NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com
Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com
WHAT’S ON WASHINGTON
Anacostia River Festival
On Saturday, May 17, 1 to 6 p.m., the 11th Street Bridge Park and the National Park Service present the 11th annual Anacostia River Festival. Set along the Anacostia River in the heart of Anacostia Park, festivalgoers will experience the vibrant spirit and cultural depth of Black Washingtonians. Through live musical performances, a curated marketplace, and historical exhibitions, they aim to honor and uplift the many cultures that shape the Black experience. Activities include chess, rock climbing, games, arts and crafts, science experiments, weaving, canoe rides, fishing and more. All activities are free. buildingbridgesdc.org/arf.
Essex Hemphill at the Phillips
Essex Hemphill (1957–1995) was a prominent Washington DC, poet, performer, editor, and activist whose work engaged themes of race, gender, sexuality, love, and community during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Take care of your blessings explores the interdisciplinary relationship between Hemphill’s writing—raw, politically charged, and deeply personal—and contemporary visual art. The exhibition presents the work of artists who knew or collaborated with Hemphill during his lifetime, alongside those who found inspiration in his artistic and political vision decades later. The result is in an intergenerational dialogue that spans time, media, and place. Admission is $20 with discounts for seniors, students and military (18 and under are free). Essex Hemphill: Take care of your blessings is at the Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, from May 17 to Aug. 31. phillipscollection.org.
Joyce Wellman, Someone Different, 1989, Oil paint stick on paper drawing, 50x38in., Courtesy of the artist.
Insight: Photos and Stories from the Archives at American Indian Museum
Opening on May 23, InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives features photos that were selected from more than a half million images stewarded by the museum. They give an intimate view of Indigenous lives across the Western Hemisphere and across time. They show everyday moments of joy and quiet reflection. In these images, people attend social gatherings, pose for family photos, and learn from relatives. Each photo has a story to tell. It is the rich insight shared by Native people that brings these stories to life. americanindian.si.edu.
Eva Curtis (Iñupiaq) and Sadie Vestal (Iñupiaq) picking wildflowers, Kotzebue, Alaska, June 23, 1951. Lindell and Ethel Bagley Alaska collection.
Frankenstein at Shakespeare
Emily Burns (adaptor of STC’s Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing), reimagines Mary Shelley’s romantic gothic science fiction masterpiece as a chilling exploration of what it means to create a new life. Visceral and provocative, this production reveals the inner lives of Elizabeth and Victor Frankenstein in bold new ways. Riding the edge of cinematic thriller and intense drama, Frankenstein redefines the legend we know, the name we fear, and the monstrous act at the heart of the story. STC’s Klein Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW, from May 27 to June 22. Tickets start at $35. shakespearetheatre.org.
Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World at the NGA
From May 18 to Nov. 2, experience the wonder of nature through the eyes of artists. Look closely at art depicting insects and other animals alongside real specimens. A delight for all ages, this exhibition features nearly 75 of these paintings, prints, and drawings in a unique presentation alongside specimens and taxidermy from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. First-of-its-kind collaboration between the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History brings specimens into conversation with art. Learn about the rich exchange between artists and naturalists that sparked a fascination with earth’s living creatures, big and small. nga.gov.
Jan van Kessel the Elder, Insects and a Sprig of Rosemary, 1653 oil on panel, overall: 11.5 x 14 cm (4 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.) National Gallery of Art.
Exposed DC Photography Collection at MLK Library
On Saturday, May 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., all are invited to this celebration of local photography with more than 300 stunning images captured over nearly two decades. The work will be showcased throughout the day on the MLK Library, 901 G St. NW, fifth floor and its roof deck. Documenting nearly two decades of the city’s culture, history, and communities, the Exposed DC Photography Collection offers a perspective on the District’s transformation, with contributions from local photographers who have documented the region’s story. The collection’s new home at the DC Public Library will help preserve it and make it accessible for future generations. exposeddc.com.
Eric Whitaker, photographer
No/Bodies: Tattoos and the World of Felix Gonzalez-Torres
On Saturday, May 31, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., join the National Portrait Gallery, Eighth and G streets NW, for a panel exploring the relationship audiences have with Felix Gonzalez-Torres’s work through tattooing. Co-curators
Charlotte Ickes and Josh T. Franco will be in conversation with art historian Julia Bryan-Wilson and curator Meg Onli, both of whom have chosen to express their appreciation for GonzalezTorres and his work by getting tattoos. They look forward to a fantastic conversation about art, the body, memory and the unexpected. Free; registration required. npg.si.edu.
Falsettos at Keegan
Hilarious, heartbreaking, and utterly unique, Falsettos is a contemporary musical about family, relationships, bar mitvahs, baseball and AIDS. When Marvin leaves his wife Trina and son Jason to be with his lover Whizzer, tempers flare, problems escalate and everyone learns to grow up. Keegan Theatre, 742 Church St. NW, from May 10 to June 15. $59 to $69. keegantheatre.com.
WNO’s Porgy and Bess at the KC
Gershwin’s Great American Opera marries jazz, blues, and gospel. It’s “summertime, and the livin’ is easy” in Catfish Row, a working-class fishing town in South Carolina. When a murder shakes the community and tempts Bess to return to her drug-filled past, Porgy becomes her unlikely refuge. As a hurricane descends and Bess’ violent old flame returns, she’ll find herself torn between Porgy’s steadfast love and the demons that tempt her. Themes of community resilience, acceptance, and redemption weave through this poignant story, ultimately asking if even the most unwavering love can drive out darkness. Kennedy Center Opera House from May 23 to 31. Tickets are $45 to $299. kennedy-center.org.
Tacos and Tequila at Nat’s Park
On Saturday, May 17, 4 to 7 p.m., join Tacos & Tequila for the ultimate tasting experience. Your ticket includes 12 tequila and cocktail tastings plus a free taco sample from some of the best in the game, including in-park favorite and reigning Tacos & Tequila champion Los Cincos Tacos. Sip on Cincoro Tequila, Casamigos Tequila, Tapatio Tequila, Arette Tequila, La Medida and Macurichos, and more while savoring tacos from DC favorites like El Bebe, Taqueria Habanero, El Techo, and Taqueria Xochi. Plus, enjoy music from dueling DJs—DJ Rise and Mr. Styles. General admission is $80; notasting ticket is $33. Must be 21+. mlb.com/nationals/tickets/events/tacosand-tequila.
Ain’t Too Proud at the National Ain’t Too Proud—The Life and Times of The Temptations is the electrifying, smash-hit Broadway musical that follows The Temptations’ extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and silky-smooth harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. Tickets start at $46. National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW from June 17 to 22. thenationaldc.com.
Photo: Todd Rosenberg
Felix Gonzalez-Torres
Rhiannon Giddens & The Old-Time Revue at The Anthem
Mosaic’s Andy Warhol in Iran at the Atlas
Pride on the Pier (boat parade and fireworks)
The Washington Blade in partnership with The Wharf have announced the sixth annual Pride on the Pier celebration on Friday, June 6, 3 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, noon to 10 p.m., at the Wharf on the District and Transit piers. The District Pier offers a DJ, dancing and other entertainment. The boat parade is on Friday at 7 p.m. The fireworks are on Saturday at 9 p.m. Free admission. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older. prideonthepierdc.com.
It’s 1976, and less than three years before her exile, the Empress Farah beckons Andy Warhol to begin pop-art portraits of the royals in Tehran. When a university student takes Warhol hostage to publicize his group’s demands, a life-or-death struggle ensues over revolution, responsibility and the arts. Based on a true story, Andy Warhol in Iran hums with intelligence and humor. Award-winning playwright Brent Askari affirms the power of art to transcend boundaries and connect across cultures and time. Tickets start at $61.50 (plus fees). Andy Warhol in Iran is at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE, from May 29 to June 29. atlasarts.org.
Cathedral Choral Society and Twelve-voice Chanticleer at National Cathedral
Rhiannon Giddens has made a singular, iconic career out of stretching her brand of folk music, with its miles-deep historical roots and contemporary sensibilities, into just about every field imaginable. A two-time GRAMMY Award and Pulitzer Prizewinning singer and instrumentalist, MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient, and composer of opera, ballet, and film, Giddens has centered her work around the mission of lifting up people whose contributions to American musical history have previously been overlooked or erased. Anthem, 901 Wharf St. SW, on Sunday, May 11, 8 p.m. (doors at 6:30 p.m.). Tickets are $45 to $95. theanthemdc.com.
On Sunday, May 18, 4 p.m., immerse yourself in a vivid a cappella soundscape with the exquisite 12-voice Chanticleer and the formidable 120-voice Cathedral Choral Society, side by side for an afternoon of unparalleled musical beauty. Tickets are $25 to $99. cathedralchoralsociety.org/concerts/2024-25.
Andy Warhol in Isfahan, Iran, 1970s.
Courtesy of The Wharf, Washington DC.
THURSDAY JUNE 19 10 AM – 3 PM
PARADE ROUTE: Along Branch Avenue SE
START: Penn Branch Shopping Center
JUNE
END: Randle Circle
19TH
JUNETEENTH
PARADE 2025
We invite you to volunteer, participate, or become sponsors of this vibrant celebration.
Donate Register
LEARN MORE: ward7jpc.com/what-to-expect
CONTACT: Earl Williams wearlwilliams@gmail.com 202-573-0133
agers should be checking cases and other equipment to make sure that they’re operational and calling it in when it’s not.” she con rmed. “When it comes to a remodel schedule, in our region we have 295 stores, so we try to get every store on the schedule at some point. It depends on when the budget’s there. We’re constantly evaluating DC and what we can do better.” The o cial response to expired goods on
shelf? “Safeway adheres to stringent food safety procedures and does not sell products beyond their sell-by date.”
The Bene ts
The current administration’s evolving tari strategy and its e ect on supply chains and food prices means that grocery stores like Safeway are under increased pressure to stabilize uctuating food prices. All Safeway stores accept SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) bene ts and payment on EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards for both in-store and online purchases.
Signing up for Safeway for U™ means you get points on every purchase (redeemable for grocery or gas purchases) and discounted prices on items (Signature and O Organics brands, for example) at checkout. I use these frequently during my weekly grocery visits. Safeway and the Safeway Foundation also recently partnered with DC Central Kitch-
WARD 8 COUNCIL
ELECTION DAY: JULY 15
EARLY VOTING: JULY 11-14
“Ward 8 is my home, my community, and my purpose. I’m running for DC Council because our families deserve real investment, strong schools, safer neighborhoods, and true economic opportunity. This isn’t just a campaign—it’s my commitment to fight for the resources and respect our community deserves. I’m fighting for our youth, our families, our seniors, and those who feel like they don’t have a seat at the table. But I can’t do it alone. I want to hear from you. Connect with me at www.bunnforward8.com Together, we can build a stronger Ward 8.”
— Sheila Bunn
A rusted display shelf at the East River Park Shopping Center Safeway. Photos: Matthew McClure
Spoiled produce at a Safeway located in the East River Park Shopping Center. AND Expired lunchmeat advertised on sale at the East River Park Shopping Center Safeway, photographed on March 1, 2025.
en to provide culinary skills training to aid job creation in this pressured sector. The Capital Area Food Bank and Safeway o ered food aid to furloughed and red Federal workers a few months ago.
The Alternatives
Farmer’s markets, community food gardens and food access and education are rebalancing some of the historic food injustices that are so prevalent in neighborhoods like mine in Ward 7. FRESHFARM has serviced the DMV since 1996 by providing access to fresh, nutritious, locally-grown fruit, vegetables and cereals sourced directly from regional farmers, 60% of whom are BIPOC.
Availability is seasonal and all produce is grown organically. FRESHFARM has Pop-Up Food Hubs (PUFH) at my local Safeway, the Cesar Chaves Public Charter School and the Kenilworth Recreation Center in Ward 7, in addition to the Anacostia Community Museum and THEARC in Ward 8.
I signed up for their Market Share Personal Bag but if you have a larger family the Family Bag might work best. You can collect monthly in-person or have your bag delivered to your door and use your SNAP benefits or Senior Produce Dollars to pay. The FRESHFARM Produce Plus program means older residents can purchase produce at a discounted rate.
Sign up or nd out more at www. freshfarm.org
Hawking of goods outside the East River Park Shopping Center Safeway.
Locked up goods
ANC 7D Report
Extended Construction Hours at the Kenilworth Swing Space
by Sarah Payne
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 7D met April 8 via Zoom. Commissioners Artilie Wright (7D03), Ebony Payne (7D05), Marc Friend (7D06, vice chair), Brett Astmann (7D07, treasurer), Brian Alcorn (7D08, chair), Ashley Schapitl (7D09) and Dev Myers (7D10, secretary) were in attendance. Single Member Districts (SMD) 7D01, 7D02 and 7D04 are currently vacant.
In an effort to minimize delays in opening the Kenilworth Elementary swing space at 1300 44th St. NE, DC Public Schools Project Specialist Mars Eagleson urged the commission to support an after-hours construction permit. Eagleson briefed commissioners on development and construction at the site and detailed the steps necessary to facilitate a timely completion of the project.
According to Eagleson, “bureaucratic delays” with the Department of Buildings (DOB) have created a “tight timeline” for construction, which began in 2021. Despite the delay, DCPS is “still pushing to try and finish this project as soon as possible,” Eagleson said, noting the goal of completion prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
The project is currently operating under a standard permit from DOB which allows work to take place Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The project is seeking an extension of these hours to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and to add working hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The extension would add one additional work hour, to 8 p.m. followed by two hours of “quiet work” until 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. “Quiet work” hours would also be implemented on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. with normal work resuming from 12 to 5 p.m. According to Eagleson, “no heavy machinery will be used” during the quiet hours which will include cleaning, maintenance and handheld tool tasks. These hours “would not have a great impact on the community in terms of noise and activity,” she added.
This revised permit proposal follows feedback from a recent community survey. The original proposition extended normal
work hours to midnight Monday through Saturday with additional hours Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on federal holidays as needed. The revised proposal reduces the extension of hours, denotes some morning and evening hours as “quiet work” hours and eliminates the possibility of work on federal holidays.
Alcorn acknowledged DCPS’s compromises, but also noted concern about the extension from some members of the community. One neighbor, Eastland Gardens Civic Association Member Peter Clare, attended the meeting and voiced his opposition to the after-hours work in the neighborhood.
“We’ve generally sought to be as supportive as we can while taking into account community input and concerns,” Alcorn said of the commission’s perspective. “We all live in an urban space, so a thoughtful and negotiated plan is certainly called for.”
Commissioner Wright questioned the impact on students if the project falls behind schedule this summer. Eagleson noted that the current “bubble” utilized by students will remain functional until the new space is finished.
When completed, students and parents can expect an expanded and renovated space. In addition to providing additional multi-purpose spaces for students, the project will also improve accessibility through the addition of a new stop to the elevator, create an outdoor classroom, update the lobby and create a welcome center, implement stormwater retention measures and more, Eagleson reported. “We’re creating a really welcoming and beautiful swing space for all of our Ward 7 students that we’re really excited about,” she said.
The commission voted to send a letter of support to DOB for extended “quiet work” hours Monday through Saturday 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. noting that no additional hours may be added on federal holidays. The project will return to the commission’s agenda in May, Alcorn said, in order to give the Eastland Gardens Civic Association an opportunity to review the proposal and provide feedback.
Other Matters
Commissioner Mike Davis (7D04, vice chair) stepped down as the commissioner for 7D04 on April 1. Commissioner Marc Friend (7D06) was unanimously elected to serve as the new vice chair.
Commissioner-elect for 7D01, Josh Taborn, was in attendance. He will represent Kenilworth and Eastland Gardens after his victory over opponent Charles Boston in a special election on April 5. According to Alcorn, the delay in his official swearing in ceremony relates to the publishing date in the DC Register.
The commission voted to:
• support a Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) application to construct a third story with roof deck and a three-story rear addition to an existing, attached, three story principal dwelling unit with a special exception from lot occupancy requirements at 1513 D St. SE;
• update the settlement agreement (SA) associated with the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) class “B” beer and wine store license
for Economy Market (411 18th St. NE) to reflect their change in address as they relocate from their D Street NE location. If a revised SA is not finalized prior to May 5, the commission will issue a letter of protest.
• update the settlement agreement (SA) associated with the ABCA application for Langston Bar and Grille (1831 Benning Rd. NE) to reflect the establishment’s request for a substantial change in their hours of operation and alcohol consumption. The proposed new hours of operation, and alcohol beverage sales and consumption, are: Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., Friday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. If a revised SA is not finalized prior to May 5, the commission will issue a letter of protest.
ANC 7D will meet next on May 13 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. You can learn more about the commission and register to attend at 7d0761.wixsite.com/anc7d-1. u
ANC 6/8F Report Commissioner Henderson on Anticipated Budget Cuts
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6/8F met both in-person at 250 M St. SE and online via Zoom April 22. On the dias were Commissioners Nic Wilson (8F01), Markita Bryant (8F02), Brian Strege (8F03) and Edward Daniels (6/8F04) and Liam Goodwin (6/8F05).
Councilmember Christina Henderson (D-At Large) said DC Council is preparing for “a very ruckus time over the next few months.” As the DC Council discusses the District’s FY2026 budget, she said Congress will be putting together a recession package to make cuts to the federal FY2025 budget and starting the budget reconciliation process for FY2026, which, Henderson noted, is likely to impact the District. She said as a result, the DC budget discussion will likely take longer than the usual 70 days. That work is likely to include supplementary budget work in the fall to address whatever emerges from the Congressional reconciliation process, expected to conclude in August.
Asked about a Friday situation where youth overwhelmed The Wharf and then Navy Yard, Henderson said that her parents were not likely to have allowed her to be out on a Friday at an unknown location. But, she said, that was a privilege not all DC kids have. She said that the situation was illustrative of the consequences of cuts to the budget, noting that the Mayor is poised to cut about $630 million in funds allocated for the year. That money, Henderson said, will have to come from places where it has not yet been spent —including summer camps and programs, libraries and recreation centers.
As Chair of the DC Council Health Committee, Henderson said a big priority for her is
DC Outdoor Public Pools Open for Season
DC DPR outdoor pools open on Memorial Day weekend. They are open weekends only before June 22. Starting Monday, June 23, all outdoor pools will operate on individual summer schedules, six days a week. DPR pools remain open if it rains, as long as lifeguards are able to see the bottom of the pool. Pools close immediately at the rst sign of lightening. Admission is free for DC residents. Have ID. See the pool scheduling and read the rules at dpr.dc.gov/page/outdoor-pools.
Anacostia Coordinating Council’s Annual Conversation with the Mayor
The Anacostia Coordinating Council will host its annual Community Conversation with Mayor Bowser on Tuesday, May 27, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Martha’s Table, 2375 Elvans Rd. SE. Box lunches will be served. anacostiacc.org.
Monthly Volunteer Events at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
On the Fourth Saturday of every month through October, 9 a.m. to noon, join the Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE, at their monthly volunteer event. Remove invasive plants from ponds, clean up garbage, weed ower beds, or maintain trails. Meet by the park’s entrance to check in starting at 8:30 a.m. (take the path leading from the parking lot). All equipment, supplies, and tools will be provided, but come prepared for sun and the possibility of getting wet. Bringing water, snacks, and clothes you
don’t mind dirtying is highly recommended. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. nps.gov/keaq.
Tech 101 with DC’s Of ce of the Chief Technology Of cer
On Tuesday, May 20, 4 to 6 p.m., join DC’s O ce of the Chief Technology O cer at Anacostia Library, 1800 Marion Barry Ave. SE, for a free Tech 101 workshop, where you’ll learn basic tech skills such as: Creating an email or changing your password; Navigating online applications; Email and cloud management; Managing storage on your smart devices. Come with your questions. dclibrary.org.
Many Shades of Wow: Glasses to Creative Fashion
On Saturday, May 17, noon to 2 p.m., at the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, join artist Rain Young for an exciting wearable art workshop. Transform ordinary sunglasses or personality glasses into bold
Roller Skating (and Late Skate) at Anacostia
Park
Skate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m at Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion, 1500 Anacostia Dr. SE – the only roller-skating rink in the National Park Service. Skate rental is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day on Sunday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Rentals are free with a government issued ID. Socks are required to rent skates. Last skates will be given out 20 minutes before closing. On the last Saturday of the month through October; on May 31, June 28, July 26, Aug. 30, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25, you can skate until 10 p.m. and enjoy the featured DJ or band at Late Skate. Events last throughout the day and include double dutch, lawn games, job fairs, boat trips and more. nps.gov/anac.
East of the River Farm Stands Open for Season
The FRESHFARM Anacostia Community Museum Farm Stand is open Saturdays, through Nov.22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the outdoor plaza, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. It is the only direct-to-consumer farm stand in Ward 8. The FRESHFARM Minnesota Avenue Farm Stand is open on Thursdays, June 5 to Nov. 20, 1 to 4 p.m., bringing fresh fruits and vegetables to the East River Park Shopping Mall parking lot (by Safeway and the library). The FRESHFARM Kenilworth Rec Center Farm Stand, 4321 Ord St. NE, is open on Saturdays, June 7 to Nov. 22, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. freshfarm.org.
Photo: NPS / Kelsey Graczyk
Ward 8 Woods Community Cleanups
Ward 8 Woods engages residents and visitors in uniquely satisfying volunteer experiences. Most volunteers work in the woods removing trash and cutting invasive vines. If you like to be physically active, spend time in nature, and immediately see the results of your work, you might enjoy working with them. The simplest way to get involved is to attend one of their regularly scheduled public events. The Suitland Parkway Volunteer Day, 2400 Alabama Ave. SE, is every rst Saturday of the month, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Shepherd Parkway Volunteer Day, 555 Newcomb St. SE, is every second Saturday of the month, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Gloves, trash bags and tools are provided. Wear work or hiking boots, full-length pants, long sleeves and clothes you won’t mind getting dirty. Bring a water bottle. Documentation of community service hours provided upon request. Register at ward8woods.org/volunteer.
fashion statements. Learn to paint, decorate, and design unique shades that reect your style. All supplies, including glasses, are provided—just bring your creativity. Participants will learn how to turn functional eyewear into expressive wearable art. Free. anacostia.si.edu.
Karaoke & Spoken Word Wednesdays at Francis A. Gregory Library
Come to Francis A. Gregory Library, 3660 Alabama Ave. SE, on select Wednesdays for a night of creativity and fun. Whether you’re belting out your favorite songs at karaoke or sharing your original spoken word, this is the perfect space to express yourself. Come for the performances, stay for the good vibes.
Upcoming dates are May 28, June 25, July 30 and Aug. 27; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Refer to the library’s calendar for other selected dates. dclibrary.org.
A Maker’s Workshop: The Art of Mosaics at the NBM
On Saturday, May 17, 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m., join Graciela Granek from The Washington Glass School for a hands-on mosaic workshop inspired by the National Building Museum’s new exhibition, Visible Vault: Open Collections Storage. After the introduction, participants will learn the fundamentals of mosaic making, including, cutting, assembling, and designing, and create their own 4” x 4” or 5” x 5” plate to take home. This workshop is designed for all skill lev-
located at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds. There are viewing areas for the use of guests with disabilities. The dress rehearsal on the Saturday before the concert is open to the public. Gates also open at 5 p.m. pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert.
Juneteenth Celebration at the ACM
Join the Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE, on Thursday, June 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a free day-long celebration to honor the present and reflect on shared tradition and history. The Juneteenth Main Stage is hosted by BeMo Brown. Here’s the lineup: noon, BeMo Brown and Miss H.E.R.; 1 p.m., Lemonade Dream, Teen Poet; 2 p.m., Joi Carter3 p.m., Pinky tha Rapper and 4 p.m., Black Alley. There is also Yoga with Grounded at 10 and 11 a.m. and Urban Gardening from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is an indoor/outdoor event. Follow ACM social media in the case of inclement weather. Attendees can bring their own nonalcoholic beverages in non-glass containers and prepared food (open fires and grilling of any kind is not allowed). Guests are welcome to bring blankets to enjoy the music outside. Food is available for purchase from local food trucks. Registration recommended. anacostia.si.edu.
Memorial Day Weekend
Rolling to Remember
On Friday, May 23, 5 p.m., there is a Blessing of the Bikes at the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Also on May 23 at 9 p.m., there is a Candlelight Vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. On Sunday, May 25 (ride day), Rolling to Remember, a massive motorcycle demonstration ride, is demanding full accounting for America’s POWs and MIAs and to raise awareness of the mental health crisis stealing thousands of veterans’ lives a year. The Pentagon’s North Lot is slated to once again serve as the staging area. The parking lot opens at 7 a.m., the National Anthem is at 11:30 a.m., and the ride begins at noon. rollingtoremember. com/itinerary. u
east washington life
Meet Your Neighbor
Rodney Rodriguez Norman The Motivation to Succeed
by Elizabeth O’Gorek
Iwas one of those guys who wasn’t supposed to fall victim to prison,” says Rodney Rodriguez Norman. “I was supposed to have done the right thing.”
A college graduate, small business owner and violence interrupter, Norman is also a returning citizen. His is the story of a young man with gifts, but without a lot of support or direction as he grew up. Instead, Norman fell victim to what he saw around him in his neighbor -
hood. Now he is focused on helping others succeed when they return home from prison — and preventing others from following the same road he travelled.
Early Success
Born in 1986, Norman grew up in Ward 8, raised by his mother and his grandmother. His grandmother was a registered nurse in DC for 41 years. She had graduated from Benedict College, and Rodriguez said in from her he learned the value of education. But it was his group of childhood friends, including former Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Sr., that together made a vow: they were going to get a college education and lift themselves up.
They wasted no time. Norman, who started kindergarten at four years old and skipped a grade, went on to graduate from Ballou High School in 2002 at only 15 years old.
The fall he was 16, he headed straight to Norfolk State University (NSU).
But he didn’t have a lot of support. He drove himself to college. “My family didn’t even know I was going,” he remembers. “At that time, I was pretty grown.”
Playing basketball and football for the NSU Spartans, Norman’s scholarship covered tuition. But financial aid didn’t always cover books, food and housing. His grandmother helped him with his phone bill. But it wasn’t until he got a job as a resident assistant, which came with free housing, that he had a place to stay.
“It worked out well,” he said in hindsight. “No matter what else was true, we all said whatever happens, we’re going to graduate. We wanted to have this motivation.”
Norman’s college experience was an education for him, but also for the faculty. In the nineties and oughts, it was common to create t-shirts to memorialize a loved one. “I had been through the death of so many friends,” Norman remembers,
“that I had over, I would say, over 15 rest in peace T-shirts I was wearing —these different faces every day at school.”
NSU staff and faculty began to ask him what was going on. “I didn’t see anything wrong with it,” he said, but he also didn’t realize then that he had suffered trauma. “And you know, just because we can’t identify those things doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
Graduating just before he turned 20, Norman spent a year in grad school before deciding to return home to DC and his grandmother. For a while, he worked alongside her, providing support to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
“
Rodney Norman at a Cure the Streets food giveaway sponsored in part by Martha’s Table.
Fork in the Road
In 2015, Norman founded his company, Versa Traffic Management Group, later co-owned with his wife. Versa is a road traffic control company that provides flaggers and devices to direct vehicular and pedestrian traffic around construction zones and road disruption. Norman offers training to returning citizens so they can get flagging and forklift licenses and OHSA certification. He estimates he’s employed more than 50 people since he founded Versa, helping people stay out of prison. “What makes it my training so dynamic is that right after you learn on the side of your class, you’re able to go straight [to a site] and get the hands on experience of it,” he said.
In 2017, Norman was arrested in Maryland on charges of credit card fraud, identity theft and dogfighting. Today, Norman says he was breeding, not fighting, puppies. But he acknowledges the fraud, saying he was “trying to do things too fast and trying to get money to fund my company.”
Sentenced to 10 years in prison, Norman served five, the last few on probation. His sentence was commuted by then-President Joseph Biden in December 2024. Officials at the time said the individuals selected for commutation had demonstrated a clear commitment to rehabilitation and reintegration into their communities.
Looking back, Norman said even before he was arrested, he wanted to work with the returning citizen population because he wanted to be able to help his friends and people in his neighborhood get employed. “It just was so ironic that I end up falling, you know, victim to the system,” he said.
Norman said his time behind bars was “a traumatic experience.”
that set him apart, helping other prisoners read paperwork, complete resumes and hosting Bible studies. “I knew what I wanted to do when I came home, so I prepared myself,” he said. “I knew I wanted to make a great change.”
Violence Interrupter
Since getting out, Norman has turned back to the work. Versa continues to train and employ those returning from prison. He also works as a violence interrupter with Cure the Streets.
been “absolutely impactful.”
“Rodney is a true first responder when it comes to community needs—he is often the first person we call when we’re looking for someone to support food distribution efforts in his neighborhood,” Gussom said, adding that Versa has conducted two trainings through Martha’s Table training 15 new certified forklift handlers and flaggers —”an incredible milestone in workforce development.”
At Home
Norman recognizes that while it is important to do the work in the neighborhood, it is key for him to show up for his own family. He deals with a lot of grief, and it is hard not to bring it home. “I’m aware of the saying ‘Don’t be a hero into your community and a failure in your household,’” he said. He wants to show up for his children and spend time with his spouse, Julia Jessie, a public information officer with the Department of General Services (DGS).
“Being in prison with so much potential and knowing how much potential you have,” he said, It was also his first time in jail. The experience deeply affected him, he said, in part because of the time he spent in close quarters with others who didn’t have the tools he had acquired. “I’m in prison with guys don’t know how to communicate, who have no emotional intelligence. I’m caged up with these individuals,” he said. He stuck out, he says now, like a sore thumb. In response, Norman tried to use the skills
But he doesn’t start with his experience in prison. “It’s not what I lead with,” he said. “When I deal with high-risk individuals, I lead with love, structure.” Eventually, he will tell his story. “This is not what you want. This is not a game. There’s nothing cool or cute,” he said he tells people. “When I went to prison, I was depressed. That’s how I talk to them.”
Norman says that what the community needs is education. “DC is the most resource-rich place, right?” He said, “But we’re the most educationally poor in terms of how to access those resources.” He sees one of his most important roles as advocating for those who don’t understand the types of resources available in the community. “I’m able to give it to the people in layman’s terms,” he said.
Charlie Gussom, the Director of Community Programs at Martha’s table, said that Norman’s work has
“That’s what keeps me going,” he said of his family. Even from away, he impressed the importance of education and persistence on his children. His eldest daughter is graduating from BARD Early College High School and was accepted to more than a dozen schools, including Norman’s alma mater. NSU offered her an $80,000 scholarship.
He’s appeared on television to discuss strategies to keep the peace throughout DC summers, spoken on panels for the United Planning Organization (UPO) and has met with judges to discuss returning citizens and approaches to crime prevention.
He says he is inspired by everyone who shows up for members of the community who are locked up, don’t trust law enforcement or just simply don’t have anyone else. He wants to be the person in the community who people trust to help them get services, resources or through the emergencies they have. What gives him the fuel is changing lives.
Norman is getting it done. And he loves it, and he loves life, he said. “It’s been a hell of a journey.” u
Rodney Norman helps lead a class at Versa.
A FIRESIDE CHAT ON THE FUTURE OF RFK
Anacostia Murals Fest ‘25 Bringing Art and Community Together
Between initiating a school art exchange program on the Caribbean Island of St Lucia and facilitating seven continuously running mural, artist residency, summer camp and art club initiatives, Dietrich Williams and Mark Garrett of the Capital Hill Boys Club (CHBC) have just installed a new wooden fence around their studio in Old Anacostia and have kicked off the inaugural Anacostia Murals Fest ‘25. Do they ever sleep?
The ethos of the CHBC Anacostia Murals Fest ‘25 – as with all the programs that Williams, Garrett and their partners create and steward – is one of inclusion, access and the promotion of creativity as the foundation of a sustainable local economy. “Mark and myself, we’d already completed 75 murals and we wanted to celebrate that.” Williams explains. “Young
by Matthew McClure
creatives are looking for a sense of community from older artists, to exchange knowledge and wisdom in a dynamic way. I learn a lot from young artists. They’re better than me in a lot of ways! They fuel us.”
The Anacostia Murals Fest ‘25 kicked off over the weekend of April 26th and 27th and will run until May 17. The CHBC studio/art gallery/residency and exhibition space at 1603 Marion Barry Ave. SE, known by locals as the Old Laundromat, will be the focal point of all activities. Over 50 artists will create more than 70 new murals in and around Historic Anacostia, theming their art according to categories such as Community Impact, LGBTQ++, DC’s Mayor for Life Marion Barry, Abstract, SE and Anacostia and Tags. You’ll know some of the creatives already if you’re familiar with DC’s eclectic mural scene. Chris Pyrate, Mia Duvall, Marley Seday, Rae Akino, Jay Coleman, Darius Hill, Ron Stokes, Austin D. Morris, Maz
Alexi Abi of @abstractsbyalexi working on a mural at the inaugural Anacostia Murals Fest 2025.
Paz and many others will be working on depictions of our city’s most influential icons such as: Cora Masters Barry and activist Edith LeePayne. The new wood fence around the Old Laundromat, just bare wood a few days ago, has already been transformed into a symphony of color.
Art To Go-Go, DC’s Official Arts and Culture District, is a supportive partner of the Anacostia Murals Fest ‘25 as are Project Create, Project Purpose and many other community organizations that CHBC has pulled into their orbit. Red Bull, Events DC, the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, the Anacostia Arts Center, Brian Bailey, WeAct Radio and many other local DC creatives and media outlets have also played a part in stretching the boundaries of the Arts and Culture District.
“We want to bring more people to our community corridor. The Art District is bigger than they think, ” said Williams. He says events like the Anacostia Murals Fest ‘25 help artists realize that pursuing their passion can be a ca-
Community members enjoying themselves at the inaugural Anacostia Murals Fest 2025. Photos courtesy Matthew McClure
reer, not just a hobby. For a young creative, the psychological impact of seeing their work displayed in public goes a long way towards reinforcing that notion. “We can help you apply for funding, we can help you write programs. Whatever you want to do, we can help. We illuminate the map.”
Mural-making isn’t the only attraction at the Anacostia Murals Fest ‘25. You’ll be able to get down to the beats and rhythm of bands such as Too Much Talent and N 2 L, while enjoying special food and drinks from local eateries like DCity Smokehouse and Sugar Rim Bar tantalize your tastebuds. Feeling inspired? Try your hand at Sip-N-Paint or silkscreen printing. At next year’s Anacostia Murals Fest, Garrett and Williams want to boost the careers of participating artists through stipends. “I can see the positive change that we’ve had in this corridor over three years with the acceptance of everyone in the corridor. That’s why we call ourselves an artist gallery. We create independence. The Arts and Culture District is a great space for that point to be met.”
Follow @chbcartgallery on Instagram for developing program details and updates. u
The Man From Anacostia Special Election: The Price Is Wrong
by Philip Pannell
Ward 8 is currently in the midst of a special election to fill the DC Council vacancy created by the historic expulsion of Trayon White Sr. His expulsion and the special election are proving to be politically and financially expensive for Ward 8 residents and DC taxpayers. The investigation of the former Ward 8 councilmember obviously consumed time and money and it was not short on drama. A wiredup FBI informant produced videos and transcripts that were shocking and depressing. Photos of the Ward 8 councilmember pocketing envelopes of cash will always be etched in Home Rule history.
The DC Council spent $400,000 on an investigation of Councilmember White with which he refused to cooperate. The re-
sults of that investigation concluded that he had violated the Council’s code of conduct. His colleagues voted unanimously to expel him. On July 15th the special election will be held to fill his vacancy. That special election is costing $400,000.
Three of the candidates running in the special election are Fair Election candidates, who benefit from taxpayers subsidizing 80% of their campaigns. Each of them can receive a maximum of $266,000. If that happens, then the July 15th election will cost the taxpayers in excess of one million dollars.
Former Councilmember White is running in the July 15th election but it will not be as a Fair Elections candidate. When he ran for mayor in 2022, he was a Fair Elections candidate but his campaign mishandled the funds. The DC Office of Campaign Finance ordered him to refund $58,906.29 to the DC Treasury. That amount remains outstanding. Also, there are outstanding campaign-related fines. In my opinion, the DC Council needs to pass legislation that will prohibit a candidate from running for office if he or she has Fair Elections related campaign debts and/or fines. Drivers can lose their licenses if they do not pay their fines. Why should political scofflaws and publicly elected deadbeats be permitted to give taxpayers the finger and run for office?
Political prognosticators, pundits and mavens say that the former Ward 8 councilmember is the favorite to win the July 15th special election – particularly with the votes being divided in a field of four or possibly more candidates. (This is another election scenario that screams for ranked choice voting.) If he is reelected, the Council is under no obligation to seat him. During the hearing that led to his expulsion, Council Chairman Phil Mendelson referred to Councilmember White’s actions as “quintessential cor-
ruption.” If he wins and is not seated, Ward 8 could experience another costly special election. And he could run again.
However, if he wins the special election and the Council decides to welcome quintessential corruption back into its ranks that is not the end of this political drama. The former Ward 8 Councilmember is scheduled to go court next year and could be convicted and imprisoned. And that would result in another election for Ward 8 councilmember.
Next year if he is found guilty, I do not feel that anything will be gained by imprisoning him. That would be another expensive bill for the taxpayers. Probation and extensive community service, in my opinion, would be a just sentence. Since Donald Trump with his multiple felonies was reelected president, I now view our nation’s criminal justice system more keenly than ever through a racial equity lens.
Some of the Ward 8 voters are also using a similar lens for the July 15th special election. Almost daily I hear Ward 8 voters comparing the former Ward 8 councilmember to President Trump. They say that if a criminal who has served no time can return to the Whtie House, why can’t the Ward 8 voters return a corrupt politician to the John Wilson Building. Maybe that is an easy question for those who use Donald Trump as their ethical or moral standard or barometer. He is not mine.
For me, this drama is too politically, financially and spiritually expensive. This is another sad chapter in the saga of the continuing political disempowerment of Ward 8. If a game show were named after this self-inflicted, political hot mess I would suggest that it be called The Price Is Wrong.
Long-time Ward 8 community activist Philip Pannell can be contacted at philippannell@comcast.net. u
Theater Night
A Curated Review of Theater in the DMV
by Matthew McClure
Our theater column for May is all about the transformational power and strength of community as told through stories from playwrights at the top of their game.
On Right Now
Paradise Blue, Studio Theatre Showing May 1 www.studiotheatre.org
Detroit, 1949: Albert Cobo has just won the mayoral chains and plans to wield the blunt axe that’s the newly legislated Federal Housing Act to destroy what he considers unsightly blights on the city like the Black Bottom neighborhood and its entertainment hub Paradise Valley. Blue’s a talented but haunted trumpet play-
er whose popular music venue, Paradise Club, is directly in line for Cobo’s wrecking ball. Pumpkin’s devoted to Blue but torn between her loyalty to him and her love for her community, which would be eradicated if Paradise Club is wiped off the map to make space for yet another whites-only neighborhood. Enter Silver, a mysteriously seductive widow who threatens to upend Blue’s plans to sell his club and finally bid farewell to the ghosts of his past.
This is the scene set by Dominique Morisseau in Paradise Blue. Written in the same year as Morisseau’s Sunset Baby, the playwright once again effortlessly conjures into life an effervescent community where jazz, bebop, blues and poetry are as much central characters in the play as are Blue (Amari Cheatom), Pumpkin (Kalen Robinson), Silver (Anji White), Corn (Marty Austin Lamar) and P-Sam (Ro Boddie). Raymond O. Caldwell returns to DC as Director after leaving for LA where he’s Artistic Director at The Fountain Theatre. Morisseau’s play is his love letter to the city he called home for 18 years. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the erasure and rewriting of history, and I think about Black history and the way it’s often forgotten, particularly our lived community spaces. This play is a beautiful exploration of that.”
present (Blue occasionally acknowledges our presence with a fleeting glance, for example) and absent. “I love to watch Black characters grapple with what the advancement of their community looks like. It’s interesting to watch capitalism slowly begin to weave its way into this world. What is the role of community in the face of capitalism? It inspires a conversation that’s uncomfortable at moments.”
In the Spotlight
We Are Gathered, Arena Stage Showing May 16 – June 15 www.arenastage.org
If you loved Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Academy Awardwinning cinematic masterpiece Moonlight, then you’ll love We Are Gathered. The Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble member from Florida once again knits together a richly embroidered community inhabited by characters that love, laugh, lie and learn valuable lessons about themselves and each other.
Studio’s Victor Shargai Theatre will become a recreation of Blue’s Paradise Club, says Caldwell. “I wanted to make the bar, seat the audience at the bar so that the audience must grapple with a history that is no more. In that moment, we ostensibly become ghosts. We are the ghosts of the future lingering in that space as we watch the ghosts of the past grapple with the history that’s inevitable.” Caldwell has experimented with chronology as he’s injected snippets of contemporary jazz into Blue’s onstage repertoire. He explains how he’s relished the technical and conceptual challenges of directing a play where the audience is both
The concept of community plays an outsized role in much of McCraney’s work. His writing – for stage, TV and film – often touches on the intersection of individual and collective choice and responsibility in communities of color. We Are Gathered tells the story of romantic partners Free (played by Nicholas L. Ashe) and W. Tre (Kyle Beltran) who must make an important decision as they wander into a shadowy woodland that evokes the kingdom of Theseus and Hippolyta in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play is being directed by Kent Gash (Director of the New Studio on Broadway at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama), who’s collaborated with McCraney before on Choir Boy in 2015 and Wig Out! in 2017.
Gash is excited to be bringing his considerable talents to a play that’s “…full of joy and affirmation of what it is to be alive. Tarell is a brilliant writer. It’s a powerfulpiece.” Like August Wilson, Gash says, McCraney’s
Nicholas Ashe plays Free in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s We Are Gathered. Photo courtesy Arena Stage.
Show art for Paradise Blue at Studio Theatre. Image courtesy Studio Theatre.
work illuminates lives that might otherwise live only in shadow. “If you’re a Black artist, what you confront in art making is that often your story is not occupying the center of the space.” We Are Gathered will be produced on Arena’s Fichandler Stage in the round, with audience members being able to a rm their love for each other during select performances as part of Arena Stage’s Love Takes Center Stage initiative.
We Are Gathered asks an important question: What does contemporary Queer commitment look like? “We hope to blur the line between the audience and the company on stage so that we create a sense of community the way that great weddings often do. When you witness two souls committing to express their love for each other for the rest of their lives, that’s a powerful act.” Gash explains. It won’t be lost on DMV audiences that this play takes to the stage at the same time as several states prepare legal challenges to Obergefell v. Hodges. While not framed as a political play, Gash acknowledges that “…the fact that you survive is political. I feel compelled to make the work to celebrate all the ancestors whose shoulders we stand on.”
Sign up to have your love story pro led during a performance at arenastage.org/lovestory.
Catch Before Closing
Choke, Sucede hasta en las mejores familias, GALA Hispanic Theatre
Showing April 24 – May 18 www.galatheatre.org
Los Angeles based playwright Emilio T. Infante’s story about a feuding Hispanic family overshadowed by a toxic threat so entranced Gustavo Ott that he brought it with him from Teatro Dallas when he joined GALA Hispanic Theatre as their Artistic Director in early 2024.
It’s community and family – in this case Esperanza and Gonzalo Guerrero, their adult daughter Cassandra and her wife Zulema – that are the apertures through which the audience confronts weighty issues like environmental justice and the politics of immigration, assimilation, tradition and belonging. “What happens to a community also happens to the family and the country.” declares Ott, who is taking up the Director’s chair for this production. “The ideas that we love and the ideas we hate, they all start with the family.”
Ott views this funny, fraught and insightful play in the same genre as Arthur Miller, Edward Albee and Tennessee Williams in its framing of contemporary political debate through community and family relationships. “His (Infante’s) militant approach to society goes into the theater he writes but he does it through metaphor that goes beyond theater, to tradition. I think he has a bright future as a playwright.” High praise indeed, and more than enough reason to watch it. more than enough reason to watch it.
Changing Hands is a list of residential sales in Capitol Hill and contiguous neighborhoods
Gerardo Ortiz plays Gonzalo Guerrero in GALA Hispanic Theatre’s Choke, Sucede hasta en las mejores familias. Image courtesy GALA Hispanic Theatre.
kids & family
by Kathleen Donner
Shakespeare for Kids (from the Folger)
It’s never too early to discover Shakespeare. Check out Folger resources for kids and for Shakespeare beginners. Find tips for taking your kids to their rst Shakespeare play; Shakespearean insults, compliments, and quotations; and a short Shakespeare play script for kids. Also something for teens, a Podcast episode about pop culture Shakespeare. Pop culture representations of Shakespeare’s plays aren’t just fun: they can help us take ownership of Shakespeare’s language, critically examine his plots, and connect to his themes. On this Shakespeare Unlimited podcast episode, a high school English teacher shares pop
Marine Corps Marathon Kids’ Run Registration Opens
The MCM Kids Run is held on Saturday, Oct. 25, in Arlington, VA. Children ages ve to twelve can participate in the one-mile fun run. Pre- and post-event hospitality, activities, entertainment, games and mascots make this an unforgettable event. The Kids Run o ers families eight start time options between 9:20 and 11:40 a.m. Registration for the MCM Kids Run is $27. marinemarathon.com/event/marine-corps-marathon/mcm-kids-run.
culture Shakespeare resources that are popular in her classroom for deepening understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare. folger.edu/explore/shakespeare-for-kids.
Story Time at the American Indian Museum
On Saturdays, through Aug. 30, 11:15 to 11:45 a.m., at the American Indian Museum, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW, families are invited to an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. Story Time is recommended for visitors ages three to nine accompanied by an adult caregiver. See sta at the entrance desk of the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on Level 3. americanindian.si.edu.
Bounce Back Photo Contest
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) in conjunction with the District Dribble campaign delivered a new basketball to every pre-k to fth grade student at 80 DC public schools, resulting in a total of 29,934 balls distributed across the District. MSE has now launched a companion citywide photo contest, Bounce Back, to capture the joy and continue the fun of District Dribble. Students and families are invited to submit photos of themselves using their District Dribble basketballs in action. Contestants have a chance to win one of eight basketballs autographed by the winner’s favorite Washington Wizards or Mystics player. The contest is open through 11:59 p.m. on May 28. Winners will be announced before May 31. Enter here: web.witcontests.com/wizards/artwall/ district-dribble-bounce-back-p-250408
Weather Worlds at National Children’s Museum
Through greenscreen and video-capturing technology, every motion matters in Weather Worlds. Young learners see rsthand how their actions control the weather, playfully investigating how our bodies impact the Earth. Then, guests can develop this concept of impact in Climate Action Heroes, where through the imagery of superheroes, they learn real-world examples of how to ght climate change. Go to climate-heroes. org to take a digital version of the quiz now. The National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is open daily, except Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $18.95 per person. Infants under one, free. nationalchildrensmuseum.org. ◆
Build Day at the Hirshhorn
On Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Build Day is back at the Hirshhorn, and this year it’s so big that they’re cohosting it with their neighbor, the Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building. Join them inside Enchanted City, a day of creativity and construction. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., fashion suspended LED sculptures; try a 3D printing demo with George Washington University’s FabLab; and discover their bricks and blocks zone. No registration required. hirshhorn.si.edu.
Kids Run the Bases at Nat’s Park
Kids ages four to ¬twelve can run the bases after every Sunday day game throughout the season. This year’s remaining dates are May 11 and 25; June 8 and 15; July 6 and 20; Aug. 3, 17 and 31; and Sept. 14 and 28. Kids Run the Bases begins immediately following the game, weather permitting. An adult must accompany runners to the eld. Kids and parents/guardians can begin lining up at the end of the seventh inning, however fans who would like to stay and watch the entire game will still be able to line up once the game has ended. washington.nationals.mlb.com.
“Business
Across:
1. Liquorish flavor
5. Deserving attention
11. For the full band, on a score
16. Small eating instrument, abbr.
19. Fountain beverage
20. Schwarzenegger’s “Total ___”
21. Father of well-known twins
22. Lady
23. Local business group
26. The Giants’ Manning
27. Joyful exclamation
28. Rocky peaks
29. “___ the Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave”
30. Strives
31. “Tea for ___”
32. Road show grp.
33. Attempt
36. A saying, witty and concise
39. Completed
40. Fleece
41. Not poke into others’ affairs
51. Comment around a birthday cake
52. URL ending
53. ___ out a living
55. In the midst
56. Portable music device
58. Soap opera’s slot
61. Gradually decline
62. A.B.A. member, abbr.
64. Identical in all directions
66. 1983 Eddie Murphy movie
70. Mournful
74. Minnesota clinic
75. Garnet and ruby
79. Moved like Le Bron
80. Many Christmas presents
82. Written communications
85. Washer cycle
86. “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” science officer
87. Most indifferent
89. It’s not traded on the NYSE
95. Greet and seat
96. Acme
97. Responded to
100. Dweeb
102. Army rank, for short
105. Firms
108. “Do ___ others as...”
109. 5th century Chinese dynasty
110. Mani-___ (salon job)
111. Gibbon, for one
112. Encountered
113. One who gives you tips
120. Longtime record label
121. Hoops
122. Free from anxiety
123. Djokovic, e.g.
124. TriBeCa is part of it
125. Means of business expansion, abbr.
126. Hot water fountain
127. Nabokov heroine and others
Down:
1. Broad scarf
2. Never in any way
3. A rocky mountain state
4. Favorite uncle?
5. Dunkable snacks
6. Prefix with magnetic
7. Sgts., e.g.
8. Churlish sort
9. That special touch, briefly
10. 70s rock group, abbr.
11. Stopwatch
12. Exploitative type
13. Hot roofing material
14. Center X or O
15. Clinch
16. Those people’s
17. 1965 march site
18. Cut-glass work of art
24. A.C. stat
25. Dairy farm sound
30. O.K.
33. Golly gee!
34. Lennon’s Yoko
35. Elite group
36. Codgers’ replies
37. Canadian province with redsand, for short
38. Swimming gold medalist Thorpe
39. ___ Plaines
40. “The ___ of all fears”
41. Miss Cass
42. Disney was one
43. Aloha State bird
44. First name among U.N. leaders
45. Cries of pain
46. Something to pick
47. Barracks V.I.P.
48. Relating to the physical frame
49. Ditch school for the day
50. Tractor trailer
51. Stomach
56. BBC rival
57. African tribesman
58. A dwarf
54. End of the year month, for short
59. Wore away
60. Soph. and jr.
62. Dictionary abbr.
63. Haberdashery item
65. ___ Paulo
66. Building demolition material
67. Road with a no.
68. Helping hand
69. Swan Lake steps
70. Letter abbr.
71. Prefix with suction
72. Tel ___
73. “The Bald Soprano” playwright
75. Modify
76. Big cheese
77. Work furniture
78. Mach 1 breaker
81. Losing tic-tac-toe line, perhaps
82. Craggy peak
83. Overhead railways
84. English class, for short
86. Simba’s home
87. Measure
88. Cowboy’s moniker
90. __Admiral
91. Golfers starting point
92. Secreted
93. Emirates, for short
94. “Weekend Edition” airer
97. First stomach
98. Hostile force
99. Cobwebby area
100. Genius physicist and inventor
101. Jocularity
102. Call it a day
103. Stranger
104. Roman 54
105. Scoped out
106. “Carmen” or “Tosca”
107. Belgrade residents
109. Fuse
110. Grade-school orgs.
113. Technology giant
114. Basketball org.
115. It provides a moving experience
116. Vibe or Cosmo
117. Berlioz’s “Les nuits d’___”
118. Napoleonic marshal
119. Patience-virtue link
