Outdoor Media is lobbying the council and mayor to overturn Attorney General Karl Racine’s court victory requiring Digi to cease constructing billboards without a permit. Digi’s business plans call for 50 billboards in D.C., and Capitol Outdoor is angling for more locations. The billboard industry doesn’t want you to know about health warnings that unseen blue light disturbs sleep rhythms and may increase the risk of serious health conditions. Or that recent safety studies have begun to demonstrate what has long been suspected but not proven — that roadside billboards are associated with increases in crash rates where such billboards are located, as noted in the Veridian Group’s “Compendium of Recent Research Studies on Distraction From Commercial Electronic Variable Message Signs.� Four states — Vermont, Maine, Arkansas and Hawaii — are billboard-free; 586 cities and towns in Texas and 237 cities and counties in Florida are among the many jurisdictions across the country that have said “no� to new billboard construction. We can, too. The beauty and monumentality of our worldclass city is at stake. Vibrancy does not equal crass commercialization of our environment. Massive digital billboards serve no public purpose and should not be permitted in the District of Columbia. Meg Maguire is the incoming vice president of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City and served as president of Scenic America for nine years, and Jim Dougherty is president of the International Dark-Sky Association and conservation cochair of the DC Sierra Club.

Columbia. The remaining small separate federal district can be officially named the “Federal District� (Postal code FD, if it has to be). We already have the name “District of Columbia� on our official documents, license plates, government operations, et cetera. It is a recognized geographical “brand� known to the whole country. Why change that? Don Velsey Foxhall Village

With winter’s arrival, time to aid homeless

The year 2016 may become the warmest on record, but as winter sets in, the homeless are at risk of hypothermia. To help out, work with D.C. nonprofits. Let

me mention three with whom I worked recently through my Rotary Club. Capitol Hill Group Ministry runs an outreach program whereby volunteers are trained to help the homeless access shelter. Central Union Mission is one of the oldest social service organizations in D.C., with many ways to help including by serving meals. Gifts for the Homeless runs an annual clothing drive. The drive was just completed, but there are ways to donate. Many more D.C. nonprofits do a great job reaching out to our homeless neighbors. This winter, please contact them to see how you can help. Quentin Wodon President, Rotary Club of Capitol Hill

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Current publishes letters and Viewpoint submissions representing various points of view. Because of space limitations, letters should be no more than 400 words and are subject to editing. Letters and Viewpoint submissions intended for publication may be sent to newsdesk@currentnewspapers.com. The mailing address is Letters to the Editor, The Current, Post Office Box 40400, Washington, D.C. 20016-0400.

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10 Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Current

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In Your Neighborhood ANC 2B ANCCircle 2B Dupont

contact 2D01@anc.dc.gov.

â– DUPONT CIRCLE

The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW. For details, visit dupontcircleanc.net. ANC 2C ANC 2C Quarter Downtown/Penn

â– DOWNTOWN / PENN QUARTER

The commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. For details, visit anc2c.us or contact 2C@anc.dc.gov. ANC 2D ANC 2D Sheridan-Kalorama

â– SHERIDAN-KALORAMA

The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, at Our Lady Queen of the Americas Church, California Street and Phelps Place NW. For details, visit anc2d.org or

ANC 3B ANCPark 3B Glover â– GLOVER PARK / CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at Stoddert Elementary School and Glover Park Community Center, 4001 Calvert St. NW. For details, email info@anc3b. org or visit anc3b.org. ANC 3C ANC 3CPark Cleveland â– CLEVELAND PARK / WOODLEY PARK Woodley Park MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE HEIGHTS Massachusetts Avenue Heights CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS The commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the 2nd District Police Headquarters, 3320 Idaho Ave. NW. For details, visit anc3c.org. ANC 3D ANCValley 3D Spring â– SPRING VALLEY / WESLEY HEIGHTS Wesley Heights PALISADES / KENT / FOXHALL The commission will meet at

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7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, in Conference Room 1 at the Sibley Memorial Hospital Medical Building, 5215 Loughboro Road NW. For details, call 908-246-8931 or visit anc3d.org. ANC 3E ANC 3E Tenleytown â– AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK American University Park

FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS / TENLEYTOWN

At the commission’s Dec. 8 meeting: ■a community member said he would like to see ANC 3E work harder to get the D.C. Department of Transportation to put a stop sign in the 4600 block of 41st Street NW. The ANC asked the Transportation Department three times to consider a stop sign for the block, and the agency declined all three requests, commissioner Tom Quinn said. ■a resident expressed concern about large trucks driving at excessive speeds through neighborhood streets. Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Alan Hill recommended neighbors take the name of the truck company and contact police when they see this happening. ■Police Lt. Alan Hill reported that officers arrived at Comet Ping Pong within five to six minutes after learning there was an active shooter in the restaurant during the Dec. 4 incident. The man had apparently stormed the restaurant to investigate rumors that the restaurant was operating as a front for a child sex ring operated by Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Edgar Welch, the man who allegedly fired inside the restaurant, may have been in the middle of a mental health episode, Hill said, and officers receive extensive training to handle this. Threats like this one are “ongoing� and have spread to the Dupont Circle area, Hill said, and officers are working to protect the area from further incidents. ■commissioners voted 5-0 to not oppose a Board of Zoning Adjustment application that would allow the owners of 4381 Alton Place NW to demolish their garage to make room for a two-story addition in its place, which requires special exceptions from rear- and side-yard setback requirements. The family’s architect said the structure would include a living space on the ground floor as well as storage and play space for the family’s 11-year-old boys on the second floor. Neighbors directly adjacent to the property urged commissioners to oppose the application, arguing that the structure would be visually unpleasant and would cause too much shade in their backyards. Neighbors also worried that allowing an exception to the setback rules would set a precedent in the neighborhood and could lead to other homeowners converting their garages into potential rental units.

■Urban Investment Partners presented an expanded community benefits package for its development at 4620 Wisconsin Ave. NW. The developers plan to build an 85-foot-tall mixed-use building with 135 rental units and some retail space on the ground floor. The following points are among the benefits the developers presented: ■The developers are open to the idea of allowing non-tenants to rent the building’s rooftop space for private events, though commissioners are wary of this idea as they worry it will be underutilized. ■The developers partnered with the National Park Service and have offered to clean up and renovate the vacant house located at Chesapeake Street and Belt Road NW. They will empty the building, update the interior, clean up the exterior and then return it to the Park Service so that it can become some sort of community space. ■The developers are working toward making the building LEED-certified at the Gold standard, the second-highest rating. ■The developers will utilize 74 parking spaces in an existing underground parking garage for the building’s tenants and retail visitors, which they hope will curb parking issues along Wisconsin Avenue. Of the spaces, 16 will be reserved for retail use while 58 will be available to residents at an additional cost to their rent. ■There will be about 3,000 square feet of green space between this new project and the Tenley View apartment building, which the developers said could be either a community gathering area or an outdoor space for a restaurant in the ground floor of the building. ■Under inclusionary zoning laws, developers are required to make 8 percent of the rental units available to people earning less than 80 percent of the area median income. The developers plan to make 50 percent of those units available to people earning less than 50 percent of the area median income. The developers said they have created a website, broadcastdc. com, to keep the community updated on the plans for the building. Meanwhile, a traffic consultant from Wells and Associates presented a study the firm conducted on how the proposed building may impact area traffic. Users of the parking garage, including residents, shoppers and delivery trucks, will access it via an alley behind Wisconsin Avenue. The study concluded that the building will not have an adverse effect on traffic. The building will likely attract people who do not own cars due to its proximity to the Metro and several bus routes, the developers added. However, several community members said the building is too tall and will disrupt the residential

environment of the neighborhood. Many opponents are also concerned that traffic will increase in the area and that residents who do not want to pay for parking in the building’s garage will displace longtime homeowners’ street parking. Community members and commissioners urged the developers to consider bringing local retailers to the ground-floor spaces. The developers said their retail interests were likely aligned with those of the neighbors. A representative from Revive 3E, which supports projects that expand retail and residential options in the neighborhood, voiced support for the plans for the building and urged commissioners not to request any changes to the height of the building. The commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Chevy Chase Pavilion, 4300 Military Road NW. For details, visit anc3e.org. ANC 3F ANCHills 3F Forest

â– FOREST HILLS / NORTH CLEVELAND PARK

The commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Forest Hills of DC, 4901 Connecticut Ave. NW. Agenda items include: ■commissioner announcements and updates. ■committee reports. ■community open forum. ■consideration of a resolution on a settlement agreement with Politics and Prose. ■consideration of a grant request from the Wilson High School Parent Teacher Student Organization for $4,900 to support the Tenley Tiger Run. ■presentation on the Rock Creek Park Horse Center maintenance proposal. ■consideration of a resolution thanking Forest Hills of DC. For details, call 202-670-7262 or visit anc3f.com. ANC 3/4G ANCChase 3/4G Chevy ■CHEVY CHASE

The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, at the Chevy Chase Community Center, Connecticut Avenue and McKinley Street NW. For details, call 202-363-5803, email chevychaseanc3@verizon. net or visit anc3g.org. ANC 4A ANC 4A Colonial Village â– COLONIAL VILLAGE / CRESTWOOD Shepherd Park SHEPHERD PARK / BRIGHTWOOD Crestwood 16TH STREET HEIGHTS

The commission will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, in the Community Meeting Room at the 4th District Police Headquarters, 6001 Georgia Ave. NW. For details, call 202-450-6225 or visit anc4a.org.

Northwest Sports The Current

Athletics in Northwest Washington

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Wilson takes tourney win; hopes for breakout season

By BRIAN KAPUR Current Staff Writer

After a disappointing eighthplace finish in the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association last season, Wilson’s boys basketball team is primed to make a run into the league’s upper echelon. “Everything has to go through Northeast D.C., which is respectable because they have been handling their business,” said Tigers coach Angelo Hernandez, referring to H.D. Woodson, the reigning DCIAA champions. He also named Roosevelt as “another tough team.” But Hernandez said his team “has gelled and put the work in in the offseason” after graduating two seniors from last year’s squad and returning the rest of the players. “Now it’s a test on me to see if I can put it all together. I think it’s going to be an exciting year.” To prepare for the likes of Woodson and Roosevelt, the coach crafted a brutal out-of-conference schedule featuring some of the top teams in the area. “Some teams stack it with cupcakes, but we scheduled tough games — we had Maret first, then St. John’s,” Hernandez said. “It prepares us for our season. That’s the most important part — they are getting grit and grind games and seeing tough competition.” Those tough first games paid dividends over the weekend at St. Albans’ annual Bishop John T. Walker Invitational Basketball Tournament. The Tigers won the entire bracket while notching victories against St. Paul’s (66-58) on Thursday, Roosevelt (69-63) on Friday, and Potomac (65-62) in Saturday’s title game. Junior guard Ayinde Hikim was

named the event’s most valuable player. “As a sophomore he showed he could take over and dominate a game,” Hernandez said of Hikim. Now, this year, “he is showing that he can keep up with guards in the city.” While Hikim showed up big in the tournament, the team has several studs who can help the junior lead the team out of the DCIAA doldrums. Junior Ricardo Lindo — a 6-foot-7-inch guard — gives the team a matchup nightmare that the opposition often struggles to stop. “He just makes a difference for us,” the coach said. “He brings a little bit of everything. He rebounds well, shoots well, gets to the basket, communicates; he’s the glue and does everything.” Lindo’s talent hasn’t gone unnoticed, as several notable college programs have showed high interest in the budding star with visits to Wilson to scout him. “He has had about eight Division I schools in to see him,” Hernandez said. “I expect more to come out and see him. He sprouted up 6 inches — and now he’s 6-7 — and still doing all the things he was doing, in a bigger frame.” The Tigers will also look to junior forward Josiah Marable to provide a post presence. “He’s the big kid in the middle,” Hernandez said. “He is a key to what we do — he can step out and shoot the three; he can post up.” The team also brings back its leading scorer — senior guard Isaiah Jennings — from last season. In addition, Marquis Copeland, who shined for the Tigers during summer play, returns. The Tigers will be back in action tonight when they host Phelps at 8 p.m.

Brian Kapur/The Current

Wilson junior Ricardo Lindo had a growth spurt this summer in both stature — he’s now 6 feet 7 inches tall — and in his game, with stellar play. His improvement and a strong team give the Tigers high hopes.

Bulldogs rebuild around Snowden’s strong play and talented young core By BRIAN KAPUR Current Staff Writer

The St. Albans basketball team may have lost eight players from last winter, but the squad returns a talented nucleus led by senior forward Charles Snowden that gives the Bulldogs high hopes of contending in the Interstate Athletic Conference this year. “We can be right there,” said St. Albans coach O.J. Johnson. “We lost a lot from last year’s team. With us only having a 10-game schedule and playing everybody twice [in the league], you can get on a roll.” The team will look to Snowden to be its focal point as the Bulldogs work in newer players around him. “Snowden was our second-leading scor-

er last year,” Johnson said. “Snowden is so versatile. He can play some point [guard]. He’s the guy that will lead us this year, and we will go as far as he takes us. For us to be successful, we really need him to be an offensive presence for us. He needs to take more shots.” The team will also be looking to a pair of sophomores — Collin Nnamene and Cole Matthiesen — to play big roles. Johnson said Nnamene, a 6-foot-9-inch forward, will provide the team with a big presence in the post. “We are looking to him to have a big season,” the coach said. “He has only been playing basketball for a couple of years; we’re looking for him to take big steps.” In addition, the team returns senior guard

Matthew Teplitz, who is back for his second basketball season after leading the Bulldogs soccer team to an IAC title in the fall. “He brings great leadership, and we really lean on him,” said Johnson. Junior guard Malcolm Spencer — who was St. Albans’ starting quarterback in the fall — is also expected to bring a boost on the hardwood. “This is his third year on varsity, and he has taken big leaps this year in the backcourt,” Johnson said. The Bulldogs’ offense will be orchestrated by sophomore point guard Phillip Jordan. “He’s a true gritty competitor, and he’s tough as nails,” said Johnson. “He will go and rebound; he’s very scrappy and heady. We’re just trying to get him used to the

speed of varsity play.” With a mix of inexperience and talented veterans, the team isn’t going to focus on a core of stars — rather, Johnson said, they’ll work to be the best unit they can be. “We are preaching a complete team effort,” the coach said. “Outside of Snowden we don’t really have another splash guy. We are really trying to play team ball.” Over the weekend, St. Albans showed promise in its annual Bishop John T. Walker Invitational Basketball Tournament with wins over Roosevelt and Sandy Spring, but the Bulldogs also suffered a setback in a loss to Potomac School. The Bulldogs will be back in action on Saturday in the Spartan Tip-Off Classic at Laurel High School in Maryland.

12 Sports Jump

12 Wednesday, December 14, 2016

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The Current

Northwest Sports

Roosevelt eyes DCIAA, DCSAA title runs By BRIAN KAPUR Current Staff Writer

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As Roosevelt closed in on a win in the opening round of the Bishop John T. Walker Invitational Basketball Tournament last Thursday, Rough Riders coach Rob Nickens barked at his players: “Make this a track meet!� The longtime Roosevelt coach didn’t want his boys team to slow down from their aggressive highpaced style despite a double-digit lead late in the fourth quarter. “That’s the way we always play — up and down and pedal to the medal,� Nickens said after their 76-53 win against John Paul the Great on Thursday. “I have great athletes, and we are going to play fast. We won a state championship [in 2014] playing that way; why change it?� That speedy style has Roosevelt thinking big this season as it looks to contend for the D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association and D.C. State Athletic Association crowns. “We are young in some stages, and we are old in some,� said Nickens. “We’re going one game at a time. I never put pressure on my kids or myself. The expectations at Roosevelt are always high and will always be as long as I am the coach there. We’re going to play Roosevelt ball and see where we go.� For Roosevelt, the high-octane style on game days begins with various running drills at practice. “We condition these kids,� the coach said. “If you want to play fast basketball, you have to condition at a high level. We run more than anybody in the city. I would bet money on that. We have to have the guys get from one baseline to the other baseline in eight seconds. It’s hard to do it in a full sprint. Nobody runs track, but they are track guys, trust me.� Their speed gives them a chance against the team every school in the city is chasing this year — H.D. Woodson. When the Warriors completed a perfect 33-0 season last year, their toughest opponent was Roosevelt. The Rough Riders came within a point of beating the Warriors in their regular-season matchup last season and nine away in the DCIAA finals. Overall, Roosevelt went 27-5 last winter — including a 19-game winning streak. The team believes it can get over the hump thanks to a talented core. Junior Marquise Brown is serving as the team’s point guard, in charge of setting up offense. “He had a great summer, and I saw him grow up this summer,� said Nickens. “He’s playing at a high level and that’s what we need him to do.�

Brian Kapur/The Current

Roosevelt will once again look to use its high-octane offense led by point guard Marquise Brown, right, to wear out opponents. The team will also look to senior guard Derrick Brown and senior forward Donald Brewer for big-time plays. “They are tremendous athletes at the two and three spots,� Nickens said. “They can guard a lot of people, they can shoot the threeball, and more importantly they’re athletic enough to rebound. We are a much better rebounding team than we have been in the last couple of years. That’s the key to our transition game: Get the rebound and run.� The team will also look to

sophomore forward Darius Buchanan for a physical presence on defense. “He can play inside and outside on the wing,� Nickens said. “He’s a banger; he can run. He’s in the best condition of his life to play our fast style.� Nickens hopes he has a team that can peak at the right time and bring a DCSAA title back to Roosevelt for the first time since 2014. “Every year you always have a chance if you play well on the big stage,� the coach said. “On any given night, if you don’t come to play, you can lose in the DCIAA.�

13 Dispatches

The Current

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

13

Spotlight on Schools Eaton Elementary School

On Dec. 6, Dr. Willen, a retired doctor and a Civil War history expert, visited fifth-graders and gave a presentation on what it was like to be a Civil War surgeon. He came dressed as a surgeon with a bloody apron. He had Civil War tools such as a saw, bullet probe and scalpel. He talked about different methods of surgery doctors used to keep soldiers alive. There were very gruesome stories involving amputations to save lives. Did you know that at one field hospital the limbs were piled so high they reached the third story of the building? He also showed us a photo of a shattered bone caused by a mini bullet that spirals when it’s fired. There are a lot of myths about Civil War medicine that we found were not true. For example, during surgery patients did not “bite the bullet� when in pain but instead they bit on leather or wood. Another myth is that whiskey was given to soldiers to fight pain before surgery, but that’s not true since chloroform was invented and used to put the patients temporarily to sleep. Finally, Dr. Willen took some volunteers to re-create a wartime amputation. It was pretty cool and we’re glad that surgery is different now and that he visited us. — Georgia Maur-Batsaki, Ruby Melrose and McKenzie Waugh, fifth-graders

Lafayette Elementary School

Over the past few weeks, Lafayette’s fourth-and fifth-graders who share a love of basketball have created a team and begun practicing for the season that is

School DISPATCHES

just getting underway. They will be training in the beautiful new gym that has just opened. Both the girls’ team and the boys’ team are sharing four coaches: Coach McCants, Coach Jordan, Coach Hoover and Coach Johnson. Coach Johnson agreed to an interview. “I am honestly excited about coaching the Lafayette boys and girls in our beautiful state-ofthe-art gymnasium. Bear country can be dangerous; fear the bear!� he said. “I like coaching because I have a burning love and passion for the game of basketball,� he added. “Basketball has been in my blood since little league and college basketball. Even now I still play and commission weekend adult basketball.� Coach Johnson also gave an update on his coaching career at Lafayette: “I have been coaching the Lafayette Bears for 12 years since I first formed it in 2004. During that time, Lafayette has won two city championships.� The Lafayette basketball teams are off to a great start, thanks to all the support from their classmates, teachers and parents. I know how excited the players are at the beginning of the season and I hope they all do well. Go Bears! — Molly Reeder, fifth-grader

Maret School

On Japan Day, which was last Friday, we get to do what kids in Japan would do on that day. When we walk into the classroom on Japan Day, we have to take off our shoes and bow to our teachers. Some kids in my class

might wear the optional uniform, which are blue or black pants with a white shirt. Something they do in Japan is chew their food 30 times before swallowing, so we will get to try and chew our food 30 times at lunch. We have each been studying a topic and we get to share our posters with the class about what we learned about Japan. A game we might play that day is SushiGo, a fun card game where you pass your hand each round. We will have a calligraphy contest, and if you win, you go on the Wall of Fame. We will also do origami that day. You can have your own Japan Day at home or your school and do more stuff they might do in Japan! — Camille Nesmith, third-grader

Our Lady of Victory School

On Saturday, Dec. 3, Our Lady of Victory had our Breakfast with Santa event. At this event, students from our school come to breakfast and can meet Santa. Each year, all of the fifthgrade students are Santa’s elves. We wore hats and aprons to show that we were the helpers. The job for our elves was to make sure that everything went well. In our art classroom, kids could make crafts, like candy cane mice, wreaths made of pompoms, stockings or coloring sheets. In my fifth-grade classroom, there was a gift shop where the elves would wrap presents that could be bought and gifted for the holiday. We also had to manage the cash box. Other elves gave out candy canes to little kids that sat on Santa’s lap. Young visitors even had their photos taken at

that time. Some elves helped out with making hot chocolate for everyone. There was orange juice, hot chocolate and coffee as well as lots of great breakfast treats. We all say “thank you� to the parents who helped with this event! — John M., fifth-grader

Sheridan School

Four women came into school. They were all community helpers. First we drew pictures of what a police officer, a judge, a doctor and a soldier look like. One thing I noticed about the soldier was the camouflage. I expected the camouflage to be light green and white. It was light green, slightly lighter green and white. We knew that police officers could be women because Officer Robinson is the police officer who is the crossing guard at school. So I wasn’t surprised that a police officer could be a woman. Mainly it doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman doing your job. A man’s body and a woman’s body are pretty much the same. Usually girls have different faces and their feet sizes are different, but that doesn’t mean anything about how they work. There isn’t anything special about a man that makes it easier for him to do a special kind of job. I disagree with people who think that women can’t do some jobs. Their brains aren’t different either. Some women are smarter than some men, and some men are smarter than some women. Men aren’t stronger than women. Your strength depends on if you work out and run, or if you sit on a couch all day. If you sit on a couch all day, you won’t have the

energy to work out. — Jack Chirikjian, first-grader

Washington International School

The third-graders at WIS celebrated a “healthy day� to end our Healthy Living PYP unit of inquiry. We inquired about ways to lead a healthier life. To start, we had lots of fun making breakfast. The teachers split us into groups. One group made eggs while another group made fruit salad. Meanwhile, a group made toast, my group made snacks for later, and the last group arranged flowers. This was a good start to our day, as eating fruits and protein helps us grow. Then we had a nice long walk along the C&O Canal. The leaves were different colors and the canal seemed to be shining. All nature seemed to be joining together to make a beautiful, calm scene. Forty-five minutes in, we got to a nice grassy space where we rested and ate our snack of fruits and pretzels. Then we walked some more along the canal, crossed over a bridge, and went through some woods. We felt refreshed and happy. It was a fun way to get some exercise. After lunch, our healthy day continued. We did yoga to relax our minds. Your mind needs to rest because it never stops working. Then we went to our classrooms and had 45 minutes of naptime because sleep gives our bodies time to mend and heal. That day we all learned that calming your mind and body, doing exercise and eating healthy all lead to a good day. — Eileen Maloney, third-grader

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14 Wednesday, december 14, 2016

The currenT

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15 Real Estate

Northwest Real estate

A Look at the Market in Northwest Washington

The Current

December 14, 2016 â– Page 15

Tuscan-inspired home in Georgetown offers artful blend inside

T

he Pantone Color Institute may have declared 2017 the year of “Reassuring Green,� but the house at 2816 O

ON THE MARKET SUSAN BODIKER

St. NW in Georgetown’s East Village makes a strong case for whiter shades of pale. Renovated by architect Christian Zapatka in 2006, the interior is an artful blend of neo-classical design (Tuscan columns, bleached 19thcentury furnishings, dentil molding) and modern, luxurious touches like Waterworks bathroom fixtures and chef’sgrade kitchen appliances. The 3,050-squarefoot detached residence is exceptionally bright, thanks to the windows on all four sides, which is unusual for Georgetown. It offers five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms (three of them en suite) and a private rear garden, third-level balcony and off-street parking. It is on the market for $3,990,000. The trim white-brick three-level home with black shutters and door is set back from the street and fronted by a brick walkway, mature holly trees, boxwoods and espaliered rose bushes. Inside there is a small foyer facing the

living room. To the left is a hall closet and to the right, a charming powder room with antique vanity, mirror and sconces. A side staircase leads up to the second and third levels while another stairwell, behind a door, takes you to the basement, which houses a utility room and laundry area with a sink and Whirlpool Duet washer and dryer. Light or bleached wood floors run throughout all three levels. Across from the stairs is the kitchen, which features rich cherry wood cabinets, some glassfronted; open shelves and center island; black honed granite countertops; black-and-white marble square-tiled backsplash; and a deep stainless sink. Appliances include a GE microwave, Sub-Zero refrigerator with lower freezer, Viking Professional four-burner gas range and oven, Broan range hood and Asko dishwasher. Off the kitchen is a mini-mudroom and a door leading outside to the rear of the house. From the kitchen, you enter the dining room/living room — a bright, airy space delineated by white columns and set off by walls of windows and a French door that opens into the rear and side gardens, where lush plantings and decorative elements are reminiscent of a Tuscan villa. At

Photos by Connie Gauthier of HomeVisit

This five-bedroom O Street NW home is priced at $3,990,000. the far end of the living room is an oversized bay window, an ideal place for a comfy chaise and hours of reading or daydreaming. There is also a working wood-burning fireplace adorned with a simple white mantel and black marble hearth and surround. A custom-built staircase, with ebonized wood handrail and windows on every landing, takes you to the upper floors. The second level is dedicated to the master wing. It’s a three-room suite comprising the bedroom with windows facing east and north; a deep walk-in closet with hanging and folding storage; an equally large and sunny library/family room with custom built-ins and wood-burning fireplace; and two bathrooms, both en suite and equally spectacular. The master bath offers travertine marble flooring and walls, a whirlpool tub, a cherry wood vanity with a double sink and honed granite counter; a glass step-in shower

with a deluxe rain shower head; and two mirrored medicine chests. The bath off the library features a step-in glass-enclosed shower and pedestal sink. The top level was added when the home was re-imagined 10 years ago. It includes two sizable bedrooms, each with its own luxurious en-suite bath that, like the others, features Waterworks bath fixtures and mirrored medicine cabinets. There is also a third bedroom/office with built-in cabinets and small rooftop patio from which you can see the Washington Monument. Located in the heart of Georgetown, the house is within

easy walking distance of all the charms and conveniences the neighborhood has to offer, including Rose Park, Rock Creek Park and the Potomac River waterfront. The Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom Metro stations are also nearby. The five-bedroom, four-and-ahalf-bath property at 2816 O St. NW is listed for $3,990,000 with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. For details, contact Sylvia Bergstrom at 202-471-5216 or sbergstrom@cbmove.com, or Marin Hagen at 202-471-5256 or mhagen@cbmove.com. For a virtual tour, visit tinyurl.com/ tuscan-georgetown.

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16 Holidays

16 Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Current

Holidays in Washington

Sweet! Gingertown 2016 turns London into Candy Land

By SUSAN BODIKER Current Correspondent

W

hat do you get when you mix 100 pounds of candy, 30 gallons of frosting and 250 pounds of gingerbread? No, not just the mother of all sugar highs. In the right hands, it’s a recipe for good fun, as leading D.C.-area architects, engineers, contractors and development firms came together last Tuesday to build out a master plan with nothing more than their creativity and the most delectable of construction materials — all with the goal of raising money for local charities. Gingertown, a civic and philanthropic initiative launched in the District by David M. Schwarz Architects in 2006, has now expanded to Atlanta, Dallas and Nashville. More than $150,000 has been raised and donated to dozens of charities in D.C. alone.

The gingerbread structures — 1,000 at last count — have also been donated to charities in all four locations. “At its heart, Gingertown celebrates imagination in design, elegance of execution, and an incredible spirit of generosity,� said Craig Williams, principal of David M. Schwarz Architects and honorary chair of the Gingertown City Council. Every year, there’s a new theme and city. This year’s theme was London, and the master builders of Gingertown brought to life such candy monuments as St. Pez’s Cathedral, Westminster Andes, the Snow Globe Theatre, the Sour of London, Sour Bridge, House of Peppermint and Big Bon Bon, Wonka’s of London, the River M & Thames, Sugar Glass Shard, Tootsie Modern and Whopper-Loo train station. These plays on words are very much by design, according to

Photos by David M. Schwarz Architects

This year’s Gingertown theme was London. Mark Elliott, Gingertown’s master planner and David M. Schwarz designer. “We come up with lots of bad puns. That’s the fun,� Elliott said. “The bigger challenge is figuring out how to distill a larger city and select landmarks that people would enjoy building and would also be recognizable in their confectionary form.� At the D.C. event last week at 900 16th St. NW, 50 structures were assembled by teams representing individual firms or in informal partnerships with others, showing skill, dexterity and flair that would put Martha Stewart or the Great British Bakers to shame. Unlike traditional industry projects, which typically take years to conceive and execute, the Gingertown artisans had a mere four hours to translate their blueprints into actual “buildings,� confronting such architectural

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mishaps as mortar that wouldn’t hold and candies that wouldn’t stick. But even as they chased the clock, the mood was cheerful and cooperative. Gregory Hoss, Schwarz Architects’ president and longtime veteran of Gingertown night, likened the event to an informal charrette, but one where “architects can show creativity without competition� and everyone is working for a greater good. Finally, it was time to put down the X-Acto knives and pastry tubes and start the delicate procession to the site plan where the streets were paved with Kix, the street lamps were fashioned with Rollos and peppermint sticks and the Thames ran blue with buttercream. The final result was a breathtaking streetscape with structures that, like all good architecture, offered surprising new details at every view. Prizes were awarded to DAVIS Construction for most innovative use of materials with the Hostess Hotel; GTM Architects for best

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expression of theme with the Snow Globe Theatre; Walter P. Moore Structural Engineers for best overall design quality with the Sour Bridge; and Street Sense for best overall craftsmanship. Hartman-Cox Architects took the Judge’s Choice Award for Tootsie Modern, and Quinn Evans Architects won the Mayor’s Choice Award for House of Peppermint and Big Bon Bon. The People’s Choice Award went to St. Pez’s Cathedral, built by Page Southerland Page. The D.C.-based organizations receiving this year’s Gingertown buildings and donations are Children’s National Medical Center, Family Matters, So Others Might Eat, St. Elizabeths Hospital and the Wendt Center for Loss & Healing. For a complete list of Gingertown participants and sponsors, visit gingertown.org under “Washington, D.C.� More information about David M. Schwarz Architects’ philanthropic mission is at dmsas.com/outreach.

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17 Holidays

The Current

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

17

Holidays in Washington

Program aims to give kids ‘a lift and a gift’ By KATHLEEN J. BRYAN Current Correspondent

E

ight years ago, a horrifying news story about a Southeast D.C. woman charged with killing her four daughters in their home spurred Chevy Chase resident Anne Renshaw to make the holiday season brighter for atrisk kids. The campaign she came up with — Holiday Gifts for D.C. Kids — has continued since then with its mission to “put a smile on the faces of deserving children who need a lift and a gift,” Renshaw said. This year’s two-week campaign generated 1,100 gifts of clothing, toys, electronics and books for local homeless and foster kids, who will receive their holiday treats through D.C. Child and Family Services Agency and the Wheatley Education Campus in the Trinidad neighborhood. Renshaw said the strong turnout this year gave her a “great feeling of accomplishment.”

Garry Jackson, a D.C. native and fitness instructor at Sport & Health in Tenleytown, recalled the day he overhead Renshaw, a club member, talking about the holiday gift campaign. He promptly offered his classes at the club as a collection site. The turnout was low — less than 100

❝You don’t have to look far to see that many families aren’t doing well.❞ — Garry Jackson donations — that first year in 2008, but it has been steadily rising, with the 2016 collections spiking from last season’s numbers. “It’s near and dear to me. You don’t have to look far to see that many families aren’t doing well. A lot of kids don’t get a lot,” Jackson said, adding that he and

his wife adopted a 3-month-old baby, now in her mid-20s, from the District’s foster care system. Under gray skies on Monday, Renshaw and her “ace planner” Lisa Leyden helped retired fire department Lt. T. Cosgrove Jones, along with firefighter Craig Meinhardt and Lt. Sean Gilligan, both of Engine 33 in Southeast, load the gifts into vehicles, including a shiny red 1963 Mack firetruck. An 11-year veteran firefighter and father of two teenagers, Meinhardt said his service to the community extends beyond his duties on the job. “Everything I do is about the community. We don’t just rescue cats out of trees,” he said. Gilligan echoed his colleague’s sentiment: “It’s what we do. It’s a good cause.” Renshaw said the annual campaign relies on many volunteers, from the District’s National Guard to area businesses and schools including Janney Elementary and Wilson High.

Kathleen J. Bryan/The Current

The Holiday Gifts for D.C. Kids program used a vintage firetruck to help deliver toys and other presents to at-risk children on Monday. “It takes an enormous number of volunteers to lift this campaign called Holiday Gifts for D.C. Kids off the ground every season, but we have never encountered anyone who did not want to help us,” she said. Leyden said her spirits were buoyed by the community’s generosity, especially knowing that a child’s Christmas would be a bit brighter. Among the many games, toys and puzzles donated, she

said the focus this year was also on clothing for teens. For Jackson, the impetus for helping Renshaw and Leyden is about giving hope. He said a recent visit to a homeless shelter helped him see how easy it is for families to fall into dire circumstances. “For me personally, you want to give people as much hope as possible,” he said. “It may not be great now, but it will get better.”

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18 Holidays

18 Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Current

Holidays in Washington

As holidays approach, baking can offer comforts By BRIDEY HEING Current Correspondent

F

ew activities capture the coziness and warmth of the holidays quite like baking. Whether making cookies to decorate with the kids or whipping up a batch of a family recipe for a potluck, baking is in many ways the centerpiece of the season. With parties and celebrations in full swing, opportunities to prepare and enjoy festive treats are numerous. But so too are the moments when the pressure of the holidays can make it difficult to fit in even the simplest chocolate chip cookie recipe. Meredith Tomason of RareSweets and Tiffany MacIsaac of Buttercream Bakeshop know all too well how the blur of the holidays can make it tricky to find the fun in baking. As owners and lead pastry chefs of two popular area bakeries, the women are well versed in managing the holiday rush to make sure they offer up their best baked treats for both customers and loved ones. They both weighed in on their seasonal favorites, the corners that are worth cutting and the one recipe they recommend perfecting to wow holiday guests. Shortcuts are sometimes a necessary part of getting through

your to-do list this time of year, and both Tomason and MacIsaac offer quick tips that can save time without sacrificing quality. For Tomason, breakfast is the ideal time to skip the oven and head to the bakery instead. “Buying things for breakfast is a good idea,� Tomason said. “You will have a house full of friends and family, and there is no sense in waking up early to make a special breakfast when you can order something from your favorite bakery or an online shop.� As an example, she suggests RareSweets’ own Take & Bake line of breakfast baked goods, which can be bought ahead of time and heated in the oven before serving. The result is hot and fresh bread pudding, cinnamon rolls or other sweet breakfast treats without the hassle. “The hard work is done for you — all you need to do is put it in the oven,� Tomason said. MacIsaac suggests going the store-bought route as well, but adding some personal touches. She points to her own childhood as an example, when her mom would make boxed brownies but add toppings that made them all the more special. It’s a great way to save time but still make the end result your own. “I always say bake as much as

you can, but you can take a lot of things from a box and dress them up,� she said. “I would rather have someone take brownies from a box and then customize them than buy brownies from the store.� If you do have some extra time on your hands and want to bake something seasonal, MacIsaac’s favorites are classic sugar cookies for a fun, hands-on decorating session or Italian tricolor cookies, a specialty that Buttercream Bakeshop loves. Meanwhile, Tomason is a fan of bringing some spice to the table. “Gingersnap cookies, gingerbread, spicy chocolate cookies —

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Pictured are one of RareSweets’ favorite beverages (above left) and two of the holiday offerings at Buttercream Bakeshop. that they are something totally worth diving into and making your thing,� MacIsaac said. “You can make them for every event, and people will go nuts for them.� Tomason recommends a boozy hot chocolate that combines sweet chocolate with the bite of liquor for a grown-up twist on a seasonal favorite. “I’ve had a number of them this season, some with bourbon, mezcal, scotch, or coffee liqueur,� Tomason said. “I love the idea of adding something smoky to the sweetness of hot cocoa. So to me, the mezcal or scotch ideas work best. Toss on a toasted marshmallow and we are ready to celebrate!� RareSweets (raresweets.com) is at 963 Palmer Alley NW in CityCenterDC; Buttercream Bakeshop (buttercreamdc.com) is at 1205 9th St. NW.

these items seem to elicit a sense of celebration and warmth for me,� she said. The holidays are a time to honor old traditions and start new ones, and the kitchen is a great place to introduce something a little new into the routine. Tomason and MacIsaac have two suggestions for recipes worth perfecting, although they go in slightly different directions. MacIsaac suggests sticky buns, a recipe that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser whether you serve them at the breakfast table or as a dessert at a party. “They are not that hard to make and they are so delicious

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The CurrenT

Wednesday, deCember 14, 2016

Holidays in Washington

Scenes of the season Photos by Brian Kapur

Clockwise from center: Santa Claus greeted visitors to Georgetown’s Volta Park on the morning of Dec. 4; Tudor Place in Georgetown is showcasing ornate decorations that characterized the postWorld War II Christmas for a Navy lieutenant commander returning home; Georgetown revelers greeted the season Nov. 27 with a tree lighting at 28th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW; the C&O Canal is hosting one of eight art installations as part of the third annual Georgetown GLOW; Hillwood Estate unveiled a holiday play during its annual Russian Winter Festival on Dec. 10 and 11; and visitors toured the seasonally decorated Dupont Circle home of German brewer Christian Heurich during the annual Christkindlmarkt on Dec. 2, 3 and 4.

19

20 Holidays

20 Wednesday, December 14, 2016

The Current

Varied last-minute gifts abound in local shops C By BRIDEY HEING Current Correspondent

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hristmas is fast approaching, and with it the final deadline for gift shopping. While some will put their Amazon Prime membership to good use in the final days before Christmas, D.C. residents also have a wealth of local shops selling items that range from kitchen tools to handmade candles and eclectic stocking-stuffers. The Current spoke to four store owners Handmade Habitat offers handmade candles, tea, who shared matchboxes with fun designs, cards and beauty their favorite go-to gifts, and products, among other gifts. offered their to contribute to a great cause: “We are donating 10 best advice to percent of our profits to the Natural Resources those searching Defense Council to help their mission to protect the at the last minplanet,� Ahmad said. ute. Handmade Habitat’s products are available at Housewares, quirky gifts and other curated handmadehabitat.co. goods are in ample supply at Urban Dwell at 1837 Meanwhile, specialty shops like Stella’s, at 4414 Columbia Road NW, which owner Tom McMahon Georgia Ave. NW, offer a last-minute shopper both opened last year. The Adams Morgan store’s inventory covers a lot of ground, with gifts like children’s range and focus. Stella’s PopKern, which opened its doors in Petworth this year after gaining popularity toys, kitchen tools, handmade bath products and as a food truck, offers gourmet popcorn in a variety jewelry. The shop also features numerous D.C.of flavors, said owner, Kristina Kern. She considers themed gifts, many created by vendors specifically it a nostalgic treat that appeals to many, but with the for Urban Dwell. added flair of unique taste combinations. “Every gift in our store is acceptable for the last“Our clarified butter with Brazilian sea salt is minute shopper — that is the design of our inventobasic yet complex, for those who want a simple ry,� McMahon said. “Our gifts are ideal because taste, and our bourbon- and cayenne-spiked applethey’re trendy, but unique, with many gifts not easiwood bacon salty caramel appeals to a more sassy ly found elsewhere.� palette,� she said. McMahon’s advice reflects the uniqueness of the When it comes to making sure your holiday store’s inventory, and will likely be something lastshopping goes smoothly, Kern has one factor she minute shoppers will need to remember if they are considers the most important: going to get that ideal gift: “If customer service. Finding a shop you see something you like, grab that you know will help you get it because it may not be available your shopping done with minimal the next day.� hassle will make last-minute For a more conventional shopping even easier, she said. option, candles are a frequent “Don’t fret — go where you go-to gift for a reason. They know you’ll be taken care of,� smell great and bring coziness said Kern. into the home, perfect for the Another option is The Cookgray months following Christmas. ery, located at 3414 Wisconsin Handmade Habitat, where Amina Ave. NW, a one-stop culinary Ahmad offers handmade candles shop with a wide variety of in a variety of herby, floral and unique food gifts and kitchen blended scents, is coziness made tools. Owner Cary Kelly offers a manifest. Along with candles, the selection of high-end goods Northeast D.C.-based online shop inspired by her own travels and offers tea, matchboxes with fun Urban Dwell features gifts with a discovery of different cuisine and designs, cards, and beauty prodcooking traditions. ucts like eye pills, face scrubs and D.C. theme, like these signs. “We offer some lovely handperfume balms. The shop also crafted pieces that are functional and beautiful — offers candle subscriptions, which deliver a scented olive wood bowls and cutting boards from Tunisia candle on a set schedule. With so many choices, are a favorite,� she said. Ahmad has created a scent guide to help shoppers The store’s merchandise is highly versatile and pinpoint the right candle. designed to be used, a combination that makes her “If you’re looking for something mellow, try our shop perfect for last-minute gifts. Form and function ‘Soothe the Soul’ candle. For something energizing, try our ‘Warrior.’ For something that screams Christ- are both at the top of Kelly’s list when it comes to picking an ideal gift. mas, try our ‘Bounty,’� she suggested. “It’s good to avoid anything that looks cute, but Her advice is to pay attention to what’s in your is not functional or edible — it may just gather gifts to make sure you’re giving products to your loved ones that are good for them and the Earth. It’s dust,� Kelly said. “The dining room and kitchen are a mission the shop is actively promoting this season. areas where you are most likely to offer a gift that will be appreciated, used or gobbled up.� Shopping at the online store will also allow you

21 Holidays

The Current

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

21

Holidays in Washington

Musicians collaborate for unique holiday show on the spot would be intimidating genre influences are wide-ranging for most, but Mathews has been enough that the experience is doing it since high school, and he unlikely to be rote, he said. feeds off the audience’s anticipaFor instance, jazz flutist and rlington-based musician tion. singer-songwriter Gina Sobel of Justin Trawick was “It was kind of like the social Charlottesville, Va., will be singenduring a boring day at ing Joni Mitchell’s “River,� a his desk job in 2008 when an idea hangout. People would hang out and watch the rappers rap,� mournful tune at odds with the struck him for how to build a Mathews said of his school expe- joyful spirit often associated with larger audience for his communiriences. “Freestyling in front of a the end of the calendar year. She ty of singer/songwriter friends. crowd has never been a nervealso plans to jump on other peoIndividually, none of them had racking thing for me.� ple’s songs playing bass flute or enough of a following to draw Mathews will spend the rest of tenor sax. large crowds to a performance, “It’s all really creative people but collectively they had far more the show filling in the other performers’ songs with freestyles as who have different takes on what power. Thus, “The 9 Songwriter time allows. holiday music means,� Sobel Series� was His own stage said. born. name comes Trawick calls Sobel’s jazz Since then, from those onflute skills “freaking unbelievthe collective the-spot able,� and an example of the of nine artists instincts: One eclecticism that distinguishes this has staged day when holiday show from others, includevents at local caught sneaking some at the Kennedy Center venues as well ing out of itself. The center’s programming elsewhere class, he gave manager for community engagealong the East the fake name ment, Diana Ezerins, said she Coast. Flex Mathews selected Trawick to lead the event Four years — made up five years ago specifically ago, when the right then — to because it would diversify the prospect of a avoid detenwinter lineup. holiday show tion. “I just “We do a lot of traditional holstarted to feel Organizer Justin Trawick brings kept it,� he iday things that predate me by a enticing, Traeight other musicians for a night said. long shot,� Ezerins said. “This wick realized The spontawas kind of our way to mix it up of holiday cheer. the versatile neous rapping and add a little.� setup of The 9 is just one element that makes For Trawick, the holiday event could help distinguish their show The 9’s show stand out from trahelps remind him of the success from other seasonal offerings. In ditional holiday performances, of The 9’s core concept of collabpartnership with the D.C.-based which often rely on Christmas oration. music collective Listen Local classics that can feel omnipresent “When [the performers] are First, Trawick and his friends in stores and on the radio each not doing their own song, they launched “The 9 Holiday SpecDecember. But Trawick said he want to sit with other people,� tacular,� an annual tradition now Trawick said. “Somebody could set for its fifth performance at the and his fellow performers tend to have a unique spin on the old be really great, but if they’re not Kennedy Center’s Millennium favorites, if they choose to perwilling to sit with other people in Stage next Wednesday at 6 p.m. form them at all. The lineup’s the lineup, then they’re not right “The 9 Holiday Spectacular� packs a full show into a tight hourlong slot. All nine partici pants sing one song each, fol lowed by one group encore. Dur ing the individual performances, other musicians often jump in to provide backup vocals or instru ments. Many of those moments are unplanned, thanks to the improvisational spirit of the talent

Trawick recruits. “He’s skilled. He’s smart. He’s intelligent,� said Flex Mathews, a

local rapper and regular of The 9 who is performing in this year’s " holiday show. “Musically he knows what he’s doing, business wise he knows what he’s doing. You’ll have a good time.�

! Mathews, whose real name is By MARK LIEBERMAN Current Staff Writer

A

Dathan Harbor, will be performing an original freestyle at this year’s show. He’ll ask the audience for the name of an object, preferably one associated with the season. Then he’ll start rapping. The prospect of creating a song

Arlington-based singer Justin Trawick, second from the right, launched “The 9� in 2008 and teamed with Listen Local First in 2012 for an annual holiday special at the Kennedy Center. for this show.� The Dec. 21 performance is free and no tickets are required. The 9 will also be performing

regular shows locally at Tally Ho in Leesburg, Va., on Jan. 13 and at the Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW, on Jan. 27.

22

22 Wednesday, December 14, 2016

n

ch

ADDITION: WIS project revised From Page 1

removal and replacement of two dozen trees sparked some dissent. Architect Douglas Bothner has worked since 2015 to scale back the building design, shaving a story to make it two stories tall instead of three. The latest designs also break up the massing of the classroom facility, intending to create the look of separate buildings that each are roughly 30 feet wide and tall — similar to the size of houses in the neighborhood. The project would also include a new underground garage. At Monday’s meeting, Bothner said his design using grayish brick, glass and pre-weathered teal-colored copper — intends to create a “contemporary building rendered in historic materials.� The architectural committee of the Cleveland Park Historical Society was split 3-3 on the design when it voted in November — before the latest revisions. Lynn Parseghian, executive

director of the Tregaron Conservancy, said at the ANC 3C meeting that her group has had discussions with the school over the past few months, though concerns over massing and scale remain. The nonprofit Tregaron Conservancy is the steward of 13 acres of woodlands, meadows, streams and wetlands comprising the historic estate that also includes the Washington International School campus. ANC 3C members said they appreciated the reduced size of the building and the material palette, but held that the size of the addition was simply not “compatible with the Tregaron Conservancy.� Washington International School’s designs will go before the Historic Review Preservation Board on Thursday. Head of school Clayton Lewis said the project team is confident in the revisions and the chosen location for the classroom addition. “We’re ready to go in and present to them and hopefully win their support,� he said at Monday’s meeting.

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The Current

GRANT: Ethics board faults commissioner’s grant vote From Page 3

website, tenleytownmainstreet.org. The group’s director, Leigh Catherine Miles, has appeared twice at ANC 3E meetings in the past year with grant requests: once in June for $2,460 to purchase promotional materials celebrating business openings; and again in October for $1,240, to host the annual Tenley WinterFest. Both times, the grants were unanimously approved at a second meeting, but some residents raised the issue of a conflict of interest. In addition to Wallace, ANC 3E chair Jon Bender also serves on the Tenleytown Main Street board. Bender recused himself from both votes. David Frankel, a Friendship Heights resident, asked Wallace at the ANC’s Nov. 10 meeting to join Bender in recusing herself from a vote on the $1,240 grant. Wallace replied, “I do not intend to recuse myself.� “I think that’s a violation of the law,� said Frankel. The ethics board agreed, finding that Wallace’s participation in discussions regarding the two grant applications violated the D.C. Ethics Act. The admonishment does not carry a fine, and the board wrote

that Wallace can apply to have the ruling expunged from her record in one year’s time. “Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners and Main Street board members work long hours without pay solely to make their neighborhoods a better place, with few thanks,� Bender wrote in an email. “Anne’s error resulted from her desire to improve life in our neighborhood and her only reward was seeing that happen.� The board of directors of Tenleytown Main Streets — separate from the board of officers, which includes Bender and Wallace — has members from the neighborhood, local businesses and American University. There are also members from development firms, such as Urban Investment Partners, which is undertaking two development projects in Tenleytown, and Roadside Development, which recently co-purchased the Fannie Mae building at 3900 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Wallace defended commissioners serving on the boards of Main Streets groups, saying in an interview that it is not uncommon throughout the city. “It’s quite predictable that ANC members would be involved in Main Streets, because we have parallel goals,� she said. “The whole idea is that the Main Street program is supported by the community.�

SUPERFRESH: ANC 3D votes to oppose project From Page 1

height and architecture don’t fit the neighborhood and would be inappropriate next to the historically landmarked Spring Valley Shopping Center. They also raised concerns about increased traffic clogging nearby streets and the small alley serving the site, and concluded that parking is inadequate (with 77 resident-only spaces for 230 housing units within the 460-space garage). “ANC 3D encourages Valor to rework the project so as to reduce density in a way that will mitigate traffic and parking impacts and provide for a mixed use development that truly reflects a transition from the single family homes to the lower density commercial buildings that are found on Massachusetts Avenue,� the commission’s resolution concludes. The commission also voted 4-3 to spend $1,000 toward a traffic consultant who would review Valor’s traffic study regarding the project. Some community members have expressed support for the development, and members of ANC 3E (Friendship Heights, Tenleytown, American University Park) — where the project is located — have also been generally positive, though they haven’t yet taken a vote on the application. But only opponents spoke at ANC 3D’s Dec. 7 meeting. Valor’s project team, originally scheduled to attend, canceled the day before the meeting, ANC 3D chair Tom Smith said. Commissioners instead heard from Shelly Repp of Citizens for Responsible Development, who said that a tall, dense building and a destination retailer like a large-format grocery store are poor fits for a low-density neighborhood and inconsistent with the District’s Comprehensive Plan document.

“We’d like to see a neighborhood grocery there like the old Superfresh; it could be part of a lower-rise residential building,� Repp said. “But a five-to-sevenstory building and a 57,000-squarefoot grocery store is not appropriate.� Valor has argued in its filing to the Zoning Commission that its

â??We’d like to see a neighborhood grocery there like the old Superfresh ‌ .â?ž — Shelly Repp project is largely consistent with existing restrictions on the site, and that it needs relatively simple zoning relief, primarily to accommodate a grocery store. Neighborhood opponents who disagree with that assessment will argue their case at a hearing in the new year. ANC 3E, which put off its own plans to discuss The Ladybird last week, will consider the case in January once Valor has completed further traffic analysis. Will Lansing of Valor told The Current that he’d also hoped ANC 3D would wait for the additional details, and would have briefed commissioners later in December or January. “We were surprised that ANC 3D took a vote in light of the fact we were planning to come back to them with additional project updates,â€? Lansing wrote in an email. “We look forward to providing them traffic and transportation studies and plans in January and continuing to work with them for a positive outcome.â€? Smith said the extra details would be unlikely to change his colleagues’ positions, unless Valor were to purchase the PNC Bank

branch at 4835 Massachusetts Ave. NW, tear it down and build a larger driveway — an idea Lansing has floated but that Valor doesn’t promise in its zoning application. “The concern is really about infrastructure and you don’t have to be a traffic engineer to know the limits of the existing infrastructure,� Smith wrote in an email to The Current. The ANC 3D chair also defended the decision to vote last week. “It is hard for me to imagine how [Lansing] (or a Valor representative) could not have taken 10 minutes to come to the ANC meeting and make his appeal,� Smith wrote. “He never asked us to remove the item from the agenda or defer a vote. He decided to take a chance in not being represented.� Smith added that it was important for the commission’s resolution to reflect the voices of commissioners who are familiar with the case. In January, five of the 10 ANC 3D members will be new, having either defeated incumbents — including Smith — or replaced departing commissioners. The timing also came up as an issue at last week’s meeting, where several commissioners said they felt Smith was rushing them into a decision on a complicated zoning case. He countered that they’d had adequate time to familiarize themselves with the issues. Lansing said his team is still happy to present to ANC 3D in January if requested. “We have worked with both the AU Park and Spring Valley community over the last two years and will continue to work with them to come to a resolution that will bring a full-service grocer, affordable housing, and housing for older residents of the two neighborhoods for them to be able to age in their community,� he wrote.

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Wednesday, december 14, 2016 23

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Events Entertainment A Listing of What to Do in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, Dec. 14

Wednesday DECEMBER 14 Performances and readings ■ Folger Consort will present “The Second Shepherds’ Play,” featuring festive medieval English tunes against the backdrop of a mystery play that weaves together the stories of the shepherds, a sheep thief and his cunning wife, and the miracle in a humble manger in Bethlehem. 7:30 p.m. $40 to $60. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. 202544-7077. The performance will repeat Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Special events ■ Aid to Artisans will host its annual Holiday Craft Sale, featuring handmade crafts from countries such as Egypt, Guatemala, Colombia, India and Nepal. Proceeds will help build and sustain programs that provide economic opportunities for artisans around the world. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free. Creative Learning, Suite 104, 5225 Wisconsin Ave. NW. aidtoartisans.org. The event will continue Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ■ The Downtown Holiday Market will feature exhibitors, local food and live music. Noon to 8 p.m. Free admission. Sidewalk of F Street between 7th and 9th streets NW. downtownholidaymarket. com. The market will continue through Dec. 23 from noon to 8 p.m. daily. ■ The Washington Harbour ice rink will offer public skating. Noon to 9 p.m. $9 to $10. Washington Harbour, 3000 K St. NW. 202-706-7666. Regular hours are Monday and Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 9 p.m., Friday from noon to 10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ■ “ZooLights” will feature environmentally friendly LED displays, a light show set to music, 150-foot-long “snow tubing” tracks, the Conservation Carousel and live entertainment. 5 to 9 p.m. Free admission. National Zoo, 3001 Connect7+( :25/' )$0286

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icut Ave. NW. 202-633-4470. The event will repeat daily through Jan. 1 (except Dec. 24 and 25). Thursday, Dec. 15 Thursday DECEMBER 15 Art event ■ The S&R Foundation will present “Ward 12,” an exhibit and open studio event featuring 12 participants in its program at the Fillmore School, whose work varies from visual art and filmmaking to dance and music. 1 to 4 p.m. Free; reservations required. Halcyon House, 3400 Prospect St. NW. sandrfoundation.org. The event will repeat Friday and Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. by reservation. Children’s programs ■ Discovery Theater will host “Tot Rock: Holiday Sing Along With Rocknoceros,” a holiday singalong featuring the popular children’s band (for ages 2 through 6). 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. $6 to $8. Discovery Theater, S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW. 202-6338700. The performance will repeat Friday at the same times. ■ Discovery Theater will present “Seasons of Light,” an interactive program about the history and customs of Ramadan, Diwali, Sankta Lucia, Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Kwanzaa, Christmas and the First Nations’ tradition of the winter solstice (for ages 5 through 10). 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. $3 to $8. Rasmuson Theater, National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street and Independence Avenue SW. 202-633-8700. The show will repeat Friday at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. in the Rasmuson Theater; performances will continue Monday and Tuesday at 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. in the Discovery Theater at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW. ■ Friends of the Cleveland Park Library will present weekly chess instruction for kids of all ages, temporarily relocated to the Chevy Chase Library. 5 p.m. Free. Chevy Chase Library, 5625 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-282-0021. Class ■ The Shakespeare Theatre Company and Smithsonian Gardens will present a “Secret Mini-Garden Workshop,” featuring a chance to build a tabletop garden (all ages). 6 to 7 p.m. $20 per garden for up to three patrons. Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202-5475688. Concerts ■ Live at 10th & G will host a midday “Holiday Harp” concert by the American Pops Orchestra. 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Free admission. First Congregational United Church of Christ, 945 G St. NW. theamericanpops.org. ■ The “Holiday Lobbying” concert series will feature the Congressional Chorus. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Lobby, The Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-628-9100. ■ Singers from the Washington National Opera will present a holiday show of classic carols and traditional Christmas songs. 6 p.m. Free. Millenni-

The Current

um Stage, Kennedy Center. 202-4674600. ■ “Season’s Greenings: Evenings in the Conservatory” will feature Tony Craddock Jr. & Cold Front performing jazz. 6 to 8 p.m. Free. Conservatory Garden Court, U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. ■ The National Symphony Orchestra will present Handel’s “Messiah,” featuring conductor Laurence Cummings, four soloists and the University of Maryland Concert Choir. 7 p.m. $15 to $89. Concert Hall, Kennedy Center. 202-4674600. The performance will repeat Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. ■ The Capital Encore Chorale will present a holiday choral concert featuring seasonal pieces including “And the Glory of the Lord,” “Irving Berlin’s Christmas,” “Shepherd’s Pipe Carol” and others. 7:30 p.m. Free. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. 301-261-5747. ■ Singer-songwriter Dan Wolff will perform. 7:30 p.m. Free. Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. ■ The Kreeger Museum will present “Heifetz on Tour,” featuring Israeli-born violinist Kobi Malkin, violinist Rachell Wong, violist Stephanie Block, cellist Coleman Itzkoff and Mississippi-born soprano Angel Azzarra. 7:30 p.m. $20 to $25. Kreeger Museum, 2401 Foxhall Road NW. 202-337-3552. ■ “Thursday Night Bluegrass” will feature By & By. 8 to 11 p.m. No cover; $12 minimum. Mr. Henry’s Restaurant, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-5468412. ■ Spiritual Rez will present an album release party for “Apocalypse Whenever” on a double bill with Formula 5. 8:30 p.m. $14. Gypsy Sally’s, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. Discussions and lectures ■ Ann Rowe, research associate for Western Hemisphere textiles, will discuss “A Closer Look at Resist-Dye Textiles from the Americas.” Noon. Free. George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum, 701 21st St. NW. 202-994-5200. ■ Curator Leslie Ureña will discuss Consuela Kanaga’s portrait photograph by Alma Lavenson. Noon. Free. Meet in the G Street lobby, National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F streets NW. 202-6331000. ■ Perry Hewitt — head of marketing for Ithaka, a not-for-profit organization advancing global higher education through the innovative use of digital technologies — will discuss “From Slavic Studies to Snapchat: Where the Humanities May Take You.” 5:30 p.m. Free; reservations required. Oak Room, Fellowship House, Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 1700 Wisconsin Ave. NW. events@doaks.org. ■ In conjunction with the exhibit “People on the Move: Beauty and Struggle in Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series,” curator Elsa Smithgall will discuss the themes of struggle and freedom represented in the 60 panels that continue to resonate in the human experience. 6:30 p.m. $10 to $12. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. phillipscollection.org/events. ■ The Takoma Park Library will host a meeting of its Adult Book Club. 7 p.m.

December 14 – 23, 2016 ■ Page 24 artist’s work, including discussion on how he explores issues of identity and cultural memory. 7:30 p.m. $10 to $12. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. phillipscollection.org/events.

Thursday, DECEMBER 15 ■ Concert: The Take 5! Jazz Series will feature vocalist Akua Allrich (shown) and the Tribe perform songs written or performed by Oscar Brown Jr., Leonard Cohen, Elizabeth Cotton, Joni Mitchell, Lead Belly, Nina Simone and Miriam Makeba, among others, as well as some of Allrich’s own compositions. 5 to 7 p.m. Free. Kogod Courtyard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G streets NW. 202-633-1000. Free. Takoma Park Library, 416 Cedar St. NW. 202-576-7252. ■ A panel discussion on “The Bill of Rights in the 21st Century” will feature Judge Thomas Griffith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; Judge Patricia Millett (shown) of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; Judge Andre M. Davis of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; and journalist Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal. 7 p.m. Free. McGowan Theater, National Archives Building, Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th streets NW. 202-357-5000. ■ Upshur Street Books will present a talk by artist Caitlin Teal Price about her new monograph “Stranger Lives,” a vibrant taxonomy of sunbathers between Coney Island and Brighton Beach from 2008 to 2015. 7 to 9 p.m. Free. Third Floor, 4200 9th St. NW. upshurstreetbooks.com. ■ Alliance Française de Washington will host a book talk by Susan Suleiman, professor of the civilization of France and comparative literature at Harvard University and author of “The Némirovsky Question,” about the tragic life of Irene Némirovsky, a novelist and secular Jew popular in 1930s Paris (in English). 7 p.m. $10 to $15; reservations required. Alliance Française de Washington, 2142 Wyoming Ave. NW. francedc.org. ■ The Georgetown Book Club will discuss Geraldine Brooks’ 2015 novel “The Secret Chord.” 7:30 p.m. Free. Georgetown Library, 3260 R St. NW. julia.strusienski@dc.gov. ■ In conjunction with the exhibition “Whitfield Lovell: The Kin Series and Related Works,” curator Elsa Smithgall will provide an overview of the American

Films ■ The Pajama Movie Night Series will feature the 2003 film “Elf,” starring Will Ferrell, James Caan and Bob Newhart. 6:30 p.m. Free. Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202727-1488. ■ In conjunction with the “District II” exhibition, the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., will present a screening of the film “F Street, the Place on the Ridge,” about how F Street NW has held its own for nearly 200 years as the tide of commerce has ebbed and flowed, often leaving in its wake empty streets and vacant buildings. A postscreening discussion will feature Anne McDonough, library and collections director at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and Phil Portlock, photographer, writer, film documentary producer, social justice activist and native Washingtonian. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Free; reservations required. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. dchistory.org ■ The Library of Congress will present the 1971 film “Red Sky at Morning,” a murky tale about a boy forced to come to terms with his manhood when his father is killed during World War II. 7 to 9 p.m. Free. Pickford Theater, Madison Building, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. SE. 202-707-8572. Performances ■ Washington Improv Theater will present “Seasonal Disorder,” its annual tribute to the chaos of the holidays. 7:30 p.m. $12 to $30. Source, 1835 14th St. NW. witdc.org. Performances will continue through Dec. 31. ■ Step Afrika! will present a preview performance of “Magical Musical Holiday Step Show 2016.” 7:30 p.m. $15 to $33.50. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. Performances will continue through Dec. 30. Special events ■ The Newseum will present “Bill of Rights Day,” featuring family-oriented programs, tours and re-enactments celebrating the 225th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free with museum admission of $13.95 to $22.95. Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. newseum.org. ■ The St. Alban’s Opportunity Shop will host its second annual customer appreciation evening with light refreshments and raffle prizes. 3 to 7 p.m. Free admission. St. Alban’s Opportunity Shop, Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues NW. 202-966-5288. ■ The Georgetown boutique Lilly Pulitzer will host an evening of holiday shopping at a “Shop ’n Share” benefit for Tudor Place in honor of the final month of the landmark’s bicentennial. 6 to 8 p.m. Free; reservations requested. Lilly Pulitzer, 1079 Wisconsin Ave. NW. tudorplace.org. Tour ■ “Gardener’s Focus: Season’s Greetings” will feature a tour led by HillSee Events/Page 25

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Events Entertainment Continued From Page 24 wood head of horticulture Brian Barr highlighting the holiday decor inside the mansion. 12:45 to 1:15 p.m. $15 to $18; tickets distributed at the Visitor Center upon opening each day. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. 202-686-5807. The tour will repeat Friday at 12:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 Friday DECEMBER 16 Book signing ■ Mark A. Hewitt — Marine Corps F-4 pilot, director of maintenance for the Border Patrol and Air Force, associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and author of “Shoot Down” — will sign copies of his thriller “No Need to Know,” about the high-stakes aftermath of a major security breach that has led to the disclosure of the CIA’s closest secrets and the killing of dozens of highly placed spies. 1 to 4 p.m. Free. International Spy Museum, 800 F St. NW. 202-393-7798. Classes and workshops ■ Tudor Place and the Georgetown Presbyterian Church will present a workshop on making a traditional boxwood wreath with wintery final touches to create an eye-catching holiday centerpiece. 10 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. $45 to $55. Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 3115 P St. NW. tudorplace.org. ■ Artist Will Fleishell will present a drop-in figure drawing class. 6 to 7:30 p.m. $15. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE. 202-547-6839. ■ Christian Kloc will present a juggling workshop. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Donation of at least $5 suggested. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE. 202547-6839. Concerts ■ Organist Eric Bowman and tenor Michael Forest will perform Christmas carols such as “Joy to the World,” “Gesu Bambino,” “Silent Night,” “Rise Up Shepherd,” “Sweet Little Jesus Boy,” “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy” and “O Holy Night.” 12:15 p.m. Free. National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW. 202-797-0103. ■ The Friday Morning Music Club will present a composer concert and holiday reception. Noon. Free. Calvary Baptist Church, 755 8th St. NW. 202-333-2075. ■ The “Holiday Lobbying” concert series will feature the West Potomac AcaBella from West Potomac High School in Alexandria, Va. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Lobby, The Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-628-9100. ■ Middle C Music will present a recital by guitar and piano students of Brock Holmes. 6 p.m. Free. Middle C Music, 4530 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-2447326. ■ Members of the National Symphony Orchestra will perform classical chamber works. 6 p.m. Free. Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. ■ The KC Jazz Club will feature Sherrie Maricle & the DIVA Jazz Orchestra presenting “Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas” in honor of the centenary of the late Kennedy Center honoree and National Endowment of Arts jazz master. 7 and 9

p.m. $26 to $39. Terrace Gallery, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. The performance will repeat Saturday at 7 and 9 p.m. ■ The Embassy Series’ annual Christmas Gala will feature Christmas choral music by the Thomas Circle Singers and a French cabaret with singer Adrienne Haan (shown) and pianist Howard Breitbart. 7:15 to 10:15 p.m. $160. Embassy of Luxembourg, 2200 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-625-2361. The concert will repeat Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ■ Singer-songwriter “Slim” Doug Stevens, accompanied by guitarist and singer Jessie Fenton, will perform original songs. 8 p.m. Free. Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. ■ “Jazz on the Hill” will present Herb Scott. 8 to 11 p.m. No cover; $15 minimum. Mr. Henry’s Restaurant, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-546-8412. ■ The DeadPhish Orchestra and Talking Dreads will perform. 9 p.m. $15. Gypsy Sally’s, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. Discussions and lectures ■ National Gallery of Art lecturer Eric Denker will discuss “Extending Tradition: French Painting From 1890-1940.” Noon. Free. East Building Atrium, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 202-737-4215. The lecture will repeat on Tuesday and Thursday at noon. ■ A “Lunch Bites” presentation by Ellen Clark, library director of the American Revolution Institute, will present a bound volume of eulogies and orations on the death of George Washington assembled in 1800 by Mary Ellis of New Brunswick, N.J. 12:30 p.m. Free. Anderson House, Society of the Cincinnati, 2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-7852040. ■ National Gallery of Art lecturer David Gariff will discuss “The Christmas Story in Art.” 1 p.m. Free. West Building Rotunda, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-737-4215. The talk will repeat Dec. 19, 21 and 23 at 1 p.m.

Zenith hosts holiday show

“Something for Everyone,” a holiday group show of sculpture, paintings, textile art, jewelry and much more, will open Thursday at Zenith Gallery with an artists’ reception from 5 to 8 p.m. An additional artists’ reception

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will take place Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m., and the show will continue through Jan. 28. Located at 1429 Iris St. NW, the gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. 202783-2963. ■ “Mysteries,” an exhibit of paintings by Nihal Kececi Thadani that explore the perception of light through nuanced color, will open Friday with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. at the DC Arts Center. Thadani builds up many translucent layYayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin” is ers of pigment suspended in on exhibit at the Hirshhorn. acrylic to create an environment of diffused light. There will be a closing reception and artist talk March 19 at 5 p.m. over 100 ranging in age from 8 to 85. 7:30 p.m. $12 to $60. Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University, 730 21st St. NW. revelsdc.org. The performance will repeat Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 5 p.m. ■ Laugh Index Theatre will present its seventh annual “A Hot & Sweaty Holiday,” with proceeds benefiting Bread for the City. 7:30 and 10 p.m. $13 to $20. DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St. NW. 202462-7833. Special event ■ Piano teacher Ann Glendinning will perform holiday favorites from all traditions at a singalong after Guy Mason Recreation Center’s second annual holiday dinner. Turkey dinner at 6 p.m.; singalong at 7:30 p.m. Free; reservations required. Guy Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert St. NW. 202-727-7703.

Film ■ The Petworth Library will host its “Retro Film Matinee” series. 10:30 a.m. Free. Petworth Library, 4200 Kansas Ave. NW. 202-243-1188.

Sporting event ■ The Washington Wizards will play the Detroit Pistons. 7 p.m. $25 to $619. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 800-7453000.

Performances ■ The Dance Institute of Washington will present “The Spirit of Kwanzaa,” featuring dance, music and spoken word with the Washington Youth Choir, Dayo N Dance, Sons of Freedom and master drummer Medoune “Papa Dame” Gueye. 7 p.m. $15 to $25; free for ages 3 and younger. Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC), 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. thearcdc.org. The performance will repeat Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. ■ The Washington Revels will present “The Christmas Revels: A Nordic Celebration of the Winter Solstice in Music, Dance & Drama,” featuring a cast of

Tours ■ The American University Museum will present a docent-led tour of one of its late fall exhibitions. 11:30 a.m. Free. American University Museum, Katzen Arts Center, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-885-1300. ■ The Shakespeare Theatre Company will present a backstage tour. 5:30 to 6 p.m. Free; reservations suggested. Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202547-5688. Saturday,DECEMBER Dec. 17 Saturday 17 Children’s and family programs ■ The Kreeger Museum’s “First Studio: Story + Workshop” will feature a gallery tour of paintings, sculpture and architecture, as well as a story and a hands-on art-making experience (for ages 3 to 5). 10 to 11 a.m. $10 per

Stephen Hansen’s “The Tropics: Rousseau,” painted papier-mâché and acrylic on canvas on panel, is part of the Zenith Gallery’s new show. Located at 2438 18th St. NW, the center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. 202-4627833. ■ The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden unveiled the monumental artwork “Pumpkin” last week on its outdoor plaza. Created by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, the giant polka-dot pumpkin sculpture will be on view through the spring, when it will be featured in an exhibit of the artist’s works that will open Feb. 23 and continue through May 14. Located at Independence Avenue and 7th Street SW, the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 202633-1000.

child; registration required. Kreeger Museum, 2401 Foxhall Road NW. 202337-3050. ■ “Fête de Noël” will feature a craft activity, a holiday-themed snack and Christmas music (for ages 5 and older). 10 a.m. to noon. $8 to $10. Alliance Française de Washington, 2142 Wyoming Ave. NW. francedc.org. ■ Marsha and the Positrons — featuring guitarist Marsha Goodman-Wood (shown) and jazz bassist Wardell Howell — will present original songs that teach children about health and fitness, science and how the world works. 10:30 a.m. Free. Chevy Chase Library, 5625 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-282-0021. ■ Alliance Française de Washington will present “Do-ré-mi les amis!,” a musi-

cal storytime featuring traditional songs and dancing. 10:30 a.m. Free; reservations required. Alliance Française de Washington, 2142 Wyoming Ave. NW. francedc.org. ■ The Shakespeare Theatre Company will host a family-friendly Garden Party with outdoorsy crafts and activities that preserve the joy of spring in the cold of winter. 11 a.m. $10; reservations required. Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202-547-5688. ■ A park ranger will lead a planetarium program on “Stars of the Holiday Sky,” about winter sky stories from cultures around the world and the search for a scientific explanation of the Star of Bethlehem (for ages 5 and older). 1 p.m. Free. Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road NW. 202-895-6070. ■ Children will hear a story about Winston Churchill and then create a speSee Events/Page 26

The Current’s Pet of the Week From the Human Rescue Alliance Blend: Yes, it’s a unique name, but she’s a unique dog! This Presa Canario mix (sometimes called a Canary Mastiff) was brought to the Humane Rescue Alliance by her owner when a family member developed an allergy to her. She has a beautiful brindle coat on her large frame. At 7 years old, Blend is middle-aged and mostly laid-back, but she does have her occasional burst of energy. She would prefer to be the only child as she loves to just lounge all day with her humans and have all the attention. Visit our Oglethorpe adoption center to meet Blend!

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Continued From Page 25 cial piece of art. 1 to 4 p.m. Free. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F streets NW. 202-633-1000. The program will repeat Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. ■ The Choral Arts Society of Washington will present “A Family Christmas,” featuring songs about Santa, Rudolph and Frosty (for ages 5 and older). 1 p.m. $20 to $45. Concert Hall, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. ■ A Children’s Holiday Celebration will feature crafts, stories, games and more (for ages 12 and younger). 2 p.m. Free. Children’s Room, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. 202-727-0321. ■ Tenley Readers Unite, a book club for ages 8 through 12, will hold its monthly meeting. 2:30 p.m. Free. Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-727-1449. ■ The In Series will present “Goyesquitas,” a family opera offering a tour of Spain through storytelling, songs and dance. 2:30 p.m. $15 to $25. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. 202-204-7763. The performance will repeat Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ■ A park ranger will lead a planetarium program about the solar system, the Milky Way and other deep space objects (for ages 7 and older). 4 to 4:45 p.m. Free. Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road NW. 202-895-6070. The program will repeat Sunday at 4 p.m. Classes and workshops ■ The Mount Pleasant Library will present “Saturday Morning Yoga.” 10 a.m. Free. Mount Pleasant Library, 3160 16th St. NW. 202-671-3122. ■ Instructor Luz Verost will lead a casual Spanish Conversation Club session designed to grow, revive or develop Spanish language skills. 10 to 11 a.m. Free. Georgetown Library, 3260 R St. NW. 202-727-0232. ■ A mixed greenery wreath workshop will use historic Tudor Place garden materials including holly, cedar and magnolia leaves to create a wintery touch for any holiday celebration. 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. $45 to $55. Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, 1644 31st St. NW. tudorplace.org. ■ Yoga Activist will present a class for beginners. 11 a.m. Free. Petworth Library, 4200 Kansas Ave. NW. 202243-1188. ■ The Creative Class will present “Adult Craft-ernoons” with instructions and all materials provided. 2 p.m. Free. Takoma Park Library, 416 Cedar St. NW. 202-576-7252. Concerts ■ Folger Consort musicians will lead audience members in learning medieval songs featured in the Folger’s staging of “The Second Shepherds’ Play.” 1 p.m. Free; reservations required. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE. 202-544-7077. ■ “Caroling in the Rotunda” will feature students from Xaverian High School. 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Free. West Building Rotunda, National Gallery of Art, 6th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-737-4215. ■ “Fringe Music in the Library” will feature Nag Champa performing a mashup of house, jazz, hip-hop, avantgarde and go-go music. 2 p.m. Free. Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 7th

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Events Entertainment St. NW. 202-727-1288. ■ Encore Rocks Choruses from D.C., Virginia and Maryland will perform rock music from the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, including “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and a Motown medley. 3 p.m. Free. First Congregational United Church of Christ, 945 G St. NW. 301-261-5747. ■ The U.S. Navy Band will present its annual holiday concert. 3 and 8 p.m. Free; all tickets have been distributed but unclaimed seats will be available to non-ticket holders 15 minutes before the performance time. DAR Constitution Hall, 18th Street between C and D streets NW. navyband.navy.mil. The concert will repeat Sunday at 3 p.m. ■ The Washington Chorus will present “A Candlelight Christmas,” featuring Christmas classics, singalongs, the 200voice chorus and a candlelight processional. 4 p.m. $18 to $72. Concert Hall, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. The performance will repeat Dec. 20, 21 and 22 at 7 p.m. ■ The 21st Century Consort will present “Scrooge and the Museum,” featuring Jon Deak’s “The Passion of the Scrooge or a Christmas Carol,” a holiday favorite; Hannah Lash’s “Folk Songs,” inspired by a new installation of folk and self-taught art; and symphonic jazz composer David Baker’s “Heritage: A Tribute,” inspired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s important collection of AfricanAmerican art. Pre-concert discussion at 4 p.m.; performance at 5 p.m. Free. McEvoy Auditorium, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G streets NW. 202-633-1000. ■ The “Holiday Lobbying” concert series will feature Capital Harmonia, a communitybased women’s chorus. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Lobby, The Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-628-9100. ■ Middle C Music will present a recital by teachers and staff. 6 p.m. Free. Middle C Music, 4530 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-244-7326. ■ The U.S. Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band will perform. 6 p.m. Free. Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center. 202467-4600. ■ Rising stars in the quartet world, Canada’s Cecilia String Quartet will perform on the Library of Congress’ Stradivari instruments, marking the 80th anniversary of Gertrude Clarke Whittall’s gift. 8 to 10:30 p.m. Free; tickets required. Coolidge Auditorium, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, 10 1st St. SE. 202707-5502. ■ Singer-songwriter Edy Blu will perform. 8 p.m. Free. Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys. com. ■ “Ladies of Jazz” will present Kia Bennett. 8 to 11 p.m. No cover; $15 minimum. Mr. Henry’s Restaurant, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-546-8412.

filmmakers’ shared journey in search of the real personalities behind cartoonist Bob Montana’s iconic Archie Comics characters. Peary, a film critic, will attend the screening. 3:30 p.m. Free. East Building Auditorium, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 202-842-6799.

Saturday, DECEMBER 17 ■ Concert: Emmy Award-winning Irish tenor Eamonn McCrystal (shown) and Celtic singer Chloë Agnew will present a celebration of Irish culture, great music and Christmas as part of an exclusive North American tour. 7:30 p.m. $70 to $110. Family Theater, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. ■ White Ford Bronco, a 1990s party band, will perform. 9 p.m. $22. Gypsy Sally’s, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. Discussions and lectures ■ Gordon Priest, a collector and former president of the Washington Textile Group, will present a show-and-tell presentation on “A Collector’s Greatest Pile Rugs, Wagireh, Khorjin, and Yastiks.” 10:30 a.m. Free. George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum, 701 21st St. NW. 202-994-5200. ■ The Shakespeare Theatre Company will explore the life of a child actor with a talk by Anya Rothman and Henry Baratz, stars of “The Secret Garden.” 4:45 to 5:30 p.m. Free. Forum, Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202-5475688. ■ Members of Canada’s Cecilia String Quartet will participate in an interview. 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Whittall Pavilion, Jefferson Building, Library of Congress, 10 1st St. SE. 202-707-5502. Films ■ National Geographic will present a 3D screening of the groundbreaking natural history film “Pandas: The Journey Home,” a look at the highly endangered giant pandas living in Wolong National Nature Reserve in the People’s Republic of China. Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. $7. Grosvenor Auditorium, National Geographic, 1600 M St. NW. 202-8577700. The film will be shown again at the same times Dec. 18, 24 and 31. ■ The National Gallery of Art’s “Cinéconcert” series will feature Jean Renoir’s 1928 film “Little Match Girl (La Petite marchande d’allumettes),” with live accompaniment by pianist Andrew Simpson. 2 p.m. Free. East Building Auditorium, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 202-842-6799. ■ The Mount Pleasant Library will present the extended version of the 2016 film “Suicide Squad,” starring Will Smith, Jared Leto and Margot Robbie. 2 p.m. Free. Mount Pleasant Library, 3160 16th St. NW. 202-671-3122. ■ The National Gallery of Art will present Gerald Peary and Shaun Clancy’s 2015 documentary “Archie’s Betty: Celebrating a Pop Icon at 75,” about the

Performances and readings ■ Sweet Spot Aerial Productions will present “Shine a Light! A Solstice Circus,” about a young man who discovers the power to bring light and inspire joy. 1 and 6 p.m. $15 to $25. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993. The performance will repeat Sunday at 4 p.m. ■ Coyaba Dance Theater will present its annual Kwanzaa Celebration, displaying the excitement and vibrancy of the holiday with a performance based on the seven principles of Kwanzaa. 7 p.m. $15 to $30. Dance Place, 3225 8th St. NE. 202-269-1600. The performance will repeat Sunday at 4 p.m. ■ The In Series will present a new framing of Enrique Granados’ renowned Spanish classic “Goyescas,” featuring the composer reflecting on his life and work from the deck of the Sussex, the ill-fated ocean liner he took to return to Spain during World War I. 8 p.m. $23 to $46. GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. 202-204-7763. The performance will repeat Sunday at 7 p.m. Service ■ The Washington National Cathedral’s annual simulcast Bethlehem Prayer Service will feature Christmas readings and carols in D.C. and Palestine via live satellite telecast. 10 a.m. Free. Washington National Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues NW. 202537-6200. Special events ■ The Washington Harbour ice skating rink will hold a weekly “Cartoon Skate” event, from 10 a.m. to noon; and a “Rock n Skate” event, from 8 to 10 p.m. $9 to $10. Washington Harbour, 3000 K St. NW. 202-706-7666. ■ Tudor Place will collect used lawn and garden items for Community Forklift, a nonprofit reuse center for home improvement supplies. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, 1644 31st St. NW. tudorplace.org. ■ The 26th annual “BZB Holiday Gift & Art Show” will feature holiday items, home accessories, clothes, jewelry and more. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free admission. Shiloh Family Life Center, 1510 9th St. NW. 202-555-7060. The sale will conclude Dec. 23. ■ As part of Wreaths Across America Day, a ceremony will feature the presentation of colors, remarks, a history of the historic Battleground National Cemetery, the laying of wreaths and recitation of the names of the veterans buried at one of the oldest and smallest military cemeteries in the United States. Noon to 1 p.m. Free. Battleground National Cemetery, 6625 Georgia Ave. NW. 202-8956070. ■ The Georgetown boutique Lilly Pulitzer will host the Humane Rescue Alliance’s mobile pet adoption vehicle with adoptable cats and dogs. Noon to 3

p.m. Free. Lilly Pulitzer, 1079 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-727-7369. ■ The Washington National Cathedral’s annual Christmas pageant for children will include a re-enactment of the story of Jesus’ birth, including visits from the three magi, animals and angels. 2 p.m. Free. Washington National Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues NW. 202-537-6200. Sporting event ■ The Washington Capitals will play the Montreal Canadiens. 7 p.m. $53 to $750. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 800-745-3000. Teen event ■ Jonathan B. Tucker will host a youth open mic poetry event with teen members of the DC Youth Slam Team. 5 to 7 p.m. $5. Cullen Room, Busboys and Poets 5th & K, 1025 5th St. NW. 202789-2227. Tours ■ The Shakespeare Theatre Company will present a backstage tour. 10:30 to 11 a.m. Free; reservations suggested. Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202547-5688. ■ “Gardener’s Focus: Bones of the Winter Garden” will feature a tour led by horticulturist Bill Johnson. 11 to 11:30 a.m. $15 to $18; tickets distributed at the Visitor Center upon opening each day. Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. 202-6865807. The tour will repeat Dec. 20, 23, 24, 27 and 30 at 11 a.m. ■ The National Gallery of Art will present a “Picture This” tour focusing on “An Explosion of Color! Matisse and Bonnard” for people who are blind or have low vision, featuring intensive verbal description. 1 to 2 p.m. Free. West Building Rotunda, National Gallery of Art, 6th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-842-6905. The tour will also be offered Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. Sunday,DECEMBER Dec. 18 Sunday 18 Children’s programs ■ The Shakespeare Theatre Company will host “A Mini-Summer Night’s Dream,” transporting young audiences to the court of Athens and the world of Puck’s magical forest. After the performance, students will get dramatic themselves through group activities and a discussion with the cast (for ages 5 and older). 11 a.m. to noon. Free. Forum, Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202547-5688. ■ “Arts on the Horizon: Adventures With Mr. Bear” will feature a young girl and her favorite stuffed animal playing a game of hide and seek that evolves into a series of exciting adventures (for ages 2 through 5). 11:30 a.m. $10. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. Performances will continue through Dec. 30. ■ A park ranger will lead a planetarium program about the season’s brightest stars, planets and constellations (for ages 5 and older). 1 p.m. Free. Rock Creek Nature Center, 5200 Glover Road NW. 202-895-6070. Class ■ The Vajrayogini Buddhist Center will host a class on “Advice for Life.” 10 and 11:30 a.m. Free; $5 to $12 donation suggested. Vajrayogini Buddhist See Events/Page 27

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Wednesday, December 14, 2016

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Events Entertainment Continued From Page 26 Center, 1787 Columbia Road NW. 202986-2257. Concerts â– The National Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir, soloists and instrumentalists will perform at a Christmas service. 9 and 11 a.m. Free. National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW. nationalpres.org/concert-series. â– The traditional Irish band DanĂş will present “A Christmas Gathering: FĂŠile Na Nollag,â€? featuring local Irish dancers. 2 and 4 p.m. Free. West Garden Court, National Gallery of Art, 6th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-737-4215. â– The Washington Sängerbund will present its annual German Christmas concert. 3 p.m. Free. The United Church, 1920 G St. NW. 202-331-1475. â– Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear will present his own arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker.â€? 4 p.m. $20 to $40; reservations suggested. Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW. phillipscollection.org/events. â– The Children’s Chorus of Washington will present “A Season of Joy of Peace,â€? featuring the group’s five ensembles. 4 p.m. $10 to $50. National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW. 202-237-1005. â– The City Choir of Washington and the Marriotts Ridge High School Madrigal Singers will present “The Holly and

the Ivy — Music for Christmas,� featuring seasonal choral works and singalong carols. 4:30 p.m. $15 to $50. National Presbyterian Church, 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW. thecitychoirofwashington.org. ■Middle C Music will present a recital by piano, guitar and percussion students of Stephen Baker. 5 and 6 p.m. Free. Middle C Music, 4530 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-244-7326. ■The Metropolitan Baptist Church will perform Handel’s “Messiah.� 5 to 7 p.m. Free; donations encouraged. Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW. nationalchurch.org. ■The Washington Master Chorale will present “Comfort and Joy,� featuring carols, motets and hymns by familiar composers as well as two carols by the little-known post-World War II Scottish composer Ronald Center and Bach’s “Lobet Den Herrn Alle Heiden� in a tribute to the late J. Reilly Lewis. 5 p.m. $10 to $50. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. washingtonmasterchorale.org. ■The “Holiday Lobbying� concert series will feature the Heritage Signature Chorale. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Lobby, The Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-6289100. ■The Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choirs will perform holiday favorites. 6 p.m. Free. Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. ■The Choral Arts Society of Washington will present “A Choral Arts Christmas,� featuring seasonal classics, popular Christmas standards, and gospel arrangements of “Go Tell It on the Mountain� and more with guest artist

requested. Upshur Street Books, 827 Upshur St. NW. bookriot.com/attend. Family program ■“Chanukah Celebration 2016� will feature a moon bounce, games, crafts, treats and more. 10 a.m. to noon. $20 to $25 per family. Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of Washington DC, 1529 16th St. NW. washingtondcjcc.org.

Sunday, DECEMBER 18 ■Concert: The King’s Singers will feature one of the world’s most celebrated a cappella ensembles performing seasonal favorites, including “Carol of the Bells,� “Stille Nacht,� “White Christmas,� “In the Bleak Midwinter� and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.� 5 p.m. $25 to $95. Washington National Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues NW. 202537-2228. Ralph Alan Herndon. 7 p.m. $15 to $69. Concert Hall, Kennedy Center. 202-4674600. The performance will repeat Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. Discussion ■Book Riot’s Read Harder Book Group will hold its monthly meeting for participants to discuss their recent reading. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Free; reservations

Film ■The National Gallery of Art’s “Ipersignificato: Umberto Eco and Film� series will feature Michael Curtiz’s classic 1942 film “Casablanca,� which the cultural and literary giant examined in his essay “Casablanca: Cult Movies and Intertextual Collage.� 4 p.m. Free. East Building Auditorium, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 202-842-6799. Performances and readings ■“Sunday Kind of Love� will feature readings by emerging and established poets, followed by an open mic segment. 5 to 7 p.m. $5. Langston Room, Busboys and Poets 14th & V, 2021 14th St. NW. 202-387-7638. ■Petworth Citizen will host a comedy showcase. 8 to 10 p.m. Free. Reading Room, Petworth Citizen, 829 Upshur St. NW. petworthcitizen.com. Special events ■St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, will present a “Festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent and Christmas,� featuring the St. John’s Choir singing selections from Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols� accom-

panied by harpist Rebecca Anstine Smith. 11 a.m. Free. 16th and H streets NW. 202-347-8766. ■The Humane Rescue Alliance will offer a chance to get your pet’s photo taken with Santa. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. $20 donation suggested. Embassy Row Hotel, 2015 Massachusetts Ave. NW. 202-735-0324. ■Kriser’s Natural Pet Store and Unleashed in Georgetown will host a Humane Rescue Alliance mobile pet adoption vehicle with adoptable cats and dogs. Noon to 3 p.m. Free. Kriser’s Natural Pet Store, 3707 Newark St. NW; and Unleashed in Georgetown, 1855 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-727-7369. ■Moment Magazine’s Gala & Awards Dinner will honor cofounder Elie Wiesel through words and music featuring special guest Sydney James Harcourt and 2016 Creativity Award recipients Tovah Feldshuh, David Amram and Dudu Fisher. 6 p.m. $150 to $250. Temple Sinai, 3100 Military Road NW. momentmag.com/2016-gala. ■A “Mentalism and Mysteries Mixer� will feature TV mentalist Alain Nu. 6:30 p.m. $15. Mr. Henry’s Restaurant, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. mrhenrysdc.com. ■The Silent Dance Society will present a holiday-themed rooftop Silent Disco Jingle using wireless headset technology with three different music channels and three different DJs. 8 p.m. to midnight. $10 to $20; reservations suggested. The Observatory Rooftop at See Events/Page 28

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28 Events

28 Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Continued From Page 27 the Graham Georgetown, 1075 Thomas Jefferson St. NW. silentdancesociety. com. Sporting event ■ The Washington Wizards will play the Los Angeles Clippers. 3:30 p.m. $29 to $679. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 800-745-3000. Monday,DECEMBER Dec. 19 Monday 19 Children’s programs ■ Banjo player Frank Cassel will present “Rise + Rhyme,” a storytelling and performance series for ages 5 and younger. 9:30 to 11 a.m. $5 per child. Busboys and Poets Takoma, 235 Carroll St. NW. 202-726-0856. ■ The Petworth Library will host a snow globe craft activity (for ages 5 and older). 4:30 p.m. Free. Petworth Library, 4200 Kansas Ave. NW. 202-243-1188. Classes and workshops ■ The weekly “Viniyoga Mondays” program will feature a gentle yoga class. 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Free. Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-727-1488. ■ The West End Interim Library will host an all-levels yoga class. 6 p.m. Free. West End Interim Library, 2522 Virginia Ave. NW. 202-724-8707. ■ As part of the Georgetown Library’s Winter Wellness Workshops series, Susan Lowell will present the final session in a three-part introduction to the practice of tai chi. 7:30 p.m. Free. Georgetown Library, 3260 R St. NW. 202-727-0232. Concerts ■ The “Holiday Lobbying” concert series will feature the women’s chamber consort Philomela. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Lobby, The Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202628-9100. ■ The Iolani Stage Band will perform varied songs from its repertoire, which ranges from the classic sounds of the big band era to Latin, funk, R&B and popular Hawaiian tunes with hula. 6 p.m. Free. Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. Discussions and lectures ■ Ralph Lorenz, a scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., will discuss “A Once and Future Earth?: Exploring Titan, Saturn’s Giant Moon,” about how Titan is being explored in space missions and in the laboratory in hopes of understanding how it produced the

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Events Entertainment beginnings of life and its similarities to Earth. 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. $30 to $45. S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW. 202-633-3030. ■ “Feeder’s Advisory: A Book Club for Those Who Love Food” will discuss “Ziggy Marley and Family Cookbook: Delicious Meals Made With Whole, Organic Ingredients From the Marley Kitchen,” featuring traditional Jamaican food as well as the more natural and healthy “ital” food of the Marley family’s Rastafari culture. 7 p.m. Free; reservations requested. Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 7th St. NW. dclibrary.org/node/55390. ■ Culture critic and former Washingtonian columnist Todd Kliman will present “WTF Now?!,” a lively panel discussion about the historical context of Donald Trump’s election victory and the social, cultural and moral ramifications of a Trump presidency. 7 to 9 p.m. $10; reservations required. Third Floor, 4200 9th St. NW. wtfnow2.eventbrite.com. Film ■ The Chevy Chase Library will present the 2000 film “Chocolat,” ​about a woman and her daughter who open a chocolate shop that shakes up the rigid morality of a small town in France. 2 and 6:30 p.m. Free. Meeting Room, Chevy Chase Library, 5625 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-282-0021. Performance ■ The Word Beats & Life Inc. Holiday Spinning Tour will feature Kenny Carroll III, the new D.C. youth poet laureate. 6 to 8 p.m. Free; reservations requested. Busboys and Poets Takoma, 235 Carroll St. NW. wblinc.org/givegetgo-events. Tuesday, Dec. 20

Tuesday DECEMBER 20 Classes and workshops ■ A certified yoga instructor will lead a walk-in gentle yoga class targeted to ages 55 and older. 10 a.m. Free. Georgetown Library, 3260 R St. NW. 202-727-0232. ■ The Georgetown Library will present a walk-in yoga class practicing introductory viniyasa techniques. 11:30 a.m. Free. Georgetown Library, 3260 R St. NW. 202-727-0232. ■ Lindsey Crawford of Yoga District will present a class for beginners. 1 p.m. Free. Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Library, 1630 7th St. NW. 202-727-1288. ■ Housing Counseling Services Inc. will present a refresher workshop on reverse mortgages. 2 p.m. Free. Suite 100, 2410 17th St. NW. 202-667-7006. ■ Instructor Diana Abdul will present a hatha yoga class. 7 p.m. Free. Tenley-

In Series show brings Spain to life

By MARGARET OLSON Current Correspondent

A

udiences at the GALA Theatre are being treated to a mesmerizing evening of Spanish music and dance this week, as the In Series presents an innovative production of Spanish song fol-

On STAGE

lowed by a full performance of Enrique Granados’ rarely heard opera “Goyescas.” Director and choreographer Jaime Coronado said he wanted to provide the audience a “glimpse as to how life may have been in the early part of the 20th century in Spain.” Complementing the musical works themselves and the splendid performers, the stage was colorful and evocative of Spain with an eye-catching digital display of paintings and backgrounds that morphed throughout the show. The women’s costumes were especially noteworthy. Each was like a bright jewel, and every cast member looked wonderful. The cast consists of a quartet of dancers and 12 singers, with musical accompaniment and direction by pianist Carlos C. Rodriguez. When The Current attended on opening night, Dec. 7, he played with brilliant panache and provided the entire orchestration for the opera at the keyboard. Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-727-1488. Concerts ■ As part of the Tuesday Concert Series, the Choir of the Church of the Epiphany and organist Christopher Betts will give their annual selection of wellknown and contemporary music for Christmas in a concert of seasonal readings and music. 12:10 p.m. Free. Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW. 202347-2635. ■ The “Holiday Lobbying” concert series will feature Vox Pulchra, known for an eclectic mix of traditional music from around the world and across centuries. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Lobby, The Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-628-9100. ■ Encore Chorale, a dynamic ensemble featuring first-time or returning musicians over the age of 55, will present an evening of crowd-pleasing holiday music. 6 p.m. Free. Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. ■ “Season’s Greenings: Evenings in the Conservatory” will feature the a cappella group the Capital Hearings. 6:30 to 8 p.m.

The performance features Granados’ three “Sorrowful Maja” songs and “Seven Spanish Folk Songs” by contemporary composer Manuel de Falla. The passionate language and dance rhythms that are evocative of Spanish culture enhanced the sophisticated Photo by Angelisa Gillyard musical language to great Alisa Bernstein on stage with effect. Surtitle translations were projected high above the the “Goyescas” company stage and could be ignored if one wanted. admirable job with the someThe first act took place at a times challenging score. The cafe in Madrid with Granados featured dancers were mesmerand his wife Amparo as charac- izing in their stylistic flair and ters, along with other patrons at were not afraid of stillness as the cafe. Instead of one singer communication with the audiperforming at a time, several ence. singers shared songs, trading This year marks the centenoff vocal lines and sometimes nial of the “Goyescas” premiere singing together. This unexpect- at the Metropolitan Opera in ed approach kept audience New York. “Goyescas” is interest high. known for being the first SpanThe complete “Goyescas” ish-language opera performed followed. A young upper-class at the Met. girl, Rosario (soprano Fairouz Other performers on the Foty) is taunted by the cheeky GALA Theatre stage included “majos” (fun-loving bohemibaritone Alex Alburqueque as ans) amid dancing and merryPaquiro, mezzo-soprano Patrimaking. Her suitor, the jealous cia Portillo as Pepa, and Cara Fernando (tenor Peter BurGonzalez as Amparo Granados. roughs), defends her honor and The design team includes In agrees to a duel. The producSeries resident scenic designer tion brings to life the composer Jonathan D. Robertson, resident (portrayed by Oscar Ceville) costume designer Donna Bresand the bold characters of lin and guest lighting designer “majos” and “majas” as porStefan Johnson. trayed in the iconic paintings Performances of “Goyescas” by Francisco de Goya, which — in Spanish with English surtiwere Granados’ inspiration for tles — run through Sunday at the opera. the GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St. The singers were of various NW. For tickets, visit inseries. ages and abilities, and did an org or call 202-204-7763.

Free. Conservatory Garden Court, U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. ■ Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge will host its weekly open mic show. 8 p.m. Free. Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. ■ Kendall Street Company, Boy Named Banjo and Moose Kick will perform. 8 p.m. $10. Gypsy Sally’s, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. Discussions and lectures ■ A panel discussion on “Women and Economic Development: Growing TaiwanU.S. International Cooperation” will feature Stephenie Foster, senior adviser at the U.S. Secretary of State’s Office of Global Women’s Issues; and Aisling Swaine, associate professor of the practice of international affairs and director of the Center on Gender Equality in International Affairs at George Washington University. 12:30 to 2 p.m. Free; reservations required. Room 602, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, 1957 E St. NW. go.gwu.edu/womensempowerment. ■ National Gallery of Art lecturer Diane Arkin will discuss “Pop Art.” Noon. Free. East Building Atrium, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 202-737-4215. The lecture will repeat on Dec. 21, 22, 24, 27, 28

and 29 at noon. Film ■ Bistro Bohem’s “Film and Beer” series, which presents Czech comedies from the 1930s to 1970s, will screen director Joseph Mach’s 1956 classic fairy tale comedy “Playing With the Devil,” about a soldier who must take on hell to rescue the souls of two women. 6:45 to 9 p.m. Free; reservations required. Bistro Bohem, 600 Florida Ave. NW. 202-735-5895. Performances ■ The Word Beats & Life Inc. Holiday Spinning Tour will feature a performance by Kenny Carroll III, the new D.C. youth poet laureate. 6 to 8 p.m. Free; reservations requested. Busboys and Poets Brookland, 625 Monroe St. NE. wblinc.org/givegetgo-events. ■ The Kinsey Sicks — “America’s Favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet” — will present “Oy Vey in a Manger,” a raunchy show filled with secrets and Jewish-Gentile humor. 7:30 p.m. $17 to $47. Edlavitch Jewish Community Center of See Events/Page 29

29 Events

Continued From Page 28 Washington DC, 1529 16th St. NW. washingtondcjcc.org. Performances will continue through Dec. 28. ■ The Washington Improv Theater’s “Harold Night” will feature long-form improv performances by various ensembles. 8 and 9 p.m. By donation. Source, 1835 14th St. NW. witdc.org. ■ Busboys and Poets will present an open mic poetry night hosted by Drew Anderson. 9 to 11 p.m. $5. Langston Room, Busboys and Poets 14th & V, 2021 14th St. NW. 202-387-7638. Wednesday, Dec. 21 Wednesday DECEMBER 21 Children’s program ■ The West End Interim Library Children’s Room will celebrate the cold weather with the movie “Frozen.” 3:30 p.m. Free. West End Interim Library, 2522 Virginia Ave. NW. 202-724-8707. Classes and workshops ■ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rock Creek, will host a weekly tai chi class. 2 p.m. Free. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rock Creek, 201 Allison St. NW. 202726-2080. ■ Guy Mason Recreation Center will offer a weekly “Gentle Gyrokinesis” class to improve posture, balance and agility. 2:30 p.m. Free; reservations required. Guy Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert St. NW. 202-727-7736. ■ Poets on the Fringe will host a weekly poetry workshop. 7 to 9 p.m. Free. Georgetown Library, 3260 R St. NW. passapamela@aol.com. ■ The Vajrayogini Buddhist Center will host a weekly class on meditation. 7 to 8:30 p.m. $6 to $12. Vajrayogini Buddhist Center, 1787 Columbia Road NW. 202-986-2257. Concerts ■ The “Holiday Lobbying” concert series will feature the Rock Creek Singers, an ensemble of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Lobby, The Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-628-9100. ■ Listen Local First D.C. and the 9 Songwriter Showcase will present their fifth annual holiday extravaganza, featuring Gina Sobel, Gingerwolf, Drew Kid, Justin Trawick (shown), Joe Maye, Saba Abraha, Janel Leppin, Alison Carney and Flex Mathews. 6 p.m. Free. Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. ■ Singer-songwriter Molly Durnin will perform. 7:30 p.m. Free. Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. ■ Live at 10th & G will host “Christmastime in the City,” featuring the Choral Arts Chamber Singers performing an a cappella mix of classic, traditional and contemporary holiday songs. 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. $30. First Congregational United Church of Christ, 945 G St. NW. choralarts.org. ■ Cris Jacobs and Friends will perform “A Very Jerry Christmas.” 8:30 p.m. $13 to $15. Gypsy Sally’s, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. Discussions and lectures ■ National Gallery of Art lecturer Diane Arkin will discuss “Jesus Saves”

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Events Entertainment by Robert Indiana. Noon. Free. East Building Atrium, National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. 202-737-4215. The lecture will repeat on Dec. 27 and 28 at noon. ■ National Museum of Women in the Arts associate curator Virginia Treanor will discuss several works in the special exhibition “No Man’s Land: Women Artists From the Rubell Family Collection.” Noon to 12:30 p.m. Free. National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. 202-783-5000. ■ Shon Meckfessel, a participant in disruptive social movements for nearly 25 years and a faculty member at Highline College, will discuss his book “Nonviolence Ain’t What It Used to Be: Unarmed Insurrection and the Rhetoric of Resistance,” about the emergence of more militant approaches due to limitations on the effectiveness of civil disobedience and symbolic protest. 7 to 9 p.m. Free; reservations suggested. The Potter’s House, 1658 Columbia Road NW. pottershousedc.org. Films ■ An Age-Friendly DC film event for seniors will feature a screening of the 1970 film “The Railway Children,” about the lives of three kids and their mother that come undone when their father is accused of treason. 1:30 p.m. Free. Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-727-1488. ■ The Avalon Theatre’s “French Cinémathèque” series will screen André Téchiné’s film “Being 17,” about two high school boys forced by circumstances to coexist and work through their emerging attraction and complicated desires. 8 p.m. $7 to $12.25. Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW. 202-966-3464. Performance ■ Mary Bowman will host an open mic poetry event. 9 to 11 p.m. $5. Cullen Room, Busboys and Poets 5th & K, 1025 5th St. NW. 202-789-2227. Special event ■ The Shepherd Park Library Teen Advisory Board and the Friends of the Shepherd Park Library will host a Winter Party with cookie decorating, ornament making and festive music. 5 p.m. Free. Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park Library, 7420 Georgia Ave. NW. 202541-6100. Thursday,DECEMBER Dec. 22 Thursday 22 Concerts ■ The “Holiday Lobbying” concert series will feature the Children’s Chorus of Washington. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Lobby, The Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-6289100. ■ The Peace Ringers and Carol Ringers will present an evening of holiday music performed on traditional hand bells. 6 p.m. Free. Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. ■ “Season’s Greenings: Evenings in the Conservatory” will feature the band 40 Thieves performing Irish rock. 6 to 8 p.m. Free. Conservatory Garden Court, U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. ■ Singer-songwriter Mindy Miller will

lery educator. Noon. Free. Meet in the G Street lobby, National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F streets NW. 202-633-1000.

Thursday, DECEMBER 22 ■ Concert: Grammy Award-winning jazz recording artist Ben Williams, a D.C. native and a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, will present “A Holiday Musical Extravaganza.” 7:30 p.m. $20 to $45. The Hamilton, 600 14th St. NW. thehamiltondc.com. perform a mix of country and rock. 7:30 p.m. Free. Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. ■ “Thursday Night Bluegrass” will feature Justin Trawick. 8 to 11 p.m. No cover; $12 minimum. Mr. Henry’s Restaurant, 601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202546-8412. ■ The Funk Ark will perform its last D.C. show on a double bill with Three Man Soul Machine. 8:30 p.m. $12 to $14. Gypsy Sally’s, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. Discussion ■ “Thursdays at Noon: Portrait Signs” will feature a lively tour in American Sign Language and English led by a deaf gal-

Film ■ The Korean Cultural Center’s K-Cinema series will present Kang Hyung-chul’s 2008 film “Scandal Makers,” about a radio DJ and former teen idol enjoying the single life in his 30s until he suddenly learns he may be a grandfather. Appetizer social at 6 p.m.; film at 6:30 p.m. Free; reservations required. Korean Cultural Center, 2370 Massachusetts Ave. NW. KoreaCultureDC.org. Performance ■ Word Beats & Life Inc. will present the new D.C. youth poet laureate Kenny Carroll III. 6 to 8 p.m. Free; reservations requested. Cullen Room, Busboys and Poets 5th & K, 1025 5th St. NW. wblinc.org/givegetgo-events. Friday,DECEMBER Dec. 23 Friday 23 Children’s program ■ Mr. Lilo will present an interactive, bilingual musical performance on his guitar. 11 a.m. Free. Mount Pleasant Library, 3160 16th St. NW. 202-6713122. Concerts ■ The “Holiday Lobbying” concert series will feature Sound Advice, a barbershop quartet from the Vienna-Falls Chorus of Sweet Adelines International. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free. Lobby, The Willard InterContinental, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202-628-9100. ■ The Kennedy Center will present its annual “Messiah” singalong, led by conductor Nancia D’Alimonte and featuring members of the Opera House

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

29

Orchestra, professional soloists, a chorus of 200 and enthusiastic audience members. 6 p.m. Free; tickets distributed in the Hall of Nations beginning at 4:30 p.m. Concert Hall, Kennedy Center. 202-467-4600. ■ Singer-songwriter Brandon Walker — author of 2007’s viral internet hit “Chinese Food on Christmas” — will perform. 8 p.m. Free. Gypsy Sally’s Vinyl Lounge, 3401 K St. NW.gypsysallys.com. ■ “Miracle on 34th Street” will feature performances by the Woodshedders, By & By, and Janet Emma & Seven West. 8:30 p.m. $10 to $12. Gypsy Sally’s, 3401 K St. NW. gypsysallys.com. Performance ■ The Word Beats & Life Inc. Holiday Spinning Tour will feature Kenny Carroll III, the new D.C. youth poet laureate. 6 to 8 p.m. Free; reservations requested. Busboys and Poets 14th & V, 2021 14th St. NW. wblinc.org/givegetgo-events. Sporting event ■ The Washington Capitals will play the Tampa Bay Lightning. 7 p.m. $42 to $650. Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. 800-745-3000. The Current welcomes submissions for the Events & Entertainment calendar, although space constraints limit the number of items we can include. Items should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event and include a summary of the event and its date, time, location with complete address, cost to attend (indicate “free” if there is no charge) and a phone number for publication. Entries may be sent to calendar@currentnewspapers.com or The Current, P.O. Box 40400, Washington, D.C. 20016-0400.

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LICENSE: Neighbors cheer closure of West End club Shadow Room after contentious history

From Page 5

ment for the club to hire off-duty police officers to assist with security. But the officers apparently weren’t on hand in the early hours of an October morning, when at least five brawling Shadow Room patrons reportedly left the club — and neighbors awoke to find bullet holes in nearby buildings and parked cars. “To the

extent that we’ve had many last straws over the years, this was really the crème de la crème, because it was really putting residents’ lives at risk,” Kennedy said. At least formally, last week’s alcohol license case pertained only to an allegation of underage drinking, which Kennedy said was of comparatively minor importance. “In actuality, it acts as a de facto settlement of all outstanding issues,” he said.

Stephen Acott, a longtime representative of Shadow Room’s ownership, did not respond to requests for comment. A Nov. 30 Twitter post from the club reads: “Thank you again to all that have supported Shadow Room over the years. Doors are officially closed forever.” Kennedy said that in recent years, the entire Foggy Bottom/West End area has seen just two particularly troublesome

nightlife establishments: Shadow Room, and McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon, which closed two years ago after five patrons — one of whom was drinking underage — were stabbed in a fight. “We’re just glad that we got to the outcome that we did, and we’re grateful to have one of the principal quality-of-life issues in our neighborhood dealt with in a satisfactory way,” Kennedy said.

POTTERY: Hinckley studio prepares to open next month in Georgetown’s Blues Alley

From Page 1

“It was a shell, basically. It didn’t have anything,” Weber said. “It had a roof, it had walls, and that’s it.” Weber and Hinckley signed a lease there in July 2015, hoping to start construction by September and move in by the end of last year. But September came around, and the landlord hadn’t completed mandatory work on water, gas and electricity. What followed, as Weber describes it, was a slow and at times painful process of urging the landlord and property manager to move forward on matters like hiring a contractor and replacing a key part of the sprinkler system. Part of the issue, Weber says, is that she has never met or been in contact with the property owner — only the property manager, Frank Gittleson of Empire Leas-

ing, who has been communicative, she said. While Weber says Gittleson has insisted that he wants the studio in the building as much as the owners do, she says the owners have reneged on their promises at times. Gittleson declined to comment for this story. Weber and Hinckley faced an additional challenge a few months ago when the landlord threatened to sue for the cost of the utilities work that Weber believes the landlord had a responsibility to handle. That news, plus the mounting costs caused by the delays, led Weber to solicit donations through an online GoFundMe campaign. Both she and Hinckley had already refinanced their homes and tapped into their retirement funds, but the money wasn’t enough. “All we want is to open our pottery studio, start teaching again and get our hands back into the

clay — but to do this we need your help!” Weber wrote on the campaign page. Since the campaign was posted on Oct. 10, 191 donations totaling more than $42,000 have poured in. Some donors wrote notes, including Jane McAllister, who contributed $1,000. “I hope you and all your weirdos, including me, are back in studio soon!” McAllister wrote. “You give so much to all who pass through your door — we’ve got to keep that door open.” The Hinckley owners and the landlord have since settled out of court on their dispute over rent and the sprinkler expenditure, Weber said. GoFundMe donations will help cover legal fees and the costs incurred in the compromise, as well as future expenditures. Weber says the influx of support has been encouraging. “The

stuff with the community has been strong and very sustaining,” she said. “It’s been otherwise a very depressing situation.” Despite the difficulties, the Georgetown location remains ideal for them, Weber said. Taxes are lower because the building isn’t located on one of the main commercial corridors, and the building is just a block away from Jill Hinckley’s first studio. The space is also much bigger than the Kalorama location, with higher ceilings, larger windows and more room for classroom space. Locations they looked at in Shaw, U Street and the old Hecht’s Warehouse in Ivy City weren’t as enticing as this Georgetown spot, according to Weber. Weber said she’s all the more eager to reopen after seeing the success of the GoFundMe campaign and hearing community

demand for Hinckley Studio’s offerings. “We love the pottery, love doing it. We couldn’t imagine just sitting at home and not doing that,” she said. “We decided there were too many people that counted on us, and we wanted to have a community for them.” Meanwhile, Mary’s Center plans to begin construction on the renovation of 1707 Kalorama Road NW this month and finish in March or April, according to spokesperson Lyda Vanegas. The new space will have room for three more therapists than before. Construction was originally planned to begin shortly after Hinckley Pottery left, Vanegas said, but several other projects in Fort Totten, Petworth and Silver Spring got in the way. “We had too many projects at the time,” Vanegas told The Current.

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ESTATE SALE Georgetown. December 17th-18th 10am-2pm. 2905 N Street NW 20007. Cash and credit cards only.

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34 Wednesday, December 14, 2016

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The Current

MURCH: Traffic plans for construction include new parking, curb cut

From Page 3

Public Notices PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to construct a 120' light pole at 4301 13th St NW, Washington DC (20160820). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

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the 2018-19 school year. Davis and several colleagues presented detailed public space plans at the November meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F (Forest Hills, North Cleveland Park, Van Ness). Commissioners thanked the school system for its ongoing hard work but expressed concerns and confusion about some of the plans. Ellicott Street will serve as the access point to the site for construction crews. Davis said his team has already been in touch with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and a day care across the street from the school, in an attempt to ease concerns about noise and other disruptions. ANC 3F chair Malachy Nugent urged the school system to make similar contact with residential neighbors near the church. “We need to make sure

they’re comfortable with what’s going to be happening for a year and a half in their front yard,” Nugent said at the Nov. 15 meeting. Commissioner Sally Gresham, also a member of the Murch School Improvement Team, asked the school system to publish a truck mitigation plan that details efforts to prevent congestion. “You’re putting 10 pounds of potatoes in a 5-pound bag,” Gresham said. She also urged the school system to ensure that a suitably tall security fence extends around Davenport, 36th and Ellicott streets for the duration of construction and beyond. Utility plans include water and sewer connections crossing 36th and Davenport streets and Reno Road; a new storm drain pipe along 36th; a new storm drain crossing along Reno; and reloca-

tion of a utility pole on Reno. The project will also install new bike racks and street trees. Parking will continue to be tight on the new site, particularly for school employees — 25 spaces in an underground garage will be reserved for teachers, and additional staff spaces will be reserved on 36th Street. Providing spots for all 86 staff members would not have been possible and isn’t typical for school renovations, Davis said. ANC 3F won’t weigh in with a formal resolution until its December meeting, but commissioner David Dickinson said at the November meeting that he would have voted against the plans. “I could spend two hours and come up with 30 questions myself,” Dickinson said. “Not all of them are ANC-worthy, but a lot of them do affect the community.” Despite the traffic concerns,

Murch parent Ron Eckstein, a member of the school improvement team and the home and school association, said in an interview that the community appears satisfied with the overall direction of the construction project to this point. “We’re extremely pleased that the design we ultimately ended up with is the one the community really approved of,” Eckstein said. “It’s the only one that had any sort of consensus. We sincerely appreciate that we’re moving forward.” Davis said progress on the project has been steady, and that his team will continue to work with the community throughout the process. “It’s been a long road to get here. We are very excited about where the designs are,” Davis said. “We’re moving full steam ahead to have the students back in by August 2018.”

COMET: Violent incident leads to safety worries

From Page 1

the restaurant when Sanchez arrived Friday morning, and the surge in patrons continued over the weekend. Sanchez is using the media attention to call for Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who moved into a temporary home on Tennyson Street NW in Chevy Chase last month, to visit Comet and condemn online conspiracies like the one that fueled the gunman incident. “I hope he takes this invitation seriously and I think it would be a step in the right direction in terms of denouncing some of these conspiracy theories,” Sanchez said. The alleged gunman in the Dec. 4 incident, 28-year-old Edgar Maddison Welch of North Carolina, told reporters he was trying to “selfinvestigate” the Pizzagate conspiracy, which purports without factual evidence that prominent Democrats have been operating an illegal sex ring out of Comet’s non-existent basement. On the afternoon of Dec. 4, Welch reportedly walked into Comet carrying two guns including a semi-automatic rifle, and fired multiple shots. No one was injured, but the business was evacuated and a stretch of Connecticut Avenue was closed for several hours as police investigated. Welch was charged locally with assault with a dangerous weapon and six other crimes, but the D.C. case has been turned over to federal jurisdiction, where penalties could be more severe, according to media reports Tuesday. Neither Pence nor President-elect Donald Trump has commented on the Comet incident or substantively discredited the proliferation of fake news that has gained mainstream traction since their surprise election last month. Sanchez said he has talked directly to an “old friend” of his currently working on Pence’s transition team about the possibility of the former Indiana governor stopping by Comet. “I didn’t get any commitments. It was ‘message received,’” Sanchez said. “At the very least it’s on their radar.” In the meantime, Sanchez is one of many who harbor serious concerns about the ongoing effect of fake news on safety. Sanchez said the Friday event, while successful, was briefly marred by the appearance of a man wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat who said he wanted the FBI to investigate the restaurant for

illegal activity beyond the sex ring. Sanchez himself was the target of a conspiracy theory after posting the Facebook event. A Reddit thread called “Whitewash Pizzagate” alleged that Comet had hired Sanchez to deflect attention from the illicit sex ring. “It was really weird and bizarre and a little scary,” Sanchez said. Comet isn’t alone as a target; conspiracy theorists have also focused on owners and staff of businesses around the restaurant, as well as community members. After signing a petition expressing support for Comet, a staffer at the Carnegie Institution for Science, located a halfmile from the restaurant, started receiving social media threats, according to the institution’s Rick Carlson. The threats didn’t deter the staff from heading to Comet on Friday for lunch, though. “To see it have to endure this kind of nonsense from people who don’t know anything about it — it’s just really disappointing that when you show your support for something, you’re going to get criticized,” Carlson said. Comet owner James Alefantis wasn’t available for comment, but a spokesperson for the restaurant told The Current that customer interest has been “overwhelming” since the incident, especially as a result of Sanchez’s campaign. Wait times have been as much as 90 minutes at times, and cooks have produced “thousands and thousands” more pizzas than usual, the spokesperson said. On Dec. 8, the restaurant also launched an online donation campaign at gofundme.com/ support-cometpingpong to mitigate expenses related to legal counsel, security and damage repairs. At press time, 648 donors had contributed $24,000 in just five days — just $4,000 shy of the restaurant’s $28,000 goal. Local leaders including members of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F (Forest Hills, North Cleveland Park, Van Ness), meanwhile, want to support the broader community and protect it from further threats. ANC 3F chair Malachy Nugent said he and other attendees at a community meeting one day after the incident with Metropolitan Police Department officials gained a better understanding of how residents and business owners can assist police. “There was a little bit of frustration, a little bit of finger-pointing,” Nugent said. “It was a useful conversation because the business own-

Photo courtesy of Erick Sanchez

Sanchez, right, chatted with interim Police Chief Peter Newsham during Friday’s event.

ers now understand what they need to do, what’s useful to the police and what’s not.” The police presence in the neighborhood has increased appropriately since the incident, Nugent said. He saw a uniformed officer patrolling inside the children’s section of Politics and Prose last weekend, for instance. The bookstore’s spokesperson, Jon Purves, said the increased security has been “fantastic,” though the store has received threats on social media as well as phone calls. Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3/4G (Chevy Chase) weighed in with a resolution on Monday supporting Comet, commending police and calling on local and national officials to condemn threats stemming from fake news. “It’s really important for us to stand up and say the kinds of things that are going on now cannot happen, should not happen, we can’t permit them to happen,” commission chair Randy Speck said. City officials have also taken action in response to the threats. D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson blasted fake news and conspiracy theorists on social media following the gunman incident. Even before the shooting, several council members including Ward 3’s Mary Cheh dined at Comet to show their support in light of media reports that the restaurant’s owners and staff had received death threats and other unwanted attention. In the meantime, the community isn’t letting the incident get in the way of daily life, according to Nugent. When he contacted local schools in the days after the incident to find out if staff had observed either parents or children appearing fearful or concerned, the mood was business as usual, Nugent said. “People are talking about it as a news item,” he said. “But there isn’t the level of fear that you might expect to follow something like this.”

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Wednesday, december 14, 2016 35

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36 Wednesday, december 14, 2016

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