Hill Rag Magazine May 2013

Page 1

hillrag.com • May 2013


Est. 1981

D SOL

D SOL

CAPITOL HILL 633 E Street, SE

$1,648,500 Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM

D SOL

CLEVELAND PARK

CAPITOL HILL

3616 Conn. Ave., NW #107

$660,000 – CONTRACT Fern Pannill 240-508-4856

$368,500 Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM

1446 E Street, SE

BRIGHTWOOD

MICHIGAN PARK

5708 4th Street, NW

$569,500 – CONTRACT Fern Pannill 240-508-4856

$599,999 Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM

3712 22nd Street, NE

May’s Feature Property 708 E STREET, NE Renovated 4BR/3.5BA Victorian w/ rough in for a full kitchen in the finished basement.

CAPITOL HILL

Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661

403 12th Street, NE $739,500 Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

LEDROIT PARK

1913 4th Street, NW $869,500 – CONTRACT Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

D SOL

2711 North Capitol St, NE

DUPONT

1731 Willard St., NW #304

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

215 I Street, NE #302

619 Lamont Street, NW

CAPITOL HILL

$549,900

$749,500 – CONTRACT Todd Bissey 202-841-7653 THE BISSEY TEAM

$339,900 Pete Frias 202-744-8973 www.PeterFrias.com

$698,850 – CONTRACT Stan Bissey 202-841-1433 THE BISSEY TEAM

$669,500 Genie Hutinet 202-413-7661

LEDROIT PARK

CAPITOL HILL

1BR+Den & PKG in Landmark Lofts

Fern Pannill

240-508-4856

917 G Street, SE

“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



Come to the

3rd

A n n u kaFeslt, Literary Hill Boo

Sunday, May 5, 11am-3pm,

ll in the North Ha

et! of Eastern Mark

Brett L. Abrams - The Bullets, The Wizards and Washington, DC Basketball Bill S. Ashley - The Diary of a Compulsive Traveler Meredith Henne Baker - The Richmond Theater Fire: Early America’s First Great Disaster

Katy Kelly - Lucy Rose: Here’s the Thing About Me, Lucy Rose: Big On Plans, Lucy Rose: Busy Like You Can’t Believe, Lucy Rose: Working Myself to Pieces & Bits, Melonhead, Melonhead and the Big Stink, Melonhead and the Undercover Operation, and Melonhead and the Vegalicious Disaster.

Ariel Sabar - My Father’s Paradise: A Son’s Search for His Jewish Past in Kurdish Iraq, and Heart of the City: Nine Stories of Love and Serendipity on the Streets of New York

Mike Canning - Hollywood on the Potomac: How Movies View Washington, DC

Marguerite Kelly - The Mother’s Almanac, The Mother’s Almanac Goes to School, and Marguerite Kelly’s Family Almanac

Stephanie Deutsch - You Need a Schoolhouse: Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald and the Building of Schools for the Segregated South

Linda Killian - The Swing Vote: The Untapped Power of Independents

David H. Shinn - China and Africa: A Century of Engagement

Tom Dunkel - Color Blind: The Forgotten Team that Broke Baseball’s Color Line

Kevin Kosar - Whiskey: A Global History Tim Krepp - Capitol Hill Haunts

Paris Singer - Lunch with Diogenes: The Greek Philosopher and the Dog

Mary Z. Gray - 301 East Capitol Street: Tales from the Heart of the City

James Magner - A Haunting Beauty

Patricia Gray - Rupture

Chuck McCutcheon - What Are Global Warming and Climate Change?: Answers for Young Readers

Maggie Hall - The Mish-Mash Dictionary of Marmite

John Muller - Frederick Douglass in Washington, DC: The Lion of Anacostia

Sharon M. Hannon - Punks: A Guide to an American Subculture, Women Explorers, and The Nation’s Library: A Guide to the Library of Congress

George Derek Musgrove - Rumor, Repression, and Racial Politics: How the Harassment of Black Elected Officials Shaped Post-Civil Rights America

Lucinda Janke - Washington D.C.: Views of the Past and Present and A Guide to Civil War Washington, D.C.: The Capital of the Union Abby Arthur Johnson and Ronald Maberry Johnson - In the Shadow of the United States Capitol: Congressional Cemetery and the Memory of the Nation Beth Kanter and Emily Goodstein - The Washington, DC Chef’s Table

Jean Nordhaus - Innocence, A Bracelet of Lies, My Life in Hiding, and The Porcelain Apes of Moses Mendelssohn

Canden Schwantes - Wicked Georgetown: Scoundrels, Sinners and Spies

Louise Smith - One Hundred Years of Marriage Janine K. Spendlove - War of the Seasons, Book One: The Human and Book Two: The Half-Blood James L. Swanson - Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, and Bloody Crimes: The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln’s Corpse Craig Timberg - Tinderbox: How the West Sparked the AIDS Epidemic and How the World Can Finally Overcome It

Rindy O’Brien - @ Home on the Hill

Cathy Travis - Constitution Translated for Kids, Target Sitting, Remember Who You Are, Elected, and Manifesto: Staffing Capitol Hill

Garrett Peck - Prohibition in Washington, D.C.: How Dry We Weren’t; The Potomac River: A History and Guide; and The Smithsonian Castle and the Seneca Quarry

Gene Weingarten - Old Dogs Are the Best Dogs, and The Fiddler in the Subway: The Story of the World-Class Violinist Who Played for Handouts

Quintin Peterson - Guarding Shakespeare and To Hell in a Fast Car

John R. Wennersten - Global Thirst: Water and Society in the 21st Century

Booksellers, Libraries, and Other Participants:

The Literary Hill BookFest is sponsored by Capital Community News, Inc., with financial support from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation, Riverby Books, Walter B. Quetsch, Karl and Carrol Kindel, Susan B. Waters, Michael Fry, Ann Bradley, Paris Singer, and Ralph Ditano.

Robert Pohl - Wicked Capitol Hill: An Unruly History of Behaving Badly

Capitol Hill Books Capitol Hill Writers Group D.C. Public Library Fairy Godmother Folger Shakespeare Library The Hill Center Library of Congress PEN/Faulkner Platypus Media/Science, Naturally! Riverby Books Ruka Press Washington Conservation Guild

Book Talk Schedule: 11:30-11:50 12:00-12:20 12:30-12:50 1:00-1:20 1:30-1:50 2:00-2:20 2:30-2:50

Janine Spendlove Tom Dunkel Garrett Peck Linda Killian Mike Canning Beth Kanter/Emily Goodstein Tim Krepp







May. 13

What’s Inside

ineveryissue 14 16 54 140 148 150

Go ... See ... Do Washington’s Best Calendar Hill Rag Crossword Classified Ads Last Word The Nose

capitolstreets 31 32 42 44 46 48 50 50

Book Free in DC / E. Ethelbert Miller The Bulletin Board The District Beat / Martin Austermuhle The Numbers / Ed Lazere ANC 6A Re port / Maggy Baccinelli ANC 6B Report / Charnice A. Milton ANC 6C Report / Charnice A. Milton ANC 6D Report / Roberta Weiner

communitylife

55

55 58 59 60 62 64 66

Anwar Saleem: The Man of H Street / Maggy Baccinelli In Memorium: Frank Zampatori / Peter J. Waldron @ Your Service / Ellen Boomer Students Create Advocacy Website/ Virginia Spatz High Schoolers Conquer the Capitol / Elena Burger Springtime on H Street / Elise Bernard Barracks Row / Sharon Bosworth

ARTSdiningentertainment 69 72 74 76 77 78 80 82

Dining Review: Le Grenier / Jonathan Bardzik Dining Notes / Celeste McCall The Hero/Traitor Repertory / Barbara Wells Wine Guys / Josh Genderson The Jazz Project / Jean-Keith Fagon At the Movies / Mike Canning Art and The City / Jim Magner The Literary Hill / Karen Lyon


The Hill Spring Market Is In Full Swing!

realestate 85 88

Brewer’s Court: Life of an Alley /Robert S. Pohl Changing Hands

beautyhealthfitness 97 100 102 106

Well Nourished: Jonathan Bardzik-Eastern Market Chef / Annette Nielsen The Importance of Being a Fit Mom / Pattie Cinelli Does Your Dog Have A Paunch / Heather McCurdy DVM The Healing Power of Story Telling / Ronda Bresnick Hauss

kidsandfamily 109 115 116 126

Kids & Family Notebook / Kathleen Donner Boy Scouts Improve Hill Playing Fields / James Grimaldi School Notes / Susan Braun Johnson DCs Young Mandarins / Stephin Lilienthal

homesandgardens 129 132 136 138

CHRS House and Garden Tour 2013 / Susan Burgerman The Hill Gardener: The Edible Balcony /Annette Nielsen Garden Spot: How Gail’s Garden Grows / Derek Thomas Dear Garden Lady / by Anonymous

Christian Krohg (Norwegian, 1852–1925), A mother plaiting her little daughter’s hair, 1888, Oil on canvas, 17 x 16 in., Skagens Museum. A World Apart: Anna Ancher and the Skagen Art Colony On View through May 12, 2013 The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) presents the first exhibition in the U.S. to focus on Anna Ancher and the artist colony at Skagen, Denmark. A World Apart: Anna Ancher and the Skagen Art Colony, features 41 paintings and oil sketches by Ancher and more than 20 by her fellow Skagen artists. The close-knit community of artists in Skagen, Ancher’s native town in northern Denmark’s remote Jutland peninsula, included Anna Ancher’s husband, Michael Ancher, and renowned artists P. S. Krøyer and Laurits Tuxen, among others. Anna Ancher created meditative interior scenes and landscapes, which were singled out by contemporary critics for their deft use of color, lively brushwork and skilled depiction of northern Denmark’s crystalline light. This exhibition is the first opportunity for American audiences to consider Ancher’s role in the Skagen colony and her place in the history of art.

A

nd nothing different this year except that our inventories are at all time lows and our demand is at an all time high. This leads to a lot of happy sellers and a lot of frustrated buyers. The following are a few of the sales so far this year.

637 East Capitol Street SE: 5 DAYS ON MARKET. Asking $1,495,000. Stately Victorian 3 levels. 2 parlors. 2 car garage! 1240 C Street NE: 7 DAYS ON MARKET. Asking $579,000. Great 2 bedroom, tall ceilings, Lovely patio. 17 4th Street NE: 16 DAYS ON MARKET. Asking $1,299,000. 1857 antebellum. New from top to bottom. 315 16th Street NE: 5 DAYS ON MARKET. Asking $599,900. Original character. Chef ’s kitchen. Smart updates. 622 C Street NE: 5 DAYS ON MARKET. Asking $679,000. Cosmopolitan castle! Enclosed atrium. Stainless steel kitchen. 300 North Carolina Ave SE: 5 DAYS ON MARKET. Asking $1,100,000. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Across from Brent! 646 6th Street NE: 7 DAYS ON MARKET. Asking $939,000. Design by Wardman. 3bedrooms and 2.5 baths. 402 Independence Ave SE: 6 DAYS ON MARKET. Asking $1,199,000. Beautiful 1890’s townhouse. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths.

If you are thinking of selling in the near future, this is the time to act. Tight inventory, low interest rates and high demand all work in your favor. If you are buying, get an agent (preferably one of ours). Without an agent in this market, you will end up a day late, a dollar short and no house.

Don Denton Branch Vice President Coldwell Banker Capitol Hill Direct: 202-741-1683 Office: 202-547-3525

ddenton@cbmove.com http://donalddenton.xactsite.com/


A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR:

LOOK FOR YOUR NEXT HILLRAG ISSUE ON: June 1st

Dear Readers,

B

y now, many of you will have received the 2013 Fagon Community Guide to Capitol Hill on your doorstep. The cover photo of people dancing and enjoying themselves at the H Street Festival is a reflection of how our community continues to thrive. Dozens of businesses, restaurants, and residential complexes have opened around the H Street Corridor in the past year, and each month brings more. The Union Market opened in October bringing even more food venues to the northern part of our neighborhood. We did a significant redesign of the Guide this year, giving you much more need-to-know information on life on Capitol Hill and in DC. Resources for urban gardeners, a survey of architectural styles, a brief history of Capitol Hill, pet resources, art venues, new restaurants, fun on the Anacostia (now our neighborhood river), what to do about middle school and much more. And of course we included our annual pictoral review of neighorhood events. Check it out; you just might see yourself. This year, don’t miss the offers, menus and discount coupons being delivered as inserts with the Guide. And, finally, we hope you will support all of our advertisers who support the Guide each year. We will be communicating on our Facebook page and through emails to list serves on the progress of the Guide delivery. Be sure to let us know if your area has been covered and you haven’t received one. Best Regards, Melissa Ashabranner Executive Editor

Editorial Staff Managing Editor: Andrew Lightman • andrew@hillrag.com CFO & Associate Editor: Maria Carolina Lopez • carolina@hillrag.com School Notes Editor: Susan Braun Johnson • schools@hillrag.com Kids & Family Notebook Editor: Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Arts, Dining & Entertainment Art: Jim Magner • jjmagner@aol.com Dining: Emily Clark • clapol47@gmail.com Celeste McCall • celeste@us.net Hit the City: Joylyn Hopkins • joylyn@joylynhopkins.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: Scott Fazzini • scott.fazzini@gmail.com Theater: Barbara Wells • barchardwells@aol.com Travel: Maggie Hall • whitby@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 Dana Bell • dana@hillrag.com Elise Bernard • elise.bernard@gmail.com Ralph Brabham • ralphbrabham@yahoo.com Stephanie Deutsch • scd@his.com Kathleen Donner • kathleendonner@gmail.com Michelle Phipps-Evans • invisiblecolours@yahoo.com

Gwyn Jones • gwynjones@aol.com Stephen Lilienthal - stephen_lilienthal@yahoo.com Celeste McCall • celeste@hillrag.com Charnice Milton • charnicem@hotmail.com John H. Muller • jmuller.washingtonsyndicate@gmail.com Alice Ollstein • alice.ollstein@gmail.com Will Rich • will.janks@gmail.com Linda Samuel • indabsamuel@yahoo.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 Ronda Bresnick Hauss, LCSW • www.quietwaterscenter.com quiet_waters_center@yahoo.com Mariessa Terrell • mterrell@sbclawgroup.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 Rindy O’Brien • rindyob@mac.com Derek Thomas • derek@thomaslandscapes.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.

Judith Capen • judith.capen@architravepc.com HomeStyle: Mark Johnson • mark@hillrag.com Catherine Plume • caplume@yahoo.com COMMENTARY Ethelbert Miller • emiller698@aol.com The Nose • thenose@hillrag.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: Kira Means, 202.543.8300 X16 • kira@hillrag.com Account Executive: Jennifer Zatkowski, 202.543.8300 X20 • Jenn@hillrag.com Classified Advertising: 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; submissions@hillrag.com Bulletin Board & Calendar: 15th of each month; calendar@hillrag.com, bulletinboard@hillrag.com

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

Publisher: Jean-Keith Fagon • fagon@hillrag.com Copyright © 2013 by Capital Community News. All Rights Reserved.

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May 11-12: Capitol Hill Restoration Society House & Garden Tour Join us for the 56th annual tour on Mother’s Day Weekend. “In the Shadow of the Capitol: Old Traditions, New Beginnings”. Twelve remarkable homes on a walkable 1.2 mile route through one of Capitol Hill’s oldest neighborhoods, between First, Third, C and South Carolina, SE. For tickets, www.chrs.org.

THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE - THE HILL IS LOOKING UP! WE ARE HERE IF YOU WANT TO CHAT ABOUT SELLING OR BUYING, LONG TERM OR RIGHT NOW. Our listings sell for an average of 98% of the asking price. Licensed in DC, MD, and VA

ACTIVE:

OPEN SUNDAY 5/3, 1 - 4 PM 708 North Carolina Ave, SE • $915,000 7th & N. Carolina SE, aka The Center of the Hill Universe. Eastern Market is across the street, 2 blocks to Metro. 3 BR, 2 BA, 3 level quintessential Victorian townhouse with elegant living & dining rooms. A charming house in an ideal location!

UNDER CONTRACT:

1000 D Street SE $949,000

5211 Alta Vista Rd, Bethesda, MD $740,000

11 Vassar Circle, Glen Echo, MD $469,000

SOLD:

1735 D Street NE • $450,000 727 11th Street NE • $699,000

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 HillRag | May 2013 H 13


GO.SEE.DO. Lamb Jam

Twenty of DC’s top chefs will ewe-night for the third annual American Lamb Jam produced by the American Lamb Board. This ultimate taste-off will feature top chefs and their creative preparations of lusty lamb dishes accompanied by several wineries, breweries and more. Judging will include awards for Best of Show, 1st Place Awards for Shoulder, Leg of Lamb, Shank and Loin tastes. Guests vote and determine the People’s Choice winner. This year’s chefs are from Bibiana, Occidental, ici, Mad Fox Brewing Company, Cava, Bistro 525, Bourbon Steak, Cedar, Art and Soul, ripple, Del Campo. 1789 Restaurant, kitchen bar, The Grille, Virtue Feed & Grain, The Atlas Room, Blue Duck Tavern, Zaytinya, The Roosevelt and Pizzeria Orso. People’s Choice Award for 2012 went to Bourbon Steak at Four Seasons, Chef Adam Sobel for “Sausage and Peppers” Lamb Sausage, Piperade, Fried Onions and Basil. $60 ($75 for 5-6 p.m. specialty cocktails, American lamb charcuterie and sheep cheeses). Must be 21. A portion of the proceeds benefit DC Central Kitchen. Monday, May 20, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Eastern Market North Hall. dc.fansoflamb.com

Opera in the Outfield Presents “Showboat”

On May 18 at 7 p.m., more than 100 singers, actors, and dancers will fill the Kennedy Center Opera House stage to tell the tale of a troupe of riverboat performers as they make their way through the decades, and a 50-piece orchestra will play Show Boat’s legendary score, which mixes the best traditions of opera, musical theater, jazz, gospel, and vaudeville. Join thousands at Nat’s Park for a simulcast of this beloved musical. Free seating will be available on the outfield grass and in the stands. The gate opens at 5 p.m. kennedy-center.org Washington National Opera’s Show Boat. Photo: Robert Kusel for Lyric Opera of Chicago 14 H hillrag.com


Mrs. Madison’s Ball and 18th Century Dance Classes at Gadsby’s Tavern

On June 8, 8-11 p.m., experience an evening of English country dancing in honor of First Lady Dolley Madison. The night will include some of Dolley’s favorite dances. Enjoy live music, cash libations, and a dessert collation full of Mrs. Madison’s favorite sweets. Regency attire requested; cocktail attire welcome. Registration is required. It’s for grown-ups. The cost is $45. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., Alexandria, VA. 703-746-4242. alexandriava.gov. To prepare for the ball, attend dance classes to learn all the steps: May 23, May 30, June 6 at 7:30-9:30 p.m. The cost is $12 per person, $30 for series. Dances for the ball are Allemande Swiss, Fairy Waltz, Flowers of Edinburgh, Fisher’s Hornpipe, Hop Ground, Hop-Picker’s Feast, King of Denmark’s Favorite, Knole Park, Lasses of Portsmouth, Long Odds, Marlbrouk, Miss Gayton’s Hornpipe, Mrs. Savage’s Whim, Ramsgate Assembly, Trip to Tunbridge and Well Done Jack. Guests dancing in Gadsby’s historic ballroom. Photo: Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour

Every Mother’s Day weekend for over half a century, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society has hosted a tour of homes linked by a particular theme. The tradition continues on May 11 and 12 this year, with the 56th Annual Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour. In addition to many kitchen and bath renovations and additions, the 2013 tour offers spectacular gardens, stunning views of the Capitol, creative ideas for maximizing storage, and a house that has cut its electricity usage in half using solar panels. You can visit fourteen properties on a pleasant, easily walkable 1.2 mile route from Pennsylvania Avenue to Garfield Park between First and Fourth Streets SE. The event begins with a twilight tour of homes from 4-7 pm on Saturday, May 11 and continues 12-5 pm on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12. Tea and other refreshments will be served on both days, from 4-7 on Saturday and 3-5 on Sunday, in the Event Hall of American Legion Post #8, 224 D Street SE. Enter from the D Street side. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on the tour weekend. They can be purchased on line at www.chrs.org, at area outlets listed on the CHRS website, and at the CHRS booth at Eastern Market the weekends of April 20-21; April 27-28; May 4-5, and May 11-12. Metro accessible via Capitol South and Eastern Market stations.

Trinidad DC Art in the Alley

Billed as Trinidad DC’s local art festival, Art in the Alley features the work of a rare collection of painters, photographers, sculptors and musicians. Join them on Saturday, May 11, 6-10 p.m. in the alley between the 1200 blocks of Florida Avenue and Morse Street, NE (between Montello and Trinidad) in residential Trinidad. The alley is just blocks away from some spectacular art galleries and the H Street Atlas Arts District. Art in the Alley was inspired by the confluence of the emergent arts scene in the Trinidad neighborhood, a desire to build community through positive interaction and an empowering Do-ItYourself spirit. Launched in 2011, Art in the Alley celebrates local art in local spaces twice a year: once in the spring and again in the fall. artinthealleydc.wordpress.com Art in the Alley-Trinidad’s local arts festival. Photo: Elise Bernard HillRag | May 2013 H 15


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HillRag CALENDAR

PATRIOTIC AND MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EVENTS VE Day at World War II Memorial. May 8, 1:00 PM. Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) was on May 8, 1945, the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany. In commemoration of VE-Day a wreath will be placed at the World War II Memoria,17th St. between Constitution and Independence aves. NW. 2013 Twilight Tattoo at Fort Myer. Wednesdays, May 8-Aug 28, 7:00 PM with pre-ceremony pageantry starting at 6:45 PM. Members of the 3rd US Infantry (The Old Guard), the US Army Band “Pershings Own,” Fife and Drum Corps and the US Army Drill Team will perform an hour-long sunset military Pageant. Over 100 Old Guard soldiers dressed in period uniforms will provide a glimpse of Army history from colonial times to the soldier of the future. Summerall Field on historic Fort Myer in Arlington, VA. usarmyband.com

Marine Barracks Washington Marines march pass in review during a Friday Evening Parade at the Barracks. Photo: Cpl. Dengrier Baez

Marine Barracks Evening Parade. Friday evenings through Aug 30. Guests admitted starting at 7:00 PM. Guests should be seated by 8:00 PM. Program begins at 8:45 PM. The Evening Parade has become a universal symbol of the professionalism, discipline and Esprit de Corps of the United States Marines. The ceremony begins with a concert by the United States Marine Band. Free. It is wise to have reservations that can be made online at mbw.usmc.mil. Marine Barracks (front gate), Eighth and I sts. SE. 202-433-4073. mbw.usmc.mil

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GI Film Festival. May 6-12. The GI Film Festival is the nation’s only film festival dedicated to celebrating the stories of our nation’s armed forces. The GIFF will present films from new and established international and domestic filmmakers that honor the heroic stories of the American Armed Forces and the worldwide struggle for freedom and liberty. Some of the films screened will be fan favorites. Others will be screened for the first time. All will in some way express the courage and selflessness of our fighting men and women and the value of their work. Festival at several ocations in DC and Virginia. gifilmfestival.com National Memorial Day Concert. May 26, 8:00-9:30 PM (gates open at 5:00 PM). The National Symphony Orchestra performs the first of three outdoor holiday concerts. The concert is free and is broadcast live on PBS. Memorial Day is a day to remember the sacrifices made by so many … and a day for healing. On the eve of Memorial Day, come out and enjoy the National Memorial Day Concert, a deeply moving and reverential tribute to the men and women who have given so much to preserve America’s freedoms. Free. West lawn, US Capitol. “Flags-In” at Arlington Cemetery. Memorial Day Weekend, 8:00 AM-7:00 PM. Each year for the past 40 years, the 3rd Infantry (The Old Guard) has honored America’s fallen heroes by placing American flags before the gravestones and niches of service members buried both at Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldier’s and Airmen’s National Cemetery just prior to Memorial Day Week-



end. Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia end of Memorial Bridge). 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.org Memorial Day Wreath Laying at Arlington. May 27, 11:00 AM. Arrive much earlier. Expect heavy security. Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia end of Memorial Bridge). 703-607-8000. arlingtoncemetery.org Memorial Day at the World War II Memorial. May 27, 9:00 AM. Wreaths will be placed in honor of our veterans. Guest speakers will give remarks. World War II Memorial, 17th St. between Constitution and Independence aves. NW. Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedon. May 27, noon. “Rolling Thunder” is an annual motorcycle rally held in Washington, DC during the Memorial Day weekend. Thousands of motorcycles will depart from the Pentagon at noon and will roar across Washington, DC on their motorcycles as a tribute to American war heroes. Assemble at Pentagon north parking lot. Women in Military Service Honors Memorial Day. May 27, 4:00 PM. The program includes formal military honors, remarks from servicewomen representing each of the services and the Women’s Memorial traditional Rose Petal Ceremony with personal tributes to departed comrades. Members of the public are invited to join in the personal tribute segment of the program. The Women in Military for America Memorial is the nation’s only major memorial honoring all servicewomen, past, present and future. Ceremony at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington VA. womensmemorial.org Memorial Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. May 27, 1:00 PM. This year’s Memorial Day observance pays tribute to those who served and died in Vietnam. The ceremony will include Presentation of the Colors, and remarks by a special guest. The observance also includes a laying of wreaths by several patriotic organizations. Each year on Memorial Day veterans and their families congregate at “The Wall” to remember and to honor those who served in the US Armed Forces. On this special day prominent Americans from all walks of life come to the Memorial to deliver thoughtful and patriotic speeches. National Memorial Day Parade. May 27, 2:00 PM. Beginning at Fourth St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW and ending at 15th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. Expect a lot of music, color and old-fashioned patriotism. nationalmemorialdayparade.com Memorial Day in Logan Circle Park. May 27, 12:30-2:30 PM. The program features remarks from local dignitaries, a wreathlaying ceremony at the statue of General John Logan, and musical entertainment. It is old-fashioned, wonderful, and emblematic of Logan Circle village. Residents and visitors alike are invited to this celebration of authentic Washington, DC and its heritage. Following the commemoration, come to a reception hosted at the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, 1318 Vermont Ave. NW. logancircle.org

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MUSIC Yards Park Friday Night Concert Series. Fridays, 8:30 PM. Here’s the lineup: May 10, Shag; May 17, Jimi Smooth & HitTime; May 24, Justin Trawick Group; May 31, Sin Miedo; June 7, J.P. McDermott; June 14, Cazhmiere; June 21, Nayas; June 28, The Reserves; July 5, Scott’s New Band; July 12, Texas Chainsaw Horns; July 19, 40 Thieves; July 26, Practically Einstein; Aug 2, Sam O; Aug 9, 19th Street Band; Aug 16, Crowded Streets; Aug 23, Alma Tropicalia; and Aug 30, Framewerk. Yards Park is in the Capitol Riverfront at 355 Water Street SE, three blocks from Nationals Ballpark. Take the Green Line to Navy Yard (New Jersey Avenue exit). yardspark.org SAW’s Young Artist Showcase at Ebenezers. May 10, 7:00-10:00 PM. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com Wednesday Lunchtime Concerts at Canal Park. Wednesdays, May 15-July 31, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM. Canal Park is located at 202 M St, SE. canalparkdc.org Danielle Ate the Sandwich & Heather Mae with Kurt Scobie at Ebenezers. May 16, 7:0010:00 PM. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com The Sweet Remains at Ebenezers. May 17, 7:30-10:00 PM. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-558-6900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com WorldPlay: Traditional Music of the World at Hill Center. May 19, 3:30-6:00 PM. Karpouzi Trio: Greek Music, May 19, Children’s Choir of Tblisi: Music from the Republic of Georgia. $15. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-5494172. hillcenterdc.org Capital City Symphony Season Finale. May 19, 5:00 PM. Featuring Dvorak’s Cello concerto with Brannon Cho, cello, winner of the 2012Johansen International Competition. Tchaikovsky, Waltz and Polonaise from EugeneOnegin. Stravinsky, Firebird. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-3997993. atlasarts.org Attacca Quartet at LOC. May 22, 8:00 PM. Coolidge Auditorium, ground floor, Thomas Jefferson Building. 202-707-5502. lov.gov “Library of Congress Presents” at the Atlas. May 23 and 25, 8:00 PM. Jennifer Koh, violin; and Reiko Uchida, piano. Free. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993. atlasarts.org Jazz in the Sculpture Garden. Fridays May 24-Aug 30 (rain or shine), 5:00-8:00 PM. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Live jazz performed by an eclectic mix of top artists from the Washington area entertains visitors outdoors in front of the fountain or in the Pavilion Cafe (if it’s raining). The Pavilion Cafe features a seasonal tapas-style menu and bar service during the concerts. Everyone can enjoy these concerts. You do not have to order food or drinks. Free. 202289-3360. nga.gov


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All Credit Cards Accepted HillRag | May 2013 H 19


Karissa LaRen & Victoria Vox at Ebenezers. May 24, 7:00-10:00 PM. Ebenezers Coffeehouse, 201 F St. NE. 202-5586900. ebenezerscoffeehouse.com US Army Blues at the Atlas. May 25, 8:00 PM. One of the nation’s premier jazz ensembles traces John Adams’ musical lineage back to the era of swing bands and his grandfather’s New Hampshire dance hall.From Duke Ellington’s big band music of the golden age of swing and Charles Mingus’ avant-garde to the free jazz of Gil Evans, the U.S. Army Blues bring their experience at the world’s greatest jazz festivals to the Atlas. Free. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org Capitol Hill Chorale “A Program of German Lieder”. June 1, 7:30 PM and June 2, 4:00 PM. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 4th and Independence Ave. SE. capitolhillchorale.org 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. 202253-0044. 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, 6:00-9:00 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. 202-484-7700. westminsterdc.org/blues

Tae Kwon Do with Master Gutman AGES 4 and UP | Small Classes //Ustaekwondocollege.wordpress.com 222 8th Street NE | mastergutman@gmail.com | 202.546.6275 20 H hillrag.com

10 th Street Auto repAirS

Serving Capitol Hill for over 25 years Owner Kevin Ehrman and his dedicated staff will treat your car as they would their own. 518 10th St., NE (MD & 10th St., NE) Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m – 6 pm • 544-1110

THEATER AND FILM The Mountaintop at Arena. Through May 12. Hailed as “daring, rousing and provocative” by Entertainment Weekly, The Mountaintop is Katori Hall’s bold reimagining of the last night of the historic life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Exhausted from delivering a significant speech, Dr. King rests in his room at the Lorraine Motel when an unexpected visit from a feisty, young maid compels him to confront his own humanity and the fate of our nation. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arena-stage.org Other Dessert Cities at Arena. Through May 26. After a six-year absence, Brooke



Neighbors of Southwest Duck Pond

Frederick Binkholder, Artistic Director 20th Anniversary Season Lieder!

Sat. 6/1 • Sun. 6/2

CAPITOL HILL’S BEST-KEPT SECRET

ISN’T EVEN ON CAPITOL HILL SATURDAYS: The Little Farm Stand

JUNE - NOVEMBER

• Organic Produce • Baked Goods & Preserves from Loudoun County • Cooking Demonstrations • Snacks and Beverages

Supervised Soccer Play at Amidon-Bowen Playground

SEPTEMBER SWArtsFestival

“Let’s Paint at the Duck Pond” with Amidon-Bowen PTA

OCTOBER

Fall Fun Fair with Girl Scout Troop 4298

NOVEMBER

Veterans Day Pet Parade with PAWS of Southwest

Let’s Get Connected! Facebook: Southwest Duck Pond Twitter: Southwest Duck Pond Join our list serve: southwestduckpond@gmail.com Special Events Welcome Visit our website www.southwestduckpond.org for more information. Just two MetroRail stops from Eastern Market to SW Federal Center. Neighbors of Southwest Duck Pond (NSWDP) is a fiduciary subsidiary of the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly (www.swdc.org), a 501(c)3 organization headquartered at 1101 Fourth Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024. NSWDP is a participant in the District of Columbia Park Partner program and is the ANCendorsed community organization representing the interests of the Southwest Duck Pond. The Southwest Duck Pond is bounded by Sixth, I (Eye), K Streets, and Makemie Place, S.W.

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featuring Brahms and Mendelssohn TKTS/INFO: 202.540.0547 www.capitolhillchorale.org

Wyeth returns to her Reaganite parents’ Palm Springs enclave for the holidays. But the warm desert air turns chilly when news of her upcoming memoir threatens to revive the most painful chapter of the family’s history. Perception and reality grapple with love and mercy as old family wounds are opened, childhood memories are tested, and the Wyeth clan learns that some secrets cannot stay buried forever. Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-4883300. arena-stage.org Hello, Dolly at Ford’s. Through May 18. The production features Broadway’s Nancy Opel in the title role and Edward Gero as Horace Vandergelder. Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. fords.org Coriolanus at Shakespeare Theater. Through June 2. A mighty hero, Caius Martius, earns the new name of “Coriolanus” for his triumphs. However his inflexible self-belief and contempt for popular rule cause him to be condemned as a traitor and sent into exile. Desiring revenge against the Romans who banished him, he befriends his blood enemy, Aufidius, to launch an assault on his beloved city. Rome, in its terror, pleads with Coriolanus to end his crusade for vengeance. Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. 202-5471122. shakespearetheatre.org Twelfth Night at the Folger. Through June 9. Cast away on the shores of a distant land, lost lovers and their unruly servants converge and conspire in this romance-filled comedy. Folger shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-4600. folger.edu The Winter’s Tale at Shakespeare Theatre. May 9-June 23. Traveling through time, visiting the austere court at Sicilia and the bright sea shore of Bohemia, two generations transcend torment and obsession. The Winter’s Tale is a compassionate and dazzling saga that tells the tale of King Leontes, who is overcome with jealousy when he believes his pregnant wife Hermione and his good friend King Polixenes are lovers. Lansburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW. 202547-1122. shakespearetheatre.org St. Mark’s Players Presents Cabaret. May 10-25. St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 301 A St. SE. stmarksplayers.org NoMa Summer Screen. May 22-Aug 21. Bring a blanket, Frisbee and picnic cooler starting at 7:00 PM and connect with friends as you enjoy great films under the stars. All films start at 9:00 PM. Subtitles will be provided for all movies. Summer Screen, 2nd and L sts. NE. This year’s theme is Outlaw Heroes! Come and watch your favorite heroes from the wild west, space frontiers, quirky 80’s comedies, and everything in between. nomabid.org Stupid Fucking Bird at Woolly. May 27June 23. An aspiring young theatre director named Conrad struggles to get out from under the shadow of his mother Emma, a famous actress. Meanwhile, his young muse Nina falls for Emma’s lover Doyle, and everyone discovers just how disappointing love, art, and growing up can be. In this contemporary and irreverent riff on Chekhov’s


The Seagull, Aaron Posner transforms the famous “subtext” of the classic play into exuberant scenes and songs. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. 202393-3939. woollymammoth.net Light in a Darkness & Death of the Marquis de Sade/Dante. May 31-June 2. Acclaimed actress Miřenka Čechová, and her company Tantehorse from the Czech Republic will mount Light in a Darkness, a piece that combines surreal and decadent poetry with elements of physical theater and modern dance. Tantehorse Company initially focused on the strong Czech tradition of modern pantomime, however the ensemble soon abandoned the world of fragile silence and went their own way through slapstick, comedy and black humor, with works tending towards surrealism and decadence. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993. atlasarts.org

EXHIBITIONS Hill Center Galleries New Exhibit. May 4-June 22. Reception with the Artists: May 15, 6:00-8:00 PM. Featured artists: Nana Bagdavadze, Alan Braley, Kay Elsasser, Peggy Fox, Susanne Kasielke, and Gayle Krughoff. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-5494172. hillcenterdc.org Bice Lazzari: Signature Line. May 10–September 22, 2013. The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) presents – A Year of Italian Culture in the United States, an initiative organized by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Italy, Washington, D.C., this exhibition presents a selection of 25 paintings and drawings from Archivio Bice Lazzari in Rome. Lazzari (1900–1981), one of Italy’s most revered modern artists, was discouraged from studying the figure in art school in the 1910s because of her gender. She ultimately became a renowned designer and in the mid-1930s turned her attention to abstraction. NMWA, 1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005. (202) 7835000 www.nmwa.org …with love and care at The Fridge. Through May 26. …with love and care is an international group show curated by DC-based artist Astrotwitch. The show features seven artists from places as far as Sao Paulo and Berlin known for creating handpainted posters to put up on the street. The show opens May 4, 7:00-11:00 PM. The Fridge, 516 1/2 8th St. SE. 202-550-2208. thefridgedc.com Nobility and Newcomers in Renaissance Ireland. Through May 19. Often portrayed as a country in conflict during the 16th and 17th centuries, Ireland was in fact a place of intermingling culture and adaptability. Nobility and Newcomers explores the opportunities and challenges open to both Irish and English nobility, and reveals Ireland as a land of ideas and art. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St. SE. 202-544-4600. folger.edu

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Matthew Pauli, Rachel Spicknall Mulford and Amelia Hensley. Photo: Second Glance Photography

The Lady Becomes Him at Gallaudet University. Through May 12. ...an original farce based on the 17th century Italian scenario Donna Zanni. Two young lovers resort to magic to aid their thwarted affair, and plunge the city of Naples into a chaos of misdirection, mistaken identities, and mutually assured embarrassment. $25; students, seniors and military: $15. Appropriate for ages 13, up. 1-800-8383006. factionoffools.oom

The Gibson Girl’s America: Drawings by Charles Dana Gibson. Through Aug 17. “The Gibson Girl’s America,” a Library of Congress exhibition of 24 works, primarily drawings, that highlight the rise of the Gibson Girl from the 1890s through the first two decades of the 20th century. It also illuminates how women’s increasing presence in the public sphere contributed to the social fabric of turn-of-the-20th-century America. The Graphic Arts Galleries on the ground level of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. loc.gov Herblock Looks at 1963: Fifty Years Ago in Editorial Cartoons. Through Sept 14. A 10-cartoon exhibition featuring the work of Herbert Block (Herblock), the award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Washington Post, during 1963. The Graphic Arts Galleries on the ground level of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. loc.gov

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TOURS CHRS 56th Annual House & Garden Tour. May 11, 4:00-7:00 PM; May 12, noon-5:00 PM. Features 12 historic homes in the area bounded by First, Fourth, C and South Carolina, SE. Tickets $25 in advance, $30 on Tour weekend. Available online at chrs.org and at Hill outlets. chrs.org Docent-led Tour of Congressional Cemetery. Every Saturday (Apr-Oct), 11:00 AM. Free. Tours begin at the Chapel in the center of the cemetery. Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE. 202-543-0539. congressionalcemetery.org War of 1812 Tour of Congressional Cemetery. First Saturday of every month at 1:00 PM. Free. Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE. 202-543-0539. congressionalcemetery.org


DCRA’s Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) Celebrates Small Business Week 2013 Small Business Restaurant Symposium and Expo “Capitalizing on the Thriving Restaurant Industry in the District of Columbia” (FREE OF CHARGE) When:

June 17, 2013

Where: Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave, NE, Washington DC 20002 Time:

9:00 am – 1:00 pm (Registration and Continental Breakfast begins at 8:30 am)

Topics will include:

• • • • • •

D. C. Government Regulatory Processes How to Open a Restaurant (In Spanish) Financial Management The New Frontier in the Restaurant Industry, Catering and Pop-Up Restaurants How to get Financing to Open a Restaurant Processes of Entering a Building Lease Agreement

How to Open a Small Business by Navigating through DCRA’s Regulatory Process When: June 19, 2013 Where: Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) 1100 4th Street, SW, Suite 200; Washington DC, 20024 Time:

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Featuring DCRA’s • • • • • •

Business Licensing Division Corporations Division Occupational and Professional Licensing Division Permits and Inspections Division Weights and Measures Division Zoning Division

DCRA’s Small Business Resource Center (SBRC) Free One-On-One Sessions Want to learn how get a business license? Need help with obtaining an Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) or an Home Occupancy Permit (HOP)? Need to meet with an attorney? Then you should sign-up ONLINE for a one-on-one session to meet with subject matter experts in DCRA’s Small Business Resource Center (SBRC). See details below: Tuesday [Business Licensing Division (BLD): 1st & 2nd Tuesday from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm One-on-one Sessions [Corporations Division (CORP): 1st & 2nd Tuesday from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm One-on-one Sessions [Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR): 1st & 2nd Tuesday from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm One-on-one Sessions [Permit Operations Division (Permit Operations): 1st & 3rd Monday from 10:30 am – 1:30 pm One-on-one Sessions [Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC): 1st Tuesday from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm One-on-one Sessions Wednesday [DC Women’s Business Center (DCWBC): Every Wednesday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm One-on-one Sessions [Housing and Community Development (DHCD) at the DC Chamber of Commerce Foundation (DCCCF/BRC): 2nd & 4th Wednesday from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm One-on-one Sessions Thursday [Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF): 1st & 3rd Thursday from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm One-on-one Sessions Friday [DC Bar Pro Bono Program: 4th Friday of each month from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm One-on-one Sessions

To register for the SBRC workshops go to: https:bizdc.ecenterdirect.com For assistance with registering for the SBRC workshops call: 202-442-4538

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs 1100 4th Street, SW Washington, DC 20024


MARKETS AND SALES

AM-5:00 PM. Flea market and arts and crafts market open Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM-6:00 PM. Eastern Market is Washington’s last continually operated “old world” market. On weekends the market area comes alive with farmers bringing in fresh produce, craft and flower vendors, artists, a flea market and street musicians. 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com

Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church “It’s History” Sidewalk Sale. May 11, 8:30 AM-3:00 PM. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church at 201 4th St. SE.

Penn Quarter, DC FreshFarm Market. Thursdays through Dec 19, 3:00-7:00 PM. North end of 8th St. NW, between D and E Sts. NW. freshfarmmarkets.org

Great Brookland Yard Sale. May 11, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM (individual times can vary). 70+ yard sales. All over the neighborhood, in individual seller’s yards. Get details and a map at brooklandblog.blogspot.com.

14th and U Farmers’ Market. Saturdays through Nov 23, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. Reeves Center Plaza at the corner of 14th St. and U St., NW. marketsandmore.net

Civil War Tour of Congressional Cemetery. Third Saturday of every month at 1:00 PM (May’s tour is at 1:30 PM). Historic Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St. SE. 202-543-0539. congressionalcemetery.org

Southeast Library Book Sale. May 11 (monthly on the 2nd Saturday), 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. 403 Seventh St. SE. 202-698-3377. dclibrary. org/southeast NLPNA Yard Sale. May 18, 9:00 AM-2:00 PM. The North Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association yard sale is in the triangle park between the 1300 blocks of North Carolina Ave. and A St. NE (between 13th and 14th streets). This annual event is our primary source of funding for community building activities including tree plantings and Buzz distribution Donations may be dropped off from 8:00-10:00 AM on the day of the sale. . For more information or to volunteer, call 202-543-3512 or e-mail elizabeth_knits@yahoo.com, with “yard sale” as the subject. Lions Flea Market in Palisades. May 19 (rain or shine), 10:00 am-4:00 pm in the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot at MacArthur Blvd. and Arizona Ave. NW. The Palisades-Georgetown Lions Club raises funds from this event and others such as the Christmas Tree sale to support organizations ranging from charities to schools to the Lions Foundation. This community flea market is sponsored by Palisades-Georgetown Lions Club. Rent table space for $35-set up at 7-9 a.m. and remove items promptly at end. Contact Mary at 202-363-6122 for more information. H Street FreshFarm Market. Saturdays through Dec 21, 9:00 AM-noon. H St. and 13th St. NE. Vendors are Atwater’s; Blueberry Hill; Cedarbrook Farm; Dolcezza Gelato; Full Cellar Farm; Garden Path Farm; Gordy’s Pickle Jar; Keswick Creamery at Carrock Farm, LLC; Quaker Valley Orchards; Red Apron Butchery; Richfield Farm. freshfarmmarkets.org

Eat Lunch or Brunch in True European Style! Try Our Schnitzel, German Sausage or Vegetarian Sandwiches! Brunch on Flammkuchen, Groesstle or Strammer Max! Open on Mother’s Day!

202.543.7656 322-B Massachusetts Ave., NE | Washington, DC 20002

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Fresh Tuesdays at Eastern Market. Every Tuesday, 3:00-7:00 PM. Tuesday afternoon farmers’ line of fresh produce. Eastern Market, 200 block of Seventh St. SE. 202-698-5253. easternmarket-dc.com Union Market. Wednesday-Friday, 11:00 AM8:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM-8:00 PM. The newly-opened Union Market is an artisanal, curated, year-round food market featuring over 40 local vendors. 1309 Fifth St. NE. 301-652-7400. unionmarketdc.com Eastern Market. Daily except Mondays and important holidays. Weekdays, 7:00 AM-7:00 PM; Saturdays, 7:00 AM-5:00 PM; Sundays, 9:00

Dupont Circle Farmers Market. Sundays year round (rain or shine), 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times of London named the market one of the top farmers’ markets in the country. During the peak season, there are more than 30 farmers offering fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, cheeses, fruit pies, breads, fresh pasta, cut flowers, potted plants, soaps and herbal products. 20th St. and Mass. Ave NW, 1500 block of 20th St. NW (between Mass. Ave. and Q St. in the adjacent parking lot of PNC Bank). 202-3628889. freshfarmmarket.org 9th and U Flea Market. Saturdays and Sundays, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM. 9th and U sts. NW. Georgetown Flea Market. Sundays year around (except in the case of very inclement weather), 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM. The crowd is as diverse as the items for sale! Antiques, collectibles, art, furniture, rugs, pottery, china, jewelry, silver, stained glass, books and photographs are an example of the available items. 1819 35th St. NW. 202-775-3532. or georgetownfleamarket.com

SPORTS & PHYSICAL FITNESS Public Service 5K. May 5, 8:00 AM. Anacostia Park, 1900 Anacostia Dr. (near Skating Pavilion). 202-775-9111. publicservicerecognitionweek.org Nats Baseball. May 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28. Nationals Park. 202-675-6287. washington.nationals.mlb.com National’s Ballpark Tours. Wednesday-Sunday (non-game days), 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. On day of night-time home games, tours at 10:30 AM. Take the Nationals Park Ballpark Tour for a behind-the-scenes look at Nationals Park. Over the course of an hour and fifteen minutes you will visit the PNC Diamond Club, the Lexus Presidents Club, the Stars & Stripes Club, luxury suites, the Shirley Povich Media Center, Nationals dugout and Nationals clubhouse. Throw a pitch in the Nationals bullpen. $12-$15. All proceeds from Nationals Park Tours will be donated to the Nationals Dream Foundation. washington.nationals.mlb.com DC United Soccer Home Matches. May 8 vs. Houston; May 19, vs. Sporting KC; May 25 vs. Pportland. $23-$52. RFK Stadium. 202-5875000. dcunited.com


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Washington Nationals Pups in the Park. May 11, 4:05 PM. Nat’s vs. Chicago Cubs. Bring your well-behaved dog (on a leash) to the ball park. Tickets for you and your dog are $30 which includes a $8 donation to Humane Society. washington.nationals.mlb.com National Police Week 5K. May 11, 9:00 AM at 3rd St. NW, between E and F. $30. 703-8285842. nationalpoliceweek5k.com Komen Global Race for the Cure 5K Run/ Walk. May 11, 8:00 AM. Event offers a flat, fast, course with ChronoTrack timing. Awards offered to top finishers. All participants receive a commemorative t-shirt and post race refreshments. Proceeds benefit both the National Capital Area Komen screening, treatment & education programs along with the Susan G. Komen Global Promise Fund. 703416-7223. globalrace.info-komen.org Washington Mystics Basketball. May 15, 11:30 AM (preseason). Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW. wnba.com/mystics Semper Fi 5K. May 18, 8:00 AM. All proceeds will benefit the Semper Fi Fund, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides crucial medical and financial assistance to US servicemen and women wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as to their families. Race held at Anacostia Park. semperfi5k.com DC Rollergirls. May 18, 4:00 PM. (Doors open at 3:00 p.m.) Tickets are $12 for ages 12 and up, $6 for children 6-11, and free for kids 5 and under. Tickets are available in advance at ticketmaster.com or at the door on bout day. Individuals with a valid military ID can purchase tickets for $10 at the door. Bouts are at DC Armory. dcrollergirls.com Capitol Hill Classic 10K, 3K and Kids’ Fun Run. May 19, 8:30 AM. The event includes a 10K, a 3K, and a kids’ fun run, all of which start and finish in front of Peabody Primary School on Stanton Park. The 10K course goes out around RFK Stadium and back, while the 3K goes to Lincoln Park and the fun run is a lap around Stanton Park for kids of all ages. All proceeds from the Classic go to the Capitol Hill Cluster School. For more information, register, or volunteer to, visit capitolhillclassic com. Rumsey Pool. Public swim, Monday-Friday, 6:30-9:00 AM; 1:00-5:00 PM and 6:30-9:00 PM. Public swim, Saturday, 1:00-5:00 PM. Public swim, Sunday, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM. 635 North Carolina Ave. SE. 202-724-4495. dpr. dc.gov Free public tennis courts in Ward Six. King Greenleaf Recreation Center, 201 N St. SW; Garfield Park, Third and G sts. SE; Randall Park First and I sts. SW; Rosedale Recreation Center, 1701 Gales St. NE; Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St. NE. All courts are open daily, dawn to dusk. Some are lighted for extended evening play. Courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis for one-hour intervals; extended use of tennis courts requires a permit. Proper shoes and attire is required. 202-671-0314. dpr. dc.gov/dpr Capitol Hill Tai Chi Study Group. Saturday mornings (except when it’s below zero or very

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inclement weather), meeting to teach and practice Tai Chi, 8:00-10:00 AM. All styles and abilities welcome. First hour form practice, second hour the martial practice of Push Hands. Lincoln Park. Dr. David Walls-Kaufman, a Capitol Hill chiropractor, conducts this class every Saturday morning. Please dress comfortably. Free. E. Capitol St. between 11th and 13th sts. 202-544-6035. Tidal Basin 3K Monthly Run. Third Wednesday of each month, noon. This run is free and informal. West Potomac Park (meet on Ohio Dr. at West Basin Dr., near the Tourmobile stand). 703-505-3567. dcroadrunners.org Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon. Oct 6. Registration open. 703-587-4321. wilsonbridgehalf.com Marine Corps Marathon Registration. Register online at marinemarathon.com. Marathon is Sunday, Oct. 27.

CIVIC LIFE Talk of the Hill with Bill Press-A Conversation on America and its Veterans. May 7, 7:00 PM. Featuring guests Congressman Jim McDermott, Karl Marlantes, and Sebastian Junger. Free. Register online at hillcenterdc. org or call 202-549-4172. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-549-4172. hillcenterdc.org Business Financial “Boot Camp”. May 11, 10:00 AM-2:00 PM. Sisters In Spirit, a local not-for-profit organization, will host the “Business Financial Boot Camp: Finance Basics Every Small Business Owner Should Know” at the historic Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St. NW. The Business Financial Boot Camp is designed to teach attendees through hands on instruction, financial skills to successfully manage and grow their business during a four hour intensive presented in easy to understand and implement terms. $75. sisters-in-spirit. net/13-bootcamp 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. ANC 6A. Second Thursday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St. NE. 202-423-8868. anc6a.org ANC 6B. Second Tuesday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 202-543-3344. anc6b.org ANC 6C. Second Wednesday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at Heritage Foundation, 214 Mass. Ave. NE, first floor conference room. 202-5477168. anc6c.org ANC 6D. Second Monday, 7:00 PM. Meeting at 1100 4th St. SW, DCRA meeting room, 2nd floor. 202-554-1795. anc6d.org H


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HillRag | May 2013 H 29



Capitol Streets

Book Free in D.C. by E. Ethelbert Miller After our books disappeared our names vanished.

In my upstairs office at home are a stack of record albums that once belonged to my father. I no longer play them. I can quickly access every recording by Wes Montgomery or Carmen McRae on my computer. Maybe this would please my father if he was living. I remember the day he purchased a popular recording and was so excited about arriving home to play it. He placed it on the bed while changing his clothes. Either my sister or I was responsible for the record sliding off the bed, hitting the floor and hearing it make a non-musical sound. My father was outraged. I started running like Willie Mays – an invisible cap flying off my head.

Music should never be associated with bad memories unless it’s the blues.

I live in a house of books. The books I’ve written might one day be my children’s inheritance, but what about the others? When I die, where will these books go? Many of my friends who are writers have glorious collections. They have bookshelves filled with first edi-

tions, autographed novels by favorite authors and old textbooks with marginal handwritten notes on page after page. How many of these books will ever know a second life somewhere? How many will be removed from indoor “book gardens” and placed on a sidewalk corner in a brown paper box? Is this any way to bloom? Is there such a thing as a homeless book or book poverty? Since last June the number of books I’ve purchased from local bookstores has plunged into single digits. I still mourn for the days spent with Todd Stewart and Bridget Warren at Vertigo, when it was located at Dupont Circle. The good news is that I frequent the public libraries as often as I did when I was a young boy growing up in the South Bronx. I’ve always loved libraries and supported them.

Was the first woman I fell in love with a librarian?

One of the wonderful thing about DC these days is its neighborhood libraries. I’m always at the Takoma Park branch. Our libraries have now become citizen hubs of social activity,

sacred places celebrating diversity and preserving democracy. Here the elderly sit side by side with the young, the unemployed next to the professionals. At the library, things are still free.

Being a literary activist, one of my major concerns is the preservation of items.

My personal collection is housed at the Gelman Library at The George Washington University. Along with books, I have a passion for keeping correspondence, flyers and posters. I don’t want to destroy history or forget it by placing it in the garbage bin. I’m certain ebooks will have their time and place and slowly it seems to be now. But give me the sweet smell of paper, let me place my hand around the spine of a book and kiss the page. I don’t want to be seduced, I want to be loved. Across the room, as I write this column, my father’s albums sit collecting dust. I have been a witness to the vanishing days of vinyl. I look at my book collection wondering what will endure. Why is death so visible at times? – E. Ethelbert Miller H HillRag | May 2013 H 31


bulletin board Outdoor Movies Start May 30th in Canal Park

BOOM! POP! POW! It is the Clash of the Comics! The Capitol Riverfront BID will host an Outdoor Movie Series for ten weeks this summer in Canal Park. Beginning May 30, they will bring to life all of your favorite DC Comics and Marvel Comics characters each Thursday night at sundown. Mark your calendar for May 30, Captain America; June 6, Green Lantern; June 13, Iron Man; June 20, Batman and Robin; June 27, The Hulk; July 4, no movie because of the holiday; July 11, Batman Begins; July 18, Thor; July 25, The Dark Knight; Aug 1, The Avengers; Aug 8, The Dark Knight Rises. Every week there will be trivia for each comic, as well as special giveaways on designated theme nights and more. Canal Park is accessible from the New Jersey Avenue entrance of the Navy Yard Metro. Canal Park is at 200 M St. SE. canalparkdc.org

H Street Main Street Wins Great American Main Street Award

Katy Didden. Photo: Courtesy of Hill Center

The Glacier’s Wake: Poetry Reading with Katy Didden

In her debut poetry collection The Glacier’s Wake, DC native Katy Didden attends to the large-scale tectonics of the natural world as she considers the sources and aftershocks of mortality, longing, and loss. A number of the poems in the collection are monologues in recurring voices--specifically those of a glacier, a sycamore, and a wasp--offering an inventive, prismatic approach to Didden’s ambitious subject matter. As poet Scott Cairns says, “Didden’s is a capacious voice, able at once to deliver both wit and wonder, canny insight and meditative mystery.” In The Glacier’s Wake, the scientific, the elegiac, and the fantastical intertwine in the service of considering our human place-constructive and destructive, powerful and impermanent-amidst the massive shiftings that are occurring endlessly all around us. Thursday, May 30, 7 p.m. Free. Register online at hillcenterdc.org or call 202-549-4172. Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital, 921 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. 32 H hillrag.com

On Sunday, Apr 14, H Street Main Street was presented with a 2013 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) recognizing accomplishments in revitalizing the nation’s historic Main Street commercial districts. Each year, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center recognizes exceptional Main Street communities whose successes serve as a model for comprehensive commercial district revitalization. Winners are selected from a nationwide pool of applicants by a national jury. Representing H Street Main Street were DC Main Streets Coordinator, Cristina Amoruso, from the Department of Small and Local Business Development and H Street Main Street Executive Director Anwar Saleem. Established in 2002 and managed through DSLBDs DC Main Streets Program, HSMS was designated as an organization to work with private and local partners to encourage and support small business growth and revitalization


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Wells, introduces the four honorees who will tell personal stories about living and working on the most exciting corridor in DC. The Humanities Council for Conversations on Great Streets is honoring H Street, NE as their “Great Street of the Year.” The honorees are: Jane Lang and the Atlas Performing Arts Center; Anwar Saleem and H Street Main Street; Betty Hart and With These Hands Salon; and Leon Robbins and Stan’s Discount Clothing. The event is on Thursday, May 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar, 1104 H St. NE. Tickets are $50, and proceeds will benefit the Humanities Council and their work to transform lives through the power of the humanities. conversationsongreatstreet.eventbrite.com

CHRS Preservation Cafe “Solar Panels”

Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church sidewalk sale

Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church “It’s History” Sidewalk Sale

Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church at 201 4th St. SE, will be holding the “It’s History” Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, May 11 from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. In case of rain the sale will be held in the Chapel. Donations will be accepted at the Chapel on the south side of the church, May 6-10 from 6-8 p.m. Gently used donations of household goods, seasonal decorations, clothing and accessories, children’s toys, sports equipment, furniture, office equipment and supplies, books, music and electronics are welcome. For more information or questions about donations to the sidewalk sale please send your inquiry to activitieschpc@gmail.com or contact the church at 202-547-8676. along the H St. NE corridor. Known as the last of the “riot corridors,” H Street built its legacy off of the civil rights era. Today H Street stands as a symbol of urban and cultural transformation and is recognized as a neighborhood that has gone through a rebirth, adding a unique and diverse mix of retail and service businesses, drawing thousands of tourists and local residents to the neighborhood each year.

Volunteer for Career Day at Eastern High

Eastern High School is having its annual Career Day on the morning of Friday, May 10th, and is looking for volunteers to share their life 34 H hillrag.com

stories and career paths with the 9th and 10th grade classes. This is a good chance to see the inside of Eastern, meet the administration (including the principal, Rachel Skerritt), and share your story with Eastern’s students. A month ago, Eastern became the first neighborhood high school in DCPS to gain an International Baccalaureate program, and the administration is trying hard to return the school to its former place as the Pride of Capitol Hill. Career Day is a chance for neighborhood professionals to share their life stories and career paths with the students. This is a great way to engage with the students at the school in the heart of our neighborhood and support the mission of putting the kids on a

path to success. If you can spare your morning on May 10th, consider volunteering your time; it lasts from 9:30 to noon, and involves having breakfast with the administration and then speaking to two classrooms of 9th & 10th graders. All you need to do is let Eastern know you can come on this form by this Friday; they’re aiming for 50 more people to join in: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDRjRlV zeDVWWXlOVlh2U2tBbnZyOH c6MQ

It’s All About the H! May 30

Join them for catered hors d’oeuvres and drinks as special guest host, DC Councilmember Tommy

The Preservation Café series is a free forum with topics of interest to the greater Capitol Hill community. The next presentation will be “Solar Panels” on Wednesday, May 15, 6:30-7:15 p.m. at Ebenezers Coffee House (downstairs), 2nd and F St. NE. Jeff Thomas of Solare World, will discuss the benefits and logistics of installing solar panels; Frances McMillen of the District’s Historic Preservation Office will address considerations within the historic district. The event is free and handicapped accessible, and the public is encouraged to attend. No reservations required. For more information, visit chrs.org.

“Howl to the Chief” One Year Anniversary Event

Howl to the Chief celebrates its one year anniversary and Best Of DC designation on May 4 and 5 with huge savings throughout the store, raffle drawing (including Nationals tickets), prize wheel, vendors sampling their products, adult refreshments and food. Howl to the


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Peterbug’s Day Parade and Festival-May 18

This year’s theme is “Unity in the Community” and the parade begins at 9 a.m. winding through neighborhoods to end up for the day long festivities at the Peterbug Academy at E St. SE and Peterbug Matthews Way SE. If you wish to make a contribution to help make this special day possible, contact the organizers at 689-4549 or shoeshopboyz@gmail.com.

Baseball Great Hank Greenberg is Subject of Jewish American Heritage Month Program

To mark Jewish American Heritage Month, the Library of Congress will present a talk by documentary filmmaker Aviva Kempner, featuring clips from the newly expanded two-disc DVD edition of her 2001 Peabody Award-winning film, “The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg.” The event will be held at noon on Monday, May 13, in the Mary Pickford Theater, located on the third floor of the James Madison Building at 101 Independence Ave. SE. Sponsored jointly by the Hebraic Section of the African and Middle Eastern Division and the Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation, the event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required but seating is limited. Scheduled for release on April 24, the new DVD package will be on sale for $30 at the event.

11th Annual “Hope for the Homeless” Golf Tournament (save the date)

Capitol Hill Group Ministry is happy to announce that the 11th Annual “Hope for the Homeless” Golf Tournament will be held on Sept 23, at the Glenn Dale Golf Club in Glenn Dale, MD. This event brings golfers, interfaith leaders, business principals, and our Capitol Hill neighbors together for an afternoon of camaraderie to support a critical need in our community-serving the homeless population in Capitol Hill. Register at Golf.CHGM.net.

DC Crop Hunger Walk, May 18

You are invited to join this sponsored walk to raise awareness and funds for local hunger fighting agencies and international 36 H hillrag.com

relief and development programs, through Church World Service. The walk is on Saturday, May 18 at 9:30 a.m., at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4th and I St. SW. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The 3K will go through several neighborhoods of Southwest, and conclude back at Westminster. CROP Hunger Walks take place in 2000 communities all across the United States, raising $16 million dollars in 2010, to fight hunger in the United States and around the world. The DC Walk contributes 25 percent of money raised to Martha’s Table and DC Hunger Solutions, an advocacy organization, plus contributes canned goods for the food pantry of Edgewood/ Brookland Family Support Collaborative, serving Wards 5 and 6. Last year, more than 170 walkers raised over $23,500. This year’s goal is to increase walkers and amount raised by at least 10%. For more information and to participate in the walk, contact LeVatrice Nora-Meullion at lnorameullion@gmail.com.

Free Postgame Concerts at Nationals Park

Blues Traveler ( June 8), Thompson Square ( July 6), Gavin DeGraw (August 31) and Montgomery Gentry (September 21) will comprise the lineup for the 2013 NatsLive Free Postgame Concert Series following select Nationals home games throughout the summer. The performances will begin approximately 15 minutes after the final out of each Nationals game. Fans who wish to attend the free concerts must have a valid ticket for that day’s Nationals game, which can be purchased at nationals.com/NatsLive. The Double Play Giveaway & Concert Packs are also available at nationals.com/flex for those who want to ensure their seat for each of the four postgame concerts.

New Neighborhood Association Formed in Southwest

In the rapidly evolving Southwest quadrant of the District, the newest entity to take shape is an affiliation of six homeowners’ associations--the Waterfront Gateway Neighborhood Association. Bounded by 4th and 9th sts. SW, I (Eye) St. SW., and the I-395 Freeway, Waterfront Gateway includes nearly 600 households in both town home and high-rise living at Capi-


tol Square Townhomes, Town House Managment (THM) I,II, III, and IV, and Town Square Towers. The association has set three broad objectives: To advocate at the District and Federal levels for the interests of its members; to promote the neighborhood as a unique destination midway between the National Mall and The Wharf waterfront development; and to explore cost-sharing and quality of life opportunities among the six associations. Website: dcwaterfrontgateway. org. Facebook page “DC Waterfront Gateway.”

Bikes for the World Donation Day at Capitol Hill Bikes

Donate your bike to help Bikes for the World and its overseas charity. A $10 per bike donation is suggested to defray a share of the cost of shipping to overseas charity partners who recondition the bikes and distributes them to people who need them to get to work, school and health services. Donation Day is sponsored by Capitol Hill Bikes and William Penn House, who share the commitment to building a stong community. Bicycle collection day is May 5, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Capitol Hill Bikes, 718 8th St. SE. For more information contact Brad Ogilvie, brad@williampennhouse. org. 301 257-5348 or 202 5435560. bikesfortheworld.org

St. Augustine’s Celebrates Bishop’s Visit, Feast of Thurgood Marshall and Day of Pentecost

The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, D. Min., Episcopal Bishop of Washington, will make her first visit to St. Augustine’s on May 19. She will be the celebrant and preacher during the 9:30 a.m. service, followed by a questions-and-answers session with the congregation HillRag | May 2013 H 37


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after the service and ending with a simple, potluck luncheon. The church recognizes the Sunday closest to May 17 as the date to honor the life and legacy of the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall who attended St. Augustine’s. May 17 is the passage of the historic 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education landmark Supreme Court decision argued by Marshall which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, and is the date assigned to recognize his Christian ministry of Civil Rights in the Episcopal Church’s Liturgical Calendar “Holy Women, Holy Men.” All are welcome on this celebratory Sunday, May 19 at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St. SW. For further information, contact rector@staugustinesdc.org or call 202-554-3222.

Free Outdoor Fitness Classes in Yards Park

Free outdoor fitness classes will be offered by Elite Fitness Pros on the following Saturdays on the Boardwalk in Yards Park-May 4 and 18, and June 1 and 22. The 60 minute classes are a non-stop powerhouse workout guaranteed to burn calories and get your heart pumping. Each participant should bring a yoga mat and water. Sign up at clients.mindbodyonline.com

Atlas Named Best Performing Arts Venue

In the Washington City Paper 2013 Best of DC Poll, the Atlas Performing Arts Center was named Best Performing Arts Venue. The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival was runner-up for Best Theater Festival. H Street Festival won for Best Festival.

Meeting for the Penn. Ave. and Potomac Ave. SE Intersection Pedestrian Safety Study

DDOT will host the second in a series of public meetings for the Pennsylvania Ave. and Potomac 38 H hillrag.com

Ave. SE Intersection Pedestrian Safety Study on Thursday, May 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Payne Elementary School Auditorium, 1445 C St. SE, so the public can learn more about and comment on design concepts proposed to improve pedestrian safety. This federallyrequired transportation planning study focuses on pedestrian safety for residents and multi-modal transit users at this important and highly-traveled intersection. The study is one in a series of transportation, environmental, economic, community and recreation projects included in the larger Anacostia Waterfront Initiative 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, please visit anacostiawaterfront.org/Penn-Potomac or send an email to pennpotomac@prrbiz. com. To join the project or AWI community contact list or ask questions, email ddot.awi@dc.gov or call 202-741-8528.

DC Historic Sites Compete for $1million in Grant Funding

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation are giving away $1,000,000 to 24 historic sites in the greater DC area. Partners in Preservation spotlights local historic gems, like Mount Vernon and Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, and encourages Washingtonians to get involved. Vote online to support your favorite site and your favorite cause, whether it’s animals, gardens, religion, veterans, Civil War or African American heritage. The program runs through May 10, so look at the competors listing and vote at partnersinpreservation.com.


Call for Graffiti and Aerosol Mural Artists-2013 MuralsDC Program

The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities in collaboration with the DC Department of Public Works seeks graffiti artists and artist teams to design, create and install aerosol murals that inspire the various communities in which they will be placed. Selected artists will be required to work with the young apprentices (ages 14-23) by introducing and refining each student’s artistic skill in the discipline of graffiti style sketch work and aerosol mural painting. The application deadline is May 10. To obtain a copy of the prospectus and application, visit dcarts.dc.gov. For more information, call 202724-5613 or email Keona.Pearson@dc.gov. MuralsDC was created to replace illegal graffiti with artistic works, to revitalize sites within communities in the District of Columbia, and to teach young people the art of aerosol painting. This initiative aims to positively engage the District’s youth by teaching proper professional art techniques, providing supplies, and a legal means to practice and perform their artistic skill in a way that promotes respect for public and private property and community awareness. There are currently 41 MuralsDC projects across the District. Each mural tells a unique story of DC’s diverse neighborhoods while deterring further illegal graffiti.

Near SE/SW Community Benefits Coordinating Council Hires Executive Coordinator

The Near SE/SW CBCC has hired D. Yvonne Rivers as Executive Coordinator. Ms. Rivers has over twenty years of nonprofit development and community organizing exper-

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This Frisbee Clears Landmines Tournament 2013 in Anacostia Park

Every year, thousands of men, women and children are killed or injured by landmines in dozens of countries around the world. The only way to ensure that these injuries and accidents stop is to completely remove all landmines from the ground, an expensive and time-consuming process. The This Frisbee Clears Landmines Tournament 2013 is going to help get a few more landmines out of the ground and hopefully have a little fun doing it. In honor of International Mine Action and Awareness day, on July 4, LandminesinAfrica.org will host the second annual “This Frisbee Clears Mines Tournament,” an Ultimate Frisbee tournament, with support from the Washington Area Frisbee Club to benefit MAG America‘s landmine clearance activities. Last year, Team Libya won the tournament while raising almost $750. This year’s Tournament will take place at Anacostia Park. All participants should arrive no later than 9:30 a.m. for registration and team assignments. The tournament is open to all and will follow a “Hat Tourney” format. For more information about the tournament, email mi-

chael.patrick.moore@gmail.com. For more information about MAG America, visit their webpage at magamerica.org. For more information about Ultimate Frisbee and the Washington Area Frisbee Club, visit WAFC’s webpage at wafc.org.

Florida Avenue, NE Citizens Committee for Safety Formed

Trinidad and Atlas Arts District residents, church leaders and business owners have joined together to promote safety in the neighborhooh on and adjacent to Florida Avenue, NE. The group was formed in response to the tragic hit-and-run accident that took the life of Ms. Ruby Whitfield on Mar 21. The Florida Avenue, NE Citizens Committee for Safety intends to pressure the city to tackle issues such as traffic “calming” on Florida Avenue, more effective law enforcement against speeders, curbside parking for Florida Avenue residents and the installation of a traffic light at Florida and 11th St. Anyone wishing to participate should contact Kathleen Donner at kathleendonner@ gmail.com.

Universoul Circus Headed to RFK Stadium Festival Grounds

UniverSoul Circus will return to the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds June 5-9 as part of a multi-year deal. The 2013 edition, titled the Turn’t Up Tour, will feature intimate theatre-in-the-round seating, dazzling lights, energetic sounds and a cast of A-list performers from around the world under a newly designed red and yellow Big Top. The Turn’t Up Tour includes new acts, such as a neck-breaking, head balancing act from Vietnam, beat box and a cappella vocalists from Atlanta, and a hip hop inspired Magic Cat Illusion featuring live tigers. For the past five years, UniverSoul Circus has consistently ranked in the top 10 of Ticketmaster’s Top 25 Most


Requested Family Events in the U.S. by fan-search requests and online event page views. Tickets range from $16 to $32 and are on sale via Ticketmaster.com and 1-800-745-3000. Children under 1 are free.

DC Water To Award More Than $1 Million For Innovative Projects That Green The District

DC Water announces a Green Infrastructure Challenge, inviting submissions of innovative projects that use green practices to absorb rain water before it can enter the sewer or storm systems. These practices, known as green infrastructure, include installing green roofs (gardens on rooftops), rain gardens, rain barrels and pervious pavements, removing impervious surfaces and using other natural means to capture and infiltrate rain water. This challenge will serve as a model to support DC Water’s proposal to conduct a large-scale, multi-milliondollar demonstration project in the Potomac and Rock Creek sewersheds to evaluate the feasibility of using green practices, in place of or in conjunction with “gray” engineering solutions, to capture rain water and prevent combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Organizations are invited to submit proposals for green designs 1) in public space, 2) on commercial and private properties, and 3) on governmental/ institutional properties. DC Water will hold an informational meeting on May 10, 10 a.m.noon at the Kellogg Conference Hotel Ballroom, Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Ave. NE. To RSVP for the meeting or for more information go to dcwater.com/greenchallenge. Submissions for the contest are due Oct 1, 2013. H

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by Martin Austermuhle

nita Bonds can finally drop the “interim” from in front of her job title. With her victory over five other contenders in the April 23 Special Election, Bonds completes the rise to elected office that began last December when the D.C. Democratic State Committee — which she chairs — chose her to fill the seat vacated by D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson. On April 23, she pulled in just over 16,000 of the close to 50,000 ballots cast—32 percent—leaving progressive challenger Elissa Silverman in second place (28 percent) and Republican Patrick Mara in a distant third (23 percent). Matthew Frumin claimed 11 percent, while Paul Zukerberg and Perry Redd could only muster two percent each.

The Lessons From April 23

Bonds’ Pyrrhic Victory: Bonds may have won, but it wasn’t a decisive victory. In fact, it’s fair to say that close to 70 percent of D.C. voters cast ballots against her. When weighted for turnout— which was highest in Ward 3 and lowest in Ward 8—Bonds’ appeal across the city was generally quite weak. Vote-Splitting Matters: Despite her soft support, Bonds won because her main competitors—Mara, Silverman and Frumin—ate into each other’s vote totals where it mattered most. While it’s hard to say exactly how things would have changed had Frumin dropped out, as Silverman asked him to do a week before the election, even a small number of his Ward 3 supporters switching over to Silverman’s side would have brought 42 H hillrag.com

her that much closer to victory. This votesplitting certainly isn’t anything new—it happened between Peter Shapiro and Sekou Biddle in the April 2012 At-Large Democratic primary for one, as well as in the April 26 At-Large Special Election. In that race, eventual victor Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) wasn’t much stronger than Bonds, nor did his base of support extend much further outsides of wards 5, 7 and 8. But he did benefit from a field of like-minded contenders that divided the


loyalties and votes of those in wards 1, 2, 3, and 6. If progressive-minded candidates ever want to win, especially in low-turnout affairs like the special elections have come to be, they’re going to have to think—and campaign—much more strategically. Silverman’s Success: The big surprise of the campaign was certainly Silverman, the former reporter, current policy wonk and first-time council contender. Unlike many of her predecessors, she managed to cobble together a broad base of support— according to an after-the-fact analysis of the results, her campaign found that she won 20 percent of the vote in six different wards, something no other campaign could boast. And though Silverman campaigned on the theme of ethics and integrity, she also showed a pragmatic side by trying to knock competitors off the ballot—succeeding in one case, failing in another—and trying to negotiate Frumin off of the ballot. She failed in the latter attempt, but it showed that she understood the point we made above—vote-splitting matters. Mara’s Mediocrity: Other than Silverman’s strong performance, the big story of the Special Election may well have been Mara’s mediocre showing. Compared to 2011, when he came less than 2,000 votes from defeating Orange, Mara did not increase his share of voters anywhere in the city. In fact, both Silverman and Frumin chipped away at his base of support where he tended to do best—wards 2 and 3— while he stagnated in wards 1 and 6, areas that he needed in order to emerge victorious. His inability to scrape together more votes is even more surprising when you consider the money he had at his disposal: he raised $140,000 and benefited from tens of thousands more in outside spending by PACs. All that money clearly didn’t translate to energy for his candidacy. Party’s Over: With Mara’s defeat—his third loss in a citywide race since 2011— the D.C. Republican Party is all but dead. If it couldn’t win with an experienced and well-funded campaigner who consistently stressed a moderate message, it’s unclear who it could run and where it would be most likely to win. This is all the more ironic once you consider that it was Mara that helped unseat the least Republican legislator to sit on the D.C. Council, defeating Carol Schwartz in a divisive 2008 primary. If the D.C. GOP ever wants to win a race, it has to rethink its message and, more importantly, its affiliation to the toxic national party that D.C. residents reject every chance they get. Statehood Who?: Not to pick on the

Republican Party alone, but does anyone take the Statehood Green Party seriously anymore? Perry Redd mustered only enough votes to get him above Michael Brown, who dropped out of the race in March. With yet another loss under its belt, the Statehood Green Party continues its streak of not having any representation on the council; its last councilmember was Julius Hobson, and that was in the 1970s. The Media’s Waning Influence: Everyone knows that the media is suffering from an existential and financial crisis, but the extent of its loss of influence couldn’t have been more apparent than it was in recent weeks. Like it did ahead of his 2008 and 2011 citywide runs, The Washington Post’s editorial board endorsed Mara. But this time, it re-endorsed him in four separate editorials. Despite the hundreds of words it wasted on singing his praises, voters weren’t convinced. The Post wasn’t alone, though— the Current endorsed twice, and the Examiner kicked in for an endorsement of its own. None of them affected the outcome.

What the Elections Means for the Mayoral Race

Looking towards next year’s mayoral primary, the results of the Special Election don’t change the dynamics of what it will take to win. The city’s electorate is divided largely along geographic and racial lines: wards 2, 3 and 6 vote one way, with wards 5, 7 and 8 going the other. That being said, that model could be shifting—albeit slowly, and in small ways. Various precincts in Ward 5 have gone for reform-minded candidates in recent years; both Councilmembers Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) and David Grosso (I-At Large) did well in Brookland and Bloomingdale, for instance. Additionally, Ward 4’s voters—which tend to show up in droves—have shown that they’re willing to buck expectations and play a decisive role in elections. This, of course, could make for a very close contest between declared candidate Councilmember Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) and contender-in-waiting Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6). While Bowser could emerge a frontrunner with her base of support in Ward 4, Wells could continue building upon the progressive coalition that ushered Grosso to victory and Silverman to a close second-place to become the city’s first white mayor. Martin Austermuhle is a freelance writer living in Columbia Heights. H

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Avoiding a Self-Inflicted Disaster Will DC Cut Assistance to Families in Crisis?

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s. C is a parental success story by any measure. She is a single mother of five children, three of whom have profound disabilities, yet she has gotten her children into good schools, found them a safe place to live, and recently graduated from a barbering course. Ms. C also shows that success against long odds often hangs on by just a thread. She has relied on welfare at times, when the needs of her children became especially demanding. DC’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program kept her from having to choose between things like food, children’s clothing and putting gas in the car to get to their many doctor’s appointments. Today, however, Ms. C she is concerned that she will not find a barbering job before her TANF benefits are cut sharply, because she has received aid for more than 60 months. As DC’s law currently stands, there is absolutely no way to postpone the date when she – and other parents in challenging circumstances – will lose assistance. Ms. C’s situation may be somewhat unique, but many of DC’s families on welfare face obstacles that would overwhelm the strongest of us, from depression to domestic violence to being shortchanged by the education system. There are 6,000 families, with 12,000 children, that face steep cuts in income assistance this fall to just $257 a month for a family of three. The cuts will occur regardless of a fam44 H hillrag.com

by Ed Lazere ily’s circumstances. In a year when 600 children found themselves living in the District’s largest homeless shelter, cutting assistance to families further is a recipe for disaster. Most of us feel that welfare assistance should be temporary, with the goal of moving families to employment. But most of us also probably agree that families and their children should not be cut off if that is likely to lead to hardship.

There is a better approach. Most states offer time limit extensions that “stop the clock” when families face situations that limit their ability to look for work, such as after a serious injury. The clock starts again when the situation improves. DC doesn’t stop the clock for any families, but it should. Reasonable time limit exemptions offer a balance between creating a sense of urgency among families on welfare

to prepare for work and making sure that children’s basic needs are protected. The DC Council adopted legislation a year ago to create exemptions, but the bill never got funded. With the city’s finances improving, now is the time to put them into effect.

DC’s Backward Approach to Welfare Reform

The District of Columbia didn’t impose TANF time limits until 2011, when the city started phasing out TANF benefits for families on aid more than 60 months. DC came to this game late, since most states started imposing time limits in the 1990s. Yet the way that DC has gone about its welfare time limits was definitely backwards, in two key ways. First, when most states implemented time limits, they let families know that they had a set amount of time before assistance would be terminated. DC, by contrast, imposed benefit cuts on families who had been on assistance for 60 months at the time the new law was passed. While it technically is a 60-month time limit, families in effect faced a one-month time limit because that was the notice they received of impending cuts. If time limits are supposed to be an incentive to look for work, this was not the right way to do it. Second, DC’s time limits went into effect before meaningful employment programs were put in place. For years, the city offered limited “employment readiness” services to all welfare recipi-


ents, whether they had graduated from college or only finished third grade. And DC’s welfare program did a very poor job of identifying families with special needs, such as those with mental health issues. The results, not surprisingly, were not very promising. Parents leaving welfare for work earned an average of $9 an hour, and many ended up on welfare again before too long. The Department of Human Services revamped its TANF employment programs last year, with a more in-depth assessment of client needs and more customized training options, but this occurred after time limits were in place, not before. Mayor Gray and the DC Council ultimately decided to delay further benefit cuts for two years, to give more time for families to access new employment services. But the next round of cuts is now coming up, in October.

DC’s Time Limit Falls on Families Even if They Aren’t Able to Look for Work

Ms. C’s three children with special needs require intense medical attention. One of them is suffering from an autoimmune disease that has caused him to go deaf, develop diabetes, hypertension and cataracts. He requires constant professional care that his insurance company had threatened to cut. Ms. Christian is routinely traveling throughout the Washington area for school meetings, to visit the family physician or to see specialists. These trips take at least 15-20 hours a week. The District’s TANF program doesn’t require families like Ms. C’s to be looking for employment while they are facing serious issues such as domestic violence or the need to care for a seriously ill child. These kinds of work exemptions are part of the TANF programs in nearly every state. But in DC, each family’s 60-month time limit clock continues to run, leaving it at risk of steep benefit cuts, even though most states stop the clock in these situations. This leaves parents with little time remaining to prepare for work once they have gotten past their problem.

DC also doesn’t extend assistance to families engaged in education or training that may take a while to complete. Nine states stop the clock for families in education or training, so that a parent doesn’t have to cut her education short and take a low-wage job to protect her family. DC’s one-size-fits-all time limit policy will mean steep cuts in assistance for thousands of families this fall. Under current law, any family that has received assistance for more than 60 months will face a benefit cut in October. It will not matter how much of a parent’s 60 months on TANF had been spent caring for a relative with a disability, or even whether the parent currently is in a domestic violence shelter trying to put her life back together.

A Successful Welfare to Work Program Should Focus on Jobs, Not Cutting Rolls

The success of DC’s TANF program — or the program in any state — should be the number of families that find stable livingwage work. Reducing the welfare rolls alone is not success. The District could soon find that cutting benefits to families like Ms. C’s, while consistent with the principle that cash assistance should be temporary, could prove counterproductive if it means that more families fall into crisis, more children come to school stressed and not ready to learn, and more families seek emergency shelter as they lose their homes. The instability that the upcoming benefit cut threatens for Ms. C’s family and others can be prevented. A good starting point would be to adopt policies that don’t cut families off when they are facing a situation that everyone agrees prevents them from working. A sensible approach to time limits, that gives families times to work though a crisis and then look for employment, is best for families and therefore best for the city as well.

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Lazere is executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute (www.dcfpi.org), which conducts research on tax and budget issues that affect low- and moderate-income DC residents. H

HillRag | May 2013 H 45


capitolstreets ANC reports

NEWS ANC 6A

by Maggy Baccinelli

I

n a showing of the community’s ongoing challenges, ANC6A residents expressed their frustration about the behavior of Options Public Charter School students to the school’s CAO Steve Hook and Principal Michelle Pianim at the April ANC6A meeting. Options administration members have attended ANC meetings over the past several years, most recently last fall, to address the same unresolved complaints. Options is the District’s oldest charter school and has been part of the community since it opened in 1996. Seven in 10 Options students receive special education that addresses learning disabilities or behavioral problems. At the April meeting, commissioners and attendees questioned the administration’s competence and ability to deliver on promises for lasting solutions to recurring problems. Pianim responded, “Students come to Options because it is their last chance. We’re not here to try and disrupt the neighborhood, but the kids have to go somewhere and we are successful in getting them to school. Still, we have to remember that the school is in an urban environment.” During the meeting, 6A residents accused Options students of smoking marijuana near homes, chasing and throwing rocks and other objects at a neighbor’s 12-year old child, and chasing each other in the street. Community members questioned the school’s late policy, which keeps students outside after 9 a.m. unless their parents call or send a note. Often, late students leave school property for the surrounding neighborhood. Hook defended the policy and shared what he called favorable numbers demonstrating the high-risk school’s truancy rate (8.5 percent) and attendance rate (91 percent). He explained that if the administration let students enter the school at any time, tardiness and skipping school would become a widespread issue. In response to recent incidents Hook said the administration was extending the school’s Segway secu46 H hillrag.com

rity guard posts by one hour, using an available bus to patrol the neighborhood, and transporting students who must be turned away to the Metro. But nearby residents were not satisfied with what they said were still temporary fixes. The room eventually came to an agreement that a deeper, fundamental solution was needed – one which focuses on establishing a mutual respect between Options students and the surrounding neighborhood. After an ANC meeting in the fall with Options, the school created the Options Task Force to address neighborhood concerns. When residents criticized the task force for being largely inactive, Commissioner Sondra Phillips-Gilbert urged them to take initiative and participate. Hook said the school is also working on inviting the community to visit, see the therapeutic services the school provides, and volunteer time with students. “If our kids think you respect and care about them, they will cover your back,” he said. At the end of the discussion Chairman Holmes supported the announced initiatives but was still concerned about follow-through. As a result, Holmes moved that an ANC representative speak to the Public Charter School Board to ask for greater supervision of Options. The motion was supported in a 7-0-1 vote, with Vice Chair Omar Mahmud abstaining because he works for DC Public Schools.

Commission Jeopardizes Longstanding Relationship With Developer

The future of Linden Court was a controversial meeting topic, and one that caused commissioners to weigh community concerns against the ANC’s healthy relationship with local developers. At issue was Valor Development’s request for a variance and special exception for the residential project at 1350 Maryland Avenue, which would allow the unit’s parking garage access to be from Linden Court. If not granted, the developer would be forced to

forego the garage entirely, because of other nonnegotiable regulatory design restrictions. Despite this all-or-nothing reality, more than 15 community members came to protest the garage entrance, saying that increased traffic on Linden Court would hurt local time-sensitive business and jeopardize community safety. Commissioner Andrew Hysell cautiously sided with the protesters who are in his single member district, saying that their traffic concerns were justified. However, Chairman Holmes urged commissioners to side with the developer, saying that the ANC’s reputation for fair dealing with developers was at stake. Holmes reminded commissioners that Valor has worked with the ANC for several years on the project, and has made various design compromises and sacrifices in the spirit of being a good partner to the Commission. Valor representatives were present, and one said that the news of the ANC’s wavering support was “frankly, a kick in the stomach.” Holmes argued that without a garage, residents who would have used the 43 available parking spots would be forced onto the street, increasing parking difficulty in the neighborhood. He explained that with the majority of unit residents likely to be in their 20s and 30s, and users of mass transit, most would not access their cars every day, which would keep alley traffic manageable. Holmes offered mitigating factors to the alley traffic, including traffic control signs, increased towing and enforcement for illegally parked vehicles, and an ANC request to DDOT that the deteriorated alley be given a new surface once the construction is complete. Despite the Chairman’s plea, Commissioner Hysell did not change his stance. Hysell expressed regret for not finding a more favorable solution for Valor, who he called a great partner, but ultimately motioned that the commission table its support for Valor’s request. Tabling support would prevent the ANC from making any recommendation to the BZA, ultimately taking the commission out of the decision process. The motion passed with a majority vote of five supporters.

Transparency and Community Engagement

In their reports, officers discussed a number of community engagement initiatives and District-wide transparency efforts. Chairman Holmes reminded individual commissioners of DC’s Ethics Act amendment that came into effect last April, which requires individual ANC commissioners to file financial disclosure forms by May 15 of each year. Vice Chair Mahmud reported takeaways from Mayor Vincent Gray’s Budget Meeting, including DDOT’s roll-out of a new public space permit and review tool. The tool will provide easy public access to information about public space permits, and will also allow the ANCs to comment on permits online. Each ANC will get an administrator account, and will be able to create other accounts for representatives as needed. Mahmud also shared that representatives from both the DC Health


Benefit Exchange Authority and Fair Housing Program offered to present at an upcoming 6A meeting. He said he would follow up and pursue these opportunities. After Treasurer Nick Alberti presented his report, Commissioner Phillips-Gilbert asked why the ANC solely advertised in the Hill Rag, adding that she would to advertise in other publications as well, to reach a broader audience of people. The commissioners agreed to consider and Secretary Gloria Nauden suggested a research-based approach to advertising strategy.

Lincoln Park Construction Extended

National Capital Parks – East’s Central District Manager Dr. Joy Kinard attended the meeting to explain that construction at Lincoln Park will be extended past the original May 27 end-date. Electrical work and water lines that are too high are causing the project to last until June 10 or June 17. In the interim, Maury Elementary School has opened its playground on the weekends.

In Other Motions...

The ANC voted 7-0-1 to accept The Elroy’s (1423 H Street NE) settlement agreement. In another 7-0-1 count, commissioners followed the Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee recommendation to amend Maketto’s (1351 H Street NE) settlement agreement so that it no longer limits the hours of operation on the establishment’s outdoor courtyard. Without objection, the Transportation and Public Space Committee’s 2013 goals were approved, and both Andrea Adleman and Christine Ennis were approved as new committee members. In other public space news, the commission unanimously approved the committee recommendation to send a letter of support to Councilmember Tommy Wells’ office, regarding renaming the alley that is just north of the 1100 H Street block to “Atlas Court.” Alley residents have experienced difficulty with receiving city services because they do not have an actual street name. HillRag | May 2013 H 47


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The commission unanimously voted to follow the remaining EDZ Committee recommendations, first supporting Manny & Olga’s (1409 H street) request for a special exception as a fast-food establishment. They supported the request of the 600 H Street project developers to raise the height of the project by 10 ½ inches, to provide space for an HVAC unit. And lastly, they agreed to send a letter to DDOT, asking for expedited signage at the 14 Street and Maryland Avenue intersection. H

During the Community Speakout, a resident raised concerns about We the Pizza and Good Stuff Eatery charging their customers a “envirocharge,” a one percent undisclosed (and unadvertised) fee relating to environmental overhead. However, the fee is not included with sales tax. While Good Stuff will remove the charge if asked, We the Pizza will not. The resident believes that the two restaurants showed a lack of control regarding consumer protection and disregarded the law regarding business operations. The discussion continued during the Alcoholic Beverage Committee (ABC) report. While the Commission have signed settlement agreements from both restaurants, neither had a representative present. The resident spoke again, saying that there is no regulation for or against an environmental charge for businesses. Commission Chair Brian Flahaven promised to continue looking into the matter, especially since both applied to renew their liquor licenses. The Commission voted to support both Good Stuff and We the Pizza.

US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Community Outreach

Douglas Klein, the First District Community Prosecutor for the US Attorney’s Office, made a presentation about their community outreach programs. After noting the differ-


ences between his office and the US Attorney General’s, Klein discussed programs such as community impact statements, senior seminars, internet safety presentations, and the Youth Motivation Program. Commissioner Pate not only invited Klein back for future meetings, but also commended him and other individuals for community impact statements, which allows residents to anonymously express how crime affects them. Klein can be reached at 202729-3718 or douglas.klein@usdoj.gov for more questions.

Liquor License Renewals

During the ABC Committee’s report, the Commission voted on a list of liquor license renewals, giving a vote of protest to those who have not signed a settlement agreement. Tortilla Coast, Young Chow Asian Restaurant, Hunan Dynasty, the Kenneth H. Nash Post 8 American Legion, and Sonoma received votes of protest while Belga Cafe and the Silver Spork received the Commission’s support.

Tash House of Kabab and Nooshi Capital Hill

Although Tash House of Kabab and the upcoming Nooshi Capital Hill presented two different cases, the Commission felt that they dealt with similar issues. During the ABC Committee’s meeting, two G Street residents discussed their complaints against Tash, including rear parking that obstructed their garage and change in operation hours. However, the posted hours did not match with those listed in the agreement. Now that the matter is settled, the Commission unanimously voted to support Tash’s application, noting that they have no objection to the new hours. The Commission also voted unanimously supported Nooshi’s application.

Acqua Al 2

Acqua Al 2 already has a signed a settlement agreement with the Commission, but many neighbors called ABRA and DCRA inspectors and complained. Both organizations visited the property and talked to the neighbors; they found nothing wrong as a result. An audience member asks what is the appropriate process for a bar and/or restaurant (like Acqua) to expand operations beyond the agreement; the Commission responded that Acqua always complied and operated within the agreement.

Bavarian Beer Garden Update

Although the ABC Committee approved Mark Brody’s scaled-back plan for his upcoming Bavarian Beer Garden, they were concerned that the changes will affect their settlement agreement. While Brody said he will

contact ABRA about changing his license, the committee drafted a letter detailing the issue. Commissioner Kirsten Oldenburg explained the new plan is essentially a summer garden, but the initial application included an indoor component. Also, with plans for live entertainment, there are questions including how the noise levels will affect the neighborhood. Body, who wants to open in time for the summer, felt that the Commission is making the process more difficult; however, the Commission cannot make a decision until Brody signs an amended agreement or wait until September, when the license has to be renewed. The Committee voted to send the case to the Executive Committee. Later, during the Planning and Zoning Committee’s report, Brody returned to present a historic preservation application for the beer garden. Commission Oldenburg explained that she voted against the design; reading her argument, she stated that the project did not meet the standards of new developments in a historic district. However, the Commission voted eight to one to support the new design.

1550 Pennsylvania Avenue SE

Greg Selfridge of NOVO Development made three requests for his upcoming 81-unit apartment building with underground parking. First, he wanted a variance from parking space requirements so that NOVO can include 22 underground parking spaces and eight at-grade ones. Second, Selfridge wanted variance from a loading dock requirement due to sloping land. Finally, he wanted a special exception for a penthouse. Selfridge also informed the Commission that NOVO reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with “a significant number of neighbors.” However, not every neighbor agreed with the MOU. One audience member noted that the law requires one parking space for every two cars. NOVO is asking for a 25 percent decrease in parking spaces; however, he argued, the organization did not provide evidence of physical or financial constraints prohibiting them from providing the required amount of parking spaces. He accused NOVO of taking advantage of almost every exception under the zoning code without taking responsibility for it. Despite his arguments, the Commission voted unanimously for all of NOVO’s requests.

Quick Notes

• The Commission voted eight to zero, with one abstention, to send an amended letter to the DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) regarding the Barney Circle and Southeast BouHillRag | May 2013 H 49


levard Transportation Planning Study. • The Commission again voted eight to zero, with one abstention, to oppose to a proposed bus terminal at Southeast Boulevard. • Ron Swanda of the Commission on Aging announced plans to create the Ward 6 Senior Network and asked each single member district to nominate a representative. If interested, contact Swanda at dc.coa.ward6.swanda@ gmail.com or 202-340-7708. H

ANC 6C by Charnice Milton

Maryland Avenue Update

Commissioner Scott Price announced significant changes coming to a section of Maryland Avenue. Beginning around July, work on a section beginning at the Supreme Court and ending at Benning Road includes creating a left-turn lane and widening the median, creating one lane for each direction. Commissioner Price said the finished road should help tame difficult traffic, especially at the intersection of Seventh and D Streets, NE. Residents living in the area should visit the “Maryland Avenue Neighbors” Facebook page for more information.

The Story of Food at Peabody

Susan Bloom, a librarian and cochair of the “Healthy Sprouts” program at the Peabody Primary Campus of the Capitol Hill Cluster School, presented a proposal for a grant benefiting “The Story of Food” curriculum. Originally funded by a $20,000 federal grant, “The Story of Food” teaches students where food comes from through gardening and cooking. The Grants Committee approved the proposed $1,762 grant, with two members abstaining. The Commission unanimously approved the proposal.

H Street Giant

Representatives from the upcoming Giant Food Store, located at 360 H Street, requested support for a temporary liquor license in time for their May 50 H hillrag.com

3 opening. Steve O’Brien, the ABC council for Giant, explained that ABRA has not processed Class B licenses for full-service grocery stores since December 2012, mostly because the term “fullservice grocery store” was not clearly defined (in cases such as Walgreens). The Commission voted unanimously to support Giant’s application.

Restaurant Renewals and Union Kitchen

Former Commissioner Tony Richardson announced that the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Committee received the first batch of restaurant license renewals. The group includes Yo Sushi, East Street Cafe, B. Smith’s, Hikari Sushi and Sake Bar, the 116 Club, the Monocle, Kyoto Sushi, the Hyatt Regency located on New Jersey Avenue, and the Ethiopic Restaurant. Richardson said that he has not received any issues regarding the petitioners. Richardson ended his report summarizing Union Kitchen’s proposal for a stipulated license; they plan to open an open-air tavern at 1100 Third Street NE. While there will be a community meeting on the proposal coming soon, Union Kitchen might send representatives to next month’s meeting.

Murry’s and H Street Storage

The applicant is seeking dual approval for an amended application, submitting an alternative redevelopment site plan, which includes a layout for a specialty grocer. Trent Smith, the applicant’s representative, noted that the new plan eliminates truck loading on 6th Street, moving it in the middle of the property using 7th Street as an entrance. This could help minimize the impact of truck traffic on residents. Joe McCann, chair of the Transportation and Public Space Committee, reported that residents from I and 7th Streets raised concerns including losing parking spaces. The applicant responded that while 7th could lose as much as four parking spaces, H Street could gain around eight. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the new application, with stipulations suggested by the Planning, Zoning, and Environment (PZE) and Transportation Committees.

Heritage Foundation

Commissioner Eckenwiler presented two applications from the Heritage Foundation. The first, deferred from March, requested variances in floor area ratio (allowing a “use swap” between the residential 208 and commercial 236 Massachusetts Avenue) and the penthouse height on 236 Massachusetts. Heritage also requested technical relief for an underground garage on Third Street and a special exception for accessory parking. Heritage’s representative reported that they eliminated the lowest halflevel for their accessory parking and agreed to install a Capital Bikeshare. They also moved and lengthened the exhaust vent for the parking garage and hired an expert who reported no concerns regarding air quality and health impact. Responding to positive community support, the Commission voted to support unanimously. Heritage also presented an amended application for a sidewalk cafe. The Historic Preservation Board approved the application, except for alterations on the northern part on Third Street. Heritage wants to use their original plan, but also will present an alternative if needed. The Commission voted unanimously to support both plans.

Uline Arena

The applicant made minor changes to their redevelopment plans for Uline Arena, including a slight parking structure facade alteration, a “connector bridge” between the arena and ice house, and relocating the office lobby to give visitors a better connection to Metro and free up retail space. Kevin Sperry of Antunovich Associates also promised to continue studying the parking facade and make changes accordingly. The Commission approved the plans.

650 C Street NE

The applicant wants to do a partial demolition for a rear addition to a single family home. The Commission unanimously voted to support the application.

Zipcar

Scott Hall, a representative from

Zipcar, a car sharing service, petitioned the Commission to use parking spaces near 740 5th Street and 808 3rd Street, NE. While Hall stressed benefits such as less cars on the roads and more revenue than parking meters, McCann reported that some residents raised concerns like less metered spaces at retailers on Fifth. As a result, Zipcar withdrew the application for Fifth Street. The Commission voted unanimously to support the remaining application.

RPP Study Proposal

Continuing the conversation from the March meeting, McCann presented a summary of the amended RPP study proposal. According to Commissioner Writ, all but two changes were added to the proposal: taxing parking structures and upcoming zoning changes. While the Commission wants to deal with those issues later, one resident stated that they should take direct positions. Although the Commission voted to adopt the amended proposal, it was left open to changes for about a week.

Florida Avenue Update

Last year, the Commission supported efforts to improve Florida Avenue’s lack of sidewalks. DDOT recently announced that they are close to issuing a contract for studying traffic patterns on the street; that study should finish by next spring. Afterward, DDOT could start making temporary measures to create sidewalks and bike lanes until the real work begins in 2016. H

ANC 6D by Roberta Weiner

Federal Triangle South: One More New Development

A presentation by the federal General Services Administration informed the ANC that it can add Federal Triangle South to the list of potential Southwest redevelopment projects. First question: where and what is it? Bounded by Independence and Maryland Avenues (including parts of D Street) and 6th and 12th Streets SW, it’s an enclave of federal buildings that


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

ANC 6A, 2nd Thursday, May 9, 7PM Alcohol Beverage Licensing Committee 3rd Tuesday, May 21, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th & G Streets, NE • Chair, Jay Williams, 906-0657 Transportation & Public Space Committee 3rd Monday, May 20, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th and G Sts. NE • Chair, Omar Mahmud, 546-1520 Economic Development & Zoning Committee 3rd Wednesday, May 15, 7pm • Sherwood Recreation Center Corner of 10th and G Streets, NE • Chair, Laura Gentile, 744-2014 Community Outreach Committee 3rd Monday, May 20, 7:30pm • Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith Annex • 1235 C Street, 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!

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 First Tuesday, 7 pm. Contact (202) 997-6662 Planning, Zoning, and Environment Committee First Wednesday, 7 pm. Contact zoning@eckenwiler.org

Grants Committee Contact 6C05@anc.dc.gov Transportation and Public Space Committee First Thursday, 7 pm. Contact (202) 641-4264

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includes the Forrestal Building and Cotton Annex (Department of Energy), Orville and Wilber Wright Building (FAA) and the GSA’s Regional Office Building (GSA and DHS). The complex houses 14,000 workers. And what do they want to do? According to the GSA fact sheet, the buildings are “challenged with older buildings that drive high operating costs, a backlog of required capital improvements, land and office space insufficiencies and a lack of area amenities.” GSA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the area to gather information from the private sector—real estate and development groups—on the “attractiveness and feasibility” of redeveloping the area, while seeking ways to enhance the surrounding property. They have received eight responses including two letters of interest, and should know more by the beginning of summer, after which—by the end of the year—they will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP). Their quest for information seeks, beyond meeting the long-term space needs of the federal agencies currently located in the FTS area, to stimulate a “vibrant mix of uses, such as residential, commercial, civic, institutional and public” uses that will contribute to the vitality of the L’Enfant Plaza and Southwest waterfront areas,” and will advance the planning recommendations of the SW Ecodistrict Plan, and the Maryland Venue Small Area Plan. The complete RFI can be viewed at www.gsa.gov/federaltrianglesouth. Stay tuned…

And While We’re In That Part of Town

On the edge of the FTS District, at 6th and D Street SW, the developer Trammel Crow, with PNC Realty Investors, is building a new 12-story office building and came to the ANC for support of a zoning change from the BZA. The building will replace a five-story building currently on the site. The standard glass-windowed and concrete building, which will have a substantially larger footprint than the current structure, has a still-undefined plan for its ground floor. Because of its location, there is a possibility it could be leased by a government agency that will not allow ground-floor retail because of security concerns. However, if it is leased to a private concern, it has been designed to be readily modified to incorporate shops. Attorney Chip Glasgow of Holland & Knight presented their request for zoning relief from the court width requirement, and the Commission unanimously supported the request. 52 H hillrag.com

Protesting Safeway’s “Closed Door Policy”

Putting the blame squarely on “inventory shrinkage,” the Waterfront Safeway has blacked out and locked the store entrance opening on the small Starbucks that is part of the store. And the ANC doesn’t like it at all. Calling the locked door offensive to observers, a Commission-passed resolution cited the negative impact the door has on the streetscape and its potential for dissuading potential lessees of the remaining vacant storefronts, as well as the discouraging effect the locked door has on access to the store for the 1700 employees working at Waterfront Station who use that door to conveniently access Starbucks and fast lunch options,. Saying it would continue to work with Safeway and the MPD to resolve the problems of theft and vandalism, the unanimously passed resolution requests the immediate re-opening of the door.

In Other Actions

In other actions, the ANC: • Heard a presentation from Ron Swanda, a commissioner on the DC Commission on Aging, about creating a Ward 6 Senior Network to get the word out about senior resources and activities in the ward and the District. The structure of the Network would be comprised of a person from each SMD, and he asked that interested volunteers contact him at dc.coa.ward6.swanda@gmail. com, 202-340-7708. • Voted, with the support if the establishment’s neighbors, to enable Harry’s Reserve, a liquor store at New Jersey and I Streets SE, to add Sunday hours (11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.) • Approved a license for the sale of beer at a Rocklands Barbeque food truck planned for 1st and K Streets prior to Nationals home games • Discussed two issues of concern to Commissioner Rhonda Hamilton and her constituents, neighbors of Nationals Park in the Camden apartment building at South Capitol and O Streets SW. The first is the number of cars illegally turning into the street, interfering with access to the building’s garage; the second is the absence of any control to the drop-off and pick-ups of cab passengers at that corner, and the need for a dispatcher to oversee what is now a chaotic situation. The Commission suggested that Ms. Hamilton work directly with DDOT to resolve the issues. • Gave its support to Light the Way, a 5K race benefitting wounded women warriors to take place on September 28th; and to the annual Best Buddies Challenge Bike Races, scheduled for October 18th. H

The Crime Blotter by Andrew Lightman

Police Make an Arrest in Benning Road Knifing

There was an assault with a deadly weapon at 2:08 p.m on April 6 on the 1800 block of Benning Rd. NE. An employee of a liquor store got into a verbal altercation with a customer. The customer stabbed the employee with a knife twice. “The case is closed with an arrest,” stated PSA 503 Lieutenant Corinne Hughes.

Man Robbed on 1300 Block of K St. SE

On April 9, a man walking on the 1300 block of K St. SE was approached by a white male in his 30s with long dark hair, wearing a blue shirt and black pants. Threatening him with a handgun, the assailant robbed the man of his cell phone and cash. First District officers responded quickly and searched the area. The victim was unharmed.

Plea Reached in Grace Deli Murder

Steven Williams, aged 46, of Washington, DC, pled guilty on April 11 to a charge of second-degree murder while armed in the June 2012 slaying of Hae Soon Lim, owner of Grace Deli located on the 700 block of H St. NE. Williams will be sentenced on June 17. While the charge carries a maximum term of 40 years, the government has agreed under the terms of the plea to request no more than 28 years.

MPD Catches Assailant in SW

After an exchange of words on April 14, a man followed another man home to a house on the 500 block of H St. SW. He then assaulted him with a bottle. A witness to the assault flagged down a police cruiser at the intersection of Seventh


and G Streets SW. Cruising the neighborhood with the officer, the witness identified the assailant near the intersection of Seventh and M Streets SW. The suspect was arrested.

Arrest Made in South Capitol Traffic Fatality

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Unit have made an arrest in connection with a recent pedestrian fatality at First and South Capitol Streets SW. On April 28 at approximately 2:45 p.m., a white 2010 Toyota Yaris was traveling northeast on First St. SW. As the car approached South Capitol, the driver, 49-year-old Maria Nicole Werts of Southwest DC, allegedly attempted to turn south on South Capitol. The vehicle narrowly missed colliding with a southbound vehicle crossing on the green light. Werts then lost control of the vehicle. The car mounted the west sidewalk pinning a pedestrian against a tree. The pedestrian, 58-year-old Emmajean Gainey of Southwest DC, sustained massive blunt impact injuries that resulted in her death. Detectives have arrested Werts charging her with Involuntary Manslaughter and Driving While Intoxicated.

Thomas Jenkins & Company Certified Public Accountants Corporation, Partnership, Trust, Individual Income Tax & Financial Planning

202-547-9004

316 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Suite 402 Washington, DC 20003

Crime Trends for April

This month saw a 173% increase in thefts from automobiles over the same period in 2012. Police Service Areas (PSA) 104 and 107 saw the bulk of the increase. The First District’s focus on robberies appears to be paying dividends. In April 2012, there were a total of 39 robberies. In April 2013, the number fell to 25, a 36% decrease. In particular, there were 11 fewer incidents not involving a gun. The Crime Blotter is published daily on www.hillrag.com. To get the latest updates, follow us on Twitter @capitalcommnews, like The Hill Rag on Facebook or sign up for the Hill Rag’s Daily Email Headlines Service. H

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

“A Dog’s Life” by Myles Mellor and Sally York Across:

1. Hebrides tongue 5. John Lennon hit 10. Makes indistinct 15. Finito 19. Zodiac symbol 20. Garlicky sauce 21. Indian coin 22. Lover of Aeneas 23. First, she and her boyfriend had an argument 27. Corrode 28. Chinese fruit 29. Fabric pattern 30. ___ intestine 33. Opposite of paleo34. Permits 35. Hold 38. Janet Jackson hit 41. Soybean paste 45. Teammate of Hubbell and Terry 46. Comics cry 48. Furrow 49. Zitone, e.g. 50. Then her college essay is destroyed 58. Damascene 59. Wealthy hostesses 60. Goombah 61. Debate position 62. Bucket of bolts 63. Like some shoes 65. P.D.Q. 68. Right on the map 69. Roughly 72. Swirl 73. Tended tads 76. Eye part 77. Mangy mutt 79. Possessive pronoun 80. On the rise 84. Means of escape 88. Next, she gets stuck in traffic on her way to a dinner date 91. Pulitzer winner Pyle 92. Mick Jagger, for one 93. Not me 94. Go for the bronze? 95. Prepares to be shot 96. Countering 101. Happy ones 104. Forswear 105. Goes with wester 106. Breviloquent 107. Playwright Sam 111. Apartment dweller, probably 114. Operate

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115. When she finally arrives, her boyfriend is miffed 121. Ancient greetings 122. Dispatch boat 123. Provide 124. One of seven branches 125. Flippant 126. Transfer 127. Scorches 128. Jamboree shelter

Down:

1. Trickster 2. Orinoco, e.g. 3. Sch. in Ashland 4. Marx collaborator 5. British engineer James 6. Heating alternative 7. Work hard 8. Flammable gas 9. They may appear on a tree 10. Slope to the sea, to Sean 11. Fretted instrument 12. Kind of driver 13. Collected 14. Kind of seat 15. 15 and 23, e.g. 16. Six-stringed instrument 17. Drop-off spot 18. Looking up 24. In fine fettle 25. Some candy, to a Brit 26. Appoint starter 30. Character flaws 31. Like some closets 32. Frostflower 34. Indian martial art 36. Musical notation 37. Figure out 39. Kind of rug 40. ___ stitch 41. Gullet 42. Certain crustacean 43. Hair piece 44. Annie 47. “Buckwheat groats” 49. Mexican mint product 51. Foolish 52. Shell mover 53. Stocking stuffers 54. Skedaddle 55. Cool 56. Comics canine 57. Copy cats? 64. ___ incognita 65. Puts up with

Look for this months answers at labyrinthgameshop.com

66. Zen enlightenment 67. Without 68. Use acid 69. “Tristia” poet 70. City near Sparks 71. Drooping 74. ___ function 75. Little scurrier 76. It’s a free country 77. Intestinal pouch 78. “Gross!” 81. Unsmooth 82. Base 83. Unsubstantial

85. Board 86. Lingering effects? 87. One of five 89. Start of a cheer 90. Brillo rival 96. Scanned again 97. Salad green 98. M.I.T. part: Abbr. 99. Snacks 100. “The Power and the Glory” novelist 102. Rash reaction? 103. Altered a hem, perhaps 104. Morse bit

107. Zest 108. English Channel resort 109. The America’s Cup trophy, e.g. 110. Call to attention 111. Repeated, singer who sang with Cult Jam 112. Form of ether 113. Old literary work 114. Census data 116. Quotation qualification 117. Sharer’s word 118. Don’t waste 119. ___ Gabriel 120. Eastern newt


Community Life Anwar Saleem The Man on H Street

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n the corner of Third and H NE, a lanky man stands still looking east. It is a chilly March evening and he wears creased dress pants, a button-down shirt, vintage shoes and a skinny tie. Behind him is an impossibly pink sunset, and before him is the product of his life’s work. Anwar Saleem smiles at the fifteen blocks, which fifteen years ago lay deserted, decrepit and drug ridden. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has awarded his beloved H Street Corridor the 2013 Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA); and Anwar has just gotten the word. The GAMSA is the Oscar of urban development and Saleem set his sights on the award when he co-founded H Street Main Street (HSMS) in 2002. The organization, which Anwar heads as executive director, has helped attract 132 new businesses and 1,576 jobs since its founding. Today, the vacancy rate of H Street’s colorful storefronts has fallen from 30 to 10 percent. Anwar expects publicity from the award to bring visitors in droves. When Forbes Magazine designated H Street sixth on the list of “America’s Hippest Hipster Neighborhoods,” last September, a wave of new business flooded the neighborhood, including one honored guest in particular. “In many ways that Forbes article led to President Obama hosting his last campaign dinner at our establishment,” says Miles Gray, owner of Smith Commons. “This type of press is a frequent occurrence, largely due to

by Maggy Baccinelli the amount of time that HSMS puts into public relations, community outreach and social media, which directly benefits the neighborhood.”

Anwar Saleem: H-tonian

At 58, Saleem has spent his entire life in the District, mostly on H Street.

The H Street Corridor is Saleem’s home. “Hey, how you doin?” he says, greeting a familiar face. Saleem has an encyclopedic memory for faces and names. His earnest, good nature makes an impression. “Anwar is so effective because he is of the people,” says Teresa Lynch, se-

Anwar Saleem, executive Director of H Street Main Street which recently won the 2013 Great American Main Street Award, stands on H Street, NE. Photo: Andrew Lightman HillRag | May 2013 H 55


In the middle of the ‘80s, the crack epidemic hit adding drug-infested blight to H Street’s physical devastation. Many of Saleem’s peers fell to addiction, while the District endured its worst crime. “Despite all of this, H Street has always been a warm place,” recalls Saleem.

Saleem Returns to His Roots

Anwar Saleem consults with Julia Christian, at the time the Executive Director of the Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals, and Mayor Vincent Gray. Photo: Andrew Lightman

nior program officer at the National Trust’s Main Streets Center. “You might not recognize it as leadership at first,” Lynch adds, “But he is so bright in the way he can relate to and inspire every level of the community. We often say here that every neighborhood needs an Anwar.” It was 1949 when Anwar’s North Carolinian mother and Baltimorean father chose H Street as their first nesting place. Classic Ford luxury models cruised alongside streetcars, which connected H Street with downtown Washington and the Southeast Navy Yard. The corridor was lined with shops, restaurants and offices owned by European immigrants. In 1949, H Street was one of the few places in the nation where African Americans lived, worked and in many cases, were served next to white counterparts. Saleem was in born 1954, the year after the Supreme Court outlawed segregation in DC’s public accommodations. As a youth, Saleem roamed H Street walking in and out of its many stores looking for work. He cut grass, cleaned windows, and shined shoes on the corner of Eighth and H. During the holiday season, he decorated full blocks of homes. If he couldn’t find work, Anwar’s mother insisted he attend community meetings at churches and the library. Saleem didn’t know what he was supposed to learn at those meetings, but, the dutiful son, he went anyway never thinking that one day he would be at the podium. As he got older, Saleem kept his odd jobs but also learned cosmetology by working for free in local beauty salons. When he wasn’t working, he was out on H Street exploring. He bought his first pair 56 H hillrag.com

of drum sticks at Chuck and Marge Levin’s music store. He learned how to build bikes at the local bicycle shop. As the late ‘50s and early ‘60s went on, the descendants of white immigrants migrated to the suburbs taking their businesses with them. By 1968, most of H Street residents were African American, and 24 percent of the labor force was either unemployed or underemployed. It was a volatile environment.

Riots & The Drugs: Devastation & Blight

Saleem was sitting in his seventh grade class when the school loudspeaker announced the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After being sent home, he and his best friend Vernon Marlow went out to investigate what was happening on H Street. At first, the riot didn’t look like a riot — it was just people loitering. Then, the 600 block went up in flames. Saleem and Marlow joined a growing crowd on Sixth and H Street. Smoke billowed around the Morton’s department store, enveloping the big white letters that spanned the length of its rooftop. Watching in awe as people hurried out of the store with arms full of merchandise, Saleem stayed put in fear of his mother. A year older, Marlow was more daring. He went to have a look inside. The building collapsed and he never emerged. Saleem had lost his best friend forever. Vernon Marlow was only 14. The riots destroyed 90 buildings housing 51 residences and 103 businesses. In a matter of days, H Street had been transformed from a central shopping corridor into a wasteland. For the next three decades, the corridor struggled to recover.

After working for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority for a number of years, Saleem decided to return to his roots. He opened his own beauty salon in 1989, which he named Hair Rage International, and bought the building five years later. To connect with local businesses and start becoming involved in the corridor’s development, he joined the H Street Merchants and Professionals Association in 1992. In 1996 Anwar became the first African American in the country to win Salon Magazine’s Salon of the Year Award. The printed piece omitted Hair Rage’s address due to H Street’s nefarious reputation. “It was like the neighborhood was there, but really didn’t exist anymore,” Saleem recalls. Intent on making a difference and increasing his involvement, Saleem served as chair of the Merchants and Professionals board from 1998 to 2001. During his tenure, he lobbied then Mayor Anthony Williams to include H Street development in the City’s funding plans. In 2002, Anwar co-founded HSMS serving as chair through three executive directors. In 2007, he became executive director himself. From the start, Anwar’s focus was inclusion. He formed committees, held meetings and hosted workshops, always reaching out to diverse stakeholders so he could learn and incorporate their concerns in the redevelopment process. “That helped slow the gentrification process, because we wanted to make sure people who had been here and suffered through H Street’s hardest times could stay and experience the pay off,” Saleem says. When four years of trolley construction starting in 2008, and simultaneous business tax hikes hurt H Street business owners, Anwar testified in front of the City Council. He advertised businesses and lobbied for grants. Smokey’s Barbershop owner Eddie Maye is still recovering from the construction slump. “It’s slowly turning around,” he says, adding that new clients are of all ages and races. “Anwar did a good job. It was just a hard time.” Maye worked at Smokey’s Barbershop in the 60s before the riots, but didn’t meet Anwar until he returned to H Street to buy the shop in 1999. “We met because he was always coming in here and telling me about meetings and grants,” says Maye. “He still does that today.” Likewise, 360° H Street developer Guy Steuart says Anwar was the first community member to approach him when he introduced the project eight years ago. “We had never met before and I


knew little about H Street Main Street,” he says. “Since then I’ve learned Anwar is an enthusiastic, sincere and dedicated leader … I’m thankful for his encouragement to all of us.” Inclusion does not mean everyone is always happy. Saleem still hears complaints as he balances stakeholders’ needs, but his unending effort is what sets H Street apart. “What distinguishes H Street is that Anwar and his team have done a great job accommodating the needs of both old timers and

all merchants, even as demographics and economics changed. It’s been a pleasure working with Anwar. H Street shows what is possible when everyone works together with a vision.” When H Street’s ANC commissioner Omar Mahmud got wind of H Street winning the GAMSA, he said he was happy to see HSMS’s efforts recognized. “I continue to be amazed by the hardworking, diverse group of folks — residents and business people alike — who make up our H Street community,” he said. “All have had

Winners of the Great American Main Street at an awards ceremony at the 2013 National Main Streets Conference in New Orleans in April, 2013.

newcomers,” says Main Streets Coordinator Cristina Amoruso at the DC Department of Small and Local Business. “They have found ways for diverse businesses to feed off of each other’s energy in a way that makes people want to come back for more,” she adds. Councilmember Tommy Wells says Anwar’s adaptability is key to his success in balancing needs. “When I came in as councilmember and began reimagining H Street, Anwar could have easily felt threatened or left out,” he says. “But he showed that he could share a vision and provide leadership to

a hand in the neighborhood’s success and I hope all will continue to shape its very bright future.”

Looking to the Future

On the corner of Third and H, Saleem looks east and squints. He is trying to glimpse Benning Road and Bladensberg Road which branch out from the bottom of the corridor to the north and south. Those areas need shops and service-oriented businesses, he believes. They need HSMS. So later, when friends ask about future goals, Anwar simply states, “More work.” H

Wednesday, May 15 6:30 pm Preservation Cafe: “Solar Panels”

Ebenezers Coffee House, 2nd and F Streets, NE, downstairs. Jeff Thomas of Solare World will discuss the benefits and logistics of installing solar panels; Frances McMillen of the District’s Historic Preservation Office will be on hand to address considerations within the historic district. The event is free and handicapped accessible, and the public is encouraged to attend. No reservations required. Details: Elizabeth Nelson, 543-3512. Join us for the 56th Annual Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour! Mothers Day weekend - May 11 & 12, 2013 Tickets available April 15 @ local outlets and CHRS.org Preserve and Protect Your Neighborhood Join the Capitol Hill Restoration Society

CFC #50747

202-543-0425 www.chrs.org HillRag | May 2013 H 57


In Memoriam

Frank Zampatori, the Very Best Neighbor

F

by Peter J. Waldron

rank Zampatori, long time Hill East resident and Democratic activist, died on April 15, 2013 after a struggle with health problems. Zampatori was deeply engaged in DC politics going back to the late 1970s and early ‘80s with an early association with the Gertrude Stein Club. He was elected to the Democratic State Committee during Marion Barry’s years as Mayor and served a stint on the ABC board. Zampatori, whom many affectionately describe as curmudgeonly, carved out a place for himself in the Capitol Hill community with his passion and interest in politics and civic affairs. David Meadows, an aide to Councilmember Anita Bonds offered this comment about Zampatori: “He had a biting wit and sometimes a bite.” Jim Myers, an equally notable Hill East resident and long time compatriot of Zampatori, wrote of the community’s loss on the Hill East listserve. “No one, no one could or ever would match Frank’s experience or institutional memory on the subject of District politics or on the long standing issues in our neighborhood. He knew and remembered who did what and when--the exact date--and for that reason he often found it difficult to deal with the rest of us who too often easily forgot the important details he remembered so vividly. Our city and our neighborhood will surely go on, but for a few of us it surely will never be quite the same.” Antonette Russell, a former ANC Commissioner from the Hill East area and currently serving in ANC5C01, said that “Frank was my best friend, part of our family. He was the most compassionate man I have ever known. I talked with Frank every day.” Brian Flahaven, currently Chair of ANC6B talked, as did almost everyone who knew him, about Zampatori’s passionate advocacy for the Hill East neighborhood. “He knew more about the

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neighborhood than anyone. He had a great institutional memory. But his big issue was Reservation 13.” Asked why Reservation 13 was so important to him, Flahaven responded that Zampatori worried about “the future of this undeveloped tract that is such a huge issue and its possible benefit to the Hill East neighborhood. This animated him.” Zampatori lived adjacent to the site and was well versed in all the details emanating from the Master Plan that was laid out for its development in the 1990s of which he had been a vital part in the planning, but which has not been executed. Sheila White, another long time political friend, when asked about what was enduring in knowing Zampatori on a personal level, stated unhesitatingly: “He was a diehard New York Giants and Yankees fan. He was passionate in what he believed in. No matter what.” Frank is survived by a brother, Guy Zampatori and a sister-inlaw Jo Ann. His parents Frank and Viola preceded him in death. Zampatori was born in Rochester, New York on September 26, 1944. He attended Niagara University, graduating in 1966 and then entered the Navy for two years serving in Hawaii during the Vietnam War under Admiral McClain, doing photo reconnaissance work before coming to Washington in the early 1970s. He earned a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies from Georgetown University in 1973. Zampatori was retired from the Appalachian Regional Commission, a joint federal-state agency that coordinated economic development programs for the nation’s Appalachian region. For more remembrances of Frank Zampatori, see the Last Word in this issue. H


@ Your Service By Ellen Boomer

A Modern Money Manager

Ivory Johnson, founder of Delancey Wealth Management, talks about financial planning with the same kind of enthusiasm DC residents normally reserve for the Nationals or the Redskins. “I’m doing real-time financial planning for clients,” Johnson said, by providing an online tool that tracks all of their accounts – every- Ivory Johnson thing from their mortgage to their credit cards to their children’s college funds - all on one webpage. Johnson offers all aspects of financial planning, including estate, retirement, investment, insurance and tax planning. “I offer sophisticated solutions at a reasonable price,” Johnson added, who charges either a small percentage of the assets managed or by the hour,

A Dash of Art With Lots of Soul

Art & Soul boutique has been a Capitol Hill institution for 15 years, and owner Marjorie Tuttle is determined to keep it that way, though she closed her store in December after she was diagnosed with brain cancer last February. “We’re trying to get back into doing trunk shows on weekends, maybe at Eastern Market,” Tuttle explained. “This job is about passion, not about making money,” Tuttle said, remarking, “I loved my interaction with customers. It was loads of fun.” Since then, she’s been living with her father in Virginia and her golden retriever

depending on each client’s preference. “I can better manage my assets and liabilities,” said client Jason Miller, CPA and owner of The J.S. Miller Group PLLC, about using the integrated online tool. Miller recently entrusted his financial planning to Johnson. Johnson has roots on Capitol Hill. After growing up in New York City and working on Wall Street, Johnson moved into his grandfather’s Capitol Hill home 20 years ago and renovated it. “Moving into my grandfather’s house was an extension of what I do for a living,” Johnson said.

Isabelle, who was a fixture at the boutique and helped draw in customers. One day during the holiday season,Tuttle wrapped Isabelle in Christmas lights, hoping to add a festive touch to the boutique. Tuttle has the same, unconventional approach when it comes to fashion. “Marjorie has a quirky take on fashion and I always loved going to shop in her store,” said customer Sharon Raimo, who has been an Art & Soul customer for 15 years. “You could find some really fun stuff and some great gifts.” Tuttle, who was once a dancer and modern dance instructor with CETA (Changing Education Through the

A Triple Play for Pets

Kelly Hartshorn, Anna Lappas-Collins, Lee Hartshorn (all from Metro Mutts), Heather Morris (Spot On Training), Matthew Antkowiak and Chris Miller, both from Atlas Vet)

The members of the newly-formed H Street Pets are in the first flush of their professional relationship, though they’ve been neighbors on Capitol Hill for several years. The owners of Metro Mutts, a full-range pet supply store; Spot On Training, a professional pet training and behavioral consultation service; and Atlas Vet have collaborated to form H Street Pets, articulating a common vision: One District. Three Neighbors. One Mission. “This entrepreneurial camaraderie seems to be inspired by the atmosphere that is prevalent up and down H St: one of openness, of family and a ‘we are all

“Too many families didn’t have an estate plan, sold valuable property on The Hill for pennies on the dollar and now have nothing to show for the hard work of their parents.” Johnson hopes he can help other DC residents benefit from his experience and expertise. “I love where I live and don’t want to commute,” Johnson explained when discussing why he left Scarborough Capital Management after 11 years and started his own company. “I can do business with my neighbors.” “You need three things when you have a [financial] advisor: You have to like them, you have to trust them, and you have to know they’re competent,” Johnson said, noting that he’s a regular contributor to the CNBC.com blog. “He lives and breathes his profession,” Miller noted. Contact Johnson at www.delanceywealth.com or by calling 202-507-6340.

Arts), always loved crafts and went from representing craft artists to opening her own shop in Old Town about 18 years ago. With mentoring from Sharon McCarthy who owned the Hill shop Moon, Blossoms and Snow, Tuttle expanded her inventory to include clothing. From “going-to-work clothing,” to “flowing palazzo pants,” Tuttle always looks for “movement in clothes, in patterns and in colors.” Hopefully Tuttle and Isabelle will return to the Hill soon. In the meantime, Tuttle said she’s “still dancing.” Contact Art & Soul boutique at artandsouldc@comcast.net.

in this together’ mindset,” Dr. Matthew Antkowiak of Atlas Vet pointed out. “It is rare for three businesses in a big city to agree to work together so closely,” Antkowiak said. H Street Pets embodies this supportive attitude by encouraging their customers not only to patronize each other’s businesses, but also to support the shops and restaurants along the H Street Corridor, as well. “We want to get the word out to new people on H Street to think local first,” said Lee Hartshorn, co-owner of Metro Mutts, who opened a second location of his popular pet shop on Barracks Row in October 2011.

Marjorie Tuttle (R) with friend and Isabelle.

“They are indispensable for those in the neighborhood,” customer Oliver Griswold said. “It’s the best pet store and most humane vet.” H Street Pets capitalizes on the effectiveness of old-fashioned word-ofmouth by using modern social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, attracting clients from as close as U Street and as far as Bowie, Md. The members of H Street Pets are so welcoming, in fact, customers will want to stick around to share a happyhour beer and help them celebrate what is sure to be a long-term relationship. Contact H Street Pets at www.hstpets.com. H HillRag | May 2013 H 59


communitylife

Students Create Advocacy Website Cesar Chavez Seniors Explore How Social Change Happens by Virginia Avniel Spatz

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eople who want to change the world flock to Washington, DC. Marches and rallies regularly fill our streets, while advocacy organizations locate permanently in the DC area. The District faces its own challenges addressed by a range of individuals and groups. All this makes DC an active classroom of how people can work together to increase social justice. Some local high school students are using lessons from that living classroom to create a public resource on how change happens. Seniors at Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy recently interviewed some two dozen activists about their work. They heard stories about interactions with every branch of government. They listened for challenges and pitfalls as well as successes. They learned about change happening in education, housing, immigration, labor, peace, and other areas. They inquired into the passion behind each interviewee’s choice of field. The resulting oral histories will be avail-

Seniors at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy interview Kristi Matthews, of the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless and Fair Budget Coalition, for oral history project.

able to the public through a website developed by the students. Along the way, the students practiced interviewing, filming, editing, website production, and project management skills. The project is supported by a collaboration with the Tiger Woods Learning Center and a $3,000 grant from the Washington Humanities Council. It is the brainchild of teacher Ayo Magwood who worked with fellow teacher Krista Fantin to revamp Chavez’s DC history curriculum.

DC’s Blessing and Curse

Teacher Ayo Magwood and Greg Gilbert, an assistant coordinator for the oral history project, ponder lessons from DC’s living classroom. 60 H hillrag.com

“When we first reviewed the DC history curriculum, it put us to sleep,” Magwood reports or her work with Fantin. “So we focused on the mission of Cesar Chavez, which is public policy, and we took a few liberties, developed some themes.” The revamped lessons focused on social history.


“We looked at why this city has so many black residents, why it’s so polarized, why there’s no commuter tax,” Magwood continues. “But after the first year,” with the redrafted curriculum, “we realized that the kids felt victimized.” So the teachers did some editing to highlight empowerment, an integral part of the school’s mission. “The lack of political power in DC has been a blessing and a curse, because it has created a real focus on organizing....I wanted students to see that people weren’t just sitting around being exploited,” says Magwood. Active learning is essential, she says, and “it’s even better if students can do their own primary research....So, I decided: We’re going to learn directly from the experts.”

Lesson for Organizing and for Life

Kristi Matthews, an organizer who is part of the Fair Budget Coalition, told her interviewers how the Coalition approaches different branches of government and why. “With the City Council, we do visits and we’ve been able to get our point across, to work things out,” she related. “With the mayor, though...he’s not responding, so we do public actions.” “It was interesting how they approached one group one way, but were more aggressive in another situation,” senior Euinik Jones said after the interview. “I learned that adapting is important. Period. But also that it’s an important organizing strategy.” Many lessons of the project were quite general: “success takes planning,” e.g. Many were more personal: “My mother always told me I was like her and work well under pressure,” said Kevin Jamison, for example. “I didn’t see it ‘til I had this experience.” The project even prompted some substantial changes in life direction: “I thought I’d be a mechanic, because I like cars,” said Greg Gilbert. “But when I started meeting these people and seeing what they’re doing, they really changed what I thought. I didn’t even know Political Science was a field of study, that there was a name for my interest. But now that’s what I’m planning to study.”

Lights Going Off

Curtis Mozie, author of Beyond the Yellow Tape, participated in the project to help youth “avoid problems that were documented by me on tape...consequences of at-risk behavior.” David Haiman was happy to bring his experience with OneDC and Movement

Matters to the project. “Students asked insightful questions and were listening very thoughtfully. I saw lights going off. Students stayed after the interview to ask me questions.” “It’s important for young people – or adults frankly – to understand how change happens,” Haiman said. “Even if they don’t do anything directly in organizing, if someone knocks on their door in a campaign, they’ll have a better understanding.” But the project also inspired more immediate plans. Gilbert ponders what Matthews said about the importance of educating people about a problem. “We went to a rally at the Supreme Court a few days ago, and it’s amazing – these tourists only see a little speck of our city. What if they took just one ride through Southeast or Southwest? One thing we learned is that sometimes you need people from outside to help....” Gilbert’s also considering what local residents need to know. “I didn’t know Congress had all that power over us. I was really like, ‘no, you’re lying.’ I never hear people talking about this, and if I’m just finding out now, how many in our community don’t know?”

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“All schools should do this, get a sense of what’s really going on in the community,” said Rasheeda Simmons. “I think people will want to change some things.” Mozie concurred, stressing the importance of “getting the story from the roots of community leaders,” and saying that the project website will promote “the great things that people...are doing to make this a great place to live.” Asked about common elements in the oral histories, student Angelo Daniels, Jr., suggested “opportunity, consistency, and perseverance.” Latrice Holloman said she learned the importance of envisioning steps toward a goal and having “a lot of patience... change might come way later... like with gay marriage.” “No one I met was trying to fix [a problem] for themselves,” Jamison reported. “When many people in the same situation get together, they can approach a problem together.” Details on the oral history archive will be posted on ChavezSchools.org. Virginia Spatz works on We Act Radio’s “The Education Town Hall ” (weacted.wordpress.com) and “The Politics of Health” (politicsofhealthdc.org) and contributes irregularly to East of the River. H

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communitylife

High-Schoolers Conquer the Capitol Face to Face with the U.S. Senate

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atie Thomas-Canfield (School Without Walls) and Ray Clark (Benjamin Banneker High), along with 102 other highschool-aged delegates from throughout the country, gathered on the Hill for an eye-opening week. Thomas-Canfield and Clark were the two teen representatives from the District selected to participate in the week-long United States Senate Youth Program event, which gave them an even closer view of the government in action. The students met with senators, ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, and President Obama, but they walked away with more than just the bragging rights that come with meeting Washington’s bigwigs. “In the future, when I will be voting, I realized that I want a candidate who will represent both my conservative and liberal viewpoints, regardless of whether they fall into the Democratic platform or not,” says Thomas-Canfield. This political awakening came after a talk from Tennessee Senator Bob Corker. Thomas-Canfield reflects: “Growing up in DC, it is hard not to be a Democrat, and a liberal one at that. However, with little to no exposure to the opposing side it is easy to fall into an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality, forgetting that both parties were founded to protect the American people, and that both would not exist if they did not still represent the views of Americans today. The most inspiring thing that Senator Corker said was that ‘It’s not about politics, it’s about policy.’” Both Thomas-Canfield and Clark are dismayed by Washington’s partisan culture, but they are happy that this reality was not sugar-coated by the speakers, who treated the representatives like the wellinformed, critically thinking people they are. “Our speakers really brought us into their world. When one congressman said that they ‘can go down a hall and not even speak to each other’ it depicted an image of a divided America,” Clark recounted.

Optimism for the Future

At the same time there is optimism for the future. “While they often talked a lot about the problems of partisanship, many of our speakers talked about the hope they had that this era was changing.” 62 H hillrag.com

by Elena Burger district doesn’t fully participate in the republic? A major event on the USSYP itinerary was a meeting between the students and the senators from their state. As residents of DC, Thomas-Canfield and Clark were unable to take part. “Ray and I were very disillusioned with DC’s lack of representation even before this trip.…DC needs more representation than a nonvoting member of the House of Representatives. It is truly ironic that while our nation embodies the beauty of democracy and empowers all people to have a voice, DC is not included in this.” Thomas-Canfield said that it’s easy for people Katie Thomas-Canfield and Ray Clark with Senate Parliamentarian her age to be indifferent about the District’s lack of Elizabeth McDonough (center). a senator, and joked that the extent of some people’s activism is to “get ‘taxation without representation’ Thomas-Canfield admits that this may be an idealtattooed on themselves.” istic view for modern politics, but noted that durAfter seeing the Senate up close through the ing his time in office “the President did meet with lens of the Senate Youth Program, Thomas-Canvarious Republican members of Congress to try and field took away a very important message about the recreate some bipartisanship.” Senate’s demography. “The Senate – for good reaAnd just what was meeting Obama like? “One of son – is dominated by and large by an older generathe things that President Obama tion. However, this means that said that most resonated with me they are less representative of was that we should pursue a pasour increasingly liberal generasion, not a title. For the past few tion. This ‘liberalization’ can be years I have been increasingly inseen in the division of even the volved in international developUSSYP. Out of 104 youth, all ment work as I lived abroad in were socially liberal, and only Nicaragua and the Dominican a handful were fully conservaRepublic, which has fed my intive. Even the moderates were terest in international politics. increasingly liberal.” However, I do not want to start In the meantime Thomaswith the end goal in mind,” says Canfield, like most of her felThomas-Canfield. low Americans, has a bipartiFor Clark one event was parsan dream. “I think that rather ticularly striking. “When John than polarizing the two parties, Kerry told the story of Benjamin the Democrats and the RepubFranklin being asked if we would licans should be working more be a monarchy or a republic, and on finding the common ground responding that it would be a rethat does exist between the two public as long as we keep it, I felt parties, whether it be socially, a personal drive to uphold our fiscally, or internationally.” founding fathers’ vision of our For more information on country.” USSYP, go to http://www. A Represented DC? hearstfdn.org/ussyp/ H Katie Thomas-Canfield and Ray Clark at the But what happens when your Lincoln Memorial.


HillRag | May 2013 H 63


communitylife

h streetlife

Springtime on H Street Welcomes New Businesses

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by Elise Bernard

ow that the weather is once again hospitable, it is time to get back out and explore all that H Street has to offer. Below you will find updates on what’s happening, and some of what you may have missed during the colder months.

Sol Mexican Grill Serves Up Late Night Fare

The Sol Mexican Grill food truck has finally gone brick and mortar. Their new location (1351 H Street NE) offers not just the mostly Tex-Mex selections they currently sell out of their truck, but also some more authenti-

Tree House Lounge brings live music to Trinidad

cally Mexican selections. I’m talking about filling your tacos with chorizo, or even lengua (beef tongue). Top them with cilantro, onions, jalapenos, and traditional sauces rather than the cheese and sour cream that dominate Tex-Mex menus. Aside from tacos, customers can also enjoy burritos, or burrito bowls for those avoiding carbs. Fountain sodas are available, but you really should spring for the Jarritos (fruity Mexican sodas-- I recommend mango). Those so inclined can order a beer, and the soon-to-open upstairs (hopefully mid-late May) will feature a full bar. Hopefully you will soon be able to enjoy your margarita on the rear patio. For now, you can just revel in the knowledge that you’ll be able to scratch your taco itch until 3:30am on weekends.

Trinidad’s Art in the Alley Returns May 11th

Trinidad’s Art in the Alley (http://artinthealleydc.wordpress.com) is back, and boasts plenty of new artists this year. Art in the Alley springs from the urge to nurture and embrace the District’s emerging arts scene, while creating a space for neighbors to interact with each other in a fun environment. Offerings are not limited purely to the visual arts, but have often included performing arts, poetry, live musical performance, and a dj. The event takes place from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, May 11th in the alley behind the 1200 blocks of Florida Ave and Morse Street NE. It is free, and open to all.

Tree House Lounge Brings Live Music to Trinidad

Sol Mexican Grill wants to scratch your taco itch 64 H hillrag.com

The recently opened Tree House Lounge (http://www.treehouselounge.com, 1006 Florida Ave. NE) brings a small live music venue to the Trinidad neighbor-


hood. The musical acts are eclectic, and come from around the larger region. Every Wednesday, Tree House Lounge boasts a Blues Workshop and open mic jam session hosted by Johnny Bonneville (9p.m.-12a.m.). The Tree House Lounge is open Wednesday through Saturday, and features live music each night. Currently, only the upstairs is open, but they hope to have the downstairs, and the patio open sometime this summer. They have a full bar upstairs, but beers are in bottles only. Draft beers should be available downstairs once it opens.

FARM Market (800 block of 13th Street NE) is back, and it’s going to run longer this year than ever before. Though the Saturday-only hours remain the same, the market season has been extended to run through December 21. Socialize with neighbors as you pick up produce, breads, cookies, cheeses, and meats. Wellbehaved dogs are welcome, as long as they are leashed. I volunteered with the market for a few years, and I always enjoyed customers’ reactions the first time they encountered a new type of cauliflower, or saw brussels sprouts still on the stalk.

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Reaver Music Festival at Gallaudet FLEX at the Flats at Atlas

Gallaudet University’s International Student Union sponsors an intriguing music event at 9 p.m. Friday, May 10. Reaver Music Festival is meant to bring people together in a common appreciation of music and fun. The evening will feature a number of different performers, both deaf and hearing. Among these is Prinz-D,

The Flats at Atlas (http://flatsatatlas.com, 1600 Maryland Avenue NE) recently hosted the inaugural FLEX pop-up. The pop-up featured the works of 34 individual artists (12 of them student artists). This was only the first in a series of FLEX events. The event was wellattended and showcased a variety

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who is known as the first deaf rapper. Prinz-D signs as he raps, creating an experience that reaches both hearing and deaf audience members on the same level. A review in the Washington City Paper recently called one of his tracks “a confident pop-rap tune with a hook that climaxes.” Prinz-D originally hails from Alabama, attended Gallaudet, and now lives in the neighborhood. The event is open to anyone 18 or over who pays the $10 cover (Peikoff Alumni House).

H Street Farmers Market Returns

The popular H Street FRESH-

of works, everything from paintings, to sculpture, to installations, to video works.

Casual Corner Comes to H Street NE Corridor

A new women’s clothing store has set up shop at 707 H Street NE. Casual Corner carries a wide variety of women’s ware all priced at $19.99 or less. For more on what’s abuzz on and around H Street you can visit my blog http://frozentropics.blogspot.com. You can send me tips, or questions at elise.bernard@gmail.com. H

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HillRag | May 2013 H 65


communitylife

You Have Options!

New Businesses on Barracks Row by Sharon Bosworth

The fish arrive at Nooshi Sushi - Mural completed by early May.

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ost of us living near Barracks Row rediscovered 8th Street first through food and then later through, well, more food. So easy to walk over to the Row and order the all-American lunch: a burger and fries. That combination can be found in abundance, along with cuisines from every part of the globe. It begins with lunch, expands to dinner. We get to know owners, waitstaff, bartenders, fellow patrons and eventually we find ourselves part of the local café culture, where “everybody knows your name.” There’s no denying it, “food glorious food” of all descriptions, prices and ethnicities, is the star of our show. At Barracks Row Main Street, our events mirror the corridor. We will spotlight area chefs at our Garden Party on May 21st; we just concluded Taste of 8th, our annual sampling event with a record 22 participating restaurants; and in August we will hold our Culinary Education Crawl Summer School (indoors) when our restaurant chefs will teach cooking classes.

Food vs Fitness

Ready for Warm Weather – the Men in Blue deliver May flowers to Barracks Row baskets. 66 H hillrag.com

Many of us love to participate as often as possible in the conviviality and flavor adventures tantalizingly available on Barracks Row, but our waist size is the eternal governor. Hence, in the shadow of Capitol Hill’s restaurant row, gyms and exercise facilities of all kinds are open now or opening soon. Happily for these gyms and studios, our unresolved calorie chase means business. Just four blocks west of Barracks Row at 4th and G Street, SE, Results

the Gym has been the fullservice neighborhood work-out spot for years with a devoted local following. There is a second Results location at 1101 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Washington Sports Club at 3rd and D Street, SE, part of an east coast chain of work-out facilities, has bragging rights to a certain senator from Illinois who often worked out there. He moved on to a better job and now has his own private gym. At both Results and WSC elliptical equipment and treadmills are easy to find. A forty five minute interval session on a treadmill (every few minutes, raise the speed) will expend somewhere in the vicinity of 500 calories. Just ask at the gym for details.

three other Vida locations in DC on U Street, Logan Circle and in Penn Quarter. Just like the restaurant industry, gyms come in all sizes with wideranging menu options. In and around

New Ways to Stay Fit

Soon Results and Washington Sports Club will have company. Jumping into the full-service local gym scene at the high end is Vida Fitness, opening mid 2014 at 4th and M Street, SE. Pretty facilities and pretty staff seem to be part of the Vida Fitness equation, but there is debate about whether Vida Fitness is a nightclub-gym or just thebest-gym-ever with eye-popping amenities. Are we seeing a crossover emerging, an exotic blend combining certain elements of restaurant culture chic with fitness? You could take a look for yourself how Vida Fitness is evolving by touring the

Roberta Rothstein, owner of Momentum Dance and Fitness Studio, 534 8th Street, 2nd Floor, wants you to get up and dance.


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Bikes v.s. Cupcakes, FroYo, Organic Bread and Pastries- What will it be?

Barracks Row we have three boutique workout facilities now open. In 2012, Biker Barre, 738 7th Street, SE, revealed a fleet of stationery bikes for music-driven cardio workouts. Biker Barre also features barre pilates to strengthen core muscles. These two niche workout offerings are wrapped in a smartly designed studio environment with wi-fi where members are encouraged to hang out. In March 2013, Momentum Dance and Fitness Studio moved in at 534 8th Street, SE, upper level, just south of Tash and Nooshi, 538 8th Street, SE. and more or less directly across 8th Street from Lavagna, 539 8th Street, SE. Momentum Dance and Fitness Studio’s founder and director, Roberta Rothstein, believes her job is to set your inner dancer free. Available today on her class roster are dance lessons of all kinds, except tap which would damage the hardwood floors. Also there are barre classes, pilates, plus Zumba. In May, Capitol Hill Fitness, a small, focused work-out facility will open at 725 8th Street, SE, just south of Capitol Hill Bikes, 719 8th Street, SE and City Bikes at 707-709 8th Street, SE. The epicenter of the calorie wars, on this short half block of 7th Street, SE, patrons can gloriously unravel their calorie heroics with a visit to Spring Mill Bakery, 701 8th Street, SE, Hello Cupcake at 705 8th Street and 32 Below (watch those toppings!) at 703 8th Street, SE, all the while inspecting display bikes and peeking into Capitol Hill Fitness. Capitol Hill Fitness is a new take on an old concept – low impact circuit training. Already the personal trainer community is taking notice with approval. At Capitol Hill

Fitness there is no membership. It’s strictly pay-as-you-go. Trainers can take their time and move from machine to machine as their clients’ fitness goals dictate. There are two more noteworthy exercise destinations near Barracks Row: At the Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, the schedule always contains multiple dance and exercise classes throughout the year for various age groups. Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th Street, SE, teaches a variety of dance classes. Roberta Rothstein of Momentum Dance and Fitness Studio agrees with other experts’ general estimates: depending on age, weight and how hard you work, a 60 minute Zumba class will burn between 350 and 600 calories almost offsetting a Barracks Row cheeseburger.

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Chefs and Fitness Gurus at Barracks Row Garden Party

You’ll find Roberta Rothstein and the owners and staffs of many of our local workout studios at the Barracks Row Garden party. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21 at the historic Deer House we’ll celebrate the continued revival and ongoing evolution of our 8th Street, SE, neighborhood. Meet the chefs, restaurant owners, and business owners who spotted the opportunity we offer both as a corridor and as a community. Every day they are there for you and, we hope, you for them. More than ever, the Row has options. Come celebrate. Tickets for the Barracks Row Garden Party are available now at www.barracksrow.org. H HillRag | May 2013 H 67


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ARTS & Dining

rench food has a bad rap for being heavy and fussy, full of complicated preparations dripping in rich sauces. Marie Ziar, co-owner with husband Sam of Le Grenier (502 H St. NE), set out to create something different. “I wanted the restaurant and the food to be low key, but very elegant,” she says. Those may seem like conflicting goals, but that is exactly what she has accomplished. Their vision began when Marie walked into the space. “I fell in love with it,” she says. I wanted to create something that felt like memory.” With the same restraint chef Tierry Sanchez shows in designing seasonal menus every three months, Marie filled the space with thrift shop finds, large bird cages which hang in the front of the restaurant, against faded wallpaper which stretches airily up three stories to the roof. Le Grenier is a comfortable space which feels like a charming interpretation of its name, a French word for “attic.”

first course. It’s not a matter of too many choices, rather each selection of first plate, salad, cheeses and charcuterie sounds better than the last. With recommendations from our server, and a little explanation of one forgivably indulgent description (the “saffron ocean cocoon,” it turns out, is a fish cake) we ordered, starting the evening with L’assiette des moissons: a plate of meats, pâté and three cheeses.

Charcuterie et fromages

Opening the schoolbook-like paper menus, we were a bit overwhelmed by our options for the TOP: Le Grenier’s galettes, or buckwheat crepes, feature rich toppings like duck breast, roquefort and black currant. Photo: Andrew Lightman LEFT: Tender lamb with asparagus and cardomom sweet potato puree with lemongrass, rosemary sauce. Photo: Andrew Lightman

HillRag | May 2013 H 69


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70 H hillrag.com

Le Grenier’s decadent profiteroles dripping in the best chocolate sauce you’ve ever tasted. Photo: Andrew Lightman

Appearing on a slate serving tray, the buttery mortadella and herb-crusted sausage were only outshone by the house-made duck pâté. An early indicator of the meal ahead, the pâté managed to be at once wonderfully rich, yet subtle and light.

Salades et soupes

Co-owners Sam (pictured) and Marie Ziar have created a casual space to serve elegant food.

Crisp baguette, still warm from the oven, accompanied by farm-fresh butter, appeared along with our soup and salads. My friend John’s endives aux fraises had me worried. Appearing a bit “French,” the salad of pale endive and strawberries, creamy with blue cheese dressing, looked heavy. The flavor, however, was perfectly balanced, pairing the nutty greens, sweet fruit and complex, caramelized shallot against the sharp, rich dairy of the dressing. I am fiercely proud of my vinaigrettes, but, I was schooled, and quite happily, by the surprisingly tangy-sweet honey balsamic dressing that popped off of my husband Jason’s baby spinach salad. I tucked into a bowl of the onion soup. If this dish is on a menu, I will order it. La Grenier’s was unexpected. More savory and tannic from red wine than rich from caramelized onion, the cheese was mild, not the expected buttery Provolone or sharp Gruyère. On a cold winter night I’ll still prefer mine rich with beef stock and sweet, syrupy onions, but the flavor was both interesting and delicious, one I would return for. As for that saffron ocean cocoon? It arrived at the table, a vision of 1970’s French cuisine, the pastry puff filled with a large, round fish cake, surrounded by silky, brown-orange crawfish sauce. The flavors delivered nostalgia for white china and tablecloths. Where the texture of the fish ball lacked delicacy, the crisp pastry and rich sauce compensated nicely.

Entrées

When it came to ordering our main course, the server nearly started a fight, stating confi-

dently that the gros ragout à l’orange, a beef stew, was the best thing on the menu. Ed immediately claimed it. John followed with the leg of lamb, and Jason the hanger steak and frites. Their entrees arrived, three plates of meat with gravy. Our server’s advice was spot on. Ed’s braised beef stew, elegantly tender, bright with orange and a piney bite of rosemary, was definitely the best dish of the night. The tournéed carrots melted while the Gruyère millet crumbled delicately like sweet, but mild, cornbread. John’s La Bergerie was the most beautiful plating of the evening. The impossibly tender lamb was piled neatly in the bowl topped with an elegantly simple fan of asparagus. The cardamom sweet potato purée provided a rich, warm counter to the pungent lemongrass, rosemary sauce which held up beautifully against the gamey flavors of the lamb. Jason’s hanger steak arrived, a Midwesterner’s dream of meat and potatoes. While incredibly flavorful, the hanger steak is a more challenging cook than most cuts of beef, chewy at rare and quickly dry at medium-well. La Grenier’s was flawless, beautifully tender. The fries were thin and crisp, good enough to argue a place in fine cuisine.

Galettes

I strayed from the entrées and ordered the Auvergnate galette, tempted by Roquefort, walnuts and duck paired with a black current glaze. Admittedly, I had no idea what to expect. The only galette I knew was a crisp cake of thinly sliced potatoes, and that did not


seem to fit the five offerings on the menu. What arrived was a beautifully plated buckwheat crèpe. It was thin and delicate, with a light spring, like Ethiopian injera, but more delicate in texture (it is, after all, French). The star of this plate is the breast meat of the Moulard duck, cooked perfectly rare, the rich fat as much a pleasure as the meat.

Indulgence

Stuffed, but determined, we opened the dessert menu. Beginning with crèpes, sweet, light poached pear, crunchy almonds and nutella encased in tender pastry arrived for Jason. Ed’s were filled with a perfectly warm, complex cardamom-custard sauce, paired with poached peach and elegant custard cream. John and I were a bit unimpressed when our plates arrived. John’s bowl of vanilla ice cream with strawberries and raspberry, red currant Melba sauce and my two pastry puffs filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with chocolate sauce seemed underwhelming after the arrival of the crèpes. We were both mistaken. If anything on the menu perfectly fulfills Marie’s goal of elegant and low key, it is these two desserts. I will always turn down chocolate for fruit, but I will return often for the sauce on the profiteroles, rich and fudgy, silky smooth. Our vanilla ice cream was both decadent with the scent and flavor of whole vanilla bean, and light, not eggy. Following the bold richness of our entrees, the bright, sweet simplicity of John’s fruit and cream demonstrated restraint, something the French seem to do far better than Americans. Marie and Sam’s restaurant is elegant, in both design and food, in an everyday sort of way. And it feels like you could comfortably eat there that often. Jonathan Bardzik is a storyteller, demo chef and food writer in Washington, DC. You can find him outside at Eastern Market, each Saturday morning, cooking with local, fresh produce. Find out what Jonathan is cooking by reading his blog www. whatihaventcookedyet.com or his Facebook page of the same name. H

a space to enjoy French Cuisine with a great wine selection or craft cocktail in a vintage attic décor, a cozy atmosphere with intimate ambiance on the vibrant H corridor. 502 H Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 202.544.4999 | Legrenierdc.com

HillRag | May 2013 H 71


ARTS& Dining

D I N I N G

A

N OT E S

by Celeste McCall

s many people get busier and wish to do less about 89 percent of his customers are repeats. Most offerings (Yucatan style). Started as a food truck by shopping and chopping, they still want a patrons live in the District, but scratchDC is expand- two friends, Capitol Hill is their second brick and home-cooked meal. Solution? ScratchDC, a ing to Northern Virginia. The only thing scratchDC mortar location. nine-month old company which delivers food “bun- doesn’t include is cleanup. dles” right to your doorstep. Ingredients are already Eager to try it out, Hansan dropped off a Baseball and Brews chopped, measured and even marinated for the likes “bundle”at our house, a cardboard box containing Just in time for the Washington Nationals openof chicken tikka masala, steak-and-gorgonzola egg ingredients for a vegetarian meal of cauliflower, kale, ing day, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant arrived rolls, bleu cheese-filet mignon. Everything arrives farfalle (bow-tie pasta) with Gruyere/ oregano sauce. April 1 at 100 M St. SE, near the Navy Yard and Nats in separate containers: milk, butter, olive oil, veggies, We were initially concerned about all that wrapping, Park. For the yeasty newcomer, General Manager spices, even salt and pepper. Instructions are cleverly but Hansan assured me that all packaging is bio-de- Brian Beauregard and Executive Chef Tony Blais written and easy to follow with ingredient sources on gradable and/or compostable. (Gordon Biersch veterans) have tapped Head Brewthe back. I prepared scratchDC’s dinner in about 25 min- er Travis Tedrow. On Opening Day, the place was ScratchDC’s five employpacked with Nats fans chompees operate out of a kitchen at ing on knife-and-fork burgers, National Harbor. However, the Cajun fish tacos and GB’s facompany is looking for a Washmous garlic fries. ington home. Deliveries are by The sprawling 226-seat, car–no trucks. “We are trying to 8,290-square-foot brewpub feabe as green as possible,”explained tures a stylish dining room and founder Ryan Hansan, 27, who a glass-enclosed brewing space. lives in Columbia Heights. “We In case you miss the first few inare also looking into pedi-cabs.” nings, you can watch umpteen Most ingredients (some organic) high-definition TVs scattered are locally grown; this summer around the bar area. An outthey are tapping nearby farms door beer garden seats 88 as five and co-ops. freshly brewed lagers flow. A major advantage with This is Gordon Biersch’s bundles is that food is not wast- LEFT: Thai Green Curry Chicken w/ Mushrooms, Red Peppers, Onions, Bamboo Shoots & Shelled Edamame over Rice. fourth Washington area venture. ed. Since ingredients are already CENTER: Ryan Hansan of ScratchDC. RIGHT: Creamy Garlic Parmesan Fettucini w Grilled Chicken, Portabellas & Walnuts. Others are located downtown, measured out, you don’t have to at Tysons Corner Center and buy an entire head of cauliflower Rockville Town Square. Navy Yard Gordon Biersch for a cupful or a jar of cumin if you need just one utes. I initially found it rather distracting to keep track is open daily for lunch and dinner, plus a happy hour spoonful. Another plus: you save time and effort. of all these little containers and using three pots. But and night bar noshing. For reservations and more “We take all the hard work out of it,” said Hansan. I followed directions precisely. I also thought at first information, call 202-484-2739. mailto:kbohen@ “We make it as fun as possible and we even throw in that the sauce had too much milk and was too salty. B aboutbwf.com cookie dough. We’re also working with a registered ut when I combined it with the pasta and veggies, it Also in time for baseball, the long-awaited Park dietitian and nutritionist. tasted just right. My dinner bundle could easily feed Tavern has arrived down the street at 200 M St. SE. ScratchDC menus change weekly. Prices range four, not two. We were eating pasta all week! The 3,500 square foot Tavern is reportedly the only from $24 to $30 for a two-person repast, dependFor more information or to place an order call Washington restaurant located in a park. Call 202ing on ingredients. That’s cheaper than most res- 202-549-1421 or www.scratchdc.com. 554-0005 or http://parktaverndc.com. taurant meals but pricier than shopping at Harris Teeter or Safeway. You may also order for groups, District Taco Opens Sporked Up a novel party idea. District Taco opened April 29 at 656 PennsylvaSince the Silver Spork (formerly Marvelous MarHansan might deliver as many as 30 to 50 bun- nia Ave. SE, in the space formerly occupied by Yes! ket) went solo a few months ago, managing partner dles a night. “Everyone loves it,” he said, adding that DT specializes in tacos, burritos and other Mexican 72 H hillrag.com


Seth Shapiro has added several neat items: Our favorite is the line of Café Spice “restaurant-style gourmet Indian dinners.” Normally, I’m not a fan of ready-to-serve fare; I prefer cooking from scratch. However, such culinary shortcuts come in handy when Peter, a tour guide, has an evening group and will be home late, or after my Spanish class which goes until 9 p.m. Then we pop the tasty dinners into the microwave. Sure beats those old fashioned TV dinners. So far, we’ve tried chicken tikka masala (tandoor grilled chicken in tongue-tingling sauce), chicken vindaloo (even spicier), channa masala (chick peas), and saag paneer (spinach and farmer’s cheese). Dinners come with rice. Chicken selections are a reasonable $7.49; veggie entrees are $6.99. Also new at Spork: Panas Gourmet empanadas–a package of three is $6.99, and fillings include chicken pesto, ham-and-cheese, smoked eggplant....Last but not least, at the end of the counter we’ve found packages of sweet potato red velvet mini cupcakes ($9.99 for a dozen). The cupcakes are really pretty and would make a charming hostess gift. Silver Spork is located at 303 Seventh St. SE. Call 202-544-7127.

If You Know Sushi

We finally got around to trying the sushi at Old Siam, a Barracks Row favorite. For a Sunday lunch, I ordered the sushi/sashimi lunch box, nine pieces plus a cup of miso soup, a bargain for $12. The tuna, salmon and mackerel were ultra fresh; my only complaint is that the pieces are too big! Working his magic behind Old Siam’s small sushi bar is Thai-born Tony. “Just call me Tony,” he insists. He reminded us about Old Siam’s sushi happy hour, offered daily from 4 to 7, when sushi items are just $1 each. Located at 406 Eighth St. SE, Old Siam is open daily for lunch and dinner. Call 202-544-7426.

Raw deal

Khepra’s Raw Food Juice Bar, 402 H St. NE, has undergone a facelift. Expect the new look any day now. The funky, neighborhood/culture center is reminiscent of the 1960s. It’s gained

a faithful following, as locals line up to sample–cafeteria style–uncooked dishes like avocado wraps, garlic kale, hummus and coconut “egg salad,” washed down with coconut milk, gooseberry blend, mega milk and other healthful drinks. Operated by Khepra Anu, the center is open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays. Call 202-8032063 or www.kheprarawbar.com.

How Sweet It Is....

CoCo Sala, the five-year-old chocololics’ paradise downtown at 929 F Street NW, is coming right to you. Sometime this spring–hopefully in time for Mother’s Day--look for a CoCo Sala chocolate shop at Union Market. Co-owner Nisha Sidhu, has fond childhood memories of visiting the “old” Florida market with her mother, and she wanted to resurrect that experience. Executive/pastry chef is Santosh Tiptur. CoCo Sala’s spinoff will dispense artisanal chocolates in all sorts of outlandish varieties like chocolate covered bacon, banana ginger, rosemary caramel, chipotle, peanut butter and jelly, mango lassi. All goodies are crafted right here in town, sans preservatives. For more information, call 202-347-4265 or www.cocosala.com.

A Classic H Street Gathering Place! HAPPY HOUR: 5-7 pm (Mon.-Fri.) Select Drafts 1/2 Price

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MON. Poker Night | TUE. Science Night WED. Booze Clues Trivia | THU. Night Bluegrass BLUEGRASS

MAY 2. By & By MAY 9. Samuel Miles Guthridge Only Lonsome MAY 16. Stick Mob

MAY 23. TBD MAY 30. Samuel Miles Guthridge

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1433 H ST NE • 202.250.3660 • www.argonautdc.com

More Sweets Plus Java

Sometime this summer, Robb Duncan and wife/business partner Dolcezza Violeta Edelman are moving their gelato production from Georgetown to 550 Penn St. NE. Their GT shop will remain. Ensconced in a 4,000 square-foot former wholesale flower market, the family enterprise is near the burgeoning Union Market. Dolcezza will have a mezzanine level gelato tasting room for 20 people who may also observe production, and a coffee “training station” showcasing Dolcezza’s artisan beans and brews. Dolcezza will work with area farmers and producers to create up to 300 flavors like blackberries & cream, Valrhona chocolate. They also make dairy free alternatives. A one-ounce serving is $3 to $5. Designed by Brian Miller of Edit, Dolcezza’s triangular space will glow with skylights and glass garage doors. For updates, visit http://dolcezzagelato.com. H HillRag | May 2013 H 73


ARTS& Dining

The Hero/Traitor Repertory A Shakespeare Theatre Double-Take

T

by Barbara Wells

he Shakespeare Theatre Company offers and frustration at his inability to obey and please the advice of Menenius Agrippa, played by the sage a rare treat this month at Sidney Harman his mother, the doting and domineering Volumnia and calming Robert Sicular, who struggles to guide Hall, where shared themes, sets and actors (Diane D’Aquila). and elevate his younger friend? Will he accede to occupy a single stage in alternating productions of The play’s dramatic tension is built on a simple his mother, whose swordplay and brief exchanges William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus and Friedrich question: What will Coriolanus do? Can he follow with Coriolanus’ young son leave no doubt that she’s Schiller’s Wallenstein. The “Hero/Traibeen exacting strict discipline and obetor Repertory” realizes Artistic Director dience since he was a child himself? Or Michael Kahn’s vision of simultaneously will he give in to his brittle resentment exploring two classical works, revealing of Junius Brutus (Philip Goodwin) and the complex connections and stark difSicinius Velutus (Derrick Lee Weeden), ferences between not only the plays but tribunes of the people who gall him with also the creative insights and impulses their demands of false humility? of their directors. While each of the two These mentors and nemeses hold productions is a satisfying experience, their own amid Page’s explosive perfortogether they are even more provocative mance—especially D’Aquila as a mother and stimulating. who is fully prepared to reject her son if Both plays grapple with the delicate he crosses her. Goodwin stands out too and dangerous dance between military as a small man relishing a taste of power: prowess and political power, tracing the Unable to be a great man himself, at least rise and fall of charismatic leaders who he can bring a great man down. perform unparalleled feats on the battleSchiller’s Wallenstein—particularly field but crash and burn when they fail to as translated and freely adapted by fortranslate that success to the civic arena. mer Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky—is far They simply cannot navigate fickle poless a study of its heroic figure and more litical allegiances and the whims of the a study of his time: the brutal and pointgeneral public. less 30 Years’ War at its midpoint in 1634. But in dramatizing each hero’s tragic In fact, rather than engaging in intensely fall, Shakespeare and Schiller part ways. emotional relationships and struggles, Coriolanus, the story of a Roman war Wallenstein frequently steps outside the hero, is driven by its protagonist’s inplay altogether, assuming the persona of a tense passion and a fundamental inabilthoroughly detached “Dead Wallenstein” ity to kowtow to the plebeians, whose who offers wry and often 21st century approval is essential to his rise to the commentary on the plot. office of consul—and whose rejection Played with incisive clarity by Steve leads to his doom. Pickering, Wallenstein may be just as Patrick Page takes on the role with frustrated as Coriolanus, but his downextraordinary gusto, in a voice so resonant fall results not from failing to play the and commanding that all others sound game but rather being trapped in a muted in its wake. His Coriolanus rides game that has no fixed rules. In this he an emotional roller coaster that takes him is not alone. His oldest friend Octavio from fearlessness in battle to fury as he (Robert Sicular), Octavio’s son Max rages against political expediency and (Nick Dillenburg), and Bailey, one of Patrick Page as Coriolanus and the cast of the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s producconvention, mixed with profound grief his generals (Chris Hietikko) also tion of Coriolanus, directed by David Muse. Photo: Scott Suchman 74 H hillrag.com


Ultimately, it’s the fine acting under Muse’s direction that carries the show. By contrast, Wallenstein director Michael Kahn sets his play firmly in its 17th century context, with actors in period costumes— also designed by Horton—that denote each character’s wealth, power and position. And Quinlan’s set works better here, with lighting and furnishings that define interior spaces, from the halls of power to a lady’s bedroom, and only hint at an expanse of battlefields and highways offstage. Kahn also beautifully underscores the universal suffering inflicted by the war. At key junctures his ghostly cast stands in rows across the stage, gently swaying back and forth as they listen to the grim narrative, as if batted about by relentless murder, torture and pillage. In one Steve Pickering as Wallenstein in the Shakespeare Theatre Comscene a child of this doomed socipany’s production of Wallenstein, directed by Michael Kahn. Photo: Scott Suchman ety, portrayed by Colin Carmody, sings a haunting song of longing for the life-giving beauty and struggle to define and join the “right” side warmth of spring. in a multifaceted conflict. While considering these differences beLayered on these distinctions between tween the productions, it’s also great fun to rethe plays is each director’s vision and choice fl ect on the actors’ performances in dual roles. of theatrical devices—even when using In both plays, Sicular is the assured voice of the same creative team and actors to reason and experience who is still ignored by execute them. David Muse—The Studio heroes with minds of their own. D’Aquila as Theatre’s artistic director and a former Volumnia and then Countess Szerny, WalShakespeare Theatre Company associate lenstein’s sister, shines as the powerful womartistic director—aims for a Coriolanus an behind the man, who can’t quite pull his confined to no particular time or place, or strings. And Philip Goodwin, whether as the what he calls a “swords and suits” productribune representing plebeians in Coriolanus tion, with mixed results. or as Questenberg representing the emperor Murell Horton’s costumes, while timein Wallenstein, is the ultimate weak man who lessly designed to signify class and position, patiently bears the scorn of heroes—knowing have a disconcerting uniformity. The matching dresses for the women, casual grey suits that he will prevail in the end. It’s also a joy to watch Max Reinhardsen, for the tribunes, floor-length robes for the a lowly member of the Coriolanus ensemble senators, and oddly wrapped blouses for the with barely a spoken line, whose comic flair soldiers are stylized in a way that almost realmost steals the show in a brief scene when a calls Star Trek, inadvertently making a stategroup of servants scramble to set dinner. One ment about an imaginary time period instead of the great pleasures of following Washof alluding to no particular time at all. ington theatre is noticing how well an actor Muse also asked Blythe R.D. Quinlan handles a small role—and looking forward to to design a set that, he says, “can make this seeing him turn up again in other shows. big stage feel crowded.” But the tight circle Washington is fortunate to have this of nondescript stone facades can leave the synergy of creative and intellectual power impression that what is supposed to be a focused on two such substantial plays. The horde of plebeians rioting in a city square is combination of Coriolanus and Wallenstein just a handful of disgruntled citizens conspiris truly greater than the sum of its parts. ing in a bunker. Other creative flourishes, like having plebeians move around the stage playBarbara Wells is a writer and editor for Reingold, a social ing drums and other musical instruments, marketing communications firm. She and her husband can be more distracting than illuminating. live on Capitol Hill. H

1025 First St SE Washington DC 202-652-1009

“Official Nationals Bar of 106.7”

Visit us for our progressive happy hour from 4-8pm. Drinks starting with

$3 Draft Beers $4 Rail Liquor $5 Firefly Vodka

“The only place near Nationals Stadium to pregame and postgame” HillRag | May 2013 H 75


ARTS& Dining

Tempranillo: A Good Alternative to Pinot Noir by Josh Genderson

M

y article a few months ago dealt with the difficulty in finding good, inexpensive Pinot Noir. This month, I will talk about one of my favorite alternatives, Tempranillo. Tempranillo is the classic red grape variety of Spain. Long thought to be a possible ancestor of Pinot Noir but now proved to be indigenous to Spain, there is no doubt that the grape does bear a marked resemblance to Pinot Noir, which is one reason I like it so much. Tempranillo responds sublimely to delicate integration of American and French oak, producing deeply colored smooth, elegant wines capable of long aging, with sensuous notes of vanilla, cedar and soft spice. It is also ideal for making young wines, “jovenes,” where the grape imparts juicy strawberry and summer fruit flavors. While I just made a comparison to Pinot, Tempranillo is so versatile that it can be matched with any varietal depending on where it is grown. Coined by Jancis Robinson as “Spain’s answer to Cabernet Sauvignon,” its style varies significantly depending on terroir and the wine-making techniques used. Cooler regions and stainless steel fermentation tend to produce Tempranillos with fresh strawberry and cherry like fruit, similar in body to Pinot Noir. Examples from hotter, more arid regions that undergo extended oak aging often produce richer, plumper, jammier wines, typically exhibiting chocolate, tobacco, and leather notes. Tempranillo provides the backbone of the highly regarded wines of Rioja, Toro and Ribera del Duero. In Rioja particularly, it is typically blended with Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano. In La Mancha and Navarra, it is commonly blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to produce inexpensive, great-value wines. One of the few places Tempranillo has spread to is Spain’s neighbor, Portugal. Grown mainly in the Douro valley since the mid 19th century, where they call it Tinta Roriz, it is used as one of the key blending agents in port. Lately it has been used in the region’s intensely rich, dry, table wines. The Tempranillo grape does its best in the cooler climates of northern Spain but is widely planted all over the country. Its name is from the Spanish temprano meaning “early,” referring to its early ripening, important in producing consistently ripe grapes in cooler climates. Tempranillo has a bewildering array of aliases around Spain’s wine regions. In La Rioja, Navarra, Somontano (in the Pyrenees) and the Levante (south eastern Murcia and Valencia), it is known by its international name, “Tempranillo”. However, it is also called “Cencibel” in La Mancha and Valdepeñas (south of Madrid); “Ull de Llebre” (eye of the hare) in Catalonia; “Tinta de País” or “Tinto Fino” in Ribera del Duero; “Tinta de Toro” in Toro and “Tinta de Madrid” in…I bet you can guess the area! Tempranillo is also planted outside Spain, in Portugal (where it is known as Tinta Roriz in the Douro, and is a principal component of Port and as “Aragonêz” in the Alentejo region east of Lisbon) and extensively in Argentina. 76 H hillrag.com

In the Rioja region, Tempranillo is blended with small amounts of Carignan (~10%) to increase the acidity of the wine. In Ribera del Duero, it is usually bottled by itself and it is here that the finest expression of the grape is shown. Good Tempranillo has flavors and aromas that range from fresh to dried cherries, a multitude of spices, black currants and a wide range of earthy components such as dust, tobacco and black olives. Wines can be found ranging in price from $5 for good, drinkable “Jovan” up to $500 for a great vintage of Vega Sicilia. At Schneider’s, my family and I take great pains to find incredible wines at great values. We have literally pounded the pavement in Spain to find some of the greatest, most expressive Tempranillos at affordable prices. The following are some of my current favorite Tempranillo’s for both their quality and price points. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

2007 Baigorri Crianza Rioja 750ml: $23.99

“The 07 Baigorri Crianza is bright ruby in color. Red berries and cherry on the nose, with complicating tobacco and oak spice nuances. Sweet and supple in texture, offering juicy raspberry and cherry flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate. Dusty tannins add grip to the finish, which repeats the cherry note and clings with very good tenacity.”

2005 Baigorri De Garage Rioja 750ml: $74.99

Deep cherry red colour, compote fruit aromas, aromatic herbs, bread and figs. Sensation of macerated fruits, raisins, tobacco, smoke and liquorice. Very round and tasty in the mouth, with a long and persistent ending.”

2007 Callejo Crianza 750ml: $29.99

The 2007 Crianza spent 12 months in French oak. Aromas of wood smoke, pencil lead, Asian spices, violets, and blackberry are followed by a full-bodied wine with gobs of succulent fruit, a suave personality, and excellent balance. Give it 2-3 years of additional cellaring and drink it through 2019.

2008 Finca Munoz Old Vine Tempranillo 750ml: $24.99

Finca Munoz’ 2008 Tempranillo Cepas Viejas was fermented with native yeasts and aged for 12 months in French and American oak. Expressive minerals, violets, spice box, and black cherry aromas inform the nose of a spicy, ripe, layered red that narrows out in the finish. If it should fill out with additional bottle age, it will merit an outstanding rating. Josh Genderson is a wine expert at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill, 300 Massachusetts Ave. NE, DC, 202-543-9300, www.cellar.com. H


Thoughts Of A Jazz Lover

Jazz can be enigmatic, an alchemy of mysterious sounds and moods that is spontaneous and yet deliberate in its free flowing creativity. The music can be complex, but good jazz feels as simple as first love—it goes straight to the heart and rests there, beating gently. At times, the music can be so life-like that it speaks to you with honesty and love. One still gets a keen sense of understanding of the complexity of the music. There is such a high note of haughtiness, perhaps a sort of natural aristocracy from a kind of inbred austerity about jazz that puts it in a class by itself, elevating one to a higher ground of one’s consciousness. It almost borders on elitism, and yet jazz strikes one as a beautiful music for everyone. And it is, especially for those of us who not only enjoy but truly love the music. You can walk in your door after a hard day’s work and a harrowing Metro ride, put on Sarah Vaughn and your world is transformed. Your mind clears, your body relaxes and suddenly life is pretty good. There’s no drug in the world that can do that. Jazz is beautiful music.

I Thought About You (A Tribute To Chet Baker) ••• Eliane Elias, Concord Reords

Brazilian pianist-vocalistarranger Eliane Elias has given us a fine tribute to the late trumpeter and singer Chet Baker, one of America’s premier jazz legends. Noted for one of his solo performances on his most memorable album, My Funny Valentine, Mr. Baker earned much attention and critical praise through the 1950s, particularly for albums featuring his vocals (Chet Baker Sings, It Could Happen to You). Known for

his good looks, Mr. Baker’s “wellpublicized drug habit” also drove his notoriety and fame; he was in and out of jail regularly before enjoying a career resurgence in the late 1970s and ‘80s. The name of this album from Ms. Elias is a confirmation of Mr. Baker’s gift for all of us: you were always on his mind. All the songs heard here are about the romance of love and the humanity of our connection to life. Don’t miss Ms. Elias beautiful and sexy rendition of “Embraceable You.” Listen and enjoy.

It’s About Time ••• The Verve Jazz Ensemble

Formed in 2006 by drummer Josh Feldstein, the Verve Jazz Ensemble features trumpeter Tatum Greenblatt, pianist Matt Oestreich-

er, tenor saxophonist Jon Blanck and bassist Chris DeAngelis. This debut album offers Bebop standards such “Lady Bird,” “Boplicity” and “Jordu”; the big band reduction of “Big Swing Face”; two favorite classics of Henry Mancini’s “The Days of Wine and Roses” and Oscar Hammerstein’s “Softly as in a Morning Sunrise.” The music is full of energy and vitality, both harmonically and melodically, resulting in a rich, flavorful, hypnotic jazz atmosphere that comes alive with the tenor saxophone and trumpet throughout the entire performances. One gets the feeling of being in a big, illustrious concert hall. The tender melody of “The Days of Wine and Roses” offers a perfect opportunity to showcase Mr. DeAngelis’ very sensitive introductory solo as well Mr Oestreicher’s inspired playing.

Crooks erupts mid-tune with a potent electric guitar solo to which Ms. Harris’ sax response is an unadulterated climax. Appearing on the disc in both instrumental and vocal versions, the title track (featuring singer Joel Bowers) is an urban-drenched field of shuffling percussion onto which Ms. Harris pours a cascading deluge of sax melody. Slow and seductive, “Chillin’” is perfect for a night of candles and incense. “Here & Now,” the album’s lone cover tune, finds Ms. Harris embracing the modern romantic standard. A dose of R&B-

Summer Rain ••• Jeanette Harris, J&M Records

The soulful urban-jazz album written and produced by Jeanette Harris showcases her songwriting finesse and sweet saxophone skills on a dozen R&B grooves. She penned or collaborated on 11 new songs for the disc and played alto sax, flute, keyboards and drum programming on the set dedicated to her mentor, the late soul queen Teena Marie, with whom Harris toured during the last year of the singer’s life. “Just Keep Holding On,” opens the album with a mid-tempo R&B joint with Darrell Crooks’ funky guitar riffs serving as an ideal counterpoint to Ms. Harris’ amorous alto sax. The beats get funkier and the melody gets bigger on the anything but idle “Passing Time.” “Take Me There” is a sultry moodsetter that ebbs and flows. Mr.

pop goes down “Oh So Good” with Ms. Harris’ lilting sax leading the mellifluous fun. She teams with saxman Marcus Anderson to animate “12:57.” You know exactly what ingredients Ms.Harris serves on the custom-brewed blend of “jazz” and “delicious” she titles “Ja’licious.” Suffice to say, this album has a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy and relax. All CDs and DVDS reviewed in this article are heard through Bowers & Wilkens 802D Speakers and ASW 4000 subwoofer, and Rotel Preamp 1070, amplifier 1092 and CD player 1072. CDs are available for purchase through amazon.com For more information about this column, please email your questions to fagon@hillrag.com. H

HillRag | May 2013 H 77


ARTS& Dining

ATTHE MOVIES

Half a Loaf

Rushdie’s Epic Novel Transferred to Big Screen by Mike Canning

Midnight’s Children

Salman Rushdie has been known as one of the most prominent writers of English prose since his breakout novel of 1981, “Midnight’s Children.” A critical (Booker Prize winner) and popular success, the book has been considered as a film project for years, but its vast canvas of the subcontinent and its real/surreal qualities made it a daunting prospect for the screen. It took more than 30 years, but finally Rushdie himself came up with a screenplay, and the project found a director attuned to the subject, Deepa Mehta. How does it come off as a film after all these years? Exotic, yes; handsome? indeed; epic sweep? Sort of. Storytelling? Only dutiful.

With Rushdie himself providing the over-voice narration, the tale begins in Kashmir in 1917, with the courtship and marriage of the narrator’s grandparents. The grandfather, a doctor (Aadam Aziz), establishes a practice in Agra and has three daughters, one of whom, Mumtaz (Shahana Goswami), marries and is due to deliver a child at midnight on 15 August 1947, the moment of India’s independence from Great Britain. The narrator and protagonist of the story, Saleem Sinai, is born at the stroke of midnight, along with several hundred other Indian newborns. However, a nurse named Mary (Seema Biswas) switches Saleem, the offspring of a lowly street-singer, with the Sinai’s actual child so he

From Left: Parvati (Shriya Saran) and Saleem (Satya Bhabha) in “Midnight’s Children.” Photo Courtesy of Hamilton Mehta Productions. 78 H hillrag.com

Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey (left) with Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in “42,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by D. Stevens.

grows up with the well-off Sinais, cared for by the now guilty Mary who swapped him in the first place. As a boy, Saleem discovers that he can mentally envision all the children who were born on that stroke of midnight, all of whom have individual magical powers. These midnight children include his eventual nemesis, Shiva. Years later, with Saleem a teenager (played by Satya Bhabha), nurse Mary confesses her crime, crushing the family and completely alienating Saleem’s stern father. The young man is sent off to Pakistan to live with his uncle General Zulfika (Rahul Bose) who is

preparing a coup on the eve of the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War. Saleem eventually becomes enmeshed in the 1971 breakaway of East Pakistan as Bangladesh and is able to escape with the help of another midnight child, Parvati (Shriya Saran). The summary above is only the barest of outlines for what is this movie’s abundance of plot. That very narrative fecundity, in which the novel relishes, makes for some rough going for a film that perhaps tries to cover too much in its relatively languid 149 minutes (the film opens in Washington on May 3). Deepa Mehta would seem a sound choice to helm this kind of grand Indian tableau. Born in India, she made her way to Canada in the early 1970’s, but she has kept her film-making fo-


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cus on her homeland, particularly in her trilogy of Indian stories, “Fire,” “Earth,” and the splendid “Water” (the last released in 2005). She was able to conjure up her Indian story by using locations in Sri Lanka. But, faced with the Rushdie screenplay, she may have felt a bit compliant in going along rather too faithfully with what the novelist himself had written. A particular example: the novel’s rich fantasy sequences, mingled with real events, are fully acceptable and flow seamlessly on the page, with contemporary readers accustomed to the devices of “magic realism.” In the film, however, these sequences appear clumsy and out of tone with the rich evocation of Indian life, photographed convincingly throughout the rest of the picture. Evidence of this is that the fantasy sequences are used less and less as the movie progresses, underlining their wispiness and relative unimportance. Bottom line: if you are looking for a suggestive introduction to another part of our world, give “Midnight’s Children” a tumble. If you are looking for a fine cinematic mingling of reality and fantasy, rent “The Life of Pi.”

Short Takes

42 – If you like your inspirational sports stories told straight, no chaser, you could do much worse than “42,” the new biography of the man who broke baseball’s color line, Jackie Robinson (“42” was Robinson’s uniform number during his career). The film covers the early years of Robinson’s story: his selection as the first black player signed to play in the major leagues in 1945 to his eventual triumph in his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. For fans who know that story (like this writer), the script (by director Brian Helgeland) ticks off all the dramatic elements of Robinson’s odyssey (his first painful trials, the harsh encounters in the South, his stomaching of vicious abuse and racism, etc.) and does them effectively. To younger viewers, Jackie’s performance as a stellar player who accepted his breakthrough role with unmatched dignity could be seen as a revelation (the film runs 128 min. and is rated PG-13). Chadwick Boseman does a solid turn as Robinson. Though he ap-

pears a bit older than the real Robinson (who was 27-28 at the time), he communicates the fierce control of the man, his poise matching his pride. Harrison Ford finally takes on a character role worthy of him as Branch Rickey, the Dodger General Manager who selected Robinson as the appropriate man for a “great experiment.” With good makeup and an amply crusty demeanor, he gives off the right Rickey vibes, a practical man wedded to a moral right. The film’s re-creation of the mid-1940’s in America may be a bit too well scrubbed, but it still looks great. To the Wonder – Writer-director Terence Malick is known as a perfectionist filmmaker who micromanages every angle and shot. For that reason, he has, prior to 2012, directed only five films in the 40 years, including “The Tree of Life” in 2011. Wonder of wonders, Malick has now, in less than a year, come out with, “To the Wonder,” a film which might have benefited from a longer shooting schedule or, perhaps, been better left in the can (rated “R,” the film runs 112 min.) The film succumbs completely to what has marred parts of Malick’s earlier films: a willful obscurity. In this mini-review, I could summarize the plot, but, frankly, it isn’t worth doing because the “story” is mostly incoherent, as are some of the actors (like the muttering Ben Affleck). In trying to show the ecstasy then disillusionment of a love affair, the chemistry between his couple (the girl is Olga Kurylenko) is conveyed mostly by swirling, diving camera moves that stand in for character and personality. Another of his tics, a languid, overwritten over-voice narration, doesn’t help move a turgid narrative. Then there is a befuddling counter-element dropped into the film of a local priest ( Javier Bardem), again over-voicing, having his faith tested for no clear reason. Frankly, it looks like too much of “To the Wonder” consists of outtakes, appropriately taken out of “The Tree of Life.”

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Hill resident Mike Canning has written on movies for the Hill Rag since 1993 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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I

t’s easy to connect with the sculptures of Carol Newmyer. Maybe it’s their dramatic movement—the rhythms that began in the origins of life. Her “Eurythmy” dance figures are based on the movements of the Pilobolis dance troupe, with their almost impossible configu-

Dancing Necklace

Roots and Wings 80 H hillrag.com

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

rations and contortions. In other works, such as “Roots and Wings” and “Angle Rising,” Carol captures the fluid moments when spirits are released from the roots of mortality, escaping the grasp of drab reality and the tensions that are incubated in the starched regiments of ordinary ambition.

high school. Carol also creates jewelry, “wearable art,” which, like her sculptures of dance, allow the owners to rearrange the figures to create new groupings. Each is designed so that there is not a wrong way to reposition the figures. You can play with the forms as the situation requires, staying within her preconceived designs. The visual freedom, the visible music of a Carol Newmyer sculpture, is only possible

Finding the Balance sculpture

With all of the twists and turns and feathery flights, it’s easy to forget the bronze permanence of the art form. That permanence is deceivably flexible. The “lost wax” process allows Carol to “work the wax,” creating a wonderfully physical connection. It begins her love affair with each piece as her hands pull ideas and visions together to become visual music. Carol graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in the District, and received a BFA in sculpture from the University of Georgia. She has been drawn to three-dimensional art for as long as she can remember. She became an apprentice and assistant to Margery Goldberg, wood sculptor and Zenith Gallery owner, while still in

through exacting processes—the command of bronze casting, and the push and pull of artistic tensions. Carol’s sculpture and “wearable art” can be found at the A-RTS Festival at the Rockville Town Square, May 4-5 in Booth #209. Her work is always on display at the Zenith Gallery Salon (see At the Galleries). www.carolnewmyer.com.

Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art

The optimal place to show your art is in a big room with white walls and good lighting, with a full-time person to talk up the art and take the money. It is best located where you get a continuous parade of artsy-types walking by all day…dropping in with their dogs, kids and ice cream cones. I was involved in one such gallery on Capitol Hill. It was on 7th St. SE, right smack between the Historic Eastern Market and the Metro. We sold scads of art, but ultimately not enough to pay the rent. Art galleries come and go like any other class of business. In DC, they are going

artandthecity

Artist Portrait: Carol Newmyer

by Jim Magner


more than they are coming. The main culprit, of course, is the quickchange neighborhood phenomena—low rent tonight, and high rent tomorrow. Very high. Also, DC is not an art destination. People come here to either work in government or manipulate it. Visiting lobbyists don’t buy paintings. Tourists visit the grand museums where they pick up a couple of rollup posters that fit into the carry-on. So what’s an artist to do? More and more you can find good, if noncontroversial rotating shows in the lobbies of hotels and commercial spaces. A cynical person might suggest that they are just decorating their lobbies for free, but they do provide a space for an opening reception, which can result in sales. On the Hill, there is the Hill Center, 921 Penn Ave SE, the newest go-to place for art and culture. And, of course, CHAL, the Capitol Hill Arts League at 545 7th St. Zenith Galleries is now showing in various locations around town. (See Zenith 35). I have a painting at one of those places, 1495 F St., but my only permanent gallery is a big room with poor lighting and paneling: my basement.

At the Galleries

Albrecht Dürer – National Gallery of Art. 7th and Constitution NW – June 9

“Albrecht Dürer: Master Drawings, Watercolors, and Prints from the Albertina” is not an exhibit to miss if you have any appreciation for art. It’s fair to say that Dürer (14711528) is a, if not the, master of drawing. The genius begins in the eye. He misses nothing. Drawings, warercolors, engravings, woodcuts…118 works in all. www.nga.gov.

At the Galleries

Celebrating 35 Years – Zenith Gallery. 1429 Iris St. NW – Ongoing

The Zenith Gallery—the love, life and labor of Margery Goldberg—turns 35 this year. There used to be one principle venue for Zenith. The first opened in 1978 on Rhode Island Ave., and moved to 400 block of 7th St. NW in 1986, when the “Penn Quarter” was a seedy cluster

of porn shops. Zenith became a draw and then a hub for other art galleries, and the block became a local art destination. Guess what? The neighborhood got respect and a makeover, and the art galleries got the financial boot. Zenith, however, is too tough to die and too good for the District to just go away. Margery, of course, understands that survival in DC is a changing game. She has art displays and shows in commercial buildings around town. Her main gallery is now at her home at 1429 Iris St., NW. Go there. Drive up the street and you can’t miss it. The place rocks with art inside and out. It stands out from the rows of somber neighboring habitats like Carman Miranda in a convent. It’s a fun place. You see, Margery is a terrific and dedicated artist in her own right, but also has a total passion for the art of others. She surrounds herself with their visions as they come alive on paper, canvas, wood, bronze, and in any form solid or whimsical. There are sculptures in the front, and in her sunken sculpture garden in the back. The inside walls support every form of painting and hanging. The limitless colors don’t clash so much as dance. It’s always carnival time at Margery’s—it couldn’t be anything else. She represents over 40 artists and they are all right there—all the time. If you’re looking to buy art, or just looking, this is the top gallery in town. www.zenithgallery.com.

“Cherry Blossoms in Springtime” – Zenith Gallery Wash., DC Economic Partnership. 1495 “F” St. NW – May 31

These are works that share a link to the annual blossoming of the cherry blossoms around the tidal basin and the Jefferson Memorial. Some are direct representations, others celebrate the month of April, or just America. Bradley Stevens, Ken Girardini, Phil Hazard, Michela Mansuino and Jim Magner. They can be seen Mon-Fri, 9-5. www.zenithgallery.com. 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

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the

LITERARY HILL

A Compendium of Readers, Writers, Books, & Events

by Karen Lyon

M

In the 1930s, opportunities for black ball players were limited. Even the great Satchel Paige, a pitcher whose strike-out record has yet to be matched, was relegated to the Negro Leagues. But Churchill lured him, as well as many other talented players, to North Dakota to play on his team alongside white Play Ball! players. It was the time of the Great Back in the early part of the twenDepression and the Dust Bowl, when tieth century, every small town in people were desperate for anything American boasted a semi-pro baseball that would take their minds off their team. Bismarck, North Dakota was no troubles – and barnstorming baseball exception. What made the Bismarck teams did just that. team exceptional was that its owner, Paige’s phenomenal talent (and car dealer Neil Churchill, decided “to outrageous showmanship), compump up the win column by putting bined with the great fielding and the best possible team on the field.” hitting of his teammates, caused one The team that he put together inmajor leaguer to comment, “I knew cluded some of the finest athletes who there were a lot of good Negroes in ever played the game and some of the baseball. I just didn’t know they were greatest ball players you’ve never heard all in Bismarck.” The team went on of -- because they were black. to capture the 1935 National Semi“Color Blind: The Forgotten Team Pro Pennant, but the days of intethat Broke Baseball’s Color Line” is local journalist Tom Dunkel’s tribute grated baseball were numbered. It to the Bismarck team, as well as to the wouldn’t be until 1947 when an Afpioneering owners, reporters, oppo- rican American would be invited to nents, and fans who “groped their way play in the Major Leagues. “Color Blind” is a great story of along the racial divide” and eventually a time when baseball was king and changed the way the game was played. race temporarily took a back seat – and Dunkel tells it with all the panache of Paige himself. Even readers who don’t know a slider from a steal will find themselves engrossed in the rich history and flavor of the time, which Dunkel ably brings to life. As Gene Journalist Tom Weingarten writes, “Give an Dunkel chronicles exceptional storyteller an exthe history of an ceptional story to tell, and integrated baseball team in the 1930s. you just might wind up with a eet the authors below — along with three dozen other local writers – at the Literary Hill BookFest on Sunday, May 5, 11a.m.-3 p.m., in the North Hall of Eastern Market. The BookFest features book talks, activities for the kids, book sales, and an opportunity to chat with local publishers, librarians, conservators, and others. For more, visit www.literaryhillbookfest.org.

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Photographer Rindy O’Brien has an eye for the beauty of Capitol Hill.

book as good as Tom Dunkel’s ‘Color Blind.’” This one is a home run.

Picturing Capitol Hill

Rindy O’Brien has an eye for Capitol Hill -- not only for its “mustsee spots,” but also for the “tuckedaway places that make the Hill truly special.” She shares fifty of her photographs in a new book called “@ Home on the Hill,” a colorful compendium of all the familiar scenes we may pass by every day but not take the time to see. There’s a dog waiting patiently outside Jimmy T’s, a lace curtain glimpsed through a window, a cascade of purple wisteria outside a church at dusk, a handmade sign prohibiting ‘firewood or religion pedlars,’ and William Shakespeare gazing from a rooftop. No matter how well you think you know Capitol Hill, you’ll find something here to surprise and delight you. And should you want to know exactly where that statue or jack-o’-lantern was photographed, O’Brien thoughtfully provides addresses at the end. Rindy O’Brien, whose photography has been included in numerous juried exhibitions, has been the garden writer and photographer for the Hill Rag for the past six years.

Washington at War

What would it have been like to

live in Washington, DC during the Civil War? In a new book, “A Guide to Civil War Washington, D.C.: The Capital of the Union,” historian Lucinda P. Janke imagines the upheaval those four years must have caused: “the peaks and valleys of anxiety for residents of the city as well as mixed loyalties among families, concern for the fate of the capital and the president, the increase in military activity…” She also considers the swift and enormous changes that occurred to the city itself, with an influx of people – “soldiers, support personnel, opportunists, civilians, and fleeing slaves, plus horses, cattle and wagons” – that nearly doubled the population and overwhelmed its resources. In order to feed them all, she writes, a bakery was established in the basement of the Capitol and so many cattle grazed around the Washington Monument that the area became known as the Beef Depot. Dealing with the injured led to a building boom of hospitals. Among the book’s many archival photographs is one of the Armory Square Hospital, which occupied the space where the National Air and Space Museum now stands, showing a bed-lined ward of injured soldiers stretching nearly as far as the eye can see. “Part of the job of the nurses and visitors,” writes Janke, “was to cheer and amuse the patients, who suffered terrible wounds and a long, uncertain convalescence.” The Old Naval Hospital (now the Hill Center) is one of the few remaining facilities from that time. Many of the changes to DC lasted long after the war ended. As Janke writes, “the Civil War would alter Washington demographically,


socially, culturally, economically, politically, architecturally, and medically.” In “A Guide to Civil War Washington, D.C.,” she provides a beautifully illustrated and compassionately written look at a city at war and at the long-lasting effects still evident today.

This Month on the Hill

The Hill Center offers two free book events in May: Emma Brockes, author of “She Left Me the Gun: My Mother’s Life Before Me,” on May 23 at 7

Historian Lucinda Janke explores what D.C. was like during the Civil War.

p.m., and poet Katy Didden, author of “The Glacier’s Wake,” on May 30 at 7 p.m. Register at hillcenterdc.org or 202549-4172. Poet Paul Muldoon reads at the Folger Shakespeare Library, May 13, 7:30 p.m. Also at the Folger this month is the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Ceremony, May 4, 7 p.m. This year’s winner is Benjamin Alkiore Sáenz, author of “Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club.” For tickets, visit www. folger.edu or call 202-544-7077. At the Library of Congress this month, Obama Inaugural poet Richard Blanco reads on May 17 at 2 p.m., and poets Mark Doty and Sally Keith read from the works of Walt Whitman, May 31, noon. For more, visit www.loc.gov. H

THE POETIC HILL

Think there’s nothing poetic about Capitol Hill? Stay tuned! This month marks the debut of a new poetry feature in the Hill Rag, where each month we’ll print a poem by Jean Nordhaus a local poet. If you’d like to have your poem considered for publication, please send it to klyon@literaryhillbookfest. org. (There is no remuneration.) Our inaugural poem is by Jean Nordhaus, who is the author of the award-winning poetry collection “Innocence,” as well as “The Porcelain Apes of Moses Mendelssohn” and several other books and chapbooks. She has administered the poetry program at the Folger Shakespeare Library, where she currently serves on its Poetry Board, and she teaches poetry at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda. Meet Jean Nordhaus, as well as Hill poet Patricia Gray, at the Literary Hill BookFest on May 5 at Eastern Market.

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IN PORT CITY JAVA Two old radicals at rest share an idle hour in port talking of the movement days: who’s dead, who’s where? Remember Dale? Remember Bill? I try not to eavesdrop, study the fog on my screen, searching for illumination, but their voices ring through the somnolent noise of froth and steam like hammers striking iron. Union women, they are marchers and shouters, who fought for the Good and have washed up here— becalmed, but cheerful in the afterlife. Friendship stronger than picket lines. The short one limps out into the rain, sets her cane in her car, and backs in after it. The tall one mounts an ancient bicycle with spidery wheels and pedals off into the neighborhood, her poncho waving like a banner in the wind. H

HillRag | May 2013 H 83



Estate HealthReal & Fitness Brewers Court

The Life and Death of a Capitol Hill Alley

A

lleys have been an important feature of Capitol Hill since the early days of the city, with small houses tucked behind the main streets giving many a place to live. Some of these dwellings were nothing more than wooden shacks, unconnected to the city’s amenities, but many were solid, brick dwellings – albeit small. Some alleys have remained in use until today – Gessford Court being a prime example – while others, especially those dominated by ramshackle hovels, have been eradicated from the city. Still others have disappeared due to the changing nature of their neighborhood. Brewer’s Court is a prime example of the latter. Brewer’s Court, located between 6th, 7th, G and H Streets, NE, was for about 50 years home to hundreds of DC residents. Square 859, which contains the alley, was laid out as part of the L’Enfant plan, and later subdivided

by Robert S Pohl into 22 lots, bisected by a 15-foot wide alley, with two T-shaped roadways extending left and right of the central alley. The city began work on the amenities of the alley in 1887, well after the Columbia Railroad had made H Street, NE a thriving neighborhood. While the outside of the square was filled with large houses, the inside became a warren of small, brick rowhouses, with the alley itself curling around from one side of the square to the other. The first permit for houses on the alley were granted in 1888, and a few years later, the city directory begins listing residents on Brewer’s Court. Among them are three brewers: Frederick Cechlinger at 620, John Danhakl at 618, and Ernst Rauth around the corner at 616. It was their presence, and the Washington Brewery Company just a few blocks to the southwest, that gave the alley its name.

An artist’s impression of the square ca. 1880. Square 859 is in the lower right, and shows only a row of three houses along H Street, as well as a few other buildings scattered among them. The B&O railway can be seen in the upper left. (LOC) HillRag | May 2013 H 85


In Memoriam

Frank J. Zampatori Jr

September 26, 1944 to April 15, 2013

The entrance to the alley from 6th Street. The Schnaebele’s store would have been to the left just past the end of the first property. (RSP)

A Railroad Tragedy

The residents of Brewer’s Court were working class, and thus they appear in the newspapers of the time only when disaster strikes in one form or another. One event that made the news in 1896 was the untimely death of two young residents of the alley. On a beautiful June day, Albert Jenkins and Freddie Smith went to Trinidad to hunt for flowers. Returning home, they walked along the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio railway. As they approached Florida Avenue, an incoming express train from Baltimore knocked young Smith into his companion, killing them both instantly. It took some time for the youngsters to be identified, and the DC morgue was besieged by parents anxious to know if it was their sons who had been killed. Eventually, with the identifications made, the news was brought to Brewer’s Court, where the grieving mothers were surrounded by the boy’s mourning playmates. At the inquest a neighbor, Theodore Schnaebele, the son of the local grocer, told of how he followed the other two, and how he left the tracks after being 86 H hillrag.com

warned by a railway official. Others corroborated Schnaebele’s account, and the court exonerated the railroad from all blame. Jenkins and Smith were buried two days after the accident, with the funerals being held in their respective houses, just across a narrow alley.

The Kidnapped Wife

Brewer’s Court found itself on the front page of the local papers ten years later, and once again, the Schnaebele family found itself in the midst of the story. It began on March 28, 1905, when a note appeared through the fence of the house next to the Schnaebeles. They had never met the woman who lived there, or her child, but the note was addressed to the woman’s father, and they sent it on its way. The next day, the father showed up and rescued his daughter and grandchild. They had been held there against their will by the husband, one Franklin Dementt. The rescued daughter, Mollie Kneas, thought that the story was over, until she learned a year later that her husband had been caught after


a wild police chase through the streets of DC, that he had been married again, and had treated his new wife as poorly as his first wife. In the course of the testimony Mollie Kneas gave in the trial that followed, she told of how she had eloped with him in 1902, and how he had then held her against her will at various places, including finally Brewer’s Court, where he had barred the windows, raised the fence and covered over the back yard, to ensure that she could not escape his beatings. Dementt was sent to jail for his treatment of the two women he called his wives, while both of them returned to their respective parents. The changes that followed at Brewer’s Court had nothing to do with the stories that had occurred within, but rather were due to the changing nature of the neighborhood. It began in 1914 when, instead of more houses, a blacksmith shop was built in the alley. Subsequently, an automobile repair shop was built, as well as a new building for the rapidly expanding Ourisman Chevrolet dealership. With the addition of a laundry, the switch from residential to light industrial was complete by 1927. Nonetheless, some people remained in the alley, and in 1938, there were attempts to brighten Brewer’s Court through the addition of window boxes to each house that remained. However, the last time Brewer’s Court is mentioned in the Washington Post is because of the murder of one of its residents in 1950. In the 1970s, the land was bought up by the DC Redevelopment Land Agency, and, after removing most of the alley dwellings, they built a series of brick buildings fronting H Street in which today various agencies have their offices. Today, only a single building stands in the interior of the square, the simple coach house behind a 7th Street residence.

Making More Real Estate Success Stories!

FABULOUS 2 Unit : 441 10th St NE $899,000

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

SEEKING INVESTOR PARTNERS

Lauren Goss, JD 5101 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 office: 202-364-5200 direct: 202-297-7506 gossrealestate@gmail.com

Robert Pohl is working on a book about urban legends of Washington DC. H

HillRag | May 2013 H 87


realestate

1 1 2 3 1 2 2

Changing Hands

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2 3 2 2

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.

H

Neighborhood Price BR FEE SIMPLE

H

16TH STREET HEIGHTS

H

4404 15TH ST NW 1420 MADISON ST NW 1206 KENNEDY ST NW

$707,000 $525,000 $360,000

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4410 GARRISON ST NW 4511 43RD PL NW 4224 40TH ST NW

$803,000 $795,000 $762,500

ANACOSTIA 2231 CHESTER ST SE 1516 W ST SE 1437 22ND ST SE

$318,500 $150,000 $100,000

6

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5 4 3 3 3 2

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BERKLEY 2715 49TH ST NW 1808 HOBAN RD NW 1916 47TH ST NW

$1,935,000 $1,350,000 $949,000

BLOOMINGDALE 17 S ST NW 2420 N. CAPITOL ST NW 2216 NORTH CAPITOL ST NW

$700,000 $605,000 $600,000

BRIGHTWOOD 615 VAN BUREN ST NW 6405 13TH ST NW 321 MADISON ST NW 1357 TUCKERMAN ST NW 1401 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 317 MADISON ST NW 6211 7TH ST NW 1403 RITTENHOUSE ST NW 6020 7TH PL NW 6400 9TH ST NW 905 QUACKENBOS ST NW 817 TUCKERMAN ST NW

$612,000 $599,000 $593,000 $495,000 $455,000 $435,000 $350,000 $345,000 $345,000 $330,000 $320,000 $205,000

BROOKLAND 51 GIRARD ST NE 1517 JACKSON ST NE 3828 17TH PL NE 3606 14TH ST NE 1330 HAMLIN ST NE 1011 HAMLIN ST NE 1509 HAMLIN ST NE 1 CRITTENDEN ST NE 2704 6TH ST NE 3509 17TH ST NE 707 DELAFIELD ST NE 4804 7TH ST NE 1324 NEWTON ST NE 2805 4TH ST NE 625 GALLATIN ST NE

$597,500 $550,000 $497,500 $466,250 $449,900 $435,000 $394,000 $386,000 $385,000 $350,000 $336,000 $317,000 $316,000 $254,000 $220,000

$1,134,774

CAPITOL HILL 18 5TH ST NE 402 INDEPENDENCE AVE SE 1440 A ST NE 116 5TH ST SE 914 C ST NE 1543 E ST SE 713 A ST SE 636 SOUTH CAROLINA AVE SE 200 10TH ST SE 613 7TH ST NE 616 6TH ST NE

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$1,465,000 $1,199,000 $1,011,000 $975,000 $965,000 $958,713 $935,000 $925,000 $925,000 $909,000 $895,000

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

BURLEITH 3927 IVY TERRACE CT NW

5

4 4 3

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

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

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1 3

L 643 F ST NE 903 G ST SE 216 15TH ST NE 1326 CAROLINA AVE SE 448 NEW JERSEY AVE SE 708 12TH ST NE 214 WARREN ST NE 336 6TH ST SE 214 14TH ST NE 1803 A ST SE 1803 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE 202 16TH ST SE 736 13TH ST SE 1530 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE 1520 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE 229 12TH ST SE 1406 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE 239 17TH ST SE 1734 MASSACHUSETTS AVE SE 1638 G ST SE 124 16TH ST SE 702 4TH ST SE 436 20TH ST NE 638REAR G ST SE 608 TENNESSEE AVE NE 1622 POTOMAC AVE SE

$895,000 $850,000 $785,000 $768,500 $720,000 $719,000 $710,000 $687,500 $660,000 $651,777 $651,000 $636,000 $629,500 $620,000 $619,000 $618,229 $576,500 $565,000 $530,000 $517,500 $485,000 $460,000 $399,999 $120,000 $552,000 $677,200

CHEVY CHASE 2725 NEWLANDS ST NW 2710 UNICORN LN NW 2741 UNICORN LN NW 3316 LEGATION ST NW 6242 29TH ST NW 5110 41ST ST NW 5420 30TH PL NW 3610 JOCELYN ST NW 3223 MILITARY RD NW 3511 LEGATION ST NW 5536 30TH PL NW

$999,000 $994,500 $950,000 $910,000 $897,000 $817,000 $810,000 $775,000 $770,000 $765,000 $700,000

3 3 4 3 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 3 2 4 3 2 2 2 0 3 3 5 4 5 4 4 3 4 4 3 3 4

CHILLUM 5616 KANSAS AVE NW

$390,435

3

CLEVELAND PARK 3635 ORDWAY ST NW 3534 PORTER ST NW

$1,410,000 $1,362,000

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 1224 FAIRMONT ST NW 2814 13TH ST NW 1226 SHEPHERD ST NW 3541 HOLMEAD PL NW 3523 10TH ST NW 3632 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 606 HARVARD ST NW 1404 MERIDIAN PL NW 437 KENYON ST NW 917 EUCLID ST NW 443 LAMONT ST NW 514 QUINCY ST NW 749 KENYON ST NW 447 KENYON ST NW 921931 RANDOLPH ST NW

$1,250,000 $1,150,000 $750,000 $724,840 $706,000 $677,000 $652,000 $639,000 $570,000 $550,000 $540,000 $488,660 $470,000 $440,000 $180,000

CONGRESS HEIGHTS

3917 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AVE SW $230,000 124 YUMA ST SE $174,900

CRESTWOOD 1901 UPSHUR ST NW 4709 BLAGDEN AVE NW 4330 BLAGDEN AVE NW

$1,178,000 $920,000 $896,000

DEANWOOD 3985 BLAINE ST NE 1028 47TH ST NE 4323 HAYES ST NE 805 52ND ST NE 922 52ND ST NE 5360 GAY ST NE 4254 BENNING RD NE 4715 CLAY ST NE 4612 HAYES ST NE 278 56TH PL NE

$235,000 $200,000 $199,900 $197,000 $170,000 $130,000 $116,400 $110,000 $82,500 $70,000

3 4 6 6 4 5 5 5 4 3 3 4 3 4 2 3 0 4 3 5 4 5 3 3 3 2 2 3 4 2 3 2

DUPONT 1763 R ST NW 1543 T ST NW 1760 T ST NW 1832 CORCORAN ST NW 1830 S ST NW

$2,650,000 $1,517,375 $1,437,500 $1,399,500 $1,333,000

ECKINGTON 19 T ST NE 147 QUINCY PL NE 39 V ST NE 315 SEATON PL NE 167 U ST NE

$665,000 $615,000 $599,900 $425,000 $185,000

FOGGY BOTTOM 2310 L ST NW 911 25TH ST NW

$925,000 $710,000

FOREST HILLS 4630 30TH ST NW

$894,000

FORT DUPONT PARK 4151 ALABAMA AVE SE 1509 FORT DAVIS PL SE 4419 G ST SE 1235 CHAPLIN ST SE 1400 42ND PL SE 4533 C ST SE 4653 H ST SE 4646 HANNA PL SE

$315,000 $250,000 $249,500 $225,000 $225,000 $155,000 $152,000 $141,500

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

FOXHALL 1449 44TH ST NW

$995,000

GEORGETOWN 3044 O ST NW 3018 O ST NW 3500 WINFIELD LN NW 1524 31ST ST NW 1411 35TH ST NW 3011 DUMBARTON ST NW 3623 WINFIELD LN NW

$8,600,000 $1,925,000 $1,775,000 $1,685,000 $1,615,000 $1,285,000 $1,275,000

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1409 33RD ST NW 1504 33RD ST NW 2920 O ST NW 3228 O ST NW 1238 34TH ST NW 2702 N ST NW 2724 P ST NW

$1,080,000 $1,050,000 $1,050,000 $933,000 $815,000 $740,000 $725,000

GLOVER PARK

2422 39TH PL NW 3735 W ST NW 2511 39TH ST NW 2224 38TH ST NW

$890,000 $850,000 $825,000 $785,000

H STREET

933 5TH ST NE 813 12TH ST NE

$645,000 $480,000

HAWTHORNE 6920 GREENVALE ST NW

$1,166,000

HILL CREST

3607 SUITLAND RD SE 3355 DENVER ST SE 3066 N ST SE 1706 29TH ST SE 2938 M PL SE

$450,000 $385,000 $349,000 $210,000 $175,000

KALORAMA

2216 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW 2113 S ST NW 2310 TRACY PL NW 2237 Q ST NW 1837 KALORAMA RD NW 2404 20TH ST NW

$2,850,000 $2,155,000 $2,101,000 $1,880,000 $1,700,000 $1,450,000

4 3 3 3 3 2

$2,400,000

LEDROIT PARK

1906-1908 5TH ST NW 53 W ST NW

$1,026,000 $753,750

LILY PONDS

1319 44TH ST NE 3354 CLAY ST NE

$290,000 $196,750

G IN ! M N CO OO S

5 4 3 4 3 3 5 7 3 5 9 7

KENT 5230 PARTRIDGE LN NW

GREAT HOMES ARE SPRINGING UP ALL OVER! HURRY BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT LAST LONG!

3 2 2 2 3 2 2

5

1527 Massachusetts Avenue, SE 3BR/2BA

G IN ! M N O O C O S

1609 D Street, SE 3BR/3.5BA Newly renovated by Quest home builder with new HVAC, windows, floors, doors, open kitchen, 3 and a half baths and more!

Beautifully renovated in 2010 with 2 bedrooms plus den on upper level, amazing rear sun porch and porch-front on main level, and great lower den. With short stroll to metro and all other Capitol Hill perks you would not want to miss this property.

YS R DA DE 4 N U CT A TR N

G IN ! M N O O C O S

316 Elm Street, NW 3BR/3BA

5 3

CO

Brand new complete renovation! Features a wide open main floor plan, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths on upper level, and den, TV room, or office on the lower level.

3 2

All the KEY ingredients! Located perfectly between Eastern Market, Barracks Row, and Lincoln Park, with South-facing facade shaded by flowering trees. Completely renovated in 2010 with huge kitchen and wide-open LR/DR space, 3 BR / 2.5 BA up. Self-contained Lower suite currently rented

LOGAN

1340 WALLACH PL NW 1431 SWANN ST NW

$1,045,000 $875,000

MARSHALL HEIGHTS

119 47TH ST SE 5551 BASS PL SE 5430 BASS PL SE 33 47TH ST SE 121 53RD ST SE #A B 5454 C ST SE

$235,900 $195,000 $153,500 $130,000 $115,000 $106,000

MICHIGAN PARK 1913 UPSHUR ST NE

$540,000

MOUNT PLEASANT

1813 MONROE ST NW 2918 18TH ST NW 1901 KENYON ST NW 3220 18TH ST NW 1759 HARVARD ST NW 3447 17TH ST NW 1851 NEWTON ST NW

$1,135,000 $975,000 $961,901 $702,000 $673,000 $650,000 $615,000

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YS R DA DE N T5 U C A TR N

1510 D Street, SE $669,000 3BR/2.5BA Conveniently located just a stroll to Lincoln Park, Potomac METRO, and Congressional, this Federal porch front will captivate with smart open layout, EXPANDED size, oak floors, exposed brick, and 3 skylights! Bonus rear 2 level private patio/ garden and double decks are amazing!

1004 Independence Avenue, SE $949,000 4BR/3.5BA

CO

YS R DA DE N T5 U C A TR N

1531 Gales Street, NE $745,000 4BR/3.5BA More than renovation - Ultra modern REINVENTION! Steps to Atlas Entertainment District. Completely rebuilt with custom layout, casework, fixtures - YOU MUST SEE TO BELIEVE! Tall ceilings, Brazilian tiger wood floors, gleaming glass and steel. PLUS completely selfcontained 1BR/1BA LL rental unit and off-street parking!

NOMA 1145 6TH ST NE

$572,000

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 75 OBSERVATORY CIR NW

$1,050,000

OLD CITY #1

1738 POTOMAC AVE SE 713 FLORIDA AVE NE 727 11TH ST NE 906 KENT PL NE 616 PICKFORD PL NE 526 14TH ST NE 1623 CONSTITUTION AVE NE 712 5TH ST SE 1600 C ST NE 318 14TH PL NE 109 19TH ST SE 335 17TH ST NE 1613 ISHERWOOD ST NE 205 17TH ST SE

$775,000 $740,000 $691,000 $649,000 $631,000 $565,000 $530,000 $515,000 $510,000 $498,129 $487,000 $435,000 $435,000 $384,900

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HillRag | May 2013 H 89


CAPITOL HILL

1BR + den NY style loft. Island kitchen with granite. Polished concrete floors, exposed brick walls, vaulted ceilings. Historic school building. Parking, pet friendly, reasonable fees.

Under Contract

Columbia Heights grand and gracious townhome. 4 big bedrooms, finished third floor. Amazing wood floors, marvelous moldings, dramatic coffered ceiling. Cool kitchen with granite and stainless. Fabulous fireplace. Legal 2BR rental unit. Absolutely sensational.

Sold

Exquisite 1BR + den Capitol Hill condo. Renovated kitchen and bath. Exposed brick, light and bright. Half block to Metro, 1 block to House Office Building.

236 WARREN ST NE 336 18TH ST NE 339 18TH ST NE 1671 GALES ST NE 1654 GALES ST NE 1528 GALES ST NE 523 25TH PL NE 1928 E ST NE 1669 GALES ST NE 1667 GALES ST NE 1391 FLORIDA AVE NE 2006 E ST NE

OLD CITY #2

1406 SWANN ST NW 455 Q ST NW 411 M ST NW 133 BATES ST NW 67 NEW YORK AVE NW 1421 3RD ST NW 26 HANOVER PL NW 14 O ST NW 30 HANOVER PL NW 18 O ST NW 20 O ST NW 16 O ST NW

PALISADES

5420 GALENA PL NW 4843 RESERVOIR RD NW

PETWORTH

Licensed in DC, MD & VA

Long & Foster® Celebrates 16th Annual Community Service Day June 11, 2013 In Recognition of Community Service Day we will be holding a food drive to benefit The Children of Mine Youth Center located in Anacostia. We encourage our community to join us in our efforts by dropping off non-perishable food items or gift cards May 10th – June 11th.

Office (202) 547-9200 Terri B. LahLou – Branch Manager CAPITOL HILL OFFICE LONG & FOSTER REAL ESTATE, INC. 721 D STREET SE, WDC TERRI.LAHLOU@LNF.COM HTTP://CAPITOLHILL.LNFRE.COM

902 QUINCY ST NW 4429 9TH ST NW 409 VARNUM ST NW 527 BUCHANAN ST NW 905 EMERSON ST NW 4845 ILLINOIS AVE NW 335 ROCK CREEK CHURCH RD NW 4919 7TH ST NW 4710 8TH ST NW 4319 3RD ST NW 5010 4TH ST NW 4620 4TH ST NW 832 JEFFERSON ST NW 520 CRITTENDEN ST NW 5102 N. CAPITOL ST NW 201 JEFFERSON ST NW 915 EMERSON ST NW 5012 5TH ST NW 5205 2ND ST NW 322 GALLATIN ST NW 320 MISSOURI AVE NW 4508 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW 5328 5TH ST NW 615 HAMILTON ST NW 5227 5TH ST NW 719 MADISON ST NW 5303 5TH ST NW 930 LONGFELLOW ST NW 5218 5TH ST NW

RANDLE HEIGHTS 2716 STANTON RD SE 3409 24TH ST SE

RIGGS PARK

607 JEFFERSON ST NE 5731 CHILLUM PL NE 401 MADISON ST NE

SHAW

1536 1ST ST NW 86 P ST NW

SHEPHERD PARK 1420 HOLLY ST NW 1307 HOLLY ST NW 7348 GEORGIA AVE NW

SPRING VALLEY

5027 SEDGWICK ST NW 4818 WOODWAY LN NW 5023 WARREN ST NW 4929 TILDEN ST NW 3818 47TH ST NW

TAKOMA PARK 105 WHITTIER ST NW 200 WHITTIER ST NW 804 DAHLIA ST NW

$370,000 $350,000 $350,000 $350,000 $310,000 $285,000 $255,000 $243,000 $220,000 $220,000 $195,000 $157,299

2 3 5 0 3 2 3 2 0 0 2 3

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12 13 19 15 12 14 16 12 17

T

21 $1,100,000 $755,000 $715,000 $612,500 $545,299 $505,000 $490,000 $380,000 $350,000 $330,000 $330,000 $260,000

3 3 3 3 5 3 4 4 2 4 4 0

$2,710,000 $837,000

6 3

$725,000 $689,900 $685,286 $655,000 $647,500 $610,000 $604,000 $592,000 $570,000 $562,500 $540,000 $532,000 $480,000 $475,000 $440,000 $430,000 $415,000 $404,999 $364,500 $350,000 $345,000 $326,000 $285,000 $285,000 $280,000 $260,000 $260,000 $235,000 $235,000

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

$223,000 $90,500

3 2

$230,000 $210,000 $160,000

3 2 3

$565,000 $623,000

3 4

$800,000 $570,000 $515,000

4 4 4

$1,950,000 $1,595,000 $1,495,000 $1,400,000 $786,500

5 3 5 5 3

$700,000 $539,000 $649,000

6 2 5

W

45 47 42

W

27 26

W

28 27 18 17 25

C

1

16

1

13

A

16 26

A

41 41

A

21

B

18 15 22 33 33

B

68

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12 37 10 61

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63 62 42 42 13 10 13 13 44 13 13 10

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11 61 71 40 12 80 13

C

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Location, Location, Location TRINIDAD 1228 FLORIDA AVE NE 1331 CHILDRESS ST NE 1927 H ST NE 1507 WEST VIRGINIA AVE NE 1279 PENN ST NE 1408 MORSE ST NE 1672 MONTELLO AVE NE 1252 PENN ST NE 1729 LANG PL NE

$926,000 $499,900 $451,800 $416,500 $399,000 $360,400 $265,000 $250,000 $245,000

TRUXTON CIRCLE 217 MORGAN ST NW

$665,000

WESLEY HEIGHTS 4516 GARFIELD ST NW 4715 FULTON ST NW 4295 EMBASSY PARK DR NW

$2,500,000 $1,965,000 $730,000

WOODLEY PARK 2721 WOODLEY PL NW 2618 GARFIELD ST NW

$1,125,000 $1,312,000

910-912 PA AVE SE For Lease: $10,000/month

6 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3

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.

4

703 D Street SE $1,100,000

4 5 3 5 4

WOODRIDGE

2833 27TH ST NE $525,000 4 2728 28TH ST NE $345,000 3 1839 OTIS ST NE $275,000 3 1717 EVARTS ST NE $225,000 2 2501 HAMLIN ST NE $225,000 4

CONDO 14TH STREET 1634 14TH ST NW #203

$599,900

16TH STREET HEIGHTS 1301 LONGFELLOW ST NW #308

$159,000

ADAMS MORGAN 1652 BEEKMAN PL NW #A 2627 ADAMS MILL RD NW #405

$605,000 $358,000

2 1 2 1

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK 4101 ALBEMARLE ST NW #431 4101 ALBEMARLE ST NW #610

$449,900 $439,000

ANACOSTIA 2123 YOUNG ST SE #201

$65,000

BLOOMINGDALE 1827 1ST ST NW #3 150 V ST NW #V308 2201 2ND ST NW #36 33 BRYANT ST NW #2 33 BRYANT ST NW #1

$633,000 $377,000 $329,900 $700,000 $599,990

BRIGHTWOOD 6827 4TH ST NW #210

$237,500

BROOKLAND 1210 PERRY ST NE #201 3719 12TH ST NE #203 1031 MICHIGAN AVE NE #4 613 HAMLIN ST NE #7

$190,000 $175,000 $109,000 $89,118

CAPITOL HILL 631 N CAROLINA AVE SE 629 4TH ST NE #2 424 EAST CAPITOL ST NE #5 424 EAST CAPITOL ST NE #6 1306 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #201 1020 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #304 1306 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #202 1301 SOUTH CAROLINA AVE SE #2 440 12TH ST NE #112 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #516 1391 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #247 105 6TH ST SE #202

$799,000 $679,000 $618,000 $599,000 $559,000 $549,900 $539,000 $460,000 $457,500 $355,000 $355,000 $224,000

1 1 2

$1,875,000 $810,000 $508,500 $460,000 $370,000 $329,898 $300,000

CHEVY CHASE 5231 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #101

$630,000

1520 & 1530 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 2384 SF main house with 3 Bedrooms 2.5 Baths, Open layout Dining Room & wide Living Room with hardwood floors, wood burning fireplace. Rear garden, Attached garage. Zoned C2A . Good layout for small office users, retail business or live work combo. First floor efficiency unit easily opened to main house for large family home.

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

www.kittykaupp.com

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

CENTRAL 1177 22ND ST NW #6-K 616 E ST NW #1154 715 6TH ST NW #804 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #723 1280 21ST ST NW #103 801 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #1223 1301 20TH ST NW #107

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

2 3 2 1 1 1 1 3

Specializing in all aspects of Real Estate Settlements

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

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

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

HillRag | May 2013 H 91


Moving?

We take the stress out of leaving your real estate. We take over. Find qualified tenants. Transfer utilities. Get the House/Apartment ready. Manage it. And, send you reports & money regularly. Darrin D. Davis, Principal Broker/Owner

ANACOSTIA RIVER REALTY

REMEMBER: We manage condominium associations & individual units in condos and co-ops, co-op and homeowner associations, property for non-profits & churches as well as investors & estate managers.

Sell. Buy. Rent. Property Management.

JOEL TRUITT MANAGEMENT, INC. 734 SEVENTH STREET, SE WASHINGTON, DC 20003 (202) 547-2707 FAX: (202) 547-1977

2412 Minnesota Ave. SE, Suite 101 Washington, DC 20020

www.joeltruitt.com

202-678-REAL(7325) info@AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

www.AnacostiaRiverRealty.com

T A X

A T T O R N E Y

Tax Returns, Tax Litigation, Innocent Spouse, Offers in Compromise Wills, Estates, Probate

CLEVELAND PARK

3430 39TH ST NW #A-697 2731 ORDWAY ST NW #2 4317 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #4317 3883 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #813 3401 38TH ST NW #408 3810 39TH ST NW #125 3616 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #304 3616 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #303 3609 38TH ST NW #301 3616 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #201 3824 PORTER ST NW #395 4301 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #2009 3024 WISCONSIN AVE NW #208

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

Register for our real estate workshops!

RICHARD B. TREANOR

5201 WISCONSIN AVE NW #205

Steve Hagedorn Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

1218 GIRARD ST NW #2 1326 GIRARD ST NW #3 1332 BELMONT ST NW #101 1105 PARK RD NW #7 1215 PARK RD NW #2 1303 CLIFTON ST NW #4 1207 COLUMBIA RD NW #1 1327 OTIS PL NW #3 1308 CLIFTON ST NW #512 1427 CHAPIN ST NW #306 1435 EUCLID ST NW #1 732 LAMONT ST NW #401 3473 14TH ST NW #3 1414 BELMONT ST NW #106 3500 13TH ST NW #401 1030 FAIRMONT ST NW #204 2750 14TH ST NW #506 732 LAMONT ST NW #202 1441 EUCLID ST NW #203 937 RANDOLPH ST NW #2 1108 COLUMBIA RD NW #303 3900 14TH ST NW #302 3900 14TH ST NW #404

CONGRESS HEIGHTS

Search listings at cbmove.com/steve.hagedorn

748 BRANDYWINE ST SE #204

DEANWOOD

Licensed in DC & MD

948 EASTERN AVE NE #7

613 4th Place, SW • Washington DC, 20024

202-554-3467

Direct: Cell: Office: Fax: Email:

202-741-1707 202-841-1380 202-547-3525 202-547-8462 shagedorn@cbmove.com

DUPONT CIRCLE

1750 16TH ST NW #52 1625 16TH ST NW #302 1737 WILLARD ST NW #2 1736 18TH ST NW #302 1718 CORCORAN ST NW #5 1316 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #506 1601 18TH ST NW #P20 1325 18TH ST NW #1011 2301 N ST NW #517 1717 T ST NW #31 1621 T ST NW #501 2141 P ST NW #1010 1545 18TH ST NW #605 1330 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #806 1711 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #424 2008 16TH ST NW #300

Your Neighbor On The Hill

“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 92 H hillrag.com

ECKINGTON

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1809 3RD ST NE #1 1811 3RD ST NE #1 306 TODD PL NE #4

FOGGY BOTTOM

1010 25TH ST NW #101 922 24TH ST NW #118 522 21ST ST NW #604 522 21ST ST NW #310

FOREST HILLS

4701 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #305 2939 VAN NESS ST NW #1117

FORT LINCOLN

3114 CHERRY RD NE #36 3182 BERRY RD NE #28

GARFIELD

3100 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #105

GEORGETOWN

2901 Q ST NW #2 1077 30TH ST NW #209 1077 30TH ST NW #311

$300,000

1

$556,125 $550,000 $523,500 $439,500 $437,000 $404,000 $389,000 $370,000 $368,500 $362,716 $329,000 $317,500 $257,000

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

$835,000 $811,000 $739,000 $655,000 $585,000 $570,000 $512,000 $489,000 $450,000 $449,000 $449,000 $425,000 $397,000 $377,000 $359,900 $342,000 $331,800 $305,000 $285,000 $247,000 $238,000 $219,900 $204,900

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

$67,000

2

$50,000

1

$629,900 $430,000 $339,900 $336,500 $270,000 $240,000 $55,000 $419,000 $695,000 $625,000 $540,000 $379,000 $375,000 $335,000 $256,500 $523,000

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

$496,525 $496,500 $295,000

3 3 2

$315,000 $240,000 $215,000 $200,000

1 0 0 0

$525,000 $335,000

2 1

$220,000 $150,000

3 2

$330,000

1

$727,000 $690,000 $587,000

2 2 2


2111 WISCONSIN AVE NW #109 1080 WISCONSIN AVE NW #2007 3120 R ST NW #204

$555,000 $530,000 $360,000

GLOVER PARK 4100 W ST NW #501 2320 WISCONSIN AVE NW #308 2325 42ND ST NW #408 4114 DAVIS PL NW #205 3817 DAVIS PL NW #6

$345,000 $320,000 $310,000 $300,000 $286,150

H STREET 730 11TH ST NE #402

$377,500

HILL CREST 3905 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SE #301 2024 FORT DAVIS ST SE #A 2016 37TH ST SE #301

$75,000 $71,500 $56,500

KALORAMA 2301 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #5A 1823 BELMONT RD NW #D 1819 BELMONT RD NW #1 2022 COLUMBIA RD NW #110 1849 BILTMORE ST NW #42 2011 KALORAMA RD NW #3 1858 CALIFORNIA ST NW #21 1858 CALIFORNIA ST NW #41 2410 20TH ST NW #310 1808 CALIFORNIA ST NW #12 2012 WYOMING AVE NW #802 1938 BILTMORE ST NW #3 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #406 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #507 2010 KALORAMA RD NW #202 2010 KALORAMA RD NW #303 1842 CALIFORNIA ST NW #17B 1831 BELMONT RD NW #303 1910 KALORAMA RD NW #002 2032-2040 BELMONT RD NW #121 2032 BELMONT RD NW #315 1811 VERNON ST NW #104

$1,400,000 $925,000 $699,999 $665,000 $620,000 $546,500 $509,000 $505,000 $486,000 $485,000 $455,000 $444,000 $429,045 $427,240 $358,500 $340,000 $337,500 $335,000 $304,900 $278,000 $248,250 $305,000

LEDROIT PARK 1828 4TH ST NW #B 74 ADAMS ST NW #1 1828 4TH ST NW #A 51 RHODE ISLAND AVE NW #3

$569,000 $545,000 $349,000 $315,000

LOGAN CIRCLE 1401 CHURCH ST NW #521 1335 R ST NW #1 1735 JOHNSON AVE NW #H 1339 Q ST NW #B 1715 15TH ST NW #E 1308 12TH ST NW #D 1201 N ST NW #G 1314 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #305 1314 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #205 1400 CHURCH ST NW #204 19 LOGAN CIR NW #300 1515 11TH ST NW #2-3 1211 13TH ST NW #703 1325 13TH ST NW #601 1830 11TH ST NW #1 1239 VERMONT AVE NW #202 1320 W ST NW #PH 1320 W ST NW #2 751 P ST NW #6

$1,390,000 $1,175,000 $1,140,000 $836,500 $512,500 $425,000 $380,000 $365,000 $362,000 $865,000 $752,000 $720,000 $674,900 $645,000 $635,000 $372,500 $899,000 $540,000 $649,900

MARSHALL HEIGHTS 5210 F ST SE #4 5000 CALL PL SE #202 4932 A ST SE #201

$150,000 $74,000 $73,000

MOUNT PLEASANT 1725 EUCLID ST NW #4 1810 INGLESIDE TER NW #5 3365 18TH ST NW #1-B 2328 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #420 1708 NEWTON ST NW #301 1673 PARK RD NW #B1 1673 PARK RD NW #206 3409 BROWN ST NW #2

$450,000 $440,000 $420,000 $410,000 $375,000 $351,500 $324,501 $290,000

MOUNT VERNON TRIANGLE 475 K ST NW #326 1215 10TH ST NW #31 475 K ST NW #1109 475 K ST NW #1202 430 M ST NW #7 1213 4TH ST NW #2

$540,000 $446,000 $650,000 $610,000 $425,000 $839,000

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

1209 4TH ST NW #1 1213 4TH ST NW #1

$527,000 $515,000

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE 2801 NEW MEXICO AVE NW #1214

$279,900

OLD CITY #1

1025 1ST ST SE #314 $399,999 1367 K ST SE #103 $236,410 OLD CITY #2 1763 P ST NW #1 $1,000,000 910 M ST NW #1010 $723,000 2100 11TH ST NW #303 $690,000 2020 12TH ST NW #412 $639,000 1401 CHURCH ST NW #322 $625,000 811 4TH ST NW #518 $604,200 2132 11TH ST NW #1 $576,000 910 M ST NW #423 $485,000 1527 CHURCH ST NW #C $469,000 1445 N ST NW #205 $462,750 437 NEW YORK AVE NW #904 $456,000 1931 17TH ST NW #101 $449,000 811 4TH ST NW #707 $420,000 475 K ST NW #307 $417,000 811 4TH ST NW #1206 $414,450 442 M ST NW #1 $375,000 1125 11TH ST NW #404 $360,000 1 SCOTT CIR NW #521 $325,000 1 SCOTT CIR NW #812 $280,000 1512 MARION ST NW #103 $249,000 1727 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #303 $202,000

PENN QUARTER

701 PENNS. AVE NW #1025, 1026 400 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #911 715 6TH ST NW #1102 715 6TH ST NW #603

$1,450,000 $700,000 $680,000 $610,000

RANDLE HEIGHTS

2844 HARTFORD ST SE #104 3031 BUENA VISTA TER SE #2

$48,000 $25,880

RLA (SW)

1261 4TH ST SW #8 228 G ST SW #138 800 4TH ST SW #S-605 800 4TH ST SW #N-722 700 7TH ST SW #722 300 M ST SW #306 800 4TH ST SW #N-511 300 M ST SW #N311 350 G ST SW #N-307 300 M ST SW #N710

$520,000 $419,000 $262,000 $256,000 $249,000 $236,000 $228,000 $225,000 $224,777 $218,500

SW/WATERFRONT 336 M ST SW #13

$550,000

THOMAS CIRCLE 1133 14TH ST NW #908

$570,000

U STREET

1917 13TH ST NW #1 1210 V ST NW #6 1435 CHAPIN ST NW #109

$730,000 $825,000 $520,000

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

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

WAKEFIELD

4700 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #209 4740 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #314

$510,000 $265,000

WESLEY HEIGHTS

2 1 1

2 2

4201 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #1215E 3101 NEW MEXICO AVE NW #1008 3231 SUTTON PL NW #C 3221 SUTTON PL NW #A 4201 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #915E 4201 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #823W

$1,900,000 $775,000 $737,000 $619,000 $590,000 $435,000

2 1 7 2 3 2 3 2

WEST END

1177 22ND ST NW #2D $1,600,000 2 1155 23RD ST NW #2M $645,000 1 2301 N ST NW #205 $392,500 1 922 24TH ST NW #621 $395,000 1 2555 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW #319 $450,000 2

COOP ADAMS MORGAN

2370 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #34 1736 COLUMBIA RD NW #306 1820 CLYDESDALE PL NW #406

$725,000 $450,000 $389,900

3 2 2

HillRag | May 2013 H 93


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Serving Capitol Hill since 1988

C

10

YERS. U B G N I V R SE ELLERS. S G N I V R E S MUNIT Y. M O C R U O illoween SERVING ponsor of H Proud S

Jackie Von Schlegel 202.255.2537 Mark Spiker 202.341.9880

jackie@jackiev.com 202-547-5088 Licensed in DC, VA, MD & FL

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40

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30 36 30 36 28

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17 17 20 17 17 15 15 20 17 17

F

25 25 25 73 24 24 73

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30 30

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23 19 18 18 18

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30 30

O

Looking to Buy or Sell on the Hill? I want to be Your Agent!

Let s get together to review the market and design a winning strategy!

Dee Dee Branand At

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

94 H hillrag.com

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2370 CHAMPLAIN ST NW #21 1705 LANIER PL NW #303 3025 ONTARIO RD NW #403 1801 CLYDESDALE PL NW #701

CAPITOL HILL

1000 NEW JERSEY AVE SE #1221

CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS

4000 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #606B

CENTRAL

1300 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #103

CHEVY CHASE

5112 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #211

CLEVELAND PARK

3024 TILDEN ST NW #101-C 3601 CONNECTICUT AVE NW #211 3022 PORTER ST NW #104 3620 CONNECTICUT AVE NW ## 24 2800 DEVONSHIRE PL NW #102

DEANWOOD

4274 EAST CAPITOL ST NE #201

DUPONT CIRCLE

1701 16TH ST NW #801 1701 16TH ST NW #854 2039 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #709 1725 17TH ST NW #413 1701 16TH ST NW #510 1514 17TH ST NW #207 1514 17TH ST NW #500 2039 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE NW #408 1701 16TH ST NW #417 1701 16TH ST NW #521

FOGGY BOTTOM

2500 VIRGINIA AVE NW #1209-S 2500 VIRGINIA AVE NW #210-S 2510 VIRGINIA AVE NW #901-N 730 24TH ST NW #704 2475 VIRGINIA AVE NW #431 2475 VIRGINIA AVE NW #306 730 24TH ST NW #816

FOREST HILLS

3001 VEAZEY TER NW #1625 3001 VEAZEY TER NW #1208

GEORGETOWN

1657 31ST ST NW #402

KALORAMA

2339 MASSACHUSETTS AVE NW #2 1901 WYOMING AVE NW #74 1869 MINTWOOD PL NW #24 1875 MINTWOOD PL NW #36 1875 MINTWOOD PL NW #1

MOUNT PLEASANT

3025 ONTARIO RD NW #301 3025 ONTARIO RD NW #207

OBSERVATORY CIRCLE

3900 WATSON PL NW #B - 5BC 4000 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #602B 4000 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #4B 4101 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #1004 4000 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #233B 4101 CATHEDRAL AVE NW #602

OLD CITY #2

1444 W ST NW #B1 1436 W ST NW #206

SOUTHWEST WATERFRONT 1245 4TH ST SW #E-707 1311 DELAWARE AVE SW #S537

WATERFRONT

449 N ST SW 429 N ST SW #S-711 430 M ST SW ESP SW #N-301

WATERGATE

2510 VIRGINIA NW #1209 2510 VIRGINIA AVE NW #914-N 2500 VIRGINIA AVE NW #306-S H

$300,000 $299,000 $297,500 $247,500

1 1 1 1

$167,400

0

$399,000

2

$240,500

1

$292,500

2

$499,000 $429,000 $329,000 $279,000 $270,000

2 1 2 1 1

$60,000

1

$570,000 $403,000 $194,500 $182,000 $179,000 $490,000 $375,000 $320,000 $310,000 $295,000

2 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 1

$1,475,000 $450,000 $370,000 $237,500 $233,000 $185,500 $149,000

4 2 1 1 1 0 0

$527,500 $414,000

2 2

$1,120,000

2

$2,330,000 $552,000 $378,000 $268,000 $268,000

4 1 1 1 1

$330,000 $292,000

1 1

$1,025,000 $1,025,000 $625,000 $526,000 $250,000 $100,000

3 3 3 3 1 0

$140,915 $48,000

2 1

$229,000 $148,000

1 2

$550,000 $500,000 $189,900

2 2 0

$720,000 $490,000 $349,000

2 1 1

CELEBRATE MOTHER’S DAY! 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

SEEKING INVESTOR PARTNERS

Lauren Goss, JD 5101 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 office: 202-364-5200 | direct: 202-297-7506 gossrealestate@gmail.com

OUR SPONSORS MAKE PLAYING BALL A LOT MORE FUN. • Bailey & Glasser, Michael Murphy • Belga Café • • Beverly Orthopedic Dentistry • Carol & Andy Connelly • DC Access • • Detour Bar/Kids in the Game • Eastern Market Crepes • Fairgrounds • • Finish Line Sports • First Washington Mortgage • Grubbs Pharmacy • • Phil Guire & Jeanne Harrison • Hank’s on the Hill • Hill’s Kitchen • • Joel Nelson • Kristof Realty • Littler Mendelson, Kevin Kraham • • Mac’s Tires • Metro Mutts • Palmetto Group • Pendragwyn Productions • • Pretzel Bakery • QuickSilver Productions • Riverby Books • • Saving Grace Pet Service • Law Offices of David P. Sheldon • • Silver Spork • Sports Authority • Tech Painting • Tortilla Café • • Trusty’s • Ugly Mug • Washington Nationals Dream Foundation • • Phyliss Jane Young •

www.capitolhilllittleleague.org HillRag | May 2013 H 95


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Health & Fitness Well Nourished

Eastern Market Chef, Jonathan Bardzik

J

onathan Bardzik didn’t grow up thinking he was going to be a chef, but he was always around plants and gardens, helping out with the nursery and landscaping business run by his parents. What began as helping out after college with athome meal preparation during the busy season has turned into a passion for fine-tuning his culinary skills.

by Annette Nielsen Bardzik’s day job as a marketing professional at an association is one he really enjoys, but he is equally immersed in his weekly cooking demonstrations at Eastern Market. Since moving to DC in 2003, Bardzik has enjoyed shopping for great ingredients at Eastern Market, and it was after attending a staff retreat working with a professional coach that he

started thinking about how to map out his long-term career path to include the culinary arts. “I realized how much I enjoyed being in the kitchen and trying out new dishes, and I also thought about all the interesting ingredients you can find at Eastern Market. While people might stop in regularly to pick up a couple of items, it was clear that with

The Eastern Market Chef, Jonathan Bardzik can be found most Saturdays cooking up inviting dishes sourced completely from ingredients found at Eastern Market and the neighborhood. Photo: Andrew Lightman. HillRag | May 2013 H 97


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a little know-how, you could easily prepare an entire meal from market offerings.” After coming up with the idea of cooking demonstrations at the market, Bardzik approached Eastern Market Manager Barry Margeson who quickly gave the go-ahead. “I’m impressed with his work,” said Margeson. “He uses Eastern Market’s amazing and diverse products in such a sophisticated way and then describes the foods with such elegant simplicity.” Dan Donahue of Agora Farms, a long-time market vendor, calls Bardzik “a great communicator.” “He’s definitely an asset to the market – it works out to everyone’s advantage to have him there,” stated Donahue. “He always asks me what we’ll be bringing to the market that week so he can tailor his demonstrations to what’s readily available and in season.” Donahue has also been engaged in wellness programming at American University and had Bardzik provide a cooking lesson for students. “Just like at the market, Jonathan has such a great draw – hoards of AU students show up to listen and learn from him.” As well as working with Eastern Market farmers and producers, Bardzik has collaborated with Renee Farr of nearby Sapore (660 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, 202-544-4133), a source for specialty olive oils and vinegars. “Jonathan first introduced himself a few weeks before our store opened last year, and it’s been a great partnership. People will often come to our store after seeing one of his demonstrations, recipe in hand, looking for a specific flavored oil or vinegar that they just tasted in one of Jonathan’s dishes. It’s really wonderful that they get to learn what to do with the kale from Agora Farms or knife skills or a specific cooking method.” Bardzik puts plenty of thought into his market demonstration. Each Thursday he in-


vites a few friends for a taste test that gives him critical feedback. His friends also help in other ways. Nancy Mendralla can often be found at the market noting comments from the crowd and tracking attendance. Sam Armocido, an avid photographer and social media guru, documents and posts the Test Kitchen bits to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook in real time, while his photos accompany Jonathan’s blog “What I Haven’t Cooked Yet,” a title reflecting his answer to the question, “What is your favorite thing to cook?” Most Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. you’ll find Bardzik across from Eastern Market near the former location of the temporary market building. Follow him on Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/WhatIHaventCookedYet), read his blog (http://whatihaventcookedyet.wordpress.com/) and follow on Twitter (@JonathanBardzik). Try one of Jonathan Bardzik’s market recipes (all ingredients found at Eastern Market vendors and at Sapore), a nice transition into bright seasonal flavors.

Eat Fresh from the Farm!

Community Supported Agriculture

Locally grown vegetables delivered weekly to the Hill.

Join our CSA NOW ENROLLING FOR THE 2013 SEASON!

oneacrefarm.com

Lemongrass Orange Fennel Salad For dressing:

1 shallot, minced 1/3 cup lemongrass vinegar 1 Tablespoon honey 2/3 cup avocado oil

For salad:

1 head fennel, thinly sliced ½ cup dried cherries 2 heads butter lettuce, torn in pieces 2 oranges, peel and remove skin from segments

Make dressing by whisking together shallot, lemongrass vinegar and honey with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Whisk in avocado oil in a thin stream to form a creamy emulsion. Toss together fennel and cherries and lightly dress with ¼ cup dressing. Lightly dress lettuce with ¼ cup dressing. Plate lettuce, topped with fennel mixture; serve topped with orange segments. Annette Nielsen is a writer and a cook who has been engaged in food, farming and sustainability issues for over 15 years. A native of the Adirondacks, and a long-time resident of both NYC and DC, she lives in Southwest near the waterfront with her husband and son. Follow her on twitter: @The_Kitchen_Cab; reach her by email: annette@hillrag.com. H

HillRag | May 2013 H 99


beautyhealthfitness

The Importance of Being a Fit Mom (and Grandmom)

G

one are the days when obstetricians instructed pregnant women to take it easy. Also gone are the days when pregnancy was a green light for culinary indulgence. With a doctor’s approval and a well thought out plan, exercising while pregnant can be beneficial to pregnant women, their unborn babies and their families. Being fit can make recovery after birth easier and being with baby as he/she grows more fun and less physically stressful. But how to fit exercise into an already full schedule without feeling guilty about taking time away from baby, spouse, work and general daily responsibilities? “Initially I feel guilty, but once I’m at the gym I feel healthy and I feel good about giving myself my own time,” said Beth Richardson, an environmental lawyer with two sons, Jack, 3 and Lan, 18 months. “I also feel so much better with my boys. I am in a better mood, less stressed, more cheerful and overall more balanced emotionally.” Many of the same benefits of regular exercise such as improved posture, strength, muscle tone, better sleep and moods, and lessening of aches and pains apply, but pregnancy produces stress on bodies that make exercise even more crucial. Keeping your body in balance with the increased weight and new shape can help lessen the stress on joints especially back and hips. While exercising does not guarantee an easy delivery, a healthy strong body and a positive attitude can help one cope better with the physical and psychological challenges of labor. Recovery after delivery can be easier if one is in good shape. Janet McLaughlin, a non-profit executive who delivered her first baby, Patrick, 13 months ago, thought about the importance of getting fit before she became pregnant. “When my husband and I decided we wanted to start a family, I decided that I needed to prioritize exercise, especially strength training and flexibility,” said Janet. “I was worried about my back and neck which had had me in and out of physical therapy for years.” 100 H hillrag.com

by Pattie Cinelli ence for maintaining physical and emotional balance. “I took a prenatal yoga class which helped me get in touch with my body. It helped me feel strong during pregnancy even as I was getting huge and not feeling so great about myself. At least I felt strong which was positive.” Janet said she initially was concerned about the extra weight she’d be carrying during the pregnancy, and also the physical stress of childbirth, but discovered the major benefit of exercise has been in helping her with the physicality of motherhood. “For the last year I’ve been up and down off the floor more times than I’d ever thought I would be, with 10 then 15 then 20 then 25 pounds in my arms. Getting Patrick in and out of the stroller, carrying him for long periods if he’s feeling clingy, holding him in various positions while nursing, all have relied on me being strong, flexible, and just being able to move quickly in multiple ways with varying loads!”

Finding Time for Exercise

Janet McLaughlin with son and husband.

Sharon Hanley with her grand-daughter Jasmine.

While Janet knew that working out was good for her physically, she discovered that she benefited psychologically as well. “I felt good. It helped remind me that I really could still do things even though I was getting bigger and bigger.” Beth also found exercise to be a positive influ-

Being in shape for baby is not limited to just moms. Sharon Hanley, a retired librarian, has a two-year-old granddaughter, Jasmine, who inspires her to keep up her workouts. “Because I worked out regularly when my children were young, I know the physical and psychological benefits. Even if I don’t feel like it, I do it anyway.” Sharon said that she had to keep to a schedule and plan in order to make it to exercise class when she was working and raising children. “I would come home from work, change clothes, then leave for class. When I returned home I made the next night’s dinner. It takes planning.” She also said that as a mother working out was a social event meeting friends in class. Now it is a necessity. “I have two hip replacements and one knee replacement. I need to keep moving because I want to run around the playground with Jasmine, lift her and be able to get up and down from the floor with her.” While the benefits may be obvious, how to incorporate exercise into already very full lives


Claire P. Cargill, DDS may be less clear. JoAnn Laboy, a psychotherapist who has been working with individuals and couples on the Hill for more than 20 years offers a workshop that can help. “The Myth of the Ideal Mom” can help mothers understand better their strengths and how to emphasize them; how to identify one’s natural style of parenting by using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and how to undo stress and guilt about not measuring up to the myth of the ideal mom. “The workshop helps moms to see there is no right way to be a parent. Knowing what comes naturally for you can make you less critical.” JoAnn helps mothers learn what energizes them – something which is in short supply

Capitol Hill family Dentist

We offer complete Dental Care for adults and children. Eastern Market Metro Stop 1009 E Street, SE • Washington, DC

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clairecargilldds@verizon.net Free parking • Handicapped Accessible • Major Insurance Plan Accepted

Dr. Karen Y. Cooper

Comprehensive & CosmestiC Center, LLC Enhancing lives, one smile at a time 3801 Minnesota Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20019 202-399-2300

Did you know that April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month? Oral cancer screening saves lives, set yours today!

on THE

Acupuncture

Hill Sharon L. Bernier PhD, CNS, BC

Psychotherapy 236 Massachusetts Ave., NE Washington, D.C. 202-546-5311

Massage

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Wholistic health care for adults, children and teens.

320 G Street, NE • 202.544.9389 www.healingartscapitolhill.com

Psychotherapy

Herbs & Nutrition

Ronda Bresnick Hauss

Psychotherapist JoAnn Laboy

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

with children. “Exercise is a great way to become re-energized. If you know that, then you can feel less guilty about taking time away from family or work for yourself.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has a wealth of information on its website. Log onto: www.acog.org. To contact find out about JoAnn Laboy’s next workshop on May 17, contact her at: jlaboy@joannlaboy.com. Pattie Cinelli is a personal trainer on the Hill who specializes in training pre and post natal women as well as grandmothers. She has been writing her health/fitness column for more than 20 years. Contact her at: fitness@pattiecinelli.com. H

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Does Your Pooch Have a P unch? Ways To Help Your Pet Lose Weight by Heather McCurdy, DVM Do they have an obvious waist? One that is narrower than the chest? Or do they look like a tube? No dog should look like a tube, or a ball. That includes Labrador retrievers, pugs and even bulldogs. If your dog is fluffy, run your hands through their fur from chest to hips. Can you feel a waist? Next, rub your hands lightly along the rib cage and over the point of the hips. You should be able to feel the ribs and the tops of the hips. If you have to push down through a small (or large) layer of fat, it’s time to cut some weight.

Cutting Back on Food

Getting weighed. Photo: Heather Mccurdy

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o one likes to hear that their dog is fat. But according to a recent survey of veterinarians by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over half of our dogs are overweight. As with people, pet obesity is a leading cause of chronic health problems. In my practice, the most common problems I see in dogs are arthritis and orthopedic injuries. Overweight dogs develop arthritis at a much younger age than dogs at a healthy weight. They start to “slow down” at eight or nine years old. A fat dog is also more likely to rupture a ligament in their knee, herniate an intervertebral disc in their back, or strain a muscle or tendon. The result is a dog who is in pain, less playful, and has more difficulty getting up and down the stairs. And what pet on Capitol Hill does not have to get up and down at least one set of stairs? How do you know if your dog is a healthy weight? To evaluate your pet, stand over them and look down.

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Now that we know Fido could lose a few pounds, what is the next step? The first question to ask is who is feeding him? Everyone responsible for Fido’s feeding should be on board with the weight loss program. Take the whole crew to the vet appointment. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a client say “Oh I wish my spouse was here!” when we start discussing their dog’s weight. Sometimes we need to hear that we are overfeeding our pet straight from the doctor’s mouth, instead of second-hand from a spouse or significant other. The next issue to consider is what and how much the pet eats. After learning that Fido is overweight, our first instinct is to switch to a “low calorie” dog food. Diet change may be in the future, but I do not recommend starting there. Caloric content varies between food varieties, and it is hard to determine if you are feeding your dog less when you switch diets. Look at the food you currently use. If you are happy with the ingredients and your dog’s overall health, stay with that diet but cut down by 25% on the amount you are feeding. If you do not know how much you are feeding, use a measuring cup or gram scale and find out. Often it’s not the food itself, but the amount of food, that is causing the weight problem. Next, consider the number and kind of treats your dog gets. Treats can pack a caloric punch. If treats are a


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Capitol Hill Animal Clinic

necessity, tempt your dog with vegetables such as baby carrots or cherry tomatoes. If treats are part of a training program, use regular food as the reward and remove it from their measured meal.

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The last consideration is exercise. I know it has been cold out, and Fido has his “winter weight” because you haven’t been getting to Lincoln Park as often as you do in the summer. I understand. I have dogs too and finding outdoors time is difficult. But exercising Fido will not only help him keep in shape and burn calories, it will stimulate his brain and give him something to look forward to other than food. Above everything else we have discussed, prevention is the best medicine. If your pet is not fat, keep it that way. Know how much you feed your dog. If you find their waist thickening, decrease the food a little. Measure out meals starting in puppyhood. If you have a new dog, choose an amount. Use the recommendations on the bag or can as a starting point, but remember, those are guidelines only. Feed a consistent amount for a few weeks and evaluate your dog. Look at their waist, feel their ribs. Then adjust if needed. Starting a new training program using treats? Great! But cut down the kibble a little. If none of this works we can figure out caloric intake and precise feeding guidelines. Occasionally there are underlying health issues, like arthritis or hypothyroidism, that predispose to obesity and need to be addressed. But usually, it’s simple. We feed our dogs more than they need. Dr. McCurdy is a graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. She currently works at AtlasVet in Capitol Hill, located at 1326 H St. NE. She lives with her husband, two daughters and assorted animals in the northeast Washington DC neighborhood of Brookland. H


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beautyhealthfitness

The Healing Power of Storytelling Medicine for Body and Soul

by Ronda Bresnick Hauss, LCSW

“To be a person is to have a story to tell.” - Isak Dinesen

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here have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.” Ursula K. LeGuin Storytelling is an ancient tradition dating back long before recorded history. Though our methods have changed over time, our desire to listen and tell stories has not. Storytelling began as an oral tradition, helping us to remember and teach our history in ways that preserved both the emotions and the facts and gave us a way to pass on wisdom and experience. We are moved to share our stories and to listen to the stories of others for many reasons -- to entertain, to teach, to help us feel less alone in the world, to convince others of our point of view, or simply because storytelling allows us to connect in an intimate way with other human beings. Stories can inspire us to act, move us to tears, or allow us to deeply empathize with another person. It is no wonder then that stories can have the power to heal us when we are suffering. Research has shown that in the physically ill, stories stimulate the immune system and actually help speed recovery. In the book, The Emperor of All Maladies, Siddhartha Mukherjee writes that, “A patient, long before he becomes the subject of medical scrutiny, is, at first, simply a storyteller, a narrator of suffering—a traveler who has visited the kingdom of the ill.” Those that are seriously ill do travel on a journey and many return with stories to share. Those 106 H hillrag.com

stories can be healing both for the person who has been ill as well as for those that choose to listen. They are stories of triumph, stories of acceptance or stories of struggles that are unresolved. One modern day digital resource for sharing these stories, available for people who are ill and their circle of family, friends and anyone else they choose, is the Caring Bridge (www.caringbridge.com). The caring bridge allows people to share the status of their health, and their feelings about what they are experiencing. In turn, their family and friends may share their support, provide inspirational thoughts and encouragement or ask questions. For people who are experiencing emotional suffering, sharing stories can encourage optimism, the discovery of creative solutions, and flexibility in thinking. Whether it is in the process of speaking to a psychotherapist or in sharing with those closest to us, telling and listening to each others’ stories also helps us to see that we are not alone. In the Native American culture, traditional tribal stories are used as medicine for addressing mental health issues. Stories are used to teach and encourage reflection, and to help people as they work to resolve their feelings of depression or anxiety, low self-esteem, or address issues of self-harm. You can find these stories on the website: Wisdom of the Elders (wisdomoftheeldersorg). In today’s digital world there are so many ways for people to share their stories. Whether it is a personal blog, Facebook or twitter, youtube or podcasts - there are many ways we can help each other

face the challenges of modern life. Here are some additional examples of powerful storytelling that are readily available: This American Life (www.thisamericanlife. org). This American Life is a weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations to about 1.8 million listeners. It has won major broadcasting awards. There’s a theme to each episode, and a variety of stories on that theme, mostly true stories of everyday people. StoryCorp (NPR’s Friday’s Morning Edition). StoryCorps records, shares, and preserves the stories of our lives. In the words of StoryCorp: ”We do this to remind one another of our shared humanity, strengthen and build the connections between people, teach the value of listening, and weave into the fabric of our culture the understanding that every life matters. At the same time, we will create an invaluable archive of American voices and wisdom for future generations.” (www.storycorps.org). Post Secret (www.postsecret.com) is an ongoing community project, created by Frank Warren in which people mail their secrets anonymously on a homemade postcard. Select secrets are then posted on the PostSecret website. Postcards are said to be inspirational to those who read them, have healing powers for those who write them, give hope to people who identify with a stranger’s secret, and create an anonymous community of acceptance. Storytelling is at the heart of what makes us human and is woven into our very biology. Stories have the power to heal, motivate and inspire us. Ultimately, they reflect our shared humanity. “In the tale, in the telling, we are all one blood. Take the tale in your teeth, then, and bite till the blood runs, hoping it’s not poison; and we will all come to the end together, and even to the beginning: living, as we do, in the middle.” Ursula K. LeGuin. Ronda Bresnick Hauss is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of the Quiet Waters Center for Trauma, Stress and Resilience, on Capitol Hill. She uses an integrative & holistic approach to psychotherapy – addressing the connection between the mind, body and spirit through the use of traditional talk therapy, hypnosis, meditation, visualization, and creative, non-verbal techniques. She can be reached at: 202-544-5050 or at www. quietwaterscenter.com H




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by Kathleen Donner

Voices of Now Festival at Arena Stage

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the Voices of Now Festival, a fiveday event featuring original works of theater written and performed by 13 different youth ensembles from the internationally renowned Community Engagement program. The festival will bring together more than 175 young artists, ages 11-23, from DC, Maryland and Virginia who have been working with professional theater artists from Arena Stage for the past year to devise original one-act plays. The 2013 ensembles will come together May 15-19 to perform and discuss

their work in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle at the Mead Center. This year’s festival will also feature a special performance Saturday, May 18 connecting the 2013 participants in the US with Voices of Now artists in Kolkata, India. Voices of Now is a yearlong, nationally recognized drama program designed by Arena Stage’s Director of Education Ashley Forman. Through creative writing, improvisation, movement and acting, VON gives young artists the opportunity to learn about theater and performance, with the ultimate goal of devising and performing a piece of theater based on their own writing that poses difficult questions about social, cultural and

emotional issues. VON is tailored to middle and high school groups and is available to schools and various community groups throughout the DC metro area. In addition to performing at Arena Stage, ensembles perform throughout their own communities. Past ensembles have performed at the Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Intersections Festival, Imagination Stage and the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. For more information on Voices of Now, visit arenastage.org/ education/education-programs/voices-of-now. Tickets for the Voices of Now Festival are free, though reservations are required through the Arena Stage Sales Office at 202-488-3300. arenastage.org

Students participating in the 2012 Voices of Now Festival at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Photo: Stan Barouh HillRag | May 2013 H 109


kids&family A Birth Together: Bradley Method Offered at Hill Center

A Birth Together offers a traditional 12week Bradley Method series that helps expectant mothers and their partners embrace pregnancy, labor and birth as the amazing journey they can be. Come relearn the lost art and science of natural birthing and help prepare the way for the safest, happiest and healthiest birth for you and your baby. All classes are taught by Lindsay Gonzales, certified Bradley Method instructor. Lindsay has been teaching in Capitol Hill for four years and has helped prepare nearly 300 parents for birth. She believes that the Bradley Method is the most comprehensive approach to natural childbirth education and has supplemented her knowledge with basic and advanced DONA doula training. Every class is designed to help both moms and their partners prepare for labor as individuals and as a team by allowing ample time for questions, maintaining a friendly and open tone in the class, offering a lending library of books, utilizing hands-on practice, inviting guest speakers and watching a range of films. For more information or to register for classes please be in touch at lindsay@ abirthtogether.com. hillcenterdc.org

Capitol Hill Classic Kids’ Fun Run

The Capitol Hill Classic 10K race is a major annual fundraiser for the Capitol Hill Cluster School, a DC public school with over 1,000 students. This will be the 34th annual running of the Classic, which includes a 3K race and a kids’ fun run and is the only race run exclusively on the roads of Capitol Hill. Approximately 3,500 people are expected to participate in the Classic. Race day is Sunday, May 19, and all races will start and finish in front of Peabody Primary School. The fun run starts immediately following conclusion of 3K (approximately 11 a.m.). There is a $10 fun run entrance fee. capitolhillclassic.com

$1 Hot Dogs at Nationals Game

On Wednesday, May 8 buy hot dogs for $1 at the Nats vs. Tigers game. Game starts at 7:05 p.m. washington.nationals.mlb.com

Hill Preschool Spring Fair

The Hill Preschool Spring Fair is Saturday, May 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Ebenezer Playground (aka Wee Care) 4th and D sts. SE. The cost: is $5 per child age 2 and under. Adults free. This is a time for potential HPS families, current HPS families and alumni to get together. Enter110 H hillrag.com

Photo: Ari Strauss

Capitol Hill Little League Opening Day

The sound of cheers and cracking bats filled Capitol Hill on Saturday, Apr 13, with the kick-off of a new season of Little League. Teams played on four fields across the neighborhood before coming together at Payne for opening day festivities. Players and their families enjoyed moonbounces, trivia games, pitching contests, and a bake sale-with burgers and hot dogs from Peter Bug-before the player parade on to the field. Seth Shapiro, President of Capitol Hill Little League, thanked the many sponsors and volunteers as well as Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells for their support of Capitol Hill Little League before turning over the field to realtor and long-time supporter of youth sports on the Hill, Phyllis Jane Young, who threw out the opening pitch for the day’s final game. In just two seasons, Capitol Hill Little League has grown to include 400 players, ages 6–13, and 30 teams. This year, t-ball teams for younger players have been added as has a 16-and-under girls softball team. Last year, Capitol Hill Little League’s 10-and-under team won the citywide championship and represented the District of Columbia in the regional Little League tournament. Learn more at capitolhilllittleleague.org. tainment includes a bounce house, face painter, music. Food, drinks and Capitol Hill Kid t-shirts will be available for purchase.

Eastern Senior High School First in the City to Offer IB Diploma at a Neighborhood High School

Beginning in Aug, Eastern Senior High School will be the only comprehensive, neighborhood high school in DC to offer an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. Eastern Principal Rachel Skerritt received notification recently of the school’s authorization to offer the IB programme. International Baccalaureate Di-

ploma Programme is an academically rigorous and internationally focused course of studies. The IB Diploma Programme is a holistic approach to education that requires students participating to take courses in six areas, English, history, math, science, world language and arts. Following their coursework, students will have to write a 4,000 word Extended Essay, pass a “theory of knowledge” philosophy class, and obtain 150 hours of activities focused on creativity, action and service (CAS). These CAS hours can include activities such as arts, sports, dance and voluntary service. Seniors can use the service hours toward their community service graduation requirement of 100 hours.


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Family Fun-Jazz/Hip-Hop Class Presented by Lotus Dance Company

When’s the last time your family did something fun and exciting together like dancing? Lotus Dance has developed a new family activity that focuses on fun and meaningful interaction with dance at the center. Family Fun-Jazz/ Hip Hop gives the opportunity for parent/guardians and their child to interact together and learn the fundamental steps of Jazz and Hip Hop. Class is interactive and upbeat. Open to adults and children over 8. No experience necessary. To register, please call 626215-4319. Class offered on May 11, June 22, July 20 and Aug 17; 6:30-8 p.m. at CHAW, 545 7th St. SE. 202-547-6839. chaw.org

Explore the Universe Day: Everyone Looks Up!

Everyone looks up! People around the world have always looked to the sky but they don’t always see the same things. Bring your family to the Museum to experience how different people study the sky and hear their stories. Saturday, June 1, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Free. National Air and Space Museum. airandspace.si.edu

Children’s National Medical Center’s 11th Annual “Bringing It All Together Day”

“Bringing It All Together Day” is on May 31, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Children’s Health Center, 2501 Good Hope Rd. SE. This free event includes Children’s National Generations Program, Children’s Law Center’s Healthy Together, WIC, IMPACT DC; and other local programs. Free pizza, organic apples, music, and fun. For more information, call Elva Anderson at 202-476-6944.

‘Songs for Junior Rangers’ is a Hit with Kids

The National Park Service CD “Songs for Junior Rangers” has children across the country doing the limbo, acting like bison, laugh112 H hillrag.com

ing, singing, and pretending to be in a cave. The CD’s 20 fun tracks include “Wapiti Hoppity” about elk, “Spelunka Funka” about caving, “Frozen Bulldozin” about glaciers and “Four Presidents” about Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The Parents’ Choice Foundation, the nation’s oldest nonprofit guide to quality children’s media and toys, recently gave “Songs for Junior Rangers” its Parents’ Choice Gold Award. The album features park ranger musicians from New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument as well as Navajo singer/songwriter Krishel Augustine and youth ambassadors from New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The a cappella group Committed, the children’s group Trout Fishing in America, and PBS personality Aaron Nigel Smith also appear on the album. Visit the album’s website at nps. gov/flfo/forkids/junior-rangermusic.htm for free downloads and purchasing information. The National Park Service album was funded by the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, and distributed by Eastern National, a non-profit cooperating association. Portions of the proceeds from the album fund Junior Ranger projects throughout the country. nps.gov

Orangutan Day at the Zoo

This family-friendly event offers educational and fun activities for children, keeper talks and animal demonstrations. This Mothers Day learn about Orangutan family dynamics, Zoo animal care and the fascinating cognitive studies being undertaken by National Zoo researchers. This event is on Sunday, May 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the National Zoo. nationalzoo.si.edu

Adventure Theatre’s Summer Music Theatre Camp at the Atlas

Be a part of Adventure Theatre’s musical theatre world at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in a camp complete with choreography, acting, and singing! Session 1 is July 1-14 (no camp July 4); Session


2:is July 15-26. Each two-week workshop concludes with two full-scale productions with costumes and props on stage at the Atlas! Atlas Performiong Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202399-7993. atlasarts.org

Lunch Tote Giveaway at Nationals Game

At the Saturday, May 25 Nationals vs. Phillies game, the first 15,000 attendees will receive a free Nat’s Lunch tote. The game is at 7:15 p.m. washington.nationals.mlb.com

Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Field Dedicated

Mayor Gray, along with DPR Director Jesús Aguirre, Councilmember Tommy Wells, Washington Nationals officials, Rosedale community leaders and baseball fans, attended the field dedication ceremony for Mamie “Peanut” Johnson at the Rosedale Recreation Center, 1701 Gales St. NE. Johnson was the first woman pitcher to play in men’s professional baseball, and only one of three women to play professionally in the Negro Baseball League. The Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Field at the Rosedale Community Center is the first field in the District of Columbia named in honor of a woman. Johnson, who was born in Ridgeway, South Carolina, was “discovered” at the age of 19 playing sandlot baseball on the Rosedale playground. Johnson played two years for the Negro Baseball League’s Indianapolis Clowns, alongside baseball greats Satchel Paige and Hank Aaron. She ended her career with a 38-6 lifetime record and was known as “Peanut” due to her height of 5’ 3”. Three years ago, the Washington Nationals named Mamie “Peanut” Johnson as an honorary member of the team. She also is the subject of the book, ‘A Strong Right Arm,’ describing her life growing up and the obstacles to becoming a professional Negro Baseball League player. JohnHillRag | May 2013 H 113


son has been working with District youth at Rosedale for some time and will work with DPR in programming activities on the field. The District renovated and reopened the community center in May of 2012. Its amenities include adult and kiddie pools, athletic field and multi-use recreation center. The Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Field has a synthetic surface.

Family-Friendly Birdfest 2013 at the Rock Creek Nature Center

Bird Fest 2013 is Saturday, May 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. It’s a migration celebration! Join them in welcoming back the millions of migratory birds that spent the winter in Latin America. In honor of International Migratory Bird Day, the National Park Service and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center are co-hosting a festival which will take place at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center. This free, family-friendly event will feature guided bird hikes, bird banding demonstrations, live birds of prey, a variety of fun and educational games and crafts for kids, interactive exhibits by conservation organizations, live music and Latin American dance performances, and a bird-themed planetarium show. The Rock Creek Nature Center is located at 5200 Glover Rd. NW, near the intersection of Military Rd. and Glover Rd. The Friendship Heights and Fort Totten Metro stops are the closest. From either Metro stop, take the E-2, E-3, or E-4 bus to the intersection of Glover and Military Roads. Look to your left and follow the trail up to the Nature Center.

The Young Scientists Club

Esther Novis, a mother of five and a former Harvard-trained biologist, started The Young Scientists Club as a summer science camp for her then 5-year-old son. Friends from other parts of the country told Novis they wanted to duplicate her concept and the idea for a science subscription service was born! The subscription kits are now mailed monthly to thousands of children around the world and 114 H hillrag.com

the company’s retail kits are sold in hundreds of specialty stores. In addition to developing new products for The Young Scientists Club, this wise mom has many years of experience teaching at Phillips Academy, Andover and has written the science column for Parents Magazine plus wrote science experiments for the new science curriculum by McGraw-Hill Publishing. Read more at theyoungscientistsclub.com.

Library of Congress Establishes Special Prize for National History Day

The Library of Congress has established a new prize as part of National History Day to encourage students to study discovery and exploration through the ages. The Library of Congress “Discovery or Exploration in History Prize” will be awarded at a special ceremony on the campus of the University of Maryland at College Park at 8:30 a.m. on June 13, 2013. Sponsored by the Elizabeth Ridgway Fund from the Library of Congress, this $1,000 prize is awarded in the junior division (grades 6-8) of the National History Day competition for an outstanding project in any category on American or international discovery or exploration. The Elizabeth Ridgway Fund was established in memory of the late director of Educational Outreach at the Library to honor her passion for history, students, education and the Library of Congress. National History Day is a national year-long academic program focused on historical research for students in grades 6-12. Each year, more than half a million students chose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research to prepare original papers, websites, exhibits, performances and documentaries for entry into local, state and national History Day competitions. The program culminates in the national contest, held each June at the University of Maryland. For information on National History Day, the annual contest and all available prizes, visit nhd.org. H


Boy Scouts Improve Hill Playing Fields

A

OPEN

ENROLLMENT

by James Grimaldi

bout two dozen Boy Scouts and parents from Troop 380 constructed a reinforced backstop on Payne Field and replaced dilapidated benches at Eastern High and Eliot-Hine Middle schools on March 23. The work was done as part of an Eagle Scout project by Life Scout Alexander Grimaldi, 17. The improvements benefit Capitol Hill Little League as well as public schoolchildren who will use the field. “Capitol Hill Little League would like to thank Alexander Grimaldi and his Boy Scout Troop for organizing and constructing the wooden backstop at Payne and for replacing the dugout benches at both Eastern and Eliot,” said

CHLL board member Opi Leckszas, who represented the benefiting organization. “ As part of his Eagle Scout project, Alexander designed, proposed, assembled materials, coordinated manpower and constructed the above with the assistance of quite a few volunteers from his Troop, family and Little League. “ Within minutes of completing the backstop, CHLL players began using the field and saw the backstop in action. A ball missed by the catcher hit the solid-wood construction and thunked back to the mound. “Wow,” said Jill Normington, a CHLL parent. “It really works!” “Many cheers to Alex and his helpers,” Dick Bradshaw, a CHLL division AA coach said. H

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Little Leagues begin using the field immediately. “Wow, it really works,” said Jill Normington.

Alexander Grimaldi handles drill to install wood panels.

Scout Master Pat Merkle oversees finishing touches on backstop at Payne HillRag | May 2013 H 115


kids&family

School Notes by Susan Braun Johnson

Miner Elementary Performs Into the Woods, Jr.

Miner students are offering up a mad fairy tale where all of your child’s favorite characters – Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack (and his beanstalk) and The Witch – meet and interact on their journeys. Show times are 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 30 and 31 in the Miner Elementary auditorium.

Miner Tutors Needed

Volunteers are needed to tutor students performing below grade level in reading and math. Tutoring is on Saturdays at 9 a.m. If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Sylvia Mills at 202-397-

and the ways they used natural resources to survive. The fourth-graders then headed to Yorktown, where they learned about life during the late 1700s. At the April PTA meeting, Brent Principal Peter Young presented the 2013-2014 Brent school plan. Beginning next school year, Brent will offer accelerated math opportunities to upper grade elementary students including a new 6th grade math section for 4th and 5th grade students. Brent will also offer additional Chinese classes, staff office hours and a new grammar and vocabulary curriculum. Please visit the Brent website for more information. - Denise Diggs. Brent Elementary, 301 North Carolina Ave SE, www.brentelementary.org, 202-698-3363.

Capitol Hill Stars at Friends Community School Summer Camp

Brent students in Jamestown

Several popular Capitol Hill denizens will bring their talents to Friends Community School Summer Camp this year. Labyrinth, the game and puzzle store on Pennsylvania Avenue will be running two one-week camp programs: The Story of Games and The Science of Games. Both will include creative exploration of game design, game

3960 or via email at sylvia.mills@dc.gov. - Lauren Kabler, Myrtilla Miner Elementary School, 601 15th St, NE, 202-397-3960.

Brent Fourth Graders Visit Jamestown

Brent Elementary fourth-graders took a trip to Jamestown and Yorktown, VA last month where students were able to board a replica of the Susan Constant, one of the three ships the settlers spent 140 days on traveling across the Atlantic. Students ventured through the Jamestown fort, where they saw efforts the colonists made to protect them. They also learned about muskets and watched as one got fired. Lastly, students visited a Powhatan village to see their efficiently constructed homes 116 H hillrag.com

Student Moderator at Eliot-Hine MS Candidates Forum

theory, gaming history and a chance for campers to create their own games. Tyler Elementary School Spanish teachers Nora Bustios and Nydia Corona will offer two Spanish immersion programs focusing on the rhythm of Spanish language through music, poetry and motion. Children will develop plays that will be presented at the end of each two-week session. In all, Friends will offer 30 one or two week camp sessions from June 10 through August 9 for rising kindergarten through 9th grade students. Other programs include Rhythm Rocks! Drums & Music with Luis Garay, which explores Afro-Latin and World percussion music; Robotics and Photography; Eco-Quest and Eco-Adventure; Robotics and Film-Making/Photography/Computer Quest; Gargoyles, Ghosts, Castles and Catapults; Junk Art and Jewelry; Artistic Construction; Appalachian Trail Camping; Olympic Sports; Wizardry of Harry Potter and Harry Potter at Hogwarts; Writing Enrichment; Math Enrichment, and Puppet Theater. More information is at www. friendscommunityschool.org. - Eric Rosenthal. Friends Community School, 5901 Westchester Park Drive, College Park, MD 20740 www.friendscommunityschool.org.

Eliot-Hine Students Host Candidates Forum

It started out as a brainstorming meeting with Eliot-Hine student government and civic club advisor, Terrence Gunthrope and Tommy Wells’ Chief of Staff, Charles Allen. They were looking



kids&family for ways to get the students more engaged in understanding and participating in their local government. Using the upcoming Council At-Large Special Election as the catalyst, Mr. Allen began meeting with Suzanne Wells from the Capitol Hill Public School Parent Organization (CHPSPO) and Joe Weedon from Defeat Poverty DC to develop a month-long curriculum that would culminate in a candidates forum, moderated by the students. Mr. Allen and Wells’ education advisor, Bonnie Cain, met with the students once a week for the month preceding the forum, introducing them to their local government and bringing guest speakers, such as Ward 6 Board of Education member Monica Warren-Jones and WAMU education reporter Kavitha Cardoza, to talk about their roles in the city and decision making by elected leaders. The Eliot-Hine students conducted a survey of the student body to identify student concerns and issues, and then crafted questions for the Council candidates. At the forum on April 9, Students Shakiya Jenkins, Kaprise Fauntroy, Gabrielle Roberts, Mundell Lomax and Joshua Carey joined Mark Segraves of NBC4 and Thomas K Byrd of We Act Radio in quizzing the candidates. Whether the question was how to create more choice in school lunches, encourage more parental involvement, or modernize the Eliot-Hine Middle School building, the students put the candidates on the hot seat. – Elizabeth Nelson, Eliot-Hine Middle School, 1830 Constitution Ave NE. Tynika Young, Principal, 202-939-5380, www.eliothinemiddleschool.com/.

CHDS 8th graders explore physics through the sport of curling. Photo: Lisa Sommers

Councilmembers Catania and David Grosso praised the students’ work. In response to the presentation Councilmen Grasso said, “I think these projects are really important. I hope the NoMa Bid is listening; I hope they pick your designs exactly. Keep up the great work and make sure you come [to City Hall] as you continue to grow and be engaged in the community and be engaged in your city because we need your help.” The students began developing the designs as Two Rivers’ Eighth Graders Present to D.C. part of a class project on how societies have hisCouncil’s Education Committee torically developed and used public spaces. StuTwo Rivers Public Charter School students dents then applied what they learned from to crerecently presented designs before the Education ate designs for a new green space in NoMa. Committee of DC’s City Council for a new park Two Rivers uses an academically rigorous that would bring more green space to their NoMa method teaching method that enables students to neighborhood. Councilmember David Catania in- access more involved project-based learning expevited students after visiting the school in February. riences that help students develop 21st century skills. Two Rivers is one of only 20 ‘high-performing’ D.C. public charter schools and this year had over 1,800 applicants for 32 available slots. The elementary and middle school program significantly outperforms alternatives on D.C.’s standardized tests — 26 percentage points higher than the average D.C. traditional public school, and 18 percentage points higher than the average D.C. public charter school. More online at www.tworiverspcs.org. – Dan Cronin. Two Rivers’ Eighth Graders Present to D.C. Council’s Education Committee 118 H hillrag.com

Capitol Hill Day School News Progressive Education Leader Visits Capitol Hill Day School

Recently, Capitol Hill Day School was honored to host Tom Little, Head of Park Day School in Oakland, California and President of the Board of the Progressive Education Network. CHDS was one stop on Mr. Little’s cross-country “working sabbatical,” as he visits various schools to research and report on the state of Progressive Education in America. Progressive Education is an evolving philosophy, seeking the best of old and new practices, though its fundamental beliefs are constant. For progressive educators, knowledge is a dynamic, interconnected set of ideas, rather than a set of isolated and memorized skills. Mr. Little blogged that he admires CHDS “for adhering to their progressive roots at a time when the pressure is fierce to shade toward more traditional practices, especially in urban areas like DC. It all comes down to doing what they believe is best for kids - providing them the programs that will engage their interests. In an era where schools are driven by performance on standardized tests, this is a noble commitment.” At the heart of Progressive Education is the belief that teaching and learning should be engaging, authentic, and experiential. Commending CHDS for its wide-ranging field education program, Mr. Little remarked: “One would be hard-pressed to find another



kids&family clay glazes before firing them again. We also made hand-decorated aprons to go with our bowls, so we can cook in our aprons and serve up our food in the Elbowls! Parents, friends and members of the community are invited to this big event on May 30th from 5:30-7 p.m.

Watkins Elementary

Peabody students celebrate their schools 133rd birthday.

school getting kids out into the world as much as CHDS.” In reflecting on Mr. Little’s visit, Head of School Jason Gray noted, “It was wonderful to have our mission and philosophy mirrored back to us so sincerely through the eyes of such a well-regarded progressive educator and colleague. “ - Jason Gray, Head of School, Capitol Hill Day School, 210 South Carolina Ave, SE, www.chds.org.

Cluster School News The Capitol Hill Classic is May 19th

The NCB Capitol Hill Class will return to the streets of the Hill for its 34th annual running! All proceeds from this popular Hill tradition support the Cluster School. 3,500 runners from across the metropolitan area and United States are expected in the 10K, 3K, and fun run races. Many Cluster students have trained with the Watkins Running Club, Girls on the Run, and the Stuart-Hobson track team and will be participating. The 10K course takes runners past Union Station, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, Folger Shakespeare Library, and RFK Stadium. Runners in all three races and spectators will get to enjoy a finish line festival in Stanton Park. To register for the Capitol Hill Classic, visit the race website at http://capitolhillclassic.com/.

of Kate Lee to the Peabody family. Ms. Lee is the new School Garden Coordinator, funded through an OSSEE grant, and she joined the school April. She has been working to maintain and improve our gardens alongside our newest Master Gardener Volunteer, Emily, and intern Molly; they have built trellises for the peas that are sprouting in our class beds and they have helped our student gardeners to make signs for their garden boxes. Molly and Ms. Jane, our Story of Food teacher, have also been introducing the kids to lettuce and spinach and teaching them to make salad dressing. The Room 9 students loved their salads so much they requested not just seconds and thirds, but fourths! Coming up this month at Peabody, our artists will host an open house to display, celebrate and highlight their “Elbowls”. Each student made their bowl by rolling clay into a ball and forming a bowl with their elbow. We then fired our bowls in our own kiln and painted them with gorgeous

The FoodPrints “Family Nutrition Education Series” finished on April 25. The final class included tasty spring child-friendly salads, a spinach/ ricotta pasta dish, spring carrots and more. Participants in the program receive “Market Coupons” to shop at the Watkins School Farmers Market, featuring organic produce from the Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative. The farmer’s market is returning for spring to sell delicious, fresh produce from this group of over 40 farmers located just 2.5 hours from DC. Watkins and the CHCS PTA will host Family Reading Night on May, 28 to kick off summer reading activities. Children’s author, Katy Kelly joins Watkins to speak with the children and sell and autograph books. Along with Ms. Kelly, Peabody teachers will be modeling good read-aloud techniques for both students and parents. For middle school students, there will be a representative from the DC public library to give books talks and promote the library’s summer reading program. The older students will also be able to purchase books by Sharon Draper, an outstanding young adult author who will be visiting the Cluster in October 2013.

Stuart-Hobson Middle School

The Stuart-Hobson Student Government Association, under the guidance of librarian Ms. Pratt and technologist Ms. Helm filmed and ed-

Peabody Primary Campus

Peabody celebrated its 133rd birthday on April 17 marking its last birthday in its “unmodernized” state. The first phase of the Peabody modernization takes place this summer and our scholars will return to a beautiful, new (on the interior) building in August. Visit the Cluster School website to see the plans. Peabody is thrilled to announce the addition 120 H hillrag.com

St. Peter’s Confirmation Class. Photo: Jim Shackelford


ited a documentary-style video on why the school’s modernization plan needs to be completed. The film captures interviews and comments from teachers, staff, administrators and students who care about the future of Stuart-Hobson. You can view the video on the PTA’s YouTube channel, CHCSPTA. While the campus awaits its full renovation on the inside, Stuart-Hobson scholars aren’t wasting any time getting the outdoor gardens into top shape for spring. Four of the six garden beds were installed and planted on March 13. In addition, volunteers and staff created a compost bin using wooden pallets – composting is an essential part of gardening! – Katie Baptiste. Peabody– 425 C St NE, Watkins, 420 12th St SE, StuartHobson, 410 E St NE. www. capitolhillclusterschool.org

St. Peter School Star Scientists

St. Peter School was well represented at the DC STEM Science Fair, competing against over 250 individual and team projects. Congratulations to 7th grader Antonio De Leo and 6th grader Shu Yu Offner for earning honorable mentions in the Environmental Sciences and Management category and the Chemistry category respectively. - BAZINGA!

Spiritual Growth at St. Peter School

Spring is a busy month for blessed sacraments at St. Peter School. Eighth graders participated in the Mass of Confirmation and nearly forty second graders from across Capitol Hill celebrated their First Holy Communion at St. Peter’s Church. Hundreds of friends and family attended the Masses to witness the children receive their sacraments.

OUR SPONSORS MAKE PLAYING BALL A LOT MORE FUN. • Bailey & Glasser, Michael Murphy • Belga Café • • Beverly Orthopedic Dentistry • Carol & Andy Connelly • DC Access • • Detour Bar/Kids in the Game • Eastern Market Crepes • Fairgrounds • • Finish Line Sports • First Washington Mortgage • Grubbs Pharmacy • • Phil Guire & Jeanne Harrison • Hank’s on the Hill • Hill’s Kitchen • • Joel Nelson • Kristof Realty • Littler Mendelson, Kevin Kraham • • Mac’s Tires • Metro Mutts • Palmetto Group • Pendragwyn Productions • • Pretzel Bakery • QuickSilver Productions • Riverby Books • • Saving Grace Pet Service • Law Offices of David P. Sheldon • • Silver Spork • Sports Authority • Tech Painting • Tortilla Café • • Trusty’s • Ugly Mug • Washington Nationals Dream Foundation • • Phyliss Jane Young •

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kids&family They’ve incorporated a robust garden program into the school curriculum, their Wellness Club of student, staff and families meet monthly to prepare nutritious and fun meals and they recently hosted their first Family Fitness Night. The PE teacher also has kept students moving by adding archery, ice skating, golf and a recent ski trip to the curriculum.

cleSpace for hosting with us! –Diana Bruce. 215 G St NE; 202.698.4467; http://capitolhillmontessorischool. org/contact-us/

Helping the Environment at Tyler

Environmental awareness is very important to the Tyler Elementary community. This is wonderfully evident in the classroom of Ms. Luz, a 2nd grade teacher in the Spanish imNational Bike to School Day – May 8 mersion program. In an effort to reCHM@L also is active and on duce the amount of waste at the school, the move around the neighborhood, students in Ms. Luz’s class decided at promoting fuel-free commutes to the start of the school year to forego school. This spring, Fuel-Free Fridays the paper napkins and plastic spoons that normally accompany the breakresumed. Every Friday morning, famifast provided by Revolution Foods, the lies meet at 8:20 a.m. in Lincoln Park, food vendor for the school. Instead, forming a bike train to ride to school each student uses a stainless steel spoon together. CHM@L is also gearing up brought from home and cloth napkins for National Bike to School Day on made and donated by one of the class May 8. They hope to see other schools parents. By the end of the school year, join in at the neighborhood party at the students will have prevented more Lincoln Park from 7:30-8:30am. Stop than 3,600 spoons and 3,600 napkins by to say “hi” to friends from all the lo- from being thrown in the trash. They cal schools, pick up a snack and bike to will have also recycled every piece of school with your friends. Even if you paper used in the classroom. Ms. Luz can’t make it to the park, you can bike is also working to create lesson plans to school with your family. centered on conservation and environTo prepare for biking, they hosted mental stewardship, while her students the ABCs of Family Biking where are working on ways to encourage the families learned how to bike safely in entire school to adopt these and other the city and were able to participate Earth-smart policies. in bike equipment demonstrations. Another great eco-awareness iniThanks for Kidical Mass, Washington tiative at Tyler is its outdoor classArea Bicyclist Association, DC De- room, which was started in 2010 and Tyler Elementary students are growing fruits, vegetables, and herbs in their outdoor classroom. partment of Transportation and Bicy- continues to grow and thrive. This year students are Celebrating With Our Seussical - The growing peaches, raspberries, figs, School Community Musical – May 10 serviceberries, figs, Don’t miss St. Peter Rejoicing at the arrival of spring, parsley, thyme, the St. Peter School community en- School’s annual musical on sage, lavender, and joyed a mid-week lunch together May 10 or 11 at 7 p.m. in chives. Got a green during the annual school-wide bar- the St. Peter’s Church Parthumb? If you ish Hall. This engaging perbecue. Grilled up by a corps of St. are a community formance is perfect for all Peter School dad volunteers, famimember who loves lies gathered for grilled hotdogs and ages and audiences! –Sally gardening and/or burgers, topped off by a range of Aman. St. Peter School, 422 wants to support sweet treats baked by class families. Third St, SE. 202-544-1618, the students at TyMeanwhile, the grown-ups put their www.stpeterschooldc.org. ler, we hope you’ll thinking caps on for Trivia Night. join us on one or While younger students enjoyed a Keeping Fit and On the both of the followfun-filled evening of free childcare at ing garden work Move at CHM@L the school, members of the St. Peter’s days: May 19th Capitol Hill Montesadult community enjoyed a “night and June 9th from sori at Logan (CHM@L) out” in the Parish Hall for food, fun Maury JetToy Team (l to r): 5th graders Robert McFarlane, Xavier 2-4pm. Colleen takes wellness seriously. Hill, Taja White, and Shaylah Jackson. and a healthy battle of wits! 122 H hillrag.com


Cancio. Tyler Elementary is located at 1001 G St, SE. www.TylerElementary.net

Maury Elementary Maury Takes Silver in Detroit!

For months, Maury 5th graders gave up recess to design and build balloon-powered toy cars with science teacher Vanessa Ford and Maury parent and engineer Subrat Biswal. This April, their hard work paid off as the qualifying team – Xavier Hill, Shaylah Jackson, Robert McFarlane, and Taja White - traveled with teachers Joe Ludes and Kate Sweeney and parent Michelle Austin to Detroit, Michigan to compete against 119 other teams in the 7th Annual International Jet Toy Competition. The Maury team arrived in Detroit with a mission--to build Jet Toys that would compete in four categories: distance, accuracy, carrying weight and time. Their months of hard work showed at the competition as they worked as a team to quickly build two Jet Toy chassis and attach balloon propulsion systems. The team worked feverishly to test and refine their design at the competition, only to be foiled by the clock. They made a lastminute substitution of a key part, and then had to compete in the first category, distance, with an untested car. The first run was a nervewracking experience, but their gamble paid off. When final scores were tallied, Maury’s team had won a second place silver medal in the distance category. The team learned a great deal about engineering, working as a team, sportsmanship and determination and look forward to next year’s competition. - Kate Sweeney. Maury Elementary, 1250 Constitution Ave., NE. 202-6983838 or mauryelementary.com, FB; Twitter.

Friendship Students Shine at STEM, Engineering Events

Friendship Public Charter School, which invests heavily in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — academic disciplines, had students compete and win at the D.C. STEM Fair and at a national engineering competition. Students from Friendship’s Collegiate Academy, a college preparation public charter high school, competed against schools from around the District and earned the following awards: · Grand Award Senior 3rd Place – Anthony Green · 1st Place American Aerospace Corporation – Anthony Green

· 1st Place Clear Ai Partners Air Quality/ Change Award – Clifton Dillard and Nautica Gantt · 2nd Place Category – Engineering (American Institute of Aeronautics)Anthony Green · 2nd Place – Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s Medical Center – Anthony Green · Optical Society of America Award – Anthony Green · Outstanding Project in Areas of Interest to the US Air Force – Anthony Green · Honorable Mention Aerospace Corporation (AiAA) – Mychal Sheow and Alassane Treore. Friendship’s Collegiate Academy, at 4095 Minnesota Avenue N.E., has a 91-percent on-time high-school graduation rate—35 percentage points higher than the DCPS average and 14 points above the D.C. charter average. Additionally, on March 27, students from the Friendship’s Chamberlain campus, at 1345 Potomac Avenue, S.E. took part in the National Society of Black Engineers Spring 2013 Middle School Engineering Competition in Indianapolis. For more information visit, www.friendshipshipschools.org

Eastern High School News

NOT SURE HOW TO BEGIN PLANNING OR PAYING FOR COLLEGE?

The College Information Center Can Help! Educational Advisers can help you research undergraduate and graduate programs, help complete college admission applications, and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application. Learn more by visiting in-person, online at reach4success.org or calling (202) 442-8398.

Hours: Monday: noon - 7 p.m. Tuesday: noon - 7 p.m. Wednesday: noon - 5 p.m. Thursday: noon - 3 p.m. Friday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday: noon - 5:30 p.m.

All Services are Free of Charge.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 901 G st. NW, Room 324

Eastern High School Looking for Volunteers for Career Day

Last year, over 60 professionals shared their personal and professional stories with Eastern’s freshmen. This year they have expanded to serve both freshmen and sophomores and need your help to reach a goal of confirming 120 volunteers from a diverse set of career fields. Eastern Senior High School’s Second Annual Career Day is on Friday, May 10th from 9:30am-12pm. Guests will gather for breakfast and then speak to two ninth or tenth grade classes about their life’s path and current career. If you would like to volunteer or know of someone who would be a good fit, please contact Eastern at 202- 698- 4500; www. easternhighschooldc.org.

Eastern Senior High School First in the City to Offer IB Diploma

Beginning in August, Eastern Senior High School will be the only comprehenHillRag | May 2013 H 123


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sive, neighborhood high school in the District of Columbia to offer an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. “This is a great opportunity for the Ramblers and a testament to the students, staff and leadership at Eastern Senior High School,” said DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “IB will teach our students to think from a global perspective and set them on a path toward success. Eastern is on the rise, and with this new IB program, they’re set to take an international journey.” The IB Diploma Programme is a holistic approach to education that requires students participating to take courses in six areas, English, history, math, science, world language and arts. Eliot-Hine Middle School and Jefferson Middle School have applied to offer the IB Middle Years Programme, a five-year program that will end in the 10th grade at Eastern Senior High School. In 2011, Eastern Senior High School was re-opened and redesigned with new staff and curriculum and a model to ensure all students graduate with the content knowledge, character and confidence to serve as innovative, inclusive global leaders. Eastern currently holds a freshman and sophomore class, and the school will grow by a grade each year with a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior class by the 2014-2015 school year. One of the promises made to the community during the redesign was an IB programme at Eastern Senior High School. “We are thrilled to be able to offer the prestigious IB World Diploma to students in our Legacy Class of 2015, and all classes that follow, who choose to pursue this rigorous program of study,” said Eastern Principal Rachel Skerritt.

St. Anselm’s Ranks Highly for Academic Challenge

St. Anselm’s score in the Washington Post Challenge Index is highest in DC area; also highest among U.S. independent schools. For the second straight year, St. Anselm’s Abbey School in Brookland has been rated No. 1 in the Washington area and No. 1 among U.S. independent schools on the Washington Post’s list of America ’s Most Challenging High Schools. The annual listing by education columnist Jay Mathews was published Monday, April 15. St. Anselm’s has a Challenge Index of 8.533, which is higher than any public or charter school in the DC area and also the highest among the 40 independent

schools across the U.S. that appeared on the Post’s list. The Challenge Index rates schools based on their levels of participation in collegelevel tests: the rating is the total number of AP, IB and similar tests administered by the school in a given year, divided by the number of graduates that year. St. Anselm’s high Challenge Index is a reflection of the school’s mission to provide a highly rigorous, challenging classical curriculum for academically motivated young men. James Leathers- Director of Communications , St. Anselm’s Abbey School, 4501 South Dakota Avenue, NE, www.saintanselms.org.

Bilingual Elsie Whitlow Stokes Marks 15 Years of Success

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School held an admissions lottery on April 11 to allocate the 30 available places for which roughly 1,000 applications were received. Stokes School has been classified as a high-performing school by the DC Public Charter School Board. On the District’s standardized tests, Stokes students outperform their peers enrolled in D.C. Public Schools by sixteen percentage points and, and their D.C. charter peers by nine points. One of a small number of bilingual immersion D.C. public charter schools, Stokes PCS requires its pre-K through sixth grade students to speak, read, write and think in two languages—either French and English or Spanish and English. Many Stokes alumni and are enrolled in prestigious colleges. Others who have yet to graduate high school attend high-performing charters such as Washington Latin and Capital City, magnet and academically selective public schools and prestigious private schools on scholarship. Stokes School recently announced they will partner with Yu Ying Public Charter School, Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School, Mundo Verde Public Charter School and D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School to create a language immersion middle and high school, which will offer not Mandarin as well as French and Spanish. Students enrolled at the five founding schools will have a guaranteed place at the new D.C. International School. Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS is located at 3700 Oakview Terrace NE, Washington, DC 20017. To learn more visit www.ewstokes.org. H


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kids&family

DC’s Young Mandarins Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School Students Learn Their Lessons in Chinese and English by Stephen Lilienthal

K

ids used to dream about digging their way to China. Now DC kids can discover China’s culture, language, and much more without picking up a trowel or even leaving the city. Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School (WYY), in its fifth year of operating, combines an immersion program in Chinese with an International Baccalaureate education. A dreary Monday morning in February dampens neither the spirits of the young students nor the faculty at WYY, which is located in northeast DC’s Brookland neighborhood. Today, a second grade student “team” might hear its science lesson taught in Mandarin. Tomorrow, the lesson continues in English. The Asia Society’s booklet on Chinese Language Learning in the Early Grades, which examines best practices in Mandarin immersion programs, states that WYY’s “teaching all subjects in both English and Chinese has been rewarding for Yu Ying’s students. Students have gone from not speaking or reading any Chinese to being able to use Chinese” in reading, writing, and speaking.

Students and teacher in class at Washington Yu Ying Public Charter School.

Learning Together At The Right Time

Staci Mason’s daughter has been attending WYY since 2009 when she entered pre-K. Mason, a Ward 7 resident, wanted her daughter to attend WYY because she believes in offering foreign language programs for students at early ages. Mason studied French in high school and college, and knows that learning Chinese, or any language, is more difficult for adults than for children. 126 H hillrag.com

ing major languages to learn. Typically, American adults would need 64 weeks to achieve a functional command of Mandarin. Functional command of the Romance languages -- Spanish, French, and Italian -- classified as “Category I,” can be learned in 26 weeks. Ms. Mason’s daughter thrives on learning Chinese, despite it being a more difficult language to master, particularly the written characters. But mastery takes work, so right after her daughter’s daily violin practice, Mason works with her on Chinese pronunciation. “We have a routine,” she says. They practice pronunciation, finding resources on the WYY portal that allow her to hear the words on audio books. When she and her daughter visited a Chinese restaurant during the Chinese New Year, the owner, a native of China, told Ms. Mason how impressed he was with her daughter’s tone in speaking Chinese and her ability to write Chinese characters in proper stroke order. Of course, learning Chinese becomes more challenging as a child becomes older and starts learning more complex course material. So Mason choose the right time to put her young daughter in a foreign language immersion program.

Immersion Benefits

Standards adhered to by the US military’s Defense Language Institute classify Mandarin as a “Category IV Language” along with Arabic, Korean, Japanese, and Pashto. They’re the most exact-

Young minds are better able to deal with the ambiguity of learning a language according to Paul Sandrock, Director of Education at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), “They learn experientially, through trial and error, taking risks. There’s more to learning a language than just vocabulary,” he explains.


In Mr. Sandrock’s view, the benefits of learning a language early can extend to being better able to mimic the grammatical patterns and accents of a native speaker. Young minds can better absorb and imitate the patterns of the foreign language. When the language is taught as part of regular subject content such as science or social studies, that can further the advantages. Furthermore, research studied by ACTFL, demonstrates that the achievement gap -- whether based on gender, race, or class -- narrows considerably when students are immersed in the study of a foreign language at early ages. One 1987 study of an immersion program in French cited on the ACTFL webpage discovered that “socioeconomically underprivileged students (both Black and White) benefited from an immersion-type introduction to a foreign language as much as students from middle class homes did.”

Benefits of Learning Chinese

Chris Livaccari, director of education and Chinese Language Initiatives for the Asia Society, says many people perceive the benefits of learning Chinese based on China’s anticipated economic power. A blog post, “Learning Chinese Pays Dividends: Of Characters And Cognition” written by Livaccari and Yi Zheng, admit that the evidence about how learning Chinese can aid one’s cognitive ability is “not yet conclusive or comprehensive” but the indication is that learning Chinese tones and written characters can yield “dividends -- not just for one’s bank account, but also for one’s brain.” Because Mandarin Chinese is very different than English both in the tone of the spoken language and the non-alphabetic nature of its written language, learning Chinese taps into cognitive abilities native English speakers would not use otherwise. Livaccari and Zheng cite several studies emphasizing the benefits of knowing Chinese, two of which indicate that it can help mathematical abilities, which are “embedded in character writing because it involves skills such as counting, grouping, ordering, and identifying similarities and differences.”

Yu Ying’s Program

WYY’s top Tier 1 ranking from the DC Public Charter School Board, reflects positively on its academic program and school climate. Students are not just learning Chinese, but participating in a rigorous academic curriculum aligned with the International Bacculaureate program (IB), which encourages students to be inquiry-oriented, and to develop critical thinking and creative problem solving skills as well as to develop character traits such as honesty and fairness. “IB is just as important as Chinese” to WYY’s mission, stresses executive director Mary Shaffner, a co-founder of WYY. “The IB framework deeply engages students in learning” through their own research. WYY’s kindergarten students will learn about journeys, including maps (geography), why people migrate (social sciences), and airplanes (science). Kindergarteners will plan their own trip in DC using maps and the Metro system. The fifth grade class will participate in a two week trip to China this spring; activities include a stay in a Chinese home, trips to elementary schools and cultural institutions. WYY offers an extensive afterschool program, conducted in both English and Chinese, and parents are asked to support their children’s Chinese studies outside of school, attending Chinese cultural events and even learning basic Chinese. Sending a child to WYY “definitely requires a little bit more from a parent,” asserts Shaffner. Now, the diverse school (nearly half its students are African American, Asians represent 18%) is planning on expansion. The DC Public Charter School Board voted last year to allow WYY to develop a middle/ high school. WYY plans on teaming up with several other bilinqual charter schools, Elsie Whitlow Stokes (French/Spanish), Latin American Montessori (Spanish), and Mundo Verde (Spanish), to create the District of Columbia International School. For more information on Washington Yu Ying, go to www.washingtonyuying.org

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HillRag | May 2013 H 127



Homes & Gardens CHRS House and Garden Tour May 11-12, 2013

A

w c’mon, admit it, you love peeking into other people’s houses, especially the lovely old rowhouses that characterize Washington’s historic districts. And don’t you love those house tours that allow you to snoop with a clean conscience? Well, here’s your chance. Every Mother’s Day weekend for over half a century, the Capitol Hill Restoration Society has hosted a tour of homes linked by a particular theme. The tradition continues on May 11 and 12 this year, with the 56th Annual Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour. This is a must-do event for many local residents, as well as for anyone interested in DC history, period architecture and historical restoration,

101 Duddington Place SE

By Susan Burgerman or just plain checking out what other people do with their living space. In addition to many kitchen and bath renovations and additions, the 2013 tour offers spectacular gardens, stunning views of the Capitol, creative ideas for maximizing storage, and a house that has cut its electricity usage in half using solar panels. You can visit fourteen properties on a pleasant, easily walkable 1.2 mile route from Pennsylvania Avenue to Garfield Park between First and Fourth Streets SE. Since visitors can see the houses in any order and at their own pace, the tour 101 E Street SE lends itself to a fun (but educatour are four houses along the charmtional!) Mother’s Day faming block of Duddington Place SE. A ily outing. group of restoration-minded develThe tour, “In the Shadopers rescued most of the houses on ow of the Capitol: Old Trathis block from the ravages of time in ditions, New Beginnings,” 1960, restored their exteriors and fully showcases a neighborhood renovated the interiors. that was developed in the 101 Duddington Place is a corner period of rapid expansion property boasting eighteen beautiful between the end of the windows in the downstairs alone. Like Civil War and the 1890s. It many Historic District buildings, it occupies part of the former has served a variety of purposes (as grounds of Duddington you can tell from the storefront winManor, the first mansion dow in the living room): built in 1899 on the Hill, which was built as a dwelling, it was listed in 1903 as a between 1791 and 1797, pharmacy, in 1915 as a grocery, and in then demolished in 1886 1934 it was Fischer’s Market. The livto make room for the rowing room window displays one of the houses that we see today. owners’ prized objects, a rocking horse Among the homes on the that was hand-carved in the 1860s by HillRag | May 2013 H 129


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Charles W.F. Dare, who also carved the oldest carousel in the nation. Those of us who are always looking for creative solutions to enhance light and open up space in narrow rowhouses can learn a lot from the owners of 521 2nd Street. In addition to some fairly simple solutions – a

Capitol Hill Day School 130 H hillrag.com

tiny bathroom sink, a skylight over the stairs to bring natural light to the center of the house, a Murphy bed that turns the study into a guest bedroom – they have undertaken more ambitious renovations such as installing eighteen solar panels, and building out a twostory Victorian porch. The award for most impressive renovation goes to Capitol Hill Day School’s Dent Building, at 210 South Carolina Ave. The entire 23,000 square foot building was renovated in a space of only eight months. The architects maintained the original brick structure, roof, and hardwood floors while creating a number of new areas by, for example, eliminating the unnecessary interior chimneys, which gave the school an additional 900 square feet. Classrooms were renovated with technology upgrades including smartboards and wireless connections. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing fixtures emphasize energy and water efficiency. And these are only three of the fourteen houses and buildings that will open their doors to you for the 56th Annual Capitol Hill House and Garden Tour. The


event begins with a twilight tour of homes from 4-7 pm on Saturday, May 11 and continues 12-5 pm on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12. Tea and other refreshments will be served on both days, from 4-7 on Saturday and 3-5 on Sunday, in the Event Hall of American Legion Post #8, 224 D Street SE. Enter from the D Street side. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 on the tour weekend. They can be purchased on line at www.chrs.

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org, at area outlets listed on the CHRS website, and at the CHRS booth at Eastern Market the weekends of April 2021; April 27-28; May 4-5, and May 11-12. Metro accessible via Capitol South and Eastern Market. CHRS is the oldest and largest civic organization on Capitol Hill. Founded in 1955, this volunteer driven group is dedicated to preserving the historic residential character of the nation’s Capitol. Proceeds from the tour support CHRS’ projects in the Capitol Hill community. This event is generously sponsored by National Capital Bank, Washington Fine Properties, Riverby Books, Schneiders of Capitol Hill and THE SMITH TEAM at Prudential PenFed Realty. Photo credits: Dent Building courtesy of Capitol Hill Day School; all others by Judith V. May. H

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homesgardens

the hill gardener

The Edible Balcony by Annette Nielsen

Y

ou don’t need thousands of square feet to start a garden – just a windowsill, balcony or patio, a little sunshine and a container or two suffices – providing colorful and flavorful inspiration for cooking your way through the growing season. And local experts are available to offer guidance.

Containers

Matthew Roberts at Ginkgo Gardens states the importance of selecting a large enough container. “Anything less than ten inches in diameter usually doesn’t provide enough space for the volume of soil necessary for the plant’s roots to grow edibles,” he says. While his preference is to choose versatile (and lighter) plastic or metal containers, terra cotta offers an attractive alternative. “Consider applying a couple of coats of something like Thompson’s water seal – this will make the pot last longer.” Cheryl Corson offers a range of design consultation and landscape expertise. She agrees that selecting the appropriate container is key. She notes that we have more apartment buildings now that offer different growing spaces from roof decks and back porch spaces to balconies. “It’s always important to check with condo associations, as they may have rules about drilling holes in masonry or a prohibition about using wooden planters that might be seen as a fire hazard.” Frager’s Hardware is known for having just about everything you need for your home, along with a knowledgeable staff that can advise you on do-it-yourself projects. Wander out to 132 H hillrag.com

the garden center and you’ll find managers Christine Moschetti overseeing live goods (plants) and Matthew Lovelace presiding over hard goods (planters, tools, etc.) While Frager’s offers a large selection of terracotta, ceramic, and non-breakable containers and saucers, Moschetti encourages the use of elevated garden containers, or even hanging baskets for adding visual diversity, even to a small space. “I’ve even grown potatoes in a burlap bag,” states Moschetti, adding, “while it’s not a conventional way to grow, it’s a fun project that’s easy and inexpensive.”

Soil

The overwhelming consensus from the experts on soil selection is to use potting soil (not top soil), and when

Christine Moschetti, garden manager of live goods at Frager’s Hardware shows the variety of plants that can grow together in an elevated garden container – providing a variety of edibles in texture, color and flavors.


you’re planting edibles, choose an organic variety. Potting soil is lighter (better for the plant roots than the denser top soil), more aerated and usually includes items like peat, vermiculite, or bark, depending on the recipe mix. In comparison, you don’t want to use soil from the outdoors as it could be filled with large amount of clay – as soon as water is added, it will harden and the roots won’t be able to expand. Fertilizer is an important consideration, as over time soil will become depleted of nutrients and yield will diminish. Again, there are many brands to choose from, but using an organic variety is a good choice for edibles. Follow package directions for application amounts and frequency. You’ll most likely need to replenish your soil each year; as you remove plants at the end of the season, soil will be removed with the plant roots. Additionally, if you’d like to incorporate mulch in your garden projects, you can visit the Fort Totten center run by the District of Columbia (4900 Bates Road, NE, behind the Catholic University Athletic Center, MonFri 1-5 or Sat 8-3, bring a DC identification card or driver’s license, a container and shovel; for hours and further details call 311).

Plants

It’s not too late to start seeds as opposed to purchasing seedlings. In fact, for those varieties that can be planted directly in the planter or container, you might have through mid- to late-May (check seed packages for specifics). Herbs are an easy way to start your edible garden – whether in a window box or larger container. Think about what you like to cook, and the herb flavors you’d like to have handy for a snip or two of leaves to add to a summer dish. Tomatoes are a popular choice, and the smaller varieties like pears and cherry tomatoes HillRag | May 2013 H 133


Matthew Roberts at Ginkgo Gardens shows off the variety of flavorful leafy greens ready to be snipped for your next dinner salad.

offer a better yield. Moschetti states, “If you plant the larger varieties, make certain to stake them or place a cage around the plant as soon as you place it in the container. You’ll minimize the chance of breaking a stem or bending the plant to fit the cage as the plant grows.” Roberts suggests variety is key, “Placing herbs or nasturtiums around the base of plants offers a nice aesthetic with varying textures and colors.” He recommends other plants to try. “I’ve had great luck planting eggplants and peppers. The peppers are beautiful, as are the blossoms, and you can even save the seeds for the following year.” He’s also a fan of planting leaf lettuces, as

A large selection of containers, trays and saucers at Frager’s Hardware representing a wide variety of materials, sizes and colors. 134 H hillrag.com


well as small root crops like radishes or tiny carrots. Moschetti adds, “Strawberries are great cascading in a window box, and berries and small fruit trees like figs are also a great choice for adding variety to your garden – however, if you plant a citrus tree, you’ll need to bring it indoors over the winter months.” Ask for advice on insecticides and fungicides, as you may find you’ll need them at different times throughout the season, depending on the weather and plant type.

Care

We live in Zone 7, which gives us a fairly long growing season and the ability to plant a wide variety of plants. Remember all plants need attention, especially during the summer when the heat is unrelenting and we experience dry spells, requiring daily watering. If this is your first time planting a garden, it’s worth it to speak with the experts. While visiting a retail establishment, plan your visit during slower times (weekday, mid-day) and bring along a photo or two of the space, noting how much sun your space receives. You’ll need to tend to your pots at the end of the season, too. Clean and dry them, and if you’re using ceramic pots, Corson says to be sure to bring pots indoors at the end of the season, as if they’re porous, they can retain water and crack during the cold weather. Cheryl Corson Design 202-494-5054 cherylcorson.com Frager’s Hardware 1115 Pennsylvania Ave SE 202-543-6157 fragersdc.com Ginkgo Gardens 911 11th St SE 202-543-5172 ginkgogardens.com H

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homesgardens gardenspot

How Gail’s Garden Grows

The formal entry of their home and garden

photos and article by Derek Thomas

G The lush rear garden

Gail prunes ties back her prized English rose in early spring

Gail and Mike Giuffrida enjoy their garden. 136 H hillrag.com

ail Giuffrida, gardener, dietitian and lifelong worshiper of the earth, has spent decades caring for and nurturing gardens. From her New England childhood where she helped her father plant vegetables for the family Victory Garden to the joys of reaping salad ingredients from her own plot in one of Capitol Hill’s many community gardens, Gail’s lifelong passion has been gardening. It’s a process that has taught her patience and made her accepting of both the beauty of nature and its sometimes unforgiving, stern hand. A wisteria’s grape-like bloom and wafting perfumed scent, the ferns in her garden exploding in mid-April, and the last harvest in the crisp air of October, all these things give Gail joy and help her mark the passage of the year. Since 1988, Gail and her husband Mike, have enjoyed the unique environment of Capitol Hill—its varied streetscapes, green spaces, and beautiful architecture. When they discovered the center hall, brick house located at 118 12th St. NE, Gail instantly saw the garden’s potential. Though “there were only a few puny shrubs out front planted on barren soil, I knew it was going to be my next garden.”


A Capitol Hill Garden Grows

Gail, an avid member of Capitol Hill Garden Club, wanted a garden befitting the charm that is Capitol Hill, and that she has created. The formal entry garden now contains boxwoods and sitting areas, specimen dogwoods and pockets of color, flowers in early spring and a rose or two to accent those long, hot Washington summers. The front garden is much wider than the adjacent homes on the block and the landscaping have been designed to emphasize that fact. There is a formal, main flagstone walk leading to the front stairs that are elegant with just the right amount of imposition. English boxwoods soften the transition from walk to stairs and add a necessary formality without being pretentious. From there the garden wraps the house on both sides of the front with fall blooming camellias, Fire Power nandina, and two sentinel Green Luster hollies. Coral bells, a Victorian mainstay, add pop to even the drabbest winter day, and two formal hedge rows of holly soften and mask the fence lines to the north and south. Several varieties of hydrangea summon up a gentile time of croquet and lawn picnics in the lazy summers of Washington gone by. Astilbe and ferns soften the transitions in height and stance. The dogwoods add a pop of color during the spring and fall. There is a soft yet organized structure from the cobblestone border and grotto-styled sitting area of river gravel. The rear garden is a magnificent enclave hideaway. There is a brick wall that runs the length of the garden, masked partially by five elegant planters filled with large evergreens. This European detail brings you down and into the rear sunken patio space where long summer dinners can be enjoyed in private seclusion. Flanking the sunken patio, Gail has planters of snapdragons and verbena, while Vinca and gerber daisy take up the real estate surrounding a small water feature. There is a specimen tree and large

espaliered fig that add height and a bit of grandeur to the space. A solitary gardenia adds white hues and intense scent to the garden in late spring and summer. An old English rose is a perfect punctuation mark.

What Has Gail’s Garden Given Her?

“My gardens have always been done to satisfy my love for digging in the dirt,” says Gail. “Whether my “garden” was a windowsill houseplant garden during the years I raised my children, or my garden plot where I have the joy of watching my swiss chard and arugula growing like weeds. My husband Mike’s favorite explanation for my passion for gardens is telling anyone who asks, “Gail’s got to have dirt.” Gardening provides me with a grounded, satisfying sense of self. I work my body and mind. My gardens force my creativity, and bring me balance and a sense of the natural flow of the earth. I can’t be away from my plots of land for too long. There is nothing nicer than the smell of dirt in early spring, making plans with my fellow enthusiasts in the Capitol Hill Garden Club about the growing season at hand, and seeing the first worm when the ground begins to thaw in March. In my gardens, I feel very alive.” Gail’s passion and patience provide her with heavenly scented roses and gardenias in the spring, figs in the summer, and a harvest of tomatoes and peppers in September. Gardening is her joy, her meditation, her exercise, and according to her brings her more pleasure than she could ever have imagined when she worked alongside her father in her parents Victory Garden so many years ago. 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

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The Capitol Hill Garden Club presents

Dear Garden Problem Lady, by Wendy Blair Can you tell me why my Sarcococca humilis is turning yellow? It may lack nitrogen. Try treating with a fertilizer high in nitrogen. After that, try a little iron. It might just need a sprinkling of compost or some soil soup. When starting a garden from scratch, what is the single most important thing to do? Test the existing soil and then amend it according to what it lacks. Local universities such as the University of Maryland can test soil (www.hgic.umd. edu). At worst, it could mean replacing your soil entirely if it consists of impacted heavy clay or weed-covered trash. Most plants need an airy mix of composted organic soil that is seldom found on Capitol Hill without much work. However, in the long run such preliminary work will save you untold time, expense, toil and tears. This spring in my front yard a very large number of tiny new weeds have appeared. They are all the same, and unlike any weed I have seen before. My next-door neighbor has the same new weeds. Last week she asked me, “Did you scatter bird seed here during the winter?� I was crushed. No, I did not. A visit from a friend who happens to be a botanical geneticist brought stunning news: my weeds

138 H hillrag.com


are not weeds! They are hundreds of tiny baby Hellebore seedlings! After many years, my Hellebores have seeded themselves – what a miracle. I told my neighbor, but she had already removed all hers. Well, aren’t you the king of the castle now. You can leave be those tiny, three-leaved seedlings until next year, when they will sprout with the more familiar palmate leaves of the mature Hellebore. Then you will need to thin them – leaving you with many extras you can share. What is the advantage of socalled ‘native’ plants? Their flowers are often pale and inconspicuous. Don’t tell that to the Cardinal flower. Native plants can survive our weather and soil conditions better than hothouse-bred hybrids, take much less watering, and are not invasive. Please name some blue flowers. I can never find blue to balance all the orange, yellow and red things in my garden. For spring try bulbs -- hyacinth, grape hyacinth, Virginia bluebell (Mertensia) and Camassia. Forget not Forgetme-nots, violets, Vince minor, Vinca major, and mauvy blue rock Phlox. Later try Johnson’s Blue geraniums, blue iris – both bearded and Siberian, beautiful Veronica and Salvia. As summer progresses scorn not Plumbago and Russian sage, or the annual Cornflower or Bachelor’s button, to say nothing of blue mophead Hydrangea. There are also blue petunias and almost-blue Mondarda (bee balm). Autumn would be incomplete without the stunning blues and purples of the New England Aster. Capitol Hill Garden Club programs will resume with the September 10 meeting. Membership details at 202-544-4261. Feeling beset by gardening problems? Send them to the Problem Lady c/o gardenlady@hillrag.com. Your problems might prove instructive to others, and help them feel superior to you. Complete anonymity is assured. H

HillRag | May 2013 H 139


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thelastword Fr. Michael O’Sullivan’s Funeral Homily

My first association with Fr. Mike O’Sullivan was with golf. I was a young curate to Fr. Ollie McGready. It was made clear that if a fourth was needed for the Friday golf outings, I should make myself available. Although after I missed a crucial putt or sliced into the woods, I was each week reminded that a transfer would be in order because I was useless. It was in these privileged days that I came to know Fr. Mike and to learn from the greatness of Irish pastoral experience. Susan DePlatchett tells a story of golfing with Fr. O’Sullivan and a father and son they had been paired with. Fr. Mike used an old putter with a wooden shaft, and he used it well that day. After they had finished the match, the father turned to his son and said, “Son, this is a very important lesson. Never bet against a golfer with a wooden shaft putter.” As one who played, bet and lost to Fr. Mike many times on the golf course, I would like to clarify. It was not just the putter or the putting; Fr. Mike had subtle tricks when you were putting. Just as you drew your putter back, he’d clear his throat or shake the pin if he was holding it. The annoyance was quiet enough not to draw too much attention, but it was just enough to send my ball a few feet past the hole. You see, Fr. Mike did not like to lose. He won often. He beat the drink. He beat the ponies, some of the time. When he first arrived as pastor of St. Peter’s, he was greeted by a barking German shepherd. “Either the dog is gone or you and the dog are gone.” The dog was reassigned within 24 hours. Having lasted through five archbishops, he never really lost St. Peter’s. I can only imagine the conversations with the vicars for clergy over last three decades. Fr. O’Sullivan did not like to lose. When the Hill was a different place and the economy threatened the school, he did everything possible to preserve Catholic education for this neighborhood. Not only did he save the school, he renovated and rebuilt it. He hated to lose, and he didn’t lose the school. Fr. O’Sullivan did not want to lose any of his buildings to the ravages of time. He established an endowment to make sure that his successors could help maintain the buildings and that collections went to preaching the Gospel. But above all, Fr. Mike O’Sullivan did not want to lose a soul. He walked this parish with his black thorn stick, baseball cap and white collar tab in his shirt pocket (“in case there’s an emergency. You never know when you’ll run into the archbishop”, he’d say.) Fr. O’Sullivan walked every alley, lane, street and avenue of this parish. He greeted. He cajoled. He comforted. We welcomed. He sought out the lost sheep, every day. When Fr. Mike was ordained from St. Keiran’s in Kilkenny for service to the Archdiocese of Washington, a classmate asked him, “Oh where, where are you going?” He said “Washington.” And then to his astonish148 H hillrag.com

ment he said, “The state or DC?” Fr. is famous for its “suds, spuds, Mike said, “You mean there are two salmon and soda bread” but of them?” the joy of the party flows from The Mass was in Latin, the woma glorious Mass. This was not en had chapel veils for Mass. During coincidental, but comes from his early priesthood at St. Camillus, a distinct theology of what Nativity and St. Anthony, the Second and who the Church is. The Vatican Council was being held. His Eucharist is the “Source and arrival at St. Peter’s spanned the time Summit” and from it all else when the changes the council brought flows. The Eucharist requires were being initially unpacked. He the priest and the priest exists could get the people to envision, to for the Eucharist. move to change. He was not afraid to He always wanted people grow with his flock. to know this source and sumThe time of the Second Vatican mit in the Mass. When Fr. Council was a time of excitement and O’Sullivan retired, he had a confusion and grace. The priests of bunch of business cards printFr. O’Sullivan’s generation held the ed up. He would walk around ship during turbulent waters. At St. the Hill inviting people back Peter’s, Fr. O’Sullivan helped forge a to Church. The card said: collaborative understanding between Open: Sunday’s, Admission: clergy and laity of mission and minisFree, Benefits: Priceless. He’d try. No one ever doubted that he was Fr. Mike O’Sullivan in Ireland in 2004. leave them on doors and hand in charge. You always knew where he them to people in the streets. stood; but he helped many men and The second distinct elewomen for three generations find the Church and find ment of how Fr. O’Sullivan lived the priesthood of their place in the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ is his visits. When Fr. O’Sullivan arrived Fr. Mike and scores like him should be honored for he gathered all the names and addresses and had them what they did and who they were. They plowed new placed in alphabetical order so that he could visit each fields where there had not been growth. Not all ven- one. This he did for the rest of his priesthood. He was as tures were successful. Some seed fell on rocky ground familiar in the Capper projects as he was in the homes and some seeds weren’t meant to sprout at all. There can along East Capitol. He never stopped walking and, yes, be little doubt that the Holy Spirit was working in this talking. In the business of the world we forget to visit. formative time and especially the ministry of Fr. MiThe key to Fr. O’Sullivan’s visits is that preachchael O’Sullivan. ing the Gospel was distinctly personal, a one-on-one When he went to Ireland to celebrate 50 years of adventure. He visited and changed hearts because he priesthood, over 70 parishioners joined him on the knew people’s names, their histories, their people. He journey in the parish church of Kilgarven, the town visited them and they knew they were loved. where he had been born. Finally, the third element that stands out for me in The story and the secret to his success lies not just Fr. O’Sullivan’s priestly ministry is his open arms and in his personal gifts but in his priesthood. As he would his big smile. There is much talk in the Church these be first to claim, the priesthood was not his, but Jesus, days of the New Evangelization, calling people home the High Priest living in him and through him. Fr. who have forgotten or never knew Jesus even though O’Sullivan’s stamp on his priestly ministry was unique. they were raised as Catholics. To Fr. O it was not New, Three elements stand out for me. it was just the way a priest should be. The first element is the centrality of the Eucharist. He was himself. The words he placed on the sign The Gospel Fr. O’Sullivan chose for this Mass was from outside our parish are “Catholics can always come the Bread of Life discourse. We hear Jesus explain: home.” This Church today is filled with people who Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh were away and found themselves welcomed to Christ of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have with a great Irish smile, a most tangible manifestalife within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my tion of Christ in this neighborhood. He was brother, a blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last friend, above all a priest, with us and for us. And praise day. God, we will be together again. The Eucharist requires the priest and the priest exIn the end Fr. Mike didn’t just hate to lose; he loved ists for the Eucharist. The focus of St. Peter’s was and to win, especially souls for Jesus Christ. is based in the gathering of the community for Mass. Fr. William Byrne, Pastor Let us renew our commitment to the Mass. The St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill great Celebration of Ireland he founded still lives on. It pastor@saintpetersdc.org


This Is a Sad Day

This is a sad day for our neighborhood. Frank was an intelligent and good leader and did most of his best work for our neighborhood without anyone knowing. Personally, he was my most highly regarded leader. He was also a dear friend, and my condolences to Ms. Russell and her family who I know Frank had very high regards for too. Amy Caspari 17th and C SE (Excerpted from the New Hill East Listserv)

Frank Zampatori’s Death A Loss To the Hill

Though his health had seemed to deteriorate, especially in recent weeks, Frank’s death is still a stunning loss, both personally and for the community. No one -- no one -- could or will ever match Frank’s experience or his institutional memory on the subject of District politics or on the longstanding issues in our neighborhood. He knew and remembered who did what and when -- the exact date -- and for that reason, he often found it difficult to deal with the rest of us who too easily forgot the important details he remembered so vividly. He was also a fun friend to have, on a multitude of subjects, and a difficult friend, at times, because many of us also let him down by choosing to support the wrong cause or by doing it the wrong way or by saying something ill-chosen. But he had a loyalty that transcended all that. He was a complicated

man, too, on so many issues, which made him all the more interesting. He was a devoted New York Giants fan who couldn’t stand to watch their current quarterback. My friend Frank was like that. Our city and our neighborhood will surely carry on, but for a few of us, it will never be quite the same. Actually, to be totally honest, I am most disheartened to think of all the wrong ways I will go on and our community will probably go on without his guidance. Jim Myers (Excerpted from the New Hill East Listserv)

Frank Zampatori--A Good Neighbor

To me, Frank epitomized the label “good neighbor.” He was warm, engaging, helpful, and supportive - and all this in our typical 5-10 minute chats or even in a 1-minute street wave and greeting. He was even warm in emails! He emoted so much in a simple wink, wave, or nod. When I moved to the neighborhood and was overwhelmed by our drug dealers and their clientele, his advice on how to deal with them, and occasional walks past my home in the dark, made me feel that I wasn’t alone in my fight. Frank also was patient with me as I got accustomed to D.C. city-style (which is nothing like Philly city-style), and he always had a tip for me about how to take care of an issue requiring city services. Finally, Frank was ALWAYS my cheerleader

when I spoke up at neighborhood meetings about one issue or another, offering me a pat on the back, a handshake, and a warm wink to let me know that he was in my corner. Who doesn’t love to have a cheering section? I will miss my Frank cheers when next I speak out in the neighborhood. And I will do my best to help fill the hole in the neighborhood activism front that is left by his passing. I offer my sincere condolences to Frank’s family. He was a gem. Rochelle Woodard

Zampatori Cannot Be Replaced.

About 1% of the D.C. population is composed of volunteer activists who work hard to improve our city. Frank was a member of that 1% club. Frank devoted himself to making D.C. a better place. And we have all benefitted from Frank’s work. I won’t catalog here all that Frank has done; the post would simply be too long. From a neighborhood perspective, Frank helped our neighborhood immensely. He was an active citizen in Ward 6. Frank kept notes. When politicians lied, Frank remembered. (And he was not shy about telling people.) Frank protected our neighborhood. He tracked what was going on and got involved to protect us from dumb decisions. I miss Frank. We are less of a community with his passing. Jim A., 1300 block of Independnece Avenue, SE (Exerpted from the New Hill East Listserv) H HillRag | May 2013 H 149


the NOSE

How Many Lives Does One Pat Have? by Anonymous No more endless forums! No more tongue-tied kooks. No more moderator dirty looks! Finally, Dear Readers, The District’s latest gladiatorial contest has ended. It was, according to some political pundits, to be the year of the perfect Republican storm. Yes, finally all the stars in the firmament had aligned. Progressives, unable to do simple arithmetic, were running multiple candidates. Michael “The Real” Brown and Anita “Chocolate City Mamma” Bonds looked to split the city’s eastern wards. Most importantly, in Patrick “Third Time’s The Charm,” Mara, Republicans thought that they had found a socially liberal, fiscally conservative candidate acceptable to the electorate. What went wrong? To begin with, Brown exited the race permitting Bonds to campaign on her appearance and Democratic affiliation. Tipping her hand with a gaffe on Kojo, she deftly worked at turning out her base in the city’s eastern wards, ignoring Upper, Lower and Outer Caucasia completely. At the end, Bonds absented herself from the forums entirely. Instead, she worked hard in the Wilson Building to earn the endorsements of her colleagues receiving nods from Vincent “CBE” Orange, Jack “Undersight” Evans, Muriel “Girl on Fire” Bowser, Yvette “Miss Congeniality” Alexander, Marion “Mayor for Life” Barry, and Kenyan “Newbie” McDuffie. The media, by and large, gave Bonds a pass. There was little or no discussion of her paltry legislative record. Her budget busting plan to exempt senior seniors from taxes was met with silence. No one examined her lobbying activities at Fort Myers Construction, a major city contractor. The narrowness of her campaign received little editorial notice. While none of this might have dissuaded her base, these issues were certainly relevant to her candidacy. Only 9.3% of voters turned out for the 2013 Special Election. Bonds won with a margin of 2,314 votes out of a total of 49,869--a razor thin margin of victory that was just 4.6 percent of those who voted. The media allowed Bonds to ‘ghost’ her way through the campaign winning by 3 percent of entire District electorate. Shame on our vanishing profession! Bonds would be wise to take up the mantel of the sainted David A. Clarke, a former occupant of her seat. Clarke, famous for his bicycle-seated campaigning, was intimately acquainted with the byways of all eight wards. At a time when the chocolate was truly the city’s sweet, he ignored no one and asked everyone for their vote. She will have an opportunity next year to do the same. While Bonds quietly took care of business, the media focused its attention on Mara. Endorsed ad nauseam by the Washington ComPost, beloved by the DC Chamber of Commerce, they portrayed him as likely, in his own words, to unite “the reform vote,” a supposed coalition of Independent and Democratic voters determined to throw out incumbents.

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The “reform vote’ seems to have been a figment of Mara’s imagination. Despite very little media attention to issues, District voters recognized that real policy differences existed between Mara and his Democratic opponents such as Elissa “Take No Corporate Handouts” Silverman and Matthew “The Man from Upper Caucasia” Frumin. When ComPost reporters unearthed a dodgy consulting contract late in the race, Mara lost his ethical cloak; and momentum swung behind Silverman. Yet, her candidacy was doomed by a divided progressive vote and large margins for Bonds in Wards 7 and 8. The rest, as they say, is history. So, here for your edification, Dear Readers, is a rendition of “The Cat Came Back,” liberally altered to fit the District’s unique political ecology: The business community hated paying employees when sick. Carol Schwartz’s support of sick-leave really got them ticked So, they handpicked the Pat while the incumbent was asleep Piling on independent expenditures in a massive heap. That ol’ race burst apart and the Pat lost in a mudslide. With his ears chewed off by the Browns and holes in his hide... But the Pat came back The next election that old Pat came back. Thought he was a goner, but the Pat came back. `Cause he just couldn’t stay away. DC Democratic pols had troubles of their own. And that pesky ‘moderate’ Republican refused to stay home. Tried everything they knew to do to keep the Pat away. Sent him up to Board of Education and told him to stay... But the Pat came back. The next election that old Pat came back. Thought he was a goner, but the Pat came back. `Cause he just couldn’t stay away. On the dais, councilmembers were sitting in a bunch. The Pat saw Miss Anita, thought he’d have her for his lunch. Climbed softly up the polls until he reached the top When an old consulting contract, tied him in a knot... Will the Pat be back? In 2014 will that old Pat be back? Even the Republicans think the Pat is a goner, but will the Pat be back? `Cause he just can’t ever stay away. How many lives does one Pat have? Irritated by The Nose? Let him know! Email thenose@hillrag.com. H




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