District Fray Magazine // April 2021

Niche Wine Shops to Explore • How to Upcycle Your Clothing • A Beginner’s Guide to Soccer

A LIFESTYLE + ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE • APRIL 2021

CANNABIS CITY

Artistry, Advocacy + Entrepreneurship All The Ways D.C. Is Going Green

Dining Reimagined Marijuana-Infused Concepts

District Fray Presents

CANNABIS CITY An Inside Look at the Culture of Marijuana in the District

When: Thursday, April 29, 6:30-8 p.m. EST What: A free virtual event open to the public, with a panel featuring local entrepreneurs hosted by cannabis expert nurseMARK

Register at www.districtfray.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RADAR

5 The District Derp Story 9 Calendar

EAT

15 Cannabis-Infused Eats 23 Hungry Harvest 24 Food Rescue Programs

DRINK

26 Niche Local Wines

MUSIC

30 SHAED’s New Album

CULTURE

32 The Artistry Behind Cannabis 35 A Bit of Danger in “Romeo & Juliet”

ROBERT KINSLER Publisher

MONICA ALFORD Editor-in-Chief

LIFE

38 Cannabis Entrepreneurs in D.C. 49 Decriminalizing Marijuana 54 CBD + Wellness 57 Upcycling in the District 59 SBA Appointee Julie Verratti 66 Black Girl Ventures’ Shelly Bell

M.K. KOSZYCKI Assistant Editor

JULIA GOLDBERG Editorial Designer

TOM ROTH

PLAY

Key Account Manager

61 A Beginner’s Guide to Soccer 63 Washington Spirit’s Andi Sullivan

FUN

68 High + Go Seek Illustration

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ingrid Harbo, Trent Johnson, Colleen Kennedy, Natalia Kolenko, Keith Loria, Abi Newhouse, Jean Schindler, Alex Thompson, Amanda Weisbrod

Photo courtesy of District Derp.

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS + PHOTOGRAPHERS James Coreas, Eric Dolgas, Kimchi Photography, Scott Suchman, Amanda Weisbrod

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER Scott Suchman

ON THE COVER Sucrée Sweets Co. cannabis-infused pasta dish

COVER LOCATION Hyattsville, Maryland

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

CANNABIS CITY. A deep dive into the world of cannabis has long been on our editorial team’s wish list, and we’re thrilled to announce our first-ever issue highlighting all things green this April. With changing legislation in the District, Maryland and most recently, Virginia (the state enacted a marijuana legalization law on April 7, just in time for this issue, that goes into effect on July 1), the timing couldn’t be more perfect. In addition to being proud of my home state for being the first in the South to legalize cannabis, our team was very excited to highlight the thriving cannabis industry in the D.C. area. Amanda Weisbrod interviewed local industry experts, advocates and activists making the case for the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis, and put together a helpful illustration outlining what’s legal and what’s not in both states and the nation’s capital. Trent Johnson penned our cover story, highlighting D.C. area chefs experimenting with cannabis-infused fine dining, pastries, cocktails and more.

A special thank you to the incomparable Scott Suchman for shooting our cover, featuring a marijuana-infused dish prepared by Sucrée Sweets Co.’s Shannon Rizvi and Charlynn Pham. Johnson also spoke with Chris Licata and Anaïs Hayes of District Derp about their unique business model: Their dog Sudo makes works of art available for purchase with included gifts of cannabis flowers, THC cartridges and edibles. Thank you to Licata and Hayes as well for providing so many beautiful images to accompany this issue (including the one to the right).

We rounded up 19 local cannabis and/or CBD businesses and chatted with the entrepreneurs behind them about their offerings, preferences and what they predict for the D.C. area’s cannabis landscape in the future.

Assistant editor M.K. Koszycki highlighted wellness and self-care aspects behind CBD, and Ingrid Harbo chatted with local business owners about how cannabis and artistry are often interwoven.

And our friend E$ made us a dope “High and Go Seek” illustration.

We interviewed Washington Spirit captain Andi Sullivan about the upcoming season, electropop trio SHAED about their new album, Denizens Brewing Co.’s Julie Verratti about being tapped for the Biden administration and Black Girl Ventures’ Shelly Bell about supporting BIPOC women in business.

Plus, read about upcycling in D.C., food rescue programs, niche wine shops, a beginner’s guide to soccer and more. Thanks as always to our readers for your support.

Please let us know what you think!

MONICA ALFORD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Photo courtesy of District Derp.

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INVITES YOU TO A BINGO NIGHT SERIES TO REMEMBER APRIL

7 | 14 | 21 | 28

MAY

5 | 12 | 19 | 26

Register at: DCFRAY.COM/EVENTS

WORDS BY TRENT JOHNSON

RADAR | DISTRICT DENIZENS If you had a time machine and traveled back to when Chris Licata made a harmless bet with a friend, he wouldn’t believe you if you explained how his life was about to change.

In fact, it’s kind of hard to believe knowing it’s already happened. The innocuous wager was if he could successfully get his Alaskan Klee Kai, Sudo, to paint. The answer was a resounding “Yes.” “The bet came first,” Licata says. “The bet was over a bottle of bourbon [laughs]. We got her to paint, brush to hit the canvas. It took about a month of everyday practice.”

Not only did Licata and his partner, Anaïs Hayes, train Sudo to paint abstract works on canvas, but the concept eventually morphed into a fully fledged cannabis business in the form of their District Derp art gallery. “[Derp] is a very silly word, but cannabis makes you feel kind of silly,” Hayes says.

“Sudo has a way of staring at you,” Licata continues. “It’s this blank face that happens where she’s just staring at you, and we’d call her a little derp. The more we started saying it, the more disarming we found the word. It’s not necessarily an insult; it’s just poking fun.”

“It’s a whimsy, and you don’t have any reservations,” Hayes finishes.

The company started in 2018, and has a variety of custom Sudo pieces available for purchase with included gifts of cannabis flowers, THC cartridges and edibles.

“We were frustrated one night [and] we wanted better service,” Hayes says after a bad experience with a dispensary. “We looked [into it], and you needed a gimmick — something to get people in. We were like, ‘We have a dog that paints. Is that anything?’”

To paint, Sudo wields a brush in her mouth, and upon making contact with the canvas, Licata uses a clicker to indicate progress. After every click, Sudo gets a treat. When there are lots of clicks, you get a happy pup.

“She needs to hear she’s accomplished what we intended for her to accomplish,” Licata says. “So that’s getting the brush to the canvas and swiping across, and then I click. The more clicks she hears, the more excited she gets.”

On the cannabis side, the couple says they’re gifting about 500 edibles per week, along with additional cartridges, flowers and pre-rolls. Beyond the meticulous amount of detail and thought put into the paintings

by Sudo, both Hayes and Licata are heavily focused on transparency in their THC products, from quality control to customer service.

“We try to have a personal relationship or know something personal about all of our clients,” Licata says. “We want them to have trust that we’re going to put their needs first.

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Their health is our priority and we’re going to continue that.

[It’s] the small, intimate business relationship we have.”

District Derp runs their cannabis through tests for potency, pesticides and heavy metal. Hayes says the reason is simple: You don’t want to be associated with something that can make people sick. So far, edible potency ranges from 10-15 milligrams in their cookie options to 80 milligrams in the Big Bitchin’ Brownie.

“I thought about my personal experience with edibles,” Hayes says. “I wanted an edible to [be enough to] last two to three [uses], and tried to figure out what a high dosage is for a casual user. People have different needs. Some people are taking it to help them sleep and some people want something that will last eight hours for an adventure around the National Mall.”

Like every other business in D.C., District Derp experienced change over the course of the pandemic, including how they interacted with the attached stigma of owning a business associated with cannabis. In early 2020, both Hayes and Licata opted against sharing their full names, but as the business advanced over the course of the past year, so did their approach.

“There’s absolutely still that stigma,” Hayes says. “You still hear the ‘It’s still a bad substance’ stuff, especially in people who don’t interact with marijuana, but it’s decreasing. Also, we decided to put our names on it to counteract the stigma. We realized by not putting our names on it, we were going along with it. We had the realization that this is something we’re proud of. This is something we want to bring to people. It’s something I’m excited to put my name on now.”

With a social media surge and a successful return to business last summer, Hayes became the first of the two to go full-time.

A typical District Derp weekday starts with production kicking off at 8 a.m. and wrapping up at about 3-4 p.m., with emails and orders taking place in-between. From 6-10 p.m., more orders come in and deliveries go out. Once a month, Sudo dusts off the paintbrushes and gives her fans another work of art.

While a painting dog seems gimmicky on its face, and even is to an extent, Hayes and Licata are genuine in their attempt

to connect with the D.C. arts community. District Derp sponsored local artist and curator Kelly Towles’ POW! WOW! DC festival in 2019 and 2020, and Licata says there are several collaborations on the horizon between local artists and Sudo.

“We really love working with the creative community in D.C.,” Hayes says. “There are so many great minds here, and what we’re trying to do this year is more collaborative works.

We feel very firm with where we are in the cannabis scene, but what we are first is an art gallery. That’s how we started.”

This month, District Derp is participating in two 4/20 giveaways with vintage shops Underground Goods and Zhuzh.

Short-term goals for District Derp include incorporating accessory sales, branded items and a fuller “smoke shop experience.” As for Sudo’s art, the couple plans to roll out the red carpet for their furry artist in the form of a comprehensive gallery opening.

“That is a goal,” Hayes says excitedly. “We were planning to do that before the pandemic hit. That was the plan for 2020, and then [mimics explosion].”

In the meantime, you can check out Sudo’s catalog in full on the website. Licata promises you’ll be surprised.

“I don’t know if you’ve actually stared at ‘Jovial Nature,’” Licata says with a sincerity mirroring that of a person who’d just left their favorite artist’s exhibition. “It’s our first painting with Sudo, and I think it’s incredible. It’s incredible that a dog painted it. We’ve got it up on our wall.”

For more information about District Derp, Sudo’s paintings and their gifts, visit www.districtderp.com and follow them on Instagram @districtderp.

Author’s note: District Derp operates under D.C.’s Initiative 71, which means it does not assign a monetary value to anything with marijuana or THC in the ingredients. Instead, the items noted in the story are gifted along with the purchase of a work of art courtesy of Sudo. For more information about I-71, visit www.mayor.dc.gov.

FIRST PAGE. Anaïs Hayes. SECOND PAGE. Chris Licata. THIRD PAGE. Chris Licata + Anaïs Hayes. All photos courtesy of District Derp.

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Photo courtesy of Mi Vida.

ADVERTISE IN DISTRICT FRAY’S SUMMER ISSUE Riverfront Review

Calling all Capitol Riverfront businesses to advertise their real estate, apartment buildings, retail, restaurants, bars, music venues and more in the neighborhood

Outdoor Dining Guide

Calling all rooftops, patios, breweries, wineries and distilleries in the DMV with outdoor dining capacity

Contact: Tom Roth at tomroth@unitedfray.com or 301-910-2784 Learn more at www.districtfray.com and follow the magazine on social media @districtfray

DEADLINE FOR INCLUSION: MAY 15

CALENDAR | RADAR

With warmer weather on the way, the District has plenty of ways to get outside. And for the rainy days, there are still virtual events to fill your time. Get out and work up a sweat at a workout outside, celebrate the return of live music with an outdoor concert, and reunite with friends over drinks on a patio. Or if you’re not ready to venture out yet, stay in with virtual theatre performances, concerts and festivals. COMPILED BY INGRID HARBO NOTE: All descriptions courtesy of event hosts and edited for clarity.

Ongoing Blossom Season at Hook Hall

Hook Hall, Park View’s massive community gathering space, has been transformed into a profusion of pinks as everyone’s favorite backyard has been turned into a “Celebrate the Blossoms” theme surrounded by pink blossomed trees and décor. Each themed tea house is available for seating of up to six guests and includes a welcome bottle of champagne, special food and drink menus, a table and ceiling fan. Various times. $125 per 2.5-hour reservation. Hook Hall: 3400 Georgia Ave. NW, DC; www.hookhall.com // @hookhall_dc

4.17

National Cannabis Festival’s Dazed & Amused Drive-In Party

The National Cannabis Festival is bringing the Dazed & Amused Drive-In Movie Experience to the RFK campus in D.C. Join for a streaming of two of cannabisthemed comedies: “How High” at 8 p.m. presented by Synergy & Serenity, and “The Big Lebowski,” at 11 p.m. presented

by Pink Fox. This is more than your average drive-in event — the party starts as soon as you arrive in the lot. Arrive early and enjoy the show! Gates open at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $45; double feature and VIP options available. RFK Stadium Lot: 2400 East Capitol St. NE, DC; www.nationalcannabisfestival.com // @natlcannabisfest Tea house cabana. Photo courtesy of Hook Hall.

Through 4.18 New African Film Festival

The 17th edition of the New African Film Festival takes place online April 1-18, presenting a lineup of outstanding contemporary African cinema for audiences in the Washington, D.C., area and beyond. The festival is co-presented by AFI, Africa World Now Project and afrikafé.

Various times and prices. naff.eventive.org // @americanfilminstitute

4.10

Cosplay Party at Wunder Garten

Join Wunder Garten for a Cherry Blossom Festival cosplay costume party. Pull out your best Pikachu, Naruto or other anime costumes and head over. Best dressed will win prizes including drinks and Wunder Garten apparel. 7 p.m. Free. Wunder Garten: 1101 1st St. NE, DC; www.wundergartendc.com // @wundergartendc

DC Fray x Balance Gym // HIIT Bootcamp Class

Start your Saturday the right way with a HIIT bootcamp class, sponsored by Corona and hosted by your favorite instructors from Balance Gym on the rooftop of their Thomas Circle location.

Get ready to build strength, burn fat and receive some free Corona swag. 11 a.m. $5. Balance Gym: 1339 Green Ct. NW, Unit 1, DC; www.balancegym.com // @balancegym; www.dcfray.com // @dcfray DISTRICT FRAY |

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RADAR | CALENDAR

Eric Uhlir: “Before, After and In Between” Opening Reception

In partnership with Caitlin Berry Fine Art, Culture House presents Uhlir’s exhibition, which will feature new and existing oil paintings from his ongoing work. Uhlir’s work examines and recontextualizes epic scenes from the Western European art historical canon, bringing into play current ideas about climate change, colonialism, human interaction and migration. Uhlir will be present to meet with visitors at the opening reception, which will be held outside in Culture House’s courtyard. The exhibition will be open on Saturdays from 12-3 p.m. and by reservation through May 8. 3:30-5:30 p.m. Free. Culture House: 700 Delaware Ave. SW, DC; www.culturehousedc.org // @culturehousedc

4.10 + 4.11 Cherry Blossom Brunch

For two weekends only in April, Bourbon Steak sheds its cool exterior to show off its sweeter side with an epic bottomless brunch served outdoors on the immense Bourbon Steak patio, The Ranch’s covered patio and also indoors. Their Cherry Blossom Brunch is available the first two weekends of April.

Reservations are recommended on OpenTable. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Four Seasons Hotel: 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC; www.fourseasons.com // @fourseasons

Petal Procession

Let your creativity bloom by decorating your porches, windows and yards. The National Cherry Blossom Festival will create a virtual map with the locations of all registered Petal Porches, so you can plan a walk or drive around your neighborhood to share in the celebration of spring. On the weekend of April 10-11, a petal procession will drive through select Petal Porch Parade neighborhoods in and around D.C. www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org // @cherryblossfest

4.11

Anacostia River Festival Virtual Celebration

This virtual event will celebrate the history of go-go and share activities to reconnect you to the river and the outdoors. Enjoy the sounds of the band Pure Elegance with special guests and experience a virtual walk through the 11th Street Bridge Park. 1 p.m. Free. www.bbardc.org // @dcbridgepark

4.14-5.26

Ballston Quarter Bingo with DC Fray

Join DC Fray and Ballston Quarter for a socially-distant, in-person and free bingo night on select Wednesdays at the Quarter Market. DC Fray and Ballston Quarter will provide the host, the bingo materials (daubers too) and the awesome prizes for you to win. 6-8 p.m. Free. Ballston Quarter: 4238 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA; www.dcfray.com // @dcfray

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4.15

Profs + Pints: Titanic Mistakes

When the RMS Titanic sank in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912, many blamed bad luck in the form of an iceberg in its path on its maiden voyage. Careful analysis, however, shows that the massive vessel was a disaster waiting to happen. On the anniversary of that tragedy, join Vincent Brannigan, professor emeritus of the University of Maryland’s Clark School of Engineering and a longtime expert on risk management and forensic engineering investigation, for a fascinating discussion of what doomed the ship and most of its passengers. 7 p.m. $12. www.profsandpints.com // @profsandpints

4.16

April Paint + Sip

This event will be led by local artist Kellie Sansone, and hosted at Woodlawn Press Winery. Participants will be painting a spring themed picture chosen by the artist. All paint supplies and wine (plus logo wine glass) are included in the ticket price.

7:30-9 p.m. $35-$55. Woodlawn Press Winery: 8733-B Cooper Rd. Alexandria, VA; www.wpwinery.com // @wpwinery

4.16-5.2 Until the Flood

When Michael Brown was shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014, the outrage and protests that followed were a wake-up call to some and familiar, exhausting news to others.

Dael Orlandersmith draws from dozens of interviews across Ferguson’s communities in “Until the Flood.” Studio Theatre reimagines the solo play with a cross-generational ensemble of three Black women, celebrating the resolve for justice that remains as urgent today as it was six years ago. $37 per ticket. www.studiotheatre.org // @studiotheatre

4.17

Children of Medea

After Cynthia’s mother disappears without a trace, the seventeen-year-old Korean-American begins to retreat into the surreal universe of her own psyche. Presiding over it all is Medea, at long last reclaiming her infamous role within Greek mythology. With playwright and performer Sue Jin Song masterfully embodying all of the characters in solo performance, “Children of Medea” is a raw and visceral comingof-age story. 8 p.m. $35 per household. www.constellationtheatre.org // @constellationtheatrecompany

Hip Hop (Into Spring) Yoga

Roll out your mat in the open-air outdoor space of Revel Wine & Craft Beer Bar for a vinyasa class to spirited sounds from DJ Thunder Bunny, followed by a pour of delicious wine or craft beer and safely-distanced company. Stick around to shop Unwined’s curated wine and unique craft beer offerings. 12-1:30 p.m. $30. Revel Wine & Craft Beer Bar: 1600 Belle View Blvd.

Alexandria, VA; www.eatyogadrink.com // @eatyogadrink

Outdoor 305 Fitness: Dance Cardio This 45-minute class infuses dance moves, high intensity interval training and toning drills all in one. With a certified 305 Fitness instructor, a curated DJ mix to jam out to and the sun shining down as you overlook the beautiful Anacostia River, you’ll be having a blast moving and grooving. 11 a.m. $10. The Yards Park: 355 Water St. SE, DC; www.305fitness.com // @305fitness; www.theyardsdc.com // @theyardsdc

Springfest

Caboose Commons is kicking off spring with their second annual beer festival, Springfest. The Mosaic District brewpub will be pouring tastes and gathering six other regional breweries for a day of sublime tastings and socially distant “brewery hopping.” Brewery representatives will spend 15 minutes with each table to lead guests through tastings and once the bell rings, a new brewery heads to your table for the next delicious round of pours. Various times. $200-$360. Caboose Commons: 2918 Eskridge Rd. Fairfax, VA; www.caboosebrewing.com // @caboosetavern

4.17-4.25 Play Week

Every year, Game Genius hosts a weeklong event that celebrates the power of play. In 2021, Play Week will feature environmentally-themed challenges, game design workshops and interactive panels.

Various times. Free. www.gamegenius.com // @gamegeniusdc

4.18

Ani DiFranco Livestream

Celebrate the release of Ani DiFranco’s 22nd studio album “Revolutionary Love” with a full concert from DiFranco, Terence Higgins and special guest Ivan Neville. Come hang virtually in her home as the band reminisces on touring and performs energetic live versions from the new album along with classics from the Little Folksinger canon.

8 p.m. $20-$70. www.boxoffice.madolin.com // @watchmadolin; www.righteousbabe.com // @anidifranco

NMWA Free Community Day

Visit the National Museum of Women in the Arts on Community Day for free admission to the museum. National Museum of Women in the Arts: 1250 New York Ave. NW, DC; www.nmwa.org // @womeninthearts Cherry Blossom Brunch. Photo courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC.

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RADAR | CALENDAR

4.29

Cannabis City Panel with District Fray Join District Fray for an inside look at the culture of marijuana in the District. This free, virtual event is open to the public, with a panel featuring local entrepreneurs hosted by cannabis expert nurseMARK. 6:30 p.m. Free. www.districtfray.com // @districtfray

4.19-5.30

DIY Mother’s Day Cookie Bouquet Kit

Celebrate the moms in your life by making your own cookie bouquet with ice cream with Ice Cream Jubilee’s easy-to-use kit. Each kit includes a flower cookie cutter, colored melting chocolates for decoration, sugar cookie dough for 8-16 flower cookies, rainbow sprinkles, skewers for bouquet and a pint of sweet cream & honey ice cream. Various locations. www.icecreamjubilee.com // @icecreamjubilee

4.21

SoulFire Collective x Union Market Class

Come sweat, connect and transform with SoulFire Collective inside the spacious Dock 5 area of Union Market with 60 minutes of an amazing power flow to fire beats. 7 a.m. $20.

Union Market: 1309 5th St. NE, DC; www.soulfirecollective.com // @soulfirecollective

4.24

Antiracist Book Festival

The National Antiracist Book Festival is the first and only book festival that brings together, showcases and celebrates the nation’s leading antiracist writers and helps to prepare the writers of tomorrow. It is hosted every April in D.C. by the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, but this year’s festival will be virtual due to Covid-19. Various times. $10 per session. www.bu.edu // @antiracismctr

4.24-5.22

Armando Lopez-Bircann // “Arma the Oracle: Extended Reality (XR)” This spring 2021, Transformer presents “Looking In/Looking Out,” a series of three solo storefront exhibitions by D.C.-based artists. Armando Lopez-Bircann shares their vision of an ethical queer future with “Arma the Oracle: Extended Reality (XR).” Through Lopez-Bircann’s wearable sculptures and augmented-reality attire, which explore nonbinary and binary gender aesthetics, they push the limits of what types of reality are possible, and present alternative futures to strive towards.

Transformer: 1404 P St. NW, DC; www.transformerdc.org // @transformerdc 12 | APRIL 2021

4.25

Yoga for Black Lives Matter

This is a 60-minute power vinyasa-style class focused on traditional yoga postures with a longer hold in foundational/ grounding poses to support safety and alignment. Proceeds will be donated to the Equal Justice Initiative on the front lines in this fight for justice by supporting those wrongly incarcerated.

6 p.m. $7.50. National Museum of African American History and Culture: 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, DC; www.evolvinglivesbodyandmind.com // @evolvinglivesbodymind

4.28 + 5.26

DC Fray x As You Are Lesbian/Queer Speed Dating

Just because everything else in life is on hold doesn’t mean love has to be. Join for virtual lesbian/bisexual/queer speed dating.

This is for women seeking women. You will recieve the Zoom link and futher information prior to the event; all you need is you, yourself and a laptop. 8 p.m. $20. www.dcfray.com // @dcfray

4.30

Midnight at The Never Get

Come to The Never Get nightclub for the performance of a lifetime in this smart, funny and slyly subversive Off-Broadway smash-hit musical. If life is a rehearsal for your memory, what moment would you replay? It is 1965 in New York City and cabaret crooner Trevor is in love with Arthur, his songwriter.

With their romance outlawed, the two create an act in the back room of an illegal Greenwich Village gay bar. However, pressures from a world on the cusp of change expose an ache for what they could never have in a wistful and whimsical serenade with tunes reminiscent of the Great American Songbook. $35. www.sigtheatre.org // @sigtheatre

5.1

Yoga & Beer at Fair Winds Brewing Co.

Eat.Yoga.Drink couldn’t be more pleased to come out of hibernation to share yoga and beer at Fair Winds with you once again. Join them for this high-energy, high-spirited vinyasa flow on the open-air patio, followed by a pour of delicious craft beer.

This is exactly the experience your mind, body and soul need after all we’ve been through. 9:30 a.m. $25. Fair Winds Brewing Company: 7000 Newington Road Suites K&L, Lorton, VA; www.eatyogadrink.com // @eatyogadrink

5.2

Outdoor Concert: Fay Victor Chamber Trio

Transparent Productions presents Fay Victor’s Chamber Trio, with Fay Victor on vocals, Marika Hughes on cello and Darius Jones on alto saxophone, outside and in person at Rhizome DC. 7 p.m. $25. Rhizome DC: 6950 Maple St. NW, DC; www.rhizomedc.org // @rhizome_dc

5.3-5.30

“Throw Me on the Burnpile and Light Me Up”

A small Florida farmhouse on a watermelon field may not seem like much, but for one little girl, it’s where magic happens.

It’s where her father runs with her every morning, plays Sam Cooke on the radio, and defends death row inmates who have no one else to stand up for them. Oscar-nominated author Lucy Alibar presents an unforgettable story about her childhood as a fourth grader and part-time legal secretary. $30. www.roundhousetheatre.org // @roundhousetheatre

5.7

The Tea: MovaKween

In this online series, women musicians perform original work via live-stream on the National Museum of Women in the Art’s social media channels on the first Friday of the month.

MovaKween is a divine music artist from Baltimore, Maryland, who represents a new frequency of sound, a new innerstanding of consciousness, and a new expression of love. 12-1 p.m. Free. www.nmwa.org // @womeninthearts

5.8

DC Funk Parade Virtual Festival

Until we return to in-person stages, enjoy a safe and socially distant virtual festival full of the music, spoken word, dance, performance art and funky appearances from artists and creatives who have been inspired by the Black Broadway corridor and its history. 5 p.m. $10. www.funkparade.com // @dcfunkparade

Live Tour: Scandalous Women of Embassy Row

During the Gilded Age, the Dupont Circle neighborhood became the glimmering center for the wealthy, the politicallyconnected and the socially elite. This tour traces the notable women who called this neighborhood home, the good (and bad) trouble that they stirred up, and how women still shape the worlds of politics, journalism and society today. 2-3 p.m. $30.

Dupont Circle Fountain: 21 Dupont Circle NW, DC; www.atourofherown.com // @atourofherown

5.9

DC Polo Society Summer Sundays

Your Sunday Funday is back. Bring your friends, family, kids (free under 16) and dogs (on a leash) for a unique experience on the second Sunday of the month through October 2021. Small group seating and areas will be properly distanced along with other guidelines to ensure a safe and beautiful day out in the countryside. 1-5:30 p.m. $125-$200. Congressional Polo Club: 14660 Hughes Rd. Poolesville, MD; www.dcpolo.com // @dcpolosociety

participants, live and virtual, will receive a commemorative race shirt, custom bib and one of a kind finisher’s medal. Various times. $25-$35. Brown’s Chapel: 1575 Browns Chapel Rd. Reston, VA; www.potomactiverrunning.com // @potomacriverrunning

5.10

Billy Collins Folger Poetry Board Reading

Each year the Folger Poetry Board selects a distinguished poet to read from their work as well as the work of those the poet cites as an influence. Named “the most popular poet in America” by The New York Times, Billy Collins is the author of several volumes of poetry, most recently “The Rain in Portugal.” He is a former United States Poet Laureate, and his many honors and awards include the Poetry Foundation’s Mark Twain Award for Humor in Poetry. www.folger.edu // @folgerlibrary

5.13

Zumba at La Cosecha

Come to this fun and energetic Zumba class taught by Cathy Caminero of Zumbanova. Ticket price includes one hour of Zumba and a $5 voucher to use at any vendor inside La Cosecha after class. A portion of the proceeds will go to the La Cosecha Foundation. 6 p.m. $15. La Cosecha: 1280 4th St. NE, DC; www. lacosechadc.com // @lacosechadc

5.19

Curator’s Corner: Dark Mirror with Barton Gellman

Join International Spy Museum Historian and Curator Andrew Hammond in conversation with Barton Gellman for a look at a true-life spy tale about the surveillance-industrial revolution and its discontents. Gellman told the story of his investigative reporting in the acclaimed 2020 book “Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the American Surveillance State,” which went far beyond the unique access he had to Snowden. 12 p.m. Free. www.spymuseum.org // @spymuseum

5.20

DC Fray + Tysons Corner Center Happy Hour Bingo

Join DC Fray and Tysons Corner Center for a socially-distant, inperson and free bingo night on select Thursdays. Fray will provide the host, the bingo materials (daubers too) and the awesome prizes for you to win. 6-8 p.m. Free. Tysons Corner Center: 7901 Tysons One Pl. Tysons, VA; www.dcfray.com // @dcfray

Mother’s Day Four Miler

Celebrate all the moms in our community with a four-mile Mother’s Day run at Brown’s Chapel in Reston, Virginia. There is also a virtual option if you would rather honor mom on your own course during Mother’s Day weekend, May 7-9. All DISTRICT FRAY | 13

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WORDS BY TRENT JOHNSON

EAT When restaurants, chefs and other residents of the culinary world use the words “elevated experience,” I generally roll my eyes. And not because I don’t respect what they’re trying to achieve in the kitchen, but because the term is vague. What I take it to mean is they’re trying to concoct dishes that taste better (of higher quality) than similar plates you’ve had before.

If you like your movie nachos, then try these elevated nachos with gouda. If you enjoy a hot dog, then try this elevated dog with 400% pure beef on a brioche bun, plus gold-flaked mustard, and so on and so forth.

However, when D.C. chefs working in kitchens with marijuana say “elevated experience,” it takes on a slightly different tenor. Rather than the subtle upgrades mentioned above, these locals are attempting to shift the image of your run-of-the-mill edibles. If you’ve ordered them, you’re probably used to days-old brownies, stiff cookies and gummies. This isn’t bad. It’s what we’re used to, and ultimately enough to get us elevated in a different way. But what if you could elevate your taste buds and mind at the same time?

For District Fray’s April issue, we decided to chat with four people behind three businesses who are, in their own way, challenging the idea of what marijuana plus food equals. From private dinners and catered events to decadent cookies and gorgeous cakesicles, these chefs (both savory and pastry) are putting a new, and frankly better, spin on elevated food.

Author’s note: These businesses operate under D.C.’s Initiative 71, which means they do not assign a monetary value to anything with marijuana or THC in the ingredients. Instead, the items noted in the story are gifted along with the purchase of a different product, such as stickers, shirts and other accessories. For more information about I-71, visit www.mayor.dc.gov.

Sucrée Sweets Co. After a whirlwind few years, which took Shannon Rizvi from D.C. to California to D.C. again, the chef is here to stay with her brand-new business Sucrée Sweets Co. The small shop, known already for tasty gummies and incredibly mouthwatering cakesicles, kickstarted business operations in January of this year. The idea was the culmination of Instagram DMs exchanged between childhood friends and Northern Virginia natives Rizvi and co-owner, operator and chef Charlynn Pham.

“It was a leap of faith,” Rizvi says. “We don’t have wholesale clients, but I thought, ‘We can do this.’ We’ve been doing it.

We’re killing it.”

Rizvi’s background in food stems from her time in culinary school at The Art Institute of Washington, where she picked up a penchant for savory foods. Since, she’s done work in kitchens and made edibles for other services in the area, though she admits the latter can be tedious if not boring, despite paying the bills. With Pham, a self-described at-home baker and the brains behind the duo’s photogenic cakesicles, the two have produced delicious alternatives to your standard edible fare.

“I was bartending full-time, and a lot of bars [closed during the pandemic],” Pham says. “I was wondering if I should go and find another bartending job, or go full force into pastry arts and baking. That’s what I wanted to with my life.”

Pham and Rizvi started talking about the possibility of joining forces after catching up when the latter moved back to the area in September 2020. Eventually, the messages became

exchanges of pastries, baked goods, other dishes and ideas for the future, until Pham finally said, “If you ever want to go into business together, let me know.”

“She said she’d been dying to get her hands going and baking like crazy, and I was like, ‘Let’s do it,’” Rizvi says.

Rizvi says step one was making money by churning out gummies and showing Pham how to dose, test recipes and figure out what they needed to get off the ground. So far, Sucrée offers raspberry, straw-nana and mango gummy coins, along with butter pecan Ferrero Rocher-sicles. The THC potency ranges from 20 milligrams in the gummies to 150 milligrams in the cakesicles. They also make full-size cakes for special orders.

“The other day, we went to Paris Baguette and got a whole bunch of their pastries,” Rizvi says. “We’re trying to figure out how to make cakesicles in all these different flavors. We’ve been working on pistachio and ruby chocolate ones — just weird stuff.”

Though their collective focus is on building out sweets for Sucrée, Rizvi also curates private dinners for small groups through her @chef.shan Instagram account. Before the pandemic, Rizvi hosted small get-togethers with friends and served infused dishes such as puff pastries with brie and apricot jam, roasted Brussel sprouts with pancetta, and braised short rib.

“After going to culinary school, I just had a love for food,” Rizvi says. “You can showcase cannabis in a beautiful and elegant way. It doesn’t have to be brownies and [Rice] Krispies.

I want to give people that experience of when they eat something, they’re blown away.”

So far, the dinners have been for close friends and friends of friends. Rizvi handles all of the courses and serves the food, and if the customers choose to pair the dishes with drinks, Pham joins as a collaborator.

Infusions are small, she says. Rather than each bite culminating in an attendee being too high to function, the plates are microdosed to elicit a sensation of relaxation.

“It’s definitely more about the food,” Rizvi says. “You can’t get this experience at a restaurant.”

A five-course dinner with three beverages costs $250 per person, with an optional alcoholic or nonalcoholic drink pairing.

Both Pham and Rizvi have expressed surprise at how successful they’ve been early on, and are confident the business will continue to grow as the city begins to reopen post-pandemic and marijuana legislation becomes more user- and businessfriendly. Both cite the ultimate dream of having a brick-andmortar but know a physical location is a long-term goal.

“We definitely want to get a website going so we can reach more people, and we also want to hire employees,” Pham says.

“Right now, it’s just the two of us doing everything. It can be overwhelming. Long-term, I’d love to have a Sucrée Sweets storefront and bakeshop.”

No matter how fast or slow things go from here, the two South County Secondary School alums will cultivate business together.

“It was easy because I know who she is as a person,” Pham says. “It wasn’t like I was jumping in with a stranger.

Everything is moving very fast, which I like.”

For more information about Sucrée Sweets Co. and their products, check them out on Instagram @sucreesweets.co. For more information about private dinners hosted by Rizvi, send her a DM on Instagram @chef.shan.

FIRST PAGE. Sucrée Sweets Co.’s Shannon Rizvi + Charlynn Pham. PAGES 17-19. Sucrée Sweets Co. offerings. All three photos by Scott Suchman.

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Green Panther Chef Jazmine Moore, better known as Chef Jazz, grew up in a culinary household with a restaurateur for a mother. Because of this, the world of food always held her interest and eventually prompted her to attend Baltimore International College for culinary school. In 2006, Moore was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which stripped her of the ability to eat solid foods and robbed her of an appetite.

“After I graduated, I was diagnosed,” Moore says. “My mother introduced me to cannabis, but I didn’t want to be associated.

I started introducing it through my juices, and surprisingly, it would stimulate my appetite. And in turn, I started to eat soups, stews and salads.”

Thirteen years later, Moore promotes the medicinal properties in her cooking through Green Panther Chef, her business offering catered events, consultations and virtual educational cooking classes, all with the hopes of sharing what she calls an edible experience.

“Most of the time, people want this food for birthdays or celebrations,” Moore says. “But, we also have people who are interested in food with cannabis for things like pain, gastrointestinal issues [and] insomnia. It’s 50/50, in a way.

We have people who try it for their health.”

Because cannabis is fat-soluble, Moore says it works great with butter, cheese and fish. After feeding her family and friends meals with her recipes, she was prodded to work it into a business following D.C.’s Initiative 71.

“French cooking is full of fats and butters,” she says. “I was kind of pushed and urged to do it. It’s been a great journey.”

Green Panther Chef offers private dinners for homes and events with a customizable menu. Moore says they operate several dinners per week, where they serve anywhere from 20 to 120 guests at each. Potency depends on the client, but Moore always recommends low and slow.

“Sometimes you have to step in and say, ‘Hey, I’m not going to do that to you,’” Moore says about people who want high dosages. “We teach courses for people to learn what your numbers are because if you take too much, it can put you in a horrible situation.”

A big part of Green Panther Chef is all forms of education with regards to the use of cannabis in dishes and how to incorporate it into a healthy lifestyle. While legislation around the drug is constantly changing, both locally and nationally, she hopes to continue teaching other cooks, chefs and eaters about the benefits of infused foods.

“I would love to create a culinary school for cooking with cannabis,” Moore says. “That’s my ‘big hairy ass’ goal [laughs].”

For more information about Chef Jazz and Green Panther Chef, visit www.greenpantherchef.com and follow them on Instagram @greenpantherchef.

LEFT PAGE. Green Panther Chef’s Jazmine Moore. RIGHT PAGE. Green Panther Chef dishes. Photos by Kimchi Photography.

BĀkT DC After a decade of jobs in both the back and front of the house at various restaurants, Esteban Cantillo has experienced all aspects of the cooking industry. Upon getting furloughed due to the pandemic, he decided to try his hand at edibles for fun.

“At first, it was a way to keep our sanity,” Cantillo says. “Then it turned into its own thing. It wasn’t a huge plan to make it what it is now, but it sort of hit the ground running.”

As if steered by fate or serendipity, Cantillo has routinely been thrown into roles involving pastries despite his affinity for savory meals. Because he lacks a sweet tooth, his at-home experiments turned into goods shared with friends and family, who provided exceptional feedback. By June 2020, BĀkT DC was born.

“It didn’t really hit until the holiday season,” he says. “The first two or three months were great, but I wasn’t convinced until the holidays. From there, we started taking it more seriously and decided to go full on with this.”

If you heard BĀkT’s menu, it wouldn’t sound alien compared to most places offering edibles. However, upon perusing the website and glancing at the photos, you’d inevitably wonder whether you accidentally stumbled onto a food photographer’s professional page, as the decadent treats are both vibrant and alluring.

“You still hit home with the classic cookies,” Cantillo says. “It’s nothing too stuffy or out of this world. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. With no plans to make this what it is, it [has] one day into the next become a quality baked goods shop.”

The potency of the cookies and brownies range from 100-140 milligrams, and cakes range from 300-500 milligrams. Just by looking at the desserts, it would be hard not to eat each in its entirety, but that’s not advisable for everyone. Cantillo quips that he’s had serious internal debates about, “How good is too good?”

“If it tastes so good that you want to eat more, should we dose it less?” Cantillo asks. “We’ve had the conversation with a lot of customers about them being dangerously delicious, so it’s a fine line. It’s a personal experience. You have to test it to see.”

Consistency is key for Cantillo in both the product and service, from packaging to delivery.

“We want to be approachable. We’re trying to give a great experience and be consistent throughout.”

Though he’s stuck with sweets for the time being, Cantillo hopes to branch out to private dinners and other savory dishes in the future. Until then, the accidental pastry chef will be hard at work crafting edibles disguised as works of art.

“We want to do at-home dinners and tasting menus, somewhere you can get things outside of cereal bars and brownies. There are definitely a lot of things on our radar.”

For more information about BĀkT DC and its products, visit www.baktdc.com, and follow them on Instagram @baktco.

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Photos courtesy of BĀkT DC.

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Hungry Harvest

Helps to End Food Insecurity WORDS BY KEITH LORIA Evan Lutz has been interested in social entrepreneurship his entire life.

“I’m fascinated by the idea of using business to power social change,” he says.

So it’s no surprise that Lutz is CEO of Hungry Harvest, a farm-to-doorstep produce delivery service that’s on a mission to end food waste and hunger.

Lutz founded the company while at the University of Maryland six years ago where he spent many hours in his dorm’s basement, which he used as a workspace.

“I was hauling 50-pound bags of produce up and down stairs to the farm stand and desperately trying to get people to take a free sample,” he says. “The beginning was tough as I pleaded with the residence halls over spacing and tried to work out the supply chain by myself, yet I was determined to make this a success.”

Four months in, Lutz finally saw some traction and started getting customers.

“I had proven the concept could work, but it was just the beginning of an uphill run,” he says. “Our mission has always been clear: We believe every person has the right to eat healthy, and every fruit and vegetable deserves to be eaten. This idea guides everything we do: every employee, at every level.”

After graduating in 2014, Lutz took his farm stand concept and turned it into a delivery model, operating out of a produce market in Jessup, Maryland.

“Nobody had heard of ‘ugly produce’ before, and food waste was not as big of an issue when we were first getting started,” he says. “We were basically begging people to sign up for a free trial of our subscription service. After the first four months, having spent almost all of what was in our bank account, we only had 100 recurring customers to show for it. But we kept pushing forward.”

Fast forward to today: With the help of subscribers, Hungry Harvest has expanded to deliver in nine different markets and has rescued more than 27 million pounds of food from the dump, while providing over 1.7 million pounds of food to those in need. Its largest customer base is located in the D.C. region.

Each year, 20 billion pounds of produce Photo courtesy of Hungry Harvest.

goes uneaten before it even reaches retail, yet 20% of Americans live with food insecurity.

“Our goal is to reduce that gap by using one problem (food waste) to help solve another (food insecurity),” Lutz says. “Every delivery we make saves at least 10 pounds of food from going to waste, and helps support our hungersolving initiatives through subsidized community markets and donations of produce to organizations throughout D.C., Maryland and Virginia.”

Approximately one in 10 residents of the metropolitan Washington region live with food insecurity, and nearly one-third of them are children. Since the start of the pandemic, food insecurity is estimated to have increased by 16% in the D.C. area.

“We saw this growing need at the beginning of the pandemic and launched our Emergency Food Box program to help get fresh food to people,” Lutz says. “Each box provides eight to 12 pounds of hearty fruits and vegetables. We’re continuing to work to provide produce boxes and build partnerships to support those in need wherever we can.”

Over the past year, Hungry Harvest has partnered with nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations and hospitals to provide access to 77,000 boxes (and counting) of essential fresh food to families in need, almost 60,000 of which went to residents in the D.C. metro area.

“We’re constantly looking for ways to put more plants on more plates,” Lutz says. “No matter where you live or what your budget is, we believe everyone should have access to fresh produce.”

To lend your support, visit www.hungryharvest.net/giveback. There you can make a contribution that will go directly toward the Emergency Food Box program and extra produce donations to Hungry Harvest’s partner organizations. Follow Hungry Harvest on Instagram @hungryharvest.

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Food Rescue + Assistance Programs Fill the Gaps in a Pandemic Food System WORDS BY INGRID HARBO The beginning of the pandemic was a dark time for many.

Cities started shutting down, and restaurants and businesses were forced to close their doors. In the early months of the pandemic, Food Rescue US - DC experienced a light through the darkness. In a time when people were advised to stay inside, the organization experienced an influx of new volunteers who wanted to get out and help those around them.

Food Rescue US is a national organization that transports fresh food from local businesses to places like cafeterias, shelters and food banks. There, food that otherwise would have gone to waste can be distributed to people in need: a process that simultaneously combats food waste and hunger. The organization is powered by volunteers who through the Food Rescue US app are alerted of food that needs to be rescued and connected with a food assistance organization in need.

Kate Urbank, site director for Food Rescue US - DC, was surprised by the number of new volunteers when the pandemic began.

“Through the summer, it was 330 brand-new people signed up, and that to me was an example of people who wanted to do something,” Urbank says. “They were at home, had flexible schedules because they were working from home and found out about our opportunity to volunteer.”

During the early days of the pandemic, both the providing and receiving ends of Food Rescue US - DC partners experienced changes, which in turn changed the intermediary work of Urbank and volunteers. When restaurants were forced to close doors, many reached out to donate ingredients that would go bad during their shutdowns. The cafeteria agencies that receive rescued food either closed their doors or had to change their operations to minimize contact with patrons.

“We also had some businesses [that] wanted to keep their cafeteria staff employed,” Urbank adds. “They would pay to 24 | APRIL 2021

have meals made specifically for the purpose of donation. In addition to doing food rescue, which we consider to be food that would otherwise go to waste, we were now transporting meals made specifically for the purpose of feeding the community at a time when they needed food — and also keeping cafeteria members employed.”

Montgomery County-based Community Food Rescue (CFR), a program of Manna Food Center, was experiencing similar changes to their program. Along with changing needs of donors and receiving organizations, CFR also adapted to the needs of Manna. When the pandemic hit, CFR began delivering meals directly to the homes of certain participants of Manna’s programs after it became unsafe for them to come to the center.

Between March and December, CFR delivered more than 3,000 meals. The meal delivery effort was taken over by a different department at Manna at the beginning of this year, but CFR continues to expand past their typical food rescue duties.

One project in the works for CFR is a program working with local farmers who will bring farm-fresh produce to assistance organizations. Currently, according to CRF’s program director Cheryl Kollin, the main logistical element still up in the air for the program has to do with the packaging of food when it leaves the farm. Typically, produce is packaged in massive quantities, but the average food assistance organization can only use a fraction of it.

“We are working now with local farms and the Maryland Department of Agriculture to figure out a process by which volunteers can go on farm and repackage the produce into smaller quantities,” Kollin says. “So instead of receiving a huge Gaylord [box] of corn, which might weigh 4,000 pounds, volunteers will subdivide it to say, 12 ears per bag.”

Both Food Rescue US and CFR’s flexibility helped the

FROM LEFT. Food Rescue US - DC’s Kate Urbank. Photo courtesy of subject. Volunteers. Photo courtesy of Manna’s Community Food Rescue program.

EAT organizations make the best out of a challenging new supply and demand landscape. For CFR, the already strong and established food rescue program lends itself well to other opportunities that have arisen during the pandemic.

“We want to stay true to our core mission of serving people, but we’re also recognizing that because we have this fabulous mechanism we created, we’re always finding new ways of utilizing Community Food Rescue,” Kollin notes.

Food recovery is just a small part of the solution to a larger problem of food waste, Urbank says.

“Forty percent is usually the percentage people reference as far as what is wasted. It’s wasted at the farm level. It’s wasted scraping off your plates at home or at restaurants. It’s wasted because of expiration dates that don’t make sense, but people get very anxious about.”

Food rescue programs are not the only organizations in the area combating food waste and hunger. Other local organizations also work to provide communities with fresh, healthy and accessible food while reducing waste and using sustainable practices. One example is the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food and Agriculture, a D.C. area nonprofit with a sustainable farm program and mobile market distribution program. Pamela Hess, Arcadia’s executive director, explains how the organization minimizes waste while serving communities in need.

“Food that is harvested and excess to our market needs (our mobile market, and some of our internal programs and for schools), we donate to food pantries to avoid that food waste,” Hess says.

Arcadia’s mobile market program will begin for the year in May. While sustainably produced and local food is often more

expensive than food from the grocery store, Arcadia helps make it affordable and accepts and doubles federal food assistance benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Arcadia also helped found the Mid-Atlantic Food Resilience and Access Coalition (MAFRAC), an organization that helps fill gaps in the Covid-strained food system. MAFRAC provides grants of up to $15,000 to organizations and businesses that provide free and reduced-price meals so they can purchase food produced by local farmers.

While food waste and hunger are bigger problems than any individual can solve, becoming a part of the effort to relieve the issues is easy. Those interested in volunteering for Food Rescue US can sign up on their website, where they will then be able to see available rescues and can choose ones that fit their schedule.

For CFR, people can sign up on their website, complete a brief food safety training, and then begin accepting and completing food rescues.

“It is fun, quick and really makes you feel good,” Urbank says.

“People walk away feeling pretty darn good about themselves, which they should, and Mother Earth thanks them.”

Learn more about Food Rescue US at www.foodrescue.us and follow @foodrescueus.dc on Instagram for D.C.-specific Food Rescue US updates. Learn more about CFR and Manna Food Center at www.communityfoodrescue.org and www.mannafood.org, or follow @mannafoodcenter on Instagram. For more information about Arcadia and its mobile market program, visit their website at www.arcadiafood.org.

The Washington DC Ride for AUTISM & disABILITIES July 30, 2021 | Washington, D.C. Bike to the Beach invites you to join the most fun and impactful challenge of your life.

This beautiful ride to Dewey Beach is also the best way to make a positive difference right in your own backyard. We only have 100 spots, so don’t miss this opportunity.

Register at: DCFRAY.COM/EVENTS

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WORDS BY COLLEEN KENNEDY

Between getting that (second) vaccination shot and gathering with friends again, take a tour of some of D.C.’s best specialty wine shops. From organic vineyards worldwide to Italy and Argentina, you don’t even need to dust off your forgotten passport to take this journey. The wine experts at the District’s best niche wine stores share their secrets for learning more about wines, especially about varietals and specialties that may be less familiar. The best part about touring wine country from home? When we can celebrate together again, you will know the perfect bottle to open.

Michelle Lim Warner Cofounder + CEO of DCanter

Owned by husband-and-wife team Michael Warner and Michelle Lim Warner, Barracks Row-based DCanter features smaller wine producers and focuses on family-run, dynamic, sustainable and unique wines. In addition to carrying wines from France and Italy, you can find bottles from lesser-known wine regions such as Texas, the Finger Lakes in New York, the Balkans and Turkey, to name a few. The local spot also won the best wine shop in the Mid-Atlantic and was listed in the top 10 in the nation

by VinePair in 2017.

Starting in 2009, when they began traveling to formally deepen their knowledge of the world’s wines, the Warners realized there was a gap in the market they could fulfill by focusing on wine education in addition to their selection of specialized wines.

The formal wine education they have achieved since is intimidating. Lim Warner is a certified sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Warner is a certified specialist in wine designation through the Society of Wine Educators, they both earned a Wine Spirit Education Trust certification and more. But their approach to learning is accessible.

“We created an education space because we love welcoming curious wine lovers,” Lim Warner explains. “Our hunger for becoming educated ourselves was the impetus for this.”

To that end, DCanter has created classes, weekly “Taste at 8:00” virtual tastings with producers and wine experts, an incredibly delightful educational blog, and personalized wine concierge service to help wine drinkers feel empowered in their choices.

In lieu of the expensive and daunting sommelier exams, you can go to school at DCanter Wine School by attending cohortbased wine classes for three to six weeks with introductory courses, a study of lesser-known wine regions, and deeper dive master classes focused on France and Italy. The courses include bottles of wine for the learning, too.

“Wine Life is our digital magazine to empower individuals to feel more comfortable making wine decisions,” Lim Warner shares. “Everything we do is to give greater confidence to the wine consumer.”

She also offers the following tips: “Try wine. That’s the main thing. Take note of what you like or not, and why. You know fruits and vegetables. You eat them. Learn the smells of the herbs and vegetables in your kitchen. Pay attention to the foods you are already eating and focus on the different aromas and flavors. Take notes. Be curious.”

DCanter: 545 8th St. SE, DC; www.dcanterwines.com; @dcanterwines on Instagram

Meri Lugo

Director of Operations at Domestique Recently named one of the top five natural wine stores in the United States by Wine Enthusiast magazine, Domestique is located at the corner of Florida Avenue Northwest and North Capitol Street. Instead of focusing on a nationality or region,

Domestique’s ethos is concentrated on the environment and sustainability. They exclusively sell natural wines and wines without artificial ingredients and limited use of sulfur, as well as those certified as organic.

“Collectively as a staff, we try to think about where to begin,” says Meri Lugo, who has been the director of operations at Domestique for the last seven months. “Begin with your local wine store. We currently offer one-on-one appointments to have that conversation: to describe what you like. There are so many rules to wine, but it’s helpful to forget those rules.”

After years of working in restaurants, both in the kitchen and as a server, she learned how wine could transport and delight drinkers.

“Wine is meant to be an enjoyable experience. The more we can shrug off the rules and old-fashioned norms, the better.”

Lugo suggests that evoking a particular mood, memory or feeling is one of the best ways to communicate what you are looking for.

“The more descriptive and wacky you can get, the better.”

What do you want to drink while wearing sweatpants in the park? What will taste like springtime in a bottle? Lugo and the staff at Domestique have you covered.

Domestique: 10 Florida Ave. NW, DC; www.domestiquewine.com; @domestiquewine on Instagram

Pedro J. Rodríguez

Cofounder + CEO of Grand Cata Another awardee of Wine Enthusiast for “Best Single Focus” wine store, Grand Cata was founded by Pedro J. Rodríguez, born and raised in Puerto Rico, and Julio R. Robledo from Chile. With locations in Shaw and La Cosecha in the Union Market District, Grand Cata showcase wines from Latin America.

After they each completed graduate degrees in international relations (Rodríguez) and political science (Robledo), they found a new calling working together at a Washington-based, Hispanic-serving nonprofit.

“I hoped to represent Puerto Rico abroad, but with wine we are ambassadors of the culture,” Rodríguez shares. “We love languages, music, arts [and] culture. With wine, you understand the culture, history, geography and so much more.”

Pre-pandemic, Grand Cata offered classes on demand for six to 16 people and a flight of five wines. They also organize an education Wine Club that serves two theme-based models a month with accompanying exclusives.

“It’s to educate the public, get them excited [and] think about new wines,” Rodríguez states. “Education was intrinsic to our model. We had daily catas, [or] tastings, to try. Exploring Latin America through our store, wines and music is a journey.”

Unlike the rigid rules of French viticulture, Rodríguez points out that Latin American wines are about experimentation. Not bound by rules of growing specific grapes in particular regions, the combination of diverse geographies and climates with old and new grapes creates exciting new wines. That is also the best advice he has for wine drinkers: experiment, be open and take risks.

“We want [to eliminate] the intimidation factor,” he says.

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“We ask questions. We listen. We ask what you are cooking.

In Latin America, wines are an experiment and you should experiment with them.”

Grand Cata in Shaw: 1550 7th St. NW, DC; www.grandcata.com; @grandcata on Instagram Grand Cata at La Cosecha: 1280 4th St. NE, DC; www.lacosechadc.com; @lacosechadc on Instagram

Max Evans

General Manager of A. Litteri Nestled among the wholesale shops surrounding the Union Market District, Italian grocery and deli A. Litteri has one of the most impressive collections of Brunello di Montalcino, which won the 2017 Leccio de Oro Award. Max Evans, general manager at A. Litteri for three years after selling them Italian wines since 2006, says the former owner and wine lover Ken Nankervis, who passed away in 2019, made the 28 | APRIL 2021

unimposing deli a wine destination.

Evans spent 13 years as a wholesale wine merchant for two Italian wine importers, and credits his own wine education to traveling in Italy, meeting the producers and developing relationships with those in the know. That’s also his best advice for the general wine purchaser.

“In normal times, in-store wine tastings are a really great way to learn about wine and what you like without spending the money,” Evan shares. “The best thing to do is to pick an independent wine shop where you can get to know the people. Develop a relationship and let them get to know your preferences. It’s what we love to do and it’s way less risky.”

As the world reopens and we look to refresh our respective palates, D.C. wine shop owners offer advice we can all use when seeking out that next red, white or rosé: Forget the rules, ask questions and try something new.

A. Litteri: 517 Morse St. NE, DC; www.alitteri.com; @a.litteri on Instagram

FIRST PAGE. Domestique Wine. Photo by Lauren Segal. THIS PAGE. Grand Cata cofounder Julio Robledo. Photo courtesy of Pedro Rodríguez.

Recommendations from the Experts The weather is warming up. What’s a spring wine you’d like to recommend?

A. Litteri: Cascina Chicco Roero Arneis “Anterisio” 2019 from the Piedmont. Super fresh with notes of lemon peel, honeysuckle and a super clean, mineral finish. So good, I could drink it out of the bottle.

DCanter: Canned wine like the VINette Rosé Pomegranate Lime Spritzer from our friends over at the women-led/owned Chronicle Wines.

They’re making yummy wine goodies over at the north fork of Long Island, New York.

Canned wine is great for outdoor picnics, hikes, BBQs, you name it. And spritzers are fun because they’re delicious, but low in alcohol.

Domestique: We recently popped open a bottle of Matthiasson Peach + Grape Wine at the shop, and I was immediately transported to a summer picnic in Northern California. This lightly effervescent peach and grape wine tastes like a self-contained bellini, in the best kind of way.

Drink [this wine] in the park.

Grand Cata: All day rosé. There’s a reason D.C. is one of the highest consumers of rosé in the nation. Big fan of the Bodega Garzón Pinot Noir Rosé from Uruguay.

What’s a good go-to wine for any occasion?

A. Litteri: Prosecco. A great bottle of prosecco can stand alone or pair with a really wide range of foods. Probably the one wine you can find in every region of Italy, it’s a perfect wine to enjoy after a long day. The Italians don’t reserve sparkling wine for special occasions as we tend to here, and prosecco is a wine to enjoy any time.

The best part is they are affordable. You can find expensive ones if you try, but most of the best ones I’ve tasted have been under $20.

DCanter: Valençay by Mary Taylor Wines from the Loire Valley of France. It’s a blend of pinot noir, gamay and malbec. It goes with everything (food, Netflix, pals) and is a crowdpleaser. Plus, I love supporting a womanimported and woman winemaker product.

Domestique: Bubbles. My favorite type of sparkling wine is pét-nat, a naturally bubbly wine that is bottled before fermentation is complete to create a natural effervescence. This year, I’m really leaning into spring with rosé pét-nat like Julien Pineau’s Bocca di Rossa.

Grand Cata offerings. Photo courtesy of Pedro Rodríguez.

Grand Cata: Always a wine with freshness and fruit such as Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda from Argentina. A great value at $11.

For those of us on a budget, what is your best bargain bottle?

A Litteri: Valle Martello Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2019, $10.99. This is just a killer bottle of wine. I don’t often get excited about Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (much less really inexpensive Montepulciano d’Abruzzo), but this wine is well-made, structured and just delicious. Perfect for the usual pizza/pasta scenarios but can stand up to bigger flavors like grilled meats or sausage.

DCanter: Mas Rodó Incognit Rosat is a beautiful wine for the price. It’s a $15 rosé that tastes like it should be more. It’s a unique rosé blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and tempranillo: cheerful, deliciously bold and fruit-driven (not sweet). Great for white and red wine lovers who want something easy for the warm weather ahead.

Domestique: Vincent Lacoste’s Nono Rouge. We fell in love with this wine so much that we brought in an entire pallet, which helps us keep it super affordable.

It’s the perfect, well-balanced and full-bodied Bordeaux blend. Pairs equally as well with steaks or sweatpants.

Grand Cata: We love full body. Aguijón de Abeja Malbec from La Patagonia in Argentina. It’s a lot of wine for under $20. An amazing value for the price point.

When we are all vaccinated, what are you opening in celebration?

Domestique: Here at the shop, we’ve been stockpiling large format bottles over the past year in hopes that it will someday soon be safe enough to have a big enough gathering to justify opening these huge, celebratory bottles. When it’s time, I’m reaching for a Les Capriades magnum of pét-nat. Bubbles would seem appropriate, and Moses and Pascal of Les Capriades make the most expressive and aromatic pét-nat in the world.

Grand Cata: Definitely bubbles are a must. Love the Sol de Sol Blanc de Blanc from Malleco Valley in Chile. Complex [and] fresh with great personality on the nose and palate. Cannot get enough of this espumoso.

DISTRICT FRAY | 29

WORDS BY M.K. KOSZYCKI

Everything leading up to D.C.based electropop trio SHAED releasing their first full-length album was a whirlwind. The remix of their song “Trampoline” with ZAYN (of One Direction and solo fame) catapulted their stardom even higher after droves of fans were introduced to the band through the track, its syncs in popular TV shows and commercials, or caught them live as they embarked on a worldwide tour.

The band, made up of vocalist Chelsea Lee and twin brothers and multi-instrumentalists/producers Max and Spencer Ernst, wanted to slow-roll their debut record — really spend time on it and make it fully theirs. At the beginning of 2020, Max and Spencer sat down with what they thought would be the album, consisting of songs written in different places with different people over the course of their busy years. Despite the hard work and passion, something about the record in its first form wasn’t quite what they had envisioned.

“Right before the pandemic hit, we were in Seattle,” Spencer recalls.

“Max and I produce everything, so we were really in the weeds trying to tie up some loose ends with all the songs we had. We said to Chelsea, ‘Here are the nine songs we have. Just listen through the recent mixes [and] see what you’re thinking.’”

What happened next was a moment that would inform the rest of the band’s 2020 and set their debut album on a different course. Spencer says he looked to Lee, still listening to the mixes through her headphones, as she said they needed to talk through tears streaming down her face.

“They just weren’t telling our story,” Lee says of the songs on the now-scrapped version of the album.

“It wasn’t true to us. We realized we needed to do something about this, because this wasn’t working. We wanted it to be something special and it just didn’t feel right.”

Once back to the drawing board, SHAED worked tirelessly for “High Dive,” which will be released on May 14. From poignant, touching lyrics to moments that are both fun and sincere, it’s authentically SHAED in sound, content and representation of each member and their closeness as a unit.

Beautiful strings underscore several tracks, played by FAME’S Macedonian Symphonic Orchestra.

SHAED. Photos by Jared Zagha.

After finding inspiration in the string arrangements on Angel Olsen’s 2019 album “All Mirrors,” they reached out to composer Jherek Bischoff, who worked on Olsen’s album.

Bischoff connected them to the orchestra in Macedonia, and Max and Spencer worked with them on the arrangements over Skype in the middle of the night.

“It took a second to say, ‘Instead of having these feelings prevent us from making this, let’s just flip it and explore what it’s like to talk about those feelings,’” Max says. “‘Let’s write songs very specific to the subject matter and the emotions we’re feeling.’ After that, the whole album came together pretty quickly. We’re really proud of how it turned out. The name of the album, ‘High Dive,’ is about how it was super scary scrapping everything. The metaphor there is about taking that leap of faith.”

And like any musician navigating a pandemic, the trio is eager to safely return to the road and share “High Dive” with fans during live shows. While much of that remains up in the air, they’ve taken some of the creative energy usually spent on planning a tour and poured it into giving back — specifically with the songs “Part Time Psycho” and “Colorful.”

“Part Time Psycho,” which also features musician Two Feet, deals with how isolating struggling with depression, anxiety and mental health can be — but that you’re never alone in your battles. “Colorful” tells Max’s coming out story and how instrumental his relationship with Lee and Spencer was in him living his truth.

The band is donating a portion of the proceeds from preordered bundles and album sales to Teen Line, a nonprofit that provides a helpline of professionally trained counselors for peer-to-peer mental health support and other programs. And in keeping with the theme of the song “Colorful,” Max explains the band is hard at work on a project with Capital Pride to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in the District.

“Because we can’t play right now, we’re really trying to find ways to make an impact in our hometown through partnerships with D.C.-based organizations,” Max continues. “We want to make D.C. a big part of this release: to celebrate and make an impact locally, and do some fun things and partnerships within D.C.” It’s a beautiful effort that brings the authenticity of the record full circle. SHAED’s closeness to one another is their superpower. It comes through in every song — no matter the subject matter, tempo, feature or length.

“I’m just super excited to put out any music, but especially music we’re connected with feels so special to us,” Lee says. “It’s been a while since we released new music and it’s nice to be able to — finally, after a year of despair but also of extreme happiness — give people a glimpse into our life.”

“High Dive” comes out on May 14. Album track “Osaka” will be released on April 9; listen to that as well as “Part Time Psycho (with Two Feet),” “Once Upon a Time” and “No Other Way” now. To preorder the album, merch or to learn more, visit www.shaedband.com and follow them on Instagram and Twitter @shaedband.

DISTRICT FRAY | 31

CULTURE

32 | APRIL 2021

Art and cannabis have long been associated with one another. In D.C., where cannabis is decriminalized and legal to gift, but not yet legal to buy and sell, artistry supports the city’s growing cannabis culture. Many shops sell apparel, accessories and art while gifting cannabis products. The gray area allowed by Initiative 71 has made cannabis more accessible while creating space for new brands to emerge and challenging preconceived notions about cannabis.

Adams Morgan-based art gallery Gifted Curators and clothing store Pink Fox on 14th Street both combined the need for a legitimate business model and passion for street art and streetwear, respectively, with the added incentive of cannabis gifts to draw customers in.

Pink Fox is a D.C. lifestyle brand and gifting shop. Like every lifestyle brand, the shop fills a specific niche. Whereas Supreme has skateboarding and Nike has athletics, Pink Fox has cannabis.

“We acknowledge and accept that [while] we can’t sell you cannabis, what we can sell you is our brand,” says Mark Nagib, Pink Fox’s co-owner and creative director.

The apparel takes a subtle approach to the niche of cannabis. Rather than flashy marijuana leaves or other cannabis-related imagery, their apparel is emblazoned with the brand’s logo: The words “Pink Fox” form the head of a fox. Their products also frequently feature D.C.-specific things, like the Metro map, Lincoln Memorial and cherry blossoms.

Nagib designs all of Pink Fox’s apparel and accessories, finding inspiration for designs everywhere ­— from the culture of D.C. to midcentury travel stamps. He says art and cannabis have a long history.

“Cannabis is seen as a very artistic tool or way to relax, so like any good combination, these things already have a relationship and go hand in hand. Because we had to be innovative and create that recreational marketplace [in 2015], art was the strongest, safest fall-back plan.”

At Gifted Curators, the art is just as important as the cannabis. As a lover of street art, manager Tee Stoe brings that to the shop. The gallery features art from local and regional street artists, which customers can buy digital versions of, and cannabis products are gifted with those purchases.

“I come from the graffiti world myself, so the art angle of this is my main passion,” Stoe says. “I’ve been so grateful to work with a bunch of my heroes as a kid, and now to include them as part of our aesthetic.”

Street art is not the only way Gifted Curators engages with artistry. The gallery also hosts intimate live performances customers can win tickets to when they spend money with the shop. Gifted Curators also works with local DJ John “Brooklyn” Saviola, who runs record store El Donut Shoppe inside the West End’s Yours Truly Hotel, to create strain-themed playlists.

Stoe describes art as something palatable for people to connect to. For Gifted Curators, the connection to art also helps challenge stereotypes about cannabis and the people who use it.

“When I started this, I expected to see a lot of Shaggy and ScoobyDoo-type characters coming here — your standard stoner type. But to be honest with you, the demographic [of our customer base] is so wide. We get a large portion of people who are [ages] 50 to 90.”

Gifted Curators is often the opposite of what new customers expect.

“There are a lot of shops out here that are dark and dirty and dingy,” Stoe says. “The gallery in general is a clean and concise experience to walk into. There is nothing threatening about a gallery.”

Gifted Curators: 2469 18th St. NW, DC; www.giftedcurators.com // @giftedcurators.dc on Instagram Pink Fox: 14th Street in NW, DC; www.pinkfox202.com // @fkapinkfox on Instagram Author’s note: These businesses operate under D.C.’s Initiative 71, which means they do not assign a monetary value to anything with marijuana or THC in the ingredients. Instead, the items noted in the story are gifted along with the purchase of a different product, such as clothing or artwork. For more information about I-71, visit www.mayor.dc.gov.

HOW HIGH-END GLASS IS CHANGING THE CANNABIS SCENE Glass House Gallery showcases the intersection of art and cannabis in the form of intricate glass-blown pipes. The Shaw-based space works with over 320 different artists, and every piece featured is made by hand. Glass House frequently hosts shows to feature artists’ work with pieces selling for between $100 and $55,000. Owner Eric Wimsatt talked with us about how high-end glass is changing the cannabis scene.

District Fray: How do you connect with artists to feature at Glass House?

Eric Wimsatt: Instagram. A lot of the artists are huge in our market, [and] we know [them] because we have been in the community for so long. It’s more relationship-based than anything. It’s an intimate thing because you’re selling their artwork. When you meet these artists, you do want to build a relationship with them. You’re selling part of their soul, in a sense.

How do customers generally react to the art at the gallery?

Honestly, they’re astounded. At a lot of our shows, we put videos of the artists themselves blowing live from their YouTube, so they show all the work they put into this. They literally shape hot, molten liquid and form a piece with it. If they screw up in any way, from pulling it too hard to temperature differentiation, it can completely mess up the entire piece. It’s a skill that takes a certain level of technique, but also years of figuring out. It’s cool when people see the amount of work these [artists] put in.

How does artistry support D.C.’s cannabis culture?

It’s kind of shaping it. When you get higher-end glass, you get higher-end customers. It’s the whole lifestyle around it. It sets precedence not only for the glass but for cannabis you use with the glass: quality in, quality out.

Glass House Gallery: 1527 9th St. NW, DC; www.glasshousegallerydc.com; @glasshousegallerydc on Instagram

FIRST PAGE. Tim Slay, a lead curator at Gifted Curators. Photo courtesy of business. THIRD PAGE. Pipe by Mike Luna Glass + Justin Carter Glass. Photo by Bang Le.

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34 | APRIL 2021

CULTURE

A Touch of Danger in National Theatre London’s “Romeo & Juliet” WORDS BY NATALIA KOLENKO It goes without saying that “Romeo & Juliet” is a classic play.

If you didn’t read it in school, no doubt you’ve at least learned the story from one of its countless pop culture references (“Love Story” by Taylor Swift, anyone?) Beyond that, there is not a lot that seems relatable about two teenagers’ tragic love story, but in a pandemic where touching has become taboo, “Romeo & Juliet” has proven more relatable than ever.

“The fact that you couldn’t touch people [because of Covid] was actually, in a sense, a help for us because in the original play, this love is very dangerous,” says Simon Godwin, artistic director for Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) in D.C. and an associate director for the National Theatre in London. “To be in a text in which touch was so potentially life-threatening meant that everything became a lot more intense. This obstacle also became the way, and that was kind of the mantra we used as we were making this.”

Starring Jessie Buckley (“I’m Thinking of Ending Things”) and Josh O’Connor (“The Crown”) in the title roles, the pandemic did more than just make touch an obstacle for this National Theatre London production. Last April, the cast members and crew learned that rehearsals for “Romeo & Juliet” would not be happening and the production would be put on hold until further notice. The sudden shuttering of the theater left Godwin reeling, he says.

However, not long after, there was talk of how the production

could still take place, which led to the idea of turning the play into a film and broadcasting it on TV. Filmed on the National Theatre stage this past November, “Romeo & Juliet” will now have its U.S. premiere on April 23 on PBS as part of their “Great Performances” series.

While the production was filmed in its original home, the change from stage to screen did require some artistic changes, Godwin says.

With help from Buckley and O’Connor, “We began to think of this idea of ‘Maybe it is set in an empty theater, and then maybe as the story goes on, the world becomes more and more realized.’”

In this way, the conditions in which the production was made very much became a part of the concept. In addition to this artistic change, the original Shakespeare text was cut down to almost half its size to fit the play into a 90-minute film.

Godwin says it felt vital that to make “Romeo & Juliet” work as a film, it needed to be fast and intense. Filming would also allow the audience to be much closer to the actors, offering a more intimate feel than if they were being watched from a stage.

Other adjustments included combining a theatre and film crew, learning film lingo, and again, focusing on touch in an adaptation that often revolves around the yearning to be held. While creating the production during a pandemic proved challenging at times, it was also a useful distraction, Godwin says.

Deborah Findlay (Nurse), director Simon Godwin, Ella Dacres (Peta), Josh O’Connor (Romeo) + Shubham Saraf (Benvolio) on the set of “Romeo & Juliet” at the National Theatre. Photo by Rob Youngson.

DISTRICT FRAY | 35

“[The play] was a useful thing to think about, as well as so many other things: the staff at the theater [and] how I could protect jobs and create Shakespeare Hour LIVE!, which is [STC’s] weekly Shakespeare show. In a way, it was a very dark time, but it was also a time of almost necessary creativity.”

This creativity is evident in the way the cast and crew have not only embraced the changes thrown at them, but used them to their advantage. Instead of hiding the fear and confusion felt by the team, it’s Godwin’s hope that those emotions brought on by the pandemic will bolster the atmosphere of the story.

“We were the only people working in the National Theatre by the end of the filming, so it was an abandoned stage [and] a closed building filled with ghosts of the past and hopes of the future. It meant we were all making [‘Romeo & Juliet’] in a much more intense way than we would have done normally. I hope that comes across.”

Director Simon Godwin + Jessie Buckley (Juliet) on the set of “Romeo & Juliet” at the National Theatre. Photo by Rob Youngson.

“Romeo & Juliet” premieres on PBS on Friday, April 23 at 9 p.m. EST. Learn more at www.nationaltheatre.org.uk and www.shakespearetheatre.org. Follow STC on Instagram @shakespeareindc.

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19 ENTREPRENEURS SHAPING D.C.’S CANNABIS + CBD INDUSTRIES COMPILED BY INGRID HARBO

Initiative 71 has allowed for a rich cannabis culture to bloom in D.C. Between CBD businesses, gifting shops and infused food services, cannabis products are increasingly available to those looking to relax, enjoy a high or anything in-between. We talked with 19 local cannabis and CBD entrepreneurs about their businesses, favorites and the future of cannabis in the DMV.

BĀKT CO.

Esteban Cantillo, Chef + Owner Favorite strain of cannabis Grand Daddy Purps. This one is more of a nostalgic thing for me. The smell alone reminds me of some of my favorite people.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis I mostly prefer smoking cannabis (joints and blunts) but am slowly gravitating toward edibles and infused savory foods.

Standout product All of our products truly fight for the number one spot, but our standout is probably our Double Fudge Bustelo Brownie. This became our unofficial signature item behind our OG Chocolate Chunk cookies over the last few months. It’s hard to argue with double fudge, Bustelo espresso and condensed milk. Think café con leche (coffee with milk) in brownie form.

Most unique aspect of your business We wanted to elevate the edible game without making it snobby or stuffy: The same quality, care and service you’d get in some of the best Michelin-rated restaurants across the world for a reasonable price so everybody can enjoy — not just the privileged few.

Future of cannabis in the DMV Although it feels like a slow and steady race, cannabis reform is absolutely taking charge in the coming months and years. I can see the DMV looking more like the West Coast in terms of cannabis accessibility, without the legal gray areas, sooner than we think.

Learn more at www.baktdc.com and follow @baktco on Instagram.

BOUQÉ ROLLING PAPERS

Corey Dunson, Founder + CEO Favorite strain of cannabis White Widow. That flower never fails.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis My favorite way to consume is by rolling a joint, a.k.a. a Bouqé.

Rolling is a part of my process, and for me, it is very therapeutic.

Standout product Our dark walnut rolling tray. This is a fan favorite. Everyone who sees it wants one.

Most unique aspect of your business In addition to selling quality cannabis accessories, our team is very active in our community. Tune in to our Saturday Smoke session on the last Saturday of the month on Clubhouse with Marijuana Matters, where our community can come to discuss [and] learn about everything that’s happening in our amazing industry.

DISTRICT CANNABIS

Grace Hyde, Chief Operating Officer Favorite strain of cannabis Cherry Chem.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis Vaporizing concentrate with a Puffco Peak.

Standout product Our strain Gelato Cake is far and away our most popular product. It has high levels of the terpene linalool, which makes it very calming in addition to having a delicious flavor profile and effects that are consistent, batch after batch.

Most unique aspect of your business [We are] truly owner-operated. Both owners [are] medical patients who use our products. Owner Andras Kirschner designed, built and oversees the cultivation at both facilities. Quality and consistency is at the forefront of every decision we make.

Future of cannabis in the DMV Recreational cannabis in the District is inevitable in the next few years, and something the actual citizens of D.C. have wanted for a long time. The Harris rider on the House appropriations bill is only holding D.C. back from a plethora of benefits including job creation, racial justice initiatives and a windfall of tax revenue, just to name a few.

Learn more at www.districtcannabis.us and follow @districtcannabis.us on Instagram.

DISTRICT DERP

Anaïs Hayes, COO + Head Baker Favorite strain of cannabis If I’m looking to get out with the pups, I’m all about Super Lemon Haze. But if I’m winding down for the night [and] maybe enjoying a face mask, then it’s got to be Grandaddy Purple.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis With a water piece, preferably a bong. The flavors and smoke are so smooth after filtering through water. It enhances the whole experience.

Standout product I’d have to say our gummies. They’re made completely from scratch, are out of this world fruity and are the perfect level of chewiness.

Most unique aspect of your business Our devotion to elevating the experiences and expectations our clients have with cannabis. We’re not just giving out high-quality gifts, we’re empowering our community to be knowledgeable and kick-ass consumers, whether they’re children of the ‘60s or newcomers to the plant.

Future of cannabis in the DMV I see a bright future for the DMV cannabis industry. The area already has a rich culture and I believe our industry will only flourish more as laws and regulations become less restrictive.

Future of cannabis in the DMV I see cannabis having a big role to play in building back up the parts of our community that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic and the War on Drugs. There will be a big boom in terms of cannabis-related businesses, beyond retailers and growers. I’m dreaming of softly lit cafés and lounges: somewhere stressed-out citizens can smoke, enjoy and connect with one another. This plant we love so much has the incredible ability to catalyze connection and compassion, and there’s a lot of opportunity in that.

Learn more at www.rollingbouqe.com and follow @rolling_bouques on Instagram.

Learn more at www.districtderp.com and follow @districtderp on Instagram.

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40 | APRIL 2021

DISTRICT HEMP BOTANICALS

Barbara Biddle, Founder

Favorite strain of CBD Blueberry Muffin Hemp Pre-Roll.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis Vaping.

Standout product Palmetto Delta-8 gummies.

Most unique aspect of your business We carefully curate our products to make sure we’re only offering the very best to our customers. We also focus a lot on the customer experience and listening to what our customers want.

Future of cannabis in the DMV I think we will see a big increase in recreational marijuana retail options as soon as it becomes fully legal in the area. We will hopefully begin to look more like California and Colorado in terms of availability and accessibility.

Learn more at www.districthempstore.com and follow @districthemp on Instagram.

FLOWERZ

Chad Frey, CEO Favorite strain of CBD Hawaiin Haze.

Preferred method of enjoying CBD It really depends on the day and environment, just like choosing a wine with dinner or a cocktail on the beach. After a long day, I really enjoy hitting some fresh ground flower. For the weekends, I will take a vape out with me on the go. And for experiencing a new adventure, I like to share edibles with friends.

Standout product Our best product over the years has been Hawaiian Haze flower.

Our standout right now is our Delta-8 all-natural fruit thins (think a fruit rollup cut into small-dosed pieces with no added sugar).

[It’s] perfect for new cannabis users [who] don’t want the anxiety.

Most unique aspect of your business Easy: the people and the passion we have for the community.

Our core beliefs are founded in being the best at what we do and making an impact that is greater than just cannabis.

Future of cannabis in the DMV D.C. will be an East Coast driver for the cannabis industry and the culture that drives it. Now that New York has passed its marijuana legislation, it will have reverberation with the DMV. Maryland and Virginia are the next dominoes falling in place quickly.

Learn more at www.pickflowerz.com and follow @pickflowerz on Instagram.

THE GIFT

Cory Moore, CEO + Liz Robinson, COO Favorite strain of CBD Elektra. We love strains with a high flavonoid content and Elektra has lots of anthocyanin: the flavonoid responsible for the purple color.

Preferred method of enjoying CBD The endocannabinoid system is responsible for so much of our health, so we hit every receptor possible through smoking, tinctures, topicals and edibles. We use The Gift’s Rejuvenation Hemp Balm and Balance Whole Plant Hemp Oil twice a day.

Standout product Our Self-Care Trio kit includes our top sellers: Rejuvenation Hemp Balm, Balance Whole Plant Hemp Oil and Restorative Hemp Bath Salts.

Most unique aspect of your business We focus on education and creating products that are rich in phytonutrients. The cannabis/hemp plant can contain up to 545 chemical compounds, so we choose extracts like FECO (full extract cannabis oil) that contain all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, healthy fats and vitamins available in the plant.

Future of cannabis in the DMV We hope to see craft cannabis licenses similar to microbreweries that would allow some of the awesome home growers in D.C. to build businesses and move into larger-scale cultivation. We must provide opportunities for people of all socioeconomic backgrounds to create equity in the cannabis industry.

Learn more at www.thegiftwellness.com and follow @completelygifted on Instagram.

GIFTED CURATORS

Tim Slay, Lead Curator Favorite strain of cannabis Purple Kush [is] definitely one of my favorite ways to relax after a long day.

Preferred method of enjoying cannbis I prefer to hand roll, usually in OCB papers. They are the thinnest and burn slower so you get the maximum flavor and effect from your flower.

Standout product The Next-Level Dipped and Infused Pre-Rolls, for sure. They’re pretty, rolled joints filled with high-quality flower, then infused and dipped in rosin and rolled in kief. They’ll get you where you need to go.

Most unique aspect of your business The shop culture, all the way. The curators are all a fun bunch here and we’re hyperfocused on the guest’s experience. From first-timers to day ones, everyone leaves with a smile every time.

Future of cannabis in the DMV The future of cannabis is bright in the DMV. Virginia decriminalizing was huge and I believe things are definitely looking up. It’s encouraging to see the negative opinions of cannabis finally eroding away. We’re all looking forward to a situation where cannabis is free of stigma and easily accessible to all.

Learn more at www.giftedcuratorsdc.com and follow @giftedcurators.dc on Instagram.

FIRST PAGE. District Derp gummies. Photo courtesy of Anaïs Hayes. THIRD PAGE. (clockwise from top) Strawberry Shortcake Cakesicles.

Photo courtesy of Sucrée Sweets Co. Photo courtesy of Bouqé Rolling Papers. Gelato Cake. Photo courtesy of District Cannabis.

Double Fudge Bustelo Brownies. Photo courtesy of BĀkT Co. Photo courtesy of LoCo Hemp.

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42 | APRIL 2021

GLASS HOUSE GALLERY

Ben Dennis, Shop Manager Favorite strain of cannabis A good lemon cherry gelato never fails me.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis Six-star hash rosin dabs.

Standout product We try to make sure every customer leaves with a unique piece of art suited to their style and consumption needs.

Most unique aspect of your business Our relationships with artists and our unique knowledge and passion make us a top destination on the East Coast and definitely in D.C. We live this, we love it and we hope that resonates when you visit our gallery.

Future of cannabis in the DMV We shall see. I think any laws relaxing the use of cannabis will be a good thing for our community and the local economy.

Learn more at www.fb.com/glasshousegallerydc and follow @glasshousegallerydc on Instagram.

GREEN PANTHER CHEF

Jazmine Moore (a.k.a Chef Jazz), Founder + CEO Favorite strain of cannabis Gelato.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis Consumption through food, drinks and tinctures. But I do inhale from time to time.

Standout product Our artisan CBD-infused hot sauce: Up in Smoke.

Most unique aspect of your business Our holistic and sustainable approach to cannabis and food curated through the lens of a Crohn’s [disease] survivor.

Future of cannabis in the DMV [I see] cannabis becoming more mainstream in hospitality, entertainment and retail spaces.

Learn more at www.greenpantherchef.com and follow @greenpantherchef on Instagram.

I+I BOTANICALS

Jennifer Culpepper, Cofounder Favorite strain of CBD I don’t have a favorite strain. We prefer to use full-spectrum CBD in our products to get the benefits of all the cannabinoids in the hemp plant.

luxurious on the skin. It’s incredible [for helping to] calm and prevent rosacea and acne. I’ve also found it works wonders on sunburns and other skin irritations.

Most unique aspect of your business [Cofounder] Selam Kelati and I come from very different backgrounds. I think the different viewpoints we bring helps us to empathize and create products for people with all different skin types and concerns. Selam also brings with her a vast knowledge of natural plant-based ingredients [to] help us create unique products that are both effective and good for the body.

Future of cannabis in the DMV I think we’ll see cannabis legalization soon. What will that look like? I don’t know. I think CBD regulation could be very good for the clean beauty movement. If the regulations are created right, it could be a guide as to how to create standards for clean beauty. We self-impose strict sourcing and supply chain oversight, as well as several rounds of third-party testing, to ensure our ingredients are free from toxins and [have] accurate levels of CBD. I’d like to see this be an industry standard.

Learn more at www.iandibotanicals.com and follow @i.and.i.botanicals on Instagram.

LOCO HEMP

Louis Bergeron, Owner + Operator Favorite strain of CBD People like our Cherrywine and BaOx varieties.

Preferred method of enjoying CBD People prefer our CBD oil and dry vaping our CBD flower. Dogs enjoy our hemp stalks to chew on.

Standout product Our Full Spectrum 1500mg CBD Oil. It’s effective and simple.

Most unique aspect of your business We are veteran-owned and grown right here in Loudoun County (LoCo), Virginia. We grow outdoors to create a premium, small-batch product and sell locally. We’re not trying to be the biggest operation; [we’re] just trying to demonstrate that small, local farmers can and should get into growing hemp.

Future of cannabis in the DMV I think hemperies are the next big thing in the region following wineries, breweries [and] cideries. People will love seeing hemp, and eventually marijuana, growing in the Virginia soil and sun after being absent for some many years. The challenge will be the federal regulations, with so many people in the area having to maintain government jobs. But I think in five years, we’ll be [in] a very different place. I’m just glad to be one of the first licensed hemp farmers in Virginia and can’t wait for more people to grow and experience hemp.

Preferred method of enjoying CBD While there are many benefits of ingesting CBD and cannabis, I’m pretty obsessed with using it on my skin because you can see the results so quickly and profoundly.

Learn more at www.locohempva.com and follow @locohempva on Instagram.

Standout product It’s hard to pick a favorite because I truly love all our products.

However, if I have to choose, our face serum is really like a miracle potion. It is a great daily moisturizer and feels

Ray Dixon, Founder + Lead Consultant

THE OUNCE

Favorite strain of CBD Currently, my favorite strain of CBD is Mountain Mango, which The Ounce carries.

LEFT PAGE. (clockwise from top) CBD Muscle & Pain Balm. Photo courtesy of The Ounce. The Sauce. Photo courtesy of Green Panther Chef.

Glass House Gallery pipe by Eusheen + Darby Holm. Photo by THC Samuel. Purple Kush. Photo courtesy of Gifted Curators.

Palmetto D-8 Gummies. Photo courtesy of District Hemp Botanicals. Photo courtesy of Pink Fox.

DISTRICT FRAY | 43

44 | APRIL 2021

THE RESET WELLNESS®️ GROUP

Preferred method of enjoying CBD I really enjoy the ease and convenience of using water soluble CBD in my smoothie or tea, but nothing does it for me quite like a little smoke after a long day.

Tahmika Aldrich, Cofounder + CEO

Standout product Our CBD Muscle & Pain Balm. It’s infused with a number of essential oils and works well for pain, skin irritation, inflammation, and loosening joints and muscles.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis My preferred method is smoking. But when I can’t, our beverages do the trick.

Favorite strain of cannabis Currently, I’m enjoying Peanut Butter Breath.

Most unique aspect of your business Products and local hand-delivery service (often same day) aside, The Ounce is distinguished through our community involvement, advocacy, and celebration of marginalized communities and diverse people. We’ve worked with National Expungement Week (2019 and 2020), Black Women Benefit (a grassroots nonprofit organization) and Marijuana Justice’s Legalize It Right campaign, among other efforts.

Standout product Our Ginger Honey Lemon beverage is our bestseller. It can be consumed hot or cold.

Future of cannabis in the DMV That largely depends on the provisions in each respective municipality’s final bill and the individuals overseeing licensing. Illinois is currently working to remedy major diversity issues in their newly regulated cannabis industry, where nearly $700 million dollars was generated in the first year without a single new minority license holder. If the goal is to make the sale of cannabis more equitable, I feel it’s important to consider the successes and failures of other markets.

Future of cannabis in the DMV I definitely see a regulated, adult-use cannabis program in D.C. in the near future. With this program, it is my hope that it be built on a framework of social equity. For example, reducing the barriers for entry into the industry and most importantly, investing the capital made from cannabis sales into education and opportunities for communities most affected by the criminalization of cannabis.

Learn more at www.theouncebrand.com and follow @theouncebrand on Instagram.

PINK FOX

Most unique aspect of your business We offer unique customer experience with our in-home/virtual consultations and events. We are more than a CBD product company. We are building community resilience and well-being through cannabis.

Learn more about The Reset Wellness® Group at www.theresetwellnessgroup.com and follow @resetwellness_dc on Instagram.

SPACYCLOUD

Mark Nagib, Co-Owner + Creative Director

Tatiana (Tati) Kolina, Founder

Favorite strain of cannabis Tough question. If I am honest: weed. I [don’t] believe in indica or sativa being indicative of how the strain will make you feel. I want something 27% THC or higher, please and thank you.

Favorite strain of CBD I like all types: isolate, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum. But for sPACYcLOUd products, we can only use isolate and broadspectrum to comply with D.C. laws.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis A water bong: a combination of that big deep hit, the cloudy exhale, and that bubbling sound made famous on musical tracks by Snoop, Dr. Dre and Cypress Hill.

Preferred method of enjoying CBD I prefer ingestion (edibles) and topical (creams and balms).

Standout product The Lincoln T-shirt. It is Pink Fox’s most popular and bestselling shirt, and the gift it comes with ain’t bad either.

Most unique aspect of your business We are building a lifestyle movement in the nation’s capital.

Initiative 71 has evolved into so much more than the legislation that legalized cannabis in the District. It has brought to life social equity issues, points of access for minority business owners and a voting rights issue for residents in Washington, D.C. Future of cannabis in the DMV We are excited and hopeful for a legislation change in the District, specifically allowing for broader participation in the legal cannabis market. But watching the legislative pieces in the surrounding DMV is incredible. I think the cat is out of the bag on cannabis.

Those days of perpetuating cannabis as something to fear are over and cannabis could continue to be an unbelievably beneficial commodity for cities, states and the people that live in them.

Standout products CBD-infused mangoes, herbal teas and dog treats.

Most unique aspect of your business sPACYcLOUd is a woman-owned green company located in Adams Morgan, with a focus on building a community around alternative resources and sustainable practices. It is dedicated to [being] a hub for the community and providing healthy vegan/vegetarian options with a modern twist. sPACYcLOUd’s mission is to educate the community on alternative and healthy lifestyles through art, action sports, activism, music, social health and wellness.

Future of cannabis in the DMV Hopefully, the Safe Cannabis Sales Act of 2021 will create an equitable adult-use cannabis program, bring safety and equity to the market, provide for automatic expungements of prior marijuana convictions, and support reinvestments in communities most impacted by prohibition.

Learn more at www.spacycloud.com and follow @spacycloud on Instagram.

Learn more at www.pinkfox202.com and follow @fkapinkfox on Instagram.

LEFT PAGE. (clockwise from left). Hemp-infused beverages. Photo courtesy of The Reset Wellness®️ Group. Mango Fruit Thins. Photo courtesy of Flowerz.

Photo courtesy of sPACYcLOUd. Body mist + face serum. Photo courtesy of I+I Botanicals. Self-Care Trio. Photo courtesy of The Gift.

DISTRICT FRAY | 45

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP. Veriheal’s Joshua Green. Photo courtesy of subject. Street Lawyer Services’ Lonny Bramzon. Photo by Ben Frey. District Derp’s Anaïs Hayes. Photo courtesy of subject.

46 | APRIL 2021

STREET LAWYER SERVICES

Lonny Bramzon, Owner + Inspirational Leader

Favorite strain of cannabis Bacio Gelato, which is a part of our #QUADAAAAY family. At Street Lawyer Services, we refer to the strains in our next-level category as the #QUADAAAAY category. It’s not triple A — it’s above that. It’s the QUAD A. Preferred method of enjoying cannabis Cannabis is one of the few blessings I can enjoy in any environment.

Standout product It is the love we spread throughout the D.C. community.

Most unique aspect of your business This brand is based on quality, variety and consistency with style and love for the community. I do not really pay attention to other businesses, so I can’t comment on uniqueness. This is just how we flow.

Future of cannabis in the DMV There [are] going to be more happy and relaxed people walking around the beautiful streets of the DMV. Visit www.streetlawyerservicesdc.com and follow @streetlawyerservices_dc on Instagram.

SUCRÉE SWEETS CO.

Shannon Rizvi, Cofounder Favorite strain of cannabis Strawberry cheesecake.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis I love smoking out of my bong. I prefer flower to concentrates or edibles when it comes to daily use.

Standout product Cakesicles, gummies and custom cannabis infused cakes.

Most unique aspect of your business We take pride in using the highestquality ingredients in our edibles to create desserts and flavor combinations you’ve never seen with cannabis before.

Future of cannabis in the DMV We only see things changing for the better. The cannabis prohibition will

inevitably end, and small businesses will be able to flourish. Products will also be safer for consumers as they become more regulated.

Follow @sucreesweets.co on Instagram.

VERIHEAL

Joshua Green, Cofounder Favorite strain of cannabis Mimosa: It gives me a very light, cerebral energy and I love the taste.

Preferred method of enjoying cannabis I prefer to roll a small joint for myself.

Standout product I really like the cannabis-infused soft drink Keef. [It’s] super innovative, I love the brand and it’s an enjoyable way to consume.

Most unique aspect of your business Our team is unparalleled. Finding talent in and of itself is a challenge.

But building a company where the entire team will go to bat for your mission, day in and day out, and wear all the different hats a startup demands is one of our strongest assets. We went against the grain when we created Veriheal, and I do believe that investment into a very strong staff has allowed us to continually innovate and create new services, products, tools, etc. that will forever shape the medical cannabis industry.

Future of cannabis in the DMV Although smaller in comparison, D.C. was our first market. We had much success in the District and it really helped us get our footing for what ultimately became a nationwide service. Maryland has had a particularly strong medical program — in my opinion, one of the best in the country. Virginia, on the other hand, has been slower to adapt. Now that Virginia is teasing recreational legalization, hopefully that accessibility opens up.

Learn more at www.veriheal.com and follow @veriheal on Instagram.

Author’s note: The majority of businesses included in this article associated with cannabis operate under D.C.’s Initiative 71, which means they do not assign a monetary value to anything with marijuana or THC in the ingredients. Instead, the items noted in the story are gifted along with the purchase of a different product, such as clothing or artwork. For more about I-71, visit www.mayor.dc.gov.

Q&A with nurseMARK Mark Worster — a.k.a nurseMARK BSN-RN, MCST, AFA — is a registered nurse who specializes in using cannabis as a tool for pain management, mitigating stress, and increasing overall health and well-being. Worster is also part of the world’s only MS in Cannabis Science and Therapeutics program at the University of Maryland’s School of Pharmacy, where he furthers his knowledge to share with those seeking the natural remedies that cannabis provides. We caught up with him to learn more about his experience and get his take on cannabis culture today.

District Fray: How did you become interested in using cannabis to assist others in living a healthy life?

Mark Worster: In late 2017, I became involved with an amazing entrepreneur out of Brooklyn, New York named Jenny Argie of Jenny’s Baked at Home and partnered with her through 2018. The more I dove into cannabis, the more I was convinced it was my calling.

Can you tell me more about the services you offer?

The Green Nurse is a community of healthcare providers that offer medical card certifications and consultations for anyone wanting to learn more about how to use cannabis as a health and wellness tool, as well as [to] incorporate other modalities that support a healthy endocannabinoid system. We help people live their best lives.

What’s the most common misconception about cannabis use and how do you combat that?

The most common misconception is that you need to be high to experience health benefits. Our job is to help people use this plant below the level of impairment and receive all the benefits the plant has to offer.

With legislation changing in the D.C. area and nationwide, what do you think the future of cannabis will be?

As legalization status changes, we’ll see a standardization of regulations across the board, which will result in more accurately tested and labeled products in the marketplace.

To learn more about nurseMARK and the programs and services he offers, visit www.nursemark.co or email info@nursemark.co.

DISTRICT FRAY | 47

The Green Issue Industry experts and advocates make the case for legalization and decriminalization of cannabis.

WORDS BY AMANDA WEISBROD Two pieces of legislation regarding cannabis are currently circulating through the District’s system of government, both of which would include provisions to legalize recreational sales and establish social equity programs.

The current legislation, Initiative 71, which was passed in 2015, legalized recreational marijuana use for adults 21 and older with some key provisions.

Marijuana consumers may not possess any more than two ounces at one time, can only use marijuana on private property, may gift up to one ounce of marijuana to another person as long as it is not transactional and may grow up to six cannabis plants in their home — but no more than three of these plants can be mature at one time.

Marijuana has been available to purchase for medicinal use only at licensed dispensaries in the District since 2011.

If passed by the end of this year, The Safe Cannabis Act proposed by Mayor Muriel Bowser would legalize recreational sales at licensed dispensaries beginning on October 1, 2022.

A 17% tax would be imposed on these sales, and part of this revenue would support reinvestments in communities most impacted by prohibition. The bill also includes automatic expungements for those who have prior marijuana offenses.

“This is about safety, equity and justice,” Mayor Bowser said in a press release. “Through this legislation, we can fulfill the will Caroline Phillips. Photo courtesy of subject.

of D.C. voters, reduce barriers for entering the cannabis industry, and invest in programs that serve residents and neighborhoods hardest hit by the criminalization of marijuana.”

The second piece of legislation is the Comprehensive Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Act of 2021, which was introduced by six D.C. councilmembers in early March. As state and policy manager at NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), a nonprofit public interest advocacy group focused on marijuana legalization, Carly Wolf favors this proposal over the Safe Cannabis Act. While they are fairly similar, this one is more “comprehensive” — hence the name.

“It’s a little more detailed on where the revenue would go and what kind of programs it would fund,” says Wolf, who, along with every source named in this article, believes social equity is the most important aspect of marijuana legalization.

Social equity, an idea traced back to the great philosophers Aristotle and Plato, is “rooted in the idea that each person is equal and has inalienable rights,” according to an academic article titled “Social Equity: Its Legacy, Its Promise.” In regards to cannabis legalization, Caroline Phillips, founder of the National Cannabis Festival, believes social equity means giving back to the communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs.

DISTRICT FRAY | 49

LIFE

“Social equity, to me, is about transparency of process,” Phillips says. “It’s about making sure people have access, and it’s about fairness. Right now in the cannabis industry, we are really working state by state, if not city by city, to have legislators at the local level understand the impact a strong social equity program can have on the cannabis marketplace in their community, and why its something good for the longevity of the industry.”

Dating back to the late 1800s, America’s War on Drugs has disproportionately affected minority populations by associating cannabis consumption with Black and Latino communities, according to Morgan Fox, media relations director at the National Cannabis Industry Foundation. “[This propaganda] was basically suggesting these groups were associated with violence, sexual assault and increased strength, or just a lot of racist tropes,” Fox says. “And some of those have carried on over the decades. I think [these tropes] have evolved a little bit, particularly in the eighties and nineties, to be more associated with laziness, inability to be successful professionally or personally, inability to have normal human relationships, and just generally being associated with a low moral character.”

Today, Black people are three times as likely to be arrested for marijuana-related offenses than their white counterparts, even though both groups consume marijuana at the same rate, according to a 2020 report published by the American Civil Liberties Union.

“The government used [the War on Drugs] as a way to target Black people [and] anti-war activists, and they couldn’t 50 | APRIL 2021

criminalize being Black so they criminalized marijuana use,” Wolf says. “It’s completely based on racist ideologies and I think those communities deserve to have much of the [tax] revenue. It’s crazy to me there are states profiting off of this, and then there are other states where people are literally sitting in jail for possession of a joint.”

Corey Barnette, owner of Kinfolk Dispensary and District Growers, weighs in, noting that “there are parts of our communities that have been ravaged.”

“I believe we have a great opportunity if this legislation is introduced in a sane and considerate way,” he says. “We have an opportunity to repair some of that damage.”

Both the Safe Cannabis Act and the DC Council’s proposals include ways to repair some of the damage done by the War on Drugs including automatic expungement, broader access to marijuana licenses and funneling the tax revenue gained from regulated marijuana sales to affected communities.

“It should definitely be directed toward those communities to provide things like education, healthcare services, and other social programs that could help with those who are struggling with poverty and other detrimental effects of the drug war,” Wolf says. “I think that’s a really important part of any regulation plan: to direct some of that revenue to communities [who] need it the most.”

Specifically, the Comprehensive Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Act of 2021 outlines a provision to direct 50% of cannabis revenue into a Community Reinvestment Program Fund, which would fund grants to community-based organizations that address economic development, mental National Cannabis Festival. Photo courtesy of Caroline Phillips.

LIFE health treatment, substance use disorder treatment, non-law enforcement violence prevention services, homeless prevention services, reentry services, youth development and civil legal aid for underserved communities.

In addition to reparations and social equity, Phillips says legalizing and regulating a recreational marijuana market in the District has several beneficial outcomes including consumer safety provisions, employment opportunities and even the potential to boost the District’s tourism industry.

Bethany Moore at NORML points out that because there is no quality control in the illicit market, there is no guarantee that products have been tested for harmful chemicals or other substances.

“There’s so many reasons regulating and legalizing cannabis is safer,” she says. “In addition to the safety of the products, dispensaries check IDs [to prevent] underage consumption but the illicit market does not. So, it’s another preventative for youth to get access to a substance intended for adults.”

As a longtime D.C. resident and business owner in the District, Barnette says he’s been working heavily with the DC Council and the Mayor’s Office to offer input on how to properly provide social equity while building a healthy cannabis market. So far, he says both pieces of legislation address these concerns.

For Barnette, moving Kinfolk into the recreational cannabis market would allow the dispensary to have even greater participation and influence in its neighborhood, which is what they’re all about.

“Kinfolk really is a family,” he says. “It really is a business that looks to have an impact on the community around it. As a result of that, we definitely want to participate in any sort of adult use opportunities that present themselves.”

There’s a kind of kinship between marijuana consumers, Barnette explains, that creates a special bond of understanding and fosters community.

By expanding recreational use and creating a more acceptable and open-air culture, he believes the negative perceptions and stigmas surrounding cannabis have the potential to change.

“Over the years as [Kinfolk has] been entrenched in Ward 6, we’ve really developed a family of customers and patients who come through our dispensary,” he says. “We focus more so on trying to provide a cannabis experience to people who want to engage in a cannabis lifestyle. If you are a user of cannabis, then you probably know there’s a little bit more kinship there when you find out that someone else is also a smoker or uses cannabis.”

In the end, Fox says the prohibition of cannabis “has been far more harmful to both individual consumers and society than cannabis itself has.”

The legalization of a regulated market would not only provide a way forward to avoid future harm but also serve to repair some past injustices through social equity provisions.

“In broad strokes, prohibition doesn’t provide NORML’s Carly Wolf + executive director Erik Altieri. Photo courtesy of subject.

any sort of control over this substance and unfairly punishes people for consumption,” Fox adds. “I think there are all sorts of issues where our cannabis laws have caused serious harm that could be immediately alleviated by ending prohibition and sensibly regulating the substance.”

Check out this list of resources below to visit their websites and follow them on Instagram, and don’t miss the National Cannabis Festival’s Dazed & Amused Drive-In Party on Saturday, April 17 at the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds. Buy tickets at www.nationalcannabisfestival.com/drive-in-party.

District Growers: www.districtgrowers.com // @districtgrowers The Executive Office of the Mayor: www.mayor.dc.gov // @mayor_bowser Kinfolk Dispensary: http://kinfolkdispensary.com/links // @kinfolkdispensary National Cannabis Festival: www.nationalcannabisfestival.com // @natlcannabisfest National Cannabis Industry Foundation: www.thecannabisindustry.org // @nationalcannabisindustry NORML: www.norml.org // @natlnorml

DISTRICT FRAY | 51

marijuana

decriminalizing

WORDS + ILLUSTRATION BY AMANDA WEISBROD

Every state has its own cannabis laws and the DMV area is no exception. Recent marijuana legislation has passed in Virgina and been brought to the table in the District and Maryland, leaving questions about what’s legal now and what could be legal in the future.

WA

Legalization only applies to adults 21 years and older.

NH MT

OR

fully legal and decriminalized

WY

SD

WI

UT

CA

IL

CO

KS

AZ

NM

MI

KY

NJ DE

WV VA

MD

NC

TN

D.C.

SC

AR MS LA

TX

CT

OH

IN

MO

OK

RI

PA

fully illegal decriminalized

MA

NY

IA

NE

NV

ME

MN

ID

medically legal CBD oil, only medical use

VT

ND

AL

GA

AK FL HI

Washington, D.C.

Virginia

Maryland

legislation status

current law

proposed law

past law

new law

current law

proposed law

medicinal sales

ü

ü ü

ü

ü ü

ü

ü ü

< 2 oz.

< 2 oz.

ü ü

ü ü ü

retail sales legal amount to possess home cultivation expungement/ decriminalization social equity provisions

SO, WHAT’S LEGAL IN THE DMV? 52 | APRIL 2021

D.C., Virginia and Maryland all have different cannabis laws in place, so to quell confusion and ensure your safety, here’s a quick guide.

< 1 oz. ($25 fine)

< 1 oz.

< 2 oz.

ü

ü ü ü

ü ü ü

These provisions originally wouldn’t have taken affect until Jan. 1, 2024, but on April 7, Virginia lawmakers moved up the date to July 1, 2021.

ü

Maryland’s proposed bills have been tabled until next year because they did not meet the state’s 90-day legislative session deadline.

“

To put the 2 ounces threshold into perspective... ...if you have Stage 4 cancer or something like it, smoking 2 ounces a month is reasonable as you’ll be using all day and night, every hour or so. For all other illnesses, it’s overkill. But the high threshold is important for certain medicinal users.”

Sean Santa, investment banking associate specializing in cannabis at Young America Capital

Q&A CAROLINE PHILLIPS Founder of the National Cannabis Festival

What are your thoughts on The Safe Cannabis Act? I think that the Safe Cannabis Act legislation is so promising.

There are still some challenges in there around social equity programs, or the potential social equity programs, in our city.

What do you mean by social equity?

The idea around social equity is making sure the people who have really been impacted by the War on Drugs and people who have traditionally been left out of the regulated cannabis industry, Black and brown people, actually have a fair opportunity to take part.

How do you think this legislation would affect the District?

Hopefully, it would open up more opportunity for work for residents of the District and would reduce the number of people locked up for cannabis offenses. I hope it would provide more clarity to people about the laws in our city. I think there’s been a lot of confusion in the past five years. It would also provide clarity to people about how to gain access to the regulated market as consumers [and] business owners.

Do you think it would positively impact the economy?

Absolutely. The city would be able to benefit from a cannabis sales tax coming in, but also the tourism that would come with it. I think there could be an entire culture built around entertainment, art, technology, policy and cannabis in D.C., and that could become its own piece of our city’s rich cultural fabric and something people would travel from out of town to experience.

Is there anything about the legislation you’d like to see change?

I think we need to take into account that the War on Drugs wasn’t just directly about people being arrested for drug offenses. There were so many side effects and fallouts from it that caused people to find themselves in difficult situations or led to additional arrests or run-ins with the law. I would like to see D.C. be more open about convictions, not just related to cannabis, and allow those individuals to also apply for licenses.

Sources: mayor.dc.gov; chairmanmendelson.com; commons.wikimedia.org; disa.com; mpp.org; governor.virginia.gov; natlawreview.com; norml.org

DISTRICT FRAY | 53

Local Entrepreneurs Infuse CBD Into Wellness WORDS BY M.K. KOSZYCKI CBD (an abbreviation for cannabidiol) has gained popularity for its multitude of uses and benefits like aiding in chronic pain, easing anxiety, improving skin problems and more. It’s a naturally occurring, non-psychoactive substance found in cannabis or hemp plants, but is perhaps most commonly found as an oil. Because it shows up in other products and faces changing regulations, it can be hard to know where to begin when attempting to incorporate CBD into your health and wellness routine. Hear from three local small business owners below about the benefits of CBD and where to start out with products.

District Hemp Botanicals In looking for a remedy to help with postpartum depression, Barbara Biddle turned to CBD. Now, Biddle shares the benefits of CBD with the D.C. community as the founder of District Hemp Botanicals. With three brick-and-mortar locations plus a thriving online store, Biddle and her team stock a wide variety of CBD products and passionately educate all who seek CBD about its uses, benefits and many forms.

“One of the biggest things I like to convey to my customer base is CBD doesn’t work for everyone,” Biddle explains.

“That being said, we make it a point to offer samples prior to purchasing to ensure CBD is right for our customers. Now more than ever, we’re living through a pandemic and people need to make sure they’re spending their money on something that works. That’s a huge part of what we do.”

District Hemp stocks oils, cartridges, edibles, pre-rolls, creams and more including their own in-house brand 54 | APRIL 2021

formulated with a company in Colorado. In determining what the store should carry, Biddle ensures products have gone through stringent third-party testings before they hit the shelves. Biddle and other employees try products themselves so they can speak to the ways a specific brand, strength or delivery might assist a customer in targeting their needs.

The brand has seen an uptick in sales in the past year, with many seeking CBD to curb anxiety brought on by the stress of the pandemic, or to meet other wellness goals they’ve begun to prioritize. Biddle notes that while the online shop and curbside pickup are options for contact-free shopping, many customers crave the face-to-face interaction that comes with walking into the store to browse options and be educated on their CBD products.

For Biddle, the most rewarding part of her job comes from the positive customer feedback and reviews from those who have found help through District Hemp and the products they offer.

“It’s the reviews,” Biddle continues, “and just hearing I was able to help. We’ve had customers come in and cry in our store while explaining how much these products have helped them, and I don’t think there’s anything better than that.”

Learn more about District Hemp Botanicals, shop online, see store hours and more at www.districthempstore.com, and follow @districthemp on Instagram.

District Hemp Botanicals: 1323 Connecticut Ave. NW, DC; 202-600-4664 // 9023 Church St. Manassas, VA; 571-364-8663 // 19 Wirt St. SW, Leesburg, VA // 571-799-9914 District Hemp Botanicals’ Barbara Biddle. Photo by Rich Kessler Photography.

LIFE

I+I Botanicals When Jennifer Culpepper and Selam Kelati founded Annapolis, Maryland-based I+I Botanicals, they each brought backgrounds uniquely suited to begin a successful CBD-based skincare company. Culpepper is also the founder and creative director of the branding studio Brand Joint, which works exclusively with brands in the cannabis and hemp space.

Kelati has a background in chemical engineering and organic formulation, and draws on her experiences growing up in East Africa to infuse natural products from her upbringing into powerful and effective skincare. Together, they had the idea to combine those ingredients with CBD to create optimal benefits for skin.

“The same thing CBD does in your body, it does for skin in a really obvious way,” Culpepper explains of CBD’s antiinflammatory properties. “It really helps with things like rosacea, eczema, psoriasis — anything that inflames your skin, it calms very well. It also helps to clear acne, which is something I didn’t know until we made our face serum and I started using it. What I’ve seen with the research with CBD is it reduces the production of sebum in your skin, so that helps to prevent acne because your skin is not overproducing oil.”

In addition to their CBD face serum, I+I Botanicals offers a CBD dry oil body mist, CBD coffee body scrub and bath tea blends. The brand is committed to using eco-friendly and recyclable packaging for all of their offerings and shipping methods. And as the CBD and hemp markets are unregulated, they’ve looked to regulations put forth by other brands and organizations in order to ensure their products are safe and effective.

“Something that’s really, really important to us is the transparency behind the ingredients,” Culpepper says. “With FROM LEFT. Jennifer Culpepper + Selam Kelati. Photo courtesy of I+I Botanicals.

CBD particularly, that’s something that’s kind of like the Wild West in terms of how everybody grows it. It’s not that hard to get, but it is hard to know if what you’re getting is good or not, so we triple lab test everything.”

All of these lab tests are available to read on their website as well. And while CBD is an essential component to I+I Botanicals’ products, they offer even more benefits to your skin and body by pairing the high-performing, well-tested CBD with other natural ingredients.

“What we find is when we pair CBD with some of these other ingredients that really do great things as well, it’s kind of a power punch, especially for things like hydration and clearing the skin,” Culpepper adds.

Learn more about I+I Botanicals and shop their products at www.iandibotanicals.com, and follow @i.and.i.botanicals on Instagram.

LoCo Hemp LoCo Hemp in Loudoun County, Virginia is a small, veteranowned farm that uses sustainable and organic practices to produce their CBD products. In 2019, Louis Bergeron decided to try his hand at growing hemp on his farm, where he’d previously grown vegetables and kept bees. Through trial and error, Bergeron was able to harvest the plant and eventually scale up production to offer high-quality CBD products made in a natural, organic manner.

“It’s been pretty exciting,” Bergeron says of the venture. “It’s rewarding when people use it and find the relief they need. I have been really encouraged by the response we’ve gotten from people who’ve tried it and found gains and benefits from it, whether it’s a need to relax after a stressful day of work or with kids or people in chronic pain.”

DISTRICT FRAY | 55

Currently, LoCo Hemp offers a 1500 mg CBD oil, CBD products for pets and CBD stalk dog chews. Their oil is full-spectrum, one of three major ways CBD is offered in addition to isolate and broadspectrum. While it does contain trace amounts of THC, it’s well under the legal limit of 0.3%. LoCo Hemp follows and meets all state and local regulations for the production of their offerings.

“Full-spectrum essentially uses all the parts of the plant, pulled and extracted together,” Bergeron explains. “You get a mix of all the different elements of the plant. Some people swear by that because there’s interplay between the different chemical compounds and those different chemicals, including the trace amounts of THC in full-spectrum CBD oil.”

As for the pet products, Bergeron uses their full-spectrum pet CBD with his own dog, who he says benefits from it. Their most unique product is perhaps their CBD stalk dog chews, which are made from the repurposed stalks and offer a fun, eco-friendly chew for furry friends.

“My dog loves it,” he says of the chew. “I’ve had several repeat customers whose dogs love it, too. The nice thing is it doesn’t smell. People do the rawhide bones and all that sort of stuff, but those can get really messy and slimy. It’s completely plant-based, which is nice.”

As for growing locally, Bergeron says he’s found that through trial, error and experimentation, hemp plants take exceptionally well to the Virginia climate.

“We’ve found amazing resilience in the plants. Obviously, we don’t use any sort of pesticides or large-scale industrial practices.

We do use very tailored organic and practices, and they’ve just grown really well.”

Learn more about LoCo Hemp and shop their products by visiting www.locohempva.com and following @locohempva on Instagram.

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Find more CBD products at these locations in the D.C. area.

Flowerz: 1440 G St. NW, DC; www.pickflowerz.com // @pickflowerz Grass&Co: 1730 Columbia Rd. NW, DC; www.grassand.co // @grassandcompany Hemp Haven: 509-B Main St. Laurel, MD; www.hemphavenonmain.com // @hemphavenwellnesscenter The Reset Wellness Group: 6323 Georgia Ave. #55814 NW, DC; www.theresetwellnessgroup.com // @resetwellness_dc Photos courtesy of LoCo Hemp.

LIFE

Upcycling in D.C. Transforming a Culture of

Consumption WORDS BY ABI NEWHOUSE

Many of us face the same issue when we open our closets and see the same clothes: We’re bored. We live in a culture of consumption, replacing the not-that-old with the brand new.

As D.C. focuses more on sustainability, its next issue to tackle is textile waste. We throw away 70 pounds of clothing each year in the U.S., and even if the clothes are donated, they often still end up in landfills. Because D.C. doesn’t have its own landfill and donation centers are filled to the brim, the city spends more than $200,000 every year to haul clothing waste out of the city.

D.C. is working to implement its ReThread program, which can help “create a culture of recovery and reuse in the District,” according to D.C.’s Department of Energy & Environment.

Meanwhile, these four organizations and individuals are helping create a culture of recycling and upcycling: Swatchroom Common Thread, a hospitality design firm with a space for sustainable makers and other services; Our Restore, a clothing swap business that sends customers curated clothing collections; Caroline Luella Bond of The Cozy Experience, an environmentalist who downcycles clothing to make rugs; and Sarah Forman of Sarah the Upcyclist, a teacher who upcycles her own clothing by sewing and showing others how to do the same.

Swatchroom Common Thread Swatchroom saw an opportunity for hybridized retail and created a space where different businesses could operate out of one building. Their pop-up space in the Union Market District features vintage clothing, local upcycled art, home goods and cocktails on the weekends. Even before sustainability was trending, Swatchroom Cofounder Maggie O’Neill says she saw its potential to benefit the environment.

“Most of [these businesses] are curating things they want to put back into circulation,” she says. “These objects and pieces of clothing have awesome stories and narratives. Why shouldn’t they be celebrated, rather than disposed of?”

Cofounder Warren Weixler agrees, noting that he and O’Neill believe “anything vintage has character and soul.”

O’Neill and Weixler know that providing an experience is great, but there is more to their business model.

“Humans just need to help each other out,” Weixler says.

“2020 made people ask themselves, ‘What do you value?’”

Outside of the store sit large clothing donation bins, which, once full, will be donated to organizations like Women Giving Back.

Visit www.swatchroom.com/commonthread and follow @commonthreaddc on Instagram.

Our Restore Founder Leohana Carrera grew up in Guatemala within a culture of sustainability, as her mother and grandmother often mended ripped pants and sewed dresses instead of buying new. Carrera hadn’t heard the term sustainability until coming to America, where she realized what she’d grown up doing was unheard of in American culture. When she went back to Guatemala, she noticed all the second-hand clothing from America that had been dumped in her home country.

“We are always asking, ‘What does it mean to help developing countries be modernized?’” Carrera says. “But it’s ironic because you look at Western countries that are very developed and how they are basically unsustainable compared to undeveloped countries.”

She looked around at the fast-fashion culture and decided to start Our Restore, which began as a clothing swap. During the pandemic, Our Restore has supplied customers with clothing from the swap that they can try and buy.

“We generate seven items and people can wear them [and] feel them out for a whole month. If they want to keep them, they swap whatever they’re not currently using in their closet.”

If customers do want to buy one of the generated articles of clothing, they simply pay $5 to Our Restore.

As a truly sustainable company, if Our Restore receives an article of clothing that’s not quite fresh enough to send out, a team of women upcycle those pieces into something better. And if an item is truly unsalvageable, they donate the clothing to Bond at The Cozy Experience, who recycles it into creative projects.

Visit www.ourrestore.com and www.fb.com/our.restore, and follow @our.restore on Instagram.

The Cozy Experience Bond’s interest in sustainability grew after she became overwhelmed by “a general feeling of hopelessness.” After researching textile waste in D.C., she figured out what she could do: make rugs out of donated clothing.

“I found a way to repurpose, or elongate, the lives of things,” Bond says. “It’s a good way to put your feelings into something you can hold when you’re done with it.”

In 2020, The Cozy Experience diverted 250 pounds of clothing waste and sent another 70 pounds to coat drives. But Bond didn’t do it alone. Pre-pandemic, she taught others how to create their own rugs.

“What I do isn’t hard. Every time I sit someone down to teach them, they are usually successful.”

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When she first started, she was inspired by natural disasters. Some of her rugs reflected fires, hurricanes, algae blooms and oil spills. While she’s created her own style, Bond stresses that these little ways of being more sustainable are available to everyone if they just try. She even admits she isn’t very creative herself, but says she finds the motivation to weave these rugs because she’s stubborn and doesn’t quit.

While I’d say her designs negate her claim of lacking creativity, the point is clear: Stick to an idea for more sustainability long enough, and you can make a difference.

Shop The Cozy Experience products at www.etsy.com/ shop/cozyfloorcoverz and follow @thecozyexperience on Instagram.

Sarah the Upcyclist For Sarah Forman, 2020 made her reevaluate all the stuff around her living space. As a teacher, she used her sewing skills to create costumes for school plays by upcycling fabric from donation centers. When school went virtual, she looked around her apartment and decided to upcycle her own clothing as well.

“The sustainability aspect didn’t really come into play until I started doing my research and connecting with other makers,” Forman says.

“I learned more about the horrid fast fashion industry and the impact on women across the world — not only garment workers, but young women trying to fit into ideals.”

Forman connected with D.C. favorite Femme Fatale, a collaborative for womxn and non-binary creatives, entrepreneurs and organizers, and taught others how to upcycle their own clothing.

She wants others to know that upcycling isn’t limited to clothing.

“Anybody can do it. Upcycling could be as simple as taking a jar of baby food and reusing that as a planter.”

Forman recommends picking a room, looking at objects you’d normally throw out and thinking about how they could be used differently.

“I made it fun for myself,” she says.

And now, after not buying a new piece of clothing for 13 years, she walks into an H&M and doesn’t feel the need to buy anything at all. After the pandemic, Forman plans on hosting more sewing classes with Femme Fatale.

“Find your unique way you can start doing this.”

Whether you support these makers and businesses or start an upcycling project of your own, the future is bright for diverting textile waste in D.C. Visit Sarah the Upcyclist on YouTube and follow her on Instagram at @sewsewzoso_upcycle.

FROM TOP. Photo courtesy of Swatchroom. Sarah the Upcyclist.

Photo courtesy of subject.

Julie LIFE

Local Brew Pioneer Tapped for Biden Admin

Verratti

of Denizens Brewing Co. is

ready to get the ’20s roaring WORDS BY JEAN SCHINDLER

“I have a hard time saying ‘No’ to interesting things,” Julie Verratti says.

The gregarious co-founder of the popular Denizens Brewing Co. — with Maryland locations in Riverdale Park and Silver Spring — is joining the Biden Administration to help jumpstart the economy and promote small business recovery as the Covid-19 pandemic winds down.

As an associate administrator of field operations for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Verratti will lead 68 field offices and 10 regional offices across the country and is charged with providing services for small businesses. She

brings experience as both a hard-charging Fed and — perhaps most importantly — a leader in D.C.’s hospitality scene. By temperament and experience, this local is the perfect choice to tackle the challenge.

Verratti, born and raised in Silver Spring, was exposed to entrepreneurship at a young age through her father’s small business.

“I’ve always been involved in my local community, no matter where I’ve been. Because of that, you end up interacting with small businesses because they’re the backbone of community.”

Her passion for government also came early.

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“I really believe the government can be a force for good good.”

“I started reading The Washington Post around 15 years old, which is a little odd for a teenager,” she says.

Verratti went to Brandeis University in Boston where she triple-majored in politics, history and philosophy, with a minor in economics. After graduation and a stint in politics and advocacy, she headed to law school at George Washington University. She earned her degree in 2010, which she says was not a great year for the job market.

“I was going back and forth on private sector versus government, and the economy made that choice for me. It was a blessing in disguise because I was able to jump into federal service right away.”

Verratti then entered the Presidential Management Fellows Program, a highly competitive two-year training and leadership development program administered by the federal government. She was placed within the SBA, allowing her to work with small businesses that were recovering from the 2008 economic crisis.

“Their stories and resilience were so inspiring.

And when you’re around those folks, it is hard not to get the bug yourself.”

The bug came in the form of Denizens Brewing Co., which she founded in 2013 with her wife Emily Bruno and brother-in-law Jeff Ramirez.

“It was always going to be beer. I was an avid

60 | APRIL 2021

homebrewer in law school and fell in love with the culture of craft beer.”

However, the trio quickly ran into restrictive, Prohibition-era liquor laws that had long blocked the development of local craft breweries. Verratti drew from her past experience in advocacy and politics to build coalitions and identify win-win goals: more local jobs, more tax revenue for the government and more beer for everyone. Her successful campaign allowed Denizens to become the first production brewery in Montgomery County, and paved the way for nearly a dozen other craft brewers to launch locally in the years since.

But the legislative battles at the start of Verratti’s business journey were nothing compared to the struggle brought on by the pandemic.

“The day we had to furlough most of our team — that was probably one of the worst days of my life,” she says, adding that while times have been tough, they remind her that small businesses are wellsprings of creativity and resilience. “We were the first to launch direct-to-consumer beer delivery. After doing that for a month, we realized this might keep us afloat and were strong enough as a team to pivot, be creative and survive. Delivery was not enough to thrive or be sustainable forever, but we had found a way through the crisis.”

Now, as she returns to the SBA, she will be able to bring her advocacy insights, past government service and private sector experience into a new chapter.

“The skills I was able to learn absolutely will translate in how I do this role. Because I’ve had both public service and private sector experience, I see goodness in both. I really believe the government can be a force for good.”

At the same time, Verratti observes, “It’s not the government’s job to tell small businesses what they need. Our job is to make sure we have programs and services they can take advantage of. Our North Star is to be helpful.”

Verratti predicts the pandemic will be beaten in the coming months, as long as people get vaccinated and “public health is taken care of.”

“The government is not going to tell us, ‘The economy is open.’ The consumers will. The administration is really focused on getting vaccines distributed, and as long as we continue to be vigilant, we can restore consumer confidence. Then we’re going to have a roaring twenties.”

To learn more about the SBA and Verratti’s role, visit www.sba.gov. Follow Verratti on Twitter @JulieVerratti. For more information on Denizens Brewing Co., visit www.denizensbrewingco.com and follow @denizensbrewing on Instagram.

Julie Verratti. Photo courtesy of subject.

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SOCCER

WORDS BY ALEX THOMPSON | ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES COREAS

PLAY | BEGINNER’S GUIDE I won’t do the cliché, “Ever since I was born, I had a soccer ball at my feet,” because frankly, who really remembers that? I don’t.

But, I can say that ever since I remember playing outside, I was playing soccer. Growing up, weeks were devoted to balancing competing soccer team commitments. On the weekends, I remember loading up the car early in the morning with my dad and bagel order (egg bagel toasted with butter — I promise you that’s evolved since) in hand, then returning in the evening with the windows down all the way to let that epic, post-victory shin guard stench out. On to college, and club soccer was the name of the game for me. With that, I made lifelong friends who took me into my life here in the DMV, and you guessed it — more soccer teams. Early on, I remember at one point playing on four different soccer teams, while subbing here and there when I could for others, and then throwing in the weekend soccer game viewing of the English Premier League. But it was through these teams and this city’s love of soccer, that over the last decade, I’ve made friends who are family, met my husband, and — wait for it — had a baby. So now, full circle, said baby is just shy of six months old. Does she have a soccer ball at her feet? Well yeah, duh.

THE BASICS

TIPS FROM LOCAL PLAYERS

A professional soccer game is 90 minutes, or two 45-minute halves, with each team comprised of 11 players. There’s a goalkeeper, who guards the goal and is the only player on the field allowed to use their hands within the confines of the goalie box; defenders, who are in front of the goalkeeper and help defend the goal; midfielders, who are in front of the defenders connecting the defensive play to the offensive play; and forwards, who are at the top of a team’s formation and tend to be the goal scorers, although really any team member can score. During the game, your team is trying to work the ball into the opposing team’s side of the field and eventually score on their goal.

All the while, you are also trying to avoid the opposing team from scoring on your goal. À la John Madden, at the end of the game, the team with the most goals is going to win. Here are a few basic calls/ stop of plays you’ll encounter.

Describe the soccer obsession in the DMV. It seems like this area loves it.

Max Olson: There are so many opportunities to play soccer in the DMV. Whether you want to play on a relaxed co-ed team, over 40s or a really competitive team, there is something for everyone. Especially since the DMV has such a great international community, there’s lots of great places to get together and watch games, too.

Throw In: Okay, so I lied: Field players use their hands just this once. When the ball goes out of bounds on either sideline, a throw-in is taken by the opponents of the player who last touched the ball.

Goal Kick: When the ball goes out of bounds by crossing the goal line and the last person to touch the ball was the attacking team, the defending team takes the goal kick from anywhere inside the goal area box. The ball must leave the penalty area before anyone can touch the ball.

Corner Kick: When the ball goes out of bounds by crossing the goal line and the last person to touch the ball was the defending team, the attacking team takes the kick from the corner nearest to where the ball went out and can score off the kick itself (my personal favorite from the right side via my left foot) or have a teammate in the goalie box area ready to knock that ball into the net.

Offsides: Many salt and pepper shakers and ketchup bottles have been used to explain this to colleagues and friends over the last few years, but here I go without those items. A player is in an “offsides position” if they are in the opposing team’s half and behind the last defender and the ball. “Offsides” is called on a player when the player is in the offsides position while the ball is passed forward to them.

Indirect and Direct Kick: A referee calls a foul on a player and depending on the referee’s views of the severity of the foul, the opposing team gets a free kick from the spot the foul was called: a direct kick, which means the player who is kicking the ball can score a goal off of the kick, or an indirect kick, which means the ball has to touch two players before a goal is scored off of the kick.

Penalty Kick: When a player commits a foul in their own penalty box, the referee, to the dismay of the team “committing the foul,” awards the opposing team a penalty kick (immediate debate ensues).

The ball is placed on the penalty line and the player who was fouled takes a single kick against just the goalkeeper.

What is the best way for someone to find a soccer team to join in the area?

Jahleel Hudson: Soccer is so popular in the DMV that just about everyone has a coworker who plays in some sort of league. The next step is to look online at DC Fray and the other recreational sports leagues. DC Fray has an option for newcomers to the area to register as a free agent. The soccer scene is friendly. If you happen to be walking by a league match, someone will offer to tell you the details of how to join.

What one can someone do to improve their game?

Katie Owings: For ball work, start with the basics. Work on passing and shooting where you are striking the ball with the correct part of your foot. You can shoot on an empty net or pass against a wall. Work on one-touch passes back to the wall and also try controlling the ball with one to two touches as it comes back at you. Cone work is another great starting point. Work on dribbling and cutting at cones or weaving through cones while controlling the ball. For exercises without the ball, again, work on your agility: lots of cutting and quick changes of direction are essential.

Also, suicides (mixes of sprints at different distances) help replicate the constant speed changes of the game.

WHERE TO SHOP PJ’s Sports: 7500 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA; www.pjsports.com Soccer Kicks: 6019 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA Springfield Soccer Supplies: 7261 Commerce St. Springfield, VA; www.springfieldsoccersupplies.com

WHERE TO PLAY Alexandria Soccer Adult Leagues: www.alexandria-soccer.org/programs/adult-leagues DC Fray: www.dcfray.com/sport/soccer District Sports: www.districtsportssoccer.org

62 | APRIL 2021

O Captain, My Captain Washington Spirit’s

Andi Sullivan WORDS BY ALEX THOMPSON

PLAY District Fray caught up with the Washington Spirit’s captain and midfielder Andi Sullivan after training camp to talk about the upcoming season and get tips for improving your soccer game.

District Fray: How was training camp in Florida with the team?

Andi Sullivan: Training camp was great. We were fortunate to be able to travel and train safely. It was helpful for our group to ditch some bad weather days in the DMV for some sunshine in Florida. Palm Beach Atlantic [University] hosted us on their field and in their gym. The trip definitely was a great opportunity to prepare for the season and for our team to bond more.

You are entering your fourth season with the Washington Spirit and third season as a captain. Since your rookie season in 2018, there have been a lot of changes to build up this team to be a title contender. How are you feeling coming into this season and what have you learned since 2018?

The Spirit, as an organization and team, has changed constantly and improved drastically since my rookie season. I feel like I could write a book about all the things that have happened and what I have learned in my first three seasons with the team.

Every day, week, month and season, I am learning. And I think that is the best lesson I have taken from my experiences here: to keep having a beginner’s mind that allows me to stay present and continue to get better every single day.

This was a busy offseason, with an impressive draft class coming in and also a few big roster moves (the departure of Mallory Pugh and Rose Lavelle, but the arrival of Kelley O’Hara and Emily Sonnett). How has the current squad been looking on the field and what are you excited for this season with the new additions to the team?

Every year I’ve been here, there have been several entrances and exits. It’s a big part of the business. I don’t envy the decisionmakers in those situations because it’s very difficult to balance consistency and change, which are both usually needed in an off-season. My time at the Spirit has always been filled with skilled players, but more importantly, incredible people to be surrounded with. I firmly believe our current squad will have the best on-field product we have ever had — one that looks to bring home a championship.

You’ve had the unusual experience of playing without any fans. Thankfully, you have two home games coming up this month in the Challenge Cup where a limited number of fans can attend. Can you describe the last year as an athlete during Covid and what you are most looking forward to post-pandemic?

The earlier stages of the pandemic were very uncertain for us as professional athletes, as it was for the whole world. We were very isolated and some of us were questioning our careers and our futures. As time passed, we became a lucky group because, with some additional safety measures, we were still able to physically go to work and be around our teammates and staff. We know that so much of the world has not been able to do the same with their peers. It is something we don’t take lightly. That is part of our motivation: to work hard to perform well so we can entertain our community, whether in person or virtually. On the other side of the pandemic, I can’t wait to spend time with my family and friends. To me, interacting with our fans is an extension of that.

64 | APRIL 2021

“That is the best lesson I have taken from my experiences here: to keep having a beginner’s mind that allows me to stay present and continue to get better every single day.”

With the attendance limitations for games currently in place, what are other ways fans can engage with the team during the pandemic?

We hope fans are looking forward to watching our games however they can. We still do events virtually, especially with our season ticket holders. If fans have other ideas of how they would like to safely engage with us, I’m sure everyone at the Washington Spirit would love to hear them.

For those new to soccer, what are some skills that are key to develop? Any tips you can give on some solo work one can do to improve their game?

The best way to improve with the ball is just to spend time with it. There are infinite things you can do with a ball and no one path to get better. Figure out what works for you. When I was getting started, I would just look up different moves or skills on YouTube to mimic at first. Then I would go find a space to just break it down and try it. This is a strategy I still use when analyzing and improving my own skills.

As a native of the area, what are some of your favorite local spots to explore?

Growing up in this area, I didn’t realize how cool it was to have such a global and exciting city so accessible to me. Another thing I am looking forward to when we’ve hit a turning point in the pandemic is to spend more time exploring my hometown again.

I usually spend most of my city time going to other professional sporting events. I’ve also enjoyed spending some afternoons in Georgetown walking near the water, and probably eating a cookie from Levain Bakery. I am looking forward to doing those things, and hopefully going to some Smithsonian museums and trying out other restaurants.

Follow Sullivan on Instagram @sunnysulli. Learn more about the Washington Spirit’s 2021 season at www.washingtonspirit.com and follow the team on Instagram @washingtonspirit.

FIRST PAGE. Andi Sullivan. Photo courtesy of Washington Spirit.

BLACK GIRL VENTURES’ SHELLY BELL

RESISTS BEING AVERAGE WORDS BY INGRID HARBO

Shelly Bell started what was to become Black Girl Ventures, a foundation that provides BIPOC business founders with the monetary resources and skills for success, in a living room with around 30 other women. The foundation started on the idea of “Shark Tank”-meetsKickstarter-style competitions where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas. Through partnerships and grants, it has expanded to include virtual networking opportunities and nine-month fellowship programs for BIPOC women entrepreneurs. Along with founding Black Girl Ventures, Bell works as a motivational speaker and hosts a podcast. We caught up with Bell about the inspiration behind Black Girl Ventures, her mantras and her experience working with Nike.

District Fray: What inspired you to start Black Girl Ventures?

Shelly Bell: I got laid off twice and decided to start a business. I was doing merchandise printing, and the news came out: Black women are not getting access to capital. Black women are starting businesses at six times the national average yet receiving less than 1% of capital.

I was a K-12 teacher for a while. I sold vacuum cleaners when I was in college. I worked in workforce development. I worked for the patent trademark office. I’m a computer scientist and taught computer science to high school students. I’ve lived a lot of lives and done a lot of things. By this time, I was like, “Well, let’s pull some people together, put some money in a hat and give it away.” I put it up on meetup.com [and] 30 women [met] inside a house in Southeast D.C. We got together and voted with marbles and coffee mugs. It is built historically off of the “rent party,” which is a part of African American history where during the Great Migration, as Black people migrated to Harlem, white landowners raised the rent and Black people threw rent parties. These were not your average parties. It was Fats Waller, Duke Ellington [and] major African American greats who were involved in these rent parties. People would get together, have a party and use that money to pay their rent.

People liked it, so I kept doing it.

66 | APRIL 2021

Shelly Bell. Photos courtesy of subject.

IN OTHER WORDS Your mantra is “resist being average.” How does Black Girl Ventures teach women entrepreneurs to do just that?

The idea of being average is about awareness. There are phrases out there to say things like, “The sum total of everybody’s attitudes, thoughts and wealth around you: You are a mirror of that.” We encourage people to create their own reflections in new mirrors, if that’s what they want. We empower them to know that there are people who will act on their behalf. If you don’t have friends and family around, we are your friends and family right now. We believe you have great ideas. We believe you have something to change the world.

You were recently featured on a Nike billboard. Can you talk more about that engagement and what it means to you?

This Nike engagement has been such an amazing experience. Developing this relationship with them began with a cold email from my board chair, who believed we were going to get money from Nike. That literally was it. She sent an email saying who we are and we didn’t get a response at first. But then, they reached back out and we started doing some relationship building and having conversations. The employees have been so amazing at working to get our story out and advocating for us along the way. The billboard was breathtaking. It is definitely a trailblazing sort of connection to be there alongside amazing athletes. Even before the Nike engagement, I was saying when it comes to ecosystem building, I’m an elite athlete. We work hard. We work out. [We] work those muscles to build up business [and] go out into the game. We play hard. We play real.

Number one piece of career advice? The first thing that comes to my mind is “Don’t knock it until you try it,” because I’ve pivoted so much. Favorite part of your job? Getting to hear different stories from different women across the world. Who is your biggest inspiration? Right now, my biggest inspiration is Tina Turner. Why? I just watched [her] documentary that came out [recently], and her ability to reinvent herself in a lane that nobody thought she could make it in at her age [resonated with me]. Favorite place in D.C.?

The FDR Memorial. The waterfalls. What are you looking forward to most post-pandemic? Hugging people. Who is an artist you’ve been listening to lately? Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. I’m more listening to songs than I am artists. Do you have a song you’ve been listening to a lot? I’m not necessarily a big Beyoncé fan, but recently, the song I have been listening to of Beyoncé’s is “BIGGER” from “The Lion King” soundtrack. Best way to relax after a long week? Orange juice and binge-watching movies. What is a film you recommend everyone watches? “Judas and the Black Messiah.” What is your favorite meal? I like salmon and rice. I love the Busboys [and Poets] blackened salmon with the sauce they put on it. It’s amazing. What does a perfect day in D.C. look like for you? It looks like spring: not too hot, not too cold, just being outside. It could be Cherry Blossom Festival-style, over at the water in Georgetown [or] sitting out dining.

Dream guest on your podcast? Oprah.

Learn more about Bell and listen to her podcast “A Dose of Disruption” on her website www.iamshellybell.com and follow her on Instagram at @iamshellybell. Learn more about Black Girl Ventures on www.blackgirlventures.org or follow @blackgirlventures on Instagram.

What is next for Black Girl Ventures?

What is next is to continue to scale our efforts. We have locked in on a systematic way of delivering low-barrier access to capital [for] Black and brown women founders. We’ve tried it [and] we’ve proven we can see the impact of it.

Now, we just want to go bigger with it.

We just launched [chapters] in Chicago, Miami, Philly, Cincinnati and New York.

We will launch five more in the fall.

DISTRICT FRAY | 67

FUN

HIGH AND GO SEEK In honor of District Fray’s April issue celebrating D.C.’s cannabis community, we are proud to present our first-ever High and Go Seek illustration. E$ hid 42 jazz cabbage cigarettes throughout this entire illustration. See if you can find them all.

68 | APRIL 2021

ILLUSTRATION BY E$. Follow him on Instagram @theedollarsign.

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