Hill Rag Magazine November 2013 by Capital Community News

hillrag.com â&#x20AC;˘ November 2013

Est. 1981

ON G SO N I COM

16th STREET HEIGHTS

ADAMS MORGAN

CAPITOL HILL

LEDROIT PARK

$639,500 w/Carriage House

$1,225,000

$1,748,500

$89,500 - GARAGE

$349,500 – 1BR Condo

Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM

Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM

LOVEJOY LOFTS 440 12th Street, NE Impeccably remodeled 1BR+Den condo w/ parking boasts nearly 1,000 sq.ft. SHAW 1407 5th Street, NW #2 $724,500 – Duplex Condo Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661

THE

Todd Bissey 202-841-7653

D SOL

BISSEY TEAM

AT JOHN C. FORMANT REAL ESTATE, INC.

D SOL

HILL CREST

Stan Bissey 202-841-1433

3430 Pennsylvania Ave., SE $499,500 Fern Pannill 240-508-4856

D SOL

COLONIAL VILLAGE

CAPITOL HILL

WOODLEY

TAKOMA PARK

PETWORTH

1709 Kalmia Road, NW

804 I Street, NE $819,500

2722 Woodley Place, NW

311 Whittier Street, NW

326 Farragut Street, NW

Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

Stan Bissey 202-841-1433 THE BISSEY TEAM

Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

Fern Pannill 240-508-4856

“WHERE WASHINGTON SHOPS FOR A NEW ADDRESS!”® 225 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003

Tel: 202-544-3900 www.johncformant.com

Sales • Rentals • Commercial Leasing • Property Management • Investments

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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE

IS A DID YOU KNOW? If you knowingly collect benefits by intentionally providing false or inaccurate information when you filed your claim, you are committing FRAUD. Examples include: • An individual returns to work but continues to collect UI benefits. • An individual works a part-time job but does not report his or her earnings to the state, thereby collecting more benefits than he or she is allowed.

UI Fraud is punishable by law! PENALTIES Can Include: • Criminal prosecution • Penalties and fines • Forfeiting future income tax refunds • Ineligibility to collect UI benefits in the future Don’t make your unemployment problem worse. If you think you may have committed UI Fraud, let us help you address the issue.

• An individual performs temporary work while collecting UI benefits, but does not report the earnings when filing his or her weekly claim. • An individual holds back information or gives false information to the state UI agency.

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1.877.372.8360 Call us today or visit does.dc.gov to read more about UI Fraud.

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9,5

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34 8th Street NE

Lovely 2BR, 1.5 plus Den & double Living Room on 3 finished levels. Full of character & great location.

00 9,5 $30 t c ra ont er C Und

2304 Parkway Cheverly, MD

3 BR, 3BA Stone Cape Cod walking distance to Cheverly Metro.

00 0,0 $53 d l t So Jus

401 13th Street NE #310

Practically new; 1,200 square feet 2BR, 2BA nicely appointed condo. Tons of light. 2 Balconies. Garage parking. More livable than many houses. 4 blocks to H St & Lincoln Park. Buyers Agent

e Pric

000 95, 1,6 $ d uce Red

101 5th Street NE

Formerly the Bull Moose Bed & Breakfast. 11 BR, 8BA; the possibilities are endless.

0 ,00 320 ct $ a r t on er C Und

801 Otis Pl. NW #202 Columbia Heights

New Construction, 1BR condo with stunning finishes & walking distance to Metro. Enjoy the burgeoning development of 11th St, Petworth & Columbia Heights neighborhoods. Great opportunity. Buyer’s Agent.

00 5,0 $47 d l t So Jus

266B Kentucky Ave. SE

Practically new 2BR, 1BA condo w/ high-end finishes, patio, parking, walking distance to Eastern Market Metro. Buyers Agent

For

3218 Cheverly Hills Court Cheverly, MD

Totally renovated, like new 4BR, 3BA with great yard space. Floor plan allows for potential 1BR/1BA Rental/In-Law Suite.

00 9,5 $33 d l t So Jus

1922 C Street NE

Fixer-Upper. 3BR, 2BA Porch Front w/ finished basement & off-street parking. Buyers Agent

00 6,5 $68 d l t So Jus

1229 Constitution Ave. NE

Renovated 2-BR Victorian endunit w/ 1-BR rental In-law Suite/ Apt. Across from Maury ES.

4,5

9,5

$35 Sale

For

42 e$ Sal

220 4th Street SE, #1

Oversized & renovated 1-BR boutique condo...1,060 sf w/ a location & character that can’t be beat.

000 60, 1,2 $ ld t So Jus

5264 Loughboro Road NW

Kent/Palisades DC

4BR, 4.5BA Center Hall Colonial with Basement In-Law Suite. Stunning Yard. Great space for entertaining. Wonderful neighborhood. Buyers Agent

00 5,0 $11 d l t So Jus

2500 Van Dorn Street, #1517 Alexandria, VA

Totally updated Jr-1BR condo just off 395 & King Streets in high rise with hotel-like amenities. Great City Views.

9,5

For

22 e$ Sal

6210 Inwood St. Cheverly, MD

IUpdated 3BR, 1BA brick Colonial on great lot in Cheverly. Wonderful Community.

0 ,00 245 $ d l t So Jus

1438 Meridian Pl NW, #4 Colombia Heights

Cheapest 2BR condo in DC; own for less than rent. Great investment. Walk to Columbia Heights Metro & Retail. Buyer’s Agent.

00 5,0 $57 d l t So Jus

1029 10th Street NE H Street / NoMA

Renovated 3BR, 1.5 BA Victorian just off hoppin’ H Street & near Union Market/NOMA. Off Street parking. Nice light. Open floor plan. Buyers Agent

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What’s Inside

Nov. 13

ineveryissue 14 20 66 156 163

What’s on Washington Washington’s Best Calendar Hill Rag Crossword Classified Ads The Last Word

capitolstreets 35 36 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60-65

E On DC: Dear God / E. Ethelbert Miller The Bulletin Board In Memoriam: Richard A. Didden / Andrew Lightman The District Beat / Martin Austermuhle The Numbers / Wes Rivers Candidate Charles Allen / Annette Nielsen Tend Your Tree Boxes! / Charnice A. Milton Options Charter School Copes with Questionable Future / Maggy Baccinelli Tree Boxes: Finding the Right Green Solution / Rindy O’Brien ANC Report s

communitylife 67 68 70 71 72 74 76 78

Remembering Tip Tipton / Andrew Lightman Pauline Bates: Celebrating 100 Years / Peter A. Waldron A Tribute To Ron McBee / Pleasant Mann @ Your Service / Ellen Boomer South by West / William Rich H Street Life: / Elise Bernard Barracks Row / Sharon Bosworth Capitol Riverfront News / Michael Stevens

combinedfederalcampaignspecial 80 83 84

Introducing Shakespeare / Meghan Markey Central Union Mission / Charnice A. Milton CFC Resource List

realestate 87 90

Pierce School Property for Sale / Meghan Markey Changing Hands / Don Denton

ARTSdiningentertainment 99 102 107 108 110 112 114 116

Dining Notes / Celeste McCall Everything but the Turkey / Jonathan Bardzik Wines for Thanksgiving / Felix Milner Theater: Romeo and Juliet / Barbara Wells At the Movies / Mike Canning Art and The City / Jim Magner The Literary Hill / Karen Lyon Gateway Wings / Phil Hutinet

beautyhealthfitness 119 122 125 126

Well Nourished with Mara Mirecki/ Annette Nielsen Fitness on H Street / Pattie Cinelli DC’s First Death Cafe / Pattie Cinelli A New Way to Manage Sun Exposure / Lisa Brent

kidsandfamily 129 133 134 136

Kids & Family Notebook / Kathleen Donner School Principals Version of the Breakfast Club / Ellen Boomer IB Grows on Capitol Hill / Heather Schoell School Notes / Susan Braun Johnson

homesandgardens 145 148 150 152 154

Master Gardeners of DC /Annette Nielsen Let It Rain, and Drain, Into Your Garden / Cyd Price Concrete and Roof Leaks / Tom Daniels Garden Spot: Fall Planning for a Great Spring Garden / Derek Thomas Dear Garden Lady / by Anonymous

extra 166

Howl-O-Ween Photos

COVER INFO: “Frutti Capitol” – painted by Turbopolis. Turbopolis is a collaboration of Zachary Sasim and Nikolay Sasim (father and son). Idea, sketch and post-production by Zachary Sasim. Executed by Nilkolay Sasim. You can see more work by the Sasim duo every Saturday and Sunday at Eastern Market. Prints and Originals for sale. www.turbopolis.com, turbopolis@yahoo.com

Hill Rag Mid City DC East Of The River Fagon Community Guides

LOOK FOR YOUR NEXT HILLRAG ISSUE ON: DECEMBER 7th

Capital Community News, Inc. 224 7th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003 202.543.8300 • www.capitalcommunitynews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Melissa Ashabranner • melissaashabranner@hillrag.com

Editorial Staff Managing Editor: CFO & Associate Editor: School Notes Editor: Kids & Family Notebook Editor: Food Editor:

Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Annette Nielsen • annette@hillrag.com

Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Dining: Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Jonathan Bardzik • jonathan.bardzik@gmail.com Literature: Karen Lyon • klyon@folger.edu Movies: Mike Canning • mjcanning@verizon.net Music: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Stephen Monroe • samonroe2004@yahoo.com Retail Therapy: Marissa Terrell • mterrell@sbclawgroup.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com The Wine Guys: Jon Genderson • jon@cellar.com Calendar & Bulletin Board Calendar Editor: Kathleen Donner • calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com General Assignment Martin Austermuhle • martin.austermuhle@gmail.com Maggy Baccinelli • mbaccinelli@gmail.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ellen Boomer • emboomer@gmail.com Elena Burger • elena96b@gmail.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com Maggie Hall • whitby@aol.com Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Pleasant Mann • pmann1995@gmail.com Meghan Markey • meghanmarkey@gmail.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Jonathan Neeley • neeley87@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Heather Schoell • schoell@verizon.net Virginia Avniel Spatz • virginia@hillrag.com Michael G. Stevens • michael@capitolriverfront.org Peter J. Waldron • peter@hillrag.com Roberta Weiner • rweiner_us@yahoo.com Jazzy Wright • wright.jazzy@gmail.com Jennifer Zatkowski • jenn@hillrag.com

BEAUTY, Health& Fitness Patricia Cinelli • fitmiss44@aol.com Jazelle Hunt • jazelle.hunt@gmail.com Candace Y.A. Montague • writeoncm@gmail.com KIDS & FAMILY Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Susan Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Society & Events Mickey Thompson • socialsightings@aol.com Homes & Gardens Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.com The Last Word • editorial@hilllrag.com Production/Graphic/web Design Art Director: Jason Yen • jay@hillrag.com Graphic Designer: Lee Kyungmin • lee@hillrag.com Web Master: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com Advertising & Sales Account Executive: Account Executive: Classified Advertising:

Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Jennifer Zatkowski, 202.543.8300 X20 • Jenn@hillrag.com Maria Carolina Lopez, 202.543.8300 X12 • carolina@hillrag.com

Distribution Distribution Manager: Andrew Lightman Distributors: MediaPoint, LLC Distribution Information: distribution@hillrag.com Deadlines & CONTACTS Advertising: sales@hillrag.com Display Ads: 15th of each month Classified Ads: 10th of each month Editorial: 15th of each month; editorial@hilllrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

We welcome suggestions for stories. Send queries to andrew@hillrag.com. We are also interested in your views on community issues which are published in the Last Word. Please limit your comments to 250 words. Letters may be edited for space. Please include your name, address and phone number. Send Last Word submissions to lastword@hillrag.com. For employment opportunities email jobs@hillrag.com. 12 H hillrag.com

The Hill is the place for a great Thanksgiving. We have lots of houses and none are turkeys!

8th ANNUAL MOTH THANKSGIVING BASKET DRIVE EACH YEAR Moms on the Hill FEEDS ABOUT 60 NEEDY HILL FAMILIES AT THANKSGIVING! CONTACT MEG OR CHECK THE MOTH SITE TO SIGN UP FOR FOOD DONATIONS STARTING NOV 4.

AUTUMN IN THE CITY MEANS PLENTY OF LEAVES TO LAND IN... BUT NOT ALWAYS ENOUGH HOMES. LET US SHOW YOU WHERE THEY ARE. UNDER CONTRACT

124 7th Street, SE $1,050,000 STEPS FROM EASTERN MARKET

Lovingly preserved and renovated 3bedroom, 2 full, 2 half baths, with studio in-law suite. A kitchen beyond compare: the only thing better might be the location! Spacious and gracious.

COMING IN NOVEMBER! 1005 I Street, SE, $ 599,000 STEPS FROM BARRACKS ROW!

2 bedrooms plus den and 1 and Â˝ bath, barely a step to Barracks Row, big and sunny spaces, lovely landscaped patio garden.

Look Us Up on Facebook! Megan Shapiro (Cell) 202-329-4068 meg@megandgeorge.com

George Olson (Cell) 202-203-0339 george.olson@rmxtalk.com

(Office) 202-547-5600

www.megandgeorge.com

Allegiance

The Norris Group

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a month-by-month guide to events

Tough Dames in Satin Slips: Pre-Code Film Screenings at the Hill Center

In a film and discussion series that will explore the history of sex and violence in the movies, censorship and the ratings system, movie critic Nell Minow and journalist Margaret Talbot present four gems of pre-Code cinema. For several years in the early 1930’s, producers, directors and screenwriters routinely flouted the moral guidelines known as the Hays Code. It wasn’t until July 1934, when they were threatened with a nationwide boycott of the movies organized by the Catholic Church and its Legion of Decency, that the studios agreed to a stricter enforcement regime. The movies that emerged from Hollywood in those “pre-Code” years of the 1930s are often racier, more cynical, darker and franker than movies would be for many years afterward. Here’s the line-up: Baby Face (1933), Nov. 15; Virtue (1932), Nov. 22; Heat Lightning (1934), Dec. 6; and The Public Enemy (1931), Dec. 13. All movies are free (register online) and are shown at 7 p.m. at the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org “Baby face” with Barbara Stanwyck. Photo: noirBabes.com

EMULSION: First Annual East City Art Regional Juried Show

An emulsion combines two seemingly incompatible ingredients to produce a third yet entirely new substance. In this spirit, East City Art’s EMULSION seeks to combine the culturally different yet geographically close regions of Washington and Baltimore and to combine a wide array of art forms and mediums from two-dimensional work to performance based pieces. East City Art envisions EMULSION as an annual event that will exhibit the brightest talent from the Mid-Atlantic region. They expect EMULSION to grow over time to include more entries, an increase in prize money and visibility beyond the Mid-Atlantic to the national and international level. You’re invited to the opening reception on Saturday Nov. 9, 7-10 p.m. The exhibition runs through Jan 18, 2014. EMULSION is at the Gallery O on H, 1354 H St. NE. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday. noon-6 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. eastcityart.com Selin Balci “Contamination ii” microbial growth on Board - 70x100. Photo: Courtesy of the artist 14 H hillrag.com

Fuego Flamenco IX (flamenco festival) at GALA Hispanic Theatre

Stunning! Sensual! Sizzling! GALA’s acclaimed flamenco festival Fuego Flamenco IX is an exploration of traditional flamenco, its breadth and diversity through contemporary expressions. This year’s attractions include the world premiere of Uno Más Uno created by Edwin Aparicio and Aleksey Kulikov for D.C.’s Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company, and the United States premiere of Templanza, performed by the sensual duo José Jurado and Isabel Rodríguez from Madrid. In addition, the festival will include Flamenco en Familia, free interactive demonstrations of various aspects of flamenco for children and families. New this year is a special screening of the documentary Sobre las Olas-A History of Flamenco in the US. November 8-17. Gala Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. 202-2347174. galatheatre.org Flamenco Aparicio Dance Company, presenting “Uno mas uno.” Photo: Lonnie Tague

Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger

You’re invited to trot, run, walk, stroll or just watch the runners at the 12th Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger. Proceeds from the 5K benefits So Others May Eat by providing much-needed food, clothing and healthcare for the people they serve. The trot is on Thanksgiving Day at Freedom Plaza (corner of 13th Street, NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW). The Kids’ One Mile Fun Run is at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K run/walk starts at 9 a.m. So Others Might Eat has served Washington, DC for over 40 years, working to feed and clothe DC’s homeless and poor; treat ill, homeless people at their medical, dental and mental health programs; train people for jobs; and house homeless families and single adults. some.org

10,000 “trotters” gathered at Freedom Plaza on Thanksgiving morning of last year. Photo: Derek Parks

Old Town’s Scottish Christmas Walk Parade

Courtesy of Campagna Center

On Dec 7, starting at 11 a.m. (rain or shine), more than 120 Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans parade through the streets of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, joined by pipe and drum bands from around the region as well as terriers and hounds of every description, Scottish dancers, re-enactment groups, Scottie dog groups, dignitaries and, of course, Santa Claus during the Campagna Center’s annual Scottish Christmas Walk. The parade begins at the intersection of Wilkes Street and South St. Asaph Street, then heads north on South St. Asaph Street to Queen Street. It turns right on Queen Street to North Fairfax Street, then right on North Fairfax Street. The parade will then turn right on King Street, and pass the reviewing stand at Market Square to the ending point at the intersection of King and Pitt Streets. Parking, always tricky, is best avoided. Take Metro to King Street and a Dash bus to the parade route. visitalexandriava.com HillRag | November 2013 H 15

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NOVEMBER

HillRag CALENDAR VETERANS HONORED

Library of Congress to Display Copy of Gettysburg Address. Veterans Day Weekend-Nov 19. The Nicolay copy, presumed to be the first draft of the Gettysburg Address, will be displayed in the Great Hall on the first floor of the Jefferson Building from Veteran’s Day weekend, Friday, Nov 8, through Tuesday, Nov 19, which is the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s delivery of the speech at the dedication of a national cemetery at the Gettysburg battlefield (Nov. 19, 1863). The Great Hall display and Civil War exhibition are free and open to the public Monday through Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. loc.gov Service and Sacrifice at National Cathedral.

Nov 9, 1:30 PM; Nov 10, 1:30 PM, Nov 11, 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. In this one-hour tour, examine iconography in Cathedral sculpture, stained glass, and needlework that pays tribute to many significant events in our nation’s history and honors those who have served and sacrificed for their country. The tour also chronicles members of the military who were instrumental in the planning and creation of the Cathedral. Reservations are required; space is limited. The tour meets at the west-end docent station, nave level, just inside the main doors. $10. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200. cathedral.org Marine Corps Worship Service. Nov 10, 3:30 PM. A brass and percussion ensemble from “The

President’s Own” will perform a prelude for the service. The worship service itself will begin at 4:00 PM. Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. 202-537-6200. cathedral.org Veterans Day 10K & Tidal Basin Walk. Nov 10, 8:00 AM. Honor America’s veterans with a run through West & East Potomac Parks along the Potomac River. Fast, flat course. T-shirts, refreshments, random prizes. Generous awards structure: 10 deep overall & 3 deep in 5-year age groups; top masters male & female. 301-8402042. runwashington.com/veterans10k Veterans Day Observance at The Wall. Nov 11, 1:00 PM. Vietnam Veterans Memorial. 202-3930090. vvmf.org

Wreath Laying at World War II Memorial. Nov 11, 9:00 AM. 17th St. between Constitution and Independence aves. NW. 202-619-7222. wwiimemorial.com Wreath Laying at Air Force Memorial. Nov 11, 11:00 AM. Wreath laying ceremony and a two-minute moment of silence will be observed to commemorate those members of the U.S. armed forces who were killed during war. Air Force Memorial is at One Air Force Memorial Drive in Arlington, VA. (14th St. Bridge into Virginia, merge onto Washington Blvd. and then Columbia Pike in the direction of the Navy Annex. Then follow signs.) airforcememorial.org

President Obama lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veteran’s Day 2012. Photo: Courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery

Veterans Day Wreath Laying at Arlington. Nov 11, 11:00 AM. President Obama will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. The public is invited to watch this ceremony and to listen to the speech that follows. There is standing room at the wreath laying and seating in the adjacent amphitheater for the speech. Get there early. The better the weather, the earlier you should arrive. Security will be tight so leave umbrellas and backbacks at home. Parking and the ride to the ceremony site are free. arlingtoncemetery.mil 20 H hillrag.com

Mount Vernon Salutes Veterans. Nov 11, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. In honor of our nation’s veterans, Mount Vernon admits all active duty, former, or retired military personnel free-of-charge. Special activities include a free patriotic community concert by the all-veteran barbershop chorus The Harmony Heritage Singers in the Robert H. & Clarice Smith Auditorium at 11:00 AM. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA. mountvernon.org Veterans Day Ceremony at Folger Park. Nov 11, 11:00 AM.

Keynote speaker, invocation, Veterans Day narration, bagpipes and taps. A reception follows at the American Legion Post across the street. Third and D sts. SE.

THANKSGIVING Vegetarian Thanksgiving Cooking Class with Chef Kim O’Donnel. Nov 10, 1:00-3:00 PM. In this highly interactive (hands-on participation encouraged, but not required) demo, cookbook author Kim O’Donnel shows the ropes on whipping up a produce-forward Thanksgiving appealing to eaters of all dietary stripes. $55. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade. Nov 23, 10:00 AM. 50 foot balloons, floats and marching bands. Downtown Silver Spring on Georgia Avenue from Sligo to Silver Plaza. silverspringdowntown.com Potomac Valley Track Club Cranberry Crawl 5K & 10K. Nov 23, 8:30 AM. $20. East Potomac Park Golf Course, 972 Ohio Dr. SW. 301-292-1441. pvtc.org Historic Baking: Civil War Thanksgiving with Amanda Moniz. Nov 24, 1:00-3:30 PM. Using recipes adapted from Sarah Hale’s 1857 New Cook Book, the class will make-and samplesquash pie, mini fruit preserve pies, and apple cider cake. It will cover making and rolling pie dough, making pie filling, preparing and using egg washes, proper measuring, proper mixing and creaming, and preparing cake pans. Whether students are beginners or already bakers, they will learn something new as they explore the history of the Thanksgiving holiday. Amanda Moniz is a professional historian and former pastry chef who combines her two loves in tasty, hands-on baking classes and in her culinary history blog, History’s Just Desserts. $40, adults; $20, kids. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-5494172. hillcenterdc.org Annual Safeway Feast of Sharing. Nov 27, 11:00 AM-2:30 PM. The program will offer a complete sit down Thanksgiving meal, opportunities to explore the possibility of gainful employment; health screenings; and also information on achieving and maintaining good health. Please help get the information out to seniors, churches, senior housing residences and especially to individuals and families in need. Free. No reservations required. Washington Convention Center. The Arlington Turkey Trot. Nov 28, 8:00 AM.

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The race’s mission is to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy a fun, healthy Thanksgiving activity together, and to raise support for three local charities: Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless (AACH), Doorways for Women & Families, and Arlington Food Assistance Center. ccapca. org/turkeytrot

turkey is on display through early Jan. After the holiday season, the turkey will live at Mount Vernon’s nationally-recognized livestock facility. mountvernon.org

Alexandria Turkey Trot 5 Mile. Nov 28, 9:00 AM. The annual Thanksgiving Day Alexandria Turkey Trot is taking place in the Del Ray area of Alexandria with some exciting new additions. With a starting line change, this year’s race will be metro accessible, the start line is 2 blocks from the Braddock Metro Station. The DC Road Runners Club sponsors the event and proceeds will benefit the the A.L.I.V.E foundation. alexandriaturkeytrot.com

“Holiday Mail for Heroes” Mailbox. Through Dec 6. Americans can create and send cards to service members, veterans and their families who will receive cards across the country and around the world. The Red Cross invites the public to send messages of thanks and holiday cheer by mailing them to: Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. redcross.org/holiday

Washington National Cathedral Thanksgiving Service. Nov 28, 10:00 AM. Cathedral at the intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin aves. NW. 202-537-6200. cathedral.org National Shrine Thanksgiving Mass. Nov 28, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM and noon. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-526-8300. nationalshrine.com Bilingual Thanksgiving Mass at St Matthews. Nov 28, 10:00 AM. Join them in celebrating a bilingual (English and Spanish) Mass on Thanksgiving Day. Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, 1725 Rhode Island Ave. NW. 202-347-3215. stmatthewscathedral.org St. Augustine’s Thanksgiving Day Service. Nov 28, 10:00 AM. St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St. SW. 202-554-3222. staugustinesdc.org St. Monica and St. James Thanksgiving Service. Nov. 28, 10:00 AM. Mass with hymns. 222 8th St. NE. 202-546-1746. saintjameschurch.org Christ Church Thanksgiving Service and Pot Luck Dinner. Nov 28, 11:00 AM service. Pot luck meal immediately afterward. 620 G St. SE. 202-547-9300. washingtonparish.org New Samaritan Baptist Church Thanksgiving Day Service. Nov 28, 10:00 AM. 1100 Florida Ave. NE. 202-397-1870. newsamaritan.org St. Mark’s Thanksgiving Service with Fellowship Hour. Nov. 28, 10:00 AM. Fellowship hour follows. Third and A sts. SE. 202-5430053. stmarks.net National Mall Museums Open Thanksgiving Day. US Holocaust Memorial Museum is open. The National Zoo is open. The national monuments are all available for viewing but Washington Monument is closed. All Smithsonian museums are open. Newseum, National Archives, US Capitol Visitors Center and Corcoran Gallery of Art are closed. Visit Our Pardoned National Thanksgiving Turkey. Immediately following President Obama’s “pardon” of the National Thanksgiving Turkey, George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, Museum & Gardens welcomes the turkey with a ceremony featuring a trumpet fanfare and proclamation read by Washington’s farm manager, “James Anderson.” The

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EARLY CHRISTMAS

Saint Dominic Church Christmas Bazaar and Gift Sale. Nov 16, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM; Nov 17 and 18, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM; Nov 19, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM. The sale will feature hand made crafts, china, household items, collectibles. framed paintings, jewelry (costume and sterling) and other useful items suitable for Christmas gifts. St. Dominic Church, 630 E St. SW. A Christmas Carol at Ford’s. Nov 21-Jan 1. (no performance Thanksgiving Day). Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Originally conceived by Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Dickens’s Yuletide classic. $35-$75. 202-347-4833. fordstheatre.org Old Town Alexandria Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Nov 23, 7:00-9:00 PM, (rain or shine). Enjoy musical entertainment, caroling with a community sing along, and greetings from the Mayor and Santa Claus. Historic Market Square in Old Town, 301 King St., Alexandria, VA “Season’s Greenings” at the US Botanic Garden. Opens Thanksgiving Day, Nov 28 through Jan 1, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. The US Botanic Garden invites you to remember that the best things in life are free-the fragrance of a freshly cut fir tree, the magic of holiday lights and sumptuous decorations, and the delight of a child discovering the makebelieve world of model trains. Free. 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov Downtown DC Holiday Market. Nov 29-Dec 23, noon-8:00 PM. The annual Downtown DC Holiday Market offers seasonal outdoor shopping with a festive atmosphere. It features nearly 180 rotating exhibitors and artisans with approximately 50 each week, offering distinctive gifts for sale including fine art, crafts, jewelry, clothing, accessories, pottery, photography, clothing and specialty foods. Centered at Eighth and F sts. NW. downtownholidaymarket.com National Harbor Christmas Tree Lighting. Nov 29, 5:00-7:00 PM. Waterfront Plaza, National Harbor, Maryland. The waterfront community will kick off the holiday season by lighting up the sky with fireworks and a 65ft Christmas tree decorated with 20,000 lights. Sip some hot chocolate and enjoy story-telling, an ornament-making workshop and holiday music.

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The Garden of Lights (Winter Garden Walk) at Brookside Gardens. Nov 29Jan 5 (except Dec 24-25 and Jan 1-2), 5:30-9:00 PM, weekdays; 5:30-10:00 PM, Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday. 940,000 twinkling colorful lights shaped in imaginative displays throughout the gardens. $20-$25 per car. It’s a walkthrough, however. Brookside Gardens Wheaton Regional Park, 1800 Glenallan Ave.,Wheaton, MD. montgomeryparks. org/brookside Zoolights. Nov 29-Jan 1, 5:00-9:00 PM nightly except Dec 24, 25 and 31. Don’t miss your chance to meander through the Zoo when it is covered with thousands of sparkling lights, attend special keeper talks, and enjoy live entertainment. Free. National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. nationalzoo.si.edu Christmas at Mount Vernon. Nov 29-Jan 6, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Holiday visitors will enjoy themed decorations, chocolatemaking demonstrations, 18th century dancing, plus a rare opportunity to tour the third floor of the Mansion. George Washington’s Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. $17/ adult, $8/child, 5 and under free. 703780-2000. mountvernon.org Mount Vernon by Candlelight. Nov 29-Dec 22 (Saturdays and Sundays), 5:00-8:00 PM. Join “Mrs. Washington” as she hosts an enchanting evening of candlelight tours, fireside caroling, and festive treats. Timed tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for children 11 and under. George Washington’s Estate & Gardens, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. 703-780-2000. mountvernon.org A Commedia Christmas Carol at Gallaudet University. Nov 29-Dec 22. A Commedia Christmas Carol, presented by Faction of Fools Theatre Company, is a modern retelling of the Dickens holiday classic with masks, acrobatics, humbug, and holiday cheer. $25. Elstad Auditorium, 800 Florida Ave. NE. factionoffools.org Capitol Hill Christmas Tree Lighting. Nov 30, 5:30-6:00 PM. This will be the 7th lighting of the 25-foot evergreen tree to celebrate the season and honor Capitol Hill BID Founding President and beloved community member George Didden, III. There will be plenty of hot chocolate, coffee, donuts and holiday spirit. Tree is in the park on the northeast corner of Penn. Ave. and 8th St. SE. capitolhillbid.org A Star Lights Capitol Hill. Dec 1, 5:00 PM. A lighted star provides a beacon of hope and faith for the Capitol Hill community at the Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 201 4th St. SE. The congregation welcomes everyone to its first “Lighting The Christmas Star” celebration. Everyone will gather in the National Capital Bank parking lot behind the church to begin the Advent and Christmas season with caroling, hot chocolate and cider and “Lighting The Christmas Star” atop the church tower. For more information contact admin@capitolhillpreschurch.org or 202547-8676.

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Union Station Christmas Tree Lighting. Dec 3, 6:00 PM. The tree is a gift to the people of Washington, DC and is a symbol of friendship between the United States and Norway. Join the Norwegian Embassy and DC as the 8,000 lights on Washington’s official holiday tree are lit and enjoy live musical performances. unionstationdc.com US Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting. Dec 4, 5:00 PM. The public is invited to attend the lighting ceremony on the Capitol west lawn. No tickets required. Visit the tree through Dec 26. capitolchristmastree.com

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Daughters of the American Revolution (family-friendly) Christmas Open House. Dec 4, 5:30-8:00 PM. Live holiday music, tour 31 period rooms, cider, hot chocolate and cookies, Santa (bring a camera). DAR Memorial Continental Hall, 17th and D sts. NW. 202572-0563. dar.org Stories for a Season of Expectation. Dec. 4, 7:00 PM. “Stories for a Season of Expectation” as told by Bruce Crane, Tara Ramsey and others, full of themes of hope and expectation that mark the Advent season. Coffee and desserts, followed by audience Q&A. Free, donations accepted. St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St. SW. 202-554-3222. staugustinesdc.org National (White House) Christmas Tree Lighting. Dec 5, 5:00 PM (probably). Watch our website, capitalcommunitynews.com, for date confirmation and ticket lottery dates and details. There is no stand-by line but you can visit the tree anytime thereafter. thenationaltree.org Christmas Concert at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Dec 6, 7:30 PM (but get there earlier). The National Shrine invites you to their Annual Christmas Concert for Charity featuring the voices and sounds of the Catholic University of America Choir and Orchestra. Free will offering. National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave. NE. 202-526-8300. nationalshrine.com “Living” Christmas Tree Gospel Concert. Dec 6, 7:00 PM; Dec 7, 3:30 PM and 7:00 PM; and Dec 8, 6:30 PM. Featuring a powerful blend of music, drama, mime, and dance, this unique worship experience will be highlighted by a replica of a Christmas tree that stands over six tiers tall. Among the “decorations” adorning the tree, will be approximately 50 men and women from area churches who will sing the best of the season’s sacred music while standing within its structure, thus bringing the tree to life. $15. The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 20-581-1500. pabc-dc.org

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Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Concert. Dec 7, parade 11:00 AM-1:00 PM; massed band concert 1:00-1:30 PM. Parade route Begins at the corner of Wilkes and South Saint Asaph sts. in Old Town and ends at King and Royal sts. Concert at King and Royal sts. in front of City Hall at Market Square. Alexandria, VA. scottishchristmaswalk.com Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. Dec 7, 4:00 PM. Alexandria’s harbor lights up when more than 50 illuminated boats cruise the Potomac

River at the historic waterfront. Alexandria’s Historic Waterfront at the foot of Cameron St., Alexandria, VA. 703-838-5005. visitalexandriava.com National Museum of the American Indian Native Art Market. Dec 7-8, 10:00 AM-5:30 PM. The NMAI Art Market offers one-of-akind, handmade, traditional and contemporary items directly from the artisans. More than 35 Native artists from North and South America will participate in this annual weekend market featuring a wide selection of items for purchase including handmade jewelry, beadwork, pottery, prints and sculpture. Free. Fourth St. and Independence Ave. SW. 202-633-1000. nmai.si.edu Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long. Dec 7, 4:00 PM. “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and members of local choirs and vocal groups perform. wolftrap.org Logan Circle Holiday House Tour. Dec 8, 1:00-5:00 PM. Ticket pick-up at 12:30 PM at the Studio Theatre. Wassail reception, at Studio 3:00-5:30 PM. $30. LoganCircle.org Cut-Your-Own Christmas Tree Farms in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Visit pickyourownchristmastree.org for farms and directions. Then follow the prompts.

HANUKKAH National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony. Nov 27, 4:00 PM. Festivities at the lighting ceremony include musical performances and hot latkes and donuts. This year’s celebration will feature the US Air Force Band. The menorah will be lit each night of Hanukkah. The Ellipse, near the White House (at the NW end, near Constitution Ave.). Hanukkah Lights Reading with NPR’s Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz. Dec 2, 7:00-9:00 PM. Free. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org

MUSIC David Berkeley at Ebenezers. Nov 3, 60 PM. $20. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Jim Hurst Bluegrass Concert at Hill Center. Nov 4, 7:00 PM. $20. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org St Augustine’s Art & Spirit Coffeehouse. Nov 6, 7:00 PM. Cello and Piano. Alison Decker, cellist with Elspeth Fager, pianist, will perform a variety of classical, jazz and world music. Coffee and desserts, followed by audience Q&A. Free, donations accepted. St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St. SW. 202-554-3222. staugustinesdc.org James Terrell at Ebenezers. Nov 6, 7:3010:00 PM. $10. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com

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Capitol Hill Group Ministry Thanksgiving Service. Nov 24, 4:00 PM. The 10th Annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Service will celebrate CHGM’s ever expanding services to neighbors in need, the Capitol Hill community, and many of the congregations and volunteers that help make Capitol Hill such a wonderful place to call home. This years’ service will include readings, prayers, and the inspired voices of their congregational choirs. Returning this year will also include the recognition of volunteers from CHGM member congregations as well as the 3rd Annual Ruth Rappaport Wisdom Award. St. Monica and St. James Church. 222 8th St. NE. 202-546-1746. saintjameschurch.org Hill Center Jazz Ensemble. Nov 6, 7:30-9:30 PM. $20. Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org The “Sorta Cabaret” with Deborah Davidson at Corner Store. Nov 9, 8:00 PM. $20. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. cornerstorearts.org Steve-Lehman Octet at the Atlas. Nov 13, 8:00 PM. New York born, alto saxophonist, Steve Lehman, is considered one of the gifted trailblazers of jazz in the 21st Century (The Guardian UK). His sound oscillates between jazz as we know it and jazz as it will be, involving innovative instrumentation and composition leaning into the new music genre. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org Rachel Levitin, Jamie Kathleen, Suzie Brown & Brittany Jean at Ebenezers. Nov 14, 7:30-10:00 PM. $10. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com eighth blackbird: Colombine’s Paradise Theatre at the Atlas. Nov 15-16. eighth blackbird combines the finesse of a string quartet, the energy of a rock band and the audacity of a storefront theater company. The Chicago-based, three-time Grammy-winning

“super-musicians” (LA Times) entertain and provoke audiences across the country and around the world. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org CD Release Concert-Meg Hutchinson at Corner Store. Nov 17, 8:00 PM. $20. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. cornerstorearts.org Micah, Cal Folger Day, Jon Rooks, and Briar Rabbit at Ebenezers. Nov 21, 7:30-10:00 PM. $10. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman at Corner Store. Nov 22, 8:00 PM. $20. Corner Store, 900 So. Carolina Ave. SE. cornerstorearts.org Vandaveer Live at Rock & Roll Hotel. Nov 22, doors open at 8:00 PM; show at 9:00 PM. All ages welcome. Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 202-388-7625. rockandrollhoteldc.com Indie Rock Band “The Walkmen” at Union Market. Nov 30, 8:00 PM. $25, general admission. To purchase tickets, visit ticketfly. com/event/400921. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Gospel Choir Brunch at Union Market. First Saturday of every month, 10:00 AM. Experi-

ence Gospel Choir Brunch on the first Saturday of every month with a dynamic performance featuring the Israel Baptist Church. Brunch specials are available from vendors. Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE. unionmarketdc.com HR 57 Weekly Jam Sessions. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 PM-midnight. Since 1993 HR-57 has provided a place where aspiring musicians gather to learn the history and cultures of the genres of jazz and blues. It’s a venue for the exchange of ideas and information between aspiring and professional musicians, students, aficionados and the general public. $8. 1007 H St. NE. 202-253-0044. hr57.org Church of the Epiphany Weekly Concerts. Every Tuesday, 12:10 PM. Free but free will offering taken. 1317 G ST. NW. 202-347-2635. epiphanydc.org Jazz Night (and fish fry) in Southwest. Fridays, 6:00-9:00 PM. Every Friday night. Expect a large, fun and friendly crowd. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I St. SW (Fourth and I, south side of intersection). The cover is $5. Children are welcome and free under 16 years old. 202-484-7700. westminsterdc.org/jazz Blue Monday Blues. Mondays, 6:009:00 PM. Westminster Presbyterian Church. Local musicians perform, and the Southwest Catering Company provides a fish fry from 5:30-8:30 PM. $5/ general; free/children under 16. Modestly priced food. 400 I St. SW. 202-4847700. westminsterdc.org/blues Here to Stay-The Legacy of George and Ira Gershwin. Ongoing exhibition. Experience the glamour and sophistication of the 1920s and 1930s in this permanent tribute to the brothers who helped provide a musical background to the period. The exhibition contains a wealth of materials that provide insight into their careers and personalities, including manuscript and printed music, lyric sheets and librettos, personal and business correspondence, photographs, paintings, and drawings, all from the Gershwin Collection in the Music Division of the Library of Congress, the world’s preeminent resource for materials about the Gershwins. Gershwin Gallery, Ground Floor, Thomas Jefferson Building. loc.gov

THEATER Nassim Solemanpour’s White Rabbit, Red Rabbit. Nov 9, 16 and 23, 8:00 PM. Theater Alliance continues its 11th season with this utterly original play from Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour which distills the experience of an entire generation while also serving as a deep exploration of isolation, censorship, communication, manipulation, and the awesome power of spontaneity. All performances are name your own price. Just arrive up to an hour before the curtain time, and you can decide how much you pay for the performance. If you would like to pre-reserve your seat you can do

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that by paying a $15 reservation fee that is non-refundable. Visit theateralliance. com or by calling 202-241-2539. Performance is at CHAW, 545 7th St. SE. Love in Afghanistan at Arena. Through Nov 17. A daring world premiere drama combining the worlds of a talented hip hop artist and a mysterious Afghan interpreter in a thrilling, romantic adventure in an increasingly chaotic land. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arena-stage.org The Night Watcher at Studio. Through Nov 17. Motherhood eluded Charlayne Woodard, but as a godmother, aunt, confidant, and mentor, countless children have enhanced-and sometimes rattledher life. With exuberance and grace, twotime Obie Award winner and Tony Award nominee Woodard fuses ten vignettes of non-parental guidance into a radiant tour de force. Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. 202-332-3300. studiotheatre.org The Argument at Theater J. Through Nov 24. Sophie, a charming, vibrant artist, and Phillip, a loyal, solid businessman, are a 40-something couple whose new relationship is rocked when Sophie learns she is pregnant. As each fights for the only future he or she can imagine, they are both forced to recognize the profound personal differences between them. And when the word “abortion” is introduced into the debate, all bets are off. Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. 800 494-8497. washingtondcjcc.org The Woman in Black at the Keegan. Through Nov 30. A lawyer engages a skeptical young actor to help him tell his terrifying story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. As the two men-portrayed by Keegan company members Rob Leembruggen and Matthew Keenan-reach further into the lawyers darkest memories, the borders between make believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep…Keegan Theater, 1742 Church St. NW. 703-892-0202. keegantheatre.com Romeo and Juliet at the Folger. Through Dec 1. The perfect poetry of Shakespeare’s tragedy reveals the heartbreaking loss of “star-crossed” love. Folger shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-4600. folger.edu Appropriate at Woolly. Nov 4-Dec 1. In this searing and audacious comic drama, the estranged members of the Lafayette family return to Arkansas, and their crumbling old plantation home, to settle the accounts of their recently deceased patriarch. As they sort through a hoarded lifetime of mementos and junk, they discover a gruesome relic that sends the family spiraling into a dark history of repressed memories and family secrets. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939. woollymammoth.net BONDAGE by David Henry Hwang at Anacostia Playhouse. Nov 7-23. Race, Relationships and Leather-clad Role-playing Collide in Pinky Swear Production’s BONDAGE by David Henry Hwang. Deep in

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the bowels of an S&M parlor, a dominatrix and her client are getting ready to play out their regular game. Concealing their faces and ethnicities in head-to-toe leather, the two enact elaborate fantasies, using racial stereotypes and sexual mythologies to fulfill each others’ wishes. But when one of them goes off script, the line between role-play and reality begins to shift, as do the identities and desires of the two people behind the masks. Anacostia Playhouse, 2020 Shannon Pl. SE. 202-2902328. anacostiaplayhouse.com

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Holy Comforter – Saint Cyprian Roman Catholic Church NEW SUNDAY EVENING MASS AT 7:00 PM (beginning Nov. 3rd)

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Maurice Hines is Tappin Thru Life at Arena. Nov 15-Dec 29. Broadway legend Maurice Hines tells the story of his life in show biz through song and dance with the help of his cohorts from Sophisticated Ladies, the unforgettable Manzari Brothers. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arena-stage.org A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Shakespeare. Nov 21-Jan 5. Directed by STC Associate Director Alan Paul, this hysterical Tony Award-winning musical features a beloved score by Stephen Sondheim and an uproarious book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. This bawdy and wild production is a gift from the gods for anyone’s holiday season. Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202-547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner at Arena. Nov 29-Jan 5. TV star Malcolm-Jamal Warner make his Arena debut in a new adaptation of the beloved Sidney Poitier film aboutfamily and culture and knowing which of them has the greater hold on our hearts. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org “Here is a Play Fitted” Exhibition at the Folger. Through Jan 12, 2014. Discover how staging Shakespeare’s plays has changed over the past 400 years. More than 100 itemsscripts and promptbooks, designs for sets, lights, and costumes, props, models, production photographs, playbills, letters, and reviews-highlight broad shifts over the centuries in the performances of Othello, Richard III, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the sometimes surprising changes made to the plays. Folger shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-5444600. folger.edu

ness Division at the Library of Congress will include illustrated talks by NASA scientists on hot towers in hurricanes and the history of cosmology, and lectures by experts on Gregor Johann Mendel, the use of nanotechnology in treating cancer and the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the DNA structure. Nov 7, Bench to Bedside (DNA); Nov 8, Solitude of a Humble Genius-Gregor Johann Mendel Professor: Volume 1-Formative Years. All lectures, which are free and open to the public, will take place in the Library’s James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE. loc.gov St. Augustine’s Game Night. Dec. 6, 6:30 PM, potluck; 7:00 PM, games. Bring a potluck dish to share. Board and card games provided, but feel free to bring your own games too. All ages welcome. St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St. SW. 202554-3222. staugustinesdc.org Game Days with The Capitol Hill Village. On the first and third Thursdays of every month. 2:00-4:00 PM, join members of the Capitol Hill Village for a fun afternoon of board and card games. The Capitol Hill Village is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Capitol Hill’s senior residents. Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-544-1059. labyrinthgameshop.com Thursday Game Night at Labyrinth. Every Thursday, 6:00-10 PM. Come learn new games or play your favorites. Free. Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, 645 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202544-1059. labyrinthgameshop.com Lunchtime Tour of the Conservatory. Mondays and Wednesdays, noon-1:00 PM. What do manila folders, Chanel No. 5, vanilla and fossil fuels have in common? They all come from plants on permanent display in the USBG Conservatory. Take a tour with a knowledgeable guide who will connect the exotic plant world to everyday life. You might see bananas, cacao and coffee ripening on the tree or learn about the next big breakthrough in medicinal plant research. Tour meets in the Conservatory Garden Court. Free, no pre-registration required. US Botanic Garden Conservatory, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov

SPORTS & PHYSICAL FITNESS LECTURES, TOURS, CLASSES AND GAMES Urban Legends and Historic Lore of Washington, DC by John Pohl. Nov 3, 1:30 PM. Southeast Library, 403 7th St. SE. 202-6983377. dclibrary.org/southeast St. Mark’s Meditation Classes. Every Monday, 7:30 PM. These weekly meditation classes explore meditation techniques and topics in Buddhism. New members are welcome to drop in before the meeting to talk with leaders of the group about the class. For further information, contact stmarksmeditation@gmail.com. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. NE. Library of Congress Science Lecture Series. Nov 7 and 8, 11:30 AM. The fall lecture series from the Science, Technology and Busi-

Canal Park Ice Rink. Won’t open until Dec this year due to a ruptured pipe in the rink’s pump room. canalparkdc.org Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Open min-Nov through mid-Mar (weather permitting). Monday-Thursday, 10:00 AM-9:00 PM; Friday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-11:00 PM; Sunday, 11:00 AM-9:00 PM. $7 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under, students with ID and seniors 50 and over. Skate rental is $3. Seventh St. and Constitution Ave. NW. 202-289-3361. nga.gov/ginfo/skating Public Skate at Fort Dupont Ice Arena. Fridays, noon-1:50 PM and Saturdays 11:45 AM-12:45 PM. Children (12 and under) and seniors are $4, adults (13 and older) are $5. Skate rental is $3. For more information, call 202-584-5007. Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Pl. NE. fdia.org

Washington Harbour Ice Skating. Open mid-Nov through mid-Mar (weather permitting). Monday-Thursday, noon-9:00 PM; Friday, noon-10:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM; Sunday, 10:00 AM7:00 PM. At 11,800 square feet, the new Washington Harbour Ice Rink is DC’s largest outdoor ice skating venue, and is also larger than New York City’s Rockefeller Center rink. Adults, $10; children/seniors/ military, $8. Skate rental is $5. 3050 K St. NW. thewashingtonharbour.com Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice Skating. Open mid-Nov through mid-Mar, 10:00 AM-11:00 PM. $7-$8. $3 for skate rental. 1201 South Joyce St. Arlington, VA. 703418-6666. pentagonrowskating.com

MARKETS AND SALES Southeast Library Book Sale. Nov 9 (monthly on the 2nd Saturday), 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. 403 Seventh St. SE. 202698-3377. dclibrary.org/southeast Thread at Union Market. Nov 29-Dec 1. Thread is Union Market’s fashion event-a retail salon located in Dock 5, Union Market’s second-floor event space-featuring more than 30 local and national unique and independent brands from around the country. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-6527400. unionmarketdc.com

CIVIC LIFE Tommy Wells to Host 2nd Public Job Fair with Arena Stage. Nov 7, 10:00 AM2:00 PM. Councilmember Tommy Wells and Arena Stage will host a job fair at Arena Stage’s Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Recruiting companies onsite will include Comcast, DC Water, Giant, Safeway, Specialty Hospital of Washington, United Planning Organization, U.S. Army and Unity Healthcare. Employers wishing to participate, contact Pat Joseph in the Office of Councilmember Tommy Wells at PJoseph@dccouncil.us or 202-724-8072. For additional information and the most up-to-date list of participating organizations please visit arenastage.org/jobfair. Hilly Awards. Nov 16, 6:30-10:30 PM. $140. Nationals Park 1500 S. Capitol St, AARP Southwest Waterfront Chapter 4751 Luncheon Meeting. Nov 20, noon. River Park Mutual Homes Community Room, 1311 Delaware Ave. SW. For more information, contact Chapter President Evelyn Dorsey, Dorseydear@aol.com or 202-488-9685. Grosso Near You (informal) Meeting. First Thursday, 8:00-9:30 AM, Pound the Hill, 621 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The meetings will provide the opportunity for constituents to bring ideas and issues directly to Councilmember Grosso as part of an effort to make the DC Council more accessible. H

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Capitol Streets

Dear God

oo many of us are missing. Across the country people will celebrate Thanksgiving this month without their loved ones sitting around the table. Their absence will not be the result of illness or old age, but instead it will be the result of gun violence in our society. How much have things changed over the years? I’ve never fired a rifle or hand gun in my life. I’ll be 63 this month. Meanwhile, no office building, no school, no neighborhood or city is out of bounds or can be defined as sacred grounds like Eden or Never Never Land. Bullets have no manners. They never knock first. They come through windows and walls. Bullets are always hungry. They never seem to be satisfied. They love young flesh and eat children. Bullets are not vegetarians. How do we go on about our lives without remembering each day those who have been taken from us? After the tragedy at the Navy Yard, I listened to a worker being interviewed as he was returning to the facility. It was only two days after the horror and the guy spoke like a military man trying to overlook the civilian casualties. It was another work day and there was work to be done. “This is what the dead would want us to do,” was the guy’s last remark. We must go on living our nor-

by E. Ethelbert Miller

mal lives; maybe this is what I find so upsetting. What is normal these days? How numb have we become to shootings? Should we all place an empty plate on our tables this month? A plate in anticipation of more violent deaths? Should we bow our heads in silent prayer? There are too many of us missing. I wonder if at times God turns his back on us? Does he get tired of our excuses and stories? What if God had a vote? Would this change anything? I want to be thankful and give thanks this month. Sometimes I need to practice a little mindfulness. Every life is precious. Each breath taken is a reminder of how fragile things are or how unpredictable logic can be and every day our shadows tip around chaos. We rise and go to work – thankful that we are blessed to return home without incident or accident. But there is so much crying lately that the way home has been flooded and I fear our humanity might now be homeless. I think I finally understand why my mother was always thanking the Lord under her breath. She often called on him to give her strength – to find a way out of no way. My mother never explained her faith to me. I really only saw her on her knees

when she was cleaning the house. Yet this woman who was a housewife and seamstress understood the thin fabric of life. She understood how quickly all could be lost or simply stolen or taken. My mother never had a kind word for the devil. These days when I look around there is much to do. We can blame the devil or we can blame ourselves. Which is easier? This month I will say a short prayer at Thanksgiving for all those who remain believers in love, believing in their fellow human being. A prayer for those who show kindness to strangers and do not forget the poor. I will say a prayer for every heart wounded by gun violence and wounded by hatred. Someone please tell me how to fix the levee before the next home is destroyed. There are a few cracks in American society --hairline fractures and small bullet holes. Yet each day is one of hope and transformation. Each day is a day of healing and forgiveness. Nothing can grow out of our bitterness and sadness. Anger must become a lonely weed. Dear God, please tell me the tears falling are simply rain. E. Ethelbert Miller is a literary activist. He is the author of two memoirs and several collections of poems. Mr. Miller is the director of the African American Resource Center at Howard University. www.eethelbertmiller.com H

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bulletin board Capitol Hill Group Ministry Annual Thanks-GIVING Food Basket Drive

Each fall, Capitol Hill Group Ministry (CHGM) hosts their annual Thanks-GIVING Food Basket Drive to help provide Thanksgiving Day feasts with all the trimmings to families in Ward 6 and beyond. Because of your generosity, support, and compassion, CHGM’s 2012 Thanks-GIVING Food Basket Program was successful in serving a Thanksgiving Day Feast to more than 1,480 members of our Capitol Hill community. Given the trend over the past few years, CHGM estimates that this year’s demand will once again come close to 475 baskets. Each basket typically costs around $50 and feeds a family of 4. You can also donate to the Basket Drive by going on line at www.chgm.net. Here’s the timeline: Nov 1-24, contact Shelah Wilcox at 202544-3150 or wilcox@chgm.net with the number of baskets you’ll provide. You can also sign-up online at CHGM.net/2013thanksgiving. Nov 18-25, drop-off baskets at Shirley’s Place, 1338 G St. SE (Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.). Community distribution is from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., also at Shirley’s Place at 1338 G St. SE. chgm.net

Historic Congressional Cemetery Board Seeks New Members

Historic Congressional Cemetery is looking to expand the board with two new members. These new board members will help advise HCC management and staff on development issues (i.e. capital campaigns, fundraising, donor engagement, etc.) and building and grounds issues (i.e. land use and conservation, water issues, maintenance issues, etc.). If you have one of these skill sets, and are interested in being considered for the board, contact John Gillespie at jgillespie@verisconsulting.com with your bio/resume and your reason for consideration.

Overbeck Lecture: Walt Whitman in Washington

On Tuesday evening, Nov 5, 7:30 p.m., the Overbeck History Lecture Series will explore Walt Whitman’s immersion in the life of his adopted city, Washington, DC, during the Civil War and the following decade. Through visual images and excerpts from Whitman’s poetry and prose, Whitman scholar Martin G. Murray will discuss the poet’s many roles here, sharing visual images and excerpts from Whitman’s poetry and prose. Whitman arrived in the nation’s capital in 1863 in search of his brother, who had been wounded in the war, and became a regular visitor at the makeshift hospitals that had sprung up all over the 36 H hillrag.com

Rock Creek Singers of the Gay Men’s Chorus will perform on Nov. 17 at Westminster Presbyterian. Photo: Emily Pinna

Westminster Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Founding of Food & Friends

On Sunday, Nov 17, 11 a.m., Westminster Presbyterian Church will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Food & Friends, a ministry that prepared and delivered nutritious meals to home-bound persons with AIDS. The average period of service to clients was six weeks in those early days as so many were dying. Guests will include the Rev. Carla Gorrell, the first executive director, along with early staff and volunteers with Food & Friends. Music will be provided by Westminster’s new Minister of Music Shirli Hughes and the Rock Creek Singers of the Gay Men’s Chorus. A reception will follow. For more information, visit westminsterdc.org. city to tend to the thousands of Union casualties. He stayed on to serve as a federal clerk and formed strong friendships with several of the city’s leading figures, while also writing some of his most notable poetry based on his experiences in the city. The lecture is at the Naval Lodge Hall at 330 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. As always, admission is free but a reservation is required due to limited seating. Email OverbeckLecture@ CapitolHillHistory.org and indicate how many seats you will need. The Overbeck History Lectures are a project of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.

Wells Introduces Capitol Riverside Sports Park Plan for RFK

Councilmember Tommy Wells has introduced the Sense of the Council Capitol Riverside Youth Sports Park Resolution of 2013 to reclaim the parking lots at Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Memorial Stadium. This resolution, which was co-introduced by Councilmember David Grosso, would direct the District to explore the conversion of the parking lots at RFK Stadium to playing fields, a youth sports complex, and green space.

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2013 HILLOWEEN

202-547-5088 • www.jackiev.com

We Take Our Hats Off to Our Hilloween Contributors! National Capital Bank The Silver Spork Edward Kelleher, Booker & Otis Peaches and Spike Groovy DC The Market Lunch Eye Central - Dr. Reed, Dr. Fissel Just Around the Corner Kathryn McDonough Ginko Gardens Tracy and Company Tawann P. Jackson, DDS Aqua al 2 Clothes Encounters Capitol Hill Arts Workshop Yarmouth Management Congressional Title Chris and Marie Cox - Customers Bank Capitol Hill Auto Service Capitol Title City Bikes Tortilla Cafe Molly Malone’s Box Car Tavern Pacifico Cantina Lola’s The Hill Rag Station 4 Eugene and Shirley Rosenfeld Capitol Hill Friends & Neighbors Mike Holt The Hill Center

Richard Didden Memorial Service November 7, 2013 Reception - 2 p.m. Mass - 3:30 p.m. The Didden family will receive friends at St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill, 313 Second St. SE, at 2 p.m. on Thurs., Nov. 7. A funeral Mass will follow at 3:30 p.m. The family requests that donations in Richard A. Didden’s memory made to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation at www.capitolhillcommunityfoundation.org.

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In 2006 the National Capitol Planning Commission completed and approved planning studies that determined the site should be used for parks and recreational activities, and to serve as a gateway to the District from the east. Conversion of this space would not interfere with the possible re-use of the RFK Stadium site as a professional stadium in the future. At the suggestion of the D.C. Office of Planning, the design provides for passive grass parking for big events, similarly to event parking at Carter Barron Amphitheatre. The property where the parking lots are located is currently owned by the federal government. It is leased to the Government of the District of Columbia for uses restricted to parks and recreational activities. For more information about the potential conversion of the RFK Fields for the Capitol Riverside Parks, visit capitolriverside.org.

50th Anniversary of Kennedy Assassination Service at St. Marks Nov 24

Sunday, Nov 24, 10 a.m. St. Mark’s Church, 301 A St. SE, will mark the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination with a re-creation of the first church service attended by the new President Johnson and his family at St. Mark’s on the same date in 1963. Morning Prayer, 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Coffee hour and round-table discussion follows. stmarks.net

Rural Dog Rescue’s Monthly Canine & Cocktails

On the first Saturday of every month, 3:30-6:30 p.m., 15% of sales at Zest, 735 8th St. SE, go to the homeless dogs and cats at Rural Dog Rescue. Signature Cocktails are Mutt-tinis, Barkaritas and Cosmo-Paw-litans. Rural Dog Rescue is a nonprofit organization whose mis-

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sion is to save the lives of dogs in high-kill shelters in rural areas with euthanasia rates of 80% or higher. Most of these dogs’ lives depend on a dedicated network of volunteers and rescues to save them from a certain death. ruraldogrescue.com

New Southeast Library Hours

Southeast Neighborhood Library is now open Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thursday, 1-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The library is closed on holidays. Southeast Neighborhood Library is at 403 7th St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary.org/southeast

Thinking of Moving to One-Level Living? Seminar

This free seminar, presented by Capitol Hill Village, will provide you with information about housing options. The seminar will be presented by Angela Beckham, Investment Specialist at National Capital Bank along with Laurie Cody, Mortgage Specialist at NCB and Larissa Fain, managing broker at McWilliams Ballard and 22-year Hill Resident. They each have extensive experience in various realms of the real estate, dealing with customers who are making significant financial decisions and those selling their townhouses and locating other housing. They will offer several scenarios that demonstrate the range of housing possibilities available to you as an owner of a rowhouse, with a focus on the financial aspects of renting an apartment versus buying a condominium unit. The session will leave ample time for questions. Also, the Housing Committee of Capitol Hill Village will briefly discuss some of the new apartment and condominium projects being built in and around Capitol Hill. The seminar will take place on Friday, Nov 15, 10 a.m.-noon, at the community center of the Townhomes on Capitol Hill at the corner of I St. and 6th St. SE. While there is no charge for the seminar, please call Capitol Hill Village in advance at 543-1778 to register.

Barney Circle and Southeast Boulevard Transportation Planning Study Public Meeting

DDOT will host the second public meeting for the Barney Circle and Southeast Boulevard Transportation Planning Study on Thursday, Nov 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Payne Elementary School Auditorium, 1445 C St. SE, to seek community feedback on updated design concepts. The concepts illustrate ways to transform the Southeast 40 H hillrag.com

Freeway between 11th St. SE and Barney Circle into a boulevard that integrates with adjacent neighborhoods and provides new connections to the Anacostia River. Other study aspects include reconstructing Barney Circle to accommodate vehicle turning movements, improving pedestrian and bicyclist access to the river, and evaluating design options that consider multi-modal transportation uses. The Barney Circle and Southeast Boulevard Transportation Planning Study is one in a series of transportation, environmental, economic, community and recreation projects included in the larger Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI) Program. From the Tidal Basin to the city’s northeast border with Maryland, the 30-year, $10 billion AWI Program is transforming the shores of the Anacostia River into a world-class waterfront. For more information, to follow the progress of the study or to join the email distribution list for the project, visit anacostiawaterfront.org/ BarneyCircle or send an email to barneycircle@ prrbiz.com. To join the project or AWI community contact list or ask questions, email ddot.awi@ dc.gov or call 202-741-8528.

Rotary Club of Capitol Hill Celebrates 10th Anniversary on Capitol Hill

The Rotary Club of Capitol Hill celebrates its 10th Anniversary on Capitol Hill with a special Latin American dinner at the Banana Café, 500 8th St, SE on Thursday, Nov 19, 6 p.m. Rotarians, guests and neighbors are invited to join the club in its 10th Cena de Aniversario. The cost for this dinner is $25 for singles and $40 for couples. The members of Rotary Club of Capitol Hill, as volunteers, strive to build goodwill and peace, and provide humanitarian service in their communities and throughout the world. They have done a lot since 2003, and they promise to do even more in the coming years. The Rotary Club of Capitol Hill meets every Tuesday from 7:15-8:30 a.m. at Uno Chicago Grill at Union Stationm 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Visitors and guests are always welcome. For more information about the Rotary Club of Capitol Hill or Rotary International, visit CapitolHillRotary.org.

Karen Cunningham is CHGM’s New Executive Director

A graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Michigan, Karen has devoted her career to social justice in Washington, DC. She has provided direct services, including legal representation, to assist the poor with housing needs and dating and domestic violence prevention, and she has worked for advocacy organizations on these and other issues that are vital to

disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. As the Legal Director and Director of Pro Bono Services for The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, Karen worked directly with individuals, youth, and families facing homelessness and on public policy to address homelessness throughout the country. She was previously the Director of Legal Services and Director of the Teen Dating Violence Program at Women Empowered Against Violence, Inc. where she began her career as an Equal Justice Works Fellow. Karen has consulted and volunteered for numerous local nonprofit organizations, and has supported CHGM’s annual holiday drives. She will take on the role of Executive Director in mid-Nov and will be welcomed at CHGM’s Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, Nov 24, 4 p.m. at St. Monica and St. James Church, 222 8th St. NE.

December Potluck and Dialogue at William Penn House

You are invited to join them for their monthly Potluck and Dialogue on Dec 1. The Potluck starts at 6:30 p.m. with the program starting at 7:30 p.m. The December program will be presented by Dr. K. Renato Lings on “Lost Love in Translation: A Fresh Approach to Homosexuality and the Bible.” Program is at the William Penn House, 515 E. Capitol St. SE. 202 543-5560. williampennhouse.org

Patriotic Pet Parade in Southwest, Nov. 9

Paws of SW has partnered again with the SW Duck Pond group to put on a joint community event to mark Veteran’s Day (2 days early)! There will be a Patriotic Pet Parade, judged by local veterans, music, light refreshments, and an opportunity to meet your neighbors and thank our local veterans for their service. Saturday, November 9th at the SW Duck Pond (6th and I Street, SW ), from 12-2 p.m. Please come out and support this great community event! The pet parade is at 1pm around the duck pond, which will be decorated with flags.

E-Reader and Digital Download Clinics at Southeast Library

If you have questions about downloadable content on the DC Public Library website, on Wednesday, Nov 13, 2 p.m. and Thursday Nov 28, 7 p.m., stop by with your tablet, e-reader, or media player to receive instruction on downloading free e-books, audio books, magazines and music. Southeast Library, 403 7th St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary.org/southeast

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Frager’s Opens Hardware Store

The Frager’s Pad at Eastern Market is just one of many temporary sites that have been set up in recent months since the June 5th fire. The Paint Store at Frager’s Hardware is now open at 1129 Pennsylvania Ave. SE (on the same block as the original building). JustAsk Rental and the Glass and Screen Repair department are up and running

recognized for placing among the top 1% of sales associates with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia for 2012. Ryall Smith attended a gala event in Naples, Florida last month to honor the top regional associates from NRT, the largest residential brokerage in the US. The event included more than 100 Coldwell Banker sales associates from Florida, Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington, D.C.

Final Streetcar Construction Underway. Testing and Safety Certification Begins

DDOT has announced that it has approached the final stage of construction of the H Street/Benning Road Streetcar line-and that it anticipates testing of streetcars in the corridor will begin in Dec. Citizens can expect to see streetcars along H Street/Benning Road during this process, Cary stocks shelves at the new location of Frager’s Hardware at 1323 E St. SE. although passenger service will not begin until 2014. Currently, DDOT is performing final design and at 1323 E St. SE (across from Safeway). An exconstruction for streetcar turnarounds, Car Barn panded hardware store also is going in at 1323 E Training Center, installation of poles and overand will soon offer an extensive selection of items head wires, track installation for turnarounds/ from tools, electrical, garden, hardware, housewares, plumbing, and tools-as well as an additional pocket tracks and final work for turnarounds. key-cutting site. The hardware store is expected to DDOT has established a Construction Hotbe fully operational in early November. Stay tuned line 202-210-3700 to provide affected individufor new details. In coming weeks, the Frager’s Pad als with immediate assistance. The DC Streetcar will be stocked with holiday decorations, Christ- website (dcstreetcar.com) also has daily construcmas trees, garlands and festive holiday lighting. For tion updates and a block-by-block construction more information, contact Frager’s Community map for residents to track progress and get the Relations Manager Kristin Sampson at 202-409- latest updates. 9860 or check fragersdc.com.

Randall Neighbor Day 2013

This year, on Saturday, Nov. 30, as part of Randall Neighbor Day 2013, anyone who can prove he or she lives in zip codes 20024 or 20003 can visit, for free, the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Corcoran admission usually costs $10. On Saturdays, the museum opens from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St. NW. 202-639-1700. corcoran.org

Grant, Ryall & Andrew Group Among Top 1% of Coldwell Banker Residential Associates

The Grant, Ryall & Andrew Group has been

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Visitor Parking Pass Distribution Now in Progress

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has started to distribute the 2013/2014 Visitor Parking Pass (VPP). The new passes are being distributed via mail to households located in Wards 1, 3, 4, 5 and parts of Ward 6 (H Street and Ballpark District). Mailing will be completed by December. The new pass will be made available free of charge and only one pass will be provided per household. Households located outside of the 2013/2014 VPP participating area may visit their local police station or substation to request a temporary parking pass.

Lottery Offers Affordable Housing Purchase and Rental

Looking for an affordable housing option in DC? DC government now provides incentives to developers to set aside certain units for affordable purchase and rental housing through the Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) program. The IZ program allows low-to-moderate-income households to lease or buy these properties for below market prices through a centralized lottery run by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). You can register for the lottery at dhcd.dc.gov and find out more about how this program works by attending an Inclusionary Zoning Orientation. The next orientation will be held on Oct 16 at 6 p.m. at Housing Counseling Services, Inc., 2410 17th St. NW. Call 202-6677006 for more information.

New Phase on 1st St. NE Infrastructure Improvements

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) began the next phase of extensive infrastructure improvements and repairs on First St. NE between G St. and New York Ave. on Sept 30. These repairs and improvements should be completed by the end of Feb 2014, weather permitting. Construction hours in the area will be Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Saturday work may be required. During this project, one lane on First St. NE will remain open to southbound traffic and curbside parking will be halted along this corridor. However, access to adjacent businesses and residences in the area will be maintained. DDOT will be installing the following improvements in this corridor during this phase of the project: storm water installation and repairs, asphalt paving and pavement markings. For additional details, visit the project website at Reconstructionoffirststreetne.com or contact the Project Manager Abdullahi Mohamed at 202671-4614.

Memorial Service for Ron McBee, Nov. 11

Memorial Service for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Ron McBee is scheduled for Veteran’s Day, Monday, November 11, 2013 at 11 a.m. It will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church located at 400 I St. SW. A potluck repast will follow service downstairs. Please bring a dish to share. All are invited to submit signed, brief written tributes for inclusion in the printed program. Please email Co-Pastors Ruth or Brian Hamilton if you have questions about the service.

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Weekly Residential Street Sweeping Ended – Leaf Collection Begins Nov 4

Help Niko! Niko, a foster at Rural Dog Rescue, has a Cruciate Ligament tear, miniscal damage and a fractured tibia. The vet costs to return him to health are substantial. Rural Dog Rescue needs your help to help Niko recover. All donations are tax deductible.

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Bike Safe At Night This Winter 15% Off Any Light or Fender Purchase* Capitol Hill Bikes wants to make sure you are prepared to continue bicycling safely throughout the fall and winter months. As the days get shorter and the rain begins to fall, we want to make sure your bicycle is properly equipped with lights & fenders.

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Weekly residential mechanical street cleaning will end for the season Thursday, Oct 31. “No Parking/Street Cleaning” restrictions will be lifted and motorists may park on posted, alternate-side, daytime sweeping routes without moving their cars on street-cleaning days. Overnight sweeping along the District’s major roadways, e.g., Pennsylvania, Georgia, Constitution, and Independence Avenues, will continue all winter, as weather permits. Motorists should obey the street sweeping signs posted along these streets. Leaf collection runs from Nov 4-January 11, as well as the upcoming snow removal season. Loose leaves raked into the treeboxes or bagged leaves placed there will be collected and composted. During the last two weeks of leaf collection season (Dec 29-Jan 11), DPW will collect holiday trees and other greenery from residents whose trash is collected by DPW.

Cherry Blossom Festival Seeks Local Talent

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is accepting submissions for the first annual National Cherry Blossom Festivalâ Sing Into Spring Competition, a call for local talent that will highlight the region’s outstanding vocalists in the National Cherry Blossom Festival Paradeâ on Saturday, April 12, 2014. Up to four winning soloists and/or vocal artists will perform in the largest spectator event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The 2014 Parade is from 10 a.m. to noon and runs along Constitution Ave. NW. Submissions are now being accepted online at nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/get-involved/ per f or ming-ar ts/sing-intospring-vocal-compe Judges will select up to four winners to perform live in the Parade.

Changes: Ticket Fines and Boot/Impound Process

Starting Oct 1, some photo

enforcement, moving violation and parking fines will increase or decrease based on the FY14 Budget Support Act. The changes are as follows: Speeding 11-15 mph will increase from $92 to $100. Speeding 16-20 mph will increase from $100 to $150. Speeding 21-25 mph will increase from $150 to $200. Failure to come to complete stop before turning will decrease from $100 to $50. Street sweeping violation will be $45 Additionally, effective Oct 1, the Department of Motor Vehicles Immobilization Act of 2013 will require all outstanding ticket fines, penalties and fees to be paid before a boot is removed or a vehicle is released from impoundment. Previously, the vehicle owner was only responsible for paying the fines and fees associated with the tag number of the booted or impounded vehicle. Now if the owner owes fines and fees on vehicles with different tag numbers, these fines and fees must be paid to allow for the retrieval of the booted/impounded vehicle. DC DMV has more than 40 services available online and through the mail, enabling customers to “skip the in-person trip.”

DC DMV Moving to Central Issuance Process

Beginning Nov 26, 2013, the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles is moving to a central issuance process. DC DMV will no longer issue driver licenses and identification cards over the counter. Customers will receive a temporary paper license or identification card valid for 45 days, and the new driver license or identification card will be mailed to customers. The agency will not mail to PO Boxes. Details about the new process and new credentials are available in DC DMV’s brochure. It is available online as well as in DC DMV’s service centers. The agency will also mail the brochure to customers in their driver license and identification card renewal notices. H HillRag | November 2013 H 45

capitolstreets news In Memoriam

Richard A. Didden: Philanthropist and Banker A Modest, Mischievous Man by Andrew Lightman

“S

ome are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ‘em,” wrote William Shakespeare. Such a man was Richard A. Didden, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The National Capital Bank of Washington, and Capitol Hill philanthropist, who died suddenly from complications from hepatitis on Sunday, Oct. 27 at age 65.

An Idyllic Washington Childhood

Richard Didden was born on Oct. 21, 1948, in Washington, DC. He grew up in a gregarious family in a brick house at 42nd and Warren Streets in the District’s northwest quadrant. He was the fourth of five siblings. Richard was an unassuming and unpretentious child, always thoughtful about the needs of others. One morning when the whole family was sitting down to breakfast, his elder sister Dorothee Riederer recalled, their mother asked the children who had made all the beds. It seems eight-year-old Richard had made all of them. Riederer also recalled that once asked what he would like for his birthday meal, Richard famously retorted, “Just a tuna sandwich if it’s not too much trouble.” Richard attended St. John’s College High School in DC. He graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore, MD, in May of 1970. Along with all of his siblings, he went straight into the family business, The National Capital Bank of Washington (NCB). 46 H hillrag.com

The Family Business

NCB has been named twice by Weiss Ratings as among “30 Strongest Banks in America” It has also been recognized three times by U.S. Banker Magazine as one of the “Top 200 Community Banks.” The Didden family has managed NCB since its founding in 1889. Albert Carry, Richard’s great grandfather, was an original stockholder and longtime Vice President. Carry’s grandson, Richard’s father, George A. Didden, Jr., the Bank’s legal counsel, became President in 1943 at age 33. He was succeeded by his son, Richard’s older brother, George A. Didden III in 1995. Richard and his three brothers grew up in the family business starting as part-time tellers. After college, he joined NCB full time in the bookkeeping and proof department. In 1974, he became Assistant Cashier. He gravitated towards banking’s back office, handling settlements, the general ledger, Treasury operations, payroll and personnel. In 1990, he was promoted to Chief Administrative Officer responsible for all such operations. In the 1995, he assumed the mantle of the bank’s President with the passing of his father; George III became Chairman and CEO. After his brother George’s unexpected death in 2007, Didden somewhat reluctantly assumed leadership of NCB. “My father took over the bank at the onset of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, said R. Andrew Didden, Jr. “Assisted by an able staff and his family, he navigated a steady course.

Richard Didden delighted in leading the annual Halloween romp with his employees, seen last year dressed in Twenties finery. Photo: Andrew Lightman

While community banks all over the country failed, our institution became stronger, producing record earnings. In fact, 2012 was the most profitable year in the bank’s entire history.”

Continuing A Philanthropic Tradition

National Capital Bank is deeply woven into the fabric of Capitol Hill life. Under the leadership of George III, the bank provided significant support to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation. Richard continued that work, serving on the board of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF) for the past six years, and generously supporting its initiatives. Didden arranged for the bank to underwrite CHCF’s Shakespeare at School: The George A. Didden III Memorial Project for five years. The NCB also donated $200,000 to the Hill Center to underwrite the

renovation of the Lincoln Room. This was the largest single corporate donation towards the center’s creation. “Richard Didden was a gentle, generous, and caring man whose interest in our Capitol Hill community was deep. He was a valued member of the Board of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation,” said Foundation President Nicky Cymrot. “Richard maintained the amazing legacy of great civic leadership on behalf of the bank and his wonderful family,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. “It is a tragedy for the community as well as the Didden family, because Richard was a valued member of the community and generous philanthropist,” said former Ward 6 Councilmember Sharon C. Ambrose. Aside from continuing NCB’s commitment to CHCF, Didden also continued George III’s leadership role

in the neighborhood’s civic life by continuing NCB’s strong support of the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District, which had been co-founded by George III. “The BID family has lost a great friend with the passing of Richard Didden. The Didden family and the National Capital Bank has supported the BID from it’s inception and Richard continued that support. We will miss him,” said Paul L. Pascal, Esq, Chair of the Capitol Hill BID.

A Modest, Mischievous Man of Hidden Talents

While most knew Richard Didden as head of NCB, he was a man of widely, varied interests. He completed six marathons including the famous Marine Corps race. A lover of language, he labored over the daily crossword and wrote poetry.

Didden was an avid sports fan and booster of local teams. In 2011, he made a bet with friends that if the Nationals didn’t win 100 games, he would tattoo their logo on his arm, his daughter Melissa Didden Hennessy fondly recalled. “A patron of the Capitol Hill business community, he got his ‘curly W’ on Barracks Row,” Hennessy said. Rubbing the tattoo with Neosporin to aid its healing, he discovered that his palm was burning and peeling. “Turns out, Dad was allergic to the salve. For the next month, he walked around the bank with his injured hand in a white glove saying he was Michael Jackson.” Didden’s mischievous side was on display every Halloween. In what became an annual tradition under his leadership, he dressed up in an elaborate costume leading similarly adorned employees in a daylong romp to entertain the community’s children with his antics. “It’s tough to lose a brother and a lifelong colleague at the same time.” said brother James M. Didden. “Richard was much loved around the Bank and always avoided the air of authority and superiority that is so prevalent among executives. He was family to all of us including our employees and customers alike. That’s the way he would want to be remembered.” Didden is survived by a daughter, Melissa Didden Henessy of American University Park; a son, R. Andrew Didden, Jr. of Bethesda; two brothers, Donald A. Didden of Kent Island and James M. Didden of Potomac; a sister, Dorothee Riederer of Rockville; and three grandchildren. The Didden family will receive friends at St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill, 313 Second St. SE, at 2 p.m. on Thurs., Nov. 7. A funeral Mass will follow at 3:30 p.m. The family requests that donations in Richard A. Didden’s memory made to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation at www.capitolhillcommunityfoundation.org. H HillRag | November 2013 H 47

capitolstreets

Your Vote Doesn’t Count

n early November, aspirants for public office in D.C. will pick up nominating petitions from the D.C. Board of Elections, starting a process that will end with the April primary and November general election. Candidates will vie for mayor; D.C. Council chair; for an At-Large seat; for seats representing wards 1, 3, 5, and 6; for delegate to Congress and for two spots on the shadow delegation. One seat, though, won’t be up for grabs—D.C. attorney general. In early October the D.C. Council passed a bill delaying the first-ever election of

48 H hillrag.com

by Martin Austermuhle the city’s top law enforcement official by four years; if all goes as planned, D.C. residents will elect an attorney general, who is now appointed by the mayor, in 2018, instead of 2014 as was originally envisioned.

Referendum Reversed

The move wasn’t merely some technical tinkering, though, but rather a direct affront to the will of District residents. In 2010 some 90,000 voters—75 percent of all those casting ballots—chose to approve an amendment to the Home Rule Charter making the position elected

rather than appointed. Advocates of the change—and candidates for the office—readied themselves for the historic first election in 2014. Last July, though, that plan unraveled. Amidst debate over the authority and structure of the newly elected office, Councilmember (and now mayoral contender) Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) introduced legislation delaying the vote by four years. (He was joined by fellow mayoral candidate Muriel Bowser, while Tommy Wells voted against.) According to Evans, and enough of his colleagues, D.C. simply wasn’t ready to elect an attorney general. In October that bill passed, and was quickly signed by Mayor Vincent Gray. Don’t let anyone tell you that D.C. politics isn’t richly imbued with irony. In a city that regularly fights for its own voting representation in Congress, local elected officials put off the heavy lifting of helping determine what an elected attorney general’s office would look like and instead punted the election four years down the road. The city’s voters may have spoken, they reasoned, but we speak louder. We may trust D.C. residents with the right to vote, but we don’t have to trust them with the result those votes produce. Even the current attorney general, Irv Nathan, could see through his own concerns over the structure and the authority of the office his elected successor would fill, to recognize that while the Council was legally entitled to delay the election, it probably wouldn’t look very good. “The District’s voters by a substantial margin supported the Char-

ter amendment creating an elected Attorney General and did so with the justifiable expectation of voting for one in 2014 who would take office in January 2015 concurrent with the next Mayoral term,” he wrote in a letter to Evans and the Council. “In my view, their expectation should be respected and fulfilled.” Well, it’s looking like it won’t be. And it’s not the first time, either. In 1994, a majority of D.C. residents voted to limit Council members to two consecutive terms in office. In 2001, though, Evans and a majority of his colleagues decided that they didn’t want to have to abandon the perks of political power, so they simply passed a bill undoing the voters’ will. Had the results of the referendum been respected, well, many of our current Council members would be in another line of work. This isn’t to say that an elected attorney general or term limits are the best policy. They may not be. But that’s an issue to be decided during a campaign and at the ballot box. It’s simply sour grapes to lose an election and then work the legislative process to undo it. It’s true that the Council didn’t do away with an elected attorney general altogether, but given October’s vote, what’s to stop them? That’s not a healthy assumption to have in a city that has enshrined the right of residents to use initiative and referenda to decide on important policy issues. The matter isn’t totally settled yet, though. Shortly after the Council voted on the bill delaying the election, attorney (and former At-Large contender) Paul Zukerberg filed a

lawsuit trying to stop the Council from stopping the 2014 election. “If the Council can cancel the election for Attorney General, they can cancel the election for mayor, or their own election, and we will be left with nothing but tyranny,” said Zukerberg in a statement. His case will be heard on Nov. 7. Should Zukerberg prevail, D.C. will be in the uncomfortable position of having to rush an election it originally had three years to prepare for. Walter Smith, the executive director of D.C. Appleseed and one of the main proponents of the attorney general’s election, says it can be done. Given the potentially short time frame that would result with all the delays, he has proposed pushing the election to November 2014 and running it as a special election, meaning that any candidate from any party could run. Come 2018 the election would be run the way every other one is: with a primary and then a general election. Whichever way it pans out, the Council has royally screwed D.C. voters: either they won’t get an election they originally voted for, or they’ll get one that will have to be improvised at the last minute because of the Council’s unnecessary intervention.

Primary Posturing

The attorney general election isn’t the only place that the Council has been inserting itself. In recent months various Council members have attempted to change the date of the 2014 primary from April 1 to something later, likely in the second week of June.

According to proponents of the idea, an April primary forces candidates to gather signatures to get on the ballot in the dead of winter— and during the holidays, to boot— and allows for extra-long lame duck periods for incumbents who lose. But critics rightfully point out that while changing the date may eventually be a good idea, it’s much less so this close to the next primary. To them, any such move smacks of changing the rules of the game as the game is taking place. Is April too early for a primary? Yes. Should it be changed? Well, that’s complicated. The April date came about after D.C. was forced to abandon its traditional September primary due to a federal law strengthening protections for absentee voters. Lawmakers chose April because they wanted the local primary to coincide with the presidential primary; that way, they reasoned, turnout would be highest. Of course, presidential elections only happen every four years, leaving D.C. with an awkwardly early primary during off-year elections. Should the Council want to change it, they need to let the 2014 cycle run its course and quickly call a series of public hearings to debate the issue. Our legislators delay discussions on far too many important issues—see “Election, D.C. attorney general”—and this is an opportunity for them to jump ahead and let a possible change be widely discussed and intelligently implemented. Martin Austermuhle is a freelance writer living in Columbia Heights. H

HillRag | November 2013 H 49

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Obamacare in DC Working Well To Keep Us Well

he District is different from many other parts of the country in significant ways. We don’t have a voting member in the House or two senators. Our local laws have to be approved by Congress—a fact highlighted recently by the federal government shutdown. But another difference that has gotten little attention since October 1 is that DC’s health care exchange — www.dchealthlink.com — is working quite well. The success of DC Health Link is demonstrated by the fact that more than 12,000 residents and 400 small businesses have created online accounts and started shopping for affordable health plans in the first three weeks with relatively few problems. By contrast, the federal health insurance exchange has experienced a series of high profile “glitches” and temporary service delays, fueling criticism of all aspects of health reform efforts. However, the District-run DC Health Link has experienced relatively few technology setbacks since its roll out at the beginning of last month. For more than a year, the District worked diligently to create a competitive marketplace and robust IT system within DC Health Link, and a broad network of brokers and community organizations that can provide assistance to residents new to insurance. As a result, the city’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act provides a model for other states and the federal government.

DC’s Online Marketplace: Open for Business and Residents

Under Obamacare, DC had the option to create its own health exchange. DC Health Link came online on-time, and residents have been able to purchase health coverage that will start January 1, 2014. By clicking on www.dchealthlink.com, residents can compare plans based on services, size of doctor networks, and cost with relative ease. They 50 H hillrag.com

by Wes Rivers can also apply for subsidies that make health insurance more affordable or find organizations that are certified to provide assistance. Unlike the federal exchange, DC Health Link was also up and running for small businesses on October 1. Small business owners can choose to shop or find a broker to help them through the options. DC Health Link also lessens the administrative burden for small businesses – in a few steps, a business owner can register an account, set contribution levels for employees, select a plan, and make a first payment. Business owners also have the opportunity to offer their employees multiple plans through the portal and not face additional expenses or administrative red tape. There were a few glitches, but they have been relatively minor issues. The biggest kink is that shoppers cannot automatically learn if they qualify for credits and subsidies to help pay for a health plan. Officials at DC Health Link expect to resolve this by early November, and they emphasize that eligibility can still be determined with a short wait-time. Still, this does not delay coverage and has not deterred more than 300 people from completing the purchase of their plan. A second issue was that, initially, the system coded all individual applicants as tobacco users. This glitch was quickly fixed and did not affect the application process or the health plan prices and options available to shoppers. Like any start-up, there will be technological issues and hiccups. So far, DC Health Link officials have proven the ability to get their designers and IT contractors to address bugs and glitches in a timely manner. And although the main marketplace is online, exchange officials communicate daily with a network of community assisters to identify problems and stumbling blocks.

Better Quality, Lower Prices

DC Health Link has not only made plans ac-

cessible through a well-functioning system, it has improved the quality and affordability of what is offered in the market. A common critique of health reform is the inability to grandfather most existing health plans, i.e., “The President said I can keep my plan that I have had for several years, but now my insurer isn’t offering it.” While not everyone will be able to keep the plan that they had last year, the plans offered on DC Health Link will guarantee consumer protections and coverage of certain services that may not be available in many residents’ current plans. Most important, the benefits will be comprehensive and include preventive services and requirements on the number of doctors available in a plan’s network. The District has also taken steps to create better access to mental health services. As we better understand the linkages between untreated mental health issues and violence, the District has created standards for health plans that allow residents to seek mental health and substance abuse services without day or visitation limits. The District is the only known state to cover mental health services so comprehensively. Then there’s the cherry on top: these higher quality benefits also come with more competitive prices. DC Health Link’s transparency and choice have added a level of competition among health plans that has not existed before. Residents can make real apples-to-apples comparisons when plans are side-by-side. Already, three insurers have dropped prices since submitting plans in the summer, evidence that competition is putting downward pressure on premiums.

DC Health Link’s Helpers

DC Health Link offers residents choices they have never had before – but greater choice can bring confusion about the differences between plans and the optimal plan for a particular person or business. So DC Health Link has cre-

ated a network of 150 assisters placed at 32 community organizations who are doing exactly thatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;assisting with those sometimes difficult choices â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as well as helping consumers determine if they are eligible for Medicaid or for subsidies that help with out-of-pocket costs. For small businesses, DC Health Link tapped the experience and knowledge of the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s broker community, forming partnerships with broker associations and incorporating their services into the site. DC Health Link also partnered with DC Chamber of Commerce and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to perform outreach to hard-toreach employers and minorityowned businesses. The cornerstone principle of the Affordable Health Car Act is ensuring that all Americans have access to health care. The District makes this principle a reality by creating a reliable, sophisticated online marketplace, promoting competition and quality among health plans, and providing assistance to all who need it. DC has been a leader in making health care accessible to residents, and DC Health Link continues to make DC a model for states around the country in this area. Wes Rivers is a policy analyst at DC Fiscal Policy Institute. H

HillRag | November 2013 H 51

capitolstreets news

Charles Allen

Candidate for the Ward 6 Seat on the City Council

by Annette Nielsen

harles Allen was until recently always responsive and knew exactly School. Marks first met Allen when chief of staff for Council- what buttons to push,” said Sharon she was part of a group working to member Tommy Wells. On Ambrose, former Ward 6 Council- install a teaching kitchen at Watkins. October 15, he announced his can- member, describing his work as Wells’ “Charles helped us figure out didacy for the Ward 6 Council seat chief of staff. “Charles knows DC how to bring in community money, on October 15. Wells is running for government. He knows how to make how to engage DCPS on the project mayor. The announcement week kick- it work better. He knows Ward 6 and and work with parents, and was key off included “Living Room Launch” understands that education is the in helping us advocate and get all meetings with groups in Ward 6 greatest challenge facing young Ward parties to work together – he was a neighborhoods from Southwest, 6 families,” she added. really good resource and ally for all of Shaw, Mt. Vernon Square, north of H NE, Capitol Hill to Hill East. Prior to his six years as Well’s chief of staff, Allen worked on campaigns and at the Department of Health and Human Services, focused on expanding communitybased health options. “After working hard in this community and recognizing our young family is at home here, it feels like the right time to consider a run of my own,” said Allen, who resides on the northeast side of Capitol Hill with his wife, Jordi Hutchinson, and young daughter, Cora. Allen, who has facilitated a number of neighborhood initiatives from his position on Well’s staff, looks forward to being able to continue working on upcoming projects, building on the relation- Charles Allen, his wife Jodi Hutchinson and daughter Cora ships he made there. His platform includes plans to improve education, Creating Destination us,” Marks said. strengthen local businesses and en- Middle Schools She points out that there are a sure Ward 6 is a place everyone can growing number of families whose chilWhile Ward 6 has had an elcall home. dren wish to transition from the ward’s ementary school renaissance, Allen “Charles is no stranger to poli- is keen to bring the same urgency thriving public elementary schools to tics. He was mentioned as a possible to improving the ward’s three quality public middle schools. “Charles has been really thoughtcandidate by Duncan Spencer when I middle schools. ful and engaged on how the District first ran for the council,” stated Wells. Laura Marks is a Capitol Hill “He will make an excellent council- parent of two elementary school can work with families who want to member for Ward 6.” children, one enrolled at Watkins El- make this happen. He’s someone who “Allen was just invaluable. He was ementary and one at School-Within- knows how to identify the right peo52 H hillrag.com

ple to bring together to solve problems, whether it’s putting in a stop sign at a dangerous intersection or improving communications between the neighborhood and the National Park Service. He’s so helpful in following up and making sure that everyone does what they say they’ll do,” Marks said.

Helping Ward 6 Businesses Thrive

“We want to make certain we’re able to remove hurdles that often block entrepreneurs’ efforts to start businesses, create more jobs and ultimately build better neighborhoods,” stated Allen, who, as councilmember, plans to focus on the needs of local businesses and business leaders to deliver on a vision for neighborhood-based development and small business growth. “We want to ensure all residents have shops and businesses close to home.” Allen has also worked collaboratively on small business reforms with CHAMPS (the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce). In particular, he has worked with businesses to lengthen the time between license renewals, and has worked with DDOT to create a new daytime contractor parking pass that helps small businesses avoid costly tickets. Shaaren Pine and her husband Scott Magnuson owners of the Argonaut, a restaurant on thriving H Street NE says that Allen has helped them and other neighborhood businesses. “He has connected us to the people or services we needed to help us with our business. When we wanted

bike racks to continue to attract local biking neighbors, he knew right away who to put us in touch with. When we experienced a small uptick in crime on our intersection that affected our customers, he put us in contact with police officers serving our block. When we’re having problems finding our way through DCRA, public space, the electric company, he’s always happy to help, and more importantly, he always follows up to make sure our problems have ben attended to.”

Working With The Community

Thelma Jones, a World Bank retiree and Southwest resident since 1976, has known Allen for a number of years. “I met him for the first time when he was already working as Chief of Staff for Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. He seemed like he was already part of the fabric of the community.” “Allen is a people person, very approachable – and he’s very hard working. He works early and late, and is very clear in communications, letting you know what your expectations should be on any issue,” she stated. Allen, Jones said, has been instrumental in addressing the proposed threat to remove the 74 bus line, and working on projects like the Duck Pond, PAWS, the Southwest Community Garden, and Lansburgh Park. “Charles works with all stakeholders, cultivating relationships with members of the community, city agencies, the police department, communicating well with everyone, never letting his ego get in the way,” Jones said. Ward 6 Council race already includes Darrel Thompson, a former staffer for US Senator Harry Reid. Other candidates may yet emerge. The Democratic primary is scheduled for April 1. The general election follows on Nov. 4. H

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DPW to Residents: Tend Your Tree Boxes

rances Campbell was surprised when his uncle, Frederick Campbell, received a Notice of Violation (NOV ), or ticket, from the Department of Public Works (DPW ) in June. The charge: failing to maintain a tree box located on the corner of 15th Street and Constitution Avenue. “It was mostly overgrowth – a few weeds, grass, and trash,” Campbell explained. “My uncle was bent out of shape about it, since it was public space.” While the uncle paid a reduced fine after giving an explanation to the Office of Administration Hearings (OAH), he still had one question to ask, “Why the hell am I responsible?”

Tree Box Citations

Frederick Campbell is not alone; many residents are receiving tickets from DPW fining them for not maintaining their tree boxes. Tim Burr, the information manager for rental company Yarmouth Management, said that he knows of only a few Yarmouth’s clients who have received tickets from DPW. “Usually, they’re citations for trash or yard issues, but they happen infrequently,” he said. However, that number seems to have increased over the summer. “These citations usually come without warning,” Burr explained. “A $75 ticket isn’t much, but it is annoying.”

DPW’s Response

When asked about the tree box citations, Linda Grant, DPW’s public information officer, responds that the agency is just doing its job. In terms of leaving a warning beforehand, she notes, “It’s just like getting a parking ticket. You don’t get a warning before you receive one.” Inspectors and investigators from DPW’s Solid Waste Education and Enforcement Program (SWEEP) are responsible for issuing tickets if they see a sanitation violation or an investigation into a complaint yields one. While a SWEEP inspector is not legally obligated to give a warning ticket, he or she can do so at their discretion. As for the increase in tickets, Grant stated that more DC residents want to see a cleaner city and calling for DPW to investigate. “A cleaner city is 54 H hillrag.com

by Charnice A. Milton in everyone’s best interest,” Grant explained. Not only does it help keep neighborhoods more attractive, but it limits hiding places for rats and vermin.

A Look at the Law

As defined by the Tree Space Beautification Regulation Act of 1989, a tree box (or space) is “... the unpaved area of public space that lies between the street curb and the sidewalk, which is commonly This summer, many residents have received DPW Notices of Violation for overreserved by the District grown tree boxes, like the ones pictured here. Photo: Charnice A. Milton government for planting trees.” Title 21, Chapter 7 least 14 days to respond one of three ways. First, one of the DC Municipal Regulations (DCMR) fur- can admit to the charges, claiming responsibility and ther defines a tree box as “...the public space from paying the fine. Second, one can admit with explathe property line...and extending eighteen inches nation, meaning that the recipient has an excuse that from the curb line...into the abutting roadway.” As could convince an administrative judge to reduce or for tree box maintenance, the DCMR states “... waive the fine. This could lead to a “trial by mail,” each owner, tenant, or lessee (or the agent of that in which both the recipient and DPW submit their person) who has control of or occupies any build- testimonies in writing to the judge, who will then ing, lot or land within the District...” has a legal hand down a Final Order. The Final Order includes responsibility to do so. the judge’s decision, the reasoning behind it, and inIf someone violates those sanitation regulations, structions for contesting it, if needed. “Designated officials within the District agencies... Choosing to deny the charges could lead to a may issue the civil Notice of Violation...” The Lit- hearing in front of an administrative judge. Later, ter Control Administration Act of 1985 names the OAH sends a Scheduling Order detailing the hearDPW Director as one of those designated officials. ing’s date and time as well as other information. Fines for residential violations usually range from Since a representative from DPW, usually a SWEEP $75 and eight service hours for the first offense inspector, will be expected to present its case at the within a 60-day period, to $1000 and 100 hours for hearing, OAH suggests gathering evidence and witthe fourth. The fines for commercial violations are nesses to help strengthen the case. This process also steeper, ranging from $150 and 16 service hours for ends with the judge handing a Final Order. the first offense and $2000 and 200 hours for the fourth. If a recipient fails to respond to the citation, he or she could pay up to double the amount of the A Need for Change? With many residents receiving tree maintefine, or triple if DPW cleans up the violation. nance citations, should it be standard procedure for SWEEP inspectors to give a warning before Responding to an NOV issuing a ticket? Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy After receiving an NOV, the recipient has at Wells, a member of the DC Council’s Commit-

tee on Transportation and the Environment, alluded to this in an August letter to DPW Director, William Howland. “Our office has received numerous complaints from constituents receiving firsttime tickets without a prior warning notice,” he wrote. “The disbursement of educational materials throughout the neighborhood along with warning notices for violations would at least ensure residents are aware of the regulations and gave them an opportunity to abate the issue before being fined by the city.” According to the DPW website, SWEEP “...provides a variety of educational services including fliers and pamphlets; presentations at various meetings; one-on-one meetings with constituents; warning tickets.” However, Councilmember Wells wrote that the program “...appears to have eliminated the education portion in favor of the enforcement and this is causing a hardship on many of our residents.” He also showed concern that some residents were being targeted unfairly with little or no chance for a dismissal or reduction in fines for a first offense. Ward 2 Councilmember Mary Cheh, who chairs the Committee on Transportation and Environment, did not comment.

Communication is Key

So, the answer seems simple: to avoid receiving a ticket, keep the tree box adjacent to one’s property free of trash and weeds. However, not everyone, especially new residents, know about the law until they receive a ticket. Since SWEEP is not keeping residents informed, if you see an unkempt treebox in your neighborhood make sure your neighbor knows the law. For more information about SWEEP, contact DPW at 202-737-4404 or dpw@dc.gov. H

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Options Charter School Copes with Questionable Future

n early October, it was reported that three former administrators of Options Public Charter School, located at 1375 E St., NE, had allegedly participated in financial malfeasance and self-dealing—securing large bonuses for themselves, and placing over-priced contracts for school services through two for-profit companies which they owned. In response, the Public Charter School Board

by Maggy Baccinelli decision on Options’ future would be made at or before its December meeting, adding that the school will remain open until the end of the 2013-2014 school year.

The School

Options serves approximately 400 of the District’s middle and high school youth. Many of its students have learning, emotional and behav-

Student Taylor Harrison and Chef Tate at Options’ Octoberfest event, created as a community engagement initiative. Tate was an intern at Chef Tate’s Inspire BBQ restaurant.

placed the school under the receivership of Josh Kern, a respected administrator in the charter school system. At its Oct. 16 meeting, the Public Charter School Board acquiesced to the request of Kern, and delayed a vote on whether to close the school. At the same meeting, ANC6A Chairman David Holmes presented the Commission’s recommendation that Options be kept open, but be moved to a “larger and more easily controlled site.” The Board announced that a 56 H hillrag.com

ioral disabilities. The school has a oneto-four adult-to-student ratio. Each classroom is staffed with two teachers, one of whom possesses special education credentials. The school’s clinical team offers therapeutic services to help students through issues that range from homelessness and living in foster homes to juvenile criminal histories and socialization problems. This year, 15.8 percent of Options students tested proficient in reading, and 20 percent tested proficient in

math. The District average was 49.5 percent and 53 percent, respectively. Due to its students’ unique challenges, Options is not subject to penalty under the traditional DC Comprehensive Assessment System Framework. With not all students collegebound, Options offers an entrepreneurship program and vocational track. The school teams with local businesses to give students a breadth of exposure. Inspire BBQ’s Chef Tate hosts an internship program with Options’ culinary students at his H Street NE restaurant. Tate, who both owns a home in the Options neighborhood and attended school in the Options building when it was home to Kingsman Elementary, lauds the school as an important thread in the community fabric. “A lot of kids have parents who aren’t happy about going to work every day, but Options gives kids the hope and skills they need to succeed in the future,” says Tate. “And that’s very important, because hope alone doesn’t lead to employment.” Options senior culinary student Taylor Harrison, one of Chef Tate’s former interns who now works at Noodles & Co. in Georgetown, hopes the school does not close. Harrison has been at Options since seventh grade. “People on the outside think Options is a ghetto school for slow people, but it’s really not,” Harrison said. “They need to come in and see the students here; we are active and learning. We have so many programs: culinary arts, step, drum-line and sports. It’s a really good school,” she stated. Options teachers and administration said they planned to forge ahead with business as usual during Kern’s receivership.

“We think that to an objective third party, our program will speak for itself,” said Director of Curriculum and Instruction Gail Jenkins. “Right now we’re just focusing on supporting the kids, who are worried about losing their school,” she added.

Options Parent Concerns

Parents of children at Options are concerned about getting their kids’ needs met elsewhere. “My kids are more involved at Options than they have been at any other school, and they’re on the honor roll for the first time,” stated Gerald Hodge, father of three Options students. “If the school shuts down and they go somewhere else, I worry that they might lose interest and start getting into things they shouldn’t,” Hodge added.

Community Opposition

Not everyone, however, thinks Options’ should have a place in the Capitol Hill community. Trish Manzke, a Tennessee Ave. NE resident, is one of six community members who drafted a petition to PCSB Chairman John McCoy, questioning the school’s continued existence. Offering a long litany of complaints, it charges that the Options administration approach to student behaviors “ranging from bullying to outright threats; public drug use to theft; race baiting and even attempted assault” has been inadequate. It calls the findings of the recent investigation of the schools former leaders disturbing, “but unfortunately not surprising in light of our past interactions with Options administrators.” Manzke is the community liaison of the Options Community Task Force created last year to address

community safety. Last March, Options students followed Manzke’s twelve-year old son home and threw rocks at him. Subsequently they chased him to Lincoln Park while he was riding his bike. While the petition does not call for it, Manzke stated that she would like to see the school’s charter revoked. Elizabeth Nelson, who has lived five blocks from Options since it opened in 1993, also faults the administration. Nelson said she does not necessarily think Options needs to be closed or moved, but that the administration members who have been with the school for many years need to be replaced. “We have had consistent problems with the school managing its student population, which is not just upsetting to the neighbors, but also shows that the kids can’t be getting the services they need,” Nelson said. “The school needs to be properly run, and in my heart of hearts, I don’t think the same reactive people who we’ve had problems with for many years will do better,” she continued. But Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Assistant Chief Diane Groomes stated that this year, MPD has no evidence of the student behavior listed in the petition. To the contrary, Groomes said Options administration has remedied situations, honored many of the requests from the community, and is offering community engagement. “The school has dramatically improved its security practices by implementing police-recommended measures such as extra patrolling, busing truant students to the Metro Stations and installing metal detectors,” Groomes said. “Options may not have come in as a good neighbor, but the community can’t condemn the school forever,” Groomes added. Manzke insists that the recent quiet is strictly because of the community’s constant and diligent pressure on the school. “They don’t act unless they are under pressure,” she said. ANC6A06 Commissioner Andrew Hysell, whose Single Member District includes Options, said he has received serious complaints about the school since he joined the ANC three years ago, and that he

would like to see the school moved to a more suitable campus. “The Options building was built for elementary school students, and I think the charter needs a facility that can better accommodate middle and high school youth with special needs,” he said. Hysell added that he supports the petition, but thinks it should be rewritten so that the community’s request of PSCB is more straightforward. “It’s time for the community to decide what they want, and to make a clear request,” he added.

Moving Forward

Ward Six Councilmember Tommy Wells also called for community engagement, arranging a community meeting at the school on Oct. 28. “It will be critical to have input from the neighbors of the two school buildings going forward,” he stated. Wells does not support closing Options. “While the corruption and selfdealing alleged at Options PCS is an outrage that has rightfully angered many of us, this is no time to turn our backs and close the school that for many of these students is an important source of stability,” Wells said. “I am willing to give the Court-appointed receiver and the Public Charter School Board the opportunity to find a qualified responsible organization to run the school,” he added. Dana Wyckoff, a neighbor to Options and president of the Friends of the Rosedale Library organization, has noticed the school’s recent efforts toward engagement. She tries to take advantage of those opportunities, and encourages more hostile community members to do the same. She believes it is important to show support for Options during this time of turmoil. “I went to the cooking demonstration open house at Options in the spring, and I really began to feel like there is a crowd mentality that assumes nothing is good coming out of Options, “ Wyckoff said. “What happened recently is bad, and Options needs support; the problem should be corrected and oversight increased, but don’t use it as an excuse to advocate for shutting the school down,” she stated. H

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capitolstreets news

Our Urban Tree Boxes Finding the Right Green Solution

by Rindy O’Brien

but pass through it during a rain event.” It is oni Mitchell’s ballad, “Big Yellow made in a process that combines recycled tire Taxi,” about paving paradise has been and granite chips with an elastomeric bindthe anthem for the environmental ing agent to end up with a highly porous, community since 1970. But the chorus, insulating, flexible paving material. It sounds “Don’t it always seem to go, you don’t know like something dreamed up by a Star Wars what you’ve got till it’s gone,” seems to fit team. the current debate swirling around the efDr. Jessica Sander, Director of Technifort to use new materials to replace soil in cal Services and Research, for Casey Trees, our public tree box spaces. says that the city has been using flexi-pave The sidewalk in front of Woven Histothroughout the city for sidewalks and new ry and Fairy Godmother on Seventh Street playgrounds and she thinks it may be a really near Eastern Market is well traveled by resgood material for the urban environment. idents and the many hundreds of weekend “We have found, so far, it doesn’t harm the visitors. The tall mature trees give the street trees at all,” Jessica said, “and the city has had character and provide shade on those really good success in switching out the old tree hot summer days. Yet, the tree roots have soil boxes with the new materials.” pushed the sidewalk up in a crazy pattern “The city is under new DC water regulathat has tripped up many a walker over the tions that really don’t give them any choice years. but to find new ways to address storm-water Thus city planners have been searching runoff,” she said. The new regulations started for a solution that would keep the sidewalk this summer, and are part of an order to meet even and safe while finding a way for the the federal requirements set by the Environtree roots to spread out. mental Protection Agency in accordance They were quite optimistic a few years with the Clean Water Act. ago when they installed the current porous Forty-three percent of DC’s land area is paver panels which they thought would impervious, meaning that when it rains, the help keep the trees growing, while making The installed Flexi-pave on 7th Street, SE. The new material is made from rain isn’t absorbed into the ground, but raththe sidewalk a little less bumpy. The current recycled tires, granite pieces, and other materials. It takes about 24 hours for it er it rolls off the surface and has to go somepavers were chosen because they expand to set. Photo: Rindy O’Brien where. For DC that rain goes into our storm to let the tree roots have space and let wawater drains and into the local rivers. Part of ter seep through, leading to fewer cracked tion from digging up the tree boxes for now. The the Mayor’s Vision for Sustainable DC released sidewalks. Sadly, the pavers didn’t perform up to flexi-pave was poured onto the sidewalk and the April 2012 aims for DC’s waterways to be swimexpectations, and the sidewalk became even more situation with the tree boxes will be reevaluated mable and fishable in the future. To get there, 75% difficult for pedestrians to navigate. in six months. It was never the city’s intention to of DC lands must filter or capture rain by 2032. On October 11, 2013, the city sent its contracremove the trees, as early reports on the situation Flexi-pave is one way that will allow rain be tor, Capitol Flexi-pave, out to begin work on tearsuggested. But the project as proposed would reabsorbed below the surface where the trees are able ing out the tree boxes and leveling the sidewalk usmove the soil and extra plantings around the trees. to use it. According to staff at EPA, a number of ing a new porous material called flexi-pave to once products are starting to be used around the counagain try and level the sidewalk. try with great results in allowing plant materials to Upon learning that the work involved tearing What is Flexi-pave? Capitol Flexi-Pave says that flexi-pave is an in- grow, and letting storm water infiltrate beneath the out the tree boxes, members of the Market Row Association, an association of merchants and own- novative construction paving material that is “dy- surface, reducing storm water runoff. The US Green ers bordering on Historic Eastern Market, imme- namic in its physical nature, so it flexes during ther- Building Council has endorsed the use of materidiately expressed their concerns. An agreement was mal expansion and use, is immune to freeze and als like flexi-pave and has a number of projects in reached to stop DC’s Department of Transporta- thaw, and sediments do not clog the internal pores, Massachusetts and Florida that have received gold 58 H hillrag.com

Capitol Flexi-pave workers putting down the new sidewalk on 7th Street, SE, near Eastern Market. Photo: Rindy O’Brien

ratings for their use of flexi-pave. The National Zoo used the materials in 2012 at their elephant area after conducting very thorough research on such products and best practices. This spring, tree box projects were completed in Georgetown, and to date the reports on trees and sidewalk have been very positive.

Will it Work?

There is ample research that shows it is an excellent choice if you are choosing to pave a parking lot or put in new sidewalks that don’t have well-established trees and boxes. There isa good track record indicating that new trees which are planted with flexi-pave and receive the special nutrient treatment do well. But it is harder to find research about the ability of mature trees to adapt to this new “soil.” Dr. Sanders of Casey Trees feels that the trees will do okay as long as trained arborists are part of the team working with the construction workers when laying the new materials. Another tree expert suggested that, given the awful clay soil most of the DC trees have to survive in and the lack of care that most of the city tree boxes get, this new approach couldn’t be any worse. One thing that does get lost in moving to a total flexi-pave sidewalk is the ability to plant flowers and other greenery around the base of the tree. One compliant about the new look is that it looks unnatural to see a tree just sprouting out of pavement. Certainly, tree plantings make our sidewalks much more beautiful and allow us to have a seasonal touch to the street. Planting in the tree boxes can be okay if done sparingly, but when too many plants share the box, the trees can lose the competition for

water and nutrients.

Six-Month Review

Switching from the tree boxes we have today to city trees that become part of the seamless sidewalk is an effort underway across Washington, DC, and is part of the Sustainable DC vision that Mayor Gray unveiled a year ago. The motive behind the project is a good one. But, the questions remains whether there has been enough experience with the porous materials to know whether it supports the health of DC’s beautiful trees. It is good to know that the experts at Casey Trees think it will work. But prudence may dictate proceeding with some caution to see how the pilot projects in Georgetown and other parts of the city go. There may be a window of opportunity to do so given that the Hine redevelopment project will soon disrupt our streets anyway. If you are interested in expressing your thoughts about this new effort or want to be placed on an advisory list, you should contact DC Department of Environment, Natural Resources Administration or DC Urban Forestry Division under the DC Department of Transportation. Both departments can be reached through www.dc.gov. The local Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC) may also take a specific look at this new trend in upcoming meetings, so you should check their agendas in the days ahead. Rindy O’Brien has written for many years on Hill gardening and urban landscaping issues for the Hill Rag. She continues to monitor issues relating to her environmental interest. She serves on a board of directors in Missouri that operates a sustainable working forest. For comments contact rindyobrien@gmail.com H

HillRag | November 2013 H 59

capitolstreets ANC reports

NEWS ANC 6A

by Maggy Baccinelli

Commander Addresses Increased Crime in PSA

Fifth District Commander Andrew Solberg attended the ANC6A October meeting to address a “fairly dramatic increase in crime” in the Police Service Area (PSA). Solberg said his team identified Edgewood and Trinidad as two hot spots in the Fifth District, but that by combining PSA resources to concentrate on these areas over the summer, crime increased in other areas. As a result, Solberg’s team members have shifted their focus to Benning Road, NE and are implementing a number of new measures to address violent crime there, specifically robberies, assaults and shootings.

Words Matter

The wording of the 6A Community Outreach Committee’s recommendation to move future COC meetings to a new location was disputed towards the end of Thursday’s ANC meeting, a discussion which extended the meeting past its agreed upon ending time of 8:45 p.m. Committee Chair Elizabeth Nelson presented the recommendation to move meetings to a new location “such as the Sherwood Recreation Center or Rosedale Recreation Center/Library.” Commissioner Sondra Phillips-Gilbert said that at the COC meeting where the original recommendation vote took place, “such as” was not included in the motion. Nelson disagreed, adding that committee members had approved the COC meeting minutes, in which “such as” was written as part of the motion. 60 H hillrag.com

Nelson reported already booking the new location at Maury Elementary School, because the facility met all of the requirements listed in the original motion. She added that Maury was more convenient for her as Chair because she does not drive. But PhillipsGilbert said that holding meetings at Maury limited COC accessibility to a homogenous group of 6A constituents, and excluded the culturally and economically diverse residents who live in her Single Member District (6A07). Commissioner Calvin Ward offered to personally take Nelson to the meetings if they were moved to a location that was difficult for her to access. Chairman Holmes reined in the discussion and called for a vote on the motion as it stood, with “such as” included in the wording. It passed in a 5-0 vote.

6A to Support a New Location for Options Public Charter School

Chairman Holmes presented a motion under “New Business,” for the Commission to express support for the transfer of Options Public Charter School to a new operator, adding that they do not wish for the school to be closed, but rather that the new operator seek out a larger, more suitable school facility. The vote passed in a 3-1-1 vote, which gives Holmes the authority to present this view on behalf of the ANC at the Public Charter School Board meeting on October 16, where the PCSB will present its own recommendation to close Options.

ABL Committee in Licensing Renewal Season

After hearing complaints from community members, the ANC sup-

ported the Alcohol Beverage Licensing recommendation to protest the renewal of Twelve (XII) Restaurant and Lounge’s (11231125 H Street NE) CT license, because of the business’s ongoing unwillingness to cooperate with its signed Settlement Agreement. The committee voted to formally protest the CR license of Ben’s Chili Bowl/Ben’s Upstairs (1001 H Street NE), unless a signed Settlement Agreement is submitted to the ANC prior to the protest date. This is standard procedure, explained Holmes, who added that he expects Ben’s to sign the Settlement. The ANC took no action regarding the CT license renewals of The Queen Vic (1206 H Street NE) and Atlas Arcade/Church and State (1236 H Street NE), explaining that the businesses were cooperating with all Settlement Agreement specifications.

Other Motions •

•

Voting against the EDZ Committee’s recommendation, commissioners did not support the Toddlers on the Hill (800 11th Street NE) variance request from the requirement of two off-street parking spaces. The vote was 2-2-1. Commissioners voted (4-0-1) to write a letter to the Zoning Administration advising of what appears to be a zoning violation at 1316 Corbin Place, NE. The ANC voted (4-0-1) to oppose the application of AT&T to install cellular phone antennae, a genera-

•

tor, and a screen atop the church at 1301 North Carolina Ave., NE., in concurrence with the position of the State Historic Preservation Office that the proposed antennae would have an adverse impact on the Capital Hill Historic District. Commissioners voted (4-0-1) to write a letter to Terry Bellamy, indicating support for quiet work on the DC Street Car during the night hours, as proposed by the DDOT team, provided workers take all measures to mitigate noise and pollution, and address neighborhood concerns. Commissioners voted to send a letter of support for the petition of residents on Wylie Street NE to extend hours and days for residential permit parking enforcement. Commissioners voted to send a letter of thanks to Options for removing the fence that was a point of contention at last month’s meeting, and advising the school to include the ANC in advance of future projects; and to send a second letter of thanks to DPR for their assistance in helping get the fence removed, and also noting the ANC’s opposition to restriction of the public basketball court. H

ANC 6B by Jonathan Neeley

ll ten ANC 6B commissioners were present at the October 8th commission meeting, which was called to order with a moment of silence for victims of the September 16th Navy Yard shooting. The consent agenda, which included the approval of new Alcoholic Beverage Control licenses for Sushi Capitol and Sona Creamery and Wine Bar, was approved quickly. After reviews of patio hours and allowable times for dumping glass recyclables, the commission also approved ABC license renewals for Wisdom, the Tune Inn, and Li’l Pub. Matchbox and Beuchert’s, who have current licenses, each had their settlement agreements modified.

Marine Barracks

The US Marine Corps is conducting an environmental impact study of potential sites for building a new Bachelor Enlisted Quarters— also known as the Marine Barracks. Included are the space bordered by 8th Street SE on the west, Virginia Avenue SE on the north, 9th Street SE on the east and Potomac Avenue SE on the south, as well as the space bordered by 10th Street SE on the west, L Street SE to the north, 11th Street SE to the east and M Street SE on the south. The current Marine Corps BEQ is between 8th and 9th Streets, in between freeway and I Street. Citing ongoing private development of the lower 8th Street area as well as lost tax revenue should the properties be made public, the commission voted 6-3-1 (Pate, Loveland, Peisch opposed; Opkins abstaining) to send a letter urging Marine Barracks Project Manager William Sadlon to build on two other potential sites. “Given what they want to build, it would make more sense for that to be in the Navy Yard,” said commission chair Brian Flahaven. “It’s already secure and [those properties] are already in public use.” He also said that given the Navy Yard’s proximity to 6B, a greater Marine pres-

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HillRag | November 2013 H 61

ence was not a valid reason to approve construction. Michael Stevens, president of the Capitol Riverfront Business Improvement District, was at the meeting to weigh in on the development effort. “This will cut the neighborhood in half,” he said. Though the Marines are not yet close to construction, Flahaven said that the letter should be sent as soon as possible because the Marines have not given the public the time it needs to discuss the matter. “They only had one public meeting, and it wasn’t even a presentation,” he said. “[The Marines] should spend more time talking with the public about this.”

Zoning Regulations Review

In March, the Office of Planning introduced a proposal for the city’s first zoning regulations review in decades. A revision was distributed after a round of public comments that included input from ANC 6B. The commission voted on a number of the revision’s provisions, agreeing unanimously to support special exceptions for construction on narrow alley lots, to allow residential areas to be used commercially under certain conditions, and to give the Board of Zoning Adjustment authority to grant waivers for corner stores within 500 feet of one another. The commission also made a few new recommendations, including that upper floor living units be permitted above corner stores and that there be a fast food limit in the 8th Street Overlay area. The only vote that was not unanimous was on a motion to support the Office of Planning’s original proposal to eliminate parking minimums—a required number of parking spots for buildings—in residential areas and socalled “transit zones,” which the Office had backed off of in its revision. The commission passed the motion, 7-2 (Campbell and Garrison opposed). “I voted with the majority because the revised policy is as ineffective and inefficient as the current one,” said Flahaven a few days after the meeting. “Requiring developers to provide an arbitrary number of parking spots wastes building space and increases the cost of housing. In many instances, developers build parking spots that remain unused because it is much cheaper for tenants to pay $35 per year for on-street parking.” The next step in the zoning regulations review is a Zoning Commission consideration of the Office of Plan62 H hillrag.com

ning’s proposed changes. The Zoning Commission has set up a number of public hearings in November to consider the changes.

DC Attorney General Delay

The Commission voted 7-1 (Garrison opposed, Oldenburg abstaining) to send a letter to mayor Vincent Gray urging him to veto an October 1st city council vote that delayed the election of a DC Attorney General until 2018. The bill passed with a narrow 7-6 margin. “I think it’s important we weigh in on this for visibility purposes,” said Flahaven, who drafted the letter. “When any government body puts something on the ballot and then decides to change it at the 11th hour, it effectively disenfranchise voters.”

An Excerpt From the Commission’s Letter:

During the November 2, 2010 General Election, DC voters overwhelmingly approved… the Elected Attorney General Proposed Charter Amendment… At the time, voters were told that if the amendment was approved, they would begin voting for an attorney general in 2014… We are most outraged… that seven of our elected Councilmembers, all of whom claim to support DC voting rights and statehood, would vote to overrule the wishes of DC residents using the same rhetoric and excuses given by DC voting rights opponents. The District of Columbia, like any other state, is more than ready for an elected attorney general. “That action had flown under the radar given what’s happening with the shutdown,” added Flahaven. ANC 6B’s November meeting is on Tuesday, November 12th at 7 p.m. at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE). H

ANC 6C by Charnice A. Milton

Swampoodle Grants

Dru Tallant, a Third Street resident, announced that a grant program for those living in neighborhoods bounded by Second and Fourth Streets or F and H Streets. Paid by funds provided from a townhouse

project currently under construction off the H Street Bridge, the $150,000 grant is available for residents in that area for facade improvement. There is also $80,000 available for residents living close to the upcoming townhouses. For more information, including the application form, visit the Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s website (chrs. org/swampoodle-home-improvement-grants/).

Tru Orleans Update

Commissioner Kazmierczak reminded the Commission that while Tru Orleans is now closed with no plans to reopen, its protest against the restaurant’s liquor license is still active. If they do not settle the issue or withdraw the protest, the license will still be renewed. As a result, no potential new restaurants can occupy the space. Although there was a possibility that Tru Orleans’ representatives would not show up to their rescheduled October 24 meeting, the Commission still had to prepare their case.

Romeo and Juliet

Continuing last month’s conversation, representatives from Romeo and Juliet, an upcoming restaurant at the corner of Mass. Ave. and 3rd Street NE, presented their case to the Commission. While both parties are working on a voluntary agreement, community members shared concerns about the restaurant’s proposed operation hours; Romeo and Juliet proposed plan to close as late as 1:00 a.m.; constituents asked for an earlier time. Other issues discussed included keeping trash cans out of public space and potential noise issues coming from the glass-enclosed sidewalk cafe area along 3rd Street. The Commission voted five-zero, as Commissioner Daniele Schiffman was absent, to protest the restaurant’s liquor license application. The commission voted five-zero to recommend operating hours to 11:00 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on weekends on the Third Street side, with the understanding that the glass enclosure will come down following neighborhood complaints.

DHS Services Shuttle

Jair Lynch, who owns property along the 600 block of H Street, will begin a redevelopment project that would take parking spaces away from DC Department of Human Services (DHS) employees. In return, the development firm will provide a shuttle

bus to take them to the DHS offices on New York Avenue. In order to do this, Jair Lynch needs to remove two parking meters on Sixth Street for a shuttle stop. The proposed route was the main topic of contention; with more commuter traffic accumulating north of K Street, Commissioner Tony Goodman suggested multiple alternatives. With the project beginning around midNovember, the Commission voted fivezero to support the proposal, as long as the route does not disturb residential areas on Fourth Street (between K and M) and Sixth (between K and Florida Avenue) Streets.

33 N Street

Christine Shiker of Holland and Knight presented two proposals regarding an upcoming mixed-use development at 33 N Street. The first was a public space proposal to remove one curb cut and expand another, accommodating residential parking and delivery access for businesses and residents. Also, the developer planned to bring streetscape improvements to the area. The second was a zoning relief proposal for two areas. First, the applicant wanted relief from loading requirements, proposing a 30-foot berth and a 100foot platform, as N Street is not wide enough to accommodate a turning 50foot truck. The applicant also wanted relief for roof structure requirements. The Commission voted five-zero to support both proposals

700 A Street

Last month, the Commission voted unanimously to send a letter to the Historic Preservation Regulation Board, asking them to take action against the World Mission Society, who removed stain glass windows from their 700 A Street location, a historic church. Since then, Planning, Zoning, and Environment (PZE) Committee received correspondence from the Historic Preservation Office, stating that they issued a correction order to World Mission, setting a deadline of October 18 to either obtain permits for their work on the building or appeal the order. The Commission voted five-zero to adopt PZE’s recommendation to write a letter requesting the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to revoke World Mission’s certificate of occupancy until they fix their historic preservation violations, including replacing the windows.

ADVISORY NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION 6A DAVID HOLMES, CHAIR, 202-251-7079 Serving the Near Northeast, North Lincoln Park, Rosedale, and Stanton Park communities

★ ★ ★

ANC 6A generally meets the second Thursday of the month, at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th Street, NE.

www.anc6a.org

Next ANC 6A is 2nd Thursday, November 14 Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee 3rd Tuesday, Nov. 19, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th & G Streets, NE • Chair, Jay Williams, 906-0657 Transportation & Public Space Committee 3rd Monday, Nov. 18, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th and G Sts. NE • Chair, Omar Mahmud, 546-1520 Economic Development & Zoning Committee 3rd Wednesday, Nov. 20, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th and G Streets, NE • Chair, Andrew Hysell, 203 570-7560 Community Outreach Committee 3rd Monday, Nov. 19, 7:00pm • Maury Elementary School - 13th Street & Constitution Avenue, NE • Chair, Elizabeth Nelson, 543-3512

Please check the Community Calendar on the website for cancellations and changes of venue. Attend a meeting! Volunteer for a committee! It’s your ANC!

Preservation Cafe, Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30 pm Robert Pohl, our neighbor and professional tour guide, will pre-view his new book “Urban Legends & Lore of Washington D.C.” Ebenezer’s Coffee House, 2nd and F St. NE downstairs. Free and handicapped accessible, no reservations needed.

The capital is home to all manner of colorful rumors and tall tales. In search of the truth behind these legends, Pohl takes readers on a tour of the historic lore and urban legends that surround the monuments, neighborhood streets, and even Metro stations.

Beyond the Boundaries Survey

Documentation of properties beyond the Capitol Hill Historic District (including building description, information on the owner, architect, and builder and a photograph) is available on the History and Preservation page of our web site at: www.chrs.org/history-and-preservation/beyond-the-boundaries-map All events are free and the public is encouraged to attend

202-543-0425 www.chrs.org HillRag | November 2013 H 63

Other Business •

The Commission voted five-zero to write a letter of support for J.O. Wilson Elementary School. They are seeking a RiverSmart grant to expand and improve their kitchen garden, which they use as a classroom tool. They also sell the produce every Friday after school. • The Commission voted five-zero to support the following license renewals: The Dubliner, Billy Goat Tavern, Union Kitchen, and Pizzeria Uno. • The Commission voted five-zero to support TD Burger’s public space application for an outdoor cafe, with the caveat that a location for a bike rack shall be determined soon. • The Commission voted five-zero to endorse Gottlieb Simon for the Cafritz award, which honors distinguished DC government employees with a cash prize of up to $750,000. Commissioner Scott Price is nominating Simon for his work with the DC Auditor to create a spreadsheet program that would increase transparency in ANC finances. • Congratulations to Commissioner Schiffman, who gave birth to a baby girl. The next ANC 6C regular meeting is Wednesday, November 13, 2013 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC. H

ANC 6D by Roberta Weiner

he ANC 6D meeting opened with a moment of silence for Southwest activist and ANC Commissioner Ron McBee, who had died suddenly two weeks earlier. (see article in this issue) It was announced that there will be a memorial service for Mr. McBee on Monday, November 11th, at 11 AM, at Westminster Church, 400 I Street SW. Guests are invited to bring a dish for a potluck meal to be held after the service. Additionally, it was announced that a special election will be held to fill Mr. McBee’s seat—6D03, which includes Capitol Park Tower, Potomac Place Condominiums, Potomac Place Tower, Capitol Park II, and Greenleaf Gar64 H hillrag.com

dens extension. A special election will be held at the December 9 ANC meeting at which Single Member District 6D03 residents will be able to vote for the new ANC commissioner.

ANC with their completed plan in December.

A Second Special Election

Another long-anticipated project, the South Capitol Street Bridge, which will provide a new bridge across the Anacostia and an expansive new street leading to the Capitol, had its first presentation to the ANC. According to DDOT’s Sanjay Kumar, who is leading the planning team, the project has four goals: to provide community access to the river; to bridge the gap between the two sides of the river; to encourage economic development; and to increase vehicular and pedestrian safety. The final plan will eliminate the below grade portion of the street, replacing it with a treelined “grand boulevard.” Mr. Kumar emphasized that aesthetics will be a major consideration in implementing the project, and the design will be sensitive to its context and purpose. He said he expects that the start date for the work will be in late 2014.

Subsequent to the ANC meeting, 6D01 Commissioner Donna Hopkins announced her resignation. The election to fill her seat will also be held at the December 9th ANC meeting where residents of Single Member District 6D01 will have the opportunity to vote for her replacement.

Soccer Stadium Gets First Rollout

Tony Robinson, of City Administrator Alan Lew’s office and Scott Burrell of the federal General Services Administration, gave the ANC a first—and not uncontroversial—presentation about the prospective soccer stadium at Buzzard Point. At this point, they are hopeful of starting construction in spring 2015, and be ready for the 2017 soccer season. They plan to bring a final term sheet and plan to the City Council in four to six weeks for its consideration. They are beginning work on an environmental study, considering the impacts of past uses of the property, after which they will do a mitigation study and a federally-mandated NEPA study. They plan to focus on such areas as land use, potential for housing, transportation and the natural resources that the area has to offer, and plan to make the stadium LEED certified However, Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton questioned how necessary remediation of the land could be done while protecting the health of people living in that community. She was told that no contaminants would leave the site, and that remediation was much safer than what is there now. Commissioner Roger Moffatt, among others, is trouble by the lack of mass transit planning, “You have to have a way of getting people in and out of there,” he said that currently “you can’t get them from here and cited the 28,250 people who currently get to the ballpark on a game day. Finally, and most pressing, Commissioner Andy Litsky voiced the concern of many when he bluntly called them out for giving totally inadequate notice for a community meeting they held on October 26, on only six days’ notice to the community. Mr. Robinson said they were seeking community input, and planned to return to the

First Look at the New South Capitol Street Gateway

Southeast to be Home to Whole Foods

An innocent, dry looking agenda item requesting support for a public space application for curb cuts and vaults at 800 New Jersey Avenue SE turned out to be an announcement of the long-rumored addition of a Whole Foods supermarket to the Southeast landscape, and the curb cuts are for loading docks and parking facilities. The 45,000 square foot grocery will be located at the former site of the city trash transfer station and snow truck lot—where currently there is a huge mound of earth excavated from the construction site. The market is part of a matter-of-right residential/retail development. There were only a few questions about the curb cuts, which will be located on H Street, and the Commission voted unanimously to support the request.

Progress—At Last—On Randall School Project

After months of silence from the developers and designers of the planned museum and housing/retail project planned for the Randall School, they presented plans for a new PUD, which had not been modified and presented to the Zoning Commission since the Corcoran Museum plan five years ago. The new plan, designed by noted archi-

tect Bing Thom, leaves the three historic buildings of the Randall School as they are (except for a glass wall on the easternmost building, which will be a restaurant), to be used for the planned museum. They will be surrounded by a twelve-story glass and metal panel building containing 500 new homes, with ground floor retail. Much of the community benefits agreement worked out with the Corcoran remains in effect for the current project. The presentation was to request support for both the Zoning Commission and a review by the Historic Preservation Review Board, which was readily given by the Commission.

In Other Actions…

In other actions, ANC 6D… Heard that DDOT is conducting a “North-South Corridor Planning Study,” a series of meetings focused on the corridor stretching from Buzzard Point to Silver Spring, to “identify and evaluate premium transit alternatives, to improve transit service and provide additional capacity in the corridor.” A Southwest meeting will be held at St. Augustine’s Church, 600 M Street SW, on November 4th at 6:30 PM • Approved a public space application for a new office building at 400 6th Street SW for curbs, gutters, sidewalks, driveways and trees • Gave its okay to new liquor licenses for Hill Country Home Stand at 10 Tingey Street SE; and Penthouse Navy Yard, 1212 4th Street SE. It also signed off on license renewals for the Bullpen, 25 N Street SE; and Willie’s Sports Brew and Que, 300 Tingey Street SE. The Commissioners also approved changes to the Settlement Agreement for the Sequoia Presidential Yacht, 600 Water Street SW. H •

ANC6E by Steve Holton

A Bid For Release

The board unanimously passed a resolution in support of the city releasing a request for proposal (RFP) for a parcel of land at the corner of 1501 7th Street NW so that it may be available for the public to bid on for a project

to improve the neighborhood. Will Lansing, owner of Valor Development, spoke at the meeting and gave his support for the proposal. Lansing said that it will be a public process to get the city to release the RFP for the land and noted that a public project would activate the corner and benefit the neighborhood through development. Area development could include retail and residential units.

Railcar Route Addition

A representative from the DDOT Projects and Planning division provided a brief introduction of a project that would include a nine-mile streetcar rail from Takoma to Buzzard Point. The project is aimed at improving transit alternatives and the first round of public meetings will be held during the first week of November. The 6E area has had parking problems in the past and the board asked that it be considered in the planning. “We want to know what is off limits regarding parking being affected by rail lines. We would like to see comments and specifically which streets that will be most touched,” said the DDOT representative. Visit www. dcstreetcar.com for more information on the planning and to see the public meeting calendar.

Stop Or Go?

A representative from the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) spoke before the board on the continuing problem of traffic light timing at the major intersections of 5th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW, 5th Street and New York Avenue NW and 4th Street and Massachusetts Avenue NW. “Timing is dangerously off and with an upcoming construction project next month, it will cause havoc”, said ANC6E05 Commissioner Marge Maceda. With two pedestrian deaths at 4th and Massachusetts Avenue NW, the board was very adamant about correcting the problem. “People are running lights and the crosswalk signal changes almost immediately while people are in the middle of the street. It is a fatality waiting to happen,” said ANC6E01 Commissioner Alexander Padro. The DDOT representative told the board that the intersections are very wide with several crosswalks and that they are taking a look at the push button detectors and timing. “I believe we will have everything solved by mid-November and are determined to have pedestrians cross safely,” said the DDOT representative.

Possible Security Funding

ANC6E03 Commissioner Frank Wiggins proposed that the board offer grants to businesses to install surveillance cameras to deter theft. The matching funds would only be available for businesses that would offer crime footage to the DCPD promptly upon an incident. “DCPD knows the crime stats on active locations and this would aid in making the neighborhood safer,” said Wiggins. Wiggins also noted that he would talk about the cost of the cameras in later meetings but wanted to bring the proposal to the board,s attention.

Playground Project Delay

Commissioner Maceda spoke with DC Parks and Recreation on the subject of building a playground at the Carnegie Library on 801 K Street NW. Maceda was told that the project would start this month, but she heard that the city is in negotiations with the Spy Museum, which could push the project back two to three years. Contact Maceda at mmacedaanc6e05@gmail.com with questions or comments.

No Turn On Red

A motion of support to remove a “No Turn on Red” sign at the SE corner of 10th and S Streets NW passed unanimously. The sign prevents Eastbound traffic from turning right and the sign has been in place for over twenty years. With changing dynamics in streets and traffic, cars are being held for unnecessarily long periods at night. The passed motion will urge DDOT to remove the sign.

Other Topics Of Note: •

6E Crime Report -- Robberies and assaults with and without a gun have picked up and are centered on liquor and convenience stores. Property crime is down and auto theft is up during Convention Center Events. • A motion passed with a vote of five to one to support a “Stipulated” ABC Liquor License for Ivy and Coney Sports Bar. The next ANC 6E meeting occurs on Wednesday, November 6th, 6:30 p.m., at the Shaw Library located at 1630 7th Street NW. Visit www.anc6e.org to view the ANC 6E newsletter. Follow on Twitter, @ANC6E, and Facebook by searching ANC6E. H

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6C ANC 6C serves Capitol Hill, Union Station, NoMa as far east as 8th Street N.E. The community is invited to attend/participate. Monthly meetings are generally the second Wednesday of the month, 7 pm, Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue N.E. Call for information: (202) 547-7168. www.anc6c.org Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee Grants Committee Contact 6C05@anc.dc.gov First Tuesday, 7 pm. Contact (202) 997-6662 Transportation and Public Space Committee Planning, Zoning, and First Thursday, 7 pm. Environment Committee Contact (202) 641-4264 First Wednesday, 7 pm. Contact zoning@eckenwiler.org

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HillRag | November 2013 H 65

“Re-attachments”

Crossword Author: Myles Mellor • www.themecrosswords.com • www.mylesmellorconcepts.com

by Myles Mellor and Sally York Across:

1. Pertaining to the soft palate 6. Sop 11. Fin. adviser 14. Liquid meas. 17. Illusion 18. Circumscribes 19. Japanese magic trick 21. Open 22. Ear woe 23. Disadvantages 24. Sit, stand and walk? 27. Multitudes 28. Melody 29. Lover of Aeneas 30. Enticement 34. Way up? 35. Wallop 38. Capital on the Willamette 39. Disputant 41. Bach offering 42. Many chiliads 43. Flamboyant parents? 50. Many-headed serpent of myth 51. West Wing workers 52. Deviation 53. Rapier 54. Bee Gees album 56. Traces 59. Zine reader 61. Formula ___ 62. Lean 65. Flash 66. Back 68. Lampoons 70. Ready for battle 71. Match part 73. Inhabit 75. Datebook abbr. 76. Plague, with “at” 78. Wreath 80. Longing looks 82. Start 86. Experiencing a lost hat? 91. Skye cap 92. Green 93. Forming a series 94. Silent actors? 97. Great Lakes salmon 98. Tête-à-tête 100. Greek vowels 101. Maple genus 102. Mr. Potato Head piece

66 H hillrag.com

103. Mollify 105. Grew up near a border? 114. Perfume ingredient 115. “No ___!” 116. Fixed 117. Curiously unusual stuff 118. Glassy mineral 119. Menu 120. Kind of line 121. Hideout 122. Mexican bread 123. Recuperations

Down:

1. Osteria offering 2. Once 3. Spline 4. Prefix with phobia 5. Mencken, for one 6. State 7. Strikes 8. Alongside 9. Get moving 10. Actual being 11. Cold War slang 12. Monastic officer 13. “___ Too Proud to Beg” 14. Distilled petroleum 15. Pecuniary punishment 16. Supple 17. Kind of shot 18. Sayings attributed to Jesus 20. Direction 25. Region in central Italy 26. Brasserie 30. Shellacking 31. Hurting 32. Wasted 33. Saharan nomad 35. City west of Ankara 36. Kind of limit 37. Taste 38. Trifle 40. Inactive periods 41. Wool coat? 42. American painter Hopper 44. Smokes 45. Record producer Lou 46. Palooka 47. Body of verse 48. Ripped 49. Groks

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com 55. Minor match, for short 57. Food permissible on days of religious abstinence 58. Move crabwise 60. Cognition 62. Tribe of ancient Media 63. Sea eagles 64. Eastern nurse 67. Legal paper 69. Increase 72. Till bill 74. Italian wine 77. Eurasian vole

79. Slight 81. Close-fitting dress 83. Passage 84. Figure in Maori mythology 85. Cavefish’s functionless parts 87. ___ deferens 88. Spa sound 89. Chuck Berry title 90. Staminate 94. Spread a fertilizer 95. Mountain climber’s tool 96. ___ Acres, Wyoming 97. Hackie

98. Rabbits 99. Arthur Hailey novel 102. Bring out 103. Musical notation 104. Thomas Gray work 106. Home to Phillips University 107. Cook’s meas. 108. Rub 109. Protection 110. Midmonth day 111. Not a lick 112. Outcomes 113. Main

Community Life Remembering Tip Tipton

. Linwood “Tip” Tipton, the well-known dairy lobbyist and Capitol Hill civic activist, passed away Oct. 12 after a year-long illness. Tipton was active in several initiatives in the shaping of modern Capitol Hill, where he and his wife Connie have lived for several decades. He is survived by Connie, four children and five grandchildren. In 2008, he became chairman of Barracks Row Main Street (BRMS), a public-private partnership charted by the National Trust that has played a pivotal part in revitalization of Eighth Street SE since 1999. He provided leadership for this crucial Capitol Hill business corridor as it was experiencing a complete economic turnaround. The Tiptons were known for their hospitality, opening their historic East Capitol Street home, known as “The Deer House,” for the annual Barracks Row Garden Party and other fundraising events. They were also generous philanthropists contributing both their energy and money to the neighborhood they valued. David Perry, acting President of BRMS, said, “Tip Tipton and his wife Connie supported many Capitol Hill organizations, but Tip was particularly committed to Barracks Row Main Street and the continuing revitalization of 8th Street. He brought energy, enthusiasm, and focus to all of BRMS’s activities and undertakings. The board, staff, and Barracks Row’s many volunteers will remember Tip with great fondness and his good judgment and wise counsel will be sorely missed.” Another major concern of Tip-

by Andrew Lightman ton’s was the dilapidated condition of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza. Tipton was instrumental in securing federal funding from Congress for the redevelopment and improvement of the under-used and unsightly plaza. “Tip was a model civic leader. From his service on Barracks Row Main Street to his and Connie’s famous hospitality to the community, he served the community he loved,” said Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. “Our community has lost a gentleman and a friend who generously supported community projects and opened his Deer House for countless community gatherings. Tip was a dedicated leader of Barracks Row Main Street and a moving force for beautification of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza. He will be missed by all whose lives he touched,” said Nicky Cymrot, President of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.

Foods Association, he leaves behind a lasting legacy of tremendous industry growth, creativity and collaboration while working with all segments of the dairy industry. In October 1983, Tipton married Connie Eaton Broadstone who also worked for the industry associations, and together they made many contributions to the industry. That same year, Tipton founded the Annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream (continued on 69)

The Dairy Industry Years

Tipton loomed larger than life during his service to the U.S. dairy industry associations, which spanned 38 years. The first president and CEO of the International Dairy

Tip Tipton. Photo: Andrew Lightman HillRag | November 2013 H 67

communitylife

Pauline Bates

Celebrating 100 Years of a Long and Remarkably Normal Life by Peter J. Waldron

auline Bates, who lived on Capitol Hill for 63 years, celebrated her one hundredth birthday on October 18th. She continues to live independently, supported by a wide group of friends and caregivers, having carved out a path that might serve as a model for ageing. As an African American woman who experienced life in segregated DC, she talks about her life and the indignities she experienced matter-of-factly and with a notable lack of resentment. Perhaps this equanimity is what has kept her alive for so long.

Life on the Hill

Pauline Bates at her home at 506 7th Street, SE which she pbought for $8,700 in 1948 and where she lived until two years ago. 68 H hillrag.com

Born in 1913, Pauline and her sister Alcine were the children of Odie and Lucille Washington who lived and worked in the District as a plumber and a domestic worker. They were cared for by their grandmother during the school week and returned home for weekends. Bates remembers one set of rules in her grandmother’s house (“the old way” she calls it), quoting her grandmother: “If you want the switch, you can have it.” Bates attended the segregated manual training school Armstrong High School in northwest DC, a school which counts musicians Duke Ellington and Billy Eckstine among its alumni. She is the school’s oldest living graduate. After high school, Bates enrolled in the Apex Beauty College and, after many years of hair styling at Vincent & Vincent, landed a job in the District government as an elevator operator where she worked until retirement. After that, she ran a day care center out of her Hill home for twenty five years. Today. Many of her charges are still in contact with her. In 1939 she married Venton Bates, a Pittsburgh man who worked for the railroad, and they lived with her mother until they bought a home on Capitol Hill in September 1948. They paid $8,700 for a two-story frame house at 506 7th St. SE. Her mortgage payment was $70 per month. Venton passed away in 1976; they had no children. When she sold her home in 2011, she did so principally because of the difficulty of navigating stairs. Hill neighbors recall Mrs. Bates’ friendly wave and greeting as she tended her front yard garden. She said her husband often complained that she was outside all the time. “’What’s keeping you out there?’ he would say. It was my neighbors,” she said. “People made you feel welcome on the Hill. I’d see someone and see that they were just looking to talk with me.” She shopped at one of the Hill’s three Safeways and at Eastern Market, buying eggs each week “from a woman who came in from the country.” Asked if she drove, Bates replied: “Of course. I could drive as a youngster. My father taught me. I drove until 2006.” She owned five cars over the course of her life, starting

good for me, but she gets it.” Beverly Epps, a daily caretaker, helps with meals. However, the balance of Mrs. Bates’ days are spent on her own. She prepares her own dinner and gets herself ready for bed each evening. Epps, a woman of few words says succinctly: “She is not an asker.” Angela Scott, another Hill neighbor, is equally engaged in Bates’ daily life. Scott takes her to the doctor, checks in with her frequently, tackling what needs immediate attention. Scott became a dear friend little by little, starting with friendly street hellos, as Scott passed Bates house daily. Then during a snowstorm, she helped Bates shovel her walk, officially marking the beginning of their deep friendship. Asked why she does this, Scott answers: “I don’t know. She’s a very elegant woman. She wants things just so. Her clothes are beautiful and well-kept as is her house. She reminds me of my mother,” she said. “I just felt I‘d like to see her be able to stay on her own. It’s something I do.”

The Future

Pauline Bates in her twenties.

with a Pontiac Catalina and stopped driving only because of a fear of carjacking. Bates remembers Capitol Hill when it was predominantly African American, recalling boiling summer evenings when many of her neighbors would go over to Marion Park to find relief: “It was all black in those days. People used to sleep in the park on hot summer nights to stay cool. There were no drugs or robberies. Later they took the benches away. It was changing.” When asked about riding the city’s streetcars, she said straightforwardly that “you had to ride on the back of the streetcar like that Rose woman.” “My people were Christian people, she said. “They didn’t believe in retaliating. Those days you just had to go along until a change came. It was rough in the fifties. Martin Luther King. That is when it really started. Christian people believed that God would make it right. They depended on God to change. [But then] you had to get in the street to make change.”

Today Bates gets around with the occasional use of a cane. She keeps abreast of the news on TV and has read the Washington Post daily for more than eighty years. Currently her health is good: “I take medicine for the pressure and I just learned I have glaucoma. I never smoked and drank,” she said. Asked the secret of her longevity she said: “Eat healthy. Get some rest. And stay away from drugs.” Asked how long she plans to live, she laughs and seems unworried, and you get the feeling as she sees you to the door that she is content with her life and with whatever time she has left. H

It Takes a Village

Today Pauline Bates lives an active life with the support of a network of 15 part-time caregivers who help manage her daily tasks. “She is independent and wants to stay that way,” her primary caregiver and cousin, Bernice Warfield, states forcefully, adding: “She thinks that she can do it by herself. And she can.” Warfield says that her greatest gift is the determination to to remain independent and her deep commitment to her church, the Bethlehem Church of God. Dawn Nelson, a Hill resident, helps Bates by doing her grocery shopping. Nelson shakes her head with mock disapproval as she describes Bates’ love of sweets and Twinkies that make up part of her diet. Mrs. Bates laughs and says: “Dawn gets what I have on the list. She might think it’s not

At Apex Beauty School in the 1930’s.

(Tip Tipton: continued from 67) Party, and in 1984 he and Connie led efforts to have then President Ronald Reagan proclaim July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day. This action required two-thirds approval by Congress before a presidential proclamation could be considered by President Reagan. The proclamation, approved by Congress and issued by Reagan in 1984, is still celebrated today. This past July, the White House released a photo of President Barack Obama celebrating National Ice Cream Day with a sundae. In 1988, he created the International Dairy Show, an industry trade show that today features the newest innovations in technology, packaging, ingredients and services for the dairy foods industry. Perhaps two of his greatest career accomplishments occurred in 1990. Tipton rallied the dairy food manufacturers to create the International Dairy Foods Association, which brought together the Milk Industry Foundation, the International Ice Cream Association and the National Cheese Institute in an effort to magnify the voice of the dairy processing industry in Washington, D.C. “If we hadn’t come together to speak with one voice, we’d be lost now,” said James Erickson, chairman of Anderson Erickson Dairy. “Forming IDFA was building a foundation for what we are faced with today.” Today, IDFA represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies representing a $125-billion a year industry. IDFA members account for more than 85 percent of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States. Once retired from IDFA, Tipton continued to hold big ideas for the dairy industry. In 2004 he opened the doors to The Tipton Group, an international consulting firm, where he worked with a variety of clients to expand U.S. dairy’s opportunities around the world. Connie Tipton continues to lead the associations as IDFA president and CEO. While his greatest accomplishments were with the IDFA, he will be remembered in the neighborhood as a model citizen, committed to enhancing the beauty and economic strength of our commercial areas. H HillRag | November 2013 H 69

communitylife

A Tribute to Ron McBee

“What Can I Do to Make My Community Better?”

by Pleasant Mann

he Southwest commugave new prominence to Southnity was shocked when west’s heritage. It also led to an Advisory Neighborhood agreement to restore a small park Commissioner Rom McBee in the community and reinstall died unexpectedly in his home the famous mosaic wall created on October 8. Known as the by modern artist and children’s “Mayor of Southwest,” McBee book author Leo Lionni. was a pillar of the neighborhood, He continued his preservafighting for community benefits tion work on the History Comfrom developers, and pushing mittee of the Southwest Neighfor more resources for the area’s borhood Assembly with Meg affordable housing, education, Brinkman. Ron pointed out the recreation and historic assets. He long and extensive history of is survived by a younger brother, Southwest DC and the imporThomas, and sister-in-law, Mary, tant designers, such as Clotheil of Atlanta, Georgia. Woodard Smith, Dan Kiley and James R. McBee was born photo by Saadia Athias, edited by The I.M. Pei that contributed to the August 15, 1945 in Atlanta. Af- Southwester. look of MidCentury Modern ter entering Emory University, Southwest development. his studies were interrupted when he was drafted Eventually, Ron decided to run for a seat on into the military. After his Vietnam-era army ser- the 6D Advisory Neighborhood Commission, in vice, he eventually went back to school and gradu- an effort to advance his work in Southwest. Afated from the then Augusta College in 1975 with ter two unsuccessful attempts, Ron was eventually a degree in physiology. He moved to Washington elected to the position of Advisory Neighborhood in 1976 when his wife was offered a job in the area. Commissioner for Single Member District 6D03 After briefly residing in Alexandria, they moved to in November 2006. He eventually served as Chair Southwest Washington, eventually purchasing a of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D from residence there. 2010 through 2012. At his death, he was serving as In Washington, DC, he established a career Treasurer for the commission. working on a number of significant health and enAs an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, vironmental projects, starting with the Washington Ron worked to improve the quality of life for evoffice of the Stanford Research Institute. He ended eryone in Southwest DC. He would tour regularly his last professional job in the field with a public with Southwest Neighborhood Assembly President health association downtown about a decade ago. Kael Anderson to identify the needs of the area’s Ron started to gain city-wide notice with his schools and recreational centers. At the beginning work on historic preservation in Southwest. In 2001, of every school year, he would make an appearance a large garden space in the middle of the complex at the Amidon-Bowen Elementary School to greet where he lived, Capitol Park, was mistakenly sold students on their first day back. He energized the by the District to a developer who decided to oblit- Nationals Community Committee to establish a erate the park to build a new apartment building on close relationship between the Washington Nationit. Ron organized his neighbors and the DC pres- als baseball organization and the neighborhood, enervation community to recognize the importance of suring that star players and mascots would appear Southwest as a historic component of the city’s ar- at school openings and that promotional tickets to chitecture, despite its relative newness. While Ron Nationals games would get to deserving people. was eventually unable to prevent the construction When plans for the massive redevelopment of the new building because of a deal cut between of the Southwest waterfront were announced, the the developer and a preservation group, his efforts Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating 70 H hillrag.com

Council was formed to ensure that the residents got appropriate amenities from developers. As a board member on the Council, Ron sought to ensure that the community benefits that waterfront developers were supposed to provide went to improve the area’s schools and recreational facilities. While working on the council with the Reverend Ruth Hamilton, he eventually turned her church, the Westminster Presbyterian Church into his base of operations. Bringing retail back to Southwest was another of Ron’s major objectives. He often compared Southwest’s potential to attract restaurants and services to what has been happening in Shaw, where a decade of work has brought scores of new businesses to that neighborhood’s historic commercial corridors. In a videotaped oral history interview conducted in 2007, Ron said “while we’ve made a lot of progress, we still have a problem with the commercial component of development. It’s something we still have to work on.” In his final effort, Ron was an active member of the “74 Bus Committee” under ANC Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton, whose goal it was to ensure that Southwest Washington received adequate Metro and Circulator bus service. Perhaps Ron’s last public appearance was at a WMATA hearing at the end of September to argue for improvements to the bus service to Southwest. “What can I do to make my community better?,” Ron asked in the videotaped interview. That would be a fitting epitaph for this community activist. “Ron McBee was a quiet warrior, but he took no prisoners,” said Alexander Padro, an ANC 6E commissioner and friend who first met Ron during the Capitol Park fight. “His untimely death silenced an important voice for Southwest. Hopefully his example will inspire others to commit their lives to the quadrant’s continued progress.” An informal candle-light tribute to Ron was held outside his Capitol Park townhome, his residence for 35 years, on October 13, drawing a crowd of over 100 people, including Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells. A formal Memorial Service for Ron McBee is scheduled for Monday, November 11, Veterans Day, at 11:00 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 400 I Street, SW. H

@ Your Service by Ellen Boomer

Elizabeth Dranitzke, owner of Photopia An example of Elizabeth Dranitzke’s family photo’s.

No More Awkward Family Photos

For photographer Elizabeth Dranitzke, owner of Photopia, taking portraits is about relationships. “I try to capture the family and tell a story of who they are now,” Dranitzke said. She studied photography in California for several years and, after moving back to Capitol Hill where she grew up, she was inspired by her own pregnancy to photograph other pregnant women. Her commitment to working with families took off from there. “I have a lot of experience not only from a creative side but working with kids and families,” Dranitzke said. “I laugh a lot with my clients. It’s an intimate experience.” “Elizabeth is incredibly professional, but also very fun and playful, without being trite,” said client Stacey Selenfriend. “She spends real time with you before, during, and after your session to learn about your family, determine the perfect venue, provide wardrobe advice. She reviews the finished photos in detail, and examines proofs and layouts with you until you are absolutly happy with the product.” In addition to photographing families and taking professional headshots, Dranitzke offers framing and box mounting services for her clients to provide ready-to-hang artwork. “Photographs will be lost if they remain on our computers and

phones,” she said. “When she comes to your house to view the photos, she really tries to find a way to make them fit into your life so you can enjoy them everyday out in the open and not closed up in a box or album stashed in the back of a closet,” said client Danleigh Halfast Kaplan. “I do a lot of waiting and watching,” Dranitzke said. “It’s like Animal Kingdom. I spend a lot of time on the ground.” Contact Photopia at www. photopiadc.com, by emailing elizabeth@photopiadc.com or by calling 202.550.2520.

Helping Homes Reach Their Potential

Hill resident Amy Lancaster, principal of Lancaster Architects, helps her clients uncover their home’s potential, turning an outdated prop-

erty into a functional gem. “Amy recognized our needs and did a nice job of conforming with that,” Near Northeast resident Ben Allen said, sharing that he and his wife talked to four or five architects before hiring Lancaster. “She understands the lifestyle of two working parents.” In the five years since Lancaster started her boutique business, she’s built it slowly and methodically, initially taking just one client at a time. “Amy has proved to be extremely detailed,” Joe Reger, founder and owner of real estate investment firm JCR Companies, said. “She is creative and most importantly efficient and cost effective.” While Lancaster works on projects in commercial real estate, she also takes select residential projects, many of which are on the Hill. “Early in the design process, we tend to ask a lot of questions in order to understand how the house functions,” Lancaster said, such as, “What space is not delivering its value to the family? How can we improve that space to make your time together as a family more streamlined, more fun, more peaceful?” “We put together weekly site reports to document the progress of the project,” Lancaster said. “In the end, it becomes like a stop-motion photography project, watching the client’s vision come to life, step by step.” Contact Lancaster Architects at lancaster-architects.com, by emailing info@lancaster-architects.com or by calling 202.494.6157.

Working Hard for Your Money

Amy Lancaster, principal of Lancaster Architects

When Brian Davis, CPA, started his own firm in 2007, he felt lucky to

find local office space – right above Frager’s Paint Store. “The fire itself was an eye-opening event,” Davis remembered. “It really touched me and made me realize what type of neighborhood we have; people reached out and offered to help me,” Davis said. This event also reminded Davis why he loves his job. “A big part of what I do is provide comfort to people,” Davis explained. For Davis and his clients, the importance of business planning and disaster recovery planning were reinforced by the Frager’s fire. In addition to assisting with business planning, Davis offers tax and accounting services and helps clients set up payroll management systems. “I’ve seen 1000 different tax situations,” Davis remarked. After graduating with an accounting degree in 1992, Davis worked for a CPA who had a boat in Annapolis and left the office before 5 p.m. every day, leading Davis to believe accounting was a cushy gig. “I still don’t have a boat,” Davis laughed when recounting the story. “I’m trying to work with people who have more complicated tax returns,” Davis explained, such as “someone who has an investment property, clients who own a business or families that have multi-generational wealth.” Davis offers the “feel of a small practice with the technical expertise of big firm.” And he’s still local: His new office is near Stanton Park. Contact Brian Davis, CPA PLLC 418 C Street NE, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC, 20002, at www. briandaviscpa.com/index.php, by emailing info@briandaviscpa.com, or by calling 202.544.3501. H HillRag | November 2013 H 71

communitylife

BYwest

SOUTH Buzzard Point Development Potential by William Rich

Nationals Park was built moved to Buzzard Point and is located just to the east of the soccer stadium footprint. According to an article from The Blade, the proprietors of Ziegfields/Secrets lease the building from Denver businessman Marty Chernoff. The article speculates that the club may have to move yet again once the stadium is built, even though it is located outside of the stadium footprint. It is too early to know what would be built in its place if the nightclub is moved again.

ith news that a new stadium may be built for DC United in Buzzard Point (or â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Pointâ&#x20AC;? as Capitol Riverfront BID President Michael Stevens is now calling it), reporters and bloggers alike have been in a frenzy over whether the stadium deal is a good one for the city and if the area near the proposed site will benefit. Currently, Buzzard Point contains mainly industrial uses, but there are a few sites that are either planned for development or are candidates for redevelopment. A new soccer stadium nearby may accelerate plans for the following properties:

(1) 100 V Street, SW

Akridge owns a two-acre portion of the stadium footprint as well as the remaining seven acres of 100 V Street, SW located to the south of the stadium site. 100 V Street, SW was originally planned as an office complex targeted for a secure federal tenant; however, the site was not able to attract a tenant. With the potential development of the stadium on the northern section of the property, the southern portion is now being reevaluated as a mixed use project.

(2) Transpoint Building

The U.S. Coast Guard is has moved out of the Transpoint Building at 2100 2nd Street, SW located just to the south of 100 V Street, SW, to a new headquarters complex at St. Elizabeths in Congress Heights. GSA has found a temporary replacement for the Coast Guard with the Navy taking space at the Transpoint Building. Meanwhile, owner Monday Properties has 72 H hillrag.com

(7) Florida Rock

A map of potential development opportunities in Buzzard Point near the proposed DC United soccer stadium. Image: Google Earth

no plans to redevelop the building, which sits near the confluence of the Anacostia River & the Washington Channel and currently blocks public access to the water. With GSA cutting back on leasing new space and a new soccer stadium planned up the street, would redevelopment of this building make sense?

(3) Marina Place

A 99-unit condo project called Marina Place with about 2,000 square feet of ground floor retail is planned for a parcel to the east of the Transpoint Building and adjacent to the Buzzard Point Marina at First and V streets, SW. The Eric Colbert-designed building was approved by the Zoning Commission in 2011 and since then, the owner has been looking for a developer partner for the project.

(4) Pepco Power Plant

The art-deco Buzzard Point Plant building, located to the southeast from the stadium footprint, was decommissioned last year by Pepco, although the substation to the north is still in use. Recently, the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly has applied for historic status for the building, which could be a candidate for an adaptive reuse akin to Tate Modern art gallery in the Southwark section of London.

(5) 1900 Half Street, SW

Douglas Development owns an office building at 1900 Half Street, SW along the Anacostia River that blocks public access to the river and is occupied by the U.S. Coast Guard.

(6) Ziegfields/Secrets

One of the gay nightclubs displaced from Near Southeast when

Florida Rock moved its operations across South Capitol Street, SW in 2012 to make way for the eventual development of their riverfront parcel just to the south of Nationals Park. Their new operation along Half Street, SW is now across the street from the new stadium site.

(8) C Hostel and Hotel

Carr Hospitality submitted plans for a 109-room hostel and hotel with 489 beds in 2010 at 129 Q Street, SW, one block north of the stadium site. According to the zoning application, half of the hostel/hotel will be comprised of rooms with single and double beds and in-room bathrooms. The other half of the hostel/hotel will be comprised of dormitory styled rooms and shared female and male showers on each floor. Shared guest amenities will include: a hip lifestyle lounge, game areas for children and adults, a bean bag movie theatre, self-service kitchen, guest laundry, lounge lockers, a cyber lounge, complimentary breakfast and a shuttle bus service to the Waterfront Metro station. The Zon-

ing Commission approved the project, but afterwards, a principal from Carr who spearheaded the project passed away and the site has been tied up in probate ever since. A 2-year extension was recently granted for the project due to probate and the difficulty in obtaining financing for a hospitality project during the recession. It is estimated that probate will be settled sometime in 2013, so theoretically, the project will be able to move forward. Currently, the site is home to a taxi cab service and repair garage.

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(11) Fort McNair

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(10) Lyon Bakery

While there is no development potential here, Fort Lesley J. McNair would be the stadium’s neighbor to the west across 2nd Street, SW and pre-dates any other development at Buzzard Point since the Army post has been at this site for over 200 years. The fort is the headquarters of the Army’s Military District of Washington and includes the National Defense University.

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(9) James C. Dent House

Pepco owns the James C. Dent House at 156 Q Street, SW, which was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2010. It was built in 1906 by William James Palmer for James C. Dent, a former slave who moved to Buzzard Point as a laborer and eventually helped found the Mount Moriah Baptist Church and became its pastor. The home was more recently used as the headquarters of the now defunct Southwest Community House, a non-profit organization that vacated the property in 2004. It has remained vacant ever since.

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HillRag | November 2013 H 73

communitylife

h streetlife

by Elise Bernard

meant to highlight neosoul performers. The Blend starts at 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, and runs through November 27. Another new addition to The Elroy’s repertoire is Tuesday sushi nights. Every Tuesday evening, a guest chef will prepare sushi, as a DJ sets the musical mood. Hours may vary. The Elroy also offers its regular menu for your friends who don’t share your love of sushi. Popular ramen restaurant Toki Underground now does lunch.

ooler temperatures may tempt you to stay inside this time of year, but it’s far more fun to brave the brisk weather, and enjoy all our neighborhood has to offer. With fire pits, warm soups, and high quality fall brews, the H Street NE Corridor is here to help you ease gracefully into winter.

Toki Underground Opens for Lunch Starting November 4

Toki Underground (2nd floor of 1234 H Street NE), a ramen restaurant with a cult following, recently announced that plans to launch lunch service beginning November 4th. You can grab lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Alas, it’s first come first serve, so reservations are out.

The Elroy Mixes it Up with Sushi Night & A Neo-Soul Music Showcase

Local bar The Elroy (1423 H Street NE, http://theelroy.com) is expanding its horizons. The popular spot hops back into the local music scene with the Blend, a weekly live music series 74 H hillrag.com

Argonaut Tavern Rolls Out New Menu & Adds Fresh Maine Seafood

Wednesdays. Both new items will be overnighted from Fisherman’s Catch in Damariscotta, Maine.

DDOT Announces a Delay for H Street Streetcars

The District Department delivered some bad news for those hoping to ride the H Street NE streetcar (http://www.dcstreetcar.com) this year. Delays, which they partly blamed on the federal government shutdown, will push the first streetcar passenger service back to early 2014. DDOT hopes to test the first streetcars along the 2.4 mile H Street-Benning Road NE line starting in December. The delay had been widely anticipated by many in the neighborhood who have closely followed the project’s progress. They are currently in the process of erecting the poles, and stringing the wires that will power the streetcar. In the coming weeks we can expect stepped up enforcement action against cars or delivery trucks that obstruct the streetcar tracks. DDOT also plans a public outreach campaign intended to remind pedestrians and cyclists of potential hazards associated with the streetcar.

The Argonaut (1433 H Street NE) recently introduced a new menu with some interesting soups perfect for the cooler weather. A crab soup with cream and sherry promises to chase away the chills. Cubano lovers can breathe a sigh of relief. Though the sandwich had disappeared from the menu, it’s back in all its deliciousness. Also noteworthy is the vegetarian butternut squash lasagna (perhaps a good main after a steaming bowl of vegan roasted tomato and garlic soup). Its polar opposite, a bacon wrapped meatloaf, competes with the buttermilk biscuits and gravy for best stick to your ribs comfort food. Are you a glutton for punishment? Order the gravy on top of your fries, or step up to a plate of mac and cheese balls with bleu cheese dipping sauce. Also, look for Maine Damariscotta River Oysters on Thursdays, and Maine Lobster on A pre-streetcar H Street NE during the recent H Street Festival.

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Bardo Taps 14 Year Old Barleywine

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Bardo Brewpub on Bladensburg Road (1200 Bladensburg Road NE, http://www.bardo.com. au) tapped a keg of very special beer on a recent Saturday. It was a fourtee-year-old barleywine that they had brewed at their old Arlington location. Dubbed White Lightnin’, a patron had stored the keg all those years. He reappeared suddenly last summer with keg in tow. The Bardo crew was delighted, and noted that the approaching cooler temperatures of fall would make for perfect barleywine weather. They decided to sell the award winning brew for $45 a pour, with each drinker receiving a special commemorative glass created just for the occasion. They announced it online, making sure to mention their newly installed fire pit. The internet lit up with interest. Some were very excited about the chance to taste such a rare beer, others questioned the price, and a third group speculated that the beer might have spoiled during its years in storage. Was the overlap between people passionate enough about beers to pay $45 for a rare pour, and willing to travel to a beer garden at 1200 Bladensburg Road, big enough to sell the 200 beers

the Bardo gang hoped to pull out of the keg? I had to find out. A little after 3 p.m. a crowd of the enthusiastic and curious found themselves gathered at Bardo to sample this mysterious brew. By 3:23 p.m. they had gone through a case (24 per case) of the commemorative glasses. I had plans with a friend, and had to leave, but we returned three hours later to check on any new developments. By then they had made a considerable dent in the keg, and several people were eagerly quaffing the White Lightnin’. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to taste the beer of the hour, but I ended up sampling a few sips, and I can honestly say that it was the best beer I have ever had. It had a very slight sweetness, with a mild, but extremely pleasant funk to it. This was a great beer, and its years in storage seemed to have only made it more interesting. According to the brewers, the younger version of this particular barleywine had been slightly sweeter, and less complex. This was my first beer brewed by the guys at Bardo, and it made me even more eager to taste some of the signature brews they hope to turn out very soon.

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HillRag | November 2013 H 75

communitylife

David Perry to Lead Barracks Row Main Street New Businesses Opening; New Events Planned by Sharon Bosworth

ong time Hill resident and tional Zoo. David Perry may look native Washingtonian, familiar to you – he is a volunteer David Perry, has become at many Barracks Row events, parActing Chairman of the Board ticipates frequently in community of Barracks Row Main Street. meetings, and can often be found BRMS’s Chairman of the Board, running or cycling through the Tip Tipton, passed away in midstreets of our neighborhood. October; see Tip Tipton obituary in this issue. In recent years DaFour New Dining Concepts vid Perry has worked closely with We’ve waited and watched as Tip Tipton and fellow members two very different types of resof the BRMS Board of Directors taurants, Rose’s Luxury, 717 8th in leading Barracks Row’s efforts Street and Kraze Burger, 415 8th to develop a plan for aesthetic Street, SE both engaged in subDavid Perry, Acting Chairman of the changes and repairs to the Eastern Board Barracks Row Main Street stantial year-long build-outs of Market Metro plaza. their new facilities. Rose’s Luxury opened quietly Most of David Perry’s career has been spent late in September. Ever since then chef-owner in the Washington, DC - Baltimore area. AfAaron Silverman has been enjoying rave reviews ter graduating with Honors in Political Science from the Washington Post. Just this week Washfrom Williams College, he was a school teacher ingtonian Magazine gave Silverman a shout out on in North Carolina for four years. After receiving their website. Kraze Burger opened in mid-Octoa Master’s in Public Affairs from the LBJ School ber after handing out pre-opening free samples of of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Perry their All-American, made-to-order burgers two moved to Baltimore to work for its Department weeks earlier at Barracks Row Fall Festival. Fairgoof Housing and Community Development. He ers rated the burgers four stars and those who have eventually moved to Capitol Hill, worked for a visited Kraze Burger congresswoman, and subsequently tell us they are goserved for more than 20 years as ing back for more! the Deputy Director of the FedKraze Burger, a 100 eral City Council. store, fast-casual In his civic life Perry helped chain, began in Koestablish and subsequently corea. There are three chaired the community developUS locations, all in ment corporation that redeveloped the DC metro area. the site of the Ellen Wilson pubOne of Barracks lic housing project into a mixedRow’s institutions, income community, now known Fusion Grill, 515 as the Town Homes on Capitol 8th Street, SE, is Hill. He served for many years changing its busion the board of the Union Station ness model and reRedevelopment Corporation, the locating. Fusion group that brought Union Station Grill was created by back to life, and is a past President the Cheung family Marc Bucher, Owner, Medium Rare, 515 8th of FONZ, the Friends of the Na- Street, SE

76 H hillrag.com

in 2004 as an up-scale brand extension of their original take-out business, Szechuan House. The Cheung’s purchased 515 8th Street, SE, soon after immigrating to the United States in the 1960’s from Hong Kong. Following in the families’ Barracks Row restaurant tradition, Stephen Cheung, son of the owners of Szechuan House/Fusion Grill, began Lavagna, 539 8th Street, SE, a neighborhood Italian “from scratch” restaurant, now in its third year of operation. The location of the revived Asian themed take-out has not been announced pending permits, but there is already a new tenant at 539 8th Street, SE, Medium Rare. Substantial renovations are underway. Medium Rare is a fixed-price steak and pomme frittes bistro concept (with locations in Cleveland Park and Bethesda) developed by Mark Bucher of BGR fame with. Roughly based on a Parisian café, Medium Rare has but two questions for diners: how would you like your steak cooked and what wine would you like with dinner? The menu at Medium Rare is always steak, potatoes and salad. Dinner, with seconds, runs about $20 per person before drinks and dessert. An opening by Thanksgiving is expected.

Barracks Row Chefs Help with Thanksgiving Dinner

Before making your plans for Thanksgiving weekend, either long distance or local, consider this: Barracks Row is hosting the Culinary Education Crawl (aka cooking school) on Saturday, November 16 and Sunday, November 17. Ever since George Washington created Thanksgiving, Americans have been sitting down with family and friends over a great meal to celebrate living in this country where we are free to thank whoever we wish for the good life we enjoy. Times have changed since George carved the turkey and our expectations of this all- important feast are evolving. No matter where you are in your development as home chef, at the Barracks

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Beer Garden BRMS Fall Festival

Row Culinary Education Crawl you can learn more. Barracks Row’s professional chefs will be holding classes ten days before Thanksgiving to give you enough time to practice your skills for the big weekend. Whether it’s the main dinner or side dish you’ll pick up recipes and how-to ideas to wow the folks from home. Registration is online: go to www.barracksrow.org. Classes range in time from 30 minutes for Oyster Shucking 101 (with beer) at Senart’s Oyster and Chop House to one hour for Make Your Own Pizza at Matchbox to 90 minutes for Belga’s Becoming a Belgian Gourmand beer pairing dinner class. There will be 15 to 20 different class offerings. Prices vary by class. Proceeds may be donated to charity and the charity recipients of the restaurants’ ticket sales are noted. For further details call 202-544-3188.

Beer Garden, Electric Bat and Ice Sculpture PLUS Obstacle Course Dinner Challenge

Our fall calendar is full with the Culinary Education Crawl, November 16-17; Small Business Saturday, November 30; and Santa

Arrives on Eighth Street, Sunday, December 15. But take a moment now and look back our largest event of the year Barracks Row Fall Festival, held on September 28th. Record crowds enjoyed 70 degree weather and three of our restaurants, Matchbox, Belga and Cava added a first ever private beer garden to the mix of activities. And even more fall fun is still being planned. On Fridays in November Capitol Hill Fitness, 525 8th Street, SE, will be sending a mystery shopper to purchase an ingredient of her choice at Yes! Organic Market, 410 8th Street, SE. From there, the owner of Capitol Hill Fitness, plans to carry that ingredient down an obstacle course (one obstacle to be invented by you) three blocks to Zest Bistro, 735 8th Street, SE. At Zest Bistro, four additional ingredients will be waiting (none of these ingredients will be revealed to the shopper in step one). All ingredients combined will cost $15 or less. At Zest all five ingredients will be made into a meal by a Zest chef in 15 minutes – out front in the Zest sidewalk café, for all to watch. Immediately after the meal is made Capitol Hill Fitness will post the calories on a dry erase board at the restaurant. Watch BRMS Newsletter for details. H

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capitolstreets news

Changes at Capitol Riverfront by Michael Stevens

uch has been written recently about the population growth that has occurred in the District over the past 12 years. The DC Office of Planning estimates that the city is adding approximately 1,100 new residents a month, and that the District has grown to 632,000 residents. The population increases can largely be attributed to two factors: 1) higher than normal birth rates in neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, where improving public schools are leading more young families to remain in the city; and 2) an influx of “Millennials” or the 25-35 age group of young professionals seeking jobs and a cool city to live in. Empty nesters who are moving back into the city have also contributed to this population surge in the District’s neighborhoods. Signs of this trend can be in the rapidly developing neighborhoods of DC – the Capitol Riverfront, NoMA, Mt. Vernon Triangle, Columbia Heights, and 14th Street to name a few – where large-scale developments are creating more mixed-use, high density, transit oriented communities that offer a range of lifestyle options. This is especially true in the Capitol Riverfront, where nine new residential projects have opened in the past 10 years, with several more breaking ground this year. In fact, almost 50% 78 H hillrag.com

of our residential populace falls into the Millennial category. Yet neighborhoods are much more than just a collection of buildings, they also include parks, public gathering spaces, local-serving retail amenities, events and other “building blocks” that together form a true community.

Grocery Stores

The Capitol Riverfront neighborhood will be home to two major grocery stores in the near future. A 50,000 square foot Harris Teeter grocery is currently under construction as part of the 1212 4th mixed-use project by Forest City Washington that will deliver in the summer of 2014. Developer WC Smith just announced that they have signed a lease with Whole Foods to be the 35,000 SF anchor tenant of their 800 New Jersey Avenue project, which will also include 336 apartment units. The Capitol Riverfront BID worked with both developers in recruiting these grocers to our neighborhood, and we are extremely excited that they will call our neighborhood home. Having two grocery stores in the Capitol Riverfront also illustrates the regional shopping appeal of our neighborhood for surrounding communities such as Capitol Hill, the SW

Waterfront, and Anacostia. We consider these neighborhoods part of our larger retail “trade area” and feel our central location makes it accessible by a variety of modes of transportation including walking and biking. We believe Harris Teeter and Whole Foods also recognized the built-in market of our established residential population – over 4,000 residents in 3,030 units with another 1,264 units under construction and over 1,400 units in the immediate pipeline. Our neighborhood could have over 18,000 residents at build-out, a significant, urban residential neighborhood with demographics that appeal to retailers.

Parks & Open Spaces

The Capitol Riverfront was fortunate to have been planned with parks and access to the Anacostia River as fundamental community building blocks. Yards Park and Canal Park have been enormous successes and provide numerous features for our residents, employees and visitors to enjoy. The water features in both parks have been extremely popular with children and families, and the Canal Park ice skating rink provides a wintertime destination and outdoor recreation through skating. Both parks have created identity, a sense of place and

community for our neighborhood, and have established the Capitol Riverfront as a family-friendly destination. The programming that the BID provides for both parks creates opportunities for social interaction and fun among residents and visitors alike. A quick update on the ice rink at Canal Park: The Canal Park Development Association has informed us that the ice rink could open as early as mid-December for skating. As you may know, a pipe that burst in the basement of the restaurant building severely damaged the electric panel boards that operate park systems. Those electric boards are being replaced as quickly as possible so that ice skating will return to Canal Park and the Capitol Riverfront during December.

Van Ness Elementary School

The reopening of Van Ness Elementary School as a public school for these communities still seems to be on track the 2015/2016 school year, and Mayor Gray included $9.8 million in his FY14 budget for the necessary renovations to the existing building. An elementary school is certainly a fundamental neighborhood building block; schools are an important part of the Capitol Riverfront’s civic in-

frastructure, as they can be used for a variety of activities by the community, and we commend DCPS, Mayor Gray, and the families who have asked for such a school on the foresight of this reopening of Van Ness Elementary.

Restaurant Openings

The Bluejacket Restaurant and Microbrewery has opened in the Boilermaker Shops, along with Buzz Bakery. Nando’s Peri-Peri Chicken has been open for two months now, and work continues on Willie’s Brew & Que and the 100 Montaditos sandwich restaurant, with openings expected to occur in early 2014. In the Lumber Shed, Osteria Morini and Agua 301 should be open in November orDecember.

Retail Attraction

With two grocery stores and numerous restaurants committed and opening soon, the BID is working with our property owners to determine what the next wave of retail attraction should focus on. Some obvious neighborhoodsupport retail and services include day care centers, pet stores, apparel stores, home goods, and arts related retail. The new ICON movie theater project by Forest City will certainly help drive some of that retail mix, as will the two grocery stores. For example, the Harris Teeter complex, 1212 4th will include the VIDA health club, Bang Salon, Aura Spa, and Sweetgreen. EVO Furniture has also opened for business in the Foundry Lofts building on Water Street, SE. Building a new neighborhood is a continual work in progress that involves a variety of stakeholders as pieces in the puzzle. The Capitol Riverfront is approximately 33% built-out on our way to a full build-out of 36+ million square feet of development. Many of the fundamental building blocks for a full service community are in place, and more will arrive over the next 2-5 years as we witness another significant wave of development. Michael Stevens is President of the Capitol Riverfront BID. H

In Loving Memory of

E. Linwood ‘Tip’ Tipton November 19, 1934 to October 12, 2013 Those who would like to honor Tip’s Legacy may make a donation to the Dairy recognition and Education Foundation. Visit www.dairyfund.org for details.

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HillRag | November 2013 H 79

Introducing Shakespeare

Shakespeare at School: The George Didden Memorial Project Brings Together Local Schools and Folger Shakespeare Library

by Meghan Markey

hakespeare’s ornate language, rehearsals. All of their hard work psychologically complex charculminates at the annual George acters, and weighty themes Didden Shakespeare Festival held often mean that this shimmering in the spring, usually at the Folger, world of the English Renaissance where all participating schools get a is reserved for high school and colchance to bring their plays to life on lege students. the stage in front of their families However, across Capitol Hill, and their peers. there are first graders who are learning snippets of Shakespearean diaProgram Challenges logue, third graders who participate Although the program was piin stage combat workshops, and loted in a number of area schools, students throughout elementary and not all have had the same success middle schools who prepare scenes with it. One of the elements that from any of Shakespeare’s nearly 40 makes the Shakespeare at School works and perform in front of their program unique is that it not only peers – all to great success. seeks to educate the students, but The Shakespeare at School: The also to train local educators on George Didden Memorial Project is teaching theatre to children within the creation of the Capitol Hill Com- Students from Brent Elementary, St. Peter School, and Capitol Hill Montessori perform theater games in the realm of Shakespeare. The idea munity Foundation (CHCF), an or- between acts at the 2013 George Didden Shakespeare Festival. hinges on the assumption that once ganization that seeks to bring comone teacher is trained, this teacher some additional support through the CHCF’s munity resources and assets together could then train others within their specific school. to address challenges in the community. Following the grants program. “One of the things that we really didn’t con“The idea was to have it in every elementary passing of board member George Didden III in 2007, tend with is the degree of turnover in schools. So the foundation wanted to find a way to honor the school on Capitol Hill – be it public, private, pa- we would train the teacher, and then the idea was longtime Capitol Hill resident, activist, and busi- rochial, or charter. The basic idea was that there that they would train another teacher, and we would nessman. Mr. Didden had a wide range of inter- should be certain defining things about going to build this whole network in the school, but very freests and was involved with numerous programs school on Capitol Hill regardless of where you go quently we were finding that teachers were moving throughout the city, a significant one being the to school, and one of those things would be expo- on to another school. So that’s been a major, major Folger Shakespeare Theatre, where he served as sure to Shakespeare at the Folger, which is such challenge for this project,” Cymrot notes. an important part of our community,” said Todd treasurer for over 20 years. Now that Shakespeare at School is in its sixth A Shakespeare education initiative seemed Cymrot, who is part of the grants committee for year, and the five-year “pilot” period has ended, the like a natural fit to honor Mr. Didden, especially the CHCF. CHCF is seeking to take the lessons from the past In action, the Shakespeare at School project given the local proximity of the Folger Shakespeare five years to strengthen the program by returning Library, a world class institution with decades of links up educators from the Folger Shakespeare to those schools that have embraced it and where it experience in both theater and education. The Library with area schools and teachers. Folger edu- has really gained a foothold in the classroom— and foundation envisioned a program that would link cators visit the schools and work directly with the then use their strategies and successes to reach out artist-educators at the Folger with another valuable students, while at the same time providing train- to additional schools. community asset–the dedicated teachers at our el- ing for teachers on how to teach Shakespeare to At the Capitol Hill Montessori School, it has ementary schools. And thus, in 2008, the Shake- young children. The students are offered opportu- been integrated into the curriculum and has ennities outside of the classroom to learn – for inspeare at School project was officially launched. joyed immense popularity; it is not uncommon for The National Capitol Bank, managed by stance, visiting the Folger Shakespeare Library to former students to return to mentor younger stuthe Didden family who ancestor was an original attend workshops, or even to see plays at the Folger dents within the program. The students have perfounder, agreed to support the project as a five year Theatre. The students select and prepare their own formed scenes from Much Ado About Nothing, A pilot program. Shakespeare at School also receives plays throughout the school year; organizing every- Winter’s Tale, and Macbeth, to name a few. thing from the casting, costume design, music, and 80 H hillrag.com

HillRag | November 2013 H 81

Parents and teachers from Capitol Hill Montessori, Brent Elementary, and St. Peter School get in on the action, performing “The 32 Second Macbeth.”

The students have proven to be exemplary at creatively adapting Shakespeare. Montessori educator Waduda Henderson recalls students in the 3rd grade who had the idea to perform a piece where the women of Shakespeare arrange a tea in order to give lovelorn Juliet advice—the students incorporated 1960s doo-wop songs to represent each of the women. Henderson also notes that the Shakespeare at School program teaches so much more than Shakespeare, or even theatre, and is a testament to the importance of student’s access to the arts in education. “This work is transforming for some students. I have found that students are called upon to find the best within themselves to make a performance come to life. This work is about building character, discovering what it means to be responsible, to have integrity, to work collaboratively, to deal with being chosen—or not—judged, and critiqued. I have seen students create original music, choreography, and formats through which they present the words and world of Shakespeare,” Henderson says. Local parent of both a current and former student of Capitol Hill Montessori, Gabriella Boston can attest to the impact the Shakespeare at School program has had on her children, as both have chosen to attend Shakespeare camp as a result. “By now their love of drama in general and Shakespeare in particular is deeply rooted,” she says. Her son Eric, age 11, wrote and 82 H hillrag.com

performed original music for last year’s production of Macbeth. “What I love the most about the plays and performances is learning who your character is and how that character interacts with the others. It’s like you and the other performers weave this great dramatic tapestry right there on the stage,” he said. And his opinion of the Bard? “He had the biggest creative flow in the world, ever.” Cymrot, and the CHCF, are now focused on integrating the Shakespeare at School program more fully into the community landscape and reaching out to parents to see it as more than just a school program, but a community program where the schools interact with each other more frequently. They have also expanded the age range within Shakespeare at School, and this year’s festival will include Capitol Day School, Capitol Hill Montessori School, St. Peter School, Stuart-Hobson Middle School, and for the first time, Eastern Senior High School. All the world’s a stage, and it’s wonderful that so many students in Capitol Hill get to act and learn in Shakespeare’s – an experience that will hopefully continue with the Shakespeare at School: The Folger Shakespeare Library George Didden Memorial Project. For how you can help support the project, or for more information, contact Todd Cymrot at todd.cymrot@gmaul.com. H

Central Union Mission

A New Location, Same Important Work by Charnice A. Milton

few blocks away from Union Station is the historic Gales School. Built in 1881, the building’s condition deteriorated due to vandalism and extreme weather conditions. Recently, the building has been under renovation, thanks to Central Union Mission. This month, the non-profit plans to reopen the building as its new central homeless shelter after closing their R Street location. Central’s executive director, David Treadwill, said that the move will fulfill a major goal: “...to turn one of the city’s eyesores into a sight for sore eyes.”

Central Union Mission

Central’s current transition is not the first for the faith-based non-profit. Founded in 1884 by a coalition of area churches, Central Union Mission originally began in a room at 909 Pennsylvania Avenue to serve homeless Civil War veterans. When Central’s opened its first shelter in 1891, it not only gave homeless men a place for the night, but also provided supportive services such as literacy and job skills training with spiritual services to combat issues like substance abuse and anger. After eminent domain forced the organization out of its original location in the 1970’s, Central moved to its recent location: 1350 R Street. Today, Central has seven locations in the metropolitan area, with programs that benefit men, women, children, families, and the Hispanic community.

The New Shelter

While the 34,000 square-foot building will have traditional housing spaces and residential suites for those who work night shifts, the shelter will have two day rooms, giving residents

Pastor James Lewis of Central Union Mission at the Gales School entrance in October. Photo: Charnice A. Milton

a place to stay during the day. The site will also house medical, dental, and legal offices, as well as a classroom, meeting rooms and staff offices. While the shelter will open this month, the official opening ceremony will be in January. This would allow time for the staff and residents to get used to the new space and to add more programs as needed. For now, some have been relocated to Gospel Rescue Ministries (810 5th Street) or Central’s administrative office (2600 12th Street).

Working at Central

While local groups and churches volunteer at Central every night, staff members, like Pastor James Lewis, keep the organization running. “I wasn’t searching for a job,” he said. “I was called to serve here.” As a student at the Howard University School of Divinity, Lewis was “...praying and waiting for an assignment from God.” While Lewis planned to work at a local church, he felt God calling him to work at Central. “The rest is history,” he said, “and I have been here for 13 years now.” As the senior director of ministry, Lewis acts as a senior administrator,

A look into Central Union Mission’s housing space. David Treadwill, Central Union Mission’s executive director, hopes that this space will be open in time for Veteran’s Day. Photo: Charnice A. Milton

overseeing daily programming. “I’m really excited for this move,” he said. “To see this building come, to know we’ll have this permanent housing, it’s really exciting.” After selling the 14th Street location, Central has been running their programs from Gospel Rescue Ministries. Despite working in a smaller place, he is proud of the work he and Central is doing. “God rescued me,” said Lewis. “Now, He wants me to help rescue others.”

Time to Move

“Sitting comfortably in 1998, in my new office at 14th and R, I looked out and saw a changing neighborhood,” Treadwell reminisced. There were two issues with the 14th Street location. First, the building, originally a car dealership in the 1920’s, was completely outmoded for the demands of needed service and activities today, and was extremely costly to maintain. Second, ongoing revitalization efforts in the 14th Street Corridor had attracted aﬄuent residents and forced poor and needy neighbors to other areas in the city. “I had two goals: finding a stateof-the-art facility and a new location,” said Treadwill. The organization successfully campaigned to receive the

Gales School, which the DC government had set aside as a potential homeless shelter, as its new location. The move means a return to “the heart of the city,” in a better location and a more welcoming neighborhood.

How to Help

Treadwill hopes that work on the Gales School will be finished before his target date, November 11 (or Veteran’s Day). However, Central needs to raise more funds to pay for the building. “We’ve already raised up to $12 million,” Treadwill explained. “The total cost in $15 million, so we have $3 million to go.” Central has many opportunities to give. Through its Campaign for Compassion, the organization gives potential donors an opportunity to make named gifts, ranging from small items like bricks and floor tiles, to rooms like the chapel or offices. Also, the campaign will give donors a chance to buy furniture and other furnishings. Finally, Central will accept donations through its website (missiondc.org/partner) or mail (P.O. Box 96763 Washington, DC 20090-6763). To learn more about Central Union Mission, call 202-745-7118 or visit missiondc.org. H

HillRag | November 2013 H 83

CONTACT INFORMATION AND WAYS TO GIVE: Access Housing, Inc. CFC #22663

Access Housing, Inc. (DC) operates the Southeast Veterans Service Center and Chesapeake Veterans House in Southeast DC. This is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing support services and housing to formerly homeless veterans. Both male and female veterans reside at the facilities. Veterans from all branches and wars have been served by the SEVSC; which celebrated its 11th year anniversary last November. 820-840 Chesapeake Street, SE DC 20032, 202-561-8387, Accesshousingdc.org

Association for the Preservation of The Congressional Cemetery CFC #7537

In 1807 a burial ground for citizens in the east end of the new federal city was founded. In the first five years, 13 members of Congress, two vice presidents, and numerous military and government officials were interred, along with a number of ordinary citizens. The Association maintains and operates the 35+ acres, 14,000 headstones, and burial place of over 55,000 people. 1801 E St SE, Washington, DC 20003, 202-543-0539, http:// www.congressionalcemetery.org/

Capital Area Food Bank CFC #30794, United Way #8052

For 30 years, CAFB has been the D.C. metro area’s hub for food sourcing, distribution and nutrition education - serving over 478,000 people struggling with hunger. Through direct service and a network of 700 nonprofit partners, the CAFB distributed 27 million pounds of food last year, including 10.8 million pounds of fresh produce. For more on hunger, visit our website at CapitalAreaFoodBank.org. 645 Taylor Street, NE, Washington, 84 H hillrag.com

DC 20017, 202-526-5344, CapitalAreaFoodBank.org

www.

Capital Breast Care Center of Georgetown

CBCC provides culturally sensitive breast cancer screening services and health and wellness education guided by evidence-based practices to all women in the Washington, DC area, regardless of their ability to pay. Our staff are committed to reducing barriers to breast health services. Contact: 202.784.2700, capitalbreastcare.org, 650 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC, Suite 230

Capitol Hill Community Foundation

The Capitol Hill Community Foundation supports activities, projects and groups that enrich the lives of residents and celebrate the history of the Capitol Hill Community. The Foundation relies entirely on voluntary donations, and seek your contribution in the form of cash, securities, or real estate. 501(c)3 organization. Please contact Rick Halberstein at 202-546-1111 or email rickhalber@ aol.com 419 East Capitol Street, S.E DC 20003 www.capitolhillcommunityfoundation.org

Capitol Hill Group Ministry United Way #8859

Founded in 1967, Capitol Hill Group Ministry (CHGM) is a nonprofit organization that provides essential services for those in need, including: their Day Hospitality Center, Shirley’s Place, offering showers and laundry services, a place for workshops, respite, light meals, and case management for homeless families and undeserved neighbors. Their Social Services Office assists neighbors in crisis with rent, mortgage, utilities, food, transportation, and medical expenses, as well as provides

case management and crisis intervention. And their Street Outreach team builds relationships with homeless people on the street, offering lifesaving interventions and referrals to local shelters when they choose to make a change. The CHGM also offers shelter and housing programs for homeless families.

Capitol Hill Restoration Society CFC #50747

CHRS provides guidance on the preservation of historic sites and buildings on the Hill and conveys the views of its 1,000 members to governments and other organizations on issues affecting the Capitol Hill community. CHRS convenes several forums annually on key community issues such as education, crime, transportation, development, zoning and the environment. 420 10th St. SE, Washington, DC 20003, 202-543-0425, www.chrs.org

Capitol Hill Village CFC #55474

Capitol Hill Village is a nonprofit organization of neighbors working together to provide services Hill residents need to live safely and comfortably in their own homes throughout their lives. With one phone call or email message, Village members gain access to professional and volunteer services and a variety of educational and social programs. POBox 15126, Washington DC 20003, 202-5431778, www.capitolhillvillage.org

Central Union Mission CFC# 85786 United Way# 9617

Central Union Mission is a faithbased 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It operates a rehabilitation program for men with life-controlling issues, free meals program, a clothing and furniture distribution center, and a 220-acre retreat center with a camp

for underprivileged children and recreation facilities for the community. Its current programs serve homeless men, underprivileged women, children, seniors, veterans and the growing Hispanic community. The Mission works to help transform the area’s toughest rehabilitation cases into productive members of society. 202-745-7118 www.missiondc.org

Coalition for the Homeless CFC #83436, United Way #8194

The Coalition for the Homeless was established in 1979. Our mission is to help transition homeless and at risk individuals and families in the Washington area to self-sufficiency through housing programs and supportive services. The Coalition fulfills its mission by operating 13 housing and shelter facilities. 1234 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Suite C-1015, Washington, DC 20005, 202-3477279, www.dccfh.org

For Love of Children CFC #72093, United Way #8260

For Love of Children (FLOC) provides educational services beyond the classroom to help students succeed from first grade through college and career. We bring together students, volunteers, families, and community partners in proven programs that teach, empower, and transform. 1763 Columbia Rd, NW, DC 20009, 202-462-8686, www.flocdc.org

Green Door CFC #13954 , United Way #8197

Since 1976, Green Door has been empowering people with mental illnesses to take charge of their own recovery and rehabilitation by focusing on their three biggest challenges: stigma, poverty and recovery. Today, we serve nearly 1,500 individuals through programs and services at our locations.

1623 Sixteenth St, NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202.4624092, http://www.greendoor.org

Little Lights Urban Ministries CFC # 89156

Little Lights provides awardwinning programs to under-resourced children on the Hill. Recruiting 80+ weekly volunteers, Little Lights offers one-to-one tutoring, enrichment, and youth job training. Chosen by the Catalogue of Philanthropy as one the “best small charities in DC,” Little Lights also received the Keller Award in 2009. 760 7th Street SE, DC 20003, 202-548-4021, www.littlelights.org

So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E) CFC #74405

Since the 1970s, SOME has offered meals, a medical clinic, job programs and affordable housing programs to those in need. 1,000 meals are served each day in our dining room. SOME offers comprehensive programs that meet a full spectrum of needs while giving a sense of dignity to the poor and homeless of the District. 71 O Street, NW, DC 20001, 202797-8806, www.some.org

Washington Humane Society CFC #58899

The WHS has been the area’s leading voice for animals since 1870. As the only open-access shelter in the Nation’s Capital, WHS provides comfort and care to nearly 30,000 animals each year through its broad range of services including sheltering, adoption, spay and neuter, CatNiPP, Humane Law Enforcement, lost and found, human– animal therapy programs and Humane Education. 4590 MacArthur Boulevard, NW Washington, DC 20007, 202-2348626 , www.washhumane.org H

THEY SERVED OUR COUNTRY

TO PROTECT US. LET’S

SUPPORT THEM! #

22663

This CFC season consider giving back to a veteran who has given so much to us. We have been a place of transition for hundreds of chronically homeless veterans. Providing veterans with a new home and a new beginning. Proudly celebrating 11 years of service. #

9533

For more information on how you can assist, please call

Green Door

helps men and women with mental illness achieve the highest level of personal success and independence in our community.

Green Door Values:

• Respect, Dignity and Empathy • Collaboration • Focus on Individual Strengths • Quality Services • Welcoming and Safe Environment

1221 Taylor Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 202-464-9200

202.561.VETS (8387) HillRag | November 2013 H 85

COLDWELL BANKER

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Dominating The Upper Brackets On The Hill For Over 30 Years A Few Of Out Sold Listing From August And September

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1.1781 - direct t.ryall.andrew 1321 Constitution Avenue NE $1,315,000

808 G Street, SE $1,600,000

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CBRB List Agents Linda Pettie 202-276-3172 Michael Tubbs 202-487-7206 CBRB Sales Agent Frank Snellings 202-257-3972

1323 Constitution Avenue NE - $1,299,000

1009 East Capitol Street - $1,299,000

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202.547.3525 - Main Office I N F O R M AT I O N D EEM ED R ELI A B LE B U T N O T G UA R A N T EED

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Real Estate Stunning Pierce School Property on the Market

e’ve all been there. Maybe you go to a dinner party at a new friend’s place, or a housewarming party. You step into the apartment and it hits you like a ton of bricks: apartment envy. But in this case, it may be more like apartment awe. Enter the Pierce School, at 14th Street and Maryland Avenue NE, a property consisting of nine gorgeous loft apartments and a two-story penthouse, currently on the market for $7.25 million. The Pierce School dates to the late 19th century and is a fantastic example of historic renovation and integration of the old and the new. Built in 1894, the school was designed by German-born architect and city engineer Adolph Cluss, who was responsible for numerous public works throughout the city including Eastern Market. Opened as a “whites only” school, it was desegregated

by Meghan Markey

in the 1940s, but ultimately closed its doors in 1973, and sat empty for nearly three decades. In 2000, Chris Swanson and Jeff Printz, owners of Evolve Property Management, bought the Pierce School

from the city and converted the 23,000 square foot space into multiple luxury loft apartments, including a 9,500 square foot, two story penthouse that would eventually serve as their residence. The penthouse boasts high ceil-

ABOVE: This tranquil guest bathroom includes an antique claw-foot tub. LEFT: In the living room of the penthouse, high ceilings and multiple large windows take full advantage of the light.

ings, a home theater that seats 14, and an 800 square foot roof deck—certainly one of largest outdoor entertaining spaces of any apartment in the District. The task of taking an old abandoned school and transforming it into a livable space seemed daunting. When Swanson and Printz bought the property, years of neglect had taken its toll; the building was home to the lowest echelons of city dwellers – rats and pigeons. Over the following five years, the Pierce School received a glamHillRag | November 2013 H 87

Dave Lloyd & Associates 703-593-3204 www.davelloyd.net davidlloyd@realtor.com

Enthusiastically serving clients on both sides of the river. Arlington N. $1,239,900

orous, innovative makeover that still pays homage to its unique history. The renovation of the school incorporates all of the modern comforts and amenities one might expect, while utilizing the original design to its full advantage. The school’s old cloakrooms now serve as master bathrooms, complete with claw-foot tubs and vessel sinks. White marble countertops rest above the century old hardwood floors. The 14-foot

The exterior of the property is just as impressive as the interior. A 38,000 gallon heated pool and a hot tub complement a landscaped garden. As if this wasn’t enough, Swanson and Printz added a fitness and spa center for residents. The renovation of the Pierce School is really a study in masterful repurposing and what can be accomplished with unconventional space and materials. The fact that Swan-

Brand new Craftsman inspired rebuild on private wooded 11,587 sqft. lot. in Lee Heights. Enjoy the open and airy floorplan, 4BR’S, 3.5 baths, garage and spectacular views throughout. Within easy walking distance to parks, trails, shops & café’s

Arlington S. $1,159,900

Brand new 4,000+ sqft 5BR, 4.5 bath Craftsman inspired dream home on lovely corner lot amidst established Oaks in the historic Barcroft neighborhood. This one checks all the boxes!

Arlington N. $979,000

All the bells and whistles included! 2011 built, 6 bedroom, 5 bath home with finished walk-out basement. Over 5,000 sqft. of space on quiet cul-de-sac locale just steps from park trailhead.

Arlington N. $899,900

Tatsefully expanded and remodeled from head to toe, this 4BR, 3 bath front porch Cape is nestled on a spectacular landscaped lot straight out of Home & Garden.

Arlington S. $549,900

Calling all handymen, builder’s and DIY’S. Fixer upper near Crystal & Pentagon City Metro stations. 1930’s Cape nestled on a level 6,000 square foot lot. Good bones but home being sold as-is!

Weichert, Realtors.

4701 Old Dominion Drive • Arlington, VA 22207 88 H hillrag.com

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Carrera marble countertops span almost the entire length of the kitchen. Each loft is unique, but all boast flowing floorplans.

ceilings and eight-foot tall, windows, standard elements for a classroom at the time, become dramatic features of a modern living space that is hard to come by anywhere else in the city. Other elements of the school survived the renovation and give a charming, yet stylish nod to its past. The chalkboards were refurbished and are creatively incorporated into each unit, and the school’s American flag flies above the entrance.

son and Printz were able to not only keep, but creatively incorporate the property’s history is a testament to their vision. So, if you’ve got that kind of cash, owning this exceptional space is guaranteed to ensure the envy and awe of any of your friends, and be a very sound investment besides. This property is listed by The Rob and Brent Group of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty. H

Celebrate the 4th in a New Home! All Properties Listed On: BobWilliamsRealEstate.com ColdwellBanker.com CBMove.com Realtor.com

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NYTimes.com HomesDatabase.com OpenHouse.com

Celebrate the 4th in a New Home!

1014 D Street NE • Victorian of Rare Proportions w/ front & rear staircases, 6 brs, 2 bas, full basement, garage. $650,000

All Properties Listed On:

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Yahoo.com Google.com Trulia.com WashingtonPost.com

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1014 D Street NE • Victorian of Rare Proportions w/ front & rear staircases, 6 brs, 2 bas, full basement, garage. $650,000

cently Sold:

1 Independence Ave.SE Delafield Pl.NW Sheridan St.NE 23rd St.NE 3 Clay St.NE 8th Street NE

1214 C Street SE • Sweet serenity from the front porch to the rear garden. Unassuming facade belies the exquisite renovations within. $689,500

We believe that Experience 3110 26th NE • Deliciously deep yard, makes aStreet Difference. gorgeous new renovation of a 3br/3.5ba bunga-

1214 C Street SE • Sweet serenity from the front porch to the rear garden. Unassuming facade

Recently Sold: low. $529,000

belies the exquisite renovations within. $689,500 With so many choices, it’s hard to know who might be your best fit. Our properties haveAnd soldthat in less thanwe3 promise weeks atthat near asking (if not, above). 3110 26th Street NEor • Deliciously deep yard, is why when gorgeous new renovation of a 3br/3.5ba bunga$529,000be References canyou andlow.work will provided. you hire us then with Bob andOur – no assistants or trainees. Former Owner of Burns &Brenda Williams Real Estate • Coldwell Banker’s 2% in 2011 1stabove). Qtr. properties have sold in less than 3 weeks at ortop near asking (if not,

1811 Independence Ave.SE 927 Delafield Pl.NW 908 Sheridan St.NE 511 23rd St.NE 4223 Clay St.NE 103 8th Street NE

References can•and will be provided. Third generation Capitol HillWe resident back totransaction 1918 Selling Real Estate on Capitol Hill since 1977 handle- dating your entire Former Owner of Burns & Williams Real Estate • Coldwell Banker’s top 2% in 2011 1st Qtr.

34 YEARS from EXPERIENCE WORKING ONto 1918 YOUR BEHALF start toCapitol finish. Third generation Hill resident - dating back • Selling Real Estate on Capitol Hill since 1977

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34 YEARS EXPERIENCE WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF

Visit www.bobwilliamsrealestate.com

isit www.bobwilliamsrealestate.com bobwilliams@mris.com

www.bobwilliamsrealestate.com Serving Capitol Hill Since 1977

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Hi, Bob, Thanks for everything! You (and Brenda) have really been great to work with! We’ll stay in touch and also since 1988 let you knowServing if anyoneCapitol we knowHill wants to sell... Sincerely,

Adrienne (3 transactions – lastE Closing RSin. August 2013)

UY SERVING B LERS. EL SERVING S NIT Y. U M M O C R U loween SERVING O onsor of Hil Proud Sp

Jackie Von Schlegel 202.255.2537 Mark Spiker 202.341.9880

jackie@jackiev.com 202-547-5088 Licensed in DC, VA, MD & FL HillRag | November 2013 H 89

realestate

Changing Hands

Changing hands is a list of most residential sales in the District of Columbia from the previous month. A feature of every issue, this list, based on the MRIS, is provided courtesy of Don Denton, manager of the Coldwell Banker office on Capitol Hill. The list includes address, sales price and number of bedrooms. Neighborhood Close Price FEE SIMPLE

16TH STREET HEIGHTS 1220 DELAFIELD PL NW 1611 KENNEDY PL NW 1344 JEFFERSON ST NW 5709 COLORADO AVE NW 4715 PINEY BRANCH RD NW 1402 ALLISON ST NW 1219 GALLATIN ST NW

$747,000 $745,000 $675,000 $589,000 $540,000 $530,000 $495,000

5 4 3 3 4 3 3

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4514 GARRISON ST NW 4346 ALTON PL NW 4339 ALTON PL NW

$990,000 $845,000 $735,000

ANACOSTIA 2670 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SE 1649 U ST SE 1328 V ST SE 1633 W ST SE

$299,900 $195,000 $176,000 $150,000

BARNABY WOODS 3272 ARCADIA PL NW

$1,410,000

BARRY FARMS 2818 POMEROY CT SE

$169,900

BOOMINGDALE 8 ADAMS ST NW

$699,495

BRENTWOOD 1014 BRYANT ST NE 2339 15TH ST NE 1844 KENDALL ST NE

$320,000 $275,000 $99,750

BRIGHTWOOD 908 SHERIDAN ST NW 5732 4TH ST NW 6302 7TH ST NW 720 SHERIDAN ST NW 6012 7TH ST NW 5720 6TH ST NW 719 SOMERSET PL NW

$675,000 $485,000 $457,500 $455,000 $375,000 $321,000 $261,000

BROOKLAND 1409 LAWRENCE ST NE 2911 CHANCELLOR’S WAY NE 4514 S. DAKOTA AVE NE 4204 13TH PL NE 1370 FRANKLIN ST NE 2722 10TH ST NE 1120 MICHIGAN AVE NE 2909 10TH ST NE 10 GIRARD ST NE 1220 ALLISON ST NE 1713 OTIS ST NE 121 HAWAII AVE NE 821 CRITTENDEN ST NE 224 ASCOT PL NE 1241 EVARTS ST NE 4311 VARNUM PL NE 2436 2ND ST NE 1368 FRANKLIN ST NE 4754 6TH PL NE 216 VARNUM ST NE

$699,900 $696,115 $644,000 $605,000 $560,000 $490,000 $455,000 $450,000 $435,000 $428,000 $390,000 $380,000 $362,000 $361,500 $351,000 $315,000 $300,000 $250,160 $247,000 $380,000

CAPITOL HILL 131 C ST SE 626 4TH ST NE 409 A ST SE 641 LEXINGTON PL NE 520 3RD ST NE 228 12TH ST SE

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$1,750,000 $1,401,350 $1,198,198 $1,170,000 $1,050,000 $937,000

3 3 3 4 7 4 3 5 6 4 4 3 2 5 3 3 2 3 3 3 5 3 3 4 3 3 5 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 4 2 3 3 5 6 5 4 5 3 4

633 413 618 132 135 639 112 626 804 518 524 315 180 113 122 903 100 120 522 502 133 510 100 121 324

351 610 633 542 562 623 372 592 350 380 313 283 503 371 305 690

CLE

353 380

793

134 353 134 132 133 400 516 427 761 520 531 320 627 364 762

446 162 421 382

470 173 181 460

421 573 223 510 573 491 507 102 809 506

183

633 4TH ST NE 413 2ND ST SE 618 4TH ST NE 1320 NORTH CAROLINA AVE NE 1354 CAROLINA AVE SE 639 C ST NE 112 7TH ST SE 626 13TH ST NE 804 I ST NE 518 14TH ST NE 524 10TH ST SE 315 11TH ST SE 1804 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE 1134 4TH ST NE 1229 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 903 2ND ST NE 1002 F ST NE 120 DUDDINGTON PL SE 522 10TH ST SE 502 11TH ST NE 1334 K ST SE 510 12TH ST NE 1008 15TH ST SE 1215 I ST SE 324 16TH ST SE

$921,000 $917,500 $875,000 $865,000 $863,000 $846,000 $809,000 $800,000 $799,000 $766,000 $765,400 $765,000 $740,000 $735,000 $687,500 $678,500 $676,000 $670,000 $665,000 $650,000 $640,100 $593,000 $509,000 $480,000 $453,500

CHEVY CHASE 3513 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 6100 33RD ST NW 6338 32ND ST NW 5423 32ND ST NW 5620 NEVADA AVE NW 6232 30TH ST NW 3728 MILITARY RD NW 5921 31ST PL NW 3506 LIVINGSTON ST NW 3806 MILITARY RD NW 3132 OLIVER ST NW 2832 MCKINLEY PL NW 5034 41ST ST NW 3717 JENIFER ST NW 3057 CHESTNUT ST NW 6901 32ND ST NW

$1,800,000 $1,380,000 $1,250,000 $1,055,250 $1,050,000 $1,050,000 $1,012,000 $915,000 $860,000 $835,000 $825,000 $799,000 $710,000 $705,000 $700,000 $660,000

CLEVELAND PARK 3538 PORTER ST NW 3809 WINDOM PL NW

$1,429,000 $800,000

COLONIAL VILLAGE 7935 ORCHID ST NW

$805,000

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1347 MONROE ST NW 3535 HOLMEAD PL NW 1343 MERIDIAN PL NW 1323 SHEPHERD ST NW 1337 SPRING RD NW 4004 14TH ST NW 516 HOBART PL NW 427 MANOR PL NW 761 IRVING ST NW 520 HOBART PL NW 531 IRVING ST NW 3206 PARK PL NW 627 HARVARD ST NW 3642 PARK PL NW 762 MORTON ST NW

$1,025,000 $799,900 $733,000 $665,000 $625,000 $550,000 $539,000 $515,000 $490,000 $455,000 $435,000 $426,000 $425,000 $423,900 $380,000

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 446 OAKWOOD ST SE 162 UPSAL ST SE 4213 WHEELER RD SE 3829 1ST ST SE

$217,000 $200,000 $130,000 $96,500

CRESTWOOD 4705 BLAGDEN AVE NW 1734 TAYLOR ST NW 1818 UPSHUR ST NW 4602 BLAGDEN TER NW

$1,285,000 $935,000 $910,000 $710,000

DEANWOOD 421 60TH ST NE 5737 BLAINE ST NE 223 46TH PL NE 5108 HAYES ST NE 5732 SOUTHERN AVE SE 4917 FITCH PL NE 5076 JAY ST NE 1021 51 ST NE 809 48TH PL NE 5065 SHERIFF RD NE

$375,000 $200,000 $200,000 $193,000 $179,000 $150,000 $135,000 $110,499 $101,000 $80,000

DUPONT CIRCLE 1836 16TH ST NW

$1,875,000

3 4 1 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 2 3 4 3 3 3 2 2 3 3 4 2 2 2 6 4 5 6 4 4 3 4 4 3 4 3 3 4 3 3

GIVING THANKS

FOR CAPITOL HILL LIVING! E BL A IL W! A AV NO

Spacious (1721 SF!) Federal on one of Cap Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most serene streetscapes. Reno in 2006 w/ modern flair plus key historic accents. 10 ft deep entry parlor, BIG LR & DR, and open modern kit w/ walk-out to prvt patio. 3 full BRs & 2 full BA includes dual entry BA w/ Jacuzzi and dual shower. Conveniently located halfway between Lincoln Park & Atlas district! R T! DE C N A U TR N CO

4 3 3 3

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339 11th Street, SE 3BR/ 2.5BA $749,000 Renovated Colonial end-of-row features FLEXIBLE plan - upper 2BR/1.5BA + SEPARATE GUEST SUITE! Features an open plan, modern kit and BA, roof and hvac, gleaming oak flrs and stairs, 2 wood burning FPs, bright windows, and more. Bonus: rear deck and delightful private patio!

1406 E Street, SE 2BR/1.5BA $648,000

ONE OF A KIND MODERN TRANSFORMATION of a Victorian gem! Truly immaculate renovation and maintenance - redesigned floor plan, kitchen, bath, windows, skylights, stairs. Top notch in design and execution! Perfect private patio. Steps to grocery, Metro, and more!

5 2

5 5 3 3 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 4

1213 Duncan Place, NE 3BR/2BA $675,000

R T! DE C N RA U T N CO

315 11th Street, SE 2 BR/1.5 BA $765,000 Charming Federal Front home within a short stroll of Eastern Market, The Metro, and Barracks Row!! Features: hardwood floors, two fireplaces (one in the master suite), built-in bookcases, exposed brick walls, and updated kitchen. Plus, HUGE rear yard with brick patio, garden, and gated parking!!

1243 I Street, NE 3BR/ 2.5BA $635,000 Beautifully renovated row home with wide open floor plan. Roof and systems added in 2003. Hardwoods throughout, granite counter tops, grade A appliances, and gas fireplaces in LR & separate DR.

G IN ! M N CO OO S

YOUR HOUSE HERE!

In times of market shift, homebuyers and sellers are finding our energy, creativity, and direct experience more vital than ever. For the BEST RESULTS, put us to work today! Call Joel for a free consultation on market values, smart improvements, and more!

5 5 6 4 5 3 4 2 3 3 2 4 3 2 6

HillRag | November 2013 H 91

Location, Location, Location 910-912 PA AVE SE For Lease: $10,000/month Prestigious historic brick bay front office buildings of 3224 SF. Pennsylvania Ave location with US Capitol view & The Hill Center. 3224 square feet on 3 levels incl. 5+ parking spaces at rear. Spacious open floor plan and private offices & full kitchen. CAC. New carpet thru out, heart pine floors, and elegant window treatments. Located at Eastern Market and Metro Plaza, 7TH & 8TH STreets restaurants and retail.

703 D Street SE $995,000 Unique commercial property facing Eastern Market Metro Plaza at 7th & Pa Ave SE across from future Hine development (600,000 SF mixed used project). C2A townhouse with bay front, 6 office suites, historic renovation, gas fireplace, kitchenette, powder room, rear yard with deck, storage shed. On retail block with Kinkos, Starbucks, Hill's Kitchen & Radio shack. Great office and/or retail location

1514 Pennsylvania Ave SE $619,500 SOLD 1 Block to Potomac Avenue metro, Harris Teeter, shops, Jenkins Row condos. New construction built in 1979. Three level townhouse approximately 1970 SF main house with 2 Bedrooms 2.5 Baths, Open layout Dining Room & Living Room with hardwood floors, woodburning fireplace. Rear garden. Parking. First floor efficiency unit w/ fireplace. Zoned C2A. Good layout for small office users,retail business or live work combo. First floor efficiency unit w/ fireplace.

Kitty Kaupp & Tati Kaupp Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 605 Pennsylvania Ave SE 202-255-0952 • 202-255-6913 kkaupp@cbmove.com

www.kittykaupp.com

1819 RIGGS PL NW 1802 T ST NW

ECKINGTON

58 Q ST NE 2115 3RD ST NE 2027 3RD ST NE 148 QUINCY PL NE 56 R ST NE 127 QUINCY PL NE 224 R ST NE 1908 2ND ST NE 1910 2ND ST NE 128 U ST NE 146 UHLAND TER NE

FOREST HILLS

3033 ELLICOTT ST NW 3102 ELLICOTT ST NW 4548 LINNEAN AVE NW 4631 30TH ST NW

FORT DUPONT PARK 3209 E ST SE 3915 C ST SE 4335 E ST SE

FOXHALL

1505 44TH ST NW 1435 FOXHALL RD NW

GARFIELD

2756 WOODLEY PL NW GEORGETOWN 3053 P ST NW 3301 N ST NW 3323 PROSPECT ST NW 3107 DUMBARTON ST NW 3402 R ST NW 3141 O ST NW 3053 Q ST NW 1510 33RD ST NW 3659 WINFIELD LN NW 3644 RESERVOIR RD NW 2522 Q ST NW GLOVER PARK 2220 38TH ST NW 3746 W ST NW 3756 BENTON ST NW

H STREET

819 9TH ST NE 1229 I ST NE

HAWTHORNE 6956 33RD ST NW

HILL CREST

Your Neighbor On The Hill

The East of the River Experts!

Anacostia River Realty Sell. Buy. Property Management. 2412 Minnesota Ave. SE, Suite 101 Washington, DC 20020

202.678.REAL(7325) www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com 92 H hillrag.com

“The road to success is not always straight; let me help you through the real estate maze to a happy and successful destination”

Deborah Charlton

Long and Foster Realtors Christie’s Great Estates

(202) 415-2117 (202) 944-8400 DC.DC@LongandFoster.com www.yourneighboronthehill.com

2910 W ST SE 3381 DENVER ST SE 2328 36TH ST SE 1613 27TH ST SE

KALORAMA

2412 TRACY PL NW 1616 22ND ST NW 2130 BANCROFT PL NW 1947 BILTMORE ST NW

KENT

5264 LOUGHBORO RD NW 5422 HAWTHORNE PL NW 2939 ARIZONA AVE NW

LEDROIT PARK

2108 1ST ST NW 65 W ST NW 4 ADAMS ST NW 2019 5TH ST NW 1924 1ST ST NW 2308 North CAPITOL ST NW

LILY PONDS

3462 DIX ST NE 3316 BLAINE ST NE 217 33RD ST NE

LOGAN CIRCLE 928 T ST NW

MANOR PARK

532 ROXBORO PL NW

$1,525,000 $1,349,000

3 4

$730,000 $575,000 $575,000 $490,000 $475,000 $451,000 $415,000 $387,000 $387,000 $380,000 $339,000

4 3 4 3 4 3 3 6 3 3 3

$3,150,000 $2,525,000 $1,181,000 $1,179,000

6 4 4 5

$259,000 $215,000 $130,000

3 3 2

$865,000 $820,000

3 3

$1,210,000

$7,000,000 $5,000,000 $4,200,000 $2,900,000 $2,170,000 $1,720,000 $1,670,000 $1,405,000 $1,385,000 $1,272,500 $1,125,000

9 8 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 3 3

$882,000 $835,000 $801,000

3 4 3

$440,000 $589,000

2 3

$720,000

$440,000 $399,990 $300,001 $196,000

3 3 4 3

$6,750,000 $2,250,000 $2,240,000 $1,399,000

5 5 2 6

$1,260,000 $820,000 $770,000

6 3 3

$675,000 $650,000 $550,000 $450,000 $405,000 $389,000

6 3 3 3 5 2

$250,000 $210,000 $128,900

3 2 2

$1,550,000

$357,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5040 B SE 5305 D ST SE 5111 ASTOR PL SE 859 51ST ST SE 5038 DRAKE PL SE 192 54TH ST SE

$320,000 $289,900 $196,000 $194,000 $122,000 $106,000

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE HTS 2919 WOODLAND DR NW 2861 WOODLAND DR NW

MICHIGAN PARK 4008 21ST ST NE 2001 RANDOLPH ST NE 2011 QUINCY ST NE 3801 DAKOTA AVE NE 4401 16TH ST NE

MOUNT PLEASANT 1817 IRVING ST NW 2020 PIERCE MILL RD NW 1874 INGLESIDE TER NW

NORTH CLEVELAND PARK 3619 TILDEN ST NW

OLD CITY #1

4131/2 5TH ST NE 1313 E ST NE 612 G ST NE 1427 F ST NE 630 D ST NE 1212 D ST NE 247 16TH ST SE 923 G ST SE 1806 POTOMAC AVE SE 1149 ABBEY PL NE 121 18TH ST SE 1312 EMERALD ST NE 318 14TH ST NE 805 9TH ST NE 1538 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 642 MORTON PL NE 261 14TH PL NE 1419 G ST NE 1507 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 239 16TH ST SE 1732 BAY ST SE 1628 D ST SE 36 18TH ST SE 1383 FLORIDA AVE NE 301 K ST NE 1211 FLORIDA AVE NE 510 25TH PL NE 735 18TH ST NE 1531 1ST ST SW 517 23RD PL NE 212 OKLAHOMA AVE NE 1226 LINDEN PL NE

OLD CITY #2

1908 15TH ST NW 1749 SWANN ST NW 1415 COLUMBIA ST NW 2131 15TH ST NW 1335 V ST NW 1516 1ST ST NW 440 N ST NW

PALISADES

5839 SHERIER PL NW 5109 SHERIER PL NW

PETWORTH

8 GRANT CIR NW 4309 4TH ST NW 432 TAYLOR ST NW 615 HAMILTON ST NW 721 PRINCETON PL NW 915 EMERSON ST NW 4011 4TH ST NW 637 ALLISON ST NW 4514 8TH ST NW 445 JEFFERSON ST NW 5217 KANSAS AVE NW 5422 2ND ST NW 5303 4TH ST NW 4134 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 808 MARIETTA PL NW 5312 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 822 EMERSON ST NW

4 4 3 4 4 2

$2,500,000 $7,950,000

6 7

$529,000 $499,000 $420,000 $270,000 $433,000

4 3 4 3 3

$1,036,000 $815,000 $740,000

5 4 4

$1,600,000

$799,900 $789,900 $755,000 $755,000 $701,000 $700,000 $690,000 $665,000 $649,000 $645,000 $629,000 $618,000 $595,000 $547,000 $530,000 $515,000 $510,000 $510,000 $510,000 $509,000 $507,000 $500,000 $465,000 $440,000 $399,999 $390,000 $385,000 $352,000 $277,500 $270,000 $270,000 $473,000

3 4 3 4 4 3 3 2 2 4 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 3 4 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 2

$1,360,000 $866,000 $845,000 $755,130 $755,000 $374,000 $300,000

5 3 3 4 2 2 2

$849,900 $640,000

3 2

$727,000 $725,000 $710,000 $680,000 $651,250 $638,000 $610,000 $600,000 $580,000 $560,000 $550,000 $549,000 $529,900 $519,900 $515,000 $441,000 $426,500

4 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 4 3 3

Making Your Real Estate a Success Story!

646 South Carolina Ave, SE at Eastern Market COMING SOON!

The GranT, ryall, andrew real esTaTe Group Grant Griffith 202.741.1685 Ryall Smith 202.741.1781 Andrew Glasow 202.741.1654 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE • 202.547. 3525

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Joan Carmichael Realtor 202.271.5198 joanvcarmichael@gmail.com Bridgette Cline Realtor 202.271.4196 bcline8041@aol.com for all you real estate needs 1000 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Wash., DC 20003 office #202-546-0055 HillRag | November 2013 H 93

Property Management At Its Best: Over 80% of our condominium and coop associations have been with us for over 9 years. Compare our services and fees high quality at a very fair cost. We will be happy to provide a quote and references. Switch to us now and we will wave first month’s fee. JOEL TRUITT MANAGEMENT, INC. 734 SEVENTH STREET, SE (202) 547-2707 FAX: (202) 547-1977

www.joeltruitt.com

Come to the Country for 24 Acres + 800 Ft. of Shoreline

5313 9TH ST NW 4616 KANSAS AVE NW 421 HAMILTON ST NW 5509 4TH ST NW 5130 NORTH CAPITOL ST NW 5232 7TH ST NW

RANDLE HEIGHTS 2217 NAYLOR RD SE 2205 HARTFORD ST SE 1510 TUBMAN RD SE

RIGGS PARK

108 PEABODY ST NE 735 NICHOLSON ST NE 627 JEFFERSON ST NE 534 INGRAHAM ST NE 1001 HAMILTON ST NE 5067 10TH ST NE 909 HAMILTON ST NE

SHEPHERD PARK Just an hour and 20 minute drive south of DC lies this exquisite 4100+ sq. ft. English manor home. Spend the day hunting, fishing, or walking the trails and come inside to a nice cozy fire on chilly fall evenings. Master craftsman owner has incorporated incredible details throughout. Must see!

1310 FLORAL ST NW 7024 ALASKA AVE NW

SOUTHWEST 615 I ST SW

SPRING VALLEY 4816 RODMAN ST NW

Bonnie Baldus Grier Associate Broker bonniegrier@gmail.com

301.807.1400

TAKOMA PARK

800 FERN PL NW 6821 LAUREL ST NW 6134 SLIGO MILL RD NE 6630 EASTERN AVE NW 6038 SLIGO MILL RD NE

TRINIDAD

CARTUS MASTERS CUP WINNER

New MilleNNiuM BUY • SELL • LEASE • MORTGAGE • TITLE • PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • RELOCATION

www.c21nm.com

202-546-0055

WOODLEY

2828 28TH ST NW 2722 WOODLEY PL NW

I live, work, serve and play ON THE HILL!

WOODRIDGE

1813 MONROE ST NE 3049 CLINTON ST NE 1879 CHANNING ST NE 3153 MONROE ST NE 3025 YOST PL NE 2519 30TH ST NE 3121 18TH ST NE 3027 CHANNING ST NE

John Bratton Bratton Realty LLC 202-744-2642 (c) john@BrattonRealty www.brattonrealty.com

We Guarantee Attention to Detail & Personalized Service 650 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Suite 170 Washington, DC 20003-4318 202-544-0800 94 H hillrag.com

WESLEY HEIGHTS

3114 45TH ST NW 4367 EMBASSY PARK DR NW

I look TO THE HILL for my buyers, sellers, friends and neighbors!

Specializing in all aspects of Real Estate Settlements

1508 MONTELLO AVE NE 1242 NEAL ST NE 1224 NEAL ST NE 1111 OWEN PL NE 1422 TRINIDAD AVE NE 1120 OATES ST NE 1644 L ST NE 1356 LEVIS ST NE 1312 STAPLES ST NE 1821 H ST NE 808 21ST ST NE

$420,000 $415,000 $399,000 $370,000 $325,000 $256,312

5 3 3 3 4 0

$375,000 $225,000 $245,000

4 3 4

$702,850 $371,000 $370,000 $362,000 $315,000 $287,500 $280,000

4 4 4 3 3 3 3

$760,000 $615,000

7 5

$729,000

$1,557,000

$647,000 $564,000 $475,000 $369,000 $275,000

3 3 2 2 3

$560,000 $550,000 $535,000 $496,900 $390,000 $385,000 $366,000 $363,000 $311,000 $292,000 $204,000

4 4 3 4 3 3 2 5 4 3 2

$1,480,000 $762,000

5 3

$1,195,000 $1,280,000

4 4

$504,900 $445,000 $375,000 $355,000 $315,000 $298,000 $265,000 $227,000

4 4 3 4 3 2 3 2

$573,000 $157,500

3 1

$665,000 $660,000 $556,000 $549,500

2 2 3 2

$385,000 $377,500 $314,900 $292,000

2 1 1 1

$224,900 $222,000 $222,000

2 2 2

CONDO 16TH STREET HEIGHTS “We are part of Capitol Hill, We don’t just work here... We live here, too. Let our neighborhood experience work for you...”

5524 9TH ST NW #4 5832 GEORGIA AVE NW #301

ADAMS MORGAN

1616 BEEKMAN PL NW #B 2456 ONTARIO RD NW #3 2633 ADAMS MILL RD NW #302 2509 17TH ST NW #2

BLOOMINGDALE

70 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #103 2020 FLAGLER PL NW #F303 149 W ST NW #15 2201 2ND ST NW #15

202.546.3100 210 7th Street, SE. #100. WDC 20003 www.monarchtitle.net

BRENTWOOD

1353 ADAMS ST NE #4 1353 ADAMS ST NE #2 1353 ADAMS ST NE #1

BRIGHTWOOD

5414 1ST PL NW #201

$259,602

$297,100 $278,000 $263,000 $190,000 $169,000

2 2 1 1 1

$715,000 $472,000 $429,000 $399,999 $383,000 $377,000 $375,000 $359,950 $305,000 $295,000 $240,000 $215,000

3 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 0 1

$270,000

$965,000 $860,000 $769,000 $730,000 $695,000 $599,900 $525,000 $460,000 $450,000 $435,000 $432,500 $429,000 $340,000

2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

$185,000 $160,000

0 0

$425,000 $334,000 $325,000 $325,000 $310,000 $216,000 $214,500

2 1 1 1 1 0 0

1454 BELMONT ST NW #11 $975,000 1339 IRVING ST NW #TH $932,500 1448 HARVARD ST NW #5 $711,616 3414 13TH ST NW #2 $675,000 2550 UNIVERSITY PL NW #2 $590,000 604 COLUMBIA RD NW $525,000 1421 CHAPIN ST NW #21 $493,000 1414 BELMONT ST NW #206 $475,000 1451 HARVARD ST NW #6 $439,900 1317 HARVARD ST NW #1 $437,000 1324 EUCLID ST NW #B-1 $430,000 1101 FAIRMONT ST NW #5 $424,326 3431 14TH ST NW #3 $380,000 1108 COLUMBIA RD NW #102 $342,000 604 COLUMBIA RD NW #1 $340,000 1225 FAIRMONT ST NW #204 $330,000 2535 13TH ST NW #101 $330,000 701 LAMONT ST NW #48 $330,000 760 GIRARD ST NW #102 $325,000 961 RANDOLPH ST NW #4 $325,000 961 RANDOLPH ST NW #1 $320,000 1440 COLUMBIA RD NW #306 $315,000 1030 FAIRMONT ST NW #102 $310,000 2901 16TH ST NW #303 $261,500 1108 COLUMBIA RD NW #204 $253,500 3606 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW #204 $249,900 2639 15TH ST NW #B-3 $199,000 2823 11TH ST NW #2 $766,000

2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 1 1 0 3

BROOKLAND

80 HAWTHORNE CT NE #80 315 EVARTS ST NE #206 330 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE #40 318 RHODE ISLAND AVE NE #302 2615 4TH ST NE #203

CAPITOL HILL

518 14TH ST SE #1 266 KENTUCKY AVE SE #266-B 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #356 1 14TH ST NE #1 1628 C ST SE #303 80 15TH ST NE #80 1411 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE #4 401 13TH ST NE #304 117 E ST SE #303 909 E ST SE ##3 101 NORTH CAROLINA AVE SE #306 412 19TH ST NE #202

CATHEDRAL HGTS

4100 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #507

CENTRAL

2425 L ST NW #705 2425 L ST NW #642 1111 25TH ST NW #306 2425 L ST NW #629 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #213 1133 14TH ST NW #1208 2301 N ST NW #601 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #1016 2111 O ST NW #B 631 D ST NW #835 1150 K ST NW #607 1133 14TH ST NW #906 1316 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #504

CHEVY CHASE

5410 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #209 5406 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #803

CLEVELAND PARK

3110 WISCONSIN AVE NW #501 3710 39TH ST NW #174 3446 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #208 3801 RODMAN ST NW #3 2902 PORTER ST NW #33 3701 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #204 3701 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #725

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

CONGRESS HEIGHTS 450 CONDON TER SE #T-1 120 DANBURY ST SW #120E

DEANWOOD

200 43RD RD NE #B3

$600,000 $37,000

2 1

$78,000

GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES Columbia Heights

Perfect Pied-a-Terre in HOT, HOT, HOT Columbia Heights location. Wood floors, granite and stainless steel kitchen, washer/dryer in unit. Low condo fee. Pet friendly building (under 25lbs). $225,000

Capitol Hill

Light and bright, top-floor, close-in Senate side efficiency. Walk-in closet, new wood floors, freshly painted, breakfast bar. $220,000.

Licensed in DC, MD & VA

HillRag | November 2013 H 95

DUPONT

1704 19TH ST NW #7 1813 16TH ST NW #2B 1718 P ST NW #919 1718 CORCORAN ST NW #25 2113 O ST NW #2113B 1621 T ST NW #B1 1726 17TH ST NW #304 1615 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #51 1 SCOTT CIR NW #421

Debbie Luthy Lacaze Meredith Real Estate A Long and Foster Company

DUPONT CIRCLE

2001 19TH ST NW #3 1715 SWANN ST NW #1 1930 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #53 2008 16TH ST NW #303 1930 18TH ST NW #34 1301 20TH ST NW #302 1601 18TH ST NW #501

213 Sunburst Highway Cambridge, Md. 21613 Office: 410.228.2050 Direct: 410.463.3128

ECKINGTON

138 QUINCY PL NE #3

Located on historic High St in Cambridge, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bayley Houseâ&#x20AC;? was originally constructed circa 1750 in Annapolis, disassembled, shipped by barge and reassembled on site where the courthouse now stands. It was later moved again (1770) to its present day location and is awaiting a new owner to restore it to its former beauty. Updates include kitchen, roof, electrical and cac on 2nd floor. Just 1 block to the municipal marina, park and yacht club on the Choptank River. Asking $325,000.

FOGGY BOTTOM

3 WASHINGTON CIR NW #803 3 WASHINGTON CIR NW #501 2515 K ST NW #611 2401 H ST NW #401 922 24TH ST NW #3 922 24TH ST NW #703

FOREST HILLS

4007 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #307 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #1230 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #927 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #737 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #232

FORT LINCOLN

3460 SUMMIT CT NE #3460 3109 CHERRY RD NE #34 3062 PINEVIEW CT NE #3062

GARFIELD

2646 WOODLEY PL NW #1/2

GEORGETOWN

3251 PROSPECT ST NW #R-302 1015 33RD ST NW #809 2735 OLIVE ST NW #3 1318 35TH ST NW #1 3020 DENT PL NW #16W

GLOVER PARK

4000 TUNLAW RD NW #418 4000 TUNLAW RD NW #417 4000 TUNLAW RD NW #1118

H STREET

1606 ISHERWOOD ST NE #3 1367 FLORIDA AVE NE #402

HILL CREST

3930 SOUTHERN AVE SE #A 2111 SUITLAND TER SE #201

HILL EAST

321 18TH ST SE #6 245 15TH ST SE #205

Call Me and Come Visit Your Dream Capitol Hill Home

KALORAMA

2011 COLUMBIA RD NW #1 2339 ASHMEAD PL NW #4 1900 BILTMORE ST NW #5 1833 CALIFORNIA ST NW #304 1815 BILTMORE ST NW #7 1954 COLUMBIA RD NW #702 2009 BELMONT RD NW #103 2138 CALIFORNIA ST NW #204

17 15th Street NE, DC â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

Three Bedrooms and Two & a Half Baths Two Story Master Suite Amazing Views!

$799,000

Dee Dee Branand At

LEDROIT PARK

home on the Hill

605 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 Office: 202 547-3525 Cell: 202 369-7902 Email: dbranand@cbmove.com Web: www.deedeebranand.com

96 H hillrag.com

2223 1ST ST NW #1 150 V ST NW #V209 150 V ST NW #V201 149 W ST NW #41 150 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #403

LOGAN

1229 12TH ST NW #110 1618 11TH ST NW #201 1425 11TH ST NW #17-B 1320 13TH ST NW #42

1302 R ST NW #2 1117 10TH ST NW #512 1314 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #505 1314 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #604 2125 14TH ST NW #323W 2125 14TH ST NW #529 2125 14TH ST NW #609 1444 CHURCH ST NW #705 1515 15TH ST NW #705 1300 13TH ST NW #502 1450 CHURCH ST NW #503 1400 CHURCH ST NW #203 1401 Q ST NW #501 1325 13TH ST NW #16 1900 15TH ST NW #5 1300 N ST NW #112

$705,000 $585,000 $560,000 $510,000 $465,000 $435,000 $365,000 $335,000 $299,900

2 2 2 2 1 2 1 0 1

$865,000 $666,000 $482,555 $429,000 $382,000 $355,000 $317,000

2 2 2 2 1 1 1

$569,000

$400,000 $368,790 $315,000 $280,000 $245,000 $232,000

1 1 1 1 1 0

$365,000 $340,000 $325,000 $285,000 $240,000

1 1 1 1 1

$257,000 $219,000 $185,000

3 3 2

$825,000

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE

$995,000 $977,500 $960,000 $715,000 $420,000

2 2 2 3 1

OLD CITY #1

$289,200 $280,000 $279,900

1 1 1

OLD CITY #2

$254,000 $424,900

1 2

$100,000 $53,000

2 1

$394,900 $358,900

2 1

$454,000 $449,900 $380,000 $377,000 $362,000 $345,000 $279,900 $214,500

2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0

$565,000 $386,000 $355,000 $349,900 $459,500

2 1 1 1 2

$699,000 $643,000 $585,000 $565,000

2 2 2 2

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 4950 CALL PL SE #E-2 5 46TH ST SE #6

MOUNT PLEASANT

3430 BROWN ST NW #5 1717 LAMONT ST NW #C 1830 LAMONT ST NW #ONE 1823 NEWTON ST NW #103 1725 LANIER PL NW #21A 1661 PARK RD NW #206 1708 NEWTON ST NW #202 2627 ADAMS MILL RD NW #T4 3314 MOUNT PLEASANT ST NW #22 1661 PARK RD NW #305 3314 MOUNT PLEASANT ST NW #B-1

MOUNT VERNON

910 M ST NW #512 425 M ST NW #D 440 L ST NW #1010 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #711 440 L ST NW #1107

NORTH CLEVELAND PARK 4444 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #305 3051 IDAHO AVE NW #321 1025 1ST ST SE #1101 1338 L ST SE #1338 1455 A ST NE #A 637 3RD ST NE #4-4 220 13TH ST SE #6 1401 CHURCH ST NW #507 2020 12TH ST NW #514 2100 11TH ST NW #102 1229 12TH ST NW #106 1736 18TH ST NW #401 1407 15TH ST NW #1 1612 5TH ST NW #2 1726 S ST NW #1 1212 M ST NW #203 910 M ST NW #121 1125 11TH ST NW #102 1207 N ST NW #C 475 K ST NW #914 1001 L ST NW #808 1445 N ST NW #203 2125 14TH ST NW #608 1117 10TH ST NW #308 475 K ST NW #311 1117 10TH ST NW #808 811 4TH ST NW #716 1421 T ST NW #5 1408 10TH ST NW #302 1537 15TH ST NW #101 1545 18TH ST NW #705 1239 VERMONT AVE NW #709 555 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #108 1420 N ST NW #407 1125 12TH ST NW #23

PALISADES

4570 MACARTHUR BLVD NW #G7

PENN QUARTER

801 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1021

PETWORTH

5407 7TH ST NW #102

$465,000 $429,000 $413,000 $379,000 $969,000 $355,000 $715,000 $1,515,000 $1,300,000 $805,000 $710,000 $662,500 $630,000 $620,000 $349,000 $289,950

1 1 1 1 3 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 1 0

$165,000 $75,000

2 2

$620,000 $561,000 $545,000 $433,750 $424,500 $424,116 $374,000 $340,000 $327,000 $312,500 $255,000

3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

$613,000 $518,333 $575,000 $320,000 $499,000

2 2 2 0 2

$429,000

$252,000

$473,000 $459,000 $366,000 $285,000 $270,000

1 2 1 1 1

$1,125,000 $761,000 $683,000 $622,500 $615,000 $590,000 $585,000 $561,400 $549,750 $545,000 $530,000 $500,000 $497,000 $487,000 $487,000 $485,000 $468,890 $460,000 $455,000 $440,000 $433,500 $418,000 $380,000 $375,000 $375,000 $365,000 $250,000 $190,000

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1

$227,000

$1,050,000

$490,000

5401-5407 9TH ST NW #109 936 MADISON ST NW #102 5040 1ST ST NW #101

RANDLE HEIGHTS

3509 21ST ST SE 1907 GOOD HOPE RD SE #201 3031 BUENA VISTA TER SE #4

RLA (SW)

66 G ST. ST SW #119 240 M ST SW #E115 800 4TH ST SW #N-613 800 4TH ST SW #N-125 700 7TH ST SW #626-628 700 7TH ST SW #706 735 DELAWARE AVE SW #191

SHAW

1407 5TH ST NW ##1 306 P ST NW #2 1639-1643 6TH ST NW #9 18 O ST NW 306 P ST NW #1

SW WATERFRONT 240 M ST SW #E406 300 M ST SW #N513 700 7TH ST SW #807

TENLEYTOWN

4101 ALBEMARLE ST NW #618

U STREET CORRIDOR 2001 12TH ST NW #214 1421 T ST NW #7 2004 11TH ST NW #139 2020 12TH ST NW #204

VAN NESS

2939 VAN NESS ST NW #406 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #520

WAKEFIELD

4740 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #413 4740 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #401

WATERFRONT

700 7TH ST SW #821

WESLEY HEIGHTS

3213 SUTTON PL NW #3213B 3101 NEW MEXICO AVE NW #532 4200 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #1015 4200 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #818 4201 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #119E

WEST END

1155 23RD ST NW #N7E 1177 22ND ST NW #3F 1155 23RD ST NW #N2C 955 26TH ST NW #109

WOODLEY PARK

2737 DEVONSHIRE PL NW #428 2619 GARFIELD ST NW #2 2829 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #112

$257,850 $137,000 $169,900

1 1 1

$230,000 $41,500 $25,000

3 1 3

$528,000 $400,000 $301,000 $235,000 $510,000 $305,000 $460,000

2 2 1 0 2 2 3

$674,500 $445,000 $416,000 $399,900 $377,500

2 2 2 2 2

2510 VIRGINIA NW #509-N 2475 VIRGINIA AVE NW #113

FOREST HILLS

3601 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #212

HILL CREST

27042710 31ST ST SE #A-638

KALORAMA

2339 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #4 1832 BILTMORE ST NW #36 2220 20TH ST NW #62 2540 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #503 1860 CALIFORNIA ST NW #202 1860 CALIFORNIA ST NW #104

LOGAN CIRCLE 1419 R ST NW #33

MOUNT PLEASANT 1705 LANIER PL NW #403

NORTH CLEVELAND PARK 3900 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #306-F

$240,000 $185,000 $287,000

1 0 1

$359,000

$457,000 $535,000 $425,000 $423,000

1 1 1 1

$435,000 $305,000

2 1

$385,000 $341,670

2 1

$304,000

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE

4000 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #307B 4000 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #746B 4101 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #1015 3900 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #707A

OLD CITY #2

1725 17TH ST NW #413

PETWORTH

250 FARRAGUT ST NW #I-106

RLA (SW)

429 N ST SW #S511 1301 DELAWARE AVE SW #N-420 1311 DELAWARE AVE SW #S130

SOUTHWEST WATERFRONT 1328 4TH ST SW #T1328 430 M ST SW #N304 395 O ST SW

VAN NESS

3001 VEAZEY TER NW #1232 $629,000 $427,500 $210,000 $192,000 $180,000

2 1 1 1 1

$2,400,000 $1,295,000 $1,055,000 $379,500

2 2 2 1

$385,000 $309,000 $244,900

1 1 1

$501,000

$347,000 $183,000

2 1

$715,000 $575,000 $334,000

3 2 1

$390,000 $385,000 $249,000

2 2 0

$515,000 $280,000 $249,000

2 1 1

WATERFRONT

1245 4TH ST SW #E-501

WATERGATE

2500 VIRGINIA AVE NW #906-S

WEST END

1200 23RD ST NW #910 1200 23RD NW #808 H

$235,000 $216,000

0 1

$438,000

$70,000

$2,257,000 $520,000 $385,000 $372,000 $329,000 $190,000

4 2 1 1 1 0

$625,000

$309,500

$304,000

$310,000 $277,500 $215,000 $248,000

1 1 1 1

$230,000

$75,000

$415,000 $139,900 $95,000

2 1 0

$475,000 $465,000 $420,000

4 2 3

$525,000

$275,000

$375,000

$625,000 $320,000

2 1

1437 S. Carolina Ave, SE Coming Soon!

Capitol Views

Evelyn Branic, GRI

Whether searching for a home on Capitol hill or in Hillcrest, varied housing across the Washington Metropolitan area offers something for everyone. Despite cries of limited inventory, the area market remains strong. Currently, there are several homes offered for sale and more to come. Stop by an open house on Sunday or call to schedule a private tour.

CoOp ADAMS MORGAN

1661 CRESCENT PL NW #307

CATHEDRAL

3900 WATSON PL NW #B-7A 4101 CATHEDRAL NW #708

CLEVELAND PARK

3024 TILDEN ST NW #203 3020 TILDEN ST NW #304 3900 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #505-G

DUPONT

1701 16TH ST NW #636 2100 19TH ST NW #805 1514 17TH ST NW #409

FOGGY BOTTOM

2510 VIRGINIA AVE NW #407-N 2700 VIRGINIA AVE NW #1208 730 24TH ST NW #218

1451 S. Carolina Ave, SE $629,999

velyn R

108 15th St, NE $649,000

ranic L

3340 Alabama Ave, SE $469,000

630 D Street, NE $701,000 Sales Price

202.741.1674

www.cbmove.com/evelyn.branic

Licensed DC, MD & VA

Office: 605 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, WDC 20003 Phone: 202.547.3525

HillRag | November 2013 H 97

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ARTS & Dining Dining Notes

by Celeste McCall

oining Barracks Row’s ever-expanding restaurant brigade is Rose’s Luxury, 717 Eighth St. SE. Dispensing cutting-edge cuisine, according to the Post’s Tom Sietsema, Rose’s is the creation of Aaron Silverman, who has wielded his whisk at New York’s Momofuku Noodle Bar. Aaron’s chef de cuisine is Scott Muns, formerly with Frederick’s acclaimed Volt. Rose was the name of Silverman’s late grandmother. Designed by the Georgetown firm of Hapstak-Demetriu, the stunning décor of this former, three-level office space soars with exposed pipes, brick walls and sparkling lights. Some furnishings—including a snazzy antique telephone-- were gleaned from flea markets, Silverman told us. When we arrived on a drizzly evening, we faced a 30-minute wait for a table. So we settled on a front row center perch at the counter in front of the bustling display kitchen. Appearing promptly was a loaf of melt-in-your-mouth potato bread— straight from the oven, with creamy whipped butter and fried flakes of potato skin. Bread and other items were presented on flowery antique plates, the sort you might inherit from your grandmother. Delightfully mismatched silverware emerged from cigar boxes. We had to try owner/chef Silverman’s touted, weird-sounding popcorn soup. Served in a jelly jar, the potage tastes like buttery popped kernels, rich but foamy, which complements the base of roasted lobster. Peter chose a quartet of Prince Edward Island oysters, zinged with citrus vinaigrette. Quoting from Washington Post columnist John Kelly, Peter declared the bivalves “taste like kissing a mermaid.” We also loved the smoked baby back ribs. From Rose’s family-style menu, we shared brined fried chicken paired with lima beans, two pretty deviled eggs, and a dish of (unnecessary) hot sauce. Dark and light meat segments were moist, but the crust was rather salty. Rose’s is not cheap; our tab, which included two glasses of wine from the brief, interesting list, came to almost $100.

Brined fried chicken at Rose’s Luxury, 717 8th St. SE.

But it was worth it. Service was friendly yet professional. Rose’s Luxury is open Monday-Saturday for dinner only. Call 202-5808889 orwww.rosesluxury.com.

Rare on Barracks Row

Medium Rare, an offshoot of Cleveland Park’s steak-and-frites restaurant, is replacing Fusion Grill at 515 8th St. SE. While seeking an additional Medium Rare venue, owner Mark Bucher has been opening multiple locations of his BGR: The Burger Joint. He now has about a dozen sprinkled around the Washington area and elsewhere on the East Coast. Meanwhile, Fusion, which has occupied that Barracks Row spot forever, is reportedly seeking new digs.

Kraze

At 415 8th Street, SE, Kraze Burgers has opened, the first of the local chain to open in DC. The burgers, we’re told, are handformed (never frozen), snuggled in multi-grain buns and splashed with choice of sauces. Besides beef, Kraze grills tofu, veggie, turkey and chicken burgers, and features a special Bulgogi burger with slices of marinated rib eye. For updates visit www.kraze.us.

Facelift

In the Atlas District, Granville Moore’s has overhauled its kitchen and given a facelift to the upstairs bar area. “Space has always been a challenge,” says owner and executive chef Teddy HillRag | November 2013 H 99

Personal Chef Service Artisan

Cuisine

Providing Capitol Hill with the most elegant and professional in-home fine dining experience.

Folkman. The expansion will speed up waiting times. To enlarge the 100-square-foot kitchen, designers commandeered a storage area. New equipment is coming, including a much-needed oven. The dining room comfortably seats 34. Located at 1238 H Street, NE, Granville Moore’s is open daily for dinner with lunch on Fridays starting at 11:30 a.m. Weekend brunch goes from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Granville Moore’s also caters. For more information, visit www.granvillemoores.com.

Happy at Ambar

Ambar, 523 Eighth St. SE, has happy hour Monday through Friday, from 4 to 7 p.m. Beer, wine, cocktails and small plates are just $4 per item. Cocktails include mango lemonade, margaritas and mojitos. “Balkan bites” include bacon-wrapped prunes, leek croquettes, red pepper spread, beef and pork kebabs. Call 202-813-3039 or www.ambarrestaurant.com.

Market watch

Professionally trained and personally focused. Our menus are designed to meet your needs. Corporate Functions, Holiday Parties, Private Events

ChefNeilWilson.com ChefNeilWilson@aol.com | 301.699.2225 ChefJasonLawrence@hotmail.com | 202.549.7422

If you like the zesty “Crazy Feta” cheese at Cava Mezze, 527 Eighth St. SE, you can buy it at Eastern Market. Available at Eastern Market Grocery, an 8.5 ounce container costs $10. The stand also sells Cava’s Spicy Hommus, $4 for an 8.5-ounce container. Both items are doing very well, we’re told.

New at Union Market

Ris Lacoste, chef/owner of Ris, the upscale West End restaurant, is unveiling a stall at Union Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE. Around mid-November, look for Lacoste’s stocks, sauces, soups, prepared foods, baked goods, and “Ris Bowls” (stews, salads and “nutritious children’s foods.”) Assisting Lacoste in her enterprise will be Allison Cortese, Ris’ dining room manager. RIS at Union Market will operate during regular market hours, Wednesday through Sunday.

Real Mexican Downtown

At first we thought MXDC, which opened this fall in Roberto Donna’s old spot next to the Hamilton, were Roman numerals (memories from high school Latin). Noooo, MXDC refers to “Mexican in Washington DC.” REAL Mexican, not Tex-Mex. On a warm October evening, Peter and I stumbled into this stylish restaurant after a stirring impromptu concert by Peter Yarrow at a Lafayette Park peace vigil. MXDC is restaurateur Todd English’s sole Washington outpost (he also operated downtown’s long-gone Olives). As we sipped rather strong margaritas, our server brought a trio of salsas: mild, medium and hot (very!), which we scooped up with warm, yummy 100 H hillrag.com

chips. Besides traditional guacamole, there’s Azul (chunky avocado tossed with bacon and bleu cheese). Richly delicious. In fact we filled up on that and hardly found room for our offbeat beet ceviche, octopus tacos, seafood (shrimp) quesadillas, garnished with red pickled onions and cilantro sprigs. Open six days (closed Sunday), MXDC is at 600 14th St. NW; call 202-393-1900.

Soup’s On!

We knew fall had arrived with all its bluster when Peter declared: “It’s pho weather.” Fortunately we did not have far to go for this tummy-warming Vietnamese beef-based broth; we headed straight for Anh-Dao’s Taste of Vietnam, 1123 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. If the interior of this 35-seat charmer looks familiar, it’s because it once housed part of Henry Mendoza’s now-defunct Il Capo di Capitol Hill/Mi Vecindad restaurant. The rest of the space is occupied by Frager’s resurrected paint store. (No worries, Henry’s La Plaza is still going strong up the street at 629 Pennsylvania Ave. SE.) Anh-Dao was packed for a mid-week lunch. I chose the “special” pho laced with eye of round, flank steak and dense Asian-style meat balls, with oodles of noodles scented with lemon grass. The generous bowl was garnished with sprigs of Asian basil, jalapeno slices and a stack of bean sprouts. Even better is roasted duck soup; an entire duck leg swims in savory broth. Among non-soups, we recommend vermicelli (noodles) with spicy lemon grass chicken. Spring rolls are plumped with shrimp and accompanied by a piquant peanut sauce. Dishes taste authentic; we’ve visited Southeast Asia. Most phos are $9.99, a dollar more after 3 p.m. Beverages include jasmine and Vietnamese-style tea, coffee, soft drinks, soy milk, no booze. There’s also carryout. Anh-Dao is open Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday andSaturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 11-9. Call 202-546-4641.

Brunch bunch

Da Luft Restaurant & Lounge, 1242 H St. NE, serves Sunday brunch, from noon to 2 p.m. At dinner shortly after the opening, Peter enjoyed the crispy catfish nuggets, while I munched on turkey sliders. Executive Chef Ernest Todd’s other offerings include wings (buffalo, honey or Caribbean-style); shrimp hushpuppies, crockpot chili, chicken marsala, blackened salmon and much more. Besides the Sunday repast, Da Luft is open TuesdayThursday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Friday andSaturday until 3 a.m. Go to www.daluftdc. com. H

Scan to visit DCanter’s website

Come Party Sign Up Now for Upcoming Classes! Survey of French Wine Tuesday, November 19th (6:30pm-8:00pm) The Cote du Rhone: Tasting Tour and Virtual Winemaker Visit Sunday, November 24th (4:00pm-5:30pm)

545 8th Street SE Washington, DC 20003 Tuesday-Saturday (11:00am-9:00pm) Closed Monday Sunday (12:00pm-6:00pm)

ProviDiNg CaPitol Hill WitH... • Flavorful Artisan Wines and Craft Beers • Enjoyable Tasting Events • Fun and Informative Classes

Newly Renovated! Live Piano Music Wednesday Through Saturday Featuring Gordon Kent Every Friday & Saturday Karaoke - Sunday, Monday & Tuesday Evenings! The HIll’s Best Happy Hour: Weekdays 4 to 7:30 PM & Weekends Noon to 5 PM Brunch All Weekend: 10 AM to 3 PM Regular Menu Also Available

Brunello: The Tuscan Titan Tuesday, December 10th (6:30pm-8:00pm)

Where Every Customer is Family! Serving the Finest Cuban, Puerto Rican and Latin Cuisine

Beer Festivus Tuesday, December 17th (6:30pm-8:00pm) www.dcanterwines.com (202) 817-3803 hello@dcanterwines.com Follow us @dcanterwines Like us /dcanterwines

Banana Cafe The Hill’s Only Piano Bar!

Host Your Next eveNt iN DCaNter’s tastiNg room Are you hosting a birthday, anniversary, shower, or corporate event? Let us help you plan it! DCanter offers private wine or craft beer tastings! Contact us for more information.

Banana Cafe Piano Bar A Taste of Old Havana! On Barracks Rows 500 Eighth St. SE | 202-543-5906 www.bananacafedc.com

HillRag | November 2013 H 101

Luke Britt of Spring Mill Bread Company with a delicious double-stuffed apple pie. You can also find the perfect bread for to cube for stuffing.

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everything but the

TuRkEy! N

oone has ever applied “prized family recipe” to the golden skinned turkey on a Thanksgiving table. Sure, heated debates over braising and brown-bag-roasting may ensue in the kitchen, but seated at the table it’s Mom’s stuffing recipe and Grandma’s sweet potatoes we clamor for. Intent on making Thanksgiving sides the main event, I set off shopping around the Hill with canvas bag in hand.

Stuffing Reigns Supreme

With full deference to my husband Jason’s Ohio upbringing, stuffing— not mashed potatoes—are my favorite starch on the Thanksgiving table. I like mine stuffed in the bird and rich with roasting juices. Toothy, flavorful stuffing starts with great bread, so I ask Spring Mill Bread Company (www.SpringMillBread.com, 701 8th St. SE) manager Luke Britt for his favorite loaf. “I like to cube up a loaf of honey whole wheat a couple days early and let it dry and age naturally,” he says. If you prefer your bread white, grab the Peasant White. If you ask nicely, the bakery staff will even cube it for you upon request. My stuffing simply combines bread, butter and aromatics. With so few ingredients, I procure the best on a Saturday visit to Eastern Market. Crisp celery, sharp fall onions, rich Amish butter and sweet carrots from Agora Farms (www.AgoraFarms.com) all taste significantly better farm-fresh than grocery store staples.

by Jonathan Bardzik, photos Andrew Lightman

Oysters and Sausage

There is ample evidence—at least enough to start a fight—that good ol’ fashioned Southern oyster stuffing originated from the Northeast. That’s enough for me to give it a try. Knowing not all oysters are equal, I call Travis Croxton at the Rappahannock Oyster Company (www.rroysters.com). At their tasting bar in Union Market (1309 5th St. NE) they serve native oysters raised from the brackish waters of the Rappahannock to the ocean off Chincoteague Island. While they are all delicious shucked and slurped from the shell, I wasn’t sure which ones to cook with. “Use our Rappahanock oysters,” Travis recommends. “They hold up better in cooking than our brinier offerings.” You can order them online, but save a few bucks and pick them up from Union Market. Save yourself some work and buy them pre-shucked by the pint or quart. Travis also suggested adding a sharp bite of spicy sausage. While pork is traditional, his mention of North African Merguez, sent me running to William Peachy at Peachy Family Dairy. You can find his flavored goat cheese, goat cheese ice cream, and goat Merguez sausage on Saturdays at either Eastern Market or at the H Street FRESHFARM market.

Bacon Is A Vegetable

When it comes to vegetables, I’ve let tradition give way to seasonality and

Alexander Eller shows off Rappahannock Oyster Company’s buttery oysters, perfect for stuffing. Their pre-shucked quarts and pints return just in time for Thanksgiving. HillRag | November 2013 H 103

Gourmet Cream Style Sweet Corn The Perfect Thanksgiving Dish!

• • • • • • •

A diverse product line of quality beverages from all over the world One of the largest and most unique wine selections on Capitol Hill A friendly and knowledgeable staff Located just minutes form Downtown, DC and Alexandria, VA 1 block south of Eastern Market Metro on the vibrant Barracks Row Owned by the Williams Family since 1978; established before 1919

The best weekly wine tastings on “The Hill”- Sat (3-6pm)

“Better Tasting than Corn on the Cob!” 100% NATURAL No Added Sugar, Coloring or Preservatives

Available @ The Silver Spork 303 7th St., SE Questions? Email us at info@larrysweetcorn.com

www.larrysweetcorn.com

now fill my bags farm-fresh at the market the weekend before Thanksgiving. When planning your menu on the fly, it helps to have certain staples on hand to pull your fresh ingredients together. Salty, cured pork, which I pick up at Eastern Market’s Canales Quality Meats (www.CanalesQualityMeats. com), does wonderful things for heavier and slightly bitter fall vegetables. I prefer salt-cured, Italian pancetta to smoky bacon. A thick slab of pork belly, spice rubbed, braised and roasted, richly balances a tart cranberry compote. I’ll be serving a Brussels sprout slaw using crisp pancetta with thinly-shaved, blanched Brussels sprouts tossed in a grainy mustard vinaigrette. The recipe is available below.

Bright and Balanced

Thanksgiving dinner easily becomes too heavy, laden with gravy, rich turkey and starchy vegetables. A splash of vinegar does magic things when your taste buds are begging for relief. I swing into Sapore Oil and Vinegar (www. SaporeOilandVinegar.com, 660 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) to restock. Cider vinegar seems like a natural for fall, but so much of what’s on grocery store shelves tastes cheap and harsh. Sapore’s Autumn Apple is balanced and mild with just a little sweetness. After searching for a year and a half, owner Renee Shields-Farr has finally found the perfect rich, toasted pumpkin seed oil. Used as a finishing oil, just like sesame or walnut, it is perfect drizzled over roast squash or silky pumpkin soup.

Shop local at the H Street Farmers Market

J. Chocolatier

Small Batch Chocolates * Handmade on the Hill

104 H hillrag.com

Contact Info

November Pop-Up Shop

jane@jchocolatier.com www.jchocolatier.com

Tues. Nov. 26th 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. @Tabula Rasa 731 8th St. SE

For several years now I have wanted to visit the Saturday FRESHFARM Market on H Street (www.freshfarmmarkets.org, 13th and H Streets NE), but my Eastern Market cooking demo schedule has kept me away. Undaunted, I’m sending Jason. To put together my shopping list I called the FRESHFARM office and they connected me with Juliet Glass, their Director of Markets and Programs. Juliet raved about newcomer North Cove Mushrooms (www.northcovemushrooms.com) and warned me to arrive early if I wanted any of Frenchie’s (frenchiesdc.com) croissants made with Trickling Springs Creamery’s butter.

Rated One of the Best Wine Shops by Washingtonian Magazine July “Best & Worst” Issue Listed in the Wall Street journal as one of the most enjoyable places to shop for wines nationwide. “Best Website Award”, 2008 by the Wine Spectator’s Market Watch

Voted “Best Liquor Store” and “Best Wine Selection” four years in a row by the City Paper

T H I S

M O N T H !

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This month’s selection features eight reds, three whites and a rose at 48% off the regular retail price. Regular Price: $345.88 | At Sale Prices: $243.88 | SchneiderCoupon Price: $179.99 wine

reg.

2011 2010 2011 2012 2011 NV 2010 2009 2011 2010 2008 2002

Bichot Macon Village 750ml ................................................... $14.99 Jean-Marc Gilet Vouvray Demi Sec 750ml .................................. $19.99 Jeff Carrel Morillon Blanc 750ml ............................................... $24.99 Miraval Cotes de Provence Rose 750ml...................................... $26.99 Chateau de Cordes Minervois Rouge 750ml ................................ $19.99 Pegau Plan Pegau Lot# 2010 750ml ........................................ $19.99 Lancyre Aleyrac 750ml ............................................................ $24.99 Feraud Cotes du Rhone Seguret 750ml ...................................... $19.99 Pegau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee 750ml ..................... $99.99 Calathus Malbec 750ml .......................................................... $29.99 Cascina Adelaide Dolcetto Di Diano d’Alba 750ml ........................ $23.99 Señorío del Águila Reserva 750ml............................................. $19.99

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BOTTOM: Sweet, rich pork like salt-cured pancetta or this thick slab of pork belly are the perfect balance to heavy, bitter fall veggies and greens. Just ask Emilio Canales!

LEFT: Leah Daniels, owner of Hill’s Kitchen loves her Mauviel roasting pan, heavy duty enough to easily go from oven to stove top for great gravy.

BELOW: Burnie Williams of Chat’s Liquor celebrates 35 years of great wines.

Let’s Fill Everyone’s Table

Three years ago, Juliet received a call from the First Church of Christ Holiness. They were asking for help collecting food for a housing project that had recently suffered a fire. Market shoppers donated canned goods and $300 which was used to buy fresh food. Juliet says that when the church came to pick up the donation there were hugs and tears. For three years now, this truly local market has enjoyed support from patrons and shoppers like Toki Underground’s chef Erik Bruner-Yang who, last year, matched the donations from other shoppers. This year’s food drive will be held on Saturday, November 23 during market hours from 9:00 am to noon. The Market will be open through December 21.

Raise A Glass

With the menu planned and the fridge nearly full, I needed a drink. As Chat’s Liquors (www. ChatsLiquors.com, 503 8th St. SE) celebrates 35 years of great wines and even better recommendations, they are joined on 8th Street by newcomer DCanter (www.DCanterWines.com, 545 8th St. SE). I asked co-owner Michael Warner about his suggestions for Thanksgiving dinner. He told me, “A meal filled with so many traditions and family favorites is challenging to pair for,” but pair he did. “For an American meal, let’s choose some Frenchstyle, American-produced wines. For gathering in the kitchen, Michael starts with easy-sipping California bubbly, Laetitia Brut Cuvée, NV. At the table if you prefer white, open a bottle of Frecciarossa Sillery Pinot Nero, 2012, a wine made with the Pinot Noir grape that is light and crisp enough for turkey, and bold enough for gravy. Michael also recommends Chateau Grand Traverse Gamay Noir, 2011 is a red made from the Beaujolais grape, and Lioco Indica, 2012 a California Rosé. After dinner you’ll want something a little stronger to lull you into your tryptophan-induced nap. I asked Jon Genderson at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill (www.cellar.com, 300 Massachusetts Ave. NE) about the perfect fall spirit, bourbon. Jon told me that he has a bottle of New Jefferson Reserve at home. The team at Schneider’s hand-selected a single barrel whose flavor, though bourbon has no sugar, is on the 106 H hillrag.com

sweeter side, bright and caramel-y. He is, of course, drinking it straight up. Their biggest seller is Buffalo Trace distillery’s top-of-the-line Elmer T Lee. At $35 a bottle, it offers good value for its quality and is well priced for mixing.

A Sweet Finish

When it comes to dessert, I like to bake my own. Mom’s recipe for apple pie starts with a mix of both tart and sweet baking apples. I hit Eastern Market to visit Tim and Noah at Ashton Farms (www. AshtonFarmsFruit.com) and grab Stayman, a 147 year-old cultivar that is as good for eating as it is for baking. Gingergold and Honeycrisp add sweetness to my pies, reducing the need for extra sugar. If you find pie dough daunting, head back to Spring Mill Bread Company (www.SpringMillBread.com, 701 8th St. SE) for dessert. When I dropped in to ask Luke about stuffing bread, he told me they offer double-stuffed apple pies with 4 1/2 pounds of Granny Smiths cut by hand. Their pumpkin pies are rich with fresh cream and butter. And, although he recommends ordering ahead, Luke said they do keep a few extras on hand if you’re wrapping up shopping at the last minute.

Happy Thanksgiving

May your table be full, your guests smiling and your life full of joys to be thankful for. We will certainly give thanks for the delicious ingredients from Capitol Hill’s merchants and markets that fill our kitchen as we spend two relaxing days cooking (and drinking some of Jon Genderson’s bourbon!). Happy Thanksgiving to you, your family and all you love. Jonathan Bardzik is a storyteller, demo chef and author living in DC. You can find him outside at Eastern Market, each Saturday morning, cooking with local, fresh produce. Jonathan’s first cookbook, Simple Summer: A Recipe for Cooking and Entertaining with Ease, is available now. Grab a copy and find more great Thanksgiving recipes at www.jonathanbardzik.com or his Facebook page “What I Haven’t Cooked Yet.” Need some foodporn? Follow @JonathanBardzik on Twitter and Instagram. H

The Turkey

Sides deservedly earn attention for the many flavors they bring to your meal, but that big, golden-brown turkey is still the star of every Thanksgiving table. Standing in line at Eastern Market’s Market Poultry to pick up your bird is a Capitol Hill tradition. Pennsylvania raised, Market Poultry’s free-range turkeys can be preordered now and you will certainly want to reserve yours ahead of time to make sure you get the right size. Owner Mel Sr. recommends one pound per person. Besides, you want to make sure there is plenty left over for sandwiches.

The Roasting Pan

How do you roast a great turkey? You’ll see debates on everything from brining, to high heat and covering your turkey with cheese cloth soaked in butter. While there are many right ways to deliver a perfect bird to your table, there is no question you need a great roasting pan. A visit to Leah Daniels at Hill’s Kitchen (www.HillsKitchen.com, 713 D St. SE) will deliver the pan you need (and no, that disposable foil pan is not acceptable!). Leah’s number one pick is a pan from Mauviel, a French company. A tri-ply roasting pan - aluminum sandwiched between stainless it will handle the heat of a gas burner. And skip non-stick, it may make cleanup easier, but you don’t get the browning you need for full flavor.

Brussels Sprout and Pancetta Slaw

Serves 6 Ingredients: • 4 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved For dressing: • 1/2 cup diced Pancetta • 1 shallot, minced • 1/3 cup Autumn Apple Vinegar • 2 tbs sharp, grainy mustard • 1/2 cup olive oil - the good stuff! Directions: 1. Blanch Brussels sprouts in salted, boiling water for 1 minute. Remove to ice bath. when cool, drain and pat dry. 2. Sauté pancetta in 1 tbs olive oil over medium heat until crispy. Remove to drain on paper towels. Reserve fat to fry just about anything. 3. Whisk together shallot, Autumn Apple Vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper to taste. 4. Thinly slice Brussels sprouts and place in a bowl with some extra room. 5. Whisk Frantoio oil into vinegar mixture. Season to taste. 6. Dress brussels sprouts with 1/2 dressing and Pancetta. Let rest 5-10 minutes and season to taste with additional dressing if needed.

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Wines for Thanksgiving by Felix Milner

very year my mother-in-law hosts Thanksgiving for 20-40 people, with the only requirement being that guests bring a side dish from their childhood and a stick of butter. What goes unspoken, because it’s so fundamental, is that everyone brings a bottle of wine. While it’s easy to get caught up in the pressure of creating the perfect dinner, what really matters is that everyone enjoys the company, and the food and wine are really the add-ons. The Schneider’s wine team has pitched in a few suggestions for their favorite holiday wines, sure bets that will tie the meal together and start a conversation without breaking the bank.

Jon Genderson

Martellotto Pinot Noir Sierra Madre Vineyard 2011 ($30)

This excellent Pinot Noir shows marvelous complexity in its sweet, ethereal fruit. Dried cherries, crushed flowers and spices waft from the glass as this delicate, perfumed Pinot shows off its class. It’s really an amazing value and will pair quite nicely with turkey and all the fixings.

Barrique Cellars Syrah Sonoma County 2011 ($25)

For those who want a bigger red with their turkey, look no further than this beauty. It is big, rich, ripe and lush with good structure, great depth of flavor, a big middle with excellent mouthfeel, a peppered spice reminiscent of a Cotie Rotie and a long and lingering finish. Delicious!

Heimberger Riesling Grand Cru Schoenenbourg 2010 ($30)

Looking for a white for your Thanksgiving table? This DRY Riesling is a perfect choice. White peaches awash in minerals and slate are found in the spectacular Riesling Schoenenbourg’s aromatics. The wine offers massive richness, plump petrolinfused pears, melons, and apples, as well as a deep minerality that is discernible in its exceptionally long finish. It is medium-bodied, concentrated, and impeccably balanced. WOW!

Lilia Coffin, Wine Consultant

Jean Laurent Blanc de Noirs NV ($50)

Single-grower Champagne made with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Soft, lush, and round, with a bright perfume of vanilla and peach, and notes of red berries, honey, and herbs. It is substantial enough to stand up to the heavy holiday meal but delicate enough to complement, instead of battle, the intense flavors on the table.

Vicchiomaggio Vigna La Prima Chianti Classico Reserva 2009 ($25)

Old vine, low yield Chianti, with 16-20 months in oak, this bottle offers concentrated red berry and plum fruit, with an underlying spicy acidity that sets it off against the big Thanksgiving feast.

Sean Devine, Wine Consulant

2010 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone 2010 ($30)

The wine displays oodles of licorice, black currant and black cherry liqueur with hints of damp forest floor and truﬄe. Sweet tannin, decent acidity and nice, attractive density make for an outstanding Cotes du Rhone to complement your Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing, and cranberries. 2010 Jean-Marc Gilet Vouvray Sec 2010 ($15) The perfect wine to pair with your Thanksgiving appetizers and salad! The color is a stunning golden yellow with silver hues. The nose has upfront flavors of white peaches with hints of freshly peeled almonds and white flowers. The palate is delicate and complex, its sweetness is balanced by good acidity and notes of ripe grapefruit, as well as intense fruity flavors, reminding of such exotic fruits as mango. At the right temperature, some mineral notes with a light smokiness enhance the complexity and elegance of the wine. The finish is clean, soft, long and fresh, leaving delicate tangerine flavors.

Felix Milner, New Media Manager & Wine Expert Jacquart Brut de Nominée NV ($60)

This is a stunningly, rich and elegant Cham-

pagne that can either be served before dinner as an aperitif, or served with the Turkey and all the trimmings. The nose offers up an enticing display of brioche and ripe stone fruit. Meanwhile, the palate possesses a luxuriously, creamy mouthfeel, which is balanced by a fine mousse. The naturally high acidity ensures a crisp clean finish that works well with rich food.

Macauley Old Vine Napa Zinfandel 2010 ($40)

For all you Zin fans out there, this is a must. I could go on and on about the incredibly smooth and silky texture and the exceptional array of fruit, but I won’t. What impresses me about this Zinfandel, is not just its amazing concentration and length, but the fact that it feels so fresh and energetic. The oak aging has also given it great structure and backbone. This will work at treat, specially with some of the darker parts of the bird, such as the legs and thighs.

Buller Fine Tawny NV ($17)

If any wine reminds me of Thanksgiving it’s this, Buller’s Fine Tawny. I can think of little else, especially at this ridiculous price point, that would work better with a Thanksgiving dessert, than this. Flavors of candied red fruit, roasted nuts, caramel, toffee and spice make this a great paring with pumpkin pie, pecan pie or chocolate. It has intense richness and velvety texture which is balanced by a racy acidity, making this a pure pleasure to your senses. H HillRag | November 2013 H 107

ARTS& Dining

Romeo and Juliet

Folger Theatre’s Juliet Unfurled by Barbaba Wells slowly, from a bookish, slightly willful girl in to follow Juliet’s direction, not the reverse. glasses and a fatigue jacket to a powerful womSuch fresh insight heightens the intensity of the an who lets nothing stand in her way. Weaver entire play, with text streamlined by Posner to focus could not be further from a sweet young thing even more relentlessly on his characters and the pain batted about by passion or limited by the stric- they have wrought. By the time Romeo has inadvertently killed Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, each character is tures of her time. Weaver’s strength is nowhere more pronounced than immediately after Juliet learns Romeo has been banished and seeks the help of Friar Lawrence, a father figure played with great feeling by Eric Hissom. In a scene that typically shows a helpless girl guided—even manipulated—by a bit-too-crafty adult, here Juliet is fully in charge. The moment Juliet’s suitor Paris leaves her alone with the friar, Weaver barks “O shut the door!” with such ferocity and disdain that I had to look up the line to make sure it’s really in the play; it was as if I’d never heard it Erin Weaver & Michael Goldsmith as a pair of “star-crossed before. Next she demands that the friar lovers.” Photo: Teresa Wood. Friar Lawrence (Eric Hissom) looks to help Juliet (Erin Weaver). come up with a plan: “Be not so long to Photo: Teresa Wood. speak,” she growls, “I long to die.” This f you think you know Romeo and Juliet— is no pathetic whimper or idle threat; it’s whether Shakespeare’s or the countless a chilling promise that brings a look of sheer ter- drawn in stark relief, from the enraged Lady Capuadaptations on stage and screen—think ror to Hissom’s face. It is the friar who scrambles let (Shannon Koob) to the sobbing Lady Montague again. Aaron Posner’s new production at the (Michele Osherow) and the Prince—played by HisFolger Theatre is a revelation. som not as an official merely struggling “My primary goal is to help audito restore order, but as a man genuinely ences experience the play as if for horrified by the escalation of violence unthe very first time,” he says. Done der his watch. and done. In the midst of this tableau, Aaron Posner succeeds not by suBliden as Benvolio brings new pathos perimposing a far-fetched vision to a character who normally serves as a or interpretation. Rather, he digs mere sidekick and vehicle for explaining so thoroughly into the play’s text, to the prince how a street fight left two and context, that even minor men dead. Bliden’s palpable shock and characters have new depth. dismay make the recounting of the murIn Posner’s hands, the transders even more affecting than the murformation of Juliet, played to ders themselves. plucky and then stirring effect Only in the character of Lord Capulet, by Erin Weaver, is the most prothe explosive Brian Dykstra, does Posner Tybalt (Rex Daugherty, right) duels Mercutio (Brad Koed), with Benvolio (Aaron Bliden) found. Weaver’s Juliet develops seem to go a bit beyond the pale, maklooking on. Photo: Teresa Wood.

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ing Juliet’s father downright abusive as well as controlling. Dykstra shows signs of being a thug throughout the play until unleashing terrible fury on not only Juliet but also his wife and the nurse. Still, this portrayal succeeds: There’s no doubt Juliet has no options, validating her fierce determination to escape her parents’ grip. But let’s not forget romance. Juliet and Romeo—the charmingly boyish Michael Goldsmith—spark plenty of playful passion. And clearly opposites attract. Weaver’s drive is balanced by Goldsmith’s dreaminess; he’s every bit a fool for love. Their difference is most evident when each falls into the throes of despair. While Juliet wills herself to buck up every time she seems ready to fall apart, Romeo is dissolved in a blubbering puddle until Juliet’s nurse (played with warmth and gusto by Sherri Edelen) practically drags him to his feet with the command, “Stand up, stand up; stand, and you be a man.” The performances play out on Meghan Reham’s spare set, simply framing the scenes and allowing plenty of room for actors to flex their physical and emotional muscles. Time and place are only suggested by backlit screenshots of Verona’s streets and a tawny full moon. Laree Lentz’s costumes invite free association as well, with Elizabethan-era lace and knickers bridging the centuries with modern accents like tank tops and leather boots. Perhaps most evocative is the music by Carla Kihlstedt, setting the tone for each scene with cheerful flutes, scratchy violins, and finally a ponderous drumbeat that portends the tragic end. This final scene, too, belongs to Weaver, in a performance audiences won’t forget.

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22 Years on Capitol Hill

Barbara Wells is a writer and editor for Reingold, a social marketing communications firm. She and her husband live on Capitol Hill. H

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ARTS& Dining

ATTHE MOVIES

Parallel Perils at Sea Two Nail-Biters on the Ocean by Mike Canning

All Is Lost

just an old guy struggling to do his best against a watery world seemingly bent on obliterating him. Redford certainly had stunt doubles for some of the film, but time and again we see him demonstrate real physical effort, e.g., climbing the boat’s mast, flipping completely over on a life raft, working in waist-high water, swimming for his life. The viewer keeps rooting for this Everyman of a Certain Age, hoping against hope that he makes it. Little moments offer that hope, as when the man finds

Robert Redford is now a ripe 77 years old. He had his first lead movie role over 50 years ago, appeared in dozens of films since, and directed 10. In his new film, “All Is Lost,” he may have worked as hard as he ever has in this riveting tale of a man adrift. Redford plays “Our Man” (as the role is credited) and is—with the single exception of an outstretched hand—the only human presence in the picture. The credit sequence introduces the only sustained vocal output, Redford’s voice intoning a last letter he writes at what will be the end of this tether, beginning “All Is Lost...” in what is a dialogue-less motion picture (running 107 min., the Robert Redford struggles to survive in “All Is Lost.” Photo: Richard Foreman. film is now in cinemas and is rated PG-13). The setting is a yacht in the middle of the Indian Ocean 1,700 miles from the Sumatra Straits. Trouble comes immediately: the sleeping skipper is awakened by water splashing around him from a gash in the boat’s hull. He climbs to the deck to learn that an abandoned container has rammed into his vessel, creating the opening. He cleverly disconnects the fateful container, finds a Chandor (left) and Robert Redford on the set of ALL IS LOST. way to patch the gash, and J.C. Photo: Richard Foreman. Tom Hanks (left) guarded by a Somali pirate (Barkhad Abdirahman) in hand pumps out seawater “Captain Phillips.” Photo: Jasin Boland, Copyright © Columbia Pictures from his boat. The incomIndustries, Inc. ing water, however, has ruined his navigation gear he is drifting into the shipping lane of the and radio (one attempt to communicate through it ocean. Once there, he even encounters a poignantly fails) and some of his food. Patched up, ship which, however, ignores him, a speck on the time during his salvage operation to shave, perbut afloat, the boat then encounters a vicious storm sea. The sun burns down, his food supply wanes, haps for the last time. But the film, diabolically that damages it beyond salvaging. The man must sharks began to circle, even his water can is com- well-directed by J. C. Chandor, keeps slipping in moments of dread: the distant storm, the dead rasave himself in its accompanying lifeboat. Through promised with sea water. All is lost... all this travail, he finds ways to adapt to his ever What makes the film so effective as a suspense dio, the lost food, that tainted water. The latter straitened circumstances. yarn, though, is that the Man here, this wizened realization—that his water jug is full of sea waStill able to use a compass and charts, he finds but stalwart Redford, is no stud or superman: he’s ter—creates the only vocal outburst from Redford 110 H hillrag.com

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in the whole movie: an agonized F-bomb signifying that all may really be lost. In an interview, Redford said it recalled an earlier picture in which he played a solitary man who could have given up but didn’t. “I thought about ‘Jeremiah Johnson,’ said Redford of the 1972 film. “He had a choice to give up or continue, but he continues because that’s all there is. And this film...suggests the same thing. He just goes on because that’s all he can do. Some people wouldn’t, but he does.” Shot off the coasts of California, Mexico, and the Bahamas, “All Is Lost” combines all these locations (along with a gigantic filming tank in Baja California and some background effects) into an unnerving, vast simulacrum of the Indian Ocean, an immensity that dwarfs the Man and his dogged efforts to survive. Effective, too, is the film’s sound design, with a track of wind currents and varied water slaps and burbles, the latter of which keep you literally in that boat with the man. American filmmaker J. C. Chandor debuted spectacularly in features with “Margin Call” (2011), a gripping tale of high finance which he wrote and directed with a glossy New York setting and a large cast. His “All Is Lost” could hardly be more different, but in one significant way, the two efforts parallel each other. Man stands dumbfounded before two implacable and threatening environments: Wall Street and the open ocean. I can’t wait to see what this guy will make next.

Captain Phillips

A couple of times a year, Hollywood produces movies that, though made independently, uncannily echo each other (like the two smash-up-the-White House thrillers that came out this spring, “Olympus Has Fallen,” and “White House Down”). This month brings not only “All Is Lost” but another peril on the Indian Ocean, the survival story “Captain Phillips,” based on a true 2009 incident involving the takeover of the M.V. Maersk Alabama container ship by a group of Somali pirates (the film is rated PG-13 and runs 134 min.). After a gentle Vermont introduction to ship captain Rich Phillips (Tom Hanks), we see him in port in Oman, readying his ship for a run to Mombasa, Kenya. Once under way, however, his craft is trailed, then boarded by four Somali pirates in a speeding skiff. The Somalis, threatening but skittish, are led by the gaunt Muse (Barkhoud Abdi) who can communicate in broken English that he

wants ransom. The bulk of the crew, aware of the invasion, hides below decks and even overpowers Muse, but things turn complicated when the four pirates trick the captain into the ship’s ironclad lifeboat and are jettisoned into the sea. Thus ensues a massive military manhunt, led by the destroyer USS Bainbridge, to save the captain, by now subdued and surrounded in the stifling lifeboat with his edgy captors. This set-up continues the knuckle-biting rhythm for the rest of the movie (filmed in and around Malta). The film’s casting is key. Hanks here, a phlegmatic yet detail-oriented skipper, wonderfully transforms himself into a reluctant hero, a decent man scrambling to protect his cargo and crew, testing a quartet of men who could hardly be more different from him. Given an adversary so unsettling, most viewers are likely to wholly identify with the sympathetic Hanks, here a stand-in Everyman just as Redford is in “All Is Lost” and with almost as many stunt moves. He pulls off a wonderful coda to his performance. After being rescued, Hanks, being examined by a patient Navy doctor, confronts the trauma he has undergone. The scene is surpassingly moving. The Somalis, all recruited from refugee families who live in the Minneapolis area, are likewise compelling. Though they could be seen as types, the men still show some dimension, one harsher and more fanatic, one more immature and scared, and, in the case of Muse, the enigmatic demeanor of a man in over his head while trying to keep it. Near the end, his fate likely sealed, he can only intone: “I come too far; I can’t give up,” when asked by Phillips why he persists. The knuckle-biting tempo and documentary-like realism achieved in “Captain Phillips” are the specialties of its director, Paul Greengrass, an Englishman who helmed two of the “Bourne” action films as well as the thrilling “United 93.” He is a master of the frenetic, hand-held camera, here used mostly to splendid effect, especially in the tight quarters of the lifeboat scenes, but he also commands in stiller scenes where the camera may be calm but the tension never flags. With this motion picture, he may have created his masterpiece. Hill resident Mike Canning has written on movies for the Hill Rag for 20 years and is a member of the Washington Area Film Critics Association. He is the author of “Hollywood on the Potomac: How the Movies View Washington, DC.” His reviews and writings on film can be found online at www.mikesflix.com. H

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here is joy in his work. It bursts out of intense, penetrating colors, and compositions that roll across the canvas with the spirits of nature. You can see the impassioned blues, reds and yellows of Greek and Ethiopian medieval

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Tahitian Breeze; 30” X 30” Oil on canvas 2011 Moon Meadow; 40” X 31” Oil on canvas 2012 Nostalgia on the Hill; 22” X 28” Oil on canvas 2013

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A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim can be reached at ArtandtheCity05@aol.com

icons, and the exuberant forms of Indian temple sculpture. They come from his inborn heritage. Dilip Sheth grew up in Ethiopia with parents of Indian, Greek and Ethiopian descent and absorbed the best of those ancient artistic legacies. If you see phantoms of Wassily Kandinsky, Henri Matisse, Paul Gauguin—and even Thomas Hart Benton and an international cast of Western influences—it ’s because they are all there, brought together through Dilip’s personal interpretation and outlook. He loved art as a child, but went in a different direction professionally: business. He came to this country in 1980 to follow a career in management. As

it happened, he became the manager of an art gallery and was exposed to a broad range of artistic influences. That was that. He soon began classes at the Corcoran School of Art and his new career as an artist. He explored the postimpressionists, expressionists, and all those who bring movement and emotion into their work. His expressive interlocking patterns are his own, and give structural integrity and strength to every image. His commitment to each work doesn’t stop on the canvas. He makes his own frames and has operated a frame shop for others at his studio in Tacoma Park, Maryland. Dilip lives with his family on Capitol Hill. His work will be showing at the Hill Center at Pennsylvania Avenue and 10th St. SE through January. (See: At the Galleries.) Fineartamerica.com/profiles/delipsheth.html.

Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art

Why do we become so blossom-hostile when it comes to funerals? “In lieu of flowers, send your donation to fill-in-theblank charity.” Does anyone actually do that? I never have. When my mother died this year, some nice people sent bouquets and the large, aesthetically sterile “viewing room” came alive with soul-stirring brilliance and a fragrance that lifted us to an earlier time. Mom would have loved it. The rest of us did. Sending flowers, and not just on Mother’s Day, enables others to grow them. The heavenly Japanese Flower Gardens, hundreds of acres of every variety and hue, spread for miles along Baseline Road in Phoenix—from the 1920s up through the 70s. It made my 1963 after-class truck run from Tucson to the Phoenix Pie Company a voyage of joy. Today? Gone. Replaced by endless rows of interchangeable, emotionally and aesthetically drab

artandthecity

Artist Portrait: Dilip Sheth

by Jim Magner

residential boxes in the mundane sprawl of Phoenix and its suburban tumors. Not enough? Consider this: International agriculture depends on bees—nature’s way of pollinating all plants. Bees are in big trouble. One reason, according to apiologists, is the disappearance of the great natural fields of flowers that once spread across continents. So, if you really want to contribute to a worthy cause, send flowers—and request them for all occasions. Demand them for your funeral. Civilization will be a little less likely to collapse and bees will love you.

At the Museums

National Gallery of Art - West Bld. 7th and Constitution NW

Heaven and Earth: Art of Byzantium from Greek Collections traces the Byzantine visual arts from the fourth to the 15th century—from the pagan world of the Roman Empire to the opulent, yet spiritual world of the Christian Byzantine Empire.

At the Galleries

“Great American Cities” American Painting Fine Art 5118 MacArthur Blvd., NW Recep and artist talk: Nov. 9. 6-8

Six very different painters interpret the character of cities, from NYC to Portland OR, to Cape May, MD—and many other places on the map. It is not just the cities that define themselves, the visions and personalities of the painters are just as much a mix of American individuality. The show ends with artists’ talks on Nov. 9, 6-8 classicamericanpainting.com

Andrew—Manlapaz Gallery plan b 1530 14th Street, NW

Chad Andrew and Joey Manlapaz are on the walls until Nov. 24. The two painters have very different but sophisticated styles in expressing ideas about the world we live in. The year-end “Gift Giving” group

Fisherman’s Wharf; 50” X 17” acrylic on canvas 2012

Over 170 rare works bring you the exquisite splendor of the Byzantine Empire: sculptures, icons, mosaics, frescoes, manuscripts, metalwork, jewelry, glass, embroideries, and ceramics…it’s all there. Through March 2. Charles Marville: Photographer of Paris. About 100 photographs and three albums span the artist’s career of city scenes and landscape studies across Europe in the1850s including his photographs of Paris both before and after many of its medieval streets were razed. Through Jan 5. Tell It with Pride: The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Shaw Memorial honors one of the first regiments of African Americans formed during the Civil War, the 54th Massachusetts. The unit famously fought in the Battle of Fort Wagner and was the subject of the 1989 movie “Glory. The exhibit includes daguerreotype, tintype, and carte de visite portraits of the soldiers and the people who recruited, nursed, taught, and guided them. Through Jan 20. www.nga.gov.

show of over 30 artists runs from Nov. 29 to Dec. 24, with the artist reception on Sat. Dec. 7 from 6-8. These are smaller works that you buy and take with you. www.galleryplanb.com.

Ahmed Alkarki Hill Center Galleries 921 Pennsylvania Ave, SE Nov. 7 – Jan. 5 Recep: Tue, Nov 9, 6-8

Ahmed Alkarki is from Iraq. His personal story is a marvel of surviving the trials and tragedies of that country over the last 30 years. Whether the topic is landscape, a portrait or simply abstraction, his true subject is light. www.Alkarkhi.com. The October show continues on as well, including the dynamic paintings of Dilip Sheth (see: Artist Profile). A Capitol Hill artist and writer, Jim can be reached at Artandthecity05@aol.com. Jim’s award-winning book, “A Haunting Beauty” can be acquired through www. ahauntingbeauty.com H

redit Union House is a gracious, well-appointed facility conveniently located in the heart of the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. Our outdoor entertaining space offers stunning views of the U.S. Capitol Building, Library of Congress and U.S. Supreme Court. We have a wide-range of audio/ visual equipment included with rental to meet your event’s needs. Credit Union House can accommodate up to 75 guests for a seated meal or 125 people for a standing reception.

www.cuhouse.com Credit Union House 403 C Street, NE | Wash., DC 20002 p: 202-548-3131 | f: 202-548-3148

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the

LITERARY HILL

A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events

A Solemn Anniversary

Two new books by local author James L. Swanson—one for adults and one for young readers—commemorate this month’s 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Who better than the Edgar Award-winning author of the New York Times bestseller “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” to present a fresh and gripping account of this grim episode that changed American history. The adult version, “End of Days: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy,” is scheduled for publication on November 12, and reviewers are already calling it “a stunning unfolding of the event [that is] chilling, gruesome and riveting” and “grand narrative at its finest.” In “The President Has Been Shot!,” Swanson deftly sets the stage for young adults with a brief history of Kennedy’s life, political career, and presidency, and an introduction to Lee Harvey Oswald, offering insights into this “lifelong loser, high school dropout, second-rate Marine, and malcontent.” Beginning with November 22, he begins the countdown to the assassination and its aftermath.

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by Karen Lyon

From the rifle shots and their grisly effects through the futile efforts to save the President and the eventual capture of his assassin, the moment-by-moment action is fast-paced and wrenching. Swanson’s tone turns solemn as he describes the funeral, contrasting that majestic event with the media circus surrounding Oswald and his eventual murder. Finally, he writes, “It was done. Four days of blood and death, of mourning and drums, were over. America would never be the same.” Swanson provides poignant new details and draws upon recentlyavailable technological advances to reassess the evidence. He addresses – and dismisses – various conspiracy theories, but confesses that we still don’t know Oswald’s motivation. “The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, is as compelling as any drama written by William Shakespeare,” he writes, “except [that] the tale is incomplete. Lee Harvey Oswald left the stage before the final act.” Follow the author on Twitter@ JamesLSwanson.

A Working Witness to History

Simeon Booker could well be the Zelig of the civil rights movement -- except that, unlike Woody Allen’s character, he was not merely standing in the back of the photos. As a reporter, he was a working witness to both the tragedies and the triumphs of 50 years of civil rights history. His remarkable experiences are recounted in a new book co-authored with his wife Carol McCabe Booker, “Shocking the Conscience: A Reporter’s Account of the Civil Rights Movement.” Booker joined the staff of The Washington Post in 1951 as its first black reporter, but found it tough going. “Trying to cover news in a city where even pet cemeteries were segregated was overwhelming,” he writes. While he gives Philip Graham credit for hiring him, he concludes that the newspaper may not have been ready for an integrated news staff. So in 1953, he moved to Chicago, where he joined the staff of “Jet” magazine, founded two years before by Robert Johnson. There he “immediately began writing articles on the issues I longed to cover, the serious issues affecting black people.” In 1956, he returned to Washington to open the The best-selling author of ‘Manhunt” presents first Johnson Publia fresh perspective on the cation Corporation Kennedy assassination news bureau in the in a pair of new books.

A local reporter recounts 50 years of experiences covering the civil rights movement.

nation’s capital. During his long career – which began in the Eisenhower administration and ended with his retirement in 2007 at age 88 – he covered the atrocities of racism, sneaking into Southern funeral homes at night to report on lynchings, and conducting interviews in semi-darkness with activists who cradled rifles for protection. He felt gut-gnawing fear on the bus with the Freedom Riders and was in the room when Emmett Till’s mother identified her son’s tortured body. His story was accompanied by the gruesome photos of the battered teen that his mother wanted the world to see. Booker reported on the Southern courts that mocked justice and the assassinations that threatened to take the heart out of the movement. But he also reported on the progress made despite the bloodied batons and water cannons: the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas; the March on Washington; the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and the appointment and election of African-Americans to positions of power in the government. At the 2010 gala for the Congressional Black Caucus, where he accepted the group’s Phoenix Award and posed for pictures with the President and Mrs. Obama, he warned attend-

THE POETIC HILL

on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1838. Others soon followed. Harvey’s Oyster House, established in 1866, claimed to A local writer shows how eating out in the nation’s have served capital has evolved over the past 200 years. a billion oysees that the job is not yet done. ters to hungry Washingtonians It’s now up to the next genera- during the 1906 season alone. DeFerrari presents a rich tion to work toward a truly “postracial” society, he told them, “and litany of DC restaurants, from if you think it’s going to be easy, Hot Shoppes and Ben’s Chili I would suggest you consider the Bowl to the elegant dining rooms of the Willard Hotel and past. It’s never been easy.” Simeon Booker and Carol the tearooms of Woodward & McCabe Booker will discuss Lothrop and Garfinckel’s. Many and sign “Shocking the Con- names familiar to Hill residents science” at the Library of Con- crop up – Tunnicliff ’s Tavern, gress, Nov. 6, noon. For more, the Market Inn, the Monocle, and, of course, Sherrill’s Restauvisit www.loc.gov. rant and Bakery, home of “eggs and insults” – but the author Capital Eats concedes that not all readers will From the early taverns with find their favorites listed. “With their Chesapeake bounty of apologies to them,” he writes, oysters, terrapin, and canvas“I hope the assortment I’ve inback duck to the nouvelle cuicluded will offer a wide array sine of Restaurant Nora, Washof entertaining glimpses into ingtonians have always enjoyed the city’s culinary past.” With a good meal. In a new book, more than 200 pages of sto“Historic Restaurants of Washries and photographs, complete ington D.C.,” John DeFerrari with recipes, there’s no apology shows how the city’s restaurants needed. evolved from 1800 to 2000, proJohn DeFerrari is a native viding not only a comprehenWashingtonian with a lifelong sive history of changing tastes passion for local history and is but also the individual stories of also the author of “Lost Washhundreds of local eating estabington, DC.” He will sign and lishments. discuss “Historic Restaurants of Tracing the transition from Washington, D.C.” at the Hill tavern culture, where food was Center on Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. a sideline to drinking and meals were laid out buffet-style, DeFerrari identifies DC’s first restaurant This Month on the Hill The Hill Center presents loas a French-style eatery opened cal food writer Bonny Wolf and by a former White House chef

Joe Yonan, the Food and Travel Editor of The Washington Post, Nov. 10, 4 p.m; John DeFerrari, author of “Historic Restaurants of Washington, DC,” Nov. 17, 2 p.m; and Richard Moe, author of “Roosevelt’s Second Act: The Election of 1940 and the Politics of War,” moderated by Michael Levy, Nov. 13, 7 p.m. Register online at hillcenterdc.org or call 202-549-4172. The Folger Shakespeare Library hosts a PEN/Faulkner Fiction reading with Philip Caputo and Kevin Powers, Nov. 4, 7:30p.m; an O.B. Hardison Poetry Series reading with Charles Simic and Shelley Puhak, Nov. 18, 7:30; and a poetry reading by Joel Dias-Porter and Paulette Beete on “Romeo and Juliet,” Nov. 22, 6 p.m. For more, visit www.folger.edu/whatson or call 202-544-7077. The Library of Congress will feature Simeon Booker and Carol McCabe Booker, authors of “Shocking the Conscience,” Nov. 6, noon; Electra Yourke, author of “Dear Dorothy: Letters from Nicolas Slonimsky to Dorothy Adlow,” Nov. 7, noon; Sara Paretsky, author of “Critical Mass” and 15 other books featuring her groundbreaking female detective V.I. Warshawski, Nov. 15, 1p.m; and Dennis D. Moore, author of “Letters from an American Farmer and Other Essays by J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur,” Nov. 22, noon. For more, visit www.loc.gov or call 202-707-1519. This month’s Overbeck Lecture by Martin G. Murray is on poet Walt Whitman, Nov. 5, 7:30 p.m, Naval Lodge Hall, 330 Pennsylvania Ave SE. Free but reserve seats at OverbeckLecture@CapitolHillHistory.org. H

Adam H. Russell was born on Capitol Hill, where he lives with his wife Bartlett and Diogenes, the Philosopher Dog. A Rhodes scholar and rugby player, he graduated from Duke University and Oxford University, where he earned a doctorate in social anthropology. In this poem, he pays tribute to a stone owl that stands guard over Eastern Market.

MARKET EULOGY Amid it all, You’d hardly notice Where she’s sat; cool As the red stone She guards Still From the noon shade, As if She didn’t know The Market She saved From sparrows Turned to brick-oven Overnight. As If to say: “Not on my watch.” But Her watch never ends. Now she guards The gaping holes Of a scabby roof, all She has left. Happily Her glares still work. No birds land here, Passing over With clouds Above the tin bones Of Eastern Market; even Shadows bounce Off the dead Air inside, so thick You can bite it. I wonder when She saw the first flame, Maybe curled, softly, Like a tail or lock of hair That slipped back in, To carve out the guts Of this place That had Been so long And we thought Would be longer still, Save for small sparks We didn’t see Amounting to Very much Between the aisles of Meat and fruit and Us.

by A. H. RUSSELL We act surprised; we Think we’re for always. That owl knows We’re for now. And She knows what all The sparks Add up to. While she Makes her stand Still, Nowhere else to go, We throw our Faith in with sparrows, And pass by, Believing we can build Again and again. All the While, not sure why, We look up At the warming skies. As if They’re just any other Roof we can put back. As if we’re not inside the Market now, And the sparks aren’t Catching up; Underfoot, licking Us from overhead, The fires feeding On our watch, Until, Like that owl, We are left to guard Only ashes Too.

If you would like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@literaryhillbookfest.org. (There is no remuneration.) H

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WINGS, New York Avenue Bridge Gateway, is DC’s largest public art commission to date. Designed by Kent Bloomer Studio, these two visually stunning, 50-foot assemblages and a programmable lighting component were commissioned by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, in partnership with the DC Department of Transportation.

Gateway Wings

Urban Ornamentation Enhances a Long-Neglected Vista

by Phil Hutinet

ravelers entering Washington, DC via New York Avenue are now welcomed by “Gateway Wings,” a public art piece situated along the newly refurbished New York Avenue bridge that crosses the marshaling yards north of Union Station. Long neglected, the New York Avenue corridor has stood in contrast to other gateways into the nation’s capital that either provide scenic views of the city’s skyline or a polished transition from suburb to city. NOMA’s frenetic construction boom, which began in the early 2000s, has led to a number of infrastructural improvements including the addition of a new metro station on the red line, a new cycling trail (Metropolitan Branch Trail) and the refurbishing of the New York Avenue bridge. The refurbishing of the New York Avenue bridge led its project manager Ali Shakeri of DDOT to consider adding an aesthetic element as well. DDOT partnered with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) which conducted a nationwide search for an artist capable of creating a largescale public piece for the bridge. In a city like Washington, DC, creating a significant public art piece that can coexist with world-renowned monuments is a daunting task even for the 116 H hillrag.com

most accomplished artist. However, in 2011, a multi-disciplinary panel which included the NOMA BID, a developer, the DCCAH, local ANC representatives and an artist, selected Bloomerstudios to work on creating a sculptural gateway to NOMA and the New York Avenue corridor. Bloomerstudios, located in New Haven, CT, employs a staff of five full time employees. For larger projects, such as “Gateway Wings,” additional staff is brought on a contractual basis to meet deadlines. While the actual wings of the gateway were designed and created in Bloomer’s studio, the 50-foot mainframe required to hold up the wings was subcontracted to Welding Works, a firm located in Madison, CT. Kent Bloomer, the founder of the studios, studied physics and architecture at MIT before completing a BFA and MFA at Yale University. As a student in the late 1950s he showed work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and felt uneasy about “placing pieces on a pedestal” inside a controlled environment. So he turned his attention to public art or what he now describes as “Public Ornamentation.” Prior to designing “Gateway Wings”, Bloomer walked the New York Avenue bridge from end to end to under-

“Washington could use more places like Zest” – Washingtonian magazine

stand the site. His first designs sought to incorporate more classical elements such as columns, a ubiquitous feature found in many of Washington’s iconic structures that pair well with a line of sight on the bridge that includes the capitol. However, oﬃcials at the NOMA Business Improvement District and DCCAH sought a more modern, contemporary design, reflective of what the DCCAH’s chair Judith Terra calls the “vital and creative community” in Washington, DC. Bloomer’s final design uses ellipses which he cut in half; each arch is a reissue of the ellipse from which the wings are formed. From a distance, the wings appear as one. However, as travelers approach the bridge, the wings separate, flanking the east and west end of the bridge on opposite sides. Before foliating the wings, Bloomer and his staff had to address a series of infrastructural and engineering limitations. The final design could neither alter the bridge’s structure nor change the lighting. To resolve these issues, the marshaling yard below anchors the large metal mainframes rising over the bridge holding the foliated wings in place. To illuminate “Gateway Wings” at night, Alex Cooper, a lighting specialist from the Smithsonian, created a variable lighting display that will highlight the DC’s newest “public ornament.” Lionell Thomas, the Executive Director of the DCCAH sees “Gateway Wings” as one of many interagency, city-wide projects that will “raise the quality of life for all District residents and enliven public spaces with large scale, high impact projects.” Certainly, the introduction of a non-classical sculpture in proximity to neighborhood like NOMA which looks more like Vancouver, BC than Washington, DC makes sense. However, and more to the point, the erection of “Gateway Wings” marks the resurge of “ornamentation” in Washington, an architectural trend which all but disappeared in the second half of the twentieth century not only here but across the globe.

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Phil Hutinet is the founder and editor-in-chief of East City Art. A Capitol Hill resident, Hutinet began East City Art in 2010 to document and promote the growing contemporary art movement in the eastern communities of Washington, DC. Hutinet opened Studio H one of H Street NE’s first galleries in 2009 and CITY Gallery in 2010. H

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Health & Fitness Well Nourished With Marta Mirecki A Tale of Two Bento Boxes

ith a culinary degree from L’Academie de Cuisine and with extensive cooking experience that includes the kitchens of Montmartre, Food & Friends, and now with her own personal chef business, Tiny House Chef, the daily lunches Marta Mirecki prepares for her children and husband are pretty fabulous. She insists, however, that her cooking background is not necessarily the most important part of the equation. “For lunches, you have to plan out your menus and make certain you have all of your ingredients. Organization is really key. Think about preparing a little more of certain items, like vegetables for dinner. That way, you’ll have nice leftovers for lunch.” (See Mirecki’s recipes for Sweet Potato Salad with Miso Dressing and Cucumber Salad with Rice Vinegar Dressing below.) Mirecki adds that if you haven’t been preparing lunches on a regular basis, ease into it, “It’s like dieting and exercise – you’re not going to go from not exercising at all to a full-blown, every-single-day-of-the-week workout. It’s important to set realistic expectations.” She suggests starting out one day a week with the goal of making an awesome lunch that also looks good. “We eat with our eyes, first,” she says. Mirecki typically prepares lunches for her children four days a week and then they have pizza at school each Friday. She notes she might go over the top with everything from scratch two days a week, but says thinking ahead is really important. “Just pulling out the lunch boxes and containers the

by Annette Nielsen

Marta Mirecki in her Capitol Hill kitchen, preparing lunches for both adult and kid palates, riffing on similar ingredients, with different flourishes. Photo: Annette Nielsen

and red pepper strips and recommends heating the flour tortilla slightly so it becomes more pliable after it cools. For a kid-friendly version, she would use wheat bread with cheddar cheese slices and mayo. She also says that you can cut off the crusts and use whimsical plastic picks (with faces, pandas, hats) and fun plastic ‘grass’ dividers to separate different food items. Plain cucumber slices are included in the child’s bento box, along with tofu cubes, while her cucumber salad (a quick pickling recipe) with rice vinegar dressing is the grown up version. Sweet potato salad (the sweet potato roasted and leftover from last night’s dinner), mango and blueberries add color to both lunches. In a pinch, her go-to dish is “a hot jar (thermos) – I make a quick pasta with marinara sauce. My kids also think it’s a real treat to have soup from a can.” “In real life, we’re not growing and

night before is helpful. Start thinking through what you might be preparing – not only that day, but one to two meals ahead.” Mirecki has a preference for vegetables like sweet red peppers instead of tomatoes, since she finds tomatoes can add too much moisture to a sandwich or wrap. For instance, she might The grown up Bento Box includes colorful and flavorful items including a wrap, and sweet potato create an adult salad with miso dressing, sure to satisfy the most wrap of spinach sophisticated of palates. Photo: Annette Nielsen

The youthful Bento Box is made up of many of the same ingredients and dishes as the adult counterpart, and includes whimsical and creative touches. Photo: Annette Nielsen HillRag | November 2013 H 119

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raising all of our food and preparing each meal from scratch – we don’t have the time to spend all day in the kitchen. Back a couple of generations, they had more time, but not the money. There has been a shift in how we prepare our meals.” You can find Marta Mirecki teaching her popular cooking classes at Hill’s Kitchen (see schedule at hillskitchen.com). To find out more about her personal chef services, visit tinyhousechef.com. *Find accessories like creative lunch bags, food and beverage containers at Hill’s Kitchen, 713 D Street, SE, 202.543.1997. *Bento box accouterments: (www.jbox.com/category/819)

Sweet Potato Salad with Miso Dressing

2 sweet potatoes 5 tablespoons white miso paste 10 tablespoons mayonnaise 2½ tablespoons sugar or honey 2 tablespoons Sake or white wine 1 teaspoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar

Bake sweet potatoes at 400 until tender, about 30-40 minutes. Cool completely and peel. Dice potatoes and set aside. Mix remaining ingredients. Mix potato cubes with dressing, one spoonful at a time until coated as you like them. Note: This will make more dressing than you need, but keeps well, covered in the refrigerator, for up to a week.

Cucumber Salad with Rice Vinegar Dressing

1 cucumber thinly sliced, preferably on a mandolin 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar ½ teaspoon sugar ½ teaspoon salt

Stir together vinegar, sugar and salt until dissolved. Toss cucumbers with dressing and set aside for 10-15 minutes; drain. Yield: 2-4 servings, depending on size of cucumber. H

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HillRag | November 2013 H 121

by Pattie Cinelli

Alita Brown, owner of Fitness Together

A Joy of Motion MOVE Class. Photo: Brittany Johnson

Street NE is not only experiencing an entertainment and dining renaissance, but also is becoming a magnet for fitness establishments. If mini golf or skeet ball at the H Street Country Club is not quite enough of a workout for you, then you don’t have far to walk to experience yoga, martial arts and self defense classes, dance classes or a personalized strength training workout. Effervescence Fitness Studio on Linden Court behind the Atlas Theater is a boutique-style studio stocked with the latest state-of-the-art fitness equipment. It offers one-on-one personal training sessions in core strength training. Several experienced trainers focus on conditioning training with clients that range from beginner to advanced exercisers. 122 H hillrag.com

If you haven’t been working out or you are tired of the gym scene we may be the place for you,” said owner Elizabeth Brooks, a 25-year exercise professional. “We design exercise programs that cater to individual fitness needs so people have some direction and focus to their workouts. Fitness begins with correct thinking. Fitness is a holistic philosophy. I want my clients to understand that fitness is not about a one-hour workout. It is about how you live your total life.”

Joy of Motion Dance Center

Just a short walk through the alley from Effervescence will bring you to 1333 H Street where both adults and children can take a dance class in almost any genre they can imagine. Joy of Motion wants their students to “stretch your body, mind and spirit

to your fullest potential.” They offer classes in Zumba, Belly Dance, African Dance, Hip Hop, Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Tap. They have drop-in classes and package sessions. If a more social form of diversion is your cup of tea, Joy of Motion has classes in salsa, tango, swing and ballroom. Joy of Motion’s intro to dance program is an ideal way for the adult dancer who is new to movement to learn the basics of dance technique and terminology in a particular style of dance. Offered year round, these classes give students the necessary skill sets to attend their other drop-in classes with a greater level of success and accomplishment. Its youth classes are for young dancers from early childhood through the 12th grade. For complete class schedules go to www.joyofmotion.org/adult-program/adultclasses/move-program/

Samurai Training Academy

Elizabeth Brooks (right), owner of Effervescence Fitness Studio, teaching a class.

Fitness Together

The other end of H Street at 408 is Fitness Together, a studio that has comprehensive cardio, strength and nutrition programs. “At Fitness Together, we offer both small group training and one-on-one personal training. Our proprietary systems work in harmony, utilizing the most current science for a complete fitness solution,” said owner Alita Brown. She described the programs: Aspire 8 is a resistance training program that uses personal assessments, functional cross-muscular training approaches, and periodization techniques to change things up for continued results. Cardio Together offers a customized cardio prescription that combines fartlek, interval and tempo workouts with a focus on exercise frequency, intensity, duration and progression to achieve maximum results. Nutrition Together offers an educational and accountability framework to improve your eating lifestyle. By eating the right foods, the right portions and the right frequency, along with our other programs the results are truly amazing.

Bikram Yoga

If you like to sweat and you like repetition, Bikram Yoga is for you. Behind the glass doors at 410 H Street you can join other devotees of this unique style of yoga bending into the same 26 poses and two breathing exercises in a room heated to 105 degrees. The 90-minute series of poses was designed by Bikram Choudhury to stretch and strengthening muscles, ligaments and tendons. “Bikram yoga systematically moves fresh, oxygenated blood to every part of the body, simulating organs, glands and nerves and restoring all systems to healthy working order.” Bikram yoga also offers children’s hatha yoga for ages 3-7 on Sundays from 1:30 to 2:15pm.

Yoga District

For more traditional yoga classes Yoga District at 546 H Street, 2nd floor, offers affordable and by donation yoga classes committed to eco-friendly practices. Teachers are trained in a variety of yoga traditions. Hannah Allerdice opened the H street studio with the goal of making yoga accessible to everyone. Vinyasa flow, restorative, astanga, gentle, power flow, heated flow and meditation are all taught at Yoga District. She states that classes focus on coordinating breath with body movement to promote

flexibility, strength and peace of mind. “We strongly believe in yoga as therapy.” Hannah teaches the Dharma Mitra style of yoga. She has a community outreach program, and welcomes other volunteers who are interested in assisting her. “I want to help the D.C. community discover and develop their optimal selves.” You can contact her at Hannah@yogaactivist.org.

The Samurai Training Academy

At 905 H Street is Samurai Training Academy, a new martial arts facility that specializes in traditional Japanese martial arts. The newly built “dojo” —meaning practice hall in Japanese—was formed in order to honor the founders of the traditional Japanese style of martial arts and to teach HillRag | November 2013 H 123

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Thank You Capitol Hill! Howl To The Chief would like to thank all the participants, vendors and judges who helped to make our Second Annual Pet Costume Contest in Lincoln Park such a success. Get your costumes ready for 2014! Sponsored by:

www.howltothechief.com 733 8th Street SE 202-544-8710 124 H hillrag.com

the community to help students discover and develop their optimal selves. The academy trains students to strengthen their physical abilities as well as their mental and spiritual skills. Bob Lowry, founder of Samurai Training Academy, was inspired to open a martial arts school after a life changing experience. At a young age he experienced severe back pain and was told he would need to have surgery once he could no longer walk. He decided to join a martial arts school and began training and found that the activity healed his back, and strengthened his body and spirit. Samurai Training Academy teaches a formal Japanese style called Bushinkai based in Wado Ryu Lineage which consists of karate, jujutsu, kenjutsu, and kendo (sword). The school also offers classes in women’s self defense, men’s self defense, youth self defense and private sessions. “The Academy is a place where people can become stronger physically and mentally as well as make some long time friendships,” said Lowry. “Martial Arts is a way of life that has helped me both personally and professionally.” If you like Samurai Training Academy on Facebook you get a one hour private session with owner Bob Lowry.

Old City Crossfit

The newest fitness facility on H Street is Old City Crossfit at 810 H Street. CrossFit is a fitness program designed for elite athletes, grandmothers, and everyone inbetween. It combines the best parts of weightlifting, kettlebells, and gymnastics to create a wellrounded, intense program aimed at general fitness. Individual CrossFit workouts are comprehensive, efficient, and performed in group classes. This format provides a positive and encouraging environment that motivates individuals to push themselves further

than otherwise possible. Owners Erin Losie and her brother Sean described how they chose the name ‘Old City’. “We knew we wanted our gym in the H St area, so started doing some research about the history of the area on Wikipedia. It turns out that Old City was used as a term to describe the Near Northeast pretty much every time they talked about the area. We liked the name and went with it.” They are passionate about their business. “Old City CrossFit opens doors to your life and keeps them open longer. We play more golf. We spend more time outside. We chase our kids until THEY are tired, not us. Old City CrossFit cares about you, and values you as a member of our family. We want the best for you, not just in fitness, but in life.”

Contacts

1) Effervescence Fitness Studio thinkingcorrectly.com 2) Joy of Motion Dance Center atlas@joyofmotion.org or 202-399-6763 3) Fitness Together f i t n e s s t o g e t h e r. c o m / capitolhill or 202-558-6486 4) Samurai Training Academy samuraitrainingacademy.com or 202-905-2627 5) Buckram Yoga Bikramyogacapitolhill.com or 202-547-1208 6) District Yoga yogadistrict.org 7) Old City CrossFit oldcitycrossfit.com Pattie Cinelli is a 30-veteran of the fitness business who offers in-home wellness consultations designed to assist clients in designing a holistic health and fitness program that meets their unique lifestyle. She is also a journalist who has been writing her health/fitness column for more than 20 years. She can be reached at: fitness@pattiecinelli.com. H

Congressional Cemetery Hosts DC’s First Death Café An International Movement That is Gaining Momentum

heard about it through an email invitation – the first D.C. death café was being held October 15 right down the street from me at Congressional Cemetery. I had no idea what it was to be. Was it an odd-sort of party? Was it meant to be satirical? Was it an early Halloween-related event at the cemetery? The email said refreshments were being served. I have had more than my share of experiencing death and had my own ideas. I was interested. Eight other people were also interested. We were from very different professions and from all over the Washington metropolitan area. We all had an intimate experience with death. The objective of Death Cafe is to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. For about two hours attendees of the DC’s first death café talked about what death meant to us. “I wanted to give people a comfortable space for people to talk about what has traditionally been a difficult topic,” explained Alisa Hughley, the event’s moderator. She had conversation starters which are a guide that is becoming standardized for death cafés all over the world, but we didn’t use all of them. We started with talking about ourselves. Then Hughley asked each to finish a sentence: “Death is….” Answers included, “a mirror, a transition, certain, a process, sacred, scary, a part of life.” She said the individuals that attend ultimately determine where the conversations go.

by Pattie Cinelli “I thought the discussion was deep and thought-provoking, and I felt privileged to be a part of the first meeting of Death Café DC,” said Lauren Maloy, program director of Historic Congressional Cemetery (HCC). “Although I work in a cemetery, I rarely get the chance to hear such personal thoughts about the process of dying and the death care industry. My thoughts about death remain much the same; however, it was gratifying to hear death talked about so openly. It is rare to speak so freely about such a difficult concept, and I look forward to attending future meetings.” Maloy was the one who brought the event to Capitol Hill. Paul K. Williams, President, HCC, originally found out about Death Café through an article in the Baltimore Sun which he brought to her a few months ago. After she researched the concept, she contacted Jon Underwood, who organized the first Death Café in England and continues to coordinate the nonprofit movement. He put her in contact with Hughley who was already starting to organize the first Death Café DC. After meeting with her, HCC decided to have the first meeting at Congressional Cemetery. Hughley got involved with the international movement through her personal and professional passion. Hughley owns a health communications and public engagement company called enBloom Media LLC. She also serves on a hospice organization’s community outreach council. The subject of death is one that has

touched her personally as well. Her brother died at age 21 as a result of a trauma. By bringing death cafes to DC, she hopes “to encourage people to make end of life plans so you won’t find yourself in a scenario in which you don’t want to be.”

History

According to the website www. deathcafe.com, the original death café is based on the ideas of Bernard Crettaz, a Swiss sociologist who set up the Cafés Mortels. Founder Jon Underwood read about the first Café Mortel to take place in Paris in the Independent newspaper in 2010 and was immediately motivated to offer one himself. The first death café was hosted in Jon’s home in fall of 2011. Death Café is now an established ‘social franchise’ that has spread quickly across the globe. To date, there are about 300 death Cafés with more than 3,000 participants in Europe, North America and Australia. The objective is “to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives.” Hughley is currently searching for venues and individuals who are likeminded to co-host other death cafes in the city. She is planning the next one for December. To learn more about death cafes and find out about the next meeting email Hughley at: deathcafedc@enbloommedia.com . You can also visit her website at: facebook.com\deathcafedc. H

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beautyhealthfitness

A New Way to Manage Sun Exposure

UVA+B Sunfriend is a new product to help combat skin cancer and vitamin D deficiency by Lisa Brent

Their company Sensor Sensor LLC, based for the sun. This type of monitor requires highly apitol Hill residents Karin Edgett and Shahid Aslam have designed the UVA+B here on Capitol Hill, has spent the last two and a specialized sensors, that are not easily embedded SunFriend®, a type of activity monitor half years incubating the idea and has completed into other types of sensors – it’s completely difthat will tell you when you’ve had enough UV ex- working prototypes which are being distributed ferent technology. Maybe some day we will have posure. A super-sensitive UV sensor along with now to potential retail outlets around the country. one activity monitor for everything we are curiinternationally daily exposure algorithms, propri- The target launch date is spring 2014. They are in ous about, but for now, UV sensors will be their etary activity software, and 11 personalized set- the process of raising funds from a crowd fund- own activity monitors.” tings together provide users with a tool to both ing campaign on Indiegogo, a popular place for The SunFriend® has a button that allows you avoid the harmful effects of over-exposure to UV incubating new ideas on-line. The goal is to raise to check real-time UV Index – the 1-to-11 scale and allowing for a safer way to get enough sun for $75,000 to help pay for the initial manufactur- used by the EPA and the WHO to determine the ing expenses. To view their product on Indiegogo, amount of UV rays that are coming through the vitamin D. According to Cancer.org, one in five Ameri- and support them with pre-buying one of the ozone layer and it’s associated risks. SunFriend® cans will get some form of skin cancer despite an increase in sunscreen use and awareness campaigns on the potentially damaging effects of too much UV exposure. Many other studies have found that getting enough vitamin D from the sun is essential to your health. A recent study by Edinburg University that was posted The SunFriend®, developed by Karin Edgett and Shahid Aslam of Capitol Hill – will give people a new tool for scientifically combating over-exposure and underin the BBC News states: exposure to sun. “The health benefits of exposing skin to sunlight may far outweigh the “Perks,” simply visit http://www.indiegogo.com uses the 1-to-11 to set a large range of sensitivity risk of developing skin cancer, according to sci- and search for SunFriend®. The campaign ends for those most sensitive, or have lighter skin to entists… The results showed that blood pressure December 3rd. those least sensitive or have very dark skin. UV Edgett ran an advertising agency here on dropped significantly for an hour after exposure readings are taken every 4 seconds, and pick up Capitol Hill for 20 years. She sold the comto UV rays...” both UV from the sun and reflective UV that you UVA+B SunFriend will allow whoever is pany and took a “rest” and has reemerged as a may get off water, etc. The continual readings alwearing it to know when they have had enough nutritional cook and product developer. “This is low for a true real-time calculation of your expoUV for the day. “We plan to make a significant a great opportunity, one I didn’t have time for sure. Proprietary activity calculations and interdifference in this world. Skin cancer is way too when I was running my agency. Activity moni- nationally recognized daily safe exposure levels of high here in the US, and it is much higher in tors are a really hot item these days. No one is UV combined with your personal sensitivity setcountries like Australia. Vitamin D levels are at making one that measures your actual UV acting gives you a safer time in the sun. an all time low around the world as well. The Sun- tivity. With the increase in skin cancer, and an For more information, visit their website Friend could help solve both problems at once,” understanding how vitamin D and the sun plays SunFreind.com or call Karin Edgett at 202-907said Shahid Aslam, who is also a space scientist such an important role in one’s overall health, we 4474. H feel that timing is good for an activity monitor at NASA. 126 H hillrag.com

Capitol Hill Animal Clinic 1240 Pennsylvania Ave. SE

202-546-1972

capitolhillanimalclinic.com â&#x20AC;&#x153;Keep up your guard, fleas and ticks are still around!â&#x20AC;? Please remember to help the Washington Animal Rescue League, the Washington Humane Society and Capitol Hill Cats - they do wonderful work helping all our pets in need.

Monday-Wednesday: 8 AM to 6 PM Thursdays: Hours by appointment only Friday: 8 AM to 7 PM Saturday: 8 AM to 12 Noon HillRag | November 2013 H 127

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kids&family Notebook by Kathleen Donner

First-Ever Ultimate Megafort! at National Building Museum

On Saturday, Nov 16, 2-4 p.m., kids can build the Ultimate Megafort in the Great Hall and learn about basic fort structures and put their skills to the test. Bring boxes of any size or shape, or use ones provided. Registration fee includes a kit of Makedo connectors to continue the fun at home. $25 per child. National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. 202-272-2448. nbm.org

Miss Piggy Joins Kermit the Frog at the American History Museum

Courtesy of National Building Museum

The National Museum of American History received a new donation of more than 20 Jim Henson puppets and props on the anniversary of his birthday-Sept 24, 1936from the Henson family. Miss Piggy and the Swedish Chef from The Muppet Show, Bert and Elmo from Sesame Street, and Red Fraggle and Traveling Matt from Fraggle Rock are among the new additions. They will join the museumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current Jim Henson Collection, which includes Oscar the Grouch, Kermit the Frog and the cast of Sam and Friends. The museum will place Miss Piggy, of course. Courtesy of the Nationalk Miss Piggy on view within Museum of American History

the American Stories exhibition in March 2014. In addition, several of the puppets from the Jim Henson Collection-including the original Kermit, not yet a frog, and Cookie Monster-will go on view this November in a display case that will include marionettes, hand puppets and ventriloquist figures. This display will explore the role these iconic characters have played in American culture and the impact they have had on popular entertainment.

Weekly Kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Programming at Southeast Library

Pajama Story Time is on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. Preschool Story Time for ages 2-5 is on Tuesdays at 10 and 11:15 a.m. and on Fridays at 11 a.m. Baby/Toddler Lap Sit for ages 0-24 months is on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. HillRag | November 2013 H 129

kids&family After school Kids Club is Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 7th St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary.org/southeast

Open Houses

St. Peter School Fall Open Houses will be held on November 13 from 6–7 p.m. and November 14 from 9a.m. – 11 a.m. Prospective families are invited to tour the school and meet with faculty and parents. If you are interested in learning more about the school, please contact Mrs. Deirdre Schmutz at dschmutz@stpeterschooldc.org; 202.544.1618 or visit www.stpeterschooldc.org. Friends Community School will host several admissions open houses throughout the fall. Upcoming dates include November 12, December 6, January 11 and January 16. All open houses begin at 9 a.m. sharp, include an informational session and tour of the school, and end at 11 a.m. There also will be a Capitol Hill admissions reception December 12. The deadline for applications for the next school year is January 22, 2014. St. Anselm’s Abbey School Hosts Open House, November 3, from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Anselm’s Abbey School, 4501 South Dakota Avenue, NE. Interested visitors can find out more and RSVP by going to www. saintanselms.org/admissions.

Boy Scout Troop 500 Winter Coat Drive

Capitol Hill’s Boy Scout Troop 500 invites Hill residents to donate winter coats to the homeless. Troop 500 will collect your donation of coats for two weekends Nov. 30 and Dec. 1; and Dec. 7 and 8 at Eastern Market. They offer thanks to those who have contributed coats and to dry-cleaning costs in the past. Last year Troop 500 collected 20 bags of coats. For more information, call 202-544-1769.

Shakespeare in Action Workshop for Families: Romeo and Juliet

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scenes from Romeo and Juliet! Learn stage combat and prepare to bring this classic play to life. Recommended for ages 7-14. $35 per 1 adult/1 child; $10 each additional child. Registration is required. Folger Shakespeare Theatre, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-4600. folger.edu

Children’s Story Time with the Young Authors at Hill Center

In the summer of 2013, 15 DC teenagers set out to become children’s book authors. Partnered with a professional story coach and skilled illustrators, these teens from traditional public and charter schools authored four original children’s stories. Exploring themes of friendship, loneliness, fear, and hope, our young authors connect deeply with their younger readers. Attend this event to hear from these stories and meet the young authors. Book sales will support continued efforts to develop readers and leaders in DC public schools. Free. Nov 23, 10 a.m. Register online at hillcenterdc. org or call 202-549-4172.

The Young Spectaculars and the Front Yard Adventure at the Atlas

On Nov 6-11, meet brother and sister Andrew and Emma-aka The Young Spectaculars! Energized by their super-powered imaginations, but stuck creating their own adventures near the front porch, they save a cat and a picnic lunch before stumbling upon more than they bargained for. Join the Young Spectaculars for this show intended for the little hero inside all of us. $8. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-3997993. atlasarts.org

Teach Your Children Shakespeare at Southeast Library

On Thursday, Nov 14, 6:30 p.m., a program will be presented by Tony and Helen Hayes nominated playwright Ken Ludwig about effective ways to teach children about Shakespeare and deepen their love of his work. Southeast Neighborhood Library, 403 7th St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary.org/southeast

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” Family Fun Pack

Broadway and Arena Stage favorite Kenny Leon (every tongue confess) returns to direct MalcolmJamal Warner (in his Arena Stage debut) in a new adaptation of the beloved film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” A progressive white couple’s proud liberal sensibilities are put to the test when their daughter, fresh from an overseas romance, brings her African-American fiancé home to meet them. Personal beliefs clash with the mores of the late 60’s in this warm and witty exploration of family and culture and knowing which of them has the greater hold on our hearts. Bring the whole family to Arena Stage, Nov 29-Jan 5. The Family Fun Pack is four seats for only $125. Must include a minimum of two patrons between ages 5 and 17 per Fun Pack; cannot be combined with any other offer or applied to previously purchased tickets; limit two Fun Packs per household. All standard fees apply. Must be purchased by phone or in person. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org

Capital City Symphony Annual Family Concert and Instrument Petting Zoo

There will be a special collaboration with Fourth Wall Ensemble, a hybrid arts ensemble in which musicians are also dancers and actors. Come early for the Petting Zoo for ticket holders at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., then enjoy an interactive performance, plus a special program book just for the kids! All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please, no more than 4 children per adult. Recommended for ages 4-12. Nov 17 at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Adults are $25; kids, 16 and under, are free. Student tickets are $15. The Atlas, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org

Open Schools App Helps Parents with School Decisions

DC public school parents face an array of complex education choices,

but need better information to decide what’s best for their kids. Open Schools (edu.codefordc.org) is a web application developed by Code for DC, the local chapter of the Code for America Brigade. Open Schools will make comparing school demographic and performance data simpler, empowering parents to make better choices. Using simple pick lists and visual navigation, parents can find out which schools children from their neighborhood attend. Alternatively, they can choose a school and see which neighborhoods the students who attend come from. Open Schools is a project developed by a team of volunteers, in collaboration with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). The data visualized on Open Schools, along with much more, is downloadable from opendatadc.org.

St. Peter School Named 2013 National Blue Ribbon School

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has recognized St. Peter School as a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School. Entering its 145th year of service to the Capitol Hill community, St. Peter School was nationally recognized as “Exemplary High Performing,” a category in which private schools are recognized among the nation’s highest performing schools, as measured by nationally-normed tests. The National Blue Ribbon Schools award honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students’ levels of achievement. The Department of Education will honor the 286 recipients from across the nation at a recognition ceremony on Nov 18-19 in Washington, DC. To select National Blue Ribbon Schools, the Department requested nominations from the top education official in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) nominates private schools. A total

Friends Community School Progressive Quaker Education Kindergarten - Grade 8 Experience the Joy of an Extraordinary Education!

OPEN HOUSES

9:00 a.m. sharp - 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2 Saturday, Jan. 11 Tuesday, Nov. 12 Thursday, Jan. 16 Friday, Dec. 6 Application Deadline -- Jan. 22, 2014 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD 20740 Tel: 301.441.2100 www.friendscommunityschool.org

ADMISSIONS RECEPTION FOR HILL PARENTS Thursday, December 12, 2013 7:00-8:30 p.m. 1112 C Street, S.E.

R.S.V.P. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; connie@friendscommunityschool.org Only 15-20 minutes up the Baltimore-Washington Parkway!

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kids&family of 420 schools nationwide may be nominated, with allocations determined by the numbers of K-12 students and schools in each jurisdiction. A list of the 2013 National Blue Ribbon Schools is available at ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools.

Perfect-For-Kids “Season’s Greenings” at the Botanic Garden

Holiday cheer abounds at the US Botanic Garden! Despite the cold winter outside, the Conservatory boasts a tropical paradise, one of the largest indoor decorated trees in Washington, DC, a poinsettia showcase and a grove of conifer trees. It wouldn’t be the winter holiday season without the fantasy train display in the East Gallery, which chugs along a track through imaginative structures created with plant materials. Explore the “World’s Fair” and see many familiar creations that resulted from a long history of public exhibitions. Many of the capital’s landmark buildings, all made from natural materials, will be on display in the Garden Court. Come in from the cold and enjoy the sights, scents and sounds of Season’s Greenings. Open daily, Nov 28-Jan 1. US Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave. SW. 202-225-8333. usbg.gov

Saturday Morning at the National Free Performances for Children

On Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. there are free live performances for children in the Helen Hayes Gallery. Tickets are required and distributed first come-first seated. Tickets are distributed 1/2 hour prior to performance. One ticket per person in line. The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. 202-783-3372. Nov 16-Michael Shwedick: Reptile World. Exotic creatures star in this amazing show! Michael Shwedick and his extraordinary animal friends not only teach kids invaluable lessons about the ecology, but also thrill them with up close reptile encounters. Adults will be awed by Michael’s ability to present alligators, snakes, and other sometimes scary creatures without frightening even the youngest children. Nov 23-Mary Ann Jung as Margaret Brent. Just in time for Thanksgiving, Mary Ann Jung as historical figure Margaret Brent is here to take everyone on a remarkable journey through colonial Maryland! Everyone has a role in today’s interactive story. Come and enjoy as Mistress Brent becomes America’s first female landowner, its first female lawyer, and its first suffragette. Dec 7-Christmas Dreams from The Nutcracker. Saturday Morning at the National families eagerly await the annual presentation of the Virginia Ballet Company and School’s selections from Tchaikovsky’s glittering confection. Follow Clara into the land of sweets and holiday cheer as the Nutcracker Prince triumphs over the evil Rat King and visions of sugar plums and snowflakes 132 H hillrag.com

dance through the air! Dec 14-Bright Star Theatre: Holidays from Around the World. Families will be delighted by Bright Star’s unique holiday production! From Kwanzaa and Christmas to the Festival of Lights, this show offers everyone a look into the global celebrations that occur during this most wonderful time of the year.

Elephant & Piggie’s We Are In A Play! at the Kennedy Center

Best friends Elephant Gerald and Piggie find themselves on an excellent musical adventure in this world premiere adaptation of Mo Willems’s award-winning Elephant & Piggie books. For ages 4, up. $20. Nov 23. 24, 27, 29 and Dec 1 and 15 at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.; Nov 30, Dec 7 and 14 at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW. 202-416-8000. kennedy-center.org

“Our American Girl” Day at Mount Vernon

On Nov 9, 11 a.m., bring your favorite doll for a special youth tour of the estate with Mount Vernon’s own American girl, “Nelly Custis.” Enjoy refreshments with “Lady Washington” and try a colonial craft. $30. George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA. 703-780-2000. mountvernon.org

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Family Day

On Nov 10, 1-4 p.m., families are invited to tour the historic tavern as Junior Docents, volunteers from grades 4 through 7, share their enthusiasm for history. To honor Veteran’s Day and American Legion Post #24 who helped save these buildings, all veterans, active duty military personnel and their immediate families will receive free admission. Ticket is $5 per adult and $3 per child (ages 5 through 12). Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. Alexandria, VA. visitalexandriava.com

Model Trains at Brookside Gardens

The garden railway model G-scale train exhibit opens with the Garden of Lights (see Calendar) on Friday, Nov 29 at 5:30 p.m. and runs through Jan 5, 2014. For more information, call 301-962-1400 or visit brooksidegardens.org. Brookside Gardens Conservatory is at 1500 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD.

Smithsonian Discovery Theater’s Seasons of Light

Joy, warmth, and community illuminate seasonal holiday celebrations the world over. Back for its 15th season, this signature Discovery The-

ater show celebrates the history and customs of Ramadan, Devali, Sankta Lucia, Chanukah, Los Posados, Kwanzaa, Christmas, and the First Nations’ tradition of the Winter Solstice in an interactive event that bridges communities and cultures. This show sells out early, so get your tickets now! This program is suited for kids ages 5-10 and is performed Dec 2-20 at the S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW. Tickets are $3-$8. Call 202-633-8700 to order. discoverytheater.org

virtualpiggy.com

Virtual Piggy was created to provide kids and teens with a safe environment to learn how to spend wisely, save for the future, and donate to charities. Their COPPA compliant technology empowers them to safely shop online, while keeping parents in control and creating a family conversation around financial literacy. Virtual Piggy is not only a completely free, safe way for kids to spend money online-it offers excellent tools that teach savings and finance management such as savings goals, setting a monthly allowance, gift giving and wishlists.

Learn to Ice Skate: Parent & Tot Classes

Whether you’re new to skating, brushing up, or wanting to take your skating to the next level, you’ll love their Learn to Skate classes! Enthusiastic instruction along with an unbeatable view of the Potomac River from the Washington Harbour Ice Rink will make your skating lessons an experience to remember. They teach all ages (3 and up, including adults) and skill levels. Washington Harbour Ice Rink uses the U.S. Figure Skating Basic Skills program for its class curriculum. The program stresses a skating environment that is exciting, rewarding, safe, and fun. Parent & Tot includes five 30-minute lessons for both the child and parent, followed by a 30 minute free skate (skate rental included). Ages 3-5.The Parent and Tot Learn to Skate class allows young skaters to learn the fundamentals of skating with the help and comfort of having their parent on the ice with them. Instructors will lead a 30 minute class designed with fun in mind, followed by a 30 minute free skate. Dec 4, 11, 18 and Jan 8 and 15, 11 a.m.-noon; and Jan 22, 29 and Feb 5, 12 and 19, 11 a.m.-noon. thewashingtonharbour.com/skating H

School Principals’ Version of The Breakfast Club

hat happens when school leaders from an independent school, a school for students with intellectual disabilities, a public school and a public charter school get together for coffee? According to them, a lot. Called the Hill Education Leaders, this group of principals from Capitol Hill Day School, Eastern High School, St. Coletta of Greater Washington, Two Rivers, Brent and The SEED School, is motivated by doing what’s best for their students and providing support for each other in the process.

A Common Vision

by Ellen Boomer and accessibilities,” said Janice Corazza, principal at St. Coletta of Greater Washington, which serves children and adults with intellectual disabilities. In addition to sharing best practices and the challenges of attracting and retaining inspiring teachers, this group can provide guidance to families as they decide among the various Capitol Hill schools and offer specifics about the environment

work in our after school program are wonderful role models for CHDS children,” Gray said. In addition to providing positive examples to younger students, children are learning the importance of communal involvement and civic responsibility. “St. Coletta students hosted students from CHDS on Valentine’s Day as a part of our continuing Best Buddies partnership,” Corazza said, describing how many of her students and a group of CHDS students made and exchanged Valentine’s cards and participated in a computer-based literacy activity together. In June, CHDS students visited St. Coletta for the culminating Best Buddies event. “All students enjoyed ‘feeding’ a three-dimensional caterpillar model as the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar was read,” Corazza said. “Afterwards, they created a salad using ingredients picked from the St. Coletta garden.”

“Teaching and learning is a collaborative process,” said Jason Gray, Head of School at Capitol Hill Day School (CHDS), explaining his motivation for starting the group. In early 2010, it suddenly came to him that, in his 15 years as an educator on the Hill, he hadn’t visited other schools in the neighborhood. Looking Ahead Started without an explicit “Coming together as educators purpose beyond informal support, is the primary goal,” Corazza said, Gray quickly found that other though the group does have more heads of school were interested in Charles Adas, SEED SchoolJanice Corazza, St. Colletta of Greater Washington, Rachel Skerritt, Eastern concrete plans going forward. And High School, Jaason Gray, Capitol Hill Day School. connecting. The group meets every they hope that leaders from other few months, often visiting each Capitol Hill schools will join them, other’s schools to see first-hand their colleague’s of each school. further enriching the conversation through the di“We’re not elbowing each other out of the way versity of voices in the group. educational environments. Capitol Hill schools for resources” said Charles Adams, noting one of are diverse in terms of their funding sources, adthe many benefits of the diversity of academic ministration and school populations. But within During their meetings in the 2013-14 school choices on the Hill. Adams is Head of School at year, the group plans to discuss a specific leadership that diversity, the heads have the same fundamental commitment to educating the children in The SEED School of Washington, DC, a public challenge. The host principal will pose a discussion charter school that serves “probably the most un- question to the group, and part of the time together this community. “The sharing has been very informative. The derserved students in the city.” will be used to brainstorm ideas and solutions to head of school role can be isolating, and this group that challenge. makes it less so. If your principal has some potential The Benefits of Collaboration “Our group dynamics have evolved to the point lifelines of people to call, your entire school beneThrough their partnership, this group of princi- where we have developed the level of trust necesfits,” said Rachel Skerritt, principal of Eastern High pals models the benefits of collaboration and offers sary for this type of open conversation,” Gray said. School, which is the only DC public high school to opportunities for their students to build bridges “It’s great to be able to talk off the record.” offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. across the community, as well. “Our differences are our strengths,” Adams “Both the SEED intern program and the Best said, adding, “That’s the clay we use to sculpt the Buddies exchange with St. Coletta provide us with conversations.” Shared Experiences “It’s very helpful as principal of St. Coletta to go an opportunity to broaden how we define commuEllen Boomer is a Hill resident, writing tutor and freelance to other schools and see how they serve their stu- nity for our students,” Gray said. “The seniors [from SEED] who have come to writer. She can be reached at emboomer@gmail.com. H dents through different kinds of accommodations HillRag | November 2013 H 133

kids&family

IB Grows on Capitol Hill

he International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is what you can expect to find in schools for diplomats’ children around the globe. It is a set framework in any land, structured within the same parameters, so no matter where they are, students will be held to the same standards and judged by the same rubric. So why do our local middle and high schools on the Hill boast such a lofty program? Because we asked. In January 2009, Tommy Wells met with Capitol Hill Public School Parents Organization (chpspo.org), led by Suzanne Wells (no relation to Tommy) to talk about forming a middle school task force. Melissa Kim, former principal of Deal Middle School, which underwent an amazing transformation from an underenrolled and under-performing middle

He counts at Jefferson Academy! Photo courtesy Jefferson Academy. 134 H hillrag.com

by Heather Schoell school to an over-enrolled IB school (now the largest and most in-demand middle school in DC), brought her perspective and experience to the group, and with the input of Hill school representatives, local leaders, and DCPS minders, the Ward 6 Middle School Plan was developed and submitted to then-Chancellor Michelle Rhee in April 2010, who received it with enthusiasm. “We’ve worked closely with Ward 6 families to meet their needs and help keep them in DCPS for middle and high school grades,” said Melissa Salmanowitz, press secretary for DCPS. Eliot-Hine student in the broadcast radio classroom. Photo by Andy Le “Part of that mutual promthe major sessions are often held beyond a drivable ise included an IB feeder pattern at Eliot-Hine, Jefferson Academy and Eastern distance. When DCPS’ budget is frozen, it jeopardizes and we’re proud to have that plan well on its way. These travel plans. parents felt strongly that an IB program would make these schools more attractive and appealing.” IB, to Be Clear In fact, it was DCPS’ idea to make these cityIB is an approach to teaching and learning, focused wide destination schools, following the model set on communication and critical thinking. Eliot-Hine’s forth by Deal. 6th grade students must research coming-of-age rituBut local parents are a savvy, skeptical bunch, and als from around the world, summarize three to five have expressed concern that IB funding will not be of them, focus on one, come up with their own, and sustained. “Relatively speaking, the dollar amount to present their work to the class in the form of a film, implement IB is small,” Salmanowitz said. “There are PowerPoint, board, or an outlet of their choosing. This fees associated with IB for different steps throughout assignment encourages a global perspective, as well the process, including the application fee and the an- as self-reflection, organization, public speaking, and nual fees. However, the lift that the school commu- responsibility. IB rewards conveyance of thought and nity has to make in order to integrate this curriculum deep understanding of material — far more difficult for for their students is heavy. The real cost is in the time both student and teacher than filling in blanks or cirand dedication that school staff have to allot in or- cling the correct answer. Questions meet each student der to develop the lessons and the plans to ensure IB at their individual level — IB is by its nature differentiis successful.” ated learning. No future funding for anything is certain in this IB at the middle school level is whole-school partown. The real cost is in training. IB teachers and ad- ticipation, no opting in or out. The Middle Years Proministrators require initial and ongoing training, and gramme (ibo.org/myp) stretches from grades 6 through

10. From the IB organization, “It provides a framework of learning which encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers. The MYP emphasizes intellectual challenge, encouraging students to make connections between their studies in traditional subjects and to the real world. It fosters the development of skills for communication, intercultural understanding and global engagement, qualities that are essential for life in the 21st century.” IB schools are continuously assessed for quality assurance, and student work is reviewed for adherence to standards of teaching and learning. This is not a program that may be in name only.

Middle Years – Working Together

Jefferson Academy (jeffersontrojans.org), Eliot-Hine (eliothinemiddleschool.org), and Eastern High (easternhighschooldc.org) are IBMYP candidate schools. DCPS is working smart, consolidating training opportunities, collaborating and learning together. Jefferson Academy boasts two 2013 Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Leadership or Teaching winners — Principal Natalie Gordon and 7th grade math teacher Greg Dohmann. Eliot-Hine’s Asst. Principal Deneen Walker received the Leadership award as well. “We are very much on target with our training,” said Eliot-Hine’s IB Coordinator, Dorcus Lawrence, of the MYP consortium on the Hill. “The IB International Community representatives will send their trainers to us during the first part of the year. We also have continuous training. Coming up on Professional Development Day is Math and Planning, coordinating with Daviette Bush at Jefferson. I also meet individually with teachers to see how they can be supported with what IB has to offer.” In 2014, an IB representative will visit the schools. “They will conduct interviews of teachers, students, and administrators,” said Lawrence. “They will look at instructional plans, student work, and give feedback.” This critique will be a chance for the schools to address the IB community’s concerns before the schools are judged for accreditation at the beginning of 2015; they will be accepted as accredited IB schools, or they will have to try again.

IB at Eastern’s Upper Level

IB at 11th and 12th grades (ibo.org/ diploma) is an optional path. At the end of 12th grade, an IB candidate could fail to earn the IB diploma, in which case, he or she would graduate with a regular diploma. There is so much to learn about the program, that to encapsulate it here

does it an injustice, but it is highly rigorous, with a deep cumulative level of knowledge and understanding. “I received my IB Diploma from George Mason High School in Falls Church, VA and found it far more rigorous than my first year of undergrad at UVA,” said Maury parent Erica Martin. Hill residents Chris Mullins said the same thing of earning her IB Diploma in England, and Jason Townsend of earning his in Texas. Martin did her extended essay, an IB Diploma requirement, on ESL families – written in Spanish. With her IB Diploma, Martin transferred into UVA with a full semester of credits. For 9 years, Amy Boccardi, IB Coordinator of Eastern, taught English at Hardy MS. She was later hired by Rachel Skerritt, principal of Eastern, and though Boccardi was familiar with AP, she didn’t know IB, but the more she learned, the more it made sense. “It prepares students for further education, making them globally competitive for college, pushes independent thinking, provides solid instruction, and pushes them to make those ‘light bulb connections,’” she said. “With all the standardized tests now, students are good at test taking, but the thinking component is missing. If they can’t find the answer within the passage, they freak out. IB wants them to come up with their own answer. It makes for not only well-rounded students, but well-rounded individuals.” Eastern is in its Year 1 Authorization for the Diploma Programme (DP); there are 18 candidates enrolled, and over 60 students are taking one or more of the seven IB classes offered. It is the only completely IB high school in the DCPS system. (Banneker has DP, but does not offer the IB Middle Years Programme for 9th and 10th graders as Eastern does.) Said Boccardi, “Eastern has been working with Jefferson and Eliot-Hine, sharing expectations, ‘backward mapping’ so that teachers at the middle school level will know what their students need to be prepared for at the high school level.” Both of these feeder schools have new leaders, and both Principal Tynika Young of Eliot-Hine and Natalie Gordon of Jefferson Academy, are moving full speed ahead on training staff and implementing IB. “We are moving forward,” said Lawrence. “We are training our new teachers. With our authenticity, rigor, and fidelity— we are moving forward.” Heather Schoell is a parent of students at Eliot-Hine and Maury. Reach her at heysassy@yahoo.com for schools or heathersdc@gmail.com for buying a home closer to middle school. H

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School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

Tyler Elementary

Tyler Elementary is proud of 1st grader Niamh O’Donovan for winning First Prize for her age group in this year’s DC Healthy Schools Act Student Art & Essay Contest. Niamh created a delightful storybook about unhealthy pirates who become healthy by napping, brushing their teeth, and exercising at Tyler Elementary. Her book was on display at the DC City Council Building between in October. Congratulations, Niamh! Everyone is also very proud of the Tyler Tigers who walk or bike to school each day, many of whom participated in the annual Walk to School Day on October 9 which highlights road safety as well as the importance of exercise. And since October was National Child Safety Month, the Tyler Tigers were busy learning safe habits both in school and at home, including bully preven-

Tyler 1st Grader Niamh O’Donovan wins First Prize in the DC Healthy Schools Act Student Art & Essay Contest 136 H hillrag.com

tion strategies. October was also Spanish Heritage month, in which students celebrated the language, art, and culture of Latin America. This year at Tyler, Spanish Heritage Month culminated in a series of fantastic performances by children in preschool through grade 5, including a rousing rendition of Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time for Africa). – Colleen Cancio at ccancio@gmail.com. Tyler Elementary 1001 G St, SE. TylerElementary.net.

Yarn Bombing at SWS

The latest trend in public art has come to School-Within-School. Yarn bombing! What is yarn bombing? It’s the art of knitting colorful string around trees, bike racks, fences-- or anything, really –to turn them into a creative canvas. At SWS, it started in the first weeks of school when parent Jody Pratt sat and custom knit a fantastic sweater around the trunk and branches of one tree. For the past year, she and SWS’s art Atelierista (art studio teacher) Marla McLean had traded photos of yarn bombings from around the world. McLean decided it was time to yarn bomb more trees at SWS. “It is community art that changes the everyday into the extraordinary,” McLean said. “It’s like graffiti but with yarn.” McLean put out a call to the SWS community for old hand-knit afghans, crochet doilies, brightly colored yarn and wool sweaters. And she assured everyone they didn’t actually have to know how to knit to help. Parents, kids, teachers, family members and SWS neighbors

Eliot-Hine’s 2013 Rubenstein Award winner Mrs. Walker with 6th graders Olivia (l) and Katelyn (r). Photo: H. Schoell.

gathered on a recent afternoon with plastic needles in hand to wrap, crochet and otherwise patch a canopy of happy hues in the front of the school. Stroll by sometime to see our urban knits! – Allison Klein. School-Within-School, 920 F St NE, 202-727-7377; www.schoolwithinschool.org

Eliot-Hine School Notes Eliot-Hine’s Asst. Principal Awarded!

Congratulations to Eliot-Hine’s Assistant Principal Deneen Walker! Mrs. Walker earned the 2013 Rubenstein Award in Leadership. She said of her role at Eliot-Hine, “As an instructional leader I assist teachers with creating rigorous lessons that will engage students intellectually, socially, and emotionally. It is vital that I continue to model consistent, clear, high expectations for student achievement,” she said. “I feel humbled and sincerely grateful for receiving the DCPS’ 2013 Rubenstein Awards for Leadership. This is truly an honor! I believe that all children deserve access to a quality education

to help them achieve their greatest potential. I also understand the importance of personalizing the learning environment to ensure that every student has a meaningful school experience.” Students know that Mrs. Walker is there to help!

Greening Grant

Eliot-Hine is collaborating with the Anacostia Watershed Society and parents from feeder schools to put to best use and design their $30k grant for storm water mitigation from the National Fish and Wildlife (NFWF). Interested in working with them? Email ophelia.morgan@dc.gov! Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution Ave., NE. 202-939-5380; eliothinemiddleschool.org. @EliotHine, facebook.com/EliotHineMS. Heather Schoell, E-H Parent.

Capitol Hill Day School and St. Coletta’s: Best Buddies

For three years, one of Capitol Hill Day School’s Early Childhood classes has participated in St. Co-

Moms On The Hill

2013 School Information Night

[ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8TH ] [ 2:00–5:00 PM ]

[ CAPITOL HILL DAY SCHOOL ] [ 210 SOUTH CAROLINA AVENUE SE ] The closest Metro stop is Capitol South on the blue and orange lines Preschool, Public, Charter, Private, Catholic/Parochial, Middle Schools and other programs. Come see all of your options! More Info:

[ INFO@HILLSCHOOLINFONIGHT.ORG ] [ WWW.HILLSCHOOLINFONIGHT.ORG ]

ALL PARENTS (including non-members) OF THE DISTRICT ARE WELCOME Organized by MoTH (Moms on the Hill)

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CHDS Early Childhood North students at St. Coletta’s playground. Photo: Venuta Carulli

letta’s Best Buddies program. St. Coletta is a special education charter school for students with multiple disabilities and autism who range in age from 3 to 23 years old. The Best Buddies program gives students from both schools the chance to interact and play together as peers. Last month, CHDS children had their first visit with their St. Coletta’s buddies, who are also 4 and 5 years old. They saw the gym, cafeteria, playground, garden, and a “really long, tall hallway.” Together, the children decorated pumpkins and enjoyed the playground. This year, the Best Buddies program supports the Early Childhood class’s unit on people and community. Children discuss human similarities, differences, and basic needs, focusing first on their classroom, expanding to the School, their families, and eventually their neighborhood. In class, children created “About Me” pages to share with their CHDS middle school buddies, created self-portraits and, as part of a math-related exercise, measured each other. Students also reflect on the different strengths of members in their classroom community. After reading “Someone Special Just Like You,” each student identi138 H hillrag.com

fied one of his/her own gifts, and one of his/her challenges, recording their ideas with writing and drawings. The CHDS commitment to diversity and community involvement is reflected in all aspects of the curriculum, from these Early Childhood explorations of strengths and challenges to Middle School discussions of race, culture, gender identity, and differently-abled people. Jane Angarola. Capitol Hill Day School, 210 South Carolina Ave, SE; 202-3869919; www.chds.org.

from high school, but they taught her the value and necessity of education, which drove her to share this value with others. She has spent the last 11 years teaching at Brent, pushing her students to take pride in their work, and to promote and enhance their social and academic community. “All of my students learn that they are indeed skilled scholars who can achieve anything they set their minds to and are willing to work hard for,” Mrs. Hill explains. “They realize that they are all mathematicians, readers, writers, scientists, historians, artists, and musicians.” Mrs. Hill has served as a Teaching In Action Consulting Teacher, has been included in the TLF Align Video Project to help train evaluators, and participated in an educational leaders’ trip to China. She appreciates how actively invested her

Brent’s 3rd Grade Teacher Wins Rubenstein Award

Brent Teacher JoAnn Hill Receives DCPS Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching

Congratulations to Brent’s 3rd Grade Teacher, JoAnn Hill, recipient of the Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching. This award recognizes the success of DCPS teachers with a $5,000 award. Award winners were nominated by DCPS educators, students, parents, and community members, and then selected by a DCPS central office panel. Ms. Hill was acknowledged in an article on the front page of the DCPS website. JoAnn Hill’s parents, both immigrants from Italy, never graduated

school community is in student success, saying, “We are all committed to helping one another be the best we can possibly be.” Of her own role in that community, Mrs. Hill enthuses, “I love that every day is new, exciting, and challenging! There is no job better than teaching!” Mrs. Hill has been rated Highly Effective in all four years of IMPACT evaluations.

Rocknoceros Coming to Brent

Bring your friends and family and join us for a fun filled family concert at Brent featuring the award winning children’s band Rocknoceros. November 16 16 at 11 a.m. (doors open

at 10:30) at Brent Elementary. $10 per person (over 1year old); children under 1 are free. Please purchase your tickets soon at www.brentelementary. org/events/rocknoceros. - Denise Diggs; denise.diggs@dc.gov, Brent Elementary, 301 North Carolina Ave SE; www.brentelementary.org

St. Anselm’s News St. Anselm’s Seniors Named National Merit® Scholarship Semiﬁnalists

St. Anselm’s Abbey School is proud to announce that four of its seniors have been named as Semifinalists in the National Merit® Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)’s 59th Annual Competition. The 2014 group includes John Biﬄ, Jack Butler and Robert Haislmaier, with T.J. Duckett named in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. Based on their PSAT/NMSQT performances, Biﬄ, Butler and Haislmaier are among the top one percent of high school seniors nationally. They are now eligible to receive one of approximately 8,400 National Merit scholarships awarded annually to graduating high school seniors. Duckett is among just 1,600 National Achievement Semifinalists, drawn from a pool of over 160,000 entrants. He has the opportunity to compete for one of approximately 800 National Achievement Scholarships. The National Achievement Scholarship Program was established in 1964 to commend outstanding Black American high school students. Additionally, NMSC announced the names of Commended Students for 2013-2014. They are: Rory Coffin, Eli Cohen, Luke Faletti, Alex Lemmon, Kody Low, Sebastian Mazza, Phoenix Morrison and Sam Sherman. Over the last 10 years, more than 40 percent of St. Anselm’s graduates have been honored by National Merit as Commended Students, Semifinalists, Finalists and National Merit Scholars. “The National Merit Scholarship Program is a testament to students who show exceptional academic ability and great potential for collegiate success,” said Bill Crittenberger, the school’s Headmaster.

(TOP) Walk/Bike to School Day in October was a great success at all three Cluster campuses (RIGHT) Stuart-Hobson students read the children’s book Otis, by Loren Long, to Peabody students

Cluster School News

The Capitol Hill Cluster School has not one, but TWO teachers who have won the coveted Rubenstein Award for Highly Effective Teaching for 2013! Congratulations to Dowan McNairLee of Stuart-Hobson and to Amy Wertheimer of Watkins Elementary. The Rubenstein Award is one of DC’s top honors, and the selection process is very competitive (think of it as the Oscars for teachers in public education). Walk/Bike to School Day in October was a great success at all three Cluster campuses. Peabody students were interviewed about it on WUSA9 news. On October 3, national Read for the Record day, Stuart-Hobson students read the children’s book Otis, by Loren Long, to Peabody students. The book, about a little tractor and calf who become friends, ties in to a Peabody theme this fall of learning about farms and food by visiting farms and picking fruit. The total number of readers participating in breaking Peabody’s record was 277. Peabody’s art studio celebrated autumn by learning about pumpkins, from how they grow to what we use them for. Afterward, Peabody students created a pumpkin patch filled with pumpkins the children sculpted. Peabody kindergarteners in Celeste Lehrer’s class cared for

monarch caterpillars from egg, larva, pupa, to adult. The day after the monarchs emerged from their chrysalises, the Peabody students released them on their journey to Mexico. Kids at Watkins Elementary have been on the move this fall with BOKS, a before school physical activity program at Watkins. Starting every day at 7:15 am, classes are filled with team-oriented games. Watkins students are also resuming their popular running club, in preparation for the Cluster’s 35th running of the Capitol Hill Classic on May 18. The Watkins garden was judged “Best School Garden” for the city’s Growing Healthy Schools Week in October. Watkins 5th grader Louise Banks wrote an essay about the garden, which factored in the school’s winning the award in the city-wide competition. As of October, Watkins students are in 6th place in the city for their mastery of First in Math, an online math exercise program. Stuart-Hobson 7th graders visited the Hall of Human Origins at the Smithsonian’s Natural History museum. The trip was part of their journey learning the history of early humans and supporting fossil evidence. HillRag | November 2013 H 139

kids&family Sports stars at Stuart-Hobson have much to celebrate. The Stuart-Hobson football team is undefeated, with a 3-0 record: At their homecoming game, SH’s Panthers pounced on Jefferson MS with a 48-0 win. Also undefeated, the volleyball team stands at 4-0. And Stuart-Hobson’s cross country team participated in a city invitational, hosted by Deal and Wilson, and the city’s championship on November 2. --Beth Dewhurst, Teacher.

Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan School

We are proud to congratulate CHML primary teacher Ms. Christine Willis-Bennett on receiving a DCPS Rubenstein Award. This award is one of the district’s top honors for educators. All of the Rubenstein Award winners will be presented with their awards, which come with a $5,000 prize, during A Standing Ovation at the Kennedy Center on November 4, 2013. Thank you to the CHPSO for organizing a terrific Walk to School Day celebration on October 9th. CHML was proud to represent! And, thank you to the DC Metropolitan Police officers who escorted us to our school. They were incredibly thoughtful, kind and safe to walkers and bike riders of all ages. As you get organized for the 2014-15 DCPS lottery, learn more about CHML! In addition to our current PS-6 grade offerings, CHML will be adding a seventh grade in 2014-15 (and eighth grade the following year). Learn about our expanding school community at our upcoming open houses on December 9 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and January 21 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. –Sara Burns.

News from St. Peter School Kicking off the School Term Off with a Blue Ribbon!

There is simply no better way to kick off the school term than being awarded Blue Ribbon Status by the U.S. Department of Education! Entering its 145th year of service to the Capitol Hill community, an anchor of 140 H hillrag.com

St. Peter Students prepare Christmas boxes for children around the globe

the St. Peter School vision is encouraging students to “always reach higher” through spiritual growth, community service and academic excellence. Our blue ribbon students fully embrace that vision: the 6th grade safety patrol is in place; community service projects are underway; and student council representatives have been elected. Several members of the eighth grade class delivered election speeches inspired by thoughtful ideas which resulted in a tight race for leadership positions. Supported by class representatives in grades two through eight, President Maggie Drelichman, Vice President Amelia Ceballos, Secretary Kidus Abebe and Treasurer Delina Sheth have hit the ground running by establishing a student council-led school newspaper and identifying charities for schoolwide support each month. Just as it was on the first day of operation in the 1860s, St. Peter School is excited to embrace a new year of learning and enrichment. Surely, many great Blue Ribbon days lay ahead!

Christmas in October

The students’ first community outreach project was working with Samaritan’s Purse to send Christmas presents to boys and girls across the world. Samaritan’s Purse, which is named for the Good Samaritan, will send boxes of Christmas gifts to children in need around the globe -from Angola to Venezuela. The students will be able to track the boxes on the internet to determine where they are headed and when they will

arrive. The 18 boxes St. Peter students filled will be among the one hundred million boxes that Samaritan’s Purse has distributed since 1993. Over 110,000 people volunteer each year. The boxes not only offer toys and gifts for children worldwide, they will educate the children about the meaning of Christmas. –Sally Aman. www. stpeterschooldc.org

Amidon-Bowen PTA Hosts Councilmember and Education Committee Chairman Catania

The Amidon-Bowen PTA welcomed D.C. Council member and Education Committee Chairman, David Catania, to its meeting on Tuesday, October 8th. “We are partners with the Council, Mayor and Chancellor in making Amidon a successful school,” said Marty Welles, the school’s PTA president. Catania’s visit gave AmidonBowen parents and interested community members the opportunity to learn first-hand about a number of proposals that the Council member has introduced this year in an effort to improve the District’s education system. It also allowed Catania to hear directly from the school community about issues of concern to parents and students alike. Throughout the evening, Catania emphasized his commitment to “removing the barriers between students and success” through a variety of mea-

sures, such as funding, accountability, changes to the lottery process, governance, and facilities management. Council member Catania’s visit to Amidon-Bowen points to the parent and community involvement that continues to bolster the school’s success. Catania said that he himself was impressed with the strides the school has made. “I have attended over 25 PTA meetings since last spring, and my experience at Amidon-Bowen was among the most enjoyable,” said Catania. “I was thrilled to see the energy among the parents, and I appreciated their thoughtful questions and feedback. I look forward to returning soon.” - Lucy Rojansky http://profiles.dcps.dc.gov/amidon-bowen+elementary+school Amidon-Bowen, 401 I St. SW.

The Hybrid Academy Informational Session November 19th

The Hybrid Academy (THA) will hold an informational session for prospective parents on Tuesday evening, November 19, 7:30 p.m. at 433 9th St, NE. THA is a unique elementary program that combines a traditional classroom setting with time spent in one on one instruction at home. THA currently serves children from kindergarten through second grade, with plans to expand to at least fourth grade by the 2015-16 school year. THA is an extension of Capitol Hill Learning Group (CHLG), which is a faith based (Christian) community of learning offering teacher led programming beginning in the preschool years. THA, which operates with a very small student / teacher ratio of 10 to 1, combines 12 hours of in-classroom instruction per week paired with assignments that parents complete with their child at home (typically 4-6 hours per week, depending on the child’s grade level and work ethic). Additionally, THA provides a community connection for the families involved. THA families join together for gymnastics, dance and art classes, museum trips and various field trips designed around the curriculum being studied. - Martha Herndon. The Hybrid Academy, 433 9th ST NE; www.capitolhilllearninggroup.com.

Excellence in Teaching Award Winners announced by DCPS

The Excellence Awards recognize the outstanding achievement and dedication of seven DCPS teachers and one DCPS principal with a $10,000 award. Winners are nominated by DCPS educators, students, parents, and community members, and then selected by a central office panel. Eligible teachers must earn a rating of Highly Effective under IMPACT. The awards are made possible due to the generosity of David Rubenstein, cofounder and managing director of the Carlyle Group and chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Included in the list is Maury’s First grade teacher, Asonja Dorsey. Currently in her 21st year at Maury Elementary, Dorsey loves her school’s genuine, family-like atmosphere, calling it her “own little piece of heaven on earth.” Her enthusiasm has led her to serve on numerous committees at Maury, and to mentor student teachers and new teachers as they join the school’s faculty. This same communal spirit informs Mrs. Dorsey’s efforts in her classroom. “We are a team! We rise together, and pick each other up when we fall,” she describes. Carolyne Albert-Garvey, the Principal of Maury Elementary, praises Mrs. Dorsey’s commitment to student achievement. “It’s impossible for students to not be successful in her class,” she says. “She works with students every minute of class time—kids always come first.”

Maury Elementary News

Principal recognized as “highly effective leader.” DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson recently announced that our principal, Carolyne Albert-Garvey, has been selected for a prestigious Rubenstein Award. For all of us in the Maury school community, this is a “no brainer” – but it’s nice that others have noticed and are giving her the credit she deserves. On a similar note, Maury recently hosted a delegation of principals from Wales. They wanted to learn how our

teachers assess student needs and differentiate instruction to meet those needs. They observed several classrooms, talked to faculty members, lingered longer than expected, and left looking impressed.

Publishing Party

Our second grade authors celebrated the completion of their autobiographies with a publishing party, well attended by their family members. Mr. Havner’s and Ms. Fox’s students visited each other’s’ classrooms to read their friends’ autobiographies. Then they took turns reading aloud a favorite chapter from their own and discussing the illustrations. It’s great to see the kids so excited about writing.

Thank you yard sale shoppers and donors!

This recent fundraiser was a huge success due to the generosity of the neighbors who gave items for sale and the many friends who came out to purchase the goods. We truly appreciate your support. Maury Elementary, 1250 Constitution Ave., NE. 202-6983838 or mauryelementary.com. Facebook and Twitter. - Elizabeth Nelson.

Elsie Whitlow Stokes News Celebrating Latino American History Month

To encourage to students to understand and appreciate the diversity of cultures in our community and its importance for academic and career success, Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School hosted a month long Latino American History Month celebration. From September 16 to October 12 every day at 8:15 am students attended an assembly and learned about the culture Caribbean as well as Central and South American nations. Stokes uses cultural celebrations to teach students about the depth and diversity of cultures that contribute to America. Over the coming months celebrations HillRag | November 2013 H 141

academic benefit for all involved”. Students from Eastern SHS who received in-depth and ongoing training tutor our second and third graders twice a week. This innovative program provides benefit to both the tutor as well as the Payne students partner with Reach Incorporated tutee, not only with respect to gains in proficiency and conwill focus on American Indian Heritage, fidence in reading Black history, French culture, and jazz and skills, but also because of the relationships poetry appreciation. forged. Each of our younger students has a Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Free- high school student as a role model and a dom Public Charter School, 3700 Oakview “buddy” that they can depend on, learn with Terrace NE. www.ewstokes.org/ and look up to. Executive Director, Mark Hecker, is a hands-on partner and in working with his team, our staff is looking forward to great growth again this school year. Reach HistoryMakers Project Incorporated is a 2011 winner of the presTo encourage students academically and tigious Echoing Green Fellowship, an honor highlight American-African history, Friend- bestowed upon the most promising earlyship Collegiate Academy hosted respected stage social innovations in the world. The chemists Drs. Vernon Morris and Tyrone organization was also recently highlighted Mitchell. The event was part of the nation- as a 2012 Social Innovation Rockstar. www. wide HistoryMakers Project’s fourth annual reachincorporated.org. Back to School Program. They discussed their school experience and the importance of educational achieveInspired by the updated school, Ludlowment for African-Americans. He then led Taylor parent volunteers have been working students through an experiment. During his to make improvements to the school grounds, distinguished career Dr. Morris has taught at committing to weekend clean-up days. The Howard University and was director for the Greening Committee has been finalizing Howard University component of the NASA plans to create planting beds that would enGoddard Earth Sciences and Technology able students and possibly community memCenter. bers to grow vegetables, and to increase the Dr. Mitchell is a respected chemist, who efficiency of the rain barrel located in the during his career received more than twentyschool’s courtyard. five patents. The products Dr. Mitchell develBoth the kindergarten through fifth and oped earn over $100 million in sales annually. the early childhood education (ECE) backThe HistoryMakers Project is a nationto-school nights boosted the energy of the wide effort dedicated to preserving Afriparents and teachers alike. During the former can American history as the missing link in night, students performed, showing off the American history. This is the back to school skills they have been honing through their project’s fourth year and this year will feature time with Fillmore Arts Center staff. DurAfrican American HistoryMakers visiting ing the latter back-to-school night, Principal 230 schools in 68 cities nationwide. Cobbs encouraged parent involvement while Friendship’s Collegiate Academy, at 4095 parent Meghan Mussleman spoke about the Minnesota Avenue N.E. www.friendshipdangers of food allergies. shipschools.org Ludlow’s new French teacher directed an impressive performance by students during the ECE night. Students have been learnPayne is excited to partner with Reach ing that “fille” means girl and “blanc” means Incorporated for a second year! Reach In- white among so much else. Stop by and see corporated “develops confident grade-level the display of the students’ work: “l’automne” readers and capable leaders by training leaves in the glass case that faces 7thSt, NE. teens to teach younger students, creating - Rebekah Benson-Flannery Ludlow Taylor

Friendship Collegiate Academy News

Ludlow-Taylor News

Payne Elementary School News

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Elementary School, 659 G St. NE. 202-698-3244.

Friends Community School News Author Grace Lin Speaks

Noted children’s author and illustrator Grace Lin spent a morning with kindergarten through fourth grade students at Friends Community School in September. The author and illustrator of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, The Red Thread and Dim Sum for Everyone, among many other well-loved children’s books, spoke to lower school students about how to publish a book. She talked to them about generating ideas for a story and all the subsequent steps a book goes through until it is published. Children took turns pretending to be a book publisher, an editor, a design director and other people who work on publishing a book. The children were interested to learn that publishing a book takes at least a year and often much longer. Friends Community School is a small Quaker kindergarten to eighth -grade school that educates children of all beliefs including about 25 from Capitol Hill. More information about the school and the admissions process is available by contacting Connie Belfiore, Director of Admissions and Outreach, at connie@friendscommunityschool. org or 301-441-2100 x129 or at www.friendscommunityschool. org. 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD H

A Memorial Service for Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Ron McBee is scheduled for Veterans Day at 11 a.m. It will be held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. A potluck repast will follow service downstairs. Please bring a dish to share. Due to the large number of friends and colleagues, a representative group of persons will speak at the service. All are invited to submit signed, brief written tributes for inclusion in the printed program.

Memorial for

Ron McBee Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013 at 11 a.m. Westminster Presbyterian Church 400 I Street, SW

Please contact Pastors Ruth or Brian Hamilton if you have questions about the service at (202) 484-7700.

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Children’s author and illustrator Grace Lin spoke to students at Friends Community School about how to publish a book. HillRag | November 2013 H 143

144 H hillrag.com

Homes & Gardens The Hill Gardener

Master Gardeners of DC

he District’s Master Gardener Program, offered at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), is an eight week course where students learn gardening essentials including botany, soils and fertilizer, composting, plant diseases, integrated pest management (IPM), fruit and vegetable gardening. Many Master Gardener Programs throughout the US conduct their training in a collaborative relationship through a state land-grant university and its Cooperative Extension Service. Land-grant universities get federal financial support administered through the US Department of Agriculture. Their original mission was to teach agriculture, mechanical arts, and classical studies. Today the 4-H (youth-focused)

BELOW: Vira Sisolak in the Verizon Garden, a project she spearheaded with assistance from Master Gardener Program friends, neighbors and Capitol Hill Garden Club members. Photo: Annette Nielsen.

by Annette Nielsen

ABOVE: Sandy Farber’s (second from left, bottom row) Master Gardeners assisting with the 2012 Tulips for Ted, Daffodils for Dad Program/Plant It Day at Coolidge High School. The Tulips for Ted Program is one Farber started in memory of her father. Photo provided.

and Master Gardener Programs are key offerings for land-grant universities such as UDC. The UDC Master Gardener program is run by Sandy Farber who serves as UDC’s Extension Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator. She came to UDC in June of 2001 making a career change from working as a judicial officer in Maryland. She says that when she came to the position, it had been vacant for three years, but demand for the program has changed that. “Currently, we have a wait list for this program – where we’ve had as many as 60 students enrolled, 40 to 45 students is really optimal for the class so that people can receive individualized attention,” Farber said. She credits a nation-wide focus on sustainability, as well as the mayor’s “Sustainable DC” initiative for bringing attention and interest to UDC’s Master Gardener Program. Farber says that the District

and Baltimore are the only metropolitan inner cities with Master Gardener Programs. The programs runs once a year, typically kicking off the first Tuesday in February. Farber has trained and certified over 550 Master Gardeners. There is a fee to participate ($250 for DC residents, $350 for non-residents), and upon completion of the coursework the students are expected to volunteer 50 hours as an intern on a communitybased garden activity before they receive their certificate. Farber says, “We’ve leveraged students’ many volunteer hours to work on a number of projects in every ward in DC. Our volunteers give back somewhere in the neighborhood of 8,000 hours per year.” Calculate that by the DC state value for volunteer hourly rate of $34.04 through independentsector. org, and this one program contributes over $250,000 worth of professional HillRag | November 2013 H 145

work throughout our District neighborhoods.

Master Gardeners Volunteer

Many of these volunteer hours have a direct impact on our neighborhoods, whether through local garden clubs or institutions with a broader mission. Carol Edwards, the Capitol Hill Garden Club’s president says that she found the DC Master Gardener Program a great combination of education and community service. “I am an infinitely more knowledgeable gardener now – I also volunteer at public gardens like the US National Arboretum. During this process, I have made new and lasting friendships with other plant lovers.” Vira Sisolak, another Capitol Hill Garden Club member says that as a Master Gardener, she’s a member of a special group devoted to bringing beauty and healthy living through gardening to our neighborhoods. “I encounter many Master Gardeners locally, but also meet them as I visit other parts of the country – including Chapel Hill, Seattle and even on a cruise ship in Alaska.” Sisolak was instrumental in the transformation of a Capitol Hill outdoor space on the perimeter of the Verizon building at 120 Seventh St. NE that started in 2009. “When Verizon Corp. gave me permission and funds to develop a garden in the public space in front of their building, I knew I would need help beyond the volunteers I received from the neighborhood, the Capitol Hill Garden Club, and Verizon. When I asked Sandy Farber if she would agree to make the Verizon garden a Master Gardener’s project, she readily agreed.” Sisolak says she could not have developed the garden without the Master Gardeners, as they were always reliable, working long and hard on the project, no matter the weather. “Their expertise was instrumental in the garden’s success. Now that the garden is established, I no longer need substantial help – Master Gardeners who are in the garden club and those who live in the neigh146 H hillrag.com

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Derek Thomas / Principal LEFT: Sandy Farber in her gardening vehicle of choice working on Master Gardener’s projects. Photo provided.

borhood continue to help when I ask them.” Farber has continued her own volunteer work out in the field, planting a few thousand bulbs annually over the past few years at different city locations in memory of her father. She has also spearheaded collaborative projects with DC Urban Forestry and Casey Trees, replacing dead or dying trees with a group of volunteers. To recognize the great work she’s done in this arena, in 2006, Farber was awarded the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Award for Distinguished DC Government Employees, administered by the George Washington University for Excellence in Public Leadership. She says she thinks the next evolution of urban gardening will include an emphasis where more people will grow their own food. “Here is where we have an opportunity to look at issues of food safety, making certain our soil is free of contaminants, and smart sanitation practices.” For further information about the requirements for certification as a Master Gardener at the University of the District of Columbia, call 202-274-7166 or email Farber at sfarber@udc.edu. H

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homesgardens

Let it Rain, And Drain, Into Your Rain Garden With Help from DC’s RiverSmart Homes Program

re you experiencing drainage problems around your property or, even worse, around the foundation of your house? Are you noticing torrents of water flowing across paved areas during heavy rainstorms, carrying with it valuable topsoil and resulting in ugly, harmful erosion? Or are you simply growing tired of spending so much time mowing, watering and chemically treating your lawn, which could also perhaps benefit from a more visually pleasing garden oasis planted within it? If so, you may want to consider having a rain garden installed through the District’s RiverSmart Homes or RiverSmart Communities programs. That’s what Capitol Hill homeowners Jennifer Fritschi and Jennifer Robinson did, and they couldn’t be happier.

Tackling the District’s Stormwater Runoff

A grant initiative, conducted jointly between the District’s Department of the Environment (DDOE), the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Casey Trees and other partners, the RiverSmart Homes program provides up to $1200 in landscaping that reduces stormwater runoff into area streams and rivers, thus ultimately helping preserve the Chesapeake Bay.The cost is a $75 resident co-pay for a rain garden (or $100 for a Bay-

by Cyd Price

(L) Amanda Frayer and husband Dan Schramm participated in a Riversmart Homes rain garden installation training that focused on converting a portion of their backyard, located in the District’s Brookland neighborhood, into a rain garden. (R) Jennifer Robinson, 1234 E St., NE, enjoys puttering around in her backyard rain garden. “Installing a rain garden is well worth the investment,” she says. “For just $75, residents get a beautifully landscaped, native-plant-filled focal point in their yards while resolving stormwater drainage issues at the same time.”

Scape) involving native grasses, plants, shrubs and trees. The RiverSmart Communities program also provides rebates of up to 60% of the project cost for larger-scale projects – such as cisterns, permeable pavers and rain gardens – involving multifamily residences, small locally owned businesses,

and houses of worship.

What is Stormwater Runoff?

Stormwater runoff is water from rainstorms or snow melts that is contaminated with debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants that travels in sheets across impervious surfaces, such as driveways, sidewalks and streets and flows directly into water tributaries or into storm sewer systems where it is discharged as untreated sewage overflow into the water that we depend on for drinking water, fishing and swimming. The problem is that a whopping chunk – 39% – of the District is paved over. Thus, our area tends to experi(L) Jennifer Fritschi (r) and Deborah Hooker are surrounded by rain garden plantings flanking their patio located at 1833 Independence Ave., SE. “RiverSmart Homes ence huge stormwater planted four large trees and a garden for me,” says Jennifer. “We call our beautifully transformed backyard our ‘oasis.’” (R) Fritschi garden after. 148 H hillrag.com

runoff flows, particularly following heavy rains. One solution is to create incentives to reduce this polluted runoff, such as “rainscaping” and “bayscaping”; hence the birth of the RiverSmart Homes and RiverSmart Communities programs, which employ both techniques in reducing stormwater pollution.

What Is a Rain Garden?

A rain garden is a landscaped saucerlike depression filled with deep, loose soil and native (or indigenous) vegetation that mimics a knoll or a swale found in a natural setting and allows rain water to sink deep into the ground. Often small and crescent, kidney or tear-drop in shape, rain gardens are deliberately designed and situated to withstand extremes in rainfall by redirecting and absorbing stormwater runoff from downspouts, roofs, driveways, sidewalks, streets and even grass areas (which tend to be less pervious than gardens). The pollutants in this runoff – including excess nutrients, pesticides, oils, metals and other contaminants -- are then filtered, typically over a period of hours, by the rain garden’s plants, soils and microorganisms. The plants, shrubs and trees in a rain garden typically are the same ones one might see in a native or wildflower garden; the difference is that they are strategically selected and placed to achieve maximum bioretention benefits, while also serving as an overall aesthetic or focal enhancement. And since the depth of a rain garden can be as shallow as six inches, heavy machines typically are not required.

Why Are Rain Gardens Important?

In addition to helping control flooding, recharging groundwater and offering water-cooling benefits, rain gardens provide valuable habitat for local wildlife. And, even more important, these strategically planted areas help improve the health of our rivers, and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay, by reducing the number of pollutants that flow into storm sewer systems or directly into tributaries that feed into the Bay. Of particular benefit is that levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which contribute to algae blooms and other Bay degradation, are instead absorbed beneficially by garden plants.

Benefits to Homeowners

Homeowners who have rain gardens installed enjoy reduced yard maintenance, once the plants are well established.

In addition, rain gardens and native plants in general: - Help beautify yards by serving as pleasing visual oases in the landscape; - Reduce the need for mowing, pesticides, pruning, irrigation and fertilizing; - Require less watering than conventional lawns and gardens; - Cost less to maintain than typical turf lawns; - Help stabilize soils and reduce erosion; and - Are a fun and creative outlet for homeowners, who are free to participate in selecting plants.

Rain Garden Planting and Maintenance Considerations

While rain gardens are all unique in design, with many fitting into odd shapes and spaces, most RiverSmart Homes rain gardens are typically 50 square feet and are designed to fit with individual site characteristics, with topography, soils, drainage patterns, existing vegetation and sun exposure factored in. A wide variety of natives – indigenous species that were here before European settlers arrived – may be used in rain gardens. However, plants selected are often those that tolerate both the extremes of flooding and drought. Of course, rain gardens do require maintenance and are therefore not for everyone; the area will need to be weeded and mulched seasonally and watered regularly during the first two growing seasons, as well as during subsequent drought periods. However, rain gardens require less overall effort, time and money than traditional turf lawns. Plus, what better way for individual homeowners to make a difference in saving the Bay? Want a rain garden in your yard? Here’s h w wwow to enroll: Visit http://ddoe. dc.gov/service/riversmart-homes-application or call DDOE at 202-535-2252.

About RiverSmart Homes and RiverSmart Communities

For more on RiverSmart Homes, see http://ddoe.dc.gov/ser vice/riversmarthomes-overview. For details on larger-scale RiverSmart Communities projects, see http://ddoe. dc.gov/service/riversmart-communities. Cyd Price is owner of CapitalCreations – Organic Gardening and Landscaping. She can be reached at 202-297-2661 or cydprice@msn.com. H

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homesgardens

What Does Concrete have to do with Roof Leaks?

id you know that your “roof ” leak might actually be caused by deteriorated mortar joints in your chimney? If yes, congratulations! But many homeowners do not realize this is a major potential source of water leaking into your home. Because we are on roofs every day we keep a keen eye on chimneys and exposed brick walls above the roof line. They are always included in our roof inspections along with the roof itself, skylights, flashing, wall caps/parapets and gutters and downspouts. So how do you go about properly re-pointing historic chimneys and brick facades in Capitol Hill homes? Re-pointing describes the restoration of historic brick structures by removing mortar between masonry joints and replacing it with new mortar. Using the right techniques and materials are key to doing the job properly.

by Tom Daniel façade. A newly re-pointed structure should be cleaned thoroughly with a solution of diluted acid or a specially formulated masonry cleaner to remove dirt, staining and residual mortar left on the brick face during re-pointing.

and level of hardness/softness are completely different from cement or concrete which are modern building materials best suited for new construction, not renovation of historic masonry structures.

Materials

If a building or chimney is repointed with cement the extreme density of the materials will cause the softer coal-fired bricks to crack and will eventually show signs of structural damage and interior water penetration. It is not true that “the harder the mortar the sturdier the wall” as some contractors would have you believe! Lime mortar containing

Methodology and Techniques

Historic brick structures of the type found in Capitol Hill, Georgetown and Old Town, Alexandria must be re-pointed in their entirety and not in sections; patching new mortar on old without chiseling away the old mortar is throwing money down the drain. Mortar bonds much better to the clean, chiseled surface of the brick. Mortar joints should be struck with a tool creating a slight concave recess in the joint to prevent water penetration and staining on the brick 150 H hillrag.com

Buildings built before the 1930’s generally have softer brick, which makes them a candidate for oldstyle lime mortar which is really the only way to go. Most older masonry structures were built using lime and sand including the Egyptian pyramids and 600 year old castles in Scotland. The composition structure

NO cement is by far the best option and the only type that we use in our restoration work. Many contractors use Type N or Type O mortar. While these mixes consist mostly of lime, they do contain some cement which, as said, may harm your structure. So, if you have had a previous patch job, which used masonry cement, and not limebased mortar, the patch job will probably do more harm than good over the long run because the cement can dam the joints trapping moisture inside the brick. In winter water-logged walls can freeze and crack allowing still more water to penetrate the bricks. In summer, as the brick tries to expand, its protective skin can pop off. The bottom-line is that cement will hurt, not help your walls. You need a contractor who will know how to chisel out the old cement mortar to a proper depth and use limebased mortar and traditional re-pointing techniques. You want your walls and chimneys to withstand the test of time like the ancient Pyramids and old Scottish castles! Tom Daniel is the owner and General Manager of R. Thomas Daniel Roofing, a thirdgeneration Capitol Hill family enterprise that has provided roofing services to Capitol Hill families for more than 90 years. He is a Hill resident and the company is the recommended roofer of Capitol Hill Village. He can be reached at 202-569-1080 or tom@rthomasdanielroofing.com. Visit the company website at www.rthomasdanielroofing.com. H

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homesgardens gardenspot

Fall Planning For A Great Spring Garden

ill gardeners who have decided it is time to take the plunge into a new or improved garden can do their homework this fall to be prepared for the big dig come spring. Through proper planning, a great garden can be renovated or completely redone. You should consider space, exposure, and research plants, shrubs, and trees so that you choose not only what you like, but what will work best in this microclimate, and in the space you have. The focal plant you see that is cute in the garden center may outgrow your garden or become a ferocious competitor chocking out more delicate plantings. Pre-thinking will help the new garden be a success. Some considerations are: 1. Time 2. Perennials or annuals 3. Evergreens or deciduous 4. Focal elements 5. Overall structure and design 1) How much time can you dedicate to installation and maintenance? How may times has a great garden been installed only to die the slow death due to neglect. When planning your space, be realistic about the time you have to devote to the garden. If your time is limited, can you afford to hire professional maintenance. Plants need regular care, not just the incidental, monthly weeding and fertilization. Proper installation and maintenance will turn your garden into a beautiful space. Do the pants need to be tough and low maintenance? Maybe you should take a gardening or landscaping course.

1. A well planned garden has a mix of elements and can seamlessly work in the existing older parts of the space like the tree in the background of this newly planted garden. 2. Important 2) Perennials vs. Annuals. elements, even focal points should be well thought out and not haphazardly executed. 3. Structure and design must be considered Simply put true perennials return every year, to keep the garden looking effortless and not contrived. 4. Annuals may or may not require extensive care during versus perennials, when deciding keep in mind the amount of the growing season, and usually make a better maintenance you want to do from year to year. 152 H hillrag.com

by Derek Thomas show with each passing year. Annuals are plants that provide a long lasting nonstop show during the growing season, and are not cold hardy to the region. (There are many plants that are considered annuals that are not in their native region). Once again the choice is up you, the gardener. Many people tend to create mixed borders therefore having as close to a continuous show as possible. 3) Evergreens vs. deciduous. Evergreens are exactly what their name suggests; they have green vegetation the entire year. Deciduous trees and shrubs will lose their leaves with the onset of fall and winter. 4) Important elements; water features, stones, statuary. What are the elements that are important in your ideal garden? Take the time and do the research. There are many great, functional, scaled to townhome size, products on the market. Remember that your space is limited and less can be more. 5) Structure and design. What is the overall look and feel that you want for your garden? This can be decided by using garden design books. Take the time to walk through neighborhood streets and get ideas from existing gardens. You can take a class on garden design or hire a landscape professional to consult, design, install, and maintain your garden.

The Next Steps

The next important consideration is exposure during the growing season (full sun vs. total shade) and all the microclimates that can exist even in the smallest of landscapes. Exposure must be deter-

mined if you want your plants to thrive. There are many reference books on the market. You can ask your garden center professional which plants perform best in your particular situation. After sun exposure is determined, then your soils condition must be assessed. In the Washington area the soils tend to be heavy clay. This is not an impossible gardening condition. Clay is loaded with nutrients, however, amending a heavy clay soil with compost and an organic fertilizer will greatly improve the success and happiness of your garden plants. Compost should be applied twice a year. Organic fertilizers can be applied according to the products directions. Make sure that you do not over fertilize. Over fertilizing can be just as stressful on plants as no fertilizing. Watering must be considered. Proper watering will help to establish a healthy root system. As a basic rule, it is better to water deeply every second or third day when plants are newly installed, usually for the first two weeks. If installing in the summer, keep a watch on plants that have smaller root systems as they may need to be watered every other day for the first three to four weeks. Also consider the exposure, southern exposures will dry out quicker than northern. Mulch will help to retain moisture in your soil. Mulch also adds beauty, and as it breaks down increases the organic content in you soil. You are well on the way to a great garden next year. Through, thoughtful planning this fall, you too can have a victorious, full garden next spring. Enjoy.

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Derek Thomas is principal of Thomas Landscapes. His garden designs have been featured on HGTV’s Curb Appeal, and Get It Sold. His weekly garden segment can be seen on WTTG/Fox 5 in Washington. He can be reached at www. thomaslandscapes.com or 301.642.5182. You can find and friend us on Facebook at Facebook/Thomas Landscapes. Follow us on Twitter @ThomasGardenGuy For Great Garden Tips. H

HillRag | November 2013 H 153

The Capitol Hill Garden Club presents

Dear Garden Problem Lady,

by Wendy Blair

wonder if there is anything wrong with gathering up fallen leaves from the gutter in front of our house to use as mulch. They’re free! Other than a high probability that the leaves will have absorbed car exhaust fumes, dollops of gasoline and automobile oil, with likely soupcons of animal waste, you are certainly welcome to help yourself to those free leaves. However some might warn that you could thus imperil your garden soil. How can I stop squirrels from devouring my carefully planted tulip bulbs? Blood meal doesn’t work. Noisemaker devices don’t work. Does the fox or coyote urine spray work? What about bird netting? I do hope you have a magic answer! Who knew that one can buy fox or coyote urine in a spray can? But no – other than not planting tulips at all, and planting daffodils instead – because squirrels dislike the taste of daffodils --there is another sure-fire way of keeping squirrels away from your tulip bulbs. Place hardware cloth over the soil under which your tulip bulbs lie. Of course hardware cloth is not cloth at all. Unlike bird netting, which will not work because it is too flimsy, hardware cloth is heavy wire screening, difficult to cut into 154 H hillrag.com

small pieces – and therefore somewhat bothersome to work with. But it works. First, measure your tulip bed(s) and ask your local hardware store to cut hardware cloth to your needs. Then lay it over your plantings, weighing the corners down with bricks or stones. Last, be sure to remove that hardware cloth when the ground has frozen solid. Otherwise it will impede your tulips as they peep in March. Now that you are on squirrels, how can I stop them from eating camellia buds. That chomping starts around now. Cover camellia shrubs with bird netting. A huge bother, but it’s the only thing that keeps squirrels from buds. When should we start bringing dormant amaryllis bulbs back into the house? Six to eight weeks before you need them to bloom. Right now if you want them for Christmastide. How do I overwinter tuberous begonia tubers? After leaves have died, but before the ground has frozen, carefully dig them up, gently shake off all their dirt, place each tuber in a paper bag in a dark, dry cool (but not cold) place until all danger of frost has ended. Then replant in fresh soil. Wait until leaves appear to water. Do not over-water. At the next meeting of the Capitol Hill Garden Club, on Tuesday November 12, Hillwood Estate lead gardener Jessica Bonilla will describe her Favorite Perennials, including some reliable new introductions. 7 p.m. at the Church of the Brethren, 4th Street door, corner of North Carolina Avenue SE at 4th.

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Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to the Problem Lady c/o andrew@hillrag.com. Your problems might prove instructive to others, and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. H

HillRag | November 2013 H 155

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DRAPERIES

S TANDARD C LEANING S ERVICE I NC . Commercial & Residential

• Home Improvement • Kitchens & Baths • Flooring & Tile • Plumbing • Electrical • Carpentry • Renovations • Landscaping • Painting • Windows & Doors • And Much More

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CONTRACTORS Over 10 years of Experience on Capitol Hill

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HillRag | November 2013 H 157

ENERGY PROVIDER

F&C

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insured

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references

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Suburban Welding Company

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LANDSCAPING Redefining Beauty One Client at a Time!

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Over 20 years of experience

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Specializing in perennial gardens, landscape design, yard maintenance, seasonal contracts-free estimates for major cleanups, spring/fall cleanups, mulching, pruning, trimming, weeding, debris removal, leaf removal, light hauling, planting and more. Pressure washing, decks patios. Emergency Service Available. Call today! 240-604-5390.

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The home should be the treasure chest of living. Le Corbusier Kathleen Soloway Interior Designer

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PLUMBING

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ROOFING / GUTTERS

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160 H hillrag.com

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WELDING Suburban Welding Company

for 7 days of unlimited yoga! ALL LEVELS WELCOME! No reservations required! ®

Welding & Ornamental Iron Work

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Repairs of Original Cast Iron Staircases Window bars and door security gates Handrailings & Stair Railings Fences, Sidewalk Gates, Tree Box Fences DC code approved bedroom window security bars • Excavating, back hoe services and tree stump grinding • Certified welding

24-hours, 7-day service Free estimates

703-765-9344

www.suburbanweldingcompany.com

WIRING

• Reduce stress • Increase Strength + Flexibility

Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill 410 H ST. NE 202-547-1208 Look better, feel better and change your body! Living on & serving the Hill since 1986

Dr. David Walls-Kaufman Chiropractor All are welcome to Dr. Walls-Kaufman's free Saturday morning Tai Chi class at 8 am in Lincoln Park

CABLE LINK

CUSTOM WIRING & REPAIRS Cable, satellite, internet, networking, phone and stereo.

240-305-7132 Earl Dennis

Our website just got a whole lot better! capitalcommunitynews.com

Anchor Computers On-site Service for Homes and Businesses • • • • • •

Troubleshooting, Repairs & Upgrades Virus and Spyware Removal New and Existing Computer Setup Network andWireless Installation Data Recovery, Transfer and Back-up Webpage Development

Specializing in Cats with Medical Needs Serving Capitol Hill, near Northeast, Atlas District, Southwest & NoMA For cat adoptions www.capitalcats.petfinder.org

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411 East Capitol St., SE

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PET SERVICES PET SITTING

Would your INDOOR cat or kitten like to be pampered, cared for and played with while you’re away or at work? Then you should give me a call as I would love to pet-sit your cat or kitten. Joyce at 202-547-0556

Because Optimal Health is Impossible Without Optimal Posture!

SHOE REPAIR

Eastern Market Shoe Repair • Shoes • Boots • Purses • Luggage 645 Penn Ave., SE upstairs M-F 8:30-7 • Sat 9-6

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zoolatry (zoo-ahl’-uh-tree) the worship of animals – especially a pet

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Big dogs, puppies, hard to handle and older dogs. I love them all ….and I also love kitties.

Phillip DuBasky Dog Walking, Kitty Care & Pet Sitting

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Never missed a walk in 10 years Experienced and Reliable Outstanding Hill References • Insured by PSA

202.889.0996 HillRag | November 2013 H 161

MISC. ART SHOW

Art Show & Reception for Nancy McNamara

Drinks and hor d’ouerves served • Free to the public

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BUY HOUSES

DOG TRAINING Relocation Assistance Available • Quick Settlement

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LEARN LANGUAGE

PET ADOPTION

CAPITAL CATS

Adoption Event at Howl to the Chief Sundays Noon to 3 PM 733 8th Street, S.E.

a five-minute walk from Eastern Market Metro.

Visit our Web site to view pictures and their engaging personalities at www.capitalcats.petfinder.com or www.homealone.petfinder.com Capital Cats is a non-profit cat rescue organization on the Hill that has many wonderful, personable cats and kittens available for adoption to good homes.

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Chinese

On the Hill Helen Zhu

Professional language instructor Visionary Practitioner (for children/adults)

New class starts Sep/Mar

Classes + Online lessons + Network

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www.chinesehorizon.net

Learn Chinese Communicate

at Soul Levels

WANT TO ADVERTISE IN THE CLASSIFIEDS? C O NTA CT

CAROLINA

LOPEZ 202.543.8300

X12

CLASSIFIEDS

Friday, December 6th 5:30-7:30 pm

CLASSIFIEDS

thelastword Stop The CSX Big Dig

What you see now when you cross under the freeway from Capitol Hill into the Navy Yard neighborhood is the result of considerable federal, local, and private investment. It’s a neighborhood that has emerged over the last decade under the promise and expectation that each new project will go one step further to stitch our long-severed communities back together. The proposed CSX Virginia Avenue Tunnel expansion, regardless of which of the existing build alternatives is chosen, threatens both the progress and community connections that have already been made, as well as the progress and redevelopment that is still to come. The community of residents bordering the tunnel is large and diverse: young families, seniors, people with disabilities, people of varying income levels—some with more choice than others where they live, and all of whom will be dramatically impacted by this project. CSX has been showering money on the community in an effort to engender good will. But no amount of CSX ads at Nats Park will make up for the damage CSX will do to our children’s and seniors’ health, make up for the environmental impact of the majestic trees CSX will fell, or prevent the noise, frustration, risk, and severed connections between Navy Yard and Capitol Hill. It still isn’t clear how close CSX plans to dig next to existing homes and apartments along Virginia Avenue and I Street SE, how emergency vehicles are expected to reach homes along the construction path, how air quality will be affected, what construction area safety measures will be put in place, how pedestrian and bike routes will be preserved, and what the sound and vibration levels will be. What is clear is that over the four years that this has been under consideration, the proposed construction timeline has grown from “two to three” years, to up to six years, and that the build “alternatives” left at this point in the process aren’t alternatives at all, most being variations on the

same theme: freight trains running in an open trench along what is now Virginia Avenue SE. If you are a regular at Garfield Park, Canal Park, or Yards Park, a DCPS or Capitol Hill Day School family, a member of Results, a homeowner who may be interested in renting or selling your home in the immediate work area, a Nats fan, a fledgling Navy Yard neighborhood business owner or patron, or if you regularly use the on/off ramps to the Southeast Freeway, this project will affect you negatively. Demand that our community voice be heard and voice your concerns to Delegate Norton, Mayor Gray, and Councilmember Wells. This destructive project will soar forward unless our leaders continue to hear that there are significant concerns that will not only affect our environment, health, and quality of life, but also the incredible work that has been done to develop, promote, and reconnect the Navy Yard neighborhood with Capitol Hill. At this stage, until CSX, the Federal Highway Administration, and the District Department of Transportation answer critically important questions about how the proposed build alternatives will address our health, safety, environment, quality of life, and community connections, and present meaningful alternatives that look into re-routing trains during or instead of construction, the only reasonable option for our elected leaders and the community at large to pursue is to join me, the Sierra Club, Capitol Hill Restoration Society, Committee of 100, and Capitol Quarter 1 Homeowners’ Association in calling for the only alternative that at this point makes any real community sense: No Build. David Garber, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC 6D07) david6d07@anc6d.org

Thank You Tommy

We would like to thank Councilmember Tommy Wells for his recent letters to DDOT/FHWA and the Fire/

Emergency Medical Services Department regarding the CSX Virginia Avenue Tunnel project. In writing these letters he has advocated for the safety of his constituents and political transparency. We agree with Wells: freight rail should not increase its operations through the high-density historical treasure that is Capitol Hill and the recently-revitalized Navy Yard. We also agree that residents deserve process transparency, decision transparency, and viable build alternatives that reroute trains during construction - if not permanently. All have been missing from the NEPA process to date. DDOT/FHWA need to publicly disclose how much additional right of way CSX would receive from the district and/or federal government, who would make these decisions, and what the city would get in return. We would go further and make this request: CSX, which has a powerful lobbying operation, must make public all donations made to local community groups, churches, business organizations, individuals, and others, so residents are clear about potential conflicts of interest. Absent this transparency, many residents have come to the conclusion that CSX is trying to buy influence far beyond what is reflected in lobbying disclosure reports. Finally, as a community with a large population of seniors and young children, we fully support Wells’ letter to the Fire Chief requesting emergency response plans in case of derailment or other rail accidents—potentially involving hazardous materials. (The CSX Howard Street Tunnel derailment/fire in 2001 provides a powerful lesson on the importance of coordinated emergency planning and responses.) We have not seen any outreach by CSX or local government on this critical issue. We are grateful to Wells for involving emergency responders in the dialogue, so they can publicly address the increased risks during and following any construction. Natalie Skidmore nataliainitalia@gmail.com

Remembering Sid Yudain

My first editor was Roll Call founder Sid Yudain, who died Oct. 20 at age 90. I met him in the early 1970s through his sister Charlotte, a dear friend and neighbor. Newlyweds, Peter and I lived in a tiny apartment at first and D Streets SE. Charlotte and her beloved dachshund Sable lived downstairs. Eventually she introduced us to her brother Sid, who operated the (then) weekly Roll Call, which covered Congress in a folksy, lighthearted way. Charlotte was his business manager. In 1975, Sid asked me to write a weekly gossip column. I shared this social beat with Lois Romano who later wrote for The Washington Post. I recall fighting good naturedly with Lois over the one electric typewriter in Roll Call’s modest digs at 428 Eighth St. SE. For my column, I visited Congressional offices, asking about birthdays, weddings, babies, etc. Not exactly earthshaking news, but it was fun and I learned a lot. Later I launched a Congressional recipe column. Sid could be crusty and gruff, but he was a shrewd journalist and good teacher. He also made the best soups in town. His parents—like many Jews— had emigrated from Russia in the early 20th century, bringing tasty soup recipes with them. In Russia, people existed mainly on soup mainly because it was nutritious and inexpensive, Sid told me. Here in Washington, Sid showcased his soups (especially short rib sauerkraut) at his famous parties. At those lively soirees, Sid played the saxophone, accompanied by other musically-inclined friends. A frequent guest was humorist Mark Russell, whom Sid had discovered emceeing at a strip joint called the Merryland Club. At Sid’s gatherings, Mark would test his joke material before delivering them at the long-gone Marquis Lounge in the Shoreham Hotel. Before Sid and his wife Lael started their family (Rachel and Raymond), they lived on 10th St. SE. Soon they moved to Upper Northwest and later, to Arlington. HillRag | October 2013 H 163

Sid Yudain and his wife Lael

In 1986, Sid sold Roll Call, which is now owned by a mega media group. Needless to say, Roll Call is not the same. Nor is Congress. In later years, when I saw Sid, he’d always ask gruffly: “Where the hell is your column?” Celeste McCall, celeste@us.net

Let Me Be Your Councilmember

I am Darrel Thompson, candidate for Ward 6 City Council. I was born in D.C. and have lived and worked in Ward 6 for nearly 20 years. I am running to serve as your Councilmember because I want to preserve and enhance the diversity of our community and ensure progress for everyone. Our Ward has seen dramatic changes over the years, and will face challenges moving forward. For too long, projects in Ward 6, such as Reservation 13, the H Street streetcars, and the Hine redevelopment project, have been stalled. These projects will provide economic development that makes upward mobility possible for everyone, providing jobs and training opportunities for youth and adults. We can support increased employment also by continued improvements in D.C. schools and ensuring that all stakeholders are at the table and heard in reform efforts. Ward 6 seniors and people with disabilities must be protected by 164 H HillRag | November 2011

guaranteeing they are a part of our diverse community. I will work with Metro to provide better transportation options for seniors and people with disabilities. Like many, Ward 6 is home for the same reasons: its walkability, buses, Metro, the historic residences, tree-lined streets, restaurants, neighborhood markets, historic places like Eastern Market and the Old Naval Hospital (Hill Center), RFK, and Nationals Park. However, Ward 6 is different today from when I moved here. The popularity of our neighborhood has priced too many individuals out of the market, has created traffic and parking nightmares, and the threat of crime continues to plague our neighborhoods. As a Capitol Hill Little League coach, I have seen firsthand the need for playing fields for Sports on the Hill. I want safe green spaces for children to play, neighbors to exercise, to walk our dogs and enjoy an outing with family and friends. I am committed to affordable housing so that young families can enjoy our community as well. I also pledge to work with my neighbors, MPD, and ANC officials to improve safety. As Deputy Chief of Staff of Intergovernmental and External Affairs for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, I

was very involved in issues of importance to Ward 6 and the District. I worked hard to advance measures ensuring local D.C. revenue be used for family planning services and needle exchanges to reduce the spread of HIV/ AIDS. My work included efforts to develop the Waterfront and preserve District monuments. I successfully encouraged Senator Reid to declare his public support of D.C. Statehood and full voting rights. My national experience has provided me with opportunities to see local community initiatives addressing neighborhood problems. I will bring this experience with me to help make the city work for everyone by finding innovative solutions. And, with the help and support of Ward 6 residents, we can continue to build on the positive course set by Ward 6 leaders. My 20 years in public service have qualified me to protect and promote the interests of voters over well-funded stakeholders with motives contrary to constituents. I will ensure collaboration with businesses, educators, faith leaders, unions, and developers to improve neighborhoods and grow economic opportunity. As your Councilmember, I will make certain that Ward 6 residents are fully involved in decision making on all of our Capital projects. I am Darrel Thompson. I am asking for the opportunity to meet you, hear your concerns, earn your support, and I ask for your vote on April 1, for Ward 6 City Councilmember. Darrel Thompson Darrel@darrel4dc.com

Let Me Continue to Work for Ward 6

Having served my Ward 6 neighbors in a variety of roles over the last decade, I am ready and excited to take on the challenge of representing your interests as the next Ward 6 member of the DC Council. People choose to call Ward 6 home because our neighborhoods are an extension of our living rooms – with great schools we can walk to, parks to gather in, and local businesses that know you by name. These serve as anchors for our community and we must ensure that all residents see this vision realized. But Ward 6 is more than a sum of its great places. The true spirit of Ward 6 lies with its people. Each person adds

to the strength and diversity of our neighborhoods and I want to make sure that Ward 6 is a place we can always call home. For those like myself with young families, this means bringing great schools to all corners of the Ward. We’ve seen a transformation in our neighborhood elementary schools and I will bring the same energy and urgency to improve our middle and high school choices. For others, this means fighting for affordable family-based housing, and ensuring that we can successfully age in our homes. For everyone, this means a safe neighborhood with small businesses that support our lives. These will be my priorities. To share my vision for Ward 6, and highlight my commitment to all of our neighborhoods, I announced my candidacy last week for the Ward 6 Council seat with what we called the Living Room Launch. It was a series of events hosted by neighbors throughout the community and took our campaign to every corner of Ward 6. I stood with Francis Campbell and Nichole Opkins in Hill East, Andy Litsky, Bob Craycraft and Thelma Jones in Southwest, Marge Maceda and Matt Kozey in Mt. Vernon Square, Chuck Burger and Ken Jarboe on Capitol Hill, and many more dedicated and engaged neighbors. As our campaign gets underway, there are other ways we’ll set ourselves apart. The Council has been slow to act on needed campaign finance reforms to clean up elections and business as usual. If elected, I'll push for strong reforms. But I also won't wait on this Council to act. In our campaign, we are only accepting individual contributions to focus on accountability and transparency. One way to restore the public trust is for candidates to hold themselves to a high standard and give the public full transparency. I challenge all candidates for public office to do the same. Ward 6 has a great story to tell, but we also have new challenges to face together. I’m a problem solver and reformer by nature, and I’m excited to take on this next role. I know I can bring people together to find common sense solutions because I’ve done it before – whether as Chief of Staff for our Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, as policy director for the DC Primary Care Association, or simply as your neighbor. I’m proud of my service to our community, for being a voice for progressive priorities, and for seeking

solutions to the social justice issues facing our city. I look forward to continuing that great work together and earning your support to be the next Ward 6 member of the DC Council. Charles Allen, Candidate for the Ward 6 Council Seat cwallen@gmail.com

The Southeast Boulevard: Learning from History

The Southeast Boulevard is intended to replace the now-closed portion of the SE-SW Expressway between 11th Street and Barney Circle. It is an attractive, even imaginative proposal from the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative of the DC Department of Transportation that for now is a concept with few details, no settled design and no construction plans. An initial community meeting was convened by AWI/DDOT on February 21 of this year with AWI/DDOT listing six more meetings during spring and summer 2013 and a “Final Decision” at the last meeting. None of these six meetings have been convened, and the DDOT official in charge of the project told me by email that “next public meeting is being planned for some time in the winter.” The delay, while unsettling, is perhaps a plus, since it should provide AWI/DDOT with an opportunity to learn from the many boulevard conversions that have already taken place in many cities, plus others being planned. I was told in the same email that AWI/ DDOT was unaware of the completed boulevard conversions, but that they would now look at them. I have provided the links for information as well as contact names. I believe that looking at these conversions will in turn be an important guide for the design of the Southeast Boulevard, when (and if?) it moves forward.

What are some of these completed conversions?

The highway conversions pointed to by Jeff Speck in his excellent “Walkable City” and given rich detail by Charles Siegel of The Preservation Institute, include: • Harbor Drive in Portland, Oregon • Park East Freeway, Milwaukee • The Embarcadero and Central Freeway, San Francisco • The High Line, in New York City; and while that is a converted rail line, it could still offer useful lessons, especially in landscape design and pedestrian access. • The West Side Highway in NYC More conversions are in the offing—in Rochester, NY, Akron, Ohio, and Trenton, NJ—again according to Charles Siegel. [Links to details on these sites and other very useful articles are here. ] [http://goo.gl/ n7DtVG] Examples of what was accomplished by completed conversions include: • Milwaukee’s Park East Freeway conversion led to restoration of a traditional street grid, the creation of three new neighborhoods, and several hundred million dollars invested in re-development in new neighborhoods and adjoining areas. • Portland’s Harbor Drive freeway along the Wil-

lamette River was replaced by a waterfront park, and the land freed by the teardown now has a microbrewery (among other businesses). The conversion of the Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco opened the city waterfront, Freeway land was developed or became parkland. And the Embarcadero itself became a boulevard with a wide pedestrian promenade. These real-life examples show that these conversions are not only practicable but also that the dire impacts invariably predicted by opponents of the conversions proved hollow. For example, after the West Side Highway collapsed in the 1970s, severe gridlock was predicted if it was not rebuilt. Didn’t happen, and now, as Charles Siegel comments, “there is a park, pedestrian promenade, and bicycle path along the Hudson River on Manhattan’s west side—public places that are real amenities for Manhattan on land that used to be blighted by an elevated freeway.”

Issues for the Southeast Boulevard

drivers don’t flood the side streets? Or, is a better strategy to allow all vehicular traffic, local or commuting, so as to better control it, with lights, speed cameras, etc? • Many nearby/adjoining residents want a park in lieu of a boulevard. Is it one or the other or can they co-exist? What is the impact of total elimination of a highway/boulevard? Will more commuting traffic use local streets to get to the East Capitol Street/Pa Ave bridges, seeking to avoid the 11th Street bridges as these, inevitably, build up traffic or as there are serious delays with accidents, etc? • If a park, what will be its features? Will there be playgrounds. What are possible designs to maximize safety, especially at night? Will there be a small amphitheater for concerts and the like? Basketball courts? What else? The proposed Southeast Boulevard will be an important part of maintaining the vigor and imagination that has shaped our wonderful neighborhood. There are many questions to be answered, but the community is fortunate that it can rely on a rich array of completed conversions in to help in its choices. Norman Metzger, normanmetzger@gmail.com H

While, obviously, each of these and other conversions is unique features, they offer robust examples of what can actually be accomplished. Of course, those features are shaped by exigencies, not least community desires and needs. Thus, the SE Boulevard will also be shaped in part by the community but also, realistically, by adjoining features -- the 695 expressway, the CSX tunnel and its looming enlargement, a residential neighborhood immediately adjacent to the north, and the completion of the 11th Street Bridges project. Against those not insignificant considerations, several desiderata and questions apply: • Convenient and safe access by pedestrians and bicyclists to the waterfront. Should that Include car access? If so, will parking spaces be provided? • Where should access however defined be provided? Fourteenth Street only, or on other cross streets? • East-west vehicle traffic. Will local uses between 11th Street and Barney Circle still require access, to and from 695? Should vehicles be restricted to local access only? If so, how is that done, so that commuting Frankenpumkinstein, Created by Jason Yen.

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Photo: Stefanie Sparks

Photo: Stefanie Sparks Howl-O-Ween is sponsored annually by Howl to the Chief on Barracks Row.

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