District Fray Magazine // Winter 2023

EDITORIAL STAFF

Robert Kinsler, Publisher robert@unitedfray.com

Monica Alford, Editor-in-Chief monica@unitedfray.com

Claire Smalley, Creative Director claire@unitedfray.com

Brandon Wetherbee, Managing Editor brandon@unitedfray.com

Nicole Schaller, Assistant Editor nicole@unitedfray.com

Julia Goldberg, Editorial Designer julia@unitedfray.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Writers

Annie Agnone, Aviva Bechky, Emerson Dameron, Alice Hu, Christian Irabién, Trent Johnson, Colleen Kennedy, Chad Kinsman, Keith Loria, Nevin Martell, Haley McKey, Myles Mellor, Mayra Mejia, Abi Newhouse, Kristen Schott, Laura Silverman, Toni Tileva, Andrew J. Williams III

Editors

Annie Agnone, Jamie McCrary + Abi Newhouse

Artists + Photographers Scott Suchman, Birch Thomas + Andrew J. Williams III

Editorial Consultant Michael Clements

ON THE COVER

Photographer Birch Thomas

Subjects Mona Laviñia Garcia + Dawson Saint Jour

Location Hi-Lawn on the Union Market rooftop

UNITED FRAY

Martin Espinoza, President martin@unitedfray.com

Brittany Rheault, Chief Operating Officer brittany@unitedfray.com

Tom Roth, Key Account Manager tomroth@unitedfray.com

Mona Laviñia Garcia. Photo by Birch Thomas.

REBOOT. We’re entering 2023 with a renewed sense of purpose for District Fray. My editorial team and I spent the last few months reimagining how we want to tell stories, both narratively and visually, for our readers. Everything we do is through the lens of what we believe resonates with locals, from highlighting individuals making an impact on our community to providing insight into our burgeoning creative scene. While we’re bringing back some of our favorite annual themes, like arts & culture and style, we’re also playing with some new ideas. From a camp-themed adventure issue in June to a celebration of all things spooky in October, we’re really excited for this year’s editorial lineup. We’re kicking the year off with our Reboot Issue, delving into personal, professional and even community transformation. Chad Kinsman interviews cover subjects Dawson Saint Jour and Mona Laviñia Garcia about exploring fitness that fits your lifestyle, Laura Silverman walks us through the basics of mindful drinking, Annie Agnone deep dives into nonmonogamy’s cultural moment and how to transform your personal space, and Alice Hu shares tips for unlocking your intuition. Nearly every piece in this issue touches upon the idea of embracing change and accepting who you are and what you need to be the best version of yourself.

On another note, February is my seven-year mark as editor of the magazine, and I readily admit that I still have so much more to learn. I’m constantly soaking up the knowledge and fabulous ideas of the talented minds around me, and I can’t wait to see how we continue to evolve and where we go next. As always, thank you for supporting local journalism and staying on the ride with us for another year.

MONICA ALFORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

L TO R. Dawson Saint Jour, Mona Laviñia Garcia + Birch Thomas at Dock5. Saint Jour + Garcia at HiLawn on the Union Market rooftop. Photos by Monica Alford.

RADAR

SZA. Photo courtesy of RCA Records.

WORDS BY BRANDON WETHERBEE

Welcome to the most romantic month of the year, if you want it to be. Welcome to the least romantic month of the year, if you want it to be. Whether you’re in love, out of love or want to absolutely avoid love, we’ve got you covered.

2.1

A CONVERSATION BEHIND THE KITCHEN DOORS WITH EMMANUEL LAROCHE & FRIENDS AT BOLD FORK BOOKS

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen and go to the bookstore? $21.95 (includes signed book). 7 p.m. 3064 Mount Pleasant St. NW, DC; boldforkbooks.com // @boldforkbooks

ARI VOXX AT DC9

The final night of Voxx’s month-long residency at DC9. Don’t be shocked if her next release makes it on to multiple local year-end best-of lists. $5. 8 p.m. 1940 9th St. NW, DC; dc9.club // @dc9club

2.1-2.5

UNITED UKRAINIAN BALLET “GISELLE” AT THE KENNEDY CENTER

To say this show is a little different from all our other recommendations is an understatement. The United Ukrainian Ballet is comprised of about 60 Ukrainian dancers, most of whom fled their homeland to escape the Russian invasion. There will not be another show with this much urgency in D.C. $29+. Various times. 2700 F St. NW, DC; kennedy-center.org // @kennedycenter

2.2-2.4

KATE WILLETT AT DC IMPROV

A dirty comic if you consider dirty comedy just good comedy. $22. Various times. 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC: dcimprov.com // @dcimprov

Kids Return. Photo by Elsa Johanna.

2.2

DITA VON TEESE AT WARNER THEATRE

What a tease. $160+. 7 p.m. 13th and E Streets NW, DC; warnertheatredc.com // @warnertheatre

2.3

THE HOLD STEADY AT BLACK CAT

The Brooklyn via St. Paul/Minneapolis group is celebrating 20 years. Their entire career has been a celebration of all things rock & roll. Go hang out with a bunch of people who look like everyone in the band. I am one of those. $35. 8 p.m. 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc

SARAH

SILVERMAN AT THE KENNEDY CENTER

Silverman rarely tours, so it’s good she’s playing a very large room for her only DMV appearance. $39+. 8 p.m. 2700 F St. NW, DC; kennedy-center.org // @kennedycenter

2.4

WILLIAM MATHENY AT SONGBYRD

Matheny would have fit right in with the late ’80s, early ’90s college rock/power pop of Camper Van Beethoven, Archers of Loaf and Superchunk. And since all musical cycles repeat, Matheny sounds like now. $15+. 7 p.m. 540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc

2.6

KAASH PAIGE AT UNION STAGE

The 22-year-old will be playing a much larger room the next time she’s in D.C. She is a next-big-thing. $25+. 8 p.m. 740 Water St. SW, DC; unionstage.com // @unionstage

2.7

SAMIA AT 9:30 CLUB

For fans of Phoebe Bridgers. Unrelated, Samia is a nepo baby. But her mom is Kathy Najimy so she’s a cool nepo baby. $25. 7 p.m. 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club

2.7-2.12

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER AT THE KENNEDY CENTER

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been a part of The Kennedy Center since they opened in 1971. This show, “Revelations,” is the most widely viewed modern dance work in the world. This is the peanut butter and jelly sandwich of modern dance. It’s a can’t-miss show in its perfect setting. $49+. Various times. 2700 F St. NW, DC; kennedy-center.org // @kennedycenter

2.8

PUN

DMV AT DC IMPROV

You’re in the nerd capital of the country. In any other city, this event would be insufferable. In D.C., it’s perfect. $7. 7:30 p.m. 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC: dcimprov.com // @dcimprov

2.10

THE MOUNTAIN GOATS AT THE BIRCHMERE

Sing “This Year” as a personal anthem, out loud, as loud as you possibly can. $49.50. 7:30 p.m. 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; birchmere.com // @thebirchmere

2.10-2.11

JERRY SEINFELD AT THE ANTHEM

What’s the deal with stand-up in music venues? $700+. 7 p.m. + 9:30 p.m. 901 Wharf St. SW; theanthemdc.com // @theanthemdc

2.11

FEMME FATALE AT DC9

The queer dance party returns to the second floor of the excellent 9th and U venue. 21+. $15+. 11 p.m. 1940 9th St. NW, DC; dc9.club // @dc9club

2.12

KIDS RETURN AT SONGBYRD

A little bit MGMT, a little bit Phoenix, entirely French. $15+. 7 p.m. 540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc

2.13

JULIA WOLF AT UNION STAGE

For music fans who like Billie Eilish and Lorde but fashion fans who like “Wednesday.” $15+. 8 p.m. 740 Water St. SW, DC; unionstage.com // @unionstage

VIAGRA BOYS AT 9:30 CLUB

Do they work because they’re Swedish? Would this schtick work if they were American? Probably not. Good for them. I’m still able to enjoy “Sports.” $25. 7 p.m. 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club

2.14

BINGO AT THE FAINTING GOAT

Bingo is the ideal game for the unsure on Valentine’s Day. It’s a game that’s 100% chance — what else is more appropriate for the love holiday? Free. 6:30 p.m. 1330 U St. NW, DC; faintinggoatdc.com // @faintinggoatdc

2.15

BUSH AT THE ANTHEM

Everything zen? I do think so! $55+. 8 p.m. 901 Wharf St. SW, DC; theanthemdc.com // @theanthemdc

2.16

BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO: FLORENCE WILLIAMS IN CONVERSATION WITH RABBI NORA FEINSTEIN AT SIXTH & I

A Valentine’s week show about the science of heartbreak. $10+. 7 p.m. 600 I St. NW, DC; sixthandi.org // @sixthandi

2.17

ANTONI POROWSKI: LET’S DO DINNER AT 9:30 CLUB

The quite charming food expert (?) from “Queer Eye” spends an evening in D.C.’s most famous music club. $45. 7 p.m. 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club

2.18

UNDERGROUND COMEDY AT HOTBED

The Adams Morgan comedy club is packed most every weekend night. Get tickets ASAP for this lineup of homegrown talent. Free. 8 p.m. 2477 18th St. NW, DC; hotbedcomedydc.com // @hotbedcomedy

2.19

PRO WRESTLING VIBE BRAUMATICA AT DC BRAU

Killian McMurphy! Edith Surreal! Trish Adora! Billy Dixon! Faye Jackson! MV Young! If you’re an independent pro wrestling fan you’re already familiar with the wrestlers and the venue. If not, meet your new best friends. $23+. 8 p.m. 100 Potomac Ave. SW, DC; dcbrau.com // @dcbrau

SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS VS. D.C. DEFENDERS AT AUDI FIELD

The XFL is back, baby! The second iteration of the professional football league was a Covid casualty. For the Defenders faithful, it was a large blow. The team was doing well and the atmosphere at Audi Field was the best in the eight-team league. Hopefully version three lasts and D.C. is able to bring some glory back. D.C. proper, not the far suburbs. The Washington professional football team in the NFL does not play in Washington. $23+. 8 p.m. 100 Potomac Ave. SW, DC; xfl.com // @xfldefenders

2.20

KEB’ MO’ AT THE BIRCHMERE

The performer with 50 years, 14 Blues Foundation Awards and five Grammys comes to northern Virginia. $95. 7:30 p.m. 3701 Mount Vernon Ave. Alexandria, VA; birchmere.com // @thebirchmere

Grand Central serves delicious classic American favorites year-round for dinner Monday through Sunday. We also offer sports betting. Please visit our website for more details.

Dita Von Teese. Courtesy of Live Nation.

2.21

ELLE KING AT THE FILLMORE SILVER SPRING

King just sounds like she’s going to be rich forever. Or I’ve heard “Ex’s & Oh’s” thousands of times without ever putting it on myself. $35+. 8 p.m. 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; livenation.com // @fillmoresilverspring

2.23

ADORE DELANO AT BLACK CAT

There have been 196 “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants. There have been hundreds and hundreds of “American Idol” contestants. Adore Delano is the only person that has been both a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and an “American Idol” contestant. $35. 7 p.m. 1811 14th St. NW, DC; blackcatdc.com // @blackcatdc

2.23-26

The acclaimed New York City Center production comes to the Kennedy Center for a highly anticipated run. $45+. Various times. 2700 F St. NW, DC; kennedy-center.org // @kennedycenter

2.24

NEW YORK KNICKS VS. WASHINGTON WIZARDS AT CAPITAL ONE ARENA

Regardless of standings (as of this writing both teams are hovering around the 7-10 play-in spots), the Knicks always draw a crowd and for good reason. It’ll be interesting to see who’s even on each squad a few days after the All-Star Game. $23+. 7 p.m. 601 F St. NW, DC; nba.com/wizards // @washwizards

2.25

DC PUZZLE SWAP AT SOLID STATE BOOKS

This is for a specific type of person. I am that person. Free. 10 a.m. 600 H St. NE, DC; solidstatebooksdc.com // @solidstatedc

“GOLDEN

GIRLS: THE LAUGHS CONTINUE” AT WARNER THEATRE

Thank you for being a friend with some new friends. $34+. Various times. 13th and E Streets NW, DC; livenation.com // @warnertheatre

2.23-3.19

“INTO THE WOODS” AT THE KENNEDY CENTER Couldn’t make it to Broadway? Let Broadway come to you!

TORONTO FC VS. D.C. UNITED AT AUDI FIELD

Did you catch World Cup fever? There’s not a cure, but there are some remedies. It’s much more fun to root for the home team, especially at their home opener, than wait another season (the 2023 Women’s World Cup begins in July) for another worldwide tournament. $29+. 7:30 p.m. 100 Potomac Ave. SW, DC; dcunited.com // @dcunited

3181 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA | 703-312-8888 spiderkellys.com

1901 N Moore St. Arlington, VA | 703-317-7443 (beer garden) | 703-465-7675 (pool lounge)

| @spiderkellys

Spider Kelly’s is your local neighborhood bar. In 2016, Spider Kelly’s converted parking spaces behind the bar into a huge beer garden. The space has plenty of room to host priviate events.

continentalpoollounge.com | @ cplrosslyn

Enjoy Continental’s half-priced game rates until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our beer garden is dog and family-friendly (under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; valid ID required to purchase alcohol).

2.26

ENJAMBRE AT UNION STAGE

Mexico’s version of Bloc Party? $25+. 8 p.m. 740 Water St. SW, DC; unionstage.com // @unionstage

SUNDAY MOVIE MATINEE AT METROBAR

D.C.’s best bar in a decommissioned Metro car screens family friendly films most every Sunday. Perfect for the family looking to fill the final hours before school on Monday. Free. 4 p.m. 640 Rhode Island Ave. NE, DC; metrobardc.com // @metrobardc

2.26-2.27

J.I.D. & SMINO AT THE FILLMORE SILVER SPRING

The Luv Is 4ever tour has been selling out across the country. Get tickets ASAP. The love for these two may be forever. $271+. 8 p.m. 8656 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD; livenation.com // @fillmoresilverspring

2.27

SZA AT CAPITAL ONE ARENA

Enjoy “All the Stars” with thousands of fans singing along. $205+. 8 p.m. 601 F St. NW, DC; capitalonearena.com // @capitalonearena

2.28

DONNY BENÉT AT UNION STAGE

Australia’s answer to Har-Mar Superstar. This is a compliment. $22+. 8 p.m. 740 Water St. SW, DC; unionstage.com // @unionstage

3.1

JOURNEY AT CAPITAL ONE ARENA

It’s illegal to stop believin’. $250+. 7:30 p.m. 601 F St. NW, DC; capitalonearena.com // @capitalonearena

3.1-3.5

DC INDEPEDENT FILM FESTIVAL AT LANDMARK’S E STREET CINEMA

The 24th annual festival returns with 42 films from across the globe. $35+. Multiple times. 555 11th St. NW, DC; dciff-indie.org // @dcindiefilmfestival

3.2

MARGO PRICE AT 9:30 CLUB

For fans of Sharon Van Etten and modern country. It helps that Sharon Van Etten is on her new single. $28. 7 p.m. 815 V St. NW, DC; 930.com // @930club

Tommy Joe’s is a Bethesda tradition; from cold beer and drinks to our famous Poho wings to live music, we have what you’re looking for. With 18 TVs on our main level and 11 on our spacious rooftop bar, you won’t miss a minute of the action. Make a reservation or book your private party here today.

tommy-joes.com | @bethesdatommyjoes

7940 Norfolk Ave. Bethesda, MD | 301-312-8282

jukebox.

kellysirishtimesdc.com | @KellysIrishTimesDC

14 F St. NW, DC | 202-543-5433

Kelly’s Irish Times is a quaint, sometimes boisterous Irish pub, with great food, perfect cold pints, a wicked cast of characters behind the bar and a world-class

WWE FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN AT CAPITAL ONE ARENA

The road to WrestleMania is quite bumpy. And by the time this taping comes to D.C., it may go through Saudi Arabia. $20+. 7:45 p.m. 601 F St. NW, DC; capitalonearena.com // @capitalonearena

3.10

BETTY WHO AT THE ANTHEM

Somebody loves you. Or nobody loves you and you should meet someone that will potentially love you at a Betty Who show. $40+. 8 p.m. 901 Wharf St. SW; theanthemdc.com // @theanthemdc

3.12

WASHINGTON HARBOUR ICE RINK

It’s the last day of the 2022-23 season to lace up those skates. Related, it’s Daylight Savings Day! $9+. 11 a.m. 3050 K St. NW, DC; thewashingtonharbour.com

3.14-26

“JAGGED LITTLE PILL” AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE

One of the biggest selling records of the 90s is now a musical. There’s a pretty memorable song that mentions the theater on this record. $60+. Various times. 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; thenationaldc.com // @broadwaynatdc

3.18

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS AT CAPITAL ONE ARENA ”Sweet Georgia Brown” is now in your head. $25+. 1 p.m. 601 F St. NW, DC; capitalonearena.com // @capitalonearena

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL RUNNING SERIES

See the city in a new way with a half marathon through most of Northwest. Or don’t train and see a small portion of Northwest with a 5K. $65-$119. Various start times. Multiple locations; runrocknroll.com // @runrocknroll

3.21

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS VS. WASHINGTON CAPITALS AT CAPITAL ONE ARENA

Everyone in attendance gets to take home an Alex Ovechkin bobblehead. If you care about bobbleheads, you know this is extremely rare. I guess Ovi is good or something. $43+. 7 p.m. 601 F St. NW, DC; capitalonearena.com // @capitalonearena

3.24

BLACK MASALA AT PEARL STREET WAREHOUSE

You will dance thanks to a minimum of four horn players. Minimum! $15. 8 p.m. 33 Pearl St. SW, DC; pearlstreetwarehouse.com // @pearlstreetlive As You Are exists to hold and cultivate a safe and celebratory space for the LGBTQIA+ community. Café by day, bar and dance lounge by night, As You Are welcomes LGBTQIA+ patrons, from all walks of life, and allies in a versatile haven for queer expression and connection. 500 8th St. SE, DC | 202-506-1440 asyouaredc.com | @asyouaredc 1340 U St. NW, DC 202-525-4188

Book your next private event at the ‘CLUBHOUSE.’ Email

3.25

BLOSSOM KITE FESTIVAL AT WASHINGTON MONUMENT GROUNDS

This year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival begins March 20 and ends April 16. If you’ve been here longer than a year, you know the cherry blossom blooms are quite unpredictable. You know what you can predict? Kites! Free. 10 a.m. 2 15th St. NW, DC; nationalcherryblossomfestival.org // @cherryblossfest

3.27

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND AT CAPITAL ONE ARENA

You will get your money’s worth. But you may end up spending all of your rent money on secondary market tickets. $300+. 7:30 p.m. 601 F St. NW, DC; capitalonearena.com // @capitalonearena

3.30

ATLANTA BRAVES VS. WASHINGTON NATIONALS AT NATIONALS PARK

It’s the most wonderful day of the year! Opening Day! There’s hope! There’s always hope on Opening Day! $67+. 1:05 p.m. 100 Potomac Ave. SW, DC; mlb.com/nationals // @nationals

The Brig is a German beer garden nestled in the heart of D.C. In this open-air beer garden, you can enjoy your favorite German fare and a wide selection of beers and cocktails.

Columbia Heights map. Illustration by Terratorie // terratorie.com.

Local Tourist

WORDS BY CHAD KINSMAN

While Columbia Heights isn’t the geographical center of Washington, D.C., I like to think it’s really the heart of the District. Nestled between the major arteries of 16th Street Northwest and Georgia Avenue, it was an early bedroom community, born when the city began climbing the hill north of Florida Avenue at the turn of the 20th century. Today, it’s a largely residential, accessible neighborhood offering a diverse range of dining, shopping and entertainment options. Here are a few of my favorite places to take visiting friends and family.

Eat

Columbia Heights has long been a nucleus of the District’s Latin population, specifically for those from Central America. I don’t let people leave without trying pupusas with curtido, yuca and platanos. The hole-in-the-wall (or ground, really) El Rinconcito II is my go-to spot. 1326 Park Rd. NW, DC; places.singleplatform.com/el-rinconcito-cafe

Drink

Another underground favorite is The Thirsty Crow. If visitors have to cheer on their team on a Saturday or Sunday, I like to

Go Out

At 11th Street and Kenyon dwells Wonderland Ballroom. Kitschy décor? Yep. Sweaty dance floor? Check. Lots of themed events? That too. Plus, Underground Comedy hosts free comedy shows on Sundays at 8 p.m. 1101 Kenyon St. NW, DC; thewonderlandballroom.com // @thewonderlanddc

Shop

Entertaining bibliophiles? While Columbia Heights doesn’t have a bookstore, reading material isn’t hard to score. Target on 14th Street has a respectable selection of new and popular titles, plus the neighborhood’s abundant Little Free Libraries are a good excuse to explore side streets. There’s a great popup book seller in front of Giant most weekends, too.

Chill

Meridian Hill // Malcolm X Park shows up on these kind of lists all the time, but only because it is the best public space in the District. One, it’s gorgeous. Two, its small trails are a needed urban haven. And three, it’s full of people — and furry

Off the Clock

Seranata’s Andra “AJ” Johnson visits these spots when not managing and mixing. You’re going to go out to eat and drink. You might as well go where the pros eat and drink.

WORDS BY BRANDON WETHERBEE

Andra “AJ” Johnson is a self-proclaimed creature of habit. It makes sense. The hospitality professional has nearly two decades of experience working at some of D.C.’s finest spots (Bresca, Le Diplomate and Serenata, among others). And like any seasoned bar and restaurant pro, she’s developed habits based on quality experiences and reliable service. We asked Johnson for five places you might see her when she’s not at Serenata, working on Black Restaurant Week or writing her upcoming book, “White Plates, Black Faces.”

Before a shift

Once I fall into a niche, I kind of just like to stick with it. So, I get bagel sandwiches at Buffalo & Bergen. I do that like, six times a week. I don’t know what it is, but I literally get the same thing every time. They have vegan options, so for someone like me, it’s just phenomenal. When I’m not getting a bagel sandwich, I’ll go to La Tejana for breakfast tacos.

After a shift

I don’t have a whole lot of time to like, go out to dinner because of my job, but the place I spend a lot of time right now is [Cafe] Saint-Ex. They have a really, really great late-night DJ every other Thursday called No Hype with Jamil Hamilton (10 p.m. to close). I’ll also go to Capo Italian Deli’s backroom, in the freezer. They take care of you. Cocktails are good; sandwiches are great.

The rare night off

When I get a chance to get out of work, I always go to [pizzeria] Martha Dear. Always.

Follow AJ Johnson on Instagram at @whiteplatesblackfaces.

Buffalo & Bergen: 1309 5th St. NE, DC; 240 Massachusetts Ave. NW, DC; buffalobergendc.com // @buffalobergendc

La Tejana: 3211 Mt Pleasant St. NW, DC; latejanadc.com // @latejanadc

Cafe Saint-Ex: 1847 14th St. NW, DC; cafesaint-ex.com // @saint.ex.dc

Capo Italian Deli: 715 Florida Ave. NW, DC; capodeli.com // @capoitaliandeli

Martha Dear: 3110 Mt Pleasant St. NW, DC; marthadear.com // @marthadeardc

Andra “AJ” Johnson. Photo by Kimchi Photography.

DMV Sounds

WORDS BY BRANDON WETHERBEE

The shortest month of the year features a decade of power pop, some of the loudest bands playing the fastest, shortest songs, electronic soul, the future of opera and some unexpected harps. It’s always a good idea to go to a show. It’s an even better idea to go do a new type of show. And how often are you at a show with a harp? Multiple harps?

2.5

CORVO OPENING FOR GEL AT COMET PING PONG

Corvo has been doing hardcore the right way since their 2018 early demo recordings. Their recently released album “Cortadas” features six songs and 10 minutes of aggressive perfection. Kudos to a stellar mix and master by Matt Michael. While we’re recommending this show for the opener, do not leave before New Jersey’s GEL. The metal/garage/loud rock band is ideal for Comet. They’re not as fast as Corvo but they are heavy in their own right. $22.25. 9 p.m. Learn more about Corvo at corvodc.bandcamp.com. 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; cometpingpong.com // @cometpingpong

2.9

ABBIE PALMER, AGI KOVACS + ELIZABETH OWENS AT THE POCKET

I’ve recommended thousands of shows over the last two decades. I have never before recommended a night of harpist singer-songwriters and percussive dancing. $12-$15. 8 p.m. 1508 N Capitol St. NW, DC; thepocketdc.com // @thepocket_dc

2.11

IN-PERSON CAFRITZ YOUNG ARTISTS PERFORMANCE AT RENWICK GALLERY

A great way to enjoy an afternoon of world class music from future big names in opera. Free. 2 p.m. 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; americanart.si.edu // @americanart

2.12

SUNSTONEY OPENS FOR NISA AT PIE SHOP

Sunstoney bills herself as electronic soul. She’s not wrong. It’ll be interesting to see how she manipulates layers and layers of vocals on tracks like “Crown” and “Astral Plane” in a live setting. $12-$14. 8 p.m. Learn more about Sunstoney at sunstoney.bandcamp.com and follow @sunstoney. 1339 H St. NE, DC; pieshopdc.com // @pieshopdc

2.19

DOT DASH OPENS FOR JACUZZI BOYS AT SONGBYRD

They’re named after a Wire song, but they’re way poppier than the legendary British punk band. Their newest, November’s “Madman in the Rain,” marks their best year in their decade-long tenure. There’s some Joe Jackson in “Space Junk, Satellites,” some The Knack in “Tense & Nervous” and a little “Pleased to Meet Me” era The Replacements on “Forever Far Out.” If you’re a fan of strong power pop played by professionals, it’s hard to beat D.C.’s Dot Dash. $13-$15. 7 p.m. Learn more about Dot Dash at dotdashdc.bandcamp.com. 540 Penn St. NE, DC; songbyrddc.com // @songbyrddc

Corvo. Photo by Farrah Skeiky.

Reading List

WORDS BY BRANDON WETHERBEE

The start of a new year is the perfect time to establish better habits. It’s difficult to find habits more positive than reading more and eating better. So, we asked Bold Fork Books owner Clementine Thomas to recommend some cookbooks she’s most excited about for 2023. You may not read or cook as much as you’d like, but there’s nothing stopping you from looking at gorgeous photos of food and vicariously living an aspirational eating lifestyle.

“Yogurt & Whey: Recipes of an Iranian Immigrant Life” by Homa Dashtaki

We’re beyond excited for the first book from the founder of White Moustache yogurt (iykyk). Dashtaki has grown a cult following for her delicious, artisanal yogurt which she produces using the same traditional Iranian methods her family has used for generations. Her new book is a celebration of whey, yogurt’s oft-overlooked byproduct, with recipes ranging from ancient see-rogh to rum cocktails. It’s sure to turn even the most skeptical home cooks into ardent lovers of this tangy, liquid gold.

Pub date: March 7

“Pulp: A Practical Guide to Cooking with Fruit” by Abra Berens

“Pulp” is a celebration of fruit in both sweet and savory forms. Berens has a knack for crafting books that are both beautiful and practical. (“Ruffage,” Berens’ first cookbook, is a true

workhorse in my home kitchen.) “Pulp” promises to keep a delicious thing going.

Pub date: April 4

“More Than Cake: 100 Baking Recipes Built for Pleasure and Community” by Natasha Pickowicz

The much-anticipated debut cookbook from the celebrated baker, activist and Cherry Bombe cover star, Pickowicz draws on her Chinese and Californian roots to offer fresh and uncomplicated recipes that promise to get our tastebuds singing — think nectarine and miso tarte tatin and black cardamom pecan sticky buns

Pub date: April 11

“Asada: The Art of MexicanStyle Grilling” by Bricia Lopez with Javier Cabral In their follow-up to 2019’s “Oaxaca,” Lopez and Cabral have written the ultimate guide to creating a Mexican-style grill feast at home with more than 100 recipes ranging from aguas

frescas and appetizers to side dishes, seafood and, of course, carnes. I have a feeling this one is going to be on repeat all summer long.

Pub date: April 25

“For the Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food: Interviews, Inspiration, and Recipes” by Klancy Miller

Chef and author Klancy Miller founded For the Culture during the height of the pandemic. The magazine’s deep dive into the stories of Black women and femmes in food and wine was a shot across the bow of traditional food media. Her book promises an even more expansive exploration of these stories with profiles of contemporary entrepreneurs, chefs, food stylists, mixologists, historians, hoteliers and others alongside recipes and essays illuminating the stories of Black women who paved the way.

Pub date: May 2

“Tenderheart: A Cookbook About Vegetables and Unbreakable Family Bonds” by Hetty Lui McKinnon

“To Asia, with Love” is an absolute favorite here at the shop. Hetty’s newest book is a homage to her father, a Chinese immigrant to Australia, told in more than 180 vegetarian recipes. McKinnon, who is also the founder and editor of Peddler magazine, has a wonderful ability to find beauty in the everyday actions of cooking. Her newest is sure to be a love letter to food and family as only McKinnon can write.

Pub date: May 30

All the aforementioned books can be purchased at Bold Fork Books.

3064 Mt Pleasant St. NW, DC; boldforkbooks.com // @boldforkbooks

Film Picks

WORDS BY BRANDON WETHERBEE

D.C. is a great city for film. Every night (and some afternoons), you can catch a limited release screening at world class museums, libraries and art house theaters. Here are just a few one-night-only screenings at a variety of different venues. 2.3

“THE VIRGIN SUICIDES” (1999) AT SUNS CINEMA

Sofia Coppola’s debut features some of the hallmarks she became famous for. The cast of characters gazing at the distance with boredom, the perfect soundtrack (this one provided by Air), Kirsten Dunst portraying a troubled and doomed lead, etc. $12. 9:30 p.m. 3107 Mt Pleasant St. NW, DC; sunscinema.com // @sunscinema 2.8

“VENGEANCE IS MINE” (1979) AT FREER GALLERY OF ART

Once a month, you can catch a weekday matinee of a Japanese classic film at the Freer Gallery of Art, thanks to the Asian Art Museum. The February edition is Shōhei Imamura’s late ’70s true crime tale. Free. 2 p.m. 1050 Independence Ave. SW, DC; nmaamatinees.eventive.org // @natasianart

2.11

“LEGION OF SUPER HEROES” (2023) AT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MEMORIAL LIBRARY

This is not the 2022 film where The Rock voices a superhero dog. This is the new direct-to-streaming/DVD about Superman’s cousin, Kara. We’re recommending it because it’s presented by the DC Anime Club and if you’re at all interested in anime, go and meet some like-minded individuals. Free. 2 p.m. 901 G St. NW, DC; dclibrary.org // @dcpubliclibrary

2.25

“FILM

ABOUT A WOMAN WHO…” (1974) AT NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

The NGA has the best museum film programming in D.C. Nearly every week, they present a film that even your friend who subscribes to The Criterion Channel doesn’t know. This late February screening is part of their Yvonne Rainer Retrospective. Free. 2 p.m. 4th Street and Constitution Avenue in NW, DC; nga.gov // @ngadc

“ENCANTO”

(2021) AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN

You know what the kid in your life likes? Bruno. Not the film “Brüno” (2009). Free. 2 p.m. 4th Street and Independence Avenue in Southwest, DC; americanindian.si.edu // @smithsoniannmai

“The Virgin Suicides.” Photo from The Criterion Collection.

True Grit + True Spirit

WORDS BY COLLEEN KENNEDY

A laundry iron. A hammer. A doorknob. An old liquor bottle. A tea kettle. For her exhibition “True Grit,” presented at Brentwood Arts Exchange and reimagined for James Madison University, D.C. artist Nekisha Durrett recreated histories of women’s work — healing, loving, creating — by capturing the ghostly shapes of household objects.

She collected items recovered from old slave quarters in the corner of her friend’s farm in Virginia. Other items came from her father’s childhood home

in the Brentwood neighborhood of Northeast D.C.

She draped each item with a thin white porcelain sheet, the size and shape of a chalice veil. While researching the history of her father’s home, she learned more about her grandmother who volunteered her time to laundering the altar cloths of one of the Catholic churches in Northeast D.C. (also home to Catholic University of America and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception).

Nekisha Durrett with “Airshaft.” Photo by Shiloah Coley.

A conversation with D.C. artist Nekisha Durrett

“This is a completely voluntary, devotional service that’s performed predominantly by women of the Catholic Church,” Durrett explains. “Drying in the basement, they looked like ghosts in the house. There are these quiet, domestic feminine acts that go unnoticed which protected this house and its inhabitants.”

These are the stories Durrett tells through her art: hyperlocal histories of the DMV, the tribulations and triumphs of Black women, stories of exhilarating joy and excruciating pain.

“I feel like it’s part of my assignment to bring forward stories I think haven’t been recognized or [should be] celebrated,” Durrett says.

Durrett is a chameleon working across many styles and mediums; if you’ve encountered her works in the DMV, you may not realize they’re by the same artist. Durrett, who lives in Petworth with her wife and two cats, creates her works at her studio at STABLE in Eckington — but finds her inspiration in the many stories and histories throughout the region.

“[My artworks] may look very different, but they all speak from the same voice,” Durrett shares. “There is a distinctive voice I am championing, and that’s one of an individual who was voiceless.”

When you cross the covered bridge in The Phillips Collection, the art deco-stained, glass-like panels entitled “Airshaft” drench the space in primary colors. That’s Durrett’s nod to a Duke Ellington song — and to a decade of teaching at Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

The hemlock wood sculpture “Up ‘til Now” that was near Dupont Circle throughout the first two years of the pandemic? Also Durrett. The peephole in front allowed viewers to see the natural landscape of the District before white settlers moved in.

Over the last few years, several of her installations have been showcased at the renovated Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, including the permanent piece “Prepare to Participate.” The installation reconstructed a mural of Dr. King’s legacy by using images of protest buttons held in special collections.

Then, in “Go-Go Belongs Here,” part of the 2019 Smithsonian Solstice Saturday, Durrett repurposed 1980s go-go posters

painted by museum participants to create an expansive mural.

A key episode of Durrett’s childhood was viewing pictures from her parents’ wedding in D.C. in April 1968. In the photographs, she saw only newlywed bliss. In adulthood, her mother shared that the drive to the chapel was through the debris and charred remains of D.C. in the riots following Dr. King’s death.

“My parents weren’t revolutionaries, but their decision to get married is imbued in this resilience of spirit. And I think my work exists in between places like that: the photo album, where everyone just looks beautiful and perfect, but just outside the church door the city is on fire.”

Durrett continues to find new avenues for sharing her artwork and microhistories throughout the DMV. Upcoming features includes a work for the Baltimore Museum of Art about Harriet Tubman’s Maryland roots that goes on exhibit next April and a public art installation for Metropolitan Park in Arlington.

In Arlington, she is designing a 35-foottall brick structure that resembles a well. Inside, she’ll hang 903 blue waterdrop ceramics overhead, representing the individuals of “Queen City” who were displaced for the construction of the Pentagon in 1941. This is one of those histories of Chocolate City that has been erased in the name of progress. It’s one of those histories Durrett so carefully considers, reimagines and reconstructs in her artwork.

Durrett’s artwork lifts a veil, linking the past and present. And it’s everywhere, celebrating the lives and loves of those who call D.C. home and recovering forgotten histories of the District.

“These stories of people just living their lives get overlooked or lost in these big grand narratives,” Durrett concludes. “We don’t even recognize those gestures as carrying power or significance, but they are the story.”

Nekisha Durrett’s artwork “Frontiers” will be on display at the Baltimore Museum of Art starting April 26. For more information, visit artbma.org.

Follow Durrett on Instagram @nekishadurrett and online at nekishadurrett.com.

Looking for Durrett’s D.C. artwork?

She currently has public works on display at:

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 901 G St. NW dclibrary.org/mlk @dcpubliclibrary

The Phillips Collection 1600 21st St. NW phillipscollection.org @phillipscollection

West End Neighborhood Library 2301 L St. NW dclibrary.org/westend @dcpubliclibrary

WORDS BY AVIVA BECHKY

Kabosu cheesecake by Gregory Baumgartner. Photo by Rachel Paraoan.

Think beyond conversation hearts and red lollipops this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re a whiz with a whisk or have never cracked open your oven, these tips from five bakers and pastry chefs in D.C. will help you impress with your desserts.

Gregory Baumgartner, executive pastry chef at Cranes + Jiwa Singapura

Swap brown sugar for muscovado, table salt for Jacobsen Sea Salt. Find ingredients you wouldn’t typically use. And most of all, don’t forget to source sustainably. That’s the heart of executive pastry chef Gregory Baumgartner’s advice. “Are we actually making the effort to go out and find a company that’s invested?” he asks. Local shops like The Chocolate House offer great, ethical products, Baumgartner says. And sustainable doesn’t mean boring by any means. The chef loves a bit of glitz, suggesting edible gold or silver sprays to catch the eye. After all, “Everybody loves sparkly things,” he says.

Follow Gregory Baumgartner @atelier_pastry.

Mary Mendoza, chef + pastry chef at Tonari

The best Valentine’s Day dessert Mary Mendoza has ever eaten is a black sesame sablé with strawberry rhubarb sorbet, stark and beautiful with the contrast of pink against gray. “It was so pure,” Mendoza says. “To this day, I remember the texture, the flavors inside my head.” A pastry chef herself, Mendoza aims to pair form with function. Her favorite Valentine’s Day dessert to serve is a simple flourless chocolate cake — chocolate, eggs, sugar and butter — decorated with cherry blossoms, a splash of pink reminiscent of D.C. spring. Mendoza says she often thinks in terms of color. If she’s developing a chocolate treat, she might decide, “Chocolate is brown. So, I’m like, brown and yellow, maybe chocolate and mango with turmeric.” Desserts should be like a bright painting, Mendoza says: full of contrasting colors with different elements to see and savor.

Follow Mary Mendoza @hi_yah_boom.

Aisha Momaney, corporate executive pastry chef at 101 Hospitality

Let’s say corporate executive pastry chef Aisha Momaney wants to bake with passion fruit. She’d add another flavor, perhaps milk chocolate. Passion fruit coulis with milk chocolate crémeux, a cross between mousse and pudding, could work. Then Momaney might throw in cocoa nibs for crunch or coffee for extra pungency. A professional chef’s recipe development process might sound complicated — but you should “absolutely go for it,” Momaney says. “You could do something like even the dessert I was just talking about,” she insists. “You could easily make a chocolate crémeux at home and whip up some kind of cool fluid gel.” As for decoration, Momaney suggests a floral touch: violas, oxalis flower, nasturtium, marigold or begonia, available at Whole Foods

and local co-ops. She also encourages home cooks to Google around and try something new. Developing recipes can be a creative outlet, Momaney says: “This is my way of being able to give art to the world. And it just so happens that it’s edible.” Follow Aisha Momaney @amomaney.

Sebastian Moreno, chef de cuisine at Elcielo Washington, D.C.

Passion, velvety textures, sensuality: markers of a successful Valentine’s Day, according to chef de cuisine Sebastian Moreno. Moreno’s choco-therapy, a massage of molten chocolate, models that ethos perfectly. On Valentine’s Day at Elcielo, servers pour a special version into diners’ hands: white chocolate, accompanied by flowers. Moreno has made other elaborate desserts for the holiday: champagne ice cream with rose pastry cream and meringue, finished with actual champagne poured into the dish. But at home, Moreno says bakers can keep it simple — and stunning — with desserts like mousse, bonbons or an easy cake. “The most important thing is to think about you and your partner and how you are going to feel when you look at the dessert or eat it,” Moreno says. “Because at the end, any type of cooking is about love.”

Kareem Queeman, professional baker at Mr. Bake Sweets

“I come from baking for fun in the kitchen just because I enjoy it,” says baker and entrepreneur Kareem Queeman. “I was able to give all the things that I made to people, and they would tell me their honest feedback.” He started baking with boxed mixes around age eight or 10 and says you can’t go wrong with Ghirardelli for brownies or Duncan Hines for cakes. But for those looking to go a step further, Queeman thinks testing recipes in advance is a must. With practice, the baker has developed a menu of Valentine’s Day bestsellers: red velvet cake for two. Fudge chocolate heart brownies. A slew of cupcakes decorated with hearts or chocolate kisses. Food to enjoy with a partner or with friends. “Valentine’s Day means to me: single, single and single,” Queeman laughs. “I like to share with my friends. So, we tend to take ourselves out to dinner or have a dinner in the home and just love on each other.”

101 Hospitality: 101hospitality.com // @101hospitalitygroup

Cranes: 724 9th St. NW, DC; cranes-dc.com // @cranesdc

Elcielo: 1280 4th St. NE, DC; elcielowashington.com // @elcielowashington

Jiwa Singapura: 2001 International Dr. McLean, VA; jiwasingapura.com // @jiwasingapura

Mr. Bake Sweets: 4555 Woodberry St. Riverdale Park, MD; mrbakesweets.com // @mrbakesweets

Tonari: 707 6th St. NW, DC; tonaridc.com // @tonaridc

If This Table Could Talk

WORDS BY NEVIN MARTELL | PHOTO BY SCOTT SUCHMAN

You know Table 57 has stories to tell. The four-seat, red accented back booth at Capitol Hill mainstay The Monocle, located just a couple short blocks from the Capitol and the Supreme Court, has hosted countless political luminaries. Both sides of the aisle, all branches of government.

Barack Obama. Ted Kennedy. Neil Gorsuch. Mitch McConnell. Dianne Feinstein. Lindsey Graham. Samuel Alito. Lisa Murkowski. Joe Manchin.

The booth was a longtime haunt of Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who favored it because it was one of the last tables in the restaurant where smoking was allowed.

Plenty of celebrities have dined at Table 57, too: Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Elizabeth Taylor, Bo Derek.

This is just a sliver of The Monocle’s A-List clientele. Since Constantine “Connie” Valanos and his wife Helen opened the two-story restaurant in 1960, it has served classic, Americanminded surf and turf fare to almost everyone who has been anyone in Washington. You name it, they’ve been there, and there’s probably a signed photograph on the wall to prove it. (The restaurant has several hundred autographed portraits in its archive, occasionally adding, subtracting and rearranging the lineup on display.) Walking around to look at them is a pictorial tour of modern American politics.

Considered the first white tablecloth restaurant on the Hill, the restaurant has endured for more than six decades, despite being shut down for six months during the pandemic and then forced to close for another 79 days in the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection. Despite time and trend shifts, not much has changed over the years, which is part of its charm. The restaurant is still owned by its founding family; the Valanos’ son, John Valanos, took over in 1989. He hopes the restaurant will pass on to a third generation: his son, Constantine Valanos, who currently works in retail sales and leasing for Summit Commercial Real Estate.

John Valanos is circumspect when talking about his job and is relatively blasé about most of his clientele — “They’re our guests,” the owner says with a shrug — though he admits getting excited meeting a few celebs over the years: astronaut John Glenn, actor Robert DeNiro and the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.

Given the acrimony and divisiveness that are the hallmarks of politics these days, one would think a restaurant like The

Monocle would handle their guests with kid gloves, essentially dividing the dining room by party. Not so.

“People could be in an argument with each other that afternoon and then can be seated six feet apart,” Valanos says. “They’ll be cordial.”

Finessing the perfect seating chart does require skill.

“We try to be careful we don’t put certain people next to each other in case they want to have a private conversation,” Valanos says, who relies on his maître d’ Nick Selimos, who has been at the restaurant for nearly three decades.

Flexibility is a necessity since the restaurant’s clientele are often held up by votes, meetings or unexpected current events.

“You should see how many phone calls we have for one party sometimes,” Valanos says. “First, they call and say, ‘There’ll be five at seven o’clock.’ Then they call back. ‘No, no, that’ll be six at six o’clock.’ Then it’s another call. ‘Now it’s going to be eight — have us at eight o’clock.’ Back and forth; back and forth. Then another call. ‘Oh, by the way, I can’t come.’”

In a town with high turnover rate, in an industry with a high failure rate, The Monocle’s endurance is impressive. His equation for longevity? First, no sudden shifts.

“We change the restaurant gradually, because people feel like it’s part of their life,” he says. “If you change too much too quickly, people ask, ‘Wait, why did you take this table from here or that chair from this spot?’ They notice even the little stuff.”

Secondly: reasonable prices.

“People are spending their own dollars,” he says. “It’s not like when the lobbyists were paying.”

There’s also the food. The menu sticks to middle-of-the-road crowd pleasers. A hefty burger, salad topped with tenderloin and blue cheese and fried shrimp are all favorites at lunch, while those splurging at dinnertime can enjoy Wagyu steaks from Snake River Farms, lobster and a beloved crab cake.

The last thing that keeps people coming back to The Monocle is discretion. Valanos doesn’t spill the tea, even when he’s pressed.

“Actually, I do have a story for you,” he finally relents. “But it has to be off the record.”

The Monocle Restaurant: 107 D St. NE, DC; themonocle.com // @themonocledc

MANIFESTING A BAKE rY

WORDS BY TONI TILEVA

Rick Cook and his wife have been in the restaurant industry for decades: he as a cook and his wife Tyes as a frontof-house manager. Before the pandemic, while Rick was working first at Etto and then at 2Amys, he began experimenting with baking at home and applying some of the techniques he saw at work. (He used some of the leftover flour from work, too.)

He sold a couple dozen loaves at a weekly wine tasting at Weygandt Wines in Cleveland Park. Back then, he was making two loaves at a time in his home oven, long-fermenting the sourdough in the fridge and using lidded cast iron pots for the bake. Between the rise and the baking, he needed a full day to produce a bread loaf.

Then the pandemic hit, and Rick found himself with a lot more time as restaurants shuttered their doors.

So, the Cooks started a monthly bread subscription service — a grain to gate, if you will (sorry, I love alliteration). Business was brisk and ballooned thanks to a fortuitous article in DCist (and a painting-worthy loaf picture).

“Overnight, I had 50 emails from people waiting to get on the delivery list,” he says. “We would post the menu on Instagram in the morning, and it would sell out in minutes.”

With this good problem on his hands, Rick upgraded his kitchen oven and got a mill to grind the flour. Much like the ever-multiplying yeast, the Cooks moved from making 12 to 200 loaves. They also started selling cookies and other baked goods.

The Cooks’ lifelong dream of opening their own restaurant manifested itself in the burgeoning bakery operation.

“We just had a kid, and I really started thinking seriously about building something for our family [that] I could pass down in a sustainable way,” Rick says. “A bunch of people from the restaurant industry moved into real estate and switched careers, but I realized the baker’s schedule of 4 a.m. – 5 p.m. is actually not a bad way

to raise a family. My wife and I were so used to working 12 hours, and we saw this as something different. I have been cooking for 20 years and wanted to stay with the craft. This was perfect.”

About a year ago, the Cooks signed a lease to found Manifest Bread, their very own bakery dedicated to quality handmade products, in Riverdale, Maryland.

“[Even though] we signed the lease a year ago, we are opening in September. This gives you an idea of how much preparation goes into equipping and designing the space.”

Riverdale is close to Cottage City, home to the Cooks’ OG cottage food home bakery. They also ran a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign which overshot its goal in just 20 days. With the funds, they bought a stone mill, oven and mixer.

Milling the flour right before it is used is critical for the flavor profile (as any bread connoisseur will tell you), but it also makes for a beautiful bread biome of nutrients, oils and pre- and probiotics. Rick also sources local spelt, wheat and rye from Maryland and Pennsylvania.

“It is going to be a bit strange being in a commercial space,” Rick laughs. “Right now, our dining room doubles as the baking space. We have about 1,000 pounds of grain under my son’s bed.”

Rick describes himself as “the bread boy,” while Tyes wields “the binder and the bullhorn.” And much like baking, the Cooks’ dream of a space to call their own manifested itself organically.

“There is this huge underground community of home bakers across the country that feels very much like a family. We share tips and puzzle over techniques — the yeast is wild and has a life of its own. The rise seems to come out of nowhere and has its own kind of energy and pull.”

Manifest Bread: 6208 Rhode Island Ave. Riverdale Park, MD; manifestbread.com // @manifest_bread

Give your carb knowledge a boost with these essential terms.

Alveoli: The holes created in the crumb of the bread. Many artisan breads boast an uneven structure with translucent strands of gluten.

Crumb: The interior of a loaf of bread. Often described as either open crumb (lots of irregular holes) or closed crumb (fine-textured).

First rise: The first fermentation after the dough is mixed but before the loaf is shaped. Also known as bulk fermentation.

Gluten: The proteins that allow dough to stretch out and maintain its shape. When combined with water, it gives structure to baked goods.

Maillard reaction: The reaction that occurs when a mix of protein, starch and water is heated above 250 degrees. It contributes to the browning of the bread crust and caramelized flavor.

Proofing: The final rise of dough after it is shaped. Also known as the second rise.

Sourdough: A culture of wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria that ferments cereal grains. Also known as sourdough starter or levain.

Gluten-free? Go with sourdough.

Bread that does not rely on commercial yeast strains for a quick rise is easier to digest — especially for those who have trouble with gluten, a protein that breaks down almost fully before the bread is baked.

When you mill your own flour — as we would have in days past — the result is a more rustic bread with a significantly richer array of nutrients, much higher fiber and a far lower GI. The fiber of whole grains contains many prebiotic fibers that fuel the good bacteria in the gut, promoting their growth.

Photo by Rick Cook.

“While many of our stories share similar themes, we all take different paths to keep our traditions alive.”

L TO R. Yicela Alvarado. Photo by William Martinez. Carlos Raba. Photo courtesy of subject.

Global Appetite

How food binds my Mexican community to its roots

WORDS BY CHRISTIAN IRABIÉN | EDITS BY NEVIN MARTELL

For immigrants living in the U.S., preserving native culture is a constant challenge. Systemic structures of assimilation built into American society often make it difficult for immigrants to openly share their identities. Simultaneously, customs and traditions are slowly erased as people are urged to fit in by acting, looking and sounding more “American.”

Like many fellow Mexicans, I faced those obstacles. In 1991, searching for opportunities and a better life, my mother transplanted us from Chihuahua, Mexico to El Paso, Texas; my grandparents followed soon after. Though our family received plenty of benefits from this move, many of our customs began to fade.

However, traditions around food endured.

There was a time when I sat around the dinner table with my family in Chihuahua almost daily. My abuelita (grandmother) would cook warm, flavor-forward foods for us, relying on recipes passed down through generations. My family introduced me to dishes I still love more than anything else: puchero (rich beef and vegetable soup), cochinita pibil (achiote-rubbed pork braised in sour orange), and birria (tender goat stew seasoned with chiles and roasted tomatoes).

This food also became a way for my family to make money. My grandparents opened a Yucatan-style seafood restaurant, where I spent my teenage years dishwashing, doing prep work and bussing tables.

After growing up in the kitchen, my family pushed me to do anything but become a chef. I tried. But following a stint in international finance, I found my way back to restaurants. As a first-generation Mexican immigrant, searching for connection to my identity proved difficult, but food became a tether to my past. It helped me find a sense of belonging to a larger community.

However, my traditions aren’t static; they are constantly evolving. After marrying a Korean-Jewish woman, I created Mexican Chrismukkah, a new tradition where we open our home to friends and family in the style of a Mexican posada (inn). We make a welcome ponche de navidad (Christmas punch) loaded with tejocote, guava and hibiscus flowers with a boozy shot of piquete for the adults. For the table, we have giant platters of tamales stuffed with chicken in salsa verde, pork in chile colorado and a pot of pozole (guajillo broth with popped hominy, heavy with oregano). To honor my wife’s heritage, we serve both a mountain of latkes with applesauce and japchae (sweet potato noodles tossed with a rainbow of vegetables).

Moments like our Mexican Chrismukkah are a reminder that Mexican immigrants are not a monolith, despite some

flawed and biased media depictions. While many of our stories share similar themes, we all take different paths to keep our traditions alive.

Carlos Raba, chef and partner of Baltimore’s Clavel, grew up in Sinaloa, Mexico with multiple generations of family close by. Raba’s family would often gather for big meals featuring oven-roasted pork loin, bacalao (prepared salt cod), atole (a hot drink made with corn masa) and buñuelos (thin, crispy fritters coated with cinnamon sugar).

Raba still makes tortillas de harina (flour tortillas), galletitas de nuez (Mexican wedding cookies), and ceviches (citrus-cured fish and seafood). But he and his wife are adding new American traditions to their repertoire, like running a turkey trot before gathering the family for a Thanksgiving feast of turkey and steaks at The Prime Rib in Baltimore.

Yicela Alvarado, co-owner of Columbia Heights staple Taqueria Habanero, says the idea of tradition is one of evolution. Though she and her sisters were born in the States, their family has roots in Tepazolco, a small farming town two hours away from Puebla City. Her father was a taquero (taco cook), while her mother sold antojitos (traditional Mexican snacks) on the street. Alvarado and her parents now gather for breakfast every morning — a time full of beloved routines, old and new.

“While my parents have their instant coffee and pan dulce, I join them with my espresso and kouign-amann,” she says. “We talk about our dreams and what is on the agenda for the day.”

At dinner, the table is often covered in foods connecting the family to its ancestors: tamales concealing chocolatey, well-spiced mole poblano; rajas con queso (roasted poblano in creamy, cheesy sauce); slow cooked black and pinto beans seasoned with avocado leaves; and corn tortillas filled with a tempting array of guisados (stews).

As I examine my own history and traditions and speak with others in my community, I am constantly reminded that understanding where we come from is imperative; it is the foundation on which our identities are built. Yet redefining and evolving what Mexican traditions can look like is essential to ensuring our culture remains vibrant and strong as we move forward.

Clavel: 225 W 23rd St. Baltimore, MD; barclavel.com // @bar_clavel

Taqueria Habanero: 3710 14th St. NW, DC; taqueriahabanero.com // @taqueriahabanero

DRINK

Photo courtesy of Derek Brown’s “Mindful Mixology.”

The

ABCs of Mindful Drinking

WORDS BY LAURA SILVERMAN

By now, you’ve probably noticed Washington, D.C. is becoming a more inclusive hospitality hotspot. Our town’s first ever booze-free bar, Binge Bar, recently opened. Umbrella Dry Drinks, Alexandria’s non-alcoholic bottle shop, just celebrated its one-year anniversary. And we just wrapped up another successful Mindful Drinking Festival in D.C. last November.

So, what is mindful drinking, you ask? It’s essentially the practice of being aware of why and how much alcohol one drinks. While it’s related to sober curiosity, it’s not the same thing. Mindful drinkers may still drink alcohol, but they usually drink much less and switch off with nonalcoholic beverages.

While everyone’s individual situation has nuance, here are the three basic steps of becoming a mindful drinker.

Three steps to becoming a mindful drinker

1. Change your mindset. Start asking yourself questions like: Why and how much am I drinking? Do I need to drink to have fun? Is alcohol still serving me? Am I drinking responsibly? What do I like about drinking? Is it the taste and the ritual, or the effect it has on me?

2. Change your habits. Alternate between a boozy drink and a booze-free one. Experiment with drinking alcohol one or two fewer days a week than normal. Plan for a Sunday morning hike where having a hangover might not benefit you.

3. Change your drinks. This is the fun part. Maybe it’s finding a great nonalcoholic beer or wine that you can pair with dinner when you might normally pour something with a higher ABV. It might mean going to Total Wine, Craft Beer Cellar DC or Umbrella Dry Drinks and stocking up on some booze-free bevs to have at home for yourself and fellow mindful drinking friends. Or it could mean transforming full ABV cocktails into lowABV ones.

Terms to know

ABV: Alcohol by volume.

Booze-free: Sans alcohol, which can be a selfdescriptor for those choosing not to drink.

Dry months: Months like Dry January, Dry July and Sober October where people take a month off of drinking to engage in sober curiosity. These months can be considered a “detox” after a heavy holiday season of partying but can also be ways to see if one’s life improves by not drinking alcohol (improvements can be in sleep, mental health, physical health and more). Can result in longer term sobriety or a more mindful approach to drinking alcohol.

Low + no: Term for beverage movement comprised of low (from 0.5% up to 7% ABV) and no alcohol (0.5% ABV or lower).

Mindful drinking: The practice of being aware of why and how much alcohol you drink, and is related to sober curious, but not the same. Mindful drinkers may still drink alcohol, but they drink less and switch off with non-alcoholic beverages.

Non-alcoholic: Beverages are considered nonalcoholic by the Food and Drug Administration when they are 0.5% ABV or lower.

Recovery: A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives and strive to reach their full potential (samhsa.gov).

Sober: The opposite of drunk, sober is also a term many non-drinkers use to describe themselves. This can be related to recovery but is not mutually exclusive.

Sober curious: Term coined by Ruby Warrington (author of the book “Sober Curious”) questioning why we drink through intentionality and curiosity; can result in trying on sobriety for a period of time.

Sobriety spectrum: All the reasons someone might choose not to drink for the night or the rest of their lives: designated drivers, abstainers for medical or religious reasons, straight-edge/ non-drinkers, sober curious, health-conscious, in recovery.

Zero proof: Descriptor for non-alcoholic; can contain 0-0.5% ABV.

Your approach

“The best way to approach mindful drinking is not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, stop drinking cold turkey and huddle in a corner at home. Think about how you’d like to feel and write that down. Visualize who you are at the party, the bar, the event. Set goals to be that person. This might mean reducing your drinking and replacing drinks with alcohol with delicious nonalcoholic alternatives. Or it might mean drinking lowalcohol drinks. The key is to go into it knowing what you want out of it, take it slowly, and don’t give up being with people you care about and having fun. It’s not what you give up. It’s leaning into the best parts of life.”

- Derek Brown, co-founder of Mindful Drinking Festival + founder of Positive Damage Inc.

Beauty + functionality

“I love the intersection of beauty and function. I see this in the way I practice mindful consumption. Having access to beautiful beverages that are in alignment with my values and day to day is super important and easier than you’d think. I’m often very privileged to have access to many options and quality ingredients. But even when I don’t, taking a breath before I make the decision to consume something gives me clarity and often appreciation for what is in front of me. It also gives me a moment to decide if it’s what I actually want.”

- Maria Bastasch, creator of Disco Mary + co-founder of Mindful Drinking Festival

Inclusive hosting

“Be cognizant and respectful of those who aren’t drinking alcohol. Continue to invite them to your activities. Offer NA options if you have a get-together or choose a bar or restaurant that has NA offerings beyond water. As with everything in life, be kind and inclusive.”

- Erika Goedrich, Craft Beer Cellar DC + co-founder of Mindful Drinking Festival

A holistic POV

“As a consultant, mindful drinking means planning creative and balanced beverage programs to have options for all bar guests. As a friend and host (if I’m having people over), it means planning drinks based specifically on my guests’ needs. I’m happy to make themed drinks and very specific and curated cocktails because these are people I know well. It’s a fun way to show your friends that you listen to them and love them. For myself, it means living an alcohol-free life.”

- Jon Schott, Riff Raff Drink Co.

MUSIC

Jack Kays. Photos by Cagla Akcadag.

BY NICOLE SCHALLER

On a dreary cold October day, festivalgoers crowded together to conserve warmth as rain sporadically fell at last All Things Go Music Festival. During a pause in the rain, a man took the stage with a guitar, no accompanying band and proceeded to sing a desperate plea:

Oh my, I am wasting my time I try pretending I’m fine

As I wither away, remember my name down the line I am barely alive

The artist, Jack Kays, continued through his set with each song offering the same sentiment: stripped down acoustic melodies with raw, vulnerable lyrics. Suddenly, standing in a sea of thousands of damp festivalgoers felt intimate.

The 24-year-old’s music offers emotional depth shrouded in simplicity, providing catharsis to anyone who has ever gone through strife.

“Music is an outlet for me,” Kays noted as he sat in his NoMa apartment that also serves as his studio. “I write as if I were writing in a diary, and it’s all very fast.”

His 2021 debut album “MIXED EMOTIONS” evokes angst, frustration and sorrow. In multiple songs, his vocals teeter on the edge of a full-on scream, but always fall just short.

“I was expressing a lot about my experience with bipolar disorder and my experience with [drug and alcohol] addiction,” Kays said about the album.

The indie musician’s talent to captivate listeners through honesty caught the attention of drummer Travis Barker early on. Prior to the release of “MIXED EMOTIONS,” Barker messaged Kays on Instagram, which turned into a FaceTime and an invitation to collaborate.

“I was a little punk kid, so I’ve loved Blink-182,” Kays said. “And I always looked up to Travis because drums are my first instrument. He’s one of the best drummers in the world. I played him the unmixed songs from the album when I was in the studio with him for the first time.”

Their instant connection led to their 2021 EP “MY FAVORITE NIGHTMARES,” and helped Kays launch to the next level of his music career.

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Kays grew up learning different instruments. He recalled playing the drums when he was 4 years old in his family’s basement and “developing a sense of rhythm early on.” The drums were followed by piano lessons in fourth grade and learning the saxophone in fifth grade. By high school, he was in theatre, voice lessons and band, but quit them all after picking up the guitar and taking a music tech class that taught him how to produce.

“I started becoming obsessed with producing and playing the guitar. I wanted to be my own artist and not in band. I didn’t want to be one in the crowd. I wanted to be able to express myself and be me.”

Kays now views his guitar as an extension of himself and plays a few hours every day. After visiting his girlfriend in D.C. while she attended George Washington University for four years, he moved to an unfinished basement apartment in Dupont Circle in 2021. It was there he began producing “MIXED EMOTIONS.”

Since his success and collaborations frequently take him to LA to work on music, Kays tried to live there full time but quickly realized it was not the place for him. He listed his lack of driver’s license and missing all four seasons as reasons, but his main issue was reminiscent to why he quit band.

WORDS

A Cincinnati punk kid who found home in D.C.

“I moved away from LA because I didn’t want to be part of a music scene,” Kays said. “I just want to be a person. That’s my ultimate goal in life: to just exist.”

Further, his love and ties to the District is what brought him to set roots in D.C.

“I like being here. I feel I can really hear myself. [Plus, the] sidewalks are nice, and there are bike lanes on every street, amazing parks, free museums and some of the best food in the states. It does not get better than this city.”

Kays rattled off his favorite D.C. spots to frequent, including Bagels Etc., KoChix, Sakana, the Dupont Farmers Market and 7Drum City, where he rehearsed before going on his most recent five-week tour this past October. Kays traveled to 16 cities including LA, New York, Chicago, Boston and Toronto, and sold over 6,000 tickets, resulting in many sold-out shows.

“It was just the coolest month of my life,” Kays reflects. “But I’m very glad to be back. I am such a homebody.”

Like the nature of his songs, Kays does not shy away from conversing about his mental health and addiction struggles. As of the time of this interview, he shared he reached 90 days of sobriety.

“Musicians or people in a spotlight often portray this perfect life. And that’s never the case. It makes an unrealistic expectation for anybody who’s looking at them. Or we see people glamorizing destructive lifestyles of artists and that’s even more dangerous. So, I try to be open and honest as much as I can.”

His journey to sobriety is evident in his latest EP, aptly named “CESSATION.” His vocals shift to a more melodic and eased nature from his previous work. His lyrics also mirror a change.

“‘CESSATION’ is a reflection on my past, a diary of the present and then also looking into the future,” Kays said. “All five songs are kind of about my current state of mind. There are still those somber and dark notes there, but I’m in a better situation now.”

Each song on the EP carries hope, even if just a glimmer. “I think we’re all works in progress, and I think it’s unrealistic to strive for 100% happiness or contentment,” Kays said. “But if you can make the split a little larger on the happiness side, that’s a win for me.”

Looking forward, Kays hopes to continue dropping singles throughout the year, hit the festival circuit hard and open for bigger acts. For his next tour, he will no longer perform solo onstage. He plans to bring his brother to play bass, a friend to DJ and is actively looking for a local drummer.

In the meantime, Kays is still getting acquainted to his growing success. While he admits he originally created music to express himself, the response to his songs from fans has also caused a shift in him.

“Whenever somebody says they’re getting sober because of my music, that’s amazing. I get a lot of comments like, ‘I really resonate with your music. It means a lot to me you do this.’ And that’s the coolest thing in the world to me.”

Listen to Jack Kays’ music on all major streaming platforms and stay updated on his new music and tour by visiting jackkays.com or following him on Instagram @jackkays.

EVERYTHING Artist collective knows how to rock D.C. NICE

WORDS BY TRENT JOHNSON

L TO R. DJ Bo + DJ K-Meta. Photo courtesy of subjects.

Just before Kaleb Metaferia’s mother passed away in 2016, she imparted the DJ better known as K-Meta with advice he already knew, yet still needed to hear. After Metaferia spent years spinning in dance hall night clubs, playing instrumentals for battling rappers and bouncing from venue to venue to fill slots, she suggested he start his own party.

“I used to complain a lot about playing all this music I don’t like at clubs, and I wanted to do stuff where I was the boss,” Metaferia says. “I felt like I was more of an artist than that. I was doing well, but I didn’t want to go so far down that road. So, a couple months after [my mother] passed, I got an opportunity to have my own night party at Velvet Lounge. And I was thinking of names and [went with] Everything Nice.”

The title is borrowed from a Popcaan song, a dancehall anthem that encapsulates the positive vibes he hopes to imbue to attendees.

“The vibe of that song is very triumphant, like ‘I’m feelin’ nice!’” he says. “Everything gotta be nice.”

During its inception, Everything Nice was a monthly party hosted by Metaferia, intended as an escape or reprieve for busy D.C. folks. But following a hiatus in 2017 to search for a more fitting venue and restructure the party, Metaferia recruited fellow area DJ Aloysius Tamasang, better known by his stage name: Bo.

“It was a similar thing to K-Meta,” Tamasang says. “I was playing a lot of songs and music I didn’t care for. I pride my DJing style on doing tricks here or there, and that never works in a club [laughs]. Everything Nice is a space I could get my ideas out.”

In 2019, following Bo’s recruitment, the revived Everything Nice transformed from a monthly night party to a day party during summer

months, with themed festivities, vibrant flyers and the two DJs taking turns behind Seratos. Everything Nice was experiencing and doing everything right, gaining momentum right up until in-person celebrations halted entirely due to Covid-19.

During the pandemic months, Everything Nice stayed active much like other venues via streaming, social media and by maintaining their monthly curated playlists. However, since re-engaging with live events, the two began a spin-off party, appropriately dubbed the Boom Boom Room, a twice-monthly event hosted at Cafe Saint-Ex in Northwest D.C.

“Very basement energy,” Tamasang says. “We want people to sweat before they leave.”

“You know how comedians go to smaller clubs to try out new stuff?” Metaferia adds. “That’s kind of what we do with that show.”

As for Everything Nice’s 2023, the Boom Boom Room’s one-year anniversary takes place in February; the two have pop-ups planned throughout the spring and day parties will return in May.

Even though the two DJs still set their own schedules aside from Everything Nice, both agree their parties help tether them and continue to inspire creativity.

“We have the best party in the city,” Metaferia says. “I think this could be something we travel with and open up to more things like charity work. We want it to be like a whole monster that we can take in different lanes.”

Follow Everything Nice on Instagram @everythingnicedc. You can also follow DJ K-Meta @djkmeta and DJ Bo @boknowsdjing. Check out their website at everythingnicedc.com.

Something no one knows about you

DJ Bo: “I won a dance talent show in high school and I’m a huge movie nerd. I think ‘Barbarian’ was the best movie I saw this year.”

DJ K-Meta: “I was the lead in my middle school play, ‘The Music Man.’ Another thing: I’m a huge ‘Seinfeld’ fan. I want to DJ a ‘Seinfeld’-themed party so badly. I have no idea what that would look like, though.”

Why DJing in D.C. is unique

DJ Bo: “D.C. is probably one of the tougher cities to play, but they give you a lot of different ranges. Staying in D.C. keeps your sword sharp as far as being a DJ. It’s a good catalyst on how to read a crowd, more so than any other city I’ve been to. Its location allows them to be really up-to-date with music from all over the country.”

DJ K-Meta: “We love the D.C. area and scene. If you can rock a D.C. party, you can rock a party anywhere. It’s good practice. Whenever we go to New York or LA, it’s kind of easier. And the fact that we can play go-go. You can’t play gogo anywhere else. It’s our home and I don’t see us moving.”

CULTURE

L TO R. Sarah Renzi Sanders + Angie Meche Kilcullen. Photo courtesy of subjects.

A new art space in Kensington, co-founded by local artists Sarah Renzi Sanders and Angie Meche Kilcullen, champions women artists.

WORDS BY HALEY MCKEY

Sarah Renzi Sanders and Angie Meche Kilcullen were artists, friends and neighbors in Kensington, Maryland. When a local thrift shop closed, they came together to make something of the space, and are now co-founders of the recently opened gallery and studio space Girls Who Paint.

In early 2022, Sanders walked into the shop next door to ask about the vacant space, and the thrift shop owner told her he wasn’t renewing his lease.

“I called Angie; I had to do some convincing,” Sanders says.

The shop was full of merchandise that covered the windows and made it hard to imagine as an open gallery space, but they decided to go for it.

“We made the decision on Valentine’s Day and signed the lease on March 15. Then we just got to work.”

Together, they set to work ripping up carpeting, painting the floors (it took about seven coats, Sanders recalls) and refurbishing furniture.

Sanders and Kilcullen shared a vision of “bringing a community of artists, art lovers and supporters together in a vibrant, welcoming and beautifully appointed space,” Kilcullen says, who has been active in the arts in Kensington for more than a decade.

They also wanted to focus on increasing access to art and creating a platform for women artists, who are underrepresented in major galleries and in museums. A recent analysis of major U.S. art museums by researchers at Williams College found that just 13% of artists featured in collections are women, despite the fact that nearly 55% of working artists are female.

Sanders developed her practice outside of traditional pathways and taught art classes before selling her own work. She says Femme Fatale DC, an entrepreneurial hub that showcases women, nonbinary artists and makers, helped build her presence. As she started to submit work to shows and grow her network, she wanted to create a similar model of artists supporting artists, women supporting women in her neighborhood.

Girls Who Paint opened on April 29, 2022. The space’s first exhibition celebrated artists who are also mothers, an important group to Sanders and Kilcullen who are parents themselves.

“It’s hard to find that balance and to be taken seriously: ‘Oh, well she’s a mom, this is just a hobby,’” Sanders says. “We had 15 or so artist mothers in that show. It was raining and we thought no one was going to show up, but the town came through. We were packed.”

Their first juried show was curated by artist Selena Jackson. Now, Girls Who Paint regularly holds open calls for juried exhibitions.

Their latest show, “Love Hurts,” curated by Helen Criales and Heather Lynn, is set to open on February 9. In addition to the gallery, artists and makers sell their work during business hours and hold pop-ups. The space also offers paint nights and art classes for kids.

As Girls Who Paint’s one-year anniversary approaches, Sanders and Kilcullen look forward to building on their success.

“We will grow by remaining accessible, encouraging and authentic in our mission to make art more accessible to all in a relaxed and un-intimidating environment,” Kilcullen says. “The main thing I’ve learned since launching this business is how very much our space was needed. Every day we are encouraged by those who walk through our doors because of their positive reactions to what we are creating.”

Girls Who Paint is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and by appointment. “Love Hurts” opens on February 9.

Girls Who Paint: 10419 Fawcett St. Kensington, MD; girlswhopaint.com // @girls.who.paint

FEMME FATALE DC

Stop by the shop to support small local businesses and buy art, jewelry, home decor and more. Check Femme Fatale’s social channels for their creative community events and pop-ups. Wednesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

3409 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; femmefataledc.com // @femmefataledc

FRIENDS ARTSPACE

A meticulously curated gallery tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, Friends Artspace’s next exhibition opens on February 12. By appointment only.

2400 N Edgewood St. Arlington, VA; friendsartspace.com // @friendsartspace

STABLE ARTS

Located right off the Metropolitan Bike Trail, the studio complex provides D.C. an active workspace for visual artists and engaging programming for the community. Friday and Saturday, 12-6 p.m.

336 Randolph Pl. NE, DC;  stablearts.org // @stablearts

Looking for more creative spaces in the D.C. community?

Photo courtesy of Girls Who Paint.

COME PLAY WITH US

Join a DC Fray spring league to make friends, build community and have fun. Team sport registration closes March 21. Bar sport registration closes March 28.

throwing Basketball Bocce

football Hockey Kickball

Skeeball Soccer Softball Tennis Ultimate frisbee Volleyball

Navigating Trauma Through Art

A conversation

VanBrunt on the healing power of art therapy

WORDS BY ANDREW J. WILLIAMS III

The George Washington University (GW) Art Therapy Clinic was launched 14 years ago by the clinic’s current director Tally Tripp as an extension of the 50-year-old graduate level GW Art Therapy program. Later aligned with the program’s newly established trauma track, the clinic evolved in response to a growing desire for art therapy-oriented services in the community.

Services are provided by grad students, who apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to outpatient treatment of trauma, mood issues and more. The current iteration of the clinic now serves more than 40 client outpatients every year.

District Fray sat down with visiting clinical coordinator and assistant professor Arika VanBrunt to learn more about the clinic’s work and explore ways Washingtonians can apply the clinic’s principles and practices in their everyday lives as a means of personal and communal healing.

District Fray: What makes art therapy an effective way to treat trauma?

Arika VanBrunt: Trauma is a whole body experience; it’s a physiological experience. Art therapy helps us engage the whole body and expression going past words. Art making helps us tap into that less conscious material and create something tangible. In therapy, trauma or not, it’s hard to talk about self. If we can put out there what we’re experiencing, then we have this tangible other to really sit with and process and see what’s coming up for us in a nonthreatening way — and follow that lead.

What makes D.C. such a unique place for this work to grow and evolve?

It’s an East Coast central city; the pace is fast and the expectations are high. Having the space to slow down, take a pulse and connect with others is really important. It’s also an expensive place to live and that makes things unaffordable, like mental health [care]. We have folks who are refugees; we have government folks coming in and out, impacted by

Photo courtesy of GW Art Therapy Clinic.

political trauma and warfare overseas. Then we have issues coming up on the home front with feelings of racial unsafety. How do we create space to connect, grow and heal?

How can people apply the principles of art therapy to their everyday lives?

The big thing is setting aside the time to check in and take a pulse on our needs and thinking about what’s working for you and what’s not. What community resources are there if you’re feeling alone, disconnected from your body, or like you don’t have a place to release your feelings or identify what’s coming up for you. Artmaking can be a really grounding process. Let’s normalize that we all need creativity and self-care, whether that’s breath tracing or creating and destroying. And if people can tap into some of the artmaking in the community — if there are affordable opportunities for people to gather, connect and create a safe space to have a shared experience, it’s so powerful.

How can someone impart these approaches to others, like family, friends or strangers?

I think about modeling and taking the time to slow down together. What are those moments of taking a breath, stretching, moving in space? [There’s also] playful, joyous dancing — not all expression has to be visual. [There’s] storytelling within spaces and carrying on traditions and cherished tales. I think about creating traditional meals together or tapping into the neighbor next door who you know is alone — coming over with a plate of food, or just to say hi or [bring] flowers from outside. It’s about moving, being present and aware, and doing that in a space in a shared world.

To learn more about the GW Art Therapy Clinic, visit arttherapy.columbian.gwu.edu or follow them on Instagram @gwarttherapy.

with Arika

Inside Igor’s Custom

WORDS + PHOTOS BY ANDREW J. WILLIAMS III

An antique gas pump out front, a classic blue Ford truck and the words “Hello trouble, come on in” emblazoned on the red and black brick shop front were my cues to peek around the corner.

This is where I meet Igor, tucked away in Virginia Beach’s vibrant ViBe Creative District inside a garage-turned-grunge canvas. He’s rocking a patchwork of full-sleeve and leg tattoos, and a Stooges tee. He turns to his left, flashing a weathered but handsome smile, and offers an unassuming “How’s it going?”

His space is home to classic refrigerators, half-dusted paintings and other honorariums to Americana gathered over a lifetime, providing a satisfying feast for the senses. The best way to describe Igor’s sanctuary is a blend of Guillermo del Toro’s house of horrors and “American Hot Rod.”

Igor’s Custom is filled with taxidermized animals of every ilk — from foxes in sunglasses to weasels and wildcats — and a parade of oddities and eccentrics inside a closet-sized attraction called “The World’s Smallest Museum,” complete with easels, paints brushes, sketches, memorabilia and more.

On this unseasonably warm October afternoon, Igor is painting a retooled 1960 split-window Volkswagen bus. Fashioned with brilliant pops of yellow, the bus is a rare collector’s item that Igor explains has become harder and

harder to come by. The height and width of the bus have been shortened, “a no-no in the world of Volkswagen enthusiasts,” and retrofitted with a 500 cubic-inch Cadillac motor in the back.

“You can pretty much just look at the gas pedal and the front wheels come off the ground,” Igor says.

Igor’s contribution to this rolling work of art — the property of a well-known car enthusiast, philanthropist and friend — is the addition of Hawaiian-inspired typography reading “Freaky tiki, hot rod shop.”

“I get to do so many crazy cars,” he continues. “Some of them are super rare that I’ll probably never see or touch again — like million-dollar cars.”

For Igor, this is a normal Monday and his little slice of heaven, a chance to leave his literal fingerprints on exotic automobiles and museum-worthy pieces by adding intricate pinstripes and funky lettering.

He exudes a loner vibe at first meeting, but I sense he enjoys a good conversation. I ask if I can return in a few days to chat on the record. I have so many questions: How does one become a painter of cars, motorcycle helmets, storefront signs and larger-than-life murals in a seasonal beach destination?

The Roadie

As a kid growing up in New Castle County, Delaware, Igor would frequently draw monsters in his schoolbooks — a journey into the fantastical that’s echoed in his collection of oddities. He studied commercial art in high school and first learned to paint grocery store signs in the ’80s when hand-painted window signs like “Steaks for 15 cents” were still commonplace.

Igor’s first official gig was painting signs for his aunt and uncle’s pizza shop as a teenager, a short-lived, though lucrative, endeavor and his first taste of entrepreneurship. After high school, Igor moved to Ocean City, Maryland, where he painted the sides of boats. He eventually made his way to Virginia Beach in 1990, where he was hired to do window displays for a local store chain. Ten years later, he decided to dive fully into his art, an idea he initially resisted before necessity intervened.

“I had to do something, or I was going to go broke,” Igor remembers. “I tried the painting thing and from day one, I’ve never had to do anything else.”

Igor always had artistic inclinations, which were greatly influenced by his mother and grandfather’s art, and he inherited his petrol-head genes from his dad and uncle’s love of classic cars and foray into drag racing in the ’60s. His creative genius is equally fueled by his eclectic taste in music, and his shop includes the paraphernalia of a true audiophile.

“If you’re working on something really aggressive and you’ve got some really hard-driving, hardcore music, I think that helps,” Igor suggests. “Or if you’re working on something really pretty, and you’ve got some nice, calming music.”

Long before Igor made his way to Virginia Beach, he stumbled into a career as a roadie for Top 40 pop group Y-NOT?! This is where he was first exposed to D.C.’s iconic music scene. He recalls seeing the legendary hardcore punk Bad Brains on several occasions at 9:30 Club, and recounts one unforgettable evening with one of the world’s greatest living trumpet players, Wynton Marsalis, at Blues Alley.

He has a hall-of-fame-worthy dance card of melodic experiences: seeing Sting in the front row; witnessing James Brown christen the reopening of Norfolk, Virginia venue NorVa in 2000; sitting on a tour bus with B.B. King; and selling a piece of his art to Kid Rock for $20,000 at a Nashville auction to benefit veterans.

And Igor is already salivating at the return of Pharrell Williams’ Something in the Water festival taking place in Virginia Beach this April, following a short run in the District.

Helcker-Skelter

Igor emphasizes that being onedimensional is a recipe for failure — it’s a gut check which serves as an invaluable lesson for any creative.

“I had to know how to pinstripe, do gold leafing, paint signs [and] murals,” Igor says of his skillset in the early days. “Really anything anybody came into my shop to ask for, I had to be well-rounded or know how to fake it.”

Igor has amassed quite a resume, leading to his involvement in Virginia Beach’s annual mural festival. Each year in May, 10 murals go up in 10 days in the ViBe District, with artists traveling from as far as Ohio and Oklahoma to participate.

In 2018, during the festival’s inaugural year, Igor agreed to join the cohort of painters. What emerged from that process was Igor’s signature work of art, a reimagined rendering of a painting by 20th-century American illustrator Peter Helck, who was famous for composing racecar-inspired pieces.

“I don’t know what the hell I was thinking,” Igor laughs. “I stumbled across one of his paintings and [thought], ‘That’s pretty awesome and fitting. Do I attempt to do a 100-footlong classic painting? Yes.’”

The project almost didn’t happen. Igor needed permission to use one of Helck’s creations as source material. He reached out to the family with his request and had to wait for everyone to individually sign off. He had all but given up when he received a note that read, “Everybody talked about it, and we want you to have at it and make it your own.”

Igor set out with an old-school projector, often drawing in the dark and through a steady stream of rain showers, within shouting distance of Richmond-based muralists Ed Trask and Caesar. The most important lesson received from his contemporaries during that 10-day stretch was to invest in a better projector, which was the first thing he purchased after completing the mural.

He describes the ViBe District’s mural festival as one of the coolest moments of his career — almost as cool as getting a chance to show the finished product to Helck’s grandson. The opportunity to reimagine Helck’s work is, just like his shop and professional journey, an example of Igor’s ability to strike a balance between sheer chance, beautiful chaos and creative triumph.

Igor’s Custom: 607 19th St. Unit D, Virginia Beach, VA // @igorscustom

Igor’s little shop of reminiscences

Of the many oddities, trinkets and knick-knacks inside Igor’s shop, we asked him which are his most cherished.

#1: MUSEUM

“It’s a collection of stuff I’ve gathered over the last 30 years. I love people walking in and being completely shocked at what’s behind the door. There’s so much stuff in that tiny room.”

#2: OLD SIGN EASEL

“It was built in Raleigh, North Carolina in the late ‘20s by a local sign painter.”

#3:

STIR STICK SCULPTURE

“It’s a ton of wood stir sticks I’ve piled together through the years. Everyone seems to point it out and ask about it.”

#4:

REFERENCE BOOKS

“I’ve got some really cool old sign painter books, including for wagon and carriage painting (pre-auto).”

#5:

SIGN PAINTER HAND-ME-DOWNS

“I’ve got a few things from sign painter friends, including a couple of signs and a sign kit. They’re all special to me. I think about each [artist] every time I’m in my shop. They helped me out, for sure.”

Changi n g S paces

Trans f ormin g your homeafter a l i ef c ah gn e

Photo by Julian Thomas.

Last summer, I split up with my partner of 11 years. It was an almost unnervingly amicable breakup — sad, but not ugly — that nevertheless left me deeply unmoored.

Afterward, I returned to New York. Looking around my Queens apartment, I didn’t like what I saw: It had too much furniture, yet no good place to relax or work. Nothing on the walls. Clutter accumulated quickly and took forever to put away. Whenever I had someone new over, they asked if I’d just moved in.

I’d never been able to justify investing in a space that wasn’t my true home. But it had — suddenly, bittersweetly — become just that.

That same summer, I enlisted the help of an interior designer and set out to transform my living space. It wasn’t the traditional purge-and-burn of every reminder. Instead, we talked about how I wanted to use the space. This meant more than just my aesthetics: I was surprised by our deeper conversations about my values, what I needed to keep and what I was ready to let go of.

For the first time in years, I thought about the answers to those questions just for me. We kept costs down by sourcing

used furniture from Facebook Marketplace. We put up wild and fun maximalist peel-and-stick wallpaper.

At first, the project just kept me busy — a welcome, healthy distraction. But it became much more. It became a physical manifestation of an enormous life change. In making the space my own, I re-committed to myself and my independence. In designing a space built for my needs, filled with things that make me happy, I made a place I could cry, laugh, be with friends or alone and reimagine what I wanted for my life. The process was a way I could safely exercise control when everything else felt out of control.

It took six months, but the result was a sense of peace and stability: a home where I feel relaxed when I return and energized when I wake up. A space that reflects who I am, that I’m eager to build on and proud to share with others.

I’m not the first person to make a dramatic change to their living situation after a heartbreak. Think “Under the Tuscan Sun,” Or 2006’s “The Holiday” starring Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black. Whether after a death, a big move, a divorce, a job change or retirement, seeking a change in scenery (in your own home or beyond) while grieving is common enough to be cliché. The practice is intuitive and underpinned by research in the field of neuroaesthetics, which investigates how visual cues in our surroundings affect everything from our heart rate and sleep patterns to our relationships and mental health.

To learn more about why space matters, I spoke with D.C.’s own Jenny Albertini, certified KonMari consultant, public health expert and mindfulness guide. Albertini spent two decades as an advisor with the U.S. government, focusing on the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the equitable distribution of health services to women. Looking for change, Albertini trained with Marie Kondo before founding her company Decluttered in 2016. Now she works with clients to transform their spaces, combining her penchants for organization expertise in systems and behavioral change. She’s also working on a book about the connections between our health and the environments where we spend our time (homes, workplaces and communities).

Albertini explains that the things that surround us can have a huge impact on our emotional wellbeing. In addition to impacting how we spend our time and energy, everything in our space can be seen as a symbol that tells a story about our lives.

“That pile of papers is not just a pile of papers,” she says. “It’s a stack of decisions I haven’t made yet. All those clothes in a heap on the floor are not just clothes waiting to go in the laundry. They’re a symbol that my husband didn’t do the one household task he said he would do.”

The physical objects in our homes are often a reflection of our inner state, too.

“I’ve seen interpersonal dynamics really leak out into the closets and kitchens of our homes,” she notes.

This amounts to the makings of a self-perpetuating cycle that can be difficult to break.

I asked Albertini what she recommends for someone considering transforming their space in the wake of a life change. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Start with compassion.

Above all, Albertini hopes those attempting to transform their space after a major life upheaval can show themselves

Jenny Albertini. Photo by Birch Thomas.

compassion and patience with their process as it unfolds. “Sometimes, when people are going through [a life change], they need stuff that represents the previous period of their lives out of their house immediately. They want the ex-partner’s stuff out. They need to sell their parents’ house as soon as possible. And other people really can’t do that. People need to feel their way into what the right timeline is for them.”

Take it seriously.

Treat the transformation of your space with the importance it deserves. Set goals. Find people to keep you accountable. Make a schedule and stick to it. “It doesn’t have to be a lot of time, but it does have to be regular time,” Albertini says. “Think of it like a training program, like you’re going to the gym or seeing a nutritionist: Things don’t all get fixed in one day. But if you’re doing [this work] in a regular and repetitive way, you’re going to be able to feel and appreciate the changes more long-term.” Taking the process seriously, Albertini points out, sends a message that your space (and yourself) are important enough to prioritize.

Make decisions informed by what you want.

How do you want your space to feel? How do you want to feel when you’re in it? What does the person you want to become need to wear, use and have? Albertini recommends using the answers to these questions as guardrails for decisions about what to keep or allow into your home and what to let go of. Pro tip: If you’re decluttering, separate things into categories to go through: clothing, books, paper, miscellaneous items. Save sentimental items for last so you have a chance to practice your decision-making skills on lower stakes stuff, like T-shirts and receipts.

Preserve joy.

Rather than simply tossing out everything having to do with your life change, try to preserve a few pieces of joy. Put photos and letters in a scrapbook. Make a collage or piece of art commemorating the change you’re going through. Take this as an opportunity to honor the person or time in your life that was important to you and reflect on what you want to carry with you to the other side of a transition. “You have to transform that love,” Albertini says. “We don’t just lop off these parts of ourselves. They’re always a part of us. But we want to feel like we’ve grown and moved forward.” Albertini notes there’s a practical benefit to this approach, too: Carefully selecting a few things to keep makes it easier to let go of other things.

Take a shopping pause.

In all periods of great change, consider putting a pause on discretionary spending. Your credit card statement can offer a window on what types of things you buy to try to feel good. “If you’re constantly bringing new things into your space without actively letting go of the things that aren’t serving you anymore, you’re really just making your problem worse,” Albertini says. “You’re not giving yourself a chance to let go of what has happened.” Instead, Albertini suggests, initiate a pause so you have time to think through the bigger picture of how you want to live your life and what you want your space to feel like, so in the future you can allocate your resources in the ways you really want.

Jenny Albertini’s first book, “Decluttered: Living a Less Overwhelmed Life,” is forthcoming in late 2023 or early 2024. To learn more about Albertini and Decluttered and stay in the loop about her work, visit her website and sign up for her mailing list at jennyalbertini.com. Follow her on Instagram @declutteredbyjenny.

APPOINTED’S 2023 YEAR TASK PLANNER

“I’ve tried a lot of different planners, but the only one I have bought three years in a row is the task planner from D.C. store Appointed. The layouts are intuitive, and they strike the right balance between space for goal setting and practically managing your tasks. Bonus points because they come in great colors.”

1500 Okie St. NE, DC; appointed.co // @appointedco

DISTRICT PILATES

“Supporting my clients can be emotionally weighty, as well as physically demanding when we are dealing with moving large volumes of items. If I don’t take care of my own well-being, I am less able to help others. Starting weekly classes at District Pilates last year has been one of the best ways to strengthen my physical body and lift my mood at the same time.”

1302 9th St. NW, DC; 4011 Georgia Ave. NW, DC; districtpilatesdc.com // @districtpilates

FRAMEBRIDGE

“Headquartered in D.C., Framebridge has become my go-to for making personal stories come to life. They create pieces based on photos or objects, giving you options to take your special memories out of the boxes collecting dust in your basement and onto your walls to brighten your day.”

1262 4th St. NE, DC; 1919 14th St. NW, DC; framebridge.com // @framebridge

THE OASIS ALLIANCE

“We all deserve to live and work in beautiful spaces, and local organization The Oasis Alliance carries this mission into the homes of trauma survivors, co-creating personalized spaces for their clients that encourage and support recovery, growth and mental wellbeing. Donating toward their efforts is a way to help others transform their lives while you are in the midst of your own transformation.” theoasisalliance.org // @theoasisalliance_

UNLOCKING

YOUR INTUITION

WORDS BY ALICE HU

To access your intuition is to have a deep understanding of yourself. It’s learning how to quiet the internal and external noise to recognize when your truth is trying to speak to you.

But how exactly do you access intuition?

What does it sound like?

What does it feel like?

Janelle Mirabeau, yoga teacher at Flow Yoga Center and magnet program coordinator at Sibley Memorial Hospital, has found that yoga, meditation, journaling, cooking and getting outside are great ways to connect to and strengthen her intuition.

In particular, the body is key to connecting with intuition, because it will always communicate through feeling.

“The more [you] listen to [your] body, the louder your intuition will become,” says Tetiana Podoliako, owner of Rawfully Delish. “It’s a special bond and trust that took me time to build.”

It is difficult to separate intuition and mindfulness. To be mindful is to be more present and aware of your current situation. Intuition, too, requires you to pay attention. So when practicing mindfulness, a side effect is strengthening intuition.

You won’t always be able to easily connect with your intuition. The relationship with your intuition is like most relationships: It takes time to develop and understand. Intuition also shows up slightly different for each individual.

“Find moments throughout the day to sit still and connect with your intuition.”

Janelle Mirabeau.

Photo by Michael Luecke.

When asked what intuition sounds like, photographer Birch Thomas describes it as a “yes” feeling in the body.

“The voice of my intuition is gentle and creates a release of tension or anxiety,” Thomas says, “as opposed to my ego, which can cause my thoughts to race a bit or my body to tense up.”

While your intuition won’t ever lead you down the wrong path, it can sometimes feel incongruous with your current situation, Mirabeau says.

“I don’t always agree with my intuition or inner voice, but I know my ‘voice of knowing’ when I hear or feel it,” she says. “It feels familiar and distinct.”

Intuition can inspire you to move to a different city even when you’ve just signed a new lease. It can call on you to start a business when your career is going well. For many business owners, it can be an important tool.

Podoliako started Rawfully Delish after conceiving of the idea right before she fell asleep while visiting family in Ukraine.

“The message was so clear that there was no doubt it needed to be realized. Now I follow my intuition in how I conduct my business and what projects or ideas to take on.”

Running a business can also activate and build intuition. Thomas believes photography taught her how to follow her intuition.

When reflecting on how it has helped, she shares that listening to her emotions and understanding energy has helped her grow her business.

“Consistent meditation has helped me connect with my inner knowing.”

Tetiana Podoliako.

Photo by Birch Thomas.

“I can tell within a few minutes of feeling out a new opportunity if it is for me or if I should focus my energy elsewhere.”

She asks herself the question: “Does this project, client or photo give me energy or deplete it?”

When Mirabeau is teaching a yoga class, she uses intuition to guide her. She remembers a moment when she was in the studio long before she decided to teach.

“As I walked back and forth in the room, I heard my inner voice say I was going to teach yoga in the room someday. And now I do!”

When asked about how alcohol affects their intuition, all three agree that they rarely drink.

“My relationship with alcohol has changed since my awareness of my energy and intuition grew,” Podoliako says. “Alcohol lowers my ability to be in tune with myself.”

For those who have been intrigued by intuition, this is your sign to start following your inner knowing and listening to your truth. What messages do you need to receive? It may feel uncomfortable, but it will lead you on an incredible adventure.

Birch Thomas Photography: photosbybirch.com // @birch

Flow Yoga Center: 1450 P St. NW, DC; flowyogacenter.com // @flowyogacenter

Rawfully Delish: rawfullydelish.com // @rawfullydelish

“Living in integrity allows your intuition to get louder.”

Birch Thomas.

Photo By Anne Kim.

NONMONOGAMY

101

Discover new ways to learn and connect as polyamory reaches the mainstream in D.C.

WORDS

BY ANNIE AGNONE

Non-monogamy seems to be everywhere. The term refers to a constellation of approaches to love and romance — from polyamory and relationship anarchy to monogamish and swinging. And though it’s far from new, non-monogamy is having a cultural moment. Perhaps you’re already practicing some version of it yourself or have an acquaintance who is opening their marriage. Maybe you’ve seen polyamorous relationships depicted on TV or read about them online. As non-monogamy gains more

widespread acceptance and popularity, organizations and companies are rolling out events and services aimed at helping the curious learn more and meet others doing the same.

Heralding non-monogamy’s arrival to the zeitgeist is the rise of the dating app Feeld. While far from all users are nonmonogamous, the app’s sex-positive, open-minded ethos and multi partnerfriendly functionalities have secured its reputation as a haven for people exploring non-traditional relationship structures. Founded in 2014, Feeld (née

Feeld World DC. Photos by Rebekah Barlas.

“Thrinder”) has seen a massive increase in overall usership in the past two years, and the percentage of users listing ethical non-monogamy (or a variation) as a desire on their profiles has jumped over 240%.

A hotspot of that growth has been D.C. That, combined with a concentration of people working from home, made the District a prime market for Feeld’s latest offering: in-person opportunities for users to connect.

“We know there are people who might feel individualized in their own cities, and we understand that community is actually an important part of individual relationship journeys,” says Maceo Keeling, expansion lead on Feeld’s marketing team.

To test the waters, Feeld organized a pilot event called FeeldWorldDC, held December 13 at The LINE Hotel in Adams Morgan — the first of what Feeld hopes to be many events in the DMV.

Supporting a Growing Community

Tamara Pincus, D.C.-based sex therapist, licensed clinical social worker and founder of The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment and Education, has been working with non-monogamous clients in the area for more than a decade. And though she has had nonmonogamous clients throughout her career, she notes that the volume of clients practicing some form of nonmonogamy has grown recently, as has cultural acceptance.

“It’s considered normal now to have poly clients in your practice,” she says, “and to be affirming — not try to change them into monogamous people. That did not exist when I started.”

One of the first explicitly polyfriendly therapists in the city, Pincus says many of her colleagues now advertise as poly-friendly as well.

“I think the main problem with the Free Love movement of the ’60s and ’70s was there was a lot of ‘You should just be able to love whoever you want!’” Pincus says. “But not a lot of thinking about ‘Okay, but how do we deal with the emotions that come with that?’ I think people really do better when they have some guidance.”

Dating apps have taken notice, too. Feeld was the first app to let users pair their profile with a partner, a functionality being adopted by their competitors as well. Other features, like

initiating group chats for connections involving more than two people and explicitly listing sexual desires (threesome, polyamory), alongside more predictable dating profile interests (travel, yoga), create a clear on ramp for users to be direct about what they’re seeking and find connections who are aligned.

“We think of people as whole beings,” Keeling says. “And sexuality is a part of their being.”

Hi, D.C. We’re Feeld.

Feeld users arrived at the LINE’s 3,800 square foot mezzanine event space where stained glass, vaulted ceilings, leather, wood and marble betray the hotel’s past life as a church. Attendees cycled through activities led by local sex and relationship experts — each a stop on an immersive dating game board — to learn and reflect on their own desires, interests, curiosities and boundaries.

After completing all the activities, participants could access the upstairs lounge (presided over by D.C. drag icon Pussy Noir) for dancing, drinks and continued conversation.

“We wanted to gamify this experience and make it fun, and for people to connect with themselves so they were prepared to connect with each other,” Keeling says.

The resulting experience was part mixer, part scavenger hunt, part journaling prompt.

Attendees brought varying levels of experience and interest in nonmonogamy, and attended with one or more partners, with friends or by themselves. And though participants flowed through the activity stations, they seemed equally interested in just chatting with one another.

In the end, more than 1,500 people RSVPed to FeeldWorldDC. That night, a queue snaked from the event space and down a flight of stairs, looping through The LINE’s No Goodbyes restaurant and bar area. After quickly reaching capacity around 250, event organizers had to turn people away at the door.

“We had an assumption that these events would be popular,” Keeling says, “but now we’re finding that really there’s an exorbitant amount of curiosity or a ridiculously undersupported community.”

Tips from the Pros

We asked Feeld what advice the company has for people exploring (or considering) non-monogamy for the first time. Here’s what they had to say.

Check in with yourself. Take this as an opportunity to be curious. Ask yourself hard questions about what you really want. Honest, authentic answers will lead you to the types of connections you truly desire.

Feelings aren’t failings. Questioning the default relationship structure of coupledom requires a lot of introspection and can be deeply challenging on a personal, relational and societal level.

Accept and allow hard feelings, and make sure you show yourself, and your partner(s), compassion.

Communicate, communicate, communicate.

If you have a partner, make sure you make time to dive into explorative conversations openly and often, and truly listen to what everyone is looking for and going through. If you’re exploring on your own, check in with yourself and others to keep expectations aligned.

Seek community. Start by reading about different relationship structures to gain some understanding and confidence around the topic. (Feeld’s blog and Instagram are great places to start.) Then seek out people to talk about your new feelings and experiences with.

Take it at your own pace.

If and when you feel ready, try exploring what you might be into.

Looking to the Future

Neither non-monogamy nor monogamy are inherently superior but rather a matter of the personal preferences or identities of those involved. But the practical and emotional learning curve for nonmonogamy can be steep, as it challenges norms associated with monogamy, the dominant relationship structure in our culture.

“We live in a very mono-normative society,” Pincus says. “Making that philosophical shift internally [is] a big process. You can’t just do that overnight.”

And while Feeld is ultimately a dating app designed to facilitate connections, Keeling notes that the company’s inperson experiences are not just about

helping users meet in real life, but about participating in changing the culture around dating and relationships.

“People have started to come [to Feeld] not only to practice living differently, but to learn about it,” he says.

While Feeld does occasionally offer speed dating events, the app also runs glossary campaigns and desire workshops to help users learn about sexuality terms they might not be aware of, but might find they’re curious about or match their interests or experiences.

“We’re trying to not only create spaces for existing communities,” Keeling says, “but create spaces where future communities can develop — and where identities we don’t even know about yet can have a voice and experiences.”

Local Non-Monogamy Resources

Feeld events

Feeld plans to launch additional experiences in the D.C. area this year, which could include sponsored happy hours at local bars and comedy nights to educational workshops. For more flexibility, Feeld also offers virtual events and group chats. feeld.co // @feeldco

Meetup groups

Meetup offers users an easy way to find or initiate virtual and in-person gatherings with others who share their interests. There are several Meetup groups in the DMV centered on different forms of non-monogamy. meetup.com/openofdmv meetup.com/black-poly-dmv meetup.com/bmorepoly

Monthly poly discussion group

The DC Center for the LGBT Community hosts a monthly drop-in polyamory discussion group. Facilitated by Tamara Pincus, the group offers a space for participants to ask questions, seek and share community support and discuss challenges pertaining to nonmonogamy. The group typically meets every third Thursday from 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom, with options for monthly in-person meetups as well.

thedccenter.org/poly

The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment and Education

The Pincus Center offers classes on ethical non-monogamy, coaching around polyamory and dating, and therapy for poly individuals and relationships. Pincus emphasizes that her work is all about nurturing people through the process of shifting the way they view romantic relationships. tamarapincus.com

Skincare is Self-Care

Tips on finding the right skincare routine

WORDS BY NICOLE SCHALLER

Intricate multi-step skincare routines have been all the rage the past few years, with social media viewers eagerly consuming their favorite influencer or celebrity’s skincare content in hopes of achieving similar results. But skincare doesn’t have to be fixated on meeting society’s unrealistic demands for flawless skin. It can be a chance to treat yourself each day, regardless of the number of steps or products. A chance to ease into the day and feel refreshed, or alternatively, to unwind before going to bed. Streamlining the number of steps to the essentials (unless 10+ steps bring you happiness, then you do you!) and shifting your mindset on why you’re doing a routine can be good for your skin and your overall wellbeing in the long run. Becky Waddell, owner of the local holistic spa and natural skincare product shop Take Care, offers tips and recommendations on products to set you up on the right path for an attainable, wellness-focused skincare routine.

District Fray: What are the essentials of a quality skincare routine?

Becky Waddell: No matter who you are, it’s all about hydration, especially in the winter — but truthfully, always! Skincare should be fully customized to your specific skin, needs, preferences and goals.

[But on a general level people should use] a cleanser that cleans the skin without stripping, a treatment serum that hydrates and revitalizes, a treatment serum that addresses any specific skin concerns and then a cream to moisturize. After that, things like oils, balms, exfoliants and masks should be selected based on skin goals.

How often should people switch their skincare products?

It totally depends on how one’s skin is responding to their products. I tend to think folks should stick with what works instead of constantly changing new things. That said, it’s fine to explore new products. It’s super fun, after all! If you’re going to swap things in and out, I recommend not doing too many pieces of the routine at once. Changing too many skincare products makes it hard to know what is working and what

could potentially be irritating. Seasonal changes are also a good time to make updates to your routine.

What additional skincare treatments should be considered for at-home care?

I think at-home tools are fantastic for meeting goals, but which one is right completely depends on the goals. Some come with more risk and potential for overdoing it, so I approach them with caution. Before purchasing a tool for at-home use, you should talk to your esthetician about your goals and make sure you choose a tool that meets your needs, and ideally, ask for suggestions on how frequently to use it and how to use it correctly.

Gua sha [a popular tool used to sculpt facial muscles], when used consistently and correctly, can yield very positive

Waddell’s morning skincare routine

Cleanser: Laurel Oil Cleanser

Serums: Vintner’s Daughter Active Treatment

Essence + Tata Harper Superkind Bio-Barrier Serum

Moisturizer: Ojai Wild Virgin Bloom Chamomile Facial Oil

Bonus: Ildi Pekar Tissue Repair Serum

Waddell’s favorite brands

Tammy Fender, Marie Veronique + Superkind collection from Tata Harper

Waddell’s favorite products

Ojai Wild’s Virgin Bloom Chamomile Facial Oil + Ildi Pekar’s Tissue Repair Serum

results. I love Sandra Lanshin Chiu of Lanshin’s video tutorials for a Traditional Chinese Medicine-trained perspective on this specific tool. There are too many folks who have no business telling others how to do gua sha these days and she really cuts through the noise.

To stay up-to-date on Waddell’s skincare recommendations, visit Take Care, open from 12-6 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday through Friday, and from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekends. Follow her on Instagram @takecareshopdc (she frequently posts helpful skincare reels and makeup tutorials).

Take Care: 1338 Wisconsin Ave. NW, DC; takecareshopdc.com // @takecareshopdc

Becky Waddell. Photos courtesy of Take Care.

Members Only

What fuels “FOMO creator” Alyssa Bonk

WORDS BY EMERSON DAMERON

We are so grateful for the people who help make District Fray possible, so we’re highlighting them in our Members Only series. Become a member at districtfray.com/subscribe.

This month, we meet Alyssa Bonk, founder of Luck & Hustle PR. Bonk gives us the lowdown on working in PR, how to do what’s best for you and of course, her favorite places in D.C.

District Fray: What do you do for a living, and how did you get there?

Alyssa Bonk: I am founder and principal of Luck & Hustle PR and communications and public relations manager for Leading DC (owned by John Rorapaugh). I also bartend for Mission Group (owned by Fritz Brogan and Reed Landry). As a PR and strategic marketing professional, I like to tell people I’m a professional fangirl and FOMO creator. I champion the businesses I care about and believe in to get them the recognition they deserve. I was finally able to find a home in this profession through a lot of trial and error and refusal to let others define me and what I wanted to do.

What has been the most significant turning point in your career or your life?

The turning point for me came in my late twenties when I was working 80 to 100-hour weeks between PAC fundraising and the hospitality industry. I raised funds by day and bartended, served and hosted in restaurants at night. It was after getting burned out that I decided to fully commit to the hospitality industry.

What advice would you give to yourself right after graduation?

Focus on figuring out what you really want in life and what makes you happy. Then find a way to make a living out of that. Don’t worry about the conventional definition of success or get distracted by what other people think you should be doing. Success is creating a life you’re happy to live and looking at yourself in the mirror every morning with pride.

What do you most enjoy about being a District Fray member?

I love the personal stories District Fray tells and its commitment to amplify the voices who contribute to the cultural fabric of D.C. I love attending the events they curate and the diverse community of creatives they bring together.

Photo courtesy of subject.

Your neighborhood: Pentagon City is where I live, but I’d say the L from 14th Street (around Black Whiskey area) down to the end of U Street (as far down as Flash) is where you can usually find me hanging out. Favorite museum: National Gallery of Art. Go-to cuisine: I would say it’s a tie between Italian and Korean. 2023 goal: Travel as much as possible.

Learn more about Luck & Hustle PR at luckandhustlepr.com and follow Bonk on Instagram @alyssa_bonk.

WORDS BY ABI NEWHOUSE

Walk down any D.C. street and you’ll hear its soundtrack: the man on his bike blasting music from his stereo, the chants and rallying cries of protests, the robotic drones from metro stations, the cheers from the many stadiums, the rolling water along Rock Creek Park trails. The following D.C. podcasters capture this sound in their individual niches, interviewing and highlighting the people, things and thoughts that make the District what it is. If you’re looking to add another layer of sound to your daily life, check out these shows.

L TO R. Caroline Winkler + Jess DeBakey. Photo courtesy of subjects.

For

the story

lover: “The Inner Loop Radio”

Looking to bring together a disparate community of creative writers, co-hosts Courtney Sexton and Rachel Coonce interview local authors about their work within the creative writing world. Each episode has a theme on some part of writing, and Sexton and Coonce dive deep, analyzing and commiserating on different aspects of creating in the D.C. area. Episodes air monthly and are usually about 45 minutes long. Visit their website at theinnerlooplit.org and follow them on Instagram @theinnerlooplit.

Want more like this? Check out Story District’s podcast “Story District Presents.”

For the music lover: “Rhizome DC”

This podcast showcases music from artists who will be performing at Rhizome, a nonprofit community arts space — a short and sweet sample of what’s to come. “We are always thinking about ways to let people know about the mindblowing cultural experiences they could be having,” Layne Garrett, program director at Rhizome says. Interviews with the artists overlay the music, creating an experience they hope will bring people to, in Garrett’s words, their “humble little venue.” Episodes air weekly on Tuesdays and are about 10 minutes long. Visit their website at rhizomedc.org and follow them on Instagram at @rhizome_dc.

Want more like this? Check out “Wiggly World” for talks on music and local happenings.

For the soccer lover: RFK Refugees

RFK Refugees produces three soccer podcasts: “United 96,” which covers DC United; “Kindred Spirits,” which covers the Washington Spirits; and “Next in Line,” which covers Loudon United and the DC United Academy. Co-creators Jon Hoffman and Ted Meyer enjoy the way podcasts allow them to form a relationship with the listener. “You end up spending hours with that person in their car or while they’re on the treadmill at the gym,” Hoffman says. Hoffman and Meyer regularly interview players, coaches, announcers and personalities to provide a well-rounded scope of D.C. soccer. Episode air dates and lengths vary, and there are live shows every Monday via Twitch. Visit their website at rfkrefugees.com and follow them on Instagram @rfkrefugees.

Want more like this? Check out “The Bad Hombres FC,” a quarterly podcast about soccer in the DMV.

For the food lover: “The Moveable Feast”

Three D.C. natives — Jenna Golden, Tammy Gordon and Tony Fratto — take the mics to talk all things food. Their aim is to help people have great experiences at restaurants; to have full confidence they won’t waste time or money. The well-traveled hosts have tried many different cuisines, and their website’s interactive map can help you find your next culinary delight in D.C. Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays and are usually about 30 minutes long. Visit their website at moveablefeastpod.com and follow them on Instagram @moveablefeastpod.

Want more like this? Check out “Dish City,” a food podcast produced by WAMU.

For the existential humor lover: “Not for Everyone”

Co-hosted by Caroline Winkler, D.C. YouTuber-extraordinaire, and Jess DeBakey, a Chicago-based podcaster, “Not for Everyone” combines mindset hacks with comedy. Episodes vary — some more serious, some more frivolous — but either way, the co-hosts dive deep into whatever topic they decide to cover. “If you love petty rants and shower thoughts, or if you’re tired of social media feeling like a place where no one says anything honest, come hang out,” Winkler says. Episodes air Thursdays and are usually about an hour long. Visit their Instagram @not4everyonepod.

Want more like this? Check out “Wait! Don’t Do It!,” a podcast on D.C. happenings by two “LBGTQ-ties.”

For the local history lover: “Porchtales”

A collaboration between HumanitiesDC and local podcaster Prof. D. Boose, this six-episode podcast tells the story of Sister Koko, a freedom fighter who has advocated for equitable treatment of D.C.’s Black community since the 1960s. Listeners get to know Sister Koko’s story while feeling like they’re hanging on a porch, listening to a neighbor who’s seen it all. Episodes are about 30 minutes long. Visit their website at humanitiesdc.org and follow them on Instagram @humanitiesdc.

Want more like this? Check out “City Cast DC,” a daily podcast that covers local news, trends and history.

L TO R. Dawson Saint Jour + Mona Laviñia Garcia.

FITNESS THAT FITS YOU

WORDS BY CHAD KINSMAN | PHOTOS BY BIRCH THOMAS

Mona Laviñia Garcia and Dawson Saint Jour want you to move.

The last few years have been hard on my body. Between quarantine, the pressures of a career change, financial shifts and entering my later 30s, my relationship with health and fitness needs a reboot. That’s why I jumped at the chance to meet with two of D.C.’s most dynamic fitness leaders and entrepreneurs: Mona Laviñia Garcia and Dawson Saint Jour.

Even a quick sprint through their CVs shows why these two are fit to land on the cover of our Winter Issue. Garcia, a native Washingtonian, is the co-founder of Northeast Track Club, a free and inclusive running community; creator and movement specialist at MVMT Lab, an experimental strength and conditioning space; and founding trainer and talent manager at D.C.’s Rumble Boxing. Saint Jour, a founding trainer at Rumble, is a boxer, an MMA fighter, a certified National Personal Training Institute trainer, the founder of HIIT Hard Training (which combines boxing and high-intensity interval training) and a rising multimedia star.

I sat down with them at FLEX DC, a new gym housed in a historic firehouse. It’s a suitable location for these two, who spoke with enough heat, and heart, to inspire me to sign up for my first-ever fitness challenge. As soon as I’m done typing, I’ll be moving.

District Fray: How did your fitness journeys start?

Mona Laviñia Garcia: I was stuck in traffic at the circle by George Washington Hospital and realized I felt stuck in life. There was a restlessness with my job, and I wanted to figure out what I was doing. Then, I saw a woman running in the rain. She wasn’t stuck. She looked strong, she looked powerful. She wasn’t letting anything stop her. I was like, “I want to be that woman.” So, I signed up for a 5k. I wasn’t a runner at that point. I played soccer when I was younger but after college, I didn’t do movement or anything. Fast forward from there, I’ve gone all the way from marathons to ultra-marathons, and I’m at the point now where I want to share this with people.

Dawson Saint Jour: I’m an immigrant from Haiti. My mom brought me here to be born because she thought that was the best way for me to have opportunities in life. We went back to Haiti for six years, and when I came back [to the U.S.], I got bullied and beat up on the regular because I couldn’t speak English, couldn’t enunciate words. I started boxing so I could learn how to defend myself. In high school, I made friends with people who were being bullied, so it felt like teaching boxing chose me. I ended up going to school for physical therapy and received a personal training certification. I worked at every major gym you can think of, found my niche and now it’s second nature to me.

How do you each define fitness?

Garcia: The first mission is longevity; you want to live and lead a good life, to be there for your family. It also helps with mental health. Moving your body every day helps with your

mindset; having that routine, that habit, that consistency in doing something you enjoy. Performance wise, you will get what you want if you work on it every day, but there are so many aspects of fitness. Have fun with it.

Saint Jour: Fitness releases endorphins into your body which makes you feel more positive and have good vibes. When it comes to boxing or weight training or HIIT, it’s about overcoming mental humps. If you ever have bad days, if you ever thought you couldn’t get over something, if you ever felt defeated, if you ever felt that you can’t look at yourself in a positive light, work out. Give yourself an hour where you work on yourself. That’s what fitness is for. You need an hour to yourself to dedicate to yourself. Every rep, every set, every hardship you go through helps you grow as a person. Invest in yourself — in the best version of yourself.

What do you say to someone just starting out?

Garcia: Things worth doing take time, but it can feel intimidating and isolating, like you don’t know where to begin. When I started running, I had shin splits. I didn’t know anything about that, but I was curious, like, “Is it supposed to hurt this bad? What am I doing wrong?” A trainer can work with you one-on-one, give you information that will work for you and will feel comfortable for you. It’s about showing up, giving it a try and celebrating the things you can do.

Saint Jour: Your mindset has to be number one. Rome wasn’t built in a day. You might not like it day one but try something for 30 days. Put yourself on a disciplined path for 30 days. Try ballet, running or yoga for 30 days. If you don’t like it, if you don’t feel powerful, then try something else.

What keeps you both motivated?

Garcia: I love getting people to their goal. I have a client who thought five pounds was her limit. Now, she’s lifting 70. Giving people that moment, letting people feel seen, inspires me to continue building a space for them and developing my skills and owning my craft as a female leader in this community.

Saint Jour: I’m always grateful for where I’m at because of where I come from. Everything I do is to give back to my people in my country and show my mom that I’m living the life that she will always wanted me to strive for. Whatever motivates you, figure it out and use it as fuel.

Follow Mona Laviñia Garcia on Instagram at @monalavinia // MVMT Lab at @mvmt.lab.dc.

Follow Dawson Saint Jour on Instagram at @thatsaintlife // Rumble Boxing at @doyourumble // HIIT Hard at @hiithardtraining.

Flex DC: 219 M St. NW, DC; moosefit.co/flex-dc

“NEVER LIMIT YOURSELF BY SAYING YOU’RE NOT SOMETHING. STICK TO IT, DO THE WORK AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.”

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE GREAT TO GET STARTED, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO GET STARTED TO BE GREAT.”

Players’ Club

Fray flag football has Thomas Emerick hooked.

WORDS BY EMERSON DAMERON

We love our DC Fray players, so we’re highlighting them in our Players’ Club series. Join Fray leagues at dcfray.com/leagues.

This month, we’re featuring flag football superstar Thomas Emerick, who fills us in on everything from team nicknames and football strategies to his favorite post-game bar.

District Fray: How did you get hooked on flag football?

Thomas Emerick: Football’s my favorite sport, and I freelance for different sites that cover the NFL. I figured flag football would be a fun way to get exercise once I moved to D.C. I joined a free agent co-ed team before starting my own squad and bringing that team over to what is now Fray in 2015. We named ourselves Too Much Tuna from a sketch on “Kroll Show,” which is built around a prank tuna fish sandwich. It’s really fun running it back each season with people you like to hang with and playing a sport that strategically is more interesting to me than any other.

How do you celebrate victories?

We’ll usually find our way to The Blaguard. Then from the bar, we head back over to the field to watch other teams our friends are playing on. We like sipping from our Fray title chalices. Sometimes we get a karaoke reservation in.

What’s an important piece of flag football strategy most beginners don’t know?

My advice, based on what’s helped Too Much Tuna win 15 to 20 or so Fray ’ships, is to [form a team with] people who [believe in] playing smart football together — who like being around each other and have just enough football skill. You don’t need all studs. Though, for the record, we are all studs. I don’t want my team reading me saying anything other than they are all athletic freaks. There are a lot of games where we’re up pretty comfortably, and it seems like a key difference is the ladies on our team give us a decisive advantage.

What do you do outside of flag?

As I mentioned, I do freelance NFL articles, which has become a hobby as much as an extra gig. In 2023 I’d like to bring back my podcast “Remember That Game” for Season 2 about events in sports that low-key changed the trajectory of teams, players and our own way of thinking. Unfortunately, a retro video game podcast called “Remember the Game?” is basically running me off the map on SEO. Anyways, hopefully I can get a pod network to pick it up by the time I start recording again.

What’s your favorite thing about being involved with Fray?

Knowing folks in the league and with the league — and having a shared joy in getting outside in D.C. to be around people playing some ball. I do get sentimental about all the old rivalries. [The fact] that DC Fray has a co-ed flag football league with sensible rules and enough teams has made it possible for my squad to play going on eight years. All the joys of competition and making friendships are there, too, because you draw quality teams that care about the thing you’re experiencing together season after season.

Favorite D.C. area bar post-game: The Blaguard. Personal sports hero: Eli Manning. Walk out theme song: “How Soon Is Now?” by The Smiths. Best part of living in the DMV: Biking or walking from A-to-B in D.C., specifically.

Learn more about Emerick on Twitter @ThomasEmerick. Listen to his podcast at rememberthatgame.podbean.com.

Thomas Emerick. Photo courtesy of DC Fray.

WIZARDS PLAN A SPRING TO REMEMBER

With the final months of the season winding down and the Washington Wizards hoping to secure a postseason spot when playoffs start April 15, the team has plenty of exciting events happening on and off the court.

“For February, we celebrate Black History Month and we’re really proud of the platform we’ve built,” says Hunter Lochmann, chief marketing officer of the Washington Wizards. “We have five home games in the month and there’s a theme revolving around Black history every game.”

For instance, the team will once again honor Dr. Edwin Bancroft (E.B.) Henderson, considered the grandfather of Black basketball, by hosting an essay contest for all DMV high school students. Winners will receive $6,000 in scholarships. The team will also name a new recipient of the Washington Wizards E.B. Henderson Team Award, which last year went to Anthony Gill.

As part of the Wizards’ 25th anniversary celebration (they were known as the Washington Bullets until 1997), the team will issue bobbleheads of three of its most popular players: Antawn Jamison on February 11, Caron Butler on March 18 and Gilbert Arenas on March 31.

The Wizards will don the popular cherry blossom jersey on March 24 for the designated cherry blossom night. Working closely with the Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C., the theme will extend to the court and throughout the game. There will also be a special cherry blossom hat designed by point guard Monté Morris made available.

On March 8, the team celebrates women’s night; hispanic heritage night will be on March 14; a special sneaker night will be held March 18, and for the fifth year in a row, the Wizards will host Pride night on March 28.

“We have such a diverse and awesome fan base,” Lochmann says. “There will be something for everyone at every game.”

Another exciting event should be happening on the court this spring. All-star Bradley Beal — should he stay healthy and playing his best — will become the Wizards’ all-time scorer sometime around April, surpassing Elvin Hayes who sits at 15,551 points as the franchise leader.

“It should be an exciting time,” Lochmann says.

Learn more about the Washington Wizards’ upcoming season at nba.com/wizards and follow them @washwizards.

Wizards’ new broadcast team: the Big 3?

For the 2022-23 season, the Wizards selected play-by-play reporter Chris Miller, analyst Drew Gooden and on-court reporter Meghan McPeak as its new broadcast team for NBC Sports Washington.

Currently, the trio is the only all-Black broadcast crew in the NBA, following in the footsteps of Charlotte’s Eric Collins, Dell Curry and Stephanie Ready who worked together from 20152021.

Miller was the team’s sideline reporter and a fill-in play-byplay announcer last season. He was elevated to the full-time role this year. He is beloved for his calls on the court.

Gooden is a 14-year NBA veteran who played 790 games for 10 teams, including two stints with Washington. He averaged 11 points per game during his career and now adds insightful commentary game after game.

And McPeak worked play-byplay for the Capital City Go-Go and the Washington Mystics before joining the Wizards team this year.

WORDS

BY KEITH LORIA

Kyle Kuzma. Photo courtesy of the Washington Wizards.

Dylan Strome is a Bargain for the Caps

WORDS BY KEITH LORIA

When the Washington Capitals signed free agent Dylan Strome this off-season to a one-year, $3.5 million contract, many fans considered it a shrewd move, but few predicted he would consistently be one of the best players on the ice for the Caps.

But that’s exactly what’s happened, as through his first 40 games this season, Strome has recorded eight goals and 20 assists, and added a ton of value on the power play — something the team desperately needed.

“The team has been doing great and after our long Western Canada road trip, we really came together and started playing a lot better,” Strome says. “The results have shown that, so we need to keep it up heading into 2023.”

At 25, Strome was surprisingly let loose by the Chicago Blackhawks after a season where he registered 22 goals and 26 assists in 69 games. The Caps were more than happy to sign the 6’3 forward.

Before this season, the Canadian recorded 170 points in 273 career NHL games with Arizona and Chicago. He also was part of the silver medalwinning Canadian team at the 2019 World Championships.

As the team’s third-biggest point scorer this season, Strome has helped the Caps to a 21-13-6 as of January 5.

“I think there’s always room for improvement, but for the most part I’ve been playing pretty well,” he says. “I’ve been getting some chances and would obviously like to score more goals and help the team win. I can continue to

help the team on the power play and create some offense.”

With the team comprised of veterans like Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson and the injured Nicklas Bäckström, Strome feels he’s learning a lot in his eighth NHL season.

“I think the veterans have been great,” he says. “There’s a lot of older guys on the team who have been around for a long time, so when they talk to you, you listen — and when they speak up, it’s usually something important. Along with the coaching staff, they really know what it takes to win. I’m just going to follow their lead.”

His favorite memory of this season was on December 13, when Ovechkin scored his 800th goal against Strome’s former team.

“Seeing that was pretty special,” Strome says. “It was also remarkable having it happen the same night I was back in Chicago, playing against them for the first time in four years. That’s something I’ll remember for a long time.”

Looking to 2023, Strome is excited for how the team is performing. He sees big things ahead.

“The chemistry has been really good,” he says. “Obviously, the playoffs are on everyone’s mind and getting a chance to play for the Stanley Cup, so if there’s one goal, that would be it.”

Check out the Caps’ season schedule at nhl.com/capitals or follow them @capitals.

Ovechkin scores monumental 800th goal

On December 13, Alex Ovechkin, playing his 18th NHL season with Washington, scored his 800th goal — a feat only accomplished by Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801) before him.

And the captain of the Caps did so in historic fashion, registering a hat trick — the 29th of his career — to lead the team to a 7-3 victory.

At age 37, and still performing at an elite level with 28 goals and 19 assists through the team’s first 40 games, he should have a shot at passing Gretzky’s all-time record before he calls it a career.

Beginner’s Guide

How to dress for cold weather running

WORDS BY KRISTEN SCHOTT | PHOTOS BY ANDREW J. WILLIAMS III

My hands were freezing: bright red, tingling. It was hard to make a fist. And I still had four miles to go. It was this time last year I realized my Nike gloves — perfect for southern California “winters” — were no longer cutting it in my adopted home in the DMV. My immediate solution: run with a Little Hotties Hand Warmer shoved into each glove. It was the stuff of miracles that got me through the rest of the season. Flash forward one year, and I’ve hit a sustainable cold weather stride mainly revolving around attire. Whether you’re new to running in the cold or looking for ways to make your dark season workouts more enjoyable, we’ve got you covered (literally) with a few tips on what to wear to feel good out there.

Protect your extremities

Thanks to my podiatrist’s recommendation, I now don mittens on frigid mornings. As she noted, “When the fingers are together, they’re better able to generate heat.” Sure, mittens are clunky — and taking mid-run photos is nearly impossible — but at least they’ve preserved my fingertips. I’m still testing models, but the Oiselle Super Puff Mittens are reliable. On the other end of the spectrum? My feet — also easily turned into

ice cubes. The Feetures Merino 10 Cushion Crew Socks do the job, covering exposed skin around my ankles. A tip: layer on Body Glide to avoid unnecessary rubbing with longer socks (if, like me, you’re used to shorter styles). I cover as much of my head and face as I can, too. At the bare minimum, protecting my ears is essential. I like the Oiselle PNW Earband. It’s plush and wide enough to encapsulate my ears and the back of my neck. On super cold days, I layer a thinner earband under my longtime set of Nike beanies. (The ones I have are ancient. If you check out newer iterations, I’d love to know if they work.)

Insulate your core

The rest of my “lewk” consists of a few standards. Athleta’s Downtown Vest keeps my core consistently warm even though it’s not technically for working out. Take that to heart: Wear what works for you. A long-sleeved but breathable running shirt and fleece-lined pants, like the Athleta Altitude Tight in Polartec, round things out. On days temps dip below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, I throw a tank under my long-sleeved shirt.

Look ahead + adapt

Remember to always check the weather before you suit up. Sometimes it can change quickly, and you’ll find yourself too toasty in all those layers. (Anything in the 40-degree range and I’ll go with a thinner vest, or if I’m really feeling bold, shorts.) Rain? I sport the Oiselle Seattle Showers Anorak. When it rains, the humidity makes the air a little warmer, so fewer layers are needed. A light snow? I’m begrudgingly pulling out my Yaktrax and wondering if I’ll make it more than a mile. It’s far harder to get any kind of speed in icy conditions — not to mention running in the snow is taxing. Be realistic. If it looks like a mess out there, it’ll be a mess when you try to pound pavement you can’t feel through the ice. So, try running later (if a break in the weather is forecasted), or trade the outdoor excursion for the dreaded treadmill, strength training or another indoor routine.

Lean into the wind

I assure you, cold weather running is not all bad. I’ve learned to love the blast of frigid air when I open my front door, the chill on my

cheeks when I first get going and the eventual warmth of my body heat. But dressing for the conditions goes a long, long way toward making outdoor running not just bearable, but joyful. Whatever you do, stay warm. Stay dry. And remember: Those Little Hotties are lifesavers in a bind.

Before you sprint out the door

Check the weather: Plan your training schedule and attire accordingly or opt to work out inside. Layer up: Start with your core and don’t forget to protect your hands, feet and head. Get creative: Wear attire that works for you, regardless of how it’s marketed. Try to find joy: If you’re dressed for the weather, try to relax and lean into the experience. You may even learn to love it.

Georgetown Running Co: 3401 M St. NW, DC; fleetfeet.com // @georgetownrunningco

Pacers Running: various locations; runpacers.com // @runpacers

Potomac River Run & Walk: various locations; potomacriverrunning.com // @potomacriverrunning

Winter Running Must-Haves

Athleta altitude tight in polartec athleta.gap.com

Athleta downtown vest athleta.gap.com Body glide bodyglide.com

Feetures merino 10 cushion crew socks feetures.com

Little Hotties hand warmers littlehottieswarmers.com

Oiselle PNW earband, Seattle showers anorak + super puff mittens oiselle.com Yaktrax yaktrax.com

CAN YOU SPOT THE SEVEN DIFFERENCES? Our most colorful subject of the new year is Igor’s Custom in Virginia Beach. The workshop and self-proclaimed “World’s Smallest Museum” is full of colorful knickknacks well-suited for a photo hunt. Check districtfray.com for the answer key. It’s not that damn difficult.

Igor’s Custom. Photo by Andrew J. Williams III.

CREATED BY MYLES MELLOR

This month, our crossword highlights different forms of transformation: goals, health, exercise, transitions, etc. But it also touches on the things we don’t necessarily need to let go, like bakeries and D.C. institutions. However you might change this year, we hope this crossword remains a constant.

NOTE: Check districtfray.com for the answer key.

ACROSS 1 Ingredients in many no-ABV cocktails

“ Jude” (Beatles classic)

Color of many health-giving vegetables

Romaine, for one

Have a protein bar, for example

Allows the body to recuperate

Tech department

Prepare the salad

Gym exercise option

Vehicle going electric

Simple, essential drink

One who manages injuries/pain, abbr.

Physical activity good for health

“Essential” liquids for health and skincare

“Grey’s Anatomy” Sandra

Long loaf of French bread

Take care of medically

Opposite of whole milk

Neighborhood where you can find El Chucho restaurant, Heights

Small time segment, abbr.

Expresses love by holding close

Relaxed, in a way

“ Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” — Diana Ross

Chinese basketball star

Place of serenity amid chaos

Healthy in body and mind

Droop

Morning time, abbr.

Transforming How the District Prioritizes Self-Care

Meet Tara Purnell, Eaton DC’s Wellness Director

WORDS BY MAYRA MEJIA

As the current wellness director at Eaton DC, self-care is at the core of everything Tara Purnell does. Her passion and desire to help others in the community heal and become their best self is palpable and inspiring. We caught up with Purnell about her own wellness journey and her role at Eaton DC.

District Fray: How did you get introduced to the wellness space? Tara Purnell: It was more like wellness emerged as this catch-all way to identify things I was already doing to help myself or others feel better more of the time. Growing up as an ambitious, socially conscious polymath in D.C., there were a lot of things I would do that felt frivolous, generally unproductive or just plain weird. Now I know that most of those things were the beginnings of self-soothing and self-care practices. Many of them were part of my lineage — things my Black parents normalized at home for our well-being. Spending time in nature, taking baths, listening to instrumental music, drinking tea and fresh juices, aromatherapy, tinkering and drawing.

How have your wellness

practices evolved?

My transcendental meditation practice opened me up to new heights of alignment in 2007. Since then, I’ve explored countless healing modalities and therapies to address the trauma of dating violence, emotional abuse and misogynoir. I have been blessed to befriend and study under world renowned yogis, philosophers and artists, neuroscientists, integrative medicine doctors, food scientists,

coaches, psychotherapists and musicians. I love questioning it all and finding out about new ways I can improve the human experience.

Are there any changes you’ve made at Eaton DC you’re particularly proud of?

I’m very interested in decolonizing wellness and creating more accessible and inclusive means to wellbeing at Eaton. It’s noteworthy that the majority of our wellness practitioners are now people of color, serving unmet community needs for those closest to injustice and trauma. I co-create sliding scale offerings, community wellness days and impact rates for aligned business partners; I also created the Eaton Wellness Institute for social wellness resources and education. Overall, Eaton Wellness fosters an inclusive environment devoted to selfreflection and a connection of the mind, body and spirit.

Can you share your favorite self-care tips for readers to practice at home?

Most simply, I’d recommend taking a few deep breaths a few times a day. When time permits, it’s been fun for me to rethink my apartment interiors to welcome more sensuality at home. I wrote a whole article about that process — “A Sensual Reset for Every Corner of Your Home” for Dame.com

Learn more about Tara Purnell at taraaura.com and follow her @taraaura. Eaton DC: 1201 K St. NW, DC; eatonworkshop.com // @eatonworkshop

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